Abstract Background: UVB irradiation can cause acute damage such as sunburn, or photoaging and melanoma, all of which are major health threats. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of skin photoaging induced by UVB radiation in mice through the analysis of the differential expression of miRNAs. Methods: A UVB irradiation photoaging model was constructed. HE and Masson special stains were used to examine the modifications in the epidermis and dermis of mice. The miRNA expression profiles of the mouse skin model exposed to UVB radiation and the normal skin of mice were analyzed using miRNA-sequence analysis. GO and Pathway analysis were employed for the prediction of miRNA targets. Results: A total of 23 miRNAs were evaluated for significantly different expressions in comparison to normal skin. Among them, 7 miRNAs were up-regulated and 16 were down-regulated in the skin with photoaging of mice exposed to UVB irradiation. The differential expression of miRNA is related to a variety of signal transduction pathways, among which mmu-miR-195a-5p and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathways are crucial. There was a significant differential expression of miRNA in the skin of normal mice in comparison with the skin with photoaging induced by UVB irradiation. Study limitations: Due to time and energy constraints, the specific protein level verification, MAPK pathway exploration, and miR-195a-5p downstream molecular mechanism need to be further studied in the future. Conclusions: UVB-induced skin photoaging can be diagnosed and treated using miRNA.

Abstract Childhood asthma is a common chronic airway disease, and its severe form remains a challenging. Taraxasterol, a pentacyclic-triterpene isolated from Taraxacum officinale, has been shown to have anti-allergic property. However, the effects of taraxasterol on the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and the involved mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the functional role and potential molecular mechanism of taraxasterol in TGF-β1-induced ASMC proliferation and migration. Our results showed that taraxasterol significantly suppressed the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced proliferation and migration of ASMCs. In addition, exposure of ASMCs to taraxasterol dramatically increased the expressions of contractile markers smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and myocardin, whereas expressions of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins type I collagen (Col I) and fibronectin were reduced in TGF-β1-stimulate ASMCs. Further studies revealed that taraxasterol suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in TGF-β1-stimualted ASMCs. Notably, p38 MAPK agonist P79350 reversed the protective effects of taraxasterol on ASMCs. In conclusion, these findings indicated that taraxasterol inhibits TGF-β1-induced proliferation and migration of ASMCs through inactivation of p38/STAT3 signaling pathway.

In this study, three subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs) at different aeration were set up to study the transport of pore-water oxygen and quantify the amount of trapped gas. Bromide and dissolved oxygen were introduced into SWISs as partitioning tracer and non-partitioning tracer, respectively. A model named CXTFIT based on the convection diffusion equation was used to describe the shape of breakthrough curves for bromide and dissolved air in column experiments. In CXTFIT code, the parameter β obtained from the bromide test ranging from 0.2940 to 0.7600 indicates that the physical non-equilibrium model was relatively suitable for dissolved air transport. Retardation factors obtained by CXTFIT code indicate 2-20% porosity filled with gas. Tracing the transport of air and determining the percentage of porosity filled with trapped gas has lain a foundation for further study on gas clogging in SWISs.

Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the understanding, attitude and use of nutrition label among consumers in China. Methods: a cross-sectional survey with a self-structured questionnaire was conducted among 1153 consumers, who were recruited from different supermarkets during March to May 2014 in Wuhu city of china. Results: the result shows that the subjective understanding of nutrition labels was moderate (62.8% of respondents) but the objective understanding was varied. The attitudes toward nutrition label was positive in participates who had a higher confidence and satisfaction of nutrition label. 59.2% of the respondents indicated 'sometimes' and 28.7% 'always' reading nutrition label. The most frequently reading of nutrition label food was milk (57.5%), followed by infant food (33.3%), and nutrient was protein 51.5%, vitamin (49.8%) and fat (29.4%). None of demographic characteristics was associated with the understanding, attitude and use of nutrition label except education. Conclusions: participates of our study had a moderate understanding, positive attitude and higher frequent using nutrition label. Although the code of nutrition label became mandatory, more additional strategies for nutrition label are still needed, so as to improve consumers' the cognition of nutrition label.

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el conocimiento, la actitud y el uso de la etiqueta nutricional entre los consumidores en China. Métodos: estudio transversal con un cuestionario estructurado que fue realizada entre 1.153 consumidores, que fueron reclutados a partir de diferentes supermercados durante marzo a mayo de 2014 en la ciudad de Wuhu de China. Resultados: el resultado muestra que la comprensión subjetiva de las etiquetas nutricionales fue moderada (el 62,8% de los encuestados), pero el objetivo entendimiento fue variado. Las actitudes hacia la etiqueta nutricional fueron positivas en aquellos participantes con mayor confianza y satisfacción en las mismas. Respecto a la lectura de las etiquetas, el 59,2 % de los encuestados contestó que "a veces" y el 28,7 % que "siempre". La lectura de la etiqueta nutricional de alimentos que con mayor frecuencia se realizó fue la de la leche (57,5%), seguida por la alimentación infantil (33,3%), proteínas y nutrientes (51,5%), vitaminas (49,8%) y grasas (29,4%). Ninguna de las características demográficas se asoció con el conocimiento, la actitud y el uso de la etiqueta nutricional, excepto la educación. Conclusiones: Las personas que participaron en nuestro estudio tenían una comprensión moderada, mostrando una actitud más positiva aquellos que la utilizan con más frecuencia. Aunque la etiqueta nutricional se convirtió en obligatoria, aún son necesarias estrategias adicionales, así como fomentar su conocimiento por parte de los consumidores.