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Radix Paeoniae Rubra. (Chishao, RPR) and Cortex Moutan. (Mudanpi, CM) are a pair of traditional Chinese medicines that play an important role in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS). The main objective of this study was to identify potential synergetic function and underlying mechanisms of RPR-CM in the treatment of AS. The main active ingredients, targets of RPR-CM and AS-related genes were obtained from public databases. A Venn diagram was utilized to screen the common targets of RPR-CM in treating AS. The protein–protein interaction network was established based on STRING database. Biological functions and pathways of potential targets were analyzed through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. Cytoscape was used to construct the drug—compound—target—signal pathway network. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding ability of the bioactive ingredients and the target proteins. The endothelial inflammation model was constructed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with ox-LDL, and the function of RPR-CM in treating AS was verified by CCK-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and qPCR. In this study, 12 active components and 401 potential target genes of RPR-CM were identified, among which quercetin, kaempferol and baicalein were considered to be the main active components. A total of 1903 AS-related genes were identified through public databases and four GEO datasets (GSE57691, GSE72633, GSE6088 and GSE199819). There are 113 common target genes of RPR-CM in treating AS. PPI network analysis identified 17 genes in cluster 1 as the core targets. Bioinformatics analysis showed that RPR-CM in AS treatment was associated with multiple downstream biological processes and signal pathways. PTGS2, JUN, CASP3, TNF, IL1B, IL6, FOS, STAT1 were identified as the core targets of RPR-CM, and molecular docking showed that the main bioactive components of RPR-CM had good binding ability with the core targets. RPR-CM extract significantly inhibited the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in HUVECs, and inhibited endothelial inflammation. This study revealed the active ingredients of RPR-CM, and identified the key downstream targets and signaling pathways in the treatment of AS, providing theoretical basis for the application of RPR-CM in prevention and treatment of AS. This study revealed the active ingredients of Radix Paeoniae Rubra.-Cortex Moutan. herb pair (RPR-CM) and identified key downstream targets and signaling pathways for the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS), and validated the biological function of RPR-CM extract on vascular endothelial cells, providing a theoretical basis for the application of RPR-CM in the prevention and treatment of AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apostichopus japonicus is an important invertebrate that is widely used as a tonic food in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to purify and identify a class of compound, the saponins, from the body wall of A. japonicus, and to establish a new method to determine the quantity of saponins in the sea cucumber. In this study, the saponins of A. japonicus, cladoloside A (CA), were obtained from 80% ethanol extract by column chromatography for the first time and were characterized using the spectral method. The resulting purified saponins were then profiled using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and ESI-MS, which revealed the CA molecular formula of C53H82O2 and contained a triterpenoid backbone, a methylglucopyranosyl moiety, a quinovopyranosyl, and two xylopyranosyls. A method for the quantitative determination of CA, comprising microwave-assisted extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, and diode array detector method, was established. Extraction efficiency was optimized by changing microwave power, extraction solvent, volume, time, and temperature. Results showed that under the optimum conditions (extraction time of 10 min, temperature of 45°C, and solvent of 25 mL 70% ethanol under 400 W), the detection limit of CA was 0.0015 mg mL−1, and the recoveries of CA from samples at spiking levels of 10, 20, and 50 µg g−1 ranged from 90.1%–104%. The proposed method was successfully applied to analyze the saponins in different tissues of A. japonicus collected in different seasons. The method developed in this study can provide quantitative technical support for the quality control of A. japonicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary arteries have high curvatures, and hence, flow through them causes disturbed flow patterns, resulting in stenosis and atherosclerosis. This in turn decreases the myocardial flow perfusion, causing myocardial ischemia and infarction. Therefore, in order to understand the mechanisms of these phenomena caused by high curvatures and branching of coronary arteries, we have conducted elaborate hemodynamic analysis for both (i) idealized coronary arteries with geometrical parameters representing realistic curvatures and stenosis and (ii) patient-specific coronary arteries with stenoses. Firstly, in idealized coronary arteries with approximated realistic arterial geometry representative of their curvedness and stenosis, we have computed the hemodynamic parameters of pressure drop, wall shear stress (WSS) and wall pressure gradient (WPG), and their association with the geometrical parameters of curvedness and stenosis. Secondly, we have similarly determined the wall shear stress and wall pressure gradient distributions in four patient-specific curved stenotic right coronary arteries (RCAs), which were reconstructed from medical images of patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis and stenosis; our results show high WSS and WPG regions at the stenoses and inner wall of the arterial curves. This paper provides useful insights into the causative mechanisms of the high incidence of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. It also provides guidelines for how simulation of blood flow in patient's coronary arteries and determination of the hemodynamic parameters of WSS and WPG can provide a medical assessment of the risk of development of atherosclerosis and plaque formation, leading to myocardial ischemia and infarction. The novelty of our paper is in our showing how in actual coronary arteries (based on their CT imaging) curvilinearity and narrowing complications affect the computed WSS and WPG, associated with risk of atherosclerosis. This is very important for cardiologists to be able to properly take care of their patients and provide remedial measures before coronary complications lead to myocardial infarctions and necessitate stenting or coronary bypass surgery. We want to go one step further and provide clinical application of our research work. For that, we are offering to cardiologists worldwide to carry out hemodynamic analysis of the medically imaged coronary arteries of their patients and compute the values of the hemodynamic parameters of WSS and WPG, so as to provide them an assessment of the risk of atherosclerosis for their patients. Graphical abstract Theme and aims: Coronary arteries have high curvatures, and hence flow through them causes disturbed flow patterns, resulting in stenosis and atherosclerosis. This in turn decreases the myocardial flow perfusion, causing myocardial ischemia and infarction. Therefore, in order to understand the mechanisms of these phenomena caused by high curvatures and branching of coronary arteries, we have conducted elaborate hemodynamic analysis for both (i) idealized coronary arteries with geometrical parameters representing curvatures and stenosis, and (ii) patient-specific coronary arteries with stenoses. Methods and results: Firstly, in idealized coronary arteries with approximated realistic arterial geometry representative of their curvedness and stenosis, we have computed the hemodynamic parameters of pressure drop, wall shear stress (WSS) and wall pressure gradient (WPG), and their association with the geometrical parameters of curvedness and stenosis. Then, we have determined the wall shear stress and wall pressure gradient distributions in four patient-specific curved stenotic right coronary arteries (RCAs), that were reconstructed from medical images of patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis and stenosis, as illustrated in Figure 1, in which the locations of the stenoses are highlighted by arrows. Figure 1: Three-dimensional CT visualization of arteries in patients with suspected coronary disease. The arteries can be seen as a combination of various curved segments with stenoses at unspecific locations highlighted by arrows. Our results show high WSS and WPG regions at the stenoses and inner wall of the arterial curves, as depicted in Figure 2. Therein, the encapsulations show (i) high WSS, and (ii) high WPG regions at the stenosis and inner wall of the arterial curves. Figure 2: WSS and WPG surface plot of realistic arteries (a), (b), (c) and (d), wherein the small squared parts are enlarged to show the detailed localized contour plots at the stenotic regions. Therein, the circular encapsulations show (i) high WSS and (ii) high WPG regions at the stenosis and inner wall of the arterial curves. Conclusion and novelty: This paper provides useful insights into the causative mechanisms of the high incidence of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. It also provides guidelines for how simulation of blood flow in patient coronary arteries and determination of the hemodynamic parameters of WSS and WPG can provide a medical assessment of the risk of development of atherosclerosis and plaque formation, leading to myocardial ischemia and infarction. The novelty of our paper is our showing how in actual coronary arteries (based on their CT imaging), curvilinearity and narrowing complications affect the computed WSS and WPG associated with risk of atherosclerosis. This is very important for cardiologists to be able to properly take care of their patients and provide remedial measures before coronary complications lead to myocardial infarctions and necessitate stenting or coronary bypass surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to clarify the short-term quality of life (QoL) of acute leukemia (AL) patients early after stem cell transplantation (SCT) and related predictors of QoL recovery.Methods: We investigated adult AL patients who underwent SCT at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital after transplantation. Physical/functional and emotional/mental recovery were evaluated using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire to identify its trajectory as well as related predictors for the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). The score was also used to establish a QoL prediction model.Results: A total of 326 AL patients responded to our QoL survey. The results revealed the profile of patient follow-up from 2013 to 2015. Along follow-up after transplantation, there was a significant increase in PCS (p = 0.139) and MCS (p = 0.122). On multivariate regression analysis, apart from follow-up, marriage, financial situation, employment situation, and history of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) had clinical significance for both PCS and MCS. A prediction model for patient risk hierarchy estimation was further established. The logistic results revealed that the significant characteristics of patients with high PCS and high MCS were unmarried, without financial burden, reliable on drugs, and with history of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).Conclusions: This well-established study enabled evaluation of the QoL of AL patients post-HSCT in China. The established prediction model could provide more indications and insights into improvement in quality of life for better medical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis disease in children that is associated with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). We investigated whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) and hydrogen sulfide (HS) could be used to predict CAE secondary to KD. We enrolled 65 children with KD (35 cases with CAE and 30 cases without CAE), 33 healthy children, and 32 children with fever but without vasculitis disease (febrile group). We measured plasma nitric oxide (NO), total nitric oxide synthase (Total-NOS), i-NOS, constructive nitric oxide synthase (c-NOS) levels, and HS content in all patients. Plasma NO, Total-NOS, i-NOS, and HS were higher in KD children than in healthy and febrile children ( P < 0.05). The i-NOS level was higher in KD children with CAE compared to those without CAE, while the HS was lower (both P < 0.05). Using a combination of i-NOS (higher than 10 U/mL) and HS (lower than 3.31 μmol/L) to predict CAE had 80 % sensitivity and 81 % specificity ( P < 0.05). Elevated plasma i-NOS and decreased plasma HS levels in the acute phase of KD have good predictive value for CAE and may be used to guide appropriate clinical treatment and prevent future cardiovascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raising the level of the multiple cropping index (MCI) plays a critical role in food production of China. Therefore, exploring the spatiotemporal differences and factors of the MCI in China is of important practical significance. This paper examines the trend of multiple cropping index (MCI) changes in China at the national, regional and provincial levels during 1998-2012. Based on the Theil index, this paper explores the spatiotemporal differences of the MCI in China. Additionally, a spatial econometric model is used to identify the determinants of the spatiotemporal differences of the MCI from a behavioral perspective. The results are summarized as follows: (1) From the national perspective, the MCI shows an increasing trend year by year, rising from 120.1% in 1998 to 134.26% in 2012; (2) at the regional level, the northeastern region is the fastest growing area in terms of MCI, whereas the central region is the slowest growing area. The central region has the highest MCI level, whereas the northeastern region is connected to the lowest MCI level; (3) according to the Theil index value, the differences in the MCI show a narrowing trend from 0.11 in 1998 to 0.03 in 2012, which is primarily attributed to the differences among the four regions; (4) the MCI shows differences among China's 31 provinces, and the gap that it shows is great; and (5) the proportion of non-agricultural population has a significant negative effect on the MCI. However, the proportions of non-agricultural industry, agricultural policy, per capita operating arable land area and rural household per capita net income have a significant positive impact on the MCI. Therefore, the following policies are suggested to increase the level of China's cultivated land MCI: transferring rural surplus labor, increasing the farmers' income, accelerating the transfer of the use rights of arable land, developing the scale effect of land use, providing further support and benefits to farmers in less developed regions and major grain-producing areas, and strengthening the role of the national agricultural policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Keggin polyoxometalates (POM)-templated supramolecular metal-organic frameworks (MOF) with micropores, Cu( L)[H(PMoO)]·6HO ( 1) and Cu( L)[H(SiWO)]·6HO ( 2) ( L = 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)ethane), have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra and cyclic voltammetry. These two isostructural compounds are constructed by two distinct moieties, a Keggin polyanion and a linear [Cu( L)] subunit. The [Cu( L)] subunits further form a microporous MOF through supramolecular interactions. The Keggin polyanions act as templates inducing the micropores. The electrochemical and electrocatalytic behavior of compounds 1 and 2 bulk-modified carbon paste electrodes ( 1-, 2-CPE) was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble and red-emitting gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) were synthesized with single-stranded DNA as a promising biotemplate and dimethylamine borane as a mild reductant. The fluorescent Au NCs can be formed in a weakly acidic aqueous solution that is free from the simultaneous formation of large nanoparticles. The cluster feature of the formed Au species has been revealed by fluorescence spectra, absorption spectra, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, DNA sequences could be used to tune the Au NCs' emissions. The as-prepared Au NCs display high stability at physiological pH condition, and thus, wide potential applications are anticipated for the biocompatible fluorescent Au NCs serving as nanoprobes in bioimaging and related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is an econo-ecological tree species that abounds in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, which is located in the Chaka Salt Lake region of Qinghai Province, China. This study compared the phenotypes and main inclusions in two-shaped berries (flat peach and sphere types) at different developmental stages of L. ruthenicum Murr. to provide first-hand information for targeted breeding toward higher quality and stronger stress resistance of the fruit. Results showed the distinct advantage of the quality characters of flat peach-type fruits over the sphere-type with regard to the length of bearing shoot, internode, peduncle, single fruit weight, and 100-pod weight. In terms of inclusions, the anthocyanin contents in two-shaped fruits showed no significant difference at S5. Anthocyanin accumulated in the developing fruits, and the amount peaked at S4 and then gradually decreased. The expression profiles of the key genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis were correlated with anthocyanin accumulation during fruit development, and the high expressions of flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase gene and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene were found to be the critical factors of specific delphinidin accumulation. Sphere-type mature fruits had considerable higher total polyphenol level than flat peach fruits, but the opposite result was observed for polysaccharides. The contents of Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, K, Li, Mn, P, Ti, V, and Al presented no considerable differences, whereas B, Mg, Na, Si, and Zn exhibited evident advantages in sphere-type fruits. α-Toc was the most abundant component in both fruits and no evident difference in its content was observed. The data on nutritional contents provide a theoretical basis for different breeding goals of L. ruthenicum and its further utilization as health food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]