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Aims. Protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) pathway mutations lead to failure of β-cell function. The aim of this article was to assess the association between eIF2α and the risk of glucose metabolism abnormalities. Methods. Two eIF2α SNPs (rs9840992 T>C and rs13072593 A>G) were selected based on CHB data from HapMap, and 1466 unrelated nondiabetes individuals were genotyped. All subjects were examined by the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and 733 participated in a subsequent insulin release test. Various indicators of insulin resistance and islet β-cell function were examined. Results. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency between the prediabetes and controls. CC genotype carriers at rs9840992 showed higher insulin levels at 120 min after a 75 g glucose load than noncarriers. Also, CC homozygotes had higher ΔI30/ΔG30 and ΔI120/ΔG120 than noncarriers, even after adjusting for insulin resistance. CC homozygotes had greater AUCi values than noncarriers. Subjects aged ≥ 65 yrs, those with a BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and those carrying the rs9840992 risk allele, had a 2.5-fold higher risk of glucose abnormalities than subjects who had none of these risk factors. Conclusion. The eIF2α polymorphism is associated with islet β-cell function in a Chinese population.

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) bestows protective effects upon the cardiovascular system through direct cardiovascular interactions or by improvements to metabolic function. Both these effects are thought to be at least partly mediated by the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). This case-controlled study investigated whether polymorphisms in the GLP-1R gene affect the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese Han population. Methods. Eleven haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), distributed across 22 kb of the 39 kb GLP-1R gene, were selected and genotyped in diabetic patients from a Chinese Han population. Patients were classified based on the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Coronary artery stenosis was ≥50% in 394 patients (coronary artery disease- (CAD-) positive group), and coronary artery stenosis was

Background. Recent studies indicated that the Serine threonine kinase 11 (STK11), which is a key regulator of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), plays a crucial role in cardiovascular system. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic variations in the STK11 gene affect the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese type 2 diabetics. Methods. 5 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected, and 288 CAD-positive cases and 159 CAD-negative controls with type 2 diabetes were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results. The carriers of minor allele A at rs12977689 had a higher risk of CAD compared to the homozygotes of CC (OR = 1.572, 95% CI = 1.039–2.376, p=0.035), and the difference was still significant after adjustment for the other known CAD risk factors (OR′ = 1.184, 95% CI′ = 1.036–1.353, p′=0.013). Conclusion. Genetic variability at STK11 locus is associated with CAD risk in type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population.

Space charge distribution and breakdown strength were investigated in composites of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and various contents of montmorillonite (MMT). The disperse performance of MMT in LDPE was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. For MMT concentration of 1 wt%, the better intercalation of LDPE into MMT interlayers and the tighter interface structure between polymer-filler were observed, relative to MMT concentration of 3 and 5 wt%. Space charge profiles were obtained using the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method. Less space charge accumulated in the LDPE/MMT with MMT content of 1 wt% than that in pure LDPE, and space charge in the central of LDPE/MMT was much more uniformly. On the other hand, when MMT concentration was up to 3 and 5wt%, large amounts of hetero charges were accumulated in the sample bulk. In MMT doped samples the dielectric strength increased up to a maximum at 1wt% loading, and then decreases at 3 and 5wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]