Objective To investigate changes in the urinary metabolite profiles of children exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)during critical brain development and explore their potential link with the intestinal microbiota. Methods Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine ten hydroxyl metabolites of PAHs(OH-PAHs)in 36-month-old children.Subsequently,37 children were categorized into low-and high-exposure groups based on the sum of the ten OH-PAHs.Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify non-targeted metabolites in the urine samples.Furthermore,fecal flora abundance was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Results The concentrations of 21 metabolites were significantly higher in the high exposure group than in the low exposure group(variable importance for projection>1,P<0.05).Most of these metabolites were positively correlated with the hydroxyl metabolites of naphthalene,fluorine,and phenanthrene(r=0.336-0.531).The identified differential metabolites primarily belonged to pathways associated with inflammation or proinflammatory states,including amino acid,lipid,and nucleotide metabolism.Additionally,these distinct metabolites were significantly associated with specific intestinal flora abundances(r=0.34-0.55),which were mainly involved in neurodevelopment. Conclusion Higher PAH exposure in young children affected metabolic homeostasis,particularly that of certain gut microbiota-derived metabolites.Further investigation is needed to explore the potential influence of PAHs on the gut microbiota and their possible association with neurodevelopmental outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors related to renal impairment in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. METHODS: Totally 492 patients with DKD in 8 Chinese hospitals from October 2017 to July 2019 were included. According to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging guidelines, patients were divided into a chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-3 group and a CKD 4-5 group. Clinical data were collected, and logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to different CKD stages in DKD patients. RESULTS: Demographically, male was a factor related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD (OR=3.100, P=0.002). In clinical characteristics, course of diabetes >60 months (OR=3.562, P=0.010), anemia (OR=4.176, P<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR=3.352, P<0.001), massive albuminuria (OR=4.058, P=0.002), atherosclerosis (OR=2.153, P=0.007) and blood deficiency syndrome (OR=1.945, P=0.020) were factors related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD. CONCLUSIONS Male, course of diabetes >60 months, anemia, hyperuricemia, massive proteinuria, atherosclerosis, and blood deficiency syndrome might indicate more severe degree of renal function damage in patients with DKD. (Registration No. NCT03865914).
Humans ; Male ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Hyperuricemia ; Kidney ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications*

Objective To explore the nutritional efficacy of compound protein powder formulations from different sources. Methods Three groups of compound protein powder formulations were obtained through scientific blending using soy protein, whey protein and yeast protein as raw materials. The effects of the compound protein powders on nitrogen metabolism, serum biochemical indicators, and pathological changes of liver tissue and epididymal fat in rats were evaluated. Results Compared with the control (casein), the net protein utilization, biological evaluation, and protein efficacy ratio of the compound protein powders in rats were significantly improved, and the changes in these indicators in the formula with the highest whey protein content were most significant among all three formulas. The compound protein powders effectively increased the levels of albumin and globulin, while decreased the content of total cholesterol, indicating beneficial effects on improving immunity and controlling lipid metabolism, with the formula group 2 being the most effective among all three groups. The pathological examination showed that the three groups of protein powder did not have adverse effects on liver tissue and epididymal fat. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that the compound protein powder formulation has nutritional value, which suggests a potential of the application of the compound protein powder formulation in the elderly, and people with special nutritional needs, such as sports people.

Abstract:Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the world. Long-term alcoholism causes a series of pathological changes in the liver, which eventually leads to the occurrence of liver diseases with an increasing incidence. At present, significant progress has been made in the pathogenesis and pathological development of alcoholic liver disease, but the relevant mechanism of ALD has not been thoroughly studied. It is necessary to improve the existing animal model or establish a new, more comprehensive animal ALD model to simulate human ALD. Experimental animal models of ALD, especially rodents, are often used to simulate human ALD, and the ideal rodent ALD model can effectively simulate all aspects of alcohol in human liver. But so far, the commonly used animal models all have certain defects, and there is no complete animal model that can simulate human ALD. This paper reviewed the pathogenesis of ALD, related methods and influencing factors of ALD model, and provided a theoretical basis for relevant researchers to establish the ALD rodent model. 

Objective: To investigate the safety, feasibility and short-term efficacy of total laparoscopic loop ileostomy reversal in patients after resection of rectal cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 20 patients who underwent total laparoscopic loop ileoscopic loop ileostomy after radical resection of rectal cancer at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, or Beijing Chaoyang District Sanhuan Cancer Hospital from October 2019 to June 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: All patients had successfully underwent total laparoscopic ileostomy reversal without conversion to open surgery or discontinued operation. No perioperative related death cases were found. In the whole group, the median operation time was 97 (60-145) minutes and the median intraoperative blood loss was 20 (10-100) milliliters. The median Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was 1.9 (1-5) one day after the operation. Nobody needed to use additional analgesic drugs. The median time to grand activities was 25 (16-42) hours, the median time to flatus was 44 (19-51) hours, and the median hospitalization after operation was 6.9 (5-9) days. No patients underwent operation related complications such as operative incision infection, abdominal and pelvic infection, intestinal obstruction, anastomotic leakage, bleeding and so on. Conclusions: Total laparoscopic loop ileostomy reversal appears to be safe, feasible and with promising efficacy for selected patients.
Humans ; Ileostomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Laparoscopy ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Anastomotic Leak ; Anastomosis, Surgical

In this study, citrate synthase gene(CIT2), and malate synthase gene(MLS1) were successfully knocked out in β-amyrin-producing yeast cells by using CRISPR/CAS9. The promoter of phosphoglucose isomerase gene(PGI1) was replaced by that of cytochrome c oxidase subunit Ⅶa(Cox9)to weaken its expression, aiming to channel more carbon flux into the NADPH-producing pathway. The fermentation results showed that CIT2 deletion had no effect on the β-amyrin production. Compared with the control strain, the production of β-amyrin was increased by 1.85 times after deleting MLS1, reaching into 3.3 mg·L~(-1). By replacing the promoter of PGI1, the β-amyrin yield was 3.75 times higher than that of the control strain, reaching up to 6.7 mg·L~(-1). This study successfully knocked out the CITT2 and MLS1 genes and weakened the PGI1 gene by using CRISPR/CAS9, which directly influenced the production of β-amyrin and provided some reference for the the metabolic engineering of triterpernoid producing strain.
Ethanol ; Fermentation ; Metabolic Engineering ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics

Objective To explore the associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) and the prevalence of hypertension in elderly residents over 60 years in Baodi district, Tianjin. Methods Residents over 60 who underwent medical examinations in the Koudong Health Center, Baodi district, Tianjin, were all invited to participate in the study from April to May, 2018. Participants were asked to fill out structured questionnaires and undergo physical examinations. Stratified analysis and logistic regression analysis were applied to examine joint effects and interactions of BMI and WC (or WHtR) on the risk of hypertension. Results A total of 1 417 residents (83.75%) out of 1 692 residents participated in the study. The prevalence of hypertension in the participants was 46.36%. 66.50% of the participants were BMI overweight or obese. Participants with central obesity accounted for 74.66% (measured by the WC) and 75.38% (by the WHtR). Compared to the normal weight measured by the BMI or the WC, BMI overweight (OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.19-2.30) or obesity (OR=3.41, 95%CI: 2.23-5.20) and WC central obesity (OR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.00-2.23) were associated with increased risk of hypertension. The joint effects of BMI and WC (OR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.78-3.46), or BMI and WHtR (WHtR overweight: OR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.41-2.99; WHtR obesity: OR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.50-3.76) were greater than the single effect of the latter (WC overweight/obesity: OR=1.39, 95%CI: 0.90-2.15; WHtR overweight: OR=1.02, 95%CI: 0.62-1.66; WHtR obesity: OR=1.44, 95%CI：0.55-3.81). Conclusions Of the three indices, BMI is strongly correlated with the risk of hypertension. BMI overweight or obesity has enhanced the association of WC or WHtR and the risk of hypertension, suggesting that weight control in the normal range, especially measured by the BMI index, may prevent and control hypertension.

Objective::To observe the effect of berberine and 6-shogaol, main components of Coptiae Rhizoma and Zingiberis Rhizoma, on the inflammatory signaling pathway of Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in colonic epithelial cells of mice with ulcerative colitis. Method::Fifty Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, berberine group (100 mg·kg^-1), 6-shogaol group (100 mg·kg^-1), and 6-shogaol combined with berberine group (200 mg·kg^-1), with 10 mice in each group. A mouse model of ulcerative colitis was established through oral administration with 2% dextroan sulfate for two weeks. Each group was given corresponding drugs by gavage, while normal group and model group were given equal amount of normal saline. Serum and colon tissue samples were taken 20 days after administration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent method was used to detect serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expressions, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) and Western blot method were used to detect TLR4, NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein expressions in colon epithelial tissue. Result::Compared with the normal group, relative expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein were increased in the model group (P<0.01), and the contents of serum IL-1β and TNF-α were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, relative expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in 6-shogaol group, berberine group and 6-shogaol combined with berberine group (P<0.01), and the contents of serum IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Among the three groups, 6-shogaol combined with berberine group had the strongest effect (P<0.01). Conclusion::Both 6-shogaol and berberine can inhibit colonic inflammation, reduce inflammatory damage and treat ulcerative colitis. The combined application of 6-shogaol and berberine has a significant synergism effect. The mechanism is related to the excessive activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway and the regulation of non-controllable intestinal inflammation.