Degradation of carbamazepine in ice with bromate and nitrite: Role of reactive nitrogen species

Seasonal freezing of waters occurs during winter in cold regions. Bromate ( [Formula: see text] ) is a disinfection by-product generated during water treatment, its interaction with emerging contaminants may be affected by freezing. Nitrite ( [Formula: see text] ) is widely distributed in the environment, whereas its effect on the interaction of emerging contaminants and [Formula: see text] in ice may have been overlooked. Herein carbamazepine (CBZ) was selected as a model emerging contaminant to elucidate the role of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in contaminant transformation during the reduction of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] in ice. Results indicated that freezing significantly enhanced CBZ degradation by [Formula: see text] . The CBZ degradation by [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in ice was 25.4 %-27.8 % higher than that by [Formula: see text] . Contributions of hydroxyl radical (•OH), bromine radical (•Br), and RNS to CBZ degradation in freezing/dark or sunlight systems were 8.1 % or 15.9 %, 25.4 % or 7.2 %, and 66.5 % or 76.9 %, respectively. Most CBZ was degraded by RNS generated during the reduction of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] in ice, resulting in 16.4 % of transformation products being nitro-containing byproducts. Hybrid toxicity of CBZ/ [Formula: see text] / [Formula: see text] system was reduced effectively after the freezing-sunlight process. This study can provide new insights into the environmental fate of emerging contaminants, [Formula: see text] , and [Formula: see text] in cold regions.

Inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria by Fe3O4 @MoS2 activated persulfate and control of antibiotic resistance dissemination risk

Antibiotic resistance poses a global environmental challenge that jeopardizes human health and ecosystem stability. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) significantly promote the spreading and diffusion of antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the efficiency and mechanism of inactivating tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli (TR E. coli) using Fe3O4 @MoS2 activated persulfate (Fe3O4 @MoS2/PS). Under optimized conditions (200 mg/L Fe3O4 @MoS2, 4 mM PS, 35 °C), TR E. coli (∼7.5 log CFU/mL) could be fully inactivated within 20 min. The primary reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for TR E. coli inactivation in the Fe3O4 @MoS2/PS system were hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (•O2-). Remarkably, the efflux pump protein was targeted and damaged by the generated ROS during the inactivation process, resulting in cell membrane rupture and efflux of cell content. Additionally, the horizontal transmission ability of residual antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) harboring in the TR E. coli was also reduced after the inactivation treatment. This study offers an efficient approach for TR E. coli inactivation and substantial mitigation of antibiotic resistance dissemination risk.

[Progress on microneedle drug delivery systems for the treatment of corneal diseases]

Corneal diseases are prevalent eye conditions in China, and the lack of effective treatment in the short term can lead to blindness. However, delivering drugs to the cornea safely and effectively poses a significant challenge due to the presence of ocular barriers and clearance mechanisms. Conventional drug delivery methods exhibit low bioavailability, making it difficult to achieve therapeutic effects. Microneedles, with their ability to penetrate ocular surface barriers effectively, offer a low-invasive and highly promising drug delivery technology. This article introduces the main delivery barriers on the ocular surface, classifies microneedles, and highlights the latest developments in the treatment of corneal diseases. Finally, the potential challenges of applying microneedle delivery systems to the ocular surface are analyzed, aiming to provide insights for the clinical application of microneedles in corneal diseases.

Association of Molecular Subtypes with Pathologic Response, PFS, and OS in a Phase II Study of COXEN with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

PURPOSE

The Coexpression Extrapolation (COXEN) gene expression model with chemotherapy-specific scores [for methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin (ddMVAC) and gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC)] was developed to identify responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We investigated RNA-based molecular subtypes as additional predictive biomarkers for NAC response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients treated in S1314.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A total of 237 patients were randomized between four cycles of ddMVAC (51%) and GC (49%). On the basis of Affymetrix transcriptomic data, we determined subtypes using three classifiers: TCGA (k = 5), Consensus (k = 6), and MD Anderson (MDA; k = 3) and assessed subtype association with path response to NAC and determined associations with COXEN. We also tested whether each classifier contributed additional predictive power when added to a model based on predefined stratification (strat) factors (PS 0 vs. 1; T2 vs. T3, T4a).

RESULTS

A total of 155 patients had gene expression results, received at least three of four cycles of NAC, and had pT-N response based on radical cystectomy. TCGA three-group classifier basal-squamous (BS)/neuronal, luminal (Lum), Lum infiltrated, and GC COXEN score yielded the largest AUCs for pT0 (0.59, P = 0.28; 0.60, P = 0.18, respectively). For downstaging (

CONCLUSIONS

The Consensus classifier, based in part on the TCGA and MDA classifiers, modestly improved prediction for pathologic downstaging but subtypes were not associated with PFS or OS.

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Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings

• Humans
• Cisplatin/therapeutic use
• Cystectomy/methods
• Deoxycytidine/therapeutic use
• Muscles/pathology
• Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Progression-Free Survival
• Retrospective Studies
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/drug therapy
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/genetics
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology

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Grants

• UG1 CA233320 NCI NIH HHS
• UG1 CA233324 NCI NIH HHS
• UG1 CA180830 NCI NIH HHS
• UG1 CA233160 NCI NIH HHS
• U10 CA032102 NCI NIH HHS
• UG1 CA233196 NCI NIH HHS
• U10 CA180888 NCI NIH HHS
• U24 CA114748 NCI NIH HHS
• U10 CA180819 NCI NIH HHS
• UG1 CA233328 NCI NIH HHS

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Affiliation(s)

Seth P. Lerner Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
David J. McConkey Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Catherine M. Tangen Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Joshua J Meeks Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Thomas W. Flaig University of Colorado, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
X Hua Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Siamak Daneshmand Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Ajjai Shivaram Alva University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
M. Scott Lucia University of Colorado, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO
Dan Theodorescu Cedars-Sinai CANCER, Los Angeles, CA
Amir Goldkorn University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Matthew I. Milowsky University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC
W. Choi Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Rick Bangs SWOG Cancer Research Network, Portland, OR
Daniel L. Gustafson Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Melissa Plets Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Ian M. Thompson CHRISTUS Medical Center Hospital, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

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Diversity characterization of bacteria and fungi in water, sediments and biofilms from Songhua River in Northeast China

Water, sediments, and biofilms are the typical microbial carriers in natural water environments. However, comparative analysis of the distribution of bacterial and fungal communities in different carriers within the same habitat is relatively lacking. Therefore, this study employed 16 S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing to identify bacterial and fungal community structures in water, sediments, and biofilm. The results show that (1) the OTUs numbers revealed that the bacterial abundance, at the levels of species, genus, and family, followed the order of sediments > water > biofilms, while the fungal abundance order was water > sediments > biofilms. In addition, bacteria were mainly present in sediments, while fungi were mainly present in water. (2) The α diversity index (Shannon, ACE, Simpson, and Chao1) order, for bacteria was: sediments > water > biofilms, indicating that the diversity and homogeneity of bacteria in sediments were relatively higher; for fungi was: water > sediments > biofilms, indicating that the diversity and abundance of fungi in water were high. (3) The core phylum of bacterial in the water, sediments, and biofilms was Cyanobacteria (31.3-46.1%) and Actinobacteria (27.6-36.1%); Proteobacteria (35.0-41.8%), Cyanobacteria (14.7-36.6%); and Proteobacteria (63.3-69.2%), respectively. (4) The mainly colonized fungal phyla in biofilms in the water, sediments, and biofilms were Basidiomycota (29.3-38.7%) and Ascomycota (16.2-27.7%); Zygomycota (13.1-17.5%), Basidiomycota (5.6-17.6%); and Zygomycota (23.8-44.2%). (5) There were significant species differences in bacterial and fungal communities in water, sediments, and biofilm by NMDS analysis. Findings are useful for guiding significance for the Biogeochemical cycle of elements, the environmental fate of pollutants, and the study of water ecosystems.

Prognostic Significance of the Novel Nutrition-Inflammation Marker of Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratio in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Receiving Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Recent studies indicate that the novel lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) is strongly associated with the survival of various tumors, but its prognostic value in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is understudied. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the LCR and overall survival (OS) in NPC and to develop a predictive model.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 841 NPC patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into training cohort (n = 589) and validation cohort (n = 252). Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify variables associated with OS and construct a predictive nomogram. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated and independently validated.

RESULTS

The LCR score differentiated NPC patients into two groups with distinct prognoses (HR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.32-0.89, P = 0.014). Multivariate analysis showed that age, T stage, N stage, EBV-DNA status, and LCR score were independently associated with OS and a predictive nomogram was developed. The nomogram had a good performance for the prediction of OS [C-index = 0.770 (95% CI: 0.675-0.864)] and outperformed the traditional staging system [C-index = 0.589 (95% CI: 0.385-0.792)]. The results were internally validated using an independent cohort.

CONCLUSION

The novel nutrition-inflammation marker of LCR could serve as a simplified, affordable, easy-to-obtain, non-invasive, and readily promotive prognostic marker for NPC patients received CCRT, and the LCR-based prognostic nomogram outperformed the conventional staging system in terms of predictive power.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Acetaminophen in Aqueous Environments: A Mini Review

Over the past few decades, acetaminophen (ACT), a typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has gained global usage, positioning itself as one of the most extensively consumed medications. However, the incomplete metabolism of ACT leads to a substantial discharge into the environment, classifying it as an environmental contaminant with detrimental effects on non-target organisms. Various wastewater treatment technologies have been developed for ACT removal to mitigate its potential environmental risk. Particularly, photocatalytic technology has garnered significant attention as it exhibits high efficiency in oxidizing and degrading a wide range of organic pollutants. This comprehensive review aims to systematically examine and discuss the application of photocatalytic technology for the removal of ACT from aqueous environments. Additionally, the study provides a detailed overview of the limitations associated with the photocatalytic degradation of ACT in practical applications, along with effective strategies to address these challenges.

Liver Metabolic Dysregulation Induced by Polypropylene Nano- and Microplastics in Nile Tilapia Using Internal Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Understanding the metabolic disorders induced by nano- and microplastics in aquatic organisms at the molecular level could help us understand the potential toxicity of nano- and microplastics more thoroughly and provide a fundamental scientific basis for regulating the usage and management of plastic products. In this research, the effect of polypropylene nanoplastics (PP-NPs) and microplastics (PP-MPs) on metabolites in the tilapia liver was comprehensively investigated by internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (iEESI-MS). A partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and a one-component analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for selecting 46 differential metabolites, including phospholipids, amino acids, peptides, carbohydrates, alkaloids, purines, pyrimidines, and nucleosides. Pathway enrichment analysis showed significant effects on glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis after tilapia were exposed to PP-N/MPs. Dysregulation of these metabolites is mainly reflected in the possible induction of hepatitis, oxidative stress, and other symptoms. The application of iEESI-MS technology without sample pretreatment to the study of metabolic disorders in aquatic organisms under the interference of nano- and microplastics provides a promising analytical method for environmental toxicology research.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by Z-scheme Ag3PO4/1T@2H-MoS2 heterojunction: Degradation mechanism, toxicity assessment, and potential applications

Residual antibiotics in wastewater threaten living organisms and the ecosystem, while the photocatalytic process is recognized as one of the most eco-friendly and promising technologies for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater. In this study, a novel Z-scheme Ag₃PO₄/1T@2H-MoS₂ heterojunction was synthesized, characterized, and used for the visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). It was found that Ag₃PO₄/1T@2H-MoS₂ dosage and coexisting anions had significant effects on the degradation efficiency, which could reach up to 98.9 % within 10 min under the optimal condition. Combing experiments and theoretical calculations, the degradation pathway and mechanism were thoroughly investigated. The excellent photocatalytic property of Ag₃PO₄/1T@2H-MoS₂ was achieved attributed to the Z-scheme heterojunction structure, which remarkably inhibited the recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes. The potential toxicity and mutagenicity for TCH and generated intermediates were evaluated, which revealed the ecological toxicity of antibiotic wastewater was reduced effectively during the photocatalytic degradation process.

A combined UV-visible with fluorescence detection method based on an unlabeled aptamer and AuNPs for the sensitive detection of acetamiprid

A simple spectral method with a wider detection range is proposed for the detection of acetamiprid.

The effect of carbonization temperature on the capacity and mechanisms of Cd(II)-Pb(II) mix-ions adsorption by wood ear mushroom sticks derived biochar

Heavy metals often coexist in contaminated environmental media, and competition between heavy metals for adsorption sites influences the absorption capacity of biochar. In this study, the adsorption mechanism of pyrolytically modified wood ear mushroom sticks (250, 450, and 650 °C) as a new bio-adsorbent for single-ion and mixed-ion solutions Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ Biochar adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption abilities of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ increased with increasing WMBC (wood ear mushroom sticks biochar) pyrolysis temperature. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺increased with higher pyrolysis temperature, being 29.84, 39.08, 46.16 mg·g^-1and 124.3, 186.8, 234.2 mg·g^-1, respectively for three different pyrolysis temperatures 250, 450, and 650 °C. WMBC exhibited a stronger adsorption ability for Pb²⁺ than for Cd²⁺. Competition between the two heavy metals severely inhibited the adsorption of Cd²⁺. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, the dominant interaction mechanisms were determined to be complexation, ion exchange, precipitation, and C-π interaction. The results suggest WMBC shows promise as a novel, cheap, and effective adsorbent that can be used to remove both Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ pollutants from environmental media.

The pH dependence and role of fluorinated substituent of enoxacin binding to ferrihydrite

The sorption of antibiotics on iron (hydr)oxides is an important process that influences their environmental fate. Ferrihydrite (Fh) nanosized iron hydroxide is omnipresent in nature. However, the sorption mechanism of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics on Fh is unclear. Here, a combined experimental and computational study was conducted to investigate the sorption of enoxacin (ENO) as one model of FQs on Fh. Pipemidic acid (PPA), as a structural analog of ENO, was selected to compare the effect of fluorinated substituent on the sorption mechanism. Results indicated that the average K_d values of ENO at pH = 7.0 and 8.0 were 1.72 and 2.75 times higher than those at pH in the ranges of 4.0-6.0 and 9.0-10.0, respectively. The main sorption mechanisms included electrostatic, hydrophobic interaction, and inner-sphere complexation. The fluorinated substituent of ENO facilitated its sorption on Fh through enhancing its hydrophobicity as well as modifying its dissociation constants and charge distribution. The findings give new insights into the significant influence of active fluorinated substituents on the environmental behaviors of fluorinated pharmaceuticals.

Photodegradation of norfloxacin in ice: Role of the fluorine substituent

Ice is an important medium in cold regions, because it regulates the environmental behaviors and the fate of pollutants. The photodegradation of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics as emerging contaminants of concern in ice remains poorly understood. Here, the photodegradation of fluorine-containing norfloxacin (NOR) as one model of FQs in ice formed from freezing solutions was investigated. Pipemidic acid (PPA) as a structural analogue of NOR was selected to compare the effect of molecular structure on the antibiotic photodegradation in the ice. Results suggested that the photodegradation rate constant of NOR in ice relative to pure water increased by 40.0%. Both the absorbance in the absorption spectra and quantum yields of NOR in ice over water increased by 1.4 times. Direct photodegradation mainly caused the defluorination of NOR, which was more important than cleavage and oxidation of the piperazine ring by self-sensitized photooxidation in ice. The defluorination rate of NOR in the ice relative to water increased by about 12.7%. The fluorine substituent played a more important role in the NOR photodegradation in the ice, resulting in a 1.6-fold increase in the photodegradation rate constant of NOR relative to PPA. This work provides a new insight into the role of fluorine substituents in the photodegradation of fluorinated pharmaceuticals in cold regions.

Correction: Direct analysis of metabolites in the liver tissue of zebrafish exposed to fiproles by internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Correction for ‘Direct analysis of metabolites in the liver tissue of zebrafish exposed to fiproles by internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry’ by Jun Liu et al., Analyst, 2021, 146, 4480–4486, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1AN00490E.

Internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for investigating the phospholipid dysregulation induced by perfluorooctanoic acid in Nile tilapia

Direct profiling of endogenous biomolecules in tissue samples is considered to be a promising approach to investigate metabolic-related toxicity in organisms induced by emerging pollutants.

Economic evaluations of interventions against influenza at workplaces: systematic review

BACKGROUND

The burden of influenza is mostly felt by employees and employers because of increased absenteeism rates, loss of productivity and associated direct costs. Even though interventions against influenza among working adults are effective, patronage and compliance to these measures especially vaccination are low compared to other risk groups.

AIMS

This study was aimed to assess evidence of economic evaluations of interventions against influenza virus infection among workers or in the workplace setting.

METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guideline for systematic reviews was followed. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science and EconLit, were searched using keywords to identify relevant articles from inception till 25 October 2020. Original peer-reviewed papers that conducted economic evaluations of influenza interventions using cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis methods focused on working-age adults or work settings were eligible for inclusion. Two independent teams of co-authors extracted and synthesized data from identified studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-four articles were included: 21 were cost-benefit analyses and 3 examined cost-effectiveness analyses. Two papers also presented additional cost-utility analysis. Most of the studies were pharmaceutical interventions (n = 23) primarily focused on vaccination programs while one study was a non-pharmaceutical intervention examining the benefit of paid sick leave. All but two studies reported that interventions against influenza virus infection at the workplace were cost-saving and cost-effective regardless of the analytic approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Further cost-effectiveness research in non-pharmaceutical interventions against influenza in workplace settings is warranted. There is a need to develop standardized methods for reporting economic evaluation methods to ensure comparability and applicability of future research findings.

Electrocatalytic inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria and control of antibiotic resistance dissemination risk

Antibiotic resistance in environmental matrices becomes urgently significant for public health and has been considered as an emerging environmental contaminant. In this work, the ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli (AR E. coli) and corresponding resistance genes (bla_TEM-1) were effectively eliminated by the electrocatalytic process, and the dissemination risk of antibiotic resistance was also investigated. All the AR E. coli (∼8 log) was inactivated and 8.17 log bla_TEM-1 was degraded by the carbon nanotubes/agarose/titanium (CNTs/AG/Ti) electrode within 30 min. AR E. coli was inactivated mainly attributing to the damage of cell membrane, which was attacked by reactive oxygen species and subsequent leakage of intracellular cytoplasm. The bla_TEM-1 was degraded owing to the strand breaking in the process of electrocatalytic degradation. Furthermore, the dissemination risk of antibiotic resistance was effectively controlled after being electrocatalytic treatment. This study provided an effective electrocatalytic technology for the inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria and control of antibiotic resistance dissemination risk in the aqueous environment.

Effective electrocatalytic elimination of chloramphenicol: mechanism, degradation pathway, and toxicity assessment

The residual antibiotics in different environmental media pose a serious threat to human health and the ecosystem. The high-efficient elimination of antibiotics is one of the foremost works. In this study, chloramphenicol (CAP) was eliminated efficiently by electrocatalytic advanced oxidation process with carbon nanotubes/agarose/indium tin oxide (CNTs/AG/ITO) electrode. The influences of different experimental parameters on the degradation efficiency were systematically studied. Under the optimal conditions (4 V potential, 10 wt% CNTs dosage, and pH = 10), the maximum degradation efficiency of CAP (20 mg L^-1) achieved 88% within 180 min. Besides, the electrocatalytic degradation pathway and mechanism for CAP were also investigated, •O₂^- played a major role in the process of electrocatalytic degradation. Based on the QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) model, the toxicities of CAP and identified intermediates were analyzed. Compared with the parent compound, the maximal chronic toxicity of intermediate ((E)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)prop-1-ene-1,3-diol) for daphnid increased 197-fold. Besides, the hybrid toxicity of the degradation system was further confirmed via disk agar biocidal tests with Escherichia coli ATCC25922, which changed slightly during the degradation process. Based on the above results, it is worth noting that the degradation pathway and toxicity assessment should be paid more attention to the treatment of antibiotic wastewater.

The efficiency of microalgae biofilm in the phycoremediation of water from River Kaduna

This study is aimed at investigating the efficiency of microalgae biofilm in the phycoremediation of water from a polluted river. Freshwater microalgae biofilm inherent in a contaminated petrochemical stream was employed to remediate water from the River Kaduna, which is the largest river in Kaduna town, Kaduna State, Nigeria, and serves as the primary water source in Kaduna town. The results indicate high reduction efficiency of some physicochemical parameters and pollutants (turbidity (71%), conductivity (9.8%), sulfate (37.5%), alkalinity (62.5%), chloride (11.5%), TDS (9.9%), TSS (66.7%), nitrate (42.9%), COD (24%), and BOD (33%), Cd (70.0%), Ni (74.0%) and Pb (71.0%)), indicating the effectiveness of microalgae biofilm in the phycoremediation of water from River Kaduna. According to scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, the microalgae biofilm has rough surface morphology after the treatment of the river water, which implies that the biofilm was capable of removing the pollutants in water via biosorption. Other characterizations such as XRF, XRD, and FTIR also buttressed that biosorption was the primary removal mechanism of pollutants by microalgae biofilm. Besides, the results also show the production of ROS during the treatment of water from the River Kaduna by the microalgae biofilm. This high concentration of ROS produced during the treatment correlates significantly with pollutant degradation. The GC-MS analysis of the microalgae biofilm shows the involvement of some phytochemicals in the process of pollutant degradation. As a result, microalgae biofilm is a simple and cost-effective method of polluted water phycoremediation with promising applications and future prospects.

Microalgae biofilm formation and antioxidant responses to stress induce by Lemna minor L., Chlorella vulgaris, and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

The study shows how microalgae biofilm formation and antioxidant responses to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is alter by the presences of Lemna minor L., Chlorella vulgaris, and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The study involves the cultivation of the biofilm of Chlorella vulgaris and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae in three bioreactors. The condition of growth for the biofilm formation was varied across the three bioreactors to enable the dominance Chlorella vulgaris and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae in one of the bioreactors. Lemna minor L. was also introduce into one of the bioreactors to determine its effect on the biofilm formation. The result obtained shows that C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae dominate the biofilm, resulting in a high level of H₂O₂ and O₂^- (H₂O₂ was 0.122 ± 0.052 and 0.183 ± 0.108 mmol/L in C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae, respectively, and O₂^- was 0.261 ± 0.039 and 0.251 ± 0.148 mmol/L in C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae, respectively). The study also revealed that the presence of L. minor L. tend to reduce the oxidative stress to the biofilm leading to low production of ROS (H₂O₂ was 0.086 ± 0.027 and 0.089 ± 0.045 mmol/L in C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae respectively, and O₂^- was 0.185 ± 0.044 and 0.161 ± 0.065 mmol/L in C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae respectively). The variation in the ability of the biofilm of C. vulgaris and A. flos-aquae to respond via chlorophyll, carotenoid, flavonoid, anthocyanin, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase activities, antioxidant reducing power, phosphomolybdate activity, DPPH reduction activity, H₂O₂ scavenging activity, lipid content and organic carbon also supports the fact that the presence of biomass of microalgae and aquatic macrophytes tend to affect the process of microalgae biofilm formation and the ability of the biofilm to produce antioxidant. This high nutrient utilization leads to the production of biomass which can be used for biofuel production and other biotechnological products.

Direct analysis of metabolites in the liver tissue of zebrafish exposed to fiproles by internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Exploring the metabolic disturbance of fipronil and its derivatives in aquatic organisms may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of fipronil on the ecological environment. In this work, internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (iEESI-MS) was used to directly analyze metabolites in the liver tissue of zebrafish exposed to fipronil and its three derivatives. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed that 32 signals were considered as differential signals in zebrafish after the exposure treatment of fipronil and its derivatives, including phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), fatty acids and so on. The pathway analysis result showed that both fipronil and its derivatives have a significant impact on the glycerophospholipid metabolism of zebrafish. Besides, the intensities of PC signals in the liver samples of each group showed such a trend: mixed fiprole exposed group > fipronil sulfone exposed group ≈ fipronil sulfide exposed group > fipronil exposed group > fipronil desulfinyl exposed group > control group, indicating that mixed exposure of fipronil and its derivatives exhibited more significant metabolic disturbance in zebrafish. Taken together, iEESI-MS is applied to environmental toxicology and investigating the metabolic disturbance induced by fipronil and its derivatives in aquatic organisms, providing a new analytical method for this field.

Potential health risks of metals in skin care products used by Chinese consumers aged 19-29 years

Metal contamination of skin care products that occurs during their production poses potential health risks, which are of increasing concern, to consumers. Here, we collected 570 responses to an online survey to analyze the usage pattern of skin care products across China. Then a total of 30 commonly used skin care products with various prices and applications were purchased. The concentrations of metals (Al, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Hg, and Cd) and metalloid As, were determined. Next, we improved the frequency calculation method and used the weighted exposure frequency to calculate the dermal absorption dose (DAD). The amounts of Zn, Cr, and Al that were assimilated by the human body via uptake were approximately 2 orders of magnitude greater than those of Pb, Hg, Cd, Ni and metalloid As. In addition, younger consumers were at higher risk of metals exposure than older consumers because of their higher frequency of use of skin care products. Al and Zn posed higher risk to consumers because of its high DAD. There was no significant chronic non-carcinogenic health risk (hazard index < 1) posed by skincare product use.

Microalgae biofilm cultured in nutrient-rich water as a tool for the phycoremediation of petroleum-contaminated water

This study aimed at studying the phycoremediation of petroleum-contaminated water using microalgae biofilm cultured in nutrient-rich water. Microalgae biofilm was grown in a photobioreactor containing water rich in calcium nitrate, manganese chloride, sodium potassium tartrate, calcium phosphate, and ammonium sulfate. Petroleum contaminated water was poured into a photobioreactor, and the substrate containing microalgae biofilm was inserted into the photobioreactor and allowed for eight weeks for biofilm formation. Physicochemical parameters (pH, turbidity, conductivity, sulfate, alkalinity, chloride, TDS, TSS, nitrate, salinity, iron, potassium, phosphate, chlorine, chromium, magnesium, zinc, COD, BOD, and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) of the petroleum contaminated water before and after treatment were determined. The microalgae biofilm used for the treatment was characterized before and after treatment using a Scanning Electron Microscope, X-Ray Fluorescence, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The phytochemical constituent of the microalgae biofilm was also determined before and after treatment of the petroleum-contaminated water. The result obtained shows highest removal efficiency of physicochemical parameters (turbidity (81%), conductivity (51.2), sulfate (17.5%), alkalinity 28.4%), chloride (14.6%), TDS (7.9), TSS (26%), nitrate (33%), salinity (23.4), iron (16%), potassium (22%), phosphate (28.2%), chlorine (14%), chromium (13.6%), magnesium (30.3%), zinc (40.5%), COD (8%), BOD (16.7%) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (15%)). The microalgae's characterization shows microalgae biofilm's ability to adsorb pollutants in petroleum-contaminated water due to the presence of microspores and larger surface area of the cells of the microalgae forming the biofilm or due to the absorption efficiency of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The analysis of the microalgae biofilm's phytochemical parameters shows the involvement of the chemicals components in pollutants degradation and antioxidant response of the microalgae to counteract the oxidative effect resulting from the exposure of the microalgae to the contaminated water. NOVELTY STATEMENT This is the first study that attempts the phycoremediation of petroleum contaminated water using microalgae biofilm. The reduction efficiency of the parameters treated in this study is very low compared to that reported in the literature but increases with the retention day. This low reduction efficiency is attributed to the slow assimilation of organic and inorganic pollutants due to the initial growth condition. This study is the first to re-affirm that microalgae biofilm can phycoremediate petroleum-contaminated water by adsorption and assimilation due to the presence of microspores and a larger surface area the cells of the microalgae forming the biofilm or the extracellular polymetric surface covering the biofilm. Several studies have reported that phytochemicals present in microalgae play an antioxidant response role to prevent the microalgae from oxidative damage resulting from water pollution. However, this study is the first to strongly link phytochemicals to the enhancement of pollutants degradation and adsorption by microalgae biofilm.

Prognostic model for risk stratification of de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

There is no clinically applicable prognostic model designed for patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) treated with chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT). We sought to develop a predictive tool of overall survival for individualized prediction and risk stratification in this heterogeneous patient population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 244 eligible patients with de novo mNPC, who were treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy followed by LRRT, were included in this retrospective study. We divided patients into the training and validation sets based on the date of initial treatment, with 152 patients treated between 2008 and 2013 comprising the training set for model development and 92 patients treated at a later time (2014 to 2015) forming the validation set. We applied Cox proportional hazards model to examine factors associated with overall survival (OS). We developed and subsequently validated a prognostic model to predict OS. We assessed the performance of this prognostic model and stratified patients based on prognostic scores obtained from this proposed model.

RESULTS

The median OS of the entire cohort was 60.9 months. C-creative protein, number of metastatic sites, liver metastasis, post-treatment Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and response of metastasis were significantly associated with OS. A prognostic model for individual survival prediction was developed and graphically represented as a nomogram. The model showed favorable discrimination (C-index: 0.759), predictive accuracy [time dependent area under the curve (tAUC) at 5 years: 0.800], and calibration, and was further validated in an independent dataset. A risk stratification derived from the model can stratify these patients into three prognostic subgroups with significantly different survival.

CONCLUSION

We developed and validated a prognostic model that exhibited adequate performance in individualized prediction and risk stratification for patients with de novo mNPC treated with chemotherapy followed by LRRT.

Critical biodegradation process of a widely used surfactant in the water environment: dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS)

Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBS) is a widely used surfactant that is now found extensively in water bodies because of anthropogenic emissions. Since the degradation of DBS in the environment mainly relies on microorganisms, it is essential to study the mechanism by which DBS is biodegraded. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris was used to research the biodegradation process of DBS. The C. vulgaris suspension was centrifuged to remove the supernatant, then secondary deionized water and DBS were added to the C. vulgaris. And the intermediate products were detected in real time by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Some novel intermediate products, including 4-sodium sulfophenyldodecanoate acid and its homologs, were detected that had not been mentioned in previous studies. In this work, the process of DBS degradation was indicated, which consisted of three main steps: chain-shorting oxidation, ring-opening oxidation of benzene rings, and degradation of small molecules. By investigating the process of DBS degradation by C. vulgaris, we were able to propose a preliminary mechanism of DBS biodegradation, which is of great significance for research on the migration and conversion of surfactants in the environment.

This work established a method for detecting the intermediate products of DBS degraded by C. vulgaris, and indicated the process of DBS degradation.

Enhanced bioaccumulation of fluorinated antibiotics in crucian carp (Carassius carassius): Influence of fluorine substituent

The negative impact of residual fluorinated antibiotics on the ecosystem and human health are of great concern. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the factors that influence the bioaccumulation of fluorinated antibiotics in aquatic organisms. To investigate the effects of fluorine substituent, environmental concentration of antibiotics, and temperature on the bioaccumulation of florfenicol (FLO), thiamphenicol (TAP), ofloxacin (OFX), and pipemidic acid (PPA), crucian carp (Carassius carassius) were exposed to different concentrations of antibiotics and different temperatures for 21 days. The liver exhibited the highest antibiotic concentrations, with 315.4 ± 13.6 ng g^-1 wet weight (ww), followed by the bile (279.4 ± 12.4 ng mL^-1), muscle (53.1 ± 4.3 ng g^-1 ww), and gills (37.1 ± 2.6 ng g^-1 ww). The FLO and OFX containing the fluorine substituent were much easier to accumulate in crucian carp compared with their isonomic TAP and PPA, respectively. The fluorine substituent increased the bioaccumulation of the targeted antibiotics in crucian carp. In addition, the lower levels of antibiotics presented higher bioaccumulation potential, but the temperature had little effect on the bioaccumulation. These findings in the present study can provide further insight into the environmental behaviors and ecological risks of fluorinated antibiotics in the aquatic environment.

Effects of tubificid bioturbation on bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn released from sediment by aquatic organisms

To investigate the effects of bioturbation on absorption and enrichment of pollutants from sediments by aquatic organisms, microcosm systems similar to natural aquatic environment were established, and the release of Cu and Zn from the sediment, and their accumulation in some typical aquatic organisms, including submerged plants, floating plants and fish, with the presence of tubificids of different densities were measured. The results of this pilot study showed that the presence of tubificids promoted the migration of the trace metals from sediment to overlying water, especially when there were more worms and especially for Cu which is not easily released from the sediment. During the experiment, Cu in overlying water was mainly in particulate fraction. While for Zn, it was mainly in dissolved form in the early stage of the experiment, and then the dominant fraction gradually changed to particulate fraction. The bioturbation of tubificids also promoted the accumulation of both Cu and Zn in the aquatic organisms. In one system, different types of aquatic organisms showed different features for the accumulation of Cu and Zn. Meanwhile, with the presence of different intensity of bioturbation, the concentration of Cu or Zn in the same kind of organism was different. After a 30-day experiment, trace metal concentration in the aquatic organisms generally decreased in the order of floating plants (lesser duckweed) > submerged plants (Amazon sword) > small fish (zebrafish), and the concentration of Zn in the organisms was usually significantly higher than that of Cu in the same organism, especially in duckweed and zebrafish. However, the presence of tubificids and the density of them had more considerable effects on the uptake of Cu by the organisms, than on the uptake of Zn.

Photorefractive effect in LiNbO3-based integrated-optical circuits for continuous variable experiments

We investigate the impact of the photorefractive effect on lithium niobate integrated quantum photonic circuits dedicated to continuous variable on-chip experiments. The circuit main building blocks, i.e. cavities, directional couplers, and periodically poled nonlinear waveguides, are studied. This work demonstrates that photorefractivity, even when its effect is weaker than spatial mode hopping, might compromise the success of on-chip quantum photonics experiments. We describe in detail the characterization methods leading to the identification of this possible issue. We also study to which extent device heating represents a viable solution to counter this effect. We focus on photorefractive effect induced by light at 775 nm, in the context of the generation of non-classical light at 1550 nm telecom wavelength.

Self-rated health scores predict mortality among people with type 2 diabetes differently across three different country groupings: findings from the ADVANCE and ADVANCE-ON trials

AIMS

To explore whether there is a different strength of association between self-rated health and all-cause mortality in people with type 2 diabetes across three country groupings: nine countries grouped together as 'established market economies'; Asia; and Eastern Europe.

METHODS

The ADVANCE trial and its post-trial follow-up were used in this study, which included 11 140 people with type 2 diabetes from 20 countries, with a median follow-up of 9.9 years. Self-rated health was reported on a 0-100 visual analogue scale. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to estimate the relationship between the visual analogue scale score and all-cause mortality, controlling for a range of demographic and clinical risk factors. Interaction terms were used to assess whether the association between the visual analogue scale score and mortality varied across country groupings.

RESULTS

The visual analogue scale score had different strengths of association with mortality in the three country groupings. A 10-point increase in visual analogue scale score was associated with a 15% (95% CI 12-18) lower mortality hazard in the established market economies, a 25% (95% CI 21-28) lower hazard in Asia, and an 8% (95% CI 3-13) lower hazard in Eastern Europe.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-rated health appears to predict 10-year all-cause mortality for people with type 2 diabetes worldwide, but this relationship varies across groups of countries.

Mercury concentration and fatty acid composition in muscle tissue of marine fish species harvested from Liaodong Gulf: An intelligence quotient and coronary heart disease risk assessment

Marine fish species are an important source of biologically valuable proteins, fats, fat-soluble vitamins, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they are also susceptible to pollutants. Mercury is liable to bioamplify in the aquatic food chain, and the health risks posed by methylmercury (MeHg) could undermine the benefits of eating fish, so risk-benefit assessments are needed for those fish species regularly consumed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the concentrations of mercury and characteristics of fatty acids in marine fish harvested from Liaodong Gulf, China, so as to better understand the risk-benefit effects of marine fish consumption. We found that the ratio of MeHg to total Hg (THg) was normally distributed. The concentrations of THg and MeHg in marine fish muscles (14 species, a total of 239) ranged from 0.920 to 0.288 μg/g and 0.050 to 0.192 μg/g, respectively. There were no significant interannual differences in the muscles' concentrations of MeHg and THg, or of their fatty acids (p > 0.05). The proportion of total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) varied significantly among different marine fish-feeding habits (predacious, omnivorous, benthivorous and planktivorous), but the differences between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were not significant, which may be due to the undistinguished fatty acids (p < 0.05). The risk-benefit assessment using the intelligence quotient (IQ) scoring model revealed that all the studied marine fish had positive effects on child IQ under different consumption scenarios. Additionally, the integrated risk-benefit analysis for adult cardiovascular health showed that all the studied marine fish, but especially Ditrema temmincki Bleeker, are capable of reducing the relative cardiovascular risk posed by the MeHg in the fish. We conclude the positive effects of eating common marine fish from the Liaodong Gulf far outweigh their negative ones.

Down-regulation of miR-1181 indicates a dismal prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and promoted cell proliferation and metastasis by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to investigate the expression pattern, clinicopathological feature and prognostic role of miR-1181 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and to determine the functional effects and potential mechanism of miR-1181 in NPC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression levels of miR-1181 were determined in NPC tissues and cell lines by RT-PCR. The clinical data were interpreted by chi-square test, univariate analysis, and multivariate analysis. The effect of PVT1 on proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays, and migration and invasion ability were evaluated by transwell and wound-healing assays. The association between miR-1181 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that miR-1181 expression was significantly down-regulated in both NPC tissues and cell lines. Low expression of miR-1181 was significantly associated with N stage (p=0.013), clinical stage (p=0.037) and grade (p=0.033). Clinical assays showed that patients with low miR-1181 expression had shorter overall survival time than those with high miR-1181 expression (p=0.0007). Multivariate analysis revealed that miR-1181 expression was independently associated with the overall survival. Functional investigations indicated that overexpression of miR-1181 suppressed NPC cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, forced miR-1181 expression suppressed the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings proved that miR-1181 may serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker and target for new therapies in NPC patients.

Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk of pharmaceuticals in a seasonally ice-sealed river: From ice formation to melting

Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk of 21 pharmaceuticals in the Jilin Songhua River were investigated during its freeze-thaw periods, including ice formation, sealed, and breakup. Florfenicol was the most abundant pharmaceutical, with mean concentrations of 123.4 ± 61.1 ng L^-1 in water and 73.8 ± 66.3 ng kg^-1 in ice. Sulfadiazine occurred at a higher mean concentration in downstream areas (45.6 ± 7.4 ng L^-1) than in upstream areas (0.7 ± 0.7 ng L^-1). Most pharmaceuticals appeared in relatively high concentrations in water during the ice-breakup period. Complex factors including pharmaceutical usage patterns, ice-regulated photodegradation, biodegradation, water flow, and freeze-concentration effects, as well as the release of pharmaceuticals from ice, were responsible for the temporal variation of pharmaceuticals. Pseudo-ice/water distribution coefficients showed the distribution of pharmaceuticals in ice and demonstrated the effects of their release from the ice on their temporal variations. Most pharmaceuticals posed a risk to algae; of these, amoxicillin exhibited the highest risk. In addition, thawing increased the concentration of thiamphenicol in water, which elevated its ecological risk level. The findings suggest that the pharmaceuticals retained in ice should be considered with regard to regulating pharmaceuticals' temporal variations in seasonal ice-covered rivers during the freeze-thaw process.

Influence of organic carbon fractions of freshwater biofilms on the sorption for phenanthrene and ofloxacin: The important role of aliphatic carbons

Sorption to biofilms is thought to be a crucial process controlling the fate of trace organic contaminants in aquatic systems. The organic composition of biofilms is regarded as the determining factor in the sorption mechanism of biofilm organic carbon fractions; however, its role is not well known. Here, the sorption of phenanthrene and ofloxacin was modeled with classic and emerging organic contaminants, respectively, by comparatively investigating nine type of freshwater biofilms cultured in a river, lake, and reservoir in spring, summer, and autumn. The chemical features of the nine biofilms were analyzed using elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance. Results showed that the freshwater biofilms were aliphatic-rich natural amorphous solid substances with O-containing functional groups, and their surface polarity was significantly lower than their bulk polarity. All the isotherms of phenanthrene and ofloxacin sorption by the biofilms were linear. The organic carbon-normalized partition coefficient values for phenanthrene and ofloxacin on the nine biofilms ranged from 91.9 to 364.2 L g^-1 and 3.2 to 43.2 L g^-1, respectively. The van der Waals interaction between a majority of aliphatic carbon (73.4%-83.9%) in biofilms and the two sorbates was much stronger than π-π interactions between a minority of aromatic carbon (12.7%-21.7%) and sorbates. The surface polarity of the biofilms regulated polar interactions including the hydrogen bonding and electron donor-acceptor interactions. Both the aliphatic carbon and surface polarity in the biofilms enhanced the sorption of phenanthrene and ofloxacin. The sorption characteristics and mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and antibiotics on biofilms shown in our present and previous studies are different from those of other ubiquitous natural solid materials such as soils and sediments. This study provides insight into the importance of aliphatic carbon fractions of freshwater biofilms for the sorption of classic and emerging organic contaminants.

Pollution characteristics, sources, and health risk assessment of human exposure to Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb pollution in urban street dust across China between 2009 and 2018

Since heavy metal pollution is widespread in street dust in China, the effects of heavy metals in street dust on human health cannot be ignored. However, studies estimating heavy metal pollution in street dust nationwide are limited. In this study, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in street dust at 3877sites throughout China were obtained from the published scientific literature. Based on these data, the contamination levels, spatial distributions, sources and potential health risks of heavy metals in street dust were comprehensively estimated. The results revealed that Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb levels are generally higher in the southeast provinces than in northwest China. In addition, traffic emissions and industrial activities are determined to be the two main sources of heavy metal pollution in street dust. The health risk assessment indicated that ingestion is the most important pathway of exposure to metal pollution in street dust for both children and adults, followed by dermal contact and inhalation. The spatial distribution of health risks suggested that the health risks are more serious in southeast China than in northwest China. The noncarcinogenic risks posed by Pb are relatively higher than those posed by the other three metals for both children and adults. Meanwhile, none of the hazard index (HI) values exceeded the safe level (1.0), with the exception of Pb in Daye city for children (HI = 1.074). The HI values for children were higher than those for adults. Therefore, children should be prioritized for protection from heavy metal pollution.