Background At present, the treatment of silicosis is still limited, and no method is available to cure the disease. miRNAs are involved in the process of fibrosis at the transcriptional level by directly degrading target gene mRNA or inhibiting its translation. However, how miR-130a-3p regulates silicosis fibrosis has not been fully elucidated yet. Objective To investigate whether miR-130a-3p promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inhibiting peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors gamma (PPAR-γ), thereby pro-moting the process of silicotic fibrosis. To identify effective new targets for the treatment of silicotic fibrosis. Methods (1) Animal experiments: C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally injected with a one-time dose of 10 mg silica suspension (dissolved in 100 μL saline) as positive lung exposure. A silicosis model group was established 28 d after the exposure. A control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline into the trachea. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe the pathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues respectively. Realtime fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assay the expression of miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in lung tissues. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of PPAR-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Collagen Ⅰ in lung tissues. (2) Cells experiments: Mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) were induced with 5 µg·L⁻¹ TGF-β1 for different time (0, 12, 24, 48 h). RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in cells. The binding relationship between miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. MLE-12 cells were stimulated by 5 µg·L⁻¹ TGF-β1 after transfection of miR-130a-3p inhibitor, and Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of PPAR-γ, E-cadherin, and α-SMA in the TGF-β1-induced cells. Results In the silicosis model group, the alveolar septum was widened and the pulmonary nodules were formed. The Sirius red staining collagen deposition in pulmonary nodules indicated that a silicosis fibrosis model was successfully established. The expressions of TGF-β1, α-SMA, and Collagen Ⅰ proteins were increased, and the expressions of E-cadherin and PPAR-γ proteins were decreased in lung tissues of the silicosis group, compared with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of miR-130a-3p was increased and the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA was decreased in lung tissues of the silicosis model (P<0.01). The expression of miR-130a-3p was significantly increased, while the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA was decreased in the TGF-β1 induced MLE-12 cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The dual luciferase reporter assay showed a direct relationship between miR-130a-3p and PPAR-γ mRNA in MLE-12 cells. The transfection of miR-130a-3p inhibitor in the TGF-β1 induced MLE-12 cells inhibited the decrease of PPAR-γ and E-cadherin proteins, and the increase of α-SMA protein in the MLE-12 cells induced by TGF-β1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion miR-130a-3p promotes the development of silicosis fibrosis by targeting PPAR-γ to increase pulmonary EMT.

Objective:To discuss the effect of Yes-associated protein(YAP)silencing on the proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities of the human cervical cancer(CC)SiHa cells.Methods:The human CC SiHa cells were cultured in vitro,and the lentiviral YAP shRNA was transfected into the SiHa cells to establish stably transfected YAP-shRNA experimental group(sh-YAP group)and empty plasmid control group(control group).Western blotting method was used to detect the silencing effect of YAP;immunofluorescence method was used to detect the microfilament number and morphology of actin filaments(F-actin)in the cells in both groups;CCK-8 method was used to detect the survival rates of the cells in two groups;Transwell chamber assay and wound healing assay were used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells and scratch healing rates of the cells in two groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)markers(E-cadherin and Snail),DNA damage repair-related proteins(γ-H2AX),and apoptosis-related proteins[c-MYC and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)]in the cells in two groups.Results:The results of lentiviral YAP shRNA transfection into SiHa cells showed that the expression level of YAP protein in the SiHa cells was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The immunofluorescence results showed that after YAP silencing,the F-actin in SiHa cells was sparse and regularly arranged,with a reduced number of cells and a shriveled appearance.The CCK-8 results showed that compared with control group,the survival rate of the SiHa cells in sh-YAP group was significantly decreased cultured for 24 and 48 h(P＜0.01).The results of Transwell chamber assay and the wound healing assay showed that compared with control group,the numbers of migration and invasion SiHa cells in sh-YAP group were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the cell scratch healing rates were signifiantly decreased(P＜0.05).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of E-cadherin protein in the cells in sh-YAP group was increased(P＜0.05),and the expression levels of c-MYC,Bcl-2,and γ-H2AX proteins were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion:YAP gene silencing leads to the depolymerization of F-actin in the human CC SiHa cells and regulates the apoptosis and DNA damage repair,potentially reversing the EMT process,thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of the tumor cells.

A novel analytical method was developed in this study by combining online solid phase extraction with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(Online SPE-UPLC-MS/MS)for simultaneous determination of 50 kinds of steroid hormones in surface water.Specifically,after high-speed centrifugation of 4 mL water samples,the supernatant was directly injected into an Oasis HLB online SPE column for enrichment and purification.Subsequently,the target compounds were transferred to the analytical column via valve switching for separation and analysis.The chromatographic separation was performed on a Thermo Acclaim RSLC C18 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,2.2 μm),using a mobile phase composed of 5 mmol/L ammonium fluoride aqueous solution and acetonitrile.Mass spectrometric detection was conducted in positive ion mode,utilizing multiple reaction monitoring(MRM)with quantification achieved by the internal standard method.The method validation demonstrated that the limits of detection(LOD)for the 50 kinds of steroid hormones ranged from 0.02 to 0.50 ng/L,while the limits of quantification(LOQ)were between 0.08 and 1.67 ng/L.The average recoveries in surface water samples at spiked concentrations of 5,20 and 200 ng/L were between 74.1％and 119％,with relative standard deviations(RSDs)of 0.2％to 9.9％.This method was applied to analyze 11 surface water samples collected from sites surrounding a pharmaceutical and chemical industrial park.A total of 44 kinds of steroid hormones were detected,with concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 88.6 ng/L,revealing the presence of hormone contamination in the environmental waters surrounding industrial areas.Compared with the traditional offline SPE methods,the proposed online SPE technique significantly reduced sample volume requirements and pretreatment time,while minimizing the loss of target compounds during the pretreatment process.Moreover,compared to reported online SPE techniques,this method achieved high-throughput analysis of multiple classes of steroid hormones,with lower detection limits and higher recoveries.Overall,this method provided rapid sample preparation,high sensitivity,and excellent stability,making it suitable for the direct analysis of trace steroid hormones in surface water.

The major components of Olaflur raw material were characterized using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS).The results revealed that cetyl amine fluoride(C16-AmF),octadecene amine fluoride(C18:1-AmF),and octadecyl amine fluoride(Olaflur)were the main components.The contents of C16-AmF,C18:1-AmF,and Olaflur in oral care products were determined via ultra performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detector coupled with solid-phase extraction(SPE-UPLC-CAD).The oral care sample was dispersed evenly with a 50%ethanol aqueous solution,and then vortexed with ethanol.The supernatant was collected by centrifugation,concentrated to near dryness,and redissolved with ultrapure water.The re-dissolved sample was loaded onto a Poly-Sery HLB Pro SPE column for purification and elution.The acetonitrile eluate was collected and concentrated to 1.0 mL.Finally,a prepared test solution was separated on a Thermo Acclaim Surfactant Plus chromatographic column(2.1 mm×150 mm,3 μm).Acetonitrile and 100 mmol/L acetic acid-ammonium acetate aqueous solution(pH=4.8)were used as the mobile phases for gradient elution.The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and cloumn temperature was maintained at 40℃.The sample was detected using a charged aerosol detector,and quantified using an external standard method.The experimental results indicated that the three organic fluorinated amines showed good linear relationship in their respective concentration ranges.The correlation coefficients(r)were greater than 0.99.The limit of detection(LOD)and the limit of quantification(LOQ)of C16-AmF were 2.0 and 8.0 μg/mL,respectively.The LOD and LOQ of C18:1-AmF were 2.0 and 8.0 μg/mL,respectively.The LOD and LOQ of Olaflur were 3.0 μg/mL and 10.0 μg/mL,respectively.The spiked recoveries of the three organic fluorinated amines were 84.3%-104.2%,with relative standard deviations(RSDs)of 4.93%-5.82%.The 28 batches of commercial oral care samples were detected by this method and the results indicated that three organic fluorinated amines were detected in 18 samples and the total content were 22.2-11477.8 μg/g.This method had high sensitivity and good reproducibility.It was suitable for verifying the authenticity of the claims of oral care products promoted with Olaflur as the main efficacy ingredient and selling point,and provided a valuable reference for establishing and improving the standard analytical method for Olaflur.

Objective To analyze the correlation between serum circular RNA-ATAD1(circ-ATAD1)and microRNA-140-3p(miR-140-3p)expression and the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.Methods From March 2018 to March 2020,a total of 146 patients with cervical cancer(study group),146 patients with benign uterine lesions(benign uterine lesions group),and 146 healthy people who underwent the physical examina-tion(control group)in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated TCM-WM·Hebei were selected as the research sub-jects.Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect serum levels of miR-140-3p and circ-ATAD1.The Kap-lan-Meier method was used to analyze the correlation between serum circ-ATAD1 and miR-140-3p expression and the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the influ-encing factors of prognosis of cervical cancer patients.Results The serum circ-ATAD1 level in the study group was significantly higher than those in the control group and benign uterine lesion group(P＜0.05),and miR-140-3p was significantly lower than those in the control group and benign uterine lesion group(P＜0.05).The proportions of patients with low expression of miR-140-3p and high expression of circ-ATD1 in the cervical cancer patients with vaginal infiltration,lymph node metastasis,and FIGOstage Ⅲ-Ⅳ were higher than those in the cervical cancer patients with no vaginal infiltration,no lymph node metastasis,and FIGO stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ(P＜0.05).The 3-year survival rate of cervical cancer patients with high circ-ATD1 expression was lower than that of patients with low circ-ATD1 expression(30.14％vs.64.38％,P＜0.001).The 3-year survival rate of cervical cancer patients with high miR-140-3p expression was higher than that of patients with low miR-140-3p expression(61.64％vs.32.88％,P＜0.001).FIGO stage,circ-ATAD1,lymph node metas-tasis and miR-140-3p were factors affecting the prognosis of cervical cancer patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum level of circ-ATAD1 in patients with cervical cancer is significantly increased and the level of miR-140-3p is significantly decreased,the two are closely related to lymph node metastasis and FIGO stage in patients with cervical cancer,and are influencing factors for the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective To identify potential biomarkers for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)using proteomics and transcriptomics data.Methods In this study,the proteomics dataset(PXD046630)and two transcriptomics datasets(GSE60436 and GSE102485)were derived from the aqueous humor samples and fibrovascular membranes of PDR patients,respectively.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified via R software,specifically the limma and edgeR pack-ages.The shared DEGs between PXD046630 and GSE60436 were analyzed via protein-protein interaction(PPI),Gene On-tology(GO)enrichment,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses.The key DEGs were validated in GSE102485 via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.A quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)assay was used to confirm the mRNA of these candidate biomarkers in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Results A total of 59 shared DEGs and 26 hub genes were identified from the PXD046630 and GSE60436 datasets.KEGG analysis revealed that six pathways,inclu-ding extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,proteoglycans in cancer,and complement and coagulation cascades,were enriched in 12 key DEGs.Fibronectin 1(FN1),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3(TIMP3),complement factor H(CFH),decorin(DCN),and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2(LRP2)were identified as potential biomarkers on the basis of their AUC values being greater than 0.900(CI≥95％).The mRNA expression levels of FN1,CFH,and LRP2 were significantly increased in HRMECs cultured in high glucose and low oxygen conditions.Conclusion FN1,CFH,and LRP2 are potential biomarkers for PDR,and further studies are needed to explore their roles and therapeutic potential in PDR.

Objective:To investigate the differences in resistance to chemical disinfectants between bacteriophage Phi-X174 and disinfection effect indicator microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Methods:Three commonly used disinfectants, including chlorine-containing disinfectants, alcohol-based disinfectants and quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants, were selected to analyze the differences in resistance of phage Phi-X174, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by using the quantitative sterilization test of suspension. Results:The 250 mg/L sodium dichloroisocyanurate solution treated for 10 minutes yielded log reduction values of 3.39, 7.25 and 7.37 against phage Phi-X174, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively. The 40% ethanol for 1 minute yielded log reduction values of 0.03, 2.46 and 7.30 against phage Phi-X174, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The 100 mg/L benzalkonium chloride for 10 minutes yielded log reduction values of 1.41, 6.84 and 0.93 for phage Phi-X174, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Conclusion:Phage Phi-X174 has stronger resistance to chlorine-containing disinfectants and alcohol-based disinfectants than Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Its resistance to quaternary ammonium salt disinfectants is between that of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.