Corydalis saxicolaBunting total alkaloid eliminates Porphyromonas gingivalis strain 33277 internalized into macrophages by inhibition of TLR2.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Corydalis Saxicola Bunting Total Alkaloid (CSBTA) on Porphyromonas gingivalis internalization within macrophages and explore the potential role of Toll-Like Receptor 2 (TLR2) in this process. METHODS: We established a P. gingivalis internalization model in macrophages by treating P. gingivalis-infected macrophages (MOI=100:1) with 200 µg/mL metronidazole and 300 µg/mL gentamicin for 1 h. Subsequently, the model was exposed to CSBTA at concentrations of 0.02 g/L or 1 µg/mL Pam3CSK4. After a 6 h treatment, cell lysis was performed with sterile water to quantify bacterial colonies. The mRNA expressions of TLR2 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in macrophages were analyzed using RT-qPCR, while their protein levels were assessed via Western blot and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: P. gingivalis could internalize into macrophages and enhance the expression of TLR2 and IL-8. Activation of TLR2 by Pam3CSK4 contributed to P. gingivalis survival within macrophages and increased TLR2 and IL-8 expression. Conversely, 0.02 g/L CSBTA effectively cleared intracellular P. gingivalis, achieving a 90 % clearance rate after 6 h. Moreover, it downregulated the expression of TLR2 and IL-8 induced by P. gingivalis. However, the inhibitory effect of CSBTA on the internalized P. gingivalis model was attenuated by Pam3CSK4. CONCLUSION: CSBTA exhibited the ability to reduce the presence of live intracellular P. gingivalis and lower IL-8 expression in macrophages, possibly by modulating TLR2 activity.

Sedimentary record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and DDTs in Dianchi Lake, an urban lake in Southwest China.

Unique time trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were found in a dated sediment core from Dianchi Lake (DC), an urban lake in Southwest China. The temporal trend of PAHs in DC was not only different from those in China's coastline and remote lakes of China, but also different from those in more developed countries. Identification of sources suggested that PAHs in DC originated primarily from domestic combustion of coal and biomass. However, a change of source from low- and moderate-temperature combustion to high-temperature combustion processes was observed. Different from those in China's coastline and some developed countries, the temporal trend of DDTs in DC mirrored the historical usage of DDTs in China, with erosion of soils and surface runoff from its drainage area the most likely routes of DDT introduction to the lake. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in its catchment, effective interception of point-source pollution, and changes in sources of energy during the last few decades have significantly influenced the vertical profiles of PAHs in DC.

Characteristics of DDTs in fish from Lake Taihu: an indicator of continual DDTs input in China.

Four typical freshwater fish species in Lake Taihu (TH), China, were collected and analyzed for the residue levels of DDT and its metabolites DDD and DDE (sum of o,p'- and p,p'-DDT, DDD, and DDE is designated as DDTs). The DDTs concentrations ranged from 3.24 to 37.1 ng/g, and p,p'-DDE was the dominant isomer, followed by p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDT. Source identification indicated that DDTs in TH was mostly stemmed from the historical usage of technical DDT mixture, but a new source of DDT, i.e., dicofol-type DDT, also occurred. The results from the present work, together with previously published data, clearly indicate that dicofol-type DDT was widespread and was an important continual source of DDTs in China.

[Parallel factor analysis as an analysis technique for the ratio of three-dimensional fluorescence peak in Taihu Lake].

The present paper proposes a new method to find the ratio of three-dimensional fluorescence peak. At first, the excitation-emission fluorescence matrix of water samples was treated with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and then fluorescence peaks intensity and ratio of fluorescence peak were obtained from the parallel factor analysis model. From the parallel factor analysis model, the same fluorescence peaks of different water samples lie at the same excitation-emission wavelength and the overlap of different fluorescence peaks of the same water sample is reduced. Analysing regional characteristic in Taihu Lake, the ratio of factor score and the ratio of fluorescence peak showed strong correlation.

[Distribution, source and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in river sediment of Cheng-Yu economic zone].

The USEPA 16 priority pollutant dominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface river sediments of Sichuan Province and Chongqing City in southwest China were determined using GC-MS. The result showed the content of PAHs in the sediment ranged from 48.2 ng/g to 723.1 ng/g, with an average value of 276.1 ng/g. Among which, the maximum content was found in Shimenzi of Yangtze River, the minimum content was found in Baiqing of Fujiang River. The content order of PAHs in the sediments followed Yangtze River (358.6 ng/g) > Minjiang River (322.2 ng/g) > Tuojiang River (292.7 ng/g) > Qujiang River (260.6 ng/g) > Jialing River (240.2 ng/g) > Fujiang River (82.4 ng/g). The vertical profiles of c(An)/c(An + Phe), c(FlA)/c(FlA + Pyr) and c(InP)/c (InP + BghiP) suggested the PAHs in this zone were mainly originated from pyrogenic source, the main sources of PAHs were petroleum combustion, biomass combustion, and coal burning. Risk assessment suggested that the PAHs in the sediment of this zone had no significantly biological impairment and low toxicological risk.

Screening level of PAHs in sediment core from Lake Hongfeng, Southwest China.

Using data from a 25-year retrospective of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment core from Lake Hongfeng, Southwest China, their possible sources and potential toxicologic significance were investigated. The total PAH concentrations (16 priority PAHs as proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency) in sediments ranged from 2936.1 to 5282.3 ng/g and gradually increased from the analyzed deeper sediments to surface sediments. PAHs were dominated by low molecular-weight components, especially phenanthrene (PHEN) and fluorene (FLU). However, a significantly increased number of high molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs was found in upper segments. The temporal trends of individual PAH species suggest that there may have been a change in energy use from low- to high-temperature combustion, especially after approximately 2001. PAH input to Lake Hongfeng originated mainly from domestic coal combustion and biomass burning, whereas fuel combustion characteristics have also been found in recent years. Sediment-quality assessment implied that potential adverse biologic impact could be a probability for most low-ring PAHs (including naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthylene, FLU, PHEN, and anthracene). Nevertheless, more concern should be paid to HMW PAHs in the future due to their rapidly increasing trends in upper sediments. Because only one core was analyzed in this study, more work is needed to confirm the sources and toxicity of PAHs in Lake Hongfeng.

[Sediment record of DDTs in sediment core from Hongfeng reservoir].

In order to reconstruct the chronology of 2,2-his (4-Chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) input into the Hongfeng reservoir and assess the pollution issues, the temporal distribution of DDT in sediment core from Hongfeng reservoir was measured using GC/MS method, and the possible sources and potential risk assessment also had been identified. The DDTs (sum of p,p'- and o,p'-DDT, DDE and DDD) in sediment core were ranged from 7.6 to 23.7 ng/g, and roughly, ever decreased from the bottom to the surface sediment. In detail, a sharp decline of DDTs concentration in sediment was found from 1981 to 1983, followed by a tardy decrease trend to the present. The DDTs in sediment were mainly composed of p,p'-DDTs (sum of p,p'-DDT, DDE and DDD). The ratio of p,p'-DDTs to o,p'-DDTs (sum of o,p'-DDT, DDE and DDD) ranged from 5.1 to 8.4, which suggests that the DDTs in sediment were chiefly originated from the technical DDT. Meanwhile, the DDTs in sediments were dominated by the metabolites of DDT (DDD and DDE) and the ratio of DDT/(DDD + DDE) were between 0.31 and 0.84, indicating the DDTs in sediment were mostly stemmed from the historical usage. Besides, the vertical profile of the ratios of DDT/( DDD + DDE) and DDE/DDD indicate that possible usage of technical DDT still occurred in the drainage area of Hongfeng reservoir around 1990, although the usage of technical DDT in agriculture has been banned in 1983. The residue levels of DDE, DDD, DDT, and DDTs in surface sediment from Hongfeng reservoir were all between ERL and ERM, suggesting potential risk could occur, and the contamination of DDT in Hongfeng reservoir deserving more concerns.

[Temporal distribution, sources, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment core from Miyun reservoir].

The temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was measured in sediment core from Miyun reservoir, and the possible sources and the potential risk assessment also have been identified. The aim of the present work is to understand the temporal trend of PAHs in Miyun reservoir recently. The concentrations of sigma PAH16 in sediment ranged from 618.5 ng/g to 1087.9 ng/g, and roughly, increased continuously from the bottom (16 cm under the surface) to the surface sediment. The PAHs in sediment core were mainly composed of phenanthrene and fluorene. The concentrations of phenanthrene and fluorene in sediment core were 236.1-417.9 ng/g and 91-130.8 ng/g, respectively. Both of them accounted for 47.2%-58.1% of the sigma PAH16 in sediments. Nevertheless, high-rings aromatic hydrocarbons (5-6 rings) were increased steadily in recent years. PAHs compositional profile indicated that the main source of PAHs was originated from the combustion of coal and biomass. However, the vertical profiles of Flu/Flu + Pyr and INP/INP + BghiP ratios suggested that the vehicles emission was increased very recently. Risk assessment suggested that PAHs in sediment from Miyun reservoir was no significant biological impairment, and low toxicological risk of PAHs was found up to now.

[Combining ultrafiltration, fluorescence spectroscopy and HPSEC to characterize dissolved organic matter in surface waters].

The combination of ultrafiltration, three-dimensional excitation/emission matrix (3DEEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) was used to characterize the molecular weight distribution properties of different fluorescence materials, further revealing the differences in the sources and components. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different lakes fractionated by ultrafiltration with a nominal 1,000 molecular weight cut-off regenerated cellulose membrane, then 3DEEM spectrophotometry and HPSEC were applied to investigate the characteristics of high molecular weight materials in retentate and low molecular weight materials in permeate. The result indicated that the flulvic acid-like (Ex/Em approximately equal to 260 nm/450 nm of peak A and Ex/Em approximately equal to 320 nm/439 nm of peak C) and protein-like (Ex/Em approximately equal to 275 nm/312 nm of peak B and Ex/Em approximately equal to 220 nm/308 nm of peak D) fluorophores in permeate were detected after ultrafiltration which is covered by high absorbing peak of humic-like (Ex/Em approximately equal to 360 nm/462 nm of peak E) fluorescence fluorophores in the original Shennonajia bog water, Hubei province. They permeated the membrane because of their low molecular weight distribution properties. The content of autochthonous protein-like (Ex/Em approximately equal to 280 nm/334 nm of peak B and Ex/Em approximately equal to 225 nm/328 nm of peak D) component was too low to be measured by high-sensitivity fluorescence spectrophotometer in the original water of Lake Hongfeng, Guizhou province. But they can be concentrated attribute to their high molecular weight distribution properties. The 3DEEM fluorescence spectroscopy of retentate exhibited evident protein-like fluorophores. Moreover, there had obviously difference in molecular weight between different sources of fulvic acid-like and protein-like components. It has been shown that the molecular weight distribution of autochthonous protein-like matter in Hongfeng lake is larger than allochthonous protein-like matter in Aha lake, Guizhou province. One was retained by membrane and another was permeated. Therefore, these techniques together will offer direct and convenient qualitative information about DOM in lake waters.