Objective This study investigated the impact of occupational mercury(Hg)exposure on human gene transcription and expression,and its potential biological mechanisms. Methods Differentially expressed genes related to Hg exposure were identified and validated using gene expression microarray analysis and extended validation.Hg-exposed cell models and PTEN low-expression models were established in vitro using 293T cells.PTEN gene expression was assessed using qRT-PCR,and Western blotting was used to measure PTEN,AKT,and PI3K protein levels.IL-6 expression was determined by ELISA. Results Combined findings from gene expression microarray analysis,bioinformatics,and population expansion validation indicated significant downregulation of the PTEN gene in the high-concentration Hg exposure group.In the Hg-exposed cell model(25 and 10 μmol/L),a significant decrease in PTEN expression was observed,accompanied by a significant increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 expression.Similarly,a low-expression cell model demonstrated that PTEN gene knockdown led to a significant decrease in PTEN protein expression and a substantial increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 levels. Conclusion This is the first study to report that Hg exposure downregulates the PTEN gene,activates the PI3K/AKT regulatory pathway,and increases the expression of inflammatory factors,ultimately resulting in kidney inflammation.

To investigate the existence of tick-borne pathogens infection of rodents at the border of China and the Demo-cratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).PCR was used to detect the spotted fever group rickettsiae(SFGR)ompA gene,Ehrlichia chaffeensis(Ec)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Ap)16S rRNA,Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis(CNm)groEL gene,Bartonella(Ba)rpoB gene,and Francisella tularensis(Ft)fopA gene in rodents samples collected from Ji'an of Jilin province and Kuandian of Liaoning Province.The positivity rates of 132 wild rats spleen samples,SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,Ba,and Ft were 9.85％,12.88％,5.30％,3.79％,51.52％,and 6.06％,respectively,with statistical differences in in-fection rates(x2=149.236,P=0.000).The infection rate of Ba was the highest in wild rats in this area.There was no signifi-cant difference in the infection rate of SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,and Ft among different rats species,but there were significant differences in the infection rate of Ba(x2=13.36,P=0.010).The infection rate of Apodemus agrarius was the highest.A-mong 132 wild rats specimens,the coinfection rate of the two pathogens was 15.9％(21/132),with Ba as the main species(15/132),and two cases of coinfection with three pathogens were detected.The infection of six tick-borne pathogens is common in wild rats at the China/DPRK border.Co-infection of two or three pathogens indicates a risk of multiple tick-borne pathogens and mixed natural foci of multiple tick-borne infec-tious diseases.

Objective: To analyze the short-term effect of individual atmospheric PM_2.5 exposure on the diversity, enterotype, and community structure of gut microbiome in healthy elderly people in Jinan, Shandong province. Methods: The present panel study recruited 76 healthy elderly people aged 60-69 years old in Dianliu Street, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong Province, and followed them up five times from September 2018 to January 2019. The relevant information was collected by questionnaire, physical examination, precise monitoring of individual PM_2.5 exposure, fecal sample collection and gut microbiome 16S rDNA sequencing. The Dirichlet multinomial mixtures (DMM) model was used to analyze the enterotype. Linear mixed effect model and generalized linear mixed effect model were used to analyze the effect of PM_2.5 exposure on gut microbiome α diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and ACE indices), enterotype and abundance of core species. Results: Each of the 76 subjects participated in at least two follow-up visits, resulting in a total of 352 person-visits. The age of 76 subjects was (65.0±2.8) years old with BMI (25.0±2.4) kg/m². There were 38 males accounting for 50% of the subjects. People with an educational level of primary school or below accounted for 10.5% of the 76 subjects, and those with secondary school and junior college or above accounting for 71.1% and 18.4%. The individual PM_2.5 exposure concentration of 76 subjects during the study period was (58.7±53.7) μg/m³. DMM model showed that the subjects could be divided into four enterotypes, which were mainly driven by Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae. Linear mixed effects model showed that different lag periods of PM_2.5 exposure were significantly associated with a lower gut α diversity index (FDR<0.05 after correction). Further analysis showed that PM_2.5 exposure was significantly associated with changes in the abundances of Firmicutes (Megamonas, Blautia, Streptococcus, etc.) and Bacteroidetes (Alistipes) (FDR<0.05 after correction). Conclusion: Short-term PM_2.5 exposure is significantly associated with a decrease in gut microbiome diversity and changes in the abundance of several species of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the elderly. It is necessary to further explore the underlying mechanisms between PM_2.5 exposure and the gut microbiome, so as to provide a scientific basis for promoting the intestinal health of the elderly.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Feces/microbiology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Particulate Matter ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Female

Emodin nanostructured lipid carriers(ED-NLC) were prepared and their quality was evaluated in vitro. Based on the results of single-factor experiments, the ED-NLC formulation was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface method with the dosages of emodin, isopropyl myristate and poloxamer 188 as factors and the nanoparticle size, encapsulation efficiency and drug loading as evaluation indexes. Then the evaluation was performed on the morphology, size and in vitro release of the nanoparticles prepared by emulsification-ultrasonic dispersion method in line with the optimal formulation, i.e., 3.27 mg emodin, 148.68 mg isopropyl myristate and 173.48 mg poloxamer 188. Under a transmission electron microscope(TEM), ED-NLC were spherical and their particle size distribution was uniform. The particle size of ED-NLC was(97.02±1.55) nm, the polymer dispersion index 0.21±0.01, the zeta potential(-38.96±0.65) mV, the encapsulation efficiency 90.41%±0.56% and the drug loading 1.55%±0.01%. The results of differential scanning calorimeter(DSC) indicated that emodin may be encapsulated into the nanostructured lipid carriers in molecular or amorphous form. In vitro drug release had obvious characteristics of slow release, which accorded with the first-order drug release equation. The fitting model of Box-Behnken response surface methodology was proved accurate and reliable. The optimal formulation-based ED-NLC featured concentrated particle size distribution and high encapsulation efficiency, which laid a foundation for the follow-up study of ED-NLC in vivo.
Drug Carriers ; Emodin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Lipids ; Nanostructures

This study analyzed the quality markers(Q-markers) of Yuquan Capsules(YQC) based on serum pharmacochemistry of Chinese medicine and detected the components and metabolites of YQC absorbed into the blood by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and UNIFI systems. As a result, 32 components of YQC were detected, including 17 prototype components and 15 metabolized components. Among them, 12 prototype components(ginsenoside Rh_2, genistein, formononetin, puerarin, daidzein, schizandrin A, schizandrin B, schizandrin C, schizandrol A, schizandrol B, gomisin D, and ononin) and 12 metabolized components(ginsenoside Rg_1, ginsenoside Rg_2, ginsenoside Rg_3, ginsenoside Ro, 3'-methoxypuerarin, daidzin, astragaloside Ⅱ, astragaloside Ⅳ, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritin, and verbascoside) showed inhibitory effects and pharmacological activities against diabetes, and these 24 blood-entering components against diabetes were identified as Q-markers of YQC.
Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ginsenosides/analysis* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Serum/chemistry*

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of anthrax in China from 2017 to 2019 and molecular typing of Bacillus anthracis isolated from some provinces (autonomous regions). Methods: Surveillance data of anthrax cases reported from 2017 to 2019 in the Infectious Disease Surveillance information System of China Disease Prevention and Control and the Public Health Emergency Reporting and Management Information System were collected, and descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the epidemic characteristics, including the temporal, geographic and demographic distribution of this disease. A total of 47 strains of Bacillus anthracis isolated from 2017 to 2019 were analyzed by canSNP and MLVA15. Results: A total of 951 cases of anthrax were reported from 2017 to 2019, of which 938 were cutaneous anthrax, representing 98.63% of the total number reported. It was mainly distributed in the west and northeast of China, and the three provinces with the highest number of cases were Gansu (215), Sichuan (202) and Qinghai (191). Cases had been reported throughout the year, more cases occurred in the summer and autumn, and August was the month with the most cases,66.35% (211/318), 72.32% (243/336) and 68.01% (202/297) of cases were reported during June to September. The age distribution was mainly between 20 and 59 years old, accounting for more than 80% of all cases. The number of male cases was significantly higher than that of female cases, the ratio of male to female was about 3∶1. The occupations were mainly herdsmen and farmers, accounting for 49.70% to 58.18% and 31.45% to 36.70%, respectively. Public health events occurred every year, and 29 events had been reported from 2017 to 2019. canSNP analysis showed that 37 of the 47 strains belonged to the A.Br.001/002 subgroup and 10 belonged to the A.Br.Ames subgroup. MLVA15 analysis showed that there were 17 genotypes, of which 10 genotypes contained only one strain. Conclusion: Cutaneous anthrax was the predominant clinical type in China from 2017 to 2019.The seasonal, geographic and demographic distribution characteristics were evident.Molecular typing methods such as canSNP and MLVA15 can be used to trace the source of infectious diseases and provide technical support for anthrax prevention and control.
Adult ; Anthrax/prevention & control* ; Bacillus anthracis/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Typing ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; Young Adult

Child ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Respiratory System

To investigate the therapeutic effect of Jingfang Granules on carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice and its mechanism. Forty-nine 8-week-old male C57 BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a CCl_4 group, a silybin group(positive control, 100 mg·kg~(-1))+CCl_4, a Jingfang high-dose(16 g·kg~(-1)) group, a Jingfang high-dose(16 g·kg~(-1))+CCl_4 group, a Jingfang medium-dose(8 g·kg~(-1))+CCl_4 group, and a Jingfang low-dose(4 g·kg~(-1))+CCl_4 group, with 7 mice in each group. The mice in the blank group and Jingfang high-dose group were intraperitoneally injected olive oil solution, and mice in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 10% CCl_4 olive oil solution(5 mL·kg~(-1)) to induce liver fibrosis, twice a week with an interval of 3 d, for 8 weeks. At the same time, except for the blank group and CCl_4 group, which were given deionized water, the mice in other groups were given the corresponding dose of drugs by gavage once daily for 8 weeks with the gavage volume of 10 mL·kg~(-1). All mice were fasted and freely drank for 12 h after the last administration, and then the eyeballs were removed for blood collection. The liver and spleen were collected, and the organ index was calculated. The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total bile acid(TBA), and triglyceride(TG) in the serum of mice were detected by an automated analyzer. Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Kits were used to detect the contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), and glutathione(GSH) in the liver tissue. Pathological changes in the liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE), Masson, and Sirius red staining. Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β), α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and Smad4 in the liver tissue. The results indicated that Jingfang Granules significantly reduced the organ index, levels of ALT, AST, TBA,TG, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the serum, and the content of MDA in the liver tissue of mice with CCl_4-induced liver fibrosis. Jingfang Granules also significantly increased the content of SOD and GSH in the liver tissue. Meanwhile, Jingfang Granules down-regulated the protein levels of TGF-β, α-SMA, and Smad4. Furthermore, Jingfang Granules had no significant effect on the liver tissue morphology and the above indexes in the normal mice. In conclusion, Jingfang Granules has obvious therapeutic effect on CCl_4-induced liver fibrosis, and its mechanism may be related to reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, anti-oxidation, and regulating TGF-β/Smad4 signaling pathway.
Mice ; Male ; Animals ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Olive Oil/therapeutic use* ; Carbon Tetrachloride/metabolism* ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Liver ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*

For a long time, the cultivation of medical students’ scientific research and innovation abilitymainly depends on scattered extracurricular scientific research activities. With limited students, unsystematic teaching and inadequate administrative guarantee, it often results in obvious weakness andinefficiency. Since 2002, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology teaching team in Shantou UniversityMedical College has been working on a “3+X” model to nurture the scientific research and innovationability of medical students. Guided by the concepts of complementary development of science andeducation, student-centeredness, and Problem-based Learning, a model is established based on the‘HEART” professionalism courses and the academy culture specific to Shantou University. We also takefull advantage of the first-tier disciplines of biology, basic medicine and clinical medicine in ShantouUniversity and collaborate with other professional teaching teams. It is conceptualized in a framework thatembraces the comprehensive connotation of scientific research and innovation ability and adopts a corecurriculum system that runs through the 5-year medical undergraduate education. In this model, " 3" means " whole-person training", " whole-process training" and " omni-directional training" for medicalstudents; " X" refers to several confirmatory dimensions of the operational effectiveness of the " 3+X" model, including organizing medical students to participate in various forms of national college students’ innovative experimental research competitions, international college students’ academic seminars, writingand publishing academic papers by medical undergraduates as the first author, etc. The model proves tobe effective in cultivating the scientific research and innovation ability of medical students, hence settinga good example to solve the current problems in the cultivation of medical students’ scientific researchand innovation ability.

Actin-binding proteins (ABPs) are important components of the F-actin cytoskeleton and affect the dynamics of F-actin by promoting the polymerization and depolymerization of actin. Numerous studies have shown that F-actin and actin-binding proteins are involved in all stages of carcinogenesis. Our analysis of esophageal carcinoma proteomic data showed that the actin-binding protein EHD2 (E p s l 5 homology domain-containing protein 2) is expressed at low levels in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and patients with lower EHD2 expression had poorer prognosis. Previous studies have revealed that EHD2 is involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism, autophagy and tumor cell migration. However, the role and mechanism of EHD2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of EHD2 on the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Immunofluorescence and cell fractionation analysis showed that EHD2 was not only localized in the cell membrane and cytoplasm, but also in the nucleus. Colony formation, EdU labeling and flow cytometry were used to determine the effect of EHD2 on the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The results showed that overexpression of EHD2 and EHD2-3×NLS (nuclear localization signal) inhibited proliferation, cell cycle G