Effects of biochar pyrolysis temperature on uranium immobilization in soil remediation: Revealed by 16S rDNA and metabolomic analyses.

Uranium-stressed soil caused by nuclear industry development and energy acquisition have attracted extensive attentions for a long time. This study investigated the effects of biochar application with different pyrolysis temperatures (300 â„ƒ, 500 â„ƒ and 700 â„ƒ) on remediation of uranium-stressed soil. The results showed that higher pyrolysis temperature (700 â„ƒ) was benefit for ryegrass growing and caused a lower uranium accumulation in plants. At the same time, uranium immobilization was more effective at higher biochar pyrolysis temperature. Careful investigations indicated that activities of soil urease and sucrase were promoted, and bacterial diversity was strengthened in C700 group, which may contribute to uranium immobilization. The biochar application could activate metabolic of lipids and amino acids, organic acids and derivatives, and organic oxygen compounds. Nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and Benzoxazinoid biosynthesis were unique metabolic pathways in the C700 group, which could enhance the uranium tolerance from different perspectives. Based on these results, we recommend to use biochar with 700 °C pyrolysis temperature when processing remediation of uranium-stressed soil. This study will facilitate the implementation of biochar screening and provide theoretical helps for remediation of uranium-stressed soil.

The contribution of a novel PHEX gene mutation to X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets: a case report and an analysis of the gene mutation dosage effect in a rat model.

A Chinese family was identified to have two patients with rickets, an adult female and a male child (proband), both exhibiting signs related to X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). Gene sequencing analysis revealed a deletion of adenine at position 1985 (c.1985delA) in the PHEX-encoding gene. To investigate the relationship between this mutation and the pathogenicity of XLH, as well as analyze the effects of different dosages of PHEX gene mutations on clinical phenotypes, we developed a rat model carrying the PHEX deletion mutation. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology was employed to construct the rat model with the PHEX gene mutation (c.1985delA). Through reproductive procedures, five genotypes of rats were obtained: female wild type (X/X), female heterozygous (-/X), female homozygous wild type (-/-), male wild type (X/Y), and male hemizygous (-/Y). The rats with different genotypes underwent analysis of growth, serum biochemical parameters, and bone microstructure. The results demonstrated the successful generation of a stable rat model inheriting the PHEX gene mutation. Compared to the wild-type rats, the mutant rats displayed delayed growth, shorter femurs, and significantly reduced bone mass. Among the female rats, the homozygous individuals exhibited the smallest body size, decreased bone mass, shortest femur length, and severe deformities. Moreover, the mutant rats showed significantly lower blood phosphorus concentration, elevated levels of FGF23 and alkaline phosphatase, and increased expression of phosphorus regulators. In conclusion, the XLH rat model with the PHEX gene mutation dosage demonstrated its impact on growth and development, serum biochemical parameters, and femoral morphology.

WGCNA and transcriptome profiling reveal hub genes for key development stage seed size/oil content between wild and cultivated soybean.

BACKGROUND: Soybean is one of the most important oil crops in the world. The domestication of wild soybean has resulted in significant changes in the seed oil content and seed size of cultivated soybeans. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of seed formation and oil content accumulation, WDD01514 (E1), ZYD00463 (E2), and two extreme progenies (E23 and E171) derived from RILs were used for weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) combined with transcriptome analysis. RESULTS: In this study, both seed weight and oil content in E1 and E171 were significantly higher than those in E2 and E23, and 20 DAF and 30 DAF may be key stages of soybean seed oil content accumulation and weight increase. Pathways such as "Photosynthesis", "Carbon metabolism", and "Fatty acid metabolism", were involved in oil content accumulation and grain formation between wild and cultivated soybeans at 20 and 30 DAF according to RNA-seq analysis. A total of 121 oil content accumulation and 189 seed formation candidate genes were screened from differentially expressed genes. WGCNA identified six modules related to seed oil content and seed weight, and 76 candidate genes were screened from modules and network. Among them, 16 genes were used for qRT-PCR and tissue specific expression pattern analysis, and their expression-levels in 33-wild and 23-cultivated soybean varieties were subjected to correlation analysis; some key genes were verified as likely to be involved in oil content accumulation and grain formation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results contribute to an understanding of seed lipid metabolism and seed size during seed development, and identify potential functional genes for improving soybean yield and seed oil quantity.

Herbal medicine as adjunctive therapy with antidepressants for post-stroke depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Herbal medicine can provide adjunctive therapy for adults with post-stroke depression. This study summarizes the latest evidence regarding the harms and benefits of herbal antidepressants. Methods: The literature searched from the Cochrane Library (using the OVID platform), Embase, PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and the China Scientific Journal Database (VIP) from their inception to 18 August 2021, for randomized controlled trials of herbal medicine in adults with post-stroke depression, were included in this systematic review and network meta-analysis. The search was updated on 1 December 2022. To summarize the evidence, the frequentist random-effect network meta-analyses were conducted. To categorize interventions, rate the certainty of the evidence, and present the findings, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) frameworks were carried out. The registration number of this study on PROSPERO website is CRD 42021273956. Findings: Of 1132 citations identified from the search, 51 randomized clinical trials, totaling 4,507 participants, met the inclusion criteria for this study. For response rate, Shugan Jieyu capsule (SJC) plus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), Jie-Yu Pills plus SSRI, and Wuling capsule plus SSRI were shown to be among the most effective with moderate certainty of evidence (RR: 1·45, 95%CI: 1·23 to 1·7; RR: 1·35, 95%CI: 1·09 to 1·68; RR: 1·32, 95%CI: 1·09 to 1·59). In terms of mean changes in Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score after the completion of treatment, Wuling capsule plus Hypericum and Wuling capsule plus SSRI were found to be among the most effective in reducing symptoms of depression with moderate certainty of evidence (MD: 10·12, 95%CI: -17·25 to -2·99; MD: -3·81, 95%CI: -6·19 to -1·42). The network meta-analysis (NMA) showed that SJC may be a safer intervention than SSRI in terms of both total gastrointestinal and total nervous system events with moderate certainty of evidence (RR:0.34, 95%CI:0.18, 0.62 and RR: 0.11, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.35, respectively). Interpretation: SJC plus SSRI, Jie-Yu Pills plus SSRI, and Wuling capsule plus SSRI were among the most effective in terms of HAMD score reduction response rates. Low to very low certainty of evidence revealed no increased risk of gastrointestinal and nervous system events. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=273956; Identifier: CRD42021273956.

Periodate-based molecular perovskites as promising energetic biocidal agents.

Epidemics caused by pathogens in recent years have created an urgent need for energetic biocidal agents with the capacity of detonation and releasing bactericides. Herein we present a new type of energetic biocidal agents based on a series of iodine-rich molecular perovskites, (H2dabco)M(IO4)3 (dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, M = Na+/K+/Rb+/NH4 + for DAI-1/2/3/4) and (H2dabco)Na(H4IO6)3 (DAI-X1). These compounds possess a cubic perovskite structure, and notably have not only high iodine contents (49-54 wt%), but also high performance in detonation velocity (6.331-6.558 km s-1) and detonation pressure (30.69-30.88 GPa). In particular, DAI-4 has a very high iodine content of 54.0 wt% and simultaneously an exceptional detonation velocity up to 6.558 km s-1. As disclosed by laser scanning confocal microscopy observation and a standard micro-broth dilution method, the detonation products of DAI-4 exhibit a broad-spectrum bactericidal effect against bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa). The advantages of easy scale-up synthesis, low cost, high detonation performance, and high iodine contents enable these periodate-based molecular perovskites to be highly promising candidates for energetic biocidal agents. Electronic Supplementary Material: Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s40843-022-2257-6.

[Rapid screening and confirmation of 86 illegally added chemicals in fishery drugs by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry].

With the rapid expansion of fisheries, one of the most significant limitations to the sustainable development of fisheries in China is the quality and safety of fishery products owing to the abuse of fishery drugs and the use of illegal and/or restricted chemicals in fishery drugs. A range of chemicals that are potential hazards to fishery drugs were selected for screening in this study. A comprehensive analytical method was developed, based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), for the rapid screening of 86 types of illegally added chemicals in fishery drugs. The fishery drug samples were extracted with 80% (v/v) acetonitrile aqueous solution and diluted to reduce matrix effects. The 86 target compounds were separated on an ACQUITY PREMIER HSS T3 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 µm), with methanol and 0.1% formic acid as mobile phases, via gradient elution. The extract was directly analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS using electrospray ionization in the positive mode. The external standard method was used for quantification. In this study, the extraction reagent and purification procedure were selected to develop a simple and effective pre-treatment protocol. The effects of the chromatographic column, mobile phase, and fragmentation voltage on the separation and sensitivity of the 86 substances were evaluated to determine the optimum instrument conditions. An accurate mass database and fragment ion library were created for the rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of the 86 illegally added chemicals in fishery drugs. The retention time, isotopic abundance and spacing, and precise mass of the principal diagnostic ion for each analyte were used for identification. The information on the fragment ions obtained from the target MS/MS profiles was compared with that from a database to ensure the accuracy of the qualitative results. The chromatographic peak area of each target analyte was used for quantification. The analytical detection was based on the retention time deviation of ±0.35 min, accurate mass deviation of ±10×10-6, and major adduct forms, including [M+H]+, [M+Na]+, and [M+NH4]+. To evaluate the matrix effects of the 86 target chemicals at varied dilution ratios, two types of antibiotics and four types of Chinese herbal medicines were selected as typical samples. Considering the instrument tolerance as well as sensitivity and accuracy of the procedure, the recommended dilution ratios for antibiotics and Chinese herbal medicines were 50 times and 10 times, respectively. Two different types of calibration curves were prepared; one was the solvent calibration curve for antibiotics and the other was the matrix calibration curve for Chinese herbal medicines. For a given concentration, the calibration curves of the 86 target chemicals were linear with correlation coefficients of at least 0.99. The recoveries ranged from 76.8% to 112.1% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) (n=3) of less than 11.7%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) ranges of the compounds in Chinese herbal medicines and antibiotics were 1-15 mg/kg and 5-75 mg/kg, respectively. To evaluate the screening detection limits (SDLs) of each compound, a mixed standard solution was added to a fishery drug sample at varied concentrations. The SDL ranges of the compounds in Chinese herbal medicines and antibiotics were 1-15 and 5-50 mg/kg, respectively. This approach resulted in SDLs that satisfy the actual screening requirements. Because of its rapid nature, simplicity, accuracy, and sensitivity, the method may be used in the high-throughput screening and identification of illegally added chemicals in many types of fishery drugs. This method was applied to a monitoring project for the quality and safety of fishery inputs in Zhejiang Province. Sixty fishery drug samples were evaluated, among which eight Chinese herbal medicine samples were found to contain unspecified ingredients and one antibiotic sample was found to be free of any active substances. Thus, an effective technical method to monitor the quality and safety of fishery drugs was developed.

Achyranthes bidentata Polysaccharide Activates Nuclear Factor-Kappa B and Promotes Cytokine Production in J774A.1 Cells Through TLR4/MyD88 Signaling Pathway.

Achyranthes bidentata Blume, a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely acknowledged for its function of invigorating the liver and kidneys and as a stranguria-relieving diuretic and used in the treatment of edema, gonorrhea, and other diseases. Polysaccharide (ABPS), isolated from Achyranthes bidentata Blume, has been demonstrated to have multiple biological activities including immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of ABPS have not been fully investigated. The present study is conducted to explore the underlying mechanism of immunomodulatory activities of ABPS. Results showed that ABPS significantly increased the secretion of IL-1ß and TNF-α in J744 A.1 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) also significantly increased after ABPS treatment. The special antibodies (Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antibody and CD14/TLR4 antibody) significantly decreased the activation, while the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) antibody could not abolish this activation. Meanwhile, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a specific inhibitor of NF-κB, remarkably inhibited the secretion of IL-1ß and TNF-α induced by ABPS in J744 A.1 cells. Western blotting (WB) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that ABPS promoted NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly increased after ABPS treatment. Taken together, these findings suggested that the immunomodulatory mechanism of ABPS was associated with the secretion of cytokines by stimulating the NF-κB pathway through TLR4/MyD88 signaling.

Antiosteoporotic effect of hesperidin against ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats via reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Osteoporosis is a serious health problem, especially in geriatric patients. Worldwide, it affects 8.9 million people every year. Oxidative stress and inflammation expand the osteoporosis reaction. Hesperidin supplement helps to decrease inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we estimated the antiosteoporotic effect of hesperidin against the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. Hesperidin was orally administered at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg to OVX rats for 10 weeks. Different biochemical parameters, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and antioxidant parameters, were also estimated. The three-point bending test, bone mineral density (BMD), and histomorphometric features of the femoral bone were also scrutinized. Hesperidin significantly decreased body weight and increased uterine weight. Hesperidin significantly reduced the ALP, OC, acid phosphatase, and ß-isomerized C-terminal telopeptides levels in OVX rats. Hesperidin considerably increased BMD and dose-dependently reduced the pixel density. Hesperidin considerably increased the maximum load, energy, stiffness, maximum stress, and young modulus. Hesperidin significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and increased the level of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase in OVX-induced rats. Hesperidin significantly diminishes the cytokine levels, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1ß, and inflammatory mediators such as nuclear factor-kappa B. It significantly reduced the level of Ca, P, and increased the level of vitamin D in OVX rats. Hesperidin significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the expression of sirtuin 1. Collectively, we can conclude that hesperidin exhibited better protection against osteoporosis by enhancing the bone density and bone mineral content in addition to biomechanical parameters.

Effect of policosanol from insect wax on amyloid ß-peptide-induced toxicity in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-related neurodegenerative disorder and a serious public health concern, is mainly caused by ß-amyloid (Aß)-induced toxicity. Currently, a limited number of drugs are effective against AD, and only a few are used for its treatment. According to traditional Chinese medicine, white wax is mainly composed of policosanol, hexacosanol, and octacosanol. Policosanol has been shown to reduce lipid levels in blood and alleviate the symptoms associated with diabetic complications and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and AD. However, the efficacy of policosanol depends on the purity and composition of the preparation, and the therapeutic efficacy of policosanol derived from insect wax (PIW) in AD is unknown. METHODS: Here, we identified the main components of PIW and investigated the effects of PIW on Aß-induced toxicity and life-span in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model of AD, CL4176. Furthermore, we estimated the expression of amyloid precursor-like protein (apl-1) and the genes involved in various pathways associated with longevity and alleviation of AD-related symptoms in PIW-fed CL4176. RESULTS: PIW mainly consists of tetracosanol, hexacosanol, octacosanol, and triacontanol; it could decrease the Aß-induced paralysis rate from 86.87 to 66.97% (P < 0.01) and extend the life-span from 6.2 d to 7.8 d (P < 0.001) in CL4176 worms. Furthermore, PIW downregulated apl-1, a gene known to be associated with the levels of Aß deposits in C. elegans. Additionally, our results showed that PIW modulated the expression of genes associated with longevity-related pathways such as heat shock response, anti-oxidative stress, and glutamine cysteine synthetase. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PIW may be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, its effects on murine models and patients with AD need to be explored further.

Application of mixed bacteria-loaded biochar to enhance uranium and cadmium immobilization in a co-contaminated soil.

This research explored the effect of biochar pyrolyzed from five different materials on U and Cd immobilization in soil. The results showed that all biochars improved the soil properties and microbial metabolic activities, and effectively immobilized U and Cd, especially corn stalk biochar. Subsequently, three strains Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Citrobacter sp. were mixed in a 3:3:2 proportion as a kind of mixed bacteria (MB9) that could adsorb U and Cd effectively. Two types of MB9-loaded biochar were synthesized by physical adsorption and sodium alginate embed method and referred to as AIB and EIB, respectively. MB9-loaded biochar showed superior U and Cd immobilization performance. At 75 d, the highest reduction in the DTPA- extractable U and Cd (69 % and 56 %) was achieved with the 3% AIB amendment. Additionally, compared to the addition of biochar or MB9 alone, AIB was more effective in promoting celery growth and reducing U and Cd accumulation. Finally, the microbial community structure analysis suggested that the relative abundance of Citrobacter genus and Bacillus genus was significantly increased, suggesting that the mixed bacteria MB9 was successfully colonized. These findings may provide a feasible technology for green and cost-effective remediation of heavy metal contamination in farmland soil.

Usage of microbial combination degradation technology for the remediation of uranium contaminated ryegrass.

Post phytoremediation accumulation of heavy metals in plants is causing an environmental issue worldwide. In this study, we investigated the ability of eight different kinds of microorganisms to degrade and release heavy metals from heavy metal enriched ryegrass, including 5 species of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus-I, Bacillus pumilus-II and Bacillus cereus) and 3 of fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma ressei and Pterula sp. strain QD-1), by growing them under uranium stress and assessing their ability to degrade biomass. After 30 days, the degradation ability of fungi was found better than that of bacteria, while the metal leaching ability of bacteria was found better. The highest degradation rate (upto 60%) was obtained by using P. chrysosporium, Pterula sp. strain QD-1 exhibited the best leaching rate for uranium (upto 77%). The overall degradation rate of lignin and cellulose and hemicellulose was found lower (40% and 60%, respectively). According to the antagonistic characteristics of microbes, we combined different dominant species, in which under optimal conditions the T2 combination (P. chrysosporium, T. reesei, and Pterula sp. strain QD-1 and B. subtilis) was able to degrade 80% of the ryegrass, 51% of lignin, 74% of cellulose and hemicellulose, releasing 78% of U, 90% of Pb and the releasing rate of other heavy metals was more than 95%. FTIR analysis showed the least degradation of lignin, while SEM-EDX analysis of the degradation residues displayed the microstructure of ryegrass being greatly damaged. Only a small amount of U was found in the residues of the researched combinations. This study provides efficient Microbial Combined Degradation Technology for heavy metal enriched biomass, which can effectively deal with heavy metal enriched plants, and provide a basis for the recovery and utilization of heavy metals, avoiding secondary pollution in the environment caused by this type of biomass.

The effects of the Xijiao Dihuang decoction combined with Yinqiao powder on miRNA-mRNA profiles in mice infected with influenza a virus.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in acute inflammatory and antiviral responses during influenza A virus (IAV) infection. The Xijiao Dihuang decoction combined with Yinqiao powder (XDY) is applied to remedy viral pneumonia in China and its therapeutic efficacy in pneumonic mice challenged with IAV was demonstrated; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Thus, this study aimed to explore the miRNA-mRNA profiles in the lungs of IAV-infected mice and investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of XDY involving miRNAs and associated pathways. METHODS: We detected the cellular miRNA contents in the lungs of mice treated with XDY (23 g/kg/d) for A/FM/1/47 (H1N1) (FM1) infection at 4 days postinoculation (dpi) and 7 dpi. MiRNA and mRNA high-throughput sequencing analyses, and miRNA and mRNA qRT-PCR analyses were used to detect and verify the relevant miRNAs and mRNAs. Conjoint analysis, GO enrichment analysis, and KEGG database analysis were applied to identify the miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships. RESULTS: The quantities of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs were upregulated over time. The data showed that 104 miRNAs and 3485 mRNAs were differentially expressed after challenge with FM1 on day 4, while 191 miRNAs and 6126 mRNAs were differentially expressed on day 7. The GO enrichment analysis and KEGG database data showed that the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs were mainly enriched in JNK activity, MAPK phosphatase activity, and the TLR, Jak-STAT and TNF signalling pathways after treatment of FM1 infection with XDY. Generally, the expression trends of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs based on the qRT-PCR results exhibited good consistency with the results of the high-throughput sequencing analysis. CONCLUSIONS: MiRNAs and mRNAs were differentially expressed during FM1 infection. The therapeutic mechanisms of XDY in FM1-infected mice, might be related to regulating antiviral immunity and ameliorating excessive inflammatory responses by modulating the expression of dysregulated miRNAs and mRNAs involved in the ERK/JNK-AP-1, and IFN-ß/STAT signalling pathways.

Sequential delivery of dual drugs with nanostructured lipid carriers for improving synergistic tumor treatment effect.

To improve synergistic anticancer efficacy and minimize the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, temozolomide (TMZ) and curcumin (CUR) co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared by microemulsion in this study. And the physicochemical properties, drug release behavior, intracellular uptake efficiency, in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of TMZ/CUR-NLCs were evaluated. TMZ/CUR-NLCs showed enhanced inhibitory effects on glioma cells compared to single drug loaded NLCs, which may be owing to that the quickly released CUR can sensitize the cancer cells to TMZ. The inhibitory mechanism is a combination of S phase cell cycle arrest associated with induced apoptosis. Notably, TMZ/CUR-NLCs can accumulate at brain and tumor sites effectively and perform a significant synergistic anticancer effect in vivo. More importantly, the toxic effects of TMZ/CUR-NLCs on major organs and normal cells at the same therapeutic dosage were not observed. In conclusion, NLCs are promising nanocarriers for delivering dual chemotherapeutic drugs sequentially, showing potentials in the synergistic treatment of tumors while reducing adverse effects both in vitro and in vivo.

[Advances and Challenges of Local Thermal Ablation in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological type of primary lung cancer. Currently, main treatment approaches for NSCLC patients include surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and so on. In recent years, thermal ablation has received increasing attention in the treatment of various stages of NSCLC. As a safe and efficient local treatment, thermal ablation may bring potential clinical benefits to NSCLC patients. However, many issues remain unsolved and further investigation is needed in the clinical application of thermal ablation in NSCLC. In this review, we aim to summarize the applications of thermal ablation in NSCLC and further discuss the emerging controversies as well as future research directions.

Cardioprotective effect of the polysaccharide from Ophiopogon japonicus on isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia in rats.

The polysaccharide (OJP1), extracted from the root of Ophiopogon japonicus, is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to treat cardiovascular diseases. The present study was set up to investigate the cardioprotective effect of OJP1 on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial ischemia injury in rats. Results showed that pretreatment with OJP1 (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced ISO-induced ST-segment elevation and the heart index, attenuated the levels of marker enzymes (AST, LDH, CK and CK-MB), along with a significantly enhanced the activities of ATPases. Moreover, pretreatment with OJP1 not only enhanced the activities of SOD, GPx and CAT in serum and myocardium, but also decreased the level of MDA. The biochemical and histopathological analysis also showed that OJP1 can alleviate the myocardial injury induced by ISO. Taken together, our results indicated that oral administration of OJP1 offered significant cardioprotective effect against the damage induced by ISO through enhancement of endogenous antioxidants.

Uranium biosorption mechanism model of protonated Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Further understanding absorption uranium mechanism of the regenerational biosorbent is very interesting in application of the biosorbent. The regeneration adsorbent of Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass was made by hydrochloric acid. Using it to absorb uranium at low constant pH(2.50), accompanied with proton releasing the ratio almost 1:2 which is to be analyzed in this paper. The type and amount of functional groups in the biomass such as carboxyl, amino, phosphoryl were determined by Potentiometric titrations and FTIR analysis. Chemical modification showed that the contribution of functional groups to uranium adsorption was carboxyl, phosphoryl and amino in turn. Analysis of SEM-EDX and staining microscopy showed that uranium on the surface of cells did not exist in the form of precipitation at lower pH 2.98, but at higher pH 4.52. The effects of phosphorus release and pH on uranium species was analyzed by MINTEQ software 3.0. Based on the above boundary conditions of the model construction, a multi-site of functional groups model equation of ion exchange absorption mechanism was built in which the final uranium ion concentration and pH as functions. It could well describe the exchange equilibrium of proton with uranium ion at pH2.50 to pH4.00.

[Isolation of homogeneous polysaccharide from Poria cocos and effect of its sulfated derivatives on migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells].

SATB1 plays a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer,and inhibition of SATB1 expression can effectively control breast cancer metastasis. In this study,homogeneous polysaccharides were isolated from Poria cocos and their sulfated derivatives were prepared to screen out the polysaccharide compositions with inhibitory effects on SATB1 expression. Smal-molecule components were removed from P. cocos by ethanol extraction,and P. cocos crude polysaccharide PPS was obtained by water extraction and ethanol precipitation. Then PPS was successively separated by DEAE Sepharose fast flow anion-exchange and Superdex-75 gel permeation chromatographic steps to give PPSW-1. The structure of PPSW-1 was identified and its sulfated derivatives were prepared. Then their inhibitory effects on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated. A kind of polysaccharide,PPSW-1 with inhibitory effect on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,was obtained from P. cocos,with a relative molecular weight of 3. 06×104,and structure of 1,6-branched 1,3-α-D-galactan. PPSW-1 and its sulfated derivative Sul-W-1 showed good inhibitory effect on cells migration,and the water solubility of Sul-W-1 was better than that of PPSW-1. In addition,it was found that polysaccharide of P. cocos and its sulfated derivative can inhibit expression of SATB1. In this study,a kind of homogeneous polysaccharide with inhibitory effect on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells was isolated from P. cocos,and its sulfated derivative with similar efficacy but better solubility was prepared,laying the foundation for the substance basis study of P. cocos.

ytiB and ythA Genes Reduce the Uranium Removal Capacity of Bacillus atrophaeus.

Two Bacillus atrophaeus strains, the first being a highly stress-resistant ATCC 9372 strain and the Ua strain identified from a chromium mine by our lab, differ in their abilities to tolerate and remove Uranium (VI) from contaminated water. An increase in U(VI) concentration in growth media led to a decrease in the tolerance and bio-remedial capacity of both strains. However, under high concentrations of U(VI) in the growth media, the ATCC 9372 strain demonstrated a higher tolerance and a higher removal capacity than the Ua strain. Two approaches, transcriptome sequencing and transgenic technology, were used to elucidate the relationship between particular genes within these two strains and their U(VI) removal capacity. Sequencing confirmed the expression of two genes unique to the Ua strain, previously designated ytiB and ythA. They encode putative proteins that show the highest levels of identity to carbonic anhydrase and cytochrome bd terminal oxidase I, respectively. Using the pBE-S DNA vector, ytiB and ythA were transformed into the ATCC 9372 strain of Bacillus atrophaeus. Under a U(VI) concentration of 120 mg/L, the removal rates of the transgenic ATCC 9372-ytiB and ATCC 9372-ythA strains decreased by 7.55% and 7.43%, respectively, compared to the removal rate of the control strain transformed with empty plasmid. The results suggest that both ythA and ytiB genes have a negative influence on the uranium removing capacity of Bacillus atrophaeus. This finding will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of uranium removal by bacteria.

Clinical Characteristics of Intussusception with Surgical Reduction: a Single-Center Experience with 568 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is among the most common acute abdominal emergencies in infancy, but only some cases need surgical reduction. This study assessed the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing surgical reduction of intussusception. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 568 pediatric patients who failed air-enema reduction and underwent surgical reduction for intussusception in our department between 2008 and 2017. RESULTS: The series comprised 376 boys and 192 girls (2.0:1, male:female ratio) and most of the intussusceptions were primary, which is typical before the age of 1 year. The success rate of air-enema reduction in our hospital was 94.2%. Patients over 3 years old had the highest rate of surgical reduction (ca. 11.8%). The probabilities of primary and secondary intussusception were equal above 2 years old. Intussusception caused by intestinal malignant lymphoma was diagnosed above 2 years of age with atypical symptoms. Gender was irrelevant regarding the presence of bloody stools (P = 0.594), but the younger patients and children with complex/compound intussusception had a higher proportion of bloody stools (n = 148, 40.0%, P = 0.000) and intestinal necrosis (n = 44, 42.3%, P = 0.024). The occurrence time of bloody stools (OTBS) in complex/compound intussusception was shorter than for other types. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical features of patients undergoing surgical reduction for intussusception and summarized the characteristics and management of complex/compound intussusception.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Ameliorates Autophagy of Hypoxia Cardiomyocytes from Neonatal Rats via AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ginsenoside-Rb1 (Gs-Rb1) improves the CoCl-induced autophagy of cardiomyocytes via upregulation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. METHODS: Ventricles from 1- to 3-day-old Wistar rats were sequentially digested, separated and incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for 3 days followed by synchronization. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 7 groups: control group (normal level oxygen), hypoxia group (500 µmol/L CoCl2), Gs-Rb1 group (200 µmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 µmol/L CoCl2), Ara A group (500 µmol/L Ara A + 500 µmol/L CoCl2), Ara A+ Gs-Rb1 group (500 µmol/L Ara A + 200 µmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 µmol/L CoCl2), AICAR group [1 mmol/L 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) + 500 µmol/L CoCl2], and AICAR+Gs-Rb1 group (1 mmol/L AICAR + 200 µmol/L Gs-Rb1 + 500 µmol/L CoCl2). Cells were treated for 12 h and cell viability was determined by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AMPK activity was assessed by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) ELISA assay. The protein expressions of Atg4B, Atg5, Atg6, Atg7, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), P62, and active-cathepsin B were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Gs-Rb1 significantly improved the cell viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.01). However, the viability of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01). Gs-Rb1 increased the AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes. The AMPK activity of hypoxia-treated cadiomyocytes was inhibited by Ara A (P<0.01) and was not affected by AICAR =0.983). Gs-Rb1 up-regulated Atg4B, Atg5, Beclin-1, Atg7, LC3B II, the LC3B II/I ratio and cathepsin B activity of hypoxia cardiomyocytes (P<0.05), each of these protein levels was significantly enhanced by Ara A (all P<0.01), but was not affected by AICAR (all P>0.05). Gs-Rb1 significantly down-regulated P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes (P<0.05). The P62 levels of hypoxic cardiomyocytes were inhibited by Ara A (P<0.05) and were not affected by AICAR (P=0.871). CONCLUSION: Gs-Rb1 may improve the viability of hypoxia cardiomyocytes by ameliorating cell autophagy via the upregulation of AMPK pathway.