Insight study of rare earth elements in PM2.5 during five years in a Chinese inland city: Composition variations, sources, and exposure assessment.

The booming development of rare earth industry and the extensive utilization of its products accompanied by urban development have led to the accelerated accumulation of rare earth elements (REEs) as emerging pollutants in atmospheric environment. In this study, the variation of REEs in PM2.5 with urban (a non-mining city) transformation was investigated through five consecutive years of sample collection. The compositional variability and provenance contribution of REEs in PM2.5 were characterized, and the REEs exposure risks of children and adults via inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption were also evaluated. The results showed an increase in the total REEs concentration from 46.46 ± 35.16 mg/kg (2017) to 81.22 ± 38.98 mg/kg (2021) over the five-year period, with Ce and La making the largest contribution. The actual increment of industrial and traffic emission source among the three pollution sources was 1.34 ng/m3. Coal combustion source displayed a downward trend. Ingestion was the main exposure pathway for REEs in PM2.5 for both children and adults. Ce contributed the most to the total intake of REEs in PM2.5 among the population, followed by La and Nd. The exposure risks of REEs in PM2.5 in the region were relatively low, but the trend of change was of great concern. It was strongly recommended to strengthen the concern about traffic-related non-exhaust emissions of particulate matter.

Ox-LDL aggravates contrast-induced injury of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Hypercholesterolemia can aggravate contrast-induced acute kidney injury, and the exacerbation of renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) injury is a major cause. However, the exact mechanisms remain obscure. Mitophagy, a type of autophagy, selectively eliminates damaged mitochondria and reduces mitochondrial oxidative stress, which is strongly implicated in cell homeostasis and acute kidney injury. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) is accumulated in hypercholesterolemia and has a cytotoxic effect. This study aimed to determine whether and how ox-LDL exacerbates contrast-induced injury in RTECs and to further explore whether PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy is involved in this process. Iohexol and ox-LDL were used alone or in combination to treat HK-2 cells. Rapamycin pretreatment was utilized to enhance mitophagy. Cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) were detected by cell counting kit-8, TUNEL staining, JC-1 kit and MitoSOX fluorescence, respectively. The expression of mitophagy-related proteins (including PINK1, Parkin, and so on) and cleaved caspase-3 was confirmed by western blot. Colocalization of MitoTracker-labeled mitochondria and LysoTracker-labeled lysosomes was observed by fluorescence microscopy to evaluate mitophagy. The results of our study showed that ox-LDL aggravated MMP decline, mtROS release and apoptosis in iohexol-treated HK-2 cells, accompanied by a further increased autophagy level. Enhancement of PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy by rapamycin alleviated apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in HK-2 cells in response to iohexol under ox-LDL condition. Therefore, our findings indicate that ox-LDL aggravates contrast-induced injury of RTECs by increasing mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial oxidative stress, which may be associated with the relative insufficiency of PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy.

Decryption analysis of antimony pollution sources in PM2.5 through a multi-source isotope mixing model based on lead isotopes.

Antimony (Sb) in PM2.5 has attracted close attention as a new air pollutant due to its extensive use in daily life. The identification of antimony sources in PM2.5 by scientific methods is important to control its pollution. In this study, the Sb and other elements concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions in PM2.5 and possible pollution sources (soil, road dust, traffic emission, coal-fired fly ash, local factory emission dust and cement dust) were analyzed. The results showed that the Sb in the PM2.5 samples had seasonal change. The enrichment factors of Sb in PM2.5 samples were all above 100 in four seasons, which indicated anthropogenic pollution. The average value of potential ecological risk index was at extremely high-risk level greater than 320. Based on Pearson correlation coefficient and hierarchical cluster analysis results, the pollution sources of antimony and lead in PM2.5 samples were highly consistent which means that Pb isotopes might be a new and feasible tracer for Sb pollution in air. The sources analysis results based on Pb isotopes indicated that the proportion of Pb and Sb from coal-fired fly ash was the highest in winter (47.7%) and inclined to road dust in spring (34.5%), but it was mainly from traffic emissions in summer and autumn (34.2% and 32.8%). This study showed that Pb isotope tracing can be applied to predict the potential pollution sources, and it was also a feasible substitute for tracing Sb pollution in PM2.5.

Ambra1 in cancer: implications for clinical oncology.

Activating molecule in Beclin-1-regulated autophagy protein 1 (Ambra1) is well known to mediate the autophagy process and promote the formation of autophagosomes. In addition, Ambra1 is involved in the execution of apoptosis. A growing number of studies have revealed that this protein modifies the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs by controlling the balance between autophagy and apoptosis. In addition, Ambra1 is a key factor in regulating the cell cycle, proliferation, invasion and migration. Therefore, it plays a key role in tumorigenesis and progression. Moreover, Ambra1 is highly expressed in a variety of cancers and is closely related to the prognosis of patients. Thus, it appears that Ambra1 has multiple roles in tumorigenesis and progression, which may have implications for clinical oncology. The present review focuses on recent advances in the study of Ambra1, especially the role of the protein in tumorigenesis, progression and effects on anticancer drug sensitivity.

Ambra1 regulates apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells through the Akt-FoxO1-Bim pathway.

The sensitivity of cells to chemotherapeutic agents has a major effect on disease outcome in breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, there are numerous factors involved in the regulation of chemosensitivity, and the mechanisms need to be further investigated. Autophagy/Beclin 1 regulator 1 (Ambra1) is a key protein in the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis. It controls the switch between these two processes, which determines whether cells survive or die. Induction of apoptosis is the primary mechanism by which most chemotherapeutic drugs eliminate cancer cells. Recently, Ambra1 has been shown to modulate paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells via the Bim/mitochondrial pathway, thereby modifying the sensitivity of cells to paclitaxel. However, how Ambra1 regulates Bim expression remains unclear. Here, we further confirmed that Bim plays an indispensable role in Ambra1's regulation of apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, Ambra1 was found to regulate Bim expression at the transcriptional level through the Akt-FoxO1 pathway. Therefore, we propose a novel pathway, Ambra1-Akt-FoxO1-Bim, which regulates apoptosis and chemosensitivity in breast cancer cells. Thus, Ambra1 may represent a potential target for breast cancer treatment.

Application of New Energy Thermochromic Composite Thermosensitive Materials of Smart Windows in Recent Years.

Thermochromic smart windows technology can intelligently regulate indoor solar radiation by changing indoor light transmittance in response to thermal stimulation, thus reducing energy consumption of the building. In recent years, with the development of new energy-saving materials and the combination with practical technology, energy-saving smart windows technology has received more and more attention from scientific research. Based on the summary of thermochromic smart windows by Yi Long research groups, this review described the applications of thermal responsive organic materials in smart windows, including poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogels, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogels, ionic liquids and liquid crystals. Besides, the mechanism of various organic materials and the properties of functional materials were also introduced. Finally, opportunities and challenges relating to thermochromic smart windows and prospects for future development are discussed.

Characterization of BcMF23a and BcMF23b, two putative pectin methylesterase genes related to pollen development in Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis.

Two homologous genes, Brassica campestris Male Fertility 23a (BcMF23a) and Brassica campestris Male Fertility 23b (BcMF23b), encoding putative pectin methylesterases (PMEs) were isolated from Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis (syn. Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis). These two genes sharing high sequence identity with each other were highly expressed in the fertile flower buds but silenced in the sterile ones of genic male sterile line system ('Bcajh97-01A/B'). Results of RT-PCR and in situ hybridization suggested that BcMF23a and BcMF23b were pollen-expressed genes, whose transcripts were first detected at the binucleate pollen and maintained throughout to the mature pollen grains. Western blot indicated that both of the putative BcMF23a and BcMF23b proteins are approximately 40 kDa, which exhibited extracellular localization revealed by transient expression analysis in the onion epidermal cells. The promoter of BcMF23a was active specifically in pollen during the late pollen developmental stages, while, in addition to the pollen, BcMF23b promoter drove an extra gene expression in the valve margins, abscission layer at the base of the first true leaves, taproot and lateral roots in seedlings.

Facile One-Step Strategy for Highly Boosted Microbial Extracellular Electron Transfer of the Genus Shewanella.

High performance of bacterial extracellular electron transfer (EET) is essentially important for its practical applications in versatile bioelectric fields. We developed a facile one-step approach to dramatically boost the bacterial EET activity 75-fold by exogenous addition of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na, 1 mM) into the electrochemical cells, where the anodic process of microbial EET was monitored. We propose that EDTA-2Na enables both the alternation of the local environment around the c-type cytochromes located on the outer membrane channels (OMCs), which therefore changes the redox behavior of OMCs in mediating the EET process, and the formation of densely packed biofilm that can further facilitate the EET process. As a synergistic effect, the highly boosted bacterial EET activity was achieved. The method shows good generality for versatile bioelectrical bacteria. We envision that the method is also applicable for constructing various bioelectric devices.

Angiomotin promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Angiomotin (Amot) is a multifunctional protein involved in endothelial cell migration and tube formation and angiogenesis. However, the biological role and molecular mechanism for the abnormal expression of Amot in breast cancer is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the function of and relationship between Amot and the Hippo-Yes-associated protein (YAP) pathway. The expression and location of Amot was examined in breast cancer tissues and cell lines using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR), western blotting and immunofluorescence. ANOVA, Student's t-test, Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests were utilized to determine the association of Amot expression with clinically relevant parameters. Stable Amot knockdown MCF-7 cells (MCF-7 Amot KD) were generated to investigate the impact of Amot downregulation on the growth and invasion of MCF-7 cells in vitro. Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of the Hippo-YAP pathway protein in the MCF-7 cells. It was observed that Amot was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues, but weakly expressed in adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Additionally, the expression level of Amot was correlated with that of Ki-67. In MCF-7 cells, Amot downregulation resulted in a significant decrease of cell proliferation and invasiveness. Following Amot knockdown in MCF-7 cells, the expression of YAP, YAP/TAZ and LATS1 was decreased. In particular, the expression of YAP was markedly reduced in the nucleoprotein. The results suggested that Amot was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and was important in the promotion of breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, there was a more intimate connection between Amot and Hippo-YAP pathway.

Wettability-regulated extracellular electron transfer from the living organism of Shewanella loihica PV-4.

C-type cytochromes located on the outer membrane (OMCs) of genus Shewanella act as the main redox-active species to mediate extracellular electron transfer (EET) from the inside of the outer membrane to the external environment: the central challenge that must be met for successful EET. The redox states of OMCs play a crucial role in dictating the rate and extent of EET. Here, we report that the surface wettability of the electrodes strongly influences the EET activity of living organisms of Shewanella loihica PV-4 at a fixed external potential: the EET activity on a hydrophilic electrode is more than five times higher than that on a hydrophobic one. We propose that the redox state of OMCs varies significantly at electrodes with different wettability, resulting in different EET activities.

Hybrid bio-organic interfaces with matchable nanoscale topography for durable high extracellular electron transfer activity.

Here, we developed a novel hybrid bio-organic interface with matchable nano-scale topography between a polypyrrole nanowire array (PPy-NA) and the bacterium Shewanella, which enabled a remarkably increased extracellular electron transfer (EET) current from genus Shewanella over a rather long period. PPy-NA thus exhibited outstanding performance in mediating bacterial EET, which was superior to normal electrodes such as carbon plates, Au and tin-doped In2O3. It was proposed that the combined effect of the inherent electrochemical nature of PPy and the porous structured bacterial network that was generated on the PPy-NA enabled long-term stability, while the high efficiency was attributed to the enhanced electron transfer rate between PPy-NA and microbes caused by the enhanced local topological interactions.

PECTATE LYASE-LIKE10 is associated with pollen wall development in Brassica campestris.

PECTATE LYASE-LIKE10 (PLL10) was previously identified as one of the differentially expressed genes both in microspores during the late pollen developmental stages and in pistils during the fertilization process in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis). Here, antisense-RNA was used to study the functions of BcPLL10 in Chinese cabbage. Abnormal pollen was identified in the transgenic lines (bcpll10-4, -5, and -6). In fertilization experiments, fewer seeds were harvested when the antisense-RNA lines were used as pollen donor. In vivo and in vitro pollen germination assays less germinated pollen tubes were observed in bcpll10 lines. Scanning electron microscopy observation verified that the tryphine materials were over accumulated around the pollen surface and sticked them together in bcpll10. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that the internal endintine was overdeveloped and predominantly occupied the intine, and disturbed the normal proportional distribution of the two layers in the non-germinal furrow region; and no obvious demarcation existed between them in the germinal furrow region in the bcpll10 pollen. Collectively, this study presented a novel PLL gene that played an important role during the pollen wall development in B. campestris, which may also possess potential importance for male sterility usage in agriculture.

Gefitinib-induced interstitial pneumonia: A case report and review of the literature.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of and treatment strategies for interstitial pneumonia induced by gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The detailed clinical data of one patient with NSCLC and gefitinib-induced interstitial pneumonia were compiled and a review of relevant previous studies was performed. Based on this case report and the review, the clinical characteristics, mechanisms and treatment strategies of this rare disease were analyzed. The analyses showed that older, male patients with a long smoking history, high smoking index and adenocarcinoma (particularly bronchoalveolar carcinoma) were more likely to suffer from interstitial pneumonia while taking gefitinib. The onset time of interstitial pneumonia was 1-2 months subsequent to gefitinib administration. The clinical manifestations included chest tightness, shortness of breath, progressive dyspnea, severe hypoxemia and respiratory failure. Diffuse infiltration and alveolar interstitial shadows were observed on the chest tomography scan. In such circumstances, a timely judgment is required, in addition to the withdrawal of gefitinib treatment and the administration of high-dose glucocorticoids, as well as oxygen inhalation and anti-infective therapies, in order to relieve the symptoms. In conclusion, following the onset of gefitinib-induced interstitial pneumonia, the discontinuation of gefitinib is likely to alleviate the suffering of the majority of patients. Early interstitial pneumonia is not an absolute index for the permanent discontinuation of gefitinib treatment. It is necessary to comprehensively consider the benefits and hazards of gefitinib for the patients.

Splenic metastasis of ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Splenic metastasis of ovarian cancer appears to be more common in serous cystadenocarcinomas. Splenic metastasis usually occurs postoperatively and simultaneously with dissemination to the greater omentum and pelvic cavity. Compared with other ovarian cancer subtypes, ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (OCCA) is rare, accounting for <5% of all ovarian malignancies. OCCA has a distinct histological type with poor prognosis and resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. In the present study, a case of isolated splenic metastasis of OCCA was reported. A 53-year-old female presented with a mass in the left upper quadrant without any other clinical manifestations. Subsequent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scans revealed multiple mixed cystic-solid lesions, potentially predicting ovarian malignancy. Pathological tests following ovarian cytoreductive surgery revealed primary OCCA with metastases to the spleen. The current study also reviewed recently published literature on splenic metastasis of ovarian carcinoma and demonstrated that the reported case was a rare case of isolated splenic metastasis of OCCA.

Identification of novel and conserved miRNAs involved in pollen development in Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis by high-throughput sequencing and degradome analysis.

BACKGROUND: microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, noncoding, small RNAs that have essential regulatory functions in plant growth, development, and stress response processes. However, limited information is available about their functions in sexual reproduction of flowering plants. Pollen development is an important process in the life cycle of a flowering plant and is a major factor that affects the yield and quality of crop seeds. RESULTS: This study aims to identify miRNAs involved in pollen development. Two independent small RNA libraries were constructed from the flower buds of the male sterile line (Bcajh97-01A) and male fertile line (Bcajh97-01B) of Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis. The libraries were subjected to high-throughput sequencing by using the Illumina Solexa system. Eight novel miRNAs on the other arm of known pre-miRNAs, 54 new conserved miRNAs, and 8 novel miRNA members were identified. Twenty-five pairs of novel miRNA/miRNA* were found. Among all the identified miRNAs, 18 differentially expressed miRNAs with over two-fold change between flower buds of male sterile line (Bcajh97-01A) and male fertile line (Bcajh97-01B) were identified. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that most of the differentially expressed miRNAs were preferentially expressed in flower buds of the male fertile line (Bcajh97-01B). Degradome analysis showed that a total of 15 genes were predicted to be the targets of seven miRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide an overview of potential miRNAs involved in pollen development and interactions between miRNAs and their corresponding targets, which may provide important clues on the function of miRNAs in pollen development.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of polygalacturonase genes in Cucumis sativus and Citrullus lanatus.

Polygalacturonase (PG, EC3.2.1.15), one of the hydrolytic enzymes associated with the modification of pectin network in plant cell wall, has an important role in various cell-separation processes that are essential for plant development. PGs are encoded by a large gene family in plants. However, information on this gene family in plant development remains limited. In the present study, 53 and 62 putative members of the PG gene family in cucumber and watermelon genomes, respectively, were identified by genome-wide search to explore the composition, structure, and evolution of the PG family in Cucurbitaceae crops. The results showed that tandem duplication could be an important factor that contributes to the expansion of the PG genes in the two crops. The phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses suggested that PGs could be classified into seven clades, and that the exon/intron structures and intron phases were conserved within but divergent between clades. At least 24 ancestral PGs were detected in the common ancestor of Arabidopsis and Cucumis sativus. Expression profile analysis by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that most CsPGs exhibit specific or high expression pattern in one of the organs/tissues. The 16 CsPGs associated with fruit development could be divided into three subsets based on their specific expression patterns and the cis-elements of fruit-specific, endosperm/seed-specific, and ethylene-responsive exhibited in their promoter regions. Our comparative analysis provided some basic information on the PG gene family, which would be valuable for further functional analysis of the PG genes during plant development.

[Expression of oxidative stress proteins in the clear-cell renal cell carcinoma].

AIM: To investigate the expression of the oxidative stress proteins in human clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) cell line (RLC-310) and normal renal proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2), the CRCC and the corresponding normal renal tissues. METHODS: RLC-310 and HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro. Total proteins of the two cell lines were separated by PF-2D protein fractionation system. The differentially expressed proteins of the two cell lines were analyzed using capillary LC-ESI-MS/MS and identified using the protein database. The representative differential oxidative stress proteins were verified by immunohistochemistry in the CRCC and corresponding normal renal tissues. RESULTS: Twelve differentially expressed oxidative stress proteins were identified, including peroxiredoxin-1, peroxiredoxin-6 (PRX-6), superoxide dismutase[Cu-Zn] SOD1, catalase, glutathione peroxidase 1, glutathione synthetase, glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTPi), thioredoxin, heat shock protein 10 (HSP10), HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90. Three representative differential proteins PRX-6, HSP60 and GSTPi were both expressed in RLC-310 and HK-2, and the levels of these proteins were significantly higher in RLC-310 than those in HK-2 (P<0.05). The levels of these proteins were significantly higher in CRCC than those in corresponding normal renal tissues (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A series of oxidative stress proteins are overexpressed in the CRCC. They play an important role in preventing oxidative damage of CRCC cells.