Unleashing the potential: integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese medicine.

This review explores the potential of integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medical theory. It highlights the intersections and potential of nano-delivery systems in enhancing the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments. In addition, it discusses how the integration of nano-delivery systems with Chinese medical theory can modernize herbal medicine and make it more readily accessible on a global scale. Finally, it analyzes the challenges and future directions in this field.

Preparation of modified reed carbon composite hydrogels for trapping Cu2+, Ni2+ and methylene blue in aqueous solutions.

The pollution of heavy metal ions and organic dyes seriously endangers human health and causes acute environmental problems. The adsorption method is extensively adopted in the treatment of water pollution which is more harmful to human health. In this work, the original reed carbon (ORC) was functionalized by polyethyleneimine (PEI). By means of radical polymerization, PEI-modified reed carbon (PRC), sodium alginate and lysine were made into carbon-composite acrylic hydrogel (SA/LS/PRC). Meanwhile, SEM, FTIR, TGA, and Zeta potential were used to characterize the adsorbent. The elimination capacity of SA/LS/PRC for Cu2+, Ni2+, and Methylene blue (MB) was researched through batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption behavior of SA/LS/PRC is more suitable for the pseudo-second-order kinetic model of chemical removal of pollutants and the Langmuir model relying on monolayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities of SA/LS/PRC for Cu2+, Ni2+ and MB are 1245.27, 1239.47 and 627.29 mg g-1, respectively, and the adsorption performance is better than those reported in most literatures. The interaction of Cu2+, Ni2+, and MB were studied via binary mixed adsorption experience. Surface complexation and electrostatic interactions are the major removal mechanisms for contaminants. The adsorption capacity of SA/LS/PRC kept above 81% after five cycles. The SA/LS/PRC green hydrogel can be effectively applied in the mixed adsorption process of heavy metal ions and the removal of dyes.

Chitosan-based composite microspheres for treatment of hexavalent chromium and EBBR from aqueous solution.

Hexavalent chromium is widely used in industrial fields, but its pollution has posed a great threat to the environment due to its high toxicity. We created a chitosan-based microsphere biosorbent (CP) by combining polyethyleneimine with chitosan adopting inverse emulsion polymerization method. Under the optimal conditions (pH = 3), the maximum adsorption capacity of composite microspheres can reach 299.89 mg g-1, which is much higher than that of chitosan microspheres (168.91 mg g-1). When the amount of CP is 0.25 g L-1, the removal rate of 50 mg L-1 Cr(VI) and 50 mg L-1 Eriochrome blue-black R (EBBR) can reach 95% and 99%, respectively. The time required for CP to reach adsorption equilibrium (180 min) was significantly shorter than that of chitosan microspheres (540 min), and the adsorption rate was significantly improved. Langmuir isotherm model, pseudo-second-order kinetic model and thermodynamic calculation results penetrated an endothermic spontaneous, monolayer, and chemical adsorption process. Biomass composite microspheres CP has obvious selectivity and the adsorption capacity retention rate of CP was still 71.32% after four adsorption cycles. This work proposed an easily prepared and biomass-based microspheres for the effective removal of Cr(VI) in printing and dyeing wastewater pollution through adsorption.

Functionalized cotton charcoal/chitosan biomass-based hydrogel for capturing Pb2+, Cu2+ and MB.

In this work, a porous multi-functional biomass carbon was prepared by acid-base modification method, which realized the reuse of waste cotton material. Then, the modified biochar was combined with the acrylic-based hydrogel by radical polymerization, and the biochar acrylic-based hydrogel (CS/EDTA/CBC) composite with chitosan and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid was successfully prepared. This not only increases the adsorption performance of the adsorbent but also improves the stability of hydrogel. These characteristics provide high-efficiency adsorption capacity for pollutants (1105.78 mg g-1 for Pb2+, 678.04 mg g-1 for Cu2+, and 590.72 mg g-1 for methylene blue (MB)), which is far superior to most reported adsorbents. Meanwhile, the adsorbent would have a strong chemical interaction with Pb2+ and Cu2+, can form a stable chelating structure, and showed stronger selective adsorption. The adsorption process is more suitable for the Langmuir isotherm and follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which indicates that the adsorption is a single-layer adsorption, and the rate-limiting step is a chemical chelation reaction. XPS results confirmed that surface complexation and electrostatic attraction are the main mechanisms of the adsorption reaction. After five cycles, the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent and the recovery of heavy metal ions remained at a high level.

The Chronotropic Function of Propofol and the Underlying Mechanism in Rabbits.

The report of bradycardia caused by propofol is increasing. In the experiment, we investigated the chronotropic function of propofol and the underlying mechanism. Rabbits of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 groups: propofol 5 mg/kg group, 10 mg/kg group, 15 mg/kg group, and sham group. Heart rate and frequency of vagal efferent discharge were recorded before the injection and 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 10 min after the injection through intravenous mode. Then, their hearts were removed, and sinoatrial nodes were dissected. The action potentials of the sinus node pacemaker cells were recorded by the intracellular glass microelectrode technique, and the sinoatrial (SA) node was exposed to propofol 1, 3, 5, and 10 µM respectively. The action potentials were recorded after the sinoatrial nodes were exposed to each concentration of propofol for 15 min. Our results show that the heart rate significantly decreased, and the vagal efferent discharge was significantly increased at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 min after the injection, respectively. Besides, as the dose increases, the magnitude of change shows a dose-dependent manner. Propofol exerts a negative chronotropic action on sinoatrial node pacemaker cells. The drug significantly decreased APA, VDD, RPF, and prolonged APD90 in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects may be the main mechanism of propofol-induced bradycardia in clinical study.

Factors associated with patients' decision on colorectal cancer screening.

ABSTRACT: Cancer prevention and control are critical public health concerns. However, the screening uptake and referral rate for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Taiwan remain low. This study focused on the factors influencing whether a patient with a CRC diagnosis chooses to undergo referral follow-up.A cross-sectional research and used the Health Belief Model was method applied in this study. Variables such as demographic factors, CRC diagnosis-related knowledge factors, and health belief factors were employed to investigate the decisive factors that affect the health behavior of patients diagnosed with CRC who test positive on the fecal occult blood test. Study identified prospective participants in Daliao District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan aged 50 to 75 years. A structured questionnaire was administered to the individuals, and 200 responded. The questionnaires of 100 who went for a referral group and 80 who did not a nonreferral group were analyzed. The questionnaire was reliable and valid, as determined through an expert evaluation and pretest, respectively.Among the 200 participants, T test indicated that those who underwent a referral were significantly more likely to be younger (Age [Mean ±â€ŠSD] n: 62.7, 7.1%; Unreferred group: n: 65.1, 7.0%; Referred group: n:60.7, 6.6%; P ≤ .001), be more educated (P = .002), exercise more (P < .05), and have more family members with cancer (P = .001) or CRC (P < .05). Participants who underwent a referral also had significantly more knowledge (P < .001). Furthermore, those who underwent a referral had significantly perceived greater susceptibility (P < .05), greater benefits (P = .002), and lower barriers (P < .001) of screening; they also received greater encouragement to do so from sources (e.g., clinicians or the media) around them (P = .009).Age, education level, number of family members with cancer or CRC, exercise habits, knowledge of CRC, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and encouragement from others influence referral behavior. Government policy should focus on older patients and health education, especially in the mass media. Hospitals should also ensure the ease of referrals to lower perceived barriers.

Effective removal of heavy metals from water using porous lignin-based adsorbents.

Multifunctional composite materials are the key to improving removal capacity and environmental utility. Here, the adsorbent (SLCA) was obtained by free-radical polymerization of acrylic acid with sodium lignosulfonate and citric acid. FTIR, SEM, TGA and XPS characterization methods were used to prove the structure and properties of SLCA adsorbents. The maximum uptake capacities of the optimized SLCA adsorbent is 276 mg g-1 of Cu2+ and 323 mg g-1 of Pb2+, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm and the second-order kinetic model were established to illustrate that the capture of Cu2+ and Pb2+ by the adsorbent belongs to chemisorption on the monolayer. XPS analysis confirmed that complexation and electrostatic attraction are the mechanism of pollutant removal. Not only that, as-resulting adsorbent revealed no significant adsorption cycle efficiency reduction even after 5 runs of sorption-desorption cycle, manifesting that it is of great stability and could be regarded as a promising candidate adsorbent. The purpose of this research was to develop a green lignin-based adsorbent with strong environmental protection and regeneration ability based on cheap polyacrylic resin.

Synthesis of sodium lignosulfonate-guar gum composite hydrogel for the removal of Cu2+ and Co2.

As an emerging pollutant treatment material, hydrogel is known for its good adsorption capacity and environmental friendliness. In this study, a composite material of acrylic acid as the polymerization monomer grafted sodium lignosulfonate and guar gum was prepared, which provided a channel for adsorbing metal ions with its abundant active functional groups and porous structure. The optimized synthesized product was applied to the removal of Cu2+ and Co2+ in a one-component system and a multi-component system, and the maximum ion adsorption capacities obtained were determined to be 709 mg g-1 of Cu2+, 601 mg g-1 of Co2+, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were well fitted by the pseudo second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, showing that the adsorption of Cu2+ and Co2+ by the adsorbent belongs to the chemisorption on monolayer. XPS results confirmed the successful adsorption of Cu2+ and Co2+ by GG/SLS. Surface complexation was proposed to be the main mechanism for GG/SLS adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions. In addition, the use of recycling research showed that the adsorbent has good chemical stability. These results provided valuable information for designing highly efficient adsorbents that can be used as a high-quality wastewater treatment material.

Esmolol activates endogenous neurokinin activity inhibiting infarction-induced arrhythmias in rats: novel mechanisms of anti-arrhythmia.

Endogenous neurokinin and adrenergic mechanisms might co-participate in the pathology of acute myocardial infarction (MI). This study sought to investigate the role of endogenous neurokinin and its relationship with ß1-adrenergic mechanism in the infarction induced arrhythmias. In 60min of MI in rats, the contents of substance P (SP), a native agonist of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1-R), norepinephrine (NE), NK1-R and ß1-adrenergic receptor in the myocardium at risk of ischemia were examined and the ventricular arrhythmias were analyzed. The effects of pretreatment with D-SP (152ng/kg), a specific antagonist of NK1-R, esmolol (10mg/kg), a specific blocker of ß1-adrenergic receptor, and a combination of the two blockers were studied. The results showed that the overlaps of up-regulation of NE, SP and the increase of ventricular arrhythmias were observed. D-SP exacerbated the episodes and duration of VT & VF by 54% and 104%, respectively (all P<0.05). Esmolol inhibited the morbidity rate, the episodes and the duration of VT & VF by 66%, 92% and 95%, respectively. Surprisingly, esmolol significantly attenuated the arrhythmogenic effect of D-SP throughout the MI, beyond the time span of esmolol action, during which a significant up-regulation of the NK1-R (by 19%, P<0.05) was detected. In conclusion, the findings of this study may indicate an anti-arrhythmic effect of endogenous neurokinin mechanism, through the activation of which, via up-regulation of NK1 receptor, esmolol may exert its anti-arrhythmic action at the early time of acute myocardial infarction.