Associations between Aquaglyceroporin Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Stroke among Patients with Hypertension

Background: Dysregulations ofAQP7andAQP9were found to be related to lipid metabolism abnormality, which had been provento be one of the mechanisms of stroke. However, limited epidemiological studies explore the associations betweenAQP7andAQP9and the risk of stroke among patients with hypertension in China. Aims: We aimed to investigate the associations between genetic variants in AQP7andAQP9and the risk of stroke among patients with hypertension, as well as to explore gene-gene andgene-environment interactions. Methods: Baseline blood samples were drawn from 211 cases with stroke and 633 matched controls. Genomic DNA was extracted by a commercially available kit. Genotyping of 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AQP7 (rs2989924, rs3758269, and rs2542743) and AQP9 (rs57139208, rs16939881) was performed by the polymerase chain reaction assay with TaqMan probes. Results: Participants with the rs2989924 GG genotype were found to be with a 1.74-fold increased risk of stroke compared to those with the AA+AG genotype, and this association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratio (OR): 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-2.46). The SNP rs3758269 CC+TT genotype was found to be with a 33% decreased risk of stroke after multivariate adjustment (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.45-0.99) compared to the rs3758269 CC genotype. The significantly increased risk of stroke was prominent among males, patients aged 60 or above, and participants who were overweight and with a harbored genetic variant in SNP rs2989924. After adjusting potential confounders, the SNP rs3758269 CT+TT genotype was found to be significantly associated with a decreased risk of stroke compared to the CC genotype among participants younger than 60 years old or overweight. No statistically significant associations were observed between genotypes of rs2542743, rs57139208, or rs16939881 with the risk of stroke. Neither interactions nor linkage disequilibrium had been observed in this study. Conclusions: This study suggests that SNPs rs2989924 and rs3758269 are associated with the risk of stroke among patients with hypertension, while there were no statistically significant associations between rs2542743, rs57139208, and rs16939881 and the risk of stroke being observed

Developmental Neurotoxicity of Fluoride: A Quantitative Risk Analysis Toward Establishing a Safe Dose for Children

A meta-analysis showed that children with higher fluoride exposure have lower IQs than similar children with lower exposures. Circulating levels of fluoride in blood and urine in children have also been linked quantitatively to significantly lower IQ. Other human and animal studies indicate that fluoride is a developmental neurotoxicant and that it operates in utero. Economic impacts of IQ loss have been quantified. The objective was to use data from the meta-analysis and other studies to estimate a daily dose of fluoride that would protect all children from lowered IQ, and to estimate economic impacts. We used two methods: traditional lowest-observed-adverse-effect (LOAEL)/no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL); and benchmark dose (BMD). We used 3 mg/L in drinking water as an “adverse effect concentration,” with reported fluoride intakes from food, in the LOAEL/NOAEL method. We used the available dose–response data for the BMD analysis. Arsenic, iodine, and lead levels were controlled for in studies we used. BMD analysis shows the possible safe dose to protect against a five-point IQ loss is between 0.0014 and 0.050 mg/day. The LOAEL/NOAEL safe dose range estimate is 0.0042–0.16 mg/day. The economic impact for IQ loss among US children is loss of tens of billions of dollars

Reactions of Chinese adults to warning labels on cigarette packages: A survey in Jiangsu Province

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To compare reactions to warning labels presented on cigarette packages with a specific focus on whether the new Chinese warning labels are better than the old labels and international labels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants aged 18 and over were recruited in two cities of Jiangsu Province in 2008, and 876 face-to-face interviews were completed. Participants were shown six types of warning labels found on cigarette packages. They comprised one old Chinese label, one new label used within the Chinese market, and one Chinese overseas label and three foreign brand labels. Participants were asked about the impact of the warning labels on: their knowledge of harm from smoking, giving cigarettes as a gift, and quitting smoking.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with the old Chinese label, a higher proportion of participants said the new label provided clear information on harm caused by smoking (31.2% vs 18.3%). Participants were less likely to give cigarettes with the new label on the package compared with the old label (25.2% vs 20.8%). These proportions were higher when compared to the international labels. Overall, 26.8% of participants would quit smoking based on information from the old label and 31.5% from the new label. When comparing the Chinese overseas label and other foreign labels to the new Chinese label with regard to providing knowledge of harm warning, impact of quitting smoking and giving cigarettes as a gift, the overseas labels were more effective.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both the old and the new Chinese warning label are not effective in this target population.</p

Reference ranges of handgrip strength from 125,462 healthy adults in 21 countries: a prospective urban rural epidemiologic (PURE) study.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of handgrip strength (HGS) has prognostic value with respect to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular disease, and is an important part of the evaluation of frailty. Published reference ranges for HGS are mostly derived from Caucasian populations in high-income countries. There is a paucity of information on normative HGS values in non-Caucasian populations from low- or middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to develop reference HGS ranges for healthy adults from a broad range of ethnicities and socioeconomically diverse geographic regions. METHODS: HGS was measured using a Jamar dynamometer in 125,462 healthy adults aged 35-70 years from 21 countries in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. RESULTS: HGS values differed among individuals from different geographic regions. HGS values were highest among those from Europe/North America, lowest among those from South Asia, South East Asia and Africa, and intermediate among those from China, South America, and the Middle East. Reference ranges stratified by geographic region, age, and sex are presented. These ranges varied from a median (25th-75th percentile) 50 kg (43-56 kg) in men \u3c40 years from Europe/North America to 18 kg (14-20 kg) in women \u3e60 years from South East Asia. Reference ranges by ethnicity and body-mass index are also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Individual HGS measurements should be interpreted using region/ethnic-specific reference ranges

¿Does the Kish grid sampling method distort the structure of samples in risk factor surveillance?

Background: The Kish grid is commonly used in risk factor surveillance as a sampling method within households,. However through the risk factor surveillance surveys of Jiangsu Province of China in the years of 2007, 2010 and 2013, in which Kish grid method was used to select one eligible respondent within a household, we observed that the structure of samples was different from the population. Purpose: To determine if the Kish grid method distorts the structure of the sample in risk factor surveillance and to explore possible solution to this problem

Thoracic high resolution computed tomography evaluation of imaging abnormalities of 108 lung cancer patients with different pulmonary function

Abstract Purpose Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) belong to lung function injury. PRISm is a precursor to COPD. We compared and evaluated the different basic information, imaging findings and survival curves of 108 lung cancer patients with different pulmonary function based on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Methods This retrospective study was performed on 108 lung cancer patients who did pulmonary function test (PFT) and thoracic HRCT. The basic information was evaluated: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), smoke, smoking index (SI). The following pulmonary function findings were evaluated: forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio. The following computed tomography (CT) findings were evaluated: appearance (bronchiectasis, pneumonectasis, atelectasis, ground-glass opacities [GGO], interstitial inflammation, thickened bronchial wall), diameter (aortic diameter, pulmonary artery diameter, MPAD/AD ratio, inferior vena cava diameter [IVCD]), tumor (volume, classification, distribution, staging [I, II, III, IV]). Mortality rates were calculated and survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Compared with normal pulmonary function group, PRISm group and COPD group were predominantly male, older, smoked more, poorer lung function and had shorter survival time after diagnosis. There were more abnormal images in PRISm group and COPD group than in normal lung function group (N-C group). In PRISm group and COPD group, lung cancer was found late, and the tumor volume was larger, mainly central squamous carcinoma. But the opposite was true for the N-C group. The PRISm group and COPD group had significant poor survival probability compared with the normal lung function group. Conclusions Considerable differences regarding basic information, pulmonary function, imaging findings and survival curves are found between normal lung function group and lung function injury group. Lung function injury (PRISm and COPD) should be taken into account in future lung cancer screening studies

Relationship between lung function impairment, hypertension, and major adverse cardiovascular events: A 10‐year follow‐up study

Abstract Lung function impairment and hypertension, especially hypertension, are risk factors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). However, the relationships among lung function impairment, hypertension, and MACEs have not been well‐reported. We aimed to investigate the association between lung function and hypertension and MACEs. We studied 6769 people who were a representative sample of the general population in Jiangsu Province using the multi‐stage stratified cluster sampling method. The average age was 51.54 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the relationships between the blood pressure status and various types of lung function impairment related to MACEs. Over a follow‐up of 10 years, 236 MACEs occurred. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking, education, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, creatine and use of antihypertensive drugs, hypertension [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.154, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.565–2.966], and restrictive lung function impairment (RLFI) (HR = 1.398, 95% CI: 1.021–1.879) were independently associated with MACEs. Individuals with hypertension and RFLI had the highest risk for MACEs (HR = 2.930, 95% CI: 1.734–4.953) and stroke (HR = 3.296, 95% CI: 1.862–5.832). Moreover, when combined with hypertension, obstructive lung function impairment (OLFI) (HR = 2.376, 95% CI: 1.391–4.056) and mixed lung function impairment (MLFI) (HR = 2.423, 95% CI: 1.203–4.882) were associated with MACEs. There is a synergistic effect of lung function impairment (especially RLFI) and hypertension on MACEs. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the incidence of MACEs in individuals with impaired lung function, especially those who have hypertension

Smoking causes the disorder of glucose metabolism under different levels of blood pressure in male occupational population

Abstract Smoking is an important modifiable factor in the risk of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and hypertension overlap in the population. The present study investigated effects of smoking on glucose metabolism under different blood pressure (BP) levels in occupational population. A smoking survey among occupational groups was conducted in 2018. The general linear model was used to analyze the differences of glucose metabolism indexes and BP indexes influenced by different smoking intensity (never 0, mild <10, moderate <20, heavy ≥20 pack‐years). Odds ratios of developing diabetes and β‐cell deficiency were analyzed by using logistic regression model. BP was further taken into account in the relationship between smoking and glucose metabolism. As a result, 1730 male workers aged 21 to 60 years were included in the analysis finally. Compared to never smokers, heavy smokers had significantly increased fasting plasma glucose. Moderate and above smokers had significantly increased glycosylated hemoglobin, decreased fasting plasma insulin and β‐cell function, after adjustment for covariates. Further, smoking intensity was found to have a dose‐dependent relationship with impaired β‐cell function and diabetes. In conclusion, smoking has a positive dose‐dependent relationship with β‐cell deficiency and diabetes. Male smoking workers, especially the moderate or higher smoking, with high‐normal and high BP levels are at high risk of abnormal glucose metabolism

Current Smoking Dose-Dependently Associated with Decreased -Cell Function in Chinese Men without Diabetes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between chronic smoking and insulin resistance and -cell function in Chinese men without diabetes. A total of 1,568 participants were recruited by multistage sampling. Using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), geometric means of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and -cell function (HOMA-) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by general linear model. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were estimated to evaluate the associations between smoking status and insulin resistance and -cell deficiency under a logistic regression model. Current smokers had higher levels of 2 h glucose (6.66 versus 6.48 mmol/L) for oral glucose tolerance test and lower levels of fasting insulin (5.68 versus 6.03 mU/L) than never smokers. The adjusted means for HOMA-(%) were 54.86 in current smokers and 58.81 in never smokers ( = 0.0257). Current smoking was associated with -cell deficiency (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.01-1.64) compared to never smoking. The -cell function gradually decreased with increasing smoking intensity ( trend = 0.0026), and the differences were statistically significant when the pack-year of smoking was 20 or above. No association was observed between smoking status and HOMA-IR. Our study suggested that chronic smoking may dose-dependently suppress insulin secretion in Chinese men