Oxalic-activated minerals enhance the stabilization of polypropylene and polyamide microplastics in soil: Crucial roles of mineral dissolution coupled surface oxygen-functional groups.

Low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) prevalent in soil environments may influence the transport, fate, and orientation of microplastics (MPs) by mediating mineral interfaces. Nevertheless, few studies have reported their impact on the environmental behavior of MPs in soil. Here, the functional regulation of oxalic at mineral interfaces and its stabilizing mechanism for MPs were investigated. The results showed that oxalic drove MPs stability onto minerals and new adsorption pathways, which are dependent on the bifunctionality of minerals induced by oxalic acid. Besides, our findings reveal that in the absence of oxalic acid, the stability of hydrophilic and hydrophobic MPs on kaolinite (KL) mainly displays hydrophobic dispersion, whereas electrostatic interaction is dominant on ferric sesquioxide (FS). Moreover, the amide functional groups ([NHCO]) of PA-MPs may have positive feedback on the stability of MPs. In the presence of oxalic acid (2-100 mM), the MPs stability efficiency and property onto minerals were integrally increased in batch studies. Our results demonstrate the oxalic acid-activated interfacial interaction of minerals via dissolution coupled O-functional groups. Oxalic-induced functionality at mineral interfaces further activates electrostatic interaction, cation bridge effect, hydrogen forces, ligand exchange and hydrophobicity. These findings provide new insights into the regulating mechanisms of oxalic-activated mineral interfacial properties for environmental behavior of emerging pollutants.

lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 Could Be an Indicator to Identify Prognosis and Status of Immune Microenvironment in Thyroid Cancer.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is prone to recurrence, and biomarkers for predicting progression-free interval (PFI) are poorly explored. The study investigates the predictive value and underlying biological mechanisms of lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 in TC. Combining RNA-seq and survival data, we identified that CDKN2B-AS1 was upregulated in TC samples and could be an excellent prognostic indicator. To exclude confounding factors, we divided patients into different subgroups using median CDKN2B-AS1 expression, and the effects of CDKN2B-AS1 on PFI and clinical features were explored in different clinical subgroups. Meanwhile, ssGSEA and ESTIMATE algorithms revealed that CDKN2B-AS1 overexpression may suggest the active state of the immune microenvironment. On the other hand, enrichment analysis also proved the potential influence of CDKN2B-AS1 on immune regulation in TC. Finally, we created a CDKN2B-AS1, microRNAs, and TFs network and discovered a new biomarker (CDKN2B-AS1) that might be employed as a therapeutic target in TC patients.

A novel heterozygous mutation of CHD7 gene in a Chinese patient with Kallmann syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Variants of chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7) gene are commonly associated with Kallmann syndrome (KS) and account for 5-6% of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) cases. Here we report a novel mutation of CHD7 gene in a patient with KS, which may contribute to the better understanding of KS. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old male patient with KS and a chief complaint of delayed puberty for 13 years (Tanner B Stage< 4) was admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China) in September 2019. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) showed low bone density in both lumbar spine (L1 ~ L5 mean Z-score - 3.0) and femoral neck (Z-score - 2.7). Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pituitary and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed no abnormal findings. Ophthalmological evaluation showed that his both eyes showed exotropia, and no sight loss was noted. Heterozygous c.1619G > T mutation of TCD7 gene (p.G4856V) was detected, whereas none of his family members had this mutation. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) were injected for three times/week to treat idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). After several months of therapy, the patient's health condition improved. His testicles became larger, and his secondary sexual characteristics improved after treatment. CONCLUSION: Exploration of the novel splice-site mutation of CHD7 may further our current understanding of KS.

Marrow adiposity as an indicator for insulin resistance in postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes - an investigation by chemical shift-encoded water-fat MRI.

BACKGROUND: Marrow fat accumulates in diabetic conditions but remains elusive. The published works on the relationships between marrow fat phenotypes and glucose homeostasis are controversial. PURPOSE: To detect the association of insulin resistance with marrow adiposity in postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) using chemical shift-encoded water-fat MRI. METHODS: We measured vertebral proton density fat fraction (PDFF) by 3T-MRI in 75 newly diagnosed T2D and 20 nondiabetic postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD), whole body fat mass and lean mass were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin sensitivity was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Lumbar spine PDFF was higher in women with T2D (65.9 ± 6.8%) than those without diabetes (59.5 ± 6.1%, P = 0.009). There was a consistent inverse association between the vertebral PDFF and BMD. PDFF had a positive association with glycated hemoglobin and HOMA-IR but not with fasting plasma glucose and insulin. PDFF was significantly increased, and BMD was decreased in a linear trend from the lowest (<1.90) to highest (≥2.77) HOMA-IR quartile. Multivariate linear regression analyses revealed a positive association between log-transformed HOMA-IR and PDFF after adjustment for multiple covariates (ß = 0.382, P < 0.001). The positive association of HOMA-IR with PDFF remained robust when total body lean mass and fat mass, BMD was entered into the multivariate regression model, respectively (ß = 0.293 and ß = 0.251, respectively; all P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated HOMA-IR was linked to higher marrow fat fraction in postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed T2D independently of body compositions.

Oxytocin treatment prevents marrow adiposity observed in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits using proton MR spectroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin might be used therapeutically as an ally to rescue osteopathy resulting from diabetes. However, the in vivo effects of oxytocin on marrow adipogenesis in diabetes remain unknown. In this longitudinal study, we aimed to investigate the protective ef-fects of oxytocin on diabetes-induced marrow adiposity in rabbits using proton MR spectroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five female New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into controls, diabetes, and diabetes treated with oxytocin (ip, 0.78 mg/kg) for six months. Marrow fat fraction (FF) was determined by proton MR spectroscopy at baseline, and at three and six months. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum biomarkers, glycolipid metabolism, and histological analysis of marrow adipocytes were determined. RESULTS: Oxytocin treatment had positive metabolic effects in diabetic rabbits, which was based on the changes in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles. The diabetic rabbits demonstrated dramatic marrow adiposity in a time-dependent manner; at three and six months the FF percentage changes from baseline were 10.1% and 25.8%, respectively (all P < 0.001). Moreover, oxytocin treatment significantly reversed FF values and quantitative parameters of marrow adipocyte in diabetic rabbits to levels of naive control rabbits. Oxytocin improved bone formation marker in diabetic rabbits compared to the saline group. Also, treatment of diabetic rabbits with oxytocin significantly mitigated bone deterioration when compared with the saline-treated diabetic group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oxytocin appears to alleviate harmful effects of hyperglycaemia on marrow adiposity. Proton MR spectroscopy may be a valuable tool, providing complementary information on efficacy assessments.

Association between insulin resistance and the magnetic resonance spectroscopy-determined marrow fat fraction in nondiabetic postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical consequences of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia on marrow lipid remain elusive. We aimed to explore the effects of anthropometric and biochemical measures, that is, estimates of insulin resistance, on marrow lipid accumulation in nondiabetic postmenopausal women using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. METHODS: The study participants were 91 nondiabetic postmenopausal women. Marrow fat fraction (FF) at the L3 vertebral body by single-voxel MR spectroscopy and bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were measured. Their glucose and lipid metabolism were determined by biochemical analysis, and their insulin sensitivity was evaluated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Adjusted for multiple covariates including age, years since menopause, body mass index, alcohol intake, tobacco use, physical activity, and serum lipid profile, the mean FF was significantly increased, and BMD at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip decreased as quartiles of HOMA-IR increased (P for trends <0.01). HOMA-IR had a positive association with FF (mean difference 0.300, P < 0.001) and a negative association with BMD at the lumbar spine (mean difference -0.182, P = 0.016), total hip (mean difference -0.219, P = 0.001), and femoral neck (mean difference -0.195, P = 0.013). The above described associations of HOMA-IR with FF, lumbar spine, and total hip BMD remained essentially unchanged; however, the association with femoral neck BMD lost significance after adjusting for the aforementioned confounders. CONCLUSION: In nondiabetic postmenopausal women, insulin resistance is correlated with marrow lipid expansion. This association persists after adjusting for the body mass index and other potential covariates, suggesting an independent effect of insulin resistance on marrow adiposity.