Modeling of NO mass transfer characteristics absorbed in sodium persulfate solution with a bubble reactor.

Sodium persulfate solution is considered as an effective wet denitrification medium, however, it is unclear that the influence of the operating conditions on mass transfer characteristics parameters during the absorption of NO with sodium persulfate solution. To determine the key mass transfer characteristics parameters, the specific interfacial area a and the mass transfer coefficients kL,  kG, were determined based on the Danckwerts method during CO2 absorption in a bubble column. kL, kG  and a were calculated by correlations between the mass transfer coefficients of NO and CO2. Results showed that the specific interfacial area increased 77.64 m-1, the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient increased 2.49 × 10-4 m·s-1, and the gas phase mass transfer coefficient increased 0.71 × 10-5 mol·Pa-1·s-1·m-2 with superficial gas velocity increasing from 0.6 to 1.4 L·min-1. With the temperature of sodium persulfate solution increasing from 293 to 333 K, the specific interfacial area decreased 42.66 m-1, while the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient and the gas phase mass transfer coefficient increased 3.89 × 10-4 m·s-1 and 1.18 × 10-5 mol·Pa-1·s-1·m-2, respectively. The experiments results determined the correlations of a, kL, and kG  with the temperature of the absorption phase and the superficial velocity of the gas. It can serve as a guide to the enhancement of the sodium persulfate wet denitrification process.

Experimental Study on the Effect of a Weifufang on Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cell Line BGC-823 Xenografts and PTEN Gene Expression in Nude Mice.

Background: This study aims at investigating the effect of the Weifufang, an effective prescription for the treatment of gastric cancer developed by the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)/Combination of TCM and Western Medicine Department of the Hunan Cancer Hospital, on gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice and its effect on the PTEN gene; it also aims at exploring the possible tumor suppression mechanism. Methods: Nude mice with xenografts were treated with different concentrations of the Weifufang for 2 weeks, and changes in tumor volume were observed. The histopathology of the tumor was detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining; PTEN gene expression in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot. Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, tumor inhibition rates in the 5-flourouracil (5-FU) group, and in the Weifufang low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were 30.67%, 19%, 49.52%, and 29.36%, respectively. The IOD of the PTEN gene was detected by IHC. The values in the water group, the 5-FU group, and the Weifufang low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were 0.013 ± 0.004, 0.085 ± 0.062, 0.041 ± 0.024, 0.128 ± 0.032, and 0.061 ± 0.052, respectively. Except for the 5-FU group, the differences between the gastric compound middle dose-group and the other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results of PTEN expression detection by western blot: The expression levels in the water group, 5-FU group, and the Weifufang low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were 0.2240 ± 0.0172, 0.4200 ± 0.0228, 0.2760 ± 0.0163, 0.3840 ± 0.0133, and 0.3040 ± 0.0211, respectively. Except for the 5-FU group, differences between the Weifufang middle-dose group and the other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Weifufang may inhibit the growth of gastric cancer xenografts by upregulating PTEN gene expression. The middle-dose group had the best effect.

Increased circulating trimethylamine N-oxide plays a contributory role in the development of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in the RUPP rat model of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) plays a role in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of preeclampsia (PE).  Methods: Normal pregnant rats and RUPP rats were treated without or with 3,3-Dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB, a TMAO inhibitor) from gestational day 14.  Results: On day 19 of gestation, RUPP rats had higher plasma TMAO, impaired vasodilation and hypertension, decreased interleukin (IL)-10, increased superoxide production and proinflammatory cytokines in the aorta. All of which were reversed by DMD.  Conclusion: Increased circulating TMAO downregulates IL-10 and promotes vascular inflammation and oxidative stress, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in PE.