Impact of lifestyle interventions on pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

This editorial builds on the article titled“Establishment and validation of an adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease”by Zeng et al.We carried out a critical examination of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)pathogenesis and how lifestyle interventions could facilitate disease resolution,particularly highlighting that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is a severe form of NAFLD.Our discussion details that weight loss is a pivotal factor in disease outcomes:A 3%-5%reduction is enough for resolution in 50%of non-obese individuals,while a 7%-10%reduction achieves similar benefits in obese individuals,as demonstrated by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Additionally,the editorial underscores that such lifestyle changes are instrumental not only in resolving NAFLD but also in reversing hepatic steatosis and inflammation.These insights,derived from the research,emphasize the critical role of personalized lifestyle modifications in halting the progression of NAFLD to NASH and even reversing fibrosis,thus offering a template for effective patient management.

Correlation of personality with individual reproductive success in shrub-nesting birds depends on their life history style

Two questions in the research of animal personality—whether there is a correlation between a personality trait and individual reproductive success,and what is the genetic basis underlying a personality trait—remain unresolved.We addressed these two questions in three shrub-nesting birds,the Azure-winged Magpie(Cyanopica cyanus,AM),White-collared Blackbird(Turdus albocinctus,WB),and Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush(Trochalopteron henrici,BL).The personality type of an individual was first identified according to its response to a territorial intruder.Then,we compared the fleeing distance,breeding parameters,and differential expressed genes(DEGs) in the brain transcriptome between bold and shy breeders.In the three species,bold breeders exhibited more aggressiveness towards an intruder of their territory than did shy breeders.The reproductive success of bold breeders was significantly higher than that of shy breeders in AM but not in WB and BL.The three species shared one DEG,crabp1,which was up-regulated in bold relative to in shy individuals.By regulating the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone,higher crabp1 gene expression can decrease cellular response to retinoic acid.Therefore,bold individuals are insensitive to external stresses and able to exhibit more aggressiveness to intruders than their shier counterparts.Aggressiveness is beneficial to bold individuals in AM but not in WB and BL because the former could evoke neighbors to make the same response of defending against intruders but the latter could not.Although a personality trait may have the same genetic basis across species,its correlation with reproductive success depends largely on the life history style of a species.

Pain management in chronic pancreatitis

Pain in chronic pancreatitis(CP)is difficult to manage.Many patients suffer from inadequate pain relief,completely incapacitating them in their daily activities.Historically,despite their well-known adverse effects,opioids have been the pillar of treatment regimens in painful CP.The management is now gradually evolving with a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of CP-related pain.Clinicians should follow a holistic approach to the management of CPassociated pain,which must involve lifestyle changes that are coupled with analgesic medications and other pain-relieving interventions.Furthermore,there is no easy cure for vanquishing CP-associated pain.Each patient must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by a multidisciplinary team to decide which treatment option is best suited for that individual.

Lifestyle modification practices and associated factors among hypertensive patients at Gambella Hospital Southwest Ethiopia;2019

Background:Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries that need urgent strategies to implement interventions.Appropriate lifestyle modification practices are the corner stone of the prevention and control.Objective:To assess lifestyle modification practices and associated factors among hypertensive patients.Methods:A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients from 1 April to 30 April 2019.Simple random sampling was used to select the study subjects.Data were entered to EpiData 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences,version 25.0,for analysis.A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of lifestyle modifications among hypertensive patients.Results:The findings of this study revealed that the level of lifestyle modification practice was 79(39.5%).This finding is very low,and it has a significant effect on the management of hypertensive disorders and hypertension-related acute and chronic complications.Ethnicity,family history of hypertension,and knowledge about hypertension were identified as predictors of lifestyle modification practice.Conclusions:In this study,lifestyle modification practice is low(about 40%),but scientifically,almost all hypertensive patients on follow-up should practice lifestyle modification modalities.

Risk factors of type 2 diabetes in population of Jammu and Kashmir, India

We sought to identify risk factors for type 2 diabetes （T2D） in Jammu and Kashmir populations, India. A total of 424 diabetic and 226 non-diabetic subjects from Jammu, and 161 diabetic and 100 non-diabetic subjects from Kashmir were screened for various parameters including fasting blood glucose level, 2 hour glucose level, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）, very low-density lipoprotein （VLDL-C）, uric acid, systolic and diastolic blood pressure lev- el. We found that subjects aged 40-49 years had the highest rate of diabetes, with family income playing not much of a role. Kashmiri migrants or populations with rapid cultural, environmental, social or lifestyle change along with reduced physical activity, obesity and unhealthy lifestyle （smoking and alcohol consumption） were found to have higher rates of diabetes. High blood glucose, triglycerides and low HDL-C levels were found to be con- tributing to disease outcome. High blood pressure also contributed to a higher risk of developing T2D. Our study supports earlier reports confirming the contribution of comfortable life style, Western dietary habits and rapid life style change along with many other factors to the prevalence of diabetes. This may contribute to the epidemic proportion of diabetes in Jammu and Kashmir. Early diagnosis and routine screening for undiagnosed diabetes in obese subjects and subjects with parental diabetes history is expected to decrease the burden of chronic diabetic complications worldwide.

Risk factors for major gastrointestinal bleeding in the general population in Finland

BACKGROUND Data on non-drug related risk-factors for gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB)in the general population are limited,especially for life-style factors,clinical measurements and laboratory parameters.AIM To identify and investigate non-drug risk factors for major GIB in the general population of Finland.METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the FINRISK health examination surveys,which have been conducted every 5 years across Finland from 1987 to 2007.Participants were adults aged 25 years to 74 years,excluding those with a previous hospitalization for GIB.Follow-up from enrollment was performed through linkage to national electronic health registers and ended at an event of GIB that led to hospitalization/death,death due to any other cause,or after 10 years.Covariates included demographics,socioeconomic and lifestyle factors,clinical measurements,laboratory parameters and comorbidities.Variable selection was undertaken using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator(LASSO)and factors associated with GIB were identified using Cox regression.RESULTS Among 33,508 participants,403(1.2%)experienced GIB[256 men(63.5%);mean age,56.0 years(standard deviation(SD)±12.1)]and 33105 who did not experience GIB[15768 men(47.6%);mean age,46.8(SD±13)years],within 10 years of follow-up.Factors associated with a significantly increased risk of GIB were baseline age[per 10-year increase;hazard ratio(HR)1.62,95%confidence interval(CI):1.42-1.86],unemployment(HR:1.70,95%CI:1.11-2.59),body mass index(BMI)(HR:1.15,95%CI:1.01-1.32),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)(HR:1.05,95%CI:1.02-1.09),precursors of GIB(HR:1.90,95%CI:1.37-2.63),cancer(HR:1.47,95%CI:1.10-1.97),psychiatric disorders(HR:1.32,95%CI:1.01-1.71),heart failure(HR:1.46,95%CI:1.04-2.05),and liver disorders(HR:3.20,95%CI:2.06-4.97).Factors associated with a significantly decreased risk of GIB were systolic blood pressure(SBP)(HR:0.78,95%CI:0.64-0.96),6-10 cups of coffee a day(HR:0.67,95%CI:0.46-0.99),or>10 cups(HR:0.43,95%CI:0.23-0.81).CONCLUSION Our study confirms established risk-factors for GIB and identifies potential risk-factors not previously reported such as unemployment,BMI,GGT,SBP and coffee consumption.

Identifying Factors of Obesity in Papua New Guinea: A Descriptive Study

Obesity and overweight are complex phenomena due to causes and consequences as these are the predisposing factors for developing lifestyle-related diseases. In the recent times, obesity and chronic diseases are being taken very seriously than ever before. Once upon a time, obesity was considered as a problem only in developed countries, now it is of a serious concern in low- and middle-income countries. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), a few studies have been conducted on obesity-related issues. However, there is not enough data on obesity to clearly understand about the leading contributing factors. Our research group designed this study to assess the influencing factors of obesity and as well as to identify the principal cause. It is a descriptive study, used structured and semi-structured interview and survey questionnaire. This study was conducted in the capital city of PNG, Port Moresby, and recruited 87 adults aged 30 - 50 years. According to interview and analysis findings, the contributing factors of obesity are less physical movement, unhealthy diet, lifestyle, cultural value system, low education and social system. Government strategies and initiatives are not strong enough to educate and motivate the community people. This study suggests developing an effective coordination among all stakeholders to ensure quality education and increase awareness to prevent obesity and its complications. The standard health policies and strategies are also recommended at the local, national and international level with strong commitment.

Case-control study on the associations between lifestyle-behavioral risk factors and phlegm-wetness cbonstitution

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships between different lifestyle-behavioral factors and phlegm wetness type of Traditional Chinese Medicine constitution,so as to provide health management strategies for phlegm-wetness constitution.METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with the cases selected from the database of Chinese constitution survey in 9 provinces or municipalities of China. 1380 cases met the diagnostic criteria of phlegm-wetness type were taken as the case group, and 1380 cases were randomly selected from gentleness type as the control group. Using Chi-square test to compare the differences of lifestyle-behavior composition in each group; single factor and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare the relationships of life-style-behavioral factors and phlegm-wetness type.RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between phlegm-wetness type group and gentleness type group in lifestyle behaviors(dietary habits, tobacco and liquor consumptions, exercise habits, sleeping habits). The results of single factor logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of phlegm-wetness constitution decreased significantly in light diet(odds ratio, OR=0.68);The risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were fatty food intake(OR=2.36), sleeping early and getting up late(OR=1.87), tobacco smoking(OR=1.83),barbecued food intake(OR=1.68), alcohol drinking(OR=1.63), salty food intake(OR=1.44), sleeping erratically(OR=1.43), less physical activities(OR=1.42), sweet food intake(OR=1.29), sleeping and getting up late(OR=1.26), and pungent food intake(OR=1.21), respectively. Regardless of the interaction among lifestyle-behavioral factors, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of phlegm-wetness type were sleeping early and getting up late(OR=1.94), fatty food intake(OR=1.80), tobacco smoking(OR=1.50),sleeping erratically(OR=1.50), barbecued food intake(OR=1.40), sleeping and getting up late(OR=1.40), less physical activities(OR=1.31), sleeping late and getting up early(OR=1.27),and sweet food intake(OR=1.27), respectively, and the risk ofphlegm-wetness type still decreased significantly inlightfoodintake(OR=0.79).CONCLUSION: Light diet can decrease the risk of being phlegm-wetness constitution, and bad lifestyle behaviors such as sleeping early and getting up late, sleeping erratically, fatty food, barbecued food or sweet food intake, tobacco and liquor consumptions, and less physical activities can increase the risks of becoming phlegm-wetness constitution.

Comparison of time trends in the incidence of primary liver cancer between China and the United States: an age-period-cohort analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2019

Background::China and the United States(US)ranked first and third in terms of new liver cancer cases and deaths globally in 2020.Therefore,a comprehensive assessment of trends in the incidence of primary liver cancer with four major etiological factors between China and the US during the past 30 years with age-period-cohort(APC)analyses is warranted.Methods::Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019,and period/cohort relative risks were estimated by APC modeling from 1990 to 2019.Results::In 2019,there were 211,000 new liver cancer cases in China and 28,000 in the US,accounting for 39.4%and 5.2%of global liver cancer cases,respectively.For China,the age-standardized incidence rate(ASIR)consecutively decreased before 2005 but increased slightly since then,whereas the ASIR continuously increased in the US.Among the four etiological factors of liver cancer,the fastest reduction in incidence was observed in hepatitis B virus-related liver cancer among Chinese women,and the fastest increase was in nonalcoholic steatosis hepatitis(NASH)-related liver cancer among American men.The greatest reduction in the incidence of liver cancer was observed at the age of 53 years in Chinese men(-5.2%/year)and 33 years in Chinese women(-6.6%/year),while it peaked at 58 years old in both American men and women(4.5%/year vs.2.8%/year).Furthermore,the period risks of alcohol-and NASH-related liver cancer among Chinese men have been elevated since 2013.Simultaneously,leveled-off period risks were observed in hepatitis C viral-related liver cancer in both American men and women.Conclusions::Currently,both viral and lifestyle factors have been and will continue to play an important role in the time trends of liver cancer in both countries.More tailored and efficient preventive strategies should be designed to target both viral and lifestyle factors to prevent and control liver cancer.

Extremotolerant fungi from alpine rock lichens and their phylogenetic relationships

Fungi other than the lichen mycobiont frequently co-occur within lichen thalli and on the same rock in harsh environments.In these situations dark-pigmented mycelial structures are commonly observed on lichen thalli,where they persist under the same stressful conditions as their hosts.Here we used a comprehensive sampling of lichen-associated fungi from an alpine habitat to assess their phylogenetic relationships with fungi previously known from other niches.The multilocus phylogenetic analyses suggest that most of the 248 isolates belong to the Chaetothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes,while a minor fraction represents Sordariomycetes and Leotiomycetes.As many lichens also were infected by phenotypically distinct lichenicolous fungi of diverse lineages,it remains difficult to assess whether the culture isolates represent these fungi or are from additional cryptic,extremotolerant fungi within the thalli.Some of these strains represent yet undescribed lineages within Chaethothyriomycetes and Dothideomycetes,whereas other strains belong to genera of fungi,that are known as lichen colonizers,plant and human pathogens,rock-inhabiting fungi,parasites and saprotrophs.The symbiotic structures of the lichen thalli appear to be a shared habitat of phylogenetically diverse stress-tolerant fungi,which potentially benefit from the lichen niche in otherwise hostile habitats.

Countrywide cardiovascular disease prevention and control in 49 countries with different socio-economic status

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major noncommunicable disease (NCD) accounting for 17.9 million deaths. If current trends continue, the annual number of deaths from CVD will rise to 22.2 million by 2030. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a sustainable development goal (SDG) by 2030 to reduce NCD mortality by one-third. The purpose of this study was to analyze the CVD mortality trends in different countries implementing World Health Organization (WHO) NCD Action Plan and emphasize effective ways to achieve SDG.Methods: WHO statistics, based on the Member-States unified mortality and causes-of-death reports were used for analyzing trends and different interventions.Results: Reduction of CVD mortality from 2000 to 2016 in 49 countries was achieved for stroke at 43% and ischemic heart disease at 30%. Smoking prevalence and raised blood pressure (RBP) decreased in 84% and 55% of the countries. Eighty-nine percent of high-income countries (HIC) demonstrated a decline in tobacco smoking against 67% in middle-income countries (MIC). Sixty-nine percent of HIC demonstrated a decline in RBP against 15% in MIC. CVD management, tobacco, and unhealthy diet reduction measures are significantly better in HIC. The air pollution level was higher in MIC.Conclusion: Building partnerships between countries could enhance their efforts for CVD prevention and successful achievement of SDG.

Research on Ecological Civilization Evaluation Index System

Ecological civilization, which refers to the harmonious development of man and the nature, has the connotation of the ecological material civilization, ecological consciousness civilization, ecological institutional civilization and ecological behavior civilization. The research on ecological civilization evaluation index system is important in that it can provide the guidance for the construction of ecological civilization, and besides it can improve public recognition of the importance of ecological civilization to the level that they will personally contribute to the development of ecological civilization. The paper attempts to set up an evaluation index system for ecological civilization construction based on consulting to relevant documents, in a bid to provide some policy references for relevant departments.