The Effect of BMI on Blood Lipids and Dyslipidemia in Lactating Women.

Background: This study aimed to explore the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia and the optimal cut-off point for BMI to distinguish the risk of dyslipidemia in lactating women. Methods: A total of 2295 lactating women subjects were included in this study, all within 2 years postpartum. All samples were from "China Children and Lactating Mothers Nutritional Health Surveillance (2016−2017)". BMI, blood lipids, demographic information, lifestyle habits, and other serum indicators were obtained in this survey. Generalized linear model, logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and ROC curve analysis were used to evaluate the relationship among BMI, blood lipids, and dyslipidemia. Results: BMI in lactating women was positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but negatively correlated with high-density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.05). Higher BMI in lactating women was associated with higher ORs of dyslipidemia (hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high-LDL-cholesterolemia, low HDL-cholesterolemia) (p < 0.05). These associations were stable across age groups, breastfeeding child age (months), parity, physical activity level, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and hemoglobin. These factors did not interact with this relationship (p > 0.05). The optimal cut-off point for BMI was 24.85 kg/m2 determined by using ROC analysis, which can distinguish the risk of dyslipidemia. Conclusions: BMI was positively correlated with risk of dyslipidemia. Maintaining an ideal weight may prevent dyslipidemia in lactating women, and BMI is recommended to be controlled below 24.85 kg/m2.

Energy Action Mechanism of Reinforced Sandstone under Triaxial Cyclic Loading and Unloading.

In underground engineering, reinforcement is a necessary means to ensure the stability of surrounding rock. Due to the stress redistribution caused by excavation disturbances, the reinforced rock mass is frequently subjected to loading and unloading, and its mechanical properties change accordingly. Based on the above engineering practice, using pasted circular CFRP, an approximate simulation of the rock reinforcement effect of bolt and shotcrete support was performed. Triaxial cyclic loading and unloading tests of reinforced sandstone were carried out, and the influence of different reinforcement schemes on the mechanical properties was compared and analyzed. Furthermore, the strengthening mechanism, damage evolution, and energy transformation mechanism of CFRP are discussed. The results showed that the peak strength increased about 14.2% and 23.8% with the two reinforced schemes, and the residual strength increased about 27.3% and 52.8% with the increase in the area reinforced by CFRP. Under the same confining pressure and strain conditions, the characteristic energy density and elastic energy ratio increased with an increase in the reinforcement area, but the damage variable decreased. It is proved that CFRP can improve energy absorption efficiency, enhance the energy storage limit, and reduce dissipation efficiency. By inhibiting the propagation of internal fissures and limiting the energy dissipation during fractures, the rock mass can be restrained and strengthened.

Piperlongumine Analogs Promote A549 Cell Apoptosis through Enhancing ROS Generation.

Chemotherapeutic agents, which contain the Michael acceptor, are potent anticancer molecules by promoting intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In this study, we synthesized a panel of PL (piperlongumine) analogs with chlorine attaching at C2 and an electron-withdrawing/electron-donating group attaching to the aromatic ring. The results displayed that the strong electrophilicity group at the C2-C3 double bond of PL analogs plays an important role in the cytotoxicity whereas the electric effect of substituents, which attached to the aromatic ring, partly contributed to the anticancer activity. Moreover, the protein containing sulfydryl or seleno, such as TrxR, could be irreversibly inhibited by the C2-C3 double bond of PL analogs, and boost intracellular ROS generation. Then, the ROS accumulation could disrupt the redox balance, induce lipid peroxidation, lead to the loss of MMP (Mitochondrial Membrane Potential), and ultimately result in cell cycle arrest and A549 cell line death. In conclusion, PL analogs could induce in vitro cancer apoptosis through the inhibition of TrxR and ROS accumulation.

Lowly-aggregated perylene diimide as a near-infrared electrochemiluminescence luminophore for ultrasensitive immunosensors at low potentials.

In the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) field, most reported luminophores were focused on high-triggering potential and short wavelength, which was adverse for the ECL theory study and application at low potentials. Perylene diimide derivatives could emit near-infrared (NIR) ECL at low-triggering potential; however, they are always highly aggregated into a microrod structure and stacked together, which largely limited their application in biological fields such as bio-sensing and bio-imaging. To overcome these obstacles, we designed a novel perylene diimide molecule, namely N,N'-dicaproate sodium-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide (PDI-COONa). This molecule self-assembled into a two-dimensional network nanostructure, which largely decreased the aggregation degree of PDI molecules and provided solid bases for designing lowly-aggregated PDI molecules. Also, the formed nanoluminophore produced strong emission at -0.26 V with an NIR wavelength 700 nm, which should be due to the excited J-type PDI-COO- dimers. Moreover, this network nanoluminophore well-dispersed on graphene oxide (GO) as an ECL nanomaterial to label secondary antibodies and fabricate a sandwiched immunosensor for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection between 0 and -0.6 V. This immunosensor showed a wider linear response for AFP ranging from 0.1 fg mL-1 to 1 µg mL-1 with a low detection limit 0.0353 fg mL-1 compared with other immunosensors based on PDI microrod-modified GO ECL materials. The fabricated immunosensor also showed good feasibility in human serum samples.

Association between dietary essential amino acids intake and metabolic biomarkers: influence of obesity among Chinese children and adolescents.

Essential amino acids (EAAs) are involved in growth and development in children and adolescents. This study was aimed at exploring the relationship between dietary EAA intakes and metabolic biomarker, and the influence of obesity in children and adolescents. A total of 3566 subjects were analysed. Participators were classified according to weight status. Metabolic biomarkers were determined using standardized methods and conditions. Normal, overweight, and obesity statuses were defined according to the Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) BMI cutoff points based on age- and sex-specific screening criteria. In normal-weight group, blood uric acid was negatively correlated with dietary Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, and His, and zinc was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, Met, and Trp. In overweight group, TC was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Phe, Val, and His, and LDL-C was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, and Met, while TG was positively correlated with Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, and Met. In obesity group, hemoglobin was positively related to Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, and Trp, while vitamin D was positively correlated with His and Trp. The serum creatinine was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Phe, Val, His, and Met in normal-weight group, and positively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, Met, Trp, His, and Trp in obesity group. Dietary amino acid score (AAS) and Leu intake were protective factors for obesity. The association between fasting blood glucose and EAAs intake was weak and labile. Metabolic biomarkers and EAA intakes were only related under certain weight status. The dietary AAS is positively correlated with HDL-C, LDL-C, serum creatinine, albumin, serum vitamin D, and zinc. The subtle relationship of EAAs and kidney function should be explored further. There is a complex relationship between EAAs and metabolic biomarkers, and overweight and obesity have a certain influence on this relationship.