Soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics influences productivity and species composition of plant communities.

Contamination of soils by microplastics can have profound ecological impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and has received increasing attention. However, few studies have considered the impacts of soil microplastics on plant communities and none has tested the impacts of spatial heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics in the soil on plant communities. We grew experimental plant communities in soils with either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous distribution of each of six common microplastics, i.e., polystyrene foam (EPS), polyethylene fiber (PET), polyethylene bead (HDPE), polypropylene fiber (PP), polylactic bead (PLA) and polyamide bead (PA6). The heterogeneous treatment consisted of two soil patches without microplastics and two with a higher (0.2%) concentration of microplastics, and the homogeneous treatment consisted of four patches all with a lower (0.1%) concentration of microplastics. Thus, the total amounts of microplastics in the soils were exactly the same in the two treatments. Total and root biomass of the plant communities were significantly higher in the homogeneous than in the heterogeneous treatment when the microplastic was PET and PP, smaller when it was PLA, but not different when it was EPS, HDPE or PA6. In the heterogeneous treatment, total and root biomass were significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was EPS, but greater when the microplastic was PET or PP. Additionally, in the heterogeneous treatment, root biomass was significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was HDPE, and shoot biomass was also significantly smaller when the microplastic was EPS or PET. The heterogeneous distribution of EPS in the soil significantly decreased community evenness, but the heterogeneous distribution of PET increased it. We conclude that soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics can influence productivity and species composition of plant communities, but such an effect varies depending on microplastic chemical composition (types) and morphology (shapes).

The influence of NaCl on the dynamic perception of the pungency sensation elicited by Sichuan pepper oleoresins.

A cross-modal interaction may exist between the perception of saltiness and the pungency elicited by Sichuan pepper oleoresin (Spo). Thirty-one hypersensitive panelists were selected to participate in this study. Spo solutions dissolved in different NaCl concentrations, ranging from 1.25 g/L to 167.9 g/L, were used as the test samples. The rated difference from control, the generalized labeled magnitude scale (gLMS), and the time-intensity (TI) method were used to determine the detection threshold (DT), the recognition threshold (RT), the intensity, and the dynamic perception of pungent sensation. The results revealed that the pungency thresholds increased significantly (p < 0.01) in the solution with a high NaCl (167.9 g/L) concentration. Furthermore, high NaCl solutions suppressed the pungency intensity at all Spo concentrations except for 0.02 g Spo/L in water (p < 0.05). The TI and principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that an increase in the Spo concentration prolonged the duration of the pungency sensation. However, the maximum intensity, the time to reach maximum intensity, the decay time of perception, and the end time of perception of the Spo solutions ranging from 2.13 g/L to 4.69 g/L were significantly reduced at medium (42.95 g/L) and high NaCl concentrations. Since the salty and pungency sensations exhibited by NaCl and Spo are common flavor combinations in food products and dishes, studying the influence of saltiness on the dynamic perception of pungent sensation not only aids the development of oral cleaners during pungency evaluation but also presents significant theoretical and practical value in creating pungent food and cuisine based on consumer preferences.

Correlation analysis of levels of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in peripheral blood with urine proteins and renal function in patients with gestational hypertension.

The aim of the study was to investigate correlations among inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) level, urine protein, renal function and blood pressure in peripheral blood of patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP). A total of 60 patients diagnosed with HDCP in the Obstetrics Department of Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from May 2016 to April 2017 were selected. The patients were divided into the HDCP (n=20), mild pre-eclampsia (n=20) and severe pre-eclampsia (n=20) groups. Additionally, 20 healthy pregnant women were selected as the control group. General data of the patients were collected. NO, renal function and 24-h urine protein were measured. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the HDCP group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in the pre-eclampsia groups were higher than those in the gestational hypertension group (P<0.05). The NO level in peripheral blood of patients in the pre-eclampsia groups was lower than that in the gestational hypertension group (P<0.05). The levels of 24-h urine protein, homocysteine (Hcy), cystatin-C (Cys-C), serum creatinine (SCr), urea and ß2 microglobulin in the pre-eclampsia groups were higher than those in the gestational hypertension group (P<0.05). Gestational age and the levels of baseline blood pressure, inflammatory cytokines, 24-h urine protein and renal function have independent predictive value for the occurrence of HDCP (P<0.05). The results show that, 24-h urine protein, renal function and inflammatory cytokines are closely correlated with the occurrence of HDCP, which can reflect the severity and prognosis of the disease to a certain extent. In addition, it has important reference value for the assessment and treatment of the disease.

[Effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiac autonomic nerve function in obese pre-school children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency on cardiac autonomic nerve function in obese pre-school children. METHODS: A total of 242 pre-school children with simple obesity were enrolled, and according to the serum 25-(OH) VitD level, they were divided into VitD deficiency group (76 children), VitD insufficiency group (83 children), and VitD sufficiency group (83 children). The three groups were compared in terms of deceleration capacity (DC) of heart rate, acceleration capacity (AC) of heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). The correlations of VitD level with DC, AC, and HRV were analyzed for the VitD insufficiency and VitD deficiency groups. RESULTS: The VitD deficiency group had the lowest DC, root mean square of successive differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD), and low-frequency power (LF) and the highest AC (P<0.05). The VitD insufficiency group had significantly lower DC, RMSSD, and LF and significantly higher AC compared with the VitD sufficiency group (P<0.05). The VitD deficiency group had significantly lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) and high-frequency power (HF) than the VitD sufficiency group (P<0.05). In the VitD deficiency group, VitD level was positively correlated with DC, SDNN, standard deviation of average normal-to-normal RR intervals, RMSSD , LF, and HF and was negatively correlated with AC (P<0.05). In the VitD insufficiency group, VitD level was negatively correlated with AC (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Obese pre-school children with VitD insufficiency or deficiency have cardiac autonomic dysfunction, and cardiac vagal tone decreases with the reduction in VitD level.

[An analysis of cardiac autonomic nerve function in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cardiac autonomic nerve function in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP). METHODS: A total of 66 girls with ICPP were enrolled, among whom 36 were obese and 30 were not obese. A total of 68 age-matched healthy girls (normal controls) and 51 girls with simple obesity were enrolled as controls. All the subjects underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography, and deceleration capacity of heart rate (DC), acceleration capacity of heart rate (AC), and heart rate variability (HRV), and body mass index (BMI) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the ICPP group had significantly lower DC, standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average normal-to-normal intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and high-frequency power (HF) and significantly higher AC and BMI. The ICPP group had significantly lower RMSSD and BMI than the simple obesity group (P<0.05). Compared with the ICPP girls without obesity, those with obesity had significantly lower DC, RMSSD, and HF and significantly higher AC and BMI (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is seen in girls with ICPP, especially those with obesity, mainly presenting with reduced vagal tone.

[Cardiac autonomic nerve function in obese school-age children].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the deceleration capacity (DC) of heart rate, acceleration capacity (AC) of heart rate, and heat rate variability (HRV) in obese school-age children, and to observe the correlations of BMI with DC, AC, and HRV in these children. METHODS: A total of 108 obese school-age children were selected, including 75 cases of ortholiposis and 33 cases of dyslipidemia. A total of 103 healthy school-age children were selected as control group. All the subjects underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. The comparisons of DC, AC, and HRV were made between the obese and control groups, as well as between children with ortholiposis and dyslipidemia in the obese group. The correlations of BMI with DC, AC, and HRV were analyzed in the obese group. RESULTS: The obese group showed lower DC, standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average normal-to-normal intervals (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low-frequency power (LF), and high-frequency power (HF) than the control group. The AC of the obese group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). In the obese group, children with dyslipidemia had significantly lower DC, SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, LF, and HF, but significantly higher AC and BMI, as compared with those with ortholiposis (P<0.01). In the obese group, BMI was negatively correlated with DC, SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, and HF (P<0.05), but positively correlated with AC (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Obese school-age children have impaired autonomic nerve function, presenting with reduced vagal tone, which is particularly prominent in those with dyslipidemia. The more obese the children, the lower the vagal tone, which may increase the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

[Changes in ambulatory electrocardiographic findings after oral administration of low-dose propranolol in infants with hemangioma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of oral administration of low-dose propranolol on heart rate variability (HRV), acceleration capacity (AC), deceleration capacity (DC), and cardiac conduction in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. METHODS: A total of 118 infants with hemangioma (≤1 year) were enrolled, and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography was performed before oral administration of low-dose propranolol and after one month of administration. The changes in time-domain indices [standard deviation of all normal sinus RR intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of all mean 5-minute RR intervals (SDANN), root mean squared successive difference (RMSSD), and percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals >50 ms (PNN50)] and frequency-domain indices [low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF)] for HRV, AC, and DC were observed, as well as abnormalities in cardiac conduction and other aspects after administration of propranolol. RESULTS: After administration of propranolol, the infants had significantly increased SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, and PNN50 (P<0.01), and significantly reduced AC, mean heart rate (HR) and minimum HR (P<0.01). The 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic findings showed a nonsignificantly higher abnormal rate after administration of propranolol. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of infantile hemangioma, propranolol can inhibit the activity of sympathetic nerve and block cardiac conduction, but without any serious adverse effect.

[Research on different expressions of peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells in psoriasis patients of blood heat syndrome and of blood stasis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the pathogenesis of psoriasis patients of blood heat syndrome (BHS) and blood stasis syndrome (BSS) and peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells axis drift, and to observe different expressions of peripheral blood Th1/Th2 cells between healthy subjects and psoriasis patients of BHS and BSS. METHODS: There were 15 patients in the BHS group and 15 in the BSS group. There were 16 patients in the healthy control group. The expressions of CD4+ gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by flow cytometry (FACS). The Th1 main cytokines such as IFN-gamma and Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 in the serum of psoriasis patients of different syndromes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI) were conducted. RESULTS: FACS results showed that the expression level of CD4+ IFN-gamma+ in the PBMCs was significantly higher in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Besides, it was positively correlated with the PASI (P < 0.05). ELISA results showed that the peripheral serum level of IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The plasma level of IFN-gamma was positively correlated with the PASI score in the BHS group (P < 0.05). The plasma level of IFN-gamma was negatively correlated with the PASI score in the BSS group (P < 0.05). The peripheral serum level of IL-4 was significantly lower in the BHS group than in the BSS group and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral Th1 cells had dominant state in psoriasis patients of BHS. When psoriasis patients of BHS were transformed to BSS or to the normal level, the expression of peripheral blood Th1 cells decreased.

Severe iron deficiency is associated with a reduced conception rate in female rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Iron deficiency is a global nutritional disorder, especially for pregnant women. There is a close relationship between deficiency in trace elements and unexplained infertility in females. However, the relationship between iron deficiency and unexplained infertility has not been determined. This study was designed to determine the effect of iron deficiency on conception in a rat model. METHODS: Female rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 each): an iron-deficiency group fed a low iron diet and a normal control group. Both groups of female rats were mated with healthy male rats after the iron-deficiency model was established. RESULTS: Iron-deficient rats developed white skin and eyes, hair loss, and weight loss. Hemoglobin levels and red blood cell count were significantly lower than in controls, showing successful establishment of the iron-deficiency model. There was a significantly lower conception rate in the iron-deficiency group; there also appeared to be a disruption of estrus and a delay in conception in the iron-deficiency group. CONCLUSIONS: Severe iron deficiency has a significant influence on fertility, and may be an important factor in unexplained infertility. Further research on the role of iron in conception is warranted.

[To establish the syndrome-typing model of psoriasis vulgaris blood-heat syndrome based on the set pair analysis method].

OBJECTIVE: To establish corresponding set pair analysis mathematic model using the clinical symptoms of blood-heat type psoriasis vulgaris (BHTPV), thus guiding the clinical accuracy of clinical syndrome typing. METHODS: Recruited were 202 BHTPV with complete data after they were treated by yang subduing blood cooling method. Their clinical symptoms and signs were systematically collected. Using set pair analysis method, the therapeutic results of cured and markedly effective were recruited as the same portion, of effective as the different portion, and of ineffective as the contrary portion. The U value of each syndrome factor was calculated according to the formula. The correlation factor of syndrome typing of BHTPV was screened. The syndrome typing model of BHTPV was established according to the correlation factor. RESULTS: The main factors of BHTPV included the scale integral > 2.04, the erythema integral > 2.34, age > 50 years old, the area integral > 2.07, dry mouth, slippery pulse, yellowish fur, soggy pulse, dry and hard stool. The secondary factors included less sweat, insomnia, frequent pulse, any infiltration, erythra of any area, red tongue, depression, the disease course ranging 1-360 months, age ranging 16-50 years old, string-tight pulse, thin fur, the area integral ranging 0-2.07, white fur, purplish tongue, the scale integral ranging 0+ -2.04, and feeble pulse. The third factors included the erythema integral ranging 0-2.34 and pale red tongue. The set pair analytical model of BHT-PV was as follows: U = sigma An/N + sigma B(m)i/M + sigma C(p)j/P. CONCLUSIONS: U blood-heat syndrome > or = 0.75 could be judged as blood-heat syndrome. Satisfactory efficacy could be achieved by blood cooling method. For patients with U blood-heat syndrome < 0.75, no satisfactory efficacy could be achieved by blood cooling method alone since they were accompanied with other syndrome types.

Divalent metal transporter 1 expression and regulation in human placenta.

Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) is likely responsible for the release of iron from endosomes to the cytoplasm in placental syncytiotrophoblasts (STB). To determine the localization and the regulation of DMT1 expression by iron directly in placenta, the expression of DMT1 in human term placental tissues and BeWo cells (human placental choriocarcinoma cell line) was detected and the change in expression in response to different iron treatments on BeWo cells was observed. DMT1 was shown to be most prominent near the maternal side in human term placenta and predominantly in the cytoplasm of BeWo cells. BeWo cells were treated with desferrioxamine (DFO) and human holotransferrin (hTf-2Fe) and it was found that both DMT1 mRNA and protein increased significantly with DFO treatment and decreased with hTf-2Fe treatment. Further, DMT1 mRNA responded more significantly to treatments if it possessed an iron-responsive element than mRNA without this element. This study indicated that DMT1 is likely involved in endosomal iron transport in placental STB and placental DMT1 + IRE expression was primarily regulated by the IRE/IRP mechanism.

Ferroportin 1 and hephaestin expression in BeWo cell line with different iron treatment.

The process of placental iron transfer is an important physiological process during pregnancy. However, the molecular mechanism of placental iron transport has not been completely elucidated until now. Ferroportin 1 (FPN1) and hephaestin (Heph) have been identified as the important molecules involved in duodenal iron export. However, whether they participate in the placental iron efflux has been undefined until now. In this study, the BeWo cells were treated with desferrioxamine and Holo-transferrin human in different concentrations and harvested at 48 and 72 h. The mRNA expression of FPN1 and Heph was detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the protein expression was detected with western blots. The results showed an up-regulated FPN1 expression with desferrioxamine treatment and down-regulated expression with Holo-transferrin human supplementation. However, the change of FPN1 expression at protein level was limited. Heph expression enhanced when cells were treated with desferrioxamine although the quantity of Heph expression was low. Heph expression showed no significant change with Holo-transferrin human supplementation. It indicates that FPN1 may participate in placental iron transport, and placental FPN1 expression is obviously not dependent on the iron regular element/iron regular protein regulation. An alternatively spliced FPN1 isoform that lacks an iron regular element may be the predominant expression in BeWo cells. It also demonstrates that Heph is active in placenta but may not play a key role in placental iron transport because it is not the main part of placental copper oxidase.