Biodegradation of phthalate acid esters and whole-genome analysis of a novel Streptomyces sp. FZ201 isolated from natural habitats

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is one of the most extensively used phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and is considered to be an emerging, globally concerning pollutant. The genus Streptomyces holds promise as a degrader of various organic pollutants, but PAE biodegradation mechanisms by Streptomyces species remain unsolved. In this study, a novel PAE-degrading Streptomyces sp. FZ201 isolated from natural habitats efficiently degraded various PAEs. FZ201 had strong resilience against DBP and exhibited immediate degradation, with kinetics adhering to a first-order model. The comprehensive biodegradation of DBP involves de-esterification, β-oxidation, trans-esterification, and aromatic ring cleavage. FZ201 contains numerous catabolic genes that potentially facilitate PAE biodegradation. The DBP metabolic pathway was reconstructed by genome annotation and intermediate identification. Streptomyces species have an open pangenome with substantial genome expansion events during the evolutionary process, enabling extensive genetic diversity and highly plastic genomes within the Streptomyces genus. FZ201 had a diverse array of highly expressed genes associated with the degradation of PAEs, potentially contributing significantly to its adaptive advantage and efficiency of PAE degradation. Thus, FZ201 is a promising candidate for remediating highly PAE-contaminated environments. These findings enhance our preliminary understanding of the molecular mechanisms employed by Streptomyces for the removal of PAEs.

Congener-specific fate and impact of microcystins in the soil-earthworm system

Microcystins (MCs) have a significant influence on aquatic ecosystems, but little is known about their terrestrial fate and impact. Here, we investigated the fate of two MCs (MC-LR and MC-RR) in the soil-earthworm system, with consideration of their congener-specific impact on earthworm health, soil bacteria, and soil metabolome. Although MCs had little acute lethal effect on earthworms, they caused obvious growth inhibition and setae rupture. Relative to MC-RR, MC-LR exhibited higher bioaccumulation and the resulting dermal lesions and deformation of longitudinal muscles. While the incorporation of both MCs into soils stimulated pathogenic bacteria and depressed oxidative stress tolerant bacteria, the response among soil nitrification and glutathione metabolism differed between the two congeners. The dissipation kinetics of MCs obeyed the first-order model. Earthworms stimulated soil N-cycling enzyme activities, increased the abundance of MC-degrading bacteria, and promoted bacterial metabolic functions related to glutathione metabolism, xenobiotics biodegradation, and metabolism of amino acids that comprise MCs, which accelerated the dissipation of MC-LR and MC-RR by 227% and 82%, respectively. These results provide evidence of significant congener differences in the terrestrial fate and impact of MCs, which will enable a better understanding of their role in mediating soil functions and ecosystem services.

Guiding infrared electromagnetic waves through TI nanowires with extremely large wavenumber and azimuthal index

In this paper, the dispersion relations of the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in TI nanowires have been investigated. For simplicity, TI nanowire has been modeled as a dielectric cylinder with a conductive surface, the conductivity of which is an anti-symmetric tensor. The off-diagonal terms of the conductivity tensor only slightly change the dispersion relations. Due to small conductivities, these SPPs have extremely large wavenumbers and azimuthal indices; the electric fields are tightly confined near the conductive surface. For high-order modes, cut-off phenomena have been observed. In the end, the effects of losses and much larger bulk permittivities on the dispersion relations of surface plasmons have been discussed. The simple model proposed in this paper can be directly applied to other materials with arbitrary surface conductivity. Our investigations show that TI nanostructures are promising platforms for nanophotonic applications in the future.

Root-associated bacteria strengthen their community stability against disturbance of antibiotics on structure and functions

Antibiotics affect bacterial community structure and functions in soil. However, the response and adaptation of root-associated bacterial communities to antibiotic stress remains poorly understood. Here, rhizobox experiments were conducted with maize (Zea mays L.) upon exposure to antibiotics ciprofloxacin or tetracycline. High-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial community and quantitative PCR analysis of nitrogen cycling genes show that ciprofloxacin and tetracycline significantly shift bacterial community structure in bulk soil, whereas plant host may mitigate the disturbances of antibiotics on bacterial communities in root-associated niches (i.e., rhizosphere and rhizoplane) through the community stabilization. Deterministic assembly, microbial interaction, and keystone species (e.g., Rhizobium and Massilia) of root-associated bacterial communities benefit the community stability compared with those in bulk soil. Meanwhile, the rhizosphere increases antibiotic dissipation, potentially reducing the impacts of antibiotics on root-associated bacterial communities. Furthermore, rhizospheric effects deriving from root exudates alleviate the impacts of antibiotics on the nitrogen cycle (i.e., nitrification, organic nitrogen conversion and denitrification) as confirmed by functional gene quantification, which is largely attributed to the bacterial community stability in rhizosphere. The present study enhances the understanding on the response and adaptation of root-associated bacterial community to antibiotic pollution.

[Clinical observation on the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine using 3D printed self-stable zero-profile artificial vertebral body]

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of a 3D printed self-stable zero-profile artificial vertebral body for anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion in the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine. Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, patients diagnosed with OPLL in Luohe Central Hospital from January to July 2022 were divided into a zero-profile group (3D printed self-stable zero-profile artificial vertebral body was used for internal fixation and fusion after anterior cervical subtotal decompression,) and titanium-mesh group (titanium-mesh and titanium plate were used for internal fixation and fusion after anterior cervical subtotal decompression) according to envelope random method. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and improvement rate, incidence of postoperative prosthesis subsidence, and bone graft fusion were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results: Finally, 21 patients in the zero notch group and 20 patients in the titanium mesh group were included in the study and were followed-up. In the zero-profile group, there were 16 males and 5 females, aged (48.0±12.7) years. In the titanium-mesh group, there were 14 males and 6 females, aged (49.8±10.2) years. All the 41 patients successfully completed the operation. In the zero-profile group, the surgical time was (50.04±8.45) minutes, the blood loss was (95.38±26.07) ml and the hospitalization cost was (42.32±6.12) thousand yuan. In the titanium-mesh group, the surgical time was (59.20±11.95) minutes, the blood loss was (93.10±27.86) ml and the hospitalization cost was (42.10±6.71) thousand yuan. The surgical time in the zero-profile group was shorter than that in the titanium-mesh group (P=0.007), and there was no statistically significant difference in blood loss and hospitalization costs between the two groups (both P>0.05). The 41 patients were followed-up for (14.29±1.45) months. Four cases (20.0%) in the titanium mesh group experienced swallowing difficulties and 0 cases in the zero incision group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.048). No intraoperative hematoma, spinal cord nerve recompression, airway crisis, incision infection complications, and no steel plate or screw breakage or displacement occurred after surgery. At the last follow-up, all cases had bone fusion. At the follow-up of 12 months after surgery, the JOA score of the zero incision group increased from preoperative (10.33±1.71) points to (15.47±0.81) points, with an improvement rate of 76.1%±15.7%; the JOA score of the titanium mesh group increased from (10.30±1.75) points to (15.30±0.92) points, with an improvement rate of 73.2%±16.7%; there was no statistically significant difference in improvement rate between the two groups (P=0.580). At the follow-up of 12 months after surgery, 1 case (4.8%) in the zero incision group and 8 cases (40.0%) in the titanium mesh group experienced implant sinking, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.009). Conclusion: Compared with titanium-mesh, 3D printed self-stable zero-profile artificial vertebral body for the treatment of OPLL of the cervical spine can achieve good surgical efficacy, shorter surgical time, lower incidence of postoperative chronic swallowing discomfort, and can provide a better bone material bonding interface and be less prone to prosthesis settlement.

Insights into the molecular network underlying phytotoxicity and phytoaccumulation of ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is frequently detected in agricultural soils and can be accumulated by crops, causing phytotoxicities and food safety concerns. However, the molecular basis of its phytotoxicity and phytoaccumulation is hardly known. Here, we analyzed physiological and molecular responses of choysum (Brassica parachinensis) to CIP stress by comparing low CIP accumulation variety (LAV) and high accumulation variety (HAV). Results showed that the LAV suffered more severe inhibition of growth and photosynthesis than the HAV, exhibiting a lower tolerance to CIP toxicity. Integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses suggested that more differentially expressed genes/proteins (DEGs/DEPs) involved in basic metabolic processes were downregulated to a larger extent in the LAV, explaining its lower CIP tolerance at molecular level. By contrast, more DEGs/DEPs involved in defense responses were upregulated to a larger extent in the HAV, showing the molecular basis of its stronger CIP tolerance. Further, a CIP phytotoxicity-responsive molecular network was constructed for the two varieties to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the variety-specific CIP tolerance and accumulation. The results present the first comprehensive molecular profile of plant response to CIP stress for molecular-assisted breeding to improve CIP tolerance and minimize CIP accumulation in crops.

Response and adaptation of rhizosphere microbiome to organic pollutants with enriching pollutant-degraders and genes for bioremediation: A critical review

Phytoremediation largely involves microbial degradation of organic pollutants in rhizosphere for removing organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls. Microbial community in rhizosphere experiences complex processes of response-adaptation-feedback up on exposure to organic pollutants. This review summarizes recent research on the response and adaptation of rhizosphere microbial community to the stress of organic pollutants, and discusses the enrichment of the pollutant-degrading microbial community and genes in the rhizosphere for promoting bioremediation. Soil pollution by organic contaminants often reduces the diversity of rhizosphere microbial community, and changes its functions. Responses vary among rhizosphere microbiomes up on different classes of organic pollutants (including co-contamination with heavy metals), plant species, root-associated niches (e.g., rhizosphere, rhizoplane and endosphere), geographical location and soil properties. Soil pollution can deplete some sensitive microbial taxa and enrich some tolerant microbial taxa in rhizosphere. Furthermore, rhizosphere enriches pollutant-degrading microbial community and functional genes including different gene clusters responsible for biodegradation of organic pollutants and their intermediates, which improve the adaptation of microbiome and enhance the remediation efficiency of the polluted soil. The knowledge gaps and future research challenges are highlighted on rhizosphere microbiome in response-adaptation-feedback processes to organic pollution and rhizoremediation. This review will hopefully update understanding on response-adaptation-feedback processes of rhizosphere microbiomes and rhizoremediation for the soil with organic pollutants.

Binding interaction of environmental DNA with typical emerging perfluoroalkyl acids and its impact on bioavailability

As the replacement compounds of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), emerging PFAAs generally exhibit equal or more hazardous toxicity than legacy PFAAs. Numerous DNA as environmental organic matters coexists with emerging PFAAs, but their interactions and the resulting interaction impacts on the bioavailability of emerging PFAAs remain insufficiently understood. Here, we studied the binding strength and mechanism between DNA and emerging PFAAs (perfluorobutyric acid, perfluorobutylsulfonic acid, and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid) using perfluorooctanoic acid as the control, and further investigated the impacts of DNA binding on the bioavailability of the emerging PFAAs. Isothermal titration calorimetry and quantum chemical calculation found that the emerging PFAAs could bind with DNA bases (main thymine) by van der Waals force and halogen-bond, showing the binding affinities in the range of 7.87 × 104 to L/mol to 6.54 × 106 L/mol. The PFAAs-DNA binding significantly decreased the bioavailability of the PFAAs in both seedlings and plants of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), with little differences in bioavailability change extent among PFAAs. The findings highlight the universality and similarity of the DNA binding effects on PFAAs bioavailability, which can be the natural detoxification mechanism for response to the PFAAs pollution.

[Current status and prospects of non-surgical treatment for fecal incontinence]

Fecal incontinence is a refractory disease in colorectal surgery. The main clinical manifestation is that patients cannot control the discharge of gas, solid or liquid feces in the rectum autonomously. It is easy to bring shame to patients and seriously affect their physical and mental health. Reducing the frequency of fecal incontinence, restoring anal sphincter function, and improving patient quality of life are important goals for treating fecal incontinence. With the development of medical technology and the improvement of treatment plans for fecal incontinence, patients with fecal incontinence usually undergo conservative treatment first, and if conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery can be chosen. Non-surgical treatment methods commonly used in clinical practice include biofeedback therapy, magnetic stimulation therapy, pelvic floor muscle training, anal sphincter training, Kegel training, and other rehabilitation treatments. This article discusses the non-surgical treatment methods for fecal incontinence, hoping to provide a choice for clinical treatment of fecal incontinence.

[Observation of visual quality after implantation of a rotational asymmetric refractive intraocular lens with a low addition region using the micromonovision design]

Objective: To investigate the effects of the application of a low addition refractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) using the micromonovision design in the non-dominant eye with different degrees of preset myopia on the visual acuity, visual function and visual quality after bilateral cataract surgery. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients who were proposed to undergo bilateral phacoemulsification combined with rotational asymmetric refractive IOL (MF15 IOL) implantation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between September 2020 and August 2022 were included. All patients were divided into three groups using the random number method. The target refraction of the IOL in the dominant eye was 0.00 D. Non-dominant eyes were given different preoperative IOL reserve refractions, with the reserved near additional degree>0.20 D and≤0.40 D as the low addition,>0.40 D and≤0.60 D as the medium addition, and>0.60 D and≤0.80 D as the high addition. We compared uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) of monocular and binocular eyes at 1 day, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively in the 3 groups of patients. Furthermore, the contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, defocus curves and visual quality questionnaire results of binocular eyes were compared at 3 months postoperatively. The statistical methods mainly used were chi-square test, two-factor repeated measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, LSD test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and paired t-test. Results: A total of 110 patients (220 eyes) were enrolled in the study, including 48 males and 62 females, with an average age of (59.74±9.38) years. There were 40 patients (80 eyes) in the low additional degree group, 37 patients (74 eyes) in the medium additional degree group, and 33 patients (66 eyes) in the high additional degree group. The differences in distance, intermediate and near visual acuity of the dominant eyes among the three groups were not statistically significant at different measurement timepoints postoperatively (P>0.05). The differences in intermediate and near visual acuity of the non-dominant eyes were also not statistically significant (P>0.05) among the three groups. In contrast, at 3 months, the UDVA of the non-dominant eyes in the low additional degree group (0.04±0.06) and medium additional degree group (0.04±0.07) was significantly higher than that in the high additional degree group (0.08±0.09) (F=4.776, P=0.011, bias η2=0.086). There was no statistically significant difference in binocular uncorrected distance, intermediate and near visual acuity among the three groups at different postoperative timepoints (P>0.05). The binocular UDVA, UIVA and UNVA (logMAR visual acuity) at 3 months postoperatively were -0.04±0.04, 0.03±0.08, 0.10±0.13 in the low addition group, -0.01±0.05, -0.02±0.06, 0.09±0.10 in the medium addition group, and 0.02±0.07, 0.01±0.09, 0.16±0.11 in the high addition group. At 3 months postoperatively, the binocular contrast sensitivity of the low additional degree group was significantly higher than that of the high additional degree group (P<0.05), except that there was no significant difference at the spatial frequency of 6 cycles per degree in the absence of glare (P>0.05). The binocular contrast sensitivity of the medium additional degree group was significantly higher than that of the high additional degree group at the spatial frequencies of 6 and 18 cycles per degree in the glare condition (P<0.05). The difference in the binocular contrast sensitivity between the low and medium additional degree groups did not reach statistical significance (P>0.05). The peak of the binocular defocus curve in the three groups was significantly wider than that in the monocular eyes, and the decline trend was more gentle, with no trough in the middle, and the visual acuity could be maintained above 0.2 (logMAR visual acuity) in the 0.00 D to -3.00 D defocus range. There was no significant difference in the postoperative near stereopsis results among the three groups (P>0.05), with the percentage of near stereopsis sharpness≤60″ reaching 90.00% (36/40), 89.19% (33/37) and 78.79% (26/33), respectively. The proportions of VF-14 scores≥90 in the postoperative questionnaire were 90% (36/40), 91.89% (34/37) and 81.82% (27/33) for the low, medium and high additional degree groups, respectively. The differences in the probability of photic phenomena and spectacles-independent rate were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The use of micromonovision design for bilateral implantation of a rotational asymmetric refractive MF15 IOL, with the non-dominant eye reserved for different near additional degrees, can enable cataract patients to have significantly improved binocular full-range vision, visual function and visual quality. When the degree of reserved near additions in the non-dominant eye preoperatively is>0.20 D and≤0.60 D, it can ensure sufficient binocular UDVA, UIVA and UNVA after surgery, and meanwhile help to obtain superior contrast sensitivity and stereopsis, as well as a satisfactory spectacles-independent rate and low incidence of photic phenomena.

[Utilization of sexual and reproductive health services and its correlates among community- based older adults in Chongqing]

Objective: To investigate the utilization of sexual health services among community-based older adults in Chongqing and explore its potential correlates. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling among community-based older adults aged ≥50 years was conducted in Chongqing between June 2020 and December 2022. A questionnaire including information on demographic characteristics, general health, sexual health status, and sexual health services utilization was collected. Sexual health and reproductive services utilization was defined as having ever been tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or having had a male/gynecological reproductive health examination in the past year. Logistic regression was used to examine the correlates of the utilization of sexual health services. Results: A total of 794 community-based older adults participated in the study (482 were male, and 312 were female). The mean age was (62.8±8.2) years. The proportion of HIV testing was 18.0%, and the proportion of reproductive health examination was 10.1% among community-based older adults. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age group of 60-69 years (aOR=0.37, 95%CI: 0.18-0.76), female (aOR=11.34, 95%CI: 5.71-22.52), monthly income ≥5 000 yuan (aOR=3.05, 95%CI: 1.01-9.27), being sexual activity (aOR=4.99, 95%CI: 2.23-11.15) was significantly associated with had a reproductive health examination in the past year. Conclusions: The proportion of sexual health services utilization among older adults was low. Older sexual health education should be further strengthened, the close relationship between older adults should be correctly guided and dealt with, and the sexual health services suitable for the older population should be formulated.

Insights into the enzymatic degradation of DNA expedited by typical perfluoroalkyl acids

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are considered forever chemicals, gaining increasing attention for their hazardous impacts. However, the ecological effects of PFAAs remain unclear. Environmental DNA (eDNA), as the environmental gene pool, is often collected for evaluating the ecotoxicological effects of pollutants. In this study, we found that all PFAAs investigated, including perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonate, even at low concentrations (0.02 and 0.05 mg/L), expedited the enzymatic degradation of DNA in a nonlinear dose-effect relationship, with DNA degradation fragment sizes being lower than 1,000 bp and 200 bp after 15 and 30 min of degradation, respectively. This phenomenon was attributed to the binding interaction between PFAAs and AT bases in DNA via groove binding. van der Waals force (especially dispersion force) and hydrogen bonding are the main binding forces. DNA binding with PFAAs led to decreased base stacking and right-handed helicity, resulting in loose DNA structure exposing more digestion sites for degrading enzymes, and accelerating the enzymatic degradation of DNA. The global ecological risk evaluation results indicated that PFAA contamination could cause medium and high molecular ecological risk in 497 samples from 11 contamination-hot countries (such as the USA, Canada, and China). The findings of this study show new insights into the influence of PFAAs on the environmental fates of biomacromolecules and reveal the hidden molecular ecological effects of PFAAs in the environment.

Development, Evaluation, and Application of Machine Learning Models for Accurate Prediction of Root Uptake of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Machine learning (ML) models were developed for understanding the root uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) under complex PFAS-crop-soil interactions. Three hundred root concentration factor (RCF) data points and 26 features associated with PFAS structures, crop properties, soil properties, and cultivation conditions were used for the model development. The optimal ML model, obtained by stratified sampling, Bayesian optimization, and 5-fold cross-validation, was explained by permutation feature importance, individual conditional expectation plot, and 3D interaction plot. The results showed that soil organic carbon contents, pH, chemical logP, soil PFAS concentration, root protein contents, and exposure time greatly affected the root uptake of PFASs with 0.43, 0.25, 0.10, 0.05, 0.05, and 0.05 of relative importance, respectively. Furthermore, these factors presented the key threshold ranges in favor of the PFAS uptake. Carbon-chain length was identified as the critical molecular structure affecting root uptake of PFASs with 0.12 of relative importance, based on the extended connectivity fingerprints. A user-friendly model was established with symbolic regression for accurately predicting RCF values of the PFASs (including branched PFAS isomerides). The present study provides a novel approach for profound insight into the uptake of PFASs by crops under complex PFAS-crop-soil interactions, aiming to ensure food safety and human health.

[Study on formulation and revision of standard limits for inhalable particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in "Standards for indoor air quality（GB/T 18883-2022）" in China]

The pollution and health effects of indoor inhalable particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are increasingly receiving public attention. The"Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)"has revised the standard limit for PM10 and added the standard limit for PM2.5. This study analyzed and interpreted the relevant technical contents of the revision of the standard limits for two indicators, including the exposure status, health effects, and the basis for the determination of the limit value. It also proposed prospects for the future development and revision of standard limits for indoor particulate matters.

Mechanism and Association between Microbial Nitrogen Transformation in Rhizosphere and Accumulation of Ciprofloxacin in Choysum (Brassica parachinensis)

Rhizosphere microbiota are an important factor impacting plant uptake of pollutants. However, little is known about how microbial nitrogen (N) transformation in the rhizosphere affects the uptake and accumulation of antibiotics in plants. Here, we determined recruitment of N transformation functional bacteria upon ciprofloxacin (CIP) exposure, by comparing differences in assembly processes of both rhizospheric bacterial communities and N transformation between two choysum (Brassica parachinensis) varieties differing in CIP accumulation. The low accumulation variety (LAV) of CIP recruited more host bacteria (e.g., Nitrospiria and Nitrolancea) carrying nitrification genes (mainly nxrA) but fewer host bacteria carrying denitrification genes, especially narG, relative to the high accumulation variety (HAV) of CIP. The nxrA and narG abundance in the LAV rhizosphere were, respectively, 1.6-7.8 fold higher and 1.4-3.4 fold lower than those in the HAV rhizosphere. Considering that nitrate can decrease CIP uptake into choysum through competing for the proton motive force and energy, such specific bacteria recruitment in LAV favored the production and utilization of nitrate in its rhizosphere, thus limiting its CIP accumulation with 1.6-2.4 fold lower than the HAV. The findings give insight into the mechanism underlying low pollutant accumulation, filling the knowledge gap regarding the profound effects of rhizosphere microflora and N transformation processes on antibiotic accumulation in crops.

[Y-shaped osteotomy in the apical vertebra for treating congenital complex rigid scoliosis:at least 2-year follow-up]

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcome of the coronal Y-shaped osteotomy in the apical vertebra for treating congenital complex rigid scoliosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 66 cases who underwent Y-shaped osteotomy treatment for congenital complex rigid scoliosis in the uppermost vertebra at the Department of Orthopedics,the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from June 2007 to August 2020. There were 19 males and 47 females,with an age of (13.1±5.3) years(range:2 to 30 years).Classification of congenital scoliosis:25 cases (37.9%) were incomplete,13 cases (19.7%) were dysarthritic,and 28 cases (42.4%) were mixed. There were 25 cases (37.9%) with thoracic or rib malformations. 45 cases (68.2%) were complicated with spinal cord malformation.The main radiological indicators included Cobb angle of the curvature,Cobb angle of the local bend,apical vertebral translation (AVT),trunk shift (TS),thoracic trunk shift (TTS),radiographic shoulder height (RSH),coronal balance and sagittal vertebral axis. The preoperative,postoperative immediate,and last follow-up radiological indicators were collected and the operation time,blood loss,hospitalization time,and operation-related complications were recorded. Data were compared by repeated measure ANOVA and paired-t test. Results: All patients underwent surgery successfully. The duration of the first surgery was (221.4±52.8) minutes,and the blood loss during the first surgery was (273.2±41.8) ml. The length of the first hospital stay was (8.8±1.7) days.Unilateral fixation was performed in 19 cases (28.8%),while bilateral fixation was performed in 47 cases (71.2%). The fused segments were 7.5±2.9,and the vertebral pedicle screw density was (68.5±20.6)%. The follow-up time for the 66 patients was (36.7±17.0) months(range:24 to 102 months).The main curve Cobb Angle was improved from (58.5±18.9)°before surgery to (21.1±11.8)°after surgery,and was (23.6±15.3) ° at the last follow-up(F=273.957,P<0.01),with a correction rate of 66.2%. Segmental curve Cobb Angle was improved from (47.9±18.0)° to (16.0±11.3)° after surgery,and was (16.8±12.8) °at the last follow-up (F=270.483,P<0.01)with a correction rate of 69.2%. The AVT,TS,TTS and RSH values improved significantly at the final follow-up (all P<0.05),while coronal balance and sagittal vertical axis were maintained without significant differences between pre-operation and post-operation(both P>0.05). A total of 5 patients underwent staged operation,all of which were residual scoliosis aggravated after the first stage of orthosis operation and had good prognosis after the second stage of operation. Conclusions: Y-shaped osteotomy for the treatment of congenital rigid scoliosis results in good clinical and radiological outcomes without serious complications. This procedure can be considered as an option for the treatment of congenital complex rigid scoliosis.

[Molecular epidemiological characterization of hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a hospital in Henan Province from 2020 to 2022]

Objective: The study investigated the clinical distribution, antimicrobial resistance and epidemiologic characteristics of hypervirulent Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hv-CRKP) in a hospital in Henan Province to provide a scientific basis for antibiotic use and nosocomial infection prevention and control. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data from the cases was carried out in this study. Clinical data of patients infected with the CRKP strain isolated from the clinical microbiology laboratory of Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. A string test, virulence gene screening, serum killing, and a G. mellonella infection model were used to screen hv-CRKP isolates. The clinical characteristics of hv-CRKP and the drug resistance rate of hv-CRKP to twenty-five antibiotics were analyzed using WHONET 5.6. Carbapenemase phenotypic characterization of the hv-CRKP was performed by colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay, and Carbapenemase genotyping, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and capsular serotyping of hv-CRKP isolates were performed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Results: A total of non-duplicate 264 CRKP clinical isolates were detected in the hospital from 2020 to 2022, and 23 hv-CRKP isolates were detected, so the corresponding detection rate of hv-CRKP was 8.71% (23/264). The hv-CRKP isolates in this study were mainly from the intensive care unit (10/23) and neurosurgery department (8/23), and the main sources of hv-CRKP isolates were sputum (10/23) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (6/23). The hv-CRKP isolates in this study were highly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, and were only susceptible to colistin, tigecycline and ceftazidime/avibactam. The detection rate of the blaKPC-2 among 23 hv-CRKP isolates was 91.30% (21/23) and none of the class B and class D carbapenemases were detected. Results of MLST and capsular serotypes showed that ST11 type hv-CRKP was the dominant strain in the hospital, accounting for 56.52% (13/23), and K64 (9/13) and KL47 (4/13) were the major capsular serotypes. Conclusion: The hv-CRKP isolates from the hospital are mainly from lower respiratory tract specimens from patients admitted to the intensive care department and the drug resistance is relatively severe. The predominant strains with certain polymorphisms are mainly composed of the KPC-2-producing ST11-K64 and ST11-KL47 hv-CRKP isolates in the hospital.

Substrate-enzyme interactions and catalytic mechanism in a novel family VI esterase with dibutyl phthalate-hydrolyzing activity

Microbial degradation has been confirmed as effective and environmentally friendly approach to remediate phthalates from the environment, and hydrolase is an effective element for contaminant degradation. In the present study, a novel dibutyl phthalate (DBP)-hydrolyzing carboxylesterase (named PS06828) from Pseudomonas sp. PS1 was heterogeneously expressed in E. coli, which was identified as a new member of the lipolytic family VI. Purified PS06828 could efficiently degrade DBP with a wide range of temperature (25-37 °C) and pH (6.5-9.0). Multi-spectroscopy methods combined with molecular docking were employed to study the interaction of PS06828 with DBP. Fluorescence and UV-visible absorption spectra revealed the simultaneous presence of static and dynamic component in the fluorescence quenching of PS06828 by DBP. Synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra showed inconspicuous alteration in micro-environmental polarity around amino acid residues but obvious increasing of α-helix and reducing of β-sheet and random coil in protein conformation. Based on the information on exact binding sites of DBP on PS06828 provided by molecular docking, the catalytic mechanism mediated by key residues (Ser113, Asp166, and His197) was proposed and subsequently confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. The results can strengthen our mechanistic understanding of family VI esterase involved in hydrolysis of phthalic acid esters, and provide a solid foundation for further enzymatic modification.

Highly Efficient and Simultaneous Analysis of Three Common Fluorotelomer Alcohols in Vegetables and Soils

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), as precursors of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, are difficult to analyze due to their high volatility and matrix interference. A method based on single-factor experiments and response surface methodology design was developed for simultaneous analysis of three common FTOHs in vegetables and soils, using single extraction, dispersive solid phase extraction cleanup, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionization. The method improved the extraction efficiency up to ∼40 folds and showed a commendable linearity range (1-100 ng/mL, R² > 0.991), low limit of detection (0.025-0.897 ng/g, dry weight (dw)), and high accuracy and precision (83 ± 7.2-117 ± 6.0% recoveries at 2-20 ng/g fortification levels). It was successfully applied to determine the FTOHs in real vegetables and soils, demonstrating its feasibility for routine analysis. Concentrations of the FTOHs ranged from 3.5 to 37.9 ng/g (dw) and from 6.5 to 141.0 ng/g (dw), respectively, in the vegetables and soils collected nearby fluorochemical factories, which warrants further investigations on FTOH pollution and food safety concerns for which the developed method will be useful.

[HbA1c comparison and diagnostic efficacy analysis of multi center different glycosylated hemoglobin detection systems]

Objective: Compare and analyze the results of the domestic Lanyi AH600 glycated hemoglobin analyzer and other different detection systems to understand the comparability of the detection results of different detectors, and establish the best cut point of Lanyi AH600 determination of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of diabetes. Methods: Multi center cohort study was adopted. The clinical laboratory departments of 18 medical institutions independently collected test samples from their respective hospitals from March to April 2022, and independently completed comparative analysis of the evaluated instrument (Lanyi AH600) and the reference instrument HbA1c. The reference instruments include four different brands of glycosylated hemoglobin meters, including Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong. Scatter plot was used to calculate the correlation between the results of different detection systems, and the regression equation was calculated. The consistency analysis between the results of different detection systems was evaluated by Bland Altman method. Consistency judgment principles: (1) When the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) of the measurement difference was within 0.4% HbA1c and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was good; (2) When the measurement difference of 95% LoA exceeded 0.4% HbA1c, and the measurement score was≥80 points, the comparison consistency was relatively good; (3) The measurement score was less than 80 points, the comparison consistency was poor. The difference between the results of different detection systems was tested by paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test; The best cut-off point of diabetes was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results: The correlation coefficient R² of results between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument in 16 hospitals is≥0.99; The Bland Altman consistency analysis showed that the difference of 95% LoA in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180) was -0.486%-0.325%, and the measurement score was 94.6 points (473/500); The difference of 95% LoA in the Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant II) was -0.727%-0.612%, and the measurement score was 89.8 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.231%-0.461%, and the measurement score was 96.6 points; The difference of 95% LoA in the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT) was -0.469%-0.479%, and the measurement score was 91.9 points. The other 14 hospitals, Lanyi AH600, were compared with 4 reference instrument brands, the difference of 95% LoA was less than 0.4% HbA1c, and the scores were all greater than 95 points. The results of paired sample T test or Wilcoxon paired sign rank sum test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument Arkray HA8180 (Z=1.665,P=0.096), with no statistical difference. The mean difference between the measured values of the two instruments was 0.004%. The comparison data of Lanyi AH600 and the reference instrument of all other institutions had significant differences (all P<0.001), however, it was necessary to consider whether it was within the clinical acceptable range in combination with the results of the Bland-Altman consistency analysis. The ROC curve of HbA1c detected by Lanyi AH600 in 985 patients with diabetes and 3 423 patients with non-diabetes was analyzed, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.877, the standard error was 0.007, and the 95% confidence interval 95%CI was (0.864, 0.891), which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The maximum value of Youden index was 0.634, and the corresponding HbA1c cut point was 6.235%. The sensitivity and specificity of diabetes diagnosis were 76.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the hospitals and instruments currently included in this study, among these four hospitals included Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in Jiangsu Province (reference instrument: Arkray HA8180), Tibetan Traditional Medical Hospital of TAR (reference instrument: Bio-Rad Variant Ⅱ), the People's Hospital of Chongqing Liang Jiang New Area (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), and the Taihe Hospital of traditional Chinese Medicine in Anhui Province (reference instrument: Huizhong MQ-2000PT), the comparison between Lanyi AH600 and the reference instruments showed relatively good consistency, while the other 14 hospitals involved four different brands of reference instruments: Arkray, Bio-Rad, DOSOH, and Huizhong, Lanyi AH600 had good consistency with its comparison. The best cut point of the domestic Lanyi AH600 for detecting HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.235%.

[Advances in colonic manometry in adults with colonic motility disorders]

In recent years, colonic manometry has been gradually introduced into clinical practice. It helps clinicians to gain a better understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of colonic contractile activity in healthy adults and patients with colonic dysfunction. More and more patterns of colonic motility are being discovered with the help of colonic manometry. However, the clinical significance of these findings still needs to be further investigated. This review enhances our understanding of colonic motility and the current state of development and application of colonic manometry, as well as the limitations, future directions and potential of the technique in assessing the impact of treatment on colonic motility patterns, by analyzing and summarizing the literature related to colonic manometry.

Rice genotypes and root-associated niches shifted bacterial community in response to pollution of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) for promoting DEHP removal

Organic pollutants influenced root-associated bacterial community. However, the response variation of root-associated bacterial community among different rice genotypes exposed to phthalates (PAEs) and their removal mechanism remains unknown. Here, bacterial community and PAE-degrading genes in root-associated niches were analyzed between low (Fengyousimiao) and high (Hhang) PAE-accumulating rice cultivars exposed to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP dissipation percentages in rhizosphere of Hhang were significantly higher than those of Fengyousimiao. The bacterial community diversities (including Chao1 and Shannon index) significantly decreased along bulk soil - rhizosphere - rhizoplane - endosphere. The bacterial community structures were shaped mainly by root-associated niches, DEHP pollution and rice genotypes, with significant differences in rhizosphere and rhizoplane between Fengyousimiao and Hhang. Rhizosphere enriched more PAE-degrading bacteria than in bulk soil, and exhibited significantly higher expression of PAE-degrading genes (hydrolase 65, phtab, phtC, pcaF and pcaI) than in bulk soil. Furthermore, rhizosphere of Hhang demonstrated significantly stronger bacterial functions related to xenobiotics biodegradation and higher expression of PAE-degrading genes than those of Fengyousimiao, leading to significantly higher DEHP dissipation percentages in rhizosphere of Hhang. The findings demonstrate that Hhang shaped specific root-associated bacterial community with higher abundances of PAE-degrading bacteria and genes than Fengyousimiao to promote DEHP degradation.

[Constructions and advances of animal models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium with complex pathogenesis and drug resistance mechanisms. It has high morbidity and mortality and can cause acute and chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals, with lung infections, wound infections, and bloodstream infections being the most common. The animal infection model of P. aeruginosa is of great value for in-depth research on the pathogenicity, drug resistance, and therapeutic measures of P. aeruginosa by simulating the pathways of human bacterial infections. This article firstly summarizes the selection, anesthesia, and disposal of experimental animals in the construction of animal models of P. aeruginosa infection, and then reviews the methods of construction, model evaluation, and applications of animal models of P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection, wound infection, and bloodstream infection, in order to provide a reference for scientific research related to P. aeruginosa infectious diseases.

Bioremediation of aniline aerofloat wastewater at extreme conditions using a novel isolate Burkholderia sp. WX-6 immobilized on biochar

Aniline aerofloat (AAF) is a refractory organic pollutant in floatation wastewater. Little information is currently available on its biodegradation. In this study, a novel AAF-degrading strain named Burkholderia sp. WX-6 was isolated from mining sludge. The strain could degrade more than 80% of AAF at different initial concentrations (100-1000 mg/L) within 72 h. AAF degrading curves were fitted well with the four-parameter logistic model (R² >0.97), with the degrading half-life ranging from 16.39 to 35.55 h. This strain harbors metabolic pathway for complete degradation of AAF and is resistant to salt, alkali, and heavy metals. Immobilization of the strain on biochar enhanced both tolerance to extreme conditions and AAF removal, with up to 88% of AAF removal rate in simulated wastewater under alkaline (pH 9.5) or heavy metal pollution condition. In addition, the biochar-immobilized bacteria removed 59.4% of COD in the wastewater containing AAF and mixed metal ions within 144 h, significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those by free bacteria (42.6%) and biochar (48.2%) only. This work is helpful to understand AAF biodegradation mechanism and provides viable references for developing practical biotreatment technique of mining wastewater.

Polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics reduce chemisorption of cadmium in paddy soil and increase its bioaccessibility and bioavailability

Microplastics (MPs) usually coexist with heavy metals (HMs) in soil. MPs can influence HMs mobility and bioavailability, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, polyethylene and polypropylene MPs were selected to investigate their effects and mechanisms of sorption-desorption, bioaccessibility and bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil. Batch experiments indicated that MPs significantly reduced the Cd sorption in soil (p < 0.05). Accordingly, soil with the MPs had lower boundary diffusion constant of Cd (C₁= 0.847∼₁.020) and the Freundlich sorption constant (K_F = 0.444-0.616) than that without the MPs (C₁ = 0.894∼₁.035, K_F = 0.500-0.655). X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses suggested that the MPs reduced Cd chemisorption, by covering the soil active sites and thus blocking complexation of Cd with active oxygen sites and interrupting the formation of CdCO₃ and Cd₃P₂ precipitates. Such effects of MPs enhanced about 1.2-1.5 times of Cd bioaccessibility and bioavailability in soil. Almost the same effects but different mechanisms of polyethylene and polypropylene MPs on Cd sorption in the soil indicated the complexity and pervasiveness of their effects. The findings provide new insights into impacts of MPs on the fate and risk of HMs in agricultural soil.

Endophytic Phthalate-degrading Bacillus subtilis N-1-gfp colonizing in soil-crop system shifted indigenous bacterial community to remove di-n-butyl phthalate

Endophytic bacteria can degrade toxic phthalate (PAEs). Nevertheless, the colonization and function of endophytic PAE-degrader in soil-crop system and their association mechanism with indigenous bacteria in PAE removal remain unknown. Here, endophytic PAE-degrader Bacillus subtilis N-1 was marked with green fluorescent protein gene. Inoculated strain N-1-gfp could well colonize in soil and rice plant exposed to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as directly confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and realtime PCR. Illumina high-throughput sequencing demonstrated that inoculated N-1-gfp shifted indigenous bacterial community in rhizosphere and endosphere of rice plants with significant increasing relative abundance of its affiliating genus Bacillus than non-inoculation. Strain N-1-gfp exhibited efficient DBP degradation with 99.7% removal in culture solutions, and significantly promoted DBP removal in soil-plant system. Strain N-1-gfp colonization help plant enrich specific functional bacteria (e.g., pollutant-degrading bacteria) with significant higher relative abundances and stimulated bacterial activities (e.g., pollutant degradation) compared with non-inoculation. Furthermore, strain N-1-gfp displayed strong interaction with indigenous bacteria for accelerating DBP degradation in soil, decreasing DBP accumulation in plants and promoting plant growth. This is the first report on well colonization of endophytic DBP-degrader Bacillus subtilis in soil-plant system and its bioaugmentation with indigenous bacteria for promoting DBP removal.

[Association between urinary arsenic level and serum testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years]

Objective: To investigate the association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18 to 79 years. Methods: A total of 5 048 male participants aged 18 to 79 years were recruited from the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) from 2017 to 2018. Questionnaires and physical examinations were used to collect information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, food intake frequency and health status. Venous blood and urine samples were collected to detect the level of serum total testosterone, urine arsenic and urine creatinine. Participants were divided into three groups (low, middle, and high) based on the tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urine arsenic concentration. Weighted multiple linear regression was fitted to analyze the association of urinary arsenic with serum total testosterone. Results: The weighted average age of 5 048 Chinese men was (46.72±0.40) years. Geometric mean concentration (95%CI) of urinary arsenic, creatinine-adjusted urine arsenic and serum testosterone was 22.46 (20.08, 25.12) μg/L, 19.36 (16.92, 22.15) μg/L and 18.13 (17.42, 18.85) nmol/L, respectively. After controlling for covariates, compared with the low-level urinary arsenic group, the testosterone level of the participants in the middle-level group and the high-level group decreased gradually. The percentile ratio (95%CI) was -5.17% (-13.14%, 3.54%) and -10.33% (-15.68%, -4.63). The subgroup analysis showed that the association between the urinary arsenic level and testosterone level was more obvious in the group with BMI<24 kg/m² group (P_interaction<0.05). Conclusion: There is a negative association between the urinary arsenic level and serum total testosterone in Chinese men aged 18-79 years.

[Clinical efficacy analysis of TMF for the treatment of hyperviremia HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with incomplete response to first-line oral antiviral nucleos(t)ide analogues]

Objective: To prospectively explore the treatment strategies for clinical difficulties in patients with hyperviremia HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with incomplete response to first-line nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Methods: Patients with hyperviremia HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were treated with first-line NAs, including entecavir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) for 48 weeks or more. Tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or TAF therapy was changed when HBV DNA remained positive and then divided into a TMF group and a TAF group. Clinical efficacy of treatment was evaluated at 24 and 48 weeks, including HBV DNA undetectable rates and virological and serological responses in both patient groups. Results: In the TMF group and the TAF groups, 30 and 26 cases completed 24-week follow-up, while 18 and 12 cases completed 48-week follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline HBV DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg levels between the two groups before switching to TMF/TAF therapy (P > 0.05). At 24 weeks of treatment, 19 (19/30, 63.33%) cases in the TMF group had HBV DNA negative conversion, while 14 (14/26, 53.85%) cases in the TAF group had HBV DNA negative conversion (P > 0.05). Among the patients who completed 48 weeks of follow-up, 15 (15/18, 83.33%) cases in the TMF group and 7 (7/12, 58.33%) cases in the TAF group had negative HBV DNA tests (P > 0.05). The changes in HBsAg and HBeAg levels between the two groups of patients at 24 and 48 weeks of treatment were not statistically significant compared to baseline (P > 0.05). Conclusion: TMF is effective in treating patients with hyperviremia HBeAg-positive CHB with an incomplete response to first-line NAs treatment, but there is no significant difference compared to TAF.

Genome mining-guided activation of two silenced tandem genes in Raoultella ornithinolytica XF201 for complete biodegradation of phthalate acid esters

Phthalates (PAEs) are ubiquitous in soils and food products and thus pose a high risk to human health. Herein, genome mining revealed a great diversity of bacteria with PAEs-degrading potential. Mining of the genome of Raoultella ornithinolytica XF201, a novel strain isolated from Dongxiang wild rice rhizosphere, revealed the presence of two silenced tandem genes pcdGH (encoding protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, 3,4-PCD), key aromatic ring-cleaving genes in PAEs biodegradation. Ribosome engineering was successfully utilized to activate the expression of pcdGH genes to produce 3,4-PCD in the mutant XF201-G2U5. The mutant XF201-G2U5 showed high 3,4-PCD activity and could remove 94.5 % of di-n butyl phthalate (DBP) in 72 h. The degradation kinetics obeyed the first-order kinetic model. Strain XF201-G2U5 could also degrade the other PAEs and the main intermediate metabolites, ultimately leading to tricarboxylic acid cycle. Therefore, this strategy facilitates novel bacterial resources discovery for bioremediation of PAEs and other emerging contaminants.

Adaptation of bacterial community in maize rhizosphere for enhancing dissipation of phthalic acid esters in agricultural soil

Rhizospheric degradation is a green and in situ strategy to accelerate dissipation of organic pollutants in soils. However, the mechanism on microbial degradation of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in rhizosphere is still unclear. Here, the bacterial community and function genes in bulk and rhizospheric soils of maize (Zea mays L.) exposed to gradient concentrations of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were analyzed with 16 S rRNA, metagenomic sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Maize rhizosphere significantly increased the dissipation of DEHP by 4.02-11.5% in comparison with bulk soils. Bacterial community in rhizosphere exhibited more intensive response and shaped its beneficial structure and functions to DEHP stress than that in bulk soils. Both rhizospheric and pollution effects enriched more PAE-degrading bacteria (e.g., Bacillus and Rhizobium) and function genes in rhizosphere than in bulk soil, which played important roles in degradation of PAEs in rhizosphere. The PAE-degrading bacteria (including genera Sphingomonas, Sphingopyxis and Lysobacter) identified as keystone species participated in DEHP biodegradation. Identification of PAE intermediates and metagenomic reconstruction of PAE degradation pathways demonstrated that PAE-degrading bacteria degraded PAEs through cooperation with PAE-degrading and non-PAE-degrading bacteria. This study provides a comprehensive knowledge for the microbial mechanism on the superior dissipation of PAEs in rhizosphere.

iRNA-ac4C: A novel computational method for effectively detecting N4-acetylcytidine sites in human mRNA

RNA N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) is the acetylation of cytidine at the nitrogen-4 position, which is a highly conserved RNA modification and involves a variety of biological processes. Hence, accurate identification of genome-wide ac4C sites is vital for understanding regulation mechanism of gene expression. In this work, a novel predictor, named iRNA-ac4C, was established to identify ac4C sites in human mRNA based on three feature extraction methods, including nucleotide composition, nucleotide chemical property, and accumulated nucleotide frequency. Subsequently, minimum-Redundancy-Maximum-Relevance combined with incremental feature selection strategies was utilized to select the optimal feature subset. According to the optimal feature subset, the best ac4C classification model was trained by gradient boosting decision tree with 10-fold cross-validation. The results of independent testing set indicated that our proposed method could produce encouraging generalization capabilities. For the convenience of other researchers, we established a user-friendly web server which is freely available at http://lin-group.cn/server/iRNA-ac4C/. We hope that the tool could provide guide for wet-experimental scholars.

Revealing microcystin-LR ecotoxicity to earthworm (Eisenia fetida) at the intestinal cell level

Potential adverse effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on soil invertebrates have not been studied. Here we investigated the mechanism of MC-LR toxicity to earthworm (Eisenia fetida) intestine at the individual level and at the cellular level. The results showed an inverse relationship between the bodyweight and survival rate of earthworms over exposure time- and MC-LR doses in soil. Dose-dependent intestinal lesions and disturbances of enzymatic activities (e.g., cellulase, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, and AChE) were observed, which resulted in intestinal dysfunction. Excessive reactive oxygen species generation led to DNA damage and lipid peroxidation of intestinal cells. The oxidative damage to DNA prolonged cell cycle arrest at the G2/M-phase transition in mitosis, thus stimulating and accelerating apoptosis in earthworm intestine. MC-LR target earthworm intestine tissue. MC-LR at low concentrations can damage earthworm intestine regardless of exposure routes (oral or contact). High toxicity of MC-LR to earthworms delineates its ecological risks to terrestrial ecosystems.

A novel method based on solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry warrants occurrence of trace xanthates in water

Huge volumes of wastewater containing organic flotation reagents such as xanthates have been released into the environment via mining activities, greatly threatening the eco-environment safety. A simple and fast method is urgently needed for accurate analysis of various xanthates in mining and environmental water. Here, a robust method is realized for simultaneous determination of three trace xanthates (i.e., potassium ethyl xanthate, potassium butyl xanthate, and potassium isopropyl xanthate) in environmental water samples, including eutrophic water and flotation wastewater using solid phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC-MS/MS. HPLC-MS/MS parameters, SPE cartridges and eluting solvents, pH values, and SPE procedures were optimized. The new method had an excellent linearity in the range of 1-1000 μg/L (R² ≥ 0.998), low limits of detection (0.02-0.68 μg/L), and satisfactory accuracy and precision (72.9%-107.6% of average recoveries and <5% of relative standard deviations at 1, 10, 50, and 500 μg/L of xanthates). This is a first method developed for determination of trace xanthates in water samples. It was successfully applied to determine the target analytes in outdated flotation wastewater and river water samples, warranting the occurrence of trace xanthates (0.13-16.9 μg/L) in water and necessity of systematic investigation on environmental fate and risk of xanthates.

Interactions between Extracellular DNA and Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) Decrease the Bioavailability of PFAAs in Pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.)

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are emerging ionic organic pollutants worldwide. Great amounts of extracellular DNA (∼mg/kg) coexist with PFAAs in the environment. However, PFAA-DNA interactions and effects of such interactions have not been well studied. Herein, we used isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), spectroscopy, and computational simulations to investigate the PFAA-DNA interactions. ITC assays showed that specific binding affinities of PFHxA-DNA, PFOA-DNA, PFNA-DNA, and PFOS-DNA were 5.14 × 10⁵, 3.29 × 10⁵, 1.99 × 10⁵, and 2.18 × 10⁴ L/mol, respectively, which were about 1-2 orders of magnitude stronger than those of PFAAs with human serum albumin. Spectral analysis suggested interactions of PFAAs with adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T), among which grooves associated with thymine were the major binding sites. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations suggested that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces were the main interaction forces. Such a PFAA-DNA binding decreased the bioavailability of PFAAs in plant seedlings. The findings will help to improve the current understanding of the interaction between PFAAs and biomacromolecules, as well as how such interactions affect the bioavailability of PFAAs.

[Association of lead exposure with stunting and underweight among children aged 3-5 years in China]

Objective: To evaluate the association of lead exposure with stunting and underweight among children aged 3-5 years in China. Methods: Data was collected from China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) between January 2017 and December 2018. A total of 3 554 children aged 3-5 years were included. Demographic characteristic, lifestyle and nutritional status were collected through questionnaires. Height and weight were measured by standardized method. Stunting and underweight status were determined by calculating height for age Z-score and weight for age Z-score. Blood and urine samples were collected to detect the concentrations of blood lead, urinary lead and urinary creatinine. Children were stratified into 4 groups (Q₁ to Q₄) by quartiles of blood lead level and corrected urinary lead level, respectively. Complex sampling logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association of the blood lead level, urinary lead level with stunting and underweight. Results: Among 3 554 children, the age was (4.09±1.06) years, of which 1 779 (80.64%) were female and 1 948 (55.84%) were urban residents. The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 7.34% and 2.96%, respectively. The M (Q₁, Q₃) for blood lead levels and urinary lead levels in children was 17.49 (12.80, 24.71) μg/L, 1.20 (0.61, 2.14) μg/g Cr, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the lowest blood lead concentration group Q₁, the risk of stunting gradually increased in the Q₃ and Q₄ group (P_trend=0.010), with OR (95%CI) values of 1.40 (0.80-2.46) and 1.80 (1.07-3.04), respectively. Compared with the lowest urinary lead concentration group Q₁, the risk of stunting still increased in the Q₃ and Q₄ group (P_trend=0.012), with OR (95%CI) values of 1.69 (1.01-2.84) and 1.79 (1.05-3.06), respectively. The correlation between the lead exposure and underweight was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Lead exposure is positively associated with the risk of stunting among children aged 3-5 years in China.

[Mediation effect of inflammatory biomarkers on the association between blood lead levels and blood pressure changes in Chinese adults]

Objective: To investigate the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the relationship between blood lead levels and blood pressure changes. Methods: A total of 9 910 people aged 18-79 years who participated in the China National Human Biomonitoring in 2017-2018 were included in this study. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, lifestyle and other information, and the data including height, weight and blood pressure were determined through physical examination. Blood and urinary samples were collected for the detection of blood lead and cadmium levels, urinary arsenic levels, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Weighted linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between blood lead, inflammatory biomarkers and blood pressure. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the role of inflammation in the relationship between blood lead levels and blood pressure changes. Results: The median (Q₁, Q₃) age of all participants was 45.4 (33.8, 58.4)years, including 4 984 males accounting for 50.3%. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after adjusting for age, gender, residence area, BMI, education level, smoking and drinking status, family history of hypertension, consumption frequency of rice, vegetables, and red meat, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, blood cadmium and urinary arsenic levels, there was a positive association between blood lead levels, inflammatory biomarkers and blood pressure (P<0.05). Each 2.71 μg/L (log-transformed) increase of the lead was associated with a 2.05 (95%CI: 0.58, 3.53) mmHg elevation in systolic blood pressure (SBP), 2.24 (95%CI: 1.34, 3.14) mmHg elevation in diastolic blood pressure (DBP), 0.25 (95%CI: 0.05, 0.46) mg/L elevation in hs-CRP, 0.16 (95%CI: 0.03, 0.29)×10⁹/L elevation in white blood cells, and 0.11 (95%CI: 0.02, 0.21)×10⁹/L elevation in lymphocytes, respectively. Mediation analysis showed that the levels of hs-CRP significantly mediated the association of blood lead with SBP, with a proportion about 3.88% (95%CI: 0.45%, 7.32%). The analysis also found that the levels of hs-CRP and neutrophils significantly mediated the association of blood lead with SBP, with a proportion about 4.10% (95%CI: 1.11%, 7.10%) and 2.42% (95%CI: 0.07%, 4.76%), respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that inflammatory biomarkers could significantly mediate the association of blood lead levels and blood pressure changes.

[Effect of CD4-positive T lymphocyte expression rate on pain control and prognosis in stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer patients with cancerous pain]

Objective: To investigate the effect of CD4-positive T lymphocyte expression rate on the pain control and prognosis of stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with cancerous pain. Methods: The clinical data of 128 stage Ⅳ NSCLC patients with cancerous pain who were admitted to the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 92 males and 36 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 23∶9 and an average age of (56±21) years old. The expression rate of CD4-positive T lymphocytes in peripheral blood was routinely detected on admission, and the expression rate of CD4-positive T lymphocytes ≥45% was defined as the CD4 high expression group, and<45% was defined as the low expression group. The differences in the time required for pain control, the dosage of opioids and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and the overall survival (OS) time and progression-free survival (PFS) time of the two groups were calculated. Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of patients' OS time and PFS time. Results: The median time required for pain control in the high CD4 expression group [M (Q₁, Q₃)] was 18.6 (4.6, 21.5) h, which was lower than that in the low CD4 expression group [28.2 (7.1, 38.9) h] (P=0.012). The dosage of morphine in the CD4 high expression group [M (Q₁, Q₃)] was 88.6 (42.5, 295.0) mg, which was lower than that in the low expression group [145.8 (82.5, 442.5) mg] (P=0.010). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, constipation, urinary retention, intestinal obstruction, and respiratory depression between the two groups (all P>0.05). The OS time and PFS time in the CD4 high expression group [M (Q₁, Q₃)] were 12.5 (8.1, 13.8) months and 8.5(3.1, 9.4) months, respectively, which were higher than those in the CD4 low expression group [8.6 (4.1, 12.9) months and 6.5 (2.1, 7.9) months, respectively] (all P<0.01). Cox multivariate analysis showed that high expression of CD4 was a protective factor affecting OS (HR=0.876, 95%CI: 1.224-6.641, P=0.004) and PFS (HR=0.675, 95%CI: 1.742-5.930, P=0.031) Conclusion: The stage Ⅳ NSCLC patients with cancerous pain and high expression of CD4-positive T lymphocytes have shorter pain control time, less morphine dosage, and longer OS and PFS time.

Fungal community enhanced humification and influenced by heavy metals in industrial-scale hyperthermophilic composting of municipal sludge

The succession of fungal community and effects of heavy metals on fungi during industrial-scale hyperthermophilic composting of municipal sludge remain unclear. Results showed hyperthermophilic composting enhanced decomposition and humification of municipal sludge in the short terms, while heavy metal concentrations and speciation had no significant change with high copper and zinc levels (101-122 and 292-337 mg/kg, respectively) in compost samples. The fungal community and its ecological assembly displayed dynamic change during hyperthermophilic composting. Some thermophilic-resistant fungi, such as phylum Ascomycota and genera Candida, Aspergillus, Thermomyces and Petriella dominated in hyperthermophilic phase. Heavy metals served important effects on fungal community structure and functions during composting. Some fungal drivers (e.g., Thermomyces, Petriella and Schizophyllum) and keystone fungi (e.g., Candida and Pichia) might be thermophilic- and heavy metal-resistant fungi which played important roles in decomposition and humification of municipal sludge. This study reveals fungal community accelerating humification and its influencing factors during composting.

[Preliminary analysis of pulse-step-sine test results in healthy population]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of pulse-step-sine (PSS) test in healthy people of different ages and to discuss its clinical value. Methods: From July 10, 2018 to December 9, 2020, a total of 78 healthy volunteers, including 40 males and 38 females, were enrolled and divided into youth group, middle age group and old age group. The I Portal NOTC rotational-chair system (NKI) was applied for PSS detection to analyze the clinical characteristics of gain, phase, asymmetry, and slope of step and sinusoidal components. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS17.0 software. Results: In the same age group, there were no statistically significant differences in left and right step gain, slope gain and sine gain (All P values were greater than 0.05). Pairwise comparison between different age groups showed that there was no significant difference in the corresponding parameters between the youth group and the middle age group. Compared with young group, the old age group had a significantly lower step gain value in their left side (P<0.01) but not in the right side (P>0.05).The left and right slopes of the old age group were significantly lower than those of the young group and the middle group, and the differences were statistically significant (All P values<0.05). Conclusion: The PSS test can detect bilateral and unilateral horizontal semicircular canal function with good tolerance in different age groups, better than the traditional rotational chair examination to determine the well-compensated unilateral vestibular function. PSS test is a new vestibular detection method.

Sorption of microcystin-RR onto surface soils: Characteristics and influencing factors

Microcystins are frequently detected in cyanobacterial bloom-impacted sites; however, their mobility potential in soils is poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the sorption behaviors of microcystin-RR (MC-RR) in heterogeneous soils and evaluate critical affecting factors. MC-RR sorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich model. All isotherms (n = 0.83-1.03) had no or minor deviations from linearity. The linear distribution coefficients (K_d) varied from 2.64 to 15.2 across soils, depending mainly on OM and CEC. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that the K_d was predictable by the fitting formula of: K_d = 2.56 + 0.15OM + 0.28CEC (R² = 0.45). The sorption was an endothermic physisorption process, involving electrostatic forces, cation exchange and bridging, H-bonding, ligand exchange, and van der Waals forces. The sorption of MC-RR (dominantly behaved as electroneutral zwitterions) at pH > 5 was insensitive to pH change, while more MC-RR (anionic species) was adsorbed at lower pH and in the presence of Ca²⁺. The study provides insights into the sorption of MC-RR across a range of soil properties and water chemistry for the first time, which is of importance for a better understanding of the mobility potential of microcystins in the terrestrial systems.

[Correlation analysis of 3D-FLAIR MRI characteristics of the inner ear and vestibular function in the patients with vestibular neuritis]

Objective: The characteristics of 3D-FLAIR MRI images of the inner ear of patients with vestibular neuritis were preliminarily studied to explore the possible pathogenesis of vestibular neuritis, and the correlation analysis was conducted in combination with vestibular function to provide a basis for accurate diagnosis of vestibular neuritis. Methods: A total of 36 patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) from December 2019 to October 2020 were collected from the Vertigo Department of Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University. There were 36 cases (18 females, 18 males) with unilateral acute vestibular neuritis, 17 cases of left ear and 19 cases of right ear. According to the results of 3D-FLAIR MRI in the inner ears, the patients were divided into the enhanced group and the non-enhanced group (the health side served as the normal control group). The results of vestibular function examination in the two groups were compared. SPSS19.0 software was used for statistical processing to analyze the relationship between the vestibular function and the characteristics of 3D-FLAIR imaging in the inner ears. Results: Abnormal enhancement of 3D-FLAIR was found in 31 cases (86.1%) of the 36 cases, including 14 cases of both vestibular nerve and vestibular terminal organ enhancement, eight cases of superior vestibular nerve enhancement alone, seven cases of vestibular terminal organ enhancement alone, and two cases of cochlear enhancement alone. Observation of abnormal reinforcement of vestibular nerve showed: twenty-one cases of superior vestibular nerve reinforcement, one case of superior and inferior vestibular nerve reinforcement. No abnormalities were found in 3D-FLAIR of inner ear in 5 cases. According to the analysis of vestibular function results, there were 19 cases (52.8%) with total vestibular involvement, sixteen cases (44.4%) with superior vestibular involvement alone, and one case (2.8%) with inferior vestibular involvement alone. Comparison of vestibular function between the five cases (non-enhancement group) and the 31 cases (enhanced group) in the 3D-FLAIR group of the inner ears showed that the CP values of caloric tests in the enhanced group were higher (60.81±3.49 vs 34.12±7.37), with statistically significant difference (t=-2.898, P<0.01). Conclusion: In patients with vestibular neuritis, 3D-FLAIR MRI scan of the inner ear provides visual imaging evidence for clinical practice, considering that the lesion site of vestibular neuritis is not only in the vestibular nerve, but also in the vestibular end organ. Patients with 3D-FLAIR enhanced in the inner ear may have more significant vestibular function damage.

Maize root-associated niches determine the response variation in bacterial community assembly and function to phthalate pollution

Plant root-associated microbiome can be influenced by environmental stress like pollution. However, how organic pollution influences microbial communities in different root-associated niches and plant-microbe interaction remains unclear. We analyzed maize root-associated bacterial communities under stress of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The results demonstrate that structures and functions of bacterial communities are significantly different among four root-associated niches, and bacterial diversities gradually decline along bulk soil - rhizosphere - rhizoplane - endosphere. DEHP stress significantly reduces bacterial community diversities in both rhizosphere and rhizoplane, and changes their composition, enrichment and depleting process. DEHP stress led to the enrichment of some specific bacterial taxa like phthalate-degrading bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium and Agromyces) and functional genes involving in phthalate degradation (e.g., pht3 and pcaG). Notably, rhizoplane bacterial community is more sensitive to DEHP stress by enriching stress-resistant bacteria and more complex microbial network on rhizoplane than in rhizosphere. DEHP stress also disturbs the colonization and biofilm forming of root-associated bacteria on rhizoplane. Rhizoplane bacterial community is significantly correlated with maize growth while negatively influenced by DEHP stress. DEHP stress negatively influences plant-microbe interaction and inhibits maize growth. This study provides deep and comprehensive understanding for root-associated bacterial community in response to organic pollution.

Uptake pathways of phthalates (PAEs) into Chinese flowering cabbage grown in plastic greenhouses and lowering PAE accumulation by spraying PAE-degrading bacterial strain

Uptake pathway and accumulation variation of soil and airborne phthalates (PAEs) in plastic greenhouses by vegetables remains unclear. Here, pot experiments of Chinese flowering cabbage were designed to distinguish root or leaf uptake pathways of PAEs, and investigate the mitigation of spraying PAE-degrading strain in PAE accumulation by vegetables. The results showed that leaves of Chinese flowering cabbage grown in plastic greenhouses absorbed more PAEs from air than those of outside greenhouses. Airborne PAEs were mainly stored in leaf surfaces of vegetables grown inside greenhouse, while PAEs absorbed by roots from soil were translocated and mainly stored in mesophyll, especially in cell walls and organelles. PAE concentrations in mesophyll elevated with increasing soil PAE levels, whereas those in leaf surfaces were not influenced by soil PAE levels. The values of bioconcentration factors for leaves inside greenhouses were significantly (1.39-3.47 fold) higher than those outside. PAE-degrading strain (Rhodococcus pyridinivorans XB) sprayed on leaf surfaces could grow well and Rhodococcus was the dominant genus as confirmed by Illumina high-throughput sequencing. PAE-degrading strain effectively reduced PAEs by 12.9%-34.9% in leaf surface, but not those in vegetables grown in high-PAE soil. This study demonstrated mitigation of spraying PAE-degrading strain in PAE accumulation by vegetable leaves from air of plastic greenhouse.

[Preliminary study on the diagnostic value of serum-derived exosomal lncRNA in epithelial ovarian cancer]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) extracted from serum exosomes in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: (1) Patients with ovarian tumors who were hospitalized in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from August 2018 to December 2019, including 35 cases of EOC patients (malignant group) and 20 cases of benign ovarian tumor patients (benign group) were collected; during the same period, 15 healthy women (normal group) who underwent physical examination in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were used as controls. Fasting venous blood serum was collected from the above three groups of women, and serum exosomes were isolated and purified using commercial kits. The morphology of exosomal particles was observed with transmission electron microscope, and the particle size distribution of the exosomes was detected by NanoSight technology. The expression of specific proteins cluster of differentiation (CD)₆₃, CD₈₁, and tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) of exosomes were analyzed by western blot. (2) Four cases of EOC patients and three cases of healthy women were randomly selected. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the differentially expressed lncRNA in serum exosomes of these four EOC patients and three healthy women, and screen out the significantly differentially expressed lncRNA. The screened lncRNA with different expression levels was verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) in these seven original clinical samples, furtherly confirmed and tested with QRT-PCR in larger clinical samples (a total of 70 serum samples). (3) The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the target lncRNA was drawn and its diagnostic indicators such as sensitivity and specificity were evaluated. By using logistic binary regression model, multi-factor joint diagnostic models were constructed and evaluated. Results: (1) Under transmission electron microscope, clear lipid bilayer structure was observed in serum exosomes, and one side presented a concave hemispheric or cup like structure; the peak diameter of the exosomal particles detected with NanoSight technology was 127.6 nm, and the particles between 30 and 150 nm accounted for 58.9%; western blot confirmed that the obtained (exosomal) particles could detect the expression of the marker proteins CD₆₃, CD₈₁, and TSG101. (2) Analysis of high-throughput sequencing technology showed that compared with the women in the normal sequencing group (3 cases), 425 differentially expressed lncRNAs (including 23 up-regulated and 402 down-regulated) were screened in the serum exosomes of the malignant sequencing group (4 cases). Six types of lncRNA with significantly abnormal expression levels (including FER1L6-AS2, LINC00470, LINC01811, CXXC4-AS1, LINC02343, and LINC02428) were randomly selected for original sample verification, and the results were consistent with the sequencing results. Subsequently, these six lncRNAs were used for larger samples QRT-PCR verification. Compared with the benign and normal groups, the expression of FER1L6-AS2, LINC00470 and LINC01811 in malignant group increased by 1.66 and 1.84-fold, 2.05 and 2.46-fold, 2.94 and 2.35-fold, respectively; the expressions of CXXC4-AS1, LINC02343 and LINC02428 were down-regulated to 29% and 34%, 40% and 46%, 42% and 42%, respectively. For the same lncRNA, there were statistical differences between the malignant group and the benign group, between the malignant group and the normal group (all P<0.05), and there were no statistical differences between the benign group and the normal group (all P>0.05). (3) The results showed that the area under curve (AUC) of these six lncRNAs ranged from 0.722 to 0.805, which had moderate diagnostic efficiency. To use logistic binary regression model to establish multi-indicator joint diagnostic models and establish different joint factor ROC curves. The results showed that the AUC of the joint factor prediction model 1 (composed of FER1L6-AS2 and LINC01811), the joint factor prediction model 2 (composed of CXXC4-AS1, LINC02343, and LINC02428), and the joint factor prediction model 3 (composed of FER1L6-AS2, CXXC4-AS1, LINC02343, and LINC02428) were 0.865, 0.934, and 0.962, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of the combined factor prediction models was higher than that of the single lncRNA (all P<0.05). Conclusions: High-throughput sequencing technology is an effective method for screening out the different expression levels of lncRNA extracted from serum exosomes. The combined detection of multiple serum exosomal lncRNA indicators has a certain diagnostic efficacy for patients with EOC. Detection of serum exosomal lncRNA indicators will provide new ideas for the diagnosis of EOC.

Plant-scale hyperthermophilic composting of sewage sludge shifts bacterial community and promotes the removal of organic pollutants

The dissipation of toxic organic pollutants during plant-scale hyperthermophilic composting and the influence of microbial community remain unclear. The results of plant-scale hyperthermophilic composting of municipal sludge with green waste showed that the residual concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers were <5 mg/kg and decreased over time, with the removal percentages from 12.1% to 51.2% during seven days of composting. High-throughput sequencingreveals that hyperthermophilic composting significantly reduced the diversity (e.g., observed species, chao1 and Shannon index) of bacterial community, shifting their structure and functions. The relative abundances of dominant phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes declined significantly, while those of extremophilic and heat-resisting phyla Deinococcus-Thermus and Chloroflexi increased dramatically. Some genera capable of degrading organic pollutants presented stably in sludge composts. Moreover, hyperthermophilic composting enriched the bacterial functions related to degradation and metabolism of cellulose and xenobiotics pollutants, which promoted the dissipation of organic pollutants and humification.

[Association of blood lead and blood selenium with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein among Chinese adults aged 19 to 79 years]

Objective: To investigate the association of blood lead and blood selenium with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) among Chinese adults aged 19 to 79 years. Methods: The participants were enrolled from the first wave of China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) conducted from 2017 to 2018. 10 153 participants aged 19 to 79 years were included in this study. Fasting blood samples were obtained from participants. Lead and selenium in whole blood and hs-CRP in serum were measured. Individuals with hs-CRP levels above 3.0 mg/L were defined as elevated hs-CRP. Generalized linear mixed models and restricted cubic spline models were used to analyze the association of blood lead and blood selenium with elevated hs-CRP. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the multiplicative scale and additive scale interaction between blood lead and blood selenium on elevated hs-CRP. Results: The age of participants was (48.91±15.38) years, of which 5 054 (61.47%) were male. 1 181 (11.29%) participants were defined as elevated hs-CRP. After multivariable adjustment, results from generalized linear models showed that compared with participants with the lowest quartile of blood lead, the OR (95%CI) of elevated hs-CRP for participants with the second, third, and highest quartiles were 1.14 (0.94-1.37), 1.25 (1.04-1.52) and 1.38 (1.13-1.68), respectively. When compared with participants with the lowest quartile of blood selenium, the OR (95%CI) of elevated hs-CRP for participants with the second, third and highest quartiles were 0.86 (0.72-1.04), 0.91 (0.76-1.11), and 0.75 (0.61-0.92), respectively. Results from the interaction analysis showed no significant interaction between lead and selenium on elevated hs-CRP. Conclusion: Blood concentration of lead was positively associated with elevated serum hs-CRP, and blood concentration of selenium was inversely related to elevated hs-CRP, while blood lead and selenium did not present interaction on elevated hs-CRP.

Diversity of endophytic bacteria in wild rice (Oryza meridionalis) and potential for promoting plant growth and degrading phthalates

Phthalates (PAEs) accumulated in agricultural soils and rice have increased human exposure risks. Microbial degradation could efficiently reduce the residue of organic pollutants in soil and crop plants. Here, we hypothesized that endophytic bacteria from wild rice have the potential for degradation of PAEs and plant growth promoting. The endophytic bacterial community and functional diversity in wild rice (Oryza meridionalis) were analyzed for the first time, and the potential for PAE degradation and plant growth promoting by endophytes were investigated. The results of Illumina high-throughput sequencing revealed that abundant endophytes inhabited in wild rice with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria being the dominant phyla. Endophytic bacterial diversity and complexity were confirmed by isolation and clustering of isolates. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis demonstrated that endophytes exerted diverse functions such as plant growth promoting, xenobiotics biodegradation, pollution remediation and bacterial chemotaxis. Pure culture experiment showed that 30 isolated endophytic strains exhibited in vitro plant growth promoting activities, and rice plants inoculated with these strains confirmed their growth promoting abilities. Some endophytic strains were capable of efficiently degrading PAEs, with the highest removal percentage of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) up to 96.1% by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain L381 within 5 days. Synthetic community F and strain L381 rapidly removed DBP from soil (removing 91.0%-99.2% within 10 d and from rice plant slurry (removing 93.4%-99.2% within 5 d). These results confirmed the hypothesis and demonstrated the diversity of endophytic bacteria in wild rice with diverse functions, especially for plant growth promoting and removing PAEs. These multifunctional endophytic bacteria provided good alternatives to reduce PAE accumulation in crops and increase yield.

[Association between urinary arsenic levels and anemia among older adults in nine longevity areas of China]

Objective: To investigate the association between urinary arsenic levels and anemia among older adults in nine longevity areas of China. Methods: A total of 1 896 subjects aged 65 years and above who participated in the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) in 2017-2018 were included. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, lifestyle and other information from the subjects. Through physical examination, data including height, weight and blood pressure were determined and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood and urine samples were collected for the detection of hemoglobin (Hb), blood glucose, blood lipids, plasma vitamin B₁₂ and urinary arsenic concentrations. The urinary arsenic levels were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of urinary arsenic concentrations (μg/g creatinine): Q₁ (<18.7), Q₂ (18.7-34.5), Q₃ (34.6-69.5) and Q₄(≥69.6). Multivariate logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression model were used to analyze the association between urinary arsenic levels and anemia. Results: The age of the 1 896 subjects (M (Q₁, Q₃)) was 83 (74, 92) years, including 952 females (50.21%), and the concentration of Hb (M (Q₁, Q₃)) was 135 (124, 147)g/L. The prevalence of anemia was 24.89% (472 cases). The geometric mean and M (Q₁, Q₃) of urinary arsenic concentrations were 37.5 and 34.6 (18.7, 69.6)μg/g creatinine, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, education level, smoking and drinking status, residence, economic level, ethnicity, the status of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, consumption frequency of aquatic products and meat, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, urinary arsenic levels were positively associated with anemia (Taking group Q₁ as a reference, OR (95%CI) values in Q₂, Q₃ and Q₄ groups were 1.73 (1.20-2.50), 2.08 (1.43-3.02) and 1.52 (1.02-2.28), respectively). The results of restricted cubic spline fitting logistic regression analysis showed a non-linear association between urinary arsenic concentrations and anemia (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed there was a negative multiplicative interaction between the prevalence of chronic diseases and urinary arsenic levels with OR (95%CI) was 0.55 (0.30-0.99), while no multiplicative interaction was found between age, gender, residence, smoking status, drinking status and urinary arsenic levels (P>0.05). There was a positive association between urinary arsenic levels and anemia in participants who were absence of chronic diseases,male, living in rural, smoking and drinking with OR (95%CI) values of 3.62 (1.30-10.06),2.46 (1.34-4.52), 1.70 (1.03-2.80), 2.21 (1.01-4.82) and 2.79 (1.23-6.33), respectively. Conclusion: There is a positive association between urinary arsenic levels and anemia among older adults in nine longevity areas of China.

[Research progress on virulence factors of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae]

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, short for hvKP, is a hypervirulent variant of classical Klebsiella pneumoniae, which accounts for serious infection in healthy people, exhibits strong pathogenicity, high mortality and poor prognosis. At present, hvkp is of high prevalence all over the world, and the infection rate shows a continuous upward trend, which brings great challenges to public health security and clinical treatment. This paper summarized the research progress on virulence factors of hvkp, such as capsular polysaccharides, siderophore, lipopolysaccharide, adhesins and recently discovered Type Ⅵ secreting system, and aimed to deepen the understanding and recognition of hvKP.