Pretreatment with the ALDH2 agonist Alda-1 reduces intestinal injury induced by ischaemia and reperfusion in mice.

Many studies demonstrate that activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) protects against oxidative stress via detoxification of cytotoxic aldehydes, and could attenuate cardiac, cerebral, lung and renal ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries. However, the effect of ALDH2 in intestinal I/R is unknown. The present study was set up to determine whether an ALDH2 agonist, Alda-1, could alleviate intestinal injury after gut I/R. In a mouse model of intestinal I/R injury, histological grading, proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, chemokine contents, ALDH2 activity, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated. The results indicated that I/R treatment conferred elevation in pathological scores, proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis and chemokine levels, accompanied by accumulated 4-HNE and MDA. No significant changes in ALDH2 activity were observed after I/R. However, Alda-1 pretreatment significantly decreased these injurious indicators, concomitant with up-regulated ALDH2 activity, and lessened 4-HNE and MDA accumulation. Taken together, our results implicate activation of ALDH2 by Alda-1 in the significant abatement intestinal I/R injury.

Determination of water environment standards based on water quality criteria in China: Limitations and feasibilities.

There is a need to formulate water environment standards (WESs) from the current water quality criteria (WQC) in China. To this end, we briefly summarize typical mechanisms applied in several countries with longer histories of developing WESs, and three limitations to formulating WESs in China were identified. After analyzing the feasibility factors including economic development, scientific support capability and environmental policies, we realized that China is still not ready for a complete change from its current nation-wide unified WES system to a local-standard-based system. Thus, we proposed a framework for transformation from WQC to WESs in China. The framework consists of three parts, including responsibilities, processes and policies. The responsibilities include research authorization, development of guidelines, and collection of information, at both national and local levels; the processes include four steps and an impact factor system to establish water quality standards; and the policies include seven specific proposals.

[Effect of Intestinal Ischemia-reperfusion Injury on the Expression of Chemerin in Mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion on the protein expression of chemerin in C57BL/6J mice. METHODS: A total of 16 mice (C57BL/6J, specific pathogen free level) were randomly assigned into two groups (n=8 each): the intestinal ischemia-reperfusion group and the sham group. The intestinal ischemia-reperfusion state was achieved by blocking the super-mesenteric artery. After 60 minutes of ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion,we determined the protein level of chemerin in various organs and tissues by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. The sham group underwent the same operation process except for the blocking of the super-mesenteric artery. RESULT: The protein level of chemerin was significantly elevated in distinctive organs and tissues in the state of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The intestinal ischemia-reperfusion can remarkably increase the protein expression of chemerin in some organs and tissues.

[The role of high mobility group box 1 in the signaling pathways of mouse intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the signaling pathway of mouse intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Twenty-four Specific Pathogen free male C57BL / 6 mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8) : the sham operation group (sham), the control group(control) and the HMGB1 antibody group (anti-HMGB1). The vehicle alone or anti-HMGB1 antibody(1 mg/kg, 0. 025%) was injected respectively via the caudal vein 30 min prior to ischemia in the control group or the anti-HMGB1 group. All mice were anesthetized,opened abdominal wall and exposed arteria mesenterica superior. The control group and the anti-HMGBl group underwent 60 min of mesenteric ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion and the sham group were merely opened abdominal wall for 120 min without ischemia-reperfusion. The levels of NF-κB p65, IL-6 and TNF-α in plasma and the activity of MPO in lung and liver and the morphological changes of lung and intestinal tissue were measured. The mRNA levels of HMGB1 and NF-κB were evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR and the protein levels of HMGB1 and NF-KB were evaluated using Western blot. The experimental data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB p65 in plasma was significantly higher in the control group and the anti-HMGB1 group compared with the sham group (the sham group vs. the control group vs. the anti-HMGB1 group, NF-κB p65, 104. 64 ± 11. 89: 228. 53 ± 24. 85: 145. 00 ± 33. 63, F = 38. 036, P <0. 05; IL-6,50. 02 ± 6. 33:104. 91 ± 31. 18:62. 28 ± 6. 73, F = 49. 763, P < 0. 05; TNF-α, 43. 79 ± 4. 18: 70. 81 ± 6. 97: 52. 76 ± 5. 71, F = 34. 571, P < 0. 05). The increasing degree in the anti- HMGB1 group was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P <0. 05). The activity of MPO of liver and lung in the control group and the anti-HMGB1 group was significantly higher than those in the sham group (P <0. 05). Compared with the sham group, the degree of tissue injury in jejunum, ileum and lung was serious in the control group, and that in the anti-HMGB1 group was significantly lower than the control group. The expression of HMGB1 mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in the lung and the ileum in the sham group and the control group were all higher than the sham group (HMGB1 mRNA in lung: sham group 1. 04 ± 0. 19 vs. control group 2. 25 ± 0. 18 vs. anti-HMGB1 group 1. 89 0. 18, F = 66. 203, P < 0. 05; in ileum: 1. 14 ± 0. 54 vs. 6. 26 ± 0. 60 vs. 4. 93 0. 55, F = 133. 427, P < 0. 05; NF-κB mRNA in lung: 1. 03 ± 0. 21 vs. 2. 04 ± 0. 29 vs. 1. 42 ± 0. 23, F =26. 229, P < 0. 05; ileum: 1. 03 ± 0. 23 vs. 3. 71 ± 0. 53 vs. 2. 23 ± 0. 55, F = 50. 477, P <0. 05). Subjected to intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, the protein expression of HMGB1 and NF-κB in the lung, jejunum and ileum in the control group and the anti-HMGB1 group increased compared with the sham group(P <0. 05), but that was significantly lower in the anti-HMGB1 group than the control group (P <0. 05). CONCLUSION: The administration of anti-HMGB1 antibodies may reduce the damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion effectively.

Environmental pollution liability insurance in China: in need of strong government backing.

Environmental pollution liability insurance was officially introduced in China only in 2006, as part of new market-based approaches for managing environmental risks. By 2012, trial applications of pollution insurance had been launched in 14 provinces and cities. More than ten insurance companies have entered the pollution insurance market with their own products and contracts. Companies in environmentally sensitive sectors and high-risk industries bought pollution insurance, and a few successful compensation cases have been reported. Still, pollution insurance faces a number of challenges in China. The absence of a national law weakens the legal basis of pollution insurance, and poor technical support stagnates further implementation. Moreover, current pollution insurance products have limited risk coverage, high premium rates, and low loss ratios, which make them fairly unattractive to polluters. Meanwhile, low awareness of environmental and social liabilities leads to limited demand for pollution insurance products by industrial companies. Hence, the pollution insurance market is not yet flourishing in China. To improve this situation, this economic instrument needs stronger backing by the Chinese state.

Factors influencing polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions and control in major industrial sectors: case evidence from Shandong Province, China.

Analyzing determinants that influence polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions is helpful for decision-makers to find effective and efficient ways to mitigate PCDD/F emissions. The PCDD/F emissions and the contributions of the scale effect, structure effect and technology effect to emissions from eight main industrial sectors in 2006, 2008 and 2010 in Shandong Province, were calculated in this article. Total PCDD/F emissions in Shandong increased by 52.8% in 2008 (614.1g I-TEQ) and 49.7% in 2010 (601.8 g I-TEQ) based on 2006 (401.9 g I-TEQ). According to the decomposition method, the largest influencing factor on PCDD/F emission changes was the composition effect (contributed 43.4% in 2008 and 120.6% in 2010 based on 2006), which was also an emission-increasing factor. In this case, the present industrial restructuring policy should be adjusted to control the proportion of production capacities with high emission factors, such as iron ore sintering and steel making and the secondary non-ferrous metal sector. The scale effect increased the emissions in 2008 (contributed 21.9%) and decreased the emissions in 2010 (contributed -28.0%). However, as a source control measure, the excess capacity control policy indeed had a significant role in emission reduction. The main reason for the technology effect (contributed 34.7% in 2008 and 7.4% in 2010 based on 2006) having an emission-increasing role was the weakness in implementing policies for restricting industries with outdated facilities. Some specific suggestions were proposed on PCDD/F reduction for local administrators at the end.

Carbon flow through continental-scale ground logistics transportation.

The flourishing logistics in both developed and emerging economies leads to huge greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; however, the emission fluxes are poorly constrained. Here, we constructed a spatial network of logistic GHG emissions based on multisource big data at continental scale. GHG emissions related to logistics transportation reached 112.14 Mt CO2-equivalents (CO2e), with seven major urban agglomerations contributing 63% of the total emissions. Regions with short transport distances and well-developed road infrastructure had relatively high emission efficiency. Underlying value flow of the commodities is accompanied by logistics carbon flow along the supply chain. The main driving factors affecting GHG emissions are driving speed and gross domestic product. It may mitigate GHG emissions by 27.50-1162.75 Mt CO2e in 15 years if a variety of energy combinations or the appropriate driving speed (65-70 km/h) is adopted. The estimations are of great significance to make integrated management policies for the global logistics sector.

The effects of n-3 PUFA and intestinal lymph drainage on high-mobility group box 1 and Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA in rats with intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impacts of n-3 PUFA and lymph drainage (D) on intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. A total of forty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n 16): normal diet (N), enteral nutrition (EN) and EN plus n-3 PUFA. Each group was further divided into lymph drainage (I/R+D) and non-drainage (I/R) sub-groups (n 8). After 5 d with different nutrition regimens, the rats were subjected to 60 min ischaemia by clamping the superior mesenteric artery, followed by 120 min reperfusion. At the same time, the rats in the I/R+D sub-groups were treated with intestinal lymph drainage for 180 min. Organs were harvested and we detected the cytokine, endotoxin, and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mRNA and its endogenous ligand high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). We found that the serum levels of HMGB1, inflammatory cytokine and endotoxin in the three I/R+D sub-groups were significantly lower than those in the N (I/R) and EN (I/R) sub-groups (P < 0·05). The activation of NF-κB and the expression of HMGB1 and TLR4 mRNA significantly increased in the jejunum, ileum, liver and lung after intestinal I/R injury, but notably lower in the I/R+D groups than those in I/R (P < 0·05). The injury degree and HMGB1 expression were decreased in the n-3 PUFA group than in the N and EN groups. We preliminarily concluded that nutrition with n-3 PUFA and/or intestinal lymph drainage may reduce HMGB1 and inflammatory cytokine in serum and lymph and inhibit the expression and signal transmission of TLR4 mRNA, thereby alleviating intestinal I/R injury in rats.

[Estimating Methane Fugitive Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Systems in China].

To achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality objectives, China is committed to promoting a decarbonized energy transition, which has strengthened the shift from coal to oil and gas resources. As a result, methane (CH4) fugitive emissions from China's oil and gas systems are of increasing concern. Fugitive emissions include equipment leaks, venting, and flaring and involve exploration, production, transportation, storage, and distribution of oil and gas resources. However, there is no uniform accounting method for methane fugitive emissions from oil and gas systems, and fugitive emissions have not been included in the national greenhouse gas inventory statistics. Using the relevant methods, methane fugitive emissions from China's oil and gas systems were estimated for the period from 1980-2020. The results showed that CH4 fugitive emissions from oil and gas systems increased rapidly with the growth of production and consumption of oil and gas resources, from less than 0.6 million tons in 1980 to more than 2.6 million tons in 2020. CH4 fugitive emissions from oil and gas systems reached approximately 0.6 million tons and 2.0 million tons, which were 1.38 and 16.6 times larger than those in 1980, respectively. Fugitive emissions from oil and gas systems originated primarily from gas production, oil production, gas transportation, and storage, accounting for 41%, 20%, 18%, and 13% of total emissions, respectively. Gas pipelines were the main fugitive facilities. The emission intensity of unconventional oil and gas resource exploration was higher compared to conventional resource exploration. This study improved the CH4 fugitive emission inventory, which could provide solid scientific data for CH4 reduction.

[Effects of lymphatic drainage and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of lymphatic drainage and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3PUFA) on high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin in rats with intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into drainage-alone group, I/R group, ischemia-reperfusion plus drainage (I/R + D) group (n = 8 each) and 3 groups with 16 rats undergoing gastrostomy in each group: normal diet (N) group, enteral nutrition (EN) group and enteral nutrition & omega-3PUFA (PUFA) group. And they were further divided into 2 subgroups (n = 8). The rats in I/R and I/R + D groups were subjected to a 60-min ischemia follow by 120-min reperfusion injury of superior mesenteric artery. When the rats suffered I/R injury, intestinal lymph was drained for 180 min in the I/R + D group. The rats in the drainage-alone group received 180-min lymph drainage without I/R injury. After 5 days with different nutrition regimes, the models were established similarly. The rats in the I/R + D sub-groups were treated with intestinal lymph drainage for 180 min. The serum and lymph samples were collected post-operatively. Endotoxin was detected by a Limulus kit. The inflammatory cytokines and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Endotoxin, inflammatory cytokines and lymphatic HMGB1 of lymphatic in the I/R + D group were higher than those in the drainage-alone group [all P < 0.05, IL-6: (30 +/- 8) pg/ml vs (20 +/- 6) pg/ml, endotoxin: (0.029 +/- 0.011) U/ml vs (0.008 +/- 0.005) U/ml]. The serum levels of endotoxin and inflammatory cytokines in the I/R + D group were lower than those in the I/R group (P < 0.05). The lymphatic levels of TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and HMGB1 in the N and EN groups were higher than those in the PUFA group[ TNF-alpha: (46 +/- 17) pg/ml, (54 +/- 16) pg/ml vs (28 +/- 9) pg/ml, HMGB1: (4.8 +/- 1.6) ng/ml, (5.3 +/- 1.8) ng/ml, (3.0 +/- 1.0) ng/ml, all P < 0.05)]. The serum levels of endotoxin, inflammatory cytokines and HMGB1 in the PUFA (I/R) group were lower than those in the N (I/R) group (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha and HMGB1 were lower in the PUFA (I/R + D) group than those in the N (I/R + D) group (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lymphatic drainage may reduce the levels of endotoxin, inflammatory cytokines and HMGB1 so as to alleviate the intestinal I/R injury. The intervention of omega-3PUFA has some protective effect through relieving inflammation.

[The sheltering effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lymphatic drainage on distant organs after intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sheltering effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3PUFA) and lymphatic drainage on distant organs in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (SPF grade) were randomly divided into 3 groups (16 rats in each group): normal diet group (N), enteral nutrition group (EN), enteral nutrition and ω-3PUFA group(PUFA group). Each group was divided into lymphatic drainage (I/R + D) group and no-drainage (I/R) group (n = 8). Each rats received gastrostomy. After given different nutrition for five days, the rats subjected to 60 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion injury of the superior mesenteric artery. When the rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury, drained intestinal lymph for 180 min in the I/R + D group. The serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and level of myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide (NO), total of nitric oxide synthase (tNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) of lung were detected. The organ injury of lung and liver and the expression of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1, the endogenous ligand of TLR4) in these organs were investigated too. RESULTS: The serum level of ALT in PUFA I/R + D and I/R group and EN I/R + D group were significantly lower than that in normal diet I/R group: (46 ± 20), (53 ± 15), (46 ± 21) and (100 ± 60) U/L (P < 0.05), respectively. The level of MPO, NO, tNOS, iNOS in lung in the I/R + D group were significantly lower than those in I/R group (P < 0.05): MPO (0.73 ± 0.15):(0.85 ± 0.10) unit/grams wet slice; NO (0.72 ± 0.51):(1.79 ± 1.32) µmol/gprot; tNOS (0.46 ± 0.15):(0.78 ± 0.27) U/mgprot; iNOS (0.06 ± 0.04):(0.11 ± 0.07) U/mgprot, respectively. The level of tNOS in PUFA I/R group was significantly lower than that in normal diet I/R group: (0.56 ± 0.13):(0.78 ± 0.27) U/mgprot (P < 0.05). MPO, NO, INOS levels in PUFA group were reduced compared with those in EN and normal diet group. HE stained sections and HMGB1 immunohistochemistry results showed that the organ injury in I/R group was severer than that in I/R + D group. The expression of HMGB1 increased in I/R group. The organ injury and the expression of HMGB1 in PUFA group were less than that in the other two main groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic drainage can alleviate injury of distant organs after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in rats. ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can increase body resistance to injury and promote recovery.

An implementation assessment of China's Environmental Information Disclosure Decree.

China's 2007 Open Government Information Regulations is widely considered as a milestone in the country's information policy history and is praised as a "sunshine program". The Environmental Information Disclosure Decree was the first to operationalize these general regulations into a sectoral information disclosure system on environment. This study assessed the implementation of the environmental information disclosure system about six months after the Decree took effect on May 1, 2008. Through reviewing the websites of all 31 provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, conducting an experiment with actual information disclosure request, and through interviews with all provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus, this article concluded that the implementation of the environmental information disclosure system still falls short. Future improvements should focus on further publicity of the regulations and decree to enhance public participation, the establishment of an independent evaluation and supervision system for information disclosure, the exchange of experiences and best practices among provincial Environmental Protection Bureaus, and on strengthening the legal status of environmental information disclosure.

[Integrated Chinese and Western medicine and clinical nutrition].

Nutritional support, an important measure for critical patients subject to monitoring, is widely used in clinical practice now. Nutrients have been used early in the Chinese medicine therapy. A number of Chinese medicine prescriptions show nutritional improvement and immune function enhancing effects on critical and/or postoperative patients, and some Chinese herbs are nutrient substances. Although the theoretical bases of Chinese medicine and Western medicine are different, they could work together in the clinical nutritional treatment to form a therapeutic measure with Chinese characteristics, which could promote the heritage and development of Chinese medicine. A discussion regarding the relationship between Chinese medicine drug-therapy, acupuncture and nutrition was also given.

Environmental impact assessment and environmental audit in large-scale public infrastructure construction: the case of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Large-scale public infrastructure projects have featured in China's modernization course since the early 1980s. During the early stages of China's rapid economic development, public attention focused on the economic and social impact of high-profile construction projects. In recent years, however, we have seen a shift in public concern toward the environmental and ecological effects of such projects, and today governments are required to provide valid environmental impact assessments prior to allowing large-scale construction. The official requirement for the monitoring of environmental conditions has led to an increased number of debates in recent years regarding the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Governmental Environmental Audits (GEAs) as environmental safeguards in instances of large-scale construction. Although EIA and GEA are conducted by different institutions and have different goals and enforcement potential, these two practices can be closely related in terms of methodology. This article cites the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as an instance in which EIA and GEA offer complementary approaches to environmental impact management. This study concludes that the GEA approach can serve as an effective follow-up to the EIA and establishes that the EIA lays a base for conducting future GEAs. The relationship that emerges through a study of the Railway's construction calls for more deliberate institutional arrangements and cooperation if the two practices are to be used in concert to optimal effect.

Rural households' attitude and economic strategies toward the conversion of cropland to forest and grassland program (CCFG): a case study in Qira, China.

The Conversion of Cropland to Forest and Grassland Program (CCFG), which was initiated by the Chinese government in 1999, is a cropland retirement program with integrated objectives for ecological preservation and local development. The purpose of this article was to study the influencing factors of attitude and economic strategies in rural households toward the CCFG. Rural households' knowledge, attitude and economic strategies toward the CCFG were investigated through a questionnaire survey in Qira, China. Influencing factors of attitude and strategies of households were analyzed using a logit model technique. The analysis indicated that household's income level, environmental knowledge of the program, and program implementation were significant influencing factors in a household's attitude toward the CCFG, while major influencing factors of household strategies were their regional background and availability of income generation sources. Meaningful association was not found between attitude and strategy choices. Rich households had more strategy choices, while poor households were usually confined to low input strategies with uncertain income. To sustain their livelihood, the poor need extra assistances in marketing, loan granting, employment training, information, and technical services.

[Method for drainage of lymph fluid and determining the change of active materials in lymph fluid after rat ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To set up a method for the drainage of lymph fluid and explore the change of active materials in lymph fluid and serum after rat ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: The method of the drainage of lymph fluid was well established. Sixteen healthy male rats of SPF grade were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups: intestinal ischemia-reperfusion + drainage group (I/R + drainage group) and drainage group. All the rats were subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 60 minutes, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. We compared the change of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein, endotoxin tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL) -1 beta, IL-6, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (sICAM-1) by draining lymph fluid and collecting serum in 2 groups. RESULTS: The drainage of lymph fluid was successfully performed. The HMGB1, endotoxin, and cytokines in serum and lymph fluid were significantly higher in ischemia-reperfusion group than in drainage group (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: The method for drainage of lymph fluid is simple and feasible. Endotoxin, HMGB1, and some cytokines in serum and lymph fluid may mediate the ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The effect of different treatments of lymph after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in rats on macrophages in vitro.

BACKGROUND: To observe the effects of different treatments of lymph after intestinal I/R in rats on macrophages in vitro. METHODS: Forty-eight healthy SPF SD rats weighing 300 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into two groups: group A, and group B. The rats in group A were drained of lymph fluid for 180 min; the rats in group B were subjected to 60 min ischemia by clamping the SMA, followed by 120 min reperfusion and 180 min of lymph drainage. The lymph fluid collected was divided into 4 sub-groups: 1. no treatment (A1, Ly, and B1, I/R Ly); 2. protein degradation (A2, Ly PD, and B2 I/R PD); 3. endotoxin removal (A3, Ly ER, and B3, I/R ER); 4. protein degradation plus endotoxin removal (A4, Ly PD+ER, and B4, I/R PD+ER), then used to stimulate a monocyte-macrophage cell line. RESULTS: Compared with group A1, the levels of the inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, HMGB1 concentration, protein and mRNA expression of TLR4, HMGB1 and NF-κBp65 were significantly increased in group B1. There was a significant reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and of the expression of TLR4, NF-κBp65, and chemokines in groups A2, B2, A4, and B4. However, there were no significant decrease of these factors in groups A3 and B3. CONCLUSIONS: The lymph fluid drained after intestinal I/R can cause inflammation in vivo and in vitro. Deproteinization of lymph fluid with proteinase K significantly reduced the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, TLR4 and NF-κBp65 in cell culture supernatant, exerting a protective effect on inflammatory reaction caused by the intestinal I/R. Passage of lymph fluid through an endotoxin removal column did not reduce the levels of active proinflammatory factors produced by macrophages in vitro.

[Analysis of maltose clearance in plasma and urine of healthy volunteers with high-performance liquid chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the maltose clearance in plasma and urine of healthy volunteers with high-performance liquid chromatography. METHODS: Maltose solution was infused to 12 healthy volunteers during a 4-hour period at an infusion rate of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 g/(kg x h), Plasma and urine specimens were collected at different time points before and after infusion, and then analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation of the precision and accuracy of the analysis method ranged 3.68%-4.58% and 0.44%-4.83% for plasma, respectively, and 2.91%-7.62% and 0.95%-8.27% for urine, respectively. The plasma maltose concentration increased in a dose-dependent manner (r > 0.99). The plasma maltose concentrations returned to the baseline levels 12 hours later. Two hours after injection, the urinary excretion of maltose increased, reached the peak value within 2-4 hours, began to decrease 6 hours later, and became zero 24 hours later. CONCLUSIONS: An infusion rate of 0.2-0.5 g/(kg x h) of maltose will not remarkably increase the blood glucose level in healthy people. The routine infusion rate should below 0.3 g/(kg x h), unless an emergency exists.

[Noninvasive quantification of glutamine and glutamate in skeletal muscles of perioperative rabbits with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive quantification of the metabolic changes of glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu) in the skeletal muscles caused by abdominal surgery with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: Abdominal surgery were performed on 15 healthy Zelanian rabbits. MRS data, blood specimens, and muscular tissues were obtained on the day before surgery and the second day after surgery. MRS data included peak amplitude and peak area of Gln + Glu (Glx) and total creatine (TCr). The reproducibility of peak amplitude with peak area was compared and the better one was chosen to calculate the ratio of Glx to TCr. Free Gln and Glu concentrations in serum and muscles were analyzed by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results of MRS were compared with those of RP-HPLC to evaluate the feasibility of MRS application in Gln and Glu metabolism. RESULTS: Peak amplitude had better reproducibility than peak area under our conditions. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the ratio of the amplitude of Glx to TCr was (15.62 +/- 9.87)%. The ratio of the amplitude of Glx to TCr significantly decreased on the second day after surgery (P <0.05, P <0.01). The mean free Glx concentrations in both the serum and the muscles different were not significant between on the second day after surgery and on the day before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The results of MRS application in reflecting the effects of surgical trauma on muscular Glx metabolism are consistent with those of RP-HPLC. It is feasible to apply MRS in the study of muscular Gln and Glu metabolism.

Public perception and attitude towards chemical industry park in Dalian, Bohai Rim.

Recent decade has witnessed accelerating expansion of chemical industry and increasing conflicts between the local citizens, governmental authorities and project developers, especially in some coastal and port cities in China. Development and transformation of chemical industrial parks has been adopted as a national initiative recently. However, there is a paucity of research examining public perspectives on chemical industrial parks and their risks. Aiming to understand public perception, attitude, and response and the factors underlying the support/acceptance of chemical industry park, this paper investigated 418 residents neighboring to two chemical industrial parks, Dalian in Bohai Rim through face-to-face questionnaire survey. The results showed the knowledge of the respondents on the chemical industrial parks development was very limited. The respondents had complex perceptions on the environmental impacts, risks control, social-economic benefits, and problem awareness. The current levels of information disclosure and public participation were very low. The central governmental official (44.3%) was the most trustworthy group by the respondents. Only 5.5% and 23.2% of the respondents supported the construction of a new CIP nearby and far away their homes, whilst 13% thought new CIP project as acceptable. The spearman correlation analysis results showed a strong NIMBY effect (Not In My Backyard). Factor analysis results demonstrated five latent factors: knowledge, benefit, information, trust, and participation. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated how socio-demographic differences and five latent factors might impact on the support/acceptance of the chemical industrial parks. Education level, trust, information, and participation were significant predictors of public support/acceptance level. This study contributes to our limited knowledge and understanding of public sentiments to the chemical industry parks in China.