[The protective effects of insulin on cardiocyte apoptosis challenged by burn serum].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of insulin on burn serum-challenged cardiocyte apoptosis and its mechanism.

Methods: Burn-serum challenged cardiocytes were pretreated with insulin and inhibitors to pathway SB203580 and LY294002. The expression of cardiac myofilament proteins cleaved-caspase-3, Bax and phosphorylation nuclear factor-ΚB inhibitive factor α (p-IΚBα) were examined by Western blotting.

[Eco-efficiency change and its driving factors in Tongling City of Anhui Province].

This paper first applied material flow analysis (MFA) to construct three levels of regional eco-efficiency indicators, i.e., regional direct eco-efficiency (RDE), regional total eco-efficiency (RTE), and holistic eco-efficiency (HE), and adopted the newly developed data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the eco-efficiency of Tongling City during the period of 1990-2008.

[Inhibitory effect of insulin on nuclear factor-kappa B nuclear translocation of vascular endothelial cells induced by burn serum].

Objective: To study the inhibitory effects of insulin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation of vascular endothelial cells induced by burn serum and its correlative mechanism.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and divided into 5 groups: blank control group (BC, ordinary culture without any stimulation), normal serum control group (NS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% healthy human serum), burn serum stimulation group (BS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum), burn serum+insulin treatment group (BI, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum and 1x10(-7) mol/L insulin), inhibitor pretreatment group [IP, pretreated with 50 micromol/L protein kinase B (Akt) specific inhibitor LY-294002, then cultured with the same medium as used in BI group 30 minutes later] according to the random number table. Six hours later, the injury and apoptosis of HUVECs was respectively observed by the scanning electron microscope and determined by the flow cytometry.

Non-carcinogenic risks induced by metals in drinking source water of Jiangsu Province, China.

In this study, we investigated the levels of eight metallic elements in source water of 40 tap water treatment plants (TWTPs) located along Yangtze River, Taihu Lake and Huaihe River in the section of Jiangsu Province, China during 2007-2009 and assessed the non-carcinogenic risks induced by the metals. Among the metals, Fe had the highest concentration (121.5 μg L( - 1)) and Pb contributed most (32.

[Reproduction of a model of heat injured keratinocyte in vitro and observation on its apoptosis rate].

Objective: To reproduce a model of heat injured KC in vitro and explore its apoptosis rate of KC due to heat injury at different temperature.

Methods: Human KCs were cultured in vitro, and they were incubated at 37, 41, 43, 45, 48, and 51 degrees C respectively for 10 mins in water bath. Trypan blue staining and Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining were used respectively to determine necrosis and apoptosis of KC.

Beta-cyclodextrin and its derivatives-enhanced solubility and biodegradation of 2-nitrobiphenyl.

This paper investigated the effects of beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CD) and its two derivatives, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CMCD), on the solubility and biodegradation of 2-nitrophenyl by an Acinetbacter sp. Results showed that beta-CD, HPCD and CMCD could not be utilized by Acinetbacter sp. as sole carbon source and none of the CDs had toxic effects on the growth of the bacteria in the experiments; all the CDs could enhance the apparent solubility and accelerate the biodegradation of 2-nitrobipheny.

Environmental performance rating and disclosure: China's Green Watch program.

In this paper we describe a new incentive-based pollution control program in China, in which the environmental performance of firms is rated from best to worst using five colors--green, blue, yellow, red and black--and the ratings are disseminated to the public through the media. We focus on the first two municipal disclosure programs, which have been implemented at very different levels of economic and institutional development. In both cases, the increases in compliance with pollution regulations have been similar to increases produced by public disclosure programs in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

[Study of biosensor technology on the detection of endotoxin-neutralizing materials].

Objective: To explore the application of biosensor technology in the determination of endotoxin-neutralizing materials.

Methods: After mixing polymyxin B (PMB) with endotoxin in certain concentration, the neutralizing ratio of PMB to endotoxin was assessed by biosensor technique and limulus amebocyte lysate test respectively. The results from the two methods were compared.