[Study of appropriate cut-off for diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by seated saline suppression test based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry].

Objective: To investigate the appropriate cut-off for diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) by seated saline suppression test (SSST) based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients who underwent SSST for suspected PA in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2018 to March 2022 were evaluated. Briefly, 300 patients with PA and 119 with essential hypertension (EH) were included. Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) after SSST was determined by LC-MS/MS. Primary aldosteronism confirmatory testing (PACT) score was used as the reference standard for diagnosis of PA, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to explore the cut-off value. Results: The average age of the PA group was (50.8±10.5) years, and males accounted for 53.00% (n=159); the average age of the EH group was (49.4±11.2) years, and males accounted for 26.89% (n=32). The area under the ROC curve of PAC post-SSST was 0.819 (95%CI 0.775-0.862). When 40 pg/ml (110.8 pmol/L) was selected as the appropriate cut-off for diagnosis of PA, the sensitivity was 83.67% (95%CI 78.88%-87.56%) and specificity was 60.50% (95%CI 51.10%-69.21%). Thus, 95.09% (155/163) of patients with unilateral PA could be identified. Conclusion: PAC after SSST determined by LC-MS/MS has high efficacy for diagnosis of PA, and 40 pg/ml is recommended as the appropriate cut-off value.

[Analysis of time for diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease and its associated factors in a tuberculosis-designated hospital in Shanghai].

Objective: To investigate the pathogenic characteristics, bacteriological diagnosis time and its associated factors among patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease in a large tuberculosis-designated hospital in Shanghai from 2020 to 2021, in order to improve diagnosis efficiency and formulate precision treatment. Methods: On the basis of the Tuberculosis Database in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, NTM patients diagnosed by the Department of Tuberculosis between January 2020 and December 2021 were screened. Demographic, clinical and bacterial information were retrospectively collected. Chi-square test, paired-sample nonparametric test and logistic regression model were used to analyze the factors associated with the diagnosis time of NTM lung disease. Results: A total of 294 patients with bacteriologically confirmed NTM lung disease were included in this study, 147 males and 147 females with a median age of 61(46, 69) years. Of them, 227 (77.2%) patients had comorbidity of bronchiectasis. Species identification results showed that Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Complex was the main pathogen of NTM lung disease (56.1%), followed by Mycobacterium kansasii (19.0%) and Mycobacterium abscessus (15.3%). Species such as Mycobacterium xenopi and Mycobacterium malmoense were rarely identified, accounting for a total proportion of only 3.1%. Positive culture rates for sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and puncture fluid were 87.4%, 80.3% and 61.5%, respectively. Paired-sample analysis showed that the positive rate of sputum culture was significantly higher than that of smear microscopy (87.1% vs. 48.4%, P<0.01), while no statistical difference was observed between sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on positive culture rate (78.7% vs. 77.3%, P>0.05). Patients with cough or expectoration were observed with 4.04-fold (95%CI 1.80-9.05) or 2.95-fold (95%CI 1.34-6.52) higher probability of positive sputum culture, compared to those without. Regarding bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, female or patients with bronchiectasis had a 2.82-fold (95%CI 1.16-6.88) or 2.38-fold (95%CI 1.01-5.63) higher probability to achieve a positive culture. The median time to diagnosis of NTM lung disease was 32 (interquartile range: 26-42) days. The results of multivariable analysis showed that patients with symptom of expectoration (aOR=0.48, 95%CI 0.29-0.80) needed a shorter diagnosis time in comparison with patients without expectoration. With Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Complex as a reference, lung disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus needed shorter diagnosis time (aOR=0.43, 95%CI 0.21-0.88), whereas those caused by rare NTM species were observed to require a longer diagnosis time (aOR=8.31, 95%CI 1.01-68.6). Conclusion: The main pathogen causing NTM lung disease in Shanghai was Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Complex. Sex, clinical symptoms and bronchiectasis had an impact on the positive rate of mycobacterial culture. The majority of patients in study hospital were timely diagnosed. Clinical symptoms and NTM species were associated with the bacteriological diagnosis time of NTM lung disease.

[Re-evaluation of the diagnostic value and optimal cutoff point of captopril challenge test in diagnosis of primary aldosteronism].

Objective: The aim of the present study was to re-evaluate the diagnostic value and optimal cutoff point of captopril challenge test (CCT) in diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods: This is a retrospective study. All patients with a high risk for PA underwent screening test, and then proceeded to CCT and fludrocortisone suppression test (FST) on different days. The FST was used as a reference standard for PA. The plasma renin concentration (PRC) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were measured with an automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. Random number method was performed in the patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA), in order to make the proportion of the analyzed UPA in PA was 35%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to compare diagnostic accuracy. Results: A total of 543 patients with 400 PA patients and 143 essential hypertension (EH) patients were enrolled. The diagnostic value of post-CCT PAC was significantly higher than that of the post-CCT plasma aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR), and that of the PAC suppression percentage, respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUCROC) was 0.86 (0.83, 0.89) for PAC, 0.78 (0.74, 0.82) for ARR, and 0.62 (0.56, 0.67) for the PAC suppression percentage (all P<0.01), respectively. The optimal cutoff point of post-CCT PAC for PA was 110 ng/L, in which the sensitivity and specificity were 73.25% and 79.02%, respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of post-CCT PAC was not improved either in combination with PAC suppression percentage or in combination with post-CCT ARR. Conclusions: CCT is a useful test for the confirmation of PA. PAC level of 110 ng/L at 2 h after 50 mg of captopril is recommended as an optimal cutoff point for the diagnosis of PA.

[Effects of arsenic and its main metabolites on A549 cell apoptosis and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes Bad and Bik].

Objective: To investigate the effect of arsenic and its main metabolites on the apoptosis of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes Bad and Bik. Methods: In October 2020, A549 cells were recovered and cultured, and the cell viability was detected by the cell counting reagent CCK-8 to determine the concentration and time of sodium arsenite exposure to A549. The study was divided into NaAsO(2) exposure groups and metobol: le expoure groups: the metabolite comparison groups were subdivided into the control group, the monomethylarsinic acid exposure group (60 µmol/L) , and the dimethylarsinic acid exposure group (60 µmol/L) ; sodium arsenite dose groups were subdivided into 4 groups: control group (0) , 20, 40, 60 µmol/L sodium arsenite NaAsO(2). Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double staining (Ho/PI) was used to observe cell apoptosis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of Bad and Bik mRNA in cells after exposure. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of Bad, P-Bad-S112, Bik, cleaved Bik and downstream proteins poly ADP-ribose polymerase PARP1 and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) , using spectrophotometry to detect the activity changes of caspase 3, 6, 8, 9. Results: Compared with the control group, the proportion of apoptotic cells in the 20, 40, and 60 µmol/L NaAsO(2) dose groups increased significantly (P<0.01) , and the expression levels of Bad, Bik mRNA, the protein expression levels of Bad, P-Bad-S112, Bik, cleaved Bik, PARP1, Cyt-C were increased (all P<0.05) , and the activities of Caspase 3, 6, 8, and 9 were significantly increased with significantly differences (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the expression level of Bad mRNA in the DMA exposure group (1.439±0.173) was increased with a significant difference (P=0.024) , but there was no significant difference in the expression level of Bik mRNA (P=0.788) . There was no significant differences in the expression levels of Bad and Bik mRNA in the poison groups (P=0.085, 0.063) . Compared with the control group, the gray values of proteins Bad, Bik, PARP1 and Cyt-C exposed to MMA were 0.696±0.023, 0.707±0.014, 0.907±0.031, 1.032±0.016, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.469, 0.669, 0.859, 0.771) ; the gray values of proteins Bad, Bik, PARP1 and Cyt-C exposed to DMA were 0.698±0.030, 0.705±0.022, 0.908±0.015, 1.029±0.010, and there was no difference between the two groups (P=0.479, 0.636, 0.803, 0.984) . Conclusion: Sodium arsenite induces the overexpression of Bad and Bik proteins, initiates the negative feedback regulation of phosphorylated Bad and the degradation of Bik, activates the downstream proteins PARP1, Cyt-C and Caspase pathways, and mediates the apoptosis of A549 cells.

[Effects of ultrafine particulates on cardiac function in rat isolated heart].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether ultrafine particulates (UFPs) have direct deleterious effects on cardiac function through activating MAPK signaling. METHODS: Langendorff-perfused Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=10/each group). In control group, the rat hearts were perfused with Tyrode's buffer for 40 min; in UFPs-treated group, the hearts were perfused with UFPs at a concentration of 12.5 mg/L. Cardiac function was determined by measuring left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), left ventricular peak rate of contraction and relaxation (±dp/dtmax) and coronary flow (CF). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAOC) were detected in order to evaluate cardiac oxidative stress via the thiobarbituric acid assay, water soluble tetrazolium salt assay and colorimetry, respectively. The expressions of p-p38 MAPK, p-ERKs and p-JNKs in the myocardium were observed using immunohistochemical staining and Western blots. RESULTS: No significant changes in cardiac function were detected before and after the perfusion in control group while UFPs perfused hearts showed a decline in cardiac function in a time-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). In UFPs-treated group, LVDP, +dp/dtmax, -dp/dtmax and CF were statistically reduced from (82.6±2.1) mmHg, (1 624±113) mmHg/s, (1 565±116) mmHg/s, (12.0±0.2) mL/min to (56.8±4.4) mmHg, (1 066±177) mmHg/s, (1 082±134) mmHg/s, (8.7±0.3) mL/min (all P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, The comparison between the two groups observed that UFPs perfusion caused a significant decrease in cardiac function at 30 and 40 min compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). At the end of the perfusion, the level of MDA was increased from (0.98±0.14) nmol/L to (1.95±0.18) nmol/L, while SOD and TAOC were reduced from (12.50±1.87) U/mL and (6.83±1.16) U/mL to (6.50 ±1.04) U/mL and (3.67±0.82) U/mL (all P < 0.001) in UFPs group, respectively. In coincidence with these changes, immunohistochemistry and Western blots results showed that the levels of p-p38 MAPK, p-ERKs and p-JNKs in the myocardium significantly increased in UFPs group as compared with control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that the short-term exposure of UFPs to the isolated rat hearts has direct and acute toxic effects on cardiac function, probably related to attenuation of anti-oxidative capacity and activation of MAPK signaling pathways.

[Analysis of perioperative blood loss of posterior lumbar interbody fusion on lumbar spondylolisthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To compare the intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and hidden blood loss (HBL) in lumbar posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and analyze the relevant factors of HBL in RA patients. Methods: Fifty patients with RA (RA group) and 73 patients without RA (NRA group) treated in the Heze Municipal Hospital from January 2014 to April 2019 were enrolled in this study. The basic information, RA information, operation and related blood loss indicators in the two groups were compared. The intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and HBL were the main results. The secondary results were operation time, preoperative and postoperative hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin (Hb) and their variation values, cases of anemia before and after surgery, number of new anemia after surgery, autologous blood and allogeneic blood transfusion, etc. The correlation factors of HBL in RA group were analyzed by multi-linear regression model. Results: There were 9 males and 41 females with a mean age of (62±7) years in RA group; and 11 males and 62 females with a mean age of (64±9) years in NRA group. The course of disease in RA group was (14.4±11.2) years, the most common anti-rheumatism drug (DMARDs) were single-drug and combined oral. There was no significant differences between the two groups in the number of vertebral bow screws and intervertebral fusion device. The incidence of surgical complications was comparable between the two groups. Differences between the two groups in total blood loss (TBL), intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage were not statistically significant ((693±315) ml vs (630±365) ml, (454±373) ml vs (414±375) ml and (653±376) ml vs (675±400) ml, t=1.072, 0.388, -0.189, all P>0.05), while the HBL and the percentage of HBL in TBL were lower in the NRA group (t=6.157, 2.965, both P<0.05). According to the layered analysis of the number of surgical segments, the proportion of HBL and the HBL percentage of TBL in the NRA group for the long section (≥3 segments) surgery were better than those in the RA group. The Hct changing value was larger in the RA group than that in the NRA group (P=0.031). However, the difference of Hb reduction between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in anemia and exacerbation of anemia after surgery, allogeneic blood transfusion and the operation duration between the two groups (all P>0.05). A multi-linear regression analysis of HBL showed that higher RA's Steinbrocker grading, did not take DMARDS, Hb changes and infusion of allogeneic blood were independently correlated to HBL (ß=0.363, -0.272, 0.210, 1.204, all P<0.05). Conclusions: There is no difference in TBL, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and operation duration between the RA and NRA group, while HBL and the proportion of HBL in the TBL are higher in the RA group. The RA group has higher Steinbrocker rating, no DMRDs and more Hb changes.

Bibliometric Analysis of Forensic Genetics Literatures in SCIE from 1989 to 2019.

ABSTRACT: Objective To conduct bibliometric analysis of forensic genetics literatures published by Chinese mainland scholars in SCIE journals from 1989 to 2019, to show the research achievements of the past three decades and predict future research fields and directions. Methods Microsoft Office Excel 2019 was utilized to analyze the general situation, research institutions, authors, funds, author keywords, etc. of the literatures. The status of research in forensic genetics in Chinese mainland was visualized by PlotDB, Gephi 0.9.2 software and literature interpretation. Results During the last three decades, 1 126 forensic genetics literatures were published by scholars from Chinese mainland on SCIE journals, mostly articles. The quantity and quality of the literatures were both on the increase. The number of literatures published in Forensic Science International-Genetics was the highest, and 60.83% of the literatures were funded, mainly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （498 literatures）. The current research hotspots were STR, SNP, InDel polymorphisms, linkage genetic markers, mtDNA genetic markers, epigenetic markers, RNA genetic markers, chip technology and omics research method. Conclusion The forensic genetics in China has developed rapidly along with the promotion of forensic science in universities. The SCIE literatures on forensic genetics published by Chinese mainland scholars increased rapidly with the funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, which positively contributes to the development of basic research and the improvement of overall level in forensic genetics in China.

Liver injury induced by clomiphene citrate: A case report and literature reviews.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Clomiphene citrate is used to cause ovulation in females and to increase semen production in males. Clomiphene citrate is well tolerated in most patients and rarely induces liver injury. We report a case of liver injury which is associated with administration of clomiphene citrate in a male patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old man who was treated by clomiphene citrate for 5 days was transferred to our emergency room with reddish-brown urine and upper abdominal pain. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were elevated. Based on the subsequent examination, he was diagnosed with liver injury and cholecystitis. The levels of AST and ALT returned to normal range after discontinuation of clomiphene citrate and symptomatic treatment. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The mechanism of liver injury caused by clomiphene citrate is still unclear. Polymorphism of CYP2D6 may have had an effect. Liver function tests should be performed when there is upper abdominal pain after administration of clomiphene citrate.

Preoperative NLR and PLR in the middle or lower ESCC patients with radical operation.

Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) had been analysed in many kind of tumours, but its role of predict the oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients' prognosis was not reach a consensus. Relationship between NLR, PLR and ESCC located in the middle or lower segment was evaluated. 317 patients with ESCC who underwent attempted curative oesophagectomy were analysed in this study. 157 and 98 patients had elevated NLR and PLR respectively (NLR >3.3 and PLR >150). The median overall survival time (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 34.1 and 19.2 months respectively. Multivariate analysis found PLR >150 (P = 0.018, HR 1.426, 95%CI 1.063-1.912) accompanied by male, lymphatic metastases, tumour size more than 3 cm, tumour located at middle segment and poor differentiation were associated with significantly worse DFS. Meanwhile, gender, lymphatic metastases, tumour location and differentiation along with PLR >150 (P = 0.003, HR 1.595, 95% CI 1.172-2.170) and NLR>3.3 (P = 0.039, HR 1.367, 95% CI 1.015-1.840) were all independent prognostic factors for OS. Preoperative NLR and PLR might be used as predictive factors in patients with ESCC. For DFS, elevated PLR compared to NLR may have an advantage to indicate poor prognosis.

[Genetic Polymorphisms of 30 InDel Loci in Ewenki Ethnic Group from Inner Mongolia].

OBJECTIVES: To study the genetic polymorphisms of 30 insertion/deletion （InDel） loci and evaluate their forensic application in Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 87 unrelated healthy individuals in Ewenki ethnic group. Genomic DNA were extracted, and 30 InDel loci of the samples were multiplex amplified and genotyped. Hardy-Weinberg balance tests were preformed for all loci and genetic parameters were calculated by modified PowerStats v1.2 software. The linkage disequilibrium between loci were tested by SNPAnalyzer v2.0 software. Based on the allele frequencies of 30 InDel loci, the genetic relationships between Ewenki ethnic group and other populations were evaluated by analysis of molecular variance, principal component analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction. RESULTS: After correction, 30 InDel loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It was found that the pairwise InDel loci were in linkage equilibrium after Bonferroni correction. The results of population genetics indicated that Ewenki ethnic group had close genetic relationships with Henan Han and Beijing Han populations; whereas it was significantly different from several populations in Europe and Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: There are relatively high genetic polymorphisms on 30 InDel loci of Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia, which can be used as a helpful supplement application for STR detection system.

Tangeritin inhibits adipogenesis by down-regulating C/EBPα, C/EBPß, and PPARγ expression in 3T3-L1 fat cells.

The treatment of obese patients is a topic investigated by an increasing number of researchers. This study aimed to elucidate the possible inhibitory effect of tangeritin on the development and function of fat cells. 3T3-L1 fat cells were grown to confluence and subjected to different concentrations of tangeritin. The most effective tangeritin inhibition concentration was determined by the MTT assay. The treated cells were subjected to real-time reverse transcriptase PCR and western blot analysis, to detect changes in the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α, C/EBPß, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ expression levels. The MTT assay revealed that the fat cell growth was inhibited at a 20 ng/mL concentration of tangeritin. The results of real-time PCR revealed a significant decrease in the expression of C/EBPα, C/EBPß, and PPARγ mRNA, following the treatment with tangeritin. Western blot analysis also presented similar results at a protein level. Therefore, we concluded that tangeritin inhibits adipogenesis via the down-regulation of C/EBPα, C/EBPß, and PPARγ mRNA and protein expression in 3T3-L1 cells.

Inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) suppresses ovarian cancer growth, migration and invasion and enhances the effect of cisplatin in vitro.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-ovarian cancer effect of the inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), WP1066. Western blot was used to detect the phosphorylation of STAT3 in ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3/DDP. MTT and colony-forming assays were performed to evaluate the viability and growth of ovarian cancer cells. The apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells was determined by flow cytometry. The wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to examine the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. WP1066 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 in SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells. WP1066 treatment inhibited the proliferation and clonogenicity of both SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells. After WP1066 treatment for 24 h, the apoptosis rates of SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells were significantly increased compared with the control cells. After treatment with WP1066, the reduction of the wound gaps was significantly less in both SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells. WP1066 also significantly inhibited the invasion capacity of SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cells compared with the control group. Treatment with WP1066 combined with cisplatin significantly increased proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in SKOV3 and SKOV3/ DDP cells compared with treatment with cisplatin alone. A synergistic action between WP1066 and cisplatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells was determined. In conclusion, inhibition of STAT3 may suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion, induce apoptosis and enhance the chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells, indicating that STAT3 is a new therapeutic target of ovarian cancer.

Case report. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the left maxillary sinus.

Metastatic tumors in the paranasal sinuses are very rare. The origin of metastatic tumors in the paranasal sinuses is often renal cancer. Renal cell carcinomas are known for their tendency for early metastasis, and symptoms due to the metastatic lesion may be the only initial manifestation. In this paper, we deal with the case of a 35-year-old male patient who presented with a mass in the left maxillary region. The presence of a primary renal cell carcinoma was recognized only after surgical removal of the metastatic tumor. The presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this tumor are discussed with a review of the literature.

Poly(acrylic acid) modifying bentonite with in-situ polymerization for removing lead ions.

In this paper, a new kind of poly(acrylic acid) modified clay adsorbent, the poly(acrylic acid)/bentonite composite (PAA/HB) was prepared by in-situ polymerization, and utilized to remove lead(II) ions from solutions. The maximum adsorption of adsorbent is at pH 5 for metal ions, whereas the adsorption starts at pH 2. The effects of contact time (5-60 min), initial concentration of metal ions (200-1,000 mg/L) and adsorbent dosage (0.04-0.12 g/100 mL) have been reported in this article. The experimental data were investigated by means of kinetic and equilibrium adsorption isotherms. The kinetic data were analyzed by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equation. The experimental data fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model very well. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were tried for the system to better understand the adsorption isotherm process. The maximal adsorption capacity of the lead(II) ions on the PAA/HB, as calculated from the Langmuir model, was 769.2 mg/g. The results in this study indicated that PAA/HB was an attractive candidate for removing lead(II) (99%).

Preparation of xanthated bentonite and its removal behavior for Pb(II) ions.

Xanthate was successfully grafted onto bentonite by a relatively simple solution reaction. The obtained xanthated bentonite (XBent) was characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometer, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), particle size analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XBent acting as a type of environmentally friendly adsorbent was applied to remove lead ions from aqueous solutions. The optimum conditions were as follows: [Pb(2+)] = 500 mg L(-1), [XBent] = 2 g L(-1), pH = 5.0; oscillating 60 min under 200 rpm at 25 degrees C. The removal rate of lead was up to 99.9%. It was found that the lead(II) ions-XBent adsorption isotherm model fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption mechanism was also investigated by SEM and XRD, which concluded that lead ions were complexed or chelated with XBent. XBent appears to have potential to be used later in water treatment as a type of inorganic polymer reagent.

Preparation of solid composite polyferric sulfate and its flocculation behavior for wastewater containing high concentration organic compounds.

A new kind of inorganic polymer flocculant, the solid composite polyferric sulfate (SPFS) was prepared using ferrous sulfate and Na-Bentonite. The obtained SPFS was characterized by FT-IR spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). It showed that SPFS was a kind of composite inorganic polymer, which was the complex of PFS and Na-Bent, not only a simple mixture of raw materials. The synthetic mechanism and surface structure of SPFS were also discussed. Acting as a kind of environment-friendly flocculating agent, the solid composite polyferric sulfate (SPFS) was applied in pretreatment of potato starch industry wastewater, a typical wastewater containing high concentration organic compounds, which COD was above 6,000 mg/L. The results showed that the COD removal value reached 4,070 mg/L with COD removal rates being 46.6%. Based on these results, it is suggested that the SPFS can be attractive pretreatment agent for the starch industry wastewater.

Effect of IL-6-mediated STAT3 signaling pathway on myocardial apoptosis in mice with dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene knockout on apoptosis of myocardial cells in mice with Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its potential mechanism, so as to provide certain references for the clinical prevention and treatment of DCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 male C57 mice were randomly divided into Sham group (n=20) and DCM group (n=20) using a random number table. Another 20 mice with IL-6 gene knockout were enrolled into DCM+IL-6 KO group (n=20). The DCM model was established via CVB3 repeated incremental infection. After 9 months, the heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) ratio of mice in each group was detected. The ejection fraction [EF (%)] and fraction shortening [FS (%)] of mice in each group were detected via two-dimensional ultrasonography. The cross-sectional area and pathological changes in myocardial cells in the heart in each group were determined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The collagen content in myocardial tissues in each group was detected via Masson staining and picrosirius red (PSR) staining, and the expressions of Collagen I and Collagen III in myocardial tissues in each group were detected via immunohistochemistry. In addition, the myocardial apoptosis in myocardial tissues in each group was detected via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Finally, the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), and total STAT3 (t-STAT3) were detected via Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of IL-6 messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in myocardial tissues in DCM group was significantly increased compared with that in Sham group (p<0.05). After IL-6 knockout, the HW/BW ratio of DCM mice significantly declined (p<0.05), and the cross-sectional area of myocardial cells was significantly reduced (p<0.05). According to the results of echocardiography, the cardiac function of mice in DCM+IL-6 KO group was significantly superior to that in DCM group, manifested as the significant increase in FS (%) and EF (%) (p<0.05). The results of Masson staining, PSR staining, and immunohistochemical staining showed that IL-6 knockout could reduce the collagen content and Collagen I and Collagen III expressions in myocardial tissues of DCM mice (p<0.05). Furthermore, it was found via TUNEL staining that the number of apoptotic myocardial cells in DCM+IL-6 KO group was markedly smaller than that in DCM group (p<0.05). At the same time, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in myocardial tissues in DCM+IL-6 KO group was lower (p<0.05). Finally, the results of Western blotting revealed that DCM+IL-6 KO group had a lower phosphorylation level of STAT3 than DCM group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting IL-6 gene may improve the DCM-induced myocardial remodeling through reducing myocardial apoptosis.