Characteristic structures of liquid crystal monomers in EI-MS analysis and the potential application in suspect screening

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are of emerging concern due to their ubiquitous presence in indoor and outdoor environments and their potential negative impacts on human health and ecosystems. Suspect screening approaches have been developed to monitor thousands of LCMs that could enter the environment, but an updated suspect list of LCMs is difficult to maintain given the rapid development of material innovations. To facilitate suspect screening for LCMs, in-silico mass fragmentation model and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSPR) models were applied to predict electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of LCMs. The in-silico model showed limited predictive power for EI mass spectra, while the QSPR models trained with 437 published mass spectra of LCMs achieved an acceptable absolute error of 12 percentage points in predicting the relative intensity of the molecular ion, but failed to predict the mass-to-charge ratio of the base peak. A total of 41 characteristic structures were identified from an updated suspect list of 1606 LCMs. Multi-phenyl groups form the rigid cores of 85% of LCMs and produce 154 characteristic peaks in EI mass spectra. Monitoring the characteristic structures and fragments of LCMs may help identify new LCMs with the same rigid cores as those in the suspect list.

Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of antibiotics in a typical aquaculture area around the Dongzhai Harbor mangrove forest on Hainan Island

The trees of the Dongzhai Harbor mangrove forest suffer from antibiotic contamination from surrounding aquaculture areas. Despite this being one of the largest mangrove forests in China, few studies have focused on the antibiotic pollution status in these aquaculture areas. In the present study, the occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of 37 antibiotics in surface water and sediment samples from aquaculture areas around Dongzhai Harbor mangrove forests were analyzed. The concentration of total antibiotics (∑antibiotics) ranged from 78.4 ng/L to 225.6 ng/L in surface water (except S14-A2) and from 19.5 ng/g dry weight (dw) to 229 ng/g dw in sediment. In the sediment, the concentrations of ∑antibiotics were relatively low (19.5-52.3 ng/g dw) at 75 % of the sampling sites, while they were high (95.7-229.0 ng/g dw) at a few sampling sites (S13-A1, S13D, S8D). The correlation analysis results showed that the Kd values of the 9 antibiotics were significantly positively correlated with molecular weight (MW), Kow, and LogKow. Risk assessment revealed that sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in surface water and SMX, enoxacin (ENX), ciprofloxacin (CFX), enrofloxacin (EFX), ofloxacin (OFX), and norfloxacin (NFX) in sediment had medium/high risk quotients (RQs) at 62.5 % and 25-100 %, respectively, of the sampling sites. The antibiotic mixture in surface water (0.06-3.36) and sediment (0.43-309) posed a high risk at 37.5 % and 66.7 %, respectively, of the sampling sites. SMX was selected as an indicator of antibiotic pollution in surface water to assist regulatory authorities in monitoring and managing antibiotic pollution in the aquaculture zone of Dongzhai Harbor. Overall, the results of the present study provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the characteristics of antibiotics in the aquaculture environment around the Dongzhai Harbor mangrove system and provide a theoretical basis for the source control of antibiotics in mangrove systems.

Evaluating the causal effect of atherosclerosis on the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and atherosclerosis are two common age-related conditions that can cause significant morbidity. While previous studies have suggested an association between the two conditions, the nature of this association remains unclear.

Methods

We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between IDD and atherosclerosis. We identified genetic variants associated with IDD using summary statistics from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS). These variants were then used as instrumental variables to infer causal relationships with atherosclerosis in summary statistics from a separate GWAS.

Results

Our MR analysis provided evidence for a causal relationship between IDD and atherosclerosis. We found that the genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis was associated with a higher risk of IDD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-11.74, p = 0.04). The IVW estimates were consistent with the observational findings and other robust MR methods. Sensitivity analyses suggested that our findings were robust to potential sources of bias.

Conclusions

Our study provides evidence for a causal link between IDD and atherosclerosis, suggesting that interventions targeting atherosclerosis could have potential benefits for reducing the risk of IDD. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms that link these two conditions and to investigate potential therapeutic interventions.

The non-causative role of abnormal serum uric acid in intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization study

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that contributes significantly to disability and healthcare costs. Serum urate concentration has been implicated in the development of various musculoskeletal conditions. While previous observational studies have suggested an association between the two conditions, it might confound the effect of serum urate concentrations on IDD. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between serum urate concentration and IDD.

Methods

We performed a two-sample MR analysis using summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of serum urate concentration (n = 13 585 994 European ancestry) and IDD (n = 16 380 337 European ancestry). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with serum urate concentration (p < 5 × 10-8) were selected as instrumental variables. The associations between genetically predicted serum urate concentration and IDD were estimated using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, with sensitivity analyses employing the weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO approaches to assess the robustness of the findings.

Results

In the primary IVW analysis, genetically predicted serum urate concentration was unrelated associated with IDD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.00, p = 0.17)). The results remained consistent across the sensitivity analyses, and no significant directional pleiotropy was detected (MR-Egger intercept: p = 0.15).

Conclusions

This MR study provides evidence that there is no causal relationship between serum urate concentration and IDD. It suggests previous observational associations may be confounded. Serum urate levels are unlikely to be an important contributor to IDD.

Characteristics and ecological risks of microplastic pollution in a tropical drinking water source reservoir in Hainan province, China

Microplastic (<5 mm) pollution has become a pressing environmental concern in recent years. The present study investigated the occurrence characteristics and assessed the ecological risk of microplastics in the surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir, a drinking water source in Hainan province (China). The results indicated that microplastics were detected in the surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir and its surrounding areas. The overall abundance of microplastics in the water was 3.05 ± 1.16 items per L and in the sediment was 0.15 ± 0.06 items per g dry weight, which is relatively low compared to other reservoirs in China. The dominant components of microplastics detected in the Chitian Reservoir were polypropylene (PP), rayon, and polyester. Physical morphology analysis of microplastics showed that fibers with small particle sizes (<1 mm) and white color were the predominant characteristics in both the surface water and sediment. The domestic sewage from surrounding residents and agricultural wastewater may be the primary sources of microplastics in the reservoir. Ecological risk assessment revealed that the overall pollution load index (PLI) in the surface water (0.65) and sediment (0.51) of the Chitian Reservoir and its surrounding area is at a low level. The potential ecological hazards (RI) of microplastics (0.13 to 336.78 in water; 0.23 to 465.93 in sediment) in most sites fall within the scope of level I, but those in a few sites are at level II due to the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This study enriches the data on microplastic pollution in inland reservoir systems, providing fundamental reference information for future ecotoxicological studies and the management of microplastic pollution control.

Occurrence, multiphase partitioning, drivers, and ecological risks of current-use herbicides in a river basin dominated by rice-vegetable rotations in tropical China

Rice-vegetable rotation practices prevail in subtropical and tropical agriculture worldwide, with applications of current-use herbicides (CUHs) vital for nontarget plant control. After application, CUHs migrate to environmental compartments, where the occurrence, fate, and ecological risks have not been well characterized. To further understand the occurrence and multiphase partitioning, as well as to evaluate potential drivers and mixture risks in environmental compartments, we analyzed 11 CUHs in 576 samples from 36 rice-vegetable rotations in Nandu River basin, Hainan, China. Samples included soil, water, suspended particulate matter, and sediment collected during both rice and vegetable planting periods. The CUH concentrations varied across environmental compartments, but with high levels of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid organophosphorus herbicides (OPHs) frequently detected, accounting for 82.3 % to 99.0 % in environmental compartments. Phenoxy acid (PAA) and chloroacetanilide (ANH) herbicides were detected at lower frequencies. Spatiotemporal variation was significantly different among OPHs, ANHs, and PAAs, with geographic and crop-related patterns most evident for CUHs rather than OPHs. Structural equation model, redundancy, and boosted regression tree analyses indicated environmental compartment properties (pH, organic matter, and Fe/Al oxides), crop type, and wet/dry climate were important drivers of spatiotemporal patterns. Fugacity ratios indicated multiphase partitioning and transport of CUHs differed in rice and vegetable planting periods. A new assessment framework based on species-sensitive distributions and environmental compartment weight index indicated unacceptable risks of CUHs (risk quotient >1 in >50 % of sites), with most risks from OPHs (10.5 % to 98.0 %) and butachlor, acetochlor, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Risk hot spots were identified as the soil, the central region, and the vegetable planting period, potentially threatening nontarget organisms (e.g., Lemna minor, Glomus intraradices, and Apis mellifera). This study provides a new risk assessment framework and demonstrates the domination of OPHs in CUH contamination and risks in the tropics, thus helping guide policymakers and stakeholders on herbicide management.

Effect of structural stability of lipase in acetonitrile on its catalytic activity in EGCG esterification reaction: FTIR and MD simulation

In this study, (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) esterification reaction was catalyzed by Novozym 435, Lipozyme RM, Lipozyme TLIM, and lipase Amano 30SD in acetonitrile. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to analyze the structural stability of different lipases in acetonitrile and their effect on EGCG esterification reaction. The results showed that conversion rate of EGCG catalyzed by Lipozyme RM was the highest, followed by Lipozyme TLIM. FTIR indicated that the secondary structure of Lipozyme RM was the most stable. MD simulations suggested that whole structural stability of Lipozyme RM in acetonitrile was superior to Novozym 435 and lipase Amano 30SD and similar to Lipozyme TLIM due to their similar conformation, while the active site of Lipozyme RM is more flexible than that of Lipozyme TLIM, which indicated that lipase with stable whole structure and flexible active site may be more conducive to the esterification of EGCG in acetonitrile. This study provided a direction for rapidly screening lipase to synthetize EGCG or other polyphenols esterified derivatives.

[Preparation of colloidal gold test strips for the detection of antibodies to peste des petits ruminants based on monoclonal antibodies to N protein]

A simple, fast, and visual method for detecting antibodies against peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) using colloidal gold strips was developed. In this study, the pET-32a-N was transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) for expression. Hybridoma cell lines were generated by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with splenocytes from immunized mice with the expressed and purified N protein of PPRV. The PPRV N protein was labeled with colloidal gold particles as the gold-labeled antigen. The N protein served as the gold standard antigen and as the test (T) line-coated antigen, while the monoclonal antibody served as the quality control (C) line-coated antibody to assemble the colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strips for detecting antibodies against the N protein of PPRV. Hybridoma cell line designated as 1F1 was able to stably secrete the monoclonal antibody against the N protein of PPRV. The titer of 1F1 monoclonal antibody in ascites was 1:128 000 determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and the immunoglobulin subtype of the monoclonal antibody was IgG1, with kappa chain. The obtained monoclonal antibody was able to specifically recognize the N protein of PPRV, as shown by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). The developed colloidal gold test strip method was able to detect PPRV antibodies specifically, and there was no difference between different batches of the test strips. Testing of a total of 122 clinical sera showed that the compliance rate of the test strip with ELISA test was 97.6%.The test strip assay developed in this study has good specificity, reproducibility, and sensitivity, and it can be used for the rapid detection of PPRV antibodies.

Occurrence and ecological risks of flonicamid and its metabolites in multiple substrates from intensive rice-vegetable rotations in tropical China

Rice-vegetable rotations are dominant in (sub)-tropical agriculture worldwide. However, fate and risks of the insecticide flonicamid (FLO) and its main degradates (collectively called FLOMs) in multiple substrates from those cropping systems remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized residual concentrations, driving factors, transport, and potential ecological risks of FLOMs in different substrates in 28 tropical rice-vegetable rotations. Concentrations (median) of FLOMs were 0.013-3.03 (0.42) ng g-1 in plants, 0.012-1.92 (0.23) ng g-1 in soil, 0.029-0.63 (0.126) μg L-1 in water, and 0.002-0.398 (0.055) ng g-1 in sediments. Flonicamid and its metabolite N-(4-trifluoromethylnicotinoyl) glycine were the dominant species in the four substrates (84.1 % to 88.5 %). Plants had the highest levels of FLOMs, with the highest bioconcentration factor in peppers. According to boosted regression trees coupled with a partial least squares structural equation model, levels and composition of FLOMs showed high spatiotemporal and crop-related patterns in different substrates, with patterns highly codetermined by agricultural practices (e.g., crop type and FLO/neonicotinoid/pyrethroid applications), substrate parameters (e.g., pH, organic matter or total organic carbon), and climate features (e.g., wet/dry seasons). Moreover, a fugacity method indicated differences in transport and partitioning patterns in different substrates during rice and vegetable planting periods. Integrated substrate risk assessment of FLOMs contamination was conducted based on species-sensitive distributions and substrate weight index. Although overall risks of FLOM contamination in tropical rice-vegetable rotations were negligible to low, the highest risks were in soils, vegetable planting periods, and a central intensively planted area.

The Amphiphilic Property and Structure of β-Amyloid Peptide Contribute to Its Impacts on the Activities of Horseradish Peroxidase and Alkaline Phosphatase

Recent studies have found that β-amyloid (Aβ) oligomers may play much more important roles than amyloid plaques in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, due to the complexity of Aβ, studying the structural basis of Aβ oligomer toxicity is challenging. Here, we assessed the amphiphilic property and β-hairpin structure of Aβ monomer. The potential impacts of Aβ oligomers and three sequence-modifying peptides on the enzyme activities of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were further evaluated. We demonstrated that Aβ oligomer possesses the ability to alter the activity of two enzymes. Moreover, modifications on the hydrophobic region and β-turn structure of Aβ monomer significantly alter its impacts on the enzyme activities. In addition, these modifications also change the bonding modes of Aβ monomers or oligomers binding to HRP, as assessed by molecular docking. All of these findings provide direct experimental evidence to reveal the critical roles of the amphiphilic property and β-sheet structure of Aβ monomer in its impacts on protein activity.

Preparation, identification, and inhibitory mechanism of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory peptides from goat milk whey protein

This study explores potential hypoglycemic mechanisms by preparing and identifying novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from goat milk (GM) whey protein. Papain was used to hydrolyze the GM whey protein. After purification by ultrafiltration, the Sephadex column, and preparative RP-HPLC, the peptide inhibited DPP-IV, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase with IC50 of 0.34, 0.37, and 0.72 mg/mL, respectively. To further explore the inhibitory mechanism of peptides on DPP-IV, SPPEFLR, LDADGSY, YPVEPFT, and FNPTY were identified and synthesized for the first time, with IC50 values of 56.22, 52.16, 175.7, and 62.32 µM, respectively. Molecular docking and dynamics results show that SPPEFLR, LDADGSY, and FNPTY bind more tightly to the active pocket of DPP-IV, which was consistent with the in vitro activity. Furthermore, the first three N-terminals of SPPEFLR and FNPTY peptides exhibit proline characteristics and competitively inhibit DPP-IV. Notably, the first N-terminal leucine of LDADGSY may play a key role in inhibiting DPP-IV.

Spatio-temporal variation in water quality and phytoplankton community structure in Changwang, Meishe, and Wuyuan Rivers in Hainan Island, China

For the first time, this study explored spatio-temporal variation in water quality and phytoplankton community structure in Changwang, Meishe, and Wuyuan Rivers in tropical Hainan Island, China. Phytoplankton samples and water were collected between March and December 2019 and analyzed using standard methods. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant spatial and seasonal variation in physico-chemical parameters (p < 0.05). Wuyuan had high TP (0.06 ± 0.04 mg L^-1), TN (1.14 ± 0.71 mg L^-1), NH₄⁺-N (0.07 ± 0.09 mg L^-1), Secchi depth (2.28 ± 3.79 m), salinity (3.60±5.50 ppt), and EC (332.50 ± 219.10 µS cm^-1). At the same time, Meishe had high TP (0.07 ± 0.03 mg L^-1), TN (1.04 ± 0.74 mg L^-1), NH₄⁺-N (0.07 ± 0.10 mg L^-1), EC (327.61 ± 63.22 µS cm^-1), and turbidity (40.25 ± 21.16 NTU). In terms of seasons, spring recorded high average TP, TN, NH₄⁺-N, COD, and DO, while summer had a high temperature, Chl-a, salinity, and EC. Generally, the physico-chemical parameters met the China water quality standard limits (GB 3838-2002). Overall, 197 phytoplankton species belonging to Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, Bacillariophyta, Pyrrophyta, Euglenophyta, Xanthophyta, and Chrysophyta were identified, with Cyanophyta being dominant. Phytoplankton density showed spatial changes varying from 18 × 10⁶ cell L^-1 to 84 × 10⁶ cell L^-1. The phytoplankton diversity ranged from 1.86 to 2.41, indicating a mesotrophic state. One-way ANOSIM showed no significant spatial dissimilarity in phytoplankton composition (R = 0.042, p = 0.771) but indicated a significant seasonal difference (R = 0.265, p = 0.001). Therefore, SIMPER analysis revealed that Lyngbya attenuata, Merismopedia tenuissima, Cyclotella sp., Merismopedia glauca, Merismopedia elegans, and Phormidium tenue contributed to the seasonal differences. Furthermore, CCA demonstrated that TP, TN, NH₄⁺-N, COD, Chl-a, and Secchi depth greatly influenced the phytoplankton community. This study shows the spatio-temporal variation in water quality and phytoplankton communities, useful for managing riverine quality.

Goat and cow milk differ in altering the microbiota composition and neurotransmitter levels in insomnia mouse models

Milk can improve sleep, and the effects of different animal milks vary. Accordingly, we evaluated the effectiveness of goat milk and cow milk in alleviating insomnia. The findings demonstrated that both goat milk and cow milk significantly increased the length of time that mice with insomnia slept compared to the model group and lowered the relative abundance of Colidextribacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Proteus in these mice. A notable finding was that goat milk considerably increased the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Mucispirillum, whereas cow milk dramatically increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Acinetobacter. Diazepam therapy could lengthen the slumber of mice; however, analysis of bacteria indicated that although the relative abundance of dangerous bacteria such as Mucispirillum, Parasutterella, Helicobacter, and Romboutsia increased, that of Blautia and Faecalibaculum decreased. Both Listeria and Clostridium experienced a large increase in relative abundance. Additionally, goat milk provided efficient restoration of neurotransmitters including 5-HT, GABA, DA, and NE. Besides that, the expression of genes and proteins for CREB, BDNF, and TrkB in the hypothalamus was up-regulated, and the pathophysiology of the hypothalamus was improved. Overall, the effects of goat and cow milk on insomnia in mouse models differed, and goat milk is preferred over cow milk.

Exercise Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

Background

Exercise is an effective nonpharmaceutical therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Purpose

To identify the most effective type of exercise therapy for KOA with regard to pain, stiffness, joint function, and quality of life.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched, from inception to April 4, 2022. Included were randomized controlled trials that assessed the efficacy on KOA among 5 different exercise therapy groups (aquatic exercise [AE], stationary cycling [CY], resistance training [RT], traditional exercise [TC], and yoga [YG]) and compared with the control group. Outcomes among the groups were assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS); weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Network meta-analyses comparing outcomes between all groups and with controls were performed, and group rankings were calculated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA).

Results

A total of 39 studies (N = 2646 participants) were included. Most of the studies failed to blind participants and researchers, resulting in a high risk of performance bias. Significantly worse WOMAC-Pain scores were seen in controls compared with all exercise interventions except AE (WMD [95% CI]: CY, -4.45 [-5.69 to -3.20]; RT, -4.28 [-5.48 to -3.07]; TC, -4.20 [-5.37 to -3.04]; and YG, -0.57 [-1.04 to -1.04]), and worse scores were seen in controls compared with YG regarding WOMAC-Stiffness (WMD, -1.40 [95% CI, -2.45 to -0.34]) and WOMAC-Function (WMD, -0.49 [95% CI, -0.95 to -0.02]). According to the SUCRA, CY was the most effective for improving WOMAC-Pain (80.8%) and 6-MWT (76.1%); YG was most effective for improving WOMAC-Stiffness (90.6%), WOMAC-Function (77.4%), KOOS-Activities of Daily Living (72.0%), and KOOS-Quality of Life (79.1%); AE was the most effective regarding VAS pain (77.2%) and KOOS-Pain (64.0%); and RT was the most effective regarding KOOS-Symptoms (84.5%).

Conclusion

All 5 types of exercise were able to ameliorate KOA. AE (for pain relief) and YG (for joint stiffness, limited knee function, and quality of life) were the most effective approaches, followed by RT, CY, and TC.

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the Wanquan River estuary, Hainan Island

As the nexus where rivers and oceans meet, estuaries are vulnerable to microplastic (MP) pollution derived from rivers. However, few studies have focused on the pollution status of MPs in small estuarine areas. Here, the abundance and characteristics of MPs in surface water and sediment samples from a small estuary, the Wanquan River estuary, were studied. The average abundance of MPs was 6573 ± 2659 n/m³ in surface water and 1065 ± 696 n/kg dw in sediment samples from the Wanquan River estuary. Most of the MPs in water samples and sediments were red (92.9 % and 88.1 %) fragments (87.4 % and 95.5 %) with sizes <1.0 mm (90.8 % and 92.4 %) made up of antifouling paint particles (APPs) (83.5 % and 89.8 %), respectively. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) was found between the concentration of Cu²⁺ and the abundance of APPs in sediment samples from the Wanquan River estuary. The APPs in the sediments can act as a continuous source of toxic chemicals (e.g., Cu²⁺) to marine environments. The results of this study expand our knowledge about MP pollution in small estuaries, and the ecological risk of APPs in the Wanquan River estuary to aquatic organisms should not be ignored.

[Mechanism of n-butanol alcohol extract of Baitouweng Decoction in treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis based on negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome via PKCδ/NLRC4/IL-1Ra axis]

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of n-butanol alcohol extract of Baitouweng Decoction(BAEB) in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC) in mice based on the negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome via PKCδ/NLRC4/IL-1Ra axis. In the experiment, female C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into the following six groups: a blank control group, a VVC model group, high-, medium-, and low-dose BAEB groups(80, 40, and 20 mg·kg~(-1)), and a fluconazole group(20 mg·kg~(-1)). The VVC model was induced in mice except for those in the blank control group by the estrogen dependence method. After modeling, no treatment was carried out in the blank control group. The mice in the high-, medium-, and low-dose BAEB groups were treated with BAEB at 80, 40, and 20 mg·kg~(-1), respectively, and those in the fluconazole group were treated with fluconazole at 20 mg·kg~(-1). The mice in the VVC model group received the same volume of normal saline. The general state and body weight of mice in each group were observed every day, and the morphological changes of Candida albicans in the vaginal lavage of mice were examined by Gram staining. The fungal load in the vaginal lavage of mice was detected by microdilution assay. After the mice were killed, the degree of neutrophil infiltration in the vaginal lavage was detected by Papanicolaou staining. The content of inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in the vaginal lavage was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and vaginal histopathology was analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The expression and distribution of NLRP3, PKCδ, pNLRC4, and IL-1Ra in vaginal tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry(IHC), and the expression and distribution of pNLRC4 and IL-1Ra in vaginal tissues were detected by immunofluorescence(IF). The protein expression of NLRP3, PKCδ, pNLRC4, and IL-1Ra was detected by Western blot(WB), and the mRNA expression of NLRP3, PKCδ, pNLRC4, and IL-1Ra was detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that compared with the blank control group, the VVC model group showed redness, edema, and white secretions in the vagina. Compared with the VVC model group, the BAEB groups showed improved general state of VVC mice. As revealed by Gram staining, Papanicolaou staining, microdilution assay, and HE staining, compared with the blank control group, the VVC model group showed a large number of hyphae, neutrophils infiltration, and increased fungal load in the vaginal lavage, destroyed vaginal mucosa, and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. BAEB could reduce the transformation of C. albicans from yeast to hyphae. High-dose BAEB could significantly reduce neutrophil infiltration and fungal load. Low-and medium-dose BAEB could reduce the da-mage to the vaginal tissue, while high-dose BAEB could restore the damaged vaginal tissues to normal levels. ELISA results showed that the content of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-18, and LDH in the VVC model group significantly increased compared with that in the blank control group, and the content of IL-1β, IL-18 and LDH in the medium-and high-dose BAEB groups was significantly reduced compared with that in the VVC model group. WB and qRT-PCR results showed that compared with the blank control group, the VVC model group showed reduced protein and mRNA expression of PKCδ, pNLRC4, and IL-1Ra in vaginal tissues of mice and increased protein and mRNA expression of NLRP3. Compared with the VVC model group, the medium-and high-dose BAEB groups showed up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of PKCδ, pNLRC4, and IL-1Ra in vaginal tissues and inhibited protein and mRNA expression of NLRP3 in vaginal tissues. This study indicated that the therapeutic effect of BAEB on VVC mice was presumably related to the negative regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome by promoting PKCδ/NLRC4/IL-1Ra axis.

[Risk factors of hidden blood loss in percutaneous vertebral augmentation]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the risk factors of hidden blood loss in osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures during percutaneous vertebral augmentation.

METHODS

From October 2018 to December 2019, 360 patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures who received percutaneous vertebral augmentation were enrolled in this study. The factors analyzed included gender, age, surgical methods, disease course, height, weight, the operative segment, bone mineral density, amount of bone cement, operative time, percentage of height loss, percentage of vertebral height restoration, cement leakage, blood clotting function, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit and other internal diseases. Total blood loss was calculated by Gross's formula, influential factors of the hidden blood loss were further analyzed by t-test, multivariate linear regression and one-way ANOVA analysis.

RESULTS

Surgical methods, the operative segment, disease course, cement leakage, preoperative hemoglobin, cement leakage via the basivertebral and segmental vein were significantly correlated with hidden blood loss(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with percutaneous kyphoplasty, two-level and multi-level surgery, the course of the disease beyond 6 weeks, cement leakage via the basivertebral and segmental vein, and lower preoperative hemoglobin had more perioperative hidden blood loss.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis in liver of Pomacea canaliculata induced by oleanolic acid stress

BACKGROUND

Triterpene acid is one of the typical active constituents of Eucalyptus bark, which is the main by-product of the Eucalyptus wood industry. Our studies have demonstrated that triterpene acid stress could inhibit climbing and increase mortality in Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck). However, limited attention has been paid to the proteomic responses of this snail under triterpene acid stress.

RESULT

Using iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics, we elucidated the regulatory mechanism in the livers of P. canaliculata held in chlorine-free water and exposed to 100 mg L^-1 oleanolic acid (OA) for 24 h. A total of 4308 proteins were identified, of which 274 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) including 168 (61.31%) differentially upregulated proteins and 106 (38.69%) differentially downregulated proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that P. canaliculata responses to OA stress are mainly involved in glucose metabolism, energy synthesis, immune response, stress response, protein synthesis, and apoptosis. According to KEGG analysis, the 274 DEPs were mapped to 168 KEGG pathways and 10 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05). Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed for histone H4, catalase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, ferritin, lipase, and tropomyosin to validate the iTRAQ results.

CONCLUSION

Proteomic analysis suggested that OA stress led to the disruption of glucose metabolism, energy synthesis, and protein synthesis, and triggered a series of molecular pathways containing many key proteins involved in the immune process, thereby helping P. canaliculata resist OA stress. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Semi-volatile organic compounds in fine particulate matter on a tropical island in the South China Sea

Measurements of hazardous semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in remote tropical regions are rare. In this study, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) [including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated PAHs (NPAHs), and oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs)], organophosphate esters (OPEs), and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were measured in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) at Yongxing Island in the South China Sea (SCS). The concentrations of PACs (median = 53.5 pg/m³) were substantially low compared with previous measurements. The concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) model showed that the eastern and southern China was the main source region of PAC, occurring largely during the northeast (NE) monsoon. The PM_2.5 showed remarkably high concentrations of OPEs (median = 3231 pg/m³) and moderate concentrations of PAEs (13,013 pg/m³). Some Southeast Asian countries were largely responsible for their higher concentrations, driven by the tropical SCS monsoons. We found significant atmospheric loss of the SVOCs, which is an explanation for the low concentrations of PACs. Enhanced formation of N/OPAHs originated from tropical regions was also observed. The positive matrix factorization model was applied to apportion the SVOC sources. The results, as well as correlation analyses of the SVOC concentrations, further indicate insignificant local sources and enhanced atmospheric reactions on this island.

Facile synthesis of pH-responsive sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel beads promoted by hydrogen bond

In this work, a novel synthesis strategy of sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel beads promoted by hydrogen bond was described. The beads were prepared by dropping the blends of two polymers into the citric acid solution. Besides hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions were also involved in the formation of the hydrogel beads. The thermal stability experiments revealed that the more the content of carboxymethyl chitosan, the better the thermal stability of the beads. The beads exhibited excellent pH sensitivity, pH reversibility, and lactoferrin loading capacity. The swelling ratio of the bead and its protein releasing profile was pH-dependent, which could prevent premature protein release in the gastric environment. Also, the circular dichroism results demonstrated that lactoferrin could maintain its structure during the loading and releasing process. The obtained results revealed that the hydrogel beads prepared in this work could be used as a potential protein carrier for oral delivery.

Health Effects of Dietary Oxidized Milk Administration in Offspring Mice during Pregnancy and Lactation with Metabolomic Strategies

Milk is an important source of nutrients during pregnancy. Previous studies have consistently shown that oxidation in milk and dairy products can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver and kidney. However, the mechanism underlying these effects remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxidized milk on fecal metabolism and liver and kidney function of offspring mice. Oxidative modification of milk was performed using H₂O₂-Cu or heating, causing varying degrees of oxidative damage. Kunming female mice were fed with a H₂O₂-Cu, heat, or normal control diet until their offspring were 3 weeks old. Feces were collected for the metabolomics study based on mass spectrometry. Forty-two potentially significant metabolic biomarkers were screened, and each group's relative intensity was compared. The results showed that oxidized milk mainly regulated isoleucine metabolism, proline metabolism, and tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, the histopathological analysis showed accumulation of protein and lipid oxidation products in the liver and kidney tissues after intake of oxidized milk, which induced oxidative stress, increased the levels of inflammatory factors, and significantly increased the expression of genes and proteins involved in inflammatory pathways. The above results suggest that intake of oxidized milk during gestation may increase the risk of liver and kidney injury in male offspring by interfering with amino acid and energy metabolism, highlighting the potential health risks of oxidized milk in humans.

Self-coacervation of carboxymethyl chitosan as a pH-responsive encapsulation and delivery strategy

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)-based complex coacervate has attracted much attention in drug oral delivery due to its pH-responsive property. As a unique ampholyte polymer, the self-coacervation of CMCS has great research potential. In this work, CMCS self-coacervates were prepared by adjusting the pH of the CMCS aqueous solution close to its isoelectric point. The Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions were involved in the self-coacervation of CMCS. The obtained self-coacervates presented a dense surface structure, and were stable at a wide pH range of 3.0-6.0, and gradually dissolved under basic conditions. Although self-coacervation decreased the crystallinity and thermal stability of CMCS, the obtained coacervates showed excellent pH-responsive properties and ionic strength stability. We also investigated its potential in lactoferrin (LF) encapsulation and oral delivery. The CMCS self-coacervates exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 94.79 ± 0.49% and loading capacity (LC) of 26.29 ± 0.52% when the addition amount of LF was 2 mg. The simulated gastric digestion results demonstrated that CMCS self-coacervates could protect more than 80% of LF from hydrolysis and maintain the bioactivities of LF. Accordingly, the self-coacervation of CMCS could be used as a pH-responsive encapsulation and delivery strategy.

Oxidized Milk Induces Spatial Learning and Memory Impairment by Altering Gut Microbiota in Offspring Mice during Pregnancy and Lactation

Early adverse diet exposures are known to be associated with increased risk of learning and memory injury in offspring, yet whether oxidized milk is involved in such an effect has been largely unknown. Here, we focused on oxidized milk intake in mice during pregnancy and lactation to measure the changes in the learning and memory ability in offspring and also probed into the relevant association with gut microbiota. Milk was oxidized with H₂O₂-Cu or HClO, resulting in different degrees of oxidative damage. KM female mice were fed H₂O₂-Cu, HClO, or normal control diets immediately after caging until their offspring were 3-weeks old. Behavioral tests were then performed to test the learning and memory ability, and 16S rRNA sequencing was completed with harvested fecal contents. As analyzed, fecal microflora in mice with oxidized milk was affected, mainly reflected in decreased mucin-degrading bacteria, Akkermansia and Lactobacillus, and in reversely increased pro-inflammatory bacteria Shigella, pathobiont Mucispirillum, nervous associated bacteria Ruminococcus, Escherichia, and Desulfovibrio. In the meantime, the inflammation developed in mice was aggravated accompanied by increased expression of relevant genes, while the genes and proteins associated with the learning and memory ability were down-regulated. Further behavioral tests proved impairment of the learning and memory ability in offspring. In general, milk of oxidative damage is a risk factor of the impaired transgenerational ability in learning and memory, which is associated with gut microbiota and intestinal mucosa conditions. This finding may help support the potential of early adverse diet as a harmful factor in learning and memory.

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus invasion by ACE2 protecting and Spike neutralizing peptides: An alternative approach to COVID19 prevention and therapy

SARS-CoV-2 invades host cells mainly through the interaction of its spike-protein with host cell membrane ACE2. Various antibodies targeting S-protein have been developed to combat COVID-19 pandemic; however, the potential risk of antibody-dependent enhancement and novel spike mutants-induced neutralization loss or antibody resistance still remain. Alternative preventative agents or therapeutics are still urgently needed. In this study, we designed series of peptides with either ACE2 protecting or Spike-protein neutralizing activities. Molecular docking predicted that, among these peptides, ACE2 protecting peptide AYp28 and Spike-protein neutralizing peptide AYn1 showed strongest intermolecular interaction to ACE2 and Spike-protein, respectively, which were further confirmed by both cell- and non-cell-based in vitro assays. In addition, both peptides inhibited the invasion of pseudotype SARS-CoV-2 into HEK293T/hACE2 cells, either alone or in combination. Moreover, the intranasal administration of AYp28 could partially block pseudovirus invasion in hACE2 transgenic mice. Much more importantly, no significant toxicity was observed in peptides-treated cells. AYp28 showed no impacts on ACE2 function. Taken together, the data from our present study predicted promising preventative and therapeutic values of peptides against COVID-19, and may prove the concept that cocktail containing ACE2 protecting peptides and spike neutralizing peptides could serve as a safe and effective approach for SARS-CoV-2 prevention and therapy.

Comparison of Cement Leakage Rate and Severity After Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures Using Front-Opening Versus Side-Opening Cannulas

The authors assessed the occurrence and severity of cement leakage (CL) following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) performed using front-opening cannulas (FOCs) vs side-opening cannulas (SOCs). This retrospective cohort study included 811 patients with single-level OVCFs who underwent PVP between March 2016 and September 2018. The 264 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups according to whether the procedure was performed using a FOC (n=128) or a SOC (n=136). Visual analog scale score, Oswestry Disability Index, local kyphotic angle, vertebral height, amount of bone cement injected, and rate of CL were compared between the groups. Types of CL were classified according to postoperative computed tomography. The CL types were further classified according to severity (mild and severe). Visual analog scale score, Oswestry Disability Index, local kyphotic angle, and vertebral height were all significantly improved after surgery. The total incidence of CL was significantly higher for FOCs than for SOCs (P=.001). Similarly, the occurrence of the CL subtypes was significantly higher for FOCs than for SOCs (B type, P=.033; C type, P=.01; and S type, P=.015). Analysis of CL type severity revealed that the rates of severe D type (intradiskal leakage category of the C type) and severe S type were significantly lower for SOCs than for FOCs (P=.001), while the incidence of severe B type leaks was not significantly different between the groups (P=.443). Percutaneous vertebroplasty performed using SOCs decreases the incidence and severity of D type and S type CL compared with FOCs. Secondary classification of CL could help physicians better understand the severity of leakage and select a more appropriate surgical approach to reduce CL. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(3):134-140.].

Influence of bone cement distribution on outcomes following percutaneous vertebroplasty: a retrospective matched-cohort study

Objective

To evaluate the influence of insufficient bone cement distribution on outcomes following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

Methods

This retrospective matched-cohort study included patients 50–90 years of age who had undergone PVP for single level vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) from February 2015 to December 2018. Insufficient (Group A)/sufficient (Group B) distribution of bone cement in the fracture area was assessed from pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) images. Assessments were before, 3-days post-procedure, and at the last follow-up visit (≥12 months).

Result

Of the 270 eligible patients, there were 54 matched pairs. On post-operative day 3 and at the last follow-up visit, significantly greater visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were obtained in Group B over Group A, while kyphotic angles (KAs) and vertebral height (VH) loss were significantly larger in Group A compared with Group B. Incidence of asymptomatic cement leakage and re-collapse of cemented vertebrae were also greater in Group A compared with Group B.

Conclusions

Insufficient cement distribution may relate to less pain relief and result in progressive vertebral collapse and kyphotic deformity post-PVP.

Long-term efficacy and safety of bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for stage III Kümmell disease

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for stage III Kümmell disease. Twenty-five patients with stage III Kümmell disease who received bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between June 2009 and December 2015 were enrolled. All patients were females with a history of osteoporosis. The vertebral Cobb angle (V-Cobb angle), the fixed segment Cobb Angle (S-Cobb angle), pelvic parameters, visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively and at the final follow-up. Complications, loosening rate, operation time, and intraoperative bleeding were recorded. The average lumbar vertebral density T-value was − 3.68 ± 0.71 SD, and the average age was 71.84 ± 5.39. The V-Cobb angle, S-Cobb angle, and Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA) were significantly smaller postoperatively compared to the preoperative values. The VAS and ODI at 1 month after surgery were 3.60 ± 1.00 and 36.04 ± 6.12%, respectively, which were both significantly lower than before surgery (VAS: 8.56 ± 1.04, ODI: 77.80 ± 6.57%). Bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation is a safe and effective treatment for stage III Kümmell disease. It can effectively correct kyphosis, restore and maintain sagittal balance, and maintain spinal stability.

[Framework construction and standardization practice of standard system for Sichuan Dao-di herbs]

Dao-di herbs is one of the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine different from other ethnic medicine. Sichuan province is rich in varieties and resources of Dao-di herbs, and its development scale and benefits are not obvious in recent decades due to the lag of standards behind the development of the times and objective needs. From the point of view of the whole process and the whole industrial chain, the significance of standardization system for quality assurance, healthy development of the industry, and development of the industry of Sichuan Dao-di herbs are presented in this paper. At present, Sichuan has made every effort to promote the construction and practice of the standardization system for Sichuan Dao-di herbs, to promote the rapid and high-quality development of Dao-di herbs industry in Sichuan.

Growth performance and element concentrations reveal the calcicole-calcifuge behavior of three Adiantum species

BACKGROUND

The calcicole or calcifuge behavior of wild plants has been related to element deficiency or toxicity. For fern species, however, knowledge about their adaptive differences and responses to soil environmental changes is virtually absent. In the karst regions of southern China, most Adiantum species favor calcareous soils, but A. flabellulatum prefers acidic soils. Such contrasting preferences for soil types in the same genus are interesting and risky because their preferred soils may "pollute" each other due to extreme precipitation events. We mixed calcareous and acidic soils at 1:1 (v/v) to simulate the "polluted" soils and grew three Adiantum species (the calcicole A. capillus-veneris f. dissectum and A. malesianum and the calcifuge A. flabellulatum) on the calcareous, acidic and mixed soils for 120 d and assessed their growth performance and element concentrations.

RESULTS

The calcareous soil showed the highest pH, Ca, Mg and P concentrations but the lowest K concentration, followed by the mixed soil, and the acidic soil. After 120 d of growth, the calcifuge A. flabellulatum on the calcareous and mixed soils exhibited lower SPAD and relative growth rate (RGR) than those on the acidic soil, and its leaf and root Ca, Mg and Fe concentrations were higher and K was lower on the calcareous soil than on the acidic soil. The calcicole A. capillus-veneris f. dissectum on the calcareous soil had similar leaf element concentrations and RGR with those on the mixed soil, but their leaf Ca, Fe and Al were lower and leaf P and K concentrations, SPAD and RGR were higher than those on the acidic soil. For the calcicole A. malesianum, leaf Ca, Fe and Al were lowest and leaf P and RGR were highest when grown on the mixed soil, intermediated on the calcareous soil, and on the acidic soil. Compared with A. malesianum, A. capillus-veneris f. dissectum had lower leaf Ca, Fe and Al but higher leaf Mg concentration when grown on the same calcareous or mixed soils.

CONCLUSIONS

A. capillus-veneris f. dissectum is a low leaf Ca calcicole species while A. malesianum is an Al accumulating calcicole species. They can effectively take up P and K to leaves and hence can thrive on calcareous soils. In contrast, the calcifuge A. flabellulatum grown on calcareous soils is stunted. Such growth performance may be attributed to the increased leaf Ca and decreased leaf K concentration. If their preferred soils are "polluted", A. flabellulatum can grow worse, A. capillus-veneris f. dissectum can remain almost unaffected while A. malesianum will perform better.

Evidence for complex sources of persistent halogenated compounds in birds from the south China sea

Persistent halogenated compounds (PHCs), including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alternative brominated flame retardants (ABFRs), and dechlorane plus (DP), were analyzed in muscle of six bird species from the South China Sea. DDTs, with concentrations up to 19,000 ng/g lipid weight (lw), were the dominant contaminants contributing to 66-99% of PHCs in birds. Concentrations of PBDEs, ABFRs, and DP ranged from 1.1 to 130, 0.73-40, and 0.21-2.5 ng/g lw, respectively. Historically pollution of DDTs and flame retardants in surrounding Asian lands were the main sources for PHCs in birds. BDE 209 was the primary PBDE congener in all birds. 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were the main ABFRs. Anti-DP and p,p'-DDE were the dominating compounds of DP and DDTs, respectively. Only concentrations of BDEs 153, 203, 196, and 207, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD showed significant and positive correlations with δ¹⁵N values in samples. The resident birds, red-footed booby (Sula sula), had much lower levels of p,p'-DDE and most of PBDEs than those in migratory birds from the South China Sea. Results of stable isotope ratios of carbon suggest the highly variable food items for the five migratory bird species. The abundance of DBDPE in red-footed booby might be related with the ingestion of plastic debris, which still warrants further verification.

0281 Sleep Deprivation Impairs Cooperative Behavior Selectively: Evidence from Prisoner’s and Chicken Dilemmas

Introduction

Cooperation, the cornerstone of human interaction, has attracted much attention since it was indispensable in the contemporary world. However, little research has been done on whether sleep deprivation altered human cooperative behavior. In the present work, we investigated cooperation and sleep deprivation directly, aiming to evaluate the influences of acute sleep deprivation on cooperation with two classical social dilemmas, the Prisoner’s dilemma (PD) and the chicken dilemma (CD).

Methods

All participants (N=24) were required to come for the experiments twice, one time for normal sleep condition, the other time for sleep deprivation condition, with a counter-balanced sequence. In the following afternoon, participants completed the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and two social dilemmas tasks, as well as the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), the Risk Orientation Questionnaire (ROQ) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

Results

Our results demonstrated that sleep deprivation significantly impaired cooperative behaviors in the CD but not in the PD. In addition, this detrimental effect was not related with the alteration in the risk-seeking, objective alertness, subjective sleepiness, and mood.

Conclusion

The current findings revealed that sleep deprivation impairs human cooperative behaviors selectively. However, the underlying mechanism remains to further explore with neuroimaging studies and focus on the mediating role of general trust and sensitivity of loss.

Support

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31500906), Guangdong Natural Science Funding - General Program (2019A1515012182).

Artificial light at night alter the impact of arsenic on microbial decomposers and leaf litter decomposition in streams

Artificial light at night (ALAN, also known as light pollution) has been proved to be a contributor to environmental change and a biodiversity threat worldwide, yet little is known about its potential interaction with different metal pollutants, such as arsenic (As), one of the largest threats to aquatic ecosystems. To narrow this gap, an indoor microcosm study was performed using an ALAN simulation device to examine whether ALAN exposure altered the impact of arsenic on plant litter decomposition and its associated fungi. Results revealed that microbial decomposers involved in the conversion of As(III) to As(V), and ALAN exposure enhanced this effect; ALAN or arsenic only exposure altered fungal community composition and the correlations between fungi species, as well as stimulated or inhibited litter decomposition, respectively. The negative effects of arsenic on the decomposition of Pterocarya stenoptera leaf litter was alleviated by ALAN resulting in the enhanced photodegradation of leaf litter lignin and microbiological oxidation of As(III) to As(V), the increased microbial biomass and CBH activity, as well as the enhanced correlations between CBH and litter decomposition rate. Overall, results expand our understanding of ALAN on environment and highlight the contribution of ALAN to the toxicity of arsenic in aquatic ecosystems.

Occurrence of organic pollutants in plastics on beach: Stranded foams can be sources of pollutants in islands

Increasing amount of plastic debris stranded on beach can introduce many foreign substances, including organic pollutants into island ecosystems. In the present study, stranded foams were collected from an island located in South China Sea, to investigate the levels and profiles of several flame retardants (FRs) and plasticizers, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), emerging brominated FRs, and dechlorane plus (DP). The concentrations of PBDEs and OPEs in plastic debris ranged from not detected (ND, <0.60 ng/g) to 0.46 mg/g and from ND (<0.70 ng/g) to 17.3 mg/g, respectively. The high levels of PBDEs and OPEs were expected as the fact that PBDEs and OPEs were incorporated additives in plastics. OPEs were the main chemicals in most of foams. Brominated FRs dominated in some samples. Core and surface parts in foams had similar composition profiles of pollutants. Significantly higher concentrations of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) were observed in surface samples than core samples (p < .05). TCEP and TPHP in foam surface seem to be from both incorporated additives and adsorbed chemicals from environmental matrices. The density of pollutants introduced by stranded foams in sampling area was estimated in comparison with air deposition of pollutants. The high loading of pollutants in stranded foams indicates that foams can be potential sources for organic pollutants, especially incorporated plastic additives, in islands.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in oriental magpie-robins from e-waste, urban, and rural sites: Site-specific biomagnification of POPs

Plenty of banned and emerging persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dechlorane plus (DP), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), were measured in oriental magpie-robins from an e-waste recycling site, an urban site (Guangzhou City), and a rural site in South China. Median concentrations of DDTs, PCBs, PBDEs, DP, and DBDPE ranged from 1,000-1,313, 800-59,368, 244-5,740, 24.1-127, and 14.7-36.0 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Birds from the e-waste site had significantly higher concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs than those from urban and rural sites (p < 0.05), implying contamination of PCBs and PBDEs brought by e-waste recycling activities. DDTs were the predominant POPs in birds from urban and rural sites. The values of δ¹⁵N were significantly and positively correlated with concentrations of p,p'-DDE and low-halogenated chemicals in samples from the e-waste site (p < 0.05), indicating the trophic magnification of these chemicals in birds. However, concentrations of most POPs were not significantly correlated with the δ¹⁵N values in birds from urban and rural sites. PCBs and PBDEs in birds from urban and rural sites were not likely from local sources, and the biomagnification of POPs in different sites needed to be further investigated with caution.

Improvement Effect of Ficus vasculosa Ethanol Extract on D-galactose-Induced Mice Aging

This study was to investigate antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract from young edible leaves of Ficus vasculosa in vitro and in vivo . Ficus vasculosa ethanol extract (FVEE) showed significantly higher reducing power and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenge activity than vitamin C ( P < 0.05). FVEE also showed an activity to resist the D-galactose-induced aging in mice assessed by serum and tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Total serum and tissue oxidative status, total antioxidantresponse, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels have been also measured. Pretreatment with FVEE at 200 mg/kg·body weight significantly increased enzyme activity of SOD and CAT in serum and hepatic tissue ( P < 0.05), as well as significantly increased enzyme activity of SOD in kidney ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, high concentration of FVEE pretreatment significantly increased the level of GSH in serum, hepatic tissue and kidney ( P < 0.05), meanwhile significantly decreased MDA production in hepatic tissue and kidney ( P < 0.05). In addition, the phytochemical investigation discovered six previously described compounds from FVEE, naringenin (1), vanillic acid (2), 9, 16-dioxo-10, 12, 14-octadeca-trienoic acid (3), 2, 6-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzoquinone (4), apigenin (5) and norartocarpetin (6), and all compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Among the various compounds found, the rare highly unsaturated fatty acid 9, 16-dioxo-10, 12, 14-octadeca-trienoic acid (3) has been identified, which had been isolated only once before from F. vasculosa. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of isolated compounds showed naringenin (1) to be the most active. According to our research, FVEE present very high antioxidant activity in vitro due to the presence of several compounds known for their antioxidant activity such as flavonoid and phenolic acid. In vivo, the ethanol extract had improvement effects against D-galactose-induced aging by reducing oxidative stress.

The global soil community and its influence on biogeochemistry

Soil organisms represent the most biologically diverse community on land and govern the turnover of the largest organic matter pool in the terrestrial biosphere. The highly complex nature of these communities at local scales has traditionally obscured efforts to identify unifying patterns in global soil biodiversity and biogeochemistry. As a result, environmental covariates have generally been used as a proxy to represent the variation in soil community activity in global biogeochemical models. Yet over the past decade, broad-scale studies have begun to see past this local heterogeneity to identify unifying patterns in the biomass, diversity, and composition of certain soil groups across the globe. These unifying patterns provide new insights into the fundamental distribution and dynamics of organic matter on land.

Tubeimoside-I sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to chemotherapy by inducing ROS-mediated impaired autophagolysosomes accumulation

Background

Tubeimoside-I (TBM), a plant-derived bioactive compound, shows antitumor activity in different tumors and can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the detail mechanism underlying remains to be elucidated.

Methods

The cytotoxic potential of TBM towards CRC cells was examined by CCK8 assay, colony formation, LDH release assay, flow cytometry method and Western blots. The ROS levels, autophagy, apoptosis, chemosensitivity to 5-FU or DOX, etc. were determined between control and TBM-treated CRC cells.

Results

In this study, we found that TBM could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Intriguingly, TBM treatment could either promote autophagy initiation by ROS-induced AMPK activation, or block autophagy flux through inhibiting lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes, which leaded to massive impaired autophagylysosomes accumulation. Administration of autophagy initiation inhibitor (3-MA or selective ablation of autophagy related proteins) relieves TBM-induced CRC suppression, while combination use of autophagy flux inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) slightly augments TBM-induced cell death, suggesting that impaired autophagylysosomes accumulation contributes to TBM-induced growth inhibition in CRC cells. Notably, as an autophagy flux inhibitor, TBM works synergistically with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or doxorubicin (DOX) in CRC suppression.

Conclusion

Together, our study provides new insights regarding the anti-tumor activity of TBM against CRC, and established potential applications of TBM for CRC combination therapies in clinic.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1355-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Processing milk causes the formation of protein oxidation products which impair spatial learning and memory in rats

This study explored the effects of protein oxidation during milk processing on spatial learning and memory in rats. Increasing the heating time, fat content, and inlet air temperature during processing by boiling, microwave heating, spray-drying, or freeze-drying increases milk protein oxidation. Oxidative damage done to milk proteins by microwave heating is greater than that caused by boiling. Dityrosine (DT), as a kind of tyrosine oxidation product, is the most important marker of this process, especially during spray-drying. Rats received diets containing either SWM (spray-dried milk powder diet), FWM (freeze-dried milk powder diet), FWM + LDT (freeze-dried milk powder + low dityrosine diet, DT: 1.4 mg kg-1), or FWM + HDT (freeze-dried milk powder + high dityrosine diet, DT: 2.8 mg kg-1) for 6 weeks. We found that the SWM group, the FWM + LDT group, and the FWM + HDT group appeared to have various degrees of redox state imbalance and oxidative damage in plasma, liver, and brain tissues. Further, hippocampal inflammatory and apoptosis genes were significantly up-regulated in such groups, while learning and memory genes were significantly down-regulated. Eventually, varying degrees of spatial learning and memory impairment were demonstrated in those groups in the Morris water maze. This means that humans should control milk protein oxidation and improve the processing methods applied to food.

Legacy and emerging contaminants in coastal surface sediments around Hainan Island in South China

Emerging and legacy hydrophobic pollutants, including halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), organophosphorus FRs (OPFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in coastal sediments of Hainan Island, southern China, where little information is known about their contamination. The HFRs were dominated by decabrominated diphenyl ethers (median = 1.32 ng/g) and novel decabromodiphenyl ethane (1.87 ng/g). HFR and PAH concentrations had similar spatial distributions, with higher levels in the river and near the estuary. The concentrations of ∑₁₀OPFRs ranged from 0.74 to 60.0 ng/g (median = 15.3 ng/g), displaying a different spatial distribution. ∑DDTs and β-HCH, with median concentrations of 1.41 and 3.44 ng/g respectively, were largely from historical inputs, but use of DDT still exists in Hainan. Principal component analysis revealed the associations between most of the pollutants (HFRs, OCPs, and PAHs) and perylene, indicating that terrestrial runoff plays a significant role in their presence in the coastal sediments. OPFRs had different emission sources or entry modes to the coastal ocean.

Association of PON1 gene polymorphisms with polycystic ovarian syndrome risk: a meta-analysis of case-control studies

PURPOSE

Evidences showed that paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene polymorphism has an impact on women's susceptibility to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by influencing the expression and activity of PON1. However, the effects of three PON1 polymorphisms (- 108 C>T, L55M and Q192R) on the incidence of PCOS have generated inconsistent results. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between PON1 polymorphisms and PCOS risk.

METHODS

All eligible trials were identified via systematic searches of multiple literature databases. Outcome data were synthesized by using crude odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² test. Publication bias and subgroup analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

A total of 2449 cases and 1977 controls from nine studies were selected for analysis. The pooled results showed a significant association between PCOS risk and PON1 - 108 C/T polymorphism in the following genetic models [allelic, 0.72 (0.56-0.92); homozygote, 0.51 (0.32-0.82); heterozygote, 0.44 (0.25-0.78); and dominant 0.47 (0.29-0.77)]. For the PON1 192 Q/R polymorphism, a significant relationship was found in the allelic model [0.62 (0.41-0.93)] and recessive model [0.61 (0.37-0.98)]. PCOS risk was also linked to PON1 L55M polymorphism in the heterozygote model [0.62 (0.39-0.98)] and dominant model [0.63 (0.41-0.96)].

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has shown that PON1 - 108 C/T polymorphism might be associated with increased risk of PCOS under the allelic, homozygote, heterozygote, and dominant models. Additionally, PON1 192 Q/R and L55M polymorphisms were significantly related only in the allelic and recessive model, and in the heterozygote and dominant model, respectively.

Berberine Ameliorates Periodontal Bone Loss by Regulating Gut Microbiota

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is a risk factor for periodontitis, and current therapeutics against PMO prevent the aggravated alveolar bone loss of periodontitis in estrogen-deficient women. Gut microbiota is recognized as a promising therapeutic target for PMO. Berberine extracted from Chinese medicinal plants has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes via regulating gut microbiota. Here, we hypothesize that berberine ameliorates periodontal bone loss by improving the intestinal barriers by regulating gut microbiota under an estrogen-deficient condition. Experimental periodontitis was established in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and the OVX-periodontitis rats were treated with berberine for 7 wk before sacrifice for analyses. Micro–computed tomography and histologic analyses showed that berberine treatment significantly reduced alveolar bone loss and improved bone metabolism of OVX-periodontitis rats as compared with the vehicle-treated OVX-periodontitis rats. In parallel, berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats harbored a higher abundance of butyrate-producing gut microbiota with elevated butyrate generation, as demonstrated by 16S rRNA sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats consistently showed improved intestinal barrier integrity and decreased intestinal paracellular permeability with a lower level of serum endotoxin. In parallel, IL-17A-related immune responses were attenuated in berberine-treated OVX-periodontitis rats with a lower serum level of proinflammatory cytokines and reduced IL-17A+ cells in alveolar bone as compared with vehicle-treated OVX-periodontitis rats. Our data indicate that gut microbiota is a potential target for the treatment of estrogen deficiency–aggravated periodontal bone loss, and berberine represents a promising adjuvant therapeutic by modulating gut microbiota.

Full-length genome and molecular characterization of dengue virus serotype 2 isolated from an imported patient from Myanmar

BACKGROUND

Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne infection worldwide and a serious threat to global public health. Sporadic dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) imported cases from Myanmar have been documented almost every year in Yunnan Province of China since 2005. However, the complete genome sequences of DENV-2 isolates imported from Myanmar are not available.

METHODS

The full-length genome of the DENV-2 strain (YNPE2), isolated from an imported case from Myanmar in 2013, was identified by the next-generation sequencing. The extreme ends of the viral genome were validated by 5'/3' RACE and Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, phylogenetic, recombination and selection pressure analyses were conducted for the molecular characterization of YNPE2 strain.

RESULTS

Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the full-length sequence of YNPE2 strain was 10,724 bases, with an open reading frame encoding for 3391 amino acids. The YNPE2 strain had 99.0% nucleotide identity and 99.8% amino acid identity with two closely related strains, ThD2_0078_01 strain (DQ181797) and DENV-2/TH/BID-V2157/200 strain (FJ639832). The phylogenetic analysis suggested that the YNPE2 strain belonged to Asian I genotype and was likely derived from Thailand strain (DQ181797). Moreover, selection pressure analysis revealed two amino acid sites of the NS4B and NS5 proteins, with important evidence of positive selection.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the first complete genome sequence and molecular characterization of a DENV-2 strain (YNPE2) isolated from an imported case from Myanmar, thus providing a valuable reference genome source for future surveillance, epidemiology and vaccine development of DENV-2 virus in Yunnan, China.

[Establish mouse osteoblast -osteoclast cell co-culture system in a Transwell chamber]

OBJECTIVE

To establish osteoblast-osteoclast cell co-culture system in a Transwell chamber, and detect cell viability of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in system.

METHODS

Osteoblast MC3T3-E1 and mouse monocytes RAW264.7 were cultivated in vitro. RANKL-induced mouse RAW264.7 monocytes differentiated into mature osteoclasts, osteoblast-osteoclast cell co-culture system was established in Transwell chamber. Cell activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts were detected by CCK-8 experimenting, Alizarin Red staining, TRAP staining. The expression of OPG, ALP, RANKL, TGF-b1 gene and RANKL protein in osteoblast MC3T3-E1 were detected by PCR, Western-Blot methods. Also, the expression of RANK, NF-κB in gene and protein level in osteoclast were measured through the same method respectively.

RESULTS

The co-culture system of Mouse MC3T3-E1 cells and RAW264.7 cell were established in Transwell chamber. Co-culture system affected cell division activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Differentiation of osteoblasts were increased, while differentiation of osteoclast division were slight decreased under microscope observation. OPG (0.65±0.08) and ALP (0.16±0.01) gene expression of co-culture system were less than single culture OPG(1.00±0.08) and ALP (1.01±0.16); TGF-b1(4.42±0.21) and RANKL(4.12±1.04) of osteoblasts in co-culture system were higher than TGF-b1(1.00±0.10) and RANKL(1.00±0.09) under single culture. However, gene expression of RANK(0.63±0.06) and NF-κB(0.64±0.08) in co-culture system were decreased than RANK(1.00±0.08) and NF-κB(1.00±0.09), in single culture, and had significant differences. Similarly, protein expression of OPG(0.43±0.05) and NF-κB(0.59±0.05) of co-culture system were less than OPG(0.84±0.06) and NF-κB(1.13±0.03) of single culture. While RANKL protein expression (0.54±0.03)of co-culture system was more than single culture RANKL(0.31±0.03), and had statistically differences, which was in agreement of the trend of gene expression change.

CONCLUSIONS

Co-culture system of mouse MC3T3-E1 cells and RAW264.7 cell was viable in Transwell chamber, and the activity of osteoblasts is higher than osteoclasts in co-culture system.

Selection of passerine birds as bio-sentinel of persistent organic pollutants in terrestrial environment

A broad suite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, were analyzed in pectoral muscle of eight terrestrial passerine bird species from an extensive e-waste recycling site in South China. Concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs, and DDTs in bird samples ranged from 1260-279,000, 121-14,200, and 31-7910ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Insectivorous birds had significantly higher levels of PCBs, PBDEs, and DDTs than those in granivorous birds. Concentrations of POPs in resident insectivorous birds were significantly greater than those in migrant insectivorous birds. PCBs were the predominant pollutants in all bird species from the e-waste site, followed by PBDEs and DDTs, indicating that PCBs were mainly derived from e-wastes. The granivorous birds had higher proportions of hepta-CBs in total PCBs and higher proportions of octa- to deca-BDEs in total PBDEs compared with the insectivorous birds. The various dietary sources, migration behavior, and possible biotransformation were suspected as reasons of the distinct profiles of POPs in different bird species. The δ¹⁵N values were significantly and positively correlated with concentrations of POPs in resident insectivorous birds, but not in other passerine bird species, suggesting the influence of trophic levels on bioaccumulation of POPs in resident insectivorous birds. The resident insectivorous birds seem to be promising bio-sentinel of POPs in terrestrial environment around the e-waste sites.

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a dengue virus serotype 3 isolated from a Chinese traveler returned from Laos

BACKGROUND

Dengue virus (DENV) infection caused by international visitors has become a public health concern in China. Although sporadic imported cases of DENV have been documented in Yunnan, China since 2000, a complete genome sequence of dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) imported from Laos is still not available. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence and genomic characterization of a DENV-3 strain (YNPE3) isolated from a patient returned from Laos.

METHODS

Viral isolation from the patient's serum was performed using mosquitoes C6/36 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for identification and serotyping of the virus. The complete sequence was determined by Sanger dideoxy sequencing. Homology analysis was implemented by NCBI-BLAST. Multiple sequence alignment was performed using MegAlign module of the Lasergene 7 software package DNASTAR. MFOLD software was used to predict the RNA secondary structure of 5' untranslated region (UTR) and 3' UTR. Phylogenetic analysis, which was based on envelope gene and complete coding sequence, was performed by Maximum-Likelihood method.

RESULTS

RT-PCR analysis confirmed that the virus belonged to dengue virus serotype 3, which was named YNPE3 strain. The full-length genome of the YNPE3 strain was 10,627 nucleotides (nts) with an open reading frame (ORF) encoding 3390 amino acids. Strain YNPE3 shared 98.6-98.8% nucleotide identity with the closely related strains isolated in India (JQ922556, KU216209, KU216208). We observed the deletion of about 40 nts in the 5' UTR and 3' UTR of strain YNPE3, and 11 nts (ACGCAGGAAGT) insertion that was present in the 3' UTR of YNPE3. Compared with prototype strain H87, abundant amino acid substitutions in the YNPE3 strain were observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the YNPE3 strain belonged to genotype III of DENV-3, and that it might be closely related with genotype III strains isolated in Laos and India.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of the complete genome sequence and molecular characterization of a DENV-3 isolate imported from Laos. The presented results can further promote disease surveillance, and epidemiological and evolutionary studies of the DENV-3 in Yunnan province of China.

Deep RNA Sequencing Reveals a Repertoire of Human Fibroblast Circular RNAs Associated with Cellular Responses to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of regulators of gene expression, are involved in diverse physiological and pathogenic processes. However, their role in cellular responses to virus infection is yet unclear.

METHODS

A human lung fibroblast cell line was infected or mock infected by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Deep RNA sequencing was used to profile the global changes in circRNAs, genes, and miRNAs following HSV-1 infection. Altered circRNAs, genes, and miRNAs were validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). An integration analysis of circRNAs, genes, and miRNAs was applied to investigate the putative function of the dysregulated circRNAs.

RESULTS

A total of 536 circRNAs, 3,885 genes, and 207 miRNAs were significantly dysregulated after HSV-1 infection. An integration analysis of circRNAs, genes, and miRNAs revealed the alleged involvement of dysregulated circRNAs in cellular responses to HSV-1 infection via the circRNA-miRNA-gene regulatory axis. These genes regulated by circRNAs were enriched to NOD-like receptor/JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and pathways of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and cell death, all of which may be implicated in the viral pathogenesis and cellular immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data present a comprehensive view for circRNAs induced by HSV-1 and their interplay with miRNAs and genes during HSV-1 infection, thus offering new insights into the mechanisms of interactions between HSV-1 and the host.

Molecular characterization of an imported dengue virus serotype 4 isolate from Thailand

The epidemic of dengue virus infections has spread markedly in Yunnan province of China in recent years due to an increase in the number of imported dengue cases. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report a whole genome sequence and molecular characterization of an imported DENV-4 isolate from Thailand. The current strain, 2013JH285, has an RNA genome of 10,772 nucleotides that shares 99.0% nucleotide and 99.7% amino acid sequence identity with the 2013 Thailand strain CTI2-13. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome sequence revealed that the 2013JH285 strain belongs to genotype I of DENV-4. Recombination analysis suggested that the 2013JH285 strain originated from inter-genotypic recombination of DENV-4 strains. The new complete DENV-4 genome sequence reported here might contribute to further understanding of the molecular epidemiology and disease surveillance of DENV-4 in China.