The Combination of Zhuli Decoction and N-butylphthalide Inhibits Cell Apoptosis Induced by CO Poisoning through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3ß Signaling Pathway.

Carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) represents a significant global health burden, characterized by its morbidity and high mortality rates. The pathogenesis of COP-induced brain injury is complex, and effective treatment modalities are currently lacking. In this study, we employed network pharmacology to identify therapeutic targets and associated signaling pathways of Zhuli Decoction (ZLD) for COP. Subsequently, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to validate the therapeutic efficacy of ZLD in combination with N-butylphthalide (NBP) for acute COP-induced injury. Our network pharmacology analysis revealed that the primary components of ZLD exerted therapeutic effects through the modulation of multiple targets and pathways. The in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the combination of NBP and ZLD effectively inhibited apoptosis and up-regulated the activities of P-PI3K (Tyr458), P-AKT (Ser473), P-GSK-3ß (Ser9), and Bcl-2, thus leading to the protection of neuronal cells and improvement in cognitive function in rats following COP, which was better than the effects observed with NBP or ZLD alone. The rescue experiment further showed that LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, significantly attenuated the therapeutic efficacy of NBP + ZLD. The neuroprotection effects of NBP and ZLD against COP-induced brain injury are closely linked to the activation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3ß signaling pathway.

Deciphering microglial activation and neuronal apoptosis post­traumatic brain injury: The role of TYROBP in inflammation regulation networks.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a significant public health challenge. Recovery from brain injury necessitates the collaborative efforts of various resident neural cells, predominantly microglia. The present study analyzed rat and mouse RNA expression micro­arrays, high­throughput RNA sequencing and single­cell sequencing data sourced from public databases. To construct an inflammation regulation network around TYRO protein tyrosine kinase­binding protein (TYROBP), to evaluate the role of TYROBP in cell death after TBI. These findings indicate that following TBI, neurons predominantly communicate with one another through the CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL) and CC chemokine ligand (CCL) signaling pathways, employing a paracrine mechanism to activate microglia. These activated microglia intensify the pathological progression of brain injury by releasing factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF­α), vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor ß via the NF­κB pathway. Cells co­culture experiments demonstrated that neurons, impaired by mechanical injury, interact with microglia through non­contact mechanisms. Activated microglia secrete cytokines, including TNF­α, CXCL­8 and CCL2, which trigger an inflammatory response and facilitate neuronal apoptosis. TYROBP gene knockout in microglia was demonstrated to reduce this interaction and reduce neuronal cell apoptosis rates.

Enhancing the Startup Rate of Microbial Methanogenic Systems through the Synergy of ß-lactam Antibiotics and Electrolytic Cells.

The slow startup and suboptimal efficiency of microbial carbon sequestration and methane-production systems have not been fully resolved despite their contribution to sustainable energy production and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These systems often grapple with persistent hurdles, including interference from miscellaneous bacteria and the slow enrichment of methanogens. To address these issues, this paper examines the synergistic effect of coupling ß-lactam antibiotics with an electrolytic cell on the methanogenic process. The results indicated that ß-lactam antibiotics exhibited inhibitory effects on Campylobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria (two types of miscellaneous bacteria), reducing their relative abundance by 53.03% and 87.78%, respectively. Nevertheless, it also resulted in a decrease in hydrogenogens and hindered the CO2 reduction pathway. When coupled with an electrolytic cell, sufficient electrons were supplied for CO2 reduction to compensate for the hydrogen deficiency, effectively mitigating the side effects of antibiotics. Consequently, a substantial improvement in methane production was observed, reaching 0.57 mL·L-1·d-1, exemplifying a remarkable 6.3-fold increase over the control group. This discovery reinforces the efficiency of methanogen enrichment and enhances methane-production levels.

Interplays between plants and environmental factors determine pullout resistance on different revegetated slopes in mining areas.

Plant roots play a crucial role in enhancing soil stability and protecting slopes during ecological restoration, particularly in mining areas where external-soil spray seeding is employed. However, the relationship between plant root pullout resistance and environmental factors on different types of slopes remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the interactions between the pullout resistance of a dominant species, Artemisia gmelinii, and environmental factors on three slope types (rocky, geotechnical, and soil) using multi-group structural equation modeling. Our findings reveal that the pullout resistance of plant roots was strongly influenced by various factors, including but not limited to biological factors such as plant height and biomass. It showed a positive correlation between soil silt content and soil nutrient levels. Notably, the pullout resistance on soil slopes was significantly higher than on rocky slopes. Furthermore, the impact of soil nutrients and texture on pullout resistance was more pronounced on geotechnical and soil slopes compared to rocky slopes. Multi-group structural equation modeling highlighted that among all environmental factors, slope gradient and underground biomass had the most significant influence on pullout resistance across all slope types. Specifically, slope gradient had a greater effect on soil slopes, whereas underground biomass played a more prominent role on rocky and geotechnical slopes. Overall, our study suggests that when implementing external-soil spray seeding in mining areas, it is crucial to consider the interplay between plant roots and environmental factors, including slope properties. This holistic approach is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of plants in slope protection during eco-engineering projects.

Effect and molecular mechanism of Sulforaphane alleviates brain damage caused by acute carbon monoxide poisoning:Network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and experimental evidence.

Sulforaphane (SFN) has attracted much attention due to its ability on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, while its functional targets and underlying mechanism of action on brain injury caused by acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACOP) have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we used a systematic network pharmacology approach to explore the mechanism of SFN in the treatment of brain damage after ACOP. In this study, the results of network pharmacology demonstrated that there were a total of 81 effective target genes of SFN and 36 drug-disease targets, which were strongly in connection with autophagy-animal signaling pathway, drug metabolism, and transcription disorders in cancer. Upon the further biological function and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis, a large number of them were involved in neuronal death, reactive oxygen metabolic processes and immune functions. Moreover, based on the results of bioinformatics prediction associated with multiple potential targets and pathways, the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was selected to elucidate the molecular mechanism of SFN in the treatment of brain injury caused by ACOP. The following molecular docking analysis also confirmed that SFN can bind to AMPKα well through chemical bonds. In addition, an animal model of ACOP was established by exposure to carbon monoxide in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to verify the predicted results of network pharmacology. We found that the mitochondrial ultrastructure of neurons in rats with ACOP was seriously damaged, and apoptotic cells increased significantly. The histopathological changes were obviously alleviated, apoptosis of cortical neurons was inhibited, and the number of Nissl bodies was increased in the SFN group as compared with the ACOP group (p < .05). Besides, the administration of SFN could increase the expressions of phosphorylated P-AMPK and MFN2 proteins and decrease the levels of DRP1, Caspase3, and Casapase9 proteins in the brain tissue of ACOP rats. These findings suggest that network pharmacology is a useful tool for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research, SFN can effectively inhibit apoptosis, protect cortical neurons from the toxicity of carbon monoxide through activating the AMPK pathway and may become a potential therapeutic strategy for brain injury after ACOP.

Potentiating humoral and cellular immunity using a novel hybrid polymer-lipid nanoparticle adjuvant for HBsAg-VLP vaccine.

Aluminium adjuvants are commonly used in vaccines to stimulate the immune system, but they have limited ability to promote cellular immunity which is necessary for clearing viral infections like hepatitis B. Current adjuvants that do promote cellular immunity often have undesired side effects due to the immunostimulants they contain. In this study, a hybrid polymer lipid nanoparticle (HPLNP) was developed as an efficient adjuvant for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine to potentiate both humoral and cellular immunity. The HPLNP is composed of FDA approved polyethylene glycol-b-poly (L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLLA) polymer and cationic lipid 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), and can be easily prepared by a one-step method. The cationic optimised vaccine formulation HBsAg/HPLNP (w/w = 1/600) can maximise the cell uptake of the antigen due to the electrostatic adsorption between the vaccine nanoparticle and the cell membrane of antigen-presenting cells. The HPLNP prolonged the retention of the antigen at the injection site and enhanced the lymph node drainage of antigen, resulting in a higher concentration of serum anti-HBsAg IgG compared to the HBsAg group or the HBsAg/Al group after the boost immunisation in mice. The HPLNP also promoted a strong Th1-driven immune response, as demonstrated by the significantly improved IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, increased production of IFN-γ, and activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. Importantly, the HPLNP demonstrated no systemic toxicity during immunisation. The advantages of the HPLNP, including good biocompatibility, easy preparation, low cost, and its ability to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses, suggest its suitability as an efficient adjuvant for protein-based vaccines such as HBsAg-VLP. These findings highlight the promising potential of the HPLNP as an HBV vaccine adjuvant, offering an alternative to aluminium adjuvants currently used in vaccines.

Evidence of clinical efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of N-butylphthalide in the treatment of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

Objective: Based on network meta-analysis (NMA) and network pharmacology approaches, we explored the clinical efficacy of different regimens, and clarified the pharmacological mechanisms of N-butylphthalide (NBP) in the treatment of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). Methods: Firstly, NMA was conducted to obtain the ranking of the efficacy of different regimens for the treatment of DEACMP. Secondly, the drug with a relatively high efficacy ranking was selected and its mechanism of treatment for DEACMP was identified through a network pharmacology analysis. By the use of protein interaction and enrichment analysis, the pharmacological mechanism was predicted, and molecular docking was subsequently carried out to verify the reliability of the results. Results: A total of 17 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1293 patients and 16 interventions were eventually included in our analysis from NMA. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) + NBP significantly increased mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Barthel index (BI) scores; NBP + dexamethasone (DXM) was the most effective treatment in improving the activity of daily living (ADL) scores; NBP significantly decreased national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores; Xingzhi-Yinao granules (XZYN) had more advantages in improving Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores, translational direct current stimulation (tDCS) had a significant effect in improving P300 latency and P300 amplitude and Kinnado + Citicoline had the most obvious effect in improving malondialdehyde (MDA). Meanwhile, by network pharmacology analysis, 33 interaction genes between NBP and DEACMP were obtained, and 4 of them were identified as possible key targets in the process of MCODE analysis. 516 Gene ontology (GO) entries and 116 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) entries were achieved by enrichment analysis. Molecular docking showed that NBP had good docking activity with the key targets. Conclusion: The NMA screened for regimens with better efficacy for each outcome indicator in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment. NBP can stably bind ALB, ESR1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, and other targets, and may play a role in neuroprotection for patients with DEACMP by modulating Lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Effect of Different Initial CaO/SiO2 Molar Ratios and Curing Times on the Preparation and Formation Mechanism of Calcium Silicate Hydrate.

To better understand the pozzolanic activity in fly ash used as a supplementary cementitious material in cement or concrete, calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) has been synthesized by adding silica fume to a supersaturated calcium hydroxide solution prepared by mixing calcium oxide and ultrapure water. Thermogravimetric analysis results have revealed the variation in the weight loss due to C-S-H in the samples and the conversion ratio of calcium oxide (the µCaO value), which represents the proportion of calcium oxide in the initial reaction mixture used to produce C-S-H, with curing time. The weight loss due to C-S-H and the µCaO value were both maximized (13.5% and 90.4%, respectively) when the initial C/S molar ratio was 1.0 and the curing time was 90 d. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis has indicated that C-S-H in the samples after curing for 7 d had the composition Ca1.5SiO3.5·xH2O. 29Si magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis has revealed that the degree of polymerization of C-S-H increased with an increase in curing time for samples with an initial C/S molar ratio of 1.0. The ratio of internal to terminal tetrahedra (Q2/Q1) increased from 2.29 to 4.28 with the increase in curing time from 7 d to 90 d. At curing times ≥ 28 d, a leaf-like C-S-H structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An ectopic nucleation-polymerization reaction process is proposed for the formation mechanism of C-S-H.

Early predictors of brain injury in patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and the neuroprotection of mild hypothermia.

INTRODUCTION: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can cause serious neurological sequelae. However, there is neither effective treatment strategy nor reliable indicators to determine the prognosis of patients with CO poisoning. The present study aimed to observe the changes of neurological function score, disease severity score, cerebral oxygen utilization (O2UCc), bispectral (BIS) index and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentration, and to elucidate the clinical significance of these potential indicators and the neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia on brain injury in patients with severe acute CO poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 277 patients with acute severe CO poisoning from 2013 to 2018 were enrolled in our hospital. Patients were divided into three groups according to their body temperature on the day of admission and their willingness to treat: a fever group (n = 78), a normal temperature group (NT group, n = 113), and a mild hypothermia group (MH group, n = 86). All patients were given hyperbaric oxygen therapy, while those in the MH group received additional mild hypothermia treatment. The severity of the disease, the neurobehavioral status, the incidence of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP), and other indicators including BIS, O2UCc, NSE were further evaluated in all patients at given time-points. RESULTS: Mild hypothermia therapy improved the prognosis of patients with CO poisoning, significantly decreased the value of O2UCc and NSE, and up-regulated BIS. The incidence of DEACMP at 6 months was 27% in the fever group, 23% in the NT group, and 8% in the MH group. The values of Glasgow-Pittsburgh coma scale (G-P score), BIS index and NSE were closely related to the occurrence of DEACMP, the cutoff values were 12.41, 52.17 and 35.20 ng/mL, and the sensitivity and specificity were 79.3%, 77.6%, 79.3% and 67.6%, 89.5%, 88.6% in the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early mild hypothermia treatment could significantly reduce the severity of brain injury after CO poisoning, and might be further popularized in clinic. G-P scores, NSE and BIS index can be regarded as the prediction indicators in the occurrence and development of DEACMP. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was granted from Qingdao University Research Ethics Committee (Clinical trial registry and ethical approval number: QD81571283).

Effects of solid waste-based soil conditioner and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on crop productivity and heavy metal distribution in foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

Shanxi is a large coal-producing province, and it also produces a lot of solid waste. Solid waste can leach heavy metals, which can harm soil and affect food security at the beginning of the food chain. To investigate the impacts of solid waste-based soil conditioner (SWSC) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on millet safety and crop production, a field experiment with foxtail millet (Setaria italica) was conducted in Tunliu. The results of this study demonstrate that SWSC + AMF, SWSC and AMF can increase millet yield by 28.0%, 27.1% and 19.5%, respectively, compared with CK. This is mainly due to increased mycorrhizal infection. Besides, the pollution index (Pi) and the Nemerow-integrated pollution index (PN) of the soil with SWSC and AMF were both below 0.7, indicating safe pollution levels. The application of AMF and SWSC inhibits plants from absorbing heavy metals from the soil and reduces the TFroot/soil of the millet. SWSC + AMF application inhibited the transfer of heavy metals from the roots to the upper part of the ground and reduced the TFshoot/root of the millet. The TFgrain/soil of the millet was below 1. The HQ and HI of the millet grains did not exceed 1, indicating the absence of a potential health risk. Therefore, SWSC combined with AMF is applicable for millet production in Tunliu, and the combined treatment can decrease heavy metal phytoavailability and post-harvest transfer risks. This work provides a way to utilize solid waste while also improving millet yields in dry farming. Based on the review, we suggested future researches to better understand the mechanisms of SWSC + AMF long-term application to promote awareness on its role over time through alterations in its surface chemistry, soil microbial community and environmental implications.

Therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of Salvia Miltiorrhiza on rats with acute brain injury after carbon monoxide poisoning based on the strategy of internet pharmacology.

The pathogenesis of brain injury caused by carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is very complex, and there is no exact and reliable treatment in clinic. In the present study, we screened the therapeutic target and related signal pathway of Salvia Miltiorrhiza for acute COP brain injury, and clarified the pharmacological mechanism of multicomponent, multitarget, and multisignal pathway in Salvia Miltiorrhiza by network pharmacology. To further verify the therapeutic effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza on acute brain injury based on the results of network analysis, a total of 216 male healthy Sprague Dawley rats were collected in the present study and randomly assigned to a normal control group, a COP group and a Tanshinone IIA sulfonate treatment group (72 rats in each group). The rat model of acute severe COP was established by the secondary inhalation in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. We found that Salvia Miltiorrhiza had multiple active components, and played a role in treating acute brain injury induced by COP through multiple targets and multiple pathways, among them, MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway was one of the most important. COP can start apoptosis process, activate the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and promote the expression of VEGF-A protein and the formation of brain edema. Tanshinone IIA can effectively inhibit apoptosis, up-regulate the expressions of VEGF-A, P-MEK1/2 and P-ERK1/2 proteins, thereby protect endothelial cells, promote angiogenesis and microcirculation, and finally alleviate brain edema.

Biochar induced changes of soil dissolved organic matter: The release and adsorption of dissolved organic matter by biochar and soil.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important organic matter fraction that affects many biological and chemical processes in soil. Biochar can change soil DOM while the effects were paradoxical, and contributions of biochar to soil DOM was not clear yet. In this study, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to determine the biochar-induced changes of DOM composition. Batch experiments were conducted to quantify the contributions of biochar to soil DOM. Biochars were prepared by pyrolyzing wheat straw (S300/700) and cow manure (M300/700) at 300 and 700 °C, respectively. Generally, biochar increased the humification of soil DOM possibly by the release of indigenous DOM and selective adsorption of the small molecule DOM. Besides, contributions of S300 and M300 to soil DOM (37-91%) were higher than that of S700 and M700 (2-19%) irrespective of application rates. The indigenous DOM released from S300 and M300 was 6.4-12.1 times more than the soil DOM adsorbed by S300 and M300, leading to the increase of DOM content. Contrarily, the DOM from S700 and M700 was only 11-17% of the soil DOM adsorbed by them, resulting in the decrease of DOM content. In addition, contributions of biochar to soil DOM increased as the application rate increased, especially for S300 and M300. This study indicated that the release and adsorption of DOM were the key processes determining the effects of biochar on soil DOM, which were closely related to the pyrolysis temperature and application rate of biochar.

[Effects of activated coke on soil properties and growth of two plant species in saline alkali soil in northern Shanxi Province, China.] / 活性焦对晋北盐碱地土壤性质和两种植物生长的影响.

Solid waste-based improver is one of the effective means to improve properties of saline-alkali soil. As a kind of porous waste, activated coke is expected to improve soil properties and alleviate salt-alkali stress. In order to understand the improvement effect of activated coke on saline alkali land in northern Shanxi Province, we examined the effects of different addition rates of activated coke (CK, 0 g·kg-1; A10, 10 g·kg-1; A20, 20 g·kg-1; A50, 50 g·kg-1) on the properties of saline alkali soil and the growth of two plant species. The results showed that activated coke addition could increase the content of water soluble soil aggregates, reduce soil salt content, soil pH, and the electrical conductivity (EC). Compared with CK, the mean weight diameters of the aggregates for the saline-alkali soils grown with Puccinellia distans and maize were increased by 5.1%-32.2%, soil pH was decreased by 0.4%-4.1%, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) was decreased by 4.8%-18.7%, and the EC was decreased by 7.4%-8.2%. Applying appropriate amount of activated coke could promote plant growth through reducing the plasma membrane damage of plant cells, increasing plant chlorophyll and Ca2+ contents. The biomass of Puccinellia distans and maize both reached the maximum under the A20 treatment. It suggested that the application of 20 g·kg-1 activated coke (A20) in saline alkali soil could improve soil quality in the rhizosphere soil, increase plant selective Ca2+ absorption, thereby reducing salt damage to plant cells and promote plant growth in saline-alkali habitat.

Preparation of Ultrafine Fly Ash-Based Superhydrophobic Composite Coating and Its Application to Foam Concrete.

The waterproof and thermal insulation property of foamed concrete is very important. In this study, the ultrafine fly ash (UFA)-based superhydrophobic composite coating was applied onto foam concrete. The UFA-based base coating that closely adhered to the concrete initially improved the waterproofness of the test block, and the silane coupling agent-modified UFA-based surface coating further achieved superhydrophobicity. The UFA on the coating surface and the asperities on the surface jointly formed a lotus leaf-like rough micro-nanostructure. The 154.34° water drop contact angle and 2.41° sliding angle on No. 5 coating were reached, indicating that it was a superhydrophobic surface. The water absorption ratios of the composite coating block were 1.87% and 16.6% at 4 h and 7 days, which were reduced by 97% and 75% in comparison with the original foam concrete. The compressive strength and heat conductivity coefficient after soaking for 4 h of the composite coating block were higher than 4.0 MPa and 0.225 W·m-1·K-1, respectively. The UFA-based superhydrophobic composite coating proposed in this study and applied onto foam concrete is simple and cheap, requires no precise instrument, and can be applied in a large area.

circ_103809 promotes breast cancer progression by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types in the world. This study was carried out to investigate the functional role of circular RNA circ_103809 in breast cancer. The expression of hsa_circ_103809 in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cells were verified. After transfection, the expression of hsa_circ_103809 in the cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation. Apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. AKT, p-AKT, BCL2 and Bax were detected by western blotting. Tumor formation assay was employd in vivo. The expression of circ_103809 in breast cancer was overexpressed. circ_103809 was proved to promote cell proliferation in breast cancer progression. In addition, circ_103809 was also involved in repressing cell apoptosis and accelerating cell cycle progression in vitro. circ_103809 accelerated breast cancer progression via regulating PI3K/AKT signaling. circ_103809 promoted tumor formation in vivo. The circular RNA hsa_circ_103809 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and cells, and may play an oncogene role in the development of breast cancer, and is expected to become a new target for breast cancer therapy.

Isolation and purification of a novel antimicrobial peptide from Porphyra yezoensis.

We aimed to isolate antimicrobial peptides from Porphyra yezoensis. Enzymatic hydrolysate of P. yezoensis was purified by ultrafiltration, molecular sieve chromatography, and ion exchange chromatography sequentially. A novel peptide with strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and the amino acid sequence was identified to be Thr-Pro-Asp-Ser-Glu-Ala-Leu (TPDSEAL). Physical and chemical properties and antimicrobial activity of the peptide were determined. The antimicrobial mechanism was studied. The antimicrobial activity of TPDSEAL kept stable under acidic or basic conditions, high temperature, and ultraviolet radiation. The antimicrobial mechanism of antimicrobial peptides may damage the cell wall and membrane, and enhance the permeability of cells, which leads to the outflow of intracellular substances and death of bacteria. This study provides novel insight into the preparation of marine-derived antimicrobial peptides. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Antimicrobial peptides, which act as defensive weapons against microbes, have been broadly used as food additives in food industry. Due to the limited amount of natural antimicrobial peptides in organisms and the high cost of chemical synthesis, producing novel natural antimicrobial peptides with bioengineering methods has become an urgent task. In the present study, we prepared a novel antimicrobial peptide from pepsin-digested hydrolysate of Porphyra yezoensis using ultrafiltration, molecular sieve chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and mass spectrometry analysis. A novel peptide with strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and the amino acid sequence was identified to be Thr-Pro-Asp-Ser-Glu-Ala-Leu (TPDSEAL). The identified peptide exhibits great stability under acidic or basic conditions, high temperature, and ultraviolet radiation. Mechanism revealed that TPDSEAL treatment may damage the cell wall and membrane, enhance the permeability of cells, and lead to the death of bacteria. Our study provides the novel insight into the preparation of marine-derived antimicrobial peptides.

Salmon calcitonin exerts better preventive effects than celecoxib on lumbar facet joint degeneration and long-term tactile allodynia in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects of salmon calcitonin (sCT) and celecoxib (CLX) on cartilage, subchondral bone and tactile allodynia in a rat model of lumbar facet joint (FJ) osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: Forty 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 30 received surgical collagenase (type II) injections in the right L3-L6 facet joints followed by 8 weeks of treatment with normal saline, CLX or sCT, and the other 10 received sham surgery. Tactile allodynia, changes of cartilage and subchondral bone of the L4-L5 FJs, and serum biomarkers were analyzed for all rats. RESULTS: Both sCT and CLX ameliorated cartilage lesions, significantly increased aggrecan expression and decreased caspase-3 expression. sCT also decreased the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4). According to the micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis, sCT significantly improved microarchitecture parameters of subchondral bone and micro-CT score; and inhibited articular process hypertrophy. CLX showed better antihyperalgesic effects than sCT on days 3 and 7 postoperatively despite no statistical differences, whereas sCT possessed better analgesic effects than CLX on days 42 and 56. Besides, the sCT treatment reduced the elevated cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentration in rats injected with collagenase (type II). CONCLUSIONS: Both sCT and CLX exerted preventive effects on FJ OA caused by collagenase (type II), but sCT showed more protective effects, particularly on maintaining cartilage metabolism, restraining the deterioration of the subchondral bone microarchitecture and tactile allodynia, and reducing serum COMP concentrations.

Thermodynamics of NaHCO3 decomposition during Na2CO3-based CO2 capture.

Amine-basedcarbon-capture technologies have been shown to be energetically expensive and to cause significant environmental and epidemiological impacts due to their volatility. Bicarbonate formation from carbon dioxide's reaction with water has been suggested as an effective alternative for capturing CO2; however, the thermodynamics of this reaction are not well understood. This study experimentally determined the equilibrium constant of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) decomposition to sodium, water, and carbon dioxide; the study also compared the equilibrium constant to theoretical calculations. Using a combination of experimentation and thermodynamic relationships, the unitless equilibrium constants of the forward and reverse reactions were calculated accurately (error <±9% and <±4%, respectively). Equilibrium data were calculated using enthalpy and entropy values of each component of NaHCO3 decomposition at temperatures ranging from 25 to 155°C respectively. These results offer more data essential to optimizing NaHCO3 use in environmentally friendly next-generation CO2-capture technologies.

Strontium Ranelate Combined with Insulin Is as Beneficial as Insulin Alone in Treatment of Fracture Healing in Ovariectomized Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and estrogen deficiency both predispose fracture patients to increased risk of delayed union or nonunion. The present study investigated the effects of strontium ranelate (SR) on fracture healing in ovariectomized (OVX) diabetic rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS A mid-shaft fracture was established in female normal control (CF), diabetic (DF), and OVX diabetic (DOF) rats. Treated DOF rats received either insulin alone (DOFI) or combined with SR (DOFIS). All rats were euthanized at 2 or 3 weeks after fracture. Fracture healing was evaluated using radiological, histological, immunohistochemical, and micro-computed tomography analyses. RESULTS At 3 weeks after fracture, radiological and histological evaluations demonstrated delayed fracture healing in the DF group compared with the CF group, which was exacerbated by OVX, as indicated by the significantly lower X-ray score, BMD, BV/TV, and Md.Ar/Ps.Cl.Ar, and the markedly decreased OCN and Col I expression in the DOF group. All these changes were prevented by insulin alone or combined with SR treatment. In comparison with the DOFI group, DOFIS rats displayed markedly higher OCN expression at 2 weeks after fracture and Col I expression at 2 and 3 weeks after fracture. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated delayed fracture healing with preexisting estrogen deficiency and T2DM. While insulin alone and combined with SR were both effective in promoting bone fracture healing in this model, their combined treatment showed significant improvement in promoting osteogenic marker expression, but not of the radiological appearance, compared with insulin alone.