[Effects of Land Use Types on Water Quality at Different Buffer Scales: Tianjin Section of the Haihe River Basin as an Example].

It is important to explore the relationship between land use types and water quality to improve the surface water environment. Based on monthly water quality monitoring data from 16 nationally controlled surface water quality monitoring stations in Tianjin and land use data in 2021, GIS spatial analysis and mathematical and statistical methods were used to study the influence of land use types on surface water quality in buffer zones at different scales. The results showed that:① the land use types in the study area were mainly construction land, farmland, and water areas, which had significant effects on river water quality. Except for water temperature (WT) and pH, the farmland, construction land, and water areas were negatively correlated with each water quality indicator; forest land and grassland were positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) and total nitrogen (TN) and negatively correlated with other water quality indicators. ② The water quality indicators showed obvious spatial differences in different seasons. The pH, DO and TN concentrations were higher in the dry season, whereas the permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were higher in the rainy season. ③ The results of the RDA analysis showed that the 800 m buffer zone land use had the greatest explanatory power for water quality changes in the dry season (50.4%), whereas the 3 000 m buffer zone land use could explain the water quality changes in the rainy season to the greatest extent (49.6%); from the average explanation rate of the dry and rainy seasons, the 3 000 m buffer zone was the best impact scale (50.0%) on water quality indicators in Tianjin. ④ The partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis showed that the most important variables affecting surface water quality changes were construction land, farmland, and water areas. The predictive ability of the PLSR model of most water quality indicators was stronger in the dry season than that in the rainy season. In the dry season, all water quality indicators, except WT and pH, were most influenced by farmland. In the rainy season, construction land had the greatest influence on WT and NH4+-N concentrations, and the most important influencing factor for the remaining water quality indicators was still farmland. This study showed that the rational planning of land use types within 3 000 m of rivers or lakes was beneficial to improving the water quality of surface water.

Incidence and predictors of abdominal pain after transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence and predictive factors of abdominal pain following transarterial hepatic chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, abdominal pain was defined as a score of 4 or more within 72 h after TACE and requiring additional drug intervention. Patient, tumor characteristics, and technical factors associated with severe pain were identified using the decision tree and binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of 220 patients who were included in the study, 126 (57.3%) had abdominal pain after 206 of 420 TACE procedures (49.0%). A predictive model built based on the logistic regression identified the drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) (odds ratio [OR] = 3.340; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.169-5.141), the number of tumors (OR = 2.235; 95% CI 1.060-4.713), embolization of both hepatic lobes (OR = 2.310; 95% CI 1.109-4.813), and concomitant extrahepatic artery embolism (OR = 2.654; 95% CI 1.227-5.739) as the independent predictors of severe abdominal pain. Similarly, the decision tree confirmed the DEB-TACE as the strongest predictor of subsequent performance, followed by the history of hepatectomy and the embolization in the right or both lobes. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the classification prediction effect of the two models was 0.706 for the logistic regression and 0.676 for the decision tree. Internal validation results show that the accuracy of logistic regression model prediction was 71.4%. CONCLUSION: The model suggests that DEB-TACE and multiple treatment sites are predictors of abdominal pain after TACE in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. It may help improve nursing management practices.

[Analysis and evaluation on Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and HPLC].

In this study, an established ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was combined with multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the commonality and difference of main chemical components in the medicinal parts of Paeonia lactiflora from different cultivars; in addition, a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was established to simultaneously determine the content of eight active components in Paeoniae Radix Alba. Non-targeted analysis was carried out by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous formic acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃, and an electrospray ionization source was used to acquire mass spectrometry data in positive and negative ion modes. According to the accurate molecular weight and fragment ion information provided by multi-stage mass spectrometry and by comparison with reference substances and literature reports, thirty-six identical components were identified in Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars with positive and negative ion modes. In the negative ion mode, two groups of samples were well separated; specifically, seventeen components with significant differences in content were screened and identified, and one component unique in "Bobaishao" was obtained. Quantitative analysis was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) on an Agilent HC-C_(18)(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 µm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was at 230 nm. An HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight active components(gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin, 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose, benzoyl-paeoniflorin) in Paeoniae Radix Albaa from different cultivars. Satisfactory linearity was achieved within the investigated linear ranges and with fine coefficients(r>0.999 0), and the methodological investigation showed that the method had good precision, repeatability and stability. The mean recoveries were 90.61% to 101.7% with RSD of 0.12% to 3.6%(n=6). UPLC-Q-OF-MS provided a rapid and efficient qualitative analytical method for the identification of the chemical components in Paeoniae Radix Alba, and the developed HPLC method was simple, rapid and accurate, which could provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of the germplasm resources and herbal quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars.

[Diagnosis and treatment of human monkeypox]. / 人感染猴痘的诊断和治疗.

The guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox (2022 edition) issued by National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China introduces the key knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of human monkeypox (HMPX) and does not systematically introduce the sampling methods and requirements of specimens for HMPX etiology testing and the discrepancy in diagnostic criteria between China and overseas. However, the doctors who are not engaged in dermatology lack understanding of the sampling methods and requirements of specimens for laboratory diagnosis of HMPX, and there are few relevant references available. This article collects the information on the diagnosis and treatment of HMPX, so as to provide a reference for learning, understanding, and application of this guideline.

[Accumulation and Transport Characteristics of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As in Different Maize Varieties].

The enrichment and translocation characteristics of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As by various parts of maize plants were investigated using field experiments in 22 maize varieties simultaneously under uncontaminated, low, middle, and serious heavy metal Cd, Pb, Zn, and As complex-contaminated farmland soil conditions. The relationship between the uptake of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As by maize plants and the morphological content of heavy metals in the soil was also discussed through principal component analysis and correlation analysis of the concentrations of eight heavy metals, including Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The results showed that:① the distribution pattern of Cd and Zn contents in different parts of the maize plant was as follows:upper stalk>lower stalk>root>seed, the distribution pattern of Pb was As follows:root>lower stalk>upper stalk>seed, and the As distribution pattern was:root>upper stalk>lower stalk>seed. The different distribution patterns were closely related to the accumulation characteristics of the crop itself and the environmental activity of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As in the soil of the study area. ② There were significant differences in Cd and Pb accumulation among 22 maize cultivars due to their genetic background (P<0.05), which showed four trends:Cd and Pb compound high-accumulation varieties, single Cd or Pb low-accumulation varieties (low Cd and high Pb, low Pb and high Cd), and Cd and Pb compound low-accumulation varieties. Among them, the content of Cd in the grain of the three varieties exceeded the national food safety standard, and the content of Cd in the stem and leaf of 14 varieties exceeded the national food health standard. The Pb content in stems, leaves, and grains of all cultivars did not exceed the standard, but the Pb content in grains of some cultivars was close to the limit and had the risk of exceeding the standard. The content of As in the stem, leaf, and grain of different maize varieties was much lower than the standard limit value, showing a stable low-accumulation characteristic. The content of Zn in the stem and leaf of different maize varieties increased with the increase in the content of Zn in soil, but the content of Zn in grain remained within the threshold of normal plant growth. ③ Cd, Pb, Zn, and As in maize plants in the study area had a certain homology and were mainly affected by the excessive levels of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As pollutants in the soil. This showed that anthropogenic sources were brought about by mine extraction and tailings stockpiles, whereas Cu elements in maize plants were affected by certain anthropogenic pollution sources, though to a limited extent. Hg, Ni, and Cr in maize plants had a certain homology; this showed the natural source of soil parent material and weathering product accumulation. ④ The contents of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As elements in various parts of the corn plant, as well as the contents of Cr and Ni elements all had a very significant positive correlation (P<0.01). The transport mechanisms of Cd, Pb, Zn, and As elements in the plant may have a common. However, there was a synergistic effect in the migration from the root of the corn to the upper part of the ground, and the same was true for the elements of Cr and Ni. The elements of Hg and Cd, Pb, Zn, and As in the corn stems and leaves and Hg and Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn in grains all showed certain antagonistic effects. ⑤ The comparison method simultaneously satisfied the following requirements:the contents of Cd, Pb, and As in stems and leaves did not exceed the national food hygiene standards, and the contents of Cd, Pb, and As in the grains did not exceed the national food safety standards. The cluster analysis of Cd, Pb, and As in grains was a low-accumulation group, and the enrichment and transport coefficients of Cd, Pb, and As in the stems and leaves and grains were low as the optimal conditions. C18 (Xianyu 335) could be selected as the optimal maize variety with low accumulation of Cd, Pb, and As and normal Zn content in grain, which is suitable for promoting and applying in the heavy metal complex-polluted farmland around industrial and mining enterprises in north China.

[Synergistic Repair Effect of Calcite-Based Passivator and Low-Accumulation Maize].

In this study, a field experiment of soil passivation and low accumulation-crops was carried out for typical northern alkaline cadmium and lead compound-polluted farmland soil. Calcite was used as the main passivation material, and a small amount of slaked lime, zeolite powder, and biochar were combined to form a group passivation agent. The effects of passivators on soil physicochemical properties, bioavailability of the heavy metals Cd and Pb, and the yield and plant (stalk and seed) content of heavy metals Cd and Pb in low-accumulation maize were investigated under different grouping conditions of calcite+slaked lime (CL), calcite+zeolite (CZ), calcite+biochar (CB), and calcite+slaked lime+zeolite+biochar (CLZB). The results showed that:① all applications of passivating agent ensured the normal growth of maize and slightly increased the 1000 grain weight and maize yield. ② The effects of different calcite-based passivators on soil physical and chemical properties were different. The CL, CZ, CB, and CLZB treatments increased soil pH by 0.46, 0.25, 0.12, and 0.13 units, respectively, but had no significant correlation with soil fertility index (P>0.05). ③ DTPA leaching and ion exchange state contents of Cd and Pb in soil could be significantly reduced by different calcite-based combinations with passivators, and the reduction rates of Cd and Pb in DTPA leaching were 49.36% and 72.55%, respectively. The reduction rates of ion exchange Cd and Pb contents were 55.39% and 78.52%, respectively. ④ The contents of Cd and Pb in stems, leaves, and grains of low-accumulation maize were further reduced by different passivating agents. The contents of Cd and Pb in the stems and leaves of maize were reduced by 45.93% and 67.00% after CLZB treatment, and the contents of Cd and Pb in grains were decreased by 25.17% and 46.62%, respectively. Moreover, the contents of Cd and Pb in DTPA extraction and ion exchange states were significantly positively correlated with the contents of Cd and Pb in corn stems, leaves, and grains (P<0.01). The results showed that the combined use of combination passivators and low-accumulation crop varieties can obtain better restoration effects in the remediation of cadmium and lead combined-polluted farmland in the middle alkaline soil in northern China.

[Cadmium Accumulation Characteristics of Different Heat Varieties Under Cadmium Stress].

In order to provide technical support for the safe utilization of heavy metal-polluted farmland, we screened wheat varieties with a low accumulation of Cd in grain via a pot experiment. For this purpose, we respectively investigated the enrichment and transport characteristics of Cd in various plant parts of 119 wheat varieties under the conditions of 1.5 mg·kg-1 (low content) and 4.0 mg·kg-1 (high content) Cd-contaminated soil and explored the correlation between the Cd content of different organs of wheat and the relationship between Cd content in soil and the uptake of Cd by wheat. The results showed that:① there were significant differences in the ability to accumulate and transport Cd in roots, stems, leaves, and grains of tested wheat varieties (P<0.05). Under the condition of low Cd content, the Cd enrichment ability of each part of the wheat plant was as follows:leaf>stem ≈root>grain; under high-content stress conditions, the Cd enrichment ability of each part of the wheat plant was:leaf>root>stem>grain; under different content conditions, the Cd transport ability of each part of the wheat plant was:leaf>stem>grain. Cd content in the wheat shoot was positively correlated with total Cd content and ion-exchangeable Cd content in soil (P<0.01) and was closely related to strong transpiration under the pot experiment. ② The correlation coefficient r of BCFCd of wheat roots, stems, leaves, and grain was -0.267 to -0.645, showing a very significant negative correlation (P<0.01), indicating that with the increase in soil Cd content, the migration and accumulation degree of Cd in wheat plant organs showed a downward trend. Moreover, the negative correlation between BCFCd and soil Cd content in stems was significantly higher than that in roots, leaves, and grains, indicating that the enrichment of Cd in wheat plants largely depended on the accumulation and transportation of stems. ③ The correlation coefficient r of Cd content between the root and stem, root and leaf, root and grain, stem and leaf, stem and grain, and leaf and grain in low-and high-content groups was 0.450-0.763, showing a very significant positive correlation (P<0.01), indicating that there was a close transport relationship among the wheat organs, and the degree of translocation from the root to stem and stem to leaf was higher than that from the stem to grain and leaf to grain. ④ Using cluster analysis and enrichment and translocation coefficient sequencing, this study screened 16 and 11 wheat varieties with low Cd accumulation under the soil cadmium content of 1.5 mg·kg-1and 4.0 mg·kg-1, respectively. Among them, Luohan 7 could be used as the optimal wheat variety with low Cd accumulation under the conditions of low-, medium-, and high-Cd content.

Neuroprotective Effects of Lycium barbarum Berry on Neurobehavioral Changes and Neuronal Loss in the Hippocampus of Mice Exposed to Acute Ionizing Radiation.

Background: Brain exposure to ionizing radiation during the radiotherapy of brain tumor or metastasis of peripheral cancer cells to the brain has resulted in cognitive dysfunction by reducing neurogenesis in hippocampus. The water extract of Lycium barbarum berry (Lyc), containing water-soluble Lycium barbarum polysaccharides and flavonoids, can protect the neuronal injury by reducing oxidative stress and suppressing neuroinflammation. Reseach Design: To demonstrate the long-term radioprotective effect of Lyc, we evaluated the neurobehavioral alterations and the numbers of NeuN, calbindin (CB), and parvalbumin (PV) immunopositive hippocampal neurons in BALB/c mice after acute 5.5 Gy radiation with/without oral administration of Lyc at the dosage of 10 g/kg daily for 4 weeks. Results: The results showed that Lyc could improve irradiation-induced animal weight loss, depressive behaviors, spatial memory impairment, and hippocampal neuron loss. Immunohistochemistry study demonstrated that the loss of NeuN-immunopositive neuron in the hilus of the dentate gyrus, CB-immunopositive neuron in CA1 strata radiatum, lacunosum moleculare and oriens, and PV-positive neuron in CA1 stratum pyramidum and stratum granulosum of the dentate gyrus after irradiation were significantly improved by Lyc treatment. Conclusion: The neuroprotective effect of Lyc on those hippocampal neurons may benefit the configuration of learning related neuronal networks and then improve radiation induced neurobehavioral changes such as cognitive impairment and depression. It suggests that Lycium barbarum berry may be an alternative food supplement to prevent radiation-induced neuron loss and neuropsychological disorders.

Epidemiology of non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae before and after universal administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

The universal administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) had been demonstrated as an effective way to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. However, the immunity induced by PCVs protected against the infections caused by vaccine serotypes, which were usually more frequent than non-vaccine serotypes (NVTs). The prevalence and pathogenicity of NVTs after universal vaccination have caused widespread concern. We reviewed the epidemiology of non-PCV13 S. pneumoniae before and after PCV13 introduction, and explored the potential reasons for the spread of NVTs. Emerging and spreading NVTs can be regarded as the focus for future serotype epidemiological survey and vaccine optimization.AbbreviationsIPD: invasive pneumococcal disease PCV: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines VT: vaccine serotypeNVT: non-vaccine serotype.

One cross-sectional investigation revealed that non-vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae could be identified more frequently in elderly Chinese people.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the serotype distribution and drug resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients of all ages in Zhongjiang county, Sichuan province, where the young children have just begun to vaccinate the PCV13 in private sector. METHODS: Serotypes were determined for 387 isolates of S. pneumoniae by Quellung reaction. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested with the E-test or disc diffusion method. RESULTS: The most common serotypes were type 19F and confirmed for 88 isolates (22.7%), followed by 19A (15.0%), 6B (7.8%), 16F (7.8%), 23F (7.0%) and 15A (4.4%). The coverage rates of PCV13 and PPSV23 were 63.3% and 65.1%. With the increase of age, the proportion of PCV13 types decreased significantly, from 71.3% (<2 years old) to 41.9% (≥60 years old). The intermediate rate and resistance rate of the isolates to oral penicillin were 48.6% and 45.2%, respectively. The resistance rate of erythromycin was high (94.4%). The PCV13 isolates was more resistant to penicillin than the non-PCV13 ones. CONCLUSION: The PCV13 coverage rate in pediatric isolates was higher than those in adult isolates. The adults, especially the elderly, may be the reservoir of non-PCV13 types. It is necessary to investigate the serotype distribution of S. pneumoniae based on all age population to assess potential epidemics of non-vaccine serotype associated with PCVs administration.

p-Terphenyls and actinomycins from a Streptomyces sp. associated with the larva of mud dauber wasp.

In the course of searching for cytotoxic metabolites from insects associated actinomyces, two new natural p-terphenyl glycosides, strepantibin D (1) and strepantibin E (2), along with terferol (3), actinomycin D (4), actinomycin V (5) and actinomycin V0ß (6), were identified from the fermentation medium of a Streptomyces sp. which was obtained from the larva body of mud dauber wasp. Strepantibin D (1), previously reported as a synthetic derivative of terfestatin A, is firstly isolated as a natural p-terphenyl in this research. Strepantibin D (1) and terferol (3) showed medium cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and BT-474. Actinomycins (4-6), especially actinomycin V (5), displayed remarkable cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 0.83 nM to 369.90 nM.

The effects and mechanisms of a biosynthetic ginsenoside 3ß,12ß-Di-O-Glc-PPD on non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: A biosynthetic ginsenoside, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-12-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-dammar-24-ene-3ß, 12ß, 20S-triol (C3C12PPD), showed antitumor activity against many tumor cells in vitro, especially had better anti-lung cancer activity than Rg3 in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of C3C12PPD on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. According to previous studies, we hypothesized ginsenoside C3C12PPD could inhibit the tumor growth of NSCLC by targeting proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. METHODS: A thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) was performed to evaluate cell viability. Additionally, Transwell and tube formation assays were conducted to analyze cell migration and angiogenesis. The Lewis and A549 tumor xenograft experiments were also performed to investigate the effects of C3C12PPD on tumor growth in vivo, Western blotting and IHC assay were performed to analyze protein expression. RESULTS: C3C12PPD could effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells, and tube formation of EA.hy926 cell. Ginsenoside C3C12PPD suppressed Lewis and A549 tumor growth in vivo without obvious side effects on body weight and the hematology index. In addition, the Western blot analysis revealed that the effects of C3C12PPD on lung cancer were mediated by inhibiting Raf/MEK/ERK, AKT/mTOR and AKT/GSK-3ß/ß-Catenin signaling pathways. Finally, C3C12PPD could significantly inhibit the proliferation index and vessel number in Lewis xenograft tumors analyzed by IHC. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that ginsenoside C3C12PPD may serve as a potential therapeutic candidate compound against NSCLC.

Cytotoxic, Anti-Migration, and Anti-Invasion Activities on Breast Cancer Cells of Angucycline Glycosides Isolated from a Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp.

Four angucycline glycosides were previously characterized from marine-derived Streptomyces sp. OC1610.4. Further investigation of this strain cultured on different fermentation media from that used previously resulted in the isolation of two new angucycline glycosides, vineomycins E and F (1-2), and five known homologues, grincamycin L (3), vineomycinone B2 (4), fridamycin D (5), moromycin B (7), and saquayamycin B1 (8). Vineomycin F (2) contains an unusual ring-cleavage deoxy sugar. All the angucycline glycosides isolated from Streptomyces sp. OC1610.4 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and BT-474. Moromycin B (7), saquayamycin B1 (8), and saquayamycin B (9) displayed potent anti-proliferation against the tested cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 0.16 to 0.67 µM. Saquayamycin B (9) inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as detected by Transwell and wound-healing assays.

[Comparative Observation on Electroacupuncture and Manual Acupuncture in Rabbits with Facial Nerve Injury by Electron Microscope].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) on ultrastructure of facial nerve Schwann cells, myelin sheath and mitochondria in facial nerve injury rabbits, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving facial palsy. METHODS: A total of 50 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal, sham-operation, model, MA and EA groups (n=10 in each group). Facial nerve injury model was made by clamping the facial nerve for 5 min using a pair of forceps. Manual needle stimulation (mild reinforcing-reducing) or EA (continuous wave, 20 Hz) was applied to "Dicang" (ST 4), "Xiaguan" (ST 7), "Taiyang" (EX-HN 5) and "Yangbai" (GB 14) on the injured sides for 4 weeks, 30 min each day. The facial nerve motion score was performed every 7 days. The ultrastructure of facial nerve was observed by electron microscope after 28 days' treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in behavioral score and ultrastructure in normal and sham-operation groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, facial nerve motion scores, ultrastructural morphological changes and the number of axons per unit area, myelin sheath thickness and axon area were worse in the model group (P<0.05). After treatment, facial nerve motion scores, ultrastructural morphological changes and the number of axons per unit area, myelin sheath thickness and axon area in the two treatment groups were better than those in the model group (P<0.05), and EA worked better than MA (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of facial nerve injury, EA can promote axoplasmic mitochondrial proliferation, myelin sheath recovery and axonal regeneration more effectively than MA, which may be one of the mechanisms that EA therapy is superior to MA.

[Effect of the Flow Patterns of Main-stream Reactors on the Efficiency of Nitrification Enhancement with Bioaugmentation].

A nitrifying sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) were operated at 15℃ under the same conditions to investigate the effect of two typical flow patterns (plug flow and complete mixing) on the efficiency of nitrification enhancement. The results show that, during bioaugmentation, the ammonia utilized rate(AUR)and nitrite utilized rate(NUR)in the SBR were 2.34 and 2.39 times of that before bioaugmentation, and after bioaugmentation ceased, the AUR and NUR slightly decreased to 2.01 and 1.78 times of that before bioaugmentation. Meanwhile, the AUR and NUR in the CSTR were 2.63 and 2.44 times that before bioaugmentation, and after bioaugmentation ceased, the AUR and NUR decreased to 1.48 and 1.31 times that before bioaugmentation. Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) results showed that during bioaugmentation, the ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in the SBR were 2.67 and 2.71 times of that before bioaugmentation, and after bioaugmentation ceased, the AUR and NUR slightly decreased to 2.14 and 1.95 times that before bioaugmentation. Meanwhile, the AUR and NUR in the CSTR were 2.91 and 1.77 times of that before bioaugmentation, and after bioaugmentation ceased, the AUR and NUR decreased to 1.25 and 1.50 times of that before bioaugmentation. Therefore, the efficiency of nitrification enhancement was similar between the two types of flow patterns during bioaugmentation, but the seeded nitrifiers were much more vulnerable to wash out in the CSTR than that in the SBR due to r/K selectivity of the flow patterns.

[Community Structure and Activity Analysis of the Nitrifiers in Raw Sewage of Wastewater Treatment Plants].

The communities and activity of nitrifiers collected from the raw sewage of the 2nd and 3rd wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Xi'an were investigated. FISH results indicated that the (AOB+NOB)/EUB percentages were (5.35±2.1)% and(6.0±2.8)% in the 2nd and 3rd WWTP, respectively. The dominant AOB was Nitrosomonas europaea/Nitrosococcus mobilis lineage and the dominant NOB was Nitrospira, the sub-dominant NOB was Nitrobacter, and coexisted with Nitrococcus, Nitrospina. Respirometric assays showed that the influent nitrifiers were active following a 2-16 hour period of metabolic induction. The ammonium utilized rate was (0.32±0.12) mg·(L·h)-1 and (0.43±0.17) mg·(L·h)-1, nitrite utilized rate was (0.71±0.18) mg·(L·h)-1 and (0.58±0.27) mg·(L·h)-1 for nitrifers in raw sewage fed to the 2nd and 3rd WWTP, respectively. Therefore, nitrifiers were present and active in the raw sewage, and played the role of natural continuous seeding in the activated sludge system. Based on the nitrification activity, the estimated continuous seeding intensity of AOB and NOB was 0.08-0.09 g·(g·d)-1 and 0.11-0.24 g·(g·d)-1, respectively.

Combination of 5-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and tamoxifen show cell-type specific antagonistic and cooperative effects on cytotoxicity in human mammary carcinoma cells.

The effect of tamoxifen (Tam) and 5-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5-DFUR) cotreatment on cytotoxicity was assessed in various cancer-derived cell lines. Each cell line was treated with a range of Tam and 5-DFUR concentrations alone and in combination. The cell lines we examined include MDA-MB-231 (ERalpha-/ERbeta+), T47D (ERalpha+/ERbeta+), and three MCF-7 (ERalpha+/ERbeta+) sublines. Cell growth was assessed by MTT assay at multiple time points for up to 9 days. Fluorescence-associated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was used to examine the effects of Tam and 5-DFUR cotreatment on cell cycle progression. Treatment with Tam or 5-DFUR, which is metabolized to 5-FU in target cells, produced an anti-proliferative effect that was dose- and time-dependent in all cell lines examined; variation in cell line sensitivity to each compound and cotreatment was apparent. When 5-DFUR and Tam treatment were combined, T47D, MDA-MB-231, and an MCF-7 subline demonstrated a cooperative effect at the lowest Tam concentration tested in 9-day cultures. The significance of treatment dosage and duration was obvious when 5-DFUR and Tam cotreatment was observed to be antagonistic in 3-day cultures of a second MCF-7 subline and T47D cells. Results from our studies show that there may be cytotoxic benefits in the treatment of cancer from combined therapy with Tam and 5-FU precursor drugs. Enhanced inhibition of proliferation was observed when Tam was cotreated at low concentrations in relatively long-term cultures. This has clinical relevance in that it suggests that patients undergoing chemo-endocrine therapy with orally administered 5-FU precursor drugs may benefit from lower treatment dosages relative to other adjuvant therapies.

Novel perspective: focusing on the X chromosome in reproductive cancers.

In an XX female, one of the two X chromosomes has been inactivated during early embryonic life to achieve a compensation of X-linked gene products between males and females, leaving only one allele of X-linked genes functional. There are some X-linked genes escaping the X-inactivation, i.e., being expressed from both alleles. Escape from X-inactivation varies at different levels; some genes have both alleles active in some women but only one allele active in others, whereas some other genes have both alleles active in neoplastic tissue but only one allele active normally. The X-inactivation may be considered functionally equivalent to a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for some genes, whereas escape from X-inactivation may be equivalent to functional gene amplification for others. The physiological LOH may make X-linked tumor suppressor genes lose their function more easily, compared with autosomal tumor suppressor genes, thus predisposing women to cancer formation more easily. Moreover, the human X chromosome contains many genes related to cancer or to sex and reproduction. All these properties of the X chromosome suggest that it may play more important roles than any autosomal chromosome in the development and progression of reproductive and urologic cancers.