Association between sonographically measured mesenteric fat thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in Chinese young male adults.

Objective To investigate the potential correlation between sonographically measured mesenteric fat thickness (MFT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in a sample of healthy Chinese male young adults. Methods Healthy male participants were recruited from Hong Kong Polytechnic University for this prospective observational study. The physical activity readiness questionnaire and ultrasound measurements of carotid intima media thickness were used to screen for clinically healthy subjects. MFT and brachial artery FMD were measured by ultrasound, and body mass index (BMI) was recorded. Results A total of 34 healthy male subjects, aged 19-26 years (mean ± SD BMI, 21.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2) were included. Pearson's correlation coefficient test showed that brachial artery FMD had a statistically significant inverse relationship with BMI and with Log (MFT). Further stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that Log (MFT), and not BMI, was an independent predictor of impaired brachial artery FMD. Conclusions Sonographic measurements of MFT were an independent predictor of brachial artery FMD in Chinese male young adults.

Diabetic nephropathy and endothelial dysfunction: Current and future therapies, and emerging of vascular imaging for preclinical renal-kinetic study.

An explosion in global epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus poses major rise in cases with vascular endothelial dysfunction ranging from micro- (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) to macro-vascular (atherosclerosis and cardiomyopathy) conditions. Functional destruction of endothelium is regarded as an early event that lays the groundwork for the development of renal microangiopathy and subsequent clinical manifestation of nephropathic symptoms. Recent research has shed some light on the molecular mechanisms of type 2 diabetes-associated comorbidity of endothelial dysfunction and nephropathy. Stemming from currently proposed endothelium-centered therapeutic strategies for diabetic nephropathy, this review highlighted some most exploited pathways that involve the intricate coordination of vasodilators, vasoconstrictors and vaso-modulatory molecules in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. We also emphasized the emerging roles of oxidative and epigenetic modifications of microvasculature as our prospective therapeutics for diabetic renal diseases. Finally, this review in particular addressed the potential use of multispectral optoacoustic tomography in real-time, minimally-invasive vascular imaging of small experimental animals for preclinical renal-kinetic drug trials.

Impact of information and communication technology on child health.

This article provides a general framework for understanding the use of information and communication technology in education and discusses the impact of computer usage on students' health and development. Potential beneficial and harmful effects of computer use by children are discussed. Early epidemiological and laboratory studies have indicated that children are at least of similar risk of developing musculoskeletal and vision problems as adults, and musculoskeletal and visual health problems developed in childhood are likely to persist into adulthood. This article, therefore, aims to provide a reflection on the deficits of existing policy and recommendations for child-specific guidelines in computer use.