ABSTRACT
The use of human and veterinary drugs has led to the accumulation of pharmaceuticals in various aquatic environments at progressively increasing levels, exhibiting strong ecological risks. Metformin is widely used as a first-line prescription drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as a livestock drug. Unlike other drugs, metformin is not metabolized in the body, and almost all of its intake is excreted and released into the aquatic environment via urine and feces, causing adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. This review provides an overview of the occurrence and detection of metformin in the aquatic environment and its toxic effects on different aquatic organisms (fish, daphnia, rotifers, chlorella). Metformin has been documented in a variety of aqueous environments such as wastewater, surface water, and groundwater as well as drinking water. The wide distribution of metformin in the aqueous environment calls for the development of more accurate detection methods. This paper reviews detection methods for metformin in the aqueous environment and evaluates their advantages and disadvantages. Toxicity studies have shown that metformin can cause adverse reactions in fish, such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, disruption of intestinal flora, and morphological alterations; it also affects the growth and reproduction of small aquatic organisms. Knowledge gaps in the field of metformin research were assessed, and future research priorities were identified.
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To objectively quantify changes in steroid hormones in organisms caused by adverse environmental loads, we developed a simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry) method for the simultaneous determination of 18 steroid hormones on the HPG axis. This analytical method was based on liquid extraction and a multimode electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (ESCi) source, which was optimized by mass spectrometry, liquid phase and pretreatment for the quantification of cholesterol (CH), aldosterone (A), cortisone (E), hydrocortisone (F), 21-deoxycortisol (21-DF), corticosterone (B), 11-deoxycortisol (11-DF), androstenedione (A2), estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeE2), 21-hydroxyprogesterone (21-OHP), 17-α hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone (P4), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and pregnenolone (P5). The method exhibits linearity in the analyte-concentration range 0.03-1000 µg mL-1 (r2 > 0.99), the spiked recoveries for the concentration range tested are 76.22-113.66%, and the relevant parameters of precision are 7.52-1.14%. Compared to other methods, this new method not only uses a small amount of serum (only 100 µL), but also permits the analysis of the challenging steroid, cholesterol. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the determination of steroids in Mus musculus, Carassius auratus, Rana catesbeiana Shaw, and Rana nigromaculata serum samples from randomly selected individuals. Therefore, this method is efficient and a very useful tool for assessing changes in steroid hormones.
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Equine influenza (EI) is a severe infectious disease that causes huge economic losses to the horse industry. Spatial epidemiology technology can explore the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and occurrence risks of infectious diseases, it has played an important role in the prevention and control of major infectious diseases in humans and animals. For the first time, this study conducted a systematic analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of EI using SaTScan software and investigated the important environmental variables and suitable areas for EI occurrence using the Maxent model. A total of 517 occurrences of EI from 2005 to 2022 were evaluated, and 14 significant spatiotemporal clusters were identified. Furthermore, a Maxent model was successfully established with high prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.920 ± 0.008). The results indicated that annual average ultraviolet radiation, horse density, and precipitation of the coldest quarter were the three most important environmental variables affecting EI occurrence. The suitable areas for EI occurrence are widely distributed across all continents, especially in Asia (India, Mongolia, and China) and the Americas (Brazil, Uruguay, USA, and Mexico). In the future, these suitable areas will expand and move eastward. The largest expansion is predicted under SSP126 scenarios, while the opposite trend will be observed under SSP585 scenarios. This study presents the spatial epidemiological characteristics of EI for the first time. The results could provide valuable scientific insights that can effectively inform prevention and control strategies in regions at risk of EI worldwide.
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Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are crucial for the detoxification of xenobiotics, cellular metabolism, and homeostasis. This study investigated the molecular characterization of CYP enzymes in the black-spotted frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, and examined the regulation of CYP expression in response to chronic exposure to the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at various environmental concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/L). The full-length cDNA of Pn-CYP26B1 was identified. The sequence included open reading frames of 1,536 bp, encoding proteins comprising 511 amino acids. The signature motif, FxxGxxxCxG, was highly conserved when compared with a number of selected animal species. SMX significantly upregulated the expression of the protein CYP26B1 in frog livers at concentrations of 1 and 10 µg/L. SMX showed an affinity for CYP26B1 of -7.6 kcal/mol, indicating a potential mechanism for SMX detoxification or adaptation of the frog. These findings contributed to our understanding of the environmental impact of antibiotics on amphibian species and underscored the importance of CYP enzymes in maintaining biochemical homeostasis under exposure to xenobiotic stress.
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BACKGROUND: Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a diagnostic tool used for screening, localizing, and staging prostate cancer. Patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 1 and 2 are considered negative mpMRI, with a lower likelihood of detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, relying solely on mpMRI is insufficient to completely exclude csPCa, necessitating further stratification of csPCa patients using biomarkers. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on mpMRI-negative patients who underwent prostate biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2022 to June 2023. A total of 607 patients were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for diagnosing csPCa in patients with negative mpMRI. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to compare the discriminatory ability of different Prostate-Specific Antigen Density (PSAD) cutoff values for csPCa. RESULTS: Among the 607 patients with negative mpMRI, 73 patients were diagnosed with csPCa. In univariate logistic regression analysis, age, PSA, f/tPSA, prostate volume, and PSAD were all associated with diagnosing csPCa in patients with negative mpMRI (P < 0.05), with PSAD being the most accurate predictor. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, f/tPSA, age, and PSAD were independent predictors of csPCa (P < 0.05). PSAD cutoff value of 0.20 ng/ml/ml has better discriminatory ability for predicting csPCa and is a significant risk factor for csPCa in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Age, f/tPSA, and PSAD are independent predictors of diagnosing csPCa in patients with negative mpMRI. It is suggested that patients with negative mpMRI and PSAD less than 0.20 ng/ml/ml could avoid prostate biopsy, as a PSAD cutoff value of 0.20 ng/ml/ml has better diagnostic performance than the traditional cutoff value of 0.15 ng/ml/ml.
Subject(s)
Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatic Neoplasms , Humans , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Aged , Middle Aged , China/epidemiology , Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood , Risk Factors , Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Prognosis , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, High-Volume/statistics & numerical data , ROC CurveABSTRACT
Transformer oil, crucial for transformer and power system safety, demands effective monitoring. Aiming to address the problems of expensive and bulky equipment, poor real-time performance, and single parameter detection of traditional measurement methods, this study proposes a quartz tuning fork-based simultaneous measurement system for online monitoring of the density, viscosity, and dielectric constant of transformer oil. Based on the Butterworth-Van Dyke quartz tuning fork equivalent circuit model, a working mechanism of transformer oil density, viscosity, and dielectric constant was analyzed, and a measurement model for oil samples was obtained. A miniaturized simultaneous measurement system was designed based on a dedicated chip for vector current-voltage impedance analysis for data acquisition and a Savitzky-Golay filter for data filtering. A transformer oil test platform was built to verify the simultaneous measurement system. The results showed that the system has good repeatability, and the measurement errors of density, viscosity, and dielectric constant are lower than 2.00%, 5.50%, and 3.20%, respectively. The online and offline results showed that the system meets the requirements of the condition maintenance system for online monitoring accuracy and real-time detection.
ABSTRACT
Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has become a topic of public attention due to its pervasive detection in the environment and organisms in recent decades. However, limited information is available regarding the toxicity of TBBPA on reproductive ability of male mammals. Herein, the reproductive toxicity of TBBPA was investigated in male rats to fill the knowledge gap. In this study, male rats were exposed to TBBPA (0, 10, 100, and 1000â¯mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Subsequently, body and organ indexes, histopathological evaluation of testis and epididymis, ultrastructural observation of sperm, testosterone and progesterone levels, and oxidative stress indicators were conducted to reveal corresponding mechanisms. Results obtained showed that compare to the control group, the body weight, testes weight, epididymis weight, seminal vesicle and coagulation glands weight of rats in the 1000â¯mg/kg group lost 8.30%, 16.84%, 20.16%, 19.72% and 26.42%, respectively. Intriguingly, exposure to TBBPA (10, 100, 100â¯mg/kg) resulted in substantial pathological damage in testis, epididymis and sperm. TBBPA exposure also increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in testicular tissue. What's more, the testosterone and progesterone levels in male rat serum were significantly decreased after exposure to TBBPA for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, results of molecular docking showed that TBBPA has a strong affinity with estrogen receptors (ERs). These findings demonstrated that TBBPA exposure negatively impacts the reproductive ability of male rats, thus providing new insights for risk assessment for reproductive health under TBBPA exposure.
Subject(s)
Endocrine Disruptors , Oxidative Stress , Polybrominated Biphenyls , Progesterone , Testis , Testosterone , Animals , Male , Polybrominated Biphenyls/toxicity , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Testis/drug effects , Testis/pathology , Testis/metabolism , Rats , Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Testosterone/blood , Progesterone/blood , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Spermatozoa/pathology , Epididymis/drug effects , Epididymis/pathology , Epididymis/metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Organ Size/drug effects , Reproduction/drug effects , Molecular Docking Simulation , Dose-Response Relationship, DrugABSTRACT
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in ecological environments and have become a great issue of public health concern since the 1990 s. There is a deep scientific understanding of the toxicity of EDCs. However, recent studies have found that the abnormal physiological functions of the parents caused by EDCs could be transmitted to their unexposed offspring, leading to intergenerational toxicity. We questioned whether sustained epigenetic changes occur through the male germline. In this review, we (1) systematically searched the available research on the intergenerational impacts of EDCs in aquatic and mammal organisms, including 42 articles, (2) summarized the intergenerational genetic effects, such as decreased offspring survival, abnormal reproductive dysfunction, metabolic disorders, and behavioral abnormalities, (3) summarized the mechanisms of intergenerational toxicity through paternal interactions, and (4) propose suggestions on future research directions to develop a deeper understanding of the ecological risk of EDCs.
Subject(s)
Endocrine Disruptors , Epigenesis, Genetic , Paternal Exposure , Endocrine Disruptors/toxicity , Epigenesis, Genetic/drug effects , Paternal Exposure/adverse effects , Animals , Male , Humans , Reproduction/drug effects , Female , Environmental Pollutants/toxicityABSTRACT
Microorganisms are integral to freshwater ecological functions and, reciprocally, their activity and diversity are shaped by the ecosystem state. Yet, the diversity of bacterial community and its driving factors at a large scale remain elusive. To bridge this knowledge gap, we delved into an analysis of 16S RNA gene sequences extracted from 929 water samples across China. Our analyses revealed that inland water bacterial communities showed a weak latitudinal diversity gradient. We found 530 bacterial genera with high relative abundance of hgcI clade. Among them, 29 core bacterial genera were identified, that is strongly linked to mean annual temperature and nutrient loadings. We also detected a non-linear response of bacterial network complexity to the increasing of human pressure. Mantel analysis suggested that MAT, HPI and P loading were the major factors driving bacterial communities in inland waters. The map of taxa abundance showed that the abundant CL500-29 marine group in eastern and southern China indicated high eutrophication risk. Our findings enhance our understanding of the diversity and large-scale biogeographic pattern of bacterial communities of inland waters and have important implications for microbial ecology.
Subject(s)
Bacteria , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S , China , Bacteria/genetics , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/isolation & purification , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Biodiversity , Water Microbiology , Fresh Water/microbiologyABSTRACT
This study was aimed at determining the autophagy activity in the laminar tissue of dairy cows with oligofructose-induced laminitis. Twelve healthy non-pregnant Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups of six cows each, entitled the control group and the oligofructose overload group (OF group), respectively. At 0 h, cows in the OF group were gavaged with oligofructose (17 g/kg BW) dissolved in warm deionized water (20 mL/kg BW) through an oral rumen tube, and the dairy cows in the control group were gavaged with the same volume of deionized water by the same method. At -72 h before, as well as 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h after perfusion, clinical evaluations of both groups were monitored. After 72 h, the laminar tissues of the dairy cows in both groups were collected to examine the genes and proteins. The gene expression of ATG5, ATG12, and Beclin1 significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas that of P62 and mTOR significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the OF group relative to the control group. The protein expression of Beclin-1 significantly increased (p < 0.05), while that of LC3II significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the OF group relative to the control group. However, the protein expression of P62 non-significantly reduced (p > 0.05) in the OF group comparative to the control group. Furthermore, the distribution of the Beclin1 protein in the laminar tissue significantly increased (p < 0.01), while that of the P62 protein significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the OF group than the control group. These findings indicate that the imbalanced gene and protein-level status of autophagy-related markers may be the basic cause for the failure of the epidermal attachment. However, a more detailed gene and protein-level study is needed to further clarify the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of bovine laminitis.
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Algal cell proliferation has posed significant problems for traditional water treatment facilities; these problems are attributed to surface hydrophilicity and electrostatic repulsion. Biological aerated filters (BAFs) have been extensively used in wastewater treatment to remove pollutants such as algal cells by utilizing the adsorption and separation capabilities of the filter media. In this study, a BAF was supplemented with biological filter medium (Marchantia polymorpha) to assess its effectiveness of pretreating aquaculture wastewater. In terms of process performance, steady and consistent treatment was achieved by the BAF with M. polymorpha (BAF2) under an algal cell density as high as 1.65 × 108 cell/L, with average removal rates for NH4+-N and algae cells of 74.4% and 81.9%, respectively. The photosynthetic activity parameters (rETRmax, α, Fv/Fm, and Ik) of the influent and effluent were quantitatively assessed, and M. polymorpha was found to remove algae by disrupting the photosynthetic system of the algal cells. Furthermore, the addition of the M. polymorpha filter medium enhanced the community structure of the functional microbes in the BAF system. The highest microbial community richness and diversity were observed in the BAF2. Meanwhile, M. polymorpha promoted an increase in the abundance of denitrifying bacteria, including Bdellovibrio and Pseudomonas. Overall, this work offers a unique perspective on the aquaculture wastewater pretreatment process and BAF design.
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PURPOSE: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predict survival in response to different interventions in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. This study aimed to explore the dynamic change in CTCs during abiraterone plus prednisone therapy and its optimal threshold for prognostication in mCRPC patients. METHODS: CTCs in blood samples from mCRPC patients (N = 98) at baseline and in the 2nd month after abiraterone plus prednisone treatment initiation (M2) were enumerated by using the CellSearch System. RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 64.8% of mCRPC patients at baseline with a median value (interquartile range) of 2.0 (0.0-4.0). Elevated CTC count was related to visceral metastasis (P = 0.003), high alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.043), and high lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.007). Baseline CTC ≥ 1 (vs. < 1) was only associated with shortened radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) (P = 0.043); additionally, baseline CTC ≥ 5 (vs. < 5) was linked with unfavorable rPFS (P = 0.037) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.021). Following the therapy, CTCs were reduced at M2 (P < 0.001). Notably, CTC ≥ 1 (vs. < 1) (P = 0.002) and CTC ≥ 5 (vs. < 5) (P < 0.001) at M2 were related to shortened rPFS according to the KaplanâMeier curves, and they could independently estimate deteriorative rPFS in the multivariate Cox regression (P = 0.043 and P = 0.027, respectively). Similarly, CTC ≥ 1 (vs. < 1) (P = 0.022) and CTC ≥ 5 (vs. < 5) (P = 0.002) at M2 were related to shortened OS, whereas only CTC ≥ 5 (vs. < 5) could independently predict unfavorable OS (P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: CTC count ≥ 5 at M2 exhibits excellent prognostic value for abiraterone plus prednisone therapy in mCRPC patients.
Subject(s)
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Male , Humans , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/pathology , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology , Biomarkers, Tumor , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Disease-Free SurvivalABSTRACT
Environmental-friendly and efficient strategies for triclosan (TCS) removal have received more attention. Influenced by COVID-19, a large amount of TCS contaminants were accumulated in medical and domestic wastewater discharges. In this study, a unique g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 heterostructure was fabricated and optimized by a novel and simple method for superb photocatalytic dechlorination of TCS into 2-phenoxyphenol (2-PP) under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared samples were characterized and analyzed by XRD, BET, SEM, XPS, etc. The rationally designed g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 (4:6) catalyst exhibited notably photocatalytic activity in that more than 95.5% of TCS was transformed at 180 min, which was 3.6 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4 powder. This catalyst promotes efficient photocatalytic electron-hole separation for efficient dechlorination by photocatalytic reduction. The samples exhibited high recyclable ability and the dechlorination pathway was clear. The results of Density Functional Theory calculations displayed the TCS dechlorination selectivity has different mechanisms and hydrogen substitution may be more favorable than hydrogen abstraction in the TCS dechlorination hydrogen transfer process. This work will provide an experimental and theoretical basis for designing high-performance photocatalysts to construct the systems of efficient and safe visible photocatalytic reduction of aromatic chlorinated pollutants, such as TCS in dechlorinated waters.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Triclosan , Humans , Molybdenum/chemistry , HydrogenABSTRACT
Knowledge about the impact of singlet oxygen (1O2) on the characteristics and inactivation of harmful cyanobacterial organic matter is limited. In this study, the feasibility of using an improved single-iron doped graphite-like phase carbon nitride catalyst (FeCN) to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) catalytic production of 1O2 to inactivate four harmful cyanobacteria was investigated. The inactivation efficiencies at 30 min were 92.77%, 66.84%, 91.06%, and 93.45% for Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa), Nodularia harveyana, Oscillatoria sp., and Nostoc sp., respectively. This was associated with adjusting experimental parameters, such as the FeCN and PMS doses and initial pH, to obtain the maximum 1O2 yield. The quenching experiment results and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed that 1O2 generated via the non-radical pathway might play a dominant role in inactivating harmful cyanobacteria and degrading harmful algal toxins (Microcystin-LR and Nodularin). In addition, the FeCN-PMS system not only effectively destroyed the integrity of harmful cyanobacterial cells but also effectively degraded cyanobacterial toxins, thereby preventing severe secondary contamination by cell rupture. A possible removal mechanism was proposed. This reveals the potential of 1O2 to simultaneously inactivate harmful cyanobacteria and degrade harmful cyanobacterial toxins.
Subject(s)
Cyanobacteria , Graphite , Microcystis , Cyanobacteria Toxins , Iron , Microcystins , Nitrogen Compounds , Peroxides , Singlet OxygenABSTRACT
Efficient treatment of cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophication waters by safe and reliable nanomaterials is a big challenge for reducing environmental health risks. Herein, a novel strategy combining palladium clusters (Pdn) with g-C3N4 nanocomposite was presented to achieve high-efficient removal of Microcystis aeruginosa cells through coagulation and breakage. Interestingly, 95.17% of algal cells (initial concentration of 5.6 × 106 cells mL-1) were promptly removed in the Pd/g-C3N4 (5%) system within only 10 min and without visible light irradiation and persulfate activation. Both the release of potassium ion and microcystin during the removal process and the transmission electron microscope observations of Microcystis aeruginosa cells proved that the integrity of the algal cell membrane was destroyed. The removal of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) were further confirmed in the next process. Pd metal interaction and breakage against algal cells may cause disruption of algal cells. This study describes a novel technology for the superfast removal of harmful algae and may provide a new insight into the control of cyanobacterial blooms in practical applications.
Subject(s)
Microcystis , Nanostructures , Microcystis/metabolism , Palladium/metabolism , Microcystins/metabolism , Eutrophication , LightABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Difficult airway is a significant cause of anesthesia-associated death and disability. Currently, physical examinations of thyromental distance, mouth opening, Mafampaii classification, etc. combined with X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and other imaging technologies are mainly used to evaluate difficult airways. However, in many special cases, i.e., emergency surgery, imaging examinations cannot be completed preoperatively. Such patients' airway can only be evaluated through general physical examination, which inevitably increases the likelihood of an unexpected difficult airway during anesthesia. CASE SUMMARY: We report a rare case of difficult intubation because of severe upper trachea distortion after induction. Emergency holmium laser lithotripsy was performed under transurethral ureteroscopy because the patient had anuria for 4 d and a creatinine level of 890 µmol/L. Due to the urgency of the condition, chest radiography or chest CT was not examined before surgery and the anesthesiologist did not evaluate the airway adequately, resulting in an unexpected difficult airway. CONCLUSION: The incidence of tracheal malformation and tracheal stenosis is extremely low, but the risk of hypoxia and even death due to difficult airways is extremely high for such patients. It is recommended to complete preoperative imaging examinations of the airway. For life-threatening emergency patients, a pre-anesthesia reassessment should be performed and surgeons should be prepared to prevent and manage the difficult airway.
ABSTRACT
Cyanobacterial bloom is by far one of the most common water quality hazards. As cyanobacteria are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and other organic matter, the potential for beneficial use of cyanobacteria is promising. Aerobic composting is currently a hot topic of research in cyanobacteria treatment, which can effectively achieve reduction, recycling, and removal of the harmful impact of cyanobacteria. In this review, the characteristics of cyanobacteria in aerobic composting processes, the effects of physical, chemical, and biological factors on the composting process, and the degradation of microcystic toxins were systematically discussed and summarized. This review epitomizes the large quantities of research data collected by many scholars around the world to address the characteristics of "one low and five highs" in the aerobic cyanobacterial composting process. The composting techniques developed are effective and easy to adopt in the real world, such as adjusting the substrate C/N ratio and moisture content and use of chemical and biological additives to achieve reduction, recycling, and detoxication of the cyanobacterial wastes. The aim of this comprehensive review is to provide theoretical guidance and reference for further development and application of aerobic cyanobacteria composting technology.
Subject(s)
Composting , Cyanobacteria , Biological Factors , Cyanobacteria Toxins , Nitrogen/analysis , Phosphorus , Soil/chemistryABSTRACT
3,3',5,5'-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) was once used as additive flame retardants. Whether its early exposure and discontinued exposure alter thyroid function remains unknown. We investigate adverse effects after early-life exposure and discontinued exposure to BB-80 and hydroxylated BB-80 (OH-BB-80) on thyroid hormone (TH) levels, thyroid tissue, and transcriptome profiles in zebrafish larvae. BB-80 at 10 µg/L induces pathological changes of thyroid with reduced thyroid follicles in larvae (P < 0.05), whereas OH-BB-80 significantly increases T4 and T3 contents (1.8 and 2.5 times of the control, P < 0.05) at 14 days postfertilization (dpf) without morphological thyroid alterations. BB-80 and OH-BB-80 cause transcriptome aberrations with key differentially expressed genes involved in the disruption of TH synthesis and signal transduction (BB-80 at 14 dpf) or TH pathway activation (OH-BB-80 at 21 dpf). After 7 days of discontinued exposure, thyroglobulin (tg) and thyroid peroxidase (tpo) genes are downregulated (P < 0.05) by 52 and 48% for BB-80 and by 49 and 39% for OH-BB-80, respectively; however, the whole-body TH levels fail to fully recover, and the locomotor activity is impaired more by BB-80. Our results indicate significant adverse impacts of BB-80 and OH-BB-80 on TH homeostasis and thyroid function of zebrafish.
Subject(s)
Flame Retardants , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Animals , Flame Retardants/metabolism , Flame Retardants/toxicity , Larva/metabolism , Thyroid Gland/metabolism , Thyroid Hormones/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Zebrafish/metabolismABSTRACT
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), characterized by their extreme toxicity, high persistency and bioaccumulation, regard as one of the most concerned environmental pollutants on the priority list. In this study, microwave-hydrothermal and photoreduction methods were adopted for fabrication of ternary Au@Fe/TiO2 composites for removal of 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,8-DCDD) under UV-Vis light irradiation. The acquired materials were characterized and analyzed by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, PL, etc. As a result, the 1%Au@1%Fe/TiO2 exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity that 96.3% of 2,8-DCDD was removed within 160 min with respect to that of Fe/TiO2 (3.0 times) and TiO2 (5.5 times). It revealed the active substances might be produced, which were verified by ESR analysis. In a comparison, the 1%Au@1%Fe/TiO2 also exhibited high activity in that 97.2% of 2,8-DCDD was removed within 240 min under an anoxic atmosphere. The 1%Au@1%Fe/TiO2 systems were all pH-dependent that 2,8-DCDD could be fully degraded in neutral conditions. The results of repeatability on 1%Au@1%Fe/TiO2 showed that the sample was high stability. Fe doping improved the charge separation of TiO2 and Au modification improved the activity via SPR effect and Mott-Schottky barrier. The degradation mechanisms and pathways were proposed and discussed in detail. The current work develops a new approach on photocatalytic oxidation and reductive dechlorination of dioxins and may open a new opportunity to extend the application range of TiO2 catalysts.
Subject(s)
Dioxins , Iron , Light , Lighting , TitaniumABSTRACT
Bovine laminitis causes substantial economic losses and animal welfare problems in dairy farms worldwide. Previously published studies have reported that the inflammatory response plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. To our knowledge, inflammation associated with bovine laminitis induced by high levels of exposure to oligofructose (OF) has not been reported and characterized. In fact, the disease manifestations in this model closely approximate those of clinical laminitis. The objective of this study was to characterize the inflammatory response in OF-induced bovine laminitis. A total of 12 Chinese Holstein dairy heifers were utilized in this study. The heifers were randomly divided into two groups, treatment (n = 6) and control (n = 6). The treatment group heifers were administered OF solutions via a stomach tube (dose: 17 g/kg of body weight). Upon development of a lameness score of 2 with consecutive positive reactions in the same claw, they would be humanely euthanized. Control heifers were administered deionized water (dose: 2 L/100 kg of body weight) and humanely euthanized at 72 h. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were performed to determine the messenger RNA (mRNA) concentrations of inflammatory mediators in the lamellae. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-1 (CXCL-1), macrophage cationic peptide-2 (MCP-2), E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase-1 (iNOS-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the treatment group. No significant difference was found for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-10, CXCL-6, and MCP-1. These results demonstrated and characterized the laminar inflammatory response leading to the pathogenesis of bovine laminitis at the early stages.