Alternative N-glycosylation has significant structural and functional consequences on immunoglobulin G (IgG) and can affect immune responses, acting as a switch between pro- and anti-inflammatory IgG functionality. Studies have demonstrated that IgG N-glycosylation is associated with ageing, body mass index, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Herein, we have demonstrated patterns of IgG glycosylation that are associated with blood lipids in a cross-sectional study including 598 Han Chinese aged 20–68 years. The IgG glycome composition was analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Blood lipids were positively correlated with glycan peak GP6, whereas they were negatively correlated with GP18 (P < 0.05/57). The canonical correlation analysis indicated that initial N-glycan structures, including GP4, GP6, GP9-12, GP14, GP17, GP18 and GP23, were significantly correlated with blood lipids, including total cholesterol, total triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.390, P < 0.001). IgG glycans patterns were able to distinguish patients with dyslipidaemia from the controls, with an area under the curve of 0.692 (95% confidence interval 0.644–0.740). Our findings indicated that a possible association between blood lipids and the observed loss of galactose and sialic acid, as well as the addition of bisecting GlcNAcs, which might be related to the chronic inflammation accompanying with the development and procession of dyslipidaemia.

Background: The combined effects of diabetes mellitus (DM), admission plasma glucose (APG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels on predicting long-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated their combined effects on long-term clinical outcomes in STEMI patients treated with pPCI. Methods: In total, 350 consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing pPCI were enrolled. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to DM history and APG and HbA1c levels. The cumulative rates of 24-month all-cause deaths and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were calculated. Results: Both the incidence of all-cause deaths and cumulative rates of MACCEs were significantly the lowest in patients without a DM history and admission HbA1c level < 6.5%. DM patients with poor glycemic control or stress hyperglycemia on admission experienced the highest rates of all-cause deaths, MACCEs, and cardiac deaths. Admission HbA1c levels, Triglyceride (TG) levels, hemoglobin levels, DM history, and admission Killip class > 1 correlated with 24-month all-cause death; HbA1c levels on admission, DM history, APG levels, history of stroke, history of coronary heart disease, and TG levels on admission were significantly associated with MACCEs through the 24-month follow-up. The predictive effects of combining DM and APG and HbA1c levels were such that for STEMI patients undergoing pPCI, DM patients with poor glycemic control or with stress hyperglycemia on admission had worse prognosis than other patients. Conclusion: Strict control of glycemic status may improve the survival of patients who have both DM and coronary heart diseases.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) combined with hypertension has a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between the surrogate indicators of insulin resistance (TyG, TG/HDL, and Mets-IR) with the risk of T2D combined with hypertension. Methods: This study is based on a functional community cohort from Beijing and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, comprising 4234 and 4658 participants respectively. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline regression were performed to assess the link between TyG, TG/HDL, and Mets-IR with T2D combined with hypertension. The cross-lagged panel analysis and the mediation analysis were used to examine the temporal relationship between insulin resistance and obesity and their temporal relationship with follow-up T2D combined with hypertension. Results: In multivariable-adjusted models, higher TyG was associated with a higher risk of developing T2D combined with hypertension, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 3.46 (2.43–4.93) and 2.02 (1.67–2.44), in two cohorts respectively. A similar positive association was shown for Mets-IR, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were 1.04 (1.03–1.06) and 1.05 (1.03–1.07), in two cohorts respectively. However, the association between TG/HDL with T2D combined with hypertension was different in two cohorts. The restricted cubic spline regression showed a linear association between TyG and T2D combined with hypertension (P-nonlinear > 0.05). The cross-lagged path coefficient from baseline BMI to follow-up TyG index was significantly greater than the path coefficient from baseline TyG to follow-up BMI. TyG partially mediated the effect of BMI on the risk of T2D combined with hypertension and the percentage of mediated association was estimated at 41.58% and 48.41% in two cohorts, respectively. Conclusion: These findings indicated positive associations between TyG and Mets-IR with the risk of T2D combined with hypertension in two cohorts. In addition, BMI change may precede TyG index change, and the TyG index plays a mediating role in BMI induced T2D combined with hypertension.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with various health problems, but less is known about the gender differences in risk factors for high plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels. Methods: In this study, a retrospective study was carried out on 14,911 participants (7838 males and 7073 females) aged 16–102 years who underwent routine checkups between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Health Management Department of Xuanwu Hospital, China. Anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio, were collected. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure the biochemical indexes. The outcome variable was Hcy level, and a generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was used to identify the associations of interest based on gender. Results: Males exhibited increased Hcy levels (16.37 ± 9.66 vs 11.22 ± 4.76 μmol/L) and prevalence of HHcy (37.0% vs 11.3%) compared with females. Hcy levels and HHcy prevalence increased with age in both genders, except for the 16- to 29-year-old group. GEE analysis indicated that irrespective of gender, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were positively correlated with Hcy levels, and alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol and glucose were negatively correlated with Hcy levels. However, age, BMI and triglycerides (TGs) were positively correlated with Hcy levels exclusively in females. Conclusions: Gender differences in risk factors for high plasma Hcy levels were noted. Although common correlational factors existed in both genders, age, BMI and TGs were independent risk factors for Hcy levels specifically in females.

Crocin, a carotenoid component of Crocus sativus L. belonging to the Iridaceae family, has demonstrated cardioprotective effects. To investigate the cellular mechanisms of these cardioprotective effects, here we studied the influence of crocin on L-type Ca²⁺current (I_Ca-L), intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i), and contraction of isolated rat cardiomyocytes by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and video-based edge detection and dual excitation fluorescence photomultiplier systems. Crocin inhibited I_Ca-L in a concentration-dependent manner with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 45 μmol/L and the maximal inhibitory effect of 72.195% ± 1.54%. Neither current–voltage relationship of I_Ca-L, reversal potential of I_Ca-L, nor the activation/inactivation of I_Ca-L was significantly changed. Crocin at 1 μmol/L reduced cell shortening by 44.64% ± 2.12% and the peak value of the Ca²⁺ transient by 23.66% ± 4.52%. Crocin significantly reduced amplitudes of myocyte shortening and [Ca²⁺]_i with an increase in the time to reach 10% of the peak (Tp) and a decrease in the time to 10% of the baseline (Tr). Thus, the cardioprotective effects of crocin may be attributed to the attenuation of [Ca²⁺]_i through the inhibition of I_Ca-L in rat cardiomyocytes and negative inotropic effects on myocardial contractility.