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Mitochondria are a novel and promising therapeutic target for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a lot of human diseases such as cancer, metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative disease. Owing to the mitochondrial special bilayer structure and highly negative potential nature, therapeutic molecules have multiple difficulties in reaching mitochondria. To overcome multiple barriers for targeting mitochondria, the researchers developed various pharmaceutical preparations such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles modified by mitochondriotropic moieties like dequalinium (DQA), triphenylphosphonium (TPP), mitochondrial penetrating peptides (MPPs) and mitochondrial protein import machinery that allowspecific targeting. The targeted formulations exhibited enhanced pharmacological effect and better therapeutic effect than their untargeted counterpart both in vitro and in vivo. Nanocarriers may be used for bio-therapeutic delivery into specific mitochondria that possess a great potential treatment of mitochondria related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: There is very limited published data on Tibetan dietary patterns and its association with nutrient intakes and socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the dietary patterns and the associations with nutrient intakes in rural Tibetan pregnant, lactating mothers.Methods and Study Design: Dietary patterns and nutrient intakes were identified via a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We identified dietary patterns using principle component analysis (PCA) of intakes of 17 food groups and specific Tibetan foods. Quartile categories of each dietary pattern were used, and non-dietary lifestyle factors and total energy intake were adjusted for the analysis. We identified two dietary patterns: "Varied pattern" and "Staple pattern".Result: The "Varied pattern" was characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruits and soy foods which showed significant positive associations with vitamins. Vitamin C (Ptrend<0.01) and vitamin E (Ptrend<0.01) were strongly associated with "Varied pattern" among mothers with children younger or older than 12 months. The "Staple pattern" was characterized by Tibetan staple foods, Tibetan beverages and Tibetan snacks and showed significant negative associations with protein (Ptrend<0.01) among mothers with children younger than 12 months or older than 12 months. Carbohydrate intakes significantly increased with "Staple pattern" among mother with children younger than 12 months only.Conclusions: The results presented here suggested our dietary patterns to great extent characterize the dietary behavior of Tibetan lactating mothers. There is, therefore, potential for dietary patterns to be used as a valid tool in assessing Tibetan diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very little literature has explored how mental disability in China is connected with inequalities in social and environmental contexts. In the study described herein, we determine whether social-context inequalities were associated with mental disability in China from 1987 to 2006.Methods: Data were derived from national representative population-based data from the 1987 and 2006 China National Sample Survey on Disability. Both surveys used multistage, stratified random cluster sampling, with a probability proportionate to size, to derive nationally representative samples. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of province-specific contextual characteristics on men and women. We also examined the association with mental disability risk stratified by selected covariates. Study populations were (N = 698,810) in 1987 and (N = 1,260,947) in 2006.Result: Most of the province-level variables in the 1987 and 2006 surveys were unrelated to mental disability risks in either men or women after controlling for individual characteristics. The age-adjusted prevalence of mental disability nearly doubled among men and women from 1987 to 2006. The effects of the province-specific prevalence of agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery activities and the percentage of the population age 65 and over significantly lowered the risk of mental disability among women in 1987, by 48 and 32%, respectively. Moreover, the number of health professionals modified the association with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) among women but only in 1987.Conclusion: To face the challenges of mental disability and interprovincial inequality, the Chinese government should adjust its strategies not only for health-care systems but also to correct for inequalities in interprovincial development; this action may help prevent mental disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menarche is a milestone for adolescent girls. The timing of menarche is influenced by genetics, social status and nutritional status (e.g., height, weight and body mass index [BMI]) and impacts future health (e.g., obesity and breast cancer). There have been many studies on trends in age at menarche among adolescent girls in China, but few have investigated associations between growth status and the timing of menarche. This study examined the association between age at menarche and growth status among adolescent girls in Western China.Methods: The participants in this cross sectional study came from three geographical regions of Shaanxi Province. A total of 533 adolescent girls from urban and rural areas were randomly selected. Trained investigators administered a standard questionnaire to each participant during a face-to-face interview and carried out anthropometric measurements.Results: The average age at menarche was 13.3 years. There were statistically significant differences in BMI z-scores between pre-menarcheal and post-menarcheal girls of the same age and these differences were related to socioeconomic factors. Girls who had reached menarche, in particular those aged 13-14 years, were significantly taller (P < 0.01) and had higher BMI (P < 0.01) than girls in the same age group who had not reached menarche.Conclusions: BMI is associated with the timing of menarche but socioeconomic factors are also important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between coffee intake and circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may be modified by oxidative stress. The authors examined the relation of coffee consumption to serum CRP considering potential inter-actions of serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and bilirubin. Methods: The subjects included 4455 men and 5942 women aged 49-76 years who participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study on lifestyle-related diseases in Fukuoka, Japan. Geometric means of serum CRP and 95% confidence intervals across the category of coffee intake stratified by serum GGT and bilirubin were estimated using multiple linear regression. Results: Serum CRP concentrations were progressively lower with higher intake of coffee in men with high serum GGT (p for trend=0.009), but not in those with low serum GGT (p for trend=0.73) and GGT modified the association (p for interaction=0.03). Women showed no association between coffee intake and CRP whether serum GGT was low or high. There was no effect modification of serum bilirubin on the association between coffee intake and CRP in either men or women. Conclusions: These results support a protective effect of coffee intake against systematic inflammation in middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and imply that such an effect may be stronger in elevated oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tibetan food intake is influenced by the region's high altitude and unique culture. Few published studies of nutrient intakes among Tibetan women are available. The present study of Tibetan mothers with young children explores dietary patterns, nutrient intakes, and differences between socio-demographic groups. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 386 women with a child aged less than 24 months was conducted in rural areas surrounding Lhasa, Tibet. All participants were recruited using simple random sampling and were interviewed face-to-face by trained investigators. Dietary information was collected via a food frequency questionnaire. Nutrient intakes were calculated using food composition tables. Non-parametric tests were used to compare nutrient intakes according to socio-demographic variables, and to compare results with the 2002 Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey (2002 NNHS) and dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Results: Median intakes of energy (p < 0.001), protein (p < 0.001), fat (p < 0.001), vitamin A (p < 0.001), vitamin B1 (p < 0.001), vitamin B2 (p < 0.001), vitamin C (p < 0.001), and vitamin E (p < 0.001) were lower than the average levels reported in 2002 NNHS. The median intakes of calcium (517 mg/d, p < 0.001), iron (35 mg/d, p < 0.001), and zinc (17.3 mg/d, p < 0.001) were higher than the average levels in 2002 NNHS. The highest education subgroup had significantly higher intakes of vitamins A and C than the lowest education subgroup. Conclusion: Although the diet of Tibetan mothers with young children has been partially influenced by other factors, their dietary patterns are still mostly composed of Tibetan traditional foods. Compared with the 2002 NNHS, Tibetan women with young children appear to have insufficient intakes of many nutrients, which will affect their nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of probiotics combined with Ulinastatin and Somatostatin in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 160 patients with severe acute pancreatitis treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from July 2021 to June 2023. There were 78 patients received Ulinastatin and Somatostatin treatment (Control group), and 82 patients received probiotics in addition to Ulinastatin and Somatostatin treatment (Observation group). The treatment effect and the time required to alleviate clinical symptoms were compared between the two groups. Serum levels of inflammatory factors, intestinal mucosal indexes and the incidence of adverse reactions before and after treatment were analyzed. Results: The total efficacy of the Observation group (95.12%) was higher than that of the Control group (85.90%) (P<0.05). Combined probiotic/Ulinastatin + Somatostatin treatment was associated with shorter time to remission of the clinical symptoms (P<0.05). After the treatment, serum levels of inflammatory factors in the two groups were decreased, and was significantly lower in the Observation group compared to the Control group (P<0.05). Similarly, post-treatment serum levels of intestinal mucosal indexes in the two groups were lower than before the treatment, and significantly lower in the Observation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: A combined regimen of probiotics, Ulinastatin and Somatostatin is safe and can more effectively relieve clinical symptoms in patients with severe acute pancreatitis, reduce levels of inflammatory factors, lower intestinal mucosal damage and improve the overall treatment effect compared to Ulinastatin and Somatostatin regimen alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of miR-378a/FSCN1 axis on tumor stemness and aerobic glycolysis in colorectal cancer cells (CRC). Methods: Abnormal expressions of miR-378a and FSCN1 in CRC tissues were analyzed through TCGA database. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively, while expression of miR- 378a was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, Western blotting assay was used to assess protein expressions. The miR-378a target was evaluated using ENCORI and confirmed by luciferase assay. Aerobic glycolysis was evaluated by determining glucose uptake, lactate production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Results: Downregulation of miR-378a and upregulation of FSCN1 were observed in both CRC tissues and cell lines (p < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-378a and repression of FSCN1 reduced cell viability and tumor sphere formation, and induced cell apoptosis. Protein expression of SOX2, KLF4, Bmi1 and Oct-4 were downregulated by either the overexpression of miR-378a or repression of FSCN1 (p < 0.01). Glucose uptake, lactate production and LDH activity were inhibited by either overexpression of miR-378a or repression of FSCN1, while cytotoxicity of Dox and 5-Fu was increased by upregulation of miR- 378a or downregulation of FSCN1 (p < 0.05). The predictive results of ENCORI demonstrated that FSCN1 was the direct target of miR-378a, and this was confirmed by luciferase assay results (p < 0.005). All the effects of miR-378a in CRC were reversed by overexpression of FSCN1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study has shown that miR-378a suppresses tumor stemness and increases the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs by directly targeting FSCN1, resulting in the prevention of CRC tumorigenesis. Thus, these findings suggest a new approach to the chemotherapeutic management of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in island arc magma production rates and their influencing mechanisms are of great significance since island arc magma is considered a main source of continental crust growth. The island arc magma directly originates from the molten mantle wedge, and the mantle melting is driven by fluids or melts from the subducted slab. Slab dehydration flux mainly depends on the slab thermal structures, and subducted slab melting requires a sufficiently high temperature. For the Aleutian subduction system, the subducted Pacific Plate has diverse thermal structures due to the existing fracture zones, ridges and slab window, so it is an ideal region for arc magma production rate research. However, the previous estimations are based on seismic profiles that only provide magma production rates at specific regions of the Aleutian arc, and these results are controversial. Here, we design a magma production rate estimation method based on gravity inversion constrained by deep seismic profiles. The first overview map of magma production rates along the Aleutian arc strike demonstrates that the magma production rates have the same trend as the slab dips, and the peaks correspond to the subduction of the fracture zones and ridges. The potential mechanisms for these correlations are as follows: (1) Slab water flux at subarc depths increases with increasing slab dip. More fluid flux would induce more mantle melting, and so the arc magma production rates are increased. (2) Water-rich serpentine is formed by hydrothermal alteration on or near the surface of the subducted slab when there are fracture zones. Serpentine decomposition at a depth of 80-120 km releases fluids in addition to the fluids released during normal slab dehydration. Therefore, more fluids induce more mantle melting and correspond a larger magma production rate. (3) The slab located in the Emperor Seamounts has a relatively high temperature and is also weak, so its melting is easier. Similarly, more slab melt means more mantle melt and a higher island arc magma production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithospheric effective elastic thickness (Te), a proxy for plIate strength, is helpful for the understanding of subduction characteristics. Affected by curvature, faulting and magma activity, lithospheric strength near trenches should be weakened but some regional inversion studies have shown much higher Te values along some trenches than in their surroundings. In order to improve Te-estimation accuracy, here we discuss the long-wavelength effect of dynamic topography and gravity on Te estimation by taking the Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) Trench as a case study area. We estimate the long-wavelength influence of the density and negative buoyancy of the subducting slab on observed gravity anomalies and seafloor topography. The residual topography and gravity are used to map Te using the fan-wavelet coherence method. Maps of Te, both with and without the effects of dynamic topography and slab gravity anomaly, contain a band of high-Te values along the IBM Trench, though these values and their errors are lower when slab effects are accounted for. Nevertheless, tests show that the Te map is relatively insensitive to the choice of slab-density modelling method, even though the dynamic topography and slab-induced gravity anomaly vary considerably when the slab density is modelled by different methods. The continued presence of a high-Te band along the trench after application of dynamic corrections shows that, before using 2-D inversion methods to estimate Te variations in subduction zones, there are other factors that should be considered besides the slab dynamic effects on the overriding plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Recent observational studies have suggested a positive association of white rice and protective associations of green tea and coffee with the risk of diabetes. However, none have examined the interaction between these dietary factors on the risk of diabetes. We prospectively investigated the effect modification of green tea and coffee on the association between rice and incident diabetes in elderly Japanese men and women.Methods and Study Design: Among subjects who participated in the baseline survey (2004-2007), 11717 (91 %) subjects responded to the follow-up survey (2010-2012). By using multiple logistic regression analysis, ORs of incident diabetes were calculated according to categories of cereal food, green tea, and coffee intakes, examining also the effect modification of green tea and coffee.Results: 464 new cases of diabetes were identified. Women, but not men, showed a positive association of rice intake (trend p=0.008) and an inverse association of green tea intake (trend p=0.02) with incident diabetes. Coffee showed no association with incident diabetes either in men or women. In the analysis stratified by green tea intake, the association between rice and diabetes disappeared among women with an intake of >=7 cups/d of green tea (interaction p=0.08).Conclusions: Rice intake was associated with an increased risk of diabetes only in women, and women with a higher intake of green tea had a lower risk of diabetes. A high intake of green tea may be protective against increased risk of diabetes with a higher intake of rice in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]