Rapid industrialization in China during the last three decades has resulted in widespread contamination of Cd in agricultural soils. A considerable proportion of the rice grain grown in some areas of ...southern China has Cd concentrations exceeding the Chinese food limit, raising widespread concern regarding food safety. In this review, we summarize rice grain Cd concentrations in national Chinese markets and in field surveys from contaminated areas, and analyze the potential health risk associated with increased dietary Cd intake. For subsistence rice farmers living in some contaminated areas of southern China who mainly consume locally-produced Cd-contaminated rice, their estimated dietary Cd intake is now comparable to that for the population in the region of Japan where the Itai-Itai disease was first reported. Interventions must be taken urgently to reduce Cd intake for these farmers. We also analyze i) the main reasons causing elevated grain Cd concentrations in southern China, ii) the dominant biogeochemical processes controlling the solubility of Cd in paddy soils, and iii) molecular mechanisms for the uptake and translocation of Cd in rice plants. Based on these analyses, we propose a number of countermeasures to address soil Cd contamination, including i) mitigation of Cd transfer from paddy soils to rice grain, and ii) intervention in those farmers who consume home-grown Cd-contaminated rice. Liming to increase soil pH to 6.5 and gene editing biotechnology are effective strategies to decrease Cd accumulation in rice grain. For these local farmers with high-Cd exposure risk, local governments should monitor the Cd concentration in their home-grown rice and exchange those high-Cd rice with low-Cd rice in order to reduce their dietary Cd intake.
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•We review the status of Cd contamination in soils and rice grain in China.•We summarize the biogeochemical processes and molecular tools to produce Cd-safe rice.•We propose a number of countermeasures to tackle soil Cd contamination.•Interventions are required for the local farmers consuming Cd-contaminated rice.
This review analyzes the current status of Cd contamination in agricultural soils and rice grain in China and proposes strategies to tackle this issue, including mitigation and intervention measurements.
Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer. OXA-induced peripheral neurotoxcity (OIPN) is a comprehensive adverse reaction of OXA. OIPN can be divided ...into acute and chronic types according to clinical features and different mechanisms. The main clinical features of acute OIPN are cold-sensitive sensory symptoms and neuropathic pain in limbs. In addition to the above symptoms, chronic OIPN also produces autonomic nerve dysfunction. The most important mechanism involved in acute OIPN is the alteration of voltage-gated Na + channels, and nuclear DNA damage in chronic OIPN. There are some methods like reducing exposure to cold, calcium and magnesium salts, amifostine could be beneficial in acute OIPN prevention and dose modification, changing in schedule glutathione, duloxetine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor in chronic OIPN prevention. Recent updates are provided in this article in relation to the clinical features, potential mechanisms, prevention and treatment of OIPN.
Flavonoids are a kind of essential substance for the human body because of their antioxidant properties and extremely high medicinal value.
"Dahongpao" (DHP) is a special citrus variety that is rich ...in flavonoids, however little is known about its systematic flavonoids profile. In the present study, the presence of flavonoids in five important citrus varieties, including DHP,
(HZY),
(YCC),
(TC), and
'Buzhihuo' (BZH), was determined using a UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based, widely targeted metabolome. Results showed that a total of 254 flavonoid metabolites (including 147 flavone, 39 flavonol, 21 flavanone, 24 anthocyanins, 8 isoflavone, and 15 polyphenol) were identified. The total flavonoid content of peels from DHP was the highest. DHP could be clearly separated from other samples through clustering analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Further, 169 different flavonoid metabolites were observed between DHP peels and the other four citrus peels, and 26 down-regulated differential metabolites displayed important biological activities in DHP. At the same time, a unique flavonoid component, tricin 4'-
-syringyl alcohol, was only found in DHP, which could be used as a marker to distinguish between other varieties. This work might facilitate a better understanding of flavonoid metabolites between DHP peels and the other four citrus peels and provide a reference for its sufficient utilization in the future.
Zinc, an essential micronutrient in the human body, is a component in over 300 enzymes and participates in regulating enzymatic activity. Zinc metalloenzymes play a crucial role in physiological ...processes including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune responses, as well as apoptosis. Aberrant enzyme activity can lead to various human diseases. In this review, we summarize zinc homeostasis, the roles of zinc in zinc metalloenzymes, the physiological processes of zinc metalloenzymes, and aberrant zinc metalloenzymes in human diseases. In addition, potential mechanisms of action are also discussed. This comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of action of the regulatory functions of zinc in enzyme activity could inform novel zinc-micronutrient-supply strategies for the treatment of diseases.
Rapid industrialization in China in recent decades has resulted in soil contamination in some areas, raising the concern about food safety. Consumption of rice represents a major exposure route for ...the toxic elements cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). We collected 160 polished rice from local markets in 20 provinces in China and determined total Cd and As concentrations and As speciation. Total Cd concentration ranged from below the detection limit to 0.77 mg kg−1, with 10% of the samples exceeding the Chinese limit (0.2 mg kg−1). Rice Cd concentration showed a distinct geographical pattern, increasing from low levels in the north to high levels in the south of China. Median daily Cd intake from rice varied from 0.01 μg kg−1 body weight in the north to 0.61 μg kg−1 body weight in the south of China, representing between 1% and 73% of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) recommended by FAO/WHO. The highest median Cd intake from rice was in Hunan province with 2 times TDI. Total As concentration ranged from 0.011 to 0.186 mg kg−1, with inorganic As (iAs) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAs) on average accounting for 69% and 31%, respectively. All samples were below the Chinese limit for iAs in rice (0.2 mg kg−1). There was no clear geographical pattern in rice total As concentration, but rice produced in northeastern China contained higher percentages of DMAs and lower percentages of iAs. This study highlights a high risk of Cd exposure from rice consumption for the population of southern China and suggested strategies for reducing Cd accumulation in rice crop.
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•160 polished rice samples were collected from local markets in 20 provinces in China.•Rice Cd concentration showed an increasing trend from north to south of China.•Dietary Cd intake from rice was high in the population in southern China.•Rice total As showed no clear geographical pattern, but rice methylated As% was higher in northeast China.
High Cd concentrations are found in rice samples from southern China, posing a high risk of Cd exposure from rice consumption for population in the region.
Soil contamination in some areas of southern China has resulted in elevated dietary intake of cadmium (Cd), posing a potential risk to human health. A survey of paired soil-rice (n = 200) and ...soil-vegetable (n = 142) samples was conducted in Xiangtan county of Hunan province, southern China. The concentrations of Cd in all the samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Dietary intakes of Cd from the consumption of locally produced rice and vegetables were estimated for different age groups. Among the 342 crop samples collected in the survey, 88% and 29% of rice grain and vegetable samples, respectively, exceeded the Chinese maximum permissible limit for Cd (0.2 mg dry weight kg−1, 0.2 mg fresh weight kg−1 and 0.1 mg fresh weight kg−1 for rice, leafy vegetables and for rootstalk and legume vegetables, respectively). The median dietary Cd intake varied from 66.5 to 116 μg Cd kg−1 body weight (BW) month−1, with children (4–11 years) exhibiting the highest intake. These values are 2.7–4.6 times the tolerable dietary intake of 25 μg kg−1 BW month−1 recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. For the general population in Xiangtan county, rice contributed the majority (81%) of the Cd intake with vegetables contributing only 19%. The median hazard quotient calculated from dietary Cd intake was 2.4 times the permissible level, indicating a high risk to the local residents. This study highlights an urgent need to reduce the transfer of Cd from soil to the food chain in the investigated region.
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•A paired soil-crop survey was conducted in a county in southern China.•82% of the soil samples exceeded the Chinese soil Cd threshold.•88% and 29% of rice and vegetable samples exceeded the Chinese limits for Cd.•Median Cd intake from rice and vegetables was 2.7–4.6 times the FAO/WHO guideline.
Apelin and Elabela (Ela) are peptides encoded by APLN and APELA, respectively, which act on their receptor APJ and play crucial roles in the body. Recent research has shown that they not only have ...important effects on the endocrine system, but also promote vascular development and maintain the homeostasis of myocardial cells. From a molecular biology perspective, we explored the roles of Ela and apelin in the cardiovascular system and summarized the mechanisms of apelin-APJ signaling in the progression of myocardial infarction, ischemia-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, preeclampsia, and congenital heart disease. Evidences indicated that apelin and Ela play important roles in cardiovascular diseases, and there are many studies focused on developing apelin, Ela, and their analogues for clinical treatments. However, the literature on the therapeutic potential of apelin, Ela and their analogues and other APJ agonists in the cardiovascular system is still limited. This review summarized the regulatory pathways of apelin/ELA-APJ axis in cardiovascular function and cardiovascular-related diseases, and the therapeutic effects of their analogues in cardiovascular diseases were also included.
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•Comprehensively discuss the role of APJ ligand apelin and Elabela in cardiovascular disease.•Elabela and apelin activate receptor APJ, and can influence functions of the cardiovascular system.•Clinical application of apelin and Elabela as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
The development of electroactive organic materials for use in aqueous redox flow battery (RFB) electrolytes is highly attractive because of their structural flexibility, low cost and sustainability. ...Here, we report on a highly reversible anthraquinone-based anolyte (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone, 1,8-DHAQ) for alkaline aqueous RFB applications. Electrochemical measurements reveal the substituent position of hydroxyl groups for DHAQ isomers has a significant impact on the redox potential, electrochemical reversibility and water-solubility. 1,8-DHAQ shows the highest redox reversibility and rapidest mass diffusion among five isomeric DHAQs. The alkaline aqueous RFB using 1,8-DHAQ as the anolyte and potassium ferrocyanide as the catholyte yields open-circuit voltage approaching 1.1 V and current efficiency and capacity retention exceeding 99.3% and 99.88% per cycle, respectively. This aqueous RFB produces a maximum power density of 152 mW cm−2 at 100% SOC and 45 °C. Choline hydroxide was used as a hydrotropic agent to enhance the water-solubility of 1,8-DHAQ. 1,8-DHAQ has a maximum solubility of 3 M in 1 M KOH with 4 M choline hydroxide.
•Highly redox-reversible 1,8-DHAQ was used as the anolyte in alkaline aqueous RFBs.•This aqueous RFB exhibits high energy efficiency and excellent cycling stability.•The solubility of 1,8-DHAQ can be improved dramatically by adding choline hydroxide.•The use of choline hydroxide leads to an increase in viscosity and drop in capacity.
Contamination of cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil is a serious environmental problem threatening food safety in some parts of southern China, where rice grain Cd concentration often exceeds the Chinese ...limit (0.2 mg kg−1). We tested the effect of CaCO3 liming combined with growing low Cd cultivars on Cd accumulation in rice grain in 2-year field trials. A liming model was used to predict the doses of lime required. Lime (2.25–7.5 t ha−1) was applied in 2016 only and the effect monitored in both 2016 and 2017. Soil pH was increased from the initial 5.5 to the target value 6.5 by 7.5 t ha−1 CaCO3. Liming greatly reduced CaCl2-extractable Cd in the rhizospheric soil. Grain Cd concentration in the control exceeded the limit by 2–5 times. Liming at 7.5 t ha−1 decreased grain Cd concentration by 70–80% in both seasons without affecting grain yield. Grain Cd concentration was below the limit in the 7.5 t ha−1 liming treatment in both seasons. Grain Cd concentration correlated closely with CaCl2-extractable Cd in rhizospheric soil at the grain maturing stage. Seasonal difference in grain Cd concentration was attributed to the soil water status at the grain maturing stage. Liming had no significant effect on grain arsenic concentration or speciation. A single application of CaCO3 to raise soil pH to 6.5, combined with low Cd cultivars and delayed drainage of paddy water during late grain filling stage, was highly effective at reducing Cd accumulation in rice grain.
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•High phytoavailability of Cd in a moderately contaminated paddy soil.•Rice Cd concentration in the control exceeded the Chinese limit by 2–5 times.•Liming with 7.5 t ha−1 CaCO3 decreased grain Cd concentration by 70–80%.•Liming combined low Cd cultivars and delayed drainage was highly effective.
Chemotherapy exhibits numerous side effects in anti-tumour therapy. The clinical experiments indicated that deuterium-depleted water (DDW) monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy was ...beneficial in inhibiting cancer development. To further understand the potential mechanism of DDW in cancer therapy, we performed a systematic review. The data from experiments published over the past 15 years were included. PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science (January 2008 to November 2023) were systemically searched. Fifteen studies qualified for review, including fourteen in vivo and in vitro trials and one interventional trial. The results showed that DDW alone or in combination with chemotherapy effectively inhibited cancer progression in most experiments. The combination treatment enhances the therapeutic effect on cancer compared with chemotherapeutic monotherapy. The inhibitory role of DDW in tumours is through regulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes in Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap 1) and Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling pathways, further controlling ROS production. An abnormal amount of ROS can inhibit the tumour progression. More extensive randomized controlled trials should be conducted to evaluate the accurate effect of DDW in Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathways.
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