Discovery and Validation of Ferroptosis-Associated Genes of Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-lasting idiopathic condition, but its precise mechanisms remain unclear. Meanwhile, evidence has demonstrated that ferroptosis seems to interlock with the progress of UC. This research sought to identify hub genes of UC related to ferroptosis. Methods: First, the relevant profiles for this article were obtained from GEO database. From the FerrDb, 479 genes linked to ferroptosis were retrieved. Using analysis of the difference and WGCNA on colonic samples from GSE73661, the remaining six hub genes linked to ferroptosis and UC were discovered. Through logistic regression analyses, the diagnostic model was constructed and was then evaluated by external validation using dataset GSE92415. Afterwards, the correlation between immune cell filtration in UC and hub genes was examined. Finally, a mice model of colitis was established, and the results were verified using qRT-PCR. Results: We acquired six hub genes linked to ferroptosis and UC. In order to create a diagnostic model for UC, we used logistic regression analysis to screen three of the six ferroptosis related genes (HIF1A, SLC7A11, and LPIN1). The ROC curve showed that the three hub genes had outstanding potential for disease diagnosis (AUC = 0.976), which was subsequently validated in samples from GSE92415 (AUC = 0.962) and blood samples from GSE3365 (AUC = 0.847) and GSE94648 (AUC = 0.769). These genes might be crucial for UC immunity based upon the results on the immune system. Furthermore, mouse samples examined using qRT-PCR also verified our findings. Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings have important implications for ferroptosis and UC, and these hub genes may also offer fresh perspectives on the aetiology and therapeutic approaches of UC.

Differential responses of the electron transfer capacities of soil humic acid and fulvic acid to long-term wastewater irrigation.

Wastewater irrigation is used to supplement agricultural irrigation because of its benefits and freshwater resource scarcity. However, whether wastewater irrigation for many years affects the electron transfer capacity (ETC) of natural organic matter in soil remains unclear, and organic matter could influence the decomposition and mineralization of substances with redox characteristics in soil through electron transfer, ultimately affecting the soil environment. The composition of soil humic substances (HS) is highly complex, and the effects of soil humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) on ETC is poorly understood. In this study, we separately evaluated the responses of the electron-accepting capacity (EAC) and electron-donating capacity (EDC) of soil HA and FA in agricultural fields to various durations of wastewater irrigation. Results showed that the EAC of HA and FA increased significantly with increasing the duration of wastewater irrigation. When wastewater irrigation lasted for 56 years, the EAC of HA showed a higher increment (590 %) than that of FA (223 %). The EDC of soil HA and FA, conversely, decreased compared to the control, with the highest reduction of 35.6 % for HA and 65.9 % for FA. Specifically, the EDC of HA gradually decreased starting from 29 years of wastewater irrigation, whereas the decrease in the EDC of FA exhibited no clear pattern in relation to the duration of wastewater irrigation. Increased soil organic matter and total nitrogen content under long-term wastewater irrigation led to an increase in sucrase and phosphatase activities, along with an increase in EAC and a decrease in EDC of HS. This suggests that soil enzyme activities may ultimately lead to changes in ETC. The results of this research provide practical insights into the redox system in soil and its driving role in soil organic matter transformation and nutrient cycling under wastewater irrigation.

Full life cycle and sustainability transitions of phthalates in landfill: A review.

Phthalates (PAEs) are added to various products as a plasticizer. As these products age and are disposed of, plastic waste containing PAEs enters the landfill. The landfill environment is complicated and can be regarded as a "black box". Also, PAEs do not bind with the polymer matrix. Therefore, when a series of physical chemistry and biological reactions occur during the stabilization of landfills, PAEs leach from waste and migrate to the surrounding environmental media, thereby contaminating the surrounding soil, water ecosystems, and atmosphere. Although research on PAEs has achieved progress over the years, they are mainly concentrated on a particular aspect of PAEs in the landfill; there are fewer inquiries on the life cycle of PAEs. In this study, we review the presence of PAEs in the landfill in the following aspects: (1) the main source of PAEs in landfills; (2) the impact of the landfill environment on PAE migration and conversion; (3) distribution and transmedia migration of PAEs in aquatic ecosystems, soils, and atmosphere; and (4) PAE management and control in the landfill and future research direction. The purpose is to track the life cycle of PAEs in landfills, provide scientific basis for in-depth understanding of the migration and transformation of PAEs and environmental pollution control in landfills, and new ideas for the sustainable utilization of landfills.