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Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Jun 2024Although, during the past decades, substantial advances emerged in identifying major local and systemic factors contributing to initiation and progression of... (Review)
Review
Although, during the past decades, substantial advances emerged in identifying major local and systemic factors contributing to initiation and progression of osteoarthritis (OA), some neuroendocrine mechanisms are still not understood or even neglected when thinking about novel therapeutic options. One of which is the sympathetic nervous system that exhibits various OA-promoting effects in different tissues of the joint. Interestingly, the β2-adrenoceptor (AR) mediates the majority of these effects as demonstrated by several in vitro, in vivo as well as in clinical studies. This review article does not only summarize studies of the past two decades demonstrating that the β2-AR plays an OA-promoting role in different tissues of the joint but also aims to encourage the reader to think about next-level research to discover novel and innovative preventive and/or therapeutic strategies targeting the β2-AR in OA.
PubMed: 38945292
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.06.012 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Climate change is affecting both the frequency and scale of wildfires, as well as the increase in the number of days with Saharan dust intrusions. Traditionally, studies...
Short-term effects of fine particulate matter from biomass combustion and Saharan dust intrusions on emergency hospital admissions due to mental and behavioural disorders, anxiety and depression in Spain.
Climate change is affecting both the frequency and scale of wildfires, as well as the increase in the number of days with Saharan dust intrusions. Traditionally, studies have focused on the extent to which the increase in fine particulate matter (PM) has had an impact on cardio-respiratory diseases, but (apart from PM) not on how the meteorological and pollution conditions in these situations affect other diseases, such as those linked to mental health. This study therefore sought to ascertain how daily mean PM, PM , NO, O concentrations and daily maximum temperature in heat waves influence daily emergency hospital admissions in Spain caused by mental and behavioural disorders, depression and anxiety on days with PM from biomass combustion and/or Saharan dust intrusions, as compared to days without such conditions, across the period 2009-2018. Our results indicate that on days on which there is biomass combustion, PM concentrations have a statistically significant effect on emergency admissions due to mental disorders, probably related with the toxicity of these particles. Yet on days with intrusions of Saharan dust rather than PM, it is the other variables considered in the analysis that are most closely linked to these types of admissions. The results of this study thus point to the need to implement public health prevention plans which take into account the joint effect of various environmental risk factors that act synergistically in given situations.
PubMed: 38945243
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174316 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024The effects of heavy metals on soil microbial communities have been extensively investigated, whereas the combined effects of heavy metals and nutrients on soil...
The effects of heavy metals on soil microbial communities have been extensively investigated, whereas the combined effects of heavy metals and nutrients on soil microbial communities and their interactions are rarely understood. In this study, we investigated the distribution patterns of heavy metals, nutrients and microbial communities in a typical contaminated farmland and explored their interaction mechanisms. The results showed that Cd and Pb were the main pollutants in this area, which mainly came from the smelter. Canonical correspondence analysis and variance decomposition analysis showed that the heavy metals played a more important role in restraining the microbial community structure of soils than other soil properties. Soil Cd, Pb, pH and available K content were the most important environmental factors affecting the microbial community structures in soil. Major Cd tolerant bacteria and fungi were detected including Actinobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, Entorrhizomycota and Mortierellomycota. The analyses of molecular ecological networks showed that there were 84.1 % of negative correlations among microorganisms. Cd could regulate the abundance of key nodes in Cd-tolerant network modules, and these key nodes could improve the adaptability of the whole module to heavy metals through competition with other microorganisms. This study provides insights into the ecological effects of heavy metals and nutrients on soil microbial communities and will help to develop the bio-remediation technologies for contaminated soils.
PubMed: 38945241
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174322 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of small water bodies is essential for managing water resources, crafting conservation policies, and preserving...
Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of small water bodies is essential for managing water resources, crafting conservation policies, and preserving watershed ecosystems and biodiversity. However, existing studies often rely on a single remote sensing data source (optical or microwave), focusing on large-scale, flat areas and lacking comprehensive monitoring of small water bodies in complex terrain. Therefore, considering the complementary advantages of multisource remote sensing (multispectral and SAR), this paper proposes a multispectral and SAR fusion algorithm, named Multispectral and SAR Fusion algorithm (MASF), to better capture the remote sensing characteristics of small water bodies in complex areas. Based on this, a dataset containing spectral, texture, and geometric features is constructed, and multi-scale segmentation and random forest algorithms are applied for identification of small water bodies in complex terrain. The results demonstrate that the proposed fusion algorithm MASF exhibits minimal spectral distortion (SAM < 3.5, ERGAS <21, RMSE <0.01) and robust spatial feature enhancement (PSNR >40, SSIM >0.999, CC > 0.99). The Overall Accuracy (OA) and Kappa coefficients for both experimental areas surpassed 0.9. For rivers and reservoirs, both Producer's Accuracy (PA) and User's Accuracy (UA) exceeded 0.9. The UA for agricultural ponds exceeded 0.8. Comparative analysis with three other types of water-related data products shows that the freshwater identification results in this study have certain advantages in local small water bodies. Our research holds significant implications for the utilization of water resources in mountainous areas, prevention and control of floods and floods, as well as the development of aquaculture industry.
PubMed: 38945236
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174329 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Groundwater in karst regions is of immense value due to its vital support for regional ecosystems and residents' livelihoods. However, it is simultaneously threatened by...
Groundwater in karst regions is of immense value due to its vital support for regional ecosystems and residents' livelihoods. However, it is simultaneously threatened by multi-source pollution from agricultural non-point sources, industrial and domestic point sources, and mining activities. This study focuses on the Guangxi of China, which features typical karst topography, aiming to thoroughly assess the groundwater quality and related health risks in Guangxi, especially identifying the impacts of various key pollution sources on the groundwater environment. A total of 1912 groundwater samples were collected, covering an area of approximately 237,600 km. The spatial distribution of pollutants was analysed using the Nemeroww index method and Kriging interpolation, while multivariate statistical and cluster analysis methods were employed to identify the main types of pollution sources. Furthermore, based on the human health risk assessment model of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), a risk assessment was conducted for key pollutants. The results revealed widespread heavy metal contamination in Guangxi's groundwater, particularly with concentrations of Mn, As, Al, Pb reaching up to 9.4 mg/L, 2.483 mg/L, 37.95 mg/L, 4.761 mg/L, respectively, significantly exceeding China's national Class III groundwater quality standards. Cluster analysis indicated that mining and industrial activities are the primary sources of pollution. The health risk assessment demonstrated that these activities pose a significant risk to public health. The aim of this study is to provide a scientific basis for the protection of the groundwater environment in Guangxi and other karst areas, the formulation of pollution prevention and control strategies, and the optimization of urban and industrial land use layouts. Future research should focus on advanced isotopic and molecular biological techniques to trace pollution sources more precisely and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control measures.
PubMed: 38945232
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174371 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024The presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), disinfectant resistance genes (DRGs), and pathogens in animal food processing environments (FAPE) poses a significant...
The presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), disinfectant resistance genes (DRGs), and pathogens in animal food processing environments (FAPE) poses a significant risk to human health. However, knowledge of the contamination and risk profiles of a typical commercial pig slaughterhouse with periodic disinfectant applications is limited. By creating the overall metagenomics-based behavior and risk profiles of ARGs, DRGs, and microbiomes in a nine-section pig slaughterhouse, an important FAPE in China. A total of 454 ARGs and 84 DRGs were detected in the slaughterhouse with resistance genes for aminoglycosides and quaternary ammonium compounds, respectively. The entire slaughtering chain is a hotspot for pathogens, including 83 human pathogenic bacteria (HPB), with 47 core HPB. In addition, 68 high-risk ARGs were significantly correlated with 55 HPB, 30 of which were recognized as potential bacteria co-resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants, confirm a three-fold risk of ARGs, DRGs, and pathogens prevailing throughout the chain. Pre-slaughter pig house (PSPH) was the major risk source for ARGs, DRGs, and HPB. Moreover, 75 Escherichia coli and 47 Proteus mirabilis isolates showed sensitivity to potassium monopersulfate and sodium hypochlorite, suggesting that slaughterhouses should use such related disinfectants. By using whole genome multi-locus sequence typing and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses, genetically closely related bacteria were identified across distinct slaughter sections, suggesting bacterial transmission across the slaughter chain. Overall, this study underscores the critical role of the PSPH section as a major source of HPB, ARGs, and DRGs contamination in commercial pig slaughterhouses. Moreover, it highlights the importance of addressing clonal transmission and cross-contamination of antibiotic- and disinfectant-resistant bacteria within and between slaughter sections. These issues are primarily attributed to the microbial load carried by animals before slaughter, carcass handling, and content exposure during visceral treatment. Our findings provide valuable insights for One Health-oriented slaughterhouse management practices.
PubMed: 38945230
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174222 -
Chemosphere Jun 2024Herein, we present a high efficiency system based on biochar loaded with layered manganese dioxide to remove tetracycline and heavy metals from livestock wastewater....
Mechanistic insights into δ-MnO/biochar-activated persulfate-treated wastewater containing antibiotics and heavy metals: Nonradical pathway and pivotal role of Cu(Ⅱ) at low temperature.
Herein, we present a high efficiency system based on biochar loaded with layered manganese dioxide to remove tetracycline and heavy metals from livestock wastewater. Under the optimal conditions, the degradation efficiencies of TC in the δ-MnO/BC/PS system were 85.5% at 25°C and 38.5% at 5°C. Radical quenching experiments revealed that radical reactions in the δ-MnO/BC/PS system were weak under 15°C. Adsorption degradation experiments showed that the system maintained good adsorption performance at 5°C. Galvanic cell experiments and cyclic voltammetry showed that the δ-MnO/BC material had good electrochemical activity and high stability in response to temperature, indicating that TC was degraded by a nonradical pathway that was not limited by temperature, such as electron transfer. Copper ion was important coadsorbent and coactivator of the reaction system. Furthermore, FTIR, XPS, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that Cu(II) in the system was involved in changing the manganese valence state in the δ-MnO/BC material and increasing the -OH content of BC. Comparison of the different products generated during metabolic testing revealed that the reaction pathway of the system at low temperature (5°C) differed from that at normal temperature (25°C). The δ-MnO/BC material demonstrated good removal ability for antibiotics and heavy metals at normal and low temperatures in actual biogas slurry. The study provides insight for improving the efficiency of environmentally friendly treatments of aquaculture wastewater in cold regions, which is of great significance for resource utilization.
PubMed: 38945221
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142715 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jun 2024It has been well-investigating that individual phthalates (PAEs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affect public health. However, there is still a gap that the...
It has been well-investigating that individual phthalates (PAEs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affect public health. However, there is still a gap that the mixture of PAEs and PAHs impacts birth outcomes. Through innovative methods for mixtures in epidemiology, we used a metabolome Exposome-Wide Association Study (mExWAS) to evaluate and explain the association between exposure to PAEs and PAHs mixtures and birth outcomes. Exposure to a higher level of PAEs and PAHs mixture was associated with lower birth weight (maximum cumulative effect: -143.5 g) rather than gestational age. Mono(2-ethlyhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) (posterior inclusion probability, PIP =0.51), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OHPHE) (PIP =0.53), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) (PIP =0.28) were identified as the most important compounds in the mixture. In mExWAS, we successfully annotated four overlapping metabolites associated with both MEHP/9-OHPHE/1-OHPYR and birth weight, including arginine, stearamide, Arg-Gln, and valine. Moreover, several lipid-related metabolism pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis and degradation, alpha-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid metabolism, were disturbed. In summary, these findings may provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms by which PAE and PAHs affect fetal growth.
PubMed: 38945193
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124460 -
International Journal of Antimicrobial... Jun 2024
PubMed: 38945176
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107261 -
Transplant Immunology Jun 2024Kidney transplantation has emerged as the most effective treatment for patients with uremia. Advances in immunosuppressant medications have significantly reduced the...
BACKGROUND
Kidney transplantation has emerged as the most effective treatment for patients with uremia. Advances in immunosuppressant medications have significantly reduced the risk of rejection. However, a notable increase in opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), demands special attention in clinical practice. Our study aims to evaluate risk factors and identify predictive markers associated with PJP in kidney transplantation recipients.
METHODS
We conducted a case-control study (1:2 ratio) involving kidney transplant recipients with and without PJP, matched based on the same surgical date. The study was carried out at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, China.
RESULTS
Ninety-three participants were enrolled at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, comprising 31 with PJP and 62 without PJP. All patients tested negative for HIV. Our findings indicate that PJP patients exhibited lower levels of serum albumin (P = 0.001), reduced counts of total and CD3 (P < 0.001), CD4 (P = 0.001), and CD8 T lymphocytes (P < 0.001), and a lower rate of prophylactic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) usage compared to non-PJP patients (P = 0.02). Conversely, urea levels in PJP patients were significantly higher than in non-PJP controls (P < 0.001). We developed a model combining CD8 T cell count (< 241.11/μL, P < 0.001) and ALB levels (< 35.2 g/L, P = 0.003), which demonstrated excellent discriminatory power in distinguishing PJP from non-PJP cases, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0. 920 (95% CI, 0.856-0.989).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that a baseline CD8 T cell count (< 241.11/μL) and serum ALB levels (< 35.2 g/L) offer robust predictive value for the occurrence of PJP infections in kidney transplant recipients.
PubMed: 38945175
DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2024.102074