AIM:To observe the toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnO NPs)on cornea by constructing intoxicated model in vivo and in vitro.METHODS:Human corneal epithelial cells(HCEpiC)were cultured in vitro and exposed to different concentrations(0.5, 5, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 250 μg/mL)of ZnO NPs for 24h. The cell culture medium without nano-solution was used as the blank control group. The viability of the cells was assessed by MTT assay. Three different concentrations(25, 50 and 100 μg/mL)of ZnONPs dispersions were exposed to the conjunctival sac of anesthetized mice three times a day for 7d consecutively. The phosphate buffered saline(PBS)eye group was the PBS control group. Corneal morphology was observed on 1, 3, 5 and 7d, and the eyes were removed on 8d for various laboratory examinations, including corneal pathological changes and expression levels of inflammatory factors(TNF-α, IL-6).RESULTS:After treatment of HCEpiC cells with different concentrations of ZnO NPs for 24h, the MTT results showed that Zno NPs cause damage to cells at 0.5 μg/mL, and the cell survival rate was about 80%(P<0.05). Half of the cells were killed at a dose of 5 μg/mL, the damaging effect on cells in the concentration range of 5～250 μg/mL was concentration-dependent(P<0.0001). After 7d of conjunctival capsule spotting in mice, dot-like staining of fluorescein was seen in the 25 μg/mL ZnO NPs and 50 μg/mL ZnO NPs groups. Localized circular fluorescein stained areas were seen in the corneas of the 100 μg/mL ZnO NPs group. HE staining showed that the corneal epithelial layer, stromal layer thickness and stromal layer immune cell number did not change significantly in the 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL ZnO NPs groups(all P>0.05), while the corneal epithelial layer thinned, the corneal stromal layer thickened and the stromal layer immune cells increased significantly in the 100 μg/mL ZnO NPs group(all P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of corneal stromal immune cells producing TNF-α and IL-6 and the mean integral optical density(IOD)values of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher in the 100 μg/mL ZnO NPs group than in the PBS control group(P<0.05), and the degree of inflammation response was concentration-dependent. Compared with the PBS control group, no significant increase in immune cell count and IOD values in the 25 μg/mL ZnO NPs and 50 μg/mL ZnO NPs groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The toxic damaging effect of ZnO NPs on the cornea was confirmed from both in vitro and in vivo, which provided a theoretical basis for the ocular safety evaluation of ZnO NPs.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis on high-fat diet-induced apolipoprotein E gene knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice， and explore its mechanism of treating atherosclerosis by regulating intestinal flora. MethodThirty-two 8-week-old male ApoE^-/- mice were randomly divided into model group， rosuvastatin group （10 mg·kg^-1）， high-， low-dose groups of ethyl acetate extract of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis （75， 25 mg·kg^-1）， with 8 mice in each group. Eight C57BL/6 mice were used as blank group. After 8 weeks of continuous administration， blood was taken to determine the blood lipid level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of related indexes in serum of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the formation of aortic plaque in mice. Cecal contents were collected and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to detect intestinal flora. ResultCompared with the blank group， the plaque area of the model group was significantly increased with inflammatory infiltration， the contents of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， inflammatory factors and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） were increased， while the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） was decreased. Compared with the model group， rosuvastatin group and high- and low-dose groups of ethyl acetate extract of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis could improve the deposition of aortic plaque， reduce the contents of TG， TC， LDL-C， inflammatory factors and iNOS， and increase the content of HDL-C. Compared with the blank group， the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the model group increased， while the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased. Alpha and Beta diversity analysis showed that samples of each group could be significantly isolated， and the total number and abundance of intestinal flora species in the model group were low. Compared with the model group， ethyl acetate extract of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis could increase the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and decrease the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria. ConclusionEthyl acetate extract of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis was mainly composed of flavonoids， which can treat atherosclerosis by regulating the intestinal flora and improve the pathological changes in the aorta of ApoE^-/- mice induced by high-fat diet. The mechanism may be related to its ability to reduce the level of inflammatory factors， improve antioxidant capacity and repair the disorder of intestinal flora structure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the introduction of vegetables and fruits in 4-8 months old infants, and to describe the maternal and infants' characteristics associated with the introduction of vegetables and fruits. METHODS: Mother-infant dyads (n=228) were recruited from 12 to 16 weeks postpartum and formally entered the study at 4 months of age. Data collected via face to face interview at 4-8 months postpartum, including the timing and types of added vegetables and fruits, as well as a variety of maternal and infant characteristics (n=204). Rank sum test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the maternal and infant characteristics related to the introduction of vegetables and fruits. RESULTS: The time of introducing vegetables was concentrated at the age of 7 months, and the time of adding fruits was mainly at 6 months. Fruits were added earlier than vegetables (P < 0.001), and the variety of the added fruits was higher than that of vegetables (P=0.045). 48% (n=98) of infants had no more than three types of fruits and vegetables at 8 months. Only 9.8% (n=20) had added more than 10 kinds of fruits and vegetables at 8 months. Green leafy vegetables were the most commonly added vegetable, and apple was the most popular fruit. Compared with women who were 35 years of age or younger, women beyond 35 years old introduced vegetables to their babies 0.6 months later. 4-month-old exclusively breastfed infants had vegetables 0.4 months later than mixed-fed infants. Women with a bachelor's degree or above added 2-3 more types of fruits and vegetables to their babies than those with junior high school education and below. CONCLUSION The adding time of fruits was earlier than that of vegetable. Apples and green leafy vegetables are commonly added. Women with lower educational backgrounds add fewer types of fruits and vegetables to their babies. Mothers who choose exclusive breastfeeding and those over 35 years of age at childbirth add vegetables to their babies later than others. They should be targeted for health promotion programs that aim to improve the intake of fruits and vegetables among infants.
Adult ; Beijing ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fruit ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Vegetables

Objective::Near infrared spectroscopy was used to detect the concentration density (25 ℃), solid-containing content, rhein content and glycyrrhizic acid content of compound Dahuang decoction. Method::The concentrated liquid of compound Dahuang decoction was determined by near infrared optical fiber transmission spectrometry. The contents of rhein and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC. Fifty-one samples were used for internal cross-validation, and partial least square regression was used to establish correction models between near-infrared spectrum and density, solid-containing content, rhein content and glycyrrhizic acid content, respectively. Ten unknown concentrated liquid samples were collected for external validation and prediction. Result::The external validation complex correlation coefficients between near-infrared spectra and density, solid-containing content, rhein content and glycyrrhizic acid content of the concentrated liquid of compound Dahuang decoction were 0.995 9, 0.999 6, 0.997 0 and 0.992 2, and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values were 2.50×10^-3, 0.17, 7.57 and 67.10, respectively. Conclusion::The near infrared spectroscopy is suitable for the determination of evaluation indexes of the concentrated liquid index of compound Dahuang decoction, and has the characteristics of rapid, simple, stable and reliable.