Early life exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and eating behaviors at age 12 years.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal or early childhood secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure increases obesity risk. However, the potential mechanisms underlying this association are unclear, but obesogenic eating behaviors are one pathway that components of SHS could perturb. Our aim was to assess associations of prenatal and early childhood SHS exposure with adolescent eating behaviors. METHODS: Data came from a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort (N = 207, Cincinnati, OH). With multiple informant models, we estimated associations of prenatal (mean of 16 and 26 weeks of gestation maternal serum cotinine concentrations) and early childhood cotinine (average concentration across ages 12, 24, 36, and 48 months) with eating behaviors at age 12 years (Child Eating Behaviors Questionnaire). We tested whether associations differed by exposure periods and adolescent's sex. Models adjusted for maternal and child covariates. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant associations between cotinine measures and adolescent's eating behaviors. Yet, in females, prenatal cotinine was associated with greater food responsiveness (ß: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.38) and lower satiety responsiveness (ß: -0.14; 95% CI: -0.26, -0.02); in males, prenatal and postnatal cotinine was related to lower food responsiveness (prenatal: ß: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.04, -0.06; postnatal: ß: -0.36; 95% CI: -0.06, -0.11). No significant effect modification by sex or exposure window was found for other eating behaviors. CONCLUSION: Prenatal and early childhood SHS exposures were not related to adolescent's eating behavior in this cohort; however, biological sex may modify these associations.

Genetically predicted dietary macronutrient intakes and atrial fibrillation risk: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Previous observational investigations have indicated a potential association between relative dietary macronutrient intakes and atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF) risk. In this study, we employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) to evaluate the presence of causality and to elucidate the specific causal relationship. METHODS: We employed six, five, and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for relative carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, identified from a genome-wide association study that included 268,922 individuals of European descent. Furthermore, we acquired summary statistics for genome-wide association studies on AF from the FinnGen consortium, which involved 22,068 cases and 116,926 controls. To evaluate the causal estimates, we utilized the random effect inverse variance weighted method (IVW) and several other MR methods, including MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO, to confirm the robustness of our findings. RESULTS: Our analysis indicates a convincing causal relationship between genetically predicted relative carbohydrate and protein intake and reduced AF risk. Inverse variance weighted analysis results for carbohydrates (OR = 0.29; 95% CI (0.14, 0.59); P < 0.001) and protein (OR = 0.47; 95% CI (0.26, 0.85); P = 0.01) support this association. Our MR analysis did not identify a significant causal relationship between relative fat intake and AF risk. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence supporting a causal relationship between higher relative protein and carbohydrate intake and a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Associations between sleep and appetitive traits in higher-income preschoolers: A six-month study.

BACKGROUND: Short sleep is consistently linked with childhood obesity, possibly via disrupting appetite hormones and increasing food responsiveness. Few studies have objectively examined this association in early childhood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations of sleep quantity and quality with child appetitive traits and eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) in a higher-income cohort of 86 preschool-age children (age 4.0 ± 0.8 years; 42% female; 93% non-Hispanic white, Northern New England, US). METHODS: Children's sleep duration and quality were assessed via parent report (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, CSHQ) at baseline and 6-month follow-up and via accelerometry at baseline. Parents also completed the Child Eating Behaviors Questionnaire to assess the child's appetitive traits. EAH, an objective measure of overeating, was observed at baseline during an in-person visit. Associations between sleep measures and appetitive traits were examined with linear mixed-effect or linear regression models, as appropriate, adjusting for child age, sex, and household income. RESULTS: Shorter sleep duration per parent report was associated with less satiety responsiveness (standardized ß = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.26; p = 0.03). Further, satiety responsiveness was inversely related to EAH (Pearson's r = -0.35, p = 0.02). No associations were found between accelerometer-measured sleep parameters and appetitive traits, and no sleep measures were related to EAH. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter usual sleep, per the parent report, was cross-sectionally associated with reduced satiety responsiveness in this sample of higher-income preschoolers. Future studies should consider whether socioeconomic status may modify the impact of poor sleep on appetitive traits in early childhood.

Rapid purification of alkylamides from Zanthoxylum bungeanum by medium-pressure liquid chromatography and the establishment of a numbness prediction model using an electronic tongue.

In the present study, an efficient and rapid method for the preparation of high-purity typical alkylamides from Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Z. bungeanum) pericarps using medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) was developed. Under the optimized conditions using a mobile phase of methanol : water (70 : 30, v/v) at a flow rate of 25 mL min-1 and one run for 30 min, hydroxy-α-sanshool with a purity of 97.85% could be obtained. Sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis of the hydroxyl-α-sanshool were performed, and the aftertastes of bitterness and astringency were found to be more representative of the compounds in Chinese prickly ash that causes numbness, which has not been reported in the literature before. An electronic tongue prediction model for the evaluation of numbing intensity was established: Y = 20.452X1 - 7.594X2 - 2.876, R2 = 0.973, where Y is a sensory evaluation value based on the 15 cm linear scale method and X1 and X2 are the aftertastes from astringency and bitterness, respectively. The evaluation model can be used for the evaluation of the numbing intensity of amides of Zanthoxylum bungeanum.

Pediatric Pterygopalatine Fossa Schwannoma Presenting as Vision Loss: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Neurosynovial tumors, originating from Schwann cells within nerve sheaths, are benign entities, with 25% to 45% manifesting in the head and neck region. However, occurrences in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) are exceptionally rare, and only a handful of cases have been documented. In this report, we present the unique case of a 6-year-old child exhibiting a sizable soft tissue mass in the left PPF, extending into the inferior orbital fissure. The patient underwent successful intranasal endoscopic removal of PPF schwannoma utilizing the prelacrimal recess approach, with postoperative pathology confirming the diagnosis of schwannoma. Schwannomas within the PPF are particularly uncommon, and instances of such tumors in pediatric patients are even more exceptional. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with PPF schwannomas in children, emphasizing the significance of a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management. In addition, a comprehensive literature review is presented to provide insights into the existing knowledge on this rare entity, further contributing to the understanding of pediatric PPF schwannomas.

Spatiotemporal patterns and prediction of landscape ecological security in Xishuangbanna from 1996-2030.

In recent years, the landscape ecological security of Xishuangbanna in southwest China has become an essential factor affecting the cross-border ecological security in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Based on the change of land use in Xishuangbanna, with the help of "3S" technology, landscape ecology theory, and gray prediction model, the spatial and developmental trends of landscape ecological security in Xishuangbanna from 1996-2030 could be determined. In more than 20 years, the woodland landscape area in Xishuangbanna decreased, and the fragmentation of construction land has increased overall. In 1996, the overall landscape ecological safety was good, with 63.5% of the total area of grade I and II. In 2003, the proportion of the grade I and grade II areas decreased, with landscape ecological security problems appearing. In 2010, the overall landscape ecological security area reached 74.5%, the largest proportion in more than 20 years. The grade V area accounted for only 9% and was mainly distributed on the border of Menghai County and central Jinghong City. In 2017, The grade IV and V areas was further increased, and the ecological security problem intensified. The prediction results showed that from 2023 to 2030, the regions of grades I and II increased, but the proportion of level V regions increased. Furthermore, the grade IV transformed to grade V rapidly, reaching its highest value in more than 20 years. From 1996 to 2030, the landscape ecological security space significantly evolved, showing an evident "east-south" trend in movement and eventually shifting to the southeast.

Early detection of type 2 diabetes risk: limitations of current diagnostic criteria.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the leading cause of diabetes worldwide and is increasing rapidly, especially in youth. It accounts for most diabetes deaths in adults ≥20 years old in the Americas, with type 2 diabetes responsible for most of the disease burden. The incidence and burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults have risen in recent decades globally. Countries with lower socioeconomic status had the highest incidence and burden, and females generally had higher mortality and disease burden than males at ages <30 years. Early diagnosis and management are crucial to delaying progression, but current diagnostic criteria based on glucose thresholds and glycated hemoglobin have limitations. Recent analyses show that prediabetes increases cancer risk. Better diagnostic criteria are urgently needed to identify high-risk individuals earlier. This article discusses the limitations of current criteria and explores alternative approaches and future research directions.

Adult Laryngeal Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Rare Entity.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare and aggressive cancerous tumor that arises from embryonal mesenchymal cells with skeletal muscle differentiation, and it is exceedingly rare that occurs specifically in the larynx. To date, only 22 instances of laryngeal pleomorphic RMSs have been documented in adults. Consequently, there is limited information available to assist healthcare professionals in effectively handling RMS in the larynx of adult patients. Here, we present an uncommon occurrence involving a 45-year-old man who experienced progressive hoarseness and received a diagnosis of pleomorphic RMS affecting the larynx. Pleomorphic RMS had been pathologically diagnosed after a vertical hemilaryngectomy. Following the surgical intervention, the patient underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. As of now, there have been no indications of tumor recurrence.

Impact of urban agglomeration construction on urban air quality-empirical test based on PSM-DID model.

Urban agglomerations have become a new trend in the development of urbanization and regionalization in the world today. The construction of urban agglomerations has brought rapid economic development as well as a series of ecological and environmental problems, especially the impact on urban air quality. How to understand and evaluate the impact of urban agglomeration construction on air quality is a key issue that requires attention. City cluster construction is equivalent to a "quasi-natural experiment". This study empirically examines the impact of urban agglomeration construction on air quality in southwest China by constructing a PSM-DID model. It is found that: (1) City cluster construction has significantly improved urban air quality in urban clusters with lagging and forward-looking effects on air quality. (2) In terms of influencing factors, the level of economic development considerably improves the air quality of urban cluster cities, the industrial structure severely deteriorates the air quality of these cities, and meteorological factors highly affect their air quality. Among them, average annual urban rainfall significantly reduces urban air pollutant concentrations in urban clusters, average annual temperature significantly increases urban air pollutant concentrations, and average annual wind speed can reduce urban air pollutant concentrations. (3) Urban agglomerations are spatially heterogeneous in their impact on air quality. In this context, the topographical conditions and the level of development of urban agglomerations have a non-negligible influence on pollutant concentrations. (4) The distribution pattern of air quality pollutant concentrations in each urban agglomeration is unstable, and there are large differences in these concentrations between different urban agglomerations.

Cognitive impairment after long COVID-19: current evidence and perspectives.

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a respiratory infectious disease. While most patients recover after treatment, there is growing evidence that COVID-19 may result in cognitive impairment. Recent studies reveal that some individuals experience cognitive deficits, such as diminished memory and attention, as well as sleep disturbances, suggesting that COVID-19 could have long-term effects on cognitive function. Research indicates that COVID-19 may contribute to cognitive decline by damaging crucial brain regions, including the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex. Additionally, studies have identified active neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and microglial activation in COVID-19 patients, implying that these factors may be potential mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment. Given these findings, the possibility of cognitive impairment following COVID-19 treatment warrants careful consideration. Large-scale follow-up studies are needed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function and offer evidence to support clinical treatment and rehabilitation practices. In-depth neuropathological and biological studies can elucidate precise mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for prevention, treatment, and intervention research. Considering the risks of the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the possibility of reinfection, it is imperative to integrate basic and clinical research data to optimize the preservation of patients' cognitive function and quality of life. This integration will also offer valuable insights for responding to similar public health events in the future. This perspective article synthesizes clinical and basic evidence of cognitive impairment following COVID-19, discussing potential mechanisms and outlining future research directions.

PPAR-alpha/gamma agonists, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and metformin for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a network meta-analysis to compare the relative efficacy of a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α and PPARγ agonist, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and metformin in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: Electronic databases, including Embase®, PubMed® and The Cochrane Library, were searched systematically for eligible studies from inception to 20 July 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride levels were considered for inclusion. Data were extracted using a standardized data collection table. A network meta-analysis was performed. Relative risk and 95% confidence interval were calculated for continuous data and I2 was used to assess the heterogeneity of studies. RESULTS: A total of 22 RCTs involving 1698 patients were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. Both direct analysis and indirect analysis showed that saroglitazar was significantly superior to GLP-1RAs in improving ALT levels. Metformin improved ALT levels, but the effect was not as good as saroglitazar. CONCLUSION: Saroglizatar was the most effective drug for improving NAFLD.INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202340066.

Association between dietary inflammation index and hypertension in participants with different degrees of liver steatosis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) is higher in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Inflammation is the key link between HTN and NAFLD. Systemic inflammation can be dramatically increased by inflammatory diet intake. However, whether controlling the inflammatory diet intake in NAFLD patients could affect the occurrence of HTN still remains unknown. Our aim here is to evaluate the effect of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) on blood pressure in patients with different grades of hepatic steatosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2017-2018). DII was calculated based on the data of 24-h dietary recall interviews. The severity of liver steatosis was assessed by a controlled attenuation parameter. Multivariable logistic regression, multivariable linear regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the association between DII and blood pressure in patients with different degrees of hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: A total of 5449 participants were included in this analysis. In male participants with severe liver steatosis (S3), the highest DII tertile group was more likely to have higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with the lowest tertile group (Tertile1: 128.31(125.31,131.31), Tertile3: 133.12(129.40,136.85), P for trend =0.03551). DII was positively correlated with SBP and the prevalence of HTN in males with hepatic steatosis grade S3 (≥ 67% steatosis) (SBP: P for trend = 0.011, HTN: P for trend = 0.039). Regarding the association of DII with SBP and HTN, the tests for interaction were significant for hepatic steatosis (SBP: interaction for p = 0.0015, HTN: interaction for p = 0.0202). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we demonstrated that DII was a risk factor for increased SBP and the prevalence of HTN in males with severe hepatic steatosis S3, indicating that anti-inflammatory dietary management should be considered in these individuals to reduce the risk of developing HTN.

Patients in the highest DII tertiles group had a higher SBP and higher rates of HTN compared with patients in the lowest DII tertiles group in male participants with severe hepatic steatosis S3.DII was positively associated with SBP and the prevalence of HTN in males with hepatic steatosis grade S3.The effect of DII on SBP and prevalence of HTN was significantly dependent on the severity of hepatic steatosis.

Comparison and discrimination of the terpenoids in 48 species of huajiao according to variety and geographical origin by E-nose coupled with HS-SPME-GC-MS.

The unique flavor and aroma characteristics of huajiao were not only influenced by cultivated varieties, maturity, but also geographic origin. This study compared the terpenoids of 48 species of huajiao using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and electronic nose (E-nose). The E-nose results showed differences in huajiao from different origins and varieties, and from the PCA loading plots it was possible to conclude that some samples contained higher levels of hydrocarbons and alcohols, providing a preliminary discrimination between different species of huajiao. Further, GC-MS results showed that six key biomarkers could be used to distinguish red and green huajiao. Red huajiao in Central China contained more terpenoids than in other regions. Nine key biomarkers could be used to distinguish red huajiao from different regions. Oil huajiao exhibited a more distinct aroma in red huajiao. Green huajiao from Yunnan Province had more terpenoids than that from other provinces. The terpenoids content of Yunnan zhuyeqing was higher than other green huajiao. Heatmap analysis helped to find the most contributors of huajiao, which could be used as key terpenoids to differentiate huajiao of different regions or cultivars. Finally, through the correlation analysis of E-nose and GC-MS, it was found that the E-nose sensors could distinguish different huajiao by specific responses to some terpenoids in the samples.

Dyslipidemia is associated with inflammation and organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

INTRODUCTION: Disturbed lipid metabolism was observed in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between dyslipidemia and visceral organ involvement, disease severity, inflammatory factors, and drug intake in SLE patients. METHOD: Inpatients with SLE (n = 105) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 75) were recruited in this study. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from patient records. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor receptors superfamily member1A (TNFRSF1A), member1B (TNFRSF1B) and adipokine angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in plasma were measured by ELISA. RESULT: Compared to HC, serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were significantly increased, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) were decreased in SLE patients. Patients with higher disease activity and renal damage suffered from more severe dyslipidemia. Renal functional parameters were closely correlated with serum lipid levels. Inflammatory factors were associated with dyslipidemia. The levels of TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B were obviously increased and associated with kidney involvement in SLE patients. Patients with high-dose glucocorticoid intake showed more severe dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: Attention should be paid to the dyslipidemia of SLE. Dyslipidemia is associated with inflammation and organ involvement in SLE. These findings might provide a new strategy for the treatment of SLE. Key Points • Serum levels of TG, TC, LDL, and ApoB were significantly increased, while HDL and ApoA1 were decreased in SLE patients. • Patients with higher disease activity and renal damage suffered from more severe dyslipidemia. Renal functional parameters and inflammatory factors were closely correlated with serum lipid levels. • Patients with high-dose glucocorticoid intake showed more severe dyslipidemia. • These findings might provide a new strategy for the treatment of SLE.

The cardiovascular effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, RAS inhibitors, and ARN inhibitors in heart failure.

AIMS: No studies have comprehensively compared the efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor neprilysin (ARN) inhibitors based on different type of heart failure, including heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The aim of this network meta-analysis was to evaluate the relative efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), RAS inhibitor (RASi) and ARN inhibitor (ARNI) in different types of heart failure. METHODS: A systemic literature search was performed from inception to 19 November 2022 for randomized control trials assessing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) of these drugs in HF. A network meta-analysis was performed. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were synthesized. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were selected with a total of 61 489 patients. In patients with HFrEF, ARNI led to a reduced risk of a composite outcome of CV death or HHF when compared with placebo (RR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.89). Similar trends were observed when focusing on the outcome of CV death or HHF alone. In patients with HFpEF, SGLT2i showed the beneficial effects on the CV death or HHF events when compared with placebo and RASi (RR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.92; RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.02-1.31). For CV death, all these three drugs could not show beneficial effects in HFpEF. For the incidence of HHF in HFpEF, both SGLT2i and ARNI demonstrated the beneficial effects but SGLT2i was superior to ARNI. There were no differences in the events of discontinuation under these drugs when compared with placebo or each other in either HFrEF or HFpEF patients. SGLT2i showed the least renal injury among these interventions in HFrEF and there were no differences in the incidence of renal injury of these interventions in HFpEF. CONCLUSIONS: Among these drugs, ARNI showed the greatest ability to lower the incidence of CV death or HHF and SGLT2i exerted the least renal injury in patients with HFrEF. In patients with HFpEF, SGLT2i was associated with a reduction in the risk of CV death or HHF. There were no differences in the incidence of renal injury of these interventions in HFpEF. The intolerance of these drugs were comparable in both HFrEF and HFpEF.

Temporal and spatial changes in land use and ecosystem service value based on SDGs' reports: a case study of Dianchi Lake Basin, China.

Understanding the impact of land use and ecosystem services on sustainable development goals is a key to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Taking Dianchi Lake Basin as the research area, land use data from five periods, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2019, were analyzed using the dynamic equivalent method to determine ecosystem service value (ESV) and hot spot analysis method to explore temporal and spatial changes in ESV in Dianchi Lake Basin. Three sustainable development goals, SDG15.1.1, SDG15.2, and SDG15.3.1, were selected to quantitatively analyze the impact of land use change in Dianchi Lake Basin. The results showed that (1) in the 20-year study period, the main land use types in Dianchi Lake Basin were forest land, cultivated land, construction land, and water area. In the land transfer, the largest amount of land transferred out is cultivated land, accounting for 35.50% of the total transferred out amount. It is transferred to construction land, resulting in significant expansion of construction land, nearly twice as much. (2) The SDG15.1.1 index of three forest land types in Dianchi Lake Basin showed a downward trend, and the total forest land decreased from 45.36 to 41.80%, with a cumulative decrease of 3.56%, of which 2.35% was caused by the transformation from open forest land to other land types. For watershed SDG15.2 and SDG15.3.1 indicators, all were degraded, but the degradation of high forest (SDG15.2) was the most obvious. (3) From 2001 to 2019, the total ESV in Dianchi Lake Basin initially decreased and then increased before decreasing again, with an overall decrease of 3.687 billion yuan. The ESV in the study area was high in the middle and low in the periphery, and the water area dominated by Dianchi Lake was the highest value area. (4) From 2005 to 2019, the spatial displacement relationship between cold and hot spots dominated by Dianchi Lake was corresponding and obvious, during which the ESV fluctuated violently. This study provides a basis for the sustainable development and ecological construction in typical urbanized watershed.

Associations between eating behaviours and cardiometabolic risk among adolescents in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment study.

BACKGROUND: Eating behaviours are associated with childhood obesity, but their associations with cardiometabolic risk are less clear. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated cross-sectional associations between eating behaviours and cardiometabolic risk among 185 adolescents (age 12.4 ± 0.7 years; 53% female; body mass index (BMI)-z 0.72 ± 1.37) from Cincinnati, Ohio (HOME Study; enrolled 2003-2006). METHODS: Caregivers assessed adolescents' eating behaviours with the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. We computed adolescents' cardiometabolic risk scores based on HOMA-IR, triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, adiponectin to leptin ratio, systolic blood pressure, and cross-sectional area of fat inside the abdominal cavity. Using multivariable linear regression models, we estimated associations of eating behaviour subscales with cardiometabolic risk scores or individual risk components. RESULTS: Emotional overeating (ß = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.67, 2.01), food responsiveness (ß = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.41, 1.57), and emotional undereating (ß = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.08, 1.21) were associated with higher cardiometabolic risk scores. Satiety responsiveness (ß = -0.79, 95% CI: -1.59, 0.00) was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk scores. Adjusting for adolescent BMI-z at age 12 attenuated these associations, suggesting that adiposity may mediate these associations. CONCLUSION: Hedonistic eating behaviours were associated with higher cardiometabolic risk in these adolescents.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate Sjögren's syndrome and related pulmonary inflammation through regulating Vγ4+ IL-17+ T cells.

Background: Since gamma delta (γδ) T cells are involved in various autoimmune diseases, we aimed to verify whether γδ T cells participate in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and related pulmonary inflammation, and also aimed to evaluate the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on SS-related pulmonary inflammation and the γδ T cells. Methods: The saliva flow rates of female non-obese diabetic (NOD/Ltj) mice were measured. Histopathologic analysis was performed in salivary glands (SG) and lung tissues. The levels of γδ T cells and their subsets in the peripheral blood, spleen, and lung were examined by flow cytometry. The purified γδ T cells were adoptively transferred into NOD/Ltj mice. MSC transplantation was performed in 8-week-old NOD/Ltj mice. Results: The results showed lymphocytic infiltration in SG and lacrimal glands (LG), and reduction of saliva flow rates in 8-week NOD/Ltj mice. The levels of γδ T cells decreased in peripheral blood, but increased in the lung of 8- and 12-week-old NOD/Ltj mice. The proportions and numbers of Vγ4+ T cells and Vγ4+ IL-17A+ T cells increased in the lung, but decreased in peripheral blood of 8-week-old NOD/Ltj mice. Notably, transfer of γδ T cells decreased the rate of saliva flow, as well as aggravated the pathological changes in the lung. The transplantation of MSCs increased saliva flow rate and alleviated pathological injury in the SG and lung. The frequencies of Vγ4+ T cells and Vγ4+ IL-17A+ T cells in the lung and spleen significantly decreased after MSC treatment. Our results demonstrated that γδ T cells and Vγ4+ T cells contribute to the pathogenesis of SS and SS-related pulmonary inflammation. In addition, MSCs relieved SS and SS-related pulmonary inflammation through suppressing Vγ4+ IL-17A+ T cells. Conclusions: Peripheral Vγ4+ T cells infiltrate into the lung in SS mice, and aggravate the symptoms of SS and SS-related pulmonary inflammation by secreting IL-17A. Meanwhile, lymphocyte infiltration could be reversed by MSC transplantation, which indicates the potential of MSCs in the treatment of SS and SS-related pulmonary inflammation patients.

Tofacitinib Ameliorates Lupus Through Suppression of T Cell Activation Mediated by TGF-Beta Type I Receptor.

Autoreactive T cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). TGF-ß type I receptor (TGFßRI) is pivotal in determining T cell activation. Here, we showed that TGFßRI expression in naïve CD4+ T cells was decreased in SLE patients, especially in those with high disease activity. Moreover, IL-6 was found to downregulate TGFßRI expression through JAK/STAT3 pathway in SLE patients. In vitro, the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib inhibited SLE T cell activating by upregulating TGFßRI expression in a dose-dependent manner. In MRL/lpr mice, tofacitinib treatment ameliorated the clinical indicators and lupus nephritis, as evidenced by reduced plasma anti-dsDNA antibody levels, decreased proteinuria, and lower renal histopathological score. Consistently, tofacitinib enhanced TGFßRI expression and inhibited T cell activation in vivo. TGFßRI inhibitor SB431542 reversed the effects of tofacitinib on T cell activation. Thus, our results have indicated that tofacitinib can suppress T cell activation by upregulating TGFßRI expression, which provides a possible molecular mechanism underlying clinical efficacy of tofacitinib in treating SLE patients.