Probiotic Supplement for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Probiotic supplements may have some potential in preventing gestational diabetes, and this meta-analysis aims to explore the efficacy of probiotic supplements to prevent gestational diabetes. METHODS: PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched, and we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of probiotic supplements on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus. Meta-analysis was performed using the fixed-effect or random-effect model as appropriate. RESULTS: Six RCTs were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention in pregnant women, probiotic supplementation intervention showed no obvious impact on the incidence of gestational diabetes (OR=0.68; 95% CI=0.39 to 1.20; P=0.18), fasting plasma glucose (SMD=-0.05; 95% CI=-0.29 to 0.19; P=0.69), 2 h-OGTT (SMD=-0.07; 95% CI=-0.27 to 0.13; P=0.47), gestational age (SMD=0.04; 95% CI=-0.14 to 0.21; P=0.69) or preeclampsia (OR=1.22; 95% CI=0.83 to 1.78; P=0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic supplementation was confirmed to have no benefits for the prevention of gestational diabetes.

The Long Noncoding RNA, LINC01555, Promotes Invasion and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer by Activating the Neuropeptide, Neuromedin U.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the role of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), LINC01555, on the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, its expression in CRC tissue, and its interaction with the neuropeptide, neuromedin U (NmU). MATERIAL AND METHODS LINC01555 expression in SW620 and HCT116 CRC cells, and NCM460 normal colorectal cells, and 48 resection specimens containing CRC and adjacent normal tissue, was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cox regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between LINC01555 expression and patient survival. The effects of LINC01555 expression on CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, the colony formation assay, and the transwell assay. Functional studies determined the interaction between LINC01555 and NmU in the development of CRC. RESULTS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset showed that LINC01555 was highly expressed in CRC tissue when compared with adjacent normal colorectal tissue. LINC01555 expression was positively correlated with tumor stage, but negatively correlated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) and was an independent risk factor for CRC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the diagnostic specificity of LINC01555 in CRC. Knockdown of LINC01555 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Functional studies showed that knockdown of NmU reduced cell migration and invasion of CRC cells that overexpressed LINC01555. CONCLUSIONS Increased expression of LINC01555 was found in CRC tissues and promoted the invasion of CRC cells by upregulating the expression of NmU.

An NMR-Based Metabolomic Approach to Unravel the Preventive Effect of Water-Soluble Extract from Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Mice.

Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo (D. officinale) is a precious herbal medicine. In this study, we investigated metabolic mechanism underlying the effect of D. officinale water extract (DOWE) on diabetes prevention in mice after streptozotocin (STZ) exposure using NMR-based metabolomics. Interestingly, we found a decrease in blood glucose and an increase in liver glycogen in mice pretreated with DOWE after STZ exposure. The DOWE pretreatment significantly increased citrate and glutamine in the serum as well as creatine, alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, glutathione and taurine in the liver of STZ-treated mice. Furthermore, serum glucose was significantly negatively correlated with citrate, pyruvate, alanine, isoleucine, histidine and glutamine in the serum as well as alanine and taurine in the liver. These findings suggest that the effect of DOWE on diabetes prevention may be linked to increases in liver glycogen and taurine as well as the up-regulation of energy and amino acid metabolism.

Profiling microRNA expression during multi-staged date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit development.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in multiple stages of plant development and regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional and translational levels. In this study, we first identified 238 conserved miRNAs in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) based on a high-quality genome assembly and defined 78 fruit-development-associated (FDA) miRNAs, whose expression profiles are variable at different fruit development stages. Using experimental data, we subsequently detected 276 novel P. dactylifera-specific FDA miRNAs and predicted their targets. We also revealed that FDA miRNAs function mainly in regulating genes involved in starch/sucrose metabolisms and other carbon metabolic pathways; among them, 221 FDA miRNAs exhibit negative correlation with their corresponding targets, which suggests their direct regulatory roles on mRNA targets. Our data define a comprehensive set of conserved and novel FDA miRNAs along with their expression profiles, which provide a basis for further experimentation in assigning discrete functions of these miRNAs in P. dactylifera fruit development.

Enhanced accuracy of optical platelet counts in microcytic anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether microcytic erythrocytes influence the accuracy of automated platelet (PLT) counting. METHODS: We divided a total of 206 K2 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-anticoagulated blood samples into 4 groups, as follows: In group 1 (control group), normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV > 80 fL) and PLT count equal or greater than 140,000/microL (n = 45); group 2, normal MCV, reduced PLT count (< 140 x 10(3)/microL, n = 41); group 3, microcytic samples with normal PLT count (n = 68); and group 4, microcytic samples with reduced PLT count (n = 49). We also compared the platelet counting using electroimpedance (PLT-EI), platelet count using fluorescent optical (PLT-FO), and platelet-count manual (PLT-M) methods, using the Sysmex XE 2100 automatic analyzer. RESULTS: Despite highly significant overall correlations between PLT-EI and PLT-FO, PLT-EI and PLT-M, and PLT-FO and PLT-M (r = 0.95 [all P < .001]), use of the PLT-EI method resulted in widely overestimated PLT counts in microcytic samples (MCV < 80 fL), compared with use of PLT-FO and PLT-M. Our results identify an MCV of 70 fL as the critical threshold below which PLT-EI became unreliable. CONCLUSION: The PLT-EI mode overestimated PLT counts compared with PLT-FO and PLT-M modes in microcytic blood. Therefore, PLT-FO is the preferred method for PLT counting in patients with microcytic anemia when using an automated analyzer.

The collagen matrix regulates the survival and function of pancreatic islets.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides an appropriate microenvironment for many kinds of cells, including pancreatic cells. Collagens are the most abundant components of the ECM. Type I, IV, V and VI collagen has been detected in pancreatic islets, and each type plays important role in the proliferation, survival, function and differentiation of pancreatic cells. In some cases, collagens show behaviours similar to those of growth factors and regulate the biological behaviour of ß cells by binding with certain growth factors, including IGFs, EGFs and FGFs. The transcriptional coactivator YAP/TAZ has been widely recognised as a mechanosensor that senses changes in the physical characteristics of the ECM and inhibition of YAP/TAZ enhances insulin production and secretion. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the destruction of insulin-producing ß cells. The crosstalk between collagens and immune cells plays a key role in the development and differentiation of immune cells. Further, Supplementation with collagens during islet transplantation is a promising strategy for improving the quality of the islets. But, excessive collagen deposition results in pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma. Targeting inhibit Piezo, autophagy or IL-6 may reduce excessive collagen deposition-induced pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma. This review provides insights into the treatment of T1DM to prolong life expectancy and provides the potential targets for treating collagen deposition-induced pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic carcinoma.

Investigating the epidemiological relevance of secretory otitis media and neighboring organ diseases through an Internet search.

Background: This study examined the epidemiological correlations between secretory otitis media (SOM) and diseases of neighboring organs. We measured changes in disease incidences during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic using Internet big data spanning from 2011 to 2021. Methods: This study used the Baidu Index (BI) to determine the search volume for the terms "secretory otitis media (SOM)", "tonsillitis", "pharyngolaryngitis", "adenoid hypertrophy (AH)", "nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)", "nasal septum deviation (NSD)", "rhinosinusitis", "allergic rhinitis (AR)", and "gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)" in Mandarin from January 2011 to December 2021. The correlations between these terms were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. The results were compared search data from 2019 and 2021 to assess the effects of isolation on SOM in 2020. Results: The seasonal variations trends of SOM and other diseases coincided well (P < 0.05), except for AR. During the 11-year timeframe, the monthly searches for rhinosinusitis, NSD, tonsillitis, pharyngolaryngitis, and NPC were statistically correlated with SOM (R = 0.825, 0.594, 0.650, 0.636, 0.664, respectively; P < 0.05). No correlation was found between SOM and AR, SOM and AH, or SOM and GERD (R =  - 0.028, R = 0.259, R = 0.014, respectively, P > 0.05). The total search volumes for SOM, rhinosinusitis, NPC, and AH decreased in 2020 compared to 2019. Discussion: SOM exhibited a discernible epidemiological connection with rhinosinusitis, nasal septal deviation (NSD), tonsillitis, pharyngolaryngitis, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A decrease in public gatherings was observed to effectively reduce the incidences of SOM. This underscores the pivotal role of social measures in influencing the prevalence of SOM and emphasizes the intricate interplay between SOM and various associated health factors, with implications for public health strategies.

Clinical efficacy of Huanglian Wendan decoction in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Huanglian Wendan decoction (HLWDD) is a traditional Chinese prescription, which has been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in recent years. However, no studies have evaluated its underlying clinical efficacy. Therefore, we used systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the clinical efficacy of HLWDD in treating T2DM. METHODS: The randomized controlled trials of HLWDD on T2DM were retrieved from Chinese and foreign databases. The primary outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), and glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1c (HbA1c). The secondary outcomes included fasting serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager and Stata software. Mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to describe results. The grades of recommendation assessment, development and evaluation approach was used to rate the quality of the evidence; and trial sequential analysis was used to evaluate the required information size and treatment benefits. RESULTS: Twenty-three randomized controlled trials were included in this study. We showed that HLWDD can improve FBG (MD = -0.99, 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.88), 2hPG (MD = -1.57, 95% CI: -1.97 to -1.17), HbA1c (MD = -1.11, 95% CI: -1.42 to -0.80), HOMA-IR (MD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.80 to -0.51), TC (MD = -0.65, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.42), TG (MD = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.27), LDL-c (MD = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.41), and HDL-c (MD = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.15) levels in T2DM patients. Trial sequential analysis suggested that the eficacy of HLWDD in improving FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c was sufficient to draw a firm conclusion. Grades of recommendation assessment showed that HLWDD only has high or moderate quality of evidence in improving FBG, and TG. CONCLUSION: HLWDD can improve blood glucose and blood lipid levels in T2DM patients, and may be a potential drug to treat T2DM.

Large-scale collection and annotation of gene models for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.).

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), famed for its sugar-rich fruits (dates) and cultivated by humans since 4,000 B.C., is an economically important crop in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and increasingly other places where climates are suitable. Despite a long history of human cultivation, the understanding of P. dactylifera genetics and molecular biology are rather limited, hindered by lack of basic data in high quality from genomics and transcriptomics. Here we report a large-scale effort in generating gene models (assembled expressed sequence tags or ESTs and mapped to a genome assembly) for P. dactylifera, using the long-read pyrosequencing platform (Roche/454 GS FLX Titanium) in high coverage. We built fourteen cDNA libraries from different P. dactylifera tissues (cultivar Khalas) and acquired 15,778,993 raw sequencing reads-about one million sequencing reads per library-and the pooled sequences were assembled into 67,651 non-redundant contigs and 301,978 singletons. We annotated 52,725 contigs based on the plant databases and 45 contigs based on functional domains referencing to the Pfam database. From the annotated contigs, we assigned GO (Gene Ontology) terms to 36,086 contigs and KEGG pathways to 7,032 contigs. Our comparative analysis showed that 70.6 % (47,930), 69.4 % (47,089), 68.4 % (46,441), and 69.3 % (47,048) of the P. dactylifera gene models are shared with rice, sorghum, Arabidopsis, and grapevine, respectively. We also assigned our gene models into house-keeping and tissue-specific genes based on their tissue specificity.

High-throughput sequencing-based gene profiling on multi-staged fruit development of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.).

Date palm provides both staple food and gardening for the Middle East and North African countries for thousands of years. Its fruits have diversified significantly, such as nutritional content, size, length, weight color, and ripping process. Dates palm represent an excellent model system for the study of fruit development and diversity of fruit-bearing palm species that produce the most versatile fruit types as compared to other plant families. Using Roche/454 GS FLX instrument, we acquired 7.6 million sequence tags from seven fruiting stages (F1-F7). Over 99% of the raw reads are assembled, and the numbers of isotigs (equivalent to transcription units or unigenes) range from 30,684 to 40,378 during different fruiting stages. We annotated isotigs using BLASTX and BLASTN, and mapped 74% of the isotigs to known functional sequences or genes. Based on gene ontology categorization and pathway analysis, we have identified 10 core cell division genes, 18 ripening related genes, and 7 starch metabolic enzymes, which are involved as nutrition storage and sugar/starch metabolisms. We noticed that many metabolic pathways vary significantly during fruit development, and carbohydrate metabolism (especially sugar synthesis) is particularly prominent during fruit ripening. Transcriptomics study on various fruiting stages of date palm shows complicated metabolic activities during fruit development, ripening, synthesis and accumulation of starch enzymes and other related sugars. Most Genes are highly expressed in early stages of development, while late developmental stages are critical for fruit ripening including most of the metabolism associated ones.

Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing and Heat Treatment of Super Martensitic Stainless Steel with a Refined Microstructure and Excellent Mechanical Properties.

Due to the advantages of relatively low cost, increased energy efficiency, increased deposition rate, and the capacity to create medium to large scale components, wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has gained growing interest. Super martensitic stainless steel (SMSS) combines outstanding strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, making it a great option for WAAM. In the present work, an SMSS component was successfully produced by WAAM. Additionally, the influence of post-manufactured heat treatment on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of SMSS components was systematically examined. A microstructural analysis of the as-printed and heat-treated samples revealed the formation of typical martensite and a small amount of retained austenite. However, the sample heat-treated by solutionizing at 1050 °C for 1 h followed by aging at 400 °C for 2 h exhibited a finer martensitic structure with an effective grain size of 5.6 µm compared to as-printed sample, leading to an increase in ultimate tensile strength from 1054 ± 6 MPa to 1141 ± 3 MPa with a concomitant increase in elongation from 7.8 ± 0.4% to 12.6 ± 0.2%. Additionally, the fracture morphology of the solution + aging sample demonstrated a more uniform distribution and greater mean size of dimples, indicating better ductility.

Microstructural Characteristics and Hardness Enhancement of Super Duplex Stainless Steel by Friction Stir Processing.

In the present study, microstructural evolution and hardness of the friction stir processed (FSPed) SAF 2507 super duplex stainless steel fabricated at a rotational speed of 650 rpm and a traverse speed of 60 mm/min were investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detector was used to study the microstructure of the stir zone. The grain sizes of austenite and ferrite in the FSPed 2507 were found to be smaller (0.75 and 0.96 µm) than those of the substrate (6.6 and 5.6 µm) attributed to the occurrence of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) in both phases. Higher degree of grain refinement and DRX were obtained at the advancing side of the FSPed specimens due to higher strain and temperature. A non-uniform hardness distribution was observed along the longitudinal direction of the SZ. The maximum hardness was obtained at the bottom (407 HV1).

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Coptis chinensis Franch.-containing traditional Chinese medicine as an adjunct therapy to metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: In China, Coptis chinensis Franch. (Chinese name: Huanglian) prescriptions (HLPs) are prominent hypoglycemic agents used in glycemic control. However, the curative effect of HLPs as adjunctive therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been evaluated. Based on a systematic review and a meta-analysis, this study was conducted to assess the effects of HLPs combined with metformin as a reinforcing agent for T2DM. Materials and methods: A total of 33 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on 2,846 cases concerning the use of HLPs in the treatment of T2DM were identified from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Weipu (VIP), Wanfang, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases. Primary outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin, type A1c (HbA1c), fasting serum insulin (FINS), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Secondary outcomes included total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and gastrointestinal dysfunction (GD). Continuous data were expressed as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed by Cochrane evidence-based medicine systematic evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Review Manager and Stata software. The required information size and treatment benefits were evaluated by trial sequential analysis (TSA). The quality of evidence was rated using the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: The results revealed that HLPs are beneficial to improve the following: FBG (MD = -1.16%, 95% CI: -1.24 to -1.07), 2hPG (MD = -1.64%, 95% CI: -1.84 to -1.43), HbA1c (MD = -0.78%, 95% CI:-0.96 to -0.60), FINS (MD = -1.94%, 95% CI: -2.68 to -1.20), HOMA-IR (MD = -0.77%, 95% CI: -1.28 to -0.27), TC (MD = -0.70%, 95% CI: -1.00 to -0.39), TG (MD = -0.57%, 95% CI: -0.74 to -0.40), LDL-c (MD = -0.70%, 95% CI: -0.97 to -0.43), and HDL-c (MD = -0.21%, 95% CI: -0.32 to -0.10) for patients with T2DM. The funnel plot, Egger's test, and trim-and-fill method indicated a moderate publication bias in the results. The TSA showed that the required sample size of HLPs in improving FBG, 2hPG, HbA1c, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c could sufficiently draw reliable conclusions. GRADE assessment revealed that the quality of the evidence for the effectiveness of HLPs in improving FBG was moderate, but the quality of evidence for 2hPG, HbA1c, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c was low, and for GD was very low. Conclusion: The systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that HLPs were beneficial for achieving glycemic control. However, HLPs recommended for T2DM patients have yet to be confirmed because of the poor methodological quality of some trials. Therefore, more RCTs with multicenter and double-blind designs are needed to assess the efficacy of HLPs for patients with T2DM.

Corrigendum: Systematic review and meta-analysis of Coptis Chinensis Franch. -containing traditional Chinese medicine as an adjunct therapy to metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.956313.].

[Analysis of first-time hearing screening tests among singlets and twin neonates in neonatal intensive care unit].

Objective:To investigate the failure in the hearing screening test among twin neonates in neonatal intensive care unit （NICU） and to further clarify the etiology of neonatal hearing impairment, thus to provide insights into prevention and early intervention. Methods:Automated auditory brainstem response（AABR）, distortion product otoacoustic emission（DPOAE） and acoustic immittance were performed on 1452 neonates（including 130 twins） admitted in NICU from January 2015 to June 2018 and the risk factors including premature birth, hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, etc. were analyzed retrospectively by univariate chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:The incidence of C-section, premature birth, hyperbilirubinemia, low birth weight, very low birth weight, in-vitro fertilization, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome and formula or mixed feeding among twin neonates were significantly higher than those of singleton neonates （P<0.05）. The pass rates of the first-time AABR, DPOAE and acoustic immittance were significantly lower than singleton neonates. The proportion of twin neonates who failed the initial screening but recovered in the following test was as high as 72.86%. AABR pass rate was correlated with congenital heart disease, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, C-section and （very） low birth weight. The pass rate of DPOAE was correlated with low birth weight and C-section. The pass rate of acoustic immittance was correlated with preterm birth, C-section, low birth weight, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. The pass rate of diagnostic ABR was associated with gestational diabetes. And the pass rate of diagnostic DPOAE was associated with maternal age ≥40 years old. Conclusion:The first-time hearing screening pass rate of twin neonates in NICU is lower than that of neonatal singleton. Most twin neonates who fail in the first screening test will recover. Preterm birth, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, （very） low birth weight, congenital heart disease, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, maternal age ≥ 40 years old and C-section are associated with the first-time failure in hearing screening tests among twin neonates, thus entailing close follow-up.

Heavy metal enrichment in drinking water pipe scales and speciation change with water parameters.

Pipe scales that form in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) can accumulate pollutants that may be re-released into bulk water, posing a significant threat to water safety. This study aims to evaluate the pollutant enrichment capacity of the pipe scale and identify speciation changes in heavy metals under variations in water quality. When the water quality conditions changed, the forms of inorganic metal elements in drinking water pipe scales also changed and the proportion of unstable forms increased, thereby increasing the risk of secondary pollution. Morphological analysis showed that the pipe scale samples had porous structures and large specific surface areas (the maximum was 52.94 m2/g, which is higher than that of many natural adsorbents), which could promote the accumulation of contaminants. XRD profiles also showed that the pipe scale samples were rich in substances with heavy metal adsorption capacities, such as Fe3O4. As the pH changed from 6 to 10, no significant difference in the release of heavy metals was found. The maximum release of Cu, Cr, As, Pb, and Cd at pH 8 was 0.56, 0.51, 1.82, 0.84, and 0.72 µg/g, respectively. Although the amounts were small, the speciation distribution of the heavy metals changed significantly. In addition, the proportion of unstable fractions increased, which increased the release risk of the pipe scale. The presence of humic acid accelerated the dissolution of organic matter and metals in the pipe scale, which further proved that the pipe scales were unstable and susceptible to water quality conditions. The pipe scales could not maintain stability when the water quality changed, and the DWDS should be regularly monitored and cleaned when necessary.

Impact of Staining Methods and Human Factors on Accuracy of Manual Reticulocyte Enumeration.

Although peripheral blood reticulocyte enumeration reflects bone marrow functional integrity, which is important for differential diagnosis of hematological diseases, the factors affecting its accuracy have not been adequately addressed. Using 100 consecutive venous blood samples being processed with four supravital staining techniques [i.e., brilliant cresyl blue (BCB), new methylene blue (NMB), and BCB/NMB with Liu's stain] for reticulocyte enumeration, two technologists (senior vs. junior) conducted microscopic counting. The results were compared with those obtained with an automated system (Sysmex XE-5000) that served as the standard. The aims of this study were to identify (1) the technique that gave the most reliable outcome, and (2) possible human factors (i.e., seniority, repeated counting) that may affect the counting results. Analysis showed least bias (i.e., deviation from automated counting) associated with BCB staining, followed by NMB. In addition, the senior observer exhibited a higher bias in counting compared with their junior counterpart. Repeated counting also correlated with a higher rate of bias. Nevertheless, inter-observer consistency was high (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.95) and inter-/intra-observer variations were non-significant (both p > 0.05). Our results supported the use of BCB stain for reticulocyte enumeration and the reliability of manual counting despite the involvement of human factors, which had negligible impacts on the final outcomes.

Field studies of aluminum release and deposition in drinking water distribution systems.

Aluminum (Al) release and deposition in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) are highly detrimental to tap water quality. In this study, five drinking water treatment plant supply areas in two cities of China were examined to understand the transportation stability of Al in the DWDS. The two cities were selected based on the wide disparity reported in pH and turbidity in the finished and tap water qualities, with higher fluctuation of pH (average 8.0) and turbidity (average 0.78 NTU) reported in the northern and southern cities, respectively. Results showed that hydraulic conditions such as hydraulic shock or increased flow velocity had a more significant effect on the release and deposition of particulate Al, which could be reflected by turbidity when it was greater than 0.3 NTU, since turbidity and particulate Al were significantly positively correlated. Particulate Al concentration varied by more than 140 µg/L when turbidity fluctuated within 0.45-1.67 NTU. However, when turbidity was below 0.3 NTU, the particulate Al transported stably at low concentration. pH fluctuations contributed to the change of soluble Al concentration. Even above 50 µg/L soluble Al in the finished water could transport stably in the DWDS when pH fluctuated slightly in 6.6-7.0. However, when the pH fluctuated in 7.8-8.4, the soluble Al concentration varied by more than 100 µg/L. This study provides reference indicators of turbidity and pH for identifying the risk of Al in the DWDS.

Control of disinfection byproducts in drinking water treatment plants: Insight into activated carbon filter.

The removal efficiencies of disinfection byproducts formation potentials (DBPFPs) and generated DBPs under pre-chlorination condition (pre-generated DBPs) during different drinking water treatment trains in eight full-scale drinking water treatment plants (WTPs) were investigated through field and laboratory studies. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs) were identified to be two representative DBPs based on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments. The performances of advanced treatment train for HAAs and HANs were better than that of conventional treatment train. However, the efficacy of ozone - biological activated carbon (O3-BAC) was affected by its service time and position in the water treatment process. In addition, the consumption of free chlorine by activated carbon in old granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was higher than that in new one under pre-chlorination condition, resulting in the increase of HAAs and HANs in the GAC filter effluent. This demonstrated that the organic matter adsorbed on older activated carbon generated more HAAs and HANs during pre-chlorination, which inhibited the adsorption of pre-generated DBPs. The ability of GAC/O3-BAC to remove HAAs and HANs was consistent with that of protein-like and low molecular weight organic substances, which could predict the performance of GAC and O3-BAC in treating DBPs.