Conference 2024: Building an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health.

The Conference 2024 provides a platform to promote the development of an innovative scientific research ecosystem for microbiome and One Health. The four key components - Technology, Research (Biology), Academic journals, and Social media - form a synergistic ecosystem. Advanced technologies drive biological research, which generates novel insights that are disseminated through academic journals.

Association of moderate alcohol intake with the risks of cirrhosis and steatotic liver disease: Results from a large population-based cohort study.

Background&aims: There is uncertainty about the associations between moderate alcohol consumption and liver-related outcomes. We aimed to explore the associations of moderate drinking with cirrhosis, steatotic liver disease (SLD), and liver cancer in a large cohort study.

Methods: A total of 215,559 non-drinkers and moderate drinkers (<20 g/day alcohol for females or < 30 g/day for males) were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and followed up to 2022.

Hepatic steatosis aggravates atherosclerosis via small extracellular vesicle-mediated inhibition of cellular cholesterol efflux.

Background & Aims: While it is recognized that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), how NAFLD affects the development and progression of CVD remains unclear and debatable. Hence, we aimed to determine the role of steatotic hepatocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in foam cell formation and atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: sEVs from steatotic hepatocytes were isolated and characterized.

Associations of MAFLD and MAFLD subtypes with the risk of the incident myocardial infarction and stroke.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a condition characterized by liver fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities. Given the potential impact of MAFLD on patient health, it is important to understand its association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. In the prospective UK Biobank cohort, we sought to elucidate the association of MAFLD and its subtypes with incident MI and stroke.

Epigenetic modulation of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission by inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase promotes vascular senescence and atherosclerosis.

Aims: Vascular senescence, which is closely related to epigenetic regulation, is an early pathological condition in cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) and the consequent increase of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a potent inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase, has been associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether the inhibition of SAHH accelerates vascular senescence and the development of atherosclerosis.

Associations of Macronutrients Intake With MRI-determined Hepatic Fat Content, Hepatic Fibroinflammation, and NAFLD.

Context: A healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of management in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the associations between dietary macronutrient composition and different aspects of NAFLD pathology are unclear and dietary recommendations for NAFLD are lacking.

Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the associations of dietary macronutrient composition with hepatic steatosis, hepatic fibroinflammation, and NAFLD.

Association of MAFLD with end-stage kidney disease: a prospective study of 337,783 UK Biobank participants.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver (MAFLD) has been found to be associated with the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is unknown whether MAFLD is associated with CKD development and the incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We aimed to clarify the association between MAFLD and incident ESKD in the prospective UK Biobank cohort.

Gut Microbially Produced Indole-3-Propionic Acid Inhibits Atherosclerosis by Promoting Reverse Cholesterol Transport and Its Deficiency Is Causally Related to Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Accumulating evidence has shown that disorders in the gut microbiota and derived metabolites affect the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, which and how specific gut microbial metabolites contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis and the clinical relevance of their alterations remain unclear.

Methods: We performed integrated microbiome-metabolome analysis of 30 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls to identify CAD-associated microbial metabolites, which were then assessed in an independent population of patients with ASCVD and controls (n=256).

Supplementation with Sodium Butyrate Modulates the Composition of the Gut Microbiota and Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been reported to ameliorate obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of butyrate, an SCFA, in the regulation of obesity, low-grade chronic inflammation, and alterations of microbiota composition in mice.

Adropin protects against liver injury in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis via the Nrf2 mediated antioxidant capacity.

Adropin, a secretory signal peptide, has shown beneficial effects on improving glucose homeostasis and dyslipidemia. However, whether this peptide affects nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has remained unclear. In this study, the serum adropin levels, liver injury and oxidative stress were measured in diet-induced NASH mice.

Coenzyme Q10 attenuates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through activation of the AMPK pathway.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a well-known anti-adipogenic factor that possesses the capability to regulate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism by which CoQ10 acts on NAFLD is still unclear. In this study, the role of CoQ10 in the prevention of NAFLD was investigated in vivo and in vitro.

Serum Bioavailable and Free 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels, but Not Its Total Level, Are Associated With the Risk of Mortality in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Rationale: Bioavailable and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are emerging measurements of vitamin D. Whether serum bioavailable or free 25(OH)D level is associated with mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.

Objective: Our aim is to determine the potential association between serum total, bioavailable, and free 25(OH)D levels and the risk of mortality among patients with CAD.

Association of glycated hemoglobin with the risk of advanced fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients without diabetes.

Background: Association of diabetes with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis has been well documented. However, it remains unclear whether there is an association between levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA) with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study was aimed to explore the relationship between levels of HbA and the risk of advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Background: Few studies have investigated the effect of smoking on type 2 diabetes in women compared with men, even though several epidemiological studies provided a clear picture of the risk among the entire population.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and Embase up to August 2017 for prospective studies that were stratified by sex with measures of the relative risk (RR) for type 2 diabetes and current smoking compared with non-smoking. The sex-specific RRs and their ratios (RRRs), comparing women with man, were pooled using random-effects models.

Urban-Rural Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study of Schoolchildren in Wuhan, China.

Background: China's rapid population growth and urban migration has developed healthcare inequity across the urban-rural divide. Past studies comparing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor prevalence amongst urban-rural Chinese children are sparse and conflicting. We examined the association between urban-rural residence and risk of offspring CVD in Chinese children.