The prevalence and related direct medical costs of chronic complications among patients with type 2 diabetes in China / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To estimate the prevalence and related direct medical costs of chronic complications,especially cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China.Method Data were extracted from the hospital information system(HIS) database of 4 top level Chinese hospitals from January 1st,2012 to May 31st,2017.Patients with T2DM were identified through international classification of diseases,tenth version (ICD-10) diagnosis supplemented with Chinese descriptions.The prevalences of complications including cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,nephropathy,diabetic foot,lower extremity vascular diseases,diabetic retinopathy,and diabetic neuropathy were estimated among all identified patients with T2DM.The costs per hospitalization and per outpatient visit under the primary diagnoses of each chronic complication were further estimated.Results There were 61 139 patients with T2DM,with mean age of(62.1 ± 13.6) years,50.5％ being males.66.8％ of them had chronic complications,and patient suffered from more than 2 complications on average.The most common complication was nephropathy (30.5％),followed by diabetic neuropathy (26.8％),diabetic retinopathy (26.3％),cardiovascular disease (24.9％),and cerebrovascular disease (19.2％).The cost per hospitalization was highest for cardiovascular disease(21 176 yuan),followed by diabetic foot disease(18 999 yuan) and cerebrovascular disease (16 583 yuan).The cost per outpatients visit varied from 826 to 976 yuan across different complications except for lower extremity vascular diseases (522 yuan).Conclusions The majority of patients with T2DM suffered from chronic complications.The occurrence and development of chronic complications,especially cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular diseases,and nephropathy,led to increased direct medical costs among patients with T2DM.Effective interventions,such as regular physical examinations and proper glycemic control,should be implemented to prevent complications among the diabetic patients.

Expression and clinical significance of HCCS1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Hepatocellular carcinoma suppressor 1 (HCCS1) has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in the high-frequency loss of heterozygosity (LOH) region on chromosome 17p13.3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There was also a high frequency of LOH on chromosome 17p13.3 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the expression of HCCS1 in NSCLC as well as its clinical significance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression level of HCCS1 mRNA and protein in NSCLC and noncancerous tissues, respectively. Further, we explored the relationship between HCCS1 expression and various clinical features in NSCLC. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression of HCCS1 were both significantly lower in NSCLC samples than those in noncancerous tissues. That is, the mRNA level of HCCS1 was 0.0044 ±0.0036 and 0.0067 ±0.0054 in NSCLC samples and noncancerous tissues, respectively. The protein level of HCCS1 was 4.67 ±1.15 and 6.13 ±1.24 in NSCLC samples and noncancerous tissues, respectively. Importantly, this difference in expression was significantly correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis (TNM) in NSCLC (p < 0.05), but not with gender and age of the patients, pathological types, TNM stages, or grades of cancers (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that HCCS1 may be involved in NSCLC carcinogenesis.

Identification of sequence variants in genetic disease-causing genes using targeted next-generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Identification of gene variants plays an important role in research on and diagnosis of genetic diseases. A combination of enrichment of targeted genes and next-generation sequencing (targeted DNA-HiSeq) results in both high efficiency and low cost for targeted sequencing of genes of interest. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To identify mutations associated with genetic diseases, we designed an array-based gene chip to capture all of the exons of 193 genes involved in 103 genetic diseases. To evaluate this technology, we selected 7 samples from seven patients with six different genetic diseases resulting from six disease-causing genes and 100 samples from normal human adults as controls. The data obtained showed that on average, 99.14% of 3,382 exons with more than 30-fold coverage were successfully detected using Targeted DNA-HiSeq technology, and we found six known variants in four disease-causing genes and two novel mutations in two other disease-causing genes (the STS gene for XLI and the FBN1 gene for MFS) as well as one exon deletion mutation in the DMD gene. These results were confirmed in their entirety using either the Sanger sequencing method or real-time PCR. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Targeted DNA-HiSeq combines next-generation sequencing with the capture of sequences from a relevant subset of high-interest genes. This method was tested by capturing sequences from a DNA library through hybridization to oligonucleotide probes specific for genetic disorder-related genes and was found to show high selectivity, improve the detection of mutations, enabling the discovery of novel variants, and provide additional indel data. Thus, targeted DNA-HiSeq can be used to analyze the gene variant profiles of monogenic diseases with high sensitivity, fidelity, throughput and speed.

Real-time measurement of noradrenaline release in central nervous system / 生理学报

In order to investigate the central nervous mechanism and the diseases involved in catecholamine transmitter secretion, the dynamics of catecholamine release is studied in single cell, brain slice or in vivo. Noradrenaline is an important neurotransmitter and modulator in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In the present paper, we first compared three real-time methods used to measure noradrenaline secretion in single cells (membrane capacitance, amperometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging). Compared to the electrophysiological method and fluorescence microscopy, the basic usage of the carbon fiber electrode (CFE) in neuroscience research was presented as an example. Then, we presented a primary description of ion channels, including voltage-gated Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+) channels in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in rat brain slices. Finally, we presented example recordings of combined patch-clamp and amperometry measurements in LC neurons, indicating Ca(2+)-dependent quantal noradrenaline release following Ca(2+) influx through Ca(2+) channels.

A modified intracellular labelling technique for high-resolution staining of neuron in 500 microm-thickness brain slice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To develop simple but reliable intracellular labelling method for high-resolution visualization of the fine structure of single neurons in brain slice with thickness of 500 microm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Biocytin was introduced into neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slices while blind whole cell recording. Following processed for histochemistry using the avidin-biotin-complex method, stained slices were mounted in glycerol on special glass slides. Labelled cells were digital photomicrographed every 30 microm and reconstructed with Adobe Photoshop software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After histochemistry, limited background staining was produced. The resolution was so high that fine structure, including branching, termination of individual axons and even spines of neurons could be identified in exquisite detail with optic microscope. With the help of software, the neurons of interest could be reconstructed from a stack of photomicrographs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The modified method provides an easy and reliable approach to revealing the detailed morphological properties of single neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slice. Without requisition of special equipment, it is suited to be broadly applied.</p>

Effect of fetus hypobaric hypoxia on NMDA receptor of hippocampus neurons / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of fetus hypobaric hypoxia on the number and channel character of NMDA receptor of hippocampus neurons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Use in situ hybridization and patch-clamp techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After hypobaric hypoxia the number of NMDA mRNA positive neurons was decreased, the open probability of NMDA receptor was reduced, the open time constant was decreased, the close time constant was increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypobaric hypoxia may change the development of NMDA receptor in fetus rat, then maybe effect learning and memory.</p>

he roles of hypoxia and glutamic acid on NMDA receptor channel of hypothalamic neuron in rats / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To study the effects of hypoxia and glutamic acid on the kinetic properties of NMDA receptor channel of the hypothalamic neurons in rats. Methods　Cell-attached mode patch clamp technique was employed to record the single channel current of the NMDA receptor. Results　The open probability of NMDA receptor channel was increased after acute hypoxia compared with that of normal state, the open time τ1,τ2 was changed from (0.33±0.10)ms，(4.36±0.26)ms to (0.93±0.22)ms，(7.64±0.72)ms, and the close time τ1,τ2 was from (18.03±3.50)ms，(171.50±19.10)ms to (3.42±1.02)ms，(19.39±3.07)ms. The mean open probability was changed from 0.12±0.05 in normal state to 0.66±0.36 in hypoxia state. Furthermore, glutamic acid can increase open time and open probability of NMDA receptor channel,decrease close time. Conclusion　The excitability and the open probability of NMDA receptor channel of hypothalamic neurons increased by hypoxia is related to glutamate.

he roles of hypoxia and glutamic acid on NMDA receptor channel of hypothalamic neuron in rats / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To study the effects of hypoxia and glutamic acid on the kinetic properties of NMDA receptor channel of the hypothalamic neurons in rats. Methods　Cell-attached mode patch clamp technique was employed to record the single channel current of the NMDA receptor. Results　The open probability of NMDA receptor channel was increased after acute hypoxia compared with that of normal state, the open time τ1,τ2 was changed from (0.33±0.10)ms，(4.36±0.26)ms to (0.93±0.22)ms，(7.64±0.72)ms, and the close time τ1,τ2 was from (18.03±3.50)ms，(171.50±19.10)ms to (3.42±1.02)ms，(19.39±3.07)ms. The mean open probability was changed from 0.12±0.05 in normal state to 0.66±0.36 in hypoxia state. Furthermore, glutamic acid can increase open time and open probability of NMDA receptor channel,decrease close time. Conclusion　The excitability and the open probability of NMDA receptor channel of hypothalamic neurons increased by hypoxia is related to glutamate.