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Trace elements may play an important role in obesity. This study aimed to assess the plasma and dietary intake levels of four trace elements, Mn, Cu, Zn and Se in a rural Chinese population, and analyse the relationship between trace elements and obesity. A cross-sectional study involving 2587 participants was conducted. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between trace elements and obesity; restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to assess the dose–response relationship between trace elements and obesity; the weighted quantile sum (WQS) model was used to examine the potential interaction of four plasma trace elements on obesity. Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma Se concentrations in the fourth quartile (Q4) exhibited a lower risk of developing obesity than the first quartile (Q1) (central obesity: OR = 0·634, P = 0·002; general obesity: OR = 0·525, P = 0·005). Plasma Zn concentration in the third quartile (Q3) showed a lower risk of developing obesity in general obesity compared with the first quartile (Q1) (OR = 0·625, P = 0·036). In general obesity, the risk of morbidity was 1·727 and 1·923 times higher for the second and third (Q2, Q3) quartiles of dietary Mn intake than for Q1, respectively. RCS indicated an inverse U-shaped correlation between plasma Se and obesity. WQS revealed the combined effects of four trace elements were negatively associated with central obesity. Plasma Zn and Se were negatively associated with obesity, and dietary Mn was positively associated with obesity. The combined action of the four plasma trace elements had a negative effect on obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly studied the influence of the Si/Al ratio on the performance of the Cu/SSZ-13 catalyst synthesized by the ion exchange method. NH3-SCR experimental results show that the catalyst SAR10 has the best catalytic performance, and it can maintain a 100% conversion rate in the range of 250 °C to 600 °C. Although SAR6 samples with low Si/Al ratios have abundant active centers, their low temperature activity is poor due to their poor crystallinity. The decrease of the number of active sites available for exchange in the SAR25 sample with too high an Si/Al ratio results in a decrease in catalytic activity throughout the temperature range. The results of the in situ DRIFTS experiment show that the order of the number of Lewis acid sites and the content of monodentate nitrate adsorption sites is the same as the order of catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu/SSZ-13 catalyst with Si/Al ratio of 10 and Cu/Al ratio in the range of 0.005 to 0.5 was synthesized by ion exchange method. The effect of Cu/Al ratio on the performance, selectivity, and active center of the catalyst SCR was studied. The samples with too low Cu/Al ratio have low catalytic activity in the entire temperature range due to the small number of active sites. The samples with too high Cu/Al ratio have good performance in the low temperature range due to the large number of active sites. However, a large amount of copper that has not undergone ion exchange will generate CuO, which greatly enhances the oxidation of NH3 at high temperatures, which in turn leads to a decrease in catalytic performance at high temperatures. XRD and BET experiments show that all catalyst samples have good CHA crystal structure and microporous structure, and the pore size is mostly about 2 nm. In situ DRIFTS analysis shows that when the Cu/Al ratio is low, the proportion of Z2Cu in the active sites is higher, and the stability of the catalyst is enhanced. When the copper–aluminum ratio is high, the proportion of ZCuOH increases, and the low-temperature activity of the catalyst is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Our previous studies have shown that plumbagin effectively inhibits hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation. Thus, plumbagin-mediated anti-fibrotic effects in vivo merit further investigation. Methods: We used rat models to assess the potential benefits of plumbagin against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Results: The results showed that plumbagin lowered the serum concentrations of liver functional enzymes (ALT, AST, ALB, TBIL) in CCl4-fibrotic rats while reducing inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, TNF-α). As reflected in pathological examinations, rats that were administered plumbagin showed decreased collagen markers (HA, LN, PCIII and CIV) in liver tissues and improved hepatocellular impairments. In addition, plumbagin contributed to down-regulating NF-κB and TLR-4 mRNA in CCl4-lesioned livers. As revealed in the immunohistochemical assay, plumbagin-administered rats showed reduced levels of α-SMA and TNF-α immunoreactive cells in liver tissue. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings offer appealing evidence that plumbagin may serve as an anti-fibrotic medication through inactivating the NF-κB/TLR-4 pathway that is associated with inflammatory reactions, thereby mitigating liver fibrosis. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To observe the effects of water decoction of Plumbago zeylanica Linn, on the proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of rats hepatic stellate cells, and to discuss the function and mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis of P. zeylanica. [Methods] SD rats were given water decoction of P. zeylanica by gavage, so as to obtain medicated serum. Medicated serum was incubated together with hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) according to different dosage groups. Blank control group was desgined; and medicated serum groups of colchicine and Compound Biejiaruangan Tablet were taken as the positive control groups. Proliferation of HSC-T6 was detected after incubation by MTT colorimetry; cell apoptosis and the DNA content in each cell phase was detected by flow cytometer. [Results] Inhibitory rate and apoptosis rate; compared with blank control, inhibitory rate and apoptosis rate in medicated serum groups enhanced significantly, showing significant differences (P < 0. 01). When the dosage of medicated serum was within 5% -20%, inhibitory rate and apoptosis rate of HSC-T6 enhanced as dosage increased. Inhibitory rate and apoptosis rate in medicated serum group of high dosage were significantly higher than those in colchicine groups, but was equal to those in Compound Biejiaruangan Tablet group. Cell cycle; there were no significant changes in cell percentage in each group at G2/M phase.compared with blank control group, cell percentages of medicated serum groups of P. zeylanica enhanced significantly at G0/G1 phase, and reduced significantly at S phase, showing significant changes (P < 0.01). When the dosage of medicated serum reduced within 20% - 5%, the cell percentage gradually declined at G0/G1 phase, and gradually increased at S phase. Under the same serum concentration, cell percentage of P. zeylanica group enhanced significantly at G0/G1 phase and decreased obviously at S phase compared with that of colchicine group. There were no significant changes in Compound Biejiaruangan Tablet group. [Conclusions] Medicated serum of P. zeylanica could restrict Gl/S proliferation and induce its apoptosis, showing a dose-dependent manner. Medicated serum group of P. zeylanica had stronger effects than medicated serum group of colchicine, while had equal effects to the group of Compound Biejiaruangan Tablet. The mechanism of medicated serum of P. zeylanica in inhibiting HSC-T6 proliferation was to block cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and to prevent it from passing Gl/S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To observe the effects of extracts from RADIX CURCUMAE grown in Guangxi on the human hepatic stellate cells, and to find out its effects on proliferation and apoptosis rate. [Methods] After drug incubation of human hepatic stellate cells (HSC-LX2) for 48 h, inhibition rate of cell proliferation was detected by MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium) colorimetric method; cell apoptosis in each status was measured by flow cytometry (ANNEXIN V-PE/7-AAD double staining). [Results] Extracts in low-, middle- and high-dosage groups of RADIX CURCUMAE could restrict the proliferation of HSC-LX2. The inhibitory rates at 48 h were 15.4%, 49.1% and 58. 3%, respectively. IC50 value at 48 h was 45 [μmol/L. Early and late apoptosis of cells could be induced. The percentages of total apoptotic cells at 48 h were 20.7%, 29.8% and 34.4%, respectively. [Conclusions] Extracts from RADIX CURCUMAE grown in Guangxi could restrict the HSC-LX2 proliferation and induce the cell apoptosis, so as to affect the hepatic fibrosis. All these abilities mentioned above showed a dose-dependent manner. And these abilities in middle- and high-dosage groups of RADIX CURCUMAE were significantly stronger than those in colchicine group and compound Biejiaruangan Tablet group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]