Metformin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced epithelial cell senescence by activating autophagy.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening medical condition with higher mortality and morbidity in elderly patients. Recently, metformin, a drug commonly used to lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes patients, has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent in ALI. However, the mechanism of this regulation still remains poorly understood. In our study, we found that epithelial cell senescence was elevated after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by decreased expression of ATG5 and impaired autophagy activity. To further discover the molecular regulation mechanism between cellular senescence and autophagy in LPS-treated MLE-12 cells, we demonstrated that inhibition of ATG5 could decrease autophagy levels and promote the senescence of MLE-12 cells. On the contrary, elevating the expression of ATG5 could effectively suppress LPS-induced cellular senescence via enhancing autophagy activity. In addition, we demonstrated that metformin could protect MLE-12 cells from LPS-induced senescence via increasing the expression of ATG5 and augmenting autophagy activity. Our data implicate that activation of autophagy by metformin may provide a preventive and therapeutic strategy for ALI.

Prognostic factors for generalized tetanus in adults: A retrospective study in a Chinese hospital.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated factors associated with mortality in patients with moderate/severe generalized tetanus. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with moderate/severe generalized tetanus admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (China) between January 2005 and January 2017. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Patients were divided into two groups based on outcome (survival or death). Factors associated with mortality were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were included (57.3% male; age, 57.9 ±â€¯18.4 years; APACHE II score, 10.6 ±â€¯3.4; severe tetanus, 49.3%; mortality, 25.3%). Multivariate analysis identified severe tetanus (odds ratio [OR], 30.364; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.459-374.896) and APACHE II score (OR, 1.536; 95%CI, 1.051-2.243) as positively associated with mortality, whereas high-calorie nutrition (OR, 0.027; 95%CI, 0.002-0.359) and dexmedetomidine use (OR, 0.035; 95%CI, 0.003-0.467) were negatively associated with mortality (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tetanus severity and APACHE II score were associated with mortality in patients with generalized tetanus, whereas high-calorie nutrition and dexmedetomidine use reduced the odds of death. High-calorie nutrition and dexmedetomidine administration may improve prognosis in adult patients with moderate/severe generalized tetanus.

Mechanistic Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Carnosine on Acute Lung Injury in Sepsis Rats.

This study analyzes the sepsis healing therapeutic potential of carnosine against experimentally sepsis-induced male albino rats. Carnosine in 2 different doses, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, were administered for 30 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, lipid peroxidation, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and myeloperoxidase activities were measured. Lungs weight and total protein content were determined in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF). Cytokines such as macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined in the BALF. In addition, the histopathological analysis was also carried out to understand the effect of carnosine in the cellular architecture. Carnosine treatment significantly renormalized the lipid peroxidation and other antioxidant enzymes. IL-ß, TNF-α, and MIF were found to be reduced after carnosine treatment. After carnosine treatment, the intensity of sepsis was significantly reduced evidenced by histopathological analysis. In western blot analysis, carnosine treatment causes the upregulation of IκBα together with the downregulation of the expressions of p65 and p-IKKα/ß (Ser 180/Ser 181).

Effects of biochar application and nutrient fluctuation on the growth, and cadmium and nutrient uptake of Trifolium repens with different planting densities in Cd-contaminated soils.

Biochar has been used to remediate contaminated-soil with heavy metals, however, less is known on how biochar interacts with planting density and nutrient fluctuation to affect the remediation. A pot experiment was conducted in the greenhouse to investigate the effects of biochar application (without vs. with 1% biochar, g/g substrate), nutrient fluctuation (constant vs. pulsed) and planting density (1-, 3- and 6-individuals per pot) on the growth, and cadmium (Cd) and nutrient uptake of Trifolium repens population. Our results found that the growth of T. repens population increased significantly with increasing planting density, and the increment decreased with increasing planting density. Both the Cd and nutrient uptake were higher at higher planting density (e.g., 3- and 6-individuals) than at lower planting density (e.g., 1-individual). Biochar application increased the biomass and shoot Cd uptake, but decreased the ratio of root to shoot and root Cd uptake of T. repens population, the effects of which were significantly influenced by planting density. Although nutrient fluctuation had no effect on the growth of T. repens population, but its interaction with planting density had significant effects on Cd uptake in tissues. Overall, the effects of biochar application and nutrient fluctuation on the growth and Cd uptake were both influenced by planting density in the present study. Our findings highlight that biochar application and constant nutrient supply at an appropriate planting density, such as planting density of 3-individuals per pot in the present study, could promote the growth, and Cd and nutrient uptake of T. repens population.

High-value utilization of waste tires: A review with focus on modified carbon black from pyrolysis.

Recently, the recycling of waste tires has caused widespread concern for its environmental issues. The experience of the producer responsibility and tax system is of great beneficial to developing countries. The article also elaborates on the efforts of Chinese government to focus on establishing and perfecting waste tire treatment system by strengthen legislation. The main reasons such as immature market, non-uniform policy and repeated taxation for the survival difficulties of waste tire recycling enterprises in China are summarized. Among numerous resource methods, pyrolysis has been considered as a promising thermochemical process to deal with the waste tires. Unlike other similar reviews that mainly focus on its liquid phase, special attention has been given to solid char, pyrolysis carbon black, due to its wide application and high-value utilization in the future. We summarize the available research on application of pyrolysis carbon black as an alternative to commercial carbon black in rubber manufacture, as activated carbon in pollution control and as biochar for soil improvement. Analysis of the available data revealed that 1) the influence of temperature and time has been basically established; 2) catalyst type, dosage and reactor selection should be adjusted according to product demand; 3) pickling has become the primary means of improving pyrolysis carbon black; 4) the type of modifier and modification method must be adjusted according to the specific characteristics of the raw materials and needs to be combined with the experimental results to realize resource utilization and give full play to its economic value.