SLC7A11 suppresses pyroptosis to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis development by modulating the IL-17 pathway.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms by which solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) influences RA development.

Methods: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice were constructed to observe disease onset and pathological scores.

RXRα/MR signaling promotes diabetic kidney disease by facilitating renal tubular epithelial cells senescence and metabolic reprogramming.

Cell senescence and metabolic reprogramming are significant features of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, the underlying mechanisms between cell senescence and metabolic reprogramming are poorly defined. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor α (RXRα), a key nuclear receptor transcription factor, regulates cell senescence and metabolic reprogramming in DKD.

Retinal thickness and microvascular alterations observed by optical coherence tomography in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a cross-sectional study.

Background: As an autoimmune disease, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) often affects multiple organs, including the ocular system. This study aims to investigate differences in retinal thickness (RT) and retinal superficial vascular density (SVD) between patients with AAV and healthy controls (HCs) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Currently, these differences are not clear.

CRIP1 supports the growth and migration of AML-M5 subtype cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous hematopoietic disorder. To effectively eradicate AML, it is urgent to develop new therapeutic approaches and identify novel molecular targets. In silico analysis indicated that the expression of cysteine-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1) was significantly elevated in AML cells and correlated with worse overall survival of the AML patients.

Brown adipose tissue transplantation ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through the miR-30b pathway by targeting Runx1.

Objective: Adipose tissue is a major source of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) that can regulate target genes in distant organs. However, the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is still unknown. We studied the original BAT miR-30b targeting two key fibrotic regulators, Runt-related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) and snail family zinc finger 1 (Snail1), to combat DKD.

Exendin-4 Improves Diabetic Kidney Disease in C57BL/6 Mice Independent of Brown Adipose Tissue Activation.

Background: The role of exendin-4 in brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation was not very clear. This study is to verify the role of BAT involved in renal benefits of exendin-4 in diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into nondiabetic (control) and diabetic groups (DM).

Transplantation of brown adipose tissue up-regulates miR-99a to ameliorate liver metabolic disorders in diabetic mice by targeting NOX4.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), main cause of liver damage, is inextricably linked to diabetes. However, there is no specific means to improve the pathology of fatty liver in diabetic patients. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important endocrine organ that secretes adipokines and microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in systemic metabolic regulation.

Increased oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in perirenal adipose tissue of patients with cortisol-producing adenoma.

Although much is known about that corticosteroids affect the functions of adipose tissues, little genetic information is available for perirenal adipose tissue (peri-N) from patients with cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA). We conducted microarray analysis of peri-N from patients with CPA by using an Affymetrix human U133 plus 2.0 array.

Genetic Analysis of SLC12A3 Gene in Chinese Patients with Gitelman Syndrome.

BACKGROUND The incidence of Gitelman syndrome (GS) has been increasing in our hospital. The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic accuracy and features of SLC12A3 gene in Chinese patients with GS. MATERIAL AND METHODS We searched the literature about Chinese patients with GS in the PubMed database up to July 2018 and also included 8 GS Chinese patients from our hospital in our analysis that explored the features of SLC12A3 gene.

[Effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on body fat redistribution and muscle mass in overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients].

Objective: To investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on body fat redistribution and muscle mass in overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 76 patients with body mass indexes (BMI)≥24 kg/m, who had an established diagnosis of T2DM in our department between December, 2014 and September, 2015. We divided these patients according to their BMI in overweight group (BMI of 24-27.

Renoprotective effects of brown adipose tissue activation in diabetic mice.

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been regarded as a potential target organ to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders. However, the effect of BAT activation on the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains unclear.

Methods: Diabetic mice were induced by streptozotocin (STZ) combined with a high-fat diet.

Verapamil Attenuated Prediabetic Neuropathy in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice through Inhibiting TXNIP-Mediated Apoptosis and Inflammation.

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus. There is still a lack of an effective treatment to DN because of its complex pathogenesis. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), an endogenous inhibitor of thioredoxin, has been shown to be associated with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) attenuates atherosclerosis in apo-E knock-out mice possibly through reducing triglyceride and anti-inflammation.

Background: Bitter melon (BM, Momordica charantia) has been accepted as an effective complementary treatment of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and etc. However it is unclear whether BM can prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. To confirm the effects of BM on atherosclerosis and explore its underlying mechanisms, we design this study.

Metformin Improves Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-1 in Renal Tubular Epithelial NRK-52E Cells via Inhibiting Egr-1.

The early growth response- (Egr-) 1 has been found to play a key role in organ fibrosis. Metformin has been shown to be effective in attenuating renal tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is involved in renal fibrosis. However, it is unknown whether metformin improves EMT via inhibiting Egr-1.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin protects against dyslipidemia-related kidney injury in Apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

The goal of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of sitagliptin against dyslipidemia-related kidney injury in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice. Eight-week-old male apoE-/- mice were randomized to receive either a high fat diet (HFD, apoE-/- group) or HFD mixed with sitagliptin (sita + apoE-/- group) for 16 weeks. A control group of age- and gender-matched C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD.

Exendin-4 alleviates high glucose-induced rat mesangial cell dysfunction through the AMPK pathway.

Background/aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which counteracts insulin resistance in humans with type 2 diabetes, has been shown to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in experimental models. However, the mechanisms through which GLP-1 modulates renal function remained illdefined. The present study investigated the putative mechanisms underlying effects of exendin-4, a GLP-1 analog, on mesangial cell proliferation and fibronectin.

The DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin attenuates the progress of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E-knockout mice via AMPK- and MAPK-dependent mechanisms.

Background: The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin, a new anti-diabetic medicine, is effective in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus by increasing the activation and duration of action of glucagon-like peptide-1. Since atherosclerosis is the main pathological feature of diabetic cardiovascular complications, it is important to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of sitagliptin and explore the relevant mechanisms.

Methods: Male apolipoprotein-E-knockout mice were randomly divided into two groups and fed either high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD plus sitagliptin at a concentration of 0.

[Secondary organic tracers in summer PM2.5 aerosols from Baima Spring Scenic Area, Yaan, Sichuan Province].

Integrated PM2.5 aerosol samples were collected at Baima Spring Scenic Area, a forest site of Yaan, Sichuan Province, during the summer of 2010. Organic speciation including isoprene oxidation products (2-methyltetrols, C5-alkene trols, 2-methylyceric acid), alpha-/beta-pinene oxidation products (norpinic acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, 3-methy-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid), and small molecular carboxylic acid (malic acid, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid) were analyzed.

[Regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism by adiponectin via IRS-2 phosphorylation in OLETF rats].

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of adiponectin on hepatic lipid metabolism in Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats.

Methods: Twenty male OLETF rats and 10 male Long-Evans Tokushima (LETO) rats were sacrificed at 8, 32 or 40-week old to examine the fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, adiponectin and blood lipid profile. The levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, adiponectin, phosphotyrosine of IRS-2, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) mRNA in liver tissue were determined by chemical enzymatic assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western blot.

[Relationship between intrauterine infection and the gene polymorphism of DC-SIGN/DC-SIGNR in the pregnant women of HBV positive].

Objective: To investigate the influence of the individual genotype differences of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR on the mother-to-neonate intrauterine infection of HBV.

Methods: The genotypes of the gene DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR in the pregnant women with HBV positive were detected by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. The significant difference of gene diversity of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR was analyzed by chi-square test.