Green Tea Polyphenols Alleviate Kidney Injury Induced by Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate in Mice.

INTRODUCTION: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common plasticizer. Studies have revealed that DEHP exposure can cause kidney damage. Green tea is among the most popular beverages in China. Green tea polyphenols (GTPs) have been proven to have therapeutic effects on organ damage induced by heavy metal exposure. However, few studies have reported on GTP-relieving DEHP-induced kidney damage. METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice aged 6-8 weeks were treated with distilled water (control group), 1,500 mg/kg/d DEHP + corn oil (model group), 1,500 mg/kg/d DEHP + corn oil + 70 mg/kg GTP (treatment group), corn oil (oil group), and 70 mg/kg GTP (GTP group) by gavage for 8 weeks, respectively. The renal function of mice and renal tissue histopathology of each group were evaluated. The renal tissues of mice in the model, treatment, and control groups were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. We calculated the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) using the limma R package, the CIBERSORT algorithm was used to predict immune infiltration, the starBase database was used to screen the miRNA-mRNA regulatory axis, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to verify protein expression. RESULTS: GTP alleviated the deterioration of renal function, renal inflammation and fibrosis, and mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum lesions induced by DEHP in mice. Differential immune infiltrations of plasma, dendritic, T, and B cells were noted between the model and treatment groups. We found that three differentially expressed miRNAs (mmu-miR-383-5p, mmu-miR-152-3p, and mmu-miR-144-3p), three differentially expressed mRNAs (Ddit4, Dusp1, and Snx18), and three differentially expressed proteins (Ddit4, Dusp1, and Snx18) played crucial roles in the miRNA-mRNA-protein regulatory axes when GTPs mitigate DEHP-induced kidney damage in mice. CONCLUSION: GTP can alleviate DEHP-induced kidney damage and regulate immune cell infiltration. We screened four important miRNA-mRNA-protein regulatory axes of GTP, mitigating DEHP-induced kidney damage in mice.

Agricultural nonpoint source pollutant loads into water bodies in a typical basin in the middle reach of the Yangtze River.

Phosphorus and nitrogen pollution from agricultural nonpoint sources heavily burden the water environment, and a scientific calculating system is needed to calculate the pollutant loads under the water pollution treatment. This study established a system to calculate the coefficients of agricultural nonpoint source pollutants into water bodies in the subregion in Poyang Lake basin in the middle reach of the Yangtze River combining with multiple driving factors. Validation results showed that the errors of the typical unit were 30.58% for total phosphorus (TP), 13.43% for total nitrogen (TN) and 33.93% for ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), respectively. The errors of the subregion were 26.92% for TP, 31.83% for TN and 29.15% for NH3-N, respectively. Besides, there were higher TP and TN loads in the east area of subregion in both units and county scales, which indicated the heavy phosphorus and nitrogen burden on water environment. In contrast, higher NH3-N loads occurred in the north area of subregion. The establishment of coefficient system for agricultural pollutants into water bodies and the pollutant loads calculation would provide enlightenment for water pollution treatment and agricultural nonpoint source pollution controlling.

High-efficiency uranium extraction from seawater by low-cost natural protein hydrogel.

Utilization of uranium resource in seawater are highly possible to meet the growth demands for the sustainable development of nuclear energy industry. Bio-adsorbents exhibit high performance in terms of adsorption selectivity, equilibrium speed, and environmental friendliness, while the high fabrication cost hinders their practical application. In this study, a low-cost soy protein isolate (SPI) is used to fabricate adsorbent named SPI hydrogel for uranium extraction. This is the first report on applying bio-adsorbents derived from low-cost natural proteins for uranium extraction. The SPI hydrogel showed high uranium adsorption capacity of 53.94 mg g-1 in simulated nuclear wastewater and 5.29 mg g-1 is achieved in natural seawater, which is higher than all currently available adsorbents based on non-modified natural biomolecules. The amino and oxygen-containing groups are identified as the functional groups for uranyl binding by providing four oxygen and two nitrogen atoms to form equatorial coordination with uranyl, which guarantees the high binding selectivity and affinity to uranyl ions. The low cost for accessing the raw material together with the environmental friendliness, high salt tolerance, high uranium adsorption ability, and high selectivity to uranium, make SPI hydrogel a promising adsorbent for uranium extraction from seawater and nuclear wastewater.

[Post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction treated with the combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao and rehabilitation training: a multi-central randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy on relieving pain and improving the range of motion of shoulder joint in post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction in treatment of the combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao (Chinese herbal warm dressing technique) and rehabilitation training (eye acupuncture + Tengliao + rehabilitation) as compared with the combined treatment of Tengliao and rehabilitation training (Tengliao + rehabilitation) and the simple rehabilitation training (rehabilitation). METHODS: A total of 356 patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction were randomized into an eye acupuncture + Tengliao + rehabilitation group (group A, 122 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a Tengliao + rehabilitation group (group B, 120 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a rehabilitation group (group C, 114 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the group C, the basic treatment was combined with routine rehabilitation training. In the group B, on the base of the treatment as the group C, Tengliao was exerted. A medical bag composed of over 20 Chinese herbal materials was heated and dressed at the affected area, 30 min each time, 5 times weekly. In the group A, besides the treatment as the group B, eye acupuncture was applied to heart region, kidney region, upper jiao region and lower jiao region, 30 min each time, 5 times weekly. The treatment lasted 28 days in all of three groups. Separately, before treatment, in 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment, as well as in 14 days after treatment of follow-up, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the score of guides to evaluation of permanent impairment (GEPI) and the score of National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were observed in each group. RESULTS: The scores of VAS, GEPI and NIHSS were all improved with the treatment lasting in the three groups (P<0.000 1). In 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment and in follow-up as well, VAS scores in the group A were all lower than the group C (P<0.05). After 14 days of treatment, GEPI score showed increasing trend, while NIHSS score showed decreasing trend in the group A compared with the group B. Before treatment, GEPI score was lower and NIHSS score was higher in the group A compared with the group C (P<0.05). It was suggested that the illness was slightly serious in the group A. After propensity score matching, in 14, 21 and 28 days as well as in follow-up, GEPI scores in the group A were higher than the group C respectively (P<0.05). Regarding NIHSS score at each time point, the difference had no statistical significance between the group A and the group C (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao and rehabilitation training obtains a better efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction as compared with rehabilitation training.

Rapid screening of glycosyltransferases in plants using a linear DNA expression template based cell-free transcription-translation system.

Plants have an extensively large number of enzymes including glycosyltransferases that are important in the biosynthesis of natural products. However, it is time-consuming and challenging to study these enzymes and only a small percentage of them have been well-characterized. Here, we report a rapid method to screen plant glycosyltransferases using a linear DNA expression template (LET) based cell-free transcription-translation system (TX-TL). As a proof of concept, we amplified and tested glycosyltransferases from Arabidopsis thaliana and showed that the catalytic activity results of these glycosyltransferases from LET-based-TX-TL were consistent with previous studies. We then chose a local medicinal plant Anoectochilus roxburghii, acquired its transcriptome sequences, and applied this method to study its glycosyltransferases. We rapidly expressed all the putative UDP-glucose glycosyltransferases using LET-based-TX-TL and discovered 6 unreported active glycosyltransferases which can catalyze the glycosylation of quercetin into isoquercitrin. Thus, LET-based-TX-TL was shown to be a powerful tool for researchers to rapidly screen plant glycosyltransferases for the first time.

Highly efficient immobilization of environmental uranium contamination with Pseudomonas stutzeri by biosorption, biomineralization, and bioreduction.

Uranium is a heavy metal with both chemotoxicity and radiotoxicity. Due to the increasing consumption of uranium, the remediation of uranium contamination and recovery of uranium from non-conventional approach is highly needed. Microorganism exhibits high potential for immobilization of uranium. This study for the first time isolated a marine Pseudomonas stutzeri strain MRU-UE1 with high uranium immobilization capacity of 308.72 mg/g, which is attributed to the synergetic mechanisms of biosorption, biomineralization, and bioreduction. The uranium is found to be immobilized in forms of tetragonal chernikovite (H2(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O) by biomineralization and CaU(PO4)2 by bioreduction under aerobic environment, which is rarely observed and would broaden the application of this strain in aerobic condition. The protein, phosphate group, and carboxyl group are found to be essential for the biosorption of uranium. In response to the stress of uranium, the strain produces inorganic phosphate group, which transformed soluble uranyl ion to insoluble uranium-containing precipitates, and poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which is observed for the first time during the interaction between microorganism and uranium. In summary, P. stutzeri strain MRU-UE1 would be a promising alternative for environmental uranium contamination remediation and uranium extraction from seawater.

Post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction treated with the combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao and rehabilitation training: a multi-central randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the efficacy on relieving pain and improving the range of motion of shoulder joint in post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction in treatment of the combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao (Chinese herbal warm dressing technique) and rehabilitation training (eye acupuncture + Tengliao + rehabilitation) as compared with the combined treatment of Tengliao and rehabilitation training (Tengliao + rehabilitation) and the simple rehabilitation training (rehabilitation).@*METHODS@#A total of 356 patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction were randomized into an eye acupuncture + Tengliao + rehabilitation group (group A, 122 cases, 2 cases dropped off), a Tengliao + rehabilitation group (group B, 120 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a rehabilitation group (group C, 114 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the group C, the basic treatment was combined with routine rehabilitation training. In the group B, on the base of the treatment as the group C, Tengliao was exerted. A medical bag composed of over 20 Chinese herbal materials was heated and dressed at the affected area, 30 min each time, 5 times weekly. In the group A, besides the treatment as the group B, eye acupuncture was applied to heart region, kidney region, upper jiao region and lower jiao region, 30 min each time, 5 times weekly. The treatment lasted 28 days in all of three groups. Separately, before treatment, in 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment, as well as in 14 days after treatment of follow-up, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the score of guides to evaluation of permanent impairment (GEPI) and the score of National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were observed in each group.@*RESULTS@#The scores of VAS, GEPI and NIHSS were all improved with the treatment lasting in the three groups (P<0.000 1). In 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment and in follow-up as well, VAS scores in the group A were all lower than the group C (P<0.05). After 14 days of treatment, GEPI score showed increasing trend, while NIHSS score showed decreasing trend in the group A compared with the group B. Before treatment, GEPI score was lower and NIHSS score was higher in the group A compared with the group C (P<0.05). It was suggested that the illness was slightly serious in the group A. After propensity score matching, in 14, 21 and 28 days as well as in follow-up, GEPI scores in the group A were higher than the group C respectively (P<0.05). Regarding NIHSS score at each time point, the difference had no statistical significance between the group A and the group C (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The combined therapy of eye acupuncture, Tengliao and rehabilitation training obtains a better efficacy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome of phlegm-stasis obstruction as compared with rehabilitation training.

[Effect of eye acupuncture on autophagy in brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: to observe the effect of eye acupuncture on cerebral blood flow and autophagy of cerebral tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, so as to explore the mechanism of eye acupuncture underlying improvement of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, eye acupuncture, inhibitor and enhancer groups，with 10 rats in each group. The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 1.5 h. The rats in the eye acupuncture group were treated with eye acupuncture for 30 minutes immediately, 12 h and 24 h after the modeling. Rats in the inhibitor group and enhancer group were given intracerebroventricular injection of autophagy agonist 3-Methyladenine or autophagy inducer Rapamycin 30 min before modeling. Longa's scoring method was used to evaluate the neurological function. The blood flow velocity of the cerebral cortex was mea-sured with a laser doppler blood flow meter, and the neuron damage in the brain tissue was observed with Nissl staining. The expressions of autophagy-related protein Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and p62 were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological score of the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01); the blood flow volume and blood flow speed were significantly reduced (P<0.01); the number of Nissl bodies in the ischemic brain tissue decreased (P<0.01); Beclin-1 protein expression level and LC3-II/LC3-I increased, while p62 expression level decreased(P<0.01). After intervention and in comparison with the model group, the neurological scores in the eye acupuncture group and inhibitor group decreased (P<0.01); blood flow volumn and blood flow speed significantly increased (P<0.01); the number of Nissl bodies increased (P<0.01); the expression level of Beclin-1 protein and LC3-II/LC3-I decreased, and the expression level of p62 increased (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the enhancer and the model groups in the abovementioned indexes(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Eye acupuncture can improve the neurological function of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may be related to accelerating cerebral blood flow and inhibiting autophagy in the ischemic brain.

Insights into uptake, accumulation, and subcellular distribution of selenium among eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars supplied with selenite and selenate.

Selenium (Se)-enriched wheat can be improved by altering Se sources and selecting wheat cultivars. Such improvement can affect subcellular distribution and speciation of Se in wheat. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate Se uptake and distribution when Se was applied as selenite or selenate at low and high rates (1 and 10 mg kg-1, respectively). Moreover, Se's impact on the grain and biomass yield of eight wheat cultivars was also investigated. The subcellular distribution and speciation of Se were also explored to elucidate Se metabolism and micro-distribution pattern in wheat. Results showed that biomass and grain yield were decreased with the application of both selenite and selenate in almost all the cultivars, regardless of the Se rate. Application high Se rate resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in grain yield and biomass compared with low rate of Se. Compared with the low rate of selenite application, the grain and the biomass yield of ZM-9023 significantly (p < 0.05) increased by about 15% for low rate of selenate application. In addition, both selenite and selenate treatment increased the uptake of Se in each part of wheat, compared with the control. Selenium was mostly accumulated in the grain and root of wheat under selenite treatment, while more Se accumulation was found in leaves and straw for selenate application. Further investigation on the subcellular distribution of Se showed that the proportion of Se in soluble fraction was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in wheat leaves than that in organelle fraction and cell walls (46%-66%). Meanwhile, Se6+ was the main species found in soluble fraction, whereas SeMet and MeSeCys were the species predominantly stored in organelle fraction. In conclusion, wheat cultivar ZM-9023 is the most Se-rich potential cultivar, and the isolation of Se in the soluble fraction plays an important role in Se tolerance and accumulation.

Selenium bioaccessibility in native seleniferous soil and associated plants: Comparison between in vitro assays and chemical extraction methods.

Selenium (Se) bioaccessibility in soil and crops from seleniferous areas is closely relevant to Se intake risks of local residents. The current in vitro digestion methods used for Se bioaccessibility evaluation are single and inconsistent, and most of them are only for food and neglect soil. In this study, 14 Se-contaminated soils and their corresponding crops in Naore Village (seleniferous area) were used as the research objects. Four in vitro digestion assays, including Solubility Bioaccessibility Research Consortium method (SBRC), physiologically-based extraction test (PBET), in vitro gastrointestinal method (IVG), and Unified Bioaccessibility Method (UBM) were used to determine the bioaccessible Se concentration in soil and edible parts of crops. Results showed that the Se in natural seleniferous soil mainly existed in relatively stable forms, i.e., residual and Fe-Mn oxide-bound Se (average of 80%). Only 10.6% of the total Se was distributed in water-soluble and exchangeable Se fractions. The Se content in crops was significantly positively correlated with the organic-bound and phosphate-extractable Se contents in the corresponding soil (p < 0.05). The organic-bound Se was clearly a potentially bioavailable Se source in soil. The Se bioaccessibility in soil and crops measured using the four in vitro methods in gastric/intestinal digestions were in the same order, which was PBET > UBM > SBRC > IVG. Similar to the absorption and utilization of soil Se fractions by crops, the water-soluble, organic-bound and exchangeable Se in soil were the main contributors of bioaccessible Se in the digestive juices in various in vitro methods. Furthermore, the bioaccessible Se in crops and soil measured via PBET method demonstrated the most significant correlation between the total Se in crops and the phosphate-extractable Se in soil. Therefore, the PBET method was the optimum in vitro method for the evaluation of Se bioaccessibility in crops and soil.

Assessing the potential availability of selenium in the soil-plant system with manure application using diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) and DOM-Se fractions extracted by selective extractions.

Knowledge of the Se fractionation and the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil is the key to understanding Se mobility and its bioavailability in the soil-plant system. In this study, single extractions using phosphate-buffer (PBS), sequential extraction procedures (SEP), and diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) were used to measure Se bioavailability in soil supplemented with selenite and organic amendment (cow and chicken manures). Selenium fraction was isolated into DOM-Se fractions, such as hydrophilic acid-bound Se (HY-Se), fulvic acid-bound Se (FA-Se), humic acid-bound Se (HA-Se), and hydrophobic organic neutral-bound Se (HON-Se), by a rapid batch technique using XAD-8 resin (AMBERLITE XAD™, USA). Simultaneous application of either cow or chicken manure with selenite could result in the decrease of Se availability in the soil. Isolating Se available fraction into DOM-Se fractions showed that low-molecular-weight DOM-Se as an available fraction and even HY-Se as a less available fraction (OM-Se) were likely the major sources for Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss uptake in soil. Moreover, knowledge of the DOM-Se composition, especially the low-molecular-weight DOM-Se fractions, is important for assessing the bioavailability of Se in soil, the results of which are more accurate than the chemical extraction method. The high value of Pearson correlation coefficients between CDGT-Se and Se concentrations in shoots, tubers and roots of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss in cow and chicken manures treatment were 0.95 and 0.99, 0.96 and 0,96, and 0.89 and 0.97 (p < 0,05), respectively, indicating that DGT-Se can reflect the Se uptake ability by plants and can be used to predict the bioavailability of Se when manure and selenite are simultaneously applied.

Influence of processing methods and exogenous selenium species on the content and in vitro bioaccessibility of selenium in Pleurotus eryngii.

Understanding the effects of processing on the Se content and bioaccessibility in food is critical in guiding the development of Se-enriched products. In this study, Se-enriched Pleurotus eryngii was obtained by applying different Se supplements to the substrate. Selenium content and its bioaccessibility among raw and processed fruit bodies were compared. The application of exogenous Se had no significant effect on the yield of P. eryngii, while amendment Se yeast could slightly promote the growth of P. eryngii. The enrichment ability of P. eryngii among different Se supplements declined in the order of Na2SeO3 > Se yeast > Na2SeO4. However, the processing treatments resulted in 6.6%-45.9% Se loss. The Se bioaccessibility of P. eryngii was 78.4%-89.7%. Frying treatment reduced Se bioaccessibility in samples, whereas boiling treatment enhanced it. Therefore, Se yeast and boiling treatment are recommended as the ideal Se supplement and processing method for Se-enriched P. eryngii.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome with the complication of intussusception: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is an extremely rare disorder characterized by multifocal venous malformations involving various organs such as the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Severe complications of BRBNS, such as intussusception, volvulus, and intestinal infarction are rarer and require surgery. This report describes a 33-year-old male of BRBNS complicated with intussusception that was successfully diagnosed and treated with surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 33-year-old Chinese man presented with persistent, colicky pain accompanied by nausea, abdominal distension, and dizziness. The patient presented with sporadic bluish nodules on his skin involving his head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and planta pedis. DIAGNOSES: BRBNS with the complication of intussusception. INTERVENTIONS: An emergency laparotomy was performed, and postoperative management included blood transfusions and oral iron supplementation for 2 weeks. OUTCOMES: The patient's postoperative course of hospitalization was uneventful. During the 4-month follow-up, the patient showed no signs of intussusception recurrence. LESSONS: Patients diagnosed with BRBNS who present with acute abdominal pain and distension should raise suspicion for the presence of intussusception, which requires emergent surgical intervention.

DOM derivations determine the distribution and bioavailability of DOM-Se in selenate applied soil and mechanisms.

Straw amendment and plant root exudates modify the quality and quantities of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) and then manipulate the fractions of soil selenium (Se) and its bioavailability. Two typical soils with distinct pH were selected to investigate the effect of different contributors on DOM-Se in soil. The mechanisms relying on the variation in DOM characteristics (quality, quantity and composition) were explored by UV-Vis, ATR-FTIR and 3D-EEM. Straw amendment significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the selenate bioavailability. The reduction in wheat Se content was greater in krasnozems than in Lou soil, as more HA fraction appeared in krasnozems. The root exudates of wheat mainly elevated the low molecular hydrophilic compounds (Hy) in soil, which contributed to the SOL-Hy-Se fractions and thus grain Se in soils (p < 0.01). However, straw amendment promoted DOM transforming from small molecules (Hy and FA) to aromatic large molecules (HA), when accompanied with the reduction and retention of Se associated with these molecules. As a result, selenium bioavailability and toxicity reduced with DOM amendment and DOM-Se transformation.

Prediction of selenium uptake by pak choi in several agricultural soils based on diffusive gradients in thin-films technique and single extraction.

The accurate assessment of soil selenium (Se) bioavailability is crucial for Se biofortification in Se-deficient areas and risk assessment in selenosis areas. However, a universally accepted approach to evaluate Se bioavailability in soil is currently lacking. This research investigated Se bioavailability in six soils treated with selenite (Se(IV)) or selenate (Se(VI)) by comparing diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique and chemical extraction methods through pot experiments. A bioindicator method was used to evaluate Se concentrations in pak choi and compare the results with the Se concentration measured by other methods. Results showed that chemical extraction methods presented different extraction efficiencies for available Se over a range of soil types, and the same extraction method had various extraction efficiencies for different Se species in the same soil. DGT measured Se concentrations (CDGT-Se) for Se(VI) treatment were 2.3-34.1 times of those for Se(IV) treatment. KH2PO4-K2HPO4 and AB-DTPA extractable Se could predict the bioavailability of soil Se, but they were disturbed by soil properties. HAc extraction was unsuitable for evaluating Se bioavailability in different Se(IV)-treated soils. By contrast, DGT technique was preferable for predicting plant uptake of Se(IV) over chemical extraction methods. Although DGT technique was independent of soil properties, KH2PO4-K2HPO4 extraction provided the best fitting regression equation for Se(VI) when it was dependent on soil organic matter. Thus, KH2PO4-K2HPO4 extraction may be preferred to assess Se(VI) bioavailability in different soil types on a large scale.

Analysis of surveillance data of iodine deficiency disorders in Rizhao City of Shandong Province from 2016 to 2018 / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To analyze the monitoring results of iodine deficiency disorders among residents in Rizhao City, Shandong Province, from 2016 to 2018.Methods:Information of monitoring data on iodine deficiency disorders of residents of Rizhao City, Shandong Province from 2016 to 2018 was collected from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Rizhao City, Shandong Province. The analysis carried out included iodine content of drinking water for residents of Rizhao City in 2017; iodine contents of salt in the home of 8 - 10 years of children, pregnant women; urine iodine levels of 8 - 10 years of children, pregnant women; and thyroid volume of 8 - 10 years of children from 2016 to 2018.Results:A total of 431 drinking water samples were collected in Rizhao City in 2017, the median of iodine in water was 4.8 μg/L. In 2016 - 2018, the rate of non-iodized edible salt in the homes of children and pregnant women in Rizhao City were 11.09% (153/1 380), 19.07% (302/1 584) and 6.92% (90/1 301); the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt were 80.94% (1 117/1 380), 65.03% (1 030/1 584) and 84.63% (1 101/1 301), respectively. Of these, the highest rate of non-iodized edible salt was in 2017 (χ 2 = 75.38, P < 0.05), and with the lowest consumption rate of qualified iodized salt (χ 2 = 56.52, P < 0.05). Totally 829, 891 and 881 urine samples were tested for 8 - 10 years of children, and the medians of urine iodine were 195.8, 243.0 and 164.8 μg/L, respectively. Totally 396, 381 and 420 urine samples were tested for pregnant women, and the medians of urine iodine were 161.5, 148.3 and 105.2 μg/L, respectively. The rates of goiter in 8 - 10 years of children were 1.50% (13/866), 0.89% (8/901) and 1.25% (11/881), respectively, and the difference between years was not statistically significant (χ 2 = 1.41, P > 0.05). Conclusions:Rizhao City is an area of environmental iodine deficiency, local residents iodine nutrition in general is at an appropriate level. However, pregnant women show iodine deficiency in recent years, which will be the focus of scientific iodine supplementation measures.

Assessing the uptake of selenium from naturally enriched soils by maize (Zea mays L.) using diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) and traditional extractions.

A generally accepted method to predict selenium (Se) bioavailability of long-term contaminated soils has not yet been established, even if risk assessments in selenosis areas are crucial. In this study, a set of methods were tested to assess the bioavailability of Se to field maize. Fifty maize (Zea mays L.) samples and corresponding soils were collected from a selenosis area (Ziyang, China). The diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique and the traditional chemical extraction methods, including seven single-step extraction procedures and a five-step sequential extraction were used to predict the bioaccumulation of Se in plant. The result verified the presence of 50% of total Se in the form of residual Se fraction, followed by organic-bound and Fe-Mn oxide-bound Se fractions in soil. In addition, Se6+, Se4+, and Se2- were all detected in the solution extracted by H2O, KCl, phosphate-buffered solution (PBS), NaHCO3, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-2Na (EDTA-2Na) and ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), but Se6+ was not extracted by NaOH. The Se extracted by single-step extraction methods was weakly correlated with the Se uptake by plants with relatively high Se concentration (>3 mg·kg-1). The abilities of the tested methods to predict Se bioavailability in naturally Se-enriched soils declined in the following order: DGT > soil solution > PBS > KCl > H2O > NaHCO3 > EDTA > DTPA > NaOH. The ratio of CDGT to soil solution Se (Csoln) totaled 0.13, indicating an extremely low Se supply from the soil solid phase to the soil solution. Se measured by DGT was mainly derived from the soluble and exchangeable Se fractions that can accurately reflect the plant-absorbed Se pool. Therefore, the DGT technique is highly applicable in the simultaneous prediction of Se bioavailability in naturally Se-enriched soils.

Uptake kinetics and interaction of selenium species in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings.

Selenite and selenate are two main selenium (Se) forms absorbed by plants. The comparative effects of selenite and/or selenate on Se uptake and translocation in plants in spite of their coexistence in the environment are still unclear. Therefore, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings were grown in a hydroponic solution with exogenous selenite, selenate, or selenite and selenate mixed, and Se concentrations in shoots, roots, and xylem sap were measured after harvest. Results showed that selenite (> 0.1 mg Se L-1) could cause phytotoxicity more easily than selenate (> 1 mg Se L-1) under hydroponic conditions. And the absorbability rate of tomato to selenate was higher than that to selenite when Se application level was 0.0175-0.2998 mg L-1, while the opposite result was observed in other Se concentrations. More Se accumulated in roots and Se(VI) in the xylem sap decreased when both Se forms supplied. This study demonstrated that the difference between selenite and selenate on Se uptake and translocation in tomatoes depended on exogenous Se concentration. And selenite could inhibit the absorption and translocation of selenate when supplied with both Se forms.

[Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials of Eye-acupuncture Therapy for Patients with Post-stroke Insomnia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of eye-acupuncture therapy for post-stroke insomnia. METHODS: Sixty patients (45-70 years in age) with post-stroke insomnia were randomized into eye-acupuncture group and routine acupuncture (body acupuncture) group (30 cases in each). Patients of the eye-acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of bilateral Shangjiao (Upper-energizer) and Xin (Heart) regions and those of the routine acupuncture group treated by acupuncture stimulation of Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Anmian (EX-HN 16), etc. After Deqi, the filiform needles were retained for 20 min, and the treatment in both groups was conducted once a day, with 15 days being one therapeutic course and 2 courses altogether. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) including the subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and total PSQI score was used to evaluate the overall sleep quality. The clinical efficacy was assessed according to the "Guiding Principles of Clinical Trials for New Drugs of Traditional Chinese Medicine" formulated by Chinese Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Following the treatment, of the two 30 cases in the eye-and routine acupuncture groups, 21 and 9 experienced a marked improvement in their symptoms, 8 and 17 were effective, and 1 and 4 invalid, with the effective rate being 96.7% and 86.7%, respectively. The PSQI scores of the subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and the total PSQI score were all significantly decreased in comparison with pre-treatment in each group (P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of the eye-acupuncture was markedly superior to those of routine acupuncture in reducing sleep latency, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction (P<0.05), but without significant differences between the two groups in the effective rate, sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and total PSQI score (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both eye-acupuncture and routine acupunture are effective in the treatment of post-stroke insomnia, and the eye-acupuncture is better than routine acupuncture in reducing sleep latency, improving sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction.

Risk assessment for human health in a seleniferous area, Shuang'an, China.

Shuang'an in Ziyang is a typical high-selenium (Se) area in China, where human selenium (Se) poisoning was reported 30 years ago. To assess the risk of Se poisoning in the area, the Se content in agricultural soil, plant, and water in Naore, Shuang Hekou, and Lin Benhe villages of Ziyang was systematically investigated. The probable daily intake (PDI) was calculated on the basis of Se contents in food, water, and dietary habits to evaluate the risk of selenosis. Se content in hair from local habitants (32 men and 34 women) was determined to further verify the risk. Results showed that Se content in the soil ranged from 0.21 to 36.07 mg/kg, with a geometric means of 3.02 ± 5.16 mg/kg, respectively. Approximately 60% of soil reached the Se toxicity threshold (>3 mg/kg). The Se content in plants ranged from 0.02 to 17 mg/kg, with an average of 0.76 ± 2.51 mg/kg. Approximately 40% of the plant reached the toxicity standard (1 mg/kg). Se content in soil and plant of Naore village was significantly higher than that from two adjacent villages. The Se content in vegetables (on fresh weight basis) was higher than that in cereals. Se contents were 3.73 ± 9.08 and 1.32 ± 3.50 mg/kg in eggplant and pepper, respectively. The Se content in drinking water was 7.85 ± 6.04 µg/L, lower than the upper tolerable limit (40 µg/L) set by WHO. The Se content in stream water (18.5 µg/L) was significantly higher than that in drinking water because of soil erosion. The calculated PDI of habitants in Naore village (1801 µg/day) was significantly higher than that in Lin Benhe (666 µg/day) and Shuang Hekou (686 µg/day), all of which was higher than the tolerable upper Se intake (400 µg/day) set by WHO. The calculated blood Se content was relatively high, especially for habitants of Naore village (2783-2824 µg/L). Moreover, the Se content in the hair of local habitants reached as high as 12.72 ± 13.81 mg/kg, and 78.79% exceeded hair Se toxicity threshold (>3 mg/kg), which further verified the potential selenosis risk. Our study provides significant implications of the potential Se intoxication of local residents. Therefore, governments and other institutions should implement various measures to reduce the daily Se intake and to mitigate the associated health risks.