Association between blood cadmium and vitamin D levels in the Yangtze Plain of China in the context of rapid urbanization.

Background: China has experienced rapid urbanization in the past 30 years. We aimed to report blood cadmium level (BCL) in the rapidly urbanized Yangtze Plain of China, and explore the association between BCL and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D).

Methods: Our data source was the Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China) cross-sectional study (ChiCTR-ECS-14005052, www.

Relationship between Free Thyroxine and Islet Beta-cell Function in Euthyroid Subjects.

Thyroid hormones have a specific effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion from the pancreas. We aimed to investigate the association between euthyroid hormones and islet beta-cell function in general population and non-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. A total of 5089 euthyroid participants (including 4601 general population and 488 non-treated T2DM patients) were identified from a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of metabolic diseases and risk factors in East China from February 2014 to June 2016.

Identification of three novel mutations in Chinese patients with 5α-reductase 2 deficiency.

In this study, we investigated the genetics, clinical features, and therapeutic approach of 14 patients with 5α-reductase deficiency in China. Genotyping analysis was performed by direct sequencing of PCR products of the steroid 5α-reductase type 2 gene (SRD5A2). The 5α-reductase activities of three novel mutations were investigated by mutagenesis and an in vitro transfection assay.

Low vitamin D levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, evidence for their independent association in men in East China: a cross-sectional study (Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China)).

Recent studies have suggested an association between vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, some results are subject to debate. This study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between NAFLD and vitamin D in men and women in East China. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study that focused on the health and metabolic status of adults in sixteen areas of East China.

Decreased hepatic glucose production in obese rats by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor sitagliptin.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitors are now used to improve postprandial glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. However, their effects on hepatic glucose production (HGP) in obesity are not clear. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that gluconeogenesis and HGP can be modulated by DPP-4 inhibitors in obesity.

Acute effects of different glycemic index diets on serum motilin, orexin and neuropeptide Y concentrations in healthy individuals.

Aim: To determine whether different glycemic index (GI) diets have different effects on the acute secretion of motilin, orexin and neuropeptide Y (NPY), regulators of food intake, energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism.

Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups and were fed an isocaloric breakfast (464 kcal) containing high GI (HGI; GI=90) or low GI (LGI; GI=47) components. Serum motilin, orexin, and NPY concentrations were measured before (0 h) and 2h after the meal.

Trace glucose and lipid metabolism in high androgen and high-fat diet induced polycystic ovary syndrome rats.

Background: There is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and dyslipidemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different metabolic pathways in the development of diabetes mellitus in high-androgen female mice fed with a high-fat diet.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group(C), n = 10; the andronate-treated group (Andronate), n = 10 (treated with andronate, 1 mg/100 g body weight/day for 8 weeks); and the andronate-treated and high-fat diet group (Andronate+HFD), n = 10.

[Preliminary study on in vitro tendon engineering using tenocytes and polyglycolic acids].

Objective: To find out the feasibility of tendon engineering in vitro using expanded tenocytes and polyglycolic acids (PGA).

Methods: Tenocytes were isolated using tissue explant method and expanded in vitro. Tenocytes (20 x 10(6)) at the second passage were collected and then seeded onto PGA unwoven fibers to form a cell-scaffold construct in a shape of tendon.