Mucosa-Inspired Electro-Responsive Lubricating Supramolecular-Covalent Hydrogel.

Enabling the living capability of secreting liquids dynamically triggered by external stimuli while maintaining the bulk frame is a significant challenge for mucosa-inspired hydrogels. A mucosa-inspired electro-responsive hydrogel is developed in this study using the synergy between electro-responsive silk fibroin supramolecular non-covalent networks and covalent polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol polymer networks. The formed supramolecular-covalent hydrogel exhibits a partial gel-sol transition upon the application of an electric field, and the liquid layer on the hydrogel surface near the cathode is used to mimic the mucus-secreting capability to regulate lubrication. The electro-responsive lubricating process can operate under a safe voltage and exhibits good reversibility. It is also a universal strategy to construct an electro-responsive hydrogel by introducing an electro-responsive supramolecular network into the polymer network. This mucosa-inspired electro-responsive supramolecular-covalent hydrogel offers a promising method for designing soft actuators or robots that can regulate lubrication using an electric strategy.

Bioinspired Supramolecular Hydrogel from Design to Applications.

Nature offers a wealth of opportunities to solve scientific and technological issues based on its unique structures and function. The dynamic non-covalent interaction is considered to be the main base of living functions of creatures including humans, animals, and plants. Supramolecular hydrogels formed by non-covalent bonding interactions has become a unique platform for constructing promising materials for medicine, energy, electronic, and biological substitute. In this review, the self-assemble principle of supramolecular hydrogels is summarized. Next, the stimulation of external environment that triggers the assembly or disassembly of supramolecular hydrogels are recapitulated, including temperature, mechanics, light, pH, ions, etc. The main applications of bioinspired supramolecular hydrogels in terms of bionic objects including humans, animals, and plants are also described. Although so many efforts are done for revealing the synergized mechanism of the function and non-covalent interactions on the supramolecular hydrogel, the complexity and variability between stimulus and non-covalent bonding in the supramolecular system still require impeccable theories. As an outlook, the bioinspired supramolecular hydrogel is just beginning to exhibit its great potential in human life, offering significant opportunities in drug delivery and screening, implantable devices and substitutions, tissue engineering, micro-fluidic devices, and biosensors.

The Impact of Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs on HIV-Related Risk Behaviors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining Individual- Versus Community-Level Effects.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of needle and syringe exchange programs (NSP) on both individual- and community-level needle-sharing behaviors and other HIV-related outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). A search of five databases for peer-reviewed trial or quasi-experimental studies reported through July 2021 identified 42 interventions delivered in 35 studies, with a total of 56,751 participants meeting inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analysis showed a significant protective association between NSP exposure and needle-sharing behaviors at the individual-level (odds ratio [OR] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.16-0.39, 8 trials, n = 3947) and community-level (OR 0.39, CI 0.22-0.69, 12 trials, n = 6850), although with significant heterogeneity. When stratified by needle-sharing directionality, NSP exposure remained associated with reduced receptive sharing, but not distributive sharing. NSP exposure was also associated with reduced HIV incidence and increased HIV testing but there were no consistent associations with prevalence of bloodborne infections. Current evidence suggests positive impacts of NSPs in LMICs.

RESUMEN: Realizamos una revisión sistemática y un metanálisis del impacto de los programas de intercambio de agujas y jeringas (NSP, por sus siglas en inglés) de los comportamientos de uso compartido de agujas tanto a nivel individual como comunitario y otros resultados relacionados con el VIH en países de ingresos bajos y medianos (LMIC, por sus siglas en inglés). Realizamos búsquedas sistemáticas en cinco bases de datos hasta julio de 2021 en busca de ensayos revisados por pares o estudios cuasiexperimentales. En general, 42 intervenciones informadas en 35 estudios entre 56 751 participantes cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. El metanálisis de efectos aleatorios de ocho estudios a nivel individual y 12 a nivel comunitario con 11 075 participantes en total mostró una asociación protectora significativa entre la exposición a NSP y los comportamientos de compartir agujas (individual: OR 0,25, IC95%: 0,16­0,39; comunidad: OR 0,39, IC95%:0,22­0,69), aunque con una heterogeneidad importante. Cuando se estratificó por la direccionalidad del intercambio de agujas, la exposición a NSP permaneció asociada con un intercambio receptivo reducido, pero no con un intercambio distributivo. La exposición a NSP también se asoció con una incidencia reducida del VIH y un aumento de las pruebas del VIH, pero no hubo asociaciones consistentes para la prevalencia de infecciones transmitidas por la sangre. La evidencia actual sugiere impactos positivos de los NSP en los LMIC.

Trends of Randomized Clinical Trials Citing Prior Systematic Reviews, 2007-2021.

Importance: Systematic reviews can help to justify a new randomized clinical trial (RCT), inform its design, and interpret its results in the context of prior evidence. Objective: To assess trends and factors associated with citing (a marker of the use of) prior systematic reviews in RCT reports. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study investigated 737 Cochrane reviews assessing health interventions to identify 4003 eligible RCTs, defined as those included in an updated version but not in the first version of a Cochrane review and published 2 years after the first version of the Cochrane review was published. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the citation of prior systematic reviews, Cochrane or others, as determined by screening references of eligible RCTs. Factors that may be associated with the citation of prior systematic reviews were also examined. Results: Among 4003 eligible RCTs, 1241 studies (31.0%) cited Cochrane reviews, 1698 studies (42.4%) cited prior non-Cochrane reviews, and 2265 studies (56.6%) cited either type of systematic review or both; 1738 RCTs (43.4%) cited no systematic reviews. The percentage of RCTs citing prior Cochrane reviews, non-Cochrane reviews, and either or both types of review increased from 28 studies (15.3%), 46 studies (25.1%), and 65 studies (35.5%) of 183 RCTs before 2008 to 42 studies (40.8%), 65 studies (64.1%), and 73 studies (71.8%) of 102 RCTs since 2020, respectively; the annual increases were 1.9% (95% CI, 1.4%-2.3%), 3.3% (95% CI, 2.9%-3.7%), and 3.0% (95% CI, 2.5%-3.5%), respectively. The proportion of RCTs citating prior systematic reviews varied considerably across clinical specialties, ranging from 28 of 106 RCTs (26.4%) in ophthalmology to 386 of 553 RCTs (69.8%) in psychiatry (P < .001). RCTs with 100 participants or more (risk ratio [RR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30), nonindustry funding (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.27-1.61), and authors from high-income countries (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17) were more likely to cite systematic reviews than those with fewer than 100 participants, industry funding, and authors from low- and middle-income countries, respectively. A journal requirement to cite systematic reviews was not associated with the likelihood of citing a systematic review. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that the citation of prior systematic reviews in RCT reports improved over time, but approximately 40% of RCTs failed to do so. These findings suggest that reference to prior evidence for initiating, designing, and reporting RCTs should be further emphasized to assure clinical relevance, improve methodological quality, and facilitate interpretation of new results.

Diet-Related and Gut-Derived Metabolites and Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review.

We conducted a scoping review to map available evidence about the health impact of gut microbiota-derived metabolites. We searched PubMed and Embase for studies that assessed the health impact of ten metabolites on any health condition: deoxycholate or deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholate or lithocholic acid (LCA), glycolithocholate or glycolithocholic acid, glycodeoxycholate or glycodeoxycholic acid, tryptamine, putrescine, d-alanine, urolithins, N-acetylmannosamine, and phenylacetylglutamine. We identified 352 eligible studies with 168,072 participants. Most (326, 92.6%) were case-control studies, followed by cohort studies (14, 4.0%), clinical trials (8, 2.3%), and cross-sectional studies (6, 1.7%). Most studies assessed the following associations: DCA on hepatobiliary disorders (64 studies, 7976 participants), colorectal cancer (19 studies, 7461 participants), and other digestive disorders (27 studies, 2463 participants); LCA on hepatobiliary disorders (34 studies, 4297 participants), colorectal cancers (14 studies, 4955 participants), and other digestive disorders (26 studies, 2117 participants); putrescine on colorectal cancers (16 studies, 94,399 participants) and cancers excluding colorectal and hepatobiliary cancers (42 studies, 4250 participants). There is a need to conduct more prospective studies, including clinical trials. Moreover, we identified metabolites and conditions for which systemic reviews are warranted to characterize the direction and magnitude of metabolite-disease associations.

The impact of a health education intervention on health behaviors and mental health among Chinese college students.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of a health education intervention on health behaviors, self-efficacy, and well-being among college students. Participants: Between March and October 2016, a total of 532 undergraduates participated. Methods: A theory-based intervention was conducted at Wuhan University, China. Participants were assigned to a control or intervention group (IG). The IG attended a 7-week health education class on knowledge, attitude, and practice of health behaviors. Results: Participants in the IG, compared with those in the control group (CG), reported significantly increased prevalence of high physical activity and regular breakfast, as well as lower screen time, sugar beverage intake, and Internet addiction tendency. Furthermore, intervention students improved in health behavior scores (p = 0.040), compared with the CG, while the changes in subjective well-being and self-efficacy remained similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Health education may promote health behaviors among Chinese college students.

The Role and Mechanism of SIRT1 in Resveratrol-regulated Osteoblast Autophagy in Osteoporosis Rats.

Osteoporosis is widely regarded as one of the typical aging-related diseases due to the impairment of bone remodeling. The silent information regulator of transcription1 (SIRT1) is a vital regulator of cell survival and life-span. SIRT1 has been shown to be activated by resveratrol treatment, and also has been proved to prevent aging-related diseases such as osteoporosis. However, the role of SIRT1 about autophagy or mitophagy of osteoblasts in resveratrol-regulated osteoporotic rats remains unclear. This study seeks to investigate the role of SIRT1 about autophagy or mitophagy in osteoblasts through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in resveratrol-regulated osteoporotic rats. The vivo experiment results have revealed that resveratrol treatment significantly improved bone quality and reduced the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in osteoporotic rats. Moreover, Western bolt analysis showed that expression of SIRT1, LC3, and Beclin-1 in osteoblasts increased, while p-AKT and p-mTOR were downregulated in osteoporosis rats with high dose resveratrol treatment. On the other hand, resveratrol treatment increased the SIRT1 activity, LC3 and Beclin-1 mRNA expression in the dexamethasone (DEX)-treated osteoblasts. More mitophagosomes were observed in the DEX-treated osteoblasts with resveratrol. Meanwhile, the TOM20, Hsp60, p-Akt and p-mTOR activities were decreased in the DEX-treated osteoblasts with resveratrol. Resveratrol treatment did not change the p-p38 and p-JNK activities in the osteoblasts. These results revealed that resveratrol treatment protected osteoblasts in osteoporosis rats by enhancing mitophagy by mediating SIRT1 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors Among College Students in Lusaka, Zambia.

Risky sexual behaviors are important factors driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although Zambia experiences a high HIV prevalence, especially among youth, there is a dearth of information regarding risky sexual behaviors among young adults. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of risky sexual behaviors among college students in Lusaka, Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2017 among 427 college students at the University of Zambia. Participants reported their sexual behaviors, sexual attitudes, and lifestyle using self-administered questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to assess potential determinants of risky sexual behaviors. Among the 205 students who reported ever having sex, 148 (72.2%) engaged in risky sexual behaviors in the last 12 months. Participants who were older (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.51), engaged in low physical activity (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.05-4.84), and reported liberal sexual attitudes (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.47) were more likely to engage in any risky sexual behavior, while frequent alcohol use (OR 8.38, 95% CI 4.60-15.27) and suicide attempts (OR 6.42, 95% CI 2.03-20.29) predicted multiple risky sexual behaviors. In conclusion, this study indicates that Zambian college students' risky sexual behaviors are associated with multiple behavioral health risks. Future research should consider using a multiple-behavior change intervention.

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in women compared with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the effect of smoking on type 2 diabetes in women compared with men, even though several epidemiological studies provided a clear picture of the risk among the entire population. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Embase up to August 2017 for prospective studies that were stratified by sex with measures of the relative risk (RR) for type 2 diabetes and current smoking compared with non-smoking. The sex-specific RRs and their ratios (RRRs), comparing women with man, were pooled using random-effects models. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were identified including 20 prospective cohorts with 5 077 289 participants and 223 084 incident cases of type 2 diabetes. The pooled RRR suggested a similar risk of type 2 diabetes associated with smoking in women compared with men (RRR: 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96-1.01). Furthermore, no significant sex difference in the RR was found between former smokers and those who had never smoked (RRR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.92-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that female smokers had similar risk of type 2 diabetes with male smokers.

Associations of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake with well-being and depressive symptoms among obese schoolchildren in Wuhan, China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing and psychological disorder is a common comorbidity of obesity. We investigated the associations of physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake with well-being and depressive symptoms among obese schoolchildren. METHODS: Participants included 188 obese children aged 9.8 ± 0.7 years living in Wuhan, China. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the children's PA and FV intake information. PA was considered to be high if the child participated in sport and/or vigorous free play at least 3 days per week with 60 min per day, while sufficient FV intake was defined as consuming FV 5 times per day. Children's well-being and depressive symptoms were assessed by standard questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the relationships of PA and FV intake with well-being and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: High PA and sufficient FV intake were independently associated with significantly decreased risks for depressive symptoms (for PA, OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16-0.92; for FV, OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.08-0.55) and poor well-being (for PA, OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16-0.74), respectively. Furthermore, interactive inverse associations were observed between combined high PA and sufficient FV intake with poor well-being and depressive symptoms. Compared to their counterparts, children with high PA and sufficient FV intake had significantly reduced risk for poor well-being (OR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.05-0.55) and depressive symptoms (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.48). CONCLUSIONS: High PA and sufficient FV intake are inversely associated with the risks of poor well-being and depressive symptoms among obese Chinese schoolchildren.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Attenuates the Obesity Risk in Chinese Children Who Have Parents with Overweight/Obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of parental weight status and offspring cardiorespiratory fitness on the risk of obesity among Chinese children. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuhan, China from May to June 2010. Children's height, weight, and waist circumference were measured for assessing their total and central obesity. Their cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by the 20-m shuttle-run test. We calculated parental body mass index according to self-reported height and weight, and divided it into normal weight or overweight/obesity. Multivariable logistic regression model was applied to estimate the combined relationships of cardiorespiratory fitness and parental weight status with the risk of obesity of children. RESULTS: A total of 587 Chinese children (343 boys and 244 girls) aged 9.6 (0.7) years participated in this study. Compared with those who had low cardiorespiratory fitness and at least 1 parent with overweight/obesity, children who had high cardiorespiratory fitness and at least 1 parent with overweight/obesity reported lower risks of total obesity (OR 0.12, 95% CI .05-0.30) and central obesity (OR .09, 95% CI .04-0.20), and children who had high cardiorespiratory fitness and no parent with overweight/obesity were 89% (OR 0.11, 95% CI .05-0.24) less likely to have total obesity and 92% (OR .08, 95% CI .04-0.16) less likely to have central obesity (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: High level of cardiorespiratory fitness among children could attenuate the influence of parental obesity on their offspring's weight status.

Analysis of short-term and sub-chronic effects of ambient air pollution on preterm birth in central China.

Recently, an increasing number of studies have reported the possible linkage between maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of short-term and sub-chronic exposure to air pollutants on preterm birth occurred in Shiyan and Jingzhou, Hubei province, China from 2014 to 2016. General additive models (GAM) were performed to examine the impact of the daily and cumulative weekly air pollutants exposure. The non-linear patterns between adverse birth outcomes and weather condition were assessed by including penalized smoothing splines in the model. The demographic characteristics of pregnant women were also included in the model as covariates. A total of 16,035 cases were analyzed. Significant short-term effects of air pollution exposure at lag 1 day on preterm birth were observed. In adjusted single-pollutant city-specific model, the association between acute air pollutant exposure and preterm birth was significant in Shiyan (PM2.5: OR = 1.066, 95% CI 1.027, 1.106; PM10: OR = 1.048, 95% CI 1.022, 1.076; O3: OR = 1.029, 95% CI 1.004, 1.056) and Jingzhou (PM2.5: OR = 1.037, 95% CI 1.008, 1.068; PM10: OR = 1.025, 95% CI 1.007, 1.043; SO2: OR = 1.082, 95% CI 1.023, 1.144; NO2: OR = 1.211, 95% CI 1.098, 1.335) per 10 µg/m3 increment. Also, weekly average cumulative air pollution exposure was significantly associated with preterm birth in both areas.

17ß-Estradiol on the Expression of G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER/GPR30) Mitophagy, and the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in ATDC5 Chondrocytes In Vitro.

BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is a progressive inflammatory joint disease resulting in damage to articular cartilage. G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER/GPR30) activates cell signaling in response to 17ß-estradiol, which can be blocked by the GPR30 agonist, G15, an analog of G-1. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of 17ß-estradiol on the expression of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER/GPR30) on mitophagy and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ATDC5 chondrocytes in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cultured ATDC5 chondrocytes were treated with increasing concentrations of 17ß-estradiol with and without G15, p38 inhibitor (SB203580), JNK inhibitor (SP600125), PI3K inhibitor (LY294002, S1737), and mTOR inhibitor (S1842). Expression of GPER/GPR30 and components of the PI3K/Akt pathway in cultured ATDC5 chondrocytes were detected by immunofluorescence (IF) staining, Western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and IF were used to detect mitophagosomes. Expression of LC-3, LAMP2, TOM20, Hsp60, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-p38, and p-JNK was investigated by Western blot. Proliferation and viability of the ATDC5 chondrocytes were determined using BrdU and MTT assays. RESULTS In 17ß-estradiol-treated ATDC5 chondrocytes, increased expression of GPER/GPR30 was found, but fewer mitophagosomes were observed, and decreased numbers of TOM20-positive granules were co-localized with decreased LAMP2 and increased expression levels of TOM20, Hsp60, p-Akt, and p-mTOR, and reduced expression of LC3-II, were found. In 17ß-estradiol-treated ATDC5 chondrocytes, the proliferation and viability of the 17ß-estradiol-treated ATDC5 chondrocytes were significantly elevated. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with 17ß-estradiol protected ATDC5 chondrocytes against mitophagy via the GPER/GPR30 and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Association between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of hypertension among Chinese adults: a longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: Fruit and vegetable intake has been inversely associated with the risk of hypertension; however, there is inconsistent evidence on the long-term association. Given this gap in the literature, it is necessary to identify evidence from large prospective studies, especially in China, where insufficient evidence exists. Thus, we examined the association of fruit and vegetable intake with incident hypertension in Chinese adults. METHODS: We conducted analyses among 5659 Chinese adults aged 18-64 years, free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and hypertension in the 2006 wave of the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed using consecutive 24-h recalls. Incident hypertension was identified from the 2011 wave of the survey. RESULTS: A total of 866 participants developed incident hypertension. The relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hypertension were 0.74 (0.55-0.99), 0.65 (0.48-0.88), 0.68 (0.50-0.92), and 0.73 (0.53-0.99) comparing each quintile group of fruit and vegetable intake with the lowest quintile group. These associations attenuated for the change of intake but remained significant for the fourth quintile, of which the RR (95% CI) was 0.65 (0.47-0.89). The magnitude of association was stronger among those who were younger, female, overweight and had prehypertension. When examined separately, fruit intake was more strongly and significantly associated with lowering BP than vegetable intake. Adding body mass index to the models attenuated all associations. CONCLUSIONS: Greater long-term intake and increased intake of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing hypertension in Chinese adults.

Effects of 17ß-Estradiol on Mitophagy in the Murine MC3T3-E1 Osteoblast Cell Line is Mediated via G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor and the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is associated with 17ß-estradiol deficiency. The G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is known to be an estrogen-responsive receptor, but its role in the degradation of mitochondria in osteoblasts by autophagy, or mitophagy, remains unclear. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of 17ß-estradiol, GPR30, and its signaling pathway, on mitophagy in the murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell line. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell line, cells were treated with 17ß-estradiol, or G15, a selective GPR30 antagonist, or U0126, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (ERK1/2) inhibitor, or with vehicle as control. The expression of GPR30 was determined by Western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and confocal immunofluorescence imaging. Cell morphology and mitochondrial autophagosomes were identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Phosphorylation of the mitophagy markers, heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), translocase of outer membrane (Tom)20, and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) were determined by Western blot, and cell proliferation was determined using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. RESULTS The optimum concentration of 17ß-estradiol that resulted in GPR30 expression in MC3T3-E1 cells was 10^-7 M, which led to the accumulation of mitochondrial autophagosomes and increased protein phosphorylation levels of Hsp60, Tom20, and LC3. In cells pretreated with G15 or U0126, 17b-estradiol treatment did not increase mitophagy in MC3T3-E1 cells. CONCLUSIONS In murine osteoblasts cultured in vitro, treatment with 17ß-estradiol resulted in the expression of GPR30 and enhanced mitophagy through the GPR30 and ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Combined effects of fruit and vegetables intake and physical activity on the risk of metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Unbalanced dietary intake and insufficient physical activity (PA) have been recognized as risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of fruit and vegetables (FV) intake and PA on MetS. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among residents of China in 2009, with fasting blood samples collected. Participants were divided into sufficient/insufficient FV intake and adequate/ inadequate PA groups according to self-reported questionnaires. MetS was defined using the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. The difference of individual MetS components was compared across different PA or FV groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association between FV/PA and the risk of MetS. A total of 7424 adults were included in the current study. MetS was prevalent in 28.7% of participants, with 24.7% and 32.9% in male and female, respectively. Compared with those with inadequate PA and insufficient FV intake, participants with the combination of adequate PA and sufficient FV intake had the lowest risk of MetS (OR = 0.69,95%CI: 0.59-0.82), following by the group with adequate PA time but insufficient FV intake (OR = 0.74, 95%CI:0.65-0.83). CONCLUSION: Findings of the current study show that the combination of sufficient FV intake and adequate PA was significantly associated with reduced MetS risk among adult residents of China.

Association between ambient fine particulate matter and preterm birth or term low birth weight: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

An increasing number of studies have been conducted to determine a possible linkage between maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and effects on the developing human fetus that can lead to adverse birth outcomes, but, the present results are not consistent. A total of 23 studies published before July 2016 were collected and analyzed and the mean value of reported exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) ranged from 1.82 to 22.11 We found a significantly increased risk of preterm birth with interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure throughout pregnancy (odds ratio (OR) = 1.03; 95% conditional independence (CI): 1.01-1.05). The pooled OR for the association between PM2.5 exposure, per interquartile range increment, and term low birth weight throughout pregnancy was 1.03 (95% CI: 1.02-1.03). The pooled ORs for the association between PM2.5 exposure per 10 increment, and term low birth weight and preterm birth were 1.05 (95% CI: 0.98-1.12) and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.93-1.12), respectively throughout pregnancy. There is a significant heterogeneity in most meta-analyses, except for pooled OR per interquartile range increase for term low birth weight throughout pregnancy. We here show that maternal exposure to fine particulate air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth and term low birth weight. However, the effect of exposure time needs to be further explored. In the future, prospective cohort studies and personal exposure measurements needs to be more widely utilized to better characterize the relationship between ambient fine particulate exposure and adverse birth outcomes.

An Unconventional Inchworm Actuator Based on PZT/ERFs Control Technology.

An unconventional inchworm actuator for precision positioning based on piezoelectric (PZT) actuation and electrorheological fluids (ERFs) control technology is presented. The actuator consists of actuation unit (PZT stack pump), fluid control unit (ERFs valve), and execution unit (hydraulic actuator). In view of smaller deformation of PZT stack, a new structure is designed for actuation unit, which integrates the advantages of two modes (namely, diaphragm type and piston type) of the volume changing of pump chamber. In order to improve the static shear yield strength of ERFs, a composite ERFs valve is designed, which adopts the series-parallel plate compound structure. The prototype of the inchworm actuator has been designed and manufactured in the lab. Systematic test results indicate that the displacement resolution of the unconventional inchworm actuator reaches 0.038 µm, and the maximum driving force and velocity are 42 N, 14.8 mm/s, respectively. The optimal working frequency for the maximum driving velocity is 120 Hz. The complete research and development processes further confirm the feasibility of developing a new type of inchworm actuator with high performance based on PZT actuation and ERFs control technology, which provides a reference for the future development of a new type of actuator.

Longitudinal in vivo analysis of the region-specific efficacy of parathyroid hormone in a rat cortical defect model.

PTH has been shown to enhance fracture repair; however, exactly when and where PTH acts in this process remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal, region-specific analysis of bone regeneration in mature, osteopenic rats using a cortical defect model. Six-month-old rats were ovariectomized, and allowed to lose bone for 2 months, before being subjected to bilateral 2-mm circular defects in their femoral diaphyses. They were then treated for 5 wk with hPTH1-38 at doses of 0, 3, 10, or 30 microg/kg . d and scanned weekly by in vivo quantitative computed tomography. Quantitative computed tomography analyses showed temporal, dose-dependent increases in mineralization in the defects, intramedullary (IM) spaces, and whole diaphyses at the defect sites. Histomorphometry confirmed PTH stimulation of primarily woven bone in the defects and IM spaces, but not the periosteum. After necropsy, biomechanical testing identified an increase in strength at the highest PTH dose. Serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide concentration showed a transient increase due to drilling, but procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide also increased with PTH treatment, whereas tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase unexpectedly decreased. Analyses of lumber vertebra confirmed systemic efficacy of PTH at a nonfracture site. In summary, PTH dose dependently induced new bone formation within defects, at endocortical surfaces, and in IM spaces, resulting in faster and greater bone healing, as well as efficacy at other skeletal sites. The effects of PTH were kinetic, region specific, and most apparent at high doses that may not be entirely clinically relevant; therefore, clinical studies are necessary to clarify the therapeutic utility of PTH in bone healing.

Suramin interacts with RANK and inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation.

Suramin is a naphthalene trisulfonic acid derivative that inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro and in vivo; however, the mechanisms underlying this activity have not been studied. Receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK) ligand (RANKL) is a key regulator of osteoclast differentiation and function and this study evaluated the ability of suramin, which has been shown to disrupt protein-protein interactions, to interfere with RANKL functional activity and binding to RANK. Suramin inhibited osteoclastic bone resorption in a calvarial model and inhibited osteoclast differentiation in RANKL-stimulated murine spleen cells and RAW264.7 cells. RANKL-induced second messenger signaling (AKT and p38 MAP Kinase phosphorylation) was completely blocked by 100 microM suramin. The ability of RANKL to bind to recombinant human RANK-Fc (rhRANK-Fc) was reduced 50% by suramin in an in vitro binding assay. Surface plasmon resonance technology and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to evaluate the ability of suramin to bind to rhRANK-Fc. Suramin was found to selectively interact with immobilized rhRANK-Fc chimera in a concentration-dependent manner by Biacore 3000 analysis. Similar results were obtained using saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that suramin binds to rhRANK-Fc, but not IgG1Fc or sRANKL. In summary, these findings demonstrate that suramin inhibits sRANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and suggest that these effects are mediated by suramin binding to RANK and blocking the ability of sRANKL to induce second messenger signaling.