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Journal of Hazardous Materials Jul 2024The relative severity between chromium (Cr)-mediated ecotoxicity and its bioaccumulation has rarely been compared and evaluated. This study employed pot incubation...
The relative severity between chromium (Cr)-mediated ecotoxicity and its bioaccumulation has rarely been compared and evaluated. This study employed pot incubation experiments to simulate the soil environment with increased Cr pollution and study their effects on the growth of crops, including pepper, lettuce, wheat, and rice. Results showed that increasing total Cr presented ascendant ecotoxicity in upland soils when pH > 7.5, and significantly reduced the yield of pepper, lettuce and wheat grain by 0.3-100 %, whereas, this effect was weakened even reversed as the pH decreased. Surprisingly, a series of soils with Cr concentration of 22.7-623.5 mg kg did not cause Cr accumulation in four crops over the Chinese permissible limit. The toxicity of Cr was highly associated with extractable Cr, where Cr (VI) made the greater contributions than Cr (III). Conclusively, the ecotoxicity of Cr poses a greater environmental issue as compared to the bioaccumulation of Cr in crops in upland soils, while extractable Cr (VI) makes the predominant contributions to the ecotoxicity of Cr as the total Cr increased. Our study proposes a synchronous consideration involving total Cr and Cr (VI) as the theoretical basis to establish a more reliable soil quality standard for safe production in China.
PubMed: 38959828
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135091 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Jun 2024There is limited information available on cardiovascular toxicity of 2-Aminobenzothiazole (NTH), a derivative of benzothiazole (BTH) commonly used in tire production, in...
There is limited information available on cardiovascular toxicity of 2-Aminobenzothiazole (NTH), a derivative of benzothiazole (BTH) commonly used in tire production, in aquatic organisms. In the present study, the zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of NTH (0, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L) until adulthood and the potential cardiovascular toxicity was assessed. NTH exposure resulted in striking aberrations in cardiac development, including heart looping failure and interference with atrioventricular canal differentiation. RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that NTH causes oxidative damage to the heart via ferroptosis, leading to oxygen supply disruption, cardiac malformation, and ultimately, zebrafish death. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis demonstrated the dysregulation of genes associated with early heart development, contraction, and oxidative stress. Additionally, reactive oxygen species accumulation and glutathione/malondialdehyde levels changes suggested a potential link between cardiac developmental toxicity and oxidative stress. In adult zebrafish, NTH exposure led to ventricular enlargement, decreased heart rate, reduced blood flow, and prolonged RR, QRS, and QTc intervals. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence of cardiac toxicity and the adverse effects of ontogenetic NTH exposure in zebrafish, revealing the underlying toxic mechanisms connected with oxidative stress damage. These findings may provide crucial insights into the environmental risks associated with NTH and other BTHs.
PubMed: 38959826
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135032 -
Food Chemistry Jul 2024This study aimed to investigate the impact of pan- and air fryer-roasting on the volatiles, umami compounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of dried laver...
This study aimed to investigate the impact of pan- and air fryer-roasting on the volatiles, umami compounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of dried laver (Porphyra dentata). To assess the influence of time and temperature, pan-roasting was conducted at temperatures of 250, 300, and 350 °C for 5, 10, and 15 s, respectively. For air fryer-roasting, dried laver was roasted at 160, 170, and 180 °C for 2, 4, and 6 min, respectively. In both roasting methods, the levels of 1,5-octadien-3-ol and 1-octen-3-ol significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with increased time and temperature. The Equivalent Umami Concentration ranged from 94.89 to 518.09 g MSG/100 g. The antioxidant activity significantly increased (p < 0.05) with higher roasting temperatures and longer durations, whereas pigment content significantly decreased. The browning index increased by 64% and 43% for the pan and air frying methods, respectively. The samples pan-roasted at 300 °C for 15 s obtained the highest sensory scores.
PubMed: 38959799
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140289 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024Betamethasone has been extensively used in medicine in recent years and poses potential hazards to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the reproductive toxic...
Betamethasone has been extensively used in medicine in recent years and poses potential hazards to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the reproductive toxic effects of betamethasone exposure in fish, employing female Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model. Betamethasone exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 20, 200, and 2000 ng/L) for a period of 15 weeks resulted in its high accumulation in the ovary, leading to abnormal oogenesis in female Japanese medaka. The production of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) in the pituitary gland was inhibited, and sex steroid biosynthesis in the ovary was significantly influenced at the transcriptional level. The imbalance of androgens and estrogens resulted in a decrease in the E/T ratio and hepatic VTG synthesis, and the suppression of estrogen receptor signaling was also induced. Furthermore, betamethasone exposure delayed spawning and reduced fertility in the F0 generation, and had detrimental effects on the fertilization rate and hatchability of the F1 generation. Our results showed that environmental betamethasone had the potential to adversely affect female fertility and steroid hormone dynamics in fish.
PubMed: 38959790
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116651 -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Jun 2024Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetic disease caused by aberrant DUX4 expression, leading to progressive muscle weakness. No effective...
An open-label pilot study of losmapimod to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and changes in biomarker and clinical outcome assessments in participants with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1.
INTRODUCTION
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetic disease caused by aberrant DUX4 expression, leading to progressive muscle weakness. No effective pharmaceutical treatment is available. Losmapimod, a small molecule selective inhibitor of p38 α/β MAPK, showed promising results in a phase 1 trial for the treatment of FSHD, prompting additional studies. We report the findings of an open-label phase 2 trial (NCT04004000) investigating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and exploratory efficacy of losmapimod in participants with FSHD1.
METHODS
This study was conducted at a single site in the Netherlands from August 2019 to March 2021, with an optional, ongoing open-label extension. Participants aged 18 to 65 years with FSHD1 took 15 mg of losmapimod twice daily for 52 weeks. Primary endpoints were measures of losmapimod safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints were assessments of losmapimod pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
RESULTS
Fourteen participants were enrolled. No deaths, serious treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), or discontinuations due to TEAEs were reported. Losmapimod achieved blood concentrations and target engagements that were previously associated with decreased DUX4 expression in vitro. Clinical outcome measures showed a trend toward stabilization or improvement.
CONCLUSIONS
Losmapimod was well tolerated and may be a promising new treatment for FSHD; a larger phase 3 study is ongoing.
PubMed: 38959779
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123096 -
Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular... Jun 2024Spatially offset Raman scattering (SORS) line-mapping was explored as a versatile tool to examine accuracy variations in compositional analyses of tablets with different...
Spatially offset Raman scattering line-mapping as an adaptive tool ensuring accuracy for determination of component concentrations in tablets with different particle sizes.
Spatially offset Raman scattering (SORS) line-mapping was explored as a versatile tool to examine accuracy variations in compositional analyses of tablets with different particle sizes. SORS spectra collected near the laser irradiation were less representative of tablet composition due to the limited spectroscopic sampling volume, while the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios of corresponding spectra were higher. On the other hand, SORS spectra at longer offset distances were better representative of tablet composition, while their S/N ratios were decreased considerably. Therefore, the use of only a certain portion of sliced (line-mapped) spectra balanced with the sample representation and S/N ratio could be advantageous to enhance accuracy. Moreover, a group of optimal slice spectra is expected to vary when the particle size of the tablet changes since the characteristics of internal photon propagation also would change. For the overall examination, SORS spectra of 30 Anaprox tablets (composed of 4 constituents including naproxen sodium) with 2 particle sizes (88.4 ± 11.8 µm and 118.9 ± 38.8 µm) were analyzed, and the concentrations of three components in these tablets were determined. A total of 6 cases (3 components and 2 particle sizes) were examined. When the average optimal slice spectra were employed in each case, the errors were lower compared to those using the average of all slice spectra. The demonstrated scheme was versatile to study the offset distance-dependent accuracy variations according to particle size and target component.
PubMed: 38959689
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124751 -
Marine Pollution Bulletin Jul 2024Three surveys were carried out to study the phytoplankton role in influencing the Hg distribution in a poorly eutrophic estuary by measuring the total Hg (THg) and...
Three surveys were carried out to study the phytoplankton role in influencing the Hg distribution in a poorly eutrophic estuary by measuring the total Hg (THg) and methylHg (MeHg) concentrations in waters and four-size fractions of phytoplankton. The THg and MeHg concentrations in waters and phytoplankton varied markedly temporal during the three surveys. The total concentrations of THg and MeHg in the four-size fractions of phytoplankton ranged between 0.62 and 28.15 mg/kg and 0.022-4.411 mg/kg, respectively. The dominance of THg and MeHg phytoplankton concentrations differed from different size fractions and varied with the various surveys. The huge uptake of Hg by abundant phytoplankton decreased both Hg concentrations in waters and phytoplankton, which was attributed to the biomass dilution effect during the July survey. The Hg partition between water and phytoplankton provided substantial evidence to illustrate the huge uptake of Hg by the abundant phytoplankton.
PubMed: 38959573
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116624 -
Environmental Science & Technology Jul 2024Dissecting the photochemical reactivity of metal ions is a significant contribution to understanding secondary pollutant formation, as they have a role to be reckoned...
Dissecting the photochemical reactivity of metal ions is a significant contribution to understanding secondary pollutant formation, as they have a role to be reckoned with atmospheric chemistry. However, their photochemical reactivity has received limited attention within the active nitrogen cycle, particularly at the gas-solid interface. In this study, we delve into the contribution of magnesium ion (Mg) and ferric ion (Fe) to nitrate decomposition on the surface of photoactive mineral dust. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the observed NO production rate differs by an order of magnitude in the presence of Mg (6.02 × 10 mol s) and Fe (2.07 × 10 mol s). The markedly decreased fluorescence lifetime induced by Mg and the change in the valence of Fe revealed that Mg and Fe significantly affect the concentration of nitrate decomposition products by distinct photochemical reactivity with photogenerated electrons. Mg promotes NO production by accelerating charge transfer, while Fe hinders nitrate decomposition by engaging in a redox cyclic reaction with Fe to consume photogenerated carriers continuously. Furthermore, when Fe coexists with other metal ions (e.g., Mg, Ca, Na, and K) and surpasses a proportion of approximately 12%, the photochemical reactivity of Fe tends to be dominant in depleting photogenerated electrons and suppressing nitrate decomposition. Conversely, below this threshold, the released NO concentration increases sharply as the proportion of Fe decreases. This research offers valuable insights into the role of metal ions in nitrate transformation and the generation of reactive nitrogen species, contributing to a deep understanding of atmospheric photochemical reactions.
PubMed: 38959497
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10192 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jul 2024In this study, we developed a novel surface coating technique to modify the surface chemistry of thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes, aiming to...
In this study, we developed a novel surface coating technique to modify the surface chemistry of thin film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes, aiming to mitigate organic fouling while maintaining the membrane's permselectivity. We formed a spot-like polyester (PE) coating on top of a polyamide (PA) TFC membrane using mist-based interfacial polymerization. This process involved exposing the membrane surface to tiny droplets carrying different concentrations of sulfonated kraft lignin (SKL, 3, 5, and 7 wt %) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC, 0.2 wt %). The main advantages of this surface coating technique are minimal solvent consumption (less than 0.05 mL/cm) and precise control over interfacial polymerization. Zeta potential measurements of the coated membranes exhibited enhancements in negative charge compared to the control membrane. This enhancement is attributed to the unreacted carboxyl functional groups of the SKL and TMC monomers, as well as the presence of sulfonate groups (SO) in the structure of SKL. AFM results showed a notable decrease in membrane surface roughness after polyester coating due to the slower diffusion of SKL to the interface and a milder reaction with TMC. In terms of fouling resistance, the membrane coated with a polyester composed of 7 wt % SKL showed a 90% flux recovery ratio (FRR) during Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) filtration, showing a 15% improvement compared to the control membrane (PA). PE-coated membranes provided stable separation performance over 40 h of filtration. The sodium chloride rejection and water flux displayed minimal variations, indicating the robustness of the coating layer. The final section of the presented study focuses on assessing the feasibility of scaling up and the cost-effectiveness of the proposed technique. The demonstrated ease of scalability and a notable reduction in chemical consumption establish this method as a viable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable solution for surface modification.
PubMed: 38959422
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c06082 -
American Journal of Respiratory Cell... Jul 2024Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aggressive and thus far incurable disease, characterized by aberrant fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix deposition. Our...
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aggressive and thus far incurable disease, characterized by aberrant fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix deposition. Our understanding of the disease etiology is incomplete; however, there is consensus that a reduction-oxidation (redox) imbalance plays a role. In this study we use the autofluorescent properties of two redox molecules, NAD(P)H and FAD, to quantify changes in their relative abundance in living lung tissue of mice with experimental lung fibrosis, and in freshly isolated cells from mouse lungs and humans with IPF. Our results identify cell population-specific intracellular redox changes in the lungs in experimental and human fibrosis. We focus particularly on redox changes within collagen producing cells, where we identified a bimodal distribution of NAD(P)H concentrations, establishing NAD(P)H and NAD(P)H sub-populations. NAD(P)H fibroblasts exhibited elevated pro-fibrotic gene expression and decreased collagenolytic protease activity relative to NAD(P)H fibroblasts. The NAD(P)H population was present in healthy lungs but expanded with time after bleomycin injury suggesting a potential role in fibrosis progression. We identified a similar increased abundance of NAD(P)H cells in freshly dissociated lungs of subjects with IPF relative to controls, and similar reductions in collagenolytic activity in this cell population. These data highlight the complexity of redox state changes in experimental and human pulmonary fibrosis and the need for selective approaches to restore redox imbalances in the fibrotic lung.
PubMed: 38959411
DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2023-0346OC