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Supercapacitor is a new type of energy storage device, which has the advantages of high-power property and long cycle life. In this study, three-dimensional graphene (3D-GN) with oxygen doping and porous structure was prepared from graphene oxide (GO) by an inexpensive sodium chloride (NaCl) template, as a promising electrode material for the supercapacitor. The structure, morphology, specific surface area, pore size, of the sample were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and BET techniques. The electrochemical performances of the sample were tested by CV and CDC techniques. The 3D-GE product is a three-dimensional nano material with hierarchical porous structures, its specific surface area is much larger than that of routine stacked graphene (GN), and it contains a large number of mesoporous and macropores, a small amount of micropores. The capacitance characteristics of the 3D-GN electrode material are excellent, showing high specific capacitance (173.5 F·g−1 at 1 A·g−1), good rate performance (109.2 F·g−1 at 8 A·g−1) and long cycle life (88% capacitance retention after 10000 cycles at 8 A·g−1)

BACKGROUND The efficacy and factors associated with patient outcomes for a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (LFD) compared with traditional dietary advice (TDA) based on modified National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in regions consuming a non-Western diet are unclear. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine the efficacy of an LFD compared with TDA for the treatment of IBS-D in Chinese patients and to investigate the factors associated with favorable outcomes. METHODS One hundred and eight Chinese IBS-D patients (Rome III criteria) were randomly assigned to an LFD or TDA. The primary endpoint was a ≥50-point reduction in the IBS Severity Scoring System at 3 wk. Fecal samples collected before and after the dietary intervention were assessed for changes in SCFAs and microbiota profiles. A logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of outcomes. RESULTS Among the 100 patients who completed the study, the primary endpoint was met in a similar number of LFD (30 of 51, 59%) and TDA (26 of 49, 53%) patients (∆6%; 95% CI: -13%, 24%). Patients in the LFD group achieved earlier symptomatic improvement in stool frequency and excessive wind than those following TDA. LFD reduced carbohydrate-fermenting bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides, and decreased saccharolytic fermentation activity. This was associated with symptomatic improvement in the responders. High saccharolytic fermentation activity at baseline was associated with a higher symptom burden (P = 0.01) and a favorable therapeutic response to the LFD (log OR: 4.9; 95% CI: -0.1, 9.9; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS An LFD and TDA each reduced symptoms in Chinese IBS-D patients; however, the LFD achieved earlier symptomatic improvements in stool frequency and excessive wind. The therapeutic effect of the LFD was associated with changes in the fecal microbiota and the fecal fermentation index. At baseline, the presence of severe symptoms and microbial metabolic dysbiosis characterized by high saccharolytic capability predicted favorable outcomes to LFD intervention.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03304041.

Background and Aims Prophylactic clips to prevent delayed polypectomy bleeding (DPB) after endoscopic resection of large colorectal polyps remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic clips for preventing DPB by synthesizing the results of randomized trials. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched to October 2019 to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of placing prophylactic clips to reduce DPB after resection of large (≥10 mm) colorectal polyps. The primary outcome was DPB defined by GI bleeding after the conclusion of the colonoscopy. Results Eight studies (n = 3415) met the study criteria, all with a low risk of bias. The overall pooled incidence of DPB was 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4%-5.4%) in patients receiving endoscopic resection of colorectal polyps ≥10 mm. Placing prophylactic clips reduced DPB in patients receiving prophylactic clips (relative risk [RR], 0.61; 95% CI, 0.43-0.85; I2 = 37.8%) compared with no clips with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 52 (95% CI, 31-163). In stratified analyses, placing clips was associated with reduced risks of DPB in patients with polyps ≥20 mm (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35-0.84; I2 = 0.0%; NNT, 30), nonpedunculated morphology (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.36-0.81; I2 = 0.0%; NNT, 39), and located proximal to the hepatic flexure (RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31-0.78; I2 = 54.8%; NNT, 25) compared with no clips. Conclusions Prophylactic clips after endoscopic resection of colorectal polyps ≥10 mm demonstrated a modest reduction in the risk of DPB. Larger reductions were observed in patients with polyps ≥20 mm, nonpedunculated morphology, or located proximal to the hepatic flexure.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether an incubation time of 5 days (Aerobic/F, Anaerobic/F) and 14 days (Myco/F) blood culture bottles is sufficient to prevent false-negative results.MethodsWe evaluated 1,244 blood bottles (344 patients) defined as negative by the BACTEC™ FX system. We also reviewed published cases and our own cases of bloodstream infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and simulated different scenarios, including different inoculation concentrations, bottle types, and clinical isolates.ResultsTwo bottles (0.16%) were found to contain C. neoformans when subcultured and Gram stained. A 5-day protocol with Aerobic/F bottles was insufficient for the growth of C. neoformans in some cases, and C. neoformans grew better in Myco/F bottles than in Aerobic/F bottles.ConclusionSubculturing and Gram staining after a 5-day protocol were important for the detection of C. neoformans, and Myco/F bottles should be collected for the blood culture of C. neoformans.

The work reports the fabrication of CoSe2@NiSe2 nanoflowers on nickel foam substrates via one-step microwave method, in which the Ni foam serves as a skeleton and a nickel source. The as-prepared CoSe2@NiSe2 nanoflowers display high capacitance value of 1434 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1 and excellent cycling performance of 87.5% retention after 20,000 cycles at 10 A g−1. In addition, the supercapacitor device using CoSe2 @NiSe2 nanoflowers as the positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode not only can exhibit wide voltage window of 1.6 V, but also deliver a maximum high energy density of 20.4 Wh Kg−1 at power density of 798 W Kg−1 and 86.6% of capacity retention after 20,000 cycles.

In this work, NiSe2 was fabricated uniformly on carbonized melamine sponge (CMS) via microwave method, which could be directly used as electrode without any binder and conductive agent. Given these advantages, NiSe2­CMS could achieve an excellent capacitance of 1045 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and retain 86.3% of the initial capacitance after 15,000 charge/discharge cycles. The asymmetric supercapacitor (NiSe2­CMS-cathode, AC-anode) offered high capacitance of 63.5 F g−1, retained 76% of the initial value after 16,000 cycles, and revealed an energy density of 22.58 W h kg−1 at a power density of 800 W kg−1 at 1 A g−1. Moreover, six small white bulbs were lit for 15 min successfully, indicated good application prospects.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, devastating autoimmune disorder associated with severe organ damage. Recently, the role of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in murine lupus has been described, suggesting the involvement of STAT3 signaling in the development of SLE. Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is an effective inhibitor of STAT3; however its potential as a SLE treatment remains to be explored. To determine the function of CTS in SLE, we treated MRL/lpr female mice with CTS. Firstly, we found CTS treatment reversed the elevated STAT3 signaling of spleens in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice, accompanying with a dramatically decreased number of T cells, especially double-negative (DN) T cells. Further research showed that CTS inhibited T cell proliferation via suppressing of STAT3 activation in vitro and in vivo. Consistently, we also proved that CTS treatment significantly alleviated autoimmune response including notably diminished skin lesions, reduced spleen size and increased life span. In addition, CTS treatment decreased the levels of auto-antibodies and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as normalized structure and function of kidneys. All these data suggested that CTS treatment depressed STAT3 phosphorylation, which resulted in blocked DN T cell proliferation and finally attenuated the spontaneous SLE development. Taken together, our data identify CTS as a potential therapeutic drug for SLE patients.

The toxicity of several waterborne heavy metals to aquatic organisms is associated with oxidative damages due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present work, the reproductive toxicity of the heavy metal cadmium was tested with the sperm of freshwater crab. The crabs were exposed to sublethal concentrations of 0, 7.25, 14.5, 29, 58 and 116 mg/L of Cd²⁺ for 3, 5 and 7 d. Cd²⁺ accumulation, ROS formation, and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in Sinopotamon henanense sperm were measured. Biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipid (Malondialdehyde, MDA), proteins (protein carbonyl derivates, PCO) and DNA (DNA-protein crosslinks, DPC) were investigated to address Cd²⁺ effects on crucial macromolecules of the S. henanense sperm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to assess ultrastructural changes induced by 29 and 116 mg/L Cd²⁺ exposure for 7 d. The results showed that sperm Cd²⁺ levels were significantly increased at 3, 5 and 7 d starting from the 14.5 mg L⁻¹ Cd²⁺-treated groups. Meanwhile, ROS levels were significantly increased over the experimental period. In terms of TAC, statistically significant changes were observed only at day 7 with the Cd²⁺ concentrations of 14.5, 29, 58 and 116 mg/L. This resulted in an increase of MDA content (5 d and 7 d), PCO content (Cd²⁺: 58 and 116 mg/L, 7 d), and DPC levels (Cd²⁺: 116 mg/L, 3 d and 7 d), by 26.32%, 37.47%, 22.04%, respectively, in the 116 mg/L Cd²⁺ group at day seven. For ultrastructural observations, the sperm membrane became wrinkled and partly dissolved, the nuclear envelope turned wrinkled and the chromatin condensed, the acrosome was incomplete with a damaged acrosomal membrane in crabs treated with 29 mg/L Cd²⁺ for 7 d. After treatment with 116 mg/L Cd²⁺ for 7 d, the sperm membrane was almost dissolved, the chromatin in the nucleus was more heavily condensed, chromatin irregularities and serious acrosome damage were observed.

Rhubarbs and their extractives have been used as cathartic for many years. There have been numerous breakthroughs in the pharmacological research of the drug. However, as the key point of the mechanism, the targets of the effective components still remain unclear. In this paper, with an in vitro system of isolated intestine, we found that both the rhubarb extractives and the anthraquinone derivatives can antagonize the adrenaline effectively. Furthermore, computer based docking provided the binding model of the anthraquinone derivatives and adrenergic receptor. Then, based on the results of the small intestinal promotion and purgative effect experiments in vivo, we built an “inhibitor–carrier” hypothesis to elucidate the mechanism of rhubarb. This work provided key massages for the pharmacological research of rhubarb, such a common and active medicinal plant, and might be of help for the development of new purgative drugs.

Aim Euphorbia kansui (E. KS) is a traditional medicine used in China for thousands of years with the effect of propulsion in the gastrointestines. However, there is no reported study of E. KS on gastrointestinal motility until now. The aim of this work is to study the effect of E. KS on the propulsion of gastrointestines, and to elucidate the possible mechanism of action. Methods E.KS was prepared as a 30% ethanol extract and used for the experiment of small and large intestines of mice by oral administration with three different dosages (1.2, 0.6 and 0.3 g·kg −1 ). The feces were observed in vivo . The morphology was carried out to detect if there are any changes in the intestines after the extract of E. KS administration. The assays of mRNA and protein expression were employed to observe IL-1β, TNFα and caspase 3. Results It was shown that the extract of E.KS promoted diarrhea in mouse feces after administration, inhibited the contraction of smooth muscle of mouse small intestine and caused the inflammatory exudation on the mucosa of the intestines, enhanced the expression of both mRNA and the protein levels of IL-1β and TNFα in the small or large intestines. Conclusion The results showed that the extract of E. KS acted on the intestinal smooth muscle with propulsion of feces involving the irritation of the intestines with acute inflammatory reactions.

The extract of pineapple leaves (EPL) has anti-diabetic and anti-dyslipidemic effects and can be developed into a promising natural medicine. This study was conducted to evaluate EPL's effects on developmental parameters in order to provide evidence of its safety before potential medical use. Five groups were included: a negative control that was given distilled water daily, a positive control that was dosed 7 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CP) every two days, and three groups that were respectively dosed 2.0, 1.0, and 0.5 g/kg EPL daily. Female rats were dosed during the organogenesis period of gestation days (GD) 7-17 and terminated on GD 20. A series of parameters were examined. Data revealed that CP significantly reduced maternal body weight gains, caused maternal organ weight alterations, reduced female fertility, disturbed fetal growth and development, and caused marked teratogenic effects on fetal appearances, skeleton and internal organs. Distilled water and the three high doses of EPL did not cause any of the aforementioned effects. This study concluded that orally administered EPL is safe to rats during embryonic development.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion can activate several transcription factors and lead to inflammatory reactions, which related to pattern recognition receptors with immune activating functions. NOD2 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2) is one of the receptors involved in innate immune response and is genetically associated with several inflammatory reactions. Since baicalin has the pharmacological effects of anti-inflammation and protection of brain from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, we studied baicalin's effect on NOD2/TNFα in the cell of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro and the mice of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in vivo. The results showed that NOD2 and TNFα were up regulated in the cells with oxygen-glucose deprivation, not only in BV2 cells, but also in both of PC12 cells and primary neuron cells, which suggested NOD2 could express directly in neuron while OGD treatment. Baicalin (10 μg/ml) could effectively down regulate the expression of NOD2 and TNFα in both mRNA and protein levels. Meanwhile, baicalin (50 mg/kg, i.p.) could also down regulate the expression of NOD2 and TNFα in protein levels significantly, in which agreed with its effect in vitro study. These data demonstrated that targeting on NOD2 especially in neurons directly was possibly attributed to the neural-protective effect of baicalin in the injury of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the LD(50) (median lethal dosage) of berberine (BBR) through three different routes of injection in mice: intravenous (i.v.) injection, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, and intragastric (i.g.) oral administration. The concentration of BBR in blood from their i.g. doses (10.4, 20.8, 41.6, and 83.2 g/kg) and the content relationship of BBR among different injections were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The LD(50) of BBR from i.v. and i.p. injections is 9.0386 and 57.6103 mg/kg, respectively; but no LD(50) was found in the i.g. group. A significant difference in bioavailability was observed between the different routes. Furthermore, the concentration of BBR in the blood from different i.g. doses was also significantly different. However, we discovered an interesting phenomenon indicating that the absorption of BBR by oral administration has a limit, therefore, explaining the difficulty in obtaining an LD(50) of BBR for i.g. injection. From the analysis of BBR content in blood after various administrations, we hypothesized that not only does the concentration of BBR in blood contribute to its acute toxicity, but also the routes of administration may be an important facet that affects this toxicity evaluation.

Objective This article aims to study the total elements of Chinese complex, YL2000, by LC-MS. Methods The total flavonoids, total alkaloids, and total coumarins in YL2000 are determined based on the chemical structure (analogue) and using the standard compounds as a reference. Results The quantity of the three elements is similar to the quantity produced by UV test. Conclusions This is the first attempt to determine the total quantity of the elements in herbal complex, which is helpful for the element quality control in Chinese medical complex.

Brazilein (6a,7-dihydro-3,6a,10-trihydroxy-benz[b]indeno[1,2-d]pyran-9(6H)-one) is a compound isolated from Caesalpinia sappan. The vasoactivities of brazilein were evaluated in isolated rat thoracic aorta. The results showed that brazilein can dose-dependently induce contraction of rat thoracic aorta in the resting and phenylephrine pre-evoked state. The average response to 100 microM of brazilein was 30% of the 50 mM KCl contraction, 26% of the 10 muM phenylephrine and 116% of the 20 mM caffeine contraction in comparison. The effects of vasocontraction were proved not to be endothelial dependent and could not be inhibited by alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker phentolamine, beta-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol, M-adrenaline receptor blocker atropine, angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan or the non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME). However the influx of extracellular calcium seemed to be required for this action, because depletion of extracellular calcium and the addition of L-type calcium ion channel antagonist (nimodipine and diltiazem), calcium ion channel activator (BAY-K8644) and potassium ion channel opener (pinacidil) could significantly affect the contraction induced by brazilein. We also investigated the possible signal mechanisms underlying brazilein-induced contraction using selective inhibitors. The inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), Rho-kinase (ROK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) can suppress the effect of brazilein respectively, whereas inhibitors of other signaling or receptor molecules such as protein kinase C (PKC) and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor had no effect. All these results demonstrated that brazilein can induce contraction of rat aorta, that the Ca2+ influx, ROK and ERK signal pathways and MLCK activation must be involved in the contractile processes.

Chronic corticosterone injections induce hippocampus tissue damage and depression-like behavior in rodent animals, the cause of which is not known. Nevertheless, increasing evidence shows that adenylate kinase (AK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) play a very important role in intracellular energy metabolism and are especially critical for neurons which are known to have very small energy reserves and narrow margin of safety between the energy that can be generated and the energy required for maximum activity. Abnormalities of AK or AMPK system have detrimental effects on neurons or brain function especially at times of increased activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic corticosterone exposure on energy metabolism, as well as AK and AMPK in hippocampal tissues in male C57BL/6N mice. Our results show that chronic corticosterone injection induced depression-like behavior in male mice, significantly decreased the energy levels and caused a sustained increase of AMP:ATP ratio in hippocampal tissues. Interestingly, chronic corticosterone injections did not produce obvious effects on AK1 protein and mRNA levels, but caused a sustained activation of AMPK. The results indicate that sustained AMPK activation might be a mechanism by which chronic corticosterone treatment causes depression-like behavior in male mice.

Scutellariae Radix, the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Labiatae), was a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinical practice. Baicalin was one of the effective ingredients enriched in Scutellariae Radix. Recent studies revealed baicalin or Scutellariae Radix extract exhibited various pharmacological activities on cerebral functions. In the present study the pharmacokinetic process of baicalin in normal rat blood and cerebral nuclei (cortex, hippocampus, striatum, thalamus and brain stem) was investigated with a newly established reverse-phase HPLC method after intravenous administration of baicalin-enriched Scutellariae Radix extract prepared according to the special protocol. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by the pharmacokinetic program 3P97 and the regulations of baicalin in blood and cerebral nuclei were comparatively analyzed. The results indicated that the distribution of baicalin into brain was a subsequent process and baicalin tends to accumulate in the striatum, thalamus and hippocampus with the exhibition of large area under the concentration-time curve and mean residence time values (p < 0.05). All these pharmacokinetic data of baicalin in blood and cerebral nuclei would be useful to the dosage regime design when baicalin, Scutellariae Radix extract or the prescriptions containing Scutellariae Radix as the main ingredient are prescribed.

The aim of this study was to establish an easy and accurate method for the determination of Brazilein in plant samples due to its potential pharmacological activities. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ED) was used for the assay of Brazilein in this study for the first time. Crucial influence parameters including concentration of dodecane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt (DSASS), inorganic modifier, tetrabutyl-ammonium hydroxide solution (TBAOH), and applied potential of proposed method were investigated. The proposed method is simple, rapid (analysis time: approximately 10 min), sensitive [(detection limit: 0.6 ng per injection (20 microl) at a signal-noise ratio 3:1)], highly selective and precise (intra- and inter-day precisions were within 5%, n = 7). The calibration graph of Brazilein was linear in the range 0.6-150 ng per injection 20 microl. Recovery of Brazilein was over 92% by standard addition method.

A new HPLC method for the determination of puerarin in cerebral ischemia reperfusion rat plasma is introduced. Puerarin, the principal bioactive component of puerariae radix isoflavone, was extracted from plasma by methanol. The HPLC separation was then performed on a reversed-phase C18 column using water-acetonitrile (89:11, v/v) as eluting solvent system, and UV detection at 252 nm to measure the analyte with a limit of quantitation about 9.44 ng ml(-1). The calibration curve for puerarin was linear (r=0.9998) in the concentration range of 9.44-1208.00 ng ml(-1), both intra- and inter-day precision of the puerarin were determined and their coefficient of variation did not exceed 10%. The validated method has been successfully applied for pharmacokinetic studies of puerarin from rat plasma after intravenous administration of puerariae radix isoflavone. Another novel finding of this study was that the elimination rate of puerarin was significantly slower in the cerebral ischemia reperfusion rat than in the normal rat, judging by the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained. Since puerariae radix isoflavone was mainly administrated to the patients suffering from cerebralvascular diseases, the pharmacokinetic studies performed on the pathological animal models were suitable references for clinical application.

In our pilot study, the depressive-like behaviors of mice exposed to cerebral ischemia reperfusion (CIR) were observed and the antidepressant effects of radix puerariae (RP; root of the Pueraria plant) extract in CIR mice were assessed because it was speculated that the neuronal damage caused by CIR played an important role in the development of poststroke depression (a common and severe complication after stroke) and the RP extract was reported to exhibit effect of neuronal protection from cerebral ischemia damage. Our studies above indicated that the RP extract markedly shortened the increased immobility time induced by CIR of male mice in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), indicating a possible antidepressant activity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to confirm the putative antidepressant effect of RP extract (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, administered orally 24 h after the CIR) on reserpine-induced symptoms. To get further insight into the mode of antidepressant action of RP extract, biochemical examination was conducted concomitantly to examine possible involvement of the brain monoamine systems in the behavioral syndromes observed. In CIR mice, pronounced low levels of norepinephrine (NE) and 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC, a metabolite of dopamine) in the hippocampus or striatum were detected, which were reversed by RP extract, whereas no significant change of serotonin (5-HT) was detected in either CIR or RP extract-treated mice. The data suggested that the disturbance of NE and DA systems in hippocampus and striatum played more important roles in the development of depressive-like behavior of CIR mice than 5-HT system did, and RP extract ameliorated the abnormal symptoms caused by CIR, which may throw new lights on the treatment of poststroke depression.