Fufang Xueshuantong (FXST) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine composed of Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H.Chen (Araliaceae), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae), Astragalus propinquus ...Schischkin (Leguminosae), and Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (Scrophulariaceae). It has been widely used for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and exerts a positive clinical therapeutic effect.
The aim of this study was to observe the effect of FXST on diabetic rat retinas and investigate its pharmacological mechanism for improving DR.
The diabetic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats were divided into a normal group, diabetic group, and FXST group. The rats in the FXST group were treated with FXST by intragastric administration for 12 weeks while other rats were given the same volume of normal saline. The haemodynamic parameters of the central retinal artery in the rats were measured by ultrasound. Haematoxylin-eosin staining was utilised to observe the pathological structural changes in the retina. The apoptosis of retinal nerve cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling. RNA sequencing was used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and enrichment analyses were performed. The DEGs were validated through real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and mean velocity decreased while the resistance index and pulsatility index increased in the diabetic rat retinas. FXST also improved haemodynamics. In contrast with the diabetic group, FXST allayed the disorder and oedema of the retinal structure in addition to reversing the reductions in retinal thickness and retinal ganglion cell number. It also decreased the apoptosis index of retinal cells. A total of 1134 DEGs were identified by RNA sequencing in the FXST group compared to the diabetic group, including 814 upregulated genes and 320 downregulated genes. These genes were enriched in the complement and coagulation cascades as well as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signalling pathway. Several DEGs, including PPAR gamma, perilipin 4, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain, CD55 molecule, and plasminogen activator urokinase, were identified by qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with the RNA sequencing data.
FXST alleviates DR by improving the haemodynamics and morphological alterations of diabetic rat retinas, which are mediated by complement and coagulation cascades and the PPAR signalling pathway.
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Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. According to both TCM theory and more than a decade of clinical practice, JP has been testified to be effective for ...systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment as an approved hospital prescription in China.
To determine the effect of JP on the treatment of SLE by glucocorticoid (GC) and to further examine the molecular mechanisms.
We conducted in vivo experiments to estimate the effect of JP on hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice treated with GC. Additionally, isoproterenol (ISO) induced hepatic gluconeogenesis model and GC-treated MRL/lpr mouse hepatocytes were carried out in vitro experiments to verify the effect of JP on gluconeogenesis.
The results showed that JP combined with GC could effectively alleviate the lupus symptoms in MRL/lpr mice and improve the pathological changes of the kidney and liver. And the combination of JP reduced the side effects caused by GC, which was related to the inhibition of GC-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice. Specifically, JP up-regulated the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) α, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt restrained by GC to reduce the production of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and the gluconeogenic genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). In vivo, the use of JP either alone or with GC could reduce spleen enlargement, high levels of serum antibodies, aggravated urine protein and renal pathological damage in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, the glucose content was reduced in the liver of MRL/lpr mice treated with JP, and the liver damage and steatosis were also alleviated. In vitro, the expressions of PI3K and Akt increased and the expressions of FoxO1, PGC-1α, PEPCK and G6Pase decreased after JP treatment in ISO-treated hepatocytes. Compared with MRL/MP mice, we found that JP could significantly inhibit the expression of gluconeogenesis in the hepatocytes of MRL/lpr mice induced by GC to a greater extent.
The therapeutic effect of JP on GC-induced is likely related to hepatic gluconeogenesis, which provides a new perspective to reveal the positive role of JP in SLE.
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•JP inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in MRL/lpr mice induced by GC.•JP inhibits ISO-induced gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes.•JP inhibits GC-induced gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes of MRL/lpr mice.•JP reduces the glucose metabolism disorders in GC-treated MRL/lpr mice.•JP regulates the PI3K/Akt/PGC-1α pathway in GC-induced hepatic gluconeogenesis.
To constrain the behavior of K isotopes during granitic magmatic differentiation, we present high-precision K isotope data for bulk granitoids and their K-bearing minerals from Dabie and Himalayan ...orogens in China. Plagioclase displays extremely large K isotopic variation, with δ41K ranging from −0.56 to 1.91‰. Other minerals also have heterogeneous K isotopic compositions, with δ41K varying from −0.56 to −0.24‰ in hornblende, from −0.72 to −0.39‰ in biotite, from −0.79 to −0.47‰ in K-feldspar, and from −0.74 to −0.61‰ in muscovite. The general trend of 41K enrichment follows the order of plagioclase ≫ hornblende > biotite ≈ K-feldspar ≥ muscovite, which can be attributed to the difference in KO bond strengths. Both δ41K of plagioclase and K isotope fractionation factors between plagioclase and other minerals are negatively correlated with K concentration in plagioclase, suggesting a compositional control on isotope fractionations. Inter-mineral K isotope fractionations among other minerals are roughly temperature-dependent. Potassium isotopic compositions of whole rocks display measurable variations (δ41K = –0.69 to −0.28‰), which are correlated with proxies for plagioclase fractionation (e.g., Sr and Rb/Sr). The correlation indicates that fractional crystallization may account for the whole-rock K isotopic variations observed in high-silica igneous rocks, which is supported by modeling of fractional crystallization using the apparent isotope fractionation factors determined in this work. Our study demonstrates the existence of large K isotope fractionation during granitic magmatism, making K isotopes a potential tool for studying differentiation of felsic magmas.
Manipulating photons in artificially structured materials is highly desired in modern photonic technology. Nontrivial topological structures are rapidly emerging as a state‐of‐art platform for ...achieving unprecedented fascinating phenomena of photon manipulation. However, the current studies mainly focus on planar structures, and the fabrication of photonic microstructures with specific topological geometric features still remains a great challenge. Extending the topological photonics to 3D microarchitectures is expected to enrich the photon manipulation capabilities and further advance the topological photonic devices. Here, a femtosecond laser direct writing technique is employed to fabricate 3D topological Möbius microring resonators from dye‐doped polymer. The high‐quality‐factor Möbius microring resonator supports a unique spin‐orbit coupled lasing at very low threshold. Due to the spin‐orbit coupling induced geometric/Berry phase, the Möbius microrings, in striking contrast with ordinary microrings, output laser signals with all polarization states. The manipulation of miniaturized coherent light sources in the fabricated Möbius microrings represents a significant step forward toward 3D topological photonics that offers a novel design philosophy for functional photonic and optoelectronic devices.
Topology engineering is demonstrated on 3D‐printed dye‐doped polymeric Möbius microrings lasers originating from their topological microstructures. Polarization conversion of resonant light is observed in the as‐printed Möbius microrings due to the spin‐orbit coupled Berry phase induced by the topological twist, which offers a novel platform for the manipulation of light signals to realize desired functionalities.
: Serum biomarkers are valuable for clinical decision-making for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), among which the most promising are AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, DKK-1, and GP73; however, the ...efficacy of using combined biomarkers remains controversial. This meta-analysis provides insights regarding this topic.
: After systematically surveying the literature available in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, we identified 28 qualified articles published since January 2015. A random-effects model was used to assess pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLRs and NLPs), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR).
: Values under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve varied in different panels of the five biomarkers. Importantly, the sum of sensitivity and specificity of AFP+GP73 was 1.76 (P= 0.0001), which was the best among all the panels. The sum of the triple biomarker panel of AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP was larger (1.64, P= 0.0001) than those of any double biomarker panels of AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP.
: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to focus solely on combination assays of multiple biomarkers in HCC. The combined assay of AFP and GP73 conferred the best outcome among all panels. The triple combined panel of AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP showed higher diagnostic potential than individual random double combinations of the three biomarkers. Multiple-biomarker combined assays will be clinically important for decision-making processes for HCC.
Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a multifunctional peptide that is expressed by many surface epithelial cells, but its relevance to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastritis is unknown. Here, we found ...that gastric ADM expression was elevated in gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected patients and mice. In H. pylori-infected human gastric mucosa, ADM expression was positively correlated with the degree of gastritis; accordingly, blockade of ADM resulted in decreased inflammation within the gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected mice. During H. pylori infection, ADM production was promoted via PI3K-AKT signaling pathway activation by gastric epithelial cells in a cagA-dependent manner, and resulted in increased inflammation within the gastric mucosa. This inflammation was characterized by the increased IFN-γ-producing T cells, whose differentiation was induced via the phosphorylation of AKT and STAT3 by ADM derived from gastric epithelial cells. ADM also induced macrophages to produce IL-12, which promoted the IFN-γ-producing T-cell responses, thereby contributing to the development of H. pylori-associated gastritis. Accordingly, blockade of IFN-γ or knockout of IFN-γ decreased inflammation within the gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected mice. This study identifies a novel regulatory network involving H. pylori, gastric epithelial cells, ADM, macrophages, T cells, and IFN-γ, which collectively exert a pro-inflammatory effect within the gastric microenvironment.
Accumulating evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a signaling regulator in plants. Here we show that H2S delays the postharvest senescence of broccoli in a dose-dependent manner. ...H2S maintains higher levels of metabolites, such as carotenoids, anthocyanin, and ascorbate, and reduces the accumulation of malondialdehyde, H2O2, and the superoxide anion. Further investigations showed that H2S sustained higher activities of guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase and lower activities of lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and protease than those of water control. Moreover, the expression of the chlorophyll degradation related genes BoSGR, BoCLH2, BoPaO, BoRCCR, as well as cysteine protease BoCP1 and lipoxygenase gene BoLOX1, was down-regulated in postharvest broccoli treated with H2S. The functions of H2S on the senescence of other vegetables and fruits suggest its universal role acting as a senescence regulator.
As one of the largest gene families, F-box domain proteins have important roles in regulating various devel- opmental processes and stress responses. In this study, we have investigated a rice F-box ...domain gene, MAIF1. The MAIF1 protein is mainly localized in the plasma membrane and nucleus. MAIF1 expression is induced rapidly and strongly by abscisic acid （ABA） and abiotic stresses. MAIF1 expression is also induced in root tips by sucrose, independent of its hy- drolytic hexose products, glucose and fructose, and the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin. Overexpression of MAIF1 reduces rice ABA sensitivity and abiotic stress tolerance and promotes rice root growth. These results suggest that MAIF1 is involved in multiple signaling pathways in regulating root growth. Growth restraint in plants is an acclimatization strategy against abiotic stress, Our results also suggest that MAIF1 plays the negative role in response to abiotic stress possibly by regulating root growth.
A sodium–aluminum hybrid battery Sun, Xiao-Guang; Zhang, Zhizhen; Guan, Hong Yu ...
Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability,
2017, Letnik:
5, Številka:
14
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Novel hybrid batteries are fabricated using an aluminum anode, a sodium intercalation cathode Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP), and a sodium/aluminum dual salt electrolyte based on NaAlCl4 and an eutectic mixture ...of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImC) and aluminum chloride. Cyclic voltammograms indicate that increasing the molar concentration of AlCl3 in the electrolyte is beneficial to high coulombic efficiency of aluminum deposition/stripping, which, unfortunately, results in lower coulombic efficiency of sodium extraction/insertion in the cathode. Therefore, EMImC-AlCl3 with a molar ratio of 1-1.1 is used for battery evaluation. The hybrid battery with 1.0 M NaAlCl4 exhibits a discharge voltage of 1.25 V and a cathodic capacity of 99 mA h g-1 at a current rate of C/10. In addition, the hybrid battery exhibits good rate performance and long-term cycling stability while maintaining a high coulombic efficiency of 98%. It is also demonstrated that increasing salt concentration can further enhance the cycling performance of the hybrid battery. X-ray diffraction analysis of the NVP electrodes under different conditions confirms that the main cathode reaction is indeed Na extraction/insertion. Based on all earth-abundant elements, the new Na-Al hybrid battery is very attractive for stationary and grid energy storage applications.
A new type of concentrated electrolyte composed of Li(FSO2)N(SO2CF3) (LiFTFSI), LiN(SO2F)2 (LiFSI), and ether solvents can improve the cycling stability of lithium (Li) metal and inhibit Li‐metal ...dendritic growth. The high average coulombic efficiency of >95 % and excellent cycling performance of >250 cycles for the Li|copper cells have been achieved, even at a high current density of 3 mA cm−2. Moreover, the Li|LiFePO4 cell exhibits superior cycling stability with capacity retention of >92 % at 0.2 C for more than 200 cycles and excellent C‐rate capability.
Exhibitionist! A concentrated electrolyte based on a salt of LiFTFSI for application in rechargeable Li batteries can improve the cycling stability of Li metal and inhibit Li‐metal dendritic growth. The Li|Cu cell displays a high average coulombic efficiency and excellent cycling performance, even at a high current density. Moreover, the Li|LiFePO4 cell exhibits superior cycling stability with capacity retention of >92 % at 0.2 C for more than 200 cycles and excellent rate capability.
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