Cathode potential regulates the microbiome assembly and function in electrostimulated bio- dechlorination system.

Mechanism of microbiome assembly and function driven by cathode potential in electro-stimulated microbial reductive dechlorination system remain poorly understood. Here, core microbiome structure, interaction, function and assembly regulating by cathode potential were investigated in a 2,4,6-trichlorophenol bio-dechlorination system. The highest dechlorination rate (24.30 µM/d) was observed under - 0.36 V with phenol as a major end metabolite, while, lower (-0.56 V) or higher (0.04 V or -0.16 V) potentials resulted in 1.3-3.8 times decreased of dechlorination kinetic constant. The lower the cathode potential, the higher the generated CH4, revealing cathode participated in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Taxonomic and functional structure of core microbiome significantly shifted within groups of - 0.36 V and - 0.56 V, with dechlorinators (Desulfitobacterium, Dehalobacter), fermenters (norank_f_Propionibacteriaceae, Dysgonomonas) and methanogen (Methanosarcina) highly enriched, and the more positive interactions between functional genera were found. The lowest number of nodes and links and the highest positive correlations were observed among constructed sub-networks classified by function, revealing simplified and strengthened cooperation of functional genera driven by group of - 0.36 V. Cathode potential plays one important driver controlling core microbiome assembly, and the low potentials drove the assembly of major dechlorinating, methanogenic and electro-active genera to be more deterministic, while, the major fermenting genera were mostly governed by stochastic processes.

The Regulatory Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Ferroptosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has significantly contributed to protecting human health and promoting the progress of world civilization. A total of 2,711 TCMs are included in the 2020 version of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which is an integral part of the world's medical resources. Tu Youyou and her team discovered and purified artemisinin. And their contributions made the values and advantageous effects of TCM more and more recognized by the international community. There has been a lot of studies on TCM to treat diseases through antioxidant mechanisms, the reports on the new mechanisms beyond antioxidants of TCM has also increased year by year. Recently, many TCMs appear to have significant effects in regulating ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent, non-apoptotic, regulated cell death characterized by intracellular lipid peroxide accumulation and oxidative membrane damage. Recently, accumulating studies have demonstrated that numerous organ injuries and pathophysiological process of many diseases are companied with ferroptosis, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease, acute renal injury, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. This work mainly introduces dozens of TCMs that can regulate ferroptosis and their possible mechanisms and targets.

Chemical constituents from the stems of Acanthopanax senticosus with their cytotoxic activities.

A new coumestan named 7,5'-dihydroxy-4'-(3''-hydroxy-3''-methyl-trans-isobut-1''-enyl) coumestan (1), together with five known compounds (2-6), was isolated from the EtOAc-soluble extract of the stems of Acanthopanax senticosus. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses. All the isolates were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cells including HepG2, A549, HeLa and MCF-7. Among them, the new compound 1 was found to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells with IC50 value of 6.5 µM.

Efficient treatment of alizarin yellow R contained wastewater in an electrostimulated anaerobic-oxic integrated system.

An electrostimulated anaerobic-oxic integrated system was constructed for treating alizarin yellow R (AYR) containing wastewater. In electro-stimulated anaerobic unit, AYR decolorization efficiency improved from 51.2% to 96.6%. Two amination metabolites, p-phenylenediamine and 5-aminosalicylic acid, went through oxidation, ammonification and mineralization in oxic unit. Electro-stimulation promoted denitrification and COD removal efficiencies by 15.5% and 8.6%, respectively. A 20% improved nitrification efficiency was observed in oxic unit, due to elimination of AYR toxicity inhibition. No corrosion of heat-treated stainless steel occurred during the 60 days of continuous operation. Electrons sunk in denitrification and decolorization accounted for 34.4-36.8% of those released from COD removal, and 7.3% increase of removed nitrogen in nitrogenous compounds (AYR, nitrate and ammonia) was found. Electro-stimulated anaerobic unit predominated with fermentation and denitrification genera (Propionispira, Rhodocyclus, etc.) and aboundance of electro-active decolorization genus (Desulfovibrio, etc.) increased. Ammonia-oxidizing genus, Comamonas, was the most abundant in aerobic unit. Compared to the suspension, the electrostimulation could increased the abundance of electro-active genera in cathodic biofilm. This study revealed the feasibility of applying electro-stimulation and the conversion laws of nitrogenous organics in secondary bio-treatment system for treating toxic nitrogenous organics-contained wastewater.

Accelerated microbial reductive dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by weak electrical stimulation.

Microbial reductive dechlorination of chlorinated aromatics frequently suffers from the long dechlorination period and the generation of toxic metabolites. Biocathode bioelectrochemical systems were verified to be effective in the degradation of various refractory pollutants. However, the electrochemical and microbial related working mechanisms for bio-dechlorination by electro-stimulation remain poorly understood. In this study, we reported the significantly improved 2,4,6-trichlorophenol dechlorination activity through the weak electro-stimulation (cathode potential of -0.36 V vs. SHE), as evidenced by the 3.1 times higher dechlorination rate and the complete dechlorination ability with phenol as the end dechlorination product. The high reductive dechlorination rate (20.8 µM/d) could be maintained by utilizing electrode as an effective electron donor (coulombic efficiency of 82.3 ±â€¯4.8%). Cyclic voltammetry analysis of the cathodic biofilm gave the direct evidences of the cathodic respiration with the improved and positive-shifted reduction peaks of 2,4,6-TCP, 2,4-DCP and 4-CP. The optimal 2,4,6-TCP reductive dechlorination rate (24.2 µM/d) was obtained when a small amount of lactate (2 mM) was added, and the generation of H2 and CH4 were accompanied due to the biological fermentation and methanogenesis. The electrical stimulation significantly altered the cathodic biofilm structure and composition with some potential dechlorinators (like Acetobacterium) predominated. The microbial interactions in the ecological network of cathodic biofilm were more simplified than the planktonic community. However, some potential dechlorinators (Acetobacterium, Desulfovibrio, etc.) shared more positive interactions. The co-existence and possible cooperative relationships between potential dechlorinators and fermenters (Sedimentibacter, etc.) were revealed. Meanwhile, the competitive interrelations between potential dechlorinators and methanogens (Methanomassiliicoccus) were found. In the network of plankton, the fermenters and methanogens possessed the more positive interrelations. Electro-stimulation at the cathodic potential of -0.36 V selectively enhanced the dechlorination function, while it showed little influence on either fermentation or methanogenesis process. The study gave suggestions for the enhanced bioremediation of chlorinated aromatics, in views of the electro-stimulation capacity, efficiency and microbial interrelations related microbial mechanism.

Electroacupuncture Facilitates the Integration of Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neural Network with Transected Rat Spinal Cord.

The hostile environment of an injured spinal cord makes it challenging to achieve higher viability in a grafted tissue-engineered neural network used to reconstruct the spinal cord circuit. Here, we investigate whether cell survival and synaptic transmission within an NT-3 and TRKC gene-overexpressing neural stem cell-derived neural network scaffold (NN) transplanted into transected spinal cord could be promoted by electroacupuncture (EA) through improving the microenvironment. Our results showed that EA facilitated the cell survival, neuronal differentiation, and synapse formation of a transplanted NN. Pseudorabies virus tracing demonstrated that EA strengthened synaptic integration of the transplanted NN with the host neural circuit. The combination therapy also promoted axonal regeneration, spinal conductivity, and functional recovery. The findings highlight EA as a potential and safe supplementary therapeutic strategy to reinforce the survival and synaptogenesis of a transplanted NN as a neuronal relay to bridge the two severed ends of an injured spinal cord.

[Effects of Rhodiola on the Expression of iNOS mRNA in Severe Acute Pancreatitis Associated Re- nal Injury Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Rhodiola on the expression of iNOS mRNA in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) associated renal injury rats. METHODS: A total of 72 healthy rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group (S), the SAP associated renal injury group (M), and the Rhodiola-treated group (RHO), 24 in each group. Rats in S and M groups were peritoneally injected with 10 mL/kg saline 3h before modeling, while rats in the RHO group were peritoneally injected with 10 mL/kg Rhodiola Injection 3 h before modeling. The peripheral ligament of pancreas was bluntly dissociated in rats of M and RHO groups. The head of pancreas was occlused by nontraumatic blood vessel forceps 3 h later to establish the model. Eight rats were randomly selected from each group at 12, 24, and 36 h after modeling to detect levels of serum amylase, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. Serum levels of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes of the left kidney were observed under light microscope. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the right kidney was detected with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the S group, serum levels of amylase, creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), IL-1ß, IL-10, and iNOS mRNA expression significantly increased in the M group (P < 0.01). The function of kidney and pancreas were obviously improved in the RHO group than in the M group. Levels of IL-1ß and iNOS significantly decreased, but IL-10 levels significantly increased in the RHO group with statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rhodiola had better protective effect on SAP associated renal injury, which might be achieved through inhibiting the expression of IL-1ß, stimulating the expression of IL-10, down-regulating iNOS mRNA expression, reducing the generation of oxygen free radicals and NO damage to cells, and improving hypoxia tolerance capabilities of the kidney.

Endocrine traits of polycystic ovary syndrome in prenatally androgenized female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Although hyperandrogenism is an important condition and is considered the possible pathogenesis behind polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), data supporting this is still scarce. We sought to determine whether or not prenatal androgen exposure leads to PCOS and the possible cellular mechanisms involved. To induce prenatal androgen exposure, pregnant rats were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of free testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from embryonic days 16 to 19, and their female offspring were studied as adults. The mRNA expression of the progesterone receptor (PR) in the preoptic area (POA) hypothalamus was higher in the experimental groups than in the control group after ovariectomy and stimulation with estradiol benzoate. The levels of T, P, leutinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol were higher in the experimental groups than in the control groups. The frequency and magnitude of LH secretion was increased in experimental rats as compared with the control group. The anogenital distance of the experimental groups was prolonged and the nipple number was lower than that of the control group. Almost all experimental rats had prolonged or irregular estrous cycles. The experimental groups had fewer corpus luteum and preovulatory follicles and more preantral follicles and antral follicles than the controls. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that excess androgen during the prenatal period may cause PCOS. Additionally, we show that hyperandrogenic interference in the release of preovulatory LH surges is mediated by the suppressive effects of androgens on PR expression in POA-hypothalamic tissue.

[Reducing oxidative DNA damage by adding antioxidants in human semen samples undergoing cryopreservation procedure].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of oxidative DNA damage by adding antioxidants: ascorbate, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in human semen samples undergoing cryopreservation procedure. METHODS: Semen sample form 30 fertile men were mixed with modified cryoprotectant and divided into six groups according to the category and concentration of antioxidants: ascorbate 300 micromol/L, ascorbate 600 micromol/L, CAT 200 U/ml, CAT 400 U/ml, SOD 200 U/ml, and SOD 400 U/ml. Comet assay was conducted to measure the percentage of comet cells, and the nuclear DNA damaged parameters: tail DNA percentage (TD%) and Olive tail moment (OTM). Flow cytometry was used to detect the reactive oxidative species (ROS). The motility (a + b grade), viable recovery rate, nuclear DNA integrity and reactive oxidative species (ROS) of all groups were analyzed before and/or after freeze-thawing. RESULTS: (After cryopreservation, compared with the control group, the a + b grade sperm rates of the ascorbate 300 micromol/L, CAT 200 U, and CAT 400 U groups were all higher than that of the control group (all P < 0.05), however, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the ascorbate 300 micromol/L, CAT 200 U, and CAT 400 U groups were 30 +/- 13, 30 +/- 11, and 30 +/- 11 respectively, all significantly lower than that of the control group (37 +/- 17 , all P < 0.05). The viable recovery rates of the ascorbate 300 micromol/L , CAT 200 U, and CAT 400 U groups were 67% +/- 14%, 68% +/- 14%, and 69% -/+ 15% respectively, all significantly higher than that of the control group (59% +/- 10%, all P < 0.05). (2) The TD% levels of the ascorbate 300 micromol/L, CAT 200 U, and CAT 400 U groups were 41% +/- 4%, 40% +/- 7%, 40% +/- 6%, all similar to that of the raw semen (all P > 0.05), but significantly lower than that of the control group (46% +/- 6%, all P < 0.01). The OTM levels of the ascorbate 300 micromol/ L, CAT 200 U, and CAT 400 U groups were 7.7 +/- 1.2, 7.5 +/- 1.6, and 7.8 +/- 1.9, all similar to that of the raw semen (all P > 0.05), but significantly lower than that of the control group (10.1 +/- 3.1, all P < 0.01) too. The TD% and OTM levels of the other groups were all significantly higher than that of the raw semen (all P < 0.01), but not significantly different from those of the control group (all P > 0.05). (3) ROS was significantly negatively correlated with the motility in all groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Apart from the ascorbate 600 micromol/L group, the TD% and OTM of the other groups were all significantly positively correlated with the ROS (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Supplementation of ascorbate or CAT reduces the level of ROS that induces sperm nuclear DNA damage, and improves the human sperm quality in the process of freeze-thawing.