Systematic characterization of the chemical constituents in vitro and in vivo of Qianghuo by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

The Chinese herb Qianghuo is an antiphlogistic herb with many effects and complex components. In this study, the chemical composition of Qianghuo and its components in rat plasma after oral administration were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). The extracts, blank plasma, and plasma containing the drug were analyzed by mass spectrometry, and data collected in both positive and negative ion modes were analyzed using Masslynx software, and the structures were confirmed by combining the compound fragment ions and mass spectrometry cleavage pathways. A total of 62 in vitro chemical components were identified, including 27 coumarins, 18 organic acids, 5 amino acids, 5 glycosides, 2 flavonoids, 4 nucleotides, and 1 ester, which were summarized from the obtained compounds in terms of their possible cleavage patterns. Among the identified 31 compounds in rat plasma, 21 were prototypes, mostly coumarins, organic acids, and flavonoids, and 10 were metabolites, which were mainly generated via hydroxylation and methylation pathways. Based on these, this study provides a theoretical foundation for quality control and basic research on Qianghuo medicinal substances.

[Research progress on potential targets-mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins in treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury].

Acute myocardial infarction(AMI) is still the leading cause of death worldwide. At present, the treatment of AMI is mainly to restore the cardiac blood supply through myocardial reperfusion. With the widespread use of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI), myocardial reperfusion injury is a major clinical problem. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important pathological basis for myocardial ischemic injury. Therefore, mitochondria can be used as an important target against myocardial damage. In this article, we would briefly review the physiological functions of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins as well as their pathological mechanisms and pharmacological interventions in treatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure in Mice Induces Multitissue Multiomics Disruptions Linking to Cardiometabolic Disorders.

The health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) remain debated, and their tissue and molecular targets are poorly understood. In this study, we leveraged systems biology approaches to assess the target tissues, molecular pathways, and gene regulatory networks associated with prenatal exposure to the model EDC bisphenol A (BPA). Prenatal BPA exposure at 5 mg/kg/d, a dose below most reported no-observed-adverse-effect levels, led to tens to thousands of transcriptomic and methylomic alterations in the adipose, hypothalamus, and liver tissues in male offspring in mice, with cross-tissue perturbations in lipid metabolism as well as tissue-specific alterations in histone subunits, glucose metabolism, and extracellular matrix. Network modeling prioritized main molecular targets of BPA, including Pparg, Hnf4a, Esr1, Srebf1, and Fasn as well as numerous less studied targets such as Cyp51 and long noncoding RNAs across tissues, Fa2h in hypothalamus, and Nfya in adipose tissue. Lastly, integrative analyses identified the association of BPA molecular signatures with cardiometabolic phenotypes in mouse and human. Our multitissue, multiomics investigation provides strong evidence that BPA perturbs diverse molecular networks in central and peripheral tissues and offers insights into the molecular targets that link BPA to human cardiometabolic disorders.

[Control of continuous potato monoculture barrier via biological soil disinfestation method in Yellow River irrigation areas of central Gansu Province, Northwest China].

The potential of biological soil disinfestation (BSD) in control of continuous potato monoculture barrier was investigated in present study. BSD involves the induction of soil reduction conditions through incorporation of easily decomposed organic materials into soil, flooding the soil by irrigation, and covering the soil surface with plastic film. Control (CK) was left without cover and organic amendment as well as flooding. Field experiment was conducted for testing the effect of BSD approach on the control of continuous potato monoculture barrier, especially on tube yield, plant growth and development, suppression of soil-borne pathogen, and soil microbial community and enzyme activities. Compared with CK, BSD treatment significantly increased tuber yield by 16.1% and plant biomass by 30.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, the incidence of diseased plant and the ratio of diseased tuber in BSD treatment also significantly decreased by 68.0% and 46.7% as compared to those in CK, respectively. BSD treatment significantly increased the content of chlorophyll and branch numbers per main stem of potato plants, improved the morphological characteristics of potato root system. In the course of BSD before potato sowing, soil pH value and bacteria/fungi significantly increased, but populations of fungi and Fusarium sp. significantly decreased compared with CK. There were no significant changes in populations of bacteria and actinomycetes between CK and BSD treatments. During potato growing stage, the populations of both soil fungi and Fusarium sp. were lower in BSD treatment than those of CK. With the advance of potato growth, the population of Fusarium sp. in BSD treatment gradually increased compared with CK. There were no significant changes in soil enzyme activities in the course of BSD before potato sowing and the whole of potato growing stage. It was concluded that BSD has the potential to control continuous potato monoculture barrier and may be an important element in a sustainable and effective management strategy for potato soil-borne diseases.

[Study on quantification assessment and odor fingerprint of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons from sewage treatment plant].

The malodorous volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) from a typical municipal sewage treatment plant in Guangzhou were detected and analyzed using thermal-desorption/GC-MS and electronic nose, respectively. The results showed that: (1) Aromatic hydrocarbons were the main malodorous volatile organic compounds of the sewage treatment plant, with concentrations ranging from 96.61 microg x m(-3) to 818.03 microg x m(-3), accounting for more than 50% of the total MVOCs, much higher than other MVOCs species. (2) Volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (VAH) in municipal sewage treatment plant were mainly from domestic wastewater, and the sludge treatment process played an important part in release of these pollutants. The total concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons emitted from each processing unit in a descending order was: the sludge dehydration room > sludge thickener > aeration tank > grille > biochemical pool> grit chamber. (3) rincipal component analysis (PCA) was able to distinguish the characteristic of odor emission from each processing unit, with the recognition index reaching 71% , and the PCA recognition index of simulated gases which simulated the VAH levels of different processes reached 94% , indicating that there was big difference among the srmll of the VAH emitted from different processes. (4) The comparison of the original odor fingerprint and simulated odor fingerprint measured by the sensor T70/2 showed that the original odor fingerprint was greater than the simulated odor fingerprint, and the correlation analysis indicated that the VAH had a great contribution to the odor fingerprint of each unit, and the contribution of VAH odor of the aeration tank tq the original odor fingerprint reached 0. 98.

[Source emission characteristics and impact factors of volatile halogenated organic compounds from wastewater treatment plant].

A low enrichment method of using Tenax as absorbent and liquid nitrogen as refrigerant has been established to sample the volatile halogenated organic compounds in Guangzhou Liede municipal wastewater treatment plant as well as its ambient air. The composition and concentration of target halogenated hydrocarbons were analyzed by combined thermal desorption/GC-MS to explore its sources profile and impact factors. The result showed that 19 halogenated organic compounds were detected, including 11 halogenated alkanets, 3 halogenated alkenes, 3 halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and 2 haloesters, with their total concentrations ranged from 34.91 microg x m(-3) to 127.74 microg x m(-3) and mean concentrations ranged from n.d. to 33.39 microg x m(-3). Main pollutants of the studied plant were CH2Cl2, CHCl3, CFC-12, C2H4Cl2, CFC-11, C2HCl3 and C2Cl4, they came from the wastewater by volatilization. Among the six processing units, the dehydration room showed the highest level of halogenated organic compounds, followed by pumping station, while the sludge thickener was the lowest. The emissions from pumping station, aeration tank and biochemical pool were significantly affected by temperature and humidity of environment.