Akt regulates RSK2 to alter phosphorylation level of H2A.X in breast cancer.

Histone H2AX (H2A.X) is a variant of the histone H2A family. Phosphorylation of H2A.X is a marker of DNA strand breaks and the presence or absence of H2A.X is closely related to tumor susceptibility and drug resistance. The present study found that the activity of the serine/threonine kinase Akt was negatively associated with H2A.X phosphorylated at the Ser16 site (H2A.X S16ph), but the mechanism of the inverse relationship remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism of action between Akt and H2A.X S16ph and the exact role of this mechanism. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the regulatory association between p-Akt and H2A.X S16ph/p-RSK2, and immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to prove that Akt, RSK2 and H2A.X combine and interact in human breast cancer cells. The changes of cellular proliferation and migration induced by the interaction of Akt, RSK2 and H2A.X was determined by MTT, soft agar colony formation and cell migration experiments. The effect of interaction of Akt, RSK2 and H2A.X on cancer-promoting genes, such as PSAT-1 was determined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. The current study indicated that the serine/threonine kinase ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) as a kinase of H2A.X could be phosphorylated by Akt at Ser19 site. Moreover, Akt positively regulated the phosphorylation of RSK2 to inhibit phosphorylation of H2A.X, thereby affecting the affinity between RSK2 and substrate histone, promoting the survival and migration of breast cancer cells. In conclusion, Akt-mediated phosphorylation of RSK2 regulated the phosphorylation of H2A.X, thereby promoting oncogenic activity. This finding provides new insights to understand the pathogenesis and treatment mechanisms of breast cancer.

[Size-dependent Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Performance and Microbial Community Structure of a Constructed Wetland].

Nanoparticles (NPs) have increasingly been applied in consumer and industrial products because of their magnetic, optical, electronic, sensitive, antibacterial, disinfection, and UV shielding properties. The wide production and application of NPs has inevitably resulted in their release into the ecosystem through various channels and accumulation in organisms. NPs have a small particle size (1-100 nm), which is closely correlated with biotoxicity. To investigate the size-dependent effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on microbial community structure and diversity, as well as the nitrogen removal performance of a biological treatment system, laboratory scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands were operated for 28 days under the conditions of COD 200.0 mg·L-1, NH4+-N 12.5 mg·L-1, and total dissolved phosphorus 4.0 mg·L-1. The relationship between microbial community structure and its performance were discussed. The results indicated that three sized ZnO NPs (15, 50, and 90 nm) had no significant effect on COD removal at the concentration of 10 mg·L-1 but showed obvious particle size effects on nitrogen removal. High throughput sequencing indicated that the abundance of nitrifying bacteria in constructed wetland system was significantly lower than that of denitrifying bacteria, suggesting that the nitrification process was the key factor restricting the denitrification performance of wetlands. After exposure to ZnO NPs, the structure of microbial communities in constructed wetlands changed, and 15 nm ZnO NPs had a stronger inhibitory effect on nitrifying bacteria than those of 50 nm and 90 nm ZnO NPs.

[Carbon storage distribution characteristics of wetlands in China and its influencing factors.] / ä¸­å›½æ¹¿åœ°ç¢³å‚¨é‡åˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾åŠå ¶å½±å“å› ç´ .

Wetland plays an important role in stabilizing climate change and makes a significant contribution to global soil carbon storage due to its huge carbon storage capacity. Based on a summary of estimation methods of carbon storage, this study analyzed carbon storage and its influencing factors of typical wetlands in China, inclusing climate, vegetation, soil property and land use. The results showed that wetlands in Northeast China and the Tibetan Plateau had the highest carbon sto-rage among the eight wetland areas. Peat wetland had the highest carbon storage in inland area due to its higher stability, lower decomposition rate, and the impact of phenol oxidase. The bidirectional interference of single factor and combined effects of multiple factors made the influencing factors and mechanisms more complicated. Our results would contribute to the prediction and evaluation of wetland carbon storage and the value of ecosystem services through laying emphasis on the combined effects of multiple factors and applying the data assimilation technology.

Research advances in using constructed wetlands to remove pesticides in agricultural runoff.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) performs excellently in removing pollutants from agricultural runoff, and thus have been widely used as an effective measure to control agricultural runoff pollution. Based on reviews on domestic and overseas literature, we introduced the current situation of water bodies polluted by pesticides. The removal mechanisms of pesticides by CWs were elucidated according to physical, chemical and biological processes, and the main processes were discussed in detail. The removal efficiency of pesticides in CWs vary greatly with pesticide types. Based on their uses, the average removal efficiency of pesticides are in the order of insecticides > fungicides > herbicides. According to their chemical constitution, they follow the order of pyrethroid > organopho-sphorus > triazole > amide > triazine > ureas. Considering comprehensively, subsurface flow CWs perform better than surface flow CWs in removing pesticides. Furthermore, the effects of the physicochemical properties of pesticides, the types and operating parameters of CWs, pesticides concentration in influent, as well as vegetation on the removal of pesticides in CWs were also analyzed. Finally, problems in the current research and the future application of CWs in treating pesticides were discussed.

[Effects of litter decomposition on contents and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy characteristics of soil labile organic carbon in coastal wetlands of Jiaozhou Bay, China]. / èƒ¶å·žæ¹¾æ»¨æµ·æ¹¿åœ°æž¯è½ç‰©åˆ†è§£å¯¹åœŸå£¤æ´»æ€§æœ‰æœºç¢³å«é‡åŠå ¶ä¸‰ç»´è§å ‰ç‰¹æ€§çš„å½±å“.

Litter of Suaeda glauca, Phragmites australis, and Spartina alterniflora from coastal wetland of Jiaozhou Bay was decomposed in a laboratory experiment. The contents of soil labile organic carbon including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were determined, with the spectra characteristics of which being investigated by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the contents of soil labile organic carbon during litter decomposition increased first, then decreased, and finally tended to be stable. Different litter types and adding ways had different effects on soil labile organic carbon. The contents of soil DOC and MBC decreased in the order of Suaeda glauca, Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis. Soil mixed with bulk leaf litter had more soil labile organic carbon than surface mulch. The number and position of fluorescence peak, and fluorescence intensity changed during litter decomposition. No tyrosine-like peaks appeared in the soil with litter addition. Many factors drove litter decomposition, with microbial decomposition being the dominant factor and litter nature as the essential factor. Litter decomposition could improve the content of soil active organic carbon and enhance the stability of soil carbon pool. Litter decomposition changed the structure and chemical composition of soil DOC, which improved its ability of migration and transformation in soil. Moreover, this process enhanced its biodegradability and microbial bioavailability, promoted the production of endogenous DOC by microorganisms, and consequently stimulated carbon cycling of wetland soil.

[Distribution characteristics of dissolved inorganic carbon in soil of typical estuarine wetlands in Jiaozhou Bay, China.] / èƒ¶å·žæ¹¾å ¸åž‹æ²³å£æ¹¿åœ°åœŸå£¤æº¶è§£æ€§æ— æœºç¢³åˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾.

We examined the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) content, ion content, and soil physi-cal and chemical properties in Dagu River and Yanghe River estuary wetland of Jiaozhou Bay. Soil samples were collected by stratified sampling in the mudflat paralleled to the coastal zone and the river flat perpendicular to the coastal zone. Duncan method and Pearson correlation analysis were used to investigate the characteristics of soil DIC distribution and its driving factors. The results showed that the scouring action of water bodies led to the lowest content of soil DIC in the river estuary of mudflat, which showed an increasing trend with the increases of distance from the estuary. In river flat, the soil DIC content first decreased and then increased with the distance from the sea, which was influenced by human activities. Invasion of Spartina alterniflora significantly decreased soil DIC content, with its root transformation being the main reason for such decreases. The farming activities changed the environmental factors of aquaculture pond, and then changed the distribution of soil DIC. The surface soil of the pond had higher DIC content than that of the mudflat, while the other soil layers had lower DIC content than that of the mudflat. Soil DIC content was significantly positively correlated with soil salt content and total inorganic carbon content, and negatively correlated with soil pH.

The role of exosomes derived from cerebrospinal fluid of spinal cord injury in neuron proliferation in vitro.

Exosomes is a key component of cell paracrine secretion and can exert important effects in various disease models. However, the role of exosomes in neuron repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) has rarely been reported. In this study, Exosomes were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of SCI and normal, and incubated neuron in vitro respectively to research its biological function in cell proliferation. The results demonstrated these exosomes all expressed CD9, CD63, CD81, Alix and Tsg101; however, only exosomes derived from cerebrospinal fluid of SCI could promote proliferation of neuron via ERK signaling pathway, and decrease cell apoptosis. Exosomes contain cytosolic content, including proteins, mRNAs and non-cording RNAs, and play a role in important biological function. Our research showed exosomes derived from cerebrospinal fluid of SCI, they can influence neuron cell proliferation in vitro, we did not observe these characters in exosome derived from normal cerebrospinal fluid.

Radiographic Restoration of Sagittal Spinopelvic Alignment After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to analyze the changes in spinopelvic parameters after surgical correction of degenerative spondylolisthesis and to determine which deformity is most responsible for changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The basic deformities of degenerative spondylolisthesis are forward slippage of the vertebral body, segmental kyphotic angle, and loss of disk height. Correction of those deformities during surgery will subsequently affect the spinopelvic parameters. A few studies have reported the changes of sagittal spinopelvic alignment after surgical treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis. However, there appears to be relatively little information regarding degenerative spondylolisthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients with L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis were included. All patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation. Back pain, as the clinical outcome, was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). The preoperative and postoperative spinopelvic parameters, including sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), and L1 axis S1 distance were measured, and then the correlations between spinopelvic parameters and local deformity parameters such as slip degree, slip angle (SA), and height of the intervertebral disk were evaluated. RESULTS: After surgical correction of local deformity, all spinopelvic parameters changed subsequently: PT and L1 axis S1 distance had a decrease, SS and LL had an increase. VAS score decreased from 6.1±2.3 before surgery to 2.4±1.7 at the final follow-up assessment. Patients with VAS score changes ≥3 showed significantly higher SS and LL, and lower PT compared with those with VAS score changes <3. Among deformity parameters, restoration of the SA revealed significant correlation with improvement of LL (r=0.32, P=0.02), increase of SS (r=0.29, P=0.03), and decrease of PT (r=-0.29, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical correction of degenerative spondylolisthesis with posterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation resulted in relief of back pain, which may be associated with improvement of sagittal spinopelvic alignment. Surgeons should consider deformity parameters, especially the SA, in the surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis.

[Three dimensional fluorescent characteristics of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) in Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetlands, China]. / èƒ¶å·žæ¹¾æ»¨æµ·æ¹¿åœ°åœŸå£¤æº¶è§£æ€§æœ‰æœºè´¨çš„ä¸‰ç»´è§å ‰ç‰¹æ€§.

In order to elucidate the structure characteristics of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) and analyze the sources in Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetlands, four typical types of wetlands around Jiaozhou Bay were chosen, including Spartina anglica wetland, the barren wetland, Suaeda glauca wetland and Phragmites australis wetland. The soil samples were collected in January 2014. The contents of soil DOM were determined and the spectral analysis was made by three-dimensional fluorescent technology. The results showed that the contents of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in four types of wetlands all decreased with the increasing soil depth, and S. anglica wetland ranked the first in the contents of soil DOC, followed by the barren wetland, S. glauca wetland and P. australis wetland. Five fluorescence peaks including B, T, A, D and C were found in the three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum (3DEEMs), indicating tyrosine-like, tryptophan-like, phenol-like, soluble microbial byproduct-like and humic acid-like- substances, respectively. Fluorescence integration (FRI) was applied in the qualitative analysis of five components. The results showed that tryptophan-like, phenol-like and tyrosine-like substances ranked in top three in content, followed by soluble microbial byproduct-like and humic acid-like substances which were not significantly different. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that a positive correlation existed between any two of the five components of DOM, and they were all positively related to DOC content. In addition, there existed different correlations between the five components of DOM and total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP) and total nitrogen (TN). The soil DOM in the four types of wetlands was mainly produced by biotic interactions, and the degree of humification was relatively low.

[Temporal and spatial distribution of soil organic carbon and its storage in the coastal wetlands of Jiaozhou Bay, China.] / 胶州湾滨海湿地土壤有机碳时空分布及储量.

This study selected four typical types of wetlands around Jiaozhou Bay including Spartina anglica wetland, the barren wetland, Suaeda glauca wetland and Phragmites australis wetland, to analyze and compare the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and their stock with seasonal and vertical variations. The results showed that the SOC contents of S. anglica wetland, S. glauca wetland and P. australis wetland all decreased with the increasing soil depth except that the concentration of SOC in the barren wetland showed a decreasing trend first, and then increased slightly along the soil profile. S. anglica wetland ranked first in SOC content, followed by the barren wetland, S. glauca wetland and P. australis wetland. Seasonally, the SOC contents in Jiaozhou Bay coastal wetlands were in an order of spring>summer>autumn>winter. Correlation analysis demonstrated that SOC content was positively correlated with soil salinity, moisture content, TN and C/N. Negative relationships were observed between SOC content and pH, and between SOC content and soil bulk density. The carbon densities of soil profile were in a decreasing order of the barren wetland, P. australis wetland and S. glauca wetland. There were some differences in the distributions of SOC and carbon density among the various types of wetlands. The barren wetland had a significant higher value for carbon stock per unit area than P. australis wetland and S. glauca wetland due to the differences in carbon density and thickness of carbon storage layer, playing a significant role in the carbon sink process of coastal wetlands.

[Wetland landscape pattern change based on GIS and RS: a review].

Wetland is an ecological landscape with most biodiversity in nature, which has unique ecological structure and function, and contains abundant natural resources to provide material guarantee for human's living and development. Wetland landscape pattern is the comprehensive result of various ecological processes, and has become a hot issue in wetland ecological study. At present, the combination of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies is an important way to study the wetland landscape pattern change. This paper reviewed the research progress in the wetland landscape change based on GIS and RS from the aspects of the research methods of wetland landscape pattern, index of wetland landscape pattern, and driving forces of wetland landscape pattern evolution, and discussed the applications of the combination of GIS and RS in monitoring the wetland landscape pattern change, the index selection of wetland landscape pattern, and the driving mechanisms of the combined action of human and nature. Some deficiencies in the current studies were put forward, and the directions of the future-studies were prospected.

Distribution characteristics of dissolved organic carbon in annular wetland soil-water solutions through soil profiles in the Sanjiang Plain, northeast China.

Overwhelming evidence reveals that concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) have increased in streams which brings negative environmental impacts. DOC in stream flow is mainly originated from soil-water solutions of watershed. Wetlands prove to be the most sensitive areas as an important DOC reserve between terrestrial and fluvial biogeosystems. This reported study was focused on the distribution characteristics and the controlling factors of DOC in soil-water solutions of annular wetland, i.e., a dishing wetland and a forest wetland together, in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. The results indicate that DOC concentrations in soil-water solutions decreased and then increased with increasing soil depth in the annular wetland. In the upper soil layers of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm, DOC concentrations in soil-water solutions linearly increased from edge to center of the annular wetland (R2 = 0.3122 and R2 = 0.443). The distribution variations were intimately linked to DOC production and utilization and DOC transport processes in annular wetland soil-water solutions. The concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), total carbon (TC) and Fe(II), DOC mobility and continuous vertical and lateral flow affected the distribution variations of DOC in soil-water solutions. The correlation coefficients between DOC concentrations and TOC, TC and Fe(II) were 0.974, 0.813 and 0.753 respectively. These distribution characteristics suggested a systematic response of the distribution variations of DOC in annular wetland soil-water solutions to the geometry of closed depressions on a scale of small catchments. However, the DOC in soil pore water of the annular wetland may be the potential source of DOC to stream flow on watershed scale. These observations also implied the fragmentation of wetland landscape could bring the spatial-temporal variations of DOC distribution and exports, which would bring negative environmental impacts in watersheds of the Sanjiang Plain.

[The safety and efficacy of pre-treatment with enoxaparin (Clexane) in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of anticoagulation with enoxaparin (Clexane) in UA/NQMI patients undergoing PCI procedures. METHODS: UA/NQMI patients received Clexane 1 mg/kg, subcutaneously, q12h for at least 48 hours, the coronary angiography was immediately followed by PCI when indicated and is performed within 8 h after the morning injection. No additional UFH or LMWH was used during or after PCI. Blood samples were taken for further measurement of the anti-Xa activity in 176 patients. RESULTS: 507 UA/NQMI patients were included in the study. 176 patients (93.2%) of the average anti-Xa activity value was > 0.5 IU/ml. During follow-up within 30 days, 3.2% of the patients experienced AMI and 6.7% of the patients recurrent UAP. One patient (0.2%) received revascularization and another died of duodenum perforation. The rate of minor hemorrhage was 4.7% (24 patients). In 30-days follow up, one experienced NQMI and 1 recurrent UA among angiography patients. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous Enoxaparin given at least for 48 hours before PCI with out additional UFH or LMWH during or after PCI was both safe and effective in high risk UA/NQMI patients.