Emission of odorous volatile organic compounds from a municipal manure treatment plant and their removal using a biotrickling filter.

Odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from municipal manure treatment facilities are considered as a major nuisance issue for operators and nearby residents. In this study, up to 71 odorous VOCs were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at the manure treatment plant. These compounds can be classified into five different categories, including alkanes, olefins, aromatics, volatile organosulphur compounds and terpenes. Toluene, dimethyl disulphide, dimethyl sulphide, xylene and ethylbenzene were the five most abundant pollutants. A pilot-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) was employed to treat the complex odorous gases. Correlation analysis showed that the removal efficiency (RE) of the BTF was related with the molecular weight and chemical structure of contaminants. Higher than 85% of REs could be reached for aromatic, terpenes and most alkanes compounds after 180 days of operation. Comparatively, most olefins and partial alkanes compounds with a molecular weight lower than 70 were not removed easily. The REs of these compounds ranged from 0% to 94%, and the average removal efficiency (RE) was only about 33.3%.

Long-term statins administration exacerbates diabetic nephropathy via ectopic fat deposition in diabetic mice.

Statins play an important role in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Increasing attention has been given to the relationship between statins and insulin resistance, but many randomized controlled trials confirm that the therapeutic effects of statins on diabetic nephropathy are more beneficial than harmful. However, further confirmation of whether the beneficial effects of chronic statin administration on diabetic nephropathy outweigh the detrimental effects is urgently needed. Here, we find that long-term statin administration may increase insulin resistance, interfere with lipid metabolism, leads to inflammation and fibrosis, and ultimately fuel diabetic nephropathy progression in diabetic mice. Mechanistically, activation of insulin-regulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway leads to increased fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, statins administration increases lipid uptake and inhibits fatty acid oxidation, leading to lipid deposition. Here we show that long-term statins administration exacerbates diabetic nephropathy via ectopic fat deposition in diabetic mice.

Loss of pigment epithelium-derived factor leads to ovarian oxidative damage accompanied by diminished ovarian reserve in mice.

AIMS: This study aims to investigate the pathophysiological role and mechanism of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) deletion in ovarian damage. METHODS: Female PEDF-knockout mice and their wild-type littermates were used in this study. Relevant tests were performed at 8-10 weeks or 32 weeks of age. KEY FINDINGS: Compared to the wild-type mice, the PEDF-knockout mice showed diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), worse ovum quality after injection to induce controlled ovarian stimulation, increased serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and an follicle stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (FSH/LH) ratio. Moreover, severe ovarian oxidative damage was found in ovaries of PEDF-knockout mice that mainly manifested as an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF­E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway activation, significantly upregulated expression of ROS-generating genes. Correspondingly, the PEDF-knockout mice exhibited lipid metabolism disorder and insulin resistance, which mainly manifested as obesity, abdominal fat accumulation, adipocyte enlargement, severe ectopic fat deposition, dyslipidemia, changes in adipokine levels, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, impaired insulin tolerance and significantly declined protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation levels. SIGNIFICANCE: Loss of PEDF leads to ovarian oxidative damage accompanied by DOR in mice, this is related to PEDF deficiency induced severe insulin resistance and lipid metabolism disorder. Therefore, PEDF may be a potential target for the treatment of diseases related to ovarian oxidative damage.