Relationship Between Acyl and Desacyl Ghrelin Levels with Insulin Resistance and Body Fat Mass in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: Although strong evidence suggests that ghrelin plays an important role in regulating energy balance, the effects of acylated ghrelin (AG) and deacylated ghrelin (DAG) on fat mass are largely undefined. This study aimed to investigate the differential associations of both forms of ghrelin with insulin resistance and body fat mass in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods: A total of 162 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited and classified based on BMI and visceral fat area (VFA) as VFA normal group (n = 78), normal-BMI VFA obesity group (n = 20) and high-BMI VFA obesity group (n = 64). VFA and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were detected by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood samples were collected to measure fasting glucose, insulin, lipids, AG and DAG levels after clinical examination. Results: Compared with VFA normal group, DAG levels were significantly lower (421.7 ± 106.0 and 388.7 ± 96.5 pg/mL vs 524.4 ± 141.5 pg/mL, P < 0.01) in the two VFA obesity groups. No significant difference was found in AG levels within three groups. Among all subjects, BMI, VFA, SFA, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were negatively correlated with DAG but positively with AG/DAG ratio (P < 0.01). In contrast, AG was positively correlated with HOMA-IR and fasting glucose (P < 0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that fasting glucose was the independent factor of AG, VFA and HOMA-IR were the independent factors related to DAG. Conclusion: DAG levels have a strong negative association with excess body fat mass and insulin resistance, whereas AG levels are closely related to elevated blood glucose levels in T2DM patients.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at "Shenmen"(HT7) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) on energy metabolism in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus of insomnia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at "Shenmen"(HT7) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6)on energy metabolism in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus in insomnia rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of insomnia. METHODS: A total of 66 SD rats (half male and half female) were randomized into 3 groups：normal control, model and EA groups(n＝22 per group). The insomnia model was established by binding the rat for at least 4 h (step increase of 30 min per day), once daily for 15 days. EA (5 Hz /25 Hz, 0.5－1.0 mA) was applied to unilateral HT7 and SP6 for 15 min, once daily for 5 days. The rats' spontaneous activities during day and night were recorded by using the ClockLab Data Collection and Analysis System, and the duration of exhausted swimming was detected by using load-bearing endurance swimming test. The expression of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) of PVN tissue was assayed by Western blot, and the contents of acetyl coenzyme A (Ac-CoA) and Na＋-K＋adenosine triphosphatase (Na＋-K＋-ATPase) in the PVN tissue, and corticosterone (CORT) in plasma were assayed by ELISA. Changes of the ultrastructure of PVN cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: After modeling, the rats' daytime and nocturnal locomotor activities were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (P<0.05), and the duration of exhausted swimming was considerably shortened in the model group compared with that of the normal control group (P<0.05). The expression level of AMPK protein in the PVN was obviously up-regulated (P<0.05), and the contents of Ac-CoA and Na＋-K＋-ATPase in PVN and CORT in plasma were markedly decreased in the model control group relevant to the normal group (P<0.05). After EA intervention, the increased daytime locomotion and the decreased nocturnal activities, the shortened duration of exhausted swimming, the up-regulated expression of AMPK, and the decreased Ac-CoA, Na＋-K＋-ATPase and CORT contents were all reversed in the EA treated rats relevant to those of the insomnia rats (all P<0.05). Moreover, ultrastructural observation showed mitochondrial swelling and disappearance of partial ribosomes in the plasma of PVN cells in the model group, while in the EA group, only mild swelling of some mitochondria was found, being with basically normal nuclear membrane, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and ribosomes. CONCLUSION: EA at HT7 and SP6 has a positive effect in improving insomnia and insomnia-induced fatigue in insomnia rats, which may be associated with its effects in restraining the expression of AMPK protein, and up-regulating the contents of Ac-CoA and Na＋-K＋-ATPase in PVN and CORT in plasma.

[Effect of pulse high volume hemofiltration for treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of pulse high volume hemofiltration (PHVHF) in the treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with MODS received treatment with PHVHF. RESULTS: The 25 patients showed significantly decreased BUN, Scr, and K(+) levels after the treatment (P<0.01), and PaO(2)/FiO(2) was improved in almost all the patients (P<0.05). The APACHEII scores were significantly improved (P<0.05) in these patients and 18 of them were cured and discharged. PHVHF therapy was associated with a survival rate of 72%. CONCLUSIONS: PHVHF can be effective for treatment of MODS.

[MicroRNAs and prostate cancer].

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with the length of about 22 nucleotides, are a growing family of small non-protein-coding RNAs that function as post-transcriptional regulators of target genes, involved in multiple processes of life and closely related with tumorigenesis. Recently, some aberrantly expressed miRNAs have been discovered in the prostate, indicating that miRNA may play a critical role in the molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. With deeper studies on human serum and plasma miRNAs, serum miRNA is promising to be a potential diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer.

[Comparison of lateral position and prone position ventilation in patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical result of lateral position ventilation and prone position ventilation in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) patients. METHODS: Twenty-four patients were allocated to two groups, with one group (n = 13) receiving lateral position ventilation after April 2002, and the other (n = 11) received prone position ventilation before March 2002. Respiratory and circulatory indices were monitored after position changes and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: One hour after position change PaO(2) was elevated in both groups; in the lateral position group from (103 +/- 12) mm Hg to (126 +/- 13) mm Hg (P < 0.01), and in the prone position group from (87 +/- 19) mm Hg to (119 +/- 15) mm Hg (P < 0.01). If a 10 mm Hg increase was regarded as the standard of treatment effectiveness, then the effective rate in the lateral position group was 61.5% and in the prone position group was 63.6%, the difference being not significant. CONCLUSION: As auxiliary means in the treatment of ALI/ARDS, lateral position and prone position ventilation showed similar effects, but the lateral position was more convenient for practice and medical care, thus needs further investigation.