The impact of continuous cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum on soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and fruiting body metabolites.

To explore the impacts of continuous Ganoderma lucidum cultivation on soil physicochemical factors, soil enzyme activity, and the metabolome of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies, this study conducted two consecutive years of cultivation on the same plot of land. Soil physicochemical factors and enzyme activity were assessed, alongside non-targeted metabolomic analysis of the Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies under continuous cultivation. The findings unveiled that in the surface soil layer (0-15 cm), there was a declining trend in organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase, whereas nitrate nitrogen, electrical conductivity (EC), and salt content exhibited an upward trend. Conversely, in the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm), organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available potassium, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase demonstrated a decreasing trend, while nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, pH, EC, salt content, polyphenol oxidase, and soil peroxidase showed an increasing trend. Metabolomic analysis of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies distinguished 64 significantly different metabolites between the GCK and GT groups, with 39 components having markedly higher relative contents in GCK and 25 components having significantly lower relative contents in GCK compared to GT. Moreover, among these metabolites, there were more types with higher contents in the fruiting bodies harvested in the first year (GCK) compared to those harvested in the second year (GT), with pronounced differences. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that GCK exhibited more complex metabolic pathways compared to GT. The metabolites of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were predominantly influenced by soil physicochemical factors and soil enzyme activity. In the surface soil layer (0-15 cm), the metabolome was significantly affected by soil pH, soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and soil alkaline phosphatase, while in the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm), differences in the Ganoderma lucidum metabolome were more influenced by soil alkaline phosphatase, soil catalase, pH, nitrate nitrogen, and soil sucrase.

Capsiate ameliorates secondary hyperparathyroidism by improving insulin sensitivity and inhibiting angiogenesis.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism has a significant impact on the overall well-being of the body. Capsiates, known for their antioxidant and metabolic properties, have emerged as a promising alternative treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism. This study aims to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of capsiates in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. To achieve our research objectives, we conducted a study on patients' serum and examined changes in metabolic markers using serum metabolomics. We induced secondary hyperparathyroidism in rat through dietary intervention and divided them into four groups. The first group, referred to as the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) group, received a low-calcium and high-phosphate diet (0.2% calcium, 1.2% phosphorus). The second group served as the control group, receiving a standard phosphate and calcium diet (0.6% calcium, 0.6% phosphorus). The third group, called the capsiates group, consisted of rat from the control group treated with capsiates (intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg capsiates for 2 weeks after 2 weeks of dietary intervention). The fourth group was the capsiates-treated PTH group. Subsequently, we conducted ribose nucleic acid (RNA) sequencing on parathyroid gland cells and evaluated serum thyroxine levels, oxidative stress, expression of proteins associated with vascular neogenesis, measurement of SOD, GSH and 3-nitrotyrosine, micro-CT and histological staining. The serum metabolomic data revealed a significant decrease in capsiate levels in the secondary hyperparathyroidism group. Administration of capsiates to PTH rat resulted in increased calcium levels compared to the PTH group. Additionally, the PTH + Capsiates group showed significantly lower levels of PTH and phosphate compared to the PTH group. The PTH group exhibited a notable increase in the quantity and size of mitochondria compared to the control group. Following capsiates administration to the PTH group, there was a significant reduction in the number of mitochondria and length of microvilli, but an increase in the size of mitochondria compared to the PTH group. Sequencing analysis revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 (VEGFR1) play crucial roles in this process. Vascular-related variables and downstream signalling were significantly elevated in hyperthyroidism and were alleviated with capsaicin treatment. Finally, combining capsiates with the PTH group improved bone mineral density, Tb.N, BV.TV, Cs.Th, Tt.Ar, OPG, Ob.TV and Oc.TV, as well as the mineral apposition rate, but significantly decreased Tb.Sp and Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor-κ B Ligand (RANKL) compared to the PTH group. The findings suggest that capsiates can improve secondary hyperparathyroidism and ameliorated osteoporosis outcomes by inhibiting angiogenesis and reducing oxidative stress.

Vaporization phosphorization-mediated synthesis of phosphorus-doped TiO2 nanocomposites for combined photodynamic and photothermal therapy of renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a disease with high incidence and poor prognosis. The conventional treatment involves radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but chemotherapeutic agents are often associated with side effects, i.e., cytotoxicity to nontumor cells. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for ccRCC. We synthesized spherical P/TiO2 nanoparticles (P/TiO2 NPs) by vaporization phosphorization (VP). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) analyses confirmed that the anatase TiO2 surface was successfully doped with phosphorus and produced a large number of oxygen vacancies (OV). Serving as a photosensitizer, P/TiO2 NPs not only extended the photoresponse range to the near-infrared II region (NIR II) but also introduced a donor energy level lower than the TiO2 conduction band, narrowing the band gap, which could facilitate the migration of photogenerated charges and trigger the synergistic treatment of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). During NIR irradiation in vitro, the P/TiO2 NPs generated local heat and various oxygen radicals, including 1O2, ˙O2-, H2O2, and ˙OH, which damaged the ccRCC cells. In vivo, administration of the P/TiO2 NPs + NIR reduced the tumor volume by 80%, and had the potential to inhibit tumor metastasis by suppressing intratumor neoangiogenesis. The P/TiO2 NPs showed superior safety and efficacy relative to the conventional chemotherapeutic agent used in ccRCC treatment. This study introduced an innovative paradigm for renal cancer treatment, highlighting the potential of P/TiO2 NPs as safe and effective nanomaterials and presenting a compelling new option for clinical applications in anticancer therapy.

Preliminary investigation on the causes of red tides in Qinhuangdao coastal areas in 2022.

To explore the causes of red tides in Qinhuangdao coastal water, we conducted surveys on both water quality and red tides during April to September of 2022 and analyzed the relationships between main environmental factors and red tide organisms through the factor analysis and canonical correspondence analysis. The results showed that there were eight red tides along the coast of Qinhuangdao in 2022, with a cumulative blooming area of 716.1 km2. The red tides could be divided into three kinds based on the major blooming organisms and occurrence time, Noctiluca scintillans bloom, diatom-euglena (Skeletonema costatum, Eutreptiella gymnastica, Pseudo-nitzschia spp.) bloom, and dinoflagellate (Scrippsiella trochoidea and Ceratium furca) bloom. Seasonal factor played roles mainly during July to September, while inorganic nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus influenced the blooms mainly in April and July. The canonical correspondence analysis suggested that N. scintillans preferred low temperature, and often bloomed with high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and dissolved inorganic phosphorus. S. costatum, E. gymnastica, and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. could tolerate broad ranges of various environmental factors, but favored high temperature and nitrogen-rich seawater. C. furca and S. trochoidea had higher survival rate and competitiveness in phosphate-poor waters. Combined the results from both analyses, we concluded that the causes for the three kinds of red tide processes in Qinhuangdao coastal areas in 2022 were different. Adequate diet algae and appropriate water temperature were important factors triggering and maintaining the N. scintillans bloom. Suitable temperature, salinity and eutrophication were the main reasons for the diatom-euglena bloom. The abundant nutrients and seawater disturbance promoted the germination of S. trochoidea cysts, while phosphorus limitation caused the blooming organism switched to C. furca and maintained the bloom hereafter.

Different profiles of soil phosphorous compounds depending on tree species and availability of soil phosphorus in a tropical rainforest in French Guiana.

BACKGROUND: The availability of soil phosphorus (P) often limits the productivities of wet tropical lowland forests. Little is known, however, about the metabolomic profile of different chemical P compounds with potentially different uses and about the cycling of P and their variability across space under different tree species in highly diverse tropical rainforests. RESULTS: We hypothesised that the different strategies of the competing tree species to retranslocate, mineralise, mobilise, and take up P from the soil would promote distinct soil 31P profiles. We tested this hypothesis by performing a metabolomic analysis of the soils in two rainforests in French Guiana using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We analysed 31P NMR chemical shifts in soil solutions of model P compounds, including inorganic phosphates, orthophosphate mono- and diesters, phosphonates, and organic polyphosphates. The identity of the tree species (growing above the soil samples) explained > 53% of the total variance of the 31P NMR metabolomic profiles of the soils, suggesting species-specific ecological niches and/or species-specific interactions with the soil microbiome and soil trophic web structure and functionality determining the use and production of P compounds. Differences at regional and topographic levels also explained some part of the the total variance of the 31P NMR profiles, although less than the influence of the tree species. Multivariate analyses of soil 31P NMR metabolomics data indicated higher soil concentrations of P biomolecules involved in the active use of P (nucleic acids and molecules involved with energy and anabolism) in soils with lower concentrations of total soil P and higher concentrations of P-storing biomolecules in soils with higher concentrations of total P. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly suggest "niches" of soil P profiles associated with physical gradients, mostly topographic position, and with the specific distribution of species along this gradient, which is associated with species-specific strategies of soil P mineralisation, mobilisation, use, and uptake.

Comprehensive bioremediation effect of phosphorus-mineralized bacterium Enterobacter sp. PMB-5 on cadmium contaminated soil-crop system.

Phosphate-mineralizing bacteria (PMBs) have been widely studied by inducing phosphate heavy metal precipitation, but current researches neglect to study their effects on soil-microbe-crop systems on cadmium (Cd) contaminated. Based on this, a strain PMB, Enterobacter sp. PMB-5, was inoculated into Cd contaminated pots to detect soil characteristics, Cd occurrence forms, soil biological activities, plant physiological and biochemical indicators. The results showed that the inoculation of strain PMB-5 significantly increased the available phosphorus content (85.97%-138.64%), Cd-residual fraction (11.04%-29.73%), soil enzyme activities (31.94%-304.63%), plant biomass (6.10%-59.81%), while decreased the state of Cd-HOAc (11.50%-31.17%) and plant bioconcentration factor (23.76%-44.24%). These findings indicated that strain PMB-5 could perform the function of phosphorus solubilization to realize the immobilization of Cd in the complex soil environment. Moreover, SEM-EDS, FTIR, XPS, and XRD analysis revealed that strain PMB-5 does not significantly alter the soil morphology, structure, elemental distribution, and chemical composition, which suggested that remediation of Cd contamination using strain PMB-5 would not further burden the soil. This research implies that PMB-5 could be a safe and effective bioinoculant for remediating Cd-contaminated soils, contributing to the sustainable management of soil health in contaminated environments.

Nanoscale Evaluation of the Degradation Stability of Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Functionalized with PEG and Glutathione-Stabilized Doxorubicin Drug-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles in Real Functionalized System.

Two-dimensional black phosphorus (2D BP) has attracted significant research interest in the field of biomedical applications due to its unique characteristics, including high biocompatibility, impressive drug-loading efficiency, phototherapeutic ability, and minimal side effects. However, its puckered honeycomb lattice structure with lone-pair electrons of BP leads to higher sensitivity and chemical reactivity towards H2O and O2 molecules, resulting in the degradation of the structure with physical and chemical changes. In our study, we synthesize polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glutathione-stabilized doxorubicin drug-assembled Au nanoparticle (Au-GSH-DOX)-functionalized BP nanosheets (BP-PEG@Au-GSH-DOX) with improved degradation stability, biocompatibility, and tumor-targeting ability. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy indicate the nanoscale degradation behavior of synthesized nanoconjugates in three different environmental exposure conditions, and the results demonstrate the remarkable nanoscale stability of BP-PEG@Au-GSH-DOX against the degradation of BP, which provides significant interest in employing 2D BP-based nanotherapeutic agents for tumor-targeted cancer phototherapy.

Coagulation in combination with anaerobic digestion for enhancement of resource recovery from faecal sludge.

Poorly managed faecal sludge (FS) poses significant challenges to public health and the environment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of FS provides an effective method for energy recovery while reducing FS associated threats. Recognizing the critical role of the dewatering process before AD, this study investigates the synergistic application of chemical coagulation and mesophilic AD for synthetic FS treatment. FeCl3, AlCl3, Fe2(SO4)3, poly ferric sulfate (PFS) and poly aluminium ferric chloride (PAFC) were utilized at varying dosages to examine their impact on FS properties and subsequent biogas production from the dewatered FS. It was found that coagulation enhances sedimentation efficiencies and dewaterability through mechanisms such as charge neutralization, charge patching and bridging, thereby improving the FS feasibility for AD. Notably, polymer coagulant PFS showed good performance in balancing pollutant removal and methane recovery, contributing to facilitating the hydrolysis and acidogenesis microorganisms involved in the AD process. Optimal dosage was identified at 150 mg/g TS (1.7 g/L FS), achieving prominent removal efficiencies for total COD (67%), turbidity (85%), and total phosphorus (60%), while simultaneously enhancing AD performance with specific CH4 production reaching 517 ml CH4/g VS or 24.8 ml CH4/g AD wet feedstock compared to 309 ml CH4/g VS or 2.7 ml CH4/g AD wet feedstock in untreated FS.

Competence of algal consortia under municipal wastewater: remediation efficiency, photosynthetic performance, antioxidant defense mechanisms and biofuel production.

Utilizing monoalgal species for wastewater treatment is facing tremendous challenges owing to changing wastewater complexity in terms of physico-chemical characteristic, nutrient and metal concentration. The environmental conditions are also fluctuating therefore, the formation of robust system is of utmost importance for concomitant sustainable wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. In the present study, the tolerance and adaptability potential of algal consortia-1 (Chlorococcum humicola and Tetradesmus sp.) and consortia-2 (Chlorococcum humicola, Scenedesmus vacuolatus and Tetradesmus sp.) treated with municipal wastewater were examined under natural environmental conditions. The results exhibited that consortia-2 was more competent in recovering nitrate-nitrogen (82.92%), phosphorus (70.47%), and heavy metals (31-73.70%) from municipal wastewater (100%) than consortia-1. The results further depicted that total chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and protein content decreased significantly in wastewater-treated consortia-1 as compared to consortia-2. However, lipid content was increased by 4.01 and 1.17 folds in algal consortia-1 and consortia-2 compared to their respective controls. Moreover, absorption peak at 1740.6 cm-1 reflected higher biofuel-producing potential of consortia-1 as compared to consortia-2 as confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy. The results also revealed that consortia-2 showed the highest photosynthetic performance which was evident from the increment in the active photosystem-II reaction center (1.724 ± 0.068), quantum efficiency (0.633 ± 0.038), and performance index (3.752 ± 0.356). Further, a significant increase in photosynthetic parameters was observed in selected consortia at lag phase, while a noteworthy decline was observed at exponential and stationary phases in consortia-1 than consortia-2. The results also showed the maximum enhancement in ascorbic acid (2.43 folds), proline (3.34 folds), and cysteine (1.29 folds) in consortia-2, while SOD (1.75 folds), catalase (2.64 folds), and GR (1.19 folds) activity in consortia-1. Therefore, it can be concluded that due to remarkable flexibility and photosynthetic performance, consortia-2 could serve as a potential candidate for sustainable nutrient resource recovery and wastewater treatment, while consortia-1 for bio-fuel production in a natural environment. Thus, formation of algal consortia as the robust biosystem tolerates diverse environmental fluctuations together with wastewater complexity and ultimately can serve appropriate approach for environmental-friendly wastewater treatment and bioenergy production.

Innovative treatment of industrial effluents through combining ferric iron and attapulgite application.

The escalation of industrial activities has escalated the production of pharmaceutical and dyeing effluents, raising significant environmental issues. In this investigation, a hybrid approach of Fenton-like reactions and adsorption was used for deep treatment of these effluents, focusing on effects of variables like hydrogen peroxide concentration, catalyst type, pH, reaction duration, temperature, and adsorbent quantity on treatment effectiveness, and the efficacy of acid-modified attapulgite (AMATP) and ferric iron (Fe(III))-loaded AMATP (Fe(III)-AMATP) was examined. Optimal operational conditions were determined, and the possibility of reusing the catalysts was explored. Employing Fe3O4 as a heterogeneous catalyst and AMATP for adsorption, CODCr was reduced by 78.38-79.14%, total nitrogen by 71.53-77.43%, and phosphorus by 97.74-98.10% in pharmaceutical effluents. Similarly, for dyeing effluents, Fe(III)-AMATP achieved 79.87-80.94% CODCr, 68.59-70.93% total nitrogen, and 79.31-83.33% phosphorus reduction. Regeneration experiments revealed that Fe3O4 maintained 59.48% efficiency over three cycles, and Fe(III)-AMATP maintained 62.47% efficiency over four cycles. This work offers an economical, hybrid approach for effective pharmaceutical and dyeing effluent treatment, with broad application potential.

Sediment microbial fuel cell coupled floating treatment wetland for enhancing non-reactive phosphorus removal.

The presence of non-reactive phosphorus (NRP) in environmental waters presents a potential risk of eutrophication and poses challenges for the removal of all phosphorus (P) fractions. This study presents the first investigation on the removal performance and mechanism of three model NRP compounds, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC), in the sediment microbial fuel cell-floating treatment wetland (SMFC-FTW). Coupling SMFC with plants proved to be effective at removing NRP via electrochemical oxidation and plant uptake, particularly the challenging-to-degrade phosphonates that contain C-P bonds. Compared with the control group, the removal efficiencies of the model NRP in SMFC were observed to increase by 11.9%-20.8%. SMFC promoted the conversion of NRP to soluble reactive phosphorus (sRP) and the transfer of P to sediment. Furthermore, the electrochemical process enhanced both plant growth and P uptake, and increased P assimilation by 72.6%. The presence of plants in the bioelectrochemical system influenced the occurrence and fate of P by efficiently assimilating sRP and supporting microbial transformation of NRP. Consequently, plants enhanced the removal efficiencies of all P fractions in the overlying water. This study demonstrated that SMFC-FTW is a promising technology to remove various NRP species in environmental waters.

Bioenergy-producing two-stage septic tank and floating wetland for onsite wastewater treatment: Circuit connection and external aeration.

This study designed a two-stage, electrode-integrated septic tank-floating wetland system and assessed their pollutant removal performances under variable operational conditions. The two-stage system achieved mean organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, and coliform removal percentages of 99, 78, 99, and 97%, respectively, throughout the experimental run. The mean metals (chromium, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, iron, and manganese) removal percentages ranged between 81 and 98%. Accumulated sludge, filler media, and the hanging root mass contributed to pollutant removals by supporting physicochemical and biological pathways. The mean effluent organic concentration and coliform number across the two-stage system were 20 mg/L and 1682 CFU/100 mL, respectively, during the closed-circuit protocol, which was beneath the open-circuit-based performance profiles, i.e., 32 mg/L and 2860 CFU/100 mL, respectively. Effluent organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, and coliform number ranges across the two-stage system were 9-17 mg/L, 13-24 mg/L, 1-1.5 mg/L, 0.001-0.2 mg/L, and 1410-2270 CFU/100 mL, respectively during intermittent and continuous aeration periods. The air supply rate differences influenced pollutant removal depending on the associated removal mechanisms. The non-aeration phase produced higher effluent pollutant concentrations than the aeration periods-based profiles. The overall mean power density production of the septic tank ranged between 107 and 596 mW/m3; 110 and 355 mW/m3 with the floating wetland. The bioenergy production capacity of the septic tank was positively correlated to external air supply rates. This study demonstrates the potential application of the novel bioenergy-producing septic tank-floating wetland system for wastewater treatment in decentralized areas.

Intensive Microalgal Cultivation and Tertiary Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewaters via the EcoRecover Process.

Mixed community microalgal wastewater treatment technologies have the potential to advance the limits of technology for biological nutrient recovery while producing a renewable carbon feedstock, but a deeper understanding of their performance is required for system optimization and control. In this study, we characterized the performance of a 568 m3·day-1 Clearas EcoRecover system for tertiary phosphorus removal (and recovery as biomass) at an operating water resource recovery facility (WRRF). The process consists of a (dark) mix tank, photobioreactors (PBRs), and a membrane tank with ultrafiltration membranes for the separation of hydraulic and solids residence times. Through continuous online monitoring, long-term on-site monitoring, and on-site batch experiments, we demonstrate (i) the importance of carbohydrate storage in PBRs to support phosphorus uptake under dark conditions in the mix tank and (ii) the potential for polyphosphate accumulation in the mixed algal communities. Over a 3-month winter period with limited outside influences (e.g., no major upstream process changes), the effluent total phosphorus (TP) concentration was 0.03 ± 0.03 mg-P·L-1 (0.01 ± 0.02 mg-P·L-1 orthophosphate). Core microbial community taxa included Chlorella spp., Scenedesmus spp., and Monoraphidium spp., and key indicators of stable performance included near-neutral pH, sufficient alkalinity, and a diel rhythm in dissolved oxygen.

Effect of calcium and phosphorus on ammonium and nitrate nitrogen adsorption onto iron (hydr)oxides surfaces: CD-MUSIC model and DFT computation.

Calcium (Ca2+) and phosphorous (PO43-) significantly influence the form and effectiveness of nitrogen (N), however, the precise mechanisms governing the adsorption of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) are still lacking. This study employed batch adsorption experiments, charge distribution and multi-site complexation (CD-MUSIC) models and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate the mechanism by which Ca2+ and PO43- affect the adsorption of NH4+-N and NO3--N on the goethite (GT) surface. The results showed that the adsorption of NH4+-N on the GT exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease as pH increased, peaking at a pH of 8.5. Conversely, the adsorption of NO3--N decreased with rising pH. According to the CD-MUSIC model, Ca2+ minimally affected the NH4+-N adsorption on the GT but enhanced NO3--N adsorption via electrostatic interaction, promoting the adsorption of ≡FeOH-NO3- and ≡Fe3O-NO3- species. Similarly, PO43- inhibited the adsorption of ≡FeOH-NO3- and ≡Fe3O-NO3- species. However, PO43- boosted NH4+-N adsorption by facilitating the formation of ≡Fe3O-NH4+ via electrostatic interaction and site competition. DFT calculations indicates that although bidentate phosphate (BP) was beneficial to stabilize NH4+-N than monodentate phosphate (SP), SP-NH4+ was the main adsorption configuration at pH 5.5-9.5 owing the prevalence of SP on the GT surface under site competition of NH4+-N. The results of CD-MUSIC model and DFT calculation were verified mutually, and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying N fixation and migration in soil.

Biochemical mechanisms underlying iron plaque-mediated phosphorus accumulation and uptake in rice roots.

The iron oxyhydroxides of iron plaque on the surface of rice root are crucial for the uptake of nutrition elements, especially phosphorus (P), but the effects of iron oxyhydroxides of iron plaque on the accumulation and uptake of P remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of iron plaque on P uptake in rice via hydroponics of whole plant and simulation of iron oxyhydroxides-coated suspension cells in rice. The hydroponic experiment results showed that the presence of iron plaque increased the P content in rice shoots. The simulation experiment results further confirmed that after iron plaque coating, the P contents in the whole cell and on the cell wall were significantly increased from 5.16 mg/g and 2.73 mg/g to 8.85 mg/g and 5.27 mg/g, respectively. In addition, our data also showed that iron plaque coating led to an increase in cell surface potentials from -380 ± 40 mV to -200 ± 30 mV, thus promoting the adsorption of more P. Taken together, this study demonstrated that the iron plaque coating increased the surface potential of the cells, thus enhancing cellular P enrichment, eventually promoting P efficient adsorption in rice. Deciphering these regulatory mechanisms provide an insight into P biogeochemical cycling at the soil-plant interface and offer theoretical basis and practical references for the improvement of P bioavailability in rice production.

Divergent responses of rhizosphere soil phosphorus fractions and biological features of Salix psammophila to fertilization strategies under cadmium contamination.

Soil oligotrophy in areas heavily contaminated with heavy metals poses a significant challenge to vegetation establishment and phytoremediation processes. Phosphorus (P) cycling plays a critical role in global biogeochemical cycles, but there is limited understanding of its response to varying fertilization strategies and its correlation with phytoremediation effectiveness. This study primarily investigated the effects of various fertilization strategies, including nitrogen (N, 300 mg·kg-1), P (100 mg·kg-1), NP (combined N and P at 300 mg·kg-1 and 100 mg·kg-1, respectively), and HP (high P, 300 mg·kg-1) application, on rhizosphere soil P fractions and P-solubilizing microbial community (harboring phoD and phoC genes, respectively) of Salix psammophila under cadmium contamination. Application of NP significantly enhanced plant growth and cadmium accumulation, whereas HP inhibited cadmium bioaccumulation but promoted its translocation. Compared to untreated soil, N application promoted P cycling, leading to increases of 141.9 %, 60.4 %, and 10.3 % in Resin-Pi, diluted HCl-Pi, and conc.HCl-Pi, respectively. P application decreased organic phosphorus (Po) fractions by 24.4 % - 225.8 %, but N incorporation mitigated the declining trend in Po and augmented alkaline phosphatase activity. Fertilization strategies significantly regulated phoC- or phoD-harboring bacterial community structure, but their differential nutrient demands resulted in distinct responses. The phoD-harboring bacteria exhibited higher diversity and network complexity, with numerous biomarkers and fertilizer-sensitive OTUs discovered across treatments. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that phytoremediation efficiency was directly affected by Pi fractions, and phoD-harboring bacteria exhibited stronger associations with Pi fractions than phoC-harboring bacteria. In conclusion, our results reveal potential pathways through which fertilization strategies influence phytoremediation by affecting the structure of P-solubilizing microbial community. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the importance of combined N and P application in promoting Cd accumulation in plants, with high P levels appearing as an ideal fertilization strategy for phytoremediation targeting the harvest of aboveground biomass.

Inhibitory effects of black phosphorus nanosheets on tumor cell proliferation through downregulation of ADIPOQ and downstream signaling pathways.

Exposure to environmental pollutants, including nanomaterials, has a significant impact on tumor progression. The increased demand for black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs), driven by their exceptional properties, raises concerns about potential environmental contamination. Assessing their toxicity on tumor growth is essential. Herein, we employed a range of biological techniques, including cytotoxicity measurement, bioinformatics tools, proteomics, target gene overexpression, Western blot analysis, and apoptosis detection, to investigate the toxicity of BPNSs across A549, HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines. Our results demonstrated that BPNSs downregulated the expression of ADIPOQ and its associated downstream pathways, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and other unidentified pathways. These downregulated pathways ultimately led to mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Notably, the specific downstream pathways involved varied depending on the type of tumors. These insightful findings not only confirm the consistent inhibitory effects of BPNSs across different tumor cells, but also elucidate the cytotoxicity mechanisms of BPNSs in different tumors, providing valuable information for their safe application and health risk assessment.

Multiple pathological fractures and muscle atrophy caused by a parathyroid carcinoma with postoperative hungry bone syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine malignancy causing pathological changes such as abnormal bone metabolism, elevated serum calcium, and impaired renal function, and uncontrollable hypercalcemia is the main cause of death in PC patients. The diagnosis of PC is challenging and relying on postoperative histopathology. Radical surgery at the first time is the only effective therapy to cure PC. Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a relatively uncommon complication of parathyroidectomy characterized by profound and prolonged hypocalcemia, timely electrolyte monitoring and alternative interventional protocols can prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia. CASE: A 57-year-old man presented with multiple pathological fractures and muscle atrophy as the main symptoms accompanied by bone pain, hypercalcemia, elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH), and an enlarged left-sided neck mass. After consultation of multidisciplinary team, he was treated conservatively with plaster bandage fixation and infusion of intravenous zoledronic acid; and then complete resection of parathyroid mass + removal of involved tissue structures + left thyroid and isthmus lobectomy + lymph node dissection in the VI region in left neck were performed. The postoperative histopathology suggested a diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma. Calcium and fluid supplementation and oral levothyroxine tablets were given postoperatively. Unexpectedly, the patient's PTH level decreased rapidly at 24 h postoperative, and serum calcium and phosphorus decreased continuously, and he felt numb around perioral sites and fingertips, which considered to be postoperative HBS complicated by parathyroidectomy. Then, a large amount of calcium supplementation and vitamin D were given timely and the patient got better at 1 month postoperatively. At 9-month postoperative, his bone pain and fatigue were significantly relieved compared with before with calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels at normal range. CONCLUSION: The possibility of parathyroid disease, particularly PC, should be considered in the presence of multiple pathological fractures, muscle atrophy, generalized bone pain, hypercalcemia, and clear neck mass. Radical resection of the tumor lesions at the first surgery is a key element affecting the prognosis of PC, and the effective management of preoperative hypercalcemia and postoperative HBS is also of great significance for improving prognosis.

Understanding stoichiometric constraints on growth using resource use efficiency imbalances.

Growth is a function of the net accrual of resources by an organism. Energy and elemental contents of organisms are dynamically linked through their uptake and allocation to biomass production, yet we lack a full understanding of how these dynamics regulate growth rate. Here, we develop a multivariate imbalance framework, the growth efficiency hypothesis, linking organismal resource contents to growth and metabolic use efficiencies, and demonstrate its effectiveness in predicting consumer growth rates under elemental and food quantity limitation. The relative proportions of carbon (%C), nitrogen (%N), phosphorus (%P), and adenosine triphosphate (%ATP) in consumers differed markedly across resource limitation treatments. Differences in their resource composition were linked to systematic changes in stoichiometric use efficiencies, which served to maintain relatively consistent relationships between elemental and ATP content in consumer tissues and optimize biomass production. Overall, these adjustments were quantitatively linked to growth, enabling highly accurate predictions of consumer growth rates.

Relationship between serum phosphorus and mortality in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients: evidence from NHANES 2001-2018.

BACKGROUND: Hyperphosphatemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), associated with higher mortality in dialysis patients. Its impact in non-dialysis patients, especially those with preserved kidney function, remains uncertain. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2008). Serum phosphorus was analyzed as a continuous variable, or categorized into three groups: < 3.5 mg/dL, 3.5 to < 4.5 mg/dL, and ≥ 4.5 mg/dL. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the association between phosphorus with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, with or without adjustment for age, sex, race, hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum albumin, serum calcium, 25(OH)D, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and CVD. RESULTS: A total of 7694 participants were included in the analysis, representing 28 million CKD patients in the United States. During mean 92 months of follow up, 2708 all-cause deaths (including 969 CVD deaths) were observed. Per 1 mg/dL increase in phosphorus was associated with a 13% and 24% increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95%CI, 1.02-1.24) and CVD mortality (HR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.07-1.45), respectively. Compared with the < 3.5 mg/dL, phosphorus ≥ 4.5 mg/dL was associated with a 28% and 57% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.28; 95%CI, 1.05-1.55) and CVD mortality (HR, 1.57; 95CI, 1.19-2.08), respectively. In participants with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2, elevated phosphorus (≥ 4.5 mg/ dL) were significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.36; 95%CI, 1.07-1.72). No significant association was observed in eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2 group (HR, 1.31; 95%CI, 0.86-1.99). This correlation does not differ significantly between subgroups defined by eGFR level (P for interaction = 0.889). CONCLUSION: Serum phosphorus above 4.5 mg/dL is significantly associated with a 28% and 57% increased risk of all-cause and CVD death in non-dialysis CKD patients, respectively. This relationship still demonstrated in patients with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2. However, for population with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2, further verification is needed.