Objective: To analyze the relationship between vitamin D and ferritin nutritional status with physical indicators in primary and secondary school students in the key nutrition monitoring counties of Xinjiang, so as to provide reference for early prevention and intervention of students nutrition issues. Methods: From November to December 2023, 1 071 students aged 6-18 from key nutrition monitoring counties in the Xinjiang Nutrition Improvement Plan area were selected via stratified random sampling for physical and biochemical tests. The U test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test were used to compare the differences in physical indicators and the distribution of vitamin D and ferritin levels. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of vitamin D and ferritin deficiencies among different groups of primary and secondary school students. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the nutritional levels of vitamin D and ferritin and physical indicators. Results: The median vitamin D level was 14.7 (10.7, 19.0)ng/mL, with deficiency and insufficiency rates of 30.8% and 37.4% among primary and secondary school students in the key nutrition monitoring counties of Xinjiang Nutrition Improvement Plan area. Ferritin levels were 57.4 (37.7, 83.9)μg/L, with a deficiency rate of 5.7%. Males, primary school students, and rural residents had higher vitamin D and ferritin levels than females, secondary school students, and urban residents ( U =-11.35, -6.88, -4.52; -3.94, -9.17, -5.23, P <0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in females, secondary school students, and urban students ( χ 2=97.52, 49.01, 21.89, P <0.05), while ferritin deficiency was higher in primary school students and urban areas ( χ 2=34.11, 5.63, P <0.05). Significant differences in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumstance (WC) were observed across vitamin D/ferritin statuses ( U/H =35.47, 22.82; -4.19 , -5.36, P <0.05). Vitamin D and ferritin levels negatively correlated with age, BMI, and WC but positively with waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ( r = -0.31, -0.19, -0.19, 0.20; -0.32, -0.13, -0.21, 0.08, P <0.05). Conclusions Vitamin D and ferritin levels in primary and secondary school students in key nutritional monitoring counties in Xinjiang are correlated with age, BMI, WC and WHtR, and there are nutrient deficiencies. Targeted measures are recommended to improve nutritional status and physical health.

Objective: To analyze and assess the current status of high blood pressure and associated factors among primary and secondary school students in Xinjiang in 2023, so as to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control decision making of high blood pressure among students. Methods: From September to November 2023, a total of 94 205 primary and secondary school students aged 8-17 from 14 prefectures and cities in Xinjiang, were selected for physical measurement and questionnaire survey using a stratified clustering random sampling method. The χ 2 test was employed to compare differences in high blood pressure rates among students with varying characteristics. Additionally, a Logistic regression model was developed to analyze associated factors with high blood pressure among primary and secondary school students. Results: The overall high blood pressure rate among primary and secondary school students in Xinjiang was 8.18%, with simple systolic hypertension being the main type at 52.16%. By educational stages, high blood pressure rates for elementary school (grades 4-6), middle school, high school and vocational high school were 8.04%, 8.59%, 7.65%, and 9.72% respectively ( χ 2=29.16, P <0.01). The high blood pressure rates among obese and overweight students were 9.93% and 17.88% respectively, significantly higher than 5.32% among normal weight students ( χ 2=1 643.14, P < 0.01 ). The high blood pressure rate among urban students (8.73%) was higher than that of rural students (7.15%) ( χ 2=71.58, P <0.01). Logistic regression model analysis showed increased high blood pressure risk for girls than boys ( OR = 1.06 ); middle school, high school, and vocational high school students had increased high blood pressure risk compared to elementary school students ( OR =1.22, 1.16, 1.70); rural students had lower high blood pressure risk than urban students ( OR =0.90); the risk of high blood pressure in overweight and obese groups was higher than that in the normal group ( OR =1.54, 3.00), and the risk of high blood pressure in boarding students was lower than that in non boarding students ( OR =0.71)( P <0.01). Conclusions In Xinjiang in 2023, primary and secondary school students have a certain rate of high blood pressure, mainly characterized by elevated systblood pressure lower. The main prevention and control targets are females, urban residents, those in higher academic stages, non boarding students, as well as overweight and obese primary and secondary school students.

Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a common metabolic disease,and its hyperglycemia can induce many complications and even threaten human health and life.Ferritinophagy,currently a research focus,has been proven to be related to the occurrence and development of DM and its complications.Ferritinophagy,which is cell-selective,is mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4(NCOA4),which degrades ferritin in autophagosomes and releases excessive iron ions so that irons are overloaded and ROS are accumulated.This process contributes to the upstream ferroptosis.This article reviews the mechanism of ferritinophagy and its pathogenesis in DM and its complications,and further analyzes the effects of regulated ferritinophagy on DM and its complications,pro-viding new insight into the prevention and treatment of DM and its complications.

Compared with the widely used rodents,pigs are anatomically,physiologically,and genetically more similar to humans,making them high-quality models for the study of liver diseases.Here,we review the latest research progress on pigs as a model of human liver disease,including methods for establishing them and their advantages in studying cystic fibrosis liver disease,acute liver failure,liver regeneration,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,liver tumors,and xenotransplantation.We also emphasize the impor-tance of genetic engineering techniques,mainly the CRISPR/Cas9 system,which has greatly enhanced the utility of porcine models as a tool for substantially advancing liver disease research.Genetic engineering is expected to propel the pig as one of the irreplaceable animal models for future biomedical research.

Objective To explore the effects of prohibitin 2(PHB2)on sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 to erlotinib(Erl)and its potential mechanisms.Methods RACK1-specific small interfering RNA was transfected in A549 cells for knocking-down of PHB2.The effects of PHB2 inhibition on cell proliferation and apop-tosis induced by Erl were observed.The colocalization of microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 alpha(LC3)and mitochondria was visualized by MitoTracker staining and green fluorescent protein-microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 alpha(GFP-LC3)transfection.Cell proliferation was detected by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining.Cell colony formation was evaluated by colony forming assay.Apoptotic index of A549 cells was evaluated by TUNEL.Western blot was used to measure the expressions of PHB2 and LC3Ⅱ.Mitochondrial transmembrane potential,cytochrome c and respiratory chain complexⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅴactivity were analyzed by the commercially availa-ble kits.Results Compared with the siPHB2 and siCtrl+Erl group,the EdU-positive A549 cells and the number of cell colonies decreased significantly(P＜0.05),while the TUNEL-positive A549 cells increased significantly(P＜0.05)in the siPHB2+Erl group.In addition,compared with the siPHB2 and siCtrl+Erl group,mitochondrial transmembrane potential and respiratory chain complexⅠ/Ⅱ/Ⅴactivity decreased significantly(all P＜0.05)and the levels of cytochrome c increased in mitochondrial fractions(P＜0.05)and decreased in cytosolic fractions(P＜0.05)in the siPHB2+Erl group.Conclusions PHB2 inhibition significantly improves sensitivity of A549 cells to Erl,which may be explained by inhibition of PHB2-mediated mitochondrial autophagy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors 7 and 8 (mGluR7/8) in rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and their changes in response to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). METHODS: We detected the expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG of 8-week-old male SD rats using immunohistochemistry and characterized their distribution with immunofluorescence staining. The expression of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the cytoplasm and nucleus was detected using Western blotting. A 6-week CIH rat model was established by exposure to intermittent hypoxia (6% oxygen for 30 s followed by normoxia for 4 min) for 8 h daily, and the changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were measured. The effect of CIH on expression levels of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG was analyzed using Western blotting. RESULTS: Positive expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 were detected in rat SCG. mGluR7 was distributed in the neurons and small fluorescent (SIF) cells with positive staining in both the cytoplasm and nuclei, but not expressed in satellite glial cells (SGCs), nerve fibers or blood vessels; mGluR8 was localized in the cytoplasm of neurons and SIF cells, but not expressed in SGCs, nerve fibers, or blood vessels. Western blotting of the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of rat SCG further confirmed that mGluR7 was expressed in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, while mGluR8 exists only in the cytoplasm. Exposure to CIH significantly increased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure of the rats (all P < 0.001) and augmented the protein expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in the SCG (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION mGluR7 and mGluR8 are present in rat SCG but with different localization patterns. CIH increases blood pressure of rats and enhanced protein expressions of mGluR7 and mGluR8 in rat SCG.
Male ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superior Cervical Ganglion ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; Hypoxia

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and imaging features of occupational pulmonary thesaurosis induced by dust of iron and its compounds (OPTIDIC). Methods: A total of 230 cases of occupational welder's pneumoconiosis (OWP) patients or observation subjects were selected as the research subjects using the retrospective analysis method. They were diagnosed in four occupational disease diagnosis institutions in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2017. The high kV X-ray chest radiography or chest digital radiograph (hereinafter referred to as X-ray) were re-read to screen OPTIDIC patients. The clinical data of OPTIDIC patients were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 230 cases, 56 cases were diagnosed as OPTIDIC, accounting for 24.3%. The clinical symptoms of the 56 patients with OPTIDIC were cough, sputum, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, while their physical signs were low or coarse breath sounds in lungs and others. Most of the X-ray results showed p shadows or q shadows, accounted for 98.2%, of which p/p shadow and q/q shadow accounted for 62.5%. The result of chest computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse point/round shadow and diffuse glass shadow in OPTIDIC patients. The result of fibro-bronchoscopy showed that a large amount of iron lutein particles was accumulated in macrophages and biopsy of lung showed idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in OPTIDIC patients. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of OPTIDIC patients showed no different from OWP. However, the result of X-ray of OPTIDIC patients mainly showed small circular shadows, and their CT images mainly showed diffuse point/round shadows or grinding glass shadow, which could be used to the differential diagnosis of OPTIDIC and OWP.

【Objective】 To explore the distribution of polymorphisms of miR-208 genes rs8022522 and rs12894524 locus in Guangxi healthy population and compare the differences in the polymorphism distribution in different population. 【Methods】 SNPscan technology was used to detect genotypes of rs8022522 and rs12894524 from 297 healthy people in Guangxi, and the results were compared with other populations from Human genome Haplotype Map(HapMap) data. 【Results】 Three genotypes, namely, AA (2.7%), AG (24.2%) and GG (73.1%), in rs8022522 were found, with the allele frequencies of A and G being 14.8% and 85.2%. The genotypes of rs12894524 locus were TT (1.3%), TG (13.5%) and GG (85.2%), and the frequency of T and G allele was 8.1% and 91.9%, respectively. rs8022522 and rs12894524 locus genotypes and allele frequencies were significantly different from HapMap-CEU, HapMap- YRI and HapMap-TSI (P<0.05). Compared with HapMap-JPT and HapMap-CHB, there was no significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between the two sites (P>0.05). As for the blood lipid level among the three genotypes in rs8022522, the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with GG genotype was significantly different from that in AG group (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The polymorphisms of rs8022522 and rs12894524 of miR-208 gene in Guangxi population are different from those in other regions to varying degrees. The polymorphism of rs8022522 locus is related to the level of HDL-C.

Using chemoproteomic techniques, we first identified EIF2AK2, eEF1A1, PRDX3 and VPS4B as direct targets of berberine (BBR) for its synergistically anti-inflammatory effects. Of them, BBR has the strongest affinity with EIF2AK2 via two ionic bonds, and regulates several key inflammatory pathways through EIF2AK2, indicating the dominant role of EIF2AK2. Also, BBR could subtly inhibit the dimerization of EIF2AK2, rather than its enzyme activity, to selectively modulate its downstream pathways including JNK, NF-κB, AKT and NLRP3, with an advantage of good safety profile. In EIF2AK2 gene knockdown mice, the inhibitory IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α secretion of BBR was obviously attenuated, confirming an EIF2AK2-dependent anti-inflammatory efficacy. The results highlight the BBR's network mechanism on anti-inflammatory effects in which EIF2AK2 is a key target, and inhibition of EIF2AK2 dimerization has a potential to be a therapeutic strategy against inflammation-related disorders.

Pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 has seriously threatened human life and health worldwide and caused a large number of deaths. Viral infection and acute inflammation are important causes of death, so it is particularly important to combine antiviral therapy with anti-inflammatory therapy. Glycyrrhizic acid, the main component of the glycyrrhizic root extract, has a wide range of pharmacological effects as well as high efficiency and low toxicity, its preparation has been widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and other diseases. Glycyrrhizic acid can regulate the expression and release of a variety of cytokines and play a significant anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, glycyrrhizic acid also showed significant inhibition towards a variety types of viruses. Therefore, the potential application of glycyrrhizic acid as COVID-19 treatment should be explored.