Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, a Gram-negative bacterium with a significant role in the adsorption and reduction of uranium in wastewater and a quorum-sensing effect, can be used to remove uranium from wastewater. Exogenous signaling molecules (acyl-homoserine lactones, AHLs) can be added to induce the quorum sensing behavior for rapid biofilm formation, thereby improving the removal efficiency of this bacterium for uranium. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), as the significant components of biofilm, play a key role in biofilm formation. To investigate the quorum sensing behavior induced by AHLs, we systematically investigated the effects of AHLs on the EPS secretion and biofilm properties of S. oneidensis MR-1 by regulating parameters such as AHL species, concentration, addition time point, and contact time. The results showed that the addition of 10 μmol/L N-butyryl-l-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) after 6 h of culture and continued incubation to reach the time point of 72 h significantly promoted the secretion of EPSs, in which the content of extracellular proteins and extracellular polysaccharides was increased by 15.2% and 28.2%, respectively, compared with that of the control group. The biofilm electrodes induced by signaling molecules showed superior properties, which were evidenced by an increase of exceeding 20 μm in biofilm thickness, an increase of 33.9% in the proportion of living cells, enhanced electroactivity, and an increase of 10.7% in the uranium removal rate. The biofilm electrode was confirmed to immobilize uranium in wastewater mainly by electrosorption, physicochemical adsorption, and electro-reduction through characterization means such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This study provides a new technical idea for the efficient recovery of uranium in wastewater and enriches the theoretical system of quorum sensing regulation of electroactive biofilms.
Biofilms/drug effects* ; Acyl-Butyrolactones/pharmacology* ; Quorum Sensing/drug effects* ; Uranium/metabolism* ; Shewanella/metabolism* ; Adsorption ; Uranium Compounds/metabolism* ; Wastewater/chemistry* ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism*

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have shown that Du Meridian electroacupuncture has a unique effect on alleviating spinal cord injury,but the underlying mechanisms require further clarification.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the regulatory effects and the associated action mechanisms of Du Meridian electroacupuncture on ferroptosis after cervical spinal cord injury in rats.METHODS:One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into sham,model,Du Meridian electroacupuncture,RSL3,and Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 groups.The sham group underwent only laminectomy.The other four groups were subjected to cervical spinal cord injury by the Allen method.The Du Meridian electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture after cervical spinal cord injury.The RSL3 group received intraperitoneal injections of glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibitor RSL3 after cervical spinal cord injury.The Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 group received both electroacupuncture and RSL3 intervention after cervical spinal cord injury.Samples were collected on postoperative days 7 and 28 to assess motor function,histological morphology,neuronal survival,glial scar formation,oxidative stress levels,Fe2+content,glutathione peroxidase 4,and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 expression.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Finally,90 rats completed the follow-up experiment,with 18 rats in each group.(2)FLS and BBB scores were significantly higher in the Du Meridian electroacupuncture group compared with the model and Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 groups(P＜0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,Du Meridian electroacupuncture improved cervical spinal cord tissue morphology and mitochondrial ultrastructure,while these effects were inhibited by RSL3.(4)Du Meridian electroacupuncture increased the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2,glutathione peroxidase 4,glutathione,and superoxide dismutase(P＜0.05)and reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein,long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4,reactive oxygen species,malondialdehyde,and Fe2+compared with the model group(P＜0.05).However,RSL3 reversed the inhibitory effects of Du Meridian electroacupuncture on ferroptosis,lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.(5)The results suggest that Du Meridian electroacupuncture inhibits ferroptosis by regulating the glutathione peroxidase 4/long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 axis,thereby reducing secondary neuronal damage and glial scar formation after cervical spinal cord injury and improving neurological function.

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have shown that Du Meridian electroacupuncture has a unique effect on alleviating spinal cord injury,but the underlying mechanisms require further clarification.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the regulatory effects and the associated action mechanisms of Du Meridian electroacupuncture on ferroptosis after cervical spinal cord injury in rats.METHODS:One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into sham,model,Du Meridian electroacupuncture,RSL3,and Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 groups.The sham group underwent only laminectomy.The other four groups were subjected to cervical spinal cord injury by the Allen method.The Du Meridian electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture after cervical spinal cord injury.The RSL3 group received intraperitoneal injections of glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibitor RSL3 after cervical spinal cord injury.The Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 group received both electroacupuncture and RSL3 intervention after cervical spinal cord injury.Samples were collected on postoperative days 7 and 28 to assess motor function,histological morphology,neuronal survival,glial scar formation,oxidative stress levels,Fe2+content,glutathione peroxidase 4,and long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 expression.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Finally,90 rats completed the follow-up experiment,with 18 rats in each group.(2)FLS and BBB scores were significantly higher in the Du Meridian electroacupuncture group compared with the model and Du Meridian electroacupuncture+RSL3 groups(P＜0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,Du Meridian electroacupuncture improved cervical spinal cord tissue morphology and mitochondrial ultrastructure,while these effects were inhibited by RSL3.(4)Du Meridian electroacupuncture increased the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2,glutathione peroxidase 4,glutathione,and superoxide dismutase(P＜0.05)and reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein,long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4,reactive oxygen species,malondialdehyde,and Fe2+compared with the model group(P＜0.05).However,RSL3 reversed the inhibitory effects of Du Meridian electroacupuncture on ferroptosis,lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.(5)The results suggest that Du Meridian electroacupuncture inhibits ferroptosis by regulating the glutathione peroxidase 4/long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 axis,thereby reducing secondary neuronal damage and glial scar formation after cervical spinal cord injury and improving neurological function.

Despite a more significant improvement in survival rates of premature and high-risk infants, surviving infants face a high risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy.Infant development is characterized by a dynamic continum, which makes it difficult to classify a child′s level of motor development as normal or abnormal on the basis of a single examination.This article provides a review of advances in the application of the predictive validity of General Movement Assessment (GMA) and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in the early assessment and follow-up of infants and toddlers, in order to intervene in a timely manner with young children at potential motor risk.

Alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) is a liver disease characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and necrosis of the liver tissue as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a xenobiotic nuclear receptor best known for its function in the transcriptional regulation of drug metabolism and disposition. Clinical reports suggested that the antibiotic rifampicin, a potent human PXR activator, is a contraindication in alcoholics, but the mechanism was unclear. In this study, we showed that the hepatic expression of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) was uniquely elevated in ASH patients and a mouse model of ASH. Pharmacological inhibiting FABP4 attenuated ASH in mice. Furthermore, treatment of mice with the mouse PXR agonist pregnenolon-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) induced the hepatic and circulating levels of FABP4 and exacerbated ASH in a PXR-dependent manner. Our mechanism study established FABP4 as a transcriptional target of PXR. Treatment with andrographolide, a natural compound and dual inhibitor of PXR and FABP4, alleviated mice from ASH. In summary, our results showed that the PXR-FABP4 gene regulatory axis plays an important role in the progression of ASH, which may have accounted for the contraindication of rifampicin in patients of alcoholic liver disease. Pharmacological inhibition of PXR and/or FABP4 may have its promise in the clinical management of ASH.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of baicalin-induced apoptosis in human laryngeal cancer cells. METHODS: AMC-HN-8 cells were selected for the study, and baicalin was applied to the cells at different concentrations (0, 10, 30, 100, and 300 μmol/L), and the half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) was measured by the CCK-8 method. Bax, cleaved-caspase-3, Cyto-c, IRF4 protein expression by protein blotting (Western blot); miR-125b-5p and IRF4 expression by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter gene validation of Targetscan prediction (binding of miR-125b-5p to IRF4-3'UTR); apoptosis and necrosis inhibitors explore the way baicalein induces death in laryngeal cancer cells. AMC-HN-8 was then divided into blank group, baicalein (IC50), miR-125b-5p inhibitor group, baicalein + inhibitor NC group, baicalein+miR-125b-5p inhibitor group, and cell invasion and clone formation assays to detect cell invasion and proliferation ability, respectively. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Baicalein inhibited the proliferation of AMC-HN-8 cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 47.31 μmol/L. Compared with the blank group, 47.31 μmol/L baicalin induced apoptosis and inhibited cell invasion, while upregulating the expression of miR-125b-5p and suppressing the mRNA and protein levels of IRF4. The luciferase results showed that the miR-125b-5p mimic was able to inhibit the activity of the IRF4-3'UTR promoter relative to the NC mimic (mimic) group. Baicalein induces laryngeal cancer cell death in an apoptotic manner. In addition, the combination of 47.31 μmol/L baicalin and miR-125b-5p inhibitor affected the behavior of AMC-HN-8 cells, showing that compared with the blank group, the baicalin group showed a decrease in the number of cell clones, weakened invasion ability, and increased apoptosis; the miR - 125b-5p inhibitor group showed an increase in the number of cell clones, enhanced invasion ability and decreased apoptosis. The baicalin+ inhibitor NC group was consistent with baicalin, with no significant effect of inhibitor NC on cell behavior. The cloning, invasion, and apoptosis of cells in the baicalin+miR-125b-5p inhibitor group were intermediate between the baicalin and miR-125b-5p inhibitor groups. CONCLUSION: Baicalin inhibits the proliferation of AMC-HN-8 cells, and the mechanism may be related to miR-125b-5p targeting to inhibit the expression of IRF4, inducing the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved-caspase3, and Cyto-c, and inhibiting the apoptosis suppressor protein Bcl-2 thereby inducing apoptosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) after adenovirus pneumonia.Methods:Clinical data of 266 children with adenovirus pneumonia hospitalized in Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Accor-ding to whether they developed BO, children with adenovirus pneumonia were divided into the BO group and the non-BO group.Clinical features of the BO group and the non-BO group were compared by t test, rank sum test or chi square test.Risk factors were analyzed by Logistic regression approach. Results:Among 266 children with adenovirus pneumonia included, 37 patients were developed into BO group, and their age was significantly younger than that of the non-BO group [12.0(8.0, 17.5) months vs.32.0(13.0, 48.0) months, P<0.001]. Compared with the non-BO group, there were more proportion of preterm infants[10.8%(4/37 cases) vs.3.1%(7/229 cases), P=0.028], more instances of comorbidities [21.6%(8/37 cases) vs.4.4%(10/229), P<0.001] and more children with allergic diseas[35.1%(13/37 cases) vs.20.1%(46/229 cases), P=0.041] in the BO group, and the difference was statistically significant.The duration of fever in the BO group was significantly longer than that of the non-BO group [10(4.0, 13.5) d vs.6(4.0, 9.0) d, P=0.011] children with symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, and hypoxemia in the BO group were significantly more than the non-BO group[81.1%(30/37 cases) vs.27.9%(64/229 cases), P<0.001; 64.9%(24/37 cases) vs.5.7%(13/229 cases), P<0.001; 59.5%(22/37 cases) vs.6.6%(15/229 cases), P<0.001]. The platelet count, IgG level, and CD3 -CD 19+ lymphocyte percentage were significantly higher in the BO group than the non-BO group [(364±104)×10 9/L vs.(297±105)×10 9/L, P=0.001; 6.74(4.92, 10.16) g/L vs.5.93(1.00, 8.04) g/L, P=0.016; (33.5±15.3)% vs.(26.1±10.2)%, P=0.008]. In contrast, the percentage of CD3 + CD4 + lymphocytes in the BO group was lower than the non-BO group[(29.1±8.0)% vs.(32.5±9.4)%, P=0.044], the difference was statistically significant.The BO group had a higher rate of mixed bacterial infection than the non-BO groups[37.8%(14/37 cases) vs.16.6%(38/229 cases), P=0.003]. An age<26 months, comorbidities, premature birth history, wheezing, shortness of breath, and hypoxemia were independent risk factors for BO after adenovirus pneumonia( OR=4.808, 30.667, 7.558, 3.909, 8.842, 8.607, all P<0.05). Conclusions:An age of less than 26 months, a history of premature delivery comorbidities, wheezing, shortness of breath and hypoxemia, are independent risk factors for BO after adenovirus pneumonia.Children with above manifestations should receive high resolution CT as soon as possible to determine whether it is BO.

Objective To explore the detection rate and clinical characteristics of multiple somatic symptoms among adult outpatients in cardiology,neurology and GI clinics.Methods The general demographic data and disease-related information of 1 497 patients in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital,Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Beijing Tongren Hospital were collected through continuous inquiry and screening.Physical symptoms and depressive symptoms were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).The patients were divided into multiple somatic symptoms group (SOM+group,PHQ-15≥10) and non-multiple somatic symptoms group (SOM-group,PHQ-15＜10).The detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was calculated.Partial correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation of PHQ-15 with the demographic,course of disease,cumulative number of visits,and the total score of PHQ-9.Results The overall detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was 32.67％ (489/1 497)in the three hospitals,and the highest was found in the department of digestive medicine (37.74％,191/506).There were significant differences in gender (x2=36.85,P＜0.01),working status (x2=19.78,P＜0.01),visiting department (x2=9.64,P＜0.01),first visiting/repeated visiting (x2=6.67,P＜0.01),and the total score of PHQ-9 (x2=231.52,P＜0.01).The detection rate of female patients was higher than that of male patients.The detection rates of retired patients and patients who had no daily stable work were higher than patients who had daily stable work.The detection rate of re-visited patients was higher than that of first-visited patients.The illness duration (r=0.07,P＜0.05,Bonferroni correction) and the total score of PHQ-9 (r=0.66,P＜0.05,Bonferroni correction) were positively correlated with the severity of somatic symptoms measured by PHQ-15.Conclusions The detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was high in general hospitals,especially highest in digestive outpatient clinics,and significantly higher in female,retired,unemployed,re-visited and patients who have depressive symptoms.Depressive symptoms and the illness duration were positively correlated with the severity of somatic symptoms.

Objective To explore the detection rate and clinical characteristics of multiple somatic symptoms among adult outpatients in cardiology,neurology and GI clinics.Methods The general demographic data and disease-related information of 1 497 patients in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital,Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Beijing Tongren Hospital were collected through continuous inquiry and screening.Physical symptoms and depressive symptoms were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).The patients were divided into multiple somatic symptoms group (SOM+group,PHQ-15≥10) and non-multiple somatic symptoms group (SOM-group,PHQ-15＜10).The detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was calculated.Partial correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation of PHQ-15 with the demographic,course of disease,cumulative number of visits,and the total score of PHQ-9.Results The overall detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was 32.67％ (489/1 497)in the three hospitals,and the highest was found in the department of digestive medicine (37.74％,191/506).There were significant differences in gender (x2=36.85,P＜0.01),working status (x2=19.78,P＜0.01),visiting department (x2=9.64,P＜0.01),first visiting/repeated visiting (x2=6.67,P＜0.01),and the total score of PHQ-9 (x2=231.52,P＜0.01).The detection rate of female patients was higher than that of male patients.The detection rates of retired patients and patients who had no daily stable work were higher than patients who had daily stable work.The detection rate of re-visited patients was higher than that of first-visited patients.The illness duration (r=0.07,P＜0.05,Bonferroni correction) and the total score of PHQ-9 (r=0.66,P＜0.05,Bonferroni correction) were positively correlated with the severity of somatic symptoms measured by PHQ-15.Conclusions The detection rate of multiple somatic symptoms was high in general hospitals,especially highest in digestive outpatient clinics,and significantly higher in female,retired,unemployed,re-visited and patients who have depressive symptoms.Depressive symptoms and the illness duration were positively correlated with the severity of somatic symptoms.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and laboratory indexes of pneumonia complicated with pertussis syndrome in Suzhou area in order to provide the basis for rational treatment.Methods Children who had been hospitalized at Department of Respiratory,Children's Hospital of Soochow University during January 2012 to October 2016 were enrotled and diagnosed as pneumonia complicated with pertussis syndrome.A total of 236 cases were enrolled.Multiple pathogen detection and clinical information were collected in all patients.The subjects were divided into 28 days-＜ 3 months group,3-＜ 6 months old group,6-＜ 12 months old group and ≥ 12 months old group.The clinical data of children in each age group were retrospectively analyzed.Results Pneumonia complicated with pertussis syndrome was easy to occur within 6 months of infants,with the highest incidence in the 3-＜ 6 months group,there was a significant difference among the different age groups (x2 =231.870,P ＜ 0.05) [28 d-＜ 3 months group:5.3％ (102/1 910 cases),3-＜6 months group:5.7％ (76/1 341 cases),6-＜ 12 months group:2.0％ (36/1 762 cases),≥12 months group:0.4％ (22/5 304 cases)].The patients could become sick all the year round,with the highest incidence in summer[2.6％ (72/2 740 cases)in spring,3.7％ (96/2 611 cases)in summer,2.1％ (56/2 749 cases) in autumn,and 0.48％ (12/2 487 cases)in winter],and there were significant differences among the different seasons (x2 =62.380,P ＜0.001).Clinical symptoms were paroxysmal spasmodic cough,33.0％ (78/236 cases) of the performance with wheezing,mainly in the older than 3 months group.The incidence of fever was positively correlated with age(x2 =12.938,P ＜ 0.05).Peripheral white blood cell count and lymphocyte percentage increased,and the 3-＜ 6 months old group increased markedly.White blood cell count as high as (19.01 ± 11.99) × 109/L,the highest percentage of lymphocytes was up to 0.80,platelets were significantly increased in more than 80％ of children.The incidence of C-reactive protein (CRP) was negatively correlated with age,28 days-＜ 3 months group more prone to have high CRP.Pulmonary inflammatory pathology showed multiple pulmonary involvement by chest radiography,and it was more likely to occur in 28 d-＜ 3 months group.Viruses,bacteria and mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) could cause pneumonia associated with pertussis syndrome,and mixed infection occurred in 56 cases.The top three pathogens were rhinovirus,MP and Streptococcus pneumoniae,and mixed infection was more prone to occur in 28 d-＜ 3 months group.Conclusion Pneumonia complicated with pertussis syndrome is easy to occur within 6 months of infants,with the highest incidence in summer.Viruses,bacteria and MP all could cause pneumonia associated with pertussis syndrome,and mixed infection could occur in some cases.The top three pathogens are rhinovirus,MP and Streptococcus pneumoniae.