Trends in Magnesium Intake among Hispanic Adults, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014.

This study aimed at examining trends in magnesium intake among U.S. Hispanic adults stratified by gender, Hispanic origins, age, and poverty income ratio (PIR) level. Data on 9304 Hispanic adults aged ≥20 years from eight National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (1999-2014) were included in this study. For each cycle, survey-weighted mean dietary and total magnesium intakes were estimated. The prevalence of dietary and total magnesium intake below the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) was further estimated stratified by gender and age groups. Linear regression was used to test trend. Over the survey cycles, both dietary and total magnesium intakes were significantly increased among Hispanic adults. In the study period, magnesium intake tended to be lower in females, adults in other Hispanic-origin group, those aged ≥65 years old, and those with a PIR <1.0. The prevalence of magnesium intake inadequacy decreased among Hispanic adults; however, more than 70% of Hispanic males and females continued to have magnesium intake below the RDA in 2013-2014. From 1999/2000 to 2013/2014, despite several improvements in magnesium intake having been identified, additional findings showed insufficient intake in Hispanic males and females, suggesting the need to improve magnesium intake through diet and dietary supplementation for U.S. Hispanics.

Facile fabrication of Cu9-S5 loaded core-shell nanoparticles for near infrared radiation mediated tumor therapeutic strategy in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells nursing care of esophageal cancer patients.

Copper chalcogenides have been exhibited to be an encouraging photothermal operator because of their great photothermal transformation proficiency, engineered effortlessness, and ease. Notwithstanding, the hydrophobic and low biocompatibility attributes related with their manufactured procedures hamper broadly natural applications. An elective methodology for improve hydrophilic nature and biocompatibility to coating into the copper-based chalcogenide nanostructures containing core shell silica materials. In this manuscript, the level headed planning configuration results in effective covering silica nanostructures onto the synthesized Cu9S5 to form Cu9S5@MS core-shell nanostructures. The structural formation and nanostructures of prepared nanomaterials with core shell structure were confirmed via analysis of transmission microscopic and particles distribution investigates, which infers that Cu9S5@MS has been organized by nano level with high stability. Also, the formation of Cu9S5@MS was confirmed by UV-Visible and X-ray techniques. As-prepared Cu9S5@MS nanovesicles display good biocompatibility, and are successfully utilized for photothermal removal of disease cells and NIR therapy. Additionally, the mode of cell death in esophageal squamous carcinoma cells were monitored various staining techniques (AO and EB, nuclear staining and flowcytometry). Further, we evaluated by the human esophageal squamous cancer cell lines to observe cell cycle arrest ability. Significantly, we demonstrate the combination of photothermal and chemotherapeutic techniques through the prepared nanovesicles exhibits outstanding impacts in the treatment of esophageal cancer therapies in vitro and in vivo.

Comparison of Iris pseudacorus wetland systems with unplanted systems on pollutant removal and microbial community under nanosilver exposure.

Rapidly developing industry raises concerns about the environmental risks of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), but the effects of AgNPs on the performance and microbial community in the constructed wetlands remain unclear. In this study, long-term exposure of AgNPs in two VFCWs was conducted to determine the effects of AgNPs on the pollutant removal and microbial community structure. Before exposing AgNPs, the water quality of effluent was better in planted wetland (CW2), compared with unplanted wetland (CW1). After continuous exposure of 100µg/L AgNPs, the COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal of two CWs had no difference. However, addition of AgNPs reduced the nitrogen and phosphorus removal in two CWs, with decreasing average removal efficiencies of ammonia nitrogen from 46.31% to 32.09% and 59.66% to 51.06%, total nitrogen from 57.76% to 43.78% and 67.35 to 60.58%, total phosphorus from 71.29% to 59.31% and 67.35% to 60.58%, respectively. The vegetable wetlands showed higher resistances to AgNPs loading than unplanted wetlands. In addition, AgNPs accumulated in the wetland substrate, especially in the soil layer with the silver concentration of approximately 4.32µg/g. The small portion of silver was found in plant tissues, and plants played a minor role to remove the AgNPs from wastewater. Moreover, the constructed wetlands could effectively remove the AgNPs from the synthetic wastewater. The illumine high-throughput sequencing results demonstrated the variations of the bacterial community structure at the exposure of AgNPs. The results showed that the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Compared with unplanted wetlands, the contents of several nitrifying bacteria such as Candidatus Nitrososphaera (AOA) and Nitrospira (NOB) at genus level increased, leading to the higher nitrogen removal in the planted wetlands.

Shifts of system performance and microbial community structure in a constructed wetland after exposing silver nanoparticles.

The increasing utilization of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in industry and commerce inevitably raises its release into wastewater. In this work, effects of Ag NPs on system performance and microbial community along the way of a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) were investigated, along with the removal and fate of Ag NPs within the system. Results showed that the performance of control wetland kept stable during the experimental period, and the top substrate layer (soil layer) of wetland could remove most of pollutants in the influent. The study also suggested that addition of Ag NPs did not significantly affect organic matters removal. However, adverse effects were observed on the nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Removal efficiencies of TN, NH4+-N and TP approximately obviously reduced by approximately 10.10%, 8.42% and 28.35% respectively in contrast to before dosing after exposing 100 µg/L Ag NPs for 94 d, while the no dosing wetland with the stable performance. It was found that Ag NPs accumulated in the upper soil layer more than in the lower soil layer, and Ag NPs could enter into the plant tissues. After continuous input of Ag NPs, removal efficiency of Ag NPs was measured as 95.72%, which showed that the CW could effectively remove Ag NPs from the wastewater. The high-throughput sequencing results revealed that Ag NPs caused the shifts in microbial community structures and changed the relative abundances of key functional bacteria, which finally resulted in a lower efficiency of biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

Protective effects of tanshinone IIA on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by reducing oxidative stress, HMGB1 expression, and inflammatory reaction.

CONTEXT: Although there were reports on the protective functions of tanshinone IIA (TSA) on rat myocardial ischemia, the exerting mechanism has not been completely clarified. OBJECTIVE: An attempt was made to further verify the protective effect of TSA on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury and elucidate its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were given TSA (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg bw per day) in intraperitoneal injection for 15 d. Rami anterior descending branch of coronary artery was ligated for 30 min and then re-perfused for 120 min to establish a reperfusion model. Effects of TSA on the infarct area, creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), high mobility group box B1 protein (HMGB1), and inflammation and oxidation were investigated. RESULTS: Compared with those in the IR group, infarct size percentages of rats' myocardium in L-TSA, M-TSA, and H-TSA groups were reduced by 1.21, 4.26, and 12.50%, respectively, CK activities by 7.4, 11.2, and 12.5%, respectively, and AST activities also declined (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with those in the IR group, SOD and GSH-Px activities increased, and MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS levels decreased in L-TSA, M-TSA, and H-TSA groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared with those in the IR group, HMGB1 expressions in L-TSA, M-TSA, and H-TSA groups were lowered by 21.9, 32.4, and 35.6%, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The protective function of TSA on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury may be possibly exerted by inhibiting the increase of ROS caused by the reperfusion to attenuate the expression of HMGB1 and inhibit inflammation.

The medicinal use of realgar (As4S4) and its recent development as an anticancer agent.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arsenicals have been known as poisons and paradoxically as therapeutic agents. In the early 1970s, Chinese physicians from Harbin revived the medicinal use of arsenicals as anticancer agents. Notable success was observed in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with arsenic trioxide (ATO). The FDA approved ATO injection in the year 2000 for the treatment of APL. In contrast, the clinical use of the other arsenical, realgar (As4S4), is currently much less established, though it has also long been used in medical history. According to ancient medical records and recent findings in clinical trials, realgar was found as effective as ATO, but with relatively good oral safety profiles even on chronic administration. These give realgar an advantage over ATO in maintenance treatment. Though there is increasing understanding on the mechanisms of action and metabolic profiles of ATO, similar aspects of realgar are unclear to date. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We outline the use of realgar in traditional medicines, especially in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) from ancient times to present. The clinical and experimental observations on realgar as a therapeutic agent are described with an emphasis on those findings that may imply the rationale and future directions of realgar as a potential anticancer drug candidate. RESULTS: There is an increasing understanding in the mechanisms of action of realgar as an antileukemic agent. However, there is still sparse information on its metabolism and toxicity profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Realgar is poorly soluble in water. Recently, several types of realgar nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed. Some of these realgar NPs also possess the unique optical properties of quantum dots. The activities and bioavailability of realgar NPs are much influenced by their sizes, making realgar an interesting biomedical and pharmaceutical research candidate.