Exploration of Novel Meso-C═N-BODIPY-Based AIE Fluorescent Rotors with Large Stokes Shifts for Organelle-Viscosity Imaging.

The research on fluorescent rotors for viscosity has attracted extensive interest to better comprehend the close relationships of microviscosity variations with related diseases. Although scientists have made great efforts, fluorescent probes for cellular viscosity with both aggregation-induced emissions (AIEs) and large Stokes shifts to improve sensing properties have rarely been reported. Herein, we first report four new meso-C═N-substituted BODIPY-based rotors with large Stokes shifts, investigate their viscosity/AIE characteristics, and perform cellular imaging of the viscosity in subcellular organelles. Interestingly, the meso-C═N-phenyl group-substituted probe 6 showed an obvious 594 nm fluorescence enhancement in glycerol and a moderate 650 nm red AIE emission in water. Further, on attaching CF3 to the phenyl group, a similar phenomenon was observed for 7 with red-shifted emissions, attributed to the introduction of a phenyl group, which plays a key role in the red AIE emissions and large Stokes shifts. Comparatively, for phenyl-group-free probes, both the meso-C═N-trifluoroethyl group and thiazole-substituted probes (8 and 9) exhibited good viscosity-responsive properties, while no AIE was observed due to the absence of phenyl groups. For cellular experiments, 6 and 9 showed good lysosomal and mitochondrial targeting properties, respectively, and were further successfully used for imaging viscosity through the preincubation of monensin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), indicating that C═N polar groups potentially work as rotatable moieties and organelle-targeting groups, and the targeting difference might be ascribed to increased charges of thiazole. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the structural relationships of four meso-C═N BODIPY-based rotors with respect to their viscosity/AIE characteristics, subcellular-targeting ability, and cellular imaging for viscosity, potentially serving as AIE fluorescent probes with large Stokes shifts for subcellular viscosity imaging.

Associations of Particulate Matter Sizes and Chemical Constituents with Blood Lipids: A Panel Study in Guangzhou, China.

Existing evidence is scarce concerning the various effects of different PM sizes and chemical constituents on blood lipids. A panel study that involved 88 healthy college students with five repeated measurements (440 blood samples in total) was performed. We measured mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), ≤1.0 µm (PM1.0), and ≤0.5 µm (PM0.5) as well as number concentrations of particulate matter with diameters ≤ 0.2 µm (PN0.2) and ≤0.1 µm (PN0.1). We applied linear mixed-effect models to assess the associations between short-term exposure to different PM size fractions and PM2.5 constituents and seven lipid metrics. We found significant associations of greater concentrations of PM in different size fractions within 5 days before blood collection with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A (ApoA1) levels, higher apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels, and lower ApoA1/ApoB ratios. Among the PM2.5 constituents, we observed that higher concentrations of tin and lead were significantly associated with decreased HDL-C levels, and higher concentrations of nickel were associated with higher HDL-C levels. Our results suggest that short-term exposure to PM in different sizes was deleteriously associated with blood lipids. Some constituents, especially metals, might be the major contributors to the detrimental effects.

Short-Term Effects of Particle Sizes and Constituents on Blood Biomarkers among Healthy Young Adults in Guangzhou, China.

Evidence of the effects of various particle sizes and constituents on blood biomarkers is limited. We performed a panel study with five repeated measurements in 88 healthy college students in Guangzhou, China between December 2017 and January 2018. Mass concentrations of particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), PM1, and PM0.5 and number concentrations of particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 200 nm (PN0.2) and PN0.1 were measured. We used linear mixed-effect models to explore the associations of size-fractionated particulate matter and PM2.5 constituents with five blood biomarkers 0-5 days prior to blood collection. We found that an interquartile range (45.9 µg/m3) increase in PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated with increments of 16.6, 3.4, 12.3, and 8.8% in C-reactive protein (CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and endothelin-1(ET-1) at a 5-day lag, respectively. Similar estimates were observed for PM1, PM0.5, PN0.2, and PN0.1. For PM2.5 constituents, consistent positive associations were observed between F- and sVCAM-1 and CRP and between NH4+ and MCP-1, and negative associations were found between Na+ and MCP-1 and ET-1, between Cl- and MCP-1, and between Mg2+ and sVCAM-1. Our results suggested that both particle size and constituent exposure are significantly associated with circulating biomarkers among healthy Chinese adults. Particularly, PN0.1 at a 5-day lag and F- and NH4+ are the most associated with these blood biomarkers.

Short-Term Effects of Particle Size and Constituents on Blood Pressure in Healthy Young Adults in Guangzhou, China.

Background Although several studies have focused on the associations between particle size and constituents and blood pressure, results have been inconsistent. Methods and Results We conducted a panel study, between December 2017 and January 2018, in 88 healthy university students in Guangzhou, China. Weekly systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured for each participant for 5 consecutive weeks, resulting in a total of 440 visits. Mass concentrations of particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5), ≤1.0 µm (PM1.0), ≤0.5 µm (PM0.5), ≤0.2 µm (PM0.2), and number concentrations of airborne particulates of diameter ≤0.1 µm were measured. Linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate the associations between blood pressure and particles and PM2.5 constituents 0 to 48 hours before blood pressure measurement. PM of all the fractions in the 0.2- to 2.5-µm range were positively associated with systolic blood pressure in the first 24 hours, with the percent changes of effect estimates ranging from 3.5% to 8.8% for an interquartile range increment of PM. PM0.2 was also positively associated with diastolic blood pressure, with an increase of 5.9% (95% CI, 1.0%-11.0%) for an interquartile range increment (5.8 µg/m3) at lag 0 to 24 hours. For PM2.5 constituents, we found positive associations between chloride and diastolic blood pressure (1.7% [95% CI, 0.1%-3.3%]), and negative associations between vanadium and diastolic blood pressure (-1.6% [95% CI, -3.0% to -0.1%]). Conclusions Both particle size and constituent exposure are significantly associated with blood pressure in the first 24 hours following exposure in healthy Chinese adults.

Associations of ambient particulate matter with homocysteine metabolism markers and effect modification by B vitamins and MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism.

Evidence concerning effects of ambient air pollution on homocysteine (HCY) metabolism is scarce. We aimed to explore the associations between ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure and the HCY metabolism markers and to evaluate effect modifications by folate, vitamin B12, and methylenetetrahyfrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism. Between December 1, 2017 and January 5, 2018, we conducted a panel study in 88 young college students in Guangzhou, China, and received 5 rounds of health examinations. Real-time concentrations of PMs with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 (PM2.5), ≤1.0 (PM1.0), and ≤0.1 (PM0.1) were monitored, and the serum HCY metabolism markers (i.e., HCY, S-Adenosylhomocysteine [SAH], and S-Adenosylmethionine [SAM]) were repeatedly measured. We applied linear mixed effect models combined with a distributed lag model to evaluate the associations of PMs with the HCY metabolism markers. We also explored effect modifications of folate, vitamin B12, and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on the associations. We observed that higher concentrations of PM2.5 and PM1.0 were associated with higher serum levels of HCY, SAH, SAM, and SAM/SAH ratio (e.g., a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 during lag 0 day and lag 5 day was significantly associated with 1.3-19.4%, 1.3-28.2%, 6.2-64.4%, and 4.8-28.2% increase in HCY, SAH, SAM, and SAM/SAH ratio, respectively). In addition, we observed that the associations of PM2.5 with the HCY metabolism markers were stronger in participants with lower B vitamins levels. This study demonstrated that short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM1.0 was deleteriously associated with the HCY metabolism markers, especially in people with lower B vitamins levels.

Optimisation of ultra-performance LC conditions using response surface methodology for rapid separation and quantitative determination of phenolic compounds in Artemisia minor.

A method that couples rapid, sensitive, reproducible and accurate ultra-performance LC (UPLC) with quadrupole-TOF-MS was established for the first simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in Artemisia minor. Box-Behnken designs (BBDs) were applied as an effective tool to optimise major parameters that influence the resolution of UPLC, including three gradient steps and column temperature. Under optimal UPLC conditions, a total of 23 phenolic compounds in the crude methanol extracts of A. minor were well separated on a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C(18) column (100×2.1 mm, 1.7 µm particle size) within 16.5 min, and the compounds were unequivocally or tentatively identified via comparisons with authentic standards and literature. In this study, a total of six major phenolic compounds were quantified in A. minor and the method was validated to be sensitive, precise and accurate within the LOD from 1.24 to 5.27 µg/mL, and the overall intra- and inter-day variations in detection were less than 3.76%. The recovery of the method ranged from 97.9 to 103.8% with RSDs that were less than 5.8%. These results demonstrate that this approach has the potential for quality control of A. minor and other Tibetan herbal medicines.

Pet ownership in utero and in childhood decreases the effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on hypertension in children: A large population based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about whether exposure to pets influences the association between hypertension and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The current study aims to examine the interaction of pet ownership on ETS exposure and the development of hypertension in children. METHODS: From 2012 to 2013, a total of 9354 children, 5 to 17 years of age, were recruited from 62 schools in seven northeastern cities. BP in children was measured and hypertension was defined as an average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or systolic blood pressure (SBP) at or above the 95th percentile for that child's age, sex, and height. Pet ownership in three different time periods (in utero, past 2 years, and currently) and ETS exposure data were collected from parents via a questionnaire. Two-level regressions were used for the data analyses. RESULTS: The data show consistent, significant interactions between exposure to pets and effects from ETS. Children who were not exposed to pets experienced stronger effects from ETS on hypertension when compared to those exposed to pets, and the protective effect of pet ownership became stronger with a greater number of pets in the home. Exposure to in utero ETS was associated with hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.54] only for those children without pet exposure in utero but not for those with pets (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.49-1.15) (pinteraction < 0.05). Moreover, household dog ownership was related to significantly lower effects of current ETS on hypertension (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61-1.05) compared with children without dogs (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.11-1.44) (pinteraction = 0.001). Interaction associations between ETS and pet ownership were more robust for girls than for boys and for younger than older children. CONCLUSION: This study indicates an inverse relationship between pet ownership and ETS, potentially pointing to pet ownership as protecting against the development of hypertension in children.

Chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Artemisia minor.

Four new compounds including three bicoumarins, arteminorins A-C (1-3), and one neolignan, arteminorin D (4), together with 31 known ones were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia minor. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and comparison with those of the related known compounds. Ethyl caffeate (27) showed in vitro cytotoxicity against the HepG2 cancer cell line. Arteminorin C (3) and luteolin (19) showed inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase (XOD), and caffeic acid (28) exhibited inhibitory activity on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B).

A near-infrared BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric and discriminative detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in living cells.

A near-infrared distyryl boron dipyrromethene-based sensor bearing one bis(1,2,3-triazole)amino receptor has been synthesized. This probe selectively and quickly binds to Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in CH3CN/H2O (5:1 v/v) and exhibits remarkably blue-shifted absorption and fluorescence bands due to the inhibition of the intramolecular charge transfer process. The fluorescence changes of this probe upon binding to Hg2+ or Cu2+ ion are totally different, undergoing a ratiometric fluorescence enhancement (for Hg2+) or a fluorescence quenching (for Cu2+) mechanism. The corresponding vivid color changes can be easily seen by the naked eye. This probe was further introduced into Hela cells for living cell imaging and found to discriminate Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions through two near-infrared fluorescence emission channels. These overall results indicate that this Click-derived near-infrared BODIPY-based probe is potentially useful for ratiometric and discriminative detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in solutions and living cells.

Association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among Han and Manchu ethnicities in a large, rural, Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the relationship between sleep quality and depression, among Han and Manchu ethnicities, in a rural Chinese population. METHODS: A sample of 8,888 adults was selected using a multistage cluster and random sampling method. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Depressive symptoms were assessed via the Center for Epidemiological Survey, Depression Scale (CES-D). Logistic regression was conducted to assess associations between sleep quality and depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression in the Manchus (20.74% and 22.65%) was significantly lower than that in the Hans (29.57% and 26.25%), respectively. Depressive participants had higher odds ratios of global and all sub PSQI elements than non-depressive participants, both among the Hans and the Manchus. Additive interactions were identified between depressive symptoms and ethnicity with global and four sub-PSQI elements, including subjective sleep quality, sleep disturbance, use of sleep medication and daytime dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression among the Hans was greater than among the Manchus. Depression was associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality.