Resting heart rate is associated with novel plasma atherosclerosis biomarkers

Background: Resting heart rate (RHR) is a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Both soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (sLRP1) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are novel plasma biomarkers for atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the potential associations between RHR and plasma sLRP1 and sRAGE levels and whether any associations might be modified by apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 941 apparently healthy adults aged 40 years or older. Plasma sLRP1 and sRAGE levels were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. APOE gene polymorphisms were analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.Results: RHR was a significant determinant of log-transformed sLRP1 (β = 0.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.002–0.007; P = 0.001) and log-transformed sRAGE (β = 0.005; 95% CI, 0.002–0.007; P <0.001) independently of age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, lifestyle, and medical history. Additionally, APOE ε4 carrier status was inversely associated with log-transformed plasma sLRP1 level (β = –0.072; 95% CI, –0.130 to –0.015; P = 0.01) and did not modify the relationship between RHR and plasma sLRP1 level. Conclusions: An elevated RHR was associated with increased sLRP1 and sRAGE values, which was not modified by APOE genotype. The underlying mechanism of this effect may be relevant to the progression of atherosclerosis

Wearable sensors and features for diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review

Objective Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of families around the world, while various wearable sensors and corresponding data analysis can be of great support for clinical diagnosis and health assessment. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing research that uses wearable sensors and features for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Methods A systematic review was conducted of studies published between 2015 and 2022 in major scientific databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopes. The obtained studies were analyzed and organized into the process of diagnosis: wearable sensors, feature extraction, and feature selection. Results The search led to 171 eligible studies included in this overview. Wearable sensors such as force sensors, inertial sensors, electromyography, electroencephalography, acoustic sensors, optical fiber sensors, and global positioning systems were employed to monitor and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases. Various features including physical features, statistical features, nonlinear features, and features from the network can be extracted from these wearable sensors, and the alteration of features toward neurodegenerative diseases was illustrated. Moreover, different kinds of feature selection methods such as filter, wrapper, and embedded methods help to find the distinctive indicator of the diseases and benefit to a better diagnosis performance. Conclusions This systematic review enables a comprehensive understanding of wearable sensors and features for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases

The Age-Dependent Relationship between Blood Pressure and Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Area of Xi'an, China

<div><p>Background</p><p>Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, although the relationship between hypertension and cognitive impairment is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age on the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive impairment.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Blood pressure and global cognitive function information was collected from 1799 participants (age 40–85) who lived in a village in the suburbs of Xi'an, China, during in-person interviews. Cognitive impairment was defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score lower than the cutoff value. The effect of age on the relationship between blood pressure parameters [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and high blood pressure (HBP, SBP≥140 mm Hg and/or DBP≥90 mm Hg)] and cognitive impairment was analyzed by logistic regression models using interaction and stratified analysis. Blood pressure and age were regarded as both continuous and categorical data.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 231 participants were diagnosed as having cognitive impairment based on our criteria. Interaction analysis for the total population showed that SBP (when regarded as continuous data) was positively correlated with cognitive impairment (OR = 1.130 [95% CI, 1.028–1.242] per 10mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.011); however, the age by SBP interaction term was negatively correlated with cognitive impairment (OR = 0.989 [95% CI, 0.982–0.997] per 10mmHg×year, <i>P</i> = 0.006), indicating that the relationship between SBP and cognitive impairment was age-dependent (OR = 1.130×0.989^(age-55.5) per 10mmHg,40 ≤age≤85). When the blood pressure and age were considered as binary data, the results were similar to those obtained when they were considered as continuous variables. Stratified multivariate analysis revealed that the relationship between SBP (when regarded as continuous data) and cognitive impairment was positive for patients aged 40–49 years (OR = 1.349 [95% CI: 1.039–1.753] per 10mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.025) and 50–59 years (OR = 1.185 [95% CI: 1.028–1.366] per 10mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.019), whereas it tended to be negative for patients aged 60–69 years (OR = 0.878 [95% CI: 0.729–1.058] per 10mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.171) and ≥70 years (OR = 0.927 [95% CI: 0.772–1.113] per 10mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.416). Results similar to those for SBP were obtained for DBP, MABP and HBP as well. Subsequently, SBP, DBP and MABP were transformed into categorical data (SBP<140mmHg, 140mmHg≤SBP<160mmHg, and SBP≥160mmHg; DBP<90mmHg, 90mmHg≤DBP<100mmHg, and DBP≥100mmHg; MABP<100mmHg, 100mmHg≤MABP<110mmHg, and MABP≥110mmHg), and the stratified multivariate analysis was repeated. This analysis showed that the age-dependent association continued to exist and was especially prominent in the SBP≥160 mmHg, DBP≥90 mmHg and MABP≥110 mmHg groups.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Elevated blood pressure is positively correlated with cognitive impairment in the middle-aged, but this positive association declines with increasing age. These results indicated that specific blood pressure management strategies for various age groups may be crucial for maintaining cognitive vitality.</p></div

CYP4 subfamily V member 2 (CYP4V2) polymorphisms were associated with ischemic stroke in Chinese Han population

Abstract Background CYP4 subfamily V member 2 (CYP4V2) polymorphisms are related to venous thromboembolism. However, the influence of CYP4V2 polymorphisms on the susceptibility to ischemic stroke (IS) remains undetermined. Methods We selected and genotyped five polymorphisms of CYP4V2 in 575 cases and 575 controls to test whether CYP4V2 variants were associated with the risk for IS in a Chinese Han population. Genotyping of CYP4V2 polymorphisms was performed using the Agena MassARRAY platform. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between CYP4V2 polymorphisms and IS risk by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). False-positive report probability analysis was applied to assess the noteworthy relationship of the significant findings. Results CYP4V2 rs1398007 might be a risk factor for IS (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.05–1.71, p = 0.009). Specially, confounding factors (age, gender, smoking and drinking status) might affect the relationship between rs1398007 and IS susceptibility. Moreover, rs1053094 and rs56413992 were associated with IS risk in males. Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis showed the combination of rs13146272 and rs3736455 had the strongest interaction effect (information gain value of 0.40%). Furthermore, genotypes of rs1398007 (p = 0.006) and rs1053094 (p = 0.044) were associated with the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among healthy controls. Conclusion Our results first provided evidence that CYP4V2 rs1398007 might be a risk factor for IS, which provides instructive clues for studying the mechanisms of CYP4V2 to the pathogenesis of IS

Flow chart.

<p>Flow chart.</p

Importance of Calcium-Binding Site 2 in Simian Virus 40 Infection▿

The exposure of molecular signals for simian virus 40 (SV40) cell entry and nuclear entry has been postulated to involve calcium coordination at two sites on the capsid made of Vp1. The role of calcium-binding site 2 in SV40 infection was examined by analyzing four single mutants of site 2, the Glu160Lys, Glu160Arg, Glu157Lys (E157K), and Glu157Arg mutants, and an E157K-E330K combination mutant. The last three mutants were nonviable. All mutants replicated viral DNA normally, and all except the last two produced particles containing all three capsid proteins and viral DNA. The defect of the site 1-site 2 E157K-E330K double mutant implies that at least one of the sites is required for particle assembly in vivo. The nonviable E157K particles, about 10% larger in diameter than the wild type, were able to enter cells but did not lead to T-antigen expression. Cell-internalized E157K DNA effectively coimmunoprecipitated with anti-Vp1 antibody, but little of the DNA did so with anti-Vp3 antibody, and none was detected in anti-importin immunoprecipitate. Yet, a substantial amount of Vp3 was present in anti-Vp1 immune complexes, suggesting that internalized E157K particles are ineffective at exposing Vp3. Our data show that E157K mutant infection is blocked at a stage prior to the interaction of the Vp3 nuclear localization signal with importins, consistent with a role for calcium-binding site 2 in postentry steps leading to the nuclear import of the infecting SV40

Relationships between the categorical blood pressure parameters [SBP (A), DBP (B), MABP (C)] and cognitive impairment in the age-based subgroups after correcting for confounds (model 6).

<p>SBP, DBP and MABP were transformed into categorical data (SBP<140 mmHg, 140 mmHg≤SBP<160 mmHg, and SBP≥160 mmHg; DBP<90 mmHg, 90 mmHg≤DBP<100 mmHg, and DBP≥100 mmHg; MABP<100 mmHg, 100 mmHg≤MABP<110 mmHg, and MABP≥110 mmHg). The SBP<140 mmHg, DBP<90 mmHg, and MABP<100 mmHg groups were established as the reference groups. The confounding variables considered in model 6 were the same as those considered in model 5.</p

Demographic data and clinical characteristics of the study population.

<p>Demographic data and clinical characteristics of the study population.</p

Relationship between blood pressure parameters (SBP, DBP and MABP) and cognitive impairment in the total population.

<p>Relationship between blood pressure parameters (SBP, DBP and MABP) and cognitive impairment in the total population.</p

Relationship between the blood pressure parameters [SBP (A), DBP (B), MABP (C) and HBP (D)] and cognitive impairment in the age-based subgroups after correcting for confounds (model 5).

<p>First, we divided the population into 4 age-based subgroups (40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and ≥70 years) and established a model (model 5) for every blood pressure parameter in every subgroup. The confounding variables considered in model 5 were the same as those considered in model 2. However, model 2 was developed using the data from the entire population, whereas model 5 was developed using the data from the age-based subgroups.</p