Xun Xiao

Adequate hydration is essential for the maintenance of health and physiological functions in humans. However, many older adults do not maintain adequate hydration, which is under-recognized and poorly managed. Older adults are more vulnerable to dehydration, especially those living with multiple chronic diseases. Dehydration is associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults, and acts as an independent factor of the hospital length of stay, readmission, intensive care, in-hospital mortality, and poor prognosis. Dehydration is a prevalent health problem in older adults, accounting for substantial economic and social burden. This review attempts to provide current knowledge of hydration including patterns of body water turnover, the complex mechanisms behind water homeostasis, the effects of dehydration on the health of the body, and practical guidance for low-intake dehydration in older adults.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and irreversible lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Aspirin can alleviate liver, kidney, and cardiac fibrosis. However, its role in lung fibrosis is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of aspirin on lung fibroblast differentiation and pulmonary fibrosis. TGF-β1-induced human embryonic lung fibroblasts, IPF lung fibroblasts, and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis mouse model were used in this study. The results showed that aspirin significantly decreased the expression of Collagen 1A1, Fibronectin, Alpha-smooth muscle actin, and equestosome1, and increased the ratio of light chain 3 beta II/I and the number of autophagosome in vivo and in vitro; reduced bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Aspirin also decreased the ratios of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (p-PI3K)/PI3K, protein kinase B (p-AKT)/AKT, and mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR)/mTOR in vitro. Autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine, bafilomycin-A1, and AKT activator SC-79 abrogated the effects of aspirin. These findings indicate that aspirin ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis through a PI3K/AKT/mTOR-dependent autophagy pathway.

Abstract Objective To investigate the incidence of falls in elderly aged 65 years and above among outpatients and inpatients, and to analyze its related factors and identify prevention strategies. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 451 patients aged 65 years and above who received comprehensive geriatric assessment in outpatients and inpatients from the Department of Geriatrics in the Second Xiangya Hospital from March 2021 to March 2022. According to whether there had been at least one fall in the past year, the patients were divided into a fall group and a non‐fall group. Data were collected from the We‐Chat applet of comprehensive geriatric assessment. A t test and chi‐square test were performed to compare the difference between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was then conducted to identify factors associated with falls. Results (1) The incidence of falls among the outpatient and inpatient was 28.8%. (2) The rate of light, moderate, and heavy dependence on daily living ability and decreased mobile balance ability were higher in the fall group than those in the non‐fall group. The average calf circumference in the fall group was significantly lower than that in the non‐fall group. (3) The prevalence of diabetes and eye diseases in the fall group was significantly higher than that in the non‐fall group. (4) The percentage of insomnia and suspicious insomnia cases in the fall group was higher than that in the non‐fall group. The mean scores for dysphagia, frailty, and incontinence were higher and the mean malnutrition score was lower in the fall group than in the non‐fall group. (5) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that frailty, insomnia, and malnutrition were independent influencing factors of fall (OR = 1.955, 1.652, 10.719, P = 0.044, 0.041, 0.025, respectively). Conclusions The incidence of falls among outpatients and inpatients aged 65 years and above is high. Frailty, insomnia, and malnutrition are the main factors influencing falls in these patients.

Abstract Background: observational studies have demonstrated that the causal relationship between iron status and lung cancer remains unclear causality. A two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed to identify the causal association between iron status traits and risk of lung cancer. Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated (P <5 × 10 -8 ) with four biomarkers of systemic iron status were obtained from a genome-wide association study containing 48,972 subjects from the Genetics of Iron Status Consortium (GISC). Summary-level data for the genetic associations with lung cancer were extracted from International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) on 11,348 cases and 15,861 controls. We used a two-sample MR study to obtain causal estimates and assessed by sensitivity analyses. Results: Genetically determined serum iron [OR, 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.76-1.00; P =0.025)] had a negative effect on lung cancer, while no significant association with lung cancer was found in transferrin saturation (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.81-1.02; P =0.110), log10 ferritin (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.52-1.12; P =0.170), and transferrin (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86-1.38; P =0.470). Conclusion: In conclusion, our results strongly supported a causal link between genetically determined lower serum iron levels and increased risk of lung cancer. These findings may provide a potential clinical prevention and treatment strategy.