[Association between unhealthy lifestyles and diabetic dyslipidemia in occupational population and network analysis]

Objective: To understand the influence of unhealthy lifestyle on diabetic dyslipidemia and the key influencing factors in occupational population and provided scientific evidence for the prevention of diabetic dyslipidemia. Methods: Based on baseline data and follow-up data of Southwest Occupational Population Cohort from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. during 2021. Diabetic dyslipidemia was defined as diabetes plus one or more forms of dyslipidemia, and unhealthy lifestyle factors included smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy dietary patterns, low physical activity, and abnormal BMI. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle scores and diabetic dyslipidemia, network analysis was used to find and explore the key lifestyles influencing glycolipid metabolism. Results: A total of 25 631 subjects were included. People with unhealthy lifestyle score 2 and 3 were 1.93 (95%CI: 1.31-2.86) times and 2.37 (95%CI: 1.60-3.50) times more likely to have diabetes with ≥1 forms of dyslipidemia than those with scores of 0; People with unhealthy lifestyle score 1, 2 and 3 were 1.98 (95%CI: 1.08-3.61) times, 2.87 (95%CI: 1.60-5.14) times and 3.95 (95%CI: 2.22-7.06) times more likely to have diabetes with ≥2 forms of dyslipidemia than those with score 0. Network analysis found that abnormal BMI and HDL-C were the "bridge nodes" that link unhealthy lifestyles with diabetic dyslipidemia. Conclusion: The higher the score of unhealthy lifestyle, the higher the risk for diabetic dyslipidemia, abnormal BMI and HDL-C are key factors influencing the association between unhealthy lifestyle and diabetic dyslipidemia.

[Mediating effects of body mass index and lipid levels on the association between alcohol consumption and hypertension in occupational population]

Objective: To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and hypertension and SBP, DBP and the mediating effects of body mass index (BMI) and lipid level in occupational population, and provide reference for the intervention and prevention of hypertension. Methods: Based on the data of Southwest Occupational Population Cohort from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., the information about the demographic characteristics, behavior and lifestyle, blood pressure and lipids level of the participants were collected through questionnaire survey, physical examination and blood biochemical test. Logistic/linear regression was used to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and hypertension, SBP and DBP. The individual and joint mediating effects of BMI, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, and TC were explored through causal mediating analysis. A network analysis was used to explore the correlation between alcohol consumption, BMI and lipid levels, and hypertension. Results: A total of 22 887 participants were included, in whom 1 825 had newly detected hypertension. Logistic regression analysis found that current/former drinkers had a 33% increase of risk for hypertension compared with never-drinkers (OR=1.33, 95%CI:1.19-1.48). Similarly, alcohol consumption could increase SBP (β=1.05, 95%CI:0.69-1.40) and DBP (β=1.10, 95%CI:0.83-1.38). Overall, BMI and lipid levels could mediate the associations between alcohol consumption and hypertension, SBP and DBP by 21.91%, 28.40% and 22.64%, respectively. BMI and TG were the main mediators, and they were also the two nodes with the highest edge weight and bridge strength centrality in the network of alcohol consumption, BMI, lipid levels and hypertension. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk for hypertension, and BMI and TG were important mediators and key nodes in the network. It is suggested that paying attention to the alcohol consumption, BMI and TG might help prevent hypertension in occupational population.

[Association between work environment noise perception and cardiovascular diseases, depressive symptoms, and their comorbidity in occupational population]

Objective: To explore the association between occupational noise perception and cardiovascular disease (CVD), depression symptoms, as well as their comorbidity in occupational population and provide evidence for the prevention and control of physical and mental illnesses. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, based on baseline data in population in 28 prefectures in Sichuan Province and Guizhou Province, and 33 districts (counties) in Chongqing municipality from Southwest Occupational Population Cohort from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. during October to December 2021. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information about noise perception, depressive symptoms, and the history of CVD. Latent profile analysis model was used to determine identify noise perception type, and multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between different occupational noise perception types and CVD, depression symptoms and their comorbidity. Results: A total of 30 509 participants were included, the mean age was (36.6±10.5) years, and men accounted for 82.0%. The direct perception of occupational noise, psychological effects and hearing/sleep impact of occupational noise increased the risk for CVD, depressive symptoms, and their comorbidity. By using latent profile analysis, occupational noise perception was classified into four levels: low, medium, high, and very high. As the level of noise perception increased, the association with CVD, depressive symptoms, and their comorbidity increased. In fact, very high level occupational noise perception were found to increase the risk for CVD, depressive symptoms, and their comorbidity by 2.14 (95%CI: 1.73-2.65) times, 8.80 (95%CI: 7.91-9.78) times, and 17.02 (95%CI: 12.78-22.66) times respectively compared with low-level occupational noise perception. Conclusions: Different types of occupational noise perception are associated with CVD and depression symptom, especially in the form of CVD complicated with depression symptom. Furthermore, the intensity of occupational noise in the work environment should be reduced to lower the risk for physical and mental health.

Image enhancement of color fundus photographs for age-related macular degeneration: the Shanghai Changfeng Study

AIM: To develop and evaluate a new fundus image optimization software based on red, green, blue channels (RGB) for the evaluation of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Chinese population. METHODS: Fundus images that were diagnosed as AMD from the Shanghai Changfeng Study database were analyzed to develop a standardized optimization procedure. Image brightness, contrast, and color balance were measured. Differences between central lesion area and normal retinal area under different image brightness, contrast, and color balance were observed. The optimal optimization parameters were determined based on the visual system to avoid image distortion. A paired-sample diagnostic test was used to evaluate the enhancement software. Fundus optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used as the gold standard. Diagnostic performances were compared between original images and optimized images using McNemar's test. RESULTS: A fundus image optimization procedure was developed using 86 fundus images of 74 subjects diagnosed with AMD. By observing gray-scale images, choroid can be best displayed in red channel and retina in green channel was found. There was limited information in blue channel. Totally 104 participants were included in the paired sample diagnostic test to assess the performance of the optimization software. After the image enhancement, sensitivity increased from 74% to 88% (P=0.008), specificity decreased slightly from 88% to 84% (P=0.500), and Youden index increased by 0.11. CONCLUSION: The standardized image optimization software increases diagnostic sensitivity and may help ophthalmologists in AMD diagnosis and screening.

[Clinical analysis of 46 rheumatoid arthritis patients with peripheral neuropathy]

Objective: To study clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN). Methods: The clinical data of 46 RA patients with PN in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2012 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging results, previous treatment, treatment and clinical outcome. The other 92 RA patients without PN at the same period were selected as controls. Results: In RA patients with PN, the male to female ratio was 1∶2.1 with an average age (59.1±11.8) years. The course of RA and PN was 102.0 (19.0-156.0) months and 4.2 (0.7-5.5) months respectively. Numbness (84.8%, 39/46) and muscle weakness (21.7%, 10/46) were the most common symptoms. According to results of electromyography, polyneuropathy (60.0%, 27/46) was the predominant manifestation, followed by mononeuritis multiplex (31.1%, 14/46). Compared to RA patients, rheumatoid factor (RF) (P<0.001) and the percentage of cutaneous vasculitis (P=0.042) were higher in RA patients with PN. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant correlation between RF>178.4 IU/ml (OR＝5.626, 95%CI 2.509-12.618, P<0.001) and development of PN. Paresthesia in 27 patients (58.7%, 27/46) were relieved after treatment of high dose glucocorticoid and immunoglobulins (IVIG). Twelve patients were followed up regularly and the mean duration of follow-up was 17.0(4.8-52.8)months. Paresthesia in 10 (10/12) patients were relieved compared to that at discharge, 1 (1/12) patient achieved complete remission. Conclusion: Numbness and muscle weakness are the common symptoms in RA patients with PN and polyneuropathy is the main type. RF>178.4 IU/ml is correlated with the development of PN in RA patients. Intensive treatment such as high dose glucocorticoid and IVIG are effective.

Preoperative Thyroid Autoimmune Status and Changes in Thyroid Function and Body Weight After Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery has emerged as the most effective therapy for morbid obesity. There is increasing evidence that bariatric surgery could alleviate systemic inflammation and influence thyroid function. The current study aimed to investigate the associations of preoperative thyroid autoimmune status with the changes in body weight and thyroid function after bariatric surgery.

METHODS

We recruited 101 patients with morbid obesity (44 men and 57 women) who received bariatric surgery at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Those who had used thyroid hormone replacement or antithyroid drugs were excluded. General linear models were used to compare the changes in body weight and thyroid function in participants with different thyroid autoimmune statuses.

RESULTS

After bariatric surgery, serum-free triiodothyronine (FT3) (4.94 ± 0.73 vs 4.33 ± 0.59 pmol/L, P < 0.001) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (3.13 ± 1.59 vs 2.26 ± 1.26 μIU/mL, P < 0.001) were significantly reduced, accompanied by reductions in BMI (42.1 ± 7.6 vs 31.4 ± 6.5 kg/m², P < 0.001), and estimated basal metabolic rate (2002 ± 398 vs 1700 ± 336 kcal/day, P = 0.001) and an improvement in lipid profiles. Serum thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels also decreased significantly from 79.3 and 177.1 IU/mL to 57.8 and 66.0 IU/mL in participants with positive thyroid antibodies (P < 0.05). Further analysis showed that the positive preoperative thyroid autoimmune status was associated with less reduction in serum TSH (0.05 ± 1.59 vs - 1.00 ± 1.43 μIU/mL, P = 0.021) and BMI (- 8.3 ± 3.6 vs - 11.0 ± 4.5 kg, P = 0.049) after bariatric surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights a group of patients with morbid obesity, who have positive preoperative thyroid autoimmunity and less reduction in serum TSH levels and body weight after bariatric surgery.

Improved liquid crystal pretilt angles by patterned dual alignment coating structures

The pretilt angles for the optically compensated bend (OCB) mode liquid crystals have been improved using novel patterned dual alignment coating structures in this study. The transition from the splay configuration to the bend configuration can thus be effectively reduced. The dual alignment coating structures consisted of a horizontal alignment polyimide (PI) and a patterned vertical alignment liquid crystal polymer (LCP). Three patterning masks were designed for the photolithography process. The pretilt angles were demonstrated to be increased to 34 degrees for the triangle lattice array-patterned cells. It became 31 degrees for the square lattice array-patterned cells, and 24 degrees for the honeycomb lattice array-patterned cells. The improved pretilt angles were illustrated by the force balance model that can be predicted by the LCP area ratio. The effective control over the pretilt angle could improve the response time to 2 ms when the voltage was ramped up to 5.5 V for the OCB mode liquid crystal devices.

Intermediate pre-tilt angle control by a composite alignment thin film structure for liquid crystal displays

We designed a patterned composite alignment thin film structure using a horizontal alignment polyimide (PI) layer and vertical alignment liquid crystal polymer (LCP) pillars. The LCP polymer precursor concentration was varied at 0-10% and the pillars were introduced by a photolithography process. Both single-sided and double-sided liquid crystal display cells were assembled for a series of electro-optical characterization techniques. The horizontal PI alignment layer alone had a designated control of the pre-tilt angle of 7 degrees after the prescribed mechanical rubbing process. The pre-tilt angle was improved to 24 degrees when the LCP precursor concentration was 5%. It was further increased to 61 degrees at the concentration of 10%. In addition, the study on the electrical response time and gray level variation demonstrated promising results for potential applications. The field-on response time was only 2.79 ms and the field-off response time was 0.35 ms for the double-sided liquid crystal display cells using a ramping voltage of 5.5 V. The effective control of the cell pre-tilt angle suggested that the display power consumption and response time would be greatly improved.

Effect of acupuncture on immunoglobulins of serum, saliva and gingival sulcus fluid

The present research is a preliminary investigation of the changes of immunoglobulins in serum, saliva and gingival sulcus fluid in response to acute and chronic acupuncture stimulation in 70 volunteers. The acute effect of acupuncture showed that 30 minutes and 24 hours after acupuncture treatment saliva IgA levels were significantly increased in those who had previous low levels of IgA, but decreased in those who had previous high levels. When acupuncture was given daily for 2 weeks, the saliva IgA level was significantly increased, about 20% higher than that of the initial value. The IgG levels in serum and gingival sulcus fluid were decreased at 30 minutes after acupuncture treatment. On the other hand, chronic acupuncture stimulation (daily for 7-10 days) significantly increased IgG levels in both serum and gingival sulcus fluid. The regulatory effect of acupuncture on the immunological function of body defense system is discussed.