Characteristics of vanadium release from layered steel pipe scales to bulk, steady, and occluded water in drinking water distribution systems.

The release of vanadium (V) from drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) can endanger water quality and human health. Therefore, in this study, the physicochemical characteristics of old steel pipe scales were analyzed, and dynamic pipeline devices were constructed. Subsequently, static release experiments were conducted to find an optimum scale-water ratio and investigate the release behaviors of V in lumpy pipe scales. Besides, the release behaviors of V from layered pipe scales to bulk, steady, and occluded water under the combined effect of multiple water quality conditions were studied for the first time. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was adopted to explain the release behaviors of V in the dynamic pipeline. Results revealed that the adsorption performance of the layered scales decreased in the order of surface layer > porous core layer > hard shell-like layer. The release behaviors of V in the lumpy pipe scales were mainly divided into rapid desorption and colloidal agglomeration stages. The Double constant and Weber-Morris models can suitably describe release stage I (R2 > 0.919) and release stage II (R2 > 0.948), respectively. Notably, the release of V was aggravated by low pH, high temperature, and high SO42- concentration, and the release amount of V in the pipeline was more significant than the layered pipe scales. Steady water in the gaps of scales contained more V than bulk water, and the malignant occluded water encased in scales contained relatively low V concentrations. In short, the main mechanism of V release was competitive adsorption in the early stage, and pH was the main influencing factor in the later stage. The above results are of great significance for revealing the release behaviors of V and reducing its release in DWDS.

Effect of Trilobatin from Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd on Gut Microbiota of Obese Rats Induced by a High-Fat Diet.

Trilobatin was identified as the primary bioactive component in the Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd (LPR) leaves. This study explored the antiobesity effect of trilobatin from LPR leaves and its influence on gut microbiota in obese rats. Results showed that trilobatin could significantly reduce body and liver weight gain induced by a high-fat diet, and the accumulation of perirenal fat, epididymal fat, and brown fat of SD (Male Sprague-Dawley) obese rats in a dose-independent manner. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations increased, especially the concentration of butyrate. Trilobatin supplementation could significantly increase the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, CF231, Bacteroides, and Oscillospira, and decrease greatly the abundance of Blautia, Allobaculum, Phascolarctobacterium, and Coprococcus, resulting in an increase of the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes (except the genera of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway predicted by the Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) indicated the different relative metabolic pathways after trilobatin supplementation. This study may reveal the contribution of gut microbiota to the antiobesity effect of trilobatin from LPR leaves and predict the potential regulatory mechanism for obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Thinned-Young Apple Polyphenols Inhibit Halitosis-Related Bacteria Through Damage to the Cell Membrane.

The thinned young apple is a by-product and is generally discarded in the orchard during fruit thinning. The polyphenol content of thinned young apples is about 10 times more than that of ripe apples. In our study, the antibacterial effect of thinned young apple polyphenols (YAP) on the halitosis-related bacteria including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedius, and Fusobacterium nucleatum was investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of YAP against P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and F. nucleatum were 8.0, 8.0, and 12.0 mg/ml, while the minimum bactericidal concentrations were 10.0, 10.0, and 14.0 mg/ml, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that after YAP treatment, the membrane surface of halitosis-related bacterial cells was coarse and the cell wall and membrane were separated and eventually ruptured. The integrity of the cell membrane was determined by flow cytometry, indicating that the cells with the integrity membrane significantly reduced as the YAP concentration treatment increased. The release of proteins and nucleic acids into the cell suspension significantly increased, and the membrane potential reduced after the YAP treatment. This research illustrated the antibacterial mechanism of YAP against halitosis-related bacteria and provided a scientific basis of utilizing the polyphenols from the discarded thinned young apples.

Mitigation effects of phlorizin immersion on acrylamide formation in fried potato strips.

BACKGROUND: Several researches reported that natural polyphenols affected acrylamide formation of fried products. However, the effects of different variety of polyphenols on acrylamide formation were distinct. In this study, we isolated and purified phlorizin from apples and identified the influence of phlorizin immersion on acrylamide formation and sensory properties of fried potato strips with regard to the immersion concentration, time and temperature. RESULTS: The acrylamide formation of fried samples decreased as the phlorizin concentration increased from 0 to 0.3 g kg-1 , and 0.14 g kg-1 could be selected as the suitable immersion concentration to dramatically inhibit acrylamide formation with considering the cost of industrial production. Additionally, the acrylamide formation significantly reduced from 8.71 × 10-3 to 2.13 × 10-3 g kg-1 lyophilized weight (LW) with immersion time from 0 to 120 min, and 60 min could be selected to significantly reduce acrylamide formation in consideration of efficiency of the large-scale industrial processing. However, the effect of phlorizin immersion temperature on acrylamide formation of fried samples was not significant. Compared to the fried samples without immersion, the phlorizin immersion improved the color properties and the change of texture parameters was slight. CONCLUSION: The fresh potato strips immersed in the phlorizin solution of 0.14 g kg-1 at 40 °C for 60 min before frying could significantly decrease acrylamide formation of fried samples and retain the majority of fresh sensorial properties. The significant correlations obtained between sensory properties and acrylamide content indicated the sensory properties could be used as the indicator of acrylamide levels during industrial processing. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

LncRNA SNHG4 promotes osteosarcoma proliferation and migration by sponging miR-377-3p.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as crucial regulatory factors in the occurrence and progression of osteosarcoma. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) and miR-377-3p in osteosarcoma cells and tissues. Kaplan-Meier method was applied for evaluating the association between SNHG4 expression and the overall survival of osteosarcoma patients. CCK8, EdU, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were performed to examine the cell proliferation, apoptosis, cycle, and migration of osteosarcoma cells. RESULTS: In our study, we found that lncRNA SNHG4 was highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Additionally, the SNHG4 expression was related to distant metastasis, TNM stage, and survival of osteosarcoma patients. Through SNHG4 knockdown, the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells was considerably restrained and the cell apoptosis was induced in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, downregulated SNHG4 inhibited the cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HOS and MG63 cells. In mechanism, we found that SNHG4 acts as a competing endogenous RNA to sponge miR-377-3p, which is downregulated in osteosarcoma. Our results showed that there is a negative correlation between SNHG4 and miR-377-3p expression in osteosarcoma patients. CONCLUSION: Taken together, SNHG4 promotes cell proliferation and migration by sponging miR-377-3p in osteosarcoma.

[A comparative study of technique of humeral ending insertion of rotator cuff under arthroscopy and traditional techniques in the treatment of giant rotator cuff tear].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of arthroscopic humeral ending insertion of rotator cuff, and to provide a scheme for the treatment of giant rotator cuff tears. METHODS: From February 2014 to April 2018, 40 patients with giant rotator cuff tears were operated on and divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 20 patients, including 8 males and 12 females, aged 42 to 82(57.55±8.90) years, with a course of 1 h to 2 years;the treatment of giant rotator cuff tears was carried out by using the technique of rotator cuff moving inward at the humeral head stop and reconstructing complete rotator cuff. The control group consisted of 20 patients, including 10 males and 10 females, aged 45 to 75 (57.75±9.10) years, with a course of 1 h to 5 years;after traditional cleaning, part of the rotator cuff was sutured or in situ high tension suture was used to treat the huge rotator cuff tear. The clinical effect of the two groups was evaluated by VAS, constant and UCLA. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 to 14 months. The VAS, Constant score, UCLA score before operation of two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation (P<0.05);the VAS, Constant score, UCLA score and excellent effect of the study group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic transposition of rotator cuff and humerus ending insertion is a feasible method for the treatment of giant rotator cuff tears, which relieves shoulder pain and improves function satisfactorily.