[Effects of Sediment Microenvironment on Sedimentary Phosphorus Release Under Capping]

The sediment microenvironment has an important effect on the release of endogenous phosphorus. In this study, the influence of two different in-situ covering materials on the sediment microenvironment were compared, and the controlling effect of endogenous phosphorus release were studied. The sediment microenvironment was represented by the concentration of NH₄⁺-N, Fe²⁺ in interstitial water, and microbial activity. The results showed that the concentrations of NH₄⁺-N and Fe²⁺ were lower under ACPM coverage than those of the Phoslock^® group, and the microbial activity was higher, indicating that the redox potential of ACPM coverage was higher than that of Phoslock^®. Furthermore, the bottom sediment microenvironment was in an aerobic state. Compared with the Phoslock^® group, the DIP concentrations in both the overcover water and porewater in the ACPM group were higher, indicating that Phoslock^® was superior to ACPM with respect to the phosphate adsorption capacity, suggesting that the sediment microenvironment was not the only criterion for phosphorus adsorption. In the fixation process of endogenous phosphorus, both of the covering materials were conducive to the fixation of inter phosphorus, and Ca-P increased significantly. On the other hand, oxidizing ACPM led to an increase in NH₄Cl-P and a significant decrease in Fe/Al-P. This promotes the release of active phosphorus, which is conducive to the cleaning of the sediment and phosphorus release.

[Effect of Oxidation Strengthening on In-situ Phosphorus Immobilization of Calcium Hydroxide]

In this research, calcium hydroxide[Ca(OH)₂] and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were injected into the bottom mud in the form of plum blossom scatterers to investigate the effect on the control of endogenous phosphorus. The results showed that Ca(OH)₂ used singly effectively immobilized in the order of 90% of endogenous phosphorus approximately 20 mm below the sediment-water interface (SWI); however, at the same time, the anaerobic environment was enhanced, resulting in the transformation of stable phosphorus to easily released phosphorus and the accumulation of potential active phosphorus. Nevertheless, the addition of H₂O₂ greatly reduced the amount of potential active phosphorus in deep sediments after adding Ca(OH)₂. The vertical diffusion depth of Ca(OH)₂ in the sediments was significantly increased, having an influence across the depth range of 0-40mm below the SWI; the improvement at depths greater than 40 mm was not notable, which was mainly attributed to an 18-fold increase of redox potential due to the addition of the oxidant. The change of phosphorus forms in the sediment also demonstrated the excellent immobilization effect of the oxidant on phosphorus. In the 0-20 mm layer, the content of readily released phosphorus decreased significantly, while compared with a control test, Ca-P increased by approximately 10%. However, at greater depths, the amount of easily released phosphorus decreased and the rate of Ca-P increase gradually slowed.

[Effect of Calcium Peroxide Composite Tablets on Water Remediation and Phosphorus Control in Sediment]

Two types of calcium peroxide composite tablets (CPCTs) were prepared, and the inhibition effect on the release of endogenous phosphorus and the influence on the overlying water by mixed-dosing were investigated. The CPCTs were made of calcium peroxide (CaO₂), calcined water purification sludge, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), which were directly pressed into composite tablets, among which Tablet-B (T-B) contained ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) and Tablet-A (T-A) did not. Both the tablets agreed well with the Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models; the theoretical maximum adsorption capacities of T-A and T-B on phosphorus were 110.908 mg·g^-1 and 106.390 mg·g^-1, respectively. Compared with the control group, the pH of overlying water was increased, the concentration of Chl-a was decreased by 42.75% and 60.82%, and the DO was increased by 53.73% and 63.30% in group A and B, respectively. The DIP of the overlying water decreased significantly by 54.93% and 25.11% in group A and B, respectively. For the interstitial water in sediment, the DIP in layer Ⅰ (0-2 cm) decreased significantly by 74.81% and 65.66% in group A and B, and the DIP in layer Ⅱ (2-4 cm) decreased significantly by 46.23% in group B, but not obviously in group A. The DIP in layer Ⅲ (4-6 cm) remained unchanged in group A and B. For phosphorus fractions in sediment, the proportion of NH₄Cl-P in TP was significantly increased (layer Ⅰ: 16.87% and 13.11%; layer Ⅱ: 12.99% and 11.02%, in group A and B, respectively), and the proportion of Al-P in TP was significantly decreased (layer Ⅰ: 7.58% and 13.91%; layerⅡ: 9.86% and 7.28%, in group A and B, respectively). The other phosphorus fractions did not change significantly. Both T-A and T-B dosing can improve the microbial activity of the surface sediment, though T-A can improve the microbial activity more significantly.

[Environmental Significance of Phosphorus Fractions of Phytoplankton-and Macrophyte-Dominated Zones in Taihu Lake]

It is of great importance to study the environmental significance of phosphorus fractions in overlying water and sediments of typical phytoplankton-and macrophyte-dominated zones. It will help to clarify the process of phosphorus migration and transformation in the sediment-water interface, and has practical significance for understanding the eutrophication process and its treatment in different regions of Taihu Lake. The investigation was conducted within typical phytoplankton-and macrophyte-dominated zones of Taihu Lake over four seasons to analyze the spatial and temporal differences between phosphorus fractions in water and sediments, and reveal their environmental significance. The results showed that:① Total phosphorus (TP), total soluble phosphorus (DTP), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) in the overlying water of phytoplankton-dominated zones were much higher than those in macrophyte-dominated zones. Most of them showed seasonal characteristics, which were higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. PP is the main component of TP, accounting for 71.8% to 89.6%. A similar distribution character was found in the content of chlorophyll (Chl-a) compared with phosphorus concentration in overlying water. ② The concentration of TP in the surface sediments of phytoplankton-dominated zones was 372.38-529.64 mg·kg^-1, and that in macrophyte-dominated zones was 304.29-454.27 mg·kg^-1. In surface sediments, concentrations of TP in phytoplankton-dominated zones were significantly higher than in phytoplankton-dominated zones. The highest TP concentrations appeared in winter, and the lowest in summer. These were owing to the input of exogenous pollution, and the migration and transformation of internal phosphorus between sediments and overlying water under different environmental conditions. ③ The order of the mass fraction of phosphorus in sediments was:NH₄Cl-P < Fe-P < Org-P < Res-P < Al-P < Ca-P. Mobile-P=NH₄Cl-P+Fe-P+Org-P, accounting for 9.10%-16.93% of TP in phytoplankton-dominated zones, and slightly higher in macrophyte-dominated zones, where it was 8.11%-13.50%. Res-P accounted for 10.06%-14.97% of TP in phytoplankton-dominated zones, and 11.02%-20.28% in macrophyte-dominated zones. The risk of internal phosphorus release in phytoplankton-dominated zones is high, which is not conducive to the fixation and burial of phosphorus. The eutrophication degree of different regions in Taihu Lake is obviously different, and different characteristics of phosphorus release and burial are showed. The phytoplankton-dominated zones deserve special attention because of their high internal phosphorus load and release potential.

Phosphorylation/cytoplasmic localization of p21Cip1/WAF1 is associated with HER2/neu overexpression and provides a novel combination predictor for poor prognosis in breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

The diversity of biological functions makes p21(Cip1/WAF1) (p21) a controversial marker in predicting the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Recent laboratory studies revealed that the regulation of p21 function could be related to different subcellular localizations of p21 by Akt-induced phosphorylation at threonine 145 in HER2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to verify these findings in clinical settings.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The expression status of the key biological markers in the HER2/neu-Akt-p21 pathway in 130 breast cancer specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and correlated with patients' clinical parameters and survival. In addition, an antibody against phospho-p21 at threonine 145 [phospho-p21 (T145)] was also used for better validation of these findings.

RESULTS

Cytoplasmic localization of p21 is highly correlated with overexpression of phospho-p21 (T145). Both cytoplasmic p21 and overexpression of phospho-p21 (T145) are associated with high expression of HER2/neu and phospho-Akt. Cytoplasmic localization of p21 and overexpression of phospho-p21 (T145), HER2/neu, and phospho-Akt are all associated with worse overall survival. Multivariate analysis of the Cox proportional hazard regression model revealed that cytoplasmic p21 and overexpression of HER2/neu are independently associated with increased risk of death. Combining these two factors stratified patients' survival into four distinct groups, with a 5-year survival rate of 79% in low HER2/neu and negative/nuclear p21 patients, 60% in high HER2/neu and negative/nuclear p21 patients, 29% in low HER2/neu and cytoplasmic p21 patients, and 16% in high HER2/neu and cytoplasmic p21 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study, in addition to supporting the mechanisms of p21 regulation derived from laboratory investigation, demonstrates the prognostic importance of phospho-p21 (T145) for the first time and also provides a novel combination of p21 and HER2/neu for better stratification of patients' survival than any single clinicopathological or biological marker that may play important diagnostic and therapeutic roles for breast cancer patients.