[Association of polymorphisms in SEC16B, DNAJC27, FTO and MC4R genes with overweight and obesity in Han preschool children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of polymorphisms in SEC16B rs633715, DNAJC27 rs713586, FTO rs11642015 and MC4R rs6567160 with overweight and obesity in Han Chinese preschool children. METHODS: A total of 749 Han Chinese preschool children from Henan and Guizhou Province of Long-term Health Effects Assessment Project of Infants and Toddlers Nutritional Pack were selected for the study and divided into an overweight and obese group and a normal control group in 2022. rs633715, rs713586, rs11642015 and rs6567160 were genotyped using Kompetitive allele-specific PCR(KASP) technology. The distribution of genotypic polymorphisms was compared using the χ~2 test. The association between the four loci and overweight and obesity in preschool children was analyzed using a multifactorial logistic regression model. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed a significant disparity(P<0.05) in the distribution of genotypic polymorphisms of rs633715 and rs6567160 among preschoolers in Henan and Guizhou Province. CC heterozygous mutant and recessive models at rs633715 locus were associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children [OR and 95% CI 2.915(1.163-7.305), and 2.997(1.226-7.323), respectively, both P<0.05]. TC heterozygous mutant and dominant models at rs713586 locus were also associated susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children(OR and 95% CI were 2.362(1.054-5.289)and 2.362(1.054-5.289), respectively, both P<0.05). rs11642015 and rs6567160 loci were not associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children(P>0.05). The result of the analysis of the cumulative effect of rs633715 and rs713586 showed that the number of genotypes carrying the risk genotype was positively associated with the risk of overweight and obesity in preschool children(P_(trend)<0.01). CONCLUSION: Among Han Chinese preschool children, SEC16B rs633715 and DNAJC27 rs713586 were associated with susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children. Moreover, rs633715 and rs713586 had a cumulative effect on susceptibility to overweight and obesity in preschool children, the number of risk genotypes carried was positively associated with childhood overweight and obesity risk.

Relation between Polygenic Risk Score, Vitamin D Status and BMI-for-Age z Score in Chinese Preschool Children.

BACKGROUND: Both genetics and vitamin D deficiency are associated with childhood obesity. However, the role of vitamin D status between polygenic and childhood obesity has been unknown. The current study aimed to determine the relation between genetic factors, vitamin D status, and BMI-for-age z score (zBMI) in Chinese preschool children. METHODS: A total of 1046 participants aged 3.7 to 6.6 years old from the Long-term Health Effects Assessment Project of Infants and Toddlers Nutritional Pack (LHEAPITNP) were included in this study. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was established based on 55 BMI-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) for BMI. Serum 25(OH)D was used as an index of vitamin D status and measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) assay. The Wilcoxon test or Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences of variables between different groups and Spearman correlation analysis was used for analyzing the correlations between the PRS, 25(OH)D levels, and zBMI. RESULTS: The PRS showed a positive relation to zBMI (rs = 0.0953, p = 0.0022) and 25(OH)D showed a negative relation to zBMI (rs = -0.1082, p = 0.0005) in the full-adjustment model. In addition, the differences in zBMI at different vitamin D statuses in the low-risk PRS group and the intermediate-risk PRS group were both statistically significant (plow = 0.0308, pintermediate = 0.0121), the median zBMI was both higher at vitamin D insufficiency status. And the difference in zBMI between different genetic risk groups was also statistically significant at vitamin D sufficiency status (p = 0.0077). Furthermore, genetic risk showed a positive relation to zBMI at vitamin D sufficiency status, and the p for trend was 0.0028. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that vitamin D was related to zBMI negatively in Chinese preschoolers and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may only contribute to lower the zBMI in preschoolers with low and intermediate genetic susceptibility.

Safety assessment of transgenic maize CC-2 by 90-day feeding study in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of transgenic maize CC-2 through a 90-day feeding study in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Transgenic maize CC-2 and its parental counterpart maize Zhengdan 958 were respectively incorporated into diets at levels of 70%, 35% or 17.5% (w/w) and were administrated to rats (n = 10/sex/group) for 90 days. An additional control group of rats (n = 10/sex/group) were fed with the AIN93 breeding diet. All formulated diets were nutritionally balanced. Results: There was no death and obvious toxic symptom in all rats. Food consumption, body weight, total food consumption rate, hematology, urinalysis, organ weight and organ coefficient were comparable between transgenic groups and the corresponding dose parental groups. There were significant differences of food consumption rate on some timepoint between high dose transgenic group and high dose parental group; male rats in high dose transgenic group showed significantly higher ALT/AST than high dose parental group on the middle or end of the experiment; but the differences showed no biological significance. There were no significant differences of other serum biochemistry parameters and pathological changes. Conclusion: The results in this study demonstrated that the transgenic maize CC-2 didn't cause any related toxicity in rats.

The Effects of Ying Yang Bao on Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6-60 Months in Underdeveloped Rural Areas of China.

The Ying Yang Bao (YYB) intervention, a national policy in China, has been implemented for over two decades. Most previous studies have focused only on the short-term effects of YYB, while the long-term effects remain unexplored. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effects of YYB in children aged 6-60 months. A sample of 4666 children was divided into intervention and control groups. Information on basic characteristics, physical examination, YYB consumption, etc., was obtained annually from 2018 to 2021. T-tests or chi-square tests were used to compare differences between the groups for continuous or categorical variables. Children in the intervention group showed greater incremental improvements in hemoglobin levels and physical development (p < 0.05). Prevalence of anemia, underweight, and stunting were lower in the intervention group than in the control group (all p < 0.05). Two-level regression models were constructed to assess the long-term effects of YYB. YYB reduced the risk of anemia and wasting by 37% (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.52-0.75) and 49% (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39-0.67), respectively. This study indicates that YYB could significantly improve the nutritional status of children aged 6-60 months in underdeveloped rural areas of China.

Pillararene-Based Supramolecular Polymers for Adsorption and Separation.

Supramolecular polymers have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their perfect combination of supramolecular chemistry and traditional polymer chemistry. The design and synthesis of macrocycles have driven the rapid development of supramolecular chemistry and polymer science. Pillar[n]arenes, a new generation of macrocyclic compounds possessing unique pillar-shaped structures, nano-sized cavities, multi-functionalized groups, and excellent host-guest complexation abilities, are promising candidates to construct supramolecular polymer materials with enhanced properties and functionalities. This review summarizes recent progress in the design and synthesis of pillararene-based supramolecular polymers (PSPs) and illustrates their diverse applications as adsorption and separation materials. All performances are evaluated and analyzed in terms of efficiency, selectivity, and recyclability. Typically, PSPs can be categorized into three typical types according to their topologies, including linear, cross-linked, and hybrid structures. The advances made in the area of functional supramolecular polymeric adsorbents formed by new pillararene derivatives are also described in detail. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives of PSPs for separation-based materials science are discussed. This review will inspire researchers in different fields and stimulate creative designs of supramolecular polymeric materials based on pillararenes and other macrocycles for effective adsorption and separation of a variety of targets.

Predictive Equation for Basal Metabolic Rate in Normal-Weight Chinese Adults.

This study aimed to develop a predictive equation for basal metabolic rate (BMR) in normal-weight Chinese adults and provide a reference for establishing the national recommended dietary energy intake. A new equation for BMR was derived from a sample of 516 normal-weight Chinese adults (men = 253, women = 263), and this sample was collected from two previous studies. Furthermore, the accuracy of this new equation and eight other previous predictive equations was reviewed. The agreement and reliability were compared in terms of bias, accuracy, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman plots between predictive equations. In addition, the newly developed equation was further verified using a small independent sample, which contained 41 healthy Chinese adults (men = 21, women = 20). The measured BMR (mBMR) of all participants, measured using indirect calorimetry, was 1346.2 ± 358.0 kcal/d. Thirty participants were excluded based on Cook's distance criteria (Cook's distance of ≥0.008). Previous equations developed by Henry, Schofield, Harris-Benedict (H-B), Yang, and Hong overestimated the BMR of healthy Chinese adults. The present equation displayed the smallest average bias (0.2 kcal/d) between the mBMR and predicted basal metabolic rate (pBMR). The limits of agreement of the present equation from Bland-Altman plots were -514.3 kcal/d and 513.9 kcal/d, which is the most narrow and balanced limit of agreement. Moreover, in the verification of the testing database, the pBMR of the new equation was not significantly different from the mBMR, and the accuracy was 75.6%. Compared with pre-existing equations, the present equation is more applicable to the prediction of BMR in healthy Chinese adults. However, further studies are required to verify the accuracy of this new equation.

[Optimization of three-dimensional culture conditions of L02 cells with response surface methodology based on VitroGel system].

OBJECTIVE: This study optimizes three-dimensional(3D)culture conditions of L02 cells using response surface methodology(RSM) based on the VitroGel system to construct the hepatocytes model in vitro. METHODS: L02 cells were 3D cultured by the VitroGel system. The appropriate level of three key factors(concentration of inoculated cells, culture time and dilution degree of the hydrogel) was determined by single-factor experiment, and the optimal conditions of 3D culture of L02 cells based on the VitroGel system were determined by RSM. During the detection process, the optical density(OD) value of cell viability was used as the detection index, and the cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. The proliferative performance and viability of L02 cells was measured by fluorescent staining assay. RESULTS: The selected optimal culture conditions by RSM were as follows: concentration of inoculated cells was 1.1 × 10~5/mL, culture time was 9.5 days, and dilution degree of hydrogel was 1∶3.7. The result shows that under optimal conditions, the predicted OD value of cell viability was 2.17 and measured 2.13 with a relative error of 1.84%, indicating that the condition was suitable and reliable. The fluorescent staining and dead and live cells detection results showed the 3D hepatocytes model was successfully constructed. CONCLUSION: The optimal conditions for 3D culture of L02 cell based on the VitroGel system were determined by RSM, and a hepatocytes model with high cellular activity was successfully constructed.

Extended one generation reproductive toxicity study and effect on gut flora of genetically modified rice rich in ß-carotene in wistar rats.

To evaluate the reproductive toxicity of gene modified rice generated by introducing phytoene synthase (Psy) and bacterial phytoene desaturase (CrtI) from maize and Erwinia uredovora, Wistar rats were allocated into 3 groups and fed with Psy and CrtI gene modified rice mixture diet (GM group), non-gene modified rice mixture diet (non-GM group), and AIN-93 diet (Blank control group) from parental generation (F0) to the offsprings (F1). GM rice, Heijinmi (HJM) and Non-GM rice, Heishuai (HS), were both formulated into diets at ratios of 73.5% and 75.5% according to the AIN93 diet for rodent animals, respectively. Relative to the non-GM group, no biologically relevant differences were observed in GM group rats concerning reproductive performance such as fertility rate, gestation rate, mean duration, hormone level, and reproductive organ pathology. The developmental parameters results were not significantly different from the non-GM group such as body weight, food consumption, developmental neurotoxicity, behavior, hematology, and serum chemistry. In terms of immunotoxicity, the IgG indicators of offspring from the GM group improved in contrast with the non-GM group. Additional gut flora analysis of F0 generation rats resulted as that the treatment elicited an increased gut microflora diversity of F0 rats. And no horizontal gene transfer of Psy and CrtI genes in rats fed a GM rice HJM diet. In conclusion, we found no adverse effects related to GM rice in the extended one-generation reproductive toxicity study, indicating that GM rice is a safe alternative for its counterpart rice regarding reproductive toxicity.

[Prediction equation of physical activity level based on step counts for Chinese adults: development and validation].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a prediction equation for estimation physical activity level(PAL) based on the average daily steps in Chinese adults and to verify its prediction power. METHODS: A total of 800 adults with no restriction on physical activity were recruited. Excluding those who wore Actigragh WGT3X-BT accelerometer continuously for less than 3 days, 743 subjects(324 males, 419 females, mean age 31.4 years) were finally included. Daily steps, time of low intensity physical activity(LPA), moderate physical activity(MPA) and vigorous physical activity(VPA) and physical activity energy expenditure(PAEE) were measured by the accelerometer. The method of external validation was adopted. The measured PAL calculated by basal metabolic rate(BMR) measured by indirect thermography(IC) and total energy expenditure(TEE) measured by doubly labeled water method was used as the gold standard. The consistency of the prediction formula was verified by Bland-Altman analysis and the accuracy was verified by the accurate. RESULTS: The prediction equation was developed: PAL=1.17 + 0.000028 Steps. In the external verification, the mean difference was 0.05, the 95% consistency limit was(-0.26, 0.36), and the accuracy was 73%, indicating a good consistency. CONCLUSION: The prediction formula of PAL for Chinese adults based on the steps has good performance and can be applied to the management of physical activity and the prevention of obesity in Chinese adults.

Analysis of Metabolite Distribution in Rat Liver of High-Fat Model by Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

Hyperlipidemia is a medical condition characterized by elevated levels of blood lipids, especially triglycerides (TG). However, it remains unclear whether TG levels remain consistently elevated throughout the entire developmental stage of the high-lipid state. In our animal experiment, we found that TG levels were significantly higher in the early stage of the high-lipid model but significantly decreased at the 14th week of the late stage, reaching levels similar to those of the control group. This suggests that TG levels in the high-lipid model are not always higher than those of the control group. To determine the reason for this observation, we used in situ mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to detect the distribution of metabolites in the liver of rats. The metabolite distribution of the control rats at different stages was significantly different from that of the model rats, and the high-lipid model differed significantly from the control rats. We identified nine functional metabolites that showed differences throughout the period, namely, PA(20:3-OH/i-21:0), PA(20:4-OH/22:6), PG(20:5-OH/i-16:0), PG(22:6-2OH/i-13:0), PG(O-18:0/20:4), PGP(18:3-OH/i-12:0), PGP(PGJ2/i-15:0), SM(d18:0/18:1-2OH), and TG(14:0/14:0/16:0), among which TG was most significantly correlated with hyperlipidemia and high lipid. This study is unique in that it used MSI to reveal the changes in metabolites in situ, showing the distribution of different metabolites or the same metabolite in liver tissue. The findings highlight the importance of considering the animal's age when using TG as a biomarker for hyperlipidemia. Additionally, the MSI images of the liver in the high-lipid model clearly indicated the distribution and differences of more significant metabolites, providing valuable data for further research into new biomarkers and mechanisms of hyperlipidemia. This new pathway of in situ, visualized, and data-rich metabolomics research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of high lipid and its implications for disease prevention and treatment.

[Serum metabolomics of iron deficiency anemia in infants based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differential metabolites in the serum of infants with iron deficiency anemia(IDA) and non iron deficiency anemia, and to explore the potential biomarkers. METHODS: Non-targeted metabolomics of 30 infants with iron deficiency anemia aged 6-11 months and 30 infants with non iron deficiency anemia aged 6-11 months were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry using Acquity UPLC BEH C_(18) column(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 µm). The differences of metabolites between the two groups were analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA). Differential metabolites were screened according to OPLS-DA variable importance projection(VIP) >1. The related metabolic pathways involved in the markers were analyzed based on the KEGG database. RESULTS: Differences in serum metabolic profiles between iron deficiency anemia group and non iron deficiency anemia group were observed. The 44 potential biomarkers were mainly lipids. Combined with pathway analysis, the metabolic pathways related to different metabolites included glycerophosphingolipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: There are differences in lipid metabolites between infants with non iron deficiency anemia and iron deficiency anemia, suggesting that the occurrence and progress of iron deficiency anemia are related to lipid metabolism.

Trajectories of 24-Hour Physical Activity Distribution and Relationship with Dyslipidemia.

The association between physical activity (PA) and dyslipidemia is well known, but the relationship between a temporal pattern of PA and dyslipidemia remain unknown. Here, we aimed to identify the intensity and temporal patterns of PA clustered by the trajectory model and their relationship with dyslipidemia. The participants were 701 adults (305 males) aged 18−60 years undergoing continuous measurement of PA with Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers for at least 3 days. A trajectory analysis was applied based on moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) accumulated values over every period per day. The association between PA and dyslipidemia was estimated using a logistic regression model. Four distinct PA trajectory groups in the population were identified (continued low, stable and moderate, late increasing, and early increasing). Specifically, the "moderate and stable group" was associated with a decreased rate of high TG (p < 0.05) and the "moderate and stable group" and "late increasing group" were associated with decreased rates of low HDL-C (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there were four activity trajectory groups in this population and the continued low PA trajectory was associated with a high prevalent rate of an abnormal lipid profile, and continued and moderate activity or late afternoon increasing activity might have lower HDL-C distribution.

Effects of the Duration of Ying Yang Bao Consumption on Hemoglobin Concentration in Infants and Young Children in Less Developed Areas of China.

Ying Yang Bao (YYB) is conventionally prescribed as a nutritional supplement to infants and young children (IYC) in less developed areas of China. However, whether 18-month YYB consumption is reasonable needs assessment. This study examined the influence of the duration of YYB consumption on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and anemia prevalence. Data from the Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas of China in 2018-2019 were used. Questionnaires were used to collect information on basic characteristics, dietary status, and YYB consumption. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance confounders. Hb levels and anemia prevalence in IYC with different durations of YYB consumption were compared. After PSM, all covariates were well-balanced, and 1151 pairs of IYC were included in subsequent analyses. During the 1st-9th months of intervention, YYB effectively increased Hb levels and reduced anemia prevalence in the intervention group. During the 10th-18th months of intervention, Hb levels in the control group increased and anemia prevalence decreased, while Hb levels and anemia prevalence fluctuated in the intervention group. In conclusion, YYB was effective in improving nutritional status of infants, but had a limited effect in young children. Nutritional supplements with different quantities or nutrients should be considered for young children.

Effect Assessment of Aurantio-Obtusin on Novel Human Renal Glomerular Endothelial Cells Model Using a Microfluidic Chip.

Cassiae semen is widely used as a raw material of health food. Anthraquinone compounds, the main components in cassiae semen, have been reported to show nephrotoxicity. Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is a major anthraquinone compound extracted from cassiae semen. This study investigates the effects of AO on the morphology and physiological function of human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) on a microfluidic chip device for the first time. HRGECs were cultured on a microfluidic plate and exposed to a series of AO concentrations. Compared with traditional 96-well culture, HRGECs cultured on the microfluidic chip appeared to better mimic the glomerular microenvironment in vivo. AO induced different degrees of damage to cellular morphology and physiological function. The leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), increased in the AO treated groups. At the same time, cell viability and expression of ZO-1 in the AO treated groups decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The innovative device enables direct visualization and quantification to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of AO on HRGECs, and provides a useful visual in vitro model for studying health effect of health food.

Optimization of Three-Dimensional Culture Conditions of HepG2 Cells with Response Surface Methodology Based on the VitroGel System.

Objective: This study optimizes three-dimensional (3D) culture conditions of HepG2 using response surface methodology (RSM) based on the VitroGel system to facilitate the cell model in vitro for liver tissues. Method: HepG2 cell was 3D cultured on the VitroGel system. Cell viability was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay of HepG2 lived cell numbers. The proliferation of HepG2 cell and clustering performance was measured via fluorescence staining test. Albumin concentration in the culture medium supernatant as an index of HepG2 cell biological function was measured with ELISA kit. Independent factor tests were conducted with three key factors: inoculated cell concentration, cultured time, and dilution degree of the hydrogel. The preliminary results of independent factor tests were used to determine the levels of factors for RSM. Result: The selected optimal culture conditions are as follows: concentration of inoculated cells was 4.44 × 10 5/mL, culture time was 4.86 days, and hydrogel dilution degree was 1:2.23. The result shows that under optimal conditions, the predicted optical density (OD) value of cell viability was 3.10 and measured 2.978 with a relative error of 3.94%. Conclusion: This study serves as a reference for the 3D HepG2 culture and constructs liver tissues in vitro. Additionally, it provides the foundation for repeated dose high-throughput toxicity studies and other scientific research work.

Chinese Compilation of Physical Activities in healthy adults aged 18-64: Categories and metabolic intensities.

A Chinese Compilation of Physical Activities was compiled to estimate the energy costs of physical activities (PAs) using data on adults aged 18-64. Data were obtained from published articles and laboratory measurements. Databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ebsco, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, National Science and Technology Report Service, Public Health Scientific Data were searched to collect data from inception to January 2022, on energy expenditure associated with PA in the healthy Chinese population. Two reviewers independently screened the literature and extracted, classified, and summarized data. Data were measured for 36 PAs using indirect calorimetry. Detailed descriptions of specific activities and metabolic equivalent values were provided by summarizing 241 physical activities in 13 categories. The first edition of the Chinese Compilation of PAs in Healthy Adults Aged 18-64(CCPA) was created. It provides valuable resources for people who regularly engage in physical exercise, researchers, educators, fitness professionals, and health or commercial sectors to quickly obtain various PA MET intensities. In the future, the energy expenditure of various PAs of different ages within the Chinese population can be measured based on the CCPA.

Subchronic Toxicity of GmDREB3 Gene Modified Wheat in the Third Generation Wistar Rats.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of GmDREB3 gene modified wheat in the third generation rats. SPF Wistar rats were fed with transgenic wheat diet (Gm), parental wheat diet (Jimai22) and AIN-93 rodent diet (Control), respectively, for two generations, to produce the third generation rats which were used for this study. The selected fresh weaned offspring rats (20/sex/group) were given the same diet as their parents for 13 weeks. No toxicity-related changes were observed in rats fed with Gm diet in the following respects: clinical signs, body weights, body weight gains, food consumption, food utilization rate, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry and histopathology. The results from the present study demonstrated that 13 weeks consumption of Gm wheat did not cause any adverse effects in the third generation rats when compared with the corresponding Jimai22 wheat.

[Gut microbiota in Tibetan, Mongolian and Zhuang children aged 10-12 years old in 2016].

OBJECTIVE: To study the composition of gut microbiota of Tibetan, Mongolian and Zhuang children. METHODS: A total of 100 school-age children aged 10-12 were randomly selected from three ethnic groups in 2016, the Tibetan in Bayi County, Tibet, the Mongolian in Zha Qi, Inner Mongolia, and the Zhuang in Shanglin County, Nanning, Guangxi. Fecal samples were collected for high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to compare the structural differences of gut microbiota of children from the three ethnic groups in the above areas. RESULTS: The result of α diversity analysis showed that the diversity and richness of gut microbiota of children from three ethnic groups in the surveyed area were different in pairwise comparison. The dominant phyla and genera of Tibetan children's gut bacteria are Firmicutes(54.01%), Bacteroidetes(31.13%), Prevotella(15.72%) and Faecalibacterium(15.46%). The dominant phyla and genera of Mongolian children's gut bacteria are Firmicutes(54.89%), Bacteroidetes(17.85%), Proteobacteria(15.99%), Faecalibacterium(20.84%) and Escherichia(17.52%). While in Zhuang children, the dominant phyla and genera are Firmicutes(50.86%), Bacteroidetes(34.74%), Prevotella(18.40%), Bacteroides(17.78%) and Faecalibacterium(14.68%). CONCLUSION: The composition and structure of gut microbiota of Tibetan and Zhuang children in the three regions are similar, while the structure of gut microbiota of Mongolian children is obviously different from those of the first two regions.

Complementary Feeding and Malnutrition among Infants and Young Children Aged 6-23 Months in Rural Areas of China.

This study investigated the nutrition and complementary feeding (CF) of infants and young children (IYC) aged 6-23 months in rural areas of China in 2018 and explored the relationship between CF and nutritional status. We measured the length and weight, calculated the z-scores, and detected micronutrients in the hair. The status of CF was obtained from the respondents by a 24-h dietary recall. IYC were classified into clusters using a two-step cluster analysis. The CF and nutritional status of each cluster were analyzed and compared. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and overweight in the IYC in rural Chinese areas was 7.1%, 3.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The median levels of Ca, Fe, and Zn in hair were 550.10 µg/g, 62.94 µg/g, and 132.86 µg/g, respectively. The prevalence of meeting the requirements of minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 68.9%, 77.9%, and 46.4%, respectively. IYC with a higher prevalence of MDD, MMF, and MAD were more inclined to maintain a healthy status. The prevalence of undernutrition and overweight of 6- to 23-month-old IYC in rural areas of China was low. However, lack of trace elements was evident, and MAD prevalence remained low.

Long non-coding RNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 regulates the function of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes via the microRNA-18a-5p/B-cell translocation gene 3 signaling axis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a perennial inflammatory condition. Preliminary research indicated that long non-coding (lnc)RNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) was downregulated in the serum of RA patients. Our study was designed to reveal the roles of lncRNA CASC2 in RA and the latent mechanisms underlying its role. Bioinformatics method (Starbase) and dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that microRNA (miR)-18a-5p directly interacted with lncRNA CASC2. Furthermore, lncRNA CASC2 and miR-18a-5p expression in the serum samples of RA patients and healthy controls were measured via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Compared with the healthy subjects, lncRNA CASC2 was downregulated, whereas miR-18a-5p was upregulated in patients with RA. Overexpression of lncRNA CASC2 decreased the viability of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLSs) and induced apoptosis, as revealed by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and flow cytometry analyses. Furthermore, the Western blotting assay suggested that Bax was upregulated and Bcl-2 was downregulated in lncRNA CASC2 up-regulated HFLSs. Downregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, and MMP3 levels by lncRNA CASC2 up-regulation was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). However, HFLSs co-transfected with miR-18a-5p mimic exhibited opposite effects compared with the case for the overexpression of lncRNA CASC2. The aforementioned methods were used to verify that a binding site exists between B-cell translocation gene 3 (BTG3) and miR-18a-5p. The effects of miR-18a-5p inhibitor on HFLSs were reversed by BTG3 silencing. Overall, lncRNA CASC2 alleviated RA by adjusting the miR-18a-5p/BTG3 signaling axis and could serve as a novel therapeutic option for RA.