Recovery of phosphate and ammonia from wastewater via struvite precipitation using spent refractory brick gravel from steel industry.

Spent refractory brick (SRB) generated from the steel industry has a high magnesium content. In this study, a procedure was developed to utilize SRB gravels for efficient recovery of phosphate and ammonia from high strength wastewater via struvite (MgNH4PO4∙6H2O(s)) precipitation. Mg2+ and Ca2+ were first leached from SRB gravels using nitric acid solution. Ca2+ in the solution could inhibit struvite precipitation and was sequestered by dosing SO32- to form calcium sulfite (CaSO3(s)). The resulting Mg2+-rich solution was then employed to initiate struvite precipitation for phosphate and ammonia recovery. The optimal precipitation was achieved with a molar ratio of [Mg2+]:[NH3-N]:[PO43-P] = 2:1:2 at pH 9.5. The residual phosphate in the solution can be further removed via the precipitation of calcium phosphate minerals. Overall, 99.6% phosphate and 98.2% ammonia could be recovered and the treated wastewater could meet the discharging standards of ammonia and phosphate. The resulting solids, including calcium sulfite, struvite and calcium phosphate can be potentially used in the cement industry and agriculture sector to achieve sustainable recycle of spent materials.

ATF2 accelerates the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through targeting the miR-548p/TUFT1 axis.

AIM: Due to high invasion and metastasis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as one of the most fatal carcinomas. We aim to further investigate regulatory mechanisms of invasion and metastasis to elucidate HCC pathogenesis and develop novel medications. METHODS: Patient specimens were collected for assessing gene expression and correlation between gene expressions. The expression of Ki67 and E-cadherin in subcutaneous xenograft tumor were examined by immunohistochemistry staining. The expression of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2), miR-548p and TUFT1 were determined using Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and PI3K/AKT signaling-associated markers were examined with western blot. The proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, colony formation and transwell assays, respectively. Cell apoptosis was assessed via Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. Gene interaction was confirmed using chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase activity assays. Subcutaneous and intravenous xenograft mouse models were established for analyzing HCC growth and metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: ATF2 was up-regulated in HCC patients and cells. ATF2 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis through directly targeting miR-548p and controlling its expression. miR-548p suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and enhanced cell apoptosis. miR-548p directly bound to the 3'UTR of TUFT1 to restrain its expression and subsequently suppress the PI3K/AKT signaling. ATF2 knock-down significantly suppressed the growth and metastasis of HCC. CONCLUSION: ATF2 accelerates HCC progression by promoting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis, which is dependent on regulating the miR-548p/TUFT1 axis.

Influence of esophageal morphology on the clinical efficacy of peroral endoscopic myotomy in treating advanced achalasia cardia.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is the first-line treatment of achalasia cardia (AC). However, the efficacy of POEM in treating patients with advanced AC remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcome of POEM in treating patients with advanced AC involving different esophageal morphologies. The study was a single-center, retrospective analysis of patients suffering from advanced AC. The primary endpoint was the Eckardt score at the follow-up examination. Secondary endpoints were procedural-related details, including the operation time and length of myotomy, adverse events (AEs) and hospital stay, as well as post-procedural gastroesophageal reflux disease. The technical success rate was 100%. All 50 patients enrolled underwent successful endoscopic myotomy (conventional POEM, n=20; modified POEM, n=30). AEs were observed in 10 patients. During a 6- to 50-month follow-up period, 41 patients achieved clinical success as evidenced by a decrease in the Eckardt score. Only 3 of 6 patients with a sigmoid-shaped megaesophagus obtained symptomatic relief. Symptomatic reflux occurred in 13 of 46 patients who completed their follow-up. In conclusion, POEM is safe, feasible and effective in treating advanced AC. Patients with a sigmoid-shaped megaesophagus are less likely to report palliation of symptoms.

Effects of estrogen on learning-memory and expression of calbindin-D28K in hippocampus in vascular dementia rats.

Vascular dementia (VD) models were made first by repeating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and followed by treating with estrogen. Learning-memory ability was measured by Morris water maze. Concentration of Ca2+ in hippocampus was determined by Fura-2/AM fluorescence probe and the expression of Calbindin-D28K (CB) in hippocampal CA1 was tested by immunohistochemistry. Learning-memory ability was improved in E group rats; Concentration of Ca2+ in hippocampus was decreased in E group rats. The expression of CB was less in E group rats. It implies that estrogen could improve learning-memory ability in VD rats, which may be associated with suppressing intracellular Ca2+ overload and increasing the expression of CB in hippocampus.

Effect of Endogenous Arginine-Vasopressin Arising from the Paraventricular Nucleus on Learning and Memory Functions in Vascular Dementia Model Rats.

The hippocampus is a key structure for encoding and processing memory and for spatial orientation, which are among the cognitive functions most sensitive to cerebral ischemia, hypoxia, and vascular dementia (VD). Since hippocampal formation is one of the principle forebrain targets for arginine-vasopressin (AVP) innervations arising in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), we explored the contributions of AVP to VD pathogenesis. To this end, we randomly assigned pathogen-free, male Wistar rats to one of seven groups in a VD model and tested AVP treatment effects on spatial learning and memory using the Morris water maze. We also measured the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in brain samples and monitored the expression of AVP-positive neurons in the hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. The VD model with repeated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury evoked impairment of cognitive function and reduced cerebral concentrations of the antioxidation markers. Lesioning the rat PVN showed a similar effect on learning and memory and reduced antioxidation markers in the brain tissue. However, AVP injection into the PVN improved cognitive performance in VD rats, while enhancing/rectifying the changes in antioxidation markers. We conclude that our VD model may decrease AVP secretion in the PVN and subsequently reduce antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus, leading to impaired cognitive function.

[Study on application of bioassay method in drug-release evaluation in vitro of Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic gel matrix tablets].

To investigate the feasible application of the bioassay method in the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine sustained-release preparations, develop a rapid drug-release evaluation method in vitro for multi-component preparations, and replace the biological activity determination method characterizing the overall behavior with the existing drug-release evaluation method for single component, in order to give better instruction for sustained-release preparations. HPLC was adopted to determine dissolution media, drug releasing rates, and accumulative releasing of active ingredients (salvianolic acid B, protocatechuic aldehyde and rosmarinic acid) of Salvia Miltiorrhiza hydrophilic gel matrix tablets. The ultraviolet spectroscopy was adopted to determine the antioxidant activity of release media, and evaluate the correlation between the drug-time curve of various drug components and the drug-time curve of the total antioxidant activity. The correlation coefficient between the drug-release curve of various components and the drug-time curve of the total antioxidant activity was higher than the critical value r 0.898 (P < 0.001). This indicated that the drug-release curve of the three phenolic acids and the drug-time curve of the total antioxidant activity had a good correlation in different conditions, such as dissolution media, release rates and component ratios. The bioassay method for determination was feasible, simple and convenient for preparation quality evaluation and prescription design in the place of in vitro dissolution.

Poly[[bis{µ2-N2,N6-bis[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide}dichloridonickel(II)] N,N-dimethylformamide tetrasolvate].

In the title compound, {[NiCl(2)(C(19)H(17)N(5)O(2))(2)]·4C(3)H(7)NO}(n), the Ni(II) atom is located on an inversion centre and is in a six-coordinated octahedral geometry, formed by four pyridine N atoms from four N(2),N(6)-bis[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (BPDA) ligands occupying the equatorial plane and two chloride anions at the axial sites. The bidentate bridging BPDA ligands link the Ni(II) atoms into a two-dimensional corrugated grid-like flexible layer with a (4,4)-connected topology, which consists of left- and right-handed helical chains sharing the common Ni(II) atoms. Investigation of the thermal stability shows that the network is stable up to 573 K.

catena-Poly[[[diaqua-[3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ(2)O,O']gadolinium(III)]-bis-[µ-3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoato-κ(2)O:O']] monohydrate].

In the title coordination polymer, {[Gd(C(12)H(8)NO(2))(3)(H(2)O)(2)]·H(2)O}(n), the Gd(III) ion is ligated by one bidentate carboxyl-ate group, four monodentate bridging carboxyl-ate O atoms and two water mol-ecules. The resulting GdO(8) polyhedron approximates to a square anti-prism. The bridging ligands link the metal ions into a [100] chain, with each pair of adjacent metal ions being bridged by two ligands. Inter-chain O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds help to establish the packing.

[Experimental study on effect of different chromatographic conditions on QAMS relative correlation factors and relative retention values].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different chromatographic conditions on QAMS relative correlation factors (RCF) and relative retention values (RT(R)). METHOD: C18 columns were used with methyl alcohol-0.4% phosphoric acid water (85: 15) as the mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm, the column temperature was 30 degrees C, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The five anthraquinones in Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were selected to be the objects of study. The RCF and RT(R) among aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, physcion and emodin were determined under different chromatographic conditions. RESULT: Their RCFs showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The RCFs among anthraquinones established by QAMS can be used as a constant in content determination of traditional Chinese medicines/patent traditional Chinese medicines.

[Enhanced decomposition of 1, 4-benzoquinone ring by DSA electrode under ultraviolet irradiation].

Commercial DSA electrode was employed for photoelectrochemical degradation of a model pollutant 1,4-benzoquinone. The effect of electrolyte, electrical field intensity and solution pH conditions were investigated. The results proved that the TOC removal by photoelectrochemical oxidation was 1.25 times that of photocatalytic oxidation and electrocatalytic oxidation alone, indicating a synergetic effect. Addition of electrolyte and application of external electrical field have effectively enhanced the photoelectrochemical oxidation efficiency within a certain range of concentration and intensity. Acidic and neutral pH conditions are favorable for ring opening of 1,4-Benzoquinone.The photoelectrochemical oxidation mechanism is also discussed. It suggests that the efficiency of electrochemically assisted photoelectrochemical oxidation process can be manipulated, accompanied by the generation of hydroxyl radicals, which will be more adaptable for water and wastewater treatment.