RESUMEN
The managing and recycling of waste tires has become a worldwide environmental challenge. Among the different disposal methods for waste tires, pyrolysis is regarded as a promising route. How to effectively enhance the added value of pyrolytic residue (PR) from waste tires is a matter of great concern. In this study, the PRs were treated with hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids in turn under ultrasonic waves. The removal efficiency for the ash and sulfur was investigated. The pyrolytic carbon black (PCB) obtained after treating PR with acids was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, laser Raman spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and physisorption apparatus. The properties of PCB were compared with those of commercial carbon black (CCB) N326 and N339. Results showed PRs from waste tires were mainly composed of carbon, sulfur, and ash. The carbon in PCB was mainly from the CCB added during tire manufacture rather than from the pyrolysis of pure rubbers. The removal percentages for the ash and sulfur of PR are 98.33% (from 13.98 wt % down to 0.24 wt %) and 70.16% (from 1.81 wt % down to 0.54 wt %), respectively, in the entire process. The ash was mainly composed of metal oxides, sulfides, and silica. The surface properties, porosity, and morphology of the PCB were all close to those of N326. Therefore, PCB will be a potential alternative of N326 and reused in tire manufacture. This route successfully upgrades PR from waste tires to the high value-added CCB and greatly increases the overall efficiency of the waste tire pyrolysis industry.
Asunto(s)
Carbono , Reciclaje , Bifenilos Policlorados/química , Goma , Hollín , AzufreRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly facilitated metagenomic analysis but also raised new challenges for metagenomic DNA sequence assembly, owing to its high-throughput nature and extremely short reads generated by sequencers such as Illumina. To date, how to generate a high-quality draft assembly for metagenomic sequencing projects has not been fully addressed. RESULTS: We conducted a comprehensive assessment on state-of-the-art de novo assemblers and revealed that the performance of each assembler depends critically on the sequencing depth. To address this problem, we developed a pipeline named InteMAP to integrate three assemblers, ABySS, IDBA-UD and CABOG, which were found to complement each other in assembling metagenomic sequences. Making a decision of which assembling approaches to use according to the sequencing coverage estimation algorithm for each short read, the pipeline presents an automatic platform suitable to assemble real metagenomic NGS data with uneven coverage distribution of sequencing depth. By comparing the performance of InteMAP with current assemblers on both synthetic and real NGS metagenomic data, we demonstrated that InteMAP achieves better performance with a longer total contig length and higher contiguity, and contains more genes than others. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a de novo pipeline, named InteMAP, that integrates existing tools for metagenomics assembly. The pipeline outperforms previous assembly methods on metagenomic assembly by providing a longer total contig length, a higher contiguity and covering more genes. InteMAP, therefore, could potentially be a useful tool for the research community of metagenomics.
Asunto(s)
Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento/métodos , Metagenómica/métodos , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN/métodos , Programas Informáticos , Algoritmos , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been widely identified in complete prokaryotic genomes. However, the roles of HGT among members of a microbial community and in evolution remain largely unknown. With the emergence of metagenomics, it is nontrivial to investigate such horizontal flow of genetic materials among members in a microbial community from the natural environment. Because of the lack of suitable methods for metagenomics gene transfer detection, microorganisms from a low-complexity community acid mine drainage (AMD) with near-complete genomes were used to detect possible gene transfer events and suggest the biological significance. RESULTS: Using the annotation of coding regions by the current tools, a phylogenetic approach, and an approximately unbiased test, we found that HGTs in AMD organisms are not rare, and we predicted 119 putative transferred genes. Among them, 14 HGT events were determined to be transfer events among the AMD members. Further analysis of the 14 transferred genes revealed that the HGT events affected the functional evolution of archaea or bacteria in AMD, and it probably shaped the community structure, such as the dominance of G-plasma in archaea in AMD through HGT. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a novel insight into HGT events among microorganisms in natural communities. The interconnectedness between HGT and community evolution is essential to understand microbial community formation and development.
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Ácidos/química , Bacterias/genética , Transferencia de Gen Horizontal/genética , Metagenoma/genética , Drenaje de Agua , Ambiente , Evolución Molecular , Genoma Bacteriano/genética , Metagenómica/métodos , Minería/métodos , FilogeniaRESUMEN
A series of piperine derivates (1-19) have been designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B inhibitory activity and selectivity. It is worth noting that most of the small amine moieties substituted on the piperidine ring proved to be potent and selective inhibitors of MAO-B rather than of MAO-A. 5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2E,4E-pentadienoic acid n-propyl amide (3) showed the greatest MAO-B inhibitory activity (IC(50)(MAO-B)=0.045 µM) and good selectivity (IC(50)(MAO-A)=3.66 µM). The conjugated double bond and carbonyl group of piperine are proved to be an essential feature for piperine and related alkylamides to exhibit MAO-inhibitory activity. Binding mode of the titled compounds was predicted using FlexX algorithm. The design and optimization of novel small molecule monoamine oxidase inhibitors will be guided by the results of this report.
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Alcaloides/síntesis química , Benzodioxoles/síntesis química , Inhibidores de la Monoaminooxidasa/síntesis química , Monoaminooxidasa/química , Piperidinas/síntesis química , Alcamidas Poliinsaturadas/síntesis química , Alcaloides/farmacología , Benzodioxoles/farmacología , Humanos , Concentración 50 Inhibidora , Modelos Moleculares , Inhibidores de la Monoaminooxidasa/farmacología , Piperidinas/farmacología , Alcamidas Poliinsaturadas/farmacología , Unión Proteica , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
By analyzing the related indicators [hepatic CYP450 subtype and renal organic anion and cation transporters (OATs and OCTs)], the present study investigated the effects of formula Banxia Houpo decoction principal drug pinellia, assistant drug magnolia, their compatibility and the principle of the whole decoction on the metabolism ability in the liver and the transport change in the kidney of mice. Biochemical and molecular (RT-PCR and western blotting) results indicated that pinellia increased activity and expression of hepatic Cyp2e1 and Cyp3a11 in mice, respectively. Pinellia and magnolia increased expression of renal OAT1, OAT3, OCT1 and OCT2 in mice, respectively. The compatibility of pinellia and magnolia, as well as Banxia Houpo decoction synergistically restrained the activated effect of pinellia on hepatic Cyp2e1, therefore avoiding liver peroxidation and reducing toxicity potential. The compatibility of this drug pair and Banxia Houpo decoction not only reduced activity and expression of hepatic Cyp3a11 to control drug metabolism speed, but also balanced the expression of renal OAT1/3 and OCT1/2 to enhance drug efficacy. The effect of compatibility of Banxia Houpo decoction was better than that of pinellia and magnolia pair, and the normal dosage was better than the high dosage. The present study proved the advantage of the compatibility of pinellia combined with magnolia and the principle of Banxia Houpo decoction, which related to hepatic CYP450 and renal organic ion transporters, and guided the clinical use of Banxia Houpo decoction to exert its toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement.
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Sistema Enzimático del Citocromo P-450/metabolismo , Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/farmacología , Riñón/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/enzimología , Transportadores de Anión Orgánico/metabolismo , Animales , Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Riñón/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Transportadores de Anión Orgánico/genéticaRESUMEN
Serotonergic receptors take their physiologic effects by affecting adenylyl cyclase (AC) catalytic activity and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration. AC-cAMP second messenger pathway has been recently suggested to play an important role in depression. Therefore, the compound that regulates the signal pathway may have potential as antidepressant. Curcumin is the main component of Curcuma longa L, a well-known indigenous herb with comprehensive bioactivities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and curcumin on behaviours and serotonergic receptor-coupled AC-cAMP signal pathway in rats. Curcumin produced beneficial effects on the stressed rats by effectively improving CUMS-induced low sucrose consumption and reducing serum corticosterone levels in rats. Moreover, curcumin enhanced AC activity and cAMP levels in platelet and various brain regions, and up-regulated mRNA expressions of AC subtypes AC 2, AC 8 and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus, cortex and hypothalamus of the CUMS rats. Curcumin also attenuated CUMS-induced reductions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels and high expressions of central 5-HT(1A/1B/7) receptors in rats. These results suggested that the potent antidepressant property of curcumin might be attributed to its improvement of AC-cAMP pathway as well as CREB via suppressing central 5-HT(1A/1B/7) receptors in the CUMS rats. Our findings provided a basis for examining the interaction of serotonergic receptors and AC-cAMP pathway in depression and curcumin treatment.
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Antidepresivos/uso terapéutico , Curcumina/uso terapéutico , Receptores de Serotonina/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Psicológico/tratamiento farmacológico , Adenilil Ciclasas/clasificación , Adenilil Ciclasas/genética , Adenilil Ciclasas/metabolismo , Análisis de Varianza , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Encéfalo/efectos de los fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Corticosterona/sangre , AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Ingestión de Líquidos/efectos de los fármacos , Ingestión de Alimentos/efectos de los fármacos , Fluoxetina/uso terapéutico , Privación de Alimentos/fisiología , Preferencias Alimentarias/efectos de los fármacos , Preferencias Alimentarias/fisiología , Masculino , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Receptores de Serotonina/clasificación , Receptores de Serotonina/genética , Serotonina/metabolismo , Estrés Psicológico/etiología , Estrés Psicológico/metabolismo , Estrés Psicológico/fisiopatología , Regulación hacia Arriba/efectos de los fármacos , Privación de Agua/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Magnolia bark combined with ginger rhizome is a common drug pair in traditional Chinese prescriptions for the treatment of depression. In the present study, we examined antidepressant-like effects of the mixture of honokiol and magnolol (HMM) from magnolia bark and essential oil from ginger rhizome (OGR) alone and in combination in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) of rats. Behavioral (sucrose intake, immobility time of forced swimming test) and biochemical parameters [serotonin (5-HT) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, gastric mucosa cholecystokinin (CCK) and serum gastrin (GAS) levels] were simultaneously examined in the CUMS rats. 20 mg/kg HMM alone, but not OGR, significantly increased sucrose intake and reduced immobility time in the CUMS rats. Moreover, 20 mg/kg HMM and 14 mg/kg OGR in combination exhibited significant synergistic effects on sucrose intake increase and immobility time reduction in the CUMS rats. HMM elevated 5-HT levels in various brain regions, and OGR reduced gastric mucosa CCK and serum GAS levels in the CUMS rats. These results suggested that the synergistic antidepressant-like effects of compatibility of HMM with OGR might be mediated simultaneously by regulation of the serotonergic and gastroenteric system functions. These findings also provided a pharmacological basis for the clinical application of this drug pair of magnolia bark and ginger rhizome in traditional Chinese medicine.
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Antidepresivos/farmacología , Compuestos de Bifenilo/farmacología , Lignanos/farmacología , Aceites Volátiles/farmacología , Zingiber officinale , Animales , Compuestos de Bifenilo/administración & dosificación , Encéfalo/efectos de los fármacos , Colecistoquinina/análisis , Depresión/tratamiento farmacológico , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Quimioterapia Combinada , Mucosa Gástrica/química , Mucosa Gástrica/efectos de los fármacos , Gastrinas/sangre , Lignanos/administración & dosificación , Masculino , Aceites Volátiles/administración & dosificación , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Serotonina/análisis , NataciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), a regulator of cellular oxidative stress, has been associated with activation of NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, inflammation and lipid metabolism, suggesting it has a role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in diabetes. In this study we investigated whether TXNIP is involved in type 1 diabetes-associated NAFLD and whether antioxidants, quercetin and allopurinol, alleviate NAFLD by targeting TXNIP. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by a single i.p. injection of 55 mg · kg⻹ streptozotocin. Quercetin and allopurinol were given p.o. to diabetic rats for 7 weeks. Hepatic function, oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid levels were determined. Rat BRL-3A and human HepG2 cells were exposed to high glucose (30 mM) in the presence and absence of antioxidants, TXNIP siRNA transfection or caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CMK. KEY RESULTS: Quercetin and allopurinol significantly inhibited the TXNIP overexpression, activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, down-regulation of PPARα and up-regulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), SREBP-2, fatty acid synthase and liver X receptor α, as well as elevation of ROS and IL-1ß in diabetic rat liver. These effects were confirmed in hepatocytes in vitro and it was further shown that TXNIP down-regulation contributed to the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammation and changes in PPARα and SREBPs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Inhibition of hepatic TXNIP by quercetin and allopurinol contributes to the reduction in liver inflammation and lipid accumulation under hyperglycaemic conditions. The targeting of hepatic TXNIP by quercetin and allopurinol may have therapeutic implications for prevention of type 1 diabetes-associated NAFLD.
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Alopurinol/uso terapéutico , Antioxidantes/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Portadoras/antagonistas & inhibidores , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicaciones , Hígado Graso/prevención & control , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Quercetina/uso terapéutico , Alopurinol/farmacología , Animales , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/administración & dosificación , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/metabolismo , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/farmacología , Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/uso terapéutico , Antioxidantes/administración & dosificación , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Proteínas Portadoras/genética , Proteínas Portadoras/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Línea Celular , Suplementos Dietéticos , Hígado Graso/complicaciones , Hígado Graso/metabolismo , Hígado Graso/patología , Silenciador del Gen , Humanos , Inflamasomas/efectos de los fármacos , Inflamasomas/metabolismo , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/efectos de los fármacos , Hígado/inmunología , Hígado/metabolismo , Hígado/patología , Masculino , Terapia Molecular Dirigida , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Quercetina/administración & dosificación , Quercetina/metabolismo , Distribución Aleatoria , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/antagonistas & inhibidores , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/metabolismoRESUMEN
Hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia and inflammation are associated with diabetic nephropathy. The NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation is recently recognized in the development of kidney injury. Urate and lipid are considered as danger signals in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Although dietary flavonoid quercetin and allopurinol alleviate hyperuricemia, dyslipidmia and inflammation, their nephroprotective effects are currently unknown. In this study, we used streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy model with hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia in rats, and found over-expression of renal inflammasome components NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein and Caspase-1, resulting in elevation of IL-1ß and IL-18, with subsequently deteriorated renal injury. These findings demonstrated the possible association between renal NLRP3 inflammasome activation and lipid accumulation to superimpose causes of nephrotoxicity in STZ-treated rats. The treatment of quercetin and allopurinol regulated renal urate transport-related proteins to reduce hyperuricemia, and lipid metabolism-related genes to alleviate kidney lipid accumulation in STZ-treated rats. Furthermore, quercetin and allopurinol were found to suppress renal NLRP3 inflammasome activation, at least partly, via their anti-hyperuricemic and anti-dyslipidemic effects, resulting in the amelioration of STZ-induced the superimposed nephrotoxicity in rats. These results may provide a basis for the prevention of diabetes-associated nephrotoxicity with urate-lowering agents such as quercetin and allopurinol.
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Lesión Renal Aguda/tratamiento farmacológico , Alopurinol/farmacología , Nefropatías Diabéticas/complicaciones , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Inflamasomas/metabolismo , Quercetina/farmacología , Receptores Citoplasmáticos y Nucleares/metabolismo , Lesión Renal Aguda/etiología , Lesión Renal Aguda/patología , Alopurinol/uso terapéutico , Análisis de Varianza , Animales , Nitrógeno de la Urea Sanguínea , Western Blotting , Peso Corporal , Proteínas Portadoras , Creatinina/orina , Cartilla de ADN/genética , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/fisiología , Masculino , Proteína con Dominio Pirina 3 de la Familia NLR , Tamaño de los Órganos , Quercetina/uso terapéutico , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Estreptozocina , Ácido Úrico/sangre , Ácido Úrico/orinaRESUMEN
Chronic mild stress (CMS) is suggested to develop dysregulation of the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) stress circuit. Icariin, a major constituent of flavonoids isolated from Epimedium brevicornum, has been previously confirmed to rescue the HPA axis abnormalities in animal models of depression. However, antidepressant treatment of icariin on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system within the LHPA stress circuit and its interaction with serotonergic receptor are still seldom studied in CMS model of animals. The present study further investigated the effects of CMS procedure and subsequent icariin treatment on mRNA and protein levels of CRF, CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRF binding protein (CRFBP), as well as sucrose intake in rats. Moreover, the levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HTR1A) in hypothalamus, hippocampus and frontal cortex were simultaneously evaluated for their participations in CRF system in this model. We found that CMS procedure significantly increased CRF expression levels in the brain regions, and decreased GR and 5-HTR1A in hippocampus and frontal cortex, with sucrose intake reduction representing the hedonic deficit in rats. Icariin restored these alterations in CMS rats. These results confirmed the hypothesis that icariin exerted antidepressant-like effect via its regulation of central CRF system. And hippocampus was suggested as an important neural area controlling the LHPA stress circuit in icariin-treated CMS rats. These findings for the first time proved that the potential molecular mechanism of antidepressant action of icariin was targeted on the interaction of the LHPA stress circuit and serotonergic function in CMS rats.