Migration and transformation of phosphorus and toxic metals during sludge incineration with Ca additives.

The recycling and utilization of phosphorus resources in sludge is becoming increasingly important. In this study, we compared the conversion of phosphorus and toxic metal passivation effects of different Ca additives under oxygen-rich combustion conditions and elucidated their specific mechanisms of action. The experimental results indicated that four Ca-based additives improved the recovery rate of total phosphorus, and promoted the generation of stable apatite phosphorus (AP). The effect of CaCl2 and CaO was greater than that of Ca(OH)2 and CaSO4. CaCl2 promoted the formation of Ca3(PO4)2 and Ca2P2O7, and CaSO4 improved the conversion of AlPO4 to Ca(H2PO4)2 with increasing temperature. The conversion capacity of CaO on non-apatite inorganic phosphorus to AP was greater than that of Ca(OH)2, and more CaH2P2O7, Ca(PO3)2, and Ca-Al-P minerals were found. Toxic metal percentages decreased after sludge incineration with CaCl2. Compared with CaO and Ca(OH)2, the toxic metal adsorption effect of CaSO4 was more significant. The influence of Ca additives on the conversion of Zn into stable components was as follows: CaCl2 > Ca(OH)2 > CaO > CaSO4. Ca additives reduced the toxic metal contamination level and ecological risk index values, and the order of toxic metal contamination levels was Ni > Zn > Cr > Cu > Mn. The experiment confirmed the conversion of phosphorus and the toxic metal passivation effect of Ca additives during oxy-fuel combustion of sludge, which is beneficial for its resource utilization.

Jiangtang Decoction Ameliorates Diabetic Kidney Disease Through the Modulation of the Gut Microbiota.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of Jiangtang decoction (JTD) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and its association with alterations in the gut microbiota. Methods: Using a diabetic mouse model (KK-Ay mice), daily administration of JTD for eight weeks was undertaken. Weekly measurements of body weight and blood glucose were performed, while kidney function, uremic toxins, inflammation factors, and fecal microbiota composition were assessed upon sacrifice. Ultra-structural analysis of kidney tissue was conducted to observe the pathological changes. Results: The study findings demonstrated that JTD improve metabolism, kidney function, uremic toxins and inflammation, while also exerting a modulatory effect on the gut microbiota. Specifically, the genera Rikenella, Lachnoclostridium, and unclassified_c_Bacilli exhibited significantly increased abundance following JTD treatment, accompanied by reduced abundance of norank_f_Lachnospiraceae compared to the model group. Importantly, Rikenella and unclassified_c_Bacilli demonstrated negative correlations with urine protein levels. Lachnoclostridium and norank_f_Lachnospiraceae were positively associated with creatinine (Cr), indoxyl sulfate (IS) and interleukin (IL)-6. Moreover, norank_f_Lachnospiraceae exhibited positive associations with various indicators of DKD severity, including weight, blood glucose, urea nitrogen (UN), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), p-cresyl sulfate (pCS), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) and IL-17A production. Conclusion: These findings suggested that JTD possess the ability to modulate the abundance of Rikenella, Lachnoclostridium, unclassified_c_Bacilli and norank_f_Lachnospiraceae within the gut microbiota. This modulation, in turn, influenced metabolic processes, kidney function, uremic toxin accumulation, and inflammation, ultimately contributing to the amelioration of DKD.

Protective effect of vitamin B6 against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by modulating NHE1 expression.

Doxorubicin (DOX) has been used to treat various types of cancer, but its application is limited due to its heart toxicity as well as other drawbacks. Chronic inhibition of Na+ /H+ exchanger (NHE1) reduces heart failure and reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); vitamin B6 (VitB6 ) has been demonstrated to have a crucial role in antioxidant mechanism. So, this study was designed to explore the effect of VitB6 supplement on the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and to imply whether NHE1 is involved. Ultrasonic cardiogram analysis revealed that VitB6 supplement could alleviate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity; hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's staining further confirmed this effect. Furthermore, VitB6 supplement exhibited significant antioxidative stress and antiapoptosis effect, which was evidenced by decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) content, and decreased Bcl-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma-2 ratio, respectively. Collectively, VitB6 supplement may exert antioxidative and antiapoptosis effects to improve cardiac function by decreasing NHE1 expression and improve DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Quantitative, morphological, and structural analysis of Ni incorporated with struvite during precipitation.

Struvite precipitation is a promising strategy for the simultaneous recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from waste streams. However, waste streams typically contain high amounts of metal contaminants, including Ni, which can be easily sequestered by struvite, but the behavior of Ni during struvite precipitation remains unclear. Thus, this study investigates the influence of Ni concentrations on struvite precipitation. The quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) results revealed that the purity of struvite decreased from 96.6 to 41.1% with the Ni concentrations increased from 0.1-100 mg·L-1. At lower Ni concentrations of 0.1-1 mg·L-1, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a roughened surface of struvite crystal, and this was combined with X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) data that indicated a stack of Ni-OH and Ni-PO4 on struvite surface. At Ni concentrations of 10-25 mg·L-1, Ni primarily crystalized as Ni-struvite (NiNH4PO4·6H2O), as detected by QXRD. At higher Ni concentrations of 25-100 mg·L-1, the co-precipitation of amorphous Ni phosphate(s) (e.g., Ni3(PO4)2) and Ni hydroxide (e.g., Ni(OH)2) was identified by XANES. Specifically, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis detected the formation of amorphous Mg hydroxide(s) and phosphate(s) at Ni of 25-100 mg·L-1. The overall results revealed that Ni formed Ni-OH and Ni-PO4 on struvite surface at 0.1-1 mg·L-1, whereas Ni precipitated as separated phases (e.g. Ni-struvite, Ni hydroxide and phosphate) at 10-100 mg·L-1. The existence of Ni disturbed the crystal growth of struvite and promoted the formation of Ni-struvite, amorphous products during struvite formation.

Efficient immobilization and utilization of chromite ore processing residue via hydrothermally constructing spinel phase Fe2+(Cr3+X, Fe3+2-x)O4 and its magnetic separation.

Chromite ore processing residue (COPR) has been a severe environmental contaminant which is worthy of attention. In this study, we developed an eco-friendly and practical technology for effectively stabilizing and recovering Cr(VI) in COPR via combining FeSO4 reducing agent and the hydrothermal treatment. A stable spinel phase product was formed during detoxification. In addition, the ferrochrome resources in the treated COPR can be obtained by magnetic separation. As we studied, the hydrothermal environment promoted the release of unstable Na2CrO4 from COPR into the solution, and the released CrO42- was reduced to Cr(III) by FeSO4. Subsequently, Cr(III), Fe(II) and Fe(III) were hydrothermally mineralized to form the magnetic spinel phase Fe2+(Cr3+X, Fe3+2-x)O4 (FeCr spinel substance), which was conducive to the magnetic separation of ferrochrome resources. Under the optimal hydrothermal conditions (0.15 g FeSO4/2 g COPR, treatment at 180 °C for 8 h), the total Cr leaching concentration of treated COPR (COPR-HT) was decreased from 120.51 mg L-1 to 0.23 mg L-1, well below the regulatory limit of 1.5 mg L-1 (HJ/T 301-2007, China EPA). After 300 days aging under atmospheric conditions, the total Cr leaching concentration of COPR-HT was still below 1.5 mg L-1. Besides, the COPR-HT after magnetic separation contained 11.52 wt% Cr2O3 and 53.44 wt% Fe2O3, which can be used as the raw material for steel industry. The underlying mechanism of COPR stabilization was explained by XRD, XPS and SEM-EDS analysis. This work converted the toxic and unstable Cr(VI) in COPR into the long-term stable FeCr spinel substance that is easy to magnetically separate. It has important reference for the harmless disposal and resource utilization of other chromium-containing hazardous wastes including chromium slag and electroplating sludge.

20(S)-hydroxycholesterol and simvastatin synergistically enhance osteogenic differentiation of marrow stromal cells and bone regeneration by initiation of Raf/MEK/ERK signaling.

Previous studies have demonstrated the significant roles of simvastatin (SVA) and oxysterols in the osteogenesis process. In this study, we evaluate the effect of a combination of SVA and 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol (20(S)OHC) on the cell viability and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). After treatment with a control vehicle, SVA (0.025, 0.10, 0.25 or 1.0 µM), 20(S)OHC (5 µM), or a combination of both (0.25 µM SVA + 5 µM 20(S)OHC), the proliferation, apoptosis, ALP activity, mineralization, osteogenesis-related gene expression and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling activity in BMSCs were measured. Our results showed that high concentrations of SVA (0.25 and 1.0 µM) enhanced osteogenesis-related genes expression while attenuating cell viability. The addition of 5 µM 20(S)OHC induced significantly higher proliferative activity, which neutralized the inhibitory effect of SVA on the viability of BMSCs. Moreover, compared to supplementation with only one of the additives, combined supplementation with both SVA and 20(S)OHC induced significantly enhanced ALP activity, calcium sedimentation, osteogenesis-related genes (ALP, OCN and BMP-2) expression and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling activity in BMSCs; these enhancements were attenuated by treatment with the inhibitor U0126, indicating a significant role of Raf/MEK/ERK signaling in mediating the synergistically enhanced osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by combined SVA and 20(S)OHC treatment. Additionally, histological examination confirmed a synergistic effect of SVA and 20(S)OHC on enhancing bone regeneration in a rabbit calvarial defect model. This newly developed SVA/20(S)OHC formulation may be used as an osteoinductive drug to enhance bone healing.

Cytotoxic trichothecene macrolides from the endophyte fungus Myrothecium roridum.

A new cytotoxic roridin-type trichothecene macrolide named epiroridin acid (1) and two known compounds epiroridin E (2) and mytoxin B (3) were isolated from the liquid culture of Myrothecium roridum A553, which was isolated from the medicinal plant Pogostemon cablin. The structure of the new macrolide (1) was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements (UV, IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR) analyses. All isolated compounds (1-3) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against SF-268, MCF-7, NCI-H460, and HepG-2 tumor cell lines. The new compound (1) exhibited well cytotoxicity against the four selected tumor cell lines.

[Effect of TGRJ on blood press, NO and Ang II in renal hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of total glycosides of Ranunculus japoniucus (TGRJ) on blood pressure, nitric oxide (NO) calcium and angiotensin II (Ang II) in renal hypertensive rats (RHR). METHODS: 1) RHR were established by two kidney one clip (2K1C) and drugs were given by intragastric administration for 5 week, the blood pressure were measured at the end of 5 week,detected the concentration of NO in the serum and Ang II in the blood plasma,heart and kidney tissue. 2) Used a new generations of Ca2+ fluorescent probe (Fluo-3/AM) to mark calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells. Observed the fluorescence imaging by inverted fluorescence microscope and measured the fluorescence intensity of calcium by fluorescence spectrophotometer in vascular smooth muscle cells. RESULTS: 1) The high, medium doses of TGRJ could decrease blood pressure of RHR (P<0.05), TGRJ could significantly increase the concentration of NO in the serum (P<0.01), but it showed no significant effect on the concentration of Ang II (P>0.05); 2) The Ang II could significantly promote the calcium ions in extracellular inner flow. The different doses of TGRJ could reduce the calcium ions in cells which were mediated by Ang II. CONCLUSION: TGRJ could decrease blood pressure in RHR. the mechanism might be related to increasing the rats' NO level and reducing the calcium ions level in cells which are increased by Ang II.