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Ammonia (NH3) emissions should be mitigated to improve environmental quality. Croplands are one of the largest NH3 sources, they must be managed properly to reduce their emissions while achieving the target yields. Herein, we report the NH3 emissions, crop yield and changes in soil fertility in a long-term trial with various fertilization regimes, to explore whether NH3 emissions can be significantly reduced using the 4R nutrient stewardship (4Rs), and its interaction with the organic amendments (i.e., manure and straw) in a wheat–maize rotation. Implementing the 4Rs significantly reduced NH3 emissions to 6 kg N ha–1 yr–1 and the emission factor to 1.72%, without compromising grain yield (12.37 Mg ha–1 yr–1) and soil fertility (soil organic carbon of 7.58 g kg–1) compared to the conventional chemical N management. When using the 4R plus manure, NH3 emissions (7 kg N ha–1 yr–1) and the emission factor (1.74%) were as low as 4Rs, and grain yield and soil organic carbon increased to 14.79 Mg ha–1 yr–1 and 10.09 g kg–1, respectively. Partial manure substitution not only significantly reduced NH3 emissions but also increased crop yields and improved soil fertility, compared to conventional chemical N management. Straw return exerted a minor effect on NH3 emissions. These results highlight that 4R plus manure, which couples nitrogen and carbon management can help achieve both high yields and low environmental costs.

Abstract Objective LAMA3 is a widely studied methylated gene in multiple tumors, but the relationship between chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer is unclear. In this study, LAMA3 methylation was predicted by bioinformatics, and the ability of LAMA3 methylation to predict the chemotherapy resistance and prognosis of ovarian cancer was confirmed in experiments. Methods Multiple databases have performed the bioinformatics analysis of methylation and transcription factor binding site (TFBS) on the promoter region of LAMA3 gene. Pyrosequencing detected the methylation of LAMA3. QRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry detected the expression of LAMA3. Real Time Cell Analyzer (RTCA) detects changes in cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. Results CPG islands of 176 bp, 134 bp, 125 bp and 531 bp were predicted in the promoter region of LAMA3 gene. The 4 prediction results are basically overlapped. 7 transcription factor binding sites were predicted, and the one with the highest score was on the predicted CpG island located in the proximal promoter region. LAMA3 hypermethylation and low expression are both associated with chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. LAMA3 methylation was negatively correlated with expression. After upregulation of LAMA3, the proliferation ability of chemoresistant ovarian cancer cell decreased, while the ability of apoptosis, invasion and migration increased. Conclusion LAMA3 hypermethylation is associated with chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis. As a typical CpG island gene, LAMA3(cg20937934) and LAMA3(cg13270625) hypermethylation is negatively correlated with low expression. LAMA3 promotes the invasion, migration and apoptosis of SKOV3DDP. In the future, the mechanism of LAMA3 methylation in ovarian cancer will need to be further studied.

Abstract Background Low expression of NCALD(neurocalcin delta) in peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients predicts poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanism of NCALD in ovarian cancer and its relationship with chemotherapy outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential signaling pathways of NCALD and to evaluate its ability to predict chemotherapy outcomes and prognosis. Methods High-throughput RNA sequencing data were downloaded from TCGA. GSEA explored the potential signaling pathways of NCALD. The expression of NCALD in chemotherapy sensitive and chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer patients was detected by TCGA data and clinical samples. ROC analysis confirmed the ability of NCALD to predict chemotherapy outcomes. The association between NCALD expression and prognosis in ovarian cancer patients was assessed using Kaplan-Meier plotter. Results In patients with NCALD overexpression, genes expression related to ERK1 / 2 signaling pathway, NF-kappaB signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway and immune response pathway was increased, especially ERK1 / 2 signaling pathway. The expression of NCALD in chemoresistant patients was significantly lower than chemosensitive patients. In TCGA data and immunohistochemical samples, the AUC of NCALD expression predicting chemotherapy outcome was 0.59 and 0.64, respectively. In clinical samples, low expression of NCALD was associated with poor OS and PFS. Conclusions NCALD may activate the ERK1 / 2 signaling pathway in ovarian cancer. As a new biomarker of chemotherapy sensitivity, NCALD was significantly down-regulated in chemotherapy resistance ovarian cancer patients. Low expression of NCALD in ovarian cancer is associated with poor OS and PFS. In the future, further research will be needed on the potential mechanism and clinical application value of NCALD in ovarian cancer.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to establish a noninvasive preoperative model for predicting primary optimal cytoreduction in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer by HE4 and CA125 combined with clinicopathological parameters. Methods Clinical data including preoperative serum HE4 and CA125 level of 83 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were collected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy of each clinical parameter were calculated. The Predictive Index score model and the logistic model were constructed to predict the primary optimal cytoreduction. Results Optimal surgical cytoreduction was achieved in 62.65% (52/83) patients. Cutoff values of preoperative serum HE4 and CA125 were 777.10 pmol/L and 313.60 U/ml. (1) Patients with PIV ≥ 6 may not be able to achieve optimal surgical cytoreduction. The diagnostic accuracy, NPV, PPV and specificity for diagnosing suboptimal cytoreduction were 71, 100, 68, and 100%, respectively. (2) The logistic model was: logit p = 0.12 age − 2.38 preoperative serum CA125 level − 1.86 preoperative serum HE4 level-2.74 histological type-3.37. AUC of the logistic model in the validation group was 0.71(95%CI 0.54–0.88, P = 0.025). Sensitivity and specificity were 1.00 and 0.44, respectively. Conclusion Age, preoperative serum CA125 level and preoperative serum HE4 level are important non-invasive predictors of primary optimal surgical cytoreduction in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Our PIV and logistic model can be used for assessment before expensive and complex predictive methods including laparoscopy and diagnostic imaging. Further future clinical validation is needed.

Modified waste sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was prepared to remove cationic dyes: methylene blue and rhodamine B from aqueous solution by using a continuous mode. Effects of flow rate on adsorption of the two dyes in fixed bed column were studied. Competitive adsorption kinetics of the two dyes in binary system was investigated in detail. Results showed that the adsorption capacities of the modified sorbent for methylene blue and rhodamine B in one component system were 1.7 and 0.4 mmol g−1, respectively. Competitive adsorption process in the binary system could be divided into three phases: free adsorption, substitution adsorption and adsorption equilibrium. 0.19 mmol of rhodamine B absorbed was replaced by 0.35 mmol of methylene blue in the second phase. Simple modified Yoon–Nelson model was used to predict the adsorption kinetics for the first time. The obtained adsorption rate constants for the two dyes in the three phases both followed the order: phase I > phase III > phase II, demonstrating that substitution adsorption phase is the rate determining step. Desorption experiment showed that the loaded two dyes could be separated and recycled by using the mixture solution of HCl (0.1 mol L−1) and ethanol as eluent. The prepared fixed bed column had great potential in industrial wastewater treatment. Keywords: Sugarcane bagasse, Fixed bed column, Competitive adsorption, Methylene blue, Rhodamine B

Objective: To study the mechanism of Shengsui Jiangu Capsule promoting vitamin D3 regulating bone turnover in rats with alcoholic osteoporosis. Methods: 120 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: model group (alcoholic osteoporosis model group), blank control group, western medicine control group (calcium carbonate tablet and affa D3 control group), Chinese medicine experimental group (Shengsui Jiangu capsule experimental group), 30 rats in each group. After 8, 12 and 16 weeks, the serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3),1,25dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), cross-linked carboxy-terminal peptide of type 1 collagen (ß-CTX) and N-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (P1NP) in rats and the density of the femur of rats were detected and compared. The correlation between vitamin D3 markers (25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3) and bone turnover indices (P1NP and ß-CTX) and bone mineral density was analyzed. Results: In the experimental group, bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly increased (P<0.01), bone repair and mineral stability and balance were maintained during bone turnover, the level of bone formation marker P1NP was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the level of bone resorption marker ß-CTX was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were increased (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those in western medicine control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Shengsui Jiangu capsule can effectively improve bone density in alcoholic osteoporosis (AOP) rats, and its mechanism may be related to promoting bone calcium absorption and regulating bone conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile, efficient, and novel approach to access 2-substituted 2,3-dihydro-4(1 H)-azuleno[2,1- d]pyrimidinones was developed by condensation of 2-amino-1-carbamoyl-3-phenylazulene with ary1 aldehydes or ketones in by catalyzed p-toluenesulfonic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A general hyperbranched polymerization system that consists of AB g monomers and C f cores is studied by the principle of statistical mechanics. Two types of partition functions for the polymerization are constructed from different viewpoints, and then the explicit expressions of equilibrium size distribution function, equilibrium free energy as well as the law of mass action are obtained. To investigate the average properties of the system, the number-, weight-average degree of polymerization and polydispersity index are derived. Especially, to investigate the average spatial dimension of the hyperbranched polymers, the mean square radius of gyration is presented as a focus and the influence of unequal reactivity on which is taken into account. As an application, several thermodynamic properties such as the equation of state, isothermal compressibility and specific heat are calculated. In addition, some structural parameters of hyperbranched polymers are also presented under various conditions. The results show that two types of competitions take place during the growing course of hyperbranched polymers, and the reactivity parameter has significant effect on the competitions, which are closely related to the thermodynamic properties and spatial dimension of the hyperbranched polymers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of 4′-acylamino modified Δ 1,4 -pregnadien-21 E -benzylidene-3,20-dione derivatives ( 6a – v ) was synthesized from the commercially available progesterone ( 1 ). These title compounds were evaluated for their toxicity against brine shrimp ( Artemia salina ) and cytotoxic activities against two human cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7). The results revealed that compound 6f exhibited promising in vitro cytotoxic activity to the two cancer cell lines and the nature of acylamino functional group in the benzylidene moiety had a significant influence on cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes a broad clinical spectrum of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Genetic factors might influence susceptibility to the SARS-CoV-2 infection or disease severity. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple susceptible genes related to COVID-19 phenotypes, providing the scientific basis for the COVID-19 prevention and treatment. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses of COVID-19 susceptible genes, including the GWASs on multiple phenotypes of COVID-19, GWASs of COVID-19 in multiple ethnic populations, GWASs of COVID-19 based on multiple types of genetic variations, and the fine-mapping of the regions surrounding the susceptible genes.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes for cancer-related death among women worldwide. Coptidis Rhizoma has antibacterial,anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor and other pharmacological activities,but whether exercise could synergistically promote the role of RC in the treatment of breast cancer has not been reported. In this experiment,the effects and mechanism of total alkaloids of Coptidis Rhizoma combined with exercise on the tumor growth of orthotopically transplanted 4 T1 breast cancer were systemically studied in mice. Balb/C mice transplanted with 4 T1 cells in situ were used as models. The total alkaloids of RC(145 mg·kg-1·d-1) alone or in combination with exercise(10 m·min-1,30 min/time,5 times/week) were given for 28 days,and then the changes in body weight and tumor volume,tumor weight,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),serum estradiol(E2) content,and expression levels of estrogen receptor α(ERα),cell cycle related proteins CDK4,CDK6,cyclin D1,CDK2,and cyclin E in tumor tissues. The results showed that total alkaloids of Coptidis Rhizoma could significantly inhibit the growth of 4 T1 breast cancer in mice(P< 0. 01),and exercise significantly promoted the anti-tumor activity of total alkaloids of Coptidis Rhizoma(P<0. 01),and reduced E2 and IL-1β levels in mice. Western blot and flow cytometry showed that the total alkaloids of Coptidis Rhizoma combined with exercise could down-regulate the protein expression levels of ERα,CDK4,CDK6,cyclin D1,CDK2 and cyclin E in cancer cells,block the transformation of G1/S in 4 T1 cell cycle,and inhibit DNA synthesis in breast cancer cells. The total alkaloids of Coptidis Rhizoma combined with exercise showed synergistic effect in inhibition of tumor growth in mice with orthotopically transplanted 4 T1 breast cancer.

Steady progress has been achieved in the medical genetics in China in 2015, as numerous original researches were published in the world's leading journals. Chinese scientists have made significant contributions to various fields of medical genetics, such as pathogenicity of rare diseases, predisposition of common diseases, somatic mutations of cancer, new technologies and methods, disease-related microRNAs (miRNAs), disease-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), disease-related competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), disease-related RNA splicing and molecular evolution. In these fields, Chinese scientists have gradually formed the tendency, from common variants to rare variants, from single omic analyses to multipleomics integration analyses, from genetic discovery to functional confirmation, from basic research to clinical application. Meanwhile, the findings of Chinese scientists have been drawn great attentions of international peers. This review aims to provide an overall picture of the front in Chinese medical genetics, and highlights the important findings and their research strategy.

Objective: To study the effects of butyl benzyl phthalate on neurobehavioral development of rats., Methods: Levels of 0 (control), 0.05%, 0.25%, and 0.75% butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) was given in the diet from 4 weeks of age of female F0 generation to 6 weeks of age of F1 generation in Wistar rats, including the period of the female F0 generation's mating, gestation and lactation and the F1 generation's growth and development. Selected parameters of neurobehavioral development were observed in F1 generation., Results: (1)For the male F(1) generation, surface righting at postnatal (PND) 4 th day was significantly delayed in the low-dose group (P < 0.05) (scoring: 56 vs 61), cliff avoidance at PND 7 was significantly depressed in the high-dose group (P < 0.05) (scoring: 41), air righting at PND 14 was significantly depressed in all treatment groups (P < 0.05). In open field test, low- and high-dose groups moved more than control group (P < 0.05). In Morris water maze test, the escape latency was significantly delayed in the low-dose group at the 5th day of the 5 days' place navigation task (P < 0.05). (2) For the female F1 generation, there were no differences among groups in any parameter in the experiment (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: BBP may affect the neurobehavioral development only in male rats in the F1 generation.

Objective: To study the potential protective effect of melatonin on the oxidative damage induced by deltamethrin in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of rats., Methods: 35 male wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups(seven rats per group): olive oil control, deltamethrin-treated (12.5 mg/kg), melatonin(25.0 mg/kg) and deltamethrin plus melatonin (25.0 mg/kg , 2.5 mg/kg respectively) group. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH) in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum were determined after 5 days of DM treatments., Results: MDA content in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum tissue of the DM-treated rats were significantly higher than those in control group, and compared with DM-treated group, MDA content in those tissue of MT + DM-treated group have significantly decreased after 5 days of DM exposure (P < 0.05). Activities of GSH-Px in DM-treated group were significantly lower than those in control group, and those in the MT + DM group were significantly higher than DM group(P < 0.05)., Conclusion: DM can induce the oxidative damage in rat brain and melatonin has protective effects on deltamethrin-induced oxidative damage in hippocampus, cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rats.

Objective: To study the toxicity on rats by hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and to explore the role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of HCB intoxication., Methods: SD female rats were fed on a powdered diet containing 0.25 per thousand or 2.00 per thousand HCB for 14 days. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of total-superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver tissue and serum were determined. Eleven biochemical indicators including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were surveyed., Results: (1) MDA levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver and serum of the high dosage group rats and that in hippocampus and serum of the low dosage group were significantly higher than that of the control group. (2) The activity of T-SOD was increased in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in both groups (P < 0.01), but decreased in the serum of the high dosage group (P < 0.01). (3) The activity of CAT was also increased in the hippocampus of rats in the high dosage group. (4) In cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in the high dosage group and in the hippocampus of the rats in the low dosage group, the activity of GSH-PX was significantly higher compared with the control group. However, in liver of both dosage groups, the activity of GSH-PX was decreased (P < 0.01). (5) The activity of serum alkaline phosphatase of both dosage groups was also decreased, but the contents of both serum albumin and total cholesterol were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: HCB can induce enhanced lipid peroxidation on SD rats, and the oxidative stress plays an important role in the mechanism of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.