Hemoglobin A1c Levels Modify Associations between Dietary Acid Load and Breast Cancer Recurrence.

BackgroundMetabolic acidosis promotes cancer metastasis. No prospective studies have examined the association between dietary acid load and breast cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors, who are susceptible to metabolic acidosis. Hyperglycemia promotes cancer progression and acid formation; however, researchers have not examined whether hyperglycemia can modify the association between dietary acid load and breast cancer recurrence.MethodsWe studied 3081 early-stage breast cancer survivors enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living study who provided dietary information through 24-h recalls at baseline and during follow-up and had measurements of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at baseline. We assessed dietary acid load using two common dietary acid load scores, potential renal acid load (PRAL) score and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) score.ResultsAfter an average of 7.3 years of follow-up, dietary acid load was positively associated with recurrence when baseline HbA1c levels were ≥ 5.6% (median level) and ≥5.7% (pre-diabetic cut-point). In the stratum with HbA1c ≥ 5.6%, comparing the highest to the lowest quartile of dietary acid load, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio was 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-3.48) for PRAL and was 2.31 (95% CI 1.42-3.74) for NEAP. No associations were observed in the stratum with HbA1c levels were <5.6%. P-values for interactions were 0.01 for PRAL and 0.05 for NEAP.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated for the first time that even at or above normal to high HbA1c levels, dietary acid load was associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence among breast cancer survivors.ImpactsOur study provides strong evidence for developing specific dietary acid load guidelines based on HbA1c levels

Associations between Dietary Acid Load and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Hyperglycemia in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Metabolic acidosis can lead to inflammation, tissue damage, and cancer metastasis. Dietary acid load contributes to metabolic acidosis if endogenous acid-base balance is not properly regulated. Breast cancer survivors have reduced capacities to adjust their acid-base balance; yet, the associations between dietary acid load and inflammation and hyperglycemia have not been examined among them. We analyzed data collected from 3042 breast cancer survivors enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study who had provided detailed dietary intakes and measurements of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Using a cross-sectional design, we found positive associations between dietary acid load and plasma CRP and HbA1c. In the multivariable-adjusted models, compared to women with the lowest quartile, the intakes of dietary acid load among women with the highest quartile showed 30-33% increases of CRP and 6-9% increases of HbA1c. Our study is the first to demonstrate positive associations between dietary acid load and CRP and HbA1c in breast cancer survivors. Our study identifies a novel dietary factor that may lead to inflammation and hyperglycemia, both of which are strong risk factors for breast cancer recurrence and comorbidities

Source Location of Forced Oscillations Using Synchrophasor and SCADA Data

Recent advances in synchrophasor based oscillation monitoring algorithms have allowed engineers to detect oscillation issues that may have previously gone undetected. Although such an oscillation can be flagged and its oscillation shape can indicate the general vicinity of its source, low number of synchrophasors means that a specific generator or load that is the root cause of an oscillation cannot easily be pinpointed. Fortunately, SCADA serves as a much more readily available telemetered source of data if only at a relatively low sampling rate of 1 sample every 1 to 10 seconds. This paper shows that it is possible to combine synchrophasor and SCADA data for effective source location of forced oscillations. For multiple recent oscillation events, the proposed automatic methods were successful in correct identification of the oscillation source which was confirmed in each case by discussion with respective generation plant owners

Efficacy and prognosis following combined cinepazaide maleate/nimodipine therapy in cerebral vasospasm patients after hemorrhage

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and prognosis following treatment of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) patients with a combination of cinnarizide maleate and nimodipine after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods: Eighty-eight patients with CVS after SAH were selected and divided into control group (CG) and study group (EG), each with 44 patients (n = 44). Patients in CG were treated with intravenous infusion of cinnarizide maleate, while those in EG received intravenous infusion of cinnarizide maleate together, and their clinical efficacy and prognosis were compared.Results: Compared with CG, total treatment effectiveness (response) in EG was significantly higher, while levels of inflammatory factors were lower (p < 0.05). Serum protein levels of S100 β and ET-1, and MCA blood flow velocity in EG were notably lower (p < 0.05), but GCS scores were highercompared with CG (p < 0.05). The NIHSS scores were lower and BI indices were higher in EG than in CG (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Treatment of CVS patients after SAH using a combination of cinnarizide maleate and nimodipine effectively reduces the levels of inflammatory factors, improves quality of prognosis, and relieves symptoms of CVS, when compared with administration of cinnarizide maleate only. Therefore, the combination treatment is recommended for the management of CVS after SAH

Association between plasma fluorescent oxidation products and erectile dysfunction: A prospective study

Background: Existing epidemiological studies of the association between oxidative stress and erectile dysfunction (ED) are sparse and inconclusive, which is likely due to cross-sectional design and small sample size. Therefore, we investigated the association between biomarkers of oxidative stress and ED in prospective setting among a relatively large sample size of men. Methods: We conducted the prospective study among 917 men ages between 47 and 80 years at the time of blood draw, which is a part of nested prospective case–control study of prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Plasma fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs), a global biomarker for oxidative stress, were measured at three excitation/emission wavelengths (360/420 nm named as FlOP_360; 320/420 nm named as FlOP_320 and 400/475 nm named as FlOP_400). Results: Approximately 35 % of men developed ED during follow-up. We did not find an independent association between FlOP_360, FlOP_320, FlOP_400 and risk of ED in the multivariable adjusted model (Tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.61-1.34, Ptrend = 0.54 for FlOP_360; OR = 0.73, 95 % CI = 0.49-1.07, Ptrend = 0.27 for FlOP_320; and OR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.66-1.45, Ptrend = 0.72 for FlOP_400). Further analysis of the association between FlOPs and ED in the fasting samples or controls only (free of prostate cancer incidence) did not change the results appreciably. Conclusions: Plasma FlOPs were not associated with the risk of ED, suggesting oxidative stress may not be an independent risk factor for ED. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12894-015-0083-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Fluorescent Oxidation Products and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Study in Women

Background: Oxidative stress is implicated in the etiology of coronary heart disease (CHD). New measures to capture oxidative stress are warranted. Fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs) can be measured in plasma and have been shown to reflect levels of oxidative stress and to predict risk of CHD in men over 6 years of follow‐up. The objective of this study is to determine whether measures of FlOPs are associated with risk of CHD in women over an extended follow‐up period. Methods and Results: We measured FlOP by spectrofluorometer in a nested case–control study within the Nurses' Health Study, with baseline blood collection in 1990 and follow‐up of 397 incident CHD cases through 2004 matched 1:2 with controls. Level of FlOPs was independently associated with CHD. The relative risk across extreme quintiles was 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 2.53) when adjusted for lifestyle factors, lipids and C‐reactive protein (P trend across quintiles=0.01). A slightly stronger association was observed when analyses were restricted to women fasting >8 hours at blood draw (RR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.15). In exploratory time to event analyses, high levels of FlOPs measured ≥5 years before the CHD event, but not closer to the CHD event, were associated with the risk of CHD. Conclusions: Higher levels of FlOPs were associated with the risk of CHD in women. The association appeared strongest for long‐term prediction of CHD events

Phobic anxiety and plasma levels of global oxidative stress in women

ABSTRACT -Background and Objectives: Psychological distress has been hypothesized to be associated with adverse biologic states such as higher oxidative stress and inflammation. Yet, little is known about associations between a common form of distress -phobic anxiety-and global oxidative stress. Thus, we related phobic anxiety to plasma fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs), a global oxidative stress marker. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 1,325 women (aged 43-70 years) from the Nurses' Health Study. Phobic anxiety was measured using the Crown-Crisp Index (CCI). Adjusted least-squares mean log-transformed FlOPs were calculated across phobic categories. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) comparing the highest CCI category (≥ 6 points) vs. lower scores, across FlOPs quartiles. Results: No association was found between phobic anxiety categories and mean FlOP levels in multivariable adjusted linear models. Similarly, in multivariable logistic regression models there were no associations between FlOPs quartiles and likelihood of being in the highest phobic category. Comparing women in the highest vs. lowest FlOPs quartiles: FlOP_360: OR = 0.68 (95% CI: 0.40 -1.15); FlOP_320: OR = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.61 -1.61); FlOP_400: OR = 0.92 (95% CI: 0.52, 1.63)

Healthy Dietary Patterns and Oxidative Stress as Measured by Fluorescent Oxidation Products in Nurses’ Health Study

Healthy diets may lower oxidative stress and risk of chronic diseases. However, no previous studies examined associations between diet and fluorescent oxidation products (FlOP), a global marker of oxidative stress. We evaluated associations between healthy eating patterns (Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED)) and FlOP, measured at three excitation/emission wavelengths (FlOP_360, FlOP_320, FlOP_400) from 2021 blood samples collected from 1688 women within the Nurses’ Health Study. AHEI, DASH, and aMED scores were significantly positively associated with FlOP_360 and FlOP_320 concentrations (p-trend ≤ 0.04), but not associated with FlOP_400. Among specific food groups that contribute to these diet scores, significantly positive associations were observed with legumes and vegetables for FlOP_360, vegetables and fruits for FlOP_320, and legumes and alcohol for FlOP_400. Inverse associations were observed with nuts, sweets or desserts, and olive oil for FlOP_360, nuts for FlOP_320 and sweets or desserts for FlOP_400 (all p-trend ≤ 0.05). However, FlOP variation due to diet was small compared to overall FlOP variation. In conclusion, AHEI, DASH, and aMED scores were unexpectedly positively, but weakly, associated with FlOP_360 and FlOP_320. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously as the determinants of FlOP concentrations are not fully understood

Quantitative real-time PCR detection and analysis of a lumpy skin disease outbreak in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a severe disease of bovine characterized by nodules on the skin, mucous membranes, and profuse nasal discharge which causes severe economic losses. In October 2020, an LSD outbreak case was found in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. A total of 1,206 cattle were sold from the same imported animal quarantine field to 36 farms after the quarantine period finished, and over 30 farmers reported symptoms such as skin scabs found in newly arrived cattle shortly after that. A large-scale LSD outbreak investigation was launched after laboratory diagnosis confirmed LSD. The clinical samples of 1,206 cattle from 36 farms, including 1,206 whole blood, 1,206 oral and nose swabs, and 355 scabs, were collected for the qRT-PCR test. The result showed that 51 whole blood samples (4.23%), 580 swab samples (48.09%), and 350 skin scabs (98.59%) were lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) positive, 33 of 36 farms were affected. This study aims to provide a basis for LSD epidemiological traceability, movement control, and measures for prevention and control