Potential mechanism of Qinggong Shoutao pill alleviating age-associated memory decline based on integration strategy.

CONTEXT: Qinggong Shoutao Wan (QGSTW) is a pill used as a traditional medicine to treat age-associated memory decline (AAMI). However, its potential mechanisms are unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study elucidates the possible mechanisms of QGSTW in treating AAMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were utilized to identify the potential pathway by which QGSTW alleviates AAMI. C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into control, model, and QGSTW groups. A mouse model of AAMI was established by d-galactose, and the pathways that QGSTW acts on to ameliorate AAMI were determined by ELISA, immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting after treatment with d-gal (100 mg/kg) and QGSTW (20 mL/kg) for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Network pharmacology demonstrated that the targets of the active components were significantly enriched in the cAMP signaling pathway. AKT1, FOS, GRIN2B, and GRIN1 were the core target proteins. QGSTW treatment increased the discrimination index from -16.92 ± 7.06 to 23.88 ± 15.94% in the novel location test and from -19.54 ± 5.71 to 17.55 ± 6.73% in the novel object recognition test. ELISA showed that QGSTW could increase the levels of cAMP. Western blot analysis revealed that QGSTW could upregulate the expression of PKA, CREB, c-Fos, GluN1, GluA1, CaMKII-α, and SYN. Immunostaining revealed that the expression of SYN was decreased in the CA1 and DG. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study not only provides new insights into the mechanism of QGSTW in the treatment of AAMI but also provides important information and new research ideas for the discovery of traditional Chinese medicine compounds that can treat AAMI.

Bi/BiVO4/NiFe-LDH heterostructures with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance for streptomycin detection.

Streptomycin (STR) plays an essential role in bacterial infection treatments. Selectivity and sensitivity of photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors are the two most important parameters, which can be measured using the photosensitivity of its active material. We prepared a novel PEC sensor to detect STR using Bi/BiVO4/LDH (layered double hydroxides) heterostructures as an active material, which is photoactive in the visible light wavelength range. The simultaneous presence of LDH and Bi/BiVO4 enhanced the material photocurrent response, which was linear to the STR concentrations in the 0.01-500 nmol/L range. The STR detection limit by this sensor was 0.0042 nmol/L. Our novel PEC-based sensing strategy includes using an ultra-sensitive and highly selective sensor for STR detection. Additionally, the two-pot synthesis of Bi/BiVO4/LDH developed in this work is environmentally friendly.

Association between DEFB1 polymorphisms and periodontitis: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies showed that DEFB1 gene polymorphisms may impact the development and progression of periodontitis; nevertheless, inconsistent conclusions were described. This study meta-analytically explored the association between periodontitis the DEFB1 gene polymorphisms and periodontitis. We searched PubMed, Embase, Springer and Cochrane Library for the relevant case-control studies of periodontitis up to February 13th, 2019. Two reviewers selected studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of studies, and the combined effect size was calculated using R 3.12 software. A total of 9 studies involving 4113 patients and 2373 controls were included. Meta-analysis of DEFB1-G1654A gene polymorphisms showed that there were significant differences in model A vs. G (OR = 3.7876, 95%CI = 2.9051-4.9382, P < 0.001), AA vs. GG (OR = 4.6743, 95%CI = 3.0900-7.0710, P < 0.001), AA vs.GG + AG (OR = 3.5131, 95%CI = 2.4496-5.0384, P < 0.001), AA + AG vs. GG (OR = 4.3087, 95%CI = 2.8827-6.4402, P < 0.001) and AG vs. GG (OR = 3.0639, 95%CI = 1.6804-5.5863, P = 0.003). However, no significant differences were found between DEFB1 rs11362, rs1799946 and rs1800972 and periodontitis. Sensitivity analysis implied that our results were robust and no publication bias was noticed. Our meta-analysis showed that the DEFB1-G1654A polymorphism may be a genetic susceptibility factor for periodontitis.

Wind turbine clutter mitigation in coastal UHF radar.

Coastal UHF radar provides a unique capability to measure the sea surface dynamic parameters and detect small moving targets, by exploiting the low energy loss of electromagnetic waves propagating along the salty and good conducting ocean surface. It could compensate the blind zone of HF surface wave radar at close range and reach further distance than microwave radars. However, its performance is susceptible to wind turbines which are usually installed on the shore. The size of a wind turbine is much larger than the wavelength of radio waves at UHF band, which results in large radar cross section. Furthermore, the rotation of blades adds time-varying Doppler frequency to the clutter and makes the suppression difficult. This paper proposes a mitigation method which is based on the specific periodicity of wind turbine clutter and performed mainly in the time-frequency domain. Field experimental data of a newly developed UHF radar are used to verify this method, and the results prove its effectiveness.

Effect and mechanism of Tangzhiqing in improving cardiac function in mice with hyperlipidaemia complicated with myocardial ischaemia.

Purpose: Tangzhiqing formula (TZQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed to treat lipid metabolism disorders, atherosclerosis, diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, some challenges and hurdles remain. TZQ showed promising results in treating diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. However, its effect on and mechanism of action in hyperlipidaemia complicated with myocardial ischaemia (HL-MI) remain unknown. Methods: In this study, a network pharmacology-based strategy integrating target prediction was adopted to predict the targets of TZQ relevant to the treatment of HL-MI and to further explore the involved pharmacological mechanisms. Results: A total of 104 potential therapeutic targets were obtained, including MMP9, Bcl-2, and Bax, which may be related to the apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Then, we confirmed these potential targets and pathways with animal experimentation. TZQ reduced lipid levels, increased the expression levels of Bcl-2, decreased Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression levels, and activated the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the protective mechanisms of TZQ against HL-MI through network pharmacology and pharmacological approaches.

[Advances in chemical components and pharmacology of genus Gentiana].

The recent progresses on chemical components and pharmacological activities of the genus Gentiana were summarized. The main chemical constituents of this genus are iridoids, xanthone and flavone. There were more than ninety iridoid compounds, one hundred xanthone compounds, and thirty four flavone compounds isolated up till now. And flavone compounds were obtained mainly from aerial part. The plants of this genus had broad bioactivities such as antifungal activity, anti-inflammatory activity and liver protective effect. These mentioned above would be helpful for further studies on the plants of the genus Gentiana.

[Optimal technique of wine-processed gentian].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize technique of wine-processed gentian (root of Gentiana manshurica, G. scabra, G. triflora and G. rigescens. METHOD: Orthogonal design L9 (3(4)) was used to select the best processing technical parameters by yields of the water extracts and amounts of gentiopicroside in the processing products. RESULT: The optimal procedure was suggested as follows: Gentiana Radix was cut into 5-10 millimetres' long, added one-fifth amounts of wine by gentian's weight, moistened for two hours, and then dried by slow fire. CONCLUSION: The amounts of gentiopicroside in wine-processed gentian were closely related to the types and amounts of wine, moistened time and dried method.