Biotransformation of HBCDs by the microbial communities enriched from mangrove sediments.

1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are a sort of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This research investigated 12 microbial communities enriched from sediments of four mangroves in China to transform HBCDs. Six microbial communities gained high transformation rates (27.

Analysis of the relationship of refractory gout between potential biomarkers and diet structure and lifestyle based on H-NMR.

Objective: We investigated the different life styles among the diet structures and exercise patterns of 100 patients with refractory gout and 79 healthy volunteers; of these, we selected 39 patients and 20 healthy volunteers for serum proton magnetic resonance (H-NMR) metabolic network detection. We determined the potential biomarkers of refractory gout and attempted to explore the relation between potential biomarkers and diet structures and exercise patterns.

Methods: The study employed a questionnaire survey to analyze diet structures and exercise patterns from 100 patients of refractory gout and 79 healthy volunteers.

Novel insights into aerobic 17β-estradiol degradation by enriched microbial communities from mangrove sediments.

Various persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including estrogens are often enriched in mangrove regions. This research investigated the estrogens pollution levels in six mangroves located in the Southern China. The estrogen levels were found to be in the range of 5.

sp. nov., isolated from mangrove sediment.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated as HK4-1, was isolated from mangrove sediments in Hong Kong, PR China. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, strain HK4-1 was found to belong to the genus , family , and showed high similarity to BUT-14 (96.88 %) and H25 (96.

The effects of long-term hexabromocyclododecanes contamination on microbial communities in the microcosms.

The adaptation of microbial community to the long-term contamination of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) has not been well studied. Our previous study found that the HBCDs contamination in the microcosms constructed of sediments from two different mangrove forests in 8 months resulted in serious acidification (pH2-3). This study reanalyzed previous sequencing data and compared them with data after 20 months to investigate the adaptive properties of microbial communities in the stress of HBCDs and acidification.

Community reassemblies of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses in the hexabromocyclododecanes-contaminated microcosms.

The microbial community in seriously contaminated environment were not well known. This research investigated the community reassemblies in microcosms made of two distinct mangrove sediments amended with high levels of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). After eight months of contamination, the transformation of HBCDs yielded various lower brominated products and resulted in acidification (pH ~2).

Transformation of HBCDs by Rhodococcus sp. stu-38.

1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are brominated flame retardants causing serious environmental pollution. HBCDs in the environment could be transformed to various products. Identification of transformation products has been performed using various mass-spectrometric techniques.

Identification of an important function of CYP123: Role in the monooxygenase activity in a novel estradiol degradation pathway in bacteria.

Nowadays, 17β-estradiol (E2) biodegradation pathway has still not been identified in bacteria. To bridge this gap, we have described a novel E2 degradation pathway in Rhodococcus sp. P14 in this study, which showed that estradiol could be first transferred to estrone (E1) and thereby further converted into 16-hydroxyestrone, and then transformed into opened estrogen D ring.

Microplastics (MPs) Act as Sources and Vector of Pollutants-Impact Hazards and Preventive Measures.

Currently, people are paying more and more attention to the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and chemical substances (including metals and organic substances), so it is necessary to understand the relationship between MPs and chemical substances. In this review, we explored (1) MPs may become a source of chemical substances. (2) MPs can also be used as a carrier for attaching pollutants.

Microplastic acts as a vector for contaminants: the release behavior of dibutyl phthalate from polyvinyl chloride pipe fragments in water phase.

The pollution of contaminants brought by plastic fragments is worth paying attention in the study of microplastic. The additives, like phthalates (PAEs), introduced during manufacture, are physically dispersed and can easily release into environment. Polyvinyl chloride pipes are widely used in China, and DBP is also a typical kind of additives in PVC materials.

Biotransformation strategies for steroid estrogen and androgen pollution.

The common steroid hormones are estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and testosterone (T). These steroids are reported to contaminate the environment through wastewater treatment plants. Steroid estrogens are widespread in the aquatic environment and therefore pose a potential risk, as exposure to these compounds has adverse impacts on vertebrates.

A novel dehydrogenase 17β-HSDx from Rhodococcus sp. P14 with potential application in bioremediation of steroids contaminated environment.

Steroids are endocrine disrupting compounds in human and are distributed in various environments. Our previous study showed that a marine bacterium Rhodococcus sp. P14 was able to efficiently degrade one typical steroid estradiol.

Acclimation of Culturable Bacterial Communities under the Stresses of Different Organic Compounds.

The phylogenetic diversity of bacterial communities in response to environmental disturbances such as organic pollution has been well studied, but little is known about the way in which organic contaminants influence the acclimation of functional bacteria. In the present study, tolerance assays for bacterial communities from the sediment in the Pearl River Estuary were conducted with the isolation of functional bacteria using pyrene and different estrogens as environmental stressors. Molecular ecological networks and phylogenetic trees were constructed using both 16S rRNA gene sequences of cultured bacterial strains and 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing data to illustrate the successions of bacterial communities and their acclimations to the different organic compounds.

A novel 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in Rhodococcus sp. P14 for transforming 17β-estradiol to estrone.

17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD) are a group of oxidoreductase enzymes that exhibit high specificity for 17C reduction/oxidation. However, the mechanism of 17β-HSD in oxidizing steroid hormone 17β-estradiol to estrone in bacterium is still unclear. In this work, a functional bacterium Rhodococcus sp.

[A clinical research of Jiawei simiaosan oral administration combined with the external application of Sihuangshuimi in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical curative effect in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis with Chinese traditional medicine.

Methods: All the 65 patients of acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group was treated by jiawei simiaosan and combined with the external application of Sihuangshuimi.