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Based on the expert consensus on parenteral and enteral nutrition support for geriatric patients in China in 2013, domestic multidisciplinary experts were gathered to summarize the new evidence in the field of elderly nutritional support at home and abroad. The 2013 consensus was comprehensively updated and upgraded to a guideline by referring to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system for grading evidence. These guidelines were divided into two parts: general conditions and common diseases. After discussion by all members of the academic group and consultation with relevant experts, 60 recommendations were ultimately established as standardized nutritional support in the field of geriatrics in China.

We conducted a case-control study to assess the relation- ship between rs35767, rs2288377, and rs5742612 insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and osteoporosis risk in a Chinese female population. The genotypes of rs35767, rs2288377, and rs5742612 of IGF-1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Patients with osteoporosis were more likely to have drinking and smoking habits and have lower bone mineral density in the L 2 -L 4 vertebrae, femoral neck, and total hip. According to conditional regression analysis, individuals carrying the TT genotype of rs35767 had an increased risk of osteoporosis, with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.29 (1.35-4.97). In conclusion, our results sug - gest that the TT genotype of IGF-I rs35767 was associated with an in- creased risk of osteoporosis, suggesting that this polymorphism can be used as a predictive factor for osteoporosis risk.

The present study investigated the recovery and intrathecal administration of human umbilical cord‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC‑MSCs) by lumbar puncture and analyzed the technical difficulties and short and long‑term effects of UC‑MSC transplantation in various neurological conditions. In total, 100 patients who underwent subarachnoid placement of UC‑MSCs between December 2006 and May 2010 were included in the present study. The present study evaluated the number of attempts, localization of subarachnoid space and postprocedural complications. The Hauser Ambulation Index was employed for functional assessment. Clinical symptoms, the associated biochemical index and photographic examinations were observed regularly. HUC‑MSCs were transplanted into mice as well as patients in order to determine the underlying therapeutic mechanisms. Technical difficulties were encountered in 31 patients (31%) in the form of general anesthesia supplementation and difficulty localizing lumbar space. Side effects were observed in 22 (22%) patients, which resolved with symptomatic treatment within 48 h. On follow‑up one year later, functional indices improved in 47 (47%) patients. Transplantation of HUC‑MSCs inhibited apoptosis and the protein expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 as well as triggered the phosphorylation of P‑42/44 extracellular-signal-regulated kinase. In conclusion, intrathecal administration of UC‑MSCs is safe and effective with no long‑term adverse effects in neurological disorders. HUC‑MSCs may achieve these effects via the mitogen‑activated protein kinase pathway. The results suggest that there is a promise of restoration of lost tissue and improvement of function in patients with profound neurological defects. These data support expanded double blind, placebo‑controlled studies for this treatment modality.

Background The effects of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) on the risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis have been studied. However, little information is available regarding peripheral arterial disease (PAD), particularly among subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of our study was to assess the potential relationship between BNP levels and PAD among T2DM patients. Methods The study cohort was 507 T2DM outpatients in which BNP levels were measured. Cross-sectional associations between BNP levels (in tertiles) and PAD were examined. Results Compared withT2DM patients without PAD, BNP levels were markedly higher in patients with PAD (p = 0.001). Correlation analyses showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the ankle–brachial index (r = −0.453, p = 0.033). At a cutoff value of 78.2 pg/ml, the BNP level showed a sensitivity of 71.9%, a specificity of 68.1%, and a positive predictive value of 84.3% for a diagnosis of PAD. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve increased significantly if BNP levels were incorporated into a predictive model of the potential risk factors for PAD (0.85 vs 0.81, p = 0.029). Conclusions BNP is a potential and promising biomarker for PAD screening in T2DM patients.