Obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation of white adipose tissue, which can subsequently lead to insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and even diabetes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated as negative regulators controlling diverse biological processes at the level of post-transcriptional repression. miR-146b is an intergenic miRNA that can regulate the inflammatory process by attenuating cytokine signaling via the nuclear factor-κB pathway. In this study, we focused on investigating the expression of miR-146b in mature human adipocytes and their response to proinflammatory cytokines. Our results showed that miR-146b was highly expressed in the mature adipocytes. The mature human adipocytes responded to proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) by highly increasing the expression of miR-146b. We cloned and identified a potential promoter of the transcriptional regulation of miR-146b. Interestingly, a fragment about 950-bp length upstream sequences of miR-146b had apparent transcription activity. In addition, the increase in miR-146b promoter activity by TNF-α and IL-6 was also effectively elevated. Our results indicated that a novel role for miR-146b in adipose tissue inflammation and miR-146b may be an important mediator in the process of obesity complications via its own transcription mechanism.

Organotin compounds are man-made metallic tin complexes with hydrocarbon substituents with broad applications in food packages, pesticides, wood preservatives, antifouling, and anticorrosion paints. Marine environments near harbors often act as sinks receiving various pollutants from urban runoff, industrial discharge, and atmospheric deposition. This study presented a pioneer analysis of butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PhTs) in the Yangtze estuary near one of the largest harbor regions in China. The studied estuary has extensive commercial cargo activities and underdetermined distribution and levels of organotin in sediments and different biota species. Evaluating these factors is essential for determining the risk of exposure and development of future mitigation and possible preventive measures. Seventy-two surface sediments and 13 fish and crab species samples were collected from the Yangtze estuary and its adjacent East China Sea in 2014. BTs and PhTs extracted from samples with ultrasonication treatment were derivatized using sodium tetraethylborate and determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer detector. Maximum concentrations of monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), diphenyltin, and triphenyltin in sediments were 18.1, 8.9, 6.5, 3.9, and 3.7 ng Sn/g dw (dry weight), respectively. Higher organotin concentrations (e.g., 10-26.4 ng Sn/g dw) were found in the sediments close to the wharfs and fishing ports in the Yangtze estuary, Luchao fishing port, and Yangshan harbor. Organotin concentrations were observed to decrease with increasing distance away from coastlines, highlighting the important roles of human activities in organotin compound(OTC) presence and distribution. The butyltin degradation index indicated a rapid degradation rate of TBT and the existence of input sources for MBT and DBT in the study area. Detection rates and concentrations of organotins in biological samples (i.e., Collichthys lucidus and Carassius auratus) from Luchao port were high, which indicated escalated risks for the environment, ecosystems, and human health.

Within the context of cone-ordered topological vector spaces, this paper introduces the concepts of cone bounded point and cone bounded set for vector set. With their aid, a class of new cone quasiconvex mappings in topological vector spaces is defined, and their fundamental properties are presented. The relationships between the cone bounded quasiconvex mapping defined in this paper and cone convex mapping, and other known cone quasiconvex mapping are also discussed.