Objective To explore the role and mechanism of RNA demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)in the ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells induced by di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP).Methods Forty 3-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into a control group(corn oil)and 3 dosed DEHP treatment groups(5,250 and 500 mg/kg),and received an intragastric infusion of corresponding agents for 35 d,respectively.After mouse testicular interstitial TM3 cells was treated with 0,100,200 and 400 μmol/L mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate(MEHP)for 24 h,corresponding plasmids were transfected to construct Fto overexpressing TM3 cells.Serum testosterone level was detected by ELISA,expression of testicular proteins was detected with immunohistochemical assay,and contents of Fe2+,malondialdehyde(MDA)and lipid peroxides in the testicle were detected by colorimetry.Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation,RT-PCR,and Western blotting were used to detect the level of N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification.Results In the mice exposed to 250 and 500 mg/kg DEHP,the serum testosterone level was significantly reduced(P＜0.01),contents of Fe2+,MAD and lipid peroxides in testicular tissue were obviously increased(P＜0.01),and protein levels of RNA demethylase FTO,and ferroptosis related molecules ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)were significantly down-regulated(P＜0.05),while those of transferrin receptor(TFRC),ferroportin(FPN),cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2),and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4)were notably up-regulated(P＜0.05).MEHP treatment for 24 h resulted in remarkably decreased cell viability in the TM3 cells,increased production of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),reduced mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)(P＜0.01),down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Fto(P＜0.01),and the changes in other ferroptosis related proteins were consistent with the trend in testicular tissue,indicating ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells.Intervention with ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 or overexpression of Fto significantly inhibited MEHP-induced toxicity and ferroptosis in TM3 cells(P＜0.05),and overexpression of Fto reduced the m6A modification of Gpx4 and Fth1 mRNA(P＜0.05).Conclusion Abnormal m6A modification of Gpx4 and Fth1 caused by inhibiting FTO expression may be the mechanism of ferroptosis in testicular interstitial cells induced by DEHP.

ObjectiveTo explore the status of mild cognitive impairment （MCI） among the elderly in Shanghai communities， and to identify the factors associated with MCI. MethodsThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic （MoCA-B） was used to screen for MCI in elderly adults. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with MCI. ResultsAmong 629 participants， 226 （35.90%） were positive for MCI. Older age （OR=1.04， 95%CI： 1.01-1.07）， lower family income （average OR=2.20， 95%CI： 1.01-4.80； poor OR=2.59， 95%CI： 1.03-6.50）， hearing impairment affecting daily life （OR=1.86， 95%CI： 1.19-2.91）， and anxiety symptoms （OR=1.58， 95%CI： 1.02-2.44） were associated with the positive for MCI. Living in central urban area （OR=0.57， 95%CI： 0.37-0.89） and having higher social support （OR=0.97， 95%CI： 0.94-1.00） were protective factors for MCI. ConclusionThe current status of MCI among the elderly in Shanghai communities is not optimistic. It is important and necessary to establish the cognitive-friendly community for the elderly.

Objective:To establish a new molecular typing method for Treponema pallidum (TP) based on TP0136 protein sequence heterogeneity. Methods:The amino acid sequences of TP0136 open reading frame (ORF) of 9 strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. Pallidum (TPA) , 3 strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. Pertenue (TPE) , 1 unclassified simian strain of Treponema Fribourg-Blanc (FB) and 1 strain of Treponema pallidum ssp. Endemicum (TEN) were searched from Genbank, and multiple sequence comparisons were performed to obtain the molecular typing results of TP0136 protein. The TP0136 protein-based molecular typing method was used to classify 23 TPA clinical isolates, which were collected from Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2015 to December 2018, and the typing results were compared with those by the traditional typing method based on the tp0548/Arp/Tpr genes. Results:TP0136 protein was highly heterogeneous in different TP strains. According to the amino acid sequence of TP0136, TPE, FB and TEN strains were divided into 4 subtypes of Ⅰ- Ⅳ, TPA strains were divided into 6 subtypes of Ⅴ-Ⅹ, and TPA clinical strains were classified into 4 subtypes of Ⅶ, Ⅸ, Ⅹ, Ⅺ. Through the traditional typing method described above, 23 TPA clinical strains could be divided into 5 types (13D/d, 14D/f, 14D/g, 15D/f, 16A/e) . By using the TP0136 protein-based typing method combined with traditional typing method, the above clinical strains could be further subdivided into 10 types, and the 14D/f type could be further divided into 3 subtypes by using the TP0136 protein-based typing method.Conclusion:The TP0136 protein-based molecular typing method can be used to distinguish TP species, which is helpful for further improvement of traditional TPA molecular typing.

Objective: To explore the blood lead level and its relationship with behavior in school-age children from rural areas of Chongqing. Methods: A total of 697 students from grades 3 to 6 in the fall semester of 2014 from 14 rural townships in one district of Chongqing was selected by using the random cluster sampling method. Blood were sampled to analyze the lead level. Neurobehavioral tests were performed to determine their personal cognitive and memory ability. Questionnaires and physical examinations were administered to obtain the information of confounding factors. All students were divided into Q₁-Q₄ groups according to the quartile of their blood lead level. The relationship between the blood lead level and behavior was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restricted spline regression model. Results: The mean age of 697 students was (10.07±1.36) years old, and the median (interquartile range) of their blood lead level was 44.31 (35.42) μg/L. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and maternal culture level, compared with Q₁ group, the OR (95%CI) values of high digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores and high overall memory quotient (MQ) scores in Q₃ group were 1.65 (1.01-2.70) and 2.10 (1.21-3.62), and the OR (95%CI) value of high long term memory (LTM) scores in Q₄ group was 0.53 (0.31-0.92). The results of the restricted spline regression model showed that the dose-response curves between the blood lead level and MQ/LTM test scores were both parabolic (P<0.05). Conclusion The blood lead level of school-age children from rural areas of Chongqing is the same as that from other areas of China, but slightly higher than that from other areas of Chongqing. Children with higher blood lead level have poor long-term memory ability.

Objective To explore the blood lead level and its relationship with behavior in school?age children from rural areas of Chongqing. Methods A total of 697 students from grades 3 to 6 in the fall semester of 2014 from 14 rural townships in one district of Chongqing was selected by using the random cluster sampling method. Blood were sampled to analyze the lead level. Neurobehavioral tests were performed to determine their personal cognitive and memory ability. Questionnaires and physical examinations were administered to obtain the information of confounding factors. All students were divided into Q1-Q4 groups according to the quartile of their blood lead level. The relationship between the blood lead level and behavior was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restricted spline regression model. Results The mean age of 697 students was (10.07±1.36) years old, and the median (interquartile range) of their blood lead level was 44.31 (35.42) μg/L. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and maternal culture level, compared with Q1 group, the OR (95%CI ) values of high digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores and high overall memory quotient (MQ) scores in Q 3 group were 1.65 (1.01-2.70) and 2.10 (1.21-3.62), and the OR (95%CI ) value of high long term memory (LTM) scores in Q4 group was 0.53 (0.31-0.92). The results of the restricted spline regression model showed that the dose?response curves between the blood lead level and MQ/LTM test scores were both parabolic (P<0.05). Conclusion The blood lead level of school?age children from rural areas of Chongqing is the same as that from other areas of China, but slightly higher than that from other areas of Chongqing. Children with higher blood lead level have poor long?term memory ability.

Objective To explore the blood lead level and its relationship with behavior in school?age children from rural areas of Chongqing. Methods A total of 697 students from grades 3 to 6 in the fall semester of 2014 from 14 rural townships in one district of Chongqing was selected by using the random cluster sampling method. Blood were sampled to analyze the lead level. Neurobehavioral tests were performed to determine their personal cognitive and memory ability. Questionnaires and physical examinations were administered to obtain the information of confounding factors. All students were divided into Q1-Q4 groups according to the quartile of their blood lead level. The relationship between the blood lead level and behavior was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restricted spline regression model. Results The mean age of 697 students was (10.07±1.36) years old, and the median (interquartile range) of their blood lead level was 44.31 (35.42) μg/L. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and maternal culture level, compared with Q1 group, the OR (95%CI ) values of high digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores and high overall memory quotient (MQ) scores in Q 3 group were 1.65 (1.01-2.70) and 2.10 (1.21-3.62), and the OR (95%CI ) value of high long term memory (LTM) scores in Q4 group was 0.53 (0.31-0.92). The results of the restricted spline regression model showed that the dose?response curves between the blood lead level and MQ/LTM test scores were both parabolic (P<0.05). Conclusion The blood lead level of school?age children from rural areas of Chongqing is the same as that from other areas of China, but slightly higher than that from other areas of Chongqing. Children with higher blood lead level have poor long?term memory ability.

This study aims to isolate two flavonoids and two diterpenoids from Isodon eriocalyx(Dunn. )Hara and investigate their antiviral activities in vitro. Firstly, four compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx by silica gel, ODS and RP-HPLC chromatography, and then identified by spectral data as isothymusin(1), cirsimaritin(2), coetsoidin A(3), and maoecrystal D(4). Next, in vitro antiviral activities against influenza(H1N1/H3N2)and respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)was investigated for the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx and four compounds. Results showed that the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx and four compounds exhibited inhibitory effects against influenza H1N1. Especially, compounds 1 and 2 showed better activities with EC50 of(14. 45±4. 90)and(24. 54±3. 82)μmol/L. However, they showed weak inhibitory effects against influenza H3N2 and RSV. These results demonstrate that the ethanol extract of I. eriocalyx and compounds 1- 4 have antiviral activity, especially against influenza H1N1. The flavonoids may be one kind of the effective antiviral substances. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of I. eriocalyx.

Objective: To investigate the association between aflatoxin exposure and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) development. Methods: From December 2013 to May 2016, we selected 214 patients newly diagnosed with PHC as cases, and 214 patients as controls from three hospitals in Chongqing. Cases were confirmed with PHC diagnosis standard. And cases caused by clear reasons such as drug-induced liver injury, alcoholic liver damage, fatty liver and gallstones etiology, were excluded. Controls were included with no cancer and no digestive system disease, and recruited simultaneously with cases. Cases and controls were frequency-matched (1∶1) by same gender and age (±3 years). Peripheral blood and random urine samples were collected and analyzed for serum HBsAg status by biochemistry analyzer, and serum AFB₁-ALB adduct and urinary AFB₁-N⁷-GUA adduct by ELISA. Basic information, living habits and history of disease for patients were obtained by questionnaires. We used wilcoxon rank sum test to compare the median of serum AFB₁-ALB adduct and urinary AFB₁-N⁷-GUA adduct in cases and controls. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess risk factors for PHC, and synergism index (S) of aflatoxin with other factors was estimated by the method of Andersson. Results: There was no significant difference in age between PHC cases (50.74±9.67) years and controls (51.15±9.90) years. Logistic regression showed that the odds ratio of HBV infection for PHC development was 46.3 (95% CI: 23.3-88.0). There was a significant difference in median concentrations of serum AFB₁-ALB adduct (cases vs controls: 146.23 vs 74.42 ng/g albumin, P<0.001), but no difference in median concentrations of urinary AFB₁-N⁷-GUA adduct was observed (cases vs controls: 0.17 vs 0.14 ng/mg creatinine, P<0.210). The odd ratios for PHC risk after adjustment were 1.9 (95%CI: 1.1-3.4) for AFB₁-ALB adduct, and 2.1 (95%CI: 1.0-4.2) for AFB₁-N⁷-GUA adduct. Moreover, we observed a positive interaction of aflatoxin exposure with HBV, alcohol drinking, and diabetes. The S was 4.7 (95%CI: 2.8-7.9), 3.5 (95%CI: 1.0-12.0), and 12.4 (95%CI: 1.8-84.2), respectively for serum AFB₁-ALB adduct with each of the three factors mentioned, and was 1.9 (95%CI:1.1-3.1), 2.0 (95%CI: 1.1-3.6), and 2.0 (95%CI: 1.1-3.6), respectively for urinary AFB₁-N⁷-GUA adduct with each of the three factors mentioned. Conclusion HBV was still the main risk factor, and AFB₁ exposure was also an independent risk factor for PHC in Chongqing. There was a positive interaction of aflatoxin with HBV, alcohol drinking, and diabetes.

Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Adolescent ; Child ; Drinking Water ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mineral Waters ; Minerals ; Schools ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Water Supply

OBJECTIVETo isolate the side population (SP) and non-side population (NSP) cells from A431 cells and compare their difference in tumorigenicity in mice and the expression profiles of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.

METHODSA431 cells stained with Hoechst 33342 were sorted with flow cytometry. The isolated SP cells and NSP cells were inoculated into NOD/SCID mice and the tumorigenicity of the cells was observed. EMT markers E-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin, AXL, and Erbb3 in the tumor tissues were detected by immunohisto-staining.

RESULTSThe tumors generated by SP cells were larger than those by NSP cells in NOD/SCID mice. Compared with the tumors generated by NSP cells, the cells in the periphery of tumors generated by SP cells showed up-regulated expressions of AXL, vimentin and β-catenin and down-regulated ERBB3 and E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONThe SP cells in A431 cells have a strong tumorigenicity and show more EMT phenotypes in tissues.

Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Side-Population Cells ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology