Establishment and validation of circulating cell-free DNA signatures for nasopharyngeal carcinoma detection.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses a significant challenge. The absence of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma contributes to the unfavourable prognosis of NPC patients. Here, we aimed to establish a non-invasive approach for detecting NPC using circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). METHODS: We investigated the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) of peripheral blood cells as a diagnostic tool for NPC. We collected data on genome-wide nucleosome footprint (NF), 5'-end motifs, fragmentation patterns, CNV information, and EBV content from 553 Chinese subjects, including 234 NPC patients and 319 healthy individuals. Through case-control analysis, we developed a diagnostic model for NPC, and validated its detection capability. FINDINGS: Our findings revealed that the frequencies of NF, fragmentation, and motifs were significantly higher in NPC patients compared to healthy controls. We developed an NPC score based on these parameters that accurately distinguished NPC from non-NPC cases according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system from non-NPC (validation set: area under curve (AUC) = 99.9% (95% CI: 99.8%-100%), se: 98.15%, sp: 100%). This model showed superior performance over plasma EBV DNA. Additionally, the NPC score effectively differentiated between NPC patients and healthy controls, even after clinical treatment. Furthermore, the NPC score was found to be independent of potential confounders such as age, sex, or TNM stage. INTERPRETATION: We have developed and verified a non-invasive approach with substantial potential for clinical application in detecting NPC. FUNDING: A full list of funding bodies that contributed to this study can be found in Funding section.

Non-Linear Association Between Climatic Parameters and Bell's Palsy Prevalence of Hospital Outpatients: An Ecological Proof in Kunshan, Suzhou, China.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between climatic parameters and the daily cases of Bell's palsy (BP) among hospital outpatients, providing ecological evidence for understanding BP etiology and prevention. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 2187 BP patients who attended Kunshan First People's Hospital Outpatient Clinic from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. Meteorological data, including temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, sunshine duration, and atmospheric pressure, were collected and combined with daily BP case records. Additionally, air quality index was used as a covariate. Results: The number of new BP cases among outpatients showed a negative correlation with average daily temperature. A nonlinear relationship between daily average temperature and BP cases was observed through the generalized additive model (GAM). A significant negative correlation was identified between daily average temperature and BP cases, with inflection points at temperatures above 4.2°C, suggesting a potential decrease in BP risk with temperature rise beyond this threshold. Conclusion: This study provides ecological evidence of a link between climatic factors and BP occurrence. Temperature demonstrated a significant nonlinear negative correlation with daily BP incidence, highlighting temperature and cold exposure as key targets for BP prevention in Kunshan.

Exploring Radiotherapy as a Promising Alternative for Managing Advanced Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Rescuing Chemotherapy-Intolerant Patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of radiotherapy for advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients intolerant to chemotherapy. METHODS: Data for 21 patients with advanced UTUC intolerant to chemotherapy were retrospectively collected. All patients were treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (50-70 Gy/20-33 f) or partial-SABR boost to the lesions (50-60 Gy/20-25 f with tumor center boosted with 6-8 Gy/f, 3-5 f) for bulky tumors. RESULTS: The median age was 75 years (range, 58-87 years). Primary tumor resection was performed for all patients and none underwent metastatic resection. Seventeen (81%) patients had oligometastasis (1-5 metastases) at diagnosis. Eighteen (85.7%) received irradiation to all tumor lesions. Lymph node metastasis was predominant in the whole group (17/21). Other lesions were distributed as local recurrence (7/21), bone metastases (2/21) and abdominal wall/muscle (2/21). The median follow-up time was 38.5 months (interquartile range, 15.2-48.7 months). Rate of local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the whole group at 1 year were 90%, 46.6%, and 80.4%, respectively. At 3 years, LC, PFS and OS were 65.6%, 26.6%, and 40.9%, respectively. Fourteen patients developed acute mild gastrointestinal toxicity, generally of grade 1-2; 8 patients developed acute grade 1-2 hematological toxicity, consisting mainly of anemia and leukopenia. No grade 3 or higher acute or late toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION: For patients with advanced UTUC who are not able to tolerate chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a safe treatment and can achieve good local tumor control.

Structural characterisation of a novel polysaccharide from pseudostellaria heterophylla fibrous root and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in vitro.

A novel water-soluble polysaccharide, named PF90-1, with a molecular weight of 1.8 kDa, was isolated and purified from the fibrous root of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. PF90-1 is composed of Gal, Glc and Man in a molar ratio of 73.61: 19.11: 7.28. Methylation analysis revealed that PF90-1 comprises of T-Galp, 1,4-Galp, 1,3,4-Galp, 1,2,3,4-Galp, T-Glcp and 1,3-Manp in a molar ratio of 37.89: 9.37: 17.01: 12.01: 15.88: 7.83. Bioactivity experiments showed that PF90-1 significantly improved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory damage in RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production and reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1ß and TNF-α). In addition, PF90-1 exhibited strong antioxidant effects, protecting PC12 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage. This findings suggest that PF90-1 holds potential therapeutic value for the treatment of inflammatory and oxidative injuries.

Immunometabolic interplay in Edwardsiella tarda-infected crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and in vitro identification of the antimicrobial activity of apolipoprotein D (ApoD) by utilization of multiomics analyses.

Edwardsiella tarda is an intracellular pathogenic bacteria that can imperil the health of farmed fish. However, the interactive networks of immune regulation and metabolic response in E. tarda-infected fish are still unclear. In this investigation, we aimed to explore immunometabolic interplay in crucian carp after E. tarda infection by utilizing multiomics analyses. Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) receiving E. tarda infection showed increased levels of tissue damage and oxidative injury in liver. Multiomics analyses suggested that carbon and amino acid metabolism may be considered as crucial metabolic pathways in liver of crucian carp following E. tarda infection, while spaglumic acid, isocitric acid and tetrahydrocortisone were the crucial liver biomarkers. After that, a potential antimicrobial peptide (AMP) sequence called apolipoprotein D (ApoD) was identified from omics study. Then, tissue-specific analysis indicated that liver CaApoD showed the highest expression among isolated tissues. After Aeromonas hydrophila stimulated, CaApoD expressions increased sharply in immune-related tissues. Moreover, CaApoD fusion protein could mediate the in vitro binding to A. hydrophila and E. tarda, attenuate bacterial growth as well as diminish bacterial biofilm forming activity. These findings may have a comprehensive implication for understanding immunometabolic response in crucian carp upon infection.

Genomic characterization of an emerging Rickettsia barbariae isolated from tick eggs in northwestern China.

The continual emergence of tick-borne rickettsioses has garnered widespread global attention. Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae (Candidatus R. barbariae), which emerged in Italy in 2008, has been detected in humans from northwestern China. However, the lack of Candidatus R. barbariae genome and isolated strains limits the understanding of its biological characteristics and genomic features. Here, we isolated the Rickettsia for the first time from eggs of Rhipicephalus turanicus in northwestern China, and assembled its whole genome after next-generation sequencing, so we modified the proposed name to Rickettsia barbariae (R. barbariae) to conform to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome revealed that it was most closely related to the pathogenic Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia africae. All virulence factors, present in the pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae, were identified in the R. barbariae isolate. These findings highlight the pathogenic potential of R. barbariae and the necessity for enhanced surveillance of the emerging Rickettsia in the human population.

New perspectives on chemokines in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: a critical pathway for natural products regulation of the tumor microenvironment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary neoplasms of the liver and one of the most common solid tumors in the world. Its global incidence is increasing and it has become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There is growing evidence that chemokines play an important role in the tumor microenvironment, regulating the migration and localization of immune cells in tissues and are critical for the function of the immune system. This review comprehensively analyses the expression and activity of chemokines in the TME of HCC and describes their interrelationship with hepatocarcinogenesis and progression. Special attention is given to the role of chemokine-chemokine receptors in the regulation of immune cell accumulation in the TME. Therapeutic strategies targeting tumor-promoting chemokines or the induction/release of beneficial chemokines are reviewed, highlighting the potential value of natural products in modulating chemokines and their receptors in the treatment of HCC. The in-depth discussion in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of HCC. It is an important reference for new drug development and clinical research.

Application of 11/13Fr suctioning ureteral access sheath and 8.55Fr single-use digital flexible ureteroscope in one-stage flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy: an initial experience of 900 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To report our initial experience of one-stage flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy(FURL) with 11/13Fr suctioning ureteral access sheath(UAS) and 8.55Fr single-use digital flexible ureteroscope(SDFU) in upper ureteral or renal calculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 900 adult patients with upper ureteral or renal calculi treated by FURL with 11/13Fr suctioning UAS and 8.55Fr SDFU from January 2022 to April 2024. Demographics, peri- and postoperative outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: In all, 40 of 940 cases(4.26%) failed to introduce UAS and required second-stage FURL because of ureterostenosis and were excluded. Mean stones size of the remaining 900 eligible cases was 1.68 ± 0.58 cm in greatest diameter. There were 228 cases of upper ureteral stone, 456 cases of renal stone and 216 cases of concomitant ureteral and renal calculi. The mean operation time was 52.20 ± 20.21 min and the postoperative hospital stay was 2.87 ± 1.37 days. The stone-free rate of 1 month postoperatively was 89.56% and only 2.44% of patients with residue underwent additional reoperation. The rate of postoperative fever, postoperative pain needing analgesic and slight ureteral mucosal injury were 5.11%, 8.22% and 7.78%, respectively. None of patient suffered from severe complications, such as sepsis or ureteral perforation. CONCLUSION: It's practical and suitable for the vast majority of adult patients to undergo FURL in single session with 11/13Fr suctioning UAS without preoperative stenting. FURL with 11/13Fr suctioning UAS and 8.55Fr SDFU is feasible, reliable, safe, and efficient in the management of renal stone and upper ureteral stone.

Rhizosphere microbial community construction during the latitudinal spread of the invader Chromolaena odorata.

The colonization of alien plants in new habitats is typically facilitated by microorganisms present in the soil environment. However, the diversity and structure of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities in the latitudinal spread of alien plants remain unclear. In this study, the rhizosphere and bulk soil of Chromolaena odorata were collected from five latitudes in Pu' er city, Yunnan Province, followed by amplicon sequencing of the soil archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities. Alpha and beta diversity results revealed that the richness indices and the structures of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities significantly differed along the latitudinal gradient. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the bacterial Shannon index, as well as in the structures of the bacterial and fungal communities between the rhizosphere and bulk soils. Due to the small spatial scale, trends of latitudinal variation in the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities were not pronounced. Total potassium, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, available potassium and total nitrogen were the important driving factors affecting the soil microbial community structure. Compared with those in bulk soil, co-occurrence networks in rhizosphere microbial networks presented lower complexity but greater modularity and positive connections. Among the main functional fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizae and soil saprotrophs were more abundant in the bulk soil. The significant differences in the soil microbes between rhizosphere and bulk soils further underscore the impact of C. odorata invasion on soil environments. The significant differences in the soil microbiota along latitudinal gradients, along with specific driving factors, demonstrate distinct nutrient preferences among archaea, bacteria, and fungi and indicate complex microbial responses to soil nutrient elements following the invasion of C. odorata.

Genomic analysis and metabolic characteristics provide insights into inorganic nitrogen metabolism of novel bacterium Acinetobacter pittii J08.

A novel A. pittii J08 with heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) isolated from pond sediments could rapidly degrade inorganic nitrogen (N) and total nitrogen (TN-N) with ammonium (NH4+-N) preference. N degradation rate of NH4+-N, nitrite (NO2--N) and nitrate (NO3--N) were 3.9 mgL-1h-1, 3.0 mgL-1h-1 and 2.7 mgL-1h-1, respectively. In addition, strain J08 could effectively utilize most of detected low-molecular-weight carbon (LMWC) sources to degrade inorganic N with a wide adaptability to various culture conditions. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed that assembled genome of stain J08 possessed the crucial genes involved in dissimilatory/assimilatory NO3--N reduction and NH4+-N assimilation. These results indicated that strain J08 could be applied to wastewater treatment in aquaculture.

Asymmetric Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Platensilin, Platensimycin, Platencin, and Their Analogs via a Bioinspired Skeletal Reconstruction Approach.

Platensilin, platensimycin, and platencin are potent inhibitors of ß-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase (FabF) in the bacterial and mammalian fatty acid synthesis system, presenting promising drug leads for both antibacterial and antidiabetic therapies. Herein, a bioinspired skeleton reconstruction approach is reported, which enables the unified synthesis of these three natural FabF inhibitors and their skeletally diverse analogs, all stemming from a common ent-pimarane core. The synthesis features a diastereoselective biocatalytic reduction and an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction to prepare the common ent-pimarane core. From this intermediate, stereoselective Mn-catalyzed hydrogen atom-transfer hydrogenation and subsequent Cu-catalyzed carbenoid C-H insertion afford platensilin. Furthermore, the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction succeeded by regioselective ring opening of the newly formed cyclopropane enables the construction of the bicyclo[3.2.1]-octane and bicyclo[2.2.2]-octane ring systems of platensimycin and platencin, respectively. This skeletal reconstruction approach of the ent-pimarane core facilitates the preparation of analogs bearing different polycyclic scaffolds. Among these analogs, the previously unexplored cyclopropyl analog 47 exhibits improved antibacterial activity (MIC80 = 0.0625 µg/mL) against S. aureus compared to platensimycin.

Stomach as the target organ of Rickettsia heilongjiangensis infection in C57BL/6 mice identified by click chemistry.

Spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause spotted fever. The limitations of gene manipulation pose great challenges to studying the infection mechanisms of Rickettsia. By combining bioorthogonal metabolism and click chemistry, we developed a method to label R. heilongjiangensis via azide moieties and achieved rapid pathogen localization without complex procedures. Moreover, we constructed a C57BL/6 mice infection model by simulating tick bites and discovered that the stomach is the target organ of R. heilongjiangensis infection through in vivo imaging systems, which explained the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms following R. heilongjiangensis infection in some cases. This study offers a unique perspective for subsequent investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of SFGR and identifies a potential target organ for R. heilongjiangensis.

Multiomics Analyses Explore the Immunometabolic Interplay in the Liver of White Crucian Carp (Carassius cuvieri) After Aeromonas veronii Challenge.

Aeromonas veronii is one of the predominant pathogenic species that can imperil the survival of farmed fish. However, the interactive networks of immune regulation and metabolic response in A. veronii-infected fish are still unclear. In this investigation, we aimed to explore immunometabolic interplay in white crucian carp (WCC) after the A. veronii challenge. Elevated levels of immune-related genes were observed in various tissues after A. veronii infection, along with the sharp alteration of disease-related enzymatic activities. Besides, decreased levels of antioxidant status were observed in the liver, but most metabolic gene expressions increased dramatically. Multiomics analyses revealed that metabolic products of amino acids, such as formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU), L-glutamate (L-Glu), and 4-hydroxyhippuric acid, were considered the crucial liver biomarkers in A. veronii-infected WCC. In addition, A. veronii infection may dysregulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function to affect the metabolic process of lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids in the liver of WCC. These results may have a comprehensive implication for understanding immunometabolic response in WCC upon A. veronii infection.

Petrocodonliboensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China.

Petrocodonliboensis Sheng H.Tang & Jia W.Yang is a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guizhou, southwestern China. The new taxon has a pale-yellow corolla and is most similar to P.luteoflorus. However, it differs from the latter by having a urceolate (vs. cannulate) corolla tube, an abaxial corolla lip 0.8-1.1 mm (vs. 2-2.2 mm) long, and filaments 1.5-1.7 mm (vs. ca. 7 mm) long that are straight (vs. S-shaped or geniculate near the middle). The new taxon is assessed as "Data Deficient" (DD) according to the IUCN standards.

Variant-specific antibody response following repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection.

The ongoing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses challenges to the immunity induced by infections and vaccination. We conduct a 6-month longitudinal evaluation of antibody binding and neutralization of sera from individuals with six different combinations of vaccination and infection against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86. We find that most individuals produce spike-binding IgG or neutralizing antibodies against BA.5, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 2 months after infection or vaccination. However, compared to ancestral strain and BA.5 variant, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 exhibit comparable but significant immune evasion. The spike-binding IgG and neutralizing antibody titers decrease in individuals without additional antigen exposure, and <50% of individuals neutralize XBB.1.5, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86 during the 6-month follow-up. Approximately 57% of the 107 followed up individuals experienced an additional infection, leading to improved binding IgG and neutralizing antibody levels against these variants. These findings provide insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on immunity following repeated exposure.

A Statovirus-like virus from respiratory tracts of patients, China.

The emerging evidence of human infections with emerging viruses suggests their potential public health importance. A novel taxon of viruses named Statoviruses (for stool-associated Tombus-like viruses) was recently identified in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple mammals. Here we report the discovery of respiratory Statovirus-like viruses (provisionally named Restviruses) from the respiratory tracts of five patients experiencing acute respiratory disease with Human coronavirus OC43 infection through the retrospective analysis of meta-transcriptomic data. Restviruses shared 53.1%-98.8% identities of genomic sequences with each other and 39.9%-44.3% identities with Statoviruses. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Restviruses together with a Stato-like virus from nasal-throat swabs of Vietnamese patients with acute respiratory disease, formed a well-supported clade distinct from the taxon of Statoviruses. However, the consistent genome characteristics of Restviruses and Statoviruses suggested that they might share similar evolutionary trajectories. These findings warrant further studies to elucidate the etiological and epidemiological significance of the emerging Restviruses.

Efficacy of Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe on essential hypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a prevalent disease, is a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe (HQQR), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, has been used for treating hypertension over several years. OBJECTIVE: This study assesses HQQR's efficacy for controlling blood pressure among patients with hypertension related to blood stasis, yang hyperactivity and phlegm. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, from July 2020 to June 2022. Major components of HQQR were identified using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Participants aged 18-80 years, exhibiting traditional Chinese medicine syndromes of blood stasis, yang hyperactivity or phlegm, along with grades 1 or 2 hypertension, were randomly categorized into two groups. The intervention group was given HQQR granules alongside conventional hypertension treatment, while the control group was given placebo granules in addition to conventional treatment for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was clinic blood pressure, whereas secondary outcomes included metabolic indices (e.g., homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride), target organ damage indices (left ventricular mass index and urinary albumin creatinine ratio [UACR]) and inflammation indices (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]). RESULTS: HQQR's primary components were identified as salvianolic acid B, emodin and ferulic acid. Of the 216 participants (108 in each group), compared to the control, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements (P < 0.001) in clinic systolic blood pressure ([136.24 ± 7.63] vs [130.06 ± 8.50] mmHg), clinic diastolic blood pressure ([84.34 ± 8.72] vs [80.46 ± 6.05] mmHg), home systolic blood pressure ([131.64 ± 8.74] vs [122.36 ± 8.45] mmHg) and home diastolic blood pressure ([78.47 ± 9.53] vs [71.79 ± 6.82] mmHg). HQQR demonstrated a reduction in ambulatory blood pressure (24-hour systolic blood pressure: [133.75 ± 10.49] vs [132.46 ± 8.84] mmHg and 24-hour diastolic blood pressure: [84.12 ± 8.01] vs [82.11 ± 7.45] mmHg) and an improvement in HOMA-IR ([4.09 ± 1.72] vs [3.98 ± 1.44]), TC ([4.66 ± 1.47] vs [3.75 ± 1.81] mmol/L) and UACR (75.94 [5.12, 401.12] vs 45.61 [4.26, 234.26]). Moreover, HQQR demonstrated a decrease in hs-CRP (1.46 [0.10, 10.53] vs 0.57 [0.12, 3.99] mg/L) and IL-6 (6.69 [2.00, 29.74] vs 5.27 [2.00, 9.73] pg/mL), with no reported side effects (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the therapeutic potential of HQQR use in ameliorating blood pressure, glycolipid metabolism, and inflammation in patients with hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000035092 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/). Please cite this article as: Xie J, Ma YL, Gui MT, Yao L, Li JH, Wang MZ, Zhou XJ, Wang YF, Zhao MY, Cao H, Lu B, Fu DY. Efficacy of Huoxue Qianyang Qutan Recipe on essential hypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Integr Med 2024; 22(4): 485-493.

Bioaccessibility and human health risks of arsenic from geological origin in lateritic red soil on construction land.

Current human health risk assessments of soil arsenic (As) contamination rarely consider bioaccessibility (IVBA), which may overestimate the health risks of soil As. The IVBA of As (As-IVBA) may differ among various soil types. This investigation of As-IVBA focused As from geological origin in a typical subtropical soil, lateritic red soil, and its risk control values. The study used the SBRC gastric phase in vitro digestion method and As speciation sequential extraction based upon phosphorus speciation extraction method. Two construction land sites (CH and HD sites) in the Pearl River Delta region were surveyed. The results revealed a high content of residual As (including scorodite, mansfieldite, orpiment, realgar, and aluminum arsenite) in the lateritic red soils at both sites (CH: 84.9%, HD: 91.7%). The content of adsorbed aluminum arsenate (CH: 3.24%, HD: 0.228%), adsorbed ferrum arsenate (CH: 8.55%, HD: 5.01%), and calcium arsenate (CH: 7.33%, HD: 3.01%) were found to be low. The bioaccessible As content was significantly positively correlated with the As content in adsorbed aluminum arsenate, adsorbed ferrum arsenate, and calcium arsenate. A small portion of these sequential extractable As speciation could be absorbed by the human body (CH: 14.9%, HD: 3.16%), posing a certain health risk. Adsorbed aluminum arsenate had the highest IVBA, followed by calcium arsenate, and adsorbed ferrum arsenate had the lowest IVBA. The aforementioned speciation characteristics of As from geological origin in lateritic red soil contributed to its lower IVBA compared to other soils. The oxidation state of As did not significantly affect As-IVBA. Based on As-IVBA, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of soil As in the CH and HD sites decreased greatly in human health risk assessment. The results suggest that As-IVBA in lateritic red soil should be considered when assessing human health risks on construction land.

National trends in nine key minerals intake (quantity and source) among U.S. adults, 1999 to march 2020.

BACKGROUND: Changes in economy and dietary guidelines brought a great shock to diet quality and meal behaviors, but if these transformations have extended to minerals intake and their sources was still poorly understood. It is essential to evaluate time trends in minerals intake and their sources to inform policy makers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in minerals intake and their sources among U.S. adults. METHODS: This analysis used dietary data collected by 24-h recalls from U.S. adults (≥ 20 years) in NHANES (1999-March 2020). Minerals intake, age-adjusted percentage of participants meeting recommendations, and minerals sources were calculated among all participants and by population subgroups in each NHANES survey cycle. Weighted linear or logistic regression models were used to examine the statistical significance of time trends. RESULTS: A total of 48223 U.S. adults were included in this analysis. From 1999 to March 2020, intake of calcium (from 0.94 to 1.02 g/day), magnesium (from 308.07 to 321.85 mg/day), phosphorus (from 1.24 to 1.30 g/day), and sodium (from 3.24 to 3.26 mg/day) from food and beverages (FB) and dietary supplements (DSs) significantly increased, and intake of iron (from 19.17 to 16.38 mg/day), zinc (from 16.45 to 14.19 mg/day), copper (from 1.79 to 1.38 mg/day), and potassium (from 2.65 to 2.50 g/day) from FB + DSs decreased (all FDR < 0.05). Additionally, age-adjusted percentage of participants meeting recommendations for calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and selenium significantly increased, that for iron, potassium, zinc, and copper decreased (all FDR < 0.05). Minerals intake and time trends in minerals intake were highly variable depending on age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and income. For example, white, higher socioeconomic status participants had a higher minerals intake (e.g. iron, zinc, and copper), but had a greater decrease in minerals intake. Furthermore, the percentage of minerals from milks and DSs decreased, and that from beverages increased. CONCLUSION: From 1999 to March 2020, both minerals intake and their sources experienced a significant alteration among U.S. adults. Many differences in minerals intake and their food sources across sociodemographic characteristics appeared to narrow over time. Although some improvements were observed, important challenges, such as overconsumption of sodium and underconsumption of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, still remained among U.S. adults.