Changes in Life's Essential 8 and risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese people

Background The American Heart Association recently released an updated algorithm for evaluating cardiovascular health-Life's Essential 8 (LE8). However, the associations between changes in LE8 score over time and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain unclear. Methods We investigated associations between 6-year changes (2006-12) in LE8 score and risk of subsequent CVD events (2012-20) among 53 363 Chinese men and women from the Kailuan Study, who were free from CVD in 2012. The LE8 score was calculated based on eight components: diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results We documented 4281 incident CVD cases during a median of 7.7 years of follow-up. Compared with participants whose LE8 scores remained stable in a 6-year period, those with the large increases of LE8 score over the 6-year period had a lower risk of CVD, heart disease and stroke in the subsequent 8 years [HRs and 95% CIs: 0.67 (0.64, 0.70) for CVD, 0.65 (0.61, 0.69) for heart disease, 0.71 (0.67, 0.76) for stroke, all P-trend < 0.001]. Conversely, those with the large decreases of LE8 score had 47%, 51% and 41% higher risk for CVD, heart disease and stroke, respectively. These associations were consistent across the subgroups stratified by risk factors. Conclusions Improving LE8 score in a short- and moderate-term was associated with a lower CVD risk, whereas decreased LE8 score over time was associated with a higher risk

Changes in Life's Essential 8 and risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese people

Background The American Heart Association recently released an updated algorithm for evaluating cardiovascular health-Life's Essential 8 (LE8). However, the associations between changes in LE8 score over time and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain unclear. Methods We investigated associations between 6-year changes (2006-12) in LE8 score and risk of subsequent CVD events (2012-20) among 53 363 Chinese men and women from the Kailuan Study, who were free from CVD in 2012. The LE8 score was calculated based on eight components: diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results We documented 4281 incident CVD cases during a median of 7.7 years of follow-up. Compared with participants whose LE8 scores remained stable in a 6-year period, those with the large increases of LE8 score over the 6-year period had a lower risk of CVD, heart disease and stroke in the subsequent 8 years [HRs and 95% CIs: 0.67 (0.64, 0.70) for CVD, 0.65 (0.61, 0.69) for heart disease, 0.71 (0.67, 0.76) for stroke, all P-trend < 0.001]. Conversely, those with the large decreases of LE8 score had 47%, 51% and 41% higher risk for CVD, heart disease and stroke, respectively. These associations were consistent across the subgroups stratified by risk factors. Conclusions Improving LE8 score in a short- and moderate-term was associated with a lower CVD risk, whereas decreased LE8 score over time was associated with a higher risk

Life's Essential 8 in Relation to Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Individuals With Diabetes

Background: Evidence regarding the potential health effects of Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is limited. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of LE8 score with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality among individuals with T2D. Methods: We prospectively followed 19,915 Chinese participants with T2D at baseline or diagnosed during follow-up (Kailuan Study: 2006-2020), who were free of CVD at diagnosis of diabetes. Diet, lifestyle, and health conditions were repeatedly assessed every 2 years. The LE8 score (range 0-100), was calculated based on 8 components: diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. We used time-varying cox models to model the associations. Results: During a median follow-up of 11.5 years in participants with T2D, there were 3,295 incident CVD cases and 3,123 deaths. Higher LE8 score was associated with lower risk of CVD incidence and total mortality among participants with diabetes. The multivariate-adjusted HRs for the highest quintile of LE8 score compared with the lowest quintile were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.53-0.59) for CVD, 0.57 (95% CI: 0.53-0.62) for heart disease, 0.53 (95% CI: 0.49-0.57) for stroke, and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.78) for total mortality (all P trend &lt;0.001). Furthermore, compared with participants with stable or decreased LE8 score after diabetes diagnosis, those with increased LE8 score had 17% to 42% lower risk of CVD, heart disease, stroke, and mortality. Conclusions: A higher LE8 score was associated with a substantially lower risk of CVD incidence and total mortality among adults with T2D.</p

Life's Essential 8 in Relation to Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Individuals With Diabetes

Background: Evidence regarding the potential health effects of Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is limited. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of LE8 score with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality among individuals with T2D. Methods: We prospectively followed 19,915 Chinese participants with T2D at baseline or diagnosed during follow-up (Kailuan Study: 2006-2020), who were free of CVD at diagnosis of diabetes. Diet, lifestyle, and health conditions were repeatedly assessed every 2 years. The LE8 score (range 0-100), was calculated based on 8 components: diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, sleep health, body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. We used time-varying cox models to model the associations. Results: During a median follow-up of 11.5 years in participants with T2D, there were 3,295 incident CVD cases and 3,123 deaths. Higher LE8 score was associated with lower risk of CVD incidence and total mortality among participants with diabetes. The multivariate-adjusted HRs for the highest quintile of LE8 score compared with the lowest quintile were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.53-0.59) for CVD, 0.57 (95% CI: 0.53-0.62) for heart disease, 0.53 (95% CI: 0.49-0.57) for stroke, and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.78) for total mortality (all P trend &lt;0.001). Furthermore, compared with participants with stable or decreased LE8 score after diabetes diagnosis, those with increased LE8 score had 17% to 42% lower risk of CVD, heart disease, stroke, and mortality. Conclusions: A higher LE8 score was associated with a substantially lower risk of CVD incidence and total mortality among adults with T2D.</p

Gas protection of two-dimensional nanomaterials from high-energy impacts

Two-dimensional (2D) materials can be produced using ball milling with the help of liquid surfactants or solid exfoliation agents, as ball milling of bulk precursor materials usually produces nanosized particles because of high-energy impacts. Post-milling treatment is thus needed to purify the nanosheets. We show here that nanosheets of graphene, BN, and MoS2 can be produced by ball milling of their bulk crystals in the presence of ammonia or a hydrocarbon ethylene gas and the obtained nanosheets remain flat and maintain their single-crystalline structure with low defects density even after a long period of time; post-milling treatment is not needed. This study does not just demonstrate production of nanosheets using ball milling, but reveals surprising indestructible behaviour of 2D nanomaterials in ammonia or hydrocarbon gas under the high-energy impacts; in other milling atmospheres such as air, nitrogen or argon the same milling treatment produces nanosized particles. A systematic study reveals chemisorption of ammonia and hydrocarbon gases and chemical reactions occurring at defect sites, which heal the defects by saturating the dangling bonds. Density functional theory was used to understand the mechanism of mechanochemical reactions. Ball milling in ammonia or hydrocarbon is promising for mass-production of pure nanosheets

Particulate matter pollution over China and the effects of control policies

China is one of the regions with highest PM(2.5)concentration in the world. In this study, we review the spatio-temporal distribution of PM2.5 mass concentration and components in China and the effect of control measures on PM2.5 concentrations. Annual averaged PM2.5 concentrations in Central-Eastern China reached over 100 mu g m(-3), in some regions even over 150 mu g m(-3). In 2013, only 4.1% of the cities attained the annual average standard of 35 mu g m(-3). Aitken mode particles tend to dominate the total particle number concentration. Depending on the location and time of the year, new particle formation (NPF) has been observed to take place between about 10 and 60% of the days. In most locations, NPF was less frequent at high PM mass loadings. The secondary inorganic particles (i.e., sulfate, nitrate and ammonium) ranked the highest fraction among the PM2.5 species, followed by organic matters (OM), crustal species and element carbon (EC), which accounted for 6-50%, 15-51%, 5-41% and 2-12% of PM2.5, respectively. In response to serious particulate matter pollution, China has taken aggressive steps to improve air quality in the last decade. As a result, the national emissions of primary PM2.5, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have been decreasing since 2005, 2006, and 2011, respectively. The emission control policies implemented in the last decade could result in noticeable reduction in PM2,(5)concentrations, contributing to the decreasing PM2.5 trends observed in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. However, the control policies issued before 2010 are insufficient to improve PM2.5 air quality notably in future. An optimal mix of energy-saving and end-of-pipe control measures should be implemented, more ambitious control policies for NMVOC and NH3 should be enforced, and special control measures in winter should be applied. 40-70% emissions should be cut off to attain PM2.5 standard. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

IL-8 Enhances Therapeutic Effects of BMSCs on Bone Regeneration via CXCR2-Mediated PI3k/Akt Signaling Pathway

Background/Aims: Tissue engineering bone transplantation with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is an effective technology to treat massive bone loss, while molecular regulation of the bone regeneration processes remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to assess the role of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the recruitment of host cells by seeded BMSCs and in the bone regeneration. Methods: A transwell assay was performed to examine the role of IL-8/CXCR1/CXCR2/PI3k/Akt on the migration potential of hBMSCs. The in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs was assessed by examination of 2 chondrogenic markers, Sox9 and type 2 collagen (COL2). mBMSCs were used in tissue engineered bone (TEB) with/without IL-8 implanted into bone defect area with CXCR2 or Akt inhibitors. Density and Masson staining of the regenerated bone were assessed. The chondrogenesis was assessed by expression levels of associated proteins, Sox9 and COL2, by RT-qPCR and by immunohistochemistry. Results: IL-8 may trigger in vitro migration of hBMSCs via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway. IL-8 enhances osteogenesis in the TEB-implanted bone defect in mice. IL-8 induces chondrogenic differentiation of hBMSCs via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: IL-8 enhances therapeutic effects of MSCs on bone regeneration via CXCR2-mediated PI3k/Akt signaling pathway

Association of long-term triglyceride-glucose index level and change with the risk of cardiometabolic diseases

ObjectiveThe triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is considered as a pivotal factor for various metabolic, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. However, there is currently a paucity of relevant studies on the association between long-term level and change of TyG-index and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) risk. We aimed to explore the risk of CMDs in relation to the long-term level and change of TyG-index.MethodsBased on the prospective cohort study, a total of 36359 subjects who were free of CMDs, had complete data of triglyceride (TG) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) and underwent four health check-ups from 2006 to 2012 consecutively were followed up for CMDs until 2021. The associations between long-term level and change of TyG-index and CMDs risk were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression models to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The TyG-index was calculated as ln [TG, mg/dL) × FBG, mg/dL)/2].ResultsDuring the median observation period of 8 years, 4685 subjects were newly diagnosed with CMDs. In multivariable-adjusted models, a graded positive association was observed between CMDs and long-term TyG-index. Compared with the Q1 group, subjects with the Q2-Q4 group had increased progressively risk of CMDs, with corresponding HRs of 1.64(1.47-1.83), 2.36(2.13-2.62), 3.15(2.84-3.49), respectively. The association was marginally attenuated, after further adjustment for the baseline TyG level. In addition, compared with stable TyG level, both loss and gain in TyG level were associated with increased CMDs risk.ConclusionsLong-term elevated level and change of TyG-index are risk factors for the incident CMDs. Elevated TyG-index in the early stage remains to exert cumulative effects on the occurrence of CMDs even after accounting for the baseline TyG-index