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Epidemiological evidence indicates that vitamin D is involved in defense against diabetes; however, the precise underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the effect of vitamin D on the pathogenesis of diabetes was investigated, with an emphasis on its direct effect on pancreatic β-cells. A streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) mouse model and MIN6 mouse insulinoma β-cells were subjected to vitamin D treatment. Histopathological analysis of pancreatic islets was performed to investigate insulitis, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of markers of autophagy [microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin 1] and regulation of apoptosis [B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)]. Apoptosis of MIN6 cells was examined by flow cytometry following annexin V/propidium iodide labeling. The secretion of insulin was measured by ELISA. The results revealed that vitamin D reduced the incidence of T1DM, enhanced insulin secretion and relieved pancreatic inflammation in STZ-treated mice. Furthermore, vitamin D increased the mRNA expression levels of LC3 and Beclin 1, and increased Bcl-2 protein expression levels in STZ-treated MIN6 cells, while decreasing the apoptosis rate. The results of the present study demonstrated, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, that vitamin D induces autophagy and suppresses apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells, as well as preventing insulitis. These findings regarding vitamin D provide insights into its involvement in diabetes, and suggest a potential novel strategy for the treatment of diabetes via agents enhancing autophagy in pancreatic β-cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and PurposeThis study investigated the safety and efficacy of using the minimally invasive operation of laparoscopic orchiopexy to treat palpable inguinal canalicular undescended testes.Patients and MethodsLaparoscopic orchiopexy was performed on 90 Chinese patients (103 testes) with inguinal canalicular palpable undescended testes. Patients with testes that were nonpalpable, ectopic, retractable, or palpable but distal to the external ring were excluded. Patients in the study ranged from 8 months to 6 years old (mean age 17 months). Of the 103 testes undergoing operation, 26.7 were on the left side of the body and 58.9 were on the right; 14.4 of the patients had bilateral undescended testes. Laparoscopic techniques were used by the same surgeon to move the spermatic vessels and transfer the testis into the scrotum.ResultsAll 103 testes were successfully descended by laparoscopy. In the first 46 unilateral cases, the operation took significantly longer for the first 15 patients than the next 31, which were completed in 32.7 ± 5.2 min. Of all 90 patients, a complication was encountered in only one, and this occurred at the beginning of the surgeon's learning curve. Of 77 unilateral undescended testes, a patent processes vaginalis was found in 90.3 of the cases on the ipsilateral side and 15.6 on the contralateral side. All of the testes maintained an adequate size and intrascrotal position with no atrophy or recurrent inguinal hernia during a follow-up of 6 to 12 months.ConclusionsThe laparoscopic approach to orchiopexy is a safe way to descend the inguinal canalicular palpable testis. It offers several advantages of a minimally invasive technique and yield effective results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]