ABSTRACT
Chloropropanols and their esters are a group of food contaminants that have various toxicities to the human body. Research and control to chloropropanols and their esters is important to food safety. Therefore, the sensitive, accurate, precise, and effective determination of chloropropanols and their esters is highly essential to study their concentration, formation, and mitigation. The indirect method, commonly applied in the determination of chloropropanols and their esters, is based on the cleavage of ester bond, extraction, and derivatization. The conventional indirect method will still be the mostly used method in the near future due to its good sensitivity and feasibility, although its parameters need to be chosen and optimized according to sample stuffs and chloropropanol concentrations. Meanwhile, direct method and other quantitative methods should also be developed for special applications, such as studying the profile of chloropropanol esters and rapid screening protocol. The challenges and future perspectives of these methods are discussed in this review. This review can provide a reference on the selection, designation, and modification of methods for determining chloropropanols and their esters.
ABSTRACT
A voltammetric sensor is presented for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). It is based on a gold electrode (GE) modified with carboxyl-functionalized graphene (CFG) and silver nanocube functionalized DA nanospheres (AgNC@PDA-NS). The AgNC@PDA-NS nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode displays good electrocatalytic activity towards DA (typically at 0.14 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and UA (typically at 0.29 V vs. Ag/AgCl) even in the presence of ascorbic acid. Response to DA is linear in the concentration range of 2.5 to 130 µM with a detection limit of 0.25 µM. Response to UA is linear in the concentration range of 10 to 130 µM with a detection limit of 1.9 µM. In addition, the sensitivity for DA and UA is 0.538 and 0.156 µA µM-1 cm-2, respectively. The modified electrode also displays good stability, selectivity and reproducibility. Graphical abstract The gold electrode modified with polydopamine nanospheres functionalized with silver nanocube and carboxylated graphene is used for simultaneous determination of DA and UA in the presence of AA, with wide linear range and low detection limit.
ABSTRACT
The coupling of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) to produce clean hydrogen energy with value-added chemicals has attracted substantial attention. However, achieving high selectivity for formate production in the MOR and high faradaic efficiency for H2 evolution remain significant challenges. In light of this, this study constructs an Ru/Ni(OH)2/NF catalyst on nickel foam (NF) and evaluates its electrochemical performance in the MOR and HER under alkaline conditions. The results indicate that the synergistic effect of Ni(OH)2 and Ru can promote the catalytic activity. At an overpotential of only 42 mV, the current density for the HER reaches 10 mA cm-2. Moreover, in a KOH solution containing 1 M methanol, a potential of only 1.36 V vs. RHE is required to achieve an MOR current density of 10 mA cm-2. Using Ru/Ni(OH)2/NF as a bifunctional catalyst, employed as both the anode and cathode, an MOR-coupled HER electrolysis cell can achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a voltage of only 1.45 V. Importantly, the faradaic efficiency (FE) for the hydrogen production at the cathode and formate (HCOO-) production at the anode approaches 100%. Therefore, this study holds significant practical implications for the development of methanol electro-oxidation for formate-coupled water electrolysis hydrogen production technology.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of various pretreatment methods, frying durations, and temperatures, as well as the type of frying oil, on the formation and structure of starch-lipid complexes in fried potato chips. Potato starch was processed into dough, sliced, and subjected to deep frying following various pretreatments. Structural analysis showed that steaming as a pretreatment facilitated the generation of V-type starch-lipid complexes, whereas resistant starch type III (RS3) materialized in the desiccated samples instead of the anticipated complexes. The rate of starch-lipid complex formation initially surged but subsequently declined as treatment time increased. A reduction in treatment temperature from 190 °C to 170 °C was conducive to complex formation. Moreover, the maximum relative crystallinity (19.74 %) and ΔH value (7.76 J/g) were recorded for potato starch slices pretreated by steaming and frying in palm oil. Rapeseed oil, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (89.98 %), inhibits complex formation. The study concludes that pretreatment methods exert a substantial effect on the formation of starch-lipid complexes and that extended frying duration and elevated temperature may reduce this formation. Oils with longer-chain fatty acids and a lower degree of unsaturation were favorable for complex formation.
Subject(s)
Cooking , Hot Temperature , Solanum tuberosum , Starch , Solanum tuberosum/chemistry , Starch/chemistry , Lipids/chemistryABSTRACT
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common chronic disease, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. This disorder is associated with decreased bone quality and an elevated risk of bone fractures. However, evidence on the relationship between systemic metabolic change and the development of type 2 diabetic osteoporosis (T2DOP) remains elusive. Herein, we investigate the changes of bone metabolites with bone loss in db/db mice (an animal model of T2DOP exhibited bone loss with age progression), and explore the potential metabolic mechanism underlying type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. C57BKS male mice were distributed in four groups, consisting six mice in each group: 8w m/m, 24w m/m, 8w db/db and 24w db/db. Bone morphometric and biomechanical parameters of db/db mice were analyzed by micro-CT and materials tester, it was found that 24w db/db mice showed severe bone loss and decreased bone tissue hardness compared with misty/misty littermates. The tibia of misty/misty mice (8 weeks, 24 weeks) and db/db mice (8 weeks, 24 weeks) were screened for differential metabolites by UPLC-Orbitrap MS. Ninety-eight metabolites were identified (35 and 63 metabolites are associated with early staged and late staged, respectively), consisting of amino acids, fatty acyls, and nucleotides. Notably, fatty acyls (such as 18-HEPE, 16(17)-EpDPE, arachidonic acid) and glycerophospholipids (such as phosphocholines (PC) (O-10:1(9E)/0:0), PC (O-16:1(9E)/0:0) [U] and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) (P-16:0/0:0)) were significantly increased, and metabolites of amino acid pathway (such as l-glutamine, proline, phenylalanine) showed a downregulation trend. Dysregulation of lipid and glutathione pathways is the major contributor to progression of T2DOP in C57BKS mice.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Hyperglycemia , Insulin Resistance , Osteoporosis , Male , Mice , Animals , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism , Metabolome , Osteoporosis/etiology , Amino AcidsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a method for treating tic disorder. However, there is a lack of sufficient clinical objective basis in regards of its treatment efficacy. Indeed, there are structural abnormalities present in energy metabolism and infrared thermography in children with tic disorder. Therefore, this study proposes a clinical trial scheme to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in treating tic disorder. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial will recruit a total of 90 children, in which they will be divided into non-intervention group and intervention group. The non-intervention group consists of 30 healthy children while the intervention group consists of 60 children with tic disorder. The intervention group will be randomly allocated into either the treatment group or the control group, with 30 children randomly assigned in each group. Children either received acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (treatment group) or sham acupuncture treatment and behavioral therapy (control group), 3 treatment sessions per week for a period of 12 weeks, with a total of 36 treatment sessions. Outcome measures include YGTSS, urinary and fecal metabolomics, infrared thermography of body surface including governor vessel. For the intervention group, these outcome measures will be collected at the baseline and 90th day prior to intervention. Whereas for the non-intervention group, outcome measures (excluding YGTSS) will be collected at the baseline. DISCUSSION: The main outcome will be to observe the changes of the severity of tic condition, the secondary outcome will be to observe the changes of structural characteristic of infrared thermography of body surface/acupoints along the governor vessel and to evaluate the changes of urinary and fecal metabolomics at the end of the treatment, so as to analyze the relationship between them and to provide further knowledge in understanding the possible mechanism of acupuncture in improving the clinical symptoms via regulating and restoring the body metabolomics network, which in future it can develop as a set of clinical guideline (diagnosis, treatment, assessment, prognosis) in treating tic disorder. ChiCTR2300075188(Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn , registered on 29 August 2023).
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Metabolomics , Thermography , Tic Disorders , Humans , Thermography/methods , Acupuncture Therapy/methods , Child , Tic Disorders/therapy , Female , Male , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Infrared Rays , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
The safety of transgenic food has been paid the most attention to by the public and scientists. Trace metal bioavailability could provide information for safety assessment of transgenic food. The critical functional digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract were simulated by bionic gastrointestinal digestion, metabolism of gut microbiota, and bionic biomembrane adsorption with liposome and then used for the pretreatment of transgenic and general soybeans. Ni speciation in the chyme was defined as affinity-liposome and water soluble Ni. Nickel bioavailability was assessed by the content of affinity-liposome Ni. Water soluble Ni was the main species of nickel complex in the chyme. Nickel bioavailability was 4.1% for transgenic soybean and 3.3% for general soybean, which could be enhanced by gastrointestinal digestion and metabolism of gut microbiota. After transgene, nickel bioavailability was increased 24% but the content of affinity-liposome Ni was 122.3 ng x g(-1) for transgenic soybean, just as 36% as that of general soybean.
Subject(s)
Biological Availability , Glycine max/chemistry , Nickel/analysis , Digestion , Gastrointestinal Tract , Plants, Genetically Modified/chemistry , Glycine max/genetics , Trace ElementsABSTRACT
The present study aimed to decrease the brittleness of flaxseed oleogels based on candelilla wax (CLW) in combination with flaxseed gum (FG). Effects of flaxseed gum concentrations (0-0.4%) on the characteristics of flaxseed oleogels including oil binding capacity, textural, thermal, and rheological properties, and crystal polymorphisms were investigated. Higher concentrations (≥0.2%) of FG significantly decreased the textural parameters (e.g., hardness, fracturability) of oleogels (p < 0.05), suggesting that FG could decrease brittleness. Rheological results indicated that all flaxseed oleogels exhibited solid-like characteristics because the elastic modulus was larger than the viscous modulus. The elastic modulus of flaxseed oleogels presented a maximum value at 0.1% gum concentration. Any increase in gum concentration beyond this concentration decreased the elastic modulus. Increasing FG concentration up to 0.4% decreased the enthalpy of flaxseed oleogels during the melting process. The ß'-polymorphic form is an orthorhombic perpendicular (Oâ¥) subcell structure. Similar ß' crystal forms were observed among flaxseed oleogels, indicating that FG did not affect them negatively. The study showed that the physical properties of flaxseed oleogels based on CLW could be significantly changed by FG addition. These results provided a deeper comprehension of the novel system, which should be considered a new way to obtain healthy fats with better plasticity for food applications.
ABSTRACT
Dendrobium huoshanense, a valuable traditional Chinese herb, is widely used to prolong life in China. Our study aims to characterize the structure and osteogenesis-promotion effects of a heteropolysaccharide component isolated from Dendrobium huoshanense (DHPW1). The structure of DHPW1 was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, while its osteogenic activity was evaluated using MG-63 cells and zebrafish skulls. The results showed that the molecular weight of DHPW1 was 230 kDa and it was mainly composed of mannose and glucose. In addition, the DHPW1 backbone consisted of (1 â 4)-linked-ß-D-Mannopyranosyl and (1 â 4)-linked-ß-d-Glucopyranosyl. Furthermore, DHPW1 significantly increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation in MG-63 cells. DHPW1 in zebrafish skull models significantly enhanced the relative fluorescence intensity of bone mass and increased the degree of bone mineralization. These results suggested that the DHPW1 component in D. huoshanense has potential to promote osteogenesis.
Subject(s)
Dendrobium , Animals , Dendrobium/chemistry , Dietary Carbohydrates , Osteogenesis , Polysaccharides/chemistry , ZebrafishABSTRACT
It is a challenging task to explore highly active and stable noble-metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting, both in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a new dual-confinement strategy for the fabrication of cobalt-base phosphide in the carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was proposed via electrospinning, followed by the corresponding pyrolysis. The ultrafine phosphides derived from the pore confinement of ZIF and space confinement of the polymer revealed abundant active sites and P defects. More importantly, by introducing a second metal element Ni or Cu, the electronic structure and synergistic effect were further enhanced, and the obtained bimetallic CoNiPx-CNF electrocatalyst exhibited the remarkable performance for HER and OER, featuring the low η10 values of 154 and 269 mV in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte, respectively. CoNiPx-CNFs as a catalyst for both anode and cathode showed a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at a voltage of 1.56 V, exceeding better stability, which is superior to most non-noble metal electrocatalysts reported in a previous research. The dual-confinement strategy is believed to provide an effective and simple approach for the synthesis of high-performance and cost-efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.
ABSTRACT
Professor WU Xu's clinical experience of acupuncture for alternating hemiplegia of childhood is summarized. Based on the syndrome differentiation of meridians and the theory of zangfu, professor WU proposes that the etiology and pathogenesis is "three yin as the root causes, deficiency wind as the symptoms", and the treatment is to tonify deficiency and reinforce the vital essence, soothe the liver and relieve wind. The acupoints used is mainly in the foot three yin meridians, paying attention to tonifying the kidney; the combinations of Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), Fengmen (BL 12) and Fengshi (GB 31) are adopted; combined with the back-shu points and the governor vessel acupoints, professor WU emphasizes "harmonizing yin and yang" and "treating and nourishing the spirit".
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Acupuncture , Meridians , Acupuncture Points , Child , Hemiplegia , HumansABSTRACT
Carthamin yellow (CY), a flavonoid compound extracted from safflower, has been reported to attenuate cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury. However, whether CY could ameliorate ischemic stroke is not completely understood. In the present study, the preventive effects of CY on experimental ischemic stroke were investigated using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats. Neurological scores, brain edema, infarct area and microtubuleassociated protein 2 (MAP2) immunoreactivity were assessed to evaluate the effects of CY on ischemic brain injury. The involvement of inflammation and ferroptosis were examined to investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of CY. The results demonstrated that 2week CY treatment attenuated the neurological deficit score, brain water content and infarct area, and increased MAP2 immunoreactivity in the cortex in MCAO model rats. CY administration also deactivated the cortex NFκB/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome signaling pathway, and decreased serum TNFα, IL1ß and IL6 concentrations. Moreover, CY treatment inhibited Fe2+ and reactive oxygen species accumulation, and reversed acylCoA synthetase longchain family member 4, transferrin receptor 1, glutathione peroxidase 4 and ferritin heavy chain 1 protein expression levels in the brain. The levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in the serum were also reversed by CY treatment. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that CY protected rats against ischemic stroke, which was associated with mitigation of inflammation and ferroptosis.
Subject(s)
Chalcone/analogs & derivatives , Ferroptosis/physiology , Glucosides/pharmacology , Inflammation/blood , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Animals , Chalcone/pharmacology , Ferroptosis/drug effects , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Interleukin-6/blood , Male , Malondialdehyde/blood , Molecular Structure , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Superoxide Dismutase/blood , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/bloodABSTRACT
Professor WU Xu believes that the pathogenesis of tic disorders in children is "agitation of liver wind, lending to excessive wind and spasm of tendons" "deficiency of yin fluid, the tendons failing to be nourished" "spirit failing to govern, leading to tendons not be restrained" and advocates to treat this disease from the theory of "meridian tendons". He suggests the acupoints that related to "meridian tendons", and emphasizes the depth of needling and the procedure of acupuncture, and believes that the core of treating is to balance the yin and yang of "meridian tendons" and regulate spirit.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Acupuncture , Meridians , Tic Disorders , Acupuncture Points , Child , Humans , TendonsABSTRACT
Our previous study showed that the water-soluble heteropolysaccharide extracted from Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GLHP) has excellent anti-inflammation and anti-oxidant properties. This study explored the efficacy of GLHP against skin anti-photoaging in human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells and BALB/c mice under UVB irradiation. Cell viability, antiapoptotic, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell wound scratch assays were conducted, as well as assessment of inflammation markers and sun protection factors. The in vitro results showed that GLHP pretreatment significantly inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis, reversed the decrease of cell viability via downregulating the expression of apoptosis-related protein caspase-3, accelerated the migration of HaCaT cells, and promoted wound healing. Notably, the protective effect of GLHP may be associated with the scavenging of ROS and the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, GLHP pretreatment significantly restrained the upregulation of iNOS (UVB-induced inflammation marker), suppressed the expression of P-ERK and NF-κB, and decreased the activity of MMPs, suggesting that it exerts the therapeutic effects by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signal pathway. Results obtained after conducting the in vivo assay confirmed that GLHP could reverse the UVB-induced increase of epidermal thickness in BALB/c mice. In conclusion, this study shows that GLHP can be utilized as a safer resource in the manufacture of anti-aging cosmetics because it exerts excellent anti-photoaging effects.
Subject(s)
Gracilaria , Skin Aging , Animals , Humans , Keratinocytes , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Reactive Oxygen Species , Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Five new flavonol glycosides (1-5), one new phenylpropanoid glycoside (6), and nine known glycosides (7-15) were isolated from the stems and leaves of Neoshirakia japonica. The structures of the new compounds were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and acid hydrolysis experiment. The antineuroinflammatory effects of all the isolates were evaluated by inhibiting NO production against LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells. Compounds 1, 8, and 9 showed more potent inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 2.7, 5.5, and 4.1 µM, respectively, than that of the positive control minocycline (IC50 = 15.6 µM), while compounds 7 (IC50 = 17.0 µM) and 10 (IC50 = 24.3 µM) also displayed inhibitory activities to a certain degree.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Euphorbiaceae/chemistry , Flavonols/pharmacology , Glycosides/pharmacology , Microglia/drug effects , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification , Cell Line , China , Flavonols/isolation & purification , Glycosides/isolation & purification , Mice , Molecular Structure , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Phytochemicals/isolation & purification , Phytochemicals/pharmacology , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Stems/chemistryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on cognitive function and amino acid metabolism in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Twenty children with cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy group) were randomly divided into an acupuncture and rehabilitation group (11 cases) and a rehabilitation group (9 cases), and 10 healthy children were included as the normal group. The rehabilitation group was treated with rehabilitation training, 30 min each time; on the basis of rehabilitation training, the acupuncture and rehabilitation group was treated with acupuncture at Sishenzhen, Zhisanzhen, Naosanzhen, Niesanzhen, Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Mingmen (GV 4), etc. The Sishenzhen (left and right points) and the ipsilateral Niesanzhen were respectively connected with a group of electrodes, intermittent wave, frequency of 2 Hz for 30 min. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times a week, totaling for 3 months. The Gesell developmental diagnostic scale (GESELL) was used to evaluate the developmental quotient (DQ) scores before and after treatment, and the blood samples of children with cerebral palsy before and after treatment and normal children were collected for amino acid metabolomics. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the DQ scores of adaptation, fine motor and social in the acupuncture and rehabilitation group was increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the DQ score of fine motor in the rehabilitation group was increased after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the serum L-glutamate, L-ornithine, L-tyrosine, L-methionine and L-arginine in the cerebral palsy group were down-regulated, and L-histidine, L-citrulline, 5-hydroxylysine and L-glutamine were up-regulated before treatment. The functional pathways mapped by different metabolites between the cerebral palsy group and the normal group included arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, etc. Compared with the cerebral palsy group, the serum L-histidine was decreased, and L-citrulline showed decreasing trend in the acupuncture and rehabilitation group after treatment. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training could improve cognitive function in children with cerebral palsy, and the effect may be related to the down-regulation of L-histidine and L-citrulline metabolism.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Cerebral Palsy , Acupuncture Points , Amino Acids , Cerebral Palsy/therapy , Child , Cognition , HumansABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability of childhood. Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for 60% to 70% of cases. Research has shown that acupuncture can improve the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy and to assess the value of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ambulatory electroencephalogram (EEG) for evaluation of treatment effect. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This randomized controlled trial will enroll a total of 72 children with CP from 2 hospitals-Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine and Nanjing State Hospital of Pediatric-with 36 participants from each hospital. Patients will be randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive "Tonifying Kidney and Invigorating Brain" acupuncture treatment plus standardized physical rehabilitation treatment (treatment group) or only standardized physical rehabilitation (control group). All participants will receive 3 treatment sessions per week for 3 consecutive months; they will then be followed up for another 3 months. The primary outcome measures will include multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ambulatory electroencephalogram (EEG), and Gesell Developmental Diagnostic Schedules. The secondary outcome measures will include Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM), and Modified Ashworth Scale score. Outcome measures (including primary and secondary outcome measures) were collected at the baseline, 3 months and 6 months prior to the intervention.Ethics and dissemination PATIENTS CONSENT:: Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL: The central independent ethics committee of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine approved the protocol (2017NL-115-02). SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: Routine blood tests and liver and kidney function tests will be conducted to exclude patients with severe heart, liver, or kidney diseases. The same examinations will be performed again at the end of the study to detect any possible side effects. Possible acupuncture-related adverse events (e.g., fainting, needle stick injury, local infection, subcutaneous hematoma, and low-grade fever) will be documented. Serious adverse events will be reported to the principal investigator immediately. All unexpected and unintended responses, even those not necessarily related to the acupuncture intervention, will be documented as adverse events. CASE DROPOUT MANAGEMENT: Participants have a right to withdraw from the study at any time if they feel uncomfortable upon receiving the treatments or being diagnosed with serious complications or diseases. They will then be referred to the preferred department for further treatment and management. If cases of dropout, the researcher need to contact the participant to reason the problem out, collect and record all the necessary assessments on the last visit as well as the date of last visit. All data available until the date of withdrawal will be stored for further statistical analysis. DISCUSSION: This research is being conducted to assess the value of acupuncture as an intervention for rehabilitation of children with spastic cerebral palsy and also to evaluate the usefulness of multimodal MRI and ambulatory EEG for identifying changes in brain function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with Chinese Clinical Trials Register, ChiCTR 1900024546 (registered 15 July 2019; retrospective registration, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=35763).
Subject(s)
Acupuncture , Cerebral Palsy/physiopathology , Cerebral Palsy/therapy , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/physiopathology , Cerebral Palsy/diagnostic imaging , Cerebral Palsy/rehabilitation , Child , Child Development , Electroencephalography , Humans , Kidney , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Motor Skills , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
We used the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique to construct a well-defined and structure-controllable photochromic material-a highly ordered multilayer film composed of dioctadecylamine and 12-molybdophosphoric acid (PMo12). We identified well-ordered lamellar structures using X-ray diffraction, polarized IR, and Raman spectra, and we determined a packing model of the two components in the LB film. We found the Keggin structure and fundamental features of the PMo12 ion to be maintained in the hybrid film. This hybrid LB film displayed photochromic properties upon UV light irradiation and we observed the following process from first-order kinetics. The photochromism exhibited the ability to switch between colorless and blue. A fading process occurred when the film was exposed to ambient air or O2 in the dark. During the color change, the packing structure of the film was well maintained. We also examined the electrochemical behavior of the hybrid LB film by cyclic voltammetry in detail and we propose different kinetic mechanisms for the film before and after irradiation.
ABSTRACT
Owing to their wide application in industry and manufacturing, understanding the environmental safety of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles entering aquatic environment is a global issue of concern. For this study, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) enrichment cultures reproduced from surface sediments taken from the Jiulong River estuary wetlands (Fujian Province, China) were spiked with nano-Ag and nano-Au to determine their impact on ammoxidation and the mechanisms involved in the process. Results showed that nano-Ag significantly inhibited bacterial ammoxidation in aquatic environment, with the average ammoxidation rate decreasing with increasing nano-Ag concentration. The average ammoxidation rate was significantly correlated to the Shannon index, the Simpson index, and AOB abundance. This suggested that ammoxidation inhibition resulted primarily from AOB biodiversity and abundance reduction, caused by the antibacterial property of nano-Ag. However, AOB biodiversity and abundance as well as bacterial ammoxidation were not inhibited by nano-Au (with a maximum experimental concentration of 2 mg L(-1)). Moreover, an insignificant correlation was found between AOB biodiversity and abundance and the average ammoxidation rate under the nano-Au treatment. Given that ammoxidation is regarded as a rate-limiting procedure in nitrogen (N) circulation, nano-Ag would affect N cycling but nano-Au would not after entering aquatic environments. Identified nano-Ag and nano-Au impacts on ammonium nitrogen transformation could be generalized in aquatic environment according to their extensive representation in the phylogenetic tree.
Subject(s)
Ammonia/metabolism , Betaproteobacteria/drug effects , Geologic Sediments/microbiology , Gold , Metal Nanoparticles/adverse effects , Nitrogen Cycle/physiology , Silver , Base Sequence , Betaproteobacteria/genetics , Betaproteobacteria/metabolism , China , Estuaries , Molecular Sequence Data , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxygen/metabolism , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Species Specificity , WetlandsABSTRACT
The clinical experiences and proven cases of distinguished doctor of TCM, professor WU Xu, on acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain is introduced. Professor WU's manipulation characteristics of acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain, including acute cholecystitis, kidney stone, acute stomach pain, are one-hand shape but both hands in nature, moving like Tai Chi, force on the tip of needle, movement of qi mainly. The main technique posture is one-hand holding needle with middle finger for pressing, the needle is hold by thumb and index finger, and is assisted by middle finger. The special acupuncture experience of emergency is treatment according to syndrome differentiation, combination of acupuncture and moxibustion, selecting acupoint based on experience, blood-letting acupuncture therapy and so on.