Intergenerational toxic effects of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride and 1-dodecylpyridinium chloride on the water flea, Moina macrocopa.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are generally considered eco-friendly alternatives to conventional industrial solvents, but they are hard to degrade and easily accumulate in the environment. Therefore, their long-term toxicities are especially vital to estimate their potential risk. However, the chronic toxicities of ILs over generations lacked intensive investigation. In the present work, acute toxicity and chronic toxicity of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride ([Omim]Cl) and 1-dodecylpyridinium chloride ([DPy]Cl) were studied on Moina macrocopa with the first exposed generation (F0) and two successive recovery generation (F1 to F2). The acute results showed that both [Omim]Cl and [DPy]Cl exhibited high toxicity to M. macrocopa. The chronic results indicated that the exposure of [Omim]Cl and [DPy]Cl could inhibit the survivorship, body length, and reproduction of M. macrocopa and exhibited a significant dose-related decrease. Furthermore, these two types of ILs presented intergenerational toxicity in the water flea. And the toxic effects of [Omim]Cl disappeared in the recovery tests of F2 generation, while the [DPy]Cl toxic effects continued. Our research suggested a potential risk for the aquatic ecosystem induced by ILs. And the damage done by these chemicals to the aquatic environment is worthy of attention.

Growth, Reproduction, and Transgenerational Effects of Kinoprene on Moina macrocopa.

Juvenile hormone analogues (JHAs) are a kind of effective insecticide. These compounds have relatively low toxicity for fish, birds, and mammals, so they are increasingly used in insect pest control. However, JHAs may cause various adverse effects in crustaceans as in insects, because they have a close evolutionary relationship and possess similar juvenile hormone systems. To date, the chronic toxicities of JHAs over generations lacked intensive investigation. The present study evaluated the acute, chronic, and transgenerational effects of a terpenoid JHA, kinoprene, using the water flea Moina macrocopa. The result of acute exposure shows that kinoprene exhibited high toxicity to M. macrocopa. The chronic results indicate that kinoprene inhibited the survivorship, development, and reproduction of the organism. Moreover, the adverse effects induced by kinoprene continued in the F2 generation with no direct exposure but recovered in the F3 generation.

Chronic and intergenerational toxic effects of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate on the water flea, Moina macrocopa.

With the increasing use and production of "green solvents" ionic liquids (ILs) and their known stability in the environment, the potential adverse effects of ILs have become a focus of research. In the present study, acute, chronic, and intergenerational toxic effects of an imidazolium-based ionic liquid, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Demim]PF6), on Moina macrocopa were investigated following the parental exposure. The results showed that [Demim]PF6 exhibited high toxicity to M. macrocopa, and the long-term exposure significantly inhibited the survivorship, development, and reproduction of the water flea. Furthermore, it is also observed that [Demim]PF6 induced toxic effects in the following generation of M. macrocopa, resulting in the complete cessation of reproduction in the first offspring generation, and the growth of the organisms was also significantly affected. These findings provided a novel insight into the intergenerational toxicity induced by ILs to crustaceans and suggested that these compounds pose potential risks to the aquatic ecosystem.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for complex mediastinal mature teratoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal mature teratoma is the most common histological type of primary extragonadal germ cell tumor. In this report, we describe a rare case of giant mature teratoma located primarily in the anterior mediastinum and causing partial atelectasis of the upper and middle lobes of the right lung, as well as extrinsic compression of the right atrium. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old male with a giant mediastinal mature teratoma presented with progressive exertional dyspnea and chest pain for 1 mo. Computed tomography of the chest indicated the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal teratoma. The patient underwent right uniportal anterior approach video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). En bloc resection of the giant teratoma, wedge resection of the upper and middle lobes of the right lung, resection of the thymus and partial excision of the pericardium were successfully performed. The pathological diagnosis revealed a mature cystic teratoma with foreign-body reaction that was closely related to the right lung, atrium dextrum, superior vena cava and ascending aorta. An atrophic thymic tissue was also discovered at the external teratoma surface. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the use of uniportal VATS for complete resection of a teratoma in combination with wedge resection of the right upper and middle lung lobes and partial resection of the pericardium.

Multi-omic approach provides insights into osmoregulation and osmoconformation of the crab Scylla paramamosain.

Osmoregulation and osmoconformation are two mechanisms through which aquatic animals adapt to salinity fluctuations. The euryhaline crab Scylla paramamosain, being both an osmoconformer and osmoregulator, is an excellent model organism to investigate salinity adaptation mechanisms in brachyurans. In the present study, we used transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to investigate the response of S. paramamosain to salinity stress. Crabs were transferred from a salinity of 25 ppt to salinities of 5 ppt or 33 ppt for 6 h and 10 days. Data from both approaches revealed that exposure to 5 ppt resulted in upregulation of ion transport and energy metabolism associated genes. Notably, acclimation to low salinity was associated with early changes in gene expression for signal transduction and stress response. In contrast, exposure to 33 ppt resulted in upregulation of genes related to amino acid metabolism, and amino acid transport genes were upregulated only at the early stage of acclimation to this salinity. Our study reveals contrasting mechanisms underlying osmoregulation and osmoconformation within the salinity range of 5-33 ppt in the mud crab, and provides novel candidate genes for osmotic signal transduction, thereby providing insights on understanding the salinity adaptation mechanisms of brachyuran crabs.

Whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) study of the ZFL zebrafish liver cell line after acute exposure to Cd2+ ions.

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential metal with no known biological function and a broad range of toxic effects in biological systems. We used whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to study the effects of Cd2+ toxicity in zebrafish liver cells, ZFL. The results of an RNA-Seq analysis of ZFL cells exposed to 5, 10 or 20 µM Cd2+ for 4- or 24-h. The differentially expressed genes affected by Cd2+ were analyzed by using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis to study the regulated pathways. Cd2+ regulated the expression of genes associated with cellular Cu, Zn, and Fe homeostasis, DNA replication leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and glutathione metabolism. Cd2+ boosted up the amino acid synthesis, possibly to support the glutathione metabolism for tackling the oxidative stress generated from Cd2+. Cd2+ stimulation was similar to heat or xenobiotics, based on the responses from ZFL such as endoplasmic reticulum stress and protein folding. We linked also those finding of gene activations relating to carcinogenesis of Cd. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles induced by Cd2+ exposure in ZFL cells, as well as useful insights into the specific toxic effects.

Toxic effects and transcriptome analyses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to benzophenones.

Sunscreen chemicals, such as benzophenones (BPs), are common environmental contaminants that are posing a growing health concern due to their increasing presence in water, fish, and human systems. Benzoresorcinol (BP1), oxybenzone (BP3), and dioxybenzone (BP8) are the most commonly used BPs for their ability to protect from sunburn by absorbing a broad spectrum of ultraviolet radiation. In this study, zebrafish larvae were used as an in vivo model to investigate the potential risks and molecular mechanisms of the toxic effects of BPs. The effects of these BPs on the gene expression in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, estrogen receptor pathway, and sex differentiation were detected using quantitative real-time PCR. All BPs were found to function as agonists of the estrogen receptors α and ß1, indicating that these BPs likely undergo similar molecular metabolism in vivo, whereby they can activate cytochrome P450 genes and promote the expression of CYP19A and DMRT1. Furthermore, the gene expression profile of larvae after BP3 exposure was evaluated using a whole transcriptome sequencing approach. BP3 affected estradiol biosynthesis and sex differentiation. It also regulated gonadotropin-releasing hormone, thus interfering with the endocrine system. As a xenobiotic toxicant, BP3 upregulated the expression of cytochrome P450 genes (CYP1A and CYP3A65) and glutathione metabolism-related genes (GSTA, GSTM, and GSTP). It also interfered with the nervous system by regulating the calcium signaling pathway. These findings will be useful for understanding the toxicity mechanisms and metabolism of BPs in aquatic organisms and promote the regulation of these chemicals in the environment.

Whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of the zebrafish liver cell line, ZFL, after acute exposure to Cu2+ ions.

All cells require Cu as a cofactor, but Cu2+ induces toxicity and oxidative damage. A strict system is thus needed to maintain Cu homeostasis. Using the ZFL zebrafish liver cell line as a model, we studied the cellular responses after exposure to Cu2+, using whole-transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-seq) to screen nearly all transcriptomes in cell samples and identify changes in gene expression. ZFL cells were treated with 100, 200, or 400 µM CuCl2 and harvested after 4 and 24 h. RNA was then extracted and subjected to RNA-Seq and qPCR validation. Exposure to 400 µM CuCl2 for 4 h and 24 h led to the regulation of 5993 and 4235 genes, respectively. In a gene ontology enrichment analysis, Cu2+ exposure enriched the nitrogen compound metabolic process and antioxidant activity but did not significantly affect cellular copper, zinc, iron and calcium ion homeostasis. In a KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, anti-oxidative stress induced the glutathione metabolism pathway. Furthermore, Cu2+ also induced genes related to apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle in the G2 phase. This study was based on the full gene expression profile combined with pathway analysis details, providing a full cellular response picture for Cu.

Impact of juvenile hormone analogue insecticides on the water flea Moina macrocopa: Growth, reproduction and transgenerational effect.

The increasing quantities of insecticides that leach into water bodies severely affect the health of the aquatic environment. Juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) insecticides are endocrine disrupters that interfere with hormonal activity in insects by mimicking juvenile hormones (JHs). Because the structure and functions of methyl farnesoate in crustaceans are similar to the insect JHs, exogenous JHA insecticides may cause adverse effects on the growth and reproduction in crustaceans similar to those observed in insects. This study examined the toxic effects of two JHA insecticides, methoprene and fenoxycarb, on the water flea Moina macrocopa. The 24-h and 48-h LC50 values for fenoxycarb and methoprene were 0.53 and 0.32 mg/L and 0.70 and 0.54 mg/L, respectively. Chronic exposure to the two JHAs caused a series of toxic effects in M. macrocopa, including shortening of life expectancy, repression of body growth, reduction in fecundity, and disturbed the expression of genes involved in the JH signaling pathway, in cuticle development, and in the carbohydrate, amino acid, and ATP metabolic processes. Moreover, JHA exposure impaired the growth and reproduction of the offspring of M. macrocopa exposed to JHAs, even when the neonates were not exposed to the chemicals. In addition, changes in the expression of genes related to histone methylation indicate that epigenetic changes may promote transgenerational impairment in M. macrocopa. These results demonstrate the toxic effects of fenoxycarb and methoprene on non-target aquatic organisms. The damages done by these JHA insecticides to the aquatic environment is worthy of our attention and further studies.

Effects of two juvenile hormone analogue insecticides, fenoxycarb and methoprene, on Neocaridina davidi.

Juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) insecticides are endocrine disrupters that interfere with hormonal action in insects by mimicking their juvenile hormones (JH). As the structure and functions of methyl farnesoate in crustaceans are similar to those of JH in insects, exogenous JHA insecticides could have adverse effects on the development and reproduction of crustaceans. This study examined the toxic effects of two JHA insecticides, fenoxycarb and methoprene, on a freshwater shrimp model of cherry shrimp, Neocaridina davidi. Both insecticides had detrimental effects on cherry shrimp, but fenoxycarb was more toxic than methoprene. Chronic exposure to these insecticides reduced the shrimp's body length and molting frequency. Based on transcriptome annotations for N. davidi, we identified important gene homologues that were active in both insect JH biosynthetic and degradative pathways as well as JH and ecdysteroid signaling pathways. Chronic treatments with JHAs had significant effects on these genes in N. davidi. Our transcriptomic analysis showed that genes involved in the pathways related to cuticle development, serine protease activity, and carbohydrate, peptide and lipid metabolic processes were differentially expressed in shrimp exposed to JHAs. These results demonstrate the toxicity of fenoxycarb and methoprene to freshwater crustaceans and indicate the need to monitor the use of JHA insecticides.

Anti-cancer effect of marchantin C via inducing lung cancer cellular senescence associated with less secretory phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer deaths. Current chemotherapeutic agents for lung cancer treatment are generally accompanied with severe side effects. Here, we report that marchantin C (Mar-C), a potential natural compound with little chemotherapeutic toxicity, exerts a well anti-tumor effect against lung cancer via inducing cellular senescence. METHODS: The antitumor activity of Mar-C was evaluated by MTT and colony formation in vitro cytotoxicity assays, and xenograft and homograft in vivo model. Antitumor mechanisms of Mar-C were investigated through SA-ß-gal staining, Q-PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, protein array and siRNA knocking-down analysis. RESULTS: Mar-C selectively induces senescence of lung cancer cells with limited cytotoxicity on normal or non-neoplastic cells. Mar-C-induced senescence was associated with the elevation of ROS and activation of DNA-damage, and largely dependent of prolonged p21CIP1 accumulation. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) induced by Mar-C was distinct from doxorubicin-induced. Furthermore, Mar-C exhibited an inhibitory activity on tumor growth with little toxicity in animal studies, and significantly prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice than that of doxorubicin or vehicle treatments. CONCLUSION: Mar-C selectively inhibited tumor growth via the induction of cancer cell senescence and had little chemotherapeutic toxicity, suggesting the potential of Mar-C as a promising anticancer agent. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provided evidence to identify a novelty of Mar-C that exerted antitumor activity on lung cancer through induction of senescence with limited toxicity.

Sublethal toxic effects of nonylphenol ethoxylate and nonylphenol to Moina macrocopa.

The aim of this paper was to examine the sublethal toxic effects of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP10EO), its primary degradation product nonylphenol (NP), and their mixture on Moina macrocopa. Chronic toxicity tests were carried out by using sublethal chemical concentrations. Results showed that all treatments reduced the survivorship, body length, and reproduction of M. macrocopa with NP being 10 %-20 % more toxic to M. macrocopa than NP10EO. Results also indicated that the toxic effects of NP10EO and NP mixture on M. macrocopa were more severe than that of any single chemical alone. At the highest concentration in this experiment, 0.337 mg L(-1) NP10EO plus 0.0154 mg L(-1) NP treatment caused the survivorship of M. macrocopa to zero, neonates number of reproductions to zero, 45.5 % reduction in the body length, and 88 % reduction in the total neonates number.

New fluorenyl-substituted ditopic dioxotetraamine ligands and their copper(II) complexes--synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties and solution behavior.

A new fluorenyl-substituted dioxotetraamine salicylaldehyde Schiff-base ligand (L1) has been synthesized by the non-template 1 + 2 condensation of ligand 6-(9-fluorenyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazaundecane-5,7-dione (L) with salicylaldehyde. From reduction of L1 with an excess of NaBH4, a ditopic dioxotetraamine ligand (L2) has been obtained. The copper(II) complex of L1 has been synthesized and its properties were examined by ES-MS and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility as well as its crystal structure being determined. Detailed studies have been made on solution chemistry of Cu(II) complex of L2 by pH-potentiometric and fluorometric titration.

A study on Cu2Co2SOD and Co2Co2SOD by voltammetry and thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry.

The electrochemistry of Co(2)Co(2)SOD and Cu(2)Co(2)SOD on a pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) without using mediators was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The reversible and quasi-reversible voltammetric responses were observed for Co(2)Co(2)SOD and Cu(2)Co(2)SOD, respectively. Their formal redox potentials and electron numbers involved in electrode reactions were obtained, and are in agreement with those by spectroelectrochemistry (SEC).

Heterodinuclear cryptates [EuML(dmf)](ClO(4))(2)(M=Ca, Cd, Ni, Zn): tuning the luminescence of europium(III) through the selection of the second metal ion.

Four heterodinuclear cryptates [EuML(dmf)](ClO(4))(2) (M=Ca, Cd, Ni, Zn) were synthesized by a two-step method (L denotes deprotonated anionic cryptand synthesized by condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with 2,6-diformyl-4-chlorophenol). The ES-MS spectra of the four cryptates and the crystal structure of [EuNiL(dmf)](ClO(4))(2) x MeCN confirm that a strict dinuclear Eu(III)-M(II) entity exits in the cryptates. The cyclic voltammetry and luminescence spectral investigations indicate that the introduction of second metal ions into the mononuclear Eu(III) cryptate result in a negative shift of the redox potential of Eu(III) and a change in luminescence intensity of Eu(III). The cryptate [EuML(dmf)](ClO(4))(2) was shown to quench the emission of Eu(III) when M=Ni and to enhance the emission of Eu(III) when M=Ca, Cd, and Zn in the sequence: mononuclear