Association between coffee intake and skeletal muscle mass among U.S. adults: a population-based study.

Background: A limited number of studies have reported that the possible effects of coffee intake on skeletal muscle mass, but the results have been inconsistently conclusive and there are no large sample studies concerning the U.S. population. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore the connection between coffee consumption and skeletal muscle mass in U.S. adults. Methods: The population for this cross-sectional study was drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018. Appendicular lean mass was accurately obtained from DXA, and skeletal muscle mass was assessed using appendicular skeletal muscle mass adjusted for body mass index (ASMBMI). Coffee and caffeine consumptions were obtained on a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. Furthermore, the associations between coffee and caffeine intake and skeletal muscle mass were evaluated using three multiple linear regression models and smoothed curve fitting. Subgroup analyses based on age, gender, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI) were performed to assess the robustness of these relationships. Results: This cross-sectional survey included a total of 8,333 participants. After adjusting for all covariates, higher intake of coffee, caffeinated coffee, and caffeine was associated with elevated ASMBMI (coffee: ß = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02, P-value < 0.001; caffeinated coffee: ß = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02, P-value < 0.001; caffeine: ß = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.04, P-value < 0.001). Meanwhile, smoothed curve fitting showed that coffee, caffeinated coffee, and caffeine intake were linearly and positively associated with ASMBMI. After further stratification by sex, age, and ethnicity, the positive relationships between coffee (especially caffeinated coffee) and caffeine intake and ASMBMI were not modified (P for interaction > 0.05). However, these relationships disappeared when the BMI over 30 kg/m2. Conclusions: In general, consumption of coffee and caffeine is positively associated with skeletal muscle mass. Therefore, an appropriate increase in coffee and caffeine intake may be advocated in populations at high risk for low skeletal muscle mass.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index and its related parameters with frailty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a dynamic geriatric condition. Limited studies have examined the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its related indicators [TyG index, triglyceride glucose-waist to height ratio (TyG-WHtR), triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC), and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI)] with frailty, and the potential links among them remain unclear. On the basis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the potential relationships of the TyG index and its related indices with frailty. METHODS: This research included 7,965 participants from NHANES 2003-2018. The relationship of the TyG index and its related indices with frailty was investigated with binary logistic regression analyses, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Potential influences were further investigated through stratified analyses and interaction tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty in the participants of this study was 25.59%, with a average frailty index of 0.16 (0.00). In the three regression analysis models, the continuous TyG index and its associated indices were positively associated with frailty. In addition, quartiles of TyG, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and TyG-BMI were significantly associated with increased frailty prevalence in the fully adjusted models (TyG Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.09, P = 0.002; TyG-WC Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.90, 3.04, P < 0.001; TyG-WHtR Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.82, 2.81, P < 0.001; TyG- BMI Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.76, 2.64, P < 0.001). According to RCS analysis, TyG, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and TyG-BMI were linearly and positively associated with frailty. ROC curves revealed that TyG-WHtR (AUC: 0.654) had greater diagnostic value for frailty than TyG (AUC: 0.604), TyG-BMI (AUC: 0.621), and TyG-WC (AUC: 0.629). All of the stratified analyses and interaction tests showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TyG and its associaed indices are associated with an increased prevalence of frailty. Reasonable control of blood glucose and blood lipids, and avoidance of obesity, may aid in reducing the occurrence of frailty in middle-aged and older adults.

Biological Control of a Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita Infection of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) by the Oomycete Biocontrol Agent Pythium oligandrum.

The biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum, which is a member of the phylum Oomycota, can control diseases caused by a taxonomically wide range of plant pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes. However, whether P. oligandrum could control diseases caused by plant root-knot nematodes (RKNs) was unknown. We investigated a recently isolated P. oligandrum strain GAQ1, and the P. oligandrum strain CBS530.74, for the control of an RKN Meloidogyne incognita infection of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Initially, P. oligandrum culture filtrates were found to be lethal to M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) with up to 84% mortality 24 h after treatment compared to 14% in the control group. Consistent with the lethality to M. incognita J2s, tomato roots treated with P. oligandrum culture filtrates reduced their attraction of nematodes, and the number of nematodes penetrating the roots was reduced by up to 78%. In a greenhouse pot trial, the P. oligandrum GAQ1 inoculation of tomato plants significantly reduced the gall number by 58% in plants infected with M. incognita. Notably, the P. oligandrum GAQ1 mycelial treatment significantly increased tomato plant height (by 36%), weight (by 27%), and root weight (by 48%). A transcriptome analysis of tomato seedling roots inoculated with the P. oligandrum GAQ1 strain identified ~2500 differentially expressed genes. The enriched GO terms and annotations in the up-regulated genes suggested a modulation of the plant hormone-signaling and defense-related pathways in response to P. oligandrum. In conclusion, our results support that P. oligandrum GAQ1 can serve as a potential biocontrol agent for M. incognita control in tomato. Multiple mechanisms appear to contribute to the biocontrol effect, including the direct inhibition of M. incognita, the potential priming of tomato plant defenses, and plant growth promotion.

Prophylatic use of IV nalmefene to prevent epidural opioid-induced pruritus: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The incidence of pruritus from neuraxial opioids is about 60%. Pruritus causes discomfort and decreases the quality of recovery. This randomized double-blinded clinical trial was aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of a single dose IV nalmefene on the incidence and severity of epidural opioid-induced pruritus within 24 h after surgeries. DESIGN: A two-center, randomized, double blinded, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: The study was conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 at two tertiary care hospitals in China. PATIENTS: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years-old who underwent elective surgeries and received epidural analgesia intra- and post-operatively were screened for study enrollment. A total of 306 patients were enrolled, 302 patients underwent randomization and 296 patients were included in the final analysis. INTERVENTIONS: The nalmefene group was prophylactically given 0.5 µg/kg nalmefene intravenously while the control group was given the same volume of saline. MEASUREMENTS: The primary endpoint was the incidence of pruritus within 24 h after surgeries. The secondary endpoints included time of the first patient-reported pruritus, severity of pruritus after surgeries, severity of acute pain scores after surgeries and other anesthesia/analgesia related side effects. MAIN RESULTS: Pruritus occurred in 51 of the 147 (34.69%) patients in the control group and 35 of the 149 (23.49%) patients in the nalmefene group (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.96; P = 0.034) within 24 h postoperatively. Nalmefene group demonstrated delayed onset of pruritus, reduced severity of pruritus and decreased vomiting within 24 h after surgery. There were no significant differences in postoperative analgesia and the incidence of other anesthesia/analgesia associated side effects. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of 0.5 µg/kg nalmefene intravenously significantly reduced the incidence and severity of epidural-opioid induced pruritus within 24 h after surgery without affecting the efficacy of epidural analgesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) and the registration number is ChiCTR2100050463. Registered on August 27th, 2021.