Cancer-associated adipocytes in the ovarian cancer microenvironment.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in high energy metabolism during tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis. Among them, adipocytes, as an important component of the TME, can transform into cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) through dedifferentiation via interactions with tumor cells. These CAAs provide nutrients, growth factors, cytokines and metabolites to the tumor and later transdifferentiate into other stromal cells at a later stage to alter tumor growth, metastasis and the drug response and ultimately influence the treatment and prognosis of ovarian cancer. This review outlines the physiological functions of CAAs and discusses the progress in the use of CAAs as therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer.

Association of MTOR and PDGFRA gene polymorphisms with different degrees of myopia severity.

This study aims to investigate the associations of SNPs in the mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR) and the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes with different degrees of myopia severity in Han and Zhuang populations. The SNPs of MTOR (rs1057079, rs1064261, and rs2536) and PDGFRA (rs1800812, rs35597368, rs4358459, rs6554162, and rs7677751) were analyzed among 1347 patients with myopia (849 patients with high myopia and 498 patients with mild to moderate myopia) and 453 controls without myopia in Guangxi, China (collected 2016-2018). Genetic model association analysis was performed on each SNP in different myopia subgroups. The associations of rs1057079 and rs1064261 with mild to moderate myopia were observed under the dominant models (rs1057079: OR = 1.324, 95%CI: 1.005-1.744, P = 0.046; rs1064261: OR = 1.597, 95%CI: 1.099-2.319, P = 0.014). However, the association of SNP rs1057079 could not withstand multiple correction. The number of adverse genotypes in each sample was counted. Results showed that in the high myopia group, the levels of risk of myopia in patients carrying three to four and five to eight adverse genotypes were 1.734 and 2.062 times the level of risk in patients carrying two or lower genotypes, respectively. After the stratified analyses of Han and Zhuang populations, the Zhuang populations consistently had high frequencies of myopia. This study provides evidence suggesting that the MTOR and PDGFRA genes are associated with different degrees of myopia severity and have gene-gene interactions. In addition, this study discovered a new SNP of MTOR (rs1064261) that is associated with myopia. Thus, further longitudinal studies are warranted.

Impact of Lead Exposure on Thyroid Status and IQ Performance among School-age Children Living Nearby a Lead-Zinc Mine in China.

BACKGROUND: Lead exposure is one of the most concerning public health problems worldwide, particularly among children. Yet the impact of chronic lead exposure on the thyroid status and related intelligence quotient performance among school-age children remained elusive. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lead exposure on the thyroid hormones, amino acid neurotransmitters balances, and intelligence quotient (IQ) among school-age children living nearby a lead-zinc mining site. Other factors such as rice lead levels, mothers' smoking behavior, and diet intake were also investigated. METHODS: A total of 255 children aged 7-12 years old were recruited in this study. Blood lead level (BLL), thyroid hormones including free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and amino acid neurotransmitters such as glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS), chemiluminescence immunoassay, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Raven's standard progressive matrices (SPM) and the questionnaire were used to determine IQ and collect related influence factors. RESULTS: The average BLL of children was 84.8 µg/L. The occurrence of lead intoxication (defined as the BLL ≥ 100 µg/L) was 31.8%. Serum TSH levels and IQ of lead-intoxicated children were significantly lower than those without lead toxicity. The GABA level of girls with the lead intoxication was higher than those with no lead-exposed group. Correlation analyses revealed that BLL were inversely associated with the serum TSH levels (R= -0.186, p < 0.05), but positively related with IQ grades (R = 0.147, p < 0.05). Moreover, BLL and Glu were inversely correlated with IQ. In addition, this study revealed four factors that may contribute to the incidence of lead intoxication among children, including the frequency of mother smoking (OR = 3.587, p < 0.05) and drinking un-boiled stagnant tap water (OR = 3.716, p < 0.05); eating fresh fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.323, p < 0.05) and soy products regularly (OR = 0.181, p < 0.05) may protect against lead intoxication. CONCLUSION: Lead exposure affects the serum TSH, GABA levels and IQ of school-aged children. Developing good living habits, improving environment, increasing the intake of high-quality protein and fresh vegetable and fruit may improve the condition of lead intoxication.

Attitudes toward diabetes affect maintenance of drug-free remission in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes after short-term continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Short-term intensive insulin treatment in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes can improve ß-cell function and insulin sensitivity, which results in long-term remission without need for further antidiabetes medication. Patient attitudes toward their disease were assessed using the Diabetes Care Profile (DCP) tool to evaluate the potential impact on maintaining long-term remission. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited and treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) for 2-3 weeks. They were also invited to participate in diabetes self-management intervention during hospitalization and complete a DCP questionnaire on attitudes toward diabetes at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after suspension of CSII. RESULTS: Near normoglycemia was achieved by 118 patients after short-term CSII, with 65 remaining in drug-free remission for >1 year. They had significantly better glycemic control and greater restoration of acute insulin response after CSII as well as higher educational attainment compared with patients experiencing relapse. They also achieved higher scores in positive attitude, (belief in) importance of care, care ability, self-care adherence, and less negative attitude. Differences between the two groups became greater over time. Cox proportional hazards model analysis indicated that greater self-care adherence (hazard ratio 0.184, P < 0.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance before treatment (0.854, P = 0.053) were independent predictors for long-term remission, whereas elevated 2-h postprandial plasma glucose after CSII (1.156, P = 0.015) was a risk factor for relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes toward diabetes affect long-term drug-free remission in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes after short-term CSII.