Antibiotic contamination in water and soil has been widely investigated. However, there is still no effective removal method for antibiotics from water or soil environments. Therefore, the single and ...competitive sorption dynamics of ionizable tetracycline (TC), sulfamethazine (SMZ), norfloxacin (NOR), erythromycin (ERY), and chloramphenicol (CAP) adsorbed by NaOH-activated and hematite-modified biochars were investigated. NaOH-activated biochar (NAB) showed much better antibiotic sorption than the hematite-modified biochar (HMB). The affinity coefficient of NAB for TC, NOR, and ERY were at least 100 times higher than that of the HMB. The sorption rate of the five target antibiotics was faster in the single-solute systems than in the ternary-solute systems. Sorption capacity was inhibited in the competitive system for all five antibiotics adsorbed by either the NaOH-activated or hematite-modified biochars. Antibiotic sorption by the biochars was governed by electrostatic interactions, π-π electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions, and hydrogen bonding. All five antibiotics showed similar adsorption trends in pH treatments of both biochars. However, the sorption capacity slightly increased from pH 7 to pH 9 in HMB compared with those in NAB, as the metal ions from the hematite modification provided cation bridging combinations to negatively charged antibiotics at a high pH value. These observations are useful for producing NaOH-activated biochar as an engineered sorbent to reduce the bioavailability of antibiotics in water and soil. The results are important for the application of biochars to use as soil amendments in the remediation of antibiotic co-pollution in agricultural water or soils.
Inflammatory bowel diseases have been a risk factor of colorectal cancer (CRC). The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by inflammatory cells create oxidative stress and contribute to neoplastic ...transformation, proliferation, and even metastasis. Previously, resveratrol (RS) and pterostilbene (PS) had been reported to prevent chemical-induced colon carcinogenesis by anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties. In this study, we investigated whether RS and PS could prevent the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis via antioxidant action and to explore possible molecular mechanisms. Male BALB/c mice were injected with AOM (5 mg/kg of body weight) with or without RS or PS, and at the end of the protocol, all of the mice were euthanized and colons were analyzed. Administrations of PS can be more effective than RS in reducing AOM-induced formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), lymphoid nodules (LNs), and tumors. We also find that PS is functioning more effectively than RS to reduce nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of protein kinase C-β2 (PKC-β2) and decreasing downstream target gene expression, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and aldose reductase (AR) in mouse colon stimulated by AOM. Moreover, administration of RS and PS for 6 weeks significantly enhanced expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione reductase (GR), via activation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. When the above findings are taken together, they suggest that both stilbenes block cellular inflammation and oxidative stress through induction of HO-1 and GR, thereby preventing AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis. In comparison, PS was a more potent chemopreventive agent than RS for the prevention of colon cancer. This is also the first study to demonstrate that PS is a Nrf2 inducer and AR inhibitor in the AOM-treated colon carcinogenesis model.
Large quantities of antibiotics are being added to agricultural fields worldwide through the application of wastewater, manures and biosolids, resulting in antibiotic contamination and elevated ...environmental risks in terrestrial environments. Most studies on the environmental fate of antibiotics focus on aquatic environments or wastewater treatment plants. Little is known about the behavior of antibiotics at environmentally relevant concentrations in agricultural soil. In this study we evaluated the adsorption and degradation of five different antibiotics (tetracycline, sulfamethazine, norfloxacin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol) in sterilized and non-sterilized agricultural soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Adsorption was highest for tetracycline (Kd, 1093L/kg), while that for sulfamethazine was negligible (Kd, 1.365L/kg). All five antibiotics were susceptible to microbial degradation under aerobic conditions, with half-lives ranging from 2.9 to 43.3 d in non-sterilized soil and 40.8 to 86.6 d in sterilized soil. Degradation occurred at a higher rate under aerobic conditions but was relatively persistent under anaerobic conditions. For all the antibiotics, a higher initial concentration was found to slow down degradation and prolong persistence in soil. The degradation behavior of the antibiotics varied in relation to their physicochemical properties as well as the microbial activities and aeration of the recipient soil. The poor adsorption and relative persistence of sulfamethazine under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions suggest that it may pose a higher risk to groundwater quality. An equation was proposed to predict the fate of antibiotics in soil under different field conditions, and assess their risks to the environment.
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•The persistence of antibiotics in soil was calculated•Sterilized and non-sterilized soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were examined•Higher concentration slowed down degradation and prolonged persistence in soil•Degradation was related to their properties, microbial activities and soil aeration•An equation was proposed to predict the fate of antibiotics in different soils
Antibiotics are added to agricultural fields worldwide through wastewater irrigation or manure application, resulting in antibiotic contamination and elevated environmental risks to terrestrial ...environments and humans. Most studies focused on antibiotic detection in different matrices or were conducted in a hydroponic environment. Little is known about the transfer of antibiotics from antibiotic-contaminated irrigation wastewater and animal manure to agricultural soil and edible crops. In this study, we evaluated the transfer of five different antibiotics (tetracycline, sulfamethazine, norfloxacin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol) to different crops under two levels of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater irrigation and animal manure fertilization. The final distribution of tetracycline (TC), norfloxacin (NOR) and chloramphenicol (CAP) in the crop tissues under these four treatments were as follows: fruit > leaf/shoot > root, while an opposite order was found for sulfamethazine (SMZ) and erythromycin (ERY): root > leaf/shoot > fruit. The growth of crops could accelerate the dissipation of antibiotics by absorption from contaminated soil. A higher accumulation of antibiotics was observed in crop tissues under the wastewater treatment than under manure treatment, which was due to the continual irrigation that increased adsorption in soil and uptake by crops. The translocation of antibiotics in crops mainly depended on their physicochemical properties (e.g. log Kow), crop species, and the concentrations of antibiotics applied to the soil. The levels of antibiotics ingested through the consumption of edible crops under the different treatments were much lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels.
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•The transfer of antibiotics from wastewater or manure to soil and crops was evaluated.•TC, NOR and CAP preferred to accumulate in the leaves/shoots or fruit of crops.•Antibiotic-contaminated wastewater poses higher risks than manure application.•The higher the antibiotic concentrations, the higher the risk posed to crops and humans.•Antibiotics ingested under different treatments were much lower than the ADI levels.
The results of this study contrast the effects of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater and animal manure on edible crops, and facilitate a better understanding of the transfer of antibiotics from wastewater irrigation and manure application to the soil-plant system, as well as the potential ecological and human risks of exposure to antibiotic contamination.
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in men in Western countries. Epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of fruits and vegetables to a reduced risk of prostate ...cancer, and small fruits are particularly rich sources of many active phytochemical stilbenes, such as pterostilbene. As a constituent of small fruits such as grapes, berries, and their products, pterostilbene is under intense investigation as a cancer chemopreventive agent. Using the p53 wild type LNCaP and p53 null PC3 cells, we found that treatment with pterostilbene resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation, which suggested that the interaction of pterostilbene with the p53 might not fully explain its inhibitory effect on proliferation. In this study, we found that pterostilbene activated AMPK in both p53 positive and negative human prostate cancer cells. Pterostilbene-activated AMPK decreased the activity and/or expression of lipogenic enzymes, such as fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Interestingly, the resolution between apoptosis and growth arrest following AMPK activation is greatly influenced by p53 status. In p53 positive LNCaP cells, pterostilbene blocked the progression of cell cycle at G1 phase by inducing p53 expression and further up-regulating p21 expression. However, pterostilbene induced apoptosis in p53 negative PC3 cells. Our results suggest that pterostilbene may be a functional chemopreventive agent and that dietary exposure to pterostilbene would be helpful for antiprostate cancer activity.
Large quantities of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) are being used worldwide in agricultural fields through wastewater irrigation and manure application. They cause damages to the ecosystem when ...discharged into the environment, but there is a lack of information on their toxicity to plants and animals. This study evaluated the phytotoxic effects of five major VAs, namely tetracycline (TC), sulfamethazine (SMZ), norfloxacin (NOR), erythromycin (ERY) and chloramphenicol (CAP), on seed germination and root elongation in lettuce, tomato, carrot and cucumber, and investigated the relationship between their physicochemical properties and phytotoxicities. Results show that these compounds significantly inhibited root elongation (p<0.05), the most sensitive endpoint for the phytotoxicity test. TC was associated with the highest level of toxicity, followed by NOR, ERY, SMZ and CAP. Regarding crop species, lettuce was found to be sensitive to most of the VAs. The median effect concentration (EC50) of TC, SMZ, NOR, ERY and CAP to lettuce was 14.4, 157, 49.4, 68.8 and 204mg/L, respectively. A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model has been established based on the measured data. It is evident that hydrophobicity was the most important factor governing the phytotoxicity of these compounds to seeds, which could be explained by the polar narcosis mechanism. Lettuce is considered a good biomarker for VAs in the environment. According to the derived equation, phytotoxicities of selected VA compounds on different crops can be calculated, which could be applicable to other VAs. Environmental risks of VAs were summarized based on the phytotoxicity results and other persistent factors.
•Root elongation was a sensitive endpoint in the phytotoxicity test for VAs.•Among the VAs tested, TC was the most toxic compound to the crops.•Hydrophobicity was a crucial factor affecting the phytotoxic effects of VAs.•Lettuce was the most sensitive species and suggested for use as an indicator crop.
Neurological disorders occur in the central and peripheral nervous system and include Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Activation of the innate immune system inevitably occurs in ...all forms of neurological disorders. The NOD‐, LRR‐ and pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multimolecular complex that can sense danger signals associated with neurological disorders. Assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome promotes caspase‐1‐mediated interleukin‐1β and interleukin‐18 maturation in microglia, where neuroinflammation contributes to neurological disease development and progression. Thus, this review attempts to elucidate the current knowledge regarding NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Recent scientific findings with respect to neuroprotective effects of dietary phytochemicals against NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated neurological disorders summarized in this review suggest that modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome assembly by plant‐derived phytochemicals could be a potential strategy for prevention or treatment of neurological disorders.
The NOD‐, LRR‐ and pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome can sense danger signals associated with neurological diseases. Assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome promotes interleukin‐1β and interleukin‐18 maturation in microglia. This review summarizes and highlights the current knowledge of neuroprotective effects of phytochemicals on treatment or prevention of neurological disorders through regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
The objectives of this study were to synthesize aluminum hydroxide modified palygorskite nano-composites (Al-PG) and to investigate their suitability as adsorbents to remove phosphate from aqueous ...solution. The nano-composites were characterized by XRD, XRF and TEM. The characterization results showed that aluminum hydroxide gel was successfully loaded onto palygorskites (PGs) with diameters of nanometers, and the crystal composition of PG had not been changed after modification. The effects of modified mass ratios, pH, co-existing anions, and initial phosphate concentrations on phosphate removal were investigated by batch experiments. The Freundlich model provided a better description for the adsorption process than the Langmuir model. The maximum phosphate adsorption capacity was 16.86 mg g
−1
for Al-PG, while it was 4.08 mg g
−1
for natural PG. Of the adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic studies considered, the adsorption of phosphate by Al-PG was chemisorption, endothermic and spontaneous. Kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption of phosphate onto Al-PG can be fitted by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model very well. Thus, the cost-effective and high adsorption capacity of Al-PG has wide potential use in phosphate removal from aqueous solutions.
Aluminum hydroxide was successfully loading on PG. The cost-effective and high adsorption capacity of Al-PG had widely potential utilization on phosphate removal.
α‐Dicarbonyls and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are the heat‐induced potential toxicants commonly found in thermally processed foods due to the Maillard reaction. Research has shown that ...both α‐dicarbonyls and AGEs can cause oxidative stress and inflammation and have a positive link with several chronic diseases, such as diabetes. This study found that commonly consumed berry fruits exhibited excellent methylglyoxal (MGO)‐trapping and antiglycative activities, positively associated with their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Blackcurrant exhibited the strongest MGO‐trapping and antiglycative activities among the tested berry fruits. In addition, we demonstrated that fortification with blackcurrant significantly reduced α‐dicarbonyls and AGEs formation in the chocolate cookies and marinated ground pork. Delphinidin and cyanidin glycosides were identified as the primary bioactive compounds of blackcurrant that trapped MGO to form the corresponding mono‐ and di‐MGO adducts. This study suggested that blackcurrant anthocyanins might serve as a novel additive to reduce the consumption of dietary reactive carbonyl species and AGEs from both animal‐ and plant‐derived processed foods.
Practical Application
The levels of α‐dicarbonyls and advanced glycation end products in ground pork and cookies were significantly reduced when fortified with blackcurrant. The blackcurrant anthocyanins might be a novel agent inhibiting α‐dicarbonyls and dietary advanced glycation end products formation in thermally processed foods.
Imaging tasks today are being increasingly shifted toward deep learning-based solutions. Biomedical imaging problems are no exception toward this tendency. It is appealing to consider deep learning ...as an alternative to such a complex imaging task. Although research of deep learning-based solutions continues to thrive, challenges still remain that limits the availability of these solutions in clinical practice. Diffuse optical tomography is a particularly challenging field since the problem is both ill-posed and ill-conditioned. To get a reconstructed image, various regularization-based models and procedures have been developed in the last three decades. In this study, a sensor-to-image based neural network for diffuse optical imaging has been developed as an alternative to the existing Tikhonov regularization (TR) method. It also provides a different structure compared to previous neural network approaches. We focus on realizing a complete image reconstruction function approximation (from sensor to image) by combining multiple deep learning architectures known in imaging fields that gives more capability to learn than the fully connected neural networks (FCNN) and/or convolutional neural networks (CNN) architectures. We use the idea of transformation from sensor- to image-domain similarly with AUTOMAP, and use the concept of an encoder, which is to learn a compressed representation of the inputs. Further, a U-net with skip connections to extract features and obtain the contrast image, is proposed and implemented. We designed a branching-like structure of the network that fully supports the ring-scanning measurement system, which means it can deal with various types of experimental data. The output images are obtained by multiplying the contrast images with the background coefficients. Our network is capable of producing attainable performance in both simulation and experiment cases, and is proven to be reliable to reconstruct non-synthesized data. Its apparent superior performance was compared with the results of the TR method and FCNN models. The proposed and implemented model is feasible to localize the inclusions with various conditions. The strategy created in this paper can be a promising alternative solution for clinical breast tumor imaging applications.
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