Objective To study the expression of endogenous cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and hydrogen sulfide in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and explore their possible role in the pathogenesis of UC. Methods Thirty patients with active period UC (active period UC group), 30 patients with remission period UC (remission period UC group) and 30 healthy controls (control group) were selected, and SABC method was used to observe the localization of CBS in rectal mucosal tissues. The optical density value of CBS was analyzed with image analysis systems. The relative expression of CBS mRNA in the rectal mucosa tissue was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the expression of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was detected as an internal reference. The expression level of mRNA was detected by semi quantitative analysis with gel imaging analysis system, and the results were expressed as the ratio of the target bands to the GAPDH absorbance. The serum level of hydrogen sulfide was detected. Results The serum level of hydrogen sulfide, optical density value of CBS and relative expression of CBS mRNA of rectal mucosal tissues in active period UC group were significantly higher than those in remission period UC group and control group: (90.13 ± 3.12) μmol/L vs. (50.34 ± 2.34) and (48.13 ± 2.75) μmol/L, 0.433 ± 0.037 vs. 0.295 ± 0.064 and 0.214 ± 0.026, 1.532 ± 0.134 vs. 1.031 ± 0.107 and 0.986 ± 0.067, and there were statistical differences (P < 0.01); but there were no statistical differences between remission period UC group and control group (P>0.05). Conclusions The abnomal expression of CBS and hydrogen sulfide in aactive period UC may play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC.

Objective To investigate the expressions of endogenous cystathionine-γ-1yase (CSE)/ hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and resolvin E1 (RvE1) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC),and its effect on the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.Methods The distribution and expression of CSE proteins in the rectum mucosa in 60 cases of UC and 30 cases of normal control group were detected by Strept Avidin-Biotin Complex (SABC) immunohistochemistry.The average optical density value of CSE was analyzed with an Image Analyzing systems.The expression of CSE mRNA in the rectum mucosa was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The levels of H2S and RvE1 in sera were detected by spectrophotometry.Results The expressions of CSE proteins in three groups were detected in the rectum mucosa membrane epithelia.The average optical density value of CSE and the expression of CSE mRNA in patients with active UC were higher than that in normal group and remission of UC.The levels of H2S and RyE1 in patients with active UC were significantly higher than that in normal group and remission of UC.Conclusions The abnormal expressions of CSE/H2S and RyE1 in activity of the UC might play an important role in the pathogenesis of UC.

Background Domestic waste classification is one of the major livelihood projects in China. With the introduction of the Shanghai Household Waste Management Regulation in 2019, the work of domestic waste classification has been carried out nationwide, yet its potential risks especially those derived from microorganisms are not clear. Objective To investigate the microbial characteristics of the domestic waste in typical residential areas in Shanghai, and provide a theoretical basis for health protection during the domestic waste classification process in Shanghai and throughout China. Methods Dry and wet waste from a typical residential community in Shanghai were collected during 2019–2020. Microbial colonies were counted in domestic waste and analyzed for growth patterns. Then through 16S rRNA sequencing using lllumina PE250, hierarchical clustering analysis was conducted to reveal the similarity and dissimilarity of community compositions in different domestic waste groups, alpha diversity was estimated to reflect the richness and diversity of bacterial communities, principal co-ordinates analysis of unweighted UniFrac distance was performed to estimate the beta diversity, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was used to find features differentially represented among domestic waste groups. Results In the chosen typical residential community of this study, the numbers of microorganisms in waste were quite different, with lower numbers of microorganisms in dry waste than the numbers in wet waste. In addition, different growth curves of microorganisms were shown for different seasons, and the peak baterial colony numbers were 200 CFU·cm⁻², 6×10⁵ CFU·mL⁻¹, 10 CFU·cm⁻², and 2×10⁶ CFU·mL⁻¹ for summer dry waste, summer wet waste, winter dry waste, and winter wet waste, respectively. The results of 16S RNA demonstrated significant differences in α and β diversity indicators among different waste groups, and the difference in waste classifications was larger than the difference of the same classification of waste in different seasons. The main compositions of bacterial colonies in domestic waste was Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicute and Bacteroidota. The clustering analysis showed that the microbial composition in summer dry waste was close to that in winter dry waste, while other groups were quite different. In total 48 differential bacterial taxa were found at the level of genus including Pseudomonas and Pantoea. Conclusion Different seasons and different classifications of domestic waste present varied microbial characteristics, with different potential pathogenic microorganisms. Together with other related studies, we suggest that different measures should be taken for different domestic wastes to prevent and control the health hazards associated with waste classification.

Air pollution is one of the most important environmental issues in China and worldwide, as well as a critical public health problem affecting human health. With the implementation of emission reduction and other programs, the air quality in China has been improved dramatically in recent years, but is still worse than the WHO guideline recommended levels. Numerous epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that short-term or long-term exposure to air pollution is strongly associated with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and so forth, in which interleukin-6 (IL-6), a well-known inflammatory factor, may play an important role. Studies have found that IL-6 can bind to interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) , which leads to the recruiting and activation of glycoprotein 130, and then the formed IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 complex triggers the janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription, Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2/mitogen-activated protein kinase, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways. All of these signaling pathways are found to be involved in a variety of physiopathological processes. In the present review, information about the IL-6 signaling pathway and its role in air pollution-induced adverse health effects was systematically reviewed, hoping to provide insights for the future prevention and control policies.