Operando Spectroscopy Observation of Mo Clusters-Ti3 C2 TX Catalyst/Support Interface's Dynamic Evolution in Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The interaction between catalyst and support plays an important role in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution (HER), which may explain the improvement in performance by phase transition or structural remodeling. However, the intrinsic behavior of these catalysts (dynamic evolution of the interface under bias, structural/morphological transformation, stability) has not been clearly monitored, while the operando technology does well in capturing the dynamic changes in the reaction process in real time to determine the actual active site. In this paper, nitrogen-doped molybdenum atom-clusters on Ti3 C2 TX (MoACs /N-Ti3 C2 TX ) is used as a model catalyst to reveal the dynamic evolution of MoAcs on Ti3 C2 TX during the HER process. Operando X-ray absorption structure (XAS) theoretical calculation and in situ Raman spectroscopy showed that the Mo cluster structure evolves to a 6-coordinated monatomic Mo structure under working conditions, exposing more active sites and thus improving the catalytic performance. It shows excellent HER performance comparable to that of commercial Pt/C, including an overpotential of 60 mV at 10 mA cm-2 , a small Tafel slope (56 mV dec-1 ), and high activity and durability. This study provides a unique perspective for investigating the evolution of species, interfacial migration mechanisms, and sources of activity-enhancing compounds in the process of electroreduction.

[DNA barcode screening, identification of germplasm resources, and analysis of genetic diversity of Anemarrhena asphodeloides].

Anemarrhena asphodeloides is a common medicinal material used in clinical prescriptions and Chinese patent medicine. In this study, the Illumina platform was used to obtain the chloroplast genome sequences of seven kinds of A. asphodeloides from different areas. The specific DNA barcodes were screened by comparative genomics analysis, and the DNA barcodes were used to identify the germplasm resources and analyze the genetic diversity of A. asphodeloides samples from different areas in China. All the seven chloroplast genomes had a ring structure. The total length was 156 801-156 930 bp, and 113 genes were annotated, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The comparative genomics analysis showed that rps16, trnG-GCC, atpF, rpoB, ycf3, rpl16, ndhF, trnS-GCU＿trnG-GCC, petN-psbM, and ndhF-rpl32 were potential candidates for specific DNA barcodes of A. asphodeloides. In this study, the second intron of ycf3 and atpF intron sequences with a sequence length of 700-800 bp and easy amplification were selected for polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification and sequencing of 594 samples from 26 areas. The sequence analysis showed that six and eight haplotypes of ycf3 and atpF sequences could be identified, respectively, and 17 haplotypes could be identified by combined analysis of the two sequences, which were named Hap1-Hap17. The haplotype diversity(H_d), nucleotide diversity(P_i), and genetic distance of A. asphodeloides in 26 populations were 0.68, 0.93×10~(-3), and 0-0.003 1, respectively, indicating that the genetic diversity within the species of A. asphodeloides is rich. The intermediary adjacent network analysis showed that Hap5 was the oldest haplotype, which was mainly distributed in Yixian county of Baoding, Hebei province, Hequ county of Xinzhou, Shanxi province, and Xiangfen county of Linfen, Shanxi province. This study has important guiding significance for the identification of A. asphodeloides species, the protection and development of germplasm resources, and the identification of production areas, and it provides a research basis for further revealing the genetic evolution law of A. asphodeloides.

KLF14/miR-1283/TFAP2C axis inhibits HER2-positive breast cancer progression via declining tumor cell proliferation.

MiR-1283 has been identified as a tumor suppressor in some malignancies. Whereas, the role of miR-1283 in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, particularly its role in regulating cell proliferation, one of the most significant features of tumor progression, is unclear. The related microRNA screened by the breast cancer sample GSE131599 dataset were detected in HER2+ breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Then, the obtained miR-1283 was overexpressed in SKBR3 and BT-474 cells followed by relevant functional assays concerning cell proliferation and apoptosis. The xenograft mouse model was induced and the effect of miR-1283 on tumor growth and cell proliferation was examined. The target of miR-1283 and the transcription factor regulating miR-1283 were predicted and identified. Finally, the influence of transcription factor KLF14 on cell proliferation and apoptosis was investigated. An integrated analysis confirmed that miR-1283 expression was significantly decreased in HER2+ breast cancer tissues. Also, by q-RT-PCR detection, miR-1283 expression was markedly reduced in HER2+ breast cancer tissues and cell lines. The miR-1283 overexpression prevented the proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of HER2+ breast cancer cells, as well as inhibited tumor growth. Mechanistically, miR-1283 inhibited TFAP2C expression by targeting the 3'-untranslated regions of TFAP2C messenger RNA, and the KLF14 enhanced miR-1283 level via binding to its promoter. The result subsequently confirmed the KLF14/miR-1283 signaling suppressed cell proliferation in HER2+ breast cancer. Our results suggested that the KLF14/miR-1283/TFAP2C axis inhibited HER2+ breast cancer progression, which might provide novel insight into mechanical exploration for this disease.

[Specific DNA barcodes, germplasm resources, and genetic diversity of Eleutherococcus senticosus].

Eleutherococcus senticosus is one of the Dao-di herbs in northeast China. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of three E. senticosus samples from different genuine producing areas were sequenced and then used for the screening of specific DNA barcodes. The germplasm resources and genetic diversity of E. senticosus were analyzed basing on the specific DNA barcodes. The chloroplast genomes of E. senticosus from different genuine producing areas showed the total length of 156 779-156 781 bp and a typical tetrad structure. Each of the chloroplast genomes carried 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. The chloroplast genomes were relatively conserved. Sequence analysis of the three chloroplast genomes indicated that atpI, ndhA, ycf1, atpB-rbcL, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, psbM-psbD, and rps16-psbK can be used as specific DNA barcodes of E. senticosus. In this study, we selected atpI and atpB-rbcL which were 700-800 bp and easy to be amplified for the identification of 184 E. senticosus samples from 13 genuine producing areas. The results demonstrated that 9 and 10 genotypes were identified based on atpI and atpB-rbcL sequences, respectively. Furthermore, the two barcodes identified 23 genotypes which were named H1-H23. The haplotype with the highest proportion and widest distribution was H10, followed by H2. The haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.94 and 1.82×10~(-3), respectively, suggesting the high genetic diversity of E. senticosus. The results of the median-joining network analysis showed that the 23 genotypes could be classified into 4 categories. H2 was the oldest haplotype, and it served as the center of the network characterized by starlike radiation, which suggested that population expansion of E. senticosus occurred in the genuine producing areas. This study lays a foundation for the research on the genetic quality and chloroplast genetic engineering of E. senticosus and further research on the genetic mechanism of its population, providing new ideas for studying the genetic evolution of E. senticosus.

Fostering guardians for frontline medical disputes: a government-led medical dispute mediator training program in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Mediation is increasingly used for medical dispute resolution, and the particularity of such mediation necessitates specialized training. In response to the promotion of compulsory mediation ahead of a legislation in Taiwan, we invited experts with an interdisciplinary team to design a case-based mediator training workshop. Our study aimed to investigate the learning outcomes of trainees and analyze their perspectives. METHODS: We recruited 129 trainees of a non-probability convenience sample who served as mediators or have dealt with medical dispute-related cases to undergo 2.5 h of lectures (introduction; procedure; roles of two mediators; principles and techniques of mediation; dispute arrangement; and issue analysis) and 1.5 h of case-based exercises. An after-class survey was conducted using a 4-point Likert-type scale to evaluate trainees' viewpoints and learning outcomes. A total of 104 questionnaires were collected (response rate: 80.6%). RESULTS: The professions of the participants were medical (56%), law (16%), and administration and others (28%). Males considered the course more helpful (3.79 vs. 3.63, p = 0.053) and more important (3.88 vs. 3.74, p = 0.042) than did females. Participants with a legal background scored the highest in helpfulness (3.84), followed by medical (3.74) and administrative (3.63) professionals. Medical and administrative professionals scored the highest (3.85) and lowest (3.76), respectively, on importance. Respondents with more than 10 years (3.81) and less than 1 year (3.79) of experience produced higher scores in helpfulness. Respondents with 1-5 years of experience (3.68) were found to be less likely to agree with the practical importance of course content compared with other groups of trainees. Administrative professionals obtained the highest scores (89.68) in written examinations. CONCLUSIONS: There are variations in mediators' perspectives based on gender, occupation, and work experience. Our nationwide mediation training workshop can be utilized to cultivate capabilities of mediators for handling medical disputes to achieve the goal of non-litigation in medical disputes.

Unexpected Roles of Alkali-Metal Cations in the Assembly of Low-Valent Uranium Sulfate Molecular Complexes.

The directing effect of coordinating ligands in the formation of uranium molecular complexes has been well established, but the role of counterions in metal-ligand interactions remains ambiguous and requires further investigation. In this work, we describe the targeted isolation, through the choice of alkali-metal ions, of a family of tetravalent uranium sulfates, showing the influence of the overall topology and, unexpectedly, the UIV nuclearity upon the inclusion of such countercations. Analyses of the structures of uranium(IV) oxo/hydroxosulfate oligomeric species isolated from consistent synthetic conditions reveal that the incorporation of Na+ and Rb+ promotes the crystallization of 0D discrete clusters with a hexanuclear [U6O4(OH)4(H2O)4]12+ core, whereas the larger Cs+ ion allows for the isolation of a 2D-layered oligomer with a less condensed trinuclear [U3(O)]10+ center. This finding expands the prevalent view that counterions play an innocent role in molecular complex synthesis, affecting only the overall packing but not the local oligomerization. Interestingly, trends in nuclearity appear to correlate with the hydration enthalpies of alkali-metal cations, such that the alkali-metal cations with larger hydration enthalpies correspond to more hydrated complexes and cluster cores. These findings afford new insights into the mechanism of nucleation of UIV, and they also open a new path for the rational design and synthesis of targeted molecular complexes.

[Association of vitamin D level with asthma control and pulmonary function in asthmatic children aged 4-12 years].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of vitamin D level with asthma control and pulmonary function in children with asthma. METHODS: A total of 150 children with asthma were enrolled as observation group, and 55 healthy children were enrolled as control group. According to the level of asthma control, the children were divided into good control group, partial control group, and non-control group. Chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay was used to measure the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] for all groups. According to the level of 25(OH)D, the asthmatic children were divided into normal vitamin D group, vitamin D insufficiency group, and vitamin D deficiency group. Pulmonary function was measured for all asthmatic children. RESULTS: The observation group had a significantly lower serum level of 25(OH)D than the control group (25± 7 ng/mL vs 29± 4 ng/mL; P<0.05). The normal vitamin D group had the highest asthma control rate, followed by the vitamin D insufficiency group and the vitamin D deficiency group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in pulmonary function among the three groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic children have a lower serum level of 25(OH)D than healthy children. The serum level of 25(OH)D is associated with the level of asthma control and has no association with pulmonary function.

[Application of flexible bronchoscopy in children with respiratory diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of flexible bronchoscopy in children with respiratory diseases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 80 children who were hospitalized due to respiratory diseases (including severe pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with atelectasis/lung consolidation/local emphysema, protracted pneumonia, coughing and wheezing of unknown cause, chronic cough of unknown cause, and laryngeal stridor) and who underwent flexible bronchoscopy/alveolar lavage. RESULTS: Bronchoscopy found that all the 80 children had endobronchial inflammation, among whom 28 children had severe airway obstruction by secretion. Twenty-four children had congenital airway dysplasia besides endobronchial inflammation, and three children had bronchial foreign bodies. In the children with coughing and wheezing of unknown cause and laryngeal stridor, some had congenital airway dysplasia or bronchial foreign bodies. Among the 27 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, 26 had severe airway obstruction/embolization by secretion; 25 children (93%) underwent chest imaging again at 2 weeks after alveolar lavage, and the results showed complete or partial lung recruitment. Among the 80 children who underwent bronchoscopy, 3 had severe hypoxemia during surgery, 1 had epistaxis, 1 had minor bleeding during alveolar lavage, 3 had transient bronchospasm, and 5 had postoperative fever; these children were all improved after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Flexible bronchoscopy is safe and reliable in children with respiratory diseases. Early alveolar lavage under a flexible bronchoscope is recommended for children with severe/refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia to improve prognosis. Flexible bronchoscopy is recommended for children with recurrent coughing and wheezing and persistent laryngeal stridor, in order to directly observe the throat and airway under an endoscope.

Iron Oxide with Different Crystal Phases (α- and γ-Fe2O3) in Electroanalysis and Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of Lead(II): An Advancing Approach Using XPS and EXAFS.

Iron oxide with different crystal phases (α- and γ-Fe2O3) has been applied to electrode coatings and been demonstrated to ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical sensing toward heavy metal ions (e.g., Pb(II)). A range of Pb(II) contents in micromoles (0.1 to 1.0 µM) at α-Fe2O3 nanoflowers with a sensitivity of 137.23 µA µM(-1) cm(-2) and nanomoles (from 0.1 to 1.0 nM) at γ-Fe2O3 nanoflowers with a sensitivity of 197.82 µA nM(-1) cm(-2) have been investigated. Furthermore, an extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) technique was applied to characterize the difference of local structural environment of the adsorbed Pb(II) on the surface of α- and γ-Fe2O3. The results first showed that α- and γ-Fe2O3 had diverse interaction between Pb(II) and iron (hydro)oxides, which were consistent with the difference of electrochemical performance. Determining the responses of Cu(II) and Hg(II) as the most appropriate choice for comparison, the stripping voltammetric quantification of Pb(II) with high sensitivity and selectivity at γ-Fe2O3 nanoflower has been demonstrated. This work reveals that the stripping performances of a nanomodifier have to be directly connected with its intrinsic surface atom arrangement.

Correction method for the self-absorption effects in fluorescence extended X-ray absorption fine structure on multilayer samples.

A novel correction method for self-absorption effects is proposed for extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) detected in the fluorescence mode on multilayer samples. The effects of refraction and multiple reflection at the interfaces are fully considered in this correction method. The correction is performed in k-space before any further data analysis, and it can be applied to single-layer or multilayer samples with flat surfaces and without thickness limit when the model parameters for the samples are known. The validity of this method is verified by the fluorescence EXAFS data collected for a Cr/C multilayer sample measured at different experimental geometries.

Symptom clusters after chemoradiotherapy in discharged nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of complications and types of chemoradiotherepy induces symptom clusters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were first diagnosed after treatment and discharged from hospital. Methods: After their discharge home, 130 NPC patients who had been treated with chemoradiotherapy were asked to complete a modified Chinese version of the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Head and Neck Module developed by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer in the Head and Neck. Symptom clusters in patients were identified through exploratory factor analysis. Results: The most serious symptoms for discharged NPC patients who had received chemoradiotherapy were dental problems, a sense of obstruction while swallowing, embarrassment in physical contact with family members and friends, difficulty in speaking with others, and embarrassment in public. The six symptom clusters identified through exploratory factor analysis were (1) painful eating, (2) social difficulties, (3) psychological disorders, (4) symptomatic shame, (5) teeth/throat injuries, and (6) sensory abnormalities. The total contribution rate of variance was 65.73%. Conclusion: NPC patients who are treated with chemoradiotherapy can experience adverse symptom clusters that continue after discharge. Nurses should evaluate the patients' symptoms before discharge and provide targeted health education services which would reduce the patients' complications and improve the quality of life at home. Besides, medical staff should evaluate the complications in a timely and comprehensive manner and provide individualized health education for the affected patients to help them manage chemoradiotherapy side effects.

MKRN1 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by activating the TGF-ß signalling pathway through SNIP1 protein degradation.

BACKGROUND: The Makorin ring finger protein 1 (MKRN1) gene, also called RNF61, is located on the long arm of chromosome 7 and is a member of the RING finger protein family. The E3 ubiquitin ligase MKRN1 is closely linked to tumour development, but the exact mechanism needs to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the specific mechanism and role of MKRN1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. METHODS: MKRN1 expression in CRC was analysed using the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopaedia and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Rectal tumour tissues were frozen to explore the MKRN1 expression in CRC and its clinical significance. The impact of MKRN1 on CRC cell proliferation and migration was observed using CCK8, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. A combination of MKRN1 quantitative proteomics, ubiquitination modification omics analysis, and a string of in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed the potential mechanisms by which MKRN1 regulates CRC metastasis. RESULTS: MKRN1 expression was significantly elevated in CRC tissues compared to paracancerous tissues and was positively linked with prognosis (P < 0.01). MKRN1 downregulation inhibits CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Conversely, MKRN1 overexpression promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanistically, MKRN1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC cells via ubiquitination and degradation of Smad nuclear-interacting protein 1 (SNIP1). Furthermore, SNIP1 inhibits transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signalling, and MKRN1 promotes TGF-ß signalling by degrading SNIP1 to induce EMT in CRC cells. Finally, using conditional knockout mice, intestinal lesions and metastatic liver microlesions were greatly reduced in the intestinal knockout MKRN1 group compared to that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: High MKRN1 levels promote TGF-ß signalling through ubiquitination and degradation of SNIP1, thereby facilitating CRC metastasis, and supporting MKRN1 as a CRC pro-cancer factor. The MKRN1/SNIP1/TGF-ß axis may be a potential therapeutic target in CRC.

Characterization of a thermophilic and glucose-tolerant GH1 ß-glucosidase from hot springs and its prospective application in corn stover degradation.

Introduction: ß-Glucosidase serves as the pivotal rate-limiting enzyme in the cellulose degradation process, facilitating the hydrolysis of cellobiose and cellooligosaccharides into glucose. However, the widespread application of numerous ß-glucosidases is hindered by their limited thermostability and low glucose tolerance, particularly in elevated-temperature and high-glucose environments. Methods: This study presents an analysis of a ß-glucosidase gene belonging to the GH1 family, denoted lqbg8, which was isolated from the metagenomic repository of Hehua hot spring located in Tengchong, China. Subsequently, the gene was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Post expression, the recombinant ß-glucosidase (LQBG8) underwent purification through a Ni affinity chromatography column, thereby enabling the in-depth exploration of its enzymatic properties. Results: LQBG8 had an optimal temperature of 70°C and an optimum pH of 5.6. LQBG8 retained 100 and 70% of its maximum activity after 2-h incubation periods at 65°C and 70°C, respectively. Moreover, even following exposure to pH ranges of 3.0-10.0 for 24 h, LQBG8 retained approximately 80% of its initial activity. Notably, the enzymatic prowess of LQBG8 remained substantial at glucose concentrations of up to 3 M, with a retention of over 60% relative activity. The kinetic parameters of LQBG8 were characterized using cellobiose as substrate, with Km and Vmax values of 28 ± 1.9 mg/mL and 55 ± 3.2 µmol/min/mg, respectively. Furthermore, the introduction of LQBG8 (at a concentration of 0.03 mg/mL) into a conventional cellulase reaction system led to an impressive 43.7% augmentation in glucose yield from corn stover over a 24-h period. Molecular dynamics simulations offered valuable insights into LQBG8's thermophilic nature, attributing its robust stability to reduced fluctuations, conformational changes, and heightened structural rigidity in comparison to mesophilic ß-glucosidases. Discussion: In summation, its thermophilic, thermostable, and glucose-tolerant attributes, render LQBG8 ripe for potential applications across diverse domains encompassing food, feed, and the production of lignocellulosic ethanol.

Evaluation of electrophilic heteroaromatic substitution: synthesis of heteroaromatic-fused pyrimidine derivatives via sequential three-component heterocyclization.

A new sequential three-component heterocyclization was developed by reacting aromatic and heterocyclic substrates, including aminobenzenes, 1-aminonaphthalene, 2-aminopyrazines, 5-aminopyrazoles, 3-aminopyridine, 5-aminopyrimidine, 5-aminoquinoline, and 8-aminoquinoline, with formamide in the presence of PBr(3). The reaction gave the corresponding pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines in good yields (59-96%), except for aminobenzenes and 3-aminopyridine. A plausible reaction mechanism involving amidination, electrophilic substitution imination, and oxidative cyclization in three steps was proposed to account for the heterocyclization. The reactivity of the reaction was found proportional to the electrophilicity of the aromatic or heterocyclic substrate.

Covalent organic framework DQTP modified pencil graphite electrode for simultaneous determination of bisphenol A and bisphenol S.

The sensitivity and selectivity of electrochemical analysis are challenging due to the materials used for electrode modification as well as electrical conductivity, catalytic activity and recognition ability of the working electrode. In this work, a portable 3D-printed electrochemical electrode clamp was designed and applied in combination with the developed covalent organic framework (COF DQTP)-modified pencil graphite electrode (DQTP/PGE). The ß-ketoenamine-linked COF DQTP synthesized by 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TP) and 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone (DQ) through solvothermal method is a porous crystalline with excellent conductivity and large periodic π-arrays, coupled with commercial available pencil graphite electrode to fabricate a disposable sensor for simultaneous determination of environmental endocrine disruptors bisphenol A and bisphenol S. The DQTP/PGE sensor exhibited high electrical conductivity and catalytic activity, and a good linearity was obtained in a range of 0.5-30 µM for two bisphenols with a detection limit of 0.15 µM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the sensor showed a reproducible and stable response over one month with negligible interference, and an accepted recovery with real food packaging samples.

Electro-enhanced solid-phase microextraction with covalent organic framework modified stainless steel fiber for efficient adsorption of bisphenol A.

In this work, electro-enhanced solid-phase microextraction (EE-SPME) and covalent organic framework (COF) were adopted to improve the extraction efficiency. A conductive COF synthesized of 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone (DQ) and 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TP) was in situ bonded to the stainless steel wire via facile solution-phase approach and used as the EE-SPME fiber coating to preconcentrate a typical endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA). Compared with conventional SPME, the DQTP bonded fiber coupled with EE-SPME device exhibited higher extraction efficiency and achieved extraction equilibrium within 10 min. The proposed approach based on EE-SPME and gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector gave a linear range of 0.05-10 µg mL-1 and detection limit of 3 µg L-1 (S/N = 3) with good precision (<6.7%) and reproducibility (<7.1%) spiked with 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 µg mL-1 BPA. Quantitative determination of BPA in extracts of food packagings (mineral water bottles, milk boxes and milk tea cups) was achieved with recoveries from 88.6 to 118.0%.

Volatile Oil of Platycladus Orientalis (L.) Franco Leaves Exerts Strong Anti-inflammatory Effects via Inhibiting the IκB/NF-κB Pathway.

This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves (VOPF) and the underlying molecular mechanisms by using the non-infectious inflammation rat models and infectious inflammation mouse models. Ear swelling and intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice, and carrageenan-induced toe swelling and cotton ball-induced granuloma in rats were used to reveal anti-inflammatory effects of VOPF. Moreover, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of acute lung injury was used to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of VOPF. The results showed that VOPF could significantly inhibit auricular swelling, intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice, and reduce granuloma swelling and paw swelling in rats. Furthermore, it significantly alleviated the pathological damage of the lung tissue. In addition, VOPF could reduce the contents of IL-1ß and TNF-α and increase the content of IL-10 in the serum. It had little effect on the expression of p65 but reduced the phosphorylation level of p65 and IκB in NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, VOPF has anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanisms involve the down-regulation of the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκB and blockage of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of N,N-disubstituted-N'-[1-aryl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-methnimidamides.

A series of N,N-disubstituted-N'-[1-aryl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-methnimidamides was synthesized by a newly developed microwave reaction and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated. Microwave irradiation of 5-amino-1,3-disubstituted pyrazoles with various amide solvents in the presence of POCl(3) provided the corresponding 2a-2k, 3a-3c, and 4a-4f in good to excellent yields. The obtained methnimidamides were tested against NCI-H661, NPC-TW01, and Jurkat cancer cell lines and the results indicated that compounds 2d and 2e were the most potent with IC(50) values in low micromolar range.

Thiazolidinedione attenuate proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in Adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats via slit diaphragm protection.

AIM: The slit diaphragm (SD) of podocyte impairment contributes to massive proteinuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis in many human glomerular diseases. The aim of the study was to determine if thiazolidinedione (TZD) reduce proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) by preserving the structure and function of SD. METHODS: Adriamycin-induced FSGS rat models were employed. Urinary protein content was measured dynamically during the experiment. Additional biochemical parameters in serum samples were measured after the animals were killed. Glomerular sclerosis index (SI) and podocyte foot processes fusion rate (PFR) were evaluated. The protein and mRNA expressing levels of nephrin, podocin and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in glomeruli were assessed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The density of podocytes was also evaluated after anti-Wilms' tumour-1 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Rosiglitazone treatment partially reduced proteinuria, but did not significantly affect the serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin, glucose, urea nitrogen and creatinine in Adriamycin-induced FSGS rats. Glomerular SI and podocyte foot PFR were significantly attenuated by rosiglitazone treatment. Rosiglitazone prevented the reduction of nephrin, podocin and CD2AP protein expression induced by Adriamycin, however, the mRNA expression levels of these SD-related markers did not change significantly. Rosiglitazone therapy did not reverse Adriamycin-mediated reduction of the density of podocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The study data suggest that TZD are promising therapeutic agents on FSGS, and the mechanism may be mediated in part by directly protecting the structure and function of SD.

In situ growth of covalent organic framework on titanium fiber for headspace solid-phase microextraction of 11 phthalate esters in vegetables.

Vegetables are easily contaminated by phthalate esters (PAEs) from the environment, agricultural films and fertilizers, affecting human health. In this paper, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube arrays were prepared by electrochemical anodic oxidation on the surface of titanium wire. Covalent organic framework of TpBD was in situ bonded to the titanium wire via TiO2 nanotube arrays using monomers of 1,3,5-trimethylphloroglucinol (Tp) and benzidine (BD). The fabricated TpBD-TiO2 coated titanium wire was used as the solid-phase microextraction fiber to extract 11 PAEs in vegetable samples. Coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), the limits of detection for PAEs were from 0.001 (di-n-butyl phthalate) to 0.430 (butyl benzyl phthalate) µg/L (S/N = 3) and enrichment factors were between 226 (dimethyl phthalate) and 2154 (di-n-butyl phthalate). Our fabricated TpBD-TiO2 fiber can be used at least 150 times without significant loss of extraction efficiency (<4.8%). Quantitative determination of PAEs in vegetable samples (tomato, lettuce, cucumber) was achieved by standard addition.