A new approach for recycling arsenic and tin from low-grade tin middlings using a self-sulfurization roasting

Massive amounts of low-grade tin middlings have been produced from tin tailings,in which arsenic and tin are worthy to be recycled.Owing to high sulfur content in these tin middlings,a novel self-sulfurization roasting was proposed to transform,separate and recover arsenic and tin in this research.There was no extra curing agent to be added,which decreased the formation of pollutant S-containing gas.The self-sulfurization process involved a two-stage roasting of reduction followed by sulfurization.First in reduction roasting,FeAsS decomposed to FeS and As and the As then transformed to As_(4)(g)and As_(4)S_(4)(g),via which the arsenic was separated and recovered.The arsenic content in the first residue could be decreased to 0.72 wt.%.Accompanied with it,the FeS was firstly oxidized to Fe_(1−x)S and then to SO_(2)(g)by the coexisted Fe_(2)O_(3),and finally reduced and combined with the independent Fe_(2)O_(3)to form Fe_(1−x)S.In the followed sulfurization roasting,the Fe_(1−x)S sulfurized SnO_(2)to SnS(g),due to which tin could be recovered and its content in the second residue decreased to 0.01 wt.%.This study provided an efficient method to separate and recover arsenic and tin from low-grade tin middlings.

Asymptomatic low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm:A case report

BACKGROUND Low-grade appendiceal neoplasms(LAMN)are characterized by low incidence and atypical clinical presentations,often leading to misdiagnosis as acute or chronic appendicitis before surgery.The primary diagnostic tool for LAMN is abdominal computed tomography(CT)imaging.Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of LAMN management,necessitating en bloc tumor excision to minimize the risk of iatrogenic rupture.Laparoscopy,known for its minimal invasiveness,reduced postoperative discomfort,and expedited recovery,is a safe and reliable approach for LAMN treatment.Despite the possibility of pseudomyxoma peritonei development,appendectomy and partial appendectomy generally result in negative tumor margins and favorable outcomes,which can be attributed to the disease’s slow growth and lower malignancy.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a pelvic spaceoccupying lesion detected 1 mo prior.Physical examination showed a soft abdomen without tenderness or rebound and no palpable masses.No shifting dullness was noted,and digital rectal examination revealed no palpable mass.Enteroscopy revealed a raised,smooth-surfaced mass measuring 3.0 cm in the cecum.Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT showed a markedly thickened and dilated appendix with visible cystic shadows.Laparoscopic surgery was performed and revealed a significantly dilated appendix,leading to laparoscopic resection of the appendix and part of the cecum.Post-surgical pathologic analysis confirmed LAMN.The patient received symptomatic and supportive post-operative care and was discharged on postoperative day 4 without complications such as abdominal bleeding,intestinal obstruction,or incision infection.No tumor recurrence was observed during a 7-mo follow-up period.CONCLUSION LAMN is a rare disease that lacks specific clinical manifestations.Abdominal CT plays a crucial role in diagnosing LAMN,and laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Low-grade myofibrosarcoma of the maxillary sinus:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma(LGMS)is an extremely rare tumor characterized by the malignant proliferation of myofibroblasts.LGMS most commonly develops in adults,predominantly in males,in the head and neck region,oral cavity,especially on the tongue,mandible,and larynx.This article presents 2 cases of LGMS localized to the maxillary sinus and provides an overview of the available literature.CASE SUMMARY Two patients with LGMS located in the maxillary sinus underwent surgery at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery.Case 1:A 46-year-old patient was admitted to the clinic with suspected LGMS recurrence in the right maxillary sinus(rT4aN0M0),with symptoms of pain in the suborbital area,watering of the right eye,thick discharge from the right nostril,and augmented facial asymmetry.After open biopsy-confirmed LGMS,the patient underwent expanded maxillectomy of the right side with immediate palate reconstruction using a microvascular skin flap harvested surgically from the middle arm.The patient qualified for adjuvant radiotherapy for the postoperative bed,with an additional margin.Currently,the patient is under 1.5 years of observation with no evidence of disease.Case 2:A 45-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with facial asymmetry,strabismus,exophthalmos,and visual impairment in the right eye.Six months earlier,the patient had undergone partial jaw resection at another hospital for fibromatosis.A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a tumor mass in the postoperative log after an earlier procedure.An open biopsy confirmed lowgrade fibrosarcoma(rT4aN0M0).The patient qualified for an extended total right maxillectomy with orbital excision and right hemimandibulectomy with immediate microvascular reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh flap.The patient subsequently underwent adjuvant radiotherapy to the postoperative area.After 9 months,recurrence occurred in the right mandibular arch below the irradiated area.The lesion infiltrated the base of the skull,which warranted the withdrawal of radiotherapy and salvage surgery.The patient qualified for palliative chemotherapy with a regimen of doxorubicin+dacarbazine+cyclophosphamide and palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases.The patient died 26 months after surgical treatment.The cases have been assessed and compared with cases in the literature.CONCLUSION No specific diagnostic criteria or treatment strategies have been developed for LGMS.The treatment used for LGMS is the same as that used for sinonasal cancer radical tumor excision;adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy should also be considered.They have low malignant potential but are highly invasive,tend to recur,and metastasize to distant sites.Patients should undergo regular follow-up examinations to detect recurrence or metastasis at an early stage.Patients should be treated and observed at the highest referral centers.

Application of NSR-AISC Method in Reserve Estimation and Technical Economic Evaluation of Low-Grade Polymetallic Deposits: Taking a Low-Grade Copper-Molybdenum Mine in Guangdong Province as an Example

The development and utilization of low-grade polymetallic deposits with strategic mineral resources is one of the important measures to alleviate the current high dependence on strategic mineral resources in China. However, domestic mining enterprises and most mining consulting and design institutes usually use general industrial indicators to carry out reserve estimation and technical and economic feasibility studies on low-grade polymetallic deposits, which cannot truly reflect the economic value of such deposits. The article expounds on the definitions of net return value (NSR) and on-site total maintenance cost (AISC) of common ore smelters in the evaluation of overseas mineral resources. Taking a low-grade polymetallic copper-molybdenum mine in Guangdong Province as an example, comparing the research results showed the NSR-AISC method and the general industrial index method in low-grade polymetallic deposit. There are huge differences in the results of reserve estimation;through the further introduction of Taylor’s formula and the research results on the relationship between investment intensity and production scale, a more reasonable mine life and investment scale are recommended, and a more in-depth comparative study has been carried out in the dimension of technical and economic indicators. Based on the comparative study of the above two methods in reserve estimation and the evaluation results of technical and economic indicators, the author believes that the NSR-AISC method can better reflect the true value of low-grade polymetallic ore projects, and should be popularized and applied in resource evaluation and development practice. This article further describes the application status of the NSR-AISC method for reserve estimation and the evaluation of technical economic indicators, and suggests the main points that should be paid attention to in the use of the NSR-AISC method.

TEAD1/TEAD4基因多态性与非贲门胃癌变关系的研究

目的探讨TEA转录因子1(TEAD1)基因单核苷酸多态性(SNP)rs2304733、TEA转录因子4(TEAD4)SNPrs7135838和rs1990330与非贲门胃癌变发病风险的关系。方法采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)检测正常对照组血清样本中抗幽门螺杆菌(Hp)的特异性抗体,根据抗体滴度将470例正常对照组分为Hp感染阴性组(n=223)和阳性组(n=247)。在450例非贲门胃癌病例组和470例对照组中,采用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)技术对各SNP位点进行基因分型,采用非条件性Logistic回归评估各SNP位点与非贲门胃癌变发病风险的关系。结果TEAD1、TEAD4各SNP位点均与Hp感染没有关联;TEAD1 rs2304733与非贲门胃癌的发病风险相关,与携带TT基因型者相比,携带CT基因型及CC基因型者均增加了非贲门胃癌的发病风险(CTvsTT:OR=2.321,95%CI:1.690~3.188;CCvsTT:OR=5.140,95%CI:1.080~24.463);TEAD4 rs1990330与非贲门胃癌发病风险相关,与携带GG基因型者相比,携带GT基因型者增加了非贲门胃癌的发病风险(OR=2.405,95%CI:1.480~3.908);TEAD4 rs7135838与非贲门胃癌的发病风险无关联;TEAD1rs2304733、TEAD4 rs7135838以及rs1990330对非贲门胃癌发病风险存在交互作用(P<0.05)。结论在包头地区汉族人群中,TEAD1 rs2304733、TEAD4 rs1990330在Hp感染中不起主要作用,在非贲门胃癌发病风险中可能起一定作用;TEAD4 rs7135838在Hp感染以及非贲门胃癌发病风险中可能均不起主要作用;TEAD1 rs2304733、TEAD4 rs1990330对非贲门胃癌发病风险的协同效应最强,为最佳交互模型。

Hepatic steatosis,low-grade chronic inflammation and hormone/growth factor/adipokine imbalance

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a further expression of metabolic syndrome, strictly linked to obesity and diabetes mellitus, is characterized by insulin resistance (IR), elevated serum levels of free fatty acids and fatty infi ltration of the liver, which is known as hepatic steatosis. Hepatocyte apoptosis is a key feature of this disease and correlates with its severity. Free-fatty-acidinduced toxicity represents one of mechanisms for the pathogenesis of NAFLD and hormones, growth factors and adipokines influence also play a key role. This review highlights the various pathways that contribute to the development of hepatic steatosis. Circulating concentrations of inflammatory cytokines are reckoned to be the most important factor in causing and maintaining IR. Low-grade chronic inflammation is fundamental in the progression of NAFLD toward higher risk cirrhotic states.

CircFoxo3调节miR-130a-5p/TEAD1轴对心力衰竭大鼠心肌细胞凋亡影响的实验研究

目的探讨环状RNA叉头框蛋白O3(CircFoxo3)调节miR-130a-5p/TEA域转录因子1(TEAD1)轴对心力衰竭(HF)大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法将SD大鼠分为对照组、HF组、si-NC组、si-CircFoxo3组、agomir NC组、miR-130a-5p agomir组、si-CircFoxo3+antagomir NC组、si-CircFoxo3+miR-130a-5p antagomir组,每组18只。除对照组外,其他组大鼠均通过腹腔注射盐酸阿霉素的方法构建HF大鼠模型。建模成功后进行药物处理,每3 d给药一次,持续3周。应用反转录实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)法检测心肌组织中CircFoxo3、miR-130a-5p表达水平。应用彩色多普勒超声仪检测大鼠左室收缩末期内径(LVESD)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、左室射血分数(LVEF)水平。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测大鼠血清人基质裂解素2(ST_(2))、N端脑钠肽前体(NT-pro BNP)水平。应用HE染色、Masson染色检测大鼠心肌组织病理变化和心肌纤维化情况。通过TUNEL染色检测心肌细胞凋亡水平。应用Western blot法检测大鼠心肌组织TEA域转录因子1(TEAD1)、B淋巴细胞瘤-2(Bcl-2)、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bax)、裂解的天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3(cleaved caspase-3)蛋白表达水平。通过双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证CircFoxo3与miR-130a-5p、miR-130a-5p与TEAD1的关系。结果与对照组比较,HF组大鼠心肌组织病理损伤、心肌纤维化严重,LVESD、LVEDD水平上升,心肌组织CircFoxo3及TEAD1、Bax、cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达水平升高,血清ST_(2)、NT-pro BNP水平升高,心肌细胞凋亡率升高,LVEF、miR-130a-5p和Bcl-2蛋白水平降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与HF组、si-NC组比较,si-CircFoxo3组大鼠心肌组织病理损伤减轻,LVESD、LVEDD水平降低,心肌组织CircFoxo3及TEAD1、Bax、cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达水平降低,血清ST_(2)、NT-pro BNP水平降低,心肌细胞凋亡率降低,LVEF、miR-130a-5p及Bcl-2蛋白水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与HF组、agomir NC组比较,miR-130a-5p agomir组大鼠心肌组织病理损伤、心肌纤维化有所改善,LVESD、LVEDD水平降低,心肌组织TEAD1、Bax、cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达水平降低,血清ST_(2)、NT-pro BNP水平降低,心肌细胞凋亡率降低,LVEF、miR-130a-5p及Bcl-2蛋白水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与si-CircFoxo3组、si-CircFoxo3+antagomir NC组比较,si-CircFoxo3+miR-130a-5p antagomir组大鼠心肌组织病理损伤、心肌纤维化加剧,LVESD、LVEDD水平升高,心肌组织TEAD1、Bax、cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达水平升高,血清ST_(2)、NT-pro BNP水平升高,心肌细胞凋亡率升高,LVEF、miR-130a-5p、Bcl-2蛋白水平降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。CircFoxo3与miR-130a-5p、miR-130a-5p与TEAD1存在靶向关系。结论沉默CircFoxo3可能通过海绵化上调miR-130a-5p来抑制TEAD1表达,进而抑制HF大鼠心肌细胞凋亡。

Thermally Chargeable Proton Capacitor Based on Redox-Active Effect for Energy Storage and Low-Grade Heat Conversion

Thermal energy is abundantly available in our daily life and industrial production,and especially,low-grade heat is often regarded as a byproduct.Collecting and utilizing this ignored energy by low-cost and simple technologies may become a smart countermeasure to relieve the energy crisis.Here,a unique device has been demonstrated to achieve high value-added conversion of low-grade heat by introducing redox-active organic alizarin(AZ)onto N-doped hollow carbon nanofibers(N–HCNF)surface.As-prepared N–HCNF/AZ can deliver a high specific capacitance of 514.3 F g^(-1)(at 1 A g^(-1))and an outstanding rate capability of 60.3%even at 50 A g^(-1).Meanwhile,the assembled symmetric proton capacitor can deliver a high energy density of 28.0 Wh kg^(-1) at 350.0 W kg^(-1) and a maximum power density of 35.0 kW kg^(-1) at 17.0 Wh kg^(-1).Significantly,the thermally chargeable proton capacitors can attain a surprisingly high Seebeck coefficient of 15.3 mV K^(-1) and a power factor of 6.02µW g^(-1).Taking advantage of such high performance,a satisfying open-circuit voltage of 481.0 mV with a temperature difference of 54 K is achieved.This research provides new insights into construction of high value-added energy systems requiring high electrochemical performances.

Anlotinib in combination with pembrolizumab for low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of the pancreas: A case report

BACKGROUND Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma(LGMS)is a rare spindle cell sarcoma espe-cially in the pancreas,with myofibroblastic differentiation.Hitherto,only a few cases have been reported.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report a case involving the discovery of a pancreatic mass detected during a routine physical examination.Subsequent imaging and pathological tests of the patient led to the diagnosis of LGMS of the pancreas.Following surgical intervention,the patient experienced recurrence and metastasis.Conventional treatment is not effective for postoperative recurrent pancreatic LGMS with multiple metastases.After communicating with the patients and their families,informed consent was obtained for the treatment of anlotinib combined with pembrolizumab.Evaluation of imaging and clinical symptoms post-treatment revealed a relatively favorable response to the combination of anlotinib and pembrolizumab.CONCLUSION Based on the comprehensive literature review,our report aimed to provide evidence for a better understanding of the disease characteristics,diagnostic criteria,imaging findings,and identification of LGMS.And explore novel treatment strategies for this disease.

Characterization of mulberry leaf instant tea and evaluation of its hypolipidemia effect via regulation of intestinal microbiota

The purpose of this study was to characterize mulberry leaf instant tea(MLIT)powder prepared from the'Longsang No.1'(Morus abla L.cv.Longsang 1)mulberry leaves in Heilongjiang Province(China)and assess its obesity-preventing/relieving effects.A total of 174 compounds including quercetin,chlorogenic acid,1-deoxyecomycin(1-DNJ)related to antihyperlipidemia effects were identified from the MLIT powder.MLIT treatment reversed the Lee's index,fat coefficient,and serum biochemical parameters in both the obesity relieving and obesity preventing mice fed with high-fat diet.In the obesity relieving experiment,the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio in mouse feces decreased after both 0.5%and 1%MLIT treatments.In obesity preventing experiments,mouse with different amount of MLIT treatments showed increased relative abundance of Akkermansia,Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus,while Deferribacteres,Desulfobacterota decreased.The beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract of mice treated with MLIT increased.This study proved that MLIT had antihyperlipidemia potential via modulating intestinal microbiota in mice.

Antibacterial mechanism of kojic acid and tea polyphenols against Escherichia coli O157:H7 through transcriptomic analysis

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the major foodborne pathogenic bacterial that cause infectious diseases in humans.The previous found that a combination of kojic acid and tea polyphenols exhibited better activity against E.coli O157:H7 than using either alone.This study aimed to explore responses underlying the antibacterial mechanisms of kojic acid and tea polyphenols from the gene level.The functional enrichment analysis by comparing kojic acid and tea polyphenols individually or synergistically against E.coli O157:H7 found that acid resistance systems in kojic acid were activated,and the cell membrane and genomic DNA were destructed in the cells,resulting in“oxygen starvation”.The oxidative stress response triggered by tea polyphenols inhibited both sulfur uptake and the synthesis of ATP,which affected the bacteria's life metabolic process.Interestingly,we found that kojic acid combined with tea polyphenols hindered the uptake of iron that played an essential role in the synthesis of DNA,respiration,tricarboxylic acid cycle.The results suggested that the iron uptake pathways may represent a novel approach for kojic acid and tea polyphenols synergistically against E.coli O157:H7 and provided a theoretical basis for bacterial pathogen control in the food industry.

Effect of a Commercial Extract of Green Tea and a Pure Catechin on Two Veillonella strains

The catechin Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate (EGCG) which is found in of Green Tea extracts (GTE), displays a variety of microbicidal properties. It is largely believed that EGCG inhibits the growth of cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria. Objective: In this paper we compared the inhibitory activity of EGCG and a commercial GTE on the growth of Veillonella parvula. Chlorhexidine was used as positive control. Methodology: V. parvula ATCC 10790 and a clinical isolate obtained from a periodontal disease patient were cultured in the presence of EGCG or a commercial GTE, and the measurements of bacterial growth inhibition were compared to the values obtained with 0.12 and 0.2% chlorhexidine. Results: Chlorhexidine inhibited bacterial growth, however in contrast to a previous report, neither EGCG nor the GTE showed any effect on bacterial growth. Conclusions: The data show and confirm that chlorhexidine is a growth inhibitor of V. parvula while EGCG and GTE do not display such effect.

Duplicated chalcone synthase(CHS)genes modulate flavonoid production in tea plants in response to light stress

In tea plants,the abundant flavonoid compounds are responsible for the health benefits for the human body and define the astringent flavor profile.While the downstream mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis have been extensively studied,the role of chalcone synthase(CHS)in this secondary metabolic process in tea plants remains less clear.In this study,we compared the evolutionary profile of the flavonoid metabolism pathway and discovered that gene duplication of CHS occurred in tea plants.We identified three CsCHS genes,along with a CsCHS-like gene,as potential candidates for further functional investigation.Unlike the CsCHS-like gene,the CsCHS genes effectively restored flavonoid production in Arabidopsis chs-mutants.Additionally,CsCHS transgenic tobacco plants exhibited higher flavonoid compound accumulation compared to their wild-type counterparts.Most notably,our examination of promoter and gene expression levels for the selected CHS genes revealed distinct responses to UV-B stress in tea plants.Our findings suggest that environmental factors such as UV-B exposure could have been the key drivers behind the gene duplication events in CHS.

Carbonic anhydrase 2 mediates anti-obesity effects of black tea as thermogenic activator

Obesity is a metabolic disorder due to over-accumulation of adipose tissue and ultimately becomes a“disease”.Brown adipose tissue(BAT)thermogenesis and white adipose tissue(WAT)browning emerge as a potential strategy of anti-obesity by dissipating energy as heat.However,drugs based on adipose tissue thermogenesis have not been successfully approved yet.In current study,we found that black tea extract(BTE)obtained by patentauthorized manufacturing process prevented body weight gain as novel thermogenic activator with reduction of adiposity,improvement of adipose distribution,and glucose metabolism improvement in diet-induced obesity mice.Mechanismly,anti-obesity effect of BTE depends on promoting BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning with upregulation of uncoupling protein 1(UCP1),especially visceral adipose tissue(VAT)with browning resistance.Specifically,utilizing in silico approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking,we identified carbonic anhydrase 2(CA2)in nitrogen metabolism as anti-obesity target of BTE and further elucidated that protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway linked CA2 and UCP1.Meanwhile gut microbiota regulation may prompt the CA2-dependent thermogenesis activation.Our findings demonstrated anti-obesity effect of BTE as thermogenic activator through CA2-mediated BAT thermogenesis and WAT browning via CA2-AKT-UCP1 signaling pathway,which could be developed as promising anti-obesity agent with good safety and efficacy.

Correlation and Pathway Analysis of the Carbon,Nitrogen,and Phosphorus in Soil-Microorganism-Plant with Main Quality Components of Tea(Camellia sinensis)

The contents of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)in soil-microorganisms-plant significantly affect tea quality by altering the main quality components of tea,such as tea polyphenols,amino acids,and caffeine.However,few studies have quantified the effects of these factors on the main quality components of tea.The study aimed to explore the interactions of C,N,and P in soil-microorganisms-plants and the effects of these factors on the main quality components of tea by using the path analysis method.The results indicated that(1)The contents of C,N,and P in soil,microorganisms,and tea plants were highly correlated and collinear,and showed significant correlations with the main quality components of tea.(2)Optimal regression equations were established to esti-mate tea polyphenol,amino acid,catechin,caffeine,and water extract content based on C,N,and P contents in soil,microorganisms,and tea plants(R^(2)=0.923,0.726,0.954,0.848,and 0.883,respectively).(3)Pathway analysis showed that microbial biomass phosphorus(MBP),root phosphorus,branch nitrogen,and microbial biomass carbon(MBC)were the largest direct impact factors on tea polyphenol,catechin,water extracts,amino acid,and caffeine content,respectively.Leaf carbon,root phosphorus,and leaf nitrogen were the largest indirect impact factors on tea polyphenol,catechin,and water extract content,respectively.Leaf carbon indirectly affected tea polyphenol content mainly by altering MBP content.Root phosphorus indirectly affected catechin content mainly by altering soil organic carbon content.Leaf nitrogen indirectly affected water extract content mainly by altering branch nitrogen content.The research results provide the scientific basis for reasonable fertilization in tea gardens and tea quality improvement.

Pattern of Eye Diseases among Tea Workers

Background: Bangladesh’s tea industry is essential to the country’s economic expansion. Since tea workers in Bangladesh are marginalized within our community, they have limited access to comprehensive eye care services. Productivity and well-being are cornerstones of comprehensive health care strategy. Ocular disorders are influenced by life expectancy, sociodemographic status, and the epidemiological transition. In this context, the state of ocular health and the many eye illnesses remain to be significantly addressed. Purpose: To evaluate the pattern of eye diseases among tea workers in a tea estate of Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in Halda Valley Tea Estate, Nazirhat, Fatickchari, Chattogram, Bangladesh, under the supervision of the Department of Community Ophthalmology, BSMMU, following ethical clearance and approval by the IRB board of BSMMU. With informed written consent and approval from the authority of the tea estate, a total of 110 tea workers were recruited. Socio-demographic characteristics, ocular findings, and patterns of eye diseases were determined and recorded. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 39.60 ± 11.63 years. The maximum (58.1%) study participants were 31 - 50 years old, female (64.5%), illiterate (82.7%), and tribal (71.8%) indigenes. Eye diseases were found in 94.5% of workers. Presbyopia (28.2%), cataracts (27.3%), and refractive error (26.4%) were the most common. Tea workers with eye diseases were significantly older than those who did not have any eye diseases (40.20 ± 11.57 vs. 29.17 ± 7.31 years, p Conclusion: A significant number of tea workers had eye diseases, of which presbyopia, cataracts, and refractive error were the most common.

Junshanyinzhen tea extract prevents obesity by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic endotoxemia in high-fat diet fed rats

Obesity is associated with gut dysbiosis and metabolic endotoxin.Junshanyinzhen tea extract(JSTE)reduced fat accumulation and body weight in obese mice.However,the effects and mechanism of JSTE in preventing obesity were unclear.Therefore,we used different doses of JSTE(75,150 and 300 mg/(kg·day))to evaluate the effect on high-fat diet(HFD)-induced rats under 8 weeks of intervention.Here,our results showed that JSTE could significantly reduce body weight gain,blood lipid levels and fat accumulation,improve fatty damage in liver tissue(P<0.05).In addition,JSTE increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins(P<0.05),relieved metabolic endotoxemia(P<0.05)and chronic low-grade inflammation in HFD rats.Sequencing of fecal samples showed that JSTE could effectively reverse the microbial diversity and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes to normal levels in HFD-fed rats.Desulfovibrioceae and Erysipelotrichaceae,which are positively related to obesity,were decreased by JSTE intervention(P<0.05).while Bifidobacteriaceae,Bacteroidaceae,Akkermansia,and Clostridium,which are negatively related to obesity,were increased.Together,these results suggested that JSTE might effectively prevent obesity by modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,metabolic endotoxemia and chronic low-grade infl ammation in HFD-induced rats.

On-site rapid detection of multiple pesticide residues in tea leaves by lateral flow immunoassay

The application of pesticides (mostly insecticides and fungicides) during the tea-planting process will undoubtedly increase the dietary risk associated with drinking tea. Thus, it is necessary to ascertain whether pesticide residues in tea products exceed the maximum residue limits. However, the complex matrices present in tea samples comprise a major challenge in the analytical detection of pesticide residues. In this study, nine types of lateral flow immunochromatographic strips (LFICSs) were developed to detect the pesticides of interest (fenpropathrin, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, pyraclostrobin, and iprodione). To reduce the interference of tea substrates on the assay sensitivity, the pretreatment conditions for tea samples, including the extraction solvent, extraction time, and purification agent, were optimized for the simultaneous detection of these pesticides. The entire testing procedure (including pretreatment and detection) could be completed within 30 min. The detected results of authentic tea samples were confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), which suggest that the LFICS coupled with sample rapid pretreatment can be used for on-site rapid screening of the target pesticide in tea products prior to their market release.

The modulatory effect of oolong tea polyphenols on intestinal flora and hypothalamus gene expression in a circadian rhythm disturbance mouse model

The interaction between host circadian rhythm and gut microbes through the gut-brain axis provides new clues for tea polyphenols to improve host health.Our present research showed that oolong tea polyphenols(OTP)improved the structural disorder of the intestinal flora caused by continuous darkness,thereby modulating the production of metabolites related to pyruvate metabolism,glycolysis/gluconeogenesis,and tryptophan metabolism to alleviate the steady-state imbalance.After fecal microbiota transplantation from the OTP group,the single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that OTP significantly increased the number of hypothalamus cell clusters,up-regulated the number of astrocytes and fibroblasts,and enhanced the expression of circadian rhythm genes Cry2,Per3,Bhlhe41,Nr1d1,Nr1d2,Dbp and Rorb in hypothalamic cells.Our results confirmed that OTP can actively improve the intestinal environmental state as well as internal/peripheral circadian rhythm disorders and cognitive impairment,with potential prebiotic functional characteristics to notably contribute to host health.

Integration of 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach with Traditional Chinese Pulse Diagnosis to Evaluate the Qi-Enhancing Activity of Herbal Tea

Human metabolism is intricately linked to an individual’s health status. Regardless of living habits, it will be reflected in the metabolic characteristics of urine. The utilization of the 1H NMR-based metabolomics method has enabled examine the metabolomic changes in urine under various physiology conditions, providing valuable insights into metabolites. In this particular study, volunteers were divided into two groups based on the strength of their spleen pulses, using the pulse diagnosis method employed in traditional Chinese medicine. Subsequently, their urine samples were analyzed, revealing notable variances in urea, creatinine, citric acid, succinic acid, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), alanine, hippuric acid, and glycine between the two groups. Interestingly, individuals with weak spleen pulses showed significant improvements after consuming herbal tea. Furthermore, we conducted LC-MS analysis on herbal tea and performed adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activity tests on the C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cell line. The results indicated that within a reasonable concentration range, exposure to herbal tea led to an increase in the mitochondrial ATP production capacity of C2C12 cells. These findings shed light on the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis and urine metabolites, highlighting their potential as non-invasive and straightforward health assessment indicators. They can aid in the preliminary determination of necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to enhance overall bodily health.