CARMA3/NF-κB signaling contributes to tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and is inhibited by sodium aescinate

BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very malignant tumor in the world. CARMA3 plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the function of CARMA3 in HCC has not been fully clarified. AIM To study the biological function of CAEMA3 in HCC. METHODS Tissue microarray slides including tissues form 100 HCC patients were applied to access the expression of CARMA3 in HCC and its clinical relevance. Knockdown and overexpression of CARMA3 were conducted with plasmid transfection. MTT, colony formation, and apoptosis assays were performed to check the biological activity of cells. RESULTS Higher expression of CARMA3 in HCC was relevant to poor prognostic survival (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of CARMA3 inhibited proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis in HCC cell lines, while increasing its expression promoted tumorigenesis. We also found that sodium aescinate (SA), a natural herb extract, exerted anti-proliferation effects in HCC cells by suppressing the CARMA3/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway. CONCLUSION Overexpression of CARMA3 in HCC tissues correlates with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. CARMA3 acts pro-tumorigenic effects partly through activation of CARMA3/NF-κB. SA inhibits HCC growth by targeting CARMA3/NF-κB.

Effect of β-sodium aescinate on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in rat brain cortex after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

BACKGROUND： This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α） in rat cerebral cortex and the effects of β-sodium aescinate （SA） administration after return of spontaneous circulation （ROSC）.METHODS： Sixty rats were divided into three groups： SA group, injected intraperitoneally with SA instantly after ROSC; control group, injected intraperitoneally with normal saline; and sham-operated group, without cardiac arrest or SA. The cardiac arrest model was established using asphyxiation and intravenous potassium chloride. Blood was sampled 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after ROSC. Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α, VEGF and EPO were detected in the cerebral cortex by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR; serum levels of NSE and S100β were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.RESULTS： Serum S100β and NSE were signi？ cantly increased in the control group versus the sham-operated group 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after ROSC （P〈0.05）. Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α, VEGF and EPO were signi？ cantly increased in the control rats （P〈0.05）. Serum NSE and S100β were significantly decreased in the SA group versus the control group 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after ROSC （P〈0.05）. Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α, VEGF and EPO were signi？ cantly increased in the SA group （P〈0.05）.CONCLUSIONS： The expression of HIF-1α is increased in rat cerebral cortex after ROSC, and SA up-regulates the expression of HIF-1α. The up-regulation of HIF-1α improves the resistance of the cortex to ischemia and hypoxia and contributes to neuroprotection, possibly because of up-regulation of EPO and VEGF expression.

Anti-proliferation and apoptosis-inducing effects of sodium aescinate on retinoblastoma Y79 cells

AIM:To investigate the anti-proliferation and apoptosisinducing effects of sodium aescinate(SA)on retinoblastoma Y79 cells and its mechanism.METHODS:Y79 cells were cultured at different drug concentrations for different periods of time(24,48,and 72 h).The inhibitory effect of SA on proliferation of Y79 cells was detected by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay,and the morphology of Y79 cells in each group was observed under an inverted microscope.An IC50 of 48 h was selected for subsequent experiments.After pretreatment with SA for 24 and 48 h,cellular DNA distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.Real-time qunatitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and Western blot were used to assess changes in related genes(CDK1,CyclinB1,Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-9,caspase-8,and caspase-3).RESULTS:SA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of Y79 cells in a time-dependent and concentrationdependent manner.Following its intervention in the cell cycle pathway,SA can inhibit the expression of CDK1 and Cyclin B1 at the mRNA and protein levels,and block cells in the G2/M phase.In caspase-related apoptotic pathways,up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 caused caspase-9 to self-cleave and further activate caspase-3.What’s more,the caspase-8-mediated extrinsic apoptosis pathway was activated,and the activated caspase-8 was released into the cytoplasm to activate caspase-3,which as a member of the downstream apoptotic effect group,initiates a caspase-cascade reaction that induces cell apoptosis.CONCLUSION:SA inhibits the proliferation of Y79 cells by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase,and induces apoptosis via the caspase-related apoptosis pathway,indicating that SA may have promising potential as a chemotherapeutic drug.

The study on the mechanism of Sodium aescinate combined with Xuesaitong for cerebral thrombosis treatment

Objective:To observe the mechanism of Sodium aescinate combined with Xuesaitong for cerebral thrombosis treatment and offer clinical help to cerebral thrombosis treatment. Methods:A total of 92 patients with cerebral thrombosis were selected and randomly divided into groups: the observation group (46 people) and the control group (46 people).The patient in the control group were treated with conventional therapy and the patients in the observation group were treated with Sodium aescinate combined with Xuesaitong on the basis of conventional therapy. Inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and CRP), Nerve cell factor (NSE, NGF and NTF) and blood rheology indexes (Fg, BVH, BVL and PV) were detected and analyzed before and after treatment.Results:The comparison of inflammatory factors, Nerve cell factor and blood rheology indexes in the two groups before treatment were not statistically significant. Inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α and CRP), Nerve cell factor (NSE) and blood rheology indexes (Fg, BVH, BVL and PV) in both groups after treatment significantly decreased compared with that before treatment. Inflammatory factors (IL-10), Nerve cell factor (GF and NTF) in both groups after treatment significantly increased compared with that before treatment. The changes were statistically significant. Inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α and CRP), Nerve cell factor (NSE) and blood rheology indexes (Fg, BVH, BVL and PV) in observation group after treatment decreased more significantly than that in control group, and inflammatory factors (IL-10), Nerve cell factor (GF and NTF) increased more significantly than that in control group. The difference between two groups was considered statistically significant.Conclusion:Sodium aescinate combined with Xuesaitong could inhibit the inflammatory reaction, improve the blood flow condition and promote rehabilitation in patients with cerebral thrombosis. So it has a very important clinical significance of the treatment to cerebral hemorrhage.

Intervening Effect of Sodium Aescinate on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats with Acute Lung Injury

[Objectives] The aim was to investigate the intervening effect of sodium aescinate on pulmonary fibrosis in rats with acute lung injury( ALI). [Methods] The rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group and sodium aescinate group. The rat model of ALI was induced by administration of oleic acid. The rats in the sodium aescinate group were intravenously injected with sodium aescinate according to the amount of 4 mg/kg for 14 consecutive d. Then,11 rats were selected randomly from each group and slaughtered on Day 1 and Day 14,respectively after last administration. The body mass index,arterial partial pressure of oxygen( PaO_2),oxygenation index( PaO_2/FiO_2),lung index,wet/dry mass ratio of lung,serum IL-1β,TNF-α,PC Ⅲ and TGF-β1 levels of the rats were analyzed. [Results]No significant differences were found in body mass index,lung index or lung wet/dry mass ratio among different groups. Compared with the model group,the PaO_2 and PaO_2/FiO_2 ratio increased significantly( P < 0. 05),the serum IL-1β,TNF-α,PC Ⅲ and TGF-β1 levels declined significantly( P <0. 05),the lung histopathological damage was reduced,and the semi-quantitative histological score( IQA) of damaged lung tissue decreased significantly( P < 0. 01). [Conclusions]Sodium aescinate can reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in rats with ALI,with certain intervening on pulmonary effect.

Mechanism of Sodium aescinate combined with Torasemide for cerebral hemorrhage treatment

Objective:To observe the mechanism of Sodium aescinate combined with Torasemide for cerebral hemorrhage treatment and offer clinical help to cerebral hemorrhage treatment. Methods:86 patients with cerebral hemorrhage were selected and randomly divided into groups: the observation group (43 people) and the control group (43 people). The patient in the control group were treated with conventional therapy and the patients in the observation group were treated with Sodium aescinate combined with Torasemide on the basis of conventional therapy. Oxidative stress indexes [Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)], serum inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 (IL-2), C reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and hemorheology indexes [Hematokrit (PCV), plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte aggregation index (PAdT) and whole blood viscosity at high shear rate (WHV)] were detected and analyzed before and after treatment.Results:The comparison of oxidative stress indexes, serum inflammatory factors and hemorheology indexes in the two groups before treatment were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Serum inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP), MDA and hemorheology indexes (WHV, PV, PCV and PAdT) in both groups after treatment significantly decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05);Oxidative stress index (GSH-Px, CAT, SOD and MDA) and IL-2 in both groups after treatment significantly increased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). Serum inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP), MDA and hemorheology indexes (WHV, PV, PCV and PAdT) in observation group after treatment decreased more significantly than that in control group (P<0.05), and oxidative stress index (GSH-Px, CAT, SOD and MDA) and IL-2 increased more significantly than that in control group (P<0.05).Conclusions:Sodium aescinate combined with Torasemide could decrease the oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in patients with cerebral hemorrhage, which is beneficial to improving the condition of circulating blood stasis, accelerating microcirculation. So it has a very important clinical significance of the treatment to cerebral hemorrhage.

Sodium Aescinate Alleviates Neuropathic Pain in Rats by Suppressing the TLR4/NF KB Pathway Activation after Paclitaxel Chemotherapy

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant side effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. Many experiments have proved that sodium aescinate (SA) has definite pharmacological effects such as anti-infection, anti-exudation, anti-edema, anti-tumor as well as neuroprotection, and the drug side effects are mild. However, no study has explored whether SA is involved in the analgesic effect of paclitaxel (PAC) induced neuropathic pain in rats. Methods: Rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of PAC (2.5 mg/Kg intraperitoneally on days 1, 3, 5, and 7), while SA 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally was administered daily for 14 consecutive days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of rats were examined on experimental days 3, 5, 7, 11, 14. All rats were sacrificed on day 15 of the experiment, and L4-6 spinal cords were removed. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry, HE staining, ELISA, RT-qPCR, Western blotting were applied to evaluate cytoskeletal protein expression (NF-L and NF-M), spinal nerve structural integrity, proinflammatory factor contents (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and protein content of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, respectively. Results: After the rats developed PAC induced pain behaviors, multiple injections of SA rendered the rats with elevated MWT and TWL values, decreased expression of NF-L and NF-M in the spinal cord, materially downregulated content of proinflammatory factors, and reduced amounts of TLR4 and p-NF-κB protein levels. Conclusions: The results of the present study preliminarily indicate that SA has an analgesic effect on rats with CIPN induced by PAC injection, and the mechanism may be related to blocking the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory factors, and alleviating cytoskeletal disorders.

Dietary sodium acetate and sodium butyrate improve high-carbohydrate diet utilization by regulating gut microbiota, liver lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in largemouth bass(Micropterus salmoides)

Background Adequate level of carbohydrates in aquafeeds help to conserve protein and reduce cost. However, studies have indicated that high-carbohydrate(HC) diet disrupt the homeostasis of the gut–liver axis in largemouth bass, resulting in decreased intestinal acetate and butyrate level.Method Herein, we had concepted a set of feeding experiment to assess the effects of dietary sodium acetate(SA) and sodium butyrate(SB) on liver health and the intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass fed an HC diet. The experimental design comprised 5 isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, including LC(9% starch), HC(18% starch), HCSA(18% starch;2 g/kg SA), HCSB(18% starch;2 g/kg SB), and HCSASB(18% starch;1 g/kg SA + 1 g/kg SB). Juvenile largemouth bass with an initial body weight of 7.00 ± 0.20 g were fed on these diets for 56 d.Results We found that dietary SA and SB reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation by activating autophagy(ATG101, LC3B and TFEB), promoting lipolysis(CPT1α, HSL and AMPKα), and inhibiting adipogenesis(FAS, ACCA, SCD1 and PPARγ). In addition, SA and SB decreased oxidative stress in the liver(CAT, GPX1α and SOD1) by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Meanwhile, SA and SB alleviated HC-induced inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors(IL-1β, COX2 and Hepcidin1) through the NF-κB pathway. Importantly, SA and SB increased the abundance of bacteria that produced acetic acid and butyrate(Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1). Combined with the KEGG analysis, the results showed that SA and SB enriched carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, thereby improving the utilization of carbohydrates. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that growth performance was closely related to hepatic lipid deposition, autophagy, antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and intestinal microbial composition.Conclusions In conclusion, dietary SA and SB can reduce hepatic lipid deposition;and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in largemouth bass fed on HC diet. These beneficial effects may be due to the altered composition of the gut microbiota caused by SA and SB. The improvement effects of SB were stronger than those associated with SA.

Hierarchically Structured Nb_(2)O_5 Microflowers with Enhanced Capacity and Fast-Charging Capability for Flexible Planar Sodium Ion Micro-Supercapacitors

Planar Na ion micro-supercapacitors(NIMSCs) that offer both high energy density and power density are deemed to a promising class of miniaturized power sources for wearable and portable microelectron-ics. Nevertheless, the development of NIMSCs are hugely impeded by the low capacity and sluggish Na ion kinetics in the negative electrode.Herein, we demonstrate a novel carbon-coated Nb_(2)O_5 microflower with a hierarchical structure composed of vertically intercrossed and porous nanosheets, boosting Na ion storage performance. The unique structural merits, including uniform carbon coating, ultrathin nanosheets and abun-dant pores, endow the Nb_(2)O_5 microflower with highly reversible Na ion storage capacity of 245 mAh g^(-1) at 0.25 C and excellent rate capability.Benefiting from high capacity and fast charging of Nb_(2)O_5 microflower, the planar NIMSCs consisted of Nb_(2)O_5 negative electrode and activated car-bon positive electrode deliver high areal energy density of 60.7 μWh cm^(-2),considerable voltage window of 3.5 V and extraordinary cyclability. Therefore, this work exploits a structural design strategy towards electrode materials for application in NIMSCs, holding great promise for flexible microelectronics.

Phase-engineering modulation of Mn-based oxide cathode for constructing super-stable sodium storage

The Mn-based oxide cathode with enriched crystal phase structure and component diversity can provide the excellent chemistry structure for Na-ion batteries.Nevertheless,the broad application prospect is obstructed by the sluggish Na^(+)kinetics and the phase transitions upon cycling.Herein,we establish the thermodynamically stable phase diagram of various Mn-based oxide composites precisely controlled by sodium content tailoring strategy coupling with co-doping and solid-state reaction.The chemical environment of the P2/P'3 and P2/P3 biphasic composites indicate that the charge compensation mechanism stems from the cooperative contribution of anions and cations.Benefiting from the no phase transition to scavenge the structure strain,P2/P'3 electrode can deliver long cycling stability(capacity retention of 73.8%after 1000 cycles at 10 C)and outstanding rate properties(the discharge capacity of 84.08 mA h g^(-1)at 20 C)than P2/P3 electrode.Furthermore,the DFT calculation demonstrates that the introducing novel P'3 phase can significantly regulate the Na^(+)reaction dynamics and modify the local electron configuration of Mn.The effective phase engineering can provide a reference for designing other high-performance electrode materials for Na-ion batteries.

Free radicals trigger the closure of open pores in lignin-derived hard carbons toward improved sodium-storage capacity

The chemical activation of various precursors is effective for creating additional closed pores in hard carbons for sodium storage.However,the formation mechanism of closed pores under the influence of pore-forming agents is not well understood.Herein,an effective chemical activation followed by a high-temperature self-healing strategy is employed to generate interconnected closed pores in lignin-derived hard carbon(HCs).By systematic experimental design combined with electron paramagnetic res-onance spectroscopy,it can be found that the content of free radicals in the carbon matrix influences the closure of open pores at high temperatures.Excessively high activation temperature(>700 C)leads to a low free radical concentration,making it difficult to achieve self-healing of open pores at high tempera-tures.By activation at 700°C,a balance between pore making and self-healing is achieved in the final hard carbon.A large number of free radicals triggers rapid growth and aggregation of carbon microcrys-tals,blocking pre-formed open micropores and creating additional interconnected closed pores in as-obtained hard carbons.As a result,the optimized carbon anode(LK-700-1300)delivers a high reversible capacity of 330.8 mA h g^(-1) at 0.03 A g^(-1),which is an increase of 86 mA h g^(-1) compared to the pristine lignin-derived carbon anode(L-700-1300),and exhibits a good rate performance(202.1 mA h g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1)).This work provides a universal and effective guidance for tuning closed pores of hard carbons from otherprecursors.

Effect of sodium nitroprusside on the microrheological properties of red blood cells in different media

Red blood cell(RBC)aggregation as well as their deformation significantly affects blood microrheology.These processes depend on various factors,one of which is concentration of the nitric oxide,one of the main signaling molecule in the bloodstream.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nitric oxide on the microrheological properties of red blood cells(RBCs)in RBC samples of various media after the addition of nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside in vitro.Microrheological properties were measured using laser aggregometer and ektacytometer based on diffuse light scattering and diffraction of laser light on a suspension of RBCs,respectively.The study found that heparin-stabilized blood showed increased RBC aggregation and deformation with sodium nitroprusside concentrations of 100,and 200M,while EDTA-stabilized blood showed slightly decreased aggregation and unchanged deformation.With washed RBCs in dextran solution,the addition of sodium nitroprusside(in the concentrations of 100,and 200M)resulted in decreased aggregation and increased deformation.These-ndings aid in our understanding of nitric oxide's effect on RBC microrheological properties.

Comparative efficacy of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus:A real-world experience

BACKGROUND Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors(SGLT-2i)are a class of drugs with modest antidiabetic efficacy,weight loss effect,and cardiovascular benefits as proven by multiple randomised controlled trials(RCTs).However,real-world data on the comparative efficacy and safety of individual SGLT-2i medications is sparse.AIM To study the comparative efficacy and safety of SGLT-2i using real-world clinical data.METHODS We evaluated the comparative efficacy data of 3 SGLT-2i drugs(dapagliflozin,canagliflozin,and empagliflozin)used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Data on the reduction of glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),body weight,blood pressure(BP),urine albumin creatinine ratio(ACR),and adverse effects were recorded retrospectively.RESULTS Data from 467 patients with a median age of 64(14.8)years,294(62.96%)males and 375(80.5%)Caucasians were analysed.Median diabetes duration was 16.0(9.0)years,and the duration of SGLT-2i use was 3.6(2.1)years.SGLT-2i molecules used were dapagliflozin 10 mg(n=227;48.6%),canagliflozin 300 mg(n=160;34.3%),and empagliflozin 25 mg(n=80;17.1).Baseline median(interquartile range)HbA1c in mmol/mol were:dapagliflozin-78.0(25.3),canagliflozin-80.0(25.5),and empagliflozin-75.0(23.5)respectively.The respective median HbA1c reduction at 12 months and the latest review(just prior to the study)were:66.5(22.8)&69.0(24.0),67.0(16.3)&66.0(28.0),and 67.0(22.5)&66.5(25.8)respectively(P<0.001 for all comparisons from baseline).Significant improvements in body weight(in kilograms)from baseline to study end were noticed with dapagliflozin-101(29.5)to 92.2(25.6),and canagliflozin 100(28.3)to 95.3(27.5)only.Significant reductions in median systolic and diastolic BP,from 144(21)mmHg to 139(23)mmHg;(P=0.015),and from 82(16)mmHg to 78(19)mmHg;(P<0.001)respectively were also observed.A significant reduction of microalbuminuria was observed with canagliflozin only[ACR 14.6(42.6)at baseline to 8.9(23.7)at the study end;P=0.043].Adverse effects of SGLT-2i were as follows:genital thrush and urinary infection-20(8.8%)&17(7.5%)with dapagliflozin;9(5.6%)&5(3.13%)with canagliflozin;and 4(5%)&4(5%)with empagliflozin.Diabetic ketoacidosis was observed in 4(1.8%)with dapagliflozin and 1(0.63%)with canagliflozin.CONCLUSION Treatment of patients with SGLT-2i is associated with statistically significant reductions in HbA1c,body weight,and better than those reported in RCTs,with low side effect profiles.A review of large-scale real-world data is needed to inform better clinical practice decision making.

Cooperative effect of sodium lauryl sulfate collector and sodium pyrophosphate depressant on the flotation separation of lead oxide minerals from hematite

As a cornerstone of the national economy,the iron and steel industry generates a significant amount of sintering dust containing both valuable lead resources and deleterious elements.Flotation is a promising technique for lead recovery from sintering dust,but efficient separation from Fe_(2)O_(3) is still challenging.This study investigated the cooperative effect of sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS,C_(12)H_(25)SO_(4)Na)and sodium pyrophosphate(SPP,Na_(4)P_(2)O_(7))on the selective flotation of lead oxide minerals(PbOHCl and PbSO_(4))from hematite(Fe_(2)O_(3)).Optimal flotation conditions were first identified,resulting in high recovery of lead oxide minerals while inhibiting Fe_(2)O_(3) flotation.Zeta potential measurements,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)analysis,adsorption capacity analysis,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)studies offer insights into the adsorption behaviors of the reagents on mineral surfaces,revealing strong adsorption of SLS on PbOHCl and PbSO_(4) surfaces and remarkable adsorption of SPP on Fe_(2)O_(3).The proposed model of reagent adsorption on mineral surfaces illustrates the selective adsorption behavior,highlighting the pivotal role of reagent adsorption in the separation process.These findings contribute to the efficient and environmentally friendly utilization of iron ore sintering dust for lead recovery,paving the way for sustainable resource management in the iron and steel industry.

Sodium Sulfite as a Novel Hypoxia Revulsant Involved in Hypoxic Regulation in Escherichia coli

As a reducing salt,sodium sulfite could deprive oxygen in solution,which could mimic hypoxic stress in Caenorhabditis elegans.In this study,the wildtype Escherichia coli strain MG1655 was used to examine the inhibition of sodium sulfite-induced hypoxia by observing the bacterial growth curves.

A comparative study for petroleum removal capacities of the bacterial consortia entrapped in sodium alginate,sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol),and bushnell haas agar

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the degradation efficiencies of free and entrapped bacterial consortia(Staphylococcus capitis CP053957.1 and Achromobacter marplatensis MT078618.1)to different polymers such as Sodium Alginate(SA),Sodium Alginate/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)(SA/PVA),and Bushnell Haas Agar(BHA).In addition to SA and SA/PVA,which are cost-effective,non-toxic and have different functional groups,BHA,which is frequently encountered in laboratory-scale studies but has not been used as an entrapment material until now.Based on these,the polymers with different surface morphologies and chemical compositions were analyzed by SEM and FT-IR.While the petroleum removal efficiency was higher with the entrapped bacterial consortia than with the free one,BHA-entrapped bacterial consortium enhanced the petroleum removal more than SA and SA/PVA.Accordingly,the degradation rate of bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA was 2.039 day^(-1),SA/PVA was 1.560,SA was 0.993,the half-life period of BHA-entrapped bacterial consortia is quite low(t_(1/2)=0.339)compared with SA(t_(1/2)=0.444)and SA/PVA(t_(1/2)=0.697).The effects of the four main factors such as:amount of BHA(0.5,1,1.5,2,2.5,3 g),disc size(4,5,6,7,8 mm),inoculum concentration(1,2.5,5,7.5,10 mL),and incubation period on petroleum removal were also investigated.The maximum petroleum removal(94.5%)was obtained at≥2.5 mL of bacterial consortium entrapped in 2 g BHA with a 7 mm disc size at 168 h and the results were also confirmed by statistical analysis.Although a decrease was observed during the reuse of bacterial consortium entrapped in BHA,the petroleum removal was still above 50%at 10th cycle.Based on GC-MS analysis,the removal capacity of BHA-entrapped consortium was over 90%for short-chain n-alkanes and 80%for medium-chain n-alkanes.Overall,the obtained data are expected to provide a potential guideline in cleaning up the large-scale oil pollution in the future.Since there has been no similar study investigating petroleum removal with the bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA,this novel entrapment material can potentially be used in the treatment of petroleum pollution in advanced remediation studies.

Reversed-Phase-HPLC Assay Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Sorbitol, Sodium Lactate, and Sodium Chlorides in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Drug Solution for Infusion

A rapid, straightforward, sensitive, efficient, and cost-effective reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was employed for the simultaneous determination of Sorbitol, Sodium Lactate, and Chlorides in a drug solution for infusion. Sorbitol, Sodium lactate, and Chloride are all officially recognized in the USP monograph. Assay methods are provided through various techniques, with titrations being ineffective for trace-level quantification. Alternatively, IC, AAS, and ICP-MS, though highly accurate, are costly and often unavailable to most testing facilities. When considering methods, it’s important to prioritize both quality control requirements and user-friendly techniques. A simple HPLC simultaneous method was developed for the quantification of Chlorides, Sorbitol, and Sodium Lactate with a shorter run time. The separation utilized a Shimpack SCR-102(H) ion exclusion analytical column (7.9 mm × 300 mm, 7 μm), with a flow rate of 0.6 mL per min. The column compartment temperature was maintained at 40°C, and the injection volume was set at 10 μL, with detection at 200 nm. All measurements were conducted in a 0.1% solution of phosphoric acid. The analytical curves demonstrated linearity (r > 0.9999) in the concentration range of 0.79 to 3.8 mg per mL for Sodium Lactate (SL), 0.16 to 0.79 mg per mL for Sodium Chloride (SC), and 1.5 to 7.2 mg per mL for Sorbitol. Validation of the developed method followed the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH Q2B) and USP. The method exhibited precision, robustness, accuracy, and selectivity. In accelerated stability testing over 6 months, no significant variations were observed in organoleptic analysis and pH. Consequently, the developed method is deemed suitable for routine quality control analyses, enabling the simultaneous determination of Sodium Lactate, Sodium Chloride, and Sorbitol in pharmaceutical formulations and infusions.

Innovative Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA design:Leveraging Mn/O vacancies and amorphous architecture for enhanced sodium-ion storage

Manganese-based oxide electrode materials suffer from severe Jahn-Teller(J-T)distortion,leading to severe cycle instability in sodium ion storage.However,it is difficult to adjust the electron at d orbitals exactly to a low spin state to eliminate orbital degeneracy and suppress J-T distortion fundamentally.This article constructed concentration-controllable Mn/O coupled vacancy and amorphous network in Mn_(3)O_(4) and coated it with nitrogen-doped carbon aerogel(Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA).The existence of Mn/O vacancies has been confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy(PALS).Atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)determine the most optimal ratio of Mn/O vacancies for sodium ion storage is 1:2.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations prove that Mn/O coupled vacancies with the ratio of 1:2could exactly induce a low spin states and a d~4 electron configuration of Mn,suppressing the J-T distortion successfully.The abundant amorphous regions can shorten the transport distance of sodium ions,increase the electrochemically active sites and improve the pseudocapacitance response.From the synergetic effect of Mn/O coupled vacancies and amorphous regions,Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA exhibits an energy density of 37.5 W h kg^(-1)and an ultra-high power density of 563 W kg^(-1)in an asymmetric supercapacitor.In sodium-ion batteries,it demonstrates high reversible capacity and exceptional cycling stability.This research presents a new method to improve the Na^(+)storage performance in manganese-based oxide,which is expected to be generalized to other structural distortion.

Impact of Transition Metal Layer Vacancy on the Structure and Performance of P2 Type Layered Sodium Cathode Material

This study explores the impact of introducing vacancy in the transition metal layer of rationally designed Na_(0.6)[Ni_(0.3)Ru_(0.3)Mn_(0.4)]O_(2)(NRM)cathode material.The incorporation of Ru,Ni,and vacancy enhances the structural stability during extensive cycling,increases the operation voltage,and induces a capacity increase while also activating oxygen redox,respectively,in Na_(0.7)[Ni_(0.2)V_(Ni0.1)Ru_(0.3)Mn_(0.4)]O_(2)(V-NRM)compound.Various analytical techniques including transmission electron microscopy,X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy,operando X-ray diffraction,and operando differential electrochemical mass spectrometry are employed to assess changes in the average oxidation states and structural distortions.The results demonstrate that V-NRM exhibits higher capacity than NRM and maintains a moderate capacity retention of 81%after 100 cycles.Furthermore,the formation of additional lone-pair electrons in the O 2p orbital enables V-NRM to utilize more capacity from the oxygen redox validated by density functional calculation,leading to a widened dominance of the OP4 phase without releasing O_(2) gas.These findings offer valuable insights for the design of advanced high-capacity cathode materials with improved performance and sustainability in sodium-ion batteries.

Na_(3)P interphase reduces Na nucleation energy enabling stable anode-less sodium metal batteries

Sodium metal batteries(SMBs)are rising as viable alternatives to lithium-ion systems due to their superior energy density and sodium's relative abundance.However,SMBs face significant impediments,particularly the exceedingly high negative-to-positive capacity ratios(N/P ratios)which severely encumber energy density and hinder their practical application.Herein,a novel nucleophilic Na_(3)P interphase on aluminum foil has been designed to significantly lower the nucleation energy barrier for sodium atom deposition,resulting in a remarkable reduction of nucleation overpotential and efficient mitigation of dendritic growth at high sodium deposition of 5 mA h cm^(−2).The interphase promotes stable cycling in anode-less SMB configurations with a low N/P ratio of 1.4 and high cathode mass loading of 11.5 mg cm^(−2),and demonstrates a substantial increase in high capacity retention of 92.4%after 500 cycles even under 1 C rate condition.This innovation signifies a promising leap forward in the development of high-energy-density,anode-less SMBs,offering a potential solution to the longstanding issues of cycle stability and energy efficiency.