Electrokinetic bioremediation of trichloroethylene and Cr/As co-contaminated soils with elevated sulfate.

Co-contaminants and complex subsurface conditions pose great challenges to site remediation. This study demonstrates the potential of electrokinetic bioremediation (EK-BIO) in treating co-contaminants of chlorinated solvents and heavy metals in low-permeability soils with elevated sulfate. EK-BIO columns were filled with field soils, and were fed by the electrolyte containing 20 mg/L trichloroethylene (TCE), 250 µM Cr(VI), 25 µM As(III), 10 mM lactate, and 10 mM sulfate. A dechlorinating consortium containing Dehalococcoides (Dhc) was injected several times during a 199-d treatment at ∼1 V/cm. Sulfate reduction, Cr/As immobilization, and complete TCE biodechlorination were observed sequentially. EK-BIO facilitated the delivery of lactate, Cr(VI)/As(III), and sulfate to the soils, creating favorable reductive conditions for contaminant removal. Supplementary batch experiments and metagenomic/transcriptomic analysis suggested that sulfate promoted the reductive immobilization of Cr(VI) by generating sulfide species, which subsequently enhanced TCE biodechlorination by alleviating Cr(VI) toxicity. The dechlorinating community displayed a high As(III) tolerance. Metagenomic binning analysis revealed the dechlorinating activity of Dhc and the potential synergistic effects from other bacteria in mitigating heavy metal toxicity. This study justified the feasibility of EK-BIO for co-contaminant treatment and provided mechanistic insights into EK-BIO treatment.

Bioelectrochemical system accelerates reductive dechlorination through extracellular electron transfer networks.

Bioelectrochemical system is considered as a promising approach for enhanced bio-dechlorination. However, the mechanism of extracellular electron transfer in the dechlorinating consortium is still a controversial issue. In this study, bioelectrochemical systems were established with cathode potential settings at -0.30 V (vs. SHE) for trichloroethylene reduction. The average dechlorination rate (102.0 µM Cl·d-1) of biocathode was 1.36 times higher than that of open circuit (74.7 µM Cl·d-1). Electrochemical characterization via cyclic voltammetry illustrated that electrostimulation promoted electrochemical activity for redox reactions. Moreover, bacterial community structure analyses indicated electrical stimulation facilitated the enrichment of electroactive and dechlorinating populations on cathode. Metagenomic and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses revealed that direct electron transfer (via electrically conductive pili, multi-heme c-type cytochromes) between Axonexus and Desulfovibrio/cathode and indirect electron transfer (via riboflavin) for Dehalococcoides enhanced dechlorination process in BES. Overall, this study verifies the effectiveness of electrostimulated bio-dechlorination and provides novel insights into the mechanisms of dechlorination process enhancement in bioelectrochemical systems through electron transfer networks.

Cytosolic and Nucleosolic Calcium-Regulated Molecular Networks in Response to Long-Term Treatment with Abscisic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Calcium acts as a universal secondary messenger that transfers developmental cues and stress signals for gene expression and adaptive growth. A prior study showed that abiotic stresses induce mutually independent cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) and nucleosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]nuc) increases in Arabidopsis thaliana root cells. However, gene expression networks deciphering [Ca2+]cyt and [Ca2+]nuc signalling pathways remain elusive. Here, using transgenic A. thaliana to selectively impair abscisic acid (ABA)- or methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced [Ca2+]cyt and [Ca2+]nuc increases, we identified [Ca2+]cyt- and [Ca2+]nuc-regulated ABA- or MeJA-responsive genes with a genome oligo-array. Gene co-expression network analysis revealed four Ca2+ signal-decoding genes, CAM1, CIPK8, GAD1, and CPN20, as hub genes co-expressed with Ca2+-regulated hormone-responsive genes and hormone signalling genes. Luciferase complementation imaging assays showed interactions among CAM1, CIPK8, and GAD1; they also showed interactions with several proteins encoded by Ca2+-regulated hormone-responsive genes. Furthermore, CAM1 and CIPK8 were required for MeJA-induced stomatal closure; they were associated with ABA-inhibited seed germination. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed the unique expression pattern of [Ca2+]-regulated hormone-responsive genes in cam1, cipk8, and gad1. This comprehensive understanding of distinct Ca2+ and hormonal signalling will allow the application of approaches to uncover novel molecular foundations for responses to developmental and stress signals in plants.

Biotic shortcut deselenization coupled to abiotic sulfide oxidation enabled pollutants co-removal and products recovery.

Selenate and sulfide are both contaminants which severely pollute water bodies. Respective bioremediation of selenate- and sulfide-contaminated wastewaters requires abundant electron donors and acceptors. Here, we present a novel concept coupling biological selenate to selenite (shortcut deselenization) and chemical sulfide-driven selenite reduction, to remove multiple pollutants simultaneously. Vial tests showed that shortcut deselenization could save at least two thirds of operation time and one third of carbon source, compared to the complete deselenization to elemental selenium. Subsequent co-removal of sulfide and selenite was optimized at reaction pH of ∼10 and reactant molar ratio of ∼4. Using a newly-designed continuous flow system, >95% removal of both selenate and sulfide was achieved by coupling shortcut deselenization to sulfide oxidation. A series of characterization tools revealed that the final collected precipitates were comprised of high-purity hexagonal selenium (97.4%, wt) and inconsiderable sulfur (2.6%, wt). Superior over selenate-reducing solutions generally producing selenium mixed with reagents or microorganisms, the selenium products generated here were highly purified thus very favorable for further recovery and reuse. Overall, this proof-of-concept study provided a promising technology not only for co-removal of multiple pollutants, but also for substantial costs saving, as well as for valuable products recovery.

Protectin DX restores Treg/Th17 cell balance in rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome via miR-20a.

Regulatory T-cell (Treg)/T-helper 17 (Th17) cell balance plays an important role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our study explored the protective effect of protectin DX (PDX), which restored Treg/Th17 cell balance in RA, and the role of the nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway in this process. Using mass spectrometry, we discovered that level of PDX decreased in active-RA patients and increased in inactive-RA patients compared with HCs, and serum PDX was a potential biomarker in RA activity detection (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.86). In addition, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model was constructed and PDX obviously delayed RA progression in the CIA model, upregulating Tregs and anti-inflammatory cytokines while downregulating Th17 cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, NLRP3 knockout and rescue experiments demonstrated that NLRP3 participated in PDX-mediated Treg/Th17 cell balance restoration, joint injury amelioration and inflammatory-response attenuation using Nlrp3-/- mice. Furthermore, microarray and verified experiments confirmed that PDX reduced NLRP3 expression via miRNA-20a (miR-20a). In summary, we confirmed for the first time that PDX could effectively ameliorate CIA progression by restoring Treg/Th17 cell balance, which was mediated by inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway via miR-20a.

Why does sulfate inhibit selenate reduction: Molybdenum deprivation from Mo-dependent selenate reductase.

Selenium pollution has become an increasingly serious global concern. Methane-fed selenate reduction has proven to be of great interest for the bioremediation of selenate-contaminated waters even with the coexistence of nitrate and dissolved oxygen. However, it is unclear if the common concurrent sulfate anion affects selenate removal. To address this question, we first introduced selenate (SeO42-) as the sole influent electron acceptor in a CH4-fed membrane biofilm reactor (CH4-MBfR); then we added different concentrations of sulfate (SO42-). The initial selenate removal efficiency (∼90%) was decreased by 50% in the presence of 15.6 µM of sulfate and completely inhibited after loading with 171.9 µM of sulfate. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the selenate-reducing bacteria decreased after the addition of sulfate. Metagenomic sequencing showed that the abundance of genes encoding molybdenum (Mo)-dependent selenate reductase reduced by >50% when exposed to high concentrations of sulfate. Furthermore, the decrease in the total genes encoding all Mo-oxidoreductases was much greater than that of the genes encoding molybdate transporters, suggesting that the inhibition of selenate reduction by sulfate was most likely via the direct competition with molybdate for the transport system, leading to a lack of available Mo for Mo-dependent selenate reductases and thus reducing their activities. This result was confirmed by a batch test wherein the supplementation of molybdate mitigated the sulfate effect. Overall, this study shed light on the underlying mechanism of sulfate inhibition on selenate reduction and laid the foundation for applying the technology to practical wastewaters.

Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Prevents Deep Vein Thrombosis After Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

At present, there is no consistent understanding of the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription in the prevention of the deep vein thrombosis (DVT), though TCM has been widely used in China. To evaluate the efficacy of TCM prescription combined with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for preventing DVT after major orthopedics surgery. All the retrieved articles were evaluated using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, data were extracted and evaluated for inclusion in a randomized controlled trial. In this study, variables included relative risk (RR), mean difference (MD), and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Overall, 16 articles were included with 1538 patients, 768 in the combination group (combination of TCM prescription and LMWH) and 770 in the LMWH group. The results indicated that in the combination group, the incidence of DVT (RR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23-0.50, P < .00001) and d-dimer levels (standardized mean difference: -1.19, 95% CI: -1.80 to -0.58, P = .0001) was significantly lower than that in the LMWH group. Furthermore, the combination treatment obviously decreased the concentration of fibrinogen (MD: -1.19, 95% CI: -2.13 to -0.25, P = .01). The combination of TCM prescription and LMWH could significantly reduce the incidence of DVT, suggesting that it may be a more effective prophylaxis measure for DVT after major orthopedics surgery.

OsCPK21 is required for pollen late-stage development in rice.

In flowering plants, pollen development is a critical step for reproductive success and necessarily involves complex genetic regulatory networks. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CPKs) are plant-specific calcium sensors involved in the regulation of plant development and adaption to the environment; however, whether they play a role in regulating male reproduction remains elusive. Here, we found that the knockdown of spikelet-specific OsCPK21 causes pollen abortion in OsCPK21-RNAi transgenic plants. Severe defects in pollen development initiated at stage 10 of anther development and simultaneous cell death occurred in the pollen cells of OsCPK21-RNAi plants. Microarray analysis and qRT-PCR revealed that the transcription of OsCPK21 is coordinated with that of MIKC*-type MADS box transcription factors OsMADS62, OsMADS63, and OsMADS68 during rice anther development. We further showed that OsCPK21 indirectly up-regulates the transcription of OsMADS62, OsMADS63, and OsMADS68 through the potential MYB binding site, DRE/CRT element, and/or new ERF binding motif localised in the promoter region of these three MADS genes. These findings suggest that OsCPK21 plays an essential role in pollengenesis, possibly via indirectly regulating the transcription of MIKC*-type MADS box proteins.

Systems pharmacology approach to investigate the molecular mechanisms of herb Rhodiola rosea L. radix.

Rhodiola rosea L. radix (RRL) is one of the most popular medical herb which has been widely used for the treatment of different diseases effectively, including cardiovascular diseases and nerve system diseases. However, due to the multiple compounds in RRL, the underlying molecular mechanisms of RRL are remained unclear. To decipher the action mechanisms of RRL from a systematic perspective, a systems pharmacology approach integrated absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) system, drug targeting, and network analysis was introduced. First, by the ADME screening system and the target fishing process, 56 potential active compounds and 62 targets were obtained, respectively. In addition, compound-target network demonstrated that most compounds interacted with multiple targets, indicating that RRL may enhance its therapeutic effects probably through hitting on multiple targets in a holistic level. Moreover, target-pathway network and gene ontology analysis showed that multiple targets of RRL were involved in several biological pathways, i.e. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, and VEGF signaling pathway, which dissecting the therapeutic effects of RRL on various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, depression, adaptation diseases, etc. In summary, this work successfully explains the potential active compounds and the multi-scale curative action mechanisms of RRL for treating various diseases; meanwhile, it implies that RRL could be applied as a novel therapeutic agent in arthritic diseases. Most importantly, this work provides an in silico strategy to understand the action mechanisms of herbal medicines from molecular/system levels, which will promote the new drug development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Fermentation quality and nutritive value of total mixed ration silages based on desert wormwood (Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) combining with early stage corn.

This study aimed to investigate the fermentation quality and nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages based on desert wormwood (DW) combined with early stage corn (ESC) as forage and determine an optimum formula. Desert wormwood and ESC were harvested, chopped, and mixed with other ingredients according to a formula, packed into laboratory silos at densities of 500-550 g/L, and stored in the dark for 60 days. The DW proportions in the forage of TMR were 1, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0, based on fresh weight. As the proportion of DW decreased, the pH also decreased (P < 0.05), while lactic acid, lactic acid/acetic acid, crude protein, starch, and the in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber increased (P < 0.05). Ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen in the TMR silages with DW proportions of 0.75, 0.25 and 0 in the forage was more than 10%. These results indicated that the quality of the TMR silage containing DW alone as forage was poor, TMR silages containing DW proportions of 0.75 and 0.25, and ESC alone, in the forage were not well preserved. The optimum TMR silage formula contained a DW proportion of 0.5 in the forage.

Arabidopsis Synaptotagmin 2 Participates in Pollen Germination and Tube Growth and Is Delivered to Plasma Membrane via Conventional Secretion.

Arabidopsis synaptotagmin 2 (SYT2) has been reported to participate in an unconventional secretory pathway in somatic cells. Our results showed that SYT2 was expressed mainly in the pollen of Arabidopsis thaliana. The pollen of syt2 T-DNA and RNA interference mutant lines exhibited reduced total germination and impeded pollen tube growth. Analysis of the expression of SYT2-GFP fusion protein in the pollen tube indicates that SYT2 was localized to distinct, patchy compartments but could co-localize with the Golgi markers, BODIPY TR C5 ceramide and GmMan1-mCherry. However, SYT2-DsRed-E5 was localized to the plasma membrane in Arabidopsis suspension cells, in addition to the Golgi apparatus. The localization of SYT2 at the plasma membrane was further supported by immunofluorescence staining in pollen tubes. Moreover, brefeldin A treatment inhibited the transport of SYT2 to the plasma membrane and caused SYT2 to aggregate and form enlarged compartments. Truncation of the SYT2-C2AB domains also resulted in retention of SYT2 in the Golgi apparatus. An in vitro phospholipid-binding assay showed that SYT2-C2AB domains bind to the phospholipid membrane in a calcium-dependent manner. Take together, our results indicated that SYT2 was required for pollen germination and pollen tube growth, and was involved in conventional exocytosis.

Clinical study on treatment of chronic viral cholestatic hepatitis with chishaodanpi decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Chishaodanpi decoction (CSDPD) on chronic viral cholestatic hepatitis. METHODS: A total of 107 subjects with chronic viral cholestatic hepatitis were enrolled in our hospital from March 2007 to November 2012. Patients were randomly divided into treatment (54 cases) and control groups (53 cases). The control group was treated with potassium magnesium aspartate, diammonium glycyrrhizinate, glucurolactone, vitamin C, and lamivudine, once a day. The treatment group was treated with modified CSDPD, 100 mL a time, twice a day, in addition to the treatment given to the control group. The patients in both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The main symptoms and signs were recorded every day throughout the clinical trial. Before and after the trial, changes in liver function including total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), total bile acid (TBA), and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), were all detected. Adverse reactions were also recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences in gender, age, disease duration, symptoms, signs, or laboratory findings between the two groups (P > 0.05). After an 8-week treatment, improvements in jaundice, weakness, poor appetite, abdominal distention, and skin itching were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, 43 patients had a significant response to the treatment, seven patients had a response, and four patients had no response, with 21, 12, and 20 patients in the control group, respectively. The total effective rate was 92.6% in the treatment group and 62.3% in the control group, which was a significant difference (P < 0.05). The levels of TBil, DBil, TBA, ALP, ALT, AST, and γ-GT in both groups were significantly lower after treatment, and were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). A few patients in the treatment group had mild adverse effects such as increased bowel movement frequency and mild stomach-ache. No other adverse reactions were observed in either group.

Sorption of ammonium and phosphate from aqueous solution by biochar derived from phytoremediation plants.

The study on biochar derived from plant biomass for environmental applications is attracting more and more attention. Twelve sets of biochar were obtained by treating four phytoremediation plants, Salix rosthornii Seemen, Thalia dealbata, Vetiveria zizanioides, and Phragmites sp., sequentially through pyrolysis at 500 °C in a N2 environment, and under different temperatures (500, 600, and 700 °C) in a CO2 environment. The cation exchange capacity and specific surface area of biochar varied with both plant species and pyrolysis temperature. The magnesium (Mg) content of biochar derived from T. dealbata (TC) was obviously higher than that of the other plant biochars. This biochar also had the highest sorption capacity for phosphate and ammonium. In terms of biomass yields, adsorption capacity, and energy cost, T. dealbata biochar produced at 600 °C (TC600) is the most promising sorbent for removing contaminants (N and P) from aqueous solution. Therefore, T. dealbata appears to be the best candidate for phytoremediation application as its biomass can make a good biochar for environmental cleaning.

Comparative transmembrane transports of four typical lipophilic organic chemicals.

Transmembrane transports of four kinds of lipophilic organic chemicals (LOCs) on suspending multilamellar liposomes (SML) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were investigated, where both anthracene and phenanthrene were accorded to the lipid-water partition law and Sudan I and III to the Langmuir isothermal adsorption. Less than half of phenanthrene is transported into E. coli, where more than 60% are located in the cytoplasm. About 60% of anthracene entered the E. coli where only 10% was released into the cytoplasm. The partition coefficients of phenanthrene and anthracene partitioning from the extracellular liquid into membrane are 502 and 1190L/kg but their inverse partition coefficients are only 0.180 and 0.018kg/L. Over 60% of Sudan I and less than 40% of Sudan III accumulated on E. coli where most of them remained on the membrane. The transmembrane impedance effect (TMIE) is proposed for evaluating the cell-transport of polar LOCs.

Sixty-two cases of intractable ascites due to cirrhosis treated by the modified Wulingsan power plus abdominal reinfusion of the concentrated ascites after ultrafiltration.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of Wulingsan Jiawei ([Chinese characters: see text] Supplemented Powder of Five Drugs with Poria, SPFDP) plus abdominal reinfusion of concentrated ascites after ultrafiltration (ARCAU) for intractable ascites due to cirrhosis (IAC). METHODS: 124 cases of IAC were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group of 62 cases treated by oral administration of SPFDP plus ARCAU and a control group of 62 cases treated simply by ARCAU. Aldosterone (ALD) level in plasma, levels of total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin (ALB) in serum, and activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined in the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment ALT activity and TBIL level in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and ALB content in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group. ALD level of the treatment group significantly decreased after treatment as compared with that before treatment, while that of the control group did not decreased significantly after treatment. The treatment group was significantly superior in keeping down ascites to the control group. CONCLUSION: SPFDP plus ARCAU treatment of IAC can markedly raise the clinical therapeutic effect, reduce recurrence of ascites, and improve the liver function, which can produce a significant decrease in ALD level in plasma and a marked increase in ALB content.