Efficacy of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-10 Analysis in the Follow-up of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Progression

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation during acute phase reactions. The current study was designed to investigate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) along with the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) during progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in diabetic patients, and correlate the levels of cytokines with the progression of NAFLD. Fifty-two diabetic patients compared to 18 healthy controls were participated in this study. Based on clinical diagnosis, patients were divided into three groups: simple steatosis, NASH and fibrosis. Serum liver function tests, fasting blood glucose, bilirubin, ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-10 and lipid profile were measured. TNF-α levels were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared to control subjects with a significant positive correlation with body mass index and fasting blood glucose (FBG) but with negative correlation with IL-10. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly lower in NAFLD patients compared with controls. A positive correlation between IL-10 and HDL-C with concomitant negative correlation between IL-10 and FBG and triacylglycerides was found. Cytokine analyses showed that there was a prominent imbalance between TNF-α and IL-10 in patients with NAFLD, and this imbalance increase by increasing the progression of NAFLD especially in obese diabetic patients. TNF-α and IL-10 could be used in diagnosis and follow-up of NAFLD stages in a way to avoid liver biopsies in greater proportion of patients.     

兴趣·调动·交际·指导——师专英语专业阅读课教学模式

阅读课是师专英语专业教学中的薄弱环节,而阅读课教学的效果直接影响到学生专业水平和技能的提高和发展。本文依据交际教学法等现代教学法理论和阅读心理学的原理,结合师专英语教学的实际,提出了“兴趣·调动·交际·指导”这样一个英语专业阅读课教学模式,并着重对这一模式的具体运用进行了较为详尽的阐释与评价     

An Academic Program Profile: Purdue University

Located in Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University has a well‐established history as a land‐grant university with strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Purdue’s learning design and technology (LDT) program resides in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the College of Education. Residential PhD and master’s programs as well as fully available online master’s programs are provided. The LDT program has specialized offerings in a corporate or education track for their master’s students, embracing various needs and interest in corporate, government, and non‐profit settings as well as K‐12 and higher education settings, respectively. The LDT program has 10 full‐time well‐established faculty members, and they are actively involved in research and development activities, often involving students. The program is working on developing the knowledge and skills of the program’s graduates by incorporating innovative approaches such as competency‐based programs, badging, and portfolios. –Yeol Huh, PhD, and Sung “Pil” Kang, PhD, column editors     

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients

Hemodialysis represents a chronic stress status for its recipients. Many hypotheses state that this may be associated with oxidative stress. Thus, there may be deficiency of antioxidants like erythrocytic superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E or increased generation of free radicals like superoxide anions. A study was carried out to investigate oxidant and antioxidant status in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis and effect of vitamin E supplementation on these two status. Blood samples were collected from patients before and after hemodialysis and from controls. The samples were analyzed for quantitation of MDA as index of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and enzymatic antioxidants namely erythrocyte SOD and catalase. As compared to controls, the levels of serum MDA were significantly increased and activities of erythrocyte SOD and catalase, levels of serum nitric oxide, serum vitamin E and plasma vitamin C were significantly decreased both before and after hemodialysis. The efficiency of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients was assessed by re-evaluating oxidant and antioxidant status of same patients after supplementation of vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation caused decrease in serum MDA and increase in levels of serum nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and activities of erythrocytic SOD and catalase. Our results suggest the presence of oxidative stress and the possible preventive role of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients.     

A Symbiosis of Access: Proliferating STEM PhD Training in the U.S. from 1920–2010

Minerva - Over the course of the 20th century, unprecedented growth in scientific discovery was fueled by broad growth in the number of university-based scientists. During this period the American...