1.Improvement of quality control methods and “quality evaluation via color discrimination”of Hypericum perforatum
Xishuo LI ; Benzheng SU ; Zhenni QU ; Juanjuan ZHU ; Yanpeng DAI ; Dianhua SHI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):661-667
OBJECTIVE To provide a reference for the quality control of Hypericum perforatum. METHODS High- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to establish fingerprints for 20 batches of H. perforatum and determine the contents of its main components: chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quercitrin and quercetin. Cluster analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. The chromaticity values (luminance value L*, red-green value a*, and yellow- blue value b*) of H. perforatum powder were measured using electronic eye. A prediction model for the contents of seven components in H. perforatum based on its appearance chromaticity values was established using machine learning algorithms. The predictive performance of the models was evaluated using root-mean-square-error (RMSE). RESULTS A total of 16 common peaks were calibrated in the fingerprints of 20 batches of H. perforatum, and 9 peaks were identified, which were chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quercitrin, quercetin, hypericin and hyperforin; the similarities of the 20 batches of samples and reference fingerprint ranged from 0.889-0.987. The contents of chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, avicularin, quercitrin and quercetin were 0.025%-0.166%, 0.048%-0.339%, 0.082%-0.419%, 0.017%-0.209%, 0.011%-0.134%, 0.020%-0.135%, 0.041%-0.235%, respectively. Cluster analysis results showed that 18 batches of qualified H. perforatum were grouped into three categories, when the Euclidean distance was set to 1.4. L* of the 20 batches of H. perforatum ranged from 62.814 to 75.668, a* ranged from 1.409 to 3.490, and b* ranged from 25.249 to 30.759. RMSE of three prediction models, namely XGBoost, LightGBM, and AdaBoost, ranged from 0.008 to 0.070, indicating good fitting performance. XGBoost model predicted the contents of the other six components with high accuracy, except for rutin. CONCLUSIONS The established fingerprints and content determination methods are accurate, reproducible, and reliable. The content prediction model based on appearance chromaticity values, combined with machine learning algorithms, can be used for the quality control of H. perforatum.
2.Recent progress on pollution and exposure assessment of emerging mycotoxins
Kailin LI ; Zhenni ZHU ; Yi HE ; Aibo WU ; Hong LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(8):1009-1017
Emerging mycotoxins are mycotoxins that have emerged in recent years, encompassing more than ten different families of mycotoxins, primarily Alternaria toxins (ATs), enniatins (ENNs), and beauvericin (BEA). These contaminants are widely found in a variety of food groups including cereals, fruits and vegetables, beer, wine, beans, and potatoes. Studies have shown that multiple physiological toxicities of the emerging mycotoxins are identified in plants, animals, and various human cell lines, and their presence are associated with certain human diseases. Notably, the emerging mycotoxins are not only prevalent in food but also frequently detected in human biological samples (e.g., serum, urine, and breast milk). Furthermore, multiple risk assessment studies have indicated that dietary exposure to the emerging mycotoxins, particularly ATs, exceed safe levels in some populations, posing potential threats to both food safety and human health. This article reviewed the contamination and physiological toxicity of three major emerging mycotoxins—ATs, ENNs, and BEA—in food, as well as research progress in human exposure assessment by different risk evaluation methods (e.g., dietary contamination & intake assessment and human biomonitoring). Additionally, it discussed current research challenges and unresolved scientific issues, aiming to provide insights for the biological control of emerging mycotoxins in food and the assessment of their exposure risks in human populations.
3.Deoxynivalenol contamination in cereals and bakery products in Shanghai and dietary exposure assessment in pregnant women
Kailin LI ; Baozhang LUO ; Renjie QI ; Hua CAI ; Xia SONG ; Jingjin YANG ; Danping QIU ; Zhenni ZHU ; Yi HE ; Hong LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(10):1170-1176
Background Deoxynivalenol (DON), a priority contaminant for food safety risk monitoring, is produced by Fusarium spp. infesting crops, and its common derivatives are 3-acetyl-DON (3A-DON) and 15-acetyl-DON (15A-DON), which have been shown to possess gastrointestinal toxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and cytotoxicity. Due to the stable physicochemical properties of the DON family of toxins (DONs), they cannot be effectively removed during food processing, thus following the food chain, entering the human body, and posing health risks. Objective To understand the contamination status of DONs in commercial foods (cereals and bakery products) in Shanghai in 2022–2023, and to assess the exposure risk of DONs in pregnant women by combining their dietary consumption data. Methods Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine the contamination level of DONs in 1 100 food samples (cereals and baked goods) collected in 2022 and 944 samples collected in 2023 from Shanghai. The dietary monitoring data of pregnant women in Shanghai from 2016 to 2017 were adopted. The monitoring employed the food frequency questionnaire distributed among pregnant women through a combination of online telephone enquiry and offline on-site face-to-face survey to estimate their food consumption levels. An exposure assessment model was established to calculate the exposure level to DONs, and the probability distribution of the DONs exposure level in the pregnant women group in Shanghai was obtained by applying @Risk 7.5 software and simulating the calculation according to the Monte Carlo principle. With reference to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of DONs [1.00 µg·(kg·d)−1] proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, the risk of exposure to DONs from commercial cereals and bakery products in pregnant women in Shanghai was assessed. Results DONs were detected in cereal and bakery samples collected in 2022 and 2023 with different levels of contamination. The level of DONs in cereal foods in 2023 (mean: 36.33 µg·kg−1) decreased compared to 2022 (mean: 23.64 µg·kg−1). However, the positive rate (71.67%) and level (mean: 51.22 µg·kg−1) of DONs in bakery products increased significantly compared with 2022 (positive rate: 10.00%, mean: 24.39 µg·kg−1). The mean consumption of cereals in 783 pregnant women was 222.48 g·d−1 and the mean consumption of bakery products was 36.07 g·d−1, and there was no statistically significant difference in the intake of all types of cereals and bakery products across the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy. The modelled intakes of DONs via commercial cereals and bakery products for pregnant women in Shanghai were calculated to be 0.20 and 0.57 µg·(kg·d)−1 in 2022 for the mean level and the 95th percentile level, respectively, and 0.16 µg·(kg·d)−1 and 0.35 µg·(kg·d)−1 in 2023, respectively. The results of the health risk assessment showed that pregnant women in Shanghai had 2.6% and 1.4% probability of exposure to DONs from cereal consumption in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Conclusion The risk of exposure of pregnant women in Shanghai to DONs via commercial cereals and bakery products is relatively low (1.4%-2.6%). However, considering the physical sensitivity of pregnant women, they should avoid consuming moldy grains and appropriately reduce intake of bakery products.
4.Risk assessment of cadmium exposure of Shanghai residents based on different dietary exposure assessment methods
Hua CAI ; Baozhang LUO ; Luxin QIN ; Danping QIU ; Jingjin YANG ; Xia SONG ; Biyao XU ; Zhenni ZHU ; Hong LIU ; Chunfeng WU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(3):224-229
ObjectiveTo conduct comprehensive assessment of internal and external cadmium exposure and health risks for Shanghai residents. MethodsCadmium levels in food samples were calculated by employing two dietary exposure assessment methods, total diet study (TDS) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to estimate the daily dietary cadmium exposure of Shanghai residents. The provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) of cadmium set by joint food and agriculture organization/WHO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) was applied to evaluate the health risk. Differences in dietary and urinary cadmium were compared by rank-sum test among different regions, age, gender, smoking status, and BMI groups, and the association between internal and external cadmium exposure was investigated by correlation analysis. ResultsThe mean value of urinary cadmium for 1 300 respondents was 0.542 μg·L-1. Urinary cadmium was higher in the population in central urban and urban-rural fringe areas than in the suburban area, higher in the older age group than in the younger age group, and higher in the smoking group than in the non-smoking group (all P<0.01). The two assessment methods showed that the mean values of daily dietary cadmium exposure for Shanghai residents were 0.306 and 0.090 μg·kg-1, with 3.69% and 0.85% of Shanghai residents exceeding the PTMI, respectively. Correlation analyses showed that dietary exposure to cadmium based on the FFQ method was positively correlated with the urinary cadmium level when smoking status, age, gender, and BMI were adjusted. ConclusionDietary exposure to cadmium of Shanghai residents is mainly derived from vegetables, aquatic products, cereals and potatoes, and is overall at a low-risk level. Dietary exposure assessment based on FFQ and risk monitoring data can effectively estimate long-term cadmium exposure.
5.A study on the association between insulin resistance and genome-wide DNA methylation based on Shanghai monozygotic twins
Jingyuan FENG ; Rongfei ZHOU ; Hongwei LIU ; Zihan HU ; Fei WU ; Huiting WANG ; Junhong YUE ; Zhenni ZHU ; Fan WU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(7):932-940
Objective:To explore the association between insulin resistance (IR) and genome-wide DNA methylation based on Shanghai twin study.Methods:Monozygotic twins (MZ) from Shanghai were recruited during 2012-2013, 2017-2018, and 2022-2023. Data were collected by questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory tests. Genome-wide DNA methylation was quantified. Generalized linear mixed effect model was applied to analyze the association between methylation level at each site and homeostatic model assessment 2-insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR). Non-paired and paired designs were used to assess the association between DNA methylation and phenotype of IR. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify the clusters of top significant sites. Generalized linear regression was performed to examine the differential methylation patterns from clusters.Results:A total of 100 MZ pairs were included in this study. Hypermethylated cg10535199-2q23.1 ( β=0.74%, P=1.51×10 -7, OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.09) and ch.17.49619327- SPOP ( β=0.23%, P=7.54×10 -7, OR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.08-1.28) were identified with suggestive significance. After correcting for multiple testing, no sites reached genome-wide significance. There was no statistical significance in the paired analysis. Two clusters with hypomethylated ( β=-0.39%, P<0.001) and hypermethylated ( β=0.47%, P<0.001) patterns were observed for HOMA2-IR. Conclusions:IR was significantly associated with DNA methylation, and genetic factors might contribute to the association.
6.Progress of application of the twin method in diabetes factorial studies
Jingyuan FENG ; Zhenni ZHU ; Fan WU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(1):70-77
Diabetes is a complex disease caused by the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors, which seriously affects people’s health level and living quality. As a special research tool, the twin method can be used to estimate the relative effects of genes and environment on diabetes-related traits. Moreover, compared with regular study subjects, twins have natural controls. The extended methods combined with genetic statistics and molecular biology techniques also help to analyze risk factors of diabetes and clarify the true relationship between exposure and outcome. This paper reviewed the progress of the application of the twin method to diabetes factorial studies in the past ten years at home and abroad, and summarized the advantages and limitations of the classical twin model, co-twin control studies, and genome-wide and epigenetic epidemiological studies.
7.Associations of sugar-sweetened beverages intake frequency with physical growth and glucolipid metabolism among children and adolescents
Liping SHEN ; Zhengyuan WANG ; Zehuan SHI ; Qi SONG ; Mengying QU ; Shupeng MAI ; Wei LU ; Zhuo SUN ; Zhenni ZHU ; Jiajie ZANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2023;40(7):761-768
Background Children and adolescents drink sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) frequently. Research has confirmed that SSBs associate with weight gain and overweight or obesity. However, it is unclear whether high SSBs intake associates with abnormal changes in physical growth and glucolipid metabolism before causing adverse health outcomes such as overweight and obesity. Early identification of associated health risks of overconsumption of SSBs have important public health implications. Objective To investigate the differences in physical growth and glucolipid metabolism between different SSBs intake frequency groups in normal weight children and adolescents aged 6-17 years, and to evaluate the early effects of SSBs intake on physical growth and glycolipid metabolism before causing overweight and obesity, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of childhood overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases, and for the formulation of policies on the control of SSBs consumption. Methods Data were from the Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) among primary and secondary school students. The participants were normal weight children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. Propensity scores were calculated according to energy intake and physical activity factors, after stratifying by age and gender. Participants were 1:1 matched with the closest propensity scores in the high-frequency (≥1 time·d−1) and the low-frequency (≤1 time·week−1) SSBs intake groups. The outcome indicators were physical measurements such as height, weight, percent of body fat, and waist circumference, and metabolic indicators such as fasting blood glucose, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect SSBs consumption in the past three months through face-to-face interview. A paired t-test was used to compare the differences in physical and glycolipid metabolic indicators between the high-frequency intake group and the low-frequency intake group of SSBs. Results A total of 431 pairs were obtained. For children and adolescents in grades 6-9, overall height (difference=2.92 cm, P=0.002), weight (difference=2.53 kg, P=0.003), and waist circumference (difference=1.34 cm, P=0.035) were higher in those who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 than in those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. For children and adolescents in grades 10-12, overall weight (difference=2.27 kg, P=0.041) was higher in those who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 than in those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. Over 95% of the study subjects reported blood glucose and lipid test results within the normal range; but girls in grades 1-5 who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 had a higher total cholesterol (difference=0.20 mmol·L−1, P=0.027) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (difference=0.19 mmol·L−1, P=0.010) than those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1; boys in grades 6-9 who consumed SSBs ≥1 time·d−1 had a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (difference=-0.10 mmol·L−1, P=0.039) than those who consumed ≤1 time·week−1. Conclusion High-frequency intake of SSBs may be associated with higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in normal weight children and adolescents in grades 1-5, and higher weight in normal weight children and adolescents in grades 6-12. There is an urgent need to educate children and adolescents about nutritional health, enhance their ability to make healthy food and beverage choices, and take early interventions to control the intake of SSBs in children.
8.Analysis of dietary intake in the residents aged 15 years and above in Shanghai
Baozhang LUO ; Chunfeng WU ; Zhenni ZHU ; Ming MI ; Huiting YU ; Hua CAI ; Hong LIU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;34(5):417-424
ObjectiveTo provide basic data of daily dietary intake from various food categories as well as in different regions, seasons, genders, and age groups in Shanghai residents aged 15 and over. MethodsMultistage stratified proportional probability sampling (PPS) was used to extract the samples, and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to investigate the dietary intake of the subjects in four seasons from 2012 to 2013. The weighted statistical analysis of the samples comprehensively considered the sampling design weights, the stratified adjustment weights, and the non-response adjustment weights. ResultsThe total daily dietary intake (excluding drinking water) of residents aged 15 years and above was 1 174.71 g, and the highest three daily dietary intake categories were cereals (252.31 g), vegetables (205.36 g) and fruits (141.00 g). The total daily dietary intake of the residents in the urban area, the suburban area and the rural area was 1 209.15 g,1 172.27 g and 948.50 g, respectively, and the total daily dietary intake in the outer suburb area was significantly lower than that in other areas (F=74.12,P<0.001). The total daily dietary intake in different seasons was 1 232.47 g in spring, 1 166.80 g in summer, 1 241.15 g in autumn and 1 088.83 g in winter, respectively. The total daily dietary intake in winter was lower than that in other seasons (F=15.96,P<0.001). Fruits and beverages intake showed apparent seasonality. The total daily dietary intake in male and female residents was 1 234.03 g and 1 112.32 g, respectively, and the total daily dietary intake of male was higher than that of female (F=78.59,P<0.001). The total daily dietary intake of residents in different age groups was 1 218.64 g for 15‒44 years old, 1 141.27 g for 45‒59 years old, and 1 064.54 g for 60 years old and above (F=20.28,P<0.001). ConclusionThe daily intake of cereals, livestock and poultry meat, aquatic products, eggs and edible oil is relatively balanced, but the daily intake of vegetables, fruits and milk is relatively insufficient for the residents aged 15 years and above in Shanghai. The daily intake of different food types shows distinguishable characteristics in urban and rural areas, seasons, age groups and genders.
9.Preliminary treatment experience of double-balloon enteroscopy in children with intussusception caused by Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Zhenni ZHU ; Mingfang WANG ; Fengge WANG ; Qin LIU ; Meng SHU ; Daiqin WU ; Chijun HU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2022;39(4):322-325
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) presents in early childhood, and children have a higher risk of intussusception due to a smaller abdominal space than adults. Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has been proven to be a safe and effective method for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel lesions, but the efficacy and safety of its prophylactic polypectomy in children with PJS need to be determined. Data of 6 children (median age 10.6 years) diagnosed as having PJS from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. DBE was performed 14 times, and 3 children were successfully relieved of intussusception after DBE treatment. The sizes of the resected intussusception polyps were 50 mm×60 mm, 40 mm×35 mm, and 50 mm×40 mm. Symptoms associated with polyps (abdominal pain, intussusception and obstruction) relieved after DBE in all children. No direct complications such as bleeding or perforation were found during the operation, and no recurrence of intussusception was found during follow-up. It can be seen that DBE polypectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of intussusception caused by PJS.
10.Study on the construction of modular and multidisciplinary nutrition innovation platform in Shanghai
Huachun WENG ; Gang XU ; Zhenni ZHU ; Lin ZHANG ; Yanfeng CHEN ; Jie SONG ; Saiqi QI ; Xiaoguang LI ; Linjun CHEN ; Jin SU ; Hui WANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;34(11):1134-1140
ObjectiveTo determine the situation and challenges of innovation platforms in China, and to explore the construction strategy of Shanghai Nutrition Innovation Platform, which is suitable for Shanghai and may achieve the research and transformation of nutrition innovation and population health, so as to coordinate, unite and gather the superior resources of all parties and promote nutrition innovation. MethodsConstruction scheme and operational mechanism of Shanghai Nutrition Innovation Platform were explored by literature review, expert consultation and questionnaire. ResultsThere were various forms of innovation platforms in China. However, challenges were identified, such as decentralizing force, resource rearrangement and insufficient sharing effect. Shanghai Nutrition Innovation Platform adopted a modular organizational structure, which was divided into central group, node group, and subject group. Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as the central organization, is responsible for the platform operation management. The expert database as an academic committee selected key organizations from nutrition-related universities, research institutes, academic associations, centers for disease control and prevention, hospitals and the industry. Based on the opening of its own innovation resources, the platform made effective use of external innovation resources and formed a closely integrated nutrition innovation network of multiple disciplines. ConclusionThis study promotes the construction of innovation platform model of cooperation, co-construction and resource sharing, and provides reference for the construction of innovation platform in China.

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