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Abstract While many studies have sought to explore the degree to which sarcopenia-related traits are associated with cognitive performance, these studies have yielded contradictory results without any clear indication of the causality of such relationships. In efforts to better understand associations between sarcopenia-related traits and cognitive ability, a series of multivariate linear regression assessments were carried out upon datasets derived through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Of these, cognitive performance was assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DDST), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Immediate Recall Test (CERAD-IR), Delayed Recall Test (CERAD-DR) and Animal Fluency Test (AFT). Causal relationships between the two were further inferred via a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis approach. Sarcopenia-related traits considered in these assessments included walking speed, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), and hand grip strength (HGS). Walking speed, ASM, and HGS were all significantly independently related to cognitive scores following adjustment for covariates. MR assessments also identified that each 1-SD higher walking speed and appendicular lean mass were causally and respectively associated with a 0.34 [standard error (SE) = 0.09; p

Abstract Background Modifying diet is crucial for diabetes and complication management. Numerous studies have shown that adjusting eating habits to align with the circadian rhythm may positively affect metabolic health. However, eating midpoint, eating duration, and their associations with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are poorly understood. Methods The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2020) was examined for information on diabetes and dietary habits. From the beginning and ending times of each meal, we calculated the eating midpoint and eating duration. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ 30 mg/g and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

Abstract The platelet/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (PHR) is a novel inflammatory and hypercoagulability marker that represents the severity of metabolic syndrome. Liver metabolic syndrome is manifested by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is associated with inflammation and hypercoagulability. This cross-sectional investigation aimed to identify the relationship between PHR and NAFLD. Participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 were evaluated for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis using vibration-controlled transient elastography. The PHR was calculated as the ratio of platelets to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Increased PHR was associated with an increased incidence of NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis. Compared with patients in the first PHR quartile, after adjustment for clinical variables, the corresponding odds ratio (OR) for NAFLD in the fourth quartile was 2.36 (95% CI, 1.76 to 3.18) (p 0.05). Furthermore, restricted cubic spline analyses showed an S-shaped association between PHR and NAFLD and an L-shaped relationship between PHR and hepatic fibrosis. The results support the effectiveness of PHR as a marker for NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, interventions to improve the PHR may be of benefit in reducing the incidence of both hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

Background: The aim of the study was to explore whether plasma stromal cel l-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) levels are associated with the EZSCAN score an d its derived indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: From July 2020 to December 2020, a total of 253 patients with T2D were consecutively recruited. Serum SDF-1 levels were measured by sa ndwich ELISA. EZSCAN test was applied to evaluate the sudomotor function of each pat ient, and based on the results, EZSCAN score, cardiac autonomic neuropathy risk sc ore (CANRS) and cardiovascular risk score (CVDRS) were calculated by particular algorithms. In addition, other relevant clinical data were also collected. Results: With increasing tertiles of serum SDF-1 levels, the CANRS and CVDRS significantly increased (both P for trend

Background: Fibrinogen albumin ratio (FAR) is significantly correlated with the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness is an early lesion of CVD, but no studies have examined the correlation between arterial stiffness and FAR. This study aimed to examine the relationship between FAR and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, patients with T2D were enrolled between January 2021 and April 2022. In each patient, the levels of fibrinogen and albumin in the serum, and baPWV in the serum were measured. A baPWV greater than 1800 cm/s was utilized to diagnose arterial stiffness.Results: The study included 413 T2D patients. The mean age of these participants was 52.56 ± 11.53 years, 60.8% of them were male, and 18.6% of them had arterial stiffness. There were significant differences in baPWV level and proportion of arterial stiffness (p < .001) between the four subgroups categorized by the FAR quartile. The relationships between the FAR and baPWV and arterial stiffness were significantly favorable in the overall population and subgroups of elderly men and non-elderly men (p < .01), while they were insignificant in subgroups of elderly and non-elderly women (p > .05). To investigate the correlation between the FAR and baPWV, the arterial stiffness and the FAR in male T2D patients, respectively, multivariable logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were developed. The lnFAR and lnbaPWV had a significant relationship in the multiple linear regression analysis fully adjusted model. After adjusting for potential covariables, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the FAR was independently associated with arterial stiffness [OR (95% CI), 1.075 (1.031–1.120)]. In addition, receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the best FAR cutoff value for detecting arterial stiffness in male T2D patients was 76.67 mg/g.Conclusion: The level of FAR had an independent and positive correlation with baPWV and arterial stiffness in male patients with T2D, but not in female patients.

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is essential for the differentiation and maturation of lymphocytes, while lymphocytes infiltration in thy roid tissue is a vital pathological feature of Graves’ disease (GD). The aim of the pr esent study was to compare the concentration of ADA between healthy controls (HC) and patients with GD, and evaluate the association between ADA and GD. Methods: A total of 112 GD patients and 77 matched HC were enrolled in this study. Each participant was examined for thyroid hormones and autoantibodie s, ADA concentration, and thyroid ultrasonography. Results: Serum ADA levels in GD patients were significantly higher than that in HC subgroup (P < 0.001). In GD patients, serum ADA levels were positively ass ociated with serum-free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, and total thyroid gland volume (thyroid VolT) and negatively associated with seru m thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH) levels (all P < 0.05). There were no similar correlations in the HC subgroup. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that se rum TSH, FT3, and ADA levels played an important role in serum TRAb levels. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that serum ADA levels were closely a ssociated with GD.

BackgroundSodium is a critically important component of bones, and hyponatremia has firmly been established as a risk factor associated with the incidence of fragility fractures. However, researches have also revealed that lower serum sodium are linked to reductions in muscle mass and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease even when these levels are within the normal range. Accordingly, this study was developed to examine the relationships between normal serum sodium concentrations and bone turnover in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsPatients with T2D were enrolled in the present study from January 2021 to April 2022. All patients underwent analyses of serum sodium levels, oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT), bone turnover markers (BTMs), and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning. BTMs included bone formation markers osteocalcin (OC) and N-terminal propeptide of type-I procollagen (PINP), and bone resorption marker C-terminal telopeptide (CTx). Patients were stratified into three subgroups based on the tertiles of their serum sodium concentrations.ResultsIn total, 372 patients with T2D and sodium levels in the normal range were enrolled in this study. Serum OC and PINP levels were increased from subgroup with the low sodium tertile to that with the high sodium tertile (p for trend < 0.05), whereas CTx level was comparable among the subgroups. A positive correlation was detected between serum sodium levels and both lnOC (r = 0.210, p < 0.001) and lnPINP (r = 0.196, p < 0.001), with these relationships remaining significant even following adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and HbA1c. Only after adjusting for these four factors a positive correlation was detected between serum sodium levels and CTx levels (r = 0.108, p < 0.05). Linear regression analyses revealed that following adjustment for potential covariates, serum sodium level was and positively significantly associated with lnOC level (β = 0.134, t = 2.281, p < 0.05) and PINP level (β = 0.179, t = 3.023, p < 0.01).ConclusionThese results highlight a significant association between low-normal serum sodium levels and low bone turnover.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association be tween adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in pat ients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, patients with T2D who had been screened f or DKD were recruited. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 6 0 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ 30 mg/g for 3 months were identified as having DKD. The prevalence of DKD was 13.3%, and the range of s erum ADA levels was 4–37 U/L. Serum ADA levels were positively associated with cyst atin C levels and UACR (r = 0.295 and r = 0.302, respectively, both P < 0.05) and negatively associated with eGFR (r = −0.342, P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with DKD increased signifi cantly from 3.8% in the first tertile (T1) to 13.6% in the second tertile (T 2) and 25.9% in the third tertile (T3) of ADA (P for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for clinical risk factors for DKD via multiple logistic regression, the corresponding odds ratios (ORs) of DKD for the participants in T2 and T3 vs those in T1 of ADA were 5.123 (1.282–20.474) and 1 0.098 (1.660–61.431), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the optimal cutoff value of ADA to indicate DKD was 10 U/L. Its correspondin g sensitivity and specificity were 75.5 and 56.4%, respectively. Our results demonstrated tha t serum ADA levels were closely associated with DKD and partly reflect the risk of DKD i n patients with T2D.

Abstract Background Deterioration of sleep quality has been reported to contribute to the incidence of diabetes and may be responsible for glycemic status in diabetes. The present study explored the relationship between sleep quality and glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods We recruited 111 patients with T2D for this cross-sectional study. Each patient underwent flash glucose monitoring for 14 days to obtain glycemic variability parameters, such as standard deviation of glucose (SD), coefficient of variation of glucose (CV), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), mean of daily differences (MODD), and time in glucose range of 3.9–10 mmol/L (TIR3.9–10). After 14 days of flash glucose monitoring, each patient received a questionnaire on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate subjective sleep quality. HbA1c was also collected to assess average glucose. Results HbA1c was comparable among the subgroups of PSQI score tertiles. Across ascending tertiles of PSQI scores, SD, CV and MAGE were increased, while TIR3.9–10 was decreased (p for trend

Background: Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval may reflect po or prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Serum adenosine deamina se (ADA) levels are related to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR) and inflammati on, which may participate in diabetic complications. We investigated the association of s erum ADA levels with prolonged QTc interval in a large-scale sample of patients with T2D. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 492 patients with T2 D were recruited. Serum ADA levels were determined by venous blood during fasting . QTc interval was estimated from resting 12-lead ECGs, and prolonged QTc interval was defined as QTc > 440 ms. Results: In this study, the prevalence of prolonged QTc interval was 22 .8%. Serum ADA levels were positively associated with QTc interval ( r = 0.324, P < 0.0001). The proportion of participants with prolonged QTc interval increased significan tly from 9.2% in the first tertile (T1) to 24.7% in the second tertile (T2) and 39.0% in t he third tertile (T3) of ADA (P for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for other possible risk fa ctors by multiple linear regression analysis, serum ADA level was still significantly ass ociated with QTc interval (β = 0.217, t = 3.400, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR 5.084, CI 2.379–10.864, P < 0.001), insulin-sensitizers treatment (OR 4.229, CI 1.290–13.860, P = 0.017) and ADA (OR 1.212, CI 1.094–1.343, P < 0.001) were independent contributors to prolonged QTc interval. Conclusions: Serum ADA levels were independently associated with prolonged QTc interval in patients with T2D.

BackgroundDyslipidemia is a well-recognized risk factor for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Growing evidences have shown that compared with the traditional lipid parameters, some lipid ratios may provide additional information of lipid metabolism. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate which lipid index was most related to DKD.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study that enrolled patients with T2D from January 2021 to October 2021. Each participant was screened for DKD, and the diagnostic criterion for DKD is estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ 30 mg/g for 3 months. Fasting blood was collected to determine lipid profiles by an automatic biochemical analyzer, and lipid ratios were calculated based on corresponding lipid parameters. Spearman’s correlation analyses were conducted to assess the correlations between lipid indices and kidney injury indices, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between lipid indices and the risk of DKD.ResultsA total of 936 patients with T2D were enrolled in the study, 144 (15.38%) of whom had DKD. The LDL-C/Apo B ratios were positively correlated with eGFR (r = 0.146, p < 0.05) and inversely correlated to cystatin C and UACR (r = -0.237 and -0.120, both p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that even after adjusting for other clinical covariates, the LDL-C/Apo B ratios were negatively related to DKD, and the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.481 (0.275–0.843). Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed that compared with patients with normal lipid profiles and a high LDL-C/Apo B ratio, the odds ratio of DKD in patients with normal lipid metabolism and a low LDL-C/Apo B ratio was 2.205 (1.136-4.280) after adjusting for other clinical covariates.ConclusionIn patients with T2D, the LDL-c/Apo B ratio was most closely associated with DKD among various lipid indices, and a lower LDL-C/Apo B ratio was associated with increased risks of DKD among patients with T2D.

BackgroundDyslipidemia may contribute to low bone turnover in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) through mediating oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apoprotein B (LDL-C/Apo B) ratio is a surrogate marker of small and density low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-C), a most harmful group of LDL-Cs. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the LDL-C/Apo B ratio and bone turnover in patients with T2D.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study enrolled patients with T2D from January 2021 to December 2021. Each participant was assessed for lipid profiles, bone turnover markers (BTMs), lumbar spine (L1-L4) and hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Osteoporosis was diagnosed as a T-score lower than or equal to -2.5 at the spine or hip.ResultsA total of 335 patients with T2D were enrolled in the study, and the LDL-C/Apo B ratio ranged from 0.78 to 4.00. Along with the LDL-C/Apo B ratio tertile ascending, osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal telopeptide (CTx) and N-terminal propeptide of type-I procollagen (PINP) levels gradually increased (all p < 0.05). There were no differences in lumbar spine and hip T-score, proportion of osteoporosis (all p > 0.05) among the three subgroups. The LDL-C/Apo B ratio was positively correlated with lnOC (r = 0.244, p < 0.001), lnCTx (r = 0.226, p < 0.01) and lnPINP (r = 0.211, p < 0.001). These significant positive correlations persisted even when divided into male and female subgroups. Furthermore, three multiple linear regression analyses were constructed to investigate the independent association of the LDL-C/Apo B ratio with the BTMs levels. After adjusting for other clinical parameters, the LDL-C/Apo B ratio was still significantly associated with OC level (β = 0.199, t = 3.348, p < 0.01), CTx level (β = 0.238, t = 4.084, p < 0.001) and PINP level (β = 0.162, t = 2.741, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe LDL-C/Apo B ratio was significantly and positively associated with BTMs in patients with T2D. In clinical practice, more attention should be paid to the patients with T2D whose LDL-C/Apo B ratio is relatively low for the purpose of maintaining bone health.

Image retake of radiological examinations not only increases the risk of radiation exposure of the patients, but also wastes the medical resource and degrades the quality of services of the hospitals. This study aimed at discovering factors affecting image retake of general digital radiography for setting guidelines to reduce the image retaking rate. A total of 98,503 general X-ray images retrieved from the picture archiving and communication system database of a medical center in central Taiwan were analyzed. The results showed that the total retaking rate was 4.89% with the position error (56.05%) was the main factor causing image retakes and chest examination showed the highest frequency (1544 cases). On the other hand, skull/face exhibited the highest retaking rate (9.81%) among various types of examinations. After discovering the factors affecting the image retaking rate, suitable guidelines were proposed and introduced. The image retake rate had been significantly reduced to 4.38% and 3.57% 1 month and 6 months, respectively, after the introduction of guidelines. In conclusion, image retake analysis is a quality indicator and is effective for quality assurance of digital radiology. Regular analysis of image retake can find factors inducing image retake and is useful for designing guidelines to reduce the image retake rate.

Background and Aims. To evaluate the effect of adding acarbose on glycemic excursions measured by continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) already on insulin therapy. Materials and Methods. This was an opened and unblended study. 134 patients with T2DM were recruited. After initial rapidly corrected hyperglycaemia by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) for 7 d, a 4–6-day premixed insulin titration period subsequently followed. Patients were then randomized 1 : 1 to acarbose plus insulin group or insulin therapy group for 2 weeks. CGMS was used to measure glucose fluctuations for at least 3 days after therapy cessation. Results. Patients in acarbose plus insulin group achieved a significant improvement of MAGE compared to that of insulin therapy only group (5.56±2.16 versus 7.50±3.28 mmol/L, P=0.044), accompanied by a significant decrease in the incremental AUC of plasma glucose concentration above 10.0 mmol/L (0.5 [0.03,0.9] versus 0.85 [0.23,1.4] mmol/L per day, P=0.037). Conclusions. Add-on acarbose to insulin therapy further improves glucose fluctuation in patients with T2DM. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov registration number ChiCTR-TRC-11001218.

Abstract Background Rickettsia and related diseases have been identified as significant global public health threats. This study involved comprehensive field and systematic investigations of various rickettsial organisms in Yunnan Province. Methods Between May 18, 2011 and November 23, 2020, field investigations were conducted across 42 counties in Yunnan Province, China, encompassing small mammals, livestock, and ticks. Preliminary screenings for Rickettsiales involved amplifying the 16S rRNA genes, along with additional genus- or species-specific genes, which were subsequently confirmed through sequencing results. Sequence comparisons were carried out using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using the default parameters in the Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) program. The chi-squared test was used to assess the diversities and component ratios of rickettsial agents across various parameters. Results A total of 7964 samples were collected from small mammals, livestock, and ticks through Yunnan Province and submitted for screening for rickettsial organisms. Sixteen rickettsial species from the genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia, and Wolbachia were detected, with an overall prevalence of 14.72%. Among these, 11 species were identified as pathogens or potential pathogens to humans and livestock. Specifically, 10 rickettsial organisms were widely found in 42.11% (24 out of 57) of small mammal species. High prevalence was observed in Dremomys samples at 5.60%, in samples from regions with latitudes above 4000 m or alpine meadows, and in those obtained from Yuanmou County. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis were broadly infecting multiple genera of animal hosts. In contrast, the small mammal genera Neodon, Dremomys, Ochotona, Anourosorex, and Mus were carrying individually specific rickettsial agents, indicating host tropism. There were 13 rickettsial species detected in 57.14% (8 out of 14) of tick species, with the highest prevalence (37.07%) observed in the genus Rhipicephalus. Eight rickettsial species were identified in 2375 livestock samples. Notably, six new Rickettsiales variants/strains were discovered, and Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii was unambiguously identified. Conclusions This large-scale survey provided further insight into the high genetic diversity and overall prevalence of emerging Rickettsiales within endemic hotspots in Yunnan Province. The potential threats posed by these emerging tick-borne Rickettsiales to public health warrant attention, underscoring the need for effective strategies to guide the prevention and control of emerging zoonotic diseases in China. Graphical Abstract

Background: Borrelia miyamotoi is a spirochete species transmitted via hard ticks. Following its discovery in Japan, this pathogen has been detected around the world, and is increasingly confirmed as a human pathogen causing febrile disease, namely relapsing fever. Its presence has been confirmed in the Northeast China. However, there is little information regarding the presence of B. miyamotoi and other hard-tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes in southern China including Yunnan province, where tick and animal species are abundant and many people both inhabit and visit for recreation. Methods: For the present study, we collected samples of ticks, wildlife, and domestic animal hosts from different counties in Yunnan province. Nucleic acids from samples were extracted, and the presence of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 16S rRNA specific target gene fragment. The positive samples were then amplified for partial genome of the flaB and glpQ genes. Statistical differences in its distribution were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Sequence of partial 16S rRNA, flaB and glpQ genome were analyzed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: A total of 8260 samples including 2304 ticks, 4120 small mammals and 1836 blood of domestic animal hosts were collected for screening for infection of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes. Cattle and sheep act as the main hosts and Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis nepalensis, H. kolonini and Ixodes ovatus were identified as the important vector host with high prevalence or wide distribution. Only one Mus caroli (mouse) and one Sorex alpinus (shrew) were confirmed positive for relapsing fever spirochetes. Evidence of vertical transmission in ticks was also confirmed. Two known strains of B. miyamotoi and one novel relapsing fever spirochetes, B. theileri-like agent, were confirmed and described with their host adaptation, mutation, and potential risk of spreading and spillover for human beings. Conclusions: Our results provide new evidence of relapsing fever spirochetes in vector and animal hosts in Yunnan province based on large sample sizes, and offer guidance on further investigation, surveillance and monitoring of this pathogen.

Background: Long-term chemotherapy reduces the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to chemotherapeutics like vincristine (VCR) and lead to drug resistance, which has become a major barrier for colon cancer treatment. Calcium antagonists are used as clinical tumor multidrug resistance reversal agents to regulate the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) level and block efflux pump function now, but they have significant side effects. Hyperin as active component with low toxicity in traditional Chinese medicine has calcium antagonistic effect. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the in hibitory effect of hyperin on the growth of HCT8/VCR colon cancer cell line (vincristine-resistant) and analyze the enhancing effect of hyperin on the sensitivity of cancer cells to VCR and its relationship to the expression and function of P-gp. Methods: Using the MTT method, we investigated the influence of hyperin, VCR alone, and hyperin plus VCR on the growth of HCT8/VCR cells. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression of P-gp, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate P-gp function by detecting the fluorescence intensity of intracellular Rho123. Results: The inhibitory effect of hyperin at the dose of 12.5 µM on HCT8/VCR cell growth was not enhanced as time progressed and no significant inhibitory effect was found for VCR-treated cells at the dose of 2 µM. But the inhibition of cell growth was observed aft er the combined treatment of hyperin (12.5 µM) and VCR (2 µM). P-gp expression levels in HCT8/VCR cells treated with hyperin plus VCR were markedly lower than the levels in control cells and those treated with VCR. In addition, the intensity of Rho123 fluorescence of HCT8/VCR cells treated with hyperin plus VCR or hyperin alone was significantly higher than intensity observed in control cells and those treated with VCR alone. Conclusions: Hyperin synergistically augments the growth inhibitory effect of vincristine. The underlying mechanism most probably involves down-regulation of P-gp expression and inhibiting the function of the P-gp pump in HCT8/VCR cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental contaminants that exist as complex mixtures in the environment, but the possible interactions of TCDD and PCBs have not been systematically investigated. The main objective of this study was to investigate the combined nephrotoxic effects of TCDD and PCBs on rats and to reveal the potential interactions between TCDD and PCBs. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were intragastrically administered TCDD (10 μg/kg), PCBs (Aroclor 1254, 10 mg/kg), or the combination (10 μg/kg TCDD + 10 mg/kg Aroclor 1254). After 12 consecutive days of exposure, all treatments induced nephrotoxicity, as evidenced by significant increases in the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, changes of kidney histopathology, and significant renal oxidative stress. Most of these effects were more remarkable in the combined-exposure group. Furthermore, all treatments induced renal cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) protein expression, and the induction was more conspicuous in the combined-exposure group. These findings suggested that the nephrotoxicity induced by TCDD and PCBs in the present study might be attributable to the high expression of CYP1A1. In addition, the result of the two-way analysis of variance revealed that the combined effects of TCDD and PCBs were complicated, being additive, synergistic, or antagonistic depending on the selection of toxicity end points under the present experimental condition. This study demonstrates that combined exposure to TCDD and PCBs induced significant nephrotoxicity in rats, and there were complicated interactions between the two pollutants on the nephrotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fuzzy-controller design by the hybrid of genetic algorithm and particle-swarm optimisation (F-HGAPSO) is employed for a thyristor-controlled series capacitor (TCSC) to improve the transient stability of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). According to the variation of rotation speed, a fuzzy controller decides an approximate series capacitance to achieve a better dynamic response of FACTS. To design the fuzzy controller, a new design approach, the F-HGAPSO, is proposed. F-HGAPSO introduces the concept of the maturing phenomenon in nature into the evolution of individuals originally modelled by a genetic algorithm. The maturing phenomenon is mimicked by particle-swarm optimisation, where individuals enhance themselves based on social interactions and their private cognition. Simulations and comparisons with other approaches have demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed F-HGAPSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to observe the difference of nitrogen monoxidum (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), cytochrome C (Cyt-C), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), mitochondrial calcium and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in myocardium between noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats and normal rats. Methods: Twenty NIDDM rats were made, and 20 normal rats were used as control. The levels of NO, MDA, Cyt-C, NOS, mitochondrial calcium and SOD in myocardial cells from all rats were measured, and histological changes were observed. Results: Compared with control, the levels of NO (2.28±0.40* vs 1.81±0.33 µmol/g protein), NOS (0.49±0.09* vs 0.39±0.07 U/mg protein), MDA (7.87±0.31* vs 7.36±0.53 nmol/mg protein), cytoplasma Cyt-C (3.68±0.17* vs 3.25±0.34 g/L) and mitochondrial calcium (2.90±0.35* vs 2.47±0.23 g/L) were higher (NIDDM rats vs control, *P<0.05) in the NIDDM rats. But, the levels of mitochondrial Cyt-C (0.19±0.05* vs 0.28±0.06 mmol/L) and mitochondrial SOD (0.81±0.21* vs 1.18±0.39 U/mg protein) were lower (NIDDM rats vs control, *P<0.05) in the NIDDM rats compared with control. Under microscope, myocardium deliquescenced and mitochondria swelled, and inflammatory cell infiltrated in mesenchyma. Conclusions: Oxyradical, lipid peroxidation, Cyt-C and mitochondrial calcium are involved in the damage of myocardium in NIDDM rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to observe the effects of ganoderan on mitochondrial Ca2+, cytochrome C, and cytosolic malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in brain tissues from epilepsy rats. Methods: Epilepsy rats were made by intraperitoneal injection of sub-convulsive dosage of pentetrazole (PTZ, 32mg/kg/day for 21 days). Twenty epilepsy rats were divided into ganoderan-treated epilepsy group and vehicle-treated epilepsy group, and 10 normal rats were used as control. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry and spectrophotometric analysis were used to detect levels of mitochondrial Ca2+, SOD, MDA, and cytochrome C in brain tissues. Results: After treatment with ganoderan (by gastric gavage) for 28 days, the levels of mitochondrial Ca2+ (2.253±0.104 vs 2.132±0.115 mg/L) and cytochrome C (1.471±0.120 vs 1.168±0.095 mmol/L) were higher (ganoderan-treated epilepsy group vs vehicle-treated epilepsy group, P<0.05), and the levels of cytosolic cytochrome C (7.98±0.48 vs 8.67±0.61 mmol/L) and MDA (102.21±11.67 vs 105.29±18.99 mg/L) were lower (ganoderan-treated epilepsy group vs vehicle-treated epilepsy group, P<0.05), and the level of SOD (2301.04±155.24 vs 1863.27±186.68 U/mg protein) was higher (ganoderan-treated epilepsy group vs vehicle-treated epilepsy group, P<0.05) in the ganoderan-treated epilepsy rats than the vehicle-treated epilepsy rats. Conclusion: Ganoderan exerts protective effects on brain cell mitochondria in epilepsy by clearing free radical and strengthening antioxidation of brain tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously shown the antiepileptic effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in in vitro studies; however, so far there is no such study reported in an in vivo model. In this study, the status epilepticus was induced in rats by kainic acid injection followed by G. lucidum polysaccharides treatment once a day for 7 days. Their epileptic behavior, electroencephalograph, along with the expression of caveolin-1, brain derived neurotrophic factor, nuclear factor kappa B, and hippocampal neuronal survival were assessed. Results showed that the epileptic behavior was improved significantly after G. lucidum polysaccharides treatments by a significant reduction of both the epileptic score and the duration of a heavy seizure attack while increasing both the epileptic latency and the time to heavy seizure attack. The epileptic electroencephalograph was ameliorated from previous sharp waves and frequent high amplitudes spikes to a group of scattering waves with lower frequency and small spikes. Furthermore, G. lucidum polysaccharides treatments enhanced the expression of caveolin-1, brain derived neurotrophic factor, and survivin, but decreased nuclear factor kappa B expression. These changes indicate that G. lucidum polysaccharides can alleviate epileptic seizure and this neuroprotective effect may be via increasing the expression of caveolin-1, brain derived neurotrophic factor, and survivin and decreasing the expression of nuclear factor kappa B in the hippocampal neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]