[Investigation and analysis of airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City].

Objective: To investigate the species, concentration and seasonal trends of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. Methods: The Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted a cross-sectional study about monitoring the airborne allergenic pollen from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 by the gravitational method in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City, which include Yuquan District, Xincheng District, Huimin District, Saihan District, Tuoketuo County, Helingeer County, Tumotezuoqi County, Wuchuan County and Qingshuihe County. Daily pollens were counted and identified by optical microscopy, and the data were analyzed. Results: The airborne allergenic pollen was collected every month all year round in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot city. Through the whole year of the total quantity of pollens ranged from 24 850 to 50 154 grains per 1 000 mm2 and two peaks of pollen concentration in air were observed,which happened in spring (from March to May) and in summer and autumn (from July to September). In spring, the main pollens were tree pollens, which principally distributed in Populus pollen (18.29%), Ulmus pollen (8.36%), Pinus pollen (6.20%), Cupressaceae pollen (5.23%), Betulaceae pollen (2.73%), Salix pollen (1.80%) and Quercus pollen (1.16%). In summer and autumn, the main pollens were weed pollens, which mainly included Artemisia pollen (42.73%), Chenopodiaceae pollen or Amaranthaceae pollen (7.46%), Poaceae pollen (2.26%), Humulus pollen or Cannabis pollen (0.60%). Conclusion: There were two peaks of main airborne allergenic pollen in 4 districts and 5 counties of Hohhot City. In the spring peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were tree pollens. In the summer and autumn peak of pollen, the main airborne pollens were weed pollens. The Artemisia pollen was the most major airborne pollen in this area.

[The relationship between triglyceride glucose index and risk of cardiovascular disease among Kazakh and Uygur population in Xinjiang: a retrospective cohort analysis].

Objective: To analyze whether triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the value of TyG index in predicting CVD risk among Kazakh and Uighur population of Xinjiang. Methods: In this study, 5 375 Kazakh and Uygur people of Xinyuan county and Jiashi county were selected as the research objects. Subjects were divided into four groups based on the quartile of the TyG index level. Cox regression model was used to analyze the association between TyG index with the risk of CVD. The dose-response relationship between TyG index and CVD risk was described by restricted cubic splines. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to estimate the value of TyG index for predicting CVD. Mediating effect analysis was conducted to analyze the mediating effect of TyG index in the association between body mass index and CVD. Results: The age of subjects was 41.06（30.11，53.00）years old, with 46.30%（2 489/5 375）was male. After multivariate adjustment, there was an increasing trend between the risk of CVD and the higher TyG index Ptrend<0.001, compared with subjects of TyG index in Q1, the HR (95%CI) of Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups was 1.53, 1.23 and 1.73, respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed that TyG index was the linearly associated with the risk of CVD. TyG index could improve the prediction ability of Framingham model for the risk of CVD (NRI=0.106,P=0.010; IDI=0.003,P=0.030). The mediating effect analysis showed that in the relationship between body mass index and CVD, the TyG index had a mediating effect (P<0.001), and the ratio of mediating effect was 12.69%. Conclusion: TyG index is an independent predictor of CVD risk among kazakh and Uygur population in Xinjiang and has a good predictive value for the risk of CVD.

Association of APOA1 gene polymorphisms (rs670, rs5069, and rs2070665) with dyslipidemia in the Kazakhs of Xinjiang.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) gene rs670, rs5069, and rs2070665 polymorphisms and dyslipidemia in the Kazakh population of Xinjiang, China. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to identify APOA1 (rs670, rs5069, and rs2070665) genotypes in 736 subjects (341 dyslipidemia patients and 395 control subjects). The frequencies of the CC genotype for rs1421085 were found to be 7.2% (obese group), 4.4% (overweight group), and 5.6% (control group). Polymorphisms of the three loci of the APOA1 gene in Kazakh subjects met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of the A allele for rs670 were found to be 14.3% (dyslipidemia group) and 12.7% (control group). The frequencies of the T allele for rs5069 and rs2070665 were: dyslipidmia group (7.2 and 30.1%, respectively) and control group (7.7 and 32.5%, respectively). Frequency distributions of the 3 types of genotypes and alleles of the three loci showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Significant differences were observed in lipoprotein (α) [Lp(α)] between patients with the rs2070665 CT + TT and CC genotypes (P < 0.05); however, none of the other relevant indicators differed significantly between the two genotypes. No significant association was identified between rs670 or rs5069 and the lipid-related metabolic indices assessed in the study. These findings indicate that the polymorphisms in the APOA1 gene (rs670, rs5069, and rs2070665) are not associated with dyslipidemia in the Kazakh population assessed in this study.

[Epidemiological characteristics of dyslipidemia in remote rural areas of Xinjiang, 2009-2010].

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, high blood low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and low blood high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in remote rural areas of Xinjiang and analyze these indicators' epidemiological characteristics. Methods: A survey of 13 000 individuals (aged ≥18 years) was conducted using a four-stage cluster random sampling method in Jiashi, Xinyuan, Aheqi, and Shawan Counties, Xinjiang, in 2009-2010. After nonpermanent residents were excluded, 12 154 individuals were included in this study. Questionnaire and physical examinations were conducted, including collection of fasting blood to detect TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C. The results were calculated after complex weighting and compared according to the prevalence of different gender and age groups. Results: The overall levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were 1.34±1.09, 4.45±1.16, 2.36±0.86, and 1.37±0.58 mmol/L, respectively. After complex weighting, the overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 35.4%; that among men (42.9%) was greater than that among women (29.5%; χ2=234.19, P<0.001), and the prevalence was 35.9%, 34.5%, and 35.1% (χ2=1.52, P=0.467) in participants aged 18-44, 45-59, and ≥60 years, respectively. The overall prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 11.4%; that among men (13.5%) was greater than that among women (9.8%; χ2= 40.72, P<0.001), and the prevalence was 9.6%, 13.0%, and 13.2% (χ2=38.71, P<0.001) in participants aged 18-44, 45-59, and ≥60 years, respectively. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 5.7%; that among men(5.0%) was greater than that among women (6.2%; χ2=6.95, P=0.008), and the prevalence was 3.5%, 7.4%, and 8.4% (χ2=105.24, P<0.001) in participants aged 18-4, 45-59, and ≥60 years, respectively. The prevalence of high blood LDL-C was 2.8%, and there was no significant difference between men (3.0%) and women (2.4%; χ2=1.43, P=0.231); the prevalence was 3.5%, 7.4%, and 8.4% (χ2=42.81, P<0.001) in participants aged 18-44, 45-59, and ≥60 years, respectively. The prevalence of low blood HDL-C was 24.0%; that among men (31.6%) was greater than that among women (18.0%; χ2=304.02, P<0.001), and the prevalence was 27.8%, 20.6% and 19.5% (χ2=96.61, P<0.001) in participants aged 18-44, 45-59, and ≥ 60 years, respectively. Conclusions: Low blood HDL-C was the main type of dyslipidemia among the population in remote rural areas of Xinjiang. The prevalence of dyslipidemia among men was greater than that among women, and there was a trend of younger men than women showing dyslipidemia.

[Association between CETP polymorphisms and haplotypes with dyslipidemia in Xinjiang Uygur and Kazak residents].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the polymorphisms and haplotypes in the CETP gene and dyslipidemia among Xinjiang Kazak and Uygur residents. METHODS: A population status survey was performed from 2010 to 2011 in Kashgar Xinjiang Uygur and Kazak residents, stratified cluster sampling method was used to select Uygur, Kazak residents with abnormal blood lipid values (n=367 and 345, respectively) as the dyslipidemia groups, and to select residents with normal lipid values as control group from the same area (n=374 and 390, respectively). SNaPshot technology was applied to detect the DNA of CETP gene rs3764261, rs1800775, rs708272 and rs5882 loci in all selected residents, and linkage disequilibrium analysis and haplotype construction were performed. RESULTS: (1) In Uygur residents, the dyslipidemia risk of rs708272 CT (OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.46-0.91, P=0.01) and TT genotype (OR=0.60, 95%CI 0.40-0.91, P=0.02) was significantly lower than CC genotype. Dyslipidemia risk of rs3764261 GT (OR=0.55, 95%CI 0.40-0.74, P=0.00) and TT genotype (OR=0.47, 95%CI 0.28-0.78, P<0.01) was significantly lower than GG genetype. Dyslipidemia risk of the rs1800775 CC genotype was higher than AA genotype (OR=1.79, 95%CI 1.17-2.74, P=0.01). There was no statistical significance in CETP gene of the 4 genotype and allele frequency between the dyslipidemia and normal lipid groups in Kazak residents (all P>0.05). (2) In Uighur residents with dyslipidemia, HDL-C level was significantly higher in rs708272 TT genotype carriers than in CC and CT genotypes (all P<0.05) and in rs3764261 TT genotype carriers than in GG genotype carriers (P=0.008), while was significantly lower in rs1800775 CC genotype carriers with AA genotype carriers (P=0.008). (3) Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that there was strong linkage disequilibrium between rs3764261 and rs708272 (D'=0.869, r(2)=0.869), rs1800775 and rs708272 (D'=0.845, r(2)=0.446) in Uighur residents, and there was strong linkage disequilibrium between rs3764261 and rs708272 (D'=0.963, r(2)=0.963), rs1800775 and rs708272 (D'=0.988, r(2)=0.630) in Kazak residents. (4) Significant differences were observed in frequency distribution of haplotype GACA(OR=0.579, 95%CI 0.388-0.864, P=0.006), GATA (OR=2.183, 95%CI 1.231-3.873, P=0.006), GCCA (OR=0.723, 95%CI 0.549-0.954, P=0.001), TATA (OR=0.723, 95%CI 0.549-0.954, P=0.021) and TATG (OR=0.601, 95%CI 0.429-0.841, P=0.002) in Uighur residents with normal or abnormal lipid profiles, while significant difference was observed in frequency distribution of haplotype GCCG (OR=1.961, 95%CI 1.207-3.188, P=0.005) in Kazak residents with normal or abnormal lipid profiles. CONCLUSION: CETP genotype rs708272, rs3764261 and rs1800775 polymorphism is closely related to dyslipidemia and haplotype GACA, TATA and TATG will reduce the risk of dyslipidemia, while haplotype GATA, GCCA will increase the risk of dyslipidemia in Uygur residents. The four CETP polymorphisms are not related to the risk of dyslipidemia, but haplotype GCCG is related to increased risk of dyslipidemia in Kazakhs residents.

Hypolipidemic effect of safflower yellow and primary mechanism analysis.

We examined the hypolipidemic effect of safflower yellow (SY) on hyperlipidemic mice and its influence on the biological synthesis of cholesterol in cells. Over 4 weeks, the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum were detected using a kit; mouse liver samples were acquired for paraffin sections, and mouse liver cells were observed under light microscope. Chinese hamster ovary cells were cultured in vitro, and an amphotericin B-cell model was adopted to observe the inhibitory effect of SY on the biological synthesis of intracellular cholesterol. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the survival rate of Chinese hamster ovary cells. The middle and high doses of SY significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum of hyperlipidemic mice and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (P < 0.05), and the fatty liver of hyperlipidemic mice was significantly alleviated. SY had a protective effect on Chinese hamster ovary cells following amphotericin B injury (P < 0.01). SY exerts significant hypolipidemic effects and prevents fatty liver in a mechanism associated with inhibition of the biosynthesis of intracellular cholesterol.

Efficacy of Artemisia annua polysaccharides as an adjuvant to hepatitis C vaccination.

The traditional Chinese medicine Artemisia annua can prevent and treat hepatitis following an unclear mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of A. annua polysaccharides (AAP) on hepatitis C virus (HCV). A pcDNA3.1/NS3 expression vector was constructed. Ninety female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: high-dose AAP (1 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; middle-dose AAP (0.5 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; low-dose AAP (0.1 mg/mL) + HCV/NS3 plasmid; HCV/NS3 plasmid; high-dose AAP (1 mg/mL); normal saline control (N = 15). Except the control group and the high-dose AAP group, other groups were inoculated with 50 µg pcDNA3.1-HCV/NS3 plasmid. Serum antigenic-specific antibody was detected after the last immunization, and the levels of secreted IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured. pcDNA3.1/NS3 plasmid was successfully constructed, and the extracted product contained HCV/NS3 sequence. Compared with single inoculation with HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine, the specific antibody levels induced by middle-dose AAP plus HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine were significantly different in weeks 1, 3 and 5 (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the antibody levels induced by high-dose and low-dose AAP as adjuvant compared with those of single inoculation with DNA vaccine (P > 0.05). The level of serum IFN-γ secretion was significantly higher than that of IL-4 secretion. Compared with the single HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine group, AAP plus HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine groups had significant increased IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), but the IL-4 levels were not significantly different among these groups (P > 0.05). AAP, as the adjuvant of HCV/NS3 DNA vaccine, can widely regulate the humoral immunity and cellular immune function of normal and cyclophosphamide-induced immunocompromised mice. AAP can promote IFN-γ secretion probably by inducing Th1-type cellular immune response.

Correlation between the decrease of cholesterol efflux from macrophages in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and down-regulated CYP7A1 expression.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes of cellular cholesterol efflux from macrophages in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and to determine the expression of CYP7A1, ABCG5, and LXRß therein. We recruited 30 patients with type II DM (including 15 patients complicated with coronary heart disease and 15 patients with DM only) and 15 normal controls for this study. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated for macrophage culture. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP7A1, ABCG5, and LXRß were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The macrophage cholesterol efflux rate was determined with 10% autoserum and standard serum as receptors. We determined that the expression levels of macrophage CYP7A1 mRNA and protein in the type II DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group, but no differences were found in the ABCG5 and LXRß expression levels between the groups. The macrophage cholesterol efflux rate in the patients with type II DM was also significantly decreased compared with that of the normal control subjects (P < 0.01). Furthermore, CYP7A1 mRNA expression and macrophage cholesterol efflux rate were significantly positively correlated. In summary, this study demonstrated that the macrophage cholesterol efflux in patients with type II DM was significantly reduced, and that this reduction was associated with the down-regulation of CYP7A1 expression.

Polymorphisms in the PPARγ gene and their association with metabolic syndrome in Uyghurs and Kazakhs from Xinjiang, China.

We investigated the association between polymorphisms rs1801282 and rs3856806 of the PPARγ gene and metabolic syndrome (MS) among Uyghurs and Kazakhs. Mass spectrometry techniques were used to detect the PPARγ genotypes rs1801282 and rs3856806 in 987 subjects, CC genotype and C allele frequencies were 83.6 and 91.7%, respectively, at rs1801282 in Kazakhs, which were higher than those in Uyghurs (72.3 and 85.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). CC genotype and C allele frequencies were 73.6 and 85.3%, respectively, at the rs3856806 loci in Kazakhs, which were higher than those in Uyghurs (60.7 and 77.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). For the rs3856806 polymorphism in Kazakhs, CT/TT genotype and T allele frequencies were 21.2 and 12.4% for MS subjects, which were lower than those for the control group (31.6 and 17.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). Risk analysis of Kazakhs revealed that individuals with the CT and TT genotypes at rs3856806 had an increased risk, 0.524- and 0.770-fold, respectively, of developing MS than those possessing the CC genotype. Individuals with the T allele also had an increase in risk, by 0.699-fold, of developing MS than those with the C allele. For Uyghurs, those with the CC genotype at rs1801282 had higher systolic blood pressure than those with the CG/GG genotype. Among Kazakhs, those with the CC genotype at rs3856806 had higher triglyceride and waist-hip ratio levels but lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than those with the CT/TT genotype. The rs1801282 and rs3856806 PPARγ polymorphisms differ between Uyghurs and Kazakhs from Xinjiang Province, China.

Association between polymorphisms of fat mass and obesity-associated gene and metabolic syndrome in Kazakh adults of Xinjiang, China.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between three FTO polymorphisms (rs9939609, rs8057044, and rs1421085) and metabolic syndrome (MS)-related outcomes in the low-income, rural, nomadic minority Khazakh population in far western China. A total of 489 subjects (245 MS patients, 244 controls) were included in the study and DNA samples were genotyped for the three polymorphisms by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The frequencies of the rs1421085 and rs9939609 genotypes and alleles did not differ significantly between MS patients and control, while the frequencies of rs8057044 G alleles and GG genotypes were higher in MS patients (P < 0.05) than in control subjects (G: 61.16 vs 53.53%, GG: 39.07 vs 29.05%) and the frequencies of rs8057044 A genotypes and alleles were lower (P < 0.05) in MS patients compared with controls (AA: 17.36 vs 21.99%, A: 38.84 vs 46.47%). Risk analysis of the rs8057044 polymorphism revealed individuals with GA and GG genotypes to have 1.112 and 1.731 times higher risks of developing MS than those with the AA genotype, respectively, while the G allele was found to be associated with a 1.367 times higher risk of developing MS compared with the A allele. These apparent correlations, however, did not hold true when adjusted for BMI. Weight, WC, HC, and BMI differed significantly between rs8057044 GG and AA+GA genotypes (P < 0.05).

Epidemiological analysis of dyslipidemia in adults of three ethnicities in Xinjiang, China.

This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of dyslipidemia in adults of Uygur, Kazak, and Han ethnicity in Xinjiang, China. A questionnaire including general data, physical examination (blood pressure, body height, and body weight) and blood lipid [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] was administered to 11,506 adults in Xinjiang, China from 2009 to 2010 using a stratified sampling method. The overall prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults were 42.4, 31.6, and 30.2%, respectively; they were 42.4, 31.8, and 28.2% after age standardization (P < 0.01). After standardization, the overall prevalence rates in Uygur, Kazak, and Han men were 52.6, 35.4, and 33.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in women of the corresponding ethnicities (P < 0.01). In Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults, there were significant differences with respect to the standardized prevalence rates of high TG (9.3, 9.3, and 17.3%), high TC (5.2, 6.9, and 6%), low HDL-C (33.6, 20.8, and 11.1%), and high LDL-C (2.4, 2.9, and 2%) (P < 0.05). The prevalence rates of dyslipidemia in Uygur, Kazak, and Han adults in Xinjiang are higher than the average levels in China, with significant differences in ethnicity, age, and gender. Han adults exhibited the highest prevalence rate of high TG. Meanwhile, Uygur adults had the highest prevalence rate of low HDL-C. Kazak adults had high prevalence rates of high TC, low HDL-C, and high LDL-C.

Analysis of the haplotype and linkage disequilibrium of PPARγ gene polymorphisms rs3856806, rs12490265, rs1797912, and rs1175543 among patients with metabolic syndrome in Kazakh of Xinjiang Province.

We investigated the relationship between haplotype and linkage disequilibrium of the PPARγ gene polymorphisms rs3856806, rs12490265, rs1797912, and rs1175543 and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the Kazakh people of Xinjiang Province. For PPARγ, rs3856806, rs12490265, rs1797912, and rs1175543 genotypes were detected in 489 subjects (including 245 MS patients and 244 controls) using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Frequencies of rs3856806T, rs12490265A, rs1797912C, and rs1175543G alleles in MS patients were significantly lower than those of controls [rs3856806T allele: 12.53 vs 17.01% (P = 0.044), rs12490265A allele: 31.84 vs 38.52% (P = 0.029), rs1797912C allele: 35.31 vs 43.24% (P = 0.011), rs1175543G allele: 40.61 vs 47.54% (P = 0.029)]. Significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between the PPARγ rs1797912 and rs1175543 polymorphisms as well as between the rs12490265 and rs1175543 polymorphisms. A total of 14 haplotypes were found. Patients with rs3856806T, rs12490265A, rs1797912C, and rs1175543G were observed 0.267 times more frequently [95% confidence interval = 0.126-0.566] than those with rs3856806C, rs12490265G, rs1797912A, and rs1175543A, respectively. The PPARγ gene polymorphisms rs3856806, rs12490265, rs1797912, and rs1175543 were associated with MS in Kazakh subjects. Very strong linkage disequilibrium was found between the PPARγ rs1797912 and rs1175543 polymorphisms as well as between the rs12490265 and rs1175543 polymorphisms. AGCC and GAAT haplotypes may serve as protective factors against MS. The rs3856806T, rs12490265A, rs1797912C, and rs1175543G alleles may enhance the protective effect of MS.

[Prospective cohort study of the association of cardiovascular disease with triglyceride glucose index and triglyceride glucose-related indicators].

Objective: To investigate the association of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with triglyceride glucose index (TyG) and TyG-related indicators in Uyghur populations of The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Methods: Based on the cohort of the Uygur population of The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, 11 833 study subjects were included. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of CVD in each quartile of TyG and TyG-related indicators. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between TyG and CVD, TyG-related indicators and CVD. Framingham CVD risk score model (Framingham model) was used to evaluate whether the addition of TyG and TyG-related indicators could improve the predictive ability of the model. The potential mediating role of the TyG in the association between obesity and CVD was examined through mediation effect analysis. Results: The average age of the subjects was (37.00±13.67) years-old, and 51.0% were male. The median follow-up time was 5.67 years, with 1 288 CVD events. The cumulative incidence of CVD increased with the increase of TyG and TyG-related indicators quartiles, and compared with the Q1 group, the risk of CVD in the Q4 group of TyG, TyG-BMI, and TyG-WHtR increased by 20% (HR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.01-1.42), 77% (HR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.46-2.16) and 68% (HR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.36-2.09), respectively. After adding TyG, TyG-BMI, and TyG-WHtR to the Framingham model, respectively, the model's area under the curve, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement were improved. In the association between BMI, WHtR, and CVD, the proportion of mediating effects mediated by the TyG index was 10.55% and 11.50%. Conclusions: Elevated levels of TyG and TyG-related indicators were strongly associated with the risk of CVD in the Uyghur population of The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, with TyG-BMI being the most closely correlated with CVD. Early monitoring of TyG-BMI helps identify high-risk groups of CVD.

Molecular analysis of autochthonous microbiota along the digestive tract of juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides following probiotic Bacillus pumilus administration.

AIMS: To evaluate the diversity of dominant autochthonous microbiota along the digestive tract of juvenile Epinephelus coioides following the dietary administration of probiotic Bacillus pumilus for 60 days. METHODS AND RESULTS: Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) with subsequently sequencing analysis was used to assess the gut microbiota. Generally similar DGGE patterns were observed in the foregut, midgut and hindgut of E. coioides, while the similarity dendrogram clearly revealed three different clusters depending on the three compartments of the GI tract. Dietary administration of B. pumilus stimulated its colonization in each compartment of the digestive tract. Samples collected from the probiotic group and the control group showed similar DGGE patterns, and no significant difference in the total number of bands and the Shannon index were detected between the probiotic group and the control group, suggested that B. pumilus exert no significant effect on the gut microbiota. However, various potentially beneficial bacteria, such as uncultured Bacillus sp. clone QJNY94-like, Nitratireductor sp. YCSC5-like, Methylobacterium hispanicum-like and Microbacterium sp. YACS1-like bacteria were stimulated by probiotic B. pumilus, while the potential harmful Staphylococcus saprophyticus-like bacterium was depressed. CONCLUSIONS: Autochthonous gut microbiota of E. coioides was modulated to some degree, not significant, by probiotic B. pumilus, various potentially beneficial bacteria were selectively stimulated, while one potential harmful species was depressed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work represents the first report that dietary administration of probiotic B. pumilus modulated the gut microbiota of E. coioides. These findings broaden our understanding of probiotic effects at the gut level, which is helpful in understanding the mechanisms that underpin host benefits.

LncRNA SNHG1 promotes liver cancer development through inhibiting p53 expression via binding to DNMT1.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG1 could regulate proliferative and invasive abilities of liver cancer (LC) cells via p53 and DNMT1, so as to regulate the occurrence and progression of LC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: SNHG1 expression in LC tissues and paracancerous tissues was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlation between SNHG1 expression and tumor stage of LC patients was analyzed. The regulatory effects of SNHG1 and p53 on proliferative, invasive capacities and cell cycle were accessed by CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8), transwell assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The binding condition between SNHG1 and DNMT1 was determined by RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Western blot was conducted to determine whether SNHG1 could regulate p53 in LC cells. Finally, rescue experiments were carried out to evaluate whether SNHG1 regulates proliferative and invasive abilities of LC cells through p53. RESULTS: SNHG1 expression was higher in LC tissues than that of paracancerous tissues. LC patients with stage III-IV presented higher expression level of SNHG1 than those with stage I-II. Similarly, SNHG1 was highly expressed in LC cells than that of normal liver cells. LC cell lines SMMC-7721 and SK-HEP-1 were selected for this study. SNHG1 knockdown inhibited the proliferative and invasive abilities, and arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase of SMMC-7721 and SK-HEP-1 cells. RIP and ChIP results demonstrated that SNHG1 could bind to DNMT1 and inhibit p53 expression. Overexpression of p53 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of SNHG1 on proliferative and invasive abilities of LC cells. CONCLUSIONS: High expression of SNHG1 could promote proliferative and invasive abilities of LC cells through targeting inhibition of p53 expression by binding to DNMT1.

Lutein alleviates arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice via Nrf2 signaling.

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms involved in the action of lutein (LU) alleviating arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity using mice model. Forty male Kunming mice were received following treatments by gavage: normal saline solution (control), arsenic trioxide (ATO; 5 mg/kg/day), LU (40 mg/kg/day), and ATO + LU (5 mg/kg/day + 40 mg/kg/day). At the end, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation and weighed. Pathological examination was done on the testis. The biomedical parameters including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidative capability, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and reproductive indexes were analyzed. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) in testis were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We found that there was a decrease in sperm count; testis somatic index; the activities of SOD, GSH, total antioxidative capacity (p < 0.01, respectively) in ATO-treated mice, while there was an increase in the levels of sperm abnormalities, MDA, and 8-OHdG than control (p < 0.01, respectively). The groups treated with ATO + LU showed recovery of the measured parameters between those of ATO or saline-treated group. The antagonized interaction between ATO and LU was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Mice treated with ATO + LU also showed greater mRNA expression of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GST than ATO or saline-treated groups. These findings suggest that LU alleviates reproductive toxicity induced by arsenic in male mice via Nrf2 signaling, which implicates a possible mechanism of LU in preventing the reproductive injury, and elucidates that consuming the rich plant sources of LU will alleviate the reproductive toxicity induced by chemicals.

Protective effect of vitamin E on age-related alterations of Kupffer cell energy metabolism.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of age-related reduction of Kupffer cell (KC) phagocytic capacity and the protective management. METHODS: Using rhodamine 123 fluorescence density and rate of glucose utilization as parameters, we measured the mitochondrial energy metabolism status in vitro and the glucose utilization capacity of isolated rat liver Kupffer cells (KCs) from rats of various ages (6 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo and 24 mo) and the effect of vitamin E (VE) pretreatment (500 mg/kg/wk × 13 wk). RESULTS: The rate of KC glucose utilization and the rhodamine fluorescence density of KC mitochondria of 18 mo-old untreated rats (NVEG) were significantly lower than that of 6 mo-old NVEG by 19.3% (4.0 nmol·h ± 0.4 nmol·h(-1) 10.6 cells(-1) vs 5.7 nmol·h ± 0.6 nmol·h(-1) 10(6) cells(-1), P < 0.05) and 19.5% (80.5 ± 6.3 vs 100.0 ± 4.7, P < 0.01) respectively; Rate of KC glucose utilization and the rhodamine fluorescence density of KC mitochondria of 6 mo-old rats were also lower than the 24 mo-old NVEG by 35.1% (3.7 nmol·h ± 0.6 nmol·h(-1)10(6) cells(-1) vs 5.7 nmol·h ± 0.6 nmol·h(-1) 10(6) cells(-1), P < 0.01) and 32.1% (67.9 ± 7.4 vs 100.0 ± 4.7, P < 0.01) respectively. The two parameters of 18 mo-old VE pretreated rats (VEG) were significantly higher than those of 18 mo-old NVEG, and statistically comparable to those of 6 mo-old VEG. The two parameters of the 24 mo-old VEG were significantly higher in comparison with those of 24 mo-old NVEG, but still significantly lower than those of 6 mo-old VEG. CONCLUSION: Aging has a significantly negative effect on KC energy metabolism, which can be alleviated by VE pretreatment.

Candida infection in severe burns.

Candida infection has become an important cause of morbidity and death in burned or immunosuppressed patients. Two patients with extensive burn complicated with Candida infection are presented, along with the risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and current methods of treatment.

Use of autogenous omentum for grafting electrical injury affecting the scalp and skull.

A patient with high voltage electrical injury affecting the scalp and skull has been treated successfully using autogenous grafts of the greater omentum.