[Prevalence of frailty and related factors in middle-aged and elderly people in island and mountainous areas of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province]

Objective: To compare the prevalence of frailty and related factors in middle-aged and elderly people aged ≥45 years in island and mountainous areas of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. Methods: Based on cross-sectional design, stratified cluster sampling and quota sampling methods were adopted. One administrative district was randomly selected from each of six coastal and three inland administrative districts in Taizhou during July to August, representing two different geographical terrains. In the island area (Jiaojiang District), all residents aged ≥45 years were included by cluster sampling. In the mountainous area (Xianju County), participants were selected through quota sampling, with same gender and age distributions. Data about their demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health-related factors were collected through questionnaire surveys and laboratory examinations. The prevalence of frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty phenotype scale. Hierarchical analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to compare the influencing factors of frailty. Results: A total of 1 011 local residents were studied, in whom island and mountainous residents accounted for 48.1% (486/1 011) and 51.9% (525/1 011) respectively; men and women accounted for 45.9% (464/1 011) and 54.1% (547/1 011) respectively. Middle-aged (45-49 years), younger elderly (60-74 years), and older elderly (≥75 years) residents accounted for 38.6% (390/1 011), 44.6% (451/1 011), and 16.8% (170/1 011) respectively. The overall prevalence rate of frailty was 3.6% (36/1 011), the prevalence rate was 3.7% (17/464) in men and 3.5% (19/547) in women. The prevalence rates in age groups 45-59,60-74 years and ≥75 years were 0.3% (1/390), 2.2% (10/451), and 14.7% (25/170), respectively. The prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty in island area were 6.0% (29/486) and 39.1% (190/486), respectively, which was higher than those in mountainous area (1.3%, 7/525) and (30.9%, 162/525). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the risk for frailty in island residents was significantly higher than that in mountainous residents (aOR=1.55,95%CI: 1.07-2.25,P=0.019). In island area, older age (60-74 years:aOR=2.52,95%CI: 1.56-4.13; ≥75 years:aOR=11.65,95%CI:5.38-26.70), being women (aOR=1.94,95%CI: 1.20-3.17), suffering from depression (aOR=1.09,95%CI:1.02-1.17) were associated with frailty symptoms. In mountainous area, older age was also associated with an increased risk of frailty symptoms, but the OR value was lower than those in island area (60-74 years: aOR=1.74,95%CI:1.04-2.94;≥75 years: aOR=4.78,95%CI:2.45-9.50). Polydrug use (aOR=2.08,95%CI: 1.14-3.80) and suffering from depression (aOR=1.10,95%CI: 1.02-1.18) had significant positive association with frailty symptoms. Higher education level had significant negative association with frailty symptoms (junior high school: aOR=0.40,95%CI: 0.21-0.75; senior high school and technical secondary school: aOR=0.29,95%CI: 0.15-0.53; college or above:aOR=0.22,95%CI: 0.11-0.42). Conclusions: The prevalence of frailty in middle-aged and elderly community residents was significantly higher in island area than in mountainous area in Taizhou. The frailty-related factors varied with area. The elderly people (≥75 years) and women in island area had higher risk for frailty. Older age and suffering from depression were the independent risk factors for frailty. It is necessary to pay attention to the health risk factors and special environment in island area, and take comprehensive intervention measures to delay the process of debilitation and improve the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly people.

[Regulatory effect of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated protein B on proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer cells]

Objective: To study the expression and effect of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated protein B (SNRPB) on proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer tissues and cells. Methods: The bioinformatics database starBase v3.0 and GEPIA were used to analyze the expression of SNRPB in liver cancer tissue and normal liver tissue, as well as the survival and prognosis of liver cancer patients. The expression of SNRPB mRNA and protein in liver cancer cell lines were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. RNA interference technique (siRNA) was used to determine SNRPB protein expression down-regulation. The proliferation effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells was observed by MTT assay. Transwell invasion and migration assay was used to detect the changes in the metastatic ability of liver cancer cells after SNRPB down-regulation. Western blot was used to detect the changes of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in liver cancer cells after down-regulation of SNRPB expression. Data were compared between two groups and multiple groups using t-test and analysis of variance. Results: The expression of SNRPB was significantly higher in liver cancer tissue than normal liver tissue, and its expression level was correlated with the prognosis of liver cancer patients. Compared with the immortalized hepatocyte LO(2), the expression of SNRPB was significantly increased in the liver cancer cells (P < 0.01). siRNA-SNRPB had significantly inhibited the expression of SNRPB mRNA and protein in liver cancer cells. MTT results showed that the absorbance value was lower in SNRPB knockdown group than negative control group, and the difference at 96 h after transfection was most significant (P < 0.01). Transwell assay results showed that compared with the negative control group, the SNRPB knockdown group (MHCC-97H: 121.27 ± 8.12 vs. 46.38 ± 7.54; Huh7: 126.50 ± 6.98 vs. 41.10 ± 8.01) invasion and migration (MHCC-97H: 125.20 ± 4.77 vs. 43.18 ± 7.32; Huh7: 132.22 ± 8.21 vs. 38.00 ± 6.78) ability was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in liver cancer cells. Western blot showed that the expression level of epithelial phenotype marker E-cadherin was decreased after down-regulation of SNRPB, while the expression levels of mesenchymal phenotype markers N-cadherin and vimentin was increased, suggesting that down-regulation of SNRPB inhibited EMT in liver cancer cells. Conclusion: SNRPB expression is significantly increased in liver cancer tissues and cells, and it is involved in regulating the proliferation, metastasis and EMT of liver cancer cells.

[Regulatory effects of LIM kinase 1 on the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells]

Objective: To study LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) expressional condition, and its regulatory effects on the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues. Methods: The online database starBase v3.0 and GEPIA were used to analyze the LIMK1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and normal liver tissues, and then the relevant survival analysis was performed. LIMK1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was analyzed by Western blot. Hep3B and Huh7 cells were transiently transfected after LIMK1 protein expression was down-regulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA). LIMK1 effects on the proliferation of Hep3B and Huh7 cells were observed by MTT assay and colony formation assay. Transwell assay was used to detect the change in metastatic ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cell after the down-regulation of LIMK1 expression. Western blot was used to detect the changes of related indexes in the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition after the down-regulation of LIMK1 expression. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: The expression level of LIMK1 in liver cancer tissues was significantly higher than that of normal liver tissues, and was related with prognosis (P ​< 0.01). Furthermore, LIMK1 expression in HCC cell lines was significantly higher than that of immortalized liver L02 cells (P < 0.05). Functional correlated experiment showed that the proliferation and metastatic ability of liver cancer cells were significantly inhibited after LIMK1 expression down-regulation (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, LIMK1 was also involved in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conclusion: LIMK1 was overexpressed in HCC tissues and cells, and may regulate the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells and participate in epithelial-mesenchymal transition process.

Biotransformation and elimination of 1-nitropyrene in the isolated perfused lung: effects of pretreating rats with phenobarbitone, beta-naphthoflavone, benz(A)anthracene or their mixtures

The isolated perfused rat lung (IPL) was perfused with 60 ml of recirculating Krebs-Ringer solution containing 150 micrograms of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) for 1 h. The 1-NP was administered to the IPL by the intratracheal or intravascular route. At specific time points after 1-NP administration, perfusate samples were removed from the IPL and analysed for 1-NP and its metabolites by HPLC. Monohydroxynitropyrenes, dihydroxynitropyrenes and 1-NP were found to be present in the perfusate. The time course of 1-NP concentrations in the perfusate could be described by a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Pretreatment of rats with beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), benz(a) anthracene (BA) or a mixture of phenobarbitone (PB) and BNF (PB + BNF) significantly enhanced the metabolism of 1-NP and decreased the mean residence time (MRT) of 1-NP in the perfusate. Pretreatment of rats with these mixed-function oxidase inducers also increased significantly the absorption of 1-NP by the lung when it was administered intratracheally. In contrast, pretreatment of rats with PB did not appear to have any effect on the pharmacokinetics of 1-NP in the IPL.

Benzo(a)pyrene toxicokinetics in the cricket following injection into the haemolymph

The metabolic disposition of (14)C-labelled benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in the cricket (Acheta domesticus) was investigated after injection into the haemolymph. (14)C-BP was taken up rapidly by the nerve cord, malpighian tubules, reproductive organs, gut, and muscle:cuticle of the cricket. The elimination half-lives of (14)C-BP in these tissues ranged from 8.9 to 17.8 h. The haemolymph (14)C-BP concentration-time curve could be described by a one-compartment open pharmacokinetic model. (14)C-BP was metabolized by the cricket mainly to unconjugated and conjugated BP metabolites since very little unchanged (14)C-BP was found in the excreta at 48 h post-dosing. GLPC-MSD and HPLC/ES-MS analyses showed the presence of at least two BP metabolites in the excreta. The BP metabolites were identified tenatively as the diol derivatives of benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene quinone.