Worldwide, the prevalence of diabetes remains high. Studies have shown that iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with increased levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), but the mechanism remains unclear. Hematological changes, iron metabolism, study methodology, and other factors could affect the results of diagnostic investigations, leading to false results. Red blood cell turnover in the bone marrow and the quality and heterogeneity of erythrocytes may influence the rate of hemoglobin glycation. By changing the structure of hemoglobin and inducing peroxidation, iron deficiency accelerates glycation. This review aims to discuss the possible causes of the association between increased levels of HbA1c and IDA.

The effect of chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) on prevalence of diabetes has received great attention. This study investigated serum and urinary Cr and Fe levels among patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Northeast Chinese population. From January 2010 to October 2011, patients with IFG (n=12), IGT (n=15), T1D (n=25), T2D (n=137) and healthy controls (n=50) were enrolled in the First Hospital of Jilin University. Trace elements were detected using an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. Serum Cr levels decreased in T2D without complications, diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and diabetic nephropathy (DN) (P<0.05). The urinary Cr level in T1D was the highest of all, which significantly exceeded those of the T2D groups with and without complications. No significant differences of serum Fe levels were found among all groups. The urinary Fe level of T1D was significantly increased (P<0.05). The correlation between serum Cr and serum Fe in T2D was obviously positive (P<0.05). One month of simvastatin therapy exerted no effects on serum or urinary Cr and Fe levels. These results suggest the potential role of Cr and Fe in diabetes should receive attention.

This paper is concerned with massive MIMO systems over Ricean fading channels. To reduce the overhead for estimating channel state information (CSI), we investigate transmit/ receive beamforming transmission only based on the specular component and treat the scattered component as interference. For the scenario without co-channel interference, we show that the ergodic achievable rate can remain unchanged when the transmit power is scaled down by the multiplication of the two numbers of antennas at the transmitter and the receiver, and can be equal to that of the corresponding beamforming based on perfect CSI when both of the numbers of antennas go without bound. Theoretical analysis is also extended to the scenario with co-channel interference. Simulation results further show that even though the numbers of antennas are not very large, the exact rate is quite close to its limit.Index Terms-Massive MIMO, large-scale antenna array, ricean fading, rician, beamforming, power scaling.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to establish age- and sex-specific pediatric reference intervals of serum potassium (K), sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) using a direct sampling technique. Methods In accordance with the a priori approach, healthy individuals (n = 6,466, aged 1 month to &lt;18 years) were enrolled from five regions in Jilin Province, China, and all analytes were performed in the center laboratory. Reference intervals were divided according to the regression tree and Harris and Boyd’s method, and then they were calculated by the nonparametric rank method. The dynamic changes of reference intervals were evaluated by the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method. Results Reference intervals of serum Na and Ca were divided into three age-specific partitions. The concentrations of K, Cl, and Mg remained stable with age. However, only dramatic sex-specific changes of P were shown in those 11 to less than 13 years old and 13 to less than 15 years old, with an earlier peak time in females than in males. The correlation between Na and Cl was the strongest among all serum electrolytes (r = 0.31). Conclusions Serum electrolyte reference intervals for children and adolescents were established by regression tree, z test, and the LMS method, which provide a more accurate interpretation for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of clinical pediatric diseases.

Age-and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for myocardial enzyme activity of children and adolescents are not available in China. Our study aimed to establish age-and gender-related RIs for AST, LDH, CK, and CKMB activity in healthy Chinese Han population aged 1∼<18 years. Healthy Han children and adolescents (n � 6322, 1∼<18 years old) were assessed from completed questionnaires and defined criteria from communities and schools in 5 administrative districts of Jilin Province from September 2017 to December 2018. Measurements of AST, LDH, CK, and CKMB activity were performed on the VITROS 5600 Integrated System. Percentiles of enzyme activity were completed by LMS. RIs were established by Medcalc according to the EP28-A3c guidelines issued by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. AST declined rapidly during 1∼<6 years and had been subsided during 11∼<18 years, though LDH decreased at a steady rate. CK activity stabilized while CKMB showed a downward trend. Sex differences started after age 12 when males presented higher results. ere were significant differences comparing with domestic and other countries' experiments which applied similar methodologies. Enzymes were associated with age and sex, while age had greater impact. We established age-and sex-specific RIs of serum AST, LDH, CK, and CKMB activities for Chinese children and adolescents using the VITROS 5600 Integrated System for the first time. ese data will lay the groundwork for the next horizon in pediatric RIs as well as improve test result interpretation for pediatric illness.