Nanostructured ZnO/BiVO_(4)I-scheme heterojunctions for piezocatalytic degradation of organic dyes via harvesting ultrasonic vibration energy

BiVO_(4)porous spheres modified by ZnO were designed and synthesized using a facile two-step method.The resulting ZnO/BiVO_(4)composite catalysts have shown remarkable efficiency as piezoelectric catalysts for degrading Rhodamine B(RhB)unde mechanical vibrations,they exhibit superior activity compared to pure ZnO.The 40wt%ZnO/BiVO_(4)heterojunction composite displayed the highest activity,along with good stability and recyclability.The enhanced piezoelectric catalytic activity can be attributed to the form ation of an I-scheme heterojunction structure,which can effectively inhibit the electron-hole recombination.Furthermore,hole(h+)and superoxide radical(·O_(2)^(-))are proved to be the primary active species.Therefore,ZnO/BiVO_(4)stands as an efficient and stable piezoelectric catalyst with broad potential application in the field of environmental water pollution treatment.

Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)films with simultaneous high oxygen barrier and fast degradation properties

Although poly(lactic acid)(PLA)is a good environmentally-friendly bio-degradable polymer which is used to substitute traditional petrochemical-based polymer packaging films,the barrier properties of PLA films are still insufficient for high-barrier packaging applications.In this study,oxygen scavenger hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene(HTPB)and cobalt salt catalyst were incorporated into the PLA/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PLA/PBAT),followed by melting extrusion and three-layer co-extrusion blown film process to prepare the composite films.The oxygen permeability coefficient of the composite film combined with 6 wt%oxygen scavenger and 0.4 wt%catalyst was decreased significantly from 377.00 cc·mil·m^(-2)·day^(-1)·0.1 MPa^(-1) to 0.98 cc·mil·m^(-2)·day^(-1)·0.1 MPa^(-1),showing a remarkable enhancement of 384.69 times compared with the PLA/PBAT composite film.Meanwhile,the degradation behavior of the composite film was also accelerated,exhibiting a mass loss of nearly 60%of the original mass after seven days of degradation in an alkaline environment,whereas PLA/PBAT composite film only showed a mass loss of 32%.This work has successfully prepared PLA/PBAT composite films with simultaneously improved oxygen barrier property and degradation behavior,which has great potential for high-demanding green chemistry packaging industries,including food,agricultural,and military packaging.

Dynamic Regulation of Hydrogen Bonding Networks and Solvation Structures for Synergistic Solar‑Thermal Desalination of Seawater and Catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Although solar steam generation strategy is efficient in desalinating seawater,it is still challenging to achieve continuous solar-thermal desalination of seawater and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.Herein,dynamic regulations of hydrogen bonding networks and solvation structures are realized by designing an asymmetric bilayer membrane consisting of a bacterial cellulose/carbon nanotube/Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)nanorod top layer and a bacterial cellulose/Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)nanorod(BCH)bottom layer.Crucially,the hydrogen bonding networks inside the membrane can be tuned by the rich surface–OH groups of the bacterial cellulose and Co_(2)(OH)_(2)CO_(3)as well as the ions and radicals in situ generated during the catalysis process.Moreover,both SO_(4)^(2−)and HSO_(5)−can regulate the solvation structure of Na^(+)and be adsorbed more preferentially on the evaporation surface than Cl^(−),thus hindering the de-solvation of the solvated Na^(+)and subsequent nucleation/growth of NaCl.Furthermore,the heat generated by the solar-thermal energy conversion can accelerate the reaction kinetics and enhance the catalytic degradation efficiency.This work provides a flow-bed water purification system with an asymmetric solar-thermal and catalytic membrane for synergistic solar thermal desalination of seawater/brine and catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Coagulation indices and fibrinogen degradation products as predictive biomarkers for tumor-node-metastasis staging and metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a prevalent malignancy with a substantial health burden and high mortality rate,despite advances in prevention,early detection,and treatment.Compared with the global average,Asia,notably China,reports disproportionately high GC incidences.The disease often progresses asymptoma-tically in the early stages,leading to delayed diagnosis and compromised out-comes.Thus,it is crucial to identify early diagnostic biomarkers and enhance treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality.METHODS Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 148 patients with GC treated at the Civil Aviation Shanghai Hospital between December 2022 and December 2023.The associations of coagulation indices-partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT),thrombin time(TT),fibrinogen,fibrinogen degradation products(FDP),fasting blood glucose,and D-dimer(D-D)with TNM stage and distant metastasis were examined.RESULTS Prolongation of APTT,PT,and TT was significantly correlated with the GC TNM stage.Hence,abnormal coagulation system activation was closely related to disease progression.Elevated FDP and D-D were significantly associated with distant metastasis in GC(P<0.05),suggesting that increased fibrinolytic activity contributes to increased metastatic risk.CONCLUSION Our Results reveal coagulation indices,FDPs as GC biomarkers,reflecting abnormal coagulation/fibrinolysis,aiding disease progression,metastasis prediction,and helping clinicians assess thrombotic risk for early intervention and personalized treatment plans.

Ginkgolide K protects cardiomyocytes against ER stress through stimulating ER-associated degradation （ERAD） and autophagy

Aim Endoplasmic reticulum （ER） stress is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of many diseases, and therapeutic interventions that target ER stress response emerge as new thera- peutic modalities to treat cardiovascular diseases driven by prolonged ER stress. Ginkgolides K （GK） is a diterpene lactone constituent isolated from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba and has been found to possess potent neuroprotective properties. This study is aimed to investigate the cytoprotective effect of GK in cultured cardiomyocytes subjected to ER stress injury. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes （NRCMs） were treated with ER stress inducer tunicamycin to mimic the ER stress injury. We demonstrated that GK pre-treatment mitigated ER stress-induced apoptosis in tunicamycin treated NRCMs. We observed that the activation of ER-associated degradation （ERAD） and autophagy were in- volved in the ER stress inhibition exerted by GK. These beneficial effects of GK were nearly abolished by the addi- tion of specific short interfering RNA （siRNA） for IRElα and XBP-1. Therefore, we conclude that GK might be a promising therapeutic agent for ER stress-mediated cardiovascular diseases, and ER-associated degradation （ERAD） and autophagy play a vital role in GK mediated cytoprotection.

Inhibition of protein degradation increases the Bt protein concentration in Bt cotton

Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s organs.Therefore,increasing the Bt protein concentration at the boll stage,especially in bolls,has become the main goal for increasing insect resistance in cotton.In this study,two protein degradation inhibitors(ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA)and leupeptin)were sprayed on the bolls,subtending leaves,and whole cotton plants at the peak flowering stage of two Bt cultivars(medium maturation Sikang 1(SK1))and early maturation Zhongmian 425(ZM425)in 2019 and 2020.The Bt protein content and protein degradation metabolism were assessed.The results showed that the Bt protein concentrations were enhanced by 21.3 to 38.8%and 25.0 to 38.6%in the treated bolls of SK1 and ZM425 respectively,while they were decreased in the subtending leaves of these treated bolls.In the treated leaves,the Bt protein concentrations increased by 7.6 to 23.5%and 11.2 to 14.9%in SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The combined application of EDTA and leupeptin to the whole cotton plant increased the Bt protein concentrations in both bolls and subtending leaves.The Bt protein concentrations in bolls were higher,increasing by 22.5 to 31.0%and 19.6 to 32.5%for SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The organs treated with EDTA or/and leupeptin showed reduced free amino acid contents,protease and peptidase activities and significant enhancements in soluble protein contents.These results indicated that inhibiting protein degradation could improve the protein content,thus increasing the Bt protein concentrations in the bolls or/and leaves of cotton plants.Therefore,the increase in the Bt protein concentration without yield reduction suggested that these two protein degradation inhibitors may be applicable for improving insect resistance in cotton production.

Minocycline in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Difficulty in obtaining tetracycline,increased adverse reactions,and relatively complicated medication methods have limited the clinical application of the classic bismuth quadruple therapy.Therefore,the search for new alternative drugs has become one of the research hotspots.In recent years,minocycline,as a semisynthetic tetracycline,has demonstrated good potential for eradicating Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection,but the systematic evaluation of its role remains lacking.AIM To explore the efficacy,safety,and compliance of minocycline in eradicating H.pylori infection.METHODS We comprehensively retrieved the electronic databases of PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,SinoMed,and Wanfang database as of October 30,2023,and finally included 22 research reports on H.pylori eradication with minocycline-containing regimens as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The eradication rates of H.pylori were calculated using a fixed or a random effect model,and the heterogeneity and publication bias of the studies were measured.RESULTS The single-arm meta-analysis revealed that the minocycline-containing regimens achieved good overall H.pylori eradication rates,reaching 82.3%[95%confidence interval(CI):79.7%-85.1%]in the intention-to-treat analysis and 90.0%(95%CI:87.7%-92.4%)in the per-protocol analysis.The overall safety and compliance of the minocycline-containing regimens were good,demonstrating an overall incidence of adverse reactions of 36.5%(95%CI:31.5%-42.2%).Further by traditional meta-analysis,the results showed that the minocycline-containing regimens were not statistically different from other commonly used eradication regimens in eradication rate and incidence of adverse effects.Most of the adverse reactions were mild to moderate and well-tolerated,and dizziness was relatively prominent in the minocycline-containing regimens(16%).CONCLUSION The minocycline-containing regimens demonstrated good efficacy,safety,and compliance in H.pylori eradication.Minocycline has good potential to replace tetracycline for eradicating H.pylori infection.

Polio eradication surveillance in Sri Lanka,2019-2023

Objective:To evaluate the polio laboratory surveillance carried out from January,2019 to May,2023 by the Polio Regional Reference Laboratory,Sri Lanka.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed all stool samples received under the acute flaccid paralysis(AFP)and immunodeficient vaccine-derived poliovirus(VDPV)surveillance at Polio Regional Reference Laboratory,Sri Lanka from January,2019 to May,2023.The results of the testing methodologies were extracted from the laboratory data system,i.e.,poliovirus virus isolation,intra-typic differentiation/VDPV real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(ITD/VDPV rRTPCR)and sequencing,along with the data on timing of reporting results,stool adequacy and socio-demographics.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:A total of 2141 stool samples from 1644 cases were received for AFP surveillance from Sri Lanka(93.61%),Maldives(1.52%),and immunodeficient VDPV(4.86%)surveillance.Both polioviruses(19/1644,1.15%)and non-polio enteroviruses(73/1644,4.44%)were isolated,while Sabin-like 3 virus was detected in majority(12/19,63.15%)among the poliovirus isolated.Wild polioviruses or circulating VDPVs were not detected among the cases.During all years of the study,the non-polio AFP detection rate was>1/100000 in children aged less than 15 years,whereas stool adequacy rate was>80%.All results were reported within 14 days of receipt,ensuring timely reporting as per global guidelines.Conclusions:The Polio Regional Reference Laboratory,Sri Lanka plays a vital role in maintaining the polio-free status in the country through its robust laboratory surveillance,while adhering to the surveillance indicators.Non-detection of wild polioviruses and circulating VDPV during the study period reinforces the polio-free status in the country.

外泌体中miR-181a-3p通过UPR/ERAD通路轴调控肺癌对安罗替尼的耐药性

目的探讨外泌体中miR-181a-3p通过未折叠蛋白反应(UPR)/内质网相关蛋白降解(ERAD)通路轴调控肺癌对安罗替尼的耐药性。方法选取人非小细胞肺癌细胞HCC827进行培养,并使用梯度浓度的安罗替尼持续处理诱导安罗替尼耐药性HCC827细胞(HCC827/Anl细胞),对细胞进行转染,分为空白组、对照组及miR-181a-3p inhibitor组。qRT-PCR检测miR-181a-3p表达。MTT法检测HCC827/Anl细胞活性。流式细胞术检测HCC827/Anl细胞凋亡情况。Transwell法检测HCC827/Anl细胞迁移、侵袭情况。Western blot检测UPR/ERAD通路相关蛋白表达。双荧光素酶报告检测miR-181a-3p、eIF2α、HRD1关系。结果空白组与对照组细胞增殖率、侵袭、迁移细胞数比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);与空白组、对照组比较,miR-181a-3p inhibitor组细胞增殖率、侵袭、迁移细胞数明显较低(P<0.05)。对照组与miR-181a-3p inhibitor组eIF2α-MUT、HRD1-MUT无明显差异(P>0.05);但与对照组对比,miR-181a-3p inhibitor组eIF2α-WT、HRD1-WT明显降低(P<0.05)。结论肺癌耐安罗替尼细胞中miR-181a-3p表达明显上调,而miR-181a-3p可能通过外泌体包裹转运激活UPR/ERAD通路轴调控肺癌耐药细胞的增殖、侵袭及迁移,从而增强肺癌对安罗替尼的耐药性。

Achieving high-efficient photocatalytic persulfate-activated degradation of tetracycline via carbon dots modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons

The synergistic reaction of photocatalysis and advanced oxidation is a valid strategy for the degradation of harmful antibiotic wastewater.Herein,carbon dots(CDs)modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons to form CDs/MIL-101(Fe)composite photocatalyst was synthesized for visible light-driven photocatalytic/persulfate(PS)-activated tetracycline(TC)degradation.The electron spin resonance(ESR)spectra,scavenging experiment and electrochemical analysis were carried out to reveal that the high visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation activity of TC over CDs/MIL-101(Fe)photocatalysts is not only ascribed to the production of free active radicals in the CDs/MIL-101(Fe)/PS system(·OH,·SO_(4-),^(1)O_(2),h^(+)and·O_(2)^(-))but also attributed to the consumption of electrons caused by the PS,which can suppress the recombination of photo-generated carriers as well as strong light scattering and electron trapping effects of CDs.Finally,the possible degradation pathways were proposed by analyzing intermediates via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique.This research presents a rational design conception to construct a CDs/PS-based photocatalysis/advanced oxidation technology with high-efficient degradation activity for the remediation of organic antibiotic pollutant wastewater and for the improvement of carrier transport kinetics of photocatalysts.

Synergistic microcystin degradation by a novel bacterium isolated from shrimp pond and fulvic acids

Using the Widdel medium with extracted microcystin(MC)as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources,the MC-degrading bacteria community S_6 was enriched from the sediment of Litopenaeus vannamei pond,and a novel MC-degrading bacteria strain was isolated from S_6.According to 16S rDNA gene sequence and biochemical characteristics,the isolated strain was identified and named Nitratireductor aquimarinus D_(1).Fulvic acid(FA),as a widely existing photosensitizer involved in MC photodegradation,coexists with MC-degrading bacteria in natural water.The synergistic effects of N.aquimarinus D_(1) and FA on MC degradation were evaluated via comparing the degradation rate of MC induced by N.aquimarinus D_(1) and FA alone and in combination under natural light conditions.Compared with the control group,the supplementation of N.aquimarinus D_(1) and FA alone or in combination could significantly increase the degradation rate of MC(P<0.05).In the first 36 h,the degradation effect of FA on MC was better than that of N.aquimarinus D_(1),but the degradation effect was opposite at 48 h.N.aquimarinus D_(1) and FA did not show synergistic effect on MC degradation until 48 h.In the application of N.aquimarinus and FA to degrade MC in aquaculture pond,there might be a time-lag effect in the synergistic degradation.

Helicobacter pylori:High dose amoxicillin does not improve primary or secondary eradication rates in an Irish cohort

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication rates have fallen globally,likely in large part due to increasing antibiotic resistance to traditional therapy.In areas of high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance such as ours,Maastricht VI guidelines suggest high dose amoxicillin dual therapy(HDADT)can be considered,subject to evidence for local efficacy.In this study we assess efficacy of HDADT therapy for H.pylori eradication in an Irish cohort.AIM To assess the efficacy of HDADT therapy for H.pylori eradication in an Irish cohort as both first line,and subsequent therapy for patients diagnosed with H.pylori.METHODS All patients testing positive for H.pylori in a tertiary centre were treated prospectively with HDADT(amoxicillin 1 g tid and esomeprazole 40 mg bid×14 d)over a period of 8 months.Eradication was confirmed with Urea Breath Test at least 4 wk after cessation of therapy.A delta-over-baseline>4%was considered positive.Patient demographics and treatment outcomes were recorded,analysed and controlled for basic demographics and prior H.pylori treatment.RESULTS One hundred and ninety-eight patients were identified with H.pylori infection,10 patients were excluded due to penicillin allergy and 38 patients refused follow up testing.In all 139 were included in the analysis,55%(n=76)were female,mean age was 46.6 years.Overall,93(67%)of patients were treatment-naïve and 46(33%)had received at least one previous course of treatment.The groups were statistically similar.Self-reported compliance with HDADT was 97%,mild side-effects occurred in 7%.There were no serious adverse drug reactions.Overall the eradication rate for our cohort was 56%(78/139).Eradication rates were worse for those with previous treatment[43%(20/46)vs 62%(58/93),P=0.0458,odds ratio=2.15].Age and Gender had no effect on eradication status.CONCLUSION Overall eradication rates with HDADT were disappointing.Despite being a simple and possibly better tolerated regime,these results do not support its routine use in a high dual resistance country.Further investigation of other regimens to achieve the>90%eradication target is needed.

Carbon-doped CuFe_(2)O_(4) with C-O-M channels for enhanced Fenton-like degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: From construction to mechanism

Carbon-doped copper ferrite(C–CuFe_(2)O_(4))was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal method,which showed enhanced tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH)removal efficiency as compared to the pure CuFe_(2)O_(4) in Fenton-like reaction.A removal efficiency of 94%was achieved with 0.2 g L^(-1) catalyst and 20 mmol L^(-1) H_(2)O_(2) within 90 min.We demonstrated that 5%C–CuFe_(2)O_(4) catalyst in the presence of H_(2)O_(2) was significantly efficient for TCH degradation under the near-neutral pH(5–9)without buffer.Multiple techniques,including SEM,TEM,XRD,FTIR,Raman,XPS M€ossbauer and so on,were conducted to investigate the structures,morphologies and electronic properties of as-prepared samples.The introduction of carbon can effectively accelerate electron transfer by cooperating with Cu and Fe to activate H_(2)O_(2) to generate·OH and·O_(2)^(-).Particularly,theoretical calculations display that the p,p,d orbital hybridization of C,O,Cu and Fe can form C–O–Cu and C–O–Fe bonds,and the electrons on carbon can transfer to metal Cu and Fe along the C–O–Fe and C–O–Cu channels,thus forming electron-rich reactive centers around Fe and Cu.This work provides lightful reference for the modification of spinel ferrites in Fenton-like application.

Eradication Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Evaluation of Therapeutic Strategies in N’Djamena

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is the most widespread bacterial infection in the world. The infection is generally acquired in childhood, but can persist into adulthood. Eradication therapy has undergone several modifications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different therapeutic strategies used in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Reference Nationale of N’Djaména. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive analytical study spread over one year, from September 2021 to September 2022. Patients at least 15 years of age presenting with dyspeptic symptoms, seen consecutively in a hepato-gastroenterology consultation and with a positive stool test for H. pylori infection, were included in the study. Equally, 1/3 of patients were treated with dual or triple therapy. The remaining third received quadritherapy. Results: A total of 268 patients were included in the study (mean age 38.40 ± 14.66 with extremes of 16 and 80 years). Males predominated in 58% of cases. Overall therapeutic efficacy was 88.9%. According to different therapeutic strategies, efficacy was 90.75% for dual therapy with PPI (Rabeprazole) and Amoxicillin. On the other hand, efficacy was 87% and 88.88% for PPI-based triple therapy and dual antibiotic therapy, and for PPI-based quadruple therapy and triple antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: H. pylori infection is a common disease in Chad. Dual therapy with rabeprazole combined with a high dose of amoxicillin over a period of at least two weeks showed similar if not better efficacy than triple or quadruple therapy.

Evaluation of the “Helicobacter pylori” Eradication Rate by Bismuth Quadritherapy or Concomitant Quadritherapy in Black Africans

Introduction: Gastric infection by “Helicobacter pylori” remains a topical issue due to the evolving scientific data concerning its pathophysiology, the diseases and pathologies concerned, which now extend beyond the gastric or digestive sphere, and the treatment methods faced with the development of antibiotic resistance. Diagnosis of infection involves two inseparable aspects: identification of the bacterium itself and identification of the endoscopic and histological lesions caused by the bacterium. Objective: To evaluate the rate of eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection by bismuth quadruple therapy and concomitant treatment. Patients and methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, analytical study of all outpatients in the hepato-gastroenterology department during the study period from 1 January 2022 to 30 November 2023. All patients had undergone oeso-gastroduodenal fibroscopy and the diagnosis was made by histological examination of the gastric biopsy. Results: Our 113 patients comprised 68 men and 46 women. The sex ratio was 1.48 in favour of men. The mean age of our patients was 40.28 years, with extremes of 13 and 80 years. The clinical signs that prompted oeso-gastroduodenal fibroscopy were as follows: epigastralgia (69.91%), dyspepsia (14.16%), vomiting (7.08%), gastro-oesophageal reflux (6.19%) and altered general condition with weight loss (2.65%). The endoscopic lesions were: gastropathy (antral, fundic and diffuse: antro-fundial) (69.02%), bulbar ulcer (6.19%), gastric ulcer (5.31%). Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with chronic gastritis in all our patients;it was mild in 50%, moderate in 41% and severe in 9%. The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori according to the treatment protocol used was 92.30% for bismuth quadruple therapy and 94.12% for concomitant quadruple therapy. Conclusion: The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori in our study was 92.30% and 94.12% respectively for bismuth quadritherapy and concomitant therapy. Therapeutic compliance was good in 89.60% for all protocols combined, despite the occurrence of side effects in 36.22% of cases.

Success of susceptibility-guided eradication of Helicobacter pylori in a region with high secondary clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance rates

BACKGROUND Resistance to clarithromycin(CLA)and levofloxacin(LFX)of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is increasing in severity,and successful eradication is essential.Presently,the eradication success rate has greatly declined,leaving a large number of patients with previous treatment histories.AIM To investigate secondary resistance rates,explore risk factors for antibiotic resistance,and assess the efficacy of susceptibility-guided therapy.METHODS We recruited 154 subjects positive for Urea Breath Test who attended The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between July 2022 and April 2023.Participants underwent a string test after an overnight fast.The gastric juice was obtained and transferred to vials containing storage solution.Subsequently,DNA extraction and the specific DNA amplification were performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).Demographic information was also analyzed as part of the study.Based on these results,the participants were administered susceptibility-guided treatment.Efficacy was compared with that of the empiric treatment group.RESULTS A total of 132 individuals tested positive for the H.pylori ureA gene by qPCR technique.CLA resistance rate reached a high level of 82.6%(n=109),LFX resistance rate was 69.7%(n=92)and dual resistance was 62.1%(n=82).Gastric symptoms[odds ratio(OR)=2.782;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.076-7.194;P=0.035]and rural residence(OR=5.152;95%CI:1.407-18.861;P=0.013)were independent risk factors for secondary resistance to CLA and LFX,respectively.A total of 102 and 100 individuals received susceptibility-guided therapies and empiric treatment,respectively.The antibiotic susceptibility-guided treatment and empiric treatment groups achieved successful eradication rates of 75.5%(77/102)and 59.0%(59/411)by the intention-to-treat(ITT)analysis and 90.6%(77/85)and 70.2%(59/84)by the per-protocol(PP)analysis,respectively.The eradication rates of these two treatment strategies were significantly different in both ITT(P=0.001)and PP(P=0.012)analyses.CONCLUSION H.pylori presented high secondary resistance rates to CLA and LFX.For patients with previous treatment failures,treatments should be guided by antibiotic susceptibility tests or regional antibiotic resistance profile.

Microbial Degradation of Organic Contaminants in Streambed/Floodplain Sediments in Passaic River—New Jersey Area

This paper is intended to explore soil organic matter and carbon isotope fractionation at three locations of the Passaic River to determine if microbial degradation of organic contaminants in soil is correlated to the surrounding physical environment. Microbial degradation of organic contaminants is important for the detoxification of toxic substances thereby minimizing stagnation in the environment and accumulating in the food chain. Since organic contaminants are not easily dissolved in water, they will penetrate sediment and end up enriching the adjacent soil. The hypothesis that we are testing is microbial activity and carbon isotope fractionation will be greater in preserved soils than urban soils. The reason why this is expected to be the case is the expectation of higher microbial activity in preserved environments due to less exposure to pollutants, better soil structure, higher organic matter content, and more favorable conditions for microbial growth. This is contrasted with urban soils, which are impacted by pollutants and disturbances, potentially inhibiting microbial activity. We wish to collect soil samples adjacent to the Passaic River at a pristine location, Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, a suburban location, Goffle Brook Park, Hawthorne NJ, and an urban location, Paterson NJ. These soil samples will be weighed for soil organic matter (SOM) and weighed for isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to test organic carbon isotopes. High SOM and δ13C depletion activity indicate microbial growth based on the characteristics of the soil horizon rather than the location of the soil sample which results in degradation of organic compounds.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic Waste: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

Microplastics are persistent anthropogenic pollutants that have become a global concern due to their widespread distribution and unfamiliar threat to the environment and living organisms. Conventional technologies are unable to fully decompose and mineralize plastic waste. Therefore, there is a need to develop an environmentally friendly, innovative and sustainable photocatalytic process that can destroy these wastes with much less energy and chemical consumption. In photocatalysis, various nanomaterials based on wide energy band gap semiconductors such as TiO2 and ZnO are used for the conversion of plastic contaminants into environmentally friendly compounds. In this work, the removal of plastic fragments by photocatalytic reactions using newly developed photocatalytic composites and the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of microplastics are systematically investigated. In these degradation processes, sunlight or an artificial light source is used to activate the photocatalyst in the presence of oxygen.

Mechanochemical synthesis of Ag/TiO_(2)@PANI nanocomposites for enhanced toluene photocatalytic degradation under near-ultraviolet light

Photocatalytic oxidation technology is a promising green technology for degrading volatile organic compounds(VOCs)due to its non-toxic,environmentally friendly,energy-saving and affordable characteristics.In this paper,Ag/TiO_(2)@PANI-MC with high stability and activity was synthesized by the mechanochemical method.The designed Ag/TiO_(2)@PANI-MC were of high specific surface area,light absorption capacity and low recombination rate of electronehole pairs,which was demonstrated by various characterizations.When applied in photocatalytic toluene oxidation,the conversion is 17%at 20℃under 100 W high-pressure mercury lamp.This photocatalytic performance is with less temperature sensitivity and significantly improved compared with Ag/TiO_(2)or TiO_(2)catalysts.Furthermore,the reaction routine was also confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and toluene was mineralized to CO_(2).More importantly,the Ag/TiO_(2)@PANI-MC indicated good reusability after three cycles,which was verified by the Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy comparison with fresh and used catalysts.Our work proves a potential way of constructing nanocomposites based on mechanochemical synthesis for enhanced toluene photocatalytic degradation.

Biodegradation of Crystalline Chitin:A Review of Recent Advancement,Challenges,and Future Study Directions

Chitin is the second most abundant renewable polysaccharide on Earth.The degradation of chitin into soluble and bioactive N-acetyl chitooligosaccharides(NCOSs)and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine(GlcNAc)has emerged as a pivotal step in the efficient and sustainable utilization of chitin resources.However,because of its dense structure,high crystallinity,and poor solubility,chitin typically needs pretreatment via chemical,physical,and other methods before enzymatic conversion to enhance the accessibility between substrates and enzyme molecules.Consequently,there has been considerable interest in exploring the direct biological degradation of crystalline chitin as a cost-effective and environment-friendly technology.This review endeavors to present several biological methods for the direct degradation of chitin.We primarily focused on the importance of chitinase containing chitin-binding domain(CBD).Additionally,various modification strategies for increasing the degradation efficiency of crystalline chitin were introduced.Subsequently,the review systematically elucidated critical components of multi-enzyme catalytic systems,highlighting their potential for chitin degradation.Furthermore,the application of microorganisms in the degradation of crystalline chitin was also discussed.The insights in this review contribute to the explorations and investigations of enzymatic and microbial approaches for the direct degradation of crystalline chitin,thereby fostering advancements in biomass conversion.