CaCO3-coated PVA/BC-based composite for the simultaneous adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) in aqueous solution.

A polymer composite material comprising polyvinyl alcohol/bacterial cellulose/calcium carbonate (PVA/BC/CaCO3) was prepared for enabling the selective adsorption of toxic heavy metal ions, such as Cd(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II) from solution. FT-IR, SEM and XRD analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of CaCO3 into the PVA-based polymer by chemical cross-linking with epichlorohydrin. The optimal pH for adsorption of the metal ions onto PVA/BC/CaCO3 was determined to be 6.0. The pseudo-first-order kinetics model was best-suited for fitting the adsorption kinetics data, and the Langmuir model was best-suited for fitting the thermodynamic adsorption data. The maximum adsorption capacities of PVA/BC/CaCO3 for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) were found to be 57.1, 513.6, and 238.6 mg/g, respectively, at 40 °C. In addition, the adsorbent was found to be highly recyclable. Overall, PVA/BC/CaCO3 adsorbent has the applicable potential in the removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated solution.

Therapeutic and immune function improvement of vitamin D combined with IFN-α on mouse with hepatitis B infection.

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of vitamin D (VD) combined with interferon (IFN) type I (IFN-α) on mice with hepatitis B and to explore the possible mechanism. The mice were divided into control group, model group, IFN-α group, and IFN-α + VD group. After 4 weeks, the mice of four groups were weighed, and the thymus and spleen indexes were calculated. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the serum was detected while pathological changes of the liver were observed. The levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proliferation of spleen lymphocytes was detected by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect the level of CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ in peripheral blood. The levels of ALT and AST in serum were significantly lower in the IFN-α + VD group than those in the IFN-α group, but the thymus and spleen indexes were significantly higher. Although both IFN-α and IFN-α + VD can improve the damaged structure of live tissue, IFN-α + VD achieved higher efficacy than IFN-α alone. The serum IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 levels were lower in the IFN-α + VD group compared with the IFN-α group, and no significant difference was found in IL-4. Compared with the IFN-α group, the percentage of CD4+ and the D4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly increased, but the percentage of CD8+ was reduced. The proliferation rate of splenic lymphocytes was higher in the IFN-α + VD group compared with the IFN-α group. IFN-α + VD was found to achieve higher efficacy than IFN-α alone for the treatment of hepatitis B in mice, possibly through increasing the immune level of mice.

Concurrent Percutaneous Transhepatic Papillary Balloon Dilatation Combined with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for the Treatment of Gallstones with Common Bile Duct Stones.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilatation (PPBD) combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for the treatment of gallstones with common bile duct stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2012 to January 2013, 65 patients (31 males and 34 females) who had gallstones with common bile duct stones were divided into two groups: endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation (EPBD)+LC (n = 40 cases) and PPBD+LC (n = 25 cases). The maximum transverse diameter of common bile duct stoned was 15 mm. White blood cell count and serum amylase level were measured at 12 hours and 72 hours after the operation, and operation time, time of gastrointestinal function recovery, and hospitalization time were analyzed. RESULTS: No case in either group was converted to open surgery. The stones were successfully pushed out into the duodenum in all patients of both groups. One case of postoperative pancreatitis (2.5%) and 5 cases of hyperamylasemia (12.5%) occurred among the 40 patients in the EPBD+LC group. In contrast, no case of postoperative pancreatitis and 2 cases of hyperamylasemia (8%) occurred among the 25 patients in the PPBD+LC group. The serum amylase level at 12 hours postoperatively was statistically significantly different (307 ± 39.94 IU/L in the EPBD+LC group and 193 ± 30.78 IU/L in the PPBD+LC group; P < .05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in operative time, postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery time, or hospital stay time (P > .05). During follow-up of 2 years, 1 case of recurrence for common bile duct stones was discovered and was treated successfully with EPBD repeatedly. CONCLUSIONS: PPBD combined with LC simultaneously is an alternative effective and safe procedure for the treatment of gallstones and bile duct stones, especially for those patients who are unsuitable for endoscopic treatment.