Modulating the RFamide-related peptide-3/G protein-coupled receptor 147 signaling pathway with nourishing Yin-removing fire herbal mixture to alleviate precocious puberty in female rats: An experimental study.

Background: Precocious puberty (PP) involves early activation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) generator. The RFamide-related peptide/G protein-coupled receptor 147 (RFRP3/GPR147) signaling pathway is vital in inhibiting GnRH and delaying puberty onset. The nourishing Yin-removing fire (NYRF) herbal mixture has shown promising results in treating PP. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of the NYRF herbal mixture on the RFRP3/GPR147 signaling pathway in the hypothalamus and its potential in alleviating PP in female rats. Materials and Methods: In a controlled experiment, 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats (11.20 ± 0.69 gr, postnatal day [PD5]) were divided into normal, model, normal saline, and NYRF groups (n = 6/each). PP was induced in the model, normal saline, and NYRF groups by subcutaneous injection of danazol at PD5. The NYRF herbal mixture or normal saline was administered from PD15. Serum sex hormone levels and hypothalamic samples were collected for mRNA and protein expression at PD30. Results: In the model group, hypothalamic GnRH and kisspeptin levels increased, while RFRP3 and GPR147 levels decreased, luteinizing hormone levels elevated, reproductive organ coefficients increased, and the vagina opened earlier compared to the normal group. Conversely, the NYRF group exhibited lower GnRH and kisspeptin levels but higher RFRP3 levels in the hypothalamus. Serum luteinizing hormone levels were reduced, reproductive organ coefficients were reduced, and the vaginal opening was delayed compared to the model and normal saline groups. Conclusion: The NYRF herbal mixture delayed sexual development in rats with PP by hypothalamic upregulating RFRP3 and downregulating GnRH and kisspeptin.

Microbial remediation of oil-contaminated shorelines: a review.

Frequent marine oil spills have led to increasingly serious oil pollution along shorelines. Microbial remediation has become a research hotspot of intertidal oil pollution remediation because of its high efficiency, low cost, environmental friendliness, and simple operation. Many microorganisms are able to convert oil pollutants into non-toxic substances through their growth and metabolism. Microorganisms use enzymes' catalytic activities to degrade oil pollutants. However, microbial remediation efficiency is affected by the properties of the oil pollutants, microbial community, and environmental conditions. Feasible field microbial remediation technologies for oil spill pollution in the shorelines mainly include the addition of high-efficiency oil degrading bacteria (immobilized bacteria), nutrients, biosurfactants, and enzymes. Limitations to the field application of microbial remediation technology mainly include slow start-up, rapid failure, long remediation time, and uncontrolled environmental impact. Improving the environmental adaptability of microbial remediation technology and developing sustainable microbial remediation technology will be the focus of future research. The feasibility of microbial remediation techniques should also be evaluated comprehensively.

The Role of Decorin in the Adhesion Process of Treponema Pallidum Subspecies Pallidum to Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of decorin in the adhesion process of Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T. pallidum) to human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Methods: The study involved an in vitro experimental design. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein expression level of decorin in the cells. The cells were divided into four groups: Tp group, inactivated Tp group, LPS group, and negative control group. The adhesion of T. pallidum to the cells was analyzed using darkfield microscopy counting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The cells were divided into four groups based on different preprocessing treatments: control group, decorin group, DCN-siRNA group, and DCN-siRNA+decorin group. Changes in the F-actin of the cells were explored using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cells were divided into the Tp group, Tp+decorin group, and control group. Results: Western blot analysis showed high expression of decorin in the Tp group and LPS group. Darkfield microscopy counting revealed a significantly higher number of T. pallidum adhered to a single cell in the decorin group compared to the control group. Conversely, the number of adhered T. pallidum was significantly lower in the DCN-siRNA group compared to the control group. qPCR results indicated a considerably higher T. pallidum load in the decorin group compared to the control group. In the Tp group, T. pallidum treatment induced the reorganization of F-actin, while the distribution of F-actin in the Tp+decorin group was comparable to that of the control group. Conclusions: Decorin enhances the adhesion of T. pallidum to human brain microvascular endothelial cells, suggesting that decorin may act as one of the receptors regulating the adhesion of T. pallidum to cells. Furthermore, T. pallidum treatment triggers the rearrangement of F-actin in cells, and decorin plays a protective role in this process.

The rice phosphate transporter OsPHT1;7 plays a dual role in phosphorus redistribution and anther development.

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the predominant form of phosphorus (P) readily accessible to plants, and Pi Transporter 1 (PHT1) genes are the major contributors to root Pi uptake. However, the mechanisms underlying the transport and recycling of Pi within plants, which are vital for optimizing P use efficiency, remain elusive. Here, we characterized a functionally unknown rice (Oryza sativa) PHT1 member barely expressed in roots, OsPHT1;7. Yeast complementation and Xenopus laevis oocyte assay demonstrated that OsPHT1;7 could mediate Pi transport. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and histochemical analyses showed that OsPHT1;7 was preferentially expressed in source leaves and nodes. A further fine-localization analysis by immunostaining showed that OsPHT1;7 expression was restricted in the vascular bundle (VB) sheath and phloem of source leaves as well as in the phloem of regular/diffuse- and enlarged-VBs of nodes. In accordance with this expression pattern, mutation of OsPHT1;7 led to increased and decreased P distribution in source (old leaves) and sink organs (new leaves/panicles), respectively, indicating that OsPHT1;7 is involved in P redistribution. Furthermore, OsPHT1;7 showed an overwhelmingly higher transcript abundance in anthers than other PHT1 members, and ospht1;7 mutants were impaired in P accumulation in anthers but not in pistils or husks. Moreover, the germination of pollen grains was significantly inhibited upon OsPHT1;7 mutation, leading to a >80% decrease in seed-setting rate and grain yield. Taken together, our results provide evidence that OsPHT1;7 is a crucial Pi transporter for Pi transport and recycling within rice plants, stimulating both vegetative and reproductive growth.

Two ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase subunits, OsAGPL1 and OsAGPS1, modulate phosphorus homeostasis in rice.

Plant acclimatory responses to phosphate (Pi) starvation stress include the accumulation of carbohydrates, namely sugar and starch. However, whether altered endogenous carbohydrate profile could in turn affect plant Pi starvation responses remains widely unexplored. Here, two genes encoding the large and small subunits of an ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) in rice (Oryza sativa), AGP Large Subunit 1 (AGPL1) and AGP Small Subunit 1 (AGPS1), were functionally characterized with regard to maintenance of phosphorus (P) homeostasis and regulation of Pi starvation signaling. AGPL1 and AGPS1 were both positively responsive to nitrogen (N) or Pi deprivation, and expressed in almost all the tissues except in the meristem and mature zones of root. AGPL1 and AGPS1 physically interacted in chloroplast, and catalyzed the rate-limiting step of starch biosynthesis. Low-N- (LN) and low-Pi (LP)-triggered starch accumulation in leaves was impaired in agpl1, agps1 and apgl1 agps1 mutants compared with the wild-type plants. By contrast, mutation of AGPL1 and/or AGPS1 led to an increase in the content of the major sugar, sucrose, in leaf sheath and root under control and LN conditions. Moreover, the Pi accumulation was enhanced in the mutants under control and LN conditions, but not LP conditions. Notably, the LN-induced suppression of Pi accumulation was compromised attributed to the mutation of AGPL1 and/or AGPS1. Furthermore, the increased Pi accumulation was accompanied by the specific suppression of OsSPX2 and activation of several Pi transporter genes. These results indicate that a balanced level of carbohydrates is vital for maintaining plant P homeostasis.

Bioremediation of intertidal zones polluted by heavy oil spilling using immobilized laccase-bacteria consortium.

Heavy oil pollution in the intertidal zones has become a worldwide environmental problem. In this study, bioremediation on heavy oil pollutants in the intertidal zones using an immobilized laccase-bacteria consortium system was evaluated with the aid of intertidal experimental pools built in the coastal area. It is found that degradation efficiency of the immobilized laccase-bacteria consortium for heavy oil was 66.5% after 100 days remediation, with the reaction rate constant of 0.018 d-1. Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer analysis shows that degradation efficiency of saturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons were 79.2% and 78.7%, which were 64.9% and 65.1% higher than control. It is further seen that degradation of long-chain n-alkanes of C26-C35 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with more than three rings were significant. Metagenomic analysis indicates that the immobilized laccase-bacterial consortium has not only increased the biodiversity of heavy oil degrading bacteria, but also accelerated the degradation of heavy oil.

A comprehensive evaluation of re-circulated bio-filter as a pretreatment process for petroleum refinery wastewater.

Conventional biological treatment process is not very efficient for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) that contains high-concentration of organic contaminants. Prior to biological treatment, an additional pretreatment process for PRW is required for the effluent to meet the discharge standards. While re-circulated bio-filter (RBF) has been applied as a pretreatment process in several PRW treatment plants, its effects have not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, the parameters of operation, the changes in pollution indexes and contaminant composition in an engineered RBF have been investigated. We found that mainly highly active de-carbonization bacteria were present in the RBF, while no nitrification bacteria were found in the RBF. This indicated the absence of nitrification in this process. The biodegradable organic contaminants were susceptible to degradation by RBF, which decreased the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) by 83.64% and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (CODCr) by 54.63%. Consequently, the alkalinity and pH value of RBF effluent significantly increased, which was unfavorable for the control of operating parameters in subsequent biological treatment. Along with the decrease of CODCr, the RBF effluent exhibited a reduction in biodegradability. 834 kinds of recalcitrant polar organic contaminants remained in the effluent; most of the contaminant molecules having complex structures of aromatic, polycyclic and heterocyclic rings. The results of this study showed that RBF could efficiently treat PRW for biodegradable organic contaminants removal; however, it is difficult to treat bio-refractory organic contaminants, which was unfavorable for the subsequent biological treatment process operation. An improved process might provide overall guarantees for the PRW treatment.

Effects of adding bulking agent, inorganic nutrient and microbial inocula on biopile treatment for oil-field drilling waste.

Contamination from oil-field drilling waste is a worldwide environmental problem. This study investigated the performance of four bench-scale biopiles in treating drilling waste: 1) direct biopile (DW), 2) biopile plus oil-degrading microbial consortium (DW + M), 3) biopile plus microbial consortium and bulking agents (saw dust) (DW + M + BA), 4) biopile plus microbial consortium, bulking agents, and inorganic nutrients (Urea and K2HPO4) (DW + M + BA + N). Ninety days of biopiling removed 41.0%, 44.0%, 55.7% and 87.4% of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in the pile "DW", "DW + M", "DW + M + BA", and "DW + M + BA + N" respectively. Addition of inorganic nutrient and bulking agents resulted in a 56.9% and 26.6% increase in TPH removal efficiency respectively. In contrast, inoculation of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms only slightly enhanced the contaminant removal (increased 7.3%). The biopile with stronger contaminant removal also had higher pile temperature and lower pile pH (e.g., in "DW + M + BA + N"). GC-MS analysis shows that biopiling significantly reduced the total number of detected contaminants and changed the chemical composition. Overall, this study shows that biopiling is an effective remediation technology for drilling waste. Adding inorganic nutrients and bulking agents can significantly improve biopile performance while addition of microbial inocula had minimal positive impacts on contaminant removal.

[Chinese traditional medicine yi kang ling to treat immunity infertility caused by anti-sperm antibody: the experimental research II].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Chinese traditional medicine Yi Kang Ling (YKL) on immunity infertility caused by anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb). METHODS: With the AsAb infertile rabbit as the experimental model, seventy-five pairs of New zealand rabbits were divided into three group including YKL treatment group (sub-divided into mini-, midi- and maxi-dosage groups), prednisone treatment group and non-treatment group. Rabbits of the YKL treatment sub-groups were further divided into M+F- (male positive, female negative), M-F+, (male negative, female positive) and M+F+ (male positive, female positive) pairs according to their initial AsAb detection results. The control group consisted of five pairs of normal rabbits. When the expected AsAb reversing ratio was achieved, the rabbits were matted and observed for the number of the pregnant and the weight of the newborn. RESULTS: Statistics showed that in M+F- pairs both the midi-dosage of YKL and prednisone treatment groups had fertility, in the mini- and maxi-dosage of YKL treatment groups, 20% of the female rabbits failed to be pregnant, while in the non-treatment group, 60% female rabbits remained sterile. The sterile ratios of the M-F+ pairs in the mini-, midi- and maxi-dosage of YKL and prednisone treatment groups were 0, 20%, 25% and 25%, respectively, while the sterile ratio in the non-treatment M-F+ group was 40%. In M+F+ groups, the sterile ratios of the three YKL sub-groups, prednisone treatment and non-treatment groups were 20%, 20% and 60% respectively. In the control group the sterile ratio was 20%. The weight of the newborn rabbits were around 50 grams with no visible malformation. CONCLUSIONS: YKL can effectively reverse the AsAb positive results, and restore the fertility of female rabbits. Mini-dosage of YKL for 45 days produced the best results and maxi-dosage of YKL had no negative effects on the weight of the newborn rabbit.