Icariin improves cardiac function and remodeling via the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway in rats following myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Postinfarction cardiac remodeling presents a compensatory mechanism aimed at mitigating congestive heart failure. It is distinguished by progressive dilatation and hypertrophy of the ventricular chambers, fibrotic alterations, and prolonged apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effects of icariin on myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling in rats subjected to myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Male Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to randomization and subsequently divided into distinct groups: the control group, the sham group (undergoing sham operation), the MI group (experiencing ligation of the left anterior descending artery), and the icariin group. Within the icariin group, rats were further categorized into three different dose groups based on the administered icariin dosage: the MI30 group (30 mg/kg/day), the MI60 group (60 mg/kg/day), and the MI120 group (120 mg/kg/day). Cardiac function evaluation was carried out using echocardiography. Histological examinations, including hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry studies, were conducted 90 days after the occurrence of MI. Additionally, Western blotting was employed to assess TGF-ß1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 levels. RESULTS: The administration of icariin revealed a noteworthy enhancement in cardiac function among rats afflicted with left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation. In comparison to the icariin groups, the MI group exhibited reduced EF and FS, along with elevated LVEDD and LVESD. Furthermore, the cardiac fibrosis levels in the MI group rats exhibited a considerable increase compared to those in the icariin group. Notably, the levels of Collagen I, Collagen III, MMP2, and MMP9 were significantly higher in the MI group than in the icariin group, with evident distinctions. Moreover, the expression levels of TGF-ß, IL-13, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 were notably upregulated in the MI group compared to the icariin group. CONCLUSIONS: In an experimental rat model of MI, the administration of icariin resulted in the amelioration of both cardiac function and remodeling processes, operating through the intricate TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway.

Ultrasound-assisted HCl-NaCl leaching of lead-rich and antimony-rich oxidizing slag.

Lead-rich and antimony-rich oxidizing slag was subjected to regular HCl-NaCl leaching, with the experimental conditions optimized under which ultrasound was introduced. After only 15 min of ultrasound-assisted leaching, the leaching rate of Sb resembled that after 45 min of regular leaching. Ultrasonic treatment considerably elevated the leaching rates of Sb and Pb, and shortened the leaching time. With the decrease of particle size, the leaching rate of Sb and Pb increased gradually. Especially, as the particle size of the slag was greater than 0.217 mm, the ultrasonic leaching effects of Sb and Pb were significantly higher than that of regular leaching effects. The temperature exhibited great effect on ultrasonic leaching performance. As the temperature increased, the leaching rates of Sb and Pb increased step by step. In case the temperature was higher than 85°C, the increasing speed of the leaching rates for Sb and Pb tended to be slow. Increasing ultrasonic power could augment the leaching rate or accelerate the procedure till the same leaching rate. However, since ultrasound failed to energize the formation of new reaction pathways, the maximum leaching rates of Sb and Pb were determined by their phase compositions rather than by ultrasonic field.

Preparation of ultrafine cubic Sb2O3 crystals under ultrasonic.

The processes and conditions for ultrasonic preparation of cubic Sb2O3 crystals under ultrasonic by neutralizing Sb4O5Cl2 with ammonium hydroxide were researched. The effects of ultrasonic power, time and temperature as well as ratio of Sb4O5Cl2 to water on the crystal form and particle size of Sb2O3 were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and laser particle size analyzer. Cubic Sb2O3 crystals were prepared by being sonicated at 100W and 20°C for 30min. The particles were cubic-like, with the average size of 0.777µm.