Uncertainties in the Analysis of Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an important metric with a variety of applications in clinical situations such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and mental health. HRV data can be potentially obtained from electrocardiography and photoplethysmography signals, then computational techniques such as signal filtering and data segmentation are used to process the sampled data for calculating HRV measures. However, uncertainties arising from data acquisition, computational models, and physiological factors can lead to degraded signal quality and affect HRV analysis. Therefore, it is crucial to address these uncertainties and develop advanced models for HRV analysis. Although several reviews of HRV analysis exist, they primarily focus on clinical applications, trends in HRV methods, or specific aspects of uncertainties such as measurement noise. This paper provides a comprehensive review of uncertainties in HRV analysis, quantifies their impacts, and outlines potential solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that presents a holistic review of uncertainties in HRV methods and quantifies their impacts on HRV measures from an engineer's perspective. This review is essential for developing robust and reliable models, and could serve as a valuable future reference in the field, particularly for dealing with uncertainties in HRV analysis.

From the dual-dimensional perspective of employee mindfulness and superior trust, explore the influence mechanism of negative workplace gossip on work engagement.

Introduction: As a common phenomenon of workplace negative gossip in organizations, how it affects employees' work engagement is not yet clear, nor what methods can be used to mitigate its negative impact on employees' work engagement. Methods: Based on Conservation of Resource Theory, this study obtained 334 valid employee samples from mainland China enterprises through a three-time lagged research design and explored the mechanism of negative workplace gossip on work engagement from the dual perspectives of employees and supervisors. Results: The results show that: (1) Negative workplace gossip negatively affects employee work engagement. (2) Professional commitment plays a mediating role between negative workplace gossip and employee work engagement. (3) Employee mindfulness negatively moderates the negative impact of workplace negative gossip on professional commitment; superior trust negatively moderates the negative impact of workplace negative gossip on professional commitment. (4) Employee mindfulness and superior trust are further weakened to moderate the negative indirect impact of workplace negative gossip on employee work engagement through professional commitment, and this negative indirect impact is weaker when employees have a higher degree of mindfulness and higher trust in superiors. Discussion: It proposes effective strategies for managing workplace gossip to harness its positive influence and offer practical guidance to enhance employee work engagement.

An Integrated Analog Front-End System on Flexible Substrate for the Acquisition of Bio-Potential Signals.

The application of a versatile, low-temperature thin-film transistor (TFT) technology is presently described as the implementation on a flexible substrate of an analog front-end (AFE) system for the acquisition of bio-potential signals. The technology is based on semiconducting amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO). The AFE system consists of three monolithically integrated constituent components: a bias-filter circuit with a bio-compatible low cut-off frequency of ≈1 Hz, a 4-stage differential amplifier offering a large gain-bandwidth product of ≈955 kHz, and an additional notch filter exhibiting over 30 dB suppression of the power-line noise. Respectively built using conductive IGZO electrodes with thermally induced donor agents and enhancement-mode fluorinated IGZO TFTs with exceptionally low leakage current, both capacitors and resistors with significantly reduced footprints are realized. Defined as the ratio of the gain-bandwidth product of an AFE system to its area, a record-setting figure-of-merit of ≈86 kHz mm-2 is achieved. This is about an order of magnitude larger than the < 10 kHz mm-2 of the nearest benchmark. Requiring no supplementary off-substrate signal-conditioning components and occupying an area of ≈11 mm2 , the stand-alone AFE system is successfully applied to both electromyography and electrocardiography (ECG).

Characterization and Antioxidant Evaluation of Four Kinds of Marine Oils in vitro.

The objective of this study was to characterize the lipid class and fatty acid composition of four kinds of marine oils including Phaeodactylum tricornutum oil (PO), Laminaria japonica oil (LO), krill oil (KO) and fish oil (FO), and evaluate their antioxidant capacities in vitro. The results indicated that compared to other three oils, PO showed the highest contents of total lipids and fucoxanthin (194.70 and 7.48 mg/g dry weight, respectively), the relatively higher content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (30.94 % in total fatty acids), and total phenolic content (675.88 mg gallic acid equivalent /100 g lipids), thereby contribute to great advantages in scavenging free radicals such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), peroxyl radical, as well as reducing FRAP value. In conclusion, PO should be considered as a potential ingredient for dietary supplement with antioxidant capacity.

Interaction Between Dietary Selenium and Zinc Intakes on Hypothyroidism.

This study assessed the independent association of dietary selenium and zinc intakes with the risk of hypothyroidism and interaction effect between dietary selenium and zinc intakes with the risk of hypothyroidism in Americans. The data of this cross-sectional study was from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012. The outcome was defined as new-onset hypothyroidism. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression and the subgroup analyses based on gender and body mass index (BMI) were conducted to evaluate the association between the dietary selenium and zinc intakes and new-onset hypothyroidism. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of 6402 participants were included with 131 (2.05%) developed a hypothyroidism in this study. Compared with participants with high zinc intake, those with low zinc intake had a higher risk of new-onset hypothyroidism (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.05-2.90). Moreover, we also found a significant interaction between dietary selenium level intake and dietary zinc level intake on new-onset hypothyroidism risk (OR = 5.99, 95% CI: 1.77-20.23). There was an interaction between dietary selenium and zinc intakes on the risk of new-onset hypothyroidism, especially the significant effect for adults with women or overweight. The findings indicated that improving the levels of dietary zinc and selenium intake may be beneficial in preventing of new-onset hypothyroidism.

Using Network Pharmacology and Animal Experiment to Investigate the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Polydatin against Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

Background: Polydatin (PD) is the primary active compound in Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb and has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. In the present study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of PD against chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. Methods: The putative targets of PD were obtained from the CTD and SwissTargetPrediction databases. Neuropathic pain- and VIN-related targets were collected from the CTD and GeneCards databases. Subsequently, the intersection targets were obtained using the Venn tool, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) was constructed by the STRING database. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to investigate the biological functions of the intersection targets. Further, a rat model of VIN-induced neuropathic pain was established to confirm the reliability of the network pharmacology findings. Results: A total of 46 intersection targets were identified as potential therapeutic targets, mainly related to neuroinflammation. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the IL-17 signaling pathway was involved in the mechanism of the antinociceptive effect of PD. PPI network analysis indicated that RELA, IL-6, TP53, MAPK3, and MAPK1 were located at crucial nodes in the network. Additionally, PD exerted an antinociceptive effect by increasing the nociceptive threshold. The results of qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohisochemistry indicated that PD inhibited the IL-6, TP53, and MAPK1 levels in VIN-induced neuropathic pain rats. Conclusions: Overall, this research provided evidence that suppressing inflammatory signaling pathways might be a potential mechanism action of PD's antinociceptive effect against VIN-induced neuropathic pain.

New Wenshen Shengjing Decoction Improves Early Embryonic Development by Maintaining Low Levels of H3K4me3 in Sperm.

BACKGROUND: New Wenshen Shengjing Decoction (NWSSJD), a traditional Chinese compound medicine, has significant effect on spermatogenesis disorder and can significantly improve sperm quality. Many components in NWSSJD can induce epigenetic modifications of different types of cells. It is not yet known whether they can cause epigenetic modifications in sperm or early embryos. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of NWSSJD on mouse early embryonic development and its regulation of H3K4me3 in mouse sperm and early embryos. METHODS: Spermatogenesis disorder was induced in male mice with CPA (cyclophosphamide). NWSSJD was administrated for 30 days. Then, the male mice were mated with the female mice with superovulation, and the embryo degeneration rate of each stage was calculated. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of H3K4me3 in sperm and embryos at various stages. Western blotting was performed to detect methyltransferase SETD1B expression. The expressions of development-related genes (OCT-4, NANOG, and CDX2) and apoptosis-related genes (BCL-2 and p53) were measured with qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the CPA group, NWSSJD significantly reduced the H3K4me3 level in sperms, significantly increased the number of normal early embryos (2-cell embryos, 3-4-cell embryos, 8-16-cell embryos, and blastocysts) per mouse, and reduced the degeneration rate of the embryos. The expression levels of H3K4me3 and methyltransferase SETD1B in early embryos were significantly elevated by NWSSJD. Additionally, NWSSJD significantly promoted BCL-2 expression, while reducing p53 expression, thus inhibiting embryonic cell apoptosis. Moreover, the expressions of development-related genes OCT-4 and CDX2 were significantly increased by NWSSJD, but NANOG expression had no significant difference. CONCLUSION: NWSSJD may promote early embryonic development possibly by maintaining low H3K4me3 levels in sperms and normal H3K4me3 modification in early embryos and by inhibiting embryonic cell apoptosis.

Wenshen Shengjing Decoction Improves Early Embryo Development by Maintaining Low H3K27me3 Levels in Sperm and Pronuclear Embryos of Spermatogenesis Impaired Mice.

Many ingredients in Wenshen Shengjing Decoction (WSSJD) can cause epigenetic changes in the development of different types of cells. It is not yet known whether they can cause epigenetic changes in sperms or early embryos. Here, we investigated the role of WSSJD in epigenetic modifications of sperms or early embryos and early embryo development. A mouse model with spermatogenesis disorders was established with cyclophosphamide (CPA). WSSJD was administrated for 30 days. The male model mice after the treatment were mated with the female mice treated with superovulation. The embryo development rate of each stage was calculated. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of H3K27me3 in sperm, pronuclear embryos, and 2-cell embryos. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of histone demethylase KDM6A and methyltransferase EZH2 in 2-cell embryos with developmental arrest. The expressions of zygotic genome activation genes (ZSCAN4, E1F1AX, HSPA1A, ERV4-2, and MYC) in 2-cell embryos with developmental arrest were analyzed with qRT-PCR. Comparing with the control group, CPA destroyed the development of seminiferous epithelium, significantly increased the expression level of H3K27me3 in sperm, reduced the expression ratio of H3K27me3 in female and male pronuclei, delayed the development of 2-cell embryos, and increased the developmental arrest rate and degeneration rate of 2-cell embryos. Moreover, the expressions of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were significantly increased in the 2-cell embryos with developmental arrest, and the expression of zygotic genome activation genes (ZSCAN4, E1F1AX, HSPA1A, ERV4-2, and MYC) was significantly decreased. Compared with the CPA group, WSSJD promoted the development of seminiferous epithelium, maintained a low level of H3K27me3 modification in sperm and male pronucleus, significantly increased the development rate of 2-cell embryos and 3-4 cell embryos, and reduced the developmental arrest rate and degeneration rate of 2-cell embryos. WSSJD may promote early embryonic development by maintaining a low level of H3K27me3 modification in sperm and male pronucleus and regulating the zygotic genome activation in mice with spermatogenesis disorders induced by CPA.

Mussel-inspired "built-up" surface chemistry for combining nitric oxide catalytic and vascular cell selective properties.

Specific selectivity of vascular cells and antithrombogenicity are crucial factors for the long-term success of vascular implants. In this work, a novel concept of mussel-inspired "built-up" surface chemistry realized by sequential stacking of a copper-dopamine network basement, followed by a polydopamine layer is introduced to facilitate the combination of nitric oxide (NO) catalysis and vascular cell selectivity. The resultant "built-up" film allowed easy manipulation of the content of copper ions and the density of catechol/quinone groups, facilitating the multifunctional surface engineering of vascular devices. For example, the chelated copper ions in the copper-dopamine network endow a functionalized vascular stent with a durable release of NO via catalytic decomposition of endogenous S-nitrosothiol. Meanwhile, the catechol/quinone groups on the film surface allow the facile, secondary grafting of the REDV peptide to develop a selectivity for vascular cells, as a supplement to the functions of NO. As a result, the functionalized vascular stent perfectly combines the functions of NO and REDV, showing excellent antithrombotic properties and competitive selectivity toward the endothelial cells over the smooth muscle cells, hence impressively promotes re-endothelialization and improves anti-restenosis in vivo. Therefore, the first mussel-inspired "built-up" surface chemistry can be a promising candidate for the engineering of multifunctional surfaces.

Deletion of Ripk3 Prevents Motor Neuron Death In Vitro but not In Vivo.

Increasing evidence suggests that necroptosis, a form of programmed cell death (PCD), contributes to neurodegeneration in several disorders, including ALS. Supporting this view, investigations in both in vitro and in vivo models of ALS have implicated key molecular determinants of necroptosis in the death of spinal motor neurons (MNs). Consistent with a pathogenic role of necroptosis in ALS, we showed increased mRNA levels for the three main necroptosis effectors Ripk1, Ripk3, and Mlkl in the spinal cord of mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1G93A) transgenic mice (Tg), an established model of ALS. In addition, protein levels of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1; but not of RIPK3, MLKL or activated MLKL) were elevated in spinal cord extracts from these Tg SOD1G93A mice. In postmortem motor cortex samples from sporadic and familial ALS patients, no change in protein levels of RIPK1 were detected. Silencing of Ripk3 in cultured MNs protected them from toxicity associated with SOD1G93A astrocytes. However, constitutive deletion of Ripk3 in Tg SOD1G93A mice failed to provide behavioral or neuropathological improvement, demonstrating no similar benefit of Ripk3 silencing in vivo. Lastly, we detected no genotype-specific myelin decompaction, proposed to be a proxy of necroptosis in ALS, in either Tg SOD1G93A or Optineurin knock-out mice, another ALS mouse model. These findings argue against a role for RIPK3 in Tg SOD1G93A-induced neurodegeneration and call for further preclinical investigations to determine if necroptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of ALS.

Author Correction: CRISPR-Cas9-mediated base-editing screening in mice identifies DND1 amino acids that are critical for primordial germ cell development.

In Fig. 2a of this Technical Report originally published, the authors inadvertently used the same set of images for the 4B2N1 and 4B2N3 cells when preparing the figure. The three images (bright field, Oct4-EGFP and pCAG-mRFP) of 4B2N3 cells have now been replaced with the correct versions. The source data for the four cell lines in Fig. 2a, captured in the three independent experiments, have been deposited to Figshare (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7387607.v1), and the figure legends and Methods section have been amended to reflect this. Additionally, the unprocessed blots in Supplementary Fig. 7 corresponding to the top right 'WCL IB: Flag' panel of Fig. 7e were mistakenly duplicates of the unprocessed blots for the bottom left 'IP Flag IB: HA' panel of Fig. 7e, and all unprocessed blots for Supplementary Fig. 6 were mislabelled as blots corresponding to Supplementary Fig. 7. Supplementary Fig. 7 has now been updated to show the correct unprocessed blots for the bottom left 'IP Flag IB: HA' panel of Fig. 7e and to correct the labelling of the unprocessed blots corresponding to Supplementary Fig. 6.

Direct Observation of Oxidation Reaction via Closed Bipolar Electrode-Anodic Electrochemiluminescence Protocol: Structural Property and Sensing Applications.

In this work, we developed an innovative closed bipolar electrode (BPE)-electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing strategy with generality for target detection. Based on charge balance and 100% current efficiency between the closed BPE poles and the driving electrodes, one of the driving electrodes in one cell of the closed BPE system was employed as ECL sensing surface to reflect the target on the BPE pole in the opposite cell. Compared with traditional BPE-ECL sensing method, which in general adopted the anodic ECL reagents such as Ru(bpy)32+ and its coreactant on one pole (anode) to reflect the target (occurring reduction reaction) on the other pole (cathode), the difference was that the targets occurring oxidation reaction could be detected by the anodic ECL reagents based on this strategy. To verify the feasibility of this strategy, the detection principle was stated first, and Fe(CN)64- as model target at anodic BPE pole were detected by anodic ECL reagents (Ru(bpy)32+ and TprA) on the driving electrode first. The ECL signals showed good performance for target detection. By changing the size and the material of the BPE pole where the targets were located, the detection of l-ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and dopamine (DA) as other model targets with higher detection limit were accomplished. Visual and high-throughput detection of AA, UA, and DA were also successfully realized by an array of the closed BPE system. This closed BPE (array) system is an effective supplement of traditional BPE-ECL sensing and could greatly expand the scope of the detection target.

Differential effects of high-physiological oestrogen on the degeneration of mandibular condylar cartilage and subchondral bone.

The striking predilection of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in women, especially during gonad-intact puberty or reproductive years, indicates that oestrogen plays an important role in the progression of TMD, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) was used to create temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) models in rats, while 17ß-estradiol (E2) injections were applied to mimic patients with high-physiological levels of oestrogen. Micro-CT scanning, histological staining and real-time PCR assays were preformed to observe the degenerative changes in the mandibular condylar cartilage and subchondral bone. The results showed that obvious degradation was found in the condylar cartilage and subchondral bone of rats with UAC procedure, including decreased cartilage thickness, loss of extracellular matrix, increased apoptotic chondrocytes and expression of pro-inflammatory and catabolic factors, decreased bone mineral density and increased osteoclast activity. E2 supplements aggravated the condylar cartilage degradation but reversed the abnormal bone resorption in the subchondral bone induced by UAC. Our results revealed that high-physiological oestrogen plays a destructive role in condylar cartilage but a protective role in subchondral bone at the early stage of TMJ OA. These dual and distinct effects should be given serious consideration in future OA treatments.

Traditional Chinese medicine baoxin decoction improves cardiac fibrosis of rats with dilated cardiomyopathy.

We investigated the effect of baoxin decoction (BXD) on myocardial fibrosis and clarified the possible mechanism of action. Dilated myocardiopathy was induced by doxorubicin injected intraperitoneally for 6 weeks. Rats that demonstrated dilated myocardiopathy were randomly divided into five groups plus a control group. Three groups were treated with BXD (7.5/kg, 15 g/kg and 30 g/kg) daily for 4 weeks. One group was treated with 8.75 g/kg of captopril (positive control), and with physiologic saline (negative control). Cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography. Hematoxylin and eosin, and Massons trichrome staining were performed, PICP and PIIINP were assessed by ELISA, the expression of galectin-3 and collagen types I and III was evaluated with reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and interrelated proteins were detected by western blot analysis. BXD downregulated galectin-3, collagen I and III and was correlated with a high expression of fibrosis markers. It also significantly decreased myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF), together with markedly preventing the upregulation of collagen I and III. In addition, BXD downregulated the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad3 in the myocardial fibrosis rats. Therefore, BXD treatment significantly improved cardiac function and alleviated myocardial fibrosis in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is the mechanism that may be associated with inhibiting the TGF-ß1 signaling pathway.

[Preventive Effect of Fangshuan Capsule on PCI-induced Myocardial Damage and Vascular Endo- thelial Injury in Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris].

Objective To observe the prevention of Fangshuan Capsule (FC) on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) induced myocardial damage and vascular endothelial injury in patients with un- stable angina pectoris (UAP). Methods Totally 100 UAP patients undergoing PCI were assigned to the control group and the treatment group by random digit table, 50 in each group. All patients received routine Western medicine therapy. Those in the treatment group additionally took FC, 6 pills each time, three times per day for at least 2 days before PCI operation. The therapeutic course for each group was 2 weeks. The clinical therapeutic effect was observed in the two groups. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) , changes of myocardial oxygen consumption ( HR x SBP, kPa/min) were compared. The levels of serum troponin I (cTn 1), creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) , myoglobin (MYO) , endothelin (ET), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured before PCI, and 6, 12, 24 h, 3 and 7 days after PCI. Results The markedly effective rate of Chinese medical syndromes was 54% (17/50) and the total effective rate was 94% (47/50) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those of the control group [26% (13/50) and 88% (44/50) ; P <0. 01]. Compared with before treatment in the same group, HR, SBP, myocardial oxygen consumption, and plasma ET level were reduced, plasma NO level was elevated in two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0. 01). cTnl concentration increased at 6, 12, 24 h, and day 3 (P <0. 05, P <0. 01 ) ; CK-MB concentration was elevated at 6, 12, and 24 h (P <0. 05, P <0. 01) ; MYO concentration increased at 6 and 12 h (P < 0. 01) in the control group after treatment. cTnl concentration increased at 12 and 24 h (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); CK-MB concentration was elevated at 6 and 12 h (P <0. 05) ; MYO concentration increased at 6 h (P <0. 01) in the treatment group after treatment. Compared with the control group at the same time point, HR, myocardial oxygen consumption, and plasma ET level decreased (P <0. 05); cTnl decreased at 6, 12, and 24 h (P <0. 05); CK-MB concentration decreased at 12 h (P <0. 05); MYO concentration decreased at 6 and 12 h (P <0. 05) in the treatment group after treatment. Conclusion FC could effectively improve scores of Chinese medical syndromes after PCI surgery, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, attenuate myocar- dial damage and vascular endothelial injury in UAP patients after PCI.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing dramatically especially in developing countries like India. CVD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There has been a growing awareness of the role of nutrients in the prevention of CVD. One specific recommendation in the battle against CVD is the increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Studies have reported inverse associations of CVD with dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation might exert protective effects on CVD. They exert their cardioprotective effect through multiple mechanisms. Omega-3 fatty acid therapy has shown promise as a useful tool in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD. This review briefly summarizes the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in primary and secondary prevention of CVD.

[Process Optimization of Aerobic Granular Sludge Continuous-Flow System for the Treatment of Low COD/N Ratio Sewage].

The mature aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was inoculated in a continuous-flow joint constructor reactor to treat low chemical oxygen demand/nitrogen (COD/N) ratio sewage. The effects of aeration intensity and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the denitrification and phosphorus removal efficiencies and the granular sludge stabilization were investigated. When the aeration intensity was 300 mL x min(-1) (superficial air upflow velocity of 1.2 cm x s(-1)) and the HRT was 7.5 h, the average removal efficiencies of COD, TN and TP were 76.34%, 51.23% and 53.70%, respectively. The mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) was only about 2 000 mg x L(-1), the sludge volume index ( SVI) was below 50 mL x g(-1), and the AGS exhibited complete forms and good settling performances. Additionally, the low COD/N ratios sewage could promote the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of AGS, and the PN proteins in EPS played a pivotal role in the maintenance of AGS stabilization.

[Effects of acupuncture intervention on expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 and C/EBP homologous protein in hippocampal CA 1 region in rats with hyperspasmia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture intervention on expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp 78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in the hippocampus in epilepsy rats so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of hyperspasmia-induced brain injury. METHODS: Forty-two SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n = 6), model group (n = 18), and acupuncture group (n = 18). The epileptic seizure model was established by intraperitonel injection of Pentylenetetrazol (50 mg/kg, 2 mL). Manual acupuncture stimulation of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) was conducted for rats of the acupuncture group for 30 min. Two hours (h), 12 h and 48 h after acupuncture intervention, the hippocampal tissue was sampled (6 rats at each time-point). The expression levels of Grp 78 and CHOP proteins in the hippocampal CA 1 region were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the expression levels of Grp 78 protein at time-points of 2 h and 12 h, and those of CHOP protein at 2 h, 12 h and 48 h after epilpeptic seizure were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). After acupuncture treatment, the expression levels of Grp 78 at 12 and 48 h were significantly increased, and those of CHOP protein at 2 h, 12 h and 24 h in the acupuncture group were considerably downregulated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture treatment can up-regulate Grp 78 protein expression and down-regulate CHOP protein expression level in epilepsy rats , which may contribute to its protective effect on seizure-induced brain injury.

Optimization of beta-carotene production by a newly isolated Serratia marcescens strain

beta-carotene is a commonly used food colorant. In this work, a novel beta-carotene producing strain, Serratia marcescens RB3, was isolated and identified by physiological and biochemical tests, as well as 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The production of beta-carotene by S. marcescens RB3 was identified through HPLC analysis. The cultivation conditions for beta-carotene production by S. marcescens RB3 were optimized as 2.0 percent lactose, 2.0 percent peptone, 0.3 percent beef extract, 1.0 percent NaCl supplemented with 0.05 percent Fe2+, pH 6.0 and 30ºC. Under the optimal conditions, the yield of beta-carotene achieved 2.45 ug/mL.

[Treatment of simulated produced wastewater from polymer flooding in oil production using dithiocarbamate-type flocculant].

A dithiocarbamate flocculant, DTC (T403), was prepared by the reaction of amine-terminated polyoxypropane-ether compound known as Jeffamine-T403 and carbon disulfide in alkaline solution. The oil removal efficiency of DTC (T403) for simulated produced wastewater from polymer flooding in oil production was studied by Jar-test. The effect of the dosage of DTC (T403), hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions, and pH on the oil removal efficiency of DTC (T403) was investigated. The results showed that the chelate polymer formed by DTC (T403) and Fe2+ ion has good oil removal performance by net capturing mechanism. HPAM had a negative effect on oil removal efficiency of DTC (T403). For the treatment of the simulated wastewater containing 0-900 mg/L of HPAM and 300 mg/L of oil, the residual oil concentrations in water samples decreased below 10 mg/L when the dosage of Fe2+ and DTC (T403) was 10 mg/L and 25 mg/L, respectively. The oil removal efficiency of DTC (T403) was affected by pH and good oil removal efficiency was obtained when the pH was below 7.5. DTC (T403) is appropriate for the treatment of oily wastewater containing Fe2+ ion.