Coupled Stable Isotope Tracing and Sulfamic Acid Reduction (SIT-SAR) Method to Determine the Ammonia and Nitrite Oxidation Rates in Water and Sediments.

Herein, a method was developed to measure the ammonia oxidation rate (Ra) and the nitrite oxidation rate (Rn) of water and sediment samples using a coupled stable isotope tracing and sulfamic acid reduction (SIT-SAR) method. 15NH4+ was used as a tracer to determine the ammonia oxidation rates (Ra) by calculating the concentrations of produced 15NO2- and 15NO3- during incubation, while 15NO2- was used as a tracer to determine the nitrite oxidation rates (Rn) by calculating the increase of 15NO3- during incubation. 15NO2- was chemically reduced to 29N2 with 15 mmol·L-1 sulfamic acid (SA). 15NO3- was first reduced to 15NO2- with a zinc-cadmium reducing agent, and then 15NO2- was subsequently reduced to 29N2 with SA. The produced 29N2 was measured by a membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS). Under optimized experimental conditions, this method provides a sensitive (detection limit: 0.5 µmol·L-1) and precise (relative standard deviation: 4.80% for 15NO2-, 3.82% for 15NO3-) approach to quantify the concentrations of 15NO2- (0.5-150 µmol·L-1) and 15NO3- (0.5-120 µmol·L-1) in water and sediment samples over a wide range of salinities (0-30‰) with excellent calibration curves (R2 ≥ 0.999). This method was a successful application to estuarine water and sediments along the salinity gradient. Overall, the SIT-SAR method provided a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective means to determine Ra and Rn simultaneously.

Thrombin Time is a Diagnostic Biomarker of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Predicts the Prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine whether thrombin time (TT) could be used as diagnostic biomarkers and predict the prognosis for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS: Sixty-one patients diagnosed with SSNHL and 65 people who underwent physical examination were recruited. Data on the patient's background, clinical course, and laboratory findings were collected. SSNHL patients were divided into the effective and ineffective groups according to the hearing recovery from the treatment and were assessed by binary logistic regression. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out for the best discriminating cutoff value of the biomarker with the corresponding sensitivity and specificity was calculated. RESULTS: The SSNHL group exhibited prolonged TT (19.11 ± 1.12 seconds) compared to the control group (17.58 ± 2.18 seconds, P < .001). Binary logistic regression analysis found a significant positive association between TT and SSNHL and was observed with an odds ratio (OR) 1.769 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.344-2.330, P < .001] in the unadjusted model. Even after adjustment using the variables included in the multivariate models, TT was significantly predictive of SSNHL. A TT cutoff value of 17.65 seconds provides optimal separation between patients with SSNHL and controls in the ROC analysis [Area Under the Curve (AUC) 0.773, 95% CI 0.689-0.856; sensitivity, 0.918; and specificity, 0.569]. TT in the effective group of SSNHL patients was shorter (18.76 ± 1.06 seconds) than that in the ineffective group (19.43 ± 1.09 seconds, P = .018). The cutoff value of TT as progress predictors was 19.85 seconds. The TT < 19.85 seconds showed an effective rate 59.09% (26/44) higher than 17.65% (3/17) of TT ≥ 19.85 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: TT is a potential biomarker of SSNHL and is independently associated with the prognosis of patients with SSNHL.

The elevation of salinity above 1% deteriorated nitrification performance and reshaped nitrifier community of an MBR: An often overlooked factor in the treatment of high-strength ammonium wastewater.

The effects of synchronous variations of influent salinity with the elevation of NH4+-N concentration on nitrification performance and microbial community structure of bioreactor are often ignored. In this study, we investigated the dynamic response of nitrifying activated sludge to synchronously increased salinity and ammonia loading rate (ALR) in a nitrification membrane bioreactor (MBR). We found that the increase in influent salinity above 1% (from 0.91 to 1.32%) led to the deterioration of the nitrification performance of the MBR. The combined inhibition effect of salinity (1.32%), free ammonia (FA, an average of 1.37 mg/L), and free nitrous acid (FNA, an average of 0.155 mg/L) on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) resulted in long-term (35 days) nitrite accumulation. The further increase of salinity and ALR exhibited little influence on the nitrification performance of MBR after the activated sludge had adapted to high salinity (>1%), effective nitrification performance was achieved at high ALR up to 1.71 kg NH4+-N/m3·d and high salinity (2.13%). The microbial analysis showed that the elevated salinity and accumulation of FNA reshaped the microbial community structure of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and NOB. The dominant species of AOB and NOB shifted from the salinity-resistant species Nitrosomonas aestuarii to the species Nitrosomonas mobilis with dual resistant to salinity and FNA, and from non-salinity-resistant species Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii to salinity-resistant species Nitrobacter winogradskyi and Nitrospira marina, respectively. Therefore, the salinity of 1% may be a critical level for the nitrification performance and the shift in the nitrifier community of activated sludge without salinity acclimation.

Development and validation for multifactor prediction model of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a global problem threatening human health. Early and rapid diagnosis contributes to effective treatment. However, there is a lack of effective SSNHL prediction models. Methods: A retrospective study of SSNHL patients from Fujian Geriatric Hospital (the development cohort with 77 participants) was conducted and data from First Hospital of Putian City (the validation cohort with 57 participants) from January 2018 to December 2021 were validated. Basic characteristics and the results of the conventional coagulation test (CCT) and the blood routine test (BRT) were then evaluated. Binary logistic regression was used to develop a prediction model to identify variables significantly associated with SSNHL, which were then included in the nomogram. The discrimination and calibration ability of the nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis both in the development and validation cohorts. Delong's test was used to calculate the difference in ROC curves between the two cohorts. Results: Thrombin time (TT), red blood cell (RBC), and granulocyte-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) were found to be associated with the diagnosis of SSNHL. A prediction nomogram was constructed using these three predictors. The AUC in the development and validation cohorts was 0.871 (95% CI: 0.789-0.953) and 0.759 (95% CI: 0.635-0.883), respectively. Delong's test showed no significant difference in the ROC curves between the two groups (D = 1.482, p = 0.141). Conclusion: In this study, a multifactor prediction model for SSNHL was established and validated. The factors included in the model could be easily and quickly accessed, which could help physicians make early diagnosis and clinical treatment decisions.

Removal of tetracycline in nitrification membrane bioreactors with different ammonia loading rates: Performance, metabolic pathway, and key contributors.

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been widely applied for the treatment of wastewater that contains high concentrations of both ammonium and antibiotics. Nonetheless, information about tetracycline (TC) removal in nitrification MBRs with high ammonium loading rates (ALRs) is still very limited. Herein, the fate of TC at four different concentrations of 1, 5, 20, and 50 mg/L in three parallel lab-scale nitrification MBRs with different ALRs (named AN50, AN500, and AN1000) were investigated in this study. Excellent nitrification performance and high TC removal efficiency (90.46%) were achieved in AN1000 at influent TC concentration of 50 mg/L. Higher ALRs promoted the removal of TC at lower influent TC concentration (≤5 mg/L), while no significant difference was observed in TC removal efficiencies among different ALRs MBRs at higher influent TC concentration (≥20 mg/L), implying that the heterotrophic degradation could be strengthened after long-term exposure to high concentration of TC. Batch tests demonstrated that adsorption and biodegradation were the primary TC removal routes by nitrification sludge, of which both autotrophic ammonia oxidizers and heterotrophic microorganisms played an important role in the biodegradation of TC. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that amide groups on the sludge biomass contributed to the adsorption of TC. Mass balance analyses indicated that biodegradation (63.4-88.6% for AN50, 74.5-88.4% for AN500 and 74.4-91.4% for AN1000) was the major mechanism responsible for the removal of TC in nitrification MBRs, and its contribution increased with influent TC concentration, while only 1.1%-15.0% of TC removal was due to biosorption. TC was progressively degraded to small molecules and the presence of TC had no notable effect on membrane permeability. These jointly confirmed TC could be effectively removed via initial adsorption and subsequent biodegradation, while biodegradation was the primary mechanism in this study.

RSC3 K of soybean cv. Kefeng No.1 confers resistance to soybean mosaic virus by interacting with the viral protein P3.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most devastating viral pathogens of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). In total, 22 Chinese SMV strains (SC1-SC22) have been classified based on the responses of 10 soybean cultivars to these pathogens. However, although several SMV-resistance loci in soybean have been identified, no gene conferring SMV resistance in the resistant soybean cultivar (cv.) Kefeng No.1 has been cloned and verified. Here, using F2 -derived F3 (F2:3 ) and recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations from a cross between Kefeng No.1 and susceptible soybean cv. Nannong 1138-2, we localized the gene in Kefeng No.1 that mediated resistance to SMV-SC3 strain to a 90-kb interval on chromosome 2. To study the functions of candidate genes in this interval, we performed Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV)-induced gene silencing (VIGS). We identified a recombinant gene (which we named RSC3 K) harboring an internal deletion of a genomic DNA fragment partially flanking the LOC100526921 and LOC100812666 reference genes as the SMV-SC3 resistance gene. By shuffling genes between infectious SMV DNA clones based on the avirulent isolate SC3 and virulent isolate 1129, we determined that the viral protein P3 is the avirulence determinant mediating SMV-SC3 resistance on Kefeng No.1. P3 interacts with RNase proteins encoded by RSC3 K, LOC100526921, and LOC100812666. The recombinant RSC3 K conveys much higher anti-SMV activity than LOC100526921 and LOC100812666, although those two genes also encode proteins that inhibit SMV accumulation, as revealed by gene silencing in a susceptible cultivar and by overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana. These findings demonstrate that RSC3 K mediates the resistance of Kefeng No.1 to SMV-SC3 and that SMV resistance of soybean is determined by the antiviral activity of RNase proteins.

Digs out and characterization of the resistance gene accountable to soybean mosaic virus in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill).

KEY MESSAGE: A putative candidate gene conferring resistance to SMV strain SC1 was identified on chromosome 2, and the linked marker was validated in soybean cultivars Soybean mosaic, caused by the soybean mosaic virus, is the most common disease in soybean and a significant impediment to soybean production in the Huanghuai and Yangtze River regions of China. Kefeng No.1, a soybean cultivar, showed high resistance to soybean mosaic virus strain (SC1) collected from Huanghuai and Yangtze River regions. Genetic analysis based on the Mendelian genic population derived from the cross Kefeng No.1 × Nannong 1138-2 revealed that Kefeng No.1 possesses a single dominant gene. Furthermore, genetic fine-mapping using an F2 population containing 281 individuals delimited resistant gene to a genomic region of 186 kb flanked by SSR markers BS020610 and BS020620 on chromosome 2. Within this region, there were 14 genes based on the Williams 82 reference genome. According to sequence analysis, six of the 14 genes have amino acid differences, and one of these genes is the Rsv4 allele designated as Rsc1-DR. The functional analysis of candidate genes using the bean pod mottle virus (BPMV)-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system revealed that Rsc1-DR was accountable for Kefeng No.1's resistance to SMV-SC1. Based on the genome sequence of Rsc1-DR, an Insertion/Deletion (InDel) molecular marker, JT0212, was developed and genotyped using 100 soybean cultivars, and the coincidence rate was 89%. The study enriched our understanding of the SMV resistance mechanism. The marker developed in this study could be directly used by the soybean breeders to select the genotypes with favorable alleles for making crosses, and also it will facilitate marker-assisted selection of SMV resistance in soybean breeding.

Development of Comprehensive Serological Techniques for Sensitive, Quantitative and Rapid Detection of Soybean mosaic virus.

Soybean is an important grain and oil crop worldwide; however, the yield and seed quality of which are seriously affected by Soybean mosaic virus (SMV). As efficient detection technology is crucial for the field management of SMV, novel immunological detection methods were developed in the present study. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the CP coding sequence of SMV-SC7 was selected for the prokaryotic expression of the recombinant SMV-CP. Purified SMV-CP was used for the development of polyclonal antibodies (PAb) against the SMV-CP (PAb-SMV-CP) and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against SMV-CP (MAb-SMV-CP). Subsequently, the PAb-SMV-CP was used for the development of a novel DAS- quantitative ELISA (DAS-qELISA) kit, of which the sensitivity was greater than 1:4000, and this could be used for the quantitative detection of SMV in China. Meanwhile, the MAb-SMV-CP was labeled with colloidal gold, and then was used for the development of the SMV-specific gold immunochromatography strip (SMV-GICS). The SMV-GICS gives accurate detection results through observed control lines and test lines in 5 to 10 min, sharing the same sensitivity as RT-PCR, and can be used for rapid, accurate and high-throughput field SMV detection. The DAS-qELISA kit and the SMV-GICA strip developed in this study are SMV-specific, sensitive, cheap and easy to use. These products will be conducive to the timely, efficient SMV epidemiology and detection in major soybean-producing regions in China and abroad.

Fabrication of a TiO2@Cu Core-Shell Nanorod Array as Coating for Titanium Substrate with Mechanical and Chemical Dual Antibacterial Property.

Titanium (Ti) is an excellent medical metal material, but the absence of good antibacterial property restricts its widespread application. To overcome this, we thus conducted a series of modifications for Ti. First, a titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorod array was generated on the Ti surface by hydrothermal treatment (TiO2/Ti). With the polymer-mediated self-assembly method, a continuous copper (Cu) shell structure on the surface of the nanorod was then generated to form a TiO2@Cu core-shell nanorod array as coating for Ti (TiO2@Cu/Ti). Using pure Ti as the control group, the antibacterial properties of TiO2/Ti and TiO2@Cu/Ti were appraised. The results manifested that the mechanical and chemical dual function of the released Cu2+ and TiO2 nanorod array could effectively kill bacteria on the surface of Ti. Besides, the obtained coating exhibited no cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility. In this work, we found an antibacterial strategy based on multiple sterilization pathways, which made Ti have good antibacterial property and further improved its biocompatibility.

The E3 Ligase GmPUB21 Negatively Regulates Drought and Salinity Stress Response in Soybean.

E3-ubiquitin ligases are known to confer abiotic stress responses in plants. In the present study, GmPUB21, a novel U-box E3-ubiquitin ligase-encoding gene, was isolated from soybean and functionally characterized. The expression of GmPUB21, which possesses E3-ubiquitin ligase activity, was found to be significantly up-regulated by drought, salinity, and ABA treatments. The fusion protein GmPUB21-GFP was localized in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and plasma membrane. Transgenic lines of the Nicotiana benthamiana over-expressing GmPUB21 showed more sensitive to osmotic, salinity stress and ABA in seed germination and inhibited mannitol/NaCl-mediated stomatal closure. Moreover, higher reactive oxygen species accumulation was observed in GmPUB21 overexpressing plants after drought and salinity treatment than in wild-type (WT) plants. Contrarily, silencing of GmPUB21 in soybean plants significantly enhanced the tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. Collectively, our results revealed that GmPUB21 negatively regulates the drought and salinity tolerance by increasing the stomatal density and aperture via the ABA signaling pathway. These findings improved our understanding of the role of GmPUB21 under drought and salinity stresses in soybean.

Niche differentiation of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and related autotrophic carbon fixation potential in the water column of the South China Sea.

The significant primary production by ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in the ocean was reported, but the carbon fixation process of AOA and its community composition along the water depth remain unclear. Here, we investigated the abundance, community composition, and potential carbon fixation of AOA in water columns of the South China Sea. Higher abundances of the amoA and accA genes of AOA were found below the euphotic zone. Similarly, higher carbon fixation potential of AOA, evaluated by the ratios of amoA to accA gene, was also observed below euphotic zone and the ratios increased with increasing water depth. The vertical niche differentiation of AOA was further evidenced, with the dominant genus shifting from Nitrosopelagicus in the epipelagic zone to uncultured genus in the meso- and bathypelagic zones. Our findings highlight the higher carbon fixation potential of AOA in deep water and the significance of AOA to the ocean carbon budget.

Nitrification performance and bacterial community dynamics in a membrane bioreactor with elevated ammonia concentration: The combined inhibition effect of salinity, free ammonia and free nitrous acid on nitrification at high ammonia loading rates.

The responses of the operational performance and bacterial community structure of a nitrification membrane bioreactor (MBR) to elevated ammonia loading rate (ALR) were investigated. Effective nitrification performance was achieved at high ALR up to 3.43 kg NH4+-N/m3·d, corresponding to influent NH4+-N concentration of 2000 mg/L. Further increasing influent NH4+-N concentration to 3000 mg/L, the MBR system finally became completely inefficient due to the combined inhibition effect of salinity, free ammonia and free nitrous acid on nitrification. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) Nitrosomonas were enriched with the increase of ALR. The relative abundance of Nitrosomonas in the sludge with ALR of 2.57 kg NH4+-N/m3·d was up to 14.82%, which were 9-fold and 53-fold higher than that in seed sludge and the sludge with ALR of 0.10 kg NH4+-N/m3·d, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of AOB amoA genes showed that Nitrosomonas europaea/mobilis lineage are chiefly responsible for catalyzing ammonia oxidation at high ALRs.

Effect of Increasing C/N Ratio on Performance and Microbial Community Structure in a Membrane Bioreactor with a High Ammonia Load.

Herein, the responses of the operational performance of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) with a high ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) load and microbial community structure to increasing carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios were studied. Variation in the influent C/N ratio did not affect the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4+-N but gradually abated the ammonia oxidization activity of sludge. The concentration of the sludge in the reactor at the end of the process increased four-fold compared with that of the seed sludge, ensuring the stable removal of NH4+-N. The increasing influent COD concentration resulted in an elevated production of humic acids in soluble microbial product (SMP) and accelerated the rate of membrane fouling. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that the C/N ratio had selective effects on the microbial community structure. In the genus level, Methyloversatilis, Subsaxibacter, and Pseudomonas were enriched during the operation. However, the relative abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) involved in nitrification declined gradually and were decreased by 86.54 and 90.17%, respectively, with influent COD increasing from 0 to 2000 mg/L. The present study offers a more in-depth insight into the control strategy of the C/N ratio in the operation of an MBR with a high NH4+-N load.

A cell wall-localized NLR confers resistance to Soybean mosaic virus by recognizing viral-encoded cylindrical inclusion protein.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) causes severe yield losses and seed quality reduction in soybean (Glycine max) production worldwide. Rsc4 from cultivar Dabaima is a dominant genetic locus for SMV resistance, and its mapping interval contains three nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) candidates (Rsc4-1, Rsc4-2, and Rsc4-3). The NLR-type resistant proteins were considered as important intracellular pathogen sensors in the previous studies. In this study, based on transient expression assay in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, we found that the longest transcript of Rsc4-3 is sufficient to confer resistance to SMV, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of Rsc4-3 in resistant cultivar Dabaima compromised the resistance. Interestingly, Rsc4-3 encodes a cell-wall-localized NLR-type resistant protein. We found that the internal polypeptide region responsible for apoplastic targeting of Rsc4-3 and the putative palmitoylation sites on the N terminus are essential for the resistance. Furthermore, we showed that viral-encoded cylindrical inclusion (CI) protein partially localizes to the cell wall and can interact with Rsc4-3. Virus-driven or transient expression of CI protein of avirulent SMV strains is enough to induce resistance response in the presence of Rsc4-3, suggesting that CI is the avirulent gene for Rsc4-3-mediated resistance. Taken together, our work identified a unique NLR that recognizes plant virus in the apoplast, and provided a simple and effective method for identifying resistant genes against SMV infection.

Irradiated whole-cell vaccine suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth in mice via Th9 cells.

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors with no available satisfactory treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect of an irradiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) whole-cell vaccine and its underlying mechanisms. Hepa1-6 and H22 HCC cell lines were irradiated in preparation for whole-cell vaccine production. Subsequently, two HCC tumor-bearing mouse models were created by injecting these Hepa1-6 and H22 cells into the abdominal skin of C57BL/6 and ICR mice, respectively. The mice were immunized with the corresponding whole-cell vaccine the next day, and then once a week until the end of the experimental period. Tumor growth, blood T helper (Th)9 cells and plasma interleukin (IL)-9 levels were monitored during the immunization period. Th9 cells were also induced by in vitro co-culture of the whole-cell vaccine with lymphocytes from the spleen and lymph nodes of the corresponding mice. Alterations of gene expression in transcription factor (TF) were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and Th9 cells were detected using flow cytometry. The whole-cell vaccine effectively suppressed HCC tumor growth, as indicated by slower tumor growth and a smaller tumor size in the immunized group compared with the control. The percentage of blood Th9 cells and the concentration of plasma IL-9 were significantly increased in the immunized group. The whole-cell vaccine also induced Th9 cell differentiation and upregulated the expression of TFs PU.1, interferon regulatory factor 4 and basic leucine zipper transcriptional factor ATF-like. These results suggest that the irradiated HCC whole-cell vaccine inhibited tumor growth by increasing Th9 cell numbers in HCC mice.

Microencapsulation of tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol using polystyrene shell for self-healing materials.

The self-healing function of the polymer material has been realized by the microencapsulation technology of the healing agent. A novel microcapsule contained tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP-30) with polystyrene as shell material was prepared via solvent evaporation technique in a W/O/W emulsion. Two key strategies were implemented to prepare the microcapsules successfully. First, a small amount of deionized water was added into DMP-30 to form a complex, and a stable W/O emulsion was successfully prepared. The second one is to form a stable W/O/W emulsion system with the high viscosity aqueous solution added with Arabia gum and surfactants as the third phase. In addition, the influencing factors of microcapsules preparation were investigated systematically. The chemical structure of DMP-30 microcapsule was investigated by Fourier transform infrared. The morphology and shell thickness of the microcapsules were observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The reactivity of the core material was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal properties of microcapsules were studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The environmental resistance of microcapsules was verified by the isothermal aging test. Results showed that DMP-30 was successfully coated by polystyrene and the microcapsule size was in the range of 2-40 µm. The synthesized microcapsules were thermally stable below 50 °C.

Hypofractionated Irradiation Suppressed the Off-Target Mouse Hepatocarcinoma Growth by Inhibiting Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell-Mediated Immune Suppression.

Background: Stereotactic radiotherapy treats hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at different stages effectively and safely. Besides its direct killing of cancer cells, radiotherapy stimulates host immunity against hepatoma. However, the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in on-target and off-target anti-HCC effects induced by hypofractionated irradiation (IR) is unclear. Methods and Materials: Hepa1-6 and H22 allogeneic transplanted tumors on hind limbs of C57BL/6 and Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice, respectively, were irradiated with 0, 2.5, 4, 6, or 8 Gy/fraction until the total dose reached 40 Gy. The off-target effect induced by the IR was investigated by subsequently inoculating the same HCC cells subcutaneously on the abdomen. MDSCs in peripheral blood and tumor tissues were measured by flow cytometry or immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. IL-6, regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in irradiated mouse plasma and hepatoma cell cultures were measured with ELISA kits. Conditioned media (CM) from irradiated HCC cell cultures on bone marrow cell differentiation and MDSC proliferation were examined by co-culture and flow cytometry. Results: Our study showed that the IR of primarily inoculated HCC on hind limbs created an "in situ tumor vaccine" and triggered the antitumor immunity. The immunity was capable of suppressing the growth of the same type of HCC subcutaneously implanted on the abdomen, accompanied with reduced MDSCs in both blood and tumors. The decreased MDSCs were associated with low plasma levels of IL-6, RANTES, and G-CSF. The cytokines IL-6 and RANTES in the CM were lower in the high single IR dose group than in the control groups, but G-CSF was higher. The CM from high single-dose IR-Hepa1-6 cell culture reduced the differentiation of C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow cells into MDSCs, whereas CM from high single-dose IR-H22 cells reduced the proliferation of MDSCs, which might be due to the decreased p-STAT3 in bone marrow cells. Conclusions: The hypofractionated IR on transplanted tumors at the primary location exerted a strong antitumor effect on the same tumor at a different location (off target). This abscopal effect is most likely through the reduction of MDSCs and decrease of IL-6, RANTES, and G-CSF.

Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months. The concentrations of micronutrients, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected both at baseline and at the end of the study. RESULTS: The changes in concentrations of serum folate (21.1±1.6 vs 0.6±0.5 nmol/L), vitamin B-1 (3.4±0.4 vs -0.2±0.3 nmol/L), vitamin B-2 (11.5±3.3 vs 2.3±1.4 nmol/L), vitamin B-12 (128.8±34.8 vs 13.3±16.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (17.8±1.3 vs -0.8±0.5 ng/mL) and plasma zinc (0.6±1.8 vs -9.6±1.9 µmol/L) over 3-months were significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). While the prevalence of folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D deficiencies were significantly decreased after 3-months intervention (all p<0.05). Moreover, changes in serum MDA level (-1.5±0.2 vs 0.2±0.3 nmol/mL) were remarkably reduced, and the activities of serum GSH-Px (1.3±0.3 vs 0.3±0.2 ng/mL) and plasma SOD (14.3±2.4 vs -2.1±2.4 U/mL) were increased in the intervention group than those of in the control group (all p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The micronutrient pack among institutional older adults was well-accepted with good compliance and tolerance. The 3-month intervention may improve micronutrient status and enhance antioxidative capacities.

Antibacterial Nanorods Made of Carbon Quantum Dots-ZnO Under Visible Light Irradiation.

Due to secondary pollution from bactericidal substances, the importance of eliminating microbial contamination has become a controversial topic. Three antibacterial nanorod materials of carbon quantum dots-zinc oxide (1/3CQDs-ZnO, CQDs-ZnO, and 2CQDs-ZnO), in which ZnO nanorods are surrounded by carbon quantum dots (CQDs), were successful prepared via in-situ sol-gel chemistry. Antibacterial nanorods of CQDs-ZnO had strong antibacterial activity under visible light irradiation, and a concentration of 0.1 mg/L was able to kill more than 96% of bacteria. The photocatalytic antibacterial mechanism was also studied. CQDs-ZnO produced more than three times the free radicals than pure ZnO under visible light irradiation. These free radicals destroyed the bacterial matrix of the cell wall and released cell proteins and nucleic acids. Moreover, CQDs-ZnO showed low cytotoxicity and can be used in medical applications.

Electroacupuncture for Postoperative Urinary Retention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aimed at summarizing and evaluating the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which used electroacupuncture (EA) to treat postoperative urinary retention (PUR). METHODS: We searched thirteen databases electronically through April 2018 without language restrictions. We included RCTs of women with PUR; other types of urinary retention or not-RCTs were excluded. Two independent reviewers extracted studies' characteristics, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data were pooled and expressed as standard mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes and odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous outcomes, with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: We found very low to moderate level of evidence that effects of less than or equal to a week were statistically significant: therapeutic effect improved (OR=4.21; 95%CI [3.04, 5.83]; P<0.00001), residual urine volume decreased (SMD=-13.24; 95%CI [-15.70, -10.78]; P<0.00001), bladder capacity increased (SMD=0.56; 95%CI [0.30, 0.83]; P<0.0001), and urinary flow rate improved (SMD=0.91; 95%CI [0.64, 1.18]; P<0.00001). Effect over a week was statistically significant as well. Therapeutic effect improved (OR=8.29; 95%CI [2.91, 24.25]; P<0.0001), residual urine volume decreased (SMD=-1.78; 95%CI [-2.66, -0.89]; P<0.0001), bladder capacity (SMD=0.92; 95%CI [0.61, 1.23]; P<0.00001) and urinary flow rate (SMD=1.69; 95%CI [0.59, 2.79]; P=0.003) increased, and first urination after surgery was earlier (SMD=-0.92; 95%CI [-1.37, -0.46]; P<0.0001), compared with physical exercise, medication, or no treatment. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of EA on key outcomes in women with PUR are statistically significant, but the level of most evidence was very low or low. More large-scale, long-term RCTs with rigorous methodological quality are needed.