A meta-analysis of the value of MRI-based VBQ scores for evaluating osteoporosis.

Objective: Osteoporosis is the most common skeletal disease in humans. Early onset of osteoporosis is usually asymptomatic, so early diagnosis is critical. The purpose of this study was to analyze the value of MRI-based VBQ scores for evaluating osteoporosis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library databases, Web of Science, and some Chinese electronic databases for published articles and the ClinicalTrials.gov site for completed but unpublished studies on evaluating the value of MRI-based VBQ scores for evaluating osteoporosis. We calculated the summarized sensitivity, specificity, the ROC curve (AUC) values and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using MetaDiSc 1.4 software and STATA. Results: Our study included 8 studies involving 999 patients of which 660 patients were diagnosed with osteopenia/osteoporosis, and 339 patients were identified as having normal BMD. The pooled sensitivity was 0.809 (95% CI, 0.777-0.838, I2 = 78.8%), the pooled specificity was 0.640 (95% CI, 0.587-0.691, I2 = 85.9%), and the pooled AUC was 0.8375. Conclusion: MRI-based VBQ scores provided high sensitivity and moderate specificity in detecting osteoporosis. Opportunistic use of VBQ scores could be considered, e.g. before lumbar spine surgery. Prospero registration number: CRD42022377024.

Sex- and age-specific differences in associations of a body shape index with all-cause and cardiovascular death risks among US adults with diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Evidence regarding the effect of body shape index (ABSI) on mortality is scarce among individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Herein, we explored the relationships between ABSI and all-cause and cardiovascular death risks among US individuals with DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 4657 US adults with DM were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2014) who had baseline waist circumference, height, and weight data. ABSI was calculated as [Formula: see text] and the survival information of patients was available from recruitment until 2015 utilizing the national death index. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association of ABSI with survival. A total of 817 adults with DM died after a median follow-up period of 5.6 years, with an annual all-cause death rate per 1000 person-years of 30.0 [95% CI, 28.0-32.1]. Continuous ABSI z score was positively and significantly associated with all-cause mortality with adjustment for potential confounders (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.28). ABSI tended to show a higher all-cause and CVD (cardiovascular disease) mortality among men (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.19-1.53 and HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12-1.87, respectively) and patients younger than 60 years (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.80 and HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.09-2.53, respectively). Statistically significant interactions were found between the ABSI and both sex and age for total mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among US adults with DM from NHANES, ABSI exhibited a linear and positive relationship with total and CVD mortality risk, especially in men and younger patients.

Changes in the prevalence of hyperuricemia in clients of health examination in Eastern China, 2009 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: With the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the incidence of hyperuricemia (HUA) is increasing globally. The prevalence of HUA ranged in terms of region, race, and age. This study aims to investigate the changes in the prevalence of HUA in clients of health examination in Eastern China between 2009 and 2019. METHODS: Chinese men and women aged 20-79 years (n = 4847 in the 2009 group and n = 12,188 in 2019 group) who had received health examinations were enrolled. Serum uric acid (UA) levels and biochemical parameters, including fasting blood-glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated. The prevalence of HUA in different age groups were measured, and the correlation of biochemical parameters with HUA were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of HUA was 18.7% in the 2019 group, which was significantly higher than that in 2009 (11.1%). In females, the prevalence of HUA was significantly higher in 2019 than 2009 for age groups of 20-29 and 30-39 years. In male population, 2019 participants had significantly higher age-specific prevalence for all age groups than 2009 participants. Young men aged 20-29 years became the main population of HUA in the 2019 participants, whereas middle-aged men aged 40-49 years had the highest prevalence of HUA in the 2009 participants. The prevalence rates of HUA in all BMI groups in 2019 participants were significantly higher than those in 2009 participants. Spearmen's correlation analysis and Logistic regression analysis indicated that BMI was positively correlated with HUA. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed BMI > 24.48 kg/m2 and BMI > 23.84 kg/m2 displayed good capacities to discriminate the population with HUA from those without HUA in 2009 and 2019 participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In recent 10 years, the prevalence of HUA was increased rapidly in Chinese adults, especially in males. In 2019, the young male group (20-29 years old) replaced the middle-aged male group (40-49 years old) in 2009 as the leading age group for male HUA. BMI was positively correlated with HUA, and might be a potential risk factors to predict HUA.

Long noncoding RNA Gomafu upregulates Foxo1 expression to promote hepatic insulin resistance by sponging miR-139-5p.

Long non-coding RNA Gomafu is involved in diabetes-related diseases. However, its role in insulin resistance (IR) remains unclear. Our objective is to explore the role of Gomafu in hepatic IR and glucose intolerance. Gomafu expression was determined in livers of ob/ob mice and high-fat diet (HFD) mice. The binding activity of NF-κB on the Gomafu promoter was measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative real-time PCR assays. Increased Gomafu expression was observed in the livers of obese mice. Besides, the binding of NF-κB on the Gomafu promoter was also observed in hepatocytes from ob/ob mice. Further study showed that knockdown of NF-κB p65 alleviated the increase in hepatic Gomafu expression in vivo and in vitro. Knockdown of hepatic Gomafu inhibited hepatic glucose production (HGP) and improved insulin sensitivity in obese mice, whereas, overexpression of hepatic Gomafu resulted in an increase in random and fasting blood glucose levels in lean mice. In addition, we demonstrated that Gomafu functioned as miR-139 sponge and led to the de-repression of its target gene Foxo1, which played an important role in gluconeogenesis and HGP in hepatocytes. Finally, silenced Foxo1 expression abolished the effect of Gomafu overexpression on gluconeogenesis and glucose production in hepatocytes. Taken together, our data suggested that the increase in Gomafu expression contributed to hepatic IR in obese mice.

The Prevalence of Thyroid Nodules and Their Association with Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in a Moderate Iodine Intake Area.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules (TNs) and to evaluate the association between TNs and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the moderate iodine intake area of Jiangsu, China. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a Chinese community-based epidemiological investigation from January to December 2014. A questionnaire was completed by 6494 subjects (2427 men and 4067 women). Thyroid ultrasound was performed by using a 7.5-MHz linear probe. MetS was defined according to the 2006 International Diabetes Federation criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of TNs in the study population was 17.7% (12.9% for men and 20.6% for women) and significantly higher in subjects with MetS [MetS(+)] than in those without MetS [MetS(-)] (25.8% vs. 15.5%, χ2 = 78.471, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression indicated that (in addition to female sex and increased age) increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG), waist circumference (WC), hypertension, and smoking were positively associated with the prevalence of TNs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated a positive association between MetS and formation of TNs. Increased WC and FPG, as well as hypertension, might increase the prevalence of TNs.

Retinol binding protein 4 correlates with and is an early predictor of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

The association of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) with atherosclerosis of the carotid artery in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains undefined. We aimed to investigate the correlation of RBP4 expression with atherosclerosis of the carotid artery in T2DM. A total of 1,076 subjects were investigated for intima-media thickness of the bilateral common carotid arteries, and they were divided into three groups: in group I, patients had normal neck vascular ultrasound, in group II, intimal carotid artery media thickness was equal to or more than 1 mm, and in group III, carotid artery plaque was present. Height, weight, blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1), apolipoprotein B (Apo B) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were determined by routine laboratory methods. RBP4 and high sensitivity C reactive protein (HsCRP) were measured by an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay, and insulin concentration was measured by an electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Duration of diabetes, waist and BP, FPG, HbA1c, TG, TC, LDL-C, APOB, Lp(a), HsCRP, RBP4 and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were significantly lower in group I than in the other two groups (P<0.01, P<0.01). Plasma levels of HbA1c, RBP4, LDL-C, TC, HOMA-IR, HsCRP and Lp(a), waist and BP were significantly increased in group III than in group II (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there were seven factors associated with the occurrence of carotid artery atherosclerosis and its risks in descending order were: high LDL-C, high waist, high HsCRP, duration of diabetes, high HOMA-IR, HbA1c and high RBP4. Our finding supported that RBP4 was positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM and could be used as an early predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Community-based study of the association of subclinical thyroid dysfunction with blood pressure.

The relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and blood pressure has been controversial and received unsufficient attention. Thus, we performed a cross-sectional study conducted among 6,992 inhabitants from six districts of Jiangsu Province to investigate the association of subclinical thyroid dysfunction with blood pressure in China. The data from 6,583 subjects (4,115 women and 2,468 men) were included and divided into three groups: euthyroidism (n = 5669, 86.11%), subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 108, 1.65%), and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 806, 12.24%). In the groups with subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure were not significantly different from those in the groups with euthyroidism after being adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status (P > 0.05). More extensively, the SBP and DBP in the group of subclinical hypothyroidism with lower level of TSH (TSH 4.51-10.00 mIU/l, SCH(1)) were significantly higher than those of participants with euthyroidism (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that subclinical hypothyroidism with lower TSH (TSH 4.51-10.00 mIU/l) was an independent risk factor for increased SBP (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.03-1.59, P = 0.028). Similar results could not be found between groups of euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid with higher level of TSH (TSH > 10 mIU/l, SCH(2)). Further subdivision of the euthyroid group on the basis of a TSH cut-off of 2.5 mIU/l, revealed still no significant difference in blood pressure after adjustment regardless of whether the TSH levels were in the lower reference (TSH 0.40-2.50 mIU/l, n = 4093) or in the upper reference ranges (TSH 2.51-4.50 mIU/l, n = 1576) (P > 0.05). We concluded that subclinical thyroid dysfunction was not associated with blood pressure. Neither subclinical hyperthyroidism nor subclinical hypothyroidism independently predicted increased blood pressure.