The Importance of Urine Sediment Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Urinary sediment is an important part of routine urine test, which plays an irreplaceable role in the diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of treatment effect, and prognosis judgment [1]. METHODS: Through the results of urine dry chemistry and microscopic examination of urinary sediment, we inter-preted and analyzed the clinical significance of urinary casts in urinary sediment. RESULTS: In patients with new urinary system diseases abnormal urine results appear earlier than changes in serum renal function indicators, especially when the urine sediment shows typical casts, which can provide an important basis for clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical laboratory personnel should attach great importance to the morphological examination of urinary sediment and master the diagnostic significance of the formed components of urinary sediment for various diseases, so as to better assist clinical disease diagnosis.

Advanced electrochemical membrane technologies for near-complete resource recovery and zero-discharge of urine: Performance optimization and evaluation.

The depletion of nutrient sources in fertilizers demands a paradigm shift in the treatment of nutrient-rich wastewater, such as urine, to enable efficient resource recovery and high-value conversion. This study presented an integrated bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) and hollow fiber membrane (HFM) system for near-complete resource recovery and zero-discharge from urine treatment. Computational simulations and experimental validations demonstrated that a higher voltage (20 V) significantly enhanced energy utilization, while an optimal flow rate of 0.4 L/min effectively mitigated the negative effects of concentration polarization and electro-osmosis on system performance. Within 40 min, the process separated 90.13% of the salts in urine, with an energy consumption of only 8.45 kWh/kgbase. Utilizing a multi-chamber structure for selective separation, the system achieved recovery efficiencies of 89% for nitrogen, 96% for phosphorus, and 95% for potassium from fresh urine, converting them into high-value products such as 85 mM acid, 69.5 mM base, and liquid fertilizer. According to techno-economic analysis, the cost of treating urine using this system at the lab-scale was $6.29/kg of products (including acid, base, and (NH4)2SO4), which was significantly lower than the $20.44/kg cost for the precipitation method to produce struvite. Excluding fixed costs, a net profit of $18.24/m3 was achieved through the recovery of valuable products from urine using this system. The pilot-scale assessment showed that the net benefit amounts to $19.90/m3 of urine, demonstrating significant economic feasibility. This study presents an effective approach for the near-complete resource recovery and zero-discharge treatment of urine, offering a practical solution for sustainable nutrient recycling and wastewater management.

Nitrosamine formation driven by electrochemical chlorination of urine-containing source waters: Effects of operational conditions.

We investigated the formation of nitrosamines from urine during electrochemical chlorination (EC) using dimensionally stable anodes. Short-term electrolysis (< 1 h) of urine at 25 mA cm-2 generated seven nitrosamines (0.1-7.4 µg L-1), where N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosomethylethylamine, and N-nitrosodiethylamine were predominant with concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 7.4 µg L-1. Mechanistic studies showed that the formation kinetics of nitrosamines was influenced by urine aging and composition, with fresh urine generating the highest levels (0.9-5.8 µg L-1) compared with aged, centrifuged, or filtered urine (0.2-4.1 µg L-1). Concurrently, studies on urine pretreatment through filtration and centrifugation underscored the significance of nitrogenous metabolites (such as protein-like products and urinary amino acids) and particle-associated humic fractions in nitrosamine formation during EC of urine. This finding was confirmed through chromatographic and spectroscopic studies utilizing LCOCD, Raman spectra, and 3DEEM fluorescence spectra. Parametric studies demonstrated that the ultimate [nitrosamines] increased at a pH range of 4.5-6.2, and with increasing [bromide], [ammonium], and current density. Conversely, sulfate and carbonate ions inhibited nitrosamine formation. Moreover, the implications of EC in urine-containing source waters were evaluated. The results indicate that regardless of the urine source (individual volunteers, septic tank, swimming pool, untreated municipal wastewater), high levels of nitrosamines (0.1-17.6 µg L-1) were generated, surpassing the potable reuse guideline of 10 ng L-1. Overall, this study provides insights to elucidate the mechanisms underlying nitrosamine formation and optimize the operating conditions. Such insights facilitate suppressing the generation of nitrosamine byproducts during electrochemical treatment of urine-containing wastewater.

Potassium and ammonium recovery in treated urine by zeolite based mixed matrix membranes.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are essential for crop growth, which are abundant in urine. Although numerous studies have developed techniques to recover ammonium and phosphorus from urine, limited research made efforts on the recovery of potassium, which is a non-renewable resource with uneven global distribution. In this study, we explored the possibility of zeolite based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) to selectively recover ammonium and potassium from urine, with minimal detention of sodium. The findings demonstrated that upon the pre-treatment of zeolites with sodium chloride solution, a 70 wt% zeolite loaded MMM could achieve 69.3 % recovery of potassium and almost full recovery of ammonium. By varying the desorption temperatures and MMMs production process, it was discovered that stepwise backwash at low temperature (276 K) greatly lowered sodium recovery whilst simultaneously enhancing the recovery of potassium and ammonium. This study demonstrates the potential of recovering potassium and ammonium from urine using zeolite-loaded MMMs, coupled with achieving low-sodium recovery.

Improving contaminant removal and inhibiting CH4 and H2S emissions from septic tanks: Nitrified human urine as a source of electron acceptor.

Septic tanks are widely adopted in decentralized household wastewater treatment systems serving billions of people globally. Due to the lack of effective electron acceptors, insufficient nutrient removal and the emission of harmful gases, e. g. H2S, CH4, etc., are the common drawbacks. In the present work, we attempted to supplement nitrite into septic tanks as an electron acceptor, via nitrifying human urine source-separated from blackwater, to overcome these drawbacks. Partial or complete nitritation of source-separated urine was achieved in a sequencing batch reactor. The addition of nitrified urine into septic tanks improved organic and nitrogen removals in blackwater up to 90 % and 70 %, respectively. The emission of harmful gases from the septic tanks was stably diminished, with more than 75 % of CH4, CO2 and H2S reductions. Nitrite addition significantly reduced the abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens in septic tanks. Though the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria recovered after the initial inhibition upon nitrite addition, the bio-generated H2S was retained in water since the increased wastewater pH after nitrite addition promoted the disassociation of H2S in aqueous solution.

Circular fertilisers combining dehydrated human urine and organic wastes can fulfil the macronutrient demand of 15 major crops.

This study evaluated the potential for combining dehydrated human urine with one other form of organic waste to create circular fertilisers tailored to meet the macronutrient demand of 15 major crops cultivated globally. Through a reverse blending modelling approach, data on 359 different organic wastes were used to identify 38 fertiliser blends. Materials found to be particularly suitable as blending materials were various biochars and ashes, due to their low nitrogen and high phosphorus and/or potassium content, and byproduct concentrates, due to their high phosphorus content, since the nitrogen content of human urine is disproportionately higher than its phosphorus content. Several organic wastes were suitable for fertilising more than one crop. The macronutrient content of the simulated fertiliser blends was comparable to that of blended inorganic fertilisers, but only a few blends precisely matched the macronutrient demand of crops. Fertilising crops with some simulated fertilisers would potentially result in excess application of one or more macronutrients, and thus overfertilisation. For organic wastes with data available on their content of six or more heavy metals, it was found that the simulated fertilisers generally met European Union regulations on use of fertilisers of organic origin in agriculture. Overall, these findings suggest that fertiliser blends combining dehydrated human urine and organic wastes, both of which are widely available globally, could replace inorganic blended fertilisers in agriculture. Such recycling would help the global food system and water sector transition to circularity and promote better management of plant-essential nutrients in society.

Age-related trends in urine specific gravity in apparently healthy cats.

OBJECTIVES: Urine specific gravity (USG) is the most common method for the estimation of urine concentration in cats. Utilization of USG as a screening tool is easily accessible and is of low cost to the client if strategically utilized in settings of higher diagnostic value. There is currently minimal population information regarding how USG changes across ages in cats. METHODS: Data were collected from electronic pet medical records from more than 1000 hospitals and screened for cats with an apparently healthy clinical status and complete diagnostic information. USG was compared with age in multiple analyses to examine the relationship between the variables. RESULTS: In the absence of other indicators of disease, renal concentrating ability begins to diminish, on average, starting at approximately 9 years of age. By age group, cats aged 11-15 years (1.044, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043-1.044) had statistically significantly lower mean USGs compared with cats aged less than 1 year (1.049, 95% CI 1.048-1.051; P <0.001), 1-6 years (1.049, 95% CI 1.049-1.050; P <0.001) or 7-10 years (1.049, 95% CI 1.048-1.049; P <0.001). Cats aged ⩾15 years (1.038, 95% CI 1.036-1.040) had statistically significantly lower mean USGs compared with cats aged less than 1 year (P <0.001), 1-6 years (P <0.001), 7-10 years (P <0.001) or 11-15 years (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Renal concentrating ability begins to diminish, on average, starting at approximately 9 years of age and is progressive as cat age increases. This study provides important and new information to help improve screening practices for disorders of concentrating ability in cats.

Metabolomics study of dietary Pleurotus eryngii ß-type glycosidic polysaccharide on colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice - Exploration for the potential metabolic indicators in urine and serum.

Pleurotus eryngii, an edible mushroom recognized for its potent polysaccharides, demonstrates significant regulatory effects on metabolic processes. ß-glucan (WPEP) derived from P. eryngii has been noted for its therapeutic potential, exhibiting notable benefits in alleviating colonic inflammation and restructuring gut microbiota in mice treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). This study focuses on utilizing DSS-induced colitis mice to explore the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of WPEP in ameliorating colitis, employing a metabolomics approach analyzing urine and serum. The findings reveal that WPEP administration effectively regulates metabolic imbalances in DSS mice, impacting purine metabolism, pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion, amino acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, WPEP demonstrates a capacity to modulate colitis by regulating diverse metabolic pathways, consequently influencing intestinal barrier integrity, motility, inflammation, oxidative stress, and immunity. These insights suggest that WPEP is a promising food component for managing inflammatory bowel diseases.

Increasing urine nitrification performance with sequential membrane aerated biofilm reactors.

This study aimed to investigate whether separating organics depletion from nitrification increases the overall performance of urine nitrification. Separate organics depletion was facilitated with membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). The high pH and ammonia concentration in stored urine inhibited nitrification in the first stage and therewith allowed the separation of organics depletion from nitrification. An organics removal of 70 % was achieved at organic loading rates in the influent of 3.7 gCOD d-1 m-2. Organics depletion in a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) for organics depletion led to ammonia stripping through diffused aeration of up to 13 %. Using an MABR, diffusion into the lumen amounted for 4 % ammonia loss only. In the MABR, headspace volume and therefore ammonia loss through the headspace was negligible. By aerating the downstream MABR for nitrification with the off-gas of the MABR for organics depletion, 96 % of the ammonia stripped in the first stage could be recovered in the second stage, so that the overall ammonia loss was negligibly low. Nitrification of the organics-depleted urine was studied in MABRs, CSTRs, and sequencing batch reactors in fed batch mode (FBRs), the latter two operated with suspended biomass. The experiments demonstrated that upstream organics depletion can double the nitrification rate. In a laboratory-scale MABR, nitrification rates were recorded of up to 830 mgNL-1 d-1 (3.1 gN m-2 d-1) with ambient air and over 1500 mgNL-1 d-1 (6.7 gN m-2 d-1) with oxygen-enriched air. Experiments with a laboratory-scale MABR showed that increasing operational parameters such as pH, recirculation flow, scouring frequency, and oxygen content increased the nitrification rate. The nitrification in the MABR was robust even at high pH setpoints of 6.9 and was robust against process failures arising from operational mistakes. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) required for nitrification was only 1 to 2 days. With the preceding organics depletion, the HRT for our system requires 2 to 3 days in total, whereas a combined activated sludge system requires 4 to 8 days. The N2O concentration in the off-gas increases with increasing nitrification rates; however, the N2O emission factor was 2.8 % on average and independent of nitrification rates. These results indicate that the MABR technology has a high potential for efficient and robust production of ammonium nitrate from source-separated urine.

Electrochemical degradation of acetaminophen in urine matrices: Unraveling complexity and implications for realistic treatment strategies.

Urine has an intricate composition with high concentrations of organic compounds like urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Urine poses a formidable challenge for advanced effluent treatment processes following urine diversion strategies. Urine matrix complexity is heightened when dealing with pharmaceutical residues like acetaminophen (ACT) and metabolized pharmaceuticals. This work explores ACT degradation in synthetic, fresh real, and hydrolyzed real urines using electrochemical oxidation with a dimensional stable anode (DSA). Analyzing drug concentration (2.5 - 40 mg L-1) over 180 min at various current densities in fresh synthetic effluent revealed a noteworthy 75% removal at 48 mA cm-2. ACT degradation kinetics and that of the other organic components followed a pseudo-first-order reaction. Uric acid degradation competed with ACT degradation, whereas urea and creatinine possessed higher oxidation resistance. Fresh real urine presented the most challenging scenario for the electrochemical process. Whereas, hydrolyzed real urine achieved higher ACT removal than fresh synthetic urine. Carboxylic acids like acetic, tartaric, maleic, and oxalic were detected as main by-products. Inorganic ionic species nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium ions were released to the medium from N-containing organic compounds. These findings underscore the importance of considering urine composition complexities and provide significant advancements in strategies for efficiently addressing trace pharmaceutical contamination.

Urine beyond electrolytes: diagnosis through extracellular vesicles.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Extracellular vesicles (EV) reflect the pathophysiological state of their cells of origin and are a reservoir of renal information accessible in urine. When biopsy is not an option, EV present themselves as sentinels of function and damage, providing a non-invasive approach. However, the analysis of EV in urine requires prior isolation, which slows down and hinders transition into clinical practice. The aim of this study is to show the applicability of the "single particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensor" (SP-IRIS) technology through the ExoView® platform for the direct analysis of urine EV and proteins involved in renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ExoView® technology enables the quantification and phenotyping of EV present in urine and the quantification of their membrane and internal proteins. We have applied this technology to the quantification of urinary EV and their proteins with renal tubular expression, amnionless (AMN) and secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), using only 5 µl of urine. Tubular expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mean size of the EV analysed was 59 ± 16 nm for those captured by tetraspanin CD63, 61 ± 16 nm for those captured by tetraspanin CD81, and 59 ± 10 for tetraspanin CD9, with CD63 being the majority EV subpopulation in urine (48.92%). The distribution of AMN and SFRP1 in the three capture tetraspanins turned out to be similar for both proteins, being expressed mainly in CD63 (48.23% for AMN and 52.1% for SFRP1). CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the applicability and advantages of the ExoView® technique for the direct analysis of urine EV and their protein content in relation to the renal tubule. The use of minimum volumes, 5 µl, and the total analysis time not exceeding three hours facilitate the transition of EV into daily clinical practice as sources of diagnostic information.

Blending Samples to Increase Accuracy and Precision of 1H NMR Urine Metabolomics.

Urine is an equally attractive biofluid for metabolomics analysis, as it is a challenging matrix analytically. Accurate urine metabolite concentration estimates by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are hampered by pH and ionic strength differences between samples, resulting in large peak shift variability. Here we show that calculating the spectra of original samples from mixtures of samples using linear algebra reduces the shift problems and makes various error estimates possible. Since the use of two-dimensional (2D) NMR to confirm metabolite annotations is effectively impossible to employ on every sample of large sample sets, stabilization of metabolite peak positions increases the confidence in identifying metabolites, avoiding the pitfall of oranges-to-apples comparisons.

An artificial intelligence-driven support tool for prediction of urine culture test results.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We aimed to develop an easily deployable artificial intelligence (AI)-driven model for rapid prediction of urine culture test results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We utilized a training dataset (n = 34,584 urine samples) and two separate, unseen test sets (n = 10,083 and 9,289 samples). Various machine learning models were compared for diagnostic performance. Predictive parameters included urinalysis results (dipstick and flow cytometry), patient demographics (age and gender), and sample collection method. RESULTS: Although more complex models achieved the highest AUCs for predicting positive cultures (highest: multilayer perceptron (MLP) with AUC of 0.884, 95% CI 0.878-0.89), multiple logistic regression (MLR) using only flow cytometry parameters achieved a very good AUC (0.858, 95% CI 0.852-0.865). To aid interpretation, prediction results of the MLP and MLR models were categorized based on likelihood ratio (LR) for positivity: highly unlikely (LR 0.1), unlikely (LR 0.3), grey zone (LR 0.9), likely (LR 5.0), and highly likely (LR 40). This resulted in 17%, 28%, 34%, 9%, and 13% of samples falling into each respective category for the MLR model and 20%, 26%, 31%, 7%, and 16% for the MLP model. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this robust model has the potential to assist clinicians in their decision-making process by providing insights prior to the availability of urine culture results in a significant portion of samples (∼2/3rd).

Removal of phenazopyridine from water, synthetic urine, and real sample by adsorption using graphene oxide: A DFT theoretical/experimental approach.

Herein, graphene oxide was used as the highly efficient phenazopyridine adsorbent from aqueous medium, synthetic, and human urine. The nanoadsorbent was characterized by different instrumental techniques. The adsorption capacity (1253.17 mg g-1) was reached at pH 5.0, using an adsorbent dosage of 0.125 g L-1 at 298 K. The Sips and Langmuir described the equilibrium data well. At the same time, the pseudo-second order was more suitable for fitting the kinetic data. Thermodynamic parameters revealed the exothermic nature of adsorption with an increase in randomness at the solid-liquid interface. The magnitude of the enthalpy variation value indicates that the process involves the physisorption phenomenon. At the same time, ab initio molecular dynamics data corroborated with the thermodynamic results, indicating that adsorbent and adsorbate establish hydrogen bonds through the amine groups (adsorbate) and hydroxyl groups on the adsorbent surface (weak interactions). Electrostatic interactions are also involved. Additionally, the adsorption assays conducted in simulated medium and human urine showed the excellent performance of adsorbent material to remove the drug in real concentrations excreted by the kidneys (removal values higher than 60%).

Cultivation and nutritional characteristics of Chlorella vulgaris cultivated using Martian regolith and synthetic urine.

Long-term spatial missions will require sustainable methods for biomass production using locally available resources. This study investigates the feasibility of cultivating Chlorella vulgaris, a high value microalgal specie, using a leachate of Martian regolith and synthetic human urine as nutrient sources. The microalga was grown in a standard medium (BBM) mixed with 0, 20, 40, 60, or 100 % Martian medium (MM). MM did not significantly affect final biomass concentrations. Total carbohydrate and protein contents decreased with increasing MM fractions between 0 % and 60 %, but biomass in the 100% MM showed the highest levels of carbohydrates and proteins (25.2 ± 0.9 % and 37.1 ± 1.4 % of the dry weight, respectively, against 19.0 ± 1.7 % and 32.0 ± 2.7 % in the absence of MM). In all MM-containing media, the fraction of the biomass represented by total lipids was lower (by 3.2 to 4.5%) when compared to BBM. Conversely, total carotenoids increased, with the highest value (97.3 ± 1.5 mg/100 g) measured with 20% MM. In a three-dimensional principal component analysis of triacylglycerols, samples clustered according to growth media; a strong impact of growth media on triacylglycerol profiles was observed. Overall, our findings suggest that microalgal biomass produced using regolith and urine can be used as a valuable component of astronauts' diet during missions to Mars.

Non-invasive urine-based ELISA using a recombinant Leishmania protein to diagnose tegumentary leishmaniasis.

The diagnosis of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is hampered by variable sensitivity and/or specificity of the tests. Serological assays are suitable to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis (VL); however, they present low performance for the detection of TL cases. Additionally, blood collection to obtain patient serum represents a challenge, as it is an invasive and uncomfortable procedure, requiring laboratorial infrastructure and trained professionals. In this context, the present study proposed to evaluate patient urine to detect TL, given that this analyte has proven to be effective in ELISA experiments for the detection of VL cases. For this, a Leishmania protein called LiHyV, two specific B-cell epitopes derived from protein amino acid sequence, and a Leishmania antigenic extract (SLA) were used as antigens. A total of 215 paired urine and serum samples were evaluated, and results showed that, when serum was employed as an analyte, rLiHyV, Peptide1, Peptide2, and SLA presented a sensitivity of 85 %, 29 %, 58 %, and 31 %, respectively, and a specificity of 97.5 %, 98 %, 100 %, and 97.5 %, respectively, in the diagnosis of TL. When urine was used, rLiHyV, Peptide1, Peptide2, and SLA presented a sensitivity of 95 %, 74 %, 67 %, and 52 %, respectively, and a specificity of 100 %, 99 %, 98 %, and 86 %, respectively. In conclusion, preliminary data suggest that urine could be considered as an alternative biological sample for the detection of TL cases.

Degradation of emerging contaminants in synthetic hydrolyzed urine by UV/peracetic acid: Free radical chemistry, and toxicity analysis.

The ecological impact of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments has raised concerns, particularly with regards to urine as a significant source of such contaminants in wastewater. The current investigation used the UV/Peracetic Acid (UV/PAA) processes, an innovative advanced oxidation technology, to effectively separate two emerging pollutants from urine at its source, namely, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and bisphenol A(BPA). The research findings demonstrate that the presence of the majority of characteristic ions has minimal impact on the degradation of ECs. However, in synthetic hydrolyzed urine, only NH4+ inhibits the degradation of two types of ECs, with a more pronounced effect observed on CIP degradation compared to BPA.The impact of halogen ions, specifically Cl- and I-, on the degradation of CIP in synthetic hydrolyzed urine was a complex phenomenon. When these two halogen ions are present individually, the generation of reactive halogen species (RHS) within the system enhances the degradation of CIP. However, when both types of ions coexist, the formation of diatomic radical species partially inhibits degradation. In terms of BPA degradation, while the production of reactive chlorine species (RCS) to some extent hinders the reaction rate, the generation of reactive iodine species (RIS) promotes the overall process. CIP undergoes fragmentation of the piperazine and quinoline rings, decarboxylation, defluorination reactions, as well as substitution reactions, leading to the formation of products with simplified structures. The degradation of BPA occurs gradually through hydroxyl and halogen substitution as well as isopropyl cleavage. The preliminary toxicity analysis confirmed that the presence of halogen ions in urine resulted in the formation of halogenated products in two types of ECs, albeit with an overall reduction in toxicity. The UV/PAA processes was considered to be an effective and relatively safe approach for the separation of ECs in urine.

[Regulatory effect of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthmatic rats by urine metabolomics].

Urine metabolomics based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was utilized to investigate the metabolic regulation mechanism of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction(TLDZ) in rats with allergic asthma. SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a dexamethasone group, and a TLDZ group. The allergic asthma model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin(OVA) to induce allergy, combined with atomization excitation. Urine metabolites from all rats were collected by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS. The metabolic profiles of rats in each group were built by principal component analysis(PCA). Besides, the differential metabolites between the model group and the TLDZ group were selected by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), t-test(P<0.05), and variable importance in the projection(VIP) values of more than 3. The differential metabolites were identified through HMDB, METLIN, and other online databa-ses. Heat maps and clustering analysis for relative quantitative information of biomarkers in each group were drawn by MeV 4.8.0 software. Finally, MetaboAnalyst, MBRole, and KEGG databases were used to enrich related metabolic pathways and construct metabolic networks. The result demonstrated that TLDZ could effectively regulate the disordered urine metabolic profiles of asthmatic rats. Combined with multivariate statistical analysis and online databases, a total of 45 differential metabolites with significant changes(P<0.05) between the model group and the TLDZ group were screened out. Metabolic pathways including histidine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism were enriched. TLDZ could improve asthma by regulating related metabolic pathways and interfering with pathological processes such as immune homeostasis airway inflammation. The study investigates the molecular mechanism of anti-asthma of TLDZ from the perspective of urine metabolomics, and combined with previous pharmacological studies, it provides a scientific basis for the clinical development and application of TLDZ in the treatment of asthma.

Treatment techniques and resource recovery of source-separated urine: a bibliometric analysis and literature review.

Human urine, which is high in nutrients, acts as a resource as well as a contaminant. Indiscriminate urine discharge causes environmental pollution and wastes resources. To elucidate the research status and developmental trajectory of source-separated urine (SSU) treatment and recovery, this study was based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database and used the bibliometric software VOSviewer and CiteSpace to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth bibliometric analysis of the related literature in this field. The findings revealed a general upward trend in SSU treatment and recovery from 2000 to 2023. The compendium of 894 scholarly articles predominantly focused on the disciplines of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, and Water Resources. China and the USA emerged as the foremost contributors. Keyword co-occurrence mapping, clustering, and burst analysis have shown that the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from urine is currently the main focus, with future prospects leaning toward the retrieval of biochemicals and chemical energy. This study systematically categorizes and compares the developmental status, current advancements, and research progress in this field. The findings of this study provide a valuable reference for understanding developmental pathways in this field of research.