The optimal anatomic site for a single slice to estimate the total volume of visceral adipose tissue by using the quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in Chinese population

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between the cross-sectional visceral adipose tissue (VAT) areas at different anatomic sites and the total VAT volume in a healthy Chinese population using quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and to identify the optimal anatomic site for a single slice to estimate the total VAT volume.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

A total of 389 healthy Chinese subjects aged 19-63 years underwent lumbar spine QCT scans. The cross-sectional area of total adipose tissue and VAT were measured using the tissue composition module of the software (QCT Pro, Mindways) at each intervertebral disc level from T₁₂/L₁ to L₅/S₁, as well as at the umbilical level. The total VAT volume was defined as the fat areas multiplied by the height of vertebral body for all six slices. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between single-slice VAT areas and the total VAT volume. Moreover, the optimal anatomic site for a single slice to estimate the total VAT volume was identified by multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

The cross-sectional area of VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measured at each anatomic site was all highly correlated with the total VAT volume and the total SAT volume (r = 0.89-0.98). Additionally, the VAT area measured at the L₂/L₃ level showed the strongest correlation with the total VAT volume (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). Covariates including age, gender, BMI, waist, and hypertension make a slight effect on the prediction of the total VAT volume.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to perform measurements of VAT area on a single slice at L₂/L₃ level for estimating the total VAT volume.

Genotype and allele frequencies of TYMS rs2790 A > G polymorphism in a Chinese paediatric population with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is an important target for methotrexate (MTX). Genetic variations in the TYMS gene contribute to the differences in treatment responses to MTX. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of a microRNA (miRNA) binding site polymorphism (rs2790 A > G) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of TYMS and its association with MTX concentration and haematological toxicity in Chinese paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

METHODS

The Sequenom MassARRAY system was used for TYMS rs2790 A > G genotyping in 118 children with ALL. Serum MTX concentrations were measured by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical records.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The minor allele frequency noted in this study (39.8%) was significantly higher than those in the CEU (Utah residents with northern and western Europe ancestry; 16.2%) and YRI (Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria; 25.0%) samples reported in the 1000 Genomes Project (P < .01). The frequency of MTX level >40 μmol/L at 24 hours in patients with the AA genotype (36.6%) was significantly higher than that in GG genotype carriers (5.9%, P < .05). However, the incidence rates of haematological toxicity were similar in the three genotype groups. Whereas there was evidence of higher blood levels in the A homozygotes, the evidence for this translating to higher toxicity was lacking. A larger study would be required to answer this.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

The results of this study confirmed the significant ethnic differences in the distributions of the TYMS rs2790 A > G polymorphism. Whereas there was evidence of differences in MTX blood levels according to genotype, our study was not powered to show whether this would lead to more haematological toxicity.

Association of adiposity indices with bone density and bone turnover in the Chinese population

Associations of adiposity indices with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers were evaluated in Chinese participants. Body mass index, fat mass, and lean mass are positively related to BMD in both genders. Subcutaneous fat area was proved to be negatively associated with BMD and positively correlated with osteocalcin in postmenopausal females.

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is highly associated with osteoporosis, but the effect of adipose tissue on bone is contradictory. Our study aimed to assess the associations of adiposity indices with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers (BTMs) in the Chinese population.

METHODS

Our study recruited 5215 participants from the Shanghai area, evaluated related anthropometric and biochemical traits in all participants, tested serum BTMs, calculated fat distribution using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and image analysis software, and tested BMD with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

When controlled for age, all adiposity indices were positively correlated with BMD of all sites for both genders. As for the stepwise regression analysis, body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and lean mass were protective for BMD in both genders. However, subcutaneous fat area (SFA) was detrimental for BMD of the L1-4 and femoral neck (β ± SE -0.0742 ± 0.0174; p = 2.11E-05; β ± SE -0.0612 ± 0.0147; p = 3.07E-05). Adiposity indices showed a negative correlation with BTMs adjusting for age, especially with osteocalcin. In the stepwise regression analysis, fat mass was negatively correlated with osteocalcin (β ± SE -8.8712 ± 1.4902; p = 4.17E-09) and lean mass showed a negative correlation with N-terminal procollagen of type I collagen (PINP) for males (β ± SE -0.3169 ± 0.0917; p = 0.0006). In females, BMI and visceral fat area (VFA) were all negatively associated with osteocalcin (β ± SE -0.4423 ± 0.0663; p = 2.85E-11; β ± SE -7.1982 ± 1.1094; p = 9.95E-11), while SFA showed a positive correlation with osteocalcin (β ± SE: 5.5993 ± 1.1753; p = 1.98E-06).

CONCLUSION

BMI, fat mass, and lean mass are proved to be beneficial for BMD in both males and postmenopausal females. SFA is negatively associated with BMD and positively correlated with osteocalcin in postmenopausal females.

Prevalence of HBsAg/HBeAg amongst 1 936 801 couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China: An observational study

There are few extant studies on the prevalence of HBV infection in couples preparing for pregnancy. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China, and the association between HBV prevalence and the statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT in the spouses. We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study, using data from a health check-up program for 1 936 801 rural couples from 31 provinces preparing for pregnancy between 2010 and 2012. ELISA was used to test serologic samples, and we defined couples who were either discordant or both positive for HBsAg as "POSITIVE COUPLES" (PC). Amongst the 1 936 801 couples, 202 816 (10.47%; 95% CI, 10.43%-10.51%) were PC. HBeAg (high infectiousness) was detected in 56 474 (27.84%; 95% CI, 27.65%-28.04%) of 202 816 HBsAg-positive couples. Multivariate models showed that the prevalence of HBV infection in wives increased along with the positive statuses for HBsAg/HBeAg and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of their husbands (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.31 to 4.98), after adjustment for potential confounders. Similarly, the prevalence of HBV infection in husbands was associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of their wives (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.04 to 4.93). The prevalence of POSITIVE COUPLES in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China was high, and the prevalence of HBV infection was independently associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of the spouses. Instead of solely focussing on mothers prior to becoming pregnant, POSITIVE COUPLES should be taken as an important unit of care.

Inhibition of colony stimulating factor-1 receptor abrogates microenvironment-mediated therapeutic resistance in gliomas

Glioblastomas represent the most aggressive glioma grade and are associated with a poor patient prognosis. The current standard of care, consisting of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, only results in a median survival of 14 months, underscoring the importance of developing effective new therapeutic strategies. Among the challenges in treating glioblastomas are primary resistance and the rapid emergence of recurrent disease, which can result from tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms in addition to tumor microenvironment (TME)-mediated extrinsic resistance. Using a PDGF-B-driven proneural glioma mouse model, we assessed a panel of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with different selectivity profiles. We found that PLX3397, an inhibitor of colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R), blocks glioma progression, markedly suppresses tumor cell proliferation and reduces tumor grade. By contrast, the multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors dovitinib and vatalanib, which directly target tumor cells, exert minimal anti-tumoral effects in vivo, despite killing glioma cells in vitro, suggesting a TME-mediated resistance mechanism may be involved. Interestingly, PLX3397 interferes with tumor-mediated education of macrophages and consequently restores the sensitivity of glioma cells to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in vivo in preclinical combination trials. Our findings thus demonstrate that microenvironmental alteration by CSF-1R blockade renders tumor cells more susceptible to receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition in a preclinical glioblastoma model, which may have important translational relevance.

The effect of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) variants on visceral fat accumulation in Han Chinese populations

Objectives:

We aim to validate the effects of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) on fat distribution and glucose metabolism in Han Chinese populations.

Methods:

We genotyped six tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GIP and four tag SNPs of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) among 2884 community-based individuals from Han Chinese populations. Linear analysis was applied to test the associations of these variants with visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) quantified by magnetic resonance imaging as well as glucose-related traits.

Results:

We found that the C allele of rs4794008 of GIP tended to increase the VFA and the VFA/SFA ratio in all subjects (P=0.050 and P=0.054, respectively), and rs4794008 was associated with the VFA/SFA ratio in males (P=0.041) after adjusting for the BMI. The VFA-increasing allele of rs4794008 was not related to any glucose metabolism traits. However, rs9904288 of GIP was associated with the SFA in males as well as glucose-related traits in all subjects (P range, 0.004–0.049), and the GIPR variants displayed associations with both fat- and glucose-related traits.

Conclusions:

The results could provide the evidence that GIP might modulate visceral fat accumulation via incretin function or independent of incretin.

[Time characteristics of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province]

Objective To investigate the time distribution characteristics and the epidemic trends of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province. Methods The malaria case records and epidemiological history data of Yunnan Province were collected, and the local infection cases were excluded. The data were statistical analyzed. Results The imported malaria cases had a significantly seasonal periodicity (Q = 26.574, P < 0.05) and epidemic trends (Q = 35.487, P < 0.05). The imported peak was in May, while February was the lowest month of imported cases, and the difference was significant (Z = -2.619, P < 0.05). The simple seasonal prediction model was the best model (R² = 0.677, BIC = 4.867) for forecast while the residual sequence was white noise (Q = 14.226, P > 0.05). By using the model to predict the cases in January, February and March of 2016, the number (95% CI) were 29 (7-50), 22 (0-44) and 31 (8-54), and the actual number of imported malaria cases were 29, 24 and 38 cases respectively and all cases were included in the 95% CI. Conclusion The imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province had a significantly seasonal periodicity and epidemic trends, and the established model has good prediction on the recent cases.

[Correlative factors related to the density of Meriones unguiculatus in the Meriones unguiculatus plague foci of Hebei province, 2001-2013]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the yearly, monthly and habitat-related distribution and their relations with Meriones unguiculatus density in the Hebei Meriones unguiculatus plague foci, from 2001 to 2013.

METHODS

Data related to Meriones unguiculatus was gathered through the monitoring programs set up at the national and provincial Meriones unguiculatus plague foci in Hebei province, from 2001 to 2013. According to the yearly density of Meriones unguiculatus, criteria set for the three groups under study, were as follows:'high-risk group'-when the rodent density was≥1.00 under rodents/hm(2),'warning group'-when the rodents/hm(2)>rodent density> 0.20,'standard group'-when rodents/hm(2) rodent density≤0.20 rodents/hm(2). Differences of habitats and monthly distribution among the three groups were compared, under the Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test while their relations were under the multiple correspondence analysis.

RESULTS

The Meriones unguiculatus densities were higher than 1.00 rodents/hm(2), far above the set national standards, in the monitoring area, between 2001 and 2005. From 2005, though the rodent densities began to decrease, however, figures from 2008 to 2013 were still among 0.20 to 1.00 rodents/hm(2). The distribution of habitats in the three groups showed that the Meriones unguiculatus densities were all different in habitats and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The highest median densities were all in the arable land, with maximum value of high-risk group appeared the highest (20.50 rodents/hm(2)) in the wasteland. Monthly distribution showed that the Meriones unguiculatus densities were different and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) in the high-risk and standard groups but not statistically significant in the warning group. Data from the multiple correspondence analysis showed that there was a strong aggregation among wasteland, in April and June, while the warning group was associated with weather in July and the arable land.

CONCLUSIONS

When the density became higher than 1.00 rodents/hm(2), the risk on animal plague increased in Hebei Meriones unguiculatus plague foci. Based on the distribution of Meriones unguiculatus, programs should be set to monitor the rodent in arable land and wasteland, in April and June, to reduce the prevalence of animals plague.