Objective To investigated the effects of occupational exposure to N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) on sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) and iron metabolism among workers. Methods A total of 20 workers occupationally exposed to DMF were selected as the exposure group, and 15 healthy workers without DMF exposure from the same factory were selected as the control group using the purposive sampling method. DMF exposure levels were assessed in individual samples of the workers. The urinary N-methylformamide (NMF) levels were measured by gas chromatography. The mRNA expression of SREBP-1a, SREBP-1c, and SREBP-2 in peripheral blood was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and ferritin levels. Results The DMF exposure levels among the workers in the control group were below the detection limit, and urinary NMF was undetectable. The median DMF exposure level was 13.30 mg/m³, and the mean urinary NMF level was (9.72±1.78) mg/g Cr among the workers in the exposure group. Compared with the control group, the relative mRNA expression of SREBP-1a, SREBP-1c, and SREBP-2 in peripheral blood of workers in the exposure group increased (all P<0.05), while the levels of transferrin and sTfR decreased (both P<0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in serum ferritin levels between the two groups (P>0.05). In the exposure group, urinary NMF level of workers was negatively correlated with the relative mRNA expression level of SREBP-1c in blood [correlation coefficient (r)=-0.50, P=0.03], and positively correlated with the levels of serum transferrin, sTfR, and ferritin (r = 0.63, 0.58, and 0.52, respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational exposure to DMF can upregulate the expression of the SREBP family and disrupt iron metabolism, with a potential association between these effects.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody(Hp-IgG)and anti-aquaporin 4 antibody which are in neuromyelitis optica(NMO)and multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods: Serum specimens were collected from the 33 patients with MS,7 patients with NMO,and 35 health examination cases.Hp-IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assasy and anti-aquaporin 4 antibody were detected by cell based assay respectively.The positive rate of Hp-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 antibody were analyzed,and the difference of Hp-IgG positive rate was compared between patients with Hp-IgG positive and negative.Results: Serum Hp-IgG positive rate of MS,NMO and normal control groups were 69.70％,85.71％ and 42.86％ respectively with a significant statistically difference of Hp-IgG(P<0.05).Positive rate of serum anti HP-IgG antibody in MS group,NMO group and normal control were significantly different(P<0.05);but there was no statistical significant difference of anti HP-IgG antibody positive rate between MS group and NMO group(P>0.05).Serum anti AQP4 antibody positive rate of MS,NMO and normal control groups were 4.2％,85.71％ and 0％ respectively with a significant statistically difference of anti AQP4 antibody(P<0.05).The positive rates of anti HP-IgG which were in MS patients and NMO patients with positive anti AQP4 antibody were 72.73％,the positive rates of anti HP-IgG which were in MS patients and NMO patients with negative anti AQP4 antibody were 79.31％,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion: HP infection is a risk factor for the occurrence of MS and NMO,but not associated with MS and NMO patients with anti AQP4 antibodies.