Safety and efficacy of liraglutide on reducing visceral and ectopic fat in adults with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of liraglutide to reduce visceral and ectopic fat in adults with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Four databases were searched up to 6 May 2022 for randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of liraglutide on visceral and ectopic fat. The mean and standard deviation of the values of visceral fat, ectopic fat and body mass index were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the type of disease (T2DM or non-T2DM), duration of intervention, dosage of liraglutide and whether life interventions were added to liraglutide therapy. We extracted and integrated the safety assessments reported in each article. RESULTS: Sixteen randomized clinical trials with, in total, 845 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Liraglutide could significantly decrease visceral fat [standard mean difference (SMD) = -0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI; -1.12, -0.33)], liver fat [SMD = -0.78, 95% CI (-1.24, -0.32)] and body mass index [weighted mean difference = -1.44, 95% CI (-1.95, -0.92)] in adult patients with or without T2DM when compared with the control group. However, reduction of epicardial fat by liraglutide [SMD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.82, 0.34)] was not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis revealed that an adequate dosage (≥1.8 mg/day) and appropriate duration of treatment (ranging from 16 to 40 weeks) were the decisive factors for liraglutide to reduce visceral fat effectively. Mild gastrointestinal reactions were the main adverse event of liraglutide. CONCLUSIONS: Liraglutide significantly and safely reduces visceral and ectopic liver fat irrespective of T2DM status, and reduces visceral fat provided adequate dosage and duration of therapy are ensured.

Chain Mediation Model of Perceived Stress, Resilience, and Social Support on Coping Styles of Chinese Patients on Hemodialysis During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

BACKGROUND The recurrence of COVID-19 and the continuous escalation of prevention and control policies can lead to an increase in mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the perceived stress, coping style, resilience, and social support among patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) during the COVID-19 epidemic lockdown in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 197 patients on MHD from the Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital and the Hedong Hospital of Guangzhou Liwan District People's Hospital during July 2021. AMOS 24.0 and PROCESS Macro 3.1 model 6 were used for analyses of moderating mediating effects. RESULTS Perceived stress was negatively correlated with positive coping style (r=-0.305, P<0.001) and resilience (r=-0.258, P<0.001), whereas resilience (r=0.631, P<0.001) and social support (r=0.300, P<0.001) were positively correlated with positive coping style among patients on MHD. In the moderated mediating model, perceived stress had significant direct predictive effects on positive coping style (95% CI -0.33, -0.07), and perceived stress had significant indirect predictive effects on positive coping styles through resilience (95% CI -0.26, -0.06) or social support (95% CI 0.01, 0.06). Perceived stress had significant indirect predictive effects on positive coping style through both resilience and social support (95% CI -0.04, -0.01). CONCLUSIONS Perceived stress not only predicted coping style directly, but also indirectly predicted coping style through resilience and social support. Coping style was affected by internal and external factors during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period.

Prognostic impact of malnutrition in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Conflicting predictions of malnutrition for the long-term prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) exist. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition and long-term prognosis of patients with CAD. DATA SOURCES: Four databases were searched for articles from February 11, 1936, to September 10, 2022. DATA EXTRACTION: Cohort studies adjusting for multiple cardiovascular risk factors with data on CAD and malnutrition were included. Malnutrition was measured and defined by different nutritional evaluation tools. The hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were synthesized. Subgroup analyses were performed based on study design, assessment tools, ethnicity/race, follow-up, sample size, and types of CAD. Meta-regression was used to compare whether the effect sizes of the 2 subgroups were statistically significant. DATA ANALYSIS: A total of 30 cohort studies were included, totaling 81 361 participants with CAD. Nutritional evaluation tools, including the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, Mini-Nutritional Assessment, and Prognostic Nutritional Index, were used. Malnutrition increased all-cause mortality (HR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.53, 1.93) and MACEs (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.35, 1.60) in patients with CAD. Subgroup analysis revealed the results were consistent across study design, ethnicity/race, follow-up, sample size, and types of CAD. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression revealed that malnutrition was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.91, 2.68) and MACEs (HR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.69, 3.08) in patients with stable CAD than those with other types of CAD. Meta-regression revealed that the GNRI (HR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.65, 2.93) was more effective than CONUT (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.78) in predicting all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition independently increased all-cause mortality by 72% and MACEs by 47% in patients with CAD, especially with stable CAD. The GNRI is a more effective nutritional evaluation tool than CONUT in predicting all-cause mortality.

Can physical activity reduce excessive gestational weight gain? Findings from a Chinese urban pregnant women cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) poses negative impact on mothers and their children. It is important to understand the modifiable lifestyle factors associated with excessive GWG during pregnancy to guide future public health practice. AIM: To investigate the association between physical activity during pregnancy and GWG of Chinese urban pregnant women. METHODS: A pregnant women cohort was established between 2005 and 2007 in Changzhou, China. Physical activity levels of pregnant women were assessed using pedometer in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively. According to step counts, pregnant women were categorized into 4 different physical activity groups: Sedentary, Low Active, Somewhat Active and Active. The pregnant women were followed for eligibility and data collection from the 2nd trimester to delivery. Multiple linear regression and multiple binary logistic model were applied to determine the association between physical activity and GWG. RESULTS: Physical activity levels and GWG of 862 pregnant women were assessed, among them 473 (54.9%) experienced excessive GWG. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 0.59 (95%CI: 0.36 ~ 0.95) for excessive GWG in the Active group during the 2nd trimester and 0.66 (95%CI: 0.43 ~ 1.00) in the Somewhat Active group during the 3rd trimester, compared with the Sedentary group respectively. In the last two trimesters, the Active group had 1.45 kg less GWG, than the Sedentary group. The ORs of excessive GWG decreased with the increased level of physical activity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that pregnant women being physically active have less weight gain during pregnancy.

Role of Exosomes in Brain Diseases.

Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles that act as messengers to facilitate communication between cells. Non-coding RNAs, proteins, lipids, and microRNAs are delivered by the exosomes to target molecules (such as proteins, mRNAs, or DNA) of host cells, thereby playing a key role in the maintenance of normal brain function. However, exosomes are also involved in the occurrence, prognosis, and clinical treatment of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. In this review, we have summarized novel findings that elucidate the role of exosomes in the occurrence, prognosis, and treatment of brain diseases.

[Effects of astaxanthin on renal fibrosis and cell apoptosis induced by partial unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of astaxanthin on renal fibrosis and apoptosis induced by partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats. METHODS: Ninety-six male adult SD rats were randomized into 6 equal groups, namely the blank control group, sham-operated group, UUO group, and astaxanthin group at high, medium, and low doses. Left ureteral ligation was performed in UUO and astaxanthin groups, and two days before the operation, the rats in astaxanthin groups were lavaged with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg astaxanthin daily for 14 days, while the same volume of saline was given to rats in UUO group and sham-operated group. Renal pathological in the rats was observed with HE staining, and the expression levels of TGF-ß1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney were detected immunohistochemically; the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected using Bcl-2 and Bax detection kits. RESULTS: Compared to UUO group, high- and medium-dose astaxanthin groups showed obviously ameliorated renal pathologies and reduced expressions of TGF-ß1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney with lessened renal cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Astaxanthin can reduce UUO-induced renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis, demonstrating the renoprotective effect of astaxanthin against renal fibrosis.

Invariant Sema5A inhibition serves an ensheathing function during optic nerve development.

Retinal axon pathfinding from the retina into the optic nerve involves the growth promoting axon guidance molecules L1, laminin and netrin 1, each of which governs axon behavior at specific regions along the retinal pathway. In identifying additional molecules regulating this process during embryonic mouse development, we found that transmembrane Semaphorin5A mRNA and protein was specifically expressed in neuroepithelial cells surrounding retinal axons at the optic disc and along the optic nerve. Given that growth cone responses to a specific guidance molecule can be altered by co-exposure to a second guidance cue, we examined whether retinal axon responses to Sema5A were modulated by other guidance signals axons encountered along the retinal pathway. In growth cone collapse, substratum choice and neurite outgrowth assays, Sema5A triggered an invariant inhibitory response in the context of L1, laminin, or netrin 1 signaling, suggesting that Sema5A inhibited retinal axons throughout their course at the optic disc and nerve. Antibody-perturbation studies in living embryo preparations showed that blocking of Sema5A function led to retinal axons straying out of the optic nerve bundle, indicating that Sema5A normally helped ensheath the retinal pathway. Thus, development of some CNS nerves requires inhibitory sheaths to maintain integrity. Furthermore, this function is accomplished using molecules such as Sema5A that exhibit conserved inhibitory responses in the presence of co-impinging signals from multiple families of guidance molecules.