Promotion effects of DEHP on hepatocellular carcinoma models: up-regulation of PD-L1 by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as an endocrine disruptor, is often used as a plasticizer in various polyvinyl chloride plastic products and medical consumables. Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term large intake of DEHP may be a risk factor for liver dysfunction. Long-term exposure to DEHP is associated with liver disease and aggravates the progression of chronic liver injury. However, the effects of DEHP on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rarely studied. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of DEHP on HCC induced by carbon tetrachloride combined with diethylnitrosamine, and further study its molecular mechanism. It was found that DEHP exposure significantly promotes tumor immune escape and activates signaling pathways involved in related protein expression of tumor immune escape, including PD-L1, JAK2, and STAT3. In addition, the trends observed in the HepG2 cells assay are consistent with vivo conditions. In summary, DEHP may play a tumor-promoting role in HCC mice and IFN-γ stimulated HepG2 cells, which may be related to the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Study of the Effect of Organoclay on the Structure of Cable PVC Compound

The effect of the organoclay content in polyvinyl chloride plasticate on the features of the supramolecular structure and properties of the layered silicate nanocomposite was studied. X-ray diffraction studies showed that with an increase in the number of layered silicate nanofiller, the nanocomposite structure goes from intercalated to exfoliate. Using a combination of scanning and atomic force electron microscopy methods, it has been shown that when organomodified montmorillonite is introduced into polyvinyl chloride plastic compound, montmorillonite nanoparticles act as crystallization nuclei and along with the preservation of “old” supramolecular structures in the melt, “new” supramolecular formations appear. When studying the dependence of tensile strength of nanocomposite polyvinyl chloride on the content of nanofiller, it was found that the maximum strength of the nanocomposite is achieved at a 5-7 % organoclay concentration.

Purple Urine Bag Syndrome: Uncommon Clinical Entity Associated with Common Infection, Case Report

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is a rare medical syndrome where purple discoloration of urine occurs predominantly in chronically constipated bedridden elderly women, chronically catheterized and associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). The etiology is related to UTIs with specific bacteria that produce sulphatase and phosphatase enzymes which lead tryptophan metabolism to produce two pigments: Indigo (blue) and indirubin (red), mixtures of which become purple in color. Several risk factors are associated with PUBS; including female gender, increased dietary tryptophan, alkaline urine, constipation, catheterization, high urinary bacterial load, renal failure and use of polyvinyl chloride plastic catheters. Herein, I present this rare benign interesting condition on a 78 years old lady with purple discoloration of her urine bag due to urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli that was successfully treated by culture guided antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin). The purple urine disappeared after antibiotic therapy and change of the urine catheter and bag.

Quantified Marine Oil Emissions with a Video-Monitored, Oil Seep-Tent

A video-monitored oil capture tent was developed and deployed during two field trips to quantify oil emissions from several sites in nearshore waters off Summerland Beach in Santa Barbara County, California, at a water depth of ∼5 m. The tent was a tall, inverted polyvinyl chloride plastic cone, which funneled oil into a video-observed sample collection jar. Sample jars were periodically retrieved and analyzed to determine oil and gas emissions at two seeps not associated with physical structures, and a suspected abandoned oil well, designated S-3. Oil and gas emissions at the seeps were ∼1 ml day−1 and ∼90 L day−1, respectively. At the S-3 site, emissions were 51 ml oil day−1 and 0.35 L gas day−1. The size distribution of bubbles at S-3 was sharply peaked at 1500-μm radius, and bubbles rose significantly slower than equivalent size non-oily bubbles, demonstrating the effect of oil on buoyancy loss. A method was developed to estimate from the measured rise velocities the oil-to-gas ratio of each bubble, calibrated with the sample analysis oil and gas fluxes. Autocorrelation showed strong peaks at 64.3 s and 120.0 s period, which were likely related. Other autocorrelation peaks at multiples of 8.2 s corresponded to Fourier spectrum peaks at 8 s and 23.4 s, and were proposed to relate to wave swell-induced surge. Other spectral peaks were observed at 4.9 s, 13.0 s, and 45-50 s period.

The Enterococcal Surface Protein, Esp, Is Involved in Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT The enterococcal surface protein, Esp, is a high-molecular-weight surface protein of unknown function whose frequency is significantly increased among infection-derived Enterococcus faecalisisolates. In this work, a global structural similarity was found between Bap, a biofilm-associated protein of Staphylococcus aureus, and Esp. Analysis of the relationship between the presence of the Esp-encoding gene (esp) and the biofilm formation capacity in E. faecalis demonstrated that the presence of the esp gene is highly associated (P < 0.0001) with the capacity of E. faecalis to form a biofilm on a polystyrene surface, since 93.5% of the E. faecalis esp-positive isolates were capable of forming a biofilm. Moreover, none of the E. faecalis esp-deficient isolates were biofilm producers. Depending on theE. faecalis isolate, insertional mutagenesis ofesp caused either a complete loss of the biofilm formation phenotype or no apparent phenotypic defect. Complementation studies revealed that Esp expression in an E. faecalis esp-deficient strain promoted primary attachment and biofilm formation on polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride plastic from urine collection bags. Together, these results demonstrate that (i) biofilm formation capacity is widespread among clinical E. faecalis isolates, (ii) the biofilm formation capacity is restricted to the E. faecalis strains harboringesp, and (iii) Esp promotes primary attachment and biofilm formation of E. faecalis on abiotic surfaces.