Hepatic glucose extraction in normal and diabetic man

Fractional hepatic extraction of glucose was determined from the appearance in the systemic circulation of ingested 3-[3H]glucose. Using the glucose clamp technique, studies were done under steady-state conditions of basal glycemia and insulinemia, normoglycemia (0.8 mg/mL) and mild hyperinsulinemia (approximately 40 microU/mL), hyperglycemia (2 mg/mL-1) and hyperinsulinemia (approximately 100 microU/mL). Based on previous results in the dog, an oral glucose load of 2 g was used to label the portal vein glucose; this amount was chosen so as to minimize disturbance of the portal steady state but still avoid excessive loss during absorption. Additional subjects with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia received an oral load of 50 g of glucose. Fractional extraction in normal subjects under near-basal conditions of glycemia and insulinemia was 19% in normal subjects and in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) elevation of serum insulin, with or without hyperglycemia, which led to an average extraction rate of 32% of the ingested glucose. Absolute hepatic glucose uptake, calculated from the fractional extraction the plasma glucose concentration, and hepatic plasma flow accounted for 50% to 72% of total glucose use during the various steady states and following ingestion of 50 g of glucose. It is concluded that hepatic uptake or extraction, as opposed to net uptake, proceeds actively even when plasma glucose and insulin are within the normal basal range; it is increased in the presence of hyperinsulinemia, with or without hyperglycemia; and it is unaltered in NIDDM.     

Development of nano- and microdevices for the next generation of biotechnology,wearables and miniaturized instrumentation

This is a short communication based on recent high-impact publications related to how various chemical materials and substrate modifications could be tuned for nano- and microdevices, where their application for high point-of-care bioanalysis and further applications in life science is discussed. Hence, they have allowed different high-impact research topics in a variety of fields, from the control of nanoscale to functional microarchitectures embedded in various support materials to obtain a device for a given application or use. Thus, their incorporation in standard instrumentation is shown, as well as in new optical setups to record different classical and non-classical light, signaling, and energy modes at a variety of wavelengths and energy levels. Moreover, the development of miniaturized instrumentation was also contemplated. In order to develop these different levels of technology, the chemistry, physics and engineering of materials were discussed. In this manner, a number of subjects that allowed the design and manufacture of devices could be found. The following could be mentioned by way of example: (i) nanophotonics; (ii) design, synthesis and tuning of advanced nanomaterials; (iii) classical and non-classical light generation within the near field; (iv) microfluidics and nanofluidics; (v) signal waveguiding; (vi) quantum-, nano- and microcircuits; (vii) materials for nano- and microplatforms, and support substrates and their respective modifications for targeted functionalities. Moreover, nano-optics in in-flow devices and chips for biosensing were discussed, and perspectives on biosensing and single molecule detection (SMD) applications. In this perspective, new insights about precision nanomedicine based on genomics and drug delivery systems were obtained, incorporating new advanced diagnosis methods based on lab-on-particles, labs-on-a-chip, gene therapies, implantable devices, portable miniaturized instrumentation, single molecule detection for biophotonics, and neurophotonics. In this manner, this communication intends to highlight recent reports and developments of nano- and microdevices and further approaches towards the incorporation of developments in nanophotonics and biophotonics in the design of new materials based on different strategies and enhanced techniques and methods. Recent proofs of concept are discussed that could allow new substrates for device manufacturing. Thus, physical phenomena and materials chemistry with accurate control within the nanoscale were introduced into the discussion. In this manner, new potential sources of ideas and strategies for the next generation of technology in many research and development fields are showcased.

This is a short communication based on recent high-impact publications related to how various chemical materials and substrate modifications could be tuned for nano- and microdevices, where their application for high point-of-care bioanalysis and further applications in life science is discussed.     

18F-FDG PET/CT对急性白血病骨髓移植术后髓内复发灶的诊断价值

目的 探讨18F-氟脱氧葡萄糖（FDG） PET/CT对急性白血病（AL）骨髓移植术后髓内复发灶的诊断价值,筛选可用于诊断其复发的半定量参数。 方法 回顾性分析2016年11月至2019年11月于河北燕达医院接受骨髓移植且疑为髓内复发的81例AL患者的18F-FDG PET/CT图像和病历资料,其中男性45例、女性36例,年龄3~55（25.14±15.07）岁。以骨髓活检的组织病理学检查结果为诊断复发的“金标准”,将患者分为复发组（41例）、无复发组（40例）,测量并计算所有可疑复发病灶的最大标准化摄取值（SUV_max）及肝脏本底SUV_max,计算附肢骨SUV_max/中轴骨SUV_max和骨髓SUV_max/肝脏SUV_max比值,并以其不同的临界值和受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线进行分析,计算曲线下面积（AUC）和诊断复发的效能。以视觉判读法为参照,分析并计算18F-FDG PET/CT不同半定量参数诊断AL髓内复发灶的效能。2组间半定量参数的比较采用独立样本t检验;计数资料的比较采用Pearson卡方检验。 结果 81例AL患者中,复发组的中轴骨SUV_max高于无复发组（3.10±1.65对1.99±1.26,t=3.367,P=0.001）;与无复发组比较,复发组的骨髓SUV_max /肝脏SUV_max比值（1.20±0.56对0.89±0.74）和附肢骨SUV_max /中轴骨SUV_max比值（1.58±1.38对0.79±0.37）均较高,且差异均有统计学意义（t=2.186、3.477,均P<0.05）。基于SUV_max的半定量指标的ROC曲线分析结果显示,以中轴骨SUV_max≥2.05作为判断髓内复发的标准时,其诊断AL复发的灵敏度、特异度和准确率分别为70.73%（29/41）、72.50%（29/40）和 71.60%（58/81）,AUC为0.770。视觉判读法结果显示,以多灶性摄取+弥漫性摄取18F-FDG为髓内复发的诊断标准时,其诊断AL复发的灵敏度、特异度和准确率分别为85.37%（35/41）、70.00%（28/40）和77.78%（63/81）。 结论 18F-FDG PET/CT视觉判读法是诊断AL复发简便、可靠的方法,具有较高的诊断效能,基于SUV_max的半定量参数分析是视觉判读法的重要补充。     

Estudio de los mecanismos implicados en la génesis y evolución del asma (proyecto MEGA): creación y seguimiento a largo plazo de una cohorte de pacientes asmáticos

The general aim of this study is to create a cohort of asthma patients with varying grades of severity in order to gain greater insight into the mechanisms underlying the genesis and course of this disease.The specific objectives focus on various studies, including imaging, lung function, inflammation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, to determine the relevant events that characterize the asthma population, the long-term parameters that can determine changes in the severity of patients, and the treatments that influence disease progression. The study will also seek to identify the causes of exacerbations and how this affects the course of the disease.Patients will be contacted via the outpatient clinics of the 8 participating institutions under the auspices of the Spanish Respiratory Diseases Networking System (CIBER). In the inclusion visit, a standardized clinical history will be obtained, a clinical examination, including blood pressure, body mass index, complete respiratory function tests, and FENO will be performed, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Morisky-Green test, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini AQLQ), the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) will be administered. A specific electronic database has been designed for data collection. Exhaled breath condensate, urine and blood samples will also be collected. Non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness testing with methacholine will be performed and an induced sputum sample will be collected at the beginning of the study and every 24 months. A skin prick test for airborne allergens and a chest CT will be performed at the beginning of the study and repeated every 5 years.     

Collectivism and individualism in Latino recovery homes

Research indicates that Latinos underutilize substance abuse interventions; cultural variables may contribute to difficulties accessing and completing treatment for this group. As a result, there is a need to understand the role of cultural constructs in treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate how levels of collectivism (COL) and individualism (IND) relate to length of stay and relapse outcomes in self-run recovery homes. We compared Latinos in several culturally modified recovery Oxford Houses to Latinos in traditional recovery Oxford Houses. By examining COL and IND in the OH model, we explored whether aspects of COL and IND led to longer lengths of stay and better substance use outcomes. We hypothesized that higher levels of COL would predict longer stays in an Oxford House and less relapse. COL did not have a main effect on length of stay. However, COL had a significant interaction effect with house type such that COL was positively correlated with length of stay in traditional houses and negatively correlated with length of stay in the culturally modified condition; that is, those with higher collectivism tended to stay longer in traditional houses. When we investigated COL, length of stay, and substance use, COL was negatively correlated with relapse in the culturally modified houses and positively correlated with relapse in the traditional houses. In other words, those with higher COL spent less time and had less relapse in the culturally modified compared to the traditional Oxford Houses. The implications of these findings are discussed.