Vitamin K Dependent Protection of Renal Function in Multi-ethnic Population Studies.

BACKGROUND: Following activation by vitamin K (VK), matrix Gla protein (MGP) inhibits arterial calcification, but its role in preserving renal function remains unknown. METHODS: In 1166 white Flemish (mean age, 38.2 years) and 714 South Africans (49.2% black; 40.6 years), we correlated estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR [CKD-EPI formula]) and stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD [KDOQI stages 2-3]) with inactive desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), using multivariable linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: Among Flemish and white and black Africans, between-group differences in eGFR (90, 100 and 122 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), dp-ucMGP (3.7, 6.5 and 3.2 µg/L), and CKD prevalence (53.5, 28.7 and 10.5%) were significant, but associations of eGFR with dp-ucMGP did not differ among ethnicities (P ≥ 0.075). For a doubling of dp-ucMGP, eGFR decreased by 1.5 (P = 0.023), 1.0 (P = 0.56), 2.8 (P = 0.0012) and 2.1 (P < 0.0001) mL/min/1.73 m(2) in Flemish, white Africans, black Africans and all participants combined; the odds ratios for moving up one CKD stage were 1.17 (P = 0.033), 1.03 (P = 0.87), 1.29 (P = 0.12) and 1.17 (P = 0.011), respectively. INTERPRETATION: In the general population, eGFR decreases and CKD risk increases with higher dp-ucMGP, a marker of VK deficiency. These findings highlight the possibility that VK supplementation might promote renal health.

Blood pressure in relation to environmental lead exposure in the national health and nutrition examination survey 2003 to 2010.

In view of the declining environmental lead exposure in the United States, we analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2010) for association of blood pressure and hypertension with blood lead. The 12 725 participants included 21.1% blacks, 20.5% Hispanics, 58.4% whites, and 48.7% women. Blacks compared with non-Blacks had higher systolic and diastolic pressures (126.5 versus 123.9 and 71.9 versus 69.6 mm Hg) and higher hypertension prevalence (44.7 versus 36.8%). Blood lead was lower in whites than in non-whites (1.46 versus 1.57 µg/dL) and in women than in men (1.25 versus 1.80 µg/dL). In multivariable analyses of all participants, blood lead doubling was associated with higher (P≤0.0007) systolic and diastolic pressure (+0.76 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-1.13 and +0.43 mm Hg; 0.18-0.68), but not with the odds of hypertension (0.95; 0.90-1.01; P=0.11). Associations with blood lead were nonsignificant (P≥0.09) for systolic pressure in women and for diastolic pressure in non-whites. Among men, systolic pressure increased with blood lead (P≤0.060) with effect sizes associated with blood lead doubling ranging from +0.65 mm Hg in whites to +1.61 mm Hg in blacks. For systolic pressure, interactions of ethnicity and sex with blood lead were all significant (P≤0.019). In conclusion, small and inconsistent effect sizes in the associations of blood pressure with blood lead likely exclude current environmental lead exposure as a major hypertension cause in the United States.

[Effect of EGb and quercetin on culture neonatal rat cardiomyocytes hypertrophy and mechanism].

AIM: To investigate the effect of extract of ginkgo biloba (EGb) and quercetin (Que) on the hypertrophic response induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in the primary culture of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and its mechanism. METHODS: Total protein content of cardiomyocytes was measured by lowry's method. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured by SOD and MDA assay kits. The expression of phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-JNK and phospho-P38 were detected by Western blot. The expression of c-fos mRNA was checked by RT-PCR. RESULTS: (1) The total protein content and cell size of cardiomyocytes increased significantly after Ang II treatment, EGb and Oue inhibited these effects of Ang II. (2) EGb and Que were able to enhance the SOD activity and reduce the production of MDA. (3) Ang II significantly activated ERK1/2, JNK and P38, only JNK activation was inhibited by Que and DPI but not ERK1/2 and P38 activation. (4) EGb, Que, Captopril and DPI all decreased Ang II-stimulated early response gent c-fos mnRNA expression. CONCLUSION: EGb and Que could inhibit AngII-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through a ROS-dependent pathway, the effect of Que might be related to the JNK and c-fos cascade.

[Extract of Ginkgo biloba and quercetin inhibit angiotensin-II induced hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and related mechanisms of extract of ginkgo biloba (EGb) and quercetin (Que) on angiotensin II (AngII) induced hypertrophy in the primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with placebo (control), AngII (10(-6) mol/L), AngII + EGb (40 microg/ml), AngII + Que (4 microg/ml), AngII + captopril (10(-5) mol/L) and AngII + DPI [diphenylene iodonium chloride, NADPH inhibitor (10 micromol/L)] respectively. Total protein content of cardiomyocytes, cardiomyocytes size, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. The expression of phospho-Extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2, phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase and phospho-P38 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The total protein content and cell size of cardiomyocytes increased significantly in AngII treated cells and these effects could be blocked by EGb and Que. EGb and Que also enhanced the SOD activity and reduced the production of MDA. AngII significantly activated ERK1/2, JNK and P38 expressions and only JNK activation could be inhibited by Que and DPI. CONCLUSION: EGb and Que can inhibit AngII-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through a ROS-dependent pathway. Que could also block the JNK activation induced by AngII.

[Characteristics of the occurrence of silicosis in the workers exposed to uranium dust].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the laws and characteristics of silicosis incidence of the workers exposed to the uranium dust from 1956 to 2002. METHODS: The length of employment, age of occurrence of silicosis, and its duration and death age were compared between the uranium miners and uranium geological prospecting teams, and also between the miners exposed to uranium dust and those exposed to mixed uranium dust by single factor analysis method. RESULTS: With time going on, the length of employment, age of occurrence of disease and its duration and death age were prolonged respectively in the workers exposed to uranium dust. The length of employment and age of occurrence of disease in uranium geological prospecting teams [(10.15 +/- 5.95) and (40.60 +/- 9.86) years respectively] were shorter than those in uranium miners [(14.23 +/- 8.12) and (41.38 +/- 10.98) years], but the duration (P(50)) and death age were longer [(14.29 years vs 12.52 years), (53.69 +/- 10.04) years vs (51.45 +/- 10.85) years respectively]. The length of employment and age of occurrence of disease in those exposed to uranium dust only [(11.78 +/- 8.06) and (38.04 +/- 9.89) years] were shorter than those exposed to mixed uranium dust [(12.74 +/- 6.29) years, (41.40 +/- 10.67) years], but the duration (P(50)) and death age were longer than the mixed uranium dust ones [(14.59 years vs 13.20 years), (53.93 +/- 10.60) years vs (51.82 +/- 10.20) years]. CONCLUSION: The difference in the occurrence of silicosis in the workers exposed to uranium dust may be attributed to the physical and chemical character of the uranium dust and the different working circumstance.