Association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and kidney stone: evidence from NHANES 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: As an innovative lipid parameter, NHHR (the ratio of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) can serve as a valuable tool for assessing cardiovascular disease risk. Nevertheless, the relationship between NHHR and the risk of kidney stones remains unexplored. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey utilized data from the National Health and Population Survey (NHANES) database in the United States spanning from 2007 to 2018. Distinct statistical analyses were applied, including weighted logistic regression, stratified and interaction analysis and restricted cubic spline curve (RCS) models, to examine the correlation between NHHR and the incidence of kidney stones. RESULTS: This analysis encompassed 24,664 participants, with 9.63% reporting incidents of kidney stones. Following multivariate logistic regression and comprehensive adjustments, participants in NHHR quartile 4 (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.12, 1.60, P < 0.01) exhibited a significantly increased risk of kidney stones compared to those in NHHR quartile 1 (Q1). The RCS result further illustrated a non-linear correlation between NHHR and the incidence of kidney stones. The result of subgroup analysis manifested that participants without diabetes had a higher risk of kidney stones when measured high NHHR levels compared those with diabetes (p for interaction < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated NHHR levels were found to be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones. Based on these findings, NHHR appears to be a promising predictive indicator for the occurrence of kidney stones.

The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and kidney stones: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the NHHR and kidney stone risk remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between adult NHHR and kidney stone occurrence in USA. METHODS: This study used a variety of statistical techniques such as threshold effects, subgroup analysis, smooth curve fitting, multivariate logistic regression, and data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2014. We aimed to clarify the relationship between the NHHR and kidney stone risk. RESULTS: The average age of the 21,058 individuals in this research was 49.70 ± 17.64 years. The mean NHHR was 3.00 ± 1.47, and the overall prevalence of kidney stone occurrence was 9.05%. The prevalence within the quartile ranges (Q1-Q4) was 7.01%, 8.71%, 9.98%, and 10.49%, respectively. The overall average recurrence rate of kidney stones was 3.05%, demonstrating a significant increase with increasing NHHR (Q1: 1.92%, Q2: 2.92%, Q3: 3.35%, Q4: 4.00%, P < 0.01). The occurrence of kidney stones increased by 4% (95% CI: 1.00-1.08, P = 0.0373) and the chance of recurrence increased by 9% (95% CI: 1.03-1.14, P < 0.01) with each unit increase in NHHR. The interaction analysis results demonstrated that the relationship between the NHHR and the risk of kidney stones was not significantly impacted by the following factors: sex, body mass index, poverty income ratio, diabetes, or hypertension. Curve fitting and threshold effect analysis also demonstrated a non-linear association, with a breakpoint found at 3.17, between the NHHR and the risk of kidney stones. CONCLUSIONS: In adults in the USA, there is a substantial correlation between elevated NHHR levels and a higher probability of kidney stones developing and recurring. Timely intervention and management of NHHR may effectively mitigate the occurrence and recurrence of kidney stones.

The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and suicidal ideation in adults: a population-based study in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (NHHR) serves as a reliable lipid indicator associated with atherogenic characteristics. Studies have indicated a potential connection between suicidality and lipid metabolism. This research aims to investigate any possible association between the NHHR and the emergence of suicidal ideation within the confines of the study. METHODS: This study examined the association between NHHR levels and suicidal ideation using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted in the United States spanning 2005 and 2016. Calculation of the NHHR corresponds to the proportion of HDL-C to Non-HDL-C. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9's ninth question was implemented for assessing suicidal ideation. Using subgroup analysis, smooth curve fitting, and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the research was conducted. RESULTS: Encompassing a cohort of 29,288 participants, the analysis identified that 3.82% of individuals reported suicidal ideation. After using multivariable logistic regression and thorough adjustments, elevated NHHR levels were significantly and positively associated with a heightened likelihood of suicidal ideation, according to the findings (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.11; P = 0.0048). Despite extensive adjustment for various confounding factors, this relationship remained consistent. An inverted U-shaped curve was utilized to illustrate the link between NHHR and suicidal ideation among nonsmokers; the curve's inflection point was situated at 7.80. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests (all P for interaction > 0.05) demonstrated that there was no significant influence of the following variables on this positive relationship: age, sex, race, body mass index, education level, married status, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking status. CONCLUSION: Significantly higher NHHR levels were associated with an elevated likelihood of suicidal ideation. Based on these results, it is probable that NHHR may serve as a predictive indicator of suicidal ideation, emphasizing its potential utility in risk assessment and preventive strategies.

The Relationship Between Non-HDL-C /HDL-C Ratio (NHHR) and Vitamin D in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between non-HDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and vitamin D in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and Methods: This study enrolled 617 T2DM participants. Participants were separated into two groups: no vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D deficiency. Participants were split into two categories: individuals who had a high NHHR and those with a low NHHR, with the median NHHR serving as the cut-off. Eventually, the study participants were classified into two groups by gender, which were further classified into vitamin D deficient and non-vitamin D deficient groups. Results: NHHR values were substantially greater in vitamin D deficient group than in the non-deficient group in both male and female T2DM patients (P<0.05). The high NHHR group displayed substantially lower vitamin D levels than the low NHHR group [16.21 (12.55,21.35) vs 19.05 (14.59,24.07), P<0.001]. NHHR was discovered to be negatively and independently associated with vitamin D levels, and there was no sex difference. Conclusion: For the first time, our research revealed a negative relationship between NHHR and vitamin D in patients with T2DM.

Lipidomics for diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) poses a significant health threat with high morbidity and mortality, necessitating improved diagnostic tools for enhanced management. Current biomarkers for PH lack functionality and comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop biomarkers that address these gaps in PH diagnostics and prognosis. Methods: To address this need, we employed a comprehensive metabolomics analysis in 233 blood based samples coupled with machine learning analysis. For functional insights, human pulmonary arteries (PA) of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) lungs were investigated and the effect of extrinsic FFAs on human PA endothelial and smooth muscle cells was tested in vitro. Results: PA of idiopathic PAH lungs showed lipid accumulation and altered expression of lipid homeostasis-related genes. In PA smooth muscle cells, extrinsic FFAs caused excessive proliferation and endothelial barrier dysfunction in PA endothelial cells, both hallmarks of PAH.In the training cohort of 74 PH patients, 30 disease controls without PH, and 65 healthy controls, diagnostic and prognostic markers were identified and subsequently validated in an independent cohort. Exploratory analysis showed a highly impacted metabolome in PH patients and machine learning confirmed a high diagnostic potential. Fully explainable specific free fatty acid (FFA)/lipid-ratios were derived, providing exceptional diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 in the training and 0.90 in the validation cohort, outperforming machine learning results. These ratios were also prognostic and complemented established clinical prognostic PAH scores (FPHR4p and COMPERA2.0), significantly increasing their hazard ratios (HR) from 2.5 and 3.4 to 4.2 and 6.1, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, our research confirms the significance of lipidomic alterations in PH, introducing innovative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. These findings may have the potential to reshape PH management strategies.

Effects of different protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and intestinal microflora of loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus).

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and homeostasis of the intestinal flora in Paramisgurnus dabryanus. An 8-wk 3 × 3 two-factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction between dietary crude protein (CP: 30%, 35%, 40%) and ether extract (EE: 6%, 10%, 14%) on the growth rate and the intestinal microflora of P. dabryanus. A total of 2,160 fish (5.19 ± 0.01 g) were randomly allotted to 36 aquariums each with 60 fish. Fish were fed the experimental diet twice daily. Results revealed that weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio and net protein utilization significantly increased when increasing protein levels from 30% to 40% (P < 0.05). Both WGR and SGR enhanced first but reduced thereafter with maximum value at 10% lipid level as dietary lipid increased from 6% to 14% (P < 0.05). Significant interactions between protein and lipid were found with feed conversion rate, lipid efficiency ratio and net lipid utilization (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacteria; at the genus level, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia was the dominant bacteria. Fish fed the diet containing 10% lipid had a higher abundance of Proteobacteria and unclassified_f_Eenterobacteriaceae than those fed the 14% lipid diet, and a higher abundance of Rhodobacter than those fed the 6% lipid diet (P < 0.05). Analysis of the predicted functions showed that metabolism in the intestine of fish in the CP40EE10 group was more active than that in CP30EE14 group. Polynomial regression analysis found that a diet containing 40.87% protein and 9.88% lipid can be considered optimal for P. dabryanus.

The correlation between blood-lipid ratio in the first trimester and large-for-gestational-age infants.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the correlation between maternal glucose and lipid metabolism indexes and blood-lipid ratio in the first trimester and large-for- gestational-age (LGA) infants. METHODS: Women in the first trimester of pregnancy who underwent regular obstetric examination in the obstetric outpatient department of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from June 2018 to March 2019 were included according to the standard. Basic information were collected based on questionnaires at the first visit of pregnant women, including early fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein A1 (APO-A1), apolipoprotein B (APO-B), lipoprotein a (LP(a)), LDL/HDL, TG/HDL, TC/HDL, APO-B/APO-A1 ratio, birth weight of newborns, gestational age at delivery etc. RESULTS: A total of 418 cases were included for analysis. The incidence rate of LGA infants was 13.88%, and that of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants was 4.78%. Univariate analysis revealed that the age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, APO-B/APO-A1 between LGA group and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) group were significantly different (P < 0.05); multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that the correlation between maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, APO-B/APO-A1 level and LGA were statistically significant (P < 0.05); compared with the reference range of APO-B/APO-A1 of 0.46-0.65, values < 0.46 and > 0.65 were protective factor of LGA (P < 0.05). The receiver operating curve(ROC) indicated that the area under the curve (AUC)s for predicting LGA using maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, and early pregnancy APO-B/APO-A1 were 0.585, 0.606, 0.637, 0.531, respectively. The AUC for a combined prediction model was 0.742, showing greater predictive value than any other factors individually. CONCLUSION: Maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, and APO-B/APO-A1 levels in first trimester are significant factors influencing the occurrence of LGA infants, and the combination of the four factors would have certain predictive value for LGA.

Association of four lipid-derived indicators with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes: a Chinese population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported that lipid-derived indicators are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in various populations; however, it is unclear which lipid-derived indicators could effectively predict T2D risk. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between four lipid-derived indicators and T2D risk. METHODS: This was a post-hoc analysis from a large cohort that included data from 114,700 Chinese individuals aged 20 years and older from 11 cities and 32 sites. The association between four lipid-derived indicators and T2D risk was determined using Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves, Cox regression, and restricted cubic spline analyses. This study used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for assessing the ability of four lipid-derived indicators to accurately predict the development of T2D during follow-up. RESULTS: This study included a total of 114,700 participants, with a mean age of 44.15. These individuals were followed up for 3.1 years, of which 2668 participants developed T2D. ROC curve analysis showed that TyG was the most robust predictor of 3-year [aera under the ROC (AUC) = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.768, 0.772] and 5-year T2D risk (AUC = 0.763, 95% CI: 0.760, 0.765). In addition, sensitivity analysis showed an association between TyG and an increased incidence of T2D. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that TyG was a superior for predicting the risk of developing T2D in the general Chinese population.

Method of Simultaneous Analysis of Liposome Components Using HPTLC/FID.

Liposomes are composed of different kinds of lipids or lipophilic substances and are used as carriers of bioactive molecules. The characterization of the prepared liposomes consists of the calculation of the drug-to-lipid-molar ratio by measuring the lipids and the encapsulated molecule.The present work describes an analytical methodology for the simultaneous determination of all the lipid ingredients of liposome formulation using thin-layer chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (TLC/FID), employing the least possible sample quantity. The method consists of the chromatographic separation of the liposomal ingredients on silica gel scintillated on quartz rods and the subsequent detection of the ingredients by scanning the rods through hydrogen flame. The produced ions are detected by a flame ionization detector, and the signal is converted to a chromatogram.This method may be applied at every step of the liposome preparation for examining the quality of the raw materials, tracking possible errors in the preparation procedure, and finally analyzing the content of the final liposomal composition.

Relationship of diabetes and prediabetes with lipid ratios in Changzhou Residents of Jiangsu Province / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of lipid ratios with diabetes and pre-diabetes in residents aged 35-75 years in Changzhou City. MethodsA multistage whole-group random sampling method was used to survey permanent residents aged 35-75 years in Tianning and Wujin districts of Changzhou City， and the study data were obtained by questionnaires， physical examination and laboratory tests. The relationship between lipid ratios and diabetes and pre-diabetes was analyzed by dichotomous logistic regression method. ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes in the surveyed population in Changzhou was 18.69%， and the prevalence of pre-diabetes was 10.53%. In the total population， the risk of pre-diabetes was significantly increased in the highest TC/HDL-C， TG/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C groups， by 68%， 93% and 38%， respectively； the risk of diabetes was also significantly increased in the highest TC/HDL-C， TG/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C groups， by 105%， 149% and 78%， respectively. The risk of diabetes was also significantly increased in the highest TC/HDL-C， TG/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C groups， by 105%， 149% and 78%， respectively. All three lipid ratios increased in women compared to men， leading to a stronger association with increased risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes. ConclusionLipid ratios TC/HDL-C， TG/HDL-C， and LDL-C/HDL-C were correlated with the risk of diabetes and pre-diabetes in people aged 35-75 years， with TG/HDL-C having the strongest association with diabetes and pre-diabetes， and is expected to be a key predictor for assessing the development of diabetes.

Serum LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and the risk of carotid plaques: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia contributes to an increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. However, the association between the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and carotid plaque formation has not been well documented. This study aims to assess the role of LDL-C/HDL-C in the risk of carotid plaque formation in a Chinese population. METHODS: We followed 2,191 participants who attended the annual routine health examination. Cox proportional hazards regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and subgroup analysis were applied to evaluate the association between the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid plaques. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the strength of the association. RESULTS: Among 2,191 participants, 388 had incident carotid plaques detected, with a median follow-up time of 1.05 years. Compared with subjects younger than 45 years, those aged 45 to 59 years (HR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.55-2.58) and over 60 years (HR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.47-4.58) had an increased risk of carotid plaque formation. Males (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.56), diabetes (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06-2.01) and a high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.07-1.38) were significantly linked with the occurrence of carotid plaques. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, we observed that a high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio promoted carotid plaque events (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12-1.50). The RCS analysis revealed a significant nonlinear association. The association was stronger among females (P-interaction < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio could accelerate the occurrence of carotid plaques. Older men with diabetes and dyslipidemia are the critical target population. Women may be more likely to benefit from lipid-lowering interventions and thus avoid carotid plaque formation.

Non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio is associated with carotid plaque stability in general population: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis, especially the rupture of unstable plaques, plays an important role in the development of stroke. A novel lipid ratio, the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, contains both atherogenic and anti-atherogenic particle information, and has been shown to be associated with carotid atherosclerosis. However, there is no data on evaluating the association between non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid plaque stability. Methods: This study was carried out on 27,436 urban workers aged 20 years or older who participated in a comprehensive health screening between January 2016 and December 2017. Carotid plaque stability was assessed using ultrasonography. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio and carotid plaque stability by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the results. Results: Carotid plaque was detected in 7,161 (26.1%) participants, with stable and unstable plaque accounting for 3,277 (11.9%) and 3,884 (14.2%), respectively. The prevalence of stable carotid plaque substantially increased with increasing non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio quartile levels (p for trend < 0.001) and with a similar association for unstable carotid plaque (p for trend < 0.001). The mean non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios (mean ± SD) of non-carotid plaque (2.9 ± 1.1), stable carotid plaque (3.2 ± 1.2), and unstable carotid plaque (3.4 ± 1.4) gradually increased (p < 0.001). In multinomial logistic regression, ORs (95% CIs) for the highest vs. lowest quartile of the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio were 1.70 (1.48-1.95) between stable carotid plaques and no carotid plaque, 2.34 (2.06-2.67) between unstable carotid plaques and no carotid plaque, and 1.38 (1.18-1.61) between unstable carotid plaques and stable carotid plaque, after adjusting for common cardiovascular risk factors. The results of subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were similar. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratio was significantly associated with carotid plaque stability and might be a useful indicator for the early identification of high-risk carotid plaque.

Clinical variables for predicting type-1 and type-2 non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in those presenting with ischemic symptoms.

Introduction: The accuracy of detecting myocardial infarction (MI) has greatly improved with the advent of more sensitive assays, and this has led to etiologic subtyping. Distinguishing between type 1 and type 2 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) early in the clinical course allows for the most appropriate advanced diagnostic procedures and most efficacious treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive effect of demographic and clinical variables on predicting NSTEMI subtypes in patients presenting with ischemic symptoms. Material and methods: We performed a single institution retrospective cohort study of patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with ischemic signs and symptoms consistent with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction, for whom results of coronary angiography were available. We analyzed demographic, laboratory, echocardiography and angiography data to determine predictors of NSTEMI sub-types. Results: Five hundred and forty-six patients were enrolled; 426 patients were found on coronary angiography to have type 1 acute MI (T1AMI), whereas 120 patients had type 2 acute MI (T2AMI). Age (OR per year = 1.03 (1.00, 1.05), p = 0.03), prior MI (OR = 3.50 (1.68, 7.22), p = 0.001), L/H > 2.0 (OR = 1.55 (1.12, 2.13), p = 0.007), percentage change in troponin I > 25% (OR = 2.54 (1.38, 4.69), p = 0.003), and regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) (OR = 3.53 (1.46, 8.54), p = 0.004) were independent predictors of T1AMI, whereas sex, race, body mass index, hypertension, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), heart failure, family history (FH) of coronary artery disease (CAD), HbA1c, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were not. Conclusions: Key clinical variables such as age, prior MI, L/H ratio, percentage change in troponin I, and presence of RWMA on echocardiogram may be utilized as significant predictors of T1AMI in patients presenting with ischemic symptoms to the ED.

Monitoring of the choline/lipid ratio by 1H-MRS can be helpful for prediction and early detection of tumor response to nano-photo-thermal therapy.

Nanotechnology-based photothermal therapy (NPTT) is a new emerging modality of cancer therapy. To have the right prediction and early detection of response to NPTT, it is necessary to get rapid feedback from a tumor treated by NPTT procedure and stay informed of what happens in the tumor site. We performed this study to find if proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can be well responsive to such an imperative requirement. We considered various treatment groups including gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), laser, and the combination of AuNPs and laser (NPTT group). Therapeutic effects on CT26 colon tumor-bearing BALB/c mice were studied by looking at alterations that happened in 1H-MRS signals and tumor size after conducting treatment procedures. In MRS studies, the alterations of choline and lipid concentrations and their ratio were investigated. Having normalized the metabolite peak to water peak, we found a significant decrease in choline concentration post-NPTT (from (1.25 ± 0.05) × 10-3 to (0.43 ± 0.04) × 10-3), while the level of lipid concentration in the tumor was slightly increased (from (2.91 ± 0.23) × 10-3 to (3.52 ± 0.31) × 10-3). As a result, the choline/lipid ratio was significantly decreased post-NPTT (from 0.41 ± 0.11 to 0.11 ± 0.02). Such alterations appeared just 1 day after NPTT. Tumor shrinkage in all groups was studied and significant changes were significantly detectable on day 7 post-NPTT procedure. In conclusion, the study of choline/lipid ratio using 1H-MRS may help us estimate what happens in a tumor treated by the NPTT method. Such an in vivo assessment is interestingly feasible as soon as just 1 day post-NPTT. This would undoubtedly help the oncologists make a more precise decision about treatment planning strategies. Monitoring of the choline/lipid ratio by 1H-MRS can be helpful for prediction and early detection of response to nano-photo-thermal therapy.

Correlation of Lipid Ratios With the Severity of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Lipids are known to accumulate abnormally in the alveoli and circulate during pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). However, the relationship between lipid ratios and PAP is not clear. In this study, we investigated the lipid ratios in PAP patients and explored the relationships between lipid ratios and the severity of PAP. Methods: A total of 122 PAP patients were diagnosed and divided the mild- moderate PAP group (n = 61) and the severe PAP group (n = 61) according to the value of disease severity score (DSS). One hundred thirty healthy volunteers were classified as the control group. Routine blood examination and pulmonary function tests were performed and lipid profile were measured. Results: Compared with the control group, patients with PAP had significantly higher TG, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C, while lower HDL-C (all P < 0.05). Patients with the severe PAP had higher TC, TG, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C, while lower HDL-C than patients with the mild- moderate PAP (all P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that TC/HDL-C (OR = 2.322, 95% CI 1.621-3.713, P = 0.024) and non-HDL-C (OR = 1.797, 95% CI 1.239-3.109, P = 0.036) were all significantly correlated with the severity of PAP after adjustment for other risk factors. The AUC value of TC/HDL-C for predicting the severity of PAP was larger than that of non-HDL-C. The AUROC for TC/HDL-C was 0.741 (0.654-0.828), and the optimal cut-off point for TC/HDL-C was 5.05 (sensitivity: 73.6%, specificity: 68.1%). Conclusions: Lipid ratios, including TC-HDL-C and non-HDL-C, were independent risk factors for the severity of PAP. TC/HDL-C is a promising biomarker for the severity of PAP.

Lipid ratios representing SCD1, FADS1, and FADS2 activities as candidate biomarkers of early growth and adiposity.

BACKGROUND: Altered lipid metabolism in early life has been associated with subsequent weight gain and predicting this could aid in obesity prevention and risk management. Here, a lipidomic approach was used to identify circulating markers for future obesity risk in translational murine models and validate in a human infant cohort. METHODS: Lipidomics was performed on the plasma of APOE*3 Leiden, Ldlr-/-.Leiden, and the wild-type C57BL/6J mice to capture candidate biomarkers predicting subsequent obesity parameters after exposure to high-fat diet. The identified candidate biomarkers were mapped onto corresponding lipid metabolism pathways and were investigated in the Cambridge Baby Growth Study. Infants' growth and adiposity were measured at 0-24 months. Capillary dried blood spots were sampled at 3 months for lipid profiling analysis. FINDINGS: From the mouse models, cholesteryl esters were correlated with subsequent weight gain and other obesity parameters after HFD period (Spearman's r≥0.5, FDR p values <0.05) among APOE*3 Leiden and Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice, but not among the wild-type C57BL/6J. Pathway analysis showed that those identified cholesteryl esters were educts or products of desaturases activities: stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) and fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 and 2. In the human cohort, lipid ratios affected by SCD1 at 3 months was inversely associated with 3-12 months weight gain (B±SE=-0.31±0.14, p=0.027), but positively with 12-24 months weight and adiposity gains (0.17±0.07, p=0.02 and 0.17±0.07, 0.53±0.26, p=0.04, respectively). Lipid ratios affected by SCD1 and FADS2 were inversely associated with adiposity gain but positively with height gain between 3-12 months. INTERPRETATION: From murine models to human setting, the ratios of circulating lipid species indicating key desaturase activities in lipid metabolism were associated with subsequent body size increase, providing a potential tool to predict early life weight gain.

Optimization of Aquaporin Loading for Performance Enhancement of Aquaporin-Based Biomimetic Thin-Film Composite Membranes.

The aquaporin-based biomimetic thin-film composite membrane (ABM-TFC) has demonstrated superior separation performance and achieved successful commercialization. The larger-scale production of the ABM membrane requires an appropriate balance between the performance and manufacturing cost. This study has systematically investigated the effects of proteoliposome concentration, protein-to-lipid ratio, as well as the additive on the separation performance of ABM for the purpose of finding the optimal preparation conditions for the ABM from the perspective of industrial production. Although increasing the proteoliposome concentration or protein-to-lipid ratio within a certain range could significantly enhance the water permeability of ABMs by increasing the loading of aquaporins in the selective layer, the enhancement effect was marginal or even compromised beyond an optimal point. Alternatively, adding cholesterol in the proteoliposome could further enhance the water flux of the ABM membrane, with minor effects on the salt rejection. The optimized ABM not only achieved a nearly doubled water flux with unchanged salt rejection compared to the control, but also demonstrated satisfactory filtration stability within a wide range of operation temperatures. This study provides a practical strategy for the optimization of ABM-TFC membranes to fit within the scheme of industrial-scale production.

A Study to Assess and Correlate Serum Lipid Profile with Reaction Time in Healthy Individuals.

Dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension contribute to the risk of cognitive disorder and dementia. However very few and conflicting results are available with respect to the impact of lipoprotein ratios on cognitive functions in healthy individuals. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the association of lipid profile and its ratios with reaction time in young healthy individuals. 89 individuals (54 male and 35 female) with mean age of 31.20 ± 3.19 years were selected for this observational study conducted at AIIMS Rishikesh and written consent was obtained. TC, TG, HDL were measured by semi auto analyzer following the manufacturers' instruction and LDL was calculated by Friedewald formula. Reaction time (simple and choice reaction time) was assessed using a software package, Deary-Liewald reaction time task. Association of various parameters was calculated by pearson's correlation coefficient using SPSS version 23.0. Reaction time showed significant negative association with BMI (r = - 0.323, p = 0.002) in total study participants as well as with TG (r = - 0.440, p = 0.008) and TG/HDL (r = - 0.402, p = 0.025) in female individuals. From this study, it could be concluded that TG/HDL ratio, the superlative predictor of concomitant presence of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome may be considered as a biomarker for assessment of cognitive function in young healthy female individuals.

Associations of iron status with apolipoproteins and lipid ratios: a cross-sectional study from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

BACKGROUND: Iron overload has been found to be related with various cardiometabolic disorders, like dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. The disturbance of the iron status and lipid metabolism can contribute to organ damage such as atherosclerotic plaque growth and instability. An assessment on the associations of iron status with apolipoproteins and lipid ratios would be informative for maintenance of metabolic homeostasis and hinderance of disease progression. Hence, this study aims to establish the relationships of iron status with apolipoproteins and lipid ratios. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 7540 adult participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009 was conducted. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationships between indicators of iron status and the prevalence of unfavorable apolipoprotein profiles. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to assess the dose-response correlations between serum ferritin and lipid parameters. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounding factors, in both sexes, the subjects in the top quartile of ferritin had the highest prevalence of an elevated apolipoprotein B (men: odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50-2.62; women: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.53-2.97) and an elevated apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (men: OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.50-2.66; women: OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.04-1.92) when compared with individuals in the lowest quartile. Hemoglobin were also independently associated with unfavorable apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio both in men and women. However, transferrin (men: OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.99; women: OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.95) and soluble transferrin receptor (men: OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-0.99; women: OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.91) were found to be negatively associated with a decreased apolipoprotein A1. Moreover, after controlling for potential confounders, the ferritin concentrations were significantly associated with the levels of lipid ratios including TG/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, apoB/apoA1, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in men (ß coefficient = 0.147, 0.061, 0.043, 0.038, 0.032, respectively, all P values < 0.001) and in women (ß coefficient = 0.074, 0.034, 0.025, 0.020, 0.018, respectively, all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The indicators of iron status are significantly associated with unfavorable apolipoprotein profiles. Serum ferritin concentrations are positively correlated with the levels of lipid ratios. The management on the modifiable iron status and lipid metabolism has a clinical significance. The atherosclerotic lipid profiles of the patients with iron overload deserve special clinical concerns.

Flower Production, Headspace Volatiles, Pollen Nutrients, and Florivory in Tanacetum vulgare Chemotypes.

Floral volatiles and reward traits are major drivers for the behavior of mutualistic as well as antagonistic flower visitors, i.e., pollinators and florivores. These floral traits differ tremendously between species, but intraspecific differences and their consequences on organism interactions remain largely unknown. Floral volatile compounds, such as terpenoids, function as cues to advertise rewards to pollinators, but should at the same time also repel florivores. The reward composition, e.g., protein and lipid contents in pollen, differs between individuals of distinct plant families. Whether the nutritional value of rewards within the same plant species is linked to their chemotypes, which differ in their pattern of specialized metabolites, has yet not been investigated. In the present study, we compared Tanacetum vulgare plants of five terpenoid chemotypes with regard to flower production, floral headspace volatiles, pollen macronutrient and terpenoid content, and floral attractiveness to florivorous beetles. Our analyses revealed remarkable differences between the chemotypes in the amount and diameter of flower heads, duration of bloom period, and pollen nutritional quality. The floral headspace composition of pollen-producing mature flowers, but not of premature flowers, was correlated to that of pollen and leaves in the same plant individual. For two chemotypes, florivorous beetles discriminated between the scent of mature and premature flower heads and preferred the latter. In semi-field experiments, the abundance of florivorous beetles and flower tissue miners differed between T. vulgare chemotypes. Moreover, the scent environment affected the choice and beetles were more abundant in homogenous plots composed of one single chemotype than in plots with different neighboring chemotypes. In conclusion, flower production, floral metabolic composition and pollen quality varied to a remarkable extend within the species T. vulgare, and the attractiveness of floral scent differed also intra-individually with floral ontogeny. We found evidence for a trade-off between pollen lipid content and pollen amount on a per-plant-level. Our study highlights that chemotypes which are more susceptible to florivory are less attacked when they grow in the neighborhood of other chemotypes and thus gain a benefit from high overall chemodiversity.