Combination of Body Mass Index and Fasting Blood Glucose Improved Predictive Value of New-Onset Prediabetes or Diabetes After Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate whether combining body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) can refine the predictive value of new-onset prediabetes/diabetes after acute pancreatitis (NODAP). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we used Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare differences in the NODAP rate among 492 patients with different BMI or FBG levels, or with the combination of these 2 factors mentioned above. RESULTS: In all, 153 of 492 (31.1%) eligible patients finally developed NODAP. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, BMI (hazard ratio, 2.075; 95% confidence interval, 1.408-3.060; P < 0.001) and FBG (hazard ratio, 2.544; 95% confidence interval, 1.748-3.710; P < 0.001) were important predictors of the incidence of NODAP. Subsequently, we divided 492 eligible patients into 3 groups according to the median BMI and FBG values, and found that the NODAP rate in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the medium-risk group ( P = 0.018) or the low-risk group ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index and FBG are independent predictors of NODAP. The combination of BMI and FBG can refine the prediction of NODAP and identify candidates for clinical prevention.

Effects of Acupuncture on Expression of 5-HT Neurons in Medulla Oblongata and 5-HTR2B on Mice Models with Chloroquine-induced Pruritus / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To explore the effects of acupuncture on pruritic behaviors, expression of 5-HT neurons in medulla oblongata and 5-HTR2B on mice with chloroquine-induced pruritus; To discuss the mechanism of action of acupuncture in chloroquine-induced pruritus. Methods A non-histamine-dependent pruritus model was prepared by subcutaneous injection of chloroquine into the back of the neck. Forty C57B/6J mice were randomly divided into model-acupuncture group, model-non-acupuncture group, normal saline group and blank control group, with 10 mice in each group. After modeling, acupuncture was given in Xuehai, Quchi and Hegu on both sides. The plug and twist way was used to stimulate, once a day, three times. Model-non-acupuncture group received no acupuncture. Normal saline group received the neck injection of saline in the back. Blank control group received no treatment. Behavioral changes were observed, and immunofluorescence technique and Western blot were used to test the expression of 5-HT neurons and 5-HTR2B in medulla oblongata neurons. Results The number of scratches in model-acupuncture group and model-non-acupuncture group was obviously more than normal saline group and blank control group (P<0.05). The number of scratches in model-acupuncture group was lower than that of model-non-acupuncture group (P<0.05). The expression of 5-HT in medulla oblongata neurons was unclear in both normal saline group and blank control group. The expression of 5-HT neurons in medulla oblongata significantly increased in model group, which decreased after acupuncture. The expression of 5-HTR2B of model group was significant higher than normal saline group and blank control group (P<0.01). Compared with model-non-acupuncture group, the expression of 5-HTR2B in model-acupuncture group significant decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture can significantly inhibitscratching behaviors in mice induced by chloroquine, and the mechanism may be realized by decreasing the expression of 5-HT neurons and 5-HTR2B in medulla oblongata neurons.

Demethylation of the hTERT promoter in normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells following N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine exposure.

N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) is an alkylating agent that can induce gastric carcinoma. As a well-known human carcinogen, MNNG has been universally recognized as a methylating agent and is believed to act through methylation mechanism. In the present study, the epigenetic status of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter was investigated in MNNG-treated normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells. After 4 h exposure to MNNG at different concentrations, 6.8 and 68 µM, bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction showed that five methylated cytosines outside the CpG dinucleotides in the 290-bp fragment from the hTERT promoter were demethylated and all the methylated cytosines in CpG dinucleotides remained intact. Furthermore, the epigenetic status of the target region following MNNG exposure was extremely similar to those of the BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 lines; the three cell lines from human gastric adenocarcinoma. The result indicates that MNNG-induced demethylation in cytosines outside the CpG dinucleotides may be an early molecular lesion with the potential for impacting malignant transformation and a possible underlying carcinogenic mechanism of MNNG. Thus, it may provide another insight into the mechanisms of MNNG carcinogenesis.

Telomerase and hTERT: can they serve as markers for gastric cancer diagnosis?

AIM: To investigate telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells (nhGMECs) and fibroblasts (nhGMFs). METHODS: nhGMECs and nhGMFs were isolated and cultured from specimens obtained during routine surgery for bleeding peptic ulcer. Telomerase activity in nhGMFs, nhGMECs, and the tumor cell lines BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells was analyzed using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. hTERT protein was determined in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cells by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: A similar level of telomerase activity was observed in nhGMECs, nhGMFs and BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28 cell lines. Positive hTERT immunostaining was detected in nhGMECs, nhGMFs, BGC-823, SGC-7901 and MKN-28 cell lines. CONCLUSION: The use of telomerase or hTERT as diagnostic markers for gastric cancer may require further studies.

[Mechanisms of human telomerase reverse transcriptase RNAi which increases hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanisms for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) RNA interference (RNAi) in increasing hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). METHODS: Cell apoptosis was identified by flow cytometry analysis after annexin V/PI double staining. Expression of apoptosis-related proteins, procaspase-8, -9, -3, Bax, Bcl-2 and hTERT, were identified by Western blotting analysis; telomerase activity and telomere length were detected by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and telomere amount and length assay (TALA) methods. RESULTS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL were all significantly increased by hTERT RNAi (P less than 0.05). For example, apoptosis rates were enhanced from 5.53% (untransformed) to 10.35% (transformed) in HepG 2 cells and from 14.73% to 77.24% in SMMC 7721 cells after being treated by 100 ng/ml TRAIL for 24 h. Moreover, activation of procaspase-8, -9 and -3 in transformed cells after being treated by TRAIL were all significantly raised (P less than 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of procaspase-8, -9 and Bcl-2 were effectively augmented (P less than 0.05), but expressions of Bax and hTERT were strikingly decreased (P less than 0.05). Meanwhile, telomerase activity was apparently suppressed and telomere length was markedly shortened (P less than 0.05). There were no remarkable differences in these effects between control cells and the untransformed cells (P more than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Enhanced cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL through hTERT RNAi may be related to up-regulation of procaspase-8 and -9 expressions. However the down-regulation of hTERT expression, reduced telomerase activity and shortened telomere length may not be related to expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax.