Chlorpyrifos degradation and its impacts on phosphorus bioavailability in microplastic-contaminated soil.

Pesticide residues and microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils are two major concerns for soil health and food safety. The degradation of chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide, releases phosphates. This process may be affected by the presence of MPs in the soil. The combination of CPF and MPs presence in the soil may thus produce interaction effects that alter the soil phosphorus (P) balance. This study explores the degradation pathways of CPF (6 mg kg-1, 12 mg kg-1 of CPF addition) in soils with different levels of polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs) (0.0 %, 0.1 %, 0.5 %, 1.0 % w/w), and analyzes soil P fractions and phosphatase enzyme activities to investigate soil P bioavailability under different treatments. Results show that the degradation of CPF fits to a first-order decay model, with half-lives (DT50) ranging from 11.0 to 14.8 d depending on PLA-MPs treatment. The concentration of its metabolite 3, 5, 6-trichloropyridine 2-phenol (TCP) reached a peak of 0.93-1.67 mg kg-1 within 7-14 days. Similarly, the degradation of CPF led to a significant transient increase in P bioavailability within 3-7 days (p < 0.05), with a peak range of 22.55-26.01 mg kg-1 for Olsen-P content and a peak range of 4.63-6.76 % for the proportions of available P fractions (H2O-P+NaHCO3-P+NaOH-P), before returning to prior levels (Olsen-P: 11.28-19.52 mg kg-1; available soil P fractions: 4.15-5.61 %). CPF degradation (6 mg kg-1) was significantly inhibited in soil with 1.0 % PLA-MPs addition. The effects of MPs and CPF on soil P fractions occur at different time frames, implying that their modes of action and interactions with soil microbes differ.

Salvianolic acid B protects against myocardial damage caused by nanocarrier TiO2; and synergistic anti-breast carcinoma effect with curcumin via codelivery system of folic acid-targeted and polyethylene glycol-modified TiO2 nanoparticles.

Targeted delivery by the folate ligand is an effective way to enhance an anti-breast carcinoma effect, due to its high affinity for the folate receptor, which is overexpressed in many tumor cells. In this study, we firstly synthesized a folic acid (FA)-targeted and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified TiO2 nanocarrier. Then, an FA-PEG-TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) codelivery system loaded with curcumin and salvianolic acid B were prepared by emulsion evaporation-solidification at low temperature. The obtained folate-targeted NPs (FA-NPs) showed more cytotoxicity on MCF7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells than a nontargeted NP group. Apart from a synergistic anti-breast cancer effect with curcumin, salvianolic acid B protects the cardiovascular system from oxidative injury by the TiO2 nanocarrier. With coumarin 6 as a fluorescent probe to observe cellular uptake of NPs, the results of in vitro cellular uptake demonstrated FA-NPs exhibited higher cellular uptake and accumulation in MCF7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells than nontargeted NPs. Then, in vivo biodistribution of NPs was further qualitatively and quantitatively confirmed by in vivo imaging. More importantly, the animal study further suggested that FA-NPs had significantly stronger antitumor effects via receptor-mediated targeted delivery. Consequently, FA-PEG-TiO2 NPs loaded with curcumin and salvianolic acid B could be a promising drug-delivery system to treat breast cancer.

The relationship between dental caries and obesity among primary school children aged 5 to 14 years.

BACKGROUND: Previous study revealed that the link between dental caries and obesity has been controversial. The purpose of this research is to investigate the association between dental caries and obesity among primary school children in Wannan area, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect the routine health screening data for primary school children aged 5-14 years in Wannan area,China, Overweight and obesity status were determined using the International Obesity Task Force standard (IOTF) BMI cut-off points. Caries status was recorded based on WHO recommendations. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the overall caries prevalence of the subjects was 44.9%, Maximum number of caries affected children belonged to underweight and normal group, followed by overweight, and the least number was obesity. These differences were statistically significant (chi-square test, P < 0.001). Children with obesity were 1.908 times (OR =1.908; CI95%=1.750, 2.079) more likely have caries than children with underweight or health weight. Overweight children were 1.547 times (OR = 1.547; CI95% = 1.479, 1.618) more likely to have caries than children with underweight or health weight. After adjusted the gender and age, a statistically significant association was also observed between body mass index categories and caries. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity may have a significant effect on caries prevalence of primary school children in Wannan area, China. The importance of obesity should not only be emphasized with respect to general diseases but also with regard to carious lesions.

ANTECEDENTES: Un estudio previo reveló que la asociación entre la caries dental y la obesidad es controvertida. El propósito de esta investigación fue investigar la asociación entre la caries dental y la obesidad en niños de escuela primaria en el área de Wannan, China. MÉTODOS: Se diseñó un estudio transversal para recoger los datos del chequeo rutinario de salud de los niños de escolarización primaria con edades de 5-14 en el área de Wannan, China. Se determinó el estado de sobrepeso y obesidad utilizando los puntos de corte estándar del IMC del Grupo de Trabajo Internacional en Obesidad (GTIO). El estado de las caries se registró de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de la OMS. RESULTADOS: Nuestros resultados revelaron que la prevalencia global de caries en los sujetos fue del 44,9%. El máximo número de niños afectados por las caries estaba en los grupos normal y con peso bajo, seguido por el grupo con sobrepeso y por último en el grupo de obesidad. Estas diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas (test Chi-cuadrado, P＜0,001). Los niños con sobrepeso tenían una probabilidad 1,547 veces superior (OR = 1,547; IC al 95% = 1,479, 1,618) de tener caries dental que los niños con un peso bajo o normal. Tras ajustar por sexo y edad, también se observó una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el índice de masa corporal y la caries. CONCLUSIONES: La obesidad puede tener un efecto significativo sobre la prevalencia de caries en niños en escolarización primaria en el área de Wannan, China. No sólo se debería poner el énfasis de la importancia de la obesidad en relación con las enfermedades generales sino también en relación con las lesiones cariales.