Search

Atmospheric particle is one of the risk factors for respiratory disease; however, their injury mechanisms are poorly understood, and prevention methods are highly desirable. We constructed artificial PM2.5 (aPM2.5) particles according to the size and composition of actual PM2.5 collected in Beijing. Using these artificial particles, we created an inhalation-injury animal model. These aPM2.5 particles simulate the physical and chemical characteristics of the actual PM2.5, and inhalation of the aPM2.5 in rat results in a time-dependent change in lung suggesting a declined lung function, injury from oxidative stress and inflammation in lung. Thus, this aPM2.5-caused injury animal model may mimic that of the pulmonary injury in human exposed to airborne particles. In addition, polydatin (PD), a resveratrol glucoside that is rich in grapes and red wine, was found to significantly decrease the oxidative potential (OP) of aPM2.5 in vitro. Treating the model rats with PD prevented the lung function decline caused by aPM2.5, and reduced the level of oxidative damage in aPM2.5-exposed rats. Moreover, PD inhibited aPM2.5-induced inflammation response, as evidenced by downregulation of white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammation-related lipids and proinflammation cytokines in lung. These results provide a practical means for self-protection against particulate air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xi-Kun Yuan Pin-Shi Ni Zhen-Hao Yan Zhi Yu Zhuang-Zhi Wang Chen-Kai Zhang Fang-Hui Li Xiao-Ming Yu 1Sports Department, Nanjing University of Science and Technology ZiJin College, Nanjing, China, 2School of Sport Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China, 3Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai, China To investigate the effects of life-long exercise (LLE) on age-related inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, oxidative stress, ferroptosis markers, and the NRF2/KAEP 1/Klotho pathway in rats. Eight-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: 1) LLE: 18-month LLE training starting at 8 months of age, 2) Old moderate-intensity continuous training (OMICT): 8 months of moderate-intensity continuous training starting at 18 months of age, 3) Adult sedentary (ASED): 8 month-old adult sedentary control group, and 4) Old sedentary (OSED): a 26-month-old sedentary control group. Hematoxylin eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological changes of kidney tissue injury in rats; Masson's staining to observe the deposition of collagen fibers in rat kidney tissues; and western blotting to detect the expression levels of IL-6, IL 1beta, p53, p21, TNF-alpha, GPX4, KAEP 1, NRF2, SLC7A11, and other proteins in kidney tissues. Results: Compared with the ASED group, the OSED group showed significant morphological changes in renal tubules and glomeruli, which were swollen and deformed, with a small number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the tubules. Compared with the OSED group, the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF alpha, and MMP3 were significantly lower in the LLE group. Quantitative immunofluorescence analysis and western blotting revealed that compared with the ASED group, KAEP 1 protein fluorescence intensity and protein expression levels were significantly enhanced, while Klotho and NRF2 protein fluorescence intensity and protein expression levels were reduced in the OSED group. Compared with the OSED group, KAEP 1 protein fluorescence intensity and protein expression levels were reduced in the LLE and OMICT groups. Klotho and KAEP 1 protein expression levels and immunofluorescence intensity were higher in the LLE group than in the OSED group. The expression levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11, two negative marker proteins associated with ferroptosis, were significantly higher in the LLE group than in the OSED group, while the expression of p53 a cellular senescence-associated protein that negatively regulates SLC7A11, and the downstream protein p21 were significantly decreased. LLE may ameliorated aging-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and ferroptosis by regulating Klotho and synergistically activating the NRF2/KAEP 1 pathway. Keywords: Life-long exercise, Moderate intensity continuous training, Aging, Kidney tissue, Ferroptosis.

Atmospheric particle is one of the risk factors for respiratory disease; however, their injury mechanisms are poorly understood, and prevention methods are highly desirable. We constructed artificial PM 2.5 (aPM 2.5 ) particles according to the size and composition of actual PM 2.5 collected in Beijing. Using these artificial particles, we created an inhalation-injury animal model. These aPM 2.5 particles simulate the physical and chemical characteristics of the actual PM 2.5 , and inhalation of the aPM 2.5 in rat results in a time-dependent change in lung suggesting a declined lung function, injury from oxidative stress and inflammation in lung. Thus, this aPM 2.5 -caused injury animal model may mimic that of the pulmonary injury in human exposed to airborne particles. In addition, polydatin (PD), a resveratrol glucoside that is rich in grapes and red wine, was found to significantly decrease the oxidative potential (OP) of aPM 2.5 in vitro. Treating the model rats with PD prevented the lung function decline caused by aPM 2.5 , and reduced the level of oxidative damage in aPM 2.5 -exposed rats. Moreover, PD inhibited aPM 2.5 -induced inflammation response, as evidenced by downregulation of white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammation-related lipids and proinflammation cytokines in lung. These results provide a practical means for self-protection against particulate air pollution.

Objective: To investigate the effects of silencing ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cell line PC-3 and the possible molecular mechanisms., Methods: Three Arf6-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) were transfected into cultured prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Arf6 expression was examined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. MTT assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell migration and invasion assay were used to observe the effect of Arf6 silencing on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of PC-3 cells. The levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), ERK1/2, p-AKT, AKT and Rac1 were detected by Western blotting., Results: Transfection of siRNA-3 resulted in significantly decreased Arf6 mRNA and protein expression with inhibition rates of (91.88±3.13)% and (86.37±0.57)%, respectively. Arf6 silencing by siRNA-3 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of PC-3 cells and reduced the expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and Rac1., Conclusion: Silencing of Arf6 efficiently inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PC-3 cells in vitro, and the underlying mechanisms may involve the down-regulation of p-ERK1/2 and Rac1.

Objective: To investigate the association of maternal body composition and dietary intake with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)., Methods: A total 154 GDM subjects and 981 controls were enrolled in a prospective cohort study in 11 hospitals from May 20, 2012 to December 31, 2013. Bioelectrical impedance analysis and dietary surveys were used to determine body composition and to evaluate the intake of nutrients in subjects at 21-24 weeks' gestation (WG). Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the relationships of maternal body composition and dietary intake with the risk of GDM morbidity., Results: Age, pre-pregnant body weight (BW), and body mass index (BMI) were associated with increased risk of GDM. Fat mass (FM), fat mass percentage (FMP), extracellular water (ECW), BMI, BW, energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrates at 21-24 WG were associated with an increased risk of GDM. In contrast, fat free mass (FFM), muscular mass (MM), and intracellular water (ICW) were associated with a decreased risk of GDM., Conclusion: Maternal body composition and dietary intake during the second trimester of pregnancy were associated with the risk of GDM morbidity., (Copyright © 2016 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study is to systematically investigate the characteristics of absorption and metabolism of oxymatrine (OMT) using rat intestinal perfusion model. Ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI(+)-Q-TOF-MS) were used to test absorption of OMT in intestine at 100, 200 and 400 µmol · L(-1). The absorption rate and permeability of OMT is not dependent on concentration, but through passive absorption in intestine (P > 0.05). In the rat intestine, the absorbed amount of OMT was significantly different in four sections of the intestine in an order of duodenum > jejunum > ileum > colon (P < 0.05). OMT is metabolized into two metabolites in duodenum and jejunum, and matrine (MT) is the major one.

Objective: To investigate whether resveratrol (RES) plays a protective role in hypothermic preserved isolated rat hearts and whether it is mediated by regulation of silent information regulator protein-1 (Sirt-1) expression., Methods: The Langendorff model of isolated rat heart was used. After stored in different Celsior solution at 4 degrees C for 9 h, SD rat hearts were randomly divided into 7 groups: blank control group;9 h group (soley hypothermic preservation for 9 h); RES group (3, 10, 30 micromol/L RES treatment plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h ), niacinamide (NAM) group (40 micromol/L NAM added in Celsior solution plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h), RES + NAM group (30 micromol/L RES and 40 micromol/L NAM were added in Celsior solution plus hypothermic preservation for 9 h). The morphological changes of cardiomyocytes were detected by the HE staining with the light microscope. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt-1 were detected by Real-Time PCR and Western blot respectively., Results: (1) Compared with the blank control group, myocardiocytes were injured remarkably in the 9 h group and the Sirt-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased significantly (P < 0.01); (2) Compared with the 9 h group, rat myocardial injury was alleviated gradually in 3, 10, 30 micromol/L RES group and the Sirt-1 mRNA and protein expression levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); (3) The above protective effects of RES were attenuated by Sirt-1 inhibitor NAM., Conclusion: RES can protect myocardiocytes from injury caused by long range hypothermic preservation and this protective effect maybe mediated by upregulation of Sirt-1 expression.

Objective: To study the utilization situation of harm reduction services among drug users and to analyze the reasons of the drug users' absence in the services as well as their evaluation of the services quality based on the gender perspective, and then to provide advice on the improvement of harm reduction services in the future., Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in four cities of Yunnan Province. The information was collected from the drug users in the drug rehabilitation centers and communities through outreach workers. The utilization of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and needle exchange service, the reason of the drug users' absence in the services and the evaluation towards the convenience, acceptability, as well as services quality were all surveyed., Results: The valid samples were 579 with sex ratio 50.8% (male) and 49.2% (female). Most of the respondents (56.3%) had an educational level of junior high school and 44.0% were single. There were 61.8% (358/579) of respondents who used to utilize MMT service with female participation rate being 57.5%, which was lower than the male one (P<0.05). And there were 58.2% (223/383) of the respondents who used to exchange needles from the outreach workers or needle exchange points with female participation rate being 52.9%, which was lower than the male one (P<0.05). The leading cause of the drug users' absence in the services was their lack of understanding about the services. Among the people who used to utilize the services, the evaluations of women were better than those of men., Conclusion: Drug users have a low awareness of harm reduction services and female drug users are lack of the utilization towards services. More publicity and concern on harm reduction services in the future as well as exploration of the services which better fit the traits of women and privacy protection are suggested.

Objective: To investigate the status of smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors in undergraduate students, and explore the relationship between smoking and alcohol drinking and other health risk behaviors., Methods: A total of 7 979 students from 44 universities or colleges across China were sampled with multiple-stage stratified sampling method. A cross-sectional investigation on smoking, alcohol drinking and other health risk behaviors was conducted, and SPSS 13.0 was used to statistically analyze the data., Results: The prevalence of current smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors was 19.6% and 42.2%, respectively. There was significant difference in different genders (male 34.1% vs. female 6.1%), geographical regions (East China 15.7% vs. Mid-China 19.0% vs. West China 29.8%), types of university (key university 17.9% vs. vocational college 21.2%) and majors (arts 15.4% vs. science and engineering 21.5%) in undergraduate students who currently smoked (P<0.01). And there was significant difference in different genders (male 58.6% vs. female 26.9%), geographical regions (East China 37.9% vs. Mid-China 42.8% vs. West China 50.8%) and majors (arts 36.4% vs. science and engineering 46.1%) in undergraduate students who currently drank (P<0.01). The incidence of health risk behaviors, such as unhealthy eating behaviors, substance abuse, bad personal health habits, intentional and unintentional injuries, in the smoking and alcohol drinking students was higher than that of the control group., Conclusion: The smoking and alcohol drinking status was not optimistic in undergraduate students in China, which is highly related to other health risk behaviors. Comprehensive prevention and intervention programs should be developed according to different demographic distributions.

Objective: To comprehend the young migrants' sexual behavior and contraceptive status, and to provide the scientific basis for the health education regarding sex and reproduction for the young migrants in cities., Methods: An anonymous self-designed structured questionnaire was used to survey 4 389 young migrants in Beijing, Guangzhou and Ji'nan., Results: In the study, 33.4%(1 453/4 354) of the migrant adolescents reported had sexual activity, with the unmarried sex rate of 27.5%(1 066/3 880), and the males accounting for 37.8%(579/1 533) and the females 20.7%(487/2 347); contraception was 44.8%(642/1 432); condoms were the preferred contraceptive measures for floating adolescents; but 31.1%(322/1 034) of the unmarried persons reported experienced pregnancy, and 29.7%(307/1 034) of the unmarried people reported had a history of abortion. Education backgrounds (OR=1.555), marital status (OR=0.432), sex partner number (OR=0.683), knowledge of venereal disease prevention (OR=1.758) were the influence factors., Conclusion: Higher sexual and lower birth control utilization rates have triggered young migrants' reproductive health problems. We should promote the floating people' s reproductive health education and make better choices for effective contraceptive measures.

Objective: To investigate the status on health-related knowledge and skills among the college students., Methods: 5070 Chinese students from 28 universities or colleges were sampled, using the multiple-stage stratified, purposive and convenient mixed sampling method. A cross-sectional investigation on health literacy was conducted with self-designed questionnaire, and SPSS 13.0 was used to statistically analyze the data., Results: The average scores on health-related related knowledge and skills among the subjects was 74.139 ± 12.0223, with 38.4% on basic health- related literacy (scores ≥ 80). The rate (1.1%) of passing the margin line set for the awareness on chronic disease prevention appeared to be the lowest. And there noticed significant differences (P < 0.05) in different regions, types, and genders on the basic health-related knowledge and skills as well as on the prevalence rates of total and each dimensional health-related literacy among universities and colleges. Regions and types of universities and colleges were the main influencing factors on the levels of health-related knowledge and skills among the college students., Conclusion: The prevalence of basic health-related knowledge and skills was low and the prevalence rates of health-related knowledge and skills were differently distributed among student populations under study.

To screen potential human soluble epoxide hydrolase (hsEH) inhibitors, a high-throughput screening model in 384-well microplate with total volume of 50 microL was established. Recombinant hsEH was cloned and expressed in E. coli. and its specific substrate PHOME was synthesized. The HTS model was based on fluorescence analysis with enhanced sensitivity and specificity (Z' = 0.65). A total of 47 360 samples (including 25 040 compounds and 22 320 natural products) were screened, of which 950 samples with inhibition greater than 80% were selected for further rescreening. Finally, two compounds with high inhibitory activity were identified, whose IC50 value were 8.56 and 4.31 micromol x L(-1), separately. The results indicated that the method was stable, sensitive, reproducible and also suitable for high-throughput screening.

Objective: To investigate effects of medium- and long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerols (MLCT) on body fat and serum lipid in overweight and hypertriglyceridemic subjects., Methods: A double-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out, in which 112 subjects with hypertriglyceridemia were enrolled and divided into two groups, there were 56 subjects in each group. One group was randomized to consume long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerol (LCT), and the other to MLCT. All volunteers were asked to consume 25 - 30 g test oil daily for consecutive 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements of body weight, body fat weight, waist circumference(WC), hip circumference(HC), WHR (ratio of WC/HC), total fat weight, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, and serum biochemical variables of glucose, total cholesterols(TC), triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)were measured at the initial and final time of the study., Results: 11 subjects were excluded from the study because of various reasons. Of the 101 included cases, there were 50 (male subject 34, 68.0%) and 51 (male subject 33, 64.7%) subjects left in LCT and MLCT group respectively. The proportion of men in MLCT (64.7%, 33/51) was not significantly different (chi(2) = 0.1227, P > 0.05) compared to those in LCT (68.0%, 34/50). The average age of MLCT was (54.2 +/- 12.5) which was not significantly different (t = 0.39, P > 0.05) compared to those in LCT (53.2 +/- 13.0); Body mass index (BMI) of MLCT was (25.9 +/- 3.3) kg/m(2), which was not significantly different (t = 0.08, P > 0.05) compared to those of LCT (25.9 +/- 2.4) kg/m(2). After consumption of test oil for 8 weeks, extent of decrease in BMI, percent of body fat, subcutaneous fat, serum TG and serum LDL-C in overweight subjects of MLCT were (-0.73 +/- 0.61) kg/m(2), (-1.53 +/- 1.32)%, (-16.29 +/- 19.25) cm(2), (-0.57 +/- 0.86) mmol/L and (-0.05 +/- 0.64) mmol/L respectively, those in overweight subjects of LCT were (-0.19 +/- 0.61) kg/m(2), (-0.58 +/- 1.02)%, (4.69 +/- 19.06) cm(2), (0.65 +/- 1.10) mmol/L and (0.38 +/- 0.58) mmol/L respectively, all of them were significantly different (the value of t were -2.70, -2.43, -3.20, -3.81 and -2.09 respectively, all of P value were less than 0.05)., Conclusion: Consumption of MLCT can reduce body fat weight and serum triacylglycerol and LDL-C in overweight hypertriglyceridemic subjects under an appropriate dietary regime.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological significance of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus (HFRSV) infection in domestic pigs in Shandong province, and study the role of domestic pigs in the prevalence of HFRS., Methods: Epidemiological investigation was performed in 4 cities of Shandong province. Reversed passive hemagglutination assay (RPHA), reversed passive hemagglutination inhibition (RPHI), HPR-SPA, immunofluorescent antibody (IFA), and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect antigen and antibody of HFRSV., Results: HFRSV antigen and antibody were detected in the heart, liver, lung, spleen, kidney, blood, urine, and stool of domestic pigs as well as in the sewage of the pigpen facilities. The positivity rate of HFRSV antigen ranged from 3.33% to 5.00% in the organ of pigs, and HFRSV positivity rate in the blood, urine, stool, and sewage was 3.67%, 7.04%, 2.51%, and 5.56%, respectively, with a total serum antibody positivity rate of 1.96%. The virus was isolated from the HFRSV antigen-positive samples, and could infect many organs after artificial infection of the pigs. HFRSV antigen can be detected in suckling rat brain and histopathological examination suggested transient pathological changes in such organs as the liver, lung and kidney. HFRSV may proliferate in pigs and was discharged through multiple routes., Conclusion: Domestic pigs can be the host of HFRSV for the viral transmission.

Noviose is a key synthon for the construction of novobiocin, a clinically useful antitumor agent that has been shown to inhibit both type II topoisomerases and Hsp90. The synthesis of d-noviose from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-erythronolactol is described.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was detected by PCR-dot blot hybridization in rotifer resting eggs from shrimp Penaeus chinensis culture-pond sediments. It was also detected in rotifers hatched from those eggs. Surface disinfection before analysis indicated that WSSV was probably present within the resting eggs. Results suggested that rotifer resting eggs may be an overwintering reservoir for WSSV in shrimp ponds.

Antifreeze activity increases in winter rye (Secale cereale L.) during cold acclimation as the plants accumulate antifreeze proteins (AFPs) that are similar to glucanases, chitinases and thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) in the leaf apoplast. In the present work, experiments were conducted to assess the role of drought and abscisic acid (ABA) in the regulation of antifreeze activity and accumulation of AFPs. Antifreeze activity was detected as early as 24 h of drought treatment at 20 degrees C and increased as the level of apoplastic proteins increased. Apoplastic proteins accumulated rapidly under water stress and reached a level within 8 days that was equivalent to the level of apoplastic proteins accumulated when plants were acclimated to cold temperature for 7 weeks. These drought-induced apoplastic proteins had molecular masses ranging from 11 to 35 kDa and were identified as two glucanases, two chitinases, and two TLPs, by using antisera raised against cold-induced rye glucanase, chitinase, and TLP, respectively. Apoplastic extracts obtained from plants treated with ABA lacked the ability to modify the growth of ice crystals, even though ABA induced the accumulation of apoplastic proteins within 4 days to a level similar to that obtained when plants were either drought-stressed for 8 days or cold-acclimated for 7 weeks. These ABA-induced apoplastic proteins were identified immunologically as two glucanases and two TLPs. Moreover, the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone did not prevent the accumulation of AFPs in the leaves of cold-acclimated rye plants. Our results show that cold acclimation and drought both induce antifreeze activity in winter rye plants and that the pathway regulating AFP production is independent of ABA.