Guasha improves knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis and regulating expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins in rats. / åˆ®ç—§å¯¹è†å ³èŠ‚éª¨å ³èŠ‚ç‚Žå¤§é¼ è½¯éª¨ç»†èƒžå‡‹äº¡åŠè‡ªå™¬çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of Guasha on inflammation factors, apoptosis and autophagy in the cartilage tissue of knee joint in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of KOA. METHODS: A total of 51 male SD rats were randomized into three groups：blank control, KOA model and Guasha (n= 17 in each group) . The rats in the blank control group received intra-articular injection of 0.9% NaCl solution in the right knee joint. The KOA model was established by intraarticular injection of glutamate sodium iodoacetic acid in the right knee joint. For rats of the Guasha group, Guasha (at a frequency of 1 time/s, and an applied pressure of 0.3-0.5 kgf) was applied to "Yanglingquan" (GB34) and "Xuehai"(SP10) areas of the right leg, once every other day, for 7 consecutive sessions. The circumference of the right knee was measured, The histopathological changes of right knee cartilage were observed after H.E. staining. The contents of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1ß and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the right knee articular cartilage tissue were assayed using ELISA. The expression levels of autophagy-related key molecule Beclin-1 (homologous series of yeast Atg6), light chain protease complication 3 type II/I (LC3II/LC3 I), ubiquitin binding factor 62 (P62) and cysteine aspartate protease-3 (Caspase-3) mRNAs and proteins of the right knee articular cartilage tissue were measured using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot, separately. The apoptosis of chondrocytes was assayed using TUNEL staining, and the immunoactivity of LC3 determined using immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: After modeling, the right knee circumfe-rence of the model and Guasha groups was significantly increased compared with the blank control group (P<0.01), and after the intervention, the knee circumference of the Guasha group was markedly decreased in comparison with that of the model group (P<0.05). Results of H.E. staining showed obvious degeneration and defects in the cartilage tissue, necrosis of a large number of chondrocytes, fibrous hyperplasia, accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, osteoclast increase, fibroplasia and bone trabecular destruction in the model group, which was relatively milder in the Guasha group. Compared with the blank control group, the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNAs and proteins, and LC immunofluorescence intensity in the right knee articular cartilage tissue were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.001), whereas the expression of P62 and Caspase-3 mRNAs and proteins, the apoptosis rate, contents of IL-1ß and TNF-α in the right knee articular cartilage tissue considerably increased (P<0.01, P<0.001) in the model group. In contrast to the model group, the Guasha group had an apparent increase in the expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNAs and proteins and LC immunofluorescence intensity in the right knee articular cartilage tissue (P<0.05), and a pronounced decrease in the expression of P62 and Caspase-3 mRNAs and proteins, the apoptosis rate, and contents of IL-1ß and TNF-α in the right knee articular cartilage tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Guasha stimulation of GB34 and SP10 can improve joint cartilage damage in KOA rats, which may be associated with its functions in inhibiting the excessive release of inflammatory factors and apoptosis, possibly by down-regulating the expression of P62 and Caspase-3 mRNAs and proteins and up-regulating the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 mRNAs and proteins, and by promoting autophagy of chondrocytes.

Correlation analysis between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome in workers of a petrochemical enterprise: based on two assessment models of occupational stress.

BACKGROUND: Occupational stress is becoming a common phenomenon around the world. Being in a high occupational stress state for a long time may destroy the metabolic balance of the body, thereby increasing the risk of metabolic diseases. There is limited evidence regarding the correlation between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome (MetS), particularly in the petrochemical workers. METHODS: A total of 1683 workers of a petrochemical enterprise in China were included in the survey by cluster sampling method. The occupational stress assessment was carried out by the Job Content Questionnaire and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, and the general demographic characteristics, work characteristics, occupational hazards, lifestyle and health examination data of the participants were collected. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlations and influencing factors between occupational stress and its dimensions with MetS and its components. RESULTS: A total of 1683 questionnaires were sent out, and 1608 were effectively collected, with an effective recovery rate of 95.54%. The detection rates of occupational stress in Job Demand-Control (JDC) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models were 28.4% and 27.2%, respectively. In this study, 257 participants (16.0%) were diagnosed with MetS. Compared with the non-MetS group, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG) and fasting blood-glucose (FBG) levels were significantly higher in the MetS group, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001). The results of multiple linear regression showed that after adjusting for nation, marital status, education, work system, smoking and drinking, and further adjusting for occupational hazards, the D/C ratio was significantly negatively correlated with SBP in the JDC model. Social support was negatively correlated with WC. In the ERI model, there was a significant positive correlation between over-commitment and FBG. CONCLUSIONS: The detection rates of occupational stress and MetS were high in workers of a petrochemical enterprise. In the JDC model, occupational stress was negatively correlated with SBP, and social support was negatively correlated with WC. In the ERI model, there was a significantly positive correlation between over-commitment and FBG.

Integrative proteomics and metabolomics explore the effect and mechanism of Qiyin granules on improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a prominent global health concern, representing a substantial burden within the spectrum of chronic liver diseases. Despite its escalating prevalence, a definitive therapeutic strategy or efficacious pharmacological intervention for NAFLD has yet to receive official approval to date. While Fu Fang Qiyin granules have exhibited efficacy in addressing NAFLD, the intricacies of their underlying mechanism of action remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, we substantiated the ameliorative impact of Qiyin on highfat diet (HFD)induced NAFLD in rat models. The results of metabonomics showed that 108 potential biomarkers in serum and urine related to amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism, have returned to normal levels compared to the model group. Hepatic transcriptomics further indicated that Qiyin potentially confers protective effects against NAFLD by mediating liver inflammation and fibrosis through lumican (LUM) and decorin (DCN). In summation, our investigation provides compelling evidence affirming the therapeutic promise of Qiyin for NAFLD. It elucidates the underlying mechanistic pathways, furnishing a compelling rationale for its prospective clinical application.

A study on the association between gut microbiota, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was reported to be associated with impaired immune response and alterations in microbial composition and function. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. To investigate the association among retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-like receptors (RLRs) signaling pathway, intestinal bacterial microbiome, microbial tryptophan metabolites, inflammation, and a longer course of T2DM, 14 patients with T2DM and 7 healthy controls were enrolled. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were utilized to analyze the stool samples. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was carried out on the peripheral blood samples. Additionally, C57BL/6J specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice were used. It was found that the longer course of T2DM could lead to a decrease in the abundance of probiotics in the intestinal microbiome. In addition, the production of microbial tryptophan derivative skatole declined as a consequence of the reduced abundance of related intestinal microbes. Furthermore, low abundances of probiotics, such as Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium, could trigger the inflammatory response by activating the RLRs signaling pathway. The increased level of the member of TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAF) family, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activator (TANK), in the animal colon activated nuclear factor kappa B subunit 2 (NFκB2), resulting in inflammatory damage. In summary, it was revealed that the low abundances of probiotics could activate the RLR signaling pathway, which could in turn activate its downstream signaling pathway, NF-κB, highlighting a relationship among gut microbes, inflammation, and a longer course of T2DM. KEY POINTS: Hyperglycemia may suppress tryptophanase activity. The low abundance of Bacteroides combined with the decrease of Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) activity may lead to the decrease of the production of tryptophan microbial derivative skatole, and the low abundance of Bacteroides or reduced skatole may further lead to the increase of blood glucose by downregulating the expression of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1). A low abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria may induce an inflammatory response by triggering the RLR signaling pathway and then activating its downstream NF-κB signaling pathway in prolonged T2DM.

Dense NiCo2 O4 Nanoneedles Grown on Carbon Foam Showing Excellent Electrochemical and Microwave Absorption Properties.

Electromagnetic pollution could harm sensitive electronic equipment due to the rising use of electronic devices and communication infrastructure. The supercapacitor's electrochemical performance should be enhanced, and electromagnetic damage should be prevented. This study proposes NiCo2 O4 /CF composites for supercapacitors and microwave absorption. They are made by combining hydrothermal and annealing processes. Dense NiCo2 O4 nanoneedles were uniformly grown on the outer layer of carbon foam (CF) as a growth skeleton, preventing the agglomeration of NiCo2 O4 . The composite had a specific capacitance of 537.5 F/g at 1 A/g. When the current density was set to 1 A/g, the supercapacitor that used NiCo2 O4 /CF as the cathode had a specific capacitance of 70.7 F/g, and when the current density was increased to 10 A/g, the original specific capacitance of 87.2 % could still be maintained after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. At a power density of 3695.5 W/kg, an energy density of 22.1 Wh/kg could be maintained. Furthermore, we performed a microwave absorption test and determined its reflection loss curve for various sample thicknesses. Recombination enhanced the composite material's microwave absorption capability by greatly reducing the dielectric loss and the magnetic loss.

The Anti-atherosclerosis Mechanism of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. Based On Network Pharmacology.

We investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (ZCL) on atherosclerosis (AS) using network pharmacology and in vitro validation.We collected the active components of ZCL and predicted their targets in AS. We constructed the protein-protein interaction, compound-target, and target-compound-pathway networks, and performed GO and KEGG analyses. Molecular docking of the active components and key targets was constructed with Autodock and Pymol software. Validation was performed with qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot.We obtained 80 components of ZCL. The network analysis identified that 14 components and 37 genes were involved in AS. Then, 10 key nodes in the PPI network were identified as the key targets of ZCL because of their importance in network topology. The binding energy of 8 components (Cynaroside, α-Spinasterol, Linarin, Kaempferide, Acacetin, Genkwanin, Chrysin, and Apiin) to 4 targets (MMP9, TP53, AKT1, SRC) was strong and <-1 kJ/mol. In addition, 13 of the 14 components were flavonoids and thus total flavonoids of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (ZCF) were used for in vitro validation. We found that ZCF reduced eNOS, P22phox, gp91phox, and PCSK9 at mRNA and protein levels, as well as the levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 proteins in vitro (P < 0.05).We successfully predicted the active components, targets, and mechanisms of ZCL in treating AS using network pharmacology. We confirmed that ZCF may play a role in AS by modulating oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory response via Cynaroside, Linarin, Kaempferide, Acacetin, Genkwanin, Chrysin, and Apiin.

Iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation: implication of ferroptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC) is a serious heart disease caused by diabetes. It is unrelated to hypertension and coronary artery disease and can lead to heart insufficiency, heart failure and even death. Currently, the pathogenesis of DC is unclear, and clinical intervention is mainly symptomatic therapy and lacks effective intervention objectives. Iron overdose mediated cell death, also known as ferroptosis, is widely present in the physiological and pathological processes of diabetes and DC. Iron is a key trace element in the human body, regulating the metabolism of glucose and lipids, oxidative stress and inflammation, and other biological processes. Excessive iron accumulation can lead to the imbalance of the antioxidant system in DC and activate and aggravate pathological processes such as excessive autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in a chain reaction and accelerating myocardial and microvascular damage. In-depth understanding of the regulating mechanisms of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in cardiovascular vessels can help improve DC management. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the relationship between ferroptosis and the pathogenesis of DC, as well as potential intervention targets, and discuss and analyze the limitations and future development prospects of these targets.

[Effect of moxibustion and scraping on bioactive substances changes of acupoints in knee osteoarthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of moxibustion and scraping of "Yanglingquan" (GB34) and "Xuehai" (SP10) area on changes of bioactive substances in the region of acupoints in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model, moxibustion, scraping, and moxibustion + scraping (combination) groups, with 8 rats in each group. The KOA model was established by injecting 50 µL 0.9% sodium chloride solution into the right knee cavity. Fourteen days after modeling, GB34 and SP10 on the right limb were stimulated by moxibustion (10 min) or scraping (till regional flush) once every other day for 7 times. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were tested by Von Frey and hot stabbing instrument, separately. The pathological changes of the right knee joint were observed by HE staining. The serotonin (5-HT) contents of skin tissues in the region of acupoint GB34 and SP10 were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in GB34 and SP10 region skin tissues were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the PWT and TWL of the rats in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.001), while the contents of 5-HT and the expression levels of SP and CGRP in GB34 and SP10 region skin tissues were significantly increased (P<0.001, P<0.01). Following intervention and in comparison the with the model group, the TWL and PWT of rats in the three treatment groups were significantly increased (P<0.01), the content of 5-HT and the expression levels of SP and CGRP in GB34 and SP10 region skin tissues were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.05). Except for the expression levels of CGRP, the above indexes of the combination group were significantly superior to those of the moxibustion and scraping groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Findings of HE staining showed severe damaged cartilage, few chondrocytes on the surface, with subchondral neovascularization in the model group, which was relatively milder in the moxibustion, scraping, and combination groups. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion and scraping can relieve knee joint pain in KOA rats, which may be associated with its function in down-regulating the expression levels of SP and CGRP, and the content of 5-HT. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion plus scraping is better than that of moxibustion and scraping alone.

Hepatic venous pressure gradient evaluates the Scheuer stage of liver fibrosis by transjugular liver biopsy: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the criterion for assessing sinusoidal portal hypertension. Using HVPG to assess the degree of liver fibrosis by transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is still being explored, as no data has been shown that portal hypertension may already be present in patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis (Scheuer stage ≥ S3). The objective of this study was to observe whether portal hypertension exists before progressing to cirrhosis (Scheuer stage = S4). METHODS: Fifty patients who underwent TJLB and HVPG were enrolled. The correlation between Scheuer stage and HVPG was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the ROC curve predicted the diagnostic value of HVPG in patients with hepatic fibrosis. RESULTS: The Scheuer stage and HVPG significantly correlated (r = 0.654, p < 0.001). The AUC of HVPG in predicting advanced liver fibrosis was 0.896, and of cirrhosis was 0.810. There were 45 patients with portal hypertension (HVPG> 5 mmHg), 12 with S3, 29 with S4; There were 42 patients with CSPH (HVPG≥ 10 mmHg), 11 with S3, and 29 with S4. CONCLUSION: HVPG is valuable in evaluating the Scheuer stage of liver fibrosis in patients with TJLB. Portal hypertension might already exist before the progression to cirrhosis in some patients.

Near-Infrared-Induced Photothermal Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Production for 3D/2D Heterojunctions of Snowflake-like CuS/g-C3N4 Nanosheets.

The conversion of solar power to hydrogen (H2) energy efficiently encounters some obstacles due to the lack of superior catalysts and efficient catalytic approaches. Herein, three-dimensional/two-dimensional (3D/2D) CuS/g-C3N4 photothermal catalysts were obtained via an easy, one-step hydrothermal method after pyrolysis. The favorable heterojunction interface for H2 production was constructed by snowflake-like CuS embedded in the graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, leading to the acceleration of charge transfer and separation, decrease of charge transfer distance, and perfect realization of photothermal effects (PTEs) induced by near-infrared (NIR) light. The 3D/2D CuS/g-C3N4 catalyst presents a topmost H2-production rate (1422 µmol h-1 g-1) under dual wavelength (420 + 850 nm) and a moderate H2-production rate under 420 nm, which are 12-fold and 9-fold higher than pure g-C3N4, respectively, owing to a strong action from PTEs induced by NIR. The feasible NIR-enhanced photothermal catalysis is expected to apply in multifarious heat-assisted photocatalysis processes by designing multifunctional composites with super PTE and photocatalytic capacity.

Analysis of occupational stress and its correlation with oxidative-antioxidant levels among employees of a power grid enterprise in Guangdong.

BACKGROUND: Occupational stress and its health effects on occupational populations have attracted extensive attention from researchers in public health. The stressors faced by employees of power grid enterprises are increasing progressively, which is easy to cause occupational stress. The balance of the body's oxidative-antioxidant levels plays an essential role in maintaining the body's health status. This study aims to explore occupational stress and its correlation with oxidative-antioxidant levels in employees of a power grid enterprise. METHODS: A cluster random sampling method was used to investigate the basic information of 528 employees in a power grid enterprise and investigate the two occupational stress models of employees by using the Job Content Questionnaire based on the job demand-control-support (JDC) model, and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire based on the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, respectively. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the employees to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The correlation between different models of occupational stress level and the body's oxidation-antioxidation level was further explored. RESULTS: The detection rate of high JDC model occupational stress was 50.6% and the detection rate of high ERI model occupational stress was 50.9%. The JDC model occupational stress was significantly associated with high-temperature and high-altitude operation, visual display terminal operation, monthly income, and exercise (all P < 0.05). The ERI model occupational stress was significantly associated with visual display terminal operation (all P < 0.05). The results of the generalized additive model showed that SOD levels had a non-linear relationship with the D/C ratio as well as the E/R ratio. With the D/C ratio close to 1, SOD levels raised rapidly. When the E/R ratio exceeded 1, the SOD level raised rapidly (all P<0.05) . TAC levels were negatively associated with the E/R ratio (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The detection rates of occupational stress in both models among employees in a power grid enterprise are higher. ERI model occupational stress was associated with body TAC and SOD levels, and JDC model occupational stress was associated with body SOD levels.

One-Step Solvothermal Synthesis of Raspberry-like NiCo-MOF for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors for a Wide Operation Temperature Range.

As a novel electrode material for energy storage, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emerge with plenty of merits and certain drawbacks in the field of supercapacitors. Nevertheless, most MOFs synthesized for the moment are faced with dimension/distribution issues and dissatisfactory electrical conductivity. Hence, in this paper, NiCo-MOF was successfully fabricated by applying a one-step solvothermal method, from which NiCo-MOF-3 presents an optimal electrochemical performance compared to other NiCo-MOFs and Ni/Co-MOF. Owing to its unique three-dimensional spherical raspberry structure, NiCo-MOF-3 demonstrates an available internal resistance and electron transfer resistance to ameliorate electrical energy storage, exhibiting an excellent mass specific capacitance of 639.8 F/g at 1 A/g. Then, a flexible quasi-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor was assembled with NiCo-MOF-3 as the positive electrode. The introduction of K3[Fe(CN)6] and glycerin in the gel electrolyte facilitates the maximum energy density of 66.3 Wh/kg of the device, with a corresponding power density reaching its maximum of 12,047 W/kg. The device's apparent energy density, excellent flexibility, and temperature resistance reveal that our method to prepare supercapacitor electrode material possesses more advantages than those in the former literature.

SnS2nanosheet arrays anchoring on functionalized carbon cloth for quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitor with satisfactory electrochemical performance and mechanical stability.

Increasing requirements for wearable devices stimulate the development of flexible energy storage components. Herein, a flexible integrated electrode consisting of SnS2nanosheet arraysin situanchored on the functionalized carbon cloth was prepared via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Through pretreatment of carbon cloth, rough morphology is appeared on the surface of carbon fiber, which is conducive to optimizing the accessible load of SnS2. The SnS2nanosheet arrays and the carbon fiber as conductive skeleton cooperate with each other to provide a highly open surface, leading to the enhancement in capacitance (194.4 mF cm-2) and the outstanding retention after long-term service (86.5% after 10 000 cycles). A quasi-solid-state asymmetric flexible supercapacitor was assembled to evaluate the practical application under various conditions, suggesting satisfactory electrochemical performance as a maximum energy density of 10.95µWh cm-2at the power density of 4.75 mW cm-2and mechanical stability under actual conditions.

Is CuO Suitable for Improving the Electrochemical Properties of g-C3N4?

G-C3N4 has a bright application prospect as an electrode material of supercapacitors, which makes it a concern. In order to increase the specific capacitance of g-C3N4, we consider to combine it with a metal oxide with high theoretical specific capacitance and utilize the synergistic effect. As a common metal oxide, CuO has the characteristics of high theoretical capacitance, high chemical stability, simple preparation and environmental friendliness. A composite containing CuO nanobelts and graphitic C3N4 (g-C3N4) was successfully synthesized by a chemical precipitation method. Various testing methods were used to explore its composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties to discuss whether CuO is suitable for improving the electrochemical properties of g-C3N4.

DHX9 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating STAT3.

DHX9 has numerous functions regulating transcription, translation, RNA processing and transport, and DNA replication and maintenance of genomic stability. It is involved in human cancers as either an oncogene or tumor suppressor. However, its role in the progression of lung cancer and underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that DHX9 is overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues and serum. Also, a favorable prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma is predicted when DHX9 is at a high level. DHX9 knockdown promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited apoptosis progression in A549 cells. Moreover, DHX9 knockdown led to a significant decrease of E-cadherin expression, an increase of vimentin and snail, and a significant increase in the phosphorylation of STAT3 in A549 cells. In summary, our studies identified a novel role of DHX9 in driving tumor growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition progress of A549 cells. We propose that the STAT3 pathway may be implicated in the DHX9-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, DHX9 may be a prognostic marker or potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.

Ultra-Small Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Decorated WS2 Nanosheets with Superior Electrochemical Properties for Supercapacitors.

Fe3O4 nanoparticles/WS2 nanosheets nanocomposite was successfully synthesized in this study by a one-step hydrothermal method. Three different contents of Fe3O4 in the nanocomposite were prepared by changing the quantity of FeCl3·6H2O, ascorbic acid and NaHCO3. Fe3O4 nanoparticles are about 3 nm in diameter and combined with WS2 to form stable heterojunctions, which are good for releasing the volume change of electrode materials in charge/discharge procedure. Because of the large theory capacitance of Fe3O4 nanoparticle, the specific capacitance of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles/WS2 nanosheets nanocomposites increase with increasing content of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. When the weight ratio for Fe3O4 nanoparticles to WS2 nanosheets is up to 8:10, the specific capacitances of the nanocomposite are 83.85 F g-1 and 149.25 F g-1 as the scanning rate at 20 mV s-1 and the current density at 0.5 A g-1, respectively. Both of them of Fe3O4 nanoparticles/WS2 nanosheets are as almost 7 times high as that of WS2 nanosheets under the same measurement condition. This work shows that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles/WS2 nanosheets nanocomposite will be a kind of potential electrode materials for supercapacitors.

Novel CsxWO3/TiO2 Microspheres as Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalysts for Dye Pollutant Treatments.

CsxWO3/TiO2 composites with different contents of CsxWO3 were successfully synthesized in this study by a facile hydrothermal process. CsxWO3/TiO2 composites were characterized by XRD, Raman, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and SEM. TiO2 nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the surface of the CsxWO3 microsphere in the prepared CsxWO3/TiO2 composites, and they formed heterojunctions with CsxWO3. The effect of CsxWO3 on the photoactivities of composites was investigated via DRS and PL. All CsxWO3/TiO2 catalysts showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The 50% CsxWO3/TiO2 sample showed the best photocatalytic activity and its kinetic constant was 20 times larger than that of TiO2. The possible photocatalytic mechanism is also discussed from the trapping experiments of active species. The improved photocatalytic activity for the CsxWO3/TiO2 catalyst may be attributed to the synergetic effect between CsxWO3 microspheres and TiO2 nanoparticles. This novel photocatalyst can be used to degrade environmental pollutants in the future.

Liquid Exfoliation and Electrochemical Properties of WS2 Nanosheets.

Commercial WS2 powders were exfoliated in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution with a combination of ball-milling and sonication. WS2 nanosheets can be uniformly dispersed in the solution. The layers and thicknesses of WS2 nanosheets could be tailored via changing the ball-milling speed. The effects of the ball-milling speed on crystallinity and morphology of the samples were analyzed. The results show that the layer structure of WS2 nanosheets is destroyed and the crystallinity is decreased with increase of the ball-milling rate. The monolayer WS2 nanosheets at 200 rpm are obtained, which are mesoporous with the specific surface area as 5.419 m2 g-1. The specific capacitance and charge/discharge efficiency of WS2 nanosheets at 200 rpm are better than those of other samples. Its specific capacitance under the scanning rate of 20 mV s-1 and the current density of 0.5 A g-1 are 13.46 F g-1 and 22.50 F g-1, respectively. The charge/discharge curve of WS2 nanosheets at 200 rpm is a symmetrical triangle, which shows rapid charge and slow discharge. It means that WS2 nanosheets at 200 rpm has good electrochemical reversibility. The load transfer resistance and the internal series resistance of this sample are 84.60 Ω and 4.18 Ω, respectively.

[Observation of the clinical effects on perimenopausal syndrome treated with the transcutaneous electrostimulation at Shuitu (ST 10) and the seed-pressure therapy at the auricular points].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) between the combined treatment with the transcutaneous electrostimulation at Shuitu (ST 10) and the seed-pressure therapy at the auricular points and the hormone replacement therapy. METHODS: A total of 64 PMS patients were divided into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (34 cases) according to patient's willingness. In the observation group, the transcutaneous electrostimulation at Shuitu (ST 10) was combined with the seed-pressure therapy at the auricular points. The stimulation intensity at Shuitu (ST 10) was ranged from 15 to 20 mA, for 20 min in each treatment, twice a week. The 8 treatments made one course and 3 courses were required. Additionally, the seed-pressure therapy was used at neifenmi (CO18), Shenmen (TF4), luanchao, zigong, gan (CO12), shen (CO10), once a week, retained for 5 days. The 4-week treatment was as one course and a total of 3 courses were required. In the control group, the hormone replacement therapy was applied. On Day 5 of menstruation, progynova was prescribed for oral administration, 1 mg, once a day, continuously for 21 days. On Day 12 in the oral administration of progynova, dydrogesterone was used, 20 mg, once every day, continuously for 10 days. Totally, 3 courses were required. Separately, before treatment and in 1 and 3 months after treatment, Kuppermann score, the sexual hormone levels [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2)] and the adverse reactions were observed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: In 1 and 3 months after treatment, Kuppermann scores were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). The levels of serum FSH and LH were reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05) and the level of serum E2 was increased remarkably as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). After treatment, the differences in the above indexes were not significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). In the control group, the incidences of the adverse reactions such as vaginal bleeding, bread distending pain and endometrial thickening were higher than those in the observation group [17.6% (6/34) vs 0% (0/30), 20.6% (7/34) vs 3.3% (1/30), 8.8% (3/34) vs 0% (0/30), all P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment with the transcutaneous electrostimulation at Shuitu (ST 10) and the seed-pressure therapy at the auricular points achieves the similar therapeutic effects on PMS as compared with the hormone replacement therapy. This combined therapy effectively relieves the clinical symptoms and improves the sexual hormone levels. The adverse reactions and the complications are less obviously as compared with the hormone replacement therapy.

Proteomics approach to analyze protein profiling related with ADME/Tox in rat treated with Scutellariae radix and Coptidis rhizoma as well as their compatibility.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Scutellariae radix (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) and Coptidis rhizoma (Coptis chinensis Franch), known as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been widely used with the effects of suppressing fever, dispelling dampness, purging fire and removing toxicosis. Owing to their unimaginable complexity, it is difficult to understand their pharmacokinetic properties in detail. The aim of this study was to develop an optimal proteomics approach to analyze the protein profiling related with ADME/Tox in rat liver treated with S. radix and C. rhizoma as well as their compatibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats were respectively administered the extracts of S. radix, C. rhizoma and their mixture for 7 days, and their liver tissue samples were prepared for the comparative proteomic analysis. The significantly differentially expressed proteins between the experimental groups and the control group were found and identified by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses. To validate the proteomic analysis results, glutathion peroxidase, catalase and betaine homocysteine methyl transferase were selected and confirmed by western blotting. RESULTS: Seventy eight significantly differentially expressed proteins between the experimental groups and the control group were found and identified. By querying the relational databases, the identified differentially expressed proteins were summarized and classified into three groups, phase I drug metabolic enzymes, phase II drug metabolic enzymes and the rest proteins which mainly involve in energy metabolism, signal transduction and cytoskeleton. These proteins involved in ADME/Tox may be the targets for metabolic studies or markers for toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated S. radix and C. rhizoma as well as their compatibility can assuredly influence the expression of the proteins in rat liver. After administration, the majority of these expressions presented a downward trend, which may be closely related to the pharmacological properties of the medicine. The method in this study may open up a new road for the complementary tests for ADME/Tox properties of S. radix and C. rhizoma as well as their compatibility.