Evaluation indices of the temperature difference of subgrade and the optimization of mitigation measures in cold regions.

With the construction and operation of railways in cold regions, the asymmetric deformation of subgrades due to the difference in the transverse ground temperature has become a prominent issue. A comprehensive evaluation of the transverse ground temperature difference and investigation of the corresponding mitigation measures should be conducted to avoid or minimize the damage resulting from this difference, thereby improving subgrade stability and reducing deformation. In this study, the time history variations in the homogeneity and symmetry indices of the ground temperature at typical instances that reflect the spatial and temporal changes in the temperature difference of the subgrade were proposed as evaluation indices. The feasibility of these evaluation indices was verified through numerical models with different types of anti-frost berms. Subsequently, the numerical models were used to analyze the ground temperature evaluation indices of a subgrade with expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation board and polyurethane (PU) insulation board at different locations. Additionally, the performances of each mitigation measure in eliminating or reducing the ground temperature difference were assessed and compared. The results show that all the mitigation measures could improve the homogeneity and symmetry of the ground temperature distribution. The maximum mitigation rates for the homogeneity and symmetry are 97.87% and 45.90%, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation method for the temperature difference of subgrades constructed in cold regions and a theoretical reference for the selection of anti-frost measures in the design, operation, and maintenance of subgrades in cold regions.

ASBT(SLC10A2): A promising target for treatment of diseases and drug discovery.

Bile acids has gradually become a new focus in various diseases, and ASBT as a transporter responsible for the reabsorption of ileal bile acids, is a key hinge associated to the bile acids-cholesterol balance and bile acids of enterohepatic circulation. The cumulative studies have also shown that ASBT is a promising target for treatment of liver, gallbladder, intestinal and metabolic diseases. This article briefly reviewed the process of bile acids enterohepatic circulation, as well as the regulations of ASBT expression, covering transcription factors, nuclear receptors and gut microbiota. In addition, the relationship between ASBT and various diseases were discussed in this paper. According to the structural classification of ASBT inhibitors, the research status of ASBT inhibitors and potential ASBT inhibitors of traditional Chinese medicine (such resveratrol, jatrorrhizine in Coptis chinensis) were summarized. This review provides a basis for the development of ASBT inhibitors and the treatment strategy of related diseases.

Establishing a rapid classification and identification method for the major triterpenoids of Alisma orientale.

INTRODUCTION: Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) has been widely used to treat various diseases. Its complex chemical composition has caused certain difficulties in the analysis of this traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a method for the rapid classification and identification of the chemical constituents of AR. OBJECTIVE: This article describes a method for the rapid classification and identification of major triterpenoids in AR. METHODOLOGY: The samples were analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The assay was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) with 0.1% formic acid in water (A), and acetonitrile (B) as mobile phase by gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. In the positive ion mode, the fragment information was obtained and compared with the characteristic fragments and neutral losses described in the literature. Then, the rapid classification and identification of the chemical components from AR were achieved. RESULTS: Finally, 25 triterpene compounds of AR were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The method established in this study achieved the rapid classification and identification of chemical components in AR, which promotes the development of research methods to study the constituents of traditional Chinese medicine.

Codonopsis tangshen Oliv. Amelioration Effect on Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats Induced by High Fat Diet Feeding Combined with Streptozotocin.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most serious microvascular complication during the development of diabetes with the characterizations of glomerular basement membrane thickening, mesangial expansion, and glomerular sclerosis, eventually leading to end-stage renal disease. This study aimed to investigate the melioration effect of Codonopisis tangshen Oliv. (COD) on the DKD model, which was established by unilateral nephrectomy (UN)-high fat diet feeding (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ). After the DKD rats were oral treated with COD at a dose of 2.7 mg/kg for 4 consecutive weeks, the blood glucose, lipid metabolism, renal function, inflammatory mediators, and fibrosis-associated proteins were examined. In vivo, the COD administration obviously relieved the weight loss, water intake, and blood glucose; decreased the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; and improved the renal function by reducing the expression of serum creatinine, uric acid, and urinary protein compared with the model group. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and IL-6 were significantly inhibited by COD. Meanwhile, the deposition of collagen fiber was markedly increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor-ß1 and α-smooth muscle actin were markedly elevated in DKD rats, but they were decreased to some extent after the COD treatment. In conclusion, COD exhibited a protective effect on the UN-HFD feeding combined with STZ-induced DKD model by improving the blood glucose and lipid metabolism, relieving the inflammatory response, and mitigating the renal fibrosis, which provided scientific evidence for its applications in clinic.