Gender disparity in disability among Chinese oldest-old: Age and cohort trends.

This study aimed at exploring gender disparity in disability and identifying related disablement process factors among Chinese oldest-old. Data came from eight waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS). A hierarchical logistic Age-Period-Cohort (A-P-C) model was used to estimate the trend of gender disparity, and related disablement process factors were further decomposed by the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition. Our results found that women had higher disabilities than men. The age-based trend of gender disparity in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) continued to decline; that in Functional Limitation (FL) increased at first and then declined. The cohort-based trend of gender disparity in IADL showed a decreasing trend with each subsequent cohort; that in FL showed an increasing trend. Among the disablement process factors, health behaviors and social supports were the most important contributors to gender disparity in disability. The disability was higher for women than men, and the gender differences were attenuated at very old ages. To reduce gender disparities in disability, more attention should be paid to relevant factors of gender disparity in disability.

[New insights in regulation factors of lipoprotein lipase].

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is an essential enzyme in the lipid metabolism, and proper regulation of LPL is important for controlling the delivery of lipid nutrients to tissues. Recent studies have identified glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high density lipoprotein-binding protein 1(GPIHBP1) as the important regulation factor of LPL that serves as a binding platform for lipolysis on the vascular lumen and an endothelial cell transporter transporting LPL from the interstitial spaces to the capillary lumen. In addition, several other regulation factors of LPL have also been identified including microRNAs, SorLA (Sortilin-related receptor with A-type repeats), and apolipoproteins that are potentially important for regulating LPL activity. These discoveries provide new directions for understanding basic mechanisms of lipolysis and hyperlipidemia. In this update, we focused on summarizing recent progresses on GPIHBP1, the endothelial cell LPL transporter. We also highlighted the recent progresses on several other regulation factors of LPL that are relevant to the regulation of LPLactivity.