A series of batch adsorption tests to estimate the biofilm capacity for removal of the heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Ni) in wastewater were carried out. The metal sorption results were fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model to compare their sorption capacity. The change of the composition of EPSs (extracellular polymeric substances) was simultaneously represented by the ratio of carbohydrate to protein (C/P) when the biofilm was exposed to the heavy metals. EPS composed of slime loosely bound to the cell and capsular materials was extracted by the four general extraction methods including regular centrifugation, regular centrifugation with formaldehyde, EDTA extraction and steam extraction. Although the various extraction methods showed different results, C/P ratio of biofilm exposed to copper and lead metal ions was generally lower than that of control.
Mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation is involved in many diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Mast cells induce synthesis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 with immune regulatory properties. The formulated ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica Nakai (DA-9601) has been reported to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In this report, we investigated the effect of DA-9601 on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the activated human mast cell line HMC-1 and studied its possible mechanisms of action. DA-9601 dose-dependently decreased the gene expression and production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In addition, DA-9601 attenuated PMA- and A23187-induced activation of NF-kappaB as indicated by inhibition of degradation of IkappaBalpha, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB/DNA binding, and NF-kappaB-dependent gene reporter assay. Our in vitro studies provide evidence that DA-9601 might contribute to the treatment of mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.
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