Diabetes is a global public health problem with various complications, which can lead to disability and mortality. This study identified potential diagnostic markers for diabetes and explored the immunometabolic mechanisms in the pathological process. The gene expression of 17 diabetes cases and 16 normal controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The “limma” package was employed for screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene functions and enriched pathways of DEGs were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Candidate key genes were screened using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) analysis. The diagnostic effectiveness of identified markers was further verified via the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The compositional patterns of immune cell infiltration and signaling pathway enrichment associated with key genes were explored via single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and GSEA analysis, respectively. Possible miRNAs interacting with key genes were predicted via miRcode database. B2M, FTL, SH3BGRL3, and SOD2 were recognized as diagnostic markers for diabetes based on LASSO regression and the support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) feature selection algorithm. Analysis of immune cell infiltration demonstrated that the four key genes were related to B cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and CD8+ T cells. The diagnostic value of B2M, FTL, and SOD2 for diabetes was higher than that of SH3BGRL3 according to the ROC curve. Validation experiments indicated that the mRNA expression of B2M and FTL was increased in liver tissues of diabetic mice. B2M and FTL can act as diagnostic markers for diabetes and contribute to new understandings of the disease's molecular mechanisms.
This study investigated the application effects of information-based health management combined with the knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) health education model in hypertensive patients. Two hundred hypertensive patients were randomized into a control group or an intervention group. Patients in the control group received conventional health management and health education, whereas those in the intervention group received information-based health management plus the KAP health education model. The blood pressure control rate, pre- and post-management systolic and diastolic blood pressures, medication adherence, self-management abilities [assessed using the Hypertension Patient Self-Management Behavior Rating Scale (HPSMBRS)], health behaviors [examined using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II)], quality of life [estimated using the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74)], and patient satisfaction with management were compared between the two groups. Following management, the blood pressure control rate in the intervention group was higher relative to the control group (P<0.05). Compared to pre-management levels, both groups showed noticeable reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures post-management, with lower values observed in the intervention group (P<0.05). Both groups exhibited increased medication adherence, self-management abilities, health behavior scores, and quality of life, with higher values in the intervention group (P<0.05). Patient satisfaction with management was higher in the intervention group (P<0.05). Information-based health management plus the KAP health education model effectively improved blood pressure control, medication adherence, self-management ability, health behaviors, and quality of life in patients with hypertension, with high patient satisfaction.
This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) performed using unilateral endoscopy (UE) versus unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Sixty LSS patients were randomly assigned to a UE-ULBD group or a UBE-ULBD group (30 cases each). Intraoperative blood loss, operative time, time to first ambulation, length of hospital stay, and intraoperative/postoperative complications were recorded. Low back and leg pain were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), and functional status was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) prior to surgery and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Quality of life was measured by the Swiss Spinal Stenosis (SSS) questionnaire preoperatively and at 6 months post-surgery. Surgical outcomes were evaluated using the modified MacNab criteria. No differences were found between groups for intraoperative blood loss, operative time, time to first ambulation, length of hospital stay, or intraoperative/postoperative complication rates (P>0.05). Compared with preoperative values, both groups showed notable reductions in VAS and ODI scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). At 6 months postoperatively, all SSS dimension scores were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05), and no intergroup differences were detected (P>0.05). The modified MacNab excellent-to-good rates were 93.33% in the UBE-ULBD group and 90% in the UE-ULBD group, with no significant between-group difference (P>0.05). UE-ULBD and UBE-ULBD represent reliable minimally invasive options for the surgical management of LSS.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids on fat metabolism and oxidative damage and its repercussions on arterial blood pressure and autonomic balance. During pregnancy and lactation, primiparous Wistar rats received a standard laboratory diet. After weaning, the pups were divided into two groups according to their diet: a normolipidic diet (Control group, C) and a high-fat diet (Hyperlipidic group, HL). Food consumption, weight development, serum biochemical parameters, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated. Adipose tissue was collected for oxidative stress measurements at 90 days of life (d). The HL group had a greater intake of lipids, greater abdominal circumference at 30 d, and increased oxidative stress in adipose tissue. Epididymal adipose tissue showed increased activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and decreased activity of β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (β-HAD). These effects were associated with high mean arterial pressure but were not associated with changes in cardiovascular variability in time and frequency domains at 90 days. Thus, the intake of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids for up to 90 days may be related to a greater induction of oxidative stress in visceral adipose tissue, preceding the development of autonomic dysfunction and arterial hypertension in older individuals.
Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in BALB/c mice has revealed underlying mechanisms of colitis pathology. This study aimed to optimize the DSS dosage to improve reproducibility while ensuring high survival rates. Mice were treated with 2 and 3% DSS solutions in drinking water daily for 7 days (days 1-7), followed by water (8-14 days). Disease activity index (DAI) and survival percentage were monitored over 14 consecutive days. On the last day, intestinal permeability was assessed by Evans blue assay, and colon length was measured. After sacrifice, colon samples were collected to evaluate mucopolysaccharide content and processed for histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and Alcian blue (AB) staining. The results were analyzed to identify significant differences between groups, considering a P-value ≤0.05 as significant. Compared to the control group, DAI, inflammatory cell infiltrate, and intestinal permeability were higher, while colon length, body weight, and mucopolysaccharide content were lower in both DSS groups. Compared to the 2% DSS group, the 3% DSS group showed higher relative density of AB+ cells, higher DAI on days 7, 9, and 14, greater inflammatory infiltrate, and lower PAS+ cells. In addition, survival was lower in the 3% DSS group (57%) compared to the 2% DSS group (80%). According to these findings, 2% DSS provided higher survival and symptomatic colitis, making it the best choice for inducing DSS colitis in mice.
