Recycling of Ti and Si from Ti-bearing blast furnace slag and diamond wire saw silicon waste by flux alloying technique.

Two industrial solid wastes, Ti-bearing blast furnace slag (TBFS) and diamond wire saw silicon waste (DWSSW), contain large amounts of Ti and Si, and their accumulation wastes resources and intensifies environmental pollution. In the present study, DWSSW was used as the silicon source to reduce titanium oxide in TBFS by electromagnetic induction smelting, and meanwhile Na3AlF6 was added as a flux to improve the recycling of the wastes. Ti and Si of the two wastes were simultaneously recovered in the form of alloy. The effects of different addition amount of Na3AlF6 flux in the mixture of DWSSW and TBFS on chemical composition, viscosity, basicity and structure of slag were investigated. The dissolution behavior of SiO2 in Na3AlF6 flux was theoretically deduced and experimentally verification. The optimized recovery rate of Ti and Si were obtained, and the research realizes the efficient recycling of DWSSW and TBFS simultaneously.

Multiple variation patterns of terpene synthases in 26 maize genomes.

Terpenoids are important compounds associated with the pest and herbivore resistance mechanisms of plants; consequently, it is essential to identify and explore terpene synthase (TPS) genes in maize. In the present study, we identified 31 TPS genes based on a pan-genome of 26 high-quality maize genomes containing 20 core genes (present in all 26 lines), seven dispensable genes (present in 2 to 23 lines), three near-core genes (present in 24 to 25 lines), and one private gene (present in only 1 line). Evaluation of ka/ks values of TPS in 26 varieties revealed that TPS25 was subjected to positive selection in some varieties. Six ZmTPS had ka/ks values less than 1, indicating that they were subjected to purifying selection. In 26 genomes, significant differences were observed in ZmTPS25 expression between genes affected by structural variation (SV) and those not affected by SV. In some varieties, SV altered the conserved structural domains resulting in a considerable number of atypical genes. The analysis of RNA-seq data of maize Ostrinia furnacalis feeding revealed 10 differentially expressed ZmTPS, 9 of which were core genes. However, many atypical genes for these responsive genes were identified in several genomes. These findings provide a novel resource for functional studies of ZmTPS.

Schisanwilsonins H and I, two new dibenzocyclooctane lignans from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Two new dibenzocyclooctane lignans, schisanwilsonins H (1) and I (2), together with eight known compounds gomisin J (3), wulignan A1 (4), gomisin S (5), tigloylgomisin P (6), gomisin O (7), (-)-gomisin K1 (8), rubschisantherin (9) and wuweizisu C (10) were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana. 7 exhibited anti-HBV activity with potency against HBsAg and HBeAg secretion by 37.1% and 32.6%, respectively, at 50 µg/ml. 10 exhibited anti-HIV activity with EC50 and therapeutic index (TI) values of 2.10 µg/ml and 11.98, respectively.

Gene expression changes in response to low temperatures in embryos of the kelp grouper, Epinephelus moara.

The kelp grouper Epinephelus moara has high economic value and is popular in fisheries and aquaculture in China. In the previous study, we treated the embryos at 16-22 somite stage at 4 °C, -25.7 °C, -140 °C and -196 °C, and successfully obtained surviving embryos in each group. To better understand the molecular changes affected by the low temperatures, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis among embryos exposed at 4 °C for 30 min, embryos exposed at -25.7 °C for 30 min and the control group. qPCR assays were conducted for the validation. Signal transduction pathways were highly enriched for the differentially expressed genes. c-Fos, c-Jun, JunD, GADD45, involved in MAPK signaling pathway, were upregulated when embryos were treated at low temperatures. As immediate early genes, Egr-1a and b, and IER2, that respond quickly to the environment stress, their expression increased as well. Hsp70 showed similar expression pattern as immediate early genes. Meanwhile, transcription factors Sox, HES, TFIID, muscle movement and protein synthesis-related genes were downregulated. Taken together, our findings suggest that cooling disrupts gene expression patterns in E. moara embryos. The differentially expressed genes may be involved in cellular resistance against low temperatures, possibly through neural activation, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, cellular recovery and heat shock regulation. This study also provides transcriptome dataset of E. moara embryos exposed to cold temperatures for future studies focusing on the molecular effects of cryopreservation.

Two new coumarin glycosides from Herpetospermum caudigerum.

Phytochemical investigation on the seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum afforded two new coumarin glycosides A and B (1 and 2), together with a known compound herpetolide A (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques. Compound 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with IC50 value of 6.47 µg/ml. Compound 2 showed anti-hepatitis B virus activity with HBsAg secretion by 33.1% at 200 µg/ml.

Dibenzocyclooctane lignans from the stems of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Five new dibenzocyclooctane lignans, schisanwilsonins K-O, together with eighteen known lignans were isolated from the stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques. Several compounds were found to show anti-HIV and anti-HBV activity.

[Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis arthralgia by xiaoyan zhitong paste: a clinical observation].

OBJECTIVE: To formulate a comprehensive treatment program for rheumatoid arthritis arthralgia by clinical observing the efficacy of Xiaoyan Zhitong Paste (XZP). METHODS: Adopted was stratified, block randomized, double-blinded, placebo parallel controlled method. Subjects were assigned to the treatment group and the placebo group. Those in the treatment group were treated by external application of XZP, one to two pastes each time, covering the painful area, exchange once per 24 h, with one-day interval during a 7-day consecutive medication, two 7-days of treatment consisting of one therapeutic course. XZP placebos were applied for those in the placebo group in the same medication way. Joint pain and VAS were taken as main indices for observing the clinical efficacy of XZP. RESULTS: The improvement of the analgesic effect and the Chinese medical syndrome efficacy of XZP were superior to that of the placebo. CONCLUSION: XZP showed obvious effect in treating rheumatoid arthritis arthralgia with no obvious adverse reaction.

Hybrid Knife, a Novel Drug Delivery Tool for Treatment of Tracheal Stenosis: A Case Report.

The treatment of subglottic stenosis remains a challenge due to anatomic and technological limitations, and there is no consensus regarding treatment. Restenosis and granulation formation are the most common complications. Balloon dilatation combined with cryotherapy and adjuvant topical medication is one treatment method. However, the efficacy of adjuvant topical medication is controversial, and the lack of efficacy may be related to the effective dose of the drug delivered to the submucosal layer of the lesion. Therefore, a tool with high efficiency for delivering medications to the submucosal layer via injection may play an important role in treatment. A hybrid knife (HK) with a pressure water jet traditionally used in endoscopy submucosal dissection to inject saline into the submucosa was employed here to inject medications for subglottic stenosis, followed by electrical excision. Here, we report the case of a man with complex subglottic stenosis who underwent balloon dilatation combined with cryotherapy and an adjuvant submucosal triamcinolone injection performed with an HK. The drug was delivered more efficiently into the submucosal layer, and the lumen of the trachea was patent. Performing a submucosal injection with an HK may be a new approach to deliver medications to the submucosal layer for the treatment of tracheal stenosis.

Irisdichotins A-C, three new flavonoid glycosides from the rhizomes of Iris dichotoma Pall.

Three new compounds including one flavonol glycoside, irisdichotin A (1), and two flavanonol glycosides, irisdichotins B (2) and C (3), were isolated from the rhizomes of Iris dichotoma Pall. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

Chemical constituents and bioactivities of the liposoluble fraction from different medicinal parts of Crocus sativus.

CONTEXT: Crocus sativus Linn. (Iridaceae), commonly known as saffron, becomes more and more popular due to its versatile biological and medicinal properties. At present, studies mainly focus on the traditional medicinal part, the saffron stigma, with less attention to the other parts of saffron, such as the perianth, the stamen, and the corm, which are high yield compared to the stigma and also possess various pharmacological effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the chemical compositions, antifungal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities of the ether fractions from the stamen, perianth, and stigma of saffron. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical constituents of the ether fractions from different parts of saffron were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Several pathogenic fungi isolates and tumor cell lines were employed to evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activities of these three ether fractions. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to determine the free radical-scavenging activity. RESULTS: The ether fractions composition of the three C. sativus parts are different from each other, but lauric acid, hexadecanoic acid, 4-hydroxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, and stigmasterol were the common constituents shared by all the three fractions. The stamen ether fraction displayed the strongest antifungal and cytotoxic activities, whereas both of the saffron stamen and perianth ether fractions exhibited significant antioxidant activities. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the saffron stamen and perianth possess significant antifungal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities as well as the stigma, though not to the same extent, prompting us to expand the medicinal resource and make best use of this valuable plant.

Sigma-2 Receptor as a Potential Drug Target.

Sigma-2 receptor plays key roles in promoting tumor cell apoptosis, enhancing efficacy of anti-tumor drugs, blocking signal transduction controlled by Aß oligomers, regulating Ca2+ homeostasis and protecting nerve cells. Studies indicated that sigma-2 receptor may be closely coupled with ROS, LDL, mTOR, RAS, PLC/PKC, lysosomal autophagy and mitochondrial super oxidative stress. In addition, the high expression of this receptor in proliferating cells and nerve cells indicates that sigma-2 receptor is an ideal molecular target for imaging and therapeutic development for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and traumatic brain injury. Various sigma-2 agonists have shown promising anticancer activities, while sigma-2 antagonists have displayed neuroprotection and inhibition of Aß oligomers in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. Thus, both sigma-2 agonists and antagonists are potentially useful therapeutics for the management of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Sigma ligands as potent inhibitors of Aß and AßOs in neurons and promising therapeutic agents of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease and characterized by dementia, memory decline, loss of learning and cognitive disorder. The main pathological features of AD are the deposition of amyloid plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. The current anti-AD drugs have shown unsatisfactory therapeutic results. Due to the complications and unclear pathogenesis, AD is still irreversible and incurable. Among several hypotheses proposed by the academic community, the amyloid cascade is widely recognized by scholars and supported by a large amount of evidences. However, controversy over pathogenic factors has also been ongoing. Increasing evidence has shown that amyloid-ß (Aß) and especially amyloid-ß oligomers (AßOs) are highly neurotoxic and pathogenic agents that damage neurons, mediate various receptors in the downstream pathways, and ultimately lead to learning and cognitive dysfunction. However, efforts in developing inhibitors of Aß or amyloid-ß precursor protein (APP) have all failed to yield good clinical results. More recently, it has been demonstrated that sigma receptors, including sigma-1 and sigma-2 subtypes, may play critical roles in the regulation of binding and metabolism of AßOs in neuron cells and the pathophysiology of AD. Thus, sigma receptor ligands are being recognized as promising therapeutic agents for treating or ameliorating AD. This article will review the pathophysiology of AD and highlight the sigma ligands that display the capability of preventing or even reversing Aß- and AßOs-induced neurotoxicity and blocking the signal transduction caused by AßOs.

Synthesis, binding, and functional properties of tetrahydroisoquinolino-2-alkyl phenones as selective σ2R/TMEM97 ligands.

Sigma-2 receptor (σ2R/TMEM97) has been implicated to play important roles in multiple cellular dysfunctions, such as cell neoplastic proliferation, neuro-inflammation, neurodegeneration, etc. Selective σ2 ligands are believed to be promising pharmacological tools to regulate or diagnose various disorders. As an ongoing effort of discovery of new and selective σ2 ligands, we have synthesized a series of tetrahydroisoquinolino-2-alkyl phenone analogs and identified that 10 of them have moderate to potent affinity and selectivity for σ2R/TMEM97. Especially, 4 analogs showed Ki values ranging from 0.38 to 5.1 nM for σ2R/TMEM97 with no or low affinity for sigma-1 receptor (σ1R). Functional assays indicated that these 4 most potent analogs had no effects on intracellular calcium concentration and were classified as putative σ2R/TMEM97 antagonists according to current understanding. The σ2R/TMEM97 has been suggested to play important roles in the central nervous system. Based on published pharmacological and clinical results from several regarded σ2R/TMEM97 antagonists, these analogs may potentially be useful for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation pathways.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious lung problem with advancing and diffusive pulmonary fibrosis as the pathologic basis, and with oxidative stress and inflammation as the key pathogenesis. Glycyl-L-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) is a tripeptide participating into wound healing and regeneration. GHK-Cu complexes improve GHK bioavailability. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the therapeutic role of GHK-Cu on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model. METHODS: BLM (3 mg/kg) was administered via tracheal instillation (TI) to induce a pulmonary fibrosis model in C57BL/6j mice 21 days after the challenge of BLM. GHK-Cu was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at different dosage of 0.2, 2 and 20 µg/g/day in 0.5 ml PBS on alternate day. The histological changes, inflammation response, the collagen deposition and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was evaluated in the lung tissue. EMT was evaluated by ɑ-SMA and fibronectin expression in the lung tissue. NF-κB p65, Nrf2 and TGFß1/Smad2/3 signalling pathways were detected by immunoblotting analysis. RESULTS: GHK-Cu complex inhibited BLM-induced inflammatory and fibrotic pathological changes, alleviated the inflammatory response in the BALF by reducing the levels of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-ɑ and IL-6 and the activity of MPO as well as reduced collagen deposition. In addition, the GHK-Cu treatment significantly reversed the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance and partially prevented EMT via Nrf2, NF-κB and TGFß1 pathways, as well as Smad2/3 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: GHK-Cu presented a protective effect in BLM-induced inflammation and oxidative stress by inhibiting EMT progression and suppressing TGFß1/Smad2/3 signalling in pulmonary fibrosis.

Schisanwilsonins A-G and related anti-HBV lignans from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Seven new dibenzocyclooctane lignans, schisanwilsonins A-G (1-7), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana, together with five known lignans (8-12). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques. The 12 lignans were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity in vitro. Schisanwilsonin D (4), schisantherin C (9), deoxyschizandrin (10) and (+)-gomisin K(3) (11) showed anti-HBV activity. 9 exhibited the most potent anti-HBV activity with potency against HBsAg and HBeAg secretion by 59.7% and 34.7%, respectively, at 50 microg/mL.

Schisanwilsonenes A-C, anti-HBV Carotane sesquiterpenoids from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Three carotane-type sesquiterpenoids, schisanwilsonenes A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. Schisanwilsonene A, at 50 microg/mL, exhibited antiviral activity, inhibiting HBsAg and HBeAg secretion by 76.5% and 28.9%.

Synthesis and evaluation of pyrimidoindole analogs in umbilical cord blood ex vivo expansion.

The scarcity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) significantly hindered their clinical potentials. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has become the leading source of HSCs for both research and clinical applications. But the low content of HSCs in a single UCB unit limited its use only to pediatric patients. Various cytokines and small molecules have demonstrated strong abilities in promoting HSC ex vivo expansion, of which UM171 is the newest and by far the most potent HSC ex vivo expansion agent. In this study, we synthesized 37 pyrimidoindole analogs and identified 6 compounds to be potent in promoting HSC ex vivo expansion. In particular, analog 11 was found to be the most effective in stimulating ex vivo expansion of UCB CD34+ cells and CD34+CD38- cells. Initial data indicated that compound 11 promoted the absolute number of long term HSCs and inhibited their differentiation. UCB HSCs expanded with 11 retained adequate multi-lineage differentiation capacity. In addition, compound 11 is not cytotoxic at its test concentrations, suggesting that it merits further investigation for potential clinical applications.

[Economic loss of nosocomial infections in patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the economic loss of nosocomial infections (NI) in patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. METHODS: We used case-control method to compare the medical expenses between 46 pairs of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction patients with or without NI. RESULTS: The median hospital stay, total treatment expense, medications expense, examination expense, and treatment expense of NI were significantly higher in the NI group than in non-NI group (all P < 0.01 ). CONCLUSIONS: NI can prolong hospital stay and increase medical expenses of patients with cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. Effective measures should be taken to control NI.

[Current situation and control strategy of nosocomial infection in intensive care unit].

Intensive care unit (ICU) is a place with high risk of nosocomial infections. Effective control of nosocomial infections in ICU brings both social and economic benefits. This article summarizes ten main points in the control strategy of ICU infections.

Effects of Tianxiangdan Granule treatment on atherosclerosis via NF­κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

The present study aimed to determine the effects of Tianxiangdan Granule on nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 and p38 mitogen­activated protein kinase (MAPK) inflammatory signaling pathways, and explored the possible mechanism underlying the effects of Tianxiangdan Granule on prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. A total of 48 apolipoprotein E­/­ mice (age, 8 weeks) were selected and divided into two groups: The normal control group (n=12) and the modeling group (n=36). In the modeling group, mice were fed a high­fat diet and were maintained in an artificial climate box, in order to stimulate the climate and eating habit characteristics of Xinjiang. Every morning, ApoE­/­ mice in the modeling group were placed in the artificial climate box at 10:00 am and were taken out at 09:00 pm and placed back in the room temperature environment. The temperature of the artificial climate box was set at 6±2˚C, relative humidity was controlled at 25­32.8% and the light­dark cycle was 12 h/day. The purpose of this method was to establish the Huizhuo Tanzu type atherosclerosis model. Following successful generation of the model, mice in the modeling group were randomly divided into three groups: Model group (n=10), Tianxiangdan group (n=10) and atorvastatin group (n=10). After 12 weeks, mice were sacrificed and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)­1ß and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α in each group were detected. Furthermore, the expression levels of NF­κB p65 and p38 MAPK in aortic tissue were detected. The results indicated that the concentrations of IL­1ß and TNF­α were significantly higher in mice in the model group compared with in the normal control group (P<0.01), whereas the concentrations of IL­1ß and TNF­α were lower in the Tianxiangdan and atorvastatin groups compared with in the model group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)­NF­κB p65 and p­p38 MAPK protein were higher in aortic tissues from the model group compared with in the normal control group (P<0.01), p­NF­κB p65 and p­p38 MAPK protein expression was reduced in the atorvastatin and Tianxiangdan groups compared with in the model group. The present study indicated that the mechanism underlying the effects of Tianxiangdan Granule on the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis may be as follows: Tianxiangdan Granule may decrease the expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL­1ß and TNF­α, and suppress activation of the NF­κB p65 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.