ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels is a biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MS); however, the relationship has not been fully investigated within the reference interval of ALT levels. Our objective was to explore the relationship between serum ALT levels within the reference interval and MS in Chinese adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 16028 adults, who attended routine health check-ups at Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital from January 2006 to March 2012. The reference interval of serum ALT level was defined as less than 40 U/L. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the association of ALT with MS. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS in the total population was 13.7% (6.4% for females and 18.4% for males). Multiple logistic regression showed that ALT levels were positively associated with MS after adjustment for potential confounding factors. The odds ratio of MS in the top quartile was 4.830 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.980–7.829] in females and 3.168 (95% CI: 2.649–3.790) in males, compared with the ALT levels in the bottom quartile. The restricted cubic spline models revealed a positive non-linear dose-response relationship between ALT levels and the risk of MS in women (p for nonlinearity was 0.0327), but a positive linear dose-response relationship in men (p for nonlinearity was 0.0659). CONCLUSION: Serum ALT levels within the reference interval are positively associated with MS in a dose-response manner. Elevated ALT levels, even within the reference interval, may reflect early dysmetabolic changes.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Asian People , Biomarkers/blood , Confidence Intervals , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Logistic Models , Metabolic Syndrome/enzymology , Odds Ratio , Prevalence , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the association between serum direct bilirubin (DBIL) with metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components.Methods A dynamic health check-up cohort study was set up from 2006 to 2011.5 258 participants who satisfied the two basic rules:1) being free of MS at the 1st health check-up program;2) having at least two intact health checks were included in this study.With generalized estimating equation (GEE) model,after adjusting for items as age,gender,smoking,drinking,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,γ-glutamyltransferase,uric acid,blood urea nitrogen and white blood cells,the multivariable relative risks (RRs) of DBIL with MS and their components were analyzed.Results The RRs of DBIL for MS was 0.722 (95％ CI:0.654-0.797),which showing a dose-response.Serum DBIL was negatively associated with obesity and hyperlipidemia.Taking factors as gender and age into account,in the ＜45 years and 45-55 years groups,the RRs of DBIL for MS in females appeared as 0.516 (95％CI:0.349-0.761) and 0.435 (95％CI:0.256-0.740).And in males of ＜45 years and 45-55 years,the RRs of DBIL for MS were 0.738 (95％ CI:0.644-0.846) and 0.790 (95％ CI:0.667-0.937),respectively.Conclusions The elevated DBIL levels in serum appeared an early biomarker for MS and its components (obesity and hyperlipidemia).In particular,they may play a role in reducing the risk of MS in both females and males before 55 years of age.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the change of frequency tuning in inferior collicular neurons when added weak noise forward masking.Methods We examined the changes in neuronal frequency tuning resulted from a weak white noise as forward masking relative to 5dB beyond minimum threshold (reMT+5) and different duration (40、60、80、100 ms) under free field stimulation conditions.Results Weak noise forward masking sharpens frequency tuning curves (FTCs) of most neurons (P