Direct Synthesis of Zeolites from a Natural Clay, Attapulgite

Presently, chemical Si/Al sources are predominantly used as raw materials for the synthesis of zeolites in spite of their high cost. Here, we report for the first time the direct synthesis of a ZSM-5 zeolite by using a natural clay, attapulgite (ATP), as the low-cost and environmentally benign Si/Al source through a vapor-induced transformation (VIT) method, in which the vapor diffuses into ATP and interacts with the framework. In a crystallization recipe, ATP is well present with a pristine crystal structure, and the yield of zeolite reaches 96%. The resultant zeolite exhibits well-defined crystallinity and porosity, which are comparable to the counterpart synthesized from traditional chemical Si/Al sources. In the synthetic process, the formation of Si–F species plays an important role, which promotes the transformation of an ATP crystal to a zeolite crystal. Meanwhile, the metal elements (e.g., Al, Fe, and Mg) of ATP exist in the zeolite products, and at least part of them are located in the zeolite framework, which endows the zeolite with excellent catalytic activity. Direct synthesis of various zeolite crystals including TON, MOR, and *BEA from ATP is also realized via the VIT method. Our work provides a green and economic alternative for the synthesis of zeolites using natural clays instead of chemical raw materials

Characterisation of oligosaccharides from <i>Baizhu</i> by HILIC-MS

<div><p>Polysaccharides from <i>Baizhu</i> were separated by preparative hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography on an XAmide column and its components were characterised as inulin-type polysaccharides with structures of α-D-glucopyranosyl-[-(1 → 2) -β-D-fructofuranosyl-]_{<i>n</i> − 1}-(1 → 2) -β-D-fructofuranoside (<i>n</i> = 3–20) by a combinatory application of electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and IR, as well as the chemical analysis of monosaccharide composition. In addition, the contents of nystose and 1F-fructofranosylnystose in the crude and purified <i>Baizhu</i> polysaccharides were determined to be 5.81%, 4.92% and 0.70%, 0.84% (w/w), respectively. In addition, MTT assay indicated that the <i>Baizhu</i> polysaccharides could effectively promote spleen lymphocyte transformation for the enhancement of organism immunity. It is for the first time that inulin-type polysaccharides were discovered in <i>Baizhu</i> and its immuno-enhancing activity was reported, which is a vigorous evidence to explain the efficacy of <i>Baizhu</i>.</p></div

Additional file 2: of Microarray expression profile analysis of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in pulmonary tuberculosis with different traditional Chinese medicine syndromes

Sample data for TB PYD, HFYD, and DQY patients and healthy controls. (DOCX 15 kb

Additional file 1: of Microarray expression profile analysis of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in pulmonary tuberculosis with different traditional Chinese medicine syndromes

Clinical data for TB cases with PYD, HFYD and DQY syndromes and normal reference ranges. P values between TB cases with PYD, HFYD and DQY syndromes and the normal reference range were determined by one-sample t-test after taking the logarithm and comparison to the median. *P < 0.05. **P < 0.01. *** P < 0.001 (DOCX 17 kb

Serum amyloid A, protein Z, and C4b-binding protein β chain as new potential biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis

<div><p>The aim of this study was to discover novel biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Differentially expressed proteins in the serum of patients with TB were screened and identified by iTRAQ-two dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 79 abnormal proteins were discovered in patients with TB compared with healthy controls. Of these, significant differences were observed in 47 abnormally expressed proteins between patients with TB or pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with TB (n = 136) exhibited significantly higher levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), vitamin K-dependent protein Z (PROZ), and C4b-binding protein β chain (C4BPB) than those in healthy controls (n = 66) (<i>P</i><0.0001 for each) albeit significantly lower levels compared with those in patients with pneumonia (n = 72) (<i>P</i><0.0001 for each) or COPD (n = 72) (<i>P</i><0.0001, <i>P</i><0.0001, <i>P</i> = 0.0016, respectively). After 6 months of treatment, the levels of SAA and PROZ were significantly increased (<i>P</i> = 0.022, <i>P</i><0.0001, respectively), whereas the level of C4BPB was significantly decreased (<i>P</i> = 0.0038) in treated TB cases (n = 72). Clinical analysis showed that there were significant differences in blood clotting and lipid indices in patients with TB compared with healthy controls, patients with pneumonia or COPD, and treated TB cases (<i>P</i><0.05). Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between PROZ and INR (rs = 0.414, <i>P</i> = 0.044), and between C4BPB and FIB (rs = 0.617, <i>P</i> = 0.0002) in patients with TB. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve value of the diagnostic model combining SAA, PROZ, and C4BPB to discriminate the TB group from the healthy control, pneumonia, COPD, and cured TB groups was 0.972, 0.928, 0.957, and 0.969, respectively. Together, these results suggested that SAA, PROZ, and C4BPB may serve as new potential biomarkers for TB. Our study may thus provide experimental data for the differential diagnosis of TB.</p></div

Correlation analysis of differentially expressed proteins and clinical coagulation indices.

<p>Correlation analysis of differentially expressed proteins and clinical coagulation indices.</p

Flowchart of the experimental design.

<p>Differentially expressed proteins were identified and quantified by applying iTRAQ-2DLC-MS/MS technology and by ELISA.</p

Serum proteins levels in the healthy controls, patients with TB, and treated TB cases.

<p>(A) SAA. (B) PROZ. (C) C4BPB. TB: pulmonary tuberculosis. <i>P</i> value <0.05 indicates statistical significance using the Mann-Whitney U test. *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> < 0.01, ***<i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed proteins.

<p>(A) Biological process (GO analysis). (B) Molecular function (GO analysis). (C) Cellular component (GO analysis). (D) KEGG analysis. (E) Functional network of differentially expressed proteins. ECM: extracellular matrix; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; PPAR: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor.</p

Clinical data of patients with TB, healthy controls, patients with pneumonia or COPD, and treated TB cases.

<p>Clinical data of patients with TB, healthy controls, patients with pneumonia or COPD, and treated TB cases.</p