Role of arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction on lower limb performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

AimTo verify whether arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction influence lower limb muscle strength and gait speed in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsCross-sectional study including seventy-eight older adults with T2DM (aged 67 ± 6 years and 42 % male). Arterial stiffness was assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV), while endothelial function was measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Lower limb muscle strength and gait speed were assessed using the 30-second chair stand test (30s-CST) and 10-Meter Walk Test, respectively.ResultsBoth PWV (m/s) and FMD (%) were univariately associated with number of repetitions in 30s-CST and gait speed (P < 0.05). After control for age, sex and body mass index, PWV remained associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: ?0.494 to ?0.054; P = 0.015) and gait speed (95 % CI: ?0.039 to ?0.002; P = 0.031). After adjustments for control variables, T2DM duration and glycemic control, FMD was associated with repetitions in 30s-CST (95 % CI: 0.008 to 0.324; P = 0.039) and gait speed (95 % CI: 0.011 to 0.038; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn older adults with T2DM, both arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with decreased leg muscle strength and slower gait speed.     

Bio-accumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals in different edible fish species from Hurghada City,Red Sea,Egypt

BackgroundHeavy metal contamination has become a serious issue in this century especially detected in fish organs. Due to the presence of radioactive compounds in agricultural and sewage effluent, which destroys aquatic ecosystems, threatening human livelihoods. Health hazards associated with low and high consumption consumers assessed in five commercial fish species collected from Hurghada City, Egypt, during winter and summer, 2020. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique used for determination heavy meals in different organs and expressed as μg/g wet weight.ResultsHeavy metal concentrations in muscle ranged between:(0.054–0.109), (0.260–1.043), (0.264–0.897), (5.895–11.898), (0.381–0.970), (13.582–29.133) and (0.332–0.589) µg/g for Cd, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe and Ni respectively, which were lower than those of gills and liver. These concentrations were within WHO, FAO/WHO, and EU standards. Consumption of edible species was lower than the (TDIs) established by the (JECFA) and Egyptian Standards. Even though THQ and TTHQ values were < 1 while, in children with highly consumer were> 1.ConclusionThis study concluded that intake of Red Sea fish is safe for human health. It is critical for consumers to be aware of the consequences of excessive fish consumption, particularly children with highly consumer, which represent possible health risks.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

我国健康成人血清中抗成人腹泻轮状病毒抗体调查

本文报告以未知血清作为第一抗体直接包被微量凹井板,用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测抗成人腹泻轮状病毒抗体,得到成功的结果。此法应用于检测从中国一些省市收集的1,380份健康成人血清中抗成人腹泻轮状病毒抗体,其中141份阳性,总阳性率为10.2%,各地的感染率不同。对25份阳性血清进行了阻断试验,结果是在阻断后的P/N比值全部低于阻断前的P/N比值。这25份阳性血清中有17份来自河北省迁安县一带农村,该地区在两年前曾发生成人流行性腹泻。西藏50份血清均阴性,海南岛50份血清中仅1份阳性。     

中国农村人群骨折基本情况分析

调查了中国≥50岁中老年农村人群20岁以后的骨折发生情况。共计8266人,骨折率为6.42%;其中男性3771人,骨折率为7.48%;女性4495人,骨折率为5.54%。男性显著高于女性(P<0.01)。同时分析了不同部位的骨折发生情况,其中髋部骨折率为0.68%。骨折与跌跤发生因素密切相关,为此本研究还阐述了最近一年中人群跌倒情况,其跌倒率为11.13%。其结果为人群骨折的预防提供了科学依据。     

职业接触氯乙烯对生殖功能影响的调查

对全国１２个城市中１３个聚氯乙烯制造工厂中２７３６名接触氯乙烯的工人及３４４２名对照厂工人，进行了生殖功能的流行病学调查研究，结果表明，接触氯乙烯男、女工人的各项生殖结局指标与对照组比较无显著性差异，但女工氯乙烯接触组妊娠合并症的发生率明显高于对照组，表明氯乙烯对女工的妊娠过程有一定影响，因此积极改善劳动条件，不仅对保护工人健康，而且对保护其子代的正常发育成长也有重要意义。