Thyroid nodules and its association with vitamin D in centenarians.

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid Nodules (TNs) and hypovitaminosis D are common conditions in old people. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of benign and malignant thyroid nodules in centenarians and to examine their associations with serum vitamin D levels. METHODS: A population-based survey of 875 centenarians in Hainan, China was conducted. The thyroid glands and neck areas were scanned by board-certified sonographers using standard procedures. RESULTS: The prevalence of thyroid nodules (TN) was 74.2%, with 58.9% in group of possibly benign thyroid nodules (TIRADS 2, 3) and 15.5% in group of possibly malignant thyroid nodules (TIRADS 4A, 4B, 4C, 5). An analysis of logistic regression revealed that serum vitamin D levels were independently associated with increased thyroid nodule prevalence. We observed an inverse dose-effect relationship between TNs and serum vitamin D status with full adjustments (P for trend = 0.025%). For the severely vitamin D deficient group, the deficient group, and the insufficient group, respectively, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR: CI) for possibly malignant TNs were 3.46 (1.26-9.51), 2.15 (1.08-4.28), and 1.41 (0.72-2.75), compared to the optimal vitamin D status group. The multivariable OR with a 5 ng/mL decrease in serum vitamin D levels was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01-1.33), for possibly malignant TNs in centenarians. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly three-quarters of centenarians were found to have thyroid nodules. Most of these nodules were benign and did not possess any suspicious ultrasound findings. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with thyroid nodules as suggestive characteristics of malignancy in this population.

Quantitative assessment of TLR4 gene polymorphisms and T2DM risk: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have evaluated the association between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and T2DM risk. However, the findings were inconsistent and controversial. METHODS: In order to drive a more precise estimation, we carried out a meta-analysis based on 41 studies involving 23,250 cases and 24,760 controls. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of association. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis provides evidence that rs4986790 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of T2DM in Asian (AG vs. AA, OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.50, p = 0.042; G vs. A, OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.44, p = 0.041). Rs4986791 polymorphism was related to an increased risk of T2DM both in Asian (AG vs. AA, OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.11-2.80, p = 0.017; G vs. A, OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.04-2.55, p = 0.034) and Caucasian (GG vs. AA, OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.23-4.75, p = 0.010). Rs11536889 polymorphism may have a protective effect on T2DM in Chinese populations (CC vs. GG, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.40-0.96, p = 0.031; GC vs. GG, OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98, p = 0.034; CC vs. GC/GG, OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.96, p = 0.013; C vs. G, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.59-0.97, p = 0.027), whereas rs1927911 may have no impact. CONCLUSIONS: These findings supported that rs4986790, rs4986791, and rs11536889 may contribute to the risk of T2DM.

[Effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang on rat cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen production in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang on the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and collagen production in the cells. METHODS: Rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and cultured in DMEM containing 10% (group A) or 20% (group B) or no (group C) serum from rats treated with Bushen Huoxue Fang, with cells cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS as the control (group D). After 72 h of cell culture, the proliferation of the fibroblasts was detected using CCK-8 kit, and collagen mRNA and protein expressions were examined using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with that in groups C and D, the cell proliferation decreased significantly in groups A and B, and especially in the latter (P<0.05). RT-PCR demonstrated significant reductions of the mRNAs of type 1 and 3 collagens in groups A and B (P<0.05), and their protein levels were also significantly lowered (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bushen Huoxue Fang can effectively inhibit the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and reduced collagen type 1 and 3 productions in the cells in vitro.