Changes in body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a longitudinal study.

Introduction: The primary care management of blood glucose, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and body weight is important among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to prevent disease progression. Information on how weight changes would improve or deteriorate cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is warranted for making primary care recommendations. We aimed to investigate the changes in body weight and CV risk factors and to analyse their association in a Chinese population with T2DM. Methods: We retrieved longitudinal data between 2020 and 2021 from 1,758 adult primary care patients enrolled in a diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programme. Linear associations of changes in body weight with CV risk factors were explored. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine associations between different weight change categories and the worsening of CV risk factors. Results: The mean age of all the participants was 63.71 years, and over half of participants were females. During a one-year follow-up period, 24.7% of patients had a weight loss of ≥3%, while 22.2% of patients had a weight gain of ≥3%. Patients who had a weight loss of ≥3% were more likely to prevent the worsening of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and triglycerides, while those who had a weight gain of ≥3% tended to have worsened HbA1c, lipid profiles, and blood pressure. Conclusion: Results from this real-world investigation suggested the concurrent need for weight loss intervention among patients who are overweight or obese and weight gain prevention among patients whose body weight falls within the normal range in the context of community-based diabetes management.

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with COVID-19: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To detect the risk factors for pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Studies were searched for in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Two authors independently screened articles and extracted data. The data were pooled by meta-analysis and three subgroup analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 2210 articles identified, 27 studies were included. Pooled analysis suggested that males (odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-1.75, P = 0.000), obesity (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.03-1.82, P = 0.033), mechanical ventilation (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.90-5.86, P = 0.000), severe parenchymal abnormalities (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.43-2.58, P = 0.000), ICU admission (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.48-4.03, P = 0.000), and elevated D-dimer and white blood cell values (at two time points: hospital admission or closest to computed tomography pulmonary angiography) (P = 0.000) correlated with a risk for PE occurrence in COVID-19 patients. However, age and common comorbidities had no association with PE occurrence. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography, unclear-ratio/low-ratio, and hospitalization subgroups had consistent risk factors with all studies; however, other subgroups had fewer risk factors for PE. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for PE in COVID-19 were different from the classic risk factors for PE and are likely to differ in diverse study populations.

[Spatial Distribution Pattern and Influencing Factors of Industrial Pollution Emissions in Yangtze River Economic Belt].

The development of Yangtze River economic belt emphasizes the strategy of "no large-scale development, joint efforts in large-scale protection". The restoration of the Yangtze River environment has become an important part of the development of the region. Therefore, it is important to explore the spatial distribution of industrial pollution emissions and its influencing factors in the Yangtze River economic belt. Using industrial SO2, wastewater, and soot emission data from 102 cities in the Yangtze River economic belt, from 2013 to 2017, this study analyzes the spatial distribution of industrial pollution emissions in the Yangtze River economic belt. This was achieved using spatial autocorrelation analysis and Getis-Ord Gi* methods, and by adopting the logarithmic mean Divisia index model to decompose the influencing factors of industrial pollution emissions in the Yangtze River economic belt. The results show that from 2013 to 2017, the emissions of industrial SO2, wastewater, and soot in the Yangtze River economic belt exhibited a downward trend, with a decrease in the number of high-emission cities and an increase in the number of low-emission cities. The spatial correlation of industrial pollutants increased with time, and technological improvements had the most significant inhibitory effect, making it the most important factor affecting industrial pollution emissions in the Yangtze River economic belt.

T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling promotes the assembly of RanBP2/RanGAP1-SUMO1/Ubc9 nuclear pore subcomplex via PKC-θ-mediated phosphorylation of RanGAP1.

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the sole and selective gateway for nuclear transport, and its dysfunction has been associated with many diseases. The metazoan NPC subcomplex RanBP2, which consists of RanBP2 (Nup358), RanGAP1-SUMO1, and Ubc9, regulates the assembly and function of the NPC. The roles of immune signaling in regulation of NPC remain poorly understood. Here, we show that in human and murine T cells, following T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, protein kinase C-θ (PKC-θ) directly phosphorylates RanGAP1 to facilitate RanBP2 subcomplex assembly and nuclear import and, thus, the nuclear translocation of AP-1 transcription factor. Mechanistically, TCR stimulation induces the translocation of activated PKC-θ to the NPC, where it interacts with and phosphorylates RanGAP1 on Ser504 and Ser506. RanGAP1 phosphorylation increases its binding affinity for Ubc9, thereby promoting sumoylation of RanGAP1 and, finally, assembly of the RanBP2 subcomplex. Our findings reveal an unexpected role of PKC-θ as a direct regulator of nuclear import and uncover a phosphorylation-dependent sumoylation of RanGAP1, delineating a novel link between TCR signaling and assembly of the RanBP2 NPC subcomplex.

Association between Systolic Blood Pressure and Diabetic Retinopathy in Both Hypertensive and Normotensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Risk Factors and Healthcare Implications.

A common diabetes-related microvascular complication is diabetic retinopathy (DR), yet associations between blood pressure (BP) and risks for DR in diabetic patients with normal BP received inadequate attention. This may lead to 'clinical inertia' in early DR prevention. We aimed to assess whether the extent to which systolic BP levels were associated with DR in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and normal BP were similar to that in those with concurrent hypertension. Data were collected from patients with T2DM attending ophthalmic check-up with primary care referral (n = 2510). BP measurements, clinical laboratory tests, and dilated fundus examination were conducted according to gold standard of diagnosis and routine clinical procedure. Of all subjects, over 40% were normotensive and one fifth were clinically diagnosed with DR. Systolic BP levels increased across DR categories of escalated severity irrespective of the coexistence of hypertension. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that an increased systolic BP was independently and significantly associated with DR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.020, p < 0.001 for hypertensives; aOR = 1.019, p = 0.018 for normotensives), after adjusting for diabetes duration, sex, lifestyles, and haemoglobin A1c levels. Regular monitoring of systolic BP should not be neglected in routine diabetes management even when BP falls within the normal range. (200 words).

TCR-Induced Tyrosine Phosphorylation at Tyr270 of SUMO Protease SENP1 by Lck Modulates SENP1 Enzyme Activity and Specificity.

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification plays an important regulatory role in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling transduction. SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs) have dual-enzyme activities; they can both process SUMO precursors as endopeptidases and participate in SUMO deconjugation as isopeptidases. It remains unclear how the SUMO system, especially SENP1, is regulated by TCR signaling. Here, we show that Lck phosphorylates tyrosine 270 (Y270) of SENP1 upon TCR stimulation, indicating that SENP1 is a substrate of Lck. In vitro endopeptidase activity analysis showed that mutating SENP1 Y270 to either phenylalanine (F) to mimic the phosphorylation-defective state or to glutamate (E) to mimic the negative charge of tyrosine phosphorylation in the enzyme microenvironment did not change its endopeptidase activity towards pre-SUMO1. However, SENP1 Y270E but not Y270F mutation exhibited decreased endopeptidase activity towards pre-SUMO3. Through in vivo isopeptidase activity analysis by rescue expression of SENP1 and its Y270 mutants in a SENP1 CRISPR knockout T cell line, we found that SENP1 Y270F downregulated its isopeptidase activity towards both SUMO1 and SUMO2/3 conjugation by reducing SENP1 binding with sumoylated targets. While overexpression of SENP1 inhibited TCR-induced IL-2 production, overexpression of SENP1 Y270F enhanced it instead. In summary, TCR-induced Y270 phosphorylation of SENP1 may promote its isopeptidase activity and specifically decrease its endopeptidase activity against pre-SUMO3, which finely tunes activation of T cells.

[Gummy smile correction by intruding upper incisors with mini-screw implant: an esthetic evaluation by the golden facial mask].

OBJECTIVE: to use a golden facial mask to classify the gummy smile and then to evaluate the effectiveness of correction gummy smile by intruding upper incisors and canines with mini-screw implants. METHODS: sixteen female and 1 male gummy smile patients with an age range of 16 - 40 years, 26.2 years on average, were involved in the study. The mini-screw implants were inserted buccally between upper lateral incisors and canines on both sides for intruding upper incisors together with fixed appliance. The golden facial mask was introduced to analyze the frontal view of smile pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: gummy smile of all patients involved in the study was reduced by intruding upper incisors and canines, and the average period for intruding about 9.8 months. According to the analysis of the golden facial mask, the reasons of gummy smile in different patients were different before treatment. However, the lips, teeth and gingiva were almost coincident with the golden facial mask after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: analyzing the relationship among lip, teeth and gingiva by the golden facial mask, the inprovement of gummy smile by using mini-screw implants to intrude the upper incisors can be evaluated.

[Intruding upper incisors using mini-screw anchorage in patients with gummy smile].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of mini-screw anchorage on intruding upper incisors in patients with gummy smile. METHODS: Sixteen female patients (mean age: 23.8 years) were involved in this study. The mini-screws were placed between upper lateral incisors and canines on both sides for intruding upper incisors together with fixed appliance. The cephalometric analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Totally 63 teeth in 16 patients were intruded successfully and the deep overbite was decreased by (2.74 +/- 2.00) mm (P < 0.001). The distance from the edge of the upper incisor to palatal plane was reduced by (5.00 +/- 2.76) mm (P < 0.001), and the incisors were proclined by (9.34 +/- 10.06) degrees (P < 0.01). The duration for intrusion was 10.8 months on average. CONCLUSIONS: It was practicable and effective to improve gummy smile by intruding upper incisors with mini-screw implant.

[An experimental study on injury of hippocampus neurons in rats by simulated push-pull maneuver of different degrees].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree of injury and phase of push-pull effect induced by different degrees of push-pull maneuver on hippocampus neurons in rats. METHOD: Injury of push-pull maneuver on hippocampus neurons in rats after different degrees of push-pull maneuver were determined by general evaluation of animal model, pathologic examination and electronic microscopy. RESULT: 1) General evaluation of animal model: the apoplexy index and the pathological grading increased with the increase of intensity of the push-pull maneuver. 2) Routine HE: No abnormity was found in appearance and distribution of hippocampus neurons in the control rats and various groups of +/-2 Gz exposures, and 30 min groups of +/-6 Gz, +/-8 Gz exposures, but denatured necrosis of neurons were found in 6 h and 24 h groups of +/-6 Gz, +/-8 Gz exposures. 3) Examination of ultrastructure under electronic microscope: No significant change were found in hippocampus neurons of CA1 area in 30 min and 24 h after +/-2 Gz exposures as compared with the normal control group. But various degrees of denatured necrosis of neurons were found in some of the hippocampus neurons of CA1 area in 6 h after +/-2 Gz exposures, 6 h and 24 h after +/-6 Gz and +/-8 Gz exposures. CONCLUSION: +/-6 Gz and +/-8 Gz exposures may cause injury of hippocampus tissues and it is most severe at 6 h after the +/-8 Gz exposures.

[Effect of push-pull maneuver on distribution of DNA and NO content in rats' brain tissue].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of push-pull maneuver on cerebral apoptosis and NO content of rats. METHOD: Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, +Gz exposure group and the push-pull maneuver group. The rats were killed after 30 min exposure, 3 h, 12 h, 24 h or 48 h exposure, and the brain tissues were taken. The variation of NO content measured was using chemical colormetry. Then flow cytometric method was adopted to examine the distribution diagram of cortex and hippocampus-cell DNA for determination of percentage of A0 peak, which could express apoptosis degree. RESULT: NO content in +Gz exposure group and push-pull group are significantly different from that of control at 30 min, 3 h and 12 h. And the difference between +Gz group and push-pull group are also significant, but not at 24 h and 48 h. Comparing with the control group, the apoptosis amount of cortex and hippocampus-cell of +Gz exposure group and push-pull maneuver group increased obviously at 3 h, 12 h and 24 h, reached its peak at 24 h, and had no remarkable difference at 48 h. The comparison of the apoptosis amount of cortex cell and hippocampus cell between push-pull maneuver group and +Gz exposure group, difference at 3 h and 24 h and remarkably different at 12 h. CONCLUSION: High +Gz and push-pull maneuver may increase the percentage of cerebral apoptosis amount and NO content. Comparing with the +Gz exposure group, the push-pull maneuver group will cause more increase in apoptosis amount and NO content, but this damage is reversible.