Streptomycin is a common contaminant in a variety of industrial and agricultural wastewaters. The available information on the potential toxicity of streptomycin of fresh algae implicated in the treatment of biological wastewater is extremely limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of streptomycin on physiological indices and photosynthesis-related gene transcription. The results of short-term batch bioassays indicated that streptomycin was more sensitive to cyanobacteria than to green algae. The EC50 of streptomycin in Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella vulgaris were 0.28 and 20.08 mg L(-1) , respectively. These selected streptomycin concentrations inhibited algal cell growth and decreased chlorophyll or phycocyanobilin content. Streptomycin also destroyed the overall membrane system, which was speculated from malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage increasing after streptomycin exposure. Two algae were induced to increase their antioxidant enzyme activities to withstand streptomycin. However, the balance between oxidant substance and antioxidant enzyme was broken, because reactive oxygen species (ROS) content simultaneously increased. Streptomycin inhibited photosynthesis-related gene transcription in C. vulgaris and M. aeruginosa. Transcript levels of psaB, psbA, and rbcL in C. vulgaris decreased to only 14.5%, 32.2%, and 9.3% of the control, respectively. Similarly, the transcript levels of psaB, psbD, and rbcL in M. aeruginosa decreased markedly in the present of streptomycin. The transcription of these genes was 12.4%, 26.1%, and 28.4% of the control after 0.1 mg L(-1) streptomycin exposure, respectively. Our results demonstrate that streptomycin is toxic to fresh algae, affects photosynthesis-related gene transcription, and blocks electron transport and ROS overproduction.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Non-optimum weather conditions and air pollution have the potential to increase the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD), but the associations are rarely evaluated, especially in developing countries. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To investigate the independent influence and interaction effects of meteorological factors and air pollutants on the onset of AD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Daily data on outpatient visits of AD were obtained from Shanghai Dermatology Hospital and comprised 34,633 patients during the period from January 2013 to December 2018. Meteorological conditions and air pollutant concentrations in Shanghai, China, during the 6-year period were collected. We applied the overdispersed generalized additive model and the distributed lag model to explore the short-term cumulative effects of environmental factors on AD. <b><i>Results:</i></b> AD symptoms were aggravated by extreme low temperature (1st percentile, 0.5°C) (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16–1.51) and per 10 unit decrease of humidity (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.12–2.47). The increased concentration of air pollutants except ozone (O₃) contributed to the increased risk of AD outpatients. A 10 μg/m³ increase in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) were associated with 6.03% (95% CI: 2.29%, 9.91%), and 1.96% (95% CI: 0.46%, 3.48%) increase of AD outpatients. AD patients in the 8- to 17-year-old group were most susceptible to extreme low temperature, and patients in the 0- to 7-year-old group were most susceptible to air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM₁₀), SO₂, and NO₂. Men were more sensitive to the effects of extreme low temperature than women, while women were more vulnerable to air pollutants. The adverse effects of SO₂ and NO₂ on AD can be enhanced significantly by the warm season or other pollutants. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Exposure to a lower temperature, lower humidity, and higher levels of air pollutants is significantly associated with increased risks of AD incidence. These impacts were more pronounced in children less than 7 years old, women, and warm seasons.

Objectives: Enlarged perivascular spaces in the basal ganglia (BG-EPVS) share common vascular risk factors with atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the relationship between steno-occlusive middle cerebral artery (MCA) and BG-EPVS. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that severe MCA stenosis or occlusion is associated with increased MRI-visible BG-EPVS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 112 patients with a steno-occlusive MCA from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. We rated BG-EPVS, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and lacunes as markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on magnetic resonance image (MRI). The severity of steno-occlusive MCA was assessed by computed tomography angiography (CTA) and was classified into moderate (50-69%), severe (70-99%), and occlusion (100%). We evaluated the association of steno-occlusive MCA for >10 BG-EPVS using logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, MR-visible WMH, and lacunes. We also compared the number of BG-EPVS between the affected side and unaffected side in patients with only unilateral steno-occlusive MCA. Results: In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.03-1.13, p = 0.003), hypertension (OR = 2.77, 95%CI: 1.02-7.51, p = 0.046), severe MCA stenosis (OR = 3.65, 95%CI: 1.12-11.87, p = 0.032), or occlusion (OR = 3.67, 95%CI: 1.20-11.27, p = 0.023) were significantly associated with >10 BG-EPVS. The number of BG-EPVS in the affected side was higher than the unaffected side in patients with severe MCA stenosis (12 [9−14] vs. 8 [6−11], p = 0.001) or occlusion (11 [7−14] vs. 8 [5−11], p = 0.028). Conclusions: BG-EPVS were more prevalent in patients with severe MCA atherosclerosis. Our findings suggest a biological link between severe steno-occlusive MCA and increased BG-EPVS. These results need confirmation in prospective studies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the value of magnetic resonance combined with dual-source spectral computed tomography in improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment efficiency of lumbar disk herniation. METHODS:Two hundred patients with lumbar disk herniation were enrolled. Magnetic resonance and dual-source spectral computed tomography were used to perform the diagnosis. The treatment efficiency and effectiveness of different diagnostic methods were determined.Results: Eighty cases of lumbar disk herniation, 40 cases of prolapse, 33 cases of bulge, 27 cases of sequestration, and 20 cases of nodules were diagnosed based on pathologic evaluation. magnetic resonance detected lumbar disk herniation in 172 cases, with a detection rate of 86.00%. Dual-source spectral computed tomography detected 171 cases, with a detection rate of 85.50%. Magnetic resonance combined with dual-source spectral computed tomography detected 195 cases, with a detection rate of 97.50%. There was no significant difference between magnetic resonance and dual-source spectral computed tomography (p>0.05), but compared with the combined detection, there was a significant difference (p<0.05). One hundred and two cases of calcification, 83 cases of spinal cord deformity, 70 cases of intervertebral disk degeneration, 121 cases of intervertebral disk gas, 85 cases of dural sac compression, and 78 cases of nerve root compression were surgically demonstrated. The detection rate of diagnostic signs based on imaging by magnetic resonance or dual-source spectral computed tomography alone was lower than that of combined detection (p<0.05). Conclusion:Magnetic resonance combined with dual-source spectral computed tomography can improve the diagnosis and treatment efficiency and effectiveness of lumbar disk herniation.