Triglyceride-glucose index and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Numerous meta-analyses have explored the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and diverse health outcomes, yet the comprehensive assessment of the scope, validity, and quality of this evidence remains incomplete. Our aim was to systematically review and synthesise existing meta-analyses of TyG index and health outcomes and to assess the quality of the evidence. METHODS: A thorough search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was conducted from their inception through to 8 April 2024. We assessed the quality of reviews using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD: 42024518587). RESULTS: Overall, a total of 95 associations from 29 meta-analyses were included, investigating associations between TyG index and 30 health outcomes. Of these, 83 (87.4%) associations were statistically significant (P < 0.05) according to the random effects model. Based on the AMSTAR tool, 16 (55.2%) meta-analyses were high quality and none was low quality. The certainty of the evidence, assessed by the GRADE framework, showed that 6 (6.3%) associations were supported by moderate-quality evidence. When compared with the lowest category of the TyG index, the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) [relative risk (RR) = 2.25, 95%CI 1.82, 2.77], the risk of stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus (RR = 1.26, 95%CI 1.18, 1.33) or with acute coronary syndrome disease (RR = 1.56, 95%CI 1.06, 2.28), the prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD)-non-fatal MI (RR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.32, 3.10), and the severity of CAD including coronary artery stenosis (RR = 3.49, 95%CI 1.71, 7.12) and multi-vessel CAD (RR = 2.33, 95%CI 1.59, 3.42) increased with high TyG index. CONCLUSION: We found that the TyG index was positively associated with many diseases including the risk of CIN and stroke, the prognosis of CAD, and the severity of CAD which were supported by moderate-quality evidence. TyG index might be useful to identify people at high-risk for developing these diseases.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and human health outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence on the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and human health outcomes has grown exponentially, specific health outcomes and their potential associations with PFASs have not been conclusively evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search through the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to February 29, 2024, to identify systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies examining the associations between the PFASs and multiple health outcomes. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool, and credibility of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria. The protocol of this umbrella review (UR) had been registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42023480817). RESULTS: The UR identified 157 meta-analyses from 29 articles. Using the AMSTAR measurement tool, all articles were categorized as of moderate-to-high quality. Based on the GRADE assessment, significant associations between specific types of PFASs and low birth weight, tetanus vaccine response, and triglyceride levels showed high certainty of evidence. Moreover, moderate certainty of evidence with statistical significance was observed between PFASs and health outcomes including lower BMI z-score in infancy, poor sperm progressive motility, and decreased risk of preterm birth as well as preeclampsia. Fifty-two (33%) associations (e.g., PFASs and gestational hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc) presented low certainty evidence. Additionally, eighty-five (55%) associations (e.g., PFASs with infertility, lipid metabolism, etc) presented very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: High certainty of evidence supported that certain PFASs were associated with the incidence of low birth weight, low efficiency of the tetanus vaccine, and low triglyceride levels.

[Protective effects of LBP on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice and mechanism of inhibiting NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß].

To observe the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice and explore its mechanism. Common carotid artery thread was used to cause middle cerebral artery ischemia, and the thread was taken out after 2 h ischemia to achieve cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice. Therefore, the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) models were established to observe the effects of LBP (25,50, 100 mg•kg⁻¹) on neurological outcome, infarct size and water contents. HE staining was used to observe its effects on neurocytes of cerebral tissues in mice. Western blotting was used to evaluate the protein expression levels of NF-κB p65. ELISA was used to evaluate the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in the serum. According to the results, LBP markedly improved neurologic deficits, and decreased infarct size and water contents at 24 h after reperfusion in mice. Pathological section of brain tissues also proved its protective effects on neurocytes. Western blot analysis indicated that LBP markedly down-regulated the protein level of NF-κB p65. ELISA indicated that LBP decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in the serum 24 h after reperfusion.In conclusion, LBP has protective effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in mice, and this effect may be associated with inhibiting NF-κB and inflammatory reactions.

Expression of CDc6 after acute spinal cord injury in adult rats.

The cell division cycle 6 (CDc6) protein has been primarily investigated as a component of the pre-replicative complex for the initiation of DNA replication. Some studies have shown that CDc6 played a critical role in the development of human carcinoma. However, the expression and roles of CDc6 in the central nervous system remain unknown. We have performed an acute spinal cord injury (SCI) model in adult rats and investigated the dynamic changes of CDc6 expression in spinal cord. Western blot have found that CDc6 protein levels first significantly increase, reach a peak at day 3, and then gradually return to normal level at day 14 after SCI. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that CDc6 immunoreactivity was found in neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. Additionally, colocalization of CDc6/active caspase-3 has been detected in neurons and colocalization of CDc6/proliferating cell nuclear antigen has been detected in astrocytes and microglial. In vitro, CDc6 depletion by short interfering RNA inhibits astrocyte proliferation and reduces cyclin A and cyclin D1 protein levels. CDc6 knockdown also decreases neuronal apoptosis. We speculate that CDc6 might play crucial roles in CNS pathophysiology after SCI.

1-(4-Methyl-benzo-yl)-3-[5-(4-pyrid-yl)-1,3,4-thia-diazol-2-yl]urea.

In the title compound, C(16)H(13)N(5)O(2)S, the five non-H atoms of the urea linkage adopt a planar configuration owing to the presence of an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond. The maximum deviation from planarity is 0.022 (2) Å. The thia-diazole and pyridine heterocyclic rings are close to being coplanar, with a dihedral angle of 6.7 (2)° between their mean planes. Inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link two neighbouring mol-ecules into centrosymmetric R(2) (2)(8) dimers. Four C atoms and the attached H atoms of the benzene ring are disordered over two positions of equal occupancy.

[Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of N-[ 5-(3-pyridyl)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl] -N'-aroyl urea].

To synthesize and evaluate antimicrobial activity of novel heterocyclic compounds, the corresponding title aroyl ureas have been synthesized by the reaction of 2-amino-5-(3-pyridyl)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole with aroyl isocyanates. Their antimicrobial activities in vitro were tested by disk diffusion methods and broth microdilution according to M-27A protocol recommended by NCCLS. Twelve new compounds were obtained, and their structures were confirmed by MS, IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The biological screening tests showed that most of the compounds have some antifungal activities in vitro. Aroyl ureas incorporating pyridyl thiadiazole ring may be developed as novel antifungal candidate drugs and are worthwhile to be further studied.