Effect of microplastics on oxytetracycline trophic transfer: Immune, gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance gene responses.

Microplastics and antibiotics are prevalent and emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, but their interactions in aquatic food chains remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the impact of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) on oxytetracycline (OTC) trophic transfer from the shrimp (Neocaridina denticulate) to crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by metagenomic sequencing. The carrier effects of PP-MPs promoted OTC bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, which exacerbated enterocyte vacuolation and hepatocyte eosinophilic necrosis. PP-MPs enhanced the inhibitory effect of OTC on intestinal lysozyme activities and complement C3 levels in shrimp and fish, and hepatic immunoglobulin M levels in fish (p < 0.05). Co-exposure of MPs and OTC markedly increased the abundance of Actinobacteria in shrimp and Firmicutes in fish, which caused disturbances in carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. Moreover, OTC exacerbated the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic animals, and PP-MPs significantly increased the diversity and abundance of ARGs and facilitated the trophic transfer of teta and tetm. Our findings disclosed the impacts of PP-MPs on the mechanism of antibiotic toxicity in aquatic food chains and emphasized the importance of gut microbiota for ARGs trophic transfer, which contributed to a deeper understanding of potential risks posed by complex pollutants on aquatic ecosystems.

Cotransport of nanoplastics and plastic additive bisphenol AF (BPAF) in unsaturated hyporheic zone: Coupling effects of surface functionalization and protein corona.

The ecological risk of combined pollution from microplastics (MPs) and associated contaminants usually depends on their interactions and environmental behavior, which was also disturbed by varying surface modifications of MPs. In this study, the significance of surface functionalization and protein-corona on the cotransport of nanoplastics (NPs; 100 nm) and the related additive bisphenol AF (BPAF) was examined in simulated unsaturated hyporheic zone (quartz sand; 250-425 µm). The electronegative bovine serum albumin (BSA) and electropositive trypsin were chosen as representative proteins, while pristine (PNPs), amino-modified (ANPs), and carboxyl-modified NPs (CNPs) were representative NPs with different charges. The presence of BPAF inhibited the mobility of PNPs/CNPs, but enhanced the release of ANPs in hyporheic zone, which was mainly related to their hydrophobicity changes and electrostatic interactions. Meanwhile, the NPs with high mobility and strong affinity to BPAF became effective carriers, promoting the cotransport of BPAF by 16.4 %-26.4 %. The formation of protein-coronas altered the mobility of NPs alone and their cotransport with BPAF, exhibiting a coupling effect with functional groups. BSA-corona promoted the transport of PNPs/CNPs, but this promoting effect was weakened by the presence of BPAF via increasing particle aggregation and hydrophobicity. Inversely, trypsin-corona aggravated the deposition of PNPs/CNPs, but competition deposition sites and increased energy barrier caused by coexisting BPAF reversed this effect, facilitating the cotransport of trypsin-PNPs/CNPs in hyporheic zone. However, BPAF and protein-coronas synergistically promoted the mobility of ANPs, owing to competition deposition sites and decreased electrostatic attraction. Although all of the NPs with two protein-coronas reduced dissolved BPAF in the effluents via providing deposition sites, the cotransport of total BPAF was improved by the NPs with high mobility (BSA-PNPs/CNPs) or high affinity to BPAF (BSA/trypsin-ANPs). However, the trypsin-PNPs/CNPs inhibited the transport of BPAF due to their weak mobility and adsorption with BPAF. The results provide new insights into the role of varying surface modifications on NPs in the vertical cotransport of NPs and associated contaminants in unsaturated hyporheic zone.

Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions of COVID-19 patients in China: A multicenter study.

Introduction: With the spread of the epidemic worldwide, an increasing number of doctors abroad have observed the following atypical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): olfactory or taste disorders. Therefore, clarifying the incidence and clinical characteristics of olfactory and taste disorders in Chinese COVID-19 patients is of great significance and urgency. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, which included 229 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 confirmed patients, through face-to-face interviews and telephone follow-up. Following the completion of questionnaires, the patients participating in the study, were categorized according to the degree of olfactory and taste disorders experienced, and the proportion of each clinical type of patient with olfactory and taste disorders and the time when symptoms appeared were recorded. Results: Among the 229 patients, 31 (13.54%) had olfactory dysfunction, and 44 (19.21%) had gustatory dysfunction. For the patients with olfactory dysfunction, 6 (19.35%) developed severe disease and became critically ill. Olfactory dysfunction appeared before the other symptoms in 21.43% of cases. The proportion of females with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was higher than that of males (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was much lower than that reported abroad; the prognosis of patients with olfactory dysfunction is relatively favorable; olfactory and gustatory dysfunction can be used as a sign for early screening; females are more prone to olfactory and gustatory dysfunction.

A cross-sectional study of olfactory and taste disorders among COVID-19 patients in China.

To determine the prevalence and clinical features of olfactory and taste disorders among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in China. A cross-sectional study was performed in Wuhan from April 3, 2020 to April 15, 2020. A total of 187 patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) completed face-to-face interviews or telephone follow-ups. We found that the prevalence of olfactory and taste disorders was significantly lower in the Chinese cohort than in foreign COVID-19 cohorts. Females were more prone to olfactory and taste disorders. In some patients, olfactory and taste disorders precede other symptoms and can be used as early screening and warning signs.

In vivo and in vitro activity of oil extract of garlic (Allium sativum Linnaeus) against Schistosoma japonicum cercariae.

INTRODUCTION:: The activity of garlic oil extract against Schistosoma japonicum cercariae was evaluated. METHODS:: The in vitro and in vivo cercaricidal activities against S. japonicum larvae were determined. RESULTS:: Exposure to ≥ 10-6 (v/v) garlic emulsions for 30 min led to 100% cercariae mortality; pre-exposure treatment with ≥ 10-4 (v/v) garlic emulsions showed 100% preventive efficacy against S. japonicum infection, while pre-treatment with 10-5 and 10-6 (v/v) emulsions achieved 20%-40% preventive efficacy and 35.2%-63.6% worm burden reduction. CONCLUSIONS:: Garlic oil extract has activity against S. japonicum larvae and a promising preventive efficacy against S. japonicum infection.

In vivo and in vitro activity of oil extract of garlic (Allium sativum Linnaeus) against Schistosoma japonicum cercariae

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The activity of garlic oil extract against Schistosoma japonicum cercariae was evaluated. METHODS: The in vitro and in vivo cercaricidal activities against S. japonicum larvae were determined. RESULTS: Exposure to ≥ 10-6 (v/v) garlic emulsions for 30 min led to 100% cercariae mortality; pre-exposure treatment with ≥ 10-4 (v/v) garlic emulsions showed 100% preventive efficacy against S. japonicum infection, while pre-treatment with 10-5 and 10-6 (v/v) emulsions achieved 20%-40% preventive efficacy and 35.2%-63.6% worm burden reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Garlic oil extract has activity against S. japonicum larvae and a promising preventive efficacy against S. japonicum infection.

microRNA­299­3p inhibits laryngeal cancer cell growth by targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA.

Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression has been linked to cancer development. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the anti­cancer effect of miRNA­299­3p on laryngeal cancer Hep­2 cells is mediated through targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The expression of miR­299­3p in laryngeal cancer Hep­2 cells and human osteosarcoma U2OS cells was quantified by stem­loop­mediated reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. miR­299­3p mimic was transfected into Hep­2 cells to induce overexpression of miR­299­3p. A CCK­8 assay was performed to identify the effects of miR­299­3p overexpression on the proliferation of Hep­2 cells. Western blot analysis was carried out to determine the expression of hTERT protein. A significant decrease was noted in the expression of miR­299­3p in Hep­2 cells compared with that of U2OS cells (P<0.05). Overexpression of miR­299­3p resulted in a notable inhibition of cellular proliferation (P<0.05), as well as downregulation of hTERT mRNA and protein in Hep­2 cells (P>0.05). The expression of miR­299­3p is downregulated in human laryngeal cancer Hep­2 cells. Overexpression of miR­299­3p inhibits Hep­2 cell growth by targeting the 3'­untranslated region of hTERT mRNA.

[Determining the concentration of coating solution attaching to honeycomb denuder in summer in Tianjin].

The study on determining the concentration of coating solution attaching to honeycomb denuder was conducted, from 1 July to 31 August, 2013, at the roof of Lihua building at Nankai University in Tianjin. The results of experiment showed that the optimized concentration of sodium carbonate coated on the honeycomb denuder was 3%, and the optimized concentration of citric acid was 6%. The contrast sampling results of PM2.5 between honeycomb denuder system and conventional method showed that 86% of the concentration of PM2.5 samples obtained by honeycomb denuder system were less than those obtained by conventional method, the main reasons may include that: (1) the majority of acid/alkaline gases were removed, so they could neither react with the enriched particles on the sampling membrane nor be adsorbed on particles; (2) parts of the particles were captured by the denuder during sampling; (3) the removal of acid/alkaline gases disturbed the state of equilibrium between gas- and particle-phases which may lead to the volatilization of some particles.

A comprehensive assessment of human exposure to phthalates from environmental media and food in Tianjin, China.

A total of 448 samples including foodstuffs (rice, steamed bun, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, milk and fruits), ambient PM10, drinking water, soil, indoor PM10 and indoor dust samples from Tianjin were obtained to determine the distribution of six priority phthalates (PAEs) and assess the human exposure to them. The results indicated that DBP and DEHP were the most frequently detected PAEs in these samples. The concentrations of PAEs in environmental media were higher than those in food. We estimated the daily intake (DI) of PAEs via ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption from five sources (food, water, air, dust and soil). Dietary intake was the main exposure source to DEP, BBP, DEHP and DOP, whereas water ingestion/absorption was the major source of exposure to DBP, DEHP and DOP. Although food and water were the overwhelmingly predominant sources of PAEs intake by Tianjin population, contaminated air was another important source of DMP, DEP and DBP contributing to up to 45% of the exposure. The results of this study will help in understanding the major pathways of human exposure to PAEs. These findings also suggest that human exposure to phthalate esters via the environment should not be overlooked.