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Processed Bamboo as a Novel Formaldehyde-Free High-Performance Furniture Biocomposite

Ge S, Ma NL, Jiang S, Ok YS, Lam SS, Li C, et al.

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2020 Jul 08;12(27):30824-30832.
PMID: 32544314 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c07448

We used an innovative approach involving hot pressing, low energy consumption, and no adhesive to transform bamboo biomass into a natural sustainable fiber-based biocomposite for structural and furniture applications. Analyses showed strong internal bonding through mechanical "nail-like" nano substances, hydrogen, and ester and ether bonds. The biocomposite encompasses a 10-fold increase in internal bonding strength with improved water resistance, fire safety, and environmentally friendly properties as compared to existing furniture materials using hazardous formaldehyde-based adhesives. As compared to natural bamboo material, this new biocomposite has improved fire and water resistance, while there is no need for toxic adhesives (mostly made from formaldehyde-based resin), which eases the concern of harmful formaldehyde-based VOC emission and ensures better indoor air quality. This surpasses existing structural and furniture materials made by synthetic adhesives. Interestingly, our approach can 100% convert discarded bamboo biomass into this biocomposite, which represents a potentially cost reduction alternative with high revenue. The underlying fragment riveting and cell collapse binding are obviously a new technology approach that offers an economically and sustainable high-performance biocomposite that provides solutions to structural and furniture materials bound with synthetic adhesives.
Adolescents and young adults with cancer care in Asia: The joint ESMO/SIOPE/SIOP ASIA survey

Dalvi R, Li CK, Yonemori K, Ariffin H, Lyu CJ, Farid M, et al.

Ann Oncol, 2018 Nov;29 Suppl 9:ix121.
PMID: 32177767 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy442.001
A phase 3, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled efficacy and safety study of abiraterone acetate in chemotherapy-naïve patients with mCRPC in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Russia

Ye D, Huang Y, Zhou F, Xie K, Matveev V, Li C, et al.

Asian J Urol, 2017 Apr;4(2):75-85.
PMID: 29264210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2017.01.002

Objective: This double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study was designed to compare efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate + prednisone (abiraterone) to prednisone alone in chemotherapy-naïve, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients from China, Malaysia, Thailand and Russia.
Methods: Adult chemotherapy-naïve patients with confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) grade 0-1, ongoing androgen deprivation (serum testosterone <50 ng/dL) with prostate specific antigen (PSA) or radiographic progression were randomized to receive abiraterone acetate (1000 mg, QD) + prednisone (5 mg, BID) or placebo + prednisone (5 mg, BID), until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or consent withdrawal. Primary endpoint was improvements in time to PSA progression (TTPP).
Results: Totally, 313 patients were randomized (abiraterone: n = 157; prednisone: n = 156); and baseline characteristics were balanced. At clinical cut-off (median follow-up time: 3.9 months), 80% patients received treatment (abiraterone: n = 138, prednisone: n = 112). Median time to PSA progression was not reached with abiraterone versus 3.8 months for prednisone, attaining 58% reduction in PSA progression risk (HR = 0.418; p
Fulltext Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

Klionsky DJ, Abdelmohsen K, Abe A, Abedin MJ, Abeliovich H, Acevedo Arozena A, et al.

Autophagy, 2016;12(1):1-222.
PMID: 26799652 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356
Fulltext Comparison between the English and Bahasa Malaysia language versions of the Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ-25) for use in patients with cataracts

Thevi T, Abas AL, Stephanie Yen Li C

BMC Ophthalmol, 2021 Sep 27;21(1):348.
PMID: 34579663 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-021-02100-4

BACKGROUND: We conducted the study to compare the psychometric properties of the English version of the Questionnaire and the Bahasa Malaysia (Malay Language) version regarding the vision-related Quality of Life of patients with cataracts.
METHODS: The Malay version was translated by two independent translators who were well versed in both languages. We carried out a cross-sectional study collecting data between June 2017 and March 2018 in the pre-operative Eye Clinic of Hospital Melaka with 224 respondents (mean age 66.8 years) and another 204 respondents (mean age 64.3 years) participating in the English version and Malay version of the Questionnaire respectively. Methods used to validate the standard questionnaire included the use of construct validity via factor analysis and the deployment of reliability test through assessment of internal consistency via Cronbach's alpha.
RESULTS: We observed both English and Bahasa Malaysia versions to have high reliability with Cronbach's alpha values of 0.90 and above in factors on difficulty with activities and responses to vision problems. Exploratory factor analysis performed revealed that the three-factor model fits the data well for the English version of the questionnaire - difficulty with activities (23.81 % of variance), responses to vision problem (22.22 % of variance) and general health and vision (14.68 % of variance). The Bahasa Malaysia version of the questionnaire produced three factors with two of the factors resembling the factors from the original version of the questionnaire - difficulty with activities (24.3 % of variance) and responses to vision problem (23.7 % of variance). Item response theory analysis revealed that these factors for both English and Bahasa Malaysia versions comprised of adequately fitted items.
CONCLUSION: The present study observed that both the English and Bahasa Malaysia versions of the NEI VFQ-25 have comparable construct validity to the original American version. With high validity and reliability, the tool shall be able to provide health care providers the assessment of impact due to cataract and other ophthalmic conditions on the vision-related quality of life of ophthalmic patients.
Antitumour effect of odoroside A and its derivative on human leukaemia cells through the ROS/JNK pathway

Hu X, Chen T, Zhang S, Zhang Q, Li C, Wang X

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 2022 Jan;130(1):56-69.
PMID: 34634178 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13673

Oleandrigenin-3-O-β-D-diginoside (a derivative of odoroside A), isolated and purified by our group, has seldom been explored for its pharmacological activity. This study aimed at clarifying the mechanisms towards the leukaemia-suppressive role of odoroside A (compound #1) and its derivative, oleandrigenin-3-O-β-D-diginoside (compound #2) isolated from Nerium oleander. Viability and nuclear morphology change were assessed by CCK-8 assay and fluorescence microscope, respectively. Then, the cell apoptosis and autophagy induced by the compounds were detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Xenograft model of nude mice was also applied to measure the leukaemia-suppressive effects of compound #2 in vivo. The result displayed that compound #1 and compound #2 inhibited the proliferation of HL60 and K562 cells and stronger effects were found in HL60 than K562 cells. Both of the compounds induced a dose-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in HL60 cells, where compound #2 was more potent than compound #1. Compound #2 also demonstrated a time-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in HL60 cells. Furthermore, ROS generation and JNK phosphorylation occurred in a dose-dependent manner in the cells treated with compound #2. Mitochondria also played critical role, proved by the decrease of Bcl-2, the release of cyto c to cytosol and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Moreover, the antitumour effects of compound #2 were validated in the nude mouse xenograft model in vivo. Odoroside A and its derivative inhibited the growth of leukaemia by inducing apoptosis and autophagy through the activation of ROS/JNK pathway. These results suggest that the compounds can serve as potential antitumour agents against leukaemia, especially acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The first record of the thomisid genus Ibana Benjamin, 2014 (Araneae, Thomisidae) from China, with the description of a new species

Liu K, Li W, Yao Y, Li C, Li S

Biodivers Data J, 2022;10:e93637.
PMID: 36761648 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.10.e93637

BACKGROUND: The genus Ibana Benjamin, 2014 was established, based on the type species Ibanasenagang Benjamin, 2014 from Borneo, Malaysia. No species of this genus has been recorded from China.
NEW INFORMATION: A new species of Ibana is described and illustrated, representing the first record of the genus for China. Ibanagan sp. n. differs from its congener by the yellowishbrown longitudinal band on the abdomen and the round, contiguous spermathecae. The distribution of the new species in Jiangxi Province is mapped.
Effect of aquaculture salinity on nitrification and microbial community in moving bed bioreactors with immobilized microbial granules

Gao Y, Wang X, Li J, Lee CT, Ong PY, Zhang Z, et al.

Bioresour Technol, 2020 Feb;297:122427.
PMID: 31784249 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122427

The novel immobilized microbial granules (IMG) shows a significant effect of nitrification for freshwater aquaculture. However, there is lack of evaluation study on the performance of nitrification at high salinity due to the concentration of recycled water or seawater utilization. A laboratory scale moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) with IMG was tested on recycled synthetic aquaculture wastewater for the nitrification at 2.5 mg/L NH3-N daily. The results indicated that IMG showed a high salinity tolerance and effectively converted ammonia to nitrate up to 92% at high salinity of 35.0 g/L NaCl. As salinity increased from near zero to 35.0 g/L, the microbial activity of nitrite oxidation bacteria (NOB) in the IMG decreased by 86.32%. The microbial community analysis indicated that salinity significantly influenced the community structure. It was found that Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrospira sp. were the dominant genera for ammonia oxidation bacteria (AOB) and NOB respectively at different salinity levels.
Fulltext Whole-genome noncoding sequence analysis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia identifies oncogene enhancer mutations

Hu S, Qian M, Zhang H, Guo Y, Yang J, Zhao X, et al.

Blood, 2017 06 15;129(24):3264-3268.
PMID: 28408461 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-03-771162
Fulltext Bamboo-based magnetic activated carbon for efficient removal of sulfadiazine: Application and adsorption mechanism

Yang F, Jin C, Wang S, Wang Y, Wei L, Zheng L, et al.

Chemosphere, 2023 May;323:138245.
PMID: 36841450 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138245

Due to increasing antibiotic pollution in the water environment, green and efficient adsorbents are urgently needed to solve this problem. Here we prepare magnetic bamboo-based activated carbon (MDBAC) through delignification and carbonization using ZnCl2 as activator, resulting in production of an activated carbon with large specific surface area (1388.83 m2 g-1). The influencing factors, such as solution pH, initial sulfadiazine (SD) concentration, temperature, and contact time, were assessed in batch adsorption experiments. The Langmuir isotherm model demonstrated that MDBAC adsorption capacity on SD was 645.08 mg g-1 at its maximum, being higher than majority of previously reported adsorbents. In SD adsorption, the kinetic adsorption process closely followed the pseudo-second kinetic model, and the thermodynamic adsorption process was discovered to be exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MDBAC exhibited excellent physicochemical stability, facile magnetic recovery and acceptable recyclability properties. Moreover, the synergistic interactions between MDBAC and SD mainly involved electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and chelation. Within the benefits of low cost, ease of production and excellent adsorption performance, the MDBAC biosorbent shows promising utilization in removing antibiotic contaminants from wastewater.
Fulltext Multilocus Sequence Analysis and Detection of Copper Ion Resistance of Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis Causing Bacterial Blight in Cassava

Shi T, Li C, Wang G, Huang G

Curr Issues Mol Biol, 2023 Jun 28;45(7):5389-5402.
PMID: 37504258 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070342

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important tropical tuber crop around the world. Cassava bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis, is a key disease that influences cassava production worldwide. Between 2008 and 2020, 50 X. phaseoli pv. manihotis strains were isolated from diseased plant samples or acquired from China, Uganda, Cambodia, Colombia, Malaysia, and Micronesia. Using multilocus sequence analysis, the genetic diversity of X. phaseoli pv. manihotis strains was evaluated. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic dendrogram was constructed based on partial sequences of five housekeeping genes (atpD-dnaK-gyrB-efp-rpoD). The strains clustered into three groups whose clusters were consistent with atpD and RpoD gene sequences. Group I contained 46 strains from China, Uganda, Cambodia, and Micronesia, and the other two groups were comprised of strains from Colombia and Malaysia, respectively. The resistance of all these strains to copper ion (Cu2+) was determined, the minimal inhibitory concentration was between 1.3 and 1.7 mM, and there was no significant difference between strains from different geographic region. During genome annotation of the X. phaseoli pv. manihotis strain CHN01, homologous gene clusters of copLAB and xmeRSA were identified. The predicted amino acid sequences of two gene clusters were highly homologous with the copper-resistant protein from Xanthomonas strains. CopLAB and xmeRSA were amplified from all these strains, suggesting that the regulation of copper resistance is associated with two distinct metabolic pathways. CopLAB and xmeRSA were highly conserved among strains from different geographic regions, possibly associated with other conserved function.
Andrographolide Induces Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer Cells through Reactivation of p53 and Inhibition of Mdm-2

Gao H, Li H, Liu W, Mishra SK, Li C

Dokl Biochem Biophys, 2021 Sep;500(1):393-401.
PMID: 34697748 DOI: 10.1134/S1607672921050070

Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid isolated from Andrographis paniculata. The plant extract and andrographolide has long been used in traditional medicine practices mainly for gastrointestinal diseases and improving liver function. Andrographolide has shown various pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer activity. This study evaluated the effect of andrographolide on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cells in relevance to p53 and Mdm-2 pathways. Andrographolide inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 and AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner with estimated IC50 values 38 and 44 μM respectively. Effect of andrographolide on p53 activity was ascertained by using a p53 activator (RITA) which showed synergistic inhibition of cell proliferation. While andrographolide when used in combination with a p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-α) showed potent restriction over its response. Andrographolide caused decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential as an indicator of apoptotic activity. Andrographolide activated the expression of p53 protein and gene and downregulated the levels of Mdm-2 (negative regulator of p53). Andrographolide inhibited the colony formation abilities in SGC7901 in a p53-dependent manner followed by induction of mitochondrial intrinsic apoptosis through activation of caspases-9 and -3, cleavage of PARP, and inhibition of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2. Andrographolide induced p53 mediated apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells which adds to a novel approach in anticancer therapies.
Fulltext The hidden risk of microplastic-associated pathogens in aquatic environments

Zhong H, Wu M, Sonne C, Lam SS, Kwong RWM, Jiang Y, et al.

Eco Environ Health, 2023 Sep;2(3):142-151.
PMID: 38074987 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.07.004

Increasing studies of plastisphere have raised public concern about microplastics (MPs) as vectors for pathogens, especially in aquatic environments. However, the extent to which pathogens affect human health through MPs remains unclear, as controversies persist regarding the distinct pathogen colonization on MPs as well as the transmission routes and infection probability of MP-associated pathogens from water to humans. In this review, we critically discuss whether and how pathogens approach humans via MPs, shedding light on the potential health risks involved. Drawing on cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, we show that some MPs may facilitate the growth and long-range transmission of specific pathogens in aquatic environments, ultimately increasing the risk of infection in humans. We identify MP- and pathogen-rich settings, such as wastewater treatment plants, aquaculture farms, and swimming pools, as possible sites for human exposure to MP-associated pathogens. This review emphasizes the need for further research and targeted interventions to better understand and mitigate the potential health risks associated with MP-mediated pathogen transmission.
Fulltext Man-made reactive oxygen species as green disinfectants

Li C, Zhong H, Liu G, Liu D, Wu M, Lam SS, et al.

Eco Environ Health, 2023 Dec;2(4):243-245.
PMID: 38435354 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2023.05.001

Image 1.
Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sun R, Balabanova A, Bajada CJ, Liu Y, Kriuchok M, Voolma SR, et al.

Emotion, 2024 Mar;24(2):397-411.
PMID: 37616109 DOI: 10.1037/emo0001235

The COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges to psychological well-being, but how can we predict when people suffer or cope during sustained stress? Here, we test the prediction that specific types of momentary emotional experiences are differently linked to psychological well-being during the pandemic. Study 1 used survey data collected from 24,221 participants in 51 countries during the COVID-19 outbreak. We show that, across countries, well-being is linked to individuals' recent emotional experiences, including calm, hope, anxiety, loneliness, and sadness. Consistent results are found in two age, sex, and ethnicity-representative samples in the United Kingdom (n = 971) and the United States (n = 961) with preregistered analyses (Study 2). A prospective 30-day daily diary study conducted in the United Kingdom (n = 110) confirms the key role of these five emotions and demonstrates that emotional experiences precede changes in well-being (Study 3). Our findings highlight differential relationships between specific types of momentary emotional experiences and well-being and point to the cultivation of calm and hope as candidate routes for well-being interventions during periods of sustained stress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Fulltext Trophic transfer of silver nanoparticles shifts metabolism in snails and reduces food safety

Dang F, Li C, Nunes LM, Tang R, Wang J, Dong S, et al.

Environ Int, 2023 Jun;176:107990.
PMID: 37247467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107990

Food security and sustainable development of agriculture has been a key challenge for decades. To support this, nanotechnology in the agricultural sectors increases productivity and food security, while leaving complex environmental negative impacts including pollution of the human food chains by nanoparticles. Here we model the effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in a food chain consisting of soil-grown lettuce Lactuca sativa and snail Achatina fulica. Soil-grown lettuce were exposed to sulfurized Ag-NPs via root or metallic Ag-NPs via leaves before fed to snails. We discover an important biomagnification of silver in snails sourced from plant root uptake, with trophic transfer factors of 2.0-5.9 in soft tissues. NPs shifts from original size (55-68 nm) toward much smaller size (17-26 nm) in snails. Trophic transfer of Ag-NPs reprograms the global metabolic profile by down-regulating or up-regulating metabolites for up to 0.25- or 4.20- fold, respectively, relative to the control. These metabolites control osmoregulation, phospholipid, energy, and amino acid metabolism in snails, reflecting molecular pathways of biomagnification and pontential adverse biological effects on lower trophic levels. Consumption of these Ag-NP contaminated snails causes non-carcinogenic effects on human health. Global public health risks decrease by 72% under foliar Ag-NP application in agriculture or through a reduction in the consumption of snails sourced from root application. The latter strategy is at the expense of domestic economic losses in food security of $177.3 and $58.3 million annually for countries such as Nigeria and Cameroon. Foliar Ag-NP application in nano-agriculture has lower hazard quotient risks on public health than root application to ensure global food safety, as brought forward by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Fulltext Autochthonous bioaugmentation accelerates phenanthrene degradation in acclimated soil

Gu H, Yan J, Liu Y, Yu X, Feng Y, Yang X, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 May 01;224:115543.
PMID: 36822540 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115543

Bioaugmentation helps to obtain a microbiome capable of remediating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, acclimation of microorganisms to soil supplemented with phenanthrene (PHE) led to enrichment with PAH-degraders, including those in Actinobacteriota and in the genera Streptomyces, Rhodococcus, Nocardioides, Sphingomonas, and Mycobacterium. Aqueous (28 °C, pH 6.5) and soil cultures inoculated with PHE-acclimated soil showed a high PHE (ca. 50 mg L-1) degradation efficiency. The PHE degradation kinetics in aqueous and soil incubations fitted to the Gompertz equation and the first-order kinetic equation, respectively. Indigenous microorganisms adapted to PHE in their environment, and this increased their capacity to degrade PHE. The effect of co-contaminants and pathway intermediates on PHE degradation showed that the degradation of PHE improved in the presence of diesel while being hindered by lubricant oil, catechol, salicylic and phthalic acid. Our findings provide theoretical and practical support for bioremediationof PAHs in the environment.
Fulltext Vinyl chloride accident unleashes a toxic legacy

Li C, Gao P, Yu R, Zhong H, Wu M, Lam SS, et al.

Environ Sci Ecotechnol, 2023 Apr;14:100259.
PMID: 36949895 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100259
Fulltext Protect the oceans from Japan's radioisotope dumping

Li C, Zhong H, Meng L, Wu M, Ning W, Lam SS, et al.

Environ Sci Ecotechnol, 2024 Jul;20:100369.
PMID: 38318213 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100369

•Dumping of Fukushima's radioactive wastewater raises marine food web concern.•Tritium seems to be the most problematic compound.•Long-lived radioisotopes Biomagnify up to 50,000 folds in marine fish species.•This threatens fragile deep-sea ecosystems requiring immediate action.•Empowered Routine monitoring is crucial to maintain planetary health.
Source identification in river pollution incidents using a cellular automata model and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method

Wang W, Ji C, Li C, Wu W, Gisen JIA

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Jun 03.
PMID: 37269522 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27988-x

Identification of contaminant sources in rivers is crucial for river protection and emergency response. This study presents an innovative approach for identifying river pollution sources by using Bayesian inference and cellular automata (CA) modeling. A general Bayesian framework is proposed that combines the CA model with observed data to identify unknown sources of river pollution. To reduce the computational burden of the Bayesian inference, a CA contaminant transport model is developed to efficiently simulate pollutant concentration values in the river. These simulated concentration values are then used to calculate the likelihood function of available measurements. The Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method is used to produce the posterior distribution of contaminant source parameters, which is a sampling-based method that enables the estimation of complex posterior distributions. The suggested methodology is applied to a real case study of the Fen River in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, Northern China, and it estimates the release time, release mass, and source location with relative errors below 19%. The research indicates that the proposed methodology is an effective and flexible way to identify the location and concentrations of river contaminant sources.

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