[Analysis on Hydrochemical Evolution of Shallow Groundwater East of Yongding River in Fengtai District, Beijing].

In order to enhance the support for groundwater development and utilization, as well as pollution control and prevention in Fengtai District, Beijing, a comprehensive study was conducted based on long-term monitoring data of shallow groundwater in the eastern area of Yongding River during the dry season. The mathematical statistics, Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, and ion ratio analysis and other methods were employed to explore the pattern of groundwater hydrochemical evolution, the formation mechanism, and sources of pollution in Fengtai District. The findings were as follows:① Overall, the current groundwater quality in the study area was poor. The average concentration of each index in groundwater increased and then decreased from 1976 to the present. The pollution range of Cl-, SO42-, and TH generally expanded, whereas the pollution range of TDS and NO3- expanded before 2005 and then decreased with 2005 as the turning point. ② The hydrochemical types of groundwater samples displayed a complex regional variation each year, as well as along the groundwater direction. The dominant anion in groundwater was HCO3-, and the dominant cation was Ca2+ each year. The number of groundwater hydrochemical types in 1976 was 8, in which the predominant type was HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg·Na, accounting for 40%. However, the number of groundwater hydrochemical types in 2021 was 17, in which the predominant type was HCO3·Cl·SO4-Ca·Na·Mg, accounting for 23.88%. The groundwater hydrochemical type showed a complex trend within the region and upstream along the flow direction each year, whereas the migration characteristics of groundwater samples, as depicted on the Piper diagram, indicated that the hydrochemical components of groundwater were significantly affected by human activities during its evolution. ③ The groundwater chemistry in the study area was influenced by both rock weathering and evaporative crystallization processes, with evaporation playing a major role. The alternation of groundwater cations was relatively weak, and the dissolution of carbonate minerals served as the primary source of Ca2+ and Mg2+. ④ The ion ratio analysis suggested that exogenous sources, mainly agricultural activities and urban sewage, contributed to the input of NO3- and Cl-. The pollution impact from agricultural activities was significant before 2005, which aligned with the historical presence of numerous seepage pits, seepage wells, and direct discharge of industrial and domestic sewage for irrigation purposes in the study area. These activities were closely associated with the high levels of pollution. However, pollution input from agricultural activities notably decreased in 2021, likely due to the effective implementation of water environmental protection programs and action plans in recent years.

PBPK-PD model for predicting morphine pharmacokinetics, CNS effects and naloxone antagonism in humans.

Morphine and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) produce central nervous system (CNS) effects by activating mu-opioid receptors, while naloxone is used mainly for the reversal of opioid overdose, specifically for the fatal complication of respiratory depression, but also for alleviating opioid-induced side effects. In this study we developed a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) model to simultaneously predict pharmacokinetics and CNS effects (miosis, respiratory depression and analgesia) of morphine as well as antagonistic effects of naloxone against morphine. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were obtained from in vitro data, in silico, or animals. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic simulations were conducted using 39 and 36 clinical reports, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of morphine and M6G following oral or intravenous administration were simulated, and the PBPK-PD model was validated using clinical observations. The Emax model correlated CNS effects with free concentrations of morphine and M6G in brain parenchyma. The predicted CNS effects were compared with observations. Most clinical observations fell within the 5th-95th percentiles of simulations based on 1000 virtual individuals. Most of the simulated area under the concentration-time curve or peak concentrations also fell within 0.5-2-fold of observations. The contribution of morphine to CNS effects following intravenous or oral administration was larger than that of M6G. Pharmacokinetics and antagonistic effects of naloxone on CNS effects were also successfully predicted using the developed PBPK-PD model. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of morphine and M6G, antagonistic effects of naloxone against morphine-induced CNS effects may be successfully predicted using the developed PBPK-PD model based on the parameters derived from in vitro, in silico, or animal studies.

5-HT3a receptor contributes to neuropathic pain by regulating central sensitization in a rat with brachial plexus avulsion.

PURPOSE: As a frequently occurring complication resulting from brachial plexus avulsion (BPA), neuropathic pain significantly impacts the quality of life of patients and places a substantial burden on their families. Recent reports have suggested that the 5-HT3a receptor may play a role in the development and regulation of neuropathic pain. The current study aimed to explore the involvement of the 5-HT3a receptor in neuropathic pain resulting from BPA in rats. METHODS: A rat model of neuropathic pain was induced through brachial plexus avulsion (BPA). The pain thresholds of the rats were measured after BPA. The spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of rats was collected at day 14 after surgery, and the expression and distribution of the 5-HT3a receptor were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The expression levels of various factors related to central sensitization were measured by western blot, including c-Fos, GFAP, IBA-1, IL-1ß and TNF-α. The effects of 5-HT3a receptor antagonists on hyperalgesia were assessed through behavioral tests after intrathecal administration of ondansetron. Additionally, at 120 min postinjection, the SDH of rats was acquired, and the change of expression levels of protiens related to central sensitization were measured by western blot. RESULTS: BPA induced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity in rats. The 5-HT3a receptor was increased and mainly distributed on neurons and microglia in the SDH after BPA, and the level of central sensitization and expression of inflammatory factors, such as c-Fos, GFAP, IBA-1, IL-1ß and TNF-α, were also increased markedly. Ondansetron, which is a selective 5-HT3a receptor antagonist, reversed the behavioral changes caused by BPA. The antagonist also decreased the expression of central sensitization markers and inflammatory factors. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the 5-HT3a receptor is involved in neuropathic pain by regulating central nervous system sensitization in a rat brachial plexus avulsion model. Targeting the 5-HT3a receptor may be a promising approach for treating neuropathic pain after brachial plexus avulsion.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of mobile binocular stereo vision based on push-broom line structured light for a workpiece surface.

Stereo vision technology based on line structured light can effectively solve the problem of a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a smooth surface. A method for 3D reconstruction of mobile binocular stereo vision based on push-broom line structured light for a workpiece surface is presented in this paper. The subpixel coordinates of the light strip centers of the line structured light are obtained by the Steger algorithm while the binocular module moves along the guide rail, and the polar constraint is used to achieve the matching of the extracted light strip centers. As a result, the 3D coordinates of the light strip centers in each location can be calculated because of the known interior and external parameters of the binocular module. To obtain the 3D point cloud data of the entire surface, a relative pose optimization method with respect to the initial frame is proposed, which accurately estimates the pose of the cameras in each location with respect to that in the initial location and unifies the 3D coordinates of the light strip centers in each location to the datum coordinates. The relative pose optimization method first estimates the rough values by using the direct linear transform method, and then iteratively calculates the refined solutions based on the principle of minimizing the re-projection errors. Simulation data and substantial experimental results validate the effectiveness of our method. Our method is compared to the direct linear transform method and the frame-by-frame transfer method, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the distance from 3D point cloud to fitted plane is used to evaluate the 3D reconstruction accuracy. The repeatability experiment shows that the RMSE from our method is as low as 0.83 mm.

Heme oxygenase-1 therapy attenuates muscle atrophy following global brachial plexus avulsion in juvenile rats.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Brachial plexus injury can seriously affect distal target muscle function, and long-term denervation leads to irreversible structural damage. In the present study, we examined the effect of hemin, a heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inducer, on intrinsic forepaw muscle atrophy induced by pan-plexus injury in juvenile rats, as well as its underlying mechanism. METHODS: A global brachial plexus avulsion (GBPA) model of rat was established, and thirty 6-wk-old male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, GBPA plus scramble small intering RNA (siRNA), GBPA plus scramble siRNA plus hemin, GBPA plus HO-1 siRNA, and GBPA plus HO-1 siRNA plus hemin. Hemin (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once daily and the siRNA (5 µg) was injected intramuscularly twice a week. Intrinsic forepaw muscles were used for analysis. Myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), capillary-to-fiber ratio (C/F), and fiber-type composition were assessed. The levels of inflammatory factors, ubiquitin-protein ligases, and autophagy-related proteins were also measured. RESULTS: We found that hemin treatment could effectively ameliorate denervated intrinsic forepaw muscle atrophy and suppress type I to II myofiber-type conversion. Hemin treatment failed to prevent muscle capillary loss after denervation. The levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]), ubiquitin-protein ligases (MuRF-1 and MAFbx), and autophagy-related proteins (BNIP3 and LC3B-II/I ratio) were increased by denervation and HO-1 therapy attenuated the increment. DISCUSSION: Upregulation of HO-1 might potentially be an effective strategy to alleviate denervation-related muscle atrophy and might be a promising adjunctive treatment to improve hand function in children with pan-plexus injury.

A rat model of modified contralateral C7 transfer permitting ulnar nerve recovery.

BACKGROUND: Contralateral C7 transfer (cC7) is an important treatment for total brachial plexus avulsion (TBPA), which sacrifices the recovery of the ulnar nerve (UN). The present study aimed to introduce an animal model of modified cC7 that preserved the deep branch of ulnar nerve (dbUN) and verify its feasibility. METHODS: Anatomical study: Lengths, diameters, and axon counts of dbUN and anterior interosseous (AIN) branches in six rats were measured. In vivo surgery: 18 rats were divided into three groups. Group A: Traditional cC7. Group B: Modified cC7 finished in one stage. Group C: Modified cC7 and AIN branch anastomosed with dbUN one month after the first stage. Electrophysiological examinations, muscle wet weight, muscle cross-sectional areas, and nerve axon counts were evaluated six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Anatomical study: The distances from dbUN and AIN branches to the midpoint of the inner and outer epicondyles connection of the humerus, diameters, and axon numbers of dbUN and AIN branches were analyzed, then AIN terminal branch (tbAIN) was anastomosed with dbUN. In vivo surgery: The differences in median nerve fiber counts were not significant. There were more UN axons in group A than in groups B and C. In electrophysiological examinations, muscle wet weight and cross-sectional area of the flexor digitorum profundus showed no significant difference, but the second interosseus cross-sectional areas in groups B and C were significantly larger than in group A. CONCLUSIONS: This study established an animal model of preserving dbUN in cC7 and verified its feasibility. The possibility of restoring dbUN was established.

Modified contralateral C7 transfer to restore ulnar nerve function without sacrificing median nerve recovery: an experimental study.

Contralateral C7 (cC7) transfer is a technique used in patients with total brachial plexus avulsion. An ulnar nerve graft (UNG) is usually used, as intrinsic function is not expected to be restored due to length of reinnervation required. In this study, we attempted to improve intrinsic function recovery by preserving the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (dbUN) and reanimating it with the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) after cC7 transfer. Fifty-four rats were divided into the following three groups: Group A, traditional cC7 transfer to the median nerve with a UNG; Group B, cC7 transfer preserving and repairing the dbUN with the terminal branch of the AIN; Group C, same as Group B; however, the dbUN was coapted after 1 month with the AIN. At 3, 6 and 9 months postoperatively, the results of electrodiagnostic and histomorphometric examinations of the interosseous muscle were significantly better in Groups B and C, without affecting AIN recovery. In conclusion, the modified cC7 transfer technique can potentially improve intrinsic function recovery without affecting median nerve recovery.

[Moxibustion at Baihui combined with acupuncture for cervical vertigo: a Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion at Baihui (CV20) combined with acupuncture in treatment of cervical vertigo. METHODS: From the databases, such as CNKI, VIP, WanFang, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase, the studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on moxibustion at CV20 combined with acupuncture for cervical vertigo were searched from inception to September 15th, 2021. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was utilized to evaluate the quality of the included literature. Using RevMan5.3, Stata12.0 and TSA0.9.5.0 10 Beta software, the Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) were performed. RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs with 1 232 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that in the trial group (moxibustion at CV20 combined with acupuncture), the total effective rate (RR=1.17, 95%CI［1.12, 1.22］, P<0.000 1), the curative and remarkably-effective rate (RR＝1.28，95%CI［1.20，1.36］，P<0.000 1) and the score of cervical vertigo (WMD=2.88, 95%CI［1.87, 3.89］, P<0.000 1) were all better when compared with the control group (simple acupuncture or electroacupuncture group). The results of trial sequential analysis indicated that for the cumulative Z-score of each RCT, the Z-curve crossed the conventional test boundary and TSA boundary, which further confirmed the clinical efficacy of moxibustion at CV20 combined with acupuncture on cervical vertigo. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of moxibustion at CV20 combined with acupuncture is determined in treatment of cervical vertigo.

Dynamic changes and correlation between symptoms and quality of life in patients with breast cancer during chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Standardized chemotherapy for breast cancer can improve the survival of patients, but during the process, it is accompanied by a variety of symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To explore the dynamic changes of symptoms and quality of life in breast cancer patients at different time points during chemotherapy, and to explore the correlation with quality of life. METHOD: A prospective study method was used to collect 120 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as the research objects. The general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom inventory (MDASI-C), and the European Organization for Cancer Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life questionnaire were used in the first week (T1), first month (T2), three month (T3) and 6 months after chemotherapy (T4) to conduct dynamic investigation. RESULTS: The symptoms of breast cancer patients at four time points during chemotherapy period were: psychological symptoms, pain-related symptoms, perimenopausal symptoms, impaired self-image, and neurological related symptoms etc. At T1, it exhibited 2 symptoms, however as moving along the chemotherapy process, the symptoms are increasing. The severity is (F= 76.32, P< 0.001), life of quality (F= 117.64, P< 0.001) vary. At T3, there were 5 symptoms, and at T4 symptom number increased to 6 with worsening quality of life. It exhibited positive correlation with scores in multiple domains of quality of life (P< 0.05), and the above symptoms showed positive correlation with multiple domains of QLQ-C30 (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: After T1-T3 of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, the symptoms become more serious and the quality of life reduced. Therefore, medical staff should pay attention to the occurrence and development of patient's symptoms, create a reasonable plan from the perspective of symptom management and carry out personalized interventions to improve patient's quality of life.

Insights into aggregation dynamics of NACore peptides from coarse-grained simulations.

Alpha(α)-synuclein is closely related to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The NACore, a fragment of α-synuclein, is considered to be the key region of α-synuclein that causes PD. The aggregation dynamics of NACores are studied via coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. We find that NACores can self-assemble into a large cluster at high concentrations. The aggregation dynamics can be divided into three stages. The growth kinetics for the first and second stages follows the power law, Smax ~ tγ , with the second stage faster than the first one. The characteristic lifetime for the high concentration is 40 times larger than that for the low concentration, implying the low fluidity. Understanding the aggregation dynamics of NACores is helpful to develop drugs for therapeutic prevention and intervention.

Lipid-Related Domestication Accounts for the Extreme Cold Sensitivity of Semiwild and Tropic Xishuangbanna Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis).

Xishuangbanna (XIS) cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis) is a semiwild variety originating from low latitude tropic areas, and therefore shows extreme cold sensitivity and heat tolerance. Here, we mapped the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control the cold sensitivity and heat tolerance of XIS cucumber seedlings. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA), we identified three QTLs (HTT1.1, HTT3.1, and HTT3.2, with a total length of 11.98 Mb) for heat tolerance and two QTLs (LTT6.1 and LTT6.2, with a total length of 8.74 Mb) for cold sensitivity. The QTL LTT6.1 was then narrowed down to a length of 641 kb by using kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers. Based on structural variants (SVs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we found the LTT6.1 is covered by a high divergent region including a 50 kb deletion in the XIS49 genome, which affects the gene structure of lipase abhydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6, Csa_6G032560). Accordingly, there is a very big difference in lipid composition, but not in other osmoprotectants like free amino acids and fatty acids, between XIS49 and cultivated cucumber CL. Moreover, we calculated the composite likelihood ratio (CLR) and identified selective sweeps from 115 resequencing data, and found that lipid- and fatty-acid-related processes are major aspects in the domestication of the XIS group cucumber. LTT6.1 is a particularly special region positioned nearby lipid-related selective sweeps. These studies above suggested that the lipid-related domestication of XIS cucumbers should account for their extreme cold sensitivity.

Abnormalities of the Halogen Bonds in the Complexes between Y2CTe (Y = H, F, CH3) and XF (X = F, Cl, Br, I).

In this work, the hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds in the complexes between Y2CTe (Y = H, F, CH3) and XF (X = F, Cl, Br, I) have been studied by quantum chemical calculations. We found three interesting abnormalities regarding the interactions. Firstly, the strength of halogen bonds increases in the order of IF < BrF < ClF < F2. Secondly, the halogen bonds formed by F2 are very strong, with an interaction energy in the range between −199.8 and −233.1 kJ/mol. Thirdly, all the halogen bonds are stronger than the hydrogen bonds in the systems we examined. All these results are against the general understanding of halogen bonds. These apparent abnormal properties are reconciled with the high polarizability of the Te atom and the strong inducing effect of F on the Te atom of Y2CTe. These findings provide a new perspective on halogen bonds. Additionally, we also proposed bonding distance-based methods to compare the strength of halogen/hydrogen bonds formed between different donor atoms and the same acceptor atom.

Association of METS-IR index with prevalence of gallbladder stones and the age at the first gallbladder stone surgery in US adults: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index and gallbladder stoneprevalence in US adults, as well as the age at first gallbladder stone surgery. Methods: A logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and dose-response curve were computed for participants in the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to assess the relationship between the METS-IR index and gallbladder stone prevalence and age at first surgery for gallbladder stones. Results: This study ultimately included 9452 participants aged >20 years, of whom 534 self-reported a history of gallbladder stones, and after adjusting for all confounders, each unit increase in METS-IR index was associated with a 3.3% increase in gallbladder stone prevalence (OR= 1.033, 95% CI: 1.0258, 1.0403) along with an earlier age at first gallbladder stone surgery 0.26 years (ß= -0.26, 95% CI: -0.35, -0.17), stratified analysis showed that increased METS-IR index was associated with increased prevalence of gallbladder stones in all subgroups, and the dose-response curve showed a positive linear correlation between METS-IR index and prevalence of gallbladder stones, while a negative linear correlation was observed between increased METS-IR index and age at first gallbladder stone There was a negative linear correlation between age at surgery. Conclusion: The METS-IR index has been positively associated with gallbladder stone prevalence, thereby contributing to age at first surgery for gallbladder stones. However, the causal relationship between the METS-IR and gallbladder stones cannot be concluded.

[Retracted] Filamin A regulates EGFR/ERK/Akt signaling and affects colorectal cancer cell growth and migration.

Following the publication of this article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that various panels in the scratch-wound assays shown in Fig. 1C appeared to contain overlapping sections, such that the data may have been derived from a more limited selection of original sources where the data were intended to show the data from discrete experiments. Furthermore, the results shown in the Kaplan-Meier overall survival analysis plots in Fig. 4C appeared to be inconsistent with the date of publication of this article. Independently, the Editorial Office also investigated the issues of concern in this article, and although the authors attenpted to explain these issues and requested the publication of a corrigendum, the Editor of Molecular Medicine Reports has declined this request and determined that this article should be retracted from the journal on the basis of an overall lack of confidence in the presented data. Upon receiving this decision from the Editor, the authors were not in agreement that the article should be retracted. The Editor apologizes to the readership of the Journal for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 20: 3671-3678, 2019; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10622].

The mechanism and effects of remdesivir-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish: Blood flow dysfunction and behavioral alterations.

The antiviral drug remdesivir has been used to treat the growing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, the drug is mainly excreted through urine and feces and introduced into the environment to affect non-target organisms, including fish, which has raised concerns about potential ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms. Moreover, studies on the ecological impacts of remdesivir on aquatic environments have not been reported. Here, we aimed to explore the toxicological impacts of microinjection of remdesivir on zebrafish early embryonic development and larvae and the associated mechanism. We found that 100 µM remdesivir delayed epiboly and impaired convergent movement of embryos during gastrulation, and dose-dependent increases in mortality and malformation were observed in remdesivir-treated embryos. Moreover, 10-100 µM remdesivir decreased blood flow and swimming velocity and altered the behavior of larvae. In terms of molecular mechanisms, 80 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis in the remdesivir-treated group. Some of these DEGs, such as manf, kif3a, hnf1ba, rgn, prkcz, egr1, fosab, nr4a1, and ptgs2b, were mainly involved in early embryonic development, neuronal developmental disorders, vascular disease and the blood flow pathway. These data reveal that remdesivir can impair early embryonic development, blood flow and behavior of zebrafish embryos/larvae, probably due to alterations at the transcriptome level. This study suggests that it is important to avoid the discharge of remdesivir to aquatic ecosystems and provides a theoretical foundation to hinder remdesivir-induced ecotoxicity to aquatic environments.

[Effects of cyanate on pulmonary epithelial cells and pulmonary function in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the injury of cyanate on the pulmonary function and morphology of C57/BL6N mice. METHODS: Forty male C57/BL6N mice were randomly divided into two groups: normal control group (20 mice) and cyanate group (20 mice). Mice were exposed to 100 mmol/L cyanate feeding for 4 weeks, and pulmonary Raw (Resistance in Air Way) was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the fourth week of the experiment, and the lung tissues were collected for pathological observation and molecular detection of E-Cadherin and Fibronectin. Well-growing A549 cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with cyanate at the concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mmol/L for 24 h, and the cell viability was detected by CCK8 method; reactive oxygen species ROS fluorescent probe (DCFH-DA) was used to detect the changes of ROS levels, and expressions of E-Cadherin and Fibronectin in cells and pulmonary tissues were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: At the beginning of the experiment, the pulmonary airway resistance values of the mice in the normal control group and the cyanate group were (1.82±0.76)cmH2O/(L·s) and (1.85±0.78)cmH2O/(L·s), respectively, with no significant difference. Four weeks later, the pulmonary airway resistance value of mice in the cyanate group was increased to (4.86±0.87)cmH2O/(L·s) (P＜0.01). The HE staining showed that, compared with the normal control group, the injured alveolar structure, the thickened tracheal wall and the significantly proliferated pulmonary interstitial tissue were observed in the cyanate group. The Masson staining showed that elastic fibers were deposited around the trachea of mice in the cyanate group. The results of CCK8 assay for the viability of A549 cells showed that 0.5 mmol/L cyanate exposure could reduce the viability (P＜0.01). The immunofluorescence staining showed that cyanate could increase ROS level in A549 cells by producing green fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of Western blotting showed that 0.5 mmol/L of cyanate treatment on A549 cells could reduce the expression of E-Cadherin (P＜0.01) with increasing concentration of cyanate. The expression level of Fibronectin in A549 cells was increased with the increasing cyanate concentration, and there was a significant difference (P＜0.01) on 1 mmol/L cyanate. Western blot results of lung showed the decreasing expression of E-Cadherin (P＜0.01) and increasing expression of Fibronectin (P＜0.01) in cyanate mice. CONCLUSION: Pathological concentrations of cyanate can induce the proliferation of pulmonary interstitial tissue, fibrous deposition, and increased pulmonary airway resistance in mice, which may be related to damaged pulmonary epithelial cell viability, enhanced ROS production, and induced pathologic changes of extracellular matrix by cyanate.

Pretreatment with Methylene Blue Protects Against Acute Seizure and Oxidative Stress in a Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus Model.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential anticonvulsant effect of methylene blue (MB) in a kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE) model. The effects of MB on levels of oxidative stress and glutamate (Glu) also were explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 equal-sized groups: (1) controls; (2) KA; (3) MB 0.5 mg/kg+KA; (4) MB 1 mg/kg+KA; and (5) vehicle+KA. The SE model was established by intra-amygdala microinjection of KA. Behavioral observations and simultaneous electroencephalographic records of the seizures in different groups were analyzed to determine the potential anticonvulsant effect of MB. The influences of MB on oxidative stress markers and glutamate were also detected to explore the possible mechanism. RESULTS MB afforded clear protection against KA-induced acute seizure, as measured by the delayed latency of onset of generalized seizures and SE, decreased percentage of SE, and increased survival rate in mice with acute epilepsy. MB markedly increased the latency to first onset of epileptiform activity and decreased the average duration of epileptiform events, as well as the percentage of time during which the epileptiform activity occurred. Administration of MB prevented KA-induced deterioration of oxidative stress markers and Glu. CONCLUSIONS MB is protective against acute seizure in SE. This beneficial effect may be at least partially related to its potent antioxidant ability and influence on Glu level.

Rheological behavior of nanocellulose gels at various calcium chloride concentrations.

In this work, the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl2) concentration on the creep-recovery, linear and nonlinear rheological behavior of nanocellulose gels had been investigated to quantify gel properties. The absolute zeta potential of nanocellulose gels were decreased as the CaCl2 concentration increased, which was related to the electrostatic repulsion that origin from carboxyl group could be effectively screened with increasing CaCl2 concentration. Rheological measurements further confirmed this result for nanocellulose gels, which revealed that the increased modulus and viscoelastic properties were obtained in the presence of CaCl2. The rheological properties of nanocellulose gels were showed to depend on CaCl2 concentration. The enhanced gel network structure was related to the Ca2+ ions that promoted crosslink between nanocellulose by salt bridge. This work highlighted the potential of using electrostatic complexation between nanocellulose and Ca2+ ions to form gels, and demonstrated the tunability of the rheological behavior by adjusting the concentration of CaCl2.

Potential of thrombospondin-1 in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome rat model: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disease in reproductive women, and the endocrine levels are also affected by diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) on PCOS rat model. METHODS: We established the PCOS rat model, the serum hormones including TSP-1 expression were determined and morphological characteristics were investigated to evaluate the model. These above endocrine and morphological features were investigated again to evaluate the effect of TSP-1 treatment. RESULTS: In the PCOS model group, the serum hormones change (higher luteinizing hormone, testosterone and estrogen) and decreased TSP-1 expression levels were found compared with the control group. Besides, the morphological characteristics of PCOS were also observed in the model group. After TSP-1 treatment, the higher TSP-1, ANGPT2, PDGFB and PDGFD expression levels, the lower LH and T levels, decreased vessel density as well as VEGFA and ANGPT1 expression levels were found compared with the control group, and the ovary morphological changes were also observed in the TSP-1 experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: TSP-1 delivery system might be an alternative therapy for PCOS treatment.