Correlation between serum lipid profiles and cognitive impairment in old age:a cross-sectional study

Background The correlation between cognitive function and lipid profiles,including total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and triglycerides,is inconsistent.Aims This cross-sectional study investigated the association between serum lipid levels and the prevalence of cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults and explored this difference in association by gender and urban-rural residency.Methods Participants aged 65 and above in urban and rural areas were recruited between 2018 and 2020,selected from the Hubei Memory and Aging Cohort Study.Detailed neuropsychological evaluations,clinical examinations and laboratory tests were conducted in community health service centres.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between serum lipid profiles and the prevalence of cognitive impairment.Results We identified 1336 cognitively impaired adults(≥65 years)-1066 with mild cognitive impairment and 270 with dementia-from 4746 participants.Triglycerides level was correlated with cognitive impairment in the total sample(χ2=6.420,p=0.011).In gender-stratified multivariate analysis,high triglycerides in males reduced the risk of cognitive impairment(OR:0.785,95%CI:0.623 to 0.989,p=0.040),and high LDL-C in females increased the risk of cognitive impairment(OR:1.282,95%CI:1.040 to 1.581,p=0.020).In both gender-stratified and urban-rural stratified multivariate analyses,high triglycerides reduced the risk of cognitive impairment in older urban men(OR:0.734,95%CI:0.551 to 0.977,p=0.034),and high LDL-C increased the risk of cognitive impairment in older rural women(OR:1.830,95%CI:1.119 to 2.991,p=0.016).Conclusions There are gender and urban-rural differences in the correlation of serum lipids with cognitive impairment.High triglycerides levels may be a protective factor for cognitive function in older urban men,while high LDL-C levels may be a risk factor for cognitive function in older rural women.

Study on the Promotion of Wound Healing in Mice with Burn Injuries by Bioactive Glass 1393

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of bioactive glass1393 on wound healing in mice with burn injuries.Methods:A benchtop temperature-controlled scald instrument was used to establish a mouse burn wound model,which was divided into an injury group(simple scald group)and a bioactive glass 1393treatment group.The wound healing of burn injuries in mice was observed at different times after the operation,and the formation of granulation tissue,collagen deposition and tissue proliferation in the wounds were observed by HE staining,Masson staining and Ki67 staining,and the levels of apoptosis-related proteins and the expression of wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway were detected in the wounds by Western blot.Results:Compared with the injury group,the bioactive glass 1393 group accelerated burn wound healing and promoted granulation tissue formation,collagen deposition,and cell proliferation.In addition,compared with the injury group,the bioactive glass 1393 group promoted the expression of Bcl-2 protein,inhibited the expression of Bax protein and up-regulated the expression of Wnt3a andβ-catenin protein.Conclusion:Bioactive glass 1393 promotes burn wound healing in mice by inhibiting apoptosis through modulation of wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Maternal PM_(2.5)exposure triggers preterm birth:a cross-sectional study in Wuhan,China

Background:Most of the studies regarding air pollution and preterm birth(PTB)in highly polluted areas have estimated the exposure level based on fixed-site monitoring.However,exposure assessment methods relying on monitors have the potential to cause exposure misclassification due to a lack of spatial variation.In this study,we utilized a land use regression(LUR)model to assess individual exposure,and explored the association between PM_(2.5)exposure during each time window and the risk of preterm birth in Wuhan city,China.Methods:Information on 2101 singleton births,which were≥20 weeks of gestation and born between November 1,2013 and May 31,2014;between January 1,2015 and August 31,2015,was obtained from the Obstetrics Department in one 3A hospital in Wuhan.Air quality index(AQI)data were accessed from the Wuhan Environmental Protection Bureau website.Individual exposure during pregnancy was assessed by LUR models and Kriging interpolation.Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between women exposure to PM_(2.5)and the risk of different subtypes of PTB.Results:During the study period,the average individual exposure concentration of PM_(2.5)during the entire pregnancy was 84.54μg/m3.A 10μg/m3 increase of PM_(2.5)exposure in the first trimester(OR:1.169;95%CI:1.077,1.262),the second trimester(OR:1.056;95%CI:1.015,1.097),the third trimester(OR:1.052;95%CI:1.002,1.101),and the entire pregnancy(OR:1.263;95%CI:1.158,1.368)was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB.For the PTB subgroup,the hazard of PM_(2.5)exposure during pregnancy was stronger for very preterm births(VPTB)than moderate preterm births(MPTB).The first trimester was the most susceptible exposure window.Moreover,women who had less than 9 years of education or who conceived during the cold season tended to be more susceptible to the PM_(2.5)exposure during pregnancy.Conclusions:Maternal exposure to PM_(2.5)increased the risk of PTB,and this risk was stronger for VPTB than for MPTB,especially during the first trimester.

Serum ficolin-2 concentrations are significantly changed in patients with hepatitis B virus infection and liver diseases

Human ficolin-2 is an important lectin complement pathway activator that is secreted from liver cells and has been implicated as an anti-infection innate immune molecule. However, the role of ficolin-2 protein and its dynamic changes over the course of and in the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B(CHB) and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed ficolin-2 protein expression in a cohort of individuals with CHB infection, HCC and cirrhosis. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method was used to measure serum ficolin-2 concentrations. Ficolin-2 expression in liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Serum ficolin-2 concentrations in CHB patients were significantly higher than in healthy controls and HBV carriers. After 48 weeks of routine amelioration liver function treatment, serum ficolin-2 concentrations decreased and were positively correlated with favorable alanine aminotransferase(ALT), HBV DNA and HBe Ag-seroconversion outcomes. Interestingly, we observed much lower expression of serum and intrahepatic ficolin-2 in HCC and cirrhosis compared with healthy controls. Our findings suggest that serum and intrahepatic ficolin-2 levels may be considered one of the indicators for the response of chronic HBV infection, HCC and cirrhosis.

Understanding embryonic development at single-cell resolution

A major goal of developmental biology is to understand the progression of embryonic cell lineages from pluripotency to adulthood.During embryogenesis,cells proliferate and spread out,new cell types arise,while many progenitors fade away during differentiation.Early studies of cell-fate regulation and lineage tracing have enriched out knowledge about the developmental processes.Yet,a complete picture about the spatiotemporal cellular composition of the developing embryo and the cellular interactions coordinating embryonic development is lacked for most of the model systems that we study.