Extraction method development for nanoplastics from oyster and fish tissues.

Nanoplastics are now found in some environmental media and consumer products. However, very limited data on nanoplastics are available for one of the main human consumption sources of microplastics: seafood. Unlike microplastics, a method for extracting nanoplastics from seafood is still lacking. Herein, a combination of common extraction techniques including enzymatic digestion, sequential membrane filtration, centrifugal concentration, and purification (dialysis and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) incubation), was developed to extract nanoplastics from oyster and fish tissues. Corolase with subsequent lipase treatment achieved the highest digestion efficiencies (88- 89%) for non-homogenized tissues compared to other proteases and additional cellulase or H2O2 treatment. With the exception of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), enzymatic digestion did not change the morphology or structure of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), or polystyrene (PS) nanoplastic particles, and the subsequent extraction procedures had good recoveries of 71- 110% for fluorescence-labeled 76-nm PVC and 100- and 750-nm PS, as validated by a Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Few of the 1011 digested residual particles of 150- 300 nm in diameter per oyster or per serving of fish tissue were left in the method blank. Consequently, this efficient approach could be used as a pretreatment protocol for current potential nanoplastic detection methods.

[Study on Automatic Identification of Aerosols Boundary Layer Height with Local Optimum Model Based on Lidar Data].

The atmospheric aerosols have significant influence on human health, the environment and the climate system. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) reflects processes of the near-surface atmosphere and concentration of pollutants. Ground-based laser radar can monitor the vertical distribution of atmospheric aerosols stably and continuously. It provides dynamic information for timing observations of the ABL and environmental forecasting, if aerosols can be monitored and evaluated using lidar technology. There is a gap in the study of ABL observations during the presence of a residual layer and aerosol intrusion, as well as deficiencies in the accuracy and poor computational efficiency of the gradient method. This paper combines the physical meaning of the latter method with characteristics of a lidar timing chart and local optimum model, which based on space-time proximity. Then a polarization-Mie scattering lidar system is used to observe the vertical distribution of aerosols over time at Taihu observation site, which is in a newly developed area of the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. Observation and analysis is carried out for two cases in terms of pollution at the end of 2012. Then corresponding estimation model was built with gradient method and local optimum model based on range-corrected signals. In the case of steady weather and mixed pollution, results of the gradient method and local optimum model were very similar. However, the gradient method has more error in the case of pollution intrusion with the residual layer. The local optimum model based on the space-time proximity theory considers vertical eigenvalues and horizontal correlations, thereby greatly reducing the effects of low clouds, signal interference, weak signals, bi-layered aerosols, and residual layer condition. Compared with the gradient method, the local optimum model had a smaller O(n) and greater stability in computer automatic identification. ABL identification in the case with the residual layer and aerosol intrusion was solved with use of lidar technology and the local optimum model. The accuracy and computational efficiency problems of the gradient method were resolved using automatic operation.

Aloe vera and Vitis vinifera improve wound healing in an in vivo rat burn wound model.

Aloe vera and Vitis vinifera have been traditionally used as wound healing agents. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aloe emodin and resveratrol in the burn wound healing procedure. Burn wounds are common in developed and developing countries, however, in developing countries, the incidence of severe complications is higher and financial resources are limited. The results of the present study demonstrated that neither aloe emodin or resveratrol were cytotoxic to THP-1 macrophages at concentrations of 1, 100 and 500 ng/ml. A significant increase in wound-healing activity was observed in mice treated with the aloe emodin and resveratrol, compared with those which received control treatments. The levels of IL-1ß in the exudates of the burn wound area of the treated mice increased in a time-dependent manner over 7 days following burn wound injury. At 10 days post-injury, steady and progressive wound healing was observed in the control animals. The present study confirmed that increased wound healing occurs following treatment with aloe emodin,, compared with resveratrol, providing support for the use of Aloe vera plants to improve burn wound healing.

A New Infracture Technique for Reduction Malarplasty with an L-Shaped Osteotomy Line.

BACKGROUND: Reduction malarplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the Asian population for aesthetic purposes. Although multiple methods have been developed for reduction malarplasty, including a variety of infracture techniques, most of the current procedures have limitations. In the current study we created a new infracture method to circumvent these shortcomings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and October 2013, we applied this novel infracture technique in 700 patients. The highest area of the zygomatic body was marked pre-operatively and ground intra-operatively through an intraoral incision. An L-shaped incomplete osteotomy of the zygomatic body was performed with a reciprocating saw, and then a complete perpendicular osteotomy (1 cm anterior to the articular tubercle of the zygomatic arch) was made through a pre-auricular incision. Light pressure on the posterior part of the arch produced a greenstick fracture of the anterior osteotomy site, resulting in posterior-inward repositioning of the malar complex. Internal fixation was not required. RESULTS: Satisfactory aesthetic results and good post-operative stability were achieved. Three months post-operatively, the bone around the zygomatic arc osteotomy line was remodeled. The bone posterior to the articular tubercle of the zygomatic arch was partially absorbed, leading to a depression of the root of the arc and a natural transition on both sides of the osteotomy line, making the midface more slender. Instead, the anterior bone presented with new bones, making the malar complex more stable. CONCLUSIONS: This new method has multiple advantages, including simple manipulation, no need for internal fixation, short operative and recovery times, and few complications. X-ray images showing the bony changes demonstrated that the infracture technique is an effective and ideal method for reduction malarplasty.

[Hyperspectral extraction of soil available nitrogen in Nan Mountain coal waste scenic spot of Jinhuagong Mine based on enter-PLSR].

Soil available nitrogen content is an important index reflecting soil fertility. It provides dynamic information for land reclamation and ecological restoration if soil available nitrogen can be monitored and evaluated using hyperspectral technology. Facing the study blank of soil available nitrogen in National Mine Park and the deficiency of poor computational efficiency of partial least squares regression (PLSR) method, the present paper presents the relationship between soil spectrum and soil available nitrogen based on spectrum curves (ranging from 350 to 2 500 nm) of 30 salinized chestnut soil samples, which were collected from southern mountain coal waste scenic spot, located in Jinhuagong mine in Datong city, Shanxi Province, China (one part of Jinhuagong national mine park). Soil reflection spectrum was mathematically manipulated into first derivative and inverse-log spectral curves, then a corresponding estimation model was built and examined by PLSR and Enter-partial least squares regression (Enter-PLSR) based on characteristic absorption. The result indicated that Enter-PLSR corresponding estimation model greatly increased the computation efficiency by reducing the number of independent variables to 12 from 122 in case of a close accuracy of PLS corresponding estimation model. By using hyperspectral technology and Enter-PLSR method, the study blank of soil available nitrogen in National Mine Park was filled. At the same time, the computation efficiency problem of PLSR was resolved.

Relaxant and contractile responses of detrusor muscle strips obtained from bladder outlet-obstructed rats treated with doxazosin enantiomers.

(-)Doxazosin, one of (±)doxazosin enantiomers, was speculated to have a pharmacological enantioselectivity between the cardiovascular system and the urinary system by comparison with (+)doxazosin. Therefore, to evaluate the potential benefits of (-)doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia, we compared the effects of the 3 agents, using rat mesenteric artery preparations and obstructed bladder strips. Concentration-response curves for carbachol (contractile response) and isoprenaline (relaxant response) in detrusor muscle strips of the bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) rats were shifted to the left, with significant increases in the Emax values, and significant decreases in the EC50 values by comparison with the sham-operated rats (P < 0.05, n = 10). The enhanced responses in detrusor muscle strips of the BOO rats treated with (±)doxazosin and its enantiomers at 3 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·day(-1) for 2 weeks returned to normal levels, and the 3 agents inhibited the enhanced responses to carbachol and isoprenaline to the same extent. On the other hand, the 3 agents uncompetitively inhibited the vasoconstrictive response curves for NA in the rat isolated mesenteric artery, and the pKB value of (-)doxazosin at vascular α1-adrenoceptors was significantly smaller (P < 0.05, n = 6) than that of (+)doxazosin or (±)doxazosin. In conclusion, although (-)doxazosin inhibits vascular functional α1-adrenoceptors more weakly than (+)doxazosin, both agents equally ameliorate the enhanced responses in detrusor muscle of BOO rats, suggesting that the chiral carbon atom in the molecular structure of doxazosin does not affect its beneficial effects in the bladder smooth muscle of BOO rats.

[Mutation analysis of FOXL2 gene and its structure protein in patients of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mutations of the forkhead transcription factor 2 (FOXL2) gene on the primary and secondary structure of the coded protein and seek for the molecular mechanism of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). METHODS: The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 7 clinically diagnosed BPES patients, PCR amplification of FOXL2 coding region and 5' untranslated region were performed. Sequence analysis was performed using the PCR or cloning products. The structure of the protein was predicted with PDH and ExPASy software, and the difference between the normal and the mutational protein was analyzed. RESULTS: A 901- 930 dup 30 mutation of FOXL2 was found in two patients from a BPES family of type II and a sporadic case, and no any mutations were detected in normal control. Analysis of the primary structure displayed that the molecular weight of the protein coded by the mutated gene was greater than the normal, but both have the same isoelectric point. Analysis of the secondary structure showed that FOXL2 was a transmembrane protein with a polyalanine tract which contained a alpha-helix. When the polyalanine tract expanded, the helix region extended, as a result, the proportion of alpha-helix increased by 4.1%, but the proportions of beta-pleated sheet and random coil decreased correspondingly. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the 901 - 930 dup 30 mutation of FOXL2 is a novel finding. Moreover, this mutation causes great changes in the primary and secondary structure of the coded protein, which may be the molecular pathogenesis of BPES.

[The mutation study of the FOXL2 gene in a big Chinese family with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: We have studied 4 generations 12 patients in a family which has blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus-inversus syndrome (BPES) for the gene, FOXL2, the group also have 12 normal members in this family and other 80 normal individuals for contrast. METHODS: The FOXL2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and then analyzed by direct genomic sequencing. RESULTS: A 892C > T at nucleotides in FOXL2 was found in the twelve affected patients. No mutations was found in any of the health members in the family. CONCLUSIONS: FOXL2 may be a important pathogenesis for the disease in this Chinese family.

A novel mutation in the FOXL2 gene in a Chinese family with blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To screen mutations in the forkhead transcriptional factor 2 gene (FOXL2) in six Chinese families with blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome(BPES). METHODS: PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the FOXL2 coding region in genomic DNA were performed in affected patients and 80 healthy controls. BLAST analysis of the sequence was made on Internet. RESULTS: A novel 951-953(delC) was found in the two affected patients of a Chinese family with BPES. No mutations were found in the healthy controls. The 951-953(delC) may cause a frameshift mutation after codon 238 that exists downstream of the forkhead domain, resulting in the production of truncated proteins. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that the 951-953(delC) deletion mutation in the two patients resulted in truncated proteins and hence led to their BPES. To the authors' knowledge, the 951-953(delC) in FOXL2 has not been previously reported.