Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To evaluate the levels and source of cadmium exposure by dietary pathway among middle-aged and elderly people ≥40 in cadmium-contaminated areas of China.Methods:A total of 7 193 people aged 40-89 years from four typical cadmium-contaminated areas in China were selected as the study subjects. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Total Diet Study (TDS) and a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall survey were conducted. Dietary cadmium intake and food sources through dietary pathways were assessed based on cadmium content in foods, consumption amounts and intake frequencies.Results:The mean age of the participants was 63.39±12.21 years, with 50.05% being males. The average monthly dietary cadmium intake was 7.39 μg/(kg·BW). Staple foods and vegetables were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake, accounting for 57.51% and 32.48%, respectively. The monthly dietary cadmium intake in all surveyed regions did not exceed the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).Conclusion:The monthly dietary cadmium intake among middle-aged and elderly people in cadmium-contaminated areas of China is relatively low, with the risk remaining at an acceptable level. Staple foods and vegetables are the most significant contributors to dietary cadmium intake.

Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To evaluate the levels and source of cadmium exposure by dietary pathway among middle-aged and elderly people ≥40 in cadmium-contaminated areas of China.Methods:A total of 7 193 people aged 40-89 years from four typical cadmium-contaminated areas in China were selected as the study subjects. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Total Diet Study (TDS) and a 3-day-24-hour dietary recall survey were conducted. Dietary cadmium intake and food sources through dietary pathways were assessed based on cadmium content in foods, consumption amounts and intake frequencies.Results:The mean age of the participants was 63.39±12.21 years, with 50.05% being males. The average monthly dietary cadmium intake was 7.39 μg/(kg·BW). Staple foods and vegetables were the primary sources of dietary cadmium intake, accounting for 57.51% and 32.48%, respectively. The monthly dietary cadmium intake in all surveyed regions did not exceed the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).Conclusion:The monthly dietary cadmium intake among middle-aged and elderly people in cadmium-contaminated areas of China is relatively low, with the risk remaining at an acceptable level. Staple foods and vegetables are the most significant contributors to dietary cadmium intake.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium levels with peripheral leukocyte classification counts among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.Methods:The research was based on the survey of the impact of soil quality of agricultural land on human health in typical areas conducted in 2019-2020. A total of 5 600 middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years were included by using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. Baseline characteristics of the subjects were collected and physical examinations were performed. Random midstream urine was collected to measure urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine and fasting venous blood was collected to measure the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and eosinophil count. The linear mixed effect model was used to analyse the association of urinary cadmium levels with leukocyte classification counts, and the dose-response relationship between them was analyzed by using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) function.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.17±12.02) years; 2 851 (50.91%) were males; and the M ( Q 1, Q 3) of urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels was 2.69 (1.52, 4.69) μg/g·creatinine. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results of linear mixed effects model analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium level, the percentage change [% (95% CI)] of leukocyte count and lymphocyte count was -1.70% (-2.61%, -0.79%) and -1.57% (-2.86%, -0.26%), respectively. RCS function showed a negative linear relationship between urinary creatinine-corrected urinary cadmium levels and leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts, respectively (all Pnon-linear>0.05). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium levels are negatively associated with leukocyte count and lymphocyte count among middle-aged and older adults aged 40 to 89 years in selected areas of China.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the immunoprotective effect of anti-rabies virus cocktail monoclonal antibody Zamerovimab/Mazorelvimab after rabies exposure.Methods:The dynamic data of rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) were analyzed in the Zamerovimab/Mazorelvimab Chinese phase Ⅲ study (clinical trial registration number: CTR20201819).Results:The full analysis set showed that RVNA geometric mean titers (GMT) on the 4 th, 8 th, 15 th, 43 rd, and 99 th day in the Zamerovimab/Mazorelvimab group were 4.413 IU/ml, 5.178 IU/ml, 17.062 IU/ml, 14.672 IU/ml, and 2.836 IU/ml, respectively, while those in the human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) group were 0.299 IU/ml, 0.451 IU/ml, 11.374 IU/ml, 18.063 IU/ml, and 6.769 IU/ml, respectively. The positive rates of RVNA on the 4 th, 8 th, 15 th, 43 rd, and 99 th day in the Zamerovimab/Mazorelvimab group were 99.9%, 99.6%, 100%, 100%, and 97.4%, respectively, while those in the HRIG group were 23.3%, 34.1%, 97.6%, 99.6%, and 98.4%, respectively. Conclusions:Compared with HRIG, Zamerovimab/Mazorelvimab cocktail monoclonal antibody reached the required protection level of RVNA very soon, thus effectively provided an immediate neutralizing effect of passive immunization therapies against rabies virus.

Objective:To determine the clinical, pathological and imaging phenotypes of pediatric patients with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) myopathy to explore its diagnostic strategies.Methods:The clinical features of 10 pediatric patients with anti-HMGCR myopathy in the Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital from July 2014 to July 2021 were collected. Muscle biopsies were performed in all patients, with histological, enzymatic histochemical and immunohistochemical staining.Results:The male to female ratio was 6∶4, the age of onset was 3-16 (8.3±3.7) years, 2 cases had subacute onset, and 8 cases experienced chronic progressive onset. All patients presented with neck and proximal muscular weakness of all limbs. Skin rash was observed in 2 cases. Serum creatine kinase was 998-27 981 U/L. The electromyography results were available from 6 cases, who experienced myogenic changes. The muscle magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 5 cases and revealed muscle edema predominantly in posterior compartment of thigh, with mild fatty infiltrate in 2 cases. An initial diagnosis was limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in 7 cases, but with subsequently negative genetic testing. Muscle biopsies revealed scattered necrotic fibers and regenerating fibers, complement deposition in sarcolemma basement-membrane areas of non-necrotic fibers and a few of lymphocyte infiltrate in all specimens. Moreover, a high frequency of major histocompatibility complex Ⅰ expression in muscle fibers was observed in 9 cases, proliferation of connective tissue of endomysium in 8 cases, muscle fiber hypertrophy in 4 cases and vacuoles in 2 cases.Conclusions:Pediatric anti-HMGCR myopathy is frequently misdiagnosed as muscular dystrophy. Systematic consideration of anti-HMGCR myopathy and testing for myositis specific antibody in children with genetically unconfirmed muscular dystrophy may help the differential diagnosis.

Heparin and heparan sulfate are a class of glycosaminoglycans for clinical anticoagulation. Heparosan N-sulfate-glucuronate 5-epimerase (C5, EC 5.1.3.17) is a critical modifying enzyme in the synthesis of heparin and heparan sulfate, and catalyzes the inversion of carboxyl group at position 5 on D-glucuronic acid (D-GlcA) of N-sulfoheparosan to form L-iduronic acid (L-IdoA). In this study, the heparin C5 epimerase gene Glce from zebrafish was expressed and molecularly modified in Escherichia coli. After comparing three expression vectors of pET-20b (+), pET-28a (+) and pCold Ⅲ, C5 activity reached the highest ((1 873.61±5.42) U/L) with the vector pCold Ⅲ. Then we fused the solution-promoting label SET2 at the N-terminal for increasing the soluble expression of C5. As a result, the soluble protein expression was increased by 50% compared with the control, and the enzyme activity reached (2 409±6.43) U/L. Based on this, site-directed mutations near the substrate binding pocket were performed through rational design, the optimal mutant (V153R) enzyme activity and specific enzyme activity were (5 804±5.63) U/L and (145.1±2.33) U/mg, respectively 2.41-fold and 2.28-fold of the original enzyme. Modification and expression optimization of heparin C5 epimerase has laid the foundation for heparin enzymatic catalytic biosynthesis.
Animals ; Carbohydrate Epimerases ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; Gene Expression ; Heparin ; metabolism ; Heparitin Sulfate ; metabolism ; Iduronic Acid ; metabolism ; Zebrafish Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics

Heparin is a very important anticoagulant drug. Currently, heparin is mainly extracted from porcine mucosa. However, animal-derived heparin shows low anticoagulant activity due to the low proportion of the anticoagulant active unit, the GlcNS6S-GlcA-GlcNS6S3S-Ido2S-GlcNS6S pentasaccharide. In this study we proposed an enzymatic strategy to sulfate the animal-sourced heparin to increase the proportion of anticoagulant pentasaccharide and the anticoagulant activity. First, three sulfotransferases HS2ST, HS6ST, and HS3ST were expressed tentatively in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris. After measuring the sulfotransferase activity, we confirmed P. pastoris GS115 is the better host for sulfotransferases production. Then, the maltose binding protein (MBP) and thioredoxin (TrxA) were fused separately to the N-terminal of sulfotransferases to increase enzyme solubility. As a result, the yields of HS2ST and HS6ST were increased to (839±14) U/L and (792±23) U/L, respectively. Subsequent sulfation of the animal-sourced heparin with the recombinant HS2ST, HS6ST and HS3ST increased the anticoagulant activity from (76±2) IU/mg to (189±17) IU/mg.
Animals ; Escherichia coli ; Heparin ; chemistry ; Oligosaccharides ; chemistry ; Pichia ; Sulfotransferases ; biosynthesis ; Swine