Shortbauer2416

arker of neurodegeneration in NPC1-disease after onset of clinical symptoms.BACKGROUND Living with a progressive disease as muscular dystrophy (MD) can be challenging for the patient and the entire family from both emotional and practical point of view. We aimed to extend our previously published data about mental health in patients with MDs, also investigating coping profiles of both themselves and their parents. Furthermore, we wanted to verify whether psychological adaptation of patients can be predicted by coping strategies, taking also into account physical impairment, cognitive level and socioeconomic status. METHODS 112 patients with MDs, aged 2-32 were included. Their emotional and behavioural features were assessed through parent- and self-report Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment questionnaires and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaires. Development and Well-Being Assessment or Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule were administered to confirm suspected diagnoses. Coping profile of both parents and patients was assessed through the self-administered New Italian Version of the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced questionnaire and its relationship with emotional/behavioural outcome was examined in linear regression analyses. RESULTS High prevalence of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders was confirmed in Duchenne MD. Despite the high rate of internalizing symptomatology, we did not report higher rate of psychopathological disorders compared to general population. Parents tend to rely more on positive reinterpretation and less on disengagement coping. Avoidance coping, whether used by parents or patients, and ID, predicted increased emotional/behavioural problems. CONCLUSIONS Psychosocial interventions should address problems of anxiety and depression that people with MDs frequently experience, even through fostering parents' and childrens' engagement coping over disengagement coping.BACKGROUND The prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density (BMD) in Asian patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have not been fully suggested. AIMS We aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of low BMD in young Korean patients newly diagnosed with IBD. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 132 patients aged less than 50 years and newly diagnosed with IBD from six tertiary referral centers in Korea between November 2014 and April 2017. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and then the Z-score was determined. We defined low BMD as a Z-score ≤ - 1.0. RESULTS Of 68 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 22 (32.4%) had low BMD. Also, of 64 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 24 (37.5%) showed low BMD. Results from multivariate regression analysis identified the risk factors for low BMD as a high level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (≥ 140 U/L) (P = 0.010) in UC patients, and being underweight (body mass index ≤ 18.5 kg/m2) (P = 0.017) in CD patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that about one-third of newly diagnosed IBD Asian patients had low BMD. The clinical factors associated with low BMD were a high level of ALP in UC patients, and being underweight, in CD patients. Therefore, measurements of BMD in young patients should be considered at the diagnosis of IBD.The climate change on the impact of grain production potential has significant regional differences. Researchers have studied the grain production potential of various crop combinations or focused on single crop types in a typical area; however, the regional differences of the climate change on the impact of grain production potential were neglected. This paper used the Global Agro-Ecological Zone (GAEZ 3.0) model to focus on the analysis what is the climate change on the impact of grain production potential in different geographic units (Northern Shaanxi Plateau, Guanzhong Basin, Qinba Mountain) in Shaanxi Province of China. The case showed that the precipitation (Pre) what made changes of grain production potential was the most important factor in different geographic units. The increase of Pre had a positive impact on the grain production potential in Northern Shaanxi Plateau and Guanzhong Basin. However, in Qinba Mountain, due to excessive Pre in the Qinba Mountains, the decrease of Pre had a certain positive impact on the grain production potential. The precipitation was less in the Northern Shaanxi Plateau; therefore, its major factors leading to changes of crop production were precipitation and rainfall days. The increase of the mean maximum temperature (Tmx) and the mean minimum temperature (Tmn) had a positive impact of the grain production potential in the Northern Shaanxi Plateau and Guanzhong Basin. The higher temperature had a negative impact on the grain production potential. In Qinba Mountain, the increase of the temperature has a certain negative impact on the grain production potential. It has more influence of Tmx in the Guanzhong Basin and Qinba Mountain rather than that in the Northern Shaanxi Plateau. Generally speaking, the major climatic factors leading grain production potential were Pre and Tmx in Guanzhong Basin and Qinba Mountain.Colony is a key to Microcystis becoming a dominant population and forming blooms. To find the mechanism of colony formation, we investigated cell wall structures of colonial and unicellular strains. Results showed that colonial strains had significant surface layer protein (S-layer) on the surface of cells than unicellular strains by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot showed colonial strains had more S-layer than the unicellular strains. When the S-layer gene (GenBank accession number CAO89090.1) of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 was expressed in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, PCC6803 aggregated into colonial morphology. The results indicated that the S-layer could promote colony formation in Microcystis. Based on the S-layer sequences of PCC6803 and PCC7806, nine S-layer genes in other Microcystis strains were screened from the GenBank. Sequence comparing showed that the S-layers conserved regions were all located in N-terminal. The S-layers contain repeats-in-toxin (RTX) sequences with Ca2+-binding site, and their amino acid composition, hydrophobicity, isoelectric point, etc. were consistent with the characteristics of RTX-type S-layer in bacteria.Exposure to lead (Pb) is a major risk factor in reproductive toxicity, somatic, and germ cell genotoxicity. Exposure via deteriorating Pb paints and contaminated air, soil, and water had been the primary routes. However, with increasing reports of Pb accumulation in mushrooms and other food items may increase the etiology of Pb poisoning. The study herein investigated somatic genotoxicity and reproductive abnormalities in mice fed extracts of Pb-contaminated Pleurotus ostreatus. Male mice were fed aqueous extracts of P. ostreatus cultivated in 0, 10, 20, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mg/L of Pb-contaminated rice straw for 35 days. Testes were analyzed for Pb accumulation, histopathology and relative weight gain, caudal epididymis for abnormal sperm morphology, and bone marrow for micronucleus test. Concentration-related significant increase in Pb accumulation was observed in P. ostreatus and testes of exposed mice. Decrease testicular weight, congestion of blood vessels, necrosis, and disorganization of the seminiferous tubules were observed in treated mice. In addition, fold increase of 2.78, 3.39, 6.67, 7.21, 9.63, and 9.70 in abnormal sperm morphology in accordance with the Pb concentrations respectively, confirmed reproductive toxicity. Significant increase in micronucleated polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes and concentration-related decrease PCE-NCE ratio in the bone marrow of treated mice suggest genome instability. Pb-contaminated P. ostreatus increased somatic and germ cell genotoxicity in mice. This may predispose the mice to genetic related syndromes and reproductive syndromes. It further suggests caution in the consumption of metal laden wild mushrooms and crop plants.In this work, a new combination of oxidation treatments for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) is investigated. This innovative wastewater (WW) treatment includes the use of ferrate (FeO42-) and its decomposition byproducts under dark and UVA irradiation. The oxidation by ferrate leads to a fast but incomplete degradation of BPA with a degradation extent of 45% after 60 min under adopted experimental conditions. However, the ferrate decomposition byproducts which are constituted by solid iron species can be used to further improve the pollutant degradation efficiency. Indeed, ferrate-mediated heterogeneous photo-Fenton process is employed for the first time to enhance the degradation of BPA. With respect to the application for wastewater treatment, UVA irradiation (which is part of solar light), non-toxic and natural origin compounds such as ascorbic acid (AA) and ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), are used to design a sustainable process. Under optimized conditions, the degradation extent of BPA using this newly designed treatment reaches almost 100% with AA and 70% with EDDS. In order to assess the feasibility of this treatment, the ferrate-mediated photo-Fenton process is applied to treat municipal wastewater. The obtained results in WW are highly encouraging since a maximum BPA degradation extent of 63% and 60% is observed after 300 min by using AA and EDDS, respectively.Phytoremediation assisted by plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is considered an effective strategy for cadmium (Cd) removal in contaminated sites. This study uses a hydroponic experiment to investigate how Sphingobium yanoikuyae Sy310 affects Cd accumulation capacity and tolerance of Salix matsudana Koidz (S. matsudana) roots. The results showed that Cd induced growth change and physiological response on S. matsudana roots, displaying with reduced root length, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, and most importantly, enhanced cell wall polysaccharide contents. The Sy310 inoculation enhanced Cd accumulation in roots and alleviated the Cd toxic effects by regulating root growth, antioxidant enzyme system, and cell wall polysaccharide remodeling. Under Cd stress, Sy310 significantly induced increased root length and biomass, as well as higher root IAA level and Cd retention in cell walls. The Sy310 inoculation enhanced root pectin and hemicellulose 1 content, and pectin methylesterase activity, indicating that more amount of -COOH and -OH in cell walls for binding Cd. With Sy310-regulated extensive Cd regional sequestration in root cell walls and enhanced catalase activity, the root H2O2 and malondialdehyde content decreased, which contributes to improve Cd tolerance of S. matsudana roots. Furthermore, the Sy310 inoculation did not affect root cell wall structure and oxidative stress in the absence of Cd, representing a well-symbiotic relationship between Sy310 and S. matsudana. Therefore, Sy310 plays an important role in expediting the phytoremediation process of Cd with S. matsudana and has practical application potential.This study addresses the different biogeochemical parameters that control the dynamics of Hg, which is a less-studied metal in the Ebrié Lagoon. During two hydrological seasons, the dry season and the rainy season, we regularly sampled and analysed various compartments (e.g. sediments and fishes (Tilapia sp.)) of the lagoon. Thus, the physicochemical parameters were measured in situ (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity, redox potential and dissolved oxygen, total dissolved organic carbon, nitrates and sulphates), and the microbiological parameters (e.g. cultivable cells, total enzymatic activity and catabolic activity) were measured to establish the seasonal variations in the links between Hg and biogeochemical parameters through multivariate statistical analyses. The bioavailability of Hg from an unpolluted site was studied by comparing the ratios of fish and sediment. The results indicated that the seasons influenced the different biogeochemical factors, although for some factors, the variations were not significant.