Beneficial effects of time-restricted fasting on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of mortality worldwide, highlighting the need to explore innovative approaches to improve cardiovascular health outcomes. Time-restricted fasting (TRF) is a dietary intervention that involves limiting the time window for food consumption. It has gained attention for its potential benefits on metabolic health and weight management. This study aims to investigate the impact of TRF on key risk factors, including body weight, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and lipid profile. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in five databases (Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science) for relevant studies up to January 2023. After applying inclusion criteria, 12 studies were eligible for analysis. Quality assessment was conducted using the ROB-2.0 tool and ROBINS-I. Risk of bias was mapped using Revman 5.3, and data analysis included Hartung-Knapp adjustment using R 4.2.2. RESULTS: The group that underwent the TRF intervention exhibited a significant decrease in body weight (SMD: -0.22; 95%CI: -0.41, -0.04; P < 0.05) and fat mass (SMD: -0.19; 95%CI: -0.36, -0.02; P < 0.05), while maintaining lean mass (SMD: -0.09; 95%CI: -0.08, 0.26; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TRF has shown potential as a treatment strategy for reducing total body weight by targeting adipose tissue, with potential improvements in cardiometabolic function.

The association between Long-COVID symptomology, perceived symptom burden and mental health in COVID-19 patients in Shijiazhuang, China: a population-based health survey.

Background: Long-COVID (LC) refers to post-acute COVID-19 symptoms that can last for months or longer after the initial infection, affecting the physical health of infected patients. This study aims to investigate the association between the symptomology of LC and the mental health of patients in China. It also aims to examine the relationship between the perceived symptom burden and mental health of these patients. Methods: A population-based stratified cluster sample was recruited, using a standard sampling procedure, from a prefecture-level city in Northern China. Participants included patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 after December 2022. LC symptomology was assessed using a LC symptoms checklist where the perceived symptom burden was measured by the included 5-point Likert scales. Mental health of patients was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), the original Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS). Data were analysed using multiple linear regression models. Results: About 25% of respondents, experienced COVID symptoms lasting longer than two months that could only be explained by the infection. Post-exertional malaise (22.2%) and fatigue (21.2%) were the most common symptoms. After controlling for potential confounding variables, LC symptomology was significantly and positively associated with depression (t=2.09, p=0.037) and anxiety (t=4.51, p<0.001), but not stress. Perceived symptoms burden was also positively and significantly related to depression (ß=0.35, p<0.001), anxiety (ß=0.54, p<0.001), and stress (ß=0.35, p<0.001), suggesting a dose-response relationship between perceived symptom burden and mental ill health. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of recognising the risk of LC, patients' perception of the symptom burden and its potential impact on mental health. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the complexity of psychological comorbidities among infected patients reporting prolonged symptoms, and be able to give advice regarding long-term management of the symptoms.

Screen time in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) : a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential causal relationship between screen time and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using Mendelian randomization. METHODS: Two-sample Mendelian randomization was conducted, utilizing genetic variants associated with different types of screen time as instrumental variables. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to assess the primary outcome, which was the risk of developing T2DM. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a significant positive causal association between television viewing time and the risk of T2DM. Specifically, excessive television viewing time was found to increase the risk of developing T2DM (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.90 to 3.00, P < 0.01). However, no significant causal relationship was observed between computer usage time and the risk of T2DM. Additionally, mobile phone use time showed a positive correlation with the risk of T2DM (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.64, P = 0.02), albeit to a lesser extent than television viewing time. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate a significant causal association between certain types of screen time, specifically television viewing and mobile phone use, and an increased risk of T2DM.

Screen time in the development of cardiovascular diseases: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are three common cardiovascular diseases that are closely associated with metabolic activity. The global incidence and prevalence of these conditions are on the rise, primarily due to unhealthy lifestyles, aging populations, and the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes. Excessive screen time has emerged as a potential risk factor for various adverse health outcomes, although limited research has explored its relationship with cardiovascular disease outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted, employing exposure-associated genetic variants as instrumental variables to explore the causal relationship between screen time use and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were utilized as pooled data for the genetic variable instrument, investigating the association between screen use duration and three types of cardiovascular diseases: coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Through the MR analysis, it was revealed that the use of mobile phones and TV screens exhibited a significant causal association with the occurrence of CAD, heart failure, and IHD. However, no significant association was observed between the use of computers and these three types of cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that excessive screen time use is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. However, it should be noted that the consequences of screen time can vary depending on the reasons and purposes for its use. Implementing reasonable control over screen time, particularly for entertainment purposes, holds promise as a potential approach to mitigating cardiovascular disease.

Research progress of AMP-activated protein kinase and cardiac aging.

The process of aging is marked by a gradual deterioration in the physiological functions and functional reserves of various tissues and organs, leading to an increased susceptibility to diseases and even death. Aging manifests in a tissue- and organ-specific manner, and is characterized by varying rates and direct and indirect interactions among different tissues and organs. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, with older adults (aged >70 years) accounting for approximately two-thirds of CVD-related deaths. The prevalence of CVD increases exponentially with an individual's age. Aging is a critical independent risk factor for the development of CVD. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation exerts cardioprotective effects in the heart and restores cellular metabolic functions by modulating gene expression and regulating protein levels through its interaction with multiple target proteins. Additionally, AMPK enhances mitochondrial function and cellular energy status by facilitating the utilization of energy substrates. This review focuses on the role of AMPK in the process of cardiac aging and maintaining normal metabolic levels and redox homeostasis in the heart, particularly in the presence of oxidative stress and the invasion of inflammatory factors.

Xanthine oxidase, a therapeutic target of realgar for non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The effects of realgar against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been massively studied, but the direct therapeutic targets of realgar remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the molecular targets of realgar against NSCLC and explore their therapeutic mechanisms based on a network pharmacology approach and experimental validations. Methods: The BATMAN-TCM and Digsee databases were used to predict realgar targets and NSCLC-related genes, respectively. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed for each gene set, and the overlapping genes were identified as potential targets of realgar against NSCLC. The correlation between potential targets and NSCLC was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas and International Cancer Genome Consortium databases, and the key target was validated by in-silico and in-vitro experiments. Results: Twenty-three overlapping genes, including xanthine oxidase (XO), were identified as potential targets of realgar against NSCLC. XO was selected as the key target for validation, as it was found to be upregulated in NSCLC tumor tissue, which correlated with poor overall survival. A possible interaction between realgar and XO was revealed by molecular docking which was further validated experimentally. Realgar treatment suppressed the activity of XO in NSCLC cells, as demonstrated by the unchanged XO protein levels. Finally, the mechanism of action of XO as a target against NSCLC through the cell-cell junction organization pathway was investigated. Conclusions: Overall, this study proposes a potential molecular mechanism illustrating that XO is a target of realgar against NSCLC and highlights the usefulness of XO as a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Bioinformatic analysis reveals the clinical value of SASH3 in survival prognosis and immune infiltration of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML).

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a malignant clonal disease, is the most prevalent form of leukemia, and it is associated with a poor prognosis and unfavorable treatment outcomes in both pediatric and adult populations. Accordingly, enhancing anti-tumor responses using immunomodulators is a promising therapeutic strategy and a new avenue for treating AML. In this study, we used publicly available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases to investigate the correlation between SAM and SH3 domain-containing 3 (SASH3) and AML, and we performed Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses to assess the clinical characteristics associated with overall survival among patients with AML. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between immune infiltration and SASH3. Compared with that in the normal group, patients with AML were characterized by significantly higher levels of SASH3 expression (P = 3.05e-34), which was strongly associated with survival outcomes. We observed a significant correlation between SASH3 expression and the expression of cancer-related genes (HCK, SYK, FYN, ITGB2, PIK3CD, FGR, PIK3R5, VAV1, LCP2, and GRB2) and pathways. Our findings in this study indicate that SASH3 plays a key role in AML development and survival outcomes and in the regulation of small GTPase-mediated signal transduction and immune-related pathways. Accordingly, targeting SASH3 may offer a promising approach for the treatment of AML and may potentially influence the progression of other cancers via multiple immune pathways.