Research status of pathogenesis of anxiety or depression after percutaneous coronary intervention and Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention.

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anxiety or depression after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common clinical disease. Currently, conventional pharmacotherapy primarily involves the administration of anxiolytic or antidepressant medications in conjunction with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and other cardiovascular drugs. However, challenges such as drug dependence, adverse reactions and related concerns persist in the treatment of this disease. Numerous pertinent studies have demonstrated that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) exhibits significant therapeutic efficacy and distinctive advantages in managing post-PCI anxiety or depression. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This review attempted to summarize the characteristics of TCM for treating anxiety or depression after PCI, including single Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine monomers, compound TCM prescriptions, TCM patented drugs, and other TCM-related treatment methods, focusing on the analysis of the relevant mechanism of TCM treatment of this disease. METHODS: By searching the literature on treating anxiety or depression after PCI with TCM in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and other relevant databases, this review focuses on the latest research progress of TCM treatment of this disease. RESULTS: In the treatment of anxiety or depression after PCI, TCM exerts significant pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-anxiety or anti-depression, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, and neuroprotection, mainly by regulating the levels of related inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitter levels, and related signaling pathways. TCM has a good clinical effect in treating anxiety or depression after PCI with individualized treatment. CONCLUSIONS: TCM has terrific potential and good prospects in the treatment of anxiety or depression after PCI. The main direction of future exploration is the study of the mechanism related to Chinese medicine monomers and the large sample clinical study related to compound TCM prescriptions.

[Metabolomic interference induced by short-chain chlorinated paraffins in human normal hepatic cells].

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are widely detected in environmental matrices and human samples. Because of their environmental persistence, long-range transport potential, bioaccumulation potential, and biotoxicity, SCCPs pose a significant threat to human health. In this study, metabolomics technology was applied to reveal the metabolomic interference in human normal hepatic (L02) cells after exposure to low (1 µg/L), moderate (10 µg/L), and high (100 µg/L) doses of SCCPs. Principal component analysis (PCA) and metabolic effect level index (MELI) values showed that all three SCCP doses caused notable metabolic perturbations in L02 cells. A total of 72 metabolites that were annotated by MS/MS and matched with the experimental spectra in the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) or validated by commercially available standards were selected as differential metabolites (DMs) across all groups. The low-dose exposure group shared 33 and 36 DMs with the moderate- and high-dose exposure groups, respectively. The moderate-dose exposure group shared 46 DMs with the high-dose exposure group. In addition, 33 DMs were shared among the three exposure groups. Among the 72 DMs, 9, 9, and 45 metabolites participated in the amino acid, nucleotide, and lipid metabolism pathways, respectively. The results of pathway enrichment analysis showed that the most relevant metabolic pathways affected by SCCPs were the lipid metabolism, fatty acid ß-oxidation, and nucleotide metabolism pathways, and that compared with low-dose exposure, moderate- and high-dose SCCP exposures caused more notable perturbations of these metabolic pathways in L02 cells. Exposure to SCCPs perturbed glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism. Significant alterations in the levels of phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and sphingomyelins indicated SCCP-induced biomembrane damage. SCCPs inhibited fatty acid ß-oxidation by decreasing the levels of short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines in L02 cells, indicating that the energy supplied by fatty acid oxidation was reduced in these cells. Furthermore, compared with low- and moderate-dose SCCPs, high-dose SCCPs produced a significantly stronger inhibition of fatty acid ß-oxidation. In addition, SCCPs perturbed nucleotide metabolism. The higher hypoxanthine levels observed in L02 cells after SCCP exposures indicate that SCCPs may induce several adverse effects, including hypoxia, reactive oxygen species production, and mutagenesis in L02 cells.

Phase-change material cooling blanket: A feasible cooling choice during transport after exercise-induced hyperthermia.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced hyperthermia preceding the onset of exertional heatstroke requires a rapid reduction in the body core temperature (Tcore) to ensure safety. In recent years, phase-change material (PCM) cooling devices have been increasingly used for rapid cooling after hyperthermia due to their superior capacity for heat absorption. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the cooling performance and effectiveness of a PCM cooling blanket on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) recovery after exercise-induced hyperthermia. DESIGN: Randomized cross-over. METHODS: The study participants were 12 male volunteers who were engaged in professional training and completed an endurance exercise for approximately 30 min in a hot and humid environment (temperature ≈ 30 °C; relative humidity ≈ 66%). The participants underwent a 30-min cooling trial after exercise, receiving either treatment with a PCM cooling blanket (PCM group) or natural cooling (CON group). The Tcore, HR, and HRV time-domain indices were used for analysis. RESULTS: The Tcore values were significantly lower in the PCM group during cooling. Reductions in the Tcore from precooling to 20 min of cooling were significantly greater in the PCM group than in the CON group. The HR in the PCM group was lower than that recorded in the CON group at 10 and 20 min of cooling. The reduction in HR during cooling from precooling was also significantly greater in the PCM group. HRV time-domain indices during cooling in the PCM group were significantly lower compared with the CON group while elevations in some HRV time-domain indices from precooling to postcooling were significantly greater in the PCM group than in the CON group. CONCLUSIONS: The PCM cooling blanket had good cooling performance and the ability to hasten recovery of both HR and HRV. It may serve as a feasible cooling choice during transport after exercise-induced hyperthermia.

Label-free target discovery technology of small molecule drug and its application in traditional Chinese medicines / 药学学报

The discovery of drug targets plays a crucial role in drug research. Accurate information of small molecule drug-protein interaction can be provided by label-free target discovery technology without any structural modification at the small molecule. So, the label-free drug target discovery technology had become the powerful tool to discover the targets of drugs. Due to the “multi-component and multi-target” characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the research on its targets and mechanism had been restricted. Based on potential of the label-free target discovery technology in the research of TCMs, this paper summarized the label-free target discovery technology and its application in TCMs research. It will provide a reference for the discovery of targets of TCMs and a new view for promoting the modernization of TCMs.

Elucidating the Synergistic Effect of Multiple Chinese Herbal Prescriptions in the Treatment of Post-stroke Neurological Damage.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of human diseases. However, the synergistic effects of multiple TCM prescriptions in the treatment of stroke have not been thoroughly studied. Objective of the study: This study aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of these TCM prescriptions in stroke treatment and identify the active compounds. Methods: Herbs and compounds in the Di-Tan Decoction (DTD), Xue-Fu Zhu-Yu Decoction (XFZYD), and Xiao-Xu-Ming Decoction (XXMD) were acquired from the TCMSP database. SEA, HitPick, and TargetNet web servers were used for target prediction. The compound-target (C-T) networks of three prescriptions were constructed and then filtered using the collaborative filtering algorithm. We combined KEGG enrichment analysis, molecular docking, and network analysis approaches to identify active compounds, followed by verification of these compounds with an oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) model. Results: The filtered DTD network contained 39 compounds and 534 targets, the filtered XFZYD network contained 40 compounds and 508 targets, and the filtered XXMD network contained 55 compounds and 599 targets. The filtered C-T networks retained approximately 80% of the biological functions of the original networks. Based on the enriched pathways, molecular docking, and network analysis results, we constructed a complex network containing 3 prescriptions, 14 botanical drugs, 26 compounds, 13 targets, and 5 pathways. By calculating the synergy score, we identified the top 5 candidate compounds. The experimental results showed that quercetin, baicalin, and ginsenoside Rg1 independently and synergistically increased cell viability. Conclusion: By integrating pharmacological and chemoinformatic approaches, our study provides a new method for identifying the effective synergistic compounds of TCM prescriptions. The filtered compounds and their synergistic effects on stroke require further research.

Low-temperature photothermal irradiation triggers alkyl radicals burst for potentiating cancer immunotherapy.

Although low-temperature photothermal therapy (PTT) can sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition, its efficacy is still restricted in the deep and internal tumors without enough oxygen and lymphocytic infiltration. Non-oxygen-dependent alkyl radicals have been demonstrated to synergistically enhance PTT through up-regulating lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, an innovative strategy based on alkyl radicals to augment immunogenetic cell death (ICD) caused by mild PTT was proposed to improve poor efficacy of immunotherapy, which composed of a photothermal material of Chinse ink, an azo-initiator of 2,2-azobis[2-(2-imidazoline-2-acyl)propane]dihydrochloride (AIPH) and a PD-L1 inhibitor of HY19991 (HY). Upon near-infrared-II laser irradiation, low-temperature (<45℃) stimulation induced a high expression of immune checkpoint receptor (PD-L1) in tumors and triggered a large amount alkyl radicals generated by AIPH. Significantly, the alkyl radicals augmented the ICD and increased the recruitment of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes against tumors after transformation of the immunologically cold tumor microenvironment into hot by mild PTT. The released HY further enhanced the immunotherapy effect by blocking the binding of activated T lymphocytes and PD-L1. In vivo studies exhibited that the all-in-one hydrogel with synergistic mechanisms had an extraordinary ability to reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment, stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses to eliminate tumors and prevent metastasis.

The rapid identification of chemical constituents in Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule, a modern Chinese medicine, by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and data mining strategy.

Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule is an effective Chinese medicine widely used for the treatment of cold and influenza. However, its chemical constituents had not been determined, which entailed a huge obstacle to further pharmacological studies, clinical-safe medication administration, and quality evaluation. To identify the chemical constituents in Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule, an efficient and systematic approach using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in conjunction with a data mining strategy was adopted in this study. As a result, 145 compounds were qualitatively identified, including 26 phenolic acids, 46 flavonoids, 39 triterpenes, and 34 other compounds, among which 6 were potentially new and 144 were being reported from Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule for the first time. This research not only provides useful information for quality control of Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule and its involved single herbs but also serve as basis data for further study of Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule in vivo. Moreover, it provides a reference for the characterization of the chemical constituents of other Chinese medicine preparations.

Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have shown the positive effects of acupuncture on state anxiety. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in treating anxiety disorder remains unclear. This review and meta-analysis aimed to explore whether acupuncture has a positive effect on anxiety disorder. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English and Chinese were found through various electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and the Chinese databases WanFang data, VIP Chinese Sci tech periodical database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The primary outcome variable was extent of anxiety symptoms. The secondary outcomes included side effects and dropout rate. Effect sizes were pooled by random-effects modelling using Rev Man 5.3. RESULTS: Twenty RCTs were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All included studies were designed for patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), and 18 studies were published in Chinese. Egger's test showed that the asymmetry of the funnel plot in all studies was not significant (t = - 0.34, p = 0.74). The meta-analysis of anxiety symptoms showed that acupuncture was more effective than the control condition, with a standard mean effect size of - 0.41 (95% CI - 0.50 to - 0.31; p < 0.001), and that acupuncture intervention showed good tolerance and safety in the treatment of anxiety disorder. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that acupuncture therapy aimed at reducing anxiety in patients with GAD has certain beneficial effects compared to controls. More RCTs with high quality should be conducted to fully understand the role of acupuncture in the treatment of various types of anxiety disorder. The protocol of this review was registered at the Prospero International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Registration ID: PROSPERO 2020CRD42020148536).

[Effects of different fluid replenishment methods on internal environment, body thermal regulation response and severe heatstroke of 5-km armed cross-country training soldiers].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of different fluid replenishment methods on the internal environment, body thermal regulatory response and severe heatstroke of 5-km armed cross-country training soldiers. METHODS: A Special Force officers and soldiers who participated in 5-km armed cross-country training (2-3 times a week, 25-30 minutes each time for 3 weeks) during summer training from June to July in 2018 were enrolled, and they were divided into three groups according to the random number table, with 300 trainees in each group. 200 mL of drinking fluids were given to each group 15 minutes before and after each 5-km armed cross-country training: A group with boiled water, B group with purified water, and C group with beverage prepared by pharmaceutical laboratory of the 990th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force (100 mL containing 6 g carbohydrates, 42 mg sodium, and 11 mg potassium). The venous blood was collected before and after the last training or during the onset of severe heatstroke to do the following tests: serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI, chemiluminescence), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB, immunosuppressive), serum creatinine (SCr, enzymatic method), urea nitrogen (BUN, enzymatic method), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, tryptase), aspartate transaminase (AST, tryptase), and Na+, K+, Cl- (electrode method). The heart rate (HR) and core temperature (Tc, anal temperature) were monitored at the same time. The amount of sweat in training and the occurrence of severe heatstroke were also recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in heart, liver, kidney function, electrolyte and body heat regulation reaction among three groups of 5-km armed cross-country trainees before training. Compared with before training, the levels of serum cTnI, CK-MB, SCr, BUN, ALT, AST, HR and Tc were significantly increased after training or during the onset of severe heatstroke in three groups, while the contents of Na+, K+, Cl- were significantly decreased, but the increase or decrease of group C was relatively smaller compared with group A and group B [cTnI (µg/L): 0.9 (0.6, 1.4) vs. 1.1 (0.7, 2.8), 1.0 (0.6, 3.3); CK-MB (U/L): 7.0 (5.0, 11.0) vs. 9.0 (6.0, 14.5), 8.0 (6.0, 15.0); SCr (µmol/L): 92.09±18.64 vs. 102.78±18.77, 103.64±20.07; BUN (mmol/L): 7 (6, 9) vs. 9 (8, 11), 10 (8, 13); ALT (U/L): 27 (22, 34) vs. 36 (30, 43), 34 (27, 43); AST (U/L): 37 (31, 48) vs. 41 (34, 50), 39 (34, 51); HR (bpm): 87.01±17.07 vs. 95.88±21.06, 96.59±22.04; Tc (centigrade): 37.73±0.81 vs. 38.03±1.05, 38.10±1.04; Na+ (mmol/L): 150.14±3.86 vs. 144.18±8.89, 144.04±9.39; K+ (mmol/L): 4.32±0.57 vs. 4.15±0.62, 4.13±0.51; Cl- (mmol/L): 100.43±3.71 vs. 98.42±4.24, 98.41±4.58; all P < 0.01]. The incidence of severe heatstroke in group C was significantly lower than that in group A and group B [1.67% (5/300) vs. 5.00% (15/300), 5.33% (16/300), χ2 = 6.424, P = 0.040]. There was no significant difference in sweating volume in groups A, B, C (g: 370.47±48.71, 370.85±50.66, 370.17±50.21, F = 0.014, P = 0.986). There was no significant difference in the above indexes between group A and group B (all P > 0.05). Bi-classification Logistic regression analysis showed that the increase of HR, Tc and excessive loss of Na+, K+, Cl- were risk factors for severe heatstroke [odds ratio (OR) was 0.848, 0.138, 1.565, 17.996 and 2.328 respectively, all P < 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Timely supplementation of carbohydrate, sodium and potassium ions can effectively change the internal environment and body heat regulation reaction of 5-km armed cross-country trainees, so as to reduce the occurrence of severe heatstroke. The increases of HR, Tc and excessive loss of Na+, K+, Cl- are risk factors for severe heatstroke.

Two new labdane diterpenoids from aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Two new labdane diterpenoids, Leojaponin E (1) and F (2), together with three known compounds were isolated from the dried herb of Leonurus japonicus Houtt., Lamiaceae. Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 exerted inhibition of LPS-induced PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 µM.

Artemisia pollen allergy in China: Component-resolved diagnosis reveals allergic asthma patients have significant multiple allergen sensitization.

BACKGROUND: Artemisia pollen allergy is a major cause of asthma in Northern China. Possible associations between IgE responses to Artemisia allergen components and clinical phenotypes have not yet been evaluated. This study was to establish sensitization patterns of four Artemisia allergens and possible associations with demographic characteristics and clinical phenotypes in three areas of China. METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients allergic to Artemisia pollen were examined, 178 from Shanxi and 30 from Shandong Provinces in Northern China, and 32 from Yunnan Province in Southwestern China. Allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and eczema symptoms were diagnosed. All patients' sera were tested by ImmunoCAP with mugwort pollen extract and the natural components nArt v 1, nArt ar 2, nArt v 3, and nArt an 7. RESULTS: The frequency of sensitization and the IgE levels of the four components in Artemisia allergic patients from Southwestern China were significantly lower than in those from the North. Art v 1 and Art an 7 were the most frequently recognized allergens (84% and 87%, respectively), followed by Art v 3 (66%) and Art ar 2 (48%). Patients from Northern China were more likely to have allergic asthma (50%) than patients from Southwestern China (3%), and being sensitized to more than two allergens increased the risk of allergic asthma, in which co-sensitization to three major allergens Art v 1, Art v 3, and Art an 7 is prominent. CONCLUSIONS: Component-resolved diagnosis of Chinese Artemisia pollen-allergic patients helps assess the potential risk of mugwort-associated allergic asthma.

Impact of childhood trauma on sensory gating in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma (CT) has been found to contribute to the onset of schizophrenia and auditory sensory gating deficit is a leading endophenotype for schizophrenia. However, the association between the CT and sensory gating in first-episode schizophrenia remains elusive. METHODS: Fifty-six patients and 49 age and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) for CT and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for symptoms severity. Sensory gating was tested using the modified paradigm, perceived spatial separation-induced prepulse inhibition (PSS-PPI), and the perceived spatial co-location PPI (PSC-PPI or classical PPI). RESULTS: Comparing with healthy controls, the patients had significantly higher score on sexual abuse (t = 2.729, p < 0.05), lower PSS- PPI, % (ISI = 120 ms and ISI = 60 ms) (t = - 3.089, - 4.196, p < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed the absence of a significant correlation among CT, PPI paradigms and symptoms. However, multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated the CTQ-SF total was negatively associated with PSS PPI (ISI = 120 ms) (p = 0.018). CONCLUSION: The current study illustrates that the impact of CT on sensory gating in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, and thus we conclude that CT may be a risk factor to the occurrence of schizophrenia through its impact on sensory gating.

[A new aurone with anti-inflammatory activity from Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds].

A new compound(Z)-6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5,7-dimethylaurone was isolated from Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds. Its structure was identified by spectroscopic data including MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR HSQC and HMBC. A known compound, 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3'5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), was also isolated and identified,and used as material to synthesize (Z)-6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5,7-dimethylaurone.Anti-inflammatory activities of the two compounds were tested in vitro. The results showed that (Z)-6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5,7-dimethylaurone possesses much stronger PGE2 inhibitory activity (IC50 6.12 nmol·L⁻¹) than the positive control ibuprofen （68.66 nmol·L⁻¹ï¼‰.

Effects of different anticoagulant drugs on the prevention of complications in patients after arthroplasty: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: After arthroplasty treatment, some complications commonly occur, such as early revision, infection/dislocation, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aims to use a network meta-analysis to compare effects of 9 anticoagulant drugs (edoxaban, dabigatan, apixaban, rivaroxaban, warfarin, heparin, bemiparin, ximelagatran, and enoxaparin) in preventing postoperative complications in arthroplasty patients. METHODS: After retrieving PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library database from the inception to November 2016, randomized controlled trials were enrolled. The integration of direct and indirect evidences was performed to calculate odd ratios and the surface under the cumulative ranking curves. Nineteen eligible randomized controlled trials were included. RESULTS: The network meta-analysis results showed that compared with warfarin, edoxaban, apixaban, and rivaroxaban had a lower incidence rate in asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis, which indicated that edoxaban, apixaban, and rivaroxaban had better effects on prevention. Similarly, in comparison to enoxaparin, edoxaban and rivaroxaban had better effect; rivaroxaban was better than ximelagatran in preventive effects. Compared with apixaban, edoxaban, dabigatan, rivaroxaban, and enoxaparin had a higher incidence rate in clinically relevant non-major bleeding, which showed that preventive effects were relatively poor. In addition, the results of the surface under the cumulative ranking curves showed that rivaroxaban and bemiparin worked best on symptomatic deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In terms of bleeding, apixaban and warfarin had better preventive effects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that rivaroxaban may work better in terms of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, whereas apixaban had better preventive effects in bleeding.

[Research on chemotaxis response of Alternaria panax to amino acid of ginseng root exudates].

Plate assay and spore germination method were used to study the chemotaxis response of Alternaria panax to arginine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and threonine. The result showed that the optimum temperature of A. panax chemotaxis response to four amino acids were all 25 ℃. And chemotaxis responses of A. panax were different under conditions of different concentration and pH value. The chemotaxin reached to the highest under the condition of 2 mg•L⁻¹ and pH value was 7 for arginine, glutamic acid and threonine while 20 mg•L⁻¹ and pH value was 6 for aspartic acid . The data of chemotactic migration index (CMI) were 1.24, 1.38, 1.27, 1.31 and chemotactic growth rates(CGR) were 0.451 0, 0.353 0, 0.381 3, 0.228 8 and spores germination rates(SGR) were 57.33%，63%，56.67%，58% and the dry weight of mycelial (DWM) were 372.9, 348.5, 314.4, 390.2 mg•L⁻¹ respectively. It indicated that the low and middle concentration of amino acid had significant promoting effect on chemotaxis response of A. panax. As important substances generated in ginseng root, amino acids exhibited an efficient chemotactic effect on A. panax, and some even show inhibition effect under high concentration.

Bioactive terpenoids from Silybum marianum and their suppression on NO release in LPS-induced BV-2 cells and interaction with iNOS.

Three new (1-3) and one known (4) bioactive terpenoids were isolated from the seeds of Silybum marianum based on the investigation to get new NO inhibitors. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR (1D and 2D NMR) and MS spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations were identified by experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The NO inhibitory activities in murine microglial BV-2 cells and interactions with iNOS protein by molecular docking were evaluated for all compounds. The results showed that these compounds had potent NO inhibitory effects.

New amides from seeds of Silybum marianum with potential antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

Two new amide compounds, mariamides A and B (1-2), were obtained together with fourteen known compounds from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses, as well as HR-ESI-MS data. Most of the compounds showed significant antioxidant activities than positive control in ABTS and FRAP assays. However, only amide compounds 1-4 showed moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity and compounds 7 and 16 showed the most potent activity against DPPH. Most of the compounds showed moderate to stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Nevertheless, only flavonoids showed strong PTP1B inhibitory activities. These results indicate a use of milk thistle seed extracts as promising antioxidant and antidiabetic agents.

[Activated Sludge Mineralization and Solutions in the Process of Zero-Valent Iron Autotrophic Denitrification].

We studied the inoculation of activated sludge from domestic sewage treatment plants. The reaction of reducing nitrate by zero-valent iron was started in the up-flow anaerobic reactor. After 52 d of operation, a nitrogen removal rate of 29.3 g·(m3·d)-1 was achieved. Ferric iron and iron oxide coated on the sludge formed in the operation process caused the mineralization and slowly decreased the sludge activity. The methods of the "supplement and replacement of the sludge in the reactor" and "changing the reflux mode of the reactor" were applied. Using the method of the supplement and replacement of the sludge in the reactor, by discharging a part of the sludge in the reactor and adding the extra dosage from the anaerobic denitrifying sludge for the treatment of wastewater, after 22 d of operation, the conversion rate of nitrate-nitrogen was 33.0 g·(m3·d)-1 and the concentration of nitrite-nitrogen was 16.50 mg·L-1. The effluent average concentration of ammonia-nitrogen decreased from 12.38 mg·L-1 to 3.58 mg·L-1 and the nitrogen removal rate was recovered from 9.9 g·(m3·d)-1to 15.0 g·(m3·d)-1. The biological reaction weakened the chemical reduction of nitrate by zero-valent iron. Using the method of changing the reflux mode of the reactor, the reflux tank was arranged outside the reaction column using hydraulic circulation. The increase in the erosion of the upper layer of the sedimentation tank would bring out ferric iron and iron oxide with the outflow water and they would be deposited in the reflux tank. The corresponding ferric iron of transformation of nitrate settled in the external reflux tank was 58% at the ascending velocity of 3.49 m·h-1. The nitrate-nitrogen conversion rate was 34.3 g·(m3·d)-1, the effluent concentration of nitrite-nitrogen was 0.22 mg·L-1, and ammonia-nitrogen was 0.75 mg·L-1. Ammonia and nitrite did not extensively accumulate. The nitrogen removal rate was 33.4 g·(m3·d)-1, which solved the problem of the mineralized sludge in the long-term reactor operation. In summary, the method of reforming the reflux mode of the reactor performed better than the method of the supplement and replacement of sludge in the reactor.

[Runoff Pollution Experiments of Paddy Fields Under Different Irrigation Patterns].

To study runoff and non-point source pollution of paddy fields and to provide a scientific basis for agricultural water management of paddy fields, paddy plots in the Jintan City and the Liyang City were chosen for experiments on non-point source pollution, and flood irrigation and intermittent irrigation patterns were adopted in this research. The surface water level and rainfall were observed during the growing season of paddies, and the runoff amount from paddy plots and loads of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were calculated by different methods. The results showed that only five rain events of totally 27 rainfalls and one artificially drainage formed non-point source pollution from flood irrigated paddy plot, which resulted in a TN export coefficient of 49.4 kg · hm⁻² and a TP export coefficient of 1.0 kg · hm⁻². No any runoff event occurred from the paddy plot with intermittent irrigation even in the case of maximum rainfall of 95.1 mm. Runoff from paddy fields was affected by water demands of paddies and irrigation or drainage management, which was directly correlated to surface water level, rainfall amount and the lowest ridge height of outlets. Compared with the flood irrigation, intermittent irrigation could significantly reduce non-point source pollution caused by rainfall or artificial drainage.

Gold Nanoparticle Coated Carbon Nanotube Ring with Enhanced Raman Scattering and Photothermal Conversion Property for Theranostic Applications.

We report a new type of carbon nanotube ring (CNTR) coated with gold nanoparticles (CNTR@AuNPs) using CNTR as a template and surface attached redox-active polymer as a reducing agent. This nanostructure of CNTR bundle embedded in the gap of closely attached AuNPs can play multiple roles as a Raman probe to detect cancer cells and a photoacoustic (PA) contrast agent for imaging-guided cancer therapy. The CNTR@AuNP exhibits substantially higher Raman and optical signals than CNTR coated with a complete Au shell (CNTR@AuNS) and straight CNT@AuNP. The extinction intensity of CNTR@AuNP is about 120-fold higher than that of CNTR at 808 nm, and the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of CNTR@AuNP is about 110 times stronger than that of CNTR, presumably due to the combined effects of enhanced coupling between the embedded CNTR and the plasmon mode of the closely attached AuNPs, and the strong electromagnetic field in the cavity of the AuNP shell originated from the intercoupling of AuNPs. The greatly enhanced PA signal and photothermal conversion property of CNTR@AuNP were successfully employed for imaging and imaging-guided cancer therapy in two tumor xenograft models. Experimental observations were further supported by numerical simulations and perturbation theory analysis.