Increasing evidence from experimental research suggests that exposure to microcystins (MCs) may induce lipid metabolism disorder. However, population-based epidemiological studies of the association between MCs exposure and the risk of dyslipidemia are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study involving 720 participants in Hunan Province, China, and evaluated the effects of MCs on blood lipids. After adjusting the lipid related metals, we used binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression models to examine the associations among serum MCs concentration, the risk of dyslipidemia and blood lipids (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)). Moreover, the additive model was used to explore the interaction effects on dyslipidemia between MCs and metals. Compared to the lowest quartile of MCs exposure, the risk of dyslipidemia [odds ratios (OR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46, 3.53] and hyperTG (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.79, 5.05) in the highest quartile was significantly increased, and showed dose–response relationships. MCs were positively associated with TG level (percent change, 9.43%; 95% CI: 3.53%, 15.67%) and negatively associated with HDL-C level (percent change, −3.53%; 95% CI: −5.70%, −2.10%). In addition, an additive antagonistic effect of MCs and Zn on dyslipidemia was also reported [relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) = −1.81 (95% CI: −3.56, −0.05)], and the attributable proportion of the reduced risk of dyslipidemia due to the antagonism of these two exposures was 83% (95% CI: −1.66, −0.005). Our study first indicated that MCs exposure is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia in a dose–response manner.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to cognitive impairment (CI), but there have been no effective pharmacotherapies or drugs for cognitive dysfunction in T2DM. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a natural flavonoid compound extracted from the leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata and has various pharmacological effects including anti-oxidant and anti-diabetes. Thus, we investigated the effects of DHM on CI in T2DM mouse model and its possible mechanism. To induce T2DM, mice were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks, followed by a low dose streptozotocin (STZ) administration. After the successful induction of T2DM mouse model, mice were treated respectively with equal volume of saline (T2DM group), 125 mg/kg/d DHM (L-DHM group), or 250 mg/kg/d DHM (H-DHM group). After 16 weeks of DHM administration, the body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (IPGT), and cognitive function were determined. Then, alterations in the expressions of oxidative stress markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus were investigated. Our findings demonstrated that DHM could significantly ameliorate CI and reverse aberrant glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM mice, likely through the suppression of oxidative stress and enhancement of BDNF-mediated neuroprotection. In conclusion, our results suggest that DHM is a promising candidate for the treatment of T2DM-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of depression in college students and determine how social support and healthy lifestyle factors are associated with depression in this population. Design A cross-sectional design. Setting A comprehensive university in Changsha, Hunan, South China. The study was conducted from May to June 2019. Participants A total of 541 students at the comprehensive university. Primary and secondary outcome measures The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) were used to evaluate depression, social support and lifestyles, respectively, and analyse the mutual relationships among them. Results Among the 541 participants, 161 (29.8%) experienced depressive symptoms, and there were significant gender-related and academic discipline-related differences in self-rated depression. The average social support score was 38.06 (38.06±7.52). The average HPLP-II score was 71.09 (71.09±11.47). A monofactor analysis showed that depression was correlated with social support and a healthy lifestyle. As demonstrated by logistic regression analysis, being a woman (OR=2.613, 95% CI: 1.541 to 4.43), inadequate social support (OR=0.912, 95% CI: 0.877 to 0.948), poor nutrition (OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.775 to 0.977) and lack of self-actualisation (OR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.572 to 0.724) were significantly correlated with depression. Conclusions Owing to the high prevalence of depression among Chinese university students, educational institutions must take measures such as providing compulsory mental health education courses and improving the psychological counselling services available to students.

正确评价HER2基因表达的状况对于肿瘤的施治具有重要的指导意义。以往的评价大多基于免疫组织化学法, 但结果变异性大。本研究旨在探讨实时定量PCR 2-ΔΔCt法检测非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)HER2基因表达的可行性。 采用实时定量PCR 2-ΔΔCt法同时检测212例肺癌组织和与其匹配的非肿瘤组织HER2基因的表达, 评价过表达水平。 肺癌组织中HER2基因的表达水平高于非肿瘤组织(T=67, P < 0.05), HER2基因的过表达率为34.0%。 实时定量PCR 2-ΔΔCt法用于检测NSCLC HER2基因的表达是可行的。

The ongoing threat of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) underscores the need for new antiviral treatments, yet drug targets and candidate therapies are limited. Calculating the centrality, conservation, and immunogenicity of MPXV proteins in the network to identify viral drug targets. Constructing the MIP-human protein interaction network and identifying key human proteins as potential drug targets through network topology analysis. We constructed a comprehensive protein–protein interaction (PPI) network between MPXV and humans, using data from the P-HIPSTer database. This network included 113 viral proteins and 2 607 MPXV-interacting human proteins (MIPs). We identified three MPXV proteins (OPG054, OPG084, and OPG190) as key targets for antiviral drugs, as well as 95 critical MIPs (most interacting MIPs, MMIPs) within the MPXV–human PPI network. Further analysis revealed 31 MMIPs as potential targets for broad-spectrum antiviral agents, supported by their involvement in other viral interactions. Functional enrichment of MIPs indicated their roles in infection and immune-related pathways. In total, we identified 112 drugs targeting MPXV proteins and 371 drugs targeting MMIPs, with fostamatinib, trilostane, and raloxifene being able to inhibit both viral and host proteins. This work provides critical insights into MPXV–human interactions and supports the development of targeted antiviral therapies.

A growing body of evidence indicates that microcystins (MCs) exposure may cause metabolic diseases. However, studies exploring the effects of MCs exposure on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans are currently lacking, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study in central China to explore the effect of serum MCs on MetS, and assessed the mediation effects of the inflammation biomarker, white blood cell (WBC) level, in this relationship. The relationships among MCs and WBC level and risk of MetS were assessed using binary logistic and linear regression. Mediation analysis was used to explore possible mechanisms underlying those associations by employing R software (version 4.3.1). Compared to the lowest quartile of MCs, the highest quartile had an increased risk of MetS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19, 3.70), with a dose–response relationship (p for trend < 0.05). WBCs mediated 11.14% of the association between serum MCs and triglyceride (TG) levels, but did not mediate the association of MCs exposure with MetS. This study firstly reveals that MCs exposure is an independent risk factor for MetS in a dose–response manner, and suggests that WBC level could partially mediate the association of MCs exposure with TG levels.