Current medical research and opinion
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Background: Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) is a persistent airflow limitation with features of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). No studies have explored the prevalence of ACO at the national level in China. Objective: In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of ACO and to assess the associated factors and comorbidities of ACO in middle-aged and older Chinese. ⋯ Comorbidities of ACO included stomach or other digestive disease, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis or rheumatism. Conclusions: ACO was a prevalent condition in middle-aged and older Chinese. Better management and more research on ACO are needed.
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Osteocalcin is an osteoblast-derived peptide mainly found in the bone matrix but also in circulation. A recent investigation suggested that osteocalcin mediated acute stress response (ASR) by inhibiting parasympathetic tone in mice and humans. We propose a hypothesis that osteocalcin is regulated by the skeleton movement and glucocorticoids, and inhibition of the parasympathetic tone by osteocalcin may indicate a therapeutic target in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).