Relationship between circadian blood pressure variability and function of islet α and β cell in type 2 diabetes with dyssomnia

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between circadian blood pressure (BP) variability and function of islet α and β cell in type 2 diabetes (T2D) with dyssomnia.

METHODS

Patients with T2D were divided into dyssomnia group and non-dyssomnia group by PSQI. OGTT, insulin and glucagon-releasing test were tested, and ambulatory BP was monitored for 24 hours to compare two groups with α and β cell, circadian BP variability and fasting and post-meal BP variability. The correlation and regression analysis were made between PSQI and other indicators.

RESULTS

In dyssomnia group, ① Glucagon, glucagon/insulin ratio and AUCG were significantly higher (P < 0.05). ② Fasting insulin (13.32 ± 4.54 mIU/L), AUCI (8.51 ± 0.54) and HOMA-IR (4.62 ± 1.11) were high (P < 0.05). But ISI (-4.27 ± 0.77) was low (P < 0.05). ③ Mean 24-hour and nighttime SBP and DBP, as well as their standard deviations and coefficients of variation, were all higher in the dyssomnia group (P < 0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that PSQI score was positively related to AUCG, HOMA-IR, nighttime SBP, and negatively related to ISI and nocturnal BP fall (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dyssomnia may cause abnormal circadian BP variability through various mechanisms. Improving dyssomnia can help to better function the islet α and β cell and restore normal circadian BP variability.

Association between eNOS 4b/a polymorphism and the risk of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis

Many studies have assessed the association between eNOS-4b/a polymorphism and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among type 2 diabetic subjects. However, the results are inconsistent. In order to derive a more precise estimation of the association, a meta-analysis was conducted. Fifteen studies with 3, 183 cases and 3, 410 controls were enrolled by searching the databases of Pubmed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Wanfang Database. Summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The main analysis indicated no significant association between eNOS-4b/a polymorphism and the risk of DR in overall population [allelic model: OR = 0.94 (0.79-1.11); additive model: OR = 0.91 (0.73-1.14); recessive model: OR = 1.01 (0.81-1.25); dominant model: OR = 0.91 (0.75-1.09)]. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity also indicated no significant association. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis did not observe any association between the polymorphism of eNOS 4b/a and the risk of DR among type 2 diabetic subjects. However, larger well-designed studies are required to confirm this finding.

Alteration of the intestinal barrier and GLP2 secretion in Berberine-treated type 2 diabetic rats

For centuries, Berberine has been used in the treatment of enteritis in China, and it is also known to have anti-hyperglycemic effects in type 2 diabetic patients. However, as Berberine is insoluble and rarely absorbed in gastrointestinal tract, the mechanism by which it works is unclear. We hypothesized that it may act locally by ameliorating intestinal barrier abnormalities and endotoxemia. A high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin was used to induce type 2 diabetes in male Sprague Dawley rats. Berberine (100 mg/kg) was administered by lavage to diabetic rats for 2 weeks and saline was given to controls. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance improved in the Berberine group, although there was no significant decrease in blood glucose. Berberine treatment also led to a notable restoration of intestinal villi/mucosa structure and less infiltration of inflammatory cells, along with a decrease in plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level. Tight junction protein zonula occludens 1 (ZO1) was also decreased in diabetic rats but was restored by Berberine treatment. Glutamine-induced glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP2) secretion from ileal tissue decreased dramatically in the diabetic group but was restored by Berberine treatment. Fasting insulin, insulin resistance index, plasma LPS level, and ZO1 expression were significantly correlated with GLP2 level. In type 2 diabetic rats, Berberine treatment not only augments GLP2 secretion and improves diabetes but is also effective in repairing the damaged intestinal mucosa, restoring intestinal permeability, and improving endotoxemia. Whether these effects are mechanistically related will require further studies, but they certainly support the hypothesis that Berberine acts via modulation of intestinal function.

Room temperature SnO2 thin film gas sensor fabricated on Si nanospikes

The SnO2 thin film CO gas sensors have been fabricated on silicon nanostructured surface made using a femtosecond pulsed laser irradiation. The measurement shows a significant response to the CO gas at room temperature. While a SnO2 sensor fabricated on a flat surface shows no response when CO gas exists at room temperature. The high area/volume ratio and sharp structures of the nanospikes enhance the sensitivity of SnO2 at room temperature.

Analgesic efficacy of pre-operative etoricoxib for termination of pregnancy in an ambulatory centre

INTRODUCTION

Etoricoxib is a second generation cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor with a rapid-onset time and a long duration of action. It is ideal for providing pre-emptive analgesia for ambulatory surgeries. We hypothesised that pre-operative etoricoxib can decrease the use of fentanyl post-operatively, when compared with placebo in patients undergoing termination of pregnancy. We also compared their pain scores, time to discharge, side effects and satisfaction with analgesia post-operatively.

METHODS

After approval by the hospital research ethics committee and receipt of informed written consent, we recruited 40 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification I and II patients scheduled for elective first trimester termination of pregnancy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either oral etoricoxib 120 mg (Group E, n=20) or placebo tablet (Group P, n=20) pre-operatively. A blinded observer evaluated the post-operative pain scores, need for supplementary analgesia, side effects and satisfaction scores. Sample size was calculated (power of 0.8 and alpha=0.05) to detect a 20 percent difference in fentanyl usage. Amount of fentanyl used, pain scores and satisfaction scores were analysed using non-parametric tests. The incidence of side effects was analysed using chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Etoricoxib 120 mg significantly decreased the amount of fentanyl required after termination of pregnancy compared to placebo (0 microg/patient, interquartile range [IQR] 0-25 versus 50 microg/patient, IQR 0-50, p-value is less than 0.05). Patients who received etoricoxib 120 mg also had significantly lower pain scores than the placebo group at time of discharge (8 +/- 11 versus 1 +/- 3, p-value is less than 0.05) and at six hours post operation (8 +/- 12 versus 0 +/- 0, p-value is less than 0.01). There was no difference in their side effects, and time to discharge and overall satisfaction were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative administration of oral etoricoxib 120 mg decreased the use of fentanyl and pain scores after minor gynaecological surgery without significant side effects.

[Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with fruit traits in watermelon [Citullus lanantus (Thanb) Mansf] and analysis of their genetic effects]

In this study, we mapped and characterized quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting watermelon fruit traits. A total of 118 F2 progenies derived from the cross 97103 (which is a cultivar with higher total soluble solids concentration, thin rind, susceptible to Fusarium wilt disease) x PI296341(which is a wild germplasm with lower total soluble solids concentration, thick rind, resistant to Fusarium wilt disease) were used to construct a 96-markers map in watermelon. By using interval mapping 4 QTLs for total soluble solids concentration, 5 QTLs for hardness of rind, 2 QTLs for thickness of rind, 3 QTLs for weight of simple fruit, and 6 QTLs for weight of one thousand grain seeds were identified. In addition, the explained variations, additive effects and dominance effects for all detected QTLs were analyzed.

[Protection from anoxic myocardial injury in fetal mouse heart culture by selenium]

Fetal hearts taken from the 17 day pregnant mice were cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) + 0.5 ug ml of Na2SeO, and in MEM alone with oxygen for 24 h, and then the hearts in groups were exposed to 15, 20, 30, 40 min, 1 h, 3h and long term of anoxia respectively. The results showed that the survival and beating of the cultured fetal mouse hearts with anoxia were prolonged by selenium. Using lanthanum as a marker, we found that after 20 min of anoxia, this electroopaque marker remained extracellular in the selenium-treated hearts, however, intracellular lanthanum could be found in the control hearts, entering selectively into the swelling mitochondria. During the same period of anoxia, ACPase reaction products could be only found in the lysosomes and in the Golgi complex in the selenium-treated hearts, but a lot of reaction products deposited in cytoplasm in the control hearts. By electron microscopy, at 40 min of anoxia, there were swelling of mitochondria, with cristae partially lost and plasma-membrane changed and so on. Generally normal ultrastructure was observed in the selenium-treated hearts at 40 min of anoxia. The cytoplasm was rich in ribosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum with a rough face. There events showed that cellular membrane and membrane-bound organelles appeared to be well protected target by the selenium. Therefore, selenium may play an important role in the synthesis of protein.