Comparative effects of green and black tea extracts on lowering serum uric acid in hyperuricemic mice.

CONTEXT: Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze [Theaceae]) is used to induce urination and inducing nervous excitation. Green and black teas have multifarious physiological functions. The different effects of green and black tea aqueous extracts (GTEs and BTEs) on hyperuricemia are not definitely reported. OBJECTIVE: The different effects of GTEs and BTEs on lowering serum uric acid (UA) in hyperuricemic mice were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kunming mice were divided into nine groups (n = 6/each group). GTEs and BTEs at the doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg were orally administrated to mice for seven days, respectively. Hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities as mechanisms of actions were assessed. RESULTS: Research indicated that the LD50 of tea extract is greater than 2 g/kg in mice. UA levels were suppressed significantly with dose-dependent treatment of 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg BTEs (up to 25.5%, 28.7% and 29.8%, respectively); the serum UA levels were decreased by GTEs but not significant. The activities of XOD and ADA in high dose (2 g/kg) groups of both GTEs and BTEs were notably lower than those of the model group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that both GTEs and BTEs have hypouricaemic and renal protective effects on hyperuricemic mice and the latter one was better. Our study sheds light on the research and development of anti-hyperuricemic functional foods and drugs from tea.

Comparison of the adipogenesis in intramuscular and subcutaneous adipocytes from Bamei and Landrace pigs.

Fat deposition is a complex process involving proliferation, differentiation, and lipogenesis of adipocytes. Bamei and Landrace are considered to represent fat- and lean-type pig breeds. Subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) pre-adipocytes were cultured to compare the proliferation and lipogenesis in these breeds. The differentiated adipocytes were exposed to glucose or insulin to evaluate their effects on lipogenesis and lipogenic gene expression. Pre-adipocytes proliferated dramatically faster in SC vs. IM cells, and in Bamei vs. Landrace breeds. Lipogenesis and lipogenic gene expression had a greater increase in Bamei than in Landrace, and in SC vs. IM in the process of differentiation. Glucose markedly promoted lipogenesis and lipogenic gene expression in differentiated adipocytes. The stimulation of high-glucose levels on lipogenesis and ChREBP and lipogenic gene expression was higher in SC than IM adipocytes, and in Bamei vs. Landrace. Insulin largely increased SREBP-1c expression, however it modestly stimulated lipogenesis and lipogenic gene expression, and there was no difference between cell populationsor between breeds. These data demonstrated that regional and varietal differences obviously existed in the development of porcine adipocytes. The proliferation and differentiation capacity of pre-adipocytes, and the adipocyte lipogenesis stimulated by glucose, are stronger in Bamei than Landrace, and in SC vs. IM adipocytes independent of breed.

The mysterious association between adiponectin and endometriosis.

Adiponectin is a pleiotropic cytokine predominantly derived from adipose tissue. In addition to its role in regulating energy metabolism, adiponectin may also be related to estrogen-dependent diseases, and many studies have confirmed its involvement in mediating diverse biological processes, including apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis, all of which are related to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Although many researchers have reported low levels of adiponectin in patients with endometriosis and suggested that it may serve as a protective factor against the development of the disease. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to provide an up-to-date summary of the roles of adiponectin and its downstream cytokines and signaling pathways in the aforementioned biological processes. Further systematic studies on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of adiponectin may provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of endometriosis as well as potential therapeutic targets.

Isothermal Diffusion Behavior and Surface Performance of Cu/Ni Coating on TC4 Alloy.

The poor surface performance of titanium alloys substantially limits their application in many fields, such as the petrochemical industry. To overcome this weakness, the Cu and Ni double layers were deposited on the surface of TC4 alloy by the electroplating method, and the isothermal diffusion process was performed at 700 °C to enhance the binding ability between Cu and Ni layers. The isothermal diffusion behavior and microstructure of the coating were systematically analyzed, and tribological property and corrosion resistance of the coating were also evaluated to reveal the influence of isothermal diffusion on the surface performance. It was shown that multiple diffusion layers appeared on the Cu/Ni and Ni/Ti interface, and that NixTiy and CuxTiy phases were formed in the coating with the increase of diffusion time. More importantly, Kirkendall diffusion occurred when the diffusion time increased, which led to the formation of continuous microvoids and cracks in the diffusion layer, weakening the surface performance of the Cu/Ni coatings. This paper unveils the relationship between the microstructure of the Cu/Ni coatings and isothermal diffusion behavior, providing guidelines in preparing high performance surface coatings.

Metallic CuCo2S4 nanosheets of atomic thickness as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for portable, flexible Zn-air batteries.

Optimized catalysts show great potential for renewable energy storage and conversion. Herein, we report metallic CuCo2S4 nanosheets (NSs) of atomic thickness as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for use in portable, flexible Zn-air batteries. The metallic CuCo2S4 NSs of atomic thickness with 4-atom-thick to 6-atom-thick layers are confirmed by temperature-dependent electrical resistance measurements and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirms that CuCo2S4 NSs with sulfur vacancies can further increase the OER activity. Due to high electrical conductivity and ultrathin nanosheet structure with abundant defects, CuCo2S4 NSs exhibit excellent reversible oxygen catalytic performance with an overpotential of 287 mV (at j = 10 mA cm-2) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and an onset potential of 0.90 V for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Additionally, the portable, flexible Zn-air battery using CuCo2S4 NSs as the air-cathode displays a high open circuit voltage and strong rechargeable capacity for 18 h. The present study highlights the importance of designing metallic catalysts having atomic thickness with surface defects for highly efficient and stable renewable energy storage and conversion.

Activation of defective nickel molybdate nanowires for enhanced alkaline electrochemical hydrogen evolution.

Designing highly-efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline solution is more complex and sluggish than for an acidic one. Herein, we report a controllable N-doping strategy to synthesize a series of N-doped porous metallic NiMoO4 nanowires with concomitant oxygen vacancy defects (N-Vo-NiMoO4 NWs) for promoting the alkaline HER ability and durability. Both experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the doped-N at NiO6 octahedral sites and the abundant oxygen vacancy defects confined in N-Vo-NiMoO4 NWs with modified electronic arrangement could enhance the metallic conductivity, affect the surface areas, and lower the adsorption energy of hydrogen, resulting in an increased HER property. However, the excess doped-N leads to an opposite effect due to the reduced valence state of Ni centres. Therefore, alkaline HER ability of N-Vo-NiMoO4 NWs exhibits a volcano-like trend vs. the nitrogen content, with N3-Vo-NiMoO4 NWs being the best one. As a result, the N3-Vo-NiMoO4 NWs show nearly zero onset overpotential, an overpotential of 55 mV at 10 mA cm-2, and a Tafel slope of only 38 mV dec-1 in 1.0 M KOH, which are superior to those of state-of-the-art platinum-free electrocatalysts.

[Experimental study on effect of Suifukang in promoting repairing and regeneration of nerve fibers in spinal cord].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change in expressions of nerve growth related protein (GAP-43) and neurofilament (NF) after experimental injury of spinal cord, and the regulatory effect of Chinese medicine Suifukang (SFK) on them. METHODS: Forty-eight from the 54 selected adult SD rats were established into spinal cord injury model by making hemitransection at the T12 level, and randomly divided into two groups, the SFK group feed with SKF contained liquor and the model group feeding with equal volume of saline. The another 6 rats were untreated and taken as the normal group. All rats were sacrificed in batches at different time points of day 3, 7, 15 and 30 after modeling. The spinal cord was obtained for determining the optic density (OD) of positive expression of GAP-43 and NF with immunohistochemical stain by microscopic and semi-quantitative image analysis. RESULTS: (1) OD of NF in the model group was obviously decreased on day 7, showing significant difference to that in the normal group and that in the SFK group (P < 0.05), and it maintained at low level after then, while the OD of NF in the SFK group was obviously higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05), it arrived the peak on day 15 and then dropped near the level in the normal group on day 30; (2) OD and of GAP-43 in the model group obviously decreased on day 3 (P < 0.05), showing significant difference to that in the normal group (P < 0.05), then it returned to approach to the level in the normal group on day 7. It was higher in the SFK group than in the model group on day 3, and maintained the high level to day 7, at that time, it was still higher than that in the model group and also higher than that in the normal group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SFK can promote the repair and regeneration of injured nerve fibers in spinal cord by up-regulating the expression of GAP-43 and NF.

[Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism with level of uric acid in serum for acute coronary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of elevation in serum uric acid with the development of coronary artery disease, and to determine the relationship between uric acid and Glu(298) Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Chinese Han Nationality. METHODS: The Glu(298) Asp variant of the eNOS gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 58 patients with ACS and 43 healthy controls. The severity of ACS was expressed by the number of affected vessels and by the Duke scoring system. RESULTS: The frequencies of the eNOS Glu/Glu, Glu/Asp, and Asp/Asp genotypes in the ACS group were not significantly different from those of controls (43.1%, 36.2%, 20.7% vs. 48.8%, 34.9%, 16.3%, respectively; chi (2) = 0.446, P = 0.800). In comparison with subjects who had Glu(298) allele in the eNOS gene, the risk of ACS was not increased among Asp/Asp carriers (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.479 to 3.755, P = 0.575). There was no significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the Duke score [(46.73+/-19.90) score for Asp/Asp vs. (48.33+/-19.61) score and (38.19+/-15.12) score for Glu/Glu and Glu/Asp, respectively, P=0.248], but there was a significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the serum uric acid level in ACS group [(298.92+/-87.27) micromol/L for Glu/Glu vs.(380.80+/-95.80) micromol/L and (346.16+/-93.71) micromol/L for Glu/Asp and Asp/Asp, respectively, P = 0.017]. CONCLUSION: Glu(298) Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene appears to have no association with ACS in the Chinese Han Nationality, but a significant association between the eNOS Glu(298) Asp variant and the serum uric acid level is found in patients with ACS.

NiO/CoN Porous Nanowires as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts for Zn-Air Batteries.

The development of highly efficient bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for improving the efficiency of the Zn-air battery. Herein, we report porous NiO/CoN interface nanowire arrays (PINWs) with both oxygen vacancies and a strongly interconnected nanointerface between NiO and CoN domains for promoting the electrocatalytic performance and stability for OER and ORR. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, electron spin resonance, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy investigations demonstrate that the decrease of the coordination number for cobalt, the enhanced oxygen vacancies on the NiO/CoN nanointerface, and strongly coupled nanointerface between NiO and CoN domains are responsible for the good bifunctional electrocatalytic performance of NiO/CoN PINWs. The primary Zn-air batteries, using NiO/CoN PINWs as an air-cathode, display an open-circuit potential of 1.46 V, a high power density of 79.6 mW cm-2, and an energy density of 945 Wh kg-1. The three-series solid batteries fabricated by NiO/CoN PINWs can support a timer to work for more than 12 h. This work demonstrates the importance of interface coupling and oxygen vacancies in the development of high-performance Zn-air batteries.

[Sub-classification of temporal lobe epilepsy and clinical and etiological characteristics thereof].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sub-classification of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and clinical and etiological characteristics thereof. METHODS: The clinical data of 190 patients with TLE, aged 1.5 approximately 67, were analyzed. The sub-classification was based on clinical manifestations and electroencephalographic recording. The etiology of TLE was mainly concluded from both clinical history and neuroimaging. RESULTS: 172 patients were subclassified as with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), of which 62.2% had auras such as epigastric abnormal sensation and 67.4% had automatism, especially oroalimentary automatism. The electroencephalography recording of the MTLE patients showed interictal epileptic paroxysm discharges over the anterior or mid-anterior temporal areas. The main etiological factors related to MTLE were hippocampal sclerosis, intracranial infection, tumor, cerebrovascular disease, and trauma. Ten patients were subclassified as with lateral temporal lobe epilepsy (LTLE), all presenting auras such as acoust. The electroencephalography recording showed interictal epileptic paroxysm discharges over the posterior or mid-posterior temporal areas. The main etiological factors were trauma, tumor, and atrophy in the LTLE group. Eight patients were unable to be sub-classified. CONCLUSION: Electroencephalography is the main base for classification of TLE. Subclassification of TLE is important in the selection of treatment strategies.

[Effect of Panax NotoginSeng Saponins on motor evoked potentials of spinal cord injured rats with motion function].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Panax NotoginSeng Saponins(PNS) on functional recovery of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) after exercise. METHODS: SD normal rats were randomly divided into normal control group (Normal) and control group (Sham), spinal cord injury (SCI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) + panax notoginseng saponins group (PNS) (n=8). All rats were given basso beattie bresnahan motor function score (BBB) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) examination to observe rat hind limb motor function recovery before operation and 1,3,7,14,21,28 days after operation. RESULTS: After operation, the BBB scores of Sham group, PNS group, SCI group were lower than that of normal; MEP amplitude was lower than that of normal group; the incubation time was prolonged compared with that in normal group. In PNS group compared with that in the SCI group, BBB scores at 7,14,21 and 28 days was significantly different(P<0.05). There were significant differences in the latency (Lat) and amplitude(Amp) of MEP within PNA subgroups or between the PNS and the SCI groups at 7,14,21,28 days(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PNS can promote the recovery of motor function after SCI in rats.

[Change of gene expression pattern and regulation of SFK on the change in early stage after hemitransection of the spinal cord in rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of gene expression in early stage of hemitransection of spinal cord and the regulatory effects of the traditional Chinese mixture Suifukang (SFK) on these changes. METHODS: Eighty-six adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Suifukang group (Group S, n = 31, administered with SFK 3 days before the hemitransection at the dose of 2.5 g crude drugs/100 kg body weight QD and then 4 h and 8 h after hemitransection), model group (Group M, n = 45, administered with normal saline in the manner as in Group S), and normal control group (Group N, n = 10, without any treatment). The rats of Groups S and M underwent hemitransection of spinal cord at the level T12 three days before treatment. Twenty-four hours after the spinal cord injury (SCI), the rats were anesthetized and the injured tissues of Groups S and M and the corresponding tissues of Group N were removed. Total RNA was extracted, mRNA was purified and marked by Cy3 or Cy5 fluorescence labeling to synthesize cDNA hybridized probe that was hybridized with Biostars gene chip. Then the chip was scanned with ScanArray500 scanning apparatus. The data were analyzed by Imagene3.0 software. RESULTS: There were 139 differentially expressed genes in Group M, 83 up-regulated and 56 down-regulated, involved in multifarious functions, such as cell metabolism, especially lipid metabolism, and regulation of ionic channel, immunity and defense, cytoskeleton protein, extracellular matrix, cell cycle, etc. There were 37 differentially expressed gene in Group S, 11 up-regulated, such as such Anxal, Ca(2+)-ATPase, IL-1 beta, Ofp, and 26 down-regulated, such as HSP-70 and Psap, several being key genes related to protection and regeneration of neuron. CONCLUSION: In the early stage after SCI many genes related to nervous degeneration, necrosis, traumatic inflammation, secondary injury of spinal cord, and aborted regeneration, etc, are expressed differentially. SFK regulates the changes of gene expression induced by SCI, thus initiating the protective effect of nervous tissues and promoting and supporting the regeneration of injured nervous tissues.

[Study on effect of suifukang in regulating the change of free radical after hemitransected spinal cord injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effect of Suifukang (SFK), a compound Chinese patent drug on the change of free radical in tissue of spinal cord and blood caused by experimental spinal injury. METHODS: Seventy male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, the SFK group (n = 20), the hormone group (n = 20), the control group (n = 20) and the normal group (n = 10). Rats in the former three groups were made into the right hemitransected spinal cord (T12) injury. SFK were given to the rats in the SFK group 3 days before and 2 hrs after modeling via gastrogavage, saline was given to rats in the control group at the same time. As for the rats in the hormone group, methyl-prednisolone 30 mg/kg was given once immediately by peritoneal injection. The rats were sacrificed in two batches (10 of each group in each batch) at 8 hrs and 24 hrs after modeling to obtain the serum and injured spinal cord tissue for determining superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. RESULTS: (1) As compared with the normal group, SOD activity in serum and spinal tissue of the control group was lower significantly both at 8 hrs and 24 hrs after modeling, but the changes of SOD activity in the SFK and the hormone group were insignificant; (2) Content of MDA in serum and spinal tissue of rats elevated after modeling, which in the control group at 8 hrs after modeling were higher than that in the normal group, also higher than that in the SFK group and the hormone group; but at 24 hrs after modeling, it lowered significantly in both treated groups. The changes of MDA content in serum were similar to those in the spinal tissue. CONCLUSION: SFK could effectively eliminate the excessive free radical in serum and injured spinal tissue, and raise the capability of antioxidation of organism.

A metal-decorated nickel foam-inducing regulatable manganese dioxide nanosheet array architecture for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

Three dimensional manganese dioxide/Pt/nickel foam (shortened to MnPtNF) hybrid electrodes were prepared by double-pulse polarization and potentiostatic deposition technologies for supercapacitor applications. The decoration of Pt nanoparticles onto nickel foam varies the nucleation mechanism of the manganese dioxide species, inducing the formation of manganese dioxide nanosheets. Additionally, controlling the size of the Pt nanoparticles leads to modulated nanosheet architecture and electrochemical properties of the manganese dioxide electrode, as revealed by XRD, Raman spectra, SEM, TEM, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanosheet architecture of the MnPtNF electrode favors the transportation of electrons and ions, which results in the enhanced electrochemical properties. Importantly, the optimized MnPtNF electrode obtains a maximum specific capacitance of 1222 F g(-1) at 5 A g(-1) (89% of the theoretical specific capacitance of MnO2) and 600 F g(-1) at 100 A g(-1). Moreover, the presence of Pt nanoparticles in the MnO2 electrode effectively improves its cycling stability, which is confirmed by the increase of the specific capacitance retention from 14.7% to 90% after 600 cycles.

[Related factors on quality of life in 291 outpatient adults with epilepsy].

OBJECTIVE: To assess and explore the quality of life and related factors among 291 outpatient adults with epilepsy. METHODS: From July, 2005 to July, 2006, eligible outpatient epilepsy in a hospital was evaluated by the scale on quality of life in epilepsy-31 (Chinese version). RESULTS: The total scores of quality of life was low (56.46 +/- 16.58). The scores of quality of life in each item were as follows: seizure worry (45.01 +/- 25.25); overall quality of life (56. 12 +/- 16.37); emotional well-being (59.35 +/- 19.56); cognitive function (58.58 +/- 22.41); energy/fatigue (59.12 +/- 18.98); medication effects (40.45 +/- 24.44) and social function (53.00 +/- 26.36). The quality of life of patients with different education background, drug intake and side effects was different significantly (P < 0.05). Data on Multi-linear regression showed that education background, side effects would affect the quality of life. CONCLUSION: The quality of life of outpatient adults with epilepsy was low with education background, while side effects and drugs intake might serve as important factors affecting the quality of life with epilepsy.