Association of the Total White Blood Cell, Neutrophils, and Monocytes Count With the Presence, Severity, and Types of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that white blood cells (WBCs) might contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. However, the associations of WBCs and WBC subgroups with carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) have not been compared. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 3,569 healthy Chinese adults was conducted between January 2016 and December 2018 in Zhengzhou, China, to explore the associations of WBC and WBC subtypes with the presence, severity, and types of CAPs. Fasting peripheral venous blood was collected for measurement of the total WBC and WBC subtype counts. The size, composition, and types of CAPs in the common carotid artery, the internal carotid artery, and the external carotid artery were measured bilaterally using B-mode ultrasound. Results: The total WBC, neutrophil, and monocyte counts showed significant associations with the presence of CAPs in men, but not in women, with the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) in the highest (compared to the lowest) quartile 1.99 (1.33-2.97), 1.65 (1.10-2.47), and 2.17 (1.41-3.18) (P trend = 0.004, P trend = 0.004, and P trend < 0.001), respectively. The three leukocyte counts were also significantly associated with the severity of CAPs, as judged by the count of CAPs, maximal internal carotid plaque thickness, and the plaque score (all P < 0.01, P trend < 0.05). Compared with individuals without CAPs, those with echolucent plaques had significantly increased total WBC and neutrophil counts, whereas those with polytype plaques had a significantly increased monocyte count. Conclusion: WBC, neutrophil, and monocyte counts were significantly associated with the presence, severity, and types of CAPs in a healthy Chinese population.

Adherence to a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style Diet in Relation to Preeclampsia: A Case-Control Study.

Maternal diet is an important potential factor associated with the risk of preeclampsia. However, it is unclear whether adherence to a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet can reduce the development of preeclampsia. To examine the potential association, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China. A total of 449 cases with preeclampsia and 449 controls were studied. Dietary information was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). DASH scores were calculated according to nutrients/food emphasised or minimised in the DASH diet. The calculated DASH scores ranged from 11 to 38 for all of the participants, and the DASH scores of the cases were significantly lower than those of the controls (23.48 ± 4.58 vs 24.51 ± 4.51; p = 0.001). Participants in the fourth quartile of the DASH score were 45% less likely to have preeclampsia than those in the first quartile in the crude model (Q4 vs Q1, odds ratio [OR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38, 0.80; ptrend = 0.001). The relationship remained significant in the model adjusted for multiple confounders, especially for major risk factors of preeclampsia (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.78; ptrend = 0.001). Our findings suggest an inverse relationship between adherence to a DASH-style diet and the odds of preeclampsia. Further larger-scale cohort studies or randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these relationships.

Association between lipid profiles and presence of carotid plaque.

It is indicated that lipids profiles are associated with carotid plaque and Atherosclerosis. However, studies about the relationship between serum lipid profiles and carotid plaque composition in Chinese Population is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 3,214 participants between January 2015 and December 2017 in China, to investigate the association between various lipid profiles and the prevalence of carotid plaque. Logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between plasma lipid profiles and odds of carotid plaque. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the mean plasma lipid profiles among different number and composition of carotid artery plaques. HDL-C, Non-HDL-C levels, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C were significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaque; HDL-C, LDL-C, Non-HDL-C levels, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C were significantly associated with the presence of common carotid artery (CCA) plaque. Compare with participants without carotid plaque, increased level of LDL-C/HDL-C was found in those with echolucent/polytype plaque. Similarly, compared with participants without CCA plaque, increased level of LDL-C/HDL-C was found in those with echolucent plaque. In conclusion, we found that serum HDL-C, Non-HDLc level, TC/HDLc, and LDLc/HDLc were all associated with the prevalence of carotid plaque, and LDL-C/HDL-C differed among different group of carotid plaque composition.

Markers of iron status, blood pressure and incident hypertension among Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The evidence on the relationship between markers of iron, blood pressure and hypertension are limited and inconsistent. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship of serum ferritin (SF), transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTFR) and haemoglobin on blood pressure and incident hypertension in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) study. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 8337 adults aged 18 years old or above from CHNS in 2009 to investigate the association of markers of iron and blood pressure (BP). Among them, 4509 non-hypertensive participants who completed follow up were included to investigate the association of markers of iron and hypertension development. Linear regression model was used to assess the association between markers of iron and BP. Cox regression model was used to examine the association of markers of iron and hypertension development. SF and serum sTFR concentration had a non-significant effect on incident hypertension. Transferrin and haemoglobin concentrations were positively associated with incident hypertension. Compared to the participants with the lowest tertile of transferrin, those with the highest tertile had a higher risk of developing hypertension [HR: 1.26, 95% CI (1.04, 1.53), P = 0.017]. Similarly, participants with the highest tertile of haemoglobin had a significantly higher risk of incident hypertension [HR: 1.27, 95% CI (1.01, 1.59), P = 0.038]. CONCLUSION: The current study found that haemoglobin and transferrin levels were positively associated with blood pressure and incident hypertension. Further research in different ethnic groups is required to confirm the association of the full range of markers of iron with BP and incident hypertension.

Role of epigenetic regulation of Igf2 and H19 in 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced ovarian toxicity in offspring rats.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure during embryonic gonadal sex determination had been demonstrated to harm the ovarian development. However, its mechanism was unclear and possibly related to epigenetic regulation. In the present study, the pregnant rats were treated with TCDD (100 ng/kg/day or 500 ng/kg/day) or only vehicle and corn oil on the day 8-14 of gestation through the gavage with a stainless-steel feeding needle. The vaginal opening time and estrous cycle of female offspring rats (F1) were monitored twice a day. The ovarian histology, follicle count, real-time PCR, Western Blotting and DNA methylation analysis for Igf2 and H19 were carried out. The results showed that maternal TCDD exposure disrupted estrous cyclicity, resulted in aberrant concentration of serum E2 and FSH, and affected the number of primordial follicles, secondary follicles and corpus luteum. However, TCDD had no effect on the number of primary follicles and atresia follicles. Furthermore, the mRAN expression of imprinted genes Igf2 and H19 was down-regulated, and the IGF2 protein was also down-regulated. TCDD exposure did not alter the mean methylation rate of Igf2 DMR2 and H19 ICR, and only some CpG sites throughout them were hypermethylated in high-dose TCDD rats. In conclusion, maternal exposure of TCDD could affect the ovary development and functions which were possibly associated with down-regulation expression of IGF2 and H19. However, it was not entirely clear whether the impairment of ovary by TCDD was related to the methylation pattern of Igf2 and H19 ICR.

[Association between nutrition factors in the third trimeter and preeclampsia:a case-control study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between dietary intake during the third trimester and preeclampsia. METHODS: A case-control study with 1∶1 matching was performed. A total of 131 patients with preeclampsia hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2016 to December 2016 were selected as the case group. According to age ±3 years and gestational age ±2 weeks, 131 pregnant women with normal blood pressure and no proteinuria in the hospital were randomly selected as the control group. The questionnaires of food frequency and gestational health risk factors in the past three months were conducted and the average daily intakes of various nutrients were calculated. Conditional Logistic regression was applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: Multivariate conditional Logistic regression showed that pre-pregnancy body mass index(OR=1. 18, 95%CI 1. 08-2. 82) and gestational weight gain(OR=1. 51, 95%CI 1. 15-1. 97) were higher, while the intakes of red and/or yellow fruits(OR=0. 76, 95%CI 0. 60-0. 98), and dietary vitamin C(OR=0. 57, 95%CI 0. 33-0. 99) and folic acid(OR=0. 36, 95%CI 0. 18-0. 72) were lower in case group than that in control group(P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: Higher pre-pregnancy body mass index and over gestational weight gain are the risk factors for pre-eclampsia. Appropriate increase of red and/or yellow fruit intake during pregnancy may be beneficial to prevent pre-eclampsia. Vitamin C and folic acid intake might be protective factors for pre-eclampsia. .

Benefit of oral nutritional supplements for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia during remission-induction chemotherapy: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) on children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We included 127 paediatric patients who were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and undergoing remission- induction chemotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Children from two paediatric wards who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. One ward was randomly chosen as the intervention group and the other ward as the control group. Children in the two groups were matched for age and sex. The ONS group was administered Peptamen® (n=60) and the control group was administered a low-fat diet (n=67). RESULTS: The baseline information before treatment was not significantly different between groups (p>0.05). In the control group, weight loss at the end of chemotherapy was significantly higher than that of ONS group (p<0.05). The hemoglobin level and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, and pre-albumin were significantly higher in the ONS group than in the control group (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). The incidences of hypoalbuminaemia, gastrointestinal complications, and infection were lower in the ONS group than in the control group (p<0.05). The ONS group also used lower amount of albumin infusion, fewer blood-product infusion, and had lower hospital costs than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: During remission-induction chemotherapy, oral nutritional supplements can improve the nutritional status of children, reduce the incidence of complications, and decrease the costs of hospitalization.