Microplastics contamination associated with low-value domestic source organic solid waste: A review.

Waste activated sludge and food waste are two typical important domestic low-value organic solid wastes (LOSW). LOSW contains significant organic matter and water content resulting in the transboundary transfer of liquid-solid-gas and other multi-mediums, such that the complexity of microplastics (MPs) migration should be of greater concern. This article provides a review of the literature focusing on the separation and extraction methods of MPs from LOSW. The occurrence and source of MPs are discussed, and the output and impact of MPs on LOSW heat and biological treatments are summarized. The fate and co-effects of MPs and other pollutants in landfills and soils are reviewed. This review highlights the migration and transformation of MPs in domestic source LOSW, and future perspectives focused on the development of a unified extraction and analysis protocol. The objective of this review is to promote the technological development of decontamination of MPs in LOSW by sufficient understanding of the fate of MPs, their interaction with coexisting pollutants and the development of targeted preventive research strategies.

[Expression of XBP-1 in breast cancer cell lines and its role in ERalpha signaling].

Estrogen receptor (ERalpha) plays an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Several recent studies have demonstrated that expression of human X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) is associated with ERalpha status in breast tumors and overexpressed in a subset of breast tumors. XBP-1 has two splicing variants, which were designated as XBP-1S and XBP-1U, respectively. However, little is known about the expression pattern of XBP-1S and XBP-1U in breast cancer cells and about their roles in ERalpha signaling. In this study, the expression of two splicing forms of XBP-1 was detected in breast cancer cell lines with RT-PCR. Estrogen response element (ERE) -containing luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the effects of XBP-1S and XBP-1U on the transcription activity of ERalpha in MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells. The result showed that both XBP-1S and XBP-1U enhanced the transcription activity of ERalpha in a hormone-independent and dose-dependent manner and the activity of of XBP-1S is higher than that of XBP-1U. Enhancement of ERE-containing luciferase reporter gene expression by XBP-1S and XBP-1U was dependent on ERalpha. These data suggest that XBP-1S and XBP-1U may play important roles in breast cancer growth and progression through ERalpha signaling.