Article
Environmental Sciences
Ya Zhu, Dandong Yang, Xinbin Duan, Yongkang Zhang, Daqing Chen, Zhiyuan Gong, Chunsheng Liu
Summary: The study proved that PFOS could promote liver tumor progression, highlighting the need for attention to its tumor-promoting effects in assessing environmental health risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhiru Wang, Lu Zang, Wanlan Ren, Hua Guo, Nan Sheng, Xuming Zhou, Yong Guo, Jiayin Dai
Summary: Exposure to PFOS and H-PFMO2OSA in male PPAR alpha-KO mice may disrupt bile acid metabolism, which is not under the control of PPAR alpha.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling Chen, Yafeng Liu, Hongxin Mu, Huan Li, Su Liu, Mengyuan Zhu, Yuanqing Bu, Bing Wu
Summary: This study investigated the toxicity of low-dose PFBS on liver and compared it with PFOS. The results showed that PFBS exposure induced cell apoptosis and decreased CAT activities, while PFOS exposure led to accumulation of lipid droplets, increase of CAT activities, and TAG levels. Lipidomics analysis revealed similar global lipid changes in the two PFBS-treated groups, distinct from PFOS.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiru Wang, Jingzhi Yao, Hua Guo, Nan Sheng, Yong Guo, Jiayin Dai
Summary: This study found that H-PFMO2OSA induced higher levels of liver damage and more serious glutathione (GSH) metabolism dysregulation compared to PFOS.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sandra Nilsson, Jack Thompson, Jochen F. Mueller, Jennifer Braeunig
Summary: The study aims to estimate the apparent half-lives of Cl-PFOS and PFOS isomers in firefighters following the end of exposure to 3M-AFFF, analyzing paired serum samples from 120 firefighters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zacharias Pandelides, Jennifer Arblaster, Jason Conder
Summary: This study reviews the toxicity benchmarks of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on zebrafish and suggests that chronic effects on reproduction, growth, and lethality occur at concentrations higher than 0.7 μg/L. Therefore, higher screening levels should be used to develop PFOS aquatic life criteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kurt A. Gust, J. Erik Mylroie, Ashley N. Kimble, Mitchell S. Wilbanks, Catherine S. C. Steward, Kacy A. Chapman, Kathleen M. Jensen, Alan J. Kennedy, Paige M. Krupa, Scott A. Waisner, Zacharias Pandelides, Natalia Garcia-Reyero, Russell J. Erickson, Gerald T. Ankley, Jason Conder, David W. Moore
Summary: This study investigated the multigenerational effects of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) exposure in zebrafish. Results showed that the adverse effects reported at concentrations lower than 1 μg/L in previous research were difficult to replicate. However, adverse effects at concentrations below 117 μg/L were observed, indicating an ecologically relevant threshold.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jongeun Rhee, Erikka Loftfield, Demetrius Albanes, Tracy M. Layne, Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon, Linda M. Liao, Mary C. Playdon, Sonja I. Berndt, Joshua N. Sampson, Neal D. Freedman, Steven C. Moore, Mark P. Purdue
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of PFOS and PFOA on the human body. Through metabolomic analysis, several metabolites associated with PFOS and PFOA were identified, with lipids and xenobiotics being the most common types. These findings provide insights into the potential hazards of PFOS and PFOA.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei-Rong Wang, Pei-Yao Chen, Jie Deng, Yu Chen, Hua-Ji Liu
Summary: This study successfully prepared CD hydrogels that efficiently adsorb PFOS through their CD moieties, demonstrating excellent adsorption performance and cycling stability. In practical wastewater treatment, CD hydrogels can effectively remove PFOS and meet environmental protection standards.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Feng Yang, Ziyu Zhao, Haiji Zhang, Liping Zhou, Liang Tao, Qin Wang
Summary: The study used zebrafish as a model to investigate the toxicity of BPS and found that excess ROS production may trigger multiple toxic effects. Pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein network analysis identified key pathways and interaction proteins associated with BPS exposure.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qian Chen, Shanshan Sun, Chunxia Mei, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Gang Wang, Wei Chen
Summary: PFOS can cause liver diseases, neurotoxicity, and metabolic disorders. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with different PFOS binding capacities and antioxidant activities were analyzed for their ability to mitigate the toxic effects of PFOS.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liquan Chu, Chaojie Zhang, Pei Chen, Qi Zhou, Xuefei Zhou, Yalie Zhang
Summary: In this study, UV/KI system was used to decompose and defluorinate PFOS. It was found that the system can effectively promote PFOS decomposition and defluorination at a lower concentration of hydrated electron source chemicals and a wider pH range. The decomposition process followed a pseudo-first-order model, and the main products were environmentally friendly ions and acids.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ying Pan, Bei Wen, Hongna Zhang, Shuzhen Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the uptake, translocation, and phytotoxicity of PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA in mung bean plants. Results showed that 6:2 Cl-PFESA is more harmful to mung beans than PFOS, with hydroxyl radicals being the mechanism of toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samuel Krebsbach, Jianzhou He, Sushil Adhikari, Yaniv Olshansky, Farshad Feyzbar, Leonard C. Davis, Tae-Sik Oh, Dengjun Wang
Summary: Biochar is a cost-effective solution for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, but the specific physicochemical properties of biochars that determine their PFAS removal remain unknown. In this study, 15 biochars were produced from five feedstocks at three pyrolysis temperatures to investigate their removal efficiency of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a type of PFAS, from water. It was found that biochar pore diameter was the most critical factor for PFOS removal, but other factors such as pore diameter/pore volume ratio, specific surface area, pyrolysis temperature, hydrophobicity, and elemental composition also played roles. Biochars with small pore diameter, low nitrogen content, and high pyrolysis temperature showed enhanced PFOS sorption. These findings contribute to the understanding of using biochars with optimized properties to remove PFAS compounds from water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haochun Shi, Meng Li, Haoyu Meng, Xuehan Zheng, Kun Zhang, Karl Fent, Jiayin Dai, Yanbin Zhao
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of premature death and a global public health challenge. Using a reduced transcriptome atlas approach, researchers have identified 11 priority compounds with significant effects on the cardiovascular system at the transcriptional level. These compounds, including metals and pesticides/biocides, were experimentally confirmed to dysregulate cardiovascular physiology and lipid profiles in zebrafish.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiezhang Mo, Miles Teng Wan, Doris Wai-Ting Au, Jingchun Shi, Nathan Tam, Xian Qin, Napo K. M. Cheung, Keng Po Lai, Christoph Winkler, Richard Yuen-Chong Kong, Frauke Seemann
Summary: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a common environmental pollutant, can induce bone toxicity in unexposed offspring. This study found that exposure of medaka to BaP resulted in reduced bone thickness in subsequent generations, and dysregulation of various molecular pathways involved in bone formation and bone resorption. Additionally, epigenetic factors were also implicated in the transgenerational effects of BaP on bone health. These findings highlight the importance of further research on the mechanisms and potential biomarkers of BaP-induced bone disease.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jiaqi Sun, Miaomiao Teng, Fengchang Wu, Xiaoli Zhao, Yunxia Li, Lihui Zhao, Wentian Zhao, Keng Po Lai, Kenneth Mei Yee Leung, John P. Giesy
Summary: Recent epidemiological investigations have shown that environmental factors and stress related to unhealthy lifestyles can pose health risks to organisms. This comprehensive review examines the effects of paternal exposure to harmful substances and stress on physiological responses and developmental processes in descendants. Various sources of exposure, such as smoking, atmospheric fine particulate matter, alcohol, obesogenic diet, chemical toxicants, and stress related to unhealthy lifestyles, are discussed. The review also focuses on the epigenetic mechanisms mediated by germ cells that can affect reproduction, oxidative stress, nervous and immune systems in paternal lineages. It highlights the need for further studies on the effects of these exposures on later generations and explores ways to alleviate their negative effects on offspring.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chi Tim Leung, Yi Yang, Ting Fung Chan, Xiao Lin, Alice Sze Tsai Wong, Wing Yee Lui, Karen Wing Yee Yuen, Richard Yuen Chong Kong, Keng Po Lai, Rudolf Shiu Sun Wu
Summary: A wide range of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are commonly found in the environment today, and limited studies on mammals have shown that some EDCs can affect the chromosomes and epigenome of the germline, leading to adverse effects in subsequent generations. However, the mechanisms underlying chromosomal changes caused by these pollutants are still poorly understood. Using a human ovarian granulosa tumor cell line as a model, this study investigated and compared the effects of nine EDCs with different chemical structures on gene expression, specifically focusing on epigenetic modifications related to reproductive functions. The results revealed that certain EDCs altered the expression of genes related to DNA damage response, cell cycle, proliferation, and chromatin remodeling, indicating potential epigenetic modifications and transgenerational inheritance. Dysregulation of similar gene clusters was also observed in certain EDC treatments. Bioinformatics analysis further revealed specific signaling pathways affected by these chemicals. Overall, this study highlights the chromatin modifications caused by a class of chemicals that may potentially lead to epigenetic changes and transgenerational reproductive impairments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jizhou Zhang, Xiao Lin, Yuelong Chen, Tsz-Ho Li, Alan Chun-Kit Lee, Eugene Yui-Ching Chow, William Chi-Shing Cho, Ting-Fung Chan
Summary: Characterization of subcellular RNA distribution was conducted using subcellular nanopore direct RNA-sequencing (DRS) and a computational pipeline called LAFITE. The study showed that LAFITE outperforms current methods in detecting full-length transcripts, especially low-abundance isoforms. Experimental validation confirmed the reliability of LAFITE in identifying novel isoforms. Applying LAFITE to subcellular DRS data revealed the complexity of the nuclear transcriptome at the isoform level.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ki-Kei Chan, Ting-Fung Chan, William Bendena, Jerome H. L. Hui
Summary: The importance of RNAs is traditionally associated with protein-coding RNAs, while non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) were believed to be useless. However, in the past decade, ncRNAs have been found to play significant roles in various biological activities, including hormonal and metabolic regulation. Among ncRNAs, microRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA transcript of approximately 20 nucleotides, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is an RNA transcript with more than 200 nucleotides, and circular RNA (circRNA) is derived from back-splicing of pre-mRNA. These ncRNAs can regulate gene expression levels at epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels through various mechanisms in insects. Understanding these key regulators is crucial for both basic and applied entomology. This review aims to summarize and discuss the current knowledge of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA in the well-studied insect model, the fruit fly Drosophila.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hoi Shing Lo, Leung Chun Wong, Keng Po Lai, Siu Gin Cheung
Summary: This study investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics (MP) in marine fish from both the western and eastern waters of Hong Kong during the wet and dry seasons. More than half (57.1%) of the fish had MP in their gastrointestinal tracts, with MP abundance ranging from not detected to 44.0 items per individual. Significant spatial and temporal differences in MP occurrence were found, with fish from more polluted areas and during the wet season having a higher likelihood of MP ingestion. Factors such as feeding mode and range also influenced MP counts in fish. The study provides insights for future research on the factors governing MP ingestion by fish in different ecosystems and species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Zhuoqing Liu, Ping Wang, Yin Zhao, Keng Po Lai, Rong Li
Summary: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a crucial pathway for protein degradation in cells, with functions in various biological processes. Research suggests that the UPS also plays a key role in pancreatic β-cell transdifferentiation, offering potential in the treatment of diabetes. This review summarizes the mechanistic roles of the UPS in pancreatic β-cells, including insulin synthesis, secretion, and cell degradation. Additionally, it discusses how the UPS mediates the transdifferentiation of pancreatic duct epithelial cells into β-cells, providing a basis for regenerative medicine approaches in diabetes treatment.
Article
Oncology
Nana Jin, Chau-Ming Kan, Xiao Meng Pei, Wing Lam Cheung, Simon Siu Man Ng, Heong Ting Wong, Hennie Yuk-Lin Cheng, Wing Wa Leung, Yee Ni Wong, Hin Fung Tsang, Amanda Kit Ching Chan, Yin Kwan Evelyn Wong, William Chi Shing Cho, John Kwok Cheung Chan, William Chi Shing Tai, Ting-Fung Chan, Sze Chuen Cesar Wong, Aldrin Kay-Yuen Yim, Allen Chi-Shing Yu
Summary: This study found that the transcriptomic component from intestinal secretory cells was significantly decreased in cfRNA obtained from plasma of colorectal cancer patients. The expression of three genes remained consistent across cfRNA and tissue samples. The identified biomarkers in this study need further validation in a larger sample size to determine their potential use in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Drew R. Peterson, Frauke Seemann, Miles T. Wan, Roy R. Ye, Lianguo Chen, Keng P. Lai, Peter Yu, Richard Y. C. Kong, Doris W. T. Au
Summary: Estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDC) can impact offspring in a transgenerational manner through modifications of the germline epigenome. Exposure to EE2 during parental gametogenesis and embryogenesis can induce transgenerational reproductive effects and phenotype persistence in unexposed offspring. EE2 exposure also leads to feminization and subsequent masculinization of directly exposed generations. While reproductive output is more sensitive in females, immune competence is not significantly affected. These findings highlight the potential transgenerational toxicity of EEDCs and the negative impact on fish population sustainability.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shaolong Yang, Mengzhen Li, Richard Yuen Chong Kong, Lei Li, Rong Li, Jian Chen, Keng Po Lai
Summary: Large-scale plastic pollution in terrestrial and marine environments degrades into micro/nanoplastics (MP/NPs), which are found in the environment, marine organisms, and can enter the human body through inhalation or ingestion. These MPs/NPs can enter various organisms and affect different body systems, including reproductive, digestive, and nervous systems, through the induction of different stresses. This paper summarizes the effects of MPs/NPs on the reproductive health of different organisms, the amplification of toxic effects through the food chain, the threat to biodiversity, and the imminent challenge to human reproductive health. Strengthening international communication and cooperation is necessary to remediate plastic pollution and protect biodiversity for a sustainable association between humans and other organisms.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Man-Wah Li, Xin Wang, Ching-Ching Sze, Wai-Shing Yung, Fuk-Ling Wong, Guohong Zhang, Gyuhwa Chung, Ting-Fung Chan, Hon-Ming Lam
Summary: Soybean is becoming increasingly important due to its various uses and the need for accurate genomic information for research and breeding programs. Advances in genome sequencing technologies have provided vast amounts of sequence data, but interpreting this information requires specialized skills and computational power. To address this, we have developed a set of PCR-based DNA markers using existing genomic data from popular soybean varieties, enabling simple applications in soybean research and breeding programs.
Article
Cell Biology
Huanhuan Zhou, Lu Yang, Xiao Lin, Ting Fung Chan, Nikki Pui-Yue Lee, William Ka Fai Tse, Xing Zhang, Rong Li, Keng Po Lai
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly cancer. The study found that USP44 expression is suppressed in HCC tissue, and low USP44 expression is associated with poor survival and advanced tumor stage in HCC patients. Functional analysis showed that USP44 plays an important role in HCC cell growth and cell cycle regulation. Transcriptomic analysis and pathway analysis revealed that USP44 regulates gene networks involved in cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis in HCC.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qu Zhe, Wing Chung Yiu, Ho Yin Yip, Wenyan Nong, Clare W. C. Yu, Ivy H. T. Lee, Annette Y. P. Wong, Nicola W. Y. Wong, Fiona K. M. C. Cheung, Ting Fung Chan, Kwok Fai Lau, Silin Zhong, Ka Hou Chu, Stephen S. Tobe, David E. K. Ferrier, William G. Bendena, Jerome H. L. Hui
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Letter
Plant Sciences
Wai-Shing Yung, Ting-Fung Chan, Fanjiang Kong, Hon-Ming Lam
Article
Plant Sciences
Tri D. Vuong, Liliana Florez-Palacios, Leandro Mozzoni, Michael Clubb, Chuck Quigley, Qijian Song, Shaila Kadam, Yuxuan Yuan, Ting Fung Chan, Mohamed Abdur Rouf Mian, Henry T. Nguyen
Summary: This study identified a new major QTL for seed protein and oil on chromosome 20 using Infinium BARCSoySNP6K BeadChips, which explained high phenotypic variation for these traits across multiple field environments.
