Exploring Ferroptosis-Associated Gene Signatures as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets for Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is a severe complication of sepsis associated with high mortality rates. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanisms underlying SICM remain poorly understood, particularly the role of ferroptosis - a form of iron-dependent programmed cell death. METHODOLOGY: This study analyzed the GSE79962 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus, containing cardiac gene expression profiles from SICM patients and controls. A list of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) was retrieved from the FerrDb. We used the limma package in R for differential expression analysis, setting an adjusted P-value cutoff of <0.05 and a log2-fold change threshold of ±1 to identify differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DE-FRGs). We applied machine learning algorithms for biomarker identification, including least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and support vector machine with recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), implemented via the glmnet and e1071 packages in R, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted using the GSEA package to investigate the biological pathways related to key DE-FRGs. RESULTS: After differential expression analysis, we identified 145 DE-FRGs. Functional enrichment analyses underscored the involvement of these genes in critical biological processes and pathways, such as lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. Machine learning approaches pinpointed five key DE-FRGs (NCOA4, GABARAPL1, GJA1, CISD1, CP), with strong predictive potential for SICM. Further analyses, including the construction of a ceRNA network, revealed intricate post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that may influence the expression of these key genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the central role of ferroptosis in SICM and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could help refine diagnostic and treatment strategies. This study advances our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of SICM and sets the stage for future research aimed at mitigating this severe sepsis complication.

Association of urinary bisphenol A levels with heart failure risk in U.S. adults from the NHANES (2003-2016).

Introduction: Although heart failure (HF) has been linked to bisphenol A (BPA), few studies have investigated the cut-off values for the effects of urinary BPA levels on heart failure risk. The association between urinary BPA levels and HF prognosis has not been investigated. Methods: This study included 11,849 adults over 20 years old using information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted from 2003 to 2016. The relationship between urinary BPA levels and the risk of HF was determined via a multivariable logistic regression model, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were used to determine the cut-off for the effect of BPA levels on HF risk. Based on the available NT-proBNP concentration data from the NHANES (2003-2004), multivariable linear regression was applied to determine the linear association between the NT-proBNP concentration and urinary BPA concentration. Results: The results revealed a positive correlation between a urinary BPA concentration in the fourth quartile and the occurrence of heart failure [OR 1.49, 95% CI (1.09, 2.04), p = 0.012]. A one-unit increase (1 ng/mg creatinine) in the ln-transformed BPA concentration was linked to a 15% increase in the incidence of HF [OR 1.15, 95% CI (1.03, 1.29), p = 0.014]. The cut-off urinary BPA concentration for HF risk was 1.51 ng/mg creatinine. There was a positive correlation between urinary BPA and NT-proBNP concentrations [ß = 0.093, 95% CI (0.014, 0.171), p = 0.02] in males, but there was no linear association [ß = 0.040, 95% CI (-0.033, 0.113), p = 0.283] in females. Discussion: Increased urinary BPA levels are linked to an increased risk of heart failure and poor prognosis. There is a significant increase in the risk of heart failure if the urinary concentration of BPA exceeds 1.51 ng/mg creatinine.

ITGAM: A Pivotal Regulator in Macrophage Dynamics and Cardiac Function During Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a critical complication arising from sepsis characterized by reversible myocardial dysfunction. Despite the increasing attention to SIC in research, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly comprehended. METHODS: In this study, we utilized bioinformatics to analyze RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key immune cell populations and molecular markers associated with SIC. Our experimental approach combined in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the roles of integrin alpha M (ITGAM) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in macrophage recruitment and phenotypic polarization, as well as their impact on cardiac function during SIC. RESULTS: The bioinformatics analysis disclosed significant alterations in gene expression and immune cell composition within the cardiac tissue during SIC, where macrophages emerged as the predominant immune cell type. Notably, ITGAM was identified as a key regulatory molecule that modulates macrophage function, driving the pathogenesis of SIC through its influence on the recruitment and functional reprogramming of these cells. In vitro experiments revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation triggered an upregulation of ITGAM in macrophages and ICAM-1 in endothelial cells, underscoring their critical roles in immune cell mobilization and intercellular communication. The strategic administration of ITGAM-neutralizing antibodies to SIC mice resulted in a marked decrease in macrophage infiltration within the cardiac tissue, which was initially associated with an improvement in cardiac function. However, this intervention paradoxically resulted in an increased mortality rate during the later phases of SIC, underscoring the complex and dualistic function of ITGAM. CONCLUSION: This study provides new insights into the complex dynamics of immune cells within the cardiac environment during SIC, with a particular emphasis on the modulatory role of ITGAM in shaping macrophage behavior. The findings shed light on the reversible nature of myocardial dysfunction in SIC and emphasize the importance of targeted therapeutic strategies for the effective management of SIC.

Intestinal microbial community well explain larval growth than feed types.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are considered a sustainable ingredient in livestock feed. However, addressing issues related to feed substrate and intestinal microbiota is essential to ensure optimal larval development. The aim of this study was to assess and elucidate the contribution of substrate nutrients and intestinal microbes to protein and fat synthesis in BSFL. The results showed that larvae that were fed high-quality feed (chicken feed) had high fat biomass, while larvae that were fed medium-quality feed (wheat bran) had high protein biomass. These results indicate that the original nutritional content of the feed cannot fully explain larval growth and nutrient utilization. However, the phenomenon could be explained by the functional metabolism of intestinal microbes. Chicken feed enhanced the fatty acid metabolism of middle intestine microorganisms in larvae within 0-7 days. This process facilitated larval fat synthesis. In contrast, wheat bran stimulated the amino acid metabolism in posterior intestine microorganisms in larvae within 4-7 days, leading to better protein synthesis. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the microbial functional potential in the intestine in regulating protein and lipid synthesis in BSFL, which is also influenced by the type of feed. In conclusion, our study suggests that both feed type and intestinal microbes play a crucial role in efficiently converting organic waste into high-quality insect protein and fat. Additionally, a mixed culture of chicken feed and wheat bran was found to be effective in promoting larval biomass while reducing feed costs. KEY POINTS: • Intestinal microbes explain BSFL growth better than feed substrates. • Chicken feed promotes fatty acid synthesis in the middle intestine • Wheat bran promotes amino acid synthesis in the posterior intestine.

Explaining nitrogen turnover in sediments and water through variations in microbial community composition and potential function.

Anthropogenic activities greatly impact nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycling in aquatic ecosystems. High N concentrations in coastal aquaculture waters threaten fishery production and aquaculture ecosystems and have become an urgent problem to be solved. Existing microbial flora and metabolic potential significantly regulate N turnover in aquatic ecosystems. To clarify the contribution of microorganisms to N turnover in sediment and water, we investigated three types of aquaculture ecosystems in coastal areas of Guangdong, China. Nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) was the dominant component of total nitrogen in the sediment (interstitial water, 90.4%) and water (61.6%). This finding indicates that NO3--N (1.67-2.86 mg/L and 2.98-7.89 mg/L in the sediment and water) is a major pollutant in aquaculture ecosystems. In water, the relative abundances of assimilation nitrogen reduction and aerobic denitrifying bacteria, as well as the metabolic potentials of nitrogen fixation and dissimilated nitrogen in fish monoculture, were only 61.0%, 31.5%, 47.5%, and 27.2% of fish and shrimp polyculture, respectively. In addition, fish-shrimp polyculture reduced NO3--N content (2.86 mg/L) compared to fish monoculture (7.89 mg/L), which was consistent with changes in aerobic denitrification and nitrate assimilation, suggesting that polyculture could reduce TN concentrations in water bodies and alleviate nitrogen pollution risks. Further analysis via structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that functional pathways (36% and 31%) explained TN changes better than microbial groups in sediment and water (13% and 11%), suggesting that microbial functional capabilities explain TN better than microbial community composition and other factors (pH, O2, and aquaculture type). This study enhances our understanding of nitrogen pollution characteristics and microbial community and functional capabilities related to sediment-water nitrogen turnover in three types of aquaculture ecosystems, which can contribute to the preservation of healthy coastal ecosystems.

Species' functional traits and interactions drive nitrate-mediated sulfur-oxidizing community structure and functioning.

IMPORTANCE: Understanding the processes and mechanisms governing microbial community assembly and their linkages to ecosystem functioning has long been a core issue in microbial ecology. An in-depth insight still requires combining with analyses of species' functional traits and microbial interactions. Our study showed how species' functional traits and interactions determined microbial community structure and functions by a well-controlled laboratory experiment with nitrate-mediated sulfur oxidation systems using high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent technologies. The results provided solid evidences that species' functional traits and interactions were the intrinsic factors determining community structure and function. More importantly, our study established quantitative links between community structure and function based on species' functional traits and interactions, which would have important implications for the design and synthesis of microbiomes with expected functions.

Cable bacteria accelerate the anaerobic removal of pyrene in black odorous river sediments.

Cable bacteria play an essential role in biogeochemical processes in sediments by long-distance electron transport (LDET). A potential relationship has been found between cable bacteria and organic contaminant removal; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the response of cable bacteria to pyrene was investigated in sediments with and without pyrene, and the effect of cable bacteria on pyrene removal was explored by connecting and blocking the paths of cable bacteria to the suboxic zones. The results showed that pyrene significantly influenced the microbial community structure and the composition of cable bacteria. The pyrene removal efficiencies significantly increased with the enrichment of cable bacteria, while sulfur-reducing microorganisms and aromatic compound degraders were also significantly enriched and correlated with cable bacteria abundance. Metagenomic analysis showed that cable bacteria have a potential LDET-bound acetate/formate respiratory pathway to gain energy. The presence of pyrene probably selects and enriches cable bacteria with a high tolerance to organic contaminants and changes the related functional microbial community, leading to the acceleration of pyrene removal. This study provides new insights into the interaction mechanisms between contaminants and cable bacteria, shedding light on the applications of cable bacteria in the bioremediation of contaminants in sediments.

LACpG10-HL Functions Effectively in Antibiotic-Free and Healthy Husbandry by Improving the Innate Immunity.

Antibiotics are broadly restricted in modern husbandry farming, necessitating the need for efficient and low-cost immunomodulatory preparations in antibiotic-free and healthful farming. As is known to all, CpG oligonucleotides (CpG-ODNs, an effective innate immunostimulatory agent) recognized by TLR9 in mammals (while TLR21 in avians) could collaborate with some united agent to induce stronger immune responses, but the cost is prohibitively expensive for farmers. Here, considering the coordination between TLR2 and TLR9/TLR21, we firstly proposed the idea that the well-fermented Lactococcus lactis could be utilized as a CpG-plasmid carrier (LACpG10) to enhance the host's innate immunity against pathogenic invasion. In the present study, after obtaining LACpG10-HL from homogenized and lyophilized recombinant strain LACpG10, we treated primary chicken lymphocytes, two cell lines (HD11 and IPEC-J2), and chickens with LACpG10-HL, CpG plasmids (pNZ8148-CpG10), and other stimulants, and respectively confirmed the effects by conducting qRT-PCR, bacterial infection assays, and a zoological experiment. Our data showed that LACpG10-HL could induce excellent innate immunity by regulating autophagy reactions, cytokine expression, and motivating PRRs. Interestingly, despite having no direct antiseptic effect, LACpG10-HL improved the antibacterial capacities of lymphocytes and enterocytes at the first line of defense. Most importantly, water-supplied LACpG10-HL treatment reduced the average adverse event rates, demonstrating that LACpG10-HL maintained its excellent immunostimulatory and protective properties under farming conditions. Our research not only contributes to revealing the satisfactory effects of LACpG10-HL but also sheds new light on a cost-effective solution with optimal immune effects in green, antibiotic-free, and healthful husbandry farming.

Water quality drives the distribution of freshwater cable bacteria.

Cable bacteria are a group of recently found filamentous sulfide-oxidizing Desulfobulbaceae that significantly impact biogeochemical cycling. However, the limited understanding of cable bacteria distribution patterns and the driving force hindered our abilities to evaluate and maximize their contribution to environmental health. We evaluated cable bacteria assemblages from ten river sediments in the Pearl River Delta, China. The results revealed a clear biogeographic distribution pattern of cable bacteria, and their communities were deterministically assembled through water quality-driven selection. Cable bacteria are diverse in the river sediments with a few generalists and many specialists, and the water quality IV and V environments are the "hot spot." We then provided evidence on their morphology, function, and genome to demonstrate how water quality might shape the cable bacteria assemblages. Reduced cell width, inhibited function, and water quality-related adaptive genomic traits were detected in sulfide-limited water quality III and contaminant-stressed water quality VI environments. Specifically, those genomic traits were contributed to carbon and sulfur metabolism in the water quality III environment and stress resistance in the water quality VI environment. Overall, these findings provided a helpful baseline in evaluating the contribution of cable bacteria in the freshwater ecosystem and suggested that their high diversity and flexibility in phylogeny, morphology, and genome allowed them to adapt and contribute to various environmental conditions.

Comparison of catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

OBJECTIVE: To compare both the beneficial and adverse effects of catheter ablation (CA) and surgical ablation (SA) on patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We searched MEDLINE and 4 additional databases for randomized controlled trials that compared CA with SA. Following data extraction, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy and safety of CA relative to SA. The primary end point of this study was the absence of AF during a 12-month follow-up period without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. RESULTS: Seven trials comparing SA with CA met the inclusion criteria for efficacy outcome assessments. Following the meta-analysis, we obtained a summary odds ratio (OR) of achieving success 1 year after CA relative to SA was 0.37:1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.69). The result was robust in the subgroup analysis. CA was associated with a greater incidence of femoral vascular complications (OR, 5.81; 95% CI, 1.03-32.71), but a lower incidence of pneumothorax (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.74) than SA. Statistically significant differences in the other safety outcomes were not observed between CA and SA. CONCLUSIONS: SA confers a moderate advantage over CA in 1-year efficacy outcomes and may be safely performed by experienced surgeons.

YBX has functional roles in CpG-ODN against cold stress and bacterial infection of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus.

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (M. anguillicaudatus) is a widely cultivated fish. However, in M. anguillicaudatus breeding, the frequent cold stress during daily breeding could induce immune suppression and increase the risk of infection, causing serious economic loss. Based on existing findings, CpG Oligonucleotides (CpG-ODNs) may be an ideal protective agent for low temperature fish breeding, performing anti-infective when faced with cold stress with cold shock proteins Y box binding proteins (YBX). Although YBX has pleiotropic functions, its roles in CpG-ODNs-mediated immunity (especially under cold situations) remain largely unexplored. To clarify the relationship among them, we identified the YBX1/YBX2 in M. anguillicaudatus and analyzed using a series of bioinformatics methods. After that, we immunized the fish with 3 types of CpG-ODNs and challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila). Here we showed that the best anti-bacterial effect of CpG-B was accompanied by the significant upregulation of YBX1. And the detection of the YBX1 downstream effectors confirmed that CpG-B induced the YBX1-mediated Th1 oriented responses to A. hydrophila by regulation of the NLRP3 (Caspase-A/-B), IL-1ß, IL-12 and IFN-γ. Afterwards, we found that under cold stress, CpG-B can activate the NLRP3 and NF-κB pathways through YBX1, a key mediator of anti-A. hydrophila in CpG-B immunization. In this study, we demonstrated CpG-B protection against infection in low temperature, and its interaction with YBX1, expanded the research of CpG-ODN under cold stress, and provided a new CpG-ODN application for low temperature fish farming.

Sex differences in the link between blood cobalt concentrations and insulin resistance in adults without diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of environmental cobalt exposure on insulin resistance (IR) in the general adult population. We investigated the association between cobalt concentration and IR. METHODS: A total of 1281 subjects aged more than 20 years with complete blood cobalt data were identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016 cycle. Blood cobalt levels were analyzed for their association with IR among all populations and subgroups by sex. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of blood cobalt concentrations in association with fasting glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were estimated using multivariate linear regression after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, body mass index, education level, and household income. A multivariate generalized linear regression analysis was further carried out to explore the association between cobalt exposure and IR. RESULTS: A negative association between blood cobalt concentration (coefficient = - 0.125, 95% CI - 0.234, - 0.015; P = 0.026) and HOMA-IR in female adults in the age- and sex-adjusted model was observed. However, no associations with HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, or insulin were found in the overall population. In the generalized linear models, participants with the lowest cobalt levels had a 2.74% (95% CI 0.04%, 5.50%) increase in HOMA-IR (P for trend = 0.031) compared with subjects with the highest cobalt levels. Restricted cubic spline regression suggested that a non-linear relationship may exist between blood cobalt and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide epidemiological evidence that low levels of blood cobalt are negatively associated with HOMA-IR in female adults.

Enhancing bio-cathodic nitrate removal through anode-cathode polarity inversion together with regulating the anode electroactivity.

Bio-cathodic nitrate removal uses autotrophic nitrate-reducing bacteria as catalysts to realize the nitrate removal process and has been considered as a cost-effective way to remove nitrate contamination. However, the present bio-cathodic nitrate removal process has problems with long start-up time and low performance, which are urgently required to improve for its application. In this study, we investigated an anode-cathode polarity inversion method for rapidly cultivating high-performance nitrate-reducing bio-cathode by regulating bio-anodic bio-oxidation electroactivities under different external resistances and explored at the first time the correlation between the oxidation performance and the reduction performance of one mixed-bacteria bioelectrode. A high bio-electrochemical nitrate removal rate of 2.74 ± 0.03 gNO3--N m-2 d-1 was obtained at the bioelectrode with high bio-anodic bio-oxidation electroactivity, which was 4.0 times that of 0.69 ± 0.03 gNO3--N m-2 d-1 at the bioelectrode with low bio-oxidation electroactivity, and which was 1.3-7.9 times that of reported (0.35-2.04 gNO3--N m-2 d-1). 16S rRNA gene sequences and bacterial biomass analysis showed higher bio-cathodic nitrate removal came from higher bacterial biomass of electrogenic bacteria and nitrate-reducing bacteria. A good linear correlation between the bio-cathodic nitrate removal performance and the reversed bio-anodic bio-oxidation electroactivity was presented and likely implied that electrogenic biofilm had either action as autotrophic nitrate reduction or promotion to the development of autotrophic nitrate removal system. This study provided a novel strategy not only to rapidly cultivate high-performance bio-cathode but also to possibly develop the bio-cathode with specific functions for substance synthesis and pollutant detection.

Facile sealing treatment with stannous citrate complex to enhance performance of electrodeposited Ti/SnO2-Sb electrode.

Ti/SnO2-Sb is a promising anode for electrochemical advanced oxidation process with advantages of low cost and no secondary pollution, while suffers from low work economy due to the short service life. In this study, a facile strategy was proposed to fabricate Ti/SnO2-Sb electrode with high oxidation ability and long service life based on novelly sealing electrodeposited Sn-Sb coating with stannous citrate complex. The treated Ti/SnO2-Sb electrode exhibited an accelerated service life of 41.5 h (100 mA cm-2; 0.5 M H2SO4) and a degradation rate constant for methylene blue dye of 1.02 h-1 which were respectively 11.9 and 2.5 times as that of the untreated electrode. It was found out that the complex could well repair the coating defects inside or outside and form a covering film to tighten the coating, and was then mineralized during the following calcination process to achieve a uniform, rough and highly active SnO2-Sb catalytic layer. The distinctive structure was confirmed by XRD, SEM, XPS and FT-IR. The sealing treatment could be achieved by in situ electrodepositing Sn-Sb coating from or ex situ dipping Sn-Sb coating in solution containing stannous citrate complex followed by drying in air. This study provided a novel, facile and effective strategy to enhance performance of Ti/SnO2-Sb electrode that could be easily achieved in both laboratory and industrial scales and combined with other strategies.

Enhancement of the denitrification activity by exoelectrogens in single-chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells.

Single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can efficiently treat wastewater containing nitrate, probably because the interaction between exoelectrogens and denitrifying bacteria may enhance the denitrification activity of MFCs. In this study, the denitrification of nitrate with a wide range of concentrations was investigated by using single-chamber air cathode MFCs. The maximum average denitrification rate of the MFCs inoculated and operated under closed-circuit conditions (Group N-CC) was up to 12.2 ±â€¯0.6 kg NO3--N m-3 d-1 at a high nitrate concentration of 2000 mg NO3-N L-1, which was 74.3% higher than that of the MFCs inoculated and operated under open-circuit conditions and which was significantly higher than those of other MFC systems and many traditional bioreactors. The high denitrification activity of the MFCs of Group N-CC was attributed to the significant reduction of nitrite accumulation through the possible bioelectrochemical nitrite reduction by exoelectrogens that were only enriched at the anodes of the MFCs of Group N-CC. In addition, the MFCs of Group N-CC showed good stability (over 3.5 years) and low apparent activation energy (34.0 kJ mol-1) of the denitrification, indicating the good coexistence of exoelectrogens (Geobacter) and denitrifying bacteria (Thauera) with high performance on denitrification during the long-term operation.

Shear Stress Affects Biofilm Structure and Consequently Current Generation of Bioanode in Microbial Electrochemical Systems (MESs).

Shear stress is an important factor that affects the formation and structure of anode biofilms, which are strongly related to the extracellular electron transfer phenomena and bioelectric performance of bioanodes. Here, we show that using nitrogen sparging to induce shear stress during anode biofilm formation increases the linear sweep voltammetry peak current density of the mature anode biofilm from 2.37 ± 0.15 to 4.05 ± 0.25 A/m2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results revealed that the shear-stress-enriched anode biofilm had a low charge transfer resistance of 46.34 Ω compared to that of the unperturbed enriched anode biofilm (72.2 Ω). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations showed that the shear-stress-enriched biofilms were entirely viable, whereas the unperturbed enriched anode biofilm consisted of a live outer layer covering a dead inner-core layer. Based on biomass and community analyses, the shear-stress-enriched biofilm had four times the biofilm density (136.0 vs. 27.50 µg DNA/cm3) and twice the relative abundance of Geobacteraceae (over 80 vs. 40%) in comparison with those of the unperturbed enriched anode biofilm. These results show that applying high shear stress during anode biofilm enrichment can result in an entirely viable and dense biofilm with a high relative abundance of exoelectrogens and, consequently, better performance.

Sensitivity to Oxygen in Microbial Electrochemical Systems Biofilms.

The formation and bioelectric performance of anode biofilms in microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) are sensitive to oxygen. Investigating the temporal-spatial structure of anode biofilms will help elucidate the interfaces between oxygen and bacteria, thereby facilitating the applications of MESs in wastewater treatment and energy recovery. Here, use of optical coherence tomography, frozen sections, and a microsensor revealed that the aerobic biofilms exhibited a multilayered sandwich structure with a sparse gap between the aerobe- and amphimicrobe-enriched outer layer and the dense exoelectrogen-enriched inner layer, whereas the anaerobic biofilm consisted of only a single dense layer. Our results showed that the inner layer of aerobic anode biofilms performed electricity generation, whereas the outer layer only consumed oxygen. In this case, electron donor diffusion through the outer layer became the limiting factor in electricity generation by the bioanode. Consequently, as the anode biofilms matured, current generation decreased.

Association between polyfluoroalkyl chemical concentrations and leucocyte telomere length in US adults.

Exposure to some environmental chemicals is reportedly associated with the leucocyte telomere length (LTL), but the effects of the non-occupational exposure to polyfluoroalkyl chemical (PFCs) on the LTL are not well understood. Using data from 773 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 1999-2000, we analysed the association between blood PFC concentrations and LTL. Coefficients (betas) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the blood PFC concentrations in association with the LTL were estimated using multivariate linear regression models after adjustment for age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), poverty income ratio, educational level, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and other PFCs. The results identified a strong positive association between the blood perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentration and LTL in adults, and no associations were found between the LTL and other PFCs. In the linear regression models, each increment of one standard deviation (SD) in the base-10-logarithm-transformed PFOS concentration was associated with a 21-bp increase in the LTL in the fully adjusted model (P = 0.033). Moreover, serum PFOS was associated with the LTL mainly in females and individuals aged 40-50, as demonstrated by stratified analyses. These results provide epidemiological evidence showing that environment-related levels of serum PFOS are positively associated with the LTL in adults.

Effective swine wastewater treatment by combining microbial fuel cells with flocculation.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide a cost-effective method for treating swine wastewater treatment and simultaneously producing electricity, yet they need to be combined with other wastewater treatment processes to improve the effluent water quality. In this paper, we constructed single-chamber air-cathode MFCs with a compact configuration for nitrogen and COD removal and high electricity production and combined them with a low-cost flocculation process to discharge higher quality wastewater. We show that MFCs could remove ammonia at a rate of 269.2 ± 0.5 g m-3 d-1 (99.1± 0.1% ammonia removal efficiency) with a maximum power density of 37.5 W m-3 and 21.6% of coulombic efficiency at a 40:60 ratio of raw swine wastewater to denitrification effluent of swine wastewater. Up to 82.5 ± 0.5% COD could be removed with MFCs, from 2735 ± 15 mg L-1 to 480 ± 15 mg L-1, and flocculation further reduced levels to 90 ± 1 mg L-1 for a 96.6 ± 0.2% overall COD removal efficiency of the combination technology. Cost analysis of the combined MFC and flocculation process showed a net economic benefit of $ 0.026 m-3. In summary, this novel combination wastewater treatment method provides an effective way to treat swine wastewater to low pollutant levels in the effluent at low cost (a net gain).

Single-agent maintenance therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of maintenance therapy has been confirmed in patients with non-progressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after first-line therapy by many trials and meta-analyses. However, since few head-to-head trials between different regimens have been reported, clinicians still have little guidance on how to select the most efficacious single-agent regimen. Hence, we present a network meta-analysis to assess the comparative treatment efficacy of several single-agent maintenance therapy regimens for stage III/IV NSCLC. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of public databases and conference proceedings was performed. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) meeting the eligible criteria were integrated into a Bayesian network meta-analysis. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and the secondary outcome was progression free survival (PFS). RESULTS: A total of 26 trials covering 7,839 patients were identified, of which 24 trials were included in the OS analysis, while 23 trials were included in the PFS analysis. Switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine and switch-pemetrexed were identified as the most efficacious regimens based on OS (HR, 0.64; 95% CrI, 0.45-0.92) and PFS (HR, 0.54; 95% CrI, 0.26-1.04) separately. According to the rank order based on OS, switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine had the highest probability as the most effective regimen (52%), while switch-pemetrexed ranked first (34%) based on PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Several single-agent maintenance therapy regimens can prolong OS and PFS for stage III/IV NSCLC. Switch-racotumomab-alum vaccine maintenance therapy may be the most optimal regimen, but should be confirmed by additional evidence.