Hydrolytically Stable Zr-Based Metal-Organic Framework as a Highly Sensitive and Selective Luminescent Sensor of Radionuclides.

Effective detections of radionuclides including uranium and its predominant fission products, for example, iodine, are highly desired owing to their radiotoxicity and potential threat to human health. However, traditional analytical techniques of radionuclides are instrument-demanding, and chemosensors targeted for sensitization of radionuclides remain limited. In this regard, we report a sensitive and selective sensor of UO22+ and I- based on the unique quenching behavior of a luminescent Zr-based metal-organic framework, Zr6O4(OH)4(OH)6(H2O)6(TCPE)1.5·(H2O)24(C3H7NO)9 (Zr-TCPE). Immobilization of the luminescent tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethylene (TCPE4-) linkers by Zr6 nodes enhances the photoluminescence quantum yield of Zr-TCPE, which facilitates the effective sensing of radionuclides in a "turn-off" manner. Moreover, Zr-TCPE can sensitively and selectively recognize UO22+ and I- ions with the lowest limits of detection of 0.67 and 0.87 µg/kg, respectively, of which the former one is much lower than the permissible value (30 µg/L) defined by the U.S. EPA. In addition, Zr-TCPE features excellent hydrolytic stability and can withstand pH conditions ranging from 3 to 11. To facilitate real-world applications, we have further fabricated polyvinylidene fluoride-integrating Zr-TCPE as luminescence-based sensor membranes for on-site sensing of UO22+ and I-.

Efficiently immobilizing uranium (VI) by oxidized carbon foam.

Oxidized carbon foam (oxidized CF) was prepared by using a facile chemical oxidation treatment at relatively low temperature of 450 °C and applied to capture uranyl cation [U(VI)] from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration, and temperature on the U(VI) absorption performance of oxidized CF were investigated by batch experiments. The oxidized CF was illustrated to exhibit fast sorption kinetics (92% removal within 15 min and 98% removal in 2 h) and high sorption capacity (305.77 mg g-1 at pH 5) toward U(VI). Integrated analyses combining energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied on the U(VI)-loaded oxidized CF, showing the introduction of carboxyl groups as U(VI) sorption sites on the surface of CF after oxidation treatment. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy was employed to identify the binding modes of U(VI) indicating that each UO22+ cation is coordinated with one or two carboxyl groups on the equatorial plane. Notably, the low content of U(VI) in wastewater can be efficiently immobilized by the oxidized CF, and the immobilized U(VI) can be further concentrated and converted into Na2U2O7 or U3O8 by a simple sintering step. These findings presented in this work suggest the potential of using oxidized CF for further treatment of low concentration wastewater containing U(VI).

Icaritin: A Novel Natural Candidate for Hematological Malignancies Therapy.

Hematological malignancies including leukemia and lymphoma can severely impact human health. With the current therapies combined with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of hematologic malignancies improved significantly. However, most hematological malignancies are still incurable. Therefore, research for novel treatment options was continuing with the natural product as one source. Icaritin is a compound extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, Epimedium Genus, and demonstrated an antitumor effect in various neoplasms including hematological malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In hematological malignancies, icaritin showed multiple cytotoxic effects to induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, inhibit proliferation, promote differentiation, restrict metastasis and infiltration, and suppress the oncogenic virus. The proved underlying mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of icaritin are different in various cell types of hematological malignancies but associated with the critical cell signal pathway, including PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT3, and MAPK/ERK/JNK. Although the primary target of icaritin is still unspecified, the existing evidence indicates that icaritin is a potential novel therapeutic agent for neoplasms as with hematological malignancies. Here, in the field of hematology, we reviewed the reported activity of icaritin in hematologic malignancies and the underlying mechanisms and recognized icaritin as a candidate for therapy of hematological malignancies.

[Multidisciplinary Team and Nutrition Management for Bariatric Surgery].

Bariatric surgery remains the most successful treatment for morbid obesity. Multiple departments may be involved due to the presence of various co-morbidities and the complex procedure. Thus,the establishment of a multidisciplinary team based on endocrinology,gastrointestinal surgery,nutrition,and psychology is important to ensure a successful bariatric surgery. Although the bariatric surgery has definite effectiveness in decreasing body weight and improving comorbidities,patients may still face the risks including protein and/or micronutrient malnutrition and other complications after the bariatric surgery. The medium-and long-term follow-up and nutrition management after bariatric surgery mainly focus on the following two aspects: weight loss and improvement of obesity-related complications; and assessment and treatment of possible nutritional deficiencies and eating disorders.

[Effects of emodin on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats with acute spinal cord injury].

This paper was aimed to investigate the effects of emodin on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats with acute spinal cord injury（SCI）, and to explore the protective mechanism of emodin on neurons after SCI. Rat SCI models were established using a modified Allen's method. One hundred and ninety five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divded into sham (group A), model (group B), emodin group of 20 mg·kg⁻¹(group C), emodin group of 40 mg·kg⁻¹(group D), emodin group of 80 mg·kg⁻¹(group E). Functional recovery was evaluated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and inclined plate test on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day. On the 7th day after SCI, neuron nylon body was observed with toluidine blue staining. The changes of myelinated nerve fibers were observed by transmission electron microscope. Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, GFAP, NF-κB protein were detected by Western blot. The content of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 were detected by ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe the expression of the GFAP, NG2 and ED-1. The BBB and inclined plate scores of group C, D and E were higher than group B on the 7th, 14th, 28th day,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). On the 7th day, Nylon Body of group B and C started to fuse,the fusion of group D and E were significantly alleviated than group B and C. Transmission electron microscope showed that the changes of demyelination were obvious in group B and C, group D and E were significantly improved than group B and C. Western blot showed that Nrf2, HO-1, GFAP, NF-κB protein expression,group C, D, E compared with group B, NQO1 protein expression, group D, E compared with group B, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ELISA showed that the content of TNF-α, IL-6,group C, D, E compared with group B,the content of IL-1ß,group D, E compared with group B, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05)；Immunofluorescence showed that the expressions of GFAP and NG2 in group C, D and E were higher than that in group B, and the group D and E were more obvious. The expression of ED-1 in group C, D, E were decreased significantly compared with group B. Emodin has protective effect on neurons after SCI. The mechanism may connect with activting Nrf2-ARE pathway, reducing the expression of NF-κB, ED-1, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and promoting the expression of GFAP and NG2.

[Effects of tanshinone â ¡A sulfonate on nerve regeneration after cryopreserved sciatic nerve allograft in rats].

In order to investigate the protective effect of tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate on the sciatic nerve activty in rats after cryopreservation as well as the nerve regeneration and functional recovery after allograft and its possible mechanism, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divded into four groups at different doses of tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate (A 0 mg·L⁻¹, B 80 mg·L⁻¹, C 160 mg·L⁻¹, D 480 mg·L⁻¹) cryopreserved at -80 °C for 24 weeks. Fresh control group nerve segments were harvested without cryopreservation. The ultrastructure and the viable cells of the nerve segments after cryopreservation were observed by electron microscopy, calcein-AM/propidium iodide staining, respectively. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. After cryopreservation, the nerve segments were cultured in vitro for one week, the mRNA and protein level of NGF and GDNF were detected by PCR and Western blot respectively. In addition, the above four cryopreserved groups transplanted to the Wistar rats by allografting (A', B', C', D'). At 16-week postoperation, muscle compound action potential latency and nerve conduction velocity were examined by electrophysiological. The number and the thickness of myelinated nerve fibers were analyzed by toluidine blue staining. The ultrastructure of the sciatic nerve by electron microscopy was observed. According to the results, after the cryopreserved for 24 weeks, compared with groups A and B, the nerve demyelination and vacuolation were weak, and the more viable cells, the decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2, the increased NGF and GDNF in group C and D. At 16-week poseoperation, the results demonstrated that the more larger and thickly regenerated myelinated axons, the shorter latency of muscle compound action potentials and higher nerve conduction velocity in groups C' and D' compared with groups A' and B'. According to these results, tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate exerted a significant protective effect on the viability of the nerves during cryopreservation at -80 °C and promoted nerve regeneration and functional recovery after transplantation especially in middle- and high-dose of tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate.

Effects of Postoperative Parenteral Nutrition Enhanced by Multivitamin on Metabolic Phenotype in Postoperative Gastric Cancer Patients.

SCOPE: To investigate the effects of postoperative parenteral nutrition (PN) with multivitamins supplementation on oxidative stress and metabolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: The participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to groups: total nutrient admixture (TNA) + multivitamin (n = 14, Group A) and TNA + normal saline (n = 16, Group B). The levels of blood vitamins, ILs, and MDA are assessed and the dysregulation of metabolism is analyzed using nontargeted metabolite profiling. The degree of postoperative stress in Group A is significantly lower than that in Group B by analyzing changes in the levels of IL-8 and MDA. A set of 43 features are qualified to have a variable importance parameter score of >1.5 of a partial least-squares discriminate analysis model and fold change of >1.5 at p-value <0.05 between Groups A and B. The principal metabolic alternations in Group A include increased tricarboxylic acid cycle and ketogenesis with reduced plasma-free amino acids. Backing the results of clinical biomarkers, increased levels of antioxidative molecules, together with decreased levels of inflammatory related polyunsaturated fatty acids, are observed. CONCLUSION: Postoperative PN enhanced by multivitamins can alleviate traumatic stress and improve metabolic transition from catabolism to anabolism in gastric cancer patients.