Identification and functional analysis of the Dof transcription factor genes in sugar beet.

In this study, members of the BvDof transcription factor family were identified in the beet genome data (Beta vulgaris L.) Through systematic analysis, 22 BvDof family genes were found in the beet genome, and they were divided into nine groups by phylogenetic analysis. Fifteen members of the BvERF family were involved in the transition to rapid root tuber growth. There was a tandem replication during the generation of the Dof gene family in sugar beet. Bv1_zfms, Bv_ofna, Bv5_racn, and Bv6_augo may be involved in the regulation of secondary cambium development in the beet root tuber. Bv9_nood, Bv1_zfms, and Bv6_cdca may be related to the growth rate of root tubers. The results provide a reference for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of the BvDof transcription factor, which regulates the development of beet root tubers.

The Plasma Concentration of Ticagrelor and Aspirin as a Predictor of Bleeding Complications in Chinese Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients With Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Prospective Observational Study.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the association among the plasma concentration of ticagrelor, ARC124910XX, aspirin, and salicylic acid with the risk of recent bleeding in patients with the acute coronary syndrome. To this end, we developed an accurate model to predict bleeding. METHODS: A total of 84 patients included in this study cohort between May 2021 and November 2021. The risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses, and statistically significant risk factors identified in the multivariate analysis were included in the nomogram. We used the calibration curve and the receiver operating characteristic curve to verify the accuracy of the prediction model. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic analysis showed that ticagrelor concentration (odds ratio [OR]: 2.47, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51-4.75, P = 0.002), ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (OR: 32.2, 95% CI, 2.37-780, P = 0.016), and lipid-lowering drugs (OR: 11.52, 95% CI, 1.91-110, P = 0.015) were positively correlated with bleeding. However, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (OR: 0.04, 95% CI, 0.004-0.213, P < 0.001) was negatively correlated with bleeding. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that ticagrelor concentration and these factors together predict the occurrence of bleeding (area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.945, 95% CI, 0.896-0.994) and that ticagrelor concentration >694.90 ng/mL is the threshold of bleeding concentration (area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.696, 95% CI, 0.558-0.834). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, ticagrelor concentration >694.90 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for bleeding (OR: 2.47, 95% CI, 1.51-4.75, P = 0.002), but ARC124910XX and salicylic acid concentration did not affect bleeding risk ( P > 0.05).

Genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression patterns of the BZR transcription factor family in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).

BACKGROUND: BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT (BZR) family genes encode plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) that participate in brassinosteroid signal transduction. BZR TFs have vital roles in plant growth, including cell elongation. However, little is known about BZR genes in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). RESULTS: Therefore, we performed a genome-wide investigation of BvBZR genes in sugar beet. Through an analysis of the BES1_N conserved domain, six BvBZR gene family members were identified in the sugar beet genome, which clustered into three subgroups according to a phylogenetic analysis. Each clade was well defined by the conserved motifs, implying that close genetic relationships could be identified among the members of each subfamily. According to chromosomal distribution mapping, 2, 1, 1, 1, and 1 genes were located on chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8, respectively. The cis-acting elements related to taproot growth were randomly distributed in the promoter sequences of the BvBZR genes. Tissue-specific expression analyses indicated that all BvBZR genes were expressed in all three major tissue types (roots, stems, and leaves), with significantly higher expression in leaves. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that Bv1_fxre and Bv6_nyuw are localized in the nuclei, consistent with the prediction of Wolf PSORT. CONCLUSION: These findings offer a basis to predict the functions of BZR genes in sugar beet, and lay a foundation for further research of the biological functions of BZR genes in sugar beet.

Influence of Water and Fertilizer Reduction on Respiratory Metabolism in Sugar Beet Taproot (Beta vulgaris L.).

Inner Mongolia, a major region in China for growing sugar beet, faces challenges caused by unscientific water and fertilizer management. This mismanagement restricts the improvement of sugar beet yield and quality and exacerbates water waste and environmental pollution. This study aims to evaluate the effects of reduced water and fertilizer on the growth and physiological metabolism of sugar beet taproot. Field experiments were conducted in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, in 2022 and 2023, using a split-plot design with three levels each of fertilization and irrigation. The study analyzed the effects of reduced water and fertilizer treatments on fresh taproot weight, respiration rate, energy metabolism, respiratory enzyme activity, and gene expression in sugar beet taproot. It was found that a 10% reduction in fertilizer significantly increased the beet taproot fresh weight. Further research revealed that during the rapid leaf growth phase and the taproot and sugar growth period, a 10% reduction in fertilizer upregulated HK and IDH gene expression and downregulated G6PDH gene expression in the beet taproot. This increased HK and IDH activities, decreased G6PDH activity, enhanced the activity of the EMP-TCA pathway, and inhibited the PPP. Taproot weight was positively correlated with the respiration rate, ATP content, EC, and ATPase, HK, and IDH activities, thereby increasing the taproot growth rate and taproot fresh weight, with an average increase of 4.0% over two years. These findings introduce a novel method for optimizing fertilizer use, particularly beneficial in water-scarce regions. Implementing this strategy could help farmers in western Inner Mongolia and similar areas improve crop yield and sustainability. This study offers new insights into resource-efficient agricultural practices, highlighting the importance of customized fertilization strategies tailored to local environmental conditions.

Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Colistin Sulphate in Treating Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms and Analysis of Influencing Factors.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of colistin sulfate in treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) and to analyze potential factors impacting its effectiveness. Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of CRO-infected patients from June 2020 to June 2023 were analyzed, divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and compared for clinical outcomes and adverse reactions. Multifactorial logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used to identify influencing factors. Results: The study included 226 patients, with 124 in the effective treatment group and 102 in the ineffective group. A total of 293 CRO strains were cultured. The clinical efficacy rate of colistin sulfate was 54.87%, the microbiological efficacy rate 46.46%, and the hospital mortality rate 20.80%, with nephrotoxicity observed in 11.50% of patients. Multifactorial analysis identified APACHE II scores and vasoactive drug use as independent predictors of ineffective treatment, while treatment duration and albumin levels predicted effective treatment. ROC analysis indicated that albumin levels >34 g/L, APACHE II scores <13, and treatment duration >10 days correlated with better clinical efficacy. Conclusion: Colistin sulfate is both safe and effective in clinical settings. Factors such as treatment duration, albumin levels, APACHE II scores, and vasoactive drug use independently affect its clinical efficacy, providing valuable guidance for its informed clinical application.

BvCPD promotes parenchyma cell and vascular bundle development in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) taproot.

Constitutive photomorpogenic dwarf (CPD) is a pivotal enzyme gene for brassinolide (BR) synthesis and plays an important role in plant growth, including increasing plant biomass and plant height, elongating cells, and promoting xylem differentiation. However, little is known about the function of the CPD gene in sugar beet. In the current study, we isolated CPD from Beta vulgaris L. (BvCPD), which encodes protein localized in the nucleus, cell membrane, and cell wall. BvCPD was strongly expressed in parenchyma cells and vascular bundles. The transgenic sugar beet overexpressing BvCPD exhibited larger diameter than that of the wild type (WT), which mainly owing to the increased number and size of parenchyma cells, the enlarged lumen and area of vessel in the xylem. Additionally, overexpression of BvCPD increased the synthesis of endogenous BR, causing changes in the content of endogenous auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA) and accumulation of cellulose and lignin in cambium 1-4 rings of the taproot. These results suggest that BvCPD can promote the biosynthesis of endogenous BR, improve cell wall components, promote the development of parenchyma cells and vascular bundle, thereby playing an important role in promoting the growth and development of sugar beet taproot.

Clinical Application Value of Lactobacillus Plantarum PS128 in Patients with Anxiety Disorders.

Objective: PS128 is a novel psycho biotic strain, it has been reported to play an important role in neuropsychiatric disorders. This study investigated the clinical effect of PS128 supplementation on patients with anxiety. Methods: A total of 200 patients with anxiety were recruited, and divided into two groups (n = 100/group). The control group received oral treatment with citalopram, and the PS128 group received PS128 capsules based on citalopram treatment. Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to evaluate the anxiety levels. After 2 months of continuous administration, clinical efficacy was evaluated according to HAMA score. Results: There was no significant difference in HAMA and SAS scores between the two groups before treatment. With the treatment prolonged, the HAMA and SAS score decreased gradually in both control and PS128 groups, and the decrease rate of PS128 group was significantly greater than that of the control group. The clinical effective rates of PS128 group were higher than those in the control group, high levels of clinical cure rate were also detected in the PS128 group. Compared with the control group (22%), the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly reduced for patients in the PS128 group (4%). Conclusion: The treatment effect of citalopram combined with PS128 against anxiety is satisfactory clinically. It can greatly improve the anxiety symptoms of patients, increase the cure rate, reduce adverse reactions.

Integration of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles Reveals Multiple Levels of Genetic Regulation of Taproot Growth in Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.).

Sugar beet taproot growth and development is a complex biological process involving morphogenesis and dry matter accumulation. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying taproot growth and development remain elusive. We performed a correlation analysis of the proteome and transcriptome in two cultivars (SD13829 and BS02) at the start and the highest points of the taproot growth rate. The corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.6189, 0.7714, 0.6803, and 0.7056 in four comparison groups. A total of 621 genes were regulated at both transcriptional and translational levels, including 190, 71, 140, and 220 in the BS59-VS-BS82, BS59-VS-SD59, BS82-VS-SD82, and SD59-VS-SD82 groups, respectively. Ten, 32, and 68 correlated-DEGs-DEPs (cor-DEGs-DEPs) were significantly enrdiched in the proteome and transcriptome of the BS59-VS-BS82, SD59-VS-SD82, and BS82-VS-SD82 groups, respectively, which included ribonuclease 1-like protein, DEAD-box ATP-dependent RNA helicase, TolB protein, heat shock protein 83, 20 kDa chaperonin, polygalacturonase, endochitinase, brassinolide and gibberellin receptors (BRI1 and GID1), and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH). In addition, Beta vulgaris XTH could enhance the growth and development of Arabidopsis primary roots by improving cell growth in the root tip elongation zone. These findings suggested that taproot growth and expansion might be regulated at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels and also may be attributed to cell wall metabolism to improve cell wall loosening and elongation.

Brassinosteroids promote parenchyma cell and secondary xylem development in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) root.

Increasing crop yield has always been an important goal in agriculture. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are growth-promoting steroid hormones with vital roles in many root developmental processes. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a root crop with a tertiary root structure. The differentiation of vascular bundles and the division of cambial cells increase root diameter. However, little is known about how BRs regulate the transverse growth of beetroot. Therefore, sugar beet with eight leaves was grown in medium containing epibrassinolide or brassinazole, an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis. BRs increased the spacing between the cambial rings by increasing the size of parenchyma cells between the rings and ultimately increasing root diameter. BRs also promoted secondary xylem differentiation. Moreover, the gene expression analysis of BvXTH33, BvSHV3, BvCESA6, BvPARVUS, and BvCEL1, which were related to the cell wall biosynthesis, indicated that BR could promote the growth of cell wall. These findings showed that BRs function in transverse development in beetroot.

Efficacy and Safety of Pramipexole Sustained Release versus Immediate Release Formulation for Nocturnal Symptoms in Chinese Patients with Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of pramipexole sustained release (SR) versus pramipexole immediate release (IR) in treating nocturnal symptoms in levodopa-treated Chinese patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and sleep disturbances. METHOD: SUSTAIN was an open-label, randomised, active-controlled parallel group exploratory pilot study (NCT03521635). A total of 98 patients were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to either pramipexole SR (n = 49) or pramipexole IR (n = 49) groups. The primary endpoint was a change from baseline in PD Sleep Scale 2nd version (PDSS-2) total score at 18 weeks. A reduction in score represents improvement. Secondary endpoints included Nocturnal Hypokinesia Questionnaire, Scales for Outcomes in PD Sleep Scale, Early Morning Off (EMO), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, PD Questionnaire-8, and responder rates as measured by PDSS-2 total score (<18), EMO scores (≥1 point change), Clinical Global Impression Improvement scale, and Patient Global Impression-Improvement scale. Other endpoints included motor complications (MDS-UPDRS part IV) score. Adverse events were evaluated for each group. RESULTS: The mean pramipexole dose for both groups was 1.5 mg/day at week 18, and the mean changes in PDSS-2 total score for pramipexole SR and IR were -13.7 (95% CI -16.0 to -11.4) and -14.4 (-16.8 to -12.0) (difference of 0.7; p=0.688). Change from baseline for both groups achieved the minimal clinical important difference threshold (MCID = -3.44). No significant difference was observed in change from baseline for other measures of sleep-related disturbances or responder rates. For motor complications, a greater improvement in MDS-UPDRS part IV score was observed in pramipexole SR over IR (-3.4 vs -2.3; treatment group difference: -1.1; p=0.036). Both groups had comparable safety profiles. CONCLUSION: In Chinese patients with advanced PD and sleep disturbances, pramipexole SR and IR have similar benefits in the treatment of nocturnal symptoms and safety, and an improvement from baseline in nocturnal symptoms was observed regardless of pramipexole formulation.

A new approach of specific determination for 6-chlorobenzo[a]pyrene and 7-chlorobenzo[a]anthracene in six different oils.

This study developed a new method for analysing 6-ClBaP and 7-ClBaA in six oil samples using liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction followed by GC-QQQ-MS. The recoveries of 6-ClBaP and 7-ClBaA were 44.26 ± 2.81% and 92.61 ± 4.09%, respectively. Both the instrument and method LODs were lower than 0.2 µg kg-1, while the intra-day and inter-day RSD were less than 5%. Five waste frying oils and one peanut oil were tested with the validated determination method. The concentrations of 6-ClBaP and 7-ClBaA in the tested samples ranged from no detection to 0.29 µg kg-1 and no detection to 0.20 µg kg-1, respectively. The data of 6-ClBaP and 7-ClBaA detected in this study suggest that a large scale of investigation on Cl-PAHs in foods is necessary.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oils and fatty foods: Occurrence, formation, analysis, change and control.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that dozens of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mutagenic, genotoxic and strongly carcinogenic. PAHs are found to be widely present in foods contaminated through multiple paths. Due to their lipophilic nature, these compounds easily accumulate in edible oils and fatty foods where they can range from no detection to over 2000µg/kg. Compared to precursor PAHs, researchers have seldom studied the presence of PAH derivatives, especially in food matrices. This chapter includes the physical and chemical characteristics of PAHs and their types, occurrence, sample pretreatment and instrumental determination methods, and their formation, change and control in edible oils and fatty foods. The occurrence and formation of PAH derivatives in foods are much less investigated compared to those of their precursor PAHs. Although the removal of matrix effects and accuracy remain difficult for current rapid determination methods, a prospective research direction of PAH analysis for large-scale screening is in demand. To date, physical absorption, chemical oxidation and biodegradation have been widely used in PAH removal techniques. Specific types of bacteria, fungi, and algae have also been used to degrade PAHs into harmless compounds. However, most of them can only degrade a range of LPAHs, such as naphthalene, anthracene and phenanthrene. Their ability to degrade HPAHs requires further study. Moreover, it is still a great challenge to maintain food nutrition and flavor during the PAH removal process using these methods.

Correlations of nitrogen removal and core functional genera in full-scale wastewater treatment plants: Influences of different treatment processes and influent characteristics.

The denitrification process is crucial for biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, the nitrogen removal efficiency in full-scale WWTPs with different treatment processes and influent characteristics was investigated. The results indicated that the average total nitrogen removal rate (NRR) and denitrification rate in the A/O or A2/O systems were 67.5% and 2.08 mg N h-1 gMLVSS-1, respectively. However, cyclic activated sludge systems (CASSs) showed more efficient nitrogen removal with an average NRR and denitrification rate of 79.6% and 9.89 mg N h-1 gMLVSS-1, respectively. The microbial communities in WWTPs with similar influent compositions were similar and mainly shaped by BOD5. Candidatus Competibacter, Caldilineaceae and Anaerolineaceae were the functional genera closely associated with nitrogen removal based on high-throughput sequencing and correlation analysis. This study provides new insights into the regulation and amelioration of full-scale WWTPs to meet the increasingly stringent nitrogen discharge standard.

Revealing hydrodynamic effects on flocculation performance and surface properties of sludge by comparing aeration and stirring systems via computational fluid dynamics aided calculation.

The effects of aeration and stirring systems on the physical properties of sludge were analyzed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The aims of this study were to (1) compare the effects of aeration and stirring on sludge properties using the same turbulent mixing intensity, and (2) to reveal the relationship between sludge properties and hydrodynamic indicators to determine how hydrodynamic conditions influence sludge flocculation. Mixing experiments with stirring and aeration were carried out in 2-L beakers with the average velocity gradient (G) set to 90, 190, or 280 s-1. The sludge flocculation performance, zeta potential, and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) were analyzed and the flow velocity, turbulence energy, turbulence dissipation rate, and Kolmogorov microscale were calculated as hydrodynamic parameters. The average flow velocity and the turbulence dissipation rate were obviously higher in the stirring system than in the aeration system at the same G. However, the turbulence energy and Kolmogorov microscale in the aeration system were much higher than those in the stirring system. Both the zeta potential and ΔG were lower in the aeration system than the stirring system. The zeta potential and ΔG results for the two systems suggest that aeration is more beneficial for sludge flocculation than stirring even though the sludge flocculation performance F/F0 in the stirring and aeration systems showed no obvious differences. Significant relationships between hydrodynamic parameters calculated based on the CFD model and average values of sludge properties in the stable phase showed that the Kolmogorov microscale, average flow velocity, and turbulence energy were appropriate hydrodynamic parameters for evaluating the flocculation performance F/F0, zeta potential, and ΔG, respectively.

Potential influences of exogenous pollutants occurred in waste activated sludge on anaerobic digestion: A review.

Anaerobic digestion is a promising approach for waste activated sludge (WAS) disposal. However, a wide range of exogenous pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, nanoparticles) exists in WAS and their influences on anaerobic digestion are neglected. This study investigates the correlations between exogenous pollutants and anaerobic digestion performance. The results indicate that exogenous pollutants exhibit dose-dependent influences on WAS digestion. Most of the pollutants improve the performance of anaerobic digestion by partially or wholly promoting the hydrolysis, acidification and methanogenesis processes at low dose, but exhibit negative effects at high levels due to their toxicity. Generally, methanogens are more vulnerable than those hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria. Poly-aluminum chloride and polyacrylamide show strong inhibition on WAS digestion, which are primarily attributed to their physical enmeshments of organic matters in WAS. The synergistic effects of different mixed pollutants and the mitigating strategies for typical pollutants inhibition deserve more attention in light of WAS anaerobic digestion.

Thrombolysis with alteplase 3-4.5 hours after acute ischaemic stroke: the first multicentre, phase III trial in China.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Data on the efficacy and safety of alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) administered 3-4.5 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms in Chinese patients is limited. We sought to determine whether AIS patients would benefit from thrombolysis with alteplase between 3 and 4.5 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms in a prospective, multicentre, single-arm trial in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible AIS patients were given 0.9 mg/kg alteplase intravenously. The primary efficacy endpoint was a favourable outcome at 3 months, defined as a score of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin Scale. Thresholds for the primary efficacy endpoint were determined to be 40% based on the literature review. The primary safety endpoint was symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study III (ECASS III) trial definition. Post hoc analysis between this study and the ECASS III trial were compared using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. RESULTS: A total of 120 eligible AIS patients from 11 sites in China received thrombolysis therapy in this study. The median time from onset of symptoms to needle was 3 hours 54 min. The percentage of patients with a favourable outcome was 63.3% (95% CI 54.4 to 71.4), significantly higher than the predefined threshold (p<0.0001). Three patients (2.5%, 95% CI 0.5 to 7.1) had sICH, including two fatal sICH. Six patients died within 3 months after treatment. The post hoc PSM analysis showed a numerically higher rate of the primary efficacy endpoint in this study (63.3%) than the matched placebo arm (56.7%) in the ECASS III trial. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous alteplase with a standard dose administered between 3 and 4.5 hours after onset of symptoms is effective and safe for Chinese AIS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02930837.

Determination of Parent and Oxygenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Waste Cooking Oil and Oil Deodorizer Distillate by GC-QQQ-MS.

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) are classes of contaminants that are present in the environment and food. They pose a great threat to human health because of their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Very few studies have focused on their concentration in waste cooking oil (WCO) and oil deodorizer distillate (ODD). Objective: This study aimed (1) to design a reliable method to determine 16 PAHs and 4 OPAHs in both WCO and ODD and (2) to determine and analyze PAH and OPAH concentrations in actual samples to provide references for further research. Method: The PAH determination approach included double liquid-liquid extraction, double solid-phase extraction, and GC-triple quadrupole tandem MS determination. Oxidation indices were determined by titrimetry. Results: The method reached good linearity (R² > 0.99) and an acceptable recovery rate (55.01-126.16% for WCO and 57.48-128.97% for ODD). Ten WCO and five ODD samples were determined, and the total concentration of 16 PAHs varied from 16.34 to 239.01 and 101.08 to 198.04 µg/kg in WCO and ODD, respectively. Among the 16 PAHs, three-ring PAHs typically contributed the most. It was also found that the acid value has a strong correlation with the concentration of OPAHs, probably because of the contribution of free fatty acids to OPAH formation. Conclusions: The proposed method was effective in the analysis of PAHs and OPAHs in WCO and ODD.

Physicochemical and Biological Effects on Activated Sludge Performance and Activity Recovery of Damaged Sludge by Exposure to CeO2 Nanoparticles in Sequencing Batch Reactors.

Recently, the growing release of CeO2 nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) into sewage systems has attracted great concern. Several studies have extensively explored CeO2 NPs' potential adverse impacts on wastewater treatment plants; however, the impaired activated sludge recovery potentials have seldom been addressed to date. To explore the physicochemical and biological effects on the activated sludge performance and activity recovery of damaged sludge by exposure to CeO2 NPs in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), four reactors and multiple indicators including water quality, key enzymes, microbial metabolites, the microbial community structure and toxicity were used. Results showed that 10-week exposure to higher CeO2 NP concentration (1, 10 mg/L) resulted in a sharp decrease in nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies, which were consistent with the tendencies of key enzymes. Meanwhile, CeO2 NPs at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L decreased the secretion of tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances to 0.13%, 3.14%, and 28.60%, respectively, compared to the control. In addition, two-week recovery period assays revealed that the functional bacteria Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae and Planctomycetes recovered slightly at the phyla level, as analyzed through high-throughput sequencing, which was consistent with the small amount of improvement of the effluent performance of the system. This reflected the small possibility of the activity recovery of damaged sludge.

Evaluation of optimum conditions for Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides encapsulated in cubosomes and immunological activity in vitro.

Cubosomes, as biocompatible carriers in drug delivery systems, consist of curved bicontinuous lipid bilayers. With a honeycombed structure divided into two internal aqueous channels, cubosomes could be used for many bioactive ingredients. Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABPs) are isolated from the roots of Achyranthes bidentata, used in Chinese herbal medicine, and present a noticeable effect as an immunomodulator. This study investigates the optimal preparation of combined cubosome-ABP (Cub-ABP) nanoparticles using response surface methodology and explores their characteristics and stability. The encapsulation efficiency of optimized Cub-ABPs was 72.59%. In-vitro stability studies demonstrated the stability of Cub-ABPs and cubosome nanoparticles without ABPs; both were stable for up to 25days. Safe concentrations of Cub-ABPs and cubosome nanoparticles without ABPs are 104.06µg/mL and 208.13µg/mL with comparatively low cytotoxicity against lymphocytes. Moreover, the feasible immunomodulatory effects of Cub-ABPs were determined by evaluating their proliferation and change of CD4+/CD8+ ratio on splenic lymphocytes in vitro. Proliferation and flow cytometry studies revealed that, compared with free ABPs and blank cubosomes, Cub-ABPs proved more effective in promoting lymphocyte proliferation and in triggering the transformation of T-lymphocytes into Th-cells.

Increased bioavailability of efonidipine hydrochloride nanosuspensions by the wet-milling method.

The aim of this study was to improve the oral bioavailability of a practically insoluble drug, efonidipine hydrochloride (EFH), by agglomeration in acid solution/gastric fluid. The EFH nanosuspension was prepared by the wet-milling method with F68 as a dispersing agent, SDS as an auxiliary stabilizer and l-arginine as a pH adjusting agent. The EFH nanosuspension have been prepared in industrial scale-up. The dissolution rate of the EFH nanosuspension was greater than that of bulk EFH. An in vitro intestinal permeability study showed a clear increase in the apparent permeability of different intestinal segments compared with bulk EFH. Also, a pharmacokinetic study showed that the Cmax and AUC0-24h of the nanosuspensions were approximately 1.76-fold and 2.2-fold greater than that of bulk EFH, respectively, and there was no significant difference compared with commercial tablets. It appears that wet-milling offers an effective approach to improve the dissolution rate and oral absorption of this practically insoluble drug.