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Different cadmium (Cd)-accumulated rice genotypes (Erjiunan 1 and Fupin 36) were used to explore the effect of rice rhizosphere aeration on Cd uptake and accumulation. Aeration in the nutrient solution influenced the agronomic characteristics induced by Cd-stress, such as the increases of rice root length and root vigor, but the reductions of plant height and shoot dry weight. Aeration also alleviated the decreasing effects of Cd stress on antioxidant enzyme activities and soluble protein, malonaldehyde and nicotianamine contents in rice. Moreover, with aeration treatment, the accumulation and bioavailability of metal elements changed significantly, with a Cd increase and an Fe reduction in both rice genotypes. In addition, at the molecular level, aeration upregulated the expression of Fe-inducible genes (such as OsIRT1, OsNRAMP1, OsYSL15 and OsNAS3). Furthermore, as a Cd2+/Fe2+ transporter, the high transcription level of OsNRAMP1 can elevate the Cd uptake and translocation in rice due to the Fe reduction caused by aeration and Cd-exposure, which indicated that OsNRAMP1 might play a crucial role in the effect of aeration on Cd uptake and accumulation.

Aim: Immune-related lncRNA may influence osteoarthritis (OA) susceptibility. We conducted this study to assess whether the genetic variants in several immune-related lncRNA influence OA susceptibility. Methods: The current research genotyped four SNPs in 306 OA patients and 316 healthy controls, including PRNCR1 rs7463708, PRNCR1 rs1456315, PRNCR1 rs16901946 and KIF13B1 rs643472, to investigate their associations with OA susceptibility. Results: We identified that PRNCR1 rs1456315 was associated with OA susceptibility in Chinese Han population (recessive model: odds ratio = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.05–4.81; additive model: odds ratio = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.03–1.80). Conclusion: Individuals with PRNCR1 rs1456315 mutant G allele were more likely to suffer from OA in Chinese Han population.

A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of flonicamid and its metabolite [N-(4-trifluoromethylnicotinoyl) glycine (TFNG), 4-trifluoromethylnicotinic acid (TFNA) and 4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide (TFNA-AM)] in cucumbers and apples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with liquid-liquid extraction. The sample was extracted twice with phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0), and the extract was adjusted to pH 1.5 - 2.0, then an aliquot of the extract (3 mL) was extracted with ethyl acetate. The final extract was dried under nitrogen and the residue was dissolved in 0.1% formic acid in water/methanol (80/20, v/v). The sample was analyzed by LC-MS/MS and quantified with the external standard calibration curve method. The detection limits of flonicamid, TFNG, TFNA and TFNA-AM were 0.17, 0.20, 0.35 and 0.60 microg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of flonicamid and its metabolites in cucumbers and apples were 82.9% - 104.1%. In the intra-assay, the relative standard deviations were 3.6% - 6.9% at the spiked levels of 5.0 - 2 000 microg/kg. There were good linear correlations (the calibration coefficients were above 0.998) between the peak areas and the concentrations of flonicamid and its metabolites in the range of 0.5 - 200 microg/L. The volume of organic solvent used in the whole pretreatment procedure was only 6 mL. The method is accurate, highly sensitive and stable for the determination of flonicamid and its metabolites.

A simple, rapid, sensitive and reliable high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of nine sulfonamides (SAs) (sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sufamonomethoxine, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline) in milk was developed. The method includes the shaking of the milk with phosphate buffer, centrifugation, and cleaning up on a C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge. The C18 cartridge was washed with water, and the SAs were eluted with methanol. After the evaporation, the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and cleaned up on an amino solid-phase extraction column. Analytical separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS-3 column with photodiode-array detection at 270 nm under the gradient condition. The mean recoveries of SAs at the spiked levels of 10, 20, 40 microg/L were between 72.1% and 88.3%. The relative standard deviations were between 2.3% and 5.0%. The detection limits were 1.7 - 2.8 microg/L, and the quantification limits wer 5.7 - 9.2 microg/L.