Participation in mahjong and the associated smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors among Chinese older adults.

This study examined the relationship of playing mahjong with smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors among Chinese older adults. We used a large and nationally representative dataset, the 8th wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Older adults who were 65 years old or above were included in the final analysis sample (n = 10,954). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the associations of playing mahjong with current and former smoking/alcohol consumption status. Additionally, we used negative binomial and multiple linear regressions to investigate the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the amount of alcohol consumed per day. Compared with older adults who did not play mahjong, those who played mahjong at least once per month were more likely to report both current and prior smoking/alcohol consumption habits (all p < 0.05). The sub-analysis revealed that older adults who played mahjong at least once per week tended to smoke more cigarettes per day (all p < 0.05) than those who did not play mahjong at all. When public health practitioners advocate for the health benefits of playing mahjong, they should also consider its associations with smoking/alcohol consumption behaviors among Chinese older adults.

Blood clearance kinetics and organ delivery of medium-chain triglyceride and fish oil-containing lipid emulsions: Comparing different animal species.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Medium-chain triglycerides (TG) (MCT) and fish oil (FO) TG are incorporated as the core TG component into intravenous (IV) lipid emulsions for infusion in parenteral nutrition. Bolus injections of IV emulsions, on the other hand, have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach to treat various acute disorders. However, intravascular metabolism and organ delivery of acute IV injection of emulsions containing both MCT and FO are not fully defined, nor have they been characterized across common experimental animal models. We characterized and compared blood clearance kinetics and organ distribution of bolus injections of MCT/FO emulsions among different animal species. We also examined whether sex differences or feeding status can affect catabolic properties of MCT/FO lipid emulsions. DESIGN: Blood clearance rates of lipid emulsions with specific TG composition were compared in rats IV injected with [3H]cholesteryl hexadecyl ether labeled pure n-6 long-chain (LCT) and n-3 FO TG lipid emulsions, or emulsions containing MCT and FO at different ratios (wt/wt), which include 8:2 (80% MCT: 20% FO), 5:4:1 (50% MCT: 40% LCT: 10% FO) and SMOF (30% LCT: 30% MCT: 25% olive oil: 10% FO). Dose-response effects (0.016 mg-1.6 mg TG/g body weight) of the MCT/FO 8:2 emulsions on blood clearance properties and organ delivery were determined in both mice and rats. Blood clearance kinetics and organ uptake of MCT/FO 8:2 emulsions were compared between male and female rats and between fed and fasted rats. Changes in plasma lipid profiles after acute injections of MCT/FO 8:2 lipid emulsion at different doses (0.043, 0.133, and 0.4 mg TG/g body weight) were characterized in non-human primates (Cynomolgus monkeys). RESULTS: MCT/FO 8:2 emulsion was cleared faster in rats when compared with other emulsions with different TG contents. Mice had faster blood clearance and higher fractional catabolic rates (FCR) when compared with the rats injected with MCT/FO 8:2 emulsions regardless of the injected doses. Mice and rats had similar plasma TG and free fatty acid (FFA) levels after low- or high-dose injections of the MCT/FO emulsion. Tissue distribution of the MCT/FO 8:2 lipid emulsion are comparable between mice and rats, where liver had the highest uptake per recovered dose among all organs (>60%). Feeding status and sex differences did not alter the blood clearance rate of the MCT/FO 8:2 emulsion in rats. In a nonhuman primate model, dose-response increases in plasma TG and FFA were observed after IV injection of MCT/FO 8:2 emulsions within the 1st 10 min. CONCLUSION: A lipid emulsion containing both MCT and FO TG is cleared rapidly in blood and readily available for organ uptake in rodent and primate animal models. Characterization of the blood clearance properties of the MCT/FO 8:2 emulsion administered in various animal models may provide further insight into the safety and efficacy profiles for future therapeutic use of bolus injections of MCT/FO emulsions in humans.

Decreased expression of KLF6 and its significance in gastric carcinoma.

To study the expression of the Krüppel-like transcription factor 6 (KLF6) in human gastric carcinoma and normal gastric mucosa tissues, and to explore the role of KLF6 in the carcinogenesis and tumor progression and its clinical significance. Expression of KLF6, P21WAF1 and PCNA was investigated by immunohistochemistry for 69 surgically resected gastric carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal gastric mucosa tissues, respectively. The correlations of KLF6 expression with clinicopathological characteristics, P21WAF1 and PCNA were examined. Positive-expression of KLF6 was 64 out of 69 cases (92.8%) in normal gastric mucosa and only 23 cases (33.3%) in gastric carcinoma. Expression of KLF6 in the gastric carcinoma was remarkably lower than normal gastric mucosa. Decreased expression of KLF6 in gastric carcinoma was significantly associated with histological differentiation (P<0.01), TNM stage (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01) and distant metastasis (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between KLF6 expression and sex, age. Meanwhile, expression of KLF6 was associated with expression of P21WAF1 in both normal gastric mucosa and gastric carcinoma (P<0.05). In addition, decreased expression of KLF6 in gastric carcinoma was positively associated with PCNA level (r=0.719, P<0.01) by association analysis. Down-regulation of KLF6 might play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of human gastric carcinoma and have significant clinical value.