Phenolic composition, antioxidant, cytotoxic activities and cardioprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from aerial-parts of Hypericum attenuatum Fisch. ex Choisy.

This study investigated phenolic metabolites, antioxidant, cytotoxic and cardioprotective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from the aerial parts of Hypericum attenuatum Fisch. ex Choisy. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were 132.40 ± 2.06 mg GAE/g and 101.46 ± 1.47 mg QE/g respectively. The extract exhibited antioxidant activities with an EC50 value against DPPH radical of 0.099 ± 0.03 mg/mL and a FRAP value of 1.22 ± 0.086 mmol/L Fe2+. The extract could protect H9c2 cardiomyoblasts from the injury of H2O2, while it restored the H9c2 cell viability to 82.69 ± 2.33% at 100 µg/mL. The extract possessed cytotoxicity on MGC803, C666-1 and SW620 cells with IC50 values of 69.77 ± 2.43 µg/mL, 74.97 ± 1.08 µg/mL and 58.91 ± 1.81 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, it could promote apoptosis of the tested cancer cells. This research provided useful information for the utilization of H. attenuatum as herbal medicine.

Hollow polyester/kapok/hollow polyester fiber-based needle punched nonwoven composite materials for rapid and efficient oil sorption.

Nowadays oil pollution poses a serious threat to the environment and people's daily life. As reusable and environmentally friendly materials, fiber-based oil sorption materials can effectively alleviate this phenomenon. However, maintaining a high sorption rate along with improved mechanical properties remains a challenge for oil sorption materials. Herein, we report a novel hollow PET/kapok/hollow PET nonwoven with high porosity and oil retention, outstanding cyclic oil sorption rate and improved mechanical performance using kapok as the oil preserver and hollow PET as the conductor and structure enhancer. Benefiting from the three-layer composite structure fabricated by carding and needle punching reinforcement, the resulting oil sorption materials, with kapok proportion more than or equal to 60%, exhibited high oil sorption rate and oil sorption speed. The materials of 20HP/60K/20HP component content present a high initial oil sorption rate of 28.22 g g-1, a maximum oil sorption rate of 31.17 g g-1 and a sorption rate constant of the Quasi second-order kinetic equation of 0.067 in plant oil. On the other hand, when the proportion of kapok fiber in the material was below 60%, due to the introduction of hollow PET, the mechanical properties were significantly boosted, and its oil retention and reusability were distinguished, with a reuse rate stabilizing at a relatively high level (>93%) in plant oil after undergoing three oil sorption cycles. The successful fabrication of hollow PET/kapok/hollow PET nonwovens could provide a new approach for the design and development of oil sorption materials.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus dexamethasone for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting in breast surgery: A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation and dexamethasone can reduce postoperative nausea and/or vomiting. In this noninferiority study, we compared the effects of Neiguan acupoint (PC6) transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation with dexamethasone to prevent postoperative nausea and/or vomiting in female patients undergoing breast surgery. METHODS: In total, 280 patients were randomized into the following 2 groups: transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (n = 140) and dexamethasone (n = 140). Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was performed 0.5 hours before anesthesia induction, immediately after entering the post-anesthesia care unit, and every 3 hours after leaving the post-anesthesia care unit. In the postoperative ward, the anesthetist instructed the patient's family members to assist the patient with PC6 patient-controlled transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation. Patients in the dexamethasone group were given 8 mg dexamethasone (intravenously) at 0.5 hours before induction of anesthesia. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, need for rescue antiemetics, patient satisfaction score, and the feasibility results of PC6 patient-controlled transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation were recorded 24 hours after surgery. RESULT: Within 0 to 24 hours after surgery, the incidence of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting in the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group was not inferior to the dexamethasone group (31.1% vs 27.9%, per protocol risk difference 3.2; 95% confidence interval -7.7 to 14.0). The results of the intention-to-treat analysis (30.7% vs 27.1%, risk difference 3.6; 95% confidence interval -7.0 to 14.2) agreed with the per protocol analysis. Patient satisfaction score in the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group was higher than that in the dexamethasone group (3.9 ± 0.1 vs 3.6 ± 0.1, P = .003). The scheme of preventing postoperative nausea and/or vomiting by PC6 patient-controlled transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was feasible. CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was noninferior to dexamethasone in preventing postoperative nausea and/or vomiting within 24 hours after breast surgery. Neiguan acupoint patient-controlled transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation was feasible to prevent postoperative nausea and/or vomiting.

Efficacy and Safety of 1470 nm Diode Laser Enucleation of the Prostate in Elderly Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of 1470 nm diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) and plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) in elderly benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Methods: A total of 123 elderly patients with BPH were randomized to undergo either 1470 nm DiLEP or PKRP by means of a random number table from September 2020 to April 2022. The perioperative and postoperative data were studied during a 3- and 6-month follow-up. Results: The patients treated with 1470 nm DiLEP had significantly decreased operation time (74.6 ± 17.0 vs 98.8 ± 18.9 minutes, p < 0.001), hemoglobin loss (1.06 ± 0.49 vs 1.59 ± 0.60 g/dL, p < 0.001), bladder irrigation time (22.1 ± 8.1 vs 33.9 ± 10.0 hours, p < 0.001), catheter duration (3.2 ± 1.3 vs 5.8 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.001), and hospital stay (7.6 ± 1.4 vs 9.6 ± 1.3 days, p < 0.001) compared with the PKRP group. Besides, International Index of Erectile Function-5 score of 1470 nm DiLEP group at postoperative 3- and 6-month follow-up was significantly higher than PKRP group. No differences achieving statistical significance were identified in total prostate-specific antigen, maximum urinary flow rate, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality-of-life score, and the postvoid residual urine volume, transient incontinence, urethral stricture, bladder neck contracture, and retrograde ejaculation at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: 1470 nm DiLEP is safer than PKRP, with a smaller effect on sexual function, and it is comparable with the efficacy of PKRP, thus making it more suitable for elderly BPH patients. Clinical Trial Registration number: S2021-463-01.

Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Modified Y-V Plasty for the Treatment of Refractory Bladder Neck Contracture.

Bladder neck contracture (BNC) is a rare, late complication of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Although the endoscopic procedure is the primary treatment for BNC, the recurrence rate remains high. Y-V plasty offers excellent surgical results for those individuals with refractory and recurrent BNC. Traditional open operations usually fail to provide satisfactory exposure to the operating field and lead to greater invasiveness. Interrupted sutures lead to prolonged operative time and increased anastomotic leakage. Laparoscopic modified Y-V plasty is performed through extraperitoneal access to the pelvis, which provides adequate exposure to the surgical view and avoids intra-abdominal injury. After incising the anterior bladder wall neck in a Y-shaped fashion, anastomosis is performed using two absorbable barbed sutures. The mucosa and submucosa layer of the bladder is closed to both sides with consecutive sutures in a V-shape before suturing serosa, and tunica muscularis are sutured to reinforce. The aforementioned procedures reduce leakage from the anastomosis and decrease operative time and patient trauma. Extraperitoneal laparoscopic modified Y-V plasty offers significant advantages over the open approach in terms of post-surgical recovery and invasiveness, making it a feasible and safe surgical option for patients with refractory BNC.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors analysis of viral shedding time in mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in Shanghai.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of viral shedding time in mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (BA.2 and BA2.2) infection in Shanghai, and the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, so as to provide a reference basis for epidemic prevention, control and clinical treatment. Methods: A total of 6,134 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Omicron-infected patients admitted to Tianhua Road fangcang shelter hospital in Jinshan, Shanghai, between April 2022 and May 2022 were included. Demographic characteristics and clinical histories were collected and compared in subgroups according to the different durations of viral shedding. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to explore the association between virus shedding time and clinical variables. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the risk factors for viral shedding time. Result: Most patients with asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic Omicron infection were male, and more than half of patients had a viral shedding time of 8-15 days. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of viral shedding: short-duration (≤ 7 days), intermediate-duration (8-15 days) and long-duration group (≥16 days). The proportion of patients aged ≤ 29 years was the highest in the short-duration group (30.2%), whereas the proportion of patients aged 50-64 yeas was the highest in the long-duration group (37.9%). The proportion of patients with the chronic non-communicable diseases among the short-, intermediate- and long-duration groups was 6.2, 9.4, and 14.9%, respectively. Among them, hypertension was the most found (4.9, 7.8, and 11.7%, respectively). By multivariate analyses, we identified that viral shedding time of Omicron variants was independently negatively correlated with male patients, TCM treatment, and manual laborers, while it was independently positively associated with age and hypertension. Additionally, TCM treatment could significantly shorten the length of viral shedding time, especially for men, age ≥30 years, comorbid chronic non-communicable diseases, unemployed people and manual worker. Conclusions: Our results suggested that age and hypertension were independent risk factors for the duration of viral shedding in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic omicron infected patients. TCM can effectively shorten viral shedding time.

α-Glucosidase Inhibition Action of Major Flavonoids Identified from Hypericum Attenuatum Choisy and Their Synergistic Effects.

Hypericum attenuatum Choisy is a traditional Chinese herbal plant with multiple therapeutic effects. In this study, bioactivity-guided fractionation of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy extracts afforded three major flavonoids (including astragalin, guaijaverin and quercetin), which possessed α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 33.90±0.68 µM, 17.23±0.75 µM and 31.90±0.34 µM, respectively. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that all the three compounds could interact with α-glucosidase by inducing conformational changes of the enzyme. Molecular docking results indicated that they could bind to the active site in α-glucosidase, and the binding force was driven mainly by hydrogen bond. Additionally, isobolographic analysis of the interactions between two compounds showed that all the combinations presented a synergistic α-glucosidase inhibitory effect at lower concentrations, and the combination between quercetin and guaijaverin or astragalin exhibited the best synergistic effect. This research might provide a theoretical basis for the application of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy in treating hyperglycemia.

Impact on sexual function of plasma button transurethral vapour enucleation versus plasmakinetic resection of the large prostate >90 ml: Results of a prospective, randomized trial.

To compare the impact of plasma button transurethral vapour enucleation of the prostate (PVEP) and plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) on lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) >90 ml. Between July 2017 and August 2018, 101 patients with symptomatic BPE were randomly, prospectively assigned to either PKRP or PVEP in our department. The clinical characteristics and sexual function were evaluated before and after surgery. Post-void residual volume, IPSS and QoL were all significantly decreased compared with baseline data in each group, while Qmax was significantly increased. The IIEF-5 score showed a slight but nonsignificant increase in both groups at 3 and 6 months after surgery, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The post-operative rate of reduced ejaculate volume was significantly higher than the pre-operative rate in PKRP group, while there was no significant difference in PVEP group. PVEP had an attenuated effect on no ejaculate compared with PRKP, and they both had a significantly negative effect on no ejaculate. PVEP is an effective and minimally invasive procedure for large prostate. Compared with PKRP, PVEP has no effect on erectile dysfunction and has a lower negative impact on ejaculation.

Podoplanin mediates the renoprotective effect of berberine on diabetic kidney disease in mice.

Hyperglycemia-caused podocyte injury plays a crucial role in the progress of diabetic kidney disease. Podoplanin, one of the podocyte-associated molecules, is closely related to the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. A number of studies demonstrate that berberine could ameliorate renal dysfunction in diabetic mice with nephropathy, but the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the relationship between the renoprotective effect of berberine and podoplanin expression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice as well as mouse podocytes (MPC5 cells) cultured in high glucose (HG, 30 mM) medium. We found that the expression levels of podoplanin were significantly decreased both in the renal glomerulus of STZ-induced diabetic mice and HG-cultured MPC5 cells. We also demonstrated that NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in MPC5 cells under HG condition, which downregulated the expression level of podoplanin, thus leading to increased podocyte apoptosis. Administration of berberine (100, 200 mg/kg every day, ig, for 8 weeks) significantly improved hyperglycemia and the renal function of STZ-induced diabetic mice and restored the expression level of podoplanin in renal glomerulus. In high glucose-cultured MPC5 cells, treatment with berberine (30-120 µM) dose-dependently decreased the apoptosis rate, increased the expression of podoplanin, and inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. When podoplanin expression was silenced with shRNA, berberine treatment still inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway, but its antiapoptotic effect on podocytes almost disappeared. Our results suggest that berberine inhibits the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, thus increasing the podoplanin expression to exert renoprotective effects.

EtOAc extract of H. attenuatum Choisy inhibits inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB and MAPK pathways and modulating the gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Hypericum attenuatum Choisy, a traditional Chinese herb, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and has been used to treat rheumatic arthritis in China for centuries. However, the underlying mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect is poorly understood. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of EtOAc fractions of H. attenuatum Choisy (Ha-EtOAc) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage inflammation and hypothesized that Ha-EtOAc could attenuate inflammation in the colon. STUDY DESIGN: LPS was utilized to induce RAW264.7 cells inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect of Ha-EtOAc in RAW264.7 cells was evaluated by measuring the inhibition ratio of nitric oxide (NO) production. Murine ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced by treatment with 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The basic indexes of the mice, including body weight, food intake and hematochezia, were recorded during mice experiments. METHODS: The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß, were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. Additionally, the influences of Ha-EtOAc on the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence assays. In addition, the impact of Ha-EtOAc on gut microbiota of mice with UC was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS: Ha-EtOAc inhibited the LPS-induced production of NO and decreased the release of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, pretreatment with Ha-EtOAc could suppress the nuclear translocation of p65 and the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, p38 and JNK. Ha-EtOAc treatment ameliorated murine UC, as reflected by a reduced body weight loss, improved colon shortening, alleviated mucosal damage and decreased releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Ha-EtOAc could modulate the composition of microbial communities. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that Ha-EtOAc exhibited anti-inflammatory effects mainly by suppressing the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, and Ha-EtOAc treatment may be a potent therapy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

New secondary metabolites from an engineering mutant of endophytic Streptomyces sp. CS.

In previous work, a series of bioactive natural products had been isolated from the plant endophytic Streptomyces sp. CS, which was isolated from Maytenus hookeri. To mine new active metabolites, we describe introducing an alien carbamoyltransferase (asm21) gene into the strain CS by conjugal transfer. As a result, three recombinatorial mutants named CS/asm21-1, CS/asm21-2 and CS/asm21-4 were successfully constructed. Three mutants and wild type CS were cultured on solid medium, and the extracts were detected and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The LC-MS profiles showed several unknown peaks that were present in the spectra of extracts of the CS/asm21-4 cultured on oatmeal solid medium. Then, three new naphthomycins O-Q (1-3), a new macrolide hookerolide (4) as well as nine known compounds were obtained from the solid cultured medium. Their structures were identified by spectra data. These new compounds showed moderate antimicrobial activities.

Celastrol alleviates renal fibrosis by upregulating cannabinoid receptor 2 expression.

Renal fibrosis is the final manifestation of various chronic kidney diseases, and no effective therapy is available to prevent or reverse it. Celastrol, a triterpene that derived from traditional Chinese medicine, is a known potent anti-fibrotic agent. However, the underlying mechanisms of action of celastrol on renal fibrosis remain unknown. In this study, we found that celastrol treatment remarkably attenuated unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced mouse renal fibrosis. This was evidenced by the significant reduction in tubular injury; collagen deposition; accumulation of fibronectin, collagen I, and α-smooth muscle actin; and the expression levels of pro-fibrotic factors Vim, Cola1, and TGF-ß1 mRNA, as well as inflammatory responses. Celastrol showed similar effects in a folic acid-induced mouse renal fibrosis model. Furthermore, celastrol potentiated the expression of the anti-fibrotic factor cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) in established mouse fibrotic kidney tissues and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1)-stimulated human kidney 2 (HK-2) cells. In addition, the CB2R antagonist (SR144528) abolished celastrol-mediated beneficial effects on renal fibrosis. Moreover, UUO- or TGF-ß1-induced activation of the pro-fibrotic factor SMAD family member 3 (Smad3) was markedly inhibited by celastrol. Inhibition of Smad3 activation by an inhibitor (SIS3) markedly reduced TGF-ß1-induced downregulation of CB2R expression. In conclusion, our study provides the first direct evidence that celastrol significantly alleviated renal fibrosis, by contributing to the upregulation of CB2R expression through inhibiting Smad3 signaling pathway activation. Therefore, celastrol could be a potential drug for treating patients with renal fibrosis.

Four novel antibacterial sesquiterpene-α-amino acid quaternary ammonium hybrids from the mycelium of mushroom Stereum hirsutum.

The mushroom Stereum hirsutum is parasitized by Tremella aurantia to form a heterogeneous basidiocarp Jin'er, which has been used as food and folk medicine in Chinese society. In present work, the S. hirsutum was fermented in YMG broth, and four novel mixed terpenes, stereumamides A-D (1-4), which are sesquiterpenes combined with α-amino acids to form quaternary ammonium hybrids, were isolated from the Stereum hirsutum FP-91666 and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Stereumamides A and D showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.5-25.0 µg/mL. The stereumamides A-D should be apparently the first example of naturally occurring a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) conjugated by sesquiterpene with an α-amino acid. QAC is a common antibacterial agent in food industry, which is found in the mycelium of Stereum hirsutum would suggest that the complex basidiocarp is a functional food and veritable folk medicine.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in osteoblasts regulates global energy metabolism.

Obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis have become a major public heath burden, and understanding the underlying mechanisms of these pathophysiological process will benefit their treatment. Osteoblast lineage cells in charge of the bone formation have been showed to participate in the whole-body energy metabolism. In this study, we identify that wnt/ß-catenin signaling in osteoblasts could regulate global energy metabolism, including glucose homeostasis, fat accumulation and energy expenditure. Mice lacking ß-catenin specifically in osteoblasts postnatally exhibit decreased bone mass, increased glucose level, decreased insulin production, decreased fat accumulation and increased energy expenditure. Osteocalcin supplement can rescue the impaired glucose balance by improving insulin production but cannot influence the abnormal fat accumulation and energy expenditure. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) overexpression exclusively in osteoblasts in ß-catenin deletion mice can normalize not only the decreased bone mass but also the decreased fat accumulation and increased energy expenditure. The effect of ß-catenin deletion and OPG overexpression in osteoblasts on global energy metabolism had no relation with inguinal fat browning. These results suggest that the regulation of bone on energy metabolism and fat accumulation is not mediated exclusively by osteocalcin. Our findings may provide a new insight into the regulation of bone on fat accumulation and energy metabolism.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate ameliorates erectile function in aged rats via regulation of PRMT1/DDAH/ADMA/NOS metabolism pathway.

Aging-related ED is predominantly attributed to neurovascular dysfunction mediated by NO suppression and increased oxidative stress in penis. The alterations of protein arginine methyltransferases 1 (PRMT1)/dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)/asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA)/NO synthase (NOS) pathway regulate NO production in the vascular endothelium. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is one of the most abundant and antioxidative ingredients isolated from green tea. In the present study, 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups: one young rat group and three aged rat groups treated with daily gavage feedings of EGCG at doses of 0, 10 mg kg-1 and 100 mg kg-1 for 12 weeks, respectively. Erectile function was assessed by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves with intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement. After euthanasia, penile tissue was investigated using Western blot and ELISA to assess the PRMT1/DDAH/ADMA/NOS metabolism pathway. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were detected by colorimetry. We also evaluated smooth muscle contents. The ratio of maximal ICP and mean systemic arterial pressure (MAP) was markedly higher in EGCG-treated aged rats than in untreated aged rats. We found that DDAH1 and DDAH2 were expressed in cavernosal tissue, and they were downregulated in corpora of aged rats. The administration of EGCG upregulated the expression and activity of DDAH. In contrast, EGCG treatment downregulated the expression of PRMT1 and ADMA content. Moreover, EGCG-treated rats showed an improvement in smooth muscle expression, the ratio of smooth muscle cell/collagen fibril, SOD activity, and MDA levels when compared with untreated aged rats.

A new compound from Stereum insigne CGMCC5.57.

Studies of the EtOAc extract of the culture broth and methanol extract of the mycelium of Stereum insigne CGMCC5.57 led to the isolation of one new dihydrobenzofuran (1) and six known compounds (2-7). The structures of compounds were elucidated mainly by HRESIMS experiments, and 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopy analysis. This is the first report about the chemical constitutes of the fungus S. insigne.

Impact of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles on circulating hemolymph and hematopoiesis in an invertebrate model organism.

Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) have attractive potential applications in biological and medical fields, and yet their impact on animals is still controversial, and there have been no reports of their effects on hematopoiesis. In this study, the effects of SiNPs on hemocytes and hematopoiesis were investigated by administering SiNPs via a vascular injection into an invertebrate model, the silkworm. Our results show that the ability of SiNPs to enter different types of circulating hemocytes and their impact on those hemocytes differed significantly. Rapid accumulation of SiNPs was observed in granulocytes, oenocytoids, and spherulocytes, which have immune functions in the circulating hemolymph, whereas SiNPs did not easily enter prohemocytes, which can differentiate into granulocytes, oenocytoids, and spherulocytes and replenish them. The SiNPs that entered the hemocytes initiated autophagy and apoptosis via the lysosomal/mitochondrial pathway. High-dose SiNPs weakly stimulated lysosomal activity in hematopoietic organs, but did not lead to a significant increase in reactive oxygen species or severe autophagy or apoptosis in the organ tissues. We suggest that the damage caused by high-dose SiNPs to hematopoiesis is self-healing, because few SiNPs entered the hematopoietic stem cells in the circulating hemolymph, so the damage to the hematopoietic tissues was limited.

[Changes of total flavonoids and rutin contents in different parts of wild and cultivated Hypericum attenuatum ].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of total flavonoids and rutin in different parts of wild and cultivated Hypericum attenuatum. METHODS: Ethanol ultrasonic extraction method was used to extract total flavonoids and rutin in different parts of Hypericum attenuatum. With rutin as reference substance, UV spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography were applied to deter- mine the total flavonoids and rutin content in Hypericum attenuatum samples (leaves, stems and flowers). RESULTS: There were great differences between the total flavonoids in different parts of Hypericum attenuatum that the content of flavonoids in the wild one was leaves > flowers > stems; The content of flavonoids in the cultivated was leaves > flowers > fruits > stems. The content of flavonoids in each part of cultivated Hypericum attenuatum was higher than that in the wild,but did not reach a statistically significant level,while the difference of content of rutin was extremely significant. CONCLUSION: There are differences between the content of flavonoids in different parts of Hypericum attenuatum. The highest content is found in leaves and the lowest in stems. The content of flavonoids in cultivated Hypericum attenuatum is higher than that in the wild.

Injury to the endothelial surface layer induces glomerular hyperfiltration rats with early-stage diabetes.

Glomerular endothelial surface layer (ESL) may play a role in the mechanisms of albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy, which lack evidence in vivo. The effects of high glucose on the passage of albumin across the glomerular ESL were analysed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks. Albuminuria and glomerular mesangial matrix were significantly increased in diabetic rats. The passage of albumin across the ESL, as measured by albumin-colloid gold particle density in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), was increased significantly in diabetic rats. The thickness of the glomerular ESL, examined indirectly by infusing Intralipid into vessels using an electron microscope, was significantly decreased and the GBM exhibited little change in diabetic rats. In summary, the glomerular ESL may play a role in the pathogenesis of albuminuria in rats with early-stage diabetes.

Malate synthase gene AoMls in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora contributes to conidiation, trap formation, and pathogenicity.

Malate synthase (Mls), a key enzyme in the glyoxylate cycle, is required for virulence in microbial pathogens. In this study, we identified the AoMls gene from the nematode-trapping fungus Arthobotrys oligospora. The gene contains 4 introns and encodes a polypeptide of 540 amino acids. To characterize the function of AoMls in A. oligospora, we disrupted it by homologous recombination, and the ΔAoMls mutants were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. The growth rate and colony morphology of the ΔAoMls mutants showed no obvious difference from the wild-type strains on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate. However, the disruption of gene AoMls led to a significant reduction in conidiation, failure to utilize fatty acids and sodium acetate for growth, and its conidia were unable to germinate on minimal medium supplemented with sodium oleate. In addition, the trap formation was retarded in the ΔAoMls mutants, which only produced immature traps containing one or two rings. Moreover, the nematicidal activity of the ΔAoMls mutants was significantly decreased. Our results suggest that the gene AoMls plays an important role in conidiation, trap formation and pathogenicity of A. oligospora.