The role of body mass index on the association between the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index and hyperuricemia: a mediation analysis based on NHANES (2007-2016).

BACKGROUND: The Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) is related to both body mass index (BMI) and hyperuricemia. However, the association among BMI, hyperuricemia and DII is yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of BMI in the relationship between E-DII and hyperuricemia in the American population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2007 to 2016, with a sample size of 10,571 participants. The study used a weighted logistic regression model and a generalized additive model (GAM) to explore the associations among BMI, hyperuricemia and E-DII. Furthermore, mediation analysis was utilized to illustrate the mediating relationships among these variables. RESULTS: The results of the study indicated that a higher E-DII was related to an increased risk of hyperuricemia. The association between E-DII and hyperuricemia was partially mediated by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: E-DII is associated with hyperuricemia. BMI mediates the relationship between E-DII and hyperuricemia among Americans, which provides crucial information for the prevention of hyperuricemia.

Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sarcopenia: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is thought to be related to many healthy events. However, the association between the DII and sarcopenia remains unclear. Methods: The meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of the DII on the risk of sarcopenia utilizing available studies. Up to September 2022, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and EMBASE databases were searched to evaluate the relationships between the DII and sarcopenia. A random‒effects model was used to calculate the effect size and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Result: Eleven studies with 19,954 participants were included in our meta-analysis. The results indicated that a high DII increased the risk of sarcopenia (OR = 1.16, 95%CI [1.06, 1.27], p < 0.05). The result of the dose−response analysis showed that the risk of sarcopenia increased by 1.22 times for each 1-point increase in the DII score (OR = 1.22, 95%CI [1.12, 1.33], p < 0.05). Conclusion: The meta-analysis demonstrated that the DII is associated with sarcopenia. Considering some limitations in this study, more studies are needed to verify this relationship.

Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Papers for Oil/Water Separation: A Mini-Review.

The separation of oceanic spilled oils and industrial oily wastewaters becomes a great challenge, and it is highly desirable to develop efficient materials for oil/water separation. As abundant sustainable resources, superhydrophobic papers (SPs) have drawn much attention because of low-cost and efficient oil/water separation. Herein, this mini-review summarizes recent advances of SPs in terms of design, preparation, and properties. On the basis of the many excellent properties of SPs (i.e., self-cleaning, durability, chemical corrosion resistance, and reusability), the oil/water separation performances (i.e., separation efficiency, permeation flux, and recyclability) of SPs as well as the corresponding mechanisms are discussed. The efficient oil/water separation property and recyclability of SPs make them promising candidates in the field of oily wastewater treatment.

FAR knockout significantly inhibits Chilo suppressalis survival and transgene expression of double-stranded FAR in rice exhibits strong pest resistance.

Chilo suppressalis is one of the most prevalent and damaging rice pests, causing significant economic losses each year. Chemical control is currently the primary method of controlling C. suppressalis. However, the indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides increases pest resistance, pollutes the environment and poses a significant health threat to humans and livestock, highlighting the need to find safer, more pest-specific and more effective alternatives to pest control. Plant-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising agricultural pest control method that is highly pest-specific and has less of an impact on the environment. Using multi-sgRNAs/Cas9 technology to delete Fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) of C. suppressalis in the G0 generation, we show that downregulating FAR transcription may significantly increase the mortality rate and darken the epidermis of C. suppressalis compared with the control. Subsequently, we developed dsFAR transgenic rice lines using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and then screened three strains expressing dsFAR at high levels using transcriptional level analysis. Using transgenic rice stems, a laboratory feeding bioassay indicated that at least one line (L#10) displayed a particularly high level of insect resistance, with an insect mortality rate of more than 80%. In the field trials, dsFAR transgenic rice displayed high levels of resistance to C. suppressalis damage. Collectively, these results suggest the potential of a new environment-friendly, species-specific strategy for rice pest management.

Evaluation of Tresiba Combined with Six Ingredient Rehmannia Pill in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin replacement therapy is the main treatment method for type 1 diabetes, and adjuvant comprehensive treatment to reduce the complications of diabetes is still the focus of research. The purpose of this study is to explore the clinical efficacy of Tresiba combined with Ingredient Rehmannia Pill in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 216 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to July 2019 were enrolled in this study. Patients in the control and observation groups were treated with Tresiba and Tresiba combined with Ingredient Rehmannia Pill, respectively. The change of TCM symptom score, blood glucose level and fasting insulin level before and after treatment were evaluated, and the insulin resistance index was calculated to observe the adverse reactions of patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups decreased significantly, and the TCM syndrome scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose and insulin resistance index of the observation group were lower than those of the control group. The levels of FBG, 2 hBG and HbA1C in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.7%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.1%). The adverse reactions of patients in the observation group were slightly more than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that Ingredient Rehmannia Pill combined with Tresiba is effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, providing alternative therapies for the treatment of diabetes.

Effectiveness and safety of Bifidobacterium and berberine in human hyperglycemia and their regulatory effect on the gut microbiota: a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Berberine and Bifidobacterium have been reported to improve glucose tolerance in people with hyperglycemia or other metabolic disorders. This study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic effect and the regulation of the gut microbiota caused by berberine and Bifidobacterium and the possible additive benefits of their combination. METHODS: This was an 18-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled study of patients newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia. After a 2-week run-in period, 300 participants were randomly assigned to the following four groups for 16 weeks of treatment: berberine (Be), Bifidobacterium (Bi), berberine and Bifidobacterium (BB), and placebo group. The primary efficacy endpoint was the absolute value of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) compared with baseline after 16 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Between October 2015 and April 2018, a total of 297 participants were included in the primary analysis. Significant reductions of FPG were observed in the Be and BB groups compared with the placebo group, with a least square (LS) mean difference of - 0.50, 95% CI [- 0.85, - 0.15] mmol/L, and - 0.55, 95% CI [- 0.91, - 0.20] mmol/L, respectively. The Be and BB groups also showed significant reductions in 2-h postprandial plasma glucose. A pronounced decrease in HbA1c occurred in the BB group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, compared with the Bi and placebo groups, the Be and BB groups had more changes in the gut microbiota from the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Berberine could regulate the structure and function of the human gut microbiota, and Bifidobacterium has the potential to enhance the hypoglycemic effect of berberine. These findings provide new insights into the hypoglycemic potential of berberine and Bifidobacterium. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03330184. Retrospectively registered on 18 October 2017.

Comparison of Blood Glucose Variability Between Exenatide and Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 in Chinese Participants with Type 2 Diabetes Inadequately Controlled with Metformin Monotherapy: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: To compare blood glucose variability (GV) in Chinese participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) whose blood glucose levels are inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy after twice-daily exenatide or biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp30). METHODS: In this 16-week multicenter, randomized clinical trial, 104 participants were randomized 1:1 to receive exenatide (exenatide group) or BIAsp30 (BIAsp30 group) twice daily. All participants continued metformin treatment. The primary outcome was the change in GV as measured by a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) from baseline to 16 weeks. RESULTS: At 16 weeks, both the Exenatide and BIAsp30 groups effectively decreased mean glucose (MG), but neither group changed the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), largest amplitude of glycemic excursion (LAGE), mean of daily difference (MODD), or standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG). The decrease in 2-h post-breakfast glucose excursions was greater in the Exenatide group compared to the BIAsp30 group, with a least square (LS) mean difference [95% CI] of (1.58 [0.53, 2.63]). Exenatide also significantly reduced 2-h post-lunch glucose excursion compared to BIAsp30 (LS mean difference [95% CI], 1.19 [0.18, 2.20]). The Exenatide group had significantly reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI), while the BIAsp30 group had increased weight and had no change in BMI. Both treatments were well tolerated with no serious hypoglycemic events and with fewer identified hypoglycemic events in the Exenatide group than in the BIAsp30 group (5.77% vs. 17.31%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although there was no difference in change of GV between Exenatide and BIAsp30, exenatide provided more improvement in postprandial glucose excursion and weight control, without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia in Chinese patients with T2DM whose blood glucose was inadequately controlled with metformin. These findings may provide new options for patients who choose further hypoglycemic treatment, especially in patients with obesity who have large postprandial plasma glucose excursions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov indentifier: NCT02449603.

Efficacy and safety of a needle-free injector in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with basal insulin: a multicentre, prospective, randomised, crossover study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a needle-free injector in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with basal insulin. Methods: 62 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in a multicenter, randomised, prospective, open-label, crossover study. All patients received subcutaneous insulin glargine administered by a needle-free injector or a glargine pen for 7 ~ 14 days, and were then crossed over after wash out. Results: Patients in the insulin needle-free injector (NFI) and glargine pen (GP) groups achieved similar fasting blood glucose control . However, the dosage of insulin required to achieve the target FBG level in the NFI group was lower than in the GP group (16.14 ± 5.13 U/day vs 19.25 ± 6.20 U/day, respectively; p = 0.0046). This difference was more significant in patients who received higher insulin dosages compared with those receiving lower dosages. Use of the needle-free injector was also associated with significantly less pain (p < 0.001) and less fear of injection (p < 0.001) than glargine pens. Conclusion: The use of a needle-free injector can significantly lower the dosage of insulin required to achieve good glycemic control and reduce topical adverse reactions and the fear of injections as well, which help to improve patient compliance. Clinical Trial Registration Number KY20172077-1; NCT03420040.