Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter enhanced the release of residual ciprofloxacin from the soil solid phase

Biochar has been utilized to reduce ciprofloxacin (CIP) residues in soil. However, little is known about the effect of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) on residual CIP transformation. Thus, we analyzed the residual soil CIP as influenced by biochar generated from rice straw (RS3 and RS6), pig manure (PM3 and PM6), and cockroach shell (CS3 and CS6) at 300 °C and 600 °C. The three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM), parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and two-dimensional correlation spectral analysis (2D-COS) were used to describe the potential variation in the DOM-CIP interaction. Compared with CK, biochar amendment increased the water-soluble CIP content by 160.7% (RS3), 55.2% (RS6), 534.1% (PM3), 277.5% (PM6), 1160.6% (CS3) and 703.9% (CS6), indicating that the biochar feedstock controlled the soil CIP release. The content of water-soluble CIP was positively correlated with the content of dissolved organic carbon (r = 0.922, p < 0.01) and dissolved organic nitrogen (r = 0.898, p < 0.01), suggesting that the major influence of the water-soluble CIP increase was DOM. The fluorescence quenching experiment showed that the interaction between DOM and CIP triggered static quenching and the creation of a DOM complex. The mean log K of protein-like material (4.977) was higher than that of terrestrial humus-like material (3.491), suggesting that the protein-like material complexed CIP was more stable than the humus-like material. Compared with pyrolysis at 300 °C, pyrolysis at 600 °C decreased the stability of the complex of protein-like material and CIP by 0.44 (RS), 1.689 (PM) and 0.548 (CS). This result suggested that the influence of temperature change was more profound on PM biochar-derived DOM than on RS and CS. These insights are essential for understanding CIP transportation in soil and controlling CIP contamination with biochar.

Effects of climate and geochemical properties on the chemical forms of soil Cd, Pb and Cr along a more than 4000 km transect

Soil heavy metal speciation has received much attention for their different ecological and environmental effects. However, the effects of climate and soil geochemical properties on them in uncontaminated soils at macroscale were still unclear. Therefore, a transect more than 4000 km was chosen to study the effects of these factors on soil Cd, Pb and Cr forms. The results revealed that mean annual temperature and precipitation showed significant positive relations with the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide bound states of Cd, Pb and Cr, and residual Cr. And humidity and drought indexes were significantly positively correlated with their organic and carbonate bound forms, respectively. As for soil geochemical properties, pH displayed significant negative relationships with exchangeable, Fe-Mn oxide and organic bound Pb and Cr, and exchangeable Cd. Fe2O3 was significantly positively with the exchangeable and Fe-Mn oxide bound Cd, Pb and Cr, and residual Cr. And soil organic matter showed positive relations with organic bound Pb and Cr, and residual Cd and Cr, displayed negative relationships with carbonated bound Pb and Cr. Overall, climate and soil geochemical properties together affect the transformation and transport of heavy metals between different forms in uncontaminated soils.

Identification of osteogenic differentiation-related miRNA-mRNA regulatory network of human periodontal ligament stem cells

This study aimed to investigate the hub genes and miRNA-mRNA regulatory network around periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) for osteogenic differentiation through bioinformatic analysis. The dataset with osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSC was downloaded from the GEO database. The Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify key modules and hub genes. In addition, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis was conducted with limma. The functional enrichment of differentially expressed hub genes was implemented with KEGG and GSEA analysis. The targeted genes of differentially expressed miRNA were predicted based on miRWalk database. The miRNA-mRNA interaction network of osteogenic differentiation of PDLSC was constructed and visualized. The WGNCA results showed that the light-cyan module was positively correlated with osteogenic differentiation (r=0.98, P<0.05). A total of 3125 hub genes and 1426 differentially expressed hub genes were detected in OG group. Innate immune-related signaling pathways and metabolic pathways were involved in the osteogenic differentiation. In addition, total of 2 upregulated miRNAs with 63 targeted DEGs and 6 downregulated miRNAs with 214 targeted DEGs were detected, which contributed to osteogenic differentiation by regulating amino acid metabolism signaling pathway. We identified hub genes and miRNA-mRNA regulatory network contributing to osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSC, which will provide novel strategy for periodontal disease therapy.

Inhibition of high sulfur on functional microorganisms and genes in slightly contaminated soil by cadmium and chromium

It is generally accepted that sulfur can passivate the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil, but it is not clear whether high sulfur in cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) contaminated soil has negative effect on soil microbial community and ecological function. In this study, total sulfur (TS) inhibited the Chao 1, Shannon, Phylogenetic diversity (Pd) of bacterial and Pd of fungi in slightly contaminated soil by Cd and Cr around pyrite. TS, total potassium, pH, total chromium, total cadmium, total nitrogen, soil organic matter were the predominant factors for soil microbial community; the contribution of TS in shaping bacterial and fungal communities ranked at first and fifth, respectively. Compared with the low sulfur group, the abundance of sulfur sensitive microorganisms Gemmatimonas, Pseudolabrys, MND1, and Schizothecium were decreased by 68.79-97.22% (p < 0.01) at high sulfur one; the carbon fixation, nitrogen cycling, phosphorus cycling and resistance genes abundance were significantly lower (p < 0.01) at the latter. Such variations were strongly and closely correlated to the suppression of energy metabolism (M00009, M00011, M00086) and carbon fixation (M00173, M00376) functional module genes abundance in the high sulfur group. Collectively, high sulfur significantly suppressed the abundances of functional microorganisms and functional genes in slightly contaminated soil with Cd and Cr, possibly through inhibition of energy metabolism and carbon fixation of functional microorganisms. This study provided new insights into the environmental behavior of sulfur in slightly contaminated soil with Cd and Cr.

[Study on primary screening technique for children with autism spectrum disorder]

To explore screening tools for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which are convenient for primary hospitals, it can provide basic data for formulating ASD prevention policies. This was a cross-sectional study by cluster sampling. Huyi District and Xincheng District were extracted for investigation in Xi'an City. From July 2021 to September 2022, all children aged from 3 months to 36 months who live in the two districts were subjected to primary screening. The child care physician used the routine screening tool "warning signs checklist for screening psychological, behavioral and developmental problems of children" and cartoon pictures of "early high-risk warning signs of autism", the children who were positive in the initial screening were referred to the district level maternal and child health hospital for re-screening, and those who were positive in the re-screening were referred to Xi 'an Children's Hospital for diagnosis. The results showed that a total of 17 905 children aged from 3 months to 36 months were initially screened in the two districts, including 10 588 children aged from 18 months to 36 months, 50 children who were positive in the initial screening and 50 children who were re-screened. 23 children (18 boys and 5 girls) were diagnosed with ASD. The prevalence rate of ASD in children was 2.17‰ (95% confidence interval:1.29‰-3.06‰). 42 children were positive for "warning signs checklist" at the preliminary screening, and 19 were confirmed as ASD. 27 children were positive for "cartoon pictures" in the preliminary screening, and 23 were confirmed with ASD. The "cartoon pictures" in the preliminary screening and diagnosis of consistent rate was higher than the "warning signs checklist", two kinds of screening methods comparison were statistically significant difference in the odds of consistent (χ2=11.01, P=0.001). In conclusion, relying on the three-level network of maternal and child health care, it is conducive to the whole process management of screening and diagnosis of children with ASD, and to guide the formulation of prevention policies. The cartoon pictures of "early high-risk warning signs of autism" can assist the identification of children with ASD based on the "warning signs checklist", which is simple, effective and suitable for promotion in the community health care.

Identification and adaptive evolution analysis of glutaredoxin genes in Populus spp

Glutaredoxin (GRX) is a class of small redox proteins widely involved in cellular redox homeostasis and the regulation of various cellular processes. The role of GRX gene in the differentiation of Populus spp. is rarely reported. We compared the similarities and differences of GRX genes among four sections of poplar using bioinformatics, corrected the annotations of some GRX genes, and focused on analysing their transcript profiling and adaptive evolution in Populus spp. A total of 219 GRX genes were identified in four sections of poplar, among which annotations for 13 genes were corrected. Differences in GRX genes were found between sect. Turanga, represented by P. euphratica, and other poplar sections. Most notably, P. euphratica had the smallest number of duplication events for GRX genes (n = 9) and no tandem duplications, whereas there were >25 duplication events for all other poplars. Furthermore, we detected 18 pairs of GRX genes under positive selection pressure in various sections of poplar, and identified two groups of GRX genes in the Salicaceae that potentially underwent positive selection. Expression profiling results showed that the PtrGRX34 and its orthologous genes were upregulated under stress treatments. In summary, the GRX gene family underwent expansion during poplar differentiation, and some genes underwent rapid evolution during this process, which may be beneficial for Populus spp. to adapt to environmental changes. This study may provide more insights into the molecular mechanisms of Populus spp. adaptation to environmental changes and the adaptive evolution of GRX genes.

How accompanying ions affect soil heavy metal removal by polyepoxysuccinic acid during washing?

Soil washing with green eluent is an efficient technique to remediate heavy metal contaminated farmland. In addition to eluent, less is known about the roles of accompanying ions on heavy metal removal. We investigated the effects of accompanying ions including Fe3+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Si4+ and PO43- on the desorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in paddy and arid soils using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and polyepoxysuccinic acid as eluents. The release rates of target and accompanying ions showed significant fast and slow reaction stages based on corresponding analysis and kinetic models. In fast reaction stage, Pb2+ and Cd2+ performed geochemical analogy with Ca2+, Mg2+ and PO43-. The release curves of these ions were fitted well with Elovich model, indicating that they released from oxysalt surface into solution via ion exchange, and dissolution of Fe/Mn/Al/Si (hydr)oxides through H+- and ligand-promoted dissolution. In slow reaction stage, Pb2+ and Cd2+ were related to Fe3+, Mn2+, Al3+ and Si4+, which were controlled by intraparticle diffusion process. H+ slowly diffused into interlayer of phyllosilicates to displace target and accompanying ions by ion exchange. Therefore, this research filled the gap of accompanying ions driving the release behavior of heavy metal ions during leaching.

Potential Predictive Value of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Magnetic Resonance for Xerostomia of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Xerostomia, caused by radiation-induced parotid damage, is the most commonly reported complications of radiotherapy (RT) to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to evaluate the value of IVIM MR in monitoring radiation parotid gland damage and predicting the risk of xerostomia.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 54 patients were enrolled and underwent IVIM MR scans at before RT, after the fifth fraction, halfway through the course of RT, and at the end of radiotherapy. The parameters of IVIM MR include pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), and pure diffusion coefficient (D). The degree of xerostomia in NPC patients was assessed before each MR examination using the acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria proposed by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Concurrently, the time when the patient first reported suffering from xerostomia was recorded. The IVIM parameters trend throughout the RT, and the relationships between IVIM parameters and xerostomia, were analyzed.

RESULTS

All of the IVIM parameters increased from pre-RT to post-RT significantly (all p < 0.001). The increase rate of D from pre-RT to halfway through the RT was 32.61%, which was significantly higher than 15.64% from halfway to post-RT (p<0.001), indicating that cell necrosis in the first half of treatment is significantly higher than that in the second half. Both D* and F had significantly increased from pre-RT to halfway through the radiotherapy (p<0.001), with an increase rate of 19.58% and 29.38%, respectively. However, no significant increase was observed from Halfway to post-RT (p>0.05), with an increase rate of 4.10% and 8.30%, respectively. This may be due to radiation-induced vasculitic dilation that is significant in the first half of the radiotherapy but plateaus in the second half. Pre-D (OR = 23.85; 95% CI = 2.39, 237.82; p = .007) and pre-D* (OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.63, 0.91; p = 0.003) are independent influencing factors for xerostomia at 3 months after the completion of RT. D and F were significantly higher after the fifth fraction compared with Pre-RT (both p<0.05), respectively increased 31.25% and 25.16%. D* increase by 15% (p = 0.081). IVIM scans can assess parotid gland damage early. And the average time of parotid damage underwent IVIM scan was 5.99 ± 0.84 (day), much earlier than 11.84 ± 2.74 (day) according to RTOG.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that IVIM MR can dynamically monitor radiotherapy-induced parotid gland damage, and much earlier and objectively than RTOG.

Effects of complex pollution by microplastics and heavy metals on soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities under alternate wetting and drying conditions

Microplastics (MPs) broadly coexist with heavy metals (HMs) in soil, Cd and Cu are the main types of soil HMs contamination, in addition to polystyrene (PS), which is also widely present in the environment and prone to aging. However, differences in the effects of MPs and HMs on soil properties and microbial characteristics under alternating wetting and drying (AWD) remain unclear. Thus, this study investigated the effects of four conventional (0.2% (w/w)) and aged MPs in indoor incubation experiments on soil properties under desiccation (Dry) and AWD. We found that with the influence of the "enzyme lock" theory, the coexistence of MPs and HMs under Dry had a more pronounced effect on soil physicochemical properties, whereas the effects on soil enzyme activity under AWD were more significant. In addition, MPs decreased the available Cu by 4.27% and, conversely, increased the available Cd by 8.55%. Under Dry, MPs affected microbial function mainly through physicochemical properties, with a contribution of approximately 72.4%, whereas under AWD enzyme activity and HMs were significantly greater, with increases of 28.2% and 7.9%, respectively. These results indicate that the effects of MPs on environmental variation and microbial profiles under AWD conditions differed significantly from those under Dry.

A methylation- and immune-related lncRNA signature to predict ovarian cancer outcome and uncover mechanisms of chemoresistance

Tumor-associated lncRNAs regulated by epigenetic modification switches mediate immune escape and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer (OC). However, the underlying mechanisms and concrete targets have not been systematically elucidated. Here, we discovered that methylation modifications played a significant role in regulating immune cell infiltration and sensitizing OC to chemotherapy by modulating immune-related lncRNAs (irlncRNAs), which represent tumor immune status. Through deep analysis of the TCGA database, a prognostic risk model incorporating four methylation-related lncRNAs (mrlncRNAs) and irlncRNAs was constructed. Twenty-one mrlncRNA/irlncRNA pairs were identified that were significantly related to the overall survival (OS) of OC patients. Subsequently, we selected four lncRNAs to construct a risk signature predictive of OS and indicative of OC immune infiltration, and verified the robustness of the risk signature in an internal validation set. The risk score was an independent prognostic factor for OC prognosis, which was demonstrated via multifactorial Cox regression analysis and nomogram. Moreover, risk scores were negatively related to the expression of CD274, CTLA4, ICOS, LAG3, PDCD1, and PDCD1LG2 and negatively correlated with CD8+, CD4+, and Treg tumor-infiltrating immune cells. In addition, a high-risk score was associated with a higher IC50 value for cisplatin, which was associated with a significantly worse clinical outcome. Next, a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and a signaling pathway controlling the infiltration of CD8+ T cells were explored based on the lncRNA model, which suggested a potential therapeutic target for immunotherapy. Overall, this study constructed a prognostic model by pairing mrlncRNAs and irlncRNAs and revealed the critical role of the FTO/RP5-991G20.1/hsa-miR-1976/MEIS1 signaling pathway in regulating immune function and enhancing anticancer therapy.

Remediation of cadmium contaminated soil using K2FeO4 modified vinasse biochar

The remediation of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil is challenging for agricultural practices. In this study, a novel vinasse biochar modified by potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) was synthesized to immobilize Cd in agricultural soil. Three biochars [i.e., vinasse biochar (BC), KMnO₄ modified vinasse biochar (MnBC), and K₂FeO₄ modified vinasse biochar (FeBC)] were applied to compare their efficiencies of Cd immobilization. The results showed that the orders of pH, ash content, and functional groups in different biochar were the same following BC < MnBC < FeBC. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the FeBC has more micropores than MnBC and BC. X-ray diffraction identified manganese oxides and iron oxides within MnBC and FeBC, indicating that Mn and Fe were well loaded on the biochar. In the soil-based pot experiment, both MnBC and FeBC significantly reduced soil available Cd by 23-38% and 36-45% compared with the control, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, the application of BC, MnBC, and FeBC significantly increased the yield, chlorophyll, and vitamin C of Chinese cabbage (p < 0.05), and decreased its Cd uptake compared with the control. Notably, shoot Cd significantly reduced when 2% FeBC was applied (p < 0.05). Overall, using K₂FeO₄ to modify vinasse biochar enriched the surface functional groups and minerals as well as reduced Cd availability in soil and its uptake by the plant. Our study showed that K₂FeO₄ modified vinasse biochar could be used as an ideal amendment for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil.

Promotional effects of Nb5+ and Fe3+ co-doping on catalytic performance and SO2 resistance of MnOx-CeO2 low-temperature denitration catalyst

As we know, SO₂ can cause MnO_x-CeO₂ (MnCeO_x) catalyst poisoning, which seriously shortens the service life of the catalyst. Therefore, to enhance the catalytic activity and SO₂ tolerance of MnCeO_x catalyst, we modified it by Nb⁵⁺ and Fe³⁺ co-doping. And the physical and chemical properties were characterized. These results illustrate that the Nb⁵⁺ and Fe³⁺ co-doping can optimally improve the denitration activity and N₂ selectivity of MnCeO_x catalyst at low temperature by improving its surface acidity, surface adsorbed oxygen as well as electronic interaction. What's more, NbO_x-FeO_x-MnO_x-CeO₂ (NbFeMnCeO_x) catalyst possesses an excellent SO₂ resistance due to less SO₂ being adsorbed and the ammonium bisulfate (ABS) formed on its surface tends to decompose, as well as fewer sulfate species formed on its surface. Finally, the possible mechanism that Nb⁵⁺ and Fe³⁺ co-doping enhances the SO₂ poisoning resistance of MnCeO_x catalyst is proposed.

Improvement of cadmium immobilization in contaminated paddy soil by using ureolytic bacteria and rice straw

Cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil can be immobilized via microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), but it poses a risk to the properties and eco-function of the soil. In this study, rice straw coupled with Sporosarcina pasteurii (S. pasteurii) was used to treat Cd-contaminated paddy soil with minimizing the detrimental effects of MICP. Results showed that the application of rice straw coupled with S. pasteurii reduced Cd bioavailability. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that Cd immobilization efficiency was increased in the rice straw coupled with S. pasteurii treatment via co-precipitating with CaCO₃. Moreover, rice straw coupled with S. pasteurii enhanced soil fertility and ecological functions as reflected by the high amount of alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AN) (14.9 %), available phosphorus (AP) (13.6 %), available potassium (AK) (60.0 %), catalase (9.95 %), dehydrogenase (736 %), and phosphatase (214 %). Further, the relative abundance of dominant phyla such as Proteobacteria and Firmicutes significantly increased when applying both rice straw coupled with S. pasteurii. The most significant environmental factors that affected the composition of the bacterial community were AP (41.2 %), phosphatase (34.2 %), and AK (8.60 %). In conclusion, using rice straw mixed with S. pasteurii is a promising application to treat Cd-contaminated paddy soil due to its positive effects on treating soil Cd as well as its ability to reduce the detrimental effects of the MICP process.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of TIMP-2 as a Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury in Sepsis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomarker potential of TIMP-2 in septic-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Healthy male rats (n=56, age 8-10 weeks, body weight 250-300 g) were randomized into 3 groups: controls (intact rats, n=6), sham-operated (SO, n=24), and sepsis model (cecum ligation and perforation, CLP, n=24). Thirty minutes before and 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery, blood samples were collected to measure serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and TIMP-2 and the kidneys were isolated for histopathological analysis and Western blotting. The key sepsis-related genes were screened through bioinformatics analysis. In 24 and 48 h after surgery, 2 rats in the SO group reached the diagnostic criteria of AKI (increased levels of serum creatinine and BUN). In the CLP group, serum creatinine in 6 h after the surgery was slightly higher than 30 min before the surgery, but this change did not meet the diagnostic criteria for AKI. In the CLP group, BUN was normal 6 h after the surgery, but increased after 12 h. In more than 50% rats of the CLP group, serum creatinine and BUN significantly increased 12 h after operation, so this can be diagnosed as AKI. In rats of the CLP group, plasma TIMP-2 was elevated 6 h after surgery and increased with time, suggesting that plasma TIMP-2 can be used as an early marker of AKI. Histological examination of the kidneys in this group revealed destruction of the renal tubular structure, swelling of renal tubular epithelium, the disappearance of brush edge and collapse of necrotic epithelial cells, etc., and the degree of damage increased with time. Immunohistochemistry showed that TIMP-2 was expressed in rats of the CLP group at all terms of the experiment. The expression of TIMP-2 and pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, IL-1β, caspase-1, and GSDMD) in the CLP group was higher than in the SO group (p<0.05) and increased with time, suggesting that pyroptosis is involved in AKI. Thus, plasma TIMP-2 is sensitive indicator for the early detection of kidney injury and can be used as an early biomarker of AKI.

Effects of overwintering cyanobacteria on phosphorus and iron regeneration across the sediment-water interface: A pilot simulation experiment

Cyanobacterial blooms are a major environmental problem in eutrophic reservoirs in China. Algal cells can migrate to the sediment surface in winter and maintain biological activity, which could further affect the cycling process of sediment phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe). In this study, a pilot simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of overwintering cyanobacteria (Owc) on P and Fe regeneration across the sediment-water interface (SWI). Owc esterase activity ranged from 16.4 to 26.6 nmol (FDA)/(L·h), with a fluctuating increasing trend within the incubation time. Compared with the control (no Owc), Owc treatment increased the redox potential value (Eh) at the SWI but slightly decreased the pH during the first stage of this experiment (0-24 d); however, the Eh at the SWI under Owc treatment decreased to 50.9 % of that of the control on day 90. The Fe(II) could rapidly oxidized to Fe (oxyhydro)oxides and combine with phosphate in high Eh environments, and Owc inhibited P and Fe release at the SWI within 24 days; however, the continuous decrease in Eh resulted in the reduction of Fe(III). Thus, the Fe concentration measured via diffusive gradients in thin films in the Owc-treated interstitial water gradually increased to 1.92 times that of the control, promoting the release of Fe and P across the SWI. For 13 days after Owc addition, the amount of mobile P in the sediment was significantly higher than that in the control, and it gradually decreased from day 24 to 90, with the lowest being approximately 74.1 % of the amount in the control. The reactive Fe concentration in the sediment showed a similar variation trend. These results indicate that mobile P and reactive Fe in the sediment could be the main sources of regeneration across the SWI in the presence of Owc.

Effects of variable-sized polyethylene microplastics on soil chemical properties and functions and microbial communities in purple soil

Microplastic contamination of soil has drawn increased attention due to the ecological harm it poses to the soil ecosystem. However, little is known about how microplastic particle sizes affect soil chemical properties and microbial communities, particularly in purple soil. In this study, a four-week incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) with different particle sizes (i.e., 300 and 600 μm) on soil properties, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), enzyme activities, and microbial communities in purple soil. When compared to 600 μm-PE MPs, 300 μm-PE MPs reduced contents of dissolved organic matter (DOM), EPS, and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity, but increased the cation exchange capacity (CEC). High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the 300 μm-PE MPs resulted in an increase in the phylum Nitrospirae, which is associated with microplastic degradation. The data implied that smaller PE MPs improved the growth of polyethylene-degrading bacteria by adsorbing more EPS and DOM, resulting in the degradation of microplastics. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that smaller PE MPs had lower toxicity to microbial populations than larger PE MPs, increasing the stability of the network. CEC and β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) were found to be the two major factors affecting the microbial communities by redundancy analysis (RDA). The study highlighted how microplastic particle sizes affect soil bacterial communities and soil functions.

Allelopathic effect of pyrogallic acid on cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: The regulatory role of nitric oxide and its significance for controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs)

Utilization of allelochemicals to inhibit overgrowth of toxic cyanobacteria is considered to be an environmentally friendly approach. However, the regulatory role of the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) on cyanobacteria under allelopathic stress remains unanswered. Here we demonstrate that the effect of NO on the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa depends on allelopathic stress of pyrogallic acid (PA). The experimental results revealed that general stimulation of M. aeruginosa by PA occurred within the concentration range 0.4-0.8 mg/L. In parallel with increasing concentration of PA (1.6-16.0 mg/L), the growth of M. aeruginosa was observed to decrease. The effect of NO on M. aeruginosa was evaluated by addition of the NO scavenger hemoglobin. In the stimulation stage, intracellular NO was seen to decreased to modulate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to maintain redox homeostasis of the cells. In the inhibition stage, the physiological characteristics of M. aeruginosa were changed significantly. Additionally, the accumulation of S-nitrosothiol by M. aeruginosa indicated that the high concentrations of PA induced nitric oxidative stress in M. aeruginosa. This study provides a new thought to understand the role of NO in controlling harmful algal blooms through the allelopathic effect of aquatic macrophytes.

A novel bio-washing eluent obtained from fermentation of fruit wastes for removal of soil Pb: efficiency, mechanism, and risk assessment

Agricultural wastes are inexpensive materials for soil remediation. However, the direct water extracts from these wastes showed low efficiency for Pb removal, thus limiting their application. In this study, citrus pericarp (CP) and pineapple peel (PP), as the common agricultural wastes, were inoculated with lactic acid bacteria to produce fermentation liquors (FCP and FPP) for improving Pb removal efficiency. Results showed that the Pb removal rates by FCP and FPP reached 37.3 and 43.6%, and increased by almost 50.0% than those by CP and PP. The ecological risk of Pb reduced by 83.0-88.2% after five times continuous washing with FCP and FPP, and the Pb concentrations conformed to soil remediation standard of China. Moreover, soil organic carbon 1.5 times increased in the washed soils, while total potassium improved by 40.7-68.0%. The mechanisms of Pb removal by these wastes involved in adsorption-desorption of Pb²⁺, complexation with organic ligands, and co-precipitation of Pb complexes. The increase of low molecular organic acids during the fermentation promoted dissolution of Pb and provided more hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine groups to interact with Pb²⁺, thus improving its removal rate. Therefore, fermentation liquid from fruit wastes is a novel, effective, and ecofriendly bio-washing eluent for Pb removal from contaminated soils.

Enhanced silicate remediation in cadmium-contaminated alkaline soil: Amorphous structure improves adsorption performance

Silicates have been used as soil heavy metal passivators, but low remediation efficiency limited their development. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, an economical and environmentally friendly amorphous iron silicate was prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. It could be proved from the passivation experiments that the remediation efficiency of amorphous iron silicate (AIS) on Cd-contaminated soil was better than that of natural silicates (montmorillonite and diatomite), which reflected the superiority of amorphous materials. Plant experiments showed that AIS could effectively inhibit the absorption and accumulation of Cd²⁺ in the edible parts of garlic. In addition, it may effectively reduce the potential ecological risk assessment of soil, and its immobilization mechanism of Cd²⁺ includes electrostatic adsorption, co-precipitation, ion exchange, and complexation of surface functional groups. This study demonstrates the advantages of amorphous iron silicate as a new functional material in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil and provides a reference for the development and application of environment-friendly passivators.

Effects of intercropping ryegrass with hollyhock and inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis on enhancing phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils

Cd is a heavy metal that contaminates soils. These kinds of heavy metals pose a serious threat to food security, ecosystems, and human health. To improve the phytoremediation efficiency of moderately Cd-contaminated cropland soils and achieve simultaneous production and remediation, intercropping ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with hollyhock (Althaea rosea) was investigated using pot experiments, and Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) inoculation was used as a booster to strengthen the absorption and accumulation of Cd in plants. The results showed that intercropping (Int treatment) decreased the Cd concentration in plants compared to hollyhock and ryegrass monocropping. However, the Cd accumulation in ryegrass and hollyhock was promoted by B. thuringiensis addition to intercropping (Int-B treatment), as the biomass of ryegrass and hollyhock was 2.33 and 1.13 times that of the Int treatment, respectively. Compared with the Int treatment, the total Cd concentration in soils of the Int-B treatment decreased by 8.1%, while diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid solution extracted Cd (DTPA-Cd) increased by 18.2%, indicating that B. thuringiensis increases the available Cd concentration in soils to promote Cd adsorption by hollyhock enrichment plants. High-throughput sequencing results further revealed that the dominant microflora in the soils of the Int and Int-B treatments were consistent with the control, although their abundance and diversity decreased slightly. Overall, intercropping with B. thuringiensis addition effectively increased the hollyhock remediation efficiency in moderately Cd-contaminated soils, and the concentration of Cd in forage crops of ryegrass was lower than the limit value of "Hygienic standards for feeds' (GB 13078-2017) in China.

Tetracycline adsorption trajectories on aged polystyrene in a simulated aquatic environment: A mechanistic investigation

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention as an organic class of pollutants as well as pollutant carriers in recipient aquatic ecosystems. In this study, tetracycline (TC) adsorption by polystyrene (PS), with multiple aging-based temporal changes in the adsorption mechanism, was observed. The results revealed that the pseudo-second-order model accurately predicted the TC adsorption kinetics for different types of PS. In addition, the isothermal adsorption processes fit the Freundlich model; however, their interactions were drastically weakened at lower temperatures or increasing salinities. Corresponding to the electrostatic interactions, adsorption TC was largely pH-dependent, with the maximum adsorbed TC content on the PS surface at a pH of 5 in an aqueous environment. More importantly, mechanistic studies have revealed that, compared to virgin PS, TC complexes with aged PS are principally controlled by hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, followed by π-π, polar-polar, and van der Waals interactions. These findings will aid in understanding the insights of TC and aged PS interactions and the underlying interactive molecular forces, which will be advantageous for comprehending the real case scenario of inter-pollutant interactions and related environmental pollution.

Analysis of clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of primary Xlymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung

OBJECTIVE

Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PPLELC) is a rare lung malignancy occurring most frequently in young non-smokers from Southeast Asia. Given its low incidence, PPLELC clinical features, treatment methods, and the factors affecting its prognosis remain elusive. To date, PPLELC data are mainly derived from clinical case reports, and no cohort studies are available. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed a group of PPLELC cases and summarized the clinical features of patients, treatment responses, and the factors affecting patient prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 91 patients having primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma were recruited in this study. These included sex, age, place of birth, smoking history, pre-treatment symptoms, tumor location, tumor markers, maximum tumor diameter, treatment regimen, lymph node presence metastasis after an operation, pathological picture, immunohistochemistry, genetic findings, and tumor stage grading. We determined the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), basic clinical characteristics, treatment option, treatment response, and recurrence pattern among the patients. In addition, we understood the influence of sex, age, tumor, nodes, and metastases (TNM) stage, tumor size, and surgery over patient prognosis.

RESULTS

Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is more common among young non-smokers, with a slightly higher incidence in women than in men. The expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER), pancytokeratin (PCK), Cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), and tumor protein 63 (P63) was positive in immunohistochemistry. Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen (CYFRA21-1) and Epstein-Barr DNA (EB-DNA) could be used as markers to diagnose primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. TNM stage and surgery were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is rare, showing a good prognosis.

Assessing sediment organic pollution via machine learning models and resource performance

Due to the potential ecological risks of organic pollution in sediments, aquatic ecosystems are currently facing substantial environmental threats. Assessing and controlling sediment pollution has become a huge challenge. Therefore, this study proposes a novel strategy for predicting organic pollution indicators for sediment, as well as an effective resource-utilization method. Contaminated sediments were converted into catalysts for sulfate radical advanced oxidation technologies by a one-step calcination method. The results revealed that the catalyst excelled in activating peroxymonosulfate to degrade tetracycline via a non-radical pathway. Most importantly, a predictive model of organic pollution indicators was established by machine learning. This study provides a novel approach for resource utilization and a strategy for assessing organic pollution in sediments.

Response of microbiomes with different abundances to removal of metal fractions by soil washing

Toxic metal contamination causes a great threat to soil ecosystem and human health. Soil washing is a fast practice for removing metals, but its influences on microbial diversity and the stability of soil ecosystem remain unknown. In this study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), and fermented pineapple peel residue (FPP) were used as representatives of chelates, low molecular organic acids and biological materials to wash Pb-polluted soils, and their impacts on microbial community were investigated. Washing with these agents effectively removed Pb, but altered microbial community structure. After washing with EDTA, CA, and FPP, 3-8 bacterial phyla and 1 fungal phylum greatly increased, while 7-20 bacterial and 0-6 fungal phyla severely decreased or even disappeared. The alterations of different microbiomes were closely related to soil metal fractions. The labile metal fraction had negative effects on most bacteria and fungi, but also showed positive influences on Actinobacteria, Patescibacteria, and Fusobacteria. The moderately stable and stable fractions were nontoxic to the most microbes, but still harmful to Patescibacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus. These findings provide new insights for the effects of soil washing remediation and toxicity of metal fractions on the microbiomes with different abundance.

Understanding and characteristics of coagulation removal of composite pollution of microplastic and norfloxacin during water treatment

Water composite pollution is still a great challenge in the field of water treatment. Especially for microplastic (MP), as an emerging pollutant, its wide distribution in water and persistent eco-environmental influence have received great concerns in recent years. Nevertheless, the removal characteristics and mechanism of conventional coagulation on MP composite pollution is quite insufficient. In this study, the coagulation removal performance and mechanisms of MP (polyethylene, PE) and norfloxacin (NOR) was investigated by polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and anionic polyacrylamide (APAM). Compared with single system, the removal efficiency of PE was significantly improved (>99.0%) under plateau stage in composite system, while the removal efficiency of NOR was slightly decreased to around 42% regardless of the addition of APAM. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential and One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of experimental data were used to explore the coagulation mechanisms. The results demonstrated that the removal of individual PE and NOR was mainly controlled by charge neutralization and sweep flocculation by PAC and APAM, and adsorption by formation of Al-NOR complex, respectively. Importantly, in composite system, the removal of PE was enhanced not only by the stronger charge neutralization but also the adsorption via the formation of PE-NOR-Al complex. Furthermore, the removal efficiency of PE and NOR in neutral and weak alkaline conditions was higher than that in weak acidic or strong alkaline conditions. The presence of metal ions and humic acid had obvious inhibition and promoting effects on the removal efficiency of PE and NOR. This study can provide a new perspective on fundamental understanding in characteristics and mechanisms of MP composite pollutants removed by coagulation.

AB0206 STUDY ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SERUM COMPLEMENT C5 IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Recent studies have pointed out that complement system activation is a major alteration in early atherosclerotic plaques, and complement C5 has promising value as a novel circulating biomarker of atherosclerosis, but the relationship between C5 and carotid atherosclerotic (CAS) plaque in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unclear.

Objectives

To investigate the clinical significance of serum complement C5 and the association with CAS plaque in patients with RA．

Methods

143 patients with RA were included in the study, and 46 cases with age- and sex- matched healthy physical examination without RA or CAS plaque served as a normal control. All RA patients were divided into RA with CAS plaque group and RA without CAS plaque group according to the presence or absence of plaque formation in the carotid artery. The subject’s demographic data, laboratory investigations and serum samples were collected. Body mass index (BMI) and Disease Activity Score 28-joint counts (DAS28) were calculated. Glucocorticoid and DMARDS use were recorded in the past 3 months. ELISA method was used to determine the concentration of complement C5 in the serum of each participation. CAS plaque was determined by color Doppler ultrasound.

Results

Serum complement C5 in RA group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05), whereas C5 level in RA with CAS plaque group was significantly higher than that in RA without CAS plaque group (P<0.05). In RA group, serum C5 level was positively correlated with CAS plaque, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen (FIB) (r=0.204, P=0.017; r=0.225, P=0.009; r=0.186, P=0.029;). In addition, there was no significant correlation between serum C5 and sex, age, BMI, course of disease, DAS28, lipid profile (TG, serum triglyceride; TC, total cholesterol; LDLC, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDLC, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC/HDLC; LDLC/HDLC), immune markers (RF, rheumatoid factor; anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies), cytokine (IL-6, Interleukin-6; TNF-α, Tumor necrosis factor-α), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (all P>0.05), or drug therapy (all P>0.05).

Conclusion

C5 may be a novel circulating marker of atherosclerosis in RA patients, it might promise to assist in risk stratification for cardiovascular disease in the future.

References

[1]Martínez-López D, et al. Complement C5 Protein as a Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Apr 28;75(16):1926-1941.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB1279 POOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCED WORK PRODUCTIVITY IN EUROPEAN PATIENTS WITH DERMATOMYOSITIS AND POLYMYOSITIS: FINDINGS FROM A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are rare heterogenous systemic autoimmune disorders of the skin, muscles, and other organs with few effective treatment options available. They are described as devastating diseases but the full impact on patients’ lives in Europe is not well understood.

Objectives

To systematically review and summarize evidence on humanistic burden of disease in patients with DM and PM in Europe to better understand patient-relevant aspects of disease and key domains of life impacted by DM and PM in the European setting.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted in MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify studies in children and adults with DM and PM, published in the English language between Jan 1, 2011, and Apr 28, 2021. Only primary studies enrolling 10 or more patients were included, irrespective of country or region. Each eligible article was independently reviewed by two reviewers. The title and study abstracts were reviewed to assess eligibility for full-text review. The topics of interest were clinical, humanistic, and economic burden of disease, as well as current management and unmet needs in DM and PM. Information on geographic scope was extracted from the papers of included studies. The current abstract summarizes SLR results on humanistic burden of DM and PM in European patients.

Results

A total of 2,967 non-duplicated publications were retrieved from medical databases and analyzed against pre-defined study selection criteria. There were 2,574 records excluded at title and abstract screening. Remaining 393 records were analyzed in the full text with 208 papers considered relevant. Additional 21 papers were identified from searching reference list of relevant studies and conference proceedings. In total, 222 studies described in 229 publications were included in data abstraction. Among 43 studies conducted across 14 European countries, 12 studies evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work productivity in patients with DM and PM. In 6 studies, patients received standard of care therapy. Six studies enrolled adults with DM and PM and 6 were conducted in patients with juvenile onset of DM. There were 6 cross-sectional analyses, 4 longitudinal cohort studies, 2 case-control studies, with sample size ranging from 11 to 246 patients. Adults with DM and PM had significantly worse HRQoL across multiple domains of 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) compared to controls from general population, with a strong negative impact of muscle weakness on physical functioning. Patients reported high difficulties in performing leisure time activities, moving around and work as indicated by median scores of 4-5 points in a 7-point Myositis Activity Profile (MAP). Reduced grip force in DM and PM adults was significantly associated with worse performance in domestic activities in the MAP assessment (p<0.05). In women with DM and PM, poor grip force additionally impacted vitality and mental health as measured by SF-36 (p<0.05). There were no associations between grip force and any SF-36 domain in men. Approximately 60% of adult patients rated their ability to work as “poor” or “less good” according to the Work Ability Index, 68% of patients had more than one week of sick leave in the past year, and 20.8% of them were permanently not able to work for at least 2 years. Children and adolescents with DM had impaired physical and psychosocial functioning compared to healthy norms with 40% of individuals showing increased emotional distress requiring in-depth psychological assessment.

Conclusion

European patients with DM and PM experience a muscle weakness that has a detrimental impact on HRQoL, daily activities and ability to work. Similar disease impact on HRQoL was reported in patients in North America. These findings suggest a need for a novel therapy that will restore physical functioning in patients with DM and PM.

Disclosure of Interests

Jens Schmidt Speakers bureau: Euroimmun, CSL Behring, Consultant of: Alnylam, Argenx, Biotest, CSL Behring, Kezar Life Sciences, LFB, Novartis, Octapharma, UCB, Grant/research support from: CSL Behring, Novartis, Konrad Pisarczyk Consultant of: Kezar Life Sciences, Richard Leff Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Consultant of: Kezar Life Sciences, Kiruthi Palaniswamy Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences, Eunmi Park Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences, Li Long Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences

AB1277 POOR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AND SUBSTANTIAL BURDEN OF COMORBIDITIES IN EUROPEAN PATIENTS WITH DERMATOMYOSITIS/POLYMYOSITIS: RESULTS FROM A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are rare heterogenous systemic autoimmune disorders of the skin, muscles and other organs that may have a devastating impact on patients’ lives. Despite various therapies used in clinical practice, a notable proportion of patients seem not to achieve sustainable remission. There is a need to better understand long-term outcomes and comorbidities in patients with DM/PM in Europe.

Objectives

To systematically review and summarize evidence on clinical burden of disease in patients with DM/PM in Europe.

Methods

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted in MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify studies in children and adults with DM/PM, published in the English language between 2011 and 2021. Primary studies enrolling 10 or more patients were included, irrespective of country or region. Each eligible article was independently reviewed by two reviewers. The title and study abstracts were reviewed to assess eligibility for full-text review. The current abstract summarizes SLR results on the long-term outcomes and comorbidities in patients with DM/PM in Europe.

Results

A total of 2,967 non-duplicated publications were retrieved from medical databases and analyzed against pre-defined study selection criteria. There were 2,574 records excluded at title and abstract screening. Remaining 393 records were analyzed in the full text with 208 papers considered relevant. Additional 21 papers were identified from searching reference list of relevant studies and conference proceedings. In total, 222 studies (229 publications) were included in data abstraction. Among 43 studies conducted across 14 European countries, 23 studies evaluated long-term outcomes of disease and burden of comorbidities. There were 14 longitudinal cohort studies, 7 cross-sectional analyses and 2 case-control studies. Only 29-44% of DM/PM adults achieved remission. Between 38% and 62% of adults with DM/PM required at least 3 different medications, suggesting inadequate response to initial and subsequent regimens. During a mean follow-up of 13.9 years, 69% patients with JDM had polycyclic or chronic disease characterized by periods of remission and recurrence or by permanently active disease for more than 2 years after diagnosis. A notable proportion of children (60.4%) showed evidence of damage in at least one body organ and 13-20% of patients had complications such as calcinosis, lipodystrophy, or muscle atrophy. Adults with DM/PM often suffered from interstitial lung disease (16-66%), serious infections leading to hospitalization or death (21-26.7%), and cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) (19-71%). Compared to age and gender matched controls without DM, patients with DM had 16-times higher risk of venous thromboembolism (HR=16.44, 95% CI: 7.54-35.86). Incidence of coronary heart disease, hemorrhagic stroke, or ischemic stroke during 10-year follow-up was approximately 1.5- to 2-times higher in DM/PM adults relative to general population. Multiple studies reported high rates of any malignancy in DM adults (7.5-33%) and in PM adults (8-11.7%). During approximately 24,000 patient-years of follow-up, adults with DM/PM had more than 4-times higher incidence of lung cancer compared to general population that also was one of the highest incidences among multiple other autoimmune diseases. Long-term prognosis in DM/PM was poor with 20-year survival below 70%. The most common causes of deaths were pulmonary-related, malignancies, and cardiac complications. Mortality due to lung cancer was more than 4-times higher than in general population (standardized mortality ratio=4.17, 95% CI: 3.03-5.60).

Conclusion

European patients with DM/PM suffer from substantial burden of comorbidities including serious infections, malignancies and CVDs that lead to poor long-term outcomes. A notable proportion of adult and juvenile patients do not achieve sustainable remission or experience relapse indicating high unmet need.

Disclosure of Interests

Jiří Vencovský Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Biogen, Boehringer, Eli Lilly, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Werfen, Consultant of: Abbvie, Argenx, Boehringer, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Octapharma, Pfizer, UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Konrad Pisarczyk Consultant of: Kezar Life Sciences, Richard Leff Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Consultant of: Kezar Life Sciences, Eunmi Park Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences, Kiruthi Palaniswamy Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences, Li Long Shareholder of: Kezar Life Sciences, Employee of: Kezar Life Sciences.

[Observation of PD-1+CXCR5+CD4+T lymphocyte and sPD-1 levels in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B virus carriers treated with entecavir]

Objective: To dynamically observe the clinical efficacy of entecavir and the changes of PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes and sPD-1 levels in peripheral blood of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus carriers treated with entecavir, and further explore its clinical significance. Methods: There were 31 cases of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in the treatment group (A), 32 cases of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in the treatment group (B), and 15 cases of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in the non-treatment group (C).Three groups peripheral blood samples and clinical data at 0, 24 and 48 weeks were collected and compared. PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry, and the level of sPD-1 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ANOVA and Spearman correlation analysis were performed on the measurement data among the three groups. Results: At week 0, the serum levels of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA were significantly higher in groups A and C than group B. PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were significantly higher in group B (4.70%±1.58%) than group A (3.25%±1.01%) and group C (2.77%±0.67%) (F=16.65, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and group C (P>0.05). Peripheral blood sPD-1 in group B [(1 866.62±1 472.70) pg/ml] was significantly higher than group A [(824.86±538.66) pg/ml] and group C [(618.19±602.62) pg/ml] (F=10.95, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and group C (P>0.05). At 48 weeks, the serum HBsAg did not decrease significantly in groups A and C than baseline (P>0.05), but were significantly higher than group B (P<0.05). Serum HBeAg levels were decreased significantly in groups A and B than baseline (P<0.05). <0.05), but group A was significantly higher than group B (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between group A and group C (P>0.05). Serum HBV DNA level was significantly lower in groups A and B than group C (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05). Peripheral blood PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes were significantly lower in Group A (1.56%±0.73%) and group B (1.32%±0.43%) than group C (2.64%±0.85%) (P<0.05). Peripheral blood sPD-1 were significantly lower in group A [(289.05±215.86) pg/ml] and group B [(236.01±173.92) pg/ml] than group C [(650.34±598.46) pg/ml] (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and group B. Correlation analysis results: In group A at 48 weeks, the decreased level of PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocyte ratio had no correlation with the decreased level of HBsAg and HBV DNA, but was positively correlated with the decreased level of HBeAg (r=0.376, P<0.05). The decreased level of sPD-1 had no correlation with the changes of HBsAg, but was positively correlated with the decreased levels of HBeAg and HBV DNA (r=0.598 and 0.384, P<0.05). In group B at 48 weeks, the decreased levels of PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes and sPD-1 were positively correlated with the decreased levels of HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus replication and expressions in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B virus carriers were significantly inhibited after 48 weeks of antiviral treatment, which is related not only to entecavir treatment, but also to the immunological mechanism involved in sPD-1. Moreover, the inhibition of HBeAg expression is associated with a decrease in the number and/or activity of PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺T lymphocytes.

Adsorption of Cu2+ by UV aged polystyrene in aqueous solution

Microplastics are the critical carriers of heavy metals in the environment. Thus, investigating the adsorption mechanisms between the microplastics and heavy metals is helpful to understand the migration and transformation pattern of the heavy metals in the environment. The adsorption of microplastics towards heavy metals can be largely affected by natural aging (e.g., UV-aging), environmental pH, and salinity. In this study, the adsorption of polystyrene (PS) towards Cu²⁺ and the effects of UV-aging, environment pH, and salinity on the adsorption were systematically investigated. The results show that the adsorption capacity of PS towards Cu²⁺ increased with the UV-aging time, as UV-aging increased the microcracks and oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the PS. Adsorption kinetics data followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the interaction between PS and Cu²⁺ is chemical adsorption. Adsorption isotherms data could be well-described by both the Langmuir and Freundlich models, indicating that the adsorption was multilayer adsorption. As the solution pH and salinity can influence the surface charge of the PS, they could also affect the performance of the PS on Cu²⁺ adsorption. High pH facilitated the adsorption of PS towards Cu²⁺, while high salinity (above 1‰) inhibited the adsorption.

Biochar promotes arsenic sequestration on iron plaques and cell walls in rice roots

The iron (Fe) cycle in the rice-soil system affects arsenic (As) uptake by rice. The effect of Fe on As uptake can be influenced by the addition of biochar, but has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the effects of maize straw-derived biochar (MB) on Fe and As translocation were determined by analysing the Fe and As concentrations in pore water, dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB) extracts, and rice plants. As-contaminated soils were supplemented with 0 or 1% biochar and 0 or 90 mg kg^-1 P, and rice plants were grown for 70 d. Results indicated that biochar addition increased the concentrations of Fe and As in pore water, while P did not affect them. Additionally, biochar promoted the accumulation of Fe and As in roots. However, the rice biomass increased by 28% upon biochar addition, indicating that the rice plants became more tolerant to As toxicity with biochar. Specifically, biochar increased the root triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductive intensity, reduced the root H₂O₂ concentration, and promoted iron plaque (IP) formation. Moreover, the positive correlation between IP/DCB-extractable As and crystalline Fe on the rice root surface indicated that crystalline Fe appeared to be the determinant species of IP and played a central role in As segregation. In addition, biochar increased both crystalline Fe formation on the root surface and the Fe content in the cell wall, which enhanced As sequestration. Overall, rice could effectively tolerate As stress under biochar treatment since As could be retained on the root surface and root cell wall with MB.

Distribution of microplastics in the sludge of wastewater treatment plants in chengdu, China

Large amounts of microplastics can accumulate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and sludge disposal is suspected to be a major source of microplastics pollution in the environment. It is therefore important to investigate the distribution of microplastics in the sludge of each processing unit of WWTPs. However, little information is available on this topic in China. Accordingly, in this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the sludge of two WWTPs in Chengdu were investigated. The abundance of microplastics in the sludge samples ranged from 44.4 n·kg^-1 to 750.0 n·kg^-1. Microplastics were mainly divided into particles (32.16%), debris (28.14%) and fibers (17.08%) according to their shape, and the colors of the microplastics were mainly green (35.19%) and translucent (18.06%). The particle sizes were mainly larger than 1 mm in dimension. Polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene were the prevalent types of microplastics analyzed. Our results provide basic information for better understanding the characteristics of microplastics in sludge and for improving sludge treatment.

Efficiency and comprehensive risk assessment of soil Pb and Cd by washing technique with three biodegradable eluents

Soil washing with environmentally friendly eluents is a rapid remediation technique for farmland polluted by heavy metals. In this study, polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA), ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) sodium (EDTMPS), and phosphonyl carboxylic acid copolymer (POCA) were applied to remedy paddy and arid soils polluted by Pb and Cd. At the same time, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used as a control eluent. PESA showed comparable removal of soil Pb and Cd (over 80.0%) with EDTA, and EDTMPS and POCA removed two heavy metals by 35.2-50.3%. For labile fractions, PESA significantly removed Pb by 93.5-96.7% and Cd by 84.9-90.3% in two soils. EDTMPS and POCA removed Pb by 75.5-85.8% in two soils, while they only removed Cd by 11.7-42.2% in paddy soil, and 76.3-81.7% in arid soil. The risks of total heavy metal concentrations were reduced from the high risk to low risk in paddy soil, and to considerable risk in arid soil, while only dropped to considerable or even had no change by EDTMPS and POCA leaching. The risks of the two soils reduced from high to low or considerable level after PESA washing based on labile fraction change, and to considerable or high level after EDTMPS and POCA leaching, respectively. Therefore, PESA is an ecological benefit eluent for remediating the farmland polluted by heavy metals, and the risk assessment based on labile fraction more easily identifies the dynamic change of heavy metal during the washing process.

Dynamics of sediment phosphorus affected by mobile aeration: Pilot-scale simulation study in a hypereutrophic pond

Controlling the release of phosphorus (P) in sediments is important to prevent eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in water bodies. Here we explored the effect of mobile aerators on the control of P release from sediments in a eutrophic pond. The dissolved oxygen in the water body recovered significantly after six months of aeration, becoming 4.2-5.8 times higher than in the control. The pH and Eh values at the sediment-water interface considerably increased, while the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in pore water significantly decreased, resulting in the alteration of SRP fluxes from 1.69 mg/m² d to -53.49 mg/m² d. Moreover, the inert P in sediments increased by 5.2% of the total P at the end of the study compared with the initial state, and the calcium-bound phosphorus (HCl-P) increased by 96.6%. However, although aeration reduced the concentration of SRP in the water column, the total P concentration was 2.45 times higher than that of the control, and the content of redox-sensitive P (BD-P) in the sediment also increased by 200%. Overall, although mobile aeration can maintain the microenvironment of the sediment interface and increase the inert P content in the sediment to reduce the P flux, it cannot reduce the risk of release of mobile P.

1521 Oral Foregut Duplication Cyst in A Neonate: A Case Report and Review of The Literature

A four-day-old neonate was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department by the Paediatric medical team regarding a cystic lesion associated with the child’s lingual frenulum. The lesion appeared to be affecting feeding causing a potential failure to thrive.

An MRI showed a 22 x 14 x 17 mm thin-walled oval cystic structure within the midline of the tongue/floor of the mouth. The decision was made with the family to surgically excise the lesion under a general anaesthetic. The histopathology results demonstrated the cyst to be lined with both gastric surface mucus cells and ciliated respiratory-type epithelium.

The patient was diagnosed with having an Oral Foregut Duplication Cyst (OFDC), also known as a lingual choristoma, enteric duplication cyst or heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity. OFDCs are benign developmental anomalies that contain foregut derivatives. The cyst linings can contain gastrointestinal, respiratory, squamous or mixed cell types. There are only approximately 58 cases reported in the literature, demonstrating the rarity of these lesions.

OFDCs can be asymptomatic but in some neonates, they can present with difficulties feeding, swallowing and even has been shown to cause airway obstruction. If left in situ an OFDC can potentially go on to hinder speech development.

Although rare, OFDCs should be considered in a differential diagnosis of congenital oral lesions and in particular those of the anterior floor of mouth and tongue. With the use of pre-op imaging to help planning, surgical excision is both diagnostic and therapeutic.

AB0756 IMMUNE-MEDIATED BASIS FOR A PHASE 2A CLINICAL STUDY COMPARING RILZABRUTINIB VS GLUCOCORTICOIDS IN RITUXIMAB-REFRACTORY PATIENTS WITH IGG4-RELATED DISEASE

Background:

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated disorder causing fibro-inflammatory lesions. Although the cause remains unknown, it may be driven by interactions between B lymphocytes and CD4+ cytotoxic and regulatory T cells and is characterized by an increase in short-lived plasmablasts, circulating antibodies, and macrophages. Standard therapy mainly includes glucocorticoids (GC), limited by toxicity with long-term use (> 6 mo), and to a lesser extent, immunosuppressives (eg, rituximab). Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays an important role in the activation of multiple immune effector cells such as B cells, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes/macrophages, and neutrophils. Dysregulation of the activation of these immune cells results in autoimmune inflammation, tissue damage, and development of fibrosis. Rilzabrutinib is a highly selective oral BTK inhibitor that targets multiple pathways of innate and adaptive immunity (with direct effects on B-cell and FcR pathways) and has the potential to inhibit antigen presentation to autoreactive T cells.

Objectives:

To provide the biological rationale for rilzabrutinib in IgG4-RD.

Methods:

Rilzabrutinib has been evaluated in biochemical, in vitro studies, and in vivo models of inflammatory diseases. Additional support is provided by the phase 2 trial for oral rilzabrutinib in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and the phase 2 trial for oral rilzabrutinib in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Results:

Rilzabrutinib inhibited the activity of BTK and B-cell receptor in B cells (IC50 5-123 nM) and Fc gamma receptor in IgG/Fc gamma receptor-stimulated monocytes (IC50 56 nM) and blocked IgG- and IgM-mediated antibody production in enriched B cells when stimulated in T-cell dependent (anti-CD40+IL-21) and T-cell independent (TLR-9/CpG and TNP-LPS) pathways. The impact of rilzabrutinib on innate cell pathways was further confirmed by significant dose-dependent inhibition of macrophage and neutrophil-driven passive rat Arthus reaction (P < 0.01 vs vehicle) and antibody-induced murine ITP (P < 0.05 vs vehicle). In a 12-week phase 2 pemphigus vulgaris trial, 54% of patients achieved the primary endpoint, control of disease activity (CDA) on low-dose corticosteroids by week 4, and 73% achieved it by week 12. In the phase 2 trial of ITP patients (median 6 prior therapies), rilzabrutinib 400 mg bid showed rapid and sustained improvement in platelet counts and only grade 1/2-related adverse events1. In responders, platelet counts increased as early as day 8, potentially due to innate immune mechanisms. Collectively, results in both B and innate immune cells provide an initial basis for evaluating rilzabrutinib in IgG4-RD. The ongoing phase 2a study (NCT04520451) is investigating rilzabrutinib 400 mg bid (+tapered GC) vs GC control (3:1) for 12 weeks in IgG4-RD patients refractory to rituximab. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and ability of rilzabrutinib to induce GC-free remission at week 12. Coupled with known preclinical/clinical findings, mechanistic analyses in this ongoing IgG4-RD study will profile B and other immune cell effects pre-/post-rilzabrutinib dosing to enhance the clinical understanding of rilzabrutinib in IgG4-RD.

Conclusion:

Studies of rilzabrutinib that show beneficial effects on both B-cell and innate cell pathways provide support for its therapeutic role in immune-mediated diseases and for targeting the underlying pathophysiological effects of IgG4-RD. Effective and safe therapies that rapidly induce and maintain clinical responses, while minimizing the need for continuous GC treatment, remain an unmet need for patients with IgG4-RD.

References:

[1]Kuter et al. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020;4(suppl 1): PB1318.

Disclosure of Interests:

Li Long Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Matthew Baker: None declared, Mollie Carruthers: None declared, Alireza Meysami: None declared, Robert Spiera Consultant of: research funding and personal fees for consulting from Chemocentryx, Formation Biologics, Roche-Genentech, and Sanofi, Grant/research support from: research funding fees from BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corbus, GSK, and Inflarx; personal fees from AbbVie, CSL Behring, GSK, and Janssen, Mamatha Reddy Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Marianne Kavanagh Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Michelle Francesco Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Claire Langrish Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Ann Neale Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, Puneet Arora Employee of: Principia Biopharma, a Sanofi Company, John H. Stone Consultant of: research funding and personal fees for consulting from Principia and Sanofi

AB0809 PADUA PREDICTION SCORE COMBINED WITH SERUM ALBUMIN FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RHEUMATOLOGY

Background:

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes thrombotic disease of venous system, but primarily includes lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Population-based epidemiological studies have shown an association between systemic autoimmune diseases and VTE[1]. The Padua prediction score(PPS) is a new 20-point risk assessment model proposed by Professor Barbar et al[2] in 2010. A large number of researches have shown that low serum albumin concentration is associated with an increased risk of VTE [3],but there is a lack of studies on serum albumin in VTE, and there are no reports on PPS in rheumatology inpatients.

Objectives:

To investigate the status of VTE in patients in the department of rheumatology, and to explore the value of PPS combined with serum albumin in the identification of VTE in this patient population.

Methods:

Baseline data of inpatients in rheumatology department were collected at Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from September 2018 to September 2020. Occurrence of VTE was compared between high and low risk groups. PPSs were analyzed in VTE and non-VTE patients. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of VTE. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the probablity of value of rheumatic inpatients with VTE assessed by PPS,serum albumin and PPS with serum albumin. P<0.05 indicates that the difference was statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 2282 patients were included in this study, and 50(2.2%) had symptomatic VTE. Among the symptomatic VTE cases,38(1.6%) had DVT only,8(0.4%) had PE only, and 4(0.2%) were diagnosed with DVT and PE. PPSs in VTE and non-VTE groups were 3.00(2.00~6.00) and2.00(1.00~2.00) respectively (P< 0.05). One hundred and eighty-eight cases was divided into high-risk group of VTE (PPS≥4), while 2094 cases (PPS<4) were in the low-risk group. Logistic regression analysis showed that known thrombophilic condition, history of VTE, reduced mobility, and D-dimer were independent risk factors of VTE in rheumatology patients, the odd ration(OR) values were 161.90, 26.08, 8.73,and1.04. Serum albumin was the independent protection factor [OR= 0.92(95%CI:0.87~0.98)]. The AUC of PPS model, serum albumin model and the combined predictive model were 0.77, 0.75, 0.84, respectively. The difference between the combined prediction model and PPS model was statistically significant (Z=3.813, P<0.05). The optimal sensitivity of PPS and serum albumin models is 60%, 82%, respectively, and the optimal specificity of is 82.5%,58.6%, respectively. The combination model corresponds to a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 90.4%.

Conclusion:

The incidence of symptomatic VTE was relatively higher in hospitalized patients in rheumatology department. Serum albumin was the protective factor. The combination of albumin and PPS can improve the accuracy of screening for VTE in rheumatology in-patients.

References:

[1]Tamaki H,Khasnis A.Venous thromboembolism in systemic autoimmune diseases: A narrative review with emphasis on primary systemic vasculitides.[J].Vasc Med, 2015, 20: 369-76.

[2]Barbar S, Noventa F, Rossetto V,et al. A risk assessment model for the identification of hospitalized medical patients at risk for venous thromboembolism: the Padua Prediction Score[J]. J Thromb Haemost,2010,8(11):2450–2457.

[3]Kunutsor SK,Seidu S,Katechia DT et al. Inverse association between serum albumin and future risk of venous thromboembolism: interrelationship with high sensitivity C-reactive protein.[J].Ann Med, 2018, 50: 240-248.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Managing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa: a budget impact analysis

SETTING: In South Africa prior to 2016, the standard treatment regimen for multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) was 24 months long and required daily injectable aminoglycoside (IA) treatment during the first 6 months. Recent evidence supports the replacement of IA with well-tolerated oral bedaquiline (BDQ) and a shortened 9-12 month regimen.DESIGN: Using a Markov model, we analyzed the 5-year budgetary impact and cost per successful treatment outcome of four regimens: 1) IA long-course, 2) oral long-course, 3) IA short-course, and 4) oral short-course. We used the South African MDR/RR-TB case register (2013-2015) to assess treatment outcomes for the then-standard IA long-course. Data on the improvement in outcomes for BDQ-based regimens were based on the literature. Costs were estimated from the provider perspective using costs incurred to provide decentralized treatment for MDR-TB at a Johannesburg hospital.RESULTS: Based on our analysis, by 2023, the cost/successful outcome for the four regimens was respectively 1) US$7374, 2) US$7860, 3) US$5149, and 4) US$4922. The annual total cost of each regimen was US$37 million, US$43 million, US$26 million, and US$28 million.CONCLUSION: Despite the high cost of BDQ, a BDQ-based shortened regimen for the treatment of MDR/RR-TB will result in improved treatment outcomes and cost savings for South Africa.

Dissecting the Role of VicK Phosphatase in Aggregation and Biofilm Formation of Streptococcus mutans

VicRK (WalRK or YycFG) is a conserved 2-component regulatory system (TCS) that regulates cell division, cell wall biosynthesis, and homeostasis in low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. VicRK is also associated with biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans on the tooth surface as it directly regulates the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis. Of the 2 components, VicK possesses both autokinase and phosphatase activities, which regulate the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the regulator VicR in response to environmental cues. However, the dual mechanism of VicK as the autokinase/phosphatase in regulating S. mutans' responses is not well elucidated. Previously, it has been shown that the phosphatase activity depends on the PAS domain and residues in the DHp domain of VicK in S. mutans. Specifically, mutating proline at 222 in the PAS domain inhibits VicK phosphatase activity. We generated a VicK^P222A mutant to determine the level of VicR-P in the cytoplasm by Phos-tag sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We show that in VicK^P222A phosphatase, attenuation increased phosphorylated VicR (VicR-P) that downregulated glucosyltransferases, gtfBC, thereby reducing the synthesis of water-insoluble polysaccharides (WIS-EPS) in the biofilm. In addition, VicK^P222A presented as long-rod cells, reduced growth, and displayed asymmetrical division. A major adhesin of S. mutans, SpaP was downregulated in VicK^P222A, making it unable to agglutinate in saliva. In summary, we have confirmed that VicK phosphatase activity is critical to maintain optimal phosphorylation status of VicR in S. mutans, which is important for cell growth, cell division, EPS synthesis, and bacterial agglutination in saliva. Hence, VicK phosphatase activity may represent a promising target to modulate S. mutans' pathogenicity.

Phosphate recovery and simultaneous nitrogen removal from urine by electrochemically induced struvite precipitation

The direct discharge of urine into water bodies leads to environmental pollution, and an increase in the water treatment cost, whereas recycling of the nutrients in urine is of significant economic value. A single-compartment reactor was investigated for the recycling of phosphate and simultaneous removal of nitrogen from urine wastewater by electrochemical magnesium induction, and electrochemical oxidation for the removal of residual nitrogen from the supernatant. The results demonstrated that phosphate recovery capacity was greater than 11 mg P cm^-2 h^-1 at a current density of 15 m A cm^-2 and anodizing time of 20 min; the removal rates of ammonium and total nitrogen in the synchronous electrochemical oxidation were 80% and 75%, respectively, at a current density of 45 m A cm^-2 and anodizing time of 60 min. The anodizing time and initial pH were determined to be critical control factors in the electrochemical struvite induction and nitrogen electrochemical oxidation. The on-site electrochemical nitrogen oxidation could rapidly utilize the alkaline supernatant following phosphate recovery. Thus, the integration of the single-compartment reactor, electrochemical magnesium dosage, and simultaneous nitrogen electrochemical oxidation demonstrates potential for application to decentralized reactors to treat source-separated urine.

Photonic TiO2 photoelectrodes for environmental protections: Can color be used as a quick selection indicator for photoelectrocatalytic performance?

Colored photonic TiO₂ photoelectrodes have been prepared by a simple anodizing-annealing method. Traditionally, the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) properties of the film are obtained by measuring the actual decomposition of organic pollutants under ultraviolet or visible light, which may take tens of minutes or even hours. Here, through the combined analysis of the apparent features and PEC properties, we found that the structure would affect the color and optical performance, and the films with different colors showed different PEC performance. Interestingly, after repeated verifications, we got a rule that the PEC performance of the TiO₂ films decreased in the order with typical color of yellow, blue-green, dark yellow, blue, yellow-grey, and purple. Therefore, we provide a new idea for the visualization screening of PEC performance for the film photoelectrodes, that is, color can be used as a quick selection indicator for TiO₂ films.