In conclusion, this study found that uncarboxylated osteocalcin alleviates NAFLD in mice through the GPRC6A signaling pathway. Our study suggests that liver GPRC6A may be a potential target for treating NAFLD.

To investigate the association between mean plasma glucose and inhospital death proportion.

We retrospectively collected 162,169 inpatient data in Huashan Hospital from January 2012 to December 2015. Mean plasma glucose was calculated and considered as the average glycemia control during hospitalization. Patients were stratified into six groups according to mean plasma glucose. Nonlinear regression was performed to determine the associations between mean plasma glucose and inhospital death proportion, medical cost, and length of stay. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the relationship of mean plasma glucose and outcomes controlling for confounders including age, gender, and others. Subgroup analyses were performed on basis of whether they were surgical patients, ICU patients, patients with diabetes, or others.

Of the 162,169 hospitalized participants, 53.32% were male and 989 died during hospitalization. Nonlinear regression showed there were positive and significant associatilucose was associated positively with medical cost and length of stay.The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of crude n-hexane extract of Alpinia malaccensis rhizome. The in vivo acute oral toxicity was evaluated by administering a single oral dose of the extract at 0, 300, or 2000 mg/kg body weight to female Wistar rats according to modified OECD Test Guideline 423. For the in vitro cytotoxicity study, A549, HepG2, 3T3, and COS-7 cell lines were exposed to different doses of A. malaccensis extract and cell viability was assessed adopting MTT assay followed by AO/EB staining, Hoechst staining, and comet assay with a view to compare the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity, if any. It was found that administration of 2000 mg/kg bw dose in in vivo oral acute toxicity study did not produce significant toxicity or mortality. No significant (p less then 0.05) differences were observed for body weight and hematological and biochemical parameters compared to control after 14 days of treatment. No changes in behavior, body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, and aspects of histopathology were observed when compared to the control. Thus, the possible oral lethal dose for A. malaccensis extract is above 2000 mg/kg body weight. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis showed nontoxicity concentrations of the extract to be 2, 1.4, 30, and 1.4 µg/mL for A549, HepG2, 3T3, and COS-7 cells, respectively, where no apoptotic/necrotic cell death and DNA damage were observed. In conclusion, the extract of rhizome of A. malaccensis did not produce apparent cytotoxicity or acute oral toxicity, confirming the scope to use A. malaccensis as a safe food preservative and a natural therapeutic product after further subacute and chronic toxicity studies.

To compare the sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of obstetric urogenital fistulas (OF) and iatrogenic urogenital fistulas (IF) treated in seven centers in Burkina Faso.

. We carried out a cross-sectional study over a seven years’ period (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016). We considered as iatrogenic all urogenital fistulas (UGF) occurred after elective caesarean section, gynecologic surgery (hysterectomy, myomectomy, and prolapse repair), or induced abortion. UGF following vaginal delivery after prolonged labor without obstetric maneuvers or caesarean section were considered as obstetric. UGF caused by other mechanisms (emergency caesarian section, congenital, and traumatic) were excluded from this study. The statistical analysis was carried out using version 14 of the STATA software. A logistic regression model was used to compare the two groups.

310 cases of UGF were included. IF accounted for 25.8% (

 = 80) versus 74.2% (

 = 230) for OF. The median age was 35 years for IF and 35.38 years for OF. The vesicovaginal fistulas were predominant (74.5%) in the two groups. All circumferential fistulas were found in the OF group. OF were frequently associated with residence in rural areas (OR = 1.8; CI = [1.05-3.1]), low level of education (OR = 5.4; CI = [2.3-12.9]), and a height under 158 cm (OR = 3.4 CI = [1.7-6.6]). Vaginal sclerosis was less common among IF (OR = 2.2; CI = [1-4.6]). The failure of surgical treatment after 3 months was more associated with OF (OR = 4.7; CI = [1.1-20.5]).

OF were the most common, frequently affecting short women living in rural area and with low level of schooling. Fistulas were also more severe in the OF group. BAY1816032 IF gave better results after surgical repair.

OF were the most common, frequently affecting short women living in rural area and with low level of schooling. Fistulas were also more severe in the OF group. IF gave better results after surgical repair.Fungal esophagitis is a common infectious disease, although the pathogenic clinical characteristics remain incompletely clear, especially in South China. The goal of this study was to investigate the pathogenic clinical characteristics of fungal esophagitis and the efficacy of different therapeutic strategies at a tertiary hospital in South China. A retrospective study was conducted from January 2007 to December 2017. Data from 113,390 patients who were treated in the endoscopic unit were retrieved and analyzed. To further understand the pathogen and risk factors for fungal esophagitis, we performed a case-control analysis of 101 patients and 202 controls. Of the 113,390 patients, 932 (0.82%) were positive. The annual detection rate ranged from 0.345% to 1.106%, showing an initially increasing and subsequently decreasing trend. The patients’ median age was 49 years (range from 8 to 85), and most were men (615/932, 65.99%). Candida albicans was found in samples collected from 36 patients, without any drug-resistant strains. Age (P = 0.018), malignancy (OR = 4.031, 95% CI 1.562~10.407), cigarette smoking (OR = 3.017, 95% CI 1.645~5.533), and the use of antibiotics (OR = 2.178, 95% CI 1.078~4.400) or immunosuppressants (OR = 6.525, 95% CI 1.089~39.105) were independently associated with esophageal candidiasis. Fluconazole had a better curative effect than nystatin (OR = 4.047, 95% CI 1.282~12.772) or simple observation (OR = 8.91, 95% CI 2.61~30.49). In conclusion, fungal esophagitis primarily affects men and elderly individuals; it develops in the setting of malignancy, smoking, and certain previous medication use. Candida albicans is the most common pathogen and is sensitive to antifungal agents. Fluconazole has a good therapeutic effect.