[Structural Characteristics of Micro-nano Particle Size Biochar and Its Adsorption Mechanism for Cd2].

The aim of this study was to investigate the structural characteristics of biochar with different micro/nano particle sizes and its effect on the adsorption performance of Cd2+. Corn stalk biochar with different particle sizes (180-250 µm, 50-75 µm, and ≤ 20 µm, denoted as BC-1, BC-2, and BC-3, respectively) were prepared using the sieving and ball milling method. The structural properties of different particle sizes of biochar were analyzed via elemental analysis, laser particle size analysis, SEM, BET, FTIR, and XPS. Additionally, the adsorption mechanisms of Cd2+ by three particle sizes of biochar under initial Cd2+ concentrations, adsorption times, and pH conditions were comparatively studied using static adsorption experiments. The results showed that with the decrease in particle size, the pH and zeta potential of biochar were reduced; the aromaticity and polarity decreased; the specific surface area and pore volume increased; and the intensity of the characteristic peaks containing OH, C[FY=,1]C/C[FY=,1]O, and C-O groups increased. The adsorption kinetics of Cd2+ with different particle diameters of biochar were in accordance with the pseudo-secondary kinetic model, with chemisorption dominating. The equilibrium times were in the decreasing order of BC-1 (540 min)>BC-2 (360 min)>BC-3 (80 min). The Langmuir model could better fit the adsorption isotherm process of Cd2+ on biochar of different particle sizes (R2>0.97), and the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd2+ increased with the decrease in particle size, which was expressed as BC-3 (74.43 mg·g-1)>BC-2 (45.71 mg·g-1)>BC-1 (44.59 mg·g-1). The main mechanisms of Cd2+adsorption by biochar were electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and cation-π interaction.

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in vinyl chloride-induced hepatic steatosis in mice.

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a common industrial organochlorine, shown to cause hepatic angiosarcoma and hepatic steatosis. However, the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and oxidative stress (OS) in hepatic steatosis after subchronic exposure to VC in mice, is unclear. Based on body weight, forty healthy SPF male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into a control group and three VC exposure groups (57.3, 286.7, and 1433.6 ppm) (n = 10 each). VC was administered by static inhalation in a 50 L sealed plexiglass inhalation chamber for 2 h per day, five days per week for 16 weeks. Serum and liver tissues were analyzed for liver enzymes and lipids. Hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and OS related indicators malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The mRNA expressions of ERS downstream genes, including glycoregulatory protein-78 (GRP-78), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were detected by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and their protein levels examined by western blotting. The CYP2E1 levels increased after VC administration in a dose-dependent manner. MDA levels increased (P < .05) and SOD and GSH levels decreased (P < .05) in the liver of each group with the increase in the dose of VC. ERS and expressions of downstream genes (GRP-78, SREBP-1, ACC, and FAS) were enhanced after VC administration. These results suggested that OS and ERS could be induced by VC, which may lead to an increase in fatty acid synthesis in the liver, further aggravating hepatic steatosis.

Left ventricular strain examination of different aged adults with 3D speckle tracking echocardiography.

The purpose of this study was to identify traits of the left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), global circular strain (GCS), and global area tracking (GAT) with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE), and to determine the relationship between strain and age in healthy adults of different ages. A total of 153 volunteers were divided into young adult, middle-aged, and elderly groups, and examined with echocardiography to obtain general data and live two-dimensional (2D) images of the apical four-chamber view, which were assembled to obtain the full volume view of the LV. The images were then analyzed with 3DSTE software. Compared with the young adult and middle-aged groups, elderly adults demonstrated lower GLS, GRS, GCS, and GAT. Significant differences were not noted in GLS, GRS, and GCS between the young adult and middle-aged groups; however, the GAT of the middle-aged group was lower than that of the young adult group. The longitudinal strain (LS), radial strain (RS), and area tracking (AT) of 16 LV segments of the young adult group decreased gradually in level from the mitral valve to the apex, and increased in circular strain (CS). The LS, RS, CS, and AT of the middle-aged group also decreased gradually. The LS, RS, CS, and AT of the elderly people were highest from the mitral valve to the apex level and lowest at the papillary muscle. The results of this study demonstrated that LV GLS, GRS, GCS, and GAT decrease with age.

Anti-inflammatory effect of novel andrographolide derivatives through inhibition of NO and PGE2 production.

Andrographolide (1) is a major diterpene lactone exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects and is found in the plant Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) Nees, which is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Synthesis of more effective drugs from andrographolide is very interesting and can prove to be highly useful. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of andrographolide and its derivatives (compounds 2-6) through dimethylbenzene-induced ear edema in mice. Substances under study were administrated intragastrically and the structure-activity relationship was analyzed. Results showed that compounds 5 and 6 significantly inhibited ear edema compared with compound 1 (p<0.05), indicating that the introduction of p-Chlorobenzylidene to C-15 of compound 2 enhances the anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, compound 6 exhibited the strongest anti-inflammatory effect against ear edema in mice (79.4%; 1.35 mmol/kg, ig) and paw edema in rats (50.4%; 0.90 mmol/kg, ig). In addition, compound 6 significantly (p<0.05) inhibited granuloma formation and reduced the increase in vascular permeability induced by peritoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid solution in mice. Findings indicate that compound 6 exerts its enhanced anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing serum iNOS activity, NO production, and PGE(2) production.

Stereoselective synthesis of bioactive isosteviol derivatives as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

Considerable interest has been attracted in isosteviol and its derivatives because of their large variety of pharmacological activities. In this project, a series of novel compounds containing hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl group and heteroatom-containing frameworks fused with isosteviol structure were synthesized and evaluated as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, aimed at clarifying the structure-activity correlation. The results indicated that these isosteviol derivatives were capable of inhibiting in vitro alpha-glucosidase with moderate to good activities. Among them, indole derivative 15b exhibited the highest activities and thus may be exploitable as a lead compound for the development of potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.