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• PPZM exhibited significant scavenging activity of DPPH and OH free radicals in vitro. • PPZM effectively against H 2 O 2 -induced cell damage by decreasing LDH and MDA release, and increasing SOD activity. • The neuroprotective effects of PPZM may be involved in the inhibition of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. • PPZM can be used as the source of natural antioxidants and neuroprotective agents. The pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (PZM) is one of eight fascinating condiments and also used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat a variety of diseases. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was applied for the extraction of polysaccharides from PZM (PPZM) and the extraction conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The obtained PPZM yield (2.60 ± 0.06%) was closely agreed with the predicted value (2.58%), and the optimal extraction conditions obtained were: liquid to solid ratio of 32 mL/g, extraction time of 42 min, and extraction temperature of 61 °C. PPZM was determined to be composed of mannose (Man), rhamnose (Rha), galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glu), galactose (Gal), arabinose (Ara) with a molar ratio of 4.93: 5.03: 71.01: 16.01: 24.87: 18.79, and the average molecular weight (Mw) of PPZM was 1.72 × 105 Da. Typical polysaccharide characteristics were determined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). PPZM exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities in vitro. More importantly, PPZM effectively protected adrenal phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells against H 2 O 2 -induced damage by inhibiting the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inhibiting abnormal apoptosis. Further experiments indicated that the anti-apoptotic effects of PPZM were closely related to down-regulating the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3, and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2. Therefore, PPZM can be used as the source of natural antioxidants and neuroprotective agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrocyte senescence is a decisive component of age-related osteoarthritis, however, the function of small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in chondrocyte senescence remains underexplored. Human hip joint cartilage chondrocytes were cultivated up to passage 4 to induce senescence. RNA samples were extracted and then analyzed using small RNA sequencing and qPCR. β-galactosidase staining was used to detect the effect of sncRNA on chondrocyte aging. Results of small RNA sequencing showed that 279 miRNAs, 136 snoRNAs, 30 snRNAs, 102 piRNAs, and 5 rasiRNAs were differentially expressed in senescent chondrocytes. The differential expression of 150 sncRNAs was further validated by qPCR. Transfection of sncRNAs and β-galactosidase staining were also performed to further revealed that hsa-miR-135b-5p, SNORA80B-201, and RNU5E-1-201 have the function to restrain chondrocyte senescence, while has-piR-019102 has the function to promote chondrocyte senescence. Our data suggest that sncRNAs have therapeutic potential as novel epigenetic targets in age-related osteoarthritis. • Our research innovatively explored the sncRNA transcriptome of senescent human hip cartilage samples. • Our research involved the seldom studied piRNA in chondrocytes, revealing its role in chondrocyte senescence and OA. • Transfection of sncRNAs were performed to revealed the function of sncRNAs in chondrocyte senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective The mammalian target of rapamycin ( mTOR) signalling pathway regulates immune responses, and promotes cell growth and differentiation. Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin modulates allergic asthma, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that rapamycin, effectively inhibits eosinophil differentiation, contributing to its overall protective role in allergic airway inflammation. Methods Rapamycin was administered in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation, and the eosinophil differentiation was analysed in vivo and in vitro. Results Rapamycin significantly attenuated allergic airway inflammation and markedly decreased the amount of eosinophils in local airways, peripheral blood and bone marrow, independently of levels of interleukin-5 ( IL-5). In vitro colony forming unit assay and liquid culture demonstrated that rapamycin directly inhibited IL-5-induced eosinophil differentiation. In addition, rapamycin reduced the production of IL-6 and IL-13 by eosinophils. Rapamycin was also capable of reducing the eosinophil levels in IL-5 transgenic NJ.1638 mice, again regardless of the constitutive high levels of IL-5. Interestingly, rapamycin inhibition of eosinophil differentiation in turn resulted in an accumulation of eosinophil lineage-committed progenitors in bone marrow. Conclusions Altogether these results clearly demonstrate a direct inhibitory role of rapamycin in eosinophil differentiation and function, and reemphasize the importance of rapamycin and possibly, mTOR, in allergic airway disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite is prepared by filling acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer with stainless steel fiber. Its physical properties and electromagnetic shielding effectiveness are tested. When the mass percent of stainless steel fiber is 15%, shielding effectiveness of composite is 21–59 dB in frequency band of 15 MHz to 3 GHz and cylindrical shell is made of it. Experiments under radiation of X-band high power microwave and ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulse are conducted in microwave anechoic chamber while magnetic fuzes connected with electrical fire head are placed at the center of cylindrical shell. Results show good agreement with test. Coupling effect is analyzed while shell has a hole or slot of millimeter level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]