Dynamic Variations of Soil-Formation Indicators in Bauxite Residue Driven by the Integration of Waste Solids and Microorganisms.

Soil-formation process is critical to ecological rehabilitation on bauxite residue disposal areas. In this study, a soil column experiment was taken to assess the dynamic variations of soil-formation indicators in bauxite residue driven by the integration of waste solids and microorganisms. Results showed that the combination of waste solids and microorganisms significantly decreased the alkalinity, accumulated organic carbon content, and improved aggregate stability of bauxite residue. Compared with waste solids treatments, the addition of acid-producing microorganisms enhanced the changes of soil-formation indicators. The integration of waste solids and microorganisms increased the content of aliphatic carbon, presenting low thermal stability in the residues. The integration of waste solids and microorganisms provides a potentially effective method for soil formation and ecological remediation on bauxite residue disposal areas.

Personal Glucose Meter for α-Glucosidase Inhibitor Screening Based on the Hydrolysis of Maltose.

As a key enzyme regulating postprandial blood glucose, α-Glucosidase is considered to be an effective target for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study, a simple, rapid, and effective method for enzyme inhibitors screening assay was established based on α-glucosidase catalyzes reactions in a personal glucose meter (PGM). α-glucosidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of maltose to produce glucose, which triggers the reduction of ferricyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6]) to ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]) and generates the PGM detectable signals. When the α-glucosidase inhibitor (such as acarbose) is added, the yield of glucose and the readout of PGM decreased accordingly. This method can achieve the direct determination of α-glucosidase activity by the PGM as simple as the blood glucose tests. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the developed method was applied to evaluate the inhibitory activity of thirty-four small-molecule compounds and eighteen medicinal plants extracts on α-glucosidase. The results exhibit that lithospermic acid (52.5 ± 3.0%) and protocatechualdehyde (36.8 ± 2.8%) have higher inhibitory activity than that of positive control acarbose (31.5 ± 2.5%) at the same final concentration of 5.0 mM. Besides, the lemon extract has a good inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase with a percentage of inhibition of 43.3 ± 3.5%. Finally, the binding sites and modes of four active small-molecule compounds to α-glucosidase were investigated by molecular docking analysis. These results indicate that the PGM method is feasible to screening inhibitors from natural products with simple and rapid operations.

Clinical evaluation of Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel for postoperative hypospadias in children / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel for postoperative hypospadias in children.@*METHODS@#From January to December 2020, we treated 116 children with distal hypospadias in the Department of Urology, Department of Pediatrics and the Seventh Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, 58 by primary Snodgrass urethroplasty only (the control group) and the other 58 with Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel smeared on the penis postoperatively in addition (the trial group). We compared the operation time and postoperative pain score, edema regression and incidence of infection between the two groups, followed by statistical analysis using T test and Chi-square test.@*RESULTS@#All the operations were successfully completed by the same surgeon under general anesthesia. There were no statistically significant differences between the trial and control groups in age (［2.5 ± 0.8］ vs ［2.4 ± 0.6］ yr, P > 0.05) or operation time (［95.6 ± 14.5］ vs ［97.1 ± 15.2］ min, P > 0.05). No incision infection occurred in any of the cases. The pain scores at dressing removal were remarkably lower in the trial than in the control group at 2 hours (1.4 ± 1.0 vs 2.6 ± 1.3, P < 0.05), 24 hours (2.2 ± 1.3 vs 3.9 ± 1.6, P < 0.05), 48 hours (1.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.6 ± 0.9, P < 0.05) and 72 hours after surgery (2.5 ± 0.8 vs 3.7 ± 1.8, P < 0.05). Significantly more cases of edema regression were achieved in the trial than in the control group at 2 weeks postoperatively (35 vs 19, P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel can effectively relieve pain, reduce edema and accelerate edema regression after surgery in children with hypospadias, and therefore deserves wide clinical application.、.

Effect of amendments on the leaching behavior of alkaline anions and metal ions in bauxite residue.

A column leaching experiment was used to investigate the efficacy of amendments on their ability to remove alkaline anions and metal ions from bauxite residue leachates. Treatments included, simulated acid rain (AR), phosphogypsum + vermicompost (PVC), phosphogypsum + vermicompost + simulated acid rain (PVA), and biosolids + microorganisms (BSM) together with controls (CK). Results indicated that amendment could effectively reduce the leachate pH and EC values, neutralize OH-, CO32-, HCO3-, and water soluble alkali, and suppress arsenic (As) content. Correlation analysis revealed significant linear correlations with pH and concentrations of OH-, CO32-, HCO3-, water-soluble alkali, and metal ions. BSM treatment showed optimum results with neutralizing anions (OH-, CO32-, and HCO3-), water soluble alkali, and removal of metal ions (Al, As, B, Mo, V, and Na), which was attributed to neutralization from the generation of small molecular organic acids and organic matter during microbial metabolism. BSM treatment reduced alkaline anions and metal ions based on neutralization reactions in bauxite residue leachate, which reduced the potential pollution effects from leachates on the soil surrounding bauxite residue disposal areas.

Folic Acid Supplementation for Stroke Prevention in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Controversy remains regarding the efficacy of folic acid supplementation in reducing the risk of stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplementation on stroke prevention in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases through October 2016 to identify randomized clinical trials of folic acid supplementation to prevent stroke in patients with CVD. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs were used to examine the association between folic acid supplementation and the risk of stroke with a fixed-effect model. Stratified analyses were performed according to modifiers that may affect the efficacy of folic acid supplementation. RESULTS: Eleven studies with a total of 65,790 participants were included. Folic acid supplementation was associated with a significant benefit in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with CVD (RR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.84-0.97; P = 0.005). In the stratified analysis, greater beneficial effects were observed in participants with a decrease in homocysteine concentrations of 25% or greater (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.97; P = 0.03), those with a daily folate dose of less than 2mg (RR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68-0.89; P = 0.01), and populations in regions with no or partly fortified grain (RR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81-0.94; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that folic acid supplementation is effective in stroke prevention in patients with CVD.

Effect of calcium carbonate on cadmium and nutrients uptake in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) planted on contaminated soil.

In the present study, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was applied to Cd-contaminated soil at rates of 0, 0.5 and 1.0 g kg(-1). The effect of CaCO3 on soil pH, organic matter, available Cd, exchangeable Cd and level of major nutrients in a tobacco field and on accumulation of various elements in tobacco plants was determined. The results showed that CaCO3 application significantly increased the pH level, available P and exchangeable Ca but decreased organic matter, available Cd, exchangeable Cd, available heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) and available K in soil. Additionally, CaCO3 application substantially reduced Cd accumulation in tobacco roots, stems, upper leaves, middle leaves and lower leaves, with maximum decrease of 22.3%, 32.1%, 24.5%, 22.0% and 18.2%, respectively. There were large increase in total Ca and slight increases in total N and K but decrease to varying degrees in total Fe, Cu and Zn due to CaCO3 application. CaCO3 had little effect on total P and Mn levels in tobacco leaves.

n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improve Inflammation via Inhibiting Sphingosine Kinase 1 in a Rat Model of Parenteral Nutrition and CLP-Induced Sepsis.

The sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1)/sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) pathway plays a key role in inflammation. Parenteral nutrition containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may regulate inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study is to determine whether n-3 PUFA may improve inflammatory responses by neutralizing SphK1 signaling. Rat models of parenteral nutrition, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis were generated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were operated for CLP on day 2 after venous catheterization. The rats were randomized to receive normal saline (NS; n = 20), parenteral nutrition (PN; n = 20), or PN + fish oil (FO; n = 20) for 5 days. The daily intake of fish oil (1.25-2.82 g EPA and 1.44-3.09 g DHA per 100 ml) in the FO group was approximately 1.8 g/kg body weight/day. Rats in the control group (n = 10) were subjected to sham operation and received a chow diet. Spleen tissues were collected for SphK1 and S1P receptor expression analysis. Our data showed that n-3 PUFA ameliorated the survival rate. SphK1 expression and its enzymatic activity were significantly upregulated in sepsis rats. Furthermore, mRNA and protein levels of S1PR3, but not S1PR1, were also facilitated after CLP. However, PN + FO dramatically decreased SphK1 mRNA level and its enzymatic activity. S1PR3 expression was also attenuated by FO addition. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory effect of n-3 PUFA may be linked to the inhibition of the SphK1/S1P pathway in a rat model of parenteral nutrition and CLP-induced sepsis.

The effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid on flow-mediated vasodilation in patients with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: High level of homocysteine induces injury of endothelial cells and predicts adverse cardiovascular events. The objective was to assess the effect of homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid on flow-mediated vasodilation in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials identified from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library. Eight studies were included. Homocysteine-lowering therapy with folic acid in patients with coronary artery disease significantly improve FMD as compared with placebo using random-effect model (SMD = 1.65 with 95% CI 1.12-2.17, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of subjects revealed that lipid-lowering therapy, study duration, and Delphi criteria had no effects on FMD. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that folic acid supplementation can significantly improve endothelial dysfunction as assessed by FMD in the brachial artery in patients with coronary heart disease.

MOF-76: from a luminescent probe to highly efficient U(VI) sorption material.

MOF-76 exhibits not only high sensitivity for the detection of U(vi), but also high adsorption capacity of 298 mg g(-1) at a low pH value of ∼3.0. Furthermore, the high selectivity for uranium adsorption over a series of competing metal ions is also illustrated.

[Assessment of methodology and report quality of systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of acupuncture-moxibustion in China].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the methodology and report quality of systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion in China. METHODS: Retrieve CBM, CNKI, WF and VIP database, collect data from the information system established by Epidata 2.1, assess the methodology and report quality by using the QQAQ and QUOROM, calculate the percentage of adequate rate. RESULTS: Thirty-eight reviews, including twenty six systematic evaluation and twelve Meta-analyses, met the enrolled criteria. Twenty-two kinds of diseases and six diseases systems were included. The methodology quality scores were generally low (3.34 +/- 1.44). The causes of the problems were insufficient literature resource, bias in data collections and inaccurate merging methods. The report quality was relatively low in abstracts, methods, trial flow, introduction and data merging. CONCLUSION: The amount of literatures on systematic evaluation and Meta-analysis of acupuncture is gradually increasing from 2002. However, the quality control is not ideal. It is important to improve the methodology and report quality.

Protective effects of ezrin on cold storage preservation injury in the pig kidney proximal tubular epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1).

BACKGROUND: Renal damage caused by cold preservation and warm reperfusion has been well documented and involves tissue edema, cell swelling, ATP depletion, calcium toxicity, and oxidative stress. However, more common proximal mechanisms have not been identified, which may limit the development of effective clinical treatment strategies. Previous work indicates that many cytoskeletal structures are affected by cold preservation and reperfusion, including membrane-rich ezrin-associated complexes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the sublamellar cytoskeletal protein ezrin is causally involved in cold preservation injury in renal tubule epithelial cells. METHODS: We created a stably transfected cell line (LLC-EZ) using the pig kidney proximal tubular epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1), which constitutively overexpresses wild-type ezrin. These cells were cold stored in University of Wisconsin Solution and reperfused in vitro to model renal tubule preservation injury, which was assessed by biochemical, metabolic, functional, and structural endpoints. RESULTS: Overexpression of ezrin increased cell viability (lactate dehydrogenase release), mitochondrial activity (ATP synthesis, dehydrogenase activity, and inner mitochondrial membrane potential), and protected the structure of cell membrane microvilli and mitochondria after cold storage preservation injury. Reperfusion-induced apoptosis was also significantly reduced in LLC-EZ cells overexpressing ezrin. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced ezrin expression protects tubule epithelial cells from cold storage preservation injury, possibly by membrane or mitochondrial mechanisms.

Chinese medicinal compound delisheng has satisfactory anti-tumor activity, and is associated with up-regulation of endostatin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 in three-dimensional culture.

AIM: To investigate the multicellular resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in three-dimensional culture to delisheng, 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin, and the possible molecular mechanisms of delisheng. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were cultured with a liquid overlay technique. After the formation of multicellular spheroids, morphology was analyzed by phase contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Sensitivity of HepG2 cells to delisheng, 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin was investigated by MTT assay in multicelluar spheroids and monolayers. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin expression were analyzed in multicellular spheroids treated with delisheng, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and negative control PBS, with immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Multicellular spheroids exhibited structural characteristics somewhat different to those in monolayers. The cells in three-dimensional cell culture turned out to be less sensitive to delisheng, 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin than the cells cultured in monolayer. This showed that delisheng had a satisfactory cells inhibition ratio compared to 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin. Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF and endostatin expression was positive during growth as multicellular spheroids, and endostatin expression in spheroids with treatment of delisheng was higher than that with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and PBS (139.35 +/- 7.83, 159.23 +/- 10.34, 162.83 +/- 3.47 and 148.48 +/- 11.06, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine compound delisheng has satisfactory anti-tumor activity in HepG2 cells in three-dimensional culture, and the effects are associated with up-regulation of endostatin.

[Research on resveratrol's mechanism of immunity in anti-aging].

OBJECTIVE: To research resveratrol's mechanism of immunity in anti-aging and explore the new clinical use of resveratrol. METHODS: The sub acute aging model was made by continuous subcutaneous injection of D galactose to mice inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, the resveratrol was given and its effect on anti-aging was observed. RESULTS: The resveratrol could increase the content of SOD and decrease the content of MDA in serum. There was no change in spleen index, but thymus index increased obvionsly. There was no change in the quantity of CD4+, but the quantity of CD8+ increased and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was decreased. The serum IL-6 and IL-8 level were decreased obviously. CONCLUSION: The resveratrol possessed the function to anti-aging and the applications foreground in anyi-aging.