Study on the removal effect and mechanism of calcined pyrite powder on Cr(VI).

Pyrite exhibits considerable potential as an adsorbent in wastewater treatment. However, few pyrite adsorbents are directly obtained from natural pyrite, as most are composite materials that require a complex preparation process. To develop a pyrite-based adsorbent with a simple preparation process, pyrite was processed by calcination at 400, 600, and 800 °C for 4 h and ball-milled into a fine powder. The adsorption properties of the pyrite powder were systematically explored. The calcined pyrite powder was characterized by SEM-EDS and XRD. The results revealed that the pyrite calcined at 600 °C exhibited excellent adsorption properties and was primarily composed of Fe7S8. The optimum conditions for Cr(VI) removal were a temperature of 45 °C, an adsorbent dosage of 1 g, an equilibration time of 60 min, and an initial pH of 3. Moreover, the calcined pyrite powder exhibited excellent reusability, and the Cr(VI) removal rate exceeded 65% after three cycles. The Cr(VI) adsorption on pyrite can be well described by the Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. The calcination temperature is the main factor affecting the adsorption performance of pyrite. Therefore, the calcined pyrite powder is expected to be an excellent adsorbent for Cr(VI) in the wastewater treatment industry.

Pyrite has shown promising development prospects in the field of wastewater purification. However, the preparation of most pyrite-based adsorbents is complicated. Upon high-temperature calcination, pyrite is used in traditional Chinese medicine clinics to promote the healing of fractures. The efficiency and underlying mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption from water using calcined pyrite was investigated. The adsorbent was prepared using a simple method and exhibited excellent adsorption performance, thus allowing its application in preparing ore-based adsorbents for water pollution treatment.

Atractylenolide-III alleviates osteoarthritis and chondrocyte senescence by targeting NF-κB signaling.

Atractylenolide-III (AT-III) is well known as its role in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Present study was aimed to figure out its effects on osteoarthritis and potential mechanisms. Rat model, human osteoarthritis cartilage explants as well as rat/human chondrocyte cultures were prepared to test AT-III's effects on osteoarthritis progression and chondrocyte senescence. Potential targeted molecules of AT-III were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking, assessed by Western blotting and then verified with rescue experiments. AT-III treatment alleviated osteoarthritis severity (shown by OARSI grading score and micro-CT) and chondrocyte senescence (indexed by levels of SA-ß-gal, P16, P53, MMP13, ROS and ratio of healthy/collapsed mitochondrial membrane potentials). Network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that AT-III might play role through NF-κB pathway. Further experiments revealed that AT-III reduced phosphorylation of IKKα/ß, IκBα and P65 in NF-κB pathway. As well as nuclear translocation of p65. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that AT-III's effects on osteoarthritis and anti-senescence were reversed by an NF-κB agonist. AT-III could alleviate osteoarthritis by inhibiting chondrocyte senescence through NF-κB pathway, which indicated that AT-III is a prospective drug for osteoarthritis treatment.

Myo-Inositol Attenuates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in Obstructive Nephropathy by Inhibiting PI3K/AKT Activation.

Emerging evidence suggests that myo-inositol (MI) has a critical role in reducing renal inflammatory processes and improving podocyte function and preventing diabetes-related renal damage. We aimed to explore the function and underlying workings of MI in renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Based on a mouse model, we explored the effect of MI in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)-treated HK-2 cells. Pathological changes of the kidney tissues were examined following staining of the tissues with hematoxylin, eosin, and Masson's trichrome. The mRNA quantities of fibrosis markers, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I, were analyzed by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction, whereas those of protein levels were assessed with Western blotting. We also determined the expression of collagen I by immunofluorescence, and the levels of phosphorylated phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) by Western blot. In vivo, histopathological examination in the UUO mice revealed renal tubular epithelial cell necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and RIF. UUO mice showed higher expression levels of collagen I, fibronectin, α-SMA, pPI3K, and pAKT compared with sham-operated mice. However, MI treatment diminished the pathological alterations of RIF in UUO mice and downregulated the expression of fibrosis markers and phosphorylated PI3K/AKT. In vitro, TGF-ß1 positively influenced the propagation and differentiation of HK-2 cells and upregulated the levels of α-SMA, fibronectin, collagen I, pPI3K, and pAKT, but these became significantly reversed by MI treatment. In conclusion, MI ameliorates RIF, possibly by negatively regulating TGF-ß1-induced epithelial transdifferentiation and PI3K/AKT activation.

Safety and Efficacy Comparison of Embospheres and Gelfoam Particles in Bronchial Artery Embolization for Massive Hemoptysis.

Objective: The objective of this research study was to compare the safety and efficacy of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) using Embospheres alone versus Embospheres combined with gelfoam particles in patients with massive hemoptysis. Methods: A total of 127 patients with tuberculous massive hemoptysis who were scheduled to undergo BAE were recruited and divided into two groups: Embosphere group (E group, n = 57) and Embosphere combined with gelfoam particles group (E + G group, n = 70). Technical and clinical success were assessed after BAE surgery, and mortality, untoward reactions, and risk factors for clinical failure were recorded during follow-up. Results: The technical success rate was 92.99% in the E group and 97.14% in the E + G group (P = .272), with similar 1-year mortality rates of 1.76% and 2.86%, respectively (P = .684). However, the E group exhibited a lower clinical success rate compared to the E + G group (85.96% vs. 97.14%), and this difference was statistically significant (P = .020). The untoward reactions showed no statistically significant difference (all P > .05). Univariate analysis revealed that four factors were statistically significant: age (P = .028), presence of pulmonary cavity (P = .001), diabetes (P = .005), and a single use of Embosphere embolization (P = .020). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that embolization with Embosphere alone was a risk factor for clinical treatment failure (P = .025). Conclusion: The combination of Embosphere with gelfoam particles can significantly improve the hemostatic effect of BAE without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.

Vitamin D protects against diabetic nephropathy: Evidence-based effectiveness and mechanism.

Vitamin D has been suggested to harbor multiple biological activities, among them the potential of vitamin D in the protection of diabetic nephropathy (DN) has attracted special attention. Both animal studies and clinical trials have documented an inverse correlation between low vitamin D levels and DN risk, and supplementation with vitamin D or its active derivatives has been demonstrated to improve endothelial cell injury, reduce proteinuria, attenuate renal fibrosis, and resultantly retard DN progression. Vitamin D exerts its pharmacological effects primarily via vitamin D receptor, whose activation inhibits the renin-angiotensin system, a key culprit for DN under hyperglycemia. The anti-DN benefit of vitamin D can be enhanced when administrated in combination with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. Mechanistic studies reveal that pathways relevant to inflammation participate in the pathogenesis of DN, however, consumption of vitamin D-related products negatively regulates inflammatory response at multiple levels, indicated by inhibiting macrophage infiltration, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and production of such inflammatory mediators as transforming growth factor-ß(TGF-ß), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted protein(RANTES). The robust anti-inflammatory property of vitamin D-related products allows them with a promising renoprotective therapeutic option for DN. This review summarizes new advances in our understanding of vitamin D-related products in the DN management.

Antidiabetic potential of the ethyl acetate extract of Physalis alkekengi and chemical constituents identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The edible plant Physalis alkekengi (PA) is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. However, the anti-diabetic effects and constituents of the fruit and aerial parts of this plant have not been studied extensively. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic potential of Physalis alkekengi and identify its chemical constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, the in vitro glucose uptake capacity was tested using the 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) assay in HepG2 cells. Secondly, the anti-diabetes effects of the ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial parts/fruit (EAP/EAF) of P. alkekengi were evaluated in high-fat diet-fed and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (seven groups, n = 7) daily at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured with a glucometer and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), glycated serum protein (GSP), and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured by ELISA. Furthermore, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated based on FBG and FINS. Changes in blood glucose concentration were assessed after an oral glucose challenge in diabetic rats treated with EAF and EAP extracts. In all assays, rosiglitazone, a current antidiabetic drug and insulin sensitizer, was also tested. Finally, the compounds in EAP were identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis. RESULTS: EAP increased the uptake of 2-NBDG, a measure of direct glucose uptake, in HepG2 cells. Next, in diabetic rats treated with P. alkegenki extracts for 28 days, the levels of FBG, TC, TG and GSP and were lowered effectively, while FINS was increased significantly. EAP/EAF enhanced insulin sensitivity significantly as measured by ISI and HOMA-IR along with oral glucose tolerance test analysis. The EAP generally exerted the greatest effects. Lastly, a HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS analysis identified 50 compounds, including 26 physalins, 10 flavonoids, and 9 phenolic acids, with 21 compounds found for the first time in P. alkekengi. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the merit of P. alkekengi as an antidiabetic herbal medicine or dietary supplement.

Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo anti-diabetic effects and identification of compounds from Physalis alkekengi.

The aims of the present study were to assess the anti-diabetic effects of Physalis alkekengi L. (PA) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells and HepG2-GFP-CYP2E1 (E47) cells and in a pre-diabetic rat model, as well as to identify the active chemical constituents. The in vitro results showed that PA has a strong anti-diabetic capacity to relieve oxidative stress and inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Mechanistic analysis also showed that ethyl acetate extracts of aerial parts and fruit of PA (PAG-EA and PAF-EA) enhanced glucose transporter 4 expression and function as well as enhanced insulin sensitivity by inhibiting the expression of cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA and protein. In vivo, PAG-EA and PAF-EA significantly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin, as well as total cholesterol and triglyceride, in the pre-diabetic rats. The results from insulin sensitivity index and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index along with an oral glucose tolerance test also showed that PAG-EA and PAF-EA could significantly enhance the insulin sensitivity, which confirmed the in vitro findings. Moreover, HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis identified flavonoids, physalins and phenolic acids as the main plant constituents. Our findings support the ethnopharmacological use of PA fruit, along with its aerial parts, as a strong anti-diabetic agent. The EA fraction, especially the constituent polyphenols and flavonoids, may have a good potential to treat diabetes.

Astragaloside I Stimulates Osteoblast Differentiation Through the Wnt/ß-catenin Signaling Pathway.

Astragaloside I (As-I), one of the main active ingredients in Astragalus membranaceus, is believed to have osteogenic properties, but this hypothesis has not been investigated in detail. In the present work, the As-I-induced osteogenic effects and its underlying mechanism were studied in MC3T3-E1 cells. The results indicated that the cellular levels of ALP and extracellular matrix calcium increased in a dose-dependent manner by As-I. To clarify the mechanisms involved in this process, the effect of As-I on the key osteogenic-related genes was investigated. We found that As-I stimulated the expression of ß-catenin and Runx2 in MC3T3-E1 cells, which play central roles in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that As-I could promote osteoblastic differentiation by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, the osteogenic effect of As-I could be inhibited by DKK-1, which is the classical inhibitor of Wnt/ß-catenin-signaling pathway. Furthermore, As-I also increased BMP-2, BGP and OPG/RANKL expression, which are also activated by Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings show that As-I stimulates osteoblast differentiation through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, which also activates the BMP pathway and RANK pathway, thus highlighting the As-I for pharmaceutical and medicinal applications such as treating bone disease. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Study of thermal effect on breast tumor metabolism and growth using metabonomics.

In this study, the biological effects of long-term mild hyperthermia treatment on tumor metabolism and growth were investigated using 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma, a common animal model of metastatic breast cancer. Periodic thermal treatment (12 hours per day) was applied to tumors and carried out for 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days, respectively. The metabolites of tumor tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the growth rate of thermally treated tumors was inversely related to the abundance of long chain fatty acids and acyl glycerols identified in tumor tissues. In the first two weeks, the growth of thermally treated tumors was significantly inhibited, while there was an obvious accumulation of long chain fatty acids and acyl glycerols in tumor tissues. In the third week, the thermally treated tumors adapted to the thermal environment and started to regrow, while the abundance of long chain fatty acids and acyl glycerols decreased in the tumor tissues. These observations suggested that the blockade of long chain fatty acid synthesis during mild hyperthermia treatment of tumors could improve the long-term treatment effect by limiting the supply of substance and energy for tumor re-growth.

The detailed analysis of the changes of murine dendritic cells (DCs) induced by thymic peptide: pidotimod(PTD).

The aim of present research is to analyze the detailed changes of dendritic cells (DCs) induced by pidotimod(PTD). These impacts on DCs of both bone marrow derived DCs and established DC2.4 cell line were assessed with use of conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM), flow cytometry (FCM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cytochemistry assay FITC-dextran, bio-assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We demonstrated the ability of PTD to induce DC phynotypic and functional maturation as evidenced by higher expression of key surface molecules such as MHC II, CD80 and CD86. The functional tests proved the downregulation of ACP inside the DCs, occurred when phagocytosis of DCs decreased, with simultaneously antigen presentation increased toward maturation. Finally, PTD also stimulated production of more cytokine IL-12 and less TNF-α. Therefore it is concluded that PTD can markedly exert positive induction to murine DCs.