Search

Metal/fullerene bilayers have been studied as hole injection electrodes for use in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In the case of a simple emission zone structure, it is found that OLEDs with the Au/C60 anodes have much lower (∼10 V) driving voltages and much higher current efficiencies (five times higher) than OLEDs with a simple Au anode. This anode structure was found to be applicable for all types of light-emitting structures including fluorescent and phosphorescent dye-doped systems. The formation of a primary bond at the Au/C60 interface is explained as the major cause for efficient hole injection from Au to C60. The hole transfer barrier between C60 and the adjacent hole transport layer is also found critical in selecting suitable matching materials to achieve highly efficient OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radix puerariae (RP) is a herbal medicines for diabetes, mainly because of anti-oxidative, insulin resistance and hypoglycemic effect. Fructus crataegi (FC) also possesses strong antioxidant activity in vitro. This study focused on the effects of herbal mixture of RP and FC (RPFC) on renal protection through a diabetic rat model. Methods: Type 2 Diabetic model was established with high fat diet followed by injecting rats a low dose of STZ (25 mg/kg body weight). Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal, high fat diet, diabetes mellitus, high fat diet plus RPFC prevention, and RPFC prevention before diabetes mellitus. RPFC was given to rats daily by intragastric gavage. The blood bio-chemical index and renal pathological changes were examined. The later includes hematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid schiff staining, and Masson trichrome staining. Protein levels of were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. Results: Rats prevented with RPFC resulted in decreasing blood glucose with corresponding vehicle treated rats. Glomerulus mesangial matrix expansion, renal capsule constriction, and renal tubular epithelial cell edema were less severe following RPFC prevention. Moreover, RPFC prevention reduced protein levels of PI3K, AKT, a-SMA and collagen IV in the kidney of diabetic rats. Conclusion: Combined prevention with RPFC may inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway in the kidney, thereby prevent renal injury in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): It has been widely reported that Mori cortex extract (MCE) is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The present study was designed to investigate its mechanism of action in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We assessed whether MCE preventive treatment ameliorates kidney damage in high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were fed a high-fat diet and injected with STZ. MCE was given to rats daily at 10 g/kg. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial plasma glucose were measured. Blood and urine biochemical parameters, renal tissue morphology, and inflammation were investigated. Results: Prevention with MCE significantly decreased FBG and homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of IR (HOMA-IR) levels and increased insulin levels in diabetic rats. MCE prevention significantly decreased levels of KW/BW, BUN, Cr, and 24 hr urinary protein. MCE inhibited glomerular basement membrane thickening, tubular epithelial cell hypertrophy, and glomerular capillary dilation. MCE also prevented the disappearance of bowman's space and renal tubular lumen and decreased collagen deposition in rat kidney. Moreover, MCE reduced the levels of inflammatory factors (MCP-1 and TNF-a) and fibrosis factors (collagen IV and fibronectin). Conclusion: MCE prevents DN through inhibition of inflammation and fibrosis in a rat model. It might provide a safe and effective way to prevent DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the past few decades. Previous studies suggest that obesity is an oncogenic factor and that over 20% of all cancers are obesity-related. Among such cancers, digestive system malignancies (including esophageal adenocarcinomas, colorectal cancers, and cancers of the gastric cardia, liver, and pancreas) are reported most frequently. While the 5-year survival rates of cancers of the breast and prostate are 90%, that rate is only 45% for digestive cancers. In this review, the mechanisms of obesity-associated digestive cancers are discussed, with an emphasis on obesity-related gene mutations, insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways, chronic inflammation, and altered adipokine levels. Evidence that these factors often function interdependently rather than independently in carcinogenesis is presented. Recommended interventions that may reduce the burden of obesity-associated digestive cancers, such as participation in physical activity, diet modulation, and calorie restriction, are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radix Puerariae and hawthorn fruit have been demonstrated to treat diabetes. They offer potential benefits for preventing depression in diabetes. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of Radix Puerariae and hawthorn fruit (CRPHF) could prevent depression in a diabetic rat model generated by feeding the rats with a high-fat diet and a low-dose streptozotocin (STZ). Methods: The CRPHF was provided by the Shanghai Chinese Traditional Medical University. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, normal-given- CRPHF (NC), diabetic control, and diabetic-given-CRPHF (DC) groups. The type 2 diabetic model was created by feeding the rats with a high-fat diet for 4 weeks followed by injection of 25 mg/kg STZ. CRPHF was given at 2 g/kg/d to the rats of NC and DC groups by intragastric gavage daily for 4 weeks after the type 2 diabetic model was successfully created. Body weight, random blood glucose (RBG), oral glucose tolerance test, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured during the study. Depressive-like behavior was evaluated at the end of the treatment by using the open field test (OFT), the elevated plus-maze test (EPMT), locomotor activity test (LAT), and forced swimming test (FST). Levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex were evaluated by using Western blot. Results: 1) CRPHF reduced RBG and improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats; 2) CRPHF reduced TC and TG but did not significantly change HDL-C or LDL-C in diabetic rats; 3) CRPHF reversed the loss in body weights observed in diabetic rats; 4) CRPHF reduced depressive-like behavior as measured by OFT, EPMT, LAT, and FST; 5) BDNF was upregulated, and ERK was activated in the prefrontal cortex of diabetic rats treated with CRPHF. Conclusion: CRPHF has the potential of preventing depression in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of static state feedback linearization of switched non-linear systems is investigated. First, we consider the regular state feedback linearization. In this case, the single-input switched system is considered first. A necessary and sufficient condition is provided, which contains an uncertain single variable function. Then the result is extended to a multiple input case. Secondly, the problem of non-regular static state feedback linearization is considered. Using semi-tensor product, some easily verifiable sufficient conditions are obtained. Then some examples are presented to illustrate the linearization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the problem of uniformly asymptotical stability (UAS) and stabilisation of planar switched linear systems using LaSalle's invariance principle of switched systems. First, we show that a common weak quadratic Lyapunov function (WQLF) is enough to assure the UAS of a switched linear system with stable modes. Then the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of common WQLF are obtained. Secondly, we consider the problem of uniformly asymptotical stabilisation (UASZ) of single-input planar switched linear systems. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the closed-loop system with proper feedback to share a common WQLF are presented. It is also proved that a common WQLF is enough to assure the UAS of the closed-loop system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]