Purpose A scientific review panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently identified the need for more data on the health risk of mercury exposure from dental amalgam among susceptible populations. We evaluated impacts of low level mercury exposure on renal function and neurobehavioral and neuropsychological performance among children. Methods Dental histories for 403 children aged 7-11 years in five schools from Xuhui, Shanghai were checked by dentists. Of them, 198 with confirmed amalgam fillings were recruited (exposure group). Reference children (N=205) were those who never had dental amalgam treatment. In May 2004, each child provided a urine sample for measurements of total mercury, n-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity, microalbumin, and creatinine (Cr). The Child Behavior Checklist, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and an intelligence screening test were administered. Results The geometric mean urinary mercury concentration was 1.6 μg/g Cr for children with and 1.4 μg/g Cr for children without amalgam fillings. No differences were found between children with and without fillings for either renal function biomarker, or on neurobehavioral, neuropsychological, or intelligence tests. Conclusions Although urinary mercury concentration was slightly elevated among children with amalgam fillings, we found no evidence of adverse effects on the outcomes evaluated. These results agree with those from recent trials in developed countries.

The results indicated that PUMA-G stimulation by NA in islet β cells inhibited GSIS likely via activation of the Gi signaling pathway.

(2020) Increased serum concentration of apolipoprotein B is associated with an increased risk of reaching renal replacement therapy in patients with diabetic kidney disease,

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Purpose: To investigate how to label macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and trace SPIO with MR imaging. Materials and Methods:Atherosclerotic lesions of a rabbit model were induced by a combination of high-fat and high-cholesterol diet and subsequent endothelial abrasion of the abdominal aorta. SPIO particles were pretreated with poly-L-lysine. SPIO nanoparticles and SPIO-labeled human endothelial cells (ECV-304) were IV injected into model animals, respectively. The MRI scans and histopathological examination were performed 12 h and 24 h after the injection. The imaging and histopathological data were analyzed.Results: Prussian blue staining of the vessel specimens indicated that SPIO particles were not found in the atheroma but in the Kupffer's cells of the liver after SPIO injection. However, the accumulation of SPIO particles in the atheroma was confirmed in animals received SPIO-labeled endothelial cell transplantation. The best quality MR scan sequences of rabbit abdominal aorta were T 2 WI fat suppression, T 1 WI, and DIR series, on which of MR image had a higher quality. Signal loss of the original incrassate plaque in the vessel wall on T 2 WI was found in 6 of 10 animals received SPIO-labeled endothelial cell transplantation.Conclusion: SPIO-labeled endothelial cells were superior to SPIO for MR imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.