Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease, which is characterized by the accumulation of triglycerides in the hepatocytes without excess alcohol intake. Circadian rhythms can ...participate in lipid, glucose, and cholesterol metabolism and are closely related to metabolism seen in this disease. Circadian clock genes can modulate liver lipid metabolism. Desynchrony of circadian rhythms and the influences imparted by external environmental stimuli can increase morbidity. By contrast, synchronizing circadian rhythms can help to alleviate the metabolic disturbance seen in NAFLD. In this review, we have discussed the current research connections that exist between the circadian clock and the metabolism of NAFLD, and we have specifically focused on the key circadian clock genes, Bmal1, Clock, Rev-Erbs, Rors, Pers, Crys, Nocturnin, and DECs.
Controversy and challenges remain regarding the cognition of lung adenocarcinomas presented as subcentimeter ground glass nodules (GGNs). Postoperative lymphatic involvement or intrapulmonary ...metastasis is found in approximately 15% to 20% of these cases. This study aimed to develop and validate a radiomics signature to identify the invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma appearing as subcentimeter ground glass nodules. We retrospectively enrolled 318 subcentimeter GGNs with histopathology-confirmed adenocarcinomas in situ (AIS), minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA) and invasive adenocarcinomas (IAC). The radiomics features were extracted from manual segmentation based on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and non-contrast enhanced CT (NCECT) images after imaging preprocessing. The Lasso algorithm was applied to construct radiomics signatures. The predictive performance of radiomics models was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A radiographic-radiomics combined nomogram was developed to evaluate its clinical utility. The radiomics signature on CECT (AUC: 0.896 95% CI 0.815-0.977) performed better than the radiomics signature on NCECT data (AUC: 0.85195% CI 0.712-0.989) in the validation set. An individualized prediction nomogram was developed using radiomics model on CECT and radiographic model including type, shape and vascular change. The C index of the nomogram was 0.915 in the training set and 0.881 in the validation set, demonstrating good discrimination. Decision curve analysis (DCA) revealed that the proposed model was clinically useful. The radiomics signature built on CECT could provide additional benefit to promote the preoperative prediction of invasiveness in patients with subcentimeter lung adenocarcinomas.
Existing studies have presented limited and disparate findings on the nexus between immune cells, plasma metabolites, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The aim of ...this study was to investigate the causal relationship between immune cells and MASLD. Additionally, we aimed to identify and quantify the potential mediating role of metabolites.BACKGROUNDExisting studies have presented limited and disparate findings on the nexus between immune cells, plasma metabolites, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between immune cells and MASLD. Additionally, we aimed to identify and quantify the potential mediating role of metabolites.A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using two samples of pooled data from genome-wide association studies on MASLD that included 2568 patients and 409,613 control individuals. Additionally, a mediated MR study was employed to quantify the metabolite-mediated immune cell effects on MASLD.METHODSA Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using two samples of pooled data from genome-wide association studies on MASLD that included 2568 patients and 409,613 control individuals. Additionally, a mediated MR study was employed to quantify the metabolite-mediated immune cell effects on MASLD.In this study, eight immunophenotypes were linked to the risk of MASLD, and thirty-five metabolites/metabolite ratios were linked to the occurrence of MASLD. Furthermore, a total of six combinations of immunophenotypic and metabolic factors demonstrated effects on the occurrence of MASLD, although the mediating effects of metabolites were not significant.RESULTSIn this study, eight immunophenotypes were linked to the risk of MASLD, and thirty-five metabolites/metabolite ratios were linked to the occurrence of MASLD. Furthermore, a total of six combinations of immunophenotypic and metabolic factors demonstrated effects on the occurrence of MASLD, although the mediating effects of metabolites were not significant.Our study demonstrated that certain immunophenotypes and metabolite/metabolite ratios have independent causal relationships with MASLD. Furthermore, we identified specific metabolites/metabolite ratios that are associated with an increased risk of MASLD. However, their mediating role in the causal association between immunophenotypes and MASLD was not significant. It is important to consider immune and metabolic disorders among patients with MASLD in clinical practice.CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrated that certain immunophenotypes and metabolite/metabolite ratios have independent causal relationships with MASLD. Furthermore, we identified specific metabolites/metabolite ratios that are associated with an increased risk of MASLD. However, their mediating role in the causal association between immunophenotypes and MASLD was not significant. It is important to consider immune and metabolic disorders among patients with MASLD in clinical practice.
The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article 1 because it shows evidence of peer review manipulation and authorship manipulation. In addition, the identity of the corresponding author could not ...be verified: the University of West Bohemia have confirmed that Nanjundan Yamini has not been affiliated with their institution. The authors have not responded to any correspondence regarding this retraction.
The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article 1 because it significantly overlaps with an article from other authors that was simultaneously under consideration at another journal 2. Additionally, ...the article also shows evidence of authorship and peer review manipulation. The authors have not responded to any correspondence regarding this retraction.
House dust mite (HDM) is the most common airborne source causing complex allergy symptoms. There are geographic differences in the allergen molecule sensitization profiles. Serological testing with ...allergen components may provide more clues for diagnosis and clinical management.
This study aims to investigate the sensitization profile of eight HDM allergen components in a large number of patients enrolled in the clinic and to analyze the relation of gender, age, and clinical symptoms in North China.
The 548 serum samples of HDM-allergic patients (ImmunoCAP
d1 or d2 IgE ≥0.35) were collected in Beijing City and divided in four different age groups and three allergic symptoms. The specific IgE of HDM allergenic components, Der p 1/Der f 1, Der p 2/Der f 2, Der p 7, Der p 10, Der p 21, and Der p 23, was measured using the micro-arrayed allergen test kit developed by Hangzhou Zheda Dixun Biological Gene Engineering Co., Ltd. The new system was validated by comparing to single-component Der p 1, Der p 2, and Der p 23 tests by ImmunoCAP in 39 sera. The epidemiological study of these IgE profiles and the relation to age and clinical phenotypes were analyzed.
A greater proportion of male patients was in the younger age groups, while more female patients were in the adult groups. Both the sIgE levels and the positive rates (approximately 60%) against Der p 1/Der f 1 and Der p 2/Der f 2 were higher than for the Der p 7, Der p 10, and Der p 21 components (below 25%). The Der f 1 and Der p 2 positive rates were higher in 2-12-year-old children. The Der p 2 and Der f 2 IgE levels and positive rates were higher in the allergic rhinitis group. The positive rates of Der p 10 increased significantly with age. Der p 21 is relevant in allergic dermatitis symptom, while Der p 23 contributes to asthma development.
HDM groups 1 and 2 were the major sensitizing allergens, with group 2 being the most important component relevant to respiratory symptoms in North China. The Der p 10 sensitization tends to increase with age. Der p 21 and Der p 23 might be associated with the development of allergic skin disease and asthma, respectively. Multiple allergen sensitizations increased the risk of allergic asthma.
Background
Self-efficacy for appropriate medication use is an important construct when evaluating the optimal use of medications. However, no instrument that assesses this construct in elderly ...Chinese patients has been shown to have valid psychometric properties.
Objective
To investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.
Setting
Geriatric patients were recruited from the endocrinology department of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China.
Method
Self-efficacy was assessed by the Chinese version of the Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale in subjects who were at least 65 years old. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to develop a psychometrically sound model of the scale.
Main outcome measures
Internal and test-retest reliability; convergent and discriminant validity of the scale; model fit indices of the factor model.
Results
The two-factor model of the self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale was not suitable for elderly patients with respect to both item factor loadings and model fit indices. Conceptually overlapping scale items emerged when the scale was used in these patients. The final model developed appeared to achieve an ideal model fit and presented acceptable convergent and discriminant validity.
Conclusions
This study presented a Chinese version of the self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale with psychometrically sound properties that will enable pharmacists, nurses and physicians to prospectively evaluate the impact of medication self-efficacy on a variety of health outcomes in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.
Reprogrammed glucose metabolism, also known as the Warburg effect, which is essential for tumor progression, is regarded as a hallmark of cancer. MAP17, a small 17-kDa non-glycosylated membrane ...protein, is frequently dysregulated in human cancers. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown.
Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression pattern of MAP17 in HCC. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies were performed to investigate the oncogenic roles of MAP17 in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to study the molecular mechanism of MAP17 affecting the tumor growth and glycolytic phenotype of HCC.
An integrative analysis showed that MAP17, a small 17-kDa non-glycosylated membrane protein, is significantly related to the glycolytic phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Firstly, we found that MAP17 expression is hypoxia-dependent and predicts a poor prognosis in HCC. Genetic silencing of MAP17 reduced the rate of glucose uptake, lactate release, extracellular acidification rate, and expression of glycolytic genes. Ectopic expression of wild type MAP17 but not its PDZ binding domain mutant MAP17-PDZm increased tumor glycolysis. Further research showed that MAP17 knockdown markedly retarded in vivo tumor growth in HCC. Importantly, attenuation of tumor glycolysis by galactose largely hijacked the growth-promoting role of MAP17 in HCC cells. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that MAP17 knockdown leads to transcriptional changes in the ROS metabolic process, cell surface receptor signaling, cell communication, mitotic cell cycle progression, and regulation of cell differentiation. Mechanistically, MAP17 exerted an increased tumoral phenotype associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activates downstream effectors AKT and HIF1α to enhance the Warburg effect. In HCC clinical samples, there is a close correlation between MAP17 expression and HIF1α or phosphorated level of AKT.
Our results show that MAP17 is a novel glycolytic regulator, and targeting MAP17/ROS pathway may be an alternative approach for the prevention and treatment of HCC.
Cultural differences in affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation could pose challenges for global public health campaigns, which use cognitive or affective goals to evoke desired attitudes and ...proactive health-promoting actions. This study aimed to identify cross-cultural differences in affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation and discuss the potential value of this information for public health promotion.
A cross-sectional survey using cross-culturally validated need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC) scales was carried out among 1166 Chinese participants, and the results were compared with published data from 980 American participants. Additionally, we assessed a highly prevalent symbolic geriatric health condition, hearing loss, in 500 Chinese community-dwelling seniors. The Chinese NFA scale was developed following the translation-back translation procedure, and the psychometric evaluation was performed by applying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), correlation analysis and multigroup invariance test. MANOVA and Hedge's g statistic were employed to compare the NFA and NFC levels between individuals from different countries and between Chinese seniors with and without hearing loss. The relation of early hearing intervention intention to NFA and NFC was also explored in the Chinese sample.
A basic two-factor model of NFA adequately fit the sample data from Chinese and American cultures. The questionnaire demonstrated reasonable invariance of the factor structure and factor loadings across the groups. Those in the primary Chinese sample had lower NFA and NFC than their American peers. This difference held in the senior sample. Moreover, Chinese seniors with hearing loss had even lower NFA and NFC than those without hearing loss. Their early hearing intervention intention was low but was associated with intrinsic motivation.
The Need for Affect (NFA) construct may be generalized beyond its Western origins. There was a general lack of affective and cognitive intrinsic motivation in Chinese individuals, particularly in seniors with hearing loss, compared with their American peers. These differences point to a potential challenge in framing effective messages for some cultures in the geriatric public health domain. Ideally, recognizing and understanding this challenge will inspire the consideration of novel persuasive strategies for these audiences.
Background
Frailty is one of the most problematic expressions of population aging, but its underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Circulating galectin-3 (Gal-3) is involved in the ...pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. This study aims to explore the influence of circulating Gal-3 on the regulation of frailty and aging and to identify the potential mechanism further.
Methods
In this cross-sectional analysis, the Fried frailty phenotype (FP) was assessed among 149 community elderly residents in Shanghai. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by the Ficoll-Paque density gradient method, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding transcription factors in frailty were detected by Illumina and bioinformatics analyzed with R software. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to explore the functional roles of these DEGs and the target genes related to frailty phenotypes. The serum Gal-3 concentration was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mouse frailty phenotype was used to construct an
in vivo
model of frailty, after which the serum levels of circulating Gal-3 and its gene expression levels in mouse tissues were determined.
Results
Participants’ mean age was 72.04 ± 7.05 years. In total, 21.48% were frail and 36.91% were pre-frail. The mean serum Gal-3 concentration was 46.34 ± 17.99 ng/mL in frail participants, 32.30 ± 8.14 ng/mL in pre-frail participants, and 26.00 ± 5.87 ng/mL in non-frail individuals (
p
< 0.001). Significant positive correlations between serum Gal-3 level and FP score, SARC-F score, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, etc., were observed. In addition, the KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analyses showed that 265 DEGs in PBMCs of frail participants were mainly related to inflammatory response, translation, RNA binding, protein binding, ribosome, and primary immunodeficiency.
LGALS3
was identified as the overlapping gene between frailty-related DEGs and aging-related DEGs. The elevated serum Gal-3 concentration in the
in vivo
model of frailty was consistent with the results in participants.
Conclusion
In both community-dwelling older adults and aged mice, serum Gal-3 concentration was positively correlated with frailty. This circulating mediator may be a promising indicator of frailty.
Clinical trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier, ChiCTR2000036399.
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