Effects of polyvinylchloride microplastics on the toxicity of nanoparticles and antibiotics to aerobic granular sludge: Nitrogen removal, microbial community and resistance genes.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) have ecological risk to humans and ecosystems. Polyvinylchloride microplastics (PVC MPs), as a representative of microplastics, may often coexist with CuO NPs and CIP in wastewater treatment systems due to their widespread application. However, the co-impact of PVC MPs in wastewater systems contained with CuO NPs and CIP on nitrogen removal and ecological risk is not clear. In this work, PVC MPs co-impacts on the toxicity of CuO NPs and CIP to aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems and potential mechanisms were investigated. 10 mg/L PVC MPs co-addition did not significantly affect the nitrogen removal, but it definitely changed the microbial community structure and enhanced the propagation and horizontal transfer of antibiotics resistance genes (ARGs). 100 mg/L PVC MPs co-addition resulted in a raise of CuO NP toxicity to the AGS system, but reduced the co-toxicity of CuO NPs and CIP and ARGs expression. The co-impacts with different PVC MPs concentration influenced Cu2+ concentrations, cell membrane integrity, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) contents and microbial communities in AGS systems, and lead to a change of nitrogen removal.

Cardiac glycosides from the roots of Streblus asper Lour. with activity against Epstein-Barr virus lytic replication.

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) show potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity by targeting cellular host proteins. Herein are reported the isolation of five new (1-5) and eight known (7-13) CGs from the roots of Streblus asper Lour. Of these compounds 1 and 7 exhibited inhibitory action against EBV early antigen (EA) expression, with half-maximal effective concentration values (EC50) being less than 60 nM, and they also showed selectivity, with selectivity index (SI) values being 56.80 and 103.17, respectively. Preliminary structure activity relationships indicated that the C-10 substituent, C-5 hydroxy groups, and C-3 sugar unit play essential roles in the mediation of the inhibitory activity of CGs against EBV. Further enzyme experiments demonstrated that these compounds might inhibit ion pump function and thereby change the intracellular signal transduction pathway by binding to Na+/K+-ATPase, as validated by simulated molecular docking. This study is the first report that CGs can effectively limit EBV lytic replication, and the observations made in this study may be of value for lead compound development.

Impulse oscillometry for detection of small airway dysfunction in subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms and preserved pulmonary function.

BACKGROUND: Subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms and preserved pulmonary function (PPF) may have small airway dysfunction (SAD). As the most common means to detect SAD, spirometry needs good cooperation and its reliability is controversial. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) may complete the deficiency of spirometry and have higher sensitivity. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of IOS to detect SAD in symptomatic subjects with PPF. METHODS: The evaluation of symptoms, spirometry and IOS results in 209 subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms and PPF were assessed. ROC curves of IOS to detect SAD were analyzed. RESULTS: 209 subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms and PPF were included. Subjects who reported sputum had higher R5-R20 and Fres than those who didn't. Subjects with dyspnea had higher R5, R5-R20 and AX than those without. CAT and mMRC scores correlated better with IOS parameters than with spirometry. R5, R5-R20, AX and Fres in subjects with SAD (n = 42) significantly increased compared to those without. Cutoff values for IOS parameters to detect SAD were 0.30 kPa/L s for R5, 0.015 kPa/L s for R5-R20, 0.30 kPa/L for AX and 11.23 Hz for Fres. Fres has the largest AUC (0.665, P = 0.001) among these parameters. Compared with spirometry, prevalence of SAD was higher when measured with IOS. R5 could detect the most SAD subjects with a prevalence of 60.77% and a sensitivity of 81% (AUC = 0.659, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: IOS is more sensitive to detect SAD than spirometry in subjects with chronic respiratory symptoms and PPF, and it correlates better with symptoms. IOS could be an additional method for SAD detection in the early stage of diseases.

ERK1/2-HNF4α axis is involved in epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibition of HBV replication.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol in green tea, exhibits diverse biological activities. Previous studies show that EGCG could effectively suppress HBV gene expression and replication, but the role of EGCG in HBV replication and its underlying mechanisms, especially the signaling pathways involved, remain unclear. In this study we investigated the mechanisms underlying EGCG inhibition on HBV replication with a focus on the signaling pathways. We showed that EGCG (12.5-50 µM) dose-dependently inhibited HBV gene expression and replication in HepG2.2.15 cells. Similar results were observed in HBV mice receiving EGCG (25 mg· kg-1· d-1, ip) for 5 days. In HepG2.2.15 cells, we showed that EGCG (12.5-50 µM) significantly activate ERK1/2 MAPK signaling, slightly activate p38 MAPK and JAK2/STAT3 signaling, while had no significant effect on the activation of JNK MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NF-κB signaling. By using specific inhibitors of these signaling pathways, we demonstrated that ERK1/2 signaling pathway, but not other signaling pathways, was involved in EGCG-mediated inhibition of HBV transcription and replication. Furthermore, we showed that EGCG treatment dose-dependently decreased the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) both at the mRNA and protein levels, which could be reversed by pretreatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (20 µM). Moreover, we revealed that EGCG treatment dose-dependently inhibited the activity of HBV core promoter and the following HBV replication. In summary, our results demonstrate that EGCG inhibits HBV gene expression and replication, which involves ERK1/2-mediated downregulation of HNF4α.These data reveal a novel mechanism for EGCG to inhibit HBV gene expression and replication.

The effect of Funneliformis mosseae on the plant growth, Cd translocation and accumulation in the new Cd-hyperaccumulator Sphagneticola calendulacea.

The screening and identification of hyperaccumulators is the key to the phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metal (HM). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) can improve plant growth and tolerance to HM; therefore, AMF-assisted phytoextraction has been regarded as a potential technique for the remediation of HM-polluted soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to determine whether Sphagneticola calendulacea is a Cd-hyperaccumulator and to investigate the effect of the AMF-Funneliformis mosseae (FM) on plant growth and on the accumulation, subcellular distribution and chemical form of Cd in S. calendulacea grown in soils supplemented with different Cd levels. At 25, 50 and 100 mg Cd kg-1 level, S. calendulacea showed high Cd tolerance, the translocation factor and the bioconcentration factor exceeded 1, and accumulation of more than 100 mg Cd kg-1 was observed in the aboveground parts of the plant, meeting the requirements for a Cd-hyperaccumulator. Moreover, FM colonization significantly increased both biomasses and Cd concentration in S. calendulacea. After FM inoculation, the Cd concentrations and proportions increased in the cell walls, but exhibited no significant change in the organelles of the shoots. Meanwhile, FM symbiosis contributed to the conversion of Cd from highly toxic chemical forms (extracted by 80% ethanol and deionized water) to less toxic chemical forms (extracted by 1 M NaCl, 2% acetic acid, 0.6 M HCl) of Cd in the shoots. Overall, S. calendulacea is a typical Cd-hyperaccumulator, and FM symbiosis relieved the phytotoxicity of Cd and promoted plant growth and Cd accumulation, and thus greatly increasing the efficiency of phytoextraction for Cd-polluted soil. Our study provides a theoretical basis and application guidance for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil by the symbiont of S. calendulacea with FM.

Radix Sophorae flavescentis versus other drugs or herbs for chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus, which may lead to serious complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. People with HBV infection may also have coinfections including HIV and other hepatitis viruses (hepatitis C or D), and coinfections may increase the risk of all-cause mortality. Chronic HBV infection increases morbidity, psychological stress, and it is an economic burden on people with chronic hepatitis B and their families. Radix Sophorae flavescentis, a herbal medicine, is administered mostly in combination with other drugs or herbs. It is believed that it decreases discomfort and prevents the replication of the virus in people with chronic hepatitis B. However, the benefits and harms of Radix Sophorae flavescentis on patient-centred outcomes are unknown, and its wide usage has never been established with rigorous review methodology. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of Radix Sophorae flavescentis versus other drugs or herbs in people with chronic hepatitis B. SEARCH METHODS: We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and seven other databases to December 2018. We also searched the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (www.who.int/ictrp), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov/), and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry for ongoing or unpublished trials to December 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised clinical trials, irrespective of publication status, language, or blinding, comparing Radix Sophorae flavescentis versus other drugs or herbs for people with chronic hepatitis B. In addition to chronic hepatitis B, participants could also have had cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or any other concomitant disease. We excluded polyherbal blends containing Radix Sophorae flavescentis. We allowed cointerventions when the cointerventions were administered equally to all intervention groups. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Review authors in pairs individually retrieved data from published reports and after correspondence with investigators. Our primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, serious adverse events, and health-related quality of life. Our secondary outcomes were hepatitis B-related mortality, hepatitis B-related morbidity, and adverse events considered 'not to be serious'. We presented the meta-analysed results as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We assessed the risk of bias using domains with predefined definitions. We conducted Trial Sequential Analyses to control the risks of random errors. We used GRADE methodology to evaluate our certainty in the evidence (i.e. "the extent of our confidence that the estimates of the effect are correct or are adequate to support a particular decision or recommendation"). MAIN RESULTS: We included 10 randomised clinical trials with 898 participants. We judged all trials at high risk of bias. The trials covered oral capsules, intravenous infusion, intramuscular injection, and acupoint (a specifically chosen site of acupuncture) injection of Radix Sophorae flavescentis with a follow-up period from 1 to 12 months. The drugs being used as a comparator were lamivudine, adefovir, interferon, tiopronin, thymosin, or other Chinese herbs. Two trials included children up to 14 years old. Participants in one trial had cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B. None of the trials reported all-cause mortality, health-related quality of life, serious adverse events, hepatitis B-related mortality, or morbidity. We are uncertain as to whether Radix Sophorae flavescentis has a beneficial or harmful effect on adverse events considered 'not to be serious' (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.75; I2 = 0%; 2 trials, 163 participants; very low-certainty evidence), as well as if it decreases or increases the proportion of participants with detectable HBV-DNA (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.63; I2 = 92%; 8 trials, 719 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Radix Sophorae flavescentis showed a reduction in the proportion of participants with detectable hepatitis B virus e-antigen (HBeAg) (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.98; I2 = 43%; 7 trials, 588 participants; very low-certainty evidence).Two of the 10 trials were not funded, and one received academic funding. The remaining seven trials provided no information on funding.The randomisation process in another 109 trials was insufficiently reported to ensure the inclusion of any of these studies in our review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The included trials lacked data on all-cause mortality, health-related quality of life, serious adverse events, hepatitis-B related mortality, and hepatitis-B related morbidity. The evidence on the effect of Radix Sophorae flavescentis on the proportion of participants with adverse events considered 'not to be serious' and on the proportion of participants with detectable HBV-DNA is still unclear. We advise caution regarding the results of Radix Sophorae flavescentis showing a reduction in the proportion of people with detectable HBeAg because the trials were at high risk of bias, because it is a non-validated surrogate outcome, and because of the very low certainty in the evidence. As we were unable to obtain information on a large number of studies regarding their trial design, we were deterred from including them in our review. Undisclosed funding may have influence on trial results and lead to poor design of the trial. In view of the wide usage of Radix Sophorae flavescentis, we need large, unbiased, high-quality placebo-controlled randomised trials assessing patient-centred outcomes.

NDM-1-Producing Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii Identified from a Single Patient in China.

We identified New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM-1)-producing Citrobacter freundii GB032, Escherichia coli GB102, and Acinetobacter baumannii GB661 in urine and stool samples from a single patient in China. Plasmid profiling and Southern blotting indicated that blaNDM-1 from GB032 and that from GB102 were likely located on the same plasmid, while blaNDM-1 from GB661 was located on a very large (>400-kb) plasmid. This case underscores the broad host range of blaNDM-1 and its potential to spread between members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and A. baumannii.

Dissipation-induced transition of a simple harmonic oscillator.

We investigate the dissipation-induced transition probabilities between any two eigenstates of a simple harmonic oscillator. Using the method developed by Yu and Sun [Phys. Rev. A 49, 592 (1994)], the general analytical expressions for the transition probabilities are obtained. The special cases: transition probabilities from the ground state to the first few excited states are then discussed in detail. Different from the previous studies in the literature where only the effect of damping was considered, it is found that the Brownian motion makes the transitions between states of different parity possible. The limitations of the applicability of our results are also discussed.

Role and limitation of cell therapy in treating neurological diseases.

The central role of the brain in governing systemic functions within human physiology underscores its paramount significance as the focal point of physiological regulation. The brain, a highly sophisticated organ, orchestrates a diverse array of physiological processes encompassing motor control, sensory perception, cognition, emotion, and the regulation of vital functions, such as heartbeat, respiration, and hormonal equilibrium. A notable attribute of neurological diseases manifests as the depletion of neurons and the occurrence of tissue necrosis subsequent to injury. The transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into the brain exhibits the potential for the replacement of lost neurons and the reconstruction of neural circuits. Furthermore, the transplantation of other types of cells in alternative locations can secrete nutritional factors that indirectly contribute to the restoration of nervous system equilibrium and the mitigation of neural inflammation. This review summarized a comprehensive investigation into the role of NSCs, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and support cells like astrocytes and microglia in alleviating neurological deficits after cell infusion. Moreover, a thorough assessment was undertaken to discuss extant constraints in cellular transplantation therapies, concurrently delineating indispensable model-based methodologies, specifically on organoids, which were essential for guiding prospective research initiatives in this specialized field.

Methylglyoxal accumulation contributes to accelerated brain aging in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

While it is well-acknowledged that neurovascular dysfunction in hypertension is tightly associated with accelerated brain aging, we contend that the deleterious effects of hypertension may extend beyond affecting only the arteries. Methylglyoxal (MG) derived from glycolysis, is involved in the accumulation of advanced glycated end products (AGEs), which are the hallmarks of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the present study aims to firstly investigate the role of MG metabolism in the hypertension-accelerated brain aging process. The results of our study indicate that the levels of MG increase with age in both the plasma and hippocampus of SHRs at 12, 16, and 30 weeks old. AGE methylglyoxal-hydro imidazoline-1 (MG-H1) is primarily localized in astrocytes, while its presence was not observed in neurons and microglia within the hypertensive hippocampus. Our observations also suggest that angiotensin II (Ang II) enhances glucose uptake and glycolysis while reducing the expression of Glo1 in cultured astrocytes. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was found to counteract the increase in escape latency and inhibit the activation of the AGEs-RAGE axis in 30-week-old SHRs. NAC decreased Iba-1 immunofluorescence intensity, inhibited the levels of pro-inflammatory markers, and enhanced the abundance of anti-inflammatory markers in the hippocampus of SHRs. Moreover, NAC reduced the immunofluorescence signal of 4HNE and increased the content of GSH and SOD in SHRs. Finally, NAC was observed to inhibit apoptosis in the hippocampus of SHRs. Collectively, we firstly showed the enhanced accumulation of MG in the hypertensive brain, whereas the clearance of MG by NAC treatment mitigated the aging process and attenuated AGEs generation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative damage.

Impact of baseline hepatitis B virus viral load on the long-term prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Although the combination of lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitors has become the standard regimen for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), real data on the impact of baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA levels on the clinical efficacy of this regimen is still limited. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of camrelizumab combined with lenvatinib in patients with HCC at varying levels of HBV-DNA. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with HCC who received camrelizumab and lenvatinib treatment were categorized into two cohorts: HBV-DNA ≤ 2000 (n = 66) and HBV-DNA > 2000 (n = 54). The main outcomes measured were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while additional outcomes included the rate of objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and any negative events. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed independent predictors of OS, leading to the creation of a nomogram incorporating these variables. RESULTS: The median PFS was 8.32 months for the HBV-DNA ≤ 2000 group, which was similar to the 7.80 months observed for the HBV DNA > 2000 group (P = 0.88). Likewise, there was no notable variation in the median OS between the two groups, with durations of 13.30 and 14.20 months respectively (P = 0.14). The ORR and DCR were compared between the two groups, showing ORR of 19.70% vs 33.33% (P = 0.09) and DCR of 72.73% vs 74.07% (P = 0.87). The nomogram emphasized the importance of antiviral treatment as the main predictor of patient results, with portal vein tumor thrombus and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging following closely behind. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of patients with HBV-associated HCC treated with camrelizumab in combination with lenvatinib are not significantly affected by HBV viral load.

Wave function for time-dependent harmonically confined electrons in a time-dependent electric field.

The many-body wave function of a system of interacting particles confined by a time-dependent harmonic potential and perturbed by a time-dependent spatially homogeneous electric field is derived via the Feynman path-integral method. The wave function is comprised of a phase factor times the solution to the unperturbed time-dependent Schrödinger equation with the latter being translated by a time-dependent value that satisfies the classical driven equation of motion. The wave function reduces to that of the Harmonic Potential Theorem wave function for the case of the time-independent harmonic confining potential.

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor B in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its potential value.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to fatty liver disease caused by liver injury factors other than alcohol. The disease is characterized by diffuse fat infiltration, including simple steatosis (no inflammatory fat deposition), nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and so on, which may cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer in the later stage of disease progression. At present, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still being studied. The "two-hit" theory, represented by lipid metabolism disorder and inflammatory reactions, is gradually enriched by the "multiple-hit" theory, which includes multiple factors, such as insulin resistance and adipocyte dysfunction. In recent years, vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been reported to have the potential to regulate lipid metabolism and is expected to become a novel target for ameliorating metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes the regulatory role of VEGFB in the onset and development of NAFLD and illustrates its underlying molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the signaling pathway mediated by VEGFB in the liver may provide an innovative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD.

Co-existence effect of copper oxide nanoparticles and ciprofloxacin on simultaneous nitrification, endogenous denitrification, and phosphorus removal by aerobic granular sludge.

Nanoparticles and antibiotics are toxic to humans and ecosystems, and they inevitably coexist in the wastewater treatment plants. Hence, the co-existence effects and stress mechanism of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) on simultaneous nitrification, endogenous denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNEDPR) by aerobic granular sludge (AGS) were investigated here. The co-existence stress of 5 mg/L CuO NPs and 5 mg/L CIP resulted in the synergistic inhibitory effect on nutrient removal. Transformation inhibition mechanisms of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) with CuO NPs and CIP addition were time-dependent. Furthermore, the long-term stress mainly inhibited PO43--P removal by inhibiting phosphorus release process, while short-term stress mainly inhibited phosphorus uptake process. The synergistic inhibitory effect of CuO NPs and CIP may be due to the changes of physicochemical characteristics under the co-existence of CuO NPs and CIP. This further altered the sludge characteristics, microbial community structure and functional metabolic pathways under the long-term stress. Resistance genes analysis exhibited that the co-existence stress of CuO NPs and CIP induced the amplification of qnrA (2.38 folds), qnrB (4.70 folds) and intI1 (3.41 folds) compared with the control group.

Study on mechanical characteristics of anchor drilling rig group for rapid excavating.

Aiming at the imbalance problem of excavating and anchoring efficiency ratio in the underground coal mine, a new type of parallel operation unit of excavation-supporting-anchoring is proposed to improve the excavating efficiency. Considering the uneven factors of the roof and floor of the coal mine roadway, the influence of different drilling angles and leg support angles on the leg support force is studied under the condition of simultaneous drilling of multiple drilling rigs. The results show that the maximum support force is 4.002 KN when the leg angle is different and the drilling angle is different. By constructing the coupling vibration model of the multi-drill drilling process and using the Lagrange method to solve the vibration law of key components of the anchorage system, the vibration law of drill pipe under different influencing factors such as cantilever extension, multi-drill simultaneous drilling, and drilling incident angle is studied. The results showed: (1) The vibration of the drill pipe in the cantilever extension state is more severe than that in the retracted state, and the maximum vibration peak reaches 7.61 mm. (2) The vibration response of the drill pipe is the most intense under the condition of four top anchor drilling rigs drilling at the same time. Under the working condition of only two drilling rigs, the vibration response of the drill pipe is the smallest. (3) As the drilling angle of the drilling rig increases, the vibration response of the drill pipe is more severe and the vibration amplitude is larger. A test prototype is built to simulate the actual anchoring drilling process, and the vibration law of the support platform and the drilling rig is obtained through the vibration detection system. The test results show that the vibration law of the key components is approximately the same as the theoretical simulation results. The relevant theoretical results can provide a technical basis for the drilling stability of the anchoring system.

Rapid start-up of partial nitrification reactor by exogenous AHLs and Vanillin combined with intermittent aeration.

Quorum sensing (QS) and quorum quenching (QQ) are common phenomena in microbial systems and play an important role in the nitrification process. However, rapidly start up partial nitrification regulated by N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated QS or QQ has not been reported. Hence, we chose N-butyryl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) and N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) as the representative AHLs, and Vanillin as the representative quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) combined intermittent aeration to investigate their effects on the start-up process of partial nitrification. The start-up speed in the group with C4-HSL or C6-HSL addition was 1.42 or 1.26 times faster than that without addition, respectively. Meanwhile, the ammonium removal efficiency with C4-HSL or C6-HSL addition was increased by 13.87 % and 17.30 % than that of the control group, respectively. And, partial nitrification could maintain for a certain period without AHLs further addition. The increase of Nitrosomonas abundance and ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) activity, and the decrease of Nitrobacter abundance and nitrite oxidoreductase (NXR) activity were the reasons for the rapid start-up of partial nitrification in the AHLs groups. Vanillin addition reduced AMO and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) activity, and increased Nitrobacter abundance and NXR activity, thus these were not conducive to achieving partial nitrification. Denitrifying bacteria (Hydrogenophaga, Thauera and Aquimonas) abundance increased in the Vanillin group. QS-related bacteria and gene abundance were elevated in the AHLs group, and reduced in the Vanillin group. Function prediction demonstrated that AHLs promoted the nitrogen cycle while Vanillin enhanced the carbon cycle. This exploration might provide a new technical insight into the rapid start-up of partial nitrification based on QS control.

Vascular endothelial growth factor B improves impaired glucose tolerance through insulin-mediated inhibition of glucagon secretion.

BACKGROUND: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a homeostatic state between euglycemia and hyperglycemia and is considered an early high-risk state of diabetes. When IGT occurs, insulin sensitivity decreases, causing a reduction in insulin secretion and an increase in glucagon secretion. Recently, vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been demonstrated to play a positive role in improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Therefore, we constructed a mouse model of IGT through high-fat diet feeding and speculated that VEGFB can regulate hyperglycemia in IGT by influencing insulin-mediated glucagon secretion, thus contributing to the prevention and cure of prediabetes. AIM: To explore the potential molecular mechanism and regulatory effects of VEGFB on insulin-mediated glucagon in mice with IGT. METHODS: We conducted in vivo experiments through systematic VEGFB knockout and pancreatic-specific VEGFB overexpression. Insulin and glucagon secretions were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) was determined using western blot. Further, mRNA expression of forkhead box protein O1, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and glucose-6 phosphatase was detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between the expression of proteins was analyzed via bioinformatics. RESULTS: In mice with IGT and VEGFB knockout, glucagon secretion increased, and the protein expression of PI3K/AKT decreased dramatically. Further, in mice with VEGFB overexpression, glucagon levels declined, with the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: VEGFB/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 can promote insulin-mediated glucagon secretion by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to regulate glucose metabolism disorders in mice with IGT.

Short-term responses of the anammox process to Ni(II): nitrogen removal, mechanisms and inhibition recovery.

Anaerobic ammonia oxidizing (anammox) has already been recognized as an innovative and economical nitrogen removal technology. However, the effect of heavy metals on anammox bacteria in aquatic ecosystem remains largely unknown. Ni(II) is a common kind of heavy metals detected in industrial wastewater and municipal sewage treatment plants. Hence, the responses of the anammox process to Ni(II) were studied here. The results showed that anammox was the dominant reaction with Ni(II) concentrations no more than 25 mg/L. 1 mg/L of Ni(II) addition promoted nitrogen removal by anammox. The higher the Ni(II) concentrations and longer exposure time, the more inhibition for anammox bacteria was gotten. The IC50 of Ni(II) to anammox was determined as 83.86 mg/L by an exponential regression equation. The inhibition of Ni(II) on anammox activity was mainly attributed to intracellular accumulation Ni(II) inhibition to HDH activity. Two times increase of IC50 after 4 times circles of domestication suggests multiple intermittent domestication can increase the tolerance of anammox bacteria to Ni(II). EDTA washing can eliminate the inhibition of anammox activity by Ni(II) with Ni(II) addition no more than 25 mg/L.

Reducing VEGFB expression regulates the balance of glucose and lipid metabolism in mice via VEGFR1.

In recent years, studies have demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) can affect the metabolism of fatty acids and glucose, and it is expected to become a target for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. At present, the specific mechanism that VEGFB regulates lipid and glucose metabolism balance is not completely understood. The present study used systemic VEGFB gene­knockout mice to investigate the effects of downregulation of the VEGFB gene on lipid metabolism and insulin secretion, and to explore the mechanism of the VEGFB pathway involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. The morphological changes in the liver and pancreas of mice after VEGFB gene deletion were observed under a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and the effects of VEGFB gene deletion on lipid metabolism and blood glucose balance were detected by a serological technique. The detection indexes included total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low­density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL­C) and high­density lipoprotein cholesterol. Simultaneously, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin and glucagon were measured. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by using the insulin tolerance tests and glucose tolerance tests, and function of ß­cell islets was evaluated by using the insulin resistance index (HOMA­IR) and pancreatic ß­cell secretion index (HOMA­ß). Τhe protein expression changes of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in mouse islets were detected by western blotting and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) after the VEGFB gene was knocked down to analyze the mechanism of VEGFB that may be involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. It was observed that after VEGFB was knocked down, mouse hepatocytes exhibited steatosis and increased secretory vesicles in islet cells. The lipid metabolism indexes such as TG, TC and LDL increased significantly; however, the levels of FBS, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c decreased, whereas the glucose tolerance increased. Serum insulin secretion increased and HOMA­IR decreased since VEGFB was knocked down. Western blotting and RT­qPCR results revealed that the expression levels of VEGFR1 and neuropilin­1 decreased after the VEGFB gene was knocked down, while the expression levels of VEGFA and VEGFR2 increased. The absence of VEGFB may be involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in mice by activating the VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling pathway. VEGFB is expected to become a new target for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. At present, the mechanism of VEGFB involved in regulating lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism is not completely clear. It was identified that downregulating VEGFB improved lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. The role of VEGFB/VEGFR1 pathway and other family members in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism was detected, which provided a theoretical and experimental basis for VEGFB to affect the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism balance.