Search

We compared the dynamic characteristics in renal autoregulation of blood flow of normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), using both linear and nonlinear systems analysis. Linear analysis yielded only limited information about the differences in dynamics between SDR and SHR. The predictive ability, as determined by normalized mean-square errors (NMSE), of a third-order Volterra model is better than for a linear model. This decrease in NMSE with a third-order model from that of a linear model is especially evident at frequencies below 0.2 Hz. Furthermore, NMSE are significantly higher in SHR than SDR, suggesting a more complex nonlinear system in SHR. The contribution of the third-order kernel in describing the dynamics of renal autoregulation in arterial blood pressure and blood flow was found to be important. Moreover, we have identified the presence of nonlinear interactions between the oscillatory components of the myogenic mechanism and tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) at the level of whole kidney blood flow in SDR. An interaction between these two mechanisms had previously been revealed for SDR only at the single nephron level. However, nonlinear interactions between the myogenic and TGF mechanisms are not detected for SHR. Index Terms - Hypertensive, Laguerre functions, myogenic, nonlineal system identification, renal autoregulation, TGF.

The value of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF)-initiated nephron-nephron interaction is greater in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in normotensive Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Increase in glomerular separation decreases the interaction strength. That interaction travels along preglomerular vasculature is seen from the dependence of interaction strength on glomerular distance. Study of TGF-initiated nephron-nephron interaction is conducted on SHR and SD rats.

An improved nonlinear modeling technique uses Volterra-Wiener kernels to analyze the interaction between physiological control mechanisms. Whole kidney blood flow in normotensive rats exhibits a nonlinear interaction between myogenic oscillating components and tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanisms. Kernels computation using advance algorithm enables the study of the dynamics of renal autoregulation.

In order to assess the linearity of the mechanisms subserving renal blood flow autoregulation, broad-band arterial pressure fluctuations at three different power levels were induced experimentally and the resulting renal blood flow responses were recorded. Linear system analysis methods were applied in both the time and frequency domain. In the frequency domain, spectral estimates employing FFT, autoregressive moving average (ARMA) and moving average (MA) methods were used; only the MA model showed two vascular control mechanisms active at 0.02-0.05 Hz and 0.1-0.18 Hz consistent with previous experimental findings (Holstein-Rathlou et al., Amer. J. Physiol., vol. 258, 1990.). In the time domain, impulse response functions obtained from the MA model indicated likewise the presence of these two vascular control mechanisms, but the ARMA model failed to show any vascular control mechanism at 0.02-0.05 Hz. The residuals (i.e., model prediction errors) of the MA model were smaller than the ARMA model for all levels of arterial pressure forcings. The observed low coherence values and the significant model residuals in the 0.02-0.05 Hz frequency range suggest that the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) active in this frequency range is a nonlinear vascular control mechanism. In addition, experimental results suggest that the operation of the TGF mechanism is more evident at low/moderate pressure fluctuations and becomes overwhelmed when the arterial pressure forcing is too high.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic, autoimmune, connective tissue disorder that results from the infiltration of exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary glands, by autoantibodies. Patients with Sjögren's syndrome commonly present with dry eyes (xerophthalmia) and dry mouth (xerostomia). However, the clinical manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome can be complicated and variable due to involvement of extraglandular organ systems, such as the nervous system. The neurological manifestations of this disorder often precede those of other exocrine gland symptoms. Hence, early diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome remains a challenge.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with primary Sjögren's syndrome who presented with acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). Treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants partially improved her muscle weakness and paresthesia.Conclusions: This case demonstrates the importance of early recognition and diagnosis of AMSAN in association with primary Sjögren's syndrome to achieve a favorable clinical outcome. Primary Sjögren's syndrome may be underdiagnosed because of vague symptoms of the sicca complex. Comprehensive immunological testing to evaluate this condition may be performed in patients presenting with variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of High-Need Community-Dwelling Older Adults Care Delivery Model (HCOACDM) in Taiwan. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial with repeated measures design was conducted in eight community care centers, involving 145 high-need older adults who were assigned to the intervention group or comparison group. The HCOACDM was provided over 6 months. Functional ability, quality of life, depressive symptoms, and health care and social service utilizations were measured at baseline, at 3 months, and 6 months into the intervention. The participants' satisfaction was measured at the end of 6-month intervention. Results: Positive effects were shown on all variables in the intervention group at both the 3-month and 6-month intervals (all p <.05). The intervention group had a higher satisfaction with care delivery than the comparison group (p <.05). Discussion: The promising findings supported a long-term implementation of the HCOACDM as applicable and beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A higher dietary intake or serum concentration of betaine has been associated with greater lean body mass in middle-aged and older adults. However, it remains unknown whether betaine intake is associated with age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM). We assessed the association between dietary betaine intake and relative changes in SMM after 3 years in middle-aged adults. A total of 1242 participants aged 41–60 years from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study 2011–2013 and 2014–2017 with body composition measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were included. A face-to-face questionnaire was used to collect general baseline information. After adjustment for potential confounders, multiple linear regression found that energy-adjusted dietary betaine intake was significantly and positively associated with relative changes (i.e. percentage loss or increase) in SMM of legs, limbs and appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI) over 3 years of follow-up (β 0·322 (se 0·157), 0·309 (se 0·142) and 0·303 (se 0·145), respectively; P < 0·05). The ANCOVA models revealed that participants in the highest betaine tertile had significantly less loss in SMM of limbs and ASMI and more increase in SMM of legs over 3 years of follow-up, compared with those in the bottom betaine tertile (all Ptrend < 0·05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that elevated higher dietary betaine intake may be associated with less loss of SMM of legs, limbs and ASMI in middle-aged adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoid-rich foods have shown a beneficial effect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in short-term randomised trials. It is uncertain whether the usual dietary intake of flavonoids may benefit patients with NAFLD. The present study evaluated the association between the usual intake of flavonoids and the risk of progression in NAFLD. The prospective study included 2694 adults from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study. Face-to-face interviews using a seventy-nine-item FFQ were administered to assess habitual dietary flavonoid intake, while abdominal ultrasonography was conducted to evaluate the presence and degree of NAFLD, with measurements conducted 3 years apart. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher flavonoid intakes were gradely associated with reduced risks of worsen NAFLD status. The relative risks of worsening (v. non-worsening) NAFLD in the highest (v. lowest) quintile were 0·71 (95 % CI 0·54, 0·93) for total flavonoids, 0·74 (95 % CI 0·57, 0·95) for flavanones, 0·74 (95 % CI 0·56, 0·96) for flavan-3-ols, 0·90 (95 % CI 0·68, 1·18) for flavonols, 0·73 (95 % CI 0·56, 0·93) for flavones, 0·79 (95 % CI 0·61, 1·02) for isoflavones and 0·74 (95 % CI 0·57, 0·96) for anthocyanins. An L-shaped relationship was observed between total flavonoid intake and the risk of NAFLD progression. Path analyses showed that the association between flavonoids and NAFLD progression was mediated by decreases in serum cholesterol and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. This prospective study showed that higher flavonoid intake was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD progression in the elderly overweight/obese Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the risk of developing preeclampsia has been examined in many epidemiological studies, but the results remain inconsistent. The aim of this study was to clarify this association in pregnant Chinese women. After conducting 1:1 matching, 440 pairs consisting of pregnant women with preeclampsia and hospital-based, healthy pregnant women matched by gestational week (± 1 week) and age (± 3 years) were recruited. A 79-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire administered during face-to-face interviews was used to estimate the participants' dietary intake of fatty acids. We found that the intakes of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were inversely associated with the risk of developing preeclampsia. Compared with the lowest quartile intake, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of the highest quartile intake were 0.42 (0.26–0.68, p-trend < 0.001) for EPA, 0.52 (0.3–0.83, p-trend = 0.005) for DHA, and 0.41 (0.19–0.88, p-trend = 0.007) for AA. However, we did not observe any significant associations between the intake of total fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids and the risk of developing preeclampsia. Our results showed that the dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e., EPA, DHA, and AA) may protect pregnant Chinese women against the development of preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the core gut microbial features associated with type 2 diabetes risk and potential demographic, adiposity, and dietary factors associated with these features.Research Design and Methods: We used an interpretable machine learning framework to identify the type 2 diabetes-related gut microbiome features in the cross-sectional analyses of three Chinese cohorts: one discovery cohort (n = 1,832, 270 cases of type 2 diabetes) and two validation cohorts (cohort 1: n = 203, 48 cases; cohort 2: n = 7,009, 608 cases). We constructed a microbiome risk score (MRS) with the identified features. We examined the prospective association of the MRS with glucose increment in 249 participants without type 2 diabetes and assessed the correlation between the MRS and host blood metabolites (n = 1,016). We transferred human fecal samples with different MRS levels to germ-free mice to confirm the MRS-type 2 diabetes relationship. We then examined the prospective association of demographic, adiposity, and dietary factors with the MRS (n = 1,832).Results: The MRS (including 14 microbial features) consistently associated with type 2 diabetes, with risk ratio for per 1-unit change in MRS 1.28 (95% CI 1.23-1.33), 1.23 (1.13-1.34), and 1.12 (1.06-1.18) across three cohorts. The MRS was positively associated with future glucose increment (P < 0.05) and was correlated with a variety of gut microbiota-derived blood metabolites. Animal study further confirmed the MRS-type 2 diabetes relationship. Body fat distribution was found to be a key factor modulating the gut microbiome-type 2 diabetes relationship.Conclusions: Our results reveal a core set of gut microbiome features associated with type 2 diabetes risk and future glucose increment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the association of erythrocyte n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biomarkers with incident type 2 diabetes and explore the potential role of gut microbiota in the association.Research Design and Methods: We evaluated 2,731 participants without type 2 diabetes recruited between 2008 and 2013 in the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (Guangzhou, China). Case subjects with type 2 diabetes were identified with clinical and biochemical information collected at follow-up visits. Using stool samples collected during the follow-up in the subset (n = 1,591), 16S rRNA profiling was conducted. Using multivariable-adjusted Poisson or linear regression, we examined associations of erythrocyte n-6 PUFA biomarkers with incident type 2 diabetes and diversity and composition of gut microbiota.Results: Over 6.2 years of follow-up, 276 case subjects with type 2 diabetes were identified (risk 0.10). Higher levels of erythrocyte γ-linolenic acid (GLA), but not linoleic or arachidonic acid, were associated with higher type 2 diabetes incidence. Comparing the top to the bottom quartile groups of GLA levels, relative risk was 1.72 (95% CI 1.21, 2.44) adjusted for potential confounders. Baseline GLA was inversely associated with gut microbial richness and diversity (α-diversity, both P < 0.05) during follow-up and significantly associated with microbiota β-diversity (P = 0.002). α-Diversity acted as a potential mediator in the association between GLA and type 2 diabetes (P < 0.05). Seven genera (Butyrivibrio, Blautia, Oscillospira, Odoribacter, S24-7 other, Rikenellaceae other, and Clostridiales other) were enriched in quartile 1 of GLA and in participants without type 2 diabetes.Conclusions: Relative concentrations of erythrocyte GLA were positively associated with incident type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population and also with gut microbial profiles. These results highlight that gut microbiota may play an important role linking n-6 PUFA metabolism and type 2 diabetes etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that high-dose supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may benefit patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the association of n-3 PUFAs with NAFLD among individuals with normal diets is only speculative. We investigated the cross-sectional and prospective associations between n-3 PUFAs and NAFLD in Chinese adults. Methods: This community-based prospective study included 3049 men and women (40–75 years) in Guangzhou, China, whose participants completed an NAFLD ultrasound evaluation and erythrocyte PUFA tests. A total of 2660 participants underwent the second NAFLD evaluation approximately 3 years later. α-Linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured by gas chromatography. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed inverse associations between DHA, DHA + EPA, total n-3 PUFAs and the presence of NAFLD in the cross-sectional analysis. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of NAFLD for the highest (vs. lowest) tertile were 0.74 (0.61, 0.90) for DHA, 0.82 (0.67, 1.00) for EPA, 0.73 (0.60, 0.88) for DHA + EPA and 0.74 (0.61, 0.91) for total n-3 PUFAs (all P values≤0.05). Over the average 3.12 years of follow-up, higher levels of DHA was associated with an improvement of NAFLD. The hazard ratio of improved NAFLD for the highest tertile was 1.18 (95% CI 1.09, 1.33) for DHA. Pathway analyses showed that favorable associations may be mediated by improvements in inflammatory markers (e.g., interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha-like). Conclusions: Erythrocyte membrane n-3 PUFAs are inversely associated with the presence and progression of NAFLD in Chinese adults. Trial registrations: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03179657. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of dietary vitamin D, Ca and dairy products intakes on colorectal cancer risk remain controversial. The present study investigated the association between these dietary intakes and the risk of colorectal cancer in Guangdong, China. From July 2010 to December 2018, 2380 patients with colorectal cancer and 2389 sex- and age-matched controls were recruited. Dietary intake data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a validated FFQ. Unconditional multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate the OR and 95 % CI after adjusting for various confounders. Higher dietary vitamin D and Ca intakes were associated with 43 and 52 % reductions in colorectal cancer risk, with OR of 0·57 (95 % CI 0·46, 0·70) and 0·48 (95 % CI 0·39, 0·61), respectively, for the highest quartile (v. the lowest quartile) intakes. A statistically significant inverse association was observed between total dairy product intake and colorectal cancer risk, with an adjusted OR of 0·32 (95 % CI 0·27, 0·39) for the highest v. the lowest tertile. Subjects who drank milk had a 48 % lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who did not (OR 0·52, 95 % CI 0·45, 0·59). The inverse associations of dietary vitamin D, Ca, total dairy products and milk intakes with the risk of colorectal cancer were independent of sex and cancer site. Our study supports the protective effects of high dietary vitamin D, Ca and dairy products intakes against colorectal cancer in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have shown that the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet might contribute to managing risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but evidence is limited. We examined the association of DASH diet score (DASH-DS) with NAFLD, as well as the intermediary effects of serum retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum TAG, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and BMI.Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study. Dietary data and lifestyle factors were assessed by face-to-face interviews and the DASH-DS was then calculated. We assessed serum RBP4, hs-CRP and TAG and calculated HOMA-IR. The presence and degree of NAFLD were determined by abdominal sonography.Setting: Guangzhou, China.Participants: Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study participants, aged 40-75 years at baseline (n 3051).Results: After adjusting for potential covariates, we found an inverse association between DASH-DS and the presence of NAFLD (Ptrend = 0·009). The OR (95 % CI) of NAFLD for quintiles 2-5 were 0·78 (0·62, 0·98), 0·74 (0·59, 0·94), 0·69 (0·55, 0·86) and 0·77 (0·61, 0·97), respectively. Path analyses indicated that a higher DASH-DS was associated with lower serum RBP4, hs-CRP, TAG, HOMA-IR and BMI, which were positively associated with the degree of NAFLD.Conclusions: Adherence to the DASH diet was independently associated with a marked lower prevalence of NAFLD in Chinese adults, especially in women and those without abdominal obesity, and might be mediated by reducing RBP4, hs-CRP, TAG, HOMA-IR and BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of two kinds of surgical resection schemes, a conventional open surgical scheme and a thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy surgical scheme, on operation-related clinical indexes, inflammatory cytokines and complications in elderly patients with esophageal cancer. Methods: A total of 100 elderly patients with esophageal cancer seen in the Department of Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, from June 2014 to June 2016 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups, including a control group (50 patients) with a conventional open surgical scheme and an observation group (50 patients) with a thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy surgical scheme. The operation time, the amount of bleeding during the operation, the incision length, the number of lymph nodes dissected, the hospitalization time, the HAMA scores and HAMD scores before and after the operation, the PSQI scores, SF-36 scores and levels of PCT, CRP and IL-6 after the operation, the recurrence and metastasis rates and the mortality at follow-up and the incidence of related complications of both groups were compared. Results: The operation time, the amount of bleeding during the operation, the incision length and the hospitalization time in the observation group were significantly less than those in the control group (p<0.05). The number of lymph nodes dissected in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). The HAMA scores and HAMD scores after the operation in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group and those before the operation (p<0.05). The PSQI scores and SF-36 scores after the operation in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group and those before the operation (p<0.05). The levels of PCT, CRP and IL-6 after the operation in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). The recurrence and metastasis rates at follow-up in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in mortality at follow-up between the two groups (p>0.05). The complication incidence after the operation in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with a conventional open surgical scheme, the thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy surgical scheme possesses advantages in the treatment of elderly patients with esophageal cancer, including being a minimally invasive, simple operation, having a shorter recovery time, effectively relieving negative emotions, improving the quality of life, reducing the levels of inflammatory molecules and reducing the risk of related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many studies have examined the association of isoflavone intake with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and produced inconsistent results. Few studies, however, explored the association using objective biomarkers (particular for daidzein metabolite-equol) of isoflavones. We aimed to explore the association of urinary equol, daidzein and genistein concentrations with T2D and examine the mediating roles of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4). Methods: This prospective study included 2818 subjects. Urinary concentrations of equol, daidzein and genistein were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The associations between urinary isoflavones and T2D incidence were evaluated by cox proportional hazards model. Results: After adjustment for covariates, urinary equol except daidzein and genistein was inversely associated with T2D incidence. In comparison with the first tertile, multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for T2D incidence in the second and third tertile of equol concentration were 0.52 (0.37, 0.73) and 0.72 (0.53, 0.97), respectively. In stratified analyses by sex, the HR (95% CI) of men in the second vs. first tertile of equol was 0.29 (0.14, 0.58). Equivalent estimation in women was 0.67 (0.45, 1.01). Neither women nor men in the third tertile showed significant difference of T2D incidence compared with the first tertile. In path analyses, there was no evidence of mediating effects of hsCRP and RBP4 on the "equol-T2D" relationship. Conclusions: Urinary equol was favorably associated with a decreased T2D incidence in Chinese adults. The equol–T2D relationship might not be mediated by hsCRP and RBP4. Trial registration: This study has been registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03179657. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological ion channels are known as membrane proteins which can turn on and off under environmental stimulus to regulate ion transport and energy conversion. Rapid progress made in biological ion channels provides inspiration for developing artificial nanochannels to mimic the structures and functions of ion transport systems and energy conversion in biological ion channels. Due to the advantages of abundant pore channels, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have become competitive materials to control the nanofluidic transport. Herein, a facile in situ synthesis method is developed to prepare hybrid nanochannels constructed by 2D MOFs and porous anodic aluminum (PAA). The introduction of asymmetries in the chemical composition and surface charge properties gives the hybrid outstanding ion current rectification properties and excellent ion selectivity. A power density of 1.6 W m−2 is achieved by integrating it into a salinity‐gradient‐driven device. With advantages of facile fabrication method and high ion selectivity, the prepared 2D MOFs/PAA hybrid membrane offers a promising candidate for power conversion and water desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Higher levels of fatty acids (FAs) in the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway might be associated with higher levels of fat mass (FM), while limited evidence is available from the general population. We aimed to examine the associations between DNL-FAs and body fat and fat distribution in a general population of Chinese adults. Methods: This community-based prospective cohort study included 3,075 participants (68% women) aged 40–75 years in urban Guangzhou, China. We measured erythrocyte DNL-FAs composition (including C16:0, C16:1n-7, C18:0, and C18:1n-9) at baseline and %FM over the total body (TB), trunk, limbs, android (A) and gynoid (G) regions after 3.2 years and 6.3 years of follow-up, respectively. Results: Generally, higher proportions of individual erythrocyte DNL-FAs and their combined index were positively associated with adipose indices in the multivariable cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. The cross-sectional percentage mean differences in quartile 4 (vs. 1) of the DNL index were 3.43% (TB), 4.56% (trunk), and 2.67% (A/G ratio) (all P trends < 0.01). The corresponding values in longitudinal changes of adipose indices were 1.40% (TB), 1.78% (trunk), and 1.32% (A) (all P trends < 0.05). The above associations tended to be more pronounced in the trunk and android area than the limbs and gynoid area. Conclusions: Erythrocyte DNL-FAs may contribute to an increase in total body fat in Chinese adults, particularly FM distributed in trunk and abdominal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]