Simple and fast approach to exploit the spectral reflection properties of liquid media.

Bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) are of importance for their wide applications. In this study, we presented a simple and fast approach to measure the spectral BRDF of both solid and liquid samples. Based on this approach, we fabricated a prototype and measured the BRDF value of some liquid samples such as water and NaCl solution at different wavelengths. According to the experimental data, we discussed the trend of the BRDF value of the NaCl solution of different concentrations. Then, the experimental data of the different NaCl solution at 637 nm were used to invert the parameters of a five-parameter model. Additionally, we fitted the parameters as a polynomial.

17-Dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin attenuates inflammatory responses in experimental stroke.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a ubiquitous molecular chaperone involved in the proper conformation of many proteins. HSP90 inhibitors (17-dimethyl aminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin hydrochloride [17-DMAG]) bind to and inactivate HSP90, suppressing some key signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory process. Since considerable evidence suggests that inflammation accounts for the progression of cerebral ischemic injury, we investigated whether 17-DMAG can modulate inflammatory responses in middle cerebral artery occluded (MCAO) mice. Male C57/BL6 mice were pretreated with 17-DMAG or vehicle for 7 d before being subjected to transient occlusion of middle cerebral artery and reperfusion. Mice were evaluated at 24 h after MCAO for neurological deficit scoring. Moreover, the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of 17-DMAG was investigated with a focus on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. 17-DMAG significantly reduced cerebral infarction and improved neurological outcome. 17-DMAG suppressed activation of microglia and decreased phosphorylation of inhibitory (I)κB and subsequent nuclear translocation of p65, which eventually downregulated expression of NF-κB-regulated genes. These results suggest that 17-DMAG has a promising therapeutic effect in ischemic stroke treatment through an anti-inflammatory mechanism.

[Polymorphism analysis of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein II and III].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein (PfHRP) II and III. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples of 20 patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum in Yunnan Province. Blood samples were tested by microscopy and RDTs. The Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 gene fragments were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The sequencing results were analyzed and compared using the bioinformatics software. RESULTS: 20 patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum tested by microscopy and RDTs. PCR showed that the Pfhrp2 gene was with 389~986 bp, and Pfhrp3 gene with 329-640 bp. All PfH-IRP II sequences started with type 1 repeat (AHHAHHVAD) and ended with the type 12 repeat (AHHAAAHHEAATH). The number of type 7 (AHHAAD), type 2 (AHHAHHAAD) and type 6 (AHHATD) within PfHRP II was more than the other types of repeats, as well as type 16 (AHHAAN) and type 17 (AHHDG) for PfHRP III. Type 11 repeat (AHN) was not found from the PfHRP II and PfHRP III sequences. CONCLUSION: There is an extensive diversity in Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 fragments in the individuals infected with P. falciparum in Yunnan. Some types of repeats are shared by PfHRP II and PfHRP III.

Simulation of cosmic rays inside an aircraft: spectral perturbation and dose reduction due to aircraft structures and contents.

In this study, an intricate combinatorial geometry model of a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was constructed for Monte Carlo transport simulations. The aircraft-induced perturbations of the energy spectra and effective doses of secondary cosmic rays at a typical civil aviation altitude (10 km) were investigated on a component-by-component basis, which included neutrons, protons, photons, electrons, positrons, muons and charged pions. Two geomagnetic cutoff rigidities (1.35 and 15.53 GV) and two solar modulation parameters (430 and 1360 MV) were considered in the aforementioned simulations. The characteristics of various cosmic-ray components at six locations along the fuselage were assessed and compared with those of an unperturbed radiation field in the atmosphere. Aircraft structures and contents reduced the effective doses of personnel inside the aircraft to varying degrees, up to an ~32% reduction in the middle section of the passenger cabin. On average, the dose reduction was ~12-16% depending on geomagnetic and solar conditions. Quantifying the aircraft's self-shielding effects can further improve the estimation accuracy of aircrew and passengers' exposure to cosmic radiation. Information regarding the perturbed energy spectra of cosmic rays may be useful for designing onboard experiments or analyzing onboard measurement data.

Sys-BodyFluid: a systematical database for human body fluid proteome research.

Recently, body fluids have widely become an important target for proteomic research and proteomic study has produced more and more body fluid related protein data. A database is needed to collect and analyze these proteome data. Thus, we developed this web-based body fluid proteome database Sys-BodyFluid. It contains eleven kinds of body fluid proteomes, including plasma/serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, synovial fluid, nipple aspirate fluid, tear fluid, seminal fluid, human milk and amniotic fluid. Over 10,000 proteins are presented in the Sys-BodyFluid. Sys-BodyFluid provides the detailed protein annotations, including protein description, Gene Ontology, domain information, protein sequence and involved pathways. These proteome data can be retrieved by using protein name, protein accession number and sequence similarity. In addition, users can query between these different body fluids to get the different proteins identification information. Sys-BodyFluid database can facilitate the body fluid proteomics and disease proteomics research as a reference database. It is available at http://www.biosino.org/bodyfluid/.

First report of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus in Oman: The need for a One Health approach.

Following the detection of the first human case of avian influenza A subtype H9N2 in 1998, more than 40 cases were diagnosed worldwide. However, the spread of the virus has been more remarkable and significant in global poultry populations, causing notable economic losses despite its low pathogenicity. Many surveillance studies and activities conducted in several countries have shown the predominance of this virus subtype. We present the case of a 14-month-old female in Oman with an A(H9N2) virus infection. This is the first human case of A(H9N2) reported from Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Countries, and Oman is the second country outside of southern and eastern Asia to report a case (cases have also been detected in Egypt). The patient had bronchial asthma and presented with a high-grade temperature and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection that necessitated admission to a high dependency unit in a tertiary care hospital. It is of urgency that a multisector One Health approach be established to combat the threat of avian influenza at the animal-human interface. In addition to enhancements of surveillance and control in poultry, there is a need to develop screening and preventive programs for high-risk occupations.

Recent Progress of Imprinted Polymer Photonic Waveguide Devices and Applications.

Polymers are promising materials for fabricating photonic integrated waveguide devices. Versatile functional devices can be manufactured using a simple process, with low cost and potential mass-manufacturing. This paper reviews the recent progress of polymer photonic integrated devices fabricated using the UV imprinting technique. The passive polymer waveguide devices for wavelength filtering, power splitting, and light collecting, and the active polymer waveguide devices based on the thermal-optic tuning effect, are introduced. Then, the electro-optic (EO) modulators, by virtue of the high EO coefficient of polymers, are described. Finally, the photonic biosensors, which are based on low-cost and biocompatible polymer platforms, are presented.

Content determination and chemical pattern recognition analysis of Biantong capsules / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To establish the method for simultaneous determination of 11 components as narirutin in Biantong capsules，to conduct chemical pattern recognition analysis and to screen differential markers affecting their quality . METHODS HPLC method was adopted . The separation was carried out on Venusil XBP C 18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile - 0.1％ phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The sample size was 10 µL，and column temperature was set at 30 ℃. The detection wavelengths were set at 283，330，520，220 nm，respectively. Using verbascoside as an internal standard ，the contents were determined by quantitative analysis of mult -components by single marker （QAMS），and the results were compared with those of external standard method . Cluster analysis ，principle component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares -discriminant analysis were performed with SPSS 26.0 and SIMCA 14.1 software. The differential markers affecting the quality of Biantong capsules were screened using the variable importance in projection （VIP）value greater than 1 as the standard . RESULTS The contents of narirutin ，naringin，neohesperidin，echinacoside，tubuloside A ，isoacteoside，cyanidin-3-O-glucoside， cyanidin-3-O-rutoside，atractylolide Ⅲand atractylolide Ⅰ were 0.739-1.265，1.134-2.158，1.407-2.359，1.368-2.502，0.304-0.522， 0.257-0.521，0.423-0.727，0.375-0.733，0.130-0.283 and 0.062-0.166 mg/g，respectively. The relative average deviation of them from the external standard method was less than 2％. The results of cluster analysis showed that 15 batches of samples could be grouped into three categories ，S1-S7 as a category ，S8-S10 as a category ，and S 11-S15 as a category ，which was consistent with the classification results of principal component analysis . The results of orthogonal partial least squares -discriminant analysis showed that the VIP values of cyanidin -3-O-rutoside，atractylolide Ⅲ， naringin，neohesperidin，echinacoside and verbascoside were all greater than 1. CONCLUSIONS The method for simultaneous determination of 11 components in Biantongcapsules， including narirutin ， is successfully established . Combined with chemical pattern recognition analysis ，it can be used for the quality control of Biantong capsules . Six components such as cyanidin -3-O-rutoside may be the differential markers that affect the quality of Biantong capsules .

Taxanes from Taxus wallichiana var. mairei cultivated in the southern area of the Yangtze River in China.

A new and 25 known taxane diterpenoids were isolated from the dried whole plants of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei cultivated in the southern area of the Yangtze River in China. The chemical structure of new compound 1, named taxiwallinine, was established by means of MS and NMR analyses. Among the 25 known taxane compounds 2-26, compounds 10, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 21-23 were first isolated from this plant. Taxiwallinine and taxol were screened for the cytotoxic effect on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with IC50 values of 20.898 µg/mL and 0.008 µg/mL, respectively. Taxiwallinine showed moderate cytotoxicity to this cell line. These results demonstrate that T. wallichiana var. mairei cultivated in the southern area of the Yangtze River in China could be a renewable resource for extracting the taxane derivatives and the new compound, taxiwallinine, could be a potential anti-tumour product.

Leptin-directed embryo implantation: leptin regulates adhesion and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts and receptivity of endometrial epithelial cells.

Leptin is a 16-kDa multifunctional protein. Recent reports indicate that leptin is an important molecule during implantation and placentation, implicated in embryonic-maternal cross-talk and cytotrophoblast invasiveness, however, the role of leptin playing in the process of normal blastocyst implantation has not been well characterized. In the present study, the possible mechanisms of leptin playing in mouse blastocyst implantation were investigated. Leptin and receptor isoforms mRNAs were detected in whole mouse uteri during estrous cycle and peri-implantation periods. Immunofluorescent analysis further confirmed Ob-R protein was present in mouse uterus. The differential amounts of leptin and Ob-R isoforms suggested a role for leptin in such endometrial issues as blastocyst implantation. In vitro culture model for studying embryo implantation, leptin promoted mouse blastocyst adhesion and blastocyst outgrowth on fibronectin. Blastocysts treated with 300 ng/ml leptin had the greatest adhesion rate of 76.58+/-6.41% (P=0.046), and blastocysts treated with 30 ng/ml leptin had the greatest outgrowth rate of 78.64+/-8.48% (P=0.005). In isolated endometrial epithelial cells, leptin upregulated amounts of alpha v and beta 3 integrin, and promoted cell adhesion to such extracellular matrix proteins as fibronectin, laminin and type IV collagen, showing a dose- and time-dependent cell-adhesive capacity. Collectively, the information from the present study may partly account for leptin-induced mouse blatocyst implantation.

Protective effects of carnosine on white matter damage induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Carnosine is a dipeptide that scavenges free radicals, inhibits inflammation in the central nervous system, and protects against ischemic and hypoxic brain damage through its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic actions. Therefore, we hypothesized that carnosine would also protect against white matter damage caused by subcortical ischemic injury. White matter damage was induced by right unilateral common carotid artery occlusion in mice. The animals were treated with 200, 500 or 750 mg/kg carnosine by intraperitoneal injection 30 minutes before injury and every other day after injury. Then, 37 days later, Klüver-Barrera staining, toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence staining were performed. Carnosine (200, 500 mg/kg) substantially reduced damage to the white matter in the corpus callosum, internal capsule and optic tract, and it rescued expression of myelin basic protein, and alleviated the loss of oligodendrocytes. However, carnosine at the higher dose of 750 mg/kg did not have the same effects as the 200 and 500 mg/kg doses. These findings show that carnosine, at a particular dose range, protects against white matter damage caused by chronic cerebral ischemia in mice, likely by reducing oligodendroglial cell loss.

Influence of fat and muscle on sit-ups in female college students / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the influence of muscle and fat distribution on sit-up ability of female college students. Methods A total of 1560 female students majoring in non-physical education in a Guangxi University were randomly selected. Body composition was measured by the bioresistance antibody component meter. According to the National Physical Health Test Standard, the height, weight and sit-ups of female college students were measured. The students were divided into four groups according to the score of sit-ups:0, P<0.05). Compared with other parameters, the correlation coefficient between trunk muscle mass and sit-ups was the largest. Conclusion The distribution of fat and muscle has different effects on sit-up ability. Female college students' sit-up ability is greatly affected by subcutaneous fat and trunk muscle, and has nothing to do with visceral fat.

Case report and literature review of ATP6V0A2 gene mutation features of the patient with congenital cutis laxa / 天津医药

The incidence of autosomal recessive cutis laxa induced by ATP6VOA2 gene mutation is extremely low in neonates and rarely reported in China.There was one case of ATP6VOA2 gene mutations caused autosomal recessive cutis laxa diagnosed in Tianjin Children's Hospital.This article reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of the patient and reviewed the relevant literature,in order to improve the understanding of the disease.

[Observation on dynamic changes of SEA specific antibody in sera of BALB/c mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dynamic changes of SEA-induced specific IgG, IgM in sera of BALB/c mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum in 18 weeks. METHODS: After mice were infected with S. japonicum cercarial for 2 weeks, the sera were collected from 2 to 18 weeks post-infection. The serum levels of SEA-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were measured respectively by ELISA, and the different fractions of IgG and IgM antibodies were identified by the Western blotting method. RESULTS: The ELISA results showed that the serum levels of SEA-specific IgG increased 5, 6, 9, 11 week, after the infection, and SEA-specific IgM increased obviously 5, 9 weeks after the infection. The Western blotting results showed that 140, 180 kDa molecules were recognized by IgG antibodies in the mouse sera 4 weeks after the infection. The specific IgG antibodies of 43, 50 kDa antigens appeared 5 weeks after the infection. 60-130 kDa fractions were recognized by IgG in the sera 6 weeks post-infection, and 38, 73 kDa proteins were recognized by IgG in the sera 9 weeks post-infection. The IgG antibodies of 26, 32, 35, 80 kDa molecules appeared 11 weeks post-infection and reacted strongly 12 weeks post-infection. The IgM antibodies of 100, 140, 180 kDa molecules appeared 3 weeks after the infection, and 73 kDa protein was recognized by sera 6 weeks after the infection, but the reaction became strong 9 weeks after the infection. The 38, 43, 50 kDa proteins induced IgM antibodies in 9-week-infection sera and the reaction became stronger 9 weeks after the infection. CONCLUSIONS: There is a dynamic change in the levels of specific IgG and IgM antibodies induced by S. japonica SEA and the appearance of the antibodies is related to different infection stages. The 43, 50, 10, 140, 180 kDa antigens might have the potential value of early immunodiagnosis. The 73 kDa antigen shows high diagnostic value in both acute and chronic schistosomiasis. The 28, 32, 35, 38, 80 kDa antigens are not only the diagnostic molecules for chronic schistosomiasis, but they may also have therapeutic effects, and in addition, they may be the candidate vaccines of the disease.

Therapeutic effect analysis of Xingnaojing Injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen on patients with acute CO poisoning / 中成药

AIM To investigate the therapeutic effects of Xingnaojing Injection (Moschus,Gardeniae Fructus,Curcumae Radix,Borneolum Syntheticum) combined with hyperbaric oxygen on patients with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.METHODS Seventy-four cases of patients with acute CO poisoning treated from Jan 2013 to Jan 2016 in emergency department of our hospital were selected and randomly assigned into two groups.Control group was treated with hyperbaric oxygen,and observation group was treated with hyperbaric oxygen combined with Xingnaojing Injection.Clinical curative effects and the effects on levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),serum creatinine (Scr) between the two groups were compared.RESULTS Recovery time and hospitalization time in the observation group were significantly shorter,delayed encephalopathy rate was significantly lower,and efficacy rate was significantly higher than those in the control group,all the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).After the treatment,serum MDA,CRP,ALT and Scr in the two groups were significantly decreased,and SOD was significantly increased as compared with those before the treatment.These indices in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group,all the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Xingnaojing Injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen can scavenge oxygen free radicals,inhibit inflammatory reaction,improve clinical symptoms,reduce delayed encephalopathy occurance,protect liver and kidney function and then improve clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute CO poisoning.

Clinical analysis of 15 851 children at risk of inherited metabolic diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the screening of children at risk of inherited metabolic diseases (IMD), and to identify the disease spectrum of IMD and the clinical characteristics of children with IMD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 15 851 children at risk of IMD who underwent urine GC-MS in the Tianjin Children's Hospital between February 2012 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 15 851 children, 5 793 (36.55%) were detected to have metabolic disorders. A total of 117 (0.74%) children were confirmed to have IMD, including 77 cases of methylmalonic acidemia (65.8%). The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the neonatal period mainly included jaundice, metabolic acidosis, abnormal muscular tension, feeding difficulty, poor response, and lethargy or coma. The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the non-neonatal period mainly included delayed mental and motor development, metabolic acidosis, convulsion, recurrent vomiting, and anemia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GC-MS is an effective method for the screening for IMD in children at risk. Methylmalonic acidemia is the most common IMD. The clinical manifestations of IMD are different between the confirmed cases in the neonatal and non-neonatal periods.</p>

Anti-radiation traditional chinese medicine and natural products: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

With the progress of science and technology- the development of nuclear industry and the extensive use of cancer adiotherapy - people are exposed on ionizing radiation more frequently than before. Therefore- the research on anti-radiation drugs ias become the hotspot in pharmaceutical industry. However- the synthetic anti-radiation drugs have several side effects- more and nore investigators have focused on the traditional Chinese medicine (TOM) and natural products. This review reports the research idvances in anti-radiation TCM and natureal products.

[Phosphate adsorption characteristics on the desert particulates of inflow Yellow River].

Adsorption behaviors of phosphate on the desert particulates of inflow Yellow River were investigated in natural water (river water and sea water) and the experimental data was fitted by both the improved Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm adsorption models. The results show that (1) With more clear physical meaning and more reasonable fitting parameters, the improved Langmuir isotherm adsorption model is much better for describing phosphate adsorption on the desert particulates than the improved Freundlich isotherm adsorption model; (2) The maximum phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity Qmac is in the range of 41.322-357.143 mg x kg(-1), which is the biggest in Y2 (Juyanhai Lake particulates). There is remarkable positive correlation between Qmax and organic matter of the particulates (Y1-Y5); (3) Except for Y1 (Badain Jaran Desert particulates), the EPC0 (zero equilibrium P concentration) of the particulates are higher than the concentration of P in corresponding water. The EPC0 of P adsorption on Y1 in Yellow River is lower than P concentration in corresponding water (0.010 mg x L(-1) < 0.053 mg x L(-1)), while the EPC0 of P adsorption on Y1 in Bohai Sea water is higher than the P concentration in their corresponding water (0.109 mg x L(-1) > 0.074 mg x L(-1)), which shows that Y1 adsorbs P from the water of the Yellow River, then it releases its NAP (native adsorbed exchangeable phosphorus) into Bohai Seawater. However, in the process of the P exchange between other desert particulates and their corresponding water, only desorption phenomenon were observed, which means all other desert particulates release P to their corresponding water; (4) The adsorption isotherms of phosphate on the desert particulates of inflow Yellow River are cross-axis-type with over 0.00, a new cross-axis-type adsorption-desorption model, which provide a better explanation for adsorption characteristics of P and for the dual role of natural particulates.

[Physical-chemical characteristics and phosphorus speciation of the sediments in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River].

The physical and chemical characteristics, various phosphorus forms from 10 sites in Yellow River's sediments were analyzed, and their relations were discussed. The results showed that, the values of total phosphorus, organic matter and active Fe, Al are 97.86-129.33 mg x kg(-1), 0.11%-1.96%, 2.02-7.40 mg x g(-1), 0.29-0.90 mg x g(-1), respectively. The main mineral compositions of the sediments are quartz and albite; the main clay minerals are montmorillonate, illite, chlorite and kaolinite. Inorganic-P is the main form of phosphorus speciation. Ca-P is 37.61-64.04 mg x kg(-1) and is the main form of IP. The cation exchange capacity was linearly correlated with the sum of clay and silt (R2 = 0.76). Also, the organic matter was linearly correlated with inorganic sedimentary phosphorus (R2 = 0.66). Moreover, the linear relationship between the sum of NaOH-P and BD-P and the sum of active Fe and active Al content was observed within the ten sediments investigated (R2 = 0.80).

[Characteristics of phosphorus sorption on Yellow River sediments from Inner Mongolia reach].

Sorption behavior of phosphorus on sediment samples taken from Inner Mongolia reach of the Yellow River in 6 different geographical sites was determined in laboratory, and the correlation between chemical-physical properties of the sediments and their phosphorus sorption characteristics was analyzed. The maximum sorption capacities were 43.64-85.46 mg/kg. The zero equilibrium P concentration (EPC0) of the sediments ranged from 0.0003 to 0.0198 mg/L, which was positively correlated to the contents of native adsorbed P (NAP). The sediments played a dual role of sink and source of P at different geographical sites. Sediments from Shizuishan, Wulateqianqi and Qingshuihe along the Yellow River were sources of phosphorus, while sediments from Wuhai, Linhe and Baotou cross sections were sinks of phosphorus, at the typical P concentrations of the river water. However, both the sorption and desorption capacities were low at the conditions tested here. The Langmuir sorption constant (k) was positively correlated to the cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter and clay mineral content, but negatively correlated to the particle size of the sediments. The maximum sorption capacity of phosphorus was remarkably correlated to the active Fe content. Active Fe played a key role in holding phosphorus on the sediments.