Effects of Tert-Butylhydroquinone on Intestinal Inflammatory Response and Apoptosis following Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can induce intestinal inflammatory response and mucosal injury. Antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been shown in our previous studies to prevent oxidative stress and inflammatory response in gut after TBI. The objective of this study was to test whether tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), an Nrf2 inducer, can protect against TBI-induced intestinal inflammatory response and mucosal injury in mice. Adult male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: (1) sham + vehicle group, (2) TBI + vehicle group, and (3) TBI + tBHQ group (n = 12 per group). Closed head injury was adopted using Hall's weight-dropping method. Intestinal mucosa apoptosis and inflammatory-related factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), were investigated at 24 h after TBI. As a result, we found that oral treatment with 1% tBHQ prior to TBI for one week markedly decreased NF-κB activation, inflammatory cytokines production, and ICAM-1 expression in the gut. Administration of tBHQ also significantly attenuated TBI-induced intestinal mucosal apoptosis. The results of the present study suggest that tBHQ administration could suppress the intestinal inflammation and reduce the mucosal damage following TBI

Disruption of Nrf2 Enhances Upregulation of Nuclear Factor-κB Activity, Proinflammatory Cytokines, and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in the Brain after Traumatic Brain Injury

Inflammatory response plays an important role in the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that plays a crucial role in cytoprotection against inflammation. The present study investigated the role of Nrf2 in the cerebral upregulation of NF-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokine, and ICAM-1 after TBI. Wild-type Nrf2 (+/+) and Nrf2 (−/−)-deficient mice were subjected to a moderately severe weight-drop impact head injury. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed to analyze the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to quantify the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Immunohistochemistry staining experiments were performed to detect the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Nrf2 (−/−) mice were shown to have more NF-κB activation, inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production, and ICAM-1 expression in brain after TBI compared with their wild-type Nrf2 (+/+) counterparts. The results suggest that Nrf2 plays an important protective role in limiting the cerebral upregulation of NF-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokine, and ICAM-1 after TBI

Rainfall thresholds of shallow landslides in Wuyuan County of Jiangxi Province, China

Rainfall is a critical factor inducing landslides, and thus the study of rainfall thresholds is of great significance for the prediction and prevention of landslides. In June 2017, infrastructures such as electric power pylons and roads were threatened by group-occurring landslides due to continuous heavy rainfall in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province of China. Based on the analysis of the rainfall data from March to September in this region, the lower (92.4 mm/d) and the upper (217.1 mm/d) empirical rainfall thresholds were determined. The soil water characteristic parameters of a typical landslide were determined by laboratory tests and back-analysis. Then, the factor of safety (FOS) versus time and the mechanical response of failure process with rainfall infiltration were examined. The results showed that during rainfall infiltration, the pore-water pressure increased, while the matrix suction and the stability decreased gradually. After the rain, the FOS increased slowly to a constant value, which was smaller than the initial. The physical rainfall threshold (200 mm/d), determined using 18 numerical simulation tests considering different rainfall intensities and amounts, was consistent with the empirical rainfall threshold. The methods developed in this work provide a useful tool for the prediction of landslides under extreme rainfall conditions

Incorporation of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites into g-C3N4 for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

CsPbBr3 perovskite-based composites so far have been synthesized by postdeposition of CsPbBr3 on a parent material. However, in situ construction offers enhanced surface contact, better activity, and improved stability. Instead of applying a typical thermal condensation at highly elevated temperatures, we report for the first time CsPb(Br x Cl1-x )3/graphitic-C3N4 (CsPbX3/g-C3N4) composites synthesized by a simple and mild solvothermal route, with enhanced efficacy in visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The composite exhibited a CO production rate of 28.5 μmol g-1 h-1 at an optimized loading amount of g-C3N4. This rate is about five times those of pure g-C3N4 and CsPbBr3. This work reports a new in situ approach for constructing perovskite-based heterostructure photocatalysts with enhanced light-harvesting ability and improved solar energy conversion efficiency.status: publishe

13C-Urea Breath Test for the Diagnosis of H. pylori Infection in Patients after Partial Gastrectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) is a kind of safe, noninvasive, and reliable measure for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection diagnosis in patients with complete stomach. Nevertheless, the test has not indicated fully precision in people who have had a gastrectomy. So, we made the use of a systematic review of plentiful published resources and research and meta-analysis. There are prominent research achievements regarding of utilizing 13C-UBT for H. pylori infection patients diagnosis with the residual stomach. Method We searched publications available on Cochrane, PubMed, and Embase databases, and on the web of science. The last search was performed in May 2021. The basis model for this meta-analysis was fixed-effect through Metadisc Beta 1.4 software (Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain). When measuring the precision of 13C-urea breath test, we utilized the ratio analysis such as Ratio of diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results Ten associated researches were analyzed with a total of 1065 patients. In general, the sensitivity of included studies ranged from 0.40 to 1.00 (I2 = 81.2%), whereas the specificity ranged from 0.59 to 1.00 (I2 = 90.1%). The pooled sensitivity, specificity were 0.83 (95% CI, 0.79–0.86; P < 0.001), 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76–0.83; P < 0.001) respectively. The accuracy ranged from 71 to 99. The positive predictive values ranged from 45 to 100. The negative predictive values ranged from 53 to 100. The combined DOR was 36.02 (95%CI 15.65–82.92; I2 = 65.8%; P = 0.0018). The corresponding AUC for the SROC curve was 0.92 and the Q value was 0.85. Conclusion In conclusion, the outcomes of meta-analysis indicate that during the period of patients’ diagnosis in H. pylori infection, who undergoes partial gastrectomy, has high accuracy

One-century sediment records of heavy metal pollution on the southeast Mongolian Plateau: Implications for air pollution trend in China

Historical records of heavy metals from remote areas are important for assessing temporal pollution trends of the regional atmosphere. Based on comparison analyses of heavy metals, Pb isotopes, and total carbon in sediment cores from two relatively remote lakes on the southeast Mongolian Plateau, atmospheric heavy metal pollution trends during similar to 1900-2016 were reconstructed. The current anthropogenic fluxes of Zn, Cd and Pb in the region are 11.7, 0.104 and 2.44 mg m(-2) yr(-1), respectively, close to those in Lake Sayram in West China, but lower than most other records in China. Anthropogenic metal fluxes and Pb-206/Pb-207 ratios suggest that (1) before similar to 1950 atmospheric metal pollution was negligible in the region; (2) since similar to 1950, the pollution became detectable but was relatively slight until similar to 1980, corresponded with the beginning of socio-economic development after the foundation of China in 1949 and the rapid development after the Reform and Opening-up in 1978; and (3) since similar to 2000, atmospheric Pb stopped increasing because of the phasing out of leaded gasoline. Based on comparison and fitting analyses with other sediment records, a similar four-stage evolution picture of atmospheric heavy metals in China over the last century was uncovered. This study indicates rapid increase trends of atmospheric heavy metals in China since similar to 1980 associated with economic development. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved