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BackgroundDespite extensive research, the association between serum α-klotho levels and osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear, predominantly relying on findings from OA mouse models. This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to conduct a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between α-klotho and human OA. In addition, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to genetically infer a causal relationship between serum α-klotho and the three OA subtypes.MethodA cohort of 12,037 subjects from NHANES (2007-2016) was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to examine the association between α-klotho concentration and OA, alongside subgroup analysis and interaction tests. Additionally, a two-sample bi-directional MR analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum α-klotho and three OA subtypes, including all OA, hip OA, and knee OA, employing the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method as the primary approach.ResultsFollowing adjustment for covariates, a nonlinear negative correlation between serum α-klotho and OA was observed (OR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.68-0.88, p < 0.0001). The IVW method revealed that higher serum α-klotho levels were associated with decreased susceptibility to hip OA (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87–0.98, P = 9.64×10-3). However, MR analysis did not establish a causal relationship between serum α-klotho and OA or knee OA. Inverse MR also indicated that the three subtypes of OA do not causally affect serum α-klotho concentrations.ConclusionsIn cross-sectional studies, α-klotho showed a nonlinear negative correlation with OA. MR analysis of outcomes was not identical to cross-sectional studies.

Objective The sagittal shapes of the femoral condyles were thought to consist of circles. However, the line connecting the centers of circles was not consistent with the surgical epicondylar axis (SEA) which was commonly used in surgery. Recently, ellipses have been proposed as an alternative method to represent the sagittal femoral condylar shape. Does the condylar ellipse line (CEL) coincide with the SEA in 3D MRI reconstruction analysis? Methods From May to August 2021, a total of 80 healthy subjects were scanned by MRI on the right knee in this retrospective study. The ellipses on the most distal slices of the medial and lateral condyles were determined. A line connecting the centers of the medial and lateral ellipses was the CEL. A line connecting the deepest point of the medial sulcus and the most prominent point of the lateral epicondyle was the SEA. Angular measurement of the SEA and the CEL relative to the posterior condylar line (PCL) and the distal condylar line (DCL) was performed on an axial and coronal view of the 3D model, respectively. Measurements were compared between males and females by using the independent‐samples t‐test. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between SEA‐PCL and CEL‐PCL, SEA‐DCL, and CEL‐DCL. Results On the axial view, the mean SEA‐CEL was 0.35° ± 0.96°. SEA‐PCL (2.91° ± 1.40°) had a high correlation with CEL‐PCL (3.27° ± 1.11°) (r = 0.731, p

BackgroundThe association between the sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index remains inadequately understood. This investigation seeks to elucidate the connection between the TyG index and SNHL.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we utilized datasets sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 1,851 participants aged 20 to 69, utilizing complete audiometry data from the NHANES database spanning from 2007 to 2018. All enrolled participants had accessible hearing data, and the average thresholds were measured and calculated as both low-frequency pure-tone average and high-frequency pure-tone average. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was defined as an average pure tone of 20 dB or higher in at least one better ear. Our analysis involved the application of multivariate linear regression models to examine the linear relationship between the TyG index and SNHL. To delineate any non-linear associations, we utilized fitted smoothing curves and conducted threshold effect analysis. Furthermore, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, leveraging genetic data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on circulating lipids, blood glucose, and SNHL. The primary analytical method for the MR study was the application of the inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) approach.ResultsIn our multivariate linear regression analysis, a substantial positive correlation emerged between the TyG index and SNHL [2.10 (1.80-2.44), p < 0.0001]. Furthermore, using a two-segment linear regression model, we found an L-shaped relationship between TyG index, fasting blood glucose and SNHL with an inflection point of 9.07 and 94 mg/dL, respectively. Specifically, TyG index [3.60, (1.42-9.14)] and blood glucose [1.01, (1.00-1.01)] concentration higher than the threshold values was positively associated with SNHL risk. Genetically determined triglyceride levels demonstrated a causal impact on SNHL (OR = 1.092, p = 8.006 × 10−4). In addition, blood glucose was found to have a protective effect on SNHL (OR = 0.886, p = 1.012 × 10−2).ConclusionsAn L-shaped association was identified among the TyG index, fasting blood glucose, and SNHL in the American population. TyG index of more than 9.07 and blood glucose of more than 94 mg/dL were significantly and positively associated with SNHL risk, respectively.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine causal associations between inflammatory arthritis and eye diseases (disorders of sclera, cornea, iris, and ciliary body [DSCIC] and disorders of choroid and retina [DCR]).MethodsGenome-wide association studies’ summary data of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a large-scale meta-analysis were used to identify genetically predicted RA. UK Biobank source data predicted ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Furthermore, data from the FinnGen Biobank were used to identify genetically predicted eye diseases. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was used to assess the causal relationship between inflammatory arthritis and eye diseases in the European population. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary method, while MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO outlier test were used to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy.ResultsGenetically determined RA was indeed observed to have a causal effect on DSCIC (odds ratio [OR] = 1.084, p = 2.353 × 10−10) and DCR (OR = 1.151, p = 1.584 × 10−19). AS was causally associated with DSCIC (OR = 1.068, p < 2.024 × 10−8). In addition, PsA was also found to have a causal association with an increased risk of 17.9% for the development of DSCIC (OR = 1.179, p = 0.003). On the flip side, DSCIC increased the risk of JIA (OR = 2.276, p = 0.003).ConclusionOur study provided genetic evidence for the causal associations of RA, AS, and PsA with an increased risk of DSCIC, and a causal association between RA and DCR was also identified. In addition, DSCIC greatly increased the risk of JIA.

Background: The association between the sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index remains inadequately understood. This investigation seeks to elucidate the connection between the TyG index and SNHL. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we utilized datasets sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 1,851 participants aged 20 to 69, utilizing complete audiometry data from the NHANES database spanning from 2007 to 2018. All enrolled participants had accessible hearing data, and the average thresholds were measured and calculated as both low-frequency pure-tone average and high-frequency pure-tone average. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was defined as an average pure tone of 20 dB or higher in at least one better ear. Our analysis involved the application of multivariate linear regression models to examine the linear relationship between the TyG index and SNHL. To delineate any non-linear associations, we utilized fitted smoothing curves and conducted threshold effect analysis. Furthermore, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, leveraging genetic data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on circulating lipids, blood glucose, and SNHL. The primary analytical method for the MR study was the application of the inversevariance-weighted (IVW) approach. Results: In our multivariate linear regression analysis, a substantial positive correlation emerged between the TyG index and SNHL [2.10 (1.80-2.44), p < 0.0001]. Furthermore, using a two-segment linear regression model, we found an L-shaped relationship between TyG index, fasting blood glucose and SNHL with an inflection point of 9.07 and 94 mg/dL, respectively. Specifically, TyG index [3.60, (1.42-9.14)] and blood glucose [1.01, (1.00-1.01)] concentration higher than the threshold values was positively associated with SNHL risk. Genetically determined triglyceride levels demonstrated a causal impact on SNHL (OR = 1.092, p = 8.006 × 10-4). In addition, blood glucose was found to have a protective effect on SNHL (OR = 0.886, p = 1.012 × 10-2). Conclusions: An L-shaped association was identified among the TyG index, fasting blood glucose, and SNHL in the American population. TyG index of more than 9.07 and blood glucose of more than 94 mg/dL were significantly and positively associated with SNHL risk, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]