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The Hippo pathway is a complex signaling network that plays an important role in regulating cellular and metabolic tissue processes, as well as in controlling organ size. However, various disorders and dysfunctions caused by disruptions in Hippo signaling harm parental pancreatic islet cells, promote apoptosis of parental cells, and impair insulin secretion -- leading to the occurrence of diabetes. Herein, we review the role of the Hippo pathway in islet offspring cells, as well as in the involvement of mammalian sterile 20 kinase-1 (MST1), large tumor suppressor-1/2 (LATS1/2), merlin, and yes-associated protein (YAP) in disruptions of Hippo signaling that lead to various disorders and the development of diabetes. Finally, we discuss several remaining issues in translating these promising discoveries into unique treatments in the future.

The prevalence of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism and its relevant diseases has increased year by year, and it has become a problem that threatens human health. Therefore, finding a more effective way to prevent and treat diseases related to abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism has become an urgent public problem. Agmatine is a polyamine substance which widely presents in mammals.It is a metabolite produced by decarboxylation of糖脂代谢异常及其所诱发的各种疾病的患病率逐年上升，已成为当今威胁人类健康的常见问题。寻找更为有效的预防和治疗与糖脂代谢异常相关疾病的方法已成为一个亟待解决的问题。胍丁胺(agmatine)是一种广泛存在于哺乳动物体内的多胺类物质，是

Immature inner hair cells (IHCs) produce spontaneous action potentials, which may be associated with the survival of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) during early development. Later, this activity ceases in part by the expression of Kir channels. In the present study, SGNs were co-cultured with organ of Corti in which a Kir2.1 channel was over-expressed in an attempt to block the spontaneous activity of IHCs. The over-expression led to a reduced survival and neurite growth accompanied by increased SGN apoptosis. The enhanced activation of apoptosis was consistent with the inhibition of the survival-promoting pathway and the disruption of [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis. Furthermore, the effect of Kir2.1 over-expression can be reversed by exogenous neurotrophic factors (NTFs). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the earlier-than-normal expression of Kir2.1 in HCs inhibits their spontaneous activity required for SGN survival and neurite growth.

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has been widely used for treating liver diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Experimental evidence indicates that it has antitumor potential. In this study, the effect of AM on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), two-thirds partial hepatectomy, and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) (DEN-PH-AAF) was evaluated using glutathione S-transferase placenta form (GST-P) as marker. First, rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with DEN (200 mg/kg in saline), a two-thirds partial hepatectomy was carried out 2 weeks later, and the rats were then placed on a basal diet containing 0.02% AAF from week 3 to week 8 to induce hepatocarcinogenesis. The rats were given AM (90 mg/kg or 180 mg/kg body weight) by gavage from week 3 to week 8 (treatment groups). The formation of GST-P-positive foci and the expression of GST-P protein and mRNA caused by DEN-PH-AAF were reduced in the treatment groups, which clearly suggests that AM is effective in delaying DEN-PH-AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.