Fig 2: The serum IL-6 level change (?IL-6) due to the intervention mediates the group’s effect on SDMT performance change (?SDMT). Group was the independent variable (experimental = 1, control = 0), ?IL-6 was the mediator variable, and ?SDMT was the dependent variable. Beside each arrow is the bootstrapping confidence interval (CI) of each effect. *p < 0.05.

Fig 3: SNHG16 affected the LPS-mediated lung epithelial cell injury by modulating the miR-128-3p/HMGB3 axis. Normal human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B were transfected with SNHG16 overexpression plasmids and/or miR-128-3p mimics and then treated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. a MTT assay was performed to examine cell viability; b, c Flow cytometry was employed to monitor apoptosis; d–f The expression of TNF-a, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in cells was compared by ELISA; g WB was conducted to compare the levels of the pro-inflammatory proteins NF-?B, MAPK-P38, iNOS and COX2. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 (vs. LPS group); #P < 0.05; ##P < 0.01; ###P < 0.001 (vs. LPS + SNHG16 group). N = 3. All experiments were repeated for three times

Fig 4: Inhibiting SNHG16 protected against LPS-induced lung cell damage. Normal human lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B were transfected with sh-SNHG16 and then treated with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. a qRT-PCR was employed to examine the expression of SNHG16 in BEAS-2B cells transfected with sh-NC or sh-SNHG16; b, c MTT assay and flow cytometry were adopted to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively; d–f The expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-a, IL-1ß and IL-6 was compared by ELISA in the culture medium of BEAS-2B cells; g WB was carried out to verify the levels of the pro-inflammatory proteins p-NF-?B, p-MAPK-P38, iNOS and COX2 in BEAS-2B cells. **P < 0.01; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 (vs. NC group). N = 3. All experiments were repeated for three times

Fig 5: Percentage change in biomarker concentration after the 6-week intervention. Percentage change was compared between groups and linear trend analysis was further assessed. Data represent the mean (SEM) measurements for each group. *P < 0.05 between anthocyanins groups and placebo group as well as linear trend analysis. SEM, standard error of mean; IL-6 indicates interleukin-6; TNF-a, tumor necrosis factor a; CRP: C-reactive protein; IL-10: interleukin-10; 8-iso- PGF2a, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a; 8-OHdG, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine; MDA, malonaldehyde; T-SOD: total superoxide dismutase; UA, uric acid.