Serum response of all-trans and 9-cis isomers of beta-carotene in humans.

Little work has been performed on the serum response of various carotene isomers. The present study was carried out to examine the serum response of all-trans and 9-cis isomers of beta-carotene (BC) using frequent blood sample collections at early time points.

Serum responses of all-trans BC and a mixture of BC isomers containing 80% 9-cis BC were studied in 15 men by measuring the serum concentrations of BC at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 24 hours after a single large oral dose of all-trans BC or 9-cis BC.

The serum response to an oral dose of all-trans BC (120 mg) significantly increased from baseline at 24 hr (p < 0.004). After an oral dose of a mixture of BC isomers (120 mg, 80% 9-cis BC), the peak concentration of 9-cis BC was significantly greater that baseline values (p < 0.016).

Increases in serum all-trans BC levels, in part, may be due to greater intestinal absorption, whereas the inability to measure a significant increase in the concentration of 9-cis BC may indicate poor absorption, isomerization to all-trans BC, or a very rapid tissue uptake.     

脂质蓄积指数和内脏脂肪指数对成年人代谢综合征的预测价值研究

背景　脂质蓄积指数（LAP）和内脏脂肪指数（VAI）是反映个体脂肪分布及内脏脂肪蓄积程度的重要指标，与肥胖相关的慢性代谢性疾病关系密切。目的　探讨LAP和VAI与成年人代谢综合征（MS）的相关性，并评估LAP、VAI对MS的预测价值。方法　纳入2018年9月至2019年5月在中日友好医院体检中心进行体检的708例受试者，其中MS患者249例（MS组），非MS患者459例（非MS组），比较两组患者LAP、VAI及相关生化指标。根据LAP、VAI四分位数将受试者进行分组（L1组、L2组、L3组、L4组各177例；V1组、V2组、V3组、V4组各177例），比较各组MS及其组分发生率。采用多因素Logistic回归分析计算不同LAP、VAI受试者MS的发生风险，并分别绘制不同性别LAP、VAI、腰围（WC）、体质指数（BMI）预测MS发生风险的受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线。结果　LAP和VAI与成年人MS发生率呈高强度正相关（Cramer's V=0.585、0.577）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，在调整各危险因素后，L3组、L4组MS发生风险仍高于L1组，V3组、V4组MS发生风险仍高于V1组（P<0.001）。ROC曲线分析结果显示，男性LAP、VAI预测MS发生风险的ROC曲线下面积（AUC）分别为0.831〔95%CI（0.795，0.867）〕、0.825〔95%CI（0.788，0.863）〕，临界值分别为52.03、1.99；女性LAP、VAI预测MS发生风险的AUC分别为0.887〔95%CI（0.834，0.940）〕、0.886〔95%CI（0.827，0.945）〕，临界值分别为54.84、2.54。结论　LAP、VAI与成年人MS发生率呈高强度正相关，随着LAP、VAI增高，MS发生风险亦增高；LAP、VAI对MS有良好的预测价值，联合WC和BMI能有效预测MS。     

The impact of thromboprophylaxis on cancer survival: focus on pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is still a clinical challenge due to its predominantly late diagnosis and the chemoresistance to cytotoxic and target drugs. One of the major complications of pancreatic cancer is venous thromboembolism (VTE). Both ambulatory and hospitalized pancreatic cancer patients are at higher risk of developing VTE. Among patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, the occurrence of VTE may be associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, emerging clinical data strongly suggest that anticoagulant treatment may improve patient survival by decreasing thromboembolic complications as well as by anticancer activity. Given the clinical relevance for both physicians and basic scientists, this article focuses on the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the relation between the coagulation cascade and the invasive and metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer, and suggests that anticoagulant therapy may represent a useful strategy to improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.     

Clearing hepatitis C virus with direct antiviral agents reduces cardiovascular events in patients with prediabetes. Commentary to Sasso and colleagues

Liver health is a key determinant of cardiovascular risk (CVR). Hepatic fibrosis is the shared common result of chronic hepatitis, irrespective of aetiology. Fibrosis profoundly distorts liver tissue architecture and perturbs hepatic physiology, dictates the course of chronic liver disease and is increasingly recognized as a CVR factor. The relative weights of pre-diabetes and hepatic fibrosis as risk factors for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with HCV remain an open issue. Sasso and Colleagues answered this research question by treating approximately half of 770 HCV positive pre-diabetic patients with direct antiviral agents (DAAs), while the rest served as historical controls. Data have shown that achieving HCV clearance with DAAs was associated with a 60% reduced risk of MACE, thereby implying that this antiviral strategy is recommended in HCV positive pre-diabetic patients, regardless of the severity of liver disease and concurrent CVR factors. This study paves the way for additional studies addressing the molecular patho-mechanisms and changes in the clinical spectrum involved in cardio-metabolic protection following HCV eradication in patients with pre-diabetes.