RTF: An R package for modelling time course data.

SUMMARY: The Retarded Transient Function (RTF) approach serves as a complementary method to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for modelling dynamics typically observed in cellular signalling processes. We introduce an R package that implements the RTF approach, originally implemented within the MATLAB-based Data2Dynamics modelling framework. This package facilitates the modelling of time and dose dependencies, and it includes the possibility of model reduction to minimize overfitting. It can be applied to experimental data or trajectories of ODE models to characterize their dynamics. Additionally, it can generate a low-dimensional representation based on the fitted RTF parameters of a set of time-resolved data, aiding in the identification of key targets of experimental perturbations. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The R package RTF is available at https://github.com/kreutz-lab/RTF. CONTACT: clemens.kreutz@uniklinik-freiburg.de.

The Radio of RDW/ALB: A Cost-Effective Biomarker for Early-Stage Risk Stratification in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Aims: The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin (ALB) ratio (RAR) has been identified as a prognostic indicator for mortality in critically ill patients across various diseases. Nevertheless, the impact of RAR on clinical functional prognosis in Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of RAR in AIS patients. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on a cohort study, involving 1906 AIS patients recruited from a South Korean academic hospital. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the connections between RAR and negative functional results in AIS. To explore potential non-linear relationships in this association, a generalized additive model (GAM) and smooth curve fitting were utilized. Further, a mediation analysis was performed to identify possible mediators. Results: Out of the 1906 eligible patients, 546 (28.65%) were found to have an unfavorable prognosis. Patients with elevated RAR had a higher likelihood of facing a negative prognosis in AIS (all P<0.001). RAR demonstrated a dose-response relationship with the probability of poor functional prognosis. When analysis of RAR as a continuous variable, an increase in RAR was correlated with a higher risk of adverse prognosis.When RAR was analyzed as quartile variables, the highest RAR remained an independent contributing factor for both 3-month unfavorable outcomes (adjusted OR, 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-2.1, P=0.046) and 3-month mortality (adjusted OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 2.0-13.9; p<0.001). More interestingly, the presence of a pro-inflammatory state may serve as a mediator in the connections between RAR and adverse functional outcomes. Conclusion: Given its cost-effectiveness and ease of measurement, baseline RAR holds promise as a valuable biomarker for early risk assessment in AIS patients.

Association of healthy eating index-2015 and overactive bladder: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association of HEI-2015 and overactive bladder (OAB) in a large population. Methods: Data were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2020 datasets. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between HEI-2015 and OAB. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was conducted to investigate the dose-response relationship. Results: Totally, this study included 29,206 participants with 6,184 OAB patients among them. The higher continuous HEI-2015 value was independently associated with lower OAB incidence (OR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.78, 0.98). Similarly, the highest quartile categorical HEI-2015 was significantly associated with a lower OAB odds (OR: 0.72; 95%CI: 0.52, 0.99) when compared with the lowest quartile. The RCS curve also showed a favorable non-linear dose-response relationship between HEI-2015 and OAB. Conclusion: A higher HEI-2015 had a favorable association with OAB and there was a non-linear dose-response relationship between them. We suggest adherence to the United States diet recommendation as a potential behavioral prevention of OAB. Large-scale long term prospective cohort studies across various regions are needed to verify the findings of this paper.

Systemic immune-inflammation states in US adults with seropositivity to infectious pathogens: A nutrient-wide association study.

BACKGROUND: Limited understanding exists regarding the association between daily total dietary nutrient intakes and immune-inflammation states in US adults exposed to various pathogens. This study sought to examine the correlation between nutrient intakes and immune-inflammation indicators and to assess their performance in distinguishing immune-inflammation states. METHODS: This study was derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included 33,804 participants aged 20 years or older between 2005 and 2018. Multivariable linear regression and restricted cubic spline regression were conducted to evaluate the association between nutrient intakes and immune-inflammation indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the discriminatory performance of identified nutrients for various immune-inflammation states measured by the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). RESULTS: Ten key nutrients were significantly associated with immune-inflammation responses, including calcium, saturated fatty acid (SFA) 4:0, SFA 6:0, SFA 12:0, SFA 14:0, SFA 16:0, vitamin B2, total SFAs, retinol, and lutein + zeaxanthin, which show potential as dietary indicators. The area under the curve for discriminating various immune-inflammation states was improved by at least 0.03 compared with a model that included only covariates, with all P values <0.05 in the Delong tests, indicating a significant enhancement in model performance. CONCLUSIONS: Ten nutrients, including calcium, various SFAs, vitamin B2, retinol, and lutein + zeaxanthin, exhibit significant association with SII and potential as dietary indicators for distinguishing between different immune-inflammation states in US adults with seropositivity to various viruses.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity and risk of stroke: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: Previous studies have reported the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and risk of stroke, but these findings have been inconsistent. We therefore performed this systematic review and dose­response meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate the association between dietary TAC and risk of stroke. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out through PubMed, ISI Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, to find the relevant articles published up to 31 May, 2024. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to pool the relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) where appropriate. Heterogeneity across studies were determined using the Cochran's Q test and I-square (I 2) statistics. Results: Eight observational studies (six cohort and two case­control studies) were included in the final analysis. The pooled results showed that higher intake of dietary TAC was associated with a lower risk of stroke (RR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.81­0.95, p = 0.002). Additionally, dose­response analysis of cohort studies demonstrated a linear association between dietary TAC intake and risk of stroke (RR = 0.994; 95%CI: 0.990­0.999, P non-linearity = 0.329, P dose­response = 0.014). Subgroup analyses showed the inverse association between dietary TAC intake and risk of stroke in the studies with mean age < 50 (RR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.67­0.99, p = 0.044), and there was no evidence of heterogeneity (p = 0.360; I 2 = 0.0%). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that higher intake of dietary TAC was inversely associated with the risk of stroke. Future studies in particular of longitudinal design are needed to confirm this inverse relationship. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024547706.

A randomized phase I study of BI 1820237, a novel neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 agonist, alone or in combination with low-dose liraglutide in otherwise healthy men with overweight or obesity.

AIMS: Pharmacotherapeutic options for obesity treatment include glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, for example, liraglutide. However, an unmet need remains, particularly in patients with a high body mass index (BMI), as GLP-1R agonists are associated with gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs) and some patients do not respond to treatment. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY bind G-protein-coupled Y receptors and represent attractive targets for modulating bodyweight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This first-in-human, three-part, partially blinded phase I study (NCT04903509) investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of single ascending doses of the peptidic NPY2R agonist BI 1820237, with/without low-dose liraglutide: part 1 (participants randomized to receive BI 1820237: 0.075-2.4 mg or placebo), part 2 (BI 1820237: 1.2 mg or placebo) and part 3 (BI 1820237: 0.025-1.2 mg + liraglutide 0.6 mg or placebo + liraglutide 0.6 mg). Primary endpoint is the proportion of participants with drug-related AEs. Secondary endpoints are tolerability, PK and PD. RESULTS: In total, 95 otherwise healthy men with increased BMI (25.0-34.9 kg/m2) were randomized. Drug-related AEs, mainly gastrointestinal events, were reported by 39.0% of participants (n = 23) in parts 1 + 2 and 30.6% of participants (n = 11) in part 3; one drug-related AE (11.1%, part 3) was reported in a participant receiving placebo with liraglutide. Post-dose paracetamol PK suggested that BI 1820237 and low-dose liraglutide exhibited additive effects on gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS: BI 1820237 treatment was associated with transient nausea and vomiting at higher doses. No differences in tolerability were observed when combined with liraglutide; effects on gastric emptying appeared additive.

Quantifying multi-virion aerosols in respiratory infection transmission.

Infectious aerosols are expired in various sizes, and the number of contained virions is expected to significantly vary among expired aerosols. To evaluate the effect of the number of contained virions on infection risk, multi-virion aerosols in expired air should be first quantified. In this study, we categorised expired aerosols into traditional aerosol size bins and aerosols containing different number of virions. We quantified the number of virions in aerosols of each size bin and estimated the size distribution of aerosols which contain a certain number of virions when the viral load is known. This analysis helped us to determine the relationship between multi-size aerosols and multi-virion aerosols. Our findings indicate that for long-range airborne transmission, the airborne transmission droplets derived from four COVID-19 outbreak venues contain at most one infectious virion, supporting the one-virion assumption for the considered viral load ranges. However, for short-range airborne transmission, the impact of multi-virion aerosols on infection risk must be considered. Our quantification of multi-virion aerosols for the first time lays the groundwork for incorporating the multi-virion assumption into infection risk assessments.

Determination of the optimal dose and dosing strategy for effective L-menthol oral rinsing during exercise in hot environments.

PURPOSE: This multi-study programme investigated the optimal concentration of L-menthol delivered as an oral mouth rinse to modulate thermo-behaviour during exercise in a hot environment (35 °C). METHOD: In study 1, 38 participants completed a survey to establish an effective and tolerable range of L-menthol concentration. 31 participants completed an RPE-protocol examining 1. the dose-response effect of L-menthol mouth rinse on exercise performance (n = 16) and 2. the temporal effectiveness of administering L-menthol in an incremental and decremental dosing pattern (n = 15). Power output, heart rate, body core temperature and thermal sensation were reported throughout. RESULTS: The optimal menthol concentration for peak power was between 0.01 and 0.1% (~ 6% increase, P < 0.05) and 0.5% (~ 9% increase, P < 0.05) with respect to control. Work completed was increased at 0.01% (~ 5%, P < 0.05), at 0.1% (~ 3%, P < 0.05) and had a detrimental effect at 0.5% (- 10% decrease, P < 0.05). There were no differences between an ascending dose protocol (0.01 to 0.5%), descending dose protocol (0.5-0.01%) or a constant 0.01% dose protocol. There were no reported differences in body core temperature or heart rate across trials (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The optimal dose of L-menthol when delivered via oral rinsing is between 0.01 and 0.1%. At lower concentrations, L-menthol appears to be less effective and at higher concentrations (> 0.5%) L-menthol appears to elicit greater irritation and may not positively modulate thermo-behaviour during exercise in a hot environment.

Dose-response relationship between body mass index and hypertension: A cross-sectional study from Eastern China.

Background: A high body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of hypertension. However, little is known about the dose-dependent association between BMI and hypertension. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of hypertension in 7568 subjects from the Jiangsu Province, Eastern China, and analyzed the dose-response relationship between BMI and hypertension risk. Methods: The eligible subjects completed a structured questionnaire and clinical biochemical indicators were measured according to standardized protocols. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between BMI and hypertension. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used to analyze the dose-response relationship between BMI and hypertension risk. Moreover, sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the robustness of our findings. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 35.3 % in the total population. BMI was significantly associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The fully-adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) for hypertension was 1.17 (1.15, 1.19) for every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI. Furthermore, the OR (95 % CI) for hypertension in the highest BMI group (Obesity) was 4.14 (3.45, 4.96) after adjusting for covariates compared with the normal group. Multivariable adjusted RCS analysis showed a positive and linear dose-response relationship between BMI and hypertension risk both in male and female populations (all P for non-linearity > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a positive and linear dose-response relationship between BMI and the risk of hypertension. The results of this study provide evidence for BMI-related clinical interventions to reduce the risk of hypertension.

Association of serum cystatin C level and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Recurrent acute myocardial infarction requiring unplanned percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after PCI. There is a continuing controversy about the association between serum cystatin C, a biomarker for the evaluation of renal function, and the prognosis of ACS patients following PCI. The retrospective study evaluated the association between serum cystatin C level and MACE in ACS patients after PCI. Methods: Data were retrieved for 330 patients with ACS for primary PCI in a single center. Serum cystatin C levels were measured before PCI. All patients underwent regular follow-ups after PCI, and the studied endpoint was MACE, defined as the need for a repeat revascularization in the heart. The predictive value of serum cystatin C for MACE was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was applied to evaluate the dose-response relationship between serum cystatin C level and MACE in ACS patients following PCI. Results: After a median follow-up of 63 months (range, 1-148 months), 121 of the 330 patients experienced MACE. Compared to patients who did not have MACE, patients who had MACE showed a significant decrease in serum cystatin C levels (0.99±0.32 vs. 1.15±0.78 mg/L, P=0.03). In multivariate regression analysis, serum cystatin C level was an independent risk factor for MACE. According to the serum cystatin C level, patients were divided into 4 categories, Cox regression analysis illustrated that the second quartile of serum cystatin C level indicated an increased risk of MACE in patients with PCI for primary ACS compared to the highest quartile [Q2: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) =2.109; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.193-3.727; P=0.01]. RCS analysis showed a significant U-shaped dose-response relationship between cystatin C level and MACE in patients with PCI for ACS (P for non-linearity =0.004). Conclusions: These results indicated an association between serum cystatin C level and post-PCI MACE in ACS patients.

Radiation Dose Units: How We Got Here, Do They Serve the Purposes They are Intended to?

The current radiation dose estimates used in medical imaging, radiation oncology or environmental assessments are not entirely accurate from a fundamental physics perspective, let alone for biological consequences. The "one cloth fits all" approach of radiation-matter interactions cannot assess the effects of interactions of the same species of radiation of different energies on the same isotope of an element. Preliminary steps to set the radiation dosimetry in the right direction are suggested.

Delta radiomics to track radiation response in lung tumors receiving stereotactic magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy.

Background and purpose: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become a standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer. However, the heterogeneous response to radiation at the tumor level poses challenges. Currently, standardized dosage regimens lack adaptation based on individual patient or tumor characteristics. Thus, we explore the potential of delta radiomics from on-treatment magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to track radiation dose response, inform personalized radiotherapy dosing, and predict outcomes. Materials and methods: A retrospective study of 47 MR-guided lung SBRT treatments for 39 patients was conducted. Radiomic features were extracted using Pyradiomics, and stability was evaluated temporally and spatially. Delta radiomics were correlated with radiation dose delivery and assessed for associations with tumor control and survival with Cox regressions. Results: Among 107 features, 49 demonstrated temporal stability, and 57 showed spatial stability. Fifteen stable and non-collinear features were analyzed. Median Skewness and surface to volume ratio decreased with radiation dose fraction delivery, while coarseness and 90th percentile values increased. Skewness had the largest relative median absolute changes (22 %-45 %) per fraction from baseline and was associated with locoregional failure (p = 0.012) by analysis of covariance. Skewness, Elongation, and Flatness were significantly associated with local recurrence-free survival, while tumor diameter and volume were not. Conclusions: Our study establishes the feasibility and stability of delta radiomics analysis for MR-guided lung SBRT. Findings suggest that MR delta radiomics can capture short-term radiographic manifestations of the intra-tumoral radiation effect.

Hormetic dose response induced by sublethal-dose sulfoxaflor leads to reproductive stimulation of Aphis gossypii.

Aphis gossypii Glover is one of the most agriculturally important phloem-feeding economic pests, causing tremendous loss in crop yield annually. The hormesis is an important cause of A. gossypii resistance formation, population resurgence, and re-outbreak. However, whether the hormesises induced by different insecticides interact mutually remain largely unclear. In the study, four-generation A. gossypii experiment found that the 24-h sublethal-dose (LC20) sulfoxaflor treatment on G0 significantly increased the net reproductive rate (R0) and fecundity of G1 and G2 generation A. gossypii, but it did not significantly affect the fecundity of G3 and G4 individuals. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the insecticide-induced significant up-regulation of pathways ribosome, energy metabolism, and the DNA replication and reparation might be responsible for the enhancement of fecundity in G1 and G2 A. gossypii. Notably, G0 exposure to LC20 sulfoxaflor followed by G1 exposure to LC30 deltamethrin resulted in a stronger reproductive stimulation than sulfoxaflor or deltamethrin exposure alone. Our findings provide valuable reference for optimizing sulfoxaflor application in integrated pest management strategies.

Neonatal high-dose riboflavin treatment channels energy expenditure towards sensorimotor and somatic development and reduces rodent growth and weight gain by modulating NRF-1 in the hypothalamus.

Metabolic adaptations early in life can drive energy expenditure towards brain and physical development, with less emphasis on body mass gain and somatic growth. Dietary or pharmacological manipulations can influence these processes, but to date, the effects provided by riboflavin have not been studied. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of neonatal treatment with different doses of riboflavin on sensorimotor and somatic development in rodents. Based on this, the following experimental groups were formed: Control (C, 0 mg/kg), Riboflavin 1 (R1, 1 mg/kg), Riboflavin 2 (R2, 10 mg/kg) and Riboflavin 3 (R3, 100 mg/kg). Treatment with 100 mg/kg riboflavin anticipated the reflex ontogeny of righting, cliff aversion, negative geotaxis, and free-fall righting. Intervention with 10 and 100 mg/kg of riboflavin anticipated the reflex maturation of vibrissae placement. Eye-opening, upper incisor eruption, and lower incisor eruption reached maturational age more quickly for animals treated with 100 mg/kg, while caudal growth and body weight gain were reduced from the second week of treatment, for groups R2 and R3. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a positive association between the administration of high doses of riboflavin and murine growth in the first week of treatment. There was, however, a negative association between treatment with a high dose of riboflavin and growth in the second week of administration, coinciding with a reduction in body weight gain in the R3 group. Treatment with 100 mg/kg of riboflavin also reduced energy expenditure parameters in the open field and catwalk. Although high-dose treatment stimulates the physiological plasticity of the CNS and reduces weight gain, hepatic parameters were preserved, highlighting the participation of the liver in the supply of fatty acids for neural maturation. Furthermore, hypothalamic NRF-1 expression was increased in the R3 group inversely to the reduction in weight gain. Our results suggest that high-dose riboflavin stimulates sensorimotor and somatic development and reduces the energy invested in growth, body weight gain, and locomotor activity, possibly involving NRF-1 gene modulation in the hypothalamus.

The threat from ozone to vegetation in Ireland.

Ozone is the most damaging air pollutant to vegetation globally. Metrics of accumulated ozone above a concentration threshold (e.g. AOT40, ppb·h) have been widely used to assess ozone risk. However, there is growing consensus that accumulated Phytotoxic Ozone Dose (POD) above a receptor-specific critical stomatal flux threshold (y; nmol O3 m-2 s-1), expressed per unit of projected leaf area, provides a more reliable risk assessment, as it considers ozone entering the leaf (PODy, mmol m-2 leaf area). Few studies have assessed both concentration- and flux-based metrics using site-specific observations of ozone and meteorology. In this study we assessed the risk that ozone poses to five vegetation types across eight sites in Ireland during 2005-2021, using AOT40 and PODy risk metrics, and we predicted impacts using dose-response relationships. Long-term trends in both metrics were also assessed. The PODy critical level for vegetation protection was exceeded for all vegetation types, with exceedances most common at Atlantic coastal sites, and for tree species (beech POD1 15.7-25.7 mmol/m2 PLA). When PODy and AOT40 results were normalised based on their respective critical levels, predicted impacts were higher for PODy. There were significant increases in PODy for three vegetation types at rural sites during the study period, which also experienced increases in temperature and global solar radiation. The long-term trends were consistent with other European studies that show decreases in AOT40 and increases in PODy. While ozone concentrations in Ireland are relatively low (39-75 µg/m3 five-year average range), the humid climate and longer growing season may lead to elevated stomatal ozone uptake and thereby a risk to vegetation.

Acupuncture for migraine: A systematic review and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between the dose of acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and its effects on migraine. METHODS: Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of penetrating manual acupuncture for migraine published in English and Chinese from inception to June 20, 2024. The robust-error meta-regression (REMR) approach and non-linear meta-regression with restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to investigate the dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and the frequency of migraine attacks. The potential nonlinear relationships was tested by restricting the regression coefficient to zero and a P value＜0.1. The statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0. The risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Cochrane tool. The reporting quality for acupuncture procedures was evaluated by STRICTA criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-two RCTs involving 1562 participants were included, and the results showed a J-shaped dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. After 16 acupuncture sessions, the change in the frequency of migraine attacks was 3.95 (95 %CI: 3.13 to 4.77). Three sessions of acupuncture a week resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of migraine attacks, reaching 4.04 (95 % CI: 2.49 to 5.58). After two months of acupuncture, the frequency of migraine attacks decreased significantly, showing a difference of 4.05 (95 % CI: 3.61 to 4.49). Subsequently, the improvement trend gradually flattened, yielding diminishing benefits to patients. The risk of bias showed that seven studies were rated as "low risk", two were rated as "high risk", and the others were rated as "unclear risk". The reporting quality of RCTs of acupuncture for migraine remain suboptimal. CONCLUSIONS: A non-linear dose-response relationship was found between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. The results of our study recommend 16 sessions of acupuncture with a frequency of 3 sessions/week and a treatment duration of 1.5 to 2 months. REGISTRATION NUMBER: This meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023400493).

Evaluation of phytohormone facilitation in microalgal biomass production using mathematical modeling.

How to improve the growth efficiency of microalgae is the bottleneck of microalgae large-scale application. The addition of trace substances can promote the growth of microalgae, but there is no suitable model that can be used to predict the effects of trace substance concentrations on the growth of microalgae. In the present study, a mathematical model based on hormesis is proposed to describe the effects produced by trace substances on the biomass of microalgae and applied to assess the dose-response of four phytohormones on Scenedesmus sp. LX1 with a high coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.90). Several new mathematical parameters, such as starting effective dose (SD), inflection point dose (PD), concentration for 0 % of maximal effect, end effective dose (ED), maximum stimulatory effect (MSE), and maximum inhibitory effect (MIE), were extracted and useful to help researchers in applying trace substances to assist in the production of microalgal biomass for data reference and prediction. In concrete terms, the above model parameters can be well applied to screen the trace substances, dominant algal species and determine the concentration range. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of using phytohormones to enhance the biomass production of microalgae and offers a new approach to optimizing the culture of microalgae.

Cadmium exposure and risk of hypertension: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to environmental toxic metals represents a significant global public health concern. Many studies have reported that cadmium (Cd) exposure increases the risk of hypertension. Since the shape of such relation has not been well characterized, we assessed it by performing a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies. METHODS: We searched the literature through September 5, 2024 to identify papers related to Cd, hypertension, and blood pressure. Inclusion criteria were: observational design, adult population, assessment of exposure using Cd biomarkers, and availability of exposure category-specific risk estimates for hypertension. We performed a dose-response meta-analysis of the results from included studies. RESULTS: Of the 18 studies published between 2006-2024, most had a cross-sectional design. Cd was measured in whole blood and/or urine in almost all studies, whereas only two studies measured Cd in serum. The dose-response meta-analysis indicated an almost linear relation between urinary Cd concentrations and hypertension risk with RR=1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.37 at 2.0 µg/g creatinine compared with no exposure. In contrast, the association between blood Cd concentrations and hypertension risk was non-linear: there was a steep monotonic increase in risk for Cd concentrations below 2 µg/L, reaching a RR of 1.48 (95% CI 1.17-1.86) at 2.0 µg/L, after which a plateau seemed reached. We found similar trends when restricting to studies of Asian population, while when considering North American studies, hypertension risk increased above 1.0 µg/g creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: In this dose-response meta-analysis, risk of hypertension showed a non-linear positive association with blood Cd concentrations and a linear positive association with urinary Cd concentrations. Inconsistency in the shape of associations could relate to the different timing of exposure assessed by the biomarkers or the alteration Cd excretion at increasing exposure levels. Mitigation of Cd exposure is confirmed as a public health priority for chronic disease prevention.

Association of dietary fiber intake with epileptic seizures in U.S. adults: A Population-base study of 13,277 participants.

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy, a neurological disorder, is identified by the presence of recurrent seizures. We aimed to detect dietary fiber intake and its association with epilepsy prevalence in U.S. adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to estimate the association between dietary fiber intake and epilepsy prevalence. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was also applied to investigate the dose-response relationships between dietary fiber intake and epileptic seizure events(ESEs). RESULTS: Our final sample included 13,277 NHANES participants, with the average prevalence of ESEs being 1.09 % (145/13277). After adjusting for all confounding factors, the third quartile of dietary fiber intake levels remained significantly associated with a decreased risk of ESEs[odds ratios (OR) 0.54,95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.88, P = 0.014)] compared to the first quartile. Higher fiber intake indicated a stable negative association with ESEs in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, weighted generalized additive model. A nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed between dietary fiber intake levels and decreased ESEs risk (P for overall=0.017, P for nonlinear=0.155). Interaction tests showed no significant effect of demographic and disease status on the association between dietary fiber intake and ESEs. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, people with a high dietary fiber intake were at a reduced risk of ESEs. However, further prospective studies are needed to investigate the effect of dietary fiber intake in epilepsy events and to determine causality.

Association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout among American adults.

Introduction: Gout is a common type of inflammatory arthritis. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes reactive oxygen species. However, the association between dietary vitamin C levels and gout remains unclear. This study evaluated the relationship between dietary vitamin C intake and gout. Methods: Cross-sectional data from individuals aged > 20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2018 were collected. Details on gout, dietary vitamin C intake, and several other essential variables were recorded. Results: There were 12589 participants, 5% (652/12589) of whom experienced gout. Compared with individuals with lower vitamin C consumption in the Q1 group (≤19.9 mg/day), the adjusted odds ratio(OR)values for dietary vitamin C intake and gout in the Q2 group (19.9-49.7 mg/day), Q3 group (49.7-110.375 mg/day), and Q4 group (≥110.375 mg/day) were 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-1.1, P = 0.237), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.64-1.02, P = 0.076), and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.6-0.99, P= 0.042), respectively. Accordingly, the association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout exhibited an L-shaped curve (nonlinear, P = 0.245) in a restricted cubic spline. Subgroup analysis revealed significant interactions between vitamin C levels and gout according to sex (P < 0.05). When we used data on dietary vitamin C from the second survey, we observed a similar inverse association between vitamin C intake and gout. The vitamin C was also negatively associated with hyperuricemia (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.9-0.98, P=0.005). Compared with Q1, the adjusted OR values for dietary vitamin C and hyperuricemia in Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.69-0.86, P = 0.65), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.72-0.91, P = 0.014), and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.64-0.81, P < 0.001), respectively. No association was observed between vitamin C supplementation and gout. Conclusion: The population-based data indicate that dietary vitamin C intake is inversely associated with gout. These findings support the potential role of vitamin C in preventing gout.