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Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising strategy for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. However, more and more studies reveal that the injected MSCs have poor adhesion, migration, and survival in the joint cavity. A recent study shows that tropoelastin (TE) regulates adhesion, proliferation and phenotypic maintenance of MSCs as a soluble additive, indicating that TE could promote MSCs-homing in regenerative medicine. In this study, we used TE as injection medium, and compared it with classic media in MSCs intra-articular injection such as normal saline (NS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). We found that TE could effectively improve adhesion, migration, chondrogenic differentiation of infrapatellar fat pad MSCs (IPFP-MSCs) and enhance matrix synthesis of osteoarthritic chondrocytes (OACs) in indirect-coculture system. Moreover, TE could significantly enhance IPFP-MSCs adhesion via activation of integrin β1, ERK1/2 and vinculin (VCL) in vitro. In addition, intra-articular injection of TE-IPFP MSCs suspension resulted in a short-term increase in survival rate of IPFP-MSCs and better histology scores of rat joint tissues. Inhibition of integrin β1 or ERK1/2 attenuated the protective effect of TE-IPFP MSCs suspension in vivo. In conclusion, TE promotes performance of IPFP-MSCs and protects knee cartilage from damage in OA through enhancement of cell adhesion and activation of integrin β1/ERK/VCL pathway. Our findings may provide new insights in MSCs intra-articular injection for OA treatment., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Tropoelastin promotes adhesion and migration of IPFP MSCs. • Tropoelastin promotes IPFP MSCs survival and adhesion in joint cavity. • Injection of IPFP MSCs in tropoelastin reduces OA progression.

The degradation of phenanthrene (PHE) by Fe2+-activated persulfate (PS) has been investigated. The effects of different concentrations of Fe2+ and PS on the degradation of PHE have been explored, a...

Rice-acid, a Chinese traditional acidic rice soup (rice-acid), is widely accepted by consumers due to its unique flavor and anti-oxidation, anti-aging and immunity enhancement functions. This study confirmed that L-lactic acid and malic acid were the main organic acids in rice-acid. Low-temperature rice-acid samples produced by enterprises had the highest signal intensity of sour taste. The total content of free amino acids in different fermented rice-acid samples were in the range of 0.003–0.468 mg/g. 42 key volatile flavor compounds were identified in rice-acid. 8 volatile compounds with a higher contribution to the aroma of rice-acid were respectively acetic acid, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-heptanol, ethyl acetate, propyl propionate, hexanal, nonanal, and 2,3-butanedione. The interaction between lactic acid bacteria (3.00 × 103–7.02 × 106 CFU/mL) and yeasts (5.04 × 104–2.25 × 108 CFU/mL) affected the formation of taste and aroma components in rice-acid. The physicochemical characteristics including titratable acidity, pH, reducing sugars, amino acid nitrogen, gamma-aminobutyric acid showed significant differences between low-temperature fermentation samples and high-temperature fermentation samples. In addition, relationships linking all data through Pearson coefficient correlation were also reported. In summary, the study can be used to improve the quality of rice-acid products.

The main defense response to Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) infection in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is thought to be blockage of intercellular virus transport by callose deposition on plasmodesmata. But the specific regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) signal downstream of NO was associated with the regulation of callose accumulation. Abundant H2O2 was produced on the cell membrane and cell wall in the incompatible combination of soybean cultivar Jidou 7 and SMV strain N3, whereas no obvious H2O2 was observed in the compatible combination of Jidou 7 and strain SC-8. When H2O2 production was inhibited, callose accumulation induced by SMV infection decreased to a level insufficient to restrict virus transport in the incompatible combination. The H2O2-associated transcriptome dynamics of soybean during SMV infection was investigated. Transcriptome and functional analysis using virus-induced gene silencing showed that GmSEOB and GmPAP27, two genes regulated by H2O2, functioned in resistance by positively regulating the accumulation of callose in response to SMV infection. These results lay a foundation for further research on the signal transduction and molecular regulation of callose deposition during soybean resistance to SMV infection.

Flexible supercapacitors with high areal energy density are promising energy storage devices to meet the increasing demands for wearable and portable electronic products. Herein, three kinds of flexible electrodes were fabricated electrochemically through tuning spatial distribution of graphene sheets composited with polyaniline (PANi) nanofiber array on carbon cloth, in which graphene sheets were used as the efficient growing substrate or protecting layer for the arrays and directly inserted into the arrays. It is found that the charge storage ability of all the PANi arrays could be enhanced significantly that depended greatly on the spatial distribution of graphene sheets composited with the array. The composite electrodes composing of graphene inserted PANi array on the graphene covered carbon cloth possesses the highest areal energy density among all the electrodes. More clearly, the corresponding all−solid−state supercapacitor devices can reach outstanding performances with a maximum energy density of 313 μWh cm−2 and capacitance retention of 92.7% after 5000 cycles could be achieved in the electrolyte containing Fe3+. This work is believed to provide a new thought for fabricating cost–effective and flexible electrodes with ultrahigh areal energy density, excellent flexibility and cycle stability endow for high−energy wearable/portable energy storage devices.

Recently in nanophotonics, a rigorous evolution from passive to active metasurfaces has been witnessed. This advancement not only brings forward interesting physical phenomena but also elicits opportunities for practical applications. However, active metasurfaces operating at visible frequencies often exhibit low performance due to design and fabrication restrictions at the nanoscale. In this work, we demonstrate electrochemically controlled metasurfaces with high intensity contrast, fast switching rate, and excellent reversibility at visible frequencies. We use a conducting polymer, polyaniline (PANI), that can be locally conjugated on preselected gold nanorods to actively control the phase profiles of the metasurfaces. The optical responses of the metasurfaces can be in situ monitored and optimized by controlling the PANI growth of subwavelength dimension during the electrochemical process. We showcase electrochemically controlled anomalous transmission and holography with good switching performance. Such electrochemically powered optical metasurfaces lay a solid basis to develop metasurface devices for real-world optical applications.

BACKGROUND Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common and life-threatening complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). There are currently limited effective treatment options for SAP and associated ALI. Calycosin (Cal), a bioactive constituent extracted from the medicinal herb Radix Astragali exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on SAP and associated ALI has yet to be determined. AIM To identify the roles of Cal in SAP-ALI and the underlying mechanism. METHODS SAP was induced via two intraperitoneal injections of L-arg (4 g/kg) and Cal (25 or 50 mg/kg) were injected 1 h prior to the first L-arg challenge. Mice were sacrificed 72 h after the induction of SAP and associated ALI was examined histologically and biochemically. An in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI was established using A549 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis and western blot were evaluated in cells. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to examine the interaction of Cal with HMGB1. RESULTS Cal treatment substantially reduced the serum amylase levels and alleviated histopathological injury associated with SAP and ALI. Neutrophil infiltration and lung tissue levels of neutrophil mediator myeloperoxidase were reduced in line with protective effects of Cal against ALI in SAP. Cal treatment also attenuated the serum levels and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, IL-1β, HMGB1 and chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 1 in lung tissue. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed that Cal treatment markedly suppressed the expression of HMGB1 and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in lung tissues and an in vitro model of LPS-induced ALI in A549 cells suggesting a role for HGMB1 in the pathogenesis of ALI. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis provided evidence for the direct interaction of Cal with HGMB1. CONCLUSION Cal protects mice against L-arg-induced SAP and associated ALI by attenuating local and systemic neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory response via inhibition of HGMB1 and the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Microorganisms including Bacillus can produce signal molecules such as surfactin, resulting in the variation of membrane potential to trigger quorum sensing such as biofilm formation and sporulation in response to the environment stresses. However, biosynthesis of surfactin requires multiple resources such as huge enzyme complex, amino acids, fatty acids, and energy. Insufficient resources in the natural soil environment restrain biosynthesis of surfactin. When surfactin is inadequate, cations in soil might serve as substitutes to regulate quorum sensing. Our results showed that both surfactin and cations could lead to the variation of membrane potential, thus providing signals to trigger the quorum sensing such as growth, biofilm formation, and sporulation in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Neither KinC nor Abh was essential for surfactin or cations to trigger quorum sensing. The cation signaling pathway is only partially dependent on Spo0A, but the surfactin signaling pathway is fully dependent on this global regulator. Compared to surfactin, cations are less effective in promoting biofilm formation, but more effective to trigger sporulation in B. amyloliquefaciens. This study reveals a pathway through which cations regulate the quorum sensing in B. amyloliquefaciens in the case of insufficient surfactin in environment.

Helical polymers present some interesting and distinctive properties, and one of the most distinguished applications of them is the chiral recognition and resolution of enantiomers. In this work, star-shaped hybrid helical poly (phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as the core was designed and synthesized by "grafting to" strategy. The homoarm star-shaped hybrid POSS-(PPI)8 was first obtained by the click reaction between azide-modified POSS (POSS-(N3 )8 ) and alkynyl-modified PPI (PPI-Alkynyl). The hybrid POSS-(PPI)8 was with predominated left-handed helical conformation and exhibited excellent ability in the enantioselective crystallization of racemic compounds. In the meantime, heteroarm star-shaped hybrid (PEG)4 -POSS-(PPI)4 was prepared by the click reaction of POSS-(N3 )8 with PPI-Alkynyl and alkynyl-modified poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-Alkynyl). The hybrid (PEG)4 -POSS-(PPI)4 was amphiphilic, and it could self-assemble to form spherical micelles in aqueous solutions.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5 )-induced detrimental cardiovascular effects have been widely concerned, especially for endothelial cells, which is the first barrier of the cardiovascular system. Among potential mechanisms involved, reactive oxidative species take up a crucial part. However, source of oxidative stress and its relationship with inflammatory response have been rarely studied in PM2.5 -induced endothelial injury. Here, as a key oxidase that catalyzes redox reactions, NADPH oxidase (NOX) was investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EA.hy926) were exposed to Standard Reference Material 1648a of urban PM2.5 for 24 h, which resulted in NOX-sourced oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation induction. These are manifested by the up-regulation of NOX, increase of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, elevated endothelin-1 (ET-1) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level, reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, and down-regulation of phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) with increased levels of inducible NO synthase, as well as the imbalance between tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and changes in the levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors. However, administration of NOX1/4 inhibitor GKT137831 alleviated PM2.5 -induced elevated endothelial dysfunction biomarkers (NO, ET-1, ADMA, iNOS, and tPA/PAI-1), inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-18), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and P-selectin) and also passivated NOX-dependent AKT and eNOS phosphorylation that involved in endothelial activation. In summary, PM2.5 -induced NOX up-regulation is the source of ROS in EA.hy926, which activated AKT/eNOS/NO signal response leading to endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory damage in EA.hy926 cells.

Polyallenes, as a typical type of reactive polymers, are of great significance and have aroused widespread interest because they contain double bonds that can be post-modified into other functionalities to afford varieties of functional materials. This Minireview firstly highlights the recent advances in the preparation of polyallenes, including preparation of helical polyallenes through directly polymerization of chiral allene monomers or helix-sense-selective polymerization (HSSP) of achiral allene monomers, synthesis of 1,2-regulated polyallenes and 2,3-regulated polyallenes via selective polymerization of allene monomers, polymerization of allene monomers catalyzed by Ni(II)-terminated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), and so on. Then, latest progress on the self-assembly and stimuli-responses of polyallene-based diblock, ABA and ABC triblock copolymers is summarized. We hope this Minireview will inspire more interest in developing polyallenes and encourage further advances in functional materials.

Biografting is a promising and ecofriendly approach to meet various application requirements of products. Herein, a popular green enzyme, laccase, was adopted to graft a hydrophobic phenolic compound (lauryl gallate, LG) onto chitosan (CTS). The resultant chitosan derivate (Lac/LG-CTS) was systematically analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), grafting efficiency, scanning probe microscopy (SPM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This grafting technique produced a multifunctional chitosan copolymer with remarkably enhanced antioxidant property, hydrophobicity, and moisture barrier property. Furthermore, the swelling capacity and acid solubility of the copolymer film decreased significantly, although the tensile strength and elongation were slightly weakened as compared to those of native chitosan. These results suggest that the Lac/LG-CTS holds great potential as a food-packaging material, preservative agent, or edible coating material.

Background To investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of foldable capsular vitreous body (FCVB) in the treatment of severe silicone oil-dependent eyes. Methods Five patients (5 eyes) of severe silicone oil-dependent eyes underwent FCVB implantation from December 2019 to July 2020. The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal conditions, postoperative retinal reattachment, and FCVB status were observed. The patients were followed up for 12-15 months. Results A total of 5 patients (5 eyes) with severe silicone oil-dependent eyes were included, including 3 males and 2 females, with an average age of 32±14 years. The longest silicone oil tamponade time was 8 years, and the shortest was 2 years, with an average of 5±3 years. All patients were safely and successfully implanted with FCVB without severe intraoperative or postoperative complications. Up to the last follow-up, there was no significant change between preoperative and postoperative visual acuity. Before surgery, 4 patients had normal intraocular pressure while 1 patient had ocular hypotension; after surgery, the latter was still at a low level, and the other patients had intraocular pressure in the normal range. Conclusions The FCVB is a safe, feasible, and effective vitreous substitute to maintain ocular morphology and intraocular pressure without aggravating silicone oil emulsification, retinal displacement, or corneal degeneration during the implantation period of 12-15 months.

The antioxidant peptides from wampee seed protein (WSP) were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis, and the hydrolysis parameters were optimized by response surface methodology. The obtained peptides’ properties were investigated by foaming capacity (FC), foaming stability (FS), water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), emulsion activity index (EAI), emulsion stability index (ESI), radical scavenging assays, SEM, and FTIR. The results showed that the optimal hydrolysis parameters were enzyme to substrate mass ratio of 0.15, enzymolysis time of 128 min, enzymolysis temperature of 33 ℃, and enzymolysis pH of 8.2. The obtained peptides contained 16 kinds of amino acids and were rich in asparagine, glutamic acid, leucine, arginine, and valine. The EC50 values of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effect of antioxidant peptides were 2.29 and 1.66 mg/mL, respectively, displaying an excellent antioxidant activity. Compared with WSP, the WHC and FS of antioxidant peptides decreased, but the OHC, EAI, ESI, and FC increased. The antioxidant peptides exhibited a rough and uneven surface morphology with irregular pores. The obtained peptides’ secondary structure was the mainly random coil, suggesting a transformation process from the WSP’s ordered structure to the peptides’ disordered structure. These results indicated that the antioxidant peptides could be used as a potential antioxidant in the food industry.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) belong to the same gene family. Liver-specific expression of CETP improves reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and PLTP knockout (KO) decreases RCT in mice. In this study, we investigate the effect of CETP transgene (CETP-tg) on RCT and whether CETP-tg can partially restore RCT efficiency in PLTP KO mice. Several rounds of crossing were carried out to produce colonies of wild type (WT), CETP-tg, PLTP KO, and CETP-tg × PLTP KO mice were obtained after several generations of reproduction. The efficiency of RCT was detected using [3H]-cholesterol-laden macrophages, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by multiple techniques. Our data demonstrated that CETP-tg significantly increased the transport rate of [3H]-cholesterol from macrophages to plasma and liver, and finally the excretion through feces compared to the WT littermates. The RCT improving effect of CETP-tg was similar in PLTPKO mice. Furthermore, CETP-tg did not affect the expression of RCT-related proteins, such as low-density lipoprotein receptor. The mechanisms of improving RCT may be attributed to the low level of oxidized lipids in CETP-tg mouse and CETP-mediated lipid transport. Collectively, CETP-tg improves RCT in mice, and CETP can not compensate for PLTP deficiency.

Biomaterials, which can also be used for clinical management applications for wound healing, are encouraged by gold loaded nanoparticles. The present work describes the formulations of wound dressings based on Dextran (DEX)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocluster encapsulated with gold (Au) nanocomposites. The Au solutions are fabricated in the DEX/PVA matrix using Gold nanoparticles (Au@DEX/PVA). The effects on DEX/PVA nanoparticles was investigated for various experimental limitations. Scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) measured DEX/PVA and Au@DEX/PVA nanoparticle sizes. In addition, for Gram-Positive and Negative bacterial, the antibacterial efficacy of DEX/PVA and Au@DEX/PVA was established. The in vitro viability studies of DEX/PVA and Au@DEX/PVA has been performed using non-cancerous NIH-3T3 cells. In addition, we investigated in vivo skin wound healing developed over 16 days in mouse models. Unlike untreated wounds, the Au@DEX/PVA-treated wounds with minor damage received accelerated healing. These results show that bandaging materials based on Au@DEX/PVA may be a possible advanced biomaterial for wound healing and implantation in an animal model for use in wound healing applications.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of most widely consumed cereal crops globally. More than two billion people are affected by nutritional deficiencies caused by zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiency. Therefore, biofortification is a strategy supposed to be economical, sustainable and easily implemented to increase the micronutrient content in the crops. However, micronutrient distribution, especially Zn and Fe, within the spike has been rarely reported. For this, different concentrations of Zn (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 μmol L–1) and sucrose (2%, 4%, 6%) were supplied at Zn concentrations of 30 and 90 μmol L–1 under detached-ear culture. The results showed that grain weight and grain Zn, Fe and protein contents were higher in superior grains than in inferior grains, and higher in central spikelets than in basal and apical spikelets. Zn supply significantly improved grain Zn, Fe and protein content. Increasing sucrose concentration at low and high Zn supply levels significantly increased grain weight, and grain Zn, Fe and protein contents. The percentage increase in dry weight and nutrient contents of superior and inferior grains was higher in central spikelets than in apical and basal spikelets. It is concluded that grain position significantly affected the grain weight and nutrient content, and these effects could be improved by application of Zn and sucrose. These findings suggest Zn and sucrose application for increasing mineral nutrients contents in wheat grain, and mechanisms of nutrient accumulation in relation to external sucrose and Zn supply should be elucidated in the future.

Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is one of the most common chemical modifications of eukaryotic mRNAs, which play an important role in tumors and cardiovascular disease through regulating mRNA stability, splicing and translation. However, the changes of m6A mRNA and m6A-related enzymes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remain largely unexplored. Methods MeRIP-seq was used to identify m6A methylation in lung tissues from control and MCT-PAH rats. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate expression of m6A-related enzymes. Results Compared with control group, m6A methylation was mainly increased in lung tissues from MCT-PAH rats. The up-methylated coding genes in MCT-PAH rats were primarily enriched in processes associated with inflammation, glycolysis, ECM-receptor interaction and PDGF signal pathway, while genes with down-methylation were enriched in processes associated with TGF-β family receptor members. The expression of FTO and ALKBH5 downregulated, METTL3 and YTHDF1 increased and other methylation modification-related proteins was not significantly changed in MCT-PAH rats lung tissues. Immunofluorescence indicated that expression of FTO decreased and YTHDF1 increased in small pulmonary arteries of MCT-PAH rats. Conclusion m6A levels and the expression of methylation-related enzymes were altered in PAH rats, in which FTO and YTHDF1 may play a crucial role in m6A modification.

Objective. To investigate the effects of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) on rats with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the underlying mechanism. Methods. Sixty specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, PF, prednisone treatment, and DBT treatment. Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) was performed to establish a PF rat model. DBT was administered to PF rats concurrently for 2 weeks. Lung samples were then collected for HE and Masson staining after pulmonary function testing, and semiquantitative analysis for the degree of alveolitis and fibrosis was performed using the Szapiel and Ashcroft score systems. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, hydroxyproline (HYP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and inflammatory cytokine content were measured. Western blotting was performed to detect fibrotic marker and TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway changes. Results. Oral administration of DBT attenuated weight loss, survival rate, and pulmonary index. Lung histopathologic lesions were also reduced. DBT inhibited PF by decreasing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and collagen deposition. Specifically, DBT reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, HYP, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and collagen III levels. Corollary experiments identified a potential mechanism involving suppression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway activation and the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis, the downstream regulatory pathway. Conclusion. DBT exhibited a potent effect on BLM-induced PF rats by inhibiting the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Thus, DBT alleviates pulmonary inflammation to inhibit fibrotic pathology and should be considered as a candidate for the clinical treatment of PF.

MCO3 (M=Zn, Cd, Hg) forms a spodium bond with nitrogen-containing bases (HCN, NHCH2 , NH3 ) and a pnicogen bond with FH2 Z (Z=P, As, Sb). The spodium bond is very strong with the interaction energy ranging from -31 kcal/mol to -56 kcal/mol. Both NHCH2 and NH3 have an equal electrostatic potential on the N atom, but the corresponding interaction energy is differentiated by 1.5-4 kcal/mol due to the existence of spodium and hydrogen bonds in the complex with NHCH2 as the electron donor. The spodium bond is weakest in the HCN complex, which is not consistent with the change of the binding distance. The spodium bond becomes stronger in the CdCO3

A microalgal strain Micractinium reisseri FM1 which could assimilate organic carbon sources effectively and grow rapidly under mixotrophic condition was screened and identified through morphological and 18S rRNA gene sequence. Addition of glucose, maltose and sodium acetate at 2 and 4 g L−1 contents could promote the biomass production, lipid content and productivity significantly. Compared with batch culture (8 g L−1), fed-batch culture (fed 2 g L−1 4 times) with glucose, maltose and sodium acetate respectively, could not only enhance biomass, but also boost lipid productivity. More importantly, the composition of fatty acid could be enriched and the proportion of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids could be improved on the basis of promoting alga growth and lipid production by feeding organic carbon and regulating culture mode. M. reisseri FM1 has the potential to assimilate organic carbon sources for high-cell density cultivation and production of biodiesel or functional polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Development of efficient solid catalysts for catalytic conversion of dilute CO2 is of extreme importance for carbon capture and utilization. We report the synthesis of bifunctional polymers co-incorporated with porphyrin-Zn as Lewis acid sites and Br- as nucleophiles for the cycloaddition of dilute CO2 with epoxides in this work. It was found that the Br-/Zn ratio has a volcano relation with the activity of bifunctional polymers in a cycloaddition reaction, indicating the synergy effect between Lewis acid sites and nucleophiles. The turnover frequency (TOF) of the bifunctional polymer is more than four-fold that of the physical mixture of tetrabutylammonium bromide and porphyrin-Zn-incorporated polymer, implying the enhanced cooperation between Br- and porphyrin-Zn in the polymer network. The bifunctional polymer with optimized Br-/Zn afforded 99% conversion, 99% selectivity, and a TOF as high as 12,000 h-1 for the cycloaddition of CO2 and propylene oxide, which is among the most active solid catalysts ever reported. Furthermore, the bifunctional polymer could efficiently catalyze the cycloaddition of epichlorohydrin with dilute CO2 (7.5% CO2 balanced by N2) even under ambient conditions, demonstrating its potential application in industrial-scale production.

We report a general strategy to develop injectable welded nanofibers to facilitate the outgrowth and extension of neurites. In this case, nonwoven mats of uniaxially aligned poly(caprolactone)(PCL) nanofibers were firstly cut into several small pieces with fixed fiber lengths of 25, 50 and 100 µm, respectively, using a cryotome. A tissuelyser was employed to homogenize and disperse the short nanofibers to a homogeneous suspension. By tuning treatment duration from 100 s to 400 s, the temperature of the suspension was brought close to the melting point of PCL. As such, the short nanofibers were welded at their cross points while the fibers far away from the cross points remain the original structures. We showed that the viability of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and their neurite outgrowth and extension were enhanced with the use of such welded short nanofibers. Taken together, this study provides a simple way to generate injectable welded nanofibers, holding potential in affecting neurite outgrowth and extension for nerve repair, in particular, in the central nervous system.

Hyperlipidemia is one major cause of atherosclerosis, which is a basic pathological change of cardiovascular diseases. Polysaccharide is a water-soluble component with lipid-lowering effects. In this study, alkaline-extracted polysaccharides were obtained from the fruiting body of C. militaris. Polysaccharides were purified via anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. Their structural characteristics were investigated via chemical and spectroscopic methods. CM3I was mainly composed of →4)α-D-Glcp(1 → glycosyls and differed from starch due to the presence of →4,6)β-D-Glcp(1 → glycosyls. CM3II was characterized by its backbone, which was composed of →4)-β-D-Manp(1 → 6)-α-D-Manp(1 → 6)-β-D-Manp(1 → linked glycosyls, and especially the presence of O-methyl. Moreover, CM3II exhibited powerful anti-atherosclerotic effects via lowering plasma lipid levels in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The underlying mechanisms were attributed to its promoting effect on LXRα and inhibitory effect on SREBP-2. Collectively, CM3I and CM3II are different from the previously reported polysaccharides from C. militaris, and CM3II has a potential application in hypolipidemia and anti-atherosclerosis.

2-Fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline was found to be a suitable monodentate transient directing group (MonoTDG) to enable Ru(II)-catalyzed intermolecular direct ortho-C(sp2)-H imidation of benzaldehydes. N-Tosyloxyphthalimide was used as an alternative azide-free amidation reagent to achieve high efficiency and good functional group tolerance. Moreover, the reaction could be enlarged to gram scale, and the amidated product could be readily converted into useful quinazoline and fused isoindolinone scaffolds by one-step derivatization.

Biotrickling filters (BTFs) for hydrophobic chlorobenzene (CB) purification are limited by mass transfer and biodegradation. The CB mass transfer rate could be improved by 150 mg/L rhamnolipids. This study evaluated the combined use of Fe3+ and Zn2+ to enhance biodegradation in a BTF over 35 day. The effects of these trace elements were analysed under different inlet concentrations (250, 600, 900, and 1200 mg/L) and empty bed residence times (EBRTs; 60, 45, and 32 sec). Batch experiments showed that the promoting effects of Fe3+/Zn2+ on microbial growth and metabolism were highest for 3 mg/L Fe3+ and 2 mg/L Zn2+, followed by 2 mg/L Zn2+, and lowest at 3 mg/L Fe3+. Compared to BTF in the absence of Fe3+ and Zn2+, the average CB elimination capacity and removal efficiency in the presence of Fe3+ and Zn2+ increased from 61.54 to 65.79 g/(m3⋅hr) and from 80.93% to 89.37%, respectively, at an EBRT of 60 sec. The average removal efficiency at EBRTs of 60, 45, and 32 sec increased by 2.89%, 5.63%, and 11.61%, respectively. The chemical composition (proteins (PN), polysaccharides (PS)) and functional groups of the biofilm were analysed at 60, 81, and 95 day. Fe3+ and Zn2+ significantly enhanced PN and PS secretion, which may have promoted CB adsorption and biodegradation. High-throughput sequencing revealed the promoting effect of Fe3+ and Zn2+ on bacterial populations. The combination of Fe3+ and Zn2+ with rhamnolipids was an efficient method for improving CB biodegradation in BTFs.

Nintedanib, an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, exhibits an anti‐fibrotic effect in lung and kidneys. Its effect on peritoneal fibrosis remains unexplored. In this study, we found that nintedanib administration lessened chlorhexidine gluconate (CG)‐induced peritoneal fibrosis and reduced collagen I and fibronectin expression. This coincided with suppressed phosphorylation of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and Src family kinase. Mechanistically, nintedanib inhibited injury‐induced mesothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (MMT), as demonstrated by decreased expression of α‐smooth muscle antigen and vimentin and preserved expression of E‐cadherin in the CG‐injured peritoneum and cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells exposed to transforming growth factor‐β1. Nintedanib also suppressed expression of Snail and Twist, two transcription factors associated with MMT in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, nintedanib treatment inhibited expression of several cytokines/chemokines, including tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β and interleukin‐6, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and prevented infiltration of macrophages to the injured peritoneum. Finally, nintedanib reduced CG‐induced peritoneal vascularization. These data suggest that nintedanib may attenuate peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting MMT, inflammation, and angiogenesis and have therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of peritoneal fibrosis in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

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Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal diseases, which is limited by peritoneal neoangiogenesis leading to ultrafiltration failure (UFF). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors are key angiogenic factors involved in almost every step of peritoneal neoangiogenesis. Impaired mesothelial cells are the major sources of VEGF in the peritoneum. The expression of VEGF will be up-regulated in specific pathological conditions in PD patients, such as with non-biocompatible peritoneal dialysate, uremia and inflammation, and so on. Other working cells (i.e. vascular endothelial cells, macrophages and adipocytes) can also stimulate the secretion of VEGF. Meanwhile, hypoxia and activation of complement system further aggravate peritoneal injury and contribute to neoangiogenesis. There are several signalling pathways participating in VEGF-mediated peritoneal neoangiogenesis including tumour growth factor-β, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Moreover, VEGF is highly expressed in dialysate effluent of long-term PD patients and is associated with peritoneal transport function, which supports its role in the alteration of peritoneal structure and function. In this review, we systematically summarize the angiogenic effect of VEGF and evaluate it as a potential target for the prevention of peritoneal neoangiogenesis and UFF. Preservation of the peritoneal membrane using targeted therapy of VEGF-mediated peritoneal neoangiogenesis may increase the longevity of the PD modality for those who require life-long dialysis.

The development of highly efficient, green, and economical materials for radioactive iodine capture has great significance in the safe development of nuclear energy. Here, organosolv lignin (OL) ex...

Crops can initiate various defense responses to environmental stresses. The process is often accompanied by extensive transcriptional and metabolic changes to reallocate metabolites. However, it remains unclear how organic pollutants activate the defense systems to reallocate metabolites in crops. The current study demonstrates that three defense systems, including the cytochrome P450s (CYP450s), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, were sequentially activated after Oryza sativa was exposed to 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobipheny l (PCB 61) and its derivatives 4'-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (OH-PCB 61) and 4'-methoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (MeO-PCB 61), respectively. Genes encoding CYP76Ms and CYP72As were significantly upregulated after 0.5 h of exposure, followed by the GST-coding gene GSTU48, suggesting that the biotransformation and detoxification of PCB 61, OH-PCB 61, and MeO-PCB 61 occurred. Subsequently, CCR1 and CCR10 involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were activated after 12 h, potentially reducing the oxidative stress induced by PCB 61 and its derivatives. Furthermore, β-d-glucan exohydrolase involved in both phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism was significantly downregulated by 7.04-fold in the OH-PCB 61-treated group, potentially contributing to the inhibition of sugar hydrolysis. These findings provide insights into increasing rice adaptability to organic pollutants by reinforcing the enzyme-mediated defense systems, characterizing a novel and critical strategy that enables augmented crop outputs and quality in environments stressed by organic contaminants.

Polluted soils in temperate regions are frequently exposed to seasonal freezing and thawing events during which the soil biological properties are expected to change in response to the associated temperature variations. In this study, we investigated the influence of freeze–thaw events on enzymatic activities and natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in temperate soils with varying pollution profiles. Four soils [clean natural, Diesel amended (DAS), Crude-oil amended (COAS), and aged oil polluted] were subjected to ten freeze–thaw temperature regimes ranging from − 20 to + 20 °C for 45 days. The soil enzymatic activities and fractional petroleum hydrocarbon analysis were conducted using spectrophotometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. After the incubation period, freezing resulted in decreased enzyme (lipase and dehydrogenase) activities in both clean and polluted soils, while thawing events compensated for the enzymatic losses that occurred during the preceding freezing phase. Fractional hydrocarbon analysis revealed that there was a switch from active removal of light- to medium-chain hydrocarbons (C10–C23) in the short-term polluted soils (DAS and COAS) during the freezing phase to rapid degradation of the heavier nonvolatile hydrocarbon fractions (C23–C34) during the thawing phase, and the long-term polluted soil had lower hydrocarbon removal rates than the short-term polluted soils. The relationship between the natural attenuation of hydrocarbons in the oil polluted soils and incubation temperatures was linear in the short- and long-term petroleum polluted soils.

In the present work, a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor consisting of the nickel (Ni) film with hybrid structure of blue phosphorene (BlueP)/transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is reported. By optimizing the thickness of Ni layer and BlueP/TMDCs, the maximum sensitivity with 270°/RIU for the Ni-BlueP/WS2 is achieved. Use of BlueP/TMDCs layer facilitates the sensitivity due to its high electron concentration, high mobility, optical, and electronic properties. Compared with the conventional Ni-based SPR sensor, the sensitivity of the proposed one is enhanced up to ~ 60.7%. We hope that the SPR sensor has potential application prospects in chemical detection, medical diagnostic, optical sensing, etc. due to its high sensitivity.

Herein, a great potential approach initiated by laccase is applied to graft the biopolymers (chitosan and phenols) onto the unbleached Kraft pulp fibers to enhance the hydrophobicity and strength. The results showed that the chitosan and laccase/phenols exhibited a synergistic action on the significant improvement of the hydrophobicity of the KP pulp fibers. Compared with the base paper, a high sizing degree value (227.08 s) was achieved when the fibers were treated by the laccase/4-hexyloxyphenol/chitosan (Lac/HP/CTS) system. The water retention value of the corresponding KP fibers reduced from 176.8 to 171.3%, and the Kappa number of treated fibers increased from 26.8 to 29.3, confirming the successful graft of HP onto the fibers. The effect of the reaction parameters, including the temperature, pH, HP and chitosan dosage, reaction time and pulp suspension consistency on the strength and hydrophobicity was investigated. pH value was found as the most remarkable factor influencing the sizing degree and gave a highest sizing value (506.2 s) at pH 5.5. The strength performance presented an opposite trend against the hydrophobicity, since the number of formed hydrogen bonds is the least when the hydrophobicity is the best. This work is extremely significant for providing valuable reference on improving the hydrophobicity and strength performance of papers through a green and biological way.

Background NKX6.1 is a transcription factor for insulin, as well as a marker for β cell maturity. Abnormal NKX6.1 expression in β cells, such as translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm or lost expression, has been shown as a marker for β cell dedifferentiation. Methods We obtained pancreatic sections from organ donors and immunofluorescence staining with NKX6.1 and insulin was performed to characterize NKX6.1 expression in subjects with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results Our results showed that cells with insulin expression but no nucleic NKX6.1 expression (NKX6.1Nuc-Ins+), and cells with cytoplasmic NKX6.1 expression but no insulin expression (NKX6.1cytIns−) were significantly increased in T2DM subjects and positively correlated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), indicating the elevated β cell dedifferentiation with NKX6.1 inactivation in T2DM. To investigate whether β cell dedifferentiation has initiated in subjects with higher risks for T2DM, we next analyzed the association between β-cell dedifferentiation level in ND subjects with different ages, body mass index, and HbA1c. The results showed the absolute number and percentage of dedifferentiated β cells with NKX6.1 inactivation did not significantly change in subjects with advanced aging, obesity, or modest hyperglycemia, indicating that the β cell dedifferentiation might mainly occur after T2DM was diagnosed. Conclusion Our results suggested that NKX6.1 expression in β cells was changed in type 2 diabetic subjects, evidenced by significantly increased NKX6.1Nuc-Ins+ and NKX6.1cytIns− cells. This abnormality did not occur more frequently in subjects with a higher risk for T2DM, suggesting that β cell dedifferentiation might be secondary to the pathological changes in T2DM.

Here, we developed a one-step method to prepare a highly tough and magnetic (1.2 emu g–1) polyacrylamide-Fe3O4-alginate (PAAM-Fe3O4-ALG) double-network hydrogel. Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MNPs)...

Facile synthesis of high optically active helical polymers from achiral monomers still remains a great challenge. In this work, two chiral Ni(II) catalysts bearing chiral R- or S-2a ligands were facilely prepared which can efficiently initiate the living/controlled polymerization of allene monomers and afford well-defined polyallenes in high yields with controlled molecular masses (Mₙs) and low molecular mass distributions (Mw/Mₙs). The catalysts showed interesting regioselectivity on the cumulated double bonds of allene monomers, as the polymerizations were highly selective which occurred on 2,3-double bonds. Moreover, the polymerization of achiral allene monomers using chiral Ni(II) catalysts showed remarkable helix-sense selectivity. The yielded polyallenes exhibited high optical activity due to the formation of a predominant one-handed helix as revealed by circular dichroism, UV–vis, and direct atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations as well. The predominant one-handed helicity of the generated polyallenes was solely determined by the chirality of the Ni(II) catalysts.

Ethylene plays an important role in kiwifruit ripening. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in ethylene production in different parts of kiwifruit during postharvest ripening. Kiwifruit were treated with 0.5 μL L−1 1-MCP for 12 h at 20°C and stored at 20 ± 1°C. The results showed the firmness, soluble sugar, total soluble solids (TSS), and AcACS1 and AcETR2 gene expressions were the highest in the core, and starch, AcACO2, and AcACO3 gene expressions were the highest in the seedless pulp at harvest. Starch content and firmness decreased significantly, and soluble sugar content, TSS, AcACO2, and AcETR2 gene expressions increased significantly in all parts during postharvest ripening. On the other hand, 1-MCP can significantly inhibit these changes in the fruits during ripening. The respiration rate and AcACS1 gene expression increased first and then reduced in all parts and were suppressed by 1-MCP. Ethylene was detected in the core and seeded pulp at 3 and 9 d of storage, respectively, but not in the seedless pulp. Overall, the results suggested there are differences in softening, ethylene production, and related gene expression in different parts of kiwifruit at harvest and during postharvest ripening, and 1-MCP inhibited softening and ethylene production of kiwifruit during postharvest ripening.

Polyallene is one of the most attractive synthetic precursors for constructing functional materials due to its unsaturated bonds on the main chain or pendants. The facile synthesis of high regioselectivity polyallenes still remains a challenge. In this work, a novel Ni(II) catalyst with a phosphine bearing sulfoxide moiety named Ming-Phos (L4) as a ligand was developed to initiate the polymerization of various allene monomers efficiently in a fast and living/controlled manner. The well-defined polyallenes were afforded in high yields with a controlled molar mass (Mn) and low molar mass distribution (Mw/Mn). Moreover, the Ni(II)/L4 catalyst exhibited fascinating regioselectivity on the accumulated double bonds of allene monomers, and the 2,3-regioselectivity of the polymerization of allene monomers was up to >99.9%. Remarkably, various monomers with different functional groups inculding alkyl, alkoxy and substituted phenyl groups could be polymerized effectively using Ni(II)/L4 as the initiator, affording polyallenes with higher 2,3-regioselectivity. The regioselectivity, and thermodynamic and crystallization properties of the polyallenes were confirmed by 1H NMR, DSC, TGA and WAXD, respectively.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) based starlike hybrid helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s (PPIs) with well-defined structures were designed and prepared in this contribution. The POSS modified with Pd(II) complexes (POSS-Pd(II)) was firstly obtained. Then well-defined starlike hybrid helical PPIs with POSS cores were synthesized through the polymerization of phenyl isocyanide monomers using POSS-Pd(II) as the initiator. The polymerization proceeded in a living and controlled manner. Meanwhile, polymerization of chiral phenyl isocyanides with decyl chain modified pendant L- or D-alanine afforded optically active hybrid starlike helical PPIs with preferred handedness. What's more, amphiphilic starlike hybrid helical PPI block copolymers showing thermoresponses were easily obtained, and their self-assembly and thermo-responsive behaviours were studied. In addition, cross-linked hybrid helical PPIs were obtained via the transesterification reaction between pentafluorophenyl ester and cystamine. Benefitting from the essential chirality of the handed helical PPIs, the cross-linked hybrid PPIs showed excellent ability in the enantioselective crystallization of racemic compounds. The enantiomeric excess (ee) of the induced crystal of threonine could be up to 95%.

Highly efficient semiconductor photocatalysis technology is widely used for water purification. Herein, we prepared carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) on carbon cloth (CC). After the addition of CQDs, the visible light absorption characteristics and electron–hole separation rate of g-C3N4 are improved. The g-C3N4/CQDs/CC composite material has photocatalytic activity and good recyclability under visible light irradiation and can be used for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The introduction of carbon cloth facilitates recycling and improves the cycle life of the photocatalyst. This work can be extended to the manufacture of high-performance photocatalysts supported by other recyclable carbon cloth.

A side-chain-extended conjugation strategy is demonstrated here to improve the photocatalytic performance of a linear conjugated polymer for hydrogen production from water. For this, polymers P0, P1, and P2 were designed and synthesized based on benzodithiophene and dibenzothiophene S,S-dioxide. Compared with P0, P1 and P2 have two additional thiophene units conjugated in the polymer skeleton along the main-chain and side-chain directions, respectively. Studies found that side chain-conjugated functionalization in P2 enhances thermal stability, redshifts light-absorption bands, narrows the polymer bandgap, prolongs the exciton lifetime, enlarges the photocatalytic over-potential, increases charge mobility, reduces charge transport resistance, and thus improves the hydrogen evolution rate (HER) by a factor of 160 fold. Although performance improvement is still observed in P1, the factor is only 3.6 fold. Thus, P2 exhibits the most promising performance among the three polymers with a HER of 20 314 μmol g−1 h−1 in the presence of 3 wt% Pt cocatalyst and a record apparent quantum yield of 7.04% at 500 nm, rendering it an excellent green light photocatalyst.

Oral candidiasis is one of the most common types of fungal infection caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans). The present study aims to investigate the antifungal effects of phloretin (a dihydrochalcone flavonoid) against the C. albicans pathogenicity. In this work, we treated C. albicans SC5314 with 37.28, 74.55, or 149.10 μg/mL (equivalent to 0.5×, 1× or 2× MIC) phloretin in vitro. Besides, we established a mice model of oral candidiasis by a sublingual infection of C. albicans suspension (1 × 107 colony-forming unit/mL), and mice were treated with phloretin (3.73 or 7.46 mg/mL, which were equivalent to 50× or 100× MIC) twice a day starting on day one post-infection. The results showed that the MIC of phloretin against C. albicans was 74.55 μg/mL. Phloretin exerted antifungal activity by inhibiting the biofilm formation and suppressing the yeast-to-hyphae transition upon the downregulation of hypha-associated genes including enhanced adherence to polystyrene 1, the extent of cell elongation gene 1, hyphal wall protein 1 gene, and agglutinin-like sequence gene 3. Next, phloretin repressed the secretion of proteases and phospholipases via reducing the expression of protease-encoding genes secreted aspartyl proteases (SAP)1 and SAP2, as well as phospholipase B1. Subsequently, the in vivo antifungal activity of phloretin was testified by the reverse of the enhanced lesion severity, inflammatory infiltration, and the increased colony-forming unit counts caused by C. albicans of tongue tissues in oral candidiasis mice. In conclusion, phloretin suppressed the pathogenicity and virulence factors against C. albicans both in vivo and in vitro.

End-functionalization is an effective strategy for fabricating functional materials. Installing functional groups onto the chain end of helical polymers is of great interest. In this paper, we reported a new method for constructing end-functional helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s. At first, a family of helical polyisocyanides with controlled Mn and low polydispersity bearing a Pd(II) complex on the chain end was readily prepared via the Pd(II)-mediated living polymerization of isocyanide monomers. To activate the terminal Pd(II)-complex, a variety of phosphine ligands were tested. It was found that the ligand exchange of the Pd(II) complex with Wei-phos provides a terminal Pd(II)-complex with high activity, which can promote the Sonogashira coupling reaction with many terminal alkyne derivatives. Taking advantage of this method, a series of interesting functional groups including dansyl chloride, the F atom, and the aldehyde group can be facilely installed onto the end of helical polyisocyanides. Moreover, a couple of hybrid block copolymers can also be obtained via the Sonogashira coupling reaction of the Pd(II)-terminated helical polyisocyanides with different functional polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) bearing an alkynyl group on the chain end. This method can not only install interesting functionalities onto the chain end of helical polyisocyanides but also remove the transition metal residue simultaneously facilely.

Oxidative stress is a crucial pathological process that contributes to secondary injury following intracerebral hemorrhage. P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), which is activated by the abnormal accumulation of extracellular ATP, plays an important role in the regulation of oxidative stress in the central nervous system, although the effects of activated P2X7R-associated oxidative stress after intracerebral hemorrhage remain unclear. Mouse models of intracerebral hemorrhage were established through the stereotactic injection of 0.075 U VII collagenase into the right basal ganglia. The results revealed that P2X7R expression peaked 24 hours after intracerebral hemorrhage, and P2X7R expressed primarily in neurons. The inhibition of P2X7R, using A438079 (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression and malondialdehyde generation, increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione/oxidized glutathione levels, and alleviated neurological damage, brain edema, and apoptosis after intracellular hemorrhage. The P2X7R inhibitor A438079 (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) inhibited the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) after intracerebral hemorrhage. Blocking ERK1/2 activation, using the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 (2 µg, intraventricular injection), reduced the level of NOX2-mediated oxidative stress induced by P2X7R activation after intracellular hemorrhage. Similarly, the inhibition of NF-κB, using the NF-κB inhibitor JSH-23 (3.5 µg, intraventricular), reduced the level of NOX2-mediated oxidative stress induced by P2X7R activation. Finally, GSK2795039 (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), a NOX2 antagonist, attenuated P2X7R-mediated oxidative stress, neurological damage, and brain edema after intracerebral hemorrhage. The results indicated that P2X7R activation aggravated NOX2-induced oxidative stress through the activation of the ERK1/2 and NF-κB pathways following intracerebral hemorrhage in mice. The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China (approval No. TJ-A20160805) on August 26, 2016.

Background and Aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain malignancy that lacks reliable treatments. Resveratrol possesses anti-cancer effects, but its activity against glioblastoma cells is variable for unknown reasons. One mechanism through which anti-cancer drugs exert their effects is oxidative damage caused by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Thus, the present study examined the relationship between oxidative stress and sensitivity to resveratrol in glioblastoma cells. Methods: Two GBM cell lines (U251 and LN428) were exposed to 100 μM resveratrol for 48 h, and proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. ROS generation was evaluated using 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate-based flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. Immunocytochemical staining and western blotting were conducted at regular intervals to profile the expression patterns of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2), catalase, caspase-9, caspase-3, and sulfotransferases (SULTs) in untreated and resveratrol-treated GBM cells. Results: Resveratrol-treated U251 cells, but not resveratrol-treated LN428 cells, exhibited remarkable growth arrest and extensive apoptosis accompanied by elevated intracellular ROS levels and attenuated SOD2 and catalase expression. Mitochondrial impairment and more distinct increases in the expression of activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 were detected in U251 cells following resveratrol treatment. The levels of resveratrol metabolic enzymes (SULT1A1 and SULT1C2) were lower in U251 cells than in LN428 cells. Conclusions: Resveratrol increased ROS generation and induced oxidation-related cellular lesions in U251 cells by activating an ROS-related mitochondrial signal pathway. The levels of SULTs and ROS may indicate the therapeutic outcomes of resveratrol treatment in GBM.

A reaction of heteroscorpionated ligands HL1 and HL2 (L1 = (3,5-Me2Pz)2CHP(Ph)2NPh, L2 = (3,5-Me2Pz)2CHP(Ph)2NPh(2-OMe), Pz = pyrazole) with homoleptic calcium amide Ca[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2, respectively, afforded novel zwitterionic calcium complexes L1CaN(SiMe3)2(THF) (1) and L2CaN(SiMe3)2 (2) through protolysis. 1 and 2 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shifts of the protons of pyrazole and phosphino phenyl within 1 are similar to those in complex 2, while the chemical shift of phosphine in complex 2 (28.66 ppm) is a little higher than that in complex 1 (11.43 ppm). The structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Both 1 and 2 adopt a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. L1 and L2 chelate to the calcium ion through a κ3 and κ4 fashion, respectively. 1 and 2 were assayed towards the ROP of rac-lactide. Both of them catalyzed the polymerization in a controlled manner. With the increase of the feeding ratio of the monomer to catalyst, the molecular weights increased linearly. At 25 °C, these two calcium complexes catalyzed the ROP of rac-lactide to afford atactic polylactides. Surprisingly, at −75 °C, complex 1 gave a heterotactic sequence enriched polylactide (Pr = 0.84); in contrast, complex 2 produced an isotactic sequence enriched polymer. The reason behind was elucidated.

The relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction or ER stress with pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is well documented, but the crosstalk between them in cardiovascular diseases is not clear. Adiponectin (APN) is reported to become a potential cardioprotective molecule, but whether and how APN regulates mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress is not clear. In this study, we used rotenone-treated HL-1 atrial cardiomyocytes as an in vitro model of mitochondrial dysfunction to investigate the possible interactions between mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress and explore the effects of APN on rotenone-induced cytotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms. It found that rotenone treatment significantly activated the ER stress PRK-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-dependent pathway, decreased autophagic flux and APN expression in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of GSK2606414, an inhibitor of PERK kinase activity, attenuated the rotenone-induced decrease of APN expression. In return exogenous APN pretreatment inhibited rotenone-induced ER stress and activated autophagy via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and protected HL-1 cells against apoptosis and enhanced the viability after rotenone treatment. In conclusion, rotenone treatment induced significant cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity and ER stress, suppressed autophagy, and decreased APN expression in HL-1 cells. APN in return inhibited ER stress and activated autophagy through AMPK activation, thus alleviating rotenone induced HL-1 apoptosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the drug-resistant phenotypes and genes of Escherichia coli in animal, environmental, and human samples before and after antibiotic use at a large-scale broiler farm to understand the respective effects on E. coli resistance during the broiler feeding cycle. The antibiotic use per broiler house was 143.04 to 183.50 mg/kg, and included tilmicosin, florfenicol, apramycin, and neomycin. All strains isolated on the first day the broilers arrived (T1; day 1) were antibiotic-resistant bacteria. E. coli strains isolated from animal samples were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole (100%), and those isolated from environmental samples were resistant to 5 different drugs (74.07%, 20 of 27). E. coli strains isolated on the last day before the broilers left (T2; day 47) had a higher resistance rate to florfenicol (100%, 36 of 36) than at T1 (P