Yangxin Dawayimixike honey paste inhibits atherosclerosis in ApoE^(-/-)mice by attenuating blood lipids and exerting anti-inflammatory activity

Background:Yangxin Dawayimixike honey paste(YDHP)is a representative traditional Chinese medicine,and its main function is curing angina pectoris,palpitation and neurasthenia.However,it is unclear whether YDHP can suppress the development of atherosclerosis.The aim of this study was to validate the potential application of YDHP in atherosclerosis therapy and search for its potential mechanisms.Methods:Seven-week-old ApoE^(-/-)mice were randomly divided into a normal group fed a normal diet,an atherosclerosis model group fed a high-fat diet,YDHP groups fed a high-fat diet mixed with different doses of YDHP and positive control groups fed a high-fat diet mixed with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin.After feeding for 10 weeks,body weight,blood lipids,liver and kidney function indexes,serum inflammatory cytokines and atherosclerotic plaque areas were measured.Serum metabolic profiles were detected by an automatic biochemical analyser.Serum inflammatory cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.Atherosclerotic plaque areas were analysed using Oil Red O staining.Results:The YDHP(200,400 and 800 mg/kg/d)treated groups showed reduced serum levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(P<0.05,when 200 or 400 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group;P<0.01,when 800 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group),total cholesterol(P<0.05,when 200 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group;P<0.01,when 400 or 800 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group)and triglyceride(P<0.01),however,elevated serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(P<0.01)compared to the atherosclerosis model group.YDHP inhibited the area of atherosclerotic lesions.In addition,YDHP suppressed the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6(P<0.05,when 200 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group;P<0.01,when 400 or 800 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group)and tumor necrosis factorα(P<0.05,when 200 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group;P<0.01,when 400 or 800 mg/kg/d of YDHP group compared with the atherosclerosis model group).Conclusion:Our study demonstrated that YDHP showed considerable activity in alleviating the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE^(-/-)mice by reducing blood lipids and exerting anti-inflammatory activity.

Retrofitting low-performance units to abate sewer overflow pollution based on mathematical model and Sobol algorithm

Optimal retrofit of low-performance units(LPUs)is promising to abate overflow pollutant mass loading of sewer systems during wet-weathers.This study presents a combination of mathematical model and Sobol algorithm to help identify LPUs of sewer systems and design retrofitting strategies.Therefore,the solution to minimize the overflow pollutant mass loading from sewers systems can be efficiently obtained.The developed method was demonstrated at a catchment served by one wastewater treatment plant in the Chaohu City,Anhui Province of China,with five pumping stations and a total sewer length of 58.3 km.Within the catchment,there are three rivers and a small lake to receive overflows from the sewer system.Among them,one river that was mostly polluted was selected as the object of overflow pollution abatement during wet weather period.After identifying the LPUs of the sewer system and developing retrofitting strategies using Sobol sequence,the mitigation of overflow pollution during wet weather period was analyzed.Results show that the mass loading of chemical oxygen demand(COD)discharged into the target river could be reduced by 40.6%,by implementing optimal retrofit strategy of LPUs,i.e.,increasing the conveyance capacities of two pumping stations by 2.5–3.2 times and augmenting the diameters of 12 sewers by 1.25–1.29 times.To further coordinate the abatement of overflow pollution and retrofit investment,Sobol sensitivity analysis was conducted to screen the dominant LPUs to update the optimal retrofit strategy.By applying the updated strategy,the overflow COD mass loading per overflow event was close to that of non-updated strategy,while the retrofitting length of sewers was reduced by 40%.Therefore,on the basis of the presented method,decision-makers can flexibly develop retrofitting strategies of sewer system to abate overflow pollution during wet weathers in a cost-effective way.