ABSTRACT
Introduction: Inflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Investigating the correlation between levels of serum inflammatory cytokines (SICs) and the severity of CSU is of great significance for understanding the disease mechanism and finding effective treatment strategies. Aim: In this context, this work was developed. Material and methods: This work involved a researchy group (Res group) of 114 patients with CSU and a control group (Ctrl group) of 100 healthy individuals. SICs including leukotriene B4 (LTB4), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), interleukin (IL) 4 (IL-4), IL-17, IL-31, and tumor necrosis factor-γ (TNF-γ), of patients in different groups were measured and compared. Furthermore, the correlations between each SIC and pruritus severity, duration of pruritus, urticaria activity, and quality of life (QOL) were compared among the patients in different groups. Results: The Res group exhibited higher levels of LTB4, LTC4, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 but lower levels of TNF-γ. Great differences (p < 0.05) were found in IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 among the patients with different pruritus severity, and positive correlations were observed between IL-17 and IL-31 levels and urticaria activity in the patients (p < 0.05). Additionally, levels of IL-4 and IL-31 exhibited a positive association to QOL scores in the patients, with obvious differences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 showed the strongest correlation with the severity of CSU, which may be attributed to their involvement in immune, inflammatory, and pruritic reactions, exacerbating the disease condition.
ABSTRACT
Few studies have focused on biosorption by microorganisms under culture conditions. To explore the biosorption of uranium by Saccharomyces cerevisiae under culture conditions, the S. cerevisiae growth curve, biosorption capacity and surface interaction under batch culture conditions were investigated in this study. The growth curve showed that uranium (<300mgL(-1)) did not markedly inhibit the growth of S. cerevisiae under short culture time. The maximum scavenging efficiency reached 92.4% under 6-10h culture conditions, and the adsorption quantity of S. cerevisiae increased with initial uranium concentration. Centrifuging and drying after biosorption caused the volume reduction ratio to reach 99%. Scanning electron microscope results demonstrated that uranium interacted with yeast cell surfaces, as well as culture medium, and produced uranium precipitate on cell surfaces. Fourier transformed infrared spectra revealed that cell walls were the major sorption sites, and -O--H, -C==O and -PO(2-) contributed to the major binding groups.
Subject(s)
Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Radioactive Waste/prevention & control , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/chemistry , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Uranium/chemistry , Uranium/metabolism , AdsorptionABSTRACT
A UV method for the analysis of ascorbic acid with methanol as solvent to prepare a sample has been developed and applied. The effect of copper(II) concentrations on the oxidation of ascorbic acid in aqueous solution has been studied in detail, and the regularities of ascorbic acid oxidation in methanol, USP phosphate buffer (pH 2.50) and de-ionized water have been found. Upon experiments ascorbic acid has been found to dissolve in methanol, and its solubility in it has been measured to be 81.0mg/ml at room temperature (22 degrees C). The ascorbic acid bulk material from a manufacturer has been assayed to be 89.34% with this method, in good agreement with the assay value (89.58%) from the titration method. The ascorbic acid granule and tablet content uniformity also has been tested using this method. This method is simple, rapid, accurate and reliable, and can be adopted for the routine determination of ascorbic acid in its granule and tablet formulations.
