Enhanced degradation of enrofloxacin in mariculture wastewater based on marine bacteria and microbial carrier.

This study aimed to isolate marine bacteria to investigate their stress response, inhibition mechanisms, and degradation processes under high-load conditions of salinity and enrofloxacin (ENR). The results demonstrated that marine bacteria exhibited efficient pollutant removal efficiency even under high ENR stress (up to 10 mg/L), with chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and ENR removal efficiencies reaching approximately 88%, 83%, 61%, and 73%, respectively. The predominant families of marine bacteria were Bacillaceae (50.46%), Alcanivoracaceae (32.30%), and Rhodobacteraceae (13.36%). They responded to ENR removal by altering cell membrane properties, stimulating the activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant systems, and mitigating ENR stress through the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The marine bacteria exhibited robust adaptability to environmental factors and effective detoxification of ENR, simultaneously removing carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and antibiotics from the wastewater. The attapulgite carrier enhanced the bacteria's resistance to the environment. When treating actual mariculture wastewater, the removal efficiencies of COD and TN exceeded 80%, TP removal efficiency exceeded 90%, and ENR removal efficiency approached 100%, significantly higher than reported values in similar salinity reactors. Combining the constructed physical and mathematical models of tolerant bacterial, this study will promote the practical implementation of marine bacterial-based biotechnologies in high-loading saline wastewater treatment.

Association of HBeAg decline rate from mid-pregnancy to delivery with HBeAg seroconversion after delivery in hepatitis B virus-infected mothers.

There is still controversy about whether to continue antiviral therapy (AVT) after delivery, especially for pregnant women in the immune tolerance (IT) phase. In this study, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore the relationship between hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) decline rate (%) from mid-pregnancy to delivery and HBeAg seroconversion postpartum among patients using nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), with the goal of identifying the ideal candidates for postpartum AVT continuation. This retrospective cohort study included 151 postpartum women. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between the HBeAg decline rate (%) from mid-pregnancy to delivery and HBeAg seroconversion postpartum. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was utilized to evaluate the predictive capacity of the HBeAg decline rate (%) and determine the optimal cut-off point. The univariate analysis revealed a significant association between the HBeAg decline rate (%) and HBeAg seroconversion postpartum (OR 1.068, 95% CI: 1.034-1.103, p < .001). In the multivariate regression analysis, adjusting for age, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titre (log10 IU/mL) at mid-pregnancy, HBeAg titre (log10 S/CO) at mid-pregnancy, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load decline rate (%) from mid-pregnancy to delivery, the HBeAg decline rate(%) remained significantly associated with HBeAg seroconversion postpartum (OR 1.050, 95% CI: 1.015-1.093, p = .009). Then HBeAg decline rate (%) was treated as a categorical variable (tertiles) for sensitivity analysis. In the three distinct models, taking Tertile1 as a reference, women in Tertile3 still had a 4.201-fold (OR 4.201, 95% CI: 1.382-12.773, p = .011) higher risk of developing HBeAg seroconversion (p for trend <.05) after adjusting above covariates. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.723 (95% CI: 0.627-0.819). The optimal cut-off value was 5.43%, with a sensitivity of 0.561, specificity of 0.791, and Youden's index of 0.352.A higher HBeAg decline rate (%) from mid-pregnancy to delivery independently correlated with an increased risk of HBeAg seroconversion postpartum. This decline rate can serve as a valuable clinical indicator for predicting HBeAg seroconversion.

Rhizospheric microbiota of suppressive soil protect plants against Fusarium solani infection.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium infection has caused huge economic losses in many crops. The study aimed to compare the microbial community of suppressive and conducive soils and relate to the reduction of Fusarium wilt. RESULTS: High-throughput sequencing and microbial network analysis were used to investigate the differences in the rhizosphere microbiota of the suppressive and conducive soils and to identify the beneficial keystone taxa. Plant pathogens were enriched in the conducive soil. Potential plant-beneficial microorganisms and antagonistic microorganisms were enriched in the suppressive soil. More positive interactions and keystone taxa existed in the suppressive soil network. Thirty-nine and 16 keystone taxa were identified in the suppressive and conducive soil networks, respectively. Sixteen fungal strains and 168 bacterial strains were isolated from suppressive soil, some of which exhibited plant growth-promotion traits. Thirty-nine bacterial strains and 10 fungal strains showed antagonistic activity against F. solani. Keystone taxa Bacillus and Trichoderma exhibited high antifungal activity. Lipopeptides produced by Bacillus sp. RB150 and chitinase from Trichoderma spp. inhibited the growth of F. solani. Microbial consortium I (Bacillus sp. RB150, Pseudomonas sp. RB70 and Trichoderma asperellum RF10) and II (Bacillus sp. RB196, Bacillus sp. RB150 and T. asperellum RF10) effectively controlled root rot disease, the spore number of F. solani was reduced by 94.2% and 83.3%. CONCLUSION: Rhizospheric microbiota of suppressive soil protects plants against F. solani infection. Antagonistic microorganisms in suppressive soil inhibit pathogen growth and infection. Microbial consortia consisted of keystone taxa well control root rot disease. These findings help control Fusarium wilt. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Global research on RNA vaccines for COVID-19 from 2019 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Since the global pandemic of COVID-19 has broken out, thousands of pieces of literature on COVID-19 RNA vaccines have been published in various journals. The overall measurement and analysis of RNA vaccines for COVID-19, with the help of sophisticated mathematical tools, could provide deep insights into global research performance and the collaborative architectural structure within the scientific community of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In this bibliometric analysis, we aim to determine the extent of the scientific output related to COVID-19 RNA vaccines between 2019 and 2023. Methods: We applied the Bibliometrix R package for comprehensive science mapping analysis of extensive bibliographic metadata retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. On January 11th, 2024, the Web of Science database was searched for COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related publications using predetermined search keywords with specific restrictions. Bradford's law was applied to evaluate the core journals in this field. The data was analyzed with various bibliometric indicators using the Bibliometrix R package. Results: The final analysis included 2962 publications published between 2020 and 2023 while there is no related publication in 2019. The most productive year was 2022. The most relevant leading authors in terms of publications were Ugur Sahin and Pei-Yong, Shi, who had the highest total citations in this field. The core journals were Vaccines, Frontiers in Immunology, and Viruses-Basel. The most frequently used author's keywords were COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and vaccine. Recent COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related topics included mental health, COVID-19 vaccines in humans, people, and the pandemic. Harvard University was the top-ranked institution. The leading country in terms of publications, citations, corresponding author country, and international collaboration was the United States. The United States had the most robust collaboration with China. Conclusion: The research hotspots include COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic in people. We identified international collaboration and research expenditure strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine research productivity. Researchers' collaboration among developed countries should be extended to low-income countries to expand COVID-19 vaccine-related research and understanding.

Wild Bird-Origin H6N2 Influenza Virus Acquires Enhanced Pathogenicity after Single Passage in Mice.

The H6 subtype of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has emerged as one of the predominant subtypes in both wild and domestic avian species. Currently, H6 AIVs have acquired the ability to infect a wide range of mammals, though the related molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully investigated. In this study, a wild bird-origin H6N2 AIV was isolated from the East Asian-Australasian migratory flyway region located in Liaoning Province. This H6N2 virus initially expressed limited replication in mice. However, after one passage in mice, the virus acquired two mutations, PB2 E627K and HA A110V. The mutant displayed enhanced replication both in vitro and in vivo, proving lethal to mice. But the mutant retained the α-2, 3-linked sialic acid binding property and failed to transmit in guinea pigs. We explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity difference between the wild type and the mutant. Our findings revealed that PB2 E627K dramatically enhanced the polymerase activity of the H6N2 virus, while the HA A110V mutation decreased the pH of HA activation. This study demonstrated that the H6N2 subtype wild bird-origin AIV easily acquired the mammalian adaptation. The monitoring and evaluation of H6 wild bird-origin AIV should be strengthened.

Evolutionary Events Promoted Polymerase Activity of H13N8 Avian Influenza Virus.

Wild birds are considered to be the natural reservoir hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Wild bird-origin AIVs may spill over into new hosts and overcome species barriers after evolutionary adaptation. H13N8 AIVs used to be considered primarily circulated in multispecies gulls but have recently been shown to possess cross-species infectivity. In this study, we analyzed the genetic changes that occurred in the process of the evolution of H13 AIVs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that H13 AIVs underwent complex reassortment events. Based on the full genomic diversity, we divided H13 AIVs into 81 genotypes. Reassortment experiments indicated that basic polymerase 2 (PB2) and nucleoprotein (NP) genes of the H9N2 AIV significantly enhanced the polymerase activity of the H13N8 AIV. Using the replication-incompetent virus screening system, we identified two mutations, PB2-I76T and PB2-I559T, which could enhance the polymerase activity of the H13N8 AIV in mammalian cells. Notably, these mutations had been acquired by circulating H13N8 AIVs in 2015. These findings suggest that H13N8 AIVs are about to cross the host barrier. Occasional genetic reassortments with other AIVs and natural mutation events could promote this process. It is imperative to intensify monitoring efforts for H13N8 AIVs.

Platelet-derived microparticles adoptively transfer integrin ß3 to promote antitumor effect of tumor-infiltrating T cells.

Approximately two-thirds of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered a "cold tumor" characterized by few tumor-infiltrating T cells and an abundance of immunosuppressive cells. Cilengitide, an integrin αvß3 inhibitor, has failed in clinical trials as a potential anticancer drug. This failure implies that integrin αvß3 may play an important role in immune cells. However, the expression and potential role of integrin αvß3 in T cells of HCC patients remain unknown. Here, we established two HCC models and found that cilengitide had a dual effect on the HCC microenvironment by exerting both antitumor effect and immunosuppressive effect on T cells. This may partly explain the failure of cilengitide in clinical trials. In clinical specimens, HCC-infiltrating T cells exhibited deficient expression and activation of integrin ß3, which was associated with poor T-cell infiltration into tumors. Additionally, integrin ß3 functioned as a positive immunomodulatory molecule to facilitate T-cell infiltration and T helper 1-type immune response in vitro. Furthermore, T cells and platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) co-culture assay revealed that PMPs adoptively transferred integrin ß3 to T cells and positively regulated T cell immune response. This process was mediated by clathrin-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Our data demonstrate that integrin ß3 deficiency on HCC-infiltrating T cells may be involved in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. PMPs transfer integrin ß3 to T cells and positively regulate T cell immune response, which may provide a new insight into immune therapy of HCC.

Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway Attenuates Acute Liver Failure Through Inhibiting MAdCAM1/α4ß7-mediated Gut-derived Proinflammatory Lymphocytes Accumulation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The function of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) in acute liver failure (ALF) with inflammatory storm remains indefinite. The liver-gut axis has been proved to be crucial for liver homeostasis. Investigation about CAP regulation on liver-gut axis would enrich our understanding over cholinergic anti-inflammatory mechanism. METHODS: Co-injection of lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine was used to establish the model of ALF. PNU-282987 was used to activate the CAP. Histological staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, RNA sequencing, and flow cytometry were conducted. Liver biopsy specimens and patients' serum from patients with liver failure were also analyzed. RESULTS: We confirmed that activating the CAP alleviated hepatocyte destruction, accompanied by a significant decrease in hepatocyte apoptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Moreover, hepatic MAdCAM1 and serum MAdCAM1 levels were induced in ALF, and MAdCAM1 levels were positively correlated with the extent of liver damage and the expression of pro-inflammatory markers. Furthermore, activating the CAP mainly downregulated ectopic expression of MAdCAM1 on endothelial cells, and inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation was partly attributed to the decreased MAdCAM1. Notably, in ALF, the aberrant hepatic expression of MAdCAM1 subsequently recruited gut-derived α4ß7+ CD4+T cells to the liver, which exhibited an augmented IFN-γ-secreting and IL-17-producing phenotype. Finally, we revealed that the levels of serum and hepatic MAdCAM1 were elevated in patients with liver failure and closely correlated with clinical course. Increasing hepatic infiltration of ß7+ cells were also confirmed in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Activating the CAP attenuated liver injury by inhibiting MAdCAM1/α4ß7 -mediated gut-derived proinflammatory lymphocytes infiltration, which provides a potential therapeutic target for ALF.

Treatment with ß-Adrenoceptor Agonist Isoproterenol Reduces Non-parenchymal Cell Responses in LPS/D-GalN-Induced Liver Injury.

There is an increasing evidence indicating the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in liver disease development. To achieve an extensive comprehension of the obscure process by which the SNS alleviates inflammatory damage in non-parenchymal liver cells (NPCs) during acute liver failure (ALF), we employ isoproterenol (ISO), a beta-adrenoceptor agonist, to mimic SNS signaling. ISO was administered to C57BL/6J mice to establish an acute liver failure (ALF) model using LPS/D-GalN, which was defined as ISO + ALF. Non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) were isolated from liver tissues and digested for tandem mass tag (TMT) labeled proteomics to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The administration of ISO resulted in a decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g., TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in ALF mice, which alleviated liver damage. By using TMT analysis, it was possible to identify 1587 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in isolated NPCs. Notably, over 60% of the DEPs in the ISO + ALF vs. ALF comparison were shared in the Con vs. ALF comparison. According to enrichment analysis, the DEPs influenced by ISO in ALF mice were linked to biological functions of heme and fatty acid metabolism, interferon gamma response, TNFA signaling pathway, and mitochondrial oxidation function. Protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated Mapk14 and Caspase3 may serve as potentially valuable indicators of ISO intervention. In addition, the markers on activated macrophages, such as Mapk14, Casp1, Casp8, and Mrc1, were identified downregulated after ISO initiation. ISO treatment increased the abundance of anti-inflammatory markers in mouse macrophages, as evidenced by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) slides showing an increase in Arg + staining and a reduction in iNOS + staining. Furthermore, pretreatment with ISO also resulted in a reduction of LPS-stimulated inflammation signaling markers, Mapk14 and NF-κB, in human THP-1 cells. Prior treatment with ISO may have the potential to modify the biological functions of NPCs and could serve as an innovative pharmacotherapy for delaying the pathogenesis and progression of ALF.

Hafnium (Hf)-Chelating Porphyrin-Decorated Gold Nanosensitizers for Enhanced Radio-Radiodynamic Therapy of Colon Carcinoma.

X-ray-induced radiodynamic therapy (RDT) that can significantly reduce radiation dose with an improved anticancer effect has emerged as an attractive and promising therapeutic modality for tumors. However, it is highly significant to develop safe and efficient radiosensitizing agents for tumor radiation therapy. Herein, we present a smart nanotheranostic system FA-Au-CH that consists of gold nanoradiosensitizers, photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6), and folic acid (FA) as a folate-receptor-targeting ligand for improved tumor specificity. FA-Au-CH nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be able to simultaneously serve as radiosensitizers and RDT agents for enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging-guided radiotherapy (RT) of colon carcinoma, owing to the strong X-ray attenuation capability of high-Z elements Au and Hf, as well as the characteristics of Hf that can transfer radiation energy to Ce6 to generate ROS from Ce6 under X-ray irradiation. The integration of RT and RDT in this study demonstrates great efficacy and offers a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of malignant tumors.

Light-initiated aggregation of gold nanoparticles for synergistic chemo-photothermal tumor therapy.

The combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted extensive attention due to its excellent synergetic effect attributing to the fact that hyperthermia can effectively promote the tumor uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs. Herein, we propose a light-initiated gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregation boosting the uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs for enhanced chemo-photothermal tumor therapy. Novel light-responsive AuNPs (tm-AuNPs) were rationally designed and fabricated by conjugating both 2,5-diphenyltetrazole (Tz) and methacrylic acid (Ma) onto the surface of AuNPs with small size (∼20 nm). Upon the irradiation of 405 nm laser, AuNPs could be initiated to form aggregates specifically within tumors through the covalent cycloaddition reaction between Tz and Ma. Taking advantage of the controllable photothermal effect of Au aggregates under NIR excitation, improved enrichment of doxorubicin (DOX) in tumor tissues was realized, combined with PTT, resulting in outstanding synergetic anti-tumor efficacy in living mice. We thus believe that this light-initiated AuNP aggregation approach would offer a valuable and powerful tool for precisely synergistic chemo-photothermal tumor therapy.

Emergence of a novel reassortant H3N6 canine influenza virus.

Although the natural hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are wild birds, multiple subtypes of AIVs have established epidemics in numerous mammals due to their cross-species spillover. Replication and evolution in intermedia mammalian hosts may facilitate AIV adaptation in humans. Because of their large population and intimacy with humans, dogs could act as such an intermedia host. To monitor the epidemiology of canine influenza viruses (CIVs) in Liaoning, China, we performed three surveillances in November 2018, March 2019, and April 2019. Five H3N2 and seven novel H3N6 CIVs had been isolated. Since the N6 neuraminidase (NA) genes were clustered with the H5N6 AIV, there is a high possibility that these H3N6 CIVs were generated from a H3N2 CIVs and H5N6 AIVs reassortment case. In addition, the H3N6 CIV showed increased mammalian adaptation ability compared to all the H3N2 strains in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Even though isolated 3 months later, the March 2019 isolated H3N2 viruses replicated more efficiently than the November 2018 isolated viruses. Our study indicated that H3 CIVs were undergoing an evolution process, through both genetic mutations and gene reassortment, at an incredible speed.

Application of nematicide avermectin enriched antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in farmland soil.

The extensive use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture has resulted in the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environments, which threaten human health and contaminate environment. Nematicide avermectin is widely applied to control root-knot nematodes. The effect of five-years application of avermectin on rhizosphere microbiome and resistome of sick tobacco plants in farmland were investigated in present study. The environmental risks of avermectin was assessed adequately. Metagenomic method was used to analyze antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in the avermectin-treated soil. The abundance and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes were affected by avermectin application. The antibiotic resistant Proteobacteria occupied the highest percentage (36%) in rhizosphere soil and carried 530 ARGs. Opportunistic human pathogens carrying antibiotic resistance genes were enriched in the avermectin-treated soil. Avermectin application increased the counts of many types of antibiotic resistance genes. The relative abundances of genes adeF, BahA, fusH, ileS, and tlrB in the avermectin-treated soil were significantly greater than in the untreated control soil. Different resistance mechanisms were revealed in the avermectin-treated soil. The efflux of antibiotic (670 ARGs), inactivation of antibiotic (475 ARGs), and alteration of antibiotic target (267 ARGs) were the main resistance mechanisms. Rigid control the avermectin dose and use frequency and other pesticides can decrease soil antibiotic resistance genes and protect agricultural products' safety and public health. Overall, application of nematicide avermectin enriched antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in farmland soil, which should be on the alert for environment protection.

NIR Light-Mediated Mitochondrial RNA Modification for Cancer RNA Interference Therapeutics.

Mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) plays a critical role in synthesis of mitochondrial proteins. Interfering mtRNA is a highly effective way to induce cell apoptosis. Herein, we report a near-infrared (NIR) light-mediated mitochondrial RNA modification approach for long-term imaging and effective suppression of tumors. A tumor-targetable NIR fluorescent probe f-CRI consisting of a cyclic RGD peptide, a NIR fluorophore IR780, and a singlet oxygen (1 O2 )-labile furan group for RNA modification was rationally designed and synthesized. This probe was demonstrated to dominantly accumulate in cellular mitochondria and could be covalently conjugated onto mtRNA upon 808 nm irradiation resulting in prolonged retention in tumors. More notably, this covalent modification of mtRNA by f-CRI could perturb the function of mitochondria leading to remarkable tumor suppression. We thus envision that our current approach would offer a potential approach for cancer RNA interference therapeutics.

Humoral responses after primary and booster SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: A longitudinal observational study.

Given the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variants, booster vaccination (BV) using inactivated virus vaccines (the third dose) has been implemented in China. However, the immune responses after BV, especially those against Omicron, in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB) are unclear. In this prospective longitudinal study, 114 patients with CHB and 68 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited after receiving inactivated vaccination. The anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG), neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), neutralization against Omicron (BA2.12.1, BA.4/5), and specific B/T cells were evaluated. In patients, anti-RBD IgG was elevated significantly after BV; the titers were as high as those in HCs. Similar results were obtained for the NAbs. However, compared with that against wild type (WT), the neutralization against Omicron was compromised after BV. The frequency of RBD+ atypical memory B cells increased, but spike-specific cluster of differentiation 4+ /8+ T cells remained unchanged after BV. Moreover, no serious adverse events or HBV reactivation were observed after BV. These results suggest that BV significantly enhanced antibody responses against WT; however, it resulted in compromised antibody responses against Omicron in patients with CHB. Hence, new all-in-one vaccines and optimal vaccination strategies should be studied promptly.

Adsorption and immobilization of phosphorus from eutrophic seawater and sediment using attapulgite - Behavior and mechanism.

The adsorption behavior of phosphorus on raw sediment (RS), attapulgite (AT), purified attapulgite (PAT) and AT/PAT-amended sediments conforms to the Langmuir, pseudo first-order kinetics and liquid film diffusion model. The adsorption process is spontaneous and monolayer adsorption, and the adsorption rate is mainly controlled by liquid film diffusion. The addition of attapulgite improved the adsorption capacity of phosphorus in the sediments of mariculture ponds. The results of long-term sediment core incubation showed that the average reduction rates of total phosphorus (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in overlying water and SRP in pore water by adding 20% purified attapulgite (S/PAT20) were 62.11%, 70.83% and 56.32% respectively, and the phosphorus flux in sediments decreased by 53.81%. The addition of attapulgite reduces the risk of phosphorus release in sediments, and changes sediments from "source" to "pool". The specific surface area and pore volume of PAT increased to 203.254 cm2/g and 0.395 cm3/g respectively, but the phosphorus adsorption capacity was only increased by 2 times compared with AT (1431.3-2671.8 mg P/kg), indicating that the changes of mineral structure and chemical composition jointly determine the phosphorus adsorption effect. Adsorption mechanisms include physical adsorption, surface chemical precipitation, ligand effects, electrostatic attraction and ion exchange. Therefore, seeking modification methods with low energy consumption, low production cost, no damage to rod crystal, expansion of pore volume, increase of hydroxyl and other functional groups, and great retention of effective components are issues that need to be considered to improve the phosphorus adsorption capacity of attapulgite.

Efficacy and safety of long-term postpartum antiviral therapy in hepatitis B virus-infected mothers receiving prophylactic tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term postpartum tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected mothers with high viral load. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, HBV-infected mothers with HBV DNA>2 × 10 5 IU/mL who initiated TDF prophylaxis treatment during pregnancy were divided into TDF continuation and discontinuation groups according to whether they stopped TDF treatment within 3 months after birth or not. Virological and biochemical markers were collected before TDF treatment, antepartum and postpartum. RESULTS: In 131 women followed for a median of 18 months postpartum, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) abnormality rate was significantly lower in TDF continuation group vs. discontinuation group (39.4% vs. 56.9%, P = 0.045), and continuous TDF therapy in postpartum was independently associated with lower risk of ALT flares [OR = 0.308, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.128-0.742; P = 0.009]. Long-term postpartum TDF treatment can promote the decline of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) levels, but the HBeAg seroconversion rate in two groups was not significant (15.5% vs. 11.7%, P = 0.541). There were no statistical differences in bone metabolism markers between two groups ( P > 0.05). Compared with the TDF discontinuation group, TDF continuation group had a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate level and higher creatinine level in postpartum but within normal ranges ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For pregnant women who received prophylactic TDF treatment, long-term TDF therapy continued in postpartum can reduce the risk of ALT flares and promote the rapid decline of HBeAg and HBsAg levels.

A Meta-Analytic Review of the Impact of Child Maltreatment on Self-Esteem: 1981 to 2021.

An increasing number of studies have examined the relationship between child maltreatment and self-esteem. In this study, we assess the magnitude of this association through a meta-analytic approach. Four English databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Web of Science), three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Weipu), and grey literature were systematically searched. A total of 254 independent studies, including 550 effect sizes, met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Child maltreatment was significantly and negatively associated with self-esteem (PCC¯ = -0.24, p < .001); emotional abuse and neglect were associated with decreased self-esteem (PCC¯ = -0.23, p < .01; PCC¯ = -0.22, p < .01, respectively) at a moderate level; and physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect were negatively associated with self-esteem (PCC¯ = -0.14, p < .01; PCC¯ = -0.14, p < .01; PCC¯ = -0.17, p < .001, respectively) at a small level. Furthermore, the meta-regression results suggested that the aggregated associations between child maltreatment and self-esteem were not inflated by publication bias, but they were moderated by age and culture. General and subtypes of child maltreatment are associated with decreased self-esteem. Evidence-based and culturally sensitive child maltreatment prevention and intervention programs should be developed and implemented as early as possible.

Associates of Perceived Quality of Life in Chinese Older Adults Living with Cognitive Impairment.

The aim of this study is to examine perceived quality of life in Chinese older adults living with cognitive impairment and explore its associations with caregivers' characteristics. Questionnaires were administered in person to 271 caregiver-care recipient dyads from urban communities in mainland China in 2019. We used the 40-item Alzheimer's Disease-related Quality of Life tool and asked caregiver respondents to indicate care recipients' life conditions. The questionnaire asked caregivers about their sociodemographic characteristics, levels of informal social support, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms. Caregivers' higher levels of caregiver burden (ß = > -0.19, p < .01) and depressive symptoms (ß = > -0.19, p < .01) amongst caregivers were significantly associated with lower quality of life among care recipients. Informal support from relatives and friends to caregivers did not significantly affect quality of life of care recipients. The results suggested that reducing caregivers' burden and depressive symptoms are essential to promote quality of life of care recipients. Formal support from health professionals, service organizations, and communities are urgently called to promote the wellbeing of Chinese families affected by cognitive impairment.

Non-photosynthetic chemoautotrophic CO2 assimilation microorganisms carbon fixation efficiency and control factors in deep-sea hydrothermal vent.

Non-photosynthetic chemoautotrophic microorganisms in deep-sea hydrothermal vent can obtain energy by oxidation reducing substances and synthesize CO2 into organic carbon, and the development and utilization of microbial resources in this environment for CO2 fixation under ordinary environmental conditions is of great significance to understand the carbon cycle and microbial carbon fixation in deep-sea hydrothermal vent. In this study, a set of spiral-stirred bioreactor (SSB) was developed to cultivate a group of non-photosynthetic chemoautotrophic CO2 assimilation microorganisms (NPCAM), mainly Sphingomonadaceae (unclassified, the mean of which was 31.16 %), from deep-sea hydrothermal vent sediments, which have the characteristics of halophilic, acid-base and heavy metal resistant. The maximum carbon fixation efficiency (calculated by CO2) was 6.209 mg·CO2/(L·h) after 96 h of incubation in the presence of mixed electron donors (MEDs, 0.46 % NaNO2, 0.50 % Na2S2O3 and 1.25 % Na2S, w/v), mixed inorganic carbon sources (CO2, Na2CO3 and NaHCO3) and aerobic conditions. The detection of NPCAM synthetic organic fraction in SSB system, the study of single bacteria culturability and carbon fixation efficiency, the analysis of CO2 fixation pathway and the development of coupled carbon fixation technology are the prospective works that need to be further developed.