Relationships among body weight,lipids and bone mass in elderly individuals with fractures:A case-control study

BACKGROUND The prevalence of osteoporosis and low bone mass is steadily rising each year.Low body weight is commonly linked to diminished bone mass and serves as a robust predictor of osteoporosis.Nonetheless,the connection between body mass index(BMI),bone mineral density,and lipid profiles among the elderly remains elusive.AIM To examine the association between BMI and bone mass,explore the correlation between lipid profiles and bone mass,and delve into the interplay between lipid metabolism and bone health.METHODS The study included 520 patients aged≥65 years(178 men and 342 women).Age,sex,weight,and height were recorded.Femoral neck bone mineral density and T scores were determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner.Blood calcium(Ca),phosphorus(P),albumin(ALB),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein(HDL)and low-density lipoprotein(LDL)levels were measured.Patients were classified by sex(male and female),age(65-79 years and≥80 years),and T score(normal bone mineral density,osteopenia and osteoporosis).RESULTS Age,sex,BMI,and ALP and TG levels were independent risk factors for osteoporosis.For the 65-79-and≥80-yearold groups,females presented lower T scores than males.Ca,P,ALB,ALP,TC,HDL and LDL levels were significantly different between men and women in the 65-79-year-old group.In addition,BMI and TG levels were significantly decreased in osteoporotic patients compared with patients with normal bone mass.TC levels declined in 65-to 79-year-old male and female osteoporosis patients.In the group of women aged≥80 years,osteoporotic patients showed significantly increased ALP levels.Furthermore,we found positive correlations between BMI and TG levels in the male and female patient groups.However,we found no significant differences in ALB,Ca,P,HDL and LDL levels in osteoporotic patients compared to patients with normal bone mass.CONCLUSION Osteoporotic patients showed significantly decreased BMI and TG levels compared with those with normal bone mass.BMI showed positive correlations with TG levels in male and female patients.These results indicate correlations between BMI and bone mass and between lipid profiles and bone mass.

Molecular mechanisms of intermuscular bone development in fish:a review

Intermuscular bones(IBs)are slender linear bones embedded in muscle,which ossify from tendons through a process of intramembranous ossification,and only exist in basal teleosts.IBs are essential for fish swimming,but they present a choking risk during human consumption,especially in children,which can lead to commercial risks that have a negative impact on the aquaculture of these fish.In this review,we discuss the morphogenesis and functions of IBs,including their underlying molecular mechanisms,as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for IB studies and techniques for breeding and generating IB-free fish lines.This review reveals that the many key genes involved in tendon development,osteoblast differentiation,and bone formation,e.g.,scxa,msxC,sost,twist,bmps,and osterix,also play roles in IB development.Thus,this paper provides useful information for the breeding of new fish strains without IBs via genome editing and artificial selection.

Three-dimensional printing for the accurate orthopedics:clinical cases analysis

As an emerging technology to promote the combination of medicine and industry,the three-dimensional(3D)printing has developed rapidly in the fields of orthopedics,while its unique advantages in improving precise treatment still need to be further popularized.In this report,our team have exhibited several classic cases of integrating 3D printing into orthopedic clinical application,thereby further elaborating thoughts and opinions on the significance of 3D printing in the orthopedic clinical application,technical advantages,existing main problems and coping strategies.

Effects of osmotic pressure, temperature and stocking density on survival and sexual reproduction of Craspedacusta sowerbii

The effects of osmotic pressure, temperature and stocking density on medusae survival of Craspedacusta sowerbii were examined. The medusae were shown to be sensitive to the variations of osmotic pressure. And the survival time was 〈90 h at 34 mOsm/L and it declined rapidly with rising osmotic pressure. The peak survival time of 〉200 h was recorded at 0.2 mOsm/L. Comparing with 27℃ and 32 ℃ treatments, 23 ℃ treatment yielded lower activities at a range of 8-13/min. However, there was a longer survival time. A non-linear relationship existed between survival time and stocking density. Lower density resulted in larger body size. And sexual reproduction resumed after breeding for 〉22 days. Newly-formed polyps and medusae appeared subsequently but only in the higher-density groups of 10, 14 and 18 ind./L. It suggested that the number of newly-formed polyps and medusae was highly dependent on stocking density. That is, a higher stocking density produced more organisms. However, newly-formed medusae died within one month and none grew a diameter of 〉5 mm.

Construction of a chromosome-level genome assembly for genome-wide identification of growth-related quantitative trait loci in Sinocyclocheilus grahami(Cypriniformes,Cyprinidae)

The Dianchi golden-line barbel,Sinocyclocheilus grahami(Regan,1904),is one of the“Four Famous Fishes”of Yunnan Province,China.Given its economic value,this species has been artificially bred successfully since 2007,with a nationally selected breed(“S.grahami,Bayou No.1”)certified in 2018.For the future utilization of this species,its growth rate,disease resistance,and wild adaptability need to be improved,which could be achieved with the help of molecular markerassisted selection(MAS).In the current study,we constructed the first chromosome-level genome of S.grahami,assembled 48 pseudo-chromosomes,and obtained a genome size of 1.49 Gb.We also performed QTL-seq analysis of S.grahami using the highest and lowest bulks(i.e.,largest and smallest size)in both a sibling and random population.We screened two quantitative trait loci(QTLs)(Chr3,14.9-39.1 Mb and Chr17,4.1-27.4 Mb)as major growth-related locations.Several candidate genes(e.g.,map2k5,stat1,phf21a,sox6,and smad6)were also identified,with functions related to growth,such as cell differentiation,neuronal development,skeletal muscle development,chondrogenesis,and immunity.These results built a solid foundation for in-depth MAS studies on the growth traits of S.grahami.

Restocking of Anabarilius grahami in Lake Fuxian,Southwest China:morphological and genetic effects

DEAR EDITOR,The restocking of the endangered Kanglang white minnow(Anabarilius grahami)in Lake Fuxian,China,has been conducted for 13 years.However,few studies have reported on the effectiveness of the captive breeding and release of this species.

Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19

The novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19)pandemic is emerging as a global health threat and shows a higher risk for men than women.Thus far,the studies on andrological consequences of COVID-19 are limited.To ascertain the consequences of COVID-19 on sperm parameters after recovery,we recruited 41 reproductive-aged male patients who had recovered from COVID-19,and analyzed their semen parameters and serum sex hormones at a median time of 56 days after hospital discharge.For longitudinal analysis,a second sampling was obtained from 22 of the 41 patients after a median time interval of 29 days from first sampling.Compared with controls who had not suffered from COVID-19,the total sperm count,sperm concentration,and percentages of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa in the patients were significantly lower at first sampling,while sperm vitality and morphology were not affected.The total sperm count,sperm concentration,and number of motile spermatozoa per ejaculate were significantly increased and the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was reduced at the second sampling compared with those at first in the 22 patients examined.Though there were higher prolactin and lower progesterone levels in patients at first sampling than those in controls,no significant alterations were detected for any sex hormones examined over time following COVID-19 recovery in the 22 patients.Although it should be interpreted carefully,these findings indicate an adverse but potentially reversible consequence of COVID-19 on sperm quality.

Novel biallelic loss-of-function mutations in CFAP43 cause multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagellum in Pakistani families

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella(MMAF)is a specific type of asthenoteratozoospermia,presenting with multiple morphological anomalies in spermatozoa,such as absent,bent,coiled,short,or irregular caliber flagella.Previous genetic studies revealed pathogenic mutations in genes encoding cilia and flagella-associated proteins(CFAPs;e.g.,CFAP43,CFAP44,CFAP65,CFAP69,CFAP70,and CFAP251)responsible for the MMAF phenotype in infertile men from different ethnic groups.However,none of them have been identified in infertile Pakistani males with MMAF.In the current study,two Pakistani families with MMAF patients were recruited.Whole-exome sequencing(WES)of patients and their parents was performed.WES analysis reflected novel biallelic loss-of-function mutations in CFAP43 in both families(Family 1:ENST00000357060.3,p.Arg300Lysfs*22 and p.Thr526Serfs*43 in a compound heterozygous state;Family 2:ENST00000357060.3,p.Thr526Serfs*43 in a homozygous state).Sanger sequencing further confirmed that these mutations were segregated recessively in the families with the MMAF phenotype.Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was carried out to detect the effect of the mutation on mRNA of the affected gene.Previous research demonstrated that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in CFAP43 accounted for the majority of all CFAP43-mutant MMAF patients.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to report CFAP43 biallelic loss-of-function mutations in a Pakistani population with the MMAF phenotype.This study will help researchers and clinicians to understand the genetic etiology of MMAF better.

A recurrent homozygous missense mutation in CCDC103 causes asthenoteratozoospermia due to disorganized dynein arms

Asthenoteratozoospermia is one of the most severe types of qualitative sperm defects.Most cases are due to mutations in genes encoding the components of sperm flagella,which have an ultrastructure similar to that of motile cilia.Coiled-coil domain containing 103(CCDC103)is an outer dynein arm assembly factor,and pathogenic variants of CCDC103 cause primary ciliary dyskinesia(PCD).However,whether CCDC103 pathogenic variants cause severe asthenoteratozoospermia has yet to be determined.Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was performed for two individuals with nonsyndromic asthenoteratozoospermia in a consanguineous family.A homozygous CCDC103 variant segregating recessively with an infertility phenotype was identified(ENST00000035776.2,c.461A>C,p.His154Pro).CCDC103 p.His154Pro was previously reported as a high prevalence mutation causing PCD,though the reproductive phenotype of these PCD individuals is unknown.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)of affected individuals’spermatozoa showed that the mid-piece was severely damaged with disorganized dynein arms,similar to the abnormal ultrastructure of respiratory ciliary of PCD individuals with the same mutation.Thus,our findings expand the phenotype spectrum of CCDC103 p.His154Pro as a novel pathogenic gene for nonsyndromic asthenospermia.