Large-Scale Preparation of Micro-Nanofibrous and Fluffy Propylene-Based Elastomer/Polyurethane@Graphene Nanoplatelet Membranes with Breathable and Flexible Characteristics for Wearable Stretchy Heaters.

Effective personal thermal management is crucial for protecting human health during cold weather. Therefore, wearable heaters based on electric-heating membranes are one of the most promising devices to become essential appliances in our daily lives. The main challenge toward this goal is the development of electric-heating membranes with adequate breathable, flexible, and stretchable characteristics. In the work presented here, micro-nanofibrous fluffy electric-heating membranes were prepared by coating polyurethane/graphene nanoplatelet (PU@GNP) films onto melt-blown propylene-based elastomer (PBE) micro-nanofibrous membranes via a facile, cheap, and large-scale method consisting of a coating-compressing cyclic process. Investigation of the resulting PBE/PU@GNP membranes showed that the PU@GNP films were uniformly deposited onto the PBE micro-nanofiber surfaces, forming fluffy interconnected conducting channels. By applying a voltage of 36 V to the prepared PBE/PU@GNP membranes, the temperature increased to 69.7 °C, confirming excellent electric-heating features. Moreover, the porosity of the fabricated membrane could be tailored readily by adjusting the coating-compressing cycles. Benefiting from the conducting channels, the PBE/PU@GNP membranes exhibited efficiently regulated air permeability ranging from 212 to 60.2 mm/s, a prominent softness score of 53.8, and an excellent elastic recovery rate of 85.5%. These findings demonstrate that PBE/PU@GNP micro-nanofibrous fluffy membranes may well be suitable for application in electric-heating clothing. The cyclic coating-compressing preparation process may be attractive in industrial manufacturing.

Facile Preparation of PET/PA6 Bicomponent Microfilament Fabrics with Tunable Porosity for Comfortable Medical Protective Clothing.

Medical protective materials have broadly drawn attention due to their ability to stop the spread of infectious diseases and protect the safety of medical staff. However, creating medical protective materials that combine excellent liquid shielding performance and outstanding mechanical properties with high breathability is still a challenging task. Herein, a polyester/polyamide 6 (PET/PA6) bicomponent microfilament fabric with tunable porosity for comfortable medical protective clothing was prepared via dip-coating technology and an easy and effective thermal-belt bonding process. The dip coating of the C6-based fluorocarbon polymer endowed the samples with excellent hydrophobicity (alcohol contact angles, 130-128°); meanwhile, by adjusting the temperature and pressure of the thermal-belt bonding process, the porosity of the samples was adapted in the range of 64.19-88.64%. Furthermore, benefitting tunable porosity and surface hydrophobicity, the samples also demonstrated an excellent softness score (24.3-34.5), agreeable air permeability (46.3-27.8 mm/s), and high hydrostatic pressure (1176-4130 Pa). Significantly, the created textiles successfully filter aerosol from the air and display highly tensile strength. These excellent comprehensive performances indicate that the prepared PET/PA6 bicomponent microfilament fabrics would be an attractive choice for medical protective apparel.

Effects of different salinities on growth performance, survival, digestive enzyme activity, immune response, and muscle fatty acid composition in juvenile American shad (Alosa sapidissima).

The effects of salinity on survival, growth, special activity of digestive enzymes, nonspecific immune response, and muscle fatty acid composition were evaluated in the American shad (Alosa sapidissima). Juveniles of 35 days after hatching were reared at 0 (control), 7, 14, 21, and 28 ppt for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, juvenile American shad presented higher survival and specific growth rate (SGR) in salinity group (7, 14, and 21 ppt) than control group (P < 0.05). The special activity of trypsin and chymotrypsin was highest in fish reared at 21 ppt, while the highest lipase special activity was obtained in control group (P < 0.05). The special activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lysozyme (LZM), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) showed significant increases in salinity group (14 and 21 ppt) compared to control group (P < 0.05). Lower muscle ash contents were detected in salinity group (14, 21, and 28 ppt) than control group (P < 0.05), while the contents of crude lipid and crude protein were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05). The level of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) exhibited a decreasing trend, while an increased level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was detected with the increase of salinity. Among the PUFA, the content of n-3 fatty acids in muscle tissue was found to be increasing with the increasing salinity, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Results indicate that appropriate increase in salinity was reasonable and beneficial for juvenile American shad culture after a comprehensive consideration, especially salinity range from 14 to 21 ppt.

Guanacastane-type diterpenoids from Coprinus radians.

Thirteen diterpenoids, named radianspenes A-M (1-13), including three lactams radianspenes J (10), K (11) and L (12) and one dimer radianspene M (13), were isolated from fermentation products of the higher fungal strain Coprinus radians M65. All these compounds possessing guanacastane skeleton were evaluated for antitumor activity using MDA-MB-435 cell line. Radianspene C exhibited inhibitory activity with IC(50) of 0.91 µM.

Effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride on patients with acute lung injury and its mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride on patients with acute lung injury (ALI), to observe the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on the peripheral monocytes of ALI patients and changes of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and to investigate the mechanism of TLR4 in ALI. METHODS: Forty-five patients with ALI were randomly divided into penehyclidine hydrochloride treatment group (P group, n equal to 21) and conventional treatment group (control group, C group, n equal to 24). Patients in both groups received conventional treatment, including active treatment of the primary disease, respiratory support, nutritional support and fluid management therapy, while those in P group were given penehyclidine hydrochloride (1 mg, im, q. 12 h) in addition. The TLR4 expression of 20 healthy volunteers were detected. The clinical effect, average length of stay in ICU and hospital, values of PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2, expression of TLR4 on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and some serum cytokines were evaluated for 48 h. RESULTS: The general conditions of the two groups were improved gradually and PaO2 increased progressively. Compared with 0 h, PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment were significantly increased (P less than 0.05). The improvement in P group was obviously greater than that in C group (P less than 0.05). The average length of hospitalization showed no difference between the two groups, but penehyclidine hydrochloride significantly decreased the average length of stay in ICU (t equal to 3.485, P less than 0.01). The expression of TLR4 in two groups were both obviously higher than that of healthy volunteers (P less than 0.01). It decreased significantly at 24 h (t equal to 2.032, P less than 0.05) and 48 h (t equal to 3.620, P less than 0.01) and was lower in P group than in C group. The patients who showed a higher level of TLR4 expression in early stage had a worse prognosis and most of them developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The incidence of ARDS was 23.8% in P group and 29.17% in C group at 24 h. Untill 48 h, there were other two patients developing ARDS in control group. Serum IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-alpha expressions reduced after 24 h in both groups. The reduction in P group was more obvious than that in C group (P less than 0.05). IL-13 increased gradually from 0 h to 24 h, and decreased slightly at 48 h, which showed no difference between two groups (t equal to 1.028, P larger than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Penehyclidine hydrochloride improves the arterial oxygen pressure, down-regulates the expression of TLR4 and restrains the inflammatory cytokines in the downstream of TLR4 signaling pathway. It prevents the development of ALI and can be considered as an important drug in ALI treatment.

[Role of trefoil peptides in modulation of gastric adaptation to stress].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of trefoil peptides in modulation of gastric adaptation to water restraint stress (WRS) in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to single or repeated WRS for 4 hours every other day for up to 6 days, gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by LDF-3 flowmeter, the extent of gastric mucosal lesions was evaluated grossly and histologically, and expression of PS2 intestinal trefoil peptide (ITF), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transferase growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS: One application of WRS produced extensive gastric mucosal erosion. With repeated WRS, the gastric mucosa became adapted to the stress of WRS, and the ulcerative index (UI) was reduced by 22.0% that of one WRS challenge after four consecutive WRS. Expression of PS2 was markedly decreased and expression of ITF, COX-2, iNOS and TGF-alpha were markedly increased after single stress. But this adaptation to WRS was accompanied by increased GMBF and active cell proliferation in the neck region of gastric glands, and by increased expression of PS2, ITF, TGF-alpha, but reduced expression of COX-2 and iNOS. CONCLUSION: Gastric adaptation to WRS injury involves enhanced cell proliferation, increased expression of PS2, ITF, TGF-alpha and reduced expression of COX-2 and iNOS, suggesting trefoil peptides might play an important modulating role in this phenomenon.

Serial analysis of gene expression in mice with lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the systemic gene expression profile in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. METHODS: Acute lung injury was induced by intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide in 3 mice. Another 3 normal mice receiving same volume of normal saline were taken as the controls. The comprehensive gene expression profile was monitored by the recently modified long serial analysis of gene expression. RESULTS: A total of 24,670 tags representing 12,168 transcripts in the control mice and 26,378 tags representing 13,397 transcripts in the mice with lung injury were identified respectively. There were 11 transcripts increasing and 7 transcripts decreasing more than 10 folds in the lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. The most overexpressed genes in the mice with lung injury included serum amyloid A3, metallothionein 2, lipocalin 2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, lactate dehydrogenase 1, melatonin receptor, S100 calcium-binding protein A9, natriuretic peptide precursor, etc. Mitogen activated protein kinase 3, serum albumin, complement component 1 inhibitor, and ATP synthase were underexpressed in the lung injury mice. CONCLUSIONS: Serial analysis of gene expression provides a molecular characteristic of acute lung injury.

Cyclooxygenase 2, pS2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and transforming growth factor alpha in gastric adaptation to stress.

AIM: To determine the role of mucosal gene expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), pS2 (belongs to trefoil peptides), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha) in gastric adaptation to water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to single or repeated WRS for 4 h every other day for up to 6 d. Gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmeter-3. The extent of gastric mucosal lesions were evaluated grossly and histologically and expressions of COX-2, pS2,iNOS and TGFalpha were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS: The damage to the surface of gastric epithelium with focal areas of deep haemorrhagic necrosis was induced by repeated WRS. The adaptative cytoprotection against stress was developed with activation of cell proliferation in the neck regions of gastric glands. The ulcer index (UI) in groups II, III and IV was markedly reduced as compared with group I (I: 47.23+/-1.20; IV: 10.39+/-1.18,P<0.01). GMBF significantly decreased after first exposure to WRS with an adaptive increasement of GMBF in experimental groups after repetitive challenges with WRS. After the 4th WRS, the value of GMBF almost restored to normal level (I: 321.87+/-8.85; IV: 455.95+/-11.81, P<0.01). First WRS significantly decreased the expression of pS2 and significantly increased the expressions of COX-2, iNOS and TGFalpha. After repeated WRS, pS2 and TGFalpha expressions gradually increased (pS2: I: 0.37+/-0.02; IV: 0.77+/-0.01; TGFalpha: I: 0.86+/-0.01; IV: 0.93+/-0.03, P<0.05) with a decrease in the expressions of COX-2 and iNOS (COX-2: I: 0.45+/-0.02; IV: 0.22+/-0.01; iNOS: I: 0.93+/-0.01; IV: 0.56+/-0.01, P<0.01). Expressions of pS2, COX-2, iNOS and TGFalpha showed regular changes with a good relationship among them. CONCLUSION: Gastric adaptation to WRS injury involves enhanced cell proliferation, increased expression of pS2 and TGFalpha, and reduced expression of COX-2 and iNOS. These changes play an important role in adaptation of gastric mucosa after repeated WRS.

Role of TFF in healing of stress-induced gastric lesions.

AIM: To determine the changes of pS2 and ITF of TFF expression in gastric mucosa and the effect on ulcer healing of pS2, ITF to Water-immersion and restraint stress (WRS) in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to single or repeated WRS for 4 h every other day for up to 6 days.Gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by LDF-3 flowmeter and the extent of gastric mucosal lesions were evaluated grossly and histologically. Expression of pS2 and ITF mRNA was determined by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to further detect the expression of pS2 and ITF. RESULTS: WRS applied once produced numerous gastric mucosal erosions, but the number of these lesions gradually declined and GMBF restored at 2, 4, 8 h after stress. The area of gastric mucosal lesion was reduced by 64.9 % and GMBF was increased by 89.8 % at 8 h. The healing of stress-induced ulcerations was accompanied by increased expression of pS2 (0.51+/-0.14 vs 0.77+/-0.11, P<0.01) and ITF (0.022+/-0.001 vs 0.177+/-0.010, P<0.01). The results were demonstrated further by immunohistochemistry of pS2 (0.95+/-0.11 vs 1.41+/-0.04, P<0.01) and ITF (0.134+/-0.001 vs 0.253+/-0.01,P<0.01). With repeated WRS, adaptation to this WRS developed, the area of gastric mucosal lesions was reduced by 22.0 % after four consecutive WRS. This adaptation to WRS was accompanied by increased GMBF (being increased by 94.2 %), active cell proliferation in the neck region of gastric glands, and increased expression of pS2 (0.37+/-0.02 vs 0.77+/-0.01, P<0.01) and ITF (0.040+/- 0.001 vs 0.372+/-0.010, P<0.01). The result was demonstrated further by immunohistochemistry of pS2 (0.55+/-0.04 vs 2.46+/-0.08, P<0.01) and ITF (0.134+/-0.001 vs 0.354+/-0.070, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: TFF may not only participate in the early phase of epithelial repair known as restitution (maked by increased cell migration), but also play an important role in the subsequent, protracted phase of glandular renewal(made by cell proliferation).

[Relation between nitric oxide synthase, psychology, gastric mucosal blood flow and gastric mucosal adaptive cytoprotection under stress in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between nitric oxide synthase (NOS), psychology, gastric mucosal blood flow(GMBF) and gastric mucosal adaptive cytoprotection under stress in rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Animal model was constructed with impulsive stimulator of high voltage and stable currency, seventy-two male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control(C), regular(R) and irregular(I) group. NOS activity was measured by spectrophotometry and injure of gastric mucosa was measured by method of Nils Lambecht, GMBF was measured by LDF-3 flowmeter. RESULTS: In both R group and I group, NOS increased significantly, but injury index(II) was on contrary apparently decreasing. GMBF was increased gradually after stress. In R group, there was a negative proportion between II and GMBF, in I group, there was a negative proportion between II and GMBF and NOS, but there was a positive relationship between NOS and GMBF. CONCLUSION: NOS, psychology and GMBF all might participate in the course of the gastric mucosal adaptive cytoprotection under stress.