Glomerular filtration rate estimated by differing measures and risk of all-cause mortality among Chinese individuals without or with diabetes: A nationwide prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Whether estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) by differing biomarkers are differentially associated with mortality or whether the associations differ by diabetes status remains unclear, especially in Chinese population. METHODS: We included 6995 participants without diabetes (mean age: 60.4 years) and 1543 with diabetes (mean age: 61.8 years). Each eGFR measure was divided into normal (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 ), modestly declined (60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 ), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality associated with each eGFR. RESULTS: Over a follow-up of 7 years, 677 and 215 deaths occurred among individuals without or with diabetes, respectively. Among those without diabetes, all measures of modestly declined eGFR were not associated with mortality, whereas CKD defined by eGFR cystatin C (eGFRcys) and eGFR creatinine (eGFRcr)-cys (HRs were 1.71 and 1.55, respectively) but not by eGFRcr were associated with higher risk of mortality. Among diabetes, all measures of modestly declined eGFR (HRs: 1.53, 1.56, and 2.09 for eGFRcr, eGFRcys, and eGFRcr-cys, respectively) and CKD (HRs: 2.57, 2.99, and 3.92 for eGFRcr, eGFRcys, and eGFRcr-cys, respectively) were associated with higher risk of mortality. Regardless of diabetes status, an addition of eGFRcys or eGFRcr-cys to traditional risk factors lead to a larger improvement in the prediction of all-cause mortality risk than adding eGFRcr. CONCLUSIONS: The association of eGFR with mortality risk appeared to be varied by its measures and by diabetes status among middle-aged and older Chinese, which needs to be considered in clinical practice.

Protective effect and mechanism of lactoferrin combined with hypoxia against high-fat diet induced obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Obesity is a global epidemic, it can induce glucose and lipid metabolism disorder and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study explored a new way to control weight and improve fatty liver, namely, living in hypoxia environment and supplement with lactoferrin (Lf). Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into six groups, namely, control, hypoxia, high-fat diet, hypoxia + high-fat diet, hypoxia + high-fat diet + low dose Lf intervention, and hypoxia + high-fat diet + high-dose Lf intervention. Mice in the hypoxia treatment groups were treated with approximately 11.5 % oxygen for 6 h every day for 8 weeks. Results showed that interventions combining Lf and hypoxia treatments showed better effect against obesity and NAFLD than hypoxia treatment alone. The interventions controlled weight gain in mice, improved glucolipid metabolism in mice. The combination intervention reduced cholesterol absorption by reducing the level of hydrophobic bile acids, and elevating the level of hydrophilic bile acids. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the combination intervention considerably elevated short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria level, and reduced the Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified level. Thus, Lf combined with hypoxia intervention effectively prevents obesity and NAFLD by restoring gut microbiota composition and bile acid profile.

Green Tea Consumption May Be Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetics: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southeast China.

Dietary factors play a crucial role in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Therefore, we aimed to examine the associations between habitual green tea consumption and risk factors of CVD among T2DM patients. A total of 1013 patients with T2DM were included in a community-based cross-sectional study. Data on dietary habits, including tea consumption, were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the associations. In men, as compared with nongreen tea drinkers, odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were 2.06 (95% CI, 1.20-3.55) for those with green tea consumption of once per day and 2.45 (95% CI, 1.31-4.58) for more than or equal to twice per day (P-trend = .004); ORs (95% CI) of general obesity were 2.19 (95% CI, 1.02-4.68) and 2.70 (95% CI, 1.18-6.21), respectively (P-trend = .021); whereas no such association was found in women. Sensitivity analysis according to self-awareness of their T2DM status revealed that the positive association between green tea consumption and general obesity was not reliable. Higher intake of green tea was still positively associated with NAFLD, but it only persisted in participants aged ≥52 years or the lower dietary quality subgroup in further analyses. Our findings suggest that tea consumption was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD among male T2DM patients aged 52 years or older, and those with lower dietary quality, which needs to be confirmed in future prospective studies.

Body mass index, waist circumference, and risk of hearing loss: a meta-analysis and systematic review of observational study.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence implicates excess weight as a potential risk factor for hearing loss. However, this association remained inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the published observational study on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss. METHODS: The odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled under a random-effects model. Fourteen observational studies were eligible for the inclusion in the final analysis. RESULTS: In the meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, the ORs for prevalent hearing loss were 1.10 (95% CI 0.88, 1.38) underweight, 1.14 (95% CI 0.99, 1.32) for overweight, OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.14, 1.72) for obesity, 1.14 (95% CI 1.04, 1.24) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, and 1.22 (95% CO 0.88. 1.68) for higher WC. In the meta-analysis of longitudinal studies, the RRs were 0.96 (95% CI 0.52, 1.79) for underweight, 1.15 (95% CI 1.04, 1.27) for overweight, 1.38 (95% CI 1.07, 1.79) for obesity, 1.15 (95% CI 1.01, 1.30) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI, and 1.11 (95% CI 1.01, 1.22) for higher WC. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our findings add weight to the evidence that elevated BMI and higher WC may be positively associated with the risk of hearing loss.