OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory effects of two traditional mineral medicines (TMMs), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, GF) and Terra Flava Usta (Zaoxintu, TFU), on gut-beneficial bacteria in mice, and preliminarily explore their mechanisms of action. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 per group): the control group (standard diet), the GF group (diet supplemented with 2% GF), and the TFU group (diet supplemented with 2% TFU). After 4-week intervention, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes in the gut microbiota (GM). Scanning electron microscopy, in combination with coumarin A tetramethyl rhodamine conjugate and Hoechst stainings, was used to observe the bacteria and biofilm formation. RESULTS: Principal coordinate analysis revealed that GF and TFU significantly altered the GM composition in mice. Further analysis revealed that GF and TFU affected different types of gut bacteria, suggesting that different TMMs may selectively modulate specific bacterial populations. For certain bacteria, such as Faecalibaculum and Ileibacterium, both GF and TFU exhibited growth-promoting effects, implying that they may be sensitive to TMMs and that different TMMs can increase their abundance through their respective mechanisms. Notably, Lactobacillus reuteri, a widely recognized and used probiotic, was significantly enriched in the GF group. Random forest analysis identified Ileibacterium valens as a potential indicator bacterium for TMMs' impact on GM. Further mechanistic studies showed that gut bacteria formed biofilm structures on the TFU surface. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insights into the interaction between TMMs and GM. As safe and effective natural clays, GF and TFU hold promise as potential candidates for prebiotic development.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Bacteria/growth & development* ; Mice ; Biofilms/drug effects* ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of parenting sense of competence scale (PSOC) in Chinese mothers of preschool children, and to explore the perception of preschool children's mothers on their own parenting skills and their comfort of being a parent in Yanqing District of Beijing. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample in 1 384 preschool children's mothers in Yanqing District of Beijing. SPSS 21.0 and Mplus 7.4 software were used for statistical analysis to test the structural validity, criterion related validity, internal consistency and split half reliability of the scale, and to analyze the score of the scale and its influencing factors. RESULTS: The PSOC had good reliability and validity. Exploratory factor analysis showed that each item of the PSOC had more than 0.4 factor loading in efficacy factor or satisfaction factor, and there was no double load phenomenon. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor loadings ranged from 0.212 to 0.843 in efficacy factor and satisfaction factor, respectively. The goodness of fit test showed that all the fitting indexes were within the acceptable range, and the correlation between the effectiveness subscale and the satisfaction subscale was high. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the whole scale, the efficacy subscale and the satisfaction subscale were 0.872, 0.802, and 0.874, respectively. The Spearman-Brown coefficient of PSOC was 0.851. The average score of the whole scale, the efficacy subscale, and the satisfaction subscale were 72.33±11.31, 35.54±5.91, and 36.79±7.11, respectively, and the score of parenting competence in Chinese mothers of preschool children was influenced by the mother's educational level and the annual income of her family. CONCLUSION The PSOC has satisfactory reliability and validity in Chinese mothers of preschool children. It can be used as an evaluation instrument for measuring the parenting competency, self perceived efficacy and satisfaction in the mainland Chinese mothers of preschool children. The competency of preschool children's mothers in Yanqing District of Beijing is very good, which may be related to the higher education level of the mothers and the higher annual income of their families in this study.
Beijing ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires