Metabolomics signature of blood pressure salt sensitivity and its link to cardiovascular disease: A dietary salt-intervention trial.

Individuals with a high degree of salt sensitivity (SS) have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but whether SS fosters CVD by influencing metabolomics homeostasis remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal the role of the SS-related metabolomics signature in the development of CVDs, based on the MetaSalt study, which was a dietary salt-intervention trial conducted at four centers in China in 2019. A total of 528 participants were recruited and underwent 3 days of baseline observations, a 10-day low-salt intervention, and a 10-day high-salt intervention.

Dietary intake changes the associations between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and the surrogate indicators of insulin resistance.

The relationship of fine particulate matter (PM) exposure and insulin resistance remains inclusive. Our study aimed to investigate this association in the project of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR). Specifically, we examined the associations between long-term PM exposure and three surrogate indicators of insulin resistance: the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), TyG with waist circumference (TyG-WC) and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR).

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of arterial hypertension in China: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Population-based epidemiological evidence regarding the association between fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of hypertension is inconsistent. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of new-onset hypertension.

Methods: Based on the project of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR), 58,981 Chinese adults without hypertension at baseline were included.

Genetic Predisposition, Sedentary Behavior, and Incident Coronary Artery Disease: A Prospective Chinese Cohort Study.

Purpose: Whether the association of sedentary behaviors with coronary artery disease (CAD) can be influenced by genetic susceptibility remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the joint and interplay effects between genetic risk and sedentary time (ST) and to further explore the extent to which the risk for CAD can be counteracted by reducing ST in different genetic groups.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 39,164 Chinese adults without CAD history.

Efficacy and safety of low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: trans-ancestry linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization analyses.

Aims: LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-established risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the optimal LDL-C level with regard to efficacy and safety remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the causal relationships between LDL-C and efficacy and safety outcomes.

Hourly personal temperature exposure and heart rate variability: A multi-center panel study in populations at intermediate to high-risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Several studies reported temperature exposure was associated with altered cardiac automatic function, while this effect of temperature on hourly heart rate variability (HRV) among populations with cardiovascular risks was seldom addressed.

Methods: We conducted this panel study in four Chinese cities with three repeated visits among 296 participants at intermediate to high-risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Real-time temperature level and 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram were monitored during each seasonal visit.

The association of long-term ambient fine particulate matter exposure with blood pressure among Chinese adults.

Previous studies indicated that long-term exposure to high level of fine particulate matter (PM) was associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension, but most of them were conducted in high-income countries with low PM level. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the adverse impacts of long-term exposure to PM on BP and hypertension in China with high concentration. A total of 99,084 adults aged ≥18 years old were included from three cohorts among the project of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China.

Causal associations of alcohol consumption with cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality among Chinese males.

Background: The causal effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are continuously debated, especially on coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives: We aimed to explore the causal associations of alcohol consumption with CVDs and all-cause mortality among Chinese males.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 40,386 Chinese males, with 17,676 being genotyped for the rs671 variant in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene.

Study design, general characteristics of participants, and preliminary findings from the metabolome, microbiome, and dietary salt intervention study (MetaSalt).

Background: High sodium intake is an important risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between gut microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles with dietary sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) is not well-understood. The metabolome, microbiome, and dietary salt intervention (MetaSalt) study aimed to investigate microbial and metabolomic profiles related to dietary sodium intake and BP regulation.

Associations of tea consumption with blood pressure progression and hypertension incidence.

Background: Association between tea consumption and incident hypertension remains uncertain. This study conducted to examine the health effects of tea consumption on blood pressure progression and hypertension incidence.

Methods: A population-based cohort of 38,913 Chinese participants without hypertension at baseline were included in the current study.

Development and Validation of a Polygenic Risk Score for Stroke in the Chinese Population.

Objective: To construct a polygenic risk score (PRS) for stroke and evaluate its utility in risk stratification and primary prevention for stroke.

Methods: Using a meta-analytic approach and large genome-wide association results for stroke and stroke-related traits in East Asians, we generated a combined PRS (metaPRS) by incorporating 534 genetic variants in a training set of 2,872 patients with stroke and 2,494 controls. We then validated its association with incident stroke using Cox regression models in large Chinese population-based prospective cohorts comprising 41,006 individuals.

MiR-520b inhibits endothelial activation by targeting NF-κB p65-VCAM1 axis.

MiR-520b belongs to the miR-373/520 family, is expressed only in human and nonhuman primates. Previous reports indicated that the expression of miR-520b was repressed in human atherosclerotic plaque tissue compared with healthy vessels. However, the role of miR-520b in coronary artery disease still remains to be uncovered.

MicroRNA-320b Modulates Cholesterol Efflux and Atherosclerosis.

Aim: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and endonuclease-exonuclease-phosphatase family domain containing 1 (EEPD1) are reported to regulate cellular cholesterol efflux in macrophages. Bioinformatics analysis has revealed that ABCG1 and EEPD1 might be potential targets of microRNA (miR)-320b. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of miR-320b in cholesterol efflux from macrophages and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

The Relevance of Size Matching in Self-assembly: Impact on Regio- and Chemoselective Cocrystallizations.

Decamethonium diiodide is reported to perform the chemo- and regioselective encapsulation of para-dihalobenzenes through the competitive formation of halogen-bonded cocrystals starting from solutions that also contain ortho and meta isomers. Selective caging in the solid occurs even when an excess ortho or meta isomers, or even a mixture of them, is present in the solution. A prime matching between the size and shape of the dication and the formed dianions plays a key role in enabling the selective self-assembly, as proven by successful encapsulation of halogen-bond donors as weak as 1,4-dichlorobenzene and by the results of cocrystallization trials involving mismatching tectons.

The Relationship between Insecure Attachment to Depression: Mediating Role of Sleep and Cognitive Reappraisal.

Previously, we have shown that neuromodulators are important factors in stress-induced emotional disorders, such as depression, for example, serotonin is the major substance for depression. Many psychological studies have proved that depression is due to insecure attachment. In addition, sleep is a major symptom of depression.

Active PKG II inhibited the growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells through blocking Raf/MEK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Despite advances in chemotherapy, ovarian cancer (OC) is still the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. So, it is imperative to explore its mechanism and find novel targets to improve the outcome. Type II cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG II) has been recently reported to inhibit proliferation and metastasis in several tumors.

Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Sleep Quality: Rumination as a Mediator and Resilience as a Moderator.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stressful life events and sleep quality and to probe the role of rumination and resilience in the relationship. The Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, Ruminative Responses Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used among 1,065 college students. Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) 20.

Characterization of LncRNA expression profile and identification of novel LncRNA biomarkers to diagnose coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been proven to be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it remains to be extensively explored. Thus, the present study aims to study expression patterns, biological functions, and diagnostic value of lncRNAs in CAD.

Associations of NADPH oxidase-related genes with blood pressure changes and incident hypertension: The GenSalt Study.

Previous studies have indicated that reactive oxygen species produced by NADPH oxidase (Nox) are important risk factors of hypertension. The current study aims to examine the associations of Nox-related genes with longitudinal blood pressure (BP) changes and the risk of incident hypertension in the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity (GenSalt) follow-up study. A total of 1,768 participants from 633 families were included in our analysis.

Protein Kinases Type II (PKG II) Combined with L-Arginine Significantly Ameliorated Xenograft Tumor Development: Is L-Arginine a Potential Alternative in PKG II Activation?

BACKGROUND The mammalian cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinases type II (PKG II) plays critical physiological or pathological functions in different tissues. However, the biological effects of PKG II are dependent on cGMP. Published data indicated that L-arginine (L-Arg) promoted NO production, NO can activate soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), and catalyzes guanosine triphosphate (GTP) into cGMP, which suggested L-Arg could activate PKG II.

The Hypertension Risk Variant Rs820430 Functions as an Enhancer of SLC4A7.

Background: The large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) recently identified a genomic locus where the genetic variant at rs820430 was strongly associated with hypertension in Chinese Han population, with its T allele conferred increased risks. However, the biological and disease-relevant mechanisms for this association remain elusive.

Methods: A group of 275 participants from rural district of Shandong Province were enrolled, rs820430 was genotyped using genomic DNA with the fluorogenic 5'-nuclease TaqMan allelic discrimination assay system (Applied Biosystems, CA).

Down regulation of GALNT3 contributes to endothelial cell injury via activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: The GALNT3 gene encodes polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase 3 (GalNAc-T3), a member of the GalNAc-Ts family that transfers the N-acetylgalactosamine to the hydroxyl group of serine and threonine residue in the first step of O-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis. Emerging evidences have linked GalNAc-Ts family to coronary artery disease (CAD). However the effect of GALNT3 in CAD is unknown.

Genetic Susceptibility to Lipid Levels and Lipid Change Over Time and Risk of Incident Hyperlipidemia in Chinese Populations.

Background: Multiple genetic loci associated with lipid levels have been identified predominantly in Europeans, and the issue of to what extent these genetic loci can predict blood lipid levels increases over time and the incidence of future hyperlipidemia remains largely unknown.

Methods And Results: We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of lipid levels in 8344 subjects followed by replication studies including 14 739 additional individuals. We replicated 17 previously reported loci.

Genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure increases risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese.

Although multiple genetic markers associated with blood pressure have been identified by genome-wide association studies, their aggregate effect on risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease is uncertain, particularly among East Asian who may have different genetic and environmental exposures from Europeans. We aimed to examine the association between genetic predisposition to higher blood pressure and risk of incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease in 26 262 individuals in 2 Chinese population-based prospective cohorts. A genetic risk score was calculated based on 22 established variants for blood pressure in East Asian.