Determination of aconitum alkaloids in acute poisoning case by electromembrane extraction.

In this work, electromembrane extraction (EME) was used for the first time to separate aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (Mes-AC) and hypaconitine (Hyp-AC) from biological samples and Chinese herbal medicines. Efficient EME of polar and high molecular weight aconitine alkaloids from different sample matrices was achieved with the solvent of 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene (ENB). Under the optimal EME conditions, EME provided recoveries for all targets in the range of 72%-74 %, 85%-103 % and 92%-94 % for whole blood, urine and aqueous samples. The proposed EME systems combined with LC-MS/MS and HPLC-UV were evaluated using different sample matrices, and the methods displayed satisfactory analytical characteristic including negligible matrix effect. The LOD and LOQ of AC, Mes-AC, and Hyp-AC by EME-LC-MS/MS were in the range of 0.002-0.068 ng/mL and 0.005-0.228 ng/mL respectively. The LOD and LOQ of AC, Mes-AC, and Hyp-AC by EME-HPLC-UV were in the range of 0.06-0.26 µg/mL and 0.20-0.86 µg/mL, respectively. The coefficient of determination, R2-value was ≥0.9926 for all cases, and the accuracy in the linear ranges was in the range of 91%-111 %. Finally, the method was successfully applied for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of AC and Mes-AC in the whole blood and herbal medicine dreg samples from an actual forensic case, and poisoning by aconitum alkaloids was identified as the cause of death. Therefore, we believe that EME could be a powerful tool to identify poisoning, and EME has great potential for efficient separation of polar and high molecular weight substances. These are of great importance in the fields of but not limited to forensic science, Traditional Chinese Medicine and clinics.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Using Yeast as a Supporting Substrate.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have gained significant attention as artificial receptors due to their low cost, mild operating conditions, and excellent selectivity. To optimize the synthesis process and enhance the recognition performance, various support materials for molecular imprinting have been explored as a crucial research direction. Yeast, a biological material, offers advantages such as being green and environmentally friendly, low cost, and easy availability, making it a promising supporting substrate in the molecular imprinting process. We focus on the preparation of different types of MIPs involving yeast and elaborate on the specific roles it plays in each case. Additionally, we discuss the advantages and limitations of yeast in the preparation of MIPs and conclude with the challenges and future development trends of yeast in molecular imprinting research.

What matters the adherence with BP 24-hr self-monitoring wearable device among hypertensive patients? A population-based survey.

Wearable mobile health (mHealth) technologies are a convenient and cost-effective community-based intervention to improve management of hypertension in resource-limited populations. This study was designed to evaluate user characteristics of blood pressure (BP) wearable technology among a community-based population in a rural area of China. During the period of April through July 2018, a self-monitoring intervention program for hypertension control was implemented in a remote area of central China. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey which included demographic characteristics, Technology Fluency, the Compliance of Hypertensive Patients' Scale, and the Health-related Quality of Life Survey. Participants were given a wearable BP-monitoring device which wirelessly uploaded data and monitored for 1 month. Participants (n = 317) were 64.57 years (SD = 11.68), 53.94% were male. During the 30-day monitoring, 52.68% of the sample uploaded BP wristband data daily were identified as "BP device users." No differences existed between device users and nonusers related to cardiovascular health measurements, technology fluency, and health-related quality of life. Device users were more likely to report a higher level of hypertension compliance. Individuals reporting a higher level of compliance in hypertension management are more likely to interact with a wearable BP-monitoring device than persons with lower levels of compliance. Further evaluation of mobile health systems involving a wearable device as part of a hypertension management program is needed in a resource-limited community-based setting.

Prevalence and co-infection of schistosomiasis/hepatitis B among rural populations in endemic areas in Hubei, China.

BACKGROUND: Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and schistosomiasis are important public health problems in China. Concurrent infection between HBV and schistosomiasis is often observed in areas where schistosomiasis is endemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and HBV in schistosomiasis-affected areas, to explore whether schistosomiasis patients are more susceptible to HBV and to determine if the prevalence of HBV in high-endemic areas of schistosomiasis is higher than in low-endemic areas. METHODS: A total of 6526 participants from 13 villages in Hubei province were included in a cross-sectional study and blood samples were collected and examined. Qualitative variables were compared between groups using Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: Of the 6526 participants, the overall prevalence was 8.27% for schistosomiasis and 2.67% for HBV. The prevalence of hepatitis B among participants who were Schistosoma antibody positive (25.37%) was higher than the prevalence in participants who were Schistosoma antibody negative (0.62%; χ2=1169.358, p<0.001, odds ratio 54.659). We also observed that there was no difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B between males and females in areas where schistosomiasis was endemic (χ2=1.827, p=0.177), but the prevalence of hepatitis B in middle-aged people was higher than in other age groups (χ2=47.877, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between schistosomiasis and HBV infection. However, more work is needed to find the causal relationship between schistosomiasis and HBV infection.

Sleep Quality and Its Associated Factors among Low-Income Adults in a Rural Area of China: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited population-based research focusing on sleep quality among low-income Chinese adults in rural areas. This study aimed to assess sleep quality among low-income adults in a rural area in China and identify the association between sleep quality and sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. METHODS: The study was conducted from September to November in 2017 using a cross-sectional survey questionnaire. A total of 6905 participants were recruited via multistage, stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Chinese versions of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Food Frequency Questionnaire, while we also determined the sociodemographic profiles of the participants. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 58.71 ± 14.50 years, with 59.7% being male, while the mean duration of daily sleep was 5.95 ± 1.31 h, with 56.7% reportedly experiencing poor sleep quality. Multiple regression analysis revealed that older age, unemployment, lower income, disability and chronic disease comorbidities were significant factors associated with an increased risk of poor sleep quality for both genders. Moreover, married and higher education level were associated with decreased risk of poor sleep quality for females, while a meat-heavy diet and illness during the past two weeks increased the risk of poor sleep quality for males. CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors had an impact on the frequently poor sleep quality of low-income Chinese adults in rural areas. Thus, comprehensive measures must be developed to address the modifiable predictive factors that can possibly enhance sleep quality.

Quercetin Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Iron Uptake and Myocardial Injury by Regulating the Angiotensin II-L-Type Calcium Channel.

SCOPE: Increased iron deposition in the myocardium in alcoholics may lead to increased risk of cardiac dysfunction. Quercetin has been demonstrated to quench production of intracellular free iron-induced -OH, but the effect of quercetin in ethanol-induced cardiac damage remains unclear. This study aims to explore whether quercetin attenuates ethanol-induced iron uptake and myocardial injury by regulating angiotensin II-L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (Ang II-LTCC). METHODS AND RESULTS: Adult male C57BL/6J mice are isocalorically pair-fed either a regular or ethanol-containing Lieber De Carli liquid diets supplemented with either quercetin (100 mg kg-1  bw) or desferrioxamine mesylate (DFO, 100 mg kg-1 bw) for 15 weeks. Quercetin alleviated ethanol-induced histopathological changes, creatine kinase isoenzyme release, Ang II secretion, ROS generation, total cardiac iron, and labile iron level. Ethanol exposure or quercetin intervention fails to regulate traditional iron transporters except LTCC. LTCC is upregulated by ethanol and inhibited by quercetin. In H9C2 cell, LTCC is increased by ethanol (100 mm) and/or Ang II (1 µm) concomitant with iron disorders and oxidative stress. This effect is partially normalized by quercetin (50 µm), nifedipine (LTCC inhibitor, 15 µm), or losartan (Ang II receptor antagonist, 100 µm). CONCLUSION: Alcohol-induced cardiac injury is associated with excessive NTBI uptake mediated by Ang II-LTCC activation which may be mediated by quercetin against ethanol cardiotoxicity.