Dosage- and time-dependent antibacterial effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles determined by a highly uniform SERS negating undesired spectral variation.

Massive production of nanomaterials poses a high risk to environmental ecology and human health. However, comprehensive understanding of nanotoxicity is still a major challenge due to the limitations of assessment methods, especially at the molecular level. We developed a new, sensitive, and robust fingerprinting surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) approach to interrogate both dose- and time-dependent phenotypic bacterial responses to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). SERS enhancement was provided by biocompatible Au NPs. Additionally, a novel vacuum filtration-based strategy was adopted to fabricate bacterial samples with highly uniform SERS signals, ensuring the acquisition of robust and independent spectral changes from ZnO NPs-impacted bacteria without undesirable spectral variations. Combined with multivariate analysis, clear and informative spectral alteration profiles were obtained. Much greater alterations were found in low-dose ranges than high-dose ranges, indicating a reduction in the bioavailability of ZnO NPs with doses. Time-resolved bacterial responses provided important information on toxic dynamics, i.e., rapid action of ZnO NPs within 0.5 h was identified, and ZnO NPs at low doses and long exposure time exerted similar effects to high doses, indicating the concerns associated with low-dose exposure. Further analysis of biochemical changes revealed metabolic activity decrease over both incubation time and doses. Meanwhile, a short-term protection strategy of bacteria by producing lipid-containing outer membrane vesicles to mitigate the cell of toxic NPs was suggested. Finally, Zn(2+) ions released from NPs were demonstrated to be irrelevant to bacterial responses on both dose and time scales. The new SERS methodology can potentially profile a large variety of toxic NPs and advance our understanding of nanotoxicity. Graphical Abstract A highly uniform SERS signal of bacteria negating undesired spectral variation via a novel vacuum filtration-based strategy, combined with multivariate PCA-LDA analysis, was utilized to interrogate both dose- and time-dependent antibacterial effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles, and can be extended to a variety of other toxic nanoparticles.

[Clinical observation of acupoint application therapy on senile female bladder neck obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy on senile female bladder neck obstruction treated with acupoint application, therapy and western medication. METHODS: Fifty cases of senile female bladder neck observation were randomized into an obstrvation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. Tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules were taken orally in the two groups, 0.2 mg every night, continuously for 100 days. In the observation group, with radix aconiti lateralis preparata, semen brassicae and fructus ligustri lucidi contained, bushentongyu plaster was used at Shenque (CV 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Zhongji (CV 3) and Sanjiaoshu (BL 22), once every two days. Eight treatments made one session and 6 sessions were required totally. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), the bother score (BS), the residual volume (RV) and the maximal urinary flow rate (MFR) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Every score in IPSS after treatment was reduced apparently as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The improvements in feeling of incomplete, bladder emptying, intermittency < 2 h, urgency, interupted urination and nocturia in the observation group were more advantageous than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 95.65% (22/23) in the observation group, higher than 85.71% (18/21) in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, RV, MFR and BS were significantly different as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of acupoint application of bushentongyu plaster and oral administration of tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules achieves the significant efficacy on senile female bladder neck obstruction as compared with the simple administration of tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules.

[Clinical observation of acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie powder in the treatment of type III prostatitis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy difference between acupoint sticking therapy and the combined therapy of retention-enema and millimeter-wave radiation in the treatment of type III prostatitis syndrome. METHODS: Seventy-two cases were randomized into an acupoint sticking therapy group (group A, 36 cases) and an enema group (group B, 36 cases). The acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie powder was applied to Ciliao (BL 32), Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Huiyin (CV 1) and Changqiang (GV 1) in group A. The retention-enema with Ruyi Jinhuang powder plus millimeter-wave radiation at the prostatic region was used in group B. Eight treatments made one session. Totally, 2 sessions of treatment were required. The score of the symptoms of chronic prostatitis (NIH-CPSI) and the efficacy were observed. RESULTS: Of 36 cases in group A, 5 cases were dropped off, 13 cases remarkably effective, 17 cases effective and 1 case failed; the total effective rate was 96.8% (30/31). Of 36 cases in group B, 7 cases were dropped off, 7 cases remarkably effective, 17 cases effective and 5 cases failed; the total effective rate was 82.7% (24/29). The efficacy in group A was much better (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the score of NIH-CPSI was reduced obviously in either group (both P < 0.01). The result in group A was much better than group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupoint sticking therapy with Xiongbai Qianlie San achieves a good efficacy on type III prostatitis syndrome and its efficacy is superior to the retention-enema plus millimeter-wave radiation therapy.

Distributions of typical contaminant species in urban short-term storm runoff and their fates during rain events: a case of Xiamen City.

The pollutants in urban storm runoff, which lead to an non-point source contamination of water environment around cities, are of great concerns. The distributions of typical contaminants and the variations of their species in short term storm runoff from different land surfaces in Xiamen City were investigated. The concentrations of various contaminants, including organic matter, nutrients (i.e., N and P) and heavy metals, were significantly higher in parking lot and road runoff than those in roof and lawn runoff. The early runoff samples from traffic road and parking lot contained much high total nitrogen (TN 6-19 mg/L) and total phosphorus (TP 1-3 mg/L). A large proportion (around 60%) of TN existed as total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) species in most runoff. The percentage of TDN and the percentage of total dissolved phosphorus remained relatively stable during the rain events and did not decrease as dramatically as TN and TP. In addition, only parking lot and road runoff were contaminated by heavy metals, and both Pb (25-120 microg/L) and Zn (0.1-1.2 mg/L) were major heavy metals contaminating both runoff. Soluble Pb and Zn were predominantly existed as labile complex species (50%-99%), which may be adsorbed onto the surfaces of suspended particles and could be easily released out when pH decreased. This would have the great impact to the environment.