[Effect of Bushen Huoxue（） recipe on autophagy of ovariectomized rat chondrocytes based on Akt/mTOR signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Bushen Huoxue recipe can protect articular cartilage by regulating Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to promote the autophagy of chondrocytes in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Among 30 SPF 12-week-old female SD rats weighing （247.0±7.0） g, 6 were randomly selected as the blank control group, and the remaining rats were randomly divided into model group, BSHXR-L group, BSHXR-M group and BSHXR-H group, with 6 rats in each group. The protective effect of Bushen Huoxue recipe on articular cartilage injury in rats was determined by visual observation score, muscovine O-solid green staining and immunohistochemistry. The expression of autophagy related proteins was detected by Western-blot, and the relative expression of Akt, mTOR and downstream autophagy genes was detected by qPCR. RESULTS: After modeling, BSHXR （L, M, H） groups could alleviate the histological damage of cartilage. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Collagen-Ⅱand Aggrecan gradually increased, and the expression of MMP-13 gradually decreased, and the differences between BSHXR-M and BSHXR-H groups and model group were statistically significant （P<0.05）. The results of Western-blot showed that the autophagy pathway proteins p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR were inhibited in the BSHXR（L, M, H） groups, and the expressions of downstream proteins Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱwere gradually increased, while p62 was gradually decreased, showing a dose effect. QPCR results showed that BSHXR（L, M, H） groups could promote the relative expression of Beclin-1 and LC3ⅡmRNA, and inhibit the relative expression of p62, Akt, mTOR mRNA, and the differences were statistically significant compared with model group （P<0.05）. CONCLUSION: Bushen Huoxue recipe can enhance the cartilage autophagy response by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and then protect the cartilage.

Comparison of the effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST36) on the polarization of synovial macrophages of knee joints in rats with knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. / 艾灸"足三里"å¯¹è†å ³èŠ‚éª¨å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žä¸Žç±»é£Žæ¹¿æ€§å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žå¤§é¼ è†å ³èŠ‚æ»‘è†œå·¨å™¬ç»†èƒžæžåŒ–çš„å½±å“çš„æ¯”è¾ƒç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the similarities and differences of effects of moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST36) on target tissues and macrophages polarization in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, and to summarize its efficacy and characteristics. METHODS: Thirty rats were equally and randomly divided into control, KOA, RA, KOA+Moxi and RA+Moxi groups. The KOA model and RA model were induced by injection of sodium monoiodoacetate or Freund's complete adjuvant into the rats' knee joints, respectively. Rats of the KOA+Moxi and RA+Moxi groups received moxibustion stimulation at bilateral ST36 for 30 min, once a day for 21 days, beginning from the 7th day on after modeling. The contents of serum interleukin(IL)-1ß and IL-10 were detected by ELISA. Histopathological changes (Markin score of the knee cartilage and synovial pathology score) of the knee joints were observed after HE staining. The polarization state of M1 and M2 macrophages in the synovial tissue of the knee joints was assessed by detecting the expression of CD86 and CD206 after immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the content of serum IL-1ß, synovial pathology score, and synovial CD86 expression were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the content of serum IL-10 and synovial CD206 expression markedly decreased (P<0.01) in both KOA and RA groups；the Markin score was increased (P<0.01) in the KOA group. In comparison with the KOA group, the Markin score was obviously decreased (P<0.01), while the content of serum IL-10 and CD206 expression were apparently increased (P<0.01) in the KOA+Moxi group. No significant changes were found in the content of serum IL-1ß, synovial pathology score and CD86 expression in the KOA+Moxi group relevant to the KOA group. In comparison with the RA group, the content of serum IL-1ß, synovial pathology score, and CD86 expression were considerably decreased (P<0.01) in the RA+Moxi group. No marked differences were found in the serum IL-10 level, Markin score, and CD206 expression between RA+Moxi and RA model groups. The increased Markin score was significantly higher in the KOA group than in the RA group (P<0.01), but the increased synovial pathology score was significantly lower in the KOA group than in the RA group (P<0.01). Correspondingly, the effect of moxibustion at ST36 was significantly better in RA model than in KOA model in reducing serum IL-1ß (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion at ST36 can effectively reduce cartilage injury of knee joint in rats with KOA and reduce synovial injury in rats with RA, which may be related with its effects in lowering IL-1ß level in RA model by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophages, and up-regulating level of IL-10 in KOA model by promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages. However, the relevant mechanism needs to be further studied.

The mechanism of Se(IV) multisystem resistance in Stenotrophomonas sp. EGS12 and its prospect in selenium-contaminated environment remediation.

Human activities have led to elevated levels of selenium (Se) in the environment, which poses a threat to ecosystems and human health. Stenotrophomonas sp. EGS12 (EGS12) has been identified as a potential candidate for the bioremediation of repair selenium-contaminated environment because of its ability to efficiently reduce Se(IV) to form selenium nanospheres (SeNPs). To better understand the molecular mechanism of EGS12 in response to Se(IV) stress, a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), genome sequencing techniques, metabolomics and transcriptomics were employed. The results indicated that under 2 mM Se(IV) stress, 132 differential metabolites (DEMs) were identified, and they were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways such as glutathione metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Under the Se(IV) stress of 2 mM, 662 differential genes (DEGs) involved in heavy metal transport, stress response, and toxin synthesis were identified in EGS12. These findings suggest that EGS12 may respond to Se(IV) stress by engaging various mechanisms such as forming biofilms, repairing damaged cell walls/cell membranes, reducing Se(IV) translocation into cells, increasing Se(IV) efflux, multiplying Se(IV) reduction pathways and expelling SeNPs through cell lysis and vesicular transport. The study also discusses the potential of EGS12 to repair Se contamination alone and co-repair with Se-tolerant plants (e.g. Cardamine enshiensis). Our work provides new insights into microbial tolerance to heavy metals and offers valuable information for bio-remediation techniques on Se(IV) contamination.

Accumulation of branched-chain amino acids reprograms glucose metabolism in CD8+ T cells with enhanced effector function and anti-tumor response.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) provide nutrient signals for cell survival and growth. How BCAAs affect CD8+ T cell functions remains unexplored. Herein, we report that accumulation of BCAAs in CD8+ T cells due to the impairment of BCAA degradation in 2C-type serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP2Cm)-deficient mice leads to hyper-activity of CD8+ T cells and enhanced anti-tumor immunity. CD8+ T cells from PP2Cm-/- mice upregulate glucose transporter Glut1 expression in a FoxO1-dependent manner with more glucose uptake, as well as increased glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, BCAA supplementation recapitulates CD8+ T cell hyper-functions and synergizes with anti-PD-1, in line with a better prognosis in NSCLC patients containing high BCAAs when receiving anti-PD-1 therapy. Our finding thus reveals that accumulation of BCAAs promotes effector function and anti-tumor immunity of CD8+ T cells through reprogramming glucose metabolism, making BCAAs alternative supplementary components to increase the clinical efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy against tumors.

Supplementation with Natto and Red Yeast Rice Alters Gene Expressions in Cholesterol Metabolism Pathways in ApoE-/- Mice with Concurrent Changes in Gut Microbiota.

We aimed to examine the effect of natto and red yeast rice (NR) supplementation on lipid and lipoprotein profiles, gene expressions of cholesterol metabolism, and the composition of gut microbiota in ApoE-/- mice. Forty-one male ApoE-/- mice aged 7-8 wks old were randomly fed a control diet (CD), CD + NR (oral gavage at 0.3 g/kg BW/day), high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFD), or HFD + NR for 12 wks. Fasting blood samples, liver and intestine tissues and fecal samples were collected at week 12. Biochemical parameters, gene expressions in cholesterol metabolism and gut microbiota composition and diversity were measured using standard methods. NR supplementation had no significant effect on lipid and lipoprotein profiles. Compared with the HFD group, HFD + NR resulted in higher mRNA expressions of HMGCR and CYP7A1 (both P-NR < 0.05) and ABCA1 (P-diet*NR = 0.0134, P-NR = 0.0407), lower mRNA expression of PCSK9 (P-diet*NR = 0.0002), lower fasting glucose concentrations (P-diet*NR = 0.0011), and lower relative abundance of genera Bacteroides and Lactococcus (both P-NR < 0.01) and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 (P-diet*NR = 0.0007). The relative abundance of Lactococcus was inversely correlated with HMGCR and CYP7A1, and the relative abundance of Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 was positively correlated with PCSK9 and inversely correlated with ABCA1 (all P < 0.05). These findings suggest that NR supplementation may regulate gene expressions in cholesterol metabolism via changes in the gut microbiota in HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice.

Hypothalamic Hnscr regulates glucose balance by mediating central inflammation and insulin signal.

OBJECTIVES: Hypothalamic dysfunction leads to glucose metabolic imbalance; however, the mechanisms still need clarification. Our current study was to explore the role of hypothalamic Hnscr in glucose metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Hnscr knockout or htNSC-specific Hnscr overexpression mice, we evaluated the effects of Hnscr on glucose metabolism through GTTs, ITTs, serum indicator measurements, etc. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were performed to test inflammation levels and insulin signalling in hypothalamus. Conditioned medium intervene were used to investigate the effects of htNSCs on neuronal cell line. We also detected the glucose metabolism of mice with htNSCs implantation. RESULTS: Hnscr expression decreased in the hypothalamus after high-fat diet feed. Hnscr-null mice displayed aggravated systematic insulin resistance, while mice with htNSC-specific Hnscr overexpression had the opposite phenotype. Notably, Hnscr-null mice had increased NF-κB signal in htNSCs, along with enhanced inflammation and damaged insulin signal in neurons located in arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus. The secretions, including sEVs, of Hnscr-deficient htNSCs mediated the detrimental effects on the CNS cell line. Locally implantation with Hnscr-depleted htNSCs disrupted glucose homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that decreased Hnscr in htNSCs led to systematic glucose imbalance through activating NF-κB signal and dampening insulin signal in hypothalamic neurons.

[Effect of moxibustion on JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway in synovial tissues of rabbits with adjuvant arthritis under the overexpression of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on Janus protein tyrosine kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2-STAT3) signal pathway and interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in synovial fluid of adjuvant arthritis (AA) rabbits, so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Twenty-eight rabbits were randomized into control, model, moxibustion, and NLRP3 overexpression groups, with 7 rabbits in each group. AA rabbit model was established by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA, 0.5 mL/kg) into the rabbits' bilateral hind-knee joint cavities. On the third day after modeling, the NLRP3 lentiviral vector (40 µL) were injected into the bilateral hind-knee joint cavities of rabbits in NLRP3 overexpression group. Moxibustion was used to bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) and "Zusanli" (ST36), 5 cones every time, once daily, 6 days a week for 3 weeks in the moxibustion and NLRP3 overexpression groups. The perimeters of rabbits' hind legs were measured after modeling and after the intervention. The contents of IL-1ß, IL-18 in synovial fluid were detected by ELISA and the expression levels of NLRP3, JAK2 and STAT3 mRNAs in synovial tissue were detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the perimeters of bilateral knee joints were significantly increased at each time point (P<0.05),and the contents of IL-1ß, IL-18 in synovial fluid and the expression levels of NLRP3, JAK2, STAT3 mRNA in synovial tissue were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the perimeters of bilateral knee joints were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the contents of IL-1ß, IL-18 in synovial fluid and the expression levels of NLRP3, JAK2, STAT3 mRNAs in synovial tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the moxibusion group. Compared with the moxibustion group, the above indexes were higher in the NLRP3 overexpression group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion may play an anti-inflammatory and detumescent role in AA rabbits by regulating JAK2-STAT3 signal pathway, and its therapeutic effect may be closely related to the expression of NLRP3.

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis identified essential genes of Jingulian in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and COVID-19.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be more susceptible to infection by coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to immune system dysfunction. However, there are still insufficient treatment strategies for patients with RA and COVID-19. Since Jingulian is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with anti-viral and immune regulatory functions, our study aims to explore the detailed mechanisms of Jingulian in treating patients with RA and COVID-19. Methods: All the components of Jingulian were retrieved from pharmacology databases. Then, a series of network pharmacology-based analyses and molecular docking were used to understand the molecular functions, core targets, related pathways, and potential therapeutic targets of Jingulian in patients with RA/COVID-19. Results: A total of 93 genes were identified according to the disease-compound-target network. We investigated that the main targets, signaling pathways, and biological functions of Jingulian in RA and COVID-19. Our results indicated that Jingulian may treat patients with RA/COVID-19 through immune processes and viral processes. Moreover, the results of molecular docking revealed that tormentic acid was one of the top compounds of Jingulian, which had high affinity with Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with RA/COVID-19. Furthermore, 5 core targets of Jingulian were also identified, including JAK1, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), STAT3, lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK), and EGFR. Conclusions: Tormentic acid in Jingulian may regulate JAK1, STAT3, and EGFR, and might play a critical role in RA/COVID-19.

Mycotoxins in Tea ((Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze)): Contamination and Dietary Exposure Profiling in the Chinese Population.

Tea is popular worldwide with multiple health benefits. It may be contaminated by the accidental introduction of toxigenic fungi during production and storage. The present study focuses on potential mycotoxin contamination in tea and the probable dietary exposure assessments associated with consumption. The contamination levels for 16 mycotoxins in 352 Chinese tea samples were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Average concentrations of almost all mycotoxins in tea samples were below the established regulations, except for ochratoxin A in the dark tea samples. A risk assessment was performed for the worst-case scenarios by point evaluation and Monte Carlo assessment model using the obtained mycotoxin levels and the available green, oolong, black, and dark tea consumption data from cities in China. Additionally, we discuss dietary risk through tea consumption as beverages and dietary supplements. In conclusion, there is no dietary risk of exposure to mycotoxins through tea consumption in the Chinese population.

Global Trade Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicines and China's Trade Position.

To depict the evolution of the global trade of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products, this article analyzes the 2001-2020 trade data of TCM products in the World Bank and United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database to discern the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of global and China's trade patterns of TCM products from 2001 to 2020 and thereby assess the changes in the global trade of TCM products and in the positions of various countries or regions in the global trade of TCM products. Research findings are as follows: First, on the whole, the total trade volume of TCM products and the number of participating economies and trade connections are on the rise. Second, in terms of topological structure, with higher network density and rising transmission efficiency, the global trade network of TCM products has typical small-world and scale-free network characteristics and has begun to be controlled by a few countries. Judging from the co-opetition between major trading countries, there are more diversified sources of imports for major trading countries, and there is competition between supplying countries. Third, For China, the trade volume of TCM products between China and various countries worldwide has grown rapidly and exhibits a trend of continuous increase followed by decline. China has established extensive trade partnerships and its position in the global trade network of TCM products has been continuously improved. China's participation has contributed to a closer connection among trading entities, but its network heterogeneity remains to be further improved. From the perspective of trade interdependence, the number of countries or regions maintaining high interdependence with China has been gradually increasing, and most of them are European and American countries, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries. The number of countries or regions maintaining low interdependence with China has gradually decreased, and countries or regions that are completely one-way dependent on China are nonexistent.

Dietary Copper and Selenium Intakes and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

The long-term associations between dietary copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) intakes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk are unclear. We aimed to examine the prospective associations between dietary Cu and Se intakes and T2DM risk in Chinese adults. A total of 14,711 adults from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997-2015) were included. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 3 consecutive 24 h recalls and food-weighing methods. T2DM was identified by a validated questionnaire and laboratory examination. Cox regression models were used for statistical analysis. A total of 1040 T2DM cases were diagnosed during 147,142 person-years of follow-up. In fully adjusted models, dietary Cu or Se intake was not associated with T2DM risk. Dietary Se intake significantly modified the association between dietary Cu intake and T2DM risk, and dietary Cu intake was positively associated with T2DM risk when Se intake was lower than the median (p-interaction = 0.0292). There were no significant effect modifications on the associations by age, sex, BMI, or region. Although dietary Cu or Se intake was not independently associated with T2DM risk in Chinese adults free from cardiometabolic diseases and cancer at the baseline, there was a significant interaction between dietary Cu and Se intakes on T2DM risk.

Development of a Novel UPLC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Determination of 16 Mycotoxins in Different Tea Categories.

The contamination of potential mycotoxins in tea production and consumption has always been a concern. However, the risk monitoring on multiple mycotoxins remains a challenge by existing methods due to the high cost and complex operation in tea matrices. This research has developed a simple ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry strategy based on our homemade purification column, which can be applied in the detections of mycotoxins in complex tea matrices with high-effectively purifying and removing pigment capacity for 16 mycotoxins. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification were in the ranges of 0.015~15.00 and 0.03~30.00 µg·kg-1 for 16 mycotoxins, respectively. Recoveries from mycotoxin-fortified tea samples (0.13~1200 µg·kg-1) in different tea matrices ranged from 61.27 to 118.46%, with their relative standard deviations below 20%. Moreover, this method has been successfully applied to the analysis and investigation of the levels of 16 mycotoxins in major categories of tea and the monitoring of multiple mycotoxins in processed samples of ripened Pu-erh. In conclusion, the proposed strategy is simple, effective, time-saving, and low-cost for the determination of a large number of tea samples.

Moxibustion regulates the polarization of macrophages through the IL-4/STAT6 pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion on "Shenshu" and "Zusanli" on macrophage polarization and IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To further explore the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA. METHODS: The rats' right hind paws were injected with freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) to establish the model of RA. Seven days after the injection of FCA, moxibustion therapy was performed on the acupoints of Shenshu (BL23) and Zusanli (ST36) once a day for three weeks. The researchers measured the thickness of the foot pad. ELISA and Histological Analysis were performed to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of moxibustion. Then researchers detected the expression of macrophage phenotype and the expression of IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway related molecules. RESULTS: It was observed that after the injection of FCA, the rats' feet showed obvious symptoms of redness and swelling. But the symptoms were significantly improved when moxibustion was employed. The study found lower IL-23 and higher IL-4 level in the serum of FCA-injected rats after moxibustion treatment. HE staining showed that the synovium of the RA group was hyperemia and edema, with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration and vascular dilatation. In the moxibustion group, the degree of synovial hyperemia and edema was improved, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells and vascular dilation were reduced. The study also found that there wer differences among the expressions of macrophage phenotypes in RA, and this was shown by the high expression of CD86 and low expression of CD206. However, the polarization of macrophages in the moxibustion group changed, and that was manifested by enhanced M2-polarized Mφs and inhibited M1-polarized Mφs. Meanwhile, moxibustion suppressed the activation of JAK1, JAK3 and STAT6 in the IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway, which contributed to the polarization of M2 . CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that moxibustion not only suppresses the polarization of M1, but also promotes the polarization of M1. The anti-inflammatory effect of moxibustion may be related to the regulation of macrophage polarization through IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway.

Network Pharmacology Integrated Molecular Docking Revealed the Mechanism of Jianpi Yiqi Taohua Decoction Against Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND Jianpi Yiqi Taohua decoction (JYTD) has shown therapeutic effects in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the pharmacological mechanism of JYTD against UC remains unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS Compounds and targets of JYTD and UC-related genes were screened from public databases. Integrated analysis was performed to identify therapeutic targets of UC, followed by functional enrichment analysis. Protein-protein interaction interaction (PPI) and pharmacological networks were then established. Molecular docking was used to validate the affinity of compounds and their targets. Further, the efficacy of JYTD was evaluated by meta-analysis. Relevant studies were searched from 5 databases. Outcomes were complete response rate (CRR) and overall response rate (ORR), and pooled results were estimated by risk ratio (RR) with  corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS The pharmacological network identified 13 herbal medicines, 28 compounds, 54 targets, and 20 pathways. Stigmasterol, liquiritigenin, and naringenin were potential active compounds, and PRKCA, NFKB1, ESR1, NTRK1, AKT1, PPARG, RXRA, and VDR were hub targets. Pathway analysis revealed that genes were mainly involved in the cellular response to lipids. Molecular docking indicated that AKT1, NFKB1, ESR1, NTRK1, PRKCA, and PPARG exhibited good affinity to 6 key compounds of JYTD. Then, meta-analysis revealed that Tao Hua decoction treatment significantly improved CRR (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.37; P=0.004) and ORR (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS JYTD was found to have preventive and therapeutic effects on UC through multiple compounds, targets, and pathways. These findings enhanced our understanding of the potential pharmacological mechanisms of JYTD against UC.

Enhanced desorption of cationic and anionic metals/metalloids from co-contaminated soil by tetrapolyphosphate washing and followed by ferrous sulfide treatment.

In this study, a novel approach was employed for the remediation of cationic and anionic metals/metalloids co-contaminated soil by tetrapolyphosphate enhanced soil washing coupled with ferrous sulfide treatment. Tetrapolyphosphate could simultaneously enhance the desorption of cationic metals (Pb and Zn) and anionic metal/metalloid (Cr and As) from the contaminated soil in the whole tested pH range of 2-10. With addition of 0.15 mol/L tetrapolyphosphate at pH 7.0, the removal ratio of Pb, Zn, As and Cr could achieve 83.1%, 70.4%, 75.7% and 66.4% respectively. The fractionation analysis of heavy metals/metalloids demonstrated the release of exchangeable and Fe/Mn bound forms contributed to most desorption of Pb and Zn. The decreases of non-specifically sorbed form and amorphous and poorly-crystalline hydrous oxides of Fe and Al bound form were responsible for most removal of As. The comparison with other common washing agents (EDTA, oxalate and phosphate) under their respective optimal dosage could confirm that tetrapolyphosphate was superior to simultaneously desorb the cationic and anionic metals/metalloids with higher efficiency. After 12 h, applying 150 mg/L FeS at pH 3.5 could totally remove Pb, Zn, As and Cr from the washing effluent by sulfide precipitation, reduction and adsorption processes. Higher pH would inhibit the removal of As and Cr by FeS. Meanwhile, the residual of tetrapolyphosphate could be totally recovered from the washing effluent by employing anion exchange resin. This study suggests tetrapolyphosphate enhanced soil washing coupled with ferrous sulfide treatment is a promising approach for remediation of cationic and anionic metals/metalloids co-contaminated soil in view of its high efficiency and simple operation.

Development and validation of the one-step purification method coupled to LC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of four aflatoxins in fermented tea.

Aflatoxin B1 is the potential chemical contaminant of most concern during the production and storage of fermented tea. In this work, a simple, fast, sensitive, accurate, and inexpensive method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous detection of four aflatoxins in fermented tea based on a modified sample pretreatment method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Aflatoxins were extracted using acetonitrile and purified using mixed fillers (carboxyl multiwalled carbon nanotubes, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, silica gel). Under optimum LC-MS conditions, the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.02-0.5 µg·kg-1. Recoveries from aflatoxins-fortified tea samples (1-12 µg·kg-1) were in the range of 78.94-105.23% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 18.20%. The proposed method was applied successfully to determine aflatoxin levels in fermented tea samples.

Remediation of hexachlorobenzene-contaminated soils with alkyl glycoside-enhanced desorption and zero-valent iron-EDTA-air treatment.

In this work, the use of a coupled process, alkyl glycoside (APG) enhanced soil desorption followed by the zero-valent iron-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-air (ZEA) Fenton-like system, was investigated for the remediation of a simulated hexachlorobenzene (HCB)-contaminated diatomite soil and a real HCB-contaminated soil. Three surfactants with different concentrations were studied to obtain the suitable soil desorption agent. Compared with APG0810 and Triton x-100, APG0814 showed a better solubilization effect due to its lower critical micelle concentration. With addition of 3000 mg L-1 APG0814, 35% of HCB was removed from contaminated diatomite soil, and a small amount of residual APG in diatomite soil was found to be beneficial for the soil dispersion. After treatment with the ZEA system, the removal efficiency of HCB in the diatomite soil desorption solution reached 76% in 2 h; we observed that a small amount of APG retained in the desorption solution accelerated the HCB removal. A real HCB-contaminated soil was used to verify the remediation effects. This study demonstrates that our approach is a feasible alternative for remediating soil contaminated with hydrophobic organic compounds.

Effect of Moxibustion on Inflammatory Cytokines in Animals with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to systematically evaluate the effect of moxibustion on the level of inflammatory cytokines in animal models with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to provide evidence for the clinical application of moxibustion to the treatment of RA and related basic researches. METHODS: The databases employed in this study include PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), SinoMed, and Wanfang Data Information Site. The retrieval time was from the establishment of these databases to March 2020. The reviewers made use of the CAMARADES 10-item checklist to evaluate the quality of each included study. The inflammatory cytokines were considered as the outcome measure. The Revman 5.3 software was used to conduct meta-analysis on the outcome indicators of the studies included. RESULTS: A total of 648 articles were retrieved and 18 animal experiments were included in this study. The quality scores of the studies ranged from two to eight with a mean of 5.8. Compared with the effect of the control group, moxibustion reduced the expression of TNF-α (SMD 2.95, 95% CI: 1.99-3.92, P < 0.00001), IL-1ß (SMD 4.10, 95% CI: 2.37-5.84, P < 0.00001), IFN-γ (MD 25, 95% CI: 16.17-33.82, P < 0.00001), IL-6 (MD 11.83, 95% CI: 6.22-17.44, P < 0.0001), and IL-17 (MD 99.3, 95% CI: 86.83-111.76, P < 0.00001). At the same time, the level of IL-2 (SMD 8.89, 95% CI: 0.93-16.86, P=0.03), IL-4 (MD 1.79, 95% CI: 0.26-3.32, P=0.02), and IL-10 (MD 5.93, 95% CI: 1.37-10.49, P=0.01) increased after moxibustion treatment. Asymmetric funnel plots indicated that there was publication bias. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present review indicate that moxibustion can protect the synovium of joint in animal models with RA by upregulation of the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines and downregulation of the level of proinflammatory cytokines. Moxibustion has the potential to relieve inflammation of RA.

[Effects of moxibustion on serum cytokines in experimental animals with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effects of moxibustion on serum cytokines in experimental animals with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, and CBM were searched for animal experiments on moxibustion intervention for rheumatoid arthritis. Related data were extracted, and RevMan 5.3 was used to perform a meta-analysis of outcome measures, including serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), and degree of swelling of diseased joint. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included. The detection methods included radioimmunoassay and ELISA and the experimental animal species included rats and rabbits. The studies on serum TNF-α and degree of swelling of diseased joint had publication bias. Meta-analysis showed that the moxibustion group had significant reductions in the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, VEGF, IL-17, and RANKL, significant increases in the serum levels of TGF-ß and IFN-γ, and a significant reduction in the degree of swelling of diseased joints in model animals. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can effectively regulate levels of the serum cytokines in experimental animals of rheumatoid arthritis and thus reduce inflammatory response and alleviate the swelling of diseased joints.