Anti-mitochondrial flavoprotein autoantibodies of patients with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (anti-M7): interaction with flavin-carrying proteins, effect of vitamin B2 and epitope mapping

Vitamin B2 and flavin cofactors are transported tightly bound to immunoglobulin in human serum. We reasoned that anti-mitochondrial flavoprotein autoantibodies (alpha Fp-AB) present in the serum of patients with myocarditis and cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology may form immunoglobulin aggregates with these serum proteins. However, immunodiffusion and Western blot assays demonstrated that the flavin-carrying proteins were not recognized by alpha Fp-AB. Apparently the flavin moiety in the native protein conformation was inaccessible to alpha Fp-AB. This conclusion was supported by the absence of an immunoreaction between the riboflavin-binding protein from egg white and alpha FP-AB. Intravenous application of vitamin B2 to rabbits immunized with 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase, a bacterial protein carrying covalently attached FAD, did not neutralize alpha Fp-AB which had been raised in the serum of the animals. FAD-carrying peptides generated from 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine oxidase by trypsin and chymotrypsin treatment were not recognized by the alpha Fp-AB, but those generated by endopeptidase Lys were. This demonstrates that the epitope recognized by alpha Fp-AB comprises, besides the flavin moiety, protein secondary structure elements.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of MEMS Microneedles

Transdermal drug delivery TDD systems have many advantages but are conventionally limited by the low permeability of skin. The idea of using microneedles to painlessly penetrate the topmost impermeable stratum corneum has previously been put forward. In this paper, the fabrication of solid and hollow silicon microneedles with straight side-walls and with the following dimensions: 20–100 m in diameter and 100–150 m in length is described. In vitro tests demonstrate that with prior solid microneedle application, transdermal drug transport is significantly increased by 10–20 times, with the degree of enhancement being related to needle diameter. In vivo tests in diabetic animals, however, were unable to demonstrate any delivery of insulin through the hollow microneedles. It is proposed that two factors, microneedle length and tip sharpness, have to be improved for systemic drug delivery to be seen in vivo.     

Major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are required for the development of insulitis in non-obese diabetic mice

An early step in the development of autoimmune diabetes is lymphocyte infiltration into the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, or insulitis. The infiltrate contains both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells and both are required for progression to diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. It has been thought that the CD4⁺ lymphocytes are the initiators of the disease, the islet invaders, while CD8⁺ cells are the effectors, the islet destroyers. We question this interpretation because NOD mice lacking MHC class I molecules, hence CD8⁺ T cells, do not display even insulitis when expected.     

Growth hormone effect on accumulation of arterial basement membrane-like material studied on rabbit aortic myomedial cell cultures

Summary The effect of human growth hormone on arterial basement membrane-like (BM) material was studied. BM-like material was obtained from the cell layer of cultured aortic myomedial cells using a sonication-differential centrifugation technique. After the addition of small amounts of growth hormone (1 ng/ml) to the cultures, we observed a 26% increased incorporation of amino acids into BM-like material (2p<0.005). However, further increase in the incorporation was not observed using either 3 ng or 10 ng growth hormone per ml. Growth hormone inhibited removal/degradation of BM-like material by 16% (2p<0.01). However, pinocytosis rate and activity of major lysosomal enzymes: cathepsin D, acid phosphatase and -N-acetyl-glucosaminidase were unchanged. Incorporation of glycosaminoglycans as evaluated by [³⁵SO₄]-labelling was reduced by 8% when cells were exposed to growth hormone (2p<0.01). The present study demonstrates an effect of growth hormone on the turnover and composition of BM-like material in cultured arterial myomedial cells.     

中药治疗糖尿病微血管病变的研究进展

糖尿病及其并发症病是全世界关注的重大公共卫生问题。糖尿病微血管病变是糖尿病虚损夹血瘀形成的血管并发症,以微循环障碍并伴有透明样物质沉积为基本病理改变特征,糖尿病肾病、糖尿病视网膜病变和糖尿病神经病变最为常见。糖尿病微血管病变可追溯到糖尿病前期,随着糖尿病发生发展动态演进不断加重,需及早干预。临床在降糖、降脂、降压的基础治疗上,多选择抗氧化应激、抗炎、改善微循环和抗血管新生的药物治疗糖尿病微血管并发症。糖尿病微血管病变属于中医“络病”的概念,中药治疗糖尿病微血管病变的核心是在降糖的基础上保护“孙络-微血管”,组方多为补气滋阴、清热活血药味配伍而成。该文基于糖尿病微血管病变的中西医认识及治疗原则,简要概述针对不同证型治疗糖尿病微血管病变的常用方剂,如白虎加人参汤、玉液汤、四妙勇安汤、葛根芩连汤、六味地黄丸及一些现代制剂,同时概述方剂常用药味,如人参、黄芪、地黄、枸杞子、三七、丹参、金银花、葛根的研究进展,以期为中药治疗糖尿病微血管病变提供临床依据和理论指导。     

中医药对糖尿病足溃疡相关细胞因子调控作用的研究进展

糖尿病足溃疡是糖尿病严重的破坏性并发症,致残率及致死率逐年增高,严重威胁人类身心健康。中医药治疗糖尿病足溃疡,注重辨证论治与整体观念相结合,不仅能改善中医证候,更能在加速创面愈合的同时减少创面的复发,一定程度上延缓了糖尿病足溃疡的进一步恶化,降低其致残率及致死率。现代研究发现,糖尿病足溃疡难以愈合与各种细胞因子如炎症因子、生长因子、趋化因子等分布异常密切相关;随着现代医学对中医药研究的不断深入,中药单体及复方调控细胞因子治疗糖尿病足溃疡已成为研究热点,该文通过对目前国内外研究现状进行归纳,得出以下总结：(1)芝麻酚、栀子苷、当归补血汤、紫朱软膏等调节肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素（IL）-1、IL-6、IL-10等炎症因子,抑制创面炎症。(2)白芷、丹酚酸B、四效散、壮药拔毒生肌膏等调节血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、血小板衍生生长因子（PDGF）、转化生长因子（TGF）、表皮生长因子（EGF）等生长因子,促进创面胶原沉积及血管新生。(3)芍药苷、隐丹参酮、蜂毒、回阳生肌汤等调节CXC趋化因子配体（CXCL）1、CXCL2、CC趋化因子配体（CCL）2、CCL3、基质细胞衍生...     

中药治疗糖尿病肾脏疾病随机对照试验结局指标的现状分析

目的 分析中药治疗糖尿病肾脏疾病（DKD）随机对照试验中结局指标的使用情况和其他试验设计要素,为中药治疗DKD临床试验的设计及核心指标集的构建提供依据。方法 计算机检索知网、万方、维普、中国生物医学等7个医学数据库及2个临床试验注册中心（clinicaltrials.gov、chinadrugtrials.org.cn）近5年收录的中药治疗DKD随机对照试验,运用Cochrance手册对纳入的文献进行偏倚风险评估,对结局指标及其他试验设计要素进行统计与分析。结果 共纳入97项随机对照试验（RCTs）,包含5项试验注册方案,研究发现,97项研究总体偏倚风险较高;DKD Ⅲ期（36项,41.38%）和气阴两虚兼血瘀证（16次,26.23%）为应用最多的DKD分期及中医证型;92项RCTs的疗程最多96周,最少2周,其中52项（56.52%）研究疗程为12周;92项RCTs及5项注册试验共采用152种结局指标,使用1 040次,共分为8大类,实验室检查（血液）、实验室检查（尿液）、临床疗效、中医证候积分、生活质量量表、生命体征、其他指标及其他事件,应用频率较高的依次是血肌酐（68次,70.10%）、临床有效率（55次,56.70%）、空腹血糖（51次,52.58%）、尿素氮（48次,49.48%）、总胆固醇（47次,48.45%）、24 h尿蛋白定量（43次,44.33%）等;56项RCTs及2项注册试验共采用安全性指标53种,频数227次,使用频率较高的依次是,不良反应（49次,84.48%）、肝功能（28次,48.28%）、血常规（24次,41.38%）、心电图（17次,29.31%）、尿常规（14次,24.14%）;10项RCTs及5项注册试验报告了主要结局指标;54项RCTs报告了临床有效率指标。结论 目前中药治疗DKD的RCTs结局指标设计尚不规范,未来应积极构建突显出中医药特色的核心结局指标集,提升临床研究的质量,提高试验结果的应用价值。     

Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Diabetic Neuropathy: A 1-Year,Randomized, Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial

Aim: To investigate the effect of normalizing vitamin B12 (B12) levels with oral B12 (methylcobalamin) 1000 μg/day for one year in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN). Patients and methods: In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 90 patients with type 2 diabetes on metformin for at least four years and both peripheral and autonomic DN were randomized to an active treatment group (n = 44) receiving B12 and a control group (n = 46) receiving a placebo. All patients had B12 levels less than 400 pmol/L. Subjects underwent measurements of sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), sural nerve action potential (amplitude) (SNAP), and vibration perception threshold (VPT), and they performed cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs: mean circular resultant (MCR), Valsalva test, postural index, and orthostatic hypotension). Sudomotor function was assessed with the SUDOSCAN that measures electrochemical skin conductance in hands and feet (ESCH and ESCF, respectively). We also used the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Questionnaire and Examination (MNSIQ and MNSIE, respectively) and questionnaires to evaluate quality of life (QoL) and level of pain (pain score). Results: B12 levels increased from 232.0 ± 71.8 at baseline to 776.7 ± 242.3 pmol/L at follow-up, p < 0.0001, in the active group but not in the control group. VPT, MNSIQ, QoL, pain score, SNCV, SNAP, and ESCF significantly improved in the active group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001, p < 0.000, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.014, respectively), whereas CARTS and MNSIE improved but not significantly. MCR, MNSIQ, SNCV, SNAP, and pain score significantly deteriorated in the control group (p = 0.025, p = 0.017, p = 0.045, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: The treatment of patients with DN with 1 mg of oral methylcobalamin for twelve months increased plasma B12 levels and improved all neurophysiological parameters, sudomotor function, pain score, and QoL, but it did not improve CARTS and MNSIE.     

川芎嗪、山莨菪碱、蝮蛇抗栓酶及卡托普利对糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用

目的　探讨川芎嗪、山莨菪碱、蝮蛇抗栓酶及卡托普利对实验大鼠糖尿病肾病 (DN)的预防作用。方法　SD大鼠 6 0只 ,分为正常对照组、糖尿病组及各糖尿病治疗组。以四氧嘧啶腹腔内注射制成糖尿病模型。各治疗组分别给予上述药物治疗 ,每周 5次 ,共 14周。取肾脏行光镜和电镜检查 ,并进行图像分析 ,同时测定蛋白糖基化产物 (GP)。结果　与糖尿病组比较 ,各治疗组肾组织中水平明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ;除蝮蛇抗栓酶组外 ,其他治疗组大鼠肾小球截面积亦明显缩小 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;糖尿病组大鼠肾小球基底膜显著不均匀增厚 ,而各治疗组病变较轻 ,尤以卡托普利组疗效最为明显。结论　改善微循环、血液流变学及血流动力学治疗可减慢实验大鼠DN的进展。     

血管紧张素转换酶基因多态性对苯那普利治疗糖尿病肾病疗效的影响

按照血管紧张素转换酶 (ACE)基因插入 /缺失多态性不同 ,将 92例 2型糖尿病肾病患者分为II型组 31例 ,ID型组 30例及DD型组 31例。用苯那普利治疗 6个月后 ,观察治疗前后各组的尿白蛋白排泄率 (UAER)、平均动脉压 (MABP)、肌酐清除率 (Ccr)及ACE的变化。结果 :苯那普利治疗后 3组UAER、MABP、ACE均下降 ,以II型组下降幅度最大 (分别为 58.6%、2 .87kPa和 72 .3% ) ,DD型组下降幅度最小 (P <0 .0 5) ;而Ccr在DD型组下降幅度最大 ,II型组下降幅度最小 (P <0 .0 5) ;多元线性逐步回归分析显示 :ACE基因型对UAER下降率有显著回归效果(R2 =0 .72 ,P <0 .0 0 1 )。提示 :ACE基因型影响血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂 (ACEI)对糖尿病肾病的疗效 ,II基因型患者对ACEI治疗更为敏感。