Impact of age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity on the association between selenium intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The association between dietary selenium(Se) intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. The present study aimed to investigate this association using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for the years 2007-2012. METHODS: Three thousand seventy three individuals aged 20 years and above were eligible for inclusion in this cross-sectional study. The average age of the participants was 50.74 years and the proportions of males and females were nearly equal (49.12% vs. 50.88%). The odds ratios (OR) of the association between dietary Se intake (log2-transformed) and T2DM were examined through the multivariate logistic regression model. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity to assess the potential impact of these variables on the relationship. Fitted smoothing curves and threshold effect analysis were conducted to describe the nonlinear relationship. RESULTS: In the fully adjusted model, a significant positive association between Se intake and T2DM was observed (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.90, p = 0.0017). After stratifying the data by age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity, a significant positive association between Se intake and T2DM was observed in individuals under 65 years of age, males, and those with negative thyroid autoimmunity. A two-segment linear regression model was analyzed for sex stratification, revealing a threshold effect in males with an inflection point of 90.51 µg, and an inverted U-shaped relationship in females with an inflection point of 109.90 µg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study found a positive relationship between Se intake and the prevalence of T2DM. This association is particularly significant in younger individuals, males, and those with negative thyroid autoimmunity. Our results should be validated in future large prospective studies in different populations.

The Association Between Dietary Magnesium Intake with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Function in US Population: a Cross-sectional Study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now considered among the top three contributors to mortality globally. There is limited understanding surrounding the contribution of magnesium to the progression of COPD. This survey aims to evaluate the connection between dietary magnesium intake and both lung function and COPD prevalence among the US population. The research comprised 4865 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program conducted from 2007 to 2012. To evaluate the association between dietary magnesium intake and lung function as well as COPD, the study conducted multiple regression analyses, stratified analyses, and smoothed curves. In this study, we explored the relationship between higher magnesium intake and higher FEV1 [ß = 0.21 (95% CI 0.12, 0.30)] and FVC [ß = 0.25 (95% CI 0.14, 0.36)] after accounting for all potential confounding factors. We demonstrated a relationship between increased magnesium intake and reduced odds of developing COPD [OR = 0.9993 (95% CI 0.9987, 1.0000)]. The results of stratified analyses further indicated that the relationship between magnesium intake and the risk of COPD is more pronounced in the 40-60 age group and males. The study demonstrated positive associations between the intake of dietary magnesium and both FEV1 and FVC. Additionally, an adverse relationship between magnesium intake and the prevalence of COPD was also observed, suggesting that supplementation with magnesium may be a practical approach to preventing and managing COPD.

Negative associations between folate and bacterial vaginosis in the NHANES 2001 to 2004.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common infections among women of reproductive age and accounts for 15-50% of infections globally. The role played by folate in the pathogenesis and progression of BV is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum folate, red blood cell (RBC) folate, and BV in American women. METHODS: 1,954 participants from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the association between serum folate, RBC folate, and BV, and covariates including race, age, education level, and body mass index were used to construct adjusted models. Stratified analysis was used to explore the stability of the above associations in different populations. RESULTS: In the present cross-sectional study, we found that serum folate and RBC folate were inversely associated with the risk of BV. In the fully adjusted model, the risk of BV was reduced by 35% (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.51~0.83, p=0.0007) in the highest serum folate group and 32% (OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.53~0.87, p=0.0023) in the highest RBC folate group compared to the lowest group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that serum folate and RBC folate were inversely associated with the risk of BV folate supplementation may play an important role in the prevention and management of BV.

Emergence of Antifungal Resistant Subclades in the Global Predominant Phylogenetic Population of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans remains the most common species causing invasive candidiasis. In this study, we present the population structure of 551 global C. albicans strains. Of these, the antifungal susceptibilities of 370 strains were tested. Specifically, 66.6% of the azole-nonsusceptible (NS)/non-wild-type (NWT) strains that were tested belonged to Clade 1. A phylogenetic analysis, a principal components analysis, the population structure, and a loss of heterozygosity events revealed two nested subclades in Clade 1, namely, Clade 1-R and Clade 1-R-α, that exhibited higher azole-NS/NWT rates (75.0% and 100%, respectively). In contrast, 6.4% (21/326) of the non-Clade 1-R isolates were NS/NWT to at least 1 of 4 azoles. Notably, all of the Clade 1-R-α isolates were pan-azole-NS/NWT that carried unique A114S and Y257H double substitutions in Erg11p and had the overexpression of ABC-type efflux pumps introduced by the substitution A736V in transcript factor Tac1p. It is worth noting that the Clade 1-R and Clade 1-R-α isolates were from different cities that are distributed over a large geographic span. Our study demonstrated the presence of specific phylogenetic subclades that are associated with antifungal resistance among C. albicans Clade 1, which calls for public attention on the monitoring of the future spread of these clones. IMPORTANCE Invasive candidiasis is the most common human fungal disease among hospitalized patients, and Candida albicans is the predominant pathogen. Considering the large number of infected cases and the limited alternative therapies, the azole-resistance of C. albicans brings a huge clinical threat. Here, our study suggested that antifungal resistance in C. albicans could also be associated with phylogenetic lineages. Specifically, it was revealed that more than half of the azole-resistant C. albicans strains belonged to the same clade. Furthermore, two nested subclades of the clade exhibited extremely high azole-resistance. It is worth noting that the isolates of two subclades were from different cities that are distributed over a large geographic span in China. This indicates that the azole-resistant C. albicans subclades may develop into serious public health concerns.

Usnic Acid Derivatives with Cytotoxic and Antifungal Activities from the Lichen Usnea longissima.

Eight usnic acid derivatives, that is, usenamines A-F (1-6), usone (7), and isousone (8), together with the known (+)-usnic acid (9), were isolated from the lichen Usnea longissima. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR and MS data, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were defined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1, 2, and 8 showed inhibitory effects on the growth of human hepatoma HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 6.0-53.3 µM compared with methotrexate as the positive control, which had an IC50 value of 15.8 µM. Furthermore, 1 induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0-15.0 µM. The isolated compounds were also evaluated for their antifungal and antibacterial activities, with 7 and 8 exhibiting weak inhibitory effects on fungal Trichophyton rubrum spp. with an MIC value of 41.0 µM.

Two cases of sporotrichosis of the right upper extremity in right-handed patients with diabetes mellitus / Dos casos de esporotricosis de la extremidad superior derecha en pacientes diestros con diabetes mellitus

Background. Sporothrix species have proved to show high degrees of endemicity. Sporothrix globosa is the only pathogenic Sporothrix species that has till date been reported from China, where it is endemic in the northeastern provinces. Aims. We report two cases of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis with diabetes mellitus as underlying disease in patients from the non-endemic area of China. Methods. A 59-year-old farmer and a 60-year-old gardener were admitted in February and June 2014, respectively. Both patients were right-handed men and presented with progressive plaques and nodules, which they had for several years, involving the right upper extremity. Skin biopsy from the granuloma was taken and cultured on Sabouraud medium, and molecular identification based on the calmodulin region was performed. Antifungal susceptibility testing was also performed with the microdilution method. Results. Biopsy of the lesions showed the presence of infectious granuloma. The fungal cultures were identified as Sporothrix globosa by conventional methods, and confirmed by molecular identification. A subsequent course of oral antifungal therapy with low dosage of itraconazole was well tolerated and resolved the infection. Conclusions. Identification of fungal species and antifungal susceptibility testing are mandatory for epidemiological and therapeutic reasons. Early diagnosis of sporotrichosis is essential to prevent those sequelae when the disease progresses and provides highly effective methods for treating this emerging disease. Avoiding the exposure to plant material potentially contaminated with fungal spores should be recommended, especially in immunocompromised patients (AU)

Antecedentes. Las especies de Sporothrix han demostrado un alto nivel de endemicidad. Sporothrix globosa es la única especie patógena descrita hasta la fecha en China, donde es endémica en las provincias del nordeste. Objetivos. Se describen dos casos de esporotricosis linfocutánea con diabetes mellitus como enfermedad de base, en pacientes procedentes de un área no endémica de China. Métodos. Un campesino de 59 años y un jardinero de 60 años de edad fueron atendidos en febrero y junio de 2014, respectivamente. Ambos eran varones, diestros y se presentaron con placas y nódulos de varios años de evolución, que afectaban a la zona superior del brazo derecho. Se tomaron biopsias de los granulomas de la piel, que fueron cultivados en medio de Sabouraud, y se realizó una identificación molecular basada en la región de la calmodulina. Se evaluó la sensibilidad a los antifúngicos mediante el método de microdilución. Resultados. La biopsia de las lesiones mostró la presencia de un granuloma infeccioso. Los hongos aislados en los cultivos fueron identificados como Sporothrix globosa por métodos convencionales, y confirmados mediante identificación molecular. La subsecuente administración de terapia antifúngica oral con bajas dosis de itraconazol fue bien tolerada y resolvió la infección. Conclusiones. La identificación de las especies fúngicas y el análisis de la sensibilidad a los antifúngicos son necesarios por razones epidemiológicas y terapéuticas. El diagnóstico temprano de la esporotricosis es esencial para prevenir las secuelas que genera el progreso de la enfermedad y para ofrecer métodos altamente efectivos para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad emergente. Debe recomendarse evitar la exposición a material vegetal potencialmente contaminado con esporas fúngicas, especialmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos (AU)

[Studies on chemical constituents of in herb Pyrola calliatha].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Pyrola calliatha. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods. The structures were identified by spectral data. RESULT: Ten compounds were isolated and identified as chimaphilin (1), uvaol(2), ursolic acid (3), 2beta,3beta,23-trihydroxy-12-ene-28-ursolic acid (4), daucosterol (5), 2alpha,3beta,23,24-tetrahydroxy-12-ene-28-ursolic acid (6), emodin (7), gallic acid (8), monotropein (9), adenosine (10). CONCLUSION: Compounds 2,4,6,7,10 were obtained from this genus for the first time, compounds 5, 9 were obtained from this species for the first time. Antifungal activity of compounds 1-4, 6-9 were evaluated. Compound 1 showed the strong activity.