Mercuric chloride effects on adult rat oval cells-induced apoptosis

In the present investigation, the toxicity of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) was evaluated in adult oval cells isolated from rat utilizing the 2-acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy technique. Isolated oval cells were incubated with 5 μM of HgCl₂ for 8 hr to elucidate in vitro cytotoxic responses. Recently, autophagic cell death was found in rat hepatocytes in vitro within 30 min of incubation with 5 μM of mercury (Hg) which triggered apoptosis and necroptosis in a time-dependent manner. Nuclear degradation occurred within 30 min of incubation and progressed with time until 8 hr. Apoptosis evidenced by activation of caspase-dependent pathway between 30 min to 8 hr of incubation was mediated via interchange of death domain signaling pathways. Receptor-interacting protein played a positive role to modulate the death domain receptors in the scenario of apoptotic death of oval cells until 6 hr. Autophagic marker proteins ATG12 and LC3B exerted a significant role in triggering apoptosis in 5 μM Hg-treated oval cells. No apparent expression of apoptosis-inducing-factor (AIF) and HMGB1 indicated absence of caspase-independent apoptosis and necrosis in the rat oval cells between 30 min and 8 hr. Thus a low concentration of Hg modulates programmed cell death in adult rat oval cells by altering expression of proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms of cellular functions.     

Detection of transfluthrin and metofluthrin genotoxicity in the ST cross of the Drosophila Wing Spot Test

In this study, different concentrations of transfluthrin and metofluthrin have been assayed for genotoxicity by using the Wing Spot Test on Drosophila melanogaster. Standard cross was used in the experiment. Third-instar larvae that were trans-heterozygous for the two genetic markers mwh and flr³ were treated at different concentrations (0.0103 mg mL⁻¹, 0.103 mg mL⁻¹ for transfluthrin and 6 μg mL⁻¹, 60 μg mL⁻¹ for metofluthrin) of the test compounds. Feeding ended with pupation of the surviving larvae and the genetic changes induced in somatic cells of the wing’s imaginal discs lead to the formation of mutant clones on the wing blade. Results indicated that two experimental concentrations of transfluthrin and 60 μg mL⁻¹ metofluthrin showed mutagenic and recombinogenic effects in both the marker-heterozygous (MH) flies and the balancer-heterozygous (BH) flies.     

Intestinal absorption of the acetamiprid neonicotinoid by Caco-2 cells: Transepithelial transport,cellular uptake and efflux

The human intestinal absorption of acetamiprid (AAP) using the Caco-2 cell line reveals that AAP flux was active in a bidirectional mode with an apparent permeability coefficient of 26^.10^?6 cm·s^?1 at 37°C. Apical uptake was concentration-dependent and unsaturated for AAP concentrations up to 200 μ M. AAP cell preloading demonstrated the involvement of active transport mechanisms. Arrhenius plot analysis revealed an unusual profile with two apparent activation energies suggesting two transport processes. Uptake Vi studies indicated the involvement of a sodium-dependent transporter, the presence of a common transporter of AAP and nicotine and the involvement of Ti-sensitive ATP-dependent efflux transporters. Apical efflux investigations showed the involvement of inward active transporter(s). Whereas vincristine had no effect on intracellular accumulation, taxol and daunorubicin treatments unexpectedly led to 10% and 23% reductions respectively, suggesting that the latter shared a common inward transporter with AAP. All these results suggest full and express AAP absorption in vivo with transport involving both inward and outward, passive and active mechanisms. Thus, AAP or its metabolites could be representative of a risk for human health after its ingestion in food.     

混合酶强化剩余污泥微生物燃料电池性能

为了提高剩余污泥为燃料的微生物燃料电池(SMFC)产电性能以及污泥减量化效果,在不同的温度(40、45和50℃)研究单室无膜微生物燃料电池中酶对SMFC产电特性的强化效果.加入单一酶(蛋白酶或α-淀粉酶)的结果表明,随着温度的上升,SMFC功率密度均上升,但40℃时强化效果最明显,与加入失活酶的对照组相比分别增加198％和130％.在40℃下,混合酶比(蛋白酶浓度:淀粉酶浓度)为2∶3时,SMFC最大功率密度为776 mW/m2.随着混合酶中淀粉酶的比例提高,SMFC库伦效率逐渐增加,当混合酶比为4∶1时,CE(库伦效率)可达18.3％,同时TCOD、TSS和VSS去除率分别为70.3％、66.7％和80.4％.因此,温度相对较低时,外加酶强化效果更明显;与单种酶相比,混合酶对SMFC产电性能和污泥减量化的强化效果更显著.     

Heterogeneity in fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS): autopsy confirmation in three 20–21-week fetuses

Fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS) is a rare condition characterized by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), congenital limb contractures, pulmonary hypoplasia, hydramnios and craniofacial abnormalities. The present report comprises an autopsy study of three fetuses to illustrate the variable clinical manifestations and neuropathological findings. Fetus 1 had arthrogryposis and no movement on fetal ultrasound examination. Aborted at 21 weeks, the fetus showed micrognathia, bilateral joint contracture with pterygia at the elbow and axilla. Growth retardation and pulmonary hypoplasia were not major features. Neuropathologic examination revealed anterior horn cell loss and lateral corticospinal tract degeneration in spinal cord, with marked muscular atrophy. Fetus 2, 20 weeks' gestation, had fetal akinesia, nuchal thickening, left pleural effusion, and Dandy-Walker malformation on ultrasound examination. Autopsy showed low-set ears, ocular hypertelorism, cleft palate, flexion contractures with pterygia over axilla, elbow and groin, pulmonary hypoplasia, Dandy-Walker malformation, unremarkable spinal cord and skeletal muscle. Fetus 3, 21 weeks' gestation, was aborted for fetal akinesia, neck and limb webbing and severe arthrogryposis. At autopsy, similar facial abnormalities, contracture and pterygia in neck and multiple major joints were found. Borderline pulmonary hypoplasia and severe lumbar scoliosis were also present. The brain, spinal cord and muscle were unremarkable. In these three fetuses, the prenatal ultrasound and autopsy findings were characteristic of FADS. Neurogenic spinal muscular atrophy was the basis of fetal akinesia in Case 1. Dandy-Walker malformation was present in Case 2, but the pathogenetic mechanism of fetal akinesia was not clear as spinal cord and muscle histology appeared normal. The etiology of akinesia was undetermined in Case 3; no extrinsic or intrinsic cause was identified. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

城市不同源雾霾颗粒物健康风险差异评估比较

通过研究不同来源霾颗粒物对大鼠气管上皮细胞（RTE cells）电阻抗变化和细胞自噬因子的影响,评价不同来源霾颗粒物对人体健康风险的差异性.分别将RTE暴露于从居民区（I）,高架交通源（Ⅱ）和化工园区（Ⅲ）采集的3种雾霾颗粒物中,统一暴露浓度和时间分别为100mg/L和24h.通过电子细胞基质阻抗检测（ECIS）细胞增长引起的阻抗变化和细胞电损伤恢复时间;通过蛋白免疫印迹测定p62,Atg5,Atg7,Beclin1,LC3B和mTOR蛋白表达量来分析比较不同来源雾霾颗粒物对RTE细胞自噬的影响.结果表明,与空白对照组相比,不同雾霾颗粒物处理组细胞电损伤恢复时间分别延长了34.6%,63.2%和78.0%;p62蛋白表达量差异显著性下降,Atg5,Atg7,Beclin1,LC3B蛋白表达量差异显著性上升.此外,mTOR相关蛋白表达量差异显著性下降,分别下降了4.38%,3.34%和2.36%;p-mTOR蛋白表达量与空白组相比,实验组I下降24.2%,实验组Ⅱ下降37.0%,实验组Ⅲ下降60.9%.由以上结果可知,不同来源雾霾颗粒物对RTE细胞均有一定的毒性损伤作用,能够减小细胞增长速度和削弱细胞修复能力,增强细胞自噬因子蛋白的表达,且化工园区采集的雾霾颗粒物毒性强于居民区和高架交通源.不同来源雾霾颗粒物的细胞毒性存在明显差异,基于细胞电损伤恢复时间的测定以及自噬相关蛋白的检测方法能够为雾霾颗粒物健康风险评价提供一种快速的生物学手段.     

Application of interface material and effects of oxygen gradient on the performance of single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells (SSMFCs)

Single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells(SSMFCs) have received considerable attention nowadays because of their unique dual-functionality of power generation and enhancement of wastewater treatment performance. Thus, scaling up or upgrading SSMFCs for enhanced and efficient performance is a highly crucial task. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, an innovative physical technique of using interface layers with four different pore sizes embedded in the middle of SSMFCs was utilized in this study.Experimental results showed that the performance of SSMFCs employing an interface layer was improved regardless of the pore size of the interface material, compared to those without such layers. The use of an interface layer resulted in a positive and significant effect on the performance of SSMFCs because of the effective prevention of oxygen diffusion from the cathode to the anode. Nevertheless, when a smaller pore size interface was utilized, better power performance and COD degradation were observed. A maximum power density of 0.032 mW/m~2 and COD degradation of 47.3% were obtained in the case of an interface pore size of 0.28 μm. The findings in this study are of significance to promote the future practical application of SSMFCs in wastewater treatment plants.