Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce endothelial injury through miR-155 to promote atherosclerosis.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as an external factor that induces atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although miR-155 is known to be involved in cardiovascular disease, whether it is involved in PAH-induced arteriosclerosis remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of PAHs on vascularization, permeability, and miR-155 expression in HUVECs.

Photochemical Reactivity of Humic Substances in an Aquatic System Revealed by Excitation-Emission Matrix Fluorescence.

The photochemical reactivity of humic substances plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and influences the toxicity, mobility, and bioavailability of contaminants by altering their molecular structure and the mineralization of organic carbon to CO. Here, we examined the simulated irradiation process of Chinese standard fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA) by using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence combined with fluorescence regional integration (FRI), parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis, and kinetic models. Humic-like and fulvic-like materials were the main materials (constituting more than 90%) of both FA and HA, according to the FRI analysis.

[Profile characteristics and seasonal variation of dissolved organic matter in Hongfeng Lake, Guizhou].

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are rarely measured together when studying dissolved organic matter (DOM) in lake water. DOC and DON concentrations were measured for a Karst plateau lake--Hongfeng Lake water for nearly two years. Profile characteristics and seasonal variation of dissolved organic matter were studied, and influencing factors were discussed.

[Effect of sunlight irradiation on fluorescence properties of dissolved organic matter].

Three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3DEEM) was used to investigate the effect of sunlight irradiation on the fluorescence properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from Lake Hongfeng and Nanming River waters and a commercial fluka humic acid (FHA). The results show that the DOM samples and FHA fluorescence properties changed under sunlight irradiation. Interestingly, the photodegradation characteristics were different between aquatic DOM and FHA.