Iron (Fe) deficiency and excess cadmium (Cd) in rice grain are important problems to be solved in agricultural production. Previous studies have shown that OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 are vacuolar iron transporters. In this study, wild-type ZH11 was selected as the background material and OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 were overexpressed in endosperm by using endosperm specific promoter Glb-1. Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression on Fe and Cd accumulation in different parts of rice. The results showed that OsVIT1 overexpression in endosperm significantly reduced Fe content in grain by about 50%, while significantly increased zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) contents in straw and Cu content in grain. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm significantly decreased Fe and Cd contents in grain by about 50%, and significantly increased Fe content in straw by 45%-120%. Overexpression of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 in endosperm did not affect the agronomic traits of rice. In conclusion, OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm reduced Fe accumulation in rice grain, which did not achieve the expected effect. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm also decreased Cd accumulation in grain and increased Fe accumulation in straw, which provided reference for iron biofortification and cadmium reduction in rice.
Cadmium ; Endosperm/chemistry* ; Oryza/genetics* ; Iron ; Zinc ; Edible Grain ; Soil Pollutants

The wide use of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles in research, medicine, industry, and other fields has raised concerns about their biosafety. It is therefore unavoidable to be discharged into the sewage treatment system. Due to the unique physical and chemical properties of ZnO NPs and CuO NPs, it may be toxic to the members of the microbial community and their growth and metabolism, which in turn affects the stable operation of sewage nitrogen removal. This study summarizes the toxicity mechanism of two typical metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs and CuO NPs) to nitrogen removal microorganisms in sewage treatment systems. Furthermore, the factors affecting the cytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) are summarized. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis and support for the future mitigating and emergent treatment of the adverse effects of nanoparticles on sewage treatment systems.
Wastewater/toxicity* ; Sewage/chemistry* ; Zinc Oxide/chemistry* ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Nitrogen/metabolism* ; Water Purification

Antibiotics are playing an increasingly important role in clinical antibacterial applications. However, their abuse has also brought toxic and side effects, drug-resistant pathogens, decreased immunity and other problems. New antibacterial schemes in clinic are urgently needed. In recent years, nano-metals and their oxides have attracted wide attention due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Nano-silver, nano-copper, nano-zinc and their oxides are gradually applied in biomedical field. In this study, the classification and basic properties of nano-metallic materials such as conductivity, superplasticity, catalysis, and antibacterial activities were firstly introduced. Secondly, the common preparation techniques, including physical, chemical and biological methods, were summarized. Subsequently, four main antibacterial mechanisms, such as cell membrane, oxidative stress, DNA destruction and cell respiration reduction, were summarized. Finally, the effect of size, shape, concentration and surface chemical characteristics of nano-metals and their oxides on antibacterial effectiveness and the research status of biological safety such as cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity were reviewed. At present, although nano-metals and their oxides have been applied in medical antibacterial, cancer treatment and other clinical fields, some issues such as the development of green preparation technology, the understanding of antibacterial mechanism, the improvement of biosafety, and the expansion of application fields, require further exploration.
Oxides/chemistry* ; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Zinc ; Copper

The hydroponic culture test method was used to study the physiological and biochemical responses of Paulownia fortunei seedlings under Zn stress, Cd stress, and combined Zn and Cd stress as well as changes in the enrichment and transfer characteristics of heavy metals. Under single and combined heavy metal stress, the biomass, plant height, and peroxidase (POD) activity of P. fortunei decreased as the treatment concentration increased. Combined Zn and Cd affected adversely plant height and biomass. As the concentration of Zn increased when applied alone, the chlorophyll content and catalase (CAT) activity of P. fortunei first increased and then decreased, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, and the aboveground malondialdehyde (MDA) content first decreased and then increased. As the concentration of Cd increased when applied alone, chlorophyll content and CAT activity increased, and SOD activity and aboveground MDA content first increased and then decreased. Under both Cd and Zn, the physiological response was more complex. Cd in the seedlings of P. fortunei was concentrated in the root. In contrast, Zn was concentrated in the upper part of the ground, and its transfer coefficient was greater than 1.00. Thus, the addition of Zn promotes the transfer of heavy metals to the above-ground portions of plants. Generally, P. fortunei can effectively promote ecological restoration under complex forms of heavy metal pollution.
Cadmium ; Chlorophyll ; Metals, Heavy ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Seedlings ; Soil Pollutants ; Stress, Physiological ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Zinc

An extracellular lipase from Aureobasidium pullulans was obtained and purified with a specific activity of 17.7 U/mg of protein using ultrafiltration and a DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column. Characterization of the lipase indicated that it is a novel finding from the species A. pullulans. The molecular weight of the lipase was 39.5 kDa, determined by sodium dodecyl sulfonate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme exhibited its optimum activity at 40 °C and pH of 7. It also showed a remarkable stability in some organic solutions (30%, v/v) including n-propanol, isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and hexane. The catalytic activity of the lipase was enhanced by Ca²⁺ and was slightly inhibited by Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ at a concentration of 10 mmol/L. The lipase was activated by the anionic surfactant SDS and the non-ionic surfactants Tween 20, Tween 80, and Triton X-100, but it was drastically inhibited by the cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Furthermore, the lipase was able to hydrolyze a wide variety of edible oils, such as peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame oil, and olive oil. Our study indicated that the lipase we obtained is a potential biocatalyst for industrial use.
Ascomycota/enzymology* ; Calcium ; Catalysis ; Corn Oil/metabolism* ; Detergents/chemistry* ; Enzyme Stability ; Fungal Proteins/chemistry* ; Glucans/chemistry* ; Hexanes/chemistry* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hydrolysis ; Industrial Microbiology ; Lipase/chemistry* ; Manganese/chemistry* ; Olive Oil/metabolism* ; Peanut Oil/metabolism* ; Sesame Oil/metabolism* ; Substrate Specificity ; Sunflower Oil/metabolism* ; Surface-Active Agents ; Temperature ; Zinc/chemistry*

OBJECTIVETo determine the dietary zinc absorption in a Chinese elderly population and provide the basic data for the setting of zinc (Zn) recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for Chinese elderly people.

METHODSA total of 24 elderly people were recruited for this study and were administered oral doses of 3 mg 67Zn and 1.2 mg dysprosium on the fourth day. The primary macronutrients, energy, and phytic acid in the representative diet were examined based on the Chinese National Standard Methods. Fecal samples were collected during the experimental period and analyzed for zinc content, 67Zn isotope ratio, and dysprosium content.

RESULTSThe mean (± SD) zinc intake from the representative Chinese diet was 10.6 ± 1.5 mg/d. The phytic acid-to-zinc molar ratio in the diet was 6.4. The absorption rate of 67Zn was 27.9% ± 9.2%. The RNI of zinc, which were calculated by the absorption rate in elderly men and women, were 10.4 and 9.2 mg/d, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis study got the dietary Zn absorption in a Chinese elderly population. We found that Zn absorption was higher in elderly men than in elderly women. The current RNI in elderly female is lower than our finding, which indicates that more attention is needed regarding elderly females' zinc status and health.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Availability ; China ; Diet ; Dysprosium ; Elements ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Meals ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Zinc ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Zinc Isotopes

Although formaldehyde is well known to cause type 4 hypersensitivity, immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to formaldehyde is rare. Here, we report a case of recurrent generalized urticaria after endodontic treatment using a para-formaldehyde (PFA)-containing root canal sealant and present a review of previous studies describing cases of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to formaldehyde. A 50-year-old man visited our allergy clinic for recurrent generalized urticaria several hours after endodontic treatment. Prick tests to latex, lidocaine, and formaldehyde showed negative reactions. However, swelling and redness at the prick site continued for several days. The level of formaldehyde-specific IgE was high (class 4). Thus, the patient was deemed to have experienced an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction caused by the PFA used in the root canal disinfectant. Accordingly, we suggest that physicians should pay attention to type I hypersensitivity reactions to root canal disinfectants, even if the symptoms occur several hours after exposure.
Disinfectants/*adverse effects ; Formaldehyde/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*chemically induced ; Immunoglobulin E/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin Tests ; Time Factors ; Urticaria/*chemically induced/diagnosis ; Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement/*chemistry

Infection of schistosomiasis japonica may eventually lead to liver fibrosis, and no effective antifibrotic therapies are available but liver transplantation. Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway has been involved in the process and is a promising target for treating liver fibrosis. This study aimed to explore the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on liver fibrosis induced by schistosoma japonicum infection by inhibiting the HH signaling pathway. Phorbol12-myristate13-acetate (PMA) was used to induce human acute mononuclear leukemia cells THP-1 to differentiate into macrophages. The THP-1-derived macrophages were stimulated by soluble egg antigen (SEA), and the culture supernatants were collected for detection of activation of macrophages. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the cytotoxicity of the culture supernatant and PTX on the LX-2 cells. The LX-2 cells were administered with activated culture supernatant from macrophages and(or) PTX to detect the transforming growth factor-β gene expression. The mRNA expression of shh and gli-1, key parts in HH signaling pathway, was detected. The mRNA expression of shh and gli-1 was increased in LX-2 cells treated with activated macrophages-derived culture supernatant, suggesting HH signaling pathway may play a key role in the activation process of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The expression of these genes decreased in LX-2 cells co-cultured with both activated macrophages-derived culture supernatant and PTX, indicating PTX could suppress the activation process of HSCs. In conclusion, these data provide evidence that PTX prevents liver fibrogenesis in vitro by the suppression of HH signaling pathway.
Animals ; Antigens, Helminth ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hedgehog Proteins ; agonists ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Models, Biological ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Pentoxifylline ; pharmacology ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; immunology ; Schistosoma japonicum ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Zygote ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of particle size and morphology on zinc cation adsorption by hydroxyapatite (HA) and dentifrice containing HA.

METHODSFour HAs with different particle sizes and morphologies, HA-containing dentifrice and blank dentifrice were prepared into suspensions of serial concentrations. Zinc ion solutions with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L was mixed with the suspensions and kept for 24 h for adsorption reaction. The zinc ion concentration in the supernatant was measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer and the sorption rate of zinc ion was calculated.

RESULTSHA and HA-containing dentifrice with various particle sizes and morphologies were all capable of absorbing zinc ions from simulated waste water, and the adsorption rate of HA-containing dentifrice was 3%-10% higher than that of HA. HA with a particle size of 12 µm and a spherical morphology showed the strongest adsorption ability, followed by short bar-shaped HA with a particle size of 30 µm. Both Langmuir and Freundlich equation could simulate the sorption processes of HA dentifrice, while only Langmuir equation could simulate the sorption processes of HA.

CONCLUSIONIncorporation of HA in dentifrice can enhance zinc ion adsorption capacity of the material. The particle size and morphology of HA both affect the adsorption of zinc ions, and 12-µm HA particle with a spherical morphology has the best adsorption ability.

Adsorption ; Dentifrices ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Solutions ; Zinc ; chemistry

Lysosomal dysfunction is a common pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases. GTP-binding protein type A1 (GBA1) encodes beta-glucocerebrosidase 1 (GCase 1), a lysosomal hydrolase. Homozygous mutations in GBA1 cause Gaucher disease, the most common lysosomal storage disease, while heterozygous mutations are strong risk factors for Parkinson's disease. However, whether loss of GCase 1 activity is sufficient for lysosomal dysfunction has not been clearly determined. Here, we generated human neuroblastoma cell lines with nonsense mutations in the GBA1 gene using zinc-finger nucleases. Depending on the site of mutation, GCase 1 activity was lost or maintained. The cell line with GCase 1 deficiency showed indications of lysosomal dysfunction, such as accumulation of lysosomal substrates, reduced dextran degradation and accumulation of enlarged vacuolar structures. In contrast, the cell line with C-terminal truncation of GCase 1 but with intact GCase 1 activity showed normal lysosomal function. When alpha-synuclein was overexpressed, accumulation and secretion of insoluble aggregates increased in cells with GCase 1 deficiency but did not change in mutant cells with normal GCase 1 activity. These results demonstrate that loss of GCase 1 activity is sufficient to cause lysosomal dysfunction and accumulation of alpha-synuclein aggregates.
Cell Line ; Enzyme Activation/genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Gene Order ; Genetic Loci ; Glucosylceramidase/genetics/*metabolism ; Humans ; Lysosomes/*metabolism ; Mutation ; *Protein Aggregation, Pathological/genetics ; Protein Binding ; Zinc Fingers ; alpha-Synuclein/chemistry/*metabolism