Lin Liu’s research while affiliated with Jilin University and other places

OBJECTIVE Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) frequently exhibit impaired lung function, potentially accelerating the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although prospective studies remain limited. We aimed to explore the relationship between lung function impairment and risk of CVD and mortality within this high-risk population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This prospective study included 16,242 participants with T2D and free of CVD from the UK Biobank. Obstructive physiology (OP), restrictive physiology (RP), and preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) were defined using spirometry, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards models and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate risks of CVD and all-cause mortality, respectively. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 13.9 years, 2,825 incident cases of CVD and 2,811 deaths were documented. Lower FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEV1 percent predicted, and FVC percent predicted were related to higher risks of CVD and all-cause mortality. Compared with preserved lung function, the adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were 1.19 (95% CI 1.05–1.35) for OP and 1.47 (95% CI 1.33–1.65) for RP. Compared with the control group, the subdistribution HRs for CVD were 1.20 (95% CI 1.06–1.36) for OP and 1.43 (95% CI 1.29–1.59) for PRISm. These associations were consistent across subgroups and sensitivity analyses. Adding lung function measurements significantly enhanced the performance of CVD prediction beyond the SCORE2-Diabetes model. CONCLUSIONS Lung function impairment was associated with increased risks of CVD and all-cause mortality among individuals with T2D.

Thioredoxin-like ferredoxin is a small homodimeric protein containing a [2Fe-2S] cluster in each monomer. It is only found in bacteria but its physiological function remains largely unknown. The cobalamin biosynthetic operon in the genome of the purple phototroph Rhodobacter capsulatus encodes a putative ferredoxin dubbed as CfrX. To characterize this protein, we cloned, expressed, purified, and crystalized the recombinant CfrX in the iron-sulfur cluster-bound state, and solved the structure at 2.1-Å resolution. Adopting a typical thioredoxin-like ferredoxin fold, a CfrX monomer binds one [2Fe-2S] cluster through four Cys residues located on two protruding loops. Unexpectedly, CfrX dimerizes in a previously unreported manner. With the structural information, we ascertained CfrX as a thioredoxin-like ferredoxin. While the precise function of CfrX in cobalamin biosynthesis is elusive, a link between CfrX and aerobic cobaltochelatase should exist due to the gene clustering pattern. We also discussed the possible relationship among CfrX, CobW, and CobNST with respect to the [2Fe-2S] cluster.

The impact of lead and cadmium exposure on subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD), indicated by elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) remains uncertain. We analyzed data from participants aged 20 and older, without overt CVD, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 1999–2004). Elevated lead and cadmium levels were defined as 3.5 μg/dL and 1.0 μg/L (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and 3.8 μg/dL and 0.9 μg/L (atomic absorption spectrometry), respectively. Elevated hs-cTnT was ≥ 19 ng/L, and elevated NT-proBNP was ≥ 125 pg/mL. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for elevated biomarkers. Among 10,197 participants (mean age 48.8 years; 50.3% female), 5.3% had elevated hs-cTnT and 19.4% had elevated NT-proBNP. Elevated blood lead was associated with increased ORs for elevated hs-cTnT (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.15–1.84) and NT-proBNP (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.40–1.97). The corresponding ORs (95% CI) for elevated blood cadmium were 1.33 (1.02, 1.74) and 1.39 (1.18, 1.65). The effect of elevated blood lead on NT-proBNP was particularly pronounced among non-Hispanic Blacks (OR [95% CI], 3.26 [2.24, 4.74]) compared to Mexican Americans (1.46 [0.99, 2.17]) and non-Hispanic Whites (1.31 [1.02, 1.68]) and was stronger in individuals with impaired kidney function (OR [95% CI], 2.31 [1.43, 3.75]) compared to those with normal kidney function (1.44 [1.18, 1.75]). This study first reveals the association between lead and cadmium exposure and subclinical CVD, underscoring the need for targeted preventive measures to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve health outcomes.

The development of high-performance atomic catalysts for the carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a time-consuming process due to the complexity of the reaction mechanism and the uncertainty of the active site. Herein, we have proposed combining density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning (ML) to investigate the potential of topological graphene-based dual-atom catalysts (DACs) as CO2RR electrocatalysts. By analyzing the ML results, we identify the number of d-orbital electrons in the active site as a key factor influencing the CO2RR catalytic activity. Additionally, we propose a simple descriptor to measure the CO2RR activity of these DACs. Our findings provide plausible explanations for the synergistic interactions between bimetallic atoms in CO2RR and allow us to screen the homogeneous Ni-Ni pair as the most promising dual-atom catalysts. This work offers a fast ML approach based on limited DFT calculations to predict the most electroactive and stable DACs on carbon support for CO2RR, facilitating rapid screening of high-performance dual-atom catalysts.

Domain related to iron (DRI) contains approximately 90 residues and is involved in iron and heme metabolism. Recent discoveries have annotated Dri1, a DRI‐only protein from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis , as a regulator of succinate dehydrogenase in a b ‐type heme‐dependent manner or as a c ‐type heme oxygenase. Here, we report high‐resolution structures of Dri1 in complex with b ‐type and c ‐type hemes, respectively. Bis‐His‐ligated heme is located in the middle of the dimeric Dri1 complex with heme b , as well as in the complex of monomeric Dri1 with c ‐type heme, but distinct heme binding modes are revealed. Structural analyses suggest that Dri1 may participate in the succinate dehydrogenase activity and/or the metabolism of cytochromes.

Background Understanding how childhood psychosocial adjustment (CPA) influences later life health outcomes is crucial for developing interventions to mitigate the long-term risk of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). Aims To investigate the association between CPA and incident CMDs in mid-life, and the mediating roles of educational attainment, smoking habits and depression during young adulthood. Method A prospective cohort study utilised data from the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS; 1958–2013) and the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70; 1970–2018), encompassing 22 012 participants assessed for CPA in childhood, who were subsequently evaluated for educational attainment, smoking habits and depression in young adulthood, followed by assessments for CMDs in mid-life. CPA was assessed using the Bristol Social Adjustment Guides in the NCDS and the Rutter Child Behaviour Scale in the BCS70, with higher scores indicating poorer psychosocial adjustment. The primary outcomes were the mid-life incidences of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Results Compared with children in the lowest tertile for CPA scores, those in the middle tertile had an adjusted odds ratio for hypertension of 0.98 (95% CI 0.90–1.06), whereas those in the highest tertile had an odds ratio of 1.17 (95% CI 1.08–1.26). For diabetes, the corresponding odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.15 (0.98–1.35) and 1.39 (1.19–1.62). For obesity, the corresponding odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.08 (1.00–1.16) and 1.18 (1.09–1.27). These associations were partially mediated by educational attainment (2.4–13.9%) and depression during young adulthood (2.5–14.9%). Conclusions Poorer CPA is correlated with the development of hypertension, diabetes and obesity in mid-life. Interventions aimed at improving CPA may help in reducing the burden of these diseases in later life.