The novel roles of vitamin D were discovered and valued in this century. In addition to the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus balance, vitamin D regulates the function of the kidneys, heart, and immune system. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic roles have gained considerable attention. Vitamin D is also important for the maintenance of homeostasis by regulation of hormone secretion, cell proliferation, and differentiation. This paper will review these pleiotropic functions of vitamin D.

OBJECTIVES:In light of the increasing number of high-tech industry workers and the differences in their working conditions compared to those of the general population, the health status of these workers merits serious attention. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlates among Taiwanese high-tech industry workers.METHODS:This cross-sectional study included 4,666 workers who participated in labor health examinations at a hospital in southern Taiwan in 2008. Participants with metabolic syndrome were defined using the criteria proposed by the Taiwan National Department of Health in 2007. Factors associated with metabolic syndrome were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis.RESULTS:The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 8.2%, and the prevalence was higher in men than in women (14.0% vs. 2.3%, p<0.01). Male gender, advanced age, elevated white blood count, and elevated levels of blood biochemistry markers, such as alanine aminotransferase and uric acid, can independently predict metabolic syndrome.CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among high-tech industry workers is lower than in the general population. Our study's findings may facilitate early health assessments and the provision of proper workplace health promotion programs to reduce the risks faced by high-risk workers.

These results suggest a statistically significant, though weak, inverse relationship between lung function and blood pressure in Chinese men and women. This association is largely attributable to age and is present prospectively only in women.

IntroductionThe renin-angiotensin system plays a major role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, on the metabolic syndrome of fructose-fed rats.Material and methodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6 for each group). Group Con: rats were fed a standard chow diet for 8 weeks, group Fru: rats were fed a high fructose diet (60% fructose) for 8 weeks, group FruA: rats were fed a high fructose diet and were co-infused with aliskiren (100 mg/kg/day), and group FruB: rats were treated as group Fru, but aliskiren was administered 4 weeks later. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and blood profiles were measured.ResultsBy the end of week 4 and 8 of a high fructose diet, SBP had increased significantly from 111 ±5 to 142 ±4 and 139 ±5 mmHg (p < 0.05), respectively. A high fructose diet significantly increased HOMA-IR from baseline (6.15 ±1.59) to 21.25 ±2.08 and 21.28 ±3.1 (p < 0.05) at week 4 and 8, respectively, and significantly induced metabolic syndrome. Concurrent aliskiren treatment prevented the development of hypertension and metabolic syndrome in fructose-fed rats. When fructose-induced hypertension was established, subsequent aliskiren treatment for 4 weeks reversed the elevated SBP and ameliorated metabolic syndrome. There were no significant differences in food, water intake, urine flow or body weight gain among groups.ConclusionsAliskiren not only prevents but also ameliorates metabolic syndrome in fructose-fed rats.

Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RIN) is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI). The clinical strategies currently available for the prevention of RIN are insufficient. In this study, we aimed to determine whether resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexin, can be used to prevent RIN. For this purpose, in vitro experiments were performed using a human renal proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells). Following treatment for 48 h, the highly toxic radiocontrast agent, ioxitalamate, exerted cytotoxic effects on the HK-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, as shown by MTT assay. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was found to be approximately 30 mg/ml. Flow cytometry also revealed a marked increase in the number of apoptotic cells following exposure to ioxitalamate. In addition, the number of necrotic, but not necroptotic cells was increased. However, treatment with resveratrol (12.5 μM) for 48 h significantly alleviated ioxitalamate (30 mg/ml)-induced cytotoxicity, by reducing cytosolic DNA fragmentation, increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), and survivin, activating caspase-3, preventing autophagic death and suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Resveratrol also suppressed the ioxitalamate-induced formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger commonly used to prevent RIN, also reduced ioxitalamate-induced cytotoxicity, but at a high concentration of 1 mM. Sirtuin (SIRT)1 and SIRT3 were not found to play a role in these effects. Overall, our findings suggest that resveratrol may prove to be an effective adjuvant therapy for the prevention of RIN.

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Background Sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass and strength, is highly prevalent in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). However, muscle function and muscle mass do not share the same clinical relevance. In fact, muscle strength was more closely associated with the risk of mortality in chronic HD patients than was muscle mass. Therefore, to identify the risk factors of muscle weakness is vital. Angiotensin II overexpression had been recognized to impair skeletal muscle strength. Accordingly, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) potentially possess a muscle protective effect. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the factors associated with low muscle strength and to explore the relationship between ARB use and muscle strength in chronic HD patients. Methods A total of 120 chronic HD patients, aged 63.3 ± 13.2 years, were included in this study. Basic characteristics, handgrip strength (HGS), body composition, and nutritional status were assessed, and blood samples for biochemical tests were obtained. We divided these participants into normal- and low HGS groups according to the consensus of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). Results We observed that 78 (65.0%) patients had low HGS. In our cohort, we found that height ( r = 0.653; P <  0.001), weight ( r = 0.496; P <  0.001), body mass index ( r = 0.215; P = 0.020), skeletal muscle index ( r = 0.562; P <  0.001), albumin ( r = 0.197; P = 0.032), and serum creatinine ( r = 0.544; P <  0.001) were positively and age ( r = − 0.506; P <  0.001), subjective global assessment (SGA) score ( r = − 0.392; P <  0.001), fractional clearance index for urea (Kt/V) ( r = − 0.404; P <  0.001) and urea reduction ratio (URR) ( r = − 0.459; P <  0.001) were negatively correlated with HGS. According to our analysis, age (Odds ratio, OR = 1.11, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.05–1.17, P <  0.001), HD duration (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00–1.02, P = 0.010), diabetes (OR = 13.33, 95% CI = 3.45–51.53, P <  0.001), Kt/V (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.06–2.46, P = 0.027), and SGA score (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03–1.38, P = 0.017) were regarded as independent predictors of low HGS. In contrast, ARB use (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.07–0.93, P = 0.039) was independently associated with preserved HGS in chronic HD pa...

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