Acetylcytidine modification of Amotl1 by N-acetyltransferase 10 contributes to cardiac fibrotic expansion in mice after myocardial infarction.

Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological scarring process that impairs cardiac function. N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10) is recently identified as the key enzyme for the N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification of mRNAs. In this study, we investigated the role of Nat10 in cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) and the related mechanisms.

Metabolomics reveals arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-mediated tolerance of walnut to soil drought.

Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a positive effect on drought tolerance of plants after establishing reciprocal resymbiosis with roots, while the underlying mechanism is not deciphered. Metabolomics can explain the mechanism of plant response to environmental stress by analyzing the changes of all small molecular weight metabolites. The purpose of this study was to use Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography Q Exactive Mass Spectrometer to analyze changes in root metabolites of walnut (Juglans regia) after inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Diversispora spurca under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS).

Arbuscular mycorrhiza induces low oxidative burst in drought-stressed walnut through activating antioxidant defense systems and heat shock transcription factor expression.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have important roles in enhancing drought tolerance of host plants, but it is not clear whether and how AMF increase drought tolerance in walnut (). We hypothesized that AMF could activate antioxidant defense systems and heat shock transcription factors () transcription levels to alleviate oxidative damage caused by drought. The walnut variety 'Liaohe No.

Melatonin promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart repair in mice with myocardial infarction via miR-143-3p/Yap/Ctnnd1 signaling pathway.

The neonatal heart possesses the ability to proliferate and the capacity to regenerate after injury; however, the mechanisms underlying these processes are not fully understood. Melatonin has been shown to protect the heart against myocardial injury through mitigating oxidative stress, reducing apoptosis, inhibiting mitochondrial fission, etc. In this study, we investigated whether melatonin regulated cardiomyocyte proliferation and promoted cardiac repair in mice with myocardial infarction (MI), which was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Enhanced Self-Efficacy and Behavioral Changes Among Patients With Diabetes: Cloud-Based Mobile Health Platform and Mobile App Service.

Background: The prevalence of chronic disease is increasing rapidly. Health promotion models have shifted toward patient-centered care and self-efficacy. Devices and mobile app in the Internet of Things (IoT) have become critical self-management tools for collecting and analyzing personal data to improve individual health outcomes.

Comparisons of Effects on Intestinal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentration after Exposure of Two Glycosidase Inhibitors in Mice.

Acarbose and voglibose are the most widely used diabetes drugs as glycosidase inhibitors. In this study, the use of these two inhibitors significantly increased the content of starch in large intestine, and altered the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by affecting the intestinal microbiota. However, there are some differences in the intestinal microbiome of the two groups of mice, mainly in bacteria such as Bacteroidaceae bacteroides and Desulfovibrionaceae desulfovibrio.

Glycated Albumin Predicts Long-term Survival in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Background: In patients with advanced renal dysfunction undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, glycated albumin (GA) levels may be more representative of blood glucose levels than hemoglobin A1C levels. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive power of GA levels on long-term survival in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A total of 176 patients with a mean age of 68.

Serum Glycated Albumin to Guide the Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus.

In the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is sometimes measured to determine the need of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). However, HbA1c does not accurately reflect glycemic status in certain conditions. This study was performed to test the possibility that measurement of serum glycated albumin (GA) better assesses the need for OGTT.

Measurement of visceral fat: should we include retroperitoneal fat?

Objective: Whether retroperitoneal fat should be included in the measurement of visceral fat remains controversial. We compared the relationships of fat areas in peritoneal, retroperitoneal, and subcutaneous compartments to metabolic syndrome, adipokines, and incident hypertension and diabetes.

Methods: We enrolled 432 adult participants (153 men and 279 women) in a community-based cohort study.

Plasma apelin: A novel biomarker for predicting diabetes.

Background: Apelin regulates insulin sensitivity and secretion in animals. However, whether plasma apelin predicts incident diabetes in humans remains unknown.

Methods: We studied a cohort including 447 subjects (148 men, 299 women) without diabetes and followed for an average of 3y.

Measurement of Waist Circumference: midabdominal or iliac crest?

Objective: Waist circumference (WC) is used to define central obesity. This study aimed to compare the performance of two recommended locations of WC measurement.

Research Design And Methods: A cohort of 1,898 subjects who were without diabetes from 2006 to 2012 were followed for a median of 31 months (Taiwan Lifestyle Study).

Effects of repetitive hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with acute cerebral infarction: a pilot study.

The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke is controversial. This prospective study assessed the efficacy and safety of HBOT as adjuvant treatment on 46 acute ischemic stroke in patients who did not receive thrombolytic therapy. The HBOT group (n = 16) received conventional medical treatment with 10 sessions of adjunctive HBOT within 3-5 days after stroke onset, while the control group (n = 30) received the same treatment but without HBOT.

Hemoglobin A1c for the diagnosis of diabetes: To replace or to guide oral glucose tolerance tests?

Unlabelled: Aims/Introduction:  To evaluate if hemoglobin A1c (A1C) can replace the use of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to diagnose diabetes in Chinese patients.

Materials And Methods:   Subjects without pre-existing diabetes were included in this community-based study. Each participant received a 75-g OGTT and A1C tests.

Variability in hemoglobin A1c predicts all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: To evaluate the relationship between hemoglobin A1c variability and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in type 2 diabetic patients followed for at least 2 years between 2003 and 2009. A1C variability was determined from the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of serial A1C values (A1C(SD) or A1C(CV)).

Glycated albumin in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic hyperglycemia results in a non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, and produces Amadori products, such as glycated albumin (GA), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fructosamine. In current clinical practice, long-term glycemic control is assessed by quarterly measurements of HbA1c. Since the degree of hemoglobin glycosylation depends not only on the level of glycemic control, but also on the lifespan of red blood cells, patients with hemoglobin disorders or anemia of any cause may have erroneous HbA1c levels, and consequently receive insufficient treatment.

Low serum sex hormone-binding globulin: marker of inflammation?

Background: Low sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), but its relationship with inflammation is unclear.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 696 subjects (255 men, 235 pre-menopausal women, and 206 postmenopausal women). Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, plasma glucose, insulin, FSH, LH, total testosterone (TT), estradiol, SHBG, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and hs-CRP concentrations were measured.

Association between increased serum osteoprotegerin levels and improvement in bone mineral density after parathyroidectomy in hemodialysis patients.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in chronic renal disease. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an extracellular cytokine receptor secreted by osteoblasts, can promote bone formation by inhibiting the function of osteoclasts. Hemodialysis (HD) patients have elevated serum OPG levels.

Bone turnover markers predict changes in bone mineral density after parathyroidectomy in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: Patients on long-term dialysis may develop secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), which causes varying degrees of bone mass loss. This condition is treated with parathyroidectomy (PTX). We investigated whether serial serum bone turnover markers could predict changes in bone mineral density (BMD) after PTX.

Decreased blood lead levels after calcitriol treatment in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) is characterized by high bone turnover, which may, in turn, result in increased release of lead from bone stores. This study investigated the effects of intravenous calcitriol on blood lead (BL) levels in patients with SHP.

Methods: Intravenous calcitriol therapy was administered for 16 wk to 28 patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and had intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) plasma levels of >300 pg/mL.

Haemoglobin A1c is associated with carotid intima-media thickness in a Chinese population.

Background: The association between haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and subclinical atherosclerosis in carotid arteries in Chinese populations is unknown. AIM, DESIGN AND METHODS: The objective of this study was to investigate this relationship and evaluate the ability of HbA1c levels to predict carotid atherosclerosis in a Chinese population. This was a cross-sectional study, which included 541 subjects without known diabetes (Taiwan Lifestyle Study).

Influence of diabetes on homocysteine-lowering therapy in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: The effect of homocysteine (Hcy)-lowering therapy may be different in hemodialysis (HD) patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: Stable HD patients with uremia were administered folic acid and vitamin B for 3 months. The impact of treatment was compared in patients with and without DM.

Calcitriol treatment attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) suffer from excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. Vitamin D analogues are currently the first line therapy for SHP, but the influence of vitamin D treatment on inflammation and oxidative stress remains unknown. This study investigated the influence of vitamin D therapy on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients with SHP.