Recent Advances on Selenium Nutrition and Keshan Disease.

Keshan disease (KD) is a type of endemic cardiomyopathy with an unknown cause. It is primarily found in areas in China with low selenium levels, from northeast to southwest. The nutritional biogeochemical etiology hypothesis suggests that selenium deficiency is a major factor in KD development. Selenium is important in removing free radicals and protecting cells and tissues from peroxide-induced damage. Thus, low environmental selenium may affect the selenium level within the human body, and selenium level differences are commonly observed between healthy people in KD and nonKD areas. From the 1970s to the 1990s, China successfully reduced KD incidence in endemic KD areas through a selenium supplementation program. After years of implementing prevention and control measures, the selenium level of the population in the KD areas has gradually increased, and the prevalence of KD in China has remained low and stable in recent years. Currently, the pathogenesis of KD remains vague, and the effect of selenium supplementation on the prognosis of KD still needs further study. This paper comprehensively reviews selenium deficiency and its connection to KD. Thus, this study aims to offer novel ideas and directions to effectively prevent and treat KD in light of the current situation.

Solvent-like bis (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether occurrence in drinking water: Multidimensional risk assessment integrated health and aesthetic aspects.

Bis (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether (DCIP), one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutant, could pose health and/or odor risk in water environment. In this study, odor characteristics, occurrence and source of DCIP in drinking waters of China were investigated based on sensory analysis and a nation-wide investigation covering 140 drinking water treatment plants. Then multi-risk integrated health and aesthetic aspects through oral and inhalation (showering) exposure by drinking water were first estimated. Sensory evaluation showed DCIP exhibited "solvent-like" odor with thresholds of 34.8 ng/L in air and 142.0 ng/L in water. DCIP was detected at comparable concentrations in raw and finished waters (<1280 ng/L) and was by-product from industrial production of epichlorohydrin/propylene oxide. Lifetime Average Daily Dose through oral exposure was 0-36.65 ng/day/kg, corresponding to odor activity values of 0-8.4 and hazard quotients of far < 1, indicating drinking tap water might cause odor issues rather than significant health hazard. The proportion of sensitive population to DCIP's odor was 6.1%. In contrast, residents rarely detect DCIP's odor by inhalation. The presence in drinking water as industrial by-product, poor removal using conventional water treatment and potential to be T&O issues, indicates urgent demand for pollutant source control to protect DCIP from entering source waters.

Decoupling of N and P aggravated upward along food chains in an urban river ecosystem.

Anthropogenic input of nutrient has profoundly influenced water quality and aquatic organisms, however, large and unbalanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs (decoupling) can lead to a range of ecological health problems such as eutrophication. Whether and how the decoupling varies along the aquatic food chain remains poorly addressed. Here we chose an urban river ecosystem in the cosmopolis region of Beijing, with reclaimed water as the entire replenishment water source over 20 years, to demonstrate the decoupling pattern of N vs P across trophic levels. Results showed that organism C, N and P concentration increased, but N:P ratio decreased upward along the food chains, suggesting that this decoupling of N and P increased as trophic level ascends. Compared with natural freshwater ecosystem, the decoupling of N and P was aggravated in the reclaimed water river. Moreover, the homeostasis of N and P were higher at higher relative to lower trophic levels, and higher in macro-food chain relative to planktonic food chain. This study, for the first time, revealed the increasing decoupling of N vs P upward along the major food chains in an urban aquatic ecosystem, and could improve the understanding of nutrient cycling at the food chain level under human disturbance, and provide useful information for ecological restoration and eutrophication control of urban wetlands replenished with reclaimed water.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the BBX Gene Family and Its Role in Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.).

The B-box proteins (BBXs) are a family of zinc-finger transcription factors with one/two B-Box domain(s) and play important roles in plant growth and development as well as stress responses. Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) is an important traditional medicinal and food supplement in China, and its genome has recently been released. However, comprehensive studies of BBX genes in Lycium species are lacking. In this study, 28 LbaBBX genes were identified and classified into five clades by a phylogeny analysis with BBX proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and the LbaBBXs have similar protein motifs and gene structures. Promoter cis-regulatory element prediction revealed that LbaBBXs might be highly responsive to light, phytohormone, and stress conditions. A synteny analysis indicated that 23, 20, 8, and 5 LbaBBX genes were orthologous to Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum melongena, Capsicum annuum, and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively. The gene pairs encoding LbaBBX proteins evolved under strong purifying selection. In addition, the carotenoid content and expression patterns of selected LbaBBX genes were analyzed. LbaBBX2 and LbaBBX4 might play key roles in the regulation of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin biosynthesis. Overall, this study improves our understanding of LbaBBX gene family characteristics and identifies genes involved in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in wolfberry.

Clinical Effectiveness of Free Upper Arm Medial Flap in Repairing Skin and Soft Tissue Defects of the Dorsum of the Hand.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of medial upper arm free flap in repairing skin and soft tissue (SST) defects of the dorsum of the hand. Methods: 10 patients with SST defects on the dorsum of the hand who underwent free upper arm medial flap repair in our hospital from March 2017 to August 2018 were included in the study. Hand function, flap survival rate, wound healing, donor wound recovery, and the level of pain in the injured area were recorded before the operation, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Results: The highest score in hand function was seen at the 6-month postoperative interval, followed by that at the 1-month postoperative interval. The lowest score in hand function was the preoperative score (P < 0.05). All flaps were still surviving 6 months postoperatively. Recovery of the function of the donor muscle, the elbow joint, as well as wound healing, all progressed well. 6 months postoperatively, 3 patients developed numbness and stiffness of the hand, but the symptoms were relieved following treatment. Compared to the preoperative scores, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at the injured site 1 month and 6 months postoperatively were significantly decreased, with the 6-month postoperative score being lower than the 1-month postoperative score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The free upper arm medial flap is a good alternative for repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the dorsum of the hand with exposed phalanges, an approach that merits widespread promotion and clinical application.

Chemical profile and miscarriage prevention evaluation of Jiao-Ai Decoction, a classical traditional Chinese formula.

Jiao-Ai Decoction (JAD), a classical traditional Chinese formula composed of seven Chinese herbs, has been widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of abortion for a long time. However, the material basis and pharmacological mechanism remain unclear. An integrative method combining ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis and therapeutic effect evaluation based on the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA) was employed to elaborate these problems. Firstly, the chemical profile of JAD was identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Secondly, the main target ingredients from JAD were determined by UPLC-T-Q-MS. Finally, the miscarriage prevention of JAD on threatened abortion pregnant rats induced by mifepristone was investigated. Threatened abortion model in rats were replicated, uterine bleeding quantity (UBQ) and histopathological sections were measured, the contents of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were determined by ELISA, related genes and protein expression levels were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. As a result, a total of 101 compounds were identified and 27 ingredients were determined to evaluate the quality of JAD. In the model rats, JAD could effectively regulate the HPOA to achieve miscarriage prevention, and the mechanism might be related to the regulation of gene and protein expression on the HPOA. This work could provide a novel and valuable approach for the quality evaluation of JAD and were expected to provide ideas and methods for the basic research on the scientific application of similar traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Role of honey in preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy-induced mucositis easily arouses oral ulceration, pain and xerostomia. Intense pain, difficulty swallowing and speaking greatly affect the quality of life and the treatment process. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of honey in preventing and treating radiotherapy-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer using a different analytical strategy. METHODS: Articles published until July 2020 were searched across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized controlled trials that evaluated honey were assessed by two reviewers. The number of mucositis incidences was the primary outcome. Weight loss, pain scale and incidence of severe pain were pooled to be calculated as secondary outcomes. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan5.3 software. The funnel plot was used to detect publication bias. RESULTS: Overall, 11/179 records with 715 patients who received radiotherapy were included. Honey significantly reduced the incidence of grade 2 (OR: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.54-0.98, P = 0.03), grade 3 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-0.35, P < 0.001) and grade 4 mucositis (OR: 0.17, 95%CI: 0.08-0.36, P < 0.001). In grade 1 (OR: 1.54, 95%CI: 1.15-2.06, P = 0.003), and honey was not significant in preventing radiation-induced mucositis. The incidence of unbearable pain was lower in the honey group at all grades (OR: -0.20, 95%CI: -0.33 to -0.07). The effect of honey on weight loss and pain score was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Honey can prevent and alleviate grade 2-4 mucositis, especially in high grade mucositis. Honey also provides some relief from severe pain. But, more evidence is required to prove that honey is an effective substance for relieving pain or minimizing weight loss.

Anthocyanins from the fruits of Lycium ruthenicum Murray improve high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance by ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress in mice.

A high-fat diet (HFD) promotes tissue inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR), thereby contributing to the development of obesity and diabetes. Anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum (AC) have demonstrated anti-obesity effects and modulated IR. To investigate the mechanism by which AC attenuates the adverse effects of consuming a HFD, C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD supplemented with AC or a control diet without AC for 12 weeks. AC supplementation decreased the amount of weight gain, hepatic lipid, and sequentially improved dyslipidemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and IR in HFD-fed mice. Molecular data revealed that AC inhibited hepatic inflammation by reducing TLR4/NF-κB/JNK in the liver tissues and ameliorated oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway. Thus, AC might activate IRS-1/AKT and prevent HFD-induced gluconeogenesis and IR by ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress. Modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress with AC may represent a promising target for the treatment of IR and provide insight into the mechanism by which AC protects against obesity.

The efficacy and safety of Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate in the treatment of endometriosis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis (EMS) is one of the common diseases in women, which seriously affects the quality of life of women. Leuprorelin acetate can control the development of EMS, but long-term use can cause perimenopausal symptoms in women. Clinical studies have shown that Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate is effective in the treatment of EMS, which can relieve perimenopausal symptoms, but it lacks of evidence-based medical evidence. Therefore, this study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate in the treatment of EMS. METHODS: CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, The Cochrance Library, Embase, Web of Science, and other databases were searched by computer to collect randomized controlled trials of Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate in the treatment of EMS. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to February 2021. Two researchers screened the literatures and extracted the data and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate in the treatment of EMS by clinical effective rate, serum sex hormone levels estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, visual analogue scale, Kupperman score and incidence of adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of Kuntai capsule combined with leuprorelin acetate in the treatment of EMS. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also does not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval will not be required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated at relevant conferences. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/AZU47.

Protection of Icariin Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced MC3T3-E1 Cell Oxidative Damage.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective mechanism of icariin against oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide in MC3T3-E1 cells. METHODS: MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with different concentrations of icariin to explore the optimal dose of icariin. MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into groups treated with various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ; 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) for 24 h to induce oxidative damage and cell viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Then, cells were divided into five groups: control, H2 O2 (0.2 mM), icariin (0.1 µM) and H2 O2 (0.2 mM), + icariin (0.1 µM). Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. In addition, the content of glutathione and superoxide dismutase and the activity level of malondialdehyde in these treatment groups were determined. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red S (ARS) staining were also performed to measure the early and late osteogenesis, respectively. Protein expression of ß-catenin and cyclin D1 was measured by western blot assay. Then, we used an antagonist of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway (DKK-1) and western blot analysis to further explore potential mechanism. RESULTS: After 24 h of exposure to 0.2 mM H2 O2 , the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly decreased compared to that of the control cells. We first found that icariin can promote cell proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the dosage 0.1 µM showing the best pro-proliferative effect. Furthermore, icariin could promote the protein expression of OSX and RUNX2. The results showed that icariin can reverse the inhibitory osteogenic effects of MC3T3-E1 caused by H2 O2 . In addition, icariin could increase the Wnt-signaling related proteins. The results showed that MC3T3-E1 cells in the H2 O2 (0.2 mM) + icariin (0.1 µM) + Wnt-signaling antagonist (DKK-1) group had weaker ALP and ARS staining compared with that observed in the control and H2 O2 (0.2 mM) + icariin (0.1 µM) groups. The ALP activity and calcium content were decreased in the 0.2 mM H2 O2 + 0.1 µM icariin + DKK-1 group compared to that observed in the 0.2 mM H2 O2 + 0.1 µM icariin group. CONCLUSION: The results showed that icariin can increase the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells, reverse the oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 and protect MC3T3-E1 cells against H2 O2 -induced inhibition of osteogenic differentiation, which may occur through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Radix Kansui Stir-Fried with Vinegar Reduces Radix Kansui-Related Hepatotoxicity in Mice via Mitochondrial Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of Radix Kansui (RK) stir-fried with vinegar (VRK) decreased hepatotoxicity in mice. METHODS: According to a random number table, 40 mice were randomly divided into negative control group (0.5% carboxymethylcellulose sodium, 20 mL/kg), positive control group (0.1% mixture of carbon tetrachloride in soybean oil, 20 mL/kg), RK group (the ethyl acetate extracts of RK, 250 g crude drug/kg) and VRK group (the ethyl acetate extracts of VRK, 250 g crude drug/kg) with 10 mice per group. All mice were administered orally by gavage daily for 7 continuous days. The morphology of liver tissues was examined to assess the liver injury by a transmission electron microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis in vivo was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nickend labeling (TUNEL) assay. Immunohistochemical technique was adopted to detect the expression of particular antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins in the mitochondrial pathways, including B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) and caspase-3, as well as the expression of inflammatory mediators, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κ B) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). RESULTS: Liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis were observed in RK mice, and the liver injury were significantly reduced in VRK-treated mice. In immunohistochemistry study, compared with the negative control group, RK inhibited dramatically the Bcl-2 protein expression and significantly increased the expression of caspase-3, NF- κ B and ICAM-1 (all P<0.01). Compared with the RK group, VRK group induced significant increase on Bcl-2 protein expression, and decreased the caspase-3, NF- κ B and ICAM-1 protein expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of reduced hepatotoxicity of VRK may be associated with the reduced inflammation, regulation of antiapoptotic and proapoptotic mediators in the mitochondrial pathway.

Inhibition of Drp1 SUMOylation by ALR protects the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Hepatic ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication of liver surgery. Although an imbalance between mitochondrial fission and fusion has been identified as the cause of IRI, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) was reported to prevent mitochondrial fission by inhibiting dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) phosphorylation, contributing partially to its liver protection. Apart from phosphorylation, Drp1 activity is also regulated by small ubiquitin-like modification (SUMOylation), which accelerates mitochondrial fission. This study aimed to investigate whether ALR-mediated protection from hepatic IRI might be associated with an effect on Drp1 SUMOylation. Liver tissues were harvested from both humans and from heterozygous ALR knockout mice, which underwent IRI. The SUMOylation and phosphorylation of Drp1 and their modulation by ALR were investigated. Hepatic Drp1 SUMOylation was significantly increased in human transplanted livers and IRI-livers of mice. ALR-transfection significantly decreased Drp1 SUMOylation, attenuated the IRI-induced mitochondrial fission and preserved mitochondrial stability and function. This study showed that the binding of transcription factor Yin Yang-1 (YY1) to its downstream target gene UBA2, a subunit of SUMO-E1 enzyme heterodimer, was critical to control Drp1 SUMOylation. By interacting with YY1, ALR inhibits its nuclear import and dramatically decreases the transcriptional level of UBA2. Consequently, mitochondrial fission was significantly reduced, and mitochondrial function was maintained. This study showed that the regulation of Drp1 SUMOylation by ALR protects mitochondria from fission, rescuing hepatocytes from IRI-induced apoptosis. These new findings provide a potential target for clinical intervention to reduce the effects of IRI during hepatic surgery.

Multi-template molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction and its application in the extraction and separation of multi-components from traditional Chinese medicine / 药学学报

Multi-template molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction not only has the advantages of high selectivity, large adsorption capacity, easy preparation, reuse and low environmental pollution, but also can realize the enrichment and separation of many kinds of compounds. It has attracted wide attention in the extraction and separation of traditional Chinese medicine components. This study summarizes the latest development of multi-template molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction. At the same time, based on the classification of active components of traditional Chinese medicine (flavonoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanol, terpenes, etc.), the latest application of multi-template molecular imprinting solid phase extraction in multi-component separation of traditional Chinese medicine was reviewed, with a view to better application of multi-template molecularly imprinted polymer in active multi-component extraction and separation of traditional Chinese medicine and provide reference for the material basic research of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.

Simultaneous determination of twelve quinones from Rubiae radix et Rhizoma before and after carbonization processing by UPLC-MS/MS and their antithrombotic effect on zebrafish.

Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma (called "Qiancao", QC), the root and rhizome of Rubia cordifolia L., has been widely used in clinical practice for its excellent performance in removing blood stasis and haemostasis. However, after carbonization processing, significant changes occurred in chemical components of the charcoal of Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma (called "Qiancaotan", QCT), which enhanced the performance in haemostasis and weakened the performance in removing blood stasis in clinic. In order to study the material basis of function variation during processing, a rapid, reliable, accurate and validated UPLC-MS/MS approach was established to determine twelve quinones in QC and QCT simultaneously. Meanwhile, the antithrombotic effect of target components on zebrafish thrombus model induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ) was investigated. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on an ACQUITY UPLC C18column with acetonitrile-water containing 0.2 % (v/v) formic acid as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. Quantitation was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI). Furthermore, the activity evaluation studies showed that the reduction of removing blood stasis effect of QCT was due to the decrease of dehydro-α-lapachone, lapachol, rubioncolin C and mollugin. This study demonstrated that the method has been successfully applied to determine the content of twelve quinones responsible for the function variation of QCT, and provided a new insight into the material basis and the effect of eliminating stasis before and after processing of QC.

Impact of phosphorus fertilizer level on the yield and metabolome of goji fruit.

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) is a highly medicinal value tree species. The yield and nutritional contents of goji fruit are significant affected by fertilizer level. In this study, we analyzed the yield and nutritional contents change of goji fruit, which planted in pot (vermiculite:perlite, 1:2, v:v) in growth chamber under P0 (32.5 g/per tree), P1 (65 g/per tree), and P2 (97.5 g/per tree). Meanwhile, we utilized an integrated Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to analysis of the response of the metabolome in goji fruit to phosphorus level. The results show that the yield of goji fruits had strongly negative correlation with phosphorus level, especially in the third harvest time. The amino acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and betaine contents of goji fruits in the first harvest time had obvious correlated with the level of phosphorus level. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment results indicated that the impact of different phosphorus fertilizer levels on each group mainly involved the biosynthesis of flavonoids. The results provide new insights into the theoretical basis of the relationship between the nutritional contents of goji fruits and phosphorus fertilizer level.

Lack of Augmenter of Liver Regeneration Disrupts Cholesterol Homeostasis of Liver in Mice by Inhibiting the AMPK Pathway.

It is well known that excessive cholesterol accumulation within hepatocytes deteriorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) has been reported to alleviate NAFLD through anti-apoptosis; however, whether ALR could protect liver from cholesterol-induced NAFLD remains unclear. Mice with heterozygous deletion of Gfer (the gene for ALR, Gfer +/-) were generated, and liver steatosis was induced by either choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented, methionine choline-deficient diet for 4 weeks, or high-fat diet for 16 weeks. The results showed that Gfer +/- mice developed a more severe fatty liver phenotype than Gfer +/+ mice. The livers of Gfer +/- mice exhibited a higher concentration of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein compared with the normal mice. Transcriptome-based analysis predicts low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) primarily involved in the metabolic pathway. The experiments further indicate that cholesterol accumulation within hepatocytes is closely associated with enhancing the expression of LDLR and activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2). Because adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a critical regulator of SREBP2 activation, we measured whether the activity of AMPK was regulated by ALR. We found that knockdown of ALR expression inhibited the phosphorylation of LKB1, an upstream activator of AMPK, followed by AMPK inactivation and SREBP2 maturation/nuclear translocation, leading to extensive cholesterol accumulation. Meanwhile, cellular oxidative stress increased as a result of ALR knockdown, indicating that ALR might also have a role in suppressing reactive oxygen species production. Conclusion: Our results confirm that ALR regulates cholesterol metabolism and alleviates hepatic steatosis probably through the LKB1-AMPK-SREBP2-LDLR pathway in vivo and in vitro, providing a putative mechanism for combating fatty liver disease.

Emerging concerns of VOCs and SVOCs in coking wastewater treatment processes: Distribution profile, emission characteristics, and health risk assessment.

In this study, the distribution profiles, emission characteristics, and health risks associated with 43 volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, including 15 phenols, 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 6 BTEX, and 4 other compounds, were determined in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of a coking factory (plant C) and the succeeding final WWTP (central WWTP). Total phenols with a concentration of 361,000 µg L-1 were the predominant compounds in the influent wastewater of plant C, whereas PAHs were the major compounds in the final effluents of both coking WWTPs (84.4 µg L-1 and 30.7 µg L-1, respectively). The biological treatment process in plant C removed the majority of volatile organic pollutants (94.1%-99.9%). A mass balance analysis for plant C showed that biodegradation was the main removal pathway for all the target compounds (56.6%-99.9%) except BTEX, chlorinated phenols, and high molecular weight (MW) PAHs. Chlorinated phenols and high MW PAHs were mainly removed via sorption to activated sludge (51.8%-73.2% and 60.2%-75.9%, respectively). Air stripping and volatilization were the dominant mechanisms for removing the BTEX compounds (59.8%-73.8%). The total emission rates of the detected volatile pollutants from plant C and the central WWTP were 1,640 g d-1 and 784 g d-1, respectively. Benzene from the equalization basins of plant C and the central WWTP corresponded to the highest inhalation carcinogenic risks (1.4 × 10-3 and 3.2 × 10-4, respectively), which exceeded the acceptable level for human health (1 × 10-6) recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The results showed that BaP exhibited the highest inhalation non-cancer risk, with a hazard index ratio of 70 and 30 for plant C and the central WWTP, respectively. Moreover, the excess sludge generated during wastewater treatment should also be carefully handled because it adsorbed abundant PAHs and chlorinated phenols at coking plant C (58,000 µg g-1 and 3,500 µg g-1) and the central WWTP (622 µg g-1 and 54 µg g-1).

Salvianolic Acid C Attenuates LPS-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells via Toll-Like Receptors 4 (TLR4)/Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) Pathway.

BACKGROUND Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes gingival detachment and disintegration of alveolar bone. Salvianolic acid C (SAC) is a polyphenol compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that is isolated from Danshen, a traditional Chinese medicine made from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of underlying its protective effects and its inhibition effect on inflammation and apoptosis in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). MATERIAL AND METHODS LPS-induced hPDLSCs, as a model mimicking an inflammatory process of periodontitis in vivo, were established to investigate the therapeutic effect of SAC in periodontitis. The inflammatory cytokines secretion and oxidative stress status were measured by use of specific commercial test kits. The hPDLSCs viability was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The cell apoptosis and cell cycle were assayed with flow cytometry. Expressions levels of proteins involved in apoptosis, osteogenic differentiation, and TLR4/NF-kappaB pathway were evaluated by Western blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by ALP assay kit and ALP staining. The mineralized nodules formation of hPDLSCs was checked by Alizarin Red S staining. RESULTS Our results showed that LPS induced increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress and mediated the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF­kappaB p65 in hPDLSCs. SAC reversed the abnormal secretion of inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the TLR4/NF­kappaB activation induced by LPS. SAC also upregulated cell viability, ALP activity, and the ability of osteogenic differentiation. The anti-inflammation and TLR4/NF­kappaB inhibition effects of SAC were reversed by TLR4 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results revealed that SAC effectively attenuates LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis via the TLR4/NF-kappaB pathway and that SAC is effective in treating periodontitis.

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on Metabolite Profiling of the Lycium barbarum L. Fruit.

The yield and quality of goji (Lycium barbarum L.) fruit are heavily dependent on fertilizer, especially the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N, P, and K, respectively). In this study, we performed a metabolomic analysis of the response of goji berry to nitrogen fertilizer levels using an Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method. There was no significant difference in the fruit yield or the commodity grade between N0 (42.5 g/plant), N1 (85 g/plant), and N2 (127.5 g/plant). The primary nutrients of the goji berry changed with an increasing nitrogen fertilization. Comparative metabolomic profiling of three nitrogen levels resulted in the identification of 612 metabolites, including amino acids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, organic acids, and lipids/alcohols, among others, of which 53 metabolites (lipids, fatty acids, organic acids, and phenolamides) demonstrated significant changes. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the relationship between yield and quality of goji berry and nitrogen fertilizer.

A SNP-Based High-Density Genetic Map of Leaf and Fruit Related Quantitative Trait Loci in Wolfberry (Lycium Linn.).

Wolfberry (Lycium Linn. 2n = 24) fruit, Gouqizi, is a perennial shrub, traditional food and medicinal plant resource in China. Leaf and fruit related characteristics are economically important traits that are the focus for genetic improvement, but few studies into the molecular genetics of this crop have been reported to date. Here, an F1 population (302 individuals) derived from a cross between "NO.1 Ningqi" (Lycium barbarum L.) and "Chinese gouqi" (Lycium chinese Mill.) was constructed. We recorded fruit weight, longitude, diameter and index along with leaf length, width and index for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. Based on this population and these phenotypic data, we constructed the first high-density genetic map of Lycium using specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) and analyzed quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The map contains 6733 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 12 linkage groups (LG) with a total map distance of 1702.45 cM and an average map distance of 0.253 cM. A total of 55 QTLs were mapped for more than 2 years, of which 18 stable QTLs for fruit index on LG 11, spanning an interval of 73.492-90.945 cM, were detected. qFI11-15 for fruit index was an impressive QTL with logarithm of odds (LOD) and proportion of variance explained (PEV) values reaching 11.07 and 19.7%, respectively. The QTLs on LG 11 were gathered tightly, having an average interval of less than 1 cM per QTL, suggesting that there might be a cluster region controlling fruit index. Remarkably, qLI10-2 and qLI11-2 for leaf index were detectable for 3 years. These results give novel insight into the genetic control of leaf and fruit related traits in Lycium and provide robust support for undertaking further positional cloning studies and implementing marker-assisted selection in seedlings.