Morphological, Microstructural, and In Situ Chemical Characteristics of Siderite Produced by Iron-Reducing Bacteria.

Dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) oxidize organic matter or hydrogen and reduce ferric iron to form Fe(II)-bearing minerals, such as magnetite and siderite. However, compared with magnetite, which was extensively studied, the mineralization process and mechanisms of siderite remain unclear. Here, with the combination of advanced electron microscopy and synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) approaches, we studied in detail the morphological, structural, and chemical features of biogenic siderite via a growth experiment with Shewanella oneidensis MR-4. Results showed that along with the growth of cells, Fe(II) ions were increasingly released into solution and reacted with CO32- to form micrometer-sized siderite minerals with spindle, rod, peanut, dumbbell, and sphere shapes. They are composed of many single-crystal siderite plates that are fanned out from the center of the particles. Additionally, STXM revealed Fh and organic molecules inside siderite. This suggests that the siderite crystals might assemble around a Fh-organic molecule core and then continue to grow radially. This study illustrates the biomineralization and assembly of siderite by a successive multistep growth process induced by DIRB, also provides evidences that the distinctive shapes and the presence of organic molecules inside might be morphological and chemical features for biogenic siderite.

Association of leptin receptor polymorphisms with susceptibility of non-small cell lung cancer: Evidence from 2249 subjects.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increasing dramatically. It is believed that energy metabolism-related genes could play an important role in etiology of NSCLC. In this study, we sought to assess the correlation between three LEPR single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1137101, rs1137100 and rs6588147) with NSCLS susceptibility. In total, 1193 NSCLC cases and 1056 controls were included. SNPscan™ genotyping method was used to analyze the genotypes of LEPR polymorphisms. Compared to rs6588147 GG in LEPR gene, this study identified a protective role of LEPR rs6588147 GA and GA/AA for the occurrence of NSCLC (GA vs. GG [p = 0.021] and GA/AA vs. GG [p = 0.030]). As well, we found that a protective role of LEPR rs6588147 for the occurrence of non-SCC subgroup (p < 0.05). By logistic regression analysis, we found that the rs6588147 A allele related genotypes might play a protective role for the occurrence of NSCLC in drinking, BMI ≥24 kg/m2, smoking and male subgroups. We also found that the rs1137101 A allele related genotypes played a protective role for the occurrence of NSCLC in male, younger participants (under 59 years) and overweight/obesity (BMI ≥24 kg/m2) subgroups. We found that LEPR Ars1037100Ars1037101Ars6588147 haplotype might play a protective role for the occurrence of NSCLC (p = 0.013). In addition, our findings indicated that LEPR rs1137100 G>A SNP might increase the risk of lymph node metastases (p = 0.038). This study highlights that LEPR rs6588147, rs1137101 genotypes and LEPR Ars1037100Ars1037101Ars6588147 haplotype are correlated with the occurrence of NSCLC. LEPR rs1137100 G>A SNP increases the risk of lymph node metastases.

Response of Chlorella vulgaris to exposure to CuO NPs: Contributions of particulate and dissolved metal forms as modulated by tannic acid and pH.

A suspension of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) is a mixture of dissolved and particulate Cu, the relative proportions of which highly depend on the water chemistry. However, the relationship between different proportions of particulate and dissolved Cu and the overall toxicity of CuO NPs is still unknown. This study investigated the response of Chlorella vulgaris to CuO NPs at varying solution pH and at different tannic acid (TA) additions, with a focus on exploring whether and how dissolved and particulate Cu contribute to the overall toxicity of CuO NPs. The results of the exposure experiments demonstrated the involvement of both dissolved and particulate Cu in inducing toxicity of CuO NPs, and the inhibition of CuO NPs on cell density of Chlorella vulgaris was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated with increased levels of TA and pH (< 8). Using the independent action model, the contribution to toxicity of particulate Cu was found to be enhanced with increasing pH values and TA concentrations. The toxic unit indicator better (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001) explained impacts of CuO NPs on micro-algae cells than commonly used mass concentrations (R2 = 0.27-0.77, p < 0.05) across different levels of pH and TA. Overall, our study provides an additivity-based method to improve the accuracy of toxicity prediction through including contributions to toxicity of both dissolved and particulate Cu and through eliminating the uneven distribution of data due to large variations in total Cu, particulate Cu, dissolved Cu, Cu2+ activities, Cu-TA complexes and other Cu-complexes concentrations with varying water chemistry conditions.

Erosion Life Prediction of Metal Mesh Screen Pipes in Oil Wells Based on Numerical Simulation of Discrete Particle Flow.

High-speed fluid-carried sand particles pose a significant challenge to oil well screen pipes, leading to sand control failure and adversely affecting the well's production and recovery rates. This research targets the commonly used metal mesh screen pipe in oil well sand production and establishes a full-sized three-dimensional structure model. A fluid-solid coupling of discrete particle flow numerical simulation algorithm is incorporated to formulate a novel method for predicting the screen pipe's erosion life. This method provides a solution to the complex task of predicting the pipe's lifespan under oil sand fluid erosion. The analysis elucidates the impact of sand particles on the velocity distribution and erosion rate of the metal mesh at varying velocities, facilitating the prediction of the mesh screen pipe's erosion life. Key findings reveal that the velocity and erosion rate vary across the different layers. The first layer screen experiences velocity and erosion rates that are 3.6-3.76 times and 2.45-2.50 times, respectively, higher than those at the inlet. The second layer screen undergoes velocity and erosion rates 2.32-2.43 times and 1.04-1.06 times, respectively, higher than those at the inlet. Erosion failure primarily occurs in the first layer screen due to velocity expansion instigated by the screen tube's structure. The discrete flow numerical simulation method proves valuable in predicting the mesh screen's erosion life at different flow rates, with a maximum error of 6.38% when compared with field monitoring life values. This method introduces a new technical approach to predicting the life span of metal mesh screens in oil wells. The study concludes by suggesting measures to extend the screen pipe's lifespan, thereby enhancing oil recovery.

Antagonizing exosomal miR-18a-5p derived from prostate cancer cells ameliorates metastasis-induced osteoblastic lesions by targeting Hist1h2bc and activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

More than 50% of prostate cancer (PCa) patients have bone metastasis with osteoblastic lesions. MiR-18a-5p is associated with the development and metastasis of PCa, but it remains unclear whether it is involved in osteoblastic lesions. We first found that miR-18a-5p was highly expressed in the bone microenvironment of patients with PCa bone metastases. To address how miR-18a-5p affects PCa osteoblastic lesions, antagonizing miR-18a-5p in PCa cells or pre-osteoblasts inhibited osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Moreover, injection of PCa cells with miR-18a-5p inhibition improved bone biomechanical properties and bone mineral mass in vivo. Furthermore, miR-18a-5p was transferred to osteoblasts by exosomes derived from PCa cells and targeted the Hist1h2bc gene, resulting in Ctnnb1 up-regulation in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Translationally, antagomir-18a-5p significantly improved bone biomechanical properties and alleviated sclerotic lesions from osteoblastic metastases in BALB/c nude mice. These data suggest that inhibition of exosome-delivered miR-18a-5p ameliorates PCa-induced osteoblastic lesions.

Treatment of humeral shaft fractures with different treatment methods: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Humeral shaft fractures (HSFs) can be treated non-operatively (Non-OP), with open reduction and plate osteosynthesis (ORPO), minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), or with intramedullary nails (IMN). However, the best treatment for HSFs still remains controversial.We performed a network meta-analysis to explore which should be the best method for HSFs. METHODS: The computerized search had been conducted on electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Medline from the establishment of the database to the end of December 2022. The quality evaluation of the included literature had been completed by Review Manager (version 5.4.1). Stata 17.0 software (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA)was used for network meta-analysis.We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing different treatments to treating HSFs. RESULTS: The pairwise comparison results demonstrated that there was no statistical difference between IMN, MIPO, Non-OP, and ORPO in terms of radial nerve injury and infection, and Non-OP presented significantly more nonunion than ORPO, IMN, and MIPO. However, no statistically significant difference between ORPO, IMN, and MIPO was discovered. The results of the network meta-analysis displayed that surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities of IMN, MIPO, Non-OP, and ORPO in radial nerve injury were 46.5%, 66.9%, 77.3%, and 9.3%, respectively, in contrast, that in infection were 68.6%, 53.3%, 62.4%, and 15.4%, respectively, and that in nonunion were 51.7%, 93.1%, 0.7%, and 54.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We came to the conclusion that MIPO is currently the most effective way to treat HSFs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Name of the registry: Prospero, 2. Unique Identifying number or registration ID: CRD42023411293.

Immobilization of arsenic in different contaminated soils by zero-valent iron-embedded biochar: Effect of soil characteristics and treatment conditions.

Although zero-valent iron-embedded biochar (ZVI-BC) has been proposed as an effective amendment for arsenic (As)-contaminated soils, the impacts of soil characteristics and treatment conditions on the remediation process remained poorly understood. Herein, the immobilization of As in four As-contaminated soils (i.e., smelting soil, storage soil, agricultural soil, and mining soil) by ZVI-BC under different amendment dosages, cultivation temperatures, and soil moisture contents were investigated. ZVI-BC showed high As immobilization capacity in all four soils via forming the AsFe co-precipitation, and the liable As was reduced by 82.4-97.0 % with a 2 % (w/w) amendment. The higher temperature could raise the concentration of liable As in all four soils, especially for the storage soil, in which liable As at 35 °C was almost 3 times of that at 25 °C after 50-days treatment, because the elevated temperature enhanced the destruction of the generated AsFe coprecipitation as well as the desorption of As in soils. Too much soil moisture was unfavorable for the As immobilization after 50-days treatment. Flooding tended to inhibit the community diversity of As-detoxicated bacteria, e.g., Halomonas, Bryobacter, and Anaerolinea, thus resulting in the release of liable As. According to the correlation analysis, the crucial influencing factor for As immobilization was different in four soils, which was determined by the soil properties and proportion of liable As. Our study indicates that ZVI-BC is an effective amendment for As immobilization under various conditions, and the biogeochemical processes of As-associated Fe minerals determine the As immobilization during amendment.

Vitamin B complex blocks the dust fall PM2 .5 -induced acute lung injury through DNA methylation in rats.

This study aimed to explore whether vitamin B complex (folic acid, B6 , and B12 ) could avert DNA methylation changes associated with inflammation induced by acute PM2.5 exposure. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered by gavage with different concentrations of vitamin B complex once a day for 28 days, and then by intratracheal instillation with saline or PM2.5 once every 2 days for three times. Vitamin B continued to be taken during the PM2.5 exposure. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last exposure. The results showed that vitamin B complex could block the pathological changes and injury in lungs induced by PM2.5 . Meanwhile, vitamin B complex could prevent the abnormal DNA methylation of IL-4 and IFN-γ to antagonize the imbalance of IL-4/IFN-γ associated with inflammation. It was further found that vitamin B complex could regulate DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and increase the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) ratio to reverse the hypomethylation of genomic DNA and the abnormal DNA methylation of IL-4 and IFN-γ. In conclusion, vitamin B complex has a protective effect on acute lung injury by attenuating abnormal DNA methylation induced by PM2.5 in rats. This study may provide a new insight into the physiological function of vitamin B to prevent the health effects induced by PM2.5 .

Roles of soil active constituents in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole by biochar/persulfate: Contrasting effects of iron minerals and organic matter.

The biochar/persulfate (BC/PS) has been extensively applied in the degradation of organic contaminants in the aqueous solutions. However, much less work has been done on the degradation of organic contaminants in soil by BC/PS, especially on the unclear roles of soil active constituents in the degradation. This study was conducted to investigate the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in two soils through PS oxidation activated by biochar. Biochar was produced via the pyrolysis of peanut shell at 400 °C and 700 °C, which was denoted as BC400 and BC700, respectively. Two soils used were red soil and paddy soil, mainly differing in iron minerals and organic matter. Both biochar promoted SMX degradation (42.6 %-90.7 %) in two soils, compared to PS alone (20.9 %-41.7 %). In BC400/PS system, the free radicals were the dominant reactive species for SMX degradation, while the electron transfer pathway played a vital role in the SMX degradation by BC700/PS. Higher SMX degradation was observed in red soil (41.7 %-97.8 %) than that in paddy soil (20.3 %-94.8 %), which was ascribed to the promotion of iron minerals in red soil yet the inhibition of organic matter in paddy soil. Specifically, the reaction between ≡Fe(III)/≡Fe(II) and PS on the surface of iron minerals in red soil generated more SO4•- and •OH, resulting in the enhanced SMX degradation. However, the consumption of free radicals and suppression of electron transfer pathway by organic matter in paddy soil inhibited SMX degradation. As the comparative carbonaceous materials to biochar, graphite exerted no obvious degradation effect, whereas activated carbon exhibited the comparable promoting efficacy to BC700. Both biochar, especially BC700, significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated the adverse effects of PS treatment on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth. Overall, this study demonstrates that biochar/persulfate was effective in SMX degradation in soil and the degradation was affected by soil iron minerals and organic matter, which should be paid more attention in the persulfate remediation of organic contaminated soils at a specific site.

Multisegment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) combined with Ponte osteotomy in degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) surgery: a minimum of five years' follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) with the administration of multisegment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) combined with Ponte osteotomy long-level fixation fusion, as well as to identify the factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: This was a retrospective single-centre study involving comprehensive clinical data. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS) outcomes, and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22) questionnaire were recorded to assess HRQOL. A correlation analysis was performed to determine the association between HRQOL and radiographic parameters. RESULTS: A total of 41 consecutive patients (15 males and 26 females) met the inclusion criteria with a follow-up of 8.62 ± 1.20 years. Factors associated with HRQOL were significantly improved post-operation. Global sagittal parameters, including the sagittal vertebral axis (SVA) and T1 pelvic angle (TPA), and local parameters, including apical vertebral translation (AVT) and apical vertebral rotation (AVR), were significantly improved at the last follow-up. Significantly strong correlations between each clinical and radiographic parameter were demonstrated. Moreover, a multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the differences in AVT and AVR were significantly correlated with the difference in lumbar lordosis (LL), which was significantly correlated with the differences in SVA and TPA. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of DLS with multisegment TLIF accompanied by Ponte osteotomy and long-level fixations improved the quality of life of patients with a long-term effect. AVR correction is an important factor for LL restoration that significantly correlates with improvements in the sagittal balance parameters SVA and TPA, which are key factors for guaranteeing good HRQOL.

Subcellular localization and compartment-specific toxicokinetics of cadmium, arsenic, and zinc in brandling worm Eisenia fetida.

Awareness of toxicokinetics at the subcellular level is crucial to deciphering the underlying intoxication processes of metal(loid)s, although this information is often lacking. Here, the toxicokinetics of two non-essential metal(loid)s (Cd and As) and one essential metal (Zn) in both the whole body and subcellular fractions of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) were assessed. Earthworms were exposed to natural soils originating from a gradient of metal(loid) pollution for 14 days followed by a 14-day elimination phase in clean soil. Clearly distinct toxicokinetic patterns were found in the earthworms according to the metal(loid) considered. An obvious concentration-dependent increase was observed in earthworms or subcellular compartments where no equilibrium was reached (with slow or no elimination) for Cd and As throughout the experiment. As for Zn, the earthworms were able to retain a steady-state concentration of Zn in its body or each fraction without a clear intake behavior via the dynamic trade-off between uptake and elimination at different pollution levels. These differences in toxicokinetics at the subcellular level supported the observed differences in bioaccumulation patterns and were indicative of the strategy by which non-essential and essential elements are handled by earthworms. Notably, the concentration of Cd and As in subcellular compartments showed the same pattern as for Zn in the order of cellular cytosol > cellular debris > metal-rich granules, which might be associated with the binding of non-essential/essential elements with metallothionein enriched in the cytosol. Our findings enhance the understanding of the underlying mechanisms for metal(loid) accumulation kinetics in earthworms from the perspective of subcellular partitioning, and will be beneficial for accurate risk assessment of Cd, As, and Zn.

Symptomatic Complete Discoid Medial Meniscus Completely Coalesced with the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Complete discoid medial meniscus is an extremely rare abnormality of the knee joint whose meniscus has a discoid shape rather than a normal semilunar one. Several medial meniscus anomalies including anomalous insertion have been reported in the literature. This report presents a rare case of symptomatic complete discoid medial meniscus whose anterolateral (apical) portion was completely coalesced with the ACL. MRI, radiographic, and arthroscopic findings in the medial compartment are to be submitted. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old male presented with intermittent pain and swelling of the right knee for 2 years. Based on radiographic, MRI, and physical examination findings, he was diagnosed with discoid medial meniscus tears. Arthroscopic saucerization was performed for the torn discoid medial meniscus of the right knee. Arthroscopic examination revealed a complete discoid medial meniscus and the anterolateral (apical) portion of which was completely coalesced with the ACL. Careful Probing of the meniscal surface revealed there was a longitudinal tear extending from the tibial spine to the midportion of the meniscus. Arthroscopic saucerization of the discoid meniscus was performed after closely cutting the meniscus around the ACL. The patient reported no symptoms, and he had returned to his daily and sports activities, including football, basketball, and jogging, at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Complete discoid medial meniscus is an extremely rare abnormality, and this case presents the third complete discoid medial meniscus whose anterolateral (apical) portion was completely coalesced with the ACL. The current case we present strongly supports the hypothesis that ACL and meniscus were differentiated from the same mesenchyme.

Oil spills enhanced dispersion and transport of microplastics in sea water and sand at coastal beachheads.

The coastal zone is being under the threat by accumulation of microplastics (MPs), with much of MPs ending up on the beachhead. Oil spills, which frequently happen in coastal zones due to oil pipe leakage or oil drilling, may affect the behavior of MPs in the beachheads. Herein, sea water and sea sand were collected from three different coastal beachheads including Bohai Sea (BS), East Sea (ES), and South Sea (SS), China, to investigate how the oil spills affect the dispersion and transport of MPs in sea water and sand. The oil spills greatly enhanced the dispersion of MPs in all three sea waters by forming MPs-oil-dispersant agglomerates, which increased the electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance between MPs particles. Accordingly, the aggregation rates of MPs were reduced from 1.7-8.86 nm min-1 to 0.39-1.29 nm min-1. The lowest salinity and highest dissolved organic carbon content in SS sea water favored the highest dispersion of MPs, compared to BS and ES sea water. The improved dispersion of MPs with oil spills enhanced their transport in sea sand with an increase of effluent rates from 0-18.8 % to 5.78-42.2 % for BS and from 30.5-45.2 % to 35.0-60.0 % for SS one. However, the transport of MPs in ES sea sand was lower than 3.62 %, even with oil spills, which was attributed to the strong adsorption of MPs by the rich Fe/Al oxides in ES sea sand through electric attraction. Modeling also showed that oil spills increased the migration rate of 10 mg g-1 MPs accumulated in the surface 0-1 cm sea sand from 6.50-13.8 cm year-1 to 8.17-16.7 cm year-1 after 1500 mm rainfall for 3 years, and the strongest transport of MPs was observed in SS sea sand, with the highest cumulative flux and the longest maximum migration depth as 0.089-0.120 mg/cm2 and 50 cm, respectively. These results indicated that the dispersion and transport of MPs can be enhanced by oil spills, but regulated by sea water salinity for MPs dispersion and sea sand Fe/Al oxides for MPs transport, which advanced our understanding of the transport and transformation of MPs in coastal zones.

Maffucci syndrome complicated by giant chondrosarcoma in the left ankle with an IDH1 R132C mutation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Maffucci syndrome (MS) is a rare, nonhereditary congenital mesodermal dysplasia characterized by multiple enchondromas and hemangiomas, associated with an increased risk of developing malignant tumors. Given their rarity, the pathogenesis of these tumors has not been clarified, and there is no standard treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 45-year-old man with MS to supplement the clinical manifestations and explore the molecular mechanism of MS. The patient underwent amputation surgery to inhibit tumor development and was diagnosed with MS with 1-2 grade giant chondrosarcoma in the left ankle. In addition, the whole exon analysis results revealed isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) R132C mutation in chondrosarcoma lesions but not in blood DNA. CONCLUSIONS: This case report showed MS complicated by giant chondrosarcoma in the left ankle with an IDH1 R132C mutation, which is appropriate to monitor the development of MS pathology and other concomitant lesions.

Contrasting resistance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to atmospheric oxidation influenced by burning conditions.

The oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determines their lifetime, toxicity and consequent environmental and climate impacts. The residential solid fuel burning composes of a substantial fraction of PAH emissions; however, their oxidation rate is yet to be explicitly understood, which is complicated by the contrasting emission factors under different combustion conditions and their subsequent evolution in the atmosphere. Here we used a plume evolution chamber using ambient oxidants to simulate the evolution of residential solid fuel burning emissions under real-world solar radiation, and then to investigate the oxidation process of the emitted PAHs. Contrasting oxidation rate of PAHs was found to be influenced by particles with or without presence of substantial amount of black carbon (BC). In the flaming burning phase, which contained 46% of BC mass fraction and 8% of organic aerosol (OA) internally mixed with BC, the larger PAHs (with 4-7 rings) was rapidly oxidized 12% for every hour of evolution under solar radiation; however, the larger PAHs from smoldering phase tended to maintain unmodified during the evolution, when 95% of OA was externally mixed with only minor fraction of BC (<5%). This may be ascribed to the complex morphology of BC, allowing more exposure for the internally-mixed OA to the oxidants; in contrast with those externally-mixed OA which was prone to be coated by condensed secondary substances. This raises an important consideration about the particle mixing state in influencing the oxidation of PAHs, particularly the coating on PAHs which may extend their lifetime and environmental impacts.

Retrospective Analysis of Sagittal Balance Parameters and Clinical Efficacy After Short-Segment Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery with Different Fusion Devices.

Objective: To compare the cervical sagittal balance parameters and clinical efficacy of three fusion devices after short-segment anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Patients and Methods: Retrospectively analyzed 516 patients with cervical spondylosis who underwent surgery at our hospital from May 2013 to May 2019. All patients had complete data and were divided into three groups according to the selected fusion cage. Neck and upper limb pain were assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) score. Neurological function was evaluated by the modified Japanese Orthopedics Society (mJOA) score. Also, the curvature of the cervical spine and the occurrence of dysphagia were observed. Results: There were no significant differences in the general information, thoracic inlet angle, T1 slope, or surgical data among the groups (p>0.05). There were significant differences in the scores between pre- and postoperatively in the different groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the C2-C7 Cobb angle or C2-C7 sagittal vertebral axis before the operation among the groups (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in the correction and loss of correction among the groups postoperatively and on follow-up (p>0.05). Dysphagia was less likely in the Zero-P VA fusion group than in the other two groups. Conclusion: Different fusion instruments can relieve the symptoms. In the Prodisc-C Vivo group, no significant improvement in cervical sagittal balance was achieved. A good effect on improving sagittal balance was observed in both the Zero-P VA fusion and Skyline anterior cervical titanium plate groups, but a better effect on preventing dysphagia was observed in the Zero-PVA fusion group.

Contrasting effects of dry-wet and freeze-thaw aging on the immobilization of As in As-contaminated soils amended by zero-valent iron-embedded biochar.

Zero-valent iron-embedded biochar (ZVI/BC) is considered as an effective material for arsenic (As) immobilization in soil, but the stability of As after remediation against aging remains unknown. Herein, the effects of dry-wet and freeze-thaw aging on the immobilization of As in two As-contaminated soils amended by ZVI/BC were evaluated. ZVI/BC showed high immobilization capacity for As-contaminated soils with an over 82% decrease of bioavailable As, mainly due to the As-Fe co-precipitation accompanied with ZVI oxidation. The aging of dry-wet and freeze-thaw had an opposite effect on the bioavailability of As. After 35 rounds of dry-wet aging, bioavailable As concentration increased from 1.25-9.50 to 1.83-21.75 mg/kg, because of the oxidation dissolution of ZVI and the formation of mobile reduced As(III). By contrast, the crystallization of amorphous iron with the structural incorporation of sorbed As and the oxidation of As(III) into stable As(V) occurred during the 35 rounds of freeze-thaw aging, leading to the decrease of bioavailable As concentration from 9.50-1.25 to 5.42-0.45 mg/kg. Our results revealed that the stability of soil As after remediation by ZVI/BC varied with the different aging process, which needs more consideration for the long-term soil As immobilization in the different whether areas.

Corrigendum: CDT1 is a Novel Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.721644.].

Therapeutic Mechanism and Clinical Observation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Interventional Recanalization for Tubal Infertility.

To observe the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with interventional recanalization therapy in the treatment of tubal obstructive infertility, first, different treatment approaches were used on rabbits, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that interventional recanalization combined with TCM can significantly ameliorate the pathological condition of the fallopian tube after treatment. Moreover, ELISA disclosed that the treatment could significantly reduce the levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and increase the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), which demonstrated that TCM therapy can help against inflammation of the fallopian tubes. PCR array analysis revealed that BMP4, BMPR1A, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4, and KLF10 expressions were upregulated, and SMAD7 expression was downregulated, proving that combined treatment could influence gene expression in the TGF-ß family and further regulate the secretion of proteins in SMADs. In addition, a clinical study recorded the fallopian tube patency rate of 165 patients after 12 months. The recanalization rates in the two groups were 81.9% and 53.1%, with the higher rates in the combined medicine enema group. All these findings implied that interventional recanalization combined with TCM preparation has a stronger effect. The mechanism probably involves effects on the expression of genes in the TGF-ß/SMAD and BMP/SMAD signaling pathways, with simultaneous regulation of inflammatory factors, thereby improving the ovarian environment and increasing pregnancy rates.