Constructing network structures to enhance stability and target deposition of selenium nanoparticles via amphiphilic sodium alginate and alkyl glycosides.

Dietary selenium (Se) supplementation has recently received increasing attention; however, Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) exhibit poor stability and tend to aggregate in aqueous solution. Therefore, enhancing the stability of SeNPs and their effective delivery to plants remain challenging. In this study, sodium alginate (SA) and lysozyme (LZ) were reacted via the wet-heat Maillard reaction (MR) to obtain amphiphilic alginate-based polymers (SA-LZ). Alkyl glycosides (APG) were introduced into SA-LZ to enhance the deposition of SeNPs in leaves. Thus, a renewable and degradable polysaccharide-based material (SA-LZ/APG) loaded with Se formed an amphiphilic alginate-based-based shell with a Se core. Notably, the encapsulation of SeNPs into a polysaccharide base (SA-LZ/APG) increased the stabilization of SeNPs and resulted in orange-red, zero-valent, monoclinic and spherical SeNPs with a mean diameter of approximately 43.0 nm. In addition, SA-LZ/APG-SeNPs reduced the interfacial tension of plant leaves and increased the Se content of plants compared to the blank group. In vitro studies have reported that SA-LZ/APG-SeNPs and SA-LZ-SeNPs have significantly better clearance of DDPH and ABTS than that of APG-SeNPs. Thus, we believe that SA-LZ/APG is a promising smart delivery system that can synergistically enhance the stability of SeNPs in aqueous solutions and improve the bioavailability of Se nutrient solutions.

Tuning self-assembly of amphiphilic sodium alginate-decorated selenium nanoparticle surfactants for antioxidant Pickering emulsion.

Delivering effectively zero-valent selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and develop its functions in more fields is still a challenge. Herein, a novel template for the preparation and stabilization of SeNP-based surfactants was developed, amphiphilic sodium alginate (APSA), which can self-assemble into micelles in an aqueous solution. Primarily, physicochemical properties of SeNPs stabilized by APSA with different molecular weights were compared and the interaction mechanism of APSA/SeNPs was investigated. Moreover, a functional Pickering emulsion (PE) was presented using the SeNP-based surfactants. Results showed that high molecular weight-stabilized SeNPs had small particle size (54.72 nm) and great stability due to the hydrogen bonding between Se atoms and APSA. The "soft" particle-decorated SeNPs with interface activity formed a dense interfacial layer on the oil-water interface, which exhibited excellent antioxidant properties. The contents of lipid hydrogen peroxide (LH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly reduced by 88.7% and 63.4%. Overall, SeNPs stabilized by APSA have great application potential as an emulsifier and antioxidant in industrial field.

Deficiency of ER Ca2+ sensor STIM1 in AgRP neurons confers protection against dietary obesity.

Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is pivotal in maintaining intracellular Ca2+ level and cell function; however, its role in obesity development remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the stromal interaction molecule 1 (Stim1), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ sensor for SOCE, is critically involved in obesity development. Pharmacological blockade of SOCE in the brain, or disruption of Stim1 in hypothalamic agouti-related peptide (AgRP)-producing neurons (ASKO), significantly ameliorates dietary obesity and its associated metabolic disorders. Conversely, constitutive activation of Stim1 in AgRP neurons leads to an obesity-like phenotype. We show that the blockade of SOCE suppresses general translation in neuronal cells via the 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (Oas3)-RNase L signaling. While Oas3 overexpression in AgRP neurons protects mice against dietary obesity, deactivation of RNase L in these neurons significantly abolishes the effect of ASKO. These findings highlight an important role of Stim1 and SOCE in the development of obesity.

Ginkgo biloba L. extract enhances the effectiveness of syngeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in lowering blood glucose levels and reversing oxidative stress.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are potential therapy for diabetes. Owing to the oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia, these transplanted BMSCs are with high rate of apoptotic death after transplantation. Ginkgo biloba L. extract (EGB) is a potent antioxidant which can remove free radicals. The study was to investigate whether EGB can protect BMSCs from oxidative stress in vitro and enhance the efficacy of BMSCs in lowering blood glucose levels after transplantation. BMSCs were cultured with H2O2, EGB, or H2O2 and EGB. Cell viability, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and cell death rates were determined. Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats received EGB, BMSCs, or EGB/BMSCs. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px were determined. PKCα expression and NF-κB activation in kidney were determined. The MDA levels and cell death rates in BMSCs cultured with H2O2 and EGB were significantly lower; cell viability, SOD, and GSH-Px activities were significantly higher compared with those with H2O2 alone. Compared with diabetic rats receiving BMSCs, diabetic rats receiving EGB before BMSCs transplantation showed (1) significantly lower levels of blood glucose, serum MDA, IL-6, and TNF-α, and higher levels of insulin, SOD, and GSH-Px activities; (2) significantly lower PKCα expression and NF-κB activation in the kidney. EGB administration before BMSC transplantation can enhance the effectiveness of BMSCs in lowering blood glucose levels and reversing oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

Screening for oesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer is a global heath problem. The prognosis for advanced oesophageal cancer is generally unfavourable, but early-stage asymptomatic oesophageal cancer is basically curable and could achieve better survival rates. The two most commonly used tests are cytologic examination and endoscopy with mucosal iodine staining. The efficacy of the screening tests is controversial, and the true benefit and efficacy of screening remains uncertain because of the potential lead-time and length-time biases. This review was conducted to examine the evidence for the efficacy of screening for oesophageal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma). OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of early screening, using endoscopy with iodine staining or cytologic examination, in reducing mortality from oesophageal cancer in asymptomatic individuals from high-risk and general populations. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2012, Issue 8), The Cochrane Library (2012, Issue 8), MEDLINE (1950 to August 2012), EMBASE (1980 to August 2012), Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED) (1985 to August 2012), Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (January 1975 to August 2012), VIP Database (January 1989 to August 2012), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (January 1979 to August 2012), and the Internet. We also searched reference lists, conference proceedings, and databases of ongoing trials. There was no restriction on language or publication status in the search for trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included only randomised controlled trials (RCT) of screening versus no screening for oesophageal cancer. Randomisation of groups or clusters of individuals was acceptable. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently scanned the titles and abstracts from the initial search for potential trials for inclusion. We did not find any trials that met the inclusion criteria. MAIN RESULTS: The electronic search identified 3482 studies. Two authors independently reviewed the references. The reports of 18 studies were retrieved for further investigation. None met the eligibility criteria for a RCT investigation of the effects of screening versus no screening for oesophageal cancer. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There were no RCTs that determined the efficacy of screening for oesophageal cancer. Non-RCTs showed a high incidence and the reported better survival after screening could be caused by selection bias, lead-time and length-time biases. RCTs are needed to determine the efficacy of screening for oesophageal cancer.

Epimedium polysaccharide and propolis flavone can synergistically inhibit the cellular infectivity of NDV and improve the curative effect of ND in chicken.

Four prescriptions, epimedium flavone plus propolis flavone (EF-PF), epimedium flavone plus propolis extracts (EF-PE), epimedium polysaccharide plus propolis flavone (EP-PF) and epimedium polysaccharide plus propolis extracts (EP-PE), were prepared and their antiviral effects were compared. In test in vitro, the four prescriptions within safety concentration scope and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were added into cultured chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) in three modes, pre-, post-adding drug and simultaneous-adding drug and virus after being mixed, the cellular A(570) values were determined by MTT method and the highest virus inhibitory rates were calculated to compare the antiviral activity of four prescriptions. In test in vivo, three hundred 21-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 6 groups and challenged with NDV except for blank control group. After 24h the chickens in four prescription groups were injected with corresponding drugs respectively, in virus control and blank control groups, with physiological saline, once a day for three successive days. On days 3, 7 and 14 after challenge, the serum antibody titer was determined. On day 15 after challenge, the mortality, morbidity and cure rate in every group were counted. The results showed that the most of A(570) values in EP-PF group were numberly or significantly larger than those of the corresponding virus control group and the highest virus inhibitory rates of EP-PF at optimal concentration group were the highest among four prescription groups in three drug-adding modes, which confirmed that EP-PF could significantly inhibit the infectivity of NDV to CEF, its action was stronger than those of other three prescriptions; in EP-PF group, the antibody titers and cure rate were the highest and the mortality and morbidity were lowest presenting numberly or significantly differences in comparison with other three prescription groups. These results indicated that epimedium polysaccharide and propolis flavone possessed synergistical action, EP-PF prescription could significantly inhibit the cellular infectivity of NDV, improve the curative effect of ND in chicken and would be expected to exploit into a new-type antiviral drug.

Astragalus polysaccharide and oxymatrine can synergistically improve the immune efficacy of Newcastle disease vaccine in chicken.

Three hundred and sixty 14-day-old chickens were divided into seven groups. The chickens, except for blank control group, were vaccinated with Newcastle disease vaccine, repeated at 28 days old. At the same time of the first vaccination, the chickens in three astragalus polysaccharide-oxymatrine (AP-OM) groups were orally administrated respectively with the mixture of AP-OM at high, medium and low concentrations, in astragalus polysaccharide (AP) group and oxymatrine (OM) group, with corresponding medicine, in non-medicine (NM) control group, with equal volume of physiological saline, once a day for 3 successive days. On 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after the first vaccination, the changes of peripheral lymphocyte proliferation and serum antibody titers of the chickens were determined by MTT method and hemagglutination inhibition test. On 14, 28 and 42 days after the first vaccination, the serum IL-2 concentration was determined by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results showed that at most time points, the lymphocyte proliferation, antibody titers and IL-2 concentrations of 5 medicine-administrating groups were significantly higher than that of corresponding NM group. At some time points, the lymphocyte proliferation, antibody titers and IL-2 concentrations in high and medium doses of AP-OM groups were significantly or numberly higher than those in AP group and OM group. It indicated that AP-OM could significantly improve the immune efficacy of Newcastle disease vaccine, astragalus polysaccharide and oxymatrine possessed synergistical immunoenhancement.

[Studies on the changes of chemical constituent in Inula nervosa during the processing].

OBJECTIVE: To research the changes of chemical constituent in Inula nervosa during the processing. METHOD: Inula nervosa processed with different conditions was determined by HPLC,with acetonitrile--water as a mobile phase using gradient elution, and the detective wavelength was 280 nm. The emerging compounds 1 was extracted by 50% ethanol, isolated and purified using chromatography, and identified according to the physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. RESULTS: The HPLC chromatogram of lnula nervosa changes before and after processing. A monomer compounds was isolated from processed Inula nervosa. It was Identified as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. CONCLUSION: The chemical constituent of Inula nervosa changes during the processing. It is the first time that compound 1 were isolated from Inula.