Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal by nanofiltration with and without coexisting organics.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants of great concern owing to their persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments. In this study, nanofiltration (NF) was used to investigate the removal of naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE) using three membranes of NF270, NF90, and DK. Subsequently, we examined the effects of coexisting organics on PAHs removal. Based on the results, DK was determined to be the optimal membrane for removing PAHs by comparing the membrane flux and pollutant rejection. The membrane flux reached 34.32 L/m2·h, and the NAP and PHE rejections were 92.21% and 97.85%, respectively, at transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 5 bar using DK. Coexisting organics decreased the membrane fluxes of NF270 and DK in the following order: protein > glucose > humic acid. The NAP and PHE rejections were obviously improved using NF270 in the following order: humic acid > protein > glucose. The PHE rejection was slightly improved using DK. A low concentration of organics could reduce the NAP rejection using DK; however, the NAP rejection could be restored at high concentrations of organics, except for humic acid. Coexisting organics could cause severe membrane fouling. The order of the effect of different coexisting organics on membrane fouling was protein > humic acid > glucose. The total investment and operating costs were about 1.47 and 0.187 million dollars, respectively, for treating PAHs solution using DK when the feed flow was 300 m3/d.

[Distribution of non-bacterial pathogens in 1 788 children with community-acquired pneumonia]. / 1 788ä¾‹ç¤¾åŒºèŽ·å¾—æ€§è‚ºç‚Žéžç»†èŒæ€§ç— åŽŸä½“åˆ†å¸ƒç‰¹å¾åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution characteristics of non-bacterial pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. METHODS: A total of 1 788 CAP children admitted to Shenyang Children's Hospital from December 2021 to November 2022 were selected. Multiple RT-PCR and capillary electrophoresis were used to detect 10 viral pathogens and 2 atypical pathogens, and serum antibodies of Chlamydial pneumoniae (Ch) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) were detected. The distribution characteristics of different pathogens were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 1 788 CAP children, 1 295 children were pathogen-positive, with a positive rate of 72.43% (1 295/1 788), including a viral pathogen positive rate of 59.68% (1 067/1 788) and an atypical pathogen positive rate of 22.04% (394/1 788). The positive rates from high to low were MP, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza B virus (IVB), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), influenza A virus (IVA), bocavirus (BoV), human adenovirus (HADV), Ch, and human coronavirus (HCOV). RSV and MP were the main pathogens in spring; MP had the highest positive rate in summer, followed by IVA; HMPV had the highest positive rate in autumn; IVB and RSV were the main pathogens in winter. The positive rate of MP in girls was higher than that in boys (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in other pathogens between genders (P>0.05). The positivity rates of certain pathogens differed among age groups (P<0.05): the positivity rate of MP was highest in the >6 year-old group; the positivity rates of RSV and Ch were highest in the <1 year-old group; the positivity rates of HPIV and IVB were highest in the 1 to <3 year-old group. RSV, MP, HRV, and HMPV were the main pathogens in children with severe pneumonia, while MP was the primary pathogen in children with lobar pneumonia, and MP, IVB, HMPV, RSV, and HRV were the top 5 pathogens in acute bronchopneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: MP, RSV, IVB, HMPV, and HRV are the main pathogens of CAP in children, and there are certain differences in the positive rates of respiratory pathogens among children of different ages, genders, and seasons.

Health Literacy Among University Students in Shaanxi Province of China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: An adequate level of health literacy will help university students to better respond to public health emergencies and reduce unintended harm caused by public health events. The objective of this study was to assess the health literacy levels of students from Universities of Shaanxi province of China, in order to provide a basis for the development of health literacy promotion plan for university students. Methods: An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted at five universities in Shaanxi Province of China on the Wen-Juan-Xing online platform. A purposive sampling method was used to 1578 students via self-administered questionnaire. Comparisons of means were made using the t-test and ANOVA, and comparisons of ratios or composition ratios were made using the χ2 test. Results: The mean score for health literacy was (105.33±10.14) out of 135, and the mean scores for the three dimensions of health knowledge, attitudes and practices were (36.093±4.192), (34.178±4.227) and (35.059±4.515) respectively. Of the total sample, 39.2% were classified as sufficient in health literacy. Female students had higher health literacy level than male students (t=4.064, p=0.044), lower grade students scored higher than higher grade (F=3.194, p=0.013), students from urban cities scored higher than those who came from rural areas (t=16.376, p<0.001), and university students with health education experience scored higher than those without (t=24.389, p<0.001). Conclusion: University students' health literacy is closely related to their gender, grades, family location and health education experience.

[Effect of electroacupuncture pretreatment on hippocampal oxidative stress in aged mice with postoperative cognitive dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on hippocampal oxidative stress in aged mice with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and explore the relevant mechanism of EA pretreatment on the improvement of learning and memory in POCD aged mice. METHODS: A total of 72 healthy male aged mice were randomized into a blank group, a model group, a medication group and an EA group, 18 mice in each one. In each group, 1-day, 3-day and 7-day subgroups were divided separately, 6 mice in each subgroup. In the EA group, "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) were selected and stimulated with EA, using continuous wave (15 Hz, 1 mA), continuously for 30 min, once a day, for 5 days consecutively. In the medication group, 10% minocycline was injected intraperitoneally, 40 mg/kg, once a day, consecutively for 5 days. In the blank and the control group, intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was given with equal dosage. Except the blank group, at the end of intervention, partial hepatectomy was conducted to establish POCD model in the rest groups. Morris water maze test was adopted to evaluate the learning and memory ability of the aged mice. ELISA was used to determine the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hippocampal tissue. Western blot method was applied to detect the protein expressions of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD 1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD 2) in the hippocampal tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the percentage of platform quadrant residence time was obviously reduced in the mice in the model group (P<0.01), and those in the medication group and the EA group were larger than the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the contents of ROS were reduced in each subgroup of the medication group and the 3-day subgroup and the 7-day subgroup of the EA group separately (P<0.01, P<0.05), MDA contents were reduced in the medication group and the EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05), the protein expressions of SOD 1 and SOD 2 were all increased in each subgroup of the medication group and the 3-day subgroup and the 7-day subgroup of the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the contents of ROS and MDA in the 1-day subgroup of the EA group were increased (P<0.05), the hippocampal SOD 1 protein expression was increased in the 7-day group of the EA group (P<0.05) and the hippocampal SOD 2 protein expression was reduced in the 1-day subgroup of the EA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture pretreatment at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) may increase the learning and memory ability of POCD aged mice, which is probably related to the decrease of oxidative stress and the strengthening of hippocampal antioxidant capacity.

Small-pore CAU-21 and porous PIM-1 in mixed-matrix membranes for improving selectivity and permeability in hydrogen separation.

Here, we report the fabrication of mixed-matrix membranes based on CAU-21 as the filler and PIM-1 as the matrix. The filler of the CAU-21 MOF with a crystallite size in the nanoscale and high uniformity was synthesized by a microwave-assisted approach. This small-pore CAU-21 was blended with a highly porous PIM-1 matrix to yield mixed-matrix membranes. The prepared membranes were applied for separating hydrogen from nitrogen and the results revealed very high selectivity of 127 for H2 over N2 and memorable H2 permeability of 7199 Barrer.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on postoperative cognitive dysfunction and Angâ ¡/AT1R in the hippocampus in aging rats induced by D-galactose].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and AngⅡ/AT1R in the hippocampus in D-galactose-induced aging rats which received hepalobectomy, and to explore the possible mechanism of EA on POCD. METHODS: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a young control group (10 rats), a D-Galactose-induced aged (Da) group (10 rats), a Da+hepatolobectomy group (30 rats) and an EA group (30 rats). The rats in the Da+hepatolobectomy group and EA group were further randomly divided into a 1 d subgroup, 3 d subgroup and a 7 d subgroup, 10 rats in each subgroup. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) with continuous wave (15 Hz in frequency and 1 mA in intensity), and rats in each subgroup were treated for 1 d, 3 d and 7 d, respectively. The rats in the remaining groups were treated with immobilization, once a day. The Y-maze was used to observe the behavior change of rats, and ELISA was applied to measure the level of hippocampal AngⅡ, and RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry method were performed to detect AT1R mRNA expressions and AT1R positive expression in the hippocampus. RESULTS: The number of rat initiative avoidance in the Da group was significantly less than that in the young control group (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression and positive percentage of AT1R in the hippocampus in the Da group were significantly higher than those in the young control group (both P<0.01). Compared with the Da group, the number of rat initiative avoidance in each subgroup of Da+hepatolobectomy group and EA group were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), and the expression of AngⅡ, AT1R mRNA and AT1R positive cells percentage in the hippocampus were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The number of rat initiative avoidance in each subgroup of EA group was higher than that in the subgroup of Da+hepatolobectomy group (P<0.05, P<0.01); and the expression of AngⅡ, AT1R mRNA, and AT1R positive percentage in the EA group were significantly less than that in the Da+hepatolobectomy group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) could improve POCD in D-galactose-induced aging rats which received hepalobectomy, and it is likely to be related with the inhibition of AngⅡ, AT1R positive expression and AT1R mRNA in the hippocampus.

Electroacupuncture Alleviates Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged Rats by Inhibiting Hippocampal Neuroinflammation Activated via Microglia/TLRs Pathway.

Neuroinflammation has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Electroacupuncture (EA) is an irreplaceable method in traditional Chinese medicine that is used for treating neurodegenerative diseases in clinical and experimental studies. The aim of this study was to examine whether EA improves cognitive dysfunction caused by surgery and to investigate the pathological mechanism of TLR2 and TLR4 in the hippocampus of aged rats. A rat model of POCD was established and treated with EA or minocycline. Both EA- and minocycline-treated rats performed significantly better than untreated operated rats in spatial memory tasks of the Morris water maze (MWM) test, spending comparatively greater amounts of time in the target zone during the probe test. Additionally, decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1) and decreased TLR2 and TLR4 protein expression in the hippocampus of EA- and minocycline-treated rats were detected. Our data suggested that EA treatment alleviated the cognition performance deficit and neuroinflammation in aged rats following surgery, which may be mediated by inhibiting the expression of hippocampal neuroinflammatory cytokines through the microglia/TLR2/4 pathway.

Electroacupuncture Improves Cognitive Deficits through Increasing Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Alleviating Inflammation in CCI Rats.

Objective. To investigate the effect of EA on regional cerebral blood flow, cognitive deficits, inflammation, and its probable mechanisms in chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) rats. Methods. Rats were assigned randomly into sham operation group (sham group) and operation group. For operation group, CCI model was performed using the permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) method, and then rats were further randomly divided into model group and electroacupuncture (EA) group. 2/15 Hz low-frequency pulse electric intervention was applied at "Baihui" and "Dazhui" acupoints in EA group. Four weeks later, Morris water maze test was adopted to assess the cognitive function, using laser Doppler flowmetry to test changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF); double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) to measure proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß); western blot to test the protein expression quantities of proinflammatory cytokines, JAK2, and STAT3; and RT-PCR to test JAK2 mRNA and STAT3 mRNA in the hippocampus in each group. Results. Compared with the model group, learning and memory abilities and rCBF and IL-6 expression of the EA group enhanced markedly; IL-1ß and JAK2 significantly decreased; TNF-α and STAT3 also declined, but the difference was not apparent. Conclusion. Our research suggests that EA can improve cognitive deficits which may be induced by increasing rCBF and anti-inflammatory effect.

Topical treatment with Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste alleviates bone cancer pain by inhibiting proteinase-activated receptor 2 signaling pathway.

Herbal analgesic Xiaozheng Zhitong Paste (XZP) and related modifications are often used in traditional Chinese medicine to manage cancer pain. However, its underlying mechanism remains unknown. To investigate the effects and mechanism of XZP on bone cancer pain in a rat model of breast cancer-induced bone pain, a bone cancer pain model was established by inoculating Walker 256 cells into Wistar rats. Bone cancer-bearing rats were topically treated with different doses of XZP or injected with 5 mg/kg of osteoprotegerin (OPG) as positive control. Bone destruction, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were analyzed by radiology. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were examined to determine pain levels. Trypsin, TNF-α and IL-1ß serum levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Central sensitization markers such as c-Fos, GFAP, IBA1 and CGRP, as well as proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) signaling pathway mediators such as PAR2, PKC-γ, PKA and TRPV1, were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting assay. XZP treatment significantly mitigated bone cancer-related nociceptive behavior, bone damage, BMC and BMD; and decreased radiological scores in rats. XZP treatment significantly inhibited IBA1, GFAP, c-Fos and CGRP expressions in the spinal cord; and significantly mitigated trypsin, TNF-α and IL-1ß serum levels. Furthermore, PAR2, PKC-γ, PKA and TRPV1 relative mRNA levels and protein expression in bone lesions were significantly reduced in rats treated with XZP. XZP significantly alleviates breast cancer-induced bone pain by inhibiting the PAR2 signaling pathway.