The association between visceral fat obesity and prefrailty in Chinese older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is escalating. Previous research has concentrated on the link between frailty and obesity; however, the association between prefrailty and obesity has been less studied. Prefrailty screening and intervention may prevent or postpone frailty in older persons. OBJECTIVE: The study was to investigate into the relationship between prefrailty and several obesity indicators in Chinese community-dwelling older individuals. METHODS: This research employed the Frailty Screening Index to investigate the frailty phenotype of people living in Shanghai. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used for evaluating body composition. RESULTS: There were 510 participants (39.0%) with high visceral adipose areas. Participants with a high visceral adipose area showed a higher risk of prefrailty (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.19-1.96), according to multivariate models. When body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat area (VFA) were combined, it was discovered that having an overweight BMI with normal VFA was a protective factor for prefrailty (corrected OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.90), but having a normal weight but excess VFA increased the risk of prefrailty (corrected OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.15-3.03). CONCLUSION: Visceral fat obesity is an independent risk factor for prefrailty in Chinese older adults. Implementing targeted interventions, such as dietary modifications, increased physical activity, and other lifestyle changes, could play a crucial role in reducing the risk of prefrailty and improving overall health outcomes in this population.

Deciphering the Glycosylation Steps in the Biosynthesis of P-1894B and Grincamycin Isolated from Marine-Derived Streptomyces lusitanus SCSIO LR32.

Recently, we re-isolated the glycosylated angucycline antibiotics P-1894B (1) and grincamycin (1') from the marine-derived Streptomyces lusitanus SCSIO LR32 as potent antitumor agents and identified their biosynthesis gene cluster gcn. Both P-1894B (1) and grincamycin (1') possess a trisaccharide and a disaccharide moiety comprised of five deoxysugars. In this work, three genes encoding glycosyltransferases (GcnG1, GcnG2, and GcnG3) responsible for the assembly of deoxysugars into angucycline aglycone were identified from the biosynthesis gene cluster gcn. Gene inactivations of gcnG1, gcnG2, gcnG3, and gcnG1G2 by lambda-RED-mediated gene replacements led to the construction of four mutants, in which the glycosyltransferase genes were disrupted, respectively. The metabolites from the mutants were purified and identified, including two new analogues designated as grincamycin U (3a) and V (3'). The sequential glycosylation steps in the biosynthesis of P-1894B (1) and grincamycin (1') catalyzed by GcnG3, GcnG1, and GcnG2 were elucidated.

New glucosidated indole-quinazoline alkaloids from mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus SAl12.

Two new glucosidated indole-containing quinazoline alkaloids designated fumigatosides G (1) and H (2) were isolated from mangrove-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus SAl12, together with the known analogues fumigatoside B (3) and fumiquinazoline J (4). The planar structures of the new compounds were elucidated by HR-MS and NMR spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations were determined by comparison of electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectra with that of the known compound fumigatoside B and with the calculated ECD spectrum. All these indole-quinazoline compounds were tested for anti-bacterial and cytotoxic activities.

Manipulating the concavity of rhodium nanocubes enclosed by high-index facets via site-selective etching.

Manipulating the degrees of concavity or Miller indices of high-index facets is significant for metal nanocrystals to further tailor their properties; however, generating a concave surface with negative curvature is still in the early development stage and tuning the degree of concavity remains a challenge. Herein, we have developed a simple and effective site-selective etching strategy to manipulate the concavity of rhodium (Rh) nanocrystals with high-index facets.

An ultra-low Pd loading nanocatalyst with high activity and stability for CO oxidative coupling to dimethyl oxalate.

A Pd/α-Al2O3 nanocatalyst with ultra-low Pd loading exhibits high activity and stability for CO oxidative coupling to dimethyl oxalate, which was prepared by a Cu(2+)-assisted in situ reduction method at room temperature. The small size and high dispersion of Pd nanoparticles facilitated by Cu(2+) ions are responsible for the excellent catalytic activity.