Anaerobic digestion of liquid dairy manure pretreated by the microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process.

The microwave-enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP) was utilized for the treatment of liquid dairy manure, prior to anaerobic digestion (AD). A significant amount of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) was formed in the treated solution, but there was no or little increase in volatile fatty acid (VFA). In this study, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors were used in both the conventional AD system and as the methane phase reactor in a two-phase anaerobic digestion (TPAD) system. Both AD systems were capable of operating at very short hydraulic retention times (HRTs) to as low as about 3 days, and very high methane production rates were achieved. However, much higher methane production was obtained in the TPAD system. The phase separation of the acidogenesis and the methanogenesis in the TPAD system not only increased methane production but also maintained reactor stability throughout the experimental period. Thus, the combination of MW-AOP treatment and TPAD appears to be an effective means of energy recovery from dairy manure.

Plant-plant interactions vary greatly along a flooding gradient in a dam-induced riparian habitat.

Plant-plant interactions under extreme environmental stress are still controversial. The stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) proposes that facilitation prevails under extreme environmental stresses, while an alternative view states that facilitation collapses or even switches back to competition at the extreme end of stress gradients. However, how the relationship between plant-plant interaction and periodic extreme flooding stress varies and its underlying mechanism are still unclear in a dam-regulated riparian ecosystem. We established a controlled experiment using two dominant species pairs (Cynodon dactylon-Cyperus rotundus and C. dactylon-Xanthium sibiricum) in the water level fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges Dam to examine their growth responses to the periodic extreme flooding stress. The results showed that as flooding stress increased, the competitive effect of C. dactylon on X. sibiricum shifted to facilitation, whereas the effect of X. sibiricum on C. dactylon maintained a strong inhibition. The plant height of X. sibiricum was the most important driver of the interaction between X. sibiricum and C. dactylon along the flooding gradient. The net effect of C. dactylon on C. rotundus shifted from neutral to negative, and the inhibitory effect of C. rotundus on C. dactylon became stronger at the extreme end of flooding stress. The root biomass of the two species was the key trait regulating their interaction with increasing flooding stress. Overall, the SGH was partially supported along our periodic extreme flooding stress gradient. Aboveground resource (light) might be the dominant factor driving the response of the interaction between annual plants and perennial clonal plants to periodic flooding stress, whereas belowground resource (water and nutrients) was probably the dominant factor for perennial clonal plants. Our study will help to further understand the environmental responses of plant-plant relationships and their regulatory mechanism, and the succession of riparian plant communities under extreme environmental changes, providing a basic theoretical basis and data support for the ecological restoration and management of riparian wetland vegetation.

Incorporating knowledge of disease-defining hub genes and regulatory network into a machine learning-based model for predicting treatment response in lupus nephritis after the first renal flare.

BACKGROUND: Identifying candidates responsive to treatment is important in lupus nephritis (LN) at the renal flare (RF) because an effective treatment can lower the risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease. However, machine learning (ML)-based models that address this issue are lacking. METHODS: Transcriptomic profiles based on DNA microarray data were extracted from the GSE32591 and GSE112943 datasets. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify disease-defining genes (DDGs). Peripheral blood samples (GSE81622, GSE99967, and GSE72326) were used to evaluate the effect of DDGs. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) scores of the DDGs were calculated and correlated with specific immunology genes listed in the nCounter panel. GSE60681 and GSE69438 were used to examine the ability of the DDGs to discriminate LN from other renal diseases. K-means clustering was used to obtain the separate gene sets. The clustering results were extended to data derived using the nCounter technique. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to identify genes with high predictive value for treatment response after the first RF in each cluster. LASSO models with tenfold validation were built in GSE200306 and assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with area under curve (AUC). The models were validated by using an independent dataset (GSE113342). RESULTS: Forty-five hub genes specific to LN were identified. Eight optimal disease-defining clusters (DDCs) were identified in this study. Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathway was significantly enriched in DDC-6. LCK in DDC-6, whose expression positively correlated with various subsets of T cell infiltrations, was found to be differentially expressed between responders and non-responders and was ranked high in regulatory network analysis. Based on DDC-6, the prediction model had the best performance (AUC: 0.75; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-1 in the testing set) and high precision (0.83), recall (0.71), and F1 score (0.77) in the validation dataset. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that incorporating knowledge of biological phenotypes into the ML model is feasible for evaluating treatment response after the first RF in LN. This knowledge-based incorporation improves the model's transparency and performance. In addition, LCK may serve as a biomarker for T-cell infiltration and a therapeutic target in LN.

Evaluation of impact of sludge types and solids content on sludge treatment using microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process.

The microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP) has been applied to pre-treat different sludge types and high solids content. Secondary sludge not only had the highest solids and nutrient content but also yielded higher treatment efficiency than primary or mixed sludge. In the case of secondary sludge with 4% total solids (TS), the total suspended solids (TSS) concentration was reduced by 32% while soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration increased from 1% to 40% after treatment at 110°C. A high level of nutrient release was also achieved; about 65% total phosphate (TP) solubilized at 110°C. The degree of secondary sludge disintegration was dictated by temperature and hydrogen peroxide dosage. The optimal operating temperature for the system was 110°C, and sludge containing TS up to 8% was treated effectively. Secondary sludge with 8% TS had a TSS reduction of 41% after treatment at 110°C while COD solubilization was about 45%; about 55% TP was solubilized at 10 min holding time. Treatment of sludge with higher solids content would allow for handling larger amounts of sludge at a given period and reduce heating cost per unit of treated sludge. The inter-relationship between the degree of sludge disintegration and changes in chemical and physical properties was also clearly demonstrated here. The treated sludge would be an ideal substrate for anaerobic digestion or phosphorous recovery processes. High levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and metal release, and solids disintegration from sludge containing high solids content would make subsequent resource recovery processes more effective and economical.

Reliability and Validity of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory: A Clinical Study of Questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to observe the application of the Chinese version of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-China in Tinnitus patients and verify its reliability and validity. METHODS: About 1129 patients with tinnitus as the first complaint were selected as subjects. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: exploration group (n = 565), whose data were analyzed with reliability analysis method using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software 19.0, validation group (n = 564), whose data were analyzed with validity analysis method using AMOS21.0. RESULTS: (1) Reliability test: The Cronbach's α coefficients of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-China scale in both groups were 0.94, among which, the Cronbach's α coefficients of functional factor (F), emotion factor (E), and catastrophic factor (C) in group E were 0.87, 0.90, and 0.78, respectively. The half-reliability of the 2 components is 0.87. The correlation coefficient between items and the scale in group E and group V is 0.36-0.78 and 0.33-0.77, respectively. (2) Content validity: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of group E is 0.96, a total of 4 common factors were extracted, and the cumulative interpretation rate is 57.844%. The number of factors with load less than 0.4 on the 4 common factors is only 1 (F24), suggesting that this factor had little significance; the number of factors with load more than 0.4 on the 2 common factors is 8 (F1, E6, F9, C11, F15, E21, E22, and C23), suggesting that patients had different understandings of these 8 questions. (3) Structural validity: The root mean square error of approximation value of the AMOS structural model in group V is 0.065, and the root mean square residual value is 0.114, indicating low fitness; the NC value is 3.353, indicating good fitness of the scale, but it still needed to be simplified. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory-China has a high reliability when applied in China, but the content validity and structure validity are not high, and the clinical practicability needs to be improved.

Different item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment screening tool in the community-based Yilan Study: application of the item response theory.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to use item response theory (IRT) to explore the item-by-item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) screening tool using community-based data. METHODS: The Yilan Study is a community-based study that has been conducted since 2012. Until March 2020, 2230 older adults were interviewed according to the household registration data. IRT was applied to determine the item-by-item distinctive characteristics of the Eight-item Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8). RESULTS: The MCI characteristics in the AD8 items have varying degrees of item response threshold. In all circumstances, item AD8-8, which is related to self-rated memory ability, had a low item response threshold. AD8-5 and AD8-7, which are related to the comparisons of time-oriented functional status, had slightly lower thresholds, especially for those aged 65-79 years or without activity limitations. Conversely, AD8-1, AD8-2, AD8-3, AD8-4, and AD8-6 had similar item response thresholds and discriminative power; these items have more detailed functional descriptions or examples for illustration. CONCLUSIONS: Concise and understandable elements are often expected in community-based screening tools. For community-based health screening and population empowerment in the early detection of MCI, assessment tool items with detailed functional descriptions and examples for illustration have similar validities in most of the population. Items related to self-rated memory ability might be less valid. More examples may be needed for items constructed for comparing time-oriented functional status, especially in extremely old adults and individuals with activity limitations.

Sensitivity enhancement of magneto-optical Faraday effect immunoassay method based on biofunctionalized γ-Fe2O3@Au core-shell magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles for the blood detection of Alzheimer's disease.

In this work, we conducted a proof-of-concept experiment based on biofunctionalized magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles (MPNs) and magneto-optical Faraday effect for in vitro Alzheimer's disease (AD) assay. The biofunctionalized γ-Fe2O3@Au MPNs of which the surfaces are modified with the antibody of Tau protein (anti-τ). As anti-τ reacts with Tau protein, biofunctionalized MPNs aggregate to form magnetic clusters which will hence induce the change of the reagent's Faraday rotation angle. The result showed that the γ-Fe2O3@Au core-shell MPNs can enhance the Faraday rotation with respect to the raw γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Because of their magneto-optical enhancement effect, biofunctionalized γ-Fe2O3@Au MPNs effectively improve the detection sensitivity. The detection limit of Tau protein as low as 9 pg/mL (9 ppt) was achieved. Furthermore, the measurements of the clinical samples from AD patients agreed with the CDR evaluated by the neurologist. The results suggest that our method has the potential for disease assay applications.

An AIE fluorescent sensor for rapid and selective detection of phosgene.

Herein, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based sensor, 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzoxime (TPE-phos), has been rationally designed for phosgene detection. The sensor has a tetraphenylethylene unit combined with an oxime moiety. TPE-phos undergoes nitrile formation after the oxime group reacts with phosgene, which will give a significant "light-up" fluorescence due to the AIE effect within seconds.

MiR-1260b protects against LPS-induced degenerative changes in nucleus pulposus cells through targeting TCF7L2.

Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells play a critical role in maintaining intervertebral disc integrity through producing the components of extracellular matrix (ECM). NP cell dysfunction, including senescence and hyper-apoptosis, has been regarded as critical events during intervertebral disc degeneration development. In the present study, we found that Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) was overexpressed within degenerative intervertebral disc tissue samples, and TCF7L2 silencing improved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced repression on NP cell proliferation, ECM synthesis, and LPS-induced NP cell senescence. miR-1260b directly targeted TCF7L2 and inhibited TCF7L2 expression. miR-1260b overexpression improved LPS-induced degenerative changes in NP cells; more importantly, TCF7L2 overexpression significantly reversed the effects of miR-1260b overexpression on LPS-stimulated degenerative changes within NP cells. For the first time, we demonstrated the function of the miR-1260b/TCF7L2 axis on the phenotypic maintenance of chondrocyte-like NP cells and ECM synthesis by NP cells under LPS stimulation.

Dynamic of riverine pCO2, biogeochemical characteristics, and carbon sources inferred from δ13C in a subtropical river system.

Rivers significantly contribute to the global carbon budget, but data limitations and uncertainty are hampered by CO2 quantification in the global rivers. Thus, this study estimated riverine pCO2 by employing the pH-alkalinity-temperature method, and dissolved inorganic (DIC), dissolved organic (DOC), particulate organic (POC) carbon, and their isotopes (δ13C) with Chlorophyll-a (Chl a) were measured in river water samples from 26 sampling sites for characterization and source identification in the Yangtze River system. The estimated pCO2 varies from (120 ppm) to (3400 ppm) with an average (1085 ppm) across the Yangtze River and pCO2 is almost three times oversaturated than the ambient air (380 ppm). The downstream sites pronounced elevated pCO2 than the upstream sites. The relationship of δ13CDIC and pCO2 indicated that pCO2 control is seasonally independent. The significant correlations between DOC, POC, and pCO2 revealed that organic carbon influenced pCO2 in the river. The seasonal fluctuations of pCO2 were observed with an average of (762.23 ppm) and (1407.35 ppm) in winter and summer, respectively. δ13CDIC showed that the metabolic process has a negligible influence on DIC, δ13CDIC, and pCO2. δ13CDIC values increased from -8.95‰ to -4.91‰ during summer, whereas winter increased from -19.76‰ to -1.97‰ suggesting that DIC derived from carbonate weathering, dissolution of atmospheric and soil CO2. The δ13CDOC (-30.43‰ to -24.05‰) and δ13CPOC (-29.87‰ to -23.37‰) values confirmed that organic carbon mainly derived from the degradation of organic materials in soil. δ13CDIC revealed that anthropogenic sewage discharge slightly modified DIC composition. Overall, this study provides new insight into recent seasonal fluctuations of the pCO2, DOC, POC, DIC, δ13C, and their inputs. Thus, these variations and inputs of carbon transported by the Yangtze River could have a significant influence not only on the biogeochemical cycle and ecosystem process but also on the global carbon budget.

Heavy metal toxicity, ecological risk assessment, and pollution sources in a hydropower reservoir.

Heavy metal (HM) toxicity, ecological risk, and pollution sources were analyzed using the pollution indexing and statistical methods in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). The average concentration of HM increased in the order of Cr < Ni < As < Cd < Cu < Mn < Pb < Zn < Al < Fe during the recharge period and Cd < Cr < Ni < As < Cu < Pb < Mn < Zn < Al < Fe during the discharge period. Significant spatial variations of Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Cu were observed at the upstream and downstream sampling sites. Pb sharply increased during the recharge period, ranges (6.93 -148.62 µg/L) and exceeded WHO and USPEA standards limit. HPI, HEI, Cd, WPI indicated low pollution and moderate pollution with the strong influence of Pb and Cd in the discharge and recharging period, respectively. HTML values are below the permissible toxicity load except for Pb. The Pb toxicity removal percentage is 56.47%, suggesting that the lead's toxicity level is high in TGR and requires the removal process. Ecological risk index values indicated that pollution is low in TGR. The potential ecological risk indexes (RI) of 9.07 and 31.60 were obtained for the discharge and recharge period, respectively, indicating low potential ecological risk from heavy metals in TGR. However, RI values revealed that (Pb, Cd, As Cr Ni, Cu Zn, and Mn) were the most ecological risk HMs in TGR. A significant ecological risk of Pb and Cd distribution was observed across the TGR. Multivariate statistical results found that Pb, Cd, Zn, Mn, Ni, As, Cr, Cu mainly originate from industrial wastewater, mining, metals processing, and agricultural runoff. Fe and Al were mainly from bedrock weathering. Pb, Cd, Zn HMs are a threat to the reservoir ecosystem. This study delivered a current status of HM pollution, toxicity, ecological risk, and pollution sources, indicating a vital insight into HM pollution and water security management in the Three Gorges Reservoir.

Reservoir NO3- pollution and chemical weathering: by dual isotopes of δ15N-NO3-, δ18O-NO3- and geochemical constraints.

Reservoir dams alter the nutrient composition and biogeochemical cycle. Thus, dual isotopes of δ18O-NO3- and δ15N-NO-3 and geochemical signatures were employed to study the NO3- pollution and chemical weathering in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China. This study found that the TGR dam alters the δ15N-NO3- composition and is enriched in the recharge period. Values of δ15N-NO3- varied from 4.5 to 12.9‰ with an average of 9.8‰ in the recharge period, while discharge period δ15N-NO3- ranged from 3.2 to 12.5‰, with an average of 9.3‰. δ18O-NO3- varies (1.2-11.3‰) with an average of 6.5‰ and (2.4-12.4‰) with an average of 7.5‰, in the recharge and discharge periods, respectively. Stable isotopic values sharply decreased from upstream to downstream, indicating the damming effects. δ18O-NO3- and δ15N NO3- confirm that sewage effluents, nitrification of soil organic material, and NH4+ fertilizers were the primary sources of NO3- in the reservoir. Carbonate weathering mainly provides ions to the reservoir. HCO3- + SO42- and Ca2+ + Mg2+ represent 90% of major ions in the TGR. Downstream sampling sites showed low solute concentration during the recharge period, indicating the dam effect on solute concentration. Ca-Mg-Cl-, Ca-HCO3- and Ca-Cl- were the main water types in the TGR. The average percentage of solutes contribution revealed the carbonate weathering, evaporites dissolution, silicate weathering, and atmospheric input were 51.9%, 41%, 7.8%, and 1.7% for the recharge period. In contrast, the discharge period contributed 66.4%, 29.2%, 10%, and 4.3%, respectively. TGR water is moderately suitable for irrigation, and hardness is high in drinking water. This study provides new insight into the dual isotopic approach and geochemical signatures to interpret the NO3- cycle and chemical weathering process under dam effects in the TGR. However, this isotopic application has some limitations in source identification, isotope fractionation, and transformation mechanisms of nitrate. Thus, further studies need to be done on these topics for a better undestanding.

Tropical and subtropical Asia's valued tree species under threat.

Tree diversity in Asia's tropical and subtropical forests is central to nature-based solutions. Species vulnerability to multiple threats, which affect provision of ecosystem services, is poorly understood. We conducted a region-wide, spatially explicit assessment of the vulnerability of 63 socioeconomically important tree species to overexploitation, fire, overgrazing, habitat conversion, and climate change. Trees were selected for assessment from national priority lists, and selections were validated by an expert network representing 20 countries. We used Maxent suitability modeling to predict species distribution ranges, freely accessible spatial data sets to map threat exposures, and functional traits to estimate threat sensitivities. Species-specific vulnerability maps were created as the product of exposure maps and sensitivity estimates. Based on vulnerability to current threats and climate change, we identified priority areas for conservation and restoration. Overall, 74% of the most important areas for conservation of these trees fell outside protected areas, and all species were severely threatened across an average of 47% of their native ranges. The most imminent threats were overexploitation and habitat conversion; populations were severely threatened by these factors in an average of 24% and 16% of their ranges, respectively. Our model predicted limited overall climate change impacts, although some study species were likely to lose over 15% of their habitat by 2050 due to climate change. We pinpointed specific natural areas in Borneo rain forests as hotspots for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources, more than 82% of which fell outside designated protected areas. We also identified degraded areas in Western Ghats, Indochina dry forests, and Sumatran rain forests as hotspots for restoration, where planting or assisted natural regeneration will help conserve these species, and croplands in southern India and Thailand as potentially important agroforestry options. Our results highlight the need for regionally coordinated action for effective conservation and restoration.

Especies de Árboles Valoradas y Amenazadas de Asia Tropical y Subtropical Resumen La diversidad de árboles en los bosques tropicales y subtropicales de Asia es un eje central para las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza. La vulnerabilidad de las especies ante las múltiples amenazas, las cuales afectan el suministro de servicios ambientales, es un tema poco comprendido. Realizamos una evaluación regional espacialmente explícita de la vulnerabilidad de 63 especies de árboles de importancia socioeconómica ante la sobreexplotación, incendios, sobrepastoreo, conversión del hábitat y cambio climático. Los árboles se seleccionaron para su evaluación a partir de listas nacionales de prioridades, y las selecciones fueron validadas por una red de expertos de 20 países. Usamos el modelado de idoneidad Maxent para predecir el rango de distribución de las especies, conjuntos de datos espaciales de libre acceso para mapear la exposición a las amenazas y rasgos funcionales para estimar la susceptibilidad a las amenazas. Con base en la vulnerabilidad a las amenazas actuales y al cambio climático, identificamos las áreas prioritarias para su conservación y restauración. En general, el 74% de las áreas más importantes para la conservación de estos árboles quedó fuera de las áreas protegidas y todas las especies estaban seriamente amenazadas en promedio en el 47% de su distribución nativa. Las amenazas más inminentes fueron la sobreexplotación y la conversión del hábitat; las poblaciones estuvieron seriamente amenazadas por estos factores en promedio en el 24% y 16% de su distribución, respectivamente. Nuestro modelo predijo un impacto general limitado del cambio climático, aunque algunas especies estudiadas tuvieron la probabilidad de perder más del 15% de su hábitat para el 2050 debido a este factor. Identificamos áreas naturales específicas en las selvas de Borneo como puntos calientes para la conservación in situ de los recursos genéticos forestales, más del 82% de los cuales estaban fuera de las áreas protegidas designadas. También identificamos áreas degradadas en los Ghats Occidentales, los bosques secos de Indochina y las selvas de Sumatra como puntos calientes para la restauración, en donde la siembra o la regeneración natural asistida ayudarán a conservar estas especies. Además, identificamos campos de cultivo al sur de India y Tailandia como potenciales opciones importantes de agrosilvicultura. Nuestros resultados resaltan la necesidad de acciones regionales coordinadas para la conservación y restauración efectivas.

Downregulation of AANAT by c-Fos in tubular epithelial cells with membranous nephropathy.

Melatonin is a hormone majorly secreted by the pineal gland and contributes to a various type of physiological functions in mammals. The melatonin production is tightly limited to the AANAT level, yet the most known molecular mechanisms underlying AANAT gene transcription is limited in the pinealocyte. Here, we find that c-Fos and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) decreases and increases the AANAT transcriptional activity in renal tubular epithelial cell, respectively. Notably, c-Fos knockdown significantly upregulates melatonin levels in renal tubular cells. Functional results indicate that AANAT expression is decreased by c-Fos and resulted in enhancement of cell damage in albumin-injury cell model. We further find an inverse correlation between c-Fos and AANAT levels in renal tubular cells from experimental membranous nephropathy (MN) samples and clinical MN specimens. Our finding provides the molecular basis of c-Fos in transcriptionally downregulating expression of AANAT and melatonin, and elucidate the protective role of AANAT in preventing renal tubular cells death in albumin-injury cell model and MN progression.

Association of Serum Phosphate with Low Handgrip Strength in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Muscle wasting and hyperphosphatemia are becoming increasingly prevalent in patients who exhibit a progressive decline in kidney function. However, the association between serum phosphate (Pi) level and sarcopenia in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains unclear. We compared the serum Pi levels between advanced CKD patients with (n = 51) and those without sarcopenia indicators (n = 83). Low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), low handgrip strength, and low gait speed were defined per the standards of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Mean serum Pi level was significantly higher in advanced CKD patients with sarcopenia indicators than those without sarcopenia indicators (3.88 ± 0.86 vs. 3.54 ± 0.73 mg/dL; p = 0.016). Univariate analysis indicated that serum Pi was negatively correlated with ASMI, handgrip strength, and gait speed. Multivariable analysis revealed that serum Pi was significantly associated with handgrip strength (standardized ß = -0.168; p = 0.022) and this association persisted even after adjustments for potential confounders. The optimal serum Pi cutoff for predicting low handgrip strength was 3.65 mg/dL, with a sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 56.6%. In summary, low handgrip strength is common in advanced CKD patients and serum Pi level is negatively associated with handgrip strength.

Biomarkers Linked with Dynamic Changes of Renal Function in Asymptomatic and Mildly Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients.

The catastrophic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently a critical global issue. One well-known complication of COVID-19 in severe cases is acute kidney injury, but no research has given a description of its impact on the kidney in patients with mild symptoms. We explore the renal function changes in mild COVID-19 patients. This retrospective, single-center study included 27 participants with laboratory-detected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus two (SARS-CoV-2) infection who were admitted to the Tri-Service General Hospital from 4 February to 26 May 2020 and analyzed their clinical features, radiological findings, and laboratory data. Data collected upon admission and discharge showed a median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 106.7 mL/min/1.732 m2 and 112.2 mL/min/1.732 m2, respectively, with a p-value of 0.044. A correlation between renal function and the severity of infection was also found and was statistically significant upon admission. Patients with a lower lymphocyte count or higher C-reactive protein, neutrophil count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio presented with a decreased eGFR during their early infection phase. The biomarkers (CRP and NLR) may be linked with dynamic changes of renal function in COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

Wnt5a up-regulates Periostin through CaMKII pathway to influence periodontal tissue destruction in early periodontitis.

Periostin is essential for periodontal tissue integrity and homeostasis and also associated with periodontitis and periodontitis healing. This study aims to investigate the temporal and spatial expression of Periostin and Wnt5a/CaMKII in periodontitis and how the Wnt5a regulates Periostin through CaMKII signaling pathway in PDLCs in inflammatory environment. The experimental periodontitis mice were adopted to clarify the temporal and spatial expression of Wnt5a, CaMKII and Periostin during early periodontitis. And the Wnt5a, CaMKII and Periostin expression pattern and regulation mechanism in PDLCs were clarified in Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide (P.g. LPS) induced inflammatory condition. Along with the periodontitis development, Wnt5a, CaMKII and Periostin significantly increased in periodontal ligament and partially increased in gingiva during 0 to 6 day (P < 0.05). They were involved in early periodontitis homeostasis especially in periodontal ligament tissue. Meanwhile, Wnt5a, CaMKII and Periostin were significantly decreased at 12 h (P < 0.05) and increased at 48 h (P < 0.05) in PDLCs after induced by P.g. LPS. Besides, Wnt5a significantly enhanced total CaMKII protein (P < 0.05), pCaMKII (P < 0.001) and Periostin (P < 0.001), and this could be blocked by CaMKII inhibitor KN93 (P < 0.05). In conclusions, in early periodontitis, Wnt5a/CaMKII and Periostin should be involved in maintaining periodontal homeostasis and Wnt5a could up-regulate Periostin via CaMKII pathway in inflammation, which would provide new clues for us to understand the pathogenesis of periodontitis and develop better therapeutic strategies.

Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation treatment of fat, oil and grease (FOG) with organic co-substrates.

Mixtures of fats, oils and grease (FOG) either with dairy manure or with thickened waste secondary sludge (TWSS) were treated using microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP). For both dairy manure and TWSS mixtures, the maximum increase in soluble COD (SCOD) resulted from the 1:1 mixture by total solids (TS) weight. In the TWSS mixtures, production of volatile fatty acid (VFA) increased with greater FOG content, while there was a decreasing production trend in VFA in dairy manure mixtures. Nutrients and metals were also released for all sets. The degradation followed peroxidation mechanism to produce lower molecular weight substrates such as short-chain fatty acids which would be less inhibitory to microbes. Nutrients and metals in the treated solution would sustain microbial growth in a biological system. FOG content for the mixtures in the MW-AOP treatment should be less than 75% by TS weight to prevent oxidation to CO2.

[Autophagic activity of piperine on small intestine in dementia model mice with Parkinson's disease].

This article is to investigate the effect of piperine on the small intestine of mice with Parkinson's disease with dementia(PDD). Ninety-six C57 BL/6 mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into 8 groups(male, 12 in each group): normal group, model group, autophagy inhibitor group(6-amino-3-methylpurine, 3 MA, 30 mg·kg~(-1)), autophagy activator group(rapamycin, 1 mg·kg~(-1)), low, medium, and high dose piperine groups(10, 20, 40 mg·kg~(-1)), and medopar group(112.5 mg·kg~(-1)). Except for the normal group, mice in each group were injected subcutaneously with reserpine(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)) once every 48 hours for 40 days. In addition, on the 20 th day of administration, except for the normal group, the mice in the other groups were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion to finally prepare PDD models. At the same time, each group was given the corresponding drug treatment once a day for 40 days. After the last administration, the behavioral changes of mice were observed by autonomic activity experiment and hot plate experiment. The expression levels of α-synuclein(α-syn) and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in the small intestine were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 B(LC3 B) and p62 in the small intestine were detected by immunofluorescence assay. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of small intestine tissues in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted for detection of ß-amyloid precursor protein(APP), p-tau, acetylcholine transferase(ChAT), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in small intestine. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of α-syn, TH, beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), and p62 mRNA and mmu-miR-99 a-5 p in the small intestine. The results of this study showed that, as compared with the model group, the number of activities, the expression levels of ChAT, TH, and p62 were significantly increased in the 3 MA group, the various piperine dose groups, and the medopar group(P<0.05), and their first foot licking time was shortened; APP, p-tau, IL-6, TNF-α, α-syn, beclin-1, LC3 B and mmu-miR-99 a-5 p expression levels were significantly reduced(P<0.05). However, as compared with the model group, the number of activities, ChAT, TH, and p62 expression levels in the rapamycin group were significantly reduced(P<0.05), and the APP, p-tau, IL-6, TNF-α, α-syn, beclin-1, LC3 B and mmu-miR-99 a-5 p expression levels were significantly increased(P<0.05). As compared with the 3 MA group, the number of activities, ChAT, TH, and p62 expression levels were significantly reduced in the low and medium dose piperine groups and rapamycin group(P<0.05); howe-ver, their first foot licking time was significantly prolonged, APP, p-tau, IL-6, TNF-α, α-syn, beclin-1, LC3 B and mmu-miR-99 a-5 p expression levels were increased significantly(P<0.05). As compared with the medopar group, the number of activities, ChAT, TH, and p62 expression levels were significantly reduced in low dose piperine group and rapamycin group(P<0.05), but their first foot licking time was significantly extended, and APP, p-tau, IL-6, TNF-α, α-syn, beclin-1, LC3 B and mmu-miR-99 a-5 p expression levels were significantly increased(P<0.05). In addition, as compared with the normal group, the small intestinal epithelial cells of the model group and the rapamycin group were shed off a lot, with severe damages of intestinal mucosa as well as edema and shedding of the small intestine villi. After administration of the therapeutic interventions, the small intestinal epithelial cells of the 3 MA group, each dose group of piperine, and the medopa group were slightly damaged and the villi were slightly shed off. In summary, piperine has a protective effect on the small intestine of PDD model mice, showing reduced expression of mmu-miR-99 a-5 p, pro-inflammatory factors and autophagy factors, and the mechanism of slowing PDD pathological symptoms may be related to the inhibition of autophagy.