Administration of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could improve some neurologic conditions by transferring functional biomolecules to recipient cells. Furthermore, exosomes ...from hypoxic progenitor cells exerted better therapeutic effects in organ injury through specific cargoes. However, there are no related reports about whether exosomes derived from MSCs or hypoxia‐preconditioned MSCs (PC‐MSCs) could prevent memory deficits in Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study, the exosomes derived from MSCs or PC‐MSCs were systemically administered to transgenic APP/PS1 mice. The expression of miR‐21 in MSCs was significantly increased after hypoxic treatment. Injection of exosomes from normoxic MSCs could rescue cognition and memory impairment according to results of the Morris water maze test, reduced plaque deposition, and Aβ levels in the brain; could decrease the activation of astrocytes and microglia; could down‐regulate proinflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐1β); and could up‐regulate anti‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐4 and ‐10) in AD mice, as well as reduce the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and NF‐κB. Compared to the group administered exosomes from normoxic MSCs, in the group administered exosomes from PC‐MSCs, learning and memory capabilities were significantly improved; the plaque deposition and Aβ levels were lower, and expression of growth‐associated protein 43, synapsin 1, and IL‐10 was increased; and the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, ionized calcium‐binding adaptor molecule 1, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and activation of STAT3 and NF‐κB were sharply decreased. More importantly, exosomes from PC‐MSCs effectively increased the level of miR‐21 in the brain of AD mice. Additionally, replenishment of miR‐21 restored the cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice and prevented pathologic features. Taken together, these findings suggest that exosomes from PC‐MSCs could improve the learning and memory capabilities of APP/PS1 mice, and that the underlying mechanism may lie in the restoration of synaptic dysfunction and regulation of inflammatory responses through regulation of miR‐21.—Cui, G.‐H., Wu, J., Mou, F.‐F., Xie, W.‐H., Wang, F.‐B., Wang, Q.‐L., Fang, J., Xu, Y.‐W., Dong, Y.‐R., Liu, J.‐R., Guo, H.‐D. Exosomes derived from hypoxia‐preconditioned mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate cognitive decline by rescuing synaptic dysfunction and regulating inflammatory responses in APP/PS1 mice. FASEB J. 32, 654–668 (2018). www.fasebj.org
A hybrid photocatalytic assembly with Ni poly‐pyridine polymers binding on CdS quantum dots was developed via thiophene immobilization. The fabricated hybrid assembly facilitated efficient charge ...separation, and each component endowed great synergy. As a result, a high syngas production rate was achieved over 5500 μmol gcat−1 h−1 from photocatalytic CO2 reduction under visible‐light irradiation, accompanied by an adjustable H2/CO ratio ranging from 4 : 1 to 1 : 3. A novel hybrid assembly was described for syngas synthesis with boosted activity and controlled selectivity, which provides a profile to ingeniously understand molecular‐level design for photocatalysts.
CO2 to syngas: A hybrid photocatalyst is assembled by a Ni poly‐pyridine polymer binding on CdS substrate via vinyl‐thiophene towards photo‐reducing CO2 into syngas with tunable H2/CO ratio. Each component in the fabricated hybrid endows great synergy. It shows a robust activity, which is superior to reported results on semiconductor‐based photocatalysts.
In the last few decades, the incidences of obesity and related metabolic disorders worldwide have increased dramatically. Major pathophysiology of obesity is termed "lipotoxicity" in modern western ...medicine (MWM) or "dampness-heat" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). "Dampness-heat" is a very common and critically important syndrome to guild clinical treatment in TCM. However, the pathogenesis of obesity in TCM is not fully clarified, especially by MWM theories compared to TCM. In this review, the mechanism underlying the action of TCM in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders was thoroughly discussed, and prevention and treatment strategies were proposed accordingly. Hypoxia and inflammation caused by lipotoxicity exist in obesity and are key pathophysiological characteristics of "dampness-heat" syndrome in TCM. "Dampness-heat" is prevalent in chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, prone to insulin resistance (IR), and causes variant metabolic disorders. In particular, the MWM theories of hypoxia and inflammation were applied to explain the "dampness-heat" syndrome of TCM, and we summarized and proposed the pathological path of obesity: lipotoxicity, hypoxia or chronic low-grade inflammation, IR, and metabolic disorders. This provides significant enrichment to the scientific connotation of TCM theories and promotes the modernization of TCM.
Flower petals have not only diverse macroscopic morphologies but are rich in microscopic surface patterns, which are crucial to their biological functions. Both experimental measurements and ...theoretical analysis are conducted to reveal the physical mechanisms underlying the formation of minute wrinkles on flower petals. Three representative flowers, daisy, kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and Eustoma grandiflorurn, are investigated as examples. A surface wrinkling model, incorporating the measured mechanical properties and growth ratio, is used to elucidate the difference in their surface morphologies. The mismatch between the anisotropic epidermal cell growth and the isotropic secretion of surficial wax is found to dictate the surface patterns.
A high-content GABA was found in Sojae Semen Praeparatum(SSP), which is a famous traditional Chinese medicine and officially listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. To screen out and identify GABA-producing ...microbes from samples at different time points during the fermenting process of SSP, traditional microbiological methods combined with molecular biological methods were used to study the predominant GABA-producing microorganisms existing in the fermenting process of SSP. This study would lay a foundation for further studying the processing mechanism of SSP. The fermenting process of SSP was based on Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2010 edition), and samples were taken at different time points during the fermenting process of SSP. The bacteria and fungi from samples at different time points in the fermenting process of SSP were cultured, isolated and purified by selective medium, and dominant strains were selected. The dominant bacteria were cultured in the designated liquid medium to prepare the fermentation broths, and GA
Germinated grains are extensively used in weaning and geriatric foods. Germination generally improves the nutrient content and digestibility of foods. The present investigation examined the influence ...of germination of faba bean, soybean, rice, and wheat on the availability of iron, zinc, calcium, manganese, and copper. Germination increased the availability of iron by >fourfold from faba bean and soybean and by >twofold from rice, whereas such a beneficial influence was not seen in wheat. The availability of zinc from rice and wheat increased to an extent of 80% and 87%, respectively, as a result of germination. However, germination reduced the availability of zinc from faba bean and soybean. Germination increased the availability of calcium from faba bean, soybean, and rice. Germination did increase the availability of manganese from soybean (14.4%) and rice (43%), whereas germination did not exert any influence on availability of copper from rice and wheat; it significantly decreased (12.7% and 14.3%, respectively) the same from faba bean and soybean. Thus, germination could be an appropriate food-based strategy to gain iron and other minerals maximally from food grains.
Summary
Tannic acid (TA) and green tea extract (GTE) were added to faba bean flour, before and after incubation with polyphenol oxidase (mushroom tyrosinase), and the effect on in vitro iron ...availability was investigated. The inhibitory effect of TA and GTE was dose dependent, and the in vitro iron availability decreased from 64.5% in the pure faba bean flour to 9.8% (P < 0.05) with the addition of 1 mg of TA 1 g−1 to faba bean flour. The addition of 5 mg of GTE resulted in low in vitro iron availability as after the addition of 10 mg of TA (11.6% against 10.3% for 1 mg TA). Incubation of the polyphenols with tyrosinase before addition to the faba bean flour significantly increased the in vitro iron availability. The increase in iron availability was significant (P < 0.05) when amounts of 0.2, 0.5 or 1 mg g−1 TA or GTE added to faba bean flour, respectively, were oxidised, even with the lowest amount of tyrosinase (150 u). Oxidation of 1 mg TA or GTE with 150 u tyrosinase increased the in vitro iron availability from 10.3% to 15.5% and from 19.2% to 26.1%, respectively. At the 300‐u level, the addition of higher amounts of enzyme (from 600 to 900 u) did not have any effect. The results from the study therefore suggest that the oxidation of polyphenols may be a promising way to increase the availability of iron in polyphenol‐containing legume foods.
A hybrid photocatalytic assembly with Ni poly-pyridine polymers binding on CdS quantum dots was developed via thiophene immobilization. The fabricated hybrid assembly facilitated efficient charge ...separation, and each component endowed great synergy. As a result, a high syngas production rate was achieved over 5500 μmol g
h
from photocatalytic CO
reduction under visible-light irradiation, accompanied by an adjustable H
/CO ratio ranging from 4 : 1 to 1 : 3. A novel hybrid assembly was described for syngas synthesis with boosted activity and controlled selectivity, which provides a profile to ingeniously understand molecular-level design for photocatalysts.
Effects of several physical treatments (soaking, dehulling, ordinary cooking, microwave cooking, and autoclaving) on the level of antinutrtional factors and in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of ...green and white faba beans were investigated. The raw green and white faba bean seeds were found to contain phytic acid (PA), tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), and lectin activity, but α-amylase inhibitor was absent. Dehulling significantly increased the levels of PA, TIA, decreased the level of tannins, but lectin activity was not changed. Cooking methods differently affected the levels of the antinutrtional factors. Thus, PA increased but tannins were not changed; on the other hand, TI and lectin activities were inactivated; ordinary cooking and autoclaving were the most effective in both seeds. For combination effect, soaking following cooking treatments significantly decreased PA, tannins, and lectin activity but increased TIA in both seeds. Moreover, dehulling following soaking and cooking methods resulted in a significant increase of PA and TIA. In vitro protein digestibility of raw green and white faba bean seeds were 72.65 and 73.28%, respectively, and it was improved by all processing methods; soaking-dehulling after autoclaving was the most effective in both seeds. Although some treatments increased the level of antinutrtional factors, they improved IVPD. Therefore, the studied antinutrients are not the only responsible factor for lowering IVPD.
PDF
