Effect of Pressure Conditions in Uterine Decellularization Using Hydrostatic Pressure on Structural Protein Preservation.

Uterine regeneration using decellularization scaffolds provides a novel treatment for uterine factor infertility. Decellularized scaffolds require maximal removal of cellular components and minimal damage to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Among many decellularization methods, the hydrostatic pressure (HP) method stands out due to its low cytotoxicity and superior ECM preservation compared to the traditional detergent methods. Conventionally, 980 MPa was utilized in HP decellularization, including the first successful implementation of uterine decellularization previously reported by our team. However, structural protein denaturation caused by exceeding pressure led to a limited regeneration outcome in our previous research. This factor urged the study on the effects of pressure conditions in HP methods on decellularized scaffolds. The authors, therefore, fabricated a decellularized uterine scaffold at varying pressure conditions and evaluated the scaffold qualities from the perspective of cell removal and ECM preservation. The results show that by using lower decellularization pressure conditions of 250 MPa, uterine tissue can be decellularized with more preserved structural protein and mechanical properties, which is considered to be promising for decellularized uterine scaffold fabrication applications.

Recycling iron from pickling sludge to activate peroxydisulfate for the degradation of phenol.

In this work, iron was recovered from a kind of iron-rich pickling sludge by an acid leaching process, and the recycled iron was used as a catalyst to activate peroxydisulfate (PS) for the degradation of phenol. Different kinds of sludge catalysts were prepared by different drying methods such as ordinary drying (Ods), freeze drying (Fds) and vacuum drying (Vds). The degradation performance of the different catalysts/PS system under different conditions was explored, the vacuum drying sludge catalyst (Vds) has the best activity in a wide pH range (pH = 3-10) and a wide temperature range (0-40 °C). At the same time, the effect of a series of chelating agents (Oxalic acid (OA), Citric acid (CA), Tartaric acid (TA), Malic acid (DL-MA) and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)) on Vds/PS system was verified, and TA was selected as the best chelating agent to promote the degradation of the second stage where the degradation rate is limited. The quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis indicated that hydroxyl radical (·OH) and sulfate radical (SO4̇-) were responsible for the abatement of the organic contaminant with ·OH playing a more important role. In summary, this study proposed an environmentally-friendly approach for the application of iron-rich pickling sludge in the remediation of phenol-contaminated water.

HIV Distal Neuropathic Pain Is Associated with Smaller Ventral Posterior Cingulate Cortex.

Objective: . Despite modern antiretroviral therapy, HIV-associated neuropathy is one of the most prevalent, disabling and treatment-resistant complications of HIV disease. The presence and intensity of distal neuropathic pain is not fully explained by the degree of peripheral nerve damage. A better understanding of brain structure in HIV distal neuropathic pain may help explain why some patients with HIV neuropathy report pain while the majority does not. Previously, we reported that more intense distal neuropathic pain was associated with smaller total cerebral cortical gray matter volumes. The objective of this study was to determine which parts of the cortex are smaller. Methods: . HIV positive individuals with and without distal neuropathic pain enrolled in the multisite (N = 233) CNS HIV Antiretroviral Treatment Effects (CHARTER) study underwent structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry was used to investigate regional brain volumes in these structural brain images. Results: . Left ventral posterior cingulate cortex was smaller for HIV positive individuals with versus without distal neuropathic pain (peak P = 0.017; peak t = 5.15; MNI coordinates x = -6, y = -54, z = 20). Regional brain volumes within cortical gray matter structures typically associated with pain processing were also smaller for HIV positive individuals having higher intensity ratings of distal neuropathic pain. Conclusions: . The posterior cingulate is thought to be involved in inhibiting the perception of painful stimuli. Mechanistically a smaller posterior cingulate cortex structure may be related to reduced anti-nociception contributing to increased distal neuropathic pain.

HIV-associated distal neuropathic pain is associated with smaller total cerebral cortical gray matter.

Despite modern antiretroviral therapy, HIV-associated sensory neuropathy affects over 50 % of HIV patients. The clinical expression of HIV neuropathy is highly variable: many individuals report few symptoms, but about half report distal neuropathic pain (DNP), making it one of the most prevalent, disabling, and treatment-resistant complications of HIV disease. The presence and intensity of pain is not fully explained by the degree of peripheral nerve damage, making it unclear why some patients do, and others do not, report pain. To better understand central nervous system contributions to HIV DNP, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging volumes in 241 HIV-infected participants from an observational multi-site cohort study at five US sites (CNS HIV Anti-Retroviral Treatment Effects Research Study, CHARTER). The association between DNP and the structural imaging outcomes was investigated using both linear and nonlinear (Gaussian Kernel support vector) multivariable regression, controlling for key demographic and clinical variables. Severity of DNP symptoms was correlated with smaller total cerebral cortical gray matter volume (r = -0.24; p = 0.004). Understanding the mechanisms for this association between smaller total cortical volumes and DNP may provide insight into HIV DNP chronicity and treatment-resistance.

Application of a rapid and efficient quantitative analysis method for traditional Chinese medicines: the case study of quality assessment of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.

A reference extractive, containing multiple active known compounds, has been considered to be an alternative to individual reference standards. However, in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) the great majority of reference extractives have been primarily used for qualitative identification by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and few studies on the applicability of reference extractives for quantitative analysis have been presented. Using Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as an example in this paper, we first present a preliminary discussion on the feasibility and applicability of reference extractives for the quantitative analysis of TCMs. The reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, comprised of three pharmacological marker compounds, namely cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA, was prepared from purchased Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by extraction with acetone under reflux, followed by silica gel column chromatography with stepwise elution with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (25:1, v/v, 4.5 BV) to remove the non-target components and chloroform-methanol (10:1, v/v; 3 BV) to yield a crude reference extractive solution. After concentration, the solution was further purified by preparative reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with isocratic elution with 77% methanol aqueous solution to yield the total reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge. Thereafter, the reference extractive was applied to the quality assessment of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD). The validation of the method, including linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, stability and recovery testing, indicated that this method was valid, reliable and sensitive, with good reproducibility. The developed method was successfully applied to quantify seven batches of samples collected from different regions in China and the results were also similar to those obtained using reference standards, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <3%. Preparation of a reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge was significantly less expensive and time consuming than preparation of a corresponding reference standard. Quantitative analysis using a reference extractive was shown to be simple, low-cost, time-saving and practical, with high sensitivity and good stability; and is, therefore, a strong alternative to the use of reference standards.

[Study on optimization method of dynamic extraction process].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new optimized extraction process based on dynamic changes in extract concentration during the extraction process. METHOD: Sanqi was taken as an example to compare the concentration of marker components, total solids yield and similarity evaluation of the fingerprint images of extracts by orthogonal design optimization process and dynamic optimization process to assess the feasibility of dynamic process optimization method. RESULT: The concentration of marker components and total solids yield vary less than 5%, with a 100% of similarity in fingerprints, indicating basic coincidence between extracts by the two optimized processes. The dynamic process optimization process could save 79% of the extraction time. CONCLUSION: In the extraction time, the dynamic optimization process is superior to the orthogonal design optimization process in that it can significantly reduce the extraction time and lower production costs.

[Optimization of processing technologies for dipsaci radix habitat by comprehensive evaluation method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the processing technologies of Dipsaci Radix by comprehensive method. METHODS: According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition), UV Spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were used to determine the contents of total saponins, saponins VI of water extract and alcohol extract of Dipsaci Radix. Comprehensive evaluation method was used to optimize the processing technologies for Dipsaci Radix habitat. RESULTS: The sequence of quality of processing was as follows: baked half dry sweating products (0.7046) > half dry sweating products (0.5857) in the shade > scald soft sweating products (0.5852) > bask dried products (0.3138) > evaporate soft sweating products (0.0952). CONCLUSION: The processing technology optimized by the comprehensive method can ensure the quality of Dipsaci Radix.