Purpose: To evaluate the trends and variations in global health burden of glaucoma by year, age and sex, region and socio-economic status, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Method: The DALY numbers, crude DALY rate and age-standardized DALY rate globally and in each country were obtained the GBD 2015 study database. The corresponding human development index (HDI) and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were obtained from the United Nations and World Bank. Environmental data were obtained from the WHO Global Health Observatory data repository. Results: From 1990 to 2015, the DALY number and age-standardized DALY rate due to glaucoma increased by 122% and 15%, respectively. Both male and female showed similar increasing trend with ageing, with the peak at 60 years old and increasing again since 75 years old. Sex disparities in DALY number were noted, with higher burden among female than male in each age group (all p < 0.001). The health burden of glaucoma was substantial unequal, with Gini coefficient of 0.865 for DALY number, 0.235 for crude DALY rate and 0.254 for age-standardized DALY rate, respectively. The age-standardized DALY was significantly associated with HDI, accounting for 22.2% variance across countries (R 2 = 0.222, p < 0.001). Similarly, the GDP per capita was inversely associated with age-standardized DALY rate but can explain only 10.6% variations in age-standardized DALY rate (R 2 = 0.106, p < 0.001). The agestandardized DALY rate due to glaucoma was positively associated with national levels of ultraviolet radiation and PM 2.5 . Conclusion: The health burden of glaucoma continuously increased in the past 25 years and distributed unequally. Lower socio-economic level, older age, female, higher ambient ultraviolet radiation and higher level of air pollution were significantly associated with higher burden of glaucoma.

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Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause acute cardiovascular events. Activation of the NOD‐like receptor family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome enhances atherogenesis, which links lipid metabolism to sterile inflammation. This study examines the impact of an endogenous metabolite, namely ketone body 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3‐HB), on a mouse model of atherosclerosis. It is found that daily oral administration of 3‐HB can significantly ameliorate atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, 3‐HB is found to reduce the M1 macrophage proportion and promote cholesterol efflux by acting on macrophages through its receptor G‐protein‐coupled receptor 109a (Gpr109a). 3‐HB–Gpr109a signaling promotes extracellular calcium (Ca2+) influx. The elevation of intracellular Ca2+ level reduces the release of Ca2+ from the endothelium reticulum (ER) to mitochondria, thus inhibits ER stress triggered by ER Ca2+ store depletion. As NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by ER stress, 3‐HB can inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which triggers the increase of M1 macrophage proportion and the inhibition of cholesterol efflux. It is concluded that daily nutritional supplementation of 3‐HB attenuates atherosclerosis in mice.

A noncleavable paclitaxel (PTX) and N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine (MDP) derivative conjugate, 22 (DY-16-43), and its analogues were prepared and characterized as antagonists of NOD2 signaling. This conjugate enhanced the antitumor and antimetastatic efficacy of PTX in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing mice. This work first describes a molecular strategy that enables the sensitization of a chemotherapeutic response via antagonizing NOD2 inflammatory signaling and suggests NOD2 antagonist as potential adjunct in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the immunoprotection of recombinant Eg.P29 (rEg.P29) vaccine and analyze the underlying mechanism in sheep.MethodsThree groups of male sheep were immunized subcutaneously with rEg.P29 and PBS, Freund’s complete adjuvant as controls, respectively. After prime-boost vaccination, the sheep were challenged with encapsulated Echinococcus granulosus eggs. The percentage of protection in sheep was determined 36 weeks after the infection. Humoral immune response was analyzed for specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM and IgE levels. Moreover, cytokines including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4,and IL-10 were also evaluated.ResultsImmunization with rEg.P29 induced protective immune responses up to 94.5 %, compared with immunoadjuvant group. The levels of specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2, and IgE as well as IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 significantly increased after two immunizations (P < 0.05); however, the levels of IgM and IL-10 did not show difference.ConclusionrEg.P29 showed Immunoprotection and induced Th1 and Th2 immune responses; hence, rEg.P29 is a potential vaccine for E. granulosus infection.

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