Fundamentals about onset and progressive disease character of type 2 diabetes mellitus

ResearchGate is a world wide web for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators. As one of the more than 15 million members, the author uploads research output and reads and responds to some of the questions raised, which are related to type 2 diabetes. In that way, he noticed a serious gap of knowledge of this disease among medical professionals over recent decades. The main aim of the current study is to remedy this situation through providing a comprehensive review on recent developments in biochemistry and molecular biology, which can be helpful for the scientific understanding of the molecular nature of type 2 diabetes. To fill up the shortcomings in the curricula of medical education, and to familiarize the medical community with a new concept of the onset of type 2 diabetes, items are discussed like: Insulin resistance, glucose effectiveness, insulin sensitivity, cell membranes, membrane flexibility, unsaturation index (UI; number of carbon-carbon double bonds per 100 acyl chains of membrane phospholipids), slow-down principle, effects of temperature acclimation on phospholipid membrane composition, free fatty acids, energy transport, onset of type 2 diabetes, metformin, and exercise. Based on the reviewed data, a new model is presented with proposed steps in the development of type 2 diabetes, a disease arising as a result of a hypothetical hereditary anomaly, which causes hyperthermia in and around the mitochondria. Hyperthermia is counterbalanced by the slow-down principle, which lowers the amount of carbon-carbon double bonds of membrane phospholipid acyl chains. The accompanying reduction in the UI lowers membrane flexibility, promotes a redistribution of the lateral pressure in cell membranes, and thereby reduces the glucose transporter protein pore diameter of the transmembrane glucose transport channel of all Class I GLUT proteins. These events will set up a reduction in transmembrane glucose transport. So, a new blood glucose regulation system, effective in type 2 diabetes and its prediabetic phase, is based on variations in the acyl composition of phospholipids and operates independent of changes in insulin and glucose concentration. UI assessment is currently arising as a promising analytical technology for a membrane flexibility analysis. An increase in mitochondrial heat production plays a pivotal role in the existence of this regulation system.     

Cosolvency of Dimethyl Isosorbide for Steroid Solubility

Dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), which is currently under investigation for its potential use as a pharmaceutical vehicle and drug permeation enhancer, is a water-miscible liquid with relatively low viscosity. The solubilization behavior of DMI as a cosolvent for nonpolar drugs was characterized via dielectric constant measurements of binary solvent systems containing DMI and either water, propylene glycol (PG), or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Evidence from the dielectric constant profiles and NMR studies suggest that DMI undergoes complexation with water and PG, but not with PEG, through hydrogen bonding interactions. The solvent complexation exhibited a major effect on the solubilities of prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone in the mixed solvent systems. Maximum solubility of each drug was found to occur near a DMI/water or DMI/PG concentration ratio of 1:2. In the DMI–PEG mixed system, while there is no apparent interaction between DMI and PEG molecules, the solubility of prednisone was found to increase with decreasing dielectric constant.     

An alternative mechanism of actions for neuroleptic and antidepressant drugs

It has earlier been proposed by the author that the aetiology of schizophrenic symptomatology may be due to the presence of abnormally connected interhemispheric fibres which link specialised functions in the brains of schizophrenics that are not connected in normal subjects, and that the neuroleptic drugs may produce their action through a local anaesthetic-like effect in suppression of conduction in these fibres. This line of thought has been extended here to consider the possible mechanism of action of the neuroleptic drugs in more detail, as well as that of the tricyclic antidepressant drugs which are derivatives of the phenothiazine group. Pharmacological similarities with the local anaesthetics both structurally and functionally have been considered, as well as the effects that these drug groups may have in common with the lithium salts. It has been suggested that these drugs all produce their primary effect on cell membranes, though not necessarily at the synapse, that the time course of their clinical effect may correlate with their incorporation into various cell membranes within the CNS, and that they may thus bring about a fundamental alteration in cell membrane microstructure. The possible role of electroconvulsive therapy has also been considered. The corollary of this argument is that the affective disorders may be genetically determined diseases of cell membrane microstructure.     

Role of intestinal bifidobacteria in the pathogenesis of gut-derived bacteria/endotoxin translocation and the effect of bifidobacterial supplement on gut barrier function following burns

Early multiple organ dysfunction syndrome appears to be facilitated with bacterial translocation in severely burn injury, yet the mechanisms of bacterial translocation remains in dispute. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of intestinal bifidobacteria in the pathogenesis of gut-derived bacteria/endotoxin translocation following burns and the effects of bifidobacterial supplement on gut barrier. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into burn group (Burn, n=60),sham burn group (SB, n=10) in experiment Ⅰ , and burn + saline group (BS, n=30), burn + bifidobacteria group (BB, n=30), and sham-burn + saline group (SS, n= 10) in experiment Ⅱ. Animals in BB group were fed bifidobacterial preparation (5 × 109 CFU/ml) after burns, 1.5ml,twice daily. Animals in BS and SS were fed saline. Samples were taken on days 1, 3, and 5 in burn groups, and on day 3 in sham-burn groups. The incidence of bacteria/endotoxin translocation and counts of Bifidobacterium, Fungi and Escherichia coli in gut mucosa were determined with standard methods. The levels of sIgA in mucus of small intestine were measured by RIA. The positive sIgA expression in lamina propria and ileum mucosal injury was evaluated light microscopically by blinded examiners. Results: Our results showed that the incidence of bacterial translocation was increased after burns, which was accompanied by significant decrease in number of bifidobacteria but significant increase in E. coli and fungi in gut mucosa, and elevation of levels of plasma endotoxin and IL-6 (P<0. 001).The incidence of bacterial translocation was markedly reduced after 3- and 5-day supplementation of bifidobacteria compared with control group (P<0.05). The counts of mucosal bifidobacteria were increased by 4- to 40-fold,while E. coli and fungi were decreased by 2- to 30-fold and 10- to 150-fold, respectively, after bifidobacterial supplementation in contrast to control group. The damage of mucosa tended to be less pronounced after 3-day bifidobacteria-supplemented formula compared with control group [grade 2(0-6) vs. grade 4(3-6), P<0.05]. Moreover, the expression and release of sIgA was markedly augmented after 3-day bifidobacteria-supplementation formula and it returned to normal range on day 5. Conclusion: The decrease in counts and proportion of bifidobacteria in mucous membrane flora may play an important role in the development of bacteria/endotoxin translocation following thermal injury. The supplement of exogenous bifidobacteria could per se improve gut barriers, and attenuate bacteria/endotoxin translocation secondary to major burns.     

PLACENTAL CALCIUM PUMP: CLINICAL-BASED EVIDENCE

Placenta can be considered as a pump of calcium necessary for the normal development of the fetus. We believe that the location of this pump is in the placental basement membrane. The calcification of this membrane has been described only in cases of in utero fetal death. In this study we describe for the first time a case of placental calcification in a living fetus. The fetus of a normal 21-year-old pregnant woman showed heart abnormalities but the genetic analysis showed a normal male karyotype. The histology of the placenta demonstrated multiple intravillous linear and granular calcific incrustations The hemtoxylin/eosin stain of the sections revealed basement membrane calcific incrustations and intravillous calcium deposits. We postulate that the fetal circulation in the villi was impaired and the calcium that reached the villi from the mother was deposited at this level.     

人钠/二羧酸协同转运蛋白3基因调控肾小管上皮细胞线粒体膜电位的研究

目的 观察人钠／二羧酸协同转运蛋白3(hNaDC3，)对人肾脏近曲小管上皮细胞(HKC)线粒体膜电位的变化及其对细胞能量代谢的影响。方法 应用亚克隆技术构建正义pcDNA3-hNaDC3和反义pcDNA3-AhNaDC3两个真核表达载体，通过脂质体LipofectAMINE将pcDNA3-hNaDC3及pcDNA3-AhNaDC3转染至HKC细胞。克隆筛选后，用RT—PCR、Northern印迹及Western印迹鉴定外源基因的整合和表达。荧光探针JC-1观察各细胞系线粒体膜电位的变化。结果 外源hNaDC3基因稳定整合到HKC细胞基因组中，并获得高、低表达。转染正义hNaDC3cDNA的HKC细胞线粒体膜电位降低，JC-1在线粒体内形成单体，发出绿色荧光；而转染反义hNaDC3cDNA的HKC细胞线粒体膜电位略微升高，JC-1形成聚合体，发出红色荧光。结论 hNaDC3过表达引起线粒体膜电位降低，反义hNaDC3则使线粒体膜电位略微升高。提示NaDC3可能通过使线粒体膜电位下降，参与了细胞能量代谢。     

前列腺癌患者外周血中前列腺特异抗原,前列腺特异膜抗原和人腺体激肽释放酶mRNA的表达及临床意义

目的:采用巢式RT-PCR方法,检测前列腺癌合并骨转移的患者外周血中前列腺特异抗原(PSA)、前列腺特异膜抗原(PSMA)和人腺体激肽释放酶mRNA的表达,探讨其临床意义.方法:应用巢式RT-PCR的方法,检测外周血中PSA、PSMA和hK2mRNA表达.结果:巢式PCR能够检测到经淋巴细胞稀释的LNCaP细胞的PSA、PSM和hK2mRNA的灵敏度,稀释浓度分别为10-6、10-6及10-7.检测初发伴骨转移的前列腺癌患者外周血PSA、PSMA和hK2mRNA的阳性率分别为59.45%、51.35%、59.46%,其中三种检测同时阳性的为32.43%;检测接受内分泌治疗后出现骨转移的前列腺癌患者的阳性率分别为57.14%、85.71%、83.33%,其中三种检测同时阳性的为52.48%.局限性前列腺癌患者、健康男性及健康女性的检测结果均为阴性.以β-actin mRNA做为内参照,所有临床标本检测均为阳性.结论:采用巢式RT-PCR检测前列腺癌患者外周血PSMA、hK2和PSA mRNA有助于发现进入循环系统的前列腺癌细胞,提示隐匿性转移的存在.PSMA和hK2较适合用于内分泌治疗后患者的检测.三种指标联合检测有助于提高敏感性.     

烧伤后淋巴细胞膜流动性变化

报告以ＤＰＨ作为膜标记探剂，用荧光偏振法测定烧伤后淋巴细胞膜流动性变化。将小鼠背部造成１１％～１２％体表面积Ⅲ度烧伤，于伤后第６天取脾淋巴细胞，测其膜流动性。结果表明：烧伤后淋巴细胞膜流动性明显下降（Ｐ＜０．００１），同时淋巴细胞增殖反应及ＣｏｎＡ刺激的ＩＬ－２生成亦下降；淋巴细胞功能受抑制的程度与淋巴细胞膜流动性呈负相关；脾淋巴细胞膜流动性与脾组织过氧化脂质水平呈负相关。结果提示烧伤后淋巴细胞膜流动性下降可能是烧伤后淋巴细胞功能抑制的原因之一，膜流动性降低与脂质过氧化亢进有关     

带酞基聚芳醚酮超滤膜的研究──Ⅰ带酞基聚芳醚酮超滤膜的制备与性能

以带酞基聚芳醚酮（ＰＥＫＭ）为膜材料，用相转换法制备了ＰＥＫ—Ｃ不对称超滤膜，研究了铸膜液的主要组分对膜的孔结构与超滤性能的影响。