DNA Methylation Signatures of Bone Metabolism in Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis Aging-Related Diseases: An Updated Review

DNA methylation is one of the most studied epigenetic mechanisms that play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression. The epigenetic component is strongly involved in aging-bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Both are complex multi-factorial late-onset disorders that represent a globally widespread health problem, highlighting a crucial point of investigations in many scientific studies. In recent years, new findings on the role of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of aging-bone diseases have emerged. The aim of this systematic review is to update knowledge in the field of DNA methylation associated with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, focusing on the specific tissues involved in both pathological conditions.     

基于MF-DCCA 的呼吸道疾病与大气污染物相关性分析

针对呼吸道系统疾病与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列的相关性特征, 应用多重分形消除趋势波动分析法 (MF-DCCA), 对张家界市永定区呼吸道系统疾病患病人数与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列进行了研究。结果发现该地区 呼吸道系统疾病患病人数与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度的相关性具有长期持续特征和多重分形特征。随后对它们相关性 多重分形特征的动力来源进行了分析, 通过随机重排和相位随机处理, 结果表明在不同时间尺度上的长期持续性影响 是其主要动力来源。进一步研究发现该地区呼吸道系统疾病与大气 PM2:5、 SO2 浓度序列的相关性在四个季节均具 有长期持续性的多重分形特征, 且夏季多重分形特征相对强于其他季节。     

High Levels of the Cleaved Form of Galectin-9 and Osteopontin in the Plasma Are Associated with Inflammatory Markers That Reflect the Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia

Numbers of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increased rapidly worldwide. Plasma levels of full-length galectin-9 (FL-Gal9) and osteopontin (FL-OPN) as well as their truncated forms (Tr-Gal9, Ud-OPN, respectively), are representative inflammatory biomarkers. Here, we measured FL-Gal9, FL-OPN, Tr-Gal9, and Ud-OPN in 94 plasma samples obtained from 23 COVID-19-infected patients with mild clinical symptoms (CV), 25 COVID-19 patients associated with pneumonia (CP), and 14 patients with bacterial infection (ID). The four proteins were significantly elevated in the CP group when compared with healthy individuals. ROC analysis between the CV and CP groups showed that C-reactive protein had the highest ability to differentiate, followed by Tr-Gal9 and ferritin. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that Tr-Gal9 and Ud-OPN but not FL-Gal9 and FL-OPN, had a significant association with laboratory markers for lung function, inflammation, coagulopathy, and kidney function in CP patients. CP patients treated with tocilizumab had reduced levels of FL-Gal9, Tr-Gal9, and Ud-OPN. It was suggested that OPN is cleaved by interleukin-6-dependent proteases. These findings suggest that the cleaved forms of OPN and galectin-9 can be used to monitor the severity of pathological inflammation and the therapeutic effects of tocilizumab in CP patients.     

Phenotypic Discovery of SB1501, an Anti-obesity Agent,through Modulating Mitochondrial Activity

Obesity has become a pandemic that threatens the quality of life and discovering novel therapeutic agents that can reverse obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders are necessary. Here, we aimed to identify new anti-obesity agents using a phenotype-based approach. We performed image-based high-content screening with a fluorogenic bioprobe (SF44), which visualizes cellular lipid droplets (LDs), to identify initial hit compounds. A structure-activity relationship study led us to yield a bioactive compound SB1501, which reduces cellular LDs in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without cytotoxicity. SB1501 induced the expression of gene products that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Daily treatment with SB1501 improved the metabolic states of db/db mice by reducing body fat mass, adipose tissue mass, food intake, and increasing glucose tolerance. The anti-obesity effect of SB1501 may result from perturbation of the PGC-1α–UCP1 regulatory axis in inguinal white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. These data suggest the therapeutic potential of SB1501 as an anti-obesity agent via modulating mitochondrial activities.     

Flavonoids: Nutraceuticals for Rheumatic Diseases via Targeting of Inflammasome Activation

Inflammation, an innate immune response that prevents cellular damage caused by pathogens, consists of two successive mechanisms, namely priming and triggering. While priming is an inflammation-preparation step, triggering is an inflammation-activation step, and the central feature of triggering is the activation of inflammasomes and intracellular inflammatory protein complexes. Flavonoids are natural phenolic compounds predominantly present in plants, fruits, and vegetables and are known to possess strong anti-inflammatory activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids has long been demonstrated, with the main focus on the priming mechanisms, while increasing numbers of recent studies have redirected the research focus on the triggering step, and studies have reported that flavonoids inhibit inflammatory responses and diseases by targeting inflammasome activation. Rheumatic diseases are systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that primarily affect joints and connective tissues, and they are associated with numerous deleterious effects. Here, we discuss the emerging literature on the ameliorative role of flavonoids targeting inflammasome activation in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.     

非热杀菌技术在低温鸡肉制品致病菌控制中的应用研究进展

由于低温鸡肉制品具有较好的感官品质，能够保留鸡肉原有的营养，成为我国肉制品发展的一个趋势。低温鸡肉制品水分含量和pH值较高，在加工和贮藏过程中极易受到食源性致病菌的污染，影响产品的质量安全，甚至引发食源性疾病，因此采用合适的杀菌技术来解决致病菌的污染是低温鸡肉制品贮藏保鲜需要解决的关键问题。由于热杀菌技术不适合用于低温鸡肉制品的灭菌，非热杀菌技术的应用就显得尤其重要。目前，应用在低温鸡肉制品加工中的非热杀菌技术主要包括超高压、辐照、超声、低温等离子体、脉冲紫外线、脉冲电场和脉冲微波。本文主要综述以上7 种非热杀菌技术的杀菌机制以及在不同低温鸡肉制品加工应用时对致病菌的控制效果，为未来非热杀菌技术在低温肉制品加工中的应用提供参考。     

贵州省干线公路沥青路面典型病害研究

"十二五"期间,随着贵州省交通建设的飞速发展,干线公路的里程及施工质量也迅速提高。但同时,干线公路沥青路面出现了许多早期病害,并且病害种类也更加多样化。本文对贵州省9个地市的干线公路沥青路面进行了系统调查,并就路面典型病害的成因进行了分析。     

2015—2018年上海市浦东新区食源性疾病主动监测病原学及流行病学特征分析

目的 了解上海市浦东新区特定病原体食源性疾病的流行趋势和特征,为制定食源性疾病防控策略提供参考。方法 采集2015—2018年于上海市浦东新区开展食源性疾病主动监测的数据,2家哨点医院采集以腹泻症状为主诉感染病例的粪便或肛拭子标本,进行副溶血性弧菌、沙门菌、志贺菌、致泻大肠埃希菌、空肠弯曲菌和诺如病毒检验,同时对患者进行相关信息采集、分析。结果 共监测和采集2 871例腹泻病例的粪便或肛拭子标本,病原体总体检出率为23.55%(676/2 871),其中,诺如病毒为20.04%(97/484)、致泻大肠埃希菌为11.84%(340/2 871)、空肠弯曲菌为7.21%(68/943)、副溶血性弧菌为4.01%(115/2 871)、沙门菌为3.27%(94/2 871)、志贺菌为0.28%(8/2 871)；第三季度的病原体检出率较高,呈现较明显的夏秋季高峰；可疑食物主要是混合/多种食品(41.12%,278/676),其次为水产动物及其制品(22.19%,150/676)和肉与肉制品(10.95%,74/676)。结论 诺如病毒和致泻大肠埃希菌是上海市浦东新区腹泻病例的主要病原体,应进一步完善食源性疾病主动监测,对特定病原体阳性病例开展流行病学个案调查,为开展有效防控提供技术支持。