The ultramicropore biochar derived from waste distiller's grains for wet-process phosphoric acid purification: Removal performance and mechanisms of Cr(VI).

Solid waste and heavy metal pollution are long-term and challenging subjects in the field of environmental engineering. In this study, we propose a sustainable approach to "treating waste with waste" by utilizing the ultramicropore biochar derived from solid waste distiller's grains as a means to remove Cr(VI) from simulated wastewater and wet phosphoric acid. The biochar prepared in this research exhibit extremely high specific surface areas (up to 2973 m2/g) and a well-developed pore structure, resulting in a maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 426.0 mg/g and over 99% removal efficiency of Cr(VI). Furthermore, the adsorbent can be reused for up to eight cycles without significant reduction in its Cr(VI) adsorption performance. Mechanistic investigations suggest that the exceptional Cr(VI) adsorption capacity can be attributed to the synergistic effect of electrostatic interaction and reduction adsorption. This study offers an alternative approach for the resource utilization of solid waste distiller's grains, and the prepared biochar holds promise for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater and wet-process phosphoric acid.

Clinical study of diabetic peripheral neuropathy screening by retinal vascular geometric parameters.

To investigate the relationship between geometrical changes of retinal vessels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to determine the effectiveness of retinal vascular geometry analysis and vibration perception threshold (VPT) for DPN assessment. Type 2 diabetes patients (n = 242) were categorized by stage of DPN. VPT and fundus photography was performed to obtain retinal vascular geometry parameters. The risk factors for DPN and the correlation between DPN stages were analyzed. The efficiency of the retinal vascular geometric parameters obtained with VPT as a diagnostic tool for DPN was examined. Stages of DPN showed a linear correlation with VPT (r = 0.818), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) (r = 0.716), and fractal dimension arterioles (DFa) (r = - 0.769). VPT, CRVE, DFa, and fractal dimension veins (DFv) showed high sensitivity (80%, 55%, 82%, and 67%, respectively) and specificity (92%, 93%, 82%, and 80%, respectively) for DPN diagnosis. Good agreement was observed between combined use of geometric parameters (CRVE, DFa and DFv) and VPT (Kappa value 0.430). The detection rate of DPN with combined use of geometric parameters of retinal vessels (64.88%) was significantly higher than that with use of VPT (47.52%). Retinal vascular geometry changes demonstrated significant correlation with DPN severity. VPT, CRVE, DFa, and DFv may provide insights for understanding DPN.

Prostaglandin E1 Protects the Peripheral Nerve in Diabetics through Preventing Vascular Permeability Changes.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of the vasodilator prostaglandin E1 on microvascular permeability, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as the structural and functional changes of the peripheral nerve in diabetic rats. METHODS: Streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into two groups and intraperitoneally received, once daily, an injection of prostaglandin E1 at 1.6 µg/kg in normal saline or the same volume of normal saline (diabetic control), respectively. Six rats were randomly selected as normal controls. RESULTS: Diabetic controls exhibited a significant increase in the tail flick threshold temperature, water content of the sciatic nerve, serum VEGF level, and VEGF level in the sciatic nerve; in addition, a decrease in the sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was observed, compared with normal rats (P<0.01). Treatment with prostaglandin E1 resulted in similar changes but at a slower rate than in those without treatment. Diabetic control rats also showed histological and ultrastructural abnormalities of the sciatic nerve, whereas prostaglandin E1-treated rats exhibited similar but less severe injury. The serum VEGF level was negatively correlated with the sciatic NCV (r=-0.932, P<0.01) and positively correlated with the tail flick threshold temperature (r=0.835, P<0.01) as well as the water content of the sciatic nerve (r=0.901, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Prostaglandin E1 could protect the peripheral nerve by improving sciatic nerve function, reducing the VEGF level, and decreasing the vascular permeability. This study provides an experimental proof that prostaglandin E1 has potential benefits in improving DPN in early stage.

Effectiveness and feasibility of nailfold microcirculation test to screen for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

AIMS: The nailfold microcirculation index (MI) is a non-invasive, objective, and highly sensitive blood capillary detection method. This study evaluated the diagnostic efficiency of the nailfold MI relative to the more subjective vibration perception threshold (VPT) examination for early diagnostic screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: From February 2015 to February 2016, 227 diabetes mellitus patients and 39 healthy individuals were enrolled. Each subject underwent the MI test and the VPT examination. RESULTS: MI was more closely associated with DPN than age, diabetic duration, smoking, drinking, systolic pressure, serum creatinine, 24-h urinary protein, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1A), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the VEGF receptors Flt-1 and Flt-4, ankle branchial index (ABI), DPN, or DPN stage (OR=11.819). Both the MI and VPT closely correlated with age, diabetic duration, serum creatinine, 24-h urinary protein, HIF1A, VEGF, Flt-1, Flt-4, ABI, DPN, and DPN stage. By the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the MI diagnostic cutoff point was 2.56, where the corresponding Youden's index was maximum and the area under ROC curve was 0.943. The diagnostic efficiency of MI and VPT were similar. MI and VPT indicated similar percentages of diabetic patients with DPN at the most severe stage, while MI achieved a higher diagnostic rate for the earliest stages. CONCLUSIONS: The nailfold MI is a feasible method for clinical early diagnostic screening of DPN in diabetic patients, and is more objective and reliable than VPT.

Biochar reduces the bioavailability of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in soil.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochars on the bioavailability of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in two soils using Brassica chinensis L. as an indicator plant. The residual concentrations of DEHP tended to be higher in the biochar-amended soils than in the control soils. They were lower (p<0.05) in the high organic carbon content soil (HOC; 2.2%C) than in the low organic carbon content soil (LOC; 0.35%C). The DEHP concentrations in plant shoots grown in the HOC soils were lower than those in the LOC soils (p<0.05). Compared to the control, the biochar addition decreased the DEHP concentrations in shoots grown in the LOC soils; whereas there was no significant difference in the HOC soils. Our results showed that soil OC content as well as biochar properties are the key factors influencing the bioavailability of DEHP in soils.