Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of serum and urinary netrin-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at different stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to compare its efficacy of estimation in serum with that in the urine. This study was carried out on 135 patients with T2DM and 45 healthy subjects. The patients with diabetes were divided according to urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) into: T2DM with normoalbuminuria, incipient DN with microalbuminuria, and overt DN with macroalbuminuria groups. ⋯ In T2DM groups, the urinary and serum netrin-1 correlated with each other and were independently related to fasting blood glucose, UACR, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of urinary netrin-1 was 0.916 which is significantly higher than that of serum netrin-1 (0.812) for the detection of incipient DN and reached 0.938 on coestimation of both urinary and serum netrin-1. In conclusion, netrin-1 is a potential diagnostic marker for early detection of DN with its estimation in urine has higher accuracy than that of serum.
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Undoubtedly, identification of the chemical composition of organic extracts or secondary metabolites of plant materials and evaluation of their potential bioactivity are among the main objectives of natural products-based investigations. In the present study, we report the chemical composition and antidiabetic activity of Sophora pachycarpa (Family Fabaceae) seeds extract (SPE) for the first time. First, the plant seeds were macerated in ethanol. ⋯ The statistical analyses revealed there are no significant differences between the ability of SPE and metformin in the regulation of fasting blood sugar level and liver enzymes (ALP, SGPT, and SGOT). A quinolizidine alkaloid, namely sophoridine, along with fatty acids, viz oleic, linoleic, and n-hexadecanoic acid, were characterized as the major compounds in S. tachycardia seeds extract. The plant extract was also found as a potent agent to reduce blood glucose and liver enzymes.
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Previous animal models of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were not physiological and required a variety of surgical procedures. Therefore, the animal model developed by conditions that are similar to the pathogenesis of GERD is necessary. The aim is to establish a non-surgical animal model with GERD caused by overeating induced in mice. ⋯ The higher frequency of fasting and overeating could cause GERD effectively. The dietary control can make mice overeat, which elicits the change of lower esophageal mucosa similar to GERD. Thus, the overeating-induced mouse may be used as a GERD mouse model.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Effects of human immunodeficiency virus status on symptom severity in influenza-like illness in an otherwise healthy adult outpatient cohort.
The impact of HIV on influenza-like illness (ILI) has been incompletely described in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy, particularly in the post-H1N1 pandemic period. This analysis informs on ILI in an otherwise healthy, predominantly outpatient cohort of adults with HIV in the USA. From September 2010 to March 2015, this multisite observational cohort study enrolled otherwise healthy adults presenting to a participating US military medical center with ILI, a subset of whom were HIV positive. ⋯ In this predominantly outpatient cohort of adult men, HIV had minimal impact on ILI symptom severity. Despite similar illness severity, a higher percentage of subjects with HIV reported undergoing antiviral treatment for ILI, likely reflecting differences in prescribing practices. Trial registration number: NCT01021098.
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Growing evidence suggests an important role of the inflammatory component in heart failure (HF). Recent developments in this field indicate an ambiguous role that innate immunity plays in immune-driven HF. ⋯ Designed as an adaptive, regenerative reaction, innate immunity may nevertheless become overactivated and thus contribute to the development of HF by altering the pacemaker rhythm, contraction, and electromechanical coupling, presumably by impairing the calcium homeostasis. The current review will explore a hypothesis of the involvement of the calcium-regulating hormones such as parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein in counteracting the detrimental impact of the excess of DAMPs and therefore improving the functional cardiac characteristics especially in the acute phase of the disease.