Activation of a passive, mesoporous silica nanoparticle layer through attachment of bacterially-derived carbon-quantum-dots for protection and functional enhancement of probiotics.

Probiotic bacteria employed for food supplementation or probiotic-assisted antibiotic treatment suffer from passage through the acidic gastro-intestinal tract and unintended killing by antibiotics. Carbon-quantum-dots (CQDs) derived from bacteria can inherit different chemical groups and associated functionalities from their source bacteria. In order to yield simultaneous, passive protection and enhanced, active functionality, we attached CQDs pyrolytically carbonized at 220 â€‹°C from Lactobacillus acidophilus or Escherichia coli to a probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium infantis) using boron hydroxyl-modified, mesoporous silica nanoparticles as an intermediate encapsulating layer. Fourier-transform-infrared-spectroscopy, X-ray-photoelectron-spectroscopy and scanning-electron-microscopy were employed to demonstrate successful encapsulation of B. infantis by silica nanoparticles and subsequent attachment of bacterially-derived CQDs. Thus encapsulated B. infantis possessed a negative surface charge and survived exposure to simulated gastric fluid and antibiotics better than unencapsulated B. infantis. During B. infantis assisted antibiotic treatment of intestinal epithelial layers colonized by E. coli, encapsulated B. infantis adhered and survived in higher numbers on epithelial layers than B. infantis without encapsulation or encapsulated with only silica nanoparticles. Moreover, higher E. coli killing due to increased reactive-oxygen-species generation was observed. In conclusion, the active, protective encapsulation described enhanced the probiotic functionality of B. infantis, which might be considered as a first step towards a fully engineered, probiotic nanoparticle.

[Icariin alleviates lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of intragastric administration of icariin on lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury in rats. METHODS: Seventy-two healthy adult male SD rats were randomized equally into icariin group, control group and sham-operated group. In the control and icariin groups, spinal cord injury was induced using modified Allen's method, and the rats in the sham-operated group underwent laminotomy without damaging the spinal cord. Immediately after the surgery, the rats in icariin group were subjected to intragastric administration of icariin (100 mg/kg), and those in the control and sham-operated groups received an equal volume of saline in the same manner once a day. At 24 h after the operation, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was detected using thiobarbituric acid method, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured with xanthine oxidase method, and the water content in the spinal cord was measured using dry-wet weight method. At 48 h after the operation, the ultrastructure of the spinal cord was observed with transmission electron microscopy and scored using Kaptanoglu scoring method. The motor function of the rats was assessed using BBB scoring at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the operation. RESULTS: At 24 h after the operation, MDA content was significantly higher in the control group and icariin group than in the sham-operated group, and was significantly lower in icariin group than in the control group (P<0.05); SOD activity was significantly higher in icariin group than in the control group, and was both significantly lower than that in the sham-operated group (P<0.05). At 48 h after operation, the water content and ultrastructure score of the spinal cord were the highest in sham-operated group (P<0.05), and were significantly lower in icariin group than in the control group (P<0.05). At all the time points of measurement, the BBB scores were significantly lower in the control and icariin groups than in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), and were significantly higher in icariin group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Icariin can significantly reduce MDA content, increase SOD activity, and ameliorate lipid peroxidation, spinal cord edema, and histopathological damage of the spinal cord to improve motor function of rats with spinal cord injury.

[Effects of the additives and the combination of plants on Pb absorption, growth and quality of Dianthus superbus]. / æ·»åŠ ç‰©åŠæ¤ç‰©ç»„åˆå¯¹çž¿éº¦å¹¼è‹—é“ å¸æ”¶ã€ç”Ÿé•¿åŠå“è´¨çš„å½±å“.

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, neighboring plants (Trifolium repens), addition of EDTA and phosphate fertilizer on the performance of Dianthus superbus grown on Pb contaminated soil. The growth and quality of D. superbus were investigated to provide a theoretical basis for the scientific cultivation of Chinese herbal medicine. The results showed that the D. superbus with AM resulted in a significant inhibition of Pb uptake (P＜0.05), increase of root development and root/shoot ratio compared to untreated control plants, and with the highest content of active component. The content of emodin reached 6.5 mg·g-1. When planting with T. repens the reducing effect of Pb absorption induced by AM fungi was insignificant. The quality of D. superbus decreased, and the emodin content decreased to 3.2 mg·g-1, which was lower than that in the control group. However, D. superbus showed improved growth and active ingredients, and the lowest Pb content (1.3 mg·g-1) due to AM fungal inoculation. The addition of EDTA decreased the growth of D. superbus, but promoted the absorption of Pb, with the Pb content to 340.0 mg·g-1. Calcium phosphate showed the ability to immobilize other heavy metals in the soil, therefore might be more suitable to be applied in the conditions of compound pollution. Considering all of the results, AM fungi play a positive role in protecting the safety and quality of Chinese herbal medicine.

[Influence of zirconia content on translucency of zirconia-toughened alumina glass-infiltrated ceramic].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of zirconia content which is 0-30.0% weight percentage of matrix on translucency of zirconia-toughened alumina glass-infiltrated ceramics. METHODS: Seven groups were divided according to different weight percentage of zirconia (0, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%, 20.0% and 30.0%). After sintering, infiltrating and polishing, spectral transmittance was determined with spectrophotometer under D65 standard source. Contrast ratio was also tested by whiteness colorimeter. RESULTS: With mass fraction of zirconia increasing from 0 to 30.0%, spectral transmittance reduced from 0.406% to 0.058%, while contrast ratio value increased from 0.849 +/- 0.005 to 1.015 +/- 0.006. When zirconia content was 10.0%, contrast ratio was 0.990 +/- 0.008. When it was more than 10.0%, transmission rate of the downward trend and contrast ratio of the rising trend became flat. CONCLUSION: Zirconia content has a direct impact on translucency of zirconia-toughened alumina glass-infiltrated ceramic, which is essentially opaque when zirconia content is 10.0%. When mass fraction of zirconia is more than 10.0%, the influence of zirconia content is reduced.

[Preparation and quality evaluation of fufangxiaoyepipa dispersible tablets].

OBJECTIVE: To study the preparation of fufangxiaoyepipa dispersible tablets and evaluate its quality. METHODS: Using the disintegration time as index to screen out the best prescription of the dispersible tablets by orthogonal design. RESULTS: The prescription assembly was 40% of extraction, 15% of MCC, 18% of CCMC-Na, 25% of Calcium sulfate, 2% of Magnesium stearate, the disintegration time met the provision of Pharmacopoeia. CONCLUSION: The dispersible tablets dissolve faster and disperse uniformly and the dissolution percent in vitro is obviously superior to the conventional tablets, improving the bioavailability of the preparation.

[Effects of huanglian jiedu decoction on the oxidative stress of liver mitochondria in insulin resistant Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJD) on the oxidative damage of liver mitochondria in insulin resistant rats and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were fed with high-fat diet to set up an insulin resistant model, and randomly divided into four groups, the control group and three test groups intervened respectively with HLJD, berberine, and thioctic acid for 6 weeks. The liver mitochondrial function and energy metabolic capability were assayed by measuring the activities of ATPase, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome oxidase (CCO) and the content of ATP in liver tissue. The anti-oxidation capability of liver mitochondria was determined by measuring the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: HLJD showed the effect in improving the activities of GSH-Px, SOD and ATPase, inhibiting the production of MDA, promoting the energy metabolism and strengthening the activities of SDH and CCO in liver tissue of insulin resistant rats. CONCLUSION: HLJD could improve the liver mitochondria function and energy metabolism, strengthen the mitochondrial anti-oxidation capacity, and showed evidently protective effect on liver mitochondrial damage in insulin resistant rats. The mechanism might be correlated with its scavenging action on oxygen radicals and inhibition on lipid-peroxidation.

[Effects of Jujingwan on nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase in seminal plasma of asthenospermia patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible action mechanism of Jujingwan on asthenospermia. METHODS: Semen routine analyses and determination of nitric oxide (NO) concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in seminal plasma were performed in 34 cases of asthenospermia. The changes of NO concentration and SOD activity before and after the treatment with Jujingwan were observed. RESULTS: Compared with pre-treatment, there was no significant change in NO concentration, and the activity of SOD decreased significantly after the treatment ([95.97 +/- 20.75] microg/L vs [6.14 +/- 19.99] microg/L). There was negative correlation between NO concentration and SOD activity before the treatment (r = -0.246, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Jujingwan can significantly improve sperm viability in patients with asthenospermia. However, the excellent effects of Jujingwan are not displayed in the changes of NO concentration and SOD activity.

[Integrated treatment for azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma: a case report].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a therapeutic method for male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma. METHODS: A case of azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma was reported and the Chinese medicine Jiaweishuiluerxiandan was used as a major therapy for 3 years. RESULTS: The patient's health condition was improved dramatically two years after being treated by the Chinese medicine but no sperm was found in his semen. However, three years after the treatment, his spermatozoon density was recovered from zero to 2.0 x 10(6)/ml with normal morphology. His sperm was subsequently used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which made his spouse pregnant successfully, and an healthy male infant was born by caesarean birth. CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine is a successful try at treating male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma. For those who have failed to get their sperm frozen before surgery, Chinese medicine is a choice for remediation.

[Investigation of the function of the glass colorant on the machinable infiltrated ceramics color].

OBJECTIVE: To investigae the function of the glass colorant on the color of the machinable infiltrated ceramics(MIC). METHODS: Five kinds of glass with different colorant were infiltrated through the aluminous matrix by heating the components to 1 100 degrees C for 2 hours. The specimens surface was polished, and their thickness was 0.5 mm. RESULTS: The refractive index of the MIC infiltration glass was 1.59691 (587.6 nm, nd) . The most different parameter of the MIC color were L*, then a*, and b* had little difference . The parameters of the color space of MIC were: L*(64.55-71.46), a*(3.35-7.38), b*(10.00-12.41), Ca*b*(11.38-13.95), ha*b*(54.07-73.00). These were almost close to the color parameters of Vita In-ceram. CONCLUSION: This experiment proved that the glass colorant was changed the MIC color parameters, and the main function was on L*, then a*. The ceramic color was up to the requirement of clinic.

[Experimental study on the effects of jujingwan on oligospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Jujingwan on the spermatozoal ultrastructure and apoptosis of germ cells in oligospermia patients. METHODS: We treated 50 oligospermia patients with Jujingwan and observed the spermatozoal ultrastructure, the apoptosis of germ cells and the changes in the DNA ploidy proportion of spermatogenic cells by electron microscopy and FCM before the treatment and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after it. RESULTS: Jujingwan increased sperm acrosome base density 6 months after the treatment and remarkably improved the integrity of acrosome membrane 12 months after it, with no obvious pathological changes in the nuclei and tails. Three months after the treatment, cell debris and apoptotic cells decreased significantly as compared with pre-treatment (P < 0. 05) , and very significantly 12 months after the treatment (P <0. 01). The proportion of haploid spermatozoa increased very significantly (P <0.01) , and the lost primary spermatocytes decreased significantly (P <0. 05) compared with pre-treatment. CONCLUSION: Jujingwan can increase the density of sperm acrosome base and improve the pathological changes of acrosome membrane in oligospermia patients; it can improve the activity of acrosome enzyme and the integrity of acrosome membrane, decrease the apoptosis rate of germ cells and sperm and increase the percentage of haploid spermatozoa; it can also reduce the percentage of apoptotic bodies and diploid sperm cells. It is indicated that Jujingwan can inhibit the apoptosis of germ cells and sperm and improve spermatogenesis in oligospermia patients.

[Clinical research on Linbiqing decoction for the treatment of chronic prostatitis following sexually transmitted disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of Linbiqing decoction on chronic prostatitis following sexually transmitted disease (CPFSTD). METHODS: Linbiqing decotion was given orally to 36 patients with CPFSTD, and the therapeutic effet was assessed by observing the clinical symptoms and measuring the objective indexes before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Four to eight weeks after the drug administration, the overall effectivity rate was 72.22%, and the scores of NIH-CPSI were decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Linbiqing decoction has definite therapeutic effect on CPFSTD, and can be considered as an effective means for the treatment of the disease.