Development of an innovative eugenol and Borax-Based orodispersible film for enhanced treatment of mouth ulcers.

Orodispersible films (ODFs) have emerged as an advanced and patient-friendly delivery system due to ease of administration, improved patient compliance, quick release and taste-masking of active pharmaceutical ingredients. This research reports the preparation of the ODF containing eugenol and borax (EB-ODF) by a solvent casting technique for treating mouth ulcers. The EB-ODF consisted of Kollidon® VA 64 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC-K250) as the film formers where eugenol and borax were loaded. The thickness of the EB-ODF obtained was 0.119 ±â€¯0.001 mm and the tensile strength was 13.1 ±â€¯1.1 N/mm2 (p > 0.05). The prepared films disintegrated in the oral cavity within 30 s and over 90 % of the eugenol was released from the film in the first 5 min. Furthermore, the combined application of eugenol and borax, loaded in EB-ODF, displayed notable synergetic antibacterial property against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. In an in-vivo study on a rat model with chemical burn-induced oral ulcers, the EB-ODFs treatment group had a 100 % reduction in ulcer area (p > 0.05) after 10 days of treatment and demonstrated a 38.7 % higher reduction in oral ulcer area compared to the Dingpeng Cream treatment group (p < 0.0001). The EB-ODF treatment group The EB-ODF showed minimal oral irritation, scoring only 1 point and a 65 % preference in the taste tests (p < 0.0001). In summary, EB-ODF had successfully overcome the poor palatability of commercially available formulation and provided notable potential for further ulcer treatment development.

Vertical depletion of ophiolitic mantle reflects melt focusing and interaction in sub-spreading-center asthenosphere.

Decompressional melting of asthenosphere under spreading centers has been accepted to produce oceanic lithospheric mantle with vertical compositional variations, but these gradients are much smaller than those observed from ophiolites, which clearly require additional causes. Here we conduct high-density sampling and whole-rock and mineral analyses of peridotites across a Tibetan ophiolitic mantle section (~2 km thick), which shows a primary upward depletion (~12% difference) and local more-depleted anomalies. Thermodynamic modeling demonstrates that these features cannot be produced by decompressional melting or proportional compression of residual mantle, but can be explained by melt-peridotite reaction with lateral melt/rock ratio variations in an upwelling asthenospheric column, producing stronger depletion in the melt-focusing center and local zones. This column splits symmetrically and flows to become the horizontal uppermost lithospheric mantle, characterized by upward depletion and local anomalies. This model provides insights into melt extraction and uppermost-mantle origin beneath spreading centers with high melt fluxes.

Construction of a multiple-class classifier based on mRNAs and lncRNA FAM66A and PSORS1C3 for predicting distant metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: There are several mechanisms believed to be essential for the development of distant metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but the prediction of distant metastasis is still a challenge. The purpose of the present study was to examine the specific changes in RNA expression, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in distant metastasis patients. Methods: We compared differentially expressed genes involved in distant metastasis from otherwise non-metastasis and healthy adults using a gene expression profile. We first ranked gene sets (or gene signatures) that identify each class. An advanced multiple-class classifier was built based on the gene sets. Our classifier consisted of 282 genes and could predict cancer and distant metastasis with error rates of approximately 0.01 and 0.2, respectively. Then, gene networks were built to undermine gene relations to each class. Results: Cytochrome P450 family 4 subfamily F member 12 (CYP4F12) was the first gene in the ranking of the distant metastasis case. Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) was the top gene in the rank list of the non-metastasis case. Solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) was associated with normal tissues. LncRNA family with sequence similarity 66 member A (FAM66A) and lncRNA PSORS1C3 were found to be associated with tumor metastasis. Conclusions: Our classifier could successfully predict distant metastasis in LUAD patients. LncRNA FAM66A and lncRNA PSORS1C3 in our model could play a role in cancer development.

[Source Apportionment of Air Pollutants for a Typical Pollution Event in Zhaoqing].

Based on observational data for pollutants and meteorology, this study analyzed the pollution episode that occurred during Dec 17th to 23th in 2018 in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China. Using the source apportionment model CMAQ-ISAM and the hybrid receptor model, the regional contributions to air pollution were examined. The results showed that low-pressure conditions had an adverse effect on the diffusion of pollutants during this pollution episode in Zhaoqing. Prior to the pollution episode, pollutants were mainly derived from Zhaoqing and Qingyuan, accounting for 19.2% and 10.7% of pollutants, respectively. As well as pollutants from Guangdong Province, long-distance transport of pollutants from Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, and Shaanxi accounted for approximately 64.5% of the total during the non-pollution period. During the polluted episode, major cities in Pearl River Delta and the eastern part of Guangdong Province contributed more pollutants as a surface high-pressure field moved southward. Zhaoqing, Foshan, Dongguan, Guangzhou, and Huizhou contributed 25.5%, 14.8%, 9.8%, 9.5%, and 5.3% of the pollutants, respectively. Cities in the eastern part of Guangdong Province including Heyuan, Meizhou, Shanwei, Jieyang, Shantou, and Chaozhou contributed 13.7% of the total pollutants. In addition, pollutants from Fujian, Jiangxi, and the Yangtze River Delta accounted for approximately 32.9%. Furthermore, pollutants transported under marine influences were one of the main causes of this pollution episode in Zhaoqing.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes and Signaling Pathways in Acute Myocardial Infarction Based on Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common disease with high morbidity and mortality around the world. The aim of this research was to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which may serve as potential therapeutic targets or new biomarkers in AMI. METHODS: From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, three gene expression profiles (GSE775, GSE19322, and GSE97494) were downloaded. To identify the DEGs, integrated bioinformatics analysis and robust rank aggregation (RRA) method were applied. These DEGs were performed through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses by using Clusterprofiler package. In order to explore the correlation between these DEGs, the interaction network of protein-protein internet (PPI) was constructed using the STRING database. Utilizing the MCODE plug-in of Cytoscape, the module analysis was performed. Utilizing the cytoHubba plug-in, the hub genes were screened out. RESULTS: 57 DEGs in total were identified, including 2 down- and 55 upregulated genes. These DEGs were mainly enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and so on. The module analysis filtered out 18 key genes, including Cxcl5, Arg1, Cxcl1, Spp1, Selp, Ptx3, Tnfaip6, Mmp8, Serpine1, Ptgs2, Il6, Il1r2, Il1b, Ccl3, Ccr1, Hmox1, Cxcl2, and Ccl2. Ccr1 was the most fundamental gene in PPI network. 4 hub genes in total were identified, including Cxcl1, Cxcl2, Cxcl5, and Mmp8. CONCLUSION: This study may provide credible molecular biomarkers in terms of screening, diagnosis, and prognosis for AMI. Meanwhile, it also serves as a basis for exploring new therapeutic target for AMI.

Risk factors for osteoporosis in liver cirrhosis patients measured by transient elastography.

Osteoporosis or osteopenia is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis, but little is known about the risk factors for the occurrence of osteoporosis.Patients with liver cirrhosis due to chronic virus infection and alcoholic abuse were enrolled. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Osteoporosis was diagnosed according to WHO criteria. The severity of liver stiffness was measured by Fibroscan. Demographic data, such as age, gender, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to recognize the risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with cirrhosis.A total of 446 patients were included in this study: 217 had liver cirrhosis (male, 74.2%; mean age, 57.2 ±â€Š10.27) and 229 were matched controls (male, 69%, mean age, 56.69 ±â€Š9.37). Osteoporosis was found in 44 patients (44/217, 20.3%). The spine and hip BMD in cirrhotic patients were significantly lower than that in controls. When the cirrhotic and control subjects were stratified by age, gender, and BMI, the significant difference was also observed in women patients, patients older than 60, and patients with BMI < 18. Multivariate analysis showed that the older age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.78, P = .046], lower BMI (OR = 0.63, P = .049), greater fibroscan score (OR = 1.15, P = .009), and liver cirrhosis induced by alcohol liver disease (OR = 3.42, P < .001) were independently associated with osteoporosis in cirrhotic patients.Osteoporosis occurred in about one-fifth of patients with liver cirrhosis, which was associated with age, BMI, Fibroscan score, and alcohol liver disease related liver cirrhosis.

Leptocarpin Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Osteosarcoma by Targeting Type-1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor (IGF-1R).

BACKGROUND Leptocarpin (LTC) has drawn much attention for suppressing tumor growth or reducing inflammation. However, the effect of LTC on osteosarcoma has rarely been reported. Our object was to determine whether LTC suppresses MG63 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and whether type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) is one of the targets in LTC suppressing osteosarcoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cytotoxicity of LTC was performed by use of a cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8). RNA interference (RNAi) or pEABE-bleo IGF-1R plasmid were used for silencing or overexpressing IGF-1R, Western blot (WB) analysis was used for IGF-1R expression, CCK-8 for proliferation, and transwell assay for migration and invasion. RESULTS LTC (23.533 µM) treatment for 48 h was taken as the 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50), which significantly (P<0.05) suppressed MG63 cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. LTC (IC50) obviously inhibited IGF-1R expression in MG63 cells, with similar effect to small interfering RNA (siRNA), while pEABE-bleo IGF-1R transfection overexpressed IGF-1R. siRNA silencing IGF-1R suppressed MG63 cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, while pEABE-bleo IGF-1R transfection was significantly (P<0.05) promoted. With or without siRNA or pEABE-bleo IGF-1R transfection, LTC (IC50) suppressed MG63 cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. The effect of LTC (IC50) combined with siRNA on suppressing MG63 cells proliferation, migration, and invasion was more obvious, while the effect of LTC (IC50) combined with pEABE-bleo IGF-1R transfection was less significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS LTC suppressed osteosarcoma proliferation, migration, and invasion by inhibiting IGF-1R expression. IGF-1R is one of the targets in LTC suppressing osteosarcoma.

[Study of laser energy in multi-element detection of pulverized coal flow with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy].

The logical range of laser power density and optimum laser power density were explored for multi-element analysis of pulverized coal flow with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in the present paper. The range of laser energy was chosen from 20 to 160 mJ in the experiment. Pulverized coal less than 200 microm in diameter of particles fell freely through feeder outlet and the rate of flow was controlled by screw feeder. Emissions were collected with pulse laser at 1 064 nm focusing on pulverized coal flow and plasma was generated. The intensity and cause of fluctuation of emission spectra at various laser energy levels were studied. A suitable range of laser power density is from 14.4 to 34.4 GW x cm(-2), and the optimum laser power density is 19.5 GW x cm(-2) for the determination of pulverized coal flow with LIBS.

[Cloning, expression and identification of human survivin in E. coli].

OBJECTIVE: To efficiently express and identify recombinant human survivin in E. coli. METHODS: Survivin cDNA was amplified by reverse transcriptional (RT)-PCR and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pBV220, followed by expression of the recombinant plasmid in E.coli strain BL21 (Gold). To obtain survivin protein, DEAE-Sepharose Fast-Flow ion exchange chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration were performed. Western blot analysis was used for detecting the expressed product. RESULTS: Survivin protein was expressed in E.coli in the form of inclusion body at the expression level over 30% of the total cell protein. After ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration, the recombinant protein reached a purity over 95% and exhibited specific reaction with mouse anti-human antibody. CONCLUSION: Survivin protein with high purity can be obtained by the method described above to facilitate further study of the anti-apoptosis function of survivin.