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Objectives Arterial stiffness (AS), one of the complications of diabetes, associated with many metabolic factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D) and AS in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods We identified 1335 diabetic patients from the Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital. Finally, 603 T2DM patients were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: AS group (baPWV [greater than or equal to] 15,500 cm/s) and the control group (baPWV < 1550 cm/s). Results (1) Heart rate (HR) and systolic pressure (SBP) were higher while body weight and body mass index (BMI) were smaller in AS group than the control group (all P < 0.05). (2) Compared to patients without AS, patients with AS showed lower 25(OH)D and higher rate of 25(OH)D deficiency (42 [plus or minus] 16 vs. 45 [plus or minus] 17 mol/l, 68% vs. 64%, all P < 0.05). (3) BaPWV was negatively associated with 25(OH)D (r = -0.12, P = 0.004), while positively associated with age, duration of diabetes, HR, SBP, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negatively associated with body weight and BMI (all P < 0.05). (4) Multiple linear regression showed that 25(OH)D was the negatively influencing factor of baPWV ([beta] = -2.2, P = 0.01). Logistic regression showed that age and SBP were risk factor of AS (OR:1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10, P < 0.001; OR:1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04, P < 0.001) while 25(OH)D was protective factor of AS (OR:0.987, 95% CI: 0.976-0.998, P = 0.024). Conclusions T2DM patients with AS had lower 25(OH)D and higher rate of 25(OH)D deficiency. There was a negative relationship between 25(OH)D and AS assessed by baPWV., Author(s): Bingwei Ma [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yao Chen [sup.3] , Chunjun Sheng [sup.4] , Peng Yang [sup.4] , Xingchun Wang [sup.4] , Shen Qu [sup.1] [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) Department [...]

Abstract Background As an anti-TNF agent that targets inflammatory process directly, Pentoxifylline has been investigated for treatment of NASH in individual studies and pilot trials for years. We summarized the available information and generating hypotheses for future research. Data Sources Google, Cochrane, MEDLINE, and EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical data bases for studies restricted to pentoxifylline treatment in humans with NAFLD in all languages until June 2010. Six studies (2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials; 4 prospective cohort studies) extracted from 11604 references. Results Pentoxifylline-treated patients showed a significant decrease AST (n = 37, P = 0.01) and ALT (n = 50, P = 0.03), but no significant effect on IL-6 (n = 36, P = 0.33) and TNF-α (n = 68, P = 0.26) compared with Placebo or UDCA-controlled groups. Improvement in one or more histological variables was reported in two trails, only 1 study showed a reduction in of one or two points in fibrosis stage. Limitations The trails did not consistently report all of the outcomes of interest. Sample sizes (117 patients totally) were small and only 2 out of 6 studies had a randomized, controlled design. Conclusion Pentoxifylline reduce AST and ALT levels and may improve liver histological scores in patients with NALFD/NASH, but did not appear to affect cytokines. Large, prospective, and well-designed randomized, controlled studies are needed to address this issue. Novel therapeutic targets for activation of inflammatory signaling pathways by fat also merit investigation.

Abstract: Aims/Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the performance of a new real‐time continuous glucose monitoring system. Materials and Methods: Interstitial glucose levels were monitored for 7 days in 63 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes using the Medtrum A6 TouchCare® CGM System. Venous blood was collected on a randomized day of the wear period. Plasma glucose levels were measured as reference values. Results: Among 1,678 paired sensor–reference values, 90.5% (95% confidence interval 89.1–91.9%) were within ±20%/20 mg/dL of the reference values, with a mean absolute relative difference of 9.1 ± 8.7% (95% CI: 8.9–9.2%). The percentages of paired sensor–reference values falling within zone A and B of the Clarke error grid analysis (EGA) and the type 1 diabetes consensus EGA were 99.1 and 99.8%. Continuous EGA showed that the percentages of accurate readings, benign errors, and erroneous readings were 89.9, 6.3 and 3.8%, respectively. Surveillance EGA showed that 90.6, 9.2, and 0.2% of sensor–reference values with no, slight and lower moderate risk, respectively. The mean absolute relative difference was 16.6, and 96.0% of the sensor values fell within zones A and B of the consensus EGA for hypoglycemia. More than 85% of sensor values were within ±20%/20 mg/dL of reference values, the mean absolute relative difference was <11, and >99.5% of the sensor values fell in zones A and B of the consensus EGA. Conclusions: The Medtrum real‐time continuous glucose monitoring system was numerically and clinically accurate over a large glucose range across 7 days of wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by β-cell dedifferentiation, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the current study was to explore the mechanisms of β-cell dedifferentiation with and without long-term control of calorie intake. We used a diabetes mouse model (db/db) to analyze the changes in the expression levels of β-cell-specific transcription factors (TFs) and functional factors with long-term caloric restriction (CR). Our results showed that chronic euglycemia was maintained in the db/db mice with long-term CR intervention, and β-cell dedifferentiation was significantly reduced. The expression of Glut2, Pdx1, and Nkx6.1 was reversed, while MafA expression was significantly increased with long-term CR. GLP-1 pathway was reactivated with long-term CR. Our work showed that the course of β-cell dedifferentiation can intervene by long-term control of calorie intake. Key β-cell-specific TFs and functional factors play important roles in maintaining β-cell differentiation. Targeting these factors could optimize T2D therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between total osteocalcin (total OC) and testosterone level in the serum of male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: 98 male T2DM were recruited in our cross-section study. Their anthropometric parameters were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Serum markers including glucose, insulin, HbA1c, testosterone, total OC and other bone metabolic markers were examined. Simple Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed., Results: Poor level of glucose control was found in the patients (HbA1c 9.19±2.53 and FPG 8.20±2.98). In simple Pearson correlation, total OC was positively related with testosterone (r=0.236, P=0.019), and this relation still existed after considering all the parameters of the patients (Model 1, 2 and 3)., Conclusion: In male patients with T2DM, total OC was positively correlated with testosterone, so total OC might predict the testosterone level in the serum.