Adoption of Ultrasound-guided Polymer Nanocarriers in Tumor Chemoradiotherapy and Oxidation Treatment.

The research was aimed at discussing the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided polymer nanocarriers in the clinical treatment of tumors by chemoradiotherapy and oxidation treatment. Twenty female Balb/cAnN (BALB/C) mice were selected as the research objects in the experiment. These mice were set up as tumor-bearing mice, and then ultrasound-guided polymers with different doses, including polyethylene glycol-poly 2-bromoethyl methacrylate (PEG-PBEMA) (Micelle group), free small molecules called l-ascorbyl palmitate (PA) (PA group), PA-micelle micellar particles (PA-Micelle group) prepared in the research, and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (PBS group) were adopted. Besides, the growth of mice was recorded and compared after each operation. Meanwhile, different concentrations of PA-Micelle micellar particles and free small molecules of PA were added to the breast cancer cells of mice, and the concentration changes of glutathione (GSH) were detected to test the oxidation treatment ability of this method. According to the results of the experiment, the tumor volume of mice in the PA-Micelle group prepared in the research was the smallest followed by the PA group, and the tumor volume of mice in the Micelle group was the third smallest. The mice in the PBS group had the largest tumors among mice in all four groups. In oxidation treatment, the GSH concentration of mice in the PA-Micelle group was the lowest, while the GSH concentration of mice in the PA group was almost unchanged. The results of this experiment proved that the therapeutic effect of polymer nanocarriers in tumor chemotherapy and oxidation treatment was more significant than in traditional drug treatment.

Waist-to-height ratio is an effective indicator for comprehensive cardiovascular health.

The aim of this study was to determine the associations between cardiovascular health and the waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). A cross-sectional study was performed recruiting 26701 middle-aged Chinese men. Of the seven ideal cardiovascular health metrics, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), blood pressure (BP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were found to increase with an elevation of the mean WC and WHtR. The mean WC and WHtR were significantly lower in the subjects with intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health than those with poor or intermediate health. After adjustment for age, the mean WC and WHtR decreased by 1.486 cm and 0.009 per 1-point increase in the cardiovascular health score, and 2.242 cm and 0.013 per 1-point increase in the number of ideal cardiovascular health metrics, respectively. The cardiovascular health score was negatively correlated with the WC (r = -0.387) and WHtR (r = -0.400), while the number of ideal cardiovascular health metrics was negatively associated with the WC (r = -0.384) and WHtR (r = -0.395). The cardiovascular health is correlated negatively with the WC and WHtR, and a stronger correlation existed between the cardiovascular health and WHtR than WC.

Association between ideal cardiovascular health and the atherogenic index of plasma.

The American Heart Association aims to improve cardiovascular health by encouraging the general population to meet 7 cardiovascular health behaviors and factors. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is an important index. Our aim is to evaluate the relationship between ideal cardiovascular health and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in middle-aged Chinese men.A cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 27,824 middle-aged Chinese men were enrolled. The association between ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors and AIP was determined. The 7 cardiovascular health metrics were scored as follows: 0, poor; 1, general; and 2, ideal. The cardiovascular health status was classified according to the total score, as follows: 0 to 4, inadequate; 5 to 9, average; and 10 to 14, optimum. Analyses assessed the prevalence of 7 cardiovascular health metrics, its association with AIP. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for age.All 7 cardiovascular health metrics were shown to correlate with AIP (all P values < 0.05), and the strongest correlation existed between body mass and AIP, followed by total cholesterol and AIP. The mean AIP level increased with the decrease in the score of each of the 7 cardiovascular health metrics (all P values < 0.05). The subjects with poor cardiovascular health status had a 4.982-fold increase in the high risk of developing atherosclerosis, whereas a 1-point increase in the cardiovascular health score resulted a 0.046 reduction in AIP and a 22.3% reduction in the high-risk of developing atherosclerosis (OR = 0.777, 95% CI: 0.768-0.787).The ideal cardiovascular health score correlated significantly with AIP, and a 1-point increase in the cardiovascular health score led to a 0.046 reduction in AIP and a 22.3% reduction in the high risk of developing atherosclerosis. These validated the value of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors in the prediction of high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Ideal cardiovascular health metrics are of great realistic significance for the prevention and control of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Swimming exercise increases serum irisin level and reduces body fat mass in high-fat-diet fed Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that irisin levels are reduced in skeletal muscle and plasma of obese rats; however, the effect of exercise training on irisin level remains controversial. We aim to evaluate the association of swimming exercise with serum irisin level and other obesity-associated parameters. METHODS: Forty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: a normal diet and sedentary group (ND group), normal diet and exercise group (NDE group), high-fat diet and sedentary group (HFD group), and high-fat diet and exercise group (HFDE group. After 8 consecutive weeks of swimming exercise, fat mass and serum irisin level was determined. RESULTS: Higher serum irisin levels were detected in the HFDE group (1.15 ± 0.28 µg/L) and NDE group (1.76 ± 0.17 µg/L) than in the HFD group (0.84 ± 0.23 µg/L) or the ND group (1.24 ± 0.29 µg/L), respectively (HFDE group vs. HFD group, P < 0.05; NDE group vs. ND group, P < 0.01). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that serum irisin level negatively correlated with TG level (r = -0.771, P < 0.05), percentage fat mass (r = -0.68, P < 0.05), fat mass (r = -0.576, P < 0.05), visceral fat mass (r = -0.439, P < 0.05) and TC level (r = -0.389, P < 0.05). The fat mass, visceral fat mass and percentage fat mass were lower in the HFDE group than the HFD group (all P values < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Swimming exercise decreases body fat mass in high-fat-fed Wistar rats, which may be attributable to elevated irisin levels induced by swimming exercise.

Potential long-term effects of previous schistosome infection may reduce the atherogenic index of plasma in Chinese men.

The major purpose of this study was to assess the association between the potential long-term effects of previous schistosome infection and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Among 1597 men aged ⩾45 years who received health examinations and lived in previous schistosomiasis-endemic regions of China, 465 patients with previous schistosome infection were selected as study subjects, and 1132 subjects formed the control group. The risk factors for cardiovascular disease were measured and compared between the previous schistosome infection and control groups. The Atherogenic Index of Plasma, triglycerides, waist circumference and body mass index were significantly lower in the previous schistosome infection group than in the control group (all P values <0.001), whereas high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly higher in the previous schistosome infection group (P<0.001). In the Atherogenic Index of Plasma quartiles (Q1-Q4), the percentages of subjects with previous schistosome infection were 55.89% (Q1), 25.44% (Q2), 16.33% (Q3), and 18.8% (Q4), respectively (χ(2)=139.86, P<0.001). A logistic regression analysis based on previous schistosome infection as the independent variable and Atherogenic Index of Plasma as the dependent variable revealed that previous schistosome infection was significantly negatively correlated with Atherogenic Index of Plasma (odds ratio=0.583, 95% confidence interval: 0.440-0.772, P<0.001) after adjustment for body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and uric acid, suggesting that previous schistosome infection is an independent factor associated with Atherogenic Index of Plasma. The potential long-term effects of previous schistosome infection may reduce the Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Chinese men. However, further studies are required to investigate the protective human immune response against schistosome infections. The development of a schistosomiasis vaccine may effectively prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Serum prostate-specific antigen concentration and hemodilution among Chinese middle-aged obese men: a hematocrit-based equation for plasma volume estimation is induced.

BACKGROUND: A hematocrit (HCT)-based and a body surface area (BSA)-based equations were applied for plasma volume (PV) estimation, respectively, to confirm and quantify the hemodilution effect in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening among obese men. The agreement between the equations was additionally investigated. METHODS: A total of 1,444 men were retrospectively collected, with ages 40 to 65 years, PSA 0 to 4 ng/mL, and no prostate cancer. PSA mass was calculated as PSA concentration multiplied by PV. Multivariable linear regression models, theoretical models, and the Bland-Altman method were used. RESULTS: PSA concentration significantly decreased with increasing body mass index (BMI; ß = -0.011, P < 0.001); however, PSA mass estimated by HCT- (ß = 0.004, P = 0.132) and BSA (ß = -0.003, P = 0.094)-based equations remained consistent. A screening PSA of 4.0 ng/mL in nonobese men was found to be corresponding to 3.32 and 3.68 ng/mL in obese men extrapolated by PV on the basis of HCT and BSA, respectively. Moreover, the mean (95% confidence interval) difference of PV between the two equations was 0.33 (-0.06 to 0.73) L. CONCLUSIONS: The inverse relationship between PSA concentration and BMI might be explained by a hemodilution effect among obese men. There is significant variation in PV calculated by the two equations. IMPACT: A value between 3.32 and 3.68 ng/mL might be recommended for PSA screening in middle-aged obese Asian men.