Polypropylene microplastics affect the distribution and bioavailability of cadmium by changing soil components during soil aging.

Compared with the widespread and serious heavy metal contamination in soils, microplastic pollution has gained attention only recently. Little is known about how microplastics affect the distribution of heavy metals in soils, especially across soil components level. In this study, a 180-day soil aging experiment and soil density fractionation were performed to investigate the effect of polypropylene (PP) microplastics on the binding behavior of cadmium (Cd) to solid components, i.e. particulate organic matter, organo-mineral complexes (OMC), and mineral. Results showed addition of 2-10% microplastics in soils induced the decomposition of OMC fraction by 10.88-23.10%. Compared to the control, the content of dissolved organic carbon increased, and pH, humic substances, and soil organic matter decreased with microplastics. After 180d of aging, the content of Cd in OMC fraction increased by 17.92%, while microplastics made Cd contents decline by 10.01-19.75%. The impacts strongly depended on the dose and surface characteristic of microplastics. Overall, PP microplastics increased the concentration of bioavailable Cd in soils via decreasing soil retention of Cd by the OMC fraction. These findings based on the solid components level will provide a new perspective for understanding microplastics effects on soil systems and pollutants.

A critical review on the interactions of microplastics with heavy metals: Mechanism and their combined effect on organisms and humans.

Although individual toxicity of microplastics (MPs) to organism has been widely studied, limited knowledge is available on the interactions between heavy metals and MPs, as well as potential biological impacts from their combinations. The interaction between MPs and heavy metals may alter their environmental behaviors, bioavailability and potential toxicity, leading to ecological risks. In this paper, an overview of different sources of heavy metals on MPs is provided. Then the recent achievements in adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics and interaction mechanism between MPs and heavy metals are discussed. Besides, the factors that influence the adsorption of heavy metals on MPs such as polymer properties, chemical properties of heavy metals, and other environmental factors are also considered. Furthermore, potential combined toxic effects from MPs and heavy metals on organisms and human health are further summarized.

[Retracted] Pathogenetic mechanism of lipoid proteinosis caused by mutation of the extracellular matrix protein 1 gene.

After the publication of the above article, the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports received an accusation that this paper contained material taken from the PhD thesis of Dr Xiao Bai of the China Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, whose thesis entitled "Study on mutations of ECM1 in lipoid proteinosis" was published online in 2015. After having enquired with the authors regarding this allegation, the first author and the corresponding author, Dr Dong Gao, admitted that she had infringed the rights of Dr Bai, and that it was not appropriate that the following figures were published in the research article: Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, which coincided with Figs. 3, 19, 27, 29, 31, and 32 in her PhD thesis, respectively. Furthermore, the above article was submitted to Molecular Medicine Reports by Dr Gao without the prior knowledge of all the other authors. Therefore, Dr Gao has agreed with the recommendation of the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports that the above article should be retracted from the publication on account of the inappropriate use of the figures, and for submitting the article without having received the approval of all the authors. All the named authors on the paper agree to the retraction. Dr Gao regrets her actions and the inconvenience that this retraction has caused, and sincerely apologizes to Dr Bai, to the Editor, and to the readership of the Journal. [the original article was published in Molecular Medicine Reports 17: 8087­8090, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8928].

Pathogenetic mechanism of lipoid proteinosis caused by mutation of the extracellular matrix protein 1 gene.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare form of dermatosis with autosomal recessive inheritance. The present study hypothesized that an extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) gene mutation forms the pathological basis of LP. The association between ECM1 mutation and LP; however, requires further investigation and was thus investigated in the present study. Injury skin tissue samples from patients with LP were collected, along with venous blood samples for genomic DNA extraction. Immunohistochemical staining was performed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to obtain an ECM1 gene fragment, which was sequenced and compared with healthy individuals. Histopathological examination revealed that all included patients fitted the features of LP and PCR amplification of the ECM1 gene in all patients obtained positive results. Patients with LP in the present study exhibited point mutations in the ECM1 gene, including one homozygous mutation (C220G) as previously reported, and one novel homozygous mutation c.508insCTG and two heterozygous mutations (C220G/P.R481X and c507delT/c.l473delT). LP is correlated with ECM1 gene mutation.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase is a predictor of poor survival in malignant melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, different studies suggested that the elevated serum concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was associated with poor prognosis of melanoma. However, the results were controversial. BACKGROUND: We decided to perform a meta-analysis to assess the association between serum concentration of LDH and the overall survival (OS) of melanoma. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Online electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane database) were searched. The association of LDH and the OS of melanoma was estimated by hazard ratio (HR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 13 eligible studies with 4036 patients met the inclusion criteria. LDH level was significantly associated with OS in melanoma patients (HR=1.97, 95% CI 1.62-2.40, P<0.00001; I2=78%). In addition, LDH level was also significantly associated with OS in stage IV melanoma patients (HR=1.99, 95% CI 1.59-2.50, P<0.00001; I2=79%). In the subgroup analysis by study design, a statistically significant association was found in retrospective cohort studies (HR=2.31, 95% CI 1.18- 4.51, P=0.01; I2=87%) and in prospective cohort studies (HR=1.87, 95% CI 1.55-2.26, P<0.00001; I2=73%). In the subgroup analysis by sample size, LDH level was significantly associated with OS in large sample size studies (HR=1.61, 95% CI 1.17-2.23, P=0.003; I2=73%) and small sample size studies (HR=2.18, 95% CI 1.69-2.80, P <0.00001; I2=79%). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that high LDH level might be a predictor of poor prognosis of melanoma patients.

[Treatment result of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tongue base operation for the severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and operative method of UPPP and tongue base operation for the severe OSAHS at Velo- and tongue-pharyngeal obstruction. METHODS: 26 cases who were diagnosed as severe OSAHS with Velo- and tongue-pharyngeal obstruction by Muller's maneuver were treated surgically by UPPP and tongue base operation. The tongue base operation included fusiform incision or rhomboid incision in the middle of tongue base by laser or electrotome. 4 cases received tongue base lateral incision and advancement fixation. 2 cases underwent tracheotomy before the operation. 20 cases underwent tracheotomy during operation. RESULTS: The 6-month, 1-year and 3-year responders are 100%, 84.6% and 76.9% respectively. The introcession of the tongue base incision were repaired in four cases. After 1-2 years, the cases with lateral incision on the tongue base with advancement fixation had temporary aspiration after the operation and recovered through practice. CONCLUSION: The polysomnography (PSG) was essential to OSAHS and especially to severe OSAHS. Muller's maneuver is important in locating the obstructive sites of OSAHS. The stitching is essential to the cases after fusiform incision or rhomboid incision of tongue base. The combination of UPPP and tongue base operation is important for OSAHS treatment. The combined treatment of OSAHS could have a better results.