Western blotting showed that Bax protein expression in the DM group was significantly upregulated compared to the control group (1.6 ± 0.32 vs 1.0 ± 0.19, P = 0.0181) and DMES group (1.6 ± 0.32 vs 0.64 ± 0.42, P = 0.0142), while no significant difference in Bax protein expression was found between the control and DMES group (Figs. 8B and 8C; original band: Fig. S3). The gene discussed is BAX; the disease is diabetes mellitus.