Biochar-Assisted Catalytic Pyrolysis of Oily Sludge to Attain Harmless Disposal and Residue Utilization for Soil Reclamation.

Pyrolysis of oily sludge (OS) is a feasible technology to match the principle of reduction and recycling; however, it is difficult to confirm the feasible environmental destination and meet the corresponding requirements. Therefore, an integrated strategy of biochar-assisted catalytic pyrolysis (BCP) of OS and residue utilization for soil reclamation is investigated in this study. During the catalytic pyrolysis process, biochar as a catalyst intensifies the removal of recalcitrant petroleum hydrocarbons at the expense of liquid product yield. Concurrently, biochar as an adsorbent can inhibit the release of micromolecular gaseous pollutants (e.g. HCN, H2S, and HCl) and stabilize heavy metals. Due to the assistance of biochar, pyrolysis reactions of OS are more likely to occur and require a lower temperature to achieve the same situation. During the soil reclamation process, the obtained residue as a soil amendment can not only provide a carbon source and mineral nutrients but can also improve the abundance and diversity of microbial communities. Thus, it facilitates the plant germination and the secondary removal of petroleum hydrocarbons. The integrated strategy of BCP of OS and residue utilization for soil reclamation is a promising management strategy, which is expected to realize the coordinated and benign disposal of more than one waste.

Synergistic denitrification and phosphorus removal performance of a biofilm-microflocculation system and its microbial community variations: A pilot-scale study for a wastewater treatment plant.

AIMS: For upgrading and reconstructing a municipal wastewater treatment plant, a biofilm-microflocculation filter system was designed and established towards synergistic improvement of denitrification and phosphorus removal from the secondary effluent. METHODS AND RESULTS: The establishment of the biofilm-microflocculation filter system underwent several processes, including sludge inoculation, biofilm formation and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) addition as flocculating agent. Microbial community analysis indicated that the dominant denitrification bacteria of the biofilm filter were in the phylum Proteobacteria and the genera Hydrogenophaga and Dechloromonas. On the basis of the initiation of filter system under optimal parameters such as C/N ratio of 5.3, hydraulic retention time of 1.06 h and PAC of 5 mg L-1 , approximately 75% COD, 80% TN and 75% TP could be effectively removed to satisfy discharge standards. Comparing the variations of microbial community structure at the genus level during the operating period of the filter system, it was found that the relative abundance of denitrification bacteria merely shifted from 53.14% to 48.76%, demonstrating that the effect of PAC addition on the main micro-organisms is marginal. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, it can be verified that the established biofilm-microflocculation filter system has practical and reliable performance for simultaneous biological denitrification and phosphorus removal. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides a reference method for improving the advanced treatment of wastewater plant secondary effluent.

Phosphate enhanced uranium stable immobilization on biochar supported nano zero valent iron.

Uranium (U) immobilization from wastewater by zero valent iron (ZVI) was widely concerned through reduction and surface adsorption. Releasing of U due to re-oxidation of U(IV) into U(VI) limited the application of ZVI in U decontamination. In this work, a kind of biochar supported nano zero valent iron (Fe/BC(900)) was obtained by carbothermal reduction of starch mixed with ferric nitrate at 900 °C. U immobilization behavior by Fe/BC(900) in the presence of phosphate (P) was investigated. The U immobilization reaction was adjusted by controlling the sequence of U, Fe/BC(900) and P. U immobilization efficiency was enhanced to 99.9% in the presence of P. Reaction sequence of U, Fe/BC(900) and P influenced the U immobilization efficiency, which followed the order of (U-P)+Fe/BC(900)>(U- Fe/BC(900))+P>U+Fe/BC(900)>(P-Fe/BC(900))+U. P and nZVI both contributed to enhancing U immobilization through precipitation of uranyl-P and reductive co-precipitate (U(IV)) in a wide pH range. The released Fe ions could precipitate with uranyl and phosphate. Consumption of P and nZVI in the (P-Fe/BC(900))+U system limited U immobilization ability. The precipitate is highly dependent on U, P and Fe elements. U desorption in (U-P)+Fe/BC(900) system was not observed with stability.

Tongxinluo Capsule Combined with Atorvastatin for Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common clinical cardiovascular disease, and its morbidity and mortality rates are increasing, which brings a serious burden to the family and society. Dyslipidemia is one of the most important risk factors for CHD. However, it is difficult to reduce blood lipids to an ideal state with the administration of a statin alone. Tongxinluo capsule (TXLC), as a Chinese patent medicine, has received extensive attention in the treatment of CHD in recent years. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to provide evidence-based medicine for TXLC combined with atorvastatin in the treatment of CHD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate systematically the effectiveness and safety of TXLC combined with atorvastatin in the treatment of CHD. METHODS: Seven English and Chinese electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang) were searched from inception to January 2020, to search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TXLC combined with atorvastatin in the treatment of CHD. Two researchers independently screened the literature according to the literature inclusion and exclusion criteria and performed quality assessment and data extraction on the included RCTs. We performed a systematic review following Cochrane Collaboration Handbook and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and using a measurement tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews (AMSTAR 2). The quality of outcomes was evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). And meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.2. RESULTS: A total of 15 RCTs with 1,578 participants were included in this review. Compared to atorvastatin treatment, TXLC combined with atorvastatin treatment showed potent efficacy when it came to the effectiveness of clinical treatment (RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.18, 1.29; P < 0.00001), total cholesterol (TC; MD = -1.21; 95% CI, -1.53, -0.89; P < 0.00001), triacylglycerol (TG; MD = -0.73; 95% CI, -0.81, -0.65; P < 0.00001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; MD = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.23, 0.31; P < 0.00001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; MD = -0.72; 95% CI, -0.80, -0.64; P < 0.00001), C-reactive protein (CRP; SMD = -2.06; 95% CI, -2.56, -1.57; P < 0.00001), frequency of angina pectoris (SMD = -1.41; 95% CI, -1.97, -0.85; P < 0.00001), duration of angina pectoris (MD = -2.30; 95% CI, -3.39, -1.21; P < 0.0001), and adverse reactions (RR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.51, 1.39; P=0.50). No serious adverse events or reactions were mentioned in these RCTs. According to the PRISMA guidelines, although all studies were not fully reported in accordance with the checklist item, the reported items exceeded 80% of all items. With the AMSTAR 2 standard, the methodological quality assessment found that 9 studies were rated low quality and 6 studies were rated critically low quality. Based on the results of the systematic review, the GRADE system recommended ranking method was used to evaluate the quality of evidence and the recommendation level. The results showed that the level of evidence was low, and the recommendation intensity was a weak recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: TXLC combined with atorvastatin in the treatment of CHD can effectively improve the effectiveness of clinical treatment, significantly reduce the frequency and duration of angina pectoris, decrease blood lipids, and improve inflammatory factors. However, due to the low quality of the literature included in these studies and the variability of the evaluation methods of each study, there is still a need for a more high-quality, large sample, multicenter clinical randomized control for further demonstration.

Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamonomethoxine by mesoporous phosphorus-doped titania under simulated solar light irradiation.

Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) by mesoporous phosphorus-doped TiO2 (P-TiO2) was studied under simulated solar light irradiation. The morphological structure and chemical composition of P-TiO2 were analyzed by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, BET, XPS and FTIR. Using the central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM), the degradation of SMM was investigated with a range of antibiotic concentrations (4-8 mg L-1), catalyst dosages (400-900 mg L-1), P doping amounts (5-15 wt %) and irradiation time (90-150 min). The Ti-O-P bond formed during the calcination of TiO2, thereby generating plate-like P-TiO2, where P was uniformly distributed. Phosphorus doping can stabilize anatase TiO2, which has a larger specific surface area and a lower average particle and pore size than bare TiO2. The result obtained from the RSM model showed a significant correlation between the predicted values and the experimental results of SMM degradation (P < 0.05). Under the optimal experimental conditions (antibiotic concentration = 6 mg/L, catalyst dosage = 800 mg/L, P doping = 5 wt% and irradiation time = 90 min), the degradation rate of SMM was 99.51%, and the TOC was 50%. Toxicity showed a considerable reduction towards Vibrio-qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 after SMM photocatalytic degradation. Through free radical capture experiments, LC-MS detection and DFT calculations, the possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of SMM using P-TiO2 as the catalyst was revealed.

Removal of U(VI) from nuclear mining effluent by porous hydroxyapatite: Evaluation on characteristics, mechanisms and performance.

The effluents from nuclear mining processes contain relatively high content of radionuclides (such as uranium), which may seriously threaten the environment and human health. Herein, a novel adsorbent, porous hydroxyapatite, was prepared and proven highly efficient for removal of uranyl ions (U(VI)) given its high U(VI) uptake capacity of 111.4 mg/g, fast adsorption kinetics, and the potential stabilization of adsorbed U(VI). A nearly complete removal of U(VI) was achieved by porous HAP under optimized conditions. Langmuir model could well describe the adsorption equilibrium. The data fit well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that U(VI) adsorption is primarily attributed to chemisorption with porous HAP. Intraparticle diffusion analysis showed that the intraparticle diffusion is the rate-limiting step for U(VI) adsorption by porous HAP. After removal by porous HAP, the adsorbed U(VI) ions were incorporated into tetragonal autunite, which has a low solubility (log Ksp: -48.36). Our findings demonstrate that the porous HAP can effectively remediate uranium contamination and holds great promise for environmental applications.

[Effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of vascular endothelial and SDF-1 in rabbits with atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of damaged vascular endothelium structure and the content of stromal cells derived factor 1 (SDF-1) in rabbits with atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 75 rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a direct moxibustion group, an atorvastatin calcium group and a herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, 15 rabbits in each one. The rabbits in the normal group were fed with normal diet, and the remaining rabbits were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to prepare atherosclerotic model. Two groups of acupoints, one was "Juque" (CV 14), "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Fenglong" (ST 40), the other one was "Xinshu" (BL 15), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Pishu" (BL 20), were applied in the direct moxibustion group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group; the two groups of acupoints were selected alternatively every other day. The moxibustion was given for 30 min per treatment, once a day for 4 weeks. The rabbits in the atorvastatin calcium group were treated with atorvastatin calcium tablets (1.96 mg•kg-1•d-1) which were crushed into powder and mixed into breakfast. After modeling, the rabbits in the normal group and model group received no treatment, and immobilized at the time when moxibustion was applied in other three groups. The levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by enzymic method; the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by colorimetric method; the morphological structure of aortic wall was observed under optical microscope; the serum level of SDF-1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: After treatment, compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all P<0.01), and the level of HDL-C was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), and the level of HDL-C was significantly increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the morphological structure of aortic wall was significantly damaged in the model group. Compared with the model group, the vascular endothelial structure was improved in the atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, and the pathological change of aorta endothelial in the direct moxibustion group was relieved. After treatment, compared with the model group, the level of SDF-1 was increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (P<0.05, P<0.01); the level of SDF-1 in the herbal-cake- separated moxibustion group was higher than that in the direct moxibustion group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The herbal- cake-separated moxibustion can promote the expression of SDF-1 in serum and repair the damaged aortic endothelial structure.

Regulatory effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on cholesterol reverse transport nuclear receptor LXRα in rabbits with atherosclerosis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) in rabbits with atherosclerosis.Methods:Thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and a simvastatin group according to the random number table method,with 9 rabbits in each group.Rabbits in the model group,the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were modeled by high fat feeding method which took 12 weeks.After verification of the successful model,rabbits in the normal group were not treated,in the model group were bundled,in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group were treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion,and those in the simvastatin group were treated with simvastatin,all for a total of 4 weeks.At the end of the experiment,the aorta and liver were observed for pathological changes;serum and liver were used to detect lipid levels;Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect LXRα protein and mRNA expression levels,respectively.Results:Compared with the normal group,the structure of aorta was disordered,the wall was rough and thick,the intima was unsmooth,and the vascular smooth muscle cells were arranged closely and disorderly in the model group,which was consistent with the characteristics of the rabbit model of aortic atherosclerosis.Compared with the model group,the aortic structure was clear,the degree of hepatocyte degeneration was reduced,the serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased (all P＜0.01),the high-density lipoprotein level was elevated (P＜0.01),and the total liver cholesterol was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the rabbits of the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group;compared with the model group,the protein (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05) and mRNA (P＜0.01) expressions of rabbit LXRα in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were increased.Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can improve the aortic and hepatic lesions,regulate blood lipid and liver lipid levels,increase the expression of liver cholesterol reverse transport nuclear receptor LXRα,promote reverse cholesterol transport in the rabbits with aortic atherosclerosis,therefore produces an antiatherogenic effect.

Effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of vascular endothelial and SDF-1 in rabbits with atherosclerosis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of herbal-cake-separated moxibustion on the repair of damaged vascular endothelium structure and the content of stromal cells derived factor 1 (SDF-1) in rabbits with atherosclerosis.@*METHODS@#A total of 75 rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a direct moxibustion group, an atorvastatin calcium group and a herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, 15 rabbits in each one. The rabbits in the normal group were fed with normal diet, and the remaining rabbits were fed with high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to prepare atherosclerotic model. Two groups of acupoints, one was "Juque" (CV 14), "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Fenglong" (ST 40), the other one was "Xinshu" (BL 15), "Ganshu" (BL 18) and "Pishu" (BL 20), were applied in the direct moxibustion group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group; the two groups of acupoints were selected alternatively every other day. The moxibustion was given for 30 min per treatment, once a day for 4 weeks. The rabbits in the atorvastatin calcium group were treated with atorvastatin calcium tablets (1.96 mg•kg•d) which were crushed into powder and mixed into breakfast. After modeling, the rabbits in the normal group and model group received no treatment, and immobilized at the time when moxibustion was applied in other three groups. The levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by enzymic method; the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by colorimetric method; the morphological structure of aortic wall was observed under optical microscope; the serum level of SDF-1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).@*RESULTS@#After treatment, compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all <0.01), and the level of HDL-C was decreased (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased (all <0.01), and the level of HDL-C was significantly increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (<0.01, <0.05). Compared with the normal group, the morphological structure of aortic wall was significantly damaged in the model group. Compared with the model group, the vascular endothelial structure was improved in the atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group, and the pathological change of aorta endothelial in the direct moxibustion group was relieved. After treatment, compared with the model group, the level of SDF-1 was increased in the direct moxibustion group, atorvastatin calcium group and herbal-cake-separated moxibustion group (<0.05, <0.01); the level of SDF-1 in the herbal-cake- separated moxibustion group was higher than that in the direct moxibustion group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The herbal- cake-separated moxibustion can promote the expression of SDF-1 in serum and repair the damaged aortic endothelial structure.

Recovery of phosphorus rich krill shell biowaste for uranium immobilization: A study of sorption behavior, surface reaction, and phase transformation.

Increased generation of shrimp shell from exploitation of krill results in emerging biowaste pollution, in addition, uranium pollution has drawn public concern due to the rapid development of nuclear power, uranium mining, and nuclear fuel processing. In this study, krill shells were recovered and used as a potential natural biosorbent for uranium immobilization, thereby enabling both uranium decontamination and krill shell reutilization. Interaction of uranium with krill shell surface and their transformation were investigated by using batch sorption experiments, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Krill shell had high uranium sorption ability. Uranium was transformed into a nano-scale precipitate. The mapping of phosphorus and uranium was related to the nano-scale precipitate, indicating that sorption of uranium was dependent on phosphorus. Surface chemisorption between phosphate in krill shell and uranium as well as the formation of the nano-scale precipitate were interpreted as the mechanism of uranium immobilization. Thus, natural krill shell waste has potential for extensive use as a promising and cost-effective sorbent for uranium immobilization and krill shell reutilization.

Nano-rod Ca-decorated sludge derived carbon for removal of phosphorus.

Recovering phosphorus (P) from waste streams takes the unique advantage in simultaneously addressing the crisis of eutrophication and the shortage of P resource. A novel calcium decorated sludge carbon (Ca-SC) was developed from dyeing industry wastewater treatment sludge by decorating calcium (Ca) to effectively adsorb phosphorus from solution. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to characterize the Ca-SCs, followed by isotherm and kinetic sorption experiments. A preferred design with CaCO3 to sludge mass ratio of 1:2 was found to have a sorption capacity of 116.82 mg/g for phosphorus. This work reveals the crucial role of well-dispersed nano-rod calcium on the Ca-SC surface for the sorption of phosphorus. Moreover, the decoration of nano-rod calcium was found to further promote the uptake of phosphorus through the formation of hydroxylapatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH)). Thus, the development of decorated Ca-SC for sorption of phosphorus is very important in solving the P pollution and resource loss.

Phenolic Compounds from the Rhizomes of Smilax china L. and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

A new triflavanoid, kandelin B-5 (1), was isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax china L., together with six known phenylpropanoid substituted flavan-3-ols (2-7), nine flavonoids (8-16), two stilbenoids (17, 18), and two other compounds (19, 20). The structure of compound 1 was determined on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS data, as well as chemical method. Compounds 2-5, 8-12, 15, 17, and 19 were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. Only compounds 10, 15 and 17 showed slightly IL-1ß expression inhibitory activities on LPS induced THP-1 cells, with inhibition rate of 15.8%, 37.3%, and 35.8%, respectively, at concentration of 50 µg/mL.

High flux MWCNTs-interlinked GO hybrid membranes survived in cross-flow filtration for the treatment of strontium-containing wastewater.

Graphene oxide (GO)-based membranes provide an encouraging opportunity to support high separation efficiency for wastewater treatment. However, due to the relatively weak interaction between GO nanosheets, it is difficult for bare GO-based membranes to survive in cross-flow filtration. In addition, the permeation flux of the bare GO membrane is not high sufficiently due to its narrow interlayer spacing. In this study, GO membranes interlinked with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via covalent bonds were fabricated on modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) supports by vacuum filtration. Due to the strong bonds between GO, MWCNTs and the PAN membrane, the membranes could be used for the treatment of simulated nuclear wastewater containing strontium via a cross-flow process. The result showed a high flux of 210.7L/(m2h) at 0.4MPa, which was approximately 4 times higher than that of commercial nanofiltration membranes. The improved water permeation was attributed to the nanochannels created by the interlinked MWCNTs in the GO layers. In addition, the hybrid membrane exhibited a high rejection of 93.4% for EDTA-chelated Sr2+ in an alkaline solution, and could also be used to separate Na+/Sr2+ mixtures. These results indicate that the MWCNTs-interlinked GO membrane has promising prospects for application in radioactive waste treatment.

Strong Negative Interference by Calcium Dobesilate in Sarcosine Oxidase Assays for Serum Creatinine Involving the Trinder Reaction.

The vasoprotective drug calcium dobesilate is known to interfere with creatinine (Cr) quantifications in sarcosine oxidase enzymatic (SOE) assays. The aim of this study was to investigate this interference in 8 different commercially available assays and to determine its clinical significance. In in vitro experiments, interference was evaluated at 3 Cr levels. For this, Cr was quantified by SOE assays in pooled serum supplemented with calcium dobesilate at final concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 µg/mL. Percent bias was calculated relative to the drug-free specimen. For in vivo analyses, changes in serum concentrations of Cr, cystatin C (CysC; a renal function marker), and calcium dobesilate were monitored in healthy participants of group I before and after oral calcium dobesilate administration. In addition, variations in interference were also examined among different SOE assays using serum obtained from healthy participants of group II. Lastly, Cr levels from the 10 patients treated with calcium dobesilate were measured using 4 SOE assays and liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS/MS) for comparison. Our in vitro analyses indicated that the presence of 8 µg/mL calcium dobesilate resulted in a -4.4% to -36.3% reduction in Cr serum concentration compared to drug-free serum for 8 SOE assays examined. In vivo, Cr values decreased relative to the baseline level with increasing drug concentration, with the lowest Cr levels obtained at 2 or 3 hours after drug administration in participants of group I. The observed Cr concentrations for participants in group II were reduced by -28.5% to -3.1% and -60.5% to -11.6% at 0 and 2 hours after administration related to baseline levels. The Cr values of 10 patients measured by Roche, Beckman, Maker, and Merit Choice SOE assays showed an average deviation of -20.0%, -22.4%, -14.2%, and -29.6%, respectively, compared to values obtained by LC-IDMS/MS. These results revealed a clinically significant negative interference with calcium dobesilate in all sarcosine oxidase-based Cr assays, but the degree of interference varied greatly among the assays examined. Thus, extra care should be taken in evaluating Cr quantification obtained by SOE assays in patients undergoing calcium dobesilate therapy.

Facile functionalized of SBA-15 via a biomimetic coating and its application in efficient removal of uranium ions from aqueous solution.

A novel dopamine-functionalized mesoporous silica (DMS), synthesized by grafting dopamine onto a mesoporous molecular sieve (SBA-15), was developed as a sorbent to extract U(VI) from aqueous solution. The method used to modify SBA-15 was simple, facile and cost-effective. The DMS was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and BET, showing that the material had an ordered mesoporous structure and a large surface area. The effect of contact time, pH, ionic strength, temperature, and solid-liquid ratio on the sorption process was investigated. It was demonstrated that the adsorption of U(VI) by DMS was fast and that it can be described by the pseudo-second order-equation where the equilibrium time was 20 min. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm data were fitted well by the Langmuir model with the maximum adsorption capacity of DMS of 196 mg/g at pH 6.0. Furthermore, the influence of the K(+) and Na(+) concentrations and solid-to-liquid ratio on the sorption was very weak, and the values of the thermodynamic parameters revealed that the sorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. All the results suggested that the DMS could be used as an excellent adsorbent to remove U(VI) from aqueous solution.

[Effects of compound Centella asiatica enema on kidneys coefficient, electrolytes and blood in chronic renal failure rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacological effects of compound Centella asiatica enema on chronic renal failure (CRF) rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into control group, CRF model group, Niaoduqing positive control group, compound Centella asiatica enema high, middle and low three groups kidney coefficient, electrolyte levels, hematocrit (HCT), red blood cell counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) content were observed after 30 days's treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the level of the electrolyte, HCT, RBC, HGB of rats in compound Centella asiatica enema high-doses group and the Niaoduqing group were significantly improved. CONCLUSION: High-doses of compound Centella asiatica enema has significant therapeutic effect on CRF rats.

[Effect of Changtong oral liquid on fibroblast proliferation in normal and adhesive rat peritoneal tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Changtong oral liquid (CTOL) on the proliferation of cultured fibroblasts derived from normal peritoneum (NFs) and adhesive peritoneum (AFs) of rats. METHODS: Twenty male SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, including a normal serum group and 3 CTOL groups with CTOL treatment at low, medium or high doses. Serum samples were obtained from the abdominal arteries of the rats after oral treatment with CTOL for 7 days. The fibroblasts were isolated from the peritoneum by means of tissue culture, and the passage 3-8 cells were cultured with the sera of the normal control and CTOL groups for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. MTT assay was used to observe the proliferation of the fibroblasts. RESULTS: The dose of CTOL was inversely correlated to the absorbance but positively to the growth inhibition rates. Compared with the NFs cultured in normal control rat serum, the NFs in serum from CTOL groups showed no obviously changes in the absorbance at 24 and 48 h, but displayed significant reduction at 72 and 96 h (P<0.01). Compared with the AFs in normal rat serum, the AFs in the 3 CTOL groups all showed significantly decreased absorbance at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h (P<0.05). At the same time point, the inhibition rate of AFs in low-dose CTOL group showed no significant difference from that in the normal control group, but CTOL at a medium dose resulted in a significantly higher inhibition rate of AFs at 72 h (P<0.05). High-dose CTOL produced significant differences in the inhibition rates of AFs and NFs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CTOL can inhibit the proliferation of AFs and NFs in vitro. AFs appear to be more sensitive to CTOL, which has a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of AF proliferation.

[Quantitative determination of 1-deoxynojirimycin in mulberry leaves by high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass/mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass/mass spectrometric method to determine the concentration of 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) in mulberry leaves. METHODS: 1-deoxynojirimycin was separated on an SHIMADZU HRC-NH2 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid. The mass spectrometric system equipped with a atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface was operated in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. RESULTS: The retention time of 1-deoxynojirimycin was 2.87 min, and the calibration curve was linear over a concentration range from 482 microg/L to 2410 microg/L, the average recovery was 95.8%. The detection limit was 53.6 microg/L. CONCLUSION: The method is selective and sensitive for determining 1-deoxynojirimycin in mulberry leaves.

[Effect of shenshuaining dispersible tablets on the levels of NO, NOS, SOD and MDA in kidney of chronic renal failure rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Shenshuaining dispersible tablets on the levels of NO, NOS, SOD and MDA in kidney of chronic renal failure (CRF) rats induced by adenine. METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group, model control group, Niaoduqing group, Shenshuaining dispersible tablets group(high, middle and low dose). From the second to the sixth group, the rats were prepared for model of CRF by being fed 0.5% adenine. After giving corresponding drugs for 7 weeks, we detected the levels of nitric oxide (NO), total nitric oxide synthase (T-NOS), inducing nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), configuration nitric oxide synthase (cNOS), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD and malonaldehyde (MDA) in every rat's kidney tissue. RESULTS: Compared with normal rats, CRF rats' renal tissue's levels of NO, T-NOS, cNOS, T-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD markedly decreased. Both the iNOS and MDA contents significantly increased. Shenshuaining dispersible tablets could markedly ameliorate above indexes. CONCLUSION: Shenshuaining dispersible tablets can effectively improve CRF rats' antioxidation effect and reduce damnification of free radical and protect the kidney.

[Study of the Shenshuaining dispersible tablets in treating chronic renal failure rats induced by adenine].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Shenshuaining dispersible tablets in treating chronic renal failure (CRF) rats. METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, Niaoduqing group, Shenshuaining dispersible tablets group (high, middle and low dose). Model of CRF was constnucted by feeding the rats with feed containing 0.5% adenine. After 7 weeks, renal function, albumin (Alb), blood routine, blood electrolyte were detected and general status, changes of the kidney tissue were observed. RESULTS: Compared with normal rats, the levels of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) were markedly elevated in CRF rats, while the levels of Alb markedly failed. The serum potassium, natrium and phosphorus contents were significantly increased, the serum calcium contents were significantly decreased. The levels of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin and haematocrit were significantly failed. The CRF rats' kidney indexes were increased and appeared abnormity under pathology inspection. Shenshuaining dispersible tablets could markedly ameliorate above indexes. CONCLUSION: Shenshuaining dispersible tablets can treat CRF through effectively ameliorating the CRF rats' renal function, regulating the electrolyte turbulence, increasing the levels of Alb and ameliorate anemia and pathological changes of the kidney tissue.