Unraveling the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and frailty: evidence from longitudinal cohort study and genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with incident frailty as well as its effects on pre-frailty progression and regression among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: Based on the frailty index (FI) calculated with 41 items, 6890 eligible participants without frailty at baseline from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were categorized into health, pre-frailty, and frailty groups. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the longitudinal association between baseline hs-CRP and incident frailty. Furthermore, a series of genetic approaches were conducted to confirm the causal relationship between CRP and frailty, including Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), pleiotropic analysis, and Mendelian randomization (MR). Finally, we evaluated the association of hs-CRP with pre-frailty progression and regression. RESULTS: The risk of developing frailty was 1.18 times (95% CI: 1.03-1.34) higher in participants with high levels of hs-CRP at baseline than low levels of hs-CRP participants during the 3-year follow-up. MR analysis suggested that genetically determined hs-CRP was potentially positively associated with the risk of frailty (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08). Among 5241 participants with pre-frailty at baseline, we found pre-frailty participants with high levels of hs-CRP exhibit increased odds of progression to frailty (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.79) and decreased odds of regression to health (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98) when compared with participants with low levels of hs-CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that reducing systemic inflammation is significant for developing strategies for frailty prevention and pre-frailty reversion in the middle-aged and elderly population.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG5 promotes podocyte injury via the microRNA-26a-5p/TRPC6 pathway in diabetic nephropathy.

Podocyte injury is a characteristic pathological hallmark of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the exact mechanism of podocyte injury in DN is incompletely understood. This study was conducted using db/db mice and immortalized mouse podocytes. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs in kidney of db/db mice. The lentiviral shRNA directed against long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5) or microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p) agomir was used to treat db/db mice to regulate the SNHG5/miR-26a-5p pathway. Here, we found that the expression of transient receptor potential canonical type 6 (TRPC6) was significantly increased in injured podocytes under the condition of DN, which was associated with markedly decreased miR-26a-5p. We determined that miR-26a-5p overexpression ameliorated podocyte injury in DN via binding to 3'-UTR of Trpc6, as evidenced by the markedly reduced activity of luciferase reporters by miR-26a-5p mimic. Then, the upregulated SNHG5 in podocytes and kidney in DN was identified, and it was proved to sponge to miR-26a-5p directly using luciferase activity, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assay. Knockdown of SNHG5 attenuated podocyte injury in vitro, accompanied by an increased expression of miR-26a-5p and decreased expression of TRPC6, demonstrating that SNHG5 promoted podocyte injury by controlling the miR-26a-5p/TRPC6 pathway. Moreover, knockdown of SNHG5 protects against podocyte injury and progression of DN in vivo. In conclusion, SNHG5 promotes podocyte injury via the miR-26a-5p/TRPC6 pathway in DN. Our findings provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of podocyte injury and a potential new therapeutic strategy for DN.

Development of a Strategy for L-Lactic Acid Production by Rhizopus oryzae Using Zizania latifolia Waste and Cane Molasses as Carbon Sources.

As a biodegradable and renewable material, polylactic acid is considered a major environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics. Microbial fermentation is the traditional method for lactic acid production, but it is still too expensive to compete with the petrochemical industry. Agro-industrial wastes are generated from the food and agricultural industries and agricultural practices. The utilization of agro-industrial wastes is an important way to reduce costs, save energy and achieve sustainable development. The present study aimed to develop a method for the valorization of Zizania latifolia waste and cane molasses as carbon sources for L-lactic acid fermentation using Rhizopus oryzae LA-UN-1. The results showed that xylose derived from the acid hydrolysis of Z. latifolia waste was beneficial for cell growth, while glucose from the acid hydrolysis of Z. latifolia waste and mixed sugars (glucose and fructose) from the acid hydrolysis of cane molasses were suitable for the accumulation of lactic acid. Thus, a three-stage carbon source utilization strategy was developed, which markedly improved lactic acid production and productivity, respectively reaching 129.47 g/L and 1.51 g/L·h after 86 h of fermentation. This work demonstrates that inexpensive Z. latifolia waste and cane molasses can be suitable carbon sources for lactic acid production, offering an efficient utilization strategy for agro-industrial wastes.

[Protective effect of breviscapine against brain injury induced by intrauterine inflammation in preterm rats and its mechanism]. / ç¯ç›èŠ±ç´ å¯¹å®«å† ç‚Žç—‡è‡´æ—©äº§å¤§é¼ è„‘æŸä¼¤çš„ä¿æŠ¤ä½œç”¨åŠå ¶æœºåˆ¶æŽ¢è®¨.

OBJECTIVES: To study the protective effect of breviscapine against brain injury induced by intrauterine inflammation in preterm rats and its mechanism. METHODS: A preterm rat model of brain injury caused by intrauterine inflammation was prepared by intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide in pregnant rats. The pregnant rats and preterm rats were respectively randomly divided into 5 groups: control, model, low-dose breviscapine (45 mg/kg), high-dose breviscapine (90 mg/kg), and high-dose breviscapine (90 mg/kg)+ML385 [a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor, 30 mg/kg] (n=10 each). The number and body weight of the live offspring rats were measured for each group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of the uterus and placenta of pregnant rats and the pathological morphology of the brain tissue of offspring rats. Immunofluorescent staining was used to measure the co-expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA-1) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in the cerebral cortex of offspring rats. ELISA was used to measure the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in the brain tissue of offspring rats. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of Nrf2 pathway-related proteins in the brain tissue of offspring rats. RESULTS: Pathological injury was found in the uterus, and placenta tissue of the pregnant rats and the brain tissue of the offspring rats, and severe microglia pyroptosis occurred in the cerebral cortex of the offspring rats in the model group. Compared with the control group, the model group had significant reductions in the number and body weight of the live offspring rats and the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the brain tissue of the offspring rats (P<0.05), but significant increases in the relative fluorescence intensity of the co-expression of IBA-1 and NLRP3, the levels of the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1ß, and the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the brain tissue of the offspring rats (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the breviscapine administration groups showed alleviated pathological injury of the uterus and placenta tissue of the pregnant rats and the brain tissue of the offspring rats, significant increases in the number and body weight of the live offspring rats and the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the brain tissue of the offspring rats (P<0.05), and significant reductions in the relative fluorescence intensity of the co-expression of IBA-1 and NLRP3, the levels of the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1ß, and the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the brain tissue of the offspring rats (P<0.05). The high-dose breviscapine group had a significantly better effect than the low-dose breviscapine (P<0.05). ML385 significantly inhibited the intervention effect of high-dose breviscapine (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Breviscapine can inhibit inflammatory response in brain tissue of preterm rats caused by intrauterine inflammation by activating the Nrf2 pathway, and it can also inhibit microglial pyroptosis and alleviate brain injury.

Serum exosomal microRNA let-7i-3p as candidate diagnostic biomarker for Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery aneurysm.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis syndrome that leads to coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). While echocardiography is the most important imaging modality for coronary artery assessment, a specific diagnostic biomarker complementary for CAA has not been reported. We aimed to analyze the profiles of exosomal miRNAs extracted from the serum of KD patients and controls to identify candidate biomarkers for CAA. Serum samples from 39 healthy children, 42 CAA patients, 38 coronary artery dilatation (CAD) patients and 45 virus-infected patients including 24 EBV patients and 21 ADV patients were randomly selected. Next generation sequencing was used to analyze serum exosomal miRNA to detect differentially expressed miRNAs. Biomarker candidates were validated by qRT-PCR. One hundred (and) ninety-six differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were detected in CAA patients and healthy children. There were 70 DEMs and 140 DEMs in CAA patients versus CAD patients, and in CAA patients versus virus-infected patients, respectively. We selected the three most upregulated (let-7i-3p, miR-17-3p, and miR-210-5p) and the three most downregulated miRNAs (miR-6743-5p, miR-1246, and miR-6834-5p) in the DEMs, which were expressed differentially in CAA patients versus healthy children, and in CAA patients versus virus-infected patients, not in virus-infected patients versus healthy children, as biomarker candidates. Excluded DEMs of CAD and virus-infected patients, let-7i-3p was detected by sequence data analysis as a biomarker candidate for CAA patients, and then validated by qRT-PCR in a larger set of clinical samples. As a biomarker candidate, let-7i-3p provides an additional means of diagnosing CAA patients. Additionally, miRNA biomarkers complement ultrasonic imaging, allowing for greater diagnostic precision. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019.

Fabrication of novel surface-imprinted magnetic graphene oxide-grafted cellulose nanocrystals for selective extraction and fast adsorption of fluoroquinolones from water.

A novel adsorbent based on the surface of magnetic graphene oxide-grafted cellulose nanocrystal molecularly imprinted polymers (Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs) was developed for the selective extraction and fast adsorption of fluoroquinolones (FQs) from river water samples. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were grafted onto activated graphene oxide (GO), and the surfaces of the obtained magnetic GO-g-CNC particles were molecularly imprinted with polymers using ofloxacin (OFX) as a template molecule and methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer. The resulting Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIP material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under optimum adsorption conditions, the Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs with large specific surface area were easily collected and separated using an external magnetic field. Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs exhibited an ultra-fast adsorption profile for FQs (5 min to achieve the maximum adsorption capacity of 74 mg/g), with imprinting factor values ranging from 1.5 to 3.1. High recognition selectivity towards nine FQs from real river water samples was established through coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the recovery of samples spiked with nine FQs was found to be in the range of 79.2-96.1%, with a detection limit ranging from 6.5 to 51 ng/g. Moreover, the data obtained adhered to the Freundlich isotherm model, and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. Finally, the Mag@GO-g-CNCs@MIPs could be regenerated and reused for seven consecutive cycles with only a 13% drop in adsorption capacity, indicating its effective application as a new, reusable, and selective adsorbent for the enrichment and separation of FQs from aqueous solutions.

Treatment of oral lichen planus using 308-nm excimer laser.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease, has prolonged courses, repeated attacks and resistance to treatment. The traditional narrow spectrum UVB treatment has an established efficacy on skin lichen planus, and high safety. However, most of ultraviolet phototherapy devices have a huge volume, thereby cannot be used in the treatment of OLP. Lymphocytic infiltration is evident in the lesions of lichen planus, and the direct irradiation of 308-nm excimer laser can induce apoptosis of the T lymphocytes in skin lesions, thereby has a unique therapeutic effect on the diseases involving T lymphocytes. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of 308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of OLP. A total of six OLP patients were enrolled into this study, and further pathological diagnosis was conducted, then 308-nm excimer laser was used in the treatment. The efficacy of 308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of OLP was satisfactory. The clinical symptoms of five patients were significantly improved. In two patients, the erosion surface based on congestion and the surrounding white spots completely disappeared, and clinical recovery was achieved. Three patients achieved partial remission, that is, the erosion surface healed, congestion and white spot area shrunk by more than 1/2 of the primary skin lesions. In the remaining one patient, the erosion surface had not completely healed after treatment, and congestion and white spot area shrunk by less than 1/2 of the primary skin lesions. Only one patients had developed mild pain during the treatment, and this symptom alleviated by itself. The 308-nm excimer laser therapy can serve as a safe and effective treatment for OLP.

[Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B and serum inhibin B in predicting the outcome of routine IVF fertilization].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlations of seminal plasma (sp) anti-Müllerian hormone (spAMH) and inhibin B (spINHB) and serum INHB (serINHB) with semen parameters in oligoasthenospermia patients and explore their value in predicting the outcome of routine in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: We obtained the levels of spAMH, spINHB and serINHB as well as semen parameters from 88 infertile males undergoing IVF due to oligoasthenospermia or female uterine tubal factors from August 2016 to February 2017. Using the ROC curve and Pearson's correlation analysis, we examined the effects of the obtained parameters on the fertilization rate and assessed the correlation of the levels of spAMH, spINHB and serINHB with the semen parameters of the patients. RESULTS: Concerning the predictive value for the outcome of IVF, Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of spAMH was 0.807 (sensitivity = 84.6%, specificity = 76%, cut-off point = 3.529, P <0.001) and that of spINHB was 0.768 (sensitivity = 84.6%, specificity = 88.7%, cut-off point = 31.117, P = 0.002). The serINHB level was found positively correlated with sperm concentration (r = 0.346, P = 0.001), total sperm count (r = 0.378, P <0.001), sperm motility (r = 0.521, P <0.001), and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (r = 0.343, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of spAMH and spINHB can be used as laboratory indexes to predict the fertilization rate of routine IVF and are correlated with semen parameters in oligoasthenospermia patients, while that of serINHB has a positive correlation with the semen parameters of the patients.

Validation of a Chiral Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Degradation Behavior of Flumequine Enantiomers in Mariculture Pond Water.

In this work, flumequine (FLU) enantiomers were separated using a Chiralpak OD-H column, with n-hexane-ethanol (20:80, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for cleanup and enrichment. The limit of detection, limit of quantitation, linearity, precision, and intra/interday variation of the chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method were determined. The developed method was then applied to investigate the degradation behavior of FLU enantiomers in mariculture pond water samples. The results showed that the degradation of FLU enantiomers under natural, sterile, or dark conditions was not enantioselective. Chirality 28:649-655, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of TRAF-Interacting Protein in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial inflammation, and cartilage destruction. Proliferative fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play crucial roles in both propagation of inflammation and joint damage because of their production of great amount of proinflammatory cytokines and proteolytic enzymes. In this study, we investigate the role of TRAF-interacting protein (TRIP) in regulating inflammatory process in RA-FLS. TRIP expression was attenuated in RA-FLS compared with osteoarthritis- (OA-) FLS. Overexpression of TRIP significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling and decreased the production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in TNFα-stimulated RA-FLS. Furthermore, TRIP was found to interact with transforming growth factor ß-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination of TAK1 in RA-FLS. Our results demonstrate that TRIP has anti-inflammatory effects on RA-FLS and suggest TRIP as a potential therapeutic target for human RA.

Effect of astragalus injection on renal tubular epithelial transdifferentiation in type 2 diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Astragalus injection is used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN). The current study was conducted to determine the effect of astragalus on tubular epithelial transdifferentiation during the progression of DN in KKAy mice, as well as to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying this effect. METHODS: Diabetic, 14-week-old, male KKAy mice were randomly divided into a model group and an astragalus treatment group, while age-matched male C57BL/6 J mice were selected as controls. The treatment group received daily intraperitoneal injections of astragalus (0.03 mL/10 g per day), while the model group received injections of an equal volume of saline. Mice were euthanized after 24 weeks. Serum samples were obtained from the animals in each group for blood glucose measurement. Kidney tissue samples were used for morphometric studies. The mRNA and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1), transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFß-R1), alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and E-cadherin were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. RESULTS: Astragalus significantly reduced blood glucose levels; inhibited morphological changes in the kidneys of KKAy mice; reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-ß1, TGFß-R1, and α-SMA; and increased E-cadherin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Tubular epithelial transdifferentiation plays an important role in the development of DN in diabetic mice. Administration of astragalus likely prevents or mitigates DN by suppressing tubular epithelial transdifferentiation, protecting KKAy mice from renal damage.

Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Enrichment of Ofloxacin Enantiomers in Fish Samples.

A new method for the isolation and enrichment of ofloxacin enantiomers from fish samples was developed using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs). These polymers can be easily collected and rapidly separated using an external magnetic field, and also exhibit a high specific recognition for ofloxacin enantiomers. The preparation of amino-functionalized MMIPs was carried out via suspension polymerization and a ring-opening reaction using rac-ofloxacin as a template, ethylenediamine as an active group, glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate as functional monomers, divinylbenzene as a cross-linker, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles as magnetic cores. The characteristics of the MMIPs were assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. Furthermore, the adsorption properties were determined using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The conditions for use of these MMIPs as magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) sorbents, including pH, adsorption time, desorption time, and eluent, were investigated in detail. An extraction method using MMIPs coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the determination of ofloxacin enantiomers in fish samples. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the developed method were 0.059 and 0.067 µg∙mL(-1) for levofloxacin and dextrofloxacin, respectively. The recovery of ofloxacin enantiomers ranged from 79.2% ± 5.6% to 84.4% ± 4.6% and ofloxacin enantiomers had good linear relationships within the concentration range of 0.25-5.0 µg∙mL(-1) (R² > 0.999). The obtained results demonstrate that MSPE-HPLC is a promising approach for preconcentration, purification, and simultaneous separation of ofloxacin enantiomers in biomatrix samples.

[Seven-Point Correction Approach for Spectrum Measurement of Light Source with a Narrow Bandwidth].

The finite bandwidth of spectroradiometers always causes significant errors when the measured light source has a narrow bandwidth compared to that of spectroradiometers. In order to solve this problem, an improved correction approach which is called seven-point correction approach is proposed. Firstly, the seven-point correction formula is obtained with Taylor's series and related derivative formula. Secondly, the effect of seven-point formula is validated through a simulated spectrum with a sine function shape. Considering the sine function as true spectrum, we calculate the measured spectrum with the bandpass function of spectroradiometers. We also correct the measured spectrum with the seven-point formula. At last, we validate the seven-point formula experimentally with a LED lamp whose center wavelength is 365 nm. Using a double grating monochromator, we measure the irradiance of LED lamp when the bandwidth of spectroradiometer is 5 and 0.5 nm. We also obtain the corrected spectrum by applying seven-point formula to measured spectrum. The simulated results show that, the corrected value at the center wavelength could be above 99% of the true value. The experimental results show that, the corrected value at the center wavelength could reach above 95% of the true value. Above all, the proposed seven-point approach has an improved correction effect compared with three-point and five point approach. This correction approach could be widely applied in the field of spectrum measurement.

Dissemination of blaOXA-23 in Acinetobacter spp. in China: main roles of conjugative plasmid pAZJ221 and transposon Tn2009.

Production of the OXA-23 carbapenemase is the most common reason for the increasing carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. This study was conducted to reveal the genetic basis of blaOXA-23 dissemination in Acinetobacter spp. in China. A total of 63 carbapenem-resistant OXA-23-producing Acinetobacter sp. isolates, representing different backgrounds, were selected from 28 hospitals in 18 provinces for this study. Generally, two patterns of plasmids carrying blaOXA-23 were detected according to S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization. A ca. 78-kb plasmid, designated pAZJ221, was found in 23 Acinetobacter baumannii and three Acinetobacter nosocomialis isolates, while a novel ca. 50-kb plasmid was carried by only two other A. baumannii isolates. Three of these isolates had an additional copy of blaOXA-23 on the chromosome. Transformation of the two plasmids succeeded, but only pAZJ221 was conjugative. Plasmid pAZJ221 was sequenced completely and found to carry no previously known resistance genes except blaOXA-23. The blaOXA-23 gene of the remaining 35 isolates was chromosome borne. The blaOXA-23 genetic environments were correlated with Tn2009 in 57 isolates, Tn2008 in 5 isolates, and Tn2006 in 1 isolate. The MIC values for the carbapenems with these isolates were not significantly associated with the genomic locations or the copy numbers of blaOXA-23. Overall, these observations suggest that the plasmid pAZJ221 and Tn2009 have effectively contributed to the wide dissemination of blaOXA-23 in Acinetobacter spp. in China and that horizontal gene transfer may play an important role in dissemination of the blaOXA-23 gene.

Association between serum estradiol level and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies investigating the association between loss of estrogen at menopause and skeletal muscle mass came to contradictory conclusions. AIM: To evaluate the association between serum estradiol level and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged postmenopausal women using population-based data. METHODS: This study included 673 postmenopausal women, aged 40-59 years, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2016. Weighted multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between serum E2 Level and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI). When non-linear associations were found by using weighted generalized additive model and smooth curve fitting, two-piecewise linear regression models were further applied to examine the threshold effects. RESULTS: There was a positive association between serum E2 level and ALMI. Compared to individuals in quartile 1 group, those in other quartiles had higher ALMI levels. An inverted U-shaped curve relationship between serum E2 Level and ALMI was found on performing weighted generalized additive model and smooth curve fitting, and the inflection point was identified as a serum E2 level of 85 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated an inverted U-shaped curve relationship between serum E2 levels and ALMI in middle-aged postmenopausal women, suggesting that low serum E2 levels play an important in the loss of muscle mass in middle-aged postmenopausal women.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein and prediabetes progression and regression in middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect of systemic inflammation, assessed by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, on prediabetes progression and regression in middle-aged and older adults based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). METHODS: Participants with prediabetes from CHARLS were followed up 4 years later with blood samples collected for measuring fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The level of hs-CRP was assessed at baseline and categorized into tertiles (low, middle, and high groups). Prediabetes at baseline and follow-up was defined primarily according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). We also performed stratified analyses according to age, gender, BMI, the presence of hypertension, and the disease history of heart disease and dyslipidemia and sensitivity analyses excluding a subset of participants with incomplete data. RESULTS: Of the 2,874 prediabetes included at baseline, 834 participants remained as having prediabetes, 146 progressed to diabetes, and 1,894 regressed to normoglycemia based on ADA criteria with a 4 year follow-up. After multivariate logistics regression analysis, prediabetes with middle (0.67-1.62 mg/L) and high (>1.62 mg/L) hs-CRP levels had an increased incidence of progressing to diabetes compared with prediabetes with low hs-CRP levels (<0.67 mg/L; OR = 1.846, 95%CI: 1.129-3.018; and OR = 1.632, 95%CI: 0.985-2.703, respectively), and the incidence of regressing to normoglycemia decreased (OR = 0.793, 95%CI: 0.645-0.975; and OR = 0.769, 95%CI: 0.623-0.978, respectively). Stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of hs-CRP are associated with a high incidence of regression from prediabetes to normoglycemia and reduced odds of progression to diabetes.

Ischemic postconditioning may increase serum fetuin-A level in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous intervention.

BACKGROUND: Fetuin-A inhibits inflammation and has a protective effect against myocardial ischemia. We investigated the influence of ischemic postconditioning on serum fetuin-A levels and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous intervention. METHODS: Forty-five patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly assigned to a control (n = 21) or postconditioning (PC, n = 24) group within 90 minutes after admission. After predilatation, in the control group, no intervention was applied in the first 3 minutes of reperfusion, while in the postconditioning group, three cycles of 30-second angioplasty balloon deflation and 30-second inflation were repetitively applied. Blood samples were obtained and assayed for creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), fetuin-A and hs-CRP. RESULTS: The control group presented with higher peak CK-MB as compared with the PC group (123.67 +/- 44.19 vs. 93.08 +/- 35.29 U/L, p < 0.05). After PCI, PC was associated with a lower level of hs-CRP in comparison with the control group (6.07 +/- 1.35 vs. 7.03 +/- 1.27 mg/L, p < 0.05). Serum fetuin-A levels in the PC group was higher than in the control (161.06 +/- 23.98 mg/L vs. 144.59 +/- 22.76 mg/L, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postconditioning may increase serum fetuin-A levels and decrease high-sensitive C-reactive protein in myocardial infarction patients.

[Color-tunable nano-material alpha-NaYF4 : Yb, Er, Tm prepared by microemulsion-hydrothermal method].

NaYF4 : Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+ nanoparticles were prepared by microemulsion-hydrothermal method. Crystal phase, morphology and structure of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The luminescence properties were studied by up-conversional fluorescence spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of as-prepared samples were in agreement with the PDF # 77-2042 of cubic NaYF4. SEM images of the particles showed that the samples were cotton-like spherical in shape and which were assembled by smaller nano-particles. The average size was 120 nm, while the shape was regular and the particle size was homogeneous. Under the excitation of 980 nm, the as-prepared particles could emit blue (438 and 486 nm), green (523 and 539 nm) and red (650 nm) light simultaneously. It can be seen from the color coordinates figure (CIE) that when doping concentration ratio of Tm3+ and E3+ increased from 0 to 2, the whole emitting light color of samples movedto green region. While the ratio was 1 : 1, pseudo white light was obtained. As the ratio changed from 2 to 7, the luminous color was moved to red region.

Association of Self-Reported Sleep Characteristics and Hip Fracture: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Studies.

Previous observational studies on the relationship between sleep characteristics and fracture have yielded contradictory results. The goal of this study was to replicate the findings in a large longitudinal cohort and then conduct a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to infer the causality between sleep behaviors and fracture risk. Based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) including 17,708 participants, we found that individuals with short sleep duration (<5 h) (OR [odds ratio] = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07-2.44) or restless sleep (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.10-2.19) have a higher risk of hip fracture. A U-shaped relationship between nighttime sleep duration and hip fracture risk (p-nonlinear = 0.01) was observed using restricted cubic spline regression analysis. Through joint effect analysis, we found that participants with short sleep duration (<5 h) combined with midday napping could significantly decrease hip fracture incidence. We further inferred the causal relationship between self-reported sleep behaviors and hip fracture using the MR approach. Among four sleep phenotypic parameters (sleep duration, daytime napping, chronotype, and insomnia), we found a modest causal relationship between sleep duration and fracture (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.99, p = 0.04). However, no causal relationship was observed for other sleep traits. In conclusion, our findings suggest that short sleep duration has a potential detrimental effect on hip fracture. Improving sleep patterns is of significance for developing hip fracture preventive strategies in the middle-aged and the elderly populations.