Photoelectrocatalytic treatment of pentachlorophenol in aqueous solution using a rutile nanotube-like TiO2/Ti electrode.

Taking pentachlorophenol (PCP) as a reference, we investigated the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using a rutile nanotube-like TiO(2)/Ti film electrode. The nanotube-like TiO2 electrode was prepared by first oxidizing the surface of a titanium sheet to form rutile TiO2 and then treating it to form the tubular structure in NaOH aqueous solution. The occurrence of PCP degradation was indicated by the decrease in pH, concentration of PCP and TOC, and by the formation of chloride ions. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency of the nanotube-like TiO2/Ti electrode has been determined in terms of degradation of PCP and the incident photo-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE). The experimental results showed that PCP could be degraded more efficiently by a photoelectrocatalytic process than by a photocatalytic or electrochemical oxidation alone. A significant photoelectrochemical synergetic effect was observed. The kinetic constant of PEC degradation of PCP using a nanotube-like TiO2 electrode was over 60% higher than that using a TiO2 film electrode. It is noted that chloride ion and hydrogen ion concentration increased with irradiation time in the PEC degradation of PCP; PCP was gradually mineralized and the complete minimization of PCP took more time than its degradation.     

Viral metagenomics reveals diverse viruses in the fecal samples of children with diarrhea

Diarrhea is the third leading cause of death in developing countries in children under the age of five. About half a million children die of diarrhea every year, most of which in developing countries. Viruses are the main pathogen of diarrhea. In China, the fecal virome of children with diarrhea has been rarely studied. Using an unbiased viral metagenomics approach, we analyzed the fecal virome in children with diarrhea. Many DNA or RNA viruses associated with diarrhea identified in those fecal samples were mainly from six families of Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, Caliciviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, and Reoviridae. Among them, the family of Caliciviridae accounts for the largest proportion of 78.42%, following with Adenoviridae (8.94%) and Picornaviridae (8.36%). In addition to those diarrhea-related viruses that have already been confirmed to cause human diarrhea, the viruses not associated with diarrhea were also identified including anellovirus and picobirnavirus. This study increased our understanding of diarrheic children fecal virome and provided valuable information for the prevention and treatment of viral diarrhea in this area.     

Waist Circumference,Not Body Mass Index,Is Associated with Renal Function Decline in Korean Population: Hallym Aging Study

Background

Prospective investigation of obesity and renal function decline in Asia is sparse. We examined the associations of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with renal function decline in a prospective study of Korean population.

Methods

A total of 454 participants who had baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels of more than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² in Hallym Aging Study (HAS) were included and followed for 6 years. Renal function decline was defined as follows: (1) an eGFR decline ≥3 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (n = 82 cases); (2) an eGFR decrease of 20% or greater (n = 87 cases) at follow-up; (3) an eGFR decrease of 20% greater at follow-up or eGFR decline ≥3 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (n = 91 cases); and (4) an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² at follow-up (n = 54 cases). eGFR was determined based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the association between obesity and renal function decline.

Results

We found that central obesity was associated with faster renal function decline. Comparing WC of >95 cm in men or >90 cm in women with ≤90 cm in men or ≤85 cm in women, ORs (95% CIs) ranged from 2.31 (1.14–4.69) to 2.78 (1.19–6.50) for the 4 definitions of renal function decline (all p-values for trend <0.05). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) also was associated with renal function decline. There was no significant association of BMI with renal function decline.

Conclusions

Central obesity, but not BMI, is associated with faster renal function decline in Korean population. Our results provide important evidence that simple measurement of central fat deposition rather than BMI could predict decline in renal function in Korean population.     

第一类肽链释放因子C端结构域参与调控终止密码子的识别过程

真核生物蛋白质翻译终止过程中,第一类肽链释放因子（eukaryotic polypeptide release factor, eRF1）利用其N端结构域识别终止密码子。eRF1的N结构域中的GTS、NIKS和YxCxxxF模体对于终止密码子的识别发挥重要作用。但至目前为止,eRF1识别终止密码子的机制,尤其是对于终止密码子的选择性识别机制仍不清楚。我们构建了四膜虫（Tetrahymena thermophilia）eRF1的N端结构域与酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）或裂殖酵母（Schizosaccharomyces pombe）eRF1的M和C结构域组成的杂合eRF1,即Tt/Sc eRF1 和Tt/Sp eRF1。双荧光素酶检测结果证实,两种杂合eRF1在细胞中识别终止密码子的活性具有显著差异。Tt/Sc eRF1仅识别UGA密码子,与四膜虫eRF1一致,具有密码子识别特异性;而Tt/Sp eRF1可以识别3个终止密码子,无密码子识别特异性。为解释这一现象,将Sp eRF1的C结构域中的1个关键的小结构域中的氨基酸进行突变,与Sc eRF1相应位点的氨基酸一致。分析结果显示,突变体Tt/Sp eRF1识别密码子UAA和UAG的性质发生显著变化,说明第一类肽链释放因子的C端结构域参与了终止密码子的识别过程。这提示,四膜虫eRF1识别终止密码子的特异性可能依赖于eRF1分子内的结构域间相互作用。本研究结果为揭示肽链释放因子识别终止密码子的分子机制提供了数据支持。     

鼻眶脑毛霉菌病16例临床病理分析

目的探讨鼻眶脑毛霉菌病(ROCM)的临床与病理特征,提高对该病的认识和病理诊断水平。方法回顾分析首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院1998～2008年16例ROCM患者的病历资料。用HE、PAS和GMS染色显示组织病变特点及真菌的形态特征,对1例石蜡组织行透射电镜观察。结果 14例(87.5%)有基础疾病,2例(12.5%)无特殊病史。死亡5例(31.3%),3例死于ROCM,2例死于原发病。CT示鼻腔鼻窦软组织密度影16例,MRI示眶内(15例)和颅内(5例)异常信号影。真菌培养7例阳性(43.8%)。组织病理:16例均见组织凝固性坏死、真菌性血管炎及肉芽肿,骨质破坏9例,外周神经纤维坏死7例。特殊染色菌丝形态均符合毛霉目真菌;透射电镜见菌丝形态不规则,菌壁电子密度高。结论 ROCM主要见于糖尿病和血液系统恶性肿瘤者,亦见于无基础疾病者。常见致病菌为根霉和毛霉。在病变组织中找到符合毛霉目真菌形态特点的菌丝可确诊。对临床症状、影像学、真菌培养及病理学表现等多方面进行综合分析可明确诊断。     

Acetobacter xylinum生产纤维素的最适培养基成分

探索出胶醋杆菌在摇瓶培养最适培养基成分为蛋白胨浓度１．０％、酵母膏０．５％、葡萄糖浓度２．０％、柠檬酸０．１１５％、乙醇１％、Ｎａ２ＨＰＯ４０．５％,ｐＨ６．０,１６０ｒ／ｍｉｎ的条件下进行摇瓶培养,细菌纤维素最大产量为７．５５ｇ／ｌ。     

模拟酸雨对山核桃和杨梅光合生理特征的影响

通过盆栽模拟酸雨淋喷实验,比较了浙江省典型经济植物山核桃和杨梅幼苗光合特性的差异,研究了不同强度酸雨胁迫（pH 2.5、pH 4.0 和 pH 5.6（对照））对其光合生理生态特征的影响。结果表明,在无酸雨条件下,杨梅的最大净光合速率、暗呼吸速率、光饱和点和光补偿点明显高于山核桃。酸雨胁迫下,pH 4.0的酸雨胁迫使山核桃的最大净光合速率、光饱和点显著降低,使杨梅的表观量子效率显著升高,而pH 2.5的酸雨胁迫使山核桃的最大净光合速率、表观量子效率显著降低,使杨梅的光饱和点显著升高。从季节反应模式来看,酸雨对山核桃光合特性的影响在夏季较春季明显,而对杨梅的影响则春季较夏秋季明显。     

In vitro drug release behavior from a novel thermosensitive composite hydrogel based on Pluronic f127 and poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer

Background  

Most conventional methods for delivering chemotherapeutic agents fail to achieve therapeutic concentrations of drugs, despite reaching toxic systemic levels. Novel controlled drug delivery systems are designed to deliver drugs at predetermined rates for predefined periods at the target organ and overcome the shortcomings of conventional drug formulations therefore could diminish the side effects and improve the life quality of the patients. Thus, a suitable controlled drug delivery system is extremely important for chemotherapy.     

Immunocytochemical localization of Na+-HCO3- cotransporters and carbonic anhydrase dependence of fluid transport in corneal endothelial cells

In corneal endothelium, there is evidence for basolateral entry of HCO(3)(-) into corneal endothelial cells via Na(+)-HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (NBC) proteins and for net HCO(3)(-) flux from the basolateral to the apical side. However, how HCO(3)(-) exits the cells through the apical membrane is unclear. We determined that cultured corneal endothelial cells transport HCO(3)(-) similarly to fresh tissue. In addition, Cl(-) channel inhibitors decreased fluid transport by at most 16%, and inhibition of membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase IV by benzolamide or dextran-bound sulfonamide decreased fluid transport by at most 29%. Therefore, more than half of the fluid transport cannot be accounted for by anion transport through apical Cl(-) channels, CO(2) diffusion across the apical membrane, or a combination of these two mechanisms. However, immunocytochemistry using optical sectioning by confocal microscopy and cryosections revealed the presence of NBC transporters in both the basolateral and apical cell membranes of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells and freshly isolated rabbit endothelia. This newly detected presence of an apical NBC transporter is consistent with its being the missing mechanism sought. We discuss discrepancies with other reports and provide a model that accounts for the experimental observations by assuming different stoichiometries of the NBC transport proteins at the basolateral and apical sides of the cells. Such functional differences might arise either from the expression of different isoforms or from regulatory factors affecting the stoichiometry of a single isoform.