MicroRNA-377-3p exacerbates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through suppressing ZFP36L1 expression and inducing lung fibroblast senescence.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading aging related cause of global mortality. Small airway narrowing is recognized as an early and significant factor for COPD development. Senescent fibroblasts were observed to accumulate in lung of COPD patients and promote COPD progression through aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). On the basis of our previous study, we further investigated the the causes for the increased levels of miR-377-3p in the blood of COPD patients, as well as its regulatory function in the pathological progression of COPD. We found that the majority of up-regulated miR-377-3p was localized in lung fibroblasts. Inhibition of miR-377-3p improved chronic smoking-induced COPD in mice. Mechanistically, miR-377-3p promoted senescence of lung fibroblasts, while knockdown of miR-377-3p attenuated bleomycin-induced senescence in lung fibroblasts. We also identified ZFP36L1 as a direct target for miR-377-3p that likely mediated its pro senescence activity in lung fibroblasts. Our data reveal that miR-377-3p is crucial for COPD pathogenesis, and may serve as a potential target for COPD therapy.

Do Human Capital Investment and Technological Innovation Have a Permanent Effect on Population Health? An Asymmetric Analysis of BRICS Economies.

This study examines the asymmetric impact of human capital investment, and technological innovation on population health from the years spanning from 1991 to 2019, by using a panel of the BRICS countries. For this purpose, we have employed the PMG panel NARDL approach, which captures the long-run and short-run dynamics of the concerned variables. The empirical results show that human capital investment and technological innovation indeed happen to exert asymmetric effects on the dynamics of health in BRICS countries. Findings also reveal that increased human capital investment and technological innovation have positive effects on health, while the deceased human capital investment and technological innovation tend to have negative effects on population health in the long run. Based on these revelations, some policy recommendations have been proposed for BRICS economies.

Does Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Affect Workers' Health?

During recent decades, the elevation of workers' health has become the utmost point of concern since it is considered among the primary indicators of economies. The economies, especially the emerging ones, are primarily focusing on every indicator to uplift their businesses. Along with the other aspects, it is also required to assess the impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on workers' health conditions in small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). With this aim, we are presenting a detailed analysis to reveal useful insights regarding the COPD-workers' health nexus. The sample set of 1,008 workers is working in various SMEs in Beijing and Tianjin from September, 2020. The findings infer that a rise in COPD concerning wages will uplift the worker health problems due to COPD affecting worker health. Whereas, the working condition and tools, smoking years, and health safety training have a statistically adverse effect on workers' health concerning wages. The outcomes in terms of insights would be useful for planning future perspectives.

Down-regulation of hsa_circ_0006470 predicts tumor invasion: A new biomarker of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a common cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate the pathogenesis of GC. This study aims to explore its potential as a GC biomarker. METHODS: The expression of hsa_circ_0006470 in GC tissues and GC cell lines was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The diagnostic value of hsa_circ_0006470 was estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression of hsa_circ_0006470 in GC tissues was significantly lower. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0006470 in different TNM stages and different invasion degrees were significantly different. The area under the ROC curve was 0.783, with sensitivity and specificity 0.725 and 0.750, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hsa_circ_0006470 has a high value as a diagnostic biomarker for GC.

Action mechanisms and research methods of tRNA-derived small RNAs.

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), including tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA halves (tiRNAs), are small regulatory RNAs processed from mature tRNAs or precursor tRNAs. tRFs and tiRNAs play biological roles through a variety of mechanisms by interacting with proteins or mRNA, inhibiting translation, and regulating gene expression, the cell cycle, and chromatin and epigenetic modifications. The establishment and application of research technologies are important in understanding the biological roles of tRFs and tiRNAs. To study the molecular mechanisms of tRFs and tiRNAs, researchers have used a variety of bioinformatics and molecular biology methods, such as microarray analysis, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR); Northern blotting; RNA sequencing (RNA-seq); cross-linking, ligation and sequencing of hybrids (CLASH); and photoactivatable-ribonucleoside-enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP). This paper summarizes the classification, action mechanisms, and roles of tRFs and tiRNAs in human diseases and the related signal transduction pathways, targeted therapies, databases, and research methods associated with them.

Astragaloside IV Regulates the PI3K/Akt/HO-1 Signaling Pathway and Inhibits H9c2 Cardiomyocyte Injury Induced by Hypoxia-Reoxygenation.

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is one of the main pharmacologically active compounds found in Astragalus membranaceus. AS-IV has protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), but its mechanism of action has not yet been determined. This study aims to investigate the effect of AS-IV on IRI and its effect on the phosphadylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/heme oxygenase (HO-1) signaling pathway through in vitro experiments. Firstly, a cell culture model of myocardiocyte hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury was replicated. After AS-IV treatment, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as well as the content or activity of the cellular factors lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), were measured to evaluate the effect of treatment with AS-IV. The effect of AS-IV on HO-1 protein expression and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Bach1 protein expression was determined by Western blotting. Finally, a reversal of the effect of AS-IV treatment was observed following co-incubation with a PI3K inhibitor. Our results show that AS-IV has good protective effect on H/R injury and has anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects. It can regulate the expression of Nrf2 and Bach1 proteins in the nucleus and promote the expression of HO-1 protein, while a PI3K inhibitor can partially reverse the above effects. This study suggests that the PI3K/Akt/HO-1 signaling pathway may be a key signaling pathway for the anti-IRI effect of AS-IV.

Nucleos(t)ide analogs improve long-term prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B-associated liver failure.

AIM: Chronic hepatitis B-associated liver failure (CHB-LF) is associated with high mortality. Antiviral therapy with nucleoside and nucleotide analogs (NUCs) has been reported to improve the short-term prognosis of patients with CHB-LF. However, the long-term effects of the therapy remain unclear. We undertook a cohort study to investigate the long-term effect of NUC-based antiviral therapy in patients with CHB-LF. METHODS: A total of 976 patients with CHB-LF were enrolled between January 2001 and December 2009 at the Liver Disease Center of Ningbo No. 2 Hospital (Ningbo, China). The patients were divided into the NUC treatment group (n = 412) and control group (n = 564). The propensity score matching method was used to match the patients between the two groups to equilibrate the covariates. Survival analysis was carried out using the matched samples. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for the analysis of prognostic factors. RESULTS: After propensity matching, 262 pairs were successfully matched. No statistically significant difference was observed in the baseline characteristics of the matching pairs (P > 0.05). The long-term survival rate and survival duration of the NUC treatment group were higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Gender, age, Model for End-stage Liver Disease values, cholinesterase levels, white blood cell counts, hepatic encephalopathy, concomitant infection, and treatment with NUCs were found to be the independent factors associated with long-term prognosis. CONCLUSION: Antiviral therapy with NUCs may reduce the mortality rate and improve the long-term prognosis of patients with CHB-LF.

Sustainability assessment of greenhouse vegetable farming practices from environmental, economic, and socio-institutional perspectives in China.

To provide growing population with sufficient food, greenhouse vegetable production has expanded rapidly in recent years in China and sustainability of its farming practices is a major concern. Therefore, this study assessed the sustainability of greenhouse vegetable farming practices from environmental, economic, and socio-institutional perspectives in China based on selected indicators. The empirical data were collected through a survey of 91 farm households from six typical greenhouse vegetable production bases and analysis of environmental material samples. The results showed that heavy fertilization in greenhouse vegetable bases of China resulted in an accumulation of N, P, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in soil, nutrient eutrophication in irrigation water, and high Cd in some leaf vegetables cultivated in acidic soil. Economic factors including decreased crop yield in conventional farming bases, limited and site-dependent farmers' income, and lack of complete implementation of subsidy policies contributed a lot to adoption of heavy fertilization by farmers. Also, socio-institutional factors such as lack of unified management of agricultural supplies in the bases operated in cooperative and small family business models and low agricultural extension service efficiency intensified the unreasonable fertilization. The selection of cultivated vegetables was mainly based on farmers' own experience rather than site-dependent soil conditions. Thus, for sustainable development of greenhouse vegetable production systems in China, there are two key aspects. First, it is imperative to reduce environmental pollution and subsequent health risks through integrated nutrient management and the planting strategy of selected low metal accumulation vegetable species especially in acidic soil. Second, a conversion of cooperative and small family business models of greenhouse vegetable bases to enterprises should be extensively advocated in future for the unified agricultural supplies management and improved agricultural extension service efficiency, which in turn can stabilize vegetable yields and increase farmers' benefits.

Trace metal accumulation in soil and their phytoavailability as affected by greenhouse types in north China.

Long-term heavy organic fertilizer application has linked greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) with trace metal contamination in north China. Given that trace metals release from fertilizers and their availability may be affected by discrepant environmental conditions, especially temperature under different greenhouses, this study investigated Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn accumulation and contamination extent in soil as well as their phytoavailability under two major greenhouses in Tongshan, north China, namely solar greenhouse (SG) and round-arched plastic greenhouse (RAPG), to evaluate their presumed difference. The results showed significant Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn accumulation in GVP soil by comparing with those in open-field soil, but their accumulation extent and rates were generally greater in SG than those in RAPG. This may be related to more release of trace metals to soil due to the acceleration of decomposition and humification process of organic fertilizers under higher soil temperature in SG relative to that in RAPG. Overall, soil in both greenhouses was generally less polluted or moderately polluted by the study metals. Similarly, decreased soil pH and elevated soil available metals in SG caused higher trace metals in leaf vegetables in SG than those in RAPG, although there was no obvious risk via vegetable consumption under both greenhouses. Lower soil pH may be predominantly ascribed to more intensive farming practices in SG while elevated soil available metals may be attributed to more release of dissolved organic matter-metal complexes from soil under higher temperature in SG. The data provided in this study may assist in developing reasonable and sustainable fertilization strategies to abate trace metal contamination in both greenhouses.

Resistant mutants induced by adefovir dipivoxil in hepatitis B virus isolates.

AIM: To investigate the loci of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV)-induced resistance in hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates and optimize the management of ADV-treated patients. METHODS: Between June 2008 and August 2010, a cross-sectional control study was conducted comprising 79 patients with chronic HBV infection-related liver disease who had been administered ADV monotherapy. Patients underwent liver imaging. Serum DNA extracts were analyzed for HBV DNA levels, genotypes, and serology markers, and deep sequencing of the HBV P gene was performed. RESULTS: ADV-resistant patients were found either with a single mutated locus, or with coexisting mutated loci. The most prevalent mutations were rtA181T, rtV214A, and rtN236T. Twenty-six patients had more than two mutated loci. The mutants were distributed among the patients without any significant affinity for gender, age, end-stage of liver disease, complications of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or HBV DNA levels. Patients with the rtA181T mutant were primarily infected with genotype C and e-antigen negative HBV, while patients with the rtN236T mutant were primarily infected by genotype B HBV (χ(2) = 6.004, 7.159; P = 0.023, 0.007). The duration of treatment with ADV was shorter in the single mutant group compared with the multi-mutant group (t = 2.426, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Drug-resistant HBV mutants are complex and diverse. Patients should receive the standard and first-line antiviral treatment, strictly comply with medication dosage, and avoid short-term withdrawal.

Using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and GIS to assess environmental risk and identify sources of trace metals in soils of peri-urban areas in the Yangtze Delta region, China.

Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry may be very suitable for a fast and effective environmental assessment and source identification of trace metals in soils. In this study, topsoils (0-10 cm) at 139 sites were in situ scanned for total trace metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and arsenic concentrations by PXRF in a typical town in Yangtze Delta region of Jiangsu province, China. To validate the utility of PXRF, 53 samples were collected from the scanning sites for the determination of selected trace metals using conventional methods. Based on trace metal concentrations detected by in situ PXRF, the contamination extent and sources of trace metals were studied via geo-accumulation index, multivariate analysis and geostatistics. The trace metal concentrations determined by PXRF were similar to those obtained via conventional chemical analysis. The median concentration of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in soils were 10.8, 56.4, 41.5, 43.5, 33.5, and 77.7 mg kg(-1), respectively. The distribution patterns of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were mostly affected by anthropogenic sources, while As was mainly derived from lithogenic sources. Overall, PXRF has been successfully applied to contamination assessment and source identification of trace metals in soils.

[Comparison of soil heavy metals determined by AAS/AFS and portable X-ray fluorescence analysis].

Total concentrations of Cu, Pb, As, Cr, Ni and Zn were determined for 53 soil samples using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) system in in-situ and ex-situ (Lab.) conditions. PXRF metal concentrations were statistically compared with analytical results from traditional AAS/AFS analysis. The ability of PXRF instrument to produce comparable analytical results to the reference method was assessed by linear regression. To investgate the effects of soil moisture on PXRF, the in-situ moisture content of all soil samples was quantified and the metal concentrations of selected samples with known moisture contents were measured too. The results showed that the detection limits of PXRF for Cu, Pb, As, Cr, Ni and Zn were 10.6, 8.1, 5.7, 22.5, 21.6 and 10.4 mg kg(-1) respectively. A good degree of linearity was found for Pb, Cr, Ni and Zn in in-situ condition. While in ex-situ condition, quantitative level data were achieved across the entire range of samples tested for Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni and Zn. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was shown to be an effective tool for quantification and rapid assessment of heavy metals in soils. Soil moisture content did affected the performance of PXRF, the mean percent difference for soil samples in-situ with moisture content less than 15% and higher than 25% was -17% and -31% respectively. In ex-situ condition, as the soil moisture content increased from air dried level to 30%, the mean percent difference decreased from 10% to -24%. The dilution effect of moisture in soils may cause discrepancies with conventional analytical results and induce worse data quality, and it should be controlled within 0-25% in in-situ condition.

The impact of greenhouse vegetable farming duration and soil types on phytoavailability of heavy metals and their health risk in eastern China.

Heavy metal contamination in vegetables from greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) in China requires major attention. For GVP sustainability at a large regional level, 441 surface GVP soil and 132 corresponding greenhouse vegetable samples were collected from six typical GVP bases in eastern China to systematically evaluate the impact of GVP duration and soil types (Anthrosols and Cambosols) on phytoavailability of four major metals, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb, and their health risk. The results revealed high Cd accumulation in leaf vegetables grown in Anthrosols, which might pose potential health risk. Regardless of soil types in the study region, greenhouse farming lowered soil pH and enhanced metal availability with rising GVP duration, which might exacerbate Cd phytoavailability and vegetable Cd contamination as well as potential health risk. Also, increased GVP soil organic matter contents over time, found in some locations, affected crop-depending Cu and Zn uptakes. Furthermore, due to GVP, the annual decrease rate of soil pH and increase rates of soil available metal concentrations were generally much greater in Anthrosols than those in Cambosols, which contributed a lot to high Cd uptake by leaf vegetables grown in Anthrosols and their potential health risk. From sustainable GVP perspective, fertilization strategy with reduced frequency and rate is especially important and effective for abating soil and vegetable contamination by heavy metals under greenhouse farming.