Discrete Superconducting Phases in FeSe-Derived Superconductors.

A general feature of unconventional superconductors is the existence of a superconducting dome in the phase diagram. Here we report a series of discrete superconducting phases in the simplest iron-based superconductor, FeSe thin flakes, by continuously tuning the carrier concentration through the intercalation of Li and Na ions with a solid ionic gating technique. Such discrete superconducting phases are robust against the substitution of 20% S for Se, but they are vulnerable to the substitution of 2% Cu for Fe, highlighting the importance of the iron site being intact. The superconducting phase diagram for FeSe derivatives is given, which is distinct from that of other unconventional superconductors.

An integrated method of therapeutic lifestyle change for older adults with dyslipidaemia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of therapeutic lifestyle change with a non-pharmacological intervention method in older adults with dyslipidaemia. STUDY DESIGN: Stratified randomized trial. METHODS: Participants with dyslipidaemia (n = 214) aged ≥60 years were randomized to the conventional guide group, the educational course (EC) group, the telephone call (PC) group or the PC + EC group for 24 weeks. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the knowledge, attitude and practice score for serum lipids were measured at baseline (T1), mid-intervention (week 12, T2) and post-intervention (week 24, T3). RESULTS: Except the conventional guide group (n = 62), the PC group (n = 56), the EC group (n = 49) and the PC + EC group (n = 47) showed significant intra-group differences in serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and knowledge, attitude and practice score after the intervention. The improvements were most prominent and sustained over time in the PC + EC group at post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The PC + EC method is more efficient for improving serum lipids and enhancing health awareness than any single programme in older adults with dyslipidaemia. This overlapped therapeutic lifestyle change method may serve as a cost-effective adjunct and ensure the continuity of high-quality health services for patients with dyslipidaemia.

Nodeless superconducting gap in A(x)Fe2Se2 (A=K,Cs) revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

Pairing symmetry is a fundamental property that characterizes a superconductor. For the iron-based high-temperature superconductors, an s(±)-wave pairing symmetry has received increasing experimental and theoretical support. More specifically, the superconducting order parameter is an isotropic s-wave type around a particular Fermi surface, but it has opposite signs between the hole Fermi surfaces at the zone centre and the electron Fermi surfaces at the zone corners. Here we report the low-energy electronic structure of the newly discovered superconductors, A(x)Fe(2)Se(2) (A=K,Cs) with a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of about 30 K. We found A(x)Fe(2)Se(2) (A=K,Cs) is the most heavily electron-doped among all iron-based superconductors. Large electron Fermi surfaces are observed around the zone corners, with an almost isotropic superconducting gap of ~10.3 meV, whereas there is no hole Fermi surface near the zone centre, which demonstrates that interband scattering or Fermi surface nesting is not a necessary ingredient for the unconventional superconductivity in iron-based superconductors. Thus, the sign change in the s(±) pairing symmetry driven by the interband scattering as suggested in many weak coupling theories becomes conceptually irrelevant in describing the superconducting state here. A more conventional s-wave pairing is probably a better description.

Anti-diabetic effect of methylswertianin and bellidifolin from Swertia punicea Hemsl. and its potential mechanism.

In this study, we continued to investigate the hypoglycemic activity of Swertia punicea Helmsl., the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of methylswertianin and bellidifolin from the active ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction, and the potential mechanism(s) underlying the improvement of insulin resistance. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic male BABL/c mice treated with methylswertianin and bellidifolin at different doses (orally, 200 and 100mg/kg body wt./day) for 4 weeks were analyzed in comparison to untreated mice. The results proved that methylswertianin and bellidifolin significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG). The administration of both compounds also improved the oral glucose tolerance and lowered fasting serum insulin (FINS). Moreover, post-administration evaluation revealed lower serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels and increased relative high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) concentrations (HDL/TC). Methylswertianin and bellidifolin appeared to improve insulin resistance by enhancing insulin signaling. The expression levels of insulin-receptor alpha subunit (InsR-alpha), insulin-receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) were also increased after administration. Meanwhile, methylswertianin and bellidifolin increased hepatic glycogen content, decreased glucokinase (GK) activities and increased glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activities. In conclusion, these result indicated that methylswertianin and bellidifolin could be useful for treating type-2 diabetes, likely via the improvement of insulin resistance (IR).

Fine mapping of a gene for non-pollen type thermosensitive genic male sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The thermo-sensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) lines play a crucial role in two-line hybrid rice production. For a practical TGMS line, the stability of male sterility is one of the most important technical indicators. In this study, XianS, a spontaneous mutant with stable male sterility from an indica rice cultivar Xianhuangzhan, was classified as a non-pollen type TGMS line. The critical non-pollen sterility point temperature of XianS was determined as 27 degrees C. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the non-pollen sterility in XianS was controlled by a single recessive gene. Using SSR markers and bulked segregant analysis, the TGMS gene in XianS was fine mapped to a 183 kb interval between RMAN81 and RMX21 on chromosome 2. Two markers, 4039-1 and RMX14 completely cosegregated with this gene. Allelism test indicated that the non-pollen phenotype in seven non-pollen type TGMS lines from different sources, XianS, AnnongS-1, Q523S, Q524S, N28S, G421S, and Q527S is caused by the same TGMS gene. Although the location of TGMS gene in XianS is close to the gene OsNAC6, a previously identified candidate gene of tms5 in AnnongS-1, the sequence of OsNAC6 and its promoter region was identical in TGMS line XianS, AnnongS-1, and wild-type Xianhuangzhan. These results suggest that the non-pollen type TGMS trait probably be controlled by the same TGMS gene in different TGMS rice lines, but its real candidate gene still need to be further studied and identified.

A large iron isotope effect in SmFeAsO(1 - x)F(x) and Ba(1 - x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2).

The recent discovery of superconductivity in oxypnictides with a critical transition temperature (T(C)) higher than the McMillan limit of 39 K (the theoretical maximum predicted by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory) has generated great excitement. Theoretical calculations indicate that the electron-phonon interaction is not strong enough to give rise to such high transition temperatures, but strong ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic fluctuations have been proposed to be responsible. Superconductivity and magnetism in pnictide superconductors, however, show a strong sensitivity to the crystal lattice, suggesting the possibility of unconventional electron-phonon coupling. Here we report the effect of oxygen and iron isotope substitution on T(C) and the spin-density wave (SDW) transition temperature (T(SDW)) in the SmFeAsO(1 - x)F(x) and Ba(1 - x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) systems. The oxygen isotope effect on T(C) and T(SDW) is very small, while the iron isotope exponent alpha(C) = -dlnT(C)/dlnM is about 0.35 (0.5 corresponds to the full isotope effect). Surprisingly, the iron isotope exchange shows the same effect on T(SDW) as T(C). This indicates that electron-phonon interaction plays some role in the superconducting mechanism, but a simple electron-phonon coupling mechanism seems unlikely because a strong magnon-phonon coupling is included.

Antifeedants against Acusta despesta from the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica.

During our studies on the components in Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica, we found that the crude methanol extract of C. japonica showed intense antifeeding activity against one snail species, Acusta despesta, which is well-known as a pest of many vegetables and crops. The active components in the extract were separated into the hexane and ethyl acetate soluble fractions. From the active ethyl acetate soluble fraction, two norlignans, sequirin-C and agatharesinol, were isolated and identified as the active compounds. Both compounds inhibited feeding behavior of A. despesta at 30 microg/cm2 and 40 microg/cm2 concentrations, respectively, when applied by an eggplant leaf or filter paper containing 20 microl of 5% sucrose solution.

[Isolation of high-quality genomic DNA from plants].

In order to isolate high-quality genomic DNA from medicinal plant tissues enriching polyphenols and polysaccharides, a simple and rapid method based on CTAB extraction for isolating high-quality intact DNA was established by modifying several existing methods. With this technique, the absorbance ratio (A260/A280) of DNAs obtained from fresh and/or dried roots of Panax ginseng, P. Quinquefolius and P. notoginseng was 1.8 approximately. The restriction fragments of DNAs were directly digested with restriction enzyme (EcoR I/Mse I), linked up by T4 DNA ligase and amplified by nested PCR. Reproducible amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) genomic DNA fingerprinting profiles were established with the isolated DNAs. The results demonstrate that the modified technique may be efficient and reliable in isolating high-quality and high-molecular-weight DNAs from fresh and/or dried medicinal plants containing a high content of polyphenols and polysaccharides. We expect that this method can also be applied to other plants.

[Effect of ginsenosides in inducing proliferation and transcription factor of erythrocytic, granulo-monocytic and megakarocytic cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the action of Ginsenosides (GS) in inducing transcription factor c-fos and GATA-1 to explore the mechanism of GS in hematopoietic cells. METHODS: The proliferation effects of GS on granulocytic (HL-60), monocytic (U937), erythrocytic (K562) and megaryocytic (Meg-01) cell lines were observed by using proliferation test of MTT and colony formation of progenitor cells. The combining reaction of transcription factors c-fos and GATA-1 with nuclear protein antigen were analyzed by Western Blot after being treated by GS. RESULTS: (1) GS (10 micrograms/ml) could stimulate and promote proliferation of 3 cell lines with significant difference between GS and non-GS control (P < 0.05 in all) in both MTT test and colony assay. (2) After treatment with GS, c-fos protein in HL-60, K562 and Meg-01 cell lines was increased by 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 fold respectively, while U937 cell did not express c-fos. (3) Except that U937 cell hadn't expressed GATA-1, the other cell lines after the treatment by GS, the GATA-1 protein level was elevated to 1.5, 2.1 and 1.3 fold of that before treatment. CONCLUSION: The proliferation of three lines initiated by GS was involved in transcription factor c-fos or GATA-1, which could pay the role in the GS induced up-regulation correlated with proliferation and differentiation of hematopoiesis.

N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (MOR-14), an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, markedly improves postischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

We examined whether pharmacological inhibition of glycogenolysis by N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (MOR-14), a new compound which reduces the glycogenolytic rate by inhibiting the alpha-1,6-glucosidase activity of the glycogen-debranching enzyme, can protect the heart against postischemic left ventricular dysfunction. The hearts of male Sprague-Dawley rats were excised, and perfused on a Langendorff apparatus with Krebs-Henseleit solution with a gas mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2. The hearts were paced at 320 beats/min except during the ischemia. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP, mmHg), +/-dP/dt (mmHg/s), and coronary flow (ml/min) were continuously monitored. All hearts were perfused for a total of 120 min including a 30-min preischemic period followed by a 30-min episode of global ischemia and 60 min reperfusion. with or without 0.5 or 2 mM of MOR-14 during the 30-min preischemic period or the first 30 min of reperfusion. In another series of experiments, the myocardial content of glycogen and lactate was measured during the 30-min episode of ischemia in groups treated with and without 2mM of MOR-14. Preischemic but not postischemic treatment with MOR-14 significantly improved LVDP and +/-dP/dt without altering coronary flow during reperfusion in a dose-dependent manner. MOR-14 significantly preserved the glycogen content and significantly attenuated the lactate accumulation during the 30-min episode of ischemia. Preischemic treatment with MOR-14 is protective against postischemic left ventricular dysfunction through the inhibition of glycogenolysis in the isolated rat heart.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of diffuse brain trauma in the pig.

The acute metabolic events linked to the evolution of selective axonal pathology in the white matter following diffuse brain injury have not previously been evaluated due to the paucity of relevant experimental models. Here, we utilized a new model of inertial brain injury in the pig that selectively damages axons in the white matter, and applied proton and phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to noninvasively monitor the temporal course of metabolic changes following trauma. Evaluating four pigs with MRS prior to injury, within 1 h and 3 and 7 days postinjury, we found that widespread axonal injury was produced in the absence of changes in pH, PCr/Pi, or the concentrations of ATP, and lactate. However, we did observe an acute 60% loss of intracellular Mg2+ levels, which gradually resolved by 7 days postinjury. In addition, we found that the levels of the neuron marker, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), acutely dropped 20% and remained persistently decreased for at least 7 days postinjury. Moreover, the changes in Mg2+ and NAA were found with MRS in the absence of abnormalities with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These results show that (1) profound alterations in intracellular metabolism occur acutely following diffuse axonal pathology in the white matter, but in the absence of indicators of ischemia, and (2) axonal pathology may be evaluated with high sensitivity utilizing noninvasive MRS techniques.

CCK(B) receptors in the periaqueductal grey are involved in electroacupuncture antinociception in the rat cold water tail-flick test.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) (0.25-2.0 ng), the CCK(A) receptor antagonist L-364,718 (60-100 ng) or the CCK(B) receptor antagonist L-365,260 (0.3125-1.25 ng) was administered into the periaqueductal grey (PAG) of male SD rats. The antinociceptive effect induced by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of different frequencies was then measured by the cold water tail-flick (CWT) test. The results showed that (1) microinjection of CCK-8 into the PAG can significantly block the antinociceptive effect induced by all frequencies of EA stimulation. The effectiveness of the blockade was 100 > 2 Hz. In addition, CCK-8 blocks the antinociception seen following termination of the electrical stimulation at 100 Hz; (2) microinjection of L-365,260 (1.25 ng) into the PAG significantly increased the 100 Hz EA antinociceptive effect but not the 2 Hz EA antinociceptive effect and microinjection of L-364,718 into PAG did not affect either 2 or 100 Hz EA antinociception. These results demonstrate that CCK-8 in the PAG can antagonize the antinociceptive effect induced by EA stimulation, and the CCK effect is likely to be mediated by the CCK(B) receptor, but not the CCK(A) receptor.

[Effect of zuogui wan on the contents of hypothalamic monoaminic transmitters and body weight in rats treated with monosodium glutamate neonatally].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interrelationship between the traditional Chinese medicine the Kidney-Yin Deficiency Syndrome and the metabolism of hypothalamic monoaminic neurotransmitters after the lesion of arcuate nucleus (ARC). METHODS: Rats were injected with monosodium glutamate (MSG, at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 days after born. 4 mg/g body weight, s.c.) during the neonatal period, then the contents of hypothalamic monoaminic transmitters were determined with HPLC and the changes of increase of body weight were observed. RESULTS: Decreases in levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) associated with its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) were observed, while vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), metabolite of NE, serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) were unchanged. Furthermore, adult rats with neonatal MSG treatment also demonstrated growth retardation, obesity but lower body weight, and shorter length of naso-anal. Zuogui Wan, classical drugs of nourishing and recuperating the Kidney-Yin, relieved the disorder of the metabolism of hypothalamic monoaminic transmitter in MSG-rats. CONCLUSION: The metabolic disorders of the central monoaminic transmitters may be related with the Deficiency of the Kidney-Yin.

Identification of tyrosine 187 as a protein kinase C-delta phosphorylation site.

Protein kinase C-delta (PKC-delta) has been demonstrated to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residue(s) in many different biological systems (Li, W., Yu, J.-C., Michieli, P., Beeler, J. F., Ellmore, N., Heidaran, M. A., and Pierce, J. H. (1994) Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 6727-6735; Li, W., Mischak, H., Yu, J.-C., Wang, L.-M., Mushinski, J. F., Heidaran, M. A., and Pierce, J. H. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2349-2352; Denning, M. F., Dlugosz, A. A., Howett, M. A., and Yuspa, S. H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 26079-26081). Tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC-delta has also been shown to occur in vitro when purified PKC-delta is coincubated with different tyrosine kinase sources. However, the tyrosine phosphorylation site(s) is currently unknown and the exact effect of this phosphorylation on its serine/threonine kinase activity and biological functions is still controversial. To directly investigate the potential role of PKC-delta tyrosine phosphorylation, tyrosine 187 was converted to phenylalanine (PKC-deltaY187F) by site-directed mutagenesis, and expression vectors containing PKC-deltaY187F cDNAs were transfected into both 32D myeloid progenitor cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. The results showed that tyrosine 187 of PKC-delta became phosphorylated in vivo in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate stimulation or platelet-derived growth factor receptor activation. In vivo labeling and subsequent two-dimensional phosphopeptide analysis demonstrated that one phosphopeptide was absent in PKC-deltaY187F when compared to wild type PKC-delta, further substantiating that tyrosine 187 of PKC-delta is phosphorylated in vivo. Although the phosphotyrosine content of PKC-deltaY187F was reduced compared with PKC-deltaWT, the kinase activity of PKC-deltaY187F toward a PKC-delta substrate was not altered. Moreover, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-mediated monocytic differentiation of 32D cells was not affected by expression of the PKC-deltaY187F mutant. Taken together, these results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC-delta on 187 may not influence PKC-delta activation and known functions.

[Effect of aconitine on content of corticotropin-releasing hormone in hypothalamus of rats].

The effect of aconitine on the content of corticotropin-Releasing-Hormone (CRH) in the hypothalamus of the normal rat injected with aconitine intraperitoneally was studied by means of radioimmunoassay (RIA). Aconitine is the main effective component of Radix Aconiti Carmichaeli Praeparata, the representative traditional Chinese herbal medicine of Warm-Supplementing Kidney-Yang (WSKY). Results showed that the content of hypothalamic CRH menifested a dosedependent increase after 7 days intraperitoneal injection of aconitine (1 microgram/kg, 3 micrograms/kg and 10 micrograms/kg). The CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus and the neural fibers of median eminence also demonstrated increases in number and enrichment in gray tone as observed by immunohistochemical method of ABC. These results suggested that one of the possible mechanism of the WSKY drugs in improving the HPA axis might be exciting the hypothalamic CRH neurons.

Electrical stimulation at traditional acupuncture sites in periphery produces brain opioid-receptor-mediated antinociception in rats.

Previous studies in rats measuring latency to tail flick with radiant heat have shown that the antinociceptive effect induced by electrical stimulation of different frequencies at traditional acupuncture sites is mediated via different opioid receptors in the spinal cord. The present study was designed to observe (1) whether electrical stimulation at such sites could produce antinociceptive effects in the cold water tail-flick (CWT) test; (2) whether the antinociceptive effects could be blocked by s.c. injection of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and (3) whether i.c.v. injection of selective antagonists for mu (cyclic D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, CTAP), delta (naltrindole) or kappa (nor-binaltorphimine) opioid receptors would block the antinociceptive effect produced by electrical stimulation. Sprague-Dawley rats were stimulated at frequencies of 2, 30 or 100 Hz with acupuncture needles inserted into acupoints Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in the hind leg for 30 min. Antinociception was assayed in the CWT. The results showed that (1) a significant, frequency-related increase in threshold in the CWT was observed in all electrical stimulation groups as compared with the placebo group and the antinociceptive effect lasted about 30 min poststimulation; (2) naloxone (s.c.) antagonized the antinociceptive effect induced by 2 Hz, 30 Hz or 100 Hz electrical stimulation and (3) either CTAP or naltrindole (i.c.v.) almost completely blocked the antinociceptive effect induced by 2 Hz or 30 Hz electrical stimulation, but was less effective in blocking antinociception induced by 100 Hz electrical stimulation; nor-binaltorphimine (i.c.v.) greatly reduced antinociception induced by 30 Hz or 100 Hz electrical stimulation, but not by 2 Hz electrical stimulation. These results indicate that the antinociception induced by 2 Hz electrical stimulation is mediated by both mu and delta opioid receptors; the antinociception induced by 100 Hz electrical stimulation is mediated primarily by the kappa receptor; and the antinociception induced by 30 Hz electrical stimulation is mediated by all three opioid receptor types. Thus, the antinociceptive effect induced by peripheral electrical stimulation, as measured by the CWT, involves opioid receptors in the rat brain.

66A-078:a kappa-opiate receptor agonist for amelioration of spinal spasticity.

The effect and mechanism of kappa opiate receptor agonist and high-frequency electrostimulation of acupoints in treating spinal spasticity were studied. The spinal spastic models were made by gradual mechanical compression on the cervical spinal cord of rabbits. 24 prepared rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly, and each group with 8 rabbits was given intrathecally kappa-receptor agonist 66A-078, kappa-receptor antagonist +66A-078 and normal saline respectively. The degree of spasticity was quantified by both clinical score and electrophysiological examinations. The result showed that the spasticity was markedly inhibited by intrathecal injection of 66A-078 and that the kappa-receptor antagonist (naloxone) reversed this effect. We can infer that the antispastic effect of 66A-078 is mediated by kappa-receptors. This result is helpful in explaining the immediate antispastic mechanism of high-frequency electrostimulation of acupoints discussed in previous study.

CCK receptor antagonist L-365,260 potentiated electroacupuncture analgesia in Wistar rats but not in audiogenic epileptic rats.

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) has been shown to be a neuropeptide with potent anti-opioid activity. Previous studies have shown that central administration of nanogram dose of CCK-8 totally abolished morphine analgesia in the rat, an effect mediated by CCK-B receptor in central nervous system. In the present study CCK-B antagonist L-365,260 was injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) to Wistar rats to see its effect on the analgesic effect induced by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation. A marked potentiation of EA-induced analgesia was observed. The degree of potentiation depends on the frequency of EA used, with a rank order of 100 Hz > 15 Hz = 2/15 Hz > > 2 Hz. In a strain of rat with acoustically evoked epileptic seizure (P77PMC rats), an extra-ordinarily strong analgesic effect was produced in response to 100 Hz EA stimulation, which was similar to that in Wistar rats pre-treated with L-365,260. However, L-365,260 was not effective in potentiating EA analgesia in P77PMC rats. The results suggest that (1) high frequency EA is more likely to increase the release of CCK-8 in CNS as compared to low frequency EA, and (2) P77PMC rats may have a functional defect of the central CCK neurons in the nature of either a low CCK content or a reduced rate of release of CCK-8 in the CNS.