Association of liver and kidney functions with Klotho gene methylation in a population environment exposed to cadmium in China.

Exposure to the heavy metal cadmium has adverse effects on human health, including DNA methylation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cadmium on liver and kidney functions and Klotho gene methylation and to explore the relationship of methylation level with indicators of liver and kidney functions. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was conducted to determine urinary cadmium, and an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect indices of liver and kidney functions. PCR pyrosequencing was performed to detect the methylation rate of Klotho. One-way ANOVA was adopted to compare the differences between groups, and the linear correlation to variables was analyzed. Cadmium exposure was negatively correlated with albumin level (r=-0.143, p=0.021) and positively correlated with urinary ß2-microglobulin level (r=0.229, p<0.001). However, the methylation levels of Klotho gene was decreased and increased by low and high doses of cadmium exposure, respectively. And Klothomethylation levels were negatively correlated with albumin levels and positively correlated with ß2-microglobulin levels.In this study, cadmium exposure affects liver and kidney functions as well as Klotho methylation levels, but the effect on Klotho methylation levels is not linear. Klotho methylation levels also influence liver and kidney functions.

Associations between Self-Determined Motivation, Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity, and Quality of Life in Chinese College Students.

Purpose: To better promote college students' physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL), it is imperative to understand this population's PA correlates, such as self-determined motivation and perceived competence. However, few studies existed in this area of inquiry among Chinese college students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among Chinese college students' self-determined motivation, PA, and QoL. Method: A total of 220 college students (115 females; Mage = 20.29 years, SD = 2.37; MBMI = 20.67) were recruited from one university in south-central China. Participants were instructed to wear the ActiGraph GT9X Link (ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL, USA) accelerometers for 7 days. A minute-by-minute stepping rate methodology was used to determine participants sedentary behaviors, light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants' self-determined motivation (autonomous, controlled, and amotivation), perceived competence, and QoL (physical function, stress, depression, fatigue, sleep, and social issues) were assessed by a battery of validated surveys in June 2017. Results: Participants reported moderate-high levels of PA correlates and QoL as the means ranged from 5.5 to 6 (out of 7) for PA correlates and 2.75 to 4 (out of 4) for QoL. The minute-by-minute stepping rate revealed participants had average 580.51 min/day in sedentary, 134.77 min/day in LPA, and 1.57 min/day in MVPA. Regression analyses for physical function, stress, depression, and social issues suggested that the models explained 4%-8% of the variances. Specifically, perceived competence was the negative predictor of the problems with physical function (ß = -0.17, p < 0.05) and depression (ß = -0.18, p < 0.01), amotivation was positively associated with depression and stress (p < 0.05). Additionally, controlled motivation predicted the ability to participate in social roles and activities (ß = 0.22, p < 0.05). No significant predictors emerged for fatigue or for sleep. Conclusions: Findings suggest Chinese college students' perceived competence and social support are critical for improving PA and QoL. In addition, strategies are needed to motivate Chinese college students to engage in PA participation and improve overall well-being.

Spatio-Temporal Variation of Longevity Clusters and the Influence of Social Development Level on Lifespan in a Chinese Longevous Area (1982-2010).

The study aims to determine the spatial and temporal variation of a longevous region and explore the correlation between longevity and socioeconomic development. Population data at the township level were obtained from the last four population censuses (1982-2010). Five main lifespan indicators and the Human Development Index (HDI) were calculated. Getis-Ord G*, Gravity modeling, and Pearson's r between lifespan indicators and HDI were applied. In this study, a stable longevous gathering area was discovered in Hechi during different periods. Under the influence of social and economic development, more longevous areas appeared. However, the effects of genetic and natural environmental factors on longevity were always dominant in this remote and mountainous city. Furthermore, longevity indicators lacked any significant correlation with life expectancy. No significant positive correlation was detected between lifespan indicators and HDI. Thus, we conclude that lifespan indicators can determine the spatial distribution and variation pattern of longevity from multiple dimensions. The geographical scope of longevity in Hechi City is gradually expanding, and significant spatial clustering was detected in southwestern, southern, and eastern parts of Hechi. This study also found that social economic development is likely to have a certain impact on new longevous areas, but their role on extreme longevity is not significant.