Serum Sodium Concentration and Increased Risk for Primary Epiretinal Membrane

Aims: To examine the prevalence of primary epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and associated systemic factors.Methods: The cross-sectional, community-based Tongren Health Care Study enrolled participants who received regular health examinations in the Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2017 to 2019. Using fundus photographs, retinal specialists assessed the presence of ERMs and their systemic associations.Results: Primary ERMs were detected in 841/22820 individuals, with a prevalence of 3.7% [95% confidence intervals (CI): 3.4–3.9%] in the total study population (mean age: 44.5 ± 13.8 years) and 6.5% (95% CI: 6.1–7.0%) in individuals aged 40+ years. In multivariable analysis, a higher ERMs prevalence was associated with older age [odds ratio (OR): 1.10; P < 0.001], higher serum cholesterol concentration (OR: 1.14; P = 0.003) and higher serum sodium concentration (SSC) (OR: 1.12; P < 0.001). In women, a higher SSC, even within the normal range, was associated with an increased risk of ERMs (OR: 1.19; P < 0.001). Female participants with an SSC of 144–145mmol/L as compared with those with an SSC of 135–137 mmol/L had a 5-fold increased odds of having ERMs (All women: OR: 5.33; P < 0.001; Women aged 40+years: OR: 4.63; P < 0.001).Conclusion: Besides older age and higher serum cholesterol concentration, a higher SSC, even if within the normal range, was independently associated with a higher ERM prevalence in women.

Health concerns of lambs fed cottonseed hulls combined with chitosan by examining the blood metabolic profile and histopathology of the kidney, liver, and rumen

This study analysed the effect of cottonseed hulls and chitosan in diets for lambs by determining the blood metabolite profile, and the histopathology of the kidney, liver, and rumen. Eighty non-castrated Santa Inês lambs, approximately 120 days of age and a mean initial body weight (b.w.) of 22.6 (standard deviation ± 2.2 kg) were assigned to a completely randomised design, with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Two chitosan levels and two cottonseed forms were evaluated. The experimental diets were following: diet containing whole cottonseed hulls (WC) without the addition of chitosan; diet containing WC with 136 mg/kg b.w. chitosan added; diet containing ground cottonseed hulls (GC) without the addition of chitosan; diet containing GC with 136 mg/kg b.w. chitosan added. The blood metabolites and hepatic enzymes ALT, AST, GGT were not significantly influenced in the treatment groups, except for the serum cholesterol concentration which was lower (P < 0.05) when the chitosan was combined with the whole cottonseed hulls. There were histopathological alterations (P < 0.05) in the liver and kidney tissue and moderate changes in the rumen samples in the animals fed cottonseed without chitosan, however, when chitosan was added, the changes were less marked. The combination of chitosan with cottonseed hulls (ground or whole) can be supplied safely to feedlot finishing lambs without compromising their health.

Concentration of Cholesterol in Human Milk and Associated Factors in Different Chinese Populations (P11-044-19)

Objectives The objectives of the present study were to analyze the cholesterol concentration and explore factors associated with milk cholesterol concentrations in various Chinese populations. Methods This was a part of a large cross-sectional study conducted in 11 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (Beijing, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Shanghai, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Zhejiang) across China between 2011 and 2013. Lactating women (n = 6481) within 0–330 days postpartum were recruited in the original study. A sub-sample of 1138 women was randomly selected, and milk cholesterol concentrations were determined by HPLC. Results Mean cholesterol concentration was 200 mg/L, 171 mg/L, and 126 mg/L for colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk, respectively. Cholesterol concentrations differed significantly between stages of lactation (colostrum vs transitional milk, colostrum vs mature milk, transitional milk vs mature milk, all P < 0.001). Maternal dietary egg and flesh food intake, geographic area and serum cholesterol concentration were not associated with milk cholesterol concentration. However, milk cholesterol concentrations vary among different ethnicities (Tibetan vs Hui: 164 mg/L vs 131 mg/L, P = 0.027) in China. Conclusions The concentration of cholesterol in milk changes dynamically throughout lactation. Maternal dietary egg and flesh food intake or serum cholesterol are not associated with milk cholesterol concentration, but milk cholesterol concentrations vary across ethnicities in China. Funding Sources This study was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program).