Effects of environmental microplastic exposure on Chlorella sp. biofilm characteristics and its interaction with nitric oxide signaling.

Microalgal biofilm is promising in simultaneous pollutants removal, CO2 fixation, and biomass resource transformation when wastewater is used as culturing medium. Nitric oxide (NO) often accumulates in microalgal cells under wastewater treatment relevant abiotic stresses such as nitrogen deficiency, heavy metals, and antibiotics. However, the influence of emerging contaminants such as microplastics (MPs) on microalgal intracellular NO is still unknown. Moreover, the investigated MPs concentrations among existing studies were mostly several magnitudes higher than in real wastewaters, which could offer limited guidance for the effects of MPs on microalgae at environment-relevant concentrations. Therefore, this study investigated three commonly observed MPs in wastewater at environment-relevant concentrations (10-10,000 µg/L) and explored their impacts on attached Chlorella sp. growth characteristics, nutrients removal, and anti-oxidative responses (including intracellular NO content). The nitrogen source NO3--N at 49 mg/L being 20 % of the nitrogen strength in classic BG-11 medium was selected for MPs exposure experiments because of least intracellular NO accumulation, so that disturbance of intracellular NO by nitrogen availability could be avoided. Under such condition, 10 µg/L polyethylene (PE) MPs displayed most significant microalgal growth inhibition comparing with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyamide (PA) MPs, showing extraordinarily low chlorophyll a/b ratios, and highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and intracellular NO content after 12 days of MPs exposure. PVC MPs exposed cultures displayed highest malonaldehyde (MDA) content because of the toxic characteristics of organochlorines, and most significant correlations of intracellular NO content with conventional anti-oxidative parameters of SOD, CAT (catalase), and MDA. MPs accelerated phosphorus removal, and the type rather than concentration of MPs displayed higher influences, following the trend of PE > PA > PVC. This study expanded the knowledge of microalgal biofilm under environment-relevant concentrations of MPs, and innovatively discovered the significance of intracellular NO as a more sensitive indicator than conventional anti-oxidative parameters under MPs exposure.

Effects of staged multiple phytohormones application on capillary-driven attached Chlorella sp. biofilm.

Comparing with single phytohormone application, applying multiple phytohormones to microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems can offer more extensive growth-promoting and stress-protecting effects for microalgae, yet the advantage of stress-relieving salicylic acid (SA) under combined phytohormones application scenario has not been exploited. Employing the improved capillary-driven attached microalgae culturing device (CD-PBR) previously used for single phytohormone application, this study compared the effects of mixed and single phytohormone(s) addition under as low as 10-7 M dosage. In order to make the best of SA for its stress-relieving property, postponed SA addition combined with applying other phytohormone(s) at the beginning of microalgae cultivation was also investigated. Combination of 10-6 M 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) with 10-7 M SA was sufficient for enhancing growth-promoting effects and anti-oxidative responses for attached Chlorella sp., while indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) addition was unnecessary. Combination of 6-BA addition at the beginning while postponed SA addition on Day 4 could further sustain such beneficial effects, while removing up to 99.7% total nitrogen (TN) and 97.9% total phosphorus (TP) from the bulk liquid. These results provided innovative strategies on mixed phytohormones addition for microalgae.

[Protective effect of serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex on HUVEC injured by H_2O_2].

This study aimed to investigate the effect of serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) injured with hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2). HUVEC injured with H_2O_2 were divided into 6 groups, namely blank group, model group, ginsenoside(TGG) group, total glucosides of Moutan Cortex(TGM) group, paeonol(P) group and TGG+TGM+P group. After 24 hours of co-culture with H_2O_2, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase(SDH) and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP were detected by microenzyme labeling. The apoptosis rate, intracellular Ca~(2+) concentration, reactive oxygen species(ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential(JC-1) were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by Western blot. The results showed that H_2O_2 could significantly damage HUVEC, decrease the activity of SDH and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP(P<0.01), while could increase the apoptosis+necrosis rate, JC-1 decline rate, ROS increase rate and Ca~(2+) concentration increase rate(P<0.01). Serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex could increase the activities of SDH and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP to different degrees, decrease the apoptosis+necrosis rate, JC-1 decline rate, ROS increase rate and Ca~(2+) concentration increase rate(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, cytochrome C, and up-regulate the protein expression of Bcl-2. The results showed that serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex has a protective effect on vascular endothelial cell injury induced by ROS, and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of mitochondrial function and the inhibition of the activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Discovery of Polyoxypregnane Derivatives From Aspidopterys obcordata With Their Potential Antitumor Activity.

The bioassay-guided phytochemical study of an ethnic medicinal plant Aspidopterys obcorda ta Hemsl. var. obcordata results in the isolation of eight new polyoxypregnane derivatives, named aspidatasides A-H (1-8), along with ten known analogs (9-18). The series polyoxypregnane derivatives were screened for their cytoxic activity against HL-60 cells, and compound 2 showed the highest potency with an IC50 8.03 µM. Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies displayed that the sugar chain and double bond could notably impact their biological activity.

Guideline for Quality Control of Powered Polymerisation Activators for Chairside Use.

The irradiance of powered polymerisation activators for chairside use affects composite resin adhesive curing during the restorative process, whereas radiant accumulated temperature rise relates to clinical safety. Irradiance reduction and high radiant accumulated temperature will compromise the treatment results as there is a lack of curing output efficacy and safety awareness for powered polymerisation activators. Insufficient attention has been paid to the activator's quality control, irradiance attenuation and radiant accumulated temperature excessive temperature rise during its lifetime. The present manuscript has been drafted by the Society of Dental Equipment, Chinese Stomatological Association to fill the quality control gap and guide the quality control process, following tested steps, using a metered radiometer and a thermometer to record the irradiance and radiant accumulated temperature separately. The testing result may indicate the equipment's situation in service and provide information about the irradiance values and performance of the powered polymerisation activator for its usage and maintenance.

Tracking the Distribution and Burst of Nuclear Mitochondrial DNA Sequences (NUMTs) in Fig Wasp Genomes.

Mitochondrial DNA sequences can be transferred into the nuclear genome, giving rise to nuclear mitochondrial DNA sequences (NUMTs). NUMTs have been described in numerous eukaryotes. However, the studies on the distribution of NUMTs and its influencing factors are still inadequate and even controversial. Previous studies have suggested that Hymenoptera may be a group rich in NUMTs, in which we selected 11 species of fig wasps (Chalcidoidea, Hymenoptera) to analyze the distribution and evolution of NUMTs at the genomic level. The results showed that the contents of NUMTs varied greatly in these species, and bursts of NUMTs existed in some species or lineages. Further detailed analyses showed that the large number of NUMTs might be related to the large genomes; NUMTs tended to be inserted into unstable regions of the genomes; and the inserted NUMTs might also be affected by transposable elements (TEs) in the neighbors, leading to fragmentations and duplications, followed by bursts of NUMTs. In summary, our results suggest that a variety of genomic environmental factors can determine the insertion and post-insertion fate of NUMTs, resulting in their species- or lineage-specific distribution patterns, and that studying the evolution of NUMTs can provide good evidence and theoretical basis for exploring the dynamics of exogenous DNA entering into the nuclear genome.

miR-30-5p-mediated ferroptosis of trophoblasts is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Oxidative stress is a major cause of adverse outcomes in preeclampsia (PE). Ferroptosis, i.e. programmed cell death from iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, likely mediates PE pathogenesis. We evaluated specific markers for ferroptosis in normal and PE placental tissues, using in vitro (trophoblasts) and in vivo (rat) models. Increase in malondialdehyde content and total Fe2+ along with reduced the glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed in PE placenta. While the trophoblasts experienced death under hypoxia, inhibitors of ferroptosis, apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis increased the cell viability. Microarrays, bioinformatic analysis, and luciferase reporter assay revealed that upregulation of miR-30b-5p in PE models plays a pivotal role in ferroptosis, by downregulating Cys2/glutamate antiporter and PAX3 and decreasing ferroportin 1 (an iron exporter) expression, resulting in decreased GSH and increased labile Fe2+. Inhibition of miR-30b-5p expression and supplementation with ferroptosis inhibitors attenuated the PE symptoms in rat models, making miR-30b-5p a potential therapeutic target for PE.

Two new polyoxy steroidal glycosides from the roots of Dregea sinensis Hemsl.

Two new polyoxy steroidal glycosides, named as 11- O-α-acetyl-12-O-ß-tigloyl- 3ß,14ß-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one-3-O-ß-D-oleadropyranosyl-(1→4)-ß-D-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-allopyanoside (1) and 11- O-α-acetyl -12-O-ß-benzoate-3ß, 14ß-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en- 20-one-3-O-ß-D-oleadropyranosyl-(1→4)-ß-D-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-allopyanoside (2) were isolated from the roots of Dregea sinensis Hemsl. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR. All the two compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity in vitro, and the result showed that compounds 1-2 displayed moderated cytotoxic activity against HL-60 cell line with IC50 values of 18.4 µM and 23.9 µM, respectively. [Formula: see text].

JSI-124 (Cucurbitacin I) inhibits tumor angiogenesis of human breast cancer through reduction of STAT3 phosphorylation.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer all over the world. Angiogenesis, a physiological or pathological process characterized by the sprouting of new blood vessels from existing vessels, plays a vital role in tumor nutrition. In this work, we used JSI-124 (Cucurbitacin I), a selective JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor, to investigate the role of STAT3 in tumor angiogenesis of a human BC cell line in vitro. JSI-124 inhibited cell viability, proliferation, adhesion, migration and tube formation of a human BC cell line MDA-MB-468. After transfection with pMXs-Stat3C, a dominant active mutant, the inhibitory effects of JSI-124 on MDA-MB-468 were abolished. Furthermore, JSI-124 reduced the phosphorylation of STAT3. These results suggested that JSI-124 inhibited tumor angiogenesis of the human BC cell line in vitro through the reduction of STAT3 phosphorylation. In addition, JSI-124 could reduce VEGF transcription and secretion, suggesting that JSI-124 is also involved in the inhibition of the VEGF autocrine loop in the tumor microenvironment.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee].

OBJECTIVE: To study the bioactive constituents from leaves of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee. METHODS: Column chromatography with silic gel was employed to isolate and purify the constituents. Their structures were elucidated by means of IR, MS, NMR and chemical methods respectively. RESULTS: Two consituents were obtained, which were elucidated as ent-13-hydroxy-kauran-16-en-19-oic acid (I), ent-kaura-16-en-19-oic-13-O-beta-D-glucoside (II), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compound II was seperated from Rubus suavissimus S. Lee for the first time.