This study aims to research the factors influencing the hospitalization costs of patients with type 2 diabetes, so as to provide some references for reducing their economic burden. Based on the Hospital Information System of a 3A grade hospital in China, we analyzed 2970 cases with type 2 diabetes during 2005-2012. Both the number of inpatients and the hospitalization costs had increased in the study period. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we found that patients in Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance had higher costs than those in New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme. We also found hospitalization costs to be higher in male patients and older patients, patients who stayed more days at hospital and who had surgeries, patients who had at least 1 complication, and patients whose admission status was emergency. After standardizing the regression coefficients, we found that the hospital stay, the forms of payment, and presence of complications were the first 3 factors influencing hospitalization costs in our study. In conclusion, the hospitalization costs of patients with type 2 diabetes could be influenced by age, gender, forms of payment, hospital stay, admission status, complications, and surgery. Medical workers in the studied region should take actions to reduce the duration of hospital stay for diabetic patients and prevent relevant complications. What is more, medical insurance needs further improvement.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Tetrandrine (Tet), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the roots of Stephania tetrandra, possesses anti-oxidative, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory capacities. In this study, the maintenance role of Tet in DN was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Methods: In vitro study, rats were divided into five groups (n=10): the control group, the DN model group, the Tet-treatment group (5, 15, 30 mg/kg). DN damage was assessed by levels of blood glucose, serum creatinine (CRE), proteinuria, and urea nitrogen. ELISA assay was used to detecte tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 levels. Kits were used to detecte contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Dichlorofluorescein (DCF) staining was used to detecte reactive oxygen species (ROS). HE staining assessed pathological damage. TUNEL staining assessed tissue apoptosis. Western Blot (WB) was used to detecte levels of Ki67, Survivin, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, -9, c-Myc, nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), p-Nrf2, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).Results: Compared with the control group, STZ-induced significantly inhibited proliferation proteins' level, activated oxidative stress, aggravated tissue inflammation and promoted tissue apoptosis. STZ-induced further aggravated DN damage. Of note, these anomalies were restored by Tet pretreatment. Additionally, Tet upgraded the expression of p-Nrf2 and HO-1.Conclusions: These results indicated that Tet could significantly restrain diabetic process and renal damage. Tet is a potential therapeutic agent in DN treatment via the reactivation of the Nrf2/HO-1.

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