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BACKGROUND: Intraindividual variability in lipid profiles is recognized as a potential predictor of cardiovascular events. However, the influence of early adulthood lipid profile variability along with mean lipid levels on future coronary artery calcium (CAC) incidence remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 2395 participants (41.6% men; mean±SD age, 40.2±3.6 years) with initial CAC =0 from the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) were included. Serial lipid measurements were obtained to calculate mean levels and variability of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non--high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and triglycerides. CAC incidence was defined as CAC >0 at follow-up. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 9.0 years, 534 individuals (22.3%) exhibited CAC incidence. Higher mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C were associated with a greater risk of future CAC incidence. Similarly, 1-SD increment of lipid variability, as assessed by variability independent of the mean, was associated with an increased risk of CAC incidence (LDL-C: hazard ratio, 1.139 [95% CI, 1.048-1.238]; P=0.002; non-HDL-C: hazard ratio, 1.102 [95% CI, 1.014-1.198]; P=0.022; and triglycerides: hazard ratio, 1.480 [95% CI, 1.384-1.582]; P<0.001). Combination analyses demonstrated that participants with both high lipid levels and high variability in lipid profiles (LDL-C and non-HDL-C) faced the greatest risk of CAC incidence. Specifically, elevated variability of LDL-C was associated with an additional risk of CAC incidence even in low mean levels of LDL-C (hazard ratio, 1.396 [95% CI, 1.106-1.763]; P=0.005). These findings remained robust across a series of sensitivity and subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated variability in LDL-C and non-HDL-C during young adulthood was associated with an increased risk of CAC incidence in midlife, especially among those with high mean levels of atherogenic lipoproteins. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining consistently low levels of atherogenic lipids throughout early adulthood to reduce subclinical atherosclerosis in midlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using hydroponics, this paper studied the physiological responses of trifoliate orange ( Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings to the deficiency of zinc (0 μmol ∙ L-1 Zn2+) and/or iron (0 ∇mol ∙ L-1 Fe-EDTA). The deficiency of both Zn and Fe decreased the plant biomass and root viability, and increased the leaf-and root SOD activity significantly. Zinc deficiency increased the leaf-and root POD significantly, while Fe deficiency had an adverse effect. The root CAT activity increased significantly under Zn deficiency, but had less difference with the control under Fe deficiency. Fe-and Zn deficiency induced a significant decrease of root potassium ( K) , magnesium ( Mg) , and phosphorus (P) contents and of shoot K content, respectively, but resulted in a significant increase in the root- and shoot Zn and Cu contents and in the root Fe and Mn contents and shoot Mn content, respectively. Ultrastructural observation of leaf structure and chloroplast showed that under Fe deficiency , the organelle was damaged seriously, which was revealed by the vacuolization of chloroplast and mitochondria, vague chloroplast membrane and thylakoid lamella, drastic increase of platoglobuli number, and absence of starch grain in the chloroplast. Under Zn deficiency, the thylakoid lamella of chloroplast was loosely distributed with less lamella, but the platoglobuli number was increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]