Background: Helicobacter pylori infection leads to many upper gastrointestinal diseases. Migrant workers are the main part of floating population in China. However, up to now, their health status has not been a focus of attention. Methods: In order to assess the status of H. pylori infection among migrant workers in Shijiazhuang, over five years we interviewed 324 individuals between 2007 and 2011. Each underwent a rapid urease test to identify H. pylori infection and socio-demographic indicators were collected using a survey questionnaire. Results: Our results showed that family income (P = 0.003), dietetic hygiene (P = 0.005), education (P = 0.004) and marital status (P = 0.007) were associated with H. pylori infection. Conclusion: We found that migrant workers had little basic knowledge of H. pylori and their prevalence of infection remains high. Therefore, we need to promote education and awareness of H. pylori and to ensure access to diagnosis and treatment for infected workers.

Autophagy is closely involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function, but little is known about the association between advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and autophagy and its role in AGEs-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs. The current study investigated the effects of AGEs on the phenotypic modulation and autophagy of VSMCs, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. Primary rat VSMCs were treated with bovine serum albumin or AGEs. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, real-time cell analyzer and EdU incorporation. Cell cycle was analyzed by Hoechst staining and flow cytometry. The migration of VSMCs was detected by wound-healing assay and transwell migration assay. LC3 transition and p62 accumulation were detected using Western blotting. Acidic vacuoles were measured using AO and MDC staining. Cathepsin D (CatD) was transduced to VSMCs via lentiviral vectors. AGEs enhanced proliferation and migration of primary rat VSMC in a time-dependent manner. AGEs significantly increased LC3-II transition and p62 expression, as well as accumulation of acidic vacuole, which was not further increased by bafilomycin A1. AGEs decreased CatD expression in a time-dependent pattern, and overexpression of CatD prohibited autophagy attenuation mediated by AGEs. CatD overexpression suppressed AGEs-induced proliferation of VSMCs. Nevertheless, CatD exhibited no effects on AGEs-induced migration of VSMCs. AGEs promote proliferation of VSMCs and suppress autophagy, at least in part via CatD reduction.

Aims/IntroductionTo explore the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus in a general Chinese population, and the influence of hypertension.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2013 to August 2013, we carried out a cross‐sectional study involving 11,956 permanent residents aged ≥35 years from the general population in the Liaoning province of China (response rate 85.3%). Each participant completed a questionnaire, had a physical examination, and underwent an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. AF was diagnosed on the basis of the electrocardiogram findings. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to estimate the associations between diabetes mellitus and AF. The associations were also analyzed in hypertensive and normotensive subgroups.ResultsThere was a higher prevalence of AF in participants with diabetes mellitus than those without diabetes mellitus (1.2 vs 0.5%; P = 0.004). In the hypertensive subgroup, the prevalence of AF in participants with diabetes mellitus was significantly higher than in participants without diabetes mellitus (1.5 vs 0.6%; P = 0.008); however, the prevalences were similar in the normotensive subgroup (0.3 vs 0.4%; P = 1.000). Similar trends were present in both men and women. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, the independent association between diabetes mellitus and AF remained in the total sample (odds ratio 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.20–4.54) and hypertensive subgroup (odds ratio 3.15, 95% confidence interval 1.52–6.56), but not in the normotensive subgroup (odds ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.08–5.31).ConclusionsDiabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for AF in the general population in China, this association was present in total and hypertensive participants, but not in normotensive participants.