Inhibition of GluN2D-Containing NMDA Receptors Protects Dopaminergic Neurons against 6-OHDA-Induced Neurotoxicity via Activating ERK/NRF2/HO-1 Signaling

Abnormal glutamate signaling is implicated in the heightened vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). NMDA receptors are ion-gated glutamate receptors with high calcium permeability, and their GluN2D subunits are prominently distributed in the basal ganglia and brainstem nuclei. Previous studies have reported that dopamine depletion led to the dysfunctions of GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors in PD animal models. However, it remains unknown whether selective modulation of GluN2D could protect dopaminergic neurons against neurotoxicity in PD. In this study, we found that allosteric activation of GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors decreased the cell viability of MES23.5 dopaminergic cells and the GluN2D inhibitor, QNZ46, showed antioxidant effects and significantly relieved apoptosis in 6-OHDA-treated cells. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that QNZ46 might act via activation of the ERK/NRF2/HO-1 pathway. We also verified that QNZ46 could rescue abnormal behaviors and attenuate dopaminergic cell loss in a 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD. Although the precise mechanisms underlying the efficacy of QNZ46 in vivo remain elusive, the inhibition of the GluN2D subunit should be a considerable way to treat PD. More GluN2D-selective drugs, which present minimal side effects and broad therapeutic windows, need to be developed for PD treatment in future studies.

Breathing in danger: Unveiling the link between human exposure to outdoor PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer risk in an urban residential area of China

Numerous studies have extensively examined the risk of lung cancer associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with particular emphasis on the 16 priority PAHs. However, this may underestimate the actual risk. This study seeks to enhance the current risk assessment framework by integrating four additional parent PAHs such as Dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, Dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, 7H-benzo[c]fluorene with potentially high risk of causing cancer. By considering their physicochemical properties, metabolism, and bioavailability, the study also examines the relationship between low molecular weight (LMW) - and high molecular weight (HMW)-PAH doses and the risk of developing cancer in the human lungs. The study was conducted in Ningbo, China and identified five PAH sources: natural gas combustion (NGC), vehicular exhaust (VE), coal combustion (CC), biomass burning (BB), and volatilization of unburnt fuel (VUF). This study emphasizes the elevated risk associated with highly carcinogenic PAHs, as they consistently exceed acceptable limits for lung cancer risk throughout the year. Based on the study's estimation, approximately 324 out of every one million individuals exposed to PAHs face an increased cancer risk over their lifetime. This research emphasizes the importance of identifying source specific lung cancer risk in residential areas to protect the exposed population. Moreover, while there is a moderate connection between LMW-PAH doses and lung cancer risk, a strong relationship is observed with HMW-PAHs.

LRRK2 G2019S promotes astrocytic inflammation induced by oligomeric α-synuclein through NF-κB pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the irreversible loss of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of α-synuclein in Lewy bodies. The oligomeric α-synuclein (O-αS) is the most toxic form of α-synuclein species, and it has been reported to be a robust inflammatory mediator. Mutations in Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) are also genetically linked to PD and neuroinflammation. However, how O-αS and LRRK2 interact in glial cells remains unclear. Here, we reported that LRRK2 G2019S mutation, which is one of the most frequent causes of familial PD, enhanced the effects of O-αS on astrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity could relieve the inflammatory effects of both LRRK2 G2019S and O-αS. We also demonstrated that nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway might be involved in the neuroinflammatory responses. These findings revealed that inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity may be a viable strategy for suppressing neuroinflammation in PD.

[Vaginal microbiota abnormalities in women with unexplained infertility and its treatment]

The vaginal microbiota is a complex and dynamic environment that plays an important role in the healthy reproduction of women. The mechanism of unexplained infertility is not yet clear, and the imbalance and low stability of vaginal microbiota may be related to unexplained infertility. Taking probiotic composite preparations to restore normal vaginal microbiota may be a safe and natural method for treating unexplained infertility. This article reviews the probiotic composite preparations used in the treatment of unexplained infertility both domestically and internationally, including the isolation site of the bacterial species, the use method of the composite preparation, the course of treatment, and the final therapeutic effect, aiming to provide a basis for the clinical application of probiotic composite preparations in the treatment of unexplained infertility.

Compound bioengineering protein supplementation improves intestinal health and growth performance of broilers

Currently, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are of growing interest as potential substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters in animal production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of bioengineering artificial Parasin I protein (API) and artificial plectasin protein (APL) (named as compound bioengineering protein, CBP) on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 450 one-day-old Arbor Acres male healthy broilers were randomly allotted to 5 dietary groups with 10 replicates of 9 individuals in each replicate and supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg CBP for 6 wk. Dietary CBP supplementation increased (P < 0.01) body weight (6 wk), average daily gain (0-6 wk), and average daily feed intake (3-6 wk and 0-6 wk). CBP addition enhanced antioxidant capacity, which was accompanied by the higher (P < 0.05) activity of serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (750 mg/kg), jejunal glutathione peroxidase (750 mg/kg), and T-AOC (500 and 1,000 mg/kg). Dietary CBP addition improved intestinal health, reflecting by the increased (P < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, the upregulated (P < 0.01) mRNA levels of claudin-1 (500 and 750 mg/kg) in the ileum, the downregulated (P < 0.01) mRNA expression of occludin (500 mg/kg) in the duodenum and claudin-1 (500 mg/kg) and occludin (500 and 750 mg/kg) in the jejunum, and the upregulated mRNA expression of (P < 0.01) mucin2 (MUC2) (1,000 mg/kg) in the duodenum. In addition, CBP upregulated (P < 0.01) IL-10 (1,000 mg/kg) in duodenum and ileum, and downregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of IL-6 (750 and 1,000 mg/kg), interferon-γ (1,000 mg/kg) in the jejunum and TNF-α (250 mg/kg) in the ileum. Furthermore, dietary CBP increased (P < 0.01) the abundance of total bacteria and Lactobacillus (500 and 750 mg/kg), and reduced (P < 0.05) the abundance of Escherichia coli (750 mg/kg) in the cecum. In conclusion, CBP supplementation enhances the antioxidant capacity, intestinal health, immune function, and ameliorates the gut microflora population, thus improving the growth performance of broilers. Dietary supplementation of 750 mg/kg CBP exhibits a better beneficial effect.

Size distribution and lung-deposition of ambient particulate matter oxidative potential: A contrast between dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid assays

Particulate matter (PM) inhaled into human lungs causes oxidative stress and adverse health effects through antioxidant depletion (oxidative potential, OP). However, there is limited knowledge regarding the association between the lung-deposited dose (LDD) of PM and OP in extrathoracic (ET), tracheobronchial (TB), and pulmonary (P) regions of human lungs. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) assays were employed to measure the OP of PM size fractions to investigate OP distribution in human lungs and identify the chemical drivers. Quasi-ultrafine particles (quasi-UFP, ≤0.49 μm) exhibited high OP deposition in the TB and P regions, while coarse particles (CP, ≥3.0 μm) dominated in the ET region. A plot of extrinsic (per air volume) and intrinsic (per PM mass) OP versus LDD revealed that the OP for fine and coarse particles was greatest in the ET region, whereas the OP of quasi-UFP was greatest in alveoli. The study also demonstrated that extrinsic OP and PM doses are not strongly related. The decline in OP with increasing PM dose reveals the need for further investigation of the antagonistic effects of the chemical compositions. Overall, the results presented herein help address the gap in knowledge regarding the association between the OP and LDD of ambient particles in specific regions of human lungs.

[Analysis of factors influencing the success rate of organoid culture in 1231 cases of colorectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for organoid culture failure in colorectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Tumor specimens were obtained from 1130 patients with colorectal cancer who had undergone surgery or biopsy and had no other concurrent malignancies at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from December 2021 to November 2022. Organoid culture was performed on 1231 tumor tissue samples. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the factors that might have influenced the rate of successful organoid culture of colorectal cancer tissue samples. Results: The median (range) duration of organoid culture was 7 (3-12) days. The overall rate of successful culture was 76.3% (939/1231). The rate of successful organoid cultures varied according to the sampling site, malignant ascites having the highest success rate (96.4%, 27/28), followed by liver metastases (83.1%, 54/65), lung metastases (8/10), primary tumors (76.0%, 816/1074), omental metastases (10/14), peritoneal metastases (61.5%, 16/26), ovarian metastases (3/5), and lymph node metastases (5/9). The difference in rates of successful organoid culture between primary tumors and malignant ascites was statistically significant (P=0.012), whereas none of the other rates of successful organoid culture success differed significantly (all P>0.05). The rate of successful organoid culture was 96.4% (27/28) for malignant ascites obtained by abdominal puncture, 76.5% (864/1130) for surgical specimens, and 65.8% (48/73) for endoscopic biopsies; these differences are statistically significant (χ2=10.773, P=0.005). The rate of successful organoid culture was 62.5% (40/64) in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group, which is significantly lower than in the non-adjuvant (76.9%, 787/1023) and chemotherapy groups (77.8%, 112/144) (χ2=7.134, P=0.028). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that endoscopic biopsy (OR=0.557, 95%CI: 0.335-0.924, P=0.024) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (OR=0.483, 95%CI: 0.285-0.820, P=0.007) were independent risk factors for failure of organoid culture of colorectal cancer samples. Malignant ascites (OR=8.537, 95%CI:1.154-63.131,P=0.036) and abdominal puncture (OR=8.294, 95% CI: 1.112-61.882, P=0.039) were identified as independent protective factors. Conclusions: The rate of successful organoid culture was influenced by the sampling site, sampling method, and chemoradiotherapy. The rate of successful organoid culture was lower for endoscopic biopsies and in patients receiving preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and higher for malignant ascites. We consider that culture of malignant ascites is preferable when peritoneal metastases are suspected.

Metabolomic Analysis Reveals that SPHK1 Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression through NF-κB Activation

BACKGROUND

Metabolic disorders are significant in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. Changes of specific metabolites and metabolic pathways are molecular therapeutic targets. This study aims to determine the metabolic differences between oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and paired adjacent noncancerous tissues (ANT) through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). SPHK1 is a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism. This study also investigates the potential role of SPHK1 in OSCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study used LC-MS to analyze metabolic differences between OSCC tissues and paired ANT. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to explain the significance of phospholipid metabolism pathways in the occurrence and development of OSCC. Through further experiments, we confirmed the oncogenic phenotypes of SPHK1 in vitro and in vivo, including proliferation, migration, and invasion.

RESULTS

The sphingolipid metabolic pathway was significantly activated in OSCC, and the key enzyme SPHK1 was significantly upregulated in oral cancer tissues, predicting poor OSCC prognosis. In this study, SPHK1 overexpression was associated with high-grade malignancy and poor OSCC prognosis. SPHK1 targeted NF-κB by facilitating p65 expression to regulate OSCC tumor progression and promote metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified metabolic differences between OSCC and paired ANT, explored the carcinogenic role of overexpressed SPHK1, and revealed the association of SPHK1 with poor OSCC prognosis. SPHK1 targets NF-κB signaling by facilitating p65 expression to regulate tumor progression and promote tumor metastasis, providing potential therapeutic targets for diagnosing and treating oral tumors.

[Anatomical characteristics of profunda artery perforator flap in the posteromedial femoral region and its application in the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects]

Objective: To investigate the anatomical basis for the preparation of the profunda artery perforator flap (PAPF) in the posteromedial femoral region and its application in the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects. Methods: Six lower limbs of Chinese adult cadavers were micro-surgically dissected. CT angiography (CTA) data of bilateral lower limbs of 6 patients was also collected retrospectively. The number, external diameter, pedicle length, and distribution of perforators in the posteromedial femoral region were recorded from the specimens and CTA data. Meanwhile, 10 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University from August 2018 to June 2021 were treated with the PAPF. At each follow-up, contour and function of recipient and donor site, as well as swallowing and speech function were evaluated. Results: A total of 19 profunda artery perforator were identified in 6 lower limb specimens. The outer diameter at the beginning of the source artery was (2.34±0.25) mm and the total length of the pedicle was (11.12±1.06) cm. CTA data analysis of 12 legs identified 15 perforators of profunda artery in the posteromedial region. Eleven perforators were septocutaneous, including 2 perforators with a common trunk, while the remaining 4 perforators were musculocutaneous. As for different patterns of perforators (septocutaneous perforators, musculocutaneous perforators and perforators with a common trunk), the longitudinal distance to the pubic tubercle was (19.95±2.43), (21.84±2.54) and (19.48±0.55) cm respectively. The horizontal distance to the posterior edge of gracilis was (3.54±1.10), (3.72±0.30) and (3.85±1.48) cm, respectively. The initial diameters of perforators was (2.4±0.4), (2.6±0.6) and 1.9 mm respectively. Ten cases of the profunda artery perforator flaps survived successfully after operation. The flap sizes ranged from 8 cm×6 cm to 12 cm×7 cm. The patients were evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months, and with 6 months interval ever since. During the follow-up, the shape of the recipient site was ideal, and the swallowing and language functions were not significantly affected. There was only linear scar in the donor area, and the function of the thigh was basically normal. Conclusions: PAPF possessed a good anatomic stability, suitable vascular pedicle length and diameter, minor influence to the donor area, sufficient amount tissue with good quality. It is an ideal choice for head and neck reconstruction.

Dimeric Erythrina alkaloids as well as their key units from Erythrina variegata

Ten dimeric and two monomeric Erythrina alkaloids, all of them are undescribed, were isolated from the bark of Erythrina variegata L. and named as erythrivarines O-Z. Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR and UV-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Dimeric Erythrina alkaloids with a C-10/11' linkage in erythrivarine O and a C-7/10' connectivity in erythrivarines P-U are not yet reported. The two identified monomeric alkaloids may be the precursors of the described dimeric derivatives. These co-occurring dimeric and monomeric alkaloids enabled us to propose a possible biosynthetic pathway leading to these dimers. Their effects of preventing hearing loss were additionally evaluated and erythrivarine T showed as a potential protector of the House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC-1) cells against neomycin.

In vitro experimental study on the formation of microRNA-34a loaded exosomes and their inhibitory effect in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Studies have shown the inhibitory effect of microRNA-34a on proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the lack of a safe and effective delivery system limits the clinical application of microRNA-34a in oral cancer treatment. An exosome is a small extracellular vesicle that mediates intercellular communication by delivering proteins, nucleic acids, and other contents, and functions as a natural drug delivery carrier. Here, we aimed to explore whether exosomes could be used to load microRNA-34a via co-incubation and further used to treat OSCC. Ultracentrifugation was used to obtain exosomes derived from HEK293T cells and the extracted exosomes were analyzed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blotting. Subsequently, we loaded cholesterol-modified microRNA-34a into HEK293T cell exosomes by co-incubation. Then, PKH67 and Cy3 co-labeled exo-microRNA-34a were co-incubated with HN6 cells and exosome entry into the HN6 cells was observed using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by CCK-8 and Transwell assay analysis. SATB2 expression in HN6 cells was analyzed via western blotting. In this study, cholesterol-modified microRNA-34a was loaded into exosomes of HEK293T cells by co-incubation. The microRNA-34a-loaded exosomes were secreted from HEK293T cells and were absorbed by HN6 oral squamous carcinoma cells. Further, microRNA-34a-loaded exosomes led to a significant inhibition of HN6 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by down regulating SATB2 expression. These results report a new delivery method for microRNA-34a, providing a new approach for the treatment of oral cancer.

Exosomal microRNA-23b-3p promotes tumor angiogenesis and metastasis by targeting PTEN in Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

MicroRNA(miR)-23b-3p is known to target various genes that are involved in cancer-related pathways. Exosomes are emerging intercellular communication agents. Exosomes secreted by cancer cells can deliver active molecules to the surrounding stromal cells, thereby influencing the recipient cells and promoting the development of cancers. However, the role of exosomal miR-23b-3p in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is not yet clear. In this study, we set out to investigate the potential role of cancer-derived exosomal miR-23b-3p-related PTEN in the alteration of angiogenesis and vascular permeability in SACC. We investigated the effect of exosomal miR-23b-3p on the progression of SACC. In vitro experiments indicated that exosomal miR-23b-3p led to an up-regulation of vascular permeability, and reduced expression of tight junction proteins. In addition, exosomal miR-23b-3p also enhanced angiogenesis and migration. Next, the angiogenic effect of exosomal miR-23b-3p was validated in vivo, as it led to an increase in the tumor microvasculature. Furthermore, the growth rate of SACC was faster after injection of exosomes loaded with cholesterol- modified miR-23b-3p in mice. In conclusion, these results revealed that SACC cells-derived exosomes play an important role in promoting angiogenesis and local vascular microleakage of SACC by transporting miR-23b-3p, which suggests that miR-23b-3p in the exosomes may be a potential biomarker for distant metastasis of SACC. This suggests the potential of a novel therapeutic target by delivering anti-miR-23b-3p that focuses on exosomes.

Veterinary antibiotics can reduce crop yields by modifying soil bacterial community and earthworm population in agro-ecosystems

Veterinary antibiotics are intensively and widely used in animal farming to treat or prevent diseases, as well as improve growth rate and feed efficiency. Animal manure is an important reservoir of veterinary antibiotics due to their high excretion rates, and thus manure application has been a critical source of veterinary antibiotics in agro-ecosystems. However, how veterinary antibiotics affect agroecosystem functions is still unclearly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of veterinary antibiotics on soil bacteria and earthworms in agricultural land with long-term manure application. The potential mechanisms of antibiotic-induced changes in crop yields were also revealed. The results showed that the increasing prevalence of veterinary antibiotics in agro-ecosystems inhibited earthworm abundance and bacterial diversity, and then decreased the bioavailability of soil nutrients. Furthermore, high-dose exposure to veterinary antibiotics improved the abundance of plant pathogenic bacteria. Analysis indicated that veterinary antibiotics played an important underlying role in driving the negative effects on peanut grain yields via disturbing microbe- and earthworm-mediated soil available nutrient contents. The direct toxicity effects of antibiotics on peanut relative yields were stronger than their indirect mediating effects. Additionally, the tradeoffs between antibiotics and agroecosystem functions increased at low exposure levels and then decreased at high exposure levels, which indicated the effects of antibiotics on agroecosystem functions were dose-dependent, except for earthworm biomass. Antibiotic contamination which will impose threats to agricultural sustainability was highlighted and should be paid more attention.

The removal of arsenic from solution through biochar-enhanced precipitation of calcium-arsenic derivatives

Arsenic (As) pollution remains a major threat to the quality of global soils and drinking water. The health effects of As pollution are often severe and have been largely reported across Asia and South America. This study investigated the possibility of using unmodified biochar derived from rice husk (RB) and aspen wood (WB) at 400 °C and 700 °C to enhance the precipitation of calcium/arsenic compounds for the removal of As(III) from solution. The approach was based on utilizing calcium to precipitate arsenic in solution and adding unmodified biochar to enhance the process. Using this approach, As(III) concentration in aqueous solution decreased by 58.1% when biochar was added, compared to 25.4% in the absence of biochar. Varying the pH from acidic to alkaline enabled an investigation into the pH dependent dynamics of the approach. Results indicated that significant precipitation was only possible at near neutral pH (i.e. pH = 6.5) where calcium arsenites (i.e. Ca(AsO₂)₂, and CaAsO₂OH•½H₂O) and arsenates (i.e. Ca₅(AsO₄)₃OH) were precipitated and deposited as aggregates in the pores of biochars. Arsenite was only slightly precipitated under acidic conditions (pH = 4.5) while no arsenite was precipitated under alkaline conditions (pH = 9.5). Arsenite desorption from wood biochar was lowest at pH 6.5 indicating that wood biochar was able to retain a large quantity of the precipitates formed at pH 6.5 compared to pH 4.5 and pH 9.5. Given that the removal of As(III) from solution is often challenging and that biochar modification invites additional cost, the study demonstrated that low cost unmodified biochar can be effective in enhancing the removal of As(III) from the environment through Ca-As precipitation.

Identification of pivotal microRNAs involved in the development and progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

miRNAs and mRNAs have been significantly implicated in tumorigenesis and served as promising prognostic biomarkers for human cancer. Hence, this study was aimed to develop the pivotal miRNA biomarkers-based prognostic signature for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

METHODS

The miRNA and mRNA expression data were integrated from the gene expression omnibus database to study their involvement in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma development and progression. Gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes were conducted to analyze the biological pathways. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to verify the expression of selected miRNAs in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and corresponding normal tissues.

RESULTS

There were 386 differentially expressed genes: 158 upregulated and 228 downregulated genes and 102 differentially expressed miRNAs: 78 upregulated and 24 downregulated miRNAs in the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma samples. A miRNA-mRNA network containing 11 miRNAs and 199 genes was subsequently constructed. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the genes targeted by the 11 miRNAs were mostly involved in tumor-related pathways and processes, such as miRNAs in cancer, focal adhesion, neurotrophin signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Among them, 4 miRNAs (miR-375, miR-494, miR-34c-5p, and miR-331-3p) were selected to verify by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in 36 pairs of collected salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and adjacent nontumor samples. Overall survival analysis revealed that the higher expression of miR-331-3p was significantly associated with a worst overall survival and multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that hsa-miR-331-3p could be an independent prognostic factor for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that 4-miRNAs signature was a powerful prognostic biomarker for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, which provide a basis for exploring deeper mechanisms regarding the progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, and leading to the development of potential therapeutic strategies.

55 APPLYING MACHINE LEARNING TO DIFFERENTIATE PREDICTORS OF SYNCOPE, SIMPLE AND COMPLEX FALLS IN THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING (TILDA)

Background

Falls in older adults are clinically heterogeneous and can be classified as simple (accidental), complex (recurrent, unexplained, injurious), and due to syncope. The aim of this study was to generate machine learning models for these fall types in TILDA using the Syncope-Falls Index (SYFI), a 40-deficit index covering a wide range of risk factors (Fitzpatrick & Romero-Ortuno, 2021).

Methods

New self-reported events of simple, complex falls, and syncope were recorded in participants two-yearly between Wave 1 (2010) and 4 (2016). The 40 SYFI features, age and sex, were entered into three separate random forest models. The dataset for each model was balanced by equalising the number of participants who did and did not have each event. Feature importances were derived and those with scores of ≥0.05 are reported below.

Results

For simple falls (217 events, balanced dataset N = 434), the most important predictors were age (0.13), pre-existing hypertension (0.07), presence of urine incontinence (0.07), polypharmacy (0.06) and MMSE&lt;24 (0.05) (model accuracy: 0.53). For complex falls (1,077 events, balanced dataset N = 2,154), top predictors were age (0.14), gender (0.07), osteoporosis (0.07), osteoarthritis (0.06) and unsteadiness getting up from a chair (0.05) (accuracy: 0.58). For syncope (185 events, balanced dataset N = 370), top predictors were age (0.16), osteoporosis (0.07), unsteadiness getting up from a chair (0.06) and previous myocardial infarction (0.05) (accuracy: 0.50).

Conclusion

In keeping with the literature, advancing age was the most important feature in all models. Further, a more nuanced understanding emerged highlighting possible roles of reduced cognition in simple falls, musculoskeletal disease in complex falls, and orthostatic intolerance and heart disease in syncope. Many predictors identified as relevant are modifiable, and this ranked approach could help prioritise interventions for maximum population benefit. The accuracy of the models however was moderate, underscoring the known difficulty in predicting falls even when attempting to break their clinical heterogeneity.

Anticancer activity of oleanolic acid and its derivatives: Recent advances in evidence, target profiling and mechanisms of action

Oleanolic acid (OA, 3 β - hydroxyoleanolic acid-12-en-28-oic acid) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid present in many plants. As a new framework for development of semi synthetic triterpenoids, OA is of great significance in the discovery of anticancer drugs. Some of these derivatives, such as CDDO (2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1, 9 (11)-dien-28-oic acid) have been verified in clinical trials, while other derivatives studied previously, such as SZC014, SZC015 and SZC017 (OA derivatives respectively), are also candidate drugs for cancer treatment. This paper reviews the preclinical studies, literature evidence, target analysis and anticancer mechanism of OA and its derivatives. The mechanism of action of its derivatives mainly includes anti-cancer cell proliferation, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, regulating cell cycle regulatory proteins, inhibiting vascular endothelial growth, anti angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor cell migration and invasion. In recent years, the molecular mechanism of OA and its derivatives has been elucidated. These effects seem to be mediated by the alterations in a variety of signaling pathways induced by OA and its derivatives. In conclusion, OA and its derivatives are considered as important candidate drugs for the treatment of cancer, indicating that OA and its derivatives have the potential to be used as anticancer drugs in practice.

The relationship between adverse outcomes and a full spectrum of ejection fraction in patients without acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

There is insufficient study evaluating how the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes varies across the full range of LVEF in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A more comprehensive evaluation could provide further understanding of prognosis and support the management of these patients.

Purpose

The present study aimed to assess the association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with coronary artery diseases undergoing PCI.

Methods

A consecutive series of 9475 patients without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing PCI were enrolled into the study and followed up for a median 2.4 years. Patients were stratified into 8 groups by 5% intervals: under 40%, 40–45%, 45–50%, 50–55%, 55–60%, 60–65%, 65–70%, and over 70%. MACE, consisting of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and revascularization, was evaluated as the outcome.

Results

MACE occurred in 594 (6.3%) patients. The MACE rates decreased before LVEF under 65% while increased after LVEF over 70%, showing a U-shaped pattern. The 65–70% group showed the lowest rate of MACE (4.5%). Consistently, in the Cox regression, the association between LVEF and MACE presented as a U-shaped pattern regardless of different age and sex groups, and after adjusted for clinical and procedural covariables. The LVEF categories lower than 65% or higher than 70% were independent predictors of MACE, compared with 65–70% group (Hazard ratios 1.311 to 2.657, all P value &gt;0.05). Similar trend was also observed in restricted mean survival time analysis.

Conclusions

LVEF and MACE displayed a U-shaped association and patients with LVEF of 65–70% showed the lowest risk of MACE. The present study provided an insight into how the MACE risk changed in a wide spectrum of LVEF in patients without AMI undergoing PCI, which might improve preprocedural evaluation.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

A review on analysis methods, source identification, and cancer risk evaluation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have gained attention because of their environmental persistence and effects on ecosystems, animals, and human health. They are mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic. The review provides background knowledge about their sources, metabolism, temporal variations, and size distribution in atmospheric particulate matter. The review article briefly discusses the analytical methods suitable for the extraction, characterization, and quantification of nonpolar and polar PAHs, addressing the challenges. Herein, we discussed the molecular diagnostic ratios (DRs), stable carbon isotopic analysis (SCIA), and receptor models, with much emphasis on the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, for apportioning PAH sources. Among which, DRs and PCA identified as the most widely employed method, but their accuracy for PAH source identification has received global criticism. Therefore, the review recommends compound-specific isotopic analysis (CSIA) and PMF as the best alternative methods to provide detailed qualitative and quantitative source analysis. The compound-specific isotopic signatures are not affected by environmental degradation and are considered promising for apportioning PAH sources. However, isotopic fractions of co-eluted compounds like polar PAHs and aliphatic hydrocarbons make the PAHs isotopic fractions interpretation difficult. The interference of unresolved complex mixtures is a limitation to the application of CSIA for PAH source apportionment. Hence, for CSIA to further support PAH source apportionment, fast and cost-effective purification techniques with no isotopic fractionation effects are highly desirable. The present review explains the concept of stable carbon isotopic analysis (SCIA) relevant to PAH source analysis, identifying the techniques suitable for sample extract purification. We demonstrate how the source apportioned PAHs can be applied in assessing the health risk of PAHs using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model, and in doing so, we identify the key factors that could undermine the accuracy of the ILCR and research gaps that need further investigation.

Colored Dimeric Alkaloids from the Barks of Erythrina variegata and Their Neuroprotective Effects

Five dimeric Erythrina alkaloids, named erythrivarines J-N, were isolated from the barks of Erythrina variegata L. (Fabaceae). The erythrivarines J-L featured a 6/6/5/6/6/5/6/6/6 ring system and super conjugated double bond systems, causing intense color from blue to wine red, while erythrivarines M-N looked orange. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments combined with MS and confirmed by the X-ray crystal diffraction technique. The performed bioassay using HEI-OC-1 cells revealed neuroprotective properties of erythrivarine N against the hearing loss causing antibiotics, neomycin.

Sphk1 promotes salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma progression via PI3K/Akt signaling

The progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is closely related to abnormal gene expression. Herein, the role of Sphk1 in SACC was explored. Sphk1 was overexpressed in SACC tissues. In SACC cell lines, Sphk1 induced cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and promoted cell migration. Moreover, Sphk1 overexpression induced up-regulation of the PI3K protein level and AKT phosphorylation level. Rescue assays further showed that activation of the Sphk1 /PI3K/Akt pathway affected various biological functions of SACC cells. Together, these findings suggested that Sphk1 promotes salivary tumorigenesis by activating the PI3K/ Akt pathway, which may provide novel intervention targets for SACC treatment.

Evaluation of autofluorescence visualization system in the delineation of oral squamous cell carcinoma surgical margins

INTRODUCTION

Delineating the margins of Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a critical step for optimaltumor resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of lesion surgical margin identification using autofluorescence visualization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with OSCC were included in this study. For each lesion, the fluorescence loss boundary was determined using VELscope before ablative surgical resection (with a 1.5-2cm safety margin) was performed. A total of 126 samples were obtained from 30 surgical specimens, each containing the tissue from the fluorescence loss boundary to surgical margin. The status of each sample was determined by oral pathologists and the staining intensities of Ki-67, E-cadherin, and Vimentin at the fluorescence loss boundary and surgical margin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Fluorescence loss regions were identified in all patients. Of the 126 samples collected, HE staining identified 77 normal epithelia (61.1%), 26 mild dysplasia (20.6%), 17 severe dysplasia (13.4%) and 6 carcinomas in situ (4.9%). A significant correlation was found between the differentiation grade of tumor cells and the pathological status of the surgical marginal specimens (P<0.05). Forty-two of the 126 samples were randomly selected for further immunohistochemical staining. No significant differences were seen in Ki-67, E-cadherin, or Vimentin expression at the fluorescence loss boundary or surgical margin, however, the proteins' expression level was positively correlated with the degree of dysplasia (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Autofluorescence visualization has potential as a simple surgical margin setting device for OSCC and may help delineate the superficial area of OSCC with acceptable accuracy. However, when considering the inherent limitations of this system, we suggest that the approach should only be applied under certain conditions, such as when dealing with superficial, well-differentiated lesions.

[Angiopoietin-2 regulates vessels encapsulated by tumor clusters positive hepatocellular carcinoma nest-type metastasis via integrin α5β1]

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of nest metastasis in blood vessels encapsulated by tumor clusters (VETC) positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 72 paraffin embedded HCC tissue samples were collected. Immunohistochemistry staining with CD34 (vascular endothelial cell marker protein) was used to observe the morphological manifestations of VETC cancer nests in primary tumors, bile duct cancerous thrombi and portal vein cancerous thrombi, and to study the characteristics of hematogenous metastasis of VETC cancer nests. Bioinformatics was used to predict the key proteins closely related to VETC cancer nest formation. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of angiogenin-2 (Ang-2), integrin α5, Integrin β1, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in HCC. Transwell cell migration assay was used to detect the effect of Ang-2/integrin α5β1 protein on the migration ability of endothelial cells and HCC cells. Western blotting was used to detect the effect of Ang-2/integrin α5β1 protein on the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein. Results: Of the collected HCC specimens, 27 cases (27/72) were VETC (+), including 3 cases with biliary duct cancerous thrombus, 5 cases with portal vein cancerous thrombus, and 3 cases with both biliary duct cancerous thrombus and portal vein cancerous thrombus. VETC (+) HCC could metastasize to portal vein, bile duct, and liver in the form of cancer nest, and the nests retain their intact structure. Ang-2, integrin α5 and integrin β1 were overexpressed in tumor cells and endothelial cells of VETC (+) HCC nests, while COX-2 was only overexpressed in tumor cells of VETC (+) HCC nest. Ang-2 could promote the migration of HCC cell [(121±12) vs (186±11), P<0.01] and endothelial cells [(81±7) vs (163±14), P<0.01]. Integrin α5β1 activation antagonist ATN-161 could significantly block the ability of Ang-2 to promote the migration of HCC cells [(185±10) vs (135±9), P<0.05] and endothelial cells [(156±14) vs (103±6), P<0.05]. ATN-161 could significantly block the phosphorylation of FAK in HCC and endothelial cells induced by Ang-2. Conclusions: VETC (+) HCC could metastasize as a whole in a nested form, and possesses a specific regulatory protein. Ang-2/α5β1/FAK might be potential protein targets in the treatment of VETC (+) HCC nest-type metastasis.

New insights into the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in remote alpine lakes located in Himalayas, Pakistan

The current study assesses the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in water and their bioaccumulation in Brown Trout (BT) and Rainbow Trout (RT) present in the remote alpine lakes (RALs) of Himalayas, Pakistan. Hence, these environments might receive POPs by long range atmospheric transport (LRAT) with little interferences from local anthropogenic activities. The potential transportation pathways for such accumulation can be atmospheric precipitation, melting ice and glacial runoff. The results indicated that the sum of mean concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs (DDTs + HCHs)) in water of Glacial-fed lakes, Ice melting-fed lake and Rain-fed lake ranged from 0.21 to 317, 0.14-293, 0.16-235 pg L-1, respectively, while those of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are 0.275-16.02, 0-15.88, 0.234-14.46 pg L-1, respectively. Similarly, the sum of mean concentrations of all investigated PCBs and OCPs in BT ranged from 0.008 to 0.715 ng g-1 and 0.003-3.835 ng g-1 based on wet weight (ww), while for RT these concentrations were 0.002-0.557 ng g-1 and 0.001-1.402 ng g-1 (ww), respectively in the selected RALs. The PCBs and OCPs levels in both water and fish tissues were observed in order of Glacial-fed lakes > Ice melting-fed lake > Rain-fed lake. The results proposed that melting of ice and glacial water are more significant sources of the contaminants (PCBs and OCPs) in the freshwaters of RALs of Himalayas as compared to rainfall water. The positive correlation between water contamination and the selected fish species confirmed that these can be used as a bio-indicator for future research studies. However, the impact of POPs as they cascade through downstream ecosystems remains largely unexplored. The additional study of contaminant dynamics should be extended to a wide range of mountain environments of Himalayas, where melt-water used for drinking and irrigation purposes by billions of people reside alone the waterways that originated from these remote areas.

Future improvements on performance of an EU landfill directive driven municipal solid waste management for a city in England

Sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management is regarded as one of the key elements for achieving urban sustainability via mitigating global climate change, recycling resources and recovering energy. Landfill is considered as the least preferable disposal method and the EU Landfill Directive (ELD) announced in 1999 requires member countries to reduce the volume of landfilled biodegradable materials. The enforcement of ELD initiated the evolution of MSW management system UK. This study depicted and assessed the transition and performance of MSW management after the millennium in Nottingham via materials flow analysis (MFA), as well as appropriately selected indicators based on the concept of waste management hierarchy and targets set in waste management regulations. We observed improvements in waste reduction, material recycling, energy recovery, and landfill prevention. During the period 2001/02 to 2016/17, annual waste generation reduced from 463 kg/Ca to 361 kg/Ca, the recycling and composting share increased from 4.6% to 44.4%, and the landfill share reduced from 54.7% to 7.3%. These signs of progress are believed to be driven by the ELD and the associated policies and waste management targets established at the national and local levels. An alternative scenario with food waste and textile separation at source and utilizing anaerobic digestion to treat separately collected organic waste is proposed at the end of this paper to fulfil the high targets set by local government and we further suggest that the recycling share may be improved by educating and supporting the public on waste separation at the sources.

Environmentally persistent free radicals in PM2.5: a review

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are a new class of pollutants that are long-lived in fine particles (PM_2.5), i.e., their 1/e lifetime ranges from days to months (or even infinite). They are capable of producing harmful reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals. The redox cycling of EPFRs is considered as an important pathway for PM_2.5 to induce oxidative stress inside the humans, causing adverse health effects such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, research regarding their toxicity, formation and environmental occurrences in PM_2.5 has attracted increasing attentions globally during the past two decades. However, literature data in this field remain quite limited and discrete. Hence, an extensive review is urgently needed to summarize the current understanding of this topic. In this work, we systematically reviewed the analytical methods and environmental occurrences, e.g., types, concentrations, and decay behaviors, as well as possible sources of EPFRs in PM_2.5. The types of pretreatment methods, g-values of common EPFRs and categories of decay processes were discussed in detail. Moreover, great efforts were made to revisit the original data of the published works of EPFRs in airborne particulate matter and provided additional useful information for comparison where possible, e.g., their mean and standard deviation of g-values, line widths (ΔH _p-p), and concentrations. Finally, possible research opportunities were highlighted to further advance our knowledge of this emerging issue.

Biomass burning and fungal spores as sources of fine aerosols in Yangtze River Delta, China - Using multiple organic tracers to understand variability, correlations and origins

Research is restricted regarding impacts of biomass burning (BB) on fine aerosol (PM_2.5), due mainly to lack of specific BB tracers. This study aims to characterize the variability, distributions, and contributions of BB and fungal spores as sources of PM_2.5 using a multiple organic tracer approach. PM_2.5 samples were collected at four representative sites in Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China every 6 days for one year. In the laboratory, samples were analyzed for three anhydrides (levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan), two sugar alcohols (arabitol and mannitol), water-soluble inorganic ions, and elemental/organic carbon (EC/OC). Levoglucosan was the most abundant BB tracer (mean concentration = 81 ng/m³), and fungal spore tracers arabitol and mannitol had similar abundances (5.6 and 5.7 ng/m³, respectively). Anhydrides and sugar alcohols had high within-group correlations, indicating their respective common sources. Concentrations of tracers displayed large temporal variations but small spatial variations, suggesting strong seasonality in BB and fungal spore sources. BB sources were burning of grass, pine needles, hardwood and crop straw, which were originated from transboundary/cross-region transport and local fire spots. PCA analyses revealed that the common sources of fine aerosols in YRD were secondary inorganic aerosols, soil dust, BB and fungal spores.

[Study on the expression and roles of nucleolin in cardiac injury in septic mice]

Objective: To explore the expression and roles of nucleolin in cardiac injury in septic mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice (WT mice) and myocardium-specific expression of nucleolin transgenic mice (TG mice) were randomly divided into sham group (n=10, sham-operated) and sepsis group (n=15, animal model). Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was adopted to produce animal models of sepsis. The expression of nucleolin was detected by Western blotting analysis at 0, 12, 24, 48 hours after the operation. The 7-day survival rate, haemodynamic measurement, levels of isoenzyme of creatinekinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in serum and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondlaldehyde (MDA) in myocardium were evaluated 24 hours after the operation. The data were compared between groups with t test. Results: The expression of nucleolin in myocardium up-regulated significantly in WT+CLP group when compared with that in the WT+Sham group(2.57±0.34 vs 1.00±0.15, t=7.468, P<0.01). Compared with those in the WT+Sham group, the survival rate decreased (33.3% vs 100%, χ(2)=13.375, P<0.01), maximal rate of pressure development (+dp/dtmax) declined (t=4.993, P<0.01), but the serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI and the levels of ROS and MDA in myocardium increased in the WT+CLP group(t=5.031, 4.335, 3.365, 2.375, all P<0.05). Compared with that in WT+CLP group, the 7-day survival rate of mice increased in TG+CLP group (60.0% vs 33.3%, χ(2)=8.227, P=0.004), and the cardiac function improved (t=2.337, P=0.019), but the serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI and the levels of ROS and MDA in myocardium in TG+CLP group reduced significantly (t=2.127, 3.347, 2.115, 2.224,P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of nucleolin is up-regulated in the myocardium of septic mice, and the overexpression of nucleolin can inhibit oxidative stress injury, attenuate the cardiac injury and dysfunction, and reduce mortality in septic mice.

Determination of the potential implementation impact of 2016 ministry of environmental protection generic assessment criteria for potentially contaminated sites in China

The Ministry of Environmental Protection of China issued a 3rd draft edition of risk-based Generic Assessment Criteria (the MEP-GAC) in March 2016. Since these will be the first authoritative GAC in China, their implementation is likely to have a significant impact on China's growing contaminated land management sector. This study aims to determine the potential implementation impact of the MEP-GAC through an in-depth analysis of the management context, land use scenarios, health criteria values adopted and exposure pathways considered. The MEP-GAC have been proposed for two broad categories of land use scenarios for contaminated land risk assessment, and these two categories of land use scenarios need to be further delved, and a MEP-GAC for Chinese cultivated land scenario ought to be developed, to ensure human health protection of Chinese farmers. The MEP-GAC have adopted 10^-6 as the acceptable lifetime cancer risk, given the widespread extent and severe level of land contamination in China, consideration should be given to the decision on excess lifetime cancer risk of 10^-5. During risk assessment process in practice, it is better to review the 20% TDI against local circumstances to determine their suitability before adopting it. The MEP-GAC are based on a SOM value of 1%, for regions with particularly high SOM, it might be necessary to develop regional GAC, due to SOM's significant impact on the GAC developed. An authoritative risk assessment model developed based on HJ25.3-2014 would help facilitate the DQRA process in practice. The MEP-GAC could better reflect the likely exposures of China's citizens due to vapour inhalation by using characteristics of Chinese exposure scenarios, including China-generic building stock, as inputs into the Johnson and Ettinger model as opposed to adoption of the US EPA parameters. The MEP-GAC once implemented will set the trajectory for the development of the investigation, assessment and remediation of land contamination for years.

Analysing the Zenith Tropospheric Delay Estimates in On-line Precise Point Positioning (PPP) Services and PPP Software Packages

As Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals travel through the troposphere, a tropospheric delay occurs due to a change in the refractive index of the medium. The Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique can achieve centimeter/millimeter positioning accuracy with only one GNSS receiver. The Zenith Tropospheric Delay (ZTD) is estimated alongside with the position unknowns in PPP. Estimated ZTD can be very useful for meteorological applications, an example is the estimation of water vapor content in the atmosphere from the estimated ZTD. PPP is implemented with different algorithms and models in online services and software packages. In this study, a performance assessment with analysis of ZTD estimates from three PPP online services and three software packages is presented. The main contribution of this paper is to show the accuracy of ZTD estimation achievable in PPP. The analysis also provides the GNSS users and researchers the insight of the processing algorithm dependence and impact on PPP ZTD estimation. Observation data of eight whole days from a total of nine International GNSS Service (IGS) tracking stations spread in the northern hemisphere, the equatorial region and the southern hemisphere is used in this analysis. The PPP ZTD estimates are compared with the ZTD obtained from the IGS tropospheric product of the same days. The estimates of two of the three online PPP services show good agreement (<1 cm) with the IGS ZTD values at the northern and southern hemisphere stations. The results also show that the online PPP services perform better than the selected PPP software packages at all stations.

MicroRNA Profiling of Transgenic Mice with Myocardial Overexpression of Nucleolin

BACKGROUND

Nucleolin (NCL) is the most abundant RNA-binding protein in the cell nucleolus and plays an important role in chromatin stability, ribosome assembly, ribosomal RNA maturation, ribosomal DNA transcription, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and regulation of RNA stability and translation efficiency. In addition to its anti-apoptotic properties, the underlying mechanisms associated with NCL-related roles in different cellular processes remain unclear. In this study, the effect of NCL on microRNA (miRNA) expression was evaluated by generating transgenic mice with myocardial overexpression of NCL and by analyzing microarrays of mature and precursor miRNAs from mice.

METHODS

Using microinjection of alpha-MyHc clone 26-NCL plasmids, we generated transgenic mice with myocardial overexpression of NCL firstly, and then mature and precursor miRNAs expression profiles were analyzed in NCL transgenic mice (n = 3) and wild-type (WT) mice (n = 3) by miRNA microarrays. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to perform Student's t-test, and statistical significance was determined at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Several miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed, of which 11 were upregulated and 4 were downregulated in transgenic mice with myocardial overexpression of NCL compared to those in WT mice. Several differentially expressed miRNAs were subsequently confirmed and quantified by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatics analysis was used for the prediction of miRNA targets. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that NCL regulated miR-21 expression following hydrogen peroxide preconditioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Myocardial-protection mechanisms exerted by NCL might be mediated by the miRNAs identified in this study.

Heavy metal enrichment characteristics in ash of municipal solid waste combustion in CO2/O2 atmosphere

This paper investigated the behavior of six heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn) in the bottom ashes of recycled polyvinyl chloride pellets (PVC), wood sawdust (WS) and paper mixture (PM), representing the common components of municipal solid waste (MSW), obtained during combustion in CO2/O2 atmosphere in a lab-scale electrically heated tube furnace. Replacement of N2 by CO2 did not obviously change the shape of relative enrichment factor (RE) curves and subsequent order of heavy metals, but increased enrichment of these heavy metals in bottom ashes of WS, PM and PVC. The increment of O2 concentration in CO2/O2 atmosphere further increased RE values. It was only when the temperature was higher than or equal to 700°C that the increment of the combustion temperature reduced the RE values of heavy metals. The effect of temperature on heavy metals evaporation was the most pronounced for the medium volatile metal Pb, and the least for the low volatiles Cr and Ni. The effect of temperature was more pronounced for PVC ash than for WS and PM ashes. This paper contributes to the control of heavy metals during MSW incineration and management of MSW oxy-fuel residues.

Thermogravimetric analyses of combustion of lignocellulosic materials in N2/O2 and CO2/O2 atmospheres

The combustion of paper, fruit waste and plant residue mixtures representing the lignocellulosic materials of municipal solid waste (MSW) in different atmospheres (80N(2)/20O(2), 70N(2)/30O(2), 60N(2)/40O(2), 50N(2)/50O(2), 80CO(2)/20O(2), 70CO(2)/30O(2), 60CO(2)/40O(2), 50CO(2)/50O(2)) was analyzed thermogravimetrically. Replacement of 80% N(2) by 80% CO(2) resulted in a slightly later ignition, a lower maximum weight loss rate and a change in reactions occurring above 600°C; however, as the oxygen concentration increased from 20% to 50% in CO(2)/O(2) atmosphere, the ignition temperature decreased from 318.5 to 310.8°C and the maximum weight loss rate increased from 20.82% to 23.57%/min. An oxygen content of 30% in the CO(2)/O(2) atmosphere achieved a similar combustion performance as a 80N(2)/20O(2). The fruit waste mixture had the least residual weight (about 5%) and the earliest ignition (about 220°C). This work contributes to the comprehensive understanding of lignocellulosic materials combustion and development of MSW oxy-fuel combustion.

Thermogravimetric analysis of the combustion of microalgae and microalgae blended with waste in N2/O2 and CO2/O2 atmospheres

The combustion of microalgae and municipal solid waste (MSW) under N2/O2 and CO2/O2 atmospheres was analyzed using a thermogravimetric instrument. The onset temperature of volatile release (Tv), maximum rate of weight loss (Rmax) and the temperature at the maximal peak (Tmax) were measured. As the blending ratio of microalgae was increased from 10% to 70% under N2/O2 atmosphere, Tv decreased from 269.4 to 247.4 °C, Tmax decreased from 310.8 to 288.0 °C, Rmax decreased from 11.94% to 7.88% and residual weight decreased from 30% to 20%. Thus, blending with microalgae can improve MSW combustion. The type of atmosphere did not affect Tv and Tmax, but replacement of N2 by CO2, resulted in the later appearance of the small humps (>600 °C) in the mass loss and rate of weight loss curves, burnout was less complete, and Rmax was lower, thus some improvement measures, such as an increase in oxygen concentration, are required under CO2/O2 atmosphere to achieve the same combustion performances in air.

Fluorescence signals of quantum dots influenced by spatially controlled array structures

Fluorescence signals of quantum dots (QDs) influenced by different array structures of gold-coated silicon nanorods (SiNRs) were investigated via experimental observations and two-dimensional (2D) finite element method (FEM) simulations. On the densest gold-coated SiNRs array structure, the highest QD fluorescence quenching rates were observed and on the sparsest array structure, the highest QD fluorescence enhancement rates were observed. By developing a new technique which obtains the optical image of the array structures without losing information about the QD locations, we were able to further investigate how the QD fluorescence is influenced by spatially controlled array structures.

Antiinflammatory effect of Forsythia suspensa V(AHL) and its active principle

This study was carried out to elucidate the antiinflammatory active principles obtained from 70% methanol extract of the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa V(AHL) (F. suspensa). The methanol extract was then partitioned between n-hexane and water, and then the n-hexane fraction was evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The n-hexane fraction was chromatographed (Frs. I--V), Fr. IV was rechromatographed (Frs. VI--VIII), and then Fr. VII was rechromatographed (Frs. IX--XI) by silica gel column chromatography. The antiinflammatory activity of these fractions was investigated on acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in rats. The n-hexane fraction showed an antiinflammatory effect and these activities shifted successively to Fr. IV, Fr. VII and Fr. X. The chemical structure of the active principle obtained from Fr. X was identified as 3beta-acetoxy-20,25-epoxydammarane-24-ol. These results suggest that the antiinflammatory and an analgesic effect of 70% methanol extract of F. suspensa may be the result of the compound that it contains.