The association between time-restricted eating and arterial stiffness status in community-dwelling elderly Chinese individuals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emerging studies indicate that time-restricted eating (TRE) may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, studies performed in elderly adults are limited. This study aimed to analyze the association of TRE with arterial stiffness (AS) in community-dwelling elderly Chinese individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional study recruited 3487 participants aged ≥60 y from Shanghai, China. TRE was determined by calculating the end time of the last meal minus the start time of the first meal of the average day. Participants were then categorized into those with a time-restricted window lasting ≤11 h (TRE) and >11 h (non-TRE). The mean age of the sample was 71.78 ± 5.75 y, and 41.2 % were men. Having a TRE pattern was 72.2 %. In the logistic analysis, TRE was associated with borderline arterial stiffness (OR = 1.419; 95 % CI = 1.077-1.869) and elevated arterial stiffness (OR = 1.699; 95 % CI = 1.276-2.263). In a subgroup analysis, the significance remained in the group at risk of malnutrition (with borderline arterial stiffness: OR = 2.270; 95 % CI = 1.229-4.190; with elevated arterial stiffness: OR = 2.459; 95 % CI = 1.287-4.700), while in well-nourished participants, the association only remained with elevated arterial stiffness (OR = 1.530; 95 % CI = 1.107-2.115) and not with borderline arterial stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: TRE is a risk factor for both borderline and elevated arterial stiffness in community-dwelling Chinese individuals and varies by nutritional status. (Protocol code 2019-WJWXM-04-310108196508064467.).

A newly discovered glycosyltransferase gene UGT88A1 affects growth and polysaccharide synthesis of Grifola frondosa.

Grifola frodosa polysaccharides, especially ß-D-glucans, possess significant anti-tumor, antioxidant and immunostimulatory activities. However, the synthesis mechanism remains to be elucidated. A newly discovered glycosyltransferase UGT88A1 was found to extend glucan chains in vitro. However, the role of UGT88A1 in the growth and polysaccharide synthesis of G. frondosa in vivo remains unclear. In this study, the overexpression of UGT88A1 improved mycelial growth, increased polysaccharide production, and decreased cell wall pressure sensitivity. Biomass and polysaccharide production decreased in the silenced strain, and the pressure sensitivity of the cell wall increased. Overexpression and silencing of UGT88A1 both affected the monosaccharide composition and surface morphology of G. frondosa polysaccharides and influenced the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from different strains. The messenger RNA expression of glucan synthase (GLS), UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (UGP), and UDP-xylose-4-epimerase (UXE) related to polysaccharide synthesis, and genes related to cell wall integrity increased in the overexpression strain. Overall, our study indicates that UGT88A1 plays an important role in the growth, stress, and polysaccharide synthesis of G. frondosa, providing a reference for exploring the pathway of polysaccharide synthesis and metabolic regulation. KEY POINTS: •UGT88A1 plays an important role in the growth, stress response, and polysaccharide synthesis in G. frondosa. •UGT88A1 affected the monosaccharide composition, surface morphology and antioxidant activity of G. frondosa polysaccharides. •UGT88A1 regulated the mRNA expression of genes related to polysaccharide synthesis and cell wall integrity.

Association of the combination of obstructive sleep apnea risk and sleep duration with ideal cardiovascular health metrics in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the separate and combined associations of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk and sleep duration with ideal cardiovascular health metrics in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: 470 HD participants (average: 59.48 ± 12.89 y, 281 men) were included in this study. Sleep duration was measured as self-reported average sleep time during the previous month. The OSA risk was assessed using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Participants were divided into three groups based on the number of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics: 0-2,3-4, and 5-7. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to model the associations of CVH metrics with sleep duration, OSA risk, and their combined effects by adjusting for specific covariates. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, short sleep duration (< 7 h) (OR = 0.53; 95% CI [ 0.30, 0.92]) and OSA risk (OR = 0.58; 95% CI [0.32, 0.83]) were negatively associated with better CVH (ideal vs. intermediate; intermediate vs. poor), respectively. For HD patients with both short sleep duration and OSA risk, the odds of ideal CVH metrics were reduced by 72% (odds ratio 0.28 [95% CI 0.13, 0.60]). CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep duration and OSA risk are separately and jointly associated with poor CVH in hemodialysis patients. Suitable interventions for sleep may minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Abnormal sleep patterns are associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is an important public health issue among older adults, often associated with their sleep-related problems. We aimed to investigate the association between sleep-related problems and depressive symptoms among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized self-reported data from 2896 participants (aged ≥60 years) from Shanghai, China. Nocturnal sleep duration and difficulty initiating sleep (DIS) symptoms were obtained through face-to-face questionnaires. Nocturnal sleep duration was categorized as 'short' (<7 h), 'normal' (7-8 h), and 'long' (>8 h). Subsequently, the 3 groups were further divided into 6 groups based on the presence of DIS, and the combined sleep behaviors were termed 'sleep patterns'. Logistic regression was conducted to assess the association of sleep variables and sleep patterns with the risk of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, 'short sleep duration' and DIS symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms (with odds ratios (OR) of 1.50 and 1.79, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.14-1.97 and 1.39-2.31). When compared to 'normal sleep duration without DIS', both 'short sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.81-3.72) and 'normal sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03-2.49) were statistically associated with depressive symptoms in adjusted regression models. CONCLUSION: Short sleep duration and DIS symptoms were found to be associated with depressive symptoms. Combining DIS symptoms with sleep duration, DIS was identified as a risk factor for elevated depressive symptoms in individuals with short and normal sleep durations. In managing depressive symptoms, it is imperative to thoroughly evaluate insomnia and nighttime sleep, which can provide valuable insights for nursing and medical policy.

Mediating effect of gait speed on the relationship between ankle-brachial index and mild cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing hemodialysis are highly predisposed to arterial disease, poor physical performance, and cognitive impairment. However, the connection between them is not yet known. We aimed to investigate the mediating effect of physical performance on the relationship between arterial stiffness and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study. The final analyzed hemodialysis patients comprised 616 subjects (men 391, women 225) from seven dialysis units in Shanghai, China. MCI was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale. Arterial function was measured by ankle-brachial index (ABI) and branchial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV). Physical function was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Logistic regression and mediation model were used to analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the final analysis sample (n = 616) was 59.0 ± 12.0 years. Hemodialysis patients with MCI were more likely to have lower ABI (p < 0.001) and higher baPWV (p < 0.01). After adjusting for covariates, lower ABI (abnormal ≤0.9 and borderline 0.91-0.99) were positively associated with MCI (OR = 4.43, 95% CI = 1.89-10.39; OR = 4.83, 95% CI = 1.61-14.46). SPPB total score and its components standing balance, gait speed score were negatively associated with MCI. In the mediational model, gait speed played a mediating role (indirect effect ab = -0.21; 95% CI = -0.58 to -0.03) in the association of ABI (≤0.9) and MMSE, while standing balance and chair stands did not. CONCLUSIONS: Lower gait speed mediates a positive association between ABI and MCI in hemodialysis patients. Suitable interventions for physical performance, especially gait speed, may reduce the risk of MCI in hemodialysis patients.

A new S-scheme heterojunction of 1D ZnGa2O4/ZnO nanofiber for efficient photocatalytic degradation of TC-HCl.

One-dimensional shaped ZnGa2O4, ZnO and ZnGa2O4/ZnO nanofibers were successfully prepared by electrostatic spinning technique and the photocatalytic degradation performance of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) were studied. It was found that the S-scheme heterojunction formed in the ZnGa2O4/ZnO could greatly reduce the recombination of the photogenerated carriers and therefore improve the photocatalytic performance. By optimizing the ratio of the ZnGa2O4 and ZnO, the largest degradation rate could reach 0.0573 min-1, which was 20 times of the self-degradation rate of TC-HCl. It was verified that the h+ played the key role in the reactive groups for the high performance decomposition of TC-HCl by capture experiments. This work provides a new method for the highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of TC-HCl.

Comparison of the relationship between cognitive function and future falls in Chinese community-dwelling older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether cognitive function is associated with future falls in older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared with those without DM. Cognitive function was divided into several domains to further analyze. METHODS: A total of 678 individuals met the inclusion criteria and comprised the final study population. The mean age was 74.35 ± 5.35 years, and 58.9% of the participants were female (n = 400). At the baseline, cognitive function was measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and DM diagnoses were determined by medical records. The self-reported any falls data were obtained via face-to-face questioning at the 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: At baseline, 15.6% of participants (n = 106) were diagnosed with DM. According to whether they had any falls during 1-year follow-up, there was a significant difference between the two group in fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.012) and DM (p = 0.036) at baseline. Among the older adults with DM, those who had experienced any falls had poorer cognitive function (p = 0.014). After adjusting for various covariates, we found that MMSE (95% CI 0.790-0.991, p = 0.034), orientation to place (95% CI 0.307-0.911, p = 0.022) and registration (95% CI 0.162-0.768, p = 0.009) were significantly associated with falls in the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study found that in patients with DM, cognitive function is related to future falls. Not only overall cognitive function, but also orientation to place and registration were all associated with future falls in older adults with DM. When completing the fall risk assessment of elderly patients with DM, clinicians should give more attention to the testing of cognitive function.

Lower heart rate variability is associated with loss of muscle mass and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) disorders may occur in skeletal muscle disease, but the link between them has not been fully established. Studying the relationship between them may yield insights into the mechanisms and treatment of disease. This study aimed to explore the association between heart rate variability (HRV), sarcopenia, and subscales of sarcopenia (muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical mobility). METHODS: 2514 community-dwelling older Chinese participants were included in this study. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines were used to define sarcopenia. HRV was measured by 90-s electrocardiogram RR interval data. All HRV parameters were transformed using natural logarithms. Multiple regression analysis and multivariate linear regression was performed using potential correlates. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.1 % (18.5 % in males and 12.6 % in females). In the logistic regression analysis model, there was a significant association between log-transformed standard deviation of RR interval (lnSDNN) (OR = 0.736, p = 0.019), log-transformed coefficient of variation of RR intervals (lnCVRR) (OR = 0.751, p = 0.020), log-transformed low-frequency power (lnLF) (OR = 0.861, p = 0.008), log-transformed high-frequency power (lnHF) (OR = 0.864, p = 0.003) and sarcopenia in the general population after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), daily activity levels, hypertension, heart disease and cardiac drugs. In addition, in multivariate linear regression, lnSDNN (ß = 0.146, p = 0.001), lnCVRR (ß = 0.120, p = 0.010), lnLF (ß = 0.066, p = 0.002) and lnHF (ß = 0.065, p < 0.001) remained significantly positively associated with muscle mass, but there were no significant differences in grip strength and walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia was independently associated with lower heart rate variability in a community-dwelling elderly Chinese population. In addition, muscle mass was positively associated with heart rate variability in the elderly.

Gender-specific associations of speech-frequency hearing loss, high-frequency hearing loss, and cognitive impairment among older community dwellers in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed atinvestigating the relationship between speech-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL), and cognitive impairment (CI) and then to determine whether there are any differences in gender among older community dwellers in China. METHODS: 1012 adults aged ≥ 60 years (428 males; average age, 72.61 ± 5.51 years) and living in Chongming District, Shanghai were enrolled in the study. We used the audiometric definition of hearing loss (HL) adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Speech-frequencies were measured at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz; high-frequencies were measured at 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Pure tone average (PTA) was measured as hearing sensitivity. Cognitive performance was measured using the mini mental state examination (MMSE). RESULTS: Our studies demonstrated a 37.6% prevalence of HL in males and a 36.0% prevalence of HL in females. Adjusted for confounding variables, the results from a multivariate analysis showed that SFHL was associated with CI in females (OR = 2.922, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.666-5.124) and males (OR = 2.559, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.252-5.232). However, HFHL was associated with CI only in females (OR = 3.490, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.834-6.643). HL was associated with poorer cognitive scores (P < 0.05). "Registration" (P < 0.05) in MMSE was associated with speech- and high-frequency hearing sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between HL and CI varied according to gender in older community-dwellers, suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the etiology of HL. Moreover, hearing sensitivity was negatively associated with cognition scores; therefore, early screening for HL and CI among older community-dwelling adults is advised.

Metabolic Profiles Reveal Changes in the Leaves and Roots of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings under Nitrogen Deficiency.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop species and plays a crucial role in supplying edible oil worldwide. However, rapeseed production in the field is often severely inhibited due to nitrogen (N) deficiency. Metabolites play key roles in plant growth and resistance to environmental stress, but little is known about the differential synthesis and accumulation of metabolites underlying rapeseed adaptation to N deficiency. Here, we studied the phenotypic response and used LC-electrospray ionization (ESI), ESI-MS/MS, and widely untargeted metabolomic approaches to detect differences in rapeseed under normal N (HN) and N-deficient (LN) conditions. The results showed that N deficiency severely inhibited rapeseed shoot growth and promoted rapeseed root architectural changes under LN conditions. In total, 574 metabolites were detected, and there were 175 and 166 differentially accumulated metabolites in the leaves and roots between the HN and LN conditions, respectively. The significantly differentially accumulated metabolites were involved in four primary metabolic pathways, namely, sucrose, phenylalanine, amino acid, and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism. Notably, we found that plant hormones have distinct accumulation patterns in rapeseed and coordinate to play crucial roles in both maintaining growth and protecting against damage from plant disease under HN and LN conditions. Moreover, our results indicated that flavonoid compounds, especially anthocyanins and rutin, may play important roles in increasing root cell resistance to oxidative damage and soil pathogen infections. Overall, this work provides valuable information for understanding the overall metabolite changes in rapeseed under N deficiency conditions, which may be beneficial for improving and producing new varieties of rapeseed capable of high yields under low N conditions.

[Autophagy Activation and Mitochondrial Quality Control in Sarcopenia].

Sarcopenia,an age-related disease caused by the imbalance in protein synthesis and degradation,can result in significant decreases in skeletal muscle mass and strength.Skeletal muscle loss during aging is inevitable and can affect the life quality of the elderly.Moreover,it may increase the risks of other age-related diseases in the elderly.However,the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear in age-related skeletal muscle loss.Autophagy is a degradation pathway for the removal of dysfunctional organelles and damaged macromolecules during aging.Mitochondria also play a key role in skeletal muscle function.To maintain skeletal muscle mass,we should pay attention to autophagy and improve mitochondrial homeostasis through autophagy or other means.This paper summarizes the research progress of autophagy and mitochondrial quality control in sarcopenia,aiming to provide reference for exploring new therapies.

Long Sleep Duration Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to examine the association between sleep duration and impaired cognitive function in different cognitive domains in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. A total of 1591 participants (≥60 years) were divided into five groups: ≤6 hours (very short sleep duration), >6 to 7 hours (short sleep duration), ≥7 to 8 hours (moderate sleep duration), >8 to 9 hours (moderately long sleep duration), and >9 hours (long sleep duration), according to sleep duration. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Long sleep duration significantly increased the likelihood of cognitive impairment. In addition to attention, long sleep duration was negatively related to poorer global cognition and other cognitive domain functions. With the stratification of age groups, long sleep duration was negatively associated with other cognitive domain functions except delayed recall in older elderly (≥75 years) people, but not in younger elderly (60-74 years) people. Long sleep duration was associated with higher rates of cognitive impairment, poorer global cognition, and declined orientation, memory, language ability, and executive function in Chinese community-dwelling older adults, which was more significant in older elderly people.

Sarcopenia and coronary heart disease synergistically increase the risk of new onset depressive symptoms in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD), sarcopenia and depression are common disorders that markedly impair quality of life and impose a huge financial burden on society. They are also frequently comorbid, exacerbating condition and worsening prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the additive effects of CHD and sarcopenia on the risk of new onset depressive symptoms in older adults. METHODS: The prospective cohort study comprised 897 Chinese community-dwelling participants who were aged 60 years and older (386 men; mean age 66.9 ± 5.9 years) without depressive symptoms at baseline, recruited from Chadian of Tianjin, China. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. CHD was identified via medical records or new diagnosed by at least two physicians. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) ≥11. Longitudinal data on new onset depressive symptoms were collected up to 12 months after baseline. RESULTS: We found that 103 (11.5%) of the 897 participants without depressive symptoms at baseline had developed depressive symptoms. Participants were classified into mutually exclusive groups based on sarcopenia status and CHD: normal, CHD alone, sarcopenia alone, and co-occurring groups. A logistic regression showed that the CHD alone [odd ratios (OR) = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-3.02], sarcopenia alone (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.26-6.22), and co-occurring (OR = 7.19, 95% CI = 2.75-18.81) had higher risk of depressive symptoms than the normal group after adjusting for the covariates. CONCLUSIONS: CHD and sarcopenia synergistically increase the risk of new onset depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, older adults may require early detection, and appropriate interventions should be implemented.

Muscle mass rather than muscle strength or physical performance is associated with metabolic syndrome in community-dwelling older Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in community-dwelling older Chinese adults. METHODS: The study comprised of 1413 community-dwelling Chinese participants (577 men; mean ± standard deviation age: 71.3 ± 5.9) recruited from Tianjin and Shanghai, China who were invited to participate in a comprehensive geriatric assessment. The International Diabetes Federation metabolic syndrome guidelines were used to define MetS, including high waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced HDL cholesterol. Muscle mass was measured by appendicular skeletal muscle mass/weight (ASM/weight), and ASM was measured by BIA. Muscle strength was measured using grip strength. Physical performance was represented by walking speed and the time up and go test (TUGT). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MetS was 46.8% (34.1% in males and 55.5% in females). In the final logistic regression model, there was a significant, graded inverse association between muscle mass and MetS (p for trend = 0.014). Muscle strength and physical performance, including walking speed and TUGT, were not associated with overall MetS. In the components of MetS, muscle mass and grip strength were significantly inversely associated with high waist circumference and elevated blood pressure (p < 0.05), while physical performance was not associated with components of MetS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with muscle strength and muscle function, muscle mass was inversely associated with MetS in a community-dwelling elderly Chinese population. Among muscle mass、muscle strength and physical performance, muscle mass appears to have the strongest association with MetS in the elderly.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of high-affinity nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) family genes in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and their responses to various stresses.

BACKGROUND: High-affinity nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) genes have been implicated in nitrate absorption and remobilization under nitrogen (N) starvation stress in many plant species, yet little is known about this gene family respond to various stresses often occurs in the production of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). RESULTS: This report details identification of 17 NRT2 gene family members in rapeseed, as well as, assessment of their expression profiles using RNA-seq analysis and qRT-PCR assays. In this study, all BnNRT2.1 members, BnNRT2.2a and BnNRT2.4a were specifically expressed in root tissues, while BnNRT2.7a and BnNRT2.7b were mainly expressed in aerial parts, including as the predominantly expressed NRT2 genes detected in seeds. This pattern of shoot NRT expression, along with homology to an Arabidopsis NRT expressed in seeds, strongly suggests that both BnNRT2.7 genes play roles in seed nitrate accumulation. Another rapeseed NRT, BnNRT2.5 s, exhibited intermediate expression, with transcripts detected in both shoot and root tissues. Functionality of BnNRT2s genes was further outlined by testing for adaptive responses in expression to exposure to a series of environmental stresses, including N, phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) deficiency, waterlogging and drought. In these tests, most NRT2 gene members were up-regulated by N starvation and restricted by the other stresses tested herein. In contrast to this overall trend, transcription of BnNRT2.1a was up-regulated under waterlogging and K deficiency stress, and BnNRT2.5 s was up-regulated in roots subjected to waterlogging. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of BnNRT2.7 s were enhanced under both waterlogging stress and P or K deficiency conditions. These results suggest that these three BnNRT2 genes might participate in crosstalk among different stress response pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here outline a diverse set of NRT2 genes present in the rapeseed genome that collectively carry out specific functions throughout rapeseed development, while also responding not just to N deficiency, but also to several other stresses. Targeting of individual BnNRT2 members that coordinate rapeseed nitrate uptake and transport in response to cues from multiple stress response pathways could significantly expand the genetic resources available for improving rapeseed resistance to environmental stresses.

Adaption of Roots to Nitrogen Deficiency Revealed by 3D Quantification and Proteomic Analysis.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an important oil crop worldwide. However, severe inhibition of rapeseed production often occurs in the field due to nitrogen (N) deficiency. The root system is the main organ to acquire N for plant growth, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying rapeseed root adaptions to N deficiency. Here, dynamic changes in root architectural traits of N-deficient rapeseed plants were evaluated by 3D in situ quantification. Root proteome responses to N deficiency were analyzed by the tandem mass tag-based proteomics method, and related proteins were characterized further. Under N deficiency, rapeseed roots become longer, with denser cells in the meristematic zone and larger cells in the elongation zone of root tips, and also become softer with reduced solidity. A total of 171 and 755 differentially expressed proteins were identified in short- and long-term N-deficient roots, respectively. The abundance of proteins involved in cell wall organization or biogenesis was highly enhanced, but most identified peroxidases were reduced in the N-deficient roots. Notably, peroxidase activities also were decreased, which might promote root elongation while lowering the solidity of N-deficient roots. These results were consistent with the cell wall components measured in the N-deficient roots. Further functional analysis using transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants demonstrated that the two root-related differentially expressed proteins contribute to the enhanced root growth under N deficiency conditions. These results provide insights into the global changes of rapeseed root responses to N deficiency and may facilitate the development of rapeseed cultivars with high N use efficiency through root-based genetic improvements.

Clinical relevance of different handgrip strength indexes and cardiovascular disease risk factors: A cross-sectional study in suburb-dwelling elderly Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Reduced muscle strength, as measured by handgrip strength (HS), has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between different HS indexes and CVD risk factors in elderly Chinese individuals. We also determine optimal cutoffs of HS indexes for predicting CVD risk factors. METHODS: Data were obtained from 603 men and 789 women aged ≥60 years (average age 66.8 ± 6.4 y). These study participants were recruited in the suburb area of Tianjin, China. An individual was considered a patient when they exhibited any one of three CVD risk factors: diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. All participants were interviewed face-to-face. In addition, serum samples were collected from all participants, and all participants underwent measures of anthropometry and HS. RESULTS: The optimal cutoffs were 0.376 of HS/weight in men and 0.726 of HS/body fat mass in women for predicting diabetes mellitus. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of at least one CVD risk factor for those with low muscle strength identified by HS/body fat mass were 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53, 3.44; p < 0.001) in men and 2.32 (95% CI: 1.60, 3.29; p < 0.001) in women. CONCLUSION: HS/body fat mass appear to be the index best associated with CVD risk factors except diabetes mellitus in men. The optimal cutoffs of HS indexes have the potential to identify elderly adults at risk of CVD.

Quinoa Secondary Metabolites and Their Biological Activities or Functions.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) was known as the "golden grain" by the native Andean people in South America, and has been a source of valuable food over thousands of years. It can produce a variety of secondary metabolites with broad spectra of bioactivities. At least 193 secondary metabolites from quinoa have been identified in the past 40 years. They mainly include phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and nitrogen-containing compounds. These metabolites exhibit many physiological functions, such as insecticidal, molluscicidal and antimicrobial activities, as well as various kinds of biological activities such as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on our knowledge of the structures, biological activities and functions of quinoa secondary metabolites. Biosynthesis, development and utilization of the secondary metabolites especially from quinoa bran were prospected.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Nostoc flagelliforme reveals the difference in adaptive mechanism in response to different ultraviolet-B radiation treatments.

Nostoc flagelliforme is a pioneer organism in the desert and highly resistant to ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation, while the involved adaptive mechanism has not been fully explored yet. To elucidate the responsive mechanism, two doses of UV-B radiation (low: 1 W/m2 and high: 5 W/m2) were irradiated for 6 h and 48 h, respectively, and their effects on global metabolism in N. flagelliforme were comprehensively investigated. In this study, we used iTRAQ-based proteomic approach to explore the proteomes of N. flagelliforme, and 151, 172, 124 and 148 differentially expressed proteins were identified under low and high UV-B doses for 6 h and 48 h, respectively. Functional classification analysis showed these proteins were mainly involved in photosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, antioxidant activity and carbohydrate metabolism. Further analysis revealed that UV-B imposed restrictions on primary metabolism including photosynthesis, Calvin cycle, and amino acid metabolism, and cells started defense mechanism through repair of DNA and protein damage, increasing antioxidant activity, and accumulating extracellular polysaccharides to minimize the damage. Moreover, high UV-B dose imposed more severe restrictions and activated stronger defense mechanism compared with low dose. The results would improve the understanding of molecular mechanisms of UV-B-stress adaption in N. flagelliforme.

Muscle strength rather than muscle mass is associated with osteoporosis in older Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the association of muscle strength and muscle mass with osteoporosis (OP) is of special interest as muscles are a potential target for interventions (i.e., strength training). METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study encompassing people aged ≥ 60 years (average age: 66.9 ± 6.2 years; men, n = 516; women, n = 652) in the Hangu area of Tianjin, China. The study populations were invited to participate in a comprehensive geriatric assessment. OS was identified by measuring the calcaneal using a quantitative ultrasound and a T score of less than -2.5. Muscle characteristics included grip strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). RESULTS: The prevalence of OS in this study was 61.6% (male 52.1%, female 69.1%). Grip strength was negatively related to OS and after adjusting for all other variables, higher grip strength was found to be associated with a lower OS risk (p = 0.023). ASM/height2 was not associated with OS (p = 0.205). CONCLUSION: Based on our study, muscle strength rather than muscle mass is negatively associated with OS in older people; thus, we should pay more attention to muscle strength training in the early stage of the OS.