Potential risk of biochar-amended soil to aquatic systems: an evaluation based on aquatic bioassays

It is vital to address potential risks to aquatic ecosystems exposed to runoff and leachates from biochar-amended soils, before large scale applications can be considered. So far, there are no established approaches for such an assessment. This study used a battery of bioassays and representative aquatic organisms for assessing the acute toxicity of water-extractable fractions of biochar-amended soil, at reported application rates (80 t ha^?1). Biochar-amended aqueous soil extracts contained cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) (Σmetals 96.3 µg l^?1) as well as the 16 priority PAHs defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Σ₁₆PAHs 106 ng l^?1) at contents in the range of current EU regulations for surface waters. Nevertheless, acute exposure to soil-biochar (SB) extracts resulted in species-specific effects and dose–response patterns. While the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri was the most sensitive organism to aqueous SB extracts, there were no effects on the growth of the microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In contrast, up to 20 and 25 % mobility impairment was obtained for the invertebrate Daphnia magna upon exposure to 50 and 100 % SB extract concentrations (respectively). Results suggest that a battery of rapid and cost-effective aquatic bioassays that account for ecological representation can complement analytical characterization of biochar-amended soils and risk assessment approaches for surface and groundwater protection.     

The expression patterns and prognostic significance of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A (PHLDA) in lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma

BackgroundPleckstrin homology domain family A (PHLDA) genes play important roles in cancer cellular processes, including inhibiting Akt activation, repressing growth factor signaling, inhibiting the negative feedback of EGFR/ErbB2 signaling cells, and inducing apoptosis. However, the prognostic significance of PHLDA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM) remains unclear. The present study investigates the associations between PHLDA expression patterns and their prognostic value in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and MM.MethodsWe analyzed PHLDA family members at the genomic level in silico to explore their mRNA expression pattern and predictive significance in LUAD and MM. We then created a PHLDA–drug interaction network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using different databases. Finally, we immunohistochemically assessed the protein expression of each PHLDA family member on tissue microarrays (TMAs) in both LUAD and MM cohorts with long-term follow-up.ResultsWhile PHLDA1 mRNA expression in both LUAD and MM was lower than that of normal tissue, PHLDA2 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in LUAD, and PHLDA3 mRNA was overexpressed in MM. In NSCLC, both low PHLDA1 mRNA expression and high PHLDA3 mRNA expression correlated with worse overall survival (OS) (P<0.01), whereas high PHLDA2 mRNA expression was associated with better OS (P<0.01). In MM, patients presenting high PHLDA1 and PHLDA2 mRNA expression had poor OS (P=0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). In addition, the PHLDA-drug interaction network indicated that several common drugs could potentially modulate PHLDA expression, and the PPI network suggested that PHLDA1 interacts with Notch family members, whereas PHLDA3 interacts with TP53. Our results also showed that the expression of PHLDA2 and PHLDA3 was significantly higher in LUAD and MM than that of PHLDA1 (P<0.05) and was associated with the risk of death. While patients with PHLDA2 >85.09 cells/mm² had a low risk of death (P=0.01) and a median survival time of 48 months, those with PHLDA3 <70.38 cells/mm² had a high risk of death (P=0.03) and a median survival time of 34 months.ConclusionsWe shed light on the role of the PHLDA family as promising predictive biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in LUAD and MM.     

Novel Selective Inhibitor of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis Arginase

Arginase is a glycosomal enzyme in Leishmania that is involved in polyamine and trypanothione biosynthesis. The central role of arginase in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis was demonstrated by the generation of two mutants: one with an arginase lacking the glycosomal addressing signal and one in which the arginase‐coding gene was knocked out. Both of these mutants exhibited decreased infectivity. Thus, arginase seems to be a potential drug target for Leishmania treatment. In an attempt to search for arginase inhibitors, 29 derivatives of the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine system were tested against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis arginase in vitro. The [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine scaffold containing R₁ = CF₃ exhibited greater activity against the arginase rather than when the substituent R₁ = CH₃ in the 2‐position. The novel compound 2‐(5‐methyl‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidin‐7‐yl)hydrazinecarbothioamide (30) was the most potent, inhibiting arginase by a non‐competitive mechanism, with the Ki and IC₅₀ values for arginase inhibition estimated to be 17 ± 1 μm and 16.5 ± 0.5 μm , respectively. These results can guide the development of new drugs against leishmaniasis based on [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine derivatives targeting the arginase enzyme.     

The Use of Anodic Oxides in Practical and Sustainable Devices for Energy Conversion and Storage

This review addresses the main contributions of anodic oxide films synthesized and designed to overcome the current limitations of practical applications in energy conversion and storage devices. We present some strategies adopted to improve the efficiency, stability, and overall performance of these sustainable technologies operating via photo, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical processes. The facile and scalable synthesis with strict control of the properties combined with the low-cost, high surface area, chemical stability, and unidirectional orientation of these nanostructures make the anodized oxides attractive for these applications. Assuming different functionalities, TiO₂-NT is the widely explored anodic oxide in dye-sensitized solar cells, PEC water-splitting systems, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and batteries. However, other nanostructured anodic films based on WO₃, Cu_xO, ZnO, NiO, SnO, Fe₂O₃, ZrO₂, Nb₂O₅, and Ta₂O₅ are also explored and act as the respective active layers in several devices. The use of AAO as a structural material to guide the synthesis is also reported. Although in the development stage, the proof-of-concept of these devices demonstrates the feasibility of using the anodic oxide as a component and opens up new perspectives for the industrial and commercial utilization of these technologies.     

Sexual behaviour and infection rates for HIV, blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections among patients attending drug treatment centres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A survey was carried out in 2 drug use treatment centres (TCs) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to assess risk behaviours, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections/blood-borne infections (STIs/BBIs). Two hundred and twenty-five drug users (195 males and 30 females) were interviewed and clinically examined, and their blood and urine were tested for STIs/BBIs. Prevalences (%) for these infections were as follows--HIV: 0.9, hepatitis B virus (HBV): 14.7, hepatitis C virus (HCV): 5.8, syphilis: 5.3, gonorrhoea/chlamydia (CT/NG): 4.7. In bivariate analyses CT/NG infection was associated with younger age (P=0.003); current genitourinary symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=6.2) and a mainly illegal source of income (OR=9.1). Hepatitis C infection was associated with a history of ever having injected any drug (OR=19.6), and with each one of the injected drugs. After multiple logistic regression, lower educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.70) and 'ever having injected drugs' (AOR=3.69) remained as independent risk factors for hepatitis B infection. In conclusion, TCs must implement programmes directed towards the prevention of STIs/BBIs.     

Randomized clinical trial of class II restoration in permanent teeth comparing ART with composite resin after 12 months

Clinical Oral Investigations - This study evaluated the effectiveness of class II restorations, in permanent teeth, through the ART technique in comparison to composite resin. Participants (154),...     

Cr(VI)‐induced genotoxicity and cell cycle arrest in human osteoblast cell line MG‐63

Occupational environments are major exposure routes to Cr(VI). However, Cr(VI) may also establish in bone tissues by ingestion or through Cr containing orthopaedic prostheses that, due to wear and corrosion, may release metal particles and ions potentially affecting bone tissue. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of clinically relevant concentrations of Cr(VI) in human osteoblasts, by integrating genotoxic effects, evaluated by the comet assay and cytokinesis‐blocked micronucleus assay (scoring the presence of micronucleus, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear division index), with the effects on cell cycle and cell viability. Human osteoblasts MG‐63 were in vitro exposed to Cr(VI) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5 μm , for 24 and 48 hours. Results pointed out to a decrease of cell viability for both time exposures in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, which was related to cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. Chromosome abnormalities were also observed. Hence, these data suggest that cells arrested in the cell division with DNA damage may have followed cell death pathways, while some surviving ones still revealed DNA damage at chromosome level indicating abnormal cell division progression. In conclusion, Cr(VI) induced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in human bone cells at concentrations that could be found in patients with metal‐on‐metal prostheses. In addition, the early onset of genotoxic damage induced by Cr(VI) at low concentrations after 24 hours of cell exposure alert to the relevance of periodic monitoring of patients for genotoxicity diagnosis after implantation of prostheses before clinical symptoms appear.     

Wound healing with “spray‐on” autologous skin grafting (ReCell) compared with standard care in patients with large diabetes‐related foot wounds: an open‐label randomised controlled trial

There is an urgent need for interventions that improve healing time, prevent amputations and recurrent ulceration in patients with diabetes‐related foot wounds. In this randomised, open‐label trial, participants were randomised to receive an application of non‐cultured autologous skin cells (“spray‐on” skin; ReCell) or standard care interventions for large (>6 cm²), adequately vascularised wounds. The primary outcome was complete healing at 6 months, determined by assessors blinded to the intervention. Forty‐nine eligible foot wounds in 45 participants were randomised. An evaluable primary outcome was available for all wounds. The median (interquartile range) wound area at baseline was 11.4 (8.8‐17.6) cm². A total of 32 (65.3%) index wounds were completely healed at 6 months, including 16 of 24 (66.7%) in the spray‐on skin group and 16 of 25 (64.0%) in the standard care group (unadjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.13 (0.35‐3.65), P = .845). Lower body mass index (P = .002) and non‐plantar wounds (P = .009) were the only patient‐ or wound‐related factors associated with complete healing at 6 months. Spray‐on skin resulted in high rates of complete healing at 6 months in patients with large diabetes‐related foot wounds, but was not significantly better than standard care (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000511235).