Distribution and migration of uranium, chromium, and accompanying metal(loid)s in soil-plants system around a uranium hydrometallurgical area.

The extraction and utilization of uranium (U) ores have led to the release of significant amounts of potentially toxic metal(loid)s (PTMs) into the environment, constituting a grave threat to the ecosystem. However, research on the distribution and migration mechanism of U, chromium (Cr), and their accompanying PTMs in soil-plant system around U hydrometallurgical area remains insufficient and poorly understood. Herein, the distribution, migration, and risk level of PTMs were evaluated in soil and plant samples around U hydrometallurgical area, Northern Guangdong, China. The results demonstrated that the maximum content of U and Cr found in the analyzed soils were up to 84.2 and 238.9 mg/kg, respectively. These values far exceed the soil background values in China and other countries. The highest content of U (53.6 mg/kg) was detected in Colocasia antiquorum Schott, and the highest content of Cr (349.5 mg/kg) was observed in Pteridium aquilinum, both of which were enriched in their roots. The risk assessment of PTMs demonstrated that the study area suffered from severe pollution (PN > 3), especially from U, Cr, Th, and As, suggesting the non-negligible anthropogenic impacts. Hence, in light of the significant ecological hazard posed by the U hydrometallurgical area, it is imperative to implement appropriate restoration measures to ensure the human health and maintain the stability of the ecosystem.

Improvement of anti-nutritional effect resulting from ß-glucanase specific expression in the parotid gland of transgenic pigs.

ß-Glucan is the predominant anti-nutritional factors in monogastric animal feed. Although ß-glucanase supplementation in diet can help to eliminate the adverse effects, enzyme stability is substantially modified during the feed manufacturing process. To determine whether the expression of endogenous ß-glucanase gene (GLU) in vivo can improve digestibility of dietary ß-glucan and absorption of nutrients, we successfully produced transgenic pigs via nuclear transfer which express the GLU from Paenibacillus polymyxa CP7 in the parotid gland. In three live transgenic founders, ß-glucanase activities in the saliva were 3.2, 0.07 and 0.03 U/mL, respectively, and interestingly the enzyme activities increased in the pigs from 178 days old to 789 days old. From the feed the amount of gross energy, crude protein and crude fat absorbed by the transgenic pigs was significantly higher than the non-transgenic pigs. Meanwhile the moisture content of the feces was significantly reduced in transgenic pigs compared with the non-transgenic pigs. Furthermore, in all positive G1 pigs, ß-glucanase activity was detectable and the highest enzyme activity reached 3.5 U/mL in saliva. Also, crude protein digestion was significantly higher in G1 transgenic pigs than in control pigs. Taken together, our data showed that the transgenic ß-glucanase exerted its biological catalytic function in vivo in the saliva, and the improved performance of the transgenic pigs could be accurately passed on to the offspring, indicating a promising alternative approach to improving nutrient availability was established to improve utilization of livestock feed through transgenic animals.

[Comparison of the analgesic effect of acupuncture between otopoint-penetrative needling and otopoint-straight needling for cervical type and nerve-root type cervicospondylopathy].

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the better analgesic effect of otopoint-penetrative needling for cervical type and nerve-root type cervicospondylopathy. METHODS: A total of 98 cervicospondylopathy outpatients (50 cases of cervical type and 48 cases of nerve-root type) were randomly divided into treatment group (otopoint-penetrative needling) and control group (otopoint-straight needling) in the light of paring method of comprehensive factors of sexes, ages and the state of disease. The main oto-points used were bilateral Jingzhui Area (AH 13) in combination with Jian-Jianguanjie-Suogu (Shoulder-Shoulder-joint-Collarbone) Area, etc. The simplified McGill Pain Scaling was used to give the score of patient's pain before the treatment, 5 min and 30 min after the treatment. RESULTS: Results of sequential trial indicated that the analgesic effect of otopoint-penetrative needling was significantly superior to that of otopoint-straight needling 30 min after the treatment (P < 0.05). Findings of matched-pair t test showed that no marked differences were found between two groups in the pain scores before the treatment, while after the treatment, the pain scores of otopoint-penetrative needling group were significantly lower than those of otopoint-straight needling group (P < 0.001, 0.01), meaning that the analgesic effect of otopoint-penetrative needling was significantly better than that of otopoint-straight needling 5 min and 30 min after the treatment in both men and women, in both cervical type and nerve-root type patients, and in both young and older patients. CONCLUSION: The analgesic effect of otopoint-penetrative needling is obviously superior to that of otopoint-straight needling.

Effect of supplementing a high-fat, low-carbohydrate enteral formula in COPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: One of the goals in treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who suffer from hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and malnutrition is to correct the malnutrition without increasing the respiratory quotient and minimize the production of carbon dioxide. This 3-wk study evaluated the efficacy of feeding a high-fat, low-carbohydrate (CHO) nutritional supplement as opposed to a high-carbohydrate diet in COPD patients on parameters of pulmonary function.S METHODS: Sixty COPD patients with low body weight (<90% ideal body weight) were randomized to the control group, which received dietary counseling for a high-CHO diet (15% protein, 20% to 30% fat, and 60% to 70% CHO), or the experimental group, which received two to three cans (237 mL/can) of a high-fat, low-CHO oral supplement (16.7% protein, 55.1% fat, and 28.2% CHO) in the evening as part of the diet. Measurements of lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s or volume of air exhaled in 1 s of maximal expiration, minute ventilation, oxygen consumption per unit time, carbon dioxide production in unit time, and respiratory quotient) and blood gases (pH, arterial carbon dioxide tension, and arterial oxygen tension) were taken at baseline and after 3 wk. RESULTS: Lung function measurements decreased significantly and forced expiratory volume increased significantly in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that pulmonary function in COPD patients can be significantly improved with a high-fat, low-CHO oral supplement as compared with the traditional high-CHO diet.