Fungal biomineralization of toxic metals accelerates organic pollutant removal.

Fungal biomineralization plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of metals in the environment and has been extensively explored for bioremediation and element biorecovery. However, the cellular and metabolic responses of fungi in the presence of toxic metals during biomineralization and their impact on organic matter transformations are unclear. This is an important question because co-contamination by toxic metals and organic pollutants is a common phenomenon in the natural environment. In this research, the biomineralization process and oxidative stress response of the geoactive soil fungus Aspergillus niger were investigated in the presence of toxic metals (Co, Cu, Mn, and Fe) and the azo dye orange II (AO II). We have found that the co-existence of toxic metals and AO II not only enhanced the fungal biomineralization of toxic metals but also accelerated the removal of AO II. We hypothesize that the fungus and in situ mycogenic biominerals (toxic metal oxalates) constituted a quasi-bioreactor, where the biominerals removed organic pollutants by catalyzing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation resulting from oxidative stress. We have therefore demonstrated that a fungal/biomineral system can successfully achieve the goal of toxic metal immobilization and organic pollutant decomposition. Such findings inform the potential development of fungal-biomineral hybrid systems for mixed pollutant bioremediation as well as provide further understanding of fungal organic-inorganic pollutant transformations in the environment and their importance in biogeochemical cycles.

Efferocytosis: Current status and future prospects in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Billions of apoptotic cells are swiftly removed from the human body daily. This clearance process is regulated by efferocytosis, an active anti-inflammatory process during which phagocytes engulf and remove apoptotic cells. However, impaired clearance of apoptotic cells is associated with the development of various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search of relevant studies published from January 1, 2000, to the present, focusing on efferocytosis, autoimmune disease pathogenesis, regulatory mechanisms governing efferocytosis, and potential treatments targeting this process. Our review highlights the key molecules involved in different stages of efferocytosis-namely, the "find me," "eat me," and "engulf and digest" phases-while elucidating their relevance to autoimmune disease pathology. Furthermore, we explore the therapeutic potential of modulating efferocytosis to restore immune homeostasis and mitigate autoimmune responses. By providing theoretical underpinnings for the targeting of efferocytosis in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, this review contributes to the advancement of therapeutic strategies in this field.

Macrophage-derived mir-100-5p orchestrates synovial proliferation and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis through mTOR signaling.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by synovial inflammation, causing substantial disability and reducing life quality. While macrophages are widely appreciated as a master regulator in the inflammatory response of RA, the precise mechanisms underlying the regulation of proliferation and inflammation in RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) remain elusive. Here, we provide extensive evidence to demonstrate that macrophage contributes to RA microenvironment remodeling by extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and downstream miR-100-5p/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis. RESULTS: We showed that bone marrow derived macrophage (BMDM) derived-sEVs (BMDM-sEVs) from collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice (cBMDM-sEVs) exhibited a notable increase in abundance compared with BMDM-sEVs from normal mice (nBMDM-sEVs). cBMDM-sEVs induced significant RA-FLS proliferation and potent inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, decreased levels of miR-100-5p were detected in cBMDM-sEVs compared with nBMDM-sEVs. miR-100-5p overexpression ameliorated RA-FLS proliferation and inflammation by targeting the mTOR pathway. Partial attenuation of the inflammatory effects induced by cBMDM-sEVs on RA-FLS was achieved through the introduction of an overexpression of miR-100-5p. CONCLUSIONS: Our work reveals the critical role of macrophages in exacerbating RA by facilitating the transfer of miR-100-5p-deficient sEVs to RA-FLS, and sheds light on novel disease mechanisms and provides potential therapeutic targets for RA interventions.

Repurposed drug agomelatine is therapeutic against collagen-induced arthritis via iNOS targeting.

BACKGROUND: The most promising biologics tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors are effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in only 50-70 % of the cases; thus, new drugs targeting TNFα-mediated inflammation are required. METHODS: Firstly, the drugs that could inhibit FLS proliferation and TNFα induced inflammatory cytokine production were screened. Secondly, treatment effects of the identified drugs were screened in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Thirdly, the inhibitory effect of the identified drug, agomelatine (AOM), on TNFα induced inflammatory cytokine production and NF-κB activity were confirmed. Fourthly, bioinformatics was applied to predict the binding target of AOM and the binding was confirmed, and the already known inhibitor of target was used to test the treatment effect for CIA mouse model. Finally, the effect of AOM on signaling pathway was tested and on TNFα induced inflammatory cytokine production was observed after inhibiting the target. RESULTS: AOM effectively inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB activation, NF-κB p65 translocation, and inflammatory cytokines production in vitro and was therapeutic against CIA. The mechanistic study indicated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as the binding target of AOM. 1400 W, a known inhibitor of iNOS, could effectively treat CIA by decreasing iNOS activity and the levels of inflammatory cytokines. The inhibitory effect of AOM on TNFα-induced inflammation was further elucidated by 1400 W, or NF-κB p65 inhibitor JSH-23, indicating that AOM is therapeutic against CIA via iNOS/ERK/p65 signaling pathway after binding with iNOS. CONCLUSIONS: AOM is therapeutic against CIA via inhibition of the iNOS/ERK/p65 signaling pathway after binding with iNOS.

Soil Cd increased the leaf litter Cd remains of Solanum nigrum and Solanum lycopersicum.

Plant litter decomposition is a natural pathway of heavy metal cycling in soil ecosystems, but the dynamics of heavy metal release during litter decomposition are relatively poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of species, soil fauna and soil Cd addition on litter decomposition and Cd release dynamics. Therefore, we selected two plants, Solanum nigrum and S. lycopersicum with large differences in Cd accumulation capacity. First, they were enriched with Cd during the growing period and leaf litter was harvested after 6 months of pretreatment. Then, the decomposition of leaf litter was conducted with or without soil Cd and Eisenia fetida through lab pot tests. Our results showed that leaf litter Cd led to a significant decrease in litter decomposition rate (K value), with a maximum decrease of 32.1% in S. nigrum and 30.1% in S. lycopersicum. We observed that the presence of E. fetida significantly increased K value, but the effect was similar in the +leaf Cd treatment and the -leaf Cd treatment, both for S. nigrum and S. lycopersicum. Interestingly, the litter Cd concentration did not decrease during decomposition, but showed an increasing trend, especially for S. nigrum in the +soil Cd treatment. Moreover, the litter Cd remains was higher in the +soil Cd treatment compared to the -soil Cd treatment for both S. nigrum and S. lycopersicum, no matter whether with or without E. fetida. This result suggests that the Cd may be transferred from soil to litter, thus increasing the litter Cd remains. Overall, our study shows that leaf litter Cd slowed down the carbon cycling in ecosystems. In addition, the release of litter Cd has a lag, and the litter has a certain adsorption capacity for soil Cd, which intensifies the harm to the ecology during litter transfer.

Interleukin-18 Gene Polymorphisms and Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

This study systematically analyzes the association between interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. The electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Excerpta Medica Database, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify meta-analyses that included case-control studies reporting IL-18 gene polymorphisms and RA susceptibility. Data were reanalyzed using Review Manager Software 5.1, and Mantel-Haenszel random effects were applied for the five genetic models: allelic, recessive, dominant, homozygote, and heterozygote. The effect size of odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of seven meta-analyses with poor quality were included. The IL-18 polymorphisms -607 A/C, -137 C/G, -920 T/C, and -105 C/A have been reported. With weak evidence, IL-18 -607 A/C polymorphisms were associated with a reduced risk of RA susceptibility using the allele model (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61 - 0.93, p=0.01), dominant model (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.90, p=0.008), homozygote model (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35 - 0.91, p=0.02), and heterozygote model (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54 - 0.93, p=0.01) in the overall population. IL-18 gene polymorphisms and RA susceptibility are affected by ethnicity: With weak evidence, IL-18 -137 C/G polymorphisms were related to reduce RA susceptibility in the Asian population (allele model: OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.40 - 0.88, p=0.01; dominant model: OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.89, p=0.01; heterozygote model: OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38 - 0.94, p=0.03). IL-18 -607 A/C gene polymorphisms are a protective factor for RA susceptibility in the overall population, and IL-18 -137 C/G gene polymorphisms are a protective factor for RA susceptibility in the Asian population. Further studies are needed to confirm these results owing to the limitations of the included studies.

One-step synthesis of Pt-Nd co-doped Ti/SnO2-Sb nanosphere electrodes used to degrade nitrobenzene.

Ti/SnO2-Sb electrodes possess high catalytic activity and efficiently degrade nitrobenzene (NB); however, their low service life limits their wide application. In this study, we used one-step hydrothermal synthesis to successfully prepare Pt-Nd co-doped Ti/SnO2-Sb nanosphere electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to characterize the surface morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition of the electrodes, respectively. The electrochemical activity and stability of the electrodes were characterized via linear sweep and cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and an accelerated service life test; their performance for NB degradation was also studied. An appropriate amount of Pt-Nd co-doping refined the average grain size of SnO2 and formed a uniform and compact coating on the electrode surface. The oxygen evolution potential, total voltammetric charge, and electron transfer resistance of the Ti/SnO2-Sb-Nd-Pt electrodes were 1.88 V, 3.77 mC/cm2, and 11.50 Ω, respectively. Hydroxy radical was the main active radical species during the electrolytic degradation of nitrobenzene with Ti/SnO2-Sb-Nd-Pt. After Pt-Nd co-doping, the accelerated service life of the electrodes was extended from 8.0 min to 78.2 h (500 mA/cm2); although the NB degradation rate decreased from 94.1 to 80.6%, the total amount of theoretical catalytic degradation of NB in the effective working time increased from 17.4 to 8754.1 mg/cm2. These findings reveal good application potential for the electrodes and provide a reference for developing efficient and stable electrode materials.

Targeting glycolytic pathway in fibroblast-like synoviocytes for rheumatoid arthritis therapy: challenges and opportunities.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by hyperplastic synovium, pannus formation, immune cell infiltration, and potential articular cartilage damage. Notably, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), especially rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLS), exhibit specific overexpression of glycolytic enzymes, resulting in heightened glycolysis. This elevated glycolysis serves to generate ATP and plays a pivotal role in immune regulation, angiogenesis, and adaptation to hypoxia. Key glycolytic enzymes, such as hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructose-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), significantly contribute to the pathogenic behavior of RAFLS. This increased glycolysis activity is regulated by various signaling pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant studies published from January 1, 2010, to the present, focusing on RAFLS glycolysis, RA pathogenesis, glycolytic regulation pathways, and small-molecule drugs targeting glycolysis. CONCLUSION: This review provides a thorough exploration of the pathological and physiological characteristics of three crucial glycolytic enzymes in RA. It delves into their putative regulatory mechanisms, shedding light on their significance in RAFLS. Furthermore, the review offers an up-to-date overview of emerging small-molecule candidate drugs designed to target these glycolytic enzymes and the upstream signaling pathways that regulate them. By enhancing our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of RA and highlighting the pivotal role of glycolytic enzymes, this study contributes to the development of innovative anti-rheumatic therapies.

Does genotypic diversity of Hydrocotyle vulgaris affect CO2 and CH4 fluxes?

Biodiversity plays important roles in ecosystem functions and genetic diversity is a key component of biodiversity. While effects of genetic diversity on ecosystem functions have been extensively documented, no study has tested how genetic diversity of plants influences greenhouse gas fluxes from plant-soil systems. We assembled experimental populations consisting of 1, 4 or 8 genotypes of the clonal plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris in microcosms, and measured fluxes of CO2 and CH4 from the microcosms. The fluxes of CO2 and CO2 equivalent from the microcosms with the 1-genotype populations of H. vulgaris were significantly lower than those with the 4- and 8-genotype populations, and such an effect increased significantly with increasing the growth period. The cumulative CO2 flux was significantly negatively related to the growth of the H. vulgaris populations. However, genotypic diversity did not significantly affect the flux of CH4. We conclude that genotypic diversity of plant populations can influence CO2 flux from plant-soil systems. The findings highlight the importance of genetic diversity in regulating greenhouse gas fluxes.

Sonoprocessing improves phenolics profile, antioxidant capacity, structure, and product qualities of purple corn pericarp extract.

For the first time, purple corn pericarp (PCP) was converted to polyphenol-rich extract using two-pot ultrasound extraction technique. According to Plackett-Burman design (PBD), the significant extraction factors were ethanol concentration, extraction time, temperature, and ultrasonic amplitude that affected total anthocyanins (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and condensed tannins (CT). These parameters were further optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) method for response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM showed a linear curvature for TAC and a quadratic curvature for TPC and CT with a lack of fit > 0.05. Under the optimum conditions (ethanol (50%, v/v), time (21 min), temperature (28 °C), and ultrasonic amplitude (50%)), a maximum TAC, TPC, and CT of 34.99 g cyanidin/kg, 121.26 g GAE/kg, and 260.59 of EE/kg, respectively were obtained with a desirability value 0.952. Comparing UAE to microwave extraction (MAE), it was found that although UAE had a lower extraction yield, TAC, TPC, and CT, the UAE gave a higher individual anthocyanin, flavonoid, phenolic acid profile, and antioxidant activity. The UAE took 21 min, whereas MAE took 30 min for maximum extraction. Regarding product qualities, UAE extract was superior, with a lower total color change (ΔE) and a higher chromaticity. Structural characterization using SEM showed that MAE extract had severe creases and ruptures, whereas UAE extract had less noticeable alterations and was attested by an optical profilometer. This shows that ultrasound, might be used to extract phenolics from PCP as it requires lesser time and improves phenolics, structure, and product qualities.

Lignin-containing Nanocellulose for in situ Chemical-Free Synthesis of AgAu-based Nanoparticles with Potent Antibacterial Activities.

Lignin-containing nanocelluloses (LNCs) have the properties of both lignin and nanocellulose and could overcome the limits of both individual components in metallic nanoparticle synthesis. However, studies on LNCs are still limited, and the potential of such nanomaterials for metallic nanoparticle synthesis has not been fully unraveled. In this study, monometallic silver, gold nanoparticles, and Ag-Au-AgCl nanohybrids were synthesized in situ utilizing LNCs in a chemical-free approach. The parameters, including Ag+ and Au3+ concentrations as well as [Au3+]/[Ag+] ratios, were investigated for their effects on the nanoparticle synthesis. The characterizations, including UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirmed the coexistence of Ag, Au, and AgCl while indicating the key role of lignin and oxygen-containing functional groups in the nanoparticle synthesis. The as-synthesized AgNPs-, AuNPs-, and nanohybrids-LNC samples were tested for their antibacterial activities. In comparison to the monometallic AgNPs-LNC sample, nanohybrids-LNC synthesized with 0.063 mM Au3+ loading showed superior antibacterial activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) at 5 µg/mL against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and 10 µg/mL against Gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium with controlled Ag+ release. The results indicated that LNCs can be used to synthesize metallic nanoparticles, and the resultant Ag-Au-AgCl nanohybrids were a potent antibacterial agent with reduced environmental impacts.

High lignin-containing nanocelluloses prepared via TEMPO-mediated oxidation and polyethylenimine functionalization for antioxidant and antibacterial applications.

Lignin-containing nanocelluloses (LNCs) have attracted tremendous research interest in recent years due to less complex extraction processes and more abundant functionality compared to lignin-free nanocelluloses. On the other hand, traditional defibrillation primarily based on bleached pulp would not be readily applied to lignin-containing pulps due to their complex compositions. This study was focused on LNC extraction from lignin-containing pulp via 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. Three types of switchgrass pulp with varying composition were prepared using different acid-catalyzed pretreatments. The pulps contained as high as 45.76% lignin but minor/no hemicellulose, corresponding to up to 23.72% lignin removal and 63.75-100% hemicellulose removal. TEMPO-mediated oxidation yielded 52.9-81.9% LNCs from respective pulps. The as-produced LNCs possessed aspect ratios as high as 416.5, and carboxyl contents of 0.442-0.743 mmol g-1 along with ζ-potential of -50.4 to -38.3 mV. The TEMPO-oxidized LNCs were further modified by polyethylenimine (PEI), which endowed the LNCs with positive charges plus antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Specifically, the PEI-modified LNCs almost fully scavenged 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radicals at 50 mg L-1 and suppressed the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus at 250 µg mL-1.

Epidemiological analysis of septic shock in the plateau region of China.

Purpose: Little epidemiological data exist on patients with severe infection in the plateau region of China, and the data that do exist are lacking in quality. Using the medical records of patients with severe infection in the Department of Intensive Medicine (intensive care unit; ICU) of the People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, this study analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with septic shock in plateau area (Tibet), with the ultimate aim of reducing the incidence and mortality from this condition. Methods: Clinical data on 137 patients with septic shock in the studied ICU from November 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed using SPSS, Version 21.0. Results: Among the 137 patients with septic shock, there were 47 survivors and 90 in-hospital or post-discharge deaths. There were 91 male patients and 46 female patients. The incidence of septic shock was 11.3%, and mortality rate was 65.7%. Median age was 55 years old, median APACHE-II score on the day of admission was 17, median SOFA score was 11, and median number of organ injuries was one. APACHE-II score (P = 0.02), SOFA score (P < 0.001), and the number of organ injuries (P < 0.001) were higher among patients who died than among survivors. The infections were mainly pulmonary and abdominal, and the main pathogen was gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: The incidence and mortality of septic shock in ICU wards in Tibet are very high. The APACHE-II score, SOFA score, and the number of organ damage on the first day after diagnosis are independent risk factors for septic shock. To some extent, this study reflects the epidemiological characteristics of septic shock in the plateau region of China (≥ 3,650 m above sea level) and provides data that can support the prevention and treatment of sepsis in the future. More and deeper epidemiological studies of septic shock are necessary.

Preliminary Functional Outcome Following Robotic Intracorporeal Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder Suspension with Round Ligaments in Women with Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Chronic urinary retention (CUR) is a frequent complication after orthotopic neobladder (ONB) reconstruction in women. To decrease CUR, several open surgical modifications to provide back support to the ONB have been established on the basis of pelvic anatomical differences between females and males. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate our technique for robotic intracorporeal reconfiguration of ONB as integrated into our open surgical approach to provide back support to the ONB with round ligaments in women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: From November 2017 to April 2021, 28 patients underwent robotic intracorporeal ONB with a minimum of 6 mo of follow-up at a single centre. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: We performed robotic radical cystectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and a complete intracorporeal ONB suspended with round ligaments (rONB). Our surgical procedure is demonstrated in the accompanying video. MEASUREMENTS: Demographics and clinical and pathological data were collected. Perioperative and 90-d complications and 6-mo functional outcomes were compared for the rONB group (n = 12) and the patients receiving a traditional ONB (tONB; n = 16). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The median total operative time was 305 min (interquartile range [IQR] 270-370) for tONB and 303 min (IQR 287-330) for rONB. The median estimated blood loss was 325 ml (IQR 200-700) for tONB and 350 ml (IQR 262-600) for rONB. Some 50% of the tONB group and 41.7% of the rONB group experienced low-grade complications. A total of 12.5% tONB and 8.3% rONB patients experienced high-grade complications with neobladder-vaginal fistula. The cumulative risk of CUR was 37.5% in the tONB group and 16.7% in the rONB group. This study is limited by the small sample size and the short follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: We established a feasible surgical technique for a robotic intracorporeal ONB configuration suspended with round ligaments. This may prevent the occurrence of emptying dysfunction in women. PATIENT SUMMARY: We describe our stepwise technique for creating a new bladder within the body that is suspended with round ligaments. Patients undergoing removal of the bladder for bladder cancer may benefit from this technique in terms of better urinary function and the advantages of a robotic surgical approach.

High-throughput mapping of a whole rhesus monkey brain at micrometer resolution.

Whole-brain mesoscale mapping in primates has been hindered by large brain sizes and the relatively low throughput of available microscopy methods. Here, we present an approach that combines primate-optimized tissue sectioning and clearing with ultrahigh-speed fluorescence microscopy implementing improved volumetric imaging with synchronized on-the-fly-scan and readout technique, and is capable of completing whole-brain imaging of a rhesus monkey at 1 × 1 × 2.5 µm3 voxel resolution within 100 h. We also developed a highly efficient method for long-range tracing of sparse axonal fibers in datasets numbering hundreds of terabytes. This pipeline, which we call serial sectioning and clearing, three-dimensional microscopy with semiautomated reconstruction and tracing (SMART), enables effective connectome-scale mapping of large primate brains. With SMART, we were able to construct a cortical projection map of the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus and identify distinct turning and routing patterns of individual axons in the cortical folds while approaching their arborization destinations.

Biochar addition affects root morphology and nitrogen uptake capacity in common reed (Phragmites australis).

Nitrogen (N) is a key factor that limits plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystems, and biochar reportedly improves soil characteristics and grain yields. However, the effects of biochar on plant N uptake in wetland ecosystems and the underlying mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. Therefore, our study sought to characterise the effects of biochar addition on Phragmites australis N absorption rates at two different N deposition conditions [30 and 60 kg N hm-2 yr-1; i.e., "low" and "high" N treatments, respectively]. Our results demonstrated that biochar significantly promoted root biomass growth in P. australis in the high N treatment group. In contrast, the low N treatment group exhibited an increased proportion of fine roots and a decrease in the average P. australis root diameter. The N absorption rate of P. australis in the low N treatment group significantly increased with biochar addition and ammonium N became the preferred N source. The absorption rates of both ammonium and nitrate N were negatively correlated with the average P. australis root diameter. Therefore, our findings indicate that biochar may affect the N uptake strategy of P. australis by altering root morphogenesis, thereby providing new insights into potential restoration strategies for wetland vegetation.

Biochar-compost addition benefits Phragmites australis growth and soil property in coastal wetlands.

Salinity stress is common for plants growing in coastal wetlands. The addition of biochar in the soil may alleviate the negative effect of salinity through its unique physicochemical properties. To test this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment where the cosmopolitan wetland plant Phragmites australis was subjected to four salinity treatments (0, 5, 10 and 15‰) and three biochar treatments (no biochar addition, with biochar addition and with biochar-compost addition, both biochar and compost were made from P. australis) in a factorial design. Both biochar addition and biochar-compost addition to the substrate enhanced belowground mass of P. australis, application of biochar-compost significantly increased total mass by 35.5% and net photosynthesis rate of P. australis by 51.4%. Both biochar addition and biochar-compost addition significantly increased soil organic carbon content by 62.9% and 31.7%, respectively, but decreased soil ammonium nitrogen content. In the saline soil, application of the mixture of biochar-compost had a strong, and positive effect on the growth of P. australis, compared to biochar alone. Therefore, incorporation of biochar and compost might be an appropriate approach to improve the productivity of P. australis growing in coastal wetlands, where soil salinity is a common environmental stress.

Biochar rhizosphere addition promoted Phragmites australis growth and changed soil properties in the Yellow River Delta.

Biochar addition can enhance plant growth and change soil physicochemical properties in saline soil. However, it is unclear whether the positioning of biochar additions (e.g., rhizosphere addition and surface addition) alters such impacts and whether such positioning effects interact with salinity levels. In the Yellow River Delta, China, we carried out a field experiment in which biochar was not added (control) or was added to the soil surface (surface addition) or to the soil at the rhizosphere position (rhizosphere addition) of Phragmites australis in three sites with different salt levels (1‰ - low, 5‰ - medium and 10‰ - high). Rhizosphere addition of biochar significantly improved the growth of P. australis, especially its fine root mass. Both rhizosphere addition and surface addition of biochar significantly decreased nitrate nitrogen content and electrical conductivity, and the inhibitory effects were more effective at the sites with medium and high salt levels in 2018. Structural equation modeling showed that biochar addition could directly increase the fine root mass of P. australis by decreasing the soil electrical conductivity, further improving the total mass of P. australis. Overall, rhizosphere addition of biochar is a better choice for improving the productivity of P. australis in saline soil and is beneficial to P. australis wetland restoration in the Yellow River Delta. Long-term field research is needed to better understand the effect and mechanism of biochar application.

Protective Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Acute Sepsis-Induced Liver Injury in BALB/c Mice.

Sepsis increases the risk of the liver injury development. According to the research works, coenzyme Q10 exhibits hepatoprotective properties in vivo as well as in vitro. Current work aimed at investigating the protective impacts of coenzyme Q10 against liver injury in septic BALB/c mice. The male BALB/c mice were randomly segregated into 4 groups: the control group, the coenzyme Q10 treatment group, the puncture and cecal ligation group, and the coenzyme Q10+cecal ligation and puncture group. Cecal ligation and puncture was conducted after gavagaging the mice with coenzyme Q10 during two weeks. Following 48 h postcecal ligation and puncture, we estimated hepatic biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in hepatic tissue. We evaluated the expression of factors associated with autophagy, pyroptosis, and inflammation. Findings indicated that coenzyme Q10 decreased the plasma levels in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in the cecal ligation and puncture group. Coenzyme Q10 significantly inhibited the elevation of sequestosome-1, interleukin-1ß, oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 and nucleotide-binding, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α expression levels; coenzyme Q10 also increased beclin 1 levels. Coenzyme Q10 might be a significant agent in the treatment of liver injury induced by sepsis.

Fungal bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals.

Much research has been carried out on the bacterial bioremediation of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals but much less is known about the potential of fungi in sites that are co-contaminated with both classes of pollutants. This article documents the roles of fungi in soil polluted with both petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals as well as the mechanisms involved in the biotransformation of such substances. Soil characteristics (e.g., structural components, pH, and temperature) and intracellular or excreted extracellular enzymes and metabolites are crucial factors which affect the efficiency of combined pollutant transformations. At present, bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals is mostly focused on the removal, detoxification, or degradation efficiency of single or composite pollutants of each type. Little research has been carried out on the metabolism of fungi in response to complex pollutant stress. To overcome current bottlenecks in understanding fungal bioremediation, the potential of new approaches, e.g., gradient diffusion film technology (DGT) and metabolomics, is also discussed. KEY POINTS: • Fungi play important roles in soil co-contaminated with TPH and toxic metals. • Soil characteristics, enzymes, and metabolites are major factors in bioremediation. • DGT and metabolomics can be applied to overcome current bottlenecks.