[Occurrence Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Antibiotics in Reclaimed Water-receiving Rivers in Beijing].

Taking Liangshui River, the reclaimed water-receiving river in Beijing, as the research area, the types, detection frequencies, and concentrations of 16 antibiotics in water and sediment were analyzed, and their temporal-spatial variation and occurrence characteristics were discussed. The results showed that nine and 13 target antibiotics were detected in the water and sediment of Liangshui River, with the antibiotic concentration ranges of ND-116.68 ng·L-1 and ND-235.42 ng·g-1, respectively. The main antibiotics in water were ofloxacin and clarithromycin, and the main antibiotic in sediment was ofloxacin. The total concentration of antibiotics in water and sediment showed a gradual decrease from the upstream to the downstream in the Liangshui River mainstream, and the concentration of antibiotics in tributaries was higher than that in the mainstream. The inflow of tributaries had an obvious impact on the antibiotic concentration in water for the Liangshui River but had little impact on its sediment. The total concentration of antibiotics in water and sediment during the dry season was generally higher than that during the wet season. The detected antibiotics with the highest concentration were quinolones in water during the wet season and macrolides in the dry season. Quinolones had the highest concentration in sediment in both seasons. The ecological risk assessment results showed that clarithromycin had a low risk in water in the dry season and sediment in both seasons, whereas the other antibiotics had no risk. The combined ecological risk and the most sensitive trophic level ecological risk assessment showed that all sampling sites had low risk or no risk, and the risk of the dry season was generally greater than that of the wet season. The risk values of some sampling points were close to the medium risk threshold during the dry season, which requires further attention.

A CARE-compliant article: A case report of retroperitoneal endometrial stromal sarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases and literature review.

RATIONALE: Endometrial stromal sarcoma is an extremely rare mesenchymal neoplasm occurring in the extrauterine. Retroperitoneal endometrial stromal sarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastases, in particular, is extremely rare. PATIENT CONCERNS: Forty-seven-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 2), was referred to our institution with complaints of fever. DIAGNOSES: Ultrasound and computed tomographic imaging of the abdomen identified the presence of masses in the pelvic region. Additionally, computed tomographic scans and X-ray evaluations of the thorax detected dispersed masses in both the lungs and pelvic area. Histopathological analysis of the pelvic region indicated the presence of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. A computed tomography-guided pneumocentesis was conducted to further characterize the pulmonary lesions, confirming the diagnosis of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent tumor resection, subsequent treatment with Medroxyprogesterone acetate for 6 months, received microwave ablation for multiple lung metastases, PARP1 inhibitor for 4 courses, and has been undergoing chemotherapy (epirubicin/ifosfamide) up to the present time. OUTCOMES: Partial remission was obtained after the above treatment and this patient is now still alive maintaining for 3 years. LESSONS: The identification and management of this disease remain a significant challenge due to its low prevalence. Further research involving a larger number of cases is necessary to ensure consistency in diagnosis and to establish effective treatment guidelines.

The amelioration of ulcerative colitis induced by Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid with Radix Hedysari.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown precise etiology. This study proves that Radix Hedysari (RH) ameliorates UC. Four RH extracts were used to ameliorate UC induced by 2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid by 7 days intervention in agreement to preliminary studies. Compared to treatment with RH extracts, the RH ethanol extract (EE) was found to be more effective in ameliorating UC. With EE, the DAI were significantly decreased. Macroscopic and histopathological assessments suggest that the colon mucosa was repaired, the organizational structure of the colon had been rebuilt. The levels of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MDA were significantly decreased (p < .01), the levels of T-SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p < .01). Moreover, the compounds in EE were analyzed by HPLC. The results show that EE can ameliorate UC, and its anti-inflammatory capability probably plays an important role. RH can act as a functional food and ameliorate UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this work, the ameliorative effect of RH on UC was evaluated from multiple angles. There are two practical applications of this work. On the one hand, a new approach to ameliorating UC is provided by this work. In addition, UC patients have a new option for improving their symptoms. On the other hand, this work also provides information on how best to process RH for therapeutic use. In addition, we can utilize some compounds of RH that were once considered useless and reduce the waste of natural resources.

Chromatographic Fingerprint Analysis of Radix Hedysari Using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detector.

A newly and rapid supercritical fluid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of 11 active compounds in Radix Hedysari samples has been developed and validated. Optimum separation was achieved on a HSS SB C18 column with a gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, back pressure of 11.03 Mpa and diode array detector at 260 nm. The results from the quantitative data showed that contents of these 11 active compounds were different from plant regions. Especially the contents of formononetin in the Minxian county are ~6-fold than in wild Radix Hedysari. The chromatographic fingerprint of Radix Hedysari was recorded under the same chromatographic condition. Data analytic procedure was performed to differentiate the 25 batches of Radix Hedysari samples. Data from chromatographic fingerprint were also analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis. The results showed that 23 batches of Radix Hedysari samples had a high similarity (> 0.90) and overall 25 batches of sample were divided into two clusters. Moreover, according to the comparison contents of active compounds in each Radix Hedysari samples, the cultivated location of Radix Hedysari was successfully distinguished. This method presented good stability, repeatability and precision and would be a useful and reliable approach for the quality control of Radix Hedysari. Moreover, all target compounds were quantified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Protective effect of polysaccharides from Radix Hedysari on gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats.

The dry root of Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz., commonly known as "Hong Qi", has a variety of health benefits. The present study was undertaken to explore the anti-gastric ulcer potential effect of Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS; HPS-50, HPS-80), the principal active fraction of Radix Hedysari (RH). The anti-gastric ulcer effects of HPS were evaluated using an animal model of ulcerative lesions induced by acetic acid. The effects of antioxidant factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and mucosal blood flow regulatory factor levels in the gastric tissue homogenate of rats were analyzed for the bioactivities of HPS. The results showed that, compared with the acetic acid-induced ulcerated group, the ulcer inhibition rate of HPS-treated rats was significantly increased. The pathological findings suggested that mucosal regeneration, cell migration, and inflammatory cell infiltration were decreased, and collagen fibers were significantly reduced. Extensive granulation tissue proliferation indicated the healing stage was initiated, suggesting a good prognosis. The oxidative stress status of the gastric ulcer rats was improved, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased, and the levels of PGE-2 and NO were increased (P < 0.05). HPS-80-H may be a promising ingredient for incorporation into functional foods or nutritional supplements for the prevention of gastric ulcers.

Structure-immunomodulatory activity relationships of Hedysarum polysaccharides extracted by a method involving a complex enzyme combined with ultrasonication.

A new, more effective and environmentally friendly method involving a complex enzyme combined with ultrasonication was employed to extract and isolate three novel polysaccharides (HPS-MCs: HPS-MC, HPS-MC (50%) and HPS-MC (80%)) of Radix Hedysari. Compared with polysaccharides obtained using a traditional extraction method (hot water extraction, HPS-R), the yields and total carbohydrate contents of HPS-MCs were significantly higher. HPS-MC (80%) exhibited relatively strong immunomodulatory activity and a concentration-dependent dose-response relationship under cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced immunosuppressive conditions in mice models. To more comprehensively investigate the relationships between structural characteristics and immunomodulatory activity, HPS-MC (80%) was fractionated into three major homogeneous polysaccharide fractions (HPS-MC (80%)s: HPS-MC (80%)-1, HPS-MC (80%)-2, and HPS-MC (80%)-3). These three homogeneous polysaccharides had different mass percentages of monosaccharides species (rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose, and galactose) by gas chromatography (GC) and different molecular weights and chain conformations by high-performance gel permeation chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering (HPGPC-MALLS), and promoted macrophage and splenocyte proliferation to different degrees. These findings indicated that HPS-MC (80%) had a prominent potential immune response, especially HPS-MC (80%)-2 and HPS-MC (80%)-3, and might be suitable candidates for functional foods or potential novel immunomodulators.

Calycosin stimulates the osteogenic differentiation of rat calvarial osteoblasts by activating the IGF1R/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Calycosin has been reported to have a strong osteogenic activity and a positive correlation with anti-osteoporosis effects. However, its precise mechanism of action remains unclear. Since insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) signaling and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) signaling have been shown to play a pivotal role in regulating osteogenesis, we hypothesized that the osteogenic activity of calycosin is mediated by these signaling pathways. Rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROBs) were cultured in osteogenic medium containing calycosin with or without GSK1904529A (GSK) or LY294002 (LY) (inhibitors of IGF1R and PI3K, respectively). The effects on cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcified nodules, mRNA or protein expression of osteogenic genes [alkaline phosphatase (Alpl), collagen type I (Col1a1), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), Osterix, and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2)], and phosphorylation of IGF1R and Akt were examined. The present results showed that calycosin enhanced cell proliferation, ALP activity and Alizarin Red-S staining in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 10-8 -10-6 M, while an inhibitory effect was observed at 10-5 M. Treatment at the optimal concentration (10-6 M, a physiologically achievable concentration) increased mRNA levels of osteogenic genes and phosphorylation of IGF1R and Akt. Furthermore, treatment with GSK or LY partly reversed the effects of calycosin on ROBs, as indicated by the decreases in calycosin-induced ALP activity, calcified nodules and osteogenic gene expression. These results suggest that the osteogenic effect of calycosin partly involves the IGF1R/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

[Complex enzyme combined with ultrasound extraction technology, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of Hedysarum polysaccharides].

In this study, complex enzymes combined with ultrasonic extraction technology（MC） were used, to select optimal extraction combinations by single factor and orthogonal test, with Hedysarum polysaccharides yield and content as the comprehensive indexes. The components, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of Hedysarum polysaccharides from complex enzyme combined with ultrasonic extraction（HPS-MC）and the Hedysarum polysaccharides from hot water extraction（HPS-R）were analyzed. The results showed that：complex enzymes had significant effect on the yield and content of Hedysarum polysaccharides, and the ultrasonic power could significantly improve the content of Hedysarum polysaccharides. The optimum technological parameters were as follows: complex enzyme ratio 1:1, ultrasonic power 105 W, ultrasonic time 60 min, and enzymatic hydrolysis pH 5, achieving （14.01±0.64）% and （92.45±1.47）% respectively for the yield and content of Polysaccharides. As compared with HPS-R, the molecular weight, absolute viscosity and protein content of HPS-MC were decreased, while the content of uronic acid was increased. In the antioxidant system, the concentration of polysaccharide was within the range of 1-7 g·L⁻¹; the antioxidant activity of HPS-MC was higher than that of HPS-R, and HPS-MC (80%) with the lowest molecular weight showed a significant dose effect relationship with the increase of the experimental concentration. In conclusion, MC is a simple, convenient, economical and environmentally friendly extraction technology, and the Hedysarum polysaccharides extracted by this method have obvious antioxidant activity.

Highly enhanced adsorption of Congo red by functionalized finger-citron-leaf-based porous carbon.

A novel high-performance porous carbon material, lanthanum(III)-doped finger-citron-leaf-based porous carbon (La/FPC), has been synthesized and used as an adsorbent for anion dye Congo red (CR). The La/FPC was characterized by nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adsorption performance of CR by the FPC and La/FPC composites with different contents of lanthanum(III) were evaluated in fixed-bed breakthrough experiments and batch tests at room temperature (298 K). The La/FPC had a high CR uptake capacity, which was superior to those previously reported for other adsorbents. The La/FPC sorbents can be easily regenerated using an ethanol elution technique, and after five cycles the reused La/FPC maintained about 98% of its original CR adsorption capacity. The adsorption kinetics of CR onto the lanthanum(III)-doped FPCs followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and fitted well with a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. La/FPC is a promising adsorbent for the removal of the anionic dyes from wastewater.

Effect of groups difference in surfactant on solubilization of aqueous phenol using MEUF.

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) was used to remove phenol from simulant aqueous solutions. The effect of groups difference of cationic surfactant on the solubilization of phenol was investigated through orthogonal experiment, namely, surfactants with the same length of hydrocarbon chain but different hydrophilic head group and vice versa. The effects on the solubilization of phenol of various operating parameters in the practical application of MEUF with OTAB were studied, including surfactant concentration, electrolyte concentration, feed phenol concentration, operating pressure, temperature, respectively. The results showed that the rejection of phenol increased in the order as follows: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)

[Comparison for removing Cu2+ by micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration with SDS and SDBS].

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration was used to remove Cu2+ (Cu2+ was fixed at 0.6 mmol/L) from simulant aqueous solutions with SDS and SDBS as anionic surfactants respectively. Compare SDS and SDBS separation through permeate flux, permeate concentration, rejection and enrichment ratio. Experimental results show that the average permeate flux with SDS is always higher than that with SDBS [the average flux with SDS is 29.92 L x (m2 x h)(-1), while that with SDBS is only 16.55 L x (m2 x h)(-1)], the permeate concentration of SDS is always lower than that with SDBS. When the permeate concentration of Cu2+ close to zero, 2 mmol/L and 6 mmol/L of SDBS and SDS are respectively required. Cu2+ rejection and enrichment ratio with SDS are always higher than those with SDBS (the average Cu2+ rejection and enrichment ratio with SDS are respectively 85.06% and 4.18, while those with SDBS are 69.05% and 4.05 respectively). Besides, the average enrichment ratio of SDS is also higher than that of SDBS (SDS is up to 3.89, while SDBS is 3.13). Therefore, SDS is more suitable than the SDBS for removal of Cu2+.

[Recovery and reuse of SDS by ultrafiltration with acid or chelator].

The retentate stream containing Cd2+ was chosen for the investigation. Effects of acid reagent, chelator, pH and operation mode on separation of Cd2+ and recovery of SDS, as well as efficiency of reclaimed SDS were investigated. The optimum conditions in acidification were obtained: H2SO4 as acid reagent, pH = 1.0, operation mode of batch. Under these conditions, separation of Cd2+ and recovery of SDS are 98.0% and 58.1%, respectively. And the efficiency of reclaimed SDS for removing Cd2+ is 80.2%. In chelation, the optimum conditions were investigated: EDTA as chelator, uncontrolled pH (pH = 4.4) and operation mode of batch. Under these conditions, separation of Cd2+ and recovery of SDS are 90.1% and 60.5%, respectively. And the efficiency of reclaimed SDS for removing Cd2+ is 79.4%.

[Recovery of Cd2+ by an electrolytic process from the concentrated solution of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration].

Micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) is a new method which is based on the surfactant of the unique characteristic of parental molecular structure that can remove heavy metals in the water. The concentrated solution by dealing with the MEUF contains high concentration of heavy metal ions, so it must be need for further processing. The electrolysis method was employed to recovery Cd2+ from the concentrated solution of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). Effects of type of electrode, electrolysis voltage (U) and time (t), solution pH, surfactant to Cd2+ molar ratio ([SDS]/[Cd2+]) on Cd2+ recovery efficiency were investigated. The study found that the surfactant had some effect of resistance to electrolysis process. The optimum experimental conditions were obtained: stainless steel (anode)-graphite (cathode), U = 2.8 V, t = 100 min, pH = 4, [SDS]/[Cd2+] = 5 ([SDS] = 8.5 mmol/L constant). And the recovery efficiency of Cd2+ in the concentrated solution was 50.26%.

Recovery of surfactant SDS and Cd2+ from permeate in MEUF using a continuous foam fractionator.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of foam fractionation to recover valuable surfactant (SDS) and metal ion (Cd2+) in the permeate of micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). The effects of operating factors, such as time, air flow rate, feed flow rate, liquid height, foam height, feed surfactant concentration, ethanol concentration and temperature on separation characteristics were studied in the continuous operation. When the concentrations of surfactant (SDS) and metal ion (Cd2+) in the feed solution were 500 mg/L and 10 mg/L, an enrichment ratio of 3.1 was achieved for SDS along with 52% removal fraction, as well as 99.35% Cd2+ was removed, after optimization of different process parameters. As the optimized results, the air and liquid flow rates were 100 L/h and 5 L/h, liquid and foam heights were 45 cm and 66 cm, respectively, sparger pore size was 10 microm. The Cd2+ concentration in the effluent was lower than 0.1mg/L which could meet the integrated wastewater discharge standard (the first grade of national discharge standards in China).

[Removal of metal ions and dissolved organic compounds in the aqueous solution via micellar enhanced ultrafiltration].

With continuing stringent environmental regulation, the traditional techniques are incapable of reducing the concentration of dissolved organics and heavy metals to the levels required by law or prohibitively expensive. Surfactant-based separation process such as micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration has been extensively proposed. Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration has been demonstrated to be effective in removal of heavy metals and/or organic contaminants from wastewater stream. The process can be low energy cost and easily included in a whole process. Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration has been shown to be a promising method for the removal of low-levelsof heavy metal ions and organic compounds from industrial effluents. This paper introduces the working mechanism, main factors of MEUF and the selection of surfactant and membrane. The lasted study progress on the application of micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration is reviewed. The recovery and reuse of surfactant from the retentate and permeate are also discussed.