BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Background The senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells is an important driving factor for the progression of silicotic fibrosis, and the regulatory effects of oxamate on the senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells is still unclear. Objective To explore whether lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate can alleviate silicotic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cellsMethods This study was divided into two parts: in vivo experiments and in vitro experiments. In the first part, forty SPF C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into four groups with 10 in each group: control group, silicosis model group, low-dose oxamate treatment group, and high-dose oxamate treatment group. The silicotic mouse model was established by intratracheal instillation of 50 μL SiO₂ suspension (100 mg·mL⁻¹). The treatment models were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of 100 μL oxamate (225 mmol·L⁻¹ and 1125 mmol·L⁻¹). In the second part, induction of MLE-12 mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells was conducted with SiO₂. The in vitro experimental groups were ① SiO₂ induction groups: control group, 50 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, 100 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, and 200 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ group, and ② oxamate treatment groups: control group, SiO₂ group (100 μg·mL⁻¹), low-dose oxamate (25 mmol·L⁻¹) treatment group, and high-dose oxamate (50 mmol·L⁻¹) treatment group. Pathological morphology of lung tissues was evaluated after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; deposition of collagen in lung tissues was evaluated after sirius red staining; positive co-expression of prosurfactant protein C (Pro-SPC) and β-galactosidase was detected by immunofluorescence staining; positive expression of β-galactosidase in MLE-12 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The protein expression levels of collagen type I (CoL I), fibronectin1 (FN1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), p-ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21, and p16 were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the protein expression levels of HK2, PKM2, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the silicosis model group and the SiO₂-induced MLE-12 cells (P＜0.05). The in vivo studies showed that, compared with the control group, the silicon nodule area, the collagen deposition area, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells, and the protein expression levels of CoL I, FN1, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the silicosis model group (P＜0.05). Compared with the silicosis model group, the oxamate treatment groups showed significant downregulation of the silicon nodule area, the collagen deposition area, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells, and the the CoL I, FN1, LDHA, p-ATR, p21, and p16 protein expression levels, and the high-dose oxamate treatment group showed a higher efficacy on these indicators than the low-dose oxamate treatment group (P＜0.05). The in vitro studies showed that, compared with the control group, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells and the protein expression levels of p-ATR, p21, and p16 were significantly upregulated in the SiO₂-induced group (P＜0.05). Compared with the SiO₂ group, the proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells and the LDHA, p-ATR, p21 and p16 protein expression levels were significantly downregulated in the oxamate treatment groups, and the high-dose oxamate treatment group showed a higher efficacy on these indicators than the low-dose oxamate treatment group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor oxamate can alleviate silicotic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the senescence of alveolar type II epithelial cells.

Objective:To study whether male was the risk factor for prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after 131I treatment based on propensity score matching (PSM) method. Methods:From April 2016 to January 2021, 1 677 patients (age: 11-84 (43.9±12.5) years) with DTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and received 131I treatment in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled and patients were divided into male group ( n=546) and female group ( n=1 131). The evaluation results of patients were divided into excellent response (ER), indeterminate response (IDR), biochemical incomplete response (BIR) and structural incomplete response (SIR). Among them, ER and IDR were divided into good prognosis group, and BIR and SIR were divided into poor prognosis group. The PSM method was adopted to process all data to reduce the influence of data bias and confounding variables. χ2 test was used for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting prognosis, and ROC curve was used to analyze the relationship between stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level and poor prognosis. Results:Before PSM, the proportion of male patients with poor prognosis was significantly higher than that of female patients (21.2%(116/546) vs 14.0%(158/1 131); χ2=17.53, P=0.001). After PSM, there was no difference in the proportion of poor prognosis between male and female groups (19.9%(107/537) vs 15.6%(84/537); χ2=5.43, P=0.143). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male (odds radio ( OR)=1.439 (95% CI: 1.016-2.038), P=0.040), high T stage(T3+ T4 stage)( OR=1.816 (95% CI: 1.273-2.590), P=0.001), N1b stage ( OR=1.766 (95% CI: 1.233-2.530), P=0.002), M1 stage ( OR=9.833 (95% CI: 3.190-30.309), P<0.001) and sTg level ( OR=1.035 (95% CI: 1.029-1.042), P<0.001) were risk factors for poor prognosis before PSM, while high T stage (T3+ T4 stage)( OR=1.870 (95% CI: 1.212-2.886), P=0.005), M1 stage ( OR=8.993 (95% CI: 2.434-33.225), P=0.001), sTg level ( OR=1.040 (95% CI: 1.030-1.049), P<0.001) were still risk factors, and N1b stage ( OR=1.459 (95% CI: 0.938-2.270), P=0.094), male ( OR=1.383 (95% CI: 0.912-2.096), P=0.127) were no longer risk factors for poor prognosis after PSM. ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of sTg was 10.25 μg/L, with the sensitivity of 81.0%(222/274) and the specificity of 84.2%(1 181/1 403). Conclusions:After reduction of selection bias by PSM, male is no longer a risk factor for prognosis after 131I treatment of DTC. In addition, high T stage(T3+ T4 stage), M1 stage and sTg≥10.25 μg/L were risk factors for poor prognosis.

Objective:To observe the changes of serum C-terminal peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (CTX-1) and N-terminal lengthening peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (P1NP) in adult patients with skeletal fluorosis in the tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis area in Qinghai Province, and to find sensitive indicators for diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis.Methods:From April to August 2019, a case-control study was carried out in tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis area in Zhiduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province. According to the Diagnostic Standard for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS/T 192-2008), the clinical diagnosis and X-ray examination of skeletal fluorosis were carried out for permanent residents ≥25 years old and living for more than 10 years in the area, combined with face-to-face inquiry and investigation of past disease history, lifestyle and clinical manifestations. The patients with skeletal fluorosis and healthy people were selected as skeletal fluorosis group and control group, respectively. Randomized urine samples and fasting venous blood from the two groups were collected. The content of fluoride in urine was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the contents of CTX-1 and P1NP in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:A total of 127 people in the disease area were investigated, including 63 cases in skeletal fluorosis group and 64 cases in control group. There was no statistically significant difference in age and sex ratio between the two groups ( t = 0.42, χ 2 = 0.07, P > 0.05). The X-ray examination results showed that the patients with skeletal fluorosis were mainly mild, accounting for 71.43% (45/63); X-ray changes were mainly ossification of interosseous membrane and tendon. The urinary fluoride in control group and skeletal fluorosis group was 1.62 (1.12, 1.95) and 3.22 (2.38, 4.89) mg/L, respectively, with statistically significant difference between the two groups ( Z = 7.07, P < 0.001). The difference of serum CTX-1 and P1NP contents between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z = 2.00, 4.89, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The levels of serum CTX-1 and P1NP in patients with skeletal fluorosis are higher than those in healthy people. Serum CTX-1 and P1NP may be used as sensitive indicators for diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and ultimately fatal chronic interstitial lung disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function, and current treatment options are limited. cAMP is one of the most important second messengers and plays a key role in relaxing airway smooth muscle cells and reducing inflammation. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) is a superfamily of enzymes, and PDE4 enzymes dominate 11 PDE superfamily enzymes, available in four isoforms-PDE4A, PDE4B, PDE4C and PDE4D, which selectively decompose cAMP, while PDE4 inhibitors increase cAMP levels by preventing cAMP from breaking down, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-remodeling effects and providing an attractive drug target for the treatment of IPF. This review summarizes knowledge about the association of pulmonary fibrosis with PKE4, as well as emerging preclinical studies and clinical trials regarding PDE4 inhibitors.

Objective:To explore the clinical significance of event-related potential P300 in the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive function in patients with chronic insomnia combined with anxiety and depression.Methods:Sixty patients with chronic insomnia complicated with anxiety and depression treated in Wuhan First Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021 were selected as the observation group, and 60 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group in the same period.Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of patients.Mini mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA) were used to evaluate the cognitive function of the subjects.All subjects were tested for P300 event-related potential, and the latency and amplitude of P300 event-related potential were recorded.SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Independent sample t-test was used for comparison between groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between cognitive function and P300 event-related potential. Results:The scores of HAMA ((16.65±5.10), (9.30±4.42)) and HAMD ((18.07±3.97), (8.48±3.21)) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group ( t=8.438, 14.545, both P<0.05), and the MoCA score (22.35±4.25) was lower than that(25.65±2.29) in the control group ( t=-5.291, P<0.05). In the eight dimensions of MoCA, the scores of visual space and executive ability ((3.38±1.46), (4.63±0.69)), naming ((2.37±0.78), (2.65±0.48)), language ((2.17±0.96), (2.53±0.81)) and delayed recall ((2.58±1.45), (4.17±0.85))in the observation group were lower than those in the control group ( t=-5.991, -2.394, -2.259, -7.292, all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the latencies of P300 (N1, N2, P3) in the observation group were significantly prolonged ( t=3.281, 4.342, 4.492, all P<0.01). The latencies of P300 (N1, N2, P3) were positively correlated with HAMD score ( r=0.242, 0.301, 0.311, all P<0.05). The latencies of P300 (N2, P3) were positively correlated with HAMA score ( r=0.205, 0.207, both P<0.05). The latencies of P300 (N2, P3) were negatively correlated with the delayed recall score of MoCA ( r=-0.197, -0.236, both P<0.05). Conclusion:There are different degrees of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic insomnia combined with anxiety and depression.P300 in patients with chronic insomnia combined with anxiety and depression shows prolonged latency.P300 latency is related to depression, anxiety and cognition in patients with chronic insomnia combined with anxiety and depression.Event-related potential P300 may be used as a neurophysiological objective evaluation tool for cognitive impairment in patients with chronic insomnia combined with anxiety and depression.

IPF is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology and poor prognosis, and despite receive treatment, most patients consideration are likely to progress or worsen. Integrins are heterodimer cell surface proteins that are promising therapeutic targets for intervention in pulmonary fibrosis. Alphav integrins are central to the development of fibrosis because they activate latent TGF-β, a known pro-fibrosis cytokine. The alphav subunit may form heterodimers with the β1, β3, β5, β6, or β8 subunits, one or more of which are essential for the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but their relative importance is unclear. This review summarizes the knowledge of the association of pulmonary fibrosis with alpha-val-integrins, as well as emerging preclinical studies and clinical trials of alpha-fibrosis inhibitors.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive disease with unknown etiology, which is characterized by scarring of lung parenchyma, leading to reduced quality of life and premature death. At present, some studies have confirmed that hypothyroidism (HT) may play a role in the development of fibrosis. Many animal experiments have proved that thyroid hormone (TH) can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis by regulating glucose metabolism, improving mitochondrial function and inhibiting inflammation. This paper summarizes the correlation between TH and IPF, and deeply understands the relationship between TH and IPF, in order to have new treatment strategies for IPF in the future.

Objective:To explore the effect of metformin during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) complicated with euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.Methods:One hundred and thirty PCOS pregnant patients complicated with euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019 were selected and divided into two groups, the treatment group was treated with metformin during pregnancy, and the control group was treated with lifestyle intervention. Pregnancy outcomes, pregnancy complications, delivery complications, first cesarean section rate, length, gestational age, weight, and blood glucose of the newborn were compared.Results:The incidence of early pregnancy loss (23.8% vs 6.0%, P=0.040), embryo damage(23.8% vs 4.5%, P=0.001), and premature rupture of membrane(21.3% vs 8.1%, P=0.047) in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pregnancy complications, first cesarean section rate, length, weight, and blood glucose of the newborn and other adverse pregnancy outcomes ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Metformin therapy during pregnancy in PCOS patients can effectively reduce the incidence of early pregnancy loss, embryo damage , and premature rupture of membrane, improve pregnancy outcomes, and have no effect on the length, weight, and blood glucose of the newborn, with high safety and no obvious adverse events.

Objective? To compare the effects of constant pressure urination and timed urination during indwelling catheterization in elderly patients with coma in the emergency intensive care unit (EICU). Methods? Totally 100 elderly patients with coma admitted in EICU, the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University from January 2015 to June 2017 were selected by convenient sampling. The 49 patients admitted from January 2015 to March 2016 were included into the control group, while the 51 patients admitted between April 2016 and June 2017 were included into the treatment group. Patients in the control group were allowed urination every 3-4 hours, while patients in the treatment group were monitored for continuous bladder pressure using a