Tracing microplastic (MP)-derived dissolved organic matter in the infiltration of MP-contaminated sand system and its disinfection byproducts formation.

Microplastic (MP) pollution in soil/subsurface environments has been increasingly researched, given the uncertainties associated with the heterogeneous matrix of these systems. In this study, we tracked the spectroscopic signatures of MP-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) in infiltrated water from MP contaminated sandy subsurface systems and examined their potential to form trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) by chlorination. Sand-packed columns with commercial MPs (expanded polystyrene and polyvinylchloride) on the upper layer were used as the model systems.

A role for the Erk MAPK pathway in modulating SAX-7/L1CAM-dependent locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans.

L1CAMs are immunoglobulin cell adhesion molecules that function in nervous system development and function. Besides being associated with autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, impaired L1CAM function also underlies the X-linked L1 syndrome, which encompasses a group of neurological conditions, including spastic paraplegia and congenital hydrocephalus. Studies on vertebrate and invertebrate L1CAMs established conserved roles that include axon guidance, dendrite morphogenesis, synapse development, and maintenance of neural architecture.

Sequential Combination of Electro-Fenton and Electrochemical Chlorination Processes for the Treatment of Anaerobically-Digested Food Wastewater.

A two-stage sequential electro-Fenton (E-Fenton) oxidation followed by electrochemical chlorination (EC) was demonstrated to concomitantly treat high concentrations of organic carbon and ammonium nitrogen (NH-N) in real anaerobically digested food wastewater (ADFW). The anodic Fenton process caused the rapid mineralization of phenol as a model substrate through the production of hydroxyl radical as the main oxidant. The electrochemical oxidation of NH by a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) resulted in temporal concentration profiles of combined and free chlorine species that were analogous to those during the conventional breakpoint chlorination of NH.

Exploring the Role of Persulfate in the Activation Process: Radical Precursor Versus Electron Acceptor.

This study elucidates the mechanism behind persulfate activation by exploring the role of various oxyanions (e.g., peroxymonosulfate, periodate, and peracetate) in two activation systems utilizing iron nanoparticle (nFe) as the reducing agent and single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as electron transfer mediators.

Early diagnosis of sepsis using serum hemoglobin subunit Beta.

The development of new sepsis-specific biomarkers is mandatory to improve the detection and monitoring of the disease. Hemoglobin is the main oxygen and carbon dioxide carrier in cells of the erythroid lineage and is responsible for oxygen delivery to the respiring tissues of the body. Hemoglobin subunit beta (HBβ) is a component of a larger protein called hemoglobin.

Oxidizing capacity of periodate activated with iron-based bimetallic nanoparticles.

Nanosized zerovalent iron (nFe0) loaded with a secondary metal such as Ni or Cu on its surface was demonstrated to effectively activate periodate (IO4-) and degrade selected organic compounds at neutral pH. The degradation was accompanied by a stoichiometric conversion of IO4- to iodate (IO3-). nFe0 without bimetallic loading led to similar IO4- reduction but no organic degradation, suggesting the production of reactive iodine intermediate only when IO4- is activated by bimetallic nFe0 (e.

Orientin inhibits HMGB1-induced inflammatory responses in HUVECs and in murine polymicrobial sepsis.

High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein acts as a late mediator of severe vascular inflammatory conditions. Orientin has been known to have anxiolytic and antioxidative activities. However, the effect of orientin on HMGB1-induced inflammatory response has not been studied.

Anti-septic effects of fisetin in vitro and in vivo.

Sepsis is a state of disrupted inflammatory homeostasis that is initiated by infection. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein acting as a late mediator of severe vascular inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis and endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), is involved in vascular inflammation. Fisetin, an active compound from the family Fabaceae, was reported to have antiviral, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Mechanistic investigations of unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase from Clostridium perfringens.

Experiments were carried out to probe the details of the hydration-initiated hydrolysis catalyzed by the Clostridium perfringens unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase of glycoside hydrolase family 88 in the CAZy classification system. Direct (1)H NMR monitoring of the enzymatic reaction detected no accumulated reaction intermediates in solution, suggesting that rearrangement of the initial hydration product occurs on-enzyme. An attempt at mechanism-based trapping of on-enzyme intermediates using a 1,1-difluoro-substrate was unsuccessful because the probe was too deactivated to be turned over by the enzyme.

Raftlin: a new biomarker in human sepsis.

Raftlin is a major protein in lipid raft. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood levels of raftlin in septic patients. A prospective study of 82 patients with sepsis was conducted.

Anti-inflammatory effects of rutin on HMGB1-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo.

Objective And Design: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein acts as a late mediator of severe vascular inflammatory conditions. Rutin (RT), an active flavonoid compound, is well known to possess potent antiplatelet, antiviral and antihypertensive properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of RT against pro-inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by HMGB1 and the associated signaling pathways.

Antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and profibrinolytic activities of cudratricusxanthone A.

Cudratricusxanthone A (CTXA), a natural bioactive compound extracted from the roots of Cudrania tricuspidata Bureau, is known to possess hepatoprotective, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and profibrinolytic properties have not been studied. The anticoagulant activities of CTXA were measured by monitoring activated partial thromboplastin-time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and the activities of cell-based thrombin and activated factor X (FXa).

Mechanistic insights from substrate preference in unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase.

Natural and synthetic unsaturated glucuronides were tested as substrates for Clostridium perfringens unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase to probe its mechanism and to guide inhibitor design. Of the natural substrates, a chondroitin disaccharide substrate with sulfation of the primary alcohol on carbon 6 of its N-acetylgalactosamine moiety was found to have the highest turnover number of any substrate reported for an unsaturated glucuronyl hydrolase, with kcat =112 s(-1) . Synthetic aryl glycoside substrates with electron-withdrawing aglycone substituents were cleaved more slowly than those with electron-donating substituents.

Anticoagulant activities of piperlonguminine in vitro and in vivo.

Piperlonguminine (PL), an important component of Piper longum fruits, is known to exhibit anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-platelet and anti-melanogenic activities. Here, the anticoagulant activities of PL were examined by monitoring activated-partial-thromboplastin-time (aPTT), prothrombin-time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). The effects of PL on the expressions of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were also tested in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activated HUVECs.

Inhibitory effects of epi-sesamin on endothelial protein C receptor shedding in vitro and in vivo.

Objective And Design: Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a pivotal role in augmenting Protein C activation by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. The activity of EPCR is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and release as the soluble protein (sEPCR). The EPCR shedding is mediated by the tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE).

Barrier protective effects of piperlonguminine in LPS-induced inflammation in vitro and in vivo.

Piperlonguminine (PL), an important component of Piper longum fruits, is well known to possess potent anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-platelet and anti-melanogenesis activities. In this study, we first investigated the possible barrier protective effects of piperlonguminine against proinflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the associated signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. The barrier protective activities of PL were determined by measuring permeability, monocytes adhesion and migration, and activation of proinflammatory proteins in LPS-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in mice.