Ginseng promotes the function of intestinal stem cells through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in D-galactose-induced aging mice.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are the reservoir source of various types of intestinal cells, and the decline of stem cell function in the gut may be a potential factor for aging-related disease. The present study aimed to explore the regulatory mechanisms of Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer (Araliaceae, Panax genus) that could restore gut aging by enhancing intestinal function and regulating ISCs in aging mice based on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS: A total of 60 ICR male mice were randomly divided into control, model, metformin, and ginseng water decoction (GWD) 3.6, 1.8, and 0.9 g/kg groups. The aging model was induced by 1 % D-galactose (s.c. 0.1 mL/10 g) for 28 days. Moreover, GWD was given to aging mice intragastrically (i.g.) once a day for 28 successive days. The learning memory ability, pathological status, and function in the ileum tissue, the activity of digestive enzymes, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in the colon were evaluated, and the related mechanism was investigated. RESULTS: Ginseng can decrease the escape latency time and increase the swimming speed and the number of crossing platforms in aging mice. Moreover, the pathology of ileum tissue improved, the length of the intestinal villi increased, and the width of the villi and the depth of the crypts decreased. The activities of trypsin, α-amylase, and lipase increased in duodenal content and intestinal mucosa. In the colon, the content of SCFA, such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid, increased, indicating that ginseng significantly improves intestinal function impairment. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of ß-catenin, C-myc, GSK-3ß, Lgr5, and Olfm4 were upregulated in the ginseng group. CONCLUSIONS: Ginseng improves intestinal function and regulates the function of ISCs in order to protect intestinal health by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in aging mice.

Nuclear transport proteins: structure, function, and disease relevance.

Proper subcellular localization is crucial for the functioning of biomacromolecules, including proteins and RNAs. Nuclear transport is a fundamental cellular process that regulates the localization of many macromolecules within the nuclear or cytoplasmic compartments. In humans, approximately 60 proteins are involved in nuclear transport, including nucleoporins that form membrane-embedded nuclear pore complexes, karyopherins that transport cargoes through these complexes, and Ran system proteins that ensure directed and rapid transport. Many of these nuclear transport proteins play additional and essential roles in mitosis, biomolecular condensation, and gene transcription. Dysregulation of nuclear transport is linked to major human diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. Selinexor (KPT-330), an inhibitor targeting the nuclear export factor XPO1 (also known as CRM1), was approved in 2019 to treat two types of blood cancers, and dozens of clinical trials of are ongoing. This review summarizes approximately three decades of research data in this field but focuses on the structure and function of individual nuclear transport proteins from recent studies, providing a cutting-edge and holistic view on the role of nuclear transport proteins in health and disease. In-depth knowledge of this rapidly evolving field has the potential to bring new insights into fundamental biology, pathogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches.

Efficient removal and recovery of phosphorus from industrial wastewater in the form of vivianite.

With the shortage of phosphorus resources, the concept of phosphorus recovery from wastewater is generally proposed. Recently, phosphorus recovery from wastewater in the form of vivianite has been widely reported, which could be used as a slow-release fertilizer as well as the production of lithium iron phosphate for Li-ion batteries. In this study, chemical precipitation thermodynamic modeling was applied to evaluate the effect of solution factors on vivianite crystallization with actual phosphorus containing industrial wastewater. The modeling results showed that the solution pH influences the concentration of diverse ions, and the initial Fe2+ concentration affects the formation area of vivianite. The saturation index (SI) of vivianite increased with the initial Fe2+ concentration and Fe:P molar ratio. pH 7.0, initial Fe2+ concentration 500 mg/L and Fe:P molar ratio 1.50 were the optimal conditions for phosphorus recovery. Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA) accurately determined the purity of vivianite was 24.13%, indicating the feasibility of recovering vivianite from industrial wastewater. In addition, the cost analysis showed that the cost of recovering phosphorus by the vivianite process was 0.925 USD/kg P, which can produce high-value vivianite products and realize "turn waste into treasure".

BCAA insufficiency leads to premature ovarian insufficiency via ceramide-induced elevation of ROS.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a disease featured by early menopause before 40 years of age, accompanied by an elevation of follicle-stimulating hormone. Though POI affects many aspects of women's health, its major causes remain unknown. Many clinical studies have shown that POI patients are generally underweight, indicating a potential correlation between POI and metabolic disorders. To understand the pathogenesis of POI, we performed metabolomics analysis on serum and identified branch-chain amino acid (BCAA) insufficiency-related metabolic disorders in two independent cohorts from two clinics. A low BCAA diet phenotypically reproduced the metabolic, endocrine, ovarian, and reproductive changes of POI in young C57BL/6J mice. A mechanism study revealed that the BCAA insufficiency-induced POI is associated with abnormal activation of the ceramide-reactive oxygen species (ROS) axis and consequent impairment of ovarian granulosa cell function. Significantly, the dietary supplement of BCAA prevented the development of ROS-induced POI in female mice. The results of this pathogenic study will lead to the development of specific therapies for POI.

Edible Vitalmelon Fruit Extract Inhibits Adipogenesis and Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity.

Conventional breeding of wild (Cucumis melo var. makuwa Makino (CM)) and cultivated (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus (CR)) melons is aimed at improving their biological traits. Here, we prepared a nontoxic, bioactive extract of vitalmelon (F1 hybrid) and evaluated its antiadipogenic and antiobesity effects in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese C57BL/6 mice. In fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the vitalmelon extract reduced the DMI- (dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and insulin-) induced increases in lipid droplet number and intracellular glucose and triglyceride levels. In addition, the extract inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation by downregulating PPAR-γ and target genes LPL, CD36, HMGCR, and L-FABP. To investigate the inhibitory effects of the vitalmelon extract on lipid metabolism, we measured serum lipid, hormone, and cytokine concentrations; lipolytic activity; lipid accumulation; and adipogenesis in HFD-fed mice treated with the extract. The HFD+vitalmelon-fed mice showed lower blood cholesterol, free fatty acid, sugar, leptin, and insulin concentrations but higher blood adiponectin concentrations than the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the HFD+vitalmelon-fed mice showed lower abdominal fat levels, smaller fat cells, lower weight, and fewer lipid droplets in the liver tissue than the HFD-fed mice. Therefore, in HFD-fed mice, vitalmelon regulated lipid metabolism through PPAR-γ, highlighting its potential as a promising antiobesity functional food.

Clinical efficacy and safety of external radiotherapy combined with sorafenib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Both external radiotherapy and sorafenib are promising treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the combined treatment of external radiotherapy and sorafenib has not been widely applied clinically due to potentially adverse effects. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of external radiotherapy combined with sorafenib in the treatment of HCC. METHODS: Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched. The primary and secondary observation endpoints were the end of survival and incidence of adverse events, respectively. 11 studies involving 664 patients were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that median overall survival (mOS) and median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the external radiotherapy combined with sorafenib (RS) group were 19.45 months and 8.20 months. The one- and two-year survival rates were 0.65 (95%CI: 0.55-0.76) and 0.40 (95%CI: 0.24-0.56). The incidence of adverse events was 0.34 (95%CI: 0.25-0.44). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated that the survival of the RS group was significantly improved and few severe adverse events were observed. Hence, it can be concluded that external radiotherapy combined with sorafenib is a safe, effective, and promising therapeutic option for HCC.

Converting wastes to resource: Utilization of dewatered municipal sludge for calcium-based biochar adsorbent preparation and land application as a fertilizer.

Pyrolysis combined with land application for dewatered municipal sludge disposal revealed advantages in heavy metals solidification and resource utilization compared with other disposal technologies. In this study, utilizing dewatered municipal sludge for calcium-containing porous adsorbent preparation via pyrolysis was proposed and verified. After pyrolyzing at 900 ° C (Ca-900), the dewatered sludge obtained maximum adsorption capacity (83.95 mg P⋅ g-1) and the adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-second-order model and double layer model. Characteristic analysis showed the predominant adsorption mechanism was precipitation. Continuous column bed experiment indicated 2 g adsorbent could remove 4.27 mg phosphorus from tail wastewater with the initial phosphorus concentration of 1.03 mg ⋅ L-1. No heavy metals leaching was observed from Ca-900 adsorbent with pH value exceeding 1.0, and merely 1% addition of Ca-900 adsorbent (after actual water phosphorus adsorption) with soil could extremely promote the early growth of seedlings. Economic estimates demonstrated that this cost-effective modification could generate the most add-on value production. Based on these results, the strategy of 'one treatment but two uses' was proposed in this study, converting the wastes to resource and providing a native strategy for sludge disposal and resource recovery.

Screening of traditional Chinese medicine-derived snail control drug targets based on network pharmacology / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To screen the targets of traditional Chinese medicine-derived potential plant molluscicides based on network pharmacology and explore the mechanisms of molluscicidal actions. Methods The traditional Chinese medicines with molluscicidal actions were screened based on retrospective literature reviews, and their molluscicidal efficiency was summarized. The active ingredients and potential targets of traditional Chinese medicines were captured from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, Unified Protein Database and literature mining using network pharmacology. The drug-active ingredient-target network was created using the software Cytoscape 3.7.2, and the key targets were subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis using the Metascape software. Results A total of 27 types of snail control drugs derived from traditional Chinese medicines were screened from publications and classified into 14 categories. Network pharmacology identified 190 active ingredients, and the active ingredients with a high degree in the drug-active ingredient-target network included quercetin, linoleyl acetate, luteolin, beta-carotene, (24S)-ethylcholesta-5,22,25-trans-3beta-ol, fumarine and arctiin, with 181 corresponding potential targets screened. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these targets were mainly located in 16 pathways, including the neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, regulation of adipocyte lipolysis and adrenergic signal in myocardial cells. Conclusions This study preliminarily demonstrates the multi-ingredient, multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms of action of 27 molluscicides. The screened key ingredient may provide the basis for isolation, purification and pharmacological studies of molluscicides, and the screened key targets and key pathways may facilitate the illustration of mechanisms of actions of traditional Chinese medicine-derived molluscicides and development of novel green molluscicides.

Long-term bisphenol A exposure exacerbates diet-induced prediabetes via TLR4-dependent hypothalamic inflammation.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine-disrupting compound, has been revealed associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Here, we provide new evidence that BPA is a risk factor for T2D from a case-control study. To explore the detailed mechanisms, we used two types of diet models, standard diet (SD) and high-fat diet (HFD), to study the effects of long-term BPA exposure on prediabetes in 4-week-old mice. We found that BPA exposure for 12 weeks exacerbated HFD-induced prediabetic symptoms. Female mice showed increased body mass, serum insulin level, and impaired glucose tolerance, while male mice only exhibited impaired glucose tolerance. No change was found in SD-fed mice. Besides, BPA exposure enhanced astrocyte-dependent hypothalamic inflammation in both male and female mice, which impaired proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neuron functions. Moreover, eliminating inflammation by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout significantly abolished the effects of BPA on the hypothalamus and diet-induced prediabetes. Taken together, our data establish a key role for TLR4-dependent hypothalamic inflammation in regulating the effects of BPA on prediabetes.

GL-V9 reverses adriamycin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by affecting JNK2-related autophagy.

Adriamycin resistance in HCC seriously hinders the treatment of patients, it is necessary to investigate the mechanisms. Autophagy is involved in adriamycin resistance and JNK2 is related to autophagy. However, whether JNK2 inducing drug resistance though autophagy is unknown. GL-V9, a new synthesized flavonoid derivative, has been proved of its anti-tumor effects. The aim of the study is to explore the role of JNK2-related autophagy on adriamycin-induced drug resistance and the effects of GL-V9 on reversing adriamycin resistance. We concluded that JNK2 played an important role in drug resistance induced by adriamycin. The high expression of JNK2 activated protective autophagy in Hep G2-DOXR cells under non-stress condition, which protected cells from drug attacking. Furthermore, we found that GL-V9 reversed adriamycin resistance by blocking the JNK2-related protective autophagy in HCC.

Preventing Postpartum Depression With Mindful Self-Compassion Intervention: A Randomized Control Study.

Mindfulness and self-compassion are reported to have a preventive effects on depression and anxiety disorders. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of mindful self-compassion intervention on preventing postpartum depression in a group of symptomatic pregnant women. Participants were screened and assigned to the intervention and control groups randomly. A 6-week Internet-based Mindful Self-Compassion Program was used to train the participants. Multiple scales were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, self-compassion, and mother and infant well-being. All assessments were performed at three time points: baseline, 3 months, and 1 year postpartum. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in depressive and anxiety behaviors. In addition, the intervention group became more mindful and self-compassionate at 3 months and 1 year postpartum. More importantly, both mothers and infants experienced substantial improvement in well-being. Our findings indicate that mindful self-compassion intervention is effective in preventing postpartum depression and promoting mother and infant well-being.

S-Petasin isolated from Petasites japonicus exerts anti-adipogenic activity in the 3T3-L1 cell line by inhibiting PPAR-γ pathway signaling.

Petasites japonicus is an edible and medicinal plant with a good flavor, and it is a rich source of bioactive compounds. S-Petasin has been isolated from Petasites hybridus (L.), Petasites officinalis (L.) and Petasites formosanus, but not from Petasites japonicus. In this study, we found that hexane extracts of Petasites japonicus inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. After this we isolated s-petasin from Petasites japonicus. Subsequently, the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were used to test whether s-petasin exerts an anti-adipogenic effect. The results showed that s-petasin presented strong anti-adipogenic activity. Further studies illustrated that s-petasin reduced glucose uptake. Moreover, results showed that triglyceride accumulation was inhibited by s-petasin in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot assay indicated that s-petasin down-regulated the expression of PPAR-γ and its target genes in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, we isolated s-petasin from Petasites japonicus and found that it exerted anti-adipogenic activity against 3T3-L1 cell differentiation through inhibition of the expression of PPAR-γ pathway signaling.

The flavonoid-rich fraction from rhizomes of Smilax glabra Roxb. ameliorates renal oxidative stress and inflammation in uric acid nephropathy rats through promoting uric acid excretion.

Uric acid metabolic disorder is considered to be the main pathogenesis of uric acid nephropathy (UN). Smilax glabra Roxb. is a traditional Chinese herb which has been used in the treatment of gout, but the mechanism was unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction from rhizomes of Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGF) on uric acid nephropathy rats and its underlying mechanisms of promoting uric acid excretion. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were induced by high purine diet (yeast pellets + adenine) for 5 weeks. Rats were orally treated with SGF or allopurinol daily. The biochemical parameters and enzymes in different treated rats were determined by commercial kits. Kidney pathology was visualized using optical microscopy and electron microscopy. Renal inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA. Renal fibrosis factors and uric acid transporters were analyzed by real time RT-PCR and western blot. The results showed that SGF significantly improved kidney function. Histopathologic examination revealed that urate-induced renal damage was markedly reversed by SGF. Meanwhile, SGF treatment was also found to significantly inhibit renal oxidative stress. SGF treatment obviously suppressed the inflammatory factors of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the profibrotic factors of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression in UN rats. Moreover, SGF either significantly inhibited uric acid production or promoted uric acid excretion in UN rats. The mechanism of SGF promoting uric acid excretion was related to its increase of ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2), organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), organic anion transporters 2 (OCT2) and organic cation/carnitine transporters 2 (OCTN2) expression. In conclusion, SGF could ameliorate renal oxidative stress and inflammation in UN rats through promoting uric acid excretion.

Inhibitory effect of Patrinia on BRL-3A cell apoptosis through the TLR4/PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß and TLR4/P38/JNK signaling pathways.

The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of Patrinia on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis of rat liver BRL­3A cells. A Cell Counting Kit­8 assay was performed to measure the effect of Patrinia on BLR­3A cell activities. A biochemical assay was employed to detect the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in BRL­3A cells induced by different doses of LPS. Based on the release rate of LDH, drug concentrations were set at 0.5, 1 and 2 g/l. Apoptotic morphology of cells was observed via Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry was performed to detect apoptosis rates. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of toll­like receptor 4 (TLR4), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylated (P)­AKTSer473, glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß), P­GSK3ßSer9, P38, P­P38, c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK), P­JNK, B­cell lymphoma­2 (Bcl­2), Bcl­2 associated X protein (Bax) and active­caspase­3 proteins. The translocation of GSK3ß was observed by immunofluorescence staining. Results revealed that Patrinia increases cell activities and inhibits apoptosis. The expression levels of TLR4, P­P38 and P­JNK were reduced, whereas the expression of P­AKTSer473 and P­GSK3ßSer9 were increased. Patrinia significantly reduced GSK3ß nuclear translocation induced by LPS, and significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of Bax/Bcl­2 and caspase­3 in BRL­3A cells induced by LPS. In conclusion, Patrinia may significantly reduce apoptosis of BRL­3A induced by LPS via the TLR4/PI3K/AKT/GSK3ß and TLR4/P38/JNK signaling pathways, providing evidence for its potential use in liver disease therapy.

Assessment of bioavailability of selenium in different plant-soil systems by diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT).

Uptake of selenium (Se) by plants largely depend on the availability of Se in soil. Soils and plants were sampled four times within 8 weeks of plant growth in pot experiments using four plant species. Sequential extraction and diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) method were employed to measure Se concentrations in potted soils in selenite- or selenate-amended soils. Results showed that DGT-measured Se concentrations (CDGT-Se) were generally several folds higher for selenate than selenite amended soils, which were obviously affected by the plant species and the duration of their growth. For example, the folds in soil planted with mustard were 1.49-3.47 and those in soils planted with purple cabbage and broccoli, which grew for 3 and 4 weeks after sowing, were 1.06-2.14 and only 0.15-0.62 after 6 weeks of growth. The selenate-amended soil planted with wheat showed an extremely high CDGT-Se compared with selenite-amended soil, except the last harvest. Furthermore, minimal changes in CDGT-Se and soluble Se(IV) were found in selenite-amended soils during plant growth, whereas significant changes were observed in selenate-amended soils (p < 0.05). Additionally, Se distribution in various fractions of soil remarkably changed; the soils planted with purple cabbage and broccoli showed the most obvious change followed by wheat and mustard. Soluble Se(VI) and exchangeable Se(VI) were likely the major sources of CDGT-Se in selenate-amended soils, and soluble Se(IV) was the possible source of CDGT-Se in selenite-amended soils. In selenate-amended soils, soluble Se(VI) and exchangeable Se(VI) were significantly correlated with Se concentrations in purple cabbage, broccoli, and mustard; in wheat, Se concentration was significantly correlated only with soluble Se(VI) but not with exchangeable Se. CDGT-Se eventually became positively correlated with Se concentrations accumulated by different plants, indicating that DGT is a feasible method in predicting plant uptake of selenate but not of selenite.

[Dynamic Differences of Uptake and Translocation of Exogenous Selenium by Different Crops and Its Mechanism].

The study aimed to find out the dynamic changes of selenium (Se) uptake with crops growing and to provide better understanding on the translocation of Se in soil-plant system. Pot experiments and laboratory analysis were carried out, in which 6 crops were planted for eight weeks in the soils treated with selenite and selenate. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the plant dynamic uptake pattern for selenite and selenate. Se concentration in shoots and roots of all tested plants continuously declined with growth since the third week after planting for selenate treatment; while Se concentration in roots of plants gradually increased with the growth, and that for shoots firstly increased and then leveled off or decreased for selenite treatment. Crops could accumulate Se throughout the whole growing period, while 80% of the Se in plants was uptaken in the first 6 weeks. Among the 6 tested plants, the Se concentration in the shoots and roots of mustard was the highest, followed by the shoots of wheat for selenate treatment. The Se concentration in shoots of carrot was the highest, while that in roots was the lowest for selenite treatment. For the same Se treatment, the Se concentrations in both roots and shoots of broccoli, purple cabbage and flowering Chinese cabbage were similar. Broccoli, purple cabbage, flowering Chinese cabbage, mustard and wheat had higher translocation ability to transport selenate than selenite from roots to shoots, whereas carrot had the same ability for translocating selenite and selenate. Biological dilution affected the dynamic changes of the Se content in crops, especially for selenate treatment, and a significant negative correlation between Se concentration of plants and their biomass further verified this. However, the changes of biomass of plants with growing period couldn't explain the total inverse dynamic uptake pattern for selenite and selenate. A significant positive correlation was observed between Se accumulations amount in six crops with available Se changes in soil during the corresponding growing period for selenate treatment, while no such correlation was found for selenite treatment. Se accumulation in crops grown on selenite-treated soil accounted for 0.5%-18.1% of soil available Se, whereas that in selenate treatment was 1.1-4.5 times of soil available Se except for carrot. In conclusion, the dynamic changes of Se uptake with crop growth were the comprehensive results of the absorption and transport capacity of crops, Se availability in soil and biological dilution. It should be considered as a whole in the selenium biofortification.

Removal of phosphorus by the core-shell bio-ceramic/Zn-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) composites for municipal wastewater treatment in constructed rapid infiltration system.

Constructed rapid infiltration systems (CRIS) are a reasonable option for treating wastewater, owing to their simplicity, low cost and low energy consumption. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), novel materials with high surface area and anion exchange capacity, faced the problem of the application in CRIS due to the powdered form. To overcome this shortcoming, Zn-LDHs (FeZn-LDHs, CoZn-LDHs, AlZn-LDHs) were prepared by co-precipitation method and in-situ coated on the surface of the natural bio-ceramic to synthesize the core-shell bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs composites. Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRFS) indicated that the Zn-LDHs were successful loaded on the natural bio-ceramic. Column tests experiments indicated that the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs efficiently enhanced the removal performance of phosphorus. The efficiently removal rates of bio-ceramic/FeZn-LDHs were 71.58% for total phosphorous (TP), 74.91% for total dissolved phosphorous (TDP), 82.31% for soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) and 67.58% for particulate phosphorus (PP). Compared with the natural bio-ceramic, the average removal rates were enhanced by 32.20% (TP), 41.33% (TDP), 49.06% (SRP) and 10.50% (PP), respectively. Adsorption data of phosphate were better described by the Freundlich model for the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs and natural bio-ceramic, except for the bio-ceramic/CoZn-LDHs. The maximum adsorption capacity of bio-ceramic/AlZn-LDHs (769.23 mg/kg) was 1.77 times of the natural bio-ceramic (434.78 mg/kg). The effective desorption of phosphate could achieve by using a mixed solution of 5 M NaCl + 0.1 M NaOH, it outperformed the natural bio-ceramic of 18.95% for FeZn-LDHs, 7.59% for CoZn-LDHs and 12.66% for AlZn-LDHs. The kinetic data of the bio-ceramic/Zn-LDHs were better described by the pseudo-second-order equation. Compared the removal amount of phosphate by the natural bio-ceramic, the physical effects were improved little, but the chemical effects were enhanced for 112.49% for FeZn-LDHs, 111.89% for CoZn-LDHs and 122.67% for AlZn-LDHs. Therefore, the way of coating Zn-LDHs on the bio-ceramic efficiently improved the chemical effects in phosphate removal, supporting that it can use as potential substrates for the removal of phosphorus in CRIS.

Enhanced removal performance by the core-shell zeolites/MgFe-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) for municipal wastewater treatment.

The application of powdered layer double hydroxides (LDHs) in constructed rapid infiltration system (CRIS) appears to be an appreciable problem still unsolved due to the small particle size and the low density. Therefore, the core-shell zeolites/MgFe-LDHs composites were prepared via using co-precipitation method in present study. To investigate the practical applicability, a detailed organics, ammonia, and total phosphorus removal study were carried out in columns to treat the municipal wastewater. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) results confirmed the successful synthesis of core-shell zeolites/MgFe-LDHs through coating on the surface of zeolites. Accordingly, the zeolites/MgFe-LDHs largely reduced the COD by 81.14 %, NH4 (+)-N by 81.50%, and TP by 83.29%. Phosphate adsorption study revealed that the equilibrium adsorption data were better fitted by Langmuir isothermal model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 79.3651 mg/kg for zeolites/MgFe-LDHs and 38.4615 mg/kg for the natural zeolites. In addition, economic analysis indicated that the reagent cost of synthesis of zeolites/MgFe-LDHs was economical. Herein, the zeolites/MgFe-LDHs solved the natural zeolites problem for poor P removal and the application of powdered LDHs in the solid/liquid separation process, suggesting that it was applicable as potential substrates for the removal of organics, ammonia, and total phosphorus in CRIS.

Hypouricemic and Nephroprotective Effects of Emodinol in Oxonate-Induced Hyperuricemic Mice are Mediated by Organic Ion Transporters and OIT3.

Emodinol, 1ß,3ß,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-acid, as the main active ingredient firstly extracted from the rhizomes of Elaeagus pungens by our research group, has been demonstrated to exhibit uricosuric activity by our previous study. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uricosuric and nephroprotective effects of emodinol and explore its possible mechanisms in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice with renal dysfunction. Mice were orally administrated 250 mg/kg of potassium oxonate once daily for 7 consecutive days to induce hyperuricemia with renal dysfunction. Emodinol was given at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg on the same day 1 h after oxonate treatment, and allopurinol (10 mg/kg) was given as a positive control. After 1 week, serum uric acid, serum creatinine, urine uric acid, urine creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and hepatic xanthine oxidase activity were determined. The mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1, glucose transporter 9, ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2, organic anion transporter 1, oncoprotein-induced transcript 3, and organic cation/carnitine transporters in the kidney were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. In addition, urinary and renal Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein concentrations were examined by ELISA assays. Emodinol significantly reduced serum urate levels, increased urinary urate levels and fractional excretion of uric acid, and inhibited hepatic xanthine oxidase activity in hyperuricemic mice. Moreover, potassium oxonate administration led to dys expressions of renal urate transporter 1, glucose transporter 9, ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2, organic anion transporter 1, and oncoprotein-induced transcript 3 as well as alternations of uromodulin concentrations, which could be reversed by emodinol. On the other hand, treatment of emodinol caused upregulated expressions of organic cation/carnitine transporters, resulting in an improvement of renal function characterized by decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels. Emodinol exhibited hypouricemic and nephroprotective actions by inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity and regulating renal ion transporters and oncoprotein-induced transcript 3, which may be a potential therapeutic agent in hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction.

Effect of Chinese Herbal Extract HNA-1 on the Thymic Output Function in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Chronically Infected Chinese Rhesus Macaques / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Chinese herbal extract HuNan A-1 (HNA-1) on the thymic output function in Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) chronically infected rhesus macaques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight Chinese rhesus macaques had been infected by SIVmac239 for 16 to 21 months, and then they were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, 4 in each group. Monkeys in the treatment group were administered with HNA-1 by gastrogavage, once daily for 2 successive months, while those in the control group were administered with equal volume of normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 2 successive months. The general condition and body weight of monkeys were observed. Plasma viral loads were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay. CD4 percentages and counts, as well as naive CD subsets were detected using flow cytometry. T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay. The thymus tissue was pathologically observed using routine HE staining. The correlation between lesions of the thymus tissue, CD4 counts, naive CD counts, and TREC were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistical difference in body weight, viral loads, absolute CD ratios between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). The altered TREC multiple showed an obvious decreasing tendency in the control group, while it showed an increasing tendency in the treatment group (P < 0.05). In both groups, destroyed structures of the thymus tissue could be seen, filled with pink unstructured material. Increased connective tissues, lowered connective cell density, and confused arrangement could also be seen in the two groups, with no obvious difference. TREC contents were positively correlated with naive CD4 counts after removing extremum (r = 0.926, P = 0.001). Naive CD4 counts were positively correlated with CD4 counts (r = 0.961, P = 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TREC content determination, as a marker of newly thymic emigrants, could be taken as a testing method for evaluating the thymic output function. Besides, HNA-1 treatment increased the thymic output significantly in SIV chronically infected monkeys. Correlation existed among TREC contents, naive CD4 counts, and pathologies of thymus tissues, especially in late infection stage.</p>