Screening of differentially expressed genes related to severe sepsis induced by multiple trauma with DNA microarray.

OBJECTIVES: Severe sepsis after trauma still associated with a high mortality rate in intensive care units (ICU). In this study we aimed to identify genes related to multiple trauma complicated by severe sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The gene expression profile dataset GSE12624 including 36 samples of traumatic patients not complicated by sepsis and 34 traumatic patients complicated by sepsis was downloaded from GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database. The limma package in R was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these two groups of samples. All the DEGs were divided into up- and down-regulation groups according to the changes of their expression value, which were then subjected to GO enrichment analysis. Two genes with largest changes among the up- and down-regulation groups were selected. Interaction networks based on these two genes were constructed using HitPredict software and then pathway enrichment analysis for the networks were performed by WebGestalt software. RESULTS: A total of 21 up-regulated genes and 37 down-regulated genes were obtained, which were mainly related to GO terms "endopeptidase inhibitor activity" and "response to wounding", respectively. The |logFC| of genes PLAU (urokinase-type plasminogen activator) and MMP8 (matrix metalloproteinase-8) ranked first in down-regulated or up-regulated list. There were 18 genes which can interact with PLAU at a high degree of confidence while there were 5 genes with MMP8. Further analysis showed that PLAU was closely associated with the pathway "complement and coagulation cascades". CONCLUSIONS: PLAU and MMP8 may act as potential targets for diagnosis and therapy of trauma complicated by sepsis.

Cadmium and other metal uptake by Lobelia chinensis and Solanum nigrum from contaminated soils.

Cadmium concentrations in two plant species and their corresponding soils were evaluated in a metal contaminated area. The average Cd concentrations reached 36.9 and 141 mg kg(-1) in Solanum nigrum leaves and Lobelia chinensis shoots, respectively. There is a significant relationship between the Cd concentration in the aerial tissues and the corresponding soils on a logarithmic scale. Under the hydroponic culture conditions, the maximum Cd concentration in the S. nigrum leaves and L. chinensis shoots were 1,110 and 414 mg kg(-1), respectively. Cd concentration was higher in the roots than in the aerial parts. The two plants may be used in suitable phytoremediation process.

Comparative studies of copper tolerance and uptake by three plant species of the genus elsholtzia.

Solution culture experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of excessive Cu on the seed germination and growth of three plant species of the genus Elsholtzia (Elsholtzia haichowensis, Elsholtzia aypriani and Elsholtzia ciliata), and to compare Cu uptake and tolerance mechanisms of the three plants. The results showed that E. haichowensis had higher tolerance to excessive Cu than E. aypriani and E. ciliata, and that the adaptive Cu tolerance mechanism in E. haichowensis might involve the active participation of proteins.

Multivariate statistical study of heavy metal enrichment in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary.

The concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in the sediment cores of the Pearl River Estuary were studied. Based on Pearson correlation coefficients and principal component analysis results, Al was selected as the concentration normalizer for Pb, while Fe was used as the normalizing element for Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In each profile, sections with metal concentrations exceeding the upper 95% prediction interval of the linear regression model were regarded as metal enrichment layers. The heavy metal accumulation mainly occurred at sites in the western shallow water areas and east channel, which reflected the hydraulic conditions and influence from riparian anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals in the enrichment sections were evaluated by a sequential extraction method for possible chemical forms in sediments. Since the residual, Fe/Mn oxides and organic/sulfide fractions were dominant geochemical phases in the enriched sections, the bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments was generally low. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the metal-enriched sediment sections also revealed the influence of anthropogenic sources. The spatial distribution of cumulative heavy metals in the sediments suggested that the Zn and Cu mainly originated from point sources, while the Pb probably came from non-point sources in the estuary.

Effects of pig manure and wheat straw on growth of mung bean seedlings grown in aluminium toxicity soil.

Crop production in red soil areas may be limited by Al toxicity. A possible alternative to ameliorate Al toxicity is the application of such organic manure as crop straw and animal manure. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of organic materials on the alleviation of Al toxicity in acid red soil. Ground wheat straw, pig manure or CaCO3 were mixed with the soil and incubated, at 85% of water holding capacity and 25 degrees C, for 8 weeks. After the incubation, 14 seedlings of mung bean (Phaseolus aures Roxb) were allowed to grow for 12 days. Results showed that application of organic material or CaCO3 increased soil pH and decreased soil monomeric inorganic Al concentrations. Growth of mung bean seedling was improved sustantially by the application of organic material or CaCO3. Pig manure or wheat straw was more effective in ameliorating Al toxicity than was CaCO3. Mung bean plants receiving pig manure or wheat straw contained relatively high concentrations of P, Ca and K in their leaves. It is suggested that the beneficial effect of organic manure on mung bean is likely due to decreasing concentrations of monomeric inorganic Al concentrations in soil solution and improvement of mineral nutrition.

Chemical methods and phytoremediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals.

The effects of chemical amendments (calcium carbonate (CC), steel sludge (SS) and furnace slag (FS)) on the growth and uptake of cadmium (Cd) by wetland rice, Chinese cabbage and wheat grown in a red soil contaminated with Cd were investigated using a pot experiment. The phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil with vetiver grass was also studied in a field plot experiment. Results showed that treatments with CC, SS and FS decreased Cd uptake by wetland rice, Chinese cabbage and wheat by 23-95% compared with the unamended control. Among the three amendments, FS was the most efficient at suppressing Cd uptake by the plants, probably due to its higher content of available silicon (Si). The concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and Cd in the shoots of vetiver grass were 42-67%, 500-1200% and 120-260% higher in contaminated plots than in control, respectively. Cadmium accumulation by vetiver shoots was 218 g Cd/ha at a soil Cd concentration of 0.33 mg Cd/kg. It is suggested that heavy metal-contaminated soil could be remediated with a combination of chemical treatments and plants.

Nucleophilic reactions between biological conjugates and tetraalkylammonium ion pair reagents during desorption chemical ionization.

Tetraalkylammonium salts, commonly used as ion pair reagents in chromatography, were found to react with biological conjugates under desorption chemical ionization conditions in a mass spectrometer. The reactions occur for aromatic glucuronide and glucoside conjugates using solid samples loaded on the direct exposure probe. Evidence is presented that several mechanisms contribute to the degradative alkylation of benzo(a)pyrene glucuronide. This undesirable process can be prevented by using ammonium or trialkylammonium instead of tetraalkylammonium salts in the chromatographic separation. Nucleophilic attack on the tetraalkylammonium cations in the energized condensed phase was found to occur also for some simpler aromatic compounds.