AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum levels of sirtuins(Sirts)1-6 and oxidative stress markers, and to evaluate their diagnostic value for age-related cataract(ARC).METHODS:A prospective cohort of ARC patients admitted to the hospital between June 2019 and July 2021 was enrolled as the study subjects. Concurrently, age-matched healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examinations at the hospital during the same period were recruited as the control group. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. Serum levels of Sirt1-6 and oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity(TAC)were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the associations between serum Sirt1-6 levels and oxidative stress parameters. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analysis risk factors associated with ARC occurrence. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum Sirt1-6 levels and oxidative stress indicators for ARC.RESULTS: The study included 127 ARC patients, comprising 68 men and 59 women, with a mean age of 66.05±2.58 y; the concurrent control group consisted of 121 patients, comprising 63 men and 58 women, with a mean age of 65.54±2.86 y. Serum levels of Sirt1, 3 and 6, SOD, GSH-Px, and TAC were significantly lower in the ARC group compared to the control group(all P<0.001), whereas MDA levels were markedly elevated(P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that serum levels of Sirt1, Sirt3, Sirt6 in the ARC group were positively correlated with SOD, GSH-Px, and TAC, and negatively correlated with MDA. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum Sirt1, Sirt6, MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px were significantly associated with the occurrence of ARC(all P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the combination of Sirt1, Sirt6, MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px yielded an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.995 for diagnosing ARC, which was significantly higher than that of Sirt1 alone(Z=4.978,P<0.001), Sirt6 alone(Z=7.487,P<0.001), MDA alone(Z=6.449,P<0.001), SOD alone(Z=5.773,P<0.001), or GSH-Px alone(Z=5.056,P<0.001), indicating superior diagnostic accuracy of the multimarker panel(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of Sirt1, 3, and 6 are generally reduced in ARC patients and are closely associated with oxidative stress imbalance. Specifically, decreased serum levels of Sirt1 and Sirt6, along with oxidative stress markers(elevated MDA and reduced SOD and GSH-Px)are identified as risk factors for ARC. Moreover, the combined detection of these indicators presents high diagnostic value for ARC.

AIM: To investigate the effect of corneal topography-guided phacoemulsification with transparent corneal incision on cataract patients.METHODS:A total of 92 cataract patients(92 eyes)admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to February 2023 were prospectively selected and randomly divided into two groups: the control group(46 eyes)received the conventional 11:00 clear corneal incision scheme, and the study group(46 eyes)received the steepest meridian clear corneal incision scheme. The uncorrected visual acuity, corneal surface morphology indicators, including surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI), and cylinder(CYL), subjective dry eye symptoms questionnaire scoring scale(SDES), tear film break-up time(BUT), and complications were compared between the two groups.RESULTS:All patients completed the follow-up. The uncorrected visual acuity of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group at 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); there were statistical significance in the SAI and CYL of both groups of patients at 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); the fluctuation levels of SDES and BUT in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at different time points after surgery(all P<0.05); and there was no statistical difference in complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Under the guidance of corneal topography, phacoemulsification through the transparent corneal incision of the steepest meridian of the cornea can improve the uncorrected visual acuity of cataract patients, restore the corneal surface morphology, and have few complications.

AIM: To investigate the effect of corneal topography-guided phacoemulsification with transparent corneal incision on cataract patients.METHODS:A total of 92 cataract patients(92 eyes)admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to February 2023 were prospectively selected and randomly divided into two groups: the control group(46 eyes)received the conventional 11:00 clear corneal incision scheme, and the study group(46 eyes)received the steepest meridian clear corneal incision scheme. The uncorrected visual acuity, corneal surface morphology indicators, including surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI), and cylinder(CYL), subjective dry eye symptoms questionnaire scoring scale(SDES), tear film break-up time(BUT), and complications were compared between the two groups.RESULTS:All patients completed the follow-up. The uncorrected visual acuity of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group at 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); there were statistical significance in the SAI and CYL of both groups of patients at 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05); the fluctuation levels of SDES and BUT in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at different time points after surgery(all P<0.05); and there was no statistical difference in complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Under the guidance of corneal topography, phacoemulsification through the transparent corneal incision of the steepest meridian of the cornea can improve the uncorrected visual acuity of cataract patients, restore the corneal surface morphology, and have few complications.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms distinguishing metabolically healthy from unhealthy phenotypes within the same BMI categories remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between regional fat distribution and metabolically unhealthy phenotypes in Chinese adults across different BMI categories. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involving 11833 Chinese adults aged 20 years and older. Covariance analysis, adjusted for age, compared the percentage of regional fat (trunk, leg, or arm fat divided by whole-body fat) between metabolically healthy and unhealthy participants. Trends in regional fat percentage with the number of metabolic abnormalities were assessed by the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models. All analyses were performed separately by sex. RESULTS: In non-obese individuals, metabolically unhealthy participants exhibited higher percent trunk fat and lower percent leg fat compared to healthy participants. Additionally, percent trunk fat increased and percent leg fat decreased with the number of metabolic abnormalities. After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as BMI, higher percent trunk fat was associated with increased odds of being metabolically unhealthy [highest vs. lowest quartile: ORs (95%CI) of 1.64 (1.35, 2.00) for men and 2.00 (1.63, 2.46) for women]. Conversely, compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs (95%CI) of metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the highest quartile for percent arm and leg fat were 0.64 (0.53, 0.78) and 0.60 (0.49, 0.74) for men, and 0.72 (0.56, 0.93) and 0.46 (0.36, 0.59) for women, respectively. Significant interactions between BMI and percentage of trunk and leg fat were observed in both sexes, with stronger associations found in individuals with normal weight and overweight. CONCLUSIONS Trunk fat is associated with a higher risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotype, while leg and arm fat are protective factors. Regional fat distribution assessments are crucial for identifying metabolically unhealthy phenotypes, particularly in non-obese individuals.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Surveys ; Phenotype

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke disability diminishes the physical activity (PA) level of survivors, potentially affecting their long-term prognosis. This study endeavors to explore the correlation between daily PA level and the all-cause mortality in patients with a history of stoke in the United States. METHODS: Data of stroke survivors were sourced from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018. The population was stratified into three groups based on their PA level. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests for significance was used for survival analysis. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality. Subgroup analysis was conducted to strengthen the results. RESULTS: A total of 1395 participants were recruited, comprising 679 males and 716 females, with a median age of 68 years. Based on their PA levels, 779 individuals were classified as inactive, 156 as insufficiently active, and 460 as sufficiently active. Following a median observation period of 59 months, there were 476 recorded deaths, with 349, 47, and 80 cases in the three respective groups. Compared to the inactive group, the HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality in participants who were insufficiently active and sufficiently active were 0.58 (0.40, 0.84) and 0.47 (0.33, 0.67), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significant difference in overall survival between the three groups, as confirmed by the log-rank test (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis further validated our results and demonstrated that the protective impact of PA on stroke prognosis varies according to distinct characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that increased levels of PA are associated with a protective effect on long-term mortality among stroke survivors. Further prospective longitudinal studies are necessary to elucidate the optional PA level and special exercise guideline targeting this population.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Exercise ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Stroke/mortality* ; United States/epidemiology* ; Survivors/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Mortality

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the incidence and detection rate of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) have increased significantly. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) plays an indispensable role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PCLs. However, evidence comparing the diagnostic performance of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) remains limited. This study aims to compare the diagnostic yield, adequacy of tissue acquisition, and safety between EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB in evaluating PCLs to inform clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients with PCLs who underwent either EUS-FNA or EUS-FNB between January 2014 and August 2021. The diagnostic yield, tissue acquisition adequacy, and incidence of adverse events were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients with PCLs were included (52 in the FNA group and 38 in the FNB group). The diagnostic yield was similar between the FNA and FNB groups (94.2% vs 94.7%, P>0.05). The adequacy of tissue acquisition was 71.2% in the FNA group and 81.6% in the FNB group (P>0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB demonstrate equally high diagnostic yields and tissue adequacy in PCLs, with excellent safety profiles. Both methods are safe and effective diagnostic tools for evaluating PCLs.
Humans ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Male ; Pancreatic Cyst/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Adult ; Endosonography/methods* ; Pancreas/pathology* ; Diagnosis, Differential

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe type of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a leading etiology of end-stage liver disease worldwide, posing significant health and economic burdens. microRNA-320 (miR-320), a ubiquitously expressed and evolutionarily conserved miRNA, has been reported to regulate lipid metabolism; however, whether and how miR-320 affects MASH development remains unclear. By performing miR-320 in situ hybridization with RNAscope, we observed a notable downregulation of miR-320 in hepatocytes during MASH, correlating with disease severity. Most importantly, miR-320 downregulation in hepatocytes exacerbated MASH progression as demonstrated that hepatocyte-specific miR-320 deficient mice were more susceptible to high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet (HFHC) or choline-deficient, amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced MASH compared with control littermates. Conversely, restoration of miR-320 in hepatocytes ameliorated MASH-related steatosis and fibrosis by injection of adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) carrying miR-320 in different types of diet-induced MASH models. Mechanistic studies revealed that miR-320 specifically regulated fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) production in hepatocytes by inhibiting regulator factor X1 (RFX1) expression. Notably, knockdown of Rfx1 in hepatocytes mitigated MASH by enhancing FGF1-mediated AMPK activation. Our findings underscore the therapeutic potential of hepatic miR-320 supplementation in MASH treatment by inhibiting RFX1-mediated FGF1 suppression.

Abdominal obesity represents the predominant obesity phenotype in China.Compared to peripheral obesity,individuals with abdominal obesity are more prone to metabolic disorders,cardiovascular diseases,and higher mortality rates.Catgut embedding therapy at acupoints has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in preventing and treating abdominal obesity.However,standardized clinical guidelines for its application in abdominal obesity management have not yet been established.This review comprehensively summarizes the clinical applications of catgut embedding therapy for simple abdominal obesity and abdominal obesity with various complications,aiming to provide clinical evidence and theoretical guidance for its use in preventing and treating abdominal obesity.

Under the influence of long-term space flights and the confined space environment,it is very easy to induce space depression syndrome,mainly manifested as decreased emotional stability,sleep disorders,mental fatigue,etc.,which seriously affect the living conditions and working abilities of astronauts.The current treatment methods mainly focus on psychological support and drug intervention.Acupuncture has a good effect in treating depression.Therefore,starting from the TCM pathogenesis and modern medical pathogenesis of aerospace depression syndrome,we conducted literature retrieval from databases such as the Chinese Medical Classic,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang,VIP,PubMed,and Web of science.For the included literature,we adopted the stratified evidence scoring method and combined the TCM mechanism and modern medical mechanism of the effect of acupuncture.A prescription for acupuncture points was constructed to provide a basis for selecting acupuncture points for the prevention of aerospace depression syndrome through acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for ameliorating diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) based on the analysis of gut microbiota and metabolomics. METHODS: Thirty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group, with 10 rats in each one. Except in the normal group, the intraperitoneally injection with streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes mellitus model in the rest groups. In the EA group, acupuncture was delivered at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), "Pishu" (BL20) and "Shenshu" (BL23), and electric stimulation was attached to "Zusanli" (ST36)-"Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Pishu" (BL20)-"Shenshu" (BL23), on the same side, with continuous wave and a frequency of 2 Hz, for 10 min in each intervention. The intervention measure of each group was delivered once every 2 days, 3 times a week, for 8 consecutive weeks. Body weight, random blood glucose (RBG), thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), and mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) before intervention, and in 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, separately, as well as sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) and motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) of the sciatic nerve after intervention were measured. Metagenomic sequencing (MS) was used to analyze gut microbiota and screen for differential species. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to detect the differential metabolites in plasma, and the metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed on the differential metabolites. Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to assess the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolomics. RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks of intervention, when compared with the model group, the EA group showed the increase in body weight, TWL, MWT (P<0.01), and the decrease in RBG (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, SCV and MCV, as well as Chao1 index were dropped in the model group (P<0.01), and those were elevated in the EA group when compared with those in the model group (P<0.01). The dominant bacterial phyla of each group were Firmicutes (F) and Bacteroidota (B), the ratio of them (F/B) in the model group was lower than that of the normal group (P<0.05), and F/B in the EA group was higher when compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the normal group, the relative abundance increased in Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis and Segatella-copri (P<0.05); and it decreased in Ligilactobacillus, Eubacterium, Pseudoflavonifractor, Ligilactobacillus-murinus (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the relevant abundance of the above mentioned gut bacteria was all ameliorated in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Among the three groups, 120 differential metabolites were identified and enriched in 28 key metabolic pathways, such as glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid, of which, glycerophospholipid was the most significantly affected pathway in EA intervention. Spearman correlation analysis showed that 6 phosphatidylcholine metabolites were significantly positively correlated with Pseudoflavonifractor and were negatively with Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis, Segatella-copri; 5 phosphatidylethanolamine metabolites were significantly negatively correlated with Pseudoflavonifractor and positively correlated with Prevotella, Segatella, Prevotella-hominis, Segatella-copri. CONCLUSION EA may regulate metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid, modulate specific gut microbiota such as Pseudoflavonifractor, Prevotella, and Segatella, and the co-expressed differential metabolites like phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, thereby reducing blood glucose and protecting nerve function, so as to relieve the symptoms of DPN of rats.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Diabetic Neuropathies/microbiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Metabolomics ; Humans ; Acupuncture Points