In vitro assessment of cytotoxicity of spent fluid catalytic cracking refinery catalysts on cell lines and identification of critical toxic metals.

The Purpose of the present study was to quantify the responses of ten cell lines (HeLa, HepG2, HEK293, MDA-MB-231, A498, A549, A357, 3 T3, BALB-C3 T3, and NIH-3 T3) to spent fluid catalytic cracking catalysts (SFCCCs) from different petroleum refineries, and relate these responses to metal concentrations of SFCCC leachates (SFCCCLs). Cytotoxicity of SFCCCs were significantly different depending on cell lines. A357 and 3 T3 cell were the most sensitive, and A498 and HeLa cells were the least sensitive. HEK293 cells showed the least fluctuation in toxic response to different SFCCCLs among all cells. Cytotoxic IC50 values of SFCCCs to 7 kinds of cells were the most correlated with vanadium (V) concentration in SFCCCLs. V is the most critical toxic factor of SFCCC. Glutathione synthesis was induced in HepG2 cells exposed to higher concentrations of SFCCCLs. SFCCCLs with low concentration of V can induce the decrease of GSH/GSSG ratio in HepG2 cells, suggesting that high concentration of V inhibits the detoxification of glutathione.

Perfect pair, scopes unite - laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical gastroscopy for gallbladder-preserving polypectomy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder polyps are one indication for cholecystectomy, but this procedure carries some disadvantages, including the potential for severe injury and high risk of post-operative complications. Laparoscopy combined with endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive treatment option. We herein report a young patient with a gallbladder polyp who was successfully discharged from the hospital after laparoscopic-assisted endoscopy. This procedure may offer an alternative in the management of such lesions. CASE SUMMARY: A 24-year-old female patient was hospitalized primarily for a gallbladder polyp. Due to the surgical risk associated with cholecystectomy and the low post-operative quality of life, the woman underwent laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical gastroscopy for gallbladder-preserving polypectomy under endotracheal intubation and general anaesthesia. The operation went smoothly. CONCLUSION: We conclude laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical gastroscopy for gallbladder-preserving polypectomy is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of gallbladder polyps.

Powdery Mildew of tall verbena Caused by Podosphaera xanthii in China.

Tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is widely used in landscape layout in sparse forests, botanical gardens and villa areas, and it is also a kind of Chinese herbal medicine. The flower and bud use as Chinese herbal medicine causing heat-clearing and detoxification. In August 2019, observed on tall verbena in Shangqiu, Henan Province, China. Symptoms white fungal growth observed on both sides of fresh and mature leaves of tall verbena grown on campus at Shangqiu Normal University. More than 60% plants were infected by this fungus and infected plants were observed to shed leaves early. One representative voucher specimen was deposited at the herbarium of Shangqiu Normal University (SQNU), Shangqiu, China, under the accession number of Vb01. Conidiophores of the fungus contained 5-6cells and measured 102.0-142.9µm (mean 126.2µm, n = 30) long, with foot-cells of conidiophores measured 36.5-46.9µm (mean 42.9µm, n = 30). Conidia produced in chains were variable in shape, ellipsoid to ovoid, and measured 24.8-30.7×12.0-17.9 µm (mean 27.35×15.08µm, n = 50), with a length/width ratio of 1.4 to 2.3. Fibrosin bodies were observed in the conidia. No chasmothecia were found. The morphological characteristics were consistent with the genus Podosphaera. To identify above powdery mildew fungus at species level using molecular markers, the complete ITS region of rDNA from the representative specimen was amplified with universal primer pair ITS1/ITS4 and directly sequenced. The resulting sequence of 567 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. MT864007). A BLAST search of this sequence showed more than 99% sequence identity with P. xanthii isolates (AB046985, AB462804, AB936277 and KM260741) on various hosts (Hirata T, 2000; Meeboon, J., and Takamatsu, S. 2015; Tam L. T. T. 2016). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ITS sequence from Vb01 isolate was grouped into a clade with P. xanthii s. lat.. A pathogenicity test was conducted through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto five healthy leaves of a potted tall verbena. Five non-inoculated seedlings were used as controls. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 26 to 28 ℃, and relative humidity of 60 to 65%. Inoculated leaves developed symptoms after nine days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus presented on the inoculated plant was morphologically identical to that originally observed on diseased plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. P. xanthii s. lat. has been reported on several hosts in China (Braun & Cook, 2012). This is the first report of P. xanthii s. lat. on Verbena bonariensis outside of Japan (Meboon, 2015).

[Emissions of greenhouse gas and ammonia from the full process of sewage sludge composting and land application of compost].

There is a great uncertainty of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and nitrogen conservation from the full process of sludge composting and land application of compost in China due to the lack of emission data of GHG such as N2O and CH4 and ammonia (NH3). The purpose of this study is to get emission characteristics of GHGs and NH3 from the full process with on-site observation. Results showed that the total GHG emission factor from full process of the turning windrow (TW) system (eCO2/dry sludge, 196.21 kg x t(-1)) was 1.61 times higher of that from the ATP system. Among the full process, N2O was mostly from the land application of compost, whereas CH4 mainly resulted from the sludge composting. In the sludge composting of ATP, the GHG emission equivalence of the ATP (eCO2/dry sludge, 12.47 kg x t(-1) was much lower than that of the TW (eCO2/dry sludge, 86.84 kg x t(-1)). The total NH3 emission factor of the TW (NH3/dry sludge, 6.86 kg x t(-1)) was slightly higher than that of the ATP (NH3/dry sludge, 6.63 kg x t(-1)). NH3 was the major contributor of nitrogen loss in the full process. During the composting, the nitrogen loss as NH3 from both TW and ATP was nearly the same as 30% of TN loss from raw materials, and the N and C loss caused by N2O and CH4 were negligible. These results clearly showed that the ATP was a kind of environmentally friendly composting technology.