Background Chrysotile is widely used in construction and industry. Research has shown that it is associated with lung fibrosis in occupational groups, but the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in chrysotile-induced lung fibrosis has been less well studied, and the specific mechanism is still unclear. Objective Using next-generation sequencing technology to analyze the effects of chrysotile exposure on the miRNAs expression profiles of human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells), to explore the variations of differentially expressed miRNAs and related signaling pathways, and to identify potential targets and molecular mechanisms of chrysotile-induced lung fibrosis. Methods Chrysotile was analyzed with a laser particle size analyzer and an X-ray diffractometer for particle size and physical phase. BEAS-2B cells were exposed to chrysotile for designed time sessions (12, 24, and 48 h) and doses (0, 50, 100, and 200 μg·mL⁻¹). Cell viability was detected with a cell viability assay kit (CCK8); expression levels of Fibronectin, Collagen-Ⅰ, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by Western blot after exposure to 200 μg·mL⁻¹ chrysotile for 24 h. Sample correlation and changes in miRNAs expression profiles between the chrysotile-exposed and the control groups were analyzed by next-generation sequencing technology. The target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Results The average particle size of the chrysotile dust sample used in this study was 3.58 μm, and the results of X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the characteristic peaks of chrysotile. Compared with the control group, the chrysotile gradually inhibited the survival rate of BEAS-2B cells with increasing concentration and exposure time (P<0.01). The survival rates of the 50, 100, and 200 μg·mL⁻¹ chrysotile-exposed cells after 12 h exposure were 83.88%±1.86%, 78.07%±3.97%, and 71.95%±2.99%, respectively; the survival rates after 24 h exposure were 77.41%±1.58%, 69.57%±2.23%, and 62.79%±3.65%, respectively; the survival rates after 48 h exposure were 74.31%±4.93%, 65.84%±2.71%, and 52.74%±6.31%, respectively. The Fibronectin, Collagen-Ⅰ, and α-SMA protein expression levels were elevated in the 200 μg·mL⁻¹ chrysotile-exposed BEAS-2B cells (P <0.05). The results of principal component analysis showed that there were differences in the composition of the samples between the chrysotile exposure group and the control group, and a total of 163 differential miRNAs were screened, of which 79 were up-regulated and 84 were down-regulated. The results of GO analysis showed that the differential miRNAs were mainly associated with biological processes such as regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, regulation of DNA templated transcription, cellular differentiation, protein phosphorylation, lipid metabolism, and cell cycle, cellular components such as nucleus, cytomembrane, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, as well as molecular functions such as protein binding, metal ion binding, transferase activity, and DNA binding. The results of KEGG analysis revealed that the differential miRNAs were mainly enriched in cancer pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/ protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, Ras-associated protein 1 (Rap1) pathway, calcium pathway, cyclic guanosine monophosphate/ protein kinase G (cGMP-PKG) pathway, Hippo pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway, and Ras pathway. Conclusion Chrysotile exposure could significantly inhibit BEAS-2B cell survival, elevate the expression of lung fibrosis-associated proteins, and induce differential miRNAs expression, affecting biological processes (such as lipid metabolism, protein phosphorylation, and cell cycle) and cell components (such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum), and interfering with PI3K/AKT pathway, Hippo pathway, cAMP pathway, Rap1 pathway, and Ras pathway.

Objective:To investigate dietary patterns of individuals aged ≥50 in Shanghai and analyze their association with frailty.Methods:Using data from the third wave of the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health in Shanghai conducted between 2018 and 2019. We collected the frequency and average intake of food by the food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to extract dietary patterns, and a frailty index was constructed using the ratio of the cumulative total score of health deficits to 35 health-related variables considered. We used an ordinal multinomial logistic regression model to analyze the association between dietary patterns and frailty.Results:A total of 3 274 participants aged (67.9±9.2) years were included in the study, including 1 971 (60.2%) men and 1 303 (39.8%) women. We extracted four dietary patterns: high-protein-nuts pattern, potato-bean-vegetable-fruit pattern, poultry-meat pattern, and high-oil-salt pattern. After adjusting for confounding factors, the logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the high-oil-salt pattern, the high-protein-nuts pattern was negatively associated with the risk of higher frailty ( OR=0.743, 95% CI: 0.580-0.951). We did not find an association between dietary patterns and frailty between the different gender groups. In the age group 50-64, the high-protein-nuts and potato-bean-vegetable-fruit patterns were negatively correlated with a higher degree of frailty than the high-oil-salt pattern. In the low-level physical activity group, the high-protein-nuts pattern was negatively correlated with a higher degree of frailty than the high-oil-salt pattern ( OR=0.509, 95% CI: 0.361-0.720). However, we found no significant effect of the high-protein nuts pattern, potato-bean-vegetable-fruit pattern, and poultry-meat pattern on the risk of higher frailty compared to the high-oil-salt pattern in the moderate to high level of physical activity group. Conclusions:Compared to the high-oil-salt pattern, dietary patterns with a higher intake of high-protein nuts, potatoes, legumes, and fruits and vegetables might be associated with a lower risk of higher frailty in residents aged 50-64 years of age than with a high oil and salt pattern. At the same time, it may have a more significant protective effect in people with lower physical activity levels. It is suggested that a diet rich in high-protein foods, nuts, potatoes, beans, vegetables, and fruits may help reduce and delay the risk of frailty.

Objective:To understand the association between vitamin D level and grip strength in people aged ≥50 years in Shanghai.Methods:Data were obtained from the WHO's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health in Shanghai during 2018-2019. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between vitamin D level and grip strength, and a stratified analysis was conducted for different gender, age and dairy product intake groups. Restricted cubic spline was used to evaluate the dose-response association between vitamin D level and low grip strength.Results:A total of 4 391 participants were included in the study, including 2 054 men (46.8%), with an average age of (67.02±8.81) years. And 1 421 individuals (32.4%) had low grip strength; 1 533 individuals (34.9%) had vitamin D deficiency, and 401 individuals (9.1%) had vitamin D deficiency. After adjusted for confounding factors, the logistic regression results analysis showed that individuals with vitamin D deficiency had a higher risk for low grip strength ( OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.09-1.83). In men, after adjusting for confounding factors, vitamin D deficiency was positively associated with the risk for low grip strength ( OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.12-2.50), but there was no significant association between vitamin D level and grip strength in women ( OR=1.30, 95% CI: 0.97-1.74). In age group 60-69 years and ≥80 years, there was significant association between vitamin D deficiency and low grip strength after adjusting for confounding factors ( OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.05-2.35; OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.08-5.31). In people who had daily intake of dairy product <250 ml, there was positive association between vitamin D deficiency and low grip strength, but there was no significant association in people who had daily dairy product ≥250 ml after adjusting for confounding factors. The restrictive cubic spline demonstrated that risk of low grip strength might decreased with the increase of vitamin D levels, however, the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:This study demonstrated that there is association between vitamin D level and grip strength. People with vitamin D deficiency have higher risk for low grip strength.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of P.odoratum extract on lactase activity and microflora diversity in mice with bacterial dysbacteriosis.Methods SPF male BALB/c mice were randomized into 4 groups:control,model,P.odoratum extract low dose(1.56 g·kg-1·d-1)and high dose(3.12 g·kg-1·d-1)treatment group.There were 8 mice in each group(5 in the blank group).In addition to the control group,after 7 days of intragastric administration of mixed antibiotics,the administration groups were given P.odoratum extract for 7 days,and the control group and the model group were given the same amount of sterile water.The changes of diarrhea,body weight and food intake of mice were recorded.The colon HE staining sections,ZO-1 protein,IL-6 expression,and serum LPS concentration were detected.Feces were collected for lactase activity and microbial diversity determination with 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology.Results After 7 days of antibiotic intervention,compared with the control group,the mice in the model group had soft stool,weight loss,reduced food intake,and significantly reduced intestinal flora diversity.At the 14th day,in the model group,ulceration accompanied by slight interstitial congestion and edema was seen in the colon,ZO-1 expression was significantly reduced,IL-6 expression was significantly increased,serum LPS was significantly increased,lactase activity was significantly reduced,and intestinal flora diversity was still lower compared with the control group.After 7 days of administration,compared with the model group,P.odoratum reduced the diarrhea rate of mice,promoted a recovery of body weight and food intake,downregulated pathological colon tissue damage,significantly increased ZO-1 protein expression,and reduced colon factor IL-6 and serum LPS concentration.In addition,P.odoratum can significantly up-regulate lactase activity and improve the community richness and diversity of dysbacteriosis mice.It is shown that three phyla(up-regulated Firmicutes,down-regulated Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes)and seven genera(up-regulated Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group,Rikenella,Colidextribacter,norank_f__Lachnospiraceae,norank_f__Oscillospiraceae,and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,down-regulated Alloprevotella),the abundance of which was significantly correlated with body weight and lactase activity,serum LPS,and colon factor IL-6.Conclusion P.odoratum can alleviate the gut barrier injury and dysfunction caused by antibiotic induced dysbiosis,and its mechanism may be achieved by regulating microflora structure.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

The mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) has been recently identified as a neurotrophic factor, but its role in hepatic fibrosis is unknown. Here, we found that MANF was upregulated in the fibrotic liver tissues of the patients with chronic liver diseases and of mice treated with CCl₄. MANF deficiency in either hepatocytes or hepatic mono-macrophages, particularly in hepatic mono-macrophages, clearly exacerbated hepatic fibrosis. Myeloid-specific MANF knockout increased the population of hepatic Ly6C^high macrophages and promoted HSCs activation. Furthermore, MANF-sufficient macrophages (from WT mice) transfusion ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in myeloid cells-specific MANF knockout (MKO) mice. Mechanistically, MANF interacted with S100A8 to competitively block S100A8/A9 heterodimer formation and inhibited S100A8/A9-mediated TLR4-NF-κB signal activation. Pharmacologically, systemic administration of recombinant human MANF significantly alleviated CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in both WT and hepatocytes-specific MANF knockout (HKO) mice. This study reveals a mechanism by which MANF targets S100A8/A9-TLR4 as a "brake" on the upstream of NF-κB pathway, which exerts an impact on macrophage differentiation and shed light on hepatic fibrosis treatment.

The fungus Xylaria sp. KYJ-15 was isolated from Illigera celebica. Based on the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) strategy, the strain was fermented on potato and rice solid media, respectively. As a result, two novel steroids, xylarsteroids A (1) and B (2), which are the first examples of C₂₈-steroid with an unusual β- and γ-lactone ring, respectively, along with two new dihydroisocoumarin glycosides, xylarglycosides A (3) and B (4), were identified. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antimicrobial effect. Compound 1 exhibited potent AChE inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 2.61 ± 0.05 μmol·L^-1. The β-lactone ring unit of 1 is critical for its AChE inhibitory activity. The finding was further confirmed through exploring the interaction of 1 with AChE by molecular docking. In addition, both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited obvious antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 μg·mL^-1. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus with MICs of 4 and 2 μg·mL^-1, respectively, which also exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity comparable to the positive control with IC₅₀ values of 9.2 ± 0.03 and 13.3 ± 0.01 μmol·L^-1, respectively.
Humans ; Acetylcholinesterase ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Glycosides ; Lactones ; Pain

Assays of clinical diagnosis and species identification using molecular markers are performed according to a quantitative method in consideration of sensitivity, cost, speed, convenience, and specificity. However, typical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is difficult to quantify and have various limitations. In addition, to perform quantitative analysis with the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) equipment, a standard curve or normalization using reference genes is essential. Within the last a decade, previous studies have reported that the digital PCR (dPCR) assay, a third-generation PCR, can be applied in various fields by overcoming the shortcomings of typical PCR and qRT-PCR assays. We selected Stilla Naica System (Stilla Technologies), Droplet Digital PCR Technology (Bio-Rad), and Lab on an Array Digital Real-Time PCR analyzer system (OPTOLANE) for comparative analysis among the various droplet digital PCR platforms currently in use commercially. Our previous study discovered a molecular marker that can distinguish Hanwoo species (Korean native cattle) using Hanwoo-specific genomic structural variation. Here, we report the pros and cons of the operation of each dPCR platform from various perspectives using this species identification marker. In conclusion, we hope that this study will help researchers to select suitable dPCR platforms according to their purpose and resources.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Anmeidan on the sleep quality and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP）， and irisin in the patients with chronic insomnia. MethodA multicenter， randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical study was carried out， including 480 patients with chronic insomnia （deficiency syndrome） in Wuhan （Hubei）， Guangzhou （Guangdong）， and Lanzhou （Gansu）. They were randomized into an observation group and a control group at a ratio of 1∶1. The observation group was orally administered with Anmeidan granules at a dose of 11 g， 3 times per day， and the control group with Anmeidan simulant at a dose of 11 g， 3 times per day， Both groups of patients received sleep education after enrollment. After 4 weeks of medication， the Athens insomnia scale （AIS） scores， Spiegel scale scores， and serum levels of BDNF， GFAP， and irisin were compared between the two groups as well as between before and after treatment. ResultA total of 480 adult patients with chronic insomnia were enrolled in this study， with 64 patients falled off. Finally， the 415 patients were included in the analysis， including 213 patients in the observation group and 202 patients in the control group. There was no difference in age or sex between the two groups of patients. Compared with before treatment， the treatment in both groups decreased the AIS and Spiegel scores （P<0.01）. After treatment， the observation group had lower AIS and Spiegel scores than the control group （P<0.01）. The treatment in the observation group slightly lowered the level of BDNF， elevated the level of irisin （P<0.05）， and lowered the level of GFAP （P<0.05） in the serum. After treatment， the observation group showed higher level of irisin （P<0.05） and lower levels of BDNF and GFAP in the serum than the control group. ConclusionAnmeidan may improve the sleep quality of patients with chronic insomnia by elevating the irisin level and lowering the GFAP level in the serum.