Ku, a heterodimer of 70 and 86 kDa subunits, plays a critical but poorly understood role in V(D)J recombination. Although Ku86-deficient mice are defective in coding and signal joint formation, rare recombination products have been detected by PCR. Here, we report nucleotide sequences of 99 junctions from Ku86-deficient mice. Over 90% of the coding joints, but not signal or hybrid joints, exhibit short sequence homologies, indicating that homology is required to join coding ends in the absence of Ku86. Our results suggest that Ku86 may normally have distinct functions in the formation of these different types of junctions. Furthermore, Ku86(-/-) joints are unexpectedly devoid of N-region diversity, suggesting a novel role for Ku in the addition of N nucleotides by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.

This study assessed the public’s health risk awareness of urban air pollution triggered by three megacities in China, and the data are the responses from a sample size of 3868 megacity inhabitants from Shanghai, Nanchang and Wuhan. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize the respondents’ demographics, perceived health risks from air pollution and sources of health-related knowledge on urban air pollution. Chi-square tests were used to examine if participants’ demographics were associated with participant’s general attitudes towards current air quality and the three perceived highest health risks due to urban air pollution. We found low rate of satisfaction of current urban air quality as well as poor knowledge of air pollution related indicator. Participants’ gender, age and travel experience were found to be associated with the satisfaction of current air quality. The knowledge of air pollution related indicator was significantly affected by respondents’ education, monthly income, health status, and sites of study. As many as 46.23% of the participants expressed their feelings of anxiety when exposed to polluted air, especially females, older adults and those with poor health conditions. Most participants believed that coughs/colds, eye problems and skin allergies were the three highest health risks due to urban air pollution based on public education through television/radio, internet and newspaper/magazine. Further public health education is needed to improve public awareness of air pollution and its effects.

Background Associations between sex hormones and vascular remodeling have been extensively studied, but the results vary widely among different races and sex. We aimed to investigate whether total testosterone (TT), estrogen (E2), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) associate with macrovascular complications and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among community-dwelling patients with diabetes. Methods A total of 4720 participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited from Shanghai, China. Common carotid artery (CCA) plaques and diameter were assessed by ultrasound. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was defined by prior diagnosis of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction or stroke. DKD was defined according to the ADA Guidelines. Results (1) In men, TT was negatively associated with CCA diameter (regression coefficient (β) − 0.044, 95% CI − 0.087, 0). E2 levels were positively associated with CVD and CCA plaque prevalence (OR 1.151, 95% CI 1.038, 1.277 and OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.017, 1.255, respectively). DHEA was negatively associated with CVD (OR 0.809, 95% CI 0.734, 0.893). In postmenopausal women, TT levels were negatively associated with CCA diameter (β − 0.046, 95% CI − 0.083, − 0.010) and positively associated with CVD (OR 1.154, 95% CI 1.038, 1.284). (2) In both men and postmenopausal women, TT levels were negatively associated with the albumin/creatinine ratio and DKD (β − 0.098, 95% CI − 0.154, − 0.043 and OR 0.887, 95% CI 0.790, 0.997 vs. β − 0.084, 95% CI − 0.137, − 0.031 and OR 0.822, 95% CI 0.731, 0.924, respectively) and DHEA levels were positively associated with DKD (OR 1.167, 95% CI 1.038, 1.313 vs. OR 1.251, 95% CI 1.104, 1.418, respectively). Conclusions Our study indicates that macrovascular complications were associated with low TT, DHEA and high E2 in men and with high TT in postmenopausal women. DKD was associated with low TT and high DHEA levels in both genders. Sex hormone replacement therapy requires careful and comprehensive consideration. Trial registration ChiCTR1800017573, http://www.chictr.org.cn . Registered 04 August 2018 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12933-019-0901-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In coastal areas, which are believed to be rich in iodine, consuming non-iodized salt still led to lower UIC levels and a higher prevalence of iodine deficiency. The consumption of non-iodized salt and low UICs might be a risk factor for AITD, especially for women, which should be further confirmed by longitudinal studies.

Objective. Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. We aimed to analyze the association of thyroid parameters with kidney disorders, especially in euthyroid participants. Methods. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study, the METAL study. Thyroid parameters, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), of 4136 participants with type 2 diabetes were measured. Two structure parameters of thyroid homeostasis, including the sum activity of step-up deiodinases (SPINA-GD) and thyroid secretory capacity (SPINA-GT), and two pituitary thyrotropic function indices, including Jostel’s TSH index (TSHI) and the thyrotroph thyroid hormone resistance index (TTSI), were also calculated. Kidney disorders were described according to the presence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or higher urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR). Results. The prevalence of kidney disorders increased with decreasing FT3 or T3 and increasing FT4 or T4 quartile levels (all P<0.05). After full adjustment, linear regression showed that UACR levels were negatively associated with FT3 and T3 (P<0.001). In addition, eGFR was positively associated with FT3 and T3 and was negatively associated with TSH and FT4 levels and TgAb positivity (all P<0.05). By using binary logistic regression, higher TSH and FT4 and lower FT3 and T3 were associated with kidney disorders (all P<0.05). Similar results were seen in sensitivity analyses, which were performed in 3035 euthyroid diabetic participants; however, TSH was no longer related to them. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of lower FT3 for existing kidney disorder was greater than that for any other thyroid hormones (all P<0.001). The cutoff value of FT3 for reduced eGFR was 4.39 pmol/L. Regarding thyroid homeostasis parameters, SPINA-GD was negatively associated with three statuses of kidney disorders, and TSHI and TTSI were positively associated with reduced eGFR (all P<0.05). Conclusions. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, elevated TSH and FT4 (or T4), lower FT3 (or T3), TgAb positivity, lower SPINA-GD, and higher TSHI and TTSI were associated with kidney disorders. The lower FT3, even within the normal range (<4.38 pmol/L), may be the factor most related to reduced eGFR compared with other thyroid hormones in diabetic patients.

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Background: A higher prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced stages of fibrosis was observed in type 2 diabetes. We aim to investigate whether C-peptide is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression in type 2 diabetic adults. Methods:A total of 4937 diabetic participants were enrolled from China in 2018.Liver steatosis was detected by ultrasound. Subjects with NAFLD were categorized into simple NAFLD and probable NASH by the concurrent presence of metabolic syndrome. NAFLD fibrosis score was used to identify patients with probable advanced fibrosis.Results: Individuals with a longer history of type 2 diabetes had a lower C-peptide level and a lower prevalence of probable NASH but a higher prevalence of advanced fibrosis. C-peptide was positively associated with simple NAFLD and probable NASH, with odds ratios (ORs) of 4.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.16, 6.55] and 5.28 (95% CI 3.94, 7.09), respectively, comparing quartile 4 with quartile 1 (both p for trend <0.001). However, C-peptide quartiles were negatively associated with the probable presence of advanced fibrosis (Q4 vs. Q1, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36, 0.97, p for trend <0.05). A 1-SD increment of ln(C-peptide) was also significantly associated with inflammatory and fibrotic progression (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.27, 1.41; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79, 0.98, respectively).Conclusions: Significant but opposite associations between C-peptide and inflammatory and fibrotic progression of NAFLD were observed. Understanding islet hormone changes during type 2 diabetes and differentiating the stage of NAFLD may help to personalize treatment strategies for NAFLD patients with type 2 diabetes. KEYWORDS