Comparison of triglyceride glucose index and modified triglyceride glucose indices in prediction of cardiovascular diseases in middle aged and older Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, has been validated as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. However, effects of TyG-related indices combined with obesity markers on cardiovascular diseases remained unknown. We aimed to investigate the associations between TyG index and modified TyG indices with new-onset cardiovascular disease and the time-dependent predictive capacity using a national representative cohort. METHODS: This study is a retrospective observational cohort study using data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) of 7 115 participants. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The modified TyG indices were developed combining TyG with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). We used adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression to analyze the association and predictive capacity based on hazard ratio (HR) and Harrell's C-index. RESULTS: Over a 7-year follow-up period, 2136 participants developed cardiovascular disease, including 1633 cases of coronary heart disease and 719 cases of stroke. Compared with the lowest tertile group, the adjusted HR (95% CI) for new-onset cardiovascular disease in the highest tertile for TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR were 1.215 (1.088-1.356), 1.073 (0.967-1.191), 1.078 (0.970-1.198), and 1.112 (1.002-1.235), respectively. The C-indices of TyG index for cardiovascular disease onset were higher than other modified TyG indices. Similar results were observed for coronary heart disease and stroke. CONCLUSION: TyG and TyG-WhtR were significantly associated with new-onset cardiovascular diseases, and TyG outperformed the modified TyG indices to identify individuals at risk of incident cardiovascular event.

Serum cystatin C and stroke risk: a national cohort and Mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: The debate over the causal and longitudinal association between cystatin C and stroke in older adults persists. Our aim was to assess the link between cystatin C levels, both measured and genetically predicted, and stroke risk. Methods: This study employed a retrospective cohort design using samples of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which is a nationally representative cohort recruiting individuals aged 45 years or above. A multivariate logistic model and the two-sample Mendelian randomization framework were used to investigate the longitudinal and genetically predicted effect of serum cystatin C on stroke. Results: The study population had a mean age of 59.6 (SD ±9.5), with 2,996 (46.1%) women. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared to those in the first quartile of cystatin C, those in the last quartile had the greatest risk of stroke incidence [odds ratio (OR), 1.380; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.046-1.825]. The Mendelian randomization analysis showed that a genetically predicted cystatin C level was positively associated with total stroke (OR by inverse variance-weighted method, 1.114; 95% CI, 1.041-1.192). Conclusions: This national cohort study suggests that higher serum cystatin C is associated with an increased risk of total stroke, which is further supported by Mendelian randomization.

Exploration of potential biomarkers for early bladder cancer based on urine proteomics.

Background: Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system. The progression of the condition is associated with a poor prognosis, so it is necessary to identify new biomarkers to improve the diagnostic rate of bladder cancer. Methods: In this study, 338 urine samples (144 bladder cancer, 123 healthy control, 32 cystitis, and 39 upper urinary tract cancer samples) were collected, among which 238 samples (discovery group) were analyzed by LC-MS. The urinary proteome characteristics of each group were compared with those of bladder cancer, and the differential proteins were defined by bioinformatics analysis. The pathways and functional enrichments were annotated. The selected proteins with the highest AUC score were used to construct a diagnostic panel. One hundred samples (validation group) were used to test the effect of the panel by ELISA. Results: Compared with the healthy control, cystitis and upper urinary tract cancer samples, the number of differential proteins in the bladder cancer samples was 325, 158 and 473, respectively. The differentially expressed proteins were mainly related to lipid metabolism and iron metabolism and were involved in the proliferation, metabolism and necrosis of bladder cancer cells. The AUC of the panel of APOL1 and ITIH3 was 0.96 in the discovery group. ELISA detection showed an AUC of 0.92 in the validation group. Conclusion: This study showed that urinary proteins can reflect the pathophysiological changes in bladder cancer and that important molecules can be used as biomarkers for bladder cancer screening. These findings will benefit the application of the urine proteome in clinical research.

Debunking Mental Health Misperceptions in Short-Form Social Media Videos: An Experimental Test of Scientific Credibility Cues.

In recent years, short-form social media videos have emerged as an important source of health-related advice. In this study, we investigate whether experts or ordinary users in such videos are more effective in debunking the common misperception that talking about suicide should be avoided. We also explore a new trend on TikTok and other platforms, in which users attempt to back up their arguments by displaying scientific articles in the background of their videos. To test the effect of source type (expert vs. ordinary user) and scientific references (present or absent), we conducted a 2 × 2 between-subject plus control group experiment (n = 956). In each condition, participants were shown a TikTok video that was approximately 30 seconds long. Our findings show that in all four treatment groups, participants reduced their misperceptions on the topic. The expert was rated as being more authoritative on the topic compared to the ordinary user. However, the expert was also rated as being less credible compared to the ordinary user. The inclusion of a scientific reference did not make a difference. Thus, both experts and ordinary users may be similarly persuasive in a short-form video environment.

Diabetes, glycemic control and arterial stiffness: a real-world cohort study in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.

Background: Arterial stiffness is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although several metabolic markers associated with arterial stiffness have been developed, there is limited data regarding whether glycemic control modifies the association between diabetes and arterial stiffness. For these reasons, identification of traits around diabetes will directly contribute to arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis management in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM). Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationship of diabetes and glycemic control status with arterial stiffness in a real-world setting. Methods: Data of participants from Beijing Xiaotangshan Examination Center (BXEC) with at least two surveys between 2008 and 2019 were used. Cumulative hazards were presented by inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Arterial stiffness was defined as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s. Results: Of 5837 participants, the mean baseline age was 46.5±9.3 years, including 3791 (64.9%) males. During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 1928 (33.0%) cases of incident arterial stiffness were observed. People with diabetes at baseline had a 48.4% (HR: 1.484, 95% CI: 1.250-1.761) excessive risk of arterial stiffness. Adherence to good glycemic control attenuated the relationship between diabetes and arterial stiffness (HR: 1.264, 95% CI: 0.950-1.681); while uncontrolled diabetes was associated with the highest risk of arterial stiffness (HR: 1.629, 95% CI: 1.323-2.005). Results were consistent using IPTW algorithm and multiple imputed data. Conclusion: Our study quantified that diabetes status is closely associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness and supported that adherence to good glycemic control could attenuate the adverse effect of diabetes on arterial stiffness. Therefore, glucose monitoring and control is a cost-effective strategy for the predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, patient stratification, and personalization of medical services in early vascular damages and arterial stiffness. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00347-z.

Triglyceride-glucose index, renal function and cardiovascular disease: a national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a predictor of cardiovascular diseases; however, to what extent the TyG index is associated with cardiovascular diseases through renal function is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the complex association of the TyG index and renal function with cardiovascular diseases using a cohort design. METHODS: This study included participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) free of cardiovascular diseases at baseline. We performed adjusted regression analyses and mediation analyses using Cox models. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Renal function was defined by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). RESULTS: A total of 6 496 participants were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 59.6 ± 9.5 years, and 2996 (46.1%) were females. During a maximum follow-up of 7.0 years, 1 996 (30.7%) people developed cardiovascular diseases, including 1 541 (23.7%) cases of heart diseases and 651 (10.0%) cases of stroke. Both the TyG index and eGFR level were significantly associated with cardiovascular diseases. Compared with people with a lower TyG index (median level) and eGFR ≥ 60 ml/minute/1.73 m2, those with a higher TyG index and decreased eGFR had the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases (HR, 1.870; 95% CI 1.131-3.069). Decreased eGFR significantly mediated 29.6% of the associations between the TyG index and cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a higher TyG index and lower eGFR level was associated with the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases. Renal function could mediate the association between the TyG index and cardiovascular risk.

Dominance of face over voice in human attractiveness judgments: ERP evidence.

The attractiveness of a person, a complex, and socially relevant type of information, is transmitted in many ways, not least through face and voice. However, it is unclear how the stimulus domains carrying attractiveness information interact. The present study explored the audiovisual perception of attractiveness in a Stroop-like paradigm using event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants were presented with face-voice pairs carrying congruent or incongruent attractiveness information and, in turn, judged the attractiveness level of each domain while ignoring the other. Voice attractiveness judgments were influenced by unattended face attractiveness, in terms of both, early perceptual encoding (N170, P200) as well as later evaluative stages (N400, LPC). In contrast, effects of unattended voice attractiveness on face attractiveness judgments were confined to early perceptual encoding (N170). These results demonstrate not only the interaction of multiple domains in human attractiveness perception at different processing stages but also a relative dominance of face over voice attractiveness.

Removal of heavy metals from fly ash using electrodialysis driven by a bioelectrochemical system: a case study of Pb, Mn, Cu and Cd.

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash is classified as hazardous waste due to high leachable heavy metals, and incineration leachate belongs to organic wastewater with high biodegradability. Electrodialysis (ED) has shown potential for the removal of heavy metals from fly ash, and bioelectrochemical system (BES) employs biological and electrochemical reactions to generate electricity and remove contaminants from a wide range of substrates. In this study, the ED-BES coupled system was constructed for the co-treatment of fly ash and incineration leachate, where the ED was driven by BES. The treatment effect of fly ash by varying additional voltage, initial pH and liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio was evaluated. Results showed that the highest removal rates of Pb, Mn, Cu and Cd were 25.43%, 20.13%, 32.14% and 18.87% after 14 days treatment of the coupled system, respectively. These values were obtained under 300 mV of additional voltage, L/S 20 and initial pH3. After the treatment of the coupled system, the fly ash leaching toxicity was lower than the threshold of GB5085.3-2007. The highest energy saving for removed Pb, Mn, Cu and Cd were 6.72, 15.61, 8.99 and 17.46 kWh/kg, respectively. The ED-BES can be considered a cleanliness approach to treating fly ash and incineration leachate simultaneously.

Longitudinal association between triglyceride glucose index and depression progression in middle-aged and elder adults: A national retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Psychological symptoms are prevalent among individuals with non-communicable diseases, while the longitudinal association between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, an indicator of metabolic health, and depression progression remains unclear yet. This study aims to investigate the association of baseline TyG index and depression progression in middle-aged and elder adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 8287 participants aged 45 years or above from national China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in visit 1 (2011-2012), which were biennially followed for depression score until visit 4 (2017-2018). Multivariate-adjusted regression models were used to evaluate the association of baseline TyG index with the individual level change rate and slope of depression score. The mean age (±SD) of participants was 58.25 ± 9.10 years, and 3806 (45.9%) were men. There was no significant difference of depression score at baseline across TyG quartile groups (P = 0.228). Participants in the highest quartile of TyG index had a 0.124 (95% CI: 0.018-0.230) higher change rate of depression score, and a 0.127 (95% CI: 0.019-0.235) higher change slope, compared to those in the lowest. The observed associations were consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses, and stable in men, the elder, and overweight people. CONCLUSION: TyG index is positively associated with depression progression especially in men, the elder and overweight people, which provides new insights for the primary prevention of depression disorder.

Association between visceral adiposity index and incident stroke: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Visceral adiposity index (VAI), an indicator of visceral fat, is associated with metabolic health and arterial stiffness. However, studies correlating VAI and stroke are limited. This study aimed to explore the association between VAI and incident stroke in the Chinese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analysed the data of 9127 individuals enrolled in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The first survey of the study was conducted during 2011-2012 and the individuals were followed up until Survey 4 (2017-2018). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association between VAI and stroke. The mean age of the study population was 59.3 ± 9.5 years and 4938 (54.1%) participants were women. During the median follow-up of 5.2 [1.0-7.0] years, 833 (9.1%) participants developed stroke, and the cumulative incidence of stroke increased with increasing quartiles of VAI (8.6%, 8.7%, 9.2%, and 10.0%). Compared to those in the first quartile of VAI, individuals in the fourth quartile had an increased risk of stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.75). The results were stable in several sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a positive association between VAI and incident stroke in the Chinese population.