Objective:To analyze the association between visceral fat area (VFA) and fatty liver based on quantitative CT (QCT) in people receiving health examination with normal body mass index (BMI).Methods:A cross-sectional study. A total of 1 305 physical examiners who underwent chest CT and QCT examination in the Department of Health Management of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January to December 2021 were retrospectively selected as subjects. The physical components at the central level of the lumbar two cone were measured with QCT, including subcutaneous fat area (SFA), VFA and liver fat content (LFC). And the metabolic indexes, such as blood lipids and blood glucose, were collected. The t-test and χ2 test were used to analyze the correlation between the detection rate of fatty live and LFCr and age and gender. According to level of VFA (<100 cm 2, 100-150 cm 2 and≥150 cm 2), the subjects were divided into three groups, and one-way ANOVA and χ2 test were used in comparison between groups. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between VFA and metabolic indexes and LFC. Results:Of the 1 305 subjects, there were 634 males and 671 females. The detection rate of fatty liver in normal BMI population was 65.67%, and it was 72.71% and 59.02% respectively in men and women ( χ2=27.12, P<0.001), and the detection rate of fatty liver and LFC increased with age (both P<0.05). With the increase of VFA, the age, BMI, SFA, LFC, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood uric acid and prevalence of fatty liver increased (all P<0.05), and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased ( P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age factors, regardless of male or female, LFC was independently positively related with VFA, BMI, and ALT (male β=0.206, 0.145, 0.174, female β=0.194, 0.150, 0.184; all P<0.05). FBG was positively correlated with male independently ( β=0.134; P<0.001). The indicators related to female independently were TC, TG, and blood uric acid ( β=-0.121, 0.145, 0.141, all P<0.05) Conclusion:In the population receiving health examination with normal BMI, the VFA measured by QCT technique is closely related to fatty liver.

Objective Hypertriglyceridemic waist(HW),hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio(HWHtR),and waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)have been shown to be indicators of cardiometabolic risk factors.However,it is not clear which indicator is more suitable for children and adolescents.We aimed to investigate the relationship between HW,HWHtR,WHR,and cardiovascular risk factors clustering to determine the best screening tools for cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. Methods This was a national cross-sectional study.Anthropometric and biochemical variables were assessed in approximately 70,000 participants aged 6-18 years from seven provinces in China.Demographics,physical activity,dietary intake,and family history of chronic diseases were obtained through questionnaires.ANOVA,x2 and logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results A significant sex difference was observed for HWHtR and WHR,but not for HW phenotype.The risk of cardiometabolic health risk factor clustering with HW phenotype or the HWHtR phenotype was significantly higher than that with the non-HW or non-HWHtR phenotypes among children and adolescents(HW:OR = 12.22,95%CI:9.54-15.67;HWHtR:OR = 9.70,95%CI:6.93-13.58).Compared with the HW and HWHtR phenotypes,the association between risk of cardiometabolic health risk factors(CHRF)clustering and high WHR was much weaker and not significant(WHR:OR = 1.14,95%CI:0.97-1.34). Conclusion Compared with HWHtR and WHR,the HW phenotype is a more convenient indicator with higher applicability to screen children and adolescents for cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between body fat distribution measured by quantitative CT (QCT) and body mass index in adults receiving physical examination.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. From January to December 2021, 3 205 adults undergoing physical examination who met the inclusion criteria and underwent chest CT and QCT examination in the health management discipline of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital were selected as the research objects. The general data were collected; and the subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, abdominal obesity and fatty liver detection rate were measured by QCT. According to body mass index, the subjects were divided into normal group (18.5-<24.0 kg/m 2, 1 343 cases), overweight group (24.0-<28.0 kg/m 2, 1 427 cases) and obesity group (≥28.0 kg/m 2, 435 cases). One-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to compare the differences of QCT indexes among the three groups. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between QCT indexes and body mass index. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the diagnostic effect of QCT on obesity and fatty liver. Results:Subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, abdominal obesity and fatty liver detection rate in obese group were all significantly higher than those in overweight group and normal group [males, (147.60±46.44) vs (104.33±27.68), (73.46±22.65) cm 2; (297.46±54.70) vs (229.40±53.12), (159.57±49.68) cm 2; (445.06±70.24) vs (333.73±62.91), (233.02±61.87) cm 2; 11.30% (7.90%, 15.55%) vs 8.75% (6.50%, 11.70%), 6.60% (4.80%, 8.70%); 100.0% vs 96.0%, 64.0%; 92.9% vs 86.7%, 73.3%; females, (213.96±48.61) vs (155.85±35.31), (107.24±31.01) cm 2; (185.41±43.88) vs (142.48±41.75), (96.56±36.50) cm 2; (399.37±68.07) vs (298.33±56.86), (203.80±57.53) cm 2; 9.80% (6.90%, 13.30%) vs 7.30% (5.05%, 9.80%), 5.40%(3.50%, 7.20%); 96.4% vs 74.8%, 28.9%; 87.3% vs 75.6%, 56.5%], and were all positively correlated with body mass index (males, r/ rs=0.709, 0.738, 0.831, 0.402, 0.464, 0.225; females, r/ rs=0.798, 0.695, 0.841, 0.416, 0.605, 0.276) (all P<0.001). In both male and female subjects, the detection rates of obesity based on QCT were significantly higher than those based on body mass index (male, 86.9% vs 16.6%; female, 49.3% vs 8.9%), and the detection rates of fatty liver based on QCT were significantly higher than those based on ultrasound (male, 83.6% vs 57.1%; female, 65.2% vs 27.6%) (all P<0.001). ROC curve showed that when the visceral fat area of 142 cm 2 was used as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of obesity in male subjects, the sensitivity and specificity was 100% and 15.8%, respectively; and when the cut-off value of liver fat content 5.0% was used to diagnose fatty liver, the sensitivity and specificity was 88.9% and 25.1%, respectively. When the visceral fat area of 115 cm 2 was set as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of obesity in female subjects, the sensitivity and specificity was 96.4% and 55.3%, respectively; when the liver fat content of 5.0% was set as the cut-off value for the diagnosis of fatty liver, the sensitivity and specificity was 83.7% and 43.2%, respectively. Conclusions:The indexes of abdominal fat and liver fat measured by QCT in adults receiving physical examination are all positively correlated with body mass index. The effect of QCT in the diagnosis of obesity and fatty liver are both better than body mass index and ultrasound.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of body fat with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in people with normal body mass index (BMI).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in the physical examination population who underwent chest CT and QCT examination in the Department of Health Management, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January to December in 2021, and 1 395 physical examination subjects who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the research subjects. The subjects were divided into five groups according to their age. The general data of the subjects were collected. The total abdominal fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), total abdominal muscle area (TMA) and muscle fat content (MFC) in the subjects were measured by QCT. One-way analysis of variance, Welch test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the above QCT measurement indexes between the two genders among different age groups with normal BMI. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between VFA and sarcopenia indexes. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between VFA and linear correlation variables in the related indicators of sarcopenia.Results:There were significant differences in TFA, VFA, TMA and SMI among different age groups in subjects with normal BMI (all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that VFA was negatively correlated with TMA in some age groups (male: 18-39 years group: r=-0.351; 40-49 years group: r=-0.278; 60-69 years group: r=-0.245; female:40-49 years group: r=-0.251; 50-59 years group: r=-0.270;≥70 years group: r=-0.391; all P<0.01); it was negatively correlated with SMI (male: 18-39 years group: r=-0.352; 40-49 years group: r=-0.340; 50-59 years group: r=-0.266; 60-69 years group: r=-0.316; female: 40-49 years group: r=-0.240; 50-59 years group: r=-0.284; all P<0.001); it was positively correlated with MFC (male: 18-39 years group: r=0.342; 40-49 years group: r=0.291; female: 50-59 years group: r=0.133; 60-69 years group: r=0.284; all P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that VFA was independently and negatively correlated with SMI in both men and women after adjusting for age interference factors (male B=-1.881, t=-6.025, P<0.001; female B=-0.603, t=-2.887, P=0.004), and it was independently positively correlated with MFC (male B=1.230, t=4.271, P<0.001;female B=0.893, t=3.836, P<0.001). There was an independent negative correlation between VFA and TMA in male subjects ( B=0.263, t=2.478, P=0.013). Conclusions:VFA is correlated with TMA, SMI and MFC in people with normal BMI. Regardless of gender, SMI has a negative effect on VFA, and MFC has a positive effect on VFA.

A method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole linear ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 41 bioactive constituents of flavonoids, organic acids, nucleosides, and amino acids in Lysimachiae Herba. The content of multiple bioactive constituents was compared among the samples from different habitats. The chromatographic separation was performed in a Waters XBridge®C_(18) column(4.6 mm×100 mm, 3.5 μm) at 30 ℃. The gradient elution was performed with 0.4% methanol(A)-formic acid water(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1), and the multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was adopted. According to the content of 41 constituents, hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and gray relational analysis(GRA) were perfomed to comprehensively evaluate the samples from different habitats. The results showed that the 41 constituents exhibited good linear relationship within the tested concentration ranges, with the correlation coefficients(r) greater than 0.999 4. The method featured good precision, repeatability, and stability with the relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 5.0%. The average recoveries of the 41 constituents ranged from 98.06% to 101.9%, with the RSDs of 0.62%-4.6%. HCA and OPLS-DA separated 48 batches of Lysimachiae Herba samples from different habitats into three categories: the producing areas in Sichuan and Chongqing, the producing areas in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi, and the producing areas in Guizhou. The content of 41 constituents varied among the Lysimachiae Herba samples from different habitats. The GRA results revealed that the Lysimachiae Herba sample from Nanchong City, Sichuan Province had the best comprehensive quality. The method developed in this study was accurate and reliable and thus can be used for comprehensive evaluation of Lysimachiae Herba quality and provide basic information for the selection of habitats.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Amino Acids/analysis*

Aim To observe cellular damage and astrocyte activation at different time points of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Methods The middle cerebral artery of male SpragueDawley rats was occluded for 90 min followed by different time points of reperfusion. Eighty-five SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (Sham), IR3, 6, 12, 24 and IR48h (MCAO followed by 48 h of reperfusion) group. Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was observed by HE staining, and the structure of astrocytes was estimated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). GFAP expression was detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot. Results Cerebral ischemia following by different time points of reperfusion led to different degrees of cellular damage, which was the most serious at 24 h of reperfusion. TEM showed destruction of astrocytes structure, swollen organelles and broken mitochondrial ridge. After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the expression levels of GFAP were significant up-regulated in the ischemic penumbra cortex and the highest was at 48 h of reperfusion, indicating astrocytes were activated. In addition, the results showed the gradual decrease in GFAP expression in the infarct core. Conclusions After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, cellular damage is aggravated, and astrocytes are gradually activated in the ischemic penumbra. With the extension of reperfusion time, the boundaries of infarct area and ischemic area are gradually clear, and scarring may occur.

Aim To explore whether sea-buckthorn slows down-regulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 2C(CYP 2C)in mice with liver injury by BCG vaccine(BCG)-induced via PXR/NF-κB pathway.Methods The mouse model of liver injury was induced by a single tail vein injection of BCG 125 mg·kg-1 for hepatitis B research,and the mice were randomly di-vided into control group,BCG group,BCG+sea-buckthorn granules(SG)group(gavage 50,100,200 mg·kg-1,twice a day),BCG+PCN group(intraper-itoneal injection 100 mg·kg-1,once a day).The levels of serum transaminase and TNF-α and IL-1β in liver tissue were detected by ELISA.The nuclear pro-tein expression NF-κB p65 and the total protein expres-sion of pregnane X receptor(PXR),CYP2C in liver were detected by Western blot.Liver pathological changes were observed by HE staining.Results Sea-buckthorn inhibited overexpression of TNF-α,IL-1βand NF-κB p65,alleviated the down-regulation of CYP2C and PXR protein expression,and improved liv-er pathology and serum transaminase in a dose-depend-ent manner.After intervention with PCN,a mouse specific agonist of PXR,it was similar to the high dose group of SG.Conclusion Sea-buckthorn slows down-regulation of CYP2C in mice with liver injury by BCG-induced via PXR/NF-κB pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effects of personalized intermittent energy restriction (IER) diet on sleep related gut microbiome in obese patients.Methods:In this single-arm clinical trial, a total of 35 obese patients who visited Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from April to November 2018 were recruited as research subjects. They underwent a strict 32-day IER diet intervention, divided into 4 stages of 8 days each. Nutritional recipes were formulated and nutritious meals were provided to each obese patient with timed meals, including 55% carbohydrates, 15% protein, and 30% fat per meal. In stages 1, 2, 3, and 4, patients were provided with 2/3, 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 of their previous calorie intake every other day, respectively, with meals at 8:00 and 16:00. During the remaining time, patients were allowed unrestricted eating at home. Physiological indicators (weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were observed before and after the intervention. Gut microbiota changes were analyzed using metagenomic sequencing technology, and Spearman′s correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between significantly different bacterial species and PSQI scores.Results:After the intervention, the body weight, body mass index, and PSQI scores of obese patients were all significantly lower than before intervention [(89.92±14.98) vs (97.53±15.67) kg, (31.94±3.95) vs (34.64±4.05) kg/m 2, (3.43±1.16) vs (5.42±2.27)], the abundance of gut microbiota was significantly higher after the intervention (all P<0.05). There were 45 significantly different bacterial species before and after the intervention, of which 6 bacterial species ( Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Oribacterium sinus, Streptococcus gordonii, and Streptococcus parasanguinis) showed significantly positive correlations with PSQI scores ( r=0.476, 0.475, 0.369, 0.391, 0.401, 0.423) (all P<0.05), and they were mainly enriched in the glutamate and tryptophan synthesis pathways. Conclusions:The personalized IER diet intervention can improve the sleep of obese patients while reducing weight, possibly mediated by changes in gut microbiota through the glutamate and tryptophan pathways.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between quantified body fat distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) and blood lipids in overweight and obese individuals undergoing physical examinations.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 3 463 physical examination subjects who underwent chest CT combined with quantified CT examination in the Department of Health Management at Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January to December 2021 were selected using a comprehensive sampling method. The subjects were divided into three groups: normal group (1, 424 cases), overweight group (1, 531 cases), and obese group (508 cases) based on their body mass index: 18.5 to <24.0 kg/m 2, 24.0 to <28.0 kg/m 2, and≥28.0 kg/m 2, respectively. General information, blood lipid parameters, and different body fat distributions measured by quantified CT (subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, muscle fat content) were collected in the three groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare differences in body fat distribution and blood lipid parameters, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between body fat distribution and blood lipids. Results:In the obese group, compared to the normal and overweight groups, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, muscle fat content, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride levels were significantly higher [males: (152.80±49.27) vs (72.94±22.68), (103.79±28.30) cm 2; (287.95±57.55) vs (156.36±49.40), (224.67±53.10) cm 2; (440.75±72.44) vs (229.31±62.01), (328.46±62.77) cm 2; (12.92±8.61)% vs (6.82±3.31)%, (9.39±4.88)%; (9.06±9.34)% vs (4.55±5.06)%, (6.70±6.73)%; (6.52±0.94) vs (4.87±1.03), (6.27±0.96) mmol/L; (3.05±0.76) vs (2.92±0.86), (2.97±0.77) mmol/L; (2.34±1.42) vs (1.53±0.82), (1.99±1.28) mmol/L; females: (213.82±46.87) vs (104.69±30.62), (155.05±34.90) cm 2; (184.88±46.54) vs (90.67±34.09), (138.92±42.06) cm 2; (398.71±71.28) vs (195.37±55.32), (293.97±57.05) cm 2; (11.36±6.34)% vs (5.51±3.02)%, (7.98±4.77)%; (7.44±7.60)% vs (3.70±3.90)%, (5.56±5.94)%; (5.27±0.96) vs (5.04±0.86), (5.11±0.96) mmol/L; (3.26±0.84) vs (2.92±0.79), (3.01±0.74) mmol/L; (1.74±0.69) vs (1.27±0.65), (1.57±0.77) mmol/L], while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower [males: (1.17±0.19) vs (1.38±0.28), (1.25±0.25) mmol/L; females: (1.36±0.22) vs (1.59±0.32), (1.42±0.27) mmol/L] (all P<0.001). In males, the visceral fat area and total abdominal fat area in the overweight group were positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.175, 0.113) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.125, -0.113), while liver fat content was positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides ( r=0.083, 0.075, 0.206) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.093) (all P<0.05). In the obese group, the liver fat content was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.170) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.166) in males (both P<0.05). In females, the visceral fat area and total abdominal fat area in the overweight group were positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides (visceral fat area: r=0.129, 0.160, 0.348; total abdominal fat area: r=0.121, 0.130, 0.283) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.264, -0.173), while liver fat content was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.352) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.195) (all P<0.05). In the obese group, the visceral fat area was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.213) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.223) in females (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Blood lipids are correlated with body fat distribution in overweight and obese individuals undergoing physical examinations, and the degree of correlation varies between different genders and body regions, with triglycerides showing the strongest correlation with liver fat content.

A comprehensive analytical method based on ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole/linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry(UFLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was established for simultaneous determination of the content of 45 bioactive constituents including flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, phenolic acids, and nucleosides in Epimedium brevicornum. The multiple bioactive constituents in leaves, petioles, stems and rhizomes of E. brevicornum were analyzed. The gradient elution was performed at 30 ℃ in an XBridge~® C_(18) column(4.6 mm×100 mm, 3.5 μm) with 0.4% formic acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min~(-1). Single factor experiment and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the extraction conditions. Multivariate statistical analyses including systematic cluster analysis(SCA), principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and one-way analysis of variance(One-way ANOVA) were carried out to classify the samples from different parts and identify different constituents. Grey relation analysis(GRA) and entropy weight-TOPSIS analysis were performed to build a multi-index comprehensive evaluation model for different parts of E. brevicornum. The results showed that there was a good relationship between the mass concentrations of 45 constituents and the corresponding peak areas, with the correlation coefficients(r) not less than 0.999 0. The precision, repeatability, and stability of the established method were good for all the target constituents in this study, with the relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 5.0%(0.62%-4.9%) and the average recovery of 94.51%-105.7%. The above results indicated that the bioactive constituents varied in different parts of E. brevicornum, and the overall quality followed the trend of leaves > petioles > rhizomes > stems. This study verified the rationality of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) stipulating that the medicinal part of E. brevicornum is the leaf. Moreover, our study indicated that the rhizome had the potential for medicinal development. The established method was accurate and reliable, which can be used to comprehensive evaluate and control the quality of E. brevicornum. This study provides data reference for clarifying the medicinal parts and rationally utilizing the resources of E. brevicornum.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Epimedium ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Multivariate Analysis