MAFLD with central obesity is associated with increased risk of colorectal adenoma and high-risk adenoma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors associated with colorectal adenoma and to investigate the associations of metabolism-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) with obesity, colorectal adenoma and high-risk adenoma. METHODS: A total of 1395 subjects were enrolled and divided into a colorectal adenoma group (593 subjects) and a control group (802 subjects) according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The characteristics of patients in the colorectal adenoma group and the control group were compared by the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were used to analyze independent risk factors and associations with different MAFLD subtypes. Colorectal adenoma characteristics and the proportion of patients with high-risk colorectal adenoma were also compared. RESULTS: High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) was significantly lower in patients in the colorectal adenoma group than in those in the control group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, obesity status, central obesity status, hypertension status, diabetes status, fatty liver status, smoking history, BMI, waist circumference, triglyceride level, HDL-C level, fasting blood glucose level and degree of hepatic steatosis were all independent risk factors for colorectal adenoma. Notably, MAFLD was associated with a significantly increased risk of colorectal adenoma in patients with central obesity (P < 0.001). In addition, obesity, central obesity, diabetes, fatty liver and degree of hepatic steatosis were all shown to be independent risk factors for high-risk colorectal adenoma. In addition, a greater proportion of MAFLD patients with central obesity than those without central obesity had high-risk colorectal adenoma. CONCLUSION: MAFLD and central obesity are independently associated with the development of colorectal adenoma. MAFLD with central obesity is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma and high-risk adenoma.

Comparison of different extraction methods of active ingredients of Chinese medicine and natural products.

Like other traditional medicine in the world, Chinese traditional medicine (CTM) has a long history, which is a treasure of the combination of medicine and Chinese classical culture even more than 5000 years. For thousands of years, CTM has made great contributions to the reproduction and health of the Chinese people. It was an efficient therapeutic tool under the guidance of Chinese traditional medical theory, its source is generally natural products, but there are also a small number of it are natural products after some processing methods. In fact, the definition of Chinese medicine (CM) includes both traditional and new CM developed by modern technology. It is well known that the chemical composition of most CM and natural products is very complex, for example, a single herb may contain hundreds of different chemicals, including active ingredients, side effects, and even toxic ingredients. Therefore, the extraction process is particularly crucial for the quality and clinical efficacy of CM and natural products. In this work, a new classification method was proposed to divide the extraction technologies of CM and natural products into 21 kinds in recent years and analyze their status, advantages, and disadvantages. Then put forward a new technical route based on ultra-high-pressure extraction technology for rapid extraction else while removing harmful impurities and making higher utilization of CM and natural products. It is a useful exploration for the extraction industry of medicinal materials and natural products in the world.

Comparing the Influences of Metformin and Berberine on the Intestinal Microbiota of Rats With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: High-fat diets induce shifts in the gut microbial community structure in patients or animals with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of metformin (MET) and berberine (BER) on the intestinal microbiota of rats with NASH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups. Model rats were fed high-fat diets to create NASH models. MET or BER rats were administrated MET or BER, respectively, at the onset of induction of NASH. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol, and triglycerides were examined. Plasma endotoxin levels were measured using the turbidimetric endotoxin assay. The incidence of bacterial translocation describes the passage of bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract through the intestinal mucosa barrier to mesenteric lymph nodes and other organs. Hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O staining were used for histopathological analysis. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was carried out for analyzing the composition of intestinal microbiota. RESULTS: High-fat diets caused NASH after 16-week induction. Administration of MET and BER ameliorated NASH by attenuating hepatic steatosis and inflammation and decreasing the plasma levels of endotoxin. MET and BER restored the composition of the intestinal microbiota disrupted by NASH. Both MET and BER altered the abundance of Atopobiaceae, Brevibacterium, Christensenellaceae, Coriobacteriales, Papillibacter, Pygmaiobacter, and Rikenellaceae RC9 in rats with NASH. The screened intestinal microbiota may be responsible for the improvement in fat accumulation and glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION: MET and BER demonstrated beneficial effects on the intestinal microbiota, which was disturbed in NASH. This finding may explain the functional mechanism of MET and BER in NASH.

Physicochemical property changes of Dendrobium officinale leaf polysaccharide LDOP-A and it promotes GLP-1 secretion in NCI-H716 cells by simulated saliva-gastrointestinal digestion.

A polysaccharide LDOP-A with a molecular weight of 9.9 kDa was isolated and purified from Dendrobium officinale leaves by membrane separation, cellulose column, and dextran gel column. The Smith degradable products, methylation products, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that LDOP-A may be composed of →4)-Glc-(1→, →3,6)-Man-(1→, and →6)-Glc-(1→sugar residues. In vitro, simulated digestion assays showed that LDOP-A could be partially digested in the stomach and small intestine, and produced a large amount of acetic acid and butyric acid during colonic fermentation. Further cell experiment results illustrated that LDOP-A-I (LDOP-A digested by gastrointestinal tract) could induce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in NCI-H716 cells without showing any cytotoxicity.

The regulation of circRNA_kif26b on alveolar epithelial cell senescence via miR-346-3p is involved in microplastics-induced lung injuries.

Microplastics (MPs), the emerging environmental contaminants, can be inhaled and lead to lung injuries, including inflammation and fibrosis. Alveolar epithelial cell senescence is associated with several lung diseases, but its mechanism in MPs-induced lung injuries remains unknown. In this study, polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in the form of microspheres with a particle size of 100 nm were used for a 35-day inhalation exposure in SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The plethysmograph showed lung dysfunction. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed lung histological lesions with a significant accumulation of inflammatory cells. The ß-galactosidase staining indicated increased senescent cells in lung tissues. The ELISA suggested increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Treatment of mouse alveolar epithelial cell line MLE12 with PS-MPs raised levels of senescence-related markers p21, p16, and p27 and SASP secretion. circ_kif26b, a ring-structured non-coding RNA (ncRNA), is homologous in human, rat, and mouse and was elevated in PS-MPs-exposed rat lung tissues as well as in PS-MPs-treated MLE12 cells. The luciferase reporter gene revealed that circ_kif26b was bound to miR-346-3p and co-regulated p21, a target gene of miR-346-3p. circ_kif26b knockdown or miR-346-3p overexpression attenuated PS-MPs-induced MLE12 cell senescence and secretion of the SASP cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. However, down-regulation of circ_kif26b and miR-346-3p reversed this depressive effect. Overall, circ_kif26b mediates alveolar epithelial cell senescence through miR-346-3p and participates in PS-MPs-induced lung inflammation. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of MPs inhalation toxicity and lay a mechanistic foundation for health risk assessment of MPs.

Anxiety and Its Influencing Factors in Patients With Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Objective: This study aims to investigate anxiety and its influencing factors in patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Materials and Methods: Ninety-four patients with DILI were enrolled and evaluated with a self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). According to the anxiety score, they were divided into four groups: the non-anxiety, mild anxiety, moderate anxiety, or severe anxiety groups, and the scores were analyzed based on demographic and biochemical indicators. Results: Of the 94 patients with DILI, 63 did not have anxiety and 31 had anxiety (32.9%), of which 27 had mild, 3 had moderate, and 1 had severe anxiety. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, occupation, and level of education between the groups (F = 1.42, H = 2.361, H = 6.751, H = 1.796, and P > 0.05); anxiety score and degree of anxiety between the types of drugs that led to the liver injury (H = 0.812, H = 1.712, and P > 0.05); anxiety score between the different degrees of liver injury (H = 2.836, H = 4.957, P > 0.05); or length of hospital stay or prognosis between the degrees of anxiety (F = 1.487, H = 0.761, P > 0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the degree of anxiety between different degree and types of liver injury (H = 7.981, H = 8.208, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with DILI may have anxiety, especially mild anxiety. The occurrence of anxiety in patients with DILI is not related to gender, age, occupation, or level of education but may be related to the degree and type of liver injury. Anxiety has no impact on the length of stay in hospital or the prognosis of the DILI. These findings may contribute to the development of management strategies for patients with DILI.

A study on the roles of long non-coding RNA and circular RNA in the pulmonary injuries induced by polystyrene microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a global concern due to its close relation to the environment and human health. Recently, more and more studies have pointed out the existence of MPs in the air, but its potential inhalation toxicity is unclear. Polystyrene Microplastics (PS-MPs) is one of the representative MPs. Besides, non-coding RNA plays crucial roles in regulating gene expression. Therefore, this study aims to provide new insights into the molecular exploration of PS-MPs inhalation. In this study, Sprague Dawley（SD）rats were treated with 100 nm, 500 nm, 1 µm and 2.5 µm PS-MPs for three days. And then intra-tracheal instillation of saline or 100 nm PS-MPs with 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/200 µL were performed in SD rats every two days for two consecutive weeks. The deposition of PS-MPs was observed through immunofluorescence. Lung histological alternations were observed in haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining sections. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified by ELISA and qPCR. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) in rats lung were done by ribosomal RNA depleted RNA sequencing and verified by qRT-PCR. We observed that 100 nm and 1 µm PS-MPs could deposite in the lungs. In addition, pathological examination shows alveolar destruction and bronchial epithelium arranged in a mess in PS-MPs groups. Furthermore, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1ß were upregulated in PS-MPs exposed rats. Sequencing results showed that 269 circRNAs and 109 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in lung tissue of the saline and PS-MPs exposed rats. The upregulated expressions of lncRNA XLOC_031479, circRNA 014924 and circRNA 006603 and the downregulated expressions of lncRNA XLOC_014188 and circ003982 were identified by qRT-PCR in MPs group. The identified novel circRNAs and lncRNAs may paly important role in the development of lung inflammation caused by PS-MPs.

The influence of mosapride on gut microbiota of carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis rats based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Mosapride significantly improves intestinal motility in liver cirrhosis, ultimately leading to the reduction in plasma endotoxin levels and bacterial translocation. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of mosapride on intestinal microecology in cirrhotic rats and its potential mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats that were pathogen-free (weight 200-220 g) were randomly divided into a control group (n = 15), model group (n = 15) and mosapride group (n = 15). Then, the pathological changes in the liver and intestine were determined through tissue staining and using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Bacterial translocation was examined. High throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to determine the changes of gut microbiota in each group. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, mosapride treatment induced no attenuation in hepatic morphology and pathology changes. The TEM indicated no differences in intestinal structure in both groups. There was a significant decline in the rate of gut microbiota translocation in the mosapride group compared with the model group. There were intestinal microbiota changes in the mosapride group compared with that of the model group, including Bacteroidetes, Prevotellaceae, Alloprevotella, Ruminiclostridium, Negativicutes, Selenomonadales, Veillonellaceae, Anaerovibrio, Campylobacterales, Epsilonbacteraeota, Helicobacter, Oscillibacter, Verrucomicrobiales, Akkermansia, Intestinimonas, Eubacterium, Clostridiaceae, Clostridium, Bacteroides, Tyzzerella, Actinobacteria, and Bifidobacteriales. Among these bacteria, Alloprevotella showed a strong correlation with the other bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we concluded that mosapride may reduce intestinal bacterial translocation through regulating the gut microbiota in rats with hepatic cirrhosis.

Tanshinone IIA-regulation of IL-6 antagonizes PM2 .5 -induced proliferation of human bronchial epithelial cells via a STAT3/miR-21 reciprocal loop.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5 ), a component of atmospheric particulate matter, leads to changes in gene expression and cellular functions. Epidemiological evidence confirms that PM2.5 has a positive correlation with lung injury. However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood, and preventive methods are needed. In the present study, with human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells in culture, we showed that low concentrations of PM2.5 resulted in acceleration of the G1/S transition and cell proliferation. Consistent with these effects, expression of the pro-inflammatory factor interleukin-6 (IL-6) was elevated in HBE cells exposed to PM2.5 . Accordingly, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was activated, which down-regulated expression of cyclin D1. In addition, PM2.5 exposure led to higher levels of miR-21, and there was a reciprocal loop between miR-21 and STAT3. For HBE cells, tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) reversed the PM2.5 -induced cell cycle alteration and cell proliferation, and reduced the expression of cytokines (IL-6, STAT3, and miR-21). These results show that, for HBE cells, Tan IIA attenuates the PM2.5 -induced G1/S alteration and cell proliferation, and indicate that it has potential clinical application for PM2.5 -induced respiratory injuries.

Optimization and Application of an Efficient and Stable Inhalation Exposure System for Rodents.

Inhalation is a promising and challenging method in pharmaceutical and biological science research. A stable environment is critical in dynamic inhalation administration. However, the establishment of a stable inhalation system is very challenging. Indacaterol glycopyrronium bromide inhalation powder (IM/GP mixed powder) is composed of indacaterol maleate and glycopyrronium bromide powder to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study is to build suitable inhalation conditions and then to evaluate the pulmonary safety of this drug in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. In the research, through the coordination of the atomization flow, air pump flow, and scraper speed, aerosols were stabilized at 200 ± 20% mg/m3, and then rats were nose-only administered with the IM/GP mixed powder, Ultibro, and lactose-magnesium stearate mixed powder at 2.6 mg/kg/day for 14 days and 14 days of recovery period, respectively. After exposure, hematology, inflammatory cytokines in rats bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum, histopathological examination were performed. Results showed that the stability of powder aerosols can be realized under the atomization generation flow: 10 L/min, sampling flow: 2 L/min, system pumping capacity: 10 L/min and powder scraper speed: 8-10 L/min, and there were no significant adverse effects on body weight, clinic signs, hematology, and pathology in rats. Overall, the results suggested that the IM/GP mixed powder inhalation at the dose of 2.6 mg/kg/d can be reached when the aerosol concentration is within the range of 200 ± 20% mg/m3, and there were no pulmonary toxicity effects in rats.

Six-month versus nine-month therapy for intestinal tuberculosis: a protocol for a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal duration of treatment for intestinal tuberculosis (TB), which remains a common disease worldwide, has not yet been established. The proposed randomized controlled study will aim to compare the efficacy of short-term six-month with nine-month anti-TB therapy for treating intestinal TB. METHODS: This multicenter, open-label, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted in the Affiliated Hangzhou Chest Hospital of Zhejiang University will include a total of 80 patients. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the six-month (n=40) or nine-month (n=40) treatment group. The primary outcome will be complete response, which is defined as endoscopy displaying active lesion healing at the end of treatment. Participants will be scheduled for follow-up visits once a month in the first three months, then once every three months until the end of the treatment. The last follow-up will be one year after the treatment. Recurrence will be assessed one year after the end of treatment, which is defined as endoscopy displaying recurrent lesions after complete response. DISCUSSION: In addition to the reports of tuberculous lymphadenitis and spinal TB, there are few appropriate randomized trials for the treatment of extrapulmonary TB with appropriate clinical endpoints. We believe that the proposed randomized controlled trial will provide further data on the efficacy of short-term six-month anti-TB therapy in intestinal TB patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial will be registered on ClinicalTrial.gov.

Impact of Non-Alcoholic Simple Fatty Liver Disease on Antituberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease on drug-induced liver injury caused by tuberculosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury in 104 patients with initial treatment of tuberculosis complicated with non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether there was liver injury or not. The differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, and triglycerides were studied between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 104 patients with initial treatment of tuberculosis complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 24 (23%) patients developed a drug-induced liver injury. The remaining 80 (77%) patients did not develop drug-induced liver injury (χ 2 = 60.308, P < 0.05). In the liver injury group, there were 20 cases of mild liver injury, two cases of moderate liver injury, two cases of severe liver injury, 22 cases of hepatocellular injury, two cases of cholestasis, and no cases of mixed liver injury. The time of abnormal liver function in antituberculosis treatment was 16.42 ± 9.18 days from the beginning of the antituberculosis treatment. There were no significant differences in gender, age, BMI, or triglyceride between the liver injury group and the non-liver injury group (χ 2 = 2.063, t = 0.179, t = 0.703, t = 1.12, P > 0.05 in all), but there were significant differences in cholesterol (t = 3.08, P < 0.05). By logistic regression analysis, cholesterol was a high-risk factor for liver injury. CONCLUSION: Non-alcoholic simple fatty liver disease may increase the risk of antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury.

Association between past exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and peptic ulcer: A cross-sectional study in eastern China.

Ambient fine particulate matter (particle diameter < 2.5 µm, or PM2.5) is a major public health concern in China. Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes. The current study aimed to estimate the association between exposure to PM2.5 and the risk of peptic ulcer diseases (PUDs). We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study of seven major cities in Zhejiang Province, China (combined population > 57 million people), which included a total of 647,092 subjects who underwent gastroscopy examination (86,852 subjects were diagnosed with PUDs) recorded in 13 large hospitals from 2014 to 2018. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the relationship between PM2.5 and PUDs, including duodenal ulcers (DUs) and gastric ulcers (GUs). The overall estimated OR (95% CI) associated with every 10-µg/m3 increase in the 1-month average PM2.5 before the detection of PUDs was 1.050 (95% CI: 1.038, 1.063). The association between PM2.5 concentration and the prevalence of PUDs tended to be attenuated but remained significant when considering different exposure periods (OR = 1.030, 95% CI = 1.018-1.043 for the 3-month moving average; OR = 1.020, 95% CI = 1.005-1.037 for the 6-month moving average). Stronger associations were observed for DUs than GUs. The observed positive association of PM2.5 exposure with PUDs remained significant in the two-pollutant models after adjusting for other air pollutants. Our findings could provide scientific evidence for a more general adverse role of air pollution on PUDs.

Comparison Between the Diagnostic Performance of 1.5 T and 3.0 T field Strengths for Detecting Deep Vein Thrombosis Using Magnetic Resonance Black-Blood Thrombus Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance (MR) black-blood thrombus imaging (BTI) is an accurate diagnostic technique for detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) but to date there have been no studies comparing the diagnostic performance and consistency of this technique at different field strengths. In this study, we evaluated and compared the diagnostic performance of BTI for detecting DVT at 1.5 T and 3.0 T field strengths. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with DVT were enrolled in this study from November 2015 up to October 2018. All patients underwent BTI, a contrast-free T1-weighted MR imaging technique for detecting DVT, and contrast-enhanced MR venography (CE-MRV) at 1.5 T or 3.0 T field strengths. The MR data analyses used 1160 segments from the venous lumen of the 40 patients. The signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio between thrombus and muscle/lumen were calculated to compare BTI at 1.5 T or 3.0 T to determine the image performance for thrombus detection at 1.5 T or 3.0 T. Two physicians blinded to the study evaluated all BTI images and calculated the overall sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, and diagnostic consistency at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. These images and values were compared to control CE-MRV images that had been obtained by 2 senior physicians and used as reference standards. In addition, the reliability and consistency of diagnoses between observers were also evaluated. RESULTS: Two study-blind physicians reviewed all BTI images to diagnose thrombus and to determine SE, SP, PPV, NPV, and accuracy. There were no statistical differences in SE, SP, PPV, NPV, or accuracy between the 1.5 T and 3.0 T groups. CONCLUSIONS: Black-blood thrombus imaging has high SE, SP, and accuracy for DVT diagnosis both at 1.5 T and 3.0 T field strengths. This noninvasive diagnostic technique, which does not require the use of contrast agents, can be widely used in the clinical screening of DVT and follow-up after treatment.

Hepatic Proteomic Changes and Sirt1/AMPK Signaling Activation by Oxymatrine Treatment in Rats With Non-alcoholic Steatosis.

BACKGROUND: Currently, active ingredients of herbal extracts that can suppress lipid accumulation in the liver have been considered a potential treatment option for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: Steatosis rat model was created by high fat and high sucrose diet feeding and treated with oxymatrine (OMT). Serum biochemical parameters, liver histology and lipid profiles were examined. Hepatic differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) which were significantly changed by OMT treatment were identified by iTRAQ analysis. The expressions of representative DEPs, Sirt1 and AMPKα were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: OMT significantly reduced the body weight and liver weight of steatosis animals, decreased the serum levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol as well as the hepatic triglyceride and free fatty acid levels, and effectively alleviated fatty degeneration in the liver. A list of OMT-related DEPs have been screened and evaluated by bioinformatics analysis. OMT significantly decreased the expressions of L-FABP, Plin2, FASN and SCD1 and increased Sirt1 expression and AMPKα phosphorylation in the liver of rats with steatosis. CONCLUSION: The present study has confirmed the significant efficacy of OMT for improving steatosis and revealed hepatic proteomic changes and Sirt1/AMPK signaling activation by OMT treatment in rats with steatosis.

Correlation between CYP1A1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to glyphosate-induced reduction of serum cholinesterase: A case-control study of a Chinese population.

Glyphosate (GLP) is one of the most common herbicides worldwide. The serum cholinesterase (ChE) may be affected when exposed to glyphosate. Reduction of serum ChE by herbicides is probably related to cytochrome P450 (CYP450) family polymorphisms. We suspect that the abnormal ChE caused by GLP could be correlated with the CYP family members. To determine whether CYP1B1 (rs1056827 and rs1056836) and CYP1A1 (rs1048943) gene polymorphisms and individual susceptibility to GLP-induced ChE abnormalities were interrelated in the Chinese Han population, we performed this genetic association study on a total of 230 workers previously exposed to GLP, including 115 cases with reduced serum ChE and 115 controls with normal serum ChE. Two even groups of cases and controls were enrolled. The CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 polymorphisms in both groups were genotyped using TaqMan. Subjects with the CYP1A1 rs619586 genotypes showed an increased risk of GLP-induced reduction of serum ChE, which was more evident in the following subgroups: female, > 35 years old, history of GLP exposure time <10 years and >10 years, nonsmoker and nondrinker. The results show that CYP1A1 rs619586 was significantly associated with the GLP-induced reduction in serum ChE and could be a biomarker of susceptibility for Chinese GLP exposed workers. Because of a large number of people exposed to glyphosate, this study has a significance in protecting their health.

Mosapride Stabilizes Intestinal Microbiota to Reduce Bacterial Translocation and Endotoxemia in CCl4-Induced Cirrhotic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Impaired intestinal motility may lead to the disruption of gut microbiota equilibrium, which in turn facilitates bacterial translocation (BT) and endotoxemia in cirrhosis. We evaluated the influence of mosapride, a prokinetic agent, on BT and DNA fingerprints of gut microbiota in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: A rat model of cirrhosis was set up via subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The portal pressure, liver and intestinal damage, plasma endotoxin, BT, and intestinal transit rate (ITR) of cirrhotic rats were determined. Fecal DNA fingerprints were obtained by ERIC-PCR. The expressions of tight junction proteins were evaluated by western blotting. RESULTS: Mosapride treatment to cirrhotic rats significantly reduced the plasma endotoxin level and incidence of BT, accompanied by increased ITR. Cirrhotic rats (including those treated with mosapride) suffered from BT exhibited significantly lower ITR than those who are free of BT. Pearson coefficient indicated a significant and negative correlation between the plasma endotoxin level and ITR. The genomic fingerprints of intestinal microbiota from the three groups fell into three distinctive clusters. In the mosapride-treated group, Shannon's index was remarkably increased compared to the model group. Significantly positive correlation was detected between Shannon's index and ITR. Mosapride did not improve hepatic and intestinal damages and ileal expressions of occludin and ZO-1. CONCLUSIONS: Mosapride significantly increases intestinal motility in cirrhotic rats, thus to recover the disordered intestinal microbiota, finally resulting in decreased plasma endotoxin and BT.

A doxorubicin delivery system: Samarium/mesoporous bioactive glass/alginate composite microspheres.

Samarium (Sm) incorporated mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) microspheres have been prepared using the method of alginate cross-linking with Ca(2+) ions. The in vitro bioactivities of Sm/MBG/alginate microspheres were studied by immersing in simulated body fluid (SBF) for various periods. The results indicated that the Sm/MBG/alginate microspheres have a faster apatite formation rate on the surface. To investigate their delivery properties further, doxorubicin (DOX) was selected as a model drug. The results showed that the Sm/MBG/alginate microspheres exhibit sustained DOX delivery, and their release mechanism is controlled by Fickian diffusion according the Higuchi model. In addition, the delivery of DOX from Sm/MBG/alginate microspheres can be dominated by changing the doping concentration of Sm and the values of pH microenvironment. These all revealed that this material is a promising candidate for the therapy of bone cancer.

[The clinical characteristics of 32 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) with the aim to raise awareness of AIP. METHODS: Clinical data of 32 patients with AIP were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestations, imaging features, laboratory examination, histopathology and treatment from November 2009 to April 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University. RESULTS: All 32 AIP patients including 25 males and 7 females had a median age of (62.5 ± 12.6) years (27-84 years). The initial symptoms included obstructive jaundice in 50.0% patients (16/32), abdominal pain in 43.8% (14/32), fatigue and weight loss in 12.5% (4/32), and bloody stool in 6.3% (2/32). Laboratory findings revealed abnormal liver function in 6.3% (2/32) patients, increased immunoglobulins in 71.9% (23/32) patients and elevated IgG4 in 8/10 patients. Computerized tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography were performed in all patients. Diffusely enlarged pancreas were found in 62.5% (20/32) patients and focally enlarged in 37.5% (12/32), additionally main pancreatic duct stenosis in 62.5% (20/32) patients. Nineteen patients obtained histopathological examination, indicating pancreatic interstitial fibrosis, and infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Autoimmune pancreatitis is an autoimmune disease which may be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer. The clinical features, laboratory findings, imaging characteristics, and typical histopathologic presentation, as well as good response to glucocorticoids provide supportive evidence for the diagnosis of AIP.