Baicalin is reported as an effective drug for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, its effect on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the ...role of baicalin on Th17/Treg balance, gut microbiota community, and SCFAs levels in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC rat model. We found the DAI scores were significantly increased in the TNBS-treated rats, while reduced in the baicalin-treated group in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied with the alleviation of mucosal injury, the reduction of ZO-1, Occludin, and MUC2 expression. At the meanwhile, baicalin repressed the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MDA, while deceased the GSH and SOD levels in colon tissue of rats treated with TNBS. On the other hand, administration of baicalin attenuated the TNBS-induced upregulations of Th17/Treg ratio, indicating a strong amelioration in the colorectal inflammation. More importantly, pyrosequencing of the V4 regions of 16S rRNA genes in rat feces revealed a deviation of the gut microbiota in response to baicalin treatment. In particular, the decreased
Firmicutes
-to-
Bacteroidetes
ratios and endotoxin-bearing
Proteobacteria
levels indicated that baicalin reversed TNBS-induced gut dysbiosis OTUs. In addition, we further investigated the fecal levels of major SCFAs in rats and found that baicalin significantly resorted the fecal butyrate levels in rats treated with TNBS. The increased butyrate levels were in consistent with the higher abundance of butyrate-producing species such as
Butyricimonas
spp.,
Roseburia
spp.,
Subdoligranulum
spp., and
Eubacteriu
spp. in baicalin-treated group. In conclusion, our findings suggest that baicalin possibly protected rats against ulcerative colitis by regulation of Th17/Treg balance, and modulation of both gut microbiota and SCFAs. Baicalin may be used as a prebiotic agent to treat ulcerative colitis-associated inflammation and gut dysbiosis.
The high-efficiency catalyst is the key factor of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) catalytic combustion. Herein, hierarchical core–shell Al2O3@Pd-CoAlO (Pd-CoAlO-Al) microspheres have been ...successfully prepared and used for toluene combustion. The experimental results reveal that the core–shell Pd-CoAlO-Al exhibits outstanding catalytic efficiency due to the homogeneous distribution of Pd-CoAlO nanosheets on Al2O3 supports and the strong interaction between the catalytically active Pd-CoAlO nanosheets and the Al2O3 supports. In particular, the catalytically active PdO contributes to the excellent catalytic efficiency. In addition, the in situ DRIFTS results indicate that the benzoate species are the main intermediate species in toluene combustion.
MO x /ABO3 is a promising catalyst for the high-efficiency removal of volatile organic compounds. However, this catalyst is limited on practical applications due to its complex synthesis procedure ...and high cost. In this work, the MnO2/LaMnO3 catalyst was prepared in situ using a facile one-step method for the first time, in which partial La cations were selectively removed from three dimensionally chain-like ordered macroporous (3DOM) LaMnO3 material. After selective removal, the obtained MnO2/LaMnO3 sample expressed an excellent catalytic performance on toluene oxidation. Toluene could be completely oxidized into CO2 and H2O at 290 °C over the MnO2/LaMnO3 catalyst with a toluene/oxygen molar ratio of 1/100 and a space velocity of 120 000 mL/(g h). In addition, the apparent activation energy value of MnO2/LaMnO3 was 57 kJ/mol, which was lower than those of other metal oxides catalysts. According to O2-TPD and XPS results, it is concluded that the high catalytic performance of MnO2/LaMnO3 was mainly associated with the large amount of oxygen species and the excellent lattice oxygen mobility. MnO2/LaMnO3 is a promising catalyst for the practical removal of volatile organic compounds due to its high efficiency, good stability, low cost, and convenient preparation.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease that mainly affects the colon and rectum. It is believed that genetic factors, host immune system disorders, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and ...environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of UC. However, studies on the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of UC have been inconclusive. Studies have shown that probiotics improve intestinal mucosa barrier function and immune system function and promote secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, thereby inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can reduce bowel permeability and thus the severity of disease by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids, especially butyrate, which help maintain the integrity of the epithelial barrier. FMT can also restore immune dysbiosis by inhibiting Th1 differentiation, activity of T cells, leukocyte adhesion, and production of inflammatory factors. Probiotics and FMT are being increasingly used to treat UC, but their use is controversial because of uncertain efficacy. Here, we briefly review the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of UC.
Background Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been widely used in clinical practice. Objective To provide systematically pooled results on the indications and detection, completion, and retention rates of ...small-bowel CE. Design A systematic review. Main Outcome Measurements We searched the PubMed database (2000-2008) for original articles relevant to small-bowel CE for the evaluation of patients with small-bowel signs and symptoms. Data on the total number of capsule procedures, the distribution of different indications for the procedures, the percentages of procedures with positive detection (detection rate), complete examination (completion rate), or capsule retention (retention rate) were extracted and/or calculated, respectively. In addition, the detection, completion, and retention rates were also extracted and/or calculated in relation to indications such as obscure GI bleeding (OGIB), definite or suspected Crohn's disease (CD), and neoplastic lesions. Results A total of 227 English-language original articles involving 22,840 procedures were included. OGIB was the most common indication (66.0%), followed by the indication of only clinical symptoms reported (10.6%), and definite or suspected CD (10.4%). The pooled detection rates were 59.4%; 60.5%, 55.3%, and 55.9%, respectively, for overall, OGIB, CD, and neoplastic lesions. Angiodysplasia was the most common reason (50.0%) for OGIB. The pooled completion rate was 83.5%, with the rates being 83.6%, 85.4%, and 84.2%, respectively, for the 3 indications. The pooled retention rates were 1.4%, 1.2%, 2.6%, and 2.1%, respectively, for overall and the 3 indications. Limitations Inclusion and exclusion criteria were loosely defined. Conclusions The pooled detection, completion, and retention rates are acceptable for total procedures. OGIB is the most common indication for small-bowel CE, with a high detection rate and low retention rate. In addition, angiodysplasia is the most common finding in patients with OGIB. A relatively high retention rate is associated with definite or suspected CD and neoplasms.
3,4-Ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT), as a monomer of commercial conductive poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT), has been facilely incorporated into a series of new π-conjugated polymer-based ...photocatalysts,
, BSO
-EDOT, DBT-EDOT, Py-EDOT and DFB-EDOT, through atom-economic C-H direct arylation polymerization (DArP). The photocatalytic hydrogen production (PHP) test shows that donor-acceptor (D-A)-type BSO
-EDOT renders the highest hydrogen evolution rate (HER) among the linear conjugated polymers (CPs) ever reported. A HER up to 0.95 mmol h
/6 mg under visible light irradiation and an unprecedented apparent quantum yield of 13.6% at 550 nm are successfully achieved. Note that the photocatalytic activities of the C-H/C-Br coupling-derived EDOT-based CPs are superior to those of their counterparts derived from the classical C-Sn/C-Br Stille coupling, demonstrating that EDOT is a promising electron-rich building block which can be facilely integrated into CP-based photocatalysts. Systematic studies reveal that the enhanced water wettability by the integration of polar BSO
with hydrophilic EDOT, the increased electron-donating ability by O-C p-π conjugation, the improved electron transfer by D-A architecture, broad light harvesting, and the nano-sized colloidal character in a H
O/NMP mixed solvent rendered BSO
-EDOT as one of the best CP photocatalysts toward PHP.
The polyoxometalate (POM) cluster of PW11O397- (PW11) has been successfully covalent combined with the three dimensionally ordered macroporous graphitic carbon nitride (3DOM g-C3N4) through the ...organic linker strategy. The characterization such as solid-state NMR and XPS results confirm the organosilicon agent of (triethoxysilyl)-propyl isocyanate can act as the linker to covalent combine the PW11 cluster with 3DOM g-C3N4. The hybrid catalyst of 3DOM g-C3N4-PW11 exhibits efficient catalytic performance (2.4μmolh−1) for light-driven H2O2 production from H2O and O2 in the absence of organic electron donors. The ESR results suggest that one-electron reduction of O2 to •OOH is indeed suppressed over 3DOM g-C3N4-PW11. Furthermore, the Koutecky-Levich plot obtained from electrochemical rotating disk electrode (RDE) analysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for 3DOM g-C3N4-PW11 reveals the value of electron transfer during the ORR process is 2.30, indicating the covalent combination can promote the two-electron O2 reduction. In addition, the recycle experiment results reveal that the heterogeneous 3DOM g-C3N4-PW11 is catalytic stable.
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•Polyoxometalates have been covalent combined with graphitic carbon nitride.•3DOM g-C3N4-PW11 catalyzes the light-driven H2O2 production efficiently.•Covalent combination can promote the two electron reduction of O2 to H2O2.
Inferior charge transport in insulating and bulk discharge products is one of the main factors resulting in poor cycling stability of lithium-oxygen batteries with high overpotential and large ...capacity decay. Here we report a two-step oxygen reduction approach by pre-depositing a potassium carbonate layer on the cathode surface in a potassium-oxygen battery to direct the growth of defective film-like discharge products in the successive cycling of lithium-oxygen batteries. The formation of defective film with improved charge transport and large contact area with a catalyst plays a critical role in the facile decomposition of discharge products and the sustained stability of the battery. Multistaged discharge constructing lithium peroxide-based heterostructure with band discontinuities and a relatively low lithium diffusion barrier may be responsible for the growth of defective film-like discharge products. This strategy offers a promising route for future development of cathode catalysts that can be used to extend the cycling life of lithium-oxygen batteries.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a traumatic disease with significant psychic consequences to the patient's overall physical condition. microRNA‐206 (miR‐206) has been reported to play an essential ...role in the development of various diseases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of miR‐206 through the JAK/STAT signaling pathway on epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells and glomerulosclerosis in rats with CKD. The targeting relationship between miR‐206 and ANXA1 was verified. To explore the role of miR‐206 in CKD, the model of CKD rats was established to detect glomerular sclerosis index (GSI), contents of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1), and expression of type IV collagen. Moreover, to further determine the roles of both miR‐206 and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in CKD, the gain‐ and loss‐of function approaches were performed with the expression of ANXA1, α‐SMA, E‐cadherin, vimentin, N‐cadherin, and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway‐related genes detected. miR‐206 negatively targeted ANXA1. Overexpressed miR‐206 inhibited the degeneration and interstitial fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, decreased GSI of rats, and the expression of type IV collagen, TGF‐β1 and IL‐6. Overexpressed miR‐206 inhibited the degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells, the expression of ANXA1, α‐SMA, TGF‐β1, p‐STAT3, STAT3, p‐STAT1, STAT1, p‐JAK2, and JAK2, while promoted the expression of E‐cadherin. Taken together the results, miR‐206 inhibits EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells and glomerulosclerosis by inactivating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway via ANXA1 in CKD.
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