Inhibition of sediment erosion and phosphorus release by remediation strategy of contaminated sediment backfilling.

The management of sediment-water interfaces, especially bed stability, is essential for controlling accumulated contaminants in the sediment. In this study, the relationship between sediment erosion and phosphorus (P) release under the remediation strategy of contaminated sediment backfilling (CSBT) was explored through a flume experiment, i.e. the dredged sediment was calcined into ceramsite after dewatering and detoxification and then backfilled to the dredged area for sediment capping, thus avoiding the introduction of foreign materials via in-situ remediation and the large-scale land occupation associated with ex-situ remediation. Acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) and optical backscatter sensor (OBS) were used to measure the vertical distributions of flow velocity and sediment concentration in the overlying water, respectively, and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) was used to measure the P distribution in the sediment. The results revealed that improving bed stability from CSBT can considerably improve the robustness of sediment-water interface and reduce sediment erosion by more than 70%. The corresponding P release from the contaminated sediment could be inhibited with an inhibition efficiency as high as 80%. CSBT is a potent strategy for managing contaminated sediment. This study provides a theoretical reference for controlling sediment pollution, further supporting river and lake ecological management and environmental restoration.

The Effects of Tai Chi on the Executive Functions and Physical Fitness in Middle-Aged Adults with Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The present study examined the effects of Tai Chi exercise on the executive functions (EFs) and physical fitness of middle-aged adults with depression. Methods: A total of 39 middle-aged adults with depression (M age = 50.59, SD = 7.38) were randomly assigned to the Tai Chi group (n = 20) or the waiting-list control group (n = 19). The Tai Chi group engaged in two 90 min sessions of Tai Chi exercise per week for 12 weeks; the waiting-list control group was asked to maintain their usual daily routines for 12 weeks. Depression symptoms, EFs (i.e., inhibitory control, planning, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), and physical fitness (i.e., cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, and flexibility) were evaluated at the baseline (pretest), 6-week (mid-test), and 12-week (post-test) marks. Results: Both groups showed decreased depression symptoms over time. Compared with the control group, the Tai Chi group showed decreased reaction times for incongruent conditions in the Stroop test from pretest to mid- and post-test, and shorter reaction time for incongruent conditions in the Stroop test than the control group at post-test; the Tai Chi group performed significantly better than the control group in overall total move score of Tower of London (TOL). The Tai Chi group also showed increased total correct scores of TOL from pretest to mid- and post-test, and greater total correct scores of TOL than the control group at post-test. Additionally, results indicated that Tai Chi exercise comprehensively improved physical fitness from pretest to mid- and post-test. Greater performance in terms of cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and power was also found in the Tai Chi group at post-test than in the control group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the 12-week Tai Chi exercise improved inhibitory control, planning and working memory aspects of executive functions, and physical fitness in middle-aged adults with depression.

Residues of Culinary-Medicinal Winter Mushroom, Flammulina velutipes (Agaricomycetes), Cultivation as a Potential Source of Functional Skin Substitute with Multiple Bioactivities.

Residues generated during the cultivation of edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes are abundant and utilized with low efficiency. In this study, the composition and bioactivities of a skin substitute named TG05 obtained from residues of the F. velutipes cultivation process were investigated. The main composition of TG05 was considered to be chitin and it inhibited growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. TG05 also suppressed the inflammatory response through the inducible nitric oxide synthase signaling pathway. Inflammation was attenuated by reducing the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 at the transcription level. Furthermore, TG05 exhibited antioxidant activities based on hydroxyl, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazy, 2,2'-azobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, and reducing power assays. However, the effect of TG05 was independent of hyaluronidase inhibitory activity. Taken together, specific mechanisms related to the notable wound-healing-promoting activity of TG05 were demonstrated, mainly attributable to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Therefore, TG05 may have potential for use as a functional biomaterial in various applications.

Lactobacillus johnsonii BS15 combined with abdominal massage on intestinal permeability in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver and cell biofilm repair.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of lactobacillus johnsonii BS15 (isolation of homemade yogurt from Ahu Hongyuan Grassland) combined with abdominal massage on intestinal permeability in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cell biofilm repair. Forty-five rats were divided randomly into five groups, four of which were fed with high-fat diet to establish NAFLD models. According to the treatment methods, they were grouped into group A (lactic acid bacteria feeding), group B (abdominal massage), group A + B (a combination of the two methods), model group (distilled water feeding), and normal group (distilled water feeding). Then, the pathological indexes of liver and intestinal permeability were observed. FITC-Dextran content of the model group elevated markedly compared with normal group (P < 0.01), indicating that the intestinal permeability of NAFLD rats fed with high-fat diet increased. The intestinal permeability of groups A, B, and A + B was lower sharply than that of model group (P < 0.01), and the effect of group A + B was the most obvious. HE staining of liver tissues showed that combined treatment could improve structural changes in liver cells caused by modeling and restore the normal structure of intestinal cells. Lactobacillus combined with abdominal massage was better than two treatments alone, further promoting the permeability of intestinal mucosa in NAFLD rats and repair biofilm of hepatocytes. The results initially verified the intervention effect of abdominal massage on intestinal mucosal permeability, and further revealed the mechanism of abdominal massage in treatment of NAFLD by improving intestinal mucosal barrier permeability.

The Combination of Electroacupuncture and Massage Therapy Alleviates Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation and Extracellular Matrix Production in Blunt Trauma-Induced Skeletal Muscle Fibrosis.

Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and massage, had been previously reported to have therapeutic effects on skeletal muscle contusions. However, the recovery mechanisms on skeletal muscles after blunt trauma via the combination of electroacupuncture (EA) and massage therapy remain unclear. In the present study, a rat model of the skeletal muscle fibrosis following blunt trauma to rat skeletal muscle was established, and the potential molecular mechanisms of EA + massage therapy on the skeletal muscle fibrosis were investigated. The results suggested that EA + massage therapy could significantly decrease inflammatory cells infiltration and collagenous fiber content and ameliorate the disarrangement of sarcomeres within myofibrils compared to the model group. Further analysis revealed that EA + massage therapy could reduce the degree of fibrosis and increase the degree of myofibroblast apoptosis by downregulating the mRNA and protein expression of transforming growth factor- (TGF-) ß1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Furthermore, the fibrosis of injured skeletal muscle was inhibited after treatment through the normalization of balance between matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP). These findings suggested that the combination of electroacupuncture and massage therapy could alleviate the fibrotic process by regulating TGF ß1-CTGF-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation and MMP-1/TIMP-1 balance for extracellular matrix production.

Activation of SIK1 by phanginin A inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis by increasing PDE4 activity and suppressing the cAMP signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Salt-induced kinase 1 (SIK1) acts as a key modulator in many physiological processes. However, the effects of SIK1 on gluconeogenesis and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that a natural compound phanginin A could activate SIK1 and further inhibit gluconeogenesis. The mechanisms by which phanginin A activates SIK1 and inhibits gluconeogenesis were explored in primary mouse hepatocytes, and the effects of phanginin A on glucose homeostasis were investigated in ob/ob mice. METHODS: The effects of phanginin A on gluconeogenesis and SIK1 phosphorylation were examined in primary mouse hepatocytes. Pan-SIK inhibitor and siRNA-mediated knockdown were used to elucidate the involvement of SIK1 activation in phanginin A-reduced gluconeogenesis. LKB1 knockdown was used to explore how phanginin A activated SIK1. SIK1 overexpression was used to evaluate its effect on gluconeogenesis, PDE4 activity, and the cAMP pathway. The acute and chronic effects of phanginin A on metabolic abnormalities were observed in ob/ob mice. RESULTS: Phanginin A significantly increased SIK1 phosphorylation through LKB1 and further suppressed gluconeogenesis by increasing PDE4 activity and inhibiting the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in primary mouse hepatocytes, and this effect was blocked by pan-SIK inhibitor HG-9-91-01 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of SIK1. Overexpression of SIK1 in hepatocytes increased PDE4 activity, reduced cAMP accumulation, and thereby inhibited gluconeogenesis. Acute treatment with phanginin A reduced gluconeogenesis in vivo, accompanied by increased SIK1 phosphorylation and PDE4 activity in the liver. Long-term treatment of phanginin A profoundly reduced blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia in ob/ob mice. CONCLUSION: We discovered an unrecognized effect of phanginin A in suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis and revealed a novel mechanism that activation of SIK1 by phanginin A could inhibit gluconeogenesis by increasing PDE4 activity and suppressing the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in the liver. We also highlighted the potential value of phanginin A as a lead compound for treating type 2 diabetes.

Abdominal Massage Reduces Visceral Hypersensitivity via Regulating GDNF and PI3K/AKT Signal Pathway in a Rat Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Changes in gut motility and visceral hypersensitivity are two major features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Current drug treatments are often poorly efficacious, with many side effects for patients with IBS. Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture or abdominal massage, have received more attention in recent years. In this study, a rat model of IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) was established by instillation of acetic acid from the colon. The effects of abdominal massage on changes in gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and the possible mechanism were investigated. Continuous abdominal massage could decrease the stool consistency score and increase the efflux time of glass beads compared with model groups, while also decreasing mast cell counts in IBS-D rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), choline acetyl transferase (CHAT), and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) were significantly upregulated by continuous abdominal massage compared with model groups. Continuous abdominal massage also improved the ultrastructure of enteric glial cells (EGCs) by decreasing the number of mitochondria and increasing the level of the heterochromatin. Meanwhile, continuous abdominal massage could upregulate the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and P-Akt/Akt. Furthermore, it could reduce visceral hypersensitivity and improve the IBS-D symptoms by regulating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway, which would provide a novel method for the treatment of IBS-D in the clinical setting.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Based Metabolomics Approach to Study the Hepatotoxicity of Cantharidin on Mice.

Cantharidin is the major bioactive compound extracted from the blister beetle, a traditional Chinese medicine, and has been proved to be a natural component with widely antitumor activity. However, clinical application of cantharidin is relatively restricted due to its potential toxic effects, especially hepatotoxicity. Although cantharidin-induced liver injury has been reported, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, an UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics approach combined with blood biochemical analysis, histopathological examination, and cell apoptosis assay were used to investigate the mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 54 significantly changed metabolites and 14 disturbed metabolic pathways were identified in the cantharidin exposed groups. Among them, four metabolites (oxidized glutathione, glutathione, 3-sulfinoalanine, and deoxycholic acid 3-glucuronide) were selected based on their high impact value and potential biological function in the process of liver injury post cantharidin treatment. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity and may contribute to reduce the liver injury and gain more effective and safe clinical use of cantharidin. In addition, our results also demonstrated that cantharidin could impair multiple biological processes in liver, and future studies will be necessary to reveal the detailed molecular mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity.

[The effects of Xiaotan Huayu Liqiao formula on mesenteric artery function in rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Xiaotan Huayu Liqiao formula (the Chinese Medicine) on mesenteric artery function in rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), and to explore the related mechanism. METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups as Normoxia, CIH, Formula+CIH and formula group. Rats were exposed to normoxia in the Normoxia and Formula group, or intermittent hypoxia in CIH or Formula+CIH group. Xiaotan Huayu Liqiao formula was given at 24g/kg by intragastric administration before intermittent hypoxia exposure. The pathological changes of mesenteric artery were determined by HE staining, and the relaxation of mesenteric artery (induced by acetylcholine(ACh) and L-arginine(L-Arg)) was recorded by microvascular ring technique. Serums of all rats were collected (0 d and 21 d) and the content of NO was detected by ELISA. The levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and p-eNOS were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with Normoxia group, the mesenteric arterial endothelial injury and media thickening were observed and the relaxation of mesenteric artery was significantly reduced in rats exposed to CIH. The level of NO in serum and the ratio of p-eNOS/eNOS were also decreased in the CIH group. Xiaotan Huayu Liqiao formula administration improved the pathologic changes and dilatation function of mesenteric artery, increased the levels of NO and p-eNOS. Compared with Normoxia group,all the results were not observed significant difference in Formula group. CONCLUSION: Xiaotan Huayu Liqiao formula increased the bioavailability of NO, and ameliorated the CIH induced mesenteric artery function injury.

Baduanjin exercise for low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common public health concerns worldwide. Baduanjin is very popular and widely practiced for the management of LBP. This study aims to systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of Baduanjin exercise for patients with LBP. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science Core Collection, CBM, CNKI, WANFANG and VIP databases were searched from inception to August 2018 to identify potentially eligible studies. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane collaboration's tool. All statistical analyses were conducted with the RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: Nine studies involving 519 patients were included in this systematic review. Our meta-analysis showed that Baduanjin was associated with a small improvement in pain relief compared with general exercise (MD= -0.50, 95% CI: -0.86 to -0.15, P = 0.005). One trial indicated that Baduanjin was superior to routine drug (ibuprofen) in alleviating pain, and the effect was moderate (MD= -1.04, 95% CI: -1.52 to -0.56, P < 0.0001). A descriptive analysis showed that Baduanjin plus other active treatments (such as massage, suspension, or routine drug plus general exercise) had small to moderate effects on low back pain relief compared with active treatments alone. One trial reported that Baduanjin decreased the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score compared with routine drug (MD= -4.92, 95% CI= -7.81 to -2.03, P = 0.0009). Another trial found the combination of Baduanjin and electrotherapy offered better improvement than electrotherapy on back-specific function (MD= -6.03, 95% CI= -8.45 to -3.61, P < 0.00001). Three trials suggested that Baduanjin alone or in combination with other treatments achieved greater effects on the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score improvement than other treatments. No adverse event was identified in the only study reporting on safety data. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that Baduanjin is effective for LBP. However, evidence supporting the finding is limited due to the small sample size, potential methodological flaws and significant heterogeneity. More large-scale, well-designed RCTs are warranted.