Search

AIM: The study aimed to explore the effect of curcumin (Cur) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264. 7 cell-derived osteoclasts, together with its underlying mechanism. METHODS: An osteoclast model was established by treating RAW264. 7 cells with LPS. The viability of the cells was assessed by CCK-8 assays and osteoclast formation was evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe2+, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined by biochemical assays. Mitochondrial morphology was assessed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA and protein levels of p53, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with LPS successfully induced osteoclasts formation in RAW264. 7 cells. The TRAP results showed that compared with the LPS-treated group, the number of osteoclasts and TRAP activity in the curcumin-treated group decreased dose-dependently (P<0. 01). Compared with the control group, the LPS+Erastin group showed significantly increased TRAP activity (P<0. 01), while after curcumin treatment, the TRAP activity declined in a dose-dependent manner (P<0. 01). The results of the biochemical tests showed that compared with the control group, the LPS+Erastin group had significantly elevated levels of ROS, Fe2+, and MDA, while the GSH level was significantly reduced (P< 0. 01, and compared with the LPS+Erastin group, the ROS, Fe2+, and MDA levels in the curcumin group decreased (P< 0. 01) and GSH levels increased (P<0. 01). These effects were all dose-dependent. Transmission electron microscopy showed that compared with the LPS group, the LPS+Erastin group had reduced mitochondrial cristae and increased membrane density, while after treatment with curcumin, both these effects were reversed. The RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of p53 in the LPS+Erastin group were significantly increased, while those of of SLC7A11 and GPX4 were significantly reduced (P<0. 01). After curcumin treatment, the p53 mRNA and protein levels were reduced while the levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 were increased (P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: Curcumin can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiation of RAW264. 7 cells into osteoclasts, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the p53/SLC7A1 1/GPX4 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to minimize potential human bias on the evaluation of the maturity and flue-curing quality of fresh tobacco leaves and the grading of greenish tobacco leaves, the yellowing process of fresh tobacco leaves and the difference of spectral characteristics between the normal area and the greenish area of flue-cured tobacco were analyzed based on the hyperspectral imaging technology, and the greenish characteristics of tobacco leaves were quantitatively characterized by using the spectral absorption index (SAI) method. The results showed that: 1) Within the band of 400-780 nm, the spectrum of the greenish area in tobacco leaves had the characteristics of "two valleys and one peak". With the weakening of the greenish level, the depth of the absorption valley gradually decreased, and the valley of the normal area in flue-cured tobacco basically disappeared at about 680 nm after curing. 2) The higher the greenish level, the higher the SAI value. 3) When the SAI threshold range was set to 1.19-1.28, the normal group, slightly green group, greenish-yellow grade 1, and greenish-yellow grade 2 of flue-cured tobacco leaves could be accurately distinguished. 4) By setting different SAI thresholds and combining with color mapping, the location distribution of greenish areas corresponding to different greenish levels in tobacco leaves could be realized. This method provides technical support for the maturity assessment of fresh tobacco leaves, the determination of the yellowing stage progression, and the evaluation of the flue-cured tobacco grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the characteristics of microwave expanded stem in cigarettes, microwave expanded stem was compared with traditional stem in terms of filling value, moisture retentivity, structural distribution, routine cigarette smoke chemical components, aroma components, cigarette sensory quality and mainstream smoke. The results showed that: Comparing with traditional stem, 1) the filling value of microwave expanded stem increased by 19.3% ; the weight change of microwave expanded stem in dehumidification state was lower, indicating that the moisture retentivity of microwave expanded stem was higher, which was conducive to blending quality control and energy saving; 2) microwave expanded stem had better structural uniformity and stronger shatter resistance, which was conducive to stem blending uniformity and consumption reduction; 3) the total amount of aroma components in microwave expanded stem was higher, and the sensory quality of aroma and taste characteristics was better; 4) the releases of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide from microwave expanded stem decreased by 0.90, 0.016 and 2.36 mg respectively, which could be used to control the releases of these chemical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the cardiac structural and functional characteristics in the patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),and predict the factors influencing the characteristics. Methods A total of 783 HFpEF patients diagnosed in the Department of Geriatric Cardiology,the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from April 2009 to December 2020 were enrolled in this study.Echocardiography and tissue Doppler technique were employed to evaluate cardiac structure and function.According to the occurrence of T2DM,the patients were assigned into a HFpEF+T2DM group ( n =332) and a HFpEF group ( n =451).Propensity score matching (PSM)(in a 1∶1 ratio) was adopted to minimize confounding effect.According to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER),the HFpEF+T2DM group was further divided into three subgroups with UAER<20 μg/min,of 20-200 μg/min,and>200 μg/min,respectively.The comorbidities,symptoms and signs,and cardiac structure and function were compared among the groups to clarify the features of diabetes related HFpEF.Multivariate linear regression was conducted to probe the relationship of systolic blood pressure,blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin,and UARE with cardiac structural and functional impairment. Results The HFpEF+T2DM group had higher prevalence of hypertension ( P =0.001) and coronary heart disease ( P =0.036),younger age ( P =0.020),and larger body mass index ( P =0.005) than the HFpEF group,with the median diabetic course of 10 (3,17) years.After PSM,the prevalence of hypertension and coronary heart disease,body mass index,and age had no significant differences between the two groups(all P >0.05).In addition,the HFpEF+T2DM group had higher interventricular septal thickness ( P =0.015),left ventricular posterior wall thickness ( P =0.040),and left ventricular mass ( P =0.012) and lower early diastole velocity of mitral annular septum ( P =0.030) and lateral wall ( P =0.011) than the HFpEF group.Compared with the HFpEF group,the HFpEF+T2DM group showed increased ratio of early diastolic mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e') ( P =0.036).Glycosylated hemoglobin was correlated with left ventricular mass ( P =0.011),and the natural logarithm of UAER with interventricular septal thickness ( P =0.004),left ventricular posterior wall thickness ( P =0.006),left ventricular mass ( P <0.001),and E/e' ratio ( P =0.049). Conclusion The patients with both T2DM and HFpEF have thicker left ventricular wall,larger left ventricular mass,more advanced left ventricular remodeling,severer impaired left ventricular diastolic function,and higher left ventricular filling pressure than the HFpEF patients without T2DM.Elevated blood glucose and diabetic microvascular diseases might play a role in the development of the detrimental structural and functional changes of the heart.