Burden of diabetes, hyperglycaemia in China from to 2016: Findings from the 1990 to 2016, global burden of disease study.

AIMS: The prevalence of diabetes in China is among the highest in the world. For this reason, findings from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study were used to calculate the burden of hyperglycaemia and diabetes in China. METHODS: Following the general analytical strategy used in GBD 2016, diabetes prevalence and mortality were analyzed by age and gender. Trends in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to diabetes were assessed in 33 province-level administrative units from 1990 to 2016, and similar data were provided for chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to diabetes and, as an overall summarizing measure, for hyperglycaemia expressed as high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG). RESULTS: From 1990 to 2016, all-age prevalence of diabetes rose from 3.7% to 6.6%, and all-age diabetes and diabetes-related CKD mortality rates increased by 63.5% and 33.3%, respectively, with both rates increasing more rapidly in diabetes patients aged 15-49 years than in any other age groups. In 2016, HFPG became China's sixth leading cause of DALYs, and the attributable DALYs burden was 1802.3/100,000 population. Although the number of diabetes DALYs increased by 95% from 1990 to 2016, age-standardized diabetes DALYs rates increased by only 2.3%. Also, from 1990 to 2016, rates of age-standardized DALYs due to diabetes decreased in 14 provinces, but increased in 19 provinces. High BMI Scores and diets low in whole grains, nuts and seeds were the most important risk factors for diabetes in 2016. CONCLUSION: Diabetes and hyperglycaemia constitute a huge health burden in China. The substantial increase in diabetes-related burden represents an ongoing challenge, given the rapidly ageing Chinese population. Thus, a targeted control and preventative strategy needs to be developed at risk factor level to reduce this burden.

Construction of tissue engineered skin with human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells and human amniotic epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new model for construction of tissue engineered skin with human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: hAMSCs and hAECs were isolated from amniotic membrane. The morphology and phenotype of hAMSCs and hAECs were confirmed by microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. Then, we performed RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining to assess the expression of stem cells and keratinocyte markers. Moreover, cell co-culture was performed to observe the growth and phenotype characteristics of hAMSCs and hAECs in vitro. In addition, tissue engineered skin with hAMSCs and hAECs was constructed and assessed with histological methods. RESULTS: hAMSCs and hAECs were successfully isolated, exhibiting fibroblast-like morphous and cobblestone-shape epithelial morphous, respectively. The surface biomarker analysis showed that hAMSCs and hAECs were both positive for CD73, CD90 and CD105, and negative for CD34 and HLA-DR. The RT-PCR showed that hAMSCs expressed stem cell marker Nanog and c-MYC, and keratinocyte marker K19, ß1 integrin and K8, whereas hAECs expressed stem cell marker KLF4 and c-MYC, and keratinocyte marker K19, ß1 integrin, K5 and K8. The expression of keratinocyte proliferation antigen K14 was also found on hAECs. Furthermore, we found co-culture has no impact on the phenotype of hAMSCs and hAECs, but increased the proliferation activity of hAECs and decreased the proliferation activity of hAMSCs. Finally, the histological analysis showed that the tissue engineered skin exhibited similar structure as normal skin. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue engineered skin with hAMSCs and hAECs was successfully constructed and shown a similar feature as a skin equivalent. The tissue engineered skin might have good application prospects in regenerative medicine.

Nonadverse Effects on Allergenicity of Isopentenyltransferase-Transformed Broccoli

Introducción: Los organismos modificados genéticamente (GM) dan lugar a mejoras en la agricultura moderna relacionados con la eficiencia y beneficios de la producción de alimentos, sin embargo el potencial impacto de estos en la salud humana no ha sido clarificado. El motivo de este estudio fue investigar la alergenicidad entre el brócoli modificado genéticamente mediante isopenteniltransferasa frente al no modificado. Para ello se utilizó suero de pacientes alérgicos a brócoli para identificar la alergenicidad de ambos brócolis modificado o no modificado. Se estudió la unión de la IgE al brócoli de uno u otro tipo mediante inmunoblotting, ELISA y liberación de histamina. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el 7.2% de los pacientes tenían reacciones a brócoli (B. oleracea). La IgE específica a brócoli y la IgE total de los sujetos sensibilizados mostraban una correlación. Mediante Western blot observamos una heterogenia en la IgE en el suero de los pacientes reactiva frente a los componentes alergénicos. La alergenicidad de los brócolis, modificado o no modificado, no mostró diferencias significativas, lo cual indica que la trasformación del brócoli no afecta a su alergenicidad. Conclusiones: En nuestro estudio demostramos la ausencia de diferencias entre brócoli trasformado genéticamente o no (isopenteniltransferasa), por lo tanto no son esperables efectos sobre la alergenicidad en el brócoli transformado (AU)

Background: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) provide modern agriculture with improvements in efficiency and the benefits of enhanced food production; however, the potential impact of GMOs on human health has not yet been clarified. Objective: To investigate the allergenicity of isopentenyltransferase (ipt)-transformed broccoli compared with non-GM broccoli. Methods: Sera from allergic individuals were used to identify the allergenicity of GM and non-GM broccoli. Immunoglobulin (Ig) binding of different lines of GM and non-GM broccoli was identifi ed using immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the histamine release assay. Results: Positive reactions to broccoli (Brassica Oleracea) were observed in 7.02% of individuals. Specific IgE to broccoli and total IgE from allergic individuals were well correlated. The different tests performed showed no significant differences in the allergenicity of conventionally raised and GM broccoli, indicating the absence of unexpected effects on allergenicity in ipt-transformed plants. Using Western blot analysis, we detected heterogeneous IgE-reactive allergenic components in broccoli-allergic sera, but no significant differences between GM and non-GM broccoli were observed in serum from the same patients. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that there are no differences between GM (ipt-transformed) broccoli and non-GM broccoli, as determined by specific IgE in sera from broccoli-allergic patients. This indicates that there were no unexpected effects on allergenicity in this GM broccoli (AU)

Translational positioning of a magnetic domain wall in ferromagnetic nanowires using a stray field filter.

Understanding the interaction between the magnetic domain wall and the various artificial defects in ferromagnetic nanowires has been of utmost importance for the future realization of the spintronic devices based on the magnetic domain wall motion in nanowires. In this work, the chirality filter effect of the magnetic domain wall in T-shaped ferromagnetic nanowires with a stray field filter was investigated via micromagnetic simulation. A tapered wire was attached to the flat nanowires to form a potential barrier or well for the domain wall propagating along them. For the domain wall passing through the potential barrier or the potential well, the spin structure of the domain wall and the interaction between the domain wall and the potential barrier/well were investigated in detail. The chirality-dependent translational positioning of the domain wall was intensively examined for the potential barrier and potential well cases. The domain wall chirality transmission on relatively long length scales using a series of potential wells was explored.

Interaction of antiparallel transverse domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires.

The interaction of antiparallel transverse domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires was investigated via micromagnetic simulation with systematic variations of the external field strength as well as the wire thickness. The interaction of antiparallel transverse walls after domain wall collision exhibited damped multiple collisions due to the rigid structure of the antiparallel transverse walls. The detailed process during the multiple collisions was analyzed via the Fast Fourier Transform technique, along with a careful examination of the inner spin structures of the colliding domain walls. It was found that a frequency peak of multiple collisions shifted to a higher peak position as the external field strength increases. With a stronger field strength of around a few hundred mT, it was found that two antiparallel transverse walls were finally annihilated with formation of complex antivortex structures.

Three-dimensional spin configuration of ferromagnetic nanocubes.

We have systematically investigated three-dimensional spin configurations in ferromagnetic nanocubes using micromagnetic simulation with variation of cube geometry. For thin cuboids, a spin configuration exhibits a four-domain Landau state with a magnetic vortex structure at the center as in the case of a thin film square. For a thick cube, a complex spin configuration with an S-type cylindrically asymmetric vortex having two cores on a pair of surfaces while a leaf-like and a C-type states are observed on the other two pairs of cube surfaces. Competition between the geometrical symmetry and magnetic energy minimization condition in ferromagnetic nanocubes leads to the complex spin structure with a spontaneously broken symmetry.

Effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaf on inflammatory cytokine and mediator induction from alveolar macrophages of chronic bronchitic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The study was to evaluate the effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (thunb.) lindl. leaf (TAL) on inflammatory cytokine and mediator expression in alveolar macrophages (AM) of chronic bronchitic (CB) rats. METHODS: CB was induced by endotracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) followed by Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) injection via the caudal vein one week later. Treatment groups received TAL at there different doses (50, 150, or 450 mg/kg daily i. g.), Ketotifen fumarate (5 mg/kg daily i. g.) or dexamethasone (1.2 mg/kg daily i. g.) for two weeks, 7 days after LPS injection. AM were then isolated and incubated for 24 h. IL-1, TNF-alpha and PGE2 levels in cultured supernatants were measured by thymocyte co-stimulating assay and radioimmunoassay. Immunocytochemistry staining and western-blot were used for intracellular location and activation of p65 subunit of NF-kB. LTB(4) level was analyzed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). RESULTS: The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, NF-kB, PGE2 and LTB(4) expression in AM of TAL groups were significantly decreased compared to the CB group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: TAL inhibited NF-kB activation in AM from CB rats and led to down regulation of TNF-alpha, IL-1, PGE(2) and LTB(4) expression, which might be a mechanism for its anti-inflammatory effects in CB rats.

Placenta growth factor expression is correlated with survival of patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlates with vascularity, metastasis, and proliferation in colorectal cancer but the role of its homologue, placenta growth factor (PlGF), is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression and clinical implications of PlGF in colorectal cancer. METHODS: We investigated 74 tumour/non-tumour pairs of colorectal cryosections. Clinical staging was based on the UICC-TNM classification. Expression levels of mRNA for PlGF and VEGF were analysed with quantitative real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Proteins were analysed by immunohistochemical staining and enzyme linked immunoabsorbant assay. Analysis of the differences in PlGF and VEGF levels between tumour and non-tumour tissues in the same patient were performed by paired t test; differences between localised and advanced disease patients by the Mann-Whitney, chi(2), and Fisher's exact tests and survival curves by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Expression levels for both growth factors were significantly higher in tumour than in non-tumour tissues (p

Negative association between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene Val158Met polymorphism and persistent tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.

Chronic administration of typical antipsychotic agents, which mainly act on the dopamine receptors, implicates a role of dopamine system on the susceptibility of tardive dyskinesia (TD). In the present study, the association between a functional Val158Met polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and TD occurrence and TD severity was investigated in 299 Chinese schizophrenic patients with long-term antipsychotic treatment (TD: 166, non-TD: 133). After adjusting the effects of confounding factors, there was no significant association between COMT genotype and TD occurrence (p=0.367). Among TD patients, we found no significant correlation between COMT genotypes and the total scores of abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) (p=0.629). We concluded that this COMT polymorphism might not play a major role in the susceptibility of TD nor on the severity of TD.

Association analysis of a neural nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism and antipsychotics-induced tardive dyskinesia in Chinese schizophrenic patients.

Recent findings from rodent studies with chronic administration of antipsychotic drugs have indicated the role of neural nitric oxide synthase (NOS1) on the susceptibility of tardive dyskinesia (TD). In the present study, the association between a 3'-untranslated region C267T (3'-UTR C267T) polymorphism of the NOS1 gene and TD as well as TD severity was investigated in 251 Chinese schizophrenic patients with long-term antipsychotic treatment (TD: 128, non-TD: 123). After adjusting the effects of confounding factors, there was no significant association between NOS1 3'-UTR C276T genotypes and TD occurrence (p=0.758). With in the TD group, we could not discover a significant correlation between NOS1 3'-UTR C276T genotypes and the scores of abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS) (p=0.219 and 0.774). We concluded that the NOS1 3'-UTR C276T polymorphism might not play a major role in the susceptibility of TD development, or on the severity of TD.

Minilaparoscopic (needlescopic) cholecystectomy: a study of 1,011 cases.

BACKGROUND: The safety and feasibility of minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been documented with a large patient sample. This study reports the results of 1,011 minilaparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in a single institution. METHODS: From November 1997 to May 2002, 1,023 consecutive patients underwent minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Patients with clinical evidence of common bile duct stones (1 patient) and combined surgery for other purposes (11 patients) were excluded. The operative indication, total operative time, conversion rate, hospital stay, morbidity and mortality of 1,011 patients were reviewed and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1,009 of 1,011 patients (375 males and 636 female; mean age, 54.8 years; range 13-92 years). The total operative time was 68.8 +/- 31.9 min. The total hospital stay was 2.5 +/- 2 days. One patient (0.10%) underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy because of common hepatic duct laceration. One patient (0.10%) underwent conversion to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy for control of cystic artery bleeding. Ten patients (0.99%) experienced major complications including intraabdominal abscess (1 patient), bile leakage (5 patients), major bile duct injury (2 patients), bowel injury (1 patient), and postoperative hemorrhage (1 patient). Eleven patients (1.09%) had minor complications including wound infection, incisional herniation, postoperative ileus, and acute urine retention. One patient (0.10%) with bleeding tendency succumbed to postoperative hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy is a technically demanding approach. Our results indicate that this procedure could be performed successfully and safely by experienced surgical teams.