Mineral metabolism in the aging and the aged.

With the development of accurate and precise techniques for quantifying sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, a vast literature has been generated indicating that deficits and excesses of these cations in the body create many clinical challenges for the physician. Iron has received its share of attention as the most abundant trace metal in the body, primarily being utilized in the formation of hemoglobin. Zinc is the next most abundant trace element in the body, and evaluation of its role in the biochemistry and pathophysiology of disease is now stimulating a great deal of interest. Deficiencies of the other trace metals also are receiving increasing attention as attempts to evaluate their importance in human nutrition are being made. Studies were not considered reliable until technological advances made it possible, by atomic absorption spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, and other techniques, to quantify these trace elements accurately and precisely.     

Hazards after the storm: Floodwater drainage pump stations and exposure to hydrogen sulfide

A hurricane can present unique hazards that exist long after the strong winds and heavy rains have subsided. These hazards may not only be physical, but chemical as well. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) represents an important and potentially overlooked hazard that can be naturally produced in floodwaters following a hurricane. In August of 2012, in the wake of Hurricane Isaac, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana was submerged under a blanket of floodwater. To remove floodwaters that had breached the levee system designed to keep water out, temporary drainage pump stations were installed at strategic locations. The transfer of floodwaters at these drainage stations resulted in the generation of elevated concentrations of airborne H₂S at the pumping stations. The generation of H₂S at these pumping stations represented a potential inhalation hazard for workers; thus, awareness for possible H₂S exposure at these installments is crucial.     

NO,CO and H2S: What about gasotransmitters in fish and amphibian heart?

The gasotransmitters nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), long considered only toxicant, are produced in vivo during the catabolism of common biological molecules and are crucial for a large variety of physiological processes. Mounting evidence is emerging that in poikilotherm vertebrates, as in mammals, they modulate the basal performance of the heart and the response to stress challenges. In this review, we will focus on teleost fish and amphibians to highlight the evolutionary importance in vertebrates of the cardiac control elicited by NO, CO and H₂S, and the conservation of the intracellular cascades they activate. Although many gaps are still present due to discontinuous information, we will use examples obtained by studies from our and other laboratories to illustrate the complexity of the mechanisms that, by involving gasotransmitters, allow beat‐to‐beat, short‐, medium‐ and long‐term cardiac homoeostasis. By presenting the latest data, we will also provide a framework in which the peculiar morpho‐functional arrangement of the teleost and amphibian heart can be considered as a reference tool to decipher cardiac regulatory networks which are difficult to explore using more conventional vertebrates, such as mammals.     

Malodorous volatile organic sulfur compounds: Sources,sinks and significance in inland waters

Volatile Organic Sulfur Compounds (VOSCs) are instrumental in global S-cycling and greenhouse gas production. VOSCs occur across a diversity of inland waters, and with widespread eutrophication and climate change, are increasingly linked with malodours in organic-rich waterbodies and drinking-water supplies. Compared with marine systems, the role of VOSCs in biogeochemical processes is far less well characterized for inland waters, and often involves different physicochemical and biological processes. This review provides an updated synthesis of VOSCs in inland waters, focusing on compounds known to cause malodours. We examine the major limnological and biochemical processes involved in the formation and degradation of alkylthiols, dialkylsulfides, dialkylpolysulfides, and other organosulfur compounds under different oxygen, salinity and mixing regimes, and key phototropic and heterotrophic microbial producers and degraders (bacteria, cyanobacteria, and algae) in these environs. The data show VOSC levels which vary significantly, sometimes far exceeding human odor thresholds, generated by a diversity of biota, biochemical pathways, enzymes and precursors. We also draw attention to major issues in sampling and analytical artifacts which bias and preclude comparisons among studies, and highlight significant knowledge gaps that need addressing with careful, appropriate methods to provide a more robust understanding of the potential effects of continued global development.     

Role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in glutathione catabolism

Introduction:  Our previous studies demonstrated that three enzymes, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), cysteinylglycinase (CGase) and cystalysin, are required for the catabolism of glutathione to produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in Treponema denticola . In this study, we examined glutathione catabolism in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans .
Methods:  The GGT and CGase of A. actinomycetemcomitans were determined by biological methods and GGT was characterized using a molecular biological approach.
Results:  A. actinomycetemcomitans showed GGT and CGase activity, but could not produce H₂S from glutathione. The addition of recombinant T. denticola cystalysin, an l -cysteine desulfhydrase, to whole cells of A. actinomycetemcomitans resulted in the production of H₂S from glutathione. Subsequently, we cloned A. actinomycetemcomitans GGT gene ( ggt ) and overexpressed the 63 kDa GGT protein. The recombinant A. actinomycetemcomitans GGT was purified and identified. The K _cat/ K _m of the recombinant GGT from N -γ- l -glutamyl-4-nitroaniline as substrate was 31/μ m /min. The activity of GGT was optimum at pH 6.9–7.1 and enhanced by thiol-containing compounds.
Conclusion:  The results demonstrated that A. actinomycetemcomitans had GGT and CGase activities and that the GGT was characterized. The possible role of A. actinomycetemcomitans in glutathione metabolism and H₂S production from oral bacteria was discussed.     

Synthesis and Stability of Hydrogen Storage Material Aluminum Hydride

Aluminum hydride (AlH₃) is a binary metal hydride with a mass hydrogen density of more than 10% and bulk hydrogen density of 148 kgH2/m3. Pure aluminum hydride can easily release hydrogen when heated. Due to the high hydrogen density and low decomposition temperature, aluminum hydride has become one of the most promising hydrogen storage media for wide applications, including fuel cell, reducing agents, and rocket fuel additive. Compared with aluminum powder, AlH₃ has a higher energy density, which can significantly reduce the ignition temperature and produce H₂ fuel in the combustion process, thus reducing the relative mass of combustion products. In this paper, the research progress about the structure, synthesis, and stability of aluminum hydride in recent decades is reviewed. We also put forward the challenges for application of AlH₃ and outlook the possible opportunity for AlH₃ in the future.     

The human Nox4: gene,structure, physiological function and pathological significance

Increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. NADPH oxidase (Nox), a multicomponent enzyme, has been identified as one of the key sources of ROS. Nox4, one of the seven members of Nox family (Nox1, Nox2, Nox3, Nox4, Nox5, Duox1 and Duox2), has been extensively investigated in recent years. Its unique structures result in the constitutive generation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the main product. As a key oxygen sensor, Nox4-derived H₂O₂ plays diverse roles in cell proliferation, migration and death. Increased expression of Nox4 in cancer has been observed, which participates in metastasis, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Expression of Nox4 in endothelial cells actively mediated endothelial activation, dysfunction and injury, which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and among others. This article explores the experimental studies related to the gene, structure, physiological function and pathological significance of Nox4. As Nox4 might serve as a potential target for the therapy of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, the Nox4 inhibitor is also discussed in this article.     

Evaluation of hydrogen peroxide-assisted endoscopic ultrasonography-guided necrosectomy in walled-off pancreatic necrosis: A single-center experience

Hydrogen peroxide is a liquid that functions in mechanical removal of the necrotic tissue via the elimination of tissue debris.In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of hydrogen peroxide in necrosectomy treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis.Records of 24 patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis or walled-off pancreatic necrosis and underwent endoscopic necrosectomy (EN) were retrospectively assessed. Patients were divided into 2 groups; hydrogen peroxide used for treatment or not used, and these 2 groups were compared.A total of 24 patients underwent endoscopic intervention for walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Procedural success was comparable between the 2 groups. During the post-procedural follow-up, the duration of the hospital stay, recurrence, and complication rates were found to be similar in both groups. The mean number of the endoscopic interventions was significantly lower in the hydrogen peroxide group (4.2 ± 1.4 vs 6.1 ± 4.2; P = .01).The use of hydrogen peroxide for EN in walled-off pancreatic necrosis patients seems to have similar efficiency and safety. However, it can be said that the use of hydrogen peroxide could reduce the number of endoscopic procedures.     

硫化氢保护被ATP损伤的PC12细胞

目的:观察硫化氢的供体硫氢化钠(Na HS)对三磷酸腺苷(ATP)诱导的PC12细胞活力、胞内Ca2+浓度([Ca2+]i)及膜通透性的变化,探讨硫化氢神经保护作用的嘌呤信号机制。方法:将对数生长期高分化的PC12细胞,随机分为4组,分别为(1)正常对照组:常规培养,不进行ATP处理;(2)ATP组:接种细胞24 h后ATP处理;(3)Na HS+ATP组:Na HS预先孵育30 min后再用ATP处理,并且Na HS始终存在于反应体系中;(4)KN-62(P2X7受体阻断剂)+ATP组:KN-62预先孵育30 min,其余同Na HS+ATP组。MTT检测各组细胞活力,Fura-2/AM荧光染料检测各组[Ca2+]i,检测荧光染料YO-PRO-1的相对荧光单位以反映膜的通透性。结果:(1)0.3mmol/L ATP对细胞活力无影响,但1、3、5、10 mmol/L ATP则呈浓度依赖式明显降低细胞活力,200μmol/L Na HS干预可明显逆转ATP引起的细胞活力下降(P0.05),而800μmol/L Na HS预处理则加剧ATP对PC12细胞的损伤(P0.05)。(2)ATP处理PC12细胞会引起[Ca2+]i迅速升高并且呈浓度依赖性,Na HS预处理能对抗ATP引起的[Ca2+]i升高(P0.05)。(3)随着ATP浓度的增加及作用时间的延长,PC12细胞内YO-PRO-1的荧光强度显著增加,Na HS预处理可明显减少细胞对YO-PRO-1的摄取(P0.05)。结论:硫化氢可保护ATP损伤的PC12细胞,可能与其抑制[Ca2+]i升高和YO-PRO-1荧光增强有关。     

The Unusual Mechanical Evolution of Biodegradable Double Hydrogen Bonding Strengthened Hydrogels in Response to pH Change

Conventionally, biodegradable hydrogels end up with quick disintegration and consequently fail to bear external loading after degradation. Here, a biocleavable high‐strength hydrogel prepared by copolymerization of 2‐vinyl‐4,6‐diamino‐1,3,5‐triazine (alkali active H‐bonding monomer), 3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid (acid active H‐bonding monomer), oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, and crosslinker N,N′‐bis(acryloyl)cystamine is reported. The hydrogel is shown to be degraded after the disulfide bonds in the chemical crosslinkers are broken down in a reducible medium. Remarkably, the degraded hydrogel evolves into supramolecular network, which is strengthened by diaminotriazine–diaminotriazine and phenylboronic acid–phenylboronic acid dual H‐bonded physical crosslinks despite the loss of chemical crosslinking. It is demonstrated that over a broad pH range, the degraded hydrogels are able to retain macroscopic integrity and withstand high external loading due to the existence of at least one kind of hydrogen bonding crosslinking. This biodegradable double hydrogen bonding strengthened hydrogel may push forward the research on a new type of high‐strength hydrogels.