Rotational diffusion of colloidal microspheres near flat walls.

Recently, colloids with an off-center fluorescent core and homogeneous composition have been developed to measure the rotational diffusivity of microparticles using 3D confocal microscopy in refractive index-matched suspensions. Here, we show that the same particles may be imaged using a standard fluorescence microscope to yield their rotational diffusion coefficients. Trajectories of the off-center core may be combined with known expressions for the correlation decay of particle orientations to determine an effective rotational diffusivity. For sedimented particles, we also find the rotational diffusivity about axes perpendicular and parallel to the interface by adding some bright field illumination and simultaneously tracking both the core and the particle. Trajectories for particles of different sizes yield excellent agreement with hydrodynamic models of rotational diffusion near flat walls, taking the sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium into account. Finally, we explore the rotational diffusivity of particles in crowded two-dimensional monolayers, finding a different reduction of the rotational motion about the two axes depending on the colloidal microstructure.

Association between metabolic score of visceral fat and carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese health screening population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic score for visceral fat (METS-VF) quantifies the cumulative burden of visceral and intra-abdominal adipose tissues. However, the relationship between the METS-VF and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) has not been extensively explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the METS-VF and CAS. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 7089 Chinese adults who underwent physical examinations at the Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital, Zhejiang, China, in 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the linear relationship between METS-VF and CAS. Generalised additive models (GAM) were employed to evaluate potential nonlinear associations. The inflection points of METS-VF were determined using segmented logistic regression analysis optimised for maximum likelihood ratios and recursive algorithms. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between METS-VF and CAS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.824, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.753-1.899; P < 0.001). The GAM analysis confirmed a nonlinear association between them [effective degrees of freedom: 4.803, χ2: 876.7, P < 0.001], with an inflection point at a METS-VF of 8.09 (P < 0.001 for log-likelihood ratio test). Below this inflection point, METS-VF exhibited a significant positive association with CAS risk (OR: 1.874, 95% CI: 1.796-1.954; P < 0.001). Conversely, no significant association was observed when METS-VF ≥ 8.09 (OR: 0.998, 95% CI: 0.786-1.268; P = 0.989). CONCLUSIONS: METS-VF and CAS demonstrated a positive non-linear correlation, with the curve indicating a saturation effect at METS-VF = 8.09.

Predicting the 5-Year Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Using Machine Learning Models: Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a worldwide public health issue. Identifying and targeting populations at a heightened risk of developing NAFLD over a 5-year period can help reduce and delay adverse hepatic prognostic events. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the 5-year incidence of NAFLD in the Chinese population. It also aimed to establish and validate a machine learning model for predicting the 5-year NAFLD risk. METHODS: The study population was derived from a 5-year prospective cohort study. A total of 6196 individuals without NAFLD who underwent health checkups in 2010 at Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital in Ningbo, China, were enrolled in this study. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)-recursive feature elimination, combined with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), was used to screen for characteristic predictors. A total of 6 machine learning models, namely logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, categorical boosting, and XGBoost, were utilized in the construction of a 5-year risk model for NAFLD. Hyperparameter optimization of the predictive model was performed in the training set, and a further evaluation of the model performance was carried out in the internal and external validation sets. RESULTS: The 5-year incidence of NAFLD was 18.64% (n=1155) in the study population. We screened 11 predictors for risk prediction model construction. After the hyperparameter optimization, CatBoost demonstrated the best prediction performance in the training set, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.810 (95% CI 0.768-0.852). Logistic regression showed the best prediction performance in the internal and external validation sets, with AUROC curves of 0.778 (95% CI 0.759-0.794) and 0.806 (95% CI 0.788-0.821), respectively. The development of web-based calculators has enhanced the clinical feasibility of the risk prediction model. CONCLUSIONS: Developing and validating machine learning models can aid in predicting which populations are at the highest risk of developing NAFLD over a 5-year period, thereby helping delay and reduce the occurrence of adverse liver prognostic events.

LncRNA TUG1 functions as a ceRNA for miR-1-3p to promote cell proliferation in hepatic carcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterised by high malignancy, metastasis and recurrence, but the specific mechanism that drives these outcomes is unclear. Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic cells. METHODS: We searched for lncRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), which can regulate IGF1 expression, through a bioinformatics website, and predicted that lncRNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) would have multiple targets for miR-1-3p binding, meaning that lncRNA TUG1 played an adsorption role. A double luciferase assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between lncRNA TUG1 and miR-1-3p. Western blotting and qPCR were used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-1-3p and IGF1, and qPCR was used to verify the regulatory relationship between the lncRNA TUG1-miR-1-3p-IGF1 axis. CCK-8 was used to detect the growth activity of miRNA-transfected L-O2 cells, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle changes and apoptosis. RESULT: The proliferation cycle of L-O2 cells transfected with miR-1-3p mimics was significantly slowed. Flow cytometry showed that the proliferation of L-O2 cells was slowed, and the apoptosis rate was increased. In contrast, when L-O2 cells were transfected with miR-1-3p inhibitor, the expression of IGF1 was significantly upregulated, and the cell proliferation cycle was significantly accelerated. Flow cytometry showed that the cell proliferation rate was accelerated, and the apoptosis rate was reduced. CONCLUSION: LncRNA TUG1 can adsorb miR-1-3p as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to promote the expression of IGF1 and promote cell proliferation in hepatic carcinogenesis.

Low levels of serum IL-39 are associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-39 is a novel member of IL-12 cytokine family, but its role in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) is unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine serum levels of IL-39 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD) patients. METHODS: A total of 48 patients with HT, 50 patients with GD, and 45 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. Levels of serum IL-39 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with HC group, levels of serum IL-39 in patients with HT (p < 0.05) and GD (p < 0.01) were drastically reduced. Among patients with HT, serum IL-39 levels had a positive correlation with white blood cell count (WBC) count and free triiodothyronine level. Among patients with GD, the levels of IL-39 in serum were positively correlated with WBC count and C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: IL-39 may be a new potential predictor for patients with HT and GD.

Low serum interleukin-38 levels in patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) mainly includes Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), which is caused by individual genetics, autoimmune dysfunction, and a variety of external environmental factors. Interleukin (IL)-38 is involved in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, but little is known about IL-38 expression in AITD. METHODS: Fifty patients with GD, 50 with HT, and 50 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. Basic information of the participants was obtained through a physical examination. Immunological data were obtained by an automatic chemiluminescence immunoanalyzer. C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and the white blood cell count were measured. Serum IL-38 levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum IL-38 levels were significantly lower in the GD and HT groups than in the HC group (both p < 0.01). Serum CRP concentrations were significantly lower in the HT group than in the HC group (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.7736 (p < 0.01) for IL-38 and 0.7972 (p < 0.01) for IL-38 combined with CRP in the GD group. In the HT group, the area under the curve was 0.7276 (p < 0.01) for IL-38 and 0.7300 for IL-38 combined with CRP (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum IL-38 level is a potential new diagnostic biomarker in patients with GD and HT.

Helicobacter pylori infection associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenomatous polyps in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Gastric Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is linked with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy. This study aims to investigate the association of gastric H. pylori with colorectal adenomatous polyps (CAP) in the Chinese population. METHODS: One thousand three hundred seventy five workers of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Branch were recruited. Carbon-13 urea breathes test, and colorectal biopsies were utilized to detect H. pylori and CAP. The correlation between the number and distribution of CAP with H. pylori infection (HPI) was determined. Logistic regression models were applied to calculate the effect of H. pylori on the risk of CAP and pathway studio was used to attribute the cellular processes linking HPI and adenomatous polyps. RESULTS: One hundred Eighty participants were diagnosed as CAP, and 1195 participants were classified as healthy control. The prevalence of HPI in the CAP group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (57.8% verse 40.1%) (p<0.001). It was the number not the distribution of CAP corrected with H. pylori status. An increased risk of CAP was found to be associated with H. pylori (OR = 3.237; 95.0% CI 2.184-4.798, p = 0.00) even after multiple parameters adjustment. Pathway studio analysis demonstrated that HPI connected with CAP at multi-level. CONCLUSIONS: HPI is associated with an increased risk of CAP in the Chinese population.

Current status of treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ningbo, China.

BACKGROUND: The treatment status of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Ningbo has not been reported in the past. To evaluate the current status of T2DM in Ningbo and provide evidence to formulate more policies, a multicenter investigation was needed. METHODS: The Ningbo Clinical Research Group of Diabetes constituted nine hospitals. Participants included 3015 patients who visited the nine hospitals from June to December 2016. General characteristics, the medication situation, the laboratory indexes in nearly 3 months consisting of glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood glucose (FBG), and the results of ophthalmologic examination were investigated. The evaluation criteria were defined based on 2013 China guideline for T2DM. RESULTS: The 3015 subjects included 1685 men and 1330 women. The average age was 63.3 ± 13.0 years. The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia was 58.7% and 56.7%, respectively. In the examinees, nephropathy appeared in 11.6% and retinopathy in 14.5%. More than half (50.9%) of the subjects were overweight. The achievement rate of blood pressure (BP) was 39.6% (<140/80 mm Hg), FBG was 46.0% (4.4-7.0 mmol/L), HbA1c was 41.7% (<7.0%), and LDL-C was 51.7% (<1.8 mmol/L; and if accompanied by CHD, <2.6). CONCLUSION: Ningbo City T2DM status is not optimistic, and there is a big gap with the indicators.

A longitudinal epidemiological study on the triglyceride and glucose index and the incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) both bave been related to insulin resistance (IR). The study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between TyG index and NAFLD and to evaluate the ability of TyG, through comparing with the predictive value of other indexes, to identify individuals at risk for NAFLD. METHODS: Four thousand and five hundred thirty nine subjects without NAFLD initially were followed up for 9 years. Cox regression models were used to analyze the risk factors of NAFLD. RESULTS: Cox regression analyses indicated the TyG index was independently and positively associated with the risk of incident NAFLD. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the optimal cut-off level for TyG to predict incident NAFLD was 8.52 and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.77), which was larger than that of TG, ALT and FPG. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the elevation of the TyG index might predict increase risk for incident NAFLD and it may be suitable as a diagnostic criterion for NAFLD.

Serum Uric Acid Concentrations Can Predict Hypertension: A Longitudinal Population-Based Epidemiological Study.

An elevated serum uric acid concentration may be associated with hypertension, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. However, whether the elevation is causal or a consequence of hypertension among the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between the serum uric acid concentrations and hypertension among Chinese individuals. This study included 5105 subjects, initially without hypertension, who were followed up for 9 years. The subjects were divided into four groups based on the serum uric acid quartile. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyse the risk factors for hypertension development. Over the 9 years, 2259 of the subjects developed hypertension. The overall 9-year cumulative incidence of hypertension was 44.3%, ranging from 36.3% in quartile 1 to 42.4%, 44.1%, and 54.5% in quartiles 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p for trend<0.001). The Cox regression analyses indicated that the serum uric acid concentrations were independently and positively associated with the risk of incident hypertension. This longitudinal study demonstrated that high serum uric acid concentrations increase the risk of hypertension among the Chinese population.

Serum Uric Acid Levels and the Risk of Obesity: a Longitudinal Population-Based Epidemiological Study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a common chronic disease, and elevated serum uric acid has been suggested to be associated with obesity. However, whether the elevation is casual or a consequence of obesity remains unclear. We performed the study to investigate the longitudinal association between serum uric acid levels and obesity. METHODS: A total of 4411 initially obesity-free subjects were followed up for 9 years. The subjects were divided into groups according to the serum uric acid quartile. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for the development of obesity. RESULTS: Of the 4411 subjects, 1272 (28.8%) subjects developed obesity over 9 years of follow-up. The cumulative incidence of obesity was 21.7%, 26.4%, 31.0%, and 36.4% in quartile 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (p for trend < 0.001). Cox regression analyses indicated that serum uric acid levels were independently and positively associated with the risk of incident obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Our longitudinal study demonstrated that high serum uric acid levels increase the risk of obesity.

Triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index as a predictor of incident hypertension: a 9-year longitudinal population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and the triglyceride and glucose index both have been associated with insulin resistance; however, the longitudinal association remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the longitudinal association between the triglyceride and glucose index and incident hypertension among the Chinese population. METHODS: We studied 4686 subjects (3177 males and 1509 females) and followed up for 9 years. The subjects were divided into four groups based on the triglyceride and glucose index. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyse the risk factors of hypertension. RESULTS: After 9 years of follow-up, 2047 subjects developed hypertension. The overall 9-year cumulative incidence of hypertension was 43.7%, ranging from 28.5% in quartile 1 to 36.9% in quartile 2, 49.2% in quartile 3 and 59.8% in quartile 4 (p for trend < 0.001). Cox regression analyses indicated that higher triglyceride and glucose index was associated with an increased risk of subsequent incident hypertension. CONCLUSION: The triglyceride and glucose index can predict the incident hypertension among the Chinese population.

Peripheral blood IRF1 expression as a marker for glucocorticoid sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: Despite of the common usage of glucocorticoids (GCs), a significant portion of asthma patients exhibit GC insensitivity. This could be mediated by diverse mechanisms, including genomics. Recent work has suggested that measuring changes in gene expression may provide more predictive information about GC insensitivity than baseline gene expression alone, and that expression changes in peripheral blood may be reflective of those in the airway. METHODS: We performed in silico discovery using gene expression omnibus (GEO) data that evaluated GC effect on gene expression in multiple tissue types. Subsequently, candidate genes whose expression levels are affected by GC were examined in cell lines and in primary cells derived from human airway and blood. RESULTS: Through gene expression omnibus analysis, we identified interferon regulator factor 1 (IRF1), whose expression is affected by GC treatment in airway smooth muscle cells, normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Significant IRF1 downregulation post GC exposure was confirmed in two cultured airway epithelial cell lines and primary NHBE cells (P<0.05). We observed large interindividual variation in GC-induced IRF1 expression changes among primary NHBE cells tested. Significant downregulation of IRF1 was also observed in six randomly selected LCLs (P<0.05), with variable degrees of downregulation among different samples. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from healthy volunteers, variable downregulation of IRF1 by GC was also shown. NFKB1, a gene whose expression is known to be downregulated by GC and the degree of downregulation of which is reflective of GC response, was used as a control in our study. IRF1 shows more consistent downregulation across tissue types when compared with NFKB1. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that GC-induced IRF1 gene expression changes in peripheral blood could be used as a marker to reflect GC response in the airway.

Molecular pathways regulating the formation of brown-like adipocytes in white adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue is functionally composed of brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue. The unique thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue results from expression of uncoupling protein 1 in the mitochondrial inner membrane. On the basis of recent findings that adult humans have functionally active brown adipose tissue, it is now recognized as playing a much more important role in human metabolism than was previously thought. More importantly, brown-like adipocytes can be recruited in white adipose tissue upon environmental stimulation and pharmacologic treatment, and this change is associated with increased energy expenditure, contributing to a lean and healthy phenotype. Thus, the promotion of brown-like adipocyte development in white adipose tissue offers novel possibilities for the development of therapeutic strategies to combat obesity and related metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the recruitment of brown-like adipocyte in white adipose tissue.

[An epidemiologic study of the relation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and glycosylated hemoglobin among middle-aged and aged people].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in middle-aged and aged population. METHODS: A total of 4 127 in-service workers and retirees aged 45 years old or above from one petrochemical enterprise in Ningbo were enrolled in our study. The waistline, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood-glucose, blood lipid profile, glutamyltranspeptidase, HbA1c and epigastrium B ultrasound were investigated. According to the quartile of HbA1c level, participants were divided into four groups, namely, Q1 group ≤5.2%, Q2 group >5.2%-5.4%, Q3>5.4%-5.6% and Q4 group>5.6%. The prevalence of NAFLD and clinical characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to predict independent risk factors of NAFLD. RESULTS: The morbidity of NAFLD was 27.2% with 31.9% in male and 21% in female, which was significantly higher in men. In Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 group, the prevalence of NAFLD were 18.5% (178/961), 22.8% (185/812), 25.6% (280/1 095), 38.1% (480/1 259) respectively. With the increase of HbA1c level, the morbidity of NAFLD increased synchronously. The age, systolic pressure, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterin and fasting blood-glucose were all elevated according to the increase of HbA1c in 1 123 NAFLD patients. Multi-factor logistic regression analysis indicated that high HbAlc level was the risk factor of NAFLD (OR=1.67, 95%CI 1.15-2.43, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: HbA1c is an independent risk factor of NAFLD and both of these are closely related to blood lipid metabolism disorder.

Development and Internal Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Carotid Atherosclerosis in the Hyperuricemia Population.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in a population with hyperuricemia (HUA) and develop a CAS risk prediction model. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 3579 HUA individuals who underwent health examinations, including carotid ultrasonography, at the Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital in Ningbo, China, in 2020. All participants were randomly assigned to the training and internal validation sets in a 7:3 ratio. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors associated with CAS. The characteristic variables were screened using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator combined with 10-fold cross-validation, and the resulting model was visualized by a nomogram. The discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility of the risk model were validated using the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Results: Sex, age, mean red blood cell volume, and fasting blood glucose were identified as independent risk factors for CAS in the HUA population. Age, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose, total triiodothyronine, and direct bilirubin, were screened to construct a CAS risk prediction model. In the training and internal validation sets, the risk prediction model showed an excellent discriminative ability with the area under the curve of 0.891 and 0.901, respectively, and a high level of fit. Decision curve analysis results demonstrated that the risk prediction model could be beneficial when the threshold probabilities were 1-87% and 1-100% in the training and internal validation sets, respectively. Conclusion: We developed and internally validated a risk prediction model for CAS in a population with HUA, thereby contributing to the CAS early identification.

Predicting the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis based on interpretable machine models in a Chinese T2DM population.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as a global public health concern. Identifying and preventing subclinical atherosclerosis (SCAS), an early indicator of CVD, is critical for improving cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to construct interpretable machine learning models for predicting SCAS risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: This study included 3084 T2DM individuals who received health care at Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital, Ningbo, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator combined with random forest-recursive feature elimination were used to screen for characteristic variables. Linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, Naive Bayes, random forest, support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting were employed in constructing risk prediction models for SCAS in T2DM patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was employed to assess the predictive capacity of the model through 10-fold cross-validation. Additionally, the SHapley Additive exPlanations were utilized to interpret the best-performing model. Results: The percentage of SCAS was 38.46% (n=1186) in the study population. Fourteen variables, including age, white blood cell count, and basophil count, were identified as independent risk factors for SCAS. Nine predictors, including age, albumin, and total protein, were screened for the construction of risk prediction models. After validation, the random forest model exhibited the best clinical predictive value in the training set with an AUC of 0.729 (95% CI: 0.709-0.749), and it also demonstrated good predictive value in the internal validation set [AUC: 0.715 (95% CI: 0.688-0.742)]. The model interpretation revealed that age, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol, and serum creatinine were the top five variables contributing to the prediction model. Conclusion: The construction of SCAS risk models based on the Chinese T2DM population contributes to its early prevention and intervention, which would reduce the incidence of adverse cardiovascular prognostic events.

Development of autoimmune thyroid disease after COVID-19 infection: case report.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 could trigger multiple immune responses, leading to several autoimmune diseases, including thyroid diseases. Many cases of thyroid diseases caused by COVID-19 infection have been reported. Here, we describe the disease development of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease after COVID-19 infection. Methods: The clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of five different patients with autoimmune thyroid disease after COVID-19 infection were reported. Results: Female patients with primary autoimmune thyroid disease which have been stable for many years were reported. One month after COVID-19 infection, the disease has undergone different evolution. Case 1, a patient with history of long-term stable Hashimoto's thyroiditis, suddenly suffered from Graves disease after COVID-19 infection. Case 2, a patient with history of long-term stable Hashimoto's thyroiditis with thyroid nodules, suddenly suffered from Graves disease after infection. Case 3, a patient with history of long-term stable Graves disease, suddenly suffered from worsening after infection. The above three cases showed thyroid-stimulating antibodies were enhanced. Case 4, a patient with history of previous hypothyroidism had an increase in thyroid-related antibody (TPOAb and TRAb) activity after infection, followed by a marked worsening of hypothyroidism. Case 5, a patient with no history of thyroid disease suddenly developed controllable "thyrotoxicosis" after infection, suggesting the diagnosis of painless thyroiditis. Conclusion: The five case reports show a different development of the primary autoimmune thyroid disease after COVID-19 infection. The change in the trend of thyroid disease is closely related to the immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance Index is Superior to the Triglyceride and Glucose Index in Identifying Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Hyperuricemia Subjects.

Purpose: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a recognized risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Early diagnosis and the identification of predictive factors are important for the HUA population. This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index and the triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index with NAFLD in individuals with HUA. Patients and Methods: A total of 5537 HUA participants were included in the study. Hepatic ultrasonography was conducted following the latest diagnostic criteria to diagnose NAFLD. The relationship between the TyG and METS-IR index and NAFLD was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline model (RCS). In addition, the area under the curve (AUC), positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were explored to compare the predictive value of IR surrogates for NAFLD with HUA. The AUCs of the two indicators were compared using the DeLong test. Results: Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated TyG (OR = 2.285, 95% CI: 1.525, 3.428) and METS-IR (OR = 1.242, 95% CI: 1.219, 1.266) indices significantly increase the risk of NAFLD. Meanwhile, the RCS analysis revealed a -log-shaped nonlinear relationship between NAFLD risk and the METS-IR index (P non-linear < 0.001), contrasting with the linear association observed with the TyG index (P non-linear = 0.763). Notably, the risk of NAFLD demonstrated a significant escalation when the METS-IR index exceeded the threshold of 39.208 (OR=1). Compared to the TyG index (AUC = 0.734, 95% CI: 0.721~0.748), the METS-IR index (AUC = 0.821, 95% CI: 0.810~0.832) demonstrated superior predictive value for NAFLD in individuals with HUA according to the DeLong test. Conclusion: In the HUA population, the METS-IR index has a higher predictive value for NAFLD than the TyG index, contributing to early diagnosis and disease prevention.

Interleukin-41 as a biomarker of the anti-inflammatory response associated with hyperuricemia.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-41 is a recently discovered secreted protein that is expressed in a variety of tissues, and it is associated with several immune and metabolic diseases. However, IL-41 has not been studied in hyperuricemia (HUA). METHODS: Forty-four HUA patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study, and we collected theirgeneral and biochemical parameters, including white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, fasting blood glucose, total triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and hemoglobin concentration. The level of serum IL-41 was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was exploited to identify the independent risk factors associated with HUA, and the clinical diagnostic value of IL-41 was analyzed by applying the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We assessed the association between IL-41 and clinical parameters with Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: Circulating IL-41 levels were significantly higher in HUA patients than in the HCs group (460.3 pg/mL vs. 261.3 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for IL-41 in HUA patients was 0.7443 (with a cut-off value of 311.055 pg/mL, a sensitivity of 68.18 %, and a specificity of 72.73 %), while the AUC for IL-41 combined with the platelet count was 0.8109. Correlation analysis revealed that the circulating IL-41 level was positively correlated with age in HCs and HUA patients. CONCLUSIONS: We herein demonstrated that serum IL-41 was elevated in HUA patients and that it may constitute a novel biomarker of anti-inflammatory response related to HUA.