Few studies have investigated gender differences in dietary intake. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine gender differences in dietary patterns and their association with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The food intakes of 3794 subjects enrolled by a two-stage cluster stratified sampling method were collected using a valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its prevalence was 35.70% in the sample (37.67% in men and 24.67% in women). Dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis combined with cluster analysis and multiple group confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factorial invariance between gender groups. The dominating dietary pattern for men was the “balanced” dietary pattern (32.65%) and that for women was the “high-salt and energy” dietary pattern (34.42%). For men, the “animal and fried food” dietary pattern was related to higher risk of MetS (odds ratio: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01–1.60), after adjustment for age, marital status, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors. For women, the “high-salt and energy” dietary pattern was related to higher risk of MetS (odds ratio: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.24–4.14). We observed gender differences in dietary patterns and their association with the prevalence of MetS. For men, the “animal and fried food” dietary pattern was associated with enhancive likelihood of MetS. For women, it was the “high-salt and energy” dietary pattern.

In recent years, neurovascular unit (NVU) which is composed of neurons, astrocytes (Ast), microglia (MG), vascular cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), has become an attractive field in ischemic stroke. As the important component of NVU, Ast closely interacts with other constituents, which has been playing double-edged sword roles, beneficial or detrimental after ischemic stroke. Based on the pathophysiological changes, we evaluated some strategies for targeting Ast in treating ischemic stroke. The present review is focused on the roles of Ast in NVU and its complex signaling molecular network after ischemic stroke, which may be a prospective approach to the treatment of ischemic diseases in central nervous system.

In the process of ischemic stroke (IS), cellular macroautophagy/autophagy and apoptosis play a vital role in neuroprotection against it. Therefore, regulating their balance is a potential therapeutic strategy. It has been proved that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which can both protect neurons. By exploring bioinformatics combined with network pharmacology, we found that HIF1A and CASP3, key factors regulating autophagy and apoptosis, may be important targets of HSYA for neuroprotection in an oxygen glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) model. In this study, we explored a possible new mechanism of HSYA neuroprotection in the OGD/R model. The results showed that OGD/R increased the expression of HIF1A and CASP3 in SH-SY5Y cells and induced autophagy and apoptosis, while HSYA intervention further promoted the expression of HIF1A and inhibited the level of CASP3, accompanied by an increase in autophagy and a decrease in apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. The inhibition of HIF1A diminished the activation of autophagy induced with HSYA, while the inhibition of autophagy increased cell apoptosis and blocked the neuroprotective effect of HSYA, suggesting that the neuroprotective effect of HSYA should be mediated by activating the HIF1A/BNIP3 signaling pathway to induce autophagy. These results demonstrate that HSYA may be a promising agent for treating IS.

Although snoring has been previously reported to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), its interaction with body mass index(BMI) on MetS remains unclear. We aimed to examine the individual effects and possible interaction between snoring and BMI on MetS. From July 2013 to December 2013, 3794 employees of coal mining enterprises aged 18 to 65 were recruited from Shanxi province of China. The individual effects were assessed by multivariable logistic regression model. Additive interaction was evaluated by calculating the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP) and synergy index(S). We found that, after adjusting for potential confounders, odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for MetS was 1.30 (1.09, 1.56) in occasional snorers and 1.50 (1.24, 1.82) in habitual snorers compared with non-snorers. BMI ≥ 24 was related to high risk of MetS (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.93–3.63). Significant additive interaction between snoring and BMI on MetS was detected. The estimates and 95% CI of the RERI, AP and S were 1.89 (0.67, 3.24), 0.23 (0.08, 0.38), and 1.37 (1.11, 1.75), respectively. However, stratified by workplace, the additive interaction was only significant among underground front-line and ground workers. Both Snoring and BMI were related to high risk of Mets. Moreover, there are additive interaction between snoring and BMI. Snorers who worked underground front-line and ground are more susceptible to the negative impact of being overweight on MetS.

Although coal miners are susceptible to dyslipidaemia owing to their highly risky and stressful working environment as well as unhealthy lifestyle, very few studies have focused on this issue thus far. Therefore, this study investigated the current epidemiological characteristics of dyslipidaemia among Chinese coal miners. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were gathered from 4341 coal miners in China. Dyslipidaemia was diagnosed based on the serum lipid levels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the related risk factors for dyslipidaemia. The average concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were 5.01 ± 0.93 mmol/L, 1.90 ± 1.72 mmol/L, 1.21 ± 0.35 mmol/L, and 3.15 ± 0.80 mmol/L, respectively. Additionally, 38.08% of participants had a high TC level, 25.84% had a low HDL-C level, 35.08% had a high LDL-C level, and 40.46% had a high TG level. The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 68.28% (95% CI: 66.90–69.66%). Factors associated with dyslipidaemia were age, sex, marital status, monthly family income, type of work, length of service, smoking status, smoking index, drinking status, alcohol consumption per day, elevated fasting glucose, hypertension, obesity and abdominal obesity. Our study’s results indicated a very high prevalence of dyslipidaemia among Chinese coal miners and identified various risk factors for dyslipidaemia.

Background: Diet-related cardiovascular diseases have produced a large health burden in China. Coal miners are a high-risk population for cardiovascular disease, but there is little evidence concerning associations between coal miners’ dietary patterns and their 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score levels.Methods: The study included 2632 participants and focused on dietary patterns associated with higher 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score levels. A valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data regarding dietary intake, and dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis combined with cluster analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between dietary patterns and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score levels.Results: For ground workers, compared with the ‘Healthy’ pattern, the ‘High-salt’ and ‘Refined grains’ patterns were significantly associated with higher 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score level (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.02–2.21; OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.26–2.93) and 10-year ischemic cardiovascular disease risk score level (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.25–3.80; OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.48–4.72) adjusted for gender, and behavioural and socioeconomic factors. The ‘High-fat and salt’ pattern was significantly associated with higher 10-year ischemic cardiovascular disease risk score level (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.13–3.42). For underground workers, the ‘High-salt’ pattern was significantly associated with higher 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score level (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.16–2.36) and 10-year ischemic cardiovascular disease risk score level (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.09–2.84).Conclusions: This study provides evidence for dietary patterns associated with higher 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score levels in Chinese miners, and facilitates relevant departments in designing effective dietary guidelines to ameliorate dietary structures.