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This study conducted four voyages of the surface of the waters of the Miaodao Archipelago in August 2018, October 2018, March 2019 and June 2019. In the seawater quality survey, 100 stations were set up to analyze the distribution of physicochemical parameters such as water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, PO4-P, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, petroleum hydrocarbons. The nutritional status and organic pollution status of the sea area were evaluated. The results showed that the mean value of water temperature was (16.8±5.69)℃, the average pH was 8.13±0.074, the average DO concentration was (8.62±1.46) mg/L, the average COD concentration was (0.85±0.29) mg/L, the average DIN concentration was (0.0706±0.0545) mg/L, the average PO4-P concentration was (0.0706±0.0545) mg/L, the average TN concentration was (0.255±0.148) mg/L, and the average TP concentration was (0.0133± 0.00639) mg/L, the average concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons was (0.0135±0.00755) mg/L. The physical and chemical parameters of the waters of the Miaodao Archipelago basically meet the Class II seawater quality standards. The water quality eutrophication index of the monitoring station in the sea area is basically < 1, and the nutritional status of the sea area is basically poor nutrition. The water quality of the sea area was evaluated by the organic pollution evaluation index method, and the water quality level of 96% of the monitoring stations in the four months was good.

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity is a major cause of acute liver failure (ALF), during which autophagy is triggered as a cellular defense mechanism. Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction (SGD), a traditional prescription in Chinese Medicine, is renowned for its therapeutic effects on liver diseases. However, the efficacy and mechanisms of SGD in treating APAP-induced liver injury remain underexplored., Purpose: This study aims to provide robust evidence regarding the protective effects of SGD against APAP overdose in vitro and in vivo, as well as to elucidate its hepatoprotective mechanisms and active components., Study Design: The hepatoprotective mechanisms and active components of SGD were investigated through a combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments., Methods: The protective effects of SGD on APAP-induced liver injury were assessed using a murine model and primary hepatocytes. RNA sequencing and subsequent experimental validations were conducted to uncover the underlying mechanisms of SGD's hepatoprotective actions. Comprehensive chemical profiling of SGD was performed using UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS to identify potential active ingredients. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry were utilized to investigate the specific cellular changes in liver tissues and hepatocytes influenced by SGD., Results: SGD was observed to mitigate APAP-induced mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and necrosis by promoting mitochondrial autophagy. The inhibition of autophagy negated the hepatoprotective effects of SGD. Additionally, a detailed characterization of SGD's chemical composition revealed that Licoisoflavone B, Liquiritin, Liquiritin apioside, Licorice saponin G2 and Paeoniflorin Sulfit were potentially critical compounds in the regulation of autophagy and mitophagy., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that SGD promotes autophagy/mitophagy, which effectively mitigates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting SGD's potential as a promising therapeutic agent for APAP-induced liver injury., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Nano-zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), as widely used nanomaterials, are inevitably released into aquatic environments, posing potential threats to aquatic organisms. Mytilus galloprovincialis is a bivalve species sensitive to changes in marine ecological environments, but there has been limited research on its toxicity response to ZnO NPs. Therefore, we selected M. galloprovincialis as the research subject and exposed them to 50 µg/L ZnO NPs for 96 h and 30 days to determine the dissolution of ZnO NPs in seawater and their distribution in M. galloprovincialis. The toxicity of ZnO NPs in M. galloprovincialis was then evaluated through gene expression, tissue pathology, and cellular immune response. The results showed that ZnO NPs could enrich Zn in various tissues of the mussel, in the order of gills > hepatopancreas > adductor muscle > mantle. Seven immune-related genes including four heat shock protein genes (HSPA12A, sHSP24.1, sHSP22, TCTP) and three apoptotic genes (Ras, p63 and Bcl-2) were altered to varying degrees. There was a downward trend in lysosomal membrane stability of M. galloprovincialis after exposure to ZnO NPs for 96 h and 30 days, while ROS and apoptosis rates increased significantly. Furthermore, the seven genes, apoptosis, LMS, and ROS were dependent on exposure time, treatment, and their interaction. Histopathological damage included disorganisation of hepatopancreas epithelial cells, gill filament swelling, and contraction of blood sinuses. These results indicated that ZnO NPs exerted toxicity in M. galloprovincialis, affecting the immune system, resulting in changes in the expression of immune-related genes and ultimately leading to histopathological changes. Our research findings could contribute to systematically understand the impact of ZnO NPs on bivalves in aquatic environments and provide a theoretical basis for marine pollution assessment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Xiaoli Liu reports financial support was provided by Ludong University. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)