A Body Shape Index and Its Changes in Relation to All-Cause Mortality among the Chinese Elderly: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Although recent evidence has revealed that a body shape index (ABSI) is correlated with the incidence of death among different ethnicities, there remains a paucity of studies investigating the impact of ABSI on mortality within the Chinese elderly. Our objective was to ascertain the link between ABSI, as well as its alterations over time, and all-cause mortality among Chinese aged 65 y and above. A total of 3789 participants were enrolled from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Cox regressions and restricted cubic splines were employed to assess the association of ABSI and relative changes with all-cause mortality. When nonlinearity was detected, a restricted cubic spline regression was subsequently conducted to compute hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The median survival time was 46 months, and 1342 individuals (35.4%) were reported to have died. ABSI contributed independently to rising death rates among Chinese old populations according to univariate and multivariate Cox regressions. Statistically significant associations were also found stratified by age, sex, and lifestyle. A U-shaped association of ABSI changes with all-cause mortality (p = 0.027) was observed, indicating that old adults with stable ABSI during the follow-up period experienced the lowest risk of mortality. After multivariable adjustment, participants with a 10% reduction in ABSI changes had an increased 9.4% risk of death, while participants with a 10% rise in ABSI changes had an increased 1.9% risk. ABSI and its changes are predictors for all-cause mortality among the elderly Chinese population, which emphasizes the clinical importance of monitoring ABSI and keeping it stable over time.

Evaluation of the validity and screening performance of a revised single-item fear of cancer recurrence screening measure (FCR-1r).

OBJECTIVE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is highly prevalent among cancer survivors, but irregularly identified in practice. Single-item FCR measures suitable for integration into broader psychosocial screening are needed. This study evaluated the validity of a revised version of the original FCR-1 (FCR-1r) and screening performance alongside the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System - Revised (ESAS-r) anxiety item. METHODS: The FCR-1r was adapted from the FCR-1 and modelled on the ESAS-r. Associations between FCR-1r and FCR Inventory-Short Form (FCRI-SF) scores determined concurrent validity. Relationships of FCR-1r scores with variables related (e.g., anxiety, intrusive thoughts) and unrelated (e.g., employment/marital status) to FCR determined convergent and divergent validity respectively. A Receiver-Operating Characteristic analysis examined screening performance and cut-offs for the FCR-1r and ESAS-r anxiety item. RESULTS: 107 participants were recruited in two studies (Study 1, July-October 2021, n = 54; Study 2: November 2021-May 2022, n = 53). The FCR-1r demonstrated concurrent validity against the FCRI-SF (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) and convergent validity versus the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised Intrusion subscale (r = 0.55, p < 0.0001). It did not correlate with unrelated variables (e.g., employment/marital status), indicating divergent validity. An FCR-1r cut-off ≥5/10 had 95% sensitivity and 77% specificity for detecting clinical FCR (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97, p < 0.0001); ESAS-r anxiety cut-off ≥4 had 91% sensitivity and 82% specificity (AUC = 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.98, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The FCR-1r is a valid and accurate tool for FCR screening. Further evaluation of the screening performance of the FCR-1r versus the ESAS-r anxiety item in routine care is needed.

LINC00665 activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway to facilitate tumor progression of colorectal cancer via upregulating CTNNB1.

Background LINC00665 is a newly identified oncogene, which has been reported to be oncogene in various cancers. Nevertheless, its role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains obscure to the extent. This study aimed at exploring the role and mechanism of LINC00665 in CRC progression. Materials and methods RNA and protein expression were detected via qRT-PCR and western blot. Functional assays were conducted to investigate the role of LINC00665 in the CRC cellular processes. TOP/FOP assay was performed to detect the activity of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Mechanism investigations were carried out to explore the regulatory relationship among genes. Results LINC00665 was overtly expressed in CRC cell lines at high levels. Functionally, silencing of LINC00665 could curb in vitro CRC cell growth, migration and invasion, while stimulating cell apoptosis. Mechanically, LINC00665 sponged miR-214-3p to up-regulate CTNNB1 expression, consequently activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, LINC00665 could bind to U2AF2 and enhance the association between U2AF2 and CTNNB1, increasing the stability of CTNNB1. CTNNB1 overexpression could reverse the suppressive effects of LINC00665 downregulation. Conclusion LINC00665 stimulates CRC progression through the activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, which hopefully might be a therapeutic target for CRC.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ameliorate intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation through the MLCK-MLC signaling pathway in Caco-2 cells.

Impairment of the intestinal barrier often occurs in inflammatory bowel diseases, and pro-inflammatory factors play a vital role in the pathogenesis of intestinal diseases. In our study, the potential protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) against intestinal barrier dysfunction evoked by pro-inflammatory factors and its anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Caco-2 cells were stimulated with or without tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the presence or absence of LBP. Our findings showed that LBP assuaged the increase of paracellular permeability and the decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) in Caco-2 cells. In addition, LBP also prevented the secretion of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-8, IL-6, ICAM-1 and MCP-1) in TNF-α-challenged Caco-2 cells. Moreover, LBP inhibited the overexpression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (claudin-1, ZO-3, and occludin) and the increase of MLCK, pMLC, p-IκBα and NFκBp65 protein expression evoked by TNF-α was suppressed by LBP pre-incubation. This finding indicated that LBP improve TNF-α-evoked intestinal barrier dysfunction via suppressing the MLCK-MLC signaling pathway mediated by NFκB.

Mitochondrial protection and anti-aging activity of Astragalus polysaccharides and their potential mechanism.

The current study was performed to investigate mitochondrial protection and anti-aging activity of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and the potential underlying mechanism. Lipid peroxidation of liver and brain mitochondria was induced by Fe(2+)-Vit C in vitro. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) colorimetry was used to measure the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Mouse liver mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) was induced by calcium overload in vitro and spectrophotometry was used to measure it. The scavenging activities of APS on superoxide anion (O(2) (•-)) and hydroxyl radical (•OH), which were produced by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-N-Methylphenazonium methyl sulfate (PMS) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-Fe(2+) system respectively, were measured by 4-nitrobluetetrazolium chloride (NBT) reduction and Fenton reaction colorimetry respectively. The Na(2)S(2)O(3) titration method was used to measure the scavenging activities of APS on H(2)O(2). APS could inhibit TBARS production, protect mitochondria from PT, and scavenge O(2) (•-), •OH and H(2)O(2) significantly in a concentration-dependent manner respectively. The back of the neck of mice was injected subcutaneously with D-galactose to induce aging at a dose of 100 mg/kg/d for seven weeks. Moreover, the activities of catalase (CAT), surperoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and anti-hydroxyl radical which were assayed by using commercial monitoring kits were increased significantly in vivo by APS. According to this research, APS protects mitochondria by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting mitochondrial PT and increasing the activities of antioxidases. Therefore, APS has the effect of promoting health.

Expression profiling of genes involved in Taxuyunnanine C biosynthesis in cell suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis by repeated elicitation with a newly synthesized jasmonate and sucrose feeding.

Taxus suspension cell culture has the potential to provide a sustainable source of anticancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol) and other taxoids. In the cell culture of Taxus chinensis, Taxuyunnanine C (Tc) is the primary taxoid. To design a rational strategy for redirecting the precursor fluxes from other taxoids into paclitaxel production, we employed Real-time Quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) to understand the dynamic profiling of key biosynthetic pathway genes of palcitaxel and taxoids during the culture process. Six genes (TASY, TDAT, T5alphaH, TalphaH, T10betaH and T14betaH) were quantified under the process condition of double elicitation by 2,3-dihydroxylpropanyl jasmonate (DHPJA) (100 micromol/L on day 7 and day 12), and sucrose feeding (20 g/L) on day 7. This process treatment led to a high accumulation of Tc at (554.46 +/- 21.28) mg/L 8 days after the first elicitation. Then 9 days after the second elicitation, Tc production was as high as (997.72 +/- 1.51) mg/L. The early pathway genes TASY and TDAT were significantly up-regulated by 182-fold and 98-fold, respectively for the first DHPJA elicitation and by 208-fold and 131-fold, respectively for the second elicitation. The induction occurred after each elicitation lasted for about 24 h before their abundances decreased. Things are somewhat different in the case of the other four genes T5alphaH, TalphaH, T10betaH and T14betaH. For gene TalphaH, it was highly up-regulated by 3061-fold for the first DHPJA elicitation and by 1016-fold for the second elicitation. For the other three genes T5alphaH, T10betaH, T14betaH, they were up-regulated by 13-fold, 38-fold and 20-fold, respectively for the first DHPJA elicitation and by 7-fold, 16-fold and 6-fold, respectively for the second elicitation. The RQ-PCR results showed that there is tight correlation between gene expression and Tc accumulation. Gene expression was in accordance with Tc yield. Elicitation could improve expression of six genes. While along with culture course, high expression of the genes weakened. Elicitation for the second time would promote high expression of the genes again.

Protective effects on mitochondria and anti-aging activity of polysaccharides from cultivated fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps militaris (L.) Link is an entomopathogenic fungus parasitic to Lepidoptera larvae, and is widely used as a folk tonic or invigorant for longevity in China. Although C. militaris has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia, there is still a lack convincing evidence for its anti-aging activities. This study was performed to investigate the effects of polysaccharides from cultivated fruiting bodies of C. militaris (CMP) on mitochondrial injury, antioxidation and anti-aging activity. Fruiting bodies of C. militaris were cultivated artificially under optimized conditions. The spectrophotometric method was used to measure thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), mitochondrial swelling, and activities of scavenging superoxide anions in vitro. D-galactose (100 mg/kg/day) was injected subcutaneously into back of the neck of mice for 7 weeks to induce an aging model. The effects of CMP on the activities of catalase (CAT), surperoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and anti-hydroxyl radicals were assayed in vivo using commercial monitoring kits. The results showed that CMP could inhibit mitochondrial injury and swelling induced by Fe²(+)-L-Cysteine in a concentration- dependent manner and it also had a significant superoxide anion scavenging effect. Moreover, the activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and anti-hydroxyl radicals in mice liver were increased significantly by CMP. These results indicate that CMP protects mitochondria by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting mitochondrial swelling, and increasing the activities of antioxidases. Therefore, CMP may have pharmaceutical values for mitochondrial protection and anti-aging. CMP was the major bioactive component in C. militaris.

[Enhanced production of taxuyunnanine c in cell suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis by methyl jasmonate elicitation and in situ absorption].

A bioprocess intensification strategy that combines both elicitation and in situ absorption was developed to improve the production of taxuyunnanine c (Tc) in cell suspension cultures of Taxus chinensis. When 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate was added as an elicitor on Day 7, the Tc content and yield increased 3.6 and 3.3 times respectively, however the cell growth was reduced by 10%-30%. Significant improvement in Tc yield was observed when an absorbent XAD-7 was added on different time of the culture period. The optimum Tc yield was achieved when 100 g/L XAD-7 was added simultaneously with 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate on Day 7. The maximum Tc yield of 477.4 mg/L was obtained on Day 21 of the culture, being 6.3-fold of the control and 1.9-fold of the 100 micromol/L methyl jasmonate treatment alone. In the combined treatment, 94% of the Tc produced was secreted outside of the cells and absorbed on XAD-7 absorbents. The results demonstrated that the process strategy combining elicitation and in situ absorption was effective to intensify the Tc biosynthesis via elicitation with the removal of product feedback inhibition via absorption, presenting a great potential in commercial applications.