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[Display omitted] • The drug delivery route of curcumin nicotinate was improved by loading nano materials, and the drug dosage was reduced. • The construction of HA-M@PB@CN NPs provides an important alternative for the treatment of atherosclerosis. • The encapsulation of biomimetic membrane and the inlay of hyaluronic acid (HA) greatly increase the drug targeting effect and improve the efficacy of curcumin nicotinate. • This study provided new evidence for the mechanism of curcumin nicotinate regulating reverse cholesterol transport. Reducing lipid uptake of macrophages and stimulating cholesterol efflux are two necessary steps for atherosclerotic plaque regression. In this study, a compound of curcumin nicotinate (CN) was synthesized from nicotinic acid which can raise raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and curcumin which can lower lipid. However, the shortcomings of CN, such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability, limit its clinical application. In this article, a CN loaded biomimetic nanosystem was constructed by using Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) to improve its solubility, thereby changing its administration route. In addition, hyaluronic acid (HA) modification on the biomimetic PB NPs was adopted to prolong circulation time and improve the accumulation of drugs in the plaque region. Mechanism studies have shown that the constructed nanosystem could exert anti-AS effects through the pathway of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9(PCSK9) /Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A1(ABCA1) /Caveolin-1 /Liver X Receptor (LXR). These findings indicated that the designed nano-platform is expected to be used for prevention and targeted therapy of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this double-blind, randomized controlled study, we assessed the therapeutic effects of high-frequency left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. For the study, 117 patients with prominent negative symptoms were randomized to a 20-day course of either active rTMS applied to the left DLPFC ( n = 78) or sham rTMS ( n = 39). The primary outcome measures were the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Secondary outcomes included the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) and the Udvalg for Kliniske Under sogelser (UKU) Side Effect Rating Scale. We found that treatment with high-frequency rTMS for 6weeks significantly improved negative symptoms in the active group as compared to the sham group. However, active rTMS was not correlated with significant improvement in the CGI severity of illness scale (CGI-S). The improvement of negative symptoms persisted to the 24-week follow-up assessment. These results indicate that there is a lasting beneficial effect of rTMS on negative symptoms in absence of decrease in CGI scores. We conclude that rTMS may serve as a relatively noninvasive treatment that alleviates negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes have been implicated in schizophrenia and may play a role in the disease process. Phospholipase Cε (PLCε) isozyme is an effector of Ras and Rap small GTPases and regulates intracellular signal transduction. Little is known about its role in signaling pathways in the central nervous system that mediate higher brain functions such as learning, memory and social behavior that are disrupted in schizophrenia. Objectives: To determine the effects of PLCε on social behavior, spatial memory and prepulse inhibition of acoustic (PPI) startle response in PLCε −/− mice. Methods: Using a social interaction test, Morris water maze, and PPI. Results: We found that PLCε− /− mice showed increased social interactions and increased novelty-seeking exploratory behavior. Interestingly, PLCε −/− mice also showed improved performance on the Morris water maze task and enhanced PPI. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PLCε negatively regulates cognitive and social behaviors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Solving the Dirac equations with equal Scarf-type scalar and vector potentials by the method of the supersymmetric quantum mechanics, shape invariance approach and the alternative method, we obtain the exact energy equations and unnormalized wavefunctions for the s-wave bound states. Some interesting results including the standard Scarf II, generalized Pöschl–Teller and Pöschl–Teller II potentials are also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A realistic model is very useful in laying the foundation for clinical treatment and further study of high-voltage electrical burns. We therefore established a soft-tissue-injury model of high-voltage electrical burn in rabbits using the highest voltage alternating current reported. Twenty-five healthy big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (five in each group): control group (C group) before injury and 0.5-h, 24-h, 48-h and 72-h groups after injury. Except for the control group, the rabbits in the other four groups were anaesthetised with ketamine and the electrodes were placed in their left limbs. Electric shock was administered from a distance of 7cm at 3000V output voltage for 0.1s to observe the skin temperature, electric resistance, wound morphology, histological change and to measure the level of muscle viability and serum myocardial enzymes, among others. Instant current application reached 3–5A (mean: 4.1±0.8A), and electric shock voltage was fixed at 3000V. The resistance between the two electrodes in the left limb decreased from between 1500 and 3600Ω (mean: 2590.3±812.9Ω) to 921.5±528.7Ω after the electric shock. The skin temperature of the control group was 30.1±2.5°C, which elevated to 50.3±4.5°C after the electric shock. Muscle necrosis occurred progressively 24–72h after the injury with obvious acute inflammation. Electron microscopic examination revealed a bilaminar sarolemma membrane structure, multiple mitochondria between muscle bundles and disappearance of shortened mitochondrial crista 48h after injury. Additionally, the muscle viability index decreased gradually to 0.376±0.071 72h after the injury, while in the control group it was 1.354±0.117. The skin, arterial walls, and peripheral nerves showed obvious degeneration and necrosis. Moreover, pathological changes were found in vital organs distal to the electric shock sites, such as the heart, liver, lung and kidney, indicating systemic injuries. The level of serum myocardial enzymes was significantly elevated, especially 24h after injury. Thus, electric shock at 3000V output electric voltage for 0.1s can cause severe, focal, soft-tissue injury and pathological changes in the vital organs such as heart, liver, kidney and lung with the characteristics similar to those of high-voltage-electrical-burn patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite islet transplantation has proved a great potential to become the standard therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), this approach remains limited by ischemia, hypoxia, and poor revascularization in early post-transplant period as well as inflammation and life-long host immune rejection. Here, we investigate the potential and mechanism of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs)-islet organoid to improve the efficiency of islet engraftment in immunocompetent T1DM mice. We generated the hAMSC-islet organoid structure through culturing the mixture of hAMSCs and islets on 3-dimensional-agarose microwells. Flow cytometry, whole-body fluorescent imaging, immunofluorescence, Calcein-AM/PI staining, ELISA, and qPCR were used to assess the potential and mechanism of shielding hAMSCs to improve the efficiency of islet transplantation. Transplant of hAMSC-islet organoids results in remarkably better glycemic control, an enhanced glucose tolerance, and a higher β cell mass in vivo compared with control islets. Our results show that hAMSCs shielding provides an immune privileged microenvironment for islets and promotes graft revascularization in vivo. In addition, hAMSC-islet organoids show higher viability and reduced dysfunction after exposure to hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Finally, our results show that shielding with hAMSCs leads to the activation of PKA-CREB-IRS2-PI3K and PKA-PDX1 signaling pathways, up-regulation of SIL1 mRNA levels, and down-regulation of MT1 mRNA levels in β cells, which ultimately promotes the synthesis, folding and secretion of insulin, respectively. hAMSC-islet organoids can evidently increase the efficiency of islet engraftment and might develop into a promising alternative for the clinical treatment of T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An MFC powered biocathode sensor was developed for self-powered nitrate detection • A kinetic model was developed to reveal the optimum resistance for biocathode nitrate reduction • A biocathode potential tuning strategy was proposed for accurate detection • Extreme low limit of detection as 0.11 μM was achieved for nitrate quantification Microbial fuel cell (MFC) powered biocathode sensors are promising for self-powered monitoring of water contaminants. However, the extensive electrode potential fluctuation would occur when the MFC powered biocathode were used for detecting different concentrations of target analytes, which in turn limits the sensitivity and accuracy. To address this, for the first time, an electrokinetic model for the nitrate reduction by an MFC powered biocathode was developed. Interestingly, both the theoretical simulation and experimental results disclosed an optimal external resistance, under which the biocathode potential was dynamically controlled in the range that electron transfer from the electrode to the nitrate though biocathodic reduction was kinetically saturated, and the output current was exclusively nitrate concentration depended. With this basis, an MFC powered biocathode sensor was for the first time developed, which showed an extremely low limit of detection (0.11 μM) and wide linear detection range (1–500 μM) in nitrate detection. Moreover, this biosensing system also exhibited good reusability and excellent reliability in complex wastewater environment. This work developed an MFC powered biocathode sensing system with excellent nitrate detection capacity, and demonstrated a novel strategy to accurately quantify the target analytes with dynamically controllable electrode potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Laryngeal morphologic changes are important in risk assessment of upper airway obstruction (UAO) after inhalation injury. This retrospective study evaluates the clinical application of laryngeal burn classification system. Materials and methods Clinical data from January 1999 to June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The following data collected: age, gender, total burned surface area (TBSA), third-degree burn surface area, co-morbid injuries and complications, proportion of patients with tracheotomy, interval between tracheotomy and injury, incidence and mortality of UAO, and reasons for death. Results Four hundred and forty-three patients were included; 405 patients underwent multiple fibro-laryngoscopic observation, of which I, II and III types of laryngeal burns were present in 49.9, 38.0, and 12.1% patients, respectively. Laryngeal burn severity was related to TBSA and third-degree burn surface area. Overall tracheotomy rate ( n = 443) was 37.02%. The mean interval between tracheotomy and injury was 10.0 ± 12.17 h. Over 75% patients underwent tracheotomy within 12 h. Compared with moderate inhalation burn group, the severe inhalation burn group showed a significantly higher tracheotomy rate within 12 h and a significantly shorter interval between tracheotomy and injury. Patient mortality was significantly related to the severity of inhalation injury. Conclusion The classification system of the morphologic laryngeal changes in laryngeal burn patients could effectively evaluate the UAO risk, enable earlier prophylactic tracheotomy after UAO onset, reduce surgical difficulties and risks, decrease clinical pressure of doctors, and prevent UAO. Laryngeal burn severity was related to TBSA and mortality and may be an important severity and prognosis indicator of inhalation injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magnetic core-shell Fe 3 O 4 @COFs were fabricated as MSPE adsorbent. • Fe 3 O 4 @ DhaTab possessed fast and selective extraction of propylparaben. • Fe 3 O 4 @DhaTab-MSPE-HPLC method was validated and suitable for real sample analysis. Efficient magnetic solid phase extraction using crystalline porous polymers can find important applications in food safety. Herein, the core-shell Fe 3 O 4 @COFs nanospheres were synthesized by one-pot method and characterized in detail. The porous COF shell with large surface area had fast and selective adsorption for propylparaben via π-π, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The extraction and desorption parameters were evaluated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction equilibrium was reached only in 5 min, the maximum adsorption capacity for propylparaben was 500 mg g−1 and the proposed Fe 3 O 4 @DhaTab-based-MSPE-HPLC-UV method afforded good linearity (4–20000 μg mL−1) with R2 (0.997), low limits of detection (0.55 μg L−1) and limits of quantification (1.5 μg L−1). Furthermore, the developed method was applied to determine propylparaben in soft drinks with the recoveries (97.0–98.3%) and relative standard deviations (0.61 to 3.75%). These results revealed the potential of Fe 3 O 4 @DhaTab as efficient adsorbents for parabens in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HAP) hierarchical microspheres were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using calcium nitrate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate through controlling complexing agents. The influences of two kinds of complexing agents (potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate and trisodium citrate) and reaction time on the morphology of HAP crystals have been investigated. These results indicate that complexing agents have a great influence on the morphology of HAP. When potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate was used as complexing agent, HAP flowers were composed of the network of nanosheet building blocks. Well-crystallized HAP dandelions with nanorods radiating from the center can be obtained by the introduction of trisodium citrate. Broader XRD diffraction peaks imply a nanometer scale size. Based on XRD and SEM results, the formation mechanism of HAP crystals has been discussed. The hierarchically structured HAP microspheres were explored as drug carriers. The results indicate that HAP flowers and dandelions showed a favorable sustained release property for ibuprofen; thus, they are very promising for application in drug delivery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Sanxiapeptin was a pentapeptide firstly found in P. oxalicum. • It potently inhibited the P. digitatum, a main postharvest decay mold in Citrus. • Both Amoba and the methylated peptide bond were essential for the activity. • It was relatively safe and stable, showing the potential in fruits preservation. Penicillium oxalicum has been used as a biocontrol fungus in agriculture for many years, but the antimicrobial substances are still uncertain. Herein, we isolated a linear peptide named Sanxiapeptin in the culture broth of Penicillium oxalicum SG-4 collecting from the Three Gorges riparian zone. Sanxiapeptin exhibited potent inhibitory effect on citrus green mold Penicillium digitatum , the main fungi responsible for postharvest decay. Sanxiapeptin was elucidated as composing of five amino acids, which were β -amino- α -methoxybutyric acid (Amoba), N -Me- l -Thr, d -Thr, N -Me- l -Val and l -Ser. By analyzing three chemically synthesized oligopeptides with similar structures, we found that the first amino acid of Amoba was crucial to the antifungal activity, as was the methylation of peptide bond. Sanxiapeptin may act as an antimicrobial agent by affecting the function of cell membranes or walls. The antimicrobial spectrum, safety and stability analysis supported that Sanxiapeptin was a promising antifungal agent for citrus preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]