New insights into substrates shaped nutrients removal, species interactions and community assembly mechanisms in tidal flow constructed wetlands treating low carbon-to-nitrogen rural wastewater

A limited understanding of microbial interactions and community assembly mechanisms in constructed wetlands (CWs), particularly with different substrates, has hampered the establishment of ecological connections between micro-level interactions and macro-level wetland performance. In this study, CWs with distinct substrates (zeolite, CW_A; manganese ore, CW_B) were constructed to investigate the nutrient removal efficiency, microbial interactions, metabolic mechanisms, and ecological assembly for treating rural sewage with a low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. CW_B showed higher removal of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen by about 1.75-6.75 % and 3.42-5.18 %, respectively, compared to CW_A. Candidatus_Competibacter (denitrifying glycogen-accumulating bacteria) was the dominant microbial genus in CW_A, whereas unclassified_f_Blastocatellaceae (involved in carbon and nitrogen transformation) dominated in CW_B. The null model revealed that stochastic processes (drift) dominated community assembly in both CWs; however, deterministic selection accounted for a higher proportion in CW_B. Compared to those in CW_A, the interactions between microbes in CW_B were more complex, with more key microbes involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus conversion; the synergistic cooperation of functional bacteria facilitated simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. Manganese ores favour biofilm formation, increase the activity of the electron transport system, and enhance ammonia oxidation and nitrate reduction. These results elucidated the ecological patterns exhibited by microbes under different substrate conditions thereby contributing to our understanding of how substrates shape distinct microcosms in CW systems. This study provides valuable insights for guiding the future construction and management of CWs.

Biodegradation of various grades of polyethylene microplastics by Tenebrio molitor and Tenebrio obscurus larvae: Effects on their physiology

Polyethylene (PE) is the most productive plastic product and includes three major polymers including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) variation in the PE depends on the branching of the polymer chain and its crystallinity. Tenebrio obscurus and Tenebrio molitor larvae biodegrade PE. We subsequently tested larval physiology, gut microbiome, oxidative stress, and PE degradation capability and degradation products under high-purity HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE powders (<300 μm) diets for 21 days at 65 ± 5% humidity and 25 ± 0.5 °C. Our results demonstrated the specific PE consumption rates by T. molitor was 8.04-8.73 mg PE ∙ 100 larvae-1⋅day-1 and by T. obscurus was 7.68-9.31 for LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE, respectively. The larvae digested nearly 40% of the ingested three PE and showed similar survival rates and weight changes but their fat content decreased by 30-50% over 21-day period. All the PE-fed groups exhibited adverse effects, such as increased benzoquinone concentrations, intestinal tissue damage and elevated oxidative stress indicators, compared with bran-fed control. In the current study, the digestive tract or gut microbiome exhibited a high level of adaptability to PE exposure, altering the width of the gut microbial ecological niche and community diversity, revealing notable correlations between Tenebrio species and the physical and chemical properties (PCPs) of PE-MPs, with the gut microbiome and molecular weight change due to biodegradation. An ecotoxicological simulation by T.E.S.T. confirmed that PE degradation products were little ecotoxic to Daphnia magna and Rattus norvegicus providing important novel insights for future investigations into the environmentally-friendly approach of insect-mediated biodegradation of persistent plastics.

[Use of the ETV6/RUNX1 probe to verify the performance of the fluorescence in situ hybridization probe before clinical detection]

Objective: To explore the standardized performance of a FISH probe before clinical detection. Methods: The probe sensitivity and specificity of ETV6/RUNX1 were analyzed via interphase and metaphase FISH in 20 discarded healthy bone marrow samples. The threshold system of the probe was established using an inverse beta distribution, and an interpretation standard was established. Finally, a parallel-controlled polymerase chain reaction detection study was conducted on 286 bone marrow samples from patients at our hospital. The clinical sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic coincidence rate of ETV6/RUNX1 FISH detection were analyzed, and the diagnostic consistency of the two methods was analyzed by the kappa test. Results: The probe sensitivity and specificity of the ETV6/RUNX1 probe were 98.47% and 100%, respectively. When 50, 100, and 200 cells were counted, the typical positive signal pattern cutoffs were 5.81%, 2.95%, and 1.49%, respectively, and the atypical positive signal pattern cutoffs were 13.98%, 9.75%, and 6.26%, respectively. The clinical sensitivity of FISH was 96.1%, clinical specificity was 99.6%, diagnostic coincidence rate was 99.00%, diagnostic consistency test kappa value was 0.964, and P value was <0.001. Conclusion: For FISH probes without a national medical device registration certificate, standardized performance verification and methodology performance verification can be performed using laboratory developed test verification standards to ensure a reliable and accurate reference basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

[Clinical characteristics of 11 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with t (14;19) (q32;q13)]

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of 11 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with t (14;19) (q32;q13) . Methods: The case data of 11 patients with CLL with t (14;19) (q32;q13) in the chromosome karyotype analysis results of the Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 2018, to July 30, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In all 11 patients, t (14;19) (q32;q13) involved IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, and most of them were accompanied by +12 or complex karyotype. An immunophenotypic score of 4-5 was found in 7 patients and 3 in 4 cases. We demonstrated that CLLs with t (14;19) (q32;q13) had a mutational pattern with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1 (3/7), FBXW7 (3/7), and KMT2D (2/7). The very-high-risk, high-risk, intermediate-risk, and low-risk groups consisted of 1, 1, 6, and 3 cases, respectively. Two patients died, 8 survived, and 2 were lost in follow-up. Four patients had disease progression or relapse during treatment. The median time to the first therapy was 1 month. Conclusion: t (14;19) (q32;q13), involving IGH::BCL3 gene rearrangement, is a rare recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in CLL, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

Runoff control simulation and comprehensive benefit evaluation of low-impact development strategies in a typical cold climate area

With the acceleration of urbanization, the proportion of surface imperviousness is increasing continuously in cities, resulting in frequent waterlogging disasters. In this context, storm water management, based on the low-impact development (LID) concept, offers an effective measure for the management of urban storm waters. First, the storm water management model (SWMM) was built for a typical cold climate city (Changchun) in China. Next, the two-stage calibrated model was employed to explore the surface runoff and storm sewer control effects of four LID combination plans. Finally, these plans were put through a "cost-benefit" evaluation through an analytic hierarchy process. According to the results, after using four LID plans, the reduction rates of peak runoff exceeded 40% and the problem of overflow load of the storm sewage was significantly mitigated. The infiltration-oriented Plan I proved to be the optimal plan, with the lowest proportions of the overflow nodes and full-load pipe sections in each return period, as well as with maximum overall performance. This study offers technical and conformed methodological support to cold cities for the prevention and control of waterlogging disasters and recycling of rainwater resources.

Identification of two novel anti-HCV E2 412-423 epitope antibodies by screening a Chinese-specific phage library

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 412-423 linear epitope has been found to be highly conserved across multiple HCV genotypes. The antibodies against this epitope have broadly neutralizing activity. Considering the poor immunogenicity of the epitope in humans and significant diversity in the global distribution of HCV genotypes, the aim of this study was to construct an anti-HCV phage library by using a series of optimal strategies to screen novel broadly neutralizing antibodies from Chinese donors. mRNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples of 39 patients who were anti-HCV positive. A phage library was constructed by inserting a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) gene repertoire into the T7Select10-3b vector. A synthetic peptide representing the HCV E2 N-terminal 412-423 region was used as "bait" for bio-panning. The binding affinities of phage clones to the synthetic peptide were evaluated through peptide-ELISA. Two scFv clones (R3-19 and R4-85) showing the strongest binding affinities were selected. The complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of these clones were aligned with those of other previously reported broadly neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies, and multiple conserved amino acid sites were found. The optimized procedures ensured that two novel scFv antibodies were isolated from a constructed phage library and showed specific binding to the poorly immunogenic HCV E2 412-423 linear epitope. Keywords: phage antibody library; hepatitis C virus; broadly neutralizing antibody; synthetic peptide.

Upregulated response to chemokines in oxidative metabolism of eosinophils in asthma and allergic rhinitis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) from eosinophils are known to cause tissue damage in allergic inflammation. CC chemokines, especially eotaxin and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), are involved not only in chemotaxis but also in eosinophil activation, such as ROS production. It has been shown that eosinophils from allergic patients are not functionally equivalent to those from normal subjects. In the present study, the characteristics of chemokine-primed ROS production in eosinophils from allergic patients and normal controls were compared. After pretreatment with chemokines, eosinophils were stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187. ROS production by eosinophils was measured using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Both RANTES and eotaxin exhibited a priming effect on calcium ionophore-induced ROS production from eosinophils. Despite there being no difference in expression of CC chemokine receptor 3, the priming effect of RANTES and eotaxin was significantly enhanced in eosinophils from the patients. Interleukin-5 further enhanced the priming effect of chemokines in eosinophils from normal subjects, but not those from allergic subjects. The present results suggest an upregulated response to chemokines in eosinophils from allergic patients, and that interleukin-5 can induce a similar phenotype to that found in vivo in allergic patients.

Expression of VLA-4 on eosinophils decreases in patients with eosinophilia

BACKGROUND

It is assumed that the very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) plays a key role in selective migration and accumulation of eosinophils to the allergic inflammatory focus. The regulatory mechanism for VLA-4 expression is poorly understood, as is its relationship between other adhesion molecules.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to elucidate the relationship between VLA-4 expression and the activation of eosinophils.

METHODS

The surface expression of VLA-4, Mac-1, ICAM-1, CD4, CD25, CD69, CD89, IL-5 receptor and GM-CSF receptor on eosinophils isolated from the peripheral blood of 15 patients with eosinophilia and 16 healthy volunteers was measured.

RESULTS

The surface expression of VLA-4 presented in mean fluorescent intensity by flow-cytometric analysis showed a significant decrease in the patients with eosinophilia (>700 eosinophils/microl) compared to that of the subjects without eosinophilia. On the other hand, the surface expression of Mac-1 was significantly increased in the patients with eosinophilia. There was an inverse correlation between the expression of VLA-4 and that of Mac-1 (r = -0.81) on the eosinophils obtained from the patients with eosinophilia.

CONCLUSION

The changes on the surface expressions of Mac-1 and VLA-4 may be indicating the activation of eosinophils in the patients with eosinophilia and may contribute to their migration to the allergic inflammatory focus.

Effect of roxithromycin on eotaxin-primed reactive oxygen species from eosinophils

BACKGROUND

The CC chemokine eotaxin not only attracts eosinophils to inflamed sites but also promotes adhesion, degranulation and reactive oxygen species production of eosinophils. Reactive oxygen species released from eosinophils are believed to injure epithelial cells at inflamed sites, resulting in airway hyperresponsiveness. Roxithromycin has been reported to have antiasthmatic effects, although its mechanism of action is not thoroughly understood. Therefore, the effect of roxithromycin on eotaxin-primed reactive oxygen species production from eosinophils was studied.

METHODS

Reactive oxygen species production by eosinophils cultured with or without roxithromycin was evaluated using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence.

RESULTS

Roxithromycin inhibited the release of reactive oxygen species from eosinophils evoked with the calcium ionophore A23187, regardless of pretreatment with or without eotaxin.

CONCLUSION

Roxithromycin may protect epithelial cells at inflamed sites, at least partly by inhibiting the release of reactive oxygen species from eosinophils.

Studies of the effect on tumor and normal cells in vitro with bioactive materials isolated from algae by a microcalorimetric method

Recently much attention has been focused on the human physiological actions with bioactive materials from algae to enhance immunocompetence and to strengthen antineoplastic activity. In the study reported in this paper an MS 80 standard Calvet microcalorimeter was used for measuring the thermogram of HeLa, human breast carcinoma (Bcap-37) and diploid fibroblasts from human feral lung (2BS) under conditions with or without the presence of bioactive materials (Sp) from algae. At the same time, the cell number was counted, the inhibition rate of growth and the death rate were obtained. It has been shown that the Sp (100 micrograms/ml) was the growth inhibitor and lethal to tumor cells (Bcap-37 and HeLa), but had no influence on the normal (2BS) cells under the same conditions in vitro.