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Yang M, Wang R, Wei L, Liu H, Wang Y, Tang H, Liu Q, Tang Z. PLA plastic particles disrupt bile acid metabolism leading to hepatic inflammatory injury in male mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 732:150410. [PMID: 39032413 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), are ubiquitous environmental pollutants with unclear implications for health impact. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms of PLA-induced inflammatory liver injury, focusing on disturbance of bile acid metabolism. The in vitro PLA exposure experiment was conducted using HepG2 cells to assess cell viability, cytokine secretion, and effects on bile acid metabolism. In vivo, male C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to PLA for ten days continuously, liver function and histopathological assessment were evaluated after the mice sacrificed. Molecular analyses including quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting, were applied to evaluate the expression of bile acid metabolizing enzymes and transporters. PLA exposure resulted in decreased cell viability in HepG2 cells, increased inflammation and altered bile acid metabolism. In mice, PLA exposure resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, impaired liver function, increased hepatic inflammation, altered bile acid profiles, and dysregulated expression of bile acid metabolic pathways. PLA exposure disrupts bile acid metabolism through inhibition of the CYP7A1 enzyme and activation of the FGF-JNK/ERK signaling pathway, contributing to liver injury. These findings highlight the potential hepatotoxic effects of environmentally friendly plastics PLA and underscore the need for further research on their biological impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiting Yang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Ruirui Wang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Lisi Wei
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Han Liu
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Yutian Wang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Huanwen Tang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Qizhan Liu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Zhi Tang
- Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
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Tastet V, Le Vée M, Verger A, Brandhonneur N, Bruyère A, Fardel O. Lack of effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on activity and expression of human drug transporters. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 111:104563. [PMID: 39260711 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) constitute emerging and widely-distributed environmental contaminants to which humans are highly exposed. They possibly represent a threat for human health. In order to identify cellular/molecular targets for these plastic particles, we have analysed the effects of exposure to manufactured polystyrene (PS) MPs and NPs on in vitro activity and expression of human membrane drug transporters, known to interact with chemical pollutants. PS MPs and NPs, used at various concentrations (1, 10 or 100 µg/mL), failed to inhibit efflux activities of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters P-glycoprotein, MRPs and BCRP in ABC transporter-expressing cells. Furthermore, PS particles did not impair the transport of P-glycoprotein or BCRP substrates across intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers. Uptake activities of solute carriers (SLCs) such as OCT1 and OCT2 (handling organic cations) or OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1, OAT1 and OAT3 (handling organic anions) were additionally not altered by PS MPs/NPs in HEK-293 cells overexpressing these SLCs. mRNA expression of ABC transporters and of the SLCs OCT1 and OATP2B1 in Caco-2 cells and human hepatic HepaRG cells were finally not impaired by a 48-h exposure to MPs/NPs. Altogether, these data indicate that human drug transporters are unlikely to be direct and univocal targets for synthetic PS MPs/NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Tastet
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Marc Le Vée
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Alexis Verger
- Univ Rennes, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes), UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Nolwenn Brandhonneur
- Univ Rennes, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes), UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Arnaud Bruyère
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Olivier Fardel
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes 35000, France.
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Tsochatzis ED, Gika H, Theodoridis G, Maragou N, Thomaidis N, Corredig M. Microplastics and nanoplastics: Exposure and toxicological effects require important analysis considerations. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32261. [PMID: 38882323 PMCID: PMC11180319 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) pervade both the environment and the food chain, originating from the degradation of plastic materials from various sources. Their ubiquitous presence raises concerns for ecosystem safety, as well as the health of animals and humans. While evidence suggests their infiltration into mammalian and human tissues and their association with several diseases, the precise toxicological effects remain elusive and require further investigation. MPs and NPs sample preparation and analytical methods are quite scattered without harmonized strategies to exist at the moment. A significant challenge lies in the limited availability of methods for the chemical characterization and quantification of these contaminants. MPs and NPs can undergo further degradation, driven by abiotic or biotic factors, resulting in the formation of cyclic or linear oligomers. These oligomers can serve as indicative markers for the presence or exposure to MPs and NPs. Moreover, recent finding concerning the aggregation of oligomers to form NPs, makes their analysis as markers very important. Recent advancements have led to the development of sensitive and robust analytical methods for identifying and (semi)quantifying these oligomers in environmental, food, and biological samples. These methods offer a valuable complementary approach for determining the presence of MPs and NPs and assessing their risk to human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil D Tsochatzis
- Department of Food Science, CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Foods, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark
- FoodOmicsGR Research Infrastructure, AUTh Node, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Helen Gika
- FoodOmicsGR Research Infrastructure, AUTh Node, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Biomic AUTh, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
- School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Theodoridis
- FoodOmicsGR Research Infrastructure, AUTh Node, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Biomic AUTh, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Niki Maragou
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Thomaidis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Milena Corredig
- Department of Food Science, CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Foods, Agro Food Park 48, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark
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Wiklund L, Pípal M, Weiss J, Beronius A. Exploring a mechanism-based approach for the identification of endocrine disruptors using Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) : A perfluorooctane sulfonic acid case study. Toxicology 2024; 504:153794. [PMID: 38580097 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) pose a serious threat to human health and the environment and require a comprehensive evaluation to be identified. The identification of EDs require a substantial amount of data, both in vitro and in vivo, due to the current scientific criteria in the EU. At the same time, the EU strives to reduce animal testing due to concerns regarding animal welfare and sensitivity of animal studies to adequately detect adverse effects relevant for human health. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant that is suspected to be an ED based on academic research, however it is not identified as such from a regulatory perspective. It has previously been shown that PFOS has the potential to cause neurotoxicity as well as affect the thyroid system, and it is known that specific thyroid hormone levels are critical in the development of the brain during. In this work, the aim was to evaluate a mechanism-based approach to identify ED properties of PFOS based on the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework and using New Approach Methods (NAMs), by comparing this approach to an ED assessment based on the currently available guidance document. An AOP network (AOPN) was generated for the thyroid modality, and AOPs leading to developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) were identified. A literature search and screening process based on the AOPN, and systematic review methodology, was performed, followed by a rigorous Weight-of-Evidence (WoE) assessment. Evidence was mapped back onto the AOPN used for the literature search, to identify possible endocrine Modes-of-Action (MoAs) for PFOS and data gaps in the two assessments. It could be concluded that PFOS fulfils the criteria for ED classification in the standard ED assessment, but not in the mechanism-based assessment. The need for quantitative information, such as quantitative AOPs, for the mechanism-based approach is discussed. The possibility of a directly neurotoxic alternative MoA was also highlighted based on available in vitro data. Opportunities and challenges with implementing AOPs and NAMs into the regulatory assessment of EDs, and assessing hazard in the Next Generation Risk Assessment, is discussed. This case study exploring the mechanism-based approach to ED identification represents an important step toward more accurate and predictive assessment of EDs based on AOPs and NAMs, and to the Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus Wiklund
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Marek Pípal
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana Weiss
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Beronius
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ma L, Wu Z, Lu Z, Yan L, Dong X, Dai Z, Sun R, Hong P, Zhou C, Li C. Differences in toxicity induced by the various polymer types of nanoplastics on HepG2 cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170664. [PMID: 38311080 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The problem of microplastics (MPs) contamination in food has gradually come to the fore. MPs can be transmitted through the food chain and accumulate within various organisms, ultimately posing a threat to human health. The concentration of nanoplastics (NPs) exposed to humans may be higher than that of MPs. For the first time, we studied the differences in toxicity, and potential toxic effects of different polymer types of NPs, namely, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) on HepG2 cells. In this study, PET-NPs, PVC-NPs, and PS-NPs, which had similar particle size, surface charge, and shape, were prepared using nanoprecipitation and emulsion polymerization. The results of the CCK-8 assay showed that the PET-NPs and PVC-NPs induced a decrease in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and their lowest concentrations causing significant cytotoxicity were 100 and 150 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the major cytotoxic effects of PET-NPs and PVC-NPs at high concentrations may be to induce an increase in intracellular ROS, which in turn induces cellular damage and other toxic effects. Notably, our study suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs may induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. However, no relevant cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, and apoptotic toxic effects were detected in HepG2 cells with exposure to PS-NPs. Furthermore, the analysis of transcriptomics data suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs could significantly inhibit the expression of DNA repair-related genes in the p53 signaling pathway. Compared to PS-NPs, the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes were down-regulated to a greater extent by PET-NPs and PVC-NPs. In conclusion, PET-NPs and PVC-NPs were able to induce higher cytotoxic effects than PS-NPs, in which the density and chemical structure of NPs of different polymer types may be the key factors causing the differences in toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zijie Wu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zifan Lu
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Linhong Yan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Xiaoling Dong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zhenqing Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Ruikun Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Pengzhi Hong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chunxia Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chengyong Li
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Tropical Ocean Environment in Western Coastal Water, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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De Boever S, Devisscher L, Vinken M. Unraveling the micro- and nanoplastic predicament: A human-centric insight. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170262. [PMID: 38253106 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Micro- and nanoplastics are vast anthropogenic pollutants in our direct surroundings with a robust environmental stability and a potential for a long-lasting and increasing global circulation. This has raised concerns among the public and policy makers for human health upon exposure to these particles. The micro- and nanoplastic burden on humans is currently under debate, along with criticism on the experimental approaches used in hazard assessment. The present review presents an overview of the human-relevant aspects associated with the current micro-and nanoplastic burden. We focus on environmental circulation and the estimation of exposure quantities to humans, along with a state-of-the-art overview of particle accumulation in over 15 human organs and other specimen. Additionally, data regarding particle characteristics used in toxicity testing was extracted from 91 studies and discussed considering their environmental and human relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sybren De Boever
- Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Lindsey Devisscher
- Gut-Liver Immunopharmacology Unit, Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Liver Research Centre Ghent, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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Hu Y, Shen M, Wang C, Huang Q, Li R, Dorj G, Gombojav E, Du J, Ren L. A meta-analysis-based adverse outcome pathway for the male reproductive toxicity induced by microplastics and nanoplastics in mammals. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133375. [PMID: 38160553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The male reproductive toxicity of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) has attracted great attention, but the latent mechanisms remain fragmented. This review performed the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) analysis and meta-analysis in 39 relevant studies, with the AOP analysis to reveal the cause-and-effect relationships of MPs/NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity and the meta-analysis to quantify the toxic effects. In the AOP framework, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the molecular initiating event (MIE), which triggered several key events (KEs) at different levels. At the cellular level, the KEs included oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, sperm DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and autophagy of testicular cells, repressed expression of steroidogenic enzymes and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, and gut microbiota alteration. These KEs further induced the reduction of testosterone, impaired blood-testis barrier (BTB), testicular inflammation, and impaired spermatogenesis at tissue/organ levels. Ultimately, decreased sperm quality or quantity was noted and proved by meta-analysis, which demonstrated that MPs/NPs led to a decrease of 5.99 million/mL in sperm concentration, 14.62% in sperm motility, and 23.56% in sperm viability, while causing an increase of 10.65% in sperm abnormality rate. Overall, this is the first AOP for MPs/NPs-mediated male reproductive toxicity in mammals. The innovative integration of meta-analysis into the AOP analysis increases the rigorism of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinchu Hu
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Meidi Shen
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chongkun Wang
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qifang Huang
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ruiqiong Li
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Gantuya Dorj
- School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Enkhjargal Gombojav
- School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Jiwei Du
- Nursing Department, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518040, China
| | - Lihua Ren
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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