Bergapten exerts inhibitory effects on diabetes-related osteoporosis via the regulation of the PI3K/AKT, JNK/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in osteoprotegerin knockout mice.

Diabetes, as a serious metobolic disorder, poses global threat to human health. It is estimated that over 50 million individuals are already affected by diabetes. Currently, diabetes-related osteoporosis has been a research hotspot due to its high incidence rate in older individuals. Osteoprotegerin, as an important protein for the prevention of osteoporosis, has been proven to be key to the suppression of osteoporosis. Hence, the loss of function of osteoprotegerin may promote the development of osteoporosis. Bergapten, as a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent isolated from bergamot essential oil, other citrus essential oils, and grapefruit juice, has been proven to have the ability to attenuate a number of metabolic disorders. In view of these findings, in this study, we used a high-fat diet to construct a mouse model of diabetes-related osteoporosis and a mouse model of diabetes-related osteoporosis using osteoprotegerin knockout mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qPCR, western blot analysis, immunohistochemical assay, H&E staining, Oil Red O staining, Masson's staining and other biochemical analyses were used to evaluate the related signaling pathways involved in the development of diabetes-related osteoporosis. We also examined the role of osteoprotegerin in the activation of these pathways and in the development of osteoporosis, as well as the protective effects of bergapten against diabetes-related osteoporosis and on the activation of related signaling pathways. Our results revealed that in diabetes-related osteoporosis, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways were activated and the expression levels of related indicators were increased. At the same time, osteoprotegerin knockout further promoted the activation of these pathways. By contrast, bergapten exerted effects similar to those of osteoprotegerin. Bergapten exhibited the ability to significantly inhibit RANKL-RANK signaling transduction, and to suppress the activation of the PI3K/AKT, JNK/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, thus protecting trabecular structure and decreasing osteoclastogenic differentiation.

[Study on the effect of total phosphor removing by constructed submerged hydrophyte bed for urban landscape river].

A kind of modularized and air adjustable constructed submerged plant bed (CSPB) was used to restore the eutrophic water. This CSPB helps hydrophytes to grow up under poor conditions, like frequently changed water depth, blurred water transparency, algae bloom and duckweed rampant in summer, which are not suitable for growing water plants naturally. The experiments in Waihuan River of Tianjin show that total phosphor (TP) reduces 30%-40% in growing season and 7%-20% in winter when the detention time is 5.48 days. The variation between the concentration of TP and the detention time follows the first-order kinetic equation, the correlation coefficients (R2) is above 0.9. The attenuation coefficients k of the kinetic equation changes with the water temperature. When the water temperature is quite low or quite high, the value of k is not significantly changed with the temperature of water. While when the temperature is in a moderate range, an increase of water temperature leads to a rapid increase of k value.

[Effect of intermittent artificial aeration on nitrogen and phosphorus removal in subsurface vertical-flow constructed wetlands].

Shale and T. latifolia were used as subsurface vertical-flow constructed wetland substrate and vegetation for eutrophic Jin River water treatment, and investigate the effect of intermittent aeration on nitrogen and phosphorus removal. In this study, hydraulic loading rate was equal to 800 mm/d, and ratio of air and water was 5:1. During the entire running period, maximal monthly mean ammonia-nitrogen (NH4+ -N), total nitrogen (TN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP) removal rates were observed in August 2006. In contrast to the non-aerated wetland, aeration enhanced ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus removal: 10.1%, 4.7%, 10.2% and 8.8% for aeration in the middle, and 25.1%, 10.0%, 7.7% and 7.4% for aeration at the bottom of the substrate, respectively. However, aeration failed to improve the nitrate-nitrogen removal. During the whole experimental period, monthly mean NO3(-) -N removal rates were much lower for aerated constructed wetlands (regarding aeration in the middle and at the bottom) than those for non-aerated system. After finishing the experiment, aboveground plant biomass (stems and leaves) of T. latifolia was harvested, and its weight and nutrient content (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) were measured. Analysis of aboveground plant biomass indicated that intermittent aeration restrained the increase in biomass but stimulated assimilation of nitrogen and phosphorus into stems and leaves. Additional total nitrogen removal of 11.6 g x m(-2) and 12.6 g x m(-2) by aboveground T. latifolia biomass for intermittent artificial aeration in the middle and at the bottom of the wetland substrate, respectively, was observed.

[Optimization of nitrogen and phosphorus removal in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands by using polypropylene pellet as part of substrate].

Constructed wetlands experiments were conducted by using shale and Typha latifolia L. as vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland substrate and plant for eutrophic Jin River water treatment, and part of shale with polypropylene pellet was replaced to investigate its effect on nitrogen and phosphorus removal. In this study, hydraulic loading rate was equal to 800 mm/d, theoretic residence time was equal to 12 h. During the entire running period, maximal monthly mean ammonia-nitrogen (NH(4+) -N), total nitrogen (TN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (TP) removal rates were observed in August 2006. In contrast to the full shale used wetland, polypropylene pellet enhanced ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus removal by 13.38%, 8.9%, 9.29% and 8.25% respectively. After finishing the experiment, aboveground plant biomass (stems and leaves) of Typha latifolia L. was harvested, and its weight and nutrient content (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) were measured. Analysis of aboveground plant biomass indicated that polypropylene pellet restrained the increase in biomass but stimulated assimilation of nitrogen and phosphorus into stems and leaves. The subsequent harvesting of the plants resulted in the additional removal of total nitrogen and phosphorus of about 29.382 g x m(-2) and 13.469 g x m(-2), respectively.