Collagen and non-collagenous proteins molecular crosstalk in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis

Collagenous and non-collagenous proteins (NCPs) in the extracellular matrix, as well as the coupling mechanisms between osteoclasts and osteoblasts, work together to ensure normal bone metabolism. Each protein plays one or more critical roles in bone metabolism, sometimes even contradictory, thus affecting the final mechanical, physical and chemical properties of bone tissue. Anomalies in the amount and structure of one or more of these proteins can cause abnormalities in bone formation and resorption, which consequently leads to malformations and defects, such as osteoporosis (OP). The connections between key proteins involved in matrix formation and resorption are far from being elucidated. In this review, we resume knowledge on the crosstalk between collagen type I and selected NCPs (Transforming Growth Factor-β, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Decorin, Osteonectin, Osteopontin, Bone Sialoprotein and Osteocalcin) of bone matrix, focusing on their possible involvement and role in OP. The different elements of this network can be pharmacologically targeted or used for the design/development of innovative regenerative strategies to modulate a feedback loop in bone remodelling.     

V‐antigen homologs in pathogenic gram‐negative bacteria

Gram‐negative bacteria cause many types of infections in animals from fish and shrimps to humans. Bacteria use Type III secretion systems (TTSSs) to translocate their toxins directly into eukaryotic cells. The V‐antigen is a multifunctional protein required for the TTSS in Yersinia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. V‐antigen vaccines and anti‐V‐antigen antisera confer protection against Yersinia or P. aeruginosa infections in animal models. The V‐antigen forms a pentameric cap structure at the tip of the Type III secretory needle; this structure, which has evolved from the bacterial flagellar cap structure, is indispensable for toxin translocation. Various pathogenic gram‐negative bacteria such as Photorhabdus luminescens, Vibrio spp., and Aeromonas spp. encode homologs of the V‐antigen. Because the V‐antigens of pathogenic gram‐negative bacteria play a key role in toxin translocation, they are potential therapeutic targets for combatting bacterial virulence. In the USA and Europe, these vaccines and specific antibodies against V‐antigens are in clinical trials investigating the treatment of Yersinia or P. aeruginosa infections. Pathogenic gram‐negative bacteria are of great interest because of their ability to infect fish and shrimp farms, their potential for exploitation in biological terrorism attacks, and their ability to cause opportunistic infections in humans. Thus, elucidation of the roles of the V‐antigen in the TTSS and mechanisms by which these functions can be blocked is critical to facilitating the development of improved anti‐V‐antigen strategies.     

短期胰岛素泵强化治疗对2型糖尿病患者血脂血糖水平的影响

目的:探讨短期胰岛素泵强化治疗对2型糖尿病患者血脂血糖代谢的影响。方法:选取76例2型糖尿病患者,按给药方式不同分为两组,对照组(38例)给予门冬胰岛素常规治疗,观察组(38例)给予胰岛素泵强化治疗,依据两组治疗前后的血糖、血脂指标变化及治疗前、治疗后1周、2周的ADL量表评分评价短期胰岛素泵强化治疗对2型糖尿病患者血脂血糖代谢的影响。结果:治疗后,两组患者的空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(Hb Alc)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平均较治疗前显著降低,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平均明显升高,且观察组FPG、Hb Alc、TC、TG、LDL-C水平均明显低于对照组,HDL-C水平显著高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后1周、2周,两组ADL评分均较治疗前明显提高,且观察组显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:短期胰岛素泵强化治疗能显著改善2型糖尿病患者的血糖血脂代谢紊乱,并提高患者的日常生活能力。     

二甲双胍片联合糖脉康颗粒对2型糖尿病患者血清IL-6、TNF-?琢、CRP、APN水平的影响

摘要 目的：研究二甲双胍片联合糖脉康颗粒对2型糖尿病患者血清白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、脂联素(APN)水平的影响。方法：选择2013年2月至2016年10月在我院接受治疗的2型糖尿病患者130例，按照给药方法不同分为对照组和观察组，对照组采用二甲双胍片治疗，观察组以对照组为基础联合糖脉康治疗。治疗8周后，对比两组患者治疗前后血清IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、APN、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)，空腹血糖(FBC)、餐后2小时血糖(2hPBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbAlc)、胰岛抵抗指数( HOMA-IR)、胰岛β细胞分泌功能指数(HOMA-IS)和胰岛素敏感指数(ISI)的变化。结果：治疗后，两组患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、TC、TG、LDL-C，FBC、2hPBC、HbAlc，HOMA-IR均较治疗前均明显降低，而血清APN、HDL-C、HOMA-IS、ISI均明显增高(P<0.05)；与对照组相比，观察组患者血清IL-6、TNF-α、CRP、TC、TG、LDL-C，FBC、2hPBC、HbAlc、HOMA-IR水平均较低(P<0.05)，血清APN、HDL-C，HOMA-IS、ISI水平较高(P<0.05)。结论：二甲双胍片联合糖脉康治疗2型糖尿病患者可有效稳定其血脂血糖，改善胰岛功能，可能与其降低血清IL-6、TNF-α、CRP水平，增加血清APN水平有关。     

Angiotensin IV protects cardiac reperfusion injury by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation via AT4R in rats

Angiotensin IV (Ang IV) is formed by aminopeptidase N from Ang III by removing the first N-terminal amino acid. Previously, we reported that Ang III has some cardioprotective effects against global ischemia in Langendorff heart. However, it is not clear whether Ang IV has cardioprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Ang IV on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Before ischemia, male Sprague-Dawley rats received Ang IV (1 mg/kg/day) for 3 days. Anesthetized rats were subjected to 45 min of ischemia by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion and then, sacrificed 1 day or 1 week after reperfusion. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations, and infarct size were measured. Quantitative analysis of apoptotic and inflammatory proteins in ventricles were performed using Western blotting. Pretreatment with Ang IV attenuated I/R-induced increases in plasma CK and LDH levels, and infarct size, which were blunted by Ang IV receptor (AT₄R) antagonist and but not by antagonist for AT₁R, AT₂R, or Mas receptor. I/R increased Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein levels, and decreased Bcl-2 protein level in ventricles, which were blunted by Ang IV. I/R-induced increases in TNF-α, MMP-9, and VCAM-1 protein levels in ventricles were also blunted by Ang IV. Ang IV increased the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. These effects were attenuated by co-treatment with AT₄R antagonist or inhibitors of downstream signaling pathway. Myocardial dysfunction after reperfusion was improved by Ang IV. These results suggest that Ang IV has cardioprotective effect against I/R injury by inhibiting apoptosis via AT₄R and PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway.     

The fine structure of the type 2 cells in the Malpighian tubules of the stick insect,Carausius morosus

Summary Type 2 cells, or mucocytes, are present in both inferior and superior Malpighian tubules ofCarausius morosus and are concentrated towards the distal ends of the main urine-secreting parts. They are absent from the proximal few millimetres of the main part and from the distal specialised regions of the tubules. They possess numerous Golgi bodies and abundant granular E. R., which is consistent with the hypothesis that they secrete mucus. However, they possess basal infoldings and apical microvilli suggesting that they may transport substances across the tubule wall. It is suggested that they perform both functions. Reabsorption of ions or water could precipitate solid components of the urine (e.g., uric acid). Mucus may be important in nucleation of crystalline material and also prevent abrasion of the brush border.This investigation formed part of a thesis for the degree of Ph.D. in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is a pleasure to thank Professor J. Shaw for his advice and encouragement and the Science Research Council for financial support.     

Values,Errors, and Precautions

In the environmental health literature, errors in interpreting studies or data are not infrequent. Many are of the Type II variety. Common solecisms of this type are: treating the criterion of p < 0.05 as a sacrament; demanding complete confounder control; arguing for the existence of phantom confounders; arguing that the effect size is trivial; building nonveridical models; arguing for no effect from inadequate sample size; demanding causal proof; arguing that causality is reversed; conducting a ballot of published studies. These are examined in this paper.     

Evaluating the effect of health education program on outcomes of type I diabetic patients: A randomized controlled study

Background; findings from the meta-analysis have shown that patients present improvements in glycaemic control, and in the prevention and control of the acute and chronic complications, when they receive effective treatment, self-management support and regular monitoring. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a health education program on outcomes of type I diabetic patients. Quasi-experimental study design was used to fulfill the aim of the study. The study was conducted in the outpatient diabetic clinic at Asyut University Hospital; 60 adult male and female patients who attended the outpatient diabetic clinic were included. Two tools were used in this study; structured interviewing questionnaire with three parts; part one: demographic patient variables, part two: patient's medical data and part three: patient's knowledge regarding diabetes, the second tool is evaluation of type I diabetic patients' outcomes (pre/post). Results revealed that the highest percentage of the studied samples were in the age group 18 to less than 30 years, 90.0% of the study group and 83.4% of the control group were having a family history of diabetes, a statistically significant difference was found in the study group patients pre and post application of the program regarding insulin injection and glycemic control. Conclusion: this study demonstrated the effectiveness of health education program implementation on the outcomes of type I diabetic patients in terms of improved knowledge and practicing exercise, teeth care, feet care and on glycemic control.