Background: This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among United States (US) adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income from 1999 to 2018. Methods: We included 17,230 non-pregnant adults from a nationally representative cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MUO was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 with any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was calculated, and linear regression models estimated trends in MUO. Results: The weighted mean age of adults was 47.28 years; 51.02% were male, 74.64% were non-Hispanic White. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO continuously increased in adults across all subgroups during 1999–2018, although with different magnitudes (all P<0.05 for linear trend). Adults aged 45 to 64 years consistently had higher percentages of MUO from 1999–2000 (34.25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.85% to 42.66%) to 2017–2018 (42.03%; 95% CI, 35.09% to 48.97%) than the other two age subgroups (P<0.05 for group differences). The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was the highest among non-Hispanic Blacks while the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites in most cycles. Adults with high-income levels generally had lower MUO percentages from 1999–2000 (22.63%; 95% CI, 17.00% to 28.26%) to 2017–2018 (32.36%; 95% CI, 23.87% to 40.85%) compared with the other two subgroups. Conclusion This study detected a continuous linear increasing trend in MUO among US adults from 1999 to 2018. The persistence of disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and income is a cause for concern. This calls for implementing evidence-based, structural, and effective MUO prevention programs.

Background: This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among United States (US) adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income from 1999 to 2018. Methods: We included 17,230 non-pregnant adults from a nationally representative cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MUO was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 with any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was calculated, and linear regression models estimated trends in MUO. Results: The weighted mean age of adults was 47.28 years; 51.02% were male, 74.64% were non-Hispanic White. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO continuously increased in adults across all subgroups during 1999–2018, although with different magnitudes (all P<0.05 for linear trend). Adults aged 45 to 64 years consistently had higher percentages of MUO from 1999–2000 (34.25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.85% to 42.66%) to 2017–2018 (42.03%; 95% CI, 35.09% to 48.97%) than the other two age subgroups (P<0.05 for group differences). The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was the highest among non-Hispanic Blacks while the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites in most cycles. Adults with high-income levels generally had lower MUO percentages from 1999–2000 (22.63%; 95% CI, 17.00% to 28.26%) to 2017–2018 (32.36%; 95% CI, 23.87% to 40.85%) compared with the other two subgroups. Conclusion This study detected a continuous linear increasing trend in MUO among US adults from 1999 to 2018. The persistence of disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and income is a cause for concern. This calls for implementing evidence-based, structural, and effective MUO prevention programs.

Background: This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among United States (US) adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income from 1999 to 2018. Methods: We included 17,230 non-pregnant adults from a nationally representative cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MUO was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 with any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was calculated, and linear regression models estimated trends in MUO. Results: The weighted mean age of adults was 47.28 years; 51.02% were male, 74.64% were non-Hispanic White. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO continuously increased in adults across all subgroups during 1999–2018, although with different magnitudes (all P<0.05 for linear trend). Adults aged 45 to 64 years consistently had higher percentages of MUO from 1999–2000 (34.25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.85% to 42.66%) to 2017–2018 (42.03%; 95% CI, 35.09% to 48.97%) than the other two age subgroups (P<0.05 for group differences). The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was the highest among non-Hispanic Blacks while the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites in most cycles. Adults with high-income levels generally had lower MUO percentages from 1999–2000 (22.63%; 95% CI, 17.00% to 28.26%) to 2017–2018 (32.36%; 95% CI, 23.87% to 40.85%) compared with the other two subgroups. Conclusion This study detected a continuous linear increasing trend in MUO among US adults from 1999 to 2018. The persistence of disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and income is a cause for concern. This calls for implementing evidence-based, structural, and effective MUO prevention programs.

Background: This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) among United States (US) adults by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and income from 1999 to 2018. Methods: We included 17,230 non-pregnant adults from a nationally representative cross-sectional study, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). MUO was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 with any metabolic disorders in blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was calculated, and linear regression models estimated trends in MUO. Results: The weighted mean age of adults was 47.28 years; 51.02% were male, 74.64% were non-Hispanic White. The age-adjusted percentage of MUO continuously increased in adults across all subgroups during 1999–2018, although with different magnitudes (all P<0.05 for linear trend). Adults aged 45 to 64 years consistently had higher percentages of MUO from 1999–2000 (34.25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 25.85% to 42.66%) to 2017–2018 (42.03%; 95% CI, 35.09% to 48.97%) than the other two age subgroups (P<0.05 for group differences). The age-adjusted percentage of MUO was the highest among non-Hispanic Blacks while the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites in most cycles. Adults with high-income levels generally had lower MUO percentages from 1999–2000 (22.63%; 95% CI, 17.00% to 28.26%) to 2017–2018 (32.36%; 95% CI, 23.87% to 40.85%) compared with the other two subgroups. Conclusion This study detected a continuous linear increasing trend in MUO among US adults from 1999 to 2018. The persistence of disparities by age, race/ethnicity, and income is a cause for concern. This calls for implementing evidence-based, structural, and effective MUO prevention programs.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the effects of Feixin decoction(FXD)on pyroptosis of pulmo-nary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMCs)by modulating nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)pathway,and to explore how FXD attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH)in mice.METHODS:A mouse model of HPH was established using the Sugen 5416 combined hypoxia(SuHx)method.Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:control group,SuHx group,sildenafil group,and low-,medium-and high-dose FXD groups,with 10 mice in each group.Five weeks after treatment,echocardiographic pa-rameters,including pulmonary artery acceleration time(PAT),pulmonary artery ejection time(PET),right ventricular anterior wall thickness at diastole(RVAWd)and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),were measured.Right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP)was assessed via right heart catheterization.Right ventricular hypertrophy in-dex(RVHI)was determined by weighing the hearts.Histological examination using HE staining was conducted to observe pathological changes in small pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle,while Masson staining was used to assess fibrosis in the right ventricular wall.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect co-localized expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)with NLRP3,N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D(N-GSDMD)and caspase-1 in the pulmonary arteries.Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the protein levels of NF-κB,p-NF-κB,NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),N-GSDMD,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tissues.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of PASMCs.RE-SULTS:Compared with control group,the mice in SuHx group exhibited elevated RVSP and RVHI(P＜0.01),de-creased right heart function(P＜0.01),increased right ventricular wall fibrosis,and pulmonary vascular remodeling(P＜0.01).There was also increased co-localized expression of α-SMA with NLRP3,N-GSDMD and caspase-1 in small pul-monary arteries(P＜0.01),as well as elevated levels of p-NF-κB,NLRP3,ASC,N-GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tissues(P＜0.01),indicating induced pyroptosis of PASMCs.Compared with SuHx group,FXD treat-ment significantly reduced RVSP and RVHI,improved right ventricular function,and attenuated right ventricular wall fi-brosis and pulmonary vascular remodeling(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Treatment with FXD also decreased the co-localized ex-pression of α-SMA with NLRP3,N-GSDMD and caspase-1 in small pulmonary arteries(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and down-regulated the protein expression of p-NF-κB,NLRP3,ASC,N-GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tis-sues(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),thereby attenuating the pyroptosis of PASMCs.CONCLUSION:FXD attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction in a mouse model of HPH.This effect may be attributed to its inhibi-tion of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway,which subsequently reduces the pyroptosis of PASMCs.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the effects of Feixin decoction(FXD)on pyroptosis of pulmo-nary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMCs)by modulating nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)pathway,and to explore how FXD attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH)in mice.METHODS:A mouse model of HPH was established using the Sugen 5416 combined hypoxia(SuHx)method.Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:control group,SuHx group,sildenafil group,and low-,medium-and high-dose FXD groups,with 10 mice in each group.Five weeks after treatment,echocardiographic pa-rameters,including pulmonary artery acceleration time(PAT),pulmonary artery ejection time(PET),right ventricular anterior wall thickness at diastole(RVAWd)and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),were measured.Right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP)was assessed via right heart catheterization.Right ventricular hypertrophy in-dex(RVHI)was determined by weighing the hearts.Histological examination using HE staining was conducted to observe pathological changes in small pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle,while Masson staining was used to assess fibrosis in the right ventricular wall.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect co-localized expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)with NLRP3,N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D(N-GSDMD)and caspase-1 in the pulmonary arteries.Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the protein levels of NF-κB,p-NF-κB,NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),N-GSDMD,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tissues.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ultrastructure of PASMCs.RE-SULTS:Compared with control group,the mice in SuHx group exhibited elevated RVSP and RVHI(P＜0.01),de-creased right heart function(P＜0.01),increased right ventricular wall fibrosis,and pulmonary vascular remodeling(P＜0.01).There was also increased co-localized expression of α-SMA with NLRP3,N-GSDMD and caspase-1 in small pul-monary arteries(P＜0.01),as well as elevated levels of p-NF-κB,NLRP3,ASC,N-GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tissues(P＜0.01),indicating induced pyroptosis of PASMCs.Compared with SuHx group,FXD treat-ment significantly reduced RVSP and RVHI,improved right ventricular function,and attenuated right ventricular wall fi-brosis and pulmonary vascular remodeling(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Treatment with FXD also decreased the co-localized ex-pression of α-SMA with NLRP3,N-GSDMD and caspase-1 in small pulmonary arteries(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and down-regulated the protein expression of p-NF-κB,NLRP3,ASC,N-GSDMD,IL-1β,IL-18 and cleaved caspase-1 in lung tis-sues(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),thereby attenuating the pyroptosis of PASMCs.CONCLUSION:FXD attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction in a mouse model of HPH.This effect may be attributed to its inhibi-tion of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway,which subsequently reduces the pyroptosis of PASMCs.

Objective To monitor heart-related parameters of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(PH)mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor SU5416 using echocardiography,and to construct the prediction equation of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP).Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into simple hypoxia group(group A),hypoxia combined with SU5416 group(group B),control group(group C),each group 8 mice.Hypoxic PH models were constructed with hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 in group A and group B,respectively.Echocardiography was performed before and during modeling(2,3,4 weeks after interventions),and the relevant parameters were obtained.RVSP was measured using right heart catheterization after the last echocardiography.The changes of ultrasonic parameters were observed,the correlations of ultrasonic parameters 4 weeks after intervention with RVSP were observed,and linear equations for predicting RVSP were established.Results With time going,during modeling,pulmonary artery diameter(PAD),PAD/aorta diameter(AOD)and right ventricle anterior wall thickness(RVAWT)increased,while heart rate,pulmonary artery acceleration time(PAAT),PAAT/pulmonary artery ejection time(PAET)and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)decreased in group A and B(all P＜0.05).Three and 4 weeks after interventions,PAET,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE in group B decreased compared with those in group A(all P＜0.05).Four weeks after interventions,RVSP in group A and B were highly correlated with PAD/AOD,RVAWT,PAAT,PAAT/PAET and TAPSE(all P＜0.05).The linear regression equations of PAAT/PAET and TAPSE for predicting RVSP in simple hypoxic PH mice models included RVSP=-161.7 ×(PAAT/PAET)+63.85,as well as RVSP=-36.53 ×TAPSE+71.55,while of predicting RVSP in hypoxia combined with VEGFR-2 inhibitor PH mouse models were as follows:RVSP=-266.4 ×(PAAT/PAET)+91.59,RVSP=-69.14 × TAPSE+116.5.Conclusion Four weeks after inerventions,the phenotypes of hypoxic PH mouse models induced by hypoxia alone and hypoxia combined with SU5416 became obvious.Prediction equations of RVSP established based on PAAT/PAET and TAPSE obtained with echocardiography could provide references for relevant research.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between antenatal depression in mothers who received assisted reproductive techonology (ART) and premature birth and low birth weight.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, 376 infertile women who successfully delivered single-child were recruited at the Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2017 to December 2020. Binary logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters and new onset depression during pregnancy with preterm delivery and low birth weight.Results:The detection rates of depression before pregnancy, in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were 20.0% (75/376), 23.0% (83/363), 11.2% (41/366), 8.8% (31/354), respectively. There was no statistically significant association between depression in the pre-pregnancy, the first trimester and the second trimester and preterm delivery (all P>0.05). Depression in the third trimester ( RR=2.18, 95% CI=1.02-4.65, P=0.040) and new onset depression during pregnancy ( RR=2.03, 95% CI=1.01-4.05, P=0.046) were positively correlated with preterm delivery. The associations between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters, and new onset depression and low birth weight were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Antenatal depression in the third trimester and new onset depression during pregnancy may be important risk factors for premature delivery, but there is no significant association between antenatal depression and low birth weight.

Objective:To investigate the severity of anxiety and depression of officers and soldiers stationed on islands and reefs and the related influencing factors，so as to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent psychological screening and mental health maintenance of these officers and soldiers.Methods:Self-Rating Anxiety Scale（SAS），Self-Rating Depression Scale（SDS），Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory（NEO-FFI），Interpersonal Relationship Comprehensive Diagnostic Scale（IRCDS），Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale（CD-RISC）were used to evaluate the emotional status and its related factors of the officers and soldiers stationed on islands and reefs.Results:Among all the research objects，34.14% of them showed anxiety，and 65.51% showed depression. The scale ratings of the officers and soldiers stationed on islands and reefs were significantly different from Chinese norm（ P<0.01）. According to the ratings of IRCDS，16.11% of the officers and soldiers had serious problems in interpersonal relationship，and they also had varying degrees of distress in conversation，making friends，manners，and heterosexual interactions. Anxiety and depression were significantly and positively correlated with neuroticism in personality traits（ P<0. 01），while they were significantly and negatively correlated with other personality traits（ P<0.01）；they were significantly and positively correlated with all factors of IRCDS（ P<0.01），while they were significantly and negatively correlated with all factors of CD-RISC（ P<0.01）. Through multiple linear regression analysis，the neuroticism of NEO-FFI，the conversation and manners of IRCDS，and the strength of CD-RISC have impacts on anxiety；the strength and optimism of CD-RISC，the neuroticism of NEO-FFI，and the conversation of IRCDS had impacts on depression. Conclusion:Officers and soldiers stationed on islands and reefs have obvious anxiety and depression，and the factors of personality traits，interpersonal relationship，and resilience can affect the emotions of anxiety and depression to varying degrees.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between antenatal depression in mothers who received assisted reproductive techonology (ART) and premature birth and low birth weight.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, 376 infertile women who successfully delivered single-child were recruited at the Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2017 to December 2020. Binary logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters and new onset depression during pregnancy with preterm delivery and low birth weight.Results:The detection rates of depression before pregnancy, in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy were 20.0% (75/376), 23.0% (83/363), 11.2% (41/366), 8.8% (31/354), respectively. There was no statistically significant association between depression in the pre-pregnancy, the first trimester and the second trimester and preterm delivery (all P>0.05). Depression in the third trimester ( RR=2.18, 95% CI=1.02-4.65, P=0.040) and new onset depression during pregnancy ( RR=2.03, 95% CI=1.01-4.05, P=0.046) were positively correlated with preterm delivery. The associations between pre-pregnancy depression, depression in the first, second and third trimesters, and new onset depression and low birth weight were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Antenatal depression in the third trimester and new onset depression during pregnancy may be important risk factors for premature delivery, but there is no significant association between antenatal depression and low birth weight.