Consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and prevalence of hypertension in adults: a population- based study

Systemic Arterial Hypertension is a multifactorial clinical condition associated with severe outcomes such as stroke and death. One of the main modifiable risk factor for hypertension is an unhealthy diet, often characterized by the consumption of ultraprocessed foods such as sweetened beverages. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages, both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened, and the prevalence of hypertension in adults. A cross-sectional, household, population-based study with 1,162 adults from two Brazilian cities were carried out. The consumption of food groups and sweetened beverages was obtained by food frequency questionnaire and other data were self-reported. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. The association between sweetened beverages consumption and hypertension was analyzed using Poisson regression models, expressed as Prevalence Ratio. The prevalence of hypertension was 16.7%, with no significant difference between genders. The prevalence of consumption of sweetened beverages was 70.3% in men and 54.6% in women, being significantly higher in men. Women who consumed sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages 6 to 7 days per week had 92% higher prevalence of hypertension compared to those who did not consume or consumed at a lower frequency. Furthermore, women who consumed artificially sweetened beverages at least 1 time per week had 3.36 times higher prevalence of hypertension. The habitual consumption of sweetened beverages may be an important risk factor for hypertension, especially the consumption of diet beverages, which are often marketed as healthier than sugar-sweetened beverages.

La Hipertensión Arterial Sistémica es una condición clínica multifactorial asociada a resultados graves como el ictus y la muerte. Uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de la hipertensión es una dieta poco saludable, a menudo caracterizada por el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados como las bebidas endulzadas. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar la relación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas, tanto azucaradas como edulcoradas artificialmente, y la prevalencia de hipertensión en adultos. Se realizó un estudio transversal, domiciliario y poblacional con 1,162 adultos de dos ciudades brasileñas. El consumo de grupos de alimentos y bebidas endulzadas se obtuvo mediante cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos y los demás datos fueron autoinformados. Se midieron el peso, la talla y el perímetro de la cintura. La asociación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas y la hipertensión se analizó mediante modelos de regresión de Poisson, expresados como Ratio de Prevalencia. La prevalencia de hipertensión fue del 16,7%, sin diferencias significativas entre géneros. La prevalencia de consumo de bebidas endulzadas fue del 70,3% en los hombres y del 54,6% en las mujeres, siendo significativamente mayor en los hombres. Las mujeres que consumían bebidas azucaradas y edulcoradas artificialmente entre 6 y 7 días a la semana tenían 92% mayor prevalencia de hipertensión que las que no consumían o consumían con una frecuencia menor. Además, las mujeres que consumían bebidas edulcoradas al menos 1 vez por semana tenían una prevalencia de hipertensión 3,36 veces mayor. Así pues, el consumo habitual de bebidas endulzadas puede ser un importante factor de riesgo de hipertensión, especialmente el consumo de bebidas dietéticas, que a menudo se comercializan como más saludables que las bebidas azucaradas.

Unraveling the Sugar Rush: A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Sugar- Sweetened Beverages Consumption among Malaysian Young Adults

@#Introduction: The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among young adults in Malaysia has witnessed a notable increase in recent years, giving rise to concerns regarding the potential adverse health effects, including obesity and diabetes. Despite the urgent need for targeted interventions, there is a dearth of research examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to SSBs among Malaysian young adults. To address this research gap, the present study aims to assess the level of KAP concerning SSB intake and its associated factors in this specific population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 408 Malaysian young adults aged between 15 and 29 years. Respondents completed an online questionnaire survey, which encompassed the assessment of socio-demographic characteristics and KAP regarding SSB consumption. The collected data were analyzed using IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Spearman correlation tests were performed at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The majority of respondents demonstrated moderate knowledge (60%) and practices (60%), while exhibiting a high positive attitude (100%) towards reducing SSB consumption. Significant correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude (p = 0.003, rs = 0.148) and between knowledge and practice (p = 0.005, rs = 0.138). Moreover, the attitude scores were found to be significantly associated with gender (χ2 (1, N = 408) = 10.421, p = 0.001) and locality (χ2 (1, N = 408) = 4.106, p = 0.043), while the practice scores exhibited a significant association with ethnicity (p = 0.006). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between KAP related to SSB consumption and socio-demographic factors among Malaysian young adults. The findings underscore the importance of utilizing these insights to develop strategic interventions that aim to curtail SSB consumption and promote a healthy lifestyle, ultimately contributing to the reduction of non-communicable diseases. Health authorities are encouraged to capitalize on these findings to design targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of this population.

Estado de las Políticas de regulación para el consumo de azúcar y para la comida chatarra en 3 países de América Latina

Introducción: El consumo de bebidas azucaradas y alimentos no saludables es un problema de Salud Pública y de las Políticas Públicas que buscan reducir el impacto de las Enfermedades No Trasmisibles (ENT) en América Latina. Objetivo: identificar las Políticas Públicas generadas en Colombia, Argentina y Chile para la regulación del consumo de azúcar y comida chatarra. Materiales y Métodos: Análisis exploratorio a través de una revisión de literatura y revisión de documentos normativos. Resultados: Colombia en el año 2021 sancionó la Ley 2120 denominada "Ley de Comida Chatarra", que promueve el acceso a información necesaria para fomentar entornos alimentarios saludables y prevenir las ENT, que incluye nuevas normas para el etiquetado de alimentos y describir sus características al consumidor y así limitar el consumo de alimentos procesados y ultraprocesados. Chile fue pionero en el desarrollo de los sellos de advertencia y desde el año 2014, aplica un impuesto adicional a las bebidas no alcohólicas. Argentina en 2021, sancionó la ley que obliga a la industria de alimentos a disponer de etiquetas en los envases que alerten al consumidor sobre los excesos de azúcares, grasas y sodio Conclusiones: Los tres países investigados cuentan con políticas de etiquetado de alimentos procesados, y en Chile existen impuestos a las bebidas azucaradas. Es importante estudiar el impacto de dichas políticas en la prevalencia y severidad de las ENT y de la caries.

Abstract: The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and unhealthy foods is a public health problem that has become a regulatory issue for the public policies aimed at reducing the impact of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Latin America. Objective: to identify the Public Policies in Colombia, Argentina and Chile for the regulation of the consumption of sugar and junk food. Materials and methods. Exploratory analysis through a literature and policy documents review. Results: In 2021, Colombia approved the Law 2120 called "Junk Food Law" promoting public access to information for a healthy food environment to prevent NCDs. It includes food labeling for overweight and obesity prevention and establishes a specific labeling regulation for processed and ultra-processed food and sweet drink products. Chile was pioneer in the development of warning stamps on food packages and since 2014 also taxes sweet non-alcoholic beverages. In 2021, Argentina approved a law to add labels on food packages to alert consumers about excess of sugars, fats and sodium. Conclusions: The three investigated countries have labeling policies for processed food, and Chile puts taxes on sugary drinks. It is important to study the impact of these policies on NCD prevalence, severity and on dental caries.

Main results and public health implications of the National School Health Survey (ENSE), Colombia 2017

Introduction: The school population represents a fundamental group for health promotion actions, given that the foundations of healthy behaviors in adult life are established in children and adolescents, who can be greatly influenced by the school. Objective: To describe the health-related behavioral factors of schoolchildren between 13 and 17 years of age in secondary and middle school in Colombia. Methods: A national cross-sectional study was conducted (i.e., School Health Survey -ENSE-) that recorded information on dietary practices, physical activity, alcohol and drug consumption, injuries and bullying, and oral, visual and hearing health. Sampling was probabilistic, cluster and multistage. Results: Schoolchildren have low consumption of fruits, vegetables (13.1%) and dairy (76.5 %), high consumption of ultra-processed foods (82.4 %), sugary drinks (74.0 %) and fast foods (14.8 %), frequent addition of salt at the table (43.3 %), low compliance with physical activity recommendations (15.0 %) and high sedentary lifestyle (46.3 %), frequent consumption of alcohol (44.7 %) and psychoactive substances (14.7 %), in addition to prevalent situations of bullying (15.4 %), rejection (8.2 %) and verbal aggression (42.7 %). Conclusions: The ENSE shows critical inequalities by gender, ethnicity and social class, throughout the country. The indicators observed in schoolchildren are precursors of various chronic and degenerative diseases and mental illness, which requires the urgent attention of the different social actors in the country.

Introducción: La población escolar es un grupo fundamental para las intervenciones de promoción de la salud, ya que en los niños y adolescentes se sientan las bases de un comportamiento saludable en la vida adulta, que puede ser muy influenciado por la escuela. Objetivo: Describir los factores comportamentales relacionados con la salud de los escolares de 13 a 17 años de edad que cursan educación básica secundaria y media en Colombia. Métodos: Se realizó una encuesta nacional transversal (Encuesta de Salud en Escolares -ENSE-) con los lineamientos de Global School-based Student Health Survey para recolectar información sobre prácticas alimentarias, actividad física, consumo de alcohol y drogas, lesiones e intimidación, y salud bucal, visual y auditiva. El muestreo fue probabilístico, por conglomerados y polietápico. Resultados: Se incluyeron 79.640 escolares de 298 municipios. Los escolares presentaron bajo consumo de frutas, verduras (13.1%) y productos lácteos (76.5 %), alto consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados (82.4 %), bebidas azucaradas (74.0 %) y comidas rápidas (14.8 %); alto uso de sal añadida en la mesa (43.3 %), actividad física inferior a la recomendada (15.0 %) y sedentarismo (46.3 %). Fue frecuente el consumo de alcohol (44.7 %) y sustancias psicoactivas (14.7 %) y reportaron situaciones de intimidación (15.4 %), rechazo (8.2 %) y agresiones verbales (42.7 %). Conclusiones: La ENSE muestra desigualdades por género, etnia y clase social en todo el país. Los hallazgos observados en los escolares son factores de riesgo de enfermedades crónico-degenerativas y mentales, y requieren la atención urgente de los actores sociales del país.

Socio-Demographic, Clinical and Diabetes Status of Foot Ulcer Patients

Background: Foot ulcers are considered as a serious complication, especially for patients with diabetes. People with diabetes and people with peripheral vascular disease are more likely to develop foot ulcers. If an infection occurs in an ulcer and is not treated in the proper way, it can develop into cellulitis, osteomyelitis, or gangrene that may require some part of the toe, foot, or lower leg to be amputated. The aim of this study was to find the socio-demographic, clinical, and diabetes status of foot ulcer patients. Material & Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, during the period from March 2012 to August 2012. In total 100 patients with foot ulcers in the different surgical units of the mentioned hospital were enrolled in this study as study subjects. Data from the study regarding age, sex, occupation, smoking habit, and socio-demographic condition were recorded in the prescribed questionnaire. The purposive sampling technique was used for this study. All data were processed, analyzed, and disseminated using MS Excel and SPSS version 23 programs as necessary. Results: In this study, the male-female ratio of the participants was 2:1. The maximum number of patients (42%) were from the age of 51-60 years and the highest number of patients were housewives (28%), followed by farmers (22%). Among the total male patients, 87.88% were smokers. Low HDL was found in 51% of patients and 68% of patients had been suffering from diabetes mellitus,18% from Buerger’s disease and 6% from atherosclerosis, and 8% from malignant foot ulcer. Most of the diabetic patients (95.59%) were hyperglycemic on admission and 55.88% had diabetes for 6-10 years. On admission, 3 patients (4.41%) had controlled blood sugar and 65 patients (95.59%) had uncontrolled blood sugar. Conclusion: The frequency of foot ulcers among the male population was higher than that in females. Concerning occupation of the patients, housewives and farmers were the most prevalent. Smokers were most affected groups among the study population. Pre-diagnosed diabetes mellitus for a long period was one of the major clinical issues in most of the patients. Uncontrolled blood sugar was also seen in majority of the patients regarding clinical background.

Fatores associados ao consumo de açúcares de adição de idosos da região de Campinas-SP, Brasil / Factors associated with added sugar consumption of older adults from the region of Campinas-SP, Brazil

Resumo A alimentação adequada tem profundo impacto na saúde dos idosos, e uma especial atenção deve ser dada ao consumo de açúcares de adição na dieta, que em excesso está associado a pior controle das doenças crônicas nesta fase. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a prevalência do consumo de açúcares de adição de idosos da região de Campinas-SP, seus fatores associados e suas principais fontes alimentares. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado na região de Campinas-SP, com amostra de conveniência de 586 idosos. O consumo foi obtido por meio de dois recordatórios de 24 horas, sendo inadequado se >5% do consumo energético total. Também foi calculada a contribuição dos alimentos em relação ao teor total de açúcares. Considerou-se nível crítico de p<0,05. O consumo médio de açúcares de adição estava acima do recomendado (7,0%), inadequado em mais da metade da população estudada, sendo o açúcar de mesa e o mel as principais fontes dietéticas. A prevalência de inadequação do consumo foi maior entre mulheres (69,8%; p=0,004) e em indivíduos com baixo peso (83,7%; p=0,014), e o consumo foi menor em portadores de diabetes (47,8%; p<0,001). Os resultados apontam para que sejam elaboradas ações de saúde e nutrição a fim de garantir um consumo adequado de açúcares nesta fase.

Abstract Adequate nutrition has a profound impact on older adults' health. Therefore, special attention should be given to the dietetic intake of added sugars, which in excess is associated with poorer control of chronic diseases in this phase. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of consumption of added sugars in older adults in the Campinas-SP region, its associated factors, and its main dietary sources. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the region of Campinas-SP, with a convenience sample of 586 older individuals. Intake was obtained using two 24-hour food recalls, and values >5% of total energy consumption were considered inadequate. The contribution of the groups and foods in relation to the total content of sugars was also calculated. A critical level of p<0.05 was considered. The average intake of added sugars was higher than recommended (7.0%), and this inadequacy was observed in more than half of the sample, being table sugar and honey the main dietary sources. The prevalence of inadequate consumption was higher among women (69.8%; p=0.004) and individuals with low weight (83.7%; p=0.014), and lower in those with diabetes (47.8%; p<0.001). Results indicate that health and nutrition actions should be developed to ensure adequate sugar intake at this stage.

¿Qué necesita nuestra región para fortalecer políticas públicas sobre bebidas azucaradas? diálogo de decisores / What does our region need in order to strengthen public policies on sugar-sweetened beverages? decision-makers' dialogue

Con el objetivo de priorizar políticas públicas para disminuir el consumo de bebidas azucaradas en Argentina, Brasil, El Salvador y Trinidad y Tobago e identificar las necesidades de información relacionadas con la carga de enfermedad atribuible a su consumo se realizó un diálogo de políticas en el que participaron miembros de gobierno, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, investigadores y comunicadores de países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Se llevaron a cabo exposiciones y talleres deliberativos utilizándose herramientas de recolección de datos semiestructuradas y discusiones grupales facilitadas. Las intervenciones priorizadas fueron el incremento de impuestos, el etiquetado frontal, la restricción de la publicidad, promoción y patrocinio y las modificaciones del entorno escolar. La principal barrera percibida fue la interferencia de la industria alimentaria. La realización de este diálogo de decisores permitió la identificación de las políticas públicas prioritarias para disminuir el consumo de bebidas azucaradas en la región.

In order to prioritize public policies to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago and to identify information gaps related to the burden of disease attributable to their consumption, a policy dialogue was held with government members, civil society organizations, researchers and communicators from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Presentations and deliberative workshops were conducted using semi-structured data collection tools and group discussions. The prioritized interventions were tax increases, front labeling, restriction of advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and modifications regarding the school environment. The main perceived barrier was the interference from the food industry. This dialogue among decision-makers led to the identification of priority public policies to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the region.

A introdução precoce de sucos pode influenciar desfechos antropométricos e consumo alimentar em idade pré-escolar? / Does early fruit juice introduction influence anthropometric outcomes and food consumption at preschool age?

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar o impacto do consumo de sucos antes dos 6 meses de idade no Índice de Massa Corporal para Idade (IMC/I) e no consumo alimentar em pré-escolares. Estudo longitudinal com amostra composta por mães e seus filhos (n=103) entre 6 meses e 3 a 6 anos. Peso e estatura foram aferidos e convertidos para o escore z de IMC/I. Para avaliar o consumo alimentar, foi utilizado o Questionário de Frequência Alimentar Infantil. Testes de Qui-Quadrado e t de Student foram utilizados para comparação entre os grupos. Não houve diferença nos parâmetros antropométricos entre pré-escolares que receberam ou não suco antes dos seis meses. Aquelas que tiveram introdução de suco mais precoce (≤150 dias de vida) apresentaram consumo mais frequente (≥1x/dia) de suco artificial (63,8% versus 35,7%; p=0,028) e biscoito recheado (21,3% versus 14,3%; p=0,001) na idade pré-escolar. Crianças que receberam suco do tipo artificial antes dos 6 meses tiveram maior prevalência de consumo de refrigerante entre 1 e 4x/semana (69,2% versus 27,4%; p=0,014) e menor prevalência de consumo de achocolatado pelo menos 1x/dia (38,5% versus 69,4%; p=0,027). Sendo assim, crianças com introdução precoce de suco apresentaram maior consumo de alimentos doces e bebidas açucaradas em fase pré-escolar.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of fruit juice consumption before 6 months of age on Body Mass Index-for-age (BMI-for-age) and food consumption in preschoolers. We conducted a longitudinal study with mothers and their children (n=103) at 6 months and 3-6 years. Weight and height were measured and converted into BMI-for-age z-scores. Food consumption was analyzed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire for Children. Groups were compared using the chi-squared and Student's t-tests. No differences in anthropometric measurements were found at preschool age between children who had been given fruit juice before 6 months and those who had not. Consumption of artificial juice (≥once/day) and sandwich cookies at preschool age was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice (≤150 days of life) (63.8% versus 35.7%; p=0.028 and 21.3% versus 14.3%; p=0.001, respectively). The prevalence of the consumption of soda (1 to 4 times/week) and chocolate milk (at least once/day) was higher in children who had been given artificial juice before 6 months (69.2% versus 27.4%; p=0.014 and 38.5% versus 69.4%; p=0.027, respectively). It can be concluded that the consumption of sweet foods and sugary beverages was higher in children with early introduction of fruit juice.

Simultaneous measurement of HbA1C and Hemoglobin by Turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay from a single punch of dried blood spot samples

Hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) are frequently monitored health indicators in population based studies for information about the status of nutrition and diabetes control. We present here possibly for the first time the findings of simultaneous estimation of Hemoglobin and HbA1C on Dried blood spot (DBS) samples by a single test. Validation was done by turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay (TINIA) using Roche Integra 400 plus instrument. Paired whole blood and DBS samples were tested for HbA1C estimation by Integra 400 plus. Total hemoglobin values obtained during HbA1C estimation were compared with hemoglobin values estimated by Coulter AcT 5 Diff CP Hematology counter. Agreement in HbA1C and hemoglobin values between paired whole blood and DBS samples was found to be high with R2 values of 0.994 and 0.9349, respectively. Intra- and inter- assay precision was found to be within 10% for both parameters. Values obtained after assaying DBS samples prepared by spotting proficiency samples on Whatman 903 protein saver cards demonstrated acceptable standard deviation indices resulting in successful participation in EQAS programs for both these parameters. The results reveal the potential of TINIA for simultaneous estimation of hemoglobin and HbA1C from a single punch of the DBS samples.

Development and Validation of FFQ for Assessing SugarSweetened Beverages (SSB) and High-Energy Dense Foods Intake among Malaysian Adolescents

@#Introduction: Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is strongly associated with weight gain, dental cavities, and a higher risk of chronic diseases among adolescents. However, there is no available FFQ for the Malaysian population individually to evaluate and assess the consumption of SSBs and high-energy dense (HED) foods among adolescents. Method: A 24-hour diet recall with 30 adolescents were performed via Google Meet to identify the most common and frequent types of SSBs and HEDs foods consumed nowadays. The food checklist of SSBs and HED foods from literature review search was also provided to the participants. Experts critically reviewed each food item and provide a score for its relevancy and essentiality. Face validity were conducted among 10 adolescents to validate the developed FFQ. Results: The final FFQ consisted of 63 food items with ten categories. This FFQ showed high content validity for individual items with I-CVI ranging from 0.67 to 1.00 and overall questionnaires with S-CVI/Ave valued at 0.97. The calculation of Kappa statistic showed that this newly developed FFQ has excellent inter-rater reliability at the item level with K > 0.74 for 55 items and K = 0.57 only for 4 items. Most of the items were marked as relevant with a CVR score of 1.00. Conclusion: The findings of this study imply that the newly developed FFQ could be utilised to estimate the intake of SSB and HED foods of Malaysian adolescents.

Correlation of serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide, sugar chain antigen 242, procalcitonin levels in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia and Helicobacter pylori infection and prognosis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To investigate the correlation of serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), sugar chain antigen 242(CA242), procalcitonin(PCT) levels in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with intestinal metaplasia and Helicobacter pylori(Hp) infection and prognosis.Methods:One hundred patients with CAG intestinal metaplasia in Emergency General Hospital were selected as the research objects, and they were divided into infection group (75 cases) and non-infected group (25 cases) according to whether they had Hp infection. The clinical data, levels of serum ProGRP, CA242, and PCT were compared between the two groups, and the diagnostic value of the combination of serum indicators in the diagnosis of Hp infection in CAG intestinal metaplasia patients and their correlation with prognosis were analyzed.Results:The degree of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in the infected group were higher than those in the non-infected group ( P<0.05). The levels of serum ProGRP, CA242 and PCT in the infected group were higher than those in the non-infected group: (159.41 ± 42.38) ng/L vs. (105.84 ± 18.29) ng/L, (7.24 ± 2.28) kU/L vs. (4.12 ± 1.30) kU/L, (3.84 ± 1.12)μg/L vs. (2.57 ± 0.82) μg/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The results of Spearman analysis showed that the levels of ProGRP, CA242, PCT had positive correlation with atrophy degree ( r = 0.614, 0.629, 0.672, P<0.05), and had positive correlation with intestinal metaplasia degree ( r = 0.574, 0.591, 0.603, P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for the combined diagnosis of Hp infection in patients with CAG intestinal metaplasia by serum ProGRP, CA242, and PCT was 0.874 (95% CI 0.793 - 0.932), the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 76.00% and 92.00%, respectively. The incidence of gastric neoplasms in patients with Hp positive combined diagnosis of serum ProGRP, CA242, and PCT within 2 years (11.86%) was higher than that of negative patients (0), but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The levels of serum ProGRP, CA242 and PCT in patients with CAG intestinal metaplasia are closely related to Hp infection. The combination of various indicators has high application value in the diagnosis of Hp infection.

Analysis of blood glucose fluctuations and related influencing factors in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection after surgery / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of blood glucose fluctuation after surgery for type A aortic dissection in non-diabetic patients.Methods:A total of 109 patients with non-diabetic type A aortic dissection who underwent surgical treatment in Ningbo Medical Center Li Huili Hospital from Dec. 2016 to Mar. 2022 were selected as the research subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection surgery, and a nomogram model of blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection surgery was constructed.Results:Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI≥24 kg/m 2, poor sleep quality, depression, cardiopulmonary bypass time>5 h and intraoperative bleeding were the risk factors for postoperative blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic type A aortic dissection patients ( P<0.05). The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.746 (95% CI: 0.711-0.781) ; the calibration curve was in good agreement with the ideal curve; the AUC of the nomogram model was 0.804. Conclusion:BMI≥24 kg/m 2, poor sleep quality, depression, cardiopulmonary bypass time>5 h and intraoperative bleeding are risk factors for postoperative blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic type A aortic dissection patients.

Clinical study on the comprehensive treatment of diet and Chinese medicine on type 2 diabetes mellitus based on pattern differentiation / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of comprehensive treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on syndrome differentiation and diet.Methods:Prospective clinical study. A total of 147 patients with T2DM from September 2021 to August 2022 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the self-controlled trial. On the basis of diet and exercise intervention, the subjects were treated and observed with comprehensive treatment based on syndrome differentiation for 120 days. The main outcome indicators including TCM symptom score, fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 hPG, HbA1c , Fasting insulin (FINS), C-peptide(C-PR), and the secondary outcome indicators including blood lipid (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C), blood pressure, and safety indicators were performed before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, the FPG of subjects decreased from (8.75±2.26) mmol/L to (7.05±1.23) mmol/L, 2 hPG decreased from (10.75±3.01) mmol/L to (7.07±0.78) mmol/L, HbA1c decreased from (6.82±1.47)% to (5.49±0.63)%, and FINS decreased from (15.4±9.33) μIU/ml to (8.82±7.28) μIU/ml, C-PR decreases from (1.95±0.91) nmol/L to (1.72±1.53) nmol/L, SBP decreased from (137.51±17.94) mmHg to (125.79±7.57) mmHg, DBP decreased from (82.85±9.65) mmHg to (77.54±6.21) mmHg,TG decreased from (1.57±1.04) mmol/L to (1.25±1.24) mmol/L, HDL-C increased from　(1.48±0.41) mmol/L to (1.66±0.46)mmol/L. The above differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The comprehensive treatment of T2DM based on syndrome differentiation and diet can significantly reduce the blood glucose indicators including FPG, 2 hPG, HbA1c, FINS and C-PR, and benefit blood pressure and blood lipids with no adverse reactions.

Analysis on Sugar Spectrum Difference Between Wild-simulated and Transplanted Astragali Radix / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish the characteristic sugar spectrum of polysaccharides， oligosaccharides and monosaccharides of wild-simulated and transplanted Astragali Radix， and find out the difference of the sugar spectrum between the two， so as to provide a basis for quality evaluation of Astragali Radix. MethodThe relative molecular weight distribution of polysaccharides from 18 batches of wild-simulated Astragali Radix and 12 batches of transplanted Astragali Radix were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection（HPLC-ELSD） to establish the characteristic chromatograms of two kinds of polysaccharides. The difference in the peak area ratio of APS-Ⅱ， a polysaccharide component with a relative molecular weight of 10 kDa， in two kinds of Astragali Radix was analyzed， and the critical value of peak area ratio of APS-Ⅱ was determined by receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve. At the same time， APS-Ⅱ was partially acid-hydrolyzed by trifluoroacetic acid（TFA） to establish characteristic spectra of two kinds of oligosaccharides from Astragali Radix based on HPLC-ELSD， and the characteristics of differential oligosaccharides were found by principal component analysis（PCA） and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）. Two kinds of APS-Ⅱ were completely acid-hydrolyzed by TFA and derivatized to establish characteristic spectra of two kinds of monosaccharides from Astragali Radix based on HPLC， PCA and OPLS-DA were performed on the peak area ratio of two kinds of monosaccharides to explore the differences in the composition of two kinds of APS-Ⅱ monosaccharides. ResultThe characteristic sugar spectrum of polysaccharides from Astragali Radix showed that the peak area ratio of APS-Ⅱ was the main difference， and the peak area of APS-Ⅱ of wild-simulated and transplanted Astragali Radix were 89.17%-97.17% and 80.14%-91.96%， respectively. The ROC curve determined the critical value of 92.28% for the difference of APS-Ⅱ peak area ratio of the two kinds of Astragali Radix. The multivariate analysis of APS-Ⅱ oligosaccharides revealed that the peak area ratio of oligosaccharides with polymerization degree≥10 was the main difference， which ranged from 11.835%-19.092% for wild-simulated products and 2.778%-7.017% for transplanted products. The results of monosaccharide characteristic sugar spectrum analysis showed that both Astragali Radix species consisted of six monosaccharides， and glucose and arabinose were the differential monosaccharide fractions. The peak area ratios of glucose and arabinose in wild-simulated products were 85%-93.9% and 2.7%-5.8%， respectively， while those of transplanted products were 74.3%-87.3% and 5.3%-10.7%， suggesting that the structures of the two polysaccharide fractions APS-Ⅱ of Astragali Radix may be different. ConclusionThe difference of sugar spectrum between two kinds of Astragali Radix may be related to the content and structure of APS-Ⅱ， and this study may provide a reference for the study of carbohydrates in Astragali Radix and the quality evaluation of medicinal materials.

Discussion on "sugar needle - comfortable acupuncture and moxibustion" / 中国针灸

The cases of feeling comfort during acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in literature were summarized and its biological basis was explored. A simple classification of comfort was made, and the importance of obtaining comfort in acupuncture treatment was pointed out. Considering the pursuit of less pain and harmlessness in modern clinical treatment, sugar needle should be advocated and popularized in current clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Sugar craving and stress levels during different phases of menstrual cycle among university students

@#Introduction: The menstrual cycle in women is often associated with appetite control, mood, and behavioural changes due to hormonal imbalance. However, levels of sugar craving and stress during pre- and post-menstrual periods have not been thoroughly studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare levels of stress and sugar cravings during different phases of menstrual cycle among university students. Methods: Participants aged 19–25 years were assessed for sugar craving and stress during pre- and post-menstrual periods. They were requested to fill out the Sugar Craving Assessment Tool (SCAT) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaires on the first day of menses (the pre-menses phase) by recalling how they felt throughout the past seven days. The participants completed the same set of questionnaires again two days after their menses ended (post-menses phase) by recalling how they felt within the previous two days. Results: Ninety-three students participated in the study. Pre-menstrual SCAT score (40.0±19.6) was higher than post-menstrual SCAT score (32.1±19.4), t(91)=4.82, p<0.001. Mean PSS-10 score was also higher before menstruation (22.8±6.2) than after menstruation (17.5±6.1), t(91)=6.26, p<0.001. There was no significant difference in mean sugar craving scores of different stress categories, either during pre-menses [F(2,90)=1.39, p=0.256] or post-menses [F(2,90)=0.89, p=0.415]. Conclusion: The findings indicate that levels of sugar craving and stress were higher during pre-menstrual phase compared to post-menstrual phase in young adults. However, whether sugar cravings are linked to stress during the menstrual cycle is inconclusive and requires further investigation.

Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Configuration of the Anti-parallel G-quadruplex Formed by 22-nt Telomere RNA Fragments / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

G-quadruplexes with different conformations often exhibit different binding abilities to proteins and play different physiological functions. It is of great significance to analyze the factors affecting the configuration of G-quadruplex to explore its physiological function. Different from DNA, RNA sequences have shown parallel G-quadruplex structures in previous reports. However, we found that the only RNA sequence, the 22-nt telomere RNA fragment (ORN-N, A

Interaction effect and predictive efficacy of blood glucose and blood calcium on the prognosis of patients with acute severe pancreatitis / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To investigate the interactive effects of blood glucose and blood calcium on the prognostic impact of patients with acute severe pancreatitis (SAP) and to analyze their predictive efficacy on prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients with SAP admitted to our hospital from September 2019 to October 2022 were selected for the study and were divided into poor and good groups according to their prognosis within 28 d. The blood glucose, blood calcium, modified Marshall score, bedside acute pancreatitis severity score (BISAP) were compared between the two groups before treatment, after 3 d of treatment, and after 7 d of treatment, and the correlation between blood glucose, blood calcium and modified Marshall score and BISAP score was analyzed. The blood glucose levels of patients with different blood calcium were compared. Cox regression was used to analyze the factors associated with prognosis. The presence and type of interaction between blood glucose and blood calcium on prognosis were analyzed using the interaction coefficient γ and relative risk (RR) values. The subject operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the predictive efficacy of blood glucose and blood calcium on prognosis. RESULTS: The blood glucose, modified Marshall score, and BISAP score of the adverse group after treatment were higher than those of the good group, while the blood calcium was lower than that of the good group (P<0.05). After 3 and 7 days of treatment, blood glucose was positively correlated with improved Marshall score and BISAP score (P<0.05). The blood glucose level in patients with decreased blood calcium was higher than that in patients with normal blood calcium (P<0.05). The decrease of blood calcium had positive interaction with the increase of blood glucose (P<0.05). After 3 and 7 days of treatment, the AUC of blood glucose combined with blood calcium was greater than that predicted by single index (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Blood glucose and blood calcium are related to the severity of the disease in SAP patients. There is an interaction between blood glucose and blood calcium in predicting the prognosis of SAP patients. The combined detection of blood glucose and blood calcium has a certain predictive effect on the prognosis of SAP patients.

corilagin protects non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice induced by high fat and high sugar diet via regulating AMPK-autophagy signaling / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the effects of corilagin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet in mice via regulating AMPK-autophagy signaling. Methods Healthy 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and corilagin group. The mice of model group and corilagin group were fed with a high-fat and high-sugar diet for four weeks at the age of eight weeks. The corilagin group mice were also intraperitoneally injected with corilagin (20 mg • k g

Unraveling the serial glycosylation in the biosynthesis of steroidal saponins in the medicinal plant Paris polyphylla and their antifungal action

Sugar-sugar glycosyltransferases play important roles in constructing complex and bioactive saponins. Here, we characterized a series of UDP-glycosyltransferases responsible for biosynthesizing the branched sugar chain of bioactive steroidal saponins from a widely known medicinal plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Among them, a 2'-O-rhamnosyltransferase and three 6'-O-glucosyltrasferases catalyzed a cascade of glycosylation to produce steroidal diglycosides and triglycosides, respectively. These UDP-glycosyltransferases showed astonishing substrate promiscuity, resulting in the generation of a panel of 24 terpenoid glycosides including 15 previously undescribed compounds. A mutant library containing 44 variants was constructed based on the identification of critical residues by molecular docking simulations and protein model alignments, and a mutant UGT91AH1Y187A with increased catalytic efficiency was obtained. The steroidal saponins exhibited remarkable antifungal activity against four widespread strains of human pathogenic fungi attributed to ergosterol-dependent damage of fungal cell membranes, and 2'-O-rhamnosylation appeared to correlate with strong antifungal effects. The findings elucidated the biosynthetic machinery for their production of steroidal saponins and revealed their potential as new antifungal agents.