The Treatment of Refractory Vitiligo With Autologous Cultured Epithelium Grafting: A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical intervention is the main therapy for refractory vitiligo. We developed a modified autologous cultured epithelial grafting (ACEG) technique for vitiligo treatment. Between January 2015 and June 2019, a total of 726 patients with vitiligo underwent ACEG in China, with patient characteristics and clinical factors being meticulously documented. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we were able to assess the association between these characteristics and the repigmentation rate. RESULTS: ACEG demonstrated a total efficacy rate of 82.81% (1754/2118) in treating 726 patients, with a higher repigmentation rate of 64.87% compared to conventional surgery at 52.69%. Notably, ACEG showed a better response in treating segmental vitiligo, lesions on lower limbs, age ≤ 18, and stable period > 3 years. A keratinocyte:melanocyte ratio below 25 was found to be advantageous too. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed an increase in melanocyte count and 2 subclusters of keratinocytes after ACEG, which remained higher in repigmented sites even after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: ACEG is a promising therapy for refractory vitiligo. Patient age, clinical type, lesion site, and stability before surgery influence repigmentation in ACEG. The mechanism of repigmentation after ACEG treatment is likely not confined to the restoration of melanocyte populations. It may also involve an increase in the number of keratinocytes that support melanocyte function within the affected area. These keratinocytes may aid the post-transplant survival and function of melanocytes by secreting cytokines and extracellular matrix components. TRIAL REGISTRATION: registered with Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100051405).

Enhanced quality of hESC-derived melanocytes through modified concentration of endothelin-1.

The study investigated the effectiveness of EDN1 and EDN3 cytokines in the differentiation of melanocytes from hESCs. The findings showed that 100 nM EDN1 was more effective in promoting hESC to CD117+/TYR+ melanoblasts compared to 100 nM EDN3. Additionally, maintaining melanoblasts is beneficial for preserving the ability to proliferate. The study found that 10 nM EDN1 helped maintain the proliferation of melanoblasts without over maturing them into melanocytes in the late stage of differentiation. Thus, using 100 nM EDN1 in the initial stage and 10 nM EDN1 in the late stage proved to be an efficient and cost-effective method for obtaining hESC-derived melanocytes. The preliminary results suggest that EDN1 promotes melanoblast formation during the initial differentiation stage through its binding to both the EDNRB receptor and EDNRA receptor. This study provides a valuable tool for studying the development of human melanocytes and modelling the biology of disease.

Intraindividual difference in estimated GFR by creatinine and cystatin C, cognitive trajectories and motoric cognitive risk syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Intraindividual differences between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on cystatin C (eGFRcys) and creatinine (eGFRcr) can convey important clinical information regarding the health status. However, the clinical implications of these differences (eGFRdiff) for risk of cognitive decline and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations of eGFRdiff with cognitive trajectories and incident MCR. METHODS: Based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we identified two study sub-cohorts: one for cognitive trajectory follow-up (6423 participants; years:2011-2018) and another for incident MCR follow-up (2477 participants; years:2011-2015). The eGFRdiff was defined as eGFRcys minus eGFRcr. Adjusted ordinal and binary logistics regression models were separately used to assess the associations of eGFRdiff with cognitive trajectories and incident MCR. We also performed discordance analyses for eGFRdiff vs eGFRcys, eGFRcr or eGFR based on both creatinine and cystatin C (eGFRcys-cr). RESULTS: In the first sub-cohort, four distinct 7-year cognitive trajectories were identified. Each 1-SD higher eGFRdiff (value for eGFRcys minus eGFRcr) was associated with a lower risk of poorer cognitive trajectories (OR: 0.909, 95% CI: 0.877-0.942). In the second sub-cohort, 121 participants developed incident MCR after a 4-year follow-up. Each 1-SD higher eGFRdiff (value for eGFRcys minus eGFRcr) was linked with a 25.3% (95%CI: 16.6%-33.2%) decreased risk for MCR. The above associations persisted in individuals with normal kidney function. Additionally, the risk for cognitive decline and incident MCR was more strongly associated with eGFRcys than eGFRcr and eGFRcys-cr. For the discordance analyses, 'discordantly high eGFRdiff/low eGFR' group, but not 'discordantly low eGFRdiff/high eGFR', exhibited a significantly lower risk of poorer cognitive trajectories and MCR compared to the concordant group. CONCLUSIONS: A large negative difference between eGFRcys and eGFRcr (eGFRcys lower than eGFRcr) was associated with higher risk of cognitive decline and incident MCR. The eGFRdiff could capture additional valuable risk information beyond eGFRcys, eGFRcr, and eGFRcys-cr.

Separate and Joint Associations of Remnant Cholesterol Accumulation and Variability With Carotid Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background We aimed to examine separate and joint associations of remnant cholesterol (RC) accumulation and variability with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in the general population. Methods and Results A total of 6213 participants who underwent 3 sequential health examinations during 2010 to 2015 were enrolled and were followed up until December 31, 2021. Cumulative RC (cumRC) and RC variability among the 3 visits were the exposure of interest in our study. Adjusted Cox models were performed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. C-statistics, integrated discrimination improvement, and the net reclassification index were used to estimate the incremental predictive ability. During a median follow-up of 4.00 years, 2613 participants developed CAS. Higher cumRC (HR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.17-1.52]) and greater RC variability (HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.08-1.39]) were significantly associated with elevated risk of CAS, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the median of cumRC and RC variability to assess their joint associations. Compared with "low cumRC and low variability," "high cumRC and high variability" had the highest risk of CAS, followed by "high cumRC and low variability" and "low cumRC and high variability." Finally, joint assessment of RC accumulation and variability had the significantly highest incremental effect on the predictive value of CAS versus single-time-point measures of RC. Conclusions Excessive cumRC levels and greater RC variability were each independently associated with higher incidence of CAS, and their coexistence could further yield significantly higher risks.

Association Between Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Constituents and Progression of Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Beijing: Modifying Effect of Greenness.

Few studies have explored the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its constituents on the progression of cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) and the potential modifying role of greenness. In this study, we investigated the association of PM2.5 and its constituents, including sulfate (SO4 2-), nitrate (NO3 -), ammonium (NH4 +), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC), with the progression of BFV in the middle cerebral artery. Participants from the Beijing Health Management Cohort who underwent at least two transcranial Doppler sonography examinations during 2015-2020 were recruited. BFV change and BFV change rate were used to define the progression of cerebral BFV. Linear mixed effects models were employed to analyze the data, and the weighted quantile sum regression assessed the contribution of PM2.5 constituents. Additionally, greenness was examined as a modifier. Among the examined constituents, OM exhibited the strongest association with BFV progression. An interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and OM exposure concentrations was associated with a decrease of -16.519 cm/s (95% CI: -17.837, -15.201) and -15.403 cm/s (95% CI: -16.681, -14.126) in BFV change, and -10.369 cm/s/year (95% CI: -11.387, -9.352) and -9.615 cm/s/year (95% CI: -10.599, -8.632) in BFV change rate, respectively. Furthermore, stronger associations between PM2.5 and BFV progression were observed in individuals working in areas with lower greenness, those aged under 45 years, and females. In conclusion, reducing PM2.5 levels in the air, particularly the OM constituent, and enhancing greenness could potentially contribute to the protection of cerebrovascular health.

Associations of time-weighted individual exposure to ambient particulate matter with carotid atherosclerosis in Beijing, China.

BACKGROUND: Time-location information (time spent on commuting, indoors and outdoors around residential and work places and physical activity) and infiltrated outdoor pollution was less considered estimating individual exposure to ambient air pollution. Studies investigating the association between individual exposure to particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm (PM10) and < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and carotid atherosclerosis presented inconsistent results. Moreover, combined effect of pollutants on carotid atherosclerosis was not fully explored. We aimed to investigate the association between long-term individual time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis, and further explore the overall effect of co-exposure to pollutants on carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS: The study population included 3069 participants derived from the Beijing Health Management Cohort (BHMC) study. Daily concentration of ambient air pollutants was estimated by land-use regression model at both residential and work addresses, and one- and two-year time-weighted average individual exposure was calculated by further considering personal activity pattern and infiltration of ambient air pollution indoors. We explored the association of PM2.5 and PM10 with carotid atherosclerosis and pooled the overall effect of co-exposure to ambient air pollutants by quantile g-computation. RESULTS: A significant association between time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and carotid atherosclerosis was observed. Per interquartile range increase in two-year exposure to PM2.5 (Hazard ratio (HR): 1.322, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.219-1.434) and PM10 (HR:1.213, 95% CI: 1.116-1.319) showed the strongest association with carotid atherosclerosis, respectively. Individuals in higher quartiles of pollutants were at higher risk for carotid atherosclerosis compared with those in the lowest quartile group. Concentration response functions documented the nearly linear and nonlinear relationship and interpreted the upward trends of the risk for carotid atherosclerosis with increasing level of pollutant concentrations. Moreover, effect estimates for the mixture of pollutants and carotid atherosclerosis were larger than any of the individual pollutants (HR (95% CI) was 1.510 (1.338-1.704) and 1.613 (1.428-1.822) per quartile increase for one-year and two-year time-weighted average exposure, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Individual time-weighted average exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with carotid atherosclerosis. Co-exposure to ambient air pollution was also positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis.

Combined Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure Promotes Risk Stratification of Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background: Previous studies have reported the separate association of arterial stiffness (AS) and blood pressure with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk stratification capacity of AS on incident PAD beyond blood pressure status. Methods: A total of 8,960 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort were enrolled at the first health visit between 2008 and 2018 and then followed until the incidence of PAD or 2019. Elevated AS was defined as brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) >1,400 cm/s, including moderate stiffness (1,400 ≤ baPWV <1,800 cm/s) and severe stiffness (baPWV ≥1,800 cm/s). PAD was defined as ankle-brachial index <0.9. A frailty Cox model was used to calculate the HR, integrated discrimination improvement, and net reclassification improvement. Results: During follow-up, 225 participants (2.5%) developed PAD. After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest risk for PAD was observed in the group with elevated AS and blood pressure (HR: 2.253; 95% CI: 1.472-3.448). Among participants with ideal blood pressure and those with well-controlled hypertension, PAD risk was still significant for severe AS. The results remained consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses. In addition, baPWV significantly improved the predictive capacity for PAD risk beyond systolic and diastolic blood pressures (integrated discrimination improvement 0.020 and 0.190, net reclassification improvement 0.037 and 0.303). Conclusions: This study suggests the clinical importance of combined evaluation and control of AS and blood pressure for the risk stratification and prevention of PAD.

Divergent Reaction of Indoline-derived Azadienes with α-Bromohydroxamates: Synthesis of Spiro-indolinepyrrolidinones and Indoline-fused Diazepinones.

A divergent reaction of indoline-derived azadienes with α-bromohydroxamates for the selective synthesis of spiro-indolinepyrrolidinones and indoline-fused diazepinones was disclosed. This reaction sequence involved an initial formation of five-membered spirocyclic products followed by an intramolecular ring-opening and ring expansion to produce seven-membered diazepinones. We demonstrated that controlling the reaction time could modulate the reaction pathway for formation of different molecular frameworks for the same set of substrates. Based on the experimental results, the reaction mechanism was also discussed and proposed to explain the phenomena observed in the process.

Longitudinal association of remnant cholesterol with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL cholesterol.

BACKGROUND: Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are closely related with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Remnant cholesterol (RC) could predict CVD. However, its effect on joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of RC with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression trajectories in the general population. METHODS: This study collected data across five biennial surveys of the Beijing Health Management Cohort from 2010 to 2019. Multi-trajectory model was used to determine the joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI). We also performed discordance analyses for RC vs. low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using ordinal logistics model. RESULTS: A total of 3186 participants were included, with three clusters following distinct arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns identified using a multi-trajectory model. In the multivariable-adjusted ordinal logistics analyses, RC was significantly associated with baPWV and ABI progression (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13-1.28, per 10 mg/dL). For the discordance analyses, the discordant low RC group was associated with decreased risk compared to the concordant group (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60-0.89). People with a high RC level were at an increased risk of joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression, even with optimal LDL-C. CONCLUSIONS: RC is independently associated with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL-C. RC could be an earlier risk factor than LDL-C of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis in the general population.

Bidirectional Associations between Daytime Napping Duration and Metabolic Syndrome: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the bidirectional associations between daytime napping duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2015, modified Poisson regression models were performed to explore the longitudinal associations of baseline napping duration with the occurrence and remission of MetS. Generalized estimating equation was conducted to explore the association between baseline MetS status with subsequent changes in daytime napping duration. Cross-lagged panel analysis was performed to further verify their bidirectional relationships. RESULTS: During the four-year follow-up, among 5041 participants without MetS at baseline, extended naps were significantly associated with MetS occurrence, compared with non-napping. This association was only significant in individuals with adequate night-time sleep duration or good sleep quality of the 2898 participants with MetS at baseline. Excessive napping duration may be not favorable for MetS remission especially for adequate night-time sleepers. With respect to reverse associations, baseline MetS status significantly increased the napping duration during the subsequent follow-up period. Finally, there were significant bidirectional cross-lagged associations between napping duration and MetS severity score after adjusting for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates bidirectional relationships exist between daytime napping duration and MetS. Interestingly, longer napping duration was detrimental to cardiometabolic health only in those with sufficient night-time sleep duration or good sleep quality.

Mutual effect of homocysteine and uric acid on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.

Background: Arterial stiffness is a major risk factor and effective predictor of cardiovascular diseases and a common pathway of pathological vascular impairments. Homocysteine (Hcy) and uric acid (UA) own the shared metabolic pathways to affect vascular function. Serum uric acid (UA) has a great impact on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk, while the mutual effect with Hcy remains unknown yet. This study aimed to evaluate the mutual effect of serum Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and 10-year cardiovascular risk in the general population. From the perspective of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM), we assumed that combined assessment of Hcy and UA provides a better tool for targeted prevention and personalized intervention of cardiovascular diseases via suppressing arterial stiffness. Methods: This study consisted of 17,697 participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort, who underwent health examination between January 2012 and December 2019. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as an index of arterial stiffness. Results: Individuals with both high Hcy and UA had the highest baPWV, compared with those with low Hcy and low UA (ß: 30.76, 95% CI: 18.36-43.16 in males; ß: 53.53, 95% CI: 38.46-68.60 in females). In addition, these individuals owned the highest 10-year cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.26-1.76 in males; OR: 7.61, 95% CI: 4.63-12.68 in females). Of note, males with high homocysteine and low uric acid were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular risk (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.47), but not the high uric acid and low homocysteine group (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.90-1.16). Conclusions: This study found the significantly mutual effect of Hcy and UA on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk using a large population and suggested the clinical importance of combined evaluation and control of Hcy and UA for promoting cardiovascular health. The adverse effect of homocysteine on arteriosclerosis should be addressed beyond uric acid, especially for males. Monitoring of the level of both Hcy and UA provides a window opportunity for PPPM/3PM in the progression of arterial stiffness and prevention of CVD. Hcy provides a novel predictor beyond UA of cardiovascular health to identify individuals at high risk of arterial stiffness for the primary prevention and early treatment of CVD. In the progressive stage of arterial stiffness, active control of Hcy and UA levels from the aspects of dietary behavior and medication treatment is conducive to alleviating the level of arterial stiffness and reducing the risk of CVD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical effect of Hcy and UA targeted intervention on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular health. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-022-00298-x.

Moderate increase of serum uric acid within a normal range is associated with improved cognitive function in a non-normotensive population: A nationally representative cohort study.

Background: Associations between serum uric acid (SUA) and changes in cognitive function are understudied in non-normotensive populations, and many previous studies only considered the baseline SUA at a single time point. We aimed to examine the effects of baseline SUA and 4-year changes in SUA on cognitive changes in the non-normotensive population. Materials and methods: In the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), cognitive function was measured based on executive function and episodic memory in four visits (years: 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018). We identified two study cohorts from CHARLS. The first cohort included 3,905 non-normotensive participants. Group-based single-trajectory and multi-trajectory models were applied to identify 7-year cognitive trajectories. Adjusted ordinal logistics models were performed to assess the association between baseline SUA and 7-year cognitive trajectories, and subgroup analyses were conducted according to the presence of hyperuricemia or SUA levels. The second cohort included 2,077 eligible participants. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the effect of a 4-year change in SUA on cognitive change during the subsequent 3-year follow-up. Results: Four distinct single-trajectories of global cognitive performance and four multi-trajectories of executive function and episodic memory were identified. Higher baseline SUA levels were significantly associated with more favorable cognitive single-trajectories (OR Q4 vs. Q1: 0.755; 95% CI: 0.643, 0.900) and multi-trajectories (OR Q4 vs. Q1: 0.784; 95% CI: 0.659, 0.933). Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effect of SUA was significant in the non-hyperuricemia groups or the low-level SUA groups. Additionally, changes in SUA could influence future cognitive changes. Compared with non-hyperuricemia participants with elevated SUA, non-hyperuricemia participants with decreased SUA and patients with persistent hyperuricemia had a higher risk for cognitive decline. Furthermore, only the Q3 group of changes in SUA could enhance global cognitive function compared with the Q1 group (ß: 0.449; 95% CI: 0.073, 0.826). Conclusion: Our study indicates that the maintenance of normal SUA levels and a moderate increase of SUA were advantageous in improving cognitive function or trajectories in a non-normotensive population. Conversely, SUA may impair cognitive function in patients with persistent hyperuricemia.

Glycated Hemoglobin and Risk of Arterial Stiffness in a Chinese Han Population: A Longitudinal Study.

Background and Aims: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) associates with the risk of arterial stiffness, and such association can be found between fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), and arterial stiffness. However, the results were inconsistent, longitudinal studies were sparse, and comparison of these glycemic parameters was less conducted. We aimed to explore the longitudinal relationship between HbA1c and arterial stiffness and compare the effect of the parameters. Methods: Data were collected from 2011 to 2019 in Beijing Health Management Cohort (BHMC) study. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to investigate the association between the parameters and arterial stiffness. A generalized estimation equation (GEE) analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of repeated measurements of glycemic parameters. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare the predictive value of glycemic parameters for arterial stiffness. Results: Among 3,048 subjects, 591 were diagnosed as arterial stiffness during the follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for arterial stiffness of the highest quartile group of HbA1c was 1.63 (1.22-2.18), which was higher than those of FBG, PBG, and TyG index. The nonlinear association of arterial stiffness with HbA1c and PBG was proved. The robust results of the sensitivity analysis were obtained. Conclusions: HbA1c is an important risk factor of arterial stiffness compared with PBG, FBG, and TyG index, and has a strong predictive ability for arterial stiffness among non-diabetics and the general population.

Synthesis, modification and application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been heavily investigated owing to its low cost, benign nature and strong photocatalytic ability. Thus, TiO2 has broad applications including photocatalysts, Li-ion batteries, solar cells, medical research and so on. However, the performance of TiO2 is not satisfactory due to many factors such as the broad band gap (3.01 to 3.2 eV) and fast recombination of electron-hole pairs (10-12 to 10-11 s). Plenty of work has been undertaken to improve the properties, such as structural and dopant modifications, which broaden the applications of TiO2. This review mainly discusses the aspects of TiO2-modified nanoparticles including synthetic methods, modifications and applications.

Association of visceral adiposity index with incident nephropathy and retinopathy: a cohort study in the diabetic population.

BACKGROUND: The association between visceral adiposity index (VAI) and diabetic complications has been reported in cross-sectional studies, while the effect of VAI on complication development remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the longitudinal association of VAI and Chinese VAI (CVAI) with the incidence of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy using a Chinese cohort. METHODS: A total of 8 948 participants with type 2 diabetes from Beijing Health Management Cohort were enrolled during 2013-2014, and followed until December 31, 2019. Nephropathy was confirmed by urine albumin/creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate; retinopathy was diagnosed using fundus photograph. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age was 53.35 (14.66) years, and 6 154 (68.8%) were men. During a median follow-up of 4.82 years, 467 participants developed nephropathy and 90 participants developed retinopathy. One-SD increase in VAI and CVAI levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of nephropathy, and the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were 1.127 (95% CI 1.050-1.210) and 1.165 (95% CI 1.003-1.353), respectively. On contrary, VAI and CVAI level were not associated with retinopathy after adjusting confounding factors. CONCLUSION: VAI and CVAI are independently associated with the development of nephropathy, but not retinopathy in Chinese adults with diabetes.

High-intensity physical activity is not associated with better cognition in the elder: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association of physical activity (PA) intensity with cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. METHODS: A total of 4039 participants aged 45 years or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in visit 1 (2011-2012) and followed for cognitive function in visit 2 (2013-2014), visit 3 (2015-2016), and visit 4 (2017-2018). We analyzed the association of PA intensity with global cognition, episodic memory, and mental intactness at baseline using adjusted regression methods and evaluated the long-term effect of PA intensity using multiple measures of cognition scores by mixed effect model. RESULTS: In cross-sectional analysis, mild and moderate PA, rather than vigorous PA, was associated with better cognitive performance. The results remained consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses. During the follow-up, participant with mild PA had a 0.56 (95% CI 0.12-0.99) higher global cognition, 0.23 (95% CI 0.01-0.46) higher episodic memory, and 0.33 (95% CI 0.01-0.64) higher mental intactness, while those with moderate PA had a 0.74 (95% CI 0.32-1.17) higher global score, 0.32 (95% CI 0.09-0.54) higher episodic memory, and 0.43 (95% CI 0.12-0.74) higher mental intactness, compared with individuals without PA. Vigorous PA was not beneficial to the long-term cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that mild and moderate PA could improve cognitive performance, rather than the vigorous activity. The targeted intensity of PA might be more effective to achieve the greatest cognition improvement considering age and depressive status.

Human embryonic stem cell-derived melanocytes exhibit limited immunogenicity.

Although surgical interventions have become optional for refractory vitiligo, grafting related injuries is inevitable. Embryonic stem cell (ESC) derivatives can be used in transplantation to address this issue, but the immune rejection due to allogeneic transplantation is of great concern. To investigate the immunogenicity of ESC derived melanocytes (ES-MC), we established a co-culture system of ES-MC and allogeneic PBMC. The results showed that ES-MC were similar to human primary melanocytes, with low expression of immune related molecules, and limited capability of stimulating allogeneic lymphocytes in vitro. Taken together, our findings confirm that ES-MC are of limited immunogenicity, providing new insights into the application of ES-MC in the regenerative medicine such as treating vitiligo.

Association of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with arterial stiffness progression in a non-normotensive population.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have reported that insulin resistance (IR) is associated with arterial stiffness. However, the relationship between IR and arterial stiffness progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio with arterial stiffness progression in a non-normotensive population. METHODS: A total of 1895 prehypertensive (systolic pressure 120-139 mmHg or diastolic pressure 80-90 mmHg) or hypertensive (systolic pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or using antihypertensive medication) participants were enrolled in 2013 and 2014, and followed until December 31, 2019. Arterial stiffness progression was measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) change (absolute difference between baseline and last follow-up), baPWV change rate (change divided by following years), and baPWV slope (regression slope between examination year and baPWV). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.71 years, we observed an increasing trend of baPWV in the population. There were linear and positive associations of the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with the three baPWV parameters. The difference (95% CI) in baPWV change (cm/s) comparing participants in the highest quartile versus the lowest of TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio were 129.5 (58.7-200.0) and 133.4 (52.0-214.9), respectively. Similarly, the evaluated baPWV change rates (cm/s/year) were 37.6 (15.3-60.0) and 43.5 (17.8-69.2), while the slopes of baPWV were 30.6 (9.3-51.8) and 33.5 (9.0-58.0). The observed association was stronger in the hypertensive population. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio are significantly associated with arterial stiffness progression in hypertensive population, not in prehypertensive population.

Triglyceride glucose index and carotid atherosclerosis incidence in the Chinese population: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The association of the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index with carotid atherosclerosis has not been reported in longitudinal studies. The present study aimed to investigate whether the TyG index increases the risk of carotid atherosclerosis incidence. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included data from the Beijing Health Management Cohort (BHMC; n = 6955) and the Beijing Physical Examination Cohort (BPEC; n = 8473). Participants without a history of carotid atherosclerosis who underwent health examination in 2011 or 2012 were annually followed until 2019. The TyG index was denoted as ln [triglycerides (mmol/L)∗fasting glucose (mmol/L)/2]. During a median follow-up of 5.02 years and 5.36 years, 1441 individuals in the BHMC group and 2181 individuals in the BPEC group developed carotid plaque, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of the continuous TyG index were 1.253 (95% CI, 1.044 to 1.505) and 1.252 (95% CI, 1.091 to 1.437) for the BHMC and BPEC groups, respectively. Individuals in the highest quartile of the TyG index were associated with an increased risk of carotid plaque compared with those in the lowest quartile (BHMC: HR, 1.366; 95% CI, 1.101 to 1.695, P for trend = 0.010; BPEC: HR, 1.379; 95% CI, 1.196 to 1.591, P for trend = 0.013). CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that a higher TyG index increases the risk of carotid atherosclerosis incidence in the general population.

A constructed wetland system with aquatic macrophytes for cleaning contaminated runoff/storm water from urban area in Florida.

A community of aquatic macrophytes has an important role in reducing nutrient load and organic and inorganic contaminants in storm/runoff water. However, minimal information is available regarding the efficiency of constructed wetlands for cleaning runoff water from urban areas, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. This study investigated the effectiveness of constructed wetland integrated with aquatic macrophytes for removal of chemical and microbial contaminants in the storm/runoff water from the urban areas. Water samples were monthly collected in the constructed wetland from the inlet of storm/runoff water, middle and outlet of discharge, and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, concentrations of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliform (FC) during the period of November, 2016 to April, 2018 in St. Lucie county, Florida, USA. The dominant plant species in the constructed wetland included cattail (Typha latifolia), waterthyme (Hydrilla verticillata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and periphyton filamentous algae (Spirogyra). The improvement of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) was not obvious, but the concentration of total suspended solids was significantly reduced. This system was effective in the removal of fecal coliform (by 68%) and particulate phosphorus (P, 72%), followed by total P (42%) and N (35%). Concentrations of metallic pollutants including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) were mostly below the detection limit (<1 ppb) except for zinc (Zn), of which concentration was reduced by 23%. The removal of FC was consistently effective all the year round, whereas the removal of total N, P and particulate-P was effective in spring and summer, and less in autumn and winter. These results indicate that constructed wetland with a natural aquatic plant community can effectively reduce the loads of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliforms in water column. Regular harvest of aquatic macrophytes communities and collecting litters may further improve the system efficiency for cleaning storm water from urban areas.