Association of Maternal Iodine Intake with Congenital Hypothyroidism

The iodine intake in a pregnant woman has been closely correlated with development of transient congenital hypothyroidism which leads to decline in neurocognitive abilities of the child later in life as the effects are very subtle at birth. Both low and excess ingestion of iodine has been found to contribute to this cause, although iodine deficiency is more commonly observed in women of underdeveloped nations. It poses risks not only to the foetus but also to the mother leading to obstetric complications such as still birth and spontaneous abortions. It can be prevented using WHO recommended daily iodine supplementation in deficient regions or decreasing the excess load in groups exposed to high iodine. Programmes designed to screen the new-born at birth can also help in improving the quality of life of the child. The deficient iodine condition is managed by administration of levothyroxine in dosage range of 10-15 mcg/kg/day. Generally, the prognosis of infants starting treatment early in life have a better neurocognitive outcome as compared to the treated infants late age at a later age. Avoidance of agents causing iodine exposure has resulted in decrease in the abnormal thyroid function levels.

In Pursuance of Differentiation Inducers to Combat Cancer via Targeting of Abnormal Methylation Enzymes

Cell differentiation agent-2 (CDA-2) was a promising hypomethylating agent approved by the Chinese FDA for the therapy of MDS in China. The active components of CDA-2 are differentiation inducers (DIs) and differentiation helper inducers (DHIs). DIs are chemicals capable of eliminating telomerase from abnormal MEs commonly found in human cancers. The major DI of CDA-2 is an organic acid without UV absorption. Without UV absorption as a guide, it was difficult to purify the DI of CDA-2 for identification. Thus, we pursued possible candidates to function as DIs in this study. Cancer MEs become abnormal due to association with telomerase. Naturally we sought telomerase inhibitors as possible candidates of DIs. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) attracted our attention because it was implicated to involve in wound healing, which is a major biological mission of progenitor stem cells (PSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Eradication of CSCs has been a major focus of our studies. Besides, PGE2 fits the description of the major DI of CDA-2. Induction of terminal differentiation (TD) of HL-60 cells by NBT assay was employed to evaluate the activity of chemicals as DIs. Cell growth was based on cell numbers. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) are two well known DIs. ATRA displayed a wide active dosage range from 0.2 to 4.5 µM with a maximum of inducing 89% NBT+ cells at 3 µM. TPA displayed a narrow active dosage range from 0.2 to 0.6 nM with a maximum of inducing 84% NBT+ cells at 0.4 nM. BIBR1532 and bodine were the two telomerase inhibitors studied. Both were found active as DIs. BIBR1532 was active in the dosage range from 30 to 75 µM with a maximum of inducing 86% at 63 µM. Bodine was active in the dosage range from 60 to 98 µM with a maximum of inducing 80% at 98 µM. PGE2 was active in the dosage range from 20 to 70 µM with a maximum of inducing 80% at 56 µM. DIs at dosages not active as DIs could function as effective DHIs to other DIs. RI0.5 of BIBR1532, boldine and PGE2 as DHIs were 2.02 µM, 3.11 µM, and 0.92 µM, respectively. DIs alone, no matter how effective, could not induce NBT+ cells to reach 100%. 95% (89% plus 6% of blank) was the highest value achieved by ATRA. Incomplete induction of TD was the reason for frequent recurrence when ATRA was used alone in the therapy of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). A combination of ATRA and a DHI could induce NBT+ cells to reach 100% to avoid recurrence.

Evaluation of allergenic properties and immunotoxicity of Homeovox

Homeovox, a multicomponent homeopathic treatment for laryngitis of various etiologies, was tested for allergenic properties and immunotoxicity.Methods. 80 male albino guinea pigs and 180 male СВА, C57BL/6 and F1 hybrid (CBAхС57BL/6) mice were used in the study. In order to assess immunotoxicity, Homeovox was administrated orally to mice for 14 days at doses of 100 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg. To assess the allergenic properties of Homeovox, albino guinea pigs were also given the drug at doses of 100 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg according to the standard immunization schedules.Results. Oral administration of Homeovox to mice for 14 days at doses of 100 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg did not cause significant changes in the main characteristics of immune response compared to controls. When assessing allergenicity, Homeovox at doses 100 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg administered according to the standard immunization schedules did not induce systemic anaphylaxis or active skin anaphylaxis in albino guinea pigs. The immunization of guinea pigs by Homeovox at the same doses in a mixture with Freund's complete adjuvant caused no delayed allergic reactions. Homeovox at a single oral dose of 1 000 mg/kg significantly decreased concanavalin A-induced inflammation in CBA mice by 58.4 %.Conclusion. Within the dosage range investigated, Homeovox does not induce immunotoxicity, immediate- or delayed-type allergic or pseudoallergic reactions.

Stimulatory Effects of Boscalid on Virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Indicate Hormesis May Be Masked by Inhibitions

Hormetic effects of fungicides on phytopathogens are of great importance for proper application of fungicides. The aim of the present study was to investigate the stimulatory effects of the fungicide boscalid on mycelial growth and virulence of the devastating plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Boscalid in potato dextrose agar (PDA) at a dosage range from 0.0005 to 0.002 μg/ml exerted statistically significant (P ≤ 0.015) stimulations on mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum, and the maximum stimulation magnitudes were 5.55 ± 0.73% (mean ± SD) for the four isolates tested. Boscalid in PDA at 0.02 μg/ml inhibited mycelial growth of isolates HLJ3H and HLJ4H by 15.0 and 8.9%, respectively. However, after the growth-inhibited mycelia were inoculated on rapeseed leaves, isolates HLJ3H and HLJ4H exhibited virulence stimulations of 8.7 and 17.8%, respectively, indicating that hormesis may be masked by inhibitions. Boscalid sprayed at 0.0001 to 0.1 μg/ml on detached rapeseed leaves had significant (P ≤ 0.041) stimulations on virulence of S. sclerotiorum, and the maximum stimulation magnitudes were 17.90 ± 5.94% (mean ± SD) for the four isolates tested. Experiments on 12 isolates with different levels of virulence showed there was a negative correlation (R = –0.663, P = 0.019) between the maximum virulence stimulation magnitude and virulence of S. sclerotiorum in the absence of fungicide. Boscalid at stimulatory concentrations had no significant effect on the expression levels of three virulence-associated genes that encode cutinase (SsCut), polygalacturonase (SsPG1), and oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase (SsOah1). The molecular mechanisms for hormetic effects of boscalid on S. sclerotiorum remain to be studied in the future.

Flexural Toughness of Basalt Fibre-Reinforced Shotcrete and Industrial-Scale Testing

This study focuses on toughness enhancement of basalt fibre-reinforced shotcrete (BFRS). Four-point bending experiments of underground shooting and curing beams combined with a roadway-supporting deformation monitoring test were conducted. The flexural performance was analysed based on the toughness standards, namely, DBV-1998, JSCE SF-4, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pore testing. The results demonstrate that, given a basalt fibre (BF) dosage of 0–7.5 kg/m3, 18 mm BF can significantly increase the residual stress under the same deformation, rather than the peak values of the flexural strength. Meanwhile, the trend in the flexural toughness increases to a peak at a dosage of 3–4.5 kg/m3, followed by a declining curve. The pores from an NMR test can be divided into three types based on size: (1) closed pores, R < 0.01 μm, (2) capillary pores, 0.01 μm < R < 5 μm, and (3) connected pores, R > 5 μm. The connected pores are detrimental, playing a crucial role in the shotcrete performance. Furthermore, the deformations of the roadway walls are significantly restrained by the BFRS, and the 80-day convergences are approximately 2 mm, which is only 25% of the control. Finally, the comprehensive results indicate that a dosage range of 3–4.5 kg/m3 can demonstrate reasonable beneficial effects for the BFRS performance.

Improve the biodegradability of post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater with ozone: conversion of phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds

Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising technology to convert wet biomass into bio-oil. However, post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (PHWW) is also produced during the process. This wastewater contains a high concentration of organic compounds, including phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds which are two main inhibitors for biological treatment. Thus, proper treatment is required. In this work, ozone was used to convert phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds with a dosage range of 0–4.64 mg O3/mL PHWW. After ozone treatment, the phenols were fully converted, and acids were produced. However, N-heterocyclic compounds were found to have a low conversion rate (21.7%). The kinetic analysis for the degradation of phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds showed that the substitute played an important role in determining the priority of ozone reactions. The OH moiety in the ring compounds (phenols and pyridinol) may form hydroxyl radical, which lead to an efficient reaction. A substantial improved biodegradability of PHWW was observed after ozone treatment. The ratio of BOD5/COD was increased by about 32.36%, and reached a maximum of 0.41. The improved biodegradability of PHWW was justified by the conversion of phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds.

Review: Effects of Ractopamine Hydrochloride (Paylean) on welfare indicators for market weight pigs1

This review summarizes the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) dose (5, 7.5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) on market weight pig welfare indicators. Ractopamine hydrochloride (trade name Paylean) is a β-adrenergic agonist that was initially approved in the U.S. in 1999 at doses of 5 to 20 mg/kg to improve feed efficiency and carcass leanness. However, anecdotal reports suggested that RAC increased the rate of non-ambulatory (fatigued and injured) pigs at U.S. packing plants. This led to the addition of a caution statement to the Paylean label, and a series of research studies investigating the effects of RAC on pig welfare. Early research indicated that: (1) regardless of RAC administration, fatigued (non-ambulatory, non-injured) pigs are in a state of metabolic acidosis; (2) aggressive handling increases stress responsiveness at 20 mg/kg RAC, while 5 mg/kg reduces stress responsiveness to aggressive handling. Given this information, dosage range for Paylean was changed in 2006 to 5 to 10 mg/kg in market weight pigs. Subsequent research on RAC demonstrated that: (1) RAC has minimal effects on mortality, lameness, and home pen behavior; (2) RAC fed pigs demonstrated inconsistent prevalence and intensity of aggressive behaviors; (3) RAC fed pigs may be more difficult to handle at doses above 5 mg/kg; and (4) RAC fed pigs may have increased stress responsiveness and higher rates of non-ambulatory pigs when subjected to aggressive handling, especially when 20 mg/kg of RAC is fed.

Study on Curing Agent of Chemical Modification on Dredged Soil

Large amount of dredged silt has been produced in the construction of water conservancy projects and oceanographic projects in China every year. Solidification and modification of dredging silt, to transfer it to good geotechnical materials, will be significant benefits on the sustainable development of the society. The curing effect of dredging soil isnt good if selecting cement as the single main curing agent. In this paper, the industrial steel slag and waste slag were chosen as the main curing agent and matching with cement and alkali activator, such as water glass, gypsum and sulfate. The help curing agent dosage range has been determined by single doped tests. Then the best ratio of GKCS curing agent has been determined through orthogonal tests. The research shows that the unconfined compressive strength can be achieved 5905kPa after using GKCS curing agent modified dredged soil.