Ammonia capture from human urine to harvest liquid N-P compound fertilizer by a submerged hollow fiber membrane contactor: Performance and fertilizer analysis.

In this study, we developed a submerged hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC) to recover ammonia from human urine to get compound N-P fertilizers. The ammonia capture performance, water vapor transmembrane performance, ion rejection performance and the liquid fertilizer components using 1-4 mol/L H3PO4 as the stripping solution was comprehensively investigated. Increasing H3PO4 concentration did not significantly affect the ammonia capture performance but the water vapor transfer and fertilizer components. The ammonia mass transfer coefficients were in a range of 1.95×10-6±4.77×10-8 to 2.28×10-6±6.71×10-8 m/s and the ammonia flux fluctuated between 17.80 and 20.80 g/m2·h. The water vapor flux increased with the increase of stripping solution concentration and the time elapsed. The N content (21.29-55.24 g/L) was in the range of the commercial products while the P2O5 content (99.41-281 g/L) was slightly higher, which can be used in the soils or plants with a high demand for phosphorus. The liquid fertilizers were all mixtures of (NH4)2HPO4 and NH4H2PO4, but the distribution ratio slightly changed with the different initial H3PO4 concentration. The economic assessment showed that harvesting liquid N-P fertilizer from human urine using HFMC can make a profit of $7.089/L.

Combined anticancer activity of osthole and cisplatin in NCI-H460 lung cancer cells in vitro.

Drug combination therapies are common practice in the treatment of cancer. Cisplatin is the most active chemotherapeutic agent for lung cancer treatment. Osthole is a natural compound extracted from a number of medicinal plants. To determine whether osthole enhances the anticancer effect of cisplatin in human lung cancer, we treated NCI-H460 cells with osthole alone or in combination with cisplatin and evaluated cell growth and apoptosis using 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that, in comparison with single agent treatment, the combination of osthole and cisplatin resulted in greater efficacy in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. Western blot analysis revealed that the combination effect of osthole and cisplatin was due to regulation of the Bcl-2 family proteins. Findings of this investigation suggested that osthole combined with cisplatin is a potential clinical chemotherapeutic approach in human lung cancer.

Effects of tubeimoside-1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of BGC823 gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Natural products isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs are useful sources of new drugs for cancer therapy. Tubeimoside-1 (TBMS1) is a natural compound isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae). Studies have shown that TBMS1 has anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines. However, the effect of TBMS1 on human gastric cancer cells is unknown. In the present study, it was observed that TBMS1 inhibited BGC823 gastric cancer cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometric analysis showed that TBMS1 induced BGC823 cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis also showed that TBMS1 induced apoptosis by regulation of the Bcl-2 gene family in BGC823 cells. These findings indicate that TBMS1 may be developed as a possible therapeutic agent for the management of gastric cancer.

Osthole suppresses migration and invasion of A549 human lung cancer cells through inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metallopeptidase-9 in vitro.

Osthole, a natural compound, may be extracted from Cnidium monnieri and other medicinal plants. Previous studies have shown that osthole has anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines. There is, however, no available information concerning the effects of osthole on the migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells. In the current study, we used Transwell assays to demonstrate that osthole inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 human lung cancer cells. Western blot analysis revealed that osthole reduced the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) in the A549 human lung cancer cells. Our findings indicate that osthole may have a novel function as an inhibitor of the metastasis of human lung cancer.

Suppression of growth of A549 lung cancer cells by waltonitone and its mechanisms of action.

Natural compounds are a great source of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Our investigation indicates that waltonitone, a triterpene extracted from medicinal plants, inhibits the proliferation of A549 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Waltonitone induced apoptosis of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The apoptosis was accompanied by increased Bax protein levels and decreased Bcl-2 protein levels in A549 cells. Furthermore, the treatment of A549 cells with waltonitone altered the expression of miRNAs. We found that 27 miRNAs were differentially expressed in waltonitone-treated cells, of which 8 miRNAs target genes related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. In summary, our results demonstrate that waltonitone has a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 cells. It is possible that upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 and regulation of expression of specific miRNAs play a role in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in waltonitone-treated cells. Waltonitone can be applied to lung carcinoma as a chemotherapeutic candidate.

Study on the tongue manifestations for the blood-stasis and toxin syndrome in the stable patients of coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the tongue manifestations for the blood-stasis and toxin syndrome in the stable patients of coronary heart disease (CHD) according to the acute cardiovascular events (ACEs) in one-year follow-up which based on the pathogenesis hypothesis of "blood-stasis and toxin causing catastrophe". METHODS: Totally 254 stable CHD cases were enrolled after diagnosed by coronary angiography, their tongue appearances were recorded by the digital camera of uniform type, 29 cases with ACEs during one-year follow-up were assigned in ACEs group. The non-ACEs were matched in proportion of 2:1 according to the gender, age (±2.5 years), diabetes mellitus history and previous acute coronary syndrome hospitalization history in the non-ACEs group, and 54 cases were eligibly included. The differences of tongue appearance between the ACEs and non-ACEs group were compared. RESULTS: Fifteen cases manifested with bluish tongue (including bluish-grounding or bluish purple tongue), among which 11 cases (37.9%) in the ACEs group and four cases (7.4%) in the non-ACEs group, and there was significant difference (P<0.002). Twenty six cases showed yellow tongue coating in the non-ACEs group, which was significantly higher than that in the ACEs group (48.1 vs. 10.3%, P=0.001). The tongue of sticky greasy coating was more frequently occurred in the non-ACEs group than that in the ACEs group (66.7% vs. 41.4%, P=0.026). The proportion of purplish-red sublingual vessel was higher in the ACEs group than that in the non-ACEs group (41.4% vs. 20.4%, P=0.041). Odd ratio (OR) analysis showed that the patients with bluish tongue, purplish-red sublingual vessel, dry-greasy or dirty greasy coating were more likely to experience ACEs during one-year follow-up (OR: 11.67, 95%CI: 3.34 year 3.34-40.81, P<0.001; OR: 2.76, 95%CI: 1.02 1.02-7.44, P<0.05; OR: 3.12, 95%, CI: 0.89 0.89-10.92, P=0.066). CONCLUSIONS: The bluish tongue (including bluish-grounding or bluish purple tongue) and purplish-red sublingual vessel were potential tongue manifestations of blood-stasis and toxin. The tongue coating changing from sticky greasy to dry greasy or dirty greasy was also probably a tongue manifestation of "transforming toxin", which need demonstration by further study.

[Clinical manifestations of "blood-stasis and toxin" in patients with stable coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations of "blood-stasis and toxin" (BST) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) on the basis of "BST Causing Catastrophe" hypothesis, by analyzing the occurrence of acute cardiovascular events (ACEs) in a one-year follow-up period. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-four CHD patients in stable stage, whose diagnosis confirmed by coronary arteriography, were followed-up for one year with their clinical data recorded detailedly. The relationship between the occurrence of ACEs and personal history, body constitution, past history of illness, family history, clinical symptoms, physical signs, syndrome types and laboratory indexes were analyzed by single-variate and multivariate logistic stepwise regression method. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, two cases out of the 254 patients were lost, no case of death or acute myocardial infarction was seen, three cases underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 25 cases were hospitalized for unstable angina. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hesitant or intermittent pulse, retrosternal pain, usual pharyngodynia and headache were the most important influencing factors for occurrence of ACEs (P < 0.05). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) > or =3 mg/L also indicated a predictive trend for ACEs occurrence, although logistic analysis showed no statistics difference (P = 0.094). CONCLUSION: Retrosternal pain, headache, hesitant or intermittent pulse, usual pharyngodynia and increased hs-CRP might be taken as the clinical manifestations of BST, which provides a basis for applying Chinese medicine intervention (activating blood circulation and detoxifying) on high-risk CHD patients. Further demonstration is needed.

[Analysis of relationships among syndrome, therapeutic treatment, and Chinese herbal medicine in patients with coronary artery disease based on complex networks].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationships among syndrome, therapeutic method and Chinese herbal medicine in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Using cross-sectional survey, we collected the clinical information of hospitalized CAD patients through individualized Information Acquisition Platform of CAD. The relationships among syndrome, therapeutic treatment and Chinese herbs were excavated by means of complex networks based on theory of correspondence between prescription and syndrome. RESULTS: The fundamental syndrome factors were blood stasis, qi deficiency, phlegm-turbid, yin deficiency, yang deficiency, qi stagnation, and blood deficiency. The therapeutic treatment mainly included activating blood circulation, clearing heat, invigorating qi, resolving turbid and phlegm, nourishing yin, warming yang qi, and dispersing obstruction. These methods constituted an association with major syndrome factors. The major syndrome factors constituted an association with the following Chinese herbal medicines: Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Taoren (Semen Persicae), Fuling (Poria), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae), Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Zhiqiao (Fructus Aurantii Submaturus.), Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) and Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis Japonici). The efficacy of Chinese berbal medicines constituting association with syndrome factors mainly included alleviating pain, resolving turbid and phlegm, clearing heat, activating blood circulation, invigorating qi, cooling blood, promoting urination, resolving stagnation, removing toxic material, nourishing blood, regulating qi, quieting spirit, invigorating spleen, regulating menstruation, promoting defecation, moistening dryness, and resolving stasis. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic methods for CAD are based on consistency in theory, method, formula and medicines. Therapeutic methods for clearing heat and removing toxical material should be further studied.

[Changes of neuropeptide Y and leptin levels in rat fed with medium-chain triacylglycerides].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) on adiposity and the modulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin in Wistar rats. METHODS: 20 Wistar male rats were fed with diets containing 30% MCT or long chain triglycerides (LCT) for 8 weeks. Serum and hypothalamus leptin were detected by ELISA. RT-PCR was used to quantitatively compare the mRNA levels of recetpor of leptin (Ob-Rb) and NPY. The levels of serum and hypothalamic NPY were assessed by radioimmune assay. RESULT: Body weight gains and body fat accumulations of rats fed with the MCT diets were more less than those of rats fed with the LCT diets (P < 0.01). Hypothalamus and serum NPY concentrations in rats fed with the MCT diets were more lower than those in rats fed with LCT diets (P < 0.01). Rats fed with MCT diets had significantly higher ratios of hypothalamus/serum leptin in comparition with rats fed with LCT diets. The Ob-Rb mRNA levels in the hypothalamus in the rats fed with the MCT diets were more higher than in those of rats fed with the LCT diets (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in NPY expressions between the rats fed with the LCT diets and rats fed with MCT diets. CONCLUSION: The MCT diet could decrease rats body weight gain by increasing Ob-Rb expression in hypothalamus and decreasing NPY level.

[Relationship between Chinese medicine syndrome and serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with stable coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between Chinese medicine syndrome and serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Serum hs-CRP level was determined in 346 patients with stable CHD, whose diagnoses were confirmed by coronary angiography, and the correlation between patients' syndrome and serum hs-CRP level was analyzed. RESULTS: In all the CHD patients enrolled, the most commonly encountered Chinese medicine complex syndromes were the qi deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome, the yang deficiency and blood-stasis syndrome, and the qi deficiency with blood-stasis and turbid phlegm syndrome; the dominant syndrome types were blood-stasis, qi deficiency and phlegm-turbidity, which revealed in 324 patients (93.6%), 189 patients (54.6%) and 140 patients (40.5%), respectively. Comparisons of hs-CRP level between different complex syndromes and syndrome elements showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). However, for patients with phlegm-turbidity syndrome, the hs-CRP level was much higher in patients tended to heat than in those tended to cold (2.23 +/- 2.12 mg/L vs 1.59 +/- 1.27 mg/L, P < 0.05). Besides, the score of blood-stasis syndrome showed no correlation with hs-CRP level (Person correlation coefficient: 0.069, P = 0.203). CONCLUSION: The elevation of hs-CRP level is closely cor related with phlegm-heat syndrome in stable CHD patients. As an inflammatory biomarker, hs-CRP may be regarded as one of the microcosmic indices of toxin in Chinese medicine, which provides an objective evidence for the pathogenesis hinge of accumulated heat to transform toxin, so it is worthy of further study.

Effect of lycopene on the vascular endothelial function and expression of inflammatory agents in hyperhomocysteinemic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene on the vascular endothelial function and the expression of inflammatory agents in hyperhomocysteinemic rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighed 145- 155g were on a commercial rat chow diet for seven days, and then were randomized into five groups: normal control group (NC) fed with AOAC diet and four hyperhomocysteinemic groups fed with AOAC diet plus 3% L-methionine. Four hyperhomocysteinemic groups were daily supplemented with 0 (HC), 10 mg/kg (HL1), 15 mg/kg (HL2), 20 mg/kg (HL3) lycopene dissolved in corn oil respectively by intragastric administration for 12 weeks. At the end of experiment, their blood and abdominal aortas were collected after etherization. Serum levels of Hcy were determined by HPLC, nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by chromatometry, endothelin- 1 (ET-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) by ELISA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and oil red staining were used to analyze abdominal aortas histologically. Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia was induced in hyperhomocysteinemic groups. Serum level of NO was lower and ET-1 was higher in HC rats than in NC, NL2 and NL3 rats (p<0.01). There was no difference of serum NOS activity among five groups. There were some foam cells and depositions of lipochondria in aortic tunica intima in HC and HL1 rats, which were not found in HL2 and HL3 rats. Serum levels of VCAM-1, MCP-1, IL-8 were higher in HC rats than in NC, NL1, NL2 and NL3 rats (p<0.01). The present study indicated that lycopene exerts an antiatherogenic effect by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory agents in hyperhomocysteninemic rats.