Photocatalytic Degradation and Toxicity Analysis of Sulfamethoxazole using TiO2/BC.

Sulfonamide antibiotics in the environment not only disrupt the ecological balance but can also enter the human or animal body in various forms and cause harm. Therefore, exploring efficient methods to degrade sulfonamide antibiotics is crucial. In this study, we prepared biochar (BC) using corn straw, and TiO2/BC was obtained by doping different proportions of TiO2 into biochar with varying carbonization temperatures using the sol-gel method. Next, we investigated the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in solution using the generated TiO2/BC under ultraviolet irradiation and studied the effects of various experimental parameters, such as the type of composite material, composite material addition, solution pH, and initial antibiotic concentration on SMX degradation. Under an initial SMX concentration of 30 mg/L, the composite with the best photocatalytic degradation performance was TiO2/BC-5-300 (i.e., 5 mL of TiO2 doping; 300 °C calcination temperature), with an addition amount of 0.02 g and a solution pH of 3. The degradation efficiency increased from 22.3% to 89%, and the most significant degradation effect occurred during the initial stage of photocatalytic degradation. In the TiO2/BC-5-300 treated SMX solution, the average rhizome length of bean sprouts was significantly higher than that of the untreated SMX solution and slightly lower than that of the deionized aqueous solution (3.05 cm < 3.85 cm < 4.05 cm). This confirmed that the photocatalytic degradation of SMX by the composite was effective and could efficiently reduce its impact on the growth of bean sprouts. This study provides essential data and theoretical support for using TiO2/BC in the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.

Efficacy of nano-modified Runji ointment in the treatment of mild and moderate psoriasis with blood dryness syndrome: a study protocol for a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a common, recurrent, immune skin disease, which seriously affects patients' quality of life. In clinical practice, modified Runji ointment can effectively treat mild-to-moderate psoriasis with blood dryness syndrome, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence-based medical evidence. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nano-modified Runji ointment in the treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis with blood dryness syndrome. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will be a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. A total of 80 patients will be recruited and randomly divided into an intervention group (nano-modified Runji ointment group) and a placebo group at a ratio of 1:1. All included patients will receive 8 weeks of nano-modified Runji ointment or placebo ointment respectively, twice a day. The primary outcome will be the change in psoriasis area and disease severity index score at week 8 compared to baseline. The secondary outcomes will be rash area score, pruritus score, Dermatology Life Quality Index score, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score and adverse events. DISCUSSION: This study may provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy of nano-modified Runji ointment in the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with blood dryness syndrome. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000034292. Registered July 1, 2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=55884&htm=4.

Study on the Change of Dielectric Properties and Chemical-Mechanism during Coal Low-Temperature Oxidation.

The study aims to investigate the variation of the coal dielectric properties during coal low-temperature oxidation and the effect of oxidation product on the coal dielectric properties. Four different types of coal were prepared under low-temperature oxidation condition, and the coal dielectric properties were measured with an impedance analyzer at frequencies ranging between 20 Hz and 30 MHz. The oxygen-containing functional groups in oxidized coal samples were semi-quantitatively evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Low-temperature oxidation stage of coal spontaneous combustion could be predicted according to the change of coal dielectric properties in the process of temperature rise. It was found that the dielectric constant of coal with high water content decreased exponentially with temperature. For coal sample with low water content, the dielectric properties changed piecewise linearly with temperature. Coal dehydration was considered to be the reason for the decrease of the dielectric constant from 30 °C to 120 °C. The increase of the relative content of oxygen-containing functional groups, especially carbonyl compounds, could be the reason for the rise of the coal dielectric constant from T2 to T3.

Efficacy of Modified Qufeng Runmian Powder () on Acne Vulgaris with Syndromes of Dampness and Blood Stasis: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Chinese medicine (CM) Modified Qufeng Runmian Powder (, MQFRMP) for the treatment of acne vulgaris with CM syndromes of dampness and blood stasis. METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 220 acne vulgaris patients with CM syndrome of dampness and blood stasis were included and randomly assigned using a central area group random design to receive either MQFRMP or the placebo, with 110 cases in each group. MQFRMP or a placebo at 145 g/bag were administered once daily for 4 weeks, respectively. The primary index of efficacy was the effective rate according to the acne severity score (ASS). The secondary indices of efficacy included the changes in the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score, VISIA scores (spots, pores, brown spots, porphyrins and red areas) and skin assessment (skin pH, sebum amount and hydration) according to a SOFT skin multianalyzer. RESULTS: (1) Follow-up: a total of 204 patients completed the follow-up, with 103 in the treatment group and 101 in the control group. (2) Effective rate: the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group [83.5% (86/103) vs. 31.7% (32/101), P<0.01)] with 95% confidence interval of 39.3%-66.4%. (3) DLQI: DLQI scores were significantly decreased the treatment and control groups (both P<0.01), but the treatment group was more obvious than the placebo group (P<0.01). (4) VISIA scores: the scores of spots, brown spots and red areas in the treatment group decreased compared with baseline (P<0.05). In the control group, the scores of brown spots and pores decreased compared with baseline (P<0.05). The improvement was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group for all items (P<0.05). (5) Skin assessment: the pH and sebum score in the both groups decreased drastically compared with the baseline (all P<0.01), however, the improvement was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). The hydration amount in the two groups showed no statistically significant difference compared with the baseline (both P>0.05). (6) Safety: two cases of mild drug allergy were observed in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: MQFRMP was effective and safe for the treatment of acne vulgaris with syndromes of dampness and blood stasis. (No. ChiCTR1900020479).

Whether Fire-needle Therapy Benefits Plaque Psoriasis: A Multicenter, Randomized, and Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effectiveness and safety of fire-needle therapy, an external approach of Chinese medicine in treating plaque psoriasis. METHODS: This study was a two-parallel-arm randomized controlled trial. A total of 151 participants with plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to the fire-needle therapy group (treatment group, 76 cases) or the control group (75 cases) at a 1:1 allocation ratio using SAS software. All participants received Oral Huoxue Jiedu Decoction (, HXJDD) and applied externally vaseline cream twice a day. Participants in the treatment group received fire-needle therapy once weekly for 4 weeks plus HXJDD and vaseline cream applied the same as the control group. The primary outcome measure was Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, and the secondary outcomes were Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQL), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), as well as Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome score and photos of target lesions. The indices were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients in each group completed the study. The treatment group has not yet achieved significant improvement in PASI score (P>0.05) compared to the control group. However, significant differences were found between the two groups in relieving CM syndrome (P<0.05) and improving quality of life (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fire-needle appears to be safe and may have benefit for psoriasis, the short-term treatment and small sample size limit the conclusions of this study. Further rigorous randomized controlled trials with longer treatment are recommended.

Literature research of Chinese medicine recipes for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with blood-heat syndrome type.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and investigate the rules for drug utilization of Chinese medicine for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with blood-heat syndrome. METHODS: The literatures that met the following inclusion criteria were screened out from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from January 1998 to December 2008, including the compositions and dosages of the recipes reported completely and accurately, the sample size being [Symbol: see text] 30 cases and the total effective rate being [Symbol: see text] 70%. RESULTS: In total, 289 papers meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved, involving 301 recipes; in which 111 recipes consisting of 145 individual drugs were the function for clearing the heat, accounting for 52.84%. The three drugs with the highest utilized frequency were Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi and Cortex Moutan. Meridian adscription of the drugs was mainly the Gan-meridian. CONCLUSION: There were rules for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome with Chinese medicine prescriptions.