Determining the prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in manure of dairy lagoons.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of microbial pathogens in manure of dairy lagoons in California. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine pathogens in dairy manure stored in anaerobic lagoons of dairy farm, an extensive field study was conducted across California to sample manure from 20 dairy farms. Samples were analyzed to determine the prevalence of indicator Escherichia coli, Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella, and E. coli O157: H7. To test the E. coli, STEC, and Salmonella, we used agar culture-based method followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. In addition, a real- time PCR based method was used to determine the presence of E coli O157: H7. Study demonstrated that the prevalence of Salmonella in manure sample is lower than E. coli. The presence of Salmonella was found in 2.26% of the samples, and both the culture-based and PCR methods yielded comparable outcomes in detecting Salmonella. Moreover, ∼11.30% of the total samples out of the 177 were identified as positive for STEC by qPCR. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that indicator E. coli are abundantly present in anaerobic lagoons. However, the presence of STEC, and Salmonella is substantially low.

Layered Double Hydroxides Derived from MIL-88A(Fe) as an Efficient Adsorbent for Enhanced Removal of Lead (II) from Water.

The efficient removal of lead (II) from aqueous solution remains a big problem and the development of novel nanomaterials as adsorbents by various technologies to solve this problem is promising. This study contributed a novel nanostructure of MIL-88A-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as the adsorbent for Pb2+, which was synthesized by a two-step solvothermal method with MIL-88A(Fe) as the precursor. The as-prepared material featured a chestnut-like core-shell structure, and exhibited excellent removal performance towards Pb2+ from water in comparison to MIL-88A(Fe) and LDHs (directly synthesized). The adsorption of Pb2+ by the MIL-88A-LDHs conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximal adsorption capacity was 526.32, 625.00, and 909.09 mg g-1 at 278, 298, and 318 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption was an endothermic, entropy-increasing, and spontaneous reaction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the surface complexation was mostly responsible for Pb2+ elimination. The MIL-88A-LDHs can be readily regenerated and showed good cyclic performance towards Pb2+. Thus, the as-prepared MIL-88A-LDHs may hold promise for the elimination of aqueous heavy metals.

Antiosteoporosis and bone protective effect of nimbolide in steroid-induced osteoporosis rats.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a metabolic, hereditary, progressive disease characterized by unusual bone production across the skeleton and a loss the bone tissue microstructure and mass. In this experimental study, we scrutinized the antiosteoporosis effect of nimbolide against glucocorticoid (GCs) induced osteoporosis in rats. METHODS: Swiss albino female rats were employed for the current experiment study and the rats were divided into different groups. Dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg/day) was used for induction the osteoporosis and the rats were received the different doses of nimbolide (2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg/kg) for the estimation of bone protective effects. The body weight was estimated (initially and finally). Hormones, bone metabolic markers, bone turnover markers, bone structure, biomechanical, histomorphometric dynamic, biochemical markers, and histomorphometric static parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The body weight of GCs group rats considerably suppressed and nimbolide treatment remarkably improved the body weight. Nimbolide treated group exhibited the enhancement of bone metabolic, bone structure markers, and histomophometric dynamic markers, which was suppressed during the GCs-induced osteoporosis. GCs-induced osteoporosis rats exhibited the enhancement of procollagen type 1 C-terminal propeptide (P1CP), carboxy-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX-1), Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b), and suppressed the level of bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), which was reversed by the nimbolide treatment. Nimbolide treatment remarkably improved the level of estradiol and suppressed the level of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which was altered during the osteoporosis. Nimbolide treatment significantly (p < 0.001) improved the level of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in the serum and bone tissue. Nimbolide treatment also altered the level of bone metabolic markers and suppressed the level of inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we may conclude that nimbolide has antiosteoporosis properties via balancing the bone mass and improving vitamin and hormone levels.

Mesoporous cerium oxide-anchored magnetic polyhedrons derived from MIL-100(Fe) for enhanced removal of arsenite from aqueous solution.

Efficient elimination of As(III) from drinking water and wastewater has been a challenge because of its neutral molecular form. To address this problem, a novel nanocomposite, mesoporous cerium oxide-anchored magnetic polyhedrons derived from MIL-100(Fe) was fabricated via a strategy combining impregnation and calcination. The resultant products (denoted as Fe2O3/CeO2-t) exhibited a unique octahedral nanostructure decorated by mesoporous cerium oxide. Surface modification of CeO2 enhanced As(III) removal in comparison to unmodified Fe2O3. Particularly, Fe2O3/CeO2-4 h can reduce As(III) concentration from 180 to 10 µg/L within 20 min, which was almost 9 times faster than unmodified Fe2O3. The adsorption behavior conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9908) and the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.9943). The maximum adsorption capacity of As(III) by Fe2O3/CeO2-4 h was 68.25 mg/g, higher than those reported for similar adsorbents. Its enhanced removal mechanism can be attributed mainly to the mesoporous characteristics and oxidization ability of surface ceria. The composite can be separated from water by external magnets and easily regenerated. This study may offer a clue to the design of metal-organic framework-based composites as an alternative adsorbent for arsenite cleanup.

Magnetic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks composite as an efficient adsorbent for arsenic removal from aqueous solution.

In this study, magnetic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) was prepared by a one-step method, where its evolution involved the coprecipitation reactions concomitant with the self-assembly reactions. Structural characterizations indicated that magnetic ZIF-8 showed irregular polyhedral morphology with a large specific surface area (696.5 m2/g) and saturation magnetization (4.31 emu/g). The as-prepared magnetic ZIF-8 enhanced the adsorption performance of As(III) and As(V), compared with bare Fe3O4. The pseudo second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9627 and 0.9893 for As(III) and As(V), respectively) and the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.9441 for As(III) and 0.9851 for As(V)) can fit the adsorption process well, confirming the nature of single-layer homogeneous chemisorption. The adsorption capacity was 30.87 and 17.51 mg/g, and their corresponding values of PC were 2.664 and 1.286 L/g, for As(III) and As(V), respectively. Solution pH showed an adverse effect on As(V) adsorption whereas no obvious effect on As(III). The ionic strength and coexisting ions had not obvious influence on adsorption of As(III) and As(V). The adsorption mechanism was explored and discussed based on the detailed spectroscopy analysis. This adsorbent can be recovered magnetically after use, which is promising for the practical application.

Adsorptive removal of Sr(II) from aqueous solution by polyvinyl alcohol/graphene oxide aerogel.

In this study, a new adsorbent, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and graphene oxide (GO), was prepared, characterized and used for the removal of Sr2+ from aqueous solution. In PVA/GO composite, the inter-lamellar spacing of adjacent GO layers was dramatically enlarged due to the intercalation of PVA molecules, such a unique architecture significantly mitigated the aggregation of GO layers, which facilitated the accessible exposure of active sites and the mass transfer of strontium ions (Sr2+), thus enhancing the adsorption capacity toward Sr2+. The adsorption of Sr2+ by PVA/GO composite conformed to the pseudo second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9994), the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.9042), and the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9598). The complexation interaction between Sr2+ and oxygen atoms/π-electron domain of PVA/GO composite was primarily responsible for the adsorption mechanism, based on the characterization results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).

Porous walnut-like La2O2CO3 derived from metal-organic frameworks for arsenate removal: A study of kinetics, isotherms, and mechanism.

Exploration of renewable materials for efficient elimination of arsenic from water is highly imperative. Herein, one kind of novel porous walnut-like La2O2CO3 composite is reported for the first time, fabricated via direct pyrolysis of La-MOFs at 550 °C under the air atmosphere. The as-synthesized material predominantly consists of La2O2CO3, featuring micrometer-scale walnut-like morphology and an abundant mesoporous structure. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that a pseudo-second-order model with a high correlation coefficient (0.9976-0.9988) can depict this adsorption process in a good manner and indicates chemical adsorption. Analysis of the isotherms further revealed that this adsorption is a monolayer and homogeneous process, with an excellent adsorption capacity (210.1 As mg/g), as calculated from the Langmuir model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated this adsorption process to be a spontaneous and endothermic, with a positive change in entropy. By characterization results, it can be deduced that the anion-exchange interaction (i.e. carbonate is prone to being replaced by arsenate) and inner-sphere complexation were both responsible for arsenate removal. A broad working pH range (3.0-9.0) and a good cyclic performance (removal rate is above 90% for the fourth cycle) as well as an excellent adsorption capacity make this adsorbent a promising arsenic scavenger.

Structural Characterization and Anti-complementary Activities of Two Polysaccharides from Houttuynia cordata.

In previous studies, crude Houttuynia cordata polysaccharides showed beneficial effects on acute lung injury in vivo, a syndrome in which anti-complementary activities played an important role. Anti-complementary activity-guided fractionation of H. cordata polysaccharides led to the isolation of two highly branched homogeneous polysaccharides, HC-PS1 and HC-PS3, with a molecular weight of 274 530 and 216 384 Da, respectively. The polysaccharides were purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Superdex columns. Their structural characterization was performed by IR, GC-MS, methylation, NMR, and SEM analysis. Both HC-PS1 and HC-PS3 are composed of eight types of monosaccharides, including rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose, glucuronic acid, galactose, galacturonic acid, and xylose. The main linkages of the sugar residues in HC-PS1 include terminal Rhap, terminal and 1,5-linked Araf; 1,3,6-linked and 1,4,6-linked Manp; terminal, 1,4-linked, 1,3-linked, 1,3,6-linked and 1,4,6-linked and 1,3,4,6-linked Glcp; and terminal, 1,4-linked and 1,6-linked Galp. The main monosaccharide linkages in HC-PS3 are similar to that of HC-PS1, except the additional 1,3,4-linked Manp and the absence of 1,3,6-linked Glcp. HC-PS1 and HC-PS3 were found to inhibit complement activation through both the classical and alternative pathways with 50% inhibition concentrations of 0.272 - 0.318 mg/mL without interfering with the coagulation system. Preliminary mechanism studies indicated that both HC-PS1 and HC-PS3 inhibited the activation of the complement system by interacting with C2, C4, and C5. The results suggest that HC-PS1 and HC-PS3 could be valuable for the treatment of diseases associated with the excessive activation of the complement system.

Chinese expert consensus on echelons treatment of thoracic injury in modern warfare.

The emergency treatment of thoracic injuries varies of general conditions and modern warfare. However, there are no unified battlefield treatment guidelines for thoracic injuries in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). An expert consensus has been reached based on the epidemiology of thoracic injuries and the concept of battlefield treatment combined with the existing levels of military medical care in modern warfare. Since there are no differences in the specialized treatment for thoracic injuries between general conditions and modern warfare, first aid, emergency treatment, and early treatment of thoracic injuries are introduced separately in three levels in this consensus. At Level I facilities, tension pneumothorax and open pneumothorax are recommended for initial assessment during the first aid stage. Re-evaluation and further treatment for hemothorax, flail chest, and pericardial tamponade are recommended at Level II facilities. At Level III facilities, simple surgical operations such as emergency thoracotomy and debridement surgery for open pneumothorax are recommended. The grading standard for evidence evaluation and recommendation was used to reach this expert consensus.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cognitive function and cholinergic activity in the rat hippocampus after vascular dementia.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive treatment that can enhance the recovery of neurological function after stroke. Whether it can similarly promote the recovery of cognitive function after vascular dementia remains unknown. In this study, a rat model for vascular dementia was established by the two-vessel occlusion method. Two days after injury, 30 pulses of rTMS were administered to each cerebral hemisphere at a frequency of 0.5 Hz and a magnetic field intensity of 1.33 T. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate learning and memory function. The Karnovsky-Roots method was performed to determine the density of cholinergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the number of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region. rTMS treatment for 30 days significantly improved learning and memory function, increased acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activity, increased the density of cholinergic neurons, and increased the number of BDNF-immunoreactive cells. These results indicate that rTMS can ameliorate learning and memory deficiencies in rats with vascular dementia. The mechanism through which this occurs might be related to the promotion of BDNF expression and subsequent restoration of cholinergic system activity in hippocampal CA1 region.

miRNA-150-5p associate with antihypertensive effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate revealed by aorta miRNome analysis of spontaneously hypertensive rat.

AIMS: The antihypertensive mechanism (s) of the epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major effective component in green tea, might associate with microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we aimed to investigate which microRNA in aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were modulated by administration of EGCG and its mechanism. MAIN METHODS: The pharmacokinetic behaviors of EGCG and epigallocatechin (EGC) in Sprague-Dawley rats were analyzed by HPLC and DRUG AND STATISTICS software. Blood pressure of SHRs was monitored by the tail-cuff method, the miRNomes of aorta from SHRs was analyzed with deep sequencing, and expression of hypertension-associated miRNAs with significant change and their host genes and target genes were validated by real-time PCR and Western blot. KEY FINDINGS: The plasma deposition of EGCG and EGC best fitted a mono-compartmental model with maximum plasma concentration post-dose (Cmax, 6.65 vs 4.45 µg/ml) and the corresponding time (Tmax, 15 vs 10 min). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) of SHRs decreased to the lowest point by 34.04 mmHg and recovered by 23.39 mmHg after 15 and 30 min of administration at dose of 300 mg/kg BW EGCG, respectively, and it decreased again at 60 min and recovered at time 2 h. Total 35 upregulated and 18 downregulated miRNAs were identified compared to the control group (p < .01) after EGCG administration. Expression of hypertension-associated miRNA-126a-3p and miRNA-150-5p were further validated. In turn, their host gene and target genes were up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicated that miRNA-150-5p might be involved in the antihypertensive effect of EGCG through SP1/AT1R pathway.

TRAF6 is required for the GM-CSF-induced JNK, p38 and Akt activation.

JNK, p38 and Akt signalings have been shown to be activated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and are pivotal for GM-CSF-mediated survival, proliferation and differentiation of macrophages and their progenitors. However, the detailed mechanism of how these signalings is activated by GM-CSF is not fully elucidated. We report here that E3 ligase TRAF6 is required for the GM-CSF-induced activation of JNK, p38 and Akt. GM-CSF triggers autoubiquitination of TRAF6 and TRAF6 knocked down results in impaired activation of JNK and p38 signaling. TRAF6 is also required for GM-CSF-induced ubiquitination and activation of Akt. These findings reveal novel roles of TRAF6 in GM-CSF signaling.

[Efficacy of albendazole orally administered at different dosages against Trichinella spiralis encapsulated larvae in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of albendazole (ABZ) orally administered at different dosages against Trichinella spiralis encapsulated larvae in striated muscle in mice. METHODS: A total of 72 BALB/c mice were divided equally into 9 groups. Each mouse was infected orally with 50 T. spiralis encapsulated larvae. At the 29th day after infection, albendazole was each orally administered to the mice of the 8 groups with doses of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 mg/(kg x d), respectively, once a day at fixed time for 6 d. The control group was untreated. Mice were sacrificed at the 7th day post administration. The encapsulated larvae in diaphragmatic muscle, jugomaxillary muscle and gastrocnemius muscle were examined with pellet method. The encapsulated larva that the capsule was complete and the larva inside curled naturally with clear structure was considered survived. The therapeutic effect was estimated on the average quantity of total, survival and dead encapsulated larvae per gram muscle, total worm reduction and survival worm reduction. RESULTS: The total worm burden and survival worms showed a decreasing trend and the numbers of dead worms increased in diaphragmatic muscle, jugomaxillary muscle and gastrocnemius muscle when the dosage of albendazole were 50-250 mg/(kg x d), but the number of larvae in the muscles remained similar when the dosage of albendazole was greater than 250mg/kg x d. Compared with the control group, the total and survival worms in the muscles in 200 mg/(kg x d) and the greater dose groups decreased significantly (P<0.01). In 250 mg/(kg x d) group the total worm reduction in jugomaxillary muscle, diaphragmatic muscle and gastrocnemius muscle were 50.00%, 62.62% and 57.48%, and the survival worm reduction were 79.96%, 83.25% and 80.56%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Orally administered to mice for 6 d, albendazole at 250 mg/(kg x d) is a suitable dose against encapsulated larva stage of T. spiralis in muscle.

Noncovalent interaction of dietary polyphenols with bovine hemoglobin in vitro: molecular structure/property-affinity relationship aspects.

The relationship between the structural properties of selected dietary polyphenols and their affinities for bovine hemoglobin (bHB) was investigated by fluorescence analysis. The presence of an additional methoxy group on flavonoids weakened the affinities for bHB by 1.15-13.80 times. Hydroxylation on rings A, B, and C also significantly affected the affinity for bHB. The glycosylation of flavonoids decreased the affinities for bHB by 1 order of magnitude depending on the conjugation site and the class of sugar moiety. Hydrogenation of the C2═C3 double bond also decreased the binding affinity. The galloylated catechins exhibited higher binding affinities for bHB than nongalloylated. The glycosylation of resveratrol increased its affinity for bHB. The binding process with bHB was strongly influenced by the structural differences of dietary polyphenols. The affinities for bHB increased with increasing partition coefficients and decreased with increasing hydrogen bond donor and acceptor numbers of polyphenols, which suggested that the binding interaction was mainly caused by the hydrophobic force.

[Clinical study of double filtration plasmapheresis for treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect, timing of administration, complication prevention and management of the double filtration plasmapheresis (DFP) in the treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS: Thirty-one patients with refractory MG were treated with KM 8800 membrane plasmapheresis monitor. DFP was performed every 3 days and the exchanging liquid was composed of 50 ml of 20% albumen and 1000 ml plasma substitute. Physical examination for absolute clinical score and blood sample was collected for AchR-Ab determination early in the morning on days 0, 3, 7, 14 of DFP. RESULTS: With a total effective rate of 91.9%, complete recovery, basic recovery, improvement, and response was achieved in 2, 4, 11, and 17 patients, respectively, whereas the other 3 failed to respond. Hypotension occurred twice in 2 cases and was corrected after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION: DFP may effectively lower blood AchR-Ab level of with minimal complications, and can be valuable for treatment of refractory MG.