Objectives. We investigated the relationship between the stage of diabetic retinopathy and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of 689 patients (406 men and 283 women) with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to our hospital from 2004 to 2007. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured by an arterial pressure measurement device as PWV/ABI. Diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy was made by ophthalmologists based on the Davis classification: no diabetic retinopathy (NDR), simple retinopathy (SDR), pre-proliferative retinopathy (pre-PDR), and proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Results. There was a significant difference in PWV between patients without diabetic retinopathy (1657.0 ± 417.9 m/s (mean ± SD)) and with diabetic retinopathy (1847.1 ± 423.9 m/s) (P < 0.001). In addition, the stage of diabetic retinopathy was associated with aortic PWV (1657.0 ± 417.9 m/s in NDR (n = 420), 1819.4 ± 430.3 m/s in SDR (n = 152), 1862.1 ± 394.0 m/s in pre-PDR (n = 54), and 1901.1 ± 433.5 m/s in PDR (n = 63) (P < 0.001)). Conclusions. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, even in those with SDR, PWV was higher than that in patients without diabetic retinopathy. Physicians should therefore pay attention to the value of PWV and macroangiopathy regardless of the stage of diabetic retinopathy.
Individual plants of a Japanese onion variety 'Sapporo-ki', which is characterized by the occasional occurrence of male-sterile plants, have been investigated for mitochondrial (mt) DNA polymorphism. Male-fertile and the Jones' cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) onions were also included for comparison. Southern blot hybridization with rrn26, cox-I, cox-II, cob, atpA and atp9 genes as probes revealed the two classes of mtDNA variation within a population of 'Sapporo-ki': Out of the 41 plants examined 19 contained mtDNA typical of malefertile plants, and 22 individuals contained mtDNA typical of the Jones' CMS genotype. Our results thus indcate that the use of the mitochondrial gene probes may greatly facilitate the classification of individual plants by cytoplasmic genotypes.
We have constructed a complete physical map of the mitochondrial genome from the male-fertile cytoplasm of sugarbeet. The entire sequence complexity can be represented on a single circular master chromosome of 358 kb. This master chromosome contains three copies of one recombinationally active repeat sequence, with two copies in direct orientation and the other in inverted orientation. The positions of the rRNA genes and of 23 polypeptide genes, determined by filter hybridization, are scattered throughout the genome, with triplicate rrn26 genes located partially or entirely within the recombination-repeat elements. Three ribosomal-protein genes (rps1A, rps14 and rps19) were found to be absent from sugarbeet mtDNA. Our results also reveal that at least six regions homologous with cDNA are dispersed in the mitochondrial genome.
Background. Helicobacter pylori chronically colonizes gastric/duodenal mucosa and induces gastroduodenal disease and vigorous humoral and cellular immune responses. Methods. In order to clarify the immunological changes induced by this infection, we determined the percentage and, as indicated, ratios of the following cells in peripheral blood of 45 H. pylori-infected patients and 21 control subjects: CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 cells (Th1), T helper 2 cells (Th2), CD4+CD25+ T cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD4/CD8 ratio, and Th1/Th2 ratio.
Results. The percentage of CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 18.0 ± 7.1%) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 23.2 ± 7.8%) (P < 0.05). The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 3.1 ± 2.4) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 2.1 ± 1.0) (P < 0.05). The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly lower in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 10.0 ± 8.5) compared to control subjects (mean ± SD; 14.5 ± 9.0) (P < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+CD25+ T cells in H. pylori-infected patients (mean ± SD; 13.2 ± 6.2%) was significantly higher than that in control subjects (mean ± SD; 9.8 ± 3.4%) (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Tregs. Conclusion. Tregs did not decrease, but the activation of humoral immunity and Th2 polarization were observed in the peripheral blood of H. pylori-infected patients. In some cases, these changes may induce systemic autoimmune diseases.
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