Health Risk of Heavy Metal and Implication for Ecological Threat in Soils Weathered from the Black Shale.

Heavy metals were analyzed in rhizosphere soils and rice grains collected from typical black shale areas. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Zn in the rhizosphere soil exceeded the current soil environmental quality standards. Cd exhibited the highest bioaccumulation capacity, with 45% of rice grains exceeding food safety limit.

Geochemical speciation and activation risks of Cd, Ni, and Zn in soils with naturally high background in karst regions of southwestern China.

Agricultural soils in karst regions present a remarkable paradox where high geochemical background levels of heavy metals correspond with unexpectedly low crop uptake, challenging traditional risk assessment frameworks and limiting agricultural development. To decode this paradox, we investigated the geochemical speciation of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in soil-rice systems in southwestern China, which collectively constitute the world's largest continuous karst region and represent diverse soil weathering stages. We employed three chemical extraction methods that revealed reactive pools ranking as Cd (58.

(TTTCA)exp Drives the Genotype-Phenotype Correlation and Genetic Anticipation in FCMTE1.

Background: The pentanucleotide (TTTCA) repeat expansion (exp) insertion, along with the accompanying (TTTTA)exp, causes familial cortical myoclonic tremor with epilepsy (FCMTE). The genotype-phenotype correlations and intergenerational instabilities related to (TTTCA)exp and (TTTTA)exp are still unclear.

Objective: The aim was to investigate the genotype-phenotype correlations and intergenerational instabilities related to (TTTCA)exp and (TTTTA)exp in FCMTE1.

The degree of soil arsenic background enrichment by carbonate weathering is mainly controlled by climate in large spatial scale.

Spatial distribution of soil arsenic (As) is heterogeneous. Making clear the dominant factor(s) controlling its spatial variation contributes to the differentiation of its natural background from anthropogenic pollution. Recent studies have found that the "high background" of soil heavy metals may be induced by the process of carbonate weathering.

Regenerative treatment of ophthalmic diseases with stem cells: Principles, progress, and challenges.

Background: Degenerate eye disorders, such as glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are prevalent causes of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Other eye disorders, including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), dry eye diseases (DED), and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), result in symptoms such as ocular discomfort and impaired visual function, significantly impacting quality of life. Traditional therapies are limited, primarily focus on delaying disease progression, while emerging stem cell therapy directly targets ocular tissues, aiming to restore ocular function by reconstructing ocular tissue.

Distribution of potentially toxic elements in soils and sediments in Pearl River Delta, China: Natural versus anthropogenic source discrimination.

Although anthropogenic contamination has been regarded as the most important source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils of large river delta plains, the extent to which human activities affect PTEs in soils is worth exploring. This study used high density geochemical data to distinguish source patterns of PTEs in soils of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, a large industrialized and urbanized area in China. Enrichment factor, discriminant analysis, principal components analysis, cumulative distribution function, and positive matrix factorization were used to identify sources of PTEs in soils.

Fate of Cd during mineral transformation by sulfate-reducing bacteria in clay-size fractions from soils with high geochemical background.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can immobilize heavy metals in soils through biomineralization, and the parent rock and minerals in the soil are critical to the immobilization efficiency of SRB. To date, there is little knowledge about the fate of Cd associated with the parent rocks and minerals of soil during Cd immobilized by SRB. In this study, we created a model system using clay-size fraction of soil and SRB to explore the role of SRB in immobilizing Cd in soils from stratigraphic successions with high geochemical background.

Application of expanding bilateral sphenoid sinus plasty in the treatment of sphenoid sinus diseases.

Expanding bilateral sphenoid sinus plasty is an essential technique for the treatment of sphenoid sinus diseases, such as refractory sphenoid sinusitis, sphenoid sinus cyst, fungal sphenoid sinusitis, sphenoid sinus carcinoma and sphenoid sinus chordoma. The present study evaluated the potential application of expanding bilateral sphenoid sinus plasty in the treatment of sphenoid sinus diseases. A retrospective medical record review of 42 patients treated with the expanding bilateral sphenoid sinus plasty from December 2012 to December 2018 was performed in a tertiary-care university hospital.

USP7 represses lineage differentiation genes in mouse embryonic stem cells by both catalytic and noncatalytic activities.

USP7, a ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP), plays an important role in many cellular processes through its catalytic deubiquitination of various substrates. However, its nuclear function that shapes the transcriptional network in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) remains poorly understood. We report that USP7 maintains mESC identity through both catalytic activity-dependent and -independent repression of lineage differentiation genes.

Zn isotope signatures in soil FeMn nodules with karst high geochemical background.

Zn isotope has the potential to be used as an environmental tracer, due to its role in fingerprinting specific sources and processes. However, few studies have focused on Zn isotope system in terrestrial ferromanganese (FeMn) nodules, which is important on understanding the behaviors of Zn in soils. In this study, we analyse the isotopic composition in soil FeMn nodules and surrounding materials from a typical karst region in Guangxi Province, southwestern China and use advanced synchrotron-based methods to characterize Zn speciation.

Environmental implication of geochemical record in the Arctic Ny-Ålesund glacial sediment, Svalbard (Norway).

Glacial sediments as an important end member of the global dust system, could indicate changes in global climate, aerosols sources, ocean elements, and productivity. With global warming, ice caps shrinking and glaciers retreat at high latitudes have attracted concern. To understand the response of glacier to environment and climate in modern high latitude ice-marginal environments, this paper investigated glacial sediments in the Ny-Ålesund region of the Arctic and clarified the response of polar environmental to global changes through geochemical characteristics of glacial sediments.

The regulatory mechanism of HSP70 in endoplasmic reticulum stress in pepsin-treated laryngeal epithelium cells and laryngeal cancer cells.

Backgrounds: Excessive pepsin can damage both normal laryngeal epithelial cells and laryngeal cancer (LC) cells. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is closely related to pepsin. In this paper, we will explore the different significance of the regulatory role of HSP70 in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) level in pepsin-treated laryngeal epithelial cells and LC cells.

A process-based model for describing redox kinetics of Cr(VI) in natural sediments containing variable reactive Fe(II) species.

Sediment-associated Fe(II) is a critical reductant for immobilizing groundwater contaminants, such as Cr(VI). The reduction reactivity of sediment-associated Fe(II) is dependent on its binding environment and influenced by the biogeochemical transformation of other elements (i.e.

Association between trace metals exposure and hearing loss.

Background: Trace metals have side-effect on human health. The association between trace metals exposure and hearing loss remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 8,128 participants were exacted for analysis of association between trace metals and hearing loss from the database of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2013-2018).

Nickel bioaccessibility in soils with high geochemical background and anthropogenic contamination.

Abnormally high concentrations of metals including nickel (Ni) in soils result from high geochemical background (HB) or anthropogenic contamination (AC). Metal bioaccessibility in AC-soils has been extensively explored, but studies in HB-soils are limited. This study examined the Ni bioaccessibility in basalt and black shale derived HB-soils, with AC-soils and soils without contamination (CT) being used for comparison.

Molecular scale assessment of defluoridation of coal-mining wastewater by calcined Mg/Al layered double hydroxide using F solid-state NMR, XPS, and HRTEM.

Calcination is an effective way to improve the F adsorption capacity of layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials, however, a molecular scale understanding of the enhanced defluoridation capability of calcined LDHs (CLDH) is lacking. This study investigated the mechanisms of F adsorption by CLDH using F solid-state NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution TEM. Under calcination process, LDH underwent three periods: surface dehydration below 200 °C, structural dehydroxylation at 200-400 °C, and release of interlayer carbonate groups above 400 °C.

Epigenetic network of EZH2/SFRP1/Wnt in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of laryngeal carcinoma cells.

Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2) as a histone methyltransferase epigenetically regulates laryngeal carcinoma (LGC) progression. The present study sought to explore the role and mechanism of EZH2 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of LGC cells. Expressions of EZH2, secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), and trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) in LGC tissues or cells were detected via reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting.

Selenocystine-Derived Label-Free Fluorescent Schiff Base Nanocomplex for siRNA Delivery Synergistically Kills Cancer Cells.

Chemo and siRNA synergic treatments for tumors is a promising new therapeutic trend. Selenocystine, a selenium analog of cysteine, has been considered a potential antitumor agent due to its redox perturbing role. In this study, we developed a nanocarrier for siRNA based on a selenocystine analog engineered polyetherimide and achieved traceable siRNA delivery and the synergic killing of tumor cells.

Transferability of heavy metal(loid)s from karstic soils with high geochemical background to peanut seeds.

Globally distributed karstic soils are characterized by the high accumulation of heavy metal(loid)s, such as Cd. Biogeochemistries and transferability of metal(loid)s in such soils are notably different from that in soils of anthropogenic pollution as evidenced by increasing studies about rice and maize. To solve the question about metal(loid) background and transferability in the system of karstic soils and crops with underground fruits, we designedly collected 246 paired soil-peanut seed samples in a world-famous karstic region in Southwestern China covering an area of 98,700 km.

Carbonate bedrock control of soil Cd background in Southwestern China: Its extent and influencing factors based on spatial analysis.

Previous studies have found that Cadmium (Cd) may be condensed during the processes of the weathering and soil formation over carbonate bedrock, which is a typical phenomenon in the southwest region of China. However, the extent of the high value background and the geographical factors influencing its spatial distribution are still unknown. This study collected data from the Multi-Purpose Regional Geochemical Survey (MPRGS) and the Regional Geochemistry-National Reconnaissance Program (RGNR) to investigate the extent and its controlling factors based on spatial analysis.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease tremor-dominant subtype: A mimicker of essential tremor.

Background And Purpose: The GGC repeat expansion in the NOTCH2NLC gene has been identified as the genetic cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID). Recently, this repeat expansion was also reported to be associated with essential tremor (ET). However, some patients with this repeat expansion, initially diagnosed with ET, were eventually diagnosed with NIID.

Tracing and quantifying the sources of heavy metals in the upper and middle reaches of the Pearl River Basin: New insights from Sr-Nd-Pb multi-isotopic systems.

A method based on Sr, Nd and Pb multi-isotopic systems indicates that the different rock types (carbonate rock, basalt and black rock series) and sulfide deposits exposed in the Pearl River Basin show markedly different Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics. By establishing the mass balance equations of heavy metal content and isotope ratios, we use the inverse method to obtain the contribution that natural weathering of carbonate rocks, basalts and black rock series as well as the mining of sulfide deposits have on heavy metal content in riverbed sediments in the Pearl River Basin. Even though carbonate rocks constitute more than 60% of the exposed area in the upper reaches of the Pearl River Basin, this lithology only contributes 9% of the heavy metal content in sediments due to the relatively low content of heavy metals found in this rock type.

Modeling congenital cataract in vitro using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.

Congenital cataracts are the leading cause of childhood blindness. To date, surgical removal of cataracts is the only established treatment, but surgery is associated with multiple complications, which often lead to visual impairment. Therefore, mechanistic studies and drug-candidate screening have been intrigued by the aims of developing novel therapeutic strategies.