Folic acid attenuates cognitive dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction is common in patients with diabetes but its pathogenesis is not clear. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of 5', 10' methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) in the development of diabetic cognitive impairment and test whether folic acid (FA) supplementation prevents cognitive dysfunction in diabetic rats. In the current study, three months after streptozotocin-induced diabetes onset, rats showed cognitive dysfunction including the prolonged escape latency, the decreased time spent in the target quadrant and the declined number of crossing the platform in Morris water maze test.

The performance of a diabetic retinopathy risk score for screening for diabetic retinopathy in Chinese overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common chronic microvascular diabetic complication. The presence of DR may indicate microcirculatory dysfunction in other organ systems besides visual morbidity. The objective of this study was to develop a simple diabetic retinopathy risk score to identify DR in Chinese overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

[A cross-sectional survey on prevalence and risk factors for abnormal plasma liver enzymes in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors for abnormal plasma liver enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from 60 tertiary and secondary hospitals in Guangdong Province between August 2011 and March 2012. The abnormal plasma liver enzymes was diagnosed as alanine aminotransferase >40 U/L and/or aspartate aminotransferase >40 U/L.

[Prevalence and risk factors for dyslipidemia in diabetics with overweight or obesity].

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors for dyslipidemia in diabetics with overweight or obesity.

Methods: Diabetics with overweight or obesity were recruited from 62 tertiary and secondary hospitals in Guangdong Province between August 2011 and March 2012. Dyslipidemia was diagnosed as total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 5.

Prevalence and determinants of hyperuricemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with central obesity in Guangdong Province in China.

This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of hyperuricemia in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with central obesity. A multicentric hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Guangdong Province between August 2011 and March 2012. At each hospital, Chinese T2DM patients with central obesity who were aged over 20 years, whose serum uric acid levels were measured, and who had lived in Guangdong Province for >=1 year, were recruited.

[A cross-sectional survey of blood pressure control in overweight or obese type 2 diabetic patients in Guangdong province].

Objective: To investigate the current situation and influential factors of blood pressure (BP) control in type 2 diabetic patients with overweight or obesity in Guangdong province.

Methods: From August 2011 to March 2012, type 2 diabetic patients with overweight or obesity were recruited from 60 hospitals in 20 cities of Guangdong province, and received standard questionnaires. The conditions of demographic data, clinical examinations, the most recent laboratory assessment, history of disease and drug therapy were recorded.

Prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy in a high-risk Chinese population.

Background: Lifestyle plays an important role in the development of diabetic retinopathy. The lifestyle in Guangzhou is different from other cities in China as the Cantonese prefer eating rice porridge, but not spicy foods. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and determinants of diabetic retinopathy in a high-risk population of Guangzhou.

[A cross-sectional survey on current status of type 2 diabetes mellitus with overweight or obesity in Guangdong province].

Objective: To explore the glycemic control status and related risk factors of overweight or obesity patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Guangdong province.

Methods: The medical records of overweight or obesity patients with T2DM from 60 tertiary and secondary hospitals in Guangdong Province were collected by questionnaire and physical examination. And the clinical data were analyzed to explore the influencing factors of glycemic control.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) protects vascular endothelial cells against advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced apoptosis.

Background: The peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone secreted by intestinal L cells in response to food intake. GLP-1 has been proposed as the basis of emerging therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of GLP-1 on vascular injury in diabetes have not been identified.

[Cross-sectional study of current situation of glycemic control with type 1 diabetes in Guangdong Province].

Objective: To investigate the glycemic control and the related factors of type 1 diabetic patients in Guangdong Province.

Methods: Medical records and blood samples of type 1 diabetic patients were collected in 89 tertiary and secondary hospitals from all of the 21 cities in Guangdong Province. The clinical data were analyzed to explore the correlates of glycemic control.

[Clinical significance of glycosylated serum protein in patients with diabetic nephropathy].

Objective: To explore the relations between fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and glycosylated serum protein (GSP).

Methods: FBG, HbA1c and GSP were measured in 303 patients with diabetic nephropathy and in 167 non-diabetic patients with comparable baseline data, and the correlations between FBG, HbA1c and GSP were analyzed.

Results: GSP levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy than in the non-diabetic patients (P<0.

[Relations between serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and type 2 diabetes in a community population].

Objective: To study the relationship between the serum levels of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) level and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a community population.

Methods: A total of 255 residents (aged 45-85 years) were randomly selected from 4 communities in Guangzhou to examine the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure (BP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum A-FABP and fasting insulin (FINs) levels.

[Analysis of glucose levels and the risk for coronary heart disease in elderly patients in Guangzhou Haizhu district].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes and their association with the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly residents in Haizhu District of Guangzhou.

Methods: Stratified random sampling was employed to select a total of 1800 resident aged 50 years or older in the region. The fasting fingertip blood glucose>5.

[Preventive and therapeutic effect of strontium ranelate on osteoporosis in rats subjected to simulated weightlessness].

Objective: To study the effects of strontium ranelate on osteoporosis induced by simulated weightlessness in male rats.

Methods: Twenty-seven male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the normal control group (group A) and two groups of weightlessness simulated by tail suspension (groups B and C). The rats in group C were treated with strontium ranelate, and those in the other two groups were given the same dose of normal saline for 28 consecutive days.

[Protective effect of losartan on insulin secretion function of RIN-m cells against angiotensin II-induced injury and the mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of losartan against angiotensin II (AngII)-induced beta cell (RIN-m) impairment and explore its mechanism.

Methods: In vitro cultured RIN-m cells were divided into control group, 100 nmol/L AngII group and losartan pretreatment group. After cell incubation with the corresponding agents for 24 h, the amount of basal (3.

[Transcription and promoter hypermethylation of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor gene in human papillary thyroid carcinoma].

Objective: To study the mRNA expression of the tumor suppressor gene thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the correlation between aberrant promoter methylation of TSHR gene and the tumorigenesis of PTC.

Methods: RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of TSHR gene in 50 PTC cases, 20 cases of nodular goiter and 12 cases of thyroid adenoma tissue. The status of TSHR gene promoter methylation was determined using methylation-specific PCR technique.

[Effects of small interfering RNA targeting connective tissue growth factor on high glucose-induced human tubular epithelial hypertrophy].

Objective: To observe the effect of transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on human tubular epithelial hypertrophy induced by high glucose.

Methods: HK-2 cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing 1 g/L glucose (normal control group), 4.5 g/L glucose (high glucose group), or 1 g/L glucose+3.

[Isolation, purification and functional identification of Syrian golden hamster islets].

Objective: To establish the methods for isolation, purification and function identification of Syrian golden hamster islets.

Methods: The Langerhans islets were isolated and purified from golden hamster pancreas by intra-ductal collagenase V perfusion and discontinuous Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. After isolation, the islet yield and purity were evaluated with DTZ staining.

[A survey of glucose and lipid metabolism and concomitant diseases among inpatients in Guangdong province].

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of dyslipidemia as well as its treatment and influence on accompanying diseases in impaired glucose status among inpatients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the inpatients registered in ten university hospitals of Guangdong, China during the week before the Diabetes Day in 2004. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR) and concomitant disorders of the first screen during the hospitalization period were recorded.

[An infrared imaging system for detecting electrophoretic mobility shift of DNA-protein complexes].

Objective: To establish a new non-radioactive method for electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to investigate the binding between glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper (GILZ) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) promoter oligonucleotides.

Methods: GILZ protein prepared by prokaryotic expression was linked to PPARgamma2 promoter oligonucleotides end-labeled with IRDye 800 infrared dye. The DNA-protein complex was separated with non-denatured polyacrylamide gel and scanned with the Odyssey.

[Effect of high glucose exposure on connective tissue growth factor expression in cultured human renal tubular epithelial cells and the role of p38MAPK pathway].

Objective: To observe the effect of high glucose exposure on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in cultured human renal tubular epithelial cells and investigate the role of p38MAPK pathway in this process.

Methods: Human renal tubular epithelial cells (HKC) with and without SB203580 pretreatment were cultured in the presence of high glucose levels for 24, 48, 72, 96 h and 20 days. RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining, indirect fluorescence staining and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in CTGF mRNA and protein expressions in the cells after the treatment.

Inadequate glycaemic control and antidiabetic therapy among inpatients with type 2 diabetes in Guangdong Province of China.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become epidemic in recent years in China. We investigated the prevalence of hyperglycaemia and inadequate glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic inpatients from ten university teaching hospitals in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: Inadequate glycaemic control in diabetic patients was defined as HbA1c = 6.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Shen and strengthening the bone on rat distal femur cancellous bone in simulated weightlessness: an observation with scanning electron microscope].

Objective: To observe the effect of Chinese herbal medicine for supplementing Shen and strengthening the bone on distal femoral trabecular ultrastructure of male rats subjected to simulated weightlessness.

Methods: Fifteen male SD rats were randomized equally into 3 groups, including a control group (group A, in which the rats were allowed free movement) and two simulated weightlessness (via tail suspension) groups (group B and C). The rats in group C were treated with the commercially available Chinese herbal preparation, and those in the other two groups received normal saline at the same dose, for a treatment course of 28 days.

[Comparison of continuous and discontinuous density gradient centrifugation for purification of human pancreatic islets].

Objective: To compare the effect of continuous and discontinuous density gradient centrifugation for purification of human pancreatic islets with COBE 2991 cell processor.

Methods: Human pancreases were obtained from brain-dead donors and stored in cold UW solution. The connective tissues were removed from the pancreases, and the pancreatic ducts were perfused with a cold enzyme (Liberase).

[Isolation and purification of human islet cells with semi-automated digestion].

Objective: To establish an semi-automated effective method for large-scale purification of islet cells from human pancreas.

Methods: Human pancreas tissue was digested with collagenase P using a semi-automated pancreas-digestion system followed by purification in a HCA-Ficoll continuous gradient using Cobe2991 cell separator. After isolation, the islet cell yield and purity was evaluated with light microscope with DTZ staining, and the islet function assessed by insulin release assay in vitro.