Global trend of diabetes mortality attributed to vascular complications, 2000-2016.

Background: The global epidemic of diabetes mellitus continues to grow and affects developed and developing countries alike. Intensive glycemic control is thought to modify the risks for vascular complications, hence the risks for diabetes-related death. We investigated the trend of diabetic vascular complication-related deaths between 2000 and 2016 in the global diabetes landscape.

Pancreatic Angiopathy Associated With Islet Amyloid and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is histopathologically characterized by islet amyloid and is closely connected with vascular complications. Here, we explore the presence of pancreatic angiopathy (PA) associated with islet amyloid and T2D.

Methods: From a total of 172 autopsy cases who had a history of T2D diagnosis, we randomly selected 30 T2D autopsy cases with islet amyloid (DA+) in comparison with islet amyloid-free (DA-) 30 T2D cases and 60 nondiabetic (ND) controls.

Obesity in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Obesity is common in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The effects of obesity on clinical outcomes of COVID-19 warrant systematical investigation.

Objective: This study explores the effects of obesity with the risk of severe disease among patients with COVID-19.

Amyloids in Site-Specific Autoimmune Reactions and Inflammatory Responses.

Amyloid deposition is a histological hallmark of common human disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes. Although some reports highlight that amyloid fibrils might activate the innate immunity system via pattern recognition receptors, here, we provide multiple lines of evidence for the protection by site-specific amyloid protein analogs and fibrils against autoimmune attacks: (1) strategies targeting clearance of the AD-related brain amyloid plaque induce high risk of deadly autoimmune destructions in subjects with cognitive dysfunction; (2) administration of amyloidogenic peptides with either full length or core hexapeptide structure consistently ameliorates signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; (3) experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is exacerbated following genetic deletion of amyloid precursor proteins; (4) absence of islet amyloid coexists with T-cell-mediated insulitis in autoimmune diabetes and autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome; (5) use of islet amyloid polypeptide agonists rather than antagonists improves diabetes care; and (6) common suppressive signaling pathways by regulatory T cells are activated in both local and systemic amyloidosis. These findings indicate dual modulation activity mediated by amyloid protein monomers, oligomers, and fibrils to maintain immune homeostasis.

The Folate Pathway Inhibitor Pemetrexed Pleiotropically Enhances Effects of Cancer Immunotherapy.

Purpose: Combination strategies leveraging chemotherapeutic agents and immunotherapy have held the promise as a method to improve benefit for patients with cancer. However, most chemotherapies have detrimental effects on immune homeostasis and differ in their ability to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD). The approval of pemetrexed and carboplatin with anti-PD-1 (pembrolizumab) for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer represents the first approved chemotherapy and immunotherapy combination.

Postmortem Study Exploring Distribution and Patterns of Intracranial Artery Calcification.

Background and Purpose- Intracranial artery calcification detected by computed tomography is associated with ischemic stroke as an indicator of intracranial atherosclerosis. However, little is known about its histopathology. This study aimed to explore the intracranial calcification patterns and their associations with atherosclerotic plaques.

Correlation of Adventitial Vasa Vasorum with Intracranial Atherosclerosis: A Postmortem Study.

Background And Purpose: Vasa vasorum (VV) have been believed to be rare or non-existent in small-caliber intracranial arteries. In a series of human cerebral artery specimens, we identified and examined the distribution of VV in association with co-existing intracranial atherosclerosis.

Methods: We obtained cerebral artery specimens from 32 consecutive autopsies of subjects aged 45 years or above.

Expression and clinical significance of HOXA5, E-cadherin, and β-catenin in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: HOXA5 has been identified as a biomarker in pathogenesis of several cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer cells. The role has not been explored in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

Methods: Tissues of 120 cases with CSCC and 30 controls with chronic cervicitis were constructed from our archived surgical pathology files and staining with HOXA5.

Interaction of renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms with hypertension in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes and retinopathy.

Background: The objective of this research was to investigate the interaction of RAS gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and genotyping for the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D and angiotensinogen (AGT) gene M/T polymorphisms was performed using the polymerase chain reaction method. 311 T1DM patients were recruited for the assessment of ACE and AGT polymorphisms relating to DR.

Family history and renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A positive family history is recognized as an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the association of family history with rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms has not been reported yet, thus we aim to investigate it.Family history records, clinical and biochemical data were obtained from 1239 T2DM patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotyping and PCR-restricted fragment length polymorphism was used for angiotensinogen (AGT) genotyping.

The relationship between ACE/AGT gene polymorphisms and the risk of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association between renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We consecutively included 1491 patients for the assessment of ACE I/D and AGT M/T gene polymorphisms in 345 DR cases and 1146 patients without retinopathy (DNR). Albuminuria was defined by urine albumin creatinine ratio and albumin excretion rate.

Risk for cancer in living kidney donors and recipients.

Objective: Malignancy following renal transplantation remains inconsistent with the reported safety of kidney donation during the long-term follow-up.

Methods: We conducted searches of the published literature which included healthy participants, recipients, living kidney donors (LKDs), and the availability of outcome data for malignancy. Eight from 938 potentially relevant studies were analyzed by means of fixed-effects model or random-effects model, as appropriately.

Efficacy and safety of pramlintide injection adjunct to insulin therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of pramlintide plus insulin therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: We included clinical studies comparing pramlintide plus insulin to placebo plus insulin. Efficacy was reflected by glycemic control and reduction in body weight and insulin use.