Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework as Superior Separator with High Lithium Affinity C═N Bond for Low N/P Ratio Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium dendrite and side reactions are two major challenges for lithium metal anode. Here, the highly lithophilic triazine ring in the hydrogen-bonded organic framework is recommended to accelerate the desolvation process of lithium ions. Among them, the formation of Li-N bonds between lithium ions and the triazine ring in CAM reduces the diffusion energy barrier of Li+ crossing the SEI interface and the desolvation energy barrier of Li+ exiting from the solvent sheath so that the rapid and homogeneous deposition of lithium-ion can be achieved. Meanwhile, the lithium-ion migration coefficient can be as high as 0.70. CAM separator is used to assemble lithium metal batteries with nickel-rich cathodes (NCM 622). When N/P = 8 and 5, the capacity retention rates of Li-NCM 622 full cell are 78.2% and 80.5% after 200 and 110 cycles, respectively, and the Coulomb efficiency can be maintained at 99.5%, showing excellent cycle stability.

OMI-based emission source classification in East China and its spatial redistribution in view of pollution control measures.

This study aims to generate a satellite-based qualitative emission source characterization for the heavily polluted eastern part of China in the 2010-2016 time period. The applied source identification technique relies on satellite-based NOx and SO2 emission estimates by OMI, their SO2:NOx ratio, and the MIX anthropogenic emission inventory to distinguish emissions from different emission categories (urban, industrial, natural) and characterize the dominant source per 0.25° × 0.25° grid cell in East China. Overall, we find good agreement between the satellite- and emission inventory-based spatiotemporal distribution and characterization of the dominant emission sources in East China in 2010-2016. In 2010, the satellite measurements suggest an emission distribution less dominated by industrial areas, a somewhat larger role for urban/transportation areas and agricultural activities, and more natural emissions in the southern part compared to the bottom-up emission categorization. In 2016, more than half of the classified emission categories over East China have remained the same. At the same time, there is a notable increase of agricultural lands and decrease of areas dominated by industry/transportation in 2016, suggestive of an overall decrease in heavy air pollution in East China over the course of 7 years. This is likely attributed to the sustained efforts of the Chinese government to drastically improve the air quality, especially since 2013 when the National Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan was enacted. However, signs of urban expansion (urbanization) and rural-urban migration ("Go West" motion) stemmed from China's rapid economic growth and labour demand are evident; escalating industrialization (even with cleaner means) and the urban population growth in East China resulted in stronger emissions from sources representing consumption and transportation which are strongly related to NO2 and PM10 pollution (rather than SO2) and are directly influenced by the population size. This resulted to a shift of the emissions from the east mainly to the north and northwest of East China. Overall, although the effectiveness of the Chinese environmental control policies has been successful, the air pollution problem remains an important concern.

Spaceborne Observations of Lightning NO2 in the Arctic.

The Arctic region is experiencing notable warming as well as more lightning. Lightning is the dominant source of upper tropospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are precursors for ozone and hydroxyl radicals. In this study, we combine the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) observations from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) with Vaisala Global Lightning Dataset 360 to evaluate lightning NO2 (LNO2) production in the Arctic. By analyzing consecutive TROPOMI NO2 observations, we determine the lifetime and production efficiency of LNO2 during the summers of 2019-2021. Our results show that the LNO2 production efficiency over the ocean is ∼6 times higher than over continental regions. Additionally, we find that a higher LNO2 production efficiency is often correlated with lower lightning rates. The summertime lightning NOx emission in the Arctic (north of 70° N) is estimated to be 219 ± 116 Mg of N, which is equal to 5% of anthropogenic NOx emissions. However, for the span of a few hours, the Arctic LNO2 density can even be comparable to anthropogenic NO2 emissions in the region. These new findings suggest that LNO2 can play an important role in the upper-troposphere/lower-stratosphere atmospheric chemical processes in the Arctic, particularly during the summer.

Low paraoxonase 1 arylesterase activity and high von Willebrand factor levels are associated with severe coronary atherosclerosis in patients with non-diabetic stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and von Willebrand factor (VWF) release are associated with lesion initiation in atherosclerosis. Diabetes can complicate coronary artery disease (CAD) due to the production of advanced glycation end products. This study evaluated PON1 activity and VWF levels in non-post-acute coronary syndrome, stable CAD (SCAD) patients without diabetes. MATERIAL/METHODS: Non-diabetic SCAD patients and patients experiencing acute stress periods were selected (n=130). Forty-seven cases with normal coronary angiography and 50 healthy individuals served as controls. The non-diabetic SCAD group was then stratified into single-vessel lesions, multiple-vessel lesions, and mild or severe luminal stenosis according to the number and the degree of luminal stenoses. Serum PON1 paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, and plasma VWF levels were measured, as well as serum total cholesterol, total triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A1. PON1 arylesterase activity was detected with an ordinary chemistry system using a novel phenylacetate derivative. RESULTS: Both PON1 paraoxonase and arylesterase were lower in the non-diabetic SCAD group, but VWF levels were higher (versus controls, all P<0.001). PON1 paraoxonase activity (OR=0.991), PON1 arylesterase activity (OR=0.981), and VWF (OR 2.854) influenced SCAD in multiple logistic regression. Decreased PON1 arylesterase activity and increased VWF levels were associated with severe atherosclerosis in non-diabetic SCAD patients. We also observed a slight negative correlation between VWF and PON1 paraoxonase/arylesterase. CONCLUSIONS: PON1 and VWF are detectable markers that may predict the severity of stenoses, ideally facilitating a non-diabetic SCAD diagnosis before the sudden onset of life-threatening symptoms.

Characteristics of stachyose-induced effects on gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in vitro associated with obesity in children.

Childhood obesity presents a serious health concern associated with gut microbiota alterations. Dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota have emerged as promising strategies for managing obesity in children. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of stachyose (STS) supplementation on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic processes in obese children. Fecal samples were collected from 40 obese children (20 boys and 20 girls) aged between 6 and 15 and in vitro fermentation was conducted with or without the addition of STS, respectively, followed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases. Notably, our results revealed that STS supplementation led to significant alterations in gut microbiota composition, including an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium, and a decrease in harmful bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella, Parabacteroides, Eggerthella, and Flavonifractor. Moreover, STS supplementation resulted in changes in SCFAs production, with significant increases in acetate levels and reductions in propionate and propionate, while simultaneously reducing the generation of gases such as H2S, H2, and NH3. The Area Under the Curve (AUC)-Random Forest algorithm and PICRUSt 2 were employed to identify valuable biomarkers and predict associations between the gut microbiota, metabolites, and metabolic pathways. The results not only contribute to the elucidation of STS's modulatory effects on gut microbiota but also underscore its potential in shaping metabolic activities within the gastrointestinal environment. Furthermore, our study underscores the significance of personalized nutrition interventions, particularly utilizing STS supplementation, in the management of childhood obesity through targeted modulation of gut microbial ecology and metabolic function.

Roles of Trimethyl Borate in Constructing an Interphase on Li Anode: Angel or Demon?

Although coupling a lithium metal anode with a Ni-rich layer cathode is a promising approach for high-energy lithium metal batteries, both electrodes are plagued by their intrinsic unstable interfaces which trigger electrolyte decomposition, lithium dendritic growth, and transition metal dissolution during cycling. Making use of electrolyte additives is one of the most effective solutions to address this issue. In this paper, we explore the roles of trimethyl borate (TMB)─a common film-forming additive to protect high-nickel-ratio ternary cathodes─in suppressing lithium dendrite growth. It is found that, on the one hand, the borate-containing solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) derived from the decomposition of TMB facilitates Li+ transport, homogenizing the deposition of Li ions. On the other hand, TMB as an anion receptor provokes LiPF6 decomposition, prompting the formation of SEI with superfluous LiF. As a result, it is imperative to raise awareness of this double-edge additive when using it to be immune to lithium dendrite and cathodic degradation.

Effects of prebiotics on the gut microbiota in vitro associated with functional diarrhea in children.

Purpose: Diarrhea is among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is considered the most important risk factor for diarrhea. Prebiotics have shown efficacy in treating diarrhea by regulating the balance of the gut microbiota in vivo. Methods: In this study, we used an in vitro fermentation system to prevent the interference of host-gut microbe interactions during in vivo examination and investigated the effect of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on gut microbiota composition and metabolism in 39 pediatric patients with functional diarrhea. Results: 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that FOS significantly improved α- and ß-diversity in volunteers with pediatric diarrhea (p < 0.05). This improvement manifested as a significant increase (LDA > 2, p < 0.05) in probiotic bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium) and a significant inhibition (LDA > 2, p < 0.05) of harmful bacteria (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella). Notably, the analysis of bacterial metabolites after FOS treatment showed that the decrease in isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, NH3, and H2S levels was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Lachnoclostridium. This decrease also showed the greatest negative correlation with the abundance of Streptococcus. Random forest analysis and ROC curve validation demonstrated that gut microbiota composition and metabolites were distinct between the FOS treatment and control groups (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.8). Functional prediction using PICRUSt 2 revealed that the FOS-induced alteration of gut microbiota was most likely mediated by effects on starch and sucrose metabolism. Conclusion: This study is the first to evince that FOS can modulate gut microbial disorders in children with functional diarrhea. Our findings provide a framework for the application of FOS to alleviate functional diarrhea in children and reduce the use of antibiotics for managing functional diarrhea-induced disturbances in the gut microbiota.

Elucidating the progress and impact of ferroptosis in hemorrhagic stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a devastating cerebrovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality, for which effective therapies are currently unavailable. Based on different bleeding sites, hemorrhagic stroke can be generally divided into intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), whose pathogenesis share some similarity. Ferroptosis is a recently defined programmed cell deaths (PCDs), which is a critical supplement to the hypothesis on the mechanism of nervous system injury after hemorrhagic stroke. Ferroptosis is characterized by distinctive morphological changes of mitochondria and iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides. Moreover, scientists have successfully demonstrated the involvement of ferroptosis in animal models of ICH and SAH, indicating that ferroptosis is a promising target for hemorrhagic stroke therapy. However, the studies on ferroptosis still faces a serious of technical and theoretical challenges. This review systematically elaborates the role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic stroke and puts forward some opinions on the dilemma of ferroptosis research.

Identification of Type 2 Diabetes Based on a Ten-Gene Biomarker Prediction Model Constructed Using a Support Vector Machine Algorithm.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major health concern worldwide. The present study is aimed at discovering effective biomarkers for an efficient diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between type 2 diabetes patients and normal controls were identified by analyses of integrated microarray data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database using the Limma package. Functional analysis of genes was performed using the R software package clusterProfiler. Analyses of protein-protein interaction (PPI) performed using Cytoscape with the CytoHubba plugin were used to determine the most sensitive diagnostic gene biomarkers for type 2 diabetes in our study. The support vector machine (SVM) classification model was used to validate the gene biomarkers used for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Results: GSE164416 dataset analysis revealed 499 genes that were differentially expressed between type 2 diabetes patients and normal controls, and these DEGs were found to be enriched in the regulation of the immune effector pathway, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and fatty acid degradation. PPI analysis data showed that five MCODE clusters could be considered as clinically significant modules and that 10 genes (IL1B, ITGB2, ITGAX, COL1A1, CSF1, CXCL12, SPP1, FN1, C3, and MMP2) were identified as "real" hub genes in the PPI network using algorithms such as Degree, MNC, and Closeness. The sensitivity and specificity of the SVM model for identifying patients with type 2 diabetes were 100%, with an area under the curve of 1 in the training as well as the validation dataset. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the SVM-based model developed by us can facilitate accurate diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Improving the diagnostic efficacy of squamous cell carcinoma antigen for oral squamous cell carcinoma via saponin disruption of serum extracellular vesicles.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic value of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is insufficient. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have displayed great potential for improving diagnostic efficacy. However, one of the main challenges that restricts the application of EVs is the lack of a clinically suitable separation method for the intra-vesicular protein detection. METHODS: Saponin was used to destroy serum EVs membranes for releasing the intra-vesicular SCCA into the serum, circumventing the purification process of EVs. The concentrations of SCCA were measured and compared in 113 healthy people and 73 OSCC patients pre- and post-saponin treatment. RESULTS: The concentration of serum SCCA significantly increased after saponin destroyed the membrane of EVs. The area under the curve (AUC) of serum SCCA for OSCC diagnosis was 0.6444 (95% CI, 0.5595 to 0.7293). The diagnostic AUC of serum EVs-derived SCCA reached 0.7969 (95% CI, 0.735 to 0.8588). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that serum EVs disrupted by saponin could improve the diagnostic efficacy of SCCA for OSCC, which provides a simple, rapid, and high-throughput method to detect the intra-vesicular proteins of EVs and holds great potential for clinical application.

Tourism Competitiveness Evaluation: Evidence From Mountain Tourism in China.

The evaluation of tourism competitiveness is an important tool for analyzing the potential of tourism in a specific context. Enshi Autonomous Prefecture (EAP) in China is selected as a case through which to explore the potential of mountain tourism and its competitiveness in the tourism industry. This study develops EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness model focusing on three criteria: core competitiveness of mountain tourism, the economic environment's competitiveness, and infrastructure competitiveness. Context-specific customized evaluation index has been applied to data collected from EAP Statistical Yearbook for 2005-2014. The study reveals that the value of EAP's mountain tourism core competitiveness, economic and environmental competitiveness, and infrastructure competitiveness are 84.292, 13.4, and 2.308%, respectively. When tourism core competitiveness is increased by one unit, EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness will increase by 0.84292 units. Similarly, when economic environment competitiveness is increased by one unit, EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness will increase by 0.134 units. EAP's mountain tourism competitiveness increases by 0.02308 units when infrastructure competitiveness increases by one unit. The major reasons for low levels of competitiveness were lack of awareness of the county authority, a low level of cooperation, and weak infrastructure. The recommendations from the study's findings are as follows. Firstly, the county authority should appropriately improve the relationship between competition and cooperation, maintaining cooperation in competition, and competition in cooperation. Secondly, the county authority should strengthen communication by establishing an effective coordinated mechanism. Thirdly, the county authority should improve the sense of cooperation and jointly develop the mountain tourism market. Fourthly, the county authority should improve the construction of tourism infrastructure and break down the barriers to tourism cooperation. The study's findings help develop a "win-win" cooperation mechanism within the competition and support the sustainable development of the mountain tourism industry while reducing poverty and promoting the revitalization of the mountains of China.

Study on the Differential Value of Tumor Marker CA724 on Primary Gastric Cancer.

We investigated the diagnostic value of the tumor marker CA724 in patients with primary gastric cancer. One hundred forty-six patients with primary gastric cancer were selected as the observation group; 89 patients with gastritis treated in the same period were included in the control group 1; 91 patients with healthy physical examination during the same period were included in the control group 2. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to determine the level of carbohydrate antigen CA724 in each group; the pathological data of the observation group were consulted, and the expression level of tumor marker CA724 under different pathological conditions was analyzed; ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of CA724 in gastric cancer and gastritis. The level of CA724 in primary gastric cancer patients was significantly correlated with tumor diameter, tumor stage, differentiation type, and lymph node metastasis. The ROC curve was drawn with a CA724 cutoff value of 7.94 U/Ml. The AUC value of CA724 in primary gastric cancer patients was 0.815, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 84.68% and a specificity of 71.95%. In conclusion, CA724 was highly expressed in patients with primary gastric cancer, which can achieve the diagnostic differentiation of gastric cancer and gastritis, and obtain a high diagnostic efficiency, providing a reference basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Rapid prenatal aneuploidy detection of BACs-on-Beads assay in 4961 cases of amniotic fluid samples.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the BACs-on-Beads (BoBs) assay for the rapid diagnosis of common aneuploidies and microdeletions. METHODS: A total of 4961 pregnant women admitted to the Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to March 2019 were enrolled. BoBs assay and conventional karyotyping were applied to detect amniotic fluid samples with various indications for prenatal diagnosis. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and maternal cell contamination (MCC) tests were used for further validation. RESULTS: The overall abnormality detection rates (BoBs associated with karyotyping) were 4.25% (211/4961). The prenatal diagnosis success rate of karyotyping was 99.4% (4933/4961), compared to 100% (4961/4961) using the BoBs assays. The BoBs assay was similar to karyotyping for the detection of trisomy 21 (1.01%, 50/4961), trisomy 18 (0.40%, 20/4961), trisomy 13 (0.04%, 2/4961), and sex chromosomal aneuploidies (0.15%, 12/4961). The BoBs assay also identified sex chromosomal microduplications/microdeletions (1.73%, 86/4961), 22q11.2 microdeletions/microduplications (0.1%, 5/4961), and Cri du Chat syndrome (0.02%, 1/4961) which were missed by karyotyping. The sensitivity for the detection of numerical chromosomal abnormalities of the BoBs assay and karyotyping analysis was 100% (95/95, 95% CI: 1.0-1.0) and 98.9% (94/95, 95% CI: 0.969-1.010), respectively. The sensitivity of detecting structural chromosomal abnormalities in the BoBs assay was significantly higher than those of karyotyping (79.3%, 92/116, 95% CI: 0.718-0.868) versus 21.6% (25/116, 95% CI: 0.140-0.291) (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The BoBs assay is a reliable and rapid test for the detection of common aneuploidies and nine microdeletion syndromes with high sensitivity and accuracy in prenatal diagnosis. The assay can compensate for the limitations of karyotyping analysis.

Antimicrobial Action of Biocompatible Silver Microspheres and Their Role in the Potential Treatment of Fungal Keratitis.

Silver nanoparticles have drawn considerable attention as excellent antimicrobial agents because of their characteristics, including broad antimicrobial spectrum, durable antimicrobial property, and large specific surface area. However, the toxicity of silver nanoparticles limits the in vivo application in the antimicrobial therapy field. Here, we developed a novel silver-based biomaterial to achieve favorable biocompatibility as well as enhanced antimicrobial activity. Silver microspheres (AgMPs) were synthesized using bovine serum albumin as a template and H2O2 as an activator. Electron microscopy results showed that AgMPs had a honeycombed inner structure with an approximate diameter of 800 nm. The minimum inhibitory concentration results exhibited that AgMPs had effective antimicrobial action against bacteria and fungi when the concentration was greater than 32 and 16 µg/mL, respectively. The cell proliferation results suggested that AgMPs have no influence on corneal epithelial cell growth when the concentration was under 25 µg/mL. The in vivo antifungal therapy experiments demonstrated that 25 µg/mL AgMPs could effectively combat Candida smooth wound infections. Overall, AgMPs exhibited substantial antimicrobial action on fungi in addition to biosafety on corneal epithelial cells at a concentration within 16-25 µg/mL. Our study shows that AgMPs can be used as an ocular surface drop candidate to treat fungal keratitis.

Zymosan promotes proliferation, Candida albicans adhesion and IL-1ß production of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and the effect of zymosan (ZYM), a component of the yeast cell wall, on oral cancer remains unclear. The CCK-8 proliferation assay was performed to evaluate the effect of ZYM on the proliferation of the OSCC cell lines WSU-HN4, WSU-HN6 and CAL27, and the potential mechanism was explored by quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence assay and western blot. A cell adhesion assay was conducted to determine the adhesion of Candida albicans to OSCC cells, and the expression of related genes, including TLR2, MyD88, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and IL-1ß, and proteins, including TLR2, MyD88, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65 and E-cadherin was determined. Additionally, the pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1ß produced by OSCC cells were detected using a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). In the current study, the CCK-8 assay showed that ZYM promoted the proliferation of WSU-HN4, WSU-HN6 and CAL27 cells via the TLR2/MyD88 pathway. The cell adhesion assay showed that the number of C. albicans cells per field significantly increased in ZYM-treated OSCC cells compared to controls. When treated with ZYM, OSCC cells secreted significantly more pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß, which could enhance inflammation in oral cancer microenvironment. In conclusion, ZYM from the fungal cell wall promotes the proliferation, C. albicans adhesion and IL-1ß production in OSCC, as demonstrated by in vitro experiments.

Beneficial properties for insulin absorption using superporous hydrogel containing interpenetrating polymer network as oral delivery vehicles.

In this investigation, superporous hydrogels containing poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC) full-interpenetrating polymer networks (SPH-IPNs) were evaluated for their potentials in effective insulin absorption via the oral route. Insulin release from the SPH-IPNs exhibited sensitivity towards pH and ionic strength. After drug loading and release, the circular dichroism (CD) spectra revealed that conformation of insulin had no significant alteration and bioactivity of insulin was well preserved according to hypoglycaemic effect in mice. Through their abilities to bind Ca(2+) and to entrap the enzymes, SPH-IPNs could partly inactivate trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, and SPH-IPN with higher O-CMC/monomer ratio appeared more potent. Swollen SPH-IPNs could attach mechanically and muco-adhere to the intestinal wall, thus achieving improved retentive properties compared to commonly used muco-adhesive excipient Carbopol 934. Transport of insulin across rat intestine and colon ex vivo was enhanced around two- to three-fold after application of the SPH-IPN. Insulin-loaded SPH-IPN showed significant hypoglycaemic effects following oral administration to healthy rats, achieving a 4.1% pharmacological availability compared to subcutaneous insulin injection. These pronounced properties demonstrated that the SPH-IPN would be a promising peroral carrier for insulin and other peptide drugs.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Wedelolactone against Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury in Mice.

Eclipta prostrata L. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used in the treatment of liver diseases. However, its biological mechanisms remain elusive. The current study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of wedelolactone, a major coumarin ingredient of Eclipta prostrata L., on immune-mediated liver injury. Using the well-established animal model of Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis (CIH), we found that pretreatment of mice with wedelolactone markedly reduced both the serum levels of transaminases and the severity of liver damage. We further investigated the mechanisms of the protective effect of wedelolactone. In mice treated with wedelolactone prior to the induction of CIH, increases of serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text], interferon (IFN)-[Formula: see text], and interleukin (IL)-6 were dramatically attenuated. Additionally, expressions of the interferon-inducible chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 gene CXCL10 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene ICAM1 were lower in livers of the treated mice. Moreover, wedelolactone-treated CIH mice exhibited reduced leukocyte infiltration and T-cell activation in liver. Furthermore, wedelolactone suppressed the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-[Formula: see text]B), a critical transcriptional factor of the above-mentioned inflammatory cytokines by limiting the phosphorylation of I kappa B alpha (I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and p65. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the inhibitory potential of wedelolactone in immune-mediated liver injury in vivo, and show that this protection is associated with modulation of the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway.

A new method for deriving trace gas emission inventories from satellite observations: The case of SO2 over China.

A method is developed that allows the construction of spatial emission inventories. The method is applied for anthropogenic SO2 over China (0.25°×0.25°). The Enhancement Ratio Method (ERM) allows for the calculation of SO2 emissions using relationships between gridded satellite measurements of SO2 and NO2 at low wind speeds, and satellite-based NOx emission estimates. Here, we derive SO2 emissions for five years (2007-2011). A large decrease of emissions during 2007-2009 and a modest increase between 2010 and 2011 is observed. The evolution of emissions over time calculated here is in general agreement with bottom-up inventories, although differences exist, not only between the current inventory and other inventories but also among the bottom up inventories themselves. The ERM-derived emissions are consistent, spatially and temporally, with existing inventories.

Compositions and biological activities of essential oils of Kadsura longepedunculata and Schisandra sphenanthera.

The chemical compositions, antimicrobial activities, antioxidant activities and cytotoxicities of the essential oils isolated from the root of Kadsura longepedunculata Finet et Gagnep (KLREO) and the fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wills. (SSFEO) were investigated.The analyses of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that cadinane type compounds and their derivatives were rich in both oils (54.2% and 39.7%, respectively) and delta-cadinene was the major component of both oils (13.8% and 25.6%, respectively). The antimicrobial activities of both oils were evaluated against five microorganisms with the disc diffusion and the broth micro-dilution method. Results showed that Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to both oils than Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the oil of KLREO were lower than those of SSFEO, indicating that the former possessed slightly stronger antibacterial capability than the latter. The reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays were employed to study the potential antioxidant activities of both oils. Both oils remarkably decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat liver homogenate in a dose dependent manner. The antioxidant activities of KLREO appeared to be more potent than that of SSFEO. The oils of KLREO and SSFEO exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicities and were proved to be toxic to HepG2 cells with IC(50) of 147 and 189 mug/ml, respectively.

Protective effect of galangin in Concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice.

Galangin is an active pharmacological ingredient from propolis and Alpinia officinarum Hance, and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. The present study aims to reveal the effect of galangin on Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis (CIH), a well-established animal model of immune-mediated liver injury, and to clarify the related mechanism. C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with galangin followed by ConA challenge. Results indicated that galangin inhibited ConA-induced liver damage. Mice pretreated with galangin showed more reduction of liver damage when compared with control mice pretreated with vehicle solution. In galangin-pretreated mice with induced CIH, increases in serum levels of several inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-12 were dramatically attenuated, and chemokines and adhesion molecules like interferon inducible protein-10, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 messenger RNA expressions in liver were decreased. Moreover, CIH mice pretreated with galangin showed less leukocyte infiltration and T-cell activation in the liver. Further, the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of galangin may be attributed to its modulation of crucial inflammatory signaling pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B and interferon-gamma/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. Collectively, these findings suggest the preventive and therapeutic potential of galangin in immune-mediated liver injury in vivo.