Medicine
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Previous studies have confirmed the affiliation between specific inflammatory cytokines and Hepatic fibrosis (HF); however, contradictions remain in the causality. The study implemented a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with published statistics derived from Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) to investigate casualties between inflammatory cytokines and HF. Additionally, MR analysis was also introduced to consider if 1400 blood metabolites act as the key mediators in this process. ⋯ Besides, sensitivity tests were involved to identify potential heterogeneity and pleiotropic level. IVW methods revealed that a relatively high level of prediction-based monocyte chemoattractant protein-4 (MCP-4) (95% CI: 1.014-3.336, P = .045), along with neurturin (NRTN) (95% CI: 1.204-4.004, P = .010), may increase the risk of HF; while programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) (95% CI: 0.223-0.928, P = .030), showed a protective effect on HF. No significant statistical differences were detected on any other inflammatory cytokines, nor did the impact of HF genetic predisposition on the 91 circulating inflammatory cytokines-related characteristics.
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This study aimed to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, as measured by hormone levels, in Saudi women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study will also assess thyroid hormones and leptin, angiopoietin like 8 (ANGPTL8), obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in T2D patients. A total of 250 women aged 40 to 60 years with T2DM were retrospectively studied between 2021 and 2022. ⋯ In hypothyroidism, thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) is favorably linked with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyscride (TG), TyG index, BMI, WC, leptin, ANGPTL8, hs-CRP, and IR. T2DM is linked to thyroid malfunction, notably hypothyroidism, which correlates positively with TSH. TSH variations due to increasing leptin, ANGPTL8, and TyG index may enhance the risk of insulin resistance diseases, such as obesity and CVD, in Saudi females with T2DM.
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Observational Study
Investigating the potential association between micronutrient levels and non-dipper hypertension patterns in the elderly population: A retrospective analysis.
The goal is to provide foundational data that could spearhead more extensive, prospective research into understanding the influences of micronutrient levels on the nocturnal patterns of hypertension, possibly aiding in identifying potential therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in this demographic. The research employed a retrospective design to analyze the micronutrient levels, including ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, in a limited sample size from a single hospital. However, it is worth noting that the study did not scrutinize other potentially relevant micronutrients and biomarkers and lacked information on potential confounding factors such as lifestyle and dietary habits, physical activity levels, and specific details on antihypertensive medications used. ⋯ The study underscores the increasing prevalence of hypertension and micronutrient deficiencies as age progresses. Despite its limitations, including limited sample size and potential influences from unaccounted variables, the study hints at a potential relationship between micronutrient levels and non-dipper hypertension. It emphasizes the necessity for larger scale, prospective research to delve deeper into the nature of this relationship, potentially fostering new therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular risk management within the elderly population.
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The increasing global popularity of traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) provides substantial evidence of its significant efficacy in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). To assess the impact of different types of TCE and varying exercise durations on KOA patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic. ⋯ Based on the results of our meta-analysis, it can be concluded that both long-term and short-term TCE interventions are effective in alleviating the main symptoms of KOA and improving patients' physical function. However, due to limited methodological quality and inconsistent outcome measures in the included RCTs, further high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer-term interventions are necessary to validate our findings before TCE can be recommended as a treatment for KOA.