Modification of as Synthesized SBA-15 with Pt nanoparticles: Nanoconfinement Effects Give a Boost for Hydrogen Storage at Room Temperature.

In this work, Pt nanoparticles were incorporated into SBA-15 to prepare the materials for hydrogen spillover adsorption. We provide a direct modification (DM) strategy to improve the content of Pt nanoparticles inside the channels of SBA-15. In this strategy, the Pt precursor was directly incorporated into as synthesized SBA-15 by a solid-state grinding method. The subsequent calcination in air, then H2/Ar gases was conducted to obtain the resultant materials of PtAS. For the samples of PtAS, Pt nanoparticles up to 5.0 wt% have a high dispersion inside the channels of SBA-15. The size of nanoparticles is in control of 3.7 nm. Although much work so far has focused on modification of SBA-15 with Pt nanoparticles. Here, it is the first time the loading amount of Pt nanoparticles raises up to 5.0 wt%, and the location of the Pt nanoparticles is interior channels of SBA-15. We reveal that the high dispersion behaviors of Pt nanoparticles are ascribed to the nanoconfinement effects provided by as synthesized SBA-15. However, the samples derived from template free SBA-15 (PtCS) show sparsely dispersion of Pt nanoparticles with the size of 7.7 nm. We demonstrate that the PtAS samples show better hydrogen adsorption performance than PtCS.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in PM2.5, PM10, TSP and gas phase in office environment in Shanghai, China: occurrence and human exposure.

To evaluate risk via inhalation exposure of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in office environment, thirty-six pairs air samples including PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm), PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm), total suspended particles (TSP) with matching gas phase were collected in office environment in Shanghai, China. The average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and TSP were 20.4, 27.2 and 50.3 µg/m3, respectively. Σ15PBDEs mean concentrations in PM2.5, PM10, TSP and gas phase were 51.8, 110.7, 148 and 59.6 pg/m3, respectively. Much more PBDEs distributed in fine fractions than coarse ones. PBDEs congener profiles found in PM2.5, PM10 and TSP (dominated by BDE-209) were different from that in gas phase (dominated by the tri- to penta-BDEs). Approximately 3.20 pg/kg/d PM2.5 bound PBDEs can be inhaled into the lung; 3.62 pg/kg/d PM10-PM2.5(particles with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5-10 µm) bound PBDEs tended to be deposited in the upper part of respiratory system, and the intake of PBDEs via gas-phase was 2.74 pg/kg/d. The exposure of PBDEs was far below the minimal risk levels (MRLs), indicating lower risk from PBDEs via inhalation in the studied office in Shanghai.

Characterizing distribution, sources, and potential health risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in office environment.

This study evaluated the levels and spatial distribution of PBDEs in 9 typical offices in Shanghai, China through the sample analysis of air and settled dust (floor dust, desktop dust and dust in computer case). PBDEs in air ranged from 93 to 322 pg/m(3), while the PBDEs levels in dust varied from 247 to 3.3 × 10(4) ng/g. Spatial variability of PBDEs in office dust was evident and likely influenced by air exchange and the use of electronic devices. A significant positive linear correlation was observed between the power usage rate and PBDE levels in both office air (R(2) = 0.81) and settled dust (R(2) = 0.94). The PBDEs exposure via inhalation and dust ingestion were both analyzed to estimate the life-time cancer risk, which is 1.34 × 10(-22) to 7.16 × 10(-22), significantly lower than the threshold level (10(-6)). Non-cancer risk indicated by the hazard index (<1) is also low in current exposure conditions.

[Effect of anxin granules combined with tirofiba on patients with acute myocardial infarction after elective percutaneous coronary intervention].

To investigate the influence of Anxin granules combined with tirofiban on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Patients after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One hundred and twenty AMI patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients in the two groups were all given Tirofiban 30mins before PCI . The treatment group was added Anxin granules 30 mins before and after PCI. Tissue factor (TF) and von willebrand factor (vWF) were tested at 6 hours after operation. Syndromatology alteration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and bleeding complications were observed at 4 weeks after operation. Both TF and vWF at 6 hours after operation of the treatment group was lower than the control group significantly (P < 0.01), while the condition of myocardial ischemia at 90 mins after operation of the treatment group was better than control group with significance. The syndromatology alteration of TCM especially spontaneous perspiration and hypodynamia of the treatment group were improved significantly compared to control group 4 weeks after operation. All patients in both groups had no bleeding complications and thrombopenia. The study suggests that Anxin granules combined with tirofiba can improve the clinical efficacy and the endothelial function of AMI patients after PCI with no increase in bleeding events.

Occurrence and human health risk of wastewater-derived pharmaceuticals in a drinking water source for Shanghai, East China.

Pharmaceuticals are heavily used to improve human and animal health, resulting in the frequent contamination of aquatic environments with pharmaceutical residues, which has raised considerable concern in recent years. When inadequately removed from drinking water in water treatment plants, pharmaceuticals can have potential toxic effects on human health. This study investigated the spatial distributions and seasonal variations of five pharmaceuticals, including ibuprofen (IBP), ketoprofen (KEP), naproxen (NPX), diclofenac (DFC), and clofibric acid (CA), in the Huangpu River system (a drinking water source for Shanghai) over a period of almost two years as well as the associated risk to human health for different age groups. All of the targets were ubiquitous in the river water, with levels decreasing in the following order: KEP (mean: 28.6 ng/L)≈IBP (23.3 ng/L)>DFC (13.6 ng/L)≈NPX (12.3 ng/L)>CA (1.6ng/L). The concentrations of all of the investigated compounds were at the low or medium end of the global range. The upstream tributaries contained lower IBP but higher NPX than did the mainstream and downstream tributaries. However, no significant variations were found in the levels of KEP, DFC, or CA at the different sampling sites. Except for CA in the mainstream, significantly higher pharmaceutical levels were observed in the dry season than in the wet season. Overall, a very low risk of the selected pharmaceuticals for human health via drinking water was observed, but future studies are needed to examine the fate and chronic effects of all pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments. To our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the human health risk of pharmaceuticals in raw drinking water in China.

[Occurrence and risk assessment of five selected PPCPs in municipal wastewater treatment plant and the receiving water].

Five PPCPs, including clofibric acid (CA), diclofenac (DFC), ibuprofen (IBP), ketoprofen (KEP), and naproxen (NPX) were selected as target compounds to investigate their occurrence and removal efficiency in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Shanghai. Furthermore, their distribution and potential toxicological risk in the WWTP receiving river water were investigated. The results showed that all targets were detected in WWTP influent, suggesting that domestic sewage discharge is an important source of PPCPs to the WWTP. Lower removal efficiency of these PPCPs was found in the WWTP and the main mechanism of elimination was biodegradation. The pattern of five selected PPCPs in the river was similar to that in WWTP effluent, indicating that WWTP effluent was a main source of PPCPs to the receiving water. Risk assessment showed that diclofenac posed a high risk, while ketoprofen, naproxen, clofibric acid and ibuprofen showed low risks to biota in the receiving river.

Multi-phase partitioning, ecological risk and fate of acidic pharmaceuticals in a wastewater receiving river: the role of colloids.

The occurrence and multi-phase distribution of five pharmaceutical compounds were investigated in an urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) receiving river by analysis of pharmaceuticals in sediment, particulate matter, conventional dissolved phase (>0.7 µm), colloidal phase (5 kDa to 0.7 µm), and truly dissolved phase (<5 kDa) water. Diclofenac was found in all samples, followed by clofibric acid, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen with the decreasing detection frequency. All targets in WWTP outfall site were higher than those in the upstream and downstream, indicating that the WWTP is an important input source of pharmaceuticals in the river. The colloidal phase contributed 10-14% of ketoprofen, 8-26% of naproxen, 17-36% of clofibric acid, 22-33% of diclofenac, and 9-28% of ibuprofen in the aquatic system, suggesting the colloids will play an important role as carrier to contaminants in the aquatic environment. Based on truly dissolved concentrations of pharmaceuticals in water, only the risk quotient (RQ) value for diclofenac towards fish was higher than 1, indicating it poses a potential risk to aquatic organisms. Finally, a Level III fugacity model was used to further assess the environmental fate of the selected pharmaceuticals (exemplified for clofibric acid and diclofenac). Both clofibric acid and diclofenac tend to accumulate in water compartment with the percentage of 99.7% and 60.6%, respectively. Advection in river is a significant loss process for clofibric acid (56.4%) and diclofenac (54.4%).

Acidic pharmaceuticals in domestic wastewater and receiving water from hyper-urbanization city of China (Shanghai): environmental release and ecological risk.

The occurrence, behavior, and release of five acidic pharmaceuticals, including ibuprofen (IBP), naproxen (NPX), ketoprofen (KEP), diclofenac (DFC), and clofibric acid (CA), have been investigated along the different units in a tertiary-level domestic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in hyper-urbanization city of China (Shanghai). IBP was the most abundant chemicals among the measured in raw wastewater. The loads of the acidic pharmaceuticals in the WWTP influent ranged from 7.5 to 414 mg/day/1,000 inh, which were lower than those reported in the developed countries suggesting a less per capita consumption of pharmaceuticals in Shanghai. IBP obtained by highest removal (87 %); NPX and KEP were also significantly removed (69-76 %). However, DFC and CA were only moderately removed by 37-53 %, respectively. Biodegradation seemed to play a key role in the elimination of the studied pharmaceuticals except for DFC and CA. An annual release of acidic pharmaceuticals was estimated at 1,499 and 61.7 kg/year through wastewater and sludge, respectively, from Shanghai. Highest pharmaceuticals concentrations were detected in the effluent discharge point of the WWTP, indicating that WWTP effluent is the main source of the acidic pharmaceuticals to its receiving river. Preliminary results indicated that only DFC in river had a high risk to aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, the joint toxicity effects of these chemicals are needed to further investigate.

Occurrence, sources, and inventory of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in soils from Chongming Island, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD).

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is a concern due to their large usage combining with physico-chemical properties and toxicity to wildlife and human. However, very limited data were reported on HBCDs in soils, especially from rural area. In this study, 22 soil samples were collected from Chongming Island at estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, to investigate the level, diasteroisomer profile, potential sources, and mass inventory of HBCDs. The total concentrations ranged from not detected to 93.8pgg(-1) dry weight (dw) with a mean of 23.3pgg(-1)dw, which was at the low end of the global levels. The wide distribution of HBCDs in soils suggested that the local emissions of HBCD-containing materials and/or the inputs via atmospheric transport from other regions were two possible sources. Variation of HBCDs levels was observed in different types of soils. Woodland, tideland and road soils contained slightly higher HBCDs than those of farmland and grassland. Overall, γ-HBCD was the dominant diasteroisomer in soils, followed by α-HBCD and ß-HBCD. Significant but weak correlations were only found between α-HBCD and ß-HBCD versus TOC content in soils. Currently, the mass inventory of HBCDs in soils of Chongming Island was 5.3kg. Based on these data, we gave perspective on human intake of HBCDs via soil ingestion by age. Local resident's intakes ranged from 15.5 to 97.8fgkg body weight(-1)d(-1), in which children are exposed more than adults.

[Effect of three-step sequential method on Th1/Th2 in patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of three-step sequential method (TSSM) on patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma (SDA). METHODS: Forty patients with SDA were randomly assigned according to the randomizing number table to two groups equally, the treated group treated with three-step sequential recipes plus inhalation of Pulmicort Turbuhaler 200 microg, twice a day, and the control group treated with Pulmicort Turbuhaler alone. The therapeutic course for both groups was 12 - 14 weeks. Changes of the symptom score of asthma, the corticosteroid dosage used and the lung function were observed and the positive expression rate of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral CD4+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry before and after treatment. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the asthma symptom score, the oral corticosteroid dosage and the lung function between the treated group and the control group after treatment (P < 0.01). The expression rate of Th2 reduced, the ratio of Th1/Th2 increased significantly after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but the changes were more remarkable in the treated group than those in the control group, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.01), while the expression rate of Th1 had no obvious change after treatment with no significant difference shown between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: TSSM can regulate imbalance of Th1/Th2, inhibit generation of inflammatory cytokines, decrease airway hyper-response, and therefore improve the pulmonary function, alleviate the asthmatic symptoms and reduce the patients' dependence on corticosteroid.