Objective:To establish an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for the rapid determination of total bromine in whole blood, and to provide technical support for the monitoring of bromine exposure in occupational populations.Methods:In September 2023, 0.25 ml of whole blood sample was added with 0.25% tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution to a volume of 5.0 ml, ultrasonicated and homogenized, and then quantified by ICP-MS with rhodium solution as the online internal standard solution.Results:The linear relationship of bromine in blood was good within the range of 0~10.00 mg/L, with a correlation coefficient ( r) >0.999. The limit of detection of the method was 0.07 mg/L, and the quantification limit was 0.22 mg/L. The recoveries of the total bromine in whole blood were in the range of 95.5%-102.9%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the range of 3.1%-4.7% ( n=7) . Conclusion:An ICP-MS method was established for the rapid determination of total bromine in whole blood, which is accurate, simple, rapid, highly automated, and can be used for the determination of total bromine in whole blood of occupationally exposed people.

Objective To investigate effect of cassava RS3 resistant starch(Ce-RS3)on serum homocysteine(Hcy)level in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction(ACI)during the recovery period.Methods A total of 55 patients with ACI at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2023 to October 2024 were selected as subjects.They were devieded into observation group(n=28)and control group(n=27)using a random number table.The control group received atorvastatin calcium,phospholipids,and aspirin,while the observation group received atorvastatin calcium,phospholipids,aspirin,and Ce-RS3.After 12 weeks of treatment,homocysteine(Hcy)levels,carotid plaque diameter,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)scores,Barthel index(BI)scores,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the serum Hcy levels decreased and carotid plaque size reduced in both groups,with the NIHSS scores and TCM syndrome scores also decreased,and observation group was lower than control group(P＜0.05).After treatment,the BI score increased,with observation group higher than control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The use of Ce-RS3 in the recovery phase of patients with ACI can effectively improve neurological function and enhance treatment efficacy.

Objective To investigate the association between the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(MHR)and sarcopenia in an adult population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 8085 participants aged 20 years and older,selected from four cycles(2011-2018)of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES).Multivariate Logistic re-gression model was used to evaluate the association between MHR and sarcopenia.Variance inflation factors(VIF)were calculated to as-sess multicollinearity between variables.Restricted cubic splines were employed to explore nonlinear relationships,with interaction tests and subgroup analyses performed as well.Results In the fully adjusted model,MHR was positively associated with sarcopenia(OR=2.56,95％CI:1.73-3.79,P＜0.001).This association was more pronounced in participants with smoking history and cardiovascular disease.Additionally,restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a linear relationship between MHR and sarcopenia.Conclusion MHR is positively associated with the risk of sarcopenia and may serve as a potential early indicator for identifying sarcopenia.

Objective To investigate the association between the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(MHR)and sarcopenia in an adult population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 8085 participants aged 20 years and older,selected from four cycles(2011-2018)of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES).Multivariate Logistic re-gression model was used to evaluate the association between MHR and sarcopenia.Variance inflation factors(VIF)were calculated to as-sess multicollinearity between variables.Restricted cubic splines were employed to explore nonlinear relationships,with interaction tests and subgroup analyses performed as well.Results In the fully adjusted model,MHR was positively associated with sarcopenia(OR=2.56,95％CI:1.73-3.79,P＜0.001).This association was more pronounced in participants with smoking history and cardiovascular disease.Additionally,restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a linear relationship between MHR and sarcopenia.Conclusion MHR is positively associated with the risk of sarcopenia and may serve as a potential early indicator for identifying sarcopenia.

Objective To investigate effect of cassava RS3 resistant starch(Ce-RS3)on serum homocysteine(Hcy)level in patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction(ACI)during the recovery period.Methods A total of 55 patients with ACI at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2023 to October 2024 were selected as subjects.They were devieded into observation group(n=28)and control group(n=27)using a random number table.The control group received atorvastatin calcium,phospholipids,and aspirin,while the observation group received atorvastatin calcium,phospholipids,aspirin,and Ce-RS3.After 12 weeks of treatment,homocysteine(Hcy)levels,carotid plaque diameter,National Institutes of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)scores,Barthel index(BI)scores,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,the serum Hcy levels decreased and carotid plaque size reduced in both groups,with the NIHSS scores and TCM syndrome scores also decreased,and observation group was lower than control group(P＜0.05).After treatment,the BI score increased,with observation group higher than control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The use of Ce-RS3 in the recovery phase of patients with ACI can effectively improve neurological function and enhance treatment efficacy.

Objective:To establish an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for the rapid determination of total bromine in whole blood, and to provide technical support for the monitoring of bromine exposure in occupational populations.Methods:In September 2023, 0.25 ml of whole blood sample was added with 0.25% tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution to a volume of 5.0 ml, ultrasonicated and homogenized, and then quantified by ICP-MS with rhodium solution as the online internal standard solution.Results:The linear relationship of bromine in blood was good within the range of 0~10.00 mg/L, with a correlation coefficient ( r) >0.999. The limit of detection of the method was 0.07 mg/L, and the quantification limit was 0.22 mg/L. The recoveries of the total bromine in whole blood were in the range of 95.5%-102.9%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in the range of 3.1%-4.7% ( n=7) . Conclusion:An ICP-MS method was established for the rapid determination of total bromine in whole blood, which is accurate, simple, rapid, highly automated, and can be used for the determination of total bromine in whole blood of occupationally exposed people.

Objective To study the effect of sex-determining region Y-frame protein 3(SOX3)on proliferation and estradiol secretion in human ovarian granulosa cells(KGN cell line).Methods The gene sequence of human SOX3(NM_005634.3)was searched in Gene-Bank,an NCBI database,and the target gene SOX3 was amplified by PCR,which was cloned into lentiviral vector pLV-EF1a-GFP-2A-Puro to obtain the overexpression lentiviral re-combinant plasmid pLV-EF1a-GFP-2A-Puro-SOX3;the correctly sequenced overexpressed lentiviral recombinant plasmid as well as packaging plasmids(pGag/Pol,pRev,pVSV-G)were co-transfected into human embryonic kidney cell line(HEK 293T)cells(pLV-SOX3 group),and pLV-EF1a-GFP-2A-Puro and packaging plasmids(pGag/Pol,pRev,pVSV-G)were co-transfected into HEK 293T cells(pLV-NC group),the lentiviral particles of both groups were collected and the titers of the viruses were measured after 48 h of transfection,the lentiviruses of the two groups were infected into KGN cells,and the stably expressed cell lines were obtained after puromycin screening for 2 weeks;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blot were used to detect the SOX3 mRNA and protein levels in the two groups;CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferative ability of the cells in the two groups;ELISA was used to determine the concentration of estradiol in the two groups.Results The identification of PCR products and sequencing results showed that the SOX3 gene fragment was amplified successfully,and the enzyme digestion and sequencing results indicated that the construction of overexpression lentiviral recombinant plasmid was completed;green fluorescence could be detected after lentiviral infection of HEK 293T cells,which indicated that lentiviral packaging was successful;the lentivirus was screened by puromycin after lentiviral infection of KGN cells,and the cells were observed to express green fluorescence under the fluorescence microscope;RT-qPCR and Western blot assays both showed that the expression level of SOX3 in the pLV-SOX3 group was significantly higher than that in the pLV-NC group(P<0.05).CCK-8 assay results showed that the proliferation ability of the cells in the pLV-SOX3 group significantly increased compared with that in the pLV-NC group(P<0.01).ELISA results showed that estradiol concentration was elevated in the pLV-SOX3 group com-pared with the pLV-NC group(P<0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of the transcription factor SOX3 can pro-mote the proliferation and estradiol secretion of human ovarian granulosa cells KGN.

Objective To observe the effects of Yiqi Jiedu Compound on TCM syndrome score and immune regulation of Th17/Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with myasthenia gravis.Methods 63 patients with myasthenia gravis were randomly divided into the control group(n=31)and the treatment group(n=32).The control group was given the basic treatment of pyridostigmine bromide and glucocorticoid and so on,and the treatment group was given Yiqi Jiedu Compound based on the control group.The two groups were treated for 12 weeks.Clinical efficacy was observed,TCM syndrome scores were statistically analyzed,and the expression levels were detected,which Th17/Treg cells,Foxp3/RORγ t gene and IL-6 and IL-17 cytokines in peripheral blood of patients in both groups before and after treatment.Results After 12 weeks of treatment,compared with the control group,the TCM syndrome score of patients in the treatment group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the expression of Foxp3 and Treg genes in peripheral blood was promoted(P<0.05),and the expression of Th17 and Treg cells and IL-6 and IL-17 cytokines in peripheral blood was decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Yiqi Jiedu Compound may regulate the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells by affecting the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood and the expression levels of transcription factors RORγ t and Foxp3 genes and related cytokines,thus achieving the effect of myasthenia gravis treatment.

Background The concentrations of disinfection by-products (DBPs) are varied by different water sources, disinfectants, or treatment processes in Wuxi, and the associated health risks are also different. Objective To understand the levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetamides (HAcAms) in drinking water in Wuxi, and their variations by water sources, seasons, disinfectants or treatment processes, aiming to provide technical support for ensuring the safety of drinking water. Methods In dry period (December 2019) and wet period (July 2020), the finished water and tap water (from the beginning, middle, and end of the drinking water distribution network) from 12 centralized water treatment plants in Wuxi were collected to detect the concentrations of THMs and HAcAms in water samples. A purge and trap-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was applied to detect trichloromethane (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and tribromomethane (TBM), and a solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method to detect dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), trichloroacetamide (TCAcAm), bromochloroacetamide (BCAcAm), dibromoacetamide (DBAcAm), bromodichloroacetamide (BDCAcAm), dibromochloroacetamide (DBCAcAm), and tribromoacetamide (TBAcAm). Analyses and comparisons were made on the concentrations of THMs and HAcAms in drinking water by water sources (the Yangtze River/the Taihu Lake/reservoir), wet/dry seasons, disinfection methods (liquid chlorine/sodium hypochlorite), and treatment processes (conventional treatment/conventional+advanced treatment). Results A total of 96 drinking water samples were collected in Wuxi. THMs were positive in all the water samples (100%), with concentration ranging from 1.027 to 40.225 μg·L⁻¹ and the M (P₂₅, P₇₅) concentration being 24.782 (17.784, 30.932) μg·L⁻¹. None of the 4 THMs exceeded the standard limit of the Standards for drinking water quality (GB 5749-2022 ), and the order of the 4 THMs concentrations from high to low was TCM > BDCM > DBCM > TBM. Five of the 7 HAcAms were detected, the total concentration ranged from 0.137 to 3.288 μg·L⁻¹, and the M (P₂₅, P₇₅) was 0.808 (0.482, 1.704) μg·L⁻¹. The DCAcAm concentration was the highest (2.448 μg·L⁻¹), followed by BCAcAm, while TCAcAm and DBCAcAm were not detected. The M (P₂₅, P₇₅) of the total concentration of THMs in the drinking water from the Taihu Lake was 33.353 (26.649, 36.217) μg·L⁻¹, that of the Yangtze River was 27.448 (24.312, 31.393) μg·L⁻¹, and both were higher than the level of the reservoir [16.359 (2.305, 21.553) μg·L⁻¹] (P<0.05), while the M (P₂₅, P₇₅) of the total concentration of HAcAms in the drinking water from the Taihu Lake was 0.616 (0.363, 0.718) μg·L⁻¹, which was lower than those of the Yangtze River [0.967 (0.355, 2.283) μg·L⁻¹] and the reservoir [1.071 (0.686, 1.828) μg·L⁻¹] (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the total concentrations of THMs and HAcAms between wet season and dry season, or between different disinfection methods (P>0.05). The M (P₂₅, P₇₅) concentrations of THMs and HAcAms in drinking water after advanced treatment process involving ozone, activated carbon, and membrane were 20.565 (3.316, 27.185) μg·L⁻¹ and 0.623 (0.452, 1.286) μg·L⁻¹ respectively, and were lower than the corresponding values after conventional treatment process, 28.740 (23.431, 35.085) μg·L⁻¹ and 0.934 (0.490, 2.116) μg·L⁻¹ respectively (P＜0.05). Conclusion The concentrations of THMs and HAcAms in drinking water in Wuxi are generally at a low level. The levels of controlled THMs meet the requirements of national standards, and the levels of uncontrolled HAcAms as new DBPs are up to μg·L⁻¹. The concentrations of the two kinds of DBPs in drinking water vary by water sources. The concentrations of THMs and HAcAms produced by the advanced treatment process are lower than that by the conventional treatment process.