Risk Of Chronic Disease Research Articles

Associations between frailty, genetic predisposition, and chronic kidney disease risk in middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesCross-sectional evidence has shown that frailty is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is limited evidence of the longitudinal associations between frailty, genetic predisposition to CKD, and the risk of CKD in the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine such associations among participants in the UK Biobank. Study designThis is a prospective cohort study included 370,965 middle-aged and older adults from the UK Biobank. Physical frailty was assessed using a modified version of the Fried phenotype classification. A weighted genetic risk score was built using 263 variants associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate. Main outcome measuresIncident CKD was identified from hospital inpatient records. ResultsOver a median follow-up of 12.3 years, we documented a total of 11,121 incident CKD cases. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models indicated that individuals with frailty (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.94, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.81–2.08) and pre-frailty (HR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.22–1.33) had an increased risk of developing CKD, compared with non-frail individuals. No significant interaction between frailty and genetic risk score was observed (P for interaction = 0.41). The highest risk was observed among the individuals with high genetic risk and frailty (HR: 2.31, 95 % CI: 2.00–2.68). ConclusionOur results demonstrated that frailty and pre-frailty were associated with increased risk of incident CKD in middle-age and older adults, regardless of genetic risk of CKD. Our study underscores the importance of frailty screening and intervention as a potential strategy to prevent CKD. Future clinical trials are needed to validate our findings.

Hepatitis B virus infection as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCurrently, several studies have observed that chronic hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the pathogenesis of kidney disease. However, the extent of the correlation between hepatitis B virus infection and the chronic kidney disease risk remains controversial.MethodsIn the present study, we searched all eligible literature in seven databases in English and Chinese. The random effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale.ResultsIn this analysis, a total of 31 studies reporting the association between hepatitis B virus infection and chronic kidney disease risk were included. The results showed a significant positive association between hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of chronic kidney disease (pooled OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12–1.29), which means that hepatitis B virus increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.ConclusionThis study found that hepatitis B virus infection was associated with a significantly increased risk of chronic kidney disease. However, the current study still cannot directly determine this causal relationship. Thus, more comprehensive prospective longitudinal studies are needed in the future to provide further exploration and explanation of the association between hepatitis B virus and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Zoster Vaccine Lowers Stroke and Myocardial Infarction Risk in Chronic Disease

Herpes zoster increases stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) risk. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of live attenuated zoster vaccination on stroke and MI risk in patients at-risk for zoster including persons with hypertension, diabetes mellites, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, asthma, and chronic liver disease. Retrospective cohort study utilizing continuous de-identified claims data from the IBM MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database (collected from 2005-2018) containing data for 200 million commercially insured Americans. Participants included 27,093 adults vaccinated against zoster with at least 5 years continuous enrollment, age and sex-matched 1:5 with unvaccinated controls. Odds ratios, risk difference, and number needed to treat (NNT) evaluated the effect of vaccination on stroke and MI while controlling for relevant comorbidities. Over five years, proportions of MI (1.29% vs 1.82%; p<0.05) and stroke (1.61% vs. 2.20%; p<0.05) were lower in vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals respectively, controlling for age and sex, with greatest benefit for people with diabetes (stroke OR [95% Confidence Limits] 0.64 [0.58, 0.71], MI 0.63 [0.57, 0.71]). Although hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had highest odds of stroke and MI, vaccination still provided significant risk-reduction (Hypertension: stroke 0.75 [0.68, 0.83], MI 0.73 [0.65, 0.81]; COPD: stroke 0.75 [0.68, 0.83], MI 0.74 [0.66, 0.83]). Live attenuated zoster vaccination is associated with lower risk stroke and MI in adults with at-risk comorbidities, controlling for age and sex. Vaccination may provide cardiovascular benefits beyond zoster prevention.

In Healthy Pathways of Dietary Changes, a Very Rapid Reduction of Red Meat Is Possible, but Specific Diet Changes Are Required for Full Reduction—A Graph-Based Analysis

BackgroundAlthough reducing meat consumption is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries, such a transition to a sustainable diet may pose some nutritional risks. ObjectivesWe aim to analyze the pathways for reaching a low-meat healthy diet and the changes in other food categories needed to rapidly decrease total red meat consumption. MethodsWe used a recently developed method based on graph theory to represent all possible pathways of stepwise changes that avoid nutritional deficiencies toward a target healthy diet. Initial and target diets were defined as the daily consumption of 33 food groups. For each sex, 3 initial diets were taken from the French representative survey third individual and national study on food consumption survey as the mean observed diet and low (first quintile) and high (fifth quintile) meat consumption. Target diets were identified using multicriteria optimization to minimize the long-term health risk (HR) of chronic diseases while ensuring nutritional adequacy. The Dijkstra algorithm was used to identify the optimal pathways between the initial and target diets, with the aim of reducing meat consumption as quickly as possible and thus minimizing long-term HRs. ResultsUnprocessed red meat was easily minimized in the first steps of the pathways regardless of sex and initial level of meat consumption. However, processed meat could only be decreased later and required prior changes such as increases in fruit, vegetables, and oily fish. During total red meat minimization in females, securing adequate intakes of bioavailable iron had the most substantial impact on the other dietary changes needed. ConclusionsImmediate reduction of red meat consumption is possible on the pathway to a healthy diet that avoids any nutrient deficiency. However, early increases in fruit, vegetables, and fish are required before minimizing total red meat early in the diet.

Protein from Plants and Algae: Potential Trends of Replacing Animal Protein for Public Health

Meat is considered as a significant source of high-quality protein along with other nutritional benefits and sensory properties. However, meat production and consumption is associated with human health concerns, including increased risk of zoonotic diseases, chronic diseases, and air pollution-related health problems. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the market value of alternative proteins. There is a shift in dietary preferences fromomnivorousto vegetarian or flexitarian diets, and eventuallyto plant-based and algae-based diets. Innovative technologies have been used to produce new products aimed at replacingmeat proteins. These include plant-based options such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, textured soy protein; and alternatives derived from algae such as raw ground pork meat, reduced nitrite turkey meat sausages, and pork meat batter formulations.

Molecular regulators of defective placental and cardiovascular development in fetal growth restriction.

Placental insufficiency is one of the major causes of fetal growth restriction (FGR), a significant pregnancy disorder in which the fetus fails to achieve its full growth potential in utero. As well as the acute consequences of being born too small, affected offspring are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases in later life. The placenta and heart develop concurrently, therefore placental maldevelopment and function in FGR may have profound effect on the growth and differentiation of many organ systems, including the heart. Hence, understanding the key molecular players that are synergistically linked in the development of the placenta and heart is critical. This review highlights the key growth factors, angiogenic molecules and transcription factors that are common causes of defective placental and cardiovascular development.

Relationships among health promotion behaviors, patient engagement, and the nurse practitioner-patient partnership.

Individuals adopting health promotion behaviors benefit from improved health and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Patient engagement and a strong provider-patient partnership may play a role in health promotion. This study examined the relationships between patient engagement, the nurse practitioner-patient partnership and health promotion behaviors among adults in a primary care setting. A descriptive correlational study using convenience sampling to recruit 85 participants from a nurse practitioner primary care practice. Participants completed questionnaires measuring health promotion behaviors (Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II), the quality of the nurse practitioner-patient partnership (Patient Reactions Assessment), and a person's capacity to engage in their health care (Person Engagement Index). Moderate to strong correlations were found among the main study variables. Multiple regression analysis found a person's capacity to engage in health care significantly predicted health promotion behaviors (R2 = 0.362, p < .001) and explained 36.2% of the variance in health promotion behaviors. Patient engagement is a significant predictor of health promotion behaviors. The interactive care model can serve as a framework for nurse practitioners to build partnerships and facilitate patient engagement. Nurse practitioners can serve as a coach, navigator, collaborator, and trusted health care partner with their patients. Nurse practitioners in primary care may need to restructure the health care encounter to allow for adequate time to communicate, listen, educate, and enlist patients in the shared decision-making process. Nurse practitioners can provide the support patients need to engage in their health care as they accept greater responsibility for their health.

Correlation of Silent Brain Infarction with the Metabolic Abnormality of CKD Stage 3-5 (non-dialytic) Patients

Background: Silent brain infarction (SBI) poses a significant yet often undetected risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, predisposing them to symptomatic stroke, dementia, and neurological mortality. Despite its implications, the association between SBI and CKD remains elusive, necessitating further exploration to elucidate potential predictive factors. Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between SBI and metabolic abnormalities prevalent in CKD stages 3-5 (non-dialytic) patients. Methods: Conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, from September 2018 to March 2020, the study enrolled 115 participants. Group I comprised 85 CKD stage 3-5 (non-dialytic) patients without neurological symptoms, while Group II comprised 30 healthy controls. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Diseases equation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all subjects. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS-26. Results: The rate of Silent Brain Infarction is 52.9% in CKD patients. SBI was found in 45(52.9%) patients in group I and 4(13.3%) in group II. The differences were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Glomerulonephritis (45.9%) was the leading cause of CKD among the study patients. Most of the patients with Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis (76.9%) had SBI, which indirectly showed its strong association. As the CKD stages progressed, the SBI rate also increased (stage-3:8.9%; stage-4:35.6%; stage-5ND:55.6%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, CKD had an independent relationship with SBI along with serum phosphate level and serum parathyroid hormone level (CKD had Odds ratio (OR)=1.847 (95.0% CI 0.064 to 53.319), serum PO4 had OR=0.958 (95.0% CI 0.885 to 1.038) and serum PTH had OR=0.996 (95.0% CI 0.993 to 1.000). Spearman rank correlation coefficient test showed a positive correlation between the occurrence of SBI and serum PO4 level (r=0.416; p=0.001) and serum PTH level (r= 0.405; p=0.001) separately. Conclusions: The high prevalence of SBI in CKD stage 3-5 (non-dialytic) patients underscores its clinical significance. Serum phosphate and parathyroid hormone levels positively correlate with SBI occurrence, highlighting their potential as predictive markers. Understanding these associations can inform risk stratification and guide targeted interventions in CKD management.

A Review of Fetal Development in Pregnancies with Maternal Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)-Associated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Dysregulation: Possible Links to Pregestational Prediabetes.

Research has identified fetal risk factors for adult diseases, forming the basis for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. DOHaD suggests that maternal insults during pregnancy cause structural and functional changes in fetal organs, increasing the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adulthood. It is proposed that altered maternal physiology, such as increased glucocorticoid (GC) levels associated with a dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in maternal stress and T2DM during pregnancy, exposes the fetus to excess GC. Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure reduces fetal growth and programs the fetal HPA axis, permanently altering its activity into adulthood. This programmed HPA axis is linked to increased risks of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and mental disorders in adulthood. With the global rise in T2DM, particularly among young adults of reproductive age, it is crucial to prevent its onset. T2DM is often preceded by a prediabetic state, a condition that does not show any symptoms, causing many to unknowingly progress to T2DM. Studying prediabetes is essential, as it is a reversible stage that may help prevent T2DM-related pregnancy complications. The existing literature focuses on HPA axis dysregulation in T2DM pregnancies and its link to fetal programming. However, the effects of prediabetes on HPA axis function, specifically glucocorticoid in pregnancy and fetal outcomes, are not well understood. This review consolidates research on T2DM during pregnancy, its impact on fetal programming via the HPA axis, and possible links with pregestational prediabetes.

The glucosylamine oxidation pathway of vitamin C recycling

The proposed glucosylamine oxidation pathway (GOP) is a two-step, intraerythrocyte, thermodynamically favorable nonenzymatic reaction that first binds glucose to the N-terminal valine of beta globin (βVal1) to form a closed-chain glucosylamine that can spontaneously reduce oxidized vitamin C to its antioxidant form. This review summarizes analytical, biochemical and clinical research supporting the existence of the GOP and the surprising hypothesis that βVal1 glucosylamine is a reducing agent that works cooperatively with reduced glutathione to dynamically regulate vitamin C recycling during naturally occurring periods of transiently or chronically elevated blood glucose and oxidant production. Rationale for the existence of the GOP is presented from the perspective of the hemoglobin glycation index, a clinically practical biomarker of risk for chronic vascular disease that we propose is mechanistically explained by person-to-person variation in GOP activity.

Epigenetic signature of very low birth weight in young adult life.

Globally, one in ten babies is born preterm (<37 weeks), and 1-2% preterm at very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g). As adults, they are at increased risk for a plethora of health conditions, e.g., cardiometabolic disease, which may partly be mediated by epigenetic regulation. We compared blood DNA methylation between young adults born at VLBW and controls. 157 subjects born at VLBW and 161 controls born at term, from the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults, were assessed for peripheral venous blood DNA methylation levels at mean age of 22 years. Significant CpG-sites (5'-C-phosphate-G-3') were meta-analyzed against continuous birth weight in four independent cohorts (pooled n = 2235) with cohort mean ages varying from 0 to 31 years. In the discovery cohort, 66 CpG-sites were differentially methylated between VLBW adults and controls. Top hits were located in HIF3A, EBF4, and an intergenic region nearest to GLI2 (distance 57,533 bp). Five CpG-sites, all in proximity to GLI2, were hypermethylated in VLBW and associated with lower birth weight in the meta-analysis. We identified differentially methylated CpG-sites suggesting an epigenetic signature of preterm birth at VLBW present in adult life. Being born preterm at very low birth weight has major implications for later health and chronic disease risk factors. The mechanism linking preterm birth to later outcomes remains unknown. Our cohort study of 157 very low birth weight adults and 161 controls found 66 differentially methylated sites at mean age of 22 years. Our findings suggest an epigenetic mark of preterm birth present in adulthood, which opens up opportunities for mechanistic studies.

Protein Requirements for Maximal Muscle Mass and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Scaled to Meet Energy Needs: A Modeling Study in Professional American Football Players.

American football players consume large quantities of animal-sourced protein in adherence with traditional recommendations to maximize muscle development and athletic performance. This contrasts with dietary guidelines, which recommend reducing meat intake and increasing consumption of plant-based foods to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The capacity of completely plant-based diets to meet the nutritional needs of American football players has not been studied. This modeling study scaled dietary data from a large cohort following completely plant-based diets to meet the energy requirements of professional American football players to determine whether protein, leucine, and micronutrient needs for physical performance and health were met. The Cunningham equation was used to estimate calorie requirements. Nutrient intakes from the Adventist Health Study 2 were then scaled to this calorie level. Protein values ranged from 1.6-2.2 g/kg/day and leucine values ranged from 3.8-4.1 g/meal at each of four daily meals, therefore meeting and exceeding levels theorized to maximize muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle protein synthesis, respectively. Plant-based diets scaled to meet the energy needs of professional American football players satisfied protein, leucine, and micronutrient requirements for muscle development and athletic performance. These findings suggest that completely plant-based diets could bridge the gap between dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention and athletic performance in American football players.

New Perspectives in Management of Cardiovascular Risk Among People With Diabetes.

Following the publication of results from multiple landmark cardiovascular outcome trials of antihyperglycemic medications over the past 8 years, there has been a major shift in the focus of care for people with type 2 diabetes, from control of hyperglycemia to managing cardiovascular risk. Multiple international cardiology and diabetes society guidelines and recommendations now endorse sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like protein-1 receptor agonists as first-line therapies to mitigate cardiovascular risk. The most recent publication is the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guideline on the management of cardiovascular disease in those with type 2 diabetes that, for the first time, recommends use of both classes of medications for the mitigation of cardiovascular risk for those with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Here, we review the evidence behind contemporary society guidelines and recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

DNA methylation in peripheral blood is associated with renal aging and renal function decline: a national community study

BackgroundOlder patients are at risk for acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Age-related increases in DNA methylation at CpG islands have been linked to aging-related diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease, but the exact causal relationship between methylation in renal aging and other kidney diseases remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the methylation status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the Asian population. Using human whole blood DNA methylation analysis from the Taiwan Biobank, we included participants with both whole blood genome-wide methylation data and follow-up data on serum creatinine. We investigated hyper- and hypomethylated genes in comparison of participants with higher and lower estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) decline rate in overall cohort as well as in comparison of old and young participants in subgroup of participants with higher eGFR decline rate. Common genes and signaling pathways in both comparative analyses were identified.ResultsAmong 1587 participants in the analysis, 187 participants had higher eGFR decline rate. According to the comparison of methylation in participants with different eGFR declines and at different ages, respectively, we identified common hypermethylated genes, including DNMT3A and GGACT, as well as hypomethylated genes such as ARL6IP5, CYB5D1, BCL6, RPRD2, ZNF451, and MIAT in both participants with higher eGFR decline and those of older age. We observed associations between the methylation status of signaling pathways and aging as well as renal function decline. These pathways notably included autophagy, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, and sirtuins, which were associated with autophagy process and cytokine production.ConclusionsThrough methylation analysis of PBMCs, we identified genes and signaling pathways which could play crucial roles in the interplay of renal aging and renal function decline. These findings contribute to the development of novel biomarkers for identifying at-risk groups and even for therapeutic agent discovery.

Determination of sensory, microbiological and antioxidant properties of tortilla added with Roselle decoction calyxes powder

Background: Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a flowering plant gaining interest for its potential health benefits due to its high content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties. These properties have been linked to various health improvements, including reduced risk of chronic diseases. Aims: The aim was to assess the sensory, microbiological, physical, and antioxidant properties of corn and wheat tortillas formulated with varying HDC concentrations. Material and Methods: Five formulations were prepared, incorporating HDC (5%, 20%, 50%, and 70%) into the corn and wheat flour blends. The formulation with the most favorable sensory profile was further evaluated for: microbiological analysis, tortilla quality properties (diameter, weight, yield, puffing degree, rollability, and moisture content), total soluble phenolic content (TSPCC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH• and ABTS+• methods). Results: Sensory evaluation revealed that the corn and wheat tortillas with 20% HDC achieved the highest overall acceptability in terms of mouthfeel, color, and flavor attributes. The addition of HDC significantly reduced microbial growth compared to the control tortillas. All formulations displayed significant variations in quality properties. Tortillas containing HDC demonstrated significantly higher levels of TSPCC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity. Conclusion: The incorporation of 20% HDC flour presents a promising approach to developing functional tortillas with enhanced health benefits. These tortillas exhibit desirable sensory characteristics, improved microbiological safety, and increased antioxidant potential, potentially impacting the food industry and consumer health. Keywords: Tortilla, roselle decoction calyxes, phenolic compounds, corn, wheat, antioxidant capacity.

60-OR: Implementing a Machine-Learning Model to Predict Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Progression

60-OR: Implementing a Machine-Learning Model to Predict Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Progression

Modulation of gut microbiota by crude gac aril polysaccharides ameliorates diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders

Obesity is a global health challenge that causes metabolic dysregulation and increases the risk of various chronic diseases. The gut microbiome is crucial in modulating host energy metabolism, immunity, and inflammation and is influenced by dietary factors. Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis), widely consumed in Southeast Asia, has been proven to have various biological activities. However, the composition and effect of crude gac aril polysaccharides (GAP) on obesity and gut microbiota disturbed by high-fat diet (HFD) remain to be elucidated. Compositional analysis showed that GAP contains high oligosaccharides, with an average of 7–8 saccharide units. To mimic clinical obesity, mice were first made obese by feeding HFD for eight weeks. GAP intervention was performed from week 9 to week 20 in HFD-fed mice. Our results showed that GAP inhibited body weight gain, eWAT adipocyte hypertrophy, adipokine derangement, and hyperlipidemia in HFD-induced obese mice. GAP improved insulin sensitivity, impaired glucose tolerance, and hepatic steatosis. GAP modulated the gut microbiota composition and reversed the HFD-induced dysbiosis of at least 20 genera. Taken together, GAP improves metabolic health and modulates the gut microbiome to relieve obesity risk factors, demonstrating the potential of dietary GAP for treating obesity-associated disorders.

Untargeted metabolomics reveal signatures of a healthy lifestyle

This cross-sectional study investigated differences in the plasma metabolome in two groups of adults that were of similar age but varied markedly in body composition and dietary and physical activity patterns. Study participants included 52 adults in the lifestyle group (LIFE) (28 males, 24 females) and 52 in the control group (CON) (27 males, 25 females). The results using an extensive untargeted ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) metabolomics analysis with 10,535 metabolite peaks identified 486 important metabolites (variable influence on projections scores of VIP ≥ 1) and 16 significantly enriched metabolic pathways that differentiated LIFE and CON groups. A novel metabolite signature of positive lifestyle habits emerged from this analysis highlighted by lower plasma levels of numerous bile acids, an amino acid profile characterized by higher histidine and lower glutamic acid, glutamine, β-alanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and proline, an elevated vitamin D status, higher levels of beneficial fatty acids and gut microbiome catabolism metabolites from plant substrates, and reduced levels of N-glycan degradation metabolites and environmental contaminants. This study established that the plasma metabolome is strongly associated with body composition and lifestyle habits. The robust lifestyle metabolite signature identified in this study is consistent with an improved life expectancy and a reduced risk for chronic disease.

Effects of different exercise modalities on inflammatory markers in the obese and overweight populations: unraveling the mystery of exercise and inflammation.

In the realm of obesity and overweight, the risk of chronic diseases significantly escalates, closely intertwined with inflammatory factors. Research suggests that specific exercise interventions, particularly aerobic exercise and resistance exercise, can have beneficial effects on inflammation levels. However, debates persist regarding the actual impact of exercise in the obese and overweight population. We employed meta-analysis research methods and searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science databases to gather controlled experiments on the effects of resistance exercise or aerobic exercise on C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction. The quality of the literature was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook standards, and subgroup analyses of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α were performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Through quantitative synthesis of results from 22 selected studies encompassing a total of 1,135 research subjects, this study systematically explored the specific regulatory effects of different exercise modalities on inflammatory markers in the obese and overweight population. The findings indicate that both aerobic exercise and resistance exercise effectively reduce CRP levels in obese individuals, with aerobic exercise demonstrating a more pronounced effect. Aerobic exercise also significantly lowers IL-6 levels, while the impact of resistance exercise on IL-6 is relatively minor. However, in terms of reducing TNF-α levels, neither modality appears to exert a significant effect. Overall, exercise, especially aerobic exercise, emerges as a positive regulator of inflammatory markers in the context of obesity and overweight.

Protein truncating variants in mitochondrial-related nuclear genes and the risk of chronic liver disease

BackgroundMitochondrial (MT) dysfunction is a hallmark of liver diseases. However, the effects of functional variants such as protein truncating variants (PTVs) in MT-related genes on the risk of liver diseases have not been extensively explored.MethodsWe extracted 60,928 PTVs across 2466 MT-related nucleus genes using whole-exome sequencing data obtained from 442,603 participants in the UK Biobank. We examined their associations with liver dysfunction that represented by the liver-related biomarkers and the risks of chronic liver diseases and liver-related mortality.Results96.10% of the total participants carried at least one PTV. We identified 866 PTVs that were positively associated with liver dysfunction at the threshold of P value < 8.21e − 07. The coding genes of these PTVs were mainly enriched in pathways related to lipid, fatty acid, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolisms. The 866 PTVs were presented in 1.07% (4721) of participants. Compared with participants who did not carry any of the PTVs, the carriers had a 5.33-fold (95% CI 4.15–6.85), 2.82-fold (1.69–4.72), and 4.41-fold (3.04–6.41) increased risk for fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver, liver cancer, and liver disease-related mortality, respectively. These adverse effects were consistent across subgroups based on age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and presence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome.ConclusionsOur findings revealed a significant impact of PTVs in MT-related genes on liver disease risk, highlighting the importance of these variants in identifying populations at risk of liver diseases and facilitating early clinical interventions.