Showing papers by "Fang Han published in 2013"

Sonographic evaluation of para- and perirenal fat thickness is an independent predictor of early kidney damage in obese patients

Abstract: To determine whether para- and perirenal fat ultrasonographic thickness (PFUT) is related to increased urinary albumin excretion and whether PFUT is an independent indicator of early kidney damage in obese subjects. Sixty-seven nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese patients and 34 age- and sex-matched normal healthy volunteers were involved in this study. Clinical characteristics, blood biochemistry, PFUT, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) of the subjects were measured. The intraoperator and interoperator coefficient of variation was 5.6 and 3.2 %, respectively. ACR and PFUT were significantly higher in obese patients than those of normal healthy volunteers. PFUT was higher in obese patients with microalbuminuria than those with normoalbuminuria. Correlation analysis showed PFUT had a positive correlation with body mass index (BMI, r = 0.677, P < 0.01), waist circumference (WC, r = 0.686, P < 0.01), plasma free fatty acids (FFAs, r = 0.589, P < 0.01), and ACR (r = 0.610, P < 0.01). ACR had a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.444, P < 0.01), WC (r = 0.440, P < 0.01), and plasma FFAs (r = 0.496, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression analyses showed that ACR could be predicted by PFUT. PFUT may be an independent predictor of early kidney damage in nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese patients, and PFUT could be a useful tool for the assessment of visceral fat and early kidney damage in obese patients.

The effect of telomerase activity on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in type 2 diabetes in vivo and in vitro

Abstract: Serious complications as a result of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are becoming a major health concern. In the present study, it was hypothesized that telomerase activity is upregulated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during proliferation in T2DM and that the application of telomerase inhibitors impedes the proliferation of VSMCs in vitro. Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into the normal control (NC) or diabetic (DM) group. Diabetes was induced by high‑fat feeding and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 30 mg/kg). Primary VSMC cultures were exposed to normal (5.5 mM) or high (25 mM) glucose and insulin (100 nM) in the presence and absence of various concentrations of antisense oligoribonucleotides (ASODNs) for varying lengths of time. Telomerase activity and the proliferation of VSMCs were measured. Results showed that there was a significant increase in the levels of fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFAs) in the diabetic group. Telomerase activity and the proliferation of VSMCs were significantly higher in the diabetic group in vivo and in the high glucose and insulin (HGI)-treated group in vitro (P<0.01). ASODNs significantly inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs in a concentration- and time‑dependent manner (P<0.01). In conclusion, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia stimulate telomerase activity and the proliferation of VSMCs, while the inhibition of telomerase activity reduces the proliferation of VSMCs, indicating that telomerase may be involved in the pathological process of diabetic vascular disease.

Correlation of ultrasonographic measurement of intrarenal arterial resistance index with microalbuminuria in nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese patients

Abstract: Purpose To determine whether intrarenal arterial resistance index (RI) value is related to increased urinary albumin excretion and whether RI value is an independent good indicator to evaluate early renal damage in nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese subjects.