Objective To observe the effect of ATF6 on the apoptosis and proliferation of podocytes induced by palmitic acid (PA). Methods Podocytes were stimulated with different doses of PA for 24 h. The expression of cleaved-caspase3 was detected by Western blotting. The podocyte apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of ATF6 was tested by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. After the transfection of adenovirus siRNA against ATF6, the proliferation, the cell cycle and apoptosis of potocytes stimulated with PA were tested by MTT or FCM. Results The levels of cleaved - caspase3 and ATF6 of podocytes stimulated with PA were significantly increased by a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of podocytes stimulated with PA was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the podocytes stimulated with PA, the apoptosis of podocytes transfected by adenovirus siRNA against ATF6 with PA stimulation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The proliferation of podocytes transfected by adenovirus siRNA against ATF6 and stimulated with PA, however, was obviously increased compared with the podocytes stimulated with PA (P<0.05). Conclusion ATF6 mediated the apoptosis of podocytes induced by palmitate acid.

Objective: To examine the association of hypertension onset age with diabetes, so as to provide insights into reducing the the risk of cardiovascular events. Methods: Permanent residents aged 35 to 75 years were selected through the program of early screening and comprehensive intervention for the high-risk cardiovascular disease population in Changning District and Baoshan District, Shanghai Municipality from 2016 to 2020. Demographic information, disease history, hypertension onset age, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were collected through questionnaire surveys, physical examination and laboratory tests. The residents were divided into four groups based on the onset age of hypertension: <45, 45-<55, 55-<65 and ≥65 years old, and the residents with normal blood pressure were selected as control. The association of hypertension onset age with prediabetes and diabetes were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 25 228 residents were recruited, including 8 753 males (34.70%) and 16 475 females (65.30%). The prevalence of hypertension was 43.80%. There were 1 779, 3 274, 3 781 and 2 217 cases with hypertension onset age of <45, 45-<55, 55-<65 and ≥65 years old, respectively, and 14 177 residents with normal blood pressure. The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes were 24.01% and 11.29%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, marital status and educational level, compared with the normal blood pressure group, the risk of prediabetes was higher in the hypertension onset age groups of <45 (OR=1.345, 95%CI: 1.164-1.553), 45-<55 (OR=1.365, 95%CI: 1.212-1.536) and 55-<65 years old (OR=1.376, 95%CI: 1.239-1.527), and the risk of diabetes was higher in the hypertension onset age groups of <45 (OR=2.302, 95%CI: 1.906-2.775), 45-<55 (OR=2.349, 95%CI: 2.016-2.734), 55-<65 (OR=1.909, 95%CI: 1.667-2.184) and ≥65 years old (OR=1.315, 95%CI: 1.131-1.526). Conclusion There are statistically significant associations between hypertension onset age with prediabetes and diabetes.