Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with complicated pathogenesis, and mono-target therapy often fails to effectively manage the levels of blood glucose. In recent years, the anti-diabetes target glucokinase (GK) has attracted the attention of researchers. It acts as a glucose sensor, triggering counter regulatory responses following a change in glucose levels to aid restoration of normoglycemia. Activation of GK induces glucose metabolism and reduces glucose levels for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. GK agonists (GKA) are a new class of antidiabetic drugs. Among these agents, dorzagliatin is currently being investigated in phase III clinical trials, while PB-201 and AZD-1656 have reached phase II clinical trials. This article describes the mechanism of action of GK in diabetes and of action of GKA at the protein level, and provides a review of the research, trends, and prospects regarding the use of GKA in this setting.

Two coordination sphere supramolecular isomers based on Co(II) and 4-(2-pyridyl)-NH-1,2,3-triazole, namely [Co(HL)2Cl2]·2H2O (Co-Cl, HL = 4-(2-pyridyl)-NH-1,2,3-triazole) and [Co(HL)2(H2O)2]Cl2 (Co-H2O), have been obtained via one-pot synthesis and structurally characterized by single-crystal...

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) affects nearly 50% of the diabetic population. Advanced glycation end products, measured through skin autofluorescence (SAF), play an important role in the diagnosis and prevention of DPN. To date, however, no relevant study has discussed the relationship between SAF and the Chinese population. Objective: We conducted this study to evaluate the association between DPN and SAF among the Chinese population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited a total of 820 patients with type 2 diabetes. All of the patients underwent SAF measurements and a nerve conduction study (NCS). Post-SAF characterization, the patients were divided into three groups according to the first and third quartiles of their SAF values (AU) (SAF ≤ 2.2; 2.2 < SAF ≤ 2.7; SAF > 2.7). Based on the results of the NCS, patients were divided into two groups: DPN and non-DPN. Results: When compared with the non-DPN group ( n = 275) with the DNP group. The latter had higher SAF values (2.72 ± 0.55 AU vs. 2.17 ± 0.71 AU, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in age, the percentage of DPN, and NCS parameters, including motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve conduction velocity, distal latency, and sensory nerve action potential among the three SAF groups ( p < 0.05). The SAF value was positively associated with DPN ( r = 0.11, p < 0.01). After adjusting for all potential confounders, the SAF values were still associated with an increased risk of DPN (odds ratio 5.15; 95% confidence interval [1.48–4.53]) ( p < 0.01). A receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that an SAF value >2.57 ng/mL predicts a threefold increased risk of DPN ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: SAF is an independent risk factor for DPN, which might be of potential value for screening DPN in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Family planning is a basic national policy in China. An intrauterine device (IUD) is an important method of achieving family planning owing to its high safety, low cost, and convenient use. The indwelling birth control ring has no obvious adverse effects on the sexual life of women after the operation, and the process is reversible. This ring can be removed for women who want to have children again. There are approximately 100 million women with IUDs worldwide, with approximately 80 million in China. This finding accounts for approximately 40% of women of childbearing age in China. Although an IUD is safe, the invasive operation inevitably leads to complications, such as pelvic infection, abnormal menstruation, and damage to adjacent organs. Among them, ectopic bladder stone formation is a rare complication, but several related cases have been reported. We report four cases of heterotopia of an IUD and cystolithiasis, with diagnosis based on the medical history, clinical manifestations, imaging, and cystoscopic findings. The four patients with ectopic IUDs were treated with cystoscopy combined with laparoscopy (or hysteroscopy). We describe the process of diagnosis and treatment of our patients, and the related literature on an ectopic IUD is reviewed.

To explore the outcome of placing a single Y-shaped tracheal self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) to treat emergent carinal stenosis combined with stenosis of the right main and intermediate bronchi. The clinical and imaging data of 10 patients (8 males, 2 females) with carinal stenosis combined with stenosis of the right main and intermediate bronchi were retrospectively analyzed. There were 4 patients with esophageal cancer and 6 patients with lung cancer. All patients underwent treatment with a single Y-shaped tracheal SEMS. The long branch was inserted into the right main and intermediate bronchi, while the short branch was inserted into the left main bronchus. A modified Borg scale score was used as the criterion for assessing dyspnea in patients before and after stenting. A total of 10 Y-shaped tracheal SEMSs were successfully placed in 10 patients without any procedure-related complications. Compared with the score before stent placement, the mean Borg score for dyspnea after stent placement decreased from 7.6 to 0.8 (P = .04). Chest computed tomography showed that the stenosis disappeared 3 to 5 days poststenting. During the follow-up period, the most common complications were tumor ingrowth (n = 5) and granulation tissue hyperplasia (n = 7). The mean survival time after tracheal stent placement was 103 ± 50 (23–172) days. The application of a single Y-shaped tracheal SEMS for emergent carinal stenosis combined with stenosis of the right main and intermediate bronchi can effectively relieve dyspnea through a simple operation.