BACKGROUND: Early control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is crucial for reducing the progress of cardiovascular disease. However, its additional role to the risk of primary osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease was inconclusive. Our study aims to determine the association of LDL-C and its trajectories for osteoporosis risk in the middle-aged and aged men of China. METHODS: The retrospective cohort study of 1546 men aged 69.74 ± 11.30 years conducted in Beijing, China from 2015 to 2022. And the incidence of primary osteoporosis was annually recorded. LDL-C trajectories were further identified by latent class growth model using repeated measurements of LDL-C. The association of baseline LDL-C for osteoporosis was estimated using hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI in Cox proportional hazard model, while mean level and trajectories of LDL-C for osteoporosis were evaluated using odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI in logistic regression model. RESULTS: During the median 6.2-year follow-up period, 70 men developed primary osteoporosis. The higher level of baseline LDL-C (HR = 1.539, 95% CI: 1.012-2.342) and mean LDL-C (OR = 2.190, 95% CI: 1.443-3.324) were associated with higher risk of osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease after adjusted for covariates. Compared with those in the LDL-C trajectory of low-stable decrease, participants with medium-fluctuant trajectory, whose longitudinal LDL-C started with a medium LDL-C level and appeared an increase and then decrease, were negatively associated with osteoporosis risk (OR = 2.451, 95% CI: 1.152-5.216). And participants with initially high LDL-C level and then a rapid decrease demonstrated a tendency towards reduced risk (OR = 0.718, 95% CI: 0.212-2.437). CONCLUSIONS Elevated LDL-C level and its long-term fluctuation may increase the risk of primary osteoporosis in men. Early controlling a stable level of LDL-C is also essential for bone health.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication pathway connecting the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract,playing a key role in the occurrence and development of diseases related to this axis.The vermiform appendix,as a part of the gut that is connected to the cecum,has a unique anatomical location,a rich microbiome,and abundant immune cells.Appendicitis and appendectomy have been found to be associated with the development of diseases related to the gut-brain axis.This review first introduces the anatomy and functions of the vermiform appendix and then expounds the associations of appendicitis and appendectomy with diseases related to the gut-brain axis.Furthermore,this review summarizes and prospects the mechanisms of the vermiform appendix in affecting the occurrence and development of diseases related to the gut-brain axis.
Humans ; Appendix/anatomy & histology* ; Brain ; Appendicitis ; Appendectomy/adverse effects* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Brain-Gut Axis

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on liver protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box transcription factor 1 (FoxO1) signaling pathway in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of EA on improving liver insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Twelve male 2-month-old ZDF rats were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish diabetes model. After modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 6 rats in each group. In addition, six male Zucker lean (ZL) rats were used as the blank group. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3), and "Pishu" (BL 20). The ipsilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Weiwanxiashu" (EX-B 3) were connected to EA device, continuous wave, frequency of 15 Hz, 20 min each time, once a day, six times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) in each group was compared before modeling, before intervention and after intervention; the serum levels of insulin (INS) and C-peptide were measured by radioimmunoassay method, and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated; HE staining method was used to observe the liver tissue morphology; Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression of Akt, FoxO1 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the blank group, FBG was increased in the model group and the EA group (P<0.01); after intervention, compared with the model group, FBG in the EA group was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the serum levels of INS and C-peptide, HOMA-IR, and the protein expression of hepatic FoxO1 and PEPCK were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression of hepatic Akt was decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the serum levels of INS and C-peptide, HOMA-IR, and the protein expression of hepatic FoxO1 and PEPCK were decreased (P<0.01), while the protein expression of hepatic Akt was increased (P<0.01) in the EA group. In the model group, the hepatocytes were structurally disordered and randomly arranged, with a large number of lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. In the EA group, the morphology of hepatocytes tended to be normal and lipid vacuoles were decreased. CONCLUSION EA could reduce FBG and HOMA-IR in ZDF rats, improve liver insulin resistance, which may be related to regulating Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathway.
Male ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Zucker ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Insulin Resistance ; C-Peptide ; Electroacupuncture ; Liver ; Signal Transduction ; Insulin ; Lipids

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

Objective Recently, the incidence of breast cancer has been the highest among female malignant tumors. Therefore, potential biomarkers are urgently needed to predict and prevent breast cancer. This study was aimed to explore the expression and clinical significance of differential miRNAs and their target genes in breast cancer by establishing miRNA expression profile in breast cancer tissues. Methods From January 2015 to December 2018, a total of 137 cases of breast cancer tissues with paired paracancerous tissues and 20 cases of breast fibroadenoma tissues were collected from the department of breast surgery, affiliated hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The tissues were divided into breast cancer group, paracancerous group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group. High-throughput sequencing technique was used to detect the miRNAs in breast cancer tissues and paired paracancerous tissues. Real-time PCR verified the expressions of the three miRNAs with the most significant expression differences in different groups. Finally, bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target genes and investigate the expression of miRNAs and proteins of target genes in different breast diseases. Results A total of 157 upregulated and 162 downregulated miRNAs were screened by high-throughput sequencing. Mir-hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were the most significant in upregulated miRNAs while has-let-7c-5p was the most significant in downregulated miRNAs. Meanwhile, bioinformatics analysis showed that their target gene was EZH2. Compared with para-cancerous group, expressions of hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were significantly upregulated while hsa-let-7c-5p was significantly down-regulated in breast cancer group and lymph node metastasis group (all P<0.05). The miRNA expressions of target gene EZH2 in breast cancer group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group (1.24±0.01, 4.02±0.01, 15.97±0.01, respectively) were upregulated when compared with the para-cancerous group (1.00±0.00), and the similar conclusion could be drawn in EZH2 protein expression. Conclusion Hsa-miR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-let-7c-5p were closely related to breast cancer, which may promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer by inducing the transcriptional expression of EZH2. HsamiR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-let-7c-5p and EZH2 may be potential tumor biomarkers of breast cancer.

Memory encoding and memory retrieval are two important processes of the memory. The main results of studies on the neural basis of the memory encoding and memory retrieval by functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) technique were summarized in this review. The neural basis of memory encoding and retrieval phases varies with different materials, memory types, and age stages. It means that the neural networks of these memory activities are separate. The functional locations of the activated brain areas during memory encoding and during memory retrieval phases are overlapped with distinction. The activated brain areas of memory encoding mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, the anterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia (including the striatum and the marginal division of the striatum). The activated brain areas of memory retrieval mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the entorhinal cortex, the perirhinal cortex, the posterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia. The anterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the encoding phase, whereas posterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the retrieval phase. The intensity of the activated cerebral cortex regions during the encoding phase is stronger than that during the retrieval phase, whereas the opposite activated pattern is found in the subcortical structures, mainly the basal ganglia and thalamus, during the two phases. It seems that the stimulation might activate certain cerebral cortex areas during the memory encoding phase, then the information is transported to the subcortical structures and comes back to the cerebral cortex to complete the memory retrieval phase. The encoding and retrieval phases of the memory are supposed to be accomplished by a neural circuit among the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebral cortex, rather than the cerebral cortex only.
Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory

Objective To observe the combined poisonous effects of fluoride and aluminum on sex hormone of male rats.Methods Sixteen weaned SD healthy male rats aged two week were selected and divided into control group,aluminum group,fluoride group,fluorine-aluminum group,four rats in each group.All rats in the experimental groups were fed with corn collected from the prevailng areas containing different fluorine contents respectively for 90 days.Serum testosterone(T)and estradiol(E2)were detected.Results Compared separatelv with the control group[(3.317±0.635)μg/L],serum T level of fluorine-aluminum group[(15.994±6.558)μg/L]was higher(P＜0.05),but aluminum[(8.134±3.134)μg/L]and fluorine[(1.868±0.367)μg/L]groups had no significant differences(P＞0.05).Compared separately with the control group[(0.319±0.072)nmol/L],E2 level of the fluorine group[(0.172±0.030)nmol/L]being lower(P＜0.05),and it was not significant differences(P＞0.05)in the control group when compared with aluminum group[(0.282±0.012)nmol/L],and fluorine-aluminum group[(0.265±0.047)nmol/L].Fluorine and aluminum interacted with each other(F=9.82,P＜0.05).Conclusion The combined poisonous effects of fluorine and aluminum may influence sex hormone levels of male rats.

OBJECTIVEA retrospective analysis of 160 pre-menopausal breast cancer patients was carried out to elucidate the the menstrual outcome in those cases who had undergone adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, and evaluate the relationship between chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (CIA) and recurrence of the disease.

METHODS160 pre-menopausal breast cancer patients were collected, 62/159 (39.0%) of them were node positive, 91/158 (57.6%) were ER positive, and 95/155 (61.3%) were PR positive. 111 cases had infiltrative ductal carcinoma, 26 cases had infiltrative lobular carcinoma, and 22 cases with others. In 152 cases data were collected by face-to-face interview and 8 cases by phone conversation. Types and cycles of chemotherapy regimen as well as menstrual abnormalities were recorded before, during, and after chemotherapy completion. Follow up duration was 12-72 months after chemotherapy completion for all patients.

RESULTS107 (66.9%) developed CIA, 24 cases returned to normal menses (22.4%), 83 cases continued CIA during more than 12-month follow up (77.6%). The rate of CIA increased with age (P < 0.01). During the follow up, disease free survival (DFS) rate was 85.9% in CIA group and 79.2% in non-CIA group, with no statistically significant difference. But in hormonal receptor positive patients, DFS was 80.0% in non-CIA and 90.1% in CIA, respectively (P = 0.04), showing a significant difference. Because of the small number of died cases, no analysis of the overall outcome was carried out.

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant chemotherapy causes ovarian function suppression, and may further leading to amenorrhoea. Women who experienced amenorrhoea after chemotherapy had a significantly better disease-free survival (DFS) rate showed by univariate analysis than women who continued normal menstruation. Chemotherapy is insufficient therapy for very young patients who are in high risk with hormone responsive disease, particularly when chemotherapy fails to induce amenorrhea. Further research is needed to evaluate interventional chemotherapy to improve the quality of life in women with early stage breast cancer who experienced ovarian toxicity. The post-chemotherapy menstruation status is a clinically valuable, objective and salient marker for sufficient endocrine effect of chemotherapy in ER/PR-positive premenopausal patients.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Amenorrhea ; blood ; chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Premenopause ; Retrospective Studies