OBJECTIVETo investigate the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution by waste fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger, originated from citric acid fermentation industry.

METHODSBatch adsorption test was used to study the biosorption equilibrium and isotherm. The Cd2+ concentration was measured with atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS) HITACHI 180-80.

RESULTSThe biosorption achieved equilibrium within 30 min. The adsorption isotherm could be described by Freundlich adsorption model, and the constants K(F) and 1/n were determined to be 2.07 and 0.18, respectively, and the correlation efficiency was 0.97. The optimal pH for Cd adsorption was 6.0. The cadmium-laden biomass could be effectively regenerated using 0.1 N HCl.

CONCLUSIONThe waste biomass of Aspergillus niger, a by-product of fermentation industry, is a potential biosorbent for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution.

Adsorption ; Aspergillus niger ; Biomass ; Cadmium ; isolation & purification ; Citric Acid ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Industrial Waste ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; isolation & purification ; Water Purification ; methods

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.

This paper aimed to study phenylpropanoids of Tripterygium hypoglaucum. Twenty-four compounds were isolated from the 70% EtOH extracts of T. hypoglaucum by silica gel column chromatography, reversed phase column chromatography, gel column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Compounds 1-3 were three new phenylpropionds. Their structures were identified by ultraviolet spectrum, infrared spectroscopy, high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance data as: threo-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedol (1), erythro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol (2), erythro-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropane-1,2-propanediol (3). Compounds 4-6, 9, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 21-24 were obtained from Tripterygium genus for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay of cancer cells suggested that compound 20 displayed cytotoxicity on the breast cancer 4T1 cells whose 50% inhibitory concentration was 125.60 μmol·L^-1.

Objective To explore the relationship between wild rodent plague and human in wild rodent plague foci of the northwestern area in Yunnan to probe the possible transmission mechanism of wild rodent plague to human. Methods Data of component ratio of rodents and fleas was collected in different areas from 1985 - 1995. Activities and habits of residents regarding the way they keep cats and dogs and parasitic fleas and free fleas indoor were investigated, the dog serum was collected for detecting F1 antibody. Results Eothenomys miletus were main rodents in farmland and shrub, accounting for 48.00% (4753/9902) and 54.50% (4282/7857), Apodemus chevrieri were main rodents in garden, being 50.47% (1332/2639). The component ratio of Neopsylla specialis specialis was 13.31%(229/1720), 12.31%(1678/13 739) and 10.87%(957/8802) respectively in garden, farmland and shrub, higher than in indoor. The component ratio of Frantcpsylla spodix was 39.88% (686/1720), the highest in garden. Thirty-two per cent (32/100) of residents kept cats,in which 63% (20/32) with cat fleas, 68% (68/100) of villages kept dogs, in which 76%(52/68) with fleas. Eighteen parasitic fleas were caught from 43 dogs with a flea index of 0.119 and a rate for fleas of 11.63%, 7 pulex were collected from 17 indoor. Forty-three blood serum samples were obtained from dogs, among which 3 were positive blood serum. Conclusions Residents touch affected animals or media in different situations. The possibility of transmission for wild rodent plague to human exists in loci in a chain of wild rodent plague → fleas or predation → homebred animal plague (cats or dogs) →touching or respiratory → human.

Objective To investigate the effect of Ulinastatin on the delivery of cytokines in patients with septic shock.Methods It was a prospective and controlled clinical study.Seventy-eight patients with septic shock were randomly divided into control group and treatment group and thirty-nine in every group.Patients in treatment group received Ulinastatin 200 000 units intravenous everyday for 3 days,while those in control group received equal volume of normal saline as placebo.At different time points (at 24 th,48 th,72 th hour after start of treatment),the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?),interleukin-1 (IL-1),interleukin-6 (IL-6 ),interleukin-8 (IL-8) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were assayed.Results In comparison with control group,the levels of TNF-?,IL-1,IL-6,IL- 8 of treatment group decreased markedly (P＜0.05,P＜0.01) at different time points,whereas the level of SOD was higher markedly (P＜0.05,P＜0.01) at various time points.Conclusion Ulinastatin has protective effect on patients with septic shock through decreasing the levels of TNF-?,IL-1,IL-6,IL-8 and increasing in the level of SOD.

Objective To study the application effect of day-parting appointment for elderly hypertensive contracted outpatients in community. Methods In May 2018 two groups (experiment and control) of 103 elderly hypertensive contracted outpatients, aged between 60 and 80 and looked after by the team of family doctors, who had been diagnosed with hypertension and with medication for at least one year were set up.The experimental group used self-made community hypertension visiting card for appointments, and the control group used the original way of treatment.Six months later, comparison was made in blood pressure control, the number of outpatients, the time consumed and the satisfaction between the two groups. Results It was found in comparison that the blood pressure standard-reaching rate of the experimental group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05);outpatients′ visits and time consumed were less than those of the control group, the time used in the clinic room was longer than that in the control group; the differences in these aspects between the two groups were significant (P < 0.05);the satisfaction of the overall outpatient perception, attitude of family doctors, treatment technology, visits control, dosage, cost and safety of medication in the experimental group were better than in the control group; there were significant differences in these aspects between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion Community day-parting appointment proves to be more convenient, more time-saving and safer for outpatients, greatly improving the medical quality and satisfaction for community outpatients.

Adult ; Aged ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; biosynthesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint ; metabolism ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling method of regulating spleen-stomach in treating early-stage type 2 diabetic foot (DF).Method A hundred patients with early-stage type 2 DF were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,50 cases each.The two groups both received conventional treatment for diabetes.In addition,the treatment group was intervened by needling method of regulating spleen-stomach;the control group was given oral administration of Pancreatic kininogenase enteric-coated tablets.After 6-week treatment,the changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose (P2hBG),serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),6-keto-PGF1α and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) contents were observed.The clinical efficacies of the two groups were also compared.Result The total effective rate was 91.8％ in the treatment group versus 75.5％ in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The levels of FBG,P2hBG,TC,TG,6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2 were significantly changed after the intervention in the two groups (P＜0.01,P＜0.05).The treatment group was significantly different from the control group in comparing each parameter after the intervention (P＜0.01,P＜0.05).Conclusion Needling method of regulating spleen-stomach is an effective method in treating early-stage type 2 DF,and can improve the progressive injury induced by abnormal glucose metabolism.

Objective To observe the expression and distribution the low affinity receptor p75 of nerve growth factor in the traumatic neuroma and investigate its significance and relationship with the growth of peripheral nerve and the formation of the traumatic neuroma.Methods Fifty-one cases of traumatic neuro- ma were collected and were divided into four groups according to its course,i.e,groupⅠ(less than one month),groupⅡ(1～3 months),groupⅢ(3～6 months) and groupⅣ(more than six months).Fifteen cases of normal nerve samples were harvested as the control group(n=15).Immunohistochemical studies were performed to observe the expression of p75.the expression level was detected by the computer graph analysis system.Results There was no significant expression of p75 in the normal nerve while in the four studied groups,significant expression of p75 waspositively observed.The level of p75 was weak in the early time and achieved its peak in three months,but the high level state was maintained even after six months.The one-way ANOVA statistic analysis manifests that there were no significant differences of the expression of p75 among the groupⅡ,ⅢandⅣ(P＞0.05),but the differences among the groupⅠand the latter three groups were signifi- cant (P＜0.05).p75 was mainly distributed in the Schwans cell.Conclusion p75 is expressed in the traumatic neuroma and may play an important role in the modulation progress of the formation of traumatic neu- roma with an unknown mechanism.