ABSTRACT
Anthropogenic acidification has become a concerned problem in the Taihu region; however, how it affected the regional weathering rate, especially at the different sub-watershed levels has hardly been studied. To reveal the impact of human activities on watershed weathering and water chemistry in Taihu sub-watersheds, historical water chemistry data (1950s-1970s) and recent water samples (2018-2021) of the local river systems, as well as sediment samples of Taihu lake were collected and analyzed, and a linear addition mass balance method was used to determine the weathering rate at the sub-watershed level. The results indicated that, compared with 60 years ago, the current weathering rate of carbonates and silicates in the Taoge water system (TG) was the highest, reaching 67.2 and 11.4 t·km-2·a-1, increasing by 4.1 and 2.7-folds, respectively; and meanwhile the carbonate and silicate weathering rates increased by 3.1 and 4.9-folds in the Nanhe water system (NH), and 5.2 and 3.4-folds in the Tiaoxi water system (TX), respectively. The increasing rate was significantly correlated to the atmospheric SO2 concentration in different sub-watersheds and was affected by the sub-watershed lithology, e.g., TX had a higher increase rate of silicate weathering due to the wider distribution of silicates in this sub-watershed than the other two. The sediment evidence of Na/K and Ca/Al on the profile in different lake parts, which was influenced by different influx river systems, confirmed that the overall intensity of watershed weathering was higher in TG than in the TX sub-watershed and was higher in the recent decade than 50-60 years ago. The accelerated weathering rate was found to present a definite consistency with the social and economic development in the watershed. Combined analyses of the accelerated weathering rate in the watershed and sedimentation evidence indicated that the major driving force for the watershed weathering has shifted from carbonic acid under the natural condition to human-induced sulfuric acid since 1980s.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Humans , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Weather , China , Rivers , Water/analysis , Silicates/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysisABSTRACT
Although Taihu watershed is an "acid-insensitive" region, anthropogenic acidification has greatly changed the water chemistry in Taihu Lake. However, how soil carbonates responded to the long-term human-induced acidification received less attention. In this work, we investigated soil carbonate concentrations from different land uses in the upstream of the lake and sediment carbonate profiles in the lake, to explore the linkage of carbonates dissolution in the land and sedimentation in the lake. The result showed that the wheat-rice surface soil, the most acidification-impacted by fertilization and acid deposition, had significantly lower pH than vegetable and wetland soils (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the carbonate concentration in wetland soils, only impacted by acid deposition, was significantly higher than that in wheat-rice and vegetable soils (p < 0.05). The pH profile of fertilized soils, with an increasing trend from the surface to bottom, further indicated the acidifying effect of fertilization. Although the average soil pH across all land uses was 6.6 in the upstream of the lake, remaining carbonate buffering system, the significant carbonate decrease especially in surface soils evidenced the definite carbonate dissolution by acidification, which is cumulative and irreversible. Contrary to the topsoils, the sediment carbonate concentration presented an increasing trend from the depth of 15 cm (denoting around the early 1980s) to the surface, indicating that lake sediment is a major sink of carbonate Ca and Mg from the watershed, particular under an alkaline lake environment caused by frequent algae blooms in the past decades. In addition, Ca/Mg ratio in the sediment, having higher values in a higher pH environment, was quite different from the watershed soil pattern, suggesting different biogeochemical processes Ca and Mg underwent during their transportation and sedimentation. The effects of acidification-altered re-distribution of carbonate Ca and Mg and Ca/Mg ratio in the terrestrial and aquatic environments deserve wider considerations of ecosystem consequence.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Soil , Humans , Solubility , Carbonates , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , China , Geologic Sediments , Environmental MonitoringABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the lamina windowing small gap and the vertebrae pedicle bone graft in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures of the curative effect.Methods 132 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture of were selecteds, the average random divided into open the window and pedicle group, open a window line set of lamina windowing small gap vertebral body bone graft and pedicle group through pedicle vertebral body bone graft, through intraoperative records, hospital records and postoperative follow-up of collecting morphological index, operation index, JOA score and Frankel classification of spinal cord injury in order to evaluate the clinical curative effect of two kinds of operative methods.Results The operation time in the pedicle group was (103.58±14.37) min, which was more than that of the fenestration group [ (85.72±12.96) min], the incision drainage rate in the pedicle group [ (100.96±5.29) ml] was less than that in the fenestration group [ (178.52±12.41) ml], and the postoperative pain score in the pedicle group [ (15.37±2.86) ] was higher than that in the fenestration group [ (8.26±4.52) ], the healing time of fractures in the pedicle group [ (20.85±0.60) weeks ]was less than that of the fenestration group [ (24.29±1.06) weeks].The difference was all statistically significant (P＜0.05).After treatment, the intervertebral space height of the pedicle group [ (11.55±1.94) mm] was significantly higher than that of the fenestration group [ (9.53±1.92) mm], and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).After treatment, the JOA scores of patients in the pedicle group[7.78±1.39, 4.93±0.92, 13.84±2.74] were significantly higher than those in the open window group[6.24±1.20, 4.50±0.83, 12.43±2.52] (P＜0.05).The difference between the composition of Frankel spinal cord injury in the pedicle group and the fenestration group was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with small fenestration through the intervertebral space, this surgical method can promote the fracture healing and improve the symptoms of patients more rapidly, and is more suitable for the surgical treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture patients.
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BACKGROUND:Periprosthetic femoral fracture is a severe complication after total hip arthroplasty. More than 85% belongs to Vancouver B2 and B3 fractures, and the operation is difficult. OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical effect of Cable-Ready fast system and biotype long-stem prosthesis and its effect on the recovery of joint function in patients with Vancouver B2 and B3 type periprosthetic femoral fractures after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A total of 60 patients receiving total hip arthroplasty suffered from Vancouver B2 and B3 type periprosthetic femoral fractures in the Huanggang Central Hospital from September 2011 to September 2012. They were equaly divided into control and observation groups according to different fixation methods. Patients in the control group were treated by ordinary steel wire cerclage fixation combined with uncemented long-stem prosthesis; those in the observation group were treated by Cable-Ready fast system combined with fast uncemented long-stem prosthesis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The average operation time, the time of hospitalization and fracture healing time were shorter in the observation group than in the control group. Moreover, the intraoperative blood loss was less in the observation group than in the control group. After 1 year of folow-up, Harris hip score was higher in the observation group compared with pre-treatment (t=3.174 9,P=0.002 6), and significantly higher than the control group (t=2.479 8,P=0.015 4). The excelent and good rate of Harris hip score was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (χ2=11.294 5,P=0.002 6). The total incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (χ2=8.139 7,P=0.04 2). These data indicate that Cable-Ready fast system combined with uncemented long-stem prosthesis in the treatment of Vancouver B2 and B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures after total hip arthroplasty has smal injury, less postoperative complications and better recovery of hip function after operation.
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Background:Esophageal cancer is a common gastrointestinal cancer with poor prognosis,and effective chemotherapy is lacking currently. Studies have shown that cardiac glycosides can inhibit tumor cells growth,but its mechanism has not been fully clarified. Aims:To investigate the effect and mechanism of ouabain in regulating proliferation of human esophageal carcinoma cells. Methods:OE19 human esophageal carcinoma cells were treated with ouabain,and cells in control group were treated with DMSO. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting method. mRNA expressions of Sox2,Sox4,Sox7,Sox9 and Sox10 were determined by real-time PCR. Protein expression of Sox4 was determined by Western blotting. Gene expressions of phospho-histone3( ph3),a cell proliferation marker and Sox4 were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results:Ouabain( ≥ 40 nmol/ L)could significantly inhibit OE19 cells proliferation. mRNA and protein expressions of Sox4 were significantly decreased in OE19 cells in ouabain(40 nmol/ L)group than those in control group(P 0. 05). Gene expressions of ph3 and Sox4 in nucleus of OE19 cells were decreased in ouabain (40 nmol/ L)group than those in control group. Conclusions:Ouabain is effective in inhibiting human esophageal carcinoma cells proliferation,the underlying mechanism might be related with down-regulation of Sox4 expression and the subsequent cell cycle modulation.
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BACKGROUND:Borosilicate cannot only be mineralized to form hydroxy carbonate apatite layer, but also have strong chemical reactivity to promote bone cel regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of the borosilicate bioglass on the growth behavior of rabbit osteoblasts through in vitro culture experiment. METHODS:The initial and secondary extracts of borosilicate bioglass were prepared according to the requirement of ISO10993-12: 2007. The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels of rabbits were isolated and cultured. The second generation bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. The osteoblasts of the 5th-15th RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The osteoblasts proliferation in the initial extract and secondary extract groups was better than that in the α-MEM medium group (P < 0.05). The osteoblasts proliferation in the initial extract group was better than that in the secondary extract group (P < 0.05). The total protein content of osteoblasts in the initial extract group was higher than that in the secondary extract and α-MEM medium group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the alkaline phosphatase activity, apoptosis rate, horizontal migration distance of osteoblast and transmembrane cel number in Transwel between these three groups. These results demonstrate that borosilicate bioglass has good biocompatibility and has a certain benign regulatory role in generations were obtained and cultured with the initial and secondary extracts of borosilicate bioglass and α-MEM medium, respectively. The effects of borosilicate bioglass on the osteoblasts proliferation, protein synthesis, alkaline phosphatase activity, cel apoptosis, and cel migration in horizontal and vertical direction were observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The osteoblasts proliferation in the initial extract and secondary extract groups was better than that in the α-MEM medium group (P < 0.05). The osteoblasts proliferation in the initial extract group was better than that in the secondary extract group (P < 0.05). The total protein content of osteoblasts in the initial extract group was higher than that in the secondary extract and α-MEM medium group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the alkaline phosphatase activity, apoptosis rate, horizontal migration distance of osteoblast and transmembrane cell number in Transwell between these three groups. These results demonstrate that borosilicate bioglass has good biocompatibility and has a certain benign regulatory role in osteoblast proliferation.
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AIM: To investigate the effect of rhubarb on MAPK activation in sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis in rats. METHODS: All rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, acute pancreatitis (AP) and rhubarb treatment groups. The MAPK activation was detected by western blotting. The levels of TNFα and IL6 in serum were estimated by ELISA. The pathological changes of the pancreas were examined microscopically. RESULTS: It was found that hemorrhage, exudates and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pancreas were significantly less in the rhubarb group than in the AP group. In the AP group, the activation of MAPKs in pancreatic tissues was enhanced significantly at every time point compared with the control group and the levels of TNFα and IL6 were also increased. Rhubarb treatment markedly inhibited activation of MAPKs concomitantly with inhibition of TNFα and IL6 expression. CONCLUSION: We suggest that rhubarb probably attenuates AP by inhibiting activation of MAPKs and expression of inflammatory mediators.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage , Hemorrhage/prevention & control , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/metabolism , Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/drug therapy , Rheum , Animals , Cell Movement/drug effects , Disease Progression , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , Hemorrhage/etiology , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Male , Pancreas/drug effects , Pancreas/metabolism , Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/chemically induced , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Taurocholic Acid/administration & dosage , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Up-Regulation/drug effectsABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the effect of eukaryotic expression vector containing sense and antisense DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) gene on the transcript level of tumor associated genes in human colon cancer cell line. Methods Recombinant plasmid, including sense DNMT1 (HMT) and antisense DNMT1 (THM) gene, were constructed and transfected into SW1116 cell by using the lipofectamine. Then G418 filtration was performed. The expression of DNMT1 protein was examined by Western blotting. The transcription level of hMLH1, hMSH2, c myc and p16 INK4A genes were detected by RT PCR. Results The sense and antisense eukaryotic expression vectors were successfully constructed and then the constructed recombinant plasmids were transfected into SW1116 cell. The protein levels of DNMT1 have been up regulated and down regulated in SW1116 cells transfected with HMT and THM plasmids, respectively. The mRNA level of hMLH1, hMSH2, c myc gene were down regulated in the sense DNMT1 transfected cell. The mRNA level of hMSH2 was up regulated in the antisense DNMT1 transfected cell. However, the transcription level of p16 INK4A gene could not be associated with DNMT1 in SW1116 cell.Conclusion DNMT1 can regulate the expression of the tumor associated genes in human colon cancer cell line SW1116.
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Objective To investigate the relationship of the expression of DNA methyltransferase,demethylase(mbd2) and tumor-associated genes in human gastric cancer. Methods Tissue samples of cancerous,para-cancerous and normal gastric mucosa were obtained surgically from 28 primary gastric cancer patients. The transcription level of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1),mbd2,methyl-CpG binding protein (MeCP2),p16 INK4A and c-myc were determined by using real-time RT-PCR and RT-PCR. The relationship between the expression of DNA methylation-associated genes and tumor-associated genes was analyzed. Results The mRNA level of DNMT1 was higher and the mRNA level of mbd2 gene was lower in cancerous tissue than that in normal tissue. The expression of c-myc instead of p16 INK4A and MeCP2 was increased in cancer tissues. The mRNA level of c-myc related negatively to mbd2 when gastric cancer developed. However,there was no any close relation between the transcription level of all above genes and tumor biological behavior in human gastric cancer. Conclusion This study indicates that MeCP2 but not DNMT1 may contribute to the regulation of tumor-associated genes expression in human gastric cancer.
