Horizontal gene transfer from chloroplast to mitochondria of seagrasses in the yellow-Bohai seas.

Seagrasses are ideal for studying plant adaptation to marine environments. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) genomes of Ruppia sinensis were sequenced. The results showed an extensive gene loss in seagrasses, including a complete loss of cp-rpl19 genes in Zosteraceae, most cp-ndh genes in Hydrocharitaceae, and mt-rpl and mt-rps genes in all seagrasses, except for the mt-rpl16 gene in Phyllospadix iwatensis. Notably, most ribosomal protein genes were lost in the mt and cp genomes. The deleted cp genes were not transferred to the mt genomes through horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, a significant DNA transfer between seagrass organelles was found, with the mt genomes of Zostera containing numerous sequences from the cp genome. Rearrangement analyses revealed an unreported inversion of the cp genome in R. sinensis. Moreover, four positively selected genes (atp8, nad5, atp4, and ccmFn) and five variable regions (matR, atp4, atp8, rps7, and ccmFn) were identified.

Repositioning baloxavir marboxil as VISTA agonist that ameliorates experimental asthma.

V-type immunoglobulin domain-containing suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA), a novel negative checkpoint regulator, plays an essential role in allergic pulmonary inflammation in mice. Treatment with a VISTA agonistic antibody could significantly improve asthma symptoms. Thus, for allergic asthma treatment, VISTA targeting may be a compelling approach. In this study, we examined the functional mechanism of VISTA in allergic pulmonary inflammation and screened the FDA-approved drugs for VISTA agonists. By using mass cytometry (CyTOF), we found that VISTA deficiency primarily increased lung macrophage infiltration in the OVA-induced asthma model, accompanied by an increased proportion of M1 macrophages (CD11b+F4/80+CD86+) and a decreased proportion of M2 macrophages (CD11b+F4/80+CD206+). Further in vitro studies showed that VISTA deficiency promoted M1 polarization and inhibited M2 polarization of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Importantly, we discovered baloxavir marboxil (BXM) as a VISTA agonist by virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays revealed that BXM (KD = 1.07 µM) as well as its active form, baloxavir acid (BXA) (KD = 0.21 µM), could directly bind to VISTA with high affinity. Notably, treatment with BXM significantly ameliorated asthma symptoms, including less lung inflammation, mucus secretion, and the generation of Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13, and IL-4), which were dramatically attenuated by anti-VISTA monoclonal antibody treatment. BXM administration also reduced the pulmonary infiltration of M1 macrophages and raised M2 macrophages. Collectively, our study indicates that VISTA regulates pulmonary inflammation in allergic asthma by regulating macrophage polarization and baloxavir marboxil, and an old drug might be a new treatment for allergic asthma through targeting VISTA.

Evaluation of pharmaceutical consumption between urban and suburban catchments in China by wastewater-based epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is amply used for estimating human consumption of chemicals, yet information on regional variation of pharmaceuticals and their environmental fate are scarce. Thus, this study aims to estimate the consumption of three cardiovascular, four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals (NSAIDs), and four psychoactive pharmaceuticals between urban and suburban catchments in China by WBE, and to explore their removal efficiencies and ecological risks. Eleven analytes were detected in both influent and effluent samples. The estimated consumptions ranged from

Novel multifactor predictive model for postoperative survival in gallbladder cancer: a multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, with limited survival profiles after curative surgeries. This study aimed to develop a practical model for predicting the postoperative overall survival (OS) in GBC patients. METHODS: Patients from three hospitals were included. Two centers (N = 102 and 100) were adopted for model development and internal validation, and the third center (N = 85) was used for external testing. Univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox regression were used for feature selection. A nomogram for 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperative survival rates was constructed accordingly. Performance assessment included Harrell's concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to evaluate the risk stratification results of the nomogram. Decision curves were used to reflect the net benefit. RESULTS: Eight factors, TNM stage, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI), body mass index (BMI), R0 resection, blood platelet count, and serum levels of albumin, CA125, CA199 were incorporated in the nomogram. The time-dependent C-index consistently exceeded 0.70 from 6 months to 5 years, and time-dependent ROC revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of over 75% for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. The calibration curves, Kaplan-Meier curves and decision curves also indicated good prognostic performance and clinical benefit, surpassing traditional indicators TNM staging and CA199 levels. The reliability of results was further proved in the independent external testing set. CONCLUSIONS: The novel nomogram exhibited good prognostic efficacy and robust generalizability in GBC patients, which might be a promising tool for aiding clinical decision-making.

Alkaloids from Fritillaria przewalskii Bulbs and Their Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Activities.

Three undescribed isosteroidal alkaloids, przewalskines A-C (1-3), as well as seven known alkaloids (4-10) were obtained from Fritillaria przewalskii bulbs. Their structures were deduced by extensive HRESIMS, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR analyses, and their bioactivities were evaluated involving the anti-inflammatory and inhibitory potencies on AChE, BChE, and Aß aggregation. Compound 4 revealed the potent effect on inhibiting Aß aggregation activity with IC50 value of 33.1 µM, AChE activity with IC50 value of 6.9 µM, and also showed NO release inhibitory acitivity with IC50 value of 32.6 µM. These findings contribute new multi-.target anti-AD agents and embody the chemical diversity of F. przewalskii.

Detection of microplastics in domestic and fetal pigs' lung tissue in natural environment: A preliminary study.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment. However, it is unclear whether MPs are present in mammalian lungs through inhalation, and if so, could be possibly found in fetal tissues. In this study, we aim to determine the presence and characteristics of particles in domestic and fetal pig lung tissue in the natural environment. Specimens from the lungs of domestic pigs (n = 10) and fetal pigs that already died in matrix during vaginal birth from the non-contaminated area (n = 10) were obtained from farmers' nearby sludge treatment plant. These specimens were compressed between two glass microscope slides, which were examined under polarized light microscopy. In addition, Agilent 8700 LDIR Chemical imaging system (LDIR) was used to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of MPs. According to the polarized light microscope survey of domestic pig lungs, we observed an average of 12 particles/g, which was more than the 6 particles/g observed in fetal pig lungs, which ranged in size from 115.14 µm to 1370.43 µm. All the observed MP particles were fiber in shape. LDIR indicated an average of 180 particles/g of domestic pig lungs, ranging in size from 20.34 µm to 916.36 µm, which was twice as many MPs observed in fetal pig lungs. Furthermore, the compositions of MPs were different between them. LDIR indicated that polyamide (PA) was the most common polymer identified in domestic pig lungs (46.11%), while polycarbonate (PC) was the most common polymer in fetal pig lungs (32.99%). These findings confirmed the presence of MPs in the lung tissue of both domestic and fetal pigs in the natural environment, but the main characteristics differed. This fact indicated the increasing risk of MPs to human respiratory tract is increasing. Further research should be conducted to entirely estimate the specific exposure level on humans and offspring.

Efficient removal of Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate by biochar derived from shrimp shell: Adsorption performance and mechanism study.

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) has been detected all over the world as a typical refractory organic phosphate, especially in groundwater. This work applied a calcium-rich biochar derived from shrimp shell as a low-cost adsorbent for TCEP removal. Based on the kinetics and isotherm studies, the adsorption of TCEP on biochar was monolayer adsorbed on a uniform surface, with SS1000 (the biochar was prepared at the carbonization temperature of 1000 °C) achieving the maximum adsorption capacity of 264.11 mg·g-1. The prepared biochar demonstrated stable TCEP removal ability throughout a wide pH range, in the presence of co-existing anions, and in diverse water bodies. A rapid removal rate of TCEP was observed during the adsorption process. When the dosage of SS1000 was 0.2 g·L-1, 95% of TCEP could be removed within the first 30 min. The mechanism analysis indicated that the calcium species and basic functional groups on the SS1000 surface were highly involved in the TCEP adsorption process.

Transcriptome analysis reveals genes related to the synthesis and metabolism of cell wall polysaccharides in goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) from various regions.

BACKGROUND: In goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.), the cell wall properties and ripening environment affect fruit quality and their economic benefits. However, the mechanism underlying the cell wall remains to be fully elucidated. RESULTS: The results showed that total sugar content was higher in Qinghai berries (13.87%, P < 0.01), whereas cellulose content peaked in Zhongning berries (28%, P < 0.05). Arabinose, galactose, and galacturonic acid were the principal components of the cell wall polysaccharides in goji berries. Among them, the content of galactose in Zhongning was significantly the highest (P < 0.05). Interestingly, we found that highly expressed ß-glucosidase and lowly expressed endoglucanase led to cellulose accumulation by RNA-sequencing analysis. The expression analysis results suggested that pectate lyase and pectinesterase enzymes could be major factors related to higher galactose and galacturonic acid contents in Zhongning compared to in Qinghai and Gansu. The starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway, and galactose metabolism pathway played a significant role in cell wall polysaccharide synthesis and metabolism. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we aimed to provide some insights into the cell wall on polysaccharide composition, structural features, and gene analysis in goji berries from Zhongning, Qinghai, and Gansu in China. These results might help to clarify the molecular function of the major genes in the cell wall polysaccharides of goji berries and provide a solid foundation for further study. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Maternal sevoflurane exposure disrupts oligodendrocyte myelination of the postnatal hippocampus and induces cognitive and motor impairments in offspring.

Maternal exposure to anesthetic agents could impose significant neurocognitive risks on the developing brain of infants. Myelin produced by oligodendrocytes (OLs) is essential for the development of brain. However, the concrete effect of general anesthesia on the development and myelination of OLs is still elusive. In this study, we aim to investigate postnatal myelination and neural behavior after maternal exposure to sevoflurane. Pregnant C57BL/6 J mice (gestational day 15.5) were anesthetized with 2.5% sevoflurane (in 97.5% O2) for 6 h. Cognitive function and motor coordination of the offspring mice were evaluated with novel object recognition, Morris water maze and accelerating rotarod tests. Myelination and development of hippocampal OLs were analyzed with immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, western blotting and electron microscopy. The functionality of myelin was measured with electrophysiology. Our results showed that sevoflurane anesthesia during the gestational period induced cognitive and motor impairments in offspring mice, accompanied with damages of myelin structure and down regulations of myelin-associated genes and proteins (including MBP, Olig1, PDGFRα, Sox10, etc.). The development and maturation of OLs were suppressed, and the axonal conduction velocity was declined. These results demonstrated that maternal sevoflurane exposure could induce detrimental effects on cognitive and motor functions in offspring, which might be associated with disrupted myelination of OLs in the hippocampus.

Clinical Prognostic Factors and Integrated Multi-Omics Studies Identify Potential Novel Therapeutic Targets for Pediatric Desmoid Tumor.

BACKGROUND: Desmoid tumor (DT), also known as desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) or aggressive fibromatosis (AF) is a rare mesenchymal tumor affecting both children and adults. It is non-metastasis but infiltrative, growing with a high recurrence rate to even cause serious health problems. This study investigates the biology of desmoid tumors through integrated multi-omics studies. METHODS: We systematically investigated the clinical data of 98 extra-abdominal cases in our pediatric institute and identified some critical clinical prognostic factors. Moreover, our integrated multi-omics studies (Whole Exome Sequencing, RNA sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics profiling) in the paired PDT tumor/matched normal tissues identified more novel mutations, and potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for PDTs. RESULTS: The top mutation genes, such as CTNNB1 (p.T41A and p.S45F) and MUC4 (p.T3775T, p.S3450S, etc.), were observed with a mutation in more than 40% of PDT patients. We also identified a panel of genes that are classed as the FDA-approved drug targets or Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway-related genes. The integrated analysis identified pathways and key genes/metabolites that may be important for developing potential treatment of PDTs. We also successfully established six primary PDT cell lines for future studies. CONCLUSIONS: These studies may promote the development of novel drugs and therapeutic strategies for PDTs.

Enantioselective toxicity, degradation and transformation of the chiral insecticide fipronil in two algae culture.

The occurrence of pesticides and their metabolites in the environment can alter the ecological relationships between aquatic food chains. Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide which release in the environment may harm the non-target organisms. However, the toxicity and biotransformation of its two enantiomers are far from fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the aquatic toxicity and environmental behavior of fipronil at enantiomeric level using two freshwater algae, Scenedesmus quaclricauda (S. quaclricauda), and Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) through an integrative approach the transformation process of the individual enantiomer isolated and in racemic form. The 72 h-EC50 values of rac-, R-, S-fipronil varied from 3.27 to 7.24 mg L-1 with R-fipronil posing a more significant effect on algal growth inhibition. Chlorophyll a was more susceptible to fipronil exposure than chlorophyll b and carotenoids. Enantioselective alterations on physiological and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and the activities of antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were also observed. The half-lives (T1/2) of R-fipronil and S-fipronil in algae culture were 3.4-3.5 d and 4.0-4.9 d, respectively. By the end of the 17-d exposure, the enantiomer fractions (EFs) increased to 0.59, indicating a preferential depuration of R-fipronil. The metabolites monitoring showed the fipronil sulfide was the main metabolite followed by fipronil sulfone. The results revealed that the enantiomers of fipronil pose enantiospecific behaviors induced by these two algae, with the R-enantiomer more toxic to algal growth and favorable in degradation. These analyses are beneficial for understanding the ecological effect of chiral pesticide in aquatic environment, and the enantiomeric differences of the toxicity, degradation and the formation of toxic metabolites could be helpful for the eco-environmental risk evaluation.

Cu2+-Regulated reversible coordination interaction of GQD@Tb/GMP ICP nanoparticles: towards directly monitoring cerebrospinal acetylcholinesterase as a biomarker for cholinic brain dysfunction.

This work demonstrates a new strategy for sensing cerebrospinal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as a cholinergic biomarker for brain dysfunction based on graphene quantum dot (GQD)-functionalized lanthanide infinite coordination polymer (Ln-ICP) nanoparticles. The ICPs used in this work were comprised of two components, i.e. a supramolecular Ln-ICP host formed by the coordination between the GMP ligand and central metal ion Tb3+, and guest GQDs with abundant functional groups, which were utilized as antenna ligands to further sensitize the fluorescence of Tb/GMP. Upon excitation at 300 nm, the obtained GQD@Tb/GMP ICP nanoparticles exhibited enhanced green fluorescence from Tb/GMP. With the addition of Cu2+, the competitive coordination between Cu2+ and GQDs weakened the antenna effect, leading to a decrease in the fluorescence of GQD@Tb/GMP ICPs. However, in the presence of thiocholine (TCh), a thiol-containing compound hydrolyzed from acetylthiocholine (ATCh) by AChE, a stronger coordination interaction between Cu2+ and TCh occurred, resulting in the restoration of the fluorescence of GQD@Tb/GMP ICPs. Using the method established herein, the cerebrospinal AChE fluctuation of rats with acute organophosphorus pesticide (OP) poisoning or chronic Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be monitored. This study essentially provides a novel approach to realize the direct monitoring of a biomarker for brain dysfunction by regulating the competitive coordination interaction reversibly, which is critical in the early diagnosis and therapy of brain diseases.

Sorption of tetrabromobisphenol A onto microplastics: Behavior, mechanisms, and the effects of sorbent and environmental factors.

Microplastics (MPs) and halogenated organic pollutants coexist in ambient water and MPs tend to sorb organic pollutants from surrounding environments. Herein, a study on the sorption behavior of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) onto four different MPs, namely, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was carried out. Effects of MPs properties and environmental factors, including the type, surface charge and pore volume as well as the ionic strength (Ca2+) and humic acid (HA) on the sorption of TBBPA were discussed. Results showed that the sorption of TBBPA onto the MPs could reached an equilibrium within 24 h, and the sorption capacities decreased in the following order -PVC (101.85 mg kg-1) >PS (78.95 mg kg-1) >PP (58.57 mg kg-1) >PE (49.43 mg kg-1). Adsorption kinetics data fitted by intraparticle diffusion model revealed both surface sorption and intraparticle diffusion contributed, in the interfacial diffusion stage approximately 11-29% of TBBPA slowly diffused onto the surface of the MPs, and finally, in the intraparticle diffusion stage. The increase of Ca2+ concentration could promote the sorption of TBBPA by PE, PP, and PS, but no significant alteration for PVC. For all the four MPs, HA was found to exert a negative effect on TBBPA sorption. The adsorption was mainly driven by hydrophobic partition and electrostatic interactions.

Involvement of homodomain interacting protein kinase 2-c-Jun N-terminal kinase/c-Jun cascade in the long-term synaptic toxicity and cognition impairment induced by neonatal Sevoflurane exposure.

Sevoflurane is one of the most widely used anesthetics with recent concerns rising about its pediatric application. The synaptic toxicity and mechanisms underlying its long-term cognition impairment remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression and roles of homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), a stress activating kinase involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, and its downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/c-Jun signaling in the long-term toxicity of neonatal Sevoflurane exposure. Our data showed that neonatal Sevoflurane exposure results in impairment of memory, enhancement of anxiety, less number of excitatory synapses and lower levels of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus of adult rats without significant changes of hippocampal neuron numbers. Up-regulation of HIPK2 and JNK/c-Jun was observed in hippocampal granular neurons shortly after Sevoflurane exposure and persisted to adult. 5-((6-Oxo-5-(6-(piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl)-1,6-dihydropyridin-3-yl)methylene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione trifluoroacetate, antagonist of HIPK2, could significantly rescue the cognition impairment, decrease in long-term potentiation, reduction in spine density and activation of JNK/c-Jun induced by Sevoflurane. JNK antagonist SP600125 partially restored synapse development and cognitive function without affecting the expression of HIPK2. These data, in together, revealed a novel role of HIPK2-JNK/c-Jun signaling in the long-term synaptic toxicity and cognition impairment of neonatal Sevoflurane exposure, indicating HIPK2-JNK/c-Jun cascade as a potential target for reducing the synaptic toxicity of Sevoflurane. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14757.

Stimulus Response of TPE-TS@Eu/GMP ICPs: Toward Colorimetric Sensing of an Anthrax Biomarker with Double Ratiometric Fluorescence and Its Coffee Ring Test Kit for Point-of-Use Application.

In this work, by fully exploring the stimulus response of infinite coordination polymer nanoparticles (ICPs) and by taking advantage of the particular optical properties of ICP guest tetra(4-sulfophenyl)ethene (TPE-TS) with adjustable monomer emission (ME) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE), we demonstrated a novel sensing mechanism for an anthrax biomarker dipicolinic acid (DPA) based on the competitive coordination interaction regulating the structure of TPE-TS@Eu/GMP ICPs. The double ratiometric fluorescence stemmed from triple response of TPE-TS@Eu/GMP ICPs without spectral cross-interference (ME and AIE from TPE-TS and sensitized emission from Eu/DPA) and a corresponding blue-to-red fluorescent color change, which not only benefited the direct detection of DPA with high sensitivity and selectivity, but also offered a great opportunity to realize real-time monitoring of DPA released by Bacillus subtilis spores. Furthermore, the coffee ring deposition patterns on a test paper were innovatively tuned by the quantity and morphology changes of TPE-TS@Eu/GMP ICPs during their stimulus response toward DPA, which could be exploited as expanded signal channels. By integrating a multichannel responsive coffee ring test kit with image recognition and processing application installed on smartphones, point-of-use analysis of DPA could be realized in a low-cost and high-throughput fashion.

Simultaneous enantiomeric analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in environment by chiral LC-MS/MS: A pilot study in Beijing, China.

A simple, sensitive and quick method for direct simultaneous chiral analysis of frequently used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, naproxen and flurbiprofen) in river water by HPLC-MS/MS was established and validated. Chromatographic parameters including the mobile phase composition, pH values, temperature and flow rates were optimized to obtain both satisfactory sensitivity and enantiomeric resolution (Rs≥ 1.0), which suggested the composition and pH values of mobile phase played crucial influence on enantioseparations. The method demonstrated its superiority compared with previous studies regarding to the low MQLs (1.1-37.1 ng/L) and short runtime (< 20 min), enabling quantitative enantiomeric determination of trace level of emerging contaminants in water. The environmental monitoring of receiving water (34 sites along rivers) in Beijing revealed ibuprofen was the most abundant, with mean concentration of 114.9 ng/L and detection frequency of 91%, naproxen was also detectable at all sites from < MQL-43.2 ng/L, both presenting an excess of the S-(+)-enantiomer. Therefore to better understand the ecological risk posed from the trace organic contaminants on the aquatic organisms, chiral pollutants need analyzed at the enantiomeric levels. This is the first to profile the enantiospecific occurrence of NSAIDs in surface water in Beijing, China. It could provide useful information on environmental behaviors of chiral pollutants and facilitate more accurate environmental risk assessment.

Rapid and simultaneous analysis of tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane in water by direct immersion solid phase microextraction: Uniform design to explore factors.

Direct immersion solid phase microextraction (DI-SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is of significant research interest because of its low solvent consumption, simple design, and efficient, sensitive, fast performance. In this work, a combination of these two methods (DI-SPME-LC-MS) for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in water was developed. Important factors, which included temperature, stirring rate, salt concentration, pH value and adsorption time, were evaluated in for the optimization of solid phase microextraction (SPME) method. The method was developed using spiked natural waters in a concentration range of 0.1-10 ng mL-1, and showed notable linearity with regression coefficients ranging between 0.992 and 0.999. The limits of detection varied from 0.01 to 0.04 ng mL-1 (at S/N = 3) and relative standard deviation (RSD < 11%) were obtained showing that the precision of the method was reliable. Recoveries were in relatively high levels for both analytes and ranged from 88% to 108%. Moreover, in comparison with the performance time of traditional sample pretreatment methods such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), DI-SPME-LC-MS takes only approximately 35 min to perform. The optimized method was successfully applied for monitoring concentrations of TBBPA and HBCD in water.

A review of toxicity induced by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are almost ubiquitous in synthetic and natural sources; however these contaminants adversely impact ecosystems and humans. Owing to their potential toxicity, concerns have been raised about the effects of POPs and EDCs on ecological and human health. Therefore, toxicity evaluation and mechanisms actions of these contaminants are of great interest. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), an excellent model animal for environmental toxicology research, has been used widely for toxicity studies of POPs or EDCs from the whole-animal level to the single-cell level. In this review, we have discussed the toxicity of specific POPs or EDCs after acute, chronic, and multigenerational exposure in C. elegans. We have also introduced a discussion of the toxicological mechanisms of these compounds in C. elegans, with respect to oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Finally, we raised considered the perspectives and challenges of the toxicity assessments, multigenerational toxicity, and toxicological mechanisms.

Screening and prioritization of chemical hazards for deriving human health ambient water quality criteria in China.

A two-step screening and prioritization approach of the chemical hazard to derive water quality criteria for the protection of human health in China was developed. Seventy-five potential candidate chemicals were identified in Step 1, and then were screened and scored in Step 2, based on three characteristics: detection frequency, toxicity, and human exposure. Substances with a score above 900 were considered the proposed candidates. Using this approach, 18 chemicals were successfully identified, and ranked in the following order: zinc, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, trichloromethane, arsenic, cadmium, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), copper, benzo[a]pyrene, lead, benzene, fluoranthene, mercury, beta-HCH, anthracene, p,p'-DDT, and alpha-HCH. Additional chemical contaminants, including thallium, antimony, chromium (VI), and nitrobenzene, suggested by the Ministry of Environmental Protection for consideration during the development of the water quality criteria, brought the final number of proposed candidates to 22. These candidates belong to different groups: nine metals, four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), four pesticides, two phthalic acid esters, one halogenated hydrocarbon, and two monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This list of pollutants will provide guidance when selecting the substances to be considered during the development of water quality criteria for the protection of human health in China.

Clinical prognostic factors for pediatric extra-abdominal desmoid tumor: analyses of 66 patients at a single institution.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pediatric desmoid tumor (PDT) is rare and has a high local recurrence rate. The purpose of the present study was to analyze clinical risk factors of local recurrence in PDT patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical data of 66 PDT patients from 2004 to 2015. All patients underwent macroscopically complete resection, and some recurrent tumors were prescribed radiotherapy. Factors such as sex, age at presentation, location, and proximity to nerves or vasculature were analyzed. The local recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival were analyzed with these factors. RESULTS: All patients in the present study were children and had extra-abdominal tumors. The median follow-up time was 6.6 years. Thirty-six (55%) patients had local recurrence. Age, sex, tumor site, tumor size, and proximity to nerves/vasculature had a significant impact on prognosis in univariate analysis. Radiotherapy decreased the local recurrence rate. In multivariate analysis, younger age, tumor location in buttocks, larger tumor, and proximity to important nerves/vasculature were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable therapeutic strategies could be selected according to the preoperative prognostic risk factors. Radiotherapy should be considered for local recurrence of PDT.