New solution for predicting the removal efficiency of organic contaminants by UV/ H2O2: From a case study of 1H-benzotriazole.

Rapid prediction of the removal efficiency and energy consumption of organic contaminants under various operating conditions is crucial for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in industrial application. In this study, 1H-Benzotriazole (BTZ, CAS: 95-14-7) is selected as a model micropollutant, a validated incorporated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is employed to comprehensively investigate the impacts of initial concentrations of H2O2, BTZ and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (i.e., [DOC]0, [BTZ]0 and [DOC]0), as well as the effective UV lamp power P and volumetric flow rate Qv. Generally, the operation performance depends on [DOC]0 and [BTZ]0 in similar trends, but with quantitatively different ways. The increase in [H2O2]0 and P/Qv can promote •OH generation, leading to the elimination of BTZ. It is worth noting that P/Qv is found to be linearly correlated with the removal order of BTZ (ROBTZ) under specific conditions. Based on this finding, the degradation of other potential organic contaminants with a wide range of rate constants by UV/H2O2 is further investigated. A model for predicting energy consumption for target removal rates of organic pollutants is established from massive simulation data for the first time. Additionally, a handy Matlab app is first developed for convenient application in water treatment. This work proposes a new operable solution for fast predicting operation performance and energy consumption for the removal of organic contaminants in industrial applications of advanced oxidation processes.

Oral vaccination with recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus G protein elicits protective immunity in largemouth bass.

Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) is one of the main pathogens of largemouth bass, leading to serious economic losses. The G protein, as the only envelope protein present on the surface of MSRV virion, contains immune-related antigenic determinants, thereby becoming the primary target for the design of MSRV vaccines. Here, we displayed the G protein on the surface of yeast cells (named EBY100/pYD1-G) and conducted a preliminary assessment of the protective efficacy of the recombinant yeast vaccine. Upon oral vaccination, a robust immune response was observed in systemic and mucosal tissue. Remarkably, following the MSRV challenge, the relative percent survival of EBY100/pYD1-G treated largemouth bass significantly increased to 66.7 %. In addition, oral administration inhibited viral replication and alleviated the pathological symptoms of MSRV-infected largemouth bass. These results suggest that EBY100/pYD1-G could be used as a potential oral vaccine against MSRV infection.

A Mild Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzothiazoles via Nickel-Catalyzed Intramolecular Oxidative C-H Functionalization.

A highly efficient synthetic method for the preparation of 2-aminobenzothiazoles starting from arylthioureas has been reported. By using a nickel catalyst, arylthioureas undergo intramolecular oxidative C-H bond functionalization, giving the desired 2-aminobenzothiazoles in good to excellent yields. This protocol features an inexpensive catalyst, low catalyst loading, mild reaction conditions, a short reaction time, and good to excellent yields, and it can be scaled up easily to a gram scale with almost no yields decreasing.

One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Benzyl/2-Allyl-Substituted Thiobenzoazoles Using Transition-Metal-Free Conditions in Water.

A transition-metal-free protocol for the one-pot synthesis of 2-benzyl/2-allyl-substituted thiobenzoazoles in water was developed. The cyclization of 2-aminothiophenols, 2-aminophenols, and 1,2-phenylenediamines with tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD) gave mercapto benzoheterocycles, and the subsequent C-S coupling with benzyl or allyl halides furnished the desired products in good to excellent yields. This method features transition-metal-free conditions with water as a solvent, an easy performance, mild reaction conditions, a wide substrate scope, and good to excellent yields, thus paving an efficient and useful way to establish a library of potentially active drug molecules.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Tandem One-Pot Synthesis of 2-Arylthiobenzothiazoles and 2-Arylthiobenzoxazoles in Water.

An efficient tandem process for the preparation of 2-arylthiobenzothiazoles has been developed. By condensation of 2-aminobenzenethiol with tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD), 2-mercaptobenzothiazoles was in situ generated, which susequently underwent coupling with iodobenzenes to give the desired 2-arylthiobenzothiazoles fluently in a one-pot manner. This method can also be used for the synthesis of 2-arylthiobenzoxazoles. Inexpensive metal catalyst and ligand, mild reaction temperature, and water as solvent make this protocol practically valuable and useful in organic synthesis.

The clinicopathological parameters and prognostic significance of HER2 expression in gastric cancer patients: a meta-analysis of literature.

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is regarded as an important and promising target in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancers. However, the correlation of clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of HER2 overexpression in gastric cancer patients remains unclear. Our aim was to clarify this issue. METHODS: Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles published up to May 2016. Outcomes of interest contained sex, age, tumor size, tumor site, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, Lauren's classification, differentiation grade, lymphovascular invasion, neural invasion, and multivariate analysis data for overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 41 studies of 17,494 gastric cancer patients were identified with HER2 test. HER2 positive rate was 19.07% (95% CI = 9.16, 28.98). There existed statistical significance between HER2 overexpression and patients' prognosis (RR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.98). Male patients (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.34, 1.65), proximal tumors (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.47), intestinal-type tumors (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 2.54, 4.47), advanced stage cancers (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.66), lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.14, 1.41), well-differentiated cancers (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.15, 2.76), and distant metastasis (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.08, 3.38) were correlated with higher HER2 expression rates. However, no statistical differences existed in age, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, or neural invasion. Subgroup analysis revealed that HER2 expression rates reported in articles from Asian (19.52%) countries were quantitatively higher than those from European (16.91%) areas. Results were consistent with those reports that define HER2 status according to trastuzumab for gastric cancer (ToGA) criteria. CONCLUSION: This study showed that HER2 overexpression was associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. HER2 positive rates may be associated with sex, tumor site, TNM staging system, distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, Lauren's classification, and differentiation grade in gastric cancer patients. The HER2 expression rate in Asians may be higher than that in Europeans. This study offers a convenient way for doctors to select patients for relevant HER2 detection and following treatment.

Novel heavy-metal adsorption material: ion-recognition P(NIPAM-co-BCAm) hydrogels for removal of lead(II) ions.

A novel polymeric lead(II) adsorbent is prepared by incorporating benzo-18-crown-6-acrylamide (BCAm) as metal ion receptor into the thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel. Both stimuli-sensitive properties and the Pb(2+)-adsorption capabilities of the prepared P(NIPAM-co-BCAm) hydrogels are investigated. The prepared P(NIPAM-co-BCAm) hydrogels exhibit good ion-recognition and Pb(2+)-adsorption characteristics. When crown ether units capture Pb(2+) and form BCAm/Pb(2+) host-guest complexes, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the hydrogel shifts to a higher temperature due to both the repulsion among charged BCAm/Pb(2+) groups and the osmotic pressure within the hydrogel. The adsorption results at different temperatures show that P(NIPAM-co-BCAm) hydrogels adsorb Pb(2+) ions at temperature lower than the LCST, but undergo desorption at temperature higher than the LCST due to the "stretch-to-shrink" configuration change of copolymer networks which is triggered by the change in environmental temperature. This kind of ion-recognition hydrogel is promising as a novel adsorption material for adsorption and separation of Pb(2+) ions. The adsorption and desorption of Pb(2+) could be rationally achieved by simply changing the environmental temperature.

[STAT1 antisense oligonucleotides inhibit secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in alveolar macrophages of rats suffering from interstitial pulmonary fibrosis].

AIM: To investigate the effect of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) antisense oligonucleotides (ASON) on secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO by alveolar macrophages (AMs) of rats with bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: Five adult female Wistar rats were intratracheally instilled with BLM. After 7 days, the rats were sacrificed under ketamine anaesthesia and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to obtain AMs. AMs were divided into four groups: STAT1 ASON, STAT1 sense oligonucleotides (SON), dexamethasone (DEX) and control groups. Culture medium was collected at 36 hours after adding STAT1 ASON, STAT1 SON and DEX, respectively. The concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in the culture medium were detected. RESULTS: The concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in STAT1 ASON group were lower than those in STAT1 SON, DEX and control groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in DEX group were also lower than those in control and STAT1 SON groups (P<0.05). But compared with control group, the concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in STAT1 SON group was not significantly different (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: STAT1 ASON can inhibit the secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and NO in AMs. STAT1 may become a target for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of Qingqiao capsule in treating patients with secretory otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Qingqiao Capsule (QQC) in treating patients with secretory otitis media (SOM). METHODS: A total of 90 patients were randomly assigned into the treated group (n = 45) and the control group (n = 45). Patients in the treated group were administrated with QQC, 5 capsules each time, 3 times a day for totally 10-14 days, and those in the control group were given per os cefaclor capsules 0.5 g each time for adult, 3 times a day, or 20 mg/(kg.d) for children, for 10-14 days. The therapeutic efficacy of treatment on the patients was observed and compared after treatment and followed up for 3-6 months. RESULTS: (1) The clinical efficacy in the treated group was superior to that in the control group with significant statistical difference (P < 0.01); (2) Comparison of the efficacies in patients of three different TCM syndrome types (the external pathogenic wind invasion caused auditory orifice stuffiness type, the Gan-Dan damp-heat steaming up auditory orifice type and the Pi-deficiency dysfunction induced dirty dampness blocking ear type) showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05); (3) The vanishing rate and time needed of the main symptoms and signs in the treated group were superior to those in the control group on ear muffle, tinnitus, hearing impairment, hydrotypanum, pure tone threshold and abnormal tongue figure, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), only those of earache, otopiesis and abnormal pulse figure were insignificantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: QQC is an effective Chinese composite medicine on patients with SOM, and shows no obvious adverse reaction.