Suppressive Effect of Hydroquinone, a Benzene Metabolite, on In Vitro Inflammatory Responses Mediated by Macrophages, Monocytes, and Lymphocytes

We investigated the inhibitory effects of hydroquinone on cytokine release, phagocytosis, NO production, ROS generation, cell-cell/cell fibronectin adhesion, and lymphocyte proliferation. We found that hydroquinone suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6], secretion of toxic molecules [nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)], phagocytic uptake of FITC-labeled dextran, upregulation of costimulatory molecules, U937 cell-cell adhesion induced by CD18 and CD29, and the proliferation of lymphocytes from the bone marrow and spleen. Considering that (1) environmental chemical stressors reduce the immune response of chronic cigarette smokers and children against bacterial and viral infections and that (2) workers in petroleum factories are at higher risk for cancer, our data suggest that hydroquinone might pathologically inhibit inflammatory responses mediated by monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes

BAY 11-7082 Is a Broad-Spectrum Inhibitor with Anti-Inflammatory Activity against Multiple Targets

BAY 11-7082 (BAY) is an inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK) that has pharmacological activities that include anticancer, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, BAY-pharmacological target pathways were further characterized to determine how this compound simultaneously suppresses various responses. Primary and cancerous (RAW264.7 cells) macrophages were activated by lipopolysaccharide, a ligand of toll-like receptor 4. As reported previously, BAY strongly suppressed the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and tumor necrosis factor-α and reduced the translocation of p65, major subunit of nuclear factor-κB, and its upstream signaling events such as phosphorylation of IκBα, IKK, and Akt. In addition, BAY also suppressed the translocation and activation of activator protein-1, interferon regulatory factor-3, and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 by inhibiting the phosphorylation or activation of extracellular signal-related kinase, p38, TANK-binding protein, and Janus kinase-2. These data strongly suggest that BAY is an inhibitor with multiple targets and could serve as a lead compound in developing strong anti-inflammatory drugs with multiple targets in inflammatory responses

Experimental Study on Fire Resistance Performance of a Hollow Slab Using a Lightweight Hollow Sphere

This study evaluates the fire resistance performance (1–2h) of a reinforced concrete (RC) structure-void slab using a lightweight hollow sphere, which can reduce the unnecessary dynamic of removing the central concrete. For this experiment, we set up the depth of the concrete cover, live load, and span length as the factors. The result comes out with 50 mm cover depth of the RC structure hollow slab secured. It was shown that 120 minutes of fire resistance performance can be secured regardless of the length of the structure and loading. Among these factors, the resisting capability changes more sensitively with the live load rather than the thickness of cover. The shorter span in length could assure better fire resistance performance

Experimental Study on the Fire Resistance Performance of Prestressed Composite Beam with Corrugated Web under Standard Fire with Loading Condition

In this study, fire resistance tests were performed on a conventional slim floor beam and a prestressed composite beam with corrugated webs, which is suitable for a long-span structure with a reduction in story height by utilizing the prestress and accordion effect. In the fire test program, the ISO 834 standard fire curve was adopted. Key test variables were the effect of prestress, shape of corrugated webs, and thickness of sprayed fireproofing material. All of the test specimens demonstrated enhanced fire resistance performance exceeding the expected performance level. The prestressed composite beams with corrugated webs especially showed excellent fire performance, considering these specimens had thin fireproofing thickness compared to the conventional slim floor specimen

The Study on Fire Safety by a Real-Scale Combustion Experiment of Composite Material

In this study, a real-scale combustion experiment was carried out for a Styrofoam and glass wool sandwich panel to figure out the fire safety for the composite material used for a building. In the experiment, a heat release rate of a sandwich panel was measured by the ISO 9705 fire test method. Research has also tested and compared temperature change in the Large Scale Calorimeter (LSC) experiment equipment to evaluate the structural safety of the structure body. As a result of the experiment, the structural body with the Styrofoam sandwich panel collapsed which was caused by propagation, and in case of the glass wool sandwich panel, the combustion did no propagate inside. Since the composite material experiences various types of fire hazards depending on the combustion characteristics of the core material, the exact combustion characteristic should be expected by the full-scale combustion experiment

Kinetic study for the optimization of ginsenoside Rg3 production by heat treatment of ginsenoside Rb1

AbstractBackgroundGinsenoside Rg3 is a promising anticancer agent. It is usually produced by heat treatment of ginseng, in which ginsenoside Rb1 is the major ginsenoside. A kinetic study was conducted to optimize ginsenoside Rg3 production by the heat treatment of ginsenoside Rb1.MethodsGinsenoside Rb1 was heated using an isothermal machine at 80°C and 100°C and analyzed using HPLC. The kinetic parameters were calculated from the experimental results. The activation energy was estimated and used to simulate the process. The optimized parameters of ginsenoside Rg3 production are suggested based on the simulation.ResultsThe rate constants were 0.013 h−1 and 0.073 h−1 for the degradation of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at 80°C, respectively. The corresponding rate constants at 100°C were 0.045 h−1 and 0.155 h−1. The estimated activation energies of degradation of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 were 69.2 kJ/mol and 40.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The rate constants at different temperatures were evaluated using the estimated activation energies, and the kinetic profiles of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 at each temperature were simulated based on the proposed kinetic model of consecutive reaction. The optimum strategies for producing ginsenoside Rg3 from ginsenoside Rb1 are suggested based on the simulation. With increased temperature, a high concentration of ginsenoside Rg3 is formed rapidly. However, the concentration decreases quickly after the reaching the maximal concentration value.ConclusionThe optimum temperature for producing ginsenoside Rg3 should be the highest temperature technically feasible below 180°C, in consideration of the cooling time. The optimum reaction time for heat treatment is 30 min