Molecular insights into the mechanism and the efficiency-structure relationship of phosphorus removal by coagulation.

Types and structures of phosphorus compounds influence the removal of phosphorus by coagulation. Until now, the molecular-level interaction between coagulants and phosphorus (especially organophosphates) and the relationship between removal efficiency and phosphorus structure have not been clear. This work investigated the removal of phosphorus with different structures using conventional coagulants (poly aluminum chloride (PACl) and polymerized ferric sulfate (PFS)) and a novel covalently-bound inorganic-organic hybrid coagulant (CBHyC). CBHyC removed more than 98% of phosphate and most of organophosphates, had more stable performance than PACl and PFS, and was less affected by pH, initial phosphorus concentration, and co-occurring materials. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated that CBHyC removed phosphorus mainly through electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, this work established QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) models for removal efficiency and organophosphate structure for the first time. The model showed that atomic charges of phosphorus atoms (QP) and hydrogen atoms (QH+) in the system and the energy gap (ΔEMO) affected electronegativity and hydrophobicity, thus influencing organophosphate removal efficiency. The model had high fitting precision and good predictive ability and has the potential to greatly reduce the cost of optimizing processes and conditions for phosphorus removal.

New Contributions to Asarum Powder on Immunology Related Toxicity Effects in Lung.

Objective. Asarum is widely used in clinical practice of Chinese medicine in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Many toxic ingredients (safrole, etc.) had been found in Asarum that show multiple visceral toxicities. In this study, we performed systematic investigation of expression profiles of genes to take a new insight into unclear mechanism of Asarum toxicities in lung. Methods. mRNAs were extracted from lungs of rats after intragastric administration with/without Asarum powders, and microarray assays were applied to investigate gene expression profiles. Differentially expressed genes with significance were selected to carry out GO analysis. Subsequently, quantitative PCRs were performed to verify the differential expression of Tmprss6, Prkag3, Nptx2, Antxr11, Klk11, Rag2, Olr77, Cd7, Il20, LOC69, C6, Ccl20, LOC68, and Cd163 in lung. Changes of Ampk, Bcl2, Caspase 3, Il1, Il20, Matriptase2, Nfκb, Nptx2, and Rag2 in the lung on protein level were verified by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results. Compared with control group, the estimated organ coefficients were relatively increased in Asarum group. Results of GO analysis showed that a group of immune related genes in lung were expressed abnormally. The result of PCRs showed that Ccl20 was downregulated rather than other upregulated genes in the Asarum group. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry images showed that Asarum can upregulate the expression of Ampk, Caspase 3, Il1, Il20, Matriptase2, Nfκb, and Rag2 and downregulate the expression of Bcl2 in lung. Conclusion. Our data suggest that expressions of immune related genes in lung were selectively altered by Asarum. Therefore, inflammatory response was active, by regulating Caspase 3, Il1, Il20, Matriptase2, Nfκb, Rag2, Tmprss6, Prkag3, Nptx2, Antxr1, Klk11, Olr77, Cd7, LOC69, C6, LOC68, Cd163, Ampk, Bcl2, and Ccl20. Our study indicated that inflammatory factors take effect in lung toxicity caused by Asarum, which provides a new insight into molecular mechanism of Asarum toxicities in lung.

[Study on effect and mechanism of volatile oil of schizonepetae herba and its essential components against influenza virus].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of volatile oil of Schizonepetae Herba (VOSH), and its essential components-menthone and pulegone against anti-influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) in vivo and in vitro, as well as the signaling mechanism of its toll-like receptor/interferon (TLR/IFN). METHOD: The lung-adapted PR-8 virus model was prepared in mice. They were administered with preventive and therapeutic drugs, and the hemagglutination titer of model animals was determined to evaluate in vivo effect against H1N1. ELISA test was conducted to observe the effect on IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum, as well as IFN-beta secretion in H1N1 infected MDCK supernatant. Real-time RT-PCR was employed to observe the expression levels of IRAK4 and TLR3 mRNA. RESULT: The in vivo experiment shows that the hemagglutination titer was significantly decreased when the mice were treated with VOSH (0.266 mg x kg(-1)), menthone(0.5 mg x kg(-1)) and pulegone (0.19 mg x kg(-1)) in therapeutic way; VOSH (0.226 mg x kg(-1)) had a significant effect on increasing serum levels of IFN-alpha, IL-2; Methone (0.5 mg x kg(-1)) had a significant effect on increasing serum levels of IFN-beta; Methone (0.5 mg x kg(-1)) and pulegone (0.19 mg x kg(-1)) had a significant effect on decreasing serum levels of IL-6; VOSH (0.452, 0.226 mg x kg(-1)) and pulegone (0.19 mg x kg(-1)) had a significant effect on decreasing serum levels TNF-alpha. The in vitro experiment showed that the expression levels of IRAK4 mRNA and IFN-beta were significantly increased in VOHS (0.1 g x L(-1)) and pulegone (0.1 g x L(-1)) groups; and the menthone (0.25 g x L(-1)) group showed a significant rise in the expression levels of IRAK4 mRNA, but a notable decline in TLR3 mRNA. CONCLUSION: The administration with VOSH, methone and pulegone in therapeutic way can significantly decrease the hemagglutination titer, which demonstrates the anti-virus effect of the administration in therapeutic way, but no notable efficacy of the administration in preventive way. The in vivo anti-virus mechanism is related to regulation of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IL-2.

[Effects of aromatic resuscitation drugs on blood brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To research the effects of moschus, borneol, styrax and benzoinum on the structure and function of blood brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model rats. METHOD: Focal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was introduced as an in vivo ischemic model in rats. After 2 h MCAO, nylon suture was pulled up 1 cm to give blood reperfusion. After 22 h reperfusion, all animals were decapitated. The ultramicrostructure of blood brain barrier of ischemia hemisphere side in fronto-parietal cortex region by transmission electron microscope, and the content of VEGF and MMP-9 in ischemia side brain tissue were measured by ELISA. RESULT: In model and solvent group rats, the capillary endothelium cells, astro-glial cells and nerve cells in ischemia hemisphere side in fronto-parietal region were emerged in different degree compared with sham-operated groups, which exhibited tight junction between endothelial cells being opened, basal lamina being dissolved, and permeability increasing, and cellularedema. In borneol (0.2 g x kg(-1)) group rats, the structure of three kinds of cells were nearly normal, which tight junction structure was clear, rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosome could be found in cytoplasm. In moschus (66.6 mg x kg(-1)) group rats, the structure of capillary endothelium cells and astrocytes were nearly normal as well as the basal lamina, but the electrons in neurons was maldistribution. In styrax (1.332 g x kg(-1)) group rats, astrocytes were nearly normal, while capillary endothelial cells and neurons exhibited oedema in different degrees. And the basal lamina was discontinuous, augmentation of cell spaces in endothelial cells increased the permeability, some endoplasmic reticulum broadened and ribosome ablated. In benzoinum (1.0 g x kg(-1)) group rats, oedema of capillary endothelial cells and astrocytes was significant, basal lamina broke. Meanwhile endoplasmic reticulum broadened as vacuole, the number of ribosome in rough endoplasmic reticulum decreased, crista mitochondriales in some neurons disappeared as vacuole which hint oedema happened. Results also showed that borneol decrease the level of VEGF in ischemia side brain tissue significantly, while has little influence on the level of MMP-9. Moschus showed the tendency to decrease the level of VEGF and MMP-9 in ischemia side brain tissue. CONCLUSION: Aromatic resuscitation drugs showed the protection effect on blood brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats, which the protection effect of moschus and borneol were better than that of styrax and benzoinum. The mechanism of protection effect maybe related to decrease the level of VEGF and MMP-9.

[Clinical application and evaluation of the detection of five drugs resistance genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical application of the detection of the drug resistant genes rPOB, katG, rPSL, PncA and embB in M. tuberculosis by using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. METHODS: Gene mutations and anti-tuberculous drug susceptibility test were analyzed in 109 M. tuberculosis isolates by PCR-SSCP and the proportion method on Lowenstein-Jensen medium, respectively. The therapeutic effect was evaluated in patients with tuberculosis. RESULTS: Isolates from more than 50% of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were resistant to at least two drugs. The total rates of drug resistance to rifampin (RFP), isoniazid (INH), streptomycin (SM), pyrizinamide (PZA) and ethambutol (EB) were 80.7%, 71.5%, 78.8%, 57.7%, and 48.6%, respectively. The gene mutation rates of rpoB, katG, rpsL, pncA and embB were 76%, 68%, 71%, 51% and 30%, respectively. The gene mutations were correlated with the degree of drug-resistance to M. tuberculosis. Most of the gene mutations were found in drug-resistant isolates in high concentrations. The six month cure rates of MDR-TB, confirmed by drug susceptibility test and by PCR-SSCP, were 54.8% and 62.8%, respectively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PCR-SSCP is a sensitive and specific method for rapid detection of rpoB, katG, rpsL, pncA and embB gene mutations in M. tuberculosis. Drug resistant gene detection may be clinically useful in the therapy of tuberculosis.