OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder in overweight and obese children, and its etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear, lacking effective preventive and therapeutic measures. This study aims to explore the association between whole blood copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron levels and NAFLD in overweight and obese children aged 6 to 17 years, providing a scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of early NAFLD in overweight and obese children.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect relevant data from overweight and obese children who visited the Hunan Children\'s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 through questionnaire surveys. Fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects, and various indicators such as blood glucose, blood lipid, and mineral elements were detected. All children were divided into an overweight group (n=400) and a NAFLD group (n=202). The NAFLD group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the ALT level: A non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) group and a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between minerals (copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron) and NAFLD, NAFL and NASH.
RESULTS: A total of 602 subjects were included, of whom 73.6% were male, with a median age of 10 (9, 11) years, and a body mass index (BMI) of 24.9 (22.7, 27.4) kg/m2. The intergroup comparison results showed that compared with the overweight group, the NAFLD group had higher levels of age, BMI, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lower level of high density lipoprotein (HDL). The NAFL group had higher levels of age, BMI, DBP, SBP, ALT, and AST, and lower levels of HDL compared with the overweight group. The levels of age, BMI, DBP, SBP, TG, LDL, ALT, and AST of NASH were higher than those in the overweight group, while the level of HDL was lower than that in overweight group (all P<0.017). After adjusting for a variety of confounders, the OR of NAFLD for the highest quantile of iron was 1.79 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.00) compared to the lowest quantile, and no significant association was observed between copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium, and NAFLD. The subgroup analysis of NAFLD showed that the OR for the highest quantile of iron in children with NAFL was 2.21 (95% CI 1.26 to 3.88), while no significant association was observed between iron level and NASH. In addition, no significant associations were observed between copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium levels and NAFL or NASH.
CONCLUSIONS: High iron level increases the risk of NAFLD (more likely NAFL) in overweight and obese children, while copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and other elements are not associated with the risk of NAFLD in overweight and obese children.
目的: 非酒精性脂肪肝病(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease，NAFLD)是超重肥胖儿童中常见的一种代谢性疾病，其病因和发病机制尚未阐明，缺乏有效的预防和治疗手段。本研究旨在分析6~17岁超重肥胖儿童全血铜、锌、钙、镁、铁与NAFLD的关联，为超重肥胖儿童NAFLD的预防和早期干预提供依据。方法: 采用横断面研究设计，通过问卷调查收集于2019年1月至2021年12月在湖南省儿童医院就诊的超重肥胖儿童的相关资料，采集受试者凌晨空腹血并检测血糖、血脂、微量元素等指标。将超重肥胖儿童分为单纯超重肥胖组(n=400)和NAFLD组(n=202)；根据ALT水平，将NAFLD组划分为单纯性脂肪肝(non-alcoholic fatty liver，NAFL)组和非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(non-alcoholic steatohepatitis，NASH)组2个亚组。采用Logistic回归分析全血铜、锌、钙、镁、铁与NAFLD、NAFL和NASH之间的关联。结果: 共纳入602名研究对象，其中73.6%为男性，年龄为10(9，11)岁，体重指数(body mass index，BMI)为24.9(22.7，27.4) kg/m2。组间比较结果显示：NAFLD组的年龄、BMI、舒张压(diastolic blood pressure，DBP)、收缩压(systolic blood pressure，SBP)、甘油三酯(triglyceride，TG)、低密度脂蛋白(low density lipoprotein，LDL)、谷丙转氨酶(alanine transaminase，ALT)、谷草转氨酶(aspartate aminotransferase，AST)均高于单纯超重肥胖组，高密度脂蛋白(high density lipoprotein，HDL)低于单纯超重肥胖组；NAFL组的年龄、BMI、DBP、SBP、ALT、AST均高于单纯超重肥胖组，HDL低于单纯超重肥胖组；NASH组的年龄、BMI、DBP、SBP、TG、LDL、ALT、AST均高于单纯超重肥胖组，HDL低于单纯超重肥胖组(均P<0.017)。根据各微量元素水平划分为四分位组，在调整混杂因素年龄、性别、BMI、血压、TG、HDL、LDL后，与最低分位组相比，铁元素最高分位组NAFLD的OR值为1.79(95% CI 1.07~3.00)，铜、锌、钙、镁元素与NAFLD均不存在关联。NAFLD亚组分析结果显示：在调整混杂因素后，铁元素最高分位组NAFL的OR值为2.21(95% CI 1.26~3.88)，未发现铁与NASH以及铜、锌、钙、镁与NAFL或NASH之间的关联。结论: 铁水平过高增加超重肥胖儿童NAFLD(更有可能是NAFL)的患病风险，而铜、锌、钙、镁等与超重肥胖儿童NAFLD的患病风险无关。.

Long-term alcohol overconsumption impairs intestinal and hepatic structure and function, along with dysregulation of zinc homeostasis. We previously found that zinc-glutathione (Zn-GSH) complex effectively suppressed alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that Zn-GSH suppresses alcohol-induced liver injury by modulating intestinal zinc transporters. Mice were subjected to long-term ethanol feeding, as per the NIAAA model, with groups receiving either an ethanol diet alone or an ethanol diet supplemented with Zn-GSH. Treatment groups were carefully monitored for alcohol consumption and subjected to a final binge drinking treatment. The results showed that Zn-GSH increased the survival rate and decreased the recovery time from binge drinking-induced drunkenness. Histopathological analyses demonstrated a reduction in liver steatosis and the preservation of intestinal integrity by Zn-GSH. It was observed that Zn-GSH prevented the reduction of Zn and GSH levels while increasing alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in both liver and intestine. Importantly, the expression and protein abundance of zinc transporters ZnT-1, ZIP-1, ZIP-4, ZIP-6, and ZIP-14, all of which are critically involved in intestinal zinc transport and homeostasis, were significantly increased or preserved by Zn-GSH in response to alcohol exposure. This study thus highlights the critical role of Zn-GSH in maintaining intestinal zinc homeostasis by modulating zinc transporters, thereby preventing alcohol-induced intestinal and hepatic injury.

Rising global temperatures and critical energy shortages have spurred researches into CO2 fixation and conversion within the realm of energy storage such as Zn-CO2 batteries. However, traditional Zn-CO2 batteries employ double-compartment electrolytic cells with separate carriers for catholytes and anolytes, diverging from the \"rocking chair\" battery mechanism. The specific energy of these conventional batteries is constrained by the solubility of discharge reactants/products in the electrolyte. Additionally, H2O molecules tend to trigger parasitic reactions at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces, undermining the long-term stability of Zn anodes. In this report, we introduce an innovative \"rocking chair\" type Zn-CO2 battery that utilizes a weak-acidic Zn(OTf)2 aqueous electrolyte compatible with both cathode and anode. This design minimizes side reactions on the Zn surface and leverages the high catalytic activity of the cathode material, allowing the battery to achieve a substantial discharge capacity of 6734 mAh g-1 and maintain performance over 65 cycles. Moreover, the successful production of pouch cells demonstrates the practical applicability of Zn-CO2 batteries. Electrode characterizations confirm superior electrochemical reversibility, facilitated by solid discharge products of ZnCO3 and C. This work advances a \"rocking chair\" Zn-CO2 battery with enhanced specific energy and a reversible pathway, providing a foundation for developing high-performance metal-CO2 batteries.

Soil salinity is a major nutritional challenge with poor agriculture production characterized by high sodium (Na+) ions in the soil. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and biochar have received attention as a sustainable strategy to reduce biotic and abiotic stress. However, there is a lack of information regarding the incorporation of ZnO NPs with biochar to ameliorate the salinity stress (0, 50,100 mM). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potentials of ZnO NPs application (priming and foliar) alone and with a combination of biochar on the growth and nutrient availability of spinach plants under salinity stress. Results demonstrated that salinity stress at a higher rate (100 mM) showed maximum growth retardation by inducing oxidative stress, resulted in reduced photosynthetic rate and nutrient availability. ZnO NPs (priming and foliar) alone enhanced growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange parameters by improving the antioxidant enzymes activity of spinach under salinity stress. While, a significant and more pronounced effect was observed at combined treatments of ZnO NPs with biochar amendment. More importantly, ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar significantly reduced the Na+ contents in root 57.69%, and leaves 61.27% of spinach as compared to the respective control. Furthermore, higher nutrient contents were also found at the combined treatment of ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar. Overall, ZnO NPs combined application with biochar proved to be an efficient and sustainable strategy to alleviate salinity stress and improve crop nutritional quality under salinity stress. We inferred that ZnO NPs foliar application with a combination of biochar is more effectual in improving crop nutritional status and salinity mitigation than priming treatments with a combination of biochar.

UNASSIGNED: Serum trace elements and oxidative stress factors are related to diabetic microvascular complications. The study was to investigate the complex relationship between trace elements, oxidative stress factors, and the severity of microvascular complications of diabetes in older adults.
UNASSIGNED: The present study included patients with or without type 2 diabetes, and blood glucose, blood lipids, trace elements (iron, magnesium, zinc), oxidative stress factors (malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)) were evaluated. Risk factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications in older adults with diabetes were also estimated.
UNASSIGNED: There were statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), MDA, NO, SOD, T-AOC, magnesium, and zinc between the two groups (P<0.05). Iron (rZinc = 0.147, rSOD = 0.180, rT-AOC = 0.193, P < 0.05) was positively correlated with zinc, SOD and T-AOC. Iron was negatively correlated with MDA (rMDA = -0.146, P < 0.05). Magnesium was positively correlated with SOD (rMagnesium = 0.147, P < 0.05). Zinc (rSOD = 0.616, rT-AOC = 0.575, P < 0.01) was positively correlated with SOD and T-AOC. Zinc (rMDA =-0.636, rNO=-0.616, P<0.01) was positively correlated with MDA and negatively correlated with NO. The course of disease (18.653, [5.726; 60.764], P <0.01), FBG (1.265, [1.059; 1.511], P <0.05), HbAlc (1.545, [1.431; 1.680], P <0.01), MDA (2.989, [1.900; 4.702], P <0.01) were risk factor for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications. Zinc (0.680, [0.503; 0.919], P < 0.05) and SOD (0.820, [0.698; 0.964], P < 0.05) were protective factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications.
UNASSIGNED: Serum trace elements are related to oxidative stress levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The more stable trace element in older adults with diabetes, the lower the oxidative stress and the fewer microvascular complications of diabetes.

Dialkyldimethyl ammonium compound (DADMAC) is widely used in daily life as a typical disinfectant and often co-exists with the heavy metal zinc in sewage environments. This study investigated the effects of co-exposure to zinc (1 mg/L) and DADMAC (0.2-5 mg/L) on the performance, bacterial community, and resistance genes (RGs) in a partial sulfur autotrophic denitrification coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (PSAD-Anammox) system in a sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor for 150 days. Co-exposure to zinc and low concentration (0.2 mg/L) DADMAC did not affect the nitrogen removal ability of the PASD-Anammox system, but increased the abundance and transmission risk of free RGs in water. Co-exposure to zinc and medium-to-high (2-5 mg/L) DADMAC led to fluctuations in and inhibition of nitrogen removal, which might be related to the enrichment of heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria dominated by Denitratisoma. Co-exposure to zinc and high concentration DADMAC (5 mg/L) stimulated the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances and increased the proliferation risk of intracellular RGs in sludge. This study provided insights into the application of PSAD-Anammox system and the ecological risks of wastewater containing zinc and DADMAC.

High-strength nitrogen and antibiotics-containing wastewater can be efficiently eliminated by simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis (SDM). Heavy metals and antibiotics are two critical factors that can lead to horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which can be simultaneously detected in wastewater. Unfortunately, the impacts of heavy metals on SDM and antibiotic biodegradation have not been fully elucidated. Herein, the effects of SDM and multiple antibiotics biodegradation, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and protein response mechanisms, and ARG fate under Zn(II) stress were comprehensively evaluated. The results indicated that a high level of Zn(II) (≥5 mg/L) stress significantly decreased the degradation rate of multiple antibiotics and suppressed denitrification and methanogenesis. In addition, Zn(II) exposure prompted the liberation of proteins from microbes into the EPSs, and the combination of EPSs with small molecules quenched the original fluorescent components and destroyed the protein structure. The dominant proteins can bind to both Zn(II) and multiple antibiotics through several types of chemical interactions, including metallic and hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and salt bridges, relieving the toxicity of harmful substances. Moreover, metagenomic sequencing revealed that the abundance of zinc resistance genes (Zn-RGs), ARGs (mainly tetracyclines), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) increased under Zn(II) stress. Mantel test illustrated that the ARGs mecD, tetT, and tetB(60) were most affected by MGEs. Moreover, molecular network analysis revealed that several MGEs can bridge metal resistance genes (MRGs) and ARGs, facilitating the horizontal transfer of ARGs. This study provides theoretical guidance for the environmental risk control of antibiotics-containing wastewater treated by an SDM system.

2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (DPA) is an exceptional biomarker of notorious anthrax spores. Therefore, the rapid, sensitive, and selective quantitative detection of DPA is extremely significant and urgent. This paper reports a Zn(II) metal-organic framework with the formula of {[Zn6(NDA)6(DPBT)3] 2H2O·3DMF}n (MOF-1), which consists of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6-NDA), 4,7-di(4-pyridyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (DPBT), and Zn(II) ions. Structural analysis indicated that MOF-1 is a three-dimensional (3D) network which crystallized in the monoclinic system with the C2/c space group, revealing high pH, solvent, and thermal stability. Luminescence sensing studies demonstrated that MOF-1 had the potential to be a highly selective, sensitive, and recyclable fluorescence sensor for the identification of DPA. Furthermore, fluorescent test paper was made to detect DPA promptly with color changes. The enhancement mechanism was established by the hydrogen-bonding interaction and photoinduced electron transfer transition between MOF-1 and DPA molecules.

The micro-sintering method was used to determine the sintering basic characteristics of iron ore with Zn contents from 0 to 4%, the influence mechanism of Zn on sintering basic characteristics of iron ore was clarified by means of thermodynamic analysis and first-principles calculations. The results showed that (1) increasing the ZnO and ZnFe2O4 content increased the lowest assimilation temperature (LAT) but decreased the index of liquid phase fluidity (ILF) of iron ore. The addition of ZnS had no obvious effect on LAT but increased the LIF of iron ore. (2) ZnO and ZnFe2O4 reacted with Fe2O3 and CaO, respectively, during sintering, which inhibited the formation of silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum (SFCA). The addition of ZnS accelerated the decomposition of Fe2O3 in the N2 atmosphere; however, the high decomposition temperature limited the oxidation of ZnS, so the presence of ZnS had a slight inhibitory effect on the formation of SFCA. (3) The Zn concentrated in hematite or silicate and less distributed in SFCA and magnetite in the form of solid solution; meanwhile, the microhardness of the mineral phase decreased with the increase in Zn-containing solid solution content. As the adsorption of Zn on the SFCA crystal surface was more stable, the microhardness of SFCA decreased more. The decrease in microhardness and content of the SFCA bonding phase resulted in a decrease in the compressive strength of the sinter.

UNASSIGNED: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition defined as a persistent change in kidney structure or function, or both, that compromises human health. Environmental exposure to heavy metals (e.g. cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury) is common, and high exposure levels are known to cause nephrotoxicity. Micronutrients such as selenium and zinc are positively associated with better kidney function and renal outcomes. This study determined the associations between CKD and heavy metal exposures measured in blood or urine within a community-dwelling population, and assessed whether and how selenium and zinc modified the associations.
UNASSIGNED: Data were extracted from 4 cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016 and 2017-2018).
UNASSIGNED: Univariate analysis showed that higher quartiles of plasma lead and cadmium concentration were more likely associated with CKD than the lowest quartile, and along with folate, were linked to greater odds of CKD. Conversely, as plasma selenium and serum zinc increased, the odds of CKD decreased. Multivariate analysis had similar results after adjusting for relevant confounders. Higher plasma cadmium quartiles were associated with higher odds of CKD. Associations between higher quartiles of plasma selenium and serum zinc were significantly associated with lower odds of CKD.
UNASSIGNED: Elevated blood levels of heavy metals increase CKD, whereas elevated concentrations of plasma selenium and serum zinc decrease CKD. A high serum zinc concentration appears to interact with low-toxicity heavy metals to reduce CKD risk. This study suggests that increased selenium and zinc in the body along with avoidance of heavy metal exposures could protect against CKD.