Inverse relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal Chinese women with normal blood glucose levels.

AIM: Osteocalcin is involved in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in animal models and humans. In this study we investigated the relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and NAFLD in postmenopausal Chinese women. METHODS: A total of 733 postmenopausal women (age range: 41-78 years) with normal blood glucose levels were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Women taking lipid-lowering or anti-hypertensive drugs were excluded. Serum osteocalcin levels were assessed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The degree of NAFLD progression for each subject was assessed through ultrasonography. The fatty liver index (FLI) of each subject was calculated to quantify the degree of liver steatosis. RESULTS: The median level of serum osteocalcin for all subjects enrolled was 21.99 ng/mL (interquartile range: 17.84-26.55 ng/mL). Subjects with NAFLD had significantly lower serum osteocalcin levels (18.39 ng/mL; range: 16.03-23.64 ng/mL) compared with those without NAFLD (22.31 ng/mL; range: 18.55-27.06 ng/mL; P<0.01). Serum osteocalcin levels decreased with incremental changes in the FLI value divided by the quartile (P-value for trend<0.01). The serum osteocalcin levels showed a negative correlation with the FLI values, even after adjusting for confounding factors (standardized ß=-0.124; P<0.01). Binary logistic regression analysis identified an individual's serum osteocalcin level as an independent risk factor for NAFLD (odds ratio: 0.951; 95% confidence interval: 0.911-0.992; P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Serum osteocalcin levels are inversely correlated with NAFLD in postmenopausal Chinese women with normal blood glucose levels.

Serum vitamin D is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese males with normal weight and liver enzymes.

AIM: Considering the characterization of vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor of ectopic fat deposition, the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was evaluated in Chinese men with normal body mass index (BMI) and enzyme markers of liver function. METHODS: A total of 514 participants (22 to 79 years old) with normal BMI and liver enzymes were identified for analysis. Abdominal ultrasound was performed to diagnose NAFLD, and the fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated to quantify liver steatosis. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: Among the entire study population, the mean levels of serum 25(OH)D3 were 15.32±5.77 ng/mL. However, when serum 25(OH)D3 levels were compared between non-NAFLD subjects (n=438) and NAFLD subjects (n=76), the latter showed significantly lower levels (15.65±5.89 ng/mL vs 13.46±4.65 ng/mL, P=0.002). In addition, serum 25(OH)D3 levels were found to be significantly correlated with FLI after adjustment for age and BMI (r=-0.108, P=0.014). Logistic regression showed that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were independently correlated with NAFLD (OR: 0.937, 95% CI: 0.884-0.993, P=0.028). Furthermore, stepwise regression analysis revealed that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with FLI (ß=-0.055, P=0.040). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were inversely associated with NAFLD, even in subjects with normal total body fat, suggesting a potential role of lower levels of vitamin D in the occurrence and development of NAFLD.

[Changes in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, endothelin-1 and von Willebrand factor among newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), and their significance among newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). METHODS: Sixty-six newborns with PPH (case group) (mild: 26 cases; moderate: 21 cases; severe: 19 cases), as well as 40 newborns without PPH (control group) who were hospitalized in the same period, were enrolled. The control group underwent echocardiography on admission. The case group underwent echocardiography before treatment (with refractory hypoxemia) and after 7 days of treatment for measurement of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Meanwhile, plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Before treatment, the case group had significantly higher plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF than the control group (P<0.05), and these indices increased as PASP rose. After 7 days of treatment, the children with mild or moderate PPH showed normal PASP, and their plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were not significantly different from those of control group. The children with severe PPH had significant decreases in all indices, but they were significantly higher than those of the control group. Plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF were significantly positively correlated with PASP before and after treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in plasma levels of ANP, ET-1 and vWF can reflect PASP in newborns with PPH during treatment. Dynamic monitoring of these indices can help to judge the severity of PPH and guide treatment.

[Associations of glycated albumin level with coronary artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations of the level of glycated albumin (GA) with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 306 patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) were collected. There were 201 males and 105 females with an age range of 38-86 years. CA was the major diagnostic criteria of CAD. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the Guideline on Prevention & Treatment of Blood Lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults. RESULTS: (1) CAD was found in 227 patients (74.2%). The levels of 2 h postprandial glucose, GA and hemoglobin A1c in the CAD patients were higher than those in the non-CAD counterparts (all P < 0.05). (2) In the subgroup of normal glucose tolerance (NGR), the CAD patients had a higher level of GA than the non-CAD patients ((15.0 ± 2.1)% vs (13.3 ± 1.7)%, P < 0.01). And the level of GA was higher in the patients with 1-vessel ((14.8 ± 2.1)% vs (13.3 ± 1.7)%, P < 0.05) and multi-vessel lesions ((15.1 ± 2.1)% vs (13.3 ± 1.7)%, P < 0.05) than that in the non-CAD counterparts (all P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained in the hyperglycemia subgroup. (3) Logistic regression demonstrated that the level of GA was independently correlated with CAD after adjusting other traditional factors among all subjects, NGR and hyperglycemia subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The serum level of GA becomes significantly elevated the CAD patients. And it is an independent risk factor of CAD in both hyperglycemic and NGR patients.