Association between alcohol consumption and latent fasting blood glucose trajectories among midlife women

BackgroundThis investigation sought to elucidate the correlations between alcohol intake and trajectories of fasting blood glucose (FBG) among American women in midlife.MethodsOur analysis was rooted in the foundational data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a comprehensive longitudinal study centered on US women during their midlife transition. We employed group-based trajectory modeling to chart the FBG trajectories spanning from 1996 to 2005. Employing logistic regression, we gauged the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to draw connections between initial alcohol consumption and FBG trajectory patterns, whilst controlling for predominant potential confounders.ResultsOur cohort comprised 2,578 women in midlife, ranging in age from 42 to 52, each having a minimum of three subsequent FPG assessments. We discerned two distinct FBG trajectories: a low-stable pattern (n = 2,467) and a high-decreasing pattern (n = 111). Contrasted with the low-stable group, our data showcased an inverse relationship between alcohol intake and the high-decreasing FBG trajectory in the fully adjusted model 3. The most pronounced reduction was evident in the highest tertile of daily servings of alcoholic beverages (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.10–0.52, p < 0.001), percentage of kilocalories sourced from alcoholic beverages (OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.16–0.58, p < 0.001), and daily caloric intake from alcoholic beverages (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16–0.62, p < 0.001).ConclusionModerate alcohol consumption may protect against high FPG trajectories in middle-aged women in a dose–response manner. Further researches are needed to investigate this causality in midlife women

Research on the Stability of a Rabbit Dry Eye Model Induced by Topical Application of the Preservative Benzalkonium Chloride

Dry eye is a common disease worldwide, and animal models are critical for the study of it. At present, there is no research about the stability of the extant animal models, which may have negative implications for previous dry eye studies. In this study, we observed the stability of a rabbit dry eye model induced by the topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and determined the valid time of this model.). Decreased levels of mucin-5 subtype AC (MUC5AC), along with histopathological and ultrastructural disorders of the cornea and conjunctiva could be observed in Group BAC-W4 and particularly in Group BAC-W5 until day 21.A stable rabbit dry eye model was induced by topical 0.1% BAC for 5 weeks, and after BAC removal, the signs of dry eye were sustained for 2 weeks (for the mixed type of dry eye) or for at least 3 weeks (for mucin-deficient dry eye)

CircRNA ARFGEF1 functions as a ceRNA to promote oncogenic KSHV-encoded viral interferon regulatory factor induction of cell invasion and angiogenesis by upregulating glutaredoxin 3.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel single-stranded noncoding RNAs that can decoy other RNAs to inhibit their functions. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), caused by oncogenic Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is a highly angiogenic and invasive vascular tumor of endothelial origin commonly found in AIDS patients. We have recently shown that KSHV-encoded viral interferon regulatory factor 1 (vIRF1) induces cell invasion, angiogenesis and cellular transformation; however, the role of circRNAs is largely unknown in the context of KSHV vIRF1. Herein, transcriptome analysis identified 22 differentially expressed cellular circRNAs regulated by vIRF1 in an endothelial cell line. Among them, circARFGEF1 was the highest upregulated circRNA. Mechanistically, vIRF1 induced circARFGEF1 transcription by binding to transcription factor lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (Lef1). Importantly, upregulation of circARFGEF1 was required for vIRF1-induced cell motility, proliferation and in vivo angiogenesis. circARFGEF1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) by binding to and inducing degradation of miR-125a-3p. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated that glutaredoxin 3 (GLRX3) was a direct target of miR-125a-3p. Knockdown of GLRX3 impaired cell motility, proliferation and angiogenesis induced by vIRF1. Taken together, vIRF1 transcriptionally activates circARFGEF1, potentially by binding to Lef1, to promote cell oncogenic phenotypes via inhibiting miR-125a-3p and inducing GLRX3. These findings define a novel mechanism responsible for vIRF1-induced oncogenesis and establish the scientific basis for targeting these molecules for treating KSHV-associated cancers

Reconstruction of auto-tissue-engineered lamellar cornea by dynamic culture for transplantation: a rabbit model.

To construct an auto-tissue-engineered lamellar cornea (ATELC) for transplantation, based on acellular porcine corneal stroma and autologous corneal limbal explants, a dynamic culture process, which composed of a submersion culture, a perfusion culture and a dynamic air-liquid interface culture, was performed using appropriate parameters. The results showed that the ATELC-Dynamic possessed histological structure and DNA content that were similar to native lamellar cornea (NLC, p>0.05). Compared to NLC, the protein contents of zonula occludens-1, desmocollin-2 and integrin β4 in ATELC-Dynamic reached 93%, 89% and 73%, respectively. The basal cells of ATELC-Dynamic showed a better differentiation phenotype (K3-, P63+, ABCG2+) compared with that of ATELC in static air-lift culture (ATELC-Static, K3+, P63-, ABCG2-). Accordingly, the cell-cloning efficiency of ATELC-Dynamic (9.72±3.5%) was significantly higher than that of ATELC-Static (2.13±1.46%, p<0.05). The levels of trans-epithelial electrical resistance, light transmittance and areal modulus variation in ATELC-Dynamic all reached those of NLC (p>0.05). Rabbit lamellar keratoplasty showed that the barrier function of ATELC-Dynamic was intact, and there were no signs of epithelial shedding or neovascularization. Furthermore, the ATELC-Dynamic group had similar optical properties and wound healing processes compared with the NLC group. Thus, the sequential dynamic culture process that was designed according to corneal physiological characteristics could successfully reconstruct an auto-lamellar cornea with favorable morphological characteristics and satisfactory physiological function

Representative images from transmission electron microscopy.

<p>Compared with images from normal eyes, swelling of the mitochondria, Golgi apparati and RER could be observed on day 0 in Group BAC-W2, on days 0 and 7 in Groups BAC-W3 and BAC-W4, and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W5.</p

Representative images from transmission electron microscopy showing the conjunctival epithelial ultrastructure.

<p>Compared with normal eyes, fewer goblet cells and secretary granules were observed on day 0 in Groups BAC-W2 and BAC-W3, and on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W4. This loss of goblet cells and secretary granules was particularly pronounced in Group BAC-W5 on all of the days that were studied. Chromatin condensation and peripheral migration could be observed on days 0, 7, and 21 in Group BAC-W5.</p