Postprandial Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins-Induced Lysosomal Dysfunction and Impaired Autophagic Flux Contribute to Inflammation in White Adipocytes.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by an increase in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), cause chronic low-grade inflammation. It is unclear how postprandial TRLs affect inflammation in white adipocytes. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to explore the inflammatory response of postprandial TRLs in white adipocytes and investigate the possible mechanism. METHODS: We measured postprandial triglyceride (TG) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations in 204 recruited subjects and treated white adipocytes from mice with postprandial TRLs from above patients with hypertriglyceridemia. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP concentrations and BMI were positively related to TG concentrations in the postprandial state. Postprandial TRLs increased mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1ß, via the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1 pathway, and impaired autophagy flux in white adipocytes of mice. TRLs also induced lysosomal damage as evidenced by the reduced protein expression of lysosome-associated membrane proteins-1 and Cathepsin L. Inhibition of Cathepsin B, NLRP3, and mTOR signaling improved autophagy/lysosome dysfunction and inhibited the activation of the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and inflammatory factors induced by TRLs in white adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia causes chronic inflammation in adipocytes through TRL-induced lysosomal dysfunction and impaired autophagic flux in an mTOR-dependent manner.

Bandgap lowering in mixed alloys of Cs3Bi2-xSbxBr9 perovskite powders.

Lead-free metal halide perovskites have received widespread attention due to their composition of minimal hazardous components, excellent air stability, and long carrier lifetimes. However, the majority of the lead-free metal halide perovskites, such as Cs3Bi2Br9, have wide bandgaps, which limits their photoelectric in solar cells and optoelectronic devices. To address this issue, attempts have been made to adjust the bandgap through material alloying. Based on a solution approach, a pure phase of Cs3Bi2-xSbxBr9 crystals has been synthesized, with the alloying parameter x changing over the full range of composition. It is found that the mixed alloy has a smaller bandgap than pure Bi-based and Sb-based perovskites, with the smallest bandgap of 2.22 eV near x = 1, and there is a phenomenon of bandgap bowing throughout the alloying process. The electronic structure of Cs3Bi2-xSbxBr9 has been investigated using DFT calculations and the bandgap bowing of Cs3Bi2-xSbxBr9 is deduced to be related to the type-II band alignment between the Cs3Bi2Br9 and Cs3Sb2Br9. Owing to the mismatch of s and p orbital energies of Bi and Sb, the mixed alloy has a smaller bandgap. Our work demonstrated a method for achieving bandgap reduction and explained the phenomenon of bandgap bowing by pairing materials into type-II band alignment, which may also be found in other lead-free metal perovskites.

Association between academic pressure, NR3C1 gene methylation, and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Academic pressure is a prevalent stressor among Chinese adolescents and is often linked to anxiety symptoms, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between NR3C1 gene methylation, academic pressure, and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents. METHODS: This nested-case control study included 150 adolescents (boys: 38.7%; baseline age: 12-17 years) from a school-based longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents. Cases (n = 50) were defined as those with anxiety symptoms at both baseline and follow-up, while controls (n = 100) were randomly selected from those without anxiety symptoms at both timepoints. The cases and controls were 1:2 matched by age. Academic pressure, anxiety symptoms, and potential covariates were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Peripheral whole blood samples were collected from each participant for the detection of cortisol level (i.e., morning serum cortisol level) and DNA methylation. The methylation analysis included a total of 27 CpG units at the NR3C1 promoter region. RESULTS: The final adjusted models showed that students with heavy academic pressure at baseline were at a higher risk of anxiety symptoms at follow-up compared to those with mild academic pressure (ß estimate: 6.24 [95% CI: 3.48 ~ 9.01]). After adjusting for covariates, the methylation level of one CpG unit (NR3C1-16 CpG10) in NR3C1 differed significantly between cases and controls (F = 6.188, P = 0.014), and the difference remained significant after correction for multiple testing (P < 0.025). The adjusted regression models showed that moderate (ß estimate = 0.010 [95% CI: 0.000 ~ 0.020], P = 0.046) and heavy (ß estimate = 0.011 [95% CI: 0.001 ~ 0.020], P = 0.030) academic pressure were significantly associated with the methylation level of NR3C1-16 CpG 10. Further mediation analysis demonstrated that the association of academic pressure and anxiety symptoms was significantly mediated by the methylation of NR3C1-16 CpG 10 (ß estimate for indirect effect = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.005 ~ 0.32]; indirect/total effect = 8.3%). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that NR3C1-16 CpG 10 DNA methylation might be a potential mechanism that partially explains the lasting effects of academic pressure on subsequent anxiety symptoms among adolescents. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to replicate this finding.

LncRNA HCG11 mediated by METTL14 inhibits the growth of lung adenocarcinoma via IGF2BP2/LATS1.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignancy the pathogenesis of which is terribly complicated and remains largely unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of endogenous RNA molecules that are involved in various malignant processes. In this study, we explored the roles of lncRNA Human leukocyte antigen complex group 11 (HCG11) in LUAD. Our data revealed that lncRNA HCG11 expression was downregulated in LUAD, which was modulated by the hypermethylation of HCG11 promoter and Methyltransferase Like 14 (METTL14) mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. The m6A modification of HCG11 promoted its nuclear exportation and binding by Insulin Like Growth Factor 2 MRNA Binding Protein 2 (IGF2BP2), resulting in increased stability. HCG11 could recruit IGF2BP2 to target Large Tumor Suppressor Kinase 1 (LATS1) mRNA to enhance the stability and promote the expression of LATS1. HCG11 served as a tumor suppressor to restrain tumor growth in LUAD by regulating LATS1. In summary, this study demonstrated that HCG11 mediated by METTL14 inhibited the growth of lung adenocarcinoma via IGF2BP2/LATS1.

Electrochemical Deposition of CuSCN Nanorod Arrays by Using EDTA as Chelating Agent.

In this study we report on the electrodeposition of copper thiocynate (CuSCN) nanorod arrays on ITO substrate from an EDTA-chelated aqueous solution. Effects of molecule ratio of EDTA/Cu²âº and deposition time on the properties of CuSCN layers were studied. Results showed that films deposited from an electrolyte with low EDTA amounts were consisted of densely packed nano-crystals, while films deposited with high molecule ratios of EDTA/Cu²âº (>0.5) were composed of homogeneous nanorods with their (001) plane perpendicular to the substrate. Further time-dependent study showed that the formation of CuSCN nanorods was initiated at the very beginning of potential application and no intermediate or transitional products were detected during the electrochemical process. Optical analysis showed that films of CuSCN nanorods with a thickness of 100­400 nm had good optical quality, and exhibited the fundamental absorption edge at 320 nm.

Associations of recent stressful life events with anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents with a consideration of family functioning.

Background: The association between stressful life events (SLEs) and adolescent anxiety symptoms has been extensively studied, but the specific impacts of different SLEs domains remain inconclusive. Moreover, limited research has examined the role of family functioning in these associations.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the associations between various recent SLEs and adolescent anxiety symptoms and explore the role of family functioning.Methods: Data were obtained from the second phase of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescents' Mental and Behavioral Well-being Research in Guangzhou, China. A total of 10,985 students (51.9% boys; mean [SD] age, 15.3 [1.5] years) from forty middle schools participated in the study in 2022 and completed a self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms, SLEs, and family functioning using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Adolescent Self-rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC; including five subscales: interpersonal stress, academic stress, punishment-related stress, loss-related stress, and adaptation-related stress), and the adapted Chinese version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD), respectively. Linear mixed-effects models were performed and the moderation role of family functioning was also examined.Results: The fully adjusted model revealed that a 1-SD increase in the overall ASLEC score was associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms (ß = 2.23, 95%CI: 2.15-2.32). Among various SLEs domains, the academic domain shows the most significant association (ß = 2.25, 95%CI: 2.17-2.33). Family functioning exerted an independent protective influence on anxiety symptoms, with each 1-SD increase in FAD scores negatively associated with anxiety symptoms (ß = -2.11, 95%CI: - 2.29 to - 1.93) in the adjusted model. Moreover, family functioning significantly buffered the impacts of overall SLEs and each domain, except for adaptation-related SLEs, on anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: Higher recent SLEs levels were associated with increased anxiety symptoms among adolescents, with academic SLEs showing the greatest association. Positive family functioning had both direct and buffering influences on anxiety symptoms.

Higher levels of recent stressful life events may increase adolescents' anxiety symptoms.Academic stressful life events show the greatest association with anxiety symptoms.Family functioning may be a promising intervention target for adolescent anxiety symptoms.

Comparative Analysis of Thiophene-Based Interlayer Cations for Enhanced Performance in 2D Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Solar Cells.

2D Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskites have appeared as a promising prospective material owing to their tunable optoelectronic peculiarities and structural stability. The choice of interlayer cations greatly influences the performance of the 2D RP perovskites. In this study, through theoretical calculations and experimental investigation, we demonstrate the intrinsic and device performance differences between two perovskites based on cations of thiophenemethylamine (TMA) and thiopheneethylamine (TEA). Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it exposes that as compared to (TMA)2PbI4, (TEA)2PbI4 exhibits more pronounced distortion of [PbI6]4- units and possesses a wider band gap and larger effective mass. The experimental results on the TMA- and TEA-based 2D perovskites further show that when TEA is used as the interlayer cation, the crystallization process tends to form more low-n phases, which hinder charge transfer and decrease light harvesting. On the other hand, when TMA is used as the interlayer cation, excessive low-n phases are not observed, and the thin film exhibits excellent quality with significantly improved electron mobility. The (TMA)2(FA)n-1PbnI3n+1 (n = 5) perovskite device shows a remarkable conversion efficiency of 16.56%, much higher than that of TEA-based devices (PCE = 2.58%). Moreover, the unencapsulated devices based on TMA were able to maintain 88% of their initial efficiency even after being exposed to the environment (RT, RH = 30 ± 5%) for a duration of 1080 h. These findings provide important insights into the differences between thiophene-based cations and the selection of organic interlayer cations for 2D RP perovskite solar cells.

Comparison between Fasting and Non-Fasting Cut-Off Values of Triglyceride in Diagnosing High Triglyceride in Chinese Hypertensive Outpatients.

Background: Hypertension (HBP) often occurs together with hypertriglyceridemia which indicates elevated triglyceride (TG) and remnant cholesterol (RC) levels. Non-fasting (i.e., postprandial) blood lipid test after a daily meal has been recommended by the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS). However, little is known about the difference between fasting and non-fasting cut-off values in assessing high TG (HTG) and high RC (HRC) in HBP outpatients. Methods: 225 Chinese outpatients with HBP, including 119 fasting patients (i.e., fasting group) and 106 non-fasting patients (i.e., non-fasting group) were enrolled in this study. Non-fasting levels of blood lipids at 2 h after a daily breakfast were also tested in 33 patients among the fasting group. Venous blood samples were collected. Results: The non-fasting group had significantly higher levels of TG and RC while lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the fasting group (p < 0.05). According to the TG and RC cut-off values of the EAS, the percentages of HTG and HRC in the non-fasting group were 72.6% and 70.8%, respectively, whereas those in the fasting group were 57.1% and 52.9%, respectively. According to the cut-off value of marked HTG commonly used in the Chinese population in clinical practice, the percentage of marked HTG in the non-fasting group was 57.5%, whereas that in the fasting group was 34.5%. However, the percentages of HTG (57.6% vs. 51.5%) and HRC (51.5% vs. 51.5%) marked HTG (30.3% vs. 33.3%) in the fasting state and at 2 h after a daily breakfast in 33 outpatients did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Non-fasting blood lipid tests could find more individuals with HTG as well as those with marked HTG among Chinese outpatients with HBP. It indicates that non-fasting blood lipid tests are worth being recommended in patients with HBP.

Postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins promote the adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the LRP1/caveolin-1/AKT1 pathway.

Diet-induced obesity (OB) is usually accompanied by hypertriglyceridemia, which is characterized by the accumulation of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoprotein (TRL) particles in the circulation. We previously found that postprandial TRL combined with insulin induced the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, which may represent a key mechanism underlying obesity. However, the specific mechanism and signaling pathway involved in this process remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that, in the postprandial state, patients with obesity had significantly higher levels of TG and remnant cholesterol (RC) than normal-weight controls. In vitro, we found that postprandial TRL, together with insulin, promoted the adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs), as evidenced by the increased expression of lipogenesis-related genes and their protein products, including low-density lipoprotein related protein 1 (LRP1). Besides, caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression was also significantly upregulated under this condition. Cav-1 and LRP1 were observed to interact, and then led to the activation of the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway. Meanwhile, the inhibition of LRP1 or Cav-1 significantly attenuated the adipogenic differentiation of AMSCs and downregulated AKT1 phosphorylation levels. Moreover, treatment with a selective AKT1 inhibitor significantly suppressed postprandial TRL and insulin-induced adipogenesis in AMSCs. Combined, our results demonstrated that, in association with insulin, postprandial TRL can promote the adipogenic differentiation of AMSCs in a manner that is dependent on the LRP1/Cav-1-mediated activation of the PI3K/AKT1 signaling pathway. Our findings indicated that a postprandial increase in TRL content is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of hypertriglyceridemia and diet-induced obesity.

Determination of the postprandial cut-off value of triglyceride after a daily meal corresponding to fasting optimal triglyceride level in Chinese subjects.

Background: According to the 2021 consensus statement about triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins and their remnants from the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), fasting TG level < 1.2 mmol/L is regarded as optimal, otherwise considered as non-optimal TG (NoTG). However, the postprandial cut-off value after a daily meal corresponding to a fasting TG level of 1.2 mmol/L has not been explored. Materials and methods: Six hundred and eighteen inpatients aged 18 to 70 were recruited in this study. Among them, 219 subjects had fasting TG levels < 1.2 mmol/L (i.e., OTG group), and 399 subjects had fasting TG levels ≥ 1.2 mmol/L (i.e., NoTG group). Serum levels of blood lipids, including calculated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC), were monitored at 0, 2, and 4 h after a daily Chinese breakfast according to their dietary habits. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the postprandial cut-off value corresponding to the fasting TG level of 1.2 mmol/L. Kappa statistics were performed to determine the consistency between fasting and postprandial cut-off values in determining whether TG was optimal. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between NoTG and potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the association between postprandial TG levels at 4h (pTG4h) and NoTG in greater detail. Results: Postprandial levels of TG and RC significantly elevated and peaked at 4h after a daily breakfast in two groups (P < 0.05). The optimal cut-off value at 4h corresponding to fasting TG of 1.2 mmol/L was 1.56 mmol/L. According to the fasting cut-off value, the percentage of patients with NoTG was 64.6% in the fasting state while increasing obviously to 73.3-78.4% at 2 and 4h, respectively, after a daily Chinese breakfast. According to the postprandial cut-off value, the percentage of patients with NoTG at 4h after a daily Chinese breakfast was 62.6% which was close to 64.6% in the fasting state. The Kappa coefficient was 0.551, indicating a moderate consistency between the fasting and postprandial cut-off values in the diagnosis of NoTG. Moreover, the subjects with NoTG determined by the postprandial TG cut-off value had an obviously higher postprandial level of RC (1.2 vs. 0.8 mmol/L) and percentage of HRC (37.1 vs. 32.1%) than those determined by the fasting TG cut-off value. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that except for BMI, pTG4h emerged as an independent predictor of not. Subgroup analyses revealed that the association between pTG4h and NoTG was consistent across subgroups. Conclusion: Taken together, we for the first time determined TG 1.56 mmol/L as the postprandial cut-off value corresponding to fasting TG 1.2 mmol/L in Chinese subjects. This could make it more convenient to determine whether TG is optimal or not in the fasting or postprandial state.

Novel insight on the role of Macrophages in atherosclerosis: Focus on polarization, apoptosis and efferocytosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases, which is mainly characterized by lipid deposition and inflammatory response. Macrophages (MΦ), as the key mediators of the inflammatory response, run through all stages of the occurrence and development of AS, from plaque initiation to the transition to vulnerable plaques, and are regarded as important therapeutic targets. It was previously thought that the atherogenic mechanism of MΦ was mainly due to their phagocytosis of lipids, resulting in excessive foam cells aggregated on the arterial wall. However, increasing evidence has revealed the diversity of AS mechanisms caused by MΦ. For example, MΦ present a continuum phenotypic spectrum, and their polarization has been demonstrated to play a vital role in the regulation of AS-related inflammatory response. MΦ apoptosis and the ability of MΦ to clean up apoptotic cells (also known as efferocytosis) are crucial determinants of AS lesion progression and plaque stability. Hence, this review probes into the contradictory regulation of MΦ on AS based on polarization, apoptosis, and efferocytosis, designed to highlight the complex and interrelated regulated network of MΦ promoting AS.

Non-fasting Changes in Blood Lipids After Three Daily Meals Within a Day in Chinese Inpatients With Cardiovascular Diseases.

Background: Non-fasting (i.e., postprandial) lipid detection is recommended in clinical practice. However, the change in blood lipids in Chinese patients with cardiovascular diseases after three daily meals has never been reported yet. Methods: Serum levels of blood lipids were measured or calculated in 77 inpatients (48 men and 29 women) at high or very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the fasting state and at 4 h after three meals within a day according to their diet habits. Results: Female patients showed significantly higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than male patients, and the gender difference in other lipid parameters did not reach statistical significance at any time-point. Levels of triglyceride (TG) and remnant cholesterol (RC) increased, while that of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased significantly after three meals (p < 0.05). Levels of HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) showed smaller changes after three meals. Percent reductions in the non-fasting LDL-C levels after lunch and supper were around 20%, which were greater than that after breakfast. The percent reductions in the non-fasting non-HDL-C levels after three meals were smaller than those in the non-fasting LDL-C levels. Patients with TG level ≥ 2.0 mmol/L (177 mg/dL) after lunch had significantly greater absolute reduction of LDL-C level than those with TG level < 2.0 mmol/L (177 mg/dL) after lunch [-0.69 mmol/L (-27 mg/dL) vs. -0.36 mmol/L (-14 mg/dL), p<0.01]. There was a significant and negative correlation between absolute change in LDL-C level and that in TG level (r = -0.32) or RC level (r = -0.67) after lunch (both p<0.01). Conclusion: LDL-C level decreased significantly after three daily meals in Chinese patients at high or very high risk of ASCVD, especially when TG level reached its peak after lunch. Relatively, non-HDL-C level was more stable than LDL-C level postprandially. Therefore, when LDL-C level was measured in the non-fasting state, non-HDL-C level could be evaluated simultaneously to reduce the interference of related factors, such as postprandial hypertriglyceridemia, on detection.

Relationship between Hypercoagulable State and Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood, Pathological Characteristics, and Prognosis of Lung Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between hypercoagulable state and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood, pathological characteristics, and prognosis of lung cancer patients. METHOD: A total of 148 patients with primary lung cancer diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2019 were selected as the research objects. According to the CTC test results, the patients were divided into CTC-positive group and CTC-negative group. Also, the coagulation index of patients was tested. According to the blood coagulation index test results, patients were divided into hypercoagulable group and non-hypercoagulable group. The relationship between hypercoagulable state and pathological characteristics of lung cancer patients was analyzed by single factor analysis and multiple logistic regression model. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was applied to analyze the relationship between hypercoagulable state and the prognosis of lung cancer patients. RESULTS: The platelets (PLTs), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (D-D), and prothrombin time (PT) in CTC-positive group were significantly higher than those in CTC-negative group. There was no significant relationship between the patient's gender, smoking history, pathological type, and the hypercoagulable state of the patients. The proportion of patients aged 60 years or older, with TMN stage III or IV and lymph node metastasis, in the hypercoagulable group was significantly higher than that in the non-hypercoagulable group. Logistic regression analysis showed that there was an independent relationship between the patient's age, lymph node metastasis, and hypercoagulable state. As of January 2020, among the 148 patients with lung cancer follow-up, 5 patients were lost and 52 died. The median survival time of patients in the hypercoagulable group was 82 weeks, which was significantly lower than the 104 weeks in the nonhypercoagulable group. CONCLUSION: There is a certain relationship between hypercoagulable state and CTC positive in lung cancer patients. There is an independent relationship between the patient's age, lymph node metastasis, and the hypercoagulable state. The median survival time of patients in the hypercoagulable group was significantly lower than that in the non-hypercoagulable group.

Comparison of the Reductions in LDL-C and Non-HDL-C Induced by the Red Yeast Rice Extract Xuezhikang Between Fasting and Non-fasting States in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Xuezhikang, an extract of red yeast rice, effectively lowers fasting blood lipid levels. However, the influence of Xuezhikang on the non-fasting levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) has not been explored in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Fifty CHD patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (n = 25 each) to receive 1,200 mg/d of Xuezhikang or a placebo for 6 weeks as routine therapy. Blood lipids were repeatedly measured before and after 6 weeks of treatment at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h after a standard breakfast containing 800 kcal and 50 g of fat. Results: The serum LDL-C levels significantly decreased, from a fasting level of 3.88 mmol/L to non-fasting levels of 2.99, 2.83, and 3.23 mmol/L at 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively, after breakfast (P < 0.05). The serum non-HDL-C level mildly increased from a fasting level of 4.29 mmol/L to non-fasting levels of 4.32, 4.38, and 4.34 mmol/L at 2, 4, and 6 h post-prandially, respectively, and the difference reached statistical significance only at 4 and 6 h after breakfast (P < 0.05). After 6 weeks of Xuezhikang treatment, the patients had significantly lower fasting and non-fasting serum levels of LDL-C and non-HDL-C (P < 0.05) than at pretreatment. The LDL-C levels were reduced by 27.8, 28.1, 26.2, and 25.3% at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively, and the non-HDL-C levels were reduced by 27.6, 28.7, 29.0, and 28.0% at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively, after breakfast. No significant difference was found in the percent reductions in the LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels among the four different time-points. Conclusions: Six weeks of Xuezhikang treatment significantly decreased LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels, with similar percent reductions in fasting and non-fasting states in CHD patients, indicating that the percent change in non-fasting LDL-C or non-HDL-C could replace that in the fasting state for evaluation the efficacy of cholesterol control in CHD patients who are unwilling or unable to fast.

Change in Postprandial Level of Remnant Cholesterol After a Daily Breakfast in Chinese Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Hypertension (HBP) is usually accompanied by hypertriglyceridemia that represents the increased triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and cholesterol content in remnant lipoproteins [i.e., remnant cholesterol (RC)]. According to the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), high RC (HRC) is defined as fasting RC ≥0.8 mmol/L and/or postprandial RC ≥0.9 mmol/L. However, little is known about postprandial change in RC level after a daily meal in Chinese patients with HBP. Methods: One hundred thirty-five subjects, including 90 hypertensive patients (HBP group) and 45 non-HBP controls (CON group), were recruited in this study. Serum levels of blood lipids, including calculated RC, were explored at 0, 2, and 4 h after a daily breakfast. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff point of postprandial HRC. Results: Fasting TG and RC levels were significantly higher in the HBP group (P < 0.05), both of which increased significantly after a daily meal in the two groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, postprandial RC level was significantly higher in the HBP group (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cutoff point for RC after a daily meal to predict HRC corresponding to fasting RC of 0.8 mmol/L was 0.91 mmol/L, which was very close to that recommended by the EAS, i.e., 0.9 mmol/L. Fasting HRC was found in 31.1% of hypertensive patients but not in the controls. According to the postprandial cutoff point, postprandial HRC was found in approximately half of hypertensive patients and ~1-third of the controls. Conclusion: Postprandial RC level increased significantly after a daily meal, and hypertensive patients had higher percentage of HRC at both fasting and postprandial states. More importantly, the detection of postprandial lipids could be helpful to find HRC.

Determination of the Optimal Cutoff Value of Triglyceride That Corresponds to Fasting Levels in Chinese Subjects With Marked Hypertriglyceridemia.

The level of triglyceride (TG) ≥ 2. 3 mmol/L is suggestive of marked hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and requires treatment with a triglyceride-lowering agent in high-risk and very high-risk patients as recommended by the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia. However, the optimal cutoff value required to diagnose non-fasting HTG that corresponds to the fasting goal level of 2.3 mmol/L in Chinese subjects is unknown. This study enrolled 602 cardiology inpatients. Blood lipid levels, including calculated non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC), were measured at 0, 2, and 4 h after a daily Chinese breakfast. Of these, 482 inpatients had TG levels of <2.3 mmol/L (CON group) and 120 inpatients had TG levels of ≥2.3 mmol/L (HTG group). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cutoff values for postprandial HTG that corresponded to a target fasting level of 2.3 mmol/L. Marked hypertriglyceridemia (≥2.3 mmol/L) was found in 120 (19.9%) patients in this study population. The levels of non-fasting TG and RC increased significantly in both groups and reached the peak at 4 h after a daily meal, especially in the HTG group (p < 0.05). The optimal cutoff value of TG at 4 h, which corresponds to fasting TG of ≥2.3 mmol/L, that can be used to predict HTG, was 2.66 mmol/L. According to the new non-fasting cutoff value, the incidence of non-fasting HTG is close to its fasting level. In summary, this is the first study to determine the non-fasting cutoff value that corresponds to a fasting TG of ≥2.3 mmol/L in Chinese patients. Additionally, 2.66 mmol/l at 4 h after a daily meal could be an appropriate cutoff value that can be used to detect non-fasting marked HTG in Chinese subjects.

Non-HDL-C Is More Stable Than LDL-C in Assessing the Percent Attainment of Non-fasting Lipid for Coronary Heart Disease Patients.

This study aimed to compare the percentage attainment of fasting and non-fasting LDL-C and non-HDL-C target levels in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients receiving short-term statin therapy. This study enrolled 397 inpatients with CHD. Of these, 197 patients took statins for <1 month (m) or did not take any statin before admission (CHD1 group), while 204 patients took statins for ≥1 m before admission (CHD2 group). Blood lipid levels were measured at 0, 2, and 4 h after a daily breakfast. Non-fasting LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels significantly decreased after a daily meal (P < 0.05). Both fasting and non-fasting LDL-C or non-HDL-C levels were significantly lower in the CHD2 group. The percentage attainment of LDL-C <1.4 mmol/L at 2 and 4 h after a daily breakfast was significantly higher than that during fasting (P < 0.05), but the percent attainment of non-fasting non-HDL-C <2.2 mmol/L was close to its fasting value (P > 0.05). Analysis of c-statistic showed that non-fasting cut-off points for LDL-C and non-HDL-C were 1.19 and 2.11 mmol/L, corresponding to their fasting goal levels of 1.4 and 2.2 mmol/L, respectively. When post-prandial LDL-C and non-HDL-C goal attainments were re-evaluated using non-fasting cut-off points, there were no significant differences in percentage attainment between fasting and non-fasting states. Non-HDL-C is more stable than LDL-C in assessing the percent attainment of non-fasting lipid for coronary heart disease patients. If we want to use LDL-C to assess the percent attainment of post-prandial blood lipids, we may need to determine a lower non-fasting cut-off point.

Comparison of remnant cholesterol levels estimated by calculated and measured LDL-C levels in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about whether remnant cholesterol (RC), especially non-fasting RC, is a causal risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese subjects is rare. Recently, estimated RC level (RCe) was applied in many studies with large population. We aimed to compare fasting and non-fasting RCe calculated by LDL-C level determined by different methods in Chinese subjects, and investigate their contributions to CHD. METHODS: Levels of TC, TG and HDL-C were measured directly in 273 CHD patients (CHD group) and 136 controls (CON group) before and at 4 h after a daily breakfast. LDL-C level was measured directly or calculated by Friedewald equation at TG < 4.5 mmol/L. RC level estimated by calculated or measured LDL-C was termed as RCe1 or RCe2. Contributions of different RC levels to CHD were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Both RCe1 and RCe2 increased significantly at 4 h after breakfast (both p < 0.05). RCe1 was significantly higher than RCe2 in fasting or non-fasting state (p < 0.05). RCe1 was closely related to RCe2, especially in the highest quartile of RCe1 (p < 0.05). Non-fasting RCe1 or RCe2 and fasting RCe2 independently predicted CHD after adjustment for traditional risk factors (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although RCe1 was significantly higher than RCe2, non-fasting RCe, no matter RCe1 or RCe2, after a daily breakfast was an independent predictor for CHD risk in Chinese subjects, indicating that the non-fasting state is critical in the development of atherosclerosis.

Diagnostic value of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio in acute aortic dissection in a Chinese han population.

Background: Recently, considerable evidence pointed out monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) is highly related to inflammatory related diseases. We aim to explore the level of MHR in acute aortic dissection (AAD) patients and determine whether MHR can be a novel diagnostic marker of AAD. Research design and methods: A total of 228 subjects including 128 AAD patients and 110 healthy control were enrolled. MHR levels and other serum samples were obtained at admission. Results: The baseline MHR levels were significantly higher in patients with AAD (p < 0.0001). A cutoff value of MHR >0.37 was associated with a sensitivity of 86.70% and a specificity of 93.60% for AAD. MHR levels were positively correlated with the time from symptom onset (R2 = 0.0318, p = 0.0003). Additionally, the area under the curve (AUC) was increased to 0.979 in patients whose time from onset of symptoms >24 h, with a sensitivity of 98.04% and a specificity of 93.64%. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that MHR levels, history of hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CHD) emerged as independent predictors of AAD. Expert Opinion: MHR has a high diagnostic value in AAD patients, especially in those whose time from onset of symptoms >24 h.

Postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins-induced premature senescence of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells via the SIRT1/p53/Ac-p53/p21 axis through oxidative mechanism.

The accumulation of senescent adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WAT) is the main cause for the deterioration of WAT and the subsequent age-related disorders in obesity. The number of AMSCs staining positively for senescence-associated-ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-Gal) increased significantly after incubation with postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL), accompanied by an impaired cell proliferation capacity and increased expression of inflammatory factors. Besides, the expression of anti-aging protein, silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), was downregulated significantly, while those of acetylated p53 (Ac-p53), total p53, and p21 proteins were upregulated significantly during postprandial TRL-induced premature senescence of AMSCs. Furthermore, the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the TRL group increased significantly, while pretreatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine effectively attenuated the premature senescence of AMSCs by decreasing ROS production and upregulating SIRT1 level. Thus, postprandial TRL induced premature senescence of AMSCs through the SIRT1/p53/Ac-p53/p21 axis, partly through increased oxidative stress.