Effects of modification methods on the structural characteristics and functional properties of dietary fiber from cucumber.

Cucumbers produce by-products such as cucumber pomace during processing and most of them are discarded without being utilized. To effectively utilize the waste, cucumber pomace is used to extract both insoluble and soluble dietary fibers (DFs) using compound enzyme method (ME), High pressure processing assisted ME (HPP-ME), and dynamic high-pressure microfluidization-assisted ME (DHPM-ME). The results showed that DHPM-ME improved the extraction rate of soluble DFs most effectively, increasing it from 1.74 % to 4.08 %. The modified DFs exhibited enhanced hydration properties and functional properties after HPP-ME- and DHPM-ME-mediated auxiliary treatment. Additionally, the modified DFs exhibited improved thermal stability, increased absorption peaks in the infrared spectra, decreased crystallinity, improved glucose and cholesterol adsorption ability, and delayed glucose adsorption. The cucumber pomace-derived modified DFs can be used as a functional food additive in bakery, meat, dairy products, and beverages, and their effective use can further enhance the economic benefits.

Quality analysis and assessment of representative sea buckthorn fruits in northern China.

Sea buckthorn (SB) primarily grows in northern China and is rich in nutritional components, making it popular among consumers. This study aims to select suitable SB varieties for processing by analyzing physicochemical components, color, taste, and volatile compounds. The results showed that the physicochemical content of Chinese SB from Gansu were as follows: total soluble solids 13.50 ± 0.37°Brix, titratable acidity 6.46 ± 0.39 %, ascorbic acid 578 mg/100 g, polyphenols 517 mg/100 g, and flavonoids 194 mg/100 g, which were higher than those of the other four SB samples; the content of organic acids was relatively abundant. Taste analysis via electronic tongue indicated that Chinese SB had the highest ANS (sweetness) value and the lowest SCS (bitterness) value, exhibiting the richest flavor. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that Gansu Chinese SB had a rich variety of volatile components, totaling 74. In summary, Gansu Chinese SB is a variety suitable for processing.

Prinsepia utilis Royle polysaccharides promote skin barrier repair through the Claudin family.

BACKGROUND: Plant polysaccharides have various biological activities. However, few studies have been conducted on the skin barrier of Prinsepia utilis Royle polysaccharide extract (PURP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proportions of polysaccharides, monosaccharides and proteins were determined by extracting polysaccharides from fruit meal using water. The healing rate was measured by cell scratch assays. SDS-damaged reconstructed human epidermal models, an acetone-ether-induced mouse model and an IL-4-induced cellular inflammation model were used to detect the effects of polysaccharides on the phenotype, HA, TEWL, and TEER, with further characterizations performed using QRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF) assays. RESULTS: PURP contained 35.73% polysaccharides and 11.1% proteins. PURP promoted cell migration and increased skin thickness in a reconstructed human epidermis model. The TEWL significantly decreased, and the HA content significantly increased. PURP significantly increased the TEER and decreased the permeability of the SDS-damaged reconstructed human epidermis model. Claudin-3, Claudin-4, and Claudin-5 were significantly upregulated. IF and Western blot analysis revealed that the Claudin-4 level significantly increased after treatment with PURP. Claudin-1, Claudin-3, Claudin-4, and Claudin-5 gene expression and IF and immunohistochemical staining were significantly increased in mice treated with acetone-ether. PURP promoted the expression of Claudin-1, Claudin-3, Claudin-4, and Claudin-5 after treatment with 100 ng/mL IL-4. PURP also downregulated the expression of NO, IL6, TNFα and NFκB in Raw 264.7 cells and in a mouse model. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that PURP may repair the skin barrier by promoting the expression of the claudin family and can assist in skin therapy.

Effect of Dynamic High-Pressure Microfluidization on the Quality of Not-from-Concentrate Cucumber Juice.

The effects of dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM at 400 MPa) and heat treatment (HT) on the microbial inactivation, quality parameters, and flavor components of not-from-concentrate (NFC) cucumber juice were investigated. Total aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds were not detected in the 400 MPa-treated cucumber juice. Total phenolic content increased by 16.2% in the 400 MPa-treated cucumber juice compared to the control check (CK). The significant reduction in pulp particle size (volume peak decreasing from 100-1000 µm to 10-100 µm) and viscosity increased the stability of the cucumber juice while decreasing the fluid resistance during processing. HT decreased the ascorbic acid content by 25.9% (p < 0.05), while the decrease in ascorbic acid content was not significant after 400 MPa treatment. A total of 59 volatile aroma substances were identified by gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), and a variety of characteristic aroma substances (i.e., valeraldehyde, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-nonenal, and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, among others) were retained after treatment with 400 MPa. In this study, DHPM technology was innovatively applied to cucumber juice processing with the aim of providing a continuous non-thermal processing technology for the industrial production of cucumber juice. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the application of DHPM technology in cucumber juice production.

Effects of Pulsed Electric Field and High-Pressure Processing Treatments on the Juice Yield and Quality of Sea Buckthorn.

Sea buckthorn juice has high nutritional value and a rich flavor that consumers enjoy. Traditional sea buckthorn thermal processing (TP) technology has problems such as low juice yield, poor quality, and poor flavor. Sea buckthorn berries are processed using a technique combining pulsed electric field (PEF) and high-pressure processing (HPP) to increase juice yield and study its impact on the quality and volatile aroma of sea buckthorn juice. Results have show that, compared with TP, under the condition of PEF-HPP, the juice yield of sea buckthorn significantly increased by 11.37% (p > 0.05); TP and PEF-HPP treatments could effectively kill microorganisms in sea buckthorn juice, but the quality of sea buckthorn juice decreased significantly after TP treatment (p > 0.05), whereas PEF-HPP coupling technology could maximally retain the nutrients of sea buckthorn juice while inhibiting enzymatic browning to improve color, viscosity, and particle size. The flavor of sea buckthorn juice is analyzed using electronic nose (E-nose) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometer (GC-IMS) techniques, and it has been shown that PEF-HPP retains more characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of sea buckthorn while avoiding the acrid and pungent flavors produced by TP, such as benzaldehyde, (E)-2-heptenal, and pentanoic acid, among others, which improves the sensory quality of sea buckthorn juice. PEF-HPP technology is environmentally friendly and efficient, with significant economic benefits. Research data provide information and a theoretical basis for the sea buckthorn juice processing industry.

Molecular characterization and expression profile of the ALDH1A1 gene and its functions in yak luteal cells.

The ALDH1A1 gene encodes a cytoplasmic member of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, which plays an important role in regulating animal reproductive performance, including estrus cycle and embryonic development. The aim of this study was to characterize ALDH1A1 activity in ovaries of 3-5 year-old yaks and to determine its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and progesterone secretion in luteal cells (LCs). The coding sequence (CDS) of the ALDH1A1 gene was cloned by reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis was used to confirm localization of the ALDH1A1 protein in the ovary. To assess the activity of ALDH1A1 in regulating progesterone secretion, si-ALDH1A1 was transfected into LCs in vitro and progesterone levels in LC supernatants were measured by ELISA. The interference efficiency was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence staining, and cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by EdU and TUNEL staining, respectively. The cloned ALDH1A1 sequence contained 1462 bp, encoding 487 amino acids. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that ALDH1A1 protein expression, which was significantly higher in LCs, was mainly found in antral follicles and the corpus luteum (CL). The expression of ALDH1A1 mRNA in LCs was effectively inhibited by si-ALDH1A1transfection, and progesterone secretion was markedly decreased along with the significant down-regulation of progesterone pathway-related genes, STAR, CYP11A1, CYP19A1, CYP17A1, 3ß-HSD, and HSD17B1. Knockdown of ALDH1A1 mRNA expression decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in LCs. The mRNA expression of the proliferation-related genes, PCNA, CCND1, CCNB1 and CDC25A, was significantly down-regulated, while expression of the apoptosis-promoting CASP3 gene was significantly increased. In summary, we characterized the yak ALDH1A1 gene and revealed that ALDH1A1 knockdown promoted apoptosis, repressed cell proliferation, and decreased progesterone secretion by yak LCs, potentially by regulating the mRNA expression of genes related to proliferation, apoptosis, and progesterone synthesis and secretion.

The Expression and Epigenetic Characteristics of the HSF2 Gene in Cattle-Yak and the Correlation with Its Male Sterility.

Aberrant expression of the heat shock proteins and factors was revealed to be closely associated with male reproduction. Heat shock factor 2 (HSF2) is a transcription factor that is involved in the regulation of diverse developmental pathways. However, the role and the corresponding molecular mechanism of HSF2 in male cattle-yak sterility are still poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain the sequence and the biological information of the cattle-yak HSF2 gene and to investigate the spatiotemporal expression profiles of the locus during the development of cattle-yak testes. Additionally, the differential expression was analyzed between the cattle-yak and the yak, and the methylation of corresponding promoter regions was compared. Our results showed an additional 54 bp fragment and a missense mutation (lysine to glutamic acid) were presented in the cattle-yak HSF2 gene, which correlated with enriched expression in testicular tissue. In addition, the expression of the HSF2 gene showed dynamic changes during the growth of the testes, reaching a peak in adulthood. The IHC indicated that HSF2 protein was primarily located in spermatocytes (PS), spermatogonia (SP), and Sertoli cells (SC) in cattle-yak testes, compared with the corresponding cells of cattle and the yak. Furthermore, bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP) revealed that the methylated CpG sites in the promoter region of the cattle-yak HSF2 were more numerous than in the yak counterpart, which suggests hypermethylation of this region in the cattle-yak. Taken together, the low expression abundance and hypermethylation of HSF2 may underpin the obstruction of spermatogenesis, which leads to male cattle-yak infertility. Our study provided a basic guideline for the HSF2 gene in male reproduction and a new insight into the mechanisms of male cattle-yak sterility.

Association between three-territory sign and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke patients with malignancy.

Background: Multiple cerebral infarcts are usually secondary to cardiogenic embolism, particularly through atrial fibrillation (AF). The three-territory sign (TTS) is an imaging marker that reflects multiple cerebral lesions involving three vascular territories measured by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and the most common etiology is an underlying malignancy. Recent studies have shown that TTS is six times more frequently observed in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with malignancy than in those with AF-related AIS. However, the relevance of TTS to the prognosis of IS patients with malignancy remains unclear. Methods: Over a 5-year period (May 2016 to 31 June 2021), AIS admissions with DWI were identified from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had malignancy or AF, resulting in a total of 80 patients with known malignancy (malignancy group) and 92 patients with AF (AF group). All DWI images were reviewed to determine the territory lesion count. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, together with radiographic examination data and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score within a year, were collected. The main outcome was the association between TTS and the prognosis of AIS patients with malignancy, analyzed by a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 172 patients met the selection criteria, including 17 (21.3%) patients in the malignancy group and 8 (8.7%) patients in the AF group with TTS. Age and sex distributions were similar for AIS patients of malignancy and AF. The TTS was 2.4 times more likely to be observed in AIS patients with malignancy compared to AF-related IS patients. The univariate analysis showed that hypertension (OR = 1.137, 95%CI: 1.002-1.291), D-dimer (OR = 1.328, 95%CI: 1.022-1.726), fibrin degradation product (OR = 1.117, 95%CI: 1.010-1.236), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; OR = 1.007, 95%CI: 1.000-1.015) were the risk factors for the high mortality rate. Multivariate analysis showed that TTS was the independent risk factor for mortality in AIS patients with malignancy (adjusted OR: 6.866, 95% CI: 1.371-34.395). Conclusion: TTS was more frequently observed in AIS patients with malignancy than AF-related AIS and substantially related to high poor outcome (mRS > 2) in AIS patients with malignancy, indicating diagnostic and prognostic value in malignancy-associated hypercoagulation stroke.

Maternal Kdm2a-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling and E-cadherin stimulate the morula-to-blastocyst transition revealing crucial roles in early embryonic development.

Histone methylation plays an essential role in oocyte growth and preimplantation embryonic development. The modification relies on histone methyl-transferases and demethylases, and one of these, lysine-specific demethylase 2a (Kdm2a), is responsible for modulating histone methylation during oocyte and early embryonic development. The mechanism of how Kdm2a deficiency disrupts early embryonic development and fertility remains elusive. To determine if maternally deposited Kdm2a is required for preimplantation embryonic development, the expression profile of Kdm2a during early embryos was detected via immunofluorescence staining and RT-qPCR. The Kdm2a gene in oocytes was specifically deleted with the Zp3-Cre/LoxP system and the effects of maternal Kdm2a loss were studied through a comprehensive range of female reproductive parameters including fertilization, embryo development, and the number of births. RNA transcriptome sequencing was performed to determine differential mRNA expression, and the interaction between Kdm2a and the PI3K/Akt pathway was studied with a specific inhibitor and activator. Our results revealed that Kdm2a was continuously expressed in preimplantation embryos and loss of maternal Kdm2a suppressed the morula-to-blastocyst transition, which may have been responsible for female subfertility. After the deletion of Kdm2a, the global H3K36me2 methylation in mutant embryos was markedly increased, but the expression of E-cadherin decreased significantly in morula embryos compared to controls. Mechanistically, RNA-seq analysis revealed that deficiency of maternal Kdm2a altered the mRNA expression profile, especially in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Interestingly, the addition of a PI3K/Akt inhibitor (LY294002) to the culture medium blocked embryo development at the stage of morula; however, the developmental block caused by maternal Kdm2a loss was partially rescued with a PI3K/Akt activator (SC79). In summary, our results indicate that loss of Kdm2a influences the transcriptome profile and disrupts the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway during the development of preimplantation embryo. This can result in embryo block at the morula stage and female subfertility, which suggests that maternal Kdm2a is a potential partial redundancy with other genes encoding enzymes in the dynamics of early embryonic development. Our results provide further insight into the role of histone modification, especially on Kdm2a, in preimplantation embryonic development in mice.

TET1 regulates gene expression and repression of endogenous retroviruses independent of DNA demethylation.

DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine (5mC)) is critical for genome stability and transcriptional regulation in mammals. The discovery that ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins catalyze the oxidation of 5mC to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) revolutionized our perspective on the complexity and regulation of DNA modifications. However, to what extent the regulatory functions of TET1 can be attributed to its catalytic activity remains unclear. Here, we use genome engineering and quantitative multi-omics approaches to dissect the precise catalytic vs. non-catalytic functions of TET1 in murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Our study identifies TET1 as an essential interaction hub for multiple chromatin modifying complexes and a global regulator of histone modifications. Strikingly, we find that the majority of transcriptional regulation depends on non-catalytic functions of TET1. In particular, we show that TET1 is critical for the establishment of H3K9me3 and H4K20me3 at endogenous retroviral elements (ERVs) and their silencing that is independent of its canonical role in DNA demethylation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that this repression of ERVs depends on the interaction between TET1 and SIN3A. In summary, we demonstrate that the non-catalytic functions of TET1 are critical for regulation of gene expression and the silencing of endogenous retroviruses in mESCs.

Hyaluronic acid-coated Bi:Cu2O: an H2S-responsive agent for colon cancer with targeted delivery and enhanced photothermal performance.

BACKGROUND: Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-responsive theranostic agents have attracted extensive attention due to their specificity for colon cancer. However, the development of such agents with high enrichment in tumors and excellent photothermal performance remains challenging. RESULTS: We prepared hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated Bi-doped cuprous oxide (Bi:Cu2O@HA) via a one-pot method. The HA specifically targets colon cancer tumor cells to improve the enrichment of Bi:Cu2O@HA at tumor sites, while the doped Bi both enhances the photothermal performance of the H2S-triggered Cu2O and serves as an agent for tumor imaging. The results in this work demonstrated that the Bi:Cu2O@HA nanoparticles exhibit good biocompatibility, target colon cancer tumor cells, facilitate computed tomography imaging, and enhanced H2S-responsive photothermal therapy performance, resulting in an excellent therapeutic effect in colon cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The novel Bi:Cu2O@HA nanoparticles exhibit excellent tumor targeting and photothermal therapeutic effects, which provide new strategies and insights for colon cancer therapy.

Semen Sojae Praeparatum alters depression-like behaviors in chronic unpredictable mild stress rats via intestinal microbiota.

A large number of Chinese medical books present that Semen Sojae Praeparatum, a fermented food, possesses antidepressant effect, but the mechanism of this antidepressant effect remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect of Semen Sojae Praeparatum on rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression. The results showed that Semen Sojae Praeparatum improved depression-like behaviors (negative preference of sugar water and increased swimming immobility time and time spent in the dark zone) and effectively reduced cell morphological changes in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in CUMS rats. In addition, Semen Sojae Praeparatum significantly promoted the contents of norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the hippocampus and the content of BDNF in the serum (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing analysis results showed that Semen Sojae Praeparatum increased the abundance of genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG-008 and decreased those of genera Lactobacillus and Bacteroides. Genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG-008 was positively correlated with GABA and BDNF levels in the hippocampus; genus Lactobacillus had a positive correlation with 5-HT; and genus Bacteroides had negative correlations with 5-HT, BDNF, and NE. In addition, Semen Sojae Praeparatum considerably decreased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These results indicated that Semen Sojae Praeparatum fermented by Rhizopus chinensis 12 and Bacillus sp. DU-106 alleviated the neurotransmitter levels and structural changes in the neuronal morphology of the hippocampus associated with the modulation of gut microbiota and SCFAs. Therefore, this study confirmed that Semen Sojae Praeparatum could alter depression and provide a theoretical basis for the investigation of the relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and antidepressant.

Causal relationships between blood lipids and depression phenotypes: a Mendelian randomisation analysis.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of depression remains poorly understood. Changes in blood lipid levels were reported to be associated with depression and suicide, however study findings were mixed. METHODS: We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between blood lipids and depression phenotypes, based on large-scale GWAS summary statistics (N = 188 577/480 359 for lipid/depression traits respectively). Five depression-related phenotypes were included, namely major depression (MD; from PGC), depressive symptoms (DS; from SSGAC), longest duration and number of episodes of low mood, and history of deliberate self-harm (DSH)/suicide (from UK Biobank). MR was conducted with inverse-variance weighted (MR-IVW), Egger and Generalised Summary-data-based MR (GSMR) methods. RESULTS: There was consistent evidence that triglyceride (TG) is causally associated with DS (MR-IVW ß for one-s.d. increase in TG = 0.0346, 95% CI 0.0114-0.0578), supported by MR-IVW and GSMR and multiple r2 clumping thresholds. We also observed relatively consistent associations of TG with DSH/suicide (MR-Egger OR = 2.514, CI 1.579-4.003). There was moderate evidence for positive associations of TG with MD and the number of episodes of low mood. For HDL-c, we observed moderate evidence for causal associations with DS and MD. LDL-c and TC did not show robust causal relationships with depression phenotypes, except for weak evidence that LDL-c is inversely related to DSH/suicide. We did not detect significant associations when depression phenotypes were treated as exposures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence to a causal relationship between TG, and to a lesser extent, altered cholesterol levels with depression phenotypes. Further studies on its mechanistic basis and the effects of lipid-lowering therapies are warranted.

Enhanced removal of Co(II) and Ni(II) from high-salinity aqueous solution using reductive self-assembly of three-dimensional magnetic fungal hyphal/graphene oxide nanofibers.

Layer-structured graphene oxide excellent carrier for modifications; however, its poor recoverability and stability preclude its application in wastewater treatment fields. Herein, three-dimensional magnetic fungal hyphal/graphene oxide nanofibers (MFHGs) were assembled by a reductive self-assembly (RSA) strategy for the efficient capture of Co(II) and Ni(II) from high-salinity aqueous solution. The RSA strategy is inexpensive, eco-friendly and easy to scale up. The obtained MFHGs enhanced the dispersity and stability of graphene oxide and exhibited excellent magnetization and large coercivity, leading to satisfactory solid-liquid separation performance and denser sediment. The results of batch removal experiments showed that the maximum removal capacity of MFHGs for Ni(II) and Co(II) was 97.44 and 104.34 mg/g, respectively, in 2 g/L Na2SO4 aqueous solution with a pH of 6.0 at 323 K, and the effects of initial pH and ionic strength on Co(II) and Ni(II) removal were explored. Yield residue analysis indicated that the high porosity and oxygen-containing functional groups of MFHGs remarkably improved their Co(II)- and Ni(II)-removal capacities. According to the analysis, hydroxyl groups and amine groups participated in the chemical reaction of Co(II) and Ni(II) removal, and cation-exchange chemical adsorption was dominant during the Co(II)- and Ni(II)-removal process. Based on the attributes of MFHGs, a continuous-flow recycle reactor (CFRR) was proposed for emergency aqueous solution treatment and exhibited satisfactory removal efficiency and regeneration performance. The combination of MFHGs and the proposed CFRR is a promising water treatment strategy for rapid treatment applications.

Clinical Impact of Coagulation and Fibrinolysis Markers for Predicting Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients.

One common complication after joint arthroplasty is venous thromboembolism (VTE). Therefore, it is essential to measure the changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis in order to predict VTE among patients who underwent joint arthroplasty. This study aimed to identify potential useful biomarkers for prognosing to VTE. This was a prospective cohort study enrolling 83 patients who underwent joint arthroplasty. The levels of d-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin-α2-antiplasmin complex (PIC), soluble thrombomodulin, and tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor complex were measured on day 0 (before surgery) and days 1, 3, and 6 after surgery. Ultrasound examination was used to diagnose VTE on preoperative day 0 and postoperative day 6. A total of 35 patients developed VTE after surgery. Patients with VTE exhibited significantly higher levels of d-dimer and TAT on postoperative days 3 and 6 (all P < .05). The area under curves (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were 0.65 and 0.68 and 0.68 and 0.74 for d-dimer and TAT levels on postoperative days 3 and 6, respectively. The level of TAT/PIC ratio on postoperative day 6 was significantly increased among patients with VTE compared to non-VTE patients (P < .0001). In addition, the AUC of ROC, cutoff level, sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, and negative-predictive value of TAT/PIC ratio were 0.78, 4.03 ng/TU, 97.14%, 33.33%, 51.52%, and 94.12%, respectively. The high sensitivity and negative predictive value of TAT/PIC ratio make it a potential prognostic index for diagnosing VTE during the early phase of postoperative joint arthroplasty.

Iron Robustly Stimulates Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification Under Aerobic Conditions.

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) is a promising single-reactor biological nitrogen-removal method. Activated sludge with and without iron scrap supplementation (Sludge-Fe and Sludge-C, respectively) was acclimated under aerobic condition. The total nitrogen (TN) content of Sludge-Fe substantially decreased from 25.0 ± 1.0 to 11.2 ± 0.4 mg/L, but Sludge-C did not show the TN-removal capacity. Further investigations excluded a chemical reduction of NO3--N by iron and a decrease of NH4+-N by microbial assimilation, and the contribution of SND was verified. Moreover, the amount of aerobic denitrifiers, such as bacteria belonging to the genera Thauera, Thermomonas, Rhodobacter, and Hyphomicrobium, was considerably enhanced, as observed through Miseq Illumina sequencing method. The activities of the key enzymes ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) and nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR), which are associated with nitrification, and periplasmic nitrate reductase (NAP) and nitrite reductase (NIR), which are related to denitrification, in Sludge-Fe were 1.23-, 1.53-, 3.60-, and 1.55-fold higher than those in Sludge-C, respectively. In Sludge-Fe, the quantity of the functional gene NapA encoding enzyme NAP, which is essential for aerobic denitrification, was significantly promoted. The findings indicate that SND is the primary mechanism underlying the removal of TN and that iron scrap can robustly stimulate SND under aerobic environment.

Joint effect of triclosan and copper nanoparticles on wastewater biological nutrient removal.

Triclosan (TCS) is widely used in household and personal care products, and its release into wastewater might have impact on wastewater biological treatment for its antibacterial property. Besides, emerging pollutant such as copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) will also release from nanoparticle-containing products, showing a joint effect with TCS on biological nutrient removal. The TCS of 1 and 10 mg/L inhibited the nitrosification and nitrification stage, and the first step of denitrification was suppressed as well, causing a decline in final TN removal efficiency. Additionally, the phosphorus uptake was inhibited seriously, leading to a remarkable decrease in phosphorus removal efficiency. When they were co-existed, the TCS concentration decreased due to the absorption by CuNPs, and the released Cu2+ from CuNPs increased. Further investigation revealed that when 5 mg/L CuNPs and 1 mg/L TCS were immediately added to the activated sludge, the final joint toxicity was similar to the individual effect of 1 mg/L TCS, while 10 mg/L CuNPs contributed to the final stronger toxicity. When TCS was sufficiently reacted with CuNPs in wastewater, their final toxicity to activated sludge was enhanced because the extent of toxicity relief caused by decrease in TCS concentration was less than the degree of deteriorating effect due to the promotion of Cu2+ release from CuNPs.

[Analysis on the expression of human papillomavirus type 16 E2 and E6 oncogenes and disruption of E2 in cervical cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of expression and early protein E2 and E6 load of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) on cervical cancer in order to explore the relation between disruption of E2 and development of cervical cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted, including 141 cervical cancer patients as cases who had been diagnosed by cytological approaches and histological approaches in Shanxi province Tumor Hospital, China. Two type of controls including 137 hospital controls with hysteromyoma by cytology or histology and eligible 129 controls from 1582 healthy women in the community who took part in community-organized physical examination with neither CIN2-3 nor invasive cancer, nor other gynecologic diseases were recruited. HPV16 E2 and E6 oncogenes were detected by multiple polymerase chain reaction (multi-PCR). The levels of E2 and E6 were analyzed used Bio-1D+ + software provided by VILBER pattern formatter. RESULTS: The positive rates of HPV16 E6 in cancer cases (46.8%) were significantly higher than that in hysteromyoma group (24.1%) or healthy control group (2.3%) and accounted for 2.77 of OR (95% CI: 1.66-4.63) and 36.96 of OR(95% CI: 11.22-121.71) respectively. The expressions and loads of HPV16 E6 and E2 in cases were significantly higher than that in two control groups. Meanwhile, the expression or level of E6 was higher than that of E2 in each group. Disruption rate of E2 was 22.73% and the ratio of E6 to E2 was 1.24 in cervical cancer group. CONCLUSION: The positive rates and levels of HPV16 E6 or E2 found in cervical cancer were higher than that in hysteromyoma and healthy women. High expression of E6 and disruption of E2 might play an important role in the development of HPV-induced cervical cancer.

[Association between endogenous hormones, hormone receptors and cervical cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the levels of estrogen (E2) and progestogen (P), expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and cervical cancer. METHODS: A case-control study with hospital and community controls was employed. The levels of serum estrogen and progesterone were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for 141 cervical cancer cases, 137 uterine myoma patients as controls and 129 health women as controls. ER and PR were measured by immunohistochemistry sABC in cervix tissues from patients with cervical cancer and uterus myoma as well. RESULTS: The levels of estrogen (47.49 ng/mL) and progesterone (2.34 pg/mL) in cases were significantly higher than those in both control groups. The association between estrogen and cervical cancer was significant both before and after menopause-adjusted, with over 89% of attributable risk percentage (ARP), and showed a dose-response relation. Using the lowest value of 2 pg/ml in follicular phase as cut off point for progesterone, there were no statistically significant difference between cases and controls, and neither in progesterone nor in premenopausal. The expressions of ER and PR in cases were lower than those in controls, even after being menopause-adjusted. CONCLUSION: The high level of endogenous estrogen and progestogen might increase the risk of cervical cancer. Compared with progestogen, estrogen showed a higher risk that was not influenced by menopause. In some sense, ER and PR may exert certain protective effect on progressing of cervical carcinogenesis.