Significance of serum glucagon-like peptide-1 and matrix Gla protein levels in patients with diabetes and osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass, impaired bone mass, and reduced bone strength that leads to increased bone fragility and fracture. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with osteoporosis is a common systemic metabolic bone disease, and reduced bone mass and bone strength are considered the main clinical features; however, the pathogenesis of this disease has not been fully clarified. Its occurrence is considered related to sex, age, and genetic factors. There are many risk factors for diabetes complicated with osteoporosis. Therefore, exploring these risk factors will help prevent it. AIM: To investigate the relationships among serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels, matrix Gla protein (MGP) levels, and diabetes with osteoporosis. METHODS: Sixty patients with T2DM complicated with osteoporosis confirmed by the endocrinology department of our hospital were selected as the case group. Sixty T2DM patients with bone loss were selected as the control group. Sixty healthy participants were selected as the healthy group. The general data, bone mineral density index, and bone metabolic markers of the three groups were compared. The relationships among GLP-1 levels, MGP levels, and the bone mineral density index of the case group were analyzed using linear correlation analysis and a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Differences in sex, smoking, and drinking among the case group, control group, and healthy group were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mean age of the case group was older than those of the control and healthy groups (P < 0.05). The body mass index, fasting plasma glucose level, HbA1c level, hypertension rate, and coronary heart disease rate of the case and control groups were higher than those of the healthy group (P < 0.05). The serum GLP-1 and MGP levels of the case group were lower than those of the control and healthy groups; these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The serum GLP-1 and MGP levels of the control group were lower than those of the healthy group; these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The serum GLP-1 and MGP levels of the case group were significantly positively correlated with the bone mineral density values of the hip and lumbar spine (P < 0.05). The results of the logistic regression model showed that age and duration of diabetes were independent risk factors for osteoporosis in diabetic patients (P < 0.05) and that increased GLP-1 and MGP values were protective factors against osteoporosis in diabetic patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum GLP-1 and MGP levels of diabetic patients with osteoporosis were significantly decreased and positively correlated with bone mineral density and were independent risk factors for osteoporosis in diabetic patients.

Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach Versus Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Via Areola Approach for Patients With Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola approach (ETA) has been widely used in thyroidectomy for many years as it can effectively avoid a scar in the neck. Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) is newly applied and has gained popularity quickly. This study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of TOETVA and ETA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients who underwent TOETVA or ETA with unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in this study from March 2019 to February 2020. The basic information (such as gender, age), intraoperative hemorrhage, postoperative drainage volume, hospital durations, intraoperative and postoperative complications, operative time, central lymph node dissection time, total number of central lymph nodes, and number of metastatic central lymph nodes were compared. RESULTS: The operative time of the TOETVA group was significantly longer than the ETA group (148.11±19.78 vs. 135.90±12.77 min, P<0.05). However, the result was opposite when central lymph node dissection time was compared (10.31±2.93 vs. 12.48±3.55, P<0.05). TOETVA had an advantage on total number of central lymph nodes over ETA (7.82±3.35 vs. 5.26±2.45, P<0.05). No differences were found between the 2 groups on other data. CONCLUSION: TOETVA and ETA have the similarity on surgical safety and effectiveness. TOETVA has its advantage on central lymph node dissection and might be a reasonable alternative for ETA and open surgery in the future.

[Effect of the interaction of microorganisms and iron oxides on arsenic releasing into groundwater in Chinese Loess].

A large part of groundwater in the Chinese Loess Plateau area is characterized by high arsenic concentration. Anaerobic bacteria have been considered to play key roles in promoting arsenic releasing from loess to groundwater. However, this hypothesis remains unconfirmed. Based on modeling experiments, this study investigated the speciation of arsenic in loess, and then determined the release rates and quantities of arsenic with the mediation of anaerobic bacteria. The results showed that arsenic contents in loess were between 23 mg.kg-1 and 30 mg.kg-1. No obvious arsenic content difference among loess samples was observed. The ratios for specific adsorbed, iron oxides co-precipitated and silicate co-precipitated arsenic were 37.76% , 36. 15% and 25. 69% , respectively. Indigenous microorganisms, dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria (DIRB) and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) could all promote the release of arsenic from loess. Organic matters highly affected the release rates. More than 100 mg.L-1 sodium lactate was required for all bacterial experiments to facilitate obvious arsenic release. Considering the redox condition in loess, the contribution of SRB to arsenic release in loess area was less feasible than that of DIRB and indigenous microorganisms.