Zhuo Q

Comparison of adiponectin, leptin and leptin to adiponectin ratio as diagnostic marker for metabolic syndrome in older adults of Chinese major cities

The aim of this study was to compare the strength of association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and adiponectin, leptin and leptin to adiponectin ratio (L/A) in older Chinese. This study included 950 males (220 with MetS) and 1096 females (452 with MetS), aged 60-96 years from 18 major cities of the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. The associations of adiponectin, leptin and L/A with components of MetS and MetS were examined using logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The correlation coefficients of MetS components except fasting glucose with leptin were similar to those with L/A and higher than those with adiponectin. After adjusting for age and BMI, the odds ratio for MetS corresponding to 1 SD change in L/A was higher than those for leptin and adiponectin. L/A had highest area under the curve (AUC) for MetS. However, there was no statistically significant difference in AUC between leptin and L/A, and both indices produced a significantly higher AUC than adiponectin. In conclusion, L/A and leptin may be better diagnostic markers for MetS than adiponectin. After adjusting for BMI, L/A has better ability for correctly classifying subjects with and without MetS than adiponectin or leptin alone.

Long-term toxicity study on transgenic rice with Cry1Ac and sck genes

In the present work, we evaluated the chronic effects of the transgenic insect-resistant rice carrying Cry1Ac and sck genes on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats through a 78-week feeding study. Based on the gender and weight, 180 SD rats were randomly and evenly assigned into three groups. GM rice and non-GM rice were separately formulated into diets at high levels. AIN-93 diet was used as a nutritional control. Body weight, food consumption, hematology and serum chemistry were monitored regularly. Rats were sacrificed for organ weight measurement and pathological examination at 52 weeks and 78 weeks. Body weight, food consumption, mortality rates, tumor incidences and pathological findings showed no significant difference among the three groups. Although certain differences in some hematology, serum chemistry parameters and relative organ weights were observed between GM rice group and control groups, they were not considered as treatment-related. Taken together, long-term intake of transgenic rice carrying Cry1Ac and sck genes at a high level exerts no unintended adverse effects on rats.

Geographic variation in the prevalence of overweight and economic status in Chinese adults

China is experiencing a rapid increase in overweight and related conditions. This study describes the geographic variation in BMI levels and the prevalence of overweight and underweight in Chinese adults, and assesses their relations with regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita levels. BMI values and the prevalence of overweight and underweight in 143 522 adults from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey (2002) were calculated according to geographic regions in China. Their correlations with GDP were assessed. Linear and logistic regressions were used to adjust for age, sex and city-country composition. BMI and the prevalence of overweight were highest in the Bohai coastal regions while lowest in southern provinces such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan and Fujian. Mean BMI values ranged from 20.72 to 25.48 kg/m2, and the prevalence of overweight ranged from 6.6 to 53.9 %. BMI and the prevalence of overweight were positively correlated with economic development, particularly in the northern regions. However, for regions with similar GDP per capita levels, those in the south had substantially lower BMI and lower prevalence of overweight than those in the north. Interestingly, some southern regions with high GDP per capita had low BMI and low prevalence of overweight. The prevalence of underweight was highest in the south. Substantial geographic variations in the prevalence of overweight and underweight exist in China. Such variations cannot be fully explained by the differences in economic status. China is currently facing challenges of both overweight and underweight but priorities vary in different regions.

Association between adiponectin and metabolic syndrome in older adults from major cities of China

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between adiponectin and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related diseases in older adults from major cities of China. METHODS A total of 2 049 adults at the age of 60-96 years from 18 major cities of China were enrolled in the study. Plasma adiponectin and insulin concentrations were measured. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The definitions proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NLHBI) were used to identify MetS. RESULTS The adiponectin concentration increased with the advance of age and was higher in women than in men. The sex specific adiponectin concentration was inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose and fasting blood insulin, and positively correlated with HDL-C (P < 0.001). The adiponectin concentration decreased with increasing MetS components. Compared with the 4th sex-specific adiponectin quartile, the odds ratio (OR) for prevalent MetS-IDF and MetS-AHA/NLHBI in subjects of the 1st quartile group was 3.25 (95% CI: 2.24, 4.71) and 3.21 (95% CI: 2.26, 4.55), respectively. The association was independent of age, sex, life-style factors, medication, family history of chronic diseases, BMI, and HOMA-IR. The OR for MetS was much higher than those of MetS components and its related diseases. CONCLUSION Adiponectin is strongly associated with MetS independent of insulin resistance and obesity in older adults from major cities in China. The adiponectin concentration is a useful predictor for the risk of MetS.

Are the associations of plasma leptin and adiponectin with type 2 diabetes independent of obesity in older Chinese adults

China has experienced a rapid increase in diabetes. In this study, we assessed whether the associations of two adipocyte‐derived hormones, leptin and adiponectin, with type 2 diabetes are independent of obesity in older Chinese adults.

Basal energy expenditure in southern Chinese healthy adults: measurement and development of a new equation.

The objective of the present study is to measure basal energy expenditure (BEE) using the Cosmed K₄b² portable metabolic system (Rome, Italy) and to develop a new predictive equation for BEE in southern Chinese adults. A total of 165 healthy Chinese adults aged 18-45 years with normal body weight were involved in the present study. BEE was measured by Cosmed K₄b². Body composition was determined by body composition analysers (ImpediMed DF50, QLD, Australia). Multiple linear regression analysis and correlation analysis were applied to develop a new optimal equation for predicting BEE of southern healthy Chinese adults. Measured BEE (mBEE) of southern Chinese healthy adults was 5513 (sem 96) kJ/d, which was similar to the results predicted by the equation developed by of Liu 5579 (sem 57) kJ/d (P = 0·37) and significantly lower than those from equations developed by Henry (5763 (sem 54) kJ/d), Schofield (5898 (sem 58) kJ/d) and Harris-Benedict (HB; 5863 (sem 51) kJ/d) (all P = 0·001). The optimal equation developed by our data was BEE (kJ/d) = 277+89 weight (kg)+600 sex (male = 1 and female = 0) (r² = 0·48, n 165). For males, BEE (kJ/d) = 105 weight (kg) - 58 (r² = 0·27, n 79); for females, BEE (kJ/d) = 69 weight (kg)+1335 (r² = 0·24, n 86). In conclusion, the mBEE of southern Chinese healthy adults was 5513 (sem 96) kJ/d. The BMR of Chinese adults of normal weight is overestimated by widely used prediction equations developed by Henry, Schofield and HB. The equation developed in the present study (equation 7) can be used in predicting BEE for Chinese adults aged 18-45 years with normal body weight.

Large-scale Purification and Acute Toxicity of Hygromycin B Phosphotransferase

OBJECTIVE To provide the acute toxicity data of hygromycin B phosphotransferase (HPT) using recombinant protein purified from E. coli. METHODS Recombinant HPT protein was expressed and purified from E. coli. To exclude the potential adverse effect of bacteria protein in recombinant HPT protein, bacterial control plasmid was constructed, and bacteria control protein was extracted and prepared as recombinant HPT protein. One hundred mice, randomly assigned to 5 groups, were administrated 10 g/kg, 5 g/kg, or 1 g/kg body weight of HPT or 5 g/kg body weight of bacterial control protein or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) respectively by oral gavage. RESULTS All animals survived with no significant change in body weight gain throughout the study. Macroscopic necropsy examination on day 15 revealed no gross pathological lesions in any of the animals. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of HPT was 10 g/kg body weight in mice and could be regarded as nontoxic. CONCLUSION HPT protein does not have any safety problems to human health.

Total energy expenditure of 16 Chinese young men measured by the doubly labeled water method.

OBJECTIVE Doubly labeled water (DLW) method is the gold standard for measuring total energy expenditure (TEE). We used this method to measure TEE in Chinese young men. METHODS Sixteen healthy young men age 23±1 years with body mass index 22.0±1.4 kg/m2 were recruited. TEE was measured by the DLW method, and basal energy expenditure (BEE) was determined by indirect calorimetry. We also conducted 24-h activity, energy balance and factorial approach to estimate energy requirements of the subjects. RESULTS TEE of subjects by DLW method was 9.45±0.57 MJ/day (2258±180 kcal/day). The 24-h activity was 10.80±0.33 MJ/day (2582±136 kcal/day). The energy requirement, derived from energy balance observations, was 9.93±1.32 MJ/day (2373±315 kcal/day). The BEE of 6.65±0.28 MJ/day (1589±67 kcal/day), calculated by the adjusted Schofield equation, was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that measured by indirect calorimetry, 5.99±0.66 MJ/day (1433±158 kcal/day). The TEE derived from the factorial approach was 10.31±0.43 MJ/day (2463±104 kcal/day). CONCLUSION The TEE of Chinese young men measured by the DLW method was about 10% lower than the current recommended nutrient intake (RNI), suggesting that the RNI for Chinese men maybe overestimated. Further studies are warranted to determine the value of the estimated energy requirement.

Three-generation reproduction toxicity study of genetically modified rice with insect resistant genes

In the present work, we evaluated the three generation reproductive toxicity of the genetically modified rice with insectresistant cry1Ac and sck genes. 120 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups which were fed with genetically modified rice diet (GM group), parental control rice diet (PR group) and AIN-93 control diet (both used as negative control) respectively. Bodyweight, food consumption, reproductive data, hematological parameters, serum chemistry, relative organ weights and histopathology for each generation were examined respectively. All the hematology and serum chemistry parameters, organ/body weight indicators were within the normal range or no change to the adverse direction was observed, although several differences in hematology and serum chemistry parameters (WBC, BUN, LDH of male rat, PLT, PCT, MPV of female rats), reproductive data (rate of morphologically abnormal sperm) were observed between GM rice group and two control groups. No macroscopic or histological adverse effects were found or considered as treatment-related, either. Overall, the three generation study of genetically modified rice with cry1Ac and sck genes at a high level showed no unintended adverse effects on ratss reproductive system.

Modulation of the Fecal Microbiota in Sprague-Dawley Rats Using Genetically Modified and Isogenic Corn Lines

This study investigated the composition and proportions of fecal microbiota in Sprague-Dawley rats after consuming two genetically modified (GM) corn lines in comparison with the isogenic corn and the AIN93G standard feed for 10 weeks using bar-coded 16S rRNA gene sequencing. As a result, GM corn did not significantly alter the overall health and alpha-diversity of fecal microbiota. Fecal microbiota structures could be separated into noncorn and corn but not non-GM and GM corn subgroups. Both non-GM and GM corn caused the increase in bacterial populations related to carbohydrates utilization, such as Lactobacillus, Barnesiella, and Bifidobacterium, and the reduction in potentially pathogenic populations, such as Tannerella and Moraxellaceae. In conclusion, similar effects on the fecal microbiota were observed after consuming a GM- and non-GM-corn-based diet for long periods. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the functional relevance of the changes in the proportions of bacterial populations in these diets.