Abstract. Emodin is the main active component of the Chinese medicine rhubarb, which has a variety of pharmacological effects and a high clinical value. Its anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects have been widely studied. The aim of the present study was to determine whether emodin has renoprotective effects, and to identify the potential underlying mechanisms in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The changes in mean blood glucose levels, normalized kidney weight, urinary albumin excretion, serum creatinine levels and tubulointerstitial injury index (TII) scores of the rats with DN were significantly attenuated by emodin. Furthermore, treatment with emodin significantly inhibited inflammation-related factors and oxidative stress, suppressed the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax), increased phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated-glycogen synthase kinase 3 (p-GSK-3β) expression and inhibited caspase-3 activity in diabetic rats. These data suggest that emodin protects against DN and that the underlying mechanism may involve the suppression of inflammation, ICAM-1 and Bax, and activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

BackgroundInsulin is widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). More attention was focused on its higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This meta-analysis examined the relationship between levels of insulin use and the risk of CRC.MethodsA meta-analysis using data from 12 published epidemiologic studies (7 case–control, and 5 cohort studies) published before Jan. 2014 was done to examine the association between insulin use and CRC. Random effects analyses were done to calculate relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity among studies was measured by the χ2 and I2 statistic.ResultsOverall, the risk of CRC was significantly associated with insulin use to a random-effects model (RR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.25 -2.27). When subgroup analyses were conducted according to the study types, no associations were detected in cohort group (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.95-1.65; I2, 75.7%); however significant association was detected in case–control group (RR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.41-3.26; I2, 89.1%).ConclusionsA significant harmful effect of insulin, observed mainly among case–control studies, may result from study design differences and amount of included studies. Although these results suggest a harmful effect of insulin use for CRC risk, additional large studies are warranted to support these preliminary evidences.Virtual SlidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2194715731194123.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the interleukin 10 (IL10) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) À1082 G/A (rs1800896), À819 T/C (rs1800871) and À592 A/C (rs1800872) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population. Methods: This case-control study recruited patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy control subjects. Genotyping of the À1082 G/A (rs1800896), À819 T/C (rs1800871) and À592 A/C (rs1800872) SNPs was conducted and genotype frequencies were compared between the two groups. Results: The study recruited 364 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 677 healthy controls. Patients carrying the À1082 GG genotype had a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 2.68), as did those patients carrying the À592 AA genotype (adjusted OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.06, 2.53). Subjects carrying both the À1082 GA þ GG and À592 AC þ AA genotypes had a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.24, 3.15). Conclusions: The SNPs À1082G/A and À592 A/C increased the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and could be potential targets for screening for the early detection of the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To assess the effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk at the L1-L4 vertebrae, femoral neck, hip and trochanter in Chinese women with osteoporosis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in female patients with osteoporosis, randomized to receive one 5-mg ZOL intravenous infusion per year or placebo equivalent. Facture risk and BMD were measured over a 2-year follow-up period. Results: A statistically significant reduction in the risk of fracture was observed at the trochanter in the ZOL group (n ¼ 242) compared with the placebo group (n ¼ 241); (odds ratio 0.54 [95% confidence interval 0.29, 0.98]): BMD was 0.24, 0.28, 0.31 and 0.22 greater at the L1-L4 vertebrae, total hip, femoral neck and trochanter, respectively, in the ZOL group. The incidence of adverse events was comparable between treatment groups. Conclusions: This study indicated that ZOL could increase BMD and reduce fracture risk in women with osteoporosis over a 2-year follow-up period, and was not associated with any serious drug-related adverse effects.

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