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Abstract: Cyclosporine A(CsA) causes significant nephrotoxicity that contribute to kidney graft loss in the long-term, it can induce cell apoptosis in renal cortex and medulla, reduce kidney function. The mechanisms are complex and involved in six apoptosis pathways including classical pathway, mitochondrial pathway, endoplasmic reticulum pathway, angiotensin II pathway, NO- and hypertonicity-related pathway. All these pathways may converge to a single way by activated Caspase-3, -6, -8, -9 and -12 that may become a potential new target for intervention. CrmA protein belonging to one of serine protease inhibitor family members, it widely inhibits the inflammatory Caspases and apoptotic Caspases and has a strong function on inhibiting apoptosis induced by many chemical inducers through effectively blocking Caspase-1, -3, -4, -5, -8, -9, and -10 enzymes. It is not reported if CrmA is resistant to apoptosis induced by immunosuppressant so far. Therefore we speculate CrmA can block down CsA-induced renal cell apoptosis through inhibiting the Caspase-3, -6, -8, -9 and -12 activated and further to eliminate CRD induced by CsA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is an urgent need to induce and keep the donor-specific immune tolerance without affecting the function of normal immune defense and immune surveillance in clinical organ transplantation. Large number of studies showed that both the establishment of donor-recipient chimerism and the application of antibodies or drugs could obtain the donor-specific immune tolerance in animal transplantation model. However, the former as treatment of clinical practice has a poor feasibility, the latter has a very low success rate in clinical organ transplantation. There is a group of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) that mediate immune tolerance by suppressing alloreactive T cells in vivo. These cells are unable to curb the occurrence of allograft rejection owing their low content. And donor-specific Tregs amplified in vitro alone can not induce donor-specific immune tolerance for recipient. Rapamycin (RPM) as a proliferation signal inhibitor, studies have shown it can effectively inhibit allograft rejection and maybe contribute to induction of immune tolerance. But there exist still many dose-dependent adverse reactions which could prevent the establishment of immune tolerance and reduce the life quality of recipients in the clinical application of RPM. Therefore, we speculate a small amount of RPM combined with donor-specific Tregs amplified in vitro may be not only induce the achievement of donor-specific tolerance, but also reduce or eliminate the side effects of RPM in clinical organ transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The high-level ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4 +-N) is a contaminant for aqueous environment but a potential hydrogen fuel. This study investigated an approach of increasing ammonia recovery via adding sodium sulfate of 0–1.5 M to prevent from nitrogen generation. The results of experiment tests, electrochemical analysis and MD simulation demonstrated that the added Na 2 SO 4 assisted ammonium transport inhibited nitrogen gas generation in a certain concentration range. In electric double layer (EDL), with Na 2 SO 4 concentration increasing, both the migration velocities of NH 4 + and Na+ are accelerated for Na 2 SO 4 of 0–0.25 M, whereas they are decelerated for concentrate Na 2 SO 4 that 0.5 M). A thick layer formed by Na+ that imposed a fierce competitive adsorption blocked the migration of NH 4 + and the transportation of electrons. The decrease of electrons and the accumulation of water molecules caused the potential drop in the EDL. 0.25 M Na 2 SO 4 was the optimal concentration from the aspect of ion transports. The results obtained in this study can allow the manipulation of EDI capacity optimization. • Na+ competitively affects NH 4 + migration. • Increasing Na 2 SO 4 concentration weakens NH 4 + reduction. • Na+ absorption competitively reduces NH 4 + concentration. • Na–H 2 O ion atmosphere impedes NH 4 + closing to EDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have devoted our effort to research the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a ferrimagnetic mixed-spin (1/2, 1, 3/2) triple-layer film Ising system by Monte Carlo simulation. We have in-depth examined the effects of internal exchange couplings, layer thickness and magnetic atom concentration of the system on the compensation and critical behaviors. The behaviors of magnetization, susceptibility, internal energy and specific heat of the system as a function of temperature have been given. We have discovered plentiful attractive phenomena of magnetism about the system, such as the pregnant double compensation temperature in the phase diagrams and the double- and triple-peak phenomena in the susceptibility and specific heat curves. We have compared our results with previous theoretical and experimental studies, a good agreement has been obtained qualitatively. • A ferrimagnetic mixed-spin (1/2, 1, 3/2) triple-layer film superlattice has been studied by using Monte Carlo simulation. •Phase diagrams, magnetization, susceptibility, internal energy and specific heat of the system have been discussed. • Effects of internal exchange couplings, layer thickness and magnetic atom concentration have been investigated. • The double-peak and triple-peak phenomena in χ and C curves have been found for certain physical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]