Occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is an emerging public health concern, because of their potential adverse health effects. In this study, concentrations of 21 legacy and alternative PFASs in paired serum and urine samples collected from 163 workers (from five waste recycling plants) were analyzed. The results showed that the average concentration of 21 PFASs in urine samples (66.6 ng mL^-1) were higher than in serum (31.3 ng mL^-1). Concentrations of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) in urine were also considerably higher than perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs), especially for short-chain PFCAs. Demographic factors (such as sex, age, working age, and job assignment) on PFAS exposure were also assessed based on the obtained results. PFAS concentrations in serum samples from males were significantly higher than in females, and working age was positively (p < 0.05) associated with most PFAS serum levels. Higher levels of PFAS were found in sorters than in workers with other job assignments, such as managers, suggesting that sorters may be directly exposed to PFASs. Interestingly, perfluorophosphonates (PFPAs) were first to be detected in human urine with >80% detection frequency. The average level of three PFPAs in the serum (7.58 ng mL^-1) and urine (1.45 ng mL^-1) samples appeared to be higher in comparison with most PFCAs and PFSAs. Thus, the toxicity of PFPAs in human beings needs to be further studied.

Chronic cough is very common in respiratory clinics, and no effective drugs are available. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. ( S. chinensis ), an important traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively prescribed for patients with a persistent cough. Preliminary research indicated that 95% ethanol extracts (EE) of S. chinensis showed remarkable antitussive activity in guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). To find out the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis , EE was divided into four fractions according to the polarity: petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (ECE), n -butyl alcohol extract, and residue extract. The antitussive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of the four fractions were evaluated in a guinea pig model of cough hypersensitivity induced by CS exposure. Eighteen main constituents of the two effective fractions, PEE and ECE, were identified using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography electronic spray ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The cough inhibition activities of compound 1 , 3 , 9 , 10 , 17 were evaluated on citric acid induced acute cough guinea pigs. The results showed that the antitussive activity of EE was almost all contained in PEE and ECE. The 16 major peaks in PEE were identified as 15 lignans (1–12 and 14–16) and 1 triterpene (compound 13 ), and 3 major peaks (1, 17, and 18) in ECE were also identified as lignans. Three doses of five compounds brought about a significant decrease in number of cough efforts ( P < .01), and the cough inhibition rates were between 40.9% and 85.1%. Therefore, lignans are the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis .

Objective: To explore activity and mechanism of naringin in the treatment of PIC (Post-Infectious Cough) by virtue of network pharmacology and animal studies. Methods: The targets associated with naringin were obtained from the SwissTargetPrediction and Super-PRED databases. Disease-related targets were collected from GeneCards and OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man). Venny was utilized to identify the overlapping targets between naringin and the disease. PPI (Protein–Protein Interaction) networks for disease-related targets were constructed using STRING and Cytoscape 3.10.1. GO (Gene Ontology) functional annotation and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analyses were performed with Metascape. Molecular docking between key targets and naringin was conducted using AutoDock Vina. In the animal experiments, PIC models were established in guinea pigs via intranasal inoculation with A/PR/8 virus, and cough frequency was measured after citric acid-induced coughing. Morphological changes in lung tissue and airways were assessed using the HE (Hematoxylin–Eosin) staining method. The relative expression levels of IL-8 (Interleukin-8), IL-1β (Interleukin-1β), TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha), and NF-κB p65 (Nuclear Factor Kappa-B p65 Subunit) mRNA were analyzed by RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction). SOD (Superoxide Dismutase) activity in lung tissue was measured using a colorimetric assay. Results: After screening, naringin may contribute to the treatment of post-infectious cough by targeting proteins expressed by core genes such as HSP90AA1 (HSP 90-Alpha), TLR4 (Toll-like Receptor 4), MTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin), HIF1A (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Alpha), and NF-κB1 (Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Subunit 1). KEGG enrichment analysis revealed involvement in pathways including the HIF-1 (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1) signaling pathway and the PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) expression and PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1) checkpoint pathway in cancer. Molecular docking results indicated that naringin exhibited strong binding affinity with HSP90AA1, TLR4, MTOR, HIF1A, NF-κB1, NOS3 (Nitric Oxide Synthase 3), and GRB2 (Growth Factor Receptor-Bound Protein 2). In animal experiments, compared to the normal group, guinea pigs in the model group exhibited a significantly higher number of coughs, pronounced lung tissue hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Additionally, the relative expression of IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB p65 mRNA was significantly increased, while lung tissue SOD activity was decreased. Treatment with naringin significantly reduced the number of coughs, attenuated pathological changes in lung tissue, lowered the lung index, decreased the relative expression of IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB p65 mRNA, and significantly increased SOD activity in lung tissue compared to the model group. Conclusion: Naringin shows therapeutic potential to alleviate PIC symptoms in a guinea pig model through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.