Layered double hydroxides for simultaneous and long-term immobilization of metal(loid)s in soil under simulated aging.

Soil contamination by toxic metals and metalloids poses a grave threat to food security and human well-being. Immobilization serves as an effective method for the remediation of soils contaminated by metal(loid)s. Nevertheless, the ability of soil amendments for simultaneous immobilization of cations and oxyanions, and the long-term effectiveness of immobilization need substantial improvements. In this study, we used a series of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), including Mg-Al LDH and Ca-Al LDH fabricated from pure chemicals, and one waste-derived LDH synthesized using granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS), for the immobilization of Cu, Zn, As, and Sb in a historically contaminated soil obscured from a mining-affected region. The LDHs were first subjected to iron (Fe) modification to enhance their short-term immobilization performances toward metal(loid)s. Furthermore, the long-term effectiveness of Fe-modified LDHs was examined via two sets of experiments, including column experiments simulating 2-year water leaching, and accelerated aging experiments simulating 100-year proton attack. It was observed that Fe-modified LDHs, either made from pure chemicals or GGBS, demonstrated promising long-term immobilization performances toward metal(loid)s. Results from this study are encouraging for the future use of LDHs for simultaneous and long-term immobilization of metal(loid)s in soil.

Exposure Pathways and Toxicity of Microplastics in Terrestrial Insects.

The detrimental effects of plastics on aquatic organisms, including those of macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics, have been well established. However, knowledge on the interaction between plastics and terrestrial insects is limited. To develop effective strategies for mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems, it is necessary to understand the toxicity effects and influencing factors of plastic ingestion by insects. An overview of current knowledge regarding plastic ingestion by terrestrial insects is provided in this Review, and the factors influencing this interaction are identified. The pathways through which insects interact with plastics, which can lead to plastic accumulation and microplastic transfer to higher trophic levels, are also discussed using an overview and a conceptual model. The diverse impacts of plastic exposure on insects are discussed, and the challenges in existing studies, such as a limited focus on certain plastic types, are identified. Further research on standardized methods for sampling and analysis is crucial for reliable research, and long-term monitoring is essential to assess plastic trends and ecological impacts in terrestrial ecosystems. The mechanisms underlying these effects need to be uncovered, and their potential long-term consequences for insect populations and ecosystems require evaluation.

Mechanism of clay mineral modified biochar simultaneously immobilizes heavy metals and reduces soil carbon emissions.

Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil has become increasingly severe, and multi-element composite pollution has brought enormous harm to human production and life. Environmental changes in cold regions (such as freeze-thaw cycles and dry-wet alternations) may increase the potential physiological toxicity of heavy metals and exacerbate pollution risks. In order to reveal the effectiveness of sepiolite modified biochar in the remediation of the soil contaminated with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), the rice husk biochar pyrolyzed at 500 and 800 °C were selected for remediation treatment (denoted as BC500 and BC800). Meanwhile, different proportions of sepiolite were used for modification (biochar: sepiolite = 1: 0.5 and 1: 1), denoted as MBC500/MBC800 and HBC500/HBC800, respectively. The results showed that modified biochar with sepiolite can effectively improve the immobilization of heavy metals. Under natural conservation condition, the amount of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Pb in BC500, MBC500, and HBC500 decreased by 5.95, 12.39, and 13.55%, respectively, compared to CK. Freeze-thaw cycles and dry-wet alternations activated soil heavy metals, while modified biochar increased adsorption sites and oxygen-containing functional groups under aging conditions, inhibiting the fractions transformation of heavy metals. Furthermore, freeze-thaw cycles promoted the decomposition and mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC), while sepiolite hindered the release of active carbon through ion exchange and adsorption complexation. Among them, and the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in HBC800 decreased by 49.39% compared to BC800. Additionally, the high-temperature pyrolyzed biochar (BC800) enhanced the porosity richness and alkalinity of material, which effectively inhibited the migration and transformation of heavy metals compared to BC500, and reduced the decomposition of soil DOC.

Facial Expression Realization of Humanoid Robot Head and Strain-Based Anthropomorphic Evaluation of Robot Facial Expressions.

The facial expressions of humanoid robots play a crucial role in human-computer information interactions. However, there is a lack of quantitative evaluation methods for the anthropomorphism of robot facial expressions. In this study, we designed and manufactured a humanoid robot head that was capable of successfully realizing six basic facial expressions. The driving force behind the mechanism was efficiently transmitted to the silicone skin through a rigid linkage drive and snap button connection, which improves both the driving efficiency and the lifespan of the silicone skin. We used human facial expressions as a basis for simulating and acquiring the movement parameters. Subsequently, we designed a control system for the humanoid robot head in order to achieve these facial expressions. Moreover, we used a flexible vertical graphene sensor to measure strain on both the human face and the silicone skin of the humanoid robot head. We then proposed a method to evaluate the anthropomorphic degree of the robot's facial expressions by using the difference rate of strain. The feasibility of this method was confirmed through experiments in facial expression recognition. The evaluation results indicated a high degree of anthropomorphism for the six basic facial expressions which were achieved by the humanoid robot head. Moreover, this study also investigates factors affecting the reproduction of expressions. Finally, the impulse was calculated based on the strain curves of the energy consumption of the humanoid robot head to complete different facial expressions. This offers a reference for fellow researchers when designing humanoid robot heads, based on energy consumption ratios. To conclude, this paper offers data references for optimizing the mechanisms and selecting the drive components of the humanoid robot head. This was realized by considering the anthropomorphic degree and energy consumption of each part. Additionally, a new method for evaluating robot facial expressions is proposed.

Progress in polystyrene biodegradation by insect gut microbiota.

Polystyrene (PS) is frequently used in the plastics industry. However, its structural stability and difficulty to break down lead to an abundance of plastic waste in the environment, resulting in micro-nano plastics (MNPs). As MNPs are severe hazards to both human and environmental health, it is crucial to develop innovative treatment technologies to degrade plastic waste. The biodegradation of plastics by insect gut microorganisms has gained attention as it is environmentally friendly, efficient, and safe. However, our knowledge of the biodegradation of PS is still limited. This review summarizes recent research advances on PS biodegradation by gut microorganisms/enzymes from insect larvae of different species, and schematic pathways of the degradation process are discussed in depth. Additionally, the prospect of using modern biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and systems biology, to identify novel PS-degrading microbes/functional genes/enzymes and to realize new strategies for PS biodegradation is highlighted. Challenges and limitations faced by the application of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) and multiomics technologies in the field of plastic pollution bioremediation are also discussed. This review encourages the further exploration of the biodegradation of PS by insect gut microbes/enzymes, offering a cutting-edge perspective to identify PS biodegradation pathways and create effective biodegradation strategies.

Microplastic generation from field-collected plastic gauze: Unveiling the aging processes.

Accumulation of plastic debris in the environment is a matter of global concern. As plastic ages, it generates microplastic (MP) particles with high mobility. Understanding how MPs are generated is crucial to controlling this emerging contaminant. In this study, we utilized high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic gauze, collected from urban settings, as a representative example of plastic waste. The plastic gauze was subjected to various aging conditions, including freeze-thaw cycling, mechanical abrasion, and UV irradiation. Following aging, the plastic gauze was rinsed with water, and the number of generated MPs were quantified. It was found that aged plastic gauze generated up to 334 million MP particles per m2 (> 10 µm) during rinsing, a number two orders of magnitude higher than unaged plastic. Fragmentation occurred in two dimensions for bulk MPs of all morphotypes. However, specific aging approaches (i.e., mechanical abrasion and UV irradiation) generated spheres and fibers via pseudo-3D fragmentation. Additionally, changes in molecular weight, size distribution, and surface oxidation characteristics unveiled a complex pattern (i.e., irregular changes with exposure time). This complexity underscores the intricate nature of plastic debris aging processes in the environment.

Predicting Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Performance Using Flow-Cytometry-Derived High and Low Nucleic Acid Content Cells.

Having a tool to monitor the microbial abundances rapidly and to utilize the data to predict the reactor performance would facilitate the operation of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). This study aims to achieve the aforementioned scenario by developing a linear regression model that incorporates a time-lagging mode. The model uses low nucleic acid (LNA) cell numbers and the ratio of high nucleic acid (HNA) to LNA cells as an input data set. First, the model was trained using data sets obtained from a 35 L pilot-scale AnMBR. The model was able to predict the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and methane production 3.5 days in advance. Subsequent validation of the model using flow cytometry (FCM)-derived data (at time t - 3.5 days) obtained from another biologically independent reactor did not exhibit any substantial difference between predicted and actual measurements of reactor performance at time t. Further cell sorting, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and correlation analysis partly attributed this accurate prediction to HNA genera (e.g., Anaerovibrio and unclassified Bacteroidales) and LNA genera (e.g., Achromobacter, Ochrobactrum, and unclassified Anaerolineae). In summary, our findings suggest that HNA and LNA cell routine enumeration, along with the trained model, can derive a fast approach to predict the AnMBR performance.

Effect of rituximab in patients with PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy and malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in nondiabetic adults who are also within the common age group for malignancy. How to treat patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy effectively and safely still requires careful consideration. The aim of our study was to examine the outcomes and safety of rituximab (RTX) in these patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 15 patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy. Patients were followed every 1-3 months for a minimum of 24 months. Clinical data were collected, including CD19+ B cells, anti-PLA2R antibodies, 24-hour urinary protein, serum albumin, and serum creatinine. The percentage of patients who achieved clinical remission and immunological remission was also measured. RESULTS: Among these 15 patients, 14 patients with solid tumors received treatment for malignant diseases with complete resection. One patient received chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukemia, and achieved complete remission 36 months before the diagnosis of MN. There were 6 (40.00 %) patients who achieved complete remission and 14 (93.33 %) patients who achieved complete or partial remission at the last visit after RTX treatment. At the last visit, patients were clinically improved, as evidenced by significant improvements in anti-PLA2R antibody titer [2.00 (2.00, 2.00) vs 35.25 (11.18, 91.58) RU/ml, P = 0.002], 24-hour urine protein [0.39 (0.11, 2.28) vs 9.22 (4.47, 14.73) g/d, P = 0.001], and serum albumin [38.15 (34.80, 43.20) vs 23.70 (18.70, 25.70) g/L, P = 0.001]. During the follow-up, the renal function of those patients remained stable. Recurrence of malignant tumors or the occurrence of new tumor events were not observed. CONCLUSION: In this single-center retrospective study with a small sample size, RTX therapy might be an effective and safe treatment in patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy.

Various additive release from microplastics and their toxicity in aquatic environments.

Additives may be present in amounts higher than 50% within plastic objects. Additives in plastics can be gradually released from microplastics (MPs) into the aquatic environment during their aging and fragmentation because most of them do not chemically react with the polymers. Some are known to be hazardous substances, which can cause toxicity effects on organisms and pose ecological risks. In this paper, the application of functional additives in MPs and their leaching in the environment are first summarized followed by their release mechanisms including photooxidation, chemical oxidation, biochemical degradation, and physical abrasion. Important factors affecting the additive release from MPs are also reviewed. Generally, smaller particle size, light irradiation, high temperature, dissolved organic matter (DOM) existence and alkaline conditions can promote the release of chemicals from MPs. In addition, the release of additives is also influenced by the polymer's structure, electrolyte types, as well as salinity. These additives may transfer into the organisms after ingestion and disrupt various biological processes, leading to developmental malformations and toxicity in offspring. Nonetheless, challenges on the toxicity of chemicals in MPs remain hindering the risk assessment on human health from MPs in the environment. Future research is suggested to strengthen research on the leaching experiment in the actual environment, develop more techniques and analysis methods to identify leaching products, and evaluate the toxicity effects of additives from MPs based on more model organisms. The work gives a comprehensive overview of current process for MP additive release in natural waters, summarizes their toxicity effects on organisms, and provides recommendations for future research.

Unraveling the aging dynamics in the simultaneous immobilization of soil metal(loid)s using oxides.

Immobilization represents the most extensively utilized technique for the remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals and metalloids. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that contaminants are not removed during this process, thereby leaving room for potential mobilization over time. Currently, our comprehension of the temporal variations in immobilization efficacy, specifically in relation to amendments suitable for industrial sites, remains very limited. To address this knowledge gap, our research delved into the aging characteristics of diverse oxides, hydroxides, and hydroxy-oxides (collectively referred to as oxides) for the simultaneous immobilization of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and antimony (Sb) in soils procured from 16 contaminated industrial sites. Our findings unveiled that Ca-oxides initially showed excellent immobilization performance for As and Sb within 7 days but experienced substantial mobilization by up to 71 and 13 times within 1 year, respectively. In contrast, the efficacy of Cd immobilization by Ca-oxides was enhanced with the passage of time. Fe- and Mg-oxides, which primarily operate through encapsulation or surface complexation, exhibited steady immobilization performances over time. This reliable and commendable immobilization effect was observed across distinct soils characterized by varying physicochemical properties, including pH, texture, CEC, TOC, and EC, underscoring the suitability of such amendments for immobilizing metal(loid)s in diverse soil types. MgO, in particular, displayed even superior immobilization performance over time, owing primarily to gradual hydration and physical entrapment effects. Remarkably, Mg-Al LDHs emerged as the most effective candidate for the simultaneous immobilization of As, Cd, and Sb. The results obtained from this study furnish valuable data for future investigations on the immobilization of metals and metalloids in industrial soils. They enable the projection of immobilization performance and offer practical guidance in selecting suitable amendments for the immobilization of metal(loid)s.

Mercury reduction by black carbon under dark conditions.

An accurate depiction of mercury (Hg) reduction is important to predict Hg biogeochemistry in both aquatic and soil systems. Although the photoreduction of Hg is well documented, reduction in the dark is poorly known and is thus the focus of this work. Black carbon (BC), an important constituent of organic matter in environments, can reduce Hg2+ in dark and oxygen-deficient conditions. Fast removal of Hg2+ in BC/Hg2+ solution was observed, with 4.99-86.88 L mg-1h-1 of the reaction rate constant, which could be ascribed to the combined actions of adsorption and reduction. Meanwhile, slow Hg reduction was obtained, compared to Hg removal, with 0.06-2.16 L mg-1h-1 of the reaction rate constant. Thus, in the initial stage, Hg2+ removal was mainly triggered by adsorption, rather than reduction. Afterward, the adsorbed Hg2+ on black carbon was converted into Hg0. Dissolved black carbon and aromatic CH on particulate black carbon were dominant triggers of Hg reduction for black carbon. During Hg reduction, the intastable intermediate, formed in the complex between aromatic CH and Hg2+, behaved as persistent free radicals, which could be detected by in situ electron paramagnetic resonance. Subsequently, the intastable intermediate was mainly converted into CO on black carbon and Hg0. Corresponding results of the present study highlight the important role of black carbon in the Hg biogeochemical cycle.

Thiocyanate-degrading microflora alleviates thiocyanate stress on tomato seedlings by improving plant and rhizosphere microenvironment.

Thiocyanate in irrigation water can adversely affect plant growth and development. A previously constructed microflora with effective thiocyanate-degrading ability was used to investigate the potential of bacterial degradation for thiocyanate bioremediation. The root and aboveground part dry weight of plants inoculated with the degrading microflora increased by 66.67% and 88.45%, respectively, compared to those plants without the microflora. The supplementation of thiocyanate-degrading microflora (TDM) significantly alleviated the interference of thiocyanate in mineral nutrition metabolism. Moreover, the supplementation of TDM significantly reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage and it protected plants from excessive thiocyanate, while the crucial antioxidant enzyme (peroxidase) decreased by 22.59%. Compared with the control without TDM supplementation, the soil sucrase content increased by 29.58%. The abundances of Methylophilus, Acinetobacter, unclassified Saccharimonadales, and Rhodanobacter changed from 19.92%, 6.63%, 0.79%, and 3.90%-13.19%, 0.27%, 3.06%, and 5.14%, respectively, with TDM supplementation. Caprolactam, 5,6-dimethyldecane, and pentadecanoic acid seem to have an effect on the structure of the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil. The above results indicated TDM supplementation can significantly reduce the toxic effects of thiocyanate on the tomato-soil microenvironment.

Boron contamination and its risk management in terrestrial and aquatic environmental settings.

Boron (B) is released to terrestrial and aquatic environments through both natural and anthropogenic sources. This review describes the current knowledge on B contamination in soil and aquatic environments in relation to its geogenic and anthropogenic sources, biogeochemistry, environmental and human health impacts, remediation approaches, and regulatory practices. The common naturally occurring sources of B include borosilicate minerals, volcanic eruptions, geothermal and groundwater streams, and marine water. Boron is extensively used to manufacture fiberglass, thermal-resistant borosilicate glass and porcelain, cleaning detergents, vitreous enamels, weedicides, fertilizers, and B-based steel for nuclear shields. Anthropogenic sources of B released into the environment include wastewater for irrigation, B fertilizer application, and waste from mining and processing industries. Boron is an essential element for plant nutrition and is taken up mainly as boric acid molecules. Although B deficiency in agricultural soils has been observed, B toxicity can inhibit plant growth in soils under arid and semiarid regions. High B intake by humans can be detrimental to the stomach, liver, kidneys and brain, and eventually results in death. Amelioration of soils and water sources enriched with B can be achieved by immobilization, leaching, adsorption, phytoremediation, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration. The development of cost-effective technologies for B removal from B-rich irrigation water including electrodialysis and electrocoagulation techniques is likely to help control the predominant anthropogenic input of B to the soil. Future research initiatives for the sustainable remediation of B contamination using advanced technologies in soil and water environments are also recommended.

The potential of biochar as a microbial carrier for agricultural and environmental applications.

Biochar can be an effective carrier for microbial inoculants because of its favourable properties promoting microbial life. In this review, we assess the effectiveness of biochar as a microbial carrier for agricultural and environmental applications. Biochar is enriched with organic carbon, contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as nutrients, and has a high porosity and moisture-holding capacity. The large number of active hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfonic acid group, amino, imino, and acylamino hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups are effective for microbial cell adhesion and proliferation. The use of biochar as a carrier of microbial inoculum has been shown to enhance the persistence, survival and colonization of inoculated microbes in soil and plant roots, which play a crucial role in soil biochemical processes, nutrient and carbon cycling, and soil contamination remediation. Moreover, biochar-based microbial inoculants including probiotics effectively promote plant growth and remediate soil contaminated with organic pollutants. These findings suggest that biochar can serve as a promising substitute for non-renewable substrates, such as peat, to formulate and deliver microbial inoculants. The future research directions in relation to improving the carrier material performance and expanding the potential applications of this emerging biochar-based microbial immobilization technology have been proposed.

Rituximab treatment of adults with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in adults. The clinical data of patients with primary FSGS who received RTX treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. The selected patients received RTX twice or four times, with a single dose of 375 mg/m2, and the interval between two times of administration of RTX was 2-4 weeks. The treatment target is to achieve the clearance of B cells (peripheral blood B cell count < 5/µl). The primary outcome measures were remission and recurrence of renal disease, and the secondary outcome measures were adverse events and renal outcomes. A total of 14 FSGS patients were included, including 12 males, 9 with glucocorticoid-dependent or frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, and 3 with newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome. After RTX treatment, 7 patients with glucocorticoid-dependent/recurrent nephrotic syndrome were completely relieved. At 6 months of follow-up, glucocorticoids were discontinued in all patients except 1 patient. The other 5 patients achieved partial remission (PR), of which 1 patient relapsed after PR, and 1 initial patient achieved complete remission. One patient progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after 4 months of follow-up. RTX in the treatment of adult glucocorticoid-dependent/relapsing FSGS can reduce the risk of recurrence and help to decline or discontinue the use of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants.

Plastic-Rock Complexes as Hotspots for Microplastic Generation.

Discarded plastics and microplastics (MPs) in the environment are considered emerging contaminants and indicators of the Anthropocene epoch. This study reports the discovery of a new type of plastic material in the environment─plastic-rock complexes─formed when plastic debris irreversibly sorbs onto the parent rock after historical flooding events. These complexes consist of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polypropylene (PP) films stuck onto quartz-dominated mineral matrices. These plastic-rock complexes serve as hotspots for MP generation, as evidenced by laboratory wet-dry cycling tests. Over 1.03 × 108 and 1.28 × 108 items·m-2 MPs were generated in a zero-order mode from the LDPE- and PP-rock complexes, respectively, following 10 wet-dry cycles. The speed of MP generation was 4-5 orders of magnitude higher than that in landfills, 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that in seawater, and >1 order of magnitude higher than that in marine sediment as compared with previously reported data. Results from this investigation provide strong direct evidence of anthropogenic waste entering geological cycles and inducing potential ecological risks that may be exacerbated by climate change conditions such as flooding events. Future research should evaluate this phenomenon regarding ecosystem fluxes, fate, and transport and impacts of plastic pollution.

Reversible Adhesive Bio-Toe with Hierarchical Structure Inspired by Gecko.

The agile locomotion of adhesive animals is mainly attributed to their sophisticated hierarchical feet and reversible adhesion motility. Their structure-function relationship is an urgent issue to be solved to understand biologic adhesive systems and the design of bionic applications. In this study, the reversible adhesion/release behavior and structural properties of gecko toes were investigated, and a hierarchical adhesive bionic toe (bio-toe) consisting of an upper elastic actuator as the supporting/driving layer and lower bionic lamellae (bio-lamellae) as the adhesive layer was designed, which can adhere to and release from targets reversibly when driven by bi-directional pressure. A mathematical model of the nonlinear deformation and a finite element model of the adhesive contact of the bio-toe were developed. Meanwhile, combined with experimental tests, the effects of the structure and actuation on the adhesive behavior and mechanical properties of the bio-toe were investigated. The research found that (1) the bending curvature of the bio-toe, which is approximately linear with pressure, enables the bio-toe to adapt to a wide range of objects controllably; (2) the tabular bio-lamella could achieve a contact rate of 60% with a low squeeze contact of less than 0.5 N despite a ±10° tilt in contact posture; (3) the upward bending of the bio-toe under negative pressure provided sufficient rebounding force for a 100% success rate of release; (4) the ratio of shear adhesion force to preload of the bio-toe with tabular bio-lamellae reaches approximately 12, which is higher than that of most existing adhesion units and frictional gripping units. The bio-toe shows good adaptability, load capacity, and reversibility of adhesion when applied as the basic adhesive unit in a robot gripper and wall-climbing robot. Finally, the proposed reversible adhesive bio-toe with a hierarchical structure has great potential for application in space, defense, industry, and daily life.

A newly developed consortium with a highly efficient thiocyanate degradation capacity: A comprehensive investigation of the degradation and detoxification potential.

Thiocyanate-containing wastewater harms ecosystems and can cause serious damage to animals and plants, so it is urgent to treat it effectively. In this study, a new efficient thiocyanate-degrading consortium was developed and its degradation characteristics were studied. It was found that up to 154.64 mM thiocyanate could be completely degraded by this consortium over 6 days of incubation, with a maximum degradation rate of 1.53 mM h-1. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that Thiobacillus (77.78%) was the predominant thiocyanate-degrading bacterial genus. Plant toxicology tests showed that the germination index of mung bean and rice seeds cultured with media obtained after thiocyanate degradation by the consortium increased by 94% and 84.83%, respectively, compared with the control group without thiocyanate degradation. Cytotoxicity tests showed that thiocyanate without degradation significantly decreased the Neuro-2a cell activity and mitochondrial membrane potential; induced reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis; increased the cellular Ca2+ concentration; and damaged the cell nucleus and DNA. Furthermore, the thiocyanate degradation products produced the consortium were almost totally non-toxic, revealing the same characteristics as those of the control using distilled water. This study shows that the consortium has a high degradation efficiency and detoxification characteristics, as well as great application potential in bioremediation of industrial thiocyanate-containing wastewater.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in elderly patients with membranous nephropathy.

Objectives: Advancing age is a risk factor for treatment-related side effects and mortality in membranous nephropathy (MN) patients treated with traditional immunosuppressive regimens. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of elderly patients with MN. Methods: We performed a single center retrospective review of 37 consecutive MN patients aged 70 and older at the time of RTX infusion. We also enrolled 76 young patients (<70 years old) with MN as the control group. We assessed clinical and laboratory indices, remission rates, and adverse events at RTX infusion, 3 months, and last visit. Results: A total of 37 elderly patients with MN were included, with a median follow-up period of 15.50 (10.00, 24.40) months. Of the 37 patients, 75.68% were male, and mean age was 71.89 ± 2.47 years. At last visit, 7 (18.92%) patients achieved complete remission, and 26 (70.27%) patients achieved complete or partial remission. There were no differences in the complete remission rate and complete or partial remission rate at last visit compared to young patients (26.32% vs. 18.92%, p = 0.387; 85.53% vs. 70.27%, p = 0.055). After RTX treatment, three of 6 elderly patients with pneumonia died due to ineffective treatment of the infection in RTX therapy courses. The results of multivariant regression analysis showed that elderly patients have an increased risk of serious infection, compared with patients younger than 70 years (OR = 32.874, 95% CI 1.300-831.490, p = 0.034). For each increase of 1 g/L in serum albumin, the risk of serious infection would decrease by 43.2% (OR = 0.568, 95% CI 0.334-0.969, p = 0.038). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that RTX is effective in the treatment of elderly patients with MN. However, we also observed a high incidence of infectious complications. Our experience was limited by its retrospective design and relatively small sample size, and further randomized controlled studies with large sample size are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.

The efficacy and safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan on pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of end-stage renal disease which is associated with adverse outcomes including all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Recent studies have demonstrated that Sacubitril/Valsartan (Sac/Val) as an enkephalinase inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker could reduce pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and improve the prognosis of patients with heart failure. However, whether Sac/Val is effective in hemodialysis (HD) patients with PH is essentially unknown. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sac/Val in the treatment of PH in HD patients. Methods: A total of 122 HD patients with PH were divided into Sac/Val group (n = 71) and ARBs group (n = 51) based on the treatment regimen. The PASP, other cardiac parameters measured by echocardiography, and cardiac biomarkers including N-terminal fragment of BNP (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were observed at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the two groups. PASP decreased significantly from 45(38, 54) to 28(21, 40) mmHg in Sac/Val group (p < 0.001). PASP reduced from 41(37, 51) to 34(27, 44) mmHg in ARBs group (p < 0.001), and the decrease was more pronounced in the Sac/Val group (p < 0.001). In addition, improvements in the right atrial diameter (RAD), left ventricular diameter (LVD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), left atrial diameter (LAD), pulmonary artery diameter (PAD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fractional shortening (FS) were found in Sac/Val group (ps < 0.05). After 3 months, LVD, LAD, LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF, SV, and PASP were significantly improved in Sac/Val group compared with ARBs group (ps <0.05). Significant reduction in NT-proBNP [35,000 (15,000, 70,000) pg/ml vs. 7,042 (3,126, 29,060) pg/ml, p < 0.001] and cTnI [0.056(0.031, 0.085) ng/ml vs. 0.036 (0.012, 0.056) ng/ml, p < 0.001) were observed in Sac/Val group. No significant differences were observed in adverse events between the two groups (ps > 0.05). Conclusion: Sac/Val seems to be an efficacious regimen in PH with favorable safety and has huge prospects for treating PH in HD patients.