Analysis of the Antigenic Relationships Among Trichomonas,Histomonas, Dientamoeba and Entamoeba III. Immunoelectrophoresis Technics*

Antigens prepared from Trichomonas gallinae, Histomonas meleagridis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba invodens and Entamoeba histolytica were separated by electrophoresis in agar gels and reacted with antisera prepared in rabbits against each of the 5 species. The most numerous and strongest precipitin lines were obtained from reactions between the homologous antigens and antisera. Direct and cross-absorption reaction methods were employed with each antiserum and the various antigens to ascertain quantitatively the immunologic relationships among the several organisms. Trichomonas shared many common antigens with Histomonas, fewer with Dientamoeba and none with either species of Entamoeba. Histomonas was more closely related antigenically to Dientamoeba than to Trichomonas. The histomonad had only a few weakly cross-reacting antigens in common with the 2 Entamoeba species. Dientamoeba shared the most common antigens with Histomonas, fewer with Trichomonas and the fewest with Entamoeba. Somewhat stronger cross-reactivity was obtained with anti-Dientamoeba serum and E. invadens than between this immune serum and E. histolytica. The 2 species of Entamoeba shared the largest number of common antigens with each other, and to a much lesser extent both species cross reacted with Dientamoeba. Anti-Entamoeba sera had only a few weak cross-reacting precipitins with Histomonas. No antigenic relationship was found between either species of Entamoeba and Trichomonas.     

Baseline NT-ProBNP level predicts success of cardioversion of atrial fibrillation with flecainide

BackgroundPatients with acute-onset symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) can be treated with flecainide. However, flecainide may induce arrhythmias and/or exaggerate heart failure. Therefore, validated markers to predict the efficacy of flecainide and prevent adverse effects are required. We hypothesised that lower NT-proBNP plasma levels correlate with higher success rates of cardioversion with flecainide in patients with AF.MethodsIn this prospective single-centre study, we included 112 subsequent patients with acute-onset (< 24 h) symptomatic AF. Patients with symptoms of heart failure and ECG signs of ischaemia were excluded. Baseline laboratory measurements, including NT-proBNP, were done. Echocardiograms were performed ~ 2 weeks after restoration of SR.ResultsCardioversion with flecainide was successful in 91 patients (87 %). NT-proBNP was lower in patients with successful cardioversion (P < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated NT-proBNP as an independent predictor of successful cardioversion. A cut-off NT-proBNP value of 1550 pg/ml provided optimal test accuracy to predict successful cardioversion.ConclusionIn patients with < 24 h of symptomatic AF, NT-proBNP levels up to 1550 pg/ml correlate with high success rates (94 %) of cardioversion with flecainide. Conversely, NT-proBNP higher than 1550 pg/ml correlates with poor success rates (36 %). Further research is needed to validate the predictive value of NT-proBNP for successful cardioversion with flecainide.     

保护性耕作条件下小麦田甲烷吸收及影响因素

采用静态箱-气相色谱法对保护性耕作和常规耕作小麦田的CH₄排放进行了原位测量,同时测量了土壤温度、水分、无机氮等相关影响因子,以研究保护性耕作农田CH₄排放通量及相关因素的影响.结果表明：保护性耕作及常规耕作麦田CH₄的排放具有明显的季节性变化规律,且变化趋势一致;保护性耕作与常规耕作各处理的CH₄平均吸收通量、季节吸收量差异显著（P<0.05）.在小麦生长季内,各处理农田均表现为CH₄的吸收汇.各处理CH₄季节吸收通量表现为：常规耕作无秸秆还田>常规耕作秸秆还田>深松秸秆还田>耙耕秸秆还田>旋耕秸秆还田>免耕秸秆还田,与常规耕作相比,保护性耕作CH₄吸收通量减少.保护性耕作CH₄吸收通量与温度呈正相关,与水分呈负相关,常规耕作CH₄吸收通量与两因子相关不显著;各处理CH₄吸收通量与NH₄⁺-N含量呈显著负相关.     

Effects of mutual intercropping on cadmium accumulation by the accumulator plants Conyza canadensis,Cardamine hirsuta,and Cerastium glomeratum

In this study, three cadmium (Cd) accumulator species (Conyza canadensis, Cardamine hirsuta, and Cerastium glomeratum) were co-cultured in Cd-contaminated soil in pots to study the effects of intercropping on co-remediation. Only C. canadensis intercropped with C. glomeratum, C. hirsuta intercropped with C. glomeratum, and three-species intercropping increased plant biomass compared with their respective monocultures. The treatments of C. canadensis intercropped with C. glomeratum and three-species intercropping increased the Cd contents in roots and shoots of C. canadensis, whereas the other intercropping treatments decreased or had no significant impact on Cd contents. As for Cd accumulation, the treatments of C. canadensis intercropped with C. glomeratum, C. hirsuta intercropped with C. glomeratum, and three-species intercropping increased Cd accumulation in a single plant compared with that of their respective monocultures, whereas other intercropping treatments decreased Cd accumulation in individual plants. Only the treatments of C. canadensis intercropped with C. glomeratum and C. hirsuta intercropped with C. glomeratum increased Cd accumulation in shoots of a single pot compared with that of their respective monocultures. Therefore, C. canadensis intercropped with C. glomeratum and C. hirsuta intercropped with C. glomeratum may improve the phytoremediation efficiency for Cd-contaminated soil.     

Diabetes,metformin use,and colorectal cancer survival in postmenopausal women

Background: Observational studies have associated metformin use with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence but few studies have examined metformin's influence on CRC survival. We examined the relationships among metformin use, diabetes, and survival in postmenopausal women with CRC in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials and observational study. Methods: 2066 postmenopausal women with CRC were followed for a median of 4.1 years, with 589 deaths after CRC diagnosis from all causes and 414 deaths directly attributed to CRC. CRC-specific survival was compared among women with diabetes with metformin use (n = 84); women with diabetes with no metformin use (n = 128); and women without diabetes (n = 1854). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations among metformin use, diabetes and survival after CRC. Strategies to adjust for potential confounders included: multivariate adjustment with known predictors of colorectal cancer survival and construction of a propensity score for the likelihood of receiving metformin, with model stratification by propensity score quintile. Results: After adjusting for age and stage, CRC specific survival in women with diabetes with metformin use was not significantly different compared to that in women with diabetes with no metformin use (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.40–1.38, p = 0.67) and to women without diabetes (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.61–1.66, p = 0.99). Following propensity score adjustment, the HR for CRC-specific survival in women with diabetes with metformin use compared to non-users was 0.78 (95% CI 0.38–1.55, p = 0.47) and for overall survival was 0.86 (95% CI 0.49–1.52; p = 0.60). Conclusions: In postmenopausal women with CRC and DM, no statistically significant difference was seen in CRC specific survival in those who used metformin compared to non-users. Analyses in larger populations of colorectal cancer patients are warranted.     

Virulence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains with Brassica napus and Brassica juncea

Summary Brassica napus and Brassica juncea were infected with a number of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains. Tumourigenesis was very rapid and extremely efficient on B. juncea with all but one of the strains. Tumourigenesis on B. napus varied widely. It was very efficient with the nopaline strains, was reduced with the succinamopine strain A281 and was very weak with the octopine strains. The latter observation was confirmed with six different B. napus rapeseed cultivars. The selectivity was due to differences in the virulence of Ti plasmids with B. napus, rather than the tumourigenicity of the T-DNA or virulence of the chromosomal genes associated with the strains. An exception was strain LBA4404. The virulence of the octopine strains was increased by coinfection with more virulent disarmed strains and by induction with acetosyringone.     

Stimulation of resistance to Taenia taeniaeformis in the rat by infection with Fasciola hepatica

Homologous resistance to F. hepatica and T. taeniaeformis and cross resistance between these two parasites was investigated in the rat. Rats given a primary infection with F. hepatica were challenged with either F. hepatica or T. taeniaeformis. Conversely rats given a primary infection with T. taeniaeformis were challenged with either F. hepatica or T. taeniaeformis.Infection with F. hepatica generated significant resistance against challenge with F. hepatica given 9 weeks later. Similarly, infection with T. taeniaeformis protected against challenge with T. taeniaeformis given 6 weeks later. Infection with F. hepatica also generated significant resistance against challenge with T. taeniaeformis given 4, 8 or 9 weeks later. Primary infection with T. taeniaeformis did not protect against challenge with F. hepatica.     

Cross-protection between the metacestodes of Mesocestoides corti and Taenia crassiceps in mice

Novak M. 1984. Cross-protection between the metacestodes of Mesocestoides corti and Taenia crassiceps in mice. International Journal for Parasitology14: 497–501. Infection with M. corti generated significant resistance against a challenge with T. crassiceps introduced either 2 or 6 weeks after primary infection. Challenge infection with T. crassiceps did not influence primary infection with M. corti. Infection with T. crassiceps protected significantly against challenge with M. corti given 2 weeks but not 6 weeks after the primary infection. Challenge infection with M. corti significantly suppressed primary infection with T. crassiceps.     

Production of lactic acid and ethanol by Rhizopus oryzae integrated with cassava pulp hydrolysis

Cassava pulp was hydrolyzed with acids or enzymes. A high glucose concentration (>100 g/L) was obtained from the hydrolysis with 1 N HCl at 121 °C, 15 min or with cellulase and amylases. While a high glucose yield (>0.85 g/g dry pulp) was obtained from the hydrolysis with HCl, enzymatic hydrolysis yielded only 0.4 g glucose/g dry pulp. These hydrolysates were used as the carbon source in fermentation by Rhizopus oryzae NRRL395. R. oryzae could not grow in media containing the hydrolysates treated with 1.5 N H₂SO₄ or 2 N H₃PO₄, but no significant growth inhibition was found with the hydrolysates from HCl (1 N) and enzyme treatments. Higher ethanol yield and productivity were observed from fermentation with the hydrolysates when compared with those from fermentation with glucose in which lactic acid was the main product. This was because the extra organic nitrogen in the hydrolysates promoted cell growth and ethanol production.     

Effects of microbial floras on the distributions of five domestic Drosophila species across fruit resources

Summary The distributions of five Drosophila species and four components of the microflora have been compared across a total of 48 traps baited with four different fruit and vegetable substrates in two domestic compost heaps in Canberra (Australia). Large and consistent differences are found, both among the Drosophila and among the microbial classes, in their distributions across traps baited with different substrates. Moreover the distribution of each Drosophila species shows a unique set of strong associations with the microbial distributions. Thus the distributions of both D. simulans and D. melanogaster are found to be strongly negatively correlated with the abundance of bacteria while D. simulans is also strongly positively correlated with the titre of fermenter yeasts. D. immigrans is strongly positively correlated both with bacteria and with non-fermenter yeasts. D. hydei is positively correlated with nonfermentery yeasts and D. busckii is negatively correlated with fermenter yeasts. Moulds are the only microbial class not consistently associated with the distribution of any of the Drosophila species. The correlations with the other microbial classes are sufficient to explain the majority of the abundance differences of the Drosophila species among the trap types. It is therefore proposed that the clear partitioning of the fruit resources by the Drosophila is due to their differing primary interactions with the microflora.     

Joint Segregation of Biochemical Loci in Salmonidae. II. Linkage Associations from a Hybridized Salvelinus Genome (S. NAMAYCUSHxS. FONTINALIS)

The results of more than 300 pairwise examinations of biochemical loci for joint segregation in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and in the hybridized genome of lake trout (S. namaycush) x brook trout are summarized. Nineteen loci have been assigned to the following eight linkage groupings on the basis of nonrandom assortment, including cases of both classical linkage and pseudolinkage: ODH with PMI with PGI-3, PGI-2 with SDH, ADA-1 with AGP-2, AAT-(1,2) with AGP-1 with MDH-1, MDH-3 with MDH-4, LDH-3 with LDH-4, IDH-3 with ME-2 and GUS with CPK-1. Pseudolinkage (an excess of nonparental progeny types) was observed only for male testcross parents. The results suggest that this phenomenon involves homeologous chromosome arms as evidenced by the de novo association of presumed duplicate loci in each case. Classical linkage has not been found for the five pairs of duplicate loci examined in Salvelinus, suggesting that not all of the eight metacentrics in the haploid complement involve fusions of homeologous chromosomes. Females consistently showed a greater degree of recombination.     

Use of Polyclonal Antibodies to Identify Mycoplasma-like organisms (MLOs) From the Sudan and from Thailand

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies prepared against faba bean phyllody MLO from the Sudan reacted with its homologous antigen and with extracts of Catharanthus roseus experimentally infected with the same or a related MLO from Crotalaria saltiana showing symptoms of phyllody disease, as well as with extracts of naturally MLO-infected C. saltiana growing in the field in the Sudan. The antibodies also reacted positively with extracts of C. roseus experimentally infected with Crotalaria juncea phyllody MLO and soybean phyllody MLO from Thailand. Polyclonal antibodies prepared against an MLO associated with witches' broom disease in C. juncea reacted positively in ELISA tests with homologous antigen extracts from naturally infected C. juncea as well as with extracts from experimentally infected C. roseus and with extracts prepared from Sesamum indicum plants with phyllody symptoms growing in Thailand. There was no reaction between these antibodies and extracts from C. roseus plants infected with the MLOs associated with C. juncea phyllody or with soybean phyllody. No cross reactions were observed among the antigens and antibodies of the two MLO groups by immunoflorescence, ELISA or western blotting. However, the molecular weight of the principal protein antigen, determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blotting was the same for both types of MLO. Serologically-similar MLOs thus occur in the Sudan and in Thailand, where they are associated with phyllody symptoms in C. saltiana and faba bean and with C. juncea and soybean, respectively. A second, serologically distinct MLO group was also found infecting C. juncea and S. indicum in Thailand but MLOs from this group have not yet been identified in crops from the Sudan.     

Goat Uterine DBA+ Leukocytes Differentiation and Cytokines Expression Respond Differently to Cloned versus Fertilized Embryos

High rate of fetal mortality in ruminant somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) pregnancies is due, at least in part, to immune-mediated abortion of fetuses. In the present study, goat uterine leukocytes were isolated by Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) coated magnetic beads, and with majority being were CD56⁺CD16^- in phenotype with low levels of perforin and Granzyme B expression. The responses of the isolated cells to SCNT and in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos conditioned mediums containing hormone steroids were compared by measuring their phenotype and cytokines expression. The results showed there was a 2-fold increase in the numbers of isolated uterine leukocytes after incubation with different conditioned mediums for 120 h. However, significantly lower percentage and absolute numbers of uterine CD56⁺CD16^- leukocytes incubated with SCNT conditioned mediums were detected as compared with those incubated with IVF conditioned mediums (P < 0.05). The group treated with progesterone (P₄) or the combination of P₄ and 17β-estradiol (E₂) were associated with significantly higher percentage and absolute numbers of CD56⁺CD16^- cells as compared with those treated with E₂ alone (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the presence of steroids, the isolated leukocytes incubated with SCNT conditioned mediums associated with greater levels of IFN-γ secretion and expression, as well as lesser levels of VEGF, as compared with those treated with IVF conditioned mediums (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SCNT embryos have a profound effect on the phenotype expression of goat uterine DBA⁺ leukocytes, as well as the secretion and expression of IFN-γ and VEGF by these cells in vitro.     

Schizophrenia and Violence: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Although expert opinion has asserted that there is an increased risk of violence in individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses, there is substantial heterogeneity between studies reporting risk of violence, and uncertainty over the causes of this heterogeneity. We undertook a systematic review of studies that report on associations between violence and schizophrenia and other psychoses. In addition, we conducted a systematic review of investigations that reported on risk of homicide in individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses.

Methods and Findings

Bibliographic databases and reference lists were searched from 1970 to February 2009 for studies that reported on risks of interpersonal violence and/or violent criminality in individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses compared with general population samples. These data were meta-analysed and odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models. Ten demographic and clinical variables were extracted from each study to test for any observed heterogeneity in the risk estimates. We identified 20 individual studies reporting data from 18,423 individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses. In men, ORs for the comparison of violence in those with schizophrenia and other psychoses with those without mental disorders varied from 1 to 7 with substantial heterogeneity (I ² = 86%). In women, ORs ranged from 4 to 29 with substantial heterogeneity (I ² = 85%). The effect of comorbid substance abuse was marked with the random-effects ORs of 2.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–2.7) without comorbidity, and an OR of 8.9 (95% CI 5.4–14.7) with comorbidity (p<0.001 on metaregression). Risk estimates of violence in individuals with substance abuse (but without psychosis) were similar to those in individuals with psychosis with substance abuse comorbidity, and higher than all studies with psychosis irrespective of comorbidity. Choice of outcome measure, whether the sample was diagnosed with schizophrenia or with nonschizophrenic psychoses, study location, or study period were not significantly associated with risk estimates on subgroup or metaregression analysis. Further research is necessary to establish whether longitudinal designs were associated with lower risk estimates. The risk for homicide was increased in individuals with psychosis (with and without comorbid substance abuse) compared with general population controls (random-effects OR = 19.5, 95% CI 14.7–25.8).

Conclusions

Schizophrenia and other psychoses are associated with violence and violent offending, particularly homicide. However, most of the excess risk appears to be mediated by substance abuse comorbidity. The risk in these patients with comorbidity is similar to that for substance abuse without psychosis. Public health strategies for violence reduction could consider focusing on the primary and secondary prevention of substance abuse. Please see later in the article for Editors'' Summary     

Uptake Hydrogenase (Hup) in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Symbioses

Strains of Rhizobium forming nitrogen-fixing symbioses with common bean were systematically examined for the presence of the uptake hydrogenase (hup) structural genes and expression of uptake hydrogenase (Hup) activity. DNA with homology to the hup structural genes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was present in 100 of 248 strains examined. EcoRI fragments with molecular sizes of approximately 20.0 and 2.2 kb hybridized with an internal SacI fragment, which contains part of both bradyrhizobial hup structural genes. The DNA with homology to the hup genes was located on pSym of one of the bean rhizobia. Hup activity was observed in bean symbioses with 13 of 30 strains containing DNA homologous with the hup structural genes. However, the Hup activity was not sufficient to eliminate hydrogen evolution from the nodules. Varying the host plant with two of the Hup⁺ strains indicated that expression of Hup activity was host regulated, as has been reported with soybean, pea, and cowpea strains.     

Mannose-Binding Lectin Serum Levels are Low in Persons with Clinically Active Coccidioidomycosis

Background  Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a circulating collectin that is part of the innate immune response. We explored the serum levels of MBL in persons with different forms of coccidioidomycosis. Methods  Serum MBL was measured by ELISA from samples obtained from healthy donors with immunity to Coccidioides, and those with various forms of active coccidioidomycosis. Blood cell specimens from a subgroup of subjects with active coccidioidomycosis were examined for single nucleotide polymorphisms of the MBL gene and promoter regions. Results  The control group comprised 29 healthy immune subjects. Patient groups with active coccidioidomycosis consisted of 20 patients with symptomatic primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, 26 with non-meningeal disseminated coccidioidomycosis, and nine with coccidioidal meningitis. The group with active coccidioidomycosis was significantly older and more likely to be male than the control group (for both, P < 0.001). The mean ± SEM level of serum MBL in the healthy controls was 169.4 ± 28.6 ng/ml, significantly higher than the 79.2 ± 10.9 ng/ml for all active groups (P < 0.001). Moreover, the active coccidioidomycosis group was significantly more likely to have serum MBL level ≤70 ng/ml compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Genetic analysis in 27 subjects with active coccidioidomycosis revealed marked variation based on race and ethnicity. Among a subgroup of 10 white, non-hispanic men with active coccidioidomycosis, there was a significant association between the H and P haplotypes and MBL levels ≤70 ng/ml (P < 0.036 and P < 0.035, respectively). Conclusions  These data suggest that there is an association between low serum MBL levels and symptomatic coccidioidomycosis.     

ISOELECTRIC POINTS FOR THE MYCELIUM OF FUNGI

1. Mycelium of Rhizopus nigricans when stained with certain acid and basic dyes and washed with buffer mixtures of 0.1 M phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide responded much like an amphoteric colloid with an isoelectric point near pH 5.0. 2. When grown on potato dextrose agar the reaction of which was varied with phosphoric acid the extent of colony growth of Rhizopus nigricans plotted against the initial Sörensen value of the agar produced a double maximum curve with the minimum between the two maxima at initial pH 5.2. 3. When grown in potato dextrose broth the reaction of which was varied with phosphoric acid the dry matter produced by Rhizopus nigricans plotted against the Sörensen value of the broth produced a double maximum curve with the minimum between the two maxima at initial pH 5.2 or average pH 4.9. 4. Mycelium of Rhizopus nigricans placed in buffer mixtures of 0.01 M phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide of pH 4.1 to 6.3, changed the reaction in most cases toward greater alkalinity. 5. Mycelium of Fusarium lycopersici stained with certain acid and basic dyes and washed with buffer mixtures of 0.1 M phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide responded much like an amphoteric colloid with an isoelectric point near pH 5.5.     

Effect of the primary host for production of both sexes on the mating interaction in an autoparasitoid species

Encarsia sophia (Girault and Dodd) is an autoparasitoid in the hymenopteran family Aphelinidae. The females develop as primary parasitoids on whitefly nymphs (primary hosts), whereas the males develop as hyperparasitoids on their own species or on other primary parasitoid species (secondary hosts). The autoparasitoids not only parasitise whiteflies but also kill them with strong host-feeding capacity. In this study, female and male E. sophia were reared on the primary hosts Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci ‘Q’, and the host-feeding and parasitism of wasps on both whitefly species were determined for the four possible different mating combinations: (i) E. sophia females reared on B. tabaci (ESF-BT) mated with E. sophia males from B. tabaci (ESM-BT), (ii) E. sophia females reared on T. vaporariorum (ESF-TV) mated with E. sophia males from T. vaporariorum (ESM-TV), (iii) ESF-BT mated with ESM-TV, and (iv) ESF-TV mated with ESM-BT. ESF-TV mated with ESM-TV killed the largest percentage of whitefly nymphs through host feeding. The ESF-TV with larger body size mating with larger ESM-TV killed more whitefly nymphs through host feeding than those mating with smaller ESM-BT. Whether B. tabaci or T. vaporariorum were used as hosts, ESF-TV mated with ESM-TV and ESM-BT and ESF-BT mated with ESM-BT significantly parasitised more whitefly nymphs than ESF-BT mated with ESM-TV. In general, ESF-BT mated with ESM-TV killed significantly fewer whitefly nymphs through parasitism and host feeding than the other three mating combinations on both whitefly species. These results indicated that the performance of autoparasitoids on insect pests was not only dependent on females but was also affected by mating with males from different primary host species.     

Association of the Ser326Cys polymorphism in the OGG1 gene with type 2 DM

The association of the Ser326Cys polymorphism of the 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) gene with type 2 diabetes was examined using a Japanese population (n (M/W): 4585 (2085/2500); age: 62.6 ± 10.9 years). HbA1c levels and frequency of diabetic subjects were significantly higher in subjects with genotypes with Cys allele than in those without (p = 0.032 and 0.037, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that genotypes with Cys allele were significantly associated with diabetes (OR: 1.32, p = 0.0289). In subjects whose glucose tolerance was classified by FPG and 2-h PG (n = 1.634), the association was more substantial (genotypes with Cys allele vs. without, OR: 1.70, p = 0.0059; genotypes Cys/Cys vs. Ser/Ser, OR: 2.19, p = 0.0008). In subjects with genotype Ser/Ser, the insulin secretion index, HOMA-β, increased in the subjects with glucose intolerance and decreased in the subjects with diabetes, while, in subjects with genotypes Ser/Cys + Cys/Cys, HOMA-β decreased as the glucose tolerance progressed (p for trend = 0.010).