Electrochemical synthesis of EuVO4 for the adsorption of U(VI): Performance and mechanism.

The efficient removal of uranium from aqueous solution remains of great challenge in securing water environment safety. In this paper, we reported a high temperature electrochemical method for the preparation of EuVO4 with different morphologies from rare earth oxides and vanadate, which solved the problems of rare earth and vanadium recovery. The effects of pH, ionic strength, contact time, initial concentration and reaction temperature on the adsorption of U(VI) by prepared adsorbent were studied by static batch experiments. When the concentration of U(VI) standard is 100 mg g-1, the maximum adsorption capacity of EuVO4 is 276.16 mg g-1. The adsorption mechanism was elucidated with zeta potential and XPS: 1) negatively charged EuVO4 attracted UO22+ by electrostatic attraction; 2) exposed Eu, V, and O atoms complexed with U(VI) through coordination; 3) the hybrid of Eu was complex, which accommodated different electrons to interact. In the multi-ion system with Al3+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cr2+ and Mn2+, EuVO4 also showed good selective adsorption properties for U(VI). Five adsorption and desorption cycle experiments demonstrated that EuVO4 possessed good renewable performance.

Efficacy of Getong Tongluo Capsule () for Convalescent-Phase of Ischemic Stroke and Primary Hypertension: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the efficacy of Getong Tongluo Capsule (, GTC, consisted of total flavone of Radix Puerariae) on improving patients' quality of life and lowering blood pressure are superior to the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) for patients with convalescent-phase ischemic stroke and primary hypertension. METHODS: This randomized, positive-drug- and placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted from September 2015 to October 2017. Totally 477 eligible patients from 18 hospitals in China were randomly assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to the following interventions, twice a day for 12 weeks: (1) GTC 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (237 cases, GTC group), (2) EGB 40 mg plus GTC-matching placebo 250 mg (120 cases, EGB group) or (3) GTC-matching placebo 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (120 cases, placebo group). Moreover, all patients were orally administered aspirin enteric-coated tablets 100 mg, once a day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Barthel Index (BI). The secondary outcomes included the control rate of blood pressure and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. The incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) were calculated and assessed. RESULTS: The BI relative independence rates, the clinical recovery rates of NIHSS, and the total effective rates of NIHSS in the GTC and EGB groups were significantly higher than the placebo group at 12 weeks after treatment (P<0.05), and no statistical significance was found between the GTC and EGB groups (P>0.05). The control rate of blood pressure in the GTC group was significantly higher than the EGB and placebo groups at 12, 18 and 24 weeks after treatment (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of AEs, adverse drug reactions, or serious AEs among the 3 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: GTC exhibited significant efficacy in improving patients' quality of life as well as neurological function and controlling hypertension. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800016667).

A Case of Paradoxical Embolism Causing Anterior Spinal Cord Syndrome and Acute Myocardial Infarction Following the Intradiscal Oxygen-Ozone Therapy.

We report a case of a 66-year-old female who burst into flaccid paralysis of the lower extremities, accompanied by loss of pain and temperature sensation below T4 level, during an oxygen-ozone injection for disc herniation. Half an hour later, she suffered from chest pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed long segment hyperintensity in the thoracic spinal cord from T2 to 10 level on sagittal T2-weighted images (T2WI). The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST-segment elevation in V1-V6 leads. She was diagnosed with spinal cord infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Transthoracic echocardiography with saline contrast showed existence of a large patent foramen ovale (PFO) correlating with the detection of massive microbubbles in the left atrium. We discuss the potential role of paradoxical embolism in spinal cord infarction and myocardial infarction.

Altered brain volume and its relationship to characteristics of carotid plaques in asymptomatic patients.

Carotid plaque is an aggregate marker of exposure to vascular risk factors, which are linked to structural brain changes. We investigated prestroke global and regional changes in brain volume in a carotid plaque population of cognitively healthy individuals and the association between carotid plaque characteristics and these changes.A total of 76 participants were divided into healthy control (HC, n = 28), vulnerable plaque (n = 27) and stable plaque groups (n = 21). All subjects underwent carotid ultrasound and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to examine differences in regional gray matter volumes (rGMVs) among the different groups.The plaque group had a significantly lower mean total cerebral brain volume (TCBV) than the HC group (P = .03). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was negatively correlated with TCBV (r = -0.311, P = .006) and rGMV in the right thalamus (r = -0.589, P = .001). The rGMVs of the right middle occipital gyrus and bilateral lingual gyrus were significantly different between the unstable and stable groups. The gray-scale median (GSM) of the plaque and the total plaque risk score (TPRS) were correlated with the volume of the right middle occipital gyrus (r=-0.478, P = .001; r = 0.541, P = .001) and bilateral lingual gyrus (r = -0.419, P = .003; r = 0.288, P = .04).Carotid plaque is related to the volume of the brain parenchyma and right thalamus. The rGMVs of the right middle occipital gyrus and bilateral lingual gyrus differed between the vulnerable plaque and stable plaque groups, and the characteristics of carotid plaques may serve as indexes that reflect these changes.

Inhibitory effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A on PDGF­BB­induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via mediating Akt signaling.

The abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key pathological factors in the initiation and progression of vascular disorders, including arteriosclerosis and restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), the main component of the safflower yellow pigments, has widely been used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies investigating the pharmaceutical effect of HSYA on VSMCs or the underlying molecular mechanism. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HSYA on platelet­derived growth factor (PDGF)­BB­stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration. HSYA significantly inhibited PDGF­BB­stimulated VSMC proliferation and, in response to PDGF­BB­stimulation, VSMCs dedifferentiated into a proliferative phenotype. However, HSYA effectively reversed this phenotype switching. In addition, the production of nitrous oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate induced by PDGF­BB was also suppressed by HSYA, and HSYA markedly inhibited PDGF­BB­stimulated VSMC migration. Investigation of the molecular mechanism revealed that HSYA inhibited PDGF­BB­induced activation of Akt signaling. In addition, HSYA also suppressed PDGF­BB­stimulated upregulation of cell cycle related proteins and heme oxygenase­1. In conclusion, HSYA was able to inhibit PDGF­BB­stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration, partially via suppressing PDGF­BB­induced Akt signaling activation. Therefore, HSYA may be useful for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and restenosis following PCI.

[Differentiation of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and acute bilirubin encephalopathy with magnetic resonance imaging in neonates].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighed imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and acute bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates. METHODS: The MRI findings along with DWI characteristics in 15 neonates with HIE involving basal ganglia and in 18 neonates with acute bilirubin encephalopathy between November 2006 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: On T1WI, only 5 patients presented hyperintensity in the globus pallidus in the HIE group, but 16 in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (p<0.01). Nine patients in the HIE group showed hyperintensity in the putamen, but the hyperintensity in the putamen was not found in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group. The frequency of hyperintensity in the subthalamus in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (55.6%) was significantly higher than that in the HIE group (13.3%) (p<0.05). Eight patients in the HIE group showed abnormal signals in the other regions on T1WI, but only two patients in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (p<0.05). On DWI, 7 out of 11 patients with HIE presented hyperintensity in the basal ganglia, while all 10 patients of the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group presented normal in the basal ganglia. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional MRI along with DWI is useful in differentiating HIE from acute bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates.

[Radix isatidis and infectious diseases caused by viruses].

Radix Isatidis (Banlangen in Chinese), used to clearing away heat and toxic material, is a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb. It is frequently used for preventing and treating infectious diseases caused by viruses. To provide scientific basis for the effect of Radix Isatidis on infectious diseases, the traditional effect and new research development on pharmacological activities are summarized in the review. According to the existed problems in the clinical application, the weak links and shortages of quality research and industrialized production of Radix Isatidis are discussed. It could present the new ideas for improving the technology of Radix Isatidis preparation, and promoting the rational use of the preparation in the clinical treatment.

Iridoid glycosyl esters from Scrophularia ningpoensis.

A new Iridoid glycosyl ester, scrophulninoside A (1), as well as the known compounds (2-3), were isolated from the n-BuOH soluble fraction of the Scrophularia ningpoensis. The structure of scrophulninoside A (1) was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Effect of Radix Isatidis on the expression of moesin mRNA induced by LPS in the tissues of mice.

To investigate the effect of the anti-endotoxic part of Radix Isatidis on the expression of moesin mRNA in murine tissues induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the sample solution of F(022) part from Radix Isatidis was intraperitoneally administered to experimental mice, and the lipopoly-saccharide (LPS) were injected into the tail vein, and then the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen were colleted and cut into slices. The mRNA was detected by moesin mRNA hybridization in situ. The staining results were observed under microscope. It was found that moesin mRNA expression was increased in the tissues of liver, kidndy and spleen in mice treated with LPS, while in the mice pre-treated with F(022) part from Radix Isatidis, the LPS-induced moesin mRNA expressions in these tissues were inhibited in a dose-dependant manner. Our study showed that F(022) part from Radix Isatidis can inhibit the LPS-induced expression of moesin mRNA in the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen in mice.

Protective effect of paeoniflorin against optic nerve crush.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of traditional paeonia extract paeoniflorin against optic nerve crush, 16 Brown Norway rats were divided into two groups at random, with 8 rats in each group. In paeoniaflorin-treated group, 2 mg paeoniaflorin (total volume: 1 mL) was injected into rat's peritoneum one time a day for a period of 8 days. Rats in untreated group were given a single dose of vehicle. The optic nerve was crushed by a special forceps for 30 s in the left eye and a sham procedure was performed in the right eye on the 2nd day after the first injection. The retrograde fluorogold labeling of ganglion cells was conducted 5 days after optic nerve crush. The whole retina was flat-mounted thereafter. The ganglion cells that survived the crush were counted under fluorescent microscope by using an automatic counting software. As compared with the contralateral eye, the survival rate of ganglion cells in the left eye increased from 40.22% to 64.53% with a significant difference found between them (t=2.55, P=0.023). The results suggested that the paeonia extract paeoniflorin possessed a protective effect against optic nerve crush.

Screening of anti-endotoxin components from Radix isatidis.

To find a component with the strongest anti-endotoxin effect from the four components (F021, F022, F023, and F024) of chloroform extract (F02) of Radix Isatidis, the protective effects of the five components on endotoxin-challenged mice and their effects on the production of TNFalpha and IL-6 by macrophages from the endotoxin-challenged mice were compared. It was found that the five components all had protective effects on endotoxin-challenged mice in terms of mortality. The mortalities of the mice challenged by 2.42 mg/kg endotoxin were 30 %, 50 %, 20 %, 50 % and 60 % after treatment with F02, F021, F022, F023, and F024. The 5 components all had inhibitory effects on the production of TNFalpha and IL-6 by macrophages from the mice. At a concentration of LPS of 50 ng/mL, the inhibitory rates of F02 , F021 1, F022, F023, and F024 for the production of TNFalpha and IL-6 were 76.54 %, 30.86 %, 78.60 %, 36.63 %, 2.06 % and 75.85 %, 18.45 %, 77.68 %, 24.41 %, 3.64% and at the dose of 100 ng/mL, the inhibitory rates were 49.65 Y, 16.86 %, 66.97 %, 13.39 %, 7.16 % and 59.78 %, 1.28 %, 61.86 %, 2.08 %, 1.44 %, respectively. It is concluded that the component F022 of Radix Isatidis has the strongest anti-endotoxin effect.

The anti-endotoxic effect of o-aminobenzoic acid from Radix Isatidis.

AIM: To study the anti-endotoxic effect of o-aminobenzoic acid (OABA) isolated from Banlangen(BLG). METHODS: OABA was extracted and isolated from BLG and diluted into 0.5% solution. The concentration of endotoxin (ET) pretreated with OABA was quantitatively detected using Limulus test. The inhibition of ET-induced fever by OABA was measured in rabbits. The rates of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced death in mice pretreated with or without OABA were then compared. The influence of OABA on the release of TNF-alpha and NO from macrophages induced by LPS was examined in mice. RESULTS: After pretreatment with OABA, 84.4% of ET was destroyed. The ET-induced fever in rabbits decreased significantly and the rate of LPS-induced death in mice dropped from 70% to 20%. The release of TNF-alpha and NO induced by LPS in mice was inhibited dose-dependently when the concentration of OABA was between 0.125% and 0.5%. CONCLUSION: OABA isolated from BLG has an anti-endotoxic effect.

[Studies on antiendotoxin action of total saponins from radix Bupleuri].

OBJECTIVE: To study antiendotoxin activities of total saponins from Radix Bupleuri. METHOD: The antiendotoxin activities were demonstrated by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate test (LAL test) in vitro, the fever model induced by endotoxin in rabbits and the model induced by LPS in BCG-primed mice. RESULTS: Total saponins from Radix Bupleuri still had antiendotoxin effect even when it (50 mg.ml-1) was diluted to 32 times by LAL test in vitro. The fever experiment results showed the average rising temperature of BCS + LPS, group, model group and BCS group was 0.75 degrees C, -0.25 degrees C and -0.37 degrees C respectively. In the experiment of the poison induced by LPS, fatal rate of model group was 90.0%, that of BCS + LPS group was 13.3%, there was a significant difference (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The result showed that the total saponins in Bupleuri had the strongest antiendotoxin action.

Anti-endotoxic effects of syringic acid of Radix Isatidis.

The anti-endotoxic effect of syringic acid (SA) isolated from Radix Isatidis (Banlangen, BLG) was studied. SA was extracted and isolated from BLG and diluted into 1% solution. The content of SA-pretreated endotoxin (ET) was quantitatively determined using Limulus test. The ability of fever induction of ET pretreated with SA was measured using endotoxin-induced fever test in rabbits. The LPS-induced death in mice pretreated with and without SA was compared. Results showed that after pretreatment with SA, 83.16% of ET was destroyed, the ET-induced fever in rabbits relieved markedly and the LPS-induced death rate in mice dropped from 68% to 20%. It was concluded that SA isolated from BLG had anti-endotoxic effects.

[Study on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of syringic acid in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of syringic acid(SA) in rabbits by HPLC. METHOD: After the rabbits were injected SA injection via ear vein and peritoneal cavity, blood was collected also via ear vein at different time-point. Then the concentration of SA in blood was determined by HPLC and the concentration-time curve was mapped to simulate a compartment model. So the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated out. Several days after this injection, the drug was administered to the rabbits via i.p. and using the same method, another concentration-time curve was obtained. By comparing the AUC of the two curves, bioavailability was obtained. RESULTS: The concentration-time curve of SA in rabbits after i.v. fitted in a two-compartment open model and the absolute bioavailability was 86.27%. CONCLUSION: The results were valuable for the clinical application of new anti-endotoxic drug from Radix Isatidis.

[Studies on anti-endotoxin activity of F022 from Radix Isatidis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-endotoxin activity and mechanism of F022 from Radix Isatidis. METHOD: The production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 of murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated by LPS was measured by ELISA. The temperature in rabbits was tested after i.v. administration of LPS. The lethality of BCG-primed mice was induced by LPS. RESULT: If F022 was added to macrophages culture simultaneously with LPS or 1 h before addition of LPS, production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 by macrophages was remarkably inhibited in vitro. F022 inhibited the fever induced by LPS in rabbits and protected BCG-primed mice from LPS induced lethality if given before administration of LPS. CONCLUSION: The anti-endotoxin effect of F022 may inhibit LPS binding to its receptor, and it may be a LPS receptor antagonist.