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Liang-Wen Shi,1,* Quan-Quan Zhuang,2,* Tai-Qin Wang,1 Xian-Dong Jiang,3 Yue Liu,4 Jing-Wen Deng,1 Huan-Huan Sun,5 Yi Li,4 Hao-Hong Li,4 Ting-Bo Liu,6 Jian-Zhi Liu1 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of laboratory medicine, the School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 4College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Otolaryngology, Changji Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changji, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 6Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jian-Zhi Liu, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-591 83346181, Email liujianzhient@163.com Ting-Bo Liu, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-591 83357896, Email liutingboblood@163.comBackground: Drug-resistant microbes pose a global health concern, requiring the urgent development of effective antibacterial agents and strategies in clinical practice. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore novel antibacterial materials to effectively eliminate bacteria. The synthesis of quaternary phosphonium salt in haloargentate systems, wherein the phosphorus atom is represented in a cationic form, is a possible strategy for the development of antibacterial materials.Methods: Using (triphenyl)phosphonium-based quaternary phosphorus salts with different spacer lengths (n=2, 4, 6) as a template, we designed three kinds of quaternary phosphorus salts as effective antibacterial agents against drug-resistant bacteria.Results: The synthesized quaternary phosphorus salt of (1,4-DBTPP)Br2 effectively prevented the formation of the bacterial biofilms, and degraded bacterial membranes and cell walls by promoting the production of reactive oxygen species, which exhibited effective therapeutic effects in a rat model of a superficial wound infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusion: The quaternary phosphorus salt (1,4-DBTPP)Br2 demonstrated hemocompatibility and low toxicity, revealing its potential in the treatment of clinical infections.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: quaternary phosphorus salts, reactive oxygen species, antibacterial, biocompatible, wound infection therapy

Jing-Bo Liu,1 Qiao-Jun Zhang,2 Jian-Zhi Liu,1 Wen-Ting Zhang,3 Yi Li,3 Hao-Hong Li,3 Zhi-Rong Chen,3 Da-Li Zheng2 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, People’s Republic of China; 2Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Fujian Biological Materials Engineering and Technology Center of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Da-Li ZhengFujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Fujian Biological Materials Engineering and Technology Center of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou 350004, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-591-83720599Email dalizheng@fjmu.edu.cnJian-Zhi LiuDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-591- 83357896Email liujianzhi@aliyun.comBackground: The realization of multifunction in one bulk material is fascinating for developing a new generation of devices. Quaternary phosphorus salts were seldom utilized as templates in haloargentate systems, and the hybridization of alkyl(triphenyl)phosphonium with halometallate will be a good strategy for the development of multifunctional material, especially for biological material.Methods: Under the template of (triphenyl)phosphonium-based quaternary phosphorus salts with different spacer lengths (n=2, 3, 4), three bromoargentate hybrids were constructed via the solution method, ie, (1,2-DBTPP)(Ag2Br4) ( 1), {(1,3-DBTPP)2(Ag7Br11)]∙CH3CN∙H2O}n ( 2), and {[(1,4-DBTPP)(Ag5Br7)](CH3CN)2∙H2O}n ( 3) (1,2-DBTPP2+=ethane-1,2-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium, 1,3-DBTPP2+=propane-1,3-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium, 1,4-DBTPP2+=butane-1,4-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium)).Results: The (Ag7Br11)n4n- chain in 2 is a new type of 1-D bromoargentate chain constructed from cubane-like Ag4Br4 nodes, AgBr4 tetrahedrons and AgBr3 triangles. Interestingly, by elongating spacer n from 2 to 4, argentophilicity interactions are weakened, and the hydrogen bonds are strengthened. Consequently, their water stabilities and photocurrents are improved, in which the Ag-4d/Br-4p to π* anti-bonding orbital of the quaternary phosphorus transfer is facilitated. Furthermore, the greenish blue emissions can be detected. Finally, high inhabitation rates against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans can be observed in 2 and 3.Conclusion: In all experiments, by elongating the spacer lengths of quaternary phosphorus salts, multifunctions were integrated in the quaternary phosphorus/bromoargentate hybrids, including greenish blue luminescence, repeatable photocurrent responses and durable antimicrobial activities with enhanced water stability. This work could provide a theoretical guide for the design of new biologically multifunctional materials.Keywords: quaternary phosphorus, bromoargentates, nanoparticles, luminescence, antimicrobial

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Although the clear mechanisms of DM and insulin resistance are still to be cleared, it has been well documented that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in DM and multiple types of insulin resistance. For the past few years, natural substances have been shown to have the potential to treatment DM. Attention has been especially focused on plants rich in triterpenoids, which generally show antioxidant and antiglycation effect. In our previous studies, it was shown that oleanolic acid (OA), a natural triterpenoid and an aglycone of many saponins, is a potent antioxidant acting as not only a free radical-scavenger through direct chemical reactions but also as a biological molecule, which may enhance the antioxidant defenses. The present study aimed to investigate the potential antidiabetic effect of OA. Oleanolic acid showed a significant blood glucose-lowering and weight-losing effect in diabetic animals induced by streptozotocin (STZ). In the insulin resistant model, it was also shown that OA may promote insulin signal transduction and inhibit oxidative stress-induced hepatic insulin resistance and gluconeogenesis, in which process the phosphorylation of ERK and the protective effect on mitochondrial function may be involved. These findings may significantly better the understanding of the pharmacological actions of OA and advance therapeutic approaches to DM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is accompanied by a marked decline in muscle strength and ability to maintain steady submaximal force. Studies have shown that exercise programs can improve age-related regression of hand function in elderly individuals. The purpose of this study was to train elderly subjects to perform skilled finger movements and to evaluate the changes in hand function involving skillful use of finger pinch.Methods: Grip strength, maximum pinch force (MPF), steadiness of pinch force at 5%, 10%, and 20% MPF, M wave, and Hoffman (H) reflex were measured. Fourteen elderly subjects were trained with skilled finger movements, and their performance involving finger pinch was measured.Results: Compared with untrained elderly subjects, the trained older adults significantly (p <.05) improved their ability to control submaximal pinch force, to maintain a steady hand posture, and to relocate a small object quickly with finger grip. The amplitude of H reflex increased significantly for the trained group.Conclusions: Skilled finger movement training improves the ability to control submaximal pinch force, hand steadiness, and manual speed in elderly subjects; these improvements may be due to training-induced adaptations in the central and peripheral nervous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]