Effect of urbanization and urban forests on water quality improvement in the Yangtze River Delta: A case study in Hangzhou, China.

In the context of rapid global urbanization, the sustainable development of ecosystems should be considered. Accordingly, the Planetary Boundaries theory posits that reducing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants entering bodies of water is necessary as excess levels may harm the aquatic environment and reduce in water quality. Thus, based on the long-term monitoring data of representative urban rivers in the Yangtze River Delta region, we evaluated the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of water bodies in different urbanization stages and further quantified the effect of urban forests on water quality improvement. The results showed that, with the continuous progression of urbanization, the proportion of impervious surface area increased, along with the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in water bodies. The critical period of water quality deterioration in urban rivers occurred during the medium urbanization level when the proportion of impervious surface area reached 55-65 %, and the probability of an abrupt increase in total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration exceeded 95 %. However, increasing the area of urban forests during this period reduced TN pollution by 36.64 % and TP pollution by 49.03 %. The results of this study support the expansion of urban forests during the medium urbanization stage to improve water quality. Furthermore, our results provide a reference and theoretical basis for urban forest construction as a key aspect of the sustainable development of the urban ecosystem in the Yangtze River Delta and similar regions around world.

[Effects and mechanisms of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot in attenuating diabetic tubulopathy by targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell apoptosis].

Renal tubular injury in patients with diabetic kidney disease(DKD) may be accompanied by glomerular and microvascular diseases. It plays a critical role in the progression of renal damage in DKD, and is now known as diabetic tubulopathy(DT). To explore the multi-targeted therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms in vivo of total flavones of Abelmoschus manihot(TFA), an extract from traditional Chinese medicine for treating kidney disease, in attenuating DT, the authors randomly divided all rats into four groups: a normal control group(normal group), a DT model group(model group), a DT model+TFA-treated group(TFA group) and a DT model+rosiglitazone(ROS)-treated group(ROS group). The DT rat model was established based on the DKD rat model by means of integrated measures. After successful modeling, the rats in the four groups were continuously given double-distilled water, TFA suspension, and ROS suspension, respectively by gavage every day. After 6 weeks of treatment, all rats were sacrificed, and the samples of their urine, blood, and kidneys were collected. The effects of TFA and ROS on various indicators related to urine and blood biochemistry, renal tubular injury, renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS), as well as the activation of the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK)-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α(eIF2α)-activating transcription factor 4(ATF4)-C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP) signaling pathway in the kidney of the DT model rats were investigated. The results indicated that hypertrophy of renal tubular epithelial cells, renal tubular hyperplasia and occlusion, as well as interstitial extracellular matrix and collagen deposition occurred in the DT model rats. Moreover, significant changes were found in the expression degree and the protein expression level of renal tubular injury markers. In addition, there was an abnormal increase in tubular urine proteins. After TFA or ROS treatment, urine protein, the characteristics of renal tubular injury, renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis and ERS, as well as the activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway in the kidney of the DT model rats were improved to varying degrees. Therein, TFA was superior to ROS in affecting the pathological changes in renal tubule/interstitium. In short, with the DT model rats, this study demonstrated that TFA could attenuate DT by multiple targets through inhibiting renal tubular ERS-induced cell apoptosis in vivo, and its effect and mechanism were related to suppressing the activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway in the kidney. These findings provided preliminary pharmacological evidence for the application of TFA in the clinical treatment of DT.

Combined detection of urinary biomarkers noninvasively predicts extent of renal injury in patients with early diabetic kidney disease with kidney qi deficiency syndrome: A retrospective investigation.

Incipient diagnosis and noninvasive forecasts using urinary biomarkers are important for preventing diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression, but they are also controversial. Previous studies have shown a potential relationship between urinary tubular biomarkers (UTBs) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome in patients with DKD. Thus, we further evaluated the clinical significance of combined detection of urinary biomarkers in noninvasively predicting the extent of renal damage in patients with early DKD with kidney qi deficiency syndrome, and preliminarily explored the potential biological link between UTBs and TCM syndrome in DKD. We categorized 92 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus into three groups as follows: 20 patients with normoalbuminuria, 50 patients with microalbuminuria, and 22 patients with macroalbuminuria. We found that, in all groups, 24 hr urinary albumin (24hUAlb) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) showed stepwise and significant increases. Urinary cystatin C (UCysC), urinary N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase (UNAG), and urinary retinol-binding protein (URBP) synchronously increased gradually, consistent with the degree of albuminuria in all groups. Moreover, 24hUAlb and UACR were positively correlated with UCysC, UNAG, and URBP, respectively. In 72 patients with Type 2 DKD with albuminuria, a positive correlation was observed between UNAG and URBP, UCysC was also positively correlated with UNAG and URBP, respectively. Additionally, TCM syndrome distributional characteristics in all patients were consistent with clinical manifestations of kidney qi deficiency syndrome. Therefore, the combined detection of UCysC, UNAG, URBP, and UAlb may be used as a practical clinical technique to noninvasively forecast the extent of renal injury in patients with early Type 2 DKD with kidney qi deficiency syndrome. UTBs may be one of the biological bases of the specific TCM syndromes in DKD.

Coronary artery calcification and risk of mortality and adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19: a Chinese multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent risk factor of major adverse cardiovascular events; however, the impact of CAC on in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unclear. Objective: To explore the association between CAC and in-hospital mortality and adverse events in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled 2067 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients with definitive clinical outcomes (death or discharge) admitted from 22 tertiary hospitals in China between January 3, 2020 and April 2, 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory results, chest CT findings, and CAC on admission were collected. The primary outcome was in-hospital death and the secondary outcome was composed of in-hospital death, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and requiring mechanical ventilation. Multivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to explore the association between CAC and in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes. Results: The mean age was 50 years (SD,16) and 1097 (53.1%) were male. A total of 177 patients showed high CAC level, and compared with patients with low CAC, these patients were older (mean age: 49 vs. 69 years, P < 0.001) and more likely to be male (52.0% vs. 65.0%, P = 0.001). Comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) ([33.3%, 59/177] vs. [4.7%, 89/1890], P < 0.001), presented more often among patients with high CAC, compared with patients with low CAC. As for laboratory results, patients with high CAC had higher rates of increased D-dimer, LDH, as well as CK-MB (all P < 0.05). The mean CT severity score in high CAC group was also higher than low CAC group (12.6 vs. 11.1, P = 0.005). In multivariable Cox regression model, patients with high CAC were at a higher risk of in-hospital death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.731; 95% CI 1.010-2.971, P = 0.046) and adverse clinical outcomes (HR, 1.611; 95% CL 1.087-2.387, P = 0.018). Conclusion: High CAC is a risk factor associated with in-hospital death and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with confirmed COVID-19, which highlights the importance of calcium load testing for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and calls for attention to patients with high CAC. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42058-021-00072-4.

Protective role of GPR120 in the maintenance of pregnancy by promoting decidualization via regulation of glucose metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Intake of ω-3 PUFAs have been demonstrated to have positive effects on pregnancy outcome, whose receptor, GPR120, regulates several cellular functions including differentiation, metabolism and immune reaction. However, whether GPR120 is involved in decidualization and pregnancy remains unknown. METHODS: Decidua tissue from women with normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion were collected to determine the expression profile of GPR120. Abortion mouse models and artificially induced deciduoma in mice were established to evaluate the effect of GPR120 on pregnancy outcome and in vivo decidualization. HESCs and primary DSCs were used to explore the roles of GPR120 in decidualization and mechanisms involved. FINDINGS: We found that GPR120 functioned to promote decidualization by upregulating glucose uptake and pentose-phosphate pathway (PPP) of human endometrial stromal cells. Firstly, the expression of GPR120 in decidua of spontaneous abortion was downregulated compared to normal decidua. Lack of GPR120 predisposed mice to LPS or RU486 induced abortion. Decidualization was augmented by GPR120 via improving GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake and G6PD- mediated PPP. FOXO1 was upregulated by GPR120 via activation of ERK1/2 and AMPK signaling and increased the expression of GLUT1. Furthermore, the expression of chemokines and cytokines in decidual stromal cells was enhanced by GPR120. Lastly, GPR120 agonist ameliorated LPS-induced abortion in the mice. INTERPRETATION: GPR120 plays significant roles in decidualization and the maintenance of pregnancy, which might be a potential target for diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous abortion. FUND: Ministry of Science and Technology of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Program of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.

A pivotal role of BEX1 in liver progenitor cell expansion in mice.

BACKGROUND: The activation and expansion of bipotent liver progenitor cells (LPCs) are indispensable for liver regeneration after severe or chronic liver injury. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating LPCs and LPC-mediated liver regeneration remain elusive. METHODS: Hepatic brain-expressed X-linked 1 (BEX1) expression was evaluated using microarray screening, real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. LPC activation and liver injury were studied following a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet in wild-type (WT) and Bex1-/- mice. Proliferation, apoptosis, colony formation and hepatic differentiation were examined in LPCs from WT and Bex1-/- mice. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was detected in Bex1-deficient LPCs and mouse livers, and was silenced to analyse the expansion of LPCs from WT and Bex1-/- mice. RESULTS: Hepatic BEX1 expression was increased during CDE diet-induced liver injury and was highly elevated primarily in LPCs. Bex1-/- mice fed a CDE diet displayed impaired LPC expansion and liver regeneration. Bex1 deficiency inhibited LPC proliferation and enhanced LPC apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, Bex1 deficiency inhibited the colony formation of LPCs but had no effect on their hepatic differentiation. Mechanistically, BEX1 inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma to promote LPC expansion. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that BEX1 plays a pivotal role in LPC activation and expansion during liver regeneration, potentially providing novel targets for liver regeneration and chronic liver disease therapies.

Near-infrared light-triggered theranostics for tumor-specific enhanced multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy.

The major challenge in current clinic contrast agents (CAs) and chemotherapy is the poor tumor selectivity and response. Based on the self-quench property of IR820 at high concentrations, and different contrast effect ability of Gd-DOTA between inner and outer of liposome, we developed "bomb-like" light-triggered CAs (LTCAs) for enhanced CT/MRI/FI multimodal imaging, which can improve the signal-to-noise ratio of tumor tissue specifically. IR820, Iohexol and Gd-chelates were firstly encapsulated into the thermal-sensitive nanocarrier with a high concentration. This will result in protection and fluorescence quenching. Then, the release of CAs was triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light laser irradiation, which will lead to fluorescence and MRI activation and enable imaging of inflammation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that LTCAs with 808 nm laser irradiation have shorter T1 relaxation time in MRI and stronger intensity in FI compared to those without irradiation. Additionally, due to the high photothermal conversion efficiency of IR820, the injection of LTCAs was demonstrated to completely inhibit C6 tumor growth in nude mice up to 17 days after NIR laser irradiation. The results indicate that the LTCAs can serve as a promising platform for NIR-activated multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy.

Rhubarb vs. glycerin enema for treatment of critically ill patients with intra-abdominal hypertension.

Rhubarb has been used as an evacuant for thousands of years. However, recent research has indicated that rhubarb inhibits inflammation and protects organ function. In the current study, the use of rhubarb was investigated in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Specifically, its dual role in attenuating lung and bowel injury by catharsis and inhibiting inflammation was evaluated. Patients in the glycerin group (n=56) received 110 ml of glycerin enema by coloclysis once daily for 7 to 9 days. Patients in the rhubarb group (n=56) were treated with a mixture of 0.3 g/kg body weight rhubarb powder in 100 ml warm water. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), intra-abdominal pressure, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were recorded. The duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), respiratory parameters, first day of enteral nutrition (EN), intensive care unit (ICU) hospital stay and 30-day mortality were also recorded. The APACHE II scores were significantly lower in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group from day 3 to 9 (P<0.05 at day 3 and 4; P<0.01 at day 5, 7 and 9). The SOFA scores were significantly lower in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group from day 5 to 9 (P<0.05). PCT levels were significantly lower from day 4 to 9 (P<0.05) and the CRP level was significantly lower from day 3 to 9 (P<0.05) in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group. The TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly lower in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group from day 3 to 9 (P<0.05 at day 3 and 4, P<0.01 at day 5, 7 and 9). The positive end-expiratory pressure and peak inspiratory pressure were significantly lower in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group at day 3, 5 and 7 (P<0.05 at day 3 and 5, P<0.01 at day 7), while the oxygenation index (P<0.05) and alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen (P<0.05 at day 3 and 5, P<0.01 at day 7) were significantly improved. Significantly shorter durations of MV and ICU hospital stay, and earlier EN, were observed in the rhubarb group compared with the glycerin group (all P<0.05). Rhubarb treatment was indicated to be beneficial in IAH, by inhibiting inflammation and restoring intestinal function.

Efficacy of rhubarb combined with early enteral nutrition for the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rhubarb combined with early enteral nutrition (EEN) on the gastrointestinal function, disease severity and systemic inflammation in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: A total of 126 patients with SAP were randomly assigned into three groups: parenteral nutrition group, treated with standard solution first and EN 14 days later; EEN group, treated with EN suspension; or EEN combined with rhubarb group, treated with rhubarb and then EN 2 h later. The gastrointestinal function, APACHE II scores, the levels of plasma IL-6, IL-11, C-reactive proteins (CRP) and the liver and kidney functional measures were longitudinally analyzed. RESULTS: Patients in the EEN/rhubarb group had the shortest period of abdominal pain and the fastest recovery from abnormal bowel movement and high fever as well as significantly shorter periods of intensive-care unit and hospital stays. The combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly reduced the values of APACHE II scores. Combination therapies significantly reduced abnormally higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and levels of plasma CRP and IL-6, but increased the levels of plasma IL-11. Finally, combination therapies improved the SAP-related damages of liver and kidney function by reducing abnormally higher levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine (Cr). CONCLUSION: Combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly improved the gastrointestinal function, inhibited systemic inflammation and disease severity and mitigated the disease-related damages of liver and kidney function in SAP patients.

Moxibustion Therapy at CV4 Prevents Postoperative Dysuria after Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids.

Objective. To explore the intervention methods of the patients with dysuria after performing the procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH). Methods. 100 cases with hemorrhoids were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The control group received routine nursing care. As comparison, the experimental group, on the basis of conventional care, was treated with moxa roll moxibustion 1 hour after the operation for 30 minutes. The autonomous urination within 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h after operation and the catheterization rate 8 h after operation of two groups of patients were observed. Results. The median time of autonomous urination of control group (8 h) was significantly greater than that of the experimental group (6 h) (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that the moxibustion therapy was positively correlated with automatic micturition in the patients after PPH. The probability of automatic micturition in the experimental group was 2.032 times that in the control group (RR = 2.032, 95% CI: 1.278~3.230). The catheterization rate of control group (38%) was significantly higher than that of the experimental group (10%) (P < 0.001). Conclusion. The Guanyuan acupoint moxibustion can prevent dysuria after PPH and reduce the urethral catheterization.

Ultrasensitive determination of jasmonic acid in plant tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

An ultrasensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the volatile signaling hormone, jasmonic acid, has been developed based on precolumn derivatization with 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-aminozide-difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene (BODIPY-aminozide). The derivatization reaction was carried out at 60 °C for 30 min in the presence of phosphoric acid. The formed jasmonic acid derivative was eluted using a mobile phase of methanol/pH 6.50 ammonium formate buffer/tetrahydrofuran (67:30:3, v/v/v) in 10 min on a C(18) column and detected with fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 495 and 505 nm, respectively. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 4) reached 1.14 × 10(-10) M or 2.29 fmol per injection (20 µL), which is the lowest of the existing methods. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the direct determination of trace jasmonic acid in the crude extracts of soybean leaves from soybean mosaic virus-infected and normal plants with recoveries of 95-104%.

[Impact of Mikania micrantha invasion on soil meso- and micro-invertebrate community structure].

Mikania micrantha, a notorious exotic weed of Asteraceae family, has invaded successfully in southern China, and caused serious damages to native ecosystems. In this paper, a field survey was conducted in the Huolushan Forest Park of Guangzhou, China, aimed to understand the impact of M. micrantha invasion on the soil meso- and micro-invertebrate community. Three sampling sites were installed, including M. micrantha-invaded site, ecotone, and native vegetation site. Through four samplings in 2009, a total of 5206 soil meso- and micro-invertebrate individuals were collected, belonging to 4 phyla, 10 classes, and 19 orders, among which, Nematoda was the dominant group, and Acarina, Collembolan, and Rotifera were the common groups. M. micrantha invasion altered the characteristics of soil meso- and micro-invertebrate community structure. Compared with those at the other two sampling sites, the numbers of total individuals, Nematoda, and Acarina at M. micrantha-invaded site increased significantly, but the groups of soil meso- and micro-invertebrates had less change. At M. micrantha-invaded site, the density-group index (DG) of soil meso- and micro-invertebrates was significantly higher, Margalef richness index (D) and Simpson dominance index (C) tended to ascend, but Pielou evenness index (E) and Shannon index (H') tended to descend. The similarity coefficient of soil meso- and micro-invertebrate community between M. micrantha-invaded site and ecotone was higher than that between M. micrantha-invaded site and native vegetation site. The changes of local climate conditions, plant litters, root secretions, and soil physical-chemical properties caused by M. micrantha invasion could be the major contributing factors that altered the community structure of soil meso- and micro-invertebrates at M. micrantha-invaded site.

Regulation of Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by natural product compound berberine.

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plants, is widely used as an anti-inflammatory remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we showed that BBR was efficacious in the amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) through novel regulatory mechanisms involving pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells. BBR inhibited differentiation of Th17 cells and, to a lesser degree, Th1 cells through direct actions on the JAK/STAT pathway, whereas it had no effect on the relative number of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. In addition, BBR indirectly influenced Th17 and Th1 cell functions through its effect on the expression and function of costimulatory molecules and the production of IL-6, which was attributable to the inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in CD11b(+) APCs. BBR treatment completely abolished the encephalitogenicity of MOG(35-55)-reactive Th17 cells in an adoptive transfer EAE model, and the same treatment significantly inhibited the ability of MOG(35-55)-reactive Th1 cells to induce EAE. This study provides new evidence that natural compounds, such as BBR, are of great value in the search for novel anti-inflammatory agents and therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases.