Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cobalt ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnosis ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of environmental cobalt exposure on insulin resistance (IR) in the general adult population. We investigated the association between cobalt concentration and IR. METHODS: A total of 1281 subjects aged more than 20 years with complete blood cobalt data were identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016 cycle. Blood cobalt levels were analyzed for their association with IR among all populations and subgroups by sex. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of blood cobalt concentrations in association with fasting glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were estimated using multivariate linear regression after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, body mass index, education level, and household income. A multivariate generalized linear regression analysis was further carried out to explore the association between cobalt exposure and IR. RESULTS: A negative association between blood cobalt concentration (coefficient = - 0.125, 95% CI - 0.234, - 0.015; P = 0.026) and HOMA-IR in female adults in the age- and sex-adjusted model was observed. However, no associations with HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, or insulin were found in the overall population. In the generalized linear models, participants with the lowest cobalt levels had a 2.74% (95% CI 0.04%, 5.50%) increase in HOMA-IR (P for trend = 0.031) compared with subjects with the highest cobalt levels. Restricted cubic spline regression suggested that a non-linear relationship may exist between blood cobalt and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS These results provide epidemiological evidence that low levels of blood cobalt are negatively associated with HOMA-IR in female adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cobalt/blood* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin/blood* ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Sex Factors ; United States ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Liujunzi decoction combined with Zuojin pills in treating the radioactive duodenitis and their mechanism, and compare with clinical routine acid suppressants combined with mucous membrane protective preparations to study the mechanism of their efficacy.

METHODAccording to the study of Williams J P and characteristics of duodenitis, and by reference to the radiation enteritis modeling standard, we took the lead in establishing the mouse radioactive duodenal injury model. The model mice were randomly divided into the control group (n = 26), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group (n = 16) and the western medicine (oral administration with famotidine 0.5 mL + almagate suspension 0.3 mL per mouse, once a day) group (n = 16). After the standard administrating, such objective indexes as general condition, weight, changes in health score, pathology and expression of inflammatory factors were observed to evaluate the efficacy.

RESULTThe radioactive duodenitis model of mice was successfully established with 12 Gy. Mice in the control group suffered from weight loss, anorexia, low fluid intake, loose stools, and occasionally mucous bloody stool, poor spirit, dim fur, lack of exercise and arch back. Mice in drug intervention groups were generally better than those in the pure irradiation group. The IL-6, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha mRNA expressions in spleen and mesenteric lymph node tissues in TCM and western medicine groups showed a declining trend compared with the control group. Their concentrations in peripheral blood serum also slightly changed. The TCM group revealed notable advantage in reducing inflammatory factors. The microscopic observation showed that a better mucosa repair in intervention groups than the pure irradiation group. The improved Chiu's scoring method showed a statistical significance in the difference between TCM and western medicine groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiujunzi decoction combined with Zuojin pills could treat acute radiation enteritis, regulate organic immunity, and inhibit acute injury, promote local tissue repair, with the potential to resist such adverse effects as radiation intestinal fibrosis. The regulation of inflammatory factor release is one of efficacy generation mechanisms.

Animals ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; adverse effects ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Duodenitis ; blood ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mucous Membrane ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to understand pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of dementia prevention. METHODS: An internet searchof literature published from 2006 thru 2008 was done using combinations of the words'dementia' and'prevention'. These publications were subsequently reviewed. RESULTS: 1) Reduction of risk factors: control of vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, hyperhomocysteinemia, and platelet aggregation) and medical risk factors (head trauma, depression, herpes simplex, hyperthyroidism, and alcohol problems). 2) Pharmacological trial: NSAIDs, selective COX-2 inhibitors, estrogen replacement therapy, and antioxidants. 3) Healthy diet and nutrition: macronutrients (polyunsaturated fatty acid such as omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) and micronutrients (vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, 3, 6, 9, 12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K; minerals such as iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, selenium; trace elements; and non-essential micronutrients such as polyphenols). 4) Regular excercise and activities: physical activities including aerobics, flexibility, and strength exerrcises; Recreational activities including participation in religious or social activities, healthy sex life with partner, and stimulating cognitive activities. CONCLUSION: The final goal of dementia treatment is primary prevention. However, there is no proven method to achieve this. Therefore, secondary prevention or preventative maintenance through risk reduction and introduction of a healthy lifestyle in an attempt to postpone the onset of disease is a realistic goal.
alpha-Linolenic Acid ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Platelets ; Cobalt ; Copper ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; Dementia ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Female ; Herpes Simplex ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hyperthyroidism ; Internet ; Iodine ; Iron ; Life Style ; Longevity ; Magnesium ; Manganese ; Methylmethacrylates ; Micronutrients ; Minerals ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Pliability ; Polystyrenes ; Primary Prevention ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Secondary Prevention ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thiamine ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Zinc