Preparation and application of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies recognizing goat CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells participating in a variety of diseases including mycoplasmal pneumonia, contagious ecthyma, and so on. The role of Tregs in goat contagious ecthyma is not completely understood due to the lack of species-specific antibodies. Here, we developed a combination of CD4 and CD25 fluorescence monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to recognize goat Tregs and assessed its utility in flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining. Using immunofluorescence staining, we found that the frequency of Treg cells was positively correlated with the viral load during orf virus infection. These antibodies could serve as important tools to monitor Tregs during orf virus infection in goats. KEY POINTS: • A combination of fluorescent mAbs (C11 and D12) was prepared for the detection of goat Tregs. • C11 and D12 are effective in flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and C11 has excellent species specificity. • The frequency of Treg cells was positively correlated with the viral load during orf virus infection.

The risk prediction of intergenerational transmission of overweight and obesity between mothers and infants during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity in mothers before pregnancy lead to overweight and obesity in their offspring, which is the main form of intergenerational transmission of overweight and obesity in early life. Many factors, especially non-genetic factors, may influence intergenerational transmission, but little prediction research has been conducted. Therefore, we analyzed the status of intergenerational transmission in maternal and infant overweight and obesity. Second, we explored the factors during the pregnancy that might affect the the intergenerational transmission; According to the two application scenarios of pregnancy screen and self-management, risk prediction models for pregnant women were carried out. METHODS: Based on a prospective birth cohort, a total of 908 mothers and offspring were followed up during early life. Follow-up visits were performed at the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, delivery, 42 days after delivery, and 6 months and 12 months of age. The investigation methods included questionnaire survey, physical examination, biological sample collection and clinical data collection. In terms of risk prediction, univariate analysis was used to screen candidate predictors. Second, multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to determine the final selected predictors. Third, the corresponding histogram models were drawn, and then the 10-fold cross-validation methods were used for internal verification. RESULTS: Regarding intergenerational transmission of overweight and obesity between mothers and infants during pregnancy, the risk prediction model for pregnancy screen was constructed. The model established: h(t|X) = h0(t)exp.(- 0.95 × (Bachelor Degree or above) + 0.75 × (Fasting blood glucose in the second trimester) + 0.89 × (Blood pressure in the third trimester) + 0.80 × (Cholesterol in third trimester) + 0.55 × (Abdominal circumference in third trimester))., with good discrimination (AUC = 0.82) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow2 = 4.17). The risk prediction model for self-management was constructed. The model established: h(t|X) = h0(t)exp. (0.98 × (Sedentary >18METs) + 0.88 × (Sleep index≥8) + 0.81 × (Unhealthy eating patterns Q3/Q4) + 0.90 × (Unhealthy eating patterns Q4/Q4) + 0.85 × (Depression)), with good discrimination (AUC = 0.75) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow2 = 3.81). CONCLUSIONS: The risk predictions of intergenerational transmission of overweight and obesity between mothers and infants were performed for two populations and two application scenarios (pregnancy screening and home self-management). Further research needs to focus on infants and long-term risk prediction models.

Dose-response associations of maternal prenatal noise exposure duration with antepartum depression status.

BACKGROUND: Antepartum depression has been reported to be associated with the intensity of maternal prenatal noise exposure; however, the association between noise exposure duration and the development of antepartum depression has not been established. This study aimed to determine the total and trimester-specific association of prenatal noise exposure duration with the development of antepartum depression. METHODS: From May 2018 to June 2021, we recruited 2,166 pregnant women from Shengjing Hospital, northeast China. We used a standardized questionnaire to assess women's prenatal noise exposure and used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess pregnant women's antepartum depression during the 1st -, 2nd -, and 3rd - trimesters. We calculated a cumulative noise exposure score ranging from 0 to 3, with a higher score reflecting higher frequency and longer duration of noise exposure during pregnancy. RESULTS: Women who were exposed to noise for ≥ 15 min per day had an increased risk of antepartum depression compared with women who were not exposed to noise during pregnancy [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95%CI:1.18, 2.83]. Noise exposure in a specific trimester was associated with higher risk of depression in the same trimester and subsequent trimesters. We observed increases in antepartum depression risk with increasing cumulative noise exposure scores (P for trend < 0.05 for all). Pregnant women with the highest scores had the highest risk of antepartum depression during the first (OR = 1.30, 95%CI:1.02, 1.65), second (OR = 1.75, 95%CI:1.23, 2.50) trimesters. Women with a cumulative noise exposure score of 2 had the highest risk of antepartum depression during the third trimester (OR = 1.79, 95%CI:1.14, 2.80), as well as during the whole pregnancy (OR = 1.94, 95%CI:1.14, 3.30). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal prenatal noise exposure duration was positively associated with antepartum depression risk in a dose-response manner. It is necessary to develop strategies by which pregnant women can avoid excessive exposure to noise to prevent antepartum depression.

Sweet foods dietary pattern enhances negative associations of perceived indoor air quality during pregnancy with postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is possibly caused by indoor air pollution and may be modified by maternal diet during pregnancy. Using the data from a prospective cohort study, we examined the interaction between indoor air quality and maternal dietary patterns on PPD development. A perceived indoor air quality (PIAQ) score was used to assess indoor air pollution. A higher PIAQ score indicated a worse indoor air quality. Women with higher PIAQ scores were at increased risk for PPD (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1, odds ratio [OR] = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37-3.29). Compared with a lower adherence to a "sweet foods pattern" (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.66-2.18), a higher adherence to a "sweet foods pattern" enhanced the hazardous associations of the PIAQ on PPD (OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.81-5.27, adjusted p for interaction = 0.044). Higher adherence to a "whole grain-seafood pattern" and lower adherence to a "traditional pattern" also increased the risk for PPD, although the p values for the interaction were not significant. Our findings provide further evidence of the link between diet during pregnancy, air pollution, and PPD, and it can be used to develop PPD prevention strategies.

Trimester-specific association of perceived indoor air quality with antenatal depression: China Medical University Birth Cohort Study.

Antenatal depression is associated with adverse birth and long-term outcomes for mothers and children. Pregnant women spend 90% of time indoors; however, the association between indoor air quality and risk of antenatal depression has not been established. In this study, we aim to determine the total and trimester-specific association of perceived indoor air quality (PIAQ) with antenatal depression. A total of 2166 pregnant women were enrolled during the first trimester and evaluated during the second and third trimesters in the China Medical University Birth Cohort Study, a prospective pre-birth cohort study in northeastern China. PIAQ scores were obtained during each of three trimesters, which a higher score indicated a worse indoor air quality. Antenatal depression was screened using an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and defined as an EPDS score ≥ 9. Prevalence of antenatal depression was 26.7%, 20.6%, and 20.9% during the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. A higher PIAQ score was positively associated with a depression score throughout pregnancy (ß = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15-0.39). Trimester-specific adverse PIAQ exposure was associated with a higher depression score in the same trimester, but not with a higher score in a subsequent trimester. A dose-response pattern and incremental increases in risk of depression were observed with calculated adverse PIAQ exposures across all three trimesters, with the highest risk (OR = 3.24; 95% CI = 2.28-4.78) among women with adverse PIAQ across all three trimesters. The hazardous association between adverse PIAQ exposure and risk of depression were less pronounced among women with higher physical activity levels (P for interaction < 0.001). The results of present study provided important evidence that pregnant women's mental health was linked to indoor air quality during pregnancy. These findings could be helpful in the development of guidelines to prevent antenatal depression by improving indoor air quality.

Association of gestational diabetes mellitus with offspring weight status across infancy: a prospective birth cohort study in China.

BACKGROUND: The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and childhood body weight remains controversial, and additional study is needed, especially in Asian populations. METHODS: This prospective study investigated the association between maternal glucose concentration, and GDM status and infant body weight from birth to 12 months of age. Linear mixed effects (LME) models and multiple linear regression were used to assess the longitudinal association of GDM with infant growth measured by weight-for-length z-scores (WFLZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WFAZ), and length-for-age z-scores (LFAZ) at birth, 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months of age. RESULTS: Offspring born to mothers with GDM had higher WFLZ [ß: 0.26 SD units (95% CI: 0.13-0.40)] across infancy than those of mothers without GDM. When stratified analysis by maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) status, the association was pronounced in normal-weight [ß:0.28 SD units (95% CI: 0.11-0.45)] and overweight/obese women [ß: 0.34 SD units (95% CI: 0.09-0.58)] but not in underweight women (P for interaction < 0.05). Multiple linear regression found that the effect estimate of GDM on infant WFLZ was highest at birth [ß: 0.36 SD units (95% CI: 0.11-0.61)], remained significant at 1 [ß: 0.22 SD units (95% CI: 0.03-0.41)] and 3 [ß:0.19 SD units (95% CI: 0.01-0.37)] months of age and decreased across infancy. Maternal GDM status was not associated with infant WFAZ or LFAZ. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal GDM status was associated with infant WFLZ, but not WFAZ or LFAZ. The association between GDM status and offspring WFLZ was more pronounced in early infancy or in normal-weight and overweight/obese women. Increased public health efforts to prevent GDM in normal-weight and overweight/obese pre-pregnancy mothers are recommended to control offspring overweight or obesity.

Bidirectional association of neurodevelopment with growth: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to use the cross-lagged model and utilize data from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study to characterize the bidirectional associations of the term-born infants' neurodevelopment in five domains and physical growth in early life. METHOD: This study consists of 688 mother-child dyads from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study. Infants' anthropometric (weight and length) and development in neurological outcomes (Gesell Development Scale) were measured at the age of 6 and 12 months. Cross-lagged analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the longitudinal relationships in both directions. RESULTS: In terms of longitudinal studies, the inverse associations between infants' two skills (gross motor and social behavior) at the age of 6 months with BMI Z -scores at the age of 12 months (gross motor: aß = - 0.20, 95% CI: - 0.31 to- 0.09; social behavior: aß = - 0.23, 95% CI: - 0.33 to- 0.13) were found. Conversely, a higher infant Z -scored BMI at the age of 6 months predicted a lower gross motor at the age of 12 months (aß = - 0.08, 95% CI: - 0.12 to- 0.04). In cross-lagged analyses, an adverse association in both directions between gross motor and Z -scored BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: We found bidirectional relationships between infants' neurodevelopment of gross motor with physical growth and suggested the term-born infants, who are on the edge of the developmental danger, should not be overlooked.

A novel association of CCDC80 with gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women: a propensity score analysis from a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing global epidemic. Our study aims to confirm the association between circulatory coiled-coil domain-containing 80 (CCDC80) in pregnant women with GDM, to investigate the discriminatory power of CCDC80 on GDM, and to explore the relationships between this molecular level and clinical cardiometabolic parameters. METHODS: A 1:2 matched case-control study with 61 GDM patients and 122 controls was conducted using a propensity score matching protocol. All participants were screened from a multicenter prospective pre-birth cohort: Born in Shenyang Cohort Study (BISCS). During 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, follow-up individuals underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood sampling for cardiometabolic characterization. RESULTS: Following propensity score matching adjustment for clinical variables, including maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, SBP and DBP, plasma CCDC80 levels were significantly decreased in patients with GDM when compared with controls (0.25 ± 0.10 vs. 0.31 ± 0.12 ng/ml, P = 0.003). Conditional multi-logistic regression analyses after adjustments for potential confounding factors revealed that CCDC80 was a strong and independent protective factor for GDM (ORs < 1). In addition, the results of the ROC analysis indicated the CCDC80 exhibited the capability to identify pregnant women with GDM (AUC = 0.633). Finally, multivariate regression analyses showed that CCDC80 levels were positively associated with AST, monoamine oxidase, complement C1q, LDL-C, apolipoprotein A1and B, and negatively associated with blood glucose levels at 1 h post- OGTT. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarker CCDC80 could be of great value for the development of prediction, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies against GDM in pregnant women.

Association of sleep quality during pregnancy with stress and depression: a prospective birth cohort study in China.

BACKGROUND: The sleep quality of pregnant women in the third trimester is related to mental health. However, there is still a lack of large-scale cohort research exploring this relationship in the second trimester. Thus, we assessed the associations of sleep quality during the second trimester with antenatal stress and antenatal and postnatal depression. METHODS: We examined 1152 pregnant women from a prospective cohort study in China to assess the associations of sleep quality in the second trimester with antenatal stress, antenatal depression, and postnatal depression. We used linear regression models and logistic regression models to examine the associations of sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) during pregnancy with perinatal stress (Pregnancy Pressure Scale [PPS]) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]) status. We further assessed the relationship in groups divided according to maternal age. RESULTS: PSQI scores were positively associated with antenatal PPS scores (ß: 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28, 1.76), antenatal EPDS scores (ß: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.78), and postpartum EPDS scores (ß: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.64). Poor sleep quality (PSQI scores ≥5) was associated with antenatal stress status (odds ratio [OR]: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.79, 3.77), antenatal depression status (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 2.48, 4.72), and postpartum depression status (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.58, 3.64) after adjusting maternal age, BMI, gestational age, smoking, educational level, annual household income and social support. The association of poor sleep quality (PSQI scores ≥5) in the second trimester with postnatal depression status was significant among women more than or equal to 30 years old (OR: 4.12, 95% CI: 2.18, 7.78) but not among women less than 30 years old after adjusting covariates above. CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality in the second trimester among Chinese pregnant women is associated with stress and depression symptoms. Strategies to boost sleep quality should be considered during prenatal health care to improve women's mental health status.

Association between television viewing and early childhood overweight and obesity: a pair-matched case-control study in China.

BACKGROUND: Television (TV) viewing may affect children's obesity status. In the present study the association between TV viewing and early childhood overweight/obese status was investigated as well as the association based on age difference. METHODS: The present study included 933 children 1-5 years of age that were individually matched on a 1:2 (cases: controls) ratio based on age and community. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate the association between TV viewing time and the related unhealthy behaviors. Conditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between TV viewing and children overweight/obese status in two age groups. The effects of TV viewing-related behaviors on the associations were further investigated. RESULTS: TV viewing time > 1 h was positively associated with the prevalence of TV viewing-related unhealthy behaviors (P < 0.05). After controlling for these behaviors, the association between TV viewing and childhood overweight/obese status was significant among 4- to 5-year-old children (odds ratio, OR = 1.72, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.16--2.54), but not significant among 1- to 3-year-old children. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood overweight/obese status was positively associated with longer TV viewing time only among 4- to 5-year-old children. The results from the present study may help in identifying the population susceptible for overweight and obesity caused by TV viewing.

Predicting weight status in Chinese pre-school children: independent and interactive effects of caregiver types and feeding styles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate caregiver type as a potential moderating effect in the relationship between feeding style and weight status among Chinese pre-school children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data collected with the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), anthropometric data, childcare and sociodemographic information. SETTING: Shenyang, China. SUBJECTS: Caregiver-child dyads (n 857). RESULTS: After controlling for confounders, authoritarian feeding style was associated with a 0·30 lower BMI Z-score. Fathers as primary caregivers were related to lower BMI Z-score (ß=-0·66), while grandparents as main caregivers were associated with higher BMI Z-score (ß=0·66) after adjusting for covariates. Mothers buffered the relationship between authoritarian (ß=0·50, 95 % CI 0·04, 0·95) or indulgent (ß=-0·60, 95 % CI -1·06, -0·14) feeding styles and BMI Z-score. Grandparents strengthened the trend that indulgent feeding style was related to higher BMI Z-score (ß=0·54, 95 % CI 0·01, 1·08). CONCLUSIONS: The results of independent and interactive effects of specific feeding styles and caregiver types had different influences on child BMI Z-scores. Longitudinal investigations are needed to evaluate the effect of fathers' and grandparents' feeding on their children's nutrition and weight status.

A high-throughput QCM chip configuration for the study of living cells and cell-drug interactions.

In this study, we present a novel design of interference-free, negligible installation-induced stress, suitable for the fabrication of high-throughput quartz crystal microbalance (HQCM) chips. This novel HQCM chip configuration was fabricated using eight independent yet same-batch quartz crystal resonators within a common glass substrate with eight through-holes of diameter slightly larger than that of the quartz resonator. Each quartz resonator's rim was adhered to the inner part of the through-hole via silicone glue to form the rigid (quartz)-soft (silicone)-rigid (glass) structure (RSRS) which effectively eliminates the acoustic couplings among different resonators and largely alleviates the installation-induced stresses. The consistence of the eight resonators was verified by very similar equivalent circuit parameters and very close response slopes to liquid density and viscosity. The HQCM chip was then employed for real-time and continuous monitoring of H9C2 cardiomyoblast adhesions and viscoelastic changes induced by the treatments of two types of drugs: drugs that affect the cytoskeletons, including nocodazole, paclitaxel, and Y-27632, and drugs that affect the contractile properties of the cells: verapamil and different dosages of isoprenaline. Meanwhile, we compared the cytoskeleton affecting drug-induced viscoelastic changes of H9C2 with those of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results described here provide the first solution to fabricate HQCM chips that are free from the limitation of resonator number, installation-induced stress, and acoustic interferences among resonators, which should find wide applications in areas of cell phenotype assay, cytotoxicity test, drug evaluation and screening, etc. Graphical abstract Schematic illustration of the principle and configuration of interference-free high-throughput QCM chip to evaluate and screen drugs based on cell viscoelasticity.

Oxidative stress: A common pathological state in a high-risk population for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is becoming a major concern in the field of public health. The process of bone loss is insidious and does not directly induce obvious symptoms. Complications indicate an irreversible decrease in bone mass. The high-risk populations of osteoporosis, including postmenopausal women, elderly men, diabetic patients and obese individuals need regular bone mineral density testing and appropriate preventive treatment. However, the primary changes in these populations are different, increasing the difficulty of effective treatment of osteoporosis. Determining the core pathogenesis of osteoporosis helps improve the efficiency and efficacy of treatment among these populations. Oxidative stress is a common pathological state secondary to estrogen deficiency, aging, hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia. In this review, we divided oxidative stress into the direct effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity to discuss their roles in the development of osteoporosis. ROS initiated mitochondrial apoptotic signaling and suppressed osteogenic marker expression to weaken osteogenesis. MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways mediated the positive effect of ROS on osteoclast differentiation. Antioxidant enzymes not only eliminate the negative effects of ROS, but also directly participate in the regulation of bone metabolism. Additionally, we also described the roles of proinflammatory factors and HIF-1α under the pathophysiological changes of inflammation and hypoxia, which provided a supplement of oxidative stress-induced osteoporosis. In conclusion, our review showed that oxidative stress was a common pathological state in a high-risk population for osteoporosis. Targeted oxidative stress treatment would greatly optimize the therapeutic schedule of various osteoporosis treatments.

Implications from proteomic studies investigating circadian rhythm disorder-regulated neurodegenerative disease pathology.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) affect 15% of the world's population and are becoming an increasingly common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Circadian rhythm disorders (CRDs) have been reported to be involved in the pathogenic regulation of various neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Proteomic technology is helpful to explore treatment targets for CRDs in patients with NDs. Here, we review the key differentially expressed (DE) proteins identified in previous proteomic studies investigating NDs, CRDs and associated models and the related pathways identified by enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the above studies and propose new proteomic technologies for the precise study of circadian disorder-mediated regulation of ND pathology. This review provides a theoretical and technical reference for the precise study of circadian disorder-mediated regulation of ND pathology.

Trimester-specific associations of maternal dietary patterns with preterm birth: China Medical University birth cohort study.

The trimester-specific associations of maternal dietary patterns with preterm birth (PTB) are unclear. In a prospective prebirth cohort study, we aimed to examine the critical time window of maternal prenatal dietary patterns and the risk of PTB. We assessed prenatal dietary intake among 1500 pregnant women with validated food frequency questionnaires during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively. We used logistic regression models and generalized estimating equation models to examine the trimester-specific associations and longitudinal associations between maternal dietary patterns in relation to risk of PTB and PTB subtypes. The incidence rate of PTB was 11.9% (179 out of 1500 pregnant women) in the present study. We observed that maternal adherence to a fish-seafood pattern in the 1st trimester was associated with higher risk of PTB [tertile 3 (T3) vs. tertile 1 (T1): OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.32-3.96] and iatrogenic preterm birth (IPTB) (T3 vs. T1: OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21-4.20), while a fish-seafood pattern in the 2nd trimester was associated with lower risk of PTB (T3 vs. T1: OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25-0.93). Maternal adherence to a dairy-egg pattern in the 2nd or 3rd trimester was associated with higher risks of PTB and IPTB. No dietary patterns were associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Our findings provide new evidence that specific dietary patterns during different trimesters may have different and even inverse health effects on pregnant women. This supports the necessity of guiding the maternal diet according to different periods of pregnancy to prevent PTB.

Association between Marginally Low Birth Weight and Obesity-Related Outcomes and Indirect Effects via Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Abnormal Eating.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence of the association between children born with marginally low birth weight (MLBW) and obesity-related outcomes was controversial, and our study aimed to examine the role of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or abnormal eating in these associations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study consisting of 677 Chinese children was conducted. Obesity-related outcomes (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], skinfold thickness [SF], body fat, blood pressure, lipids, and blood glucose), behaviour problems (ADHD and eating behaviour) and birth weight were collected. Mediation analyses were used to explore whether ADHD and/or abnormal eating was an intermediary factor in the MLBW-OB relationship. RESULTS: Children with MLBW tended to have higher SF, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, waistline, body fat, and abdominal obesity risks. Birth weight was negatively related to obesity-related outcomes, and the associations were mediated, partially, by the increased risk of ADHD or abnormal eating behaviour after adjustment for the BMI Z score. Furthermore, lower birth weight predicted higher WC indirectly through emotional overeating caused by ADHD (ß: -0.10; 95% confidence interval: -0.19, -0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the hypothetical role of ADHD and abnormal eating as underlying mechanisms in the association between MLBW and obesity-related outcomes, providing novel scientific evidence for childhood development interventions.

Association of waist circumference with blood pressure and familial dietary habits in preschool children: a cross-sectional study in northeastern China.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity increases the risk of elevated blood pressure (BP) in children. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are traditional obesity indices, but the extent to which these indices are associated with elevated BP in childhood remains debatable. Moreover, the familial dietary environment plays an important role in obesity, so it is necessary to determine the most relevant dietary factors for childhood obesity to prevent elevated BP. Our study aimed to identify the obesity indices that are most closely associated with elevated BP and then to determine the independent familial dietary factors for those obesity indices. METHOD: A total of 605 children aged 2 to 6 years, as well as their parents, were involved in this study. The weight, height, WC and BP of the children were measured. Information on familial environments was obtained by questionnaires completed by the parents. BMI, WC and WHtR were standardized into z scores, and categorical variables of these three obesity indices were defined as BMI Category, WC Category and WHtR Category. Logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between all obesity indices and elevated BP. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression were used to determine the independent factors for obesity indices. RESULTS: The obesity indices that were most closely associated with elevated BP were WC and WC Category. Parental BMI, birth weight, eating wheat as a staple food, appetite, eating speed, snacking while watching TV, parental encouragement to eat a diverse assortment of foods and drinking milk were independently associated with WC in both males and females. The risk of abdominal obesity increased 1.375 times in males and 1.631 times in females if appetite increased one level. If eating speed increased one level, the risk of abdominal obesity increased 1.165 times in males and 0.905 times in females. Females who drank milk more than 6 times per week had a 0.546 times lower risk of abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION: WC was an anthropometric parameter more closely associated with elevated BP. In addition to genetics, some familial dietary factors involving eating preference, eating habits and parental feeding practice were independently associated with WC and abdominal obesity in preschool children.

The Association between Dietary Patterns and Pre-Pregnancy BMI with Gestational Weight Gain: The "Born in Shenyang" Cohort.

The reported associations of maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy with gestational weight gain are inconsistent, especially among the less studied Asian Chinese populations. In a prospective pre-birth cohort study conducted in northern China, we determined the associations between maternal dietary patterns and the probability of excess gestational weight gain (EGWG) among 1026 pregnant women. We used 3-day food diaries to assess maternal diet and performed principal component analysis to identify dietary patterns. Maternal adherence to a traditional pattern, which was characterized by a higher intake of tubers, vegetables, fruits, red meat, and rice, was associated with a higher probability of EGWG (quartile 3 vs. quartile 1, odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10−2.38). This risk association was more pronounced among women who were overweight/obese before pregnancy (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, OR = 5.17, 95% CI = 1.45−18.46; p for interaction < 0.01). Maternal adherence to a high protein pattern, which was characterized by a higher intake of fried foods, beans and bean products, dairy products, and fruits, was associated with a lower risk of EGWG (quartile 3 vs. quartile 1, OR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.39−0.81). The protective association was more pronounced among non-overweight/obese women (p for interaction < 0.01). These findings may help to develop interventions and better define target populations for EGWG prevention.

Association of handgrip strength with all-cause mortality: a nationally longitudinal cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVES: Handgrip strength is considered a vital and reliable measure of comprehensive physical assessments, whereas the association of handgrip strength with overall mortality risk among Chinese adults was less studied. We prospectively investigated the association between handgrip strength and all-cause mortality among Chinese middle-aged and older people based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).3 DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: Grip strength was assessed for both hands by a dynamometer. Odds ratios (ORs)4 and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs)5 were estimated applying logistic regression models with adjustments for age, body mass index, ethnicity, education level, annual household income, marital status, drinking, smoking, physical activity, and medical insurance among men and women. Deaths were ascertained by each follow-up survey in which the household member who lived with the participants were inquired. RESULTS: Over an average follow-up period of approximately 8 years among the screened 11,618 participants ≥45 years old, 1290 deaths were documented. The age range was 45-93 for men and 45-96 for women. Greater handgrip strength was associated with a lower overall mortality risk, with adjusted ORs (comparing with extreme tertiles) of 0.47 (95 % CI: 0.35-0.64; P-trend<0.001) in men and 0.51 (95 % CI: 0.24-1.08; P-trend = 0.059) in women. Such inverse association seemed stronger among younger men (OR = 0.29, 95 % CI: 0.18-0.45), compared with the older men (OR = 0.49, 95 % CI: 0.33-0.73; P-interaction = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Handgrip strength was inversely associated with all-cause mortality risk, especially among the younger men. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Associations of Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy with Gestational Hypertension: The "Born in Shenyang" Cohort Study.

The literature on maternal dietary patterns and gestational hypertension (GH) risk is largely ambiguous. We investigated the associations of maternal dietary patterns with GH risk among 1092 pregnant women in a Chinese pre-birth cohort. We used both three-day food diaries (TFD) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to assess the diets of pregnant women. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify dietary patterns from the TFD and FFQ, respectively. In total, 14.5% of the participants were diagnosed with GH. Maternal adherence to a "Wheaten food−coarse cereals pattern (TFD)" was associated with a lower risk of GH (quartile 3 [Q3] vs. Q1, odds ratio [OR] = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.31, 0.90). Maternal adherence to a "Sweet food−seafood pattern (TFD)" was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (Q4 vs. Q1, ß = −2.57, 95%CI: −4.19, −0.96), and mean arterial pressure (Q4 vs. Q1, ß = −1.54, 95%CI: −2.70, −0.38). The protective associations of the "Sweet food-seafood (TFD)" and "Fish−seafood pattern (FFQ)" with the risk of GH were more pronounced among women who were overweight/obese before pregnancy (p for interaction < 0.05 for all). The findings may help to develop interventions and better identify target populations for hypertension prevention during pregnancy.