Assessment of DNA damage and cytotoxicity of palmatine on human skin epithelial carcinoma cells

The present investigation was carried out to examine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a Tinospora cordifolia crude methanolic extract (palmatine) on human skin epithelial carcinoma cells (A431). T. cordifolia is one of the indispensable medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of various diseases and recommended for improving the immune system. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation was carried out using A431 cells treated with different concentrations of palmatine. The duration of the treatment was 24 and 48 hr. A cellular proliferative capacity test showed that palmatine produced cytotoxicity in concentration- and time-dependent manner. Further, palmatine induced significant intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and elevated lipid peroxidation, as well as activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase. DNA fragmentation analysis using the comet assay showed that palmatine induced genotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Evidence indicates palmatine is capable of induction of oxidative stress resulting in cell death and genomic instability.     

Enzymatic and cellular level effects of chromium∗

Exposure of Cr to four hepatic enzymes activities of tilapia, viz. acid‐ and alkaline phosphatases, catalase and glucose‐6‐phosphatase, was contrary to the results obtained for Cd and Ni. This is the only heavy metal investigated thus far that dramatically augmented glucose‐6‐phosphatase by approximately 83% at a concentration of 12 mg L^‐1 in vivo in lieu of the fact of an initial inhibition of approximately 45 % at a lower concentration of Cr; 6 mg L^‐1. In the case of acid phosphatase and catalase activities progressive increment was observed up to 50 and 217% respectively at a concentration of 12 mg L^‐1 Cr. On the other hand, in contrast to all the investigated enzymes interestingly alkaline phosphatase was inhibited continuously at all concentrations up to 46% at 12 mgL^‐1 Cr. In vitro experiments were contrary to the above mentioned results, whereby all hepatic enzymes were inhibited with major inhibition observed for acid phosphatase of approximately 60% from 5 mgL^‐1 Cr onwards in the system.

At cellular level, Cr exposure at a lethal dose of 12 mgL^‐1 demonstrated similar effects to that of Cd. In general, the glycogen and fat reserves were depleted while lysosomal activity is increased. As compared to the effects of Cd, the mitochondria did not indicate any prominent reflection in the formation of intramitochondrial bodies. Further, similar to Cd, the cell membrane as well as nucleus were not affected.     

活性氧介导砷诱导的蚕豆保卫细胞死亡

采用蚕豆(Vicia fabaL.)表皮条生物法,研究砷的细胞毒性作用机制。结果发现,一定浓度的NaAsO2可使气孔保卫细胞活性降低,部分细胞死亡,细胞死亡率呈浓度依赖性增高;砷处理组保卫细胞内活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)水平升高。抗氧化剂抗坏血酸和过氧化氢酶及Ca2+特异性螯合剂EGTA、Ca2+通道抑制剂LaC13与NaAsO2共同作用时,砷诱发的细胞死亡被显著抑制;MAPK激酶抑制剂PD98059亦能有效阻止NaAsO2诱发的细胞死亡。研究结果表明,砷胁迫引起的胞内ROS合成增加可能通过Ca2+信号途径介导了保卫细胞的死亡过程,MAPK途径参与了砷诱导的细胞死亡。     

CuO/zeolite catalyzed oxidation of gaseous toluene under microwave heating

The development of a combined process of catalytic oxidation and microwave heating for treatment of toluene waste gas was described in this work. Toluene, a typical toxic volatile organic compound, was oxidized through a fixed bed reaction chamber containing zeolite-supported copper oxide (CuO/zeolite) catalyst mixed with silicon carbide (SiC), an excellent microwave-absorbing material. The target compound was efficiently degraded on the surface of the catalyst at high reaction temperature achieved by microwave-heated SiC. A set of experimental parameters, such as microwave power, air flow and the loading size of CuO etc., were investigated, respectively. The study demonstrated these parameters had critical impact on toluene degradation. Under optimal condition, 92% toluene was removed by this combined process, corresponding to an 80%–90% TOC removal rate. Furthermore, the catalyst was highly stable even after eight consecutive 6-h runs. At last, a hypothetical degradation pathway of toluene was proposed based on the experimental data obtained from gas chromatography-mass spectrum and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses.     

Comparison of basal cytotoxicity of seven carbamates in CHO-K1 cells

The cytotoxic effects of seven carbamate pesticides, aldicarb, aldicarb sulfone, aldicarb sulfoxide, benfuracarb, pirimicarb, propoxur and thiobencarb, were compared in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cell line of Circetulus griseus. The endpoints evaluated were lysosomal function by neutral red assay and mitochondrial integrity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT assay). The carbamates tested were evaluated in both serum-free medium and in serum-containing medium. Results demonstrate that CHO-K1 lysosomes appeared more susceptible to propoxur, aldicarb and its metabolites than mitochondria. Aldicarb was the most toxic carbamate pesticide tested on CHO-K1 cells and aldicarb sulfoxide the least. The presence of foetal calf serum (FCS) diminished significantly the cytotoxicity of tested carbamates.     

国外光伏发电并入智能电网发展探讨

智能电网是未来电网发展的主要趋势。随着人们对环境保护的重视,如何将风能、太阳能等可再生能源大规模接入电网已经成为智能电网下一阶段的研究方向。介绍了国外光伏发电技术发展,概述了国外对光伏发电并入智能电网的最新研究,提出了光伏并网发电面临的问题以及相关建议,为我国未来光伏并网发电的实施提供参考。     

水体中铊对泥鳅外周血红细胞的遗传毒性的时效性

铊(T1)是剧毒的重金属元素,会对生态环境和人体健康造成威胁.目前各国铊的环境安全标准存在差异.本文利用泥鳅红细胞微核技术,研究泥鳅Misgurnus anguillicaudatus红细胞微核率和核异常率与铊污染时间的关系,为该技术在铊毒理研究中的可行性和铊环境安全标准提供依据.结果表明:水体铊质量浓度为0.5μg·L~(-1)下,随处理时间的延长,泥鳅红细胞微核率、核异常率显著增加,并与时间呈显著的正相关,其中微核率、核异常率分别在处理24 h和48 h时达到最大值;随后两指标逐步下降,与时间呈显著的负相关.在此铊质量浓度和处理时间内,核异常率与微核率均显著高于空白无铊对照处理,表明水体铊质量浓度0.5 μg·L~(-1)对泥鳅血红细胞具有遗传毒性.     

城市臭氧污染特征与高影响气象因子：以苏州为例

近年来城市臭氧(O₃)污染问题日益突出,影响O₃污染的关键气象因子尚不明确,因此分析典型城市——苏州的O₃污染特征,探究O₃污染的高影响气象因子,对该区域大气污染防治具有重要意义.基于苏州环境监测中心2015～2020年4～9月逐小时O₃浓度数据及同期气象观测资料,应用相关分析和机器学习方法对其开展相关分析研究.结果表明：(1) 6年间O₃污染高发季,O₃污染超标率均达20%以上,O₃污染日数和以O₃为首要污染物的污染日数占比均逐年上升,O₃污染问题日益凸显;(2) O₃浓度存在单峰日变化特点,谷值出现在07:00前后,峰值出现在15:00～16:00;其与气温和太阳辐射能的日内变化趋势较一致,但其浓度峰值出现时刻又滞后于二者. 2017年和2019年O₃有典型的“周末效应”,周末较高的太阳辐照度对O₃浓...     

量子点对Cu2+诱导L02细胞毒性的影响及机理研究

量子点(QDs)和Cu~(2+)可能共存于肝脏,对肝细胞产生联合毒性,威胁人体健康。本研究以人胚肝细胞(L02)为研究对象,考察了低/无毒的QDs(3.6%的细胞致死率)对Cu~(2+)诱导L02细胞毒性的影响及相关机理,为其可能的健康和环境风险提供参考。结果显示,QDs的加入使得Cu~(2+)的细胞毒性有了很大的提高,细胞存活率最高下降了26.0%,两者表现为协同作用;另外QDs存在使得Cu~(2+)细胞蓄积量增大,伴随着Cu~(2+)天然解毒蛋白CTR1和ATP7A等表达水平的升高,从侧面印证了Cu~(2+)的蓄积量增加对细胞的影响;同时,QDs的存在使得细胞乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehyfrogenase,LDH)泄露相对于Cu~(2+)单独处理组提高,暗示QDs可能破坏了细胞膜,导致Cu~(2+)在细胞内蓄积量增加,从而使细胞毒性增加,两者的联合毒性表现为协同作用。     

长江流域蒸发皿蒸发量及影响因素变化趋势

采用MannK-endall非参数检验方法和反距离权重插值法IDW对长江流域近40年来20cm蒸发皿蒸发量及其影响因素进行了时空变化趋势分析,研究结果表明:近40年来,长江流域年平均蒸发皿蒸发量在全流域和不同区域内均呈现显著的下降趋势,且中下游地区(99%的置信度)比上游地区(95%的置信度)下降趋势显著,夏季(99%的置信度)比其它季节下降趋势显著。影响蒸发皿蒸发量的主要气象因子太阳净辐射和风速呈现显著下降趋势,气温表现为显著升高趋势,但中下游地区夏季温度微弱下降,降水微弱增加,但中下游地区夏季降水显著增加。因此,长江流域年平均太阳净辐射和风速的显著下降是年平均蒸发皿蒸发量显著下降的主要原因,而中下游地区夏季气温的微弱下降和降水的显著增加使得中下游地区夏季蒸发皿蒸发量下降趋势尤其显著。