ADSORPTION MECHANISM OF TOXIC METAL IONS BY CLAY (ATTAPULGITE)

A series of adsorption tests were conducted to analyze the sorption capacity of attapulgite. Ions such as cobalt, nickel, lead and cadmium were adsorbed from waste solutions onto attapulgite surface. Adsorption depletion tests were performed as a function of solid to liquid ratio, conditioning time, heavy metal ion concentration, and pH to identify the mode and extent of interactions in the system. Conditioning time data confirm that ion exchange is nearly complete after 30 seconds indicating the fast kinetics of the ion exchange process. Solid to liquid ratio data suggest that optimum ratio is 50g/Liter. The adsorption isotherms constructed as function of heavy metal concentration and pH reveal that adsorption of metal ions increase in the order of Co> Ni> Cd> Pb. The attapulgite was found to be rather receptive to the adsorption of heavy metal ions, and fairly high amounts of calcium, potassium and magnesium ions were desorbed from the attapulgite into the solution. A quantitative analysis of the adsorption results indicates that a one-to-one ion exchange mechanism is responsible for the incorporation of cations into the structure of attapulgite. The results show that attapulgite. Similar to sepiolite, is a potential clay mineral for the removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater streams

Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Expression and Acyl-Ghrelin in Egyptian Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver

BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is a gut hormone with various functions including energy metabolism and inflammation inhibition.Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) participates in the initiation and the progression of inflammation, particularly, the cardiovascular and adipose tissue inflammation. To date the combined role of Ghrelin and NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a matter of debate. AIM:To investigate whether acyl ghrelin level and NF-kappaB could interplay a role in lipid metabolism and inflammatory injury in NAFLD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety three adult participates were included in the study, 30 patients had proved nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 38 patients had simple steatosis, as well 25 healthy subjects, matched for age, gender and Body mass index (BMI) to the patients were included in the study as a healthy control group. Full history and clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography and liver biopsy were done when indicated. Liver function tests, lipid profile, blood sugar, insulin and C- peptide, fasting insulin, and plasma acyl ghrelin concentrations were measured. Nuclear NF-kB mRNA expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Fasting insulin, insulin C-peptide, HOMA-IR, AST, ALT and g-GT were significantly increased and HDL-C was significantly decreased in NAFLD group compared to control group. In addition, a significant increase in ALT, g-GT, fasting insulin, insulin C peptide and HOMA-IR were detected in the NASH group compared to group of simple steatosis. The plasma levels of Acyl-ghrelin was significantly decreased in NAFLD groups compared to normal control group, the lowest level was detected in NASH group as compared to group of simple steatosis. The expression of NF-kB mRNA was significantly increased in NAFLD groups compared to normal control group and its level was significantly increased in NASH compared to simple steatosis. The NF-kB mRNA was positively correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, ALT, fasting insulin, insulin C-peptide and liver histopathology and acyl-ghrelin was inversely correlated with BMI, HOMR-IR, ALT, fasting insulin, insulin C peptide and liver histopathology. Both were significantly correlated with HDL-C. CONCLUSION: Acyl ghrelin attenuated NAFLD-induced liver injury through down regulation of NF-kappaB and they are associated with disease progression.nbspFurther large scale studies are recommended to consider ghrelin as promising drug for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD