Measurement of cumulative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio in the risk prediction of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Converging data have suggested that monocytic inflammation and C-reactive protein (CRP) are biologically intertwined processes and are involved in diabetogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between systemic inflammation assessed by joint cumulative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CumCRP) and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (CumMHR) and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their predictive value for T2D in a general population. METHODS: A total of 40,813 nondiabetic participants from a prospective real-life cohort (Kailuan Study, China) were followed biennially from 2010/2011 until December 31, 2020. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of incident diabetes. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.98 (IQR: 5.74-8.87) years, 4848 T2D cases developed. CumMHR and CumCRP were alone or jointly associated with incident T2D after adjusting for potential confounders. Elevated CumMHR levels significantly increased the risk of incident diabetes in each CumCRP strata (P-interaction: 0.0278). Participants with concomitant elevations in CumMHR and CumCRP levels had the highest risk (aHR: 1.71, 95% CI 1.52-1.91) compared to both in the low strata. Notably, the coexposure-associated T2D risk was modified by age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and prediabetes status. C-statistics increased from 0.7377 to 0.7417 when CumMHR and CumCRP were added into the multivariable-adjusted model, with a net reclassification improvement (%) of 12.39 (9.39-15.37) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative hsCRP and MHR were both independently and jointly associated with an increased risk of T2D and their addition to established risk factors should improve risk prediction and reclassification of diabetes.

Zinc Trifluoromethanesulfonate-Catalyzed para-Selective Amination of Free Anilines and Free Phenols with Quinoneimides.

An efficient zinc-catalyzed amination of free anilines and free phenols with quinoneimides has been disclosed, which proceeds smoothly under simple and mild conditions. The para-selective amination is accomplished on the anilines and phenols via a 1,6-addition pathway, leading to C-N bond formation. The developed protocol offers a promising approach not only for the construction of structurally diverse p-phenylenediamine compounds with excellent yields but also for the synthesis of the para-amination of free phenol derivatives with good to excellent yields. This protocol also extends the application of the quinoneimide-involved 1,6-addition reaction.

Maternal undernutrition alters the skeletal muscle development and methylation of myogenic factors in goat offspring.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of maternal undernutrition during midgestation on muscle fiber histology, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression, methylation modification of myogenic factors, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the skeletal muscles of prenatal and postnatal goats were examined. METHODS: Twenty-four pregnant goats were assigned to a control (100% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) or a restricted group (60% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) between 45 and 100 days of gestation. Descendants were harvested at day 100 of gestation and at day 90 after birth to collect the femoris muscle tissue. RESULTS: Maternal undernutrition increased (p<0.05) the fiber area of the vastus muscle in the fetuses and enhanced (p<0.01) the proportions of MyHCI and MyHCIIA fibers in offspring, while the proportion of MyHCIIX fibers was decreased (p<0.01). DNA methylation at the +530 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) site of the myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) promoter in restricted fetuses was increased (p<0.05), but the methylation of the MYF5 gene at the +274,280 CpG site and of the myogenic differentiation (MYOD) gene at the +252 CpG site in restricted kids was reduced (p<0.05). mTOR protein signals were downregulated (p<0.05) in the restricted offspring. CONCLUSION: Maternal undernutrition altered the muscle fiber type in offspring, but its relationship with methylation in the promoter regions of myogenic genes needs to be elucidated.

Effect of parity, milking time and stage of lactation on milk yield of Jiangyue donkey (Equus asinus) in North West China.

The study reported in this Research Communication was carried out to examine how parity and milking time affected donkey milk yield under a typical Chinese production system. Eighteen Jiangyue breed donkeys with good health condition, aged between 6 and 9 years, and with parities 3 and 4, were selected. Milk production was measured commencing from the fourth week post-foaling, with a total data collection of 170 d in milk (lactation length). Mean milk yield of the donkeys used in this study was 3·0 kg/donkey/d. Results showed milk yield decreased with days in milk from 3·3 kg/donkey/d at the start of the study, to 2·2 kg/donkey/d by the end of the 170 d. Parity 3 donkeys produced 22% more milk than parity 4 donkeys (3·3 kg/donkey/d vs 2·7 kg/donkey/d). The information provided by this study should aid producers in estimating the expected milk yields from individual donkey, and better predict milk yield over the course of a production cycle.

[A comparison of effectiveness between ligament advanced reinforcement system and bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between the ligament advanced reinforcement system (LARS) and bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft. METHODS: Between July 2007 and July 2011, 50 cases (50 knees) of ACL injury were treated with LARS in 24 cases (LARS group) and with BPTB in 26 cases (BPTB group), respectively. There was no significant difference in age, gender, time from injury to surgery, and injury reason between BPTB group and LARS group (P > 0.05). The postoperative rehabilitation protocol was performed in 2 groups. RESULTS: All incisions healed at the first stage. All patients were followed up 2-3 years. The results of Lachman test, anterior drawer test, and pivot shift test were negative. Screw loosening in femur and tibia occurred in 1 case of each group respectively, anterior knee pain in 2 cases of BPTB group and in 1 case of LARS group. The Lysholm and Tegner scores were significantly higher in LARS group than in BPTB group at 2 and 6 months after operation (P < 0.05); but no significant difference was found between 2 groups at 12 and 24 months (P > 0.05). The IKDC scores showed no significant difference between 2 groups at different time points after operation (P > 0.05). During follow up, KT-1000 arthrometer and knee stability showed significant differences in antedisplacements of the tibia between 2 groups at all time points after operation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LARS has less trauma and earlier functional recovery than BPTB autograft for ACL reconstruction, but the long-term effectiveness is similar.