Triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and arterial stiffness in Japanese population: a secondary analysis based on a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have revealed that triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (henceforth TG/HDL-C) is one of major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance and metabolism syndrome. However, there are fewer scientific dissertations about the correlation between TG/HDL-C and bapWV. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between Triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Japanese. METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional study. 912 Japanese men and women, aging 24-84 years old, received a health medical a health check-up program including the results from baPWV inspection and various standardized questionnaire in a health examination Center in Japan. Main outcome measures included TG/HDL-C ratio, baPWV, fatty liver, postmenopausal status. Abdominal ultrasonography was used to diagnose fatty liver. Postmenopausal state was defined as beginning 1 year after the cessation of menses. It was noted that the entire study was completed by Fukuda et al., and uploaded the data to the DATADRYAD website. The author only used this data for secondary analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting potential confounders (age, sex, BMI, SBP, DBP, AST, ALT, GGT, uric acid, fasting glucose, TC, LDL, eGFR, smoking and exercise status, fatty liver, alcohol consumption and ABI), non-linear relationship was detected between TG/HDL-C and baPWV, whose point was 5.6. The effect sizes and the confidence intervals on the left and right sides of inflection point were 12.7 (1.9 to 23.5) and - 16.7 (- 36.8 to 3.3), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed, in participants with excessive alcohol consumption (more than 280 g/week), that TG/HDL-C had a negative correlation with BAPWV (ß = - 30.7, 95%CI (- 53.1, - 8.4)), and the P for interaction was less than 0.05, CONCLUSION: The relationship between TG/HDL-C and baPWV is non-linear. TG/HDL-C was positively related with baPWV when TG/HDL-C is less than 5.6. In addition, while the trend is opposite in excessive alcoholic subjects.

[Morphological characteristics and gene expression of Chrysomya megacephala eggs in different developmental stages].

OBJECTIVE: To research the morphological characteristics and differential gene expression of Chrysomya megacephala eggs in different developmental stages. METHODS: After C. megacephala laid eggs (0 h), the eggs were collected every 2 h until eggs hatched into larvae. The morphological characteristics of C. megacephala eggs in different developmental stages were observed by stereo microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The total RNA of the fly eggs was extracted. The expression levels of bicoid, slalom and chitin synthase genes was determined by real-time flourescence quantitative PCR. Statistic analyses were performed with SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: Under the stereomicroscope, at 0-4 h after egg laying, the morphological change of C. megacephala eggs was not obvious. At the 6th hour after egg laying, somites were formed. After 8 hours the eggs shriveled. At the 9th hour after egg laying, the eggs hatched into larvae. The scanning electron microscope images showed that the morphological change of eggs was not obvious in the first 4 hours, the end of micropyle slightly outward, the surface around the micropyle was smooth. At the 6th hour after egg laying, the end of micropyle began to sag and irregular protrusions formed around the micropyle. At the 8th hour the end of micropyle was obviously dented. After 9 hours larvae hatched from eggs. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR indicated that the expression levels of bicoid, slalom and chitin synthase genes from C. megacephala eggs regularly changed with the developmental stages. There was a significant difference in threshold cycle values among the three genes (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The morphological characteristics of C. megacephala eggs change with the development stage. The levels of gene expression in different development period of C. megacephala eggs are different.

[Prokaryotic expression and histological localization of the Taenia solium CDC37 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To express Taenia solium gene encoding cell division cycle 37 protein (TsCDC37) and investigate its antigenicity and localization in adults of Taenia solium. METHODS: The complete coding sequence of TsCDC37 was amplified by PCR based on the recombinant plasmid clone from the cDNA library of adult Taenia solium. The PCR product was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a (+). The recombinant expression plasmid was identified by PCR, double endonuclease digestion and sequencing. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21/DE3 and followed by expression of the protein induced by IPTG. The mice were immunized subcutaneously with purified recombinant TsCDC37 formulated in Freund's adjuvant. The antigenicity of the recombinant protein was examined by Western blotting. The localization of TsCDC37 in adult worms was demonstrated by immunofluorescent technique. RESULTS: The recombinant expression vector was constructed successfully. The recombinant protein was about M(r) 52 000, it was then purified and specifically recognized by immuno sera of SD rats and sera from patients infected with Taenia solium, Taenia saginata or Taenia asiatica. The immunofluorescence assay revealed that TsCDC37 located at the tegument of T. solium adult and the eggs. CONCLUSION: TsCDC37 gene has been expressed with immunoreactivity. The recombinant protein is mainly expressed in tegument and egg, and is a common antigen of the three human taenia cestodes.