The distribution and ecosystem risk of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Luan River, China, has been investigated. summation operatorPAHs levels ranged from 37.3 to 234 ng L(-1) in water, from 20.9 to 287 ng g(-1) in sediment and from 36.9 to 378 ng g(-1) in bank soil, respectively. A method based on toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) and risk quotient (RQ) which can be used to assess the ecosystem risk of summation operatorPAHs sensitively and accurately was invented and a new ecosystem risk classification of summation operatorPAHs was suggested. The results indicated that the PAHs in aquatic environment of the Luan River resulted in low ecosystem risk and at S9 the ecosystem risk of PAHs in water was moderate. Low and moderate molecular PAHs presented much more ecosystem risk than high molecular PAHs in the Luan River basin and the mean ecosystem risk in water was higher than that in sediment and bank soil.

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Distribution and characteristics of heavy metals enrichment in sediment were surveyed including the bio-available form analyzed for assessment of the Luan River source water quality. The approaches of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), risk assessment code and Hakanson potential ecological risk index were used for the ecological risk assessment. According to SQG, The results show that in animal bodies, Hg at the sampling site of Wuliehexia was 1.39 mg/kg, Cr at Sandaohezi was 152.37 mg/kg and Cu at Hanjiaying was 178.61 mg/kg exceeding the severe effect screening level. There were 90% of sampling sites of Cr and Pb and 50% sites of Cu exceeded the lowest effect screening level. At Boluonuo and Wuliehexia, the exchangeable and carbonate fractions for above 50% of sites were at high risk levels and that for above 30% of sites at Xiahenan and Wulieheshang were also at high risk levels. Other sites were at medium risk level. Compared to soil background values of China, Hg and Cd showed very strong ecological risk, and the seven heavy metals of Hg, Cd, Cu, As, Pb, Cr, Zn at ecological risk levels were in the descending order. The results could give insight into risk assessment of environmental pollution and decision-making for water source security.

The central nervous system plays an important role in regulating sympathetic outflow and arterial pressure in response to ethanol exposure. However, the underlying neural mechanisms have not been fully understood. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that injection of ethanol in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) increases sympathetic outflow, which may require the activation of local ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptors. In anesthetized rats, CeA injection of ethanol (0, 0.17, and 1.7 μmol) increased splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA), lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a dose-dependent manner. A cocktail containing ethanol (1.7 μmol) and kynurenate (KYN), an ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptor blocker, showed significantly blunted sympathoexcitatory and pressor responses compared with those elicited by CeA-injected ethanol alone (P < 0.01). A cocktail containing ethanol and d-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, elicited attenuated sympathoexcitatory and pressor responses that were significantly less than ethanol alone (P < 0.01). In addition, CeA injection of acetate (0.20 μmol, n = 7), an ethanol metabolite, consistently elicited sympathoexcitatory and pressor responses, which were effectively blocked by d-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (n = 9, P < 0.05). Inhibition of neuronal activity of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) with KYN significantly (P < 0.01) attenuated sympathoexcitatory responses elicited by CeA-injected ethanol. Double labeling of immune fluorescence showed NMDA NR1 receptor expression in CeA neurons projecting to the RVLM. We conclude that ethanol and acetate increase sympathetic outflow and arterial pressure, which may involve the activation of NMDA receptors in CeA neurons projecting to the RVLM.

Microneedles (MNs) have attracted widespread scientific and industrial interest in the past decade as an efficient, painless, low-cost, and relatively safe transdermal drug delivery device. However, their drawbacks such as insufficient dose accuracy and limited penetration depth may limit the clinical applications. Here, a light-controlled liquid band-aid based on MNs is developed for antibacterial applications. Metal-organic framework-derived peroxidase-like nanozyme loaded in MNs can not only convert light energy into heat to enhance drug permeation but also decompose hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals for antibacteria. The heat generated by the nanozyme can facilitate MNs to melt and form a liquid band-aid, which is beneficial to insulate the wound from the surrounding bacterial environment. These studies in a Staphylococcus aureus-infected mice model also prove that this laser-triggered liquid band-aid can efficiently reduce skin inflammation and promote wound healing. Together, these results demonstrate that the rational design of MNs can enhance antibacterial and wound healing efficiency.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) root, generally called Danshen, is an important herb in Chinese medicine widely used for treatment of various diseases. Phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza, as important effective compounds, have become a new research focus in plant secondary metabolism in recent years. This review summarizes the recent advances in the regulation of water-soluble phenolic acid biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza via regulators at molecular level, such as the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase gene (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase gene (4CL), tyrosine aminotransferase gene (TAT), 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase gene (HPPR), 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvated dioxygenase gene (HPPD), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:hydroxyphenyllactate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase-like gene (RAS-like), and v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog 4 gene (MYB4), and production of anthocyanin pigmentation 1 gene (AtPAP1), and via regulators at cell level, such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, polyamines, metal ions, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ultraviolet-B radiation, and yeast elicitor.

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Phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used in the manufacturing of plastics, and the demand for PAEs has grown rapidly, especially in China. This trend will lead to much more environmental PAE contamination. PAEs are listed as priority substances in the European Union and are therefore subject to ecological risk assessments. This paper reviews the literature concerning the pollution status of PAEs and their ecological risk to aquatic environments. Risk quotients (RQs) based on the predicted no effect concentration and PAE concentrations in aquatic environments demonstrated significant (10 ≤ RQ < 100) or expected (RQ ≥ 100) potential adverse effects for algae, Daphnia, and fish in aquatic environments near PAE-based industrial and urban areas. Thus, the ecological risk of PAEs in Chinese aquatic environments should be considered, especially in areas where commercial plastics are produced.