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Weihong Lu,1,2 Silan Zheng,3 Jingqi Zhou,3 Shunfa Huang,4 Ning Chen,3 Zhibin Li5 1Department of Gynecology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 2Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 5Epidemiology Research Unit, Translational Medicine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ning Chen, Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, No. 668 Jinhu Road, Xiamen, 361000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-0592-3569583, Email chen.ning@zsxmhospital.com Zhibin Li, Epidemiology Research Unit, Translational Medicine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No. 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-592-2137364, Fax +86-592-2137557, Email zhibinli33@hotmail.comObjective: This study aimed to examine associations between plasma sex-related hormones with bone mineral density (BMD) and risks of osteoporosis or osteopenia in men and postmenopausal women patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: Baseline information on an ongoing cohort of 149 men and 102 postmenopausal women with T2DM in Xiamen, China were analyzed. Plasma estradiol (E2), total testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) were measured. BMD of lumbar spine (L2-4), femoral neck (FN) and total hip (TH) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Osteoporosis or osteopenia was defined as the minimum T-scores of BMD of these three different sites of − 1.0 or below.

Silan Zheng,1 Jingqi Zhou,1 Kai Wang,1 Xinyue Wang,2 Zhibin Li,3 Ning Chen1,4 1Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Xiamen Branch, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Nutrition, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Xiamen Branch, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 3Epidemiology Research Unit, Translational Medicine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ning Chen, Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Xiamen Branch, No. 668 Jinhu Road, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-592-3501990, Email ningchen8080@outlook.com Zhibin Li, Epidemiology Research Unit, Translational Medicine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, No. 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, 361003, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-592-2137364, Fax +86-592-2137557, Email zhibinli33@hotmail.comObjective: To evaluate associations of obesity indices with bone mineral densities (BMD) and risk of osteoporosis in T2DM patients totally and stratified across presence of any diabetic cardiovascular complications.Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline information on a cohort of 250 T2DM patients were conducted in Xiamen, China. Obesity indices included body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist and waist hip ratio (WHR). BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at three different sites, and osteoporosis was defined based on the minimum T-scores of BMD. Presence of any diabetic vascular complications was confirmed by checking their medical records histories.Results: Among the 250 T2DM patients, 50 (20.0%) were defined as osteoporosis. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic re

The size of an animal is determined by the size of its musculoskeletal system. Myoblast fusion is an innovative mechanism that allows for multinucleated muscle fibers to compound the size and strength of individual mononucleated cells. However, the evolutionary history of the control mechanism underlying this important process is currently unknown. The phylum Chordata hosts closely related groups that span distinct myoblast fusion states: no fusion in cephalochordates, restricted fusion and multinucleation in tunicates, and extensive, obligatory fusion in vertebrates. To elucidate how these differences may have evolved, we studied the evolutionary origins and function of membrane-coalescing agents Myomaker and Myomixer in various groups of chordates. Here we report that Myomaker likely arose through gene duplication in the last common ancestor of tunicates and vertebrates, while Myomixer appears to have evolved de novo in early vertebrates. Functional tests revealed an unexpectedly complex evolutionary history of myoblast fusion in chordates. A pre-vertebrate phase of muscle multinucleation driven by Myomaker was followed by the later emergence of Myomixer that enables the highly efficient fusion system of vertebrates. Thus, our findings reveal the evolutionary origins of chordate-specific fusogens and illustrate how new genes can shape the emergence of novel morphogenetic traits and mechanisms.