Study on the effect and regularity of plating parts cleaning wastewater by enhanced aerobic process with high-density bacterial flora.

In this research, we established an enhanced aerobic biological method utilizing a high-density bacterial flora for the treatment of low-biochemical plating parts washing wastewater. The elucidation of pollutant removal mechanisms was achieved through a comprehensive analysis of changes in sludge characteristics and bacterial community structure. The results demonstrated that throughout the operational period, the organic load remained stable within the range of 0.01-0.02 kgCOD/kgMLSS·d, the BOD5/COD ratio increased from 0.004 mg/L to 0.33 mg/L, and the average removal rates for key pollutants, including COD, NH4+-N, and TN, reached 98.13%, 99.86%, and 98.09%. MLSS concentration remained at 7627 mg/L, indicating a high-density flora. Notably, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Acidobacteriota, which have the ability to degrade large organic molecules, had been found in the system. This study affirms the efficacy of the intensive aerobic biological method for treating low-biochemical plating washing wastewater while ensuring system stability.

Recent Advances in Functional Materials for Optical Data Storage.

In the current data age, the fundamental research related to optical applications has been rapidly developed. Countless new-born materials equipped with distinct optical properties have been widely explored, exhibiting tremendous values in practical applications. The optical data storage technique is one of the most significant topics of the optical applications, which is considered as the prominent solution for conquering the challenge of the explosive increase in mass data, to achieve the long-life, low-energy, and super high-capacity data storage. On this basis, our review outlines the representative reports for mainly introducing the functional systems based on the newly established materials applied in the optical storage field. According to the material categories, the representative functional systems are divided into rare-earth doped nanoparticles, graphene, and diarylethene. In terms of the difference of structural features and delicate properties among the three materials, the application in optical storage is comprehensively illustrated in the review. Meanwhile, the potential opportunities and critical challenges of optical storage are also discussed in detail.

Respiratory effects induced by occupational exposure to refractory ceramic fibers.

Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) are increasingly used as heating-insulated materials in various industries. However, toxicological and epidemiological studies focusing on the adverse effects of RCFs were still insufficient, particularly in China. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate comprehensively the associations between occupational exposure to RCFs and respiratory health effects among Chinese workers. We measured and calculated cumulative RCFexposure levels of RCFs workers from the biggest RCFs factory in China. In total, 430 RCF-exposed workers and 121 controls were enrolled in this study. Physical examinations of the respiratory system were performed and serum levels of biomarkers including Clara cell protein 16 (CC16), surfactant protein D (SP-D), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were determined among all subjects. RCF exposure workers showed a higher prevalence rate of respiratory symptoms (cough: 11.9%) and lower levels of small airways function indices (V50 %: 82.71 ± 20.01, maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF)%: 81.08 ± 19.56) compared with the control group (cough: 5.0%, V50 %: 90.64 ± 24.36, MMEF%: 88.83 ± 24.22). RCFs workers showed higher levels of TGF-ß1 (31.04 ng/mL) and 8-OHdG (130.72 ng/mL) and lower levels of CC16 (3.68 ng/mL) compared with the controls (TGF-ß1: 26.63 ng/mL, 8-OHdG: 106.86 ng/mL, CC16: 5.65 ng/mL). After adjusting for covariates, cumulative RCF exposure levels showed significant positive associations with the levels of TGF-ß1 and 8-OHdG and negative association with the level of CC16. Occupational RCF exposure could induce adverse respiratory health effects, including cough and small airways damage, which may correlate to the altered levels of lung damage markers (CC16 and TGF-ß1) and oxidative markers (8-OHdG).

Polysaccharide-Enriched Fraction from Amillariella Mellea Fruiting Body Improves Insulin Resistance.

Despite the edible fungus Amillariella mellea possessing a variety of biological activities, its effects on diabetes are still unclear. Polysaccharides are the main bioactive ingredients. In order to destroy the cell wall to obtain more polysaccharides, we used NaOH solution to extract Amillariella mellea fruiting bodies. The alkali extraction (AAMP) was identified as a polysaccharide-enriched fraction. Using type 2 diabetic rats induced by co-treatment of a high fat diet (HFD) and dexamethasone (DEX), we evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of AAMP. The results showed that oral administration of a high dose of AAMP markedly lowered fasting blood glucose, improving glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. AAMP also enhanced the level of LPL and the expressions of two critical lipases ATGL and HSL, leading to a decrease of serum triglyceride. In addition, AAMP specifically suppressed the expression of SREBP-1c, resulting in AAMP observably inhibiting lipid accumulation in the liver. These findings demonstrated that the improvement of AAMP on HFD/DEX-induced insulin resistance was correlated with its regulation of lipid metabolism. Our results indicated that AAMP could be a novel natural drug or health food used for the treatment of diabetes.

Pectic Bee Pollen Polysaccharide from Rosa rugosa Alleviates Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance via Induction of AMPK/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy.

Despite it is used as a nutraceutical against diabetes and obesity, the mechanism of action of bee pollen is still unclear. Pectic bee pollen polysaccharide (RBPP-P) was isolated from Rosa rugosa, and its structure was characterized by 13C-NMR and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Using high glucose and fatty acids-treated HepG2 cells and high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice, we detected its effect on insulin function and lipid metabolism based on autophagy. RBPP-P contained arabinogalactan, rhamnogalacturonan I, and homogalacturonan domains. In vivo studies demonstrated that RBPP-P markedly ameliorated insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and liver steatosis in obese mice. The suppressive effects of RBPP-P on liver steatosis and triglyceride content were mediated by increased autophagy and lipase expression in liver. In AMPK knockdown cells (prkaa 1/2-/- MEF) and HFD-fed mice tissues (liver, gonadal white adipose, and inguinal white adipose), RBPP-P enhanced autophagy in AMPK/mTOR-dependent way in liver, but not in adipose tissue. These findings demonstrated that bee pollen polysaccharide alleviated liver steatosis and insulin resistance by promoting autophagy via an AMPK/mTOR-mediated signaling pathway, suggesting that RBPP-P could be a novel therapeutic agent used for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

[Two New Abietane Type Diterpenes from Pinecones of Pinus griffithii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the pinecones of Pinus griffithii. Methods: The constituents were separated and purified with chromatographic methods,and spectroscopic analysis were employed for structural elucidation. Results: Two new abietane type diterpenes and seven known compounds were isolated from the pinecones of Pinus griffithii,and were identified as 15-hydroxy-7α-methoxy-abiet-8,11,13-trien-18-oic acid( 1),7α,13-dihydroxy-podocarpane-8,11,13-trien-18-oic acid( 2),7,12,13,15-tetrahydroxy-abiet-8( 14)-en-18-oic acid( 3),7ß,15-dihydroxy-abiet-8,11,13-trien-18-oic acid( 4),18-norabiet-8,11,13-trien-4,7,15-triol( 5),15-hydroxy-abiet-8,11,13-trien-18-oic acid( 6),7α-hydroxy-15-methoxy-abiet-8,11,13-trien-18-oic acid( 7),7α-hydroxypodocarpen-8( 14)-en-13-one-18-oic acid( 8), oleanolic acid( 9). Conclusion: Compounds 1,2 are the new abietane type diterpene,and all compounds are isolated from this plant for first time.

Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 supernatant prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm birth and reduces inflammation in pregnant CD-1 mice.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 supernatant (GR-1 SN) on lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm birth (PTB) and outputs of cytokines, chemokines, and progesterone in pregnant CD-1 mice. STUDY DESIGN: We compared PTB rates after intrauterine injection of lipopolysaccharide with and without previous GR-1 SN treatment. Cytokines and chemokines in the maternal plasma, myometrium, placenta, and amniotic fluid were examined with multiplex assay, and circulating maternal progesterone was measured with enzyme-linked immunoassay. Statistical significance was assessed with 2-tailed 1-way analysis of variance or analysis of variance on ranks. Fetal sex ratios in mice that delivered preterm were compared with those that delivered at term after lipopolysaccharide and GR-1 SN treatments. RESULTS: GR-1 SN reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced PTB by 43%. GR-1 SN significantly decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of interleukin (IL)-1ß, -6, and -12p40, tumor necrosis factor-α, CCL4, and CCL5 in maternal plasma; IL-6, -12p70, -17, and -13 and tumor necrosis factor-α in myometrium; IL-6, -12p70, and -17 in placenta; and IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, CCL3, and CCL4 in amniotic fluid. Maternal plasma progesterone was reduced significantly after lipopolysaccharide injection with and without GR-1 SN pretreatment. There was no difference in fetal sex ratios between mice that delivered preterm and those that did not after lipopolysaccharide and GR-1 SN treatments. CONCLUSION: The supernatant of probiotic L rhamnosus GR-1 attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and PTB in vivo. GR-1 SN may confer therapeutic benefits in the prevention of infection-associated PTB by controlling systemic and intrauterine inflammation.

The Up-Regulated Expression of Mitochondrial Membrane Molecule RHOT1 in Gastric Cancer Predicts the Prognosis of Patients and Promotes the Malignant Biological Behavior of Cells.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major disease of high morbidity and mortality worldwide despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Ras homolog family member T1 (RHOT1) plays an important role in several cancers. Our study aimed to analyze RHOT1 expression, to assess the relationship between its expression and the prognosis of patients, and know the impact of RHOT1 on GC cells. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq data was used for gene expression analysis, survival and prognostic analysis. Nomograms were created to analyze the pathological factors of GC patients. RHOT1 expression was up-regulated by analyzed TCGA-Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) data and verified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay in GC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, RHOT1 up-regulation was significantly associated with shorter survival of GC patients. At last, after silencing the expression of RHOT1 in AGS cell lines, we found that the proliferative ability of the cells was significantly reduced, the cell invasion ability was significantly inhibited, the cell migration ability was also significantly weakened, the cell cycle was arrested in the G0/G1 phase, and apoptosis was significantly increased. So RHOT1 could impact the apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and migration behavior of GC cells. We trust RHOT1 has the potential to become a new oncogene biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis as well as a new therapeutic target in GC.

Analysis on the pathogenesis and treatment progress of NRG1 fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer persistently leads as the primary cause of morbidity and mortality among malignancies. A notable increase in the prevalence of lung adenocarcinoma has become evident in recent years. Although targeted therapies have shown in treating certain subsets of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), a significant proportion of patients still face suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. Neuregulin-1 (NRG1), a critical member of the NRG gene family, initially drew interest due to its distribution within the nascent ventricular endocardium, showcasing an exclusive presence in the endocardium and myocardial microvessels. Recent research has highlighted NRG1's pivotal role in the genesis and progression across a spectrum of tumors, influencing molecular perturbations across various tumor-associated signaling pathways. This review provides a concise overview of NRG1, including its expression patterns, configuration, and fusion partners. Additionally, we explore the unique features and potential therapeutic strategies for NRG1 fusion-positive occurrences within the context of NSCLC.

Nacre-inspired starch-based bioplastic with excellent mechanical strength and electromagnetic interference shielding.

Bioplastics have aroused significant interest in researchers to relieve the serious environmental pollution caused by the ubiquity of petroleum-based plastics. However, it remains a great challenge to construct functional bioplastics with excellent mechanical strength, water resistance, and heat resistance. Inspired by the interesting structure of nacre, a novel starch-based bioplastic was prepared via a self-assembly technique, using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers modified starch, nano-montmorillonite, and reduced graphene oxide as raw materials. Due to the unique layered structure and rich interfacial interaction, the starch-based bioplastic exhibited excellent mechanical properties, while the tensile strength was up to 37.39 MPa. Furthermore, it represented outstanding water resistance, heat resistance, repairability, renewability and biodegradability. Especially, the starch-based bioplastic demonstrated a strong electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), which was higher than 35 dB with a thickness of 0.5 mm. These powerful properties provided the possibility for functional applications of starch-based bioplastics.

A novel, robust mechanical strength, and naturally degradable double crosslinking starch-based bioplastics for practical applications.

The increasing number of petroleum-based plastics has caused severe environmental pollution, which has attracted great research interest in the development of low-cost, renewable, and degradable starch-based bioplastics. However, developing starch-based bioplastics with robust mechanical strength, excellent water resistance, and thermal resistance remains a great challenge. In this study, we presented a simple and efficient method for preparing high-performance novel starch-based bioplastics with chemical and physical double crosslinking network structures filled with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Compared with pure starch-based bioplastics, the tensile strength of the novel robust strength starch-based bioplastics increased by 431.2 %. The novel starch-based bioplastics exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 24.54 MPa), water resistance, thermal resistance, and biodegradability. In addition, the novel starch-based bioplastics could be reused, crushed, dissolved, and re-poured after use. After recycling, the novel starch-based bioplastics could be discarded in the soil to achieve complete degradation within six weeks. Owing to these characteristics, the novel starch-based bioplastics are good alternatives used to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics and have great development prospects.

Neurologic symptoms among solar greenhouse workers and field workers in China.

It has been widely reported that the farmers were at increased risk of neurologic disorders, which probably be related with agricultural risk factors. The intensity of agricultural risk factors was rather high in the solar greenhouse than those in the agricultural farm, while the risk and prevalence of neurologic symptoms among solar greenhouse workers are unclear, which may provide evidence of neurologic dysfunction before clinically measurable signs are evident. This study aimed to evaluate the association among solar greenhouse working, field working, and neurologic symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted in China, and 986 Chinese Han population consisting 711 solar greenhouse workers (greenhouse worker group) and 275 field farmers (field worker group) were included. Participants provided information on demographic information, number of solar greenhouses owned (only solar greenhouse workers), working lifetime, and neurologic symptoms through an established questionnaire Q16 to assess the impact of occupational exposure to neurotoxicants, and the total scores were calculated. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association among solar greenhouse working, field working, and neurologic symptoms. The total scales of the neurologic symptoms were higher in the solar greenhouse worker group (20.29 ± 4.79) than those in the field worker group (19.44 ± 4.22) (p < 0.05). Multivariate multiple linear regression showed that solar greenhouse working was positively associated with the scales of the neurologic symptoms (ß = 0.248, 95% CI: (0.112, 0.383)). And the age, working lifetime, and current smoking were also positively associated with the scores of the neurologic symptoms, ß = 0.007, 0.006 and 0.485 respectively (All p < 0.05). Solar greenhouse workers probably be at an increased risk of neurologic symptoms scores, and the age, working lifetime, and current smoking were also risk factors.

NONHSAT021545/miR-330-3p/EREG: A Cooperative Axis in Breast Cancer Prognosis and Treatment.

Lymphatic metastasis is the most common form in breast cancer (BC) progression. Previously, we observed that lnc045874, a most conservative homology of Homo Sapiens NONHSAT021545 (lnc021545), miR-330-3p, and EREG may have some effects in mouse hepatocarcinoma cell lines with different lymphatic metastasis potentials. Through data from TCGA and GEO database analysis, we speculated that miR-330-3p might be a tumor promoter, while EREG could be a tumor suppressor in BC. MiR-330-3p was upregulated, while lnc021545 and EREG were downregulated in 50 BC tissues. MiR-330-3p advanced the metastatic behaviors of BC cells, whereas lnc021545 and EREG resulted in the opposite effects. The three molecules' expressions were correlated respectively and showed that miR-330-3p targeted lnc021545 and EREG to affect their expressions. Lnc021545/miR-330-3p axis affected BC metastasis by regulating EREG in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In 50 BC patients, these three molecules and their cooperation are associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, patient outcomes, and trastuzumab therapy. We finally discovered that lnc021545, miR-330-3p, and EREG formed a multi-gene co-regulation system that affected the metastasis of BC and the cooperation reflects the synergistic effects of the three molecules, recommending that their cooperation may provide a more accurate index for anti-metastasis therapeutic and prognostic evaluation of BC.

Prevalence of insulin resistance in Chinese solar greenhouse and field workers: evidence from a solar greenhouse and field workers study.

Evidence suggests that agricultural workers are at higher risk of insulin resistance (IR), but few studies have investigated IR in solar greenhouse workers, who are exposed to higher concentrations of agricultural risk factors than traditional agricultural workers. A prevalence study was conducted in a greenhouse vegetable farm in China. In total, 948 participants were enrolled in this study. Among them, 721 participants were allocated to the greenhouse worker group (G group), and 227 participants were assigned to the field worker group (F group). The TyG index, which is an indicator to evaluate prediabetes (IR), was calculated by the formula: TyG index = ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2]. To evaluate the associations of TyG index alternation with solar greenhouse and field work, multiple linear regression (MLR) and logistic regression models were performed. The TyG index in the G group (8.53 ± 0.56) was higher than that in the F group (8.44 ± 0.59) (p < 0.05). Solar greenhouse work was positively associated with an increased TyG index in both the multiple linear regression model [ß = 0.207, (0.006, 0.408)] and the logistic regression model [OR = 1.469, (1.070, 2.016)]. IR was associated with the solar greenhouse work. However, the determination of agricultural hazard factors needs to be further strengthened to improve exposure assessment. Graphical Abstract.

Chronic kidney disease among greenhouse workers and field workers in China.

BACKGROUND: Agricultural workers are at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease of non-traditional etiology (CKDnt). The environment in solar greenhouse has high-intensity agricultural hazard factors. However, the association between solar greenhouse work and CKDnt remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the relationship among solar greenhouse work, field work, and CKDnt risk, and to explore gender differences in CKDnt risk among solar greenhouse workers. METHODS: Solar greenhouse workers and field workers were selected as the greenhouse worker and field worker groups in a cross-sectional study. Individuals with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 were defined as CKDnt patients. Binary logistic regression and generalized linear regression models were used to estimate the association among solar greenhouse workers, field workers and CKDnt. Furthermore, gender differences in CKDnt were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 638 solar greenhouse workers and 231 field workers were included. The prevalence of CKDnt was 2.8% in the solar greenhouse workers and 0.4% in the field workers, and the prevalence of CKDnt was higher in female solar greenhouse workers than in males. The eGFR reduced by 20.0% (19.74 ml/min per 1.73 m2) in the greenhouse worker group compared with that in the field worker group (p < 0.05). Generalized linear analysis showed that the level of eGFR was lower in women than that in men after adjusting for parameters (ß = -10.99 [-12.79, -9.10]). CONCLUSION: Solar greenhouse workers may be at an increased risk of CKDnt, and women are more vulnerable.

The homeostatic malfunction of a novel feedback pathway formed by lncRNA021545, miR-330-3p and epiregulin contributes in hepatocarcinoma progression via mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

A better understanding of tumor metastasis is urgently required for the treatment and prognosis of hepatocarcinoma patients. Current work contributes a novel ceRNA feedback regulation pathway composed of epiregulin (EREG), microRNA-330-3p (miR-330-3p) and long non-coding RNA 021545 (lncRNA021545) in regulating hepatocarcinoma malignancy via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Closely correlated, the deficiencies of EREG and lncRNA021545 and the overexpression of miR-330-3p were involved in the clinical progression of hepatocarcinoma. In vitro results showed that 1) lncRNA021545 downregulation promoted, 2) miR-330-3p dysexpression positively correlated, and 3) EREG dysexpression reversely correlated with the migratory and invasive properties of hepatocarcinoma HCCLM3 and Huh7 cell lines. By directly binding to EREG and lncRNA021545, miR-330-3p expression change reversely correlated with their expressions in HCCLM3 and Huh7 cells, which was also confirmed in primary tumors from HCCLM3-xenograft mice in responding to miR-330-3p change. LncRNA021545 and EREG positively regulated each other, and lncRNA021545 negatively regulated miR-330-3p, while, EREG dysregulation unchanged miR-330-3p expression in hepatocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, systemic in vitro cellular characterizations showed that the malfunctions of the three molecules mediated the invasiveness of hepatocarcinoma cells via EMT process through affecting the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, snail and slug, which was further confirmed by in vivo miR-330-3p promotion on the tumorigenicity and metastasis of HCCLM3 bearing nude mice and by in vitro miR-330-3p promotion on the migration and invasion of hepatocarcinoma cells to be antagonized by EREG overexpression through acting on EMT process. Our work indicates, that by forming a circuit signaling feedback pathway, the homeostatic expressions of lncRNA021545, miR-330-3p and EREG are important in liver health. Its collapse resulted from the downregulations of lncRNA021545 and EREG together with miR-330-3p overexpression promote hepatocarcinoma progression by enhancing the invasiveness of tumor cells through EMT activation. These discoveries suggest that miR-330-3p/lncRNA021545/EREG axis plays a critical role in hepatocarcinoma progression and as a candidate for its treatment.

Ginsenoside Compound K Protects against Obesity through Pharmacological Targeting of Glucocorticoid Receptor to Activate Lipophagy and Lipid Metabolism.

(1) Background: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) plays a key role in lipid metabolism, but investigations of GR activation as a potential therapeutic approach have been hampered by a lack of selective agonists. Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is natural small molecule with a steroid-like structure that offers a variety of therapeutic benefits. Our study validates CK as a novel GR agonist for the treatment of obesity. (2) Methods: By using pulldown and RNA interference, we determined that CK binds to GR. The anti-obesity potential effects of CK were investigated in obese mice, including through whole-body energy homeostasis, glucose and insulin tolerance, and biochemical and proteomic analysis. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we identified GR binding sites upstream of lipase ATGL. (3) Results: We demonstrated that CK reduced the weight and blood lipids of mice more significantly than the drug Orlistat. Proteomics data showed that CK up-regulated autophagy regulatory proteins, enhanced fatty acid oxidation proteins, and decreased fatty acid synthesis proteins. CK induced lipophagy with the initial formation of the phagophore via AMPK/ULK1 activation. However, a blockade of autophagy did not disturb the increase in CK on lipase expression, suggesting that autophagy and lipase are independent pathways in the function of CK. The pulldown and siRNA experiments showed that GR is the critical target. After binding to GR, CK not only activated lipophagy, but also promoted the binding of GR to the ATGL promoter. (4) Conclusions: Our findings indicate that CK is a natural food candidate for reducing fat content and weight.

Associations of organophosphate metabolites with thyroid hormone and antibody levels: findings from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Studies have shown that organophosphate pesticides (OPs) exposure may disrupt thyroid endocrine functions in animal models, agricultural population, occupational workers, and work-related population. However, the relationships between OPs exposure and thyroid hormone levels in the general population are unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationships of OPs exposure with thyroid hormone and antibody levels in the general population. We analyzed a sample of 1089 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002. OPs exposure was estimated using measures of six non-specific dialkyl phosphate metabolites (DAPs), e.g., dimethylphosphate (DMP). Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations of OPs exposure with thyroid hormone and antibody levels. The medians of urinary ∑DAPs detected in males and females were 32.98 nmol/g creatinine and 40.77 nmol/g creatinine, with statistical significance (p = 0.001). After controlling for sociodemographic factors, we found that concentrations of urinary OPs metabolites were positively associated with the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the general US population, particularly in males; OPs metabolites were associated with the serum TgAb, tT3, fT3, and TSH. These findings showed that thyroid hormone and antibody disruption are probably associated with OPs exposure in the general population; more studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Bee Pollen Polysaccharide From Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Rosaceae) Promotes Pancreatic ß-Cell Proliferation and Insulin Secretion.

Insufficient pancreatic ß-cell or insulin-producing ß-cell are implicated in all types of diabetes mellitus. Our previous studies showed bee pollen polysaccharide RBPP-P improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice by inhibiting liver fat deposition. However, its potential of regulating ß-cell function and integrity is not fully known. Herein, we observed that ß-cell proliferation (n = 10), insulin synthesis (n = 5, p = 0.01684) and insulin incretion (n = 5, p = 0.02115) were intensely activated in MIN6 cells when treatment with RBPP-P. In alloxan-induced diabetic mice, oral administration of RBPP-P (n = 10) effectively decreased the blood glucose (p = 0.0326), drink intake (p < 0.001) and urine (p < 0.001). It directly stimulated phosphorylation of p38 (p = 0.00439), ERK (p = 0.02951) and AKT (p = 0.0072) to maintain the islet function and mass. Thus, our data suggest that RBPP-P is a natural compound to regulate ß-cell proliferation and function, indicating it might have therapeutic potential against type 1 diabetes.

Balanced crystalloids versus saline in critically ill patients: The PRISMA study of a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety of balanced crystalloids and saline among critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from the inception dates to May 17, 2020 in order to identify randomized controlled trials which evaluated the safety of balanced crystalloids and saline in critically ill patients. The primary outcome was major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30). The second outcomes included 30-day mortality, ICU mortality, In-hospital mortality, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, creatinine highest before discharge (mg/dl) and needs for renal replacement therapy (RRT). RESULTS: A total of nine randomized controlled trials involving 19,578 critical ill patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The outcomes of this meta-analysis showed that balanced crystalloids treatment shared the same risk of MAKE30 with saline treatment among critical ill patients [RR = 0.95; 95%CI, 0.88 to 1.01; Z = 1.64 (P = .102)]. The clinical mortality which included 30-day mortality [RR = 0.92; 95%CI, 0.85 to 1.01; Z = 1.78 (P = .075)], ICU mortality [RR = 0.92; 95%CI, 0.83 to 1.02; Z = 1.67 (P = .094)] and In-hospital mortality [RR = 0.93; 95%CI, 0.71 to 1.21; Z = 0.55 (P = .585)] were similar between balanced crystalloids treatment and saline treatment among critical ill patients. Patients who received balanced crystalloids treatment or saline treatment needed the same length of ICU stay [WMD = 0.00; 95%CI, -0.09 to 0.10; Z = 0.09 (P = .932)] and hospital stay [WMD = 0.59; 95%CI, -0.33 to 1.51; Z = 1.26 (P = .209)]. Critical ill patients who received balanced crystalloids treatment or saline treatment had the same level of creatinine highest before discharge [WMD = 0.01; 95%CI, -0.02 to 0.04; Z = 0.76 (P = .446)] and needs for RRT [RR = 1.04; 95%CI, 0.75 to 1.43; Z = 0.21 (P = .830)]. Similar results were obtained in subgroups of trials stratified according to the age of patients (children or adults). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with saline, balanced crystalloids could not reduce the risk of MAKE30, 30-day mortality, ICU mortality and in-hospital mortality, could not reduce the length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, the level of creatinine highest before discharge and the needs for RRT among critical ill children and adults. Therefore, it was still too early for balanced crystalloids to replace normal saline among critical ill patients.