1.A comprehensive method for determination of 55 traditional and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in infant complementary foods using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry
Ziwei LIANG ; Chao FENG ; Jiawen YOU ; Zixin QIAN ; Sunyang LE ; Dasheng LU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):211-217
Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose potential health risks to humans. Infants and young children have higher requirements for food safety due to the underdeveloped detoxification and immune systems. Therefore, developing a comprehensive method for determination of PFASs and their novel alternatives in infant complementary food is of great significance. Objective To develop an analytical method using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry technology for determination of 55 PFASs in plant- and animal-derived infant complementary fruit purees. Methods Oasis WAX (200 mg, 6 CC) solid-phase extraction columns were used for sample enrichment and purification. The pH of the acetonitrile extract was adjusted using 0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% formic acid aqueous solutions to evaluate its impact on the recovery rate of target compounds. Additionally, the impact of a 2 mL methanol wash during the purification process on the recovery of target compounds was assessed to determine the optimal pretreatment conditions. Three types of chromatographic columns—Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18, Thermo InfinityLab Poroshell 120 Aq-C18, Acquity Waters BEH-C18, and changes in mobile phase, were compared for their effects on retention time, peak shape, and response of target compounds. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, linear range, detection limit, and precision. The established method was applied to 49 commercial samples of infant complementary fruit purees. Results Adjusting the sample pH using 1.5% formic acid water and incorporating a 2 mL methanol wash during purification achieved satisfactory recovery rates. The target compounds were chromatographically separated using an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column with a gradient elution system. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (methanol/water: 2/98, v/v) containing 5 mmol·L−1 ammonium formate as mobile phase A, and methanol as mobile phase B. Good separation was achieved within 15 min, resulting in optimal chromatographic peak shapes. The 55 target compounds exhibited good linearity across the standard curve range, with correlation coefficients (R²) greater than 0.99. The method detection limits ranged from 0.02 to 0.05 µg·L−1. In the plant- and animal-based fruit puree samples, the spiked recovery rates ranged from 60% to 112% and 57% to 119%, respectively, with relative standard deviations (RSD) ≤ 30%. A total of 9 traditional PFASs and 5 novel PFASs were positive in 49 samples of infant complementary fruit purees. Conclusion This method enables comprehensive detection of 55 traditional and emerging PFASs, offering wide coverage, high accuracy, and excellent sensitivity. It provides technical support for characterizing contamination by traditional and emerging PFASs in food matrices.
2.Effect of Highly Expressed lysophosphatidyllecithin acyltransferase 4 on Proliferation of Pancreatic Cancer
Haoming LU ; Jin HUANG ; Yixi WU ; Jiayin LU ; Zhenpei LI ; Xiuying XIONG ; Jiawen YE ; Xia YANG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):401-409
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression level of lysophosphatidyllecithin acyltransferase 4 (LPCAT4) in pancreatic cancer and its effect on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. MethodsIn this study, the differentially expressed genes of patients with KRAS mutant and wild-type pancreatic cancer were analyzed by online database LinkedOmics. The LPCAT4 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues was analyzed online by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Data Analysis (UALCAN), Sangerbox and gene expression profile interaction analysis 2 (GEPIA2). Kaplan-Meier Plotter database was used to explore the correlation between LPCAT4 and the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. The expression of LPCAT4 in human pancreatic cancer cells were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. LPCAT4 was knocked down in the high-expressing SW1990 cell line and overexpressed in the low-expressing MIA PaCa-2 cell line. The effects of LPCAT4 expression on cell proliferation were assessed using CCK-8 and EdU assays. STRING and GEPIA2 databases were used to obtain LPCAT4 binding and coexpressed genes in tumors, which were then analyzed by GO and KEGG. ResultsAnalysis of the LinkedOmics online database revealed a significant upregulation of LPCAT4 in patients with KRAS mutant pancreatic cancer compared to patients with KRAS wild-type pancreatic cancer. The online analysis of GEPIA2, UALCAN and Sangerbox 3.0 showed that the expression of LPCAT4 was higher in pancreatic cancer than in normal tissues. Analysis of the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database revealed that high LPCAT4 expression was associated with poorer prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients.Western blot and qPCR results showed that expression of LPCAT4 in pancreatic cancer cell lines was significantly higher than in normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cells. Knockdown of LPCAT4 in SW1990 cells inhibited proliferation, while overexpression in MIA PaCa-2 cells promoted proliferation. Enrichment analysis indicated that LPCAT4 was closely related to sulfur metabolism. ConclusionsLPCAT4 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and is associated with poor prognosis of patients. It plays a significant regulatory role in the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, with its expression level closely correlated with cell proliferation capacity. These findings reveal the critical role of LPCAT4 in the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer and provide important evidence for its potential as a therapeutic target.
3.Visualization of nasal powder distribution using biomimetic human nasal cavity model.
Jiawen SU ; Yan LIU ; Hongyu SUN ; Abid NAEEM ; Huipeng XU ; Yue QU ; Caifen WANG ; Zeru LI ; Jianhua LU ; Lulu WANG ; Xiaofeng WANG ; Jie WU ; Lixin SUN ; Jiwen ZHANG ; Zhigang WANG ; Rui YANG ; Li WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(1):392-404
Nasal drug delivery efficiency is highly dependent on the position in which the drug is deposited in the nasal cavity. However, no reliable method is currently available to assess its impact on delivery performance. In this study, a biomimetic nasal model based on three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology was developed for visualizing the deposition of drug powders in the nasal cavity. The results showed significant differences in cavity area and volume and powder distribution in the anterior part of the biomimetic nasal model of Chinese males and females. The nasal cavity model was modified with dimethicone and validated to be suitable for the deposition test. The experimental device produced the most satisfactory results with five spray times. Furthermore, particle sizes and spray angles were found to significantly affect the experimental device's performance and alter drug distribution, respectively. Additionally, mometasone furoate (MF) nasal spray (NS) distribution patterns were investigated in a goat nasal cavity model and three male goat noses, confirming the in vitro and in vivo correlation. In conclusion, the developed human nasal structure biomimetic device has the potential to be a valuable tool for assessing nasal drug delivery system deposition and distribution.
4.Regulatory Mechanism of Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Yu WANG ; Lu ZHANG ; Leilei TANG ; Dongdong YU ; Wenjing JIANG ; Jiawen WU ; Tingting LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):253-261
Lung cancer is the fastest-growing cancer type in terms of incidence and mortality worldwide, posing a huge threat to the health and life of the population. Radiation therapy is one of the main methods for treating lung cancer, and there is a clear dose-effect relationship between the radiation dose and local control rate of lung cancer. However, the lung is a radiation dose-limiting organ, and the radiation resistance of lung cancer tissues and the radiation damage to normal tissues limit the radiation efficacy for lung cancer. The pathogenesis of lung cancer in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by an initial deficiency in vital Qi, followed by the internal invasion and gradual accumulation of pathogenic Qi. After radiation therapy for lung cancer, the body's vital Qi becomes weaker, and syndromes of phlegm coagulation, Qi stagnation, and static blood blocking collaterals become more severe, leading to radiation resistance of lung cancer tissues. Therefore, the key issue to better clinical efficacy of radiation therapy for lung cancer patients is to use drugs to enhance the radiation sensitivity of lung cancer cells and improve the radiation tolerance of normal lung tissues. TCM can be used as a radiation sensitizer by regulating the cell cycle to increase the proportion of cells in the radiation-sensitive phase, promoting upregulation of pro-apoptotic genes and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes to induce cell apoptosis, enhancing DNA damage caused by radiation and inhibiting damage repair, improving blood circulation and tissue oxygen supply, and so on, to enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation and amplify the toxicity of radiation to tumor tissues. TCM can also be used as a radiation protector by inhibiting cell damage, regulating cytokines and immune balance, reducing the release of inflammatory and fibrotic factors, and inhibiting the activation of related signaling pathways to prevent and treat radiation-induced lung injury. This article systematically reviewed the research results of TCM on radiation sensitization and radiation protection in lung cancer in recent years, aiming to elucidate the mechanism of TCM in regulating the effect of radiation therapy for lung cancer and provide more theoretical and practical basis for TCM to participate in improving the prognosis of lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
5.Study on metabolites derived from Zhideke granules in rats in vivo
Jie LIANG ; Piaoxue ZHENG ; Huihua CHEN ; Chunyan HUANG ; Yanli LIANG ; Chunlian LU ; Jingjing XIE ; Yuming MA ; Jiawen PENG ; Lichun ZHAO ; Rilan CHEN
China Pharmacy 2024;35(2):172-178
OBJECTIVE To analyze the metabolites of Zhideke granules and speculate its metabolic pathway in rats in vivo. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group and administration group (Zhideke granules, 9.45 g/kg); they were given ultrapure water or relevant medicine, twice a day, every 6-8 h, for 3 consecutive days. Serum, urine and feces samples of rats were collected, and their metabolites were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS technique after intragastric administration of Zhideke granules; their metabolic pathways were speculated. RESULTS After intragastric administration of Zhideke granules, 16 prototype components (i.g. irisflorentin, baicalin, chlorogenic acid) and 11 metabolites (i.g. hydration products of kaempferol or luteolin, methylation products of chlorogenic acid, and hydroxylation products of baicalin) were identified in serum, urine and feces of rats. Among them, 8 prototype components and 4 metabolites were identified in serum samples; 10 prototype components and 7 metabolites were identified in urine samples; 8 prototype components and 5 metabolites were identified in the fecal samples. CONCLUSIONS The metabolites of Zhideke granules in rats mainly include baicalin, irisflorentin,chlorogenic acid, and the main metabolic pathways included methylation, hydroxylation, glucuronidation.
6.Mechanism of hippocampal CRHR1 regulating chronic stress-induced learning and memory impairment in early aged mice
Xinru Tu ; Jiawen Xu ; Rui Liu ; Yulin Lu ; Shu Wang ; Yuyou Yao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(1):117-126
Objective :
To explore the mechanism of hippocampal corticotropin-releasing hormone ( CRH) receptor type 1 ( CRHR1 ) in chronic stress-induced learning and memory impairment in early aged mice.
Methods:
C57BL /6J mice aged 12 -14 months were divided into two groups according to gender,and then divided into wild type (WT) group and hippocampal CRHR1 conditional gene knockout (KN) group according to genotype.Mice in each group were randomly divided into control group and stress group,and the stress group was subjected to chronic unpredictable stress ( CUS ) for 30 days. Genotyping of mice was performed using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) ,agarose gel electrophoresis and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) .The new object rec- ognition experiment and Morris Water maze measured learning and memory ability.Golgi-Cox staining was used to observe damage to hippocampal neuronal dendrites. The protein expressions of target protein of rapamycin (mTOR) ,p-mTOR (Ser2448) ,ribosomal protein S6 kinase ( p70S6K) and p-p70S6K ( Thr389 / Thr412 ) were detected by Western blot.Serum levels of corticotropin releasing hormone ( CRH) were measured by ELISA.
Results :
Compared to mice without chronic stress,the cognitive coefficient of WT stress groups decreased after chron- ic stress,and the difference was statistically significant (P <0. 05) ,while there was no significant difference in cognitive coefficient of KN stress groups before and after chronic stress.Compared with the WT stress group,the escape latency of the WT control group was shortened (P<0. 05) ,and the number of crossing the platform and tar- get quadrant increased (P <0. 01) ,and there was no significant difference in the KN groups above. Compared with the WT control group,the WT stress group had a significant reduction in the neuronal complexity in the hipp- ocampal CA1,CA3 and DG regions (P <0. 05) and significant reductions in the expression of p-mTOR and p- p70S6K in the hippocampus (P<0. 05) .There was no significant difference in the expression of p-mTOR between the KN stress group and the KN control group (P>0. 05) ,except that the expression of p-mTOR in the hippocam- pus of the female group decreased (P<0. 05) .In addition,the serum level of CRH in the stress group was higher than that in the control group (P<0. 01) .
Conclusion
Hippocampal CRHR1 regulates learning and memory im- pairment and neuronal dendrite damage in early aged mice induced by chronic stress.The mechanism may be that high levels of CRH induced by chronic stress cannot bind to CRHR1 receptor,thereby enhancing the expression of down-regulated mTOR / p70S6K signaling pathway.
7.Causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization
Jiawen YUAN ; Dexiang WANG ; Yuhao HANG ; Qinyun LU ; Jian WANG ; Jun LU ; Lu CHENG
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(7):734-739
Objective:To explore the causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis based on the bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:The genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset were selected to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with thyroid dysfunction as instrumental variable (IV) for genetic variation, using hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism as exposure factor and sepsis as outcome factor. Potential causal relationship between thyroid dysfunction and sepsis was analyzed using a bidirectional two-sample MR method primary analysis method of inverse-variance weighted (IVW). Potential pleiotropic analysis of SNP was performed using the MR Egger regression intercept test. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the "leave one out" test. Reverse MR method was used to prove the causal relationship.Results:The GWAS data were screened based on the three main assumptions of MR, resulting in 101 SNP strongly associated with hypothyroidism and 10 SNP strongly associated with hyperthyroidism entering the MR analysis. The results of the MR using the IVW method showed that the risk of sepsis in individuals with hypothyroidism was 2.293 times higher than those without hypothyroidism [odds ratio ( OR) = 2.293, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.199-4.382, P = 0.012]. There was no significant difference in the risk of sepsis between hyperthyroid and non-hyperthyroid populations ( OR = 1.049, 95% CI was 0.999-1.100, P = 0.560). MR Egger regression intercept test showed that the included SNP did not have pleiotropy, and the MR-PRESSO test did not find outliers. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the results of MR were stable. The results of the reverse MR analysis showed that the reverse causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and sepsis was not proved ( OR = 0.996, 95% CI was 0.988-1.004, P = 0.338), which further confirmed the robust MR analysis result. Conclusion:The results of the bidirectional two-sample MR analysis show that hypothyroidism can increase the risk of sepsis onset, while there is no causal relationship between hyperthyroidism and sepsis.
8.Changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness of children and adolescents with different refractive states
Jinling ZHANG ; Yujie LIAO ; Xiaoyan YU ; Qi YANG ; Jiaqing KANG ; Jiawen LU ; Chen CHEN ; Haohao ZHU
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2024;44(11):883-886
Objective To observe the changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)of children and adoles-cents with different refractive states using optical coherence tomography angiography.Methods A total of 171 children and adolescents were followed.They were divided into the lower primary school group(6-8 years old),upper primary school group(9-11 years old),and junior high school group(12-14 years old)according to their age at the time of en-rollment.Dioptric examinations(including best corrected visual acuity,diopter,intraocular pressure,corneal curvature,axial length and SFCT)were performed,data collection was conducted twice in half a year(initial examination and review after half a year),and the eyeball parameters and changes in eyeball parameters after half a year among all groups were compared.Results The axial length and SFCT of subjects had significant differences among all groups(both P<0.05).In children and adolescents,the axial length gradually lengthened and SFCT gradually thickened with age,while intraocular pressure and corneal curvature were not associated with age(both P>0.05).In the initial examination and review after half a year,there was no significant difference in intraocular pressure,corneal curvature and SFCT of subjects with differ-ent refractive states in all groups(all P>0.05),while the axial length of myopic subjects was greater than that of non-my-opic subjects in all groups(all P<0.05).In the review after half a year,the SFCT of non-myopic subjects in the lower pri-mary school group and upper primary school group was significantly thickened(P<0.001,P=0.003),while there was no significant difference in SFCT of myopic subjects in all groups compared with the value half a year ago(all P>0.05).The axial length of all subjects showed a positive correlation with the SFCT in the initial examination and review after half a year(r=0.354,0.228,P<0.05).Conclusion Myopia affects the increase in SFCT in children and adolescents.
9.Undaria pinnatifida polysaccharides improves depression-like behavior of CUMS rats by reducing hippocampus oxidative stress
Mengmeng LU ; Yang ZHANG ; Fei LIN ; Xinyu CHEN ; Jianyu WANG ; Yuhe LIN ; Xiangjia YE ; Jiawen LI
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2024;40(2):145-152
Objective:To explore the effects of Undaria pinnatifida polysaccharides(UPPs)on depressive-like behavior,neurotransmitter content,oxidative stress,and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis in rats treated with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS).Methods:A rat model of depression was prepared using the CUMS method,and rats were treated with normal saline(NS)or different doses of UPPs by gavage.The general condition of the rats was observed,and depressive-like behavior was detected by the open field test(OFT),sucrose preference test(SPT),and forced swimming test(FST).The activity or levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),dopamine(DA)and norepinephrine(NE),malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide disidase(SOD)and catalase(CAT),adrenocorticotrop-ic hormore(ACTH),corticosterone(CORT)in the hippocampus or serum of rats were detected using commercial kits.Western Blot was used to detect the expression level of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor(GR)protein,and hema-toxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the tissue structure of hippocampus of rats.Results:The depressive-like behavior of rats in the UPPs medium and high dose groups was significantly improved(P<0.05).In the UPPs high dose group,the contents of 5-HT,DA,and NE in the hippocampus of rats increased(P<0.05),while the con-tents of MDA in both serum and hippocampus decreased(P<0.05),and the activities of SOD and CAT increased(P<0.05).The contents of ACTH and CORT in serum decreased(P<0.05).In the UPPs medium dose group,the levels of hippocampal MDA and CAT,as well as serum SOD,ACTH,and CORT were improved(P<0.05).The expression level of GR protein in the hippocampus increased(P<0.05),and the pathological changes in the hipp-ocampal dentate gyrus were significantly improved.Conclusion:UPPs can alleviate depressive-like behavior in CUMS rats,and its mechanism may be related to increasing the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus,reducing oxidative stress damage,and HPA axis hyperfunction.
10.Analysis and prediction of disease burden of esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption in China:an age-period-cohort study based on disease burden from 1990 to 2019
Sinian CHEN ; Zhi ZENG ; Jiawen ZHU ; Yijuan HE ; Di ZHU ; Di LU
Tumor 2024;44(2):158-168
Objective:Based on the data compilation and analysis of the disease burden of esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption in China over the past three decades(1990-2019),this study aims to explore how to strengthen the formulation and management of public health policies to control the disease burden caused by this disease. Methods:Based on the data from the Global Burden of Disease(GBD)2019 study database,indicators such as mortality rate and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)were used to assess the disease burden of esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption in China.Joinpoint regression software and the age-period-cohort model were employed to analyze the trends in disease burden and mortality rates over time by age,period,and cohort.Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis was used to predict the mortality rates of esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption in China from 2020 to 2030. Results:From 1990 to 2019,the number of deaths from esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption increased from 33 800 cases to 61 900 cases,while the standardized mortality rate decreased from 3.95 per 100 000 to 3.04 per 100 000.DALYs increased from 934 000 person-years to 1 512 600 person-years,and the DALYs rate decreased from 101.36 per 100 000 to 71.39 per 100 000.In 2019,both the number of deaths and DALYs reached their peak in the age group of 65-69 years with 58 800 deaths and a standardized mortality rate of 6.21 per 100 000 for males,and 3 100 deaths and a standardized mortality rate of 0.31 per 100 000 for females.Both the mortality rates and the DALYs rates increased with age.The Joinpoint regression analysis showed that the average annual percentage change(AAPC)of mortality rates attributed to alcohol consumption-related esophageal cancer was-0.97%[95%confidence interval(CI):-1.2%--0.8%],with an AAPC of-2.32%(95%CI:-2.6%--2.1%)for females and-0.81%(95%CI:-1.0%-0.6%)for males.The age-period-cohort analysis of mortality rates attributed to alcohol consumption-related esophageal cancer showed a net drift of-1.301%(95%CI:-1.577%--1.025%,P<0.05).It is predicted that the burden of esophageal cancer mortality attributed to alcohol consumption will steadily increase during the period of 2020-2030. Conclusion:Compared to the overall trend of esophageal cancer burden,the burden of esophageal cancer attributed to alcohol consumption is declining at a slower rate.The burden of the disease is higher in the male population than that in females,and higher in the middle-aged and elderly population compared to the younger population.It is expected that in the coming years,the burden of esophageal cancer mortality attributed to alcohol consumption in China will steadily increase,suggesting that while focusing on the intervention for males and the middle-aged and elderly population,relevant departments should also strengthen health education in the entire population,formulate public health policies,and raise awareness of early prevention and risk factors of esophageal cancer among residents.


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