Project description:BACKGROUND:Cathepsin?B (CTSB) and cystatin?C (CYSC) are new biomarkers for several physiological and pathological processes as their activities increase with age. The aim of this study was to explore population-level associations between serum CTSB and CYSC with an age-related pulmonary subclinical state. METHODS:We examined 401 healthy participants (aged 36-87?years, of which 44.3% were male) in northern Chinese cities. We used a standard spirometer to determine lung function. Serum CTSB and CYSC levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS:For all participants, serum CTSB was related to maximum vital capacity (VC MAX), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1?s, peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory flow at 25% of FVC, forced expiratory volume in 3?s (FEV3), and inspiratory vital capacity (VC IN). These associations were lost after full adjustment. CYSC remained significantly associated with inspiratory capacity (IC), breath frequency (BF; p?<?0.001), minute ventilation (MV), the ratio of FEV3 and FVC (FEV3%FVC), and expiratory reserve volume (p?<?0.05) after adjusting for all other possible confounders. In males, serum CYSC levels exhibited significant and independent associations with FVC, FEV3 (p?<?0.05), and IC (p?<?0.001) and serum CTSB levels exhibited significant and independent associations with BF (p?<?0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Our results confirmed serum CYSC concentration associations with an age-related lung function in healthy people. However, the association between serum CTSB and lung function was not well confirmed. Serum measurements of CYSC may provide valuable predictors of pulmonary function in healthy people, especially healthy elderly adults. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
Project description:Sweat secretion keeps feet and insoles humid and rich in nutrients, which are the conditions needed to maintain abundant microbial growth. Analyzing the diversity and function of microorganisms in the insole is of great significance in the development of functional insoles and prediction of human foot hygiene condition. In this study, pure culture method, MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology, and PICRUSt gene function prediction were used to analyze the diversity and function of the bacterial community from insoles of healthy population of different sexes and age groups. Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Brevibacterium are present in all insole samples, and there is no significant difference between sexes of the same age group. However, a significant difference in insole microbial population was obtained among age groups. For community function, all six samples expressed similarity in the preliminary metabolism, but in samples from the elderly, many specific catabolic genes were associated with human disease and drug resistance. This study provides a reference for the development of multi-function insoles and other sanitary products for disease prediction in a healthy population.
Project description:AbstractFibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays a role in kidney disease. Circulating FGF21 levels are associated with kidney function and progression in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the association between FGF21 and kidney function in the general population is still lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the association between FGF21 and kidney function and its progression in a Chinese cohort.A total of 2425 participants from a population-based survey of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in Pinggu, Beijing, were included in the baseline analysis. After a median follow-up of 12 months, 2402 participants with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were analyzed in the longitudinal study. The progression of kidney function was defined as an eGFR decline exceeding 3.3% per year. Serum FGF21 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline.Male sex, body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), uric acid, and FGF21 were associated with increased odds of a lower eGFR at baseline. The association of FGF21 with lower eGFR was independent of all the potential confounders in multivariable logistic regression (odds ratio, 1.005; 95% confidence interval 1.002-1.008). However, FGF21 was not associated with eGFR decline in the longitudinal analysis (odds ratio, 1.000; 95% confidence interval 0.998-1.001).Increased serum FGF21 levels were independently associated with lower eGFR in this nonmedicated general population. FGF21 could be a biomarker of kidney function in the general population.
Project description:BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major issue worldwide and hyperglycemia is known as an important risk factor responsible for CKD progression. Few studies have investigated whether fasting plasma glucose (FPG) could predict kidney function decline (KFD) risk better than postprandial plasma glucose, and vice versa. In this study, we investigated the roles of FPG and 2-hour plasma glucose (2 h-PG) in predicting KFD risk in a Chinese community-based population without baseline deterioration of kidney functions.MethodsSubjects with normal kidney function from an atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China were followed up for 2.3 years. The outcome was KFD (a drop in glomerular filtration rate category accompanied by 25% or greater decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate from the baseline or a sustained decline of more than 5 mL/min/1.73 m2/year rate).ResultsA total of 3,738 subjects were included of which, 7.7% of the subjects suffered from KFD. After covariates adjustments, both FPG (OR =1.23, P<0.001) and 2 h-PG (OR =1.07, P<0.001) were associated with KFD. Furthermore, FPG was independent of 2 h-PG to predict KFD (OR =1.26, P<0.001). Subgroup analyses and interaction tests including diabetes mellitus, after adjusting all covariates, revealed no significant heterogeneity among analyzed subgroups. We also found subjects with FPG level of 6.1-7.0 mmol/L and >7.0 mmol/L had 1.83 times and 2.51 times KFD risk respectively, compared to subjects with FPG level <5.6 mmol/L.ConclusionFPG was superior to 2 h-PG in predicting KFD in a Chinese community-based population without CKD. FPG screening may be an important measure for CKD primary prevention even in subjects with impaired fasting glucose.
Project description:BackgroundVascular health has been associated with cognition but related evidence is limited in Chinese. The objective of this study was to examine the association of vascular aging assessed by arterial stiffness and blood pressure with cognitive function in an unselected Chinese population.MethodsIn the Tianning Cohort (N = 5158), indicators of arterial stiffness and blood pressure including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse pressure (PP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire. We applied Poisson regression and logistic regression to examine the associations of vascular aging and blood pressure with cognitive function.Results76 (1.47%) participants had impaired cognitive function diagnosed by a MMSE score of less than 24 points. Participants with a higher level of PP were more likely to have a decreased score of MMSE (β=-0.0121, P < 0.001 for log-transformed pulse pressure) and a higher risk of having impaired cognitive function (OR = 5.95, 95%CI: 2.02-17.79, P < 0.001 for log-transformed PP). Per standard deviation increment in SBP was significantly associated with lower MMSE score (β=-0.0020, P < 0.001) and impaired cognitive function (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.38-2.06, P < 0.001). No significant associations were found regarding other parameters.ConclusionsBlood pressure and hypertension were associated with cognitive function in Chinese adults. PP may be a potential predictor for impaired cognitive function.
Project description:We perform the first two-stage GWAS on TB in the Chinese population. We examined 900,015 genetic variants in 1,008 TB patients using the HumanOmniZhongHua-8 v1.1 BeadChip.
Project description:Heart failure is a common consequence of CKD, and it portends high risk for mortality. However, among patients without known heart failure, the associations of different stages of estimated GFR (eGFR) with changes in cardiac structure and function are not well described. Here, we performed a cross-sectional analysis to study these associations among 3487 participants of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study. We estimated GFR using cystatin C. The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) assessed by echocardiography was 32%, 48%, 57%, and 75% for eGFR categories ?60, 45-59, 30-44, and <30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), respectively. In fully adjusted multivariable analyses, subjects with eGFR levels of <30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) had twofold higher odds of LVH (OR=2.20, 95% CI=1.40-3.40; P<0.001) relative to subjects with eGFR?60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). This reduction in kidney function also significantly associated with abnormal LV geometry but not diastolic or systolic dysfunction. An eGFR of 30-44 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) also significantly associated with LVH and abnormal LV geometry compared with eGFR?60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). In summary, in this large CKD cohort, reduced kidney function associated with abnormal cardiac structure. We did not detect significant associations between kidney function and systolic or diastolic function after adjusting for potential confounding variables.
Project description:BackgroundThyroid function may be a factor affecting kidney function in the general population. Kidney and thyroid function vary with age; therefore, the association between thyroid function and decreased kidney function in older adults may be different from that in younger adults and remains controversial. This study aimed to estimate the association between normal-range thyroid function and age-related decline in kidney function in older Chinese adults.MethodsA total of 15,653 adults, of whom 23.2% (N = 3624) were older adults (age≧65 years), were collected at the Health Management Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to January 2020. Basic demographic information was collected by a physician-administered questionnaire. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the CKD-EPI formula. Trends in thyroid function with age were shown by means of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in subgroups every ten years. The association between kidney function and thyroid function was estimated by multiple linear regression using β value and by multivariable logistic regression models using odds ratios (OR) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and serum urine acid.ResultsIn the older population, TSH tended to increase with age and FT3 tended to decrease, whereas FT4 was relatively stable. eGFR decreased significantly with increasing TSH (β = -0.081) and decreasing FT3 (β = 0.083) concentrations. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of FT3 (3.10-4.47 pmol/L), the prevalence of eGFR < 75 ml/min/1.73m2 decreased significantly by 22.0% for those with FT3 of 4.47-4.81 pmol/L, 27.6% for those with FT3 of 4.82-5.20 pmol/L, and 34.9% for those with FT3 of 5.21-6.8 pmol/L in older individuals (P for trend < .001). The OR was 1.315 (P: 0.025) in subjects with high-normal TSH, using low-normal TSH as a reference. The prevalence of reduced kidney function was not significantly associated with FT4 within the reference range. Similar results were found in association between the prevalence of eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2 and thyroid function.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated a significant association between kidney function and thyroid function, particularly FT3, in the older population. Clinicians may need to pay more attention to the assessment and follow-up of kidney function in older individuals with low-normal FT3 and high-normal TSH.
Project description:BACKGROUND:The relationship between renal function and bone mineral density (BMD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of renal function with BMD and osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in 776 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMDs. Clinical, demographic, and biochemical data were obtained at the time of image acquisition. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. RESULTS:Women with eGFR levels of at least 90?ml/min/1.73m2 had a lower prevalence of osteoporosis compared with women with decreased eGFR levels (60?ml/min/1.73?m2???eGFR <?90.0?ml/min/1.73?m2). BMDs at femoral neck and total hip were significantly lower in the lower eGFR class than the higher class (0.717?±?0.106 vs 0.744?±?0.125?g/cm2, P?<?0.01; 0.796?±?0.116 vs 0.823?±?0.129?g/cm2, P?<?0.01, respectively). eGFR was positively correlated with BMDs at femoral neck and total hip in unadjusted analysis (P?<?0.05). After controlling for age, menopausal duration and body mass index (BMI), decreased eGFR was not associated with osteoporosis risk. CONCLUSIONS:After adjustments for age, menopausal duration and BMI, the decline in renal function was not independently associated with osteoporosis risk in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women.
Project description:BackgroundPrediabetes is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the evidence of prediabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor is mainly derived from middle-aged adults. Recently, multiple studies supported that prediabetes in older adults would not lead to higher risk of CVD or mortality. We aimed to investigate the age-specific difference in the association between prediabetes and subclinical atherosclerosis in a Chinese prospective cohort study.MethodsWe included 4739 individuals aged ≥ 40 years and without diagnosed diabetes or CVD history, and divided them into middle-aged adults (age < 60) and older adults (age ≥ 60). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h post-load plasma glucose (2 h-PPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured at baseline to identify prediabetes status. At follow-up visits, subclinical atherosclerosis status was assessed by branchial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic splines and cross-lagged path analysis were used in statistical analysis.Results1634 participants aged over 60 years, and 64.3% of them had prediabetes. 3105 participants aged 40-59 years, and 49.3% of them had prediabetes. We found that prediabetes was associated with increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged adults, but the association attenuated substantially in older adults. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), compared to normal glucose tolerance, was associated with 39% lower risk of increased baPWV only in older adults. In accordance, the association between 2 h-PPG and risk of increased baPWV was "U-shaped" in older adults, while risk of elevated baPWV increased linearly with 2 h-PPG in middle-aged adults. In the cross-lagged analysis, increase in FPG and 2 h-PPG tended not to precede increase in baPWV in older adults, but appeared to increase simultaneously with baPWV in middle-aged ones.ConclusionOur results indicated that prediabetes might be less related to subclinical atherosclerosis in older adults than in middle-aged adults and suggested that age was important to consider in the care of adults with prediabetes.