Spatial distribution characteristics of carbazole and polyhalogenated carbazoles in water column and sediments in the open Western Pacific Ocean.

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs), an emerging persistent halogenated organic pollutant, have been detected in the environment. However, our understanding of PHCZs in the ocean remains limited. In this study, 47 seawater samples (covering 50 - 4000 m) and sediment samples (49 surface and 3 cores) were collected to investigate the occurrence and spatial distribution patterns of carbazole and its halogenated derivants (CZDs) in the Western Pacific Ocean. In seawater, the detection frequencies of CZ (97.87%) and 3-CCZ (57.45%) were relatively high. In addition, the average concentration of ΣPHCZs in the upper water (< 150 m, 0.23 ± 0.21 ng/L) was significantly lower than that in the deep ocean (1000 - 4000 m, 0.65 ± 0.56 ng/L, P < 0.05), which may indicate the vertical transport of PHCZs in the marine environment. The concentration of ΣCZDs in surface sediment ranges from 0.46 to 6.48 ng/g (mean 1.54 ng/g), among which CZ and 36-CCZ were the predominant components. Results from sediment cores demonstrate a noteworthy negative correlation between the concentration of CZDs and depth, indicating the ongoing natural degradation process occurring in sediment cores over a long period. This study offers distinctive insights into the occurrence, composition, and vertical features of CZDs in oceanic environments.

Fluorescent Noncovalent Organic Framework for Supporting Gold Nanoparticles as Heterogeneous Catalyst with Merits of Easy Detection and Recycle.

A porous noncovalent organic framework with AIE effect is designed and synthesized as the support for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The framework is fabricated through the electrostatic complexation between carboxymethyl cellulose and tetraphenylethene-containing ammonium surfactant, which can complex AuNPs via the noncovalent interactions to offer a heterogeneous catalyst. Compared to the covalent modification on cellulose, this noncovalent framework gains superiorities in the catalyst synthesis and the size control of AuNPs. The AIE property and water-insolubility allow such heterogeneous catalysts to be easily detected, separated, and recycled, opening a new pathway for the reduction of nitrobenzene compounds and some dye compounds in aqueous conditions, which present the features of green chemistry. The use of cellulose for developing new heterogeneous metal catalysts, especially in a noncovalent way, would promote the value-added utilization of cellulose. This work provides a design strategy for gaining heterogeneous metal catalysts by taking advantage of natural bioresources.

Co-culture of Acinetobacter sp. and Scedosporium sp. immobilized beads for optimized biosurfactant production and degradation of crude oil.

The widespread exploration and exploitation of crude oil has increased the prevalence of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in the marine and coastal environment. Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons using cell immobilization techniques is gaining increasing attention. In this study, the crude oil degradation performance of bacterial and fungal co-culture was optimized by entrapping both cells in sodium-alginate and polyvinyl alcohol composite beads. Results indicate that fungal cells remained active after entrapment and throughout the experiment, while bacterial cells were non-viable at the end of the experimental period in treatments with the bacterial-fungal ratio of 1:2. A remarkable decrease in surface tension from 72 mN/m to 36.51 mN/m was achieved in treatments with the bacterial-fungal ratio of 3:1. This resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal rate of 89.4%, and the highest degradation of n-alkanes fractions (from 2129.01 mg/L to 118.53 mg/L), compared to the other treatments. Whereas PAHs removal was highest in treatments with the most fungal abundance (from 980.96 µg/L to 177.3 µg/L). Furthermore, enzymes analysis test revealed that catalase had the most effect on microbial degradation of the target substrate, while protease had no significant impact on the degradation process. High expression of almA and PAH-RHDa genes was achieved in the co-culture treatments, which correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with n-alkanes and PAHs removal, respectively. These results indicate that the application of immobilized bacterial and fungal cells in defined co-culture systems is an effective strategy for enhanced biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in aqueous systems.

Performance and microbial community analysis of combined bioreactors in treating high-salinity hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water.

The anoxic/oxic systems are a widely used biological strategy for wastewater treatment. However, little is known about the performance and microbial community correlation of different combined bioreactors in the treatment of high-COD and high-salinity hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water (HF-FPW). In this study, the performance of Up-flow anaerobic sludge bed-bio-contact oxidation reactor (UASB-BCOR) and Fixed-bed baffled reactor (FBR-BCOR) in treating HF-FPW was investigated and compared. The results suggested the FBR-BCOR could efficiently remove COD, SS, NH4+-N, and oil pollutants, and it exhibited better resistance to the negative interference of hydraulic shock load on it. Besides, the correlation analysis first disclosed the key functional genera during the degradation process, including Ignavibacterium, Ellin6067, and Zixibacteria. Moreover, network analysis revealed that the difference of microbial co-occurrence network structure is the main driving factor for the difference of bioreactor processing capacity. This work demonstrates the feasibility and potential of FBR-BCOR in treating HF-FPW.

Revealing the response of microbial communities to polyethylene micro(nano)plastics exposure in cold seep sediment.

To date, multiple studies have shown that the accumulation of microplastics (MPs)/nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment may lead to various problems. However, the effects of MPs/NPs on microbial communities and biogeochemical processes, particularly methane metabolism in cold seep sediments, have not been well elucidated. In this study, an indoor microcosm experiment for a period of 120 days exposure of MPs/NPs was conducted. The results showed that MPs/NPs addition did not significantly influence bacterial and archaeal richness in comparison with the control (p > 0.05), whereas higher levels of NPs (1 %, w/w) had a significant adverse effect on bacterial diversity (p < 0.05). Moreover, the bacterial community was more sensitive to the addition of MPs/NPs than the archaea, and Epsilonbacteraeota replaced Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum in the MPs/NPs treatments (except 0.2 % NPs). With respect to the co-occurrence relationships, network analysis showed that the presence of NPs, in comparison with MPs, reduced microbial network complexity. Finally, the presence of MPs/NPs decreased the abundance of mcrA, while promoting the abundance of pmoA. This study will help elucidate the responses of microbial communities to MPs/NPs and evaluate their effects on methane metabolism in cold seep ecosystems.

Enhanced remediation of oil-contaminated intertidal sediment by bacterial consortium of petroleum degraders and biosurfactant producers.

Oil pollution in intertidal zones is an important environmental issue that has serious adverse effects on coastal ecosystems. This study investigated the efficacy of a bacterial consortium constructed from petroleum degraders and biosurfactant producers in the bioremediation of oil-polluted sediment. Inoculation of the constructed consortium significantly enhanced the removal of C8-C40n-alkanes (80.2 ± 2.8% removal efficiency) and aromatic compounds (34.4 ± 10.8% removal efficiency) within 10 weeks. The consortium played dual functions of petroleum degradation and biosurfactant production, greatly improving microbial growth and metabolic activities. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the consortium markedly increased the proportions of indigenous alkane-degrading populations (up to 3.88-times higher than that of the control treatment). Microbial community analysis demonstrated that the exogenous consortium activated the degradation functions of indigenous microflora and promoted synergistic cooperation among microorganisms. Our findings indicated that supplementation of a bacterial consortium of petroleum degraders and biosurfactant producers is a promising bioremediation strategy for oil-polluted sediments.

Influence of microplastics on microbial anaerobic detoxification of chlorophenols.

Microplastics (MPs) can absorb halogenated organic compounds and transport them into marine anaerobic zones. Microbial reductive dehalogenation is a major process that naturally attenuates organohalide pollutants in anaerobic environments. Here, we aimed to determine the mechanisms through which MPs affect the microbe-mediated marine halogen cycle by incubating 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) dechlorinating cultures with various types of MPs. We found that TCP was dechlorinated to 4-chlorophenol in biotic control and polypropylene (PP) cultures, but essentially terminated at 2,4-dichlorophenol in polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cultures after incubation for 20 days. Oxygen-containing functional groups such as peroxide and aldehyde were enriched on PE and PET after incubation and corresponded to elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the microorganisms. Adding PE or PET to the cultures exerted limited effects on hydrogenase and ATPase activities, but delayed the expression of the gene encoding reductive dehalogenase (RDase). Considering the limited changes in the microbial composition of the enriched cultures, these findings suggested that microbial dechlorination is probably affected by MPs through the ROS-induced inhibition of RDase synthesis and/or activity. Overall, our findings showed that extensive MP pollution is unfavorable to environmental xenobiotic detoxification.

A biosurfactant-producing yeast Rhodotorula sp.CC01 utilizing landfill leachate as nitrogen source and its broad degradation spectra of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Biosurfactants (BSs) are known for their remarkable properties, however, their commercial applications are hampered partly by the high production cost. To overcome this issue, a biosurfactant producing strain, Rhodotorula sp.CC01 was isolated using landfill leachate as nitrogen source, while olive oil was determined as the best sole carbon source. The BS produced by Rhodotorula sp.CC01 had oil displacement diameter of 19.90 ± 0.10 cm and could reduce the surface tension of water to 34.77 ± 0.63 mN/m. It was characterized as glycolipids by thin layer chromatography, FTIR spectra, and GC-MS analysis, with the critical micelle concentration of 70 mg/L. Meanwhile, the BS showed stability over a wide range of pH (2-12), salinity (0-100 g/L), and temperature (20-100 °C). During the cultivation process, BS was produced with a maximum rate of 163.33 mg L-1 h-1 and a maximum yield of 1360 mg/L at 50 h. In addition, the removal efficiency of NH4+-N reached 84.2% after 75 h cultivation with a maximum NH4+-N removal rate of 3.92 mg L-1 h-1. Moreover, Rhodotorula sp.CC01 has proven to be of great potential in remediating petroleum hydrocarbons, as revealed by chromogenic assays. Furthermore, genes related to nitrogen metabolism and glycolipid metabolism were found in this strain CC01 after annotating the genome data with KEGG database, such as narB, glycoprotein glucosyltransferase, acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase, LRA1, LRA3, and LRA4. The findings of this study prove a cost-effective strategy for the production of BS by yeast through the utilization of landfill leachate.

Rhamnolipids produced under aerobic/anaerobic conditions: Comparative analysis and their promising applications.

This research comprises a comparative study of the properties, rhl genes expression, and structural difference in rhamnolipids produced under different oxygen conditions via Pseudomonas sp. CH1. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of rhamnolipids produced under aerobic conditions (RAO) was 100 mg/L. In contrast, rhamnolipids produced under anaerobic conditions (RNO) had a low CMC of 40 mg/L. RNO comprised six rhamnolipids homologs, and the proportion of mono-rhamnolipids was up to 87.83%; meanwhile, the percent ratio of di-rhamnolipids and mono-rhamnolipids in RAO was 63.1:36.9. Additionally, diversified applications for solubilization of hydrophobic pollutants and reduction in heavy oil viscosity were investigated. The addition of RNO greatly enhanced the solubility of phenanthrene in water, from 1.29 mg/L to 193.14 mg/L, a 148.7-fold increase. Moreover, the viscosity of heavy oil decreased by over 90% for both kinds of rhamnolipids, whereas RAO effectively reduced the viscosity even at a low temperature (10 °C). The findings of this study provide insights into the versatile potential applications of rhamnolipids produced under different oxygen conditions.

Improved degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by co-culture of fungi and biosurfactant-producing bacteria.

Microbial remediation has proven to be an effective technique for the cleanup of crude-oil contaminated sites. However, limited information exists on the dynamics involved in defined co-cultures of biosurfactant-producing bacteria and fungi in bioremediation processes. In this study, a fungal strain (Scedosporium sp. ZYY) capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons was isolated and co-cultured with biosurfactant-producing bacteria (Acinetobacter sp. Y2) to investigate their combined effect on crude-oil degradation. Results showed that the surface tension of the co-culture decreased from 63.12 to 47.58 mN m-1, indicating the secretion of biosurfactants in the culture. Meanwhile, the degradation rate of total petroleum hydrocarbon increased from 23.36% to 58.61% at the end of the 7-d incubation period. In addition, gas chromatography - mass spectrometry analysis showed a significant (P < 0.05) degradation from 3789.27 mg/L to 940.33 mg/L for n-alkanes and 1667.33 µg/L to 661.5 µg/L for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, RT-qPCR results revealed the high expression of alkB and CYP52 genes by Acinetobacter sp. Y2 and Scedosporium sp. ZYY respectively in the co-culture, which corelated positively (P < 0.01) with n-alkane removal. Finally, microbial growth assay which corresponded with Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis activity, highlighted the synergistic behavior of both strains in tackling the crude oil. Findings in this study suggest that the combination of fungal strain and biosurfactant-producing bacteria effectively enhances the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, which could shed new light on the improvement of bioremediation strategies.

Enhanced bioremediation of diesel oil-contaminated seawater by a biochar-immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria Vibrio sp. LQ2 isolated from cold seep sediment.

This study investigated the effect of immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria on the bioremediation of diesel oil-contaminated seawater. Initially, a biosurfactant-producing bacterium, LQ2, was isolated from a marine cold-seep region, and identified as Vibrio sp. The biosurfactant produced by LQ2 was characterized as a phospholipid, exhibiting high surface activity with strong stability. Meanwhile, the inoculation of biochar-immobilized LQ2 demonstrated superior efficiency in removing diesel oil (94.7%, reduction from 169.2 mg to 8.91 mg) over a seven-day period compared to free-cell culture (54.4%), through both biodegradation and adsorption. In addition, the microbial growth and activity were greatly enhanced with the addition of immobilized LQ2. Further experiment showed that degradation-related genes, alkB and CYP450-1, were 3.8 and 15.2 times higher in the immobilized LQ2 treatment, respectively, than those in the free cell treatment. The findings obtained in this study suggest the feasibility of applying immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria, namely LQ2, in treating diesel oil-contaminated seawater.

Performance and microbial community analysis of a bio-contact oxidation reactor during the treatment of low-COD and high-salinity oilfield produced water.

The multistage bio-contact oxidation reactor (BCOR) is a widely used biological strategy to treat wastewater, however, little is known about the performance and microbial community information of BCOR during the treatment of low-COD and high-salinity oilfield produced water. In this study, the performance of a multistage BCOR in treating produced water was investigated. The result suggested the BCOR could efficiently remove COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, and oil pollutants. Besides, high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that oil content was the main variable in shaping the community structure. The highest total relative abundance of potential pollutants degraders in first BCOR stage suggested significant role of this stage in pollutants removal. In addition, the correlation analysis disclosed the key functional genera during the degradation process, including Rhodobacter, Citreibacter, and Roseovarius. Moreover, network analysis revealed that the microbial taxa within same module had strong ecological linkages and specific functions.

Deformation Behavior of Foam Laser Targets Fabricated by Two-Photon Polymerization.

Two-photon polymerization (2PP), which is a three-dimensional micro/nano-scale additive manufacturing process, is used to fabricate component for small custom experimental packages (“targets”) to support laser-driven, high-energy-density physics research. Of particular interest is the use of 2PP to deterministically print millimeter-scale, low-density, and low atomic number (CHO) polymer matrices (“foams”). Deformation during development and drying of the foam structures remains a challenge when using certain commercial acrylic photo-resins. Acrylic resins were chosen in order to meet the low atomic number requirement for the foam; that requirement precludes the use of low-shrinkage organic/inorganic hybrid resins. Here, we compare the use of acrylic resins IP-S and IP-Dip. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are used to quantify the extent of the polymerization during 2PP vs. UV curing. The mechanical strength of beam and foam structures is examined, particularly the degree of deformation that occurs during the development and drying processes. The magnitude of the shrinkage is quantified, and finite element analysis is used in order to simulate the resulting deformation. Capillary drying forces during development are shown to be small and are likely below the elastic limit of the foam log-pile structures. In contrast, the substantial shrinkage in IP-Dip (~5⁻10%) causes large shear stresses and associated plastic deformation, particularly near constrained boundaries and locations with sharp density transitions. Use of IP-S with an improved writing procedure results in a marked reduction in deformation with a minor loss of resolution.

A Facile Space-Confined Solid-Phase Sulfurization Strategy for Growth of High-Quality Ultrathin Molybdenum Disulfide Single Crystals.

Single-crystal transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and TMD-based heterojunctions have recently attracted significant research and industrial interest owing to their intriguing optical and electrical properties. However, the lack of a simple, low-cost, environmentally friendly, synthetic method and a poor understanding of the growth mechanism post a huge challenge to implementing TMDs in practical applications. In this work, we developed a novel approach for direct formation of high-quality, monolayer and few-layer MoS2 single crystal domains via a single-step rapid thermal processing of a sandwiched reactor with sulfur and molybdenum (Mo) film in a confined reaction space. An all-solid-phase growth mechanism was proposed and experimentally/theoretically evidenced by analyzing the surface potential and morphology mapping. Compared with the conventional chemical vapor deposition approaches, our method involves no complicated gas-phase reactant transfer or reactions and requires very small amount of solid precursors [e.g., Mo (∼3 µg)], no carrier gas, no pretreatment of the precursor, no complex equipment design, thereby facilitating a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly growth. Moreover, we examined the symmetry, defects, and stacking phase in as-grown MoS2 samples using simultaneous second-harmonic-/sum-frequency-generation (SHG/SFG) imaging. For the first time, we observed that the SFG (peak intensity/position) polarization can be used as a sensitive probe to identify the orientation of TMDs' crystallographic axes. Furthermore, we fabricated ferroelectric programmable Schottky junction devices via local domain patterning using the as-grown, single-crystal monolayer MoS2, revealing their great potential in logic and optoelectronic applications. Our strategy thus provides a simple, low-cost, and scalable path toward a wide variety of TMD single crystal growth and novel functional device design.

[Association of transcobalamine II gene polymorphisms and serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels with ulcerative colitis among Chinese patients].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of transcobalamine II (TCN2) gene polymorphisms and serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and folate with ulcerative colitis (UC) among Chinese patients. METHODS: For 397 UC patients and 574 controls, two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TCN2 gene (rs1801198, rs9606756) were tested with an improved multiple ligase detection reaction method. Serum Hcy, vitamin B12 and folate were measured with an enzymatic cycling assay and an chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: The allelic and genotypic frequencies of rs1801198 and rs9606756 did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P> 0.05). Compared with those of the control group, the frequencies of G allele and CG+GG genotype of rs1801198 were greater in patients with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.05). The same conclusion may also be drawn for the G allele and AG genotype of rs9606756 (both P< 0.05). Compared with the controls, average Hcy level was enhanced in UC patients (P< 0.01), whereas average vitamin B12 and folate levels were decreased in UC patients (both P< 0.01). In both groups, the average level of Hcy was lower in individuals carrying CC of (rs1801198) than in those with CG+GG (both P< 0.05). A similar conclusion was also drawn for individuals with AA of rs9606756 when compared with those carrying AG(both P< 0.05). Compared with patients with mild UC, average Hcy level was increased in those with moderate and severe UC (P< 0.01), while average vitamin B12 and folate levels were decreased in those with moderate and severe UC (both P< 0.01). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia(HHcy), vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency was greater in UC patients than in controls (all P< 0.01). In UC patients, the level of Hcy was negatively correlated with those of vitamin B12 (P< 0.01), albumin(P< 0.01), red blood cells(P< 0.01) and platelet (P< 0.05), but positively correlated with white blood cells(P< 0.01) and Mayo score (P< 0.01). Both HHcy and folate deficiency were independent risk factors for UC (OR=4.173, OR=5.206, both P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) variations, as well as serum levels of Hcy, vitamin B12 and folate, are correlated with UC. Both HHcy and folate deficiency are independent risk factors for UC.

An Analysis of Transcobalamin II Gene Polymorphisms and Serum Levels of Homocysteine, Folate and Vitamin B12 in Chinese Patients with Crohn's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the association of Crohn's disease (CD) with transcobalamin II (TCN2) polymorphisms and serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels. METHODS: TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) were genotyped by iMLDR in 389 CD patients and 746 controls. Furthermore, 102 CD patients and 153 controls were randomly selected for examination of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels by enzymatic cycling assay and chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: Mutant allele (G) and genotype (AG + GG) of (rs9606756) were higher in CD patients than in controls (both p < 0.05). So were they in ileocolonic CD patients and stricturing CD patients compared to controls (all p < 0.05). Mutant allele (G) and genotype (CG + GG) of (rs1801198) were more prevalent in stricturing CD patients than in controls (both p < 0.05). Compared to controls, average homocysteine level was enhanced in CD patients (p = 0.003), whereas average folate and vitamin B12 levels were reduced in CD patients (both p < 0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia, folate deficiency, and vitamin B12 deficiency was higher in CD patients than in controls (all p < 0.01). Both folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency were independently related to risk of CD (both p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) polymorphisms as well as folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency are correlated with CD.

Association of ulcerative colitis with transcobalamin II gene polymorphisms and serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels in Chinese patients.

It has been reported that abnormal elevation of homocysteine is quite prevalent in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We attempted to explore the relationship of UC with transcobalamin II (TCN2) gene polymorphisms and serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels in Chinese patients. TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) genotypes were detected by the improved multiple ligase detection reaction (iMLDR) technique in 527 UC patients and 574 controls. Moreover, 128 UC patients and 138 controls were randomly selected for the measurement of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels by enzymatic cycling assay or chemiluminescence immunoassay. For TCN2 (rs1801198), the frequency of allele G and combined frequencies of CG and GG genotypes were increased in patients with mild, moderate, and severe UC compared with those with remission UC (all P < 0.001). The average homocysteine level was elevated (10.78 ± 3.33 vs 9.91 ± 2.88 µmol/L, P = 0.024), whereas the average vitamin B12 and folate levels were reduced (408.66 ± 185.00 vs 457.42 ± 206.47 pg/mL, P = 0.044; 6.81 ± 3.06 vs 8.17 ± 2.58 ng/mL, P < 0.001, respectively) in UC patients than in controls. Compared with controls, the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy >15.0 µmol/L), vitamin B12 deficiency (<203.0 pg/mL), and folate deficiency (<4.0 ng/mL) was higher in UC patients (all P < 0.05). Both HHcy and folate deficiency were shown to be independent risk factors for UC (95% CI = 1.206-12.293, P = 0.023; 95% CI = 1.910-11.129, P = 0.001, respectively). TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) mutations might aggravate the severity of UC. HHcy and folate deficiency are independent risk factors for UC.

[Association of solute-linked carrier family 26 member A3 gene polymorphisms with ulcerative colitis among Chinese patients].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of solute-linked carrier family 26 member A3 (SLC26A3) gene with ulcerative colitis (UC) among Chinese patients. METHODS: For 416 UC patients and 584 controls, 5 SNPs of the SLC26A3 gene (rs17154444, rs7810937, rs7785539, rs2108225 and rs6951457) were determined with a SNaPshot method. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype were analyzed for all subjects. RESULTS: The G allele and AG+GG genotype of rs2108225 were more prevalent in UC patients compared with the controls (65.14% vs. 58.65%, P=0.030; 87.02% vs. 81.85%, P=0.012, respectively). The C allele and TC+CC genotype of rs17154444 were more prevalent in patients with severe UC than in other patients (14.00% vs. 6.01%, P<0.01; 28.00% vs. 11.48%, all P<0.01). Similar conclusion may also be drawn for C allele and GC+CC genotype of rs7785539 (8.00% vs. 7.38%, P=0.011; 16.00% vs. 13.93%, P=0.017, respectively). The SNPs rs17154444, rs7810937, rs7785539 and rs2108225 were found to be in strong LD. Compared with the controls, the T-A-G-G haplotype was more prevalent in UC patients (62.60% vs. 58.20%, P=0.017), whereas the T-G-G-A haplotype was less common in UC patients (27.40% vs. 31.60%, P=0.041). CONCLUSION: Variations of the SLC26A3 rs2108225 may enhance the risk of UC. The rs17154444 and rs7785539 polymorphisms of the SLC26A3 gene are correlated with the severity of UC. The T-A-G-G haplotype formed by rs17154444, rs781093, rs7785539 and rs2108225 of the SLC26A3 gene may increase the risk for UC, whereas the T-G-G-A haplotype may decrease this risk.

Matrine inhibits BCR/ABL mediated ERK/MAPK pathway in human leukemia cells.

The BCR/ABL fusion gene and its downstream signaling pathways such as Ras/Raf/MAPK, JAK/STAT3, and PI3K/AKT pathways play important roles in malignant transformation of leukemia, especially chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Our previous study showed that matrine, an alkaloid extracted from a Chinese herb radix sophorae, significantly inhibited the proliferation of human CML K562cells, induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, and promoted cell apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of matrine in the growth inhibition of leukemia cells using K562 and HL-60 cell lines. RT-PCR and Western blot assay demonstrated that the expression of BCR/ABL in K562 and HL-60 cells was significantly inhibited by matrine treatment. Phosphorylation of MEK1, ERK1/2, and their upstream adaptor molecules Shc and SHP2 were significantly downregulated. The protein and mRNA expression of components of the ERK/MAPK signal pathway, and Bcl-xL, Cyclin D1, and c-Myc, were dramatically reduced. Conversely, the expression of p27, a negative regulator of cell cycle progression, increased after matrine treatment. These results indicated that the inhibition of ERK/MAPK and BCR/ABL signaling pathway was associated with matrine's suppressive effects on the growth of K562 and HL-60 cells. In in vivo study, matrine significantly decreased the mortality rate of tumor-baring mice and suggested that matrine could exert its anti-leukemia effect in vivo.

The association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with ulcerative colitis in Chinese Han population.

There is now growing evidence suggesting that Vitamin D is playing a critical role in modulating the innate and adaptive immune responses. Several polymorphisms have been identified in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene but their association with ulcerative colitis (UC) susceptibility remained controversy. In the current study, we examined the association between VDR polymorphisms and serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with UC in Chinese Han population. Polymorphisms of FokI (rs2228570)/BsmI (rs1544410)/ApaI (rs7975232)/TaqI (rs731236) in the VDR gene were assessed in a case-control study comprising 404 UC patients and 612 controls. Moreover, 25(OH)D levels were measured by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay in 75 UC patients and 120 controls. Our results suggested that BsmI polymorphism frequency was significantly lower in UC patients (P=0.028), and the frequency of AAC haplotype formed by BsmI, ApaI and TaqI was also significantly lower in UC patients (P=0.012). Moreover, FokI polymorphism was more frequently observed in patients with mild and moderate UC as compared to those with severe UC (P=0.001, P<0.001, respectively). Average 25(OH)D level was lower in UC patients than in controls (19.3±6.8 vs. 21.8±7.3ng/mL, P=0.017), and was significantly correlated with hemoglobin (ß=0.49, P<0.001), C-reactive protein (ß=-0.36, P<0.001), severity of UC (ß=-0.21, P=0.025) and FokI polymorphism (ß=-0.20, P=0.031) in UC patients. Interestingly, there was a significant correlation between FokI polymorphism and vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL) in UC patients (P=0.006). Together, these results supported that VDR polymorphisms and 25(OH)D level were significantly correlated with UC risk and severity in Chinese Han population.