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The aims of our study were to examine whether initial or subsequent adiposity status had a greater effect on hypertension. We collected data in 1992 and again in 2007 from the same group of 597 individuals in the middle age. The subjects were classified into four groups: individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) in 1992 and 2007 were in Group I; those with a normal BMI in 1992, but became overweight or obese in 2007 were in Group II; those who were overweight or obese in 1992, but had a normal BMI in 2007 were in Group III; and those who were overweight or obese in 1992 and 2007 were in Group IV. Their demographic data were recorded. The relationship between adiposity status and hypertension was analyzed using logistic regression model. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 35.5%, 56.3%, 50.0%, and 65.1% for Group I to IV, respectively. Compared with Group I, after adjusted factors, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.80 for Group II (P =.001), 1.40 for Group III (P =.150), and 2.31 for Group IV (P <.001). Adiposity status in 2007 could predict hypertension (OR = 2.5, P <.001), as opposed to the initial adiposity status (P =.148). Subsequently adiposity status could have major effects on hypertension. Our society is very short of public health resources, particularly in developing countries, we should pay more attention to current adiposity status and encourage middle‐aged people to lose weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims/Introduction: Recently, a new anthropometric parameter (a new hip index [HI]) was developed, and the HI shows a U‐shaped relationship to mortality in the USA population. It is well known that there is an inverse relationship between hip circumference (HC) and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, the study sought to investigate whether HI could predict future diabetes mellitus, as compared with HC and the waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), in a general Chinese population. Materials and Methods: In 2007, we carried out a health examination of 687 participants (mean age 48.1 ± 6.2 years, male 58.1%). Development of diabetes mellitus by the 2007 examination was studied in relation to data from a baseline health examination carried out in 1992. Results: During the follow up, 74 participants were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Across the quintiles of baseline HI, the incidence rates of diabetes mellitus were 12.4, 12.4, 9.9, 7.8 and 11.3% in quintile (Q)1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5, respectively (P = 0.698). With the lowest quintile (Q1) as reference, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that HI was not associated with diabetes mellitus. In contrast, HC and WHR could predict future diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, WHR had the best discriminatory power for diabetes mellitus (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.691, 95% confidence interval 0.621–0.761), followed by HC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.623, 95% confidence interval 0.558–0.689) and HI (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.464, 95% confidence interval 0.396–0.531). Conclusions: Compared with HC and WHR, HI was not an independent risk factor for diabetes mellitus in the Chinese population. More studies are required to delineate the limits of the utility of HI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the tolerance of endophytic fungi isolated from the fibrous roots of Polygonatum kingianum to arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) and their physiological response mechanisms. Five isolated strains were obtained with EC50 values for As(V) ranging from 421 to 1281 mg/L, while the other three strains tolerated Cd(II) with an EC50 range of 407–1112 mg/L. Morphological and molecular identification indicated that these eight strains were Cladosporium spp. belonging to dark septate endophytes (DSEs). The contents of metal ions in mycelium sharply increased, reaching 38.87 mg/kg for strain MZ‐11 under As(V) stress and 0.33 mg/kg for fungus PR‐2 under Cd(II). The physiological response revealed that the biomass decreased with increasing concentrations of As(V) or Cd(II), and the activity of superoxide dismutase significantly improved under the corresponding EC50‐concentration As/Cd of the strains, as well as the contents of antioxidant substances, including metallothionein, glutathione, malondialdehyde, melanin, and proline. Taken together, the filamentous fungi of Cladosporium spp. accounted for a high proportion of fungi isolated from the fibrous roots of P. kingianum and had a strong capacity to tolerate As(V) or Cd(II) stress by improving antioxidase activities and the content of antioxidant substances, and immobilization of metal ions in hyphae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction Materials and Methods Results Conclusions To evaluate the differences in cardiac autonomic function, cardiac structure and diastolic function between individuals with diabetic foot (DF) and those with diabetes but without DF.A total of 413 individuals with DF and 437 without DF who underwent a 24‐h electrocardiogram Holter and a Doppler echocardiogram were included. The heart rate variability parameters to evaluate cardiac autonomic function, and the indices for the assessment of cardiac structure and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, including left atrium, LV posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum and E/e′ ratio, were measured or calculated. Propensity score matching was used for the sensitivity analysis to minimize potential imbalance.In both the crude and propensity score matching analyses, significant differences were observed in heart rate variability between individuals with and without DF, as evidenced by lower standard deviation of the normal sinus interval, lower low‐frequency power/high‐frequency power ratio, lower standard deviation of the 5‐min average RR intervals, lower low‐frequency power, lower percentage of normal adjacent RR interval difference >50 ms, lower root mean square of successive RR interval differences and lower high‐frequency power (all P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, DF showed an independent negative correlation with the aforementioned indices of heart rate variability (all P < 0.05). Individuals with DF showed higher left atrium, LV posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum and a higher E/e′ ratio than those without DF in the crude analysis (all P < 0.05), whereas these indices were no longer associated with DF in the multivariate analysis and the propensity score matching analyses.Cardiac autonomic modulation was more severely impaired in individuals with DF than in their counterparts without DF. There has been insufficient evidence to demonstrate the independent association of DF and LV diastolic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GLO:55QH/01jul21:jdb13180-toc-0001.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): . gl Historical studies have shown that, even within normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, higher FPG levels still carry a higher risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).1-7 Meanwhile, there was still inconsistency in these studies, especially for individuals without obesity.1 It is well known that obesity is a significant risk factor for T2DM.8 However, for Asians, the risk of T2DM starts at a lower body mass index (BMI)9,10 and may be more attributed to abdominal obesity.10,11 Moreover, nonobese subjects may not take preventive measures for T2DM. 4 Janghorbani M, Amini M. Normal fasting plasma glucose and risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: the Isfahan diabetes prevention study. The present study demonstrated a nonlinear association between normal FPG and T2DM, and after the FPG level of 4.3 mmol/L, a significantly increased risk of T2DM was observed. [Extracted from the article]