Dietary Pattern Is Associated with Obesity in Older People in China: Data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)

Background: No studies have been conducted to explore the associations between dietary patterns and obesity among older Chinese people, by considering gender and urbanization level differences. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (2745 individuals, aged ≥ 60 years). Dietary data were obtained using 24 h-recall over three consecutive days. Height, Body Weight, and Waist Circumference were measured. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Multinomial and Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between dietary patterns and Body Mass Index (BMI) status/central obesity. Results: The prevalence of general and central obesity was 9.5% and 53.4%. Traditional dietary pattern (high intake of rice, pork and vegetables) was inversely associated with general/central obesity; modern dietary pattern (high intake of fruit, fast food, and processed meat) was positively associated with general/central obesity. The highest quartile of traditional dietary pattern had a lower risk of general/central obesity compared with the lowest quartile, while an inverse picture was found for the modern dietary pattern. These associations were consistent by gender and urbanization levels. Conclusions: Dietary patterns are associated with general/central obesity in older Chinese. This study reinforces the importance of a healthy diet in promoting healthy ageing in China.     

早产SGA产后24 h内血清Ghrelin、IGF－1、INS水平与胎龄及体格发育指标相关性分析

目的：研究早产小于胎龄儿（SGA）产后24 h血清中Ghrelin、胰岛素样生长因子（IGF－1）、胰岛素（INS）水平与胎龄以及发育指标的相关性。方法收集我院产科2006－10～2013－10间的出生的早产SGA500例,按照出生体重将病例分为三组：1000～1500 g的为A组（121例）,1500～2000 g的为B组（245例）,2000～2500 g的为C组（134例）,所有的患者分别于开奶前抽取静脉血2～3 mL,离心去血清后分别测定Ghrelin、IGF－1、INS水平,研究与胎龄以及体格发育的相关性。结果早产SGA产后24 h内血清Ghrelin随着体重的增加而逐渐降低,并且经过统计学检验三组之间的差异具有统计学意义（ P＜0．05）, IGF－1、INS水平随着体重的增加逐渐升高,并且两种因素在三组之间的差异均具有统计学意义（ P＜0．05）;利用Pearson相关性分析显示,早产SGA产后24 h内血清Ghrelin水平与胎龄、出生体质量、身长、BMI呈负相关,而与出生头围相关性不明显;IGF－1水平与胎龄、出生体质量、身长、头围、BMI 呈正相关;INS水平与胎龄、出生体质量、身长、头围、BMI呈正相关。结论早产SGA产后24 h内血清Ghrelin、IGF－1、INS水平与胎龄及体格发育指标之间具有明显的相关性,同时可以将Ghrelin、IGF－1、INS水平作为婴儿体格发育的有效的指标。     

Upregulated Expression of AQP 7 in the Skeletal Muscles of Obese ob/ob Mice

Aquaporin (AQP) is suggested to be regulated by leptin through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. AQP7 and AQP9 are membrane proteins with water and glycerol channels, the latter of which is essential for triglyceride synthesis. We conjectured that the expression of AQP7 and AQP9 would be altered in the skeletal myofibers in obese leptin deficient ob/ob mice as compared with that of wild mice. RNA and protein levels were studied in the quadriceps femoris muscles of ob/ob and wild mice. Real time quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that mouse AQP7 mRNA levels in skeletal muscles were significantly higher in ob/ob mice than in wild mice (P<0.01), whereas mouse AQP9 mRNA level was not different between the two groups (P>0.05). Histologically the type 1 myofibers of ob/ob mice contained numerous lipid droplets in oil red O stain samples. Immunohistochemical staining of ob/ob mouse muscles revealed enhanced expression of AQP7 at myofiber surface membranes, while AQP9 expression appeared to be similar to that of wild mice. The findings suggest that the upregulated expression of AQP7 in ob/ob mouse muscles facilitates the secretion of glycerol from myocytes.     

重型颅脑损伤患者血钠水平的变化及与预后关系的探讨

目的观察重型颅脑损伤（STBI）患者血钠水平的变化并探讨STBI患者血钠水平与预后的关系。方法选择38例STBI患者,根据患者入院时格拉斯哥昏迷评分（GCS）分为A组、B组和C组,观察以上各组患者住院后第1d、第3d、第5d和第7d血钠水平的变化;并依据患者就诊时血钠水平将以上患者分为正常组,轻度组,中度组和重度组,根据格拉斯哥预后评分（GOS）,探讨STBI患者的血钠水平与预后的关系。结果入院后第1d各组患者血钠水平与GCS评分呈负相关性,不同GCS评分患者间血钠水平差异具有统计学意义;就诊时患者血钠水平与病死率呈正相关性,不同血钠水平患者间病死率比较,差异差异具有统计学意义。结论就诊时STBI患者血钠水平与其病程进展和预后密切相关,应重视患者血钠水平的纠正。     

Fish to meat intake ratio and cooking oils are associated with hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels

Aim: Dietary habits are involved in the development of chronic inflammation; however, the impact of dietary profiles of hepatitis C virus carriers with persistently normal alanine transaminase levels (HCV‐PNALT) remains unclear. The decision‐tree algorithm is a data‐mining statistical technique, which uncovers meaningful profiles of factors from a data collection. We aimed to investigate dietary profiles associated with HCV‐PNALT using a decision‐tree algorithm. Methods: Twenty‐seven HCV‐PNALT and 41 patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study. Dietary habit was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. A decision‐tree algorithm was created by dietary variables, and was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUROC). Results: In multivariate analysis, fish to meat ratio, dairy product and cooking oils were identified as independent variables associated with HCV‐PNALT. The decision‐tree algorithm was created with two variables: a fish to meat ratio and cooking oils/ideal bodyweight. When subjects showed a fish to meat ratio of 1.24 or more, 68.8% of the subjects were HCV‐PNALT. On the other hand, 11.5% of the subjects were HCV‐PNALT when subjects showed a fish to meat ratio of less than 1.24 and cooking oil/ideal bodyweight of less than 0.23 g/kg. The difference in the proportion of HCV‐PNALT between these groups are significant (odds ratio 16.87, 95% CI 3.40–83.67, P = 0.0005). Fivefold cross‐validation of the decision‐tree algorithm showed an AUROC of 0.6947 (95% CI 0.5656–0.8238, P = 0.0067). Conclusion: The decision‐tree algorithm disclosed that fish to meat ratio and cooking oil/ideal bodyweight were associated with HCV‐PNALT.     

Metal presence in hair after metal‐on‐metal resurfacing arthroplasty

The elevation of metal levels in serum and urine during post‐operative follow‐up is a frequent find following the implantation of certain models of metal‐on‐metal hip prostheses. Among 45 patients with the same resurfacing prostheses, chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) levels in serum and urine were determined at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years after surgery. In the same period, levels of Cr, Co and molibdene (Mo) in scalp hair were also measured. Mean Cr and Co levels in serum were 8.29 µg/L (SD 17.97) and 8.38 µg/L (SD 21.97), respectively, whereas in urine levels were 16.20 µg/L (SD SD 32.55) and 75.40 µg/L (SD 190.86), respectively. In hair, mean Cr level were 163.27 µg/g (SD 300.62), mean Co level 61.98 µg/g (SD 126.48), and Mo 31.36 µg/g (SD 37.86). A high concordance was observed between chromium‐urine and chromium‐serum and between cobalt‐urine and cobalt‐hair. A moderate concordance was present between cobalt‐urine and cobalt‐serum, and between cobalt‐hair and cobalt‐serum. Eleven patients required revision surgery, five of them due to metallosis and periarticular cyst. At 1 year after reintervention, analytics were performed again and the following decrease rates were found: 42.8% in Cr levels, 51.1% in Mo levels, and 90.3% in Co levels. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:2025–2031, 2013     

Serum albumin level during intestinal exfoliative rejection: a potential predictor of graft recovery and patient outcome

Exfoliative rejection is a severe complication after intestinal transplant. The assessment of mucosa histology is restricted to the area reached by endoscopy. We aim to evaluate the serum albumin (SA) value as a parameter of graft damage and clinical prognosis in intestinal exfoliative rejection (ExR). The present study is a retrospective analysis of 11 episodes of ExR occurred in a cohort of 26 patients. SA levels were measured 24 h after diagnosis and twice a week thereafter and then correlated with parameters of clinical and graft histological recovery (HR). During ExR, all patients had very low SA levels, reaching a minimum average of 1.9 ± 0.3 g/dL. According to the value of albumin levels at ExR diagnosis, the patients were grouped finding a correlation with their clinical evolution. Six ExR episodes presented with severe hipoalbuminemia (<2.2 g/dL; p < 0.05) that correlated with worse patient and graft outcome, ranging from graft loss and need for re‐transplantation to delayed clinical and HR. SA at ExR diagnosis may be an indicator of the severity of the ExR process, and it could also be used as an early predictor of patient and graft outcome.