Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan Can Inhibit the Fibrosis of Diabetic Kidneys by Regulating the Kidney Lipid Metabolism.

In this study, a diabetic kidney disease model was established by placing the test rats on a high-sugar/high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin induction. Histopathological examination (H&E, Masson, and PASM stain) showed pathological changes in the diabetic rat kidneys, in addition to fibrotic symptoms and collagen deposition. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses indicated that the diabetic condition significantly increased the expressions of fibrotic markers including collagen, α-SMA, and fibronectin. The levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein were also increased in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) rat blood, while the level of high-density lipoprotein was decreased. The results of Oil red O staining experiments indicated that the kidneys of diabetic rats exhibited appreciable fat deposition, with high contents of triglyceride and cholesterol. To inhibit fibrosis and reduce fat deposition, low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) may be used. Based on PCR and western blot analyses, LMWF can regulate the expression levels of important lipid metabolism regulators, thereby impeding the development of kidney fibrosis. Through the vitro model, it also be indicated that LMWF could inhibit fibrosis process through regulating lipid metabolism which induced by palmitic acid.

Degradation of tetracycline in water by biochar supported nanosized iron activated persulfate.

Biochar supported nanosized iron (nFe(0)/BC) was synthesized and used as a persulfate (PS) activator to degradation tetracycline (TC). The influence of the initial pH values, PS and nFe(0)/BC dosage, initial TC concentration, and coexist anions were investigated. In the nFe(0)/BC-PS system, TC could be effectively removed at various pH values (3.0-9.0). The degradation efficiency of TC (100 mg/L) was 97.68% using nFe(0)/BC (0.4 g/L) and persulfate (1 mM) at pH 5.0. Coexisting ions (HCO3- and NO3-) had an inhibitory effect on TC degradation. The removal of TC could be fitted by a pseudo-second-order model. Electron-Spin Resonance (ESR) analysis and scavenging tests suggested that sulfate radicals (SO4·-) and hydroxyl radicals (HO·) were responsible for TC degradation. Details of the advanced oxidation process (AOP)-induced degradation pathways of TC were determined based on liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The nFe(0)/BC could still maintain 86.38% of its original removal capacity after five cycles. The findings of this study proved that nFe(0)/BC can be applied to activate PS for the treatment of pollution caused by TC.