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In recent years,Wi-Fi perception has become an emerging research direction in human-computer interaction due to its advantages of low cost,non-contact,unaffected by light,and better privacy.At present,the research of Wi-Fi perception has expanded from target positioning to fields such as action recognition and identity recognition.Taking human identity recognition as an example,the research on Wi-Fi perception technology in this field is summarized and analyzed.First,it briefly summarizes the development history,advantages and disadvantages of Wi-Fi perception technology,and introduces the advantages of using Wi-Fi signals for identification compared with traditional identification technologies.Second,it introduces Wi-Fi in detail.The basic process of perceiving identity includes 4 steps of signal acquisition,preprocessing,feature extraction,and identity recognition,and the specific operation process of each step is introduced in detail.Third,the existing gait and gestures are compared to the existing ones in terms of gait and gestures.The research results of Wi-Fi-aware identity are compared and analyzed horizontally and vertically.Finally,in view of the key issues in the current research in this field,the focus of future research is proposed,mainly including multi-person identification and migration learning.

OBJECTIVE To develop a predictive tool to accurately screen women at high risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage (SPPH) undergoing vaginal delivery. METHODS We analyzed 28 150 mothers who underwent vaginal delivery after 28 weeks of pregnancy in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2015 to August 2019. Two-thirds of the cohort were randomly allocated to a training set (n = 18 766) and the rest to a validation set (n = 9384). In the training set, we built a radiomic nomogram based on multivariate logistic analysis, and calibration and C-index were evaluated. The performance of the validated nomogram was then tested in the validation cohort. RESULTS Independent risk factors for SPPH in women undergoing vaginal delivery were previous cesarean section, history of PPH, in vitro fertilization, anemia, intrauterine death, prolonged labor, low-lying placenta, placental abruption, placenta accreta spectrum, and macrosomia. Good calibration was observed for the probability of SPPH in the validation cohort, and the C-index of the nomogram for the prediction of SPPH was 0.861 (95% confidence interval 0.820-0.902). CONCLUSION This model would be a useful tool to accurately screen for women at high-risk of SPPH undergoing vaginal delivery. It would be expected to be an effective tool to guide clinical practice and further reduce maternal mortality.

Five undescribed enantiomeric pairs of acylphloroglucinol-monoterpene meroterpenoids ((+)-/(-)-eucateretins A-E) resolved by chiral-phase HPLC were obtained from the leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith, along with nine known analogues. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and ECD calculations. This is the first report of meroterpenoid enantiomers from this plant. Some of the isolates, (-)-eucateretin A, (+)-/(-)-eucateretins E, 7'α-eucalrobusone X, eucalrobusone X, and robustadial B, exhibited inhibitory effects on ATP citrate lyase, and 7'α-eucalrobusone X significantly suppressed the hepatocyte lipogenesis.

Real-life data on guselkumab in psoriasis are limited and not available in China hitherto. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety of guselkumab in patients with psoriasis under Chinese real-life conditions and to explore the effect of guselkumab on CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). A Chinese prospective and real-life study involving patients with psoriasis in Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China from April to September 2020 was conducted. A total of 45 patients with psoriasis were finally enrolled in the study. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 90 and 100 responses at week 16 were achieved by 88.6% and 45.5% of patients, respectively. The analysis of PASI response in different subgroups showed no statistically significant difference. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that at week 16, none of the variables were associated with decreasing PASI 90 response, whereas age at onset of disease was a predictor of PASI 100 response. Dynamic detection of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs frequency from peripheral blood suggested a stable maintained trend in terms of guselkumab treatment duration. No severe adverse events occurred during the follow-up period. This study confirmed the short-term effectiveness and safety of guselkumab, as well as its good tolerance against psoriasis, in the Chinese population. Guselkumab treatment maintains levels of Tregs in patients with psoriasis.

Background Although maternal deaths are rare in developed regions, the morbidity associated with severe postpartum hemorrhage (SPPH) remains a major problem. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of SPPH, we analyzed data of women who gave birth in Guangzhou Medical Centre for Critical Pregnant Women, which received a large quantity of critically ill obstetric patients who were transferred from other hospitals in Southern China. Methods In this study, we conducted a retrospective case-control study to determine the prevalence and risk factors for SPPH among a cohort of women who gave birth after 28 weeks of gestation between January 2015 and August 2019. SPPH was defined as an estimated blood loss ≥1000 mL and total blood transfusion≥4 units. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for SPPH. Results SPPH was observed in 532 mothers (1.56%) among the total population of 34,178 mothers. Placenta-related problems (55.83%) were the major identified causes of SPPH, while uterine atony without associated retention of placental tissues accounted for 38.91%. The risk factors for SPPH were maternal age Conclusion Maternal age

This study compared the potential of 2 nanoparticles, namely albumin and gold nanoparticles, for the specific delivery of 99mTC- resveratrol in colon cancer. The aim of adding radioactive tag (99mTC) to resveratrol was to utilize it for imaging purposes.We compared the potential of albumin loaded 99mTC- resveratrol with gold nanoparticles loaded 99mTc-resveratrol for tumor specific delivery. Twenty male Wistar rats were used for the formation of colon cancer model. Both delivery molecules were tested for tumor specific delivery.The results showed efficient delivery of 99mTC-resveratrol with albumin in comparison to gold nanoparticles, as confirmed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).Albumin is a superior molecule for the efficient delivery of 99mTC- resveratrol at tumor sites in comparison to gold nanoparticles.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the evolvement of investors’ behavior in stock market dynamically on the basis of non-cooperative strategy applied by investors in complex networks. Design/methodology/approach Using modeling and simulation research method, this study designs and conducts a mathematical modeling and its simulation experiment of financial market behavior according to research’s basic norms of complex system theory and methods. Thus the authors acquire needed and credible experimental data. Findings The conclusions drawn in this paper are as follows. The dynamical evolution of investors’ trading behavior is not only affected by the stock market network structure, but also by the risk dominance degree of certain behavior. The dynamics equilibrium of trading behavior’s evolvement is directly influenced by the risk dominance degree of certain behavior, connectivity degree and the heterogeneity of the stock market networks. Research limitations/implications This paper focuses on the dynamical evolvement of investors’ behavior on the basis of the hypothesis that common investors prefer to mimic their network neighbors’ behavior through different analysis by the strategy of anti-coordination game in complex network. While the investors’ preference and the beliefs among them are not easy to quantify, that is deterministic or stochastic as the environment changes, and is heterogeneous definitely. Thus, these limitations should be broken through in the future research. Originality/value This paper aims to address the dynamical evolvement of investors’ behavior in stock market networks on the principle of non-cooperative represented by anti-coordination game in networks for the first time, considering that investors prefer to mimic their network neighbors’ behavior through different analysis by the strategy of differential choosing in every time step. The methodology designed and used in this study is a pioneering and exploratory experiment.

This work concerns the modeling of evolvement of trading behavior in stock markets. Based on the assumption of the investors’ limited rationality, the evolution mechanism of trading behavior is modeled according to the investment strategy of coordination game in network, that investors are prone to imitate their neighbors’ activity through comprehensive analysis on the risk dominance degree of certain investment behavior, the network topology of their relationship and its heterogeneity. We investigate by mean-field analysis and extensive simulations the evolution of investors’ trading behavior in various typical networks under different risk dominance degree of investment behavior. Our results indicate that the evolution of investors’ behavior is affected by the network structure of stock market and the effect of risk dominance degree of investment behavior; the stability of equilibrium states of investors’ behavior dynamics is directly related with the risk dominance degree of some behavior; connectivity and heterogeneity of the network plays an important role in the evolution of the investment behavior in stock market.

To study the differences and similarities in pharmaceutical characterization and pharmacodynamic characterization between the single decoction and merger decoction of Baihu and Guizhi. The same technology parameters were used to prepare Baihu and Guizhi single decoticon and merger decoction extracts, and then the differences and similarities in pharmaceutical characterization were analyzed based on their HPLC fingerprint, content of index components, and the extraction content. The pharmacodynamic differences and similarities were analyzed by inflammatory model and pain model. There was no significant difference in HPLC chromatographic peak, but the peak area value reflected the difference of quantity to some extent. It was found that the peak value of single Rhizoma anemarrhenae and Cassia twig decoction was less than the peak of their merger decoction, but the peak value of single honey-fried Licorice root decoction was greater than the peak of merger decoction． The contents of neomangiferin, mangiferin and timosaponin B Ⅱ among index components as well as extraction content in merger decoction were higher than those in single decoction． The contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid as well as extraction content in merger decoction were lower than those in single decoction． There was no significant difference in the content of cinnamicacid and its extraction content between merger decoction and single decoction. According to the efficacy experiment, both of them showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, the merger decoction showed faster anti-inflammation effect, and longer analgesic effect. It can be concluded that the merger decoction and single decoction of Baihu and Guizhi have the same material basis, and the merger decoction is better for the dissolution of the active ingredients in this recipe, and is more beneficial to the therapeutic effect.

Isoproterenol (ISO) induced nuclear translocation of calpain-2 which further increased susceptibility of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in tail-suspended rats. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, the results showed that ISO (10 nM) significantly elevated NADPH oxidases (NOXs) activity and NOXs-derived ROS productions which induced nuclear translocation of calpain-2 in cardiomyocytes of tail-suspended rats. In contrast, the inhibition of NADPH oxidase or cleavage of ROS not only reduced ROS productions, but also resisted nuclear translocation of calpain-2 and decreased ISO-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocyte in tail-suspended rats. ISO also increased the constitutive binding between calpain-2 and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II δB (CaMK II δB) in nuclei, concomitant with the promotion of CaMK II δB degradation and subsequent down-regulation of Bcl-2 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax protein in tail-suspended rat cardiomyocytes. These effects of ISO on cardiomyocytes were abolished by a calpain inhibitor PD150606. Inhibition of calpain significantly reduced ISO-induced loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm, as well as the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In summary, the above results suggest that ISO increased NOXs-derived ROS which activated nuclear translocation of calpain-2, subsequently nuclear calpain-2 degraded CaMK II δB which reduced the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, and finally the mitochondria apoptosis pathway was triggered in tail-suspended rat cardiomyocytes. Therefore, calpain-2 may represent a potentially therapeutic target for prevention of oxidative stress-associated cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

To study the effect of serum containing Xihuang pill on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 and the gene and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, TP53, in order to explore the effect and mechanism of Xihuang pill in resisting breast cancer. The serum of the rats was prepared by the method of MTT assay. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by RT-PCR. The serum levels of Bcl-2 and Bax and the mRNA expression of TP53 were detected by immunofluorescence. The rats with serum containing Xihuang pill could inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-435 cells and MCF-7 cells (

Yb rare earth doped YAG ultrafine particles were synthesized by the stearate melting method using yttrium stearate, ytterbium stearate and aluminum tristearate as starting materials. The phase formation of Yb:YAG, the properties and the sintering activity of the powders were investigated by means of XRD, SEM, dilatometry and vacuum sintering. The results show that pure Yb:YAG nanopowders can be obtained by calcining the co-melted precursor at a relatively low temperature of 800 °C for 4 h. The powders calcined at 1000°C have better sintering activity than the powders calcined at other temperatures. For the Yb:YAG powders doping with 0.5% TEOS, the compact can be sintered to 99.2% of the theoretical density at 1600 °C and 99.7% at 1700 °C. The transparent Yb:YAG ceramics obtained by vacuum sintering at 1700 °C for 5 h exhibit a pore-free and uniform microstructure.

Due to the difficulty to build accuracy mathematical model, the traditional method has some problems in setting system parameters. At the same time, the deficiency in the system control reduces the reliability and the safety of control system of PLC large mechanical lifting equipments leading to low control quality. In order to solve the problems, this paper presents a PID algorithm and applies it in to the control of PLC large mechanical lifting equipments. The experimental results show that the algorithm effectively realizes the self-tuning of PID parameters and increases the control quality of PLC large mechanical lifting equipments.

Ti6Al4V (TC4) slices were boronized with rare earth oxide (RE) addition in the agent at 950°C (below β phase transus of TC4). The morphology, phases, properties and structures of TC4 matrix and boride layers were studied. The results show that the boride layer on the surface of TC4 consists of TiB2 and TiB dual compounds. The boride layer is compact, uniform and less porous compared with that obtained at 1050°C (above β phase transus of TC4), and the hardness profile and brittleness of the layers are improved to a certain extent. Lower temperature boronizing can effectively prevent the growth of coarse β phase grains. Duplex microstructure is obtained in TC4 matrix, and the work piece distortion is reduced.

Fine yttrium stearate powder was produced at a relatively low temperature using yttrium nitrate hexahydrate, ammonia and stearic acid as the raw materials. Dispersed Y2O3 nanopowder was synthesized by calcining the yttrium stearate. The formation mechanism of the precursor and the Y2O3 nanopowder was studied by means of XRD, TG-DTA, FT-IR, BET, FE-SEM and HR-TEM. Pure and dispersed Y2O3 nanopowder with an average particle size of 30 nm was produced by calcining the precursor at 600 °C. The particle size increases to about 60 nm with the increase of the calcination temperature to 1000 °C. In the preparation of Y2O3 from yttrium stearate, no water medium is involved, thus capillarity force and bridging of adjacent particles by hydrogen bonds can be avoided, resulting in good dispersion of the particles. The dispersed Y2O3 nanopowder prepared in this work has potential application in phosphors and transparent ceramic materials.

Regional comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation planning is to evaluate the disaster risk and disaster resistance capability of a region based on the investigation and prediction of existed or potential disasters in this region, and after that the planning will construct a comprehensive defense system to avoid or reduce the economic loss of disaster and improve the disaster prevention capability. Tanghai County comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation planning evaluates disaster resistance of all units of county and disaster mitigation of disaster-prevention projects, and it emphasizes on comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation planning in key regions. This planning will improve the disaster prevention capability of local government, reduces disaster risk and ensures the sustainable development of economic and environment for that county.

Renal aquaporins (AQP1-4) concentration is downregulated and is in proportion to the degree of hydronephrosis graded by ultrasound in pediatric congenital hydronephrosis (CH). However, the relationship between the expression of AQP1-4 with the changes of renal function impairment (RFI) evaluated by (99m)Tc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between AQP1-4 expression and degree of RFI in children with CH.The expression of AQP1-4 was evaluated in 45 children with unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction (28 boys and 17 girls, average age: 28±10 months) and 15 children undergoing nephrectomy for nephroblastoma (8 boys and 7 girls, average age: 26±8 months) by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Renal function was graded into mild and severe RFI by (99m)Tc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging.One-way analysis of variance with Bonferonni's correction showed a significantly reduced protein expression of AQP1-4 in the severe RFI group compared with those in both mild RFI group and controls (AQP1: 0.52±0.09 vs. 0.91±0.06 vs. 1.23±0.033; AQP2: 0.68±0.12 vs. 1.09±0.06 vs. 1.52±0.08; AQP3: 0.59±0.16 vs. 0.94±0.08 vs. 1.31±0.07; AQP4: 0.64±0.06 vs. 1.14±0.07 vs. 1.61±0.07; P0.001, respectively). In kidneys with severe RFI, there was a reduction in the protein concentration of all four AQP isoforms which was more pronounced compared with those seen in kidneys with mild RFI and in the controls.AQP1-4 expression is reduced in proportion with the impairment degree of renal function graded by (99m)Tc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging in human CH.

Aims: Increased fructose consumption predisposes the liver to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the mechanisms are elusive. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) links oxidative stress to NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and this signaling axis may be involved in fructose-induced NAFLD. Here, we explore the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced TXNIP overexpression in fructose-mediated hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammation, and lipid accumulation. Results: Rats were fed a 10% fructose diet for 8 weeks and treated with allopurinol and quercetin during the last 4 weeks. Five millimolars of fructose-exposed hepatocytes (primary rat hepatocytes, rat hepatic parenchymal cells [RHPCs], HLO2, HepG2) were co-incubated with antioxidants or caspase-1 inhibitor or subjected to TXNIP or NLRP3 siRNA interference. Fructose induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, janus-activated kinase 2/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3-mediated inflammatory signaling, and expression alteration of lipid metabolism-related genes in cultured hepatocytes and rat livers. NLRP3 silencing and caspase-1 suppression blocked these effects in primary rat hepatocytes and RHPCs, confirming that inflammasome activation alters hepatocyte lipid metabolism. Hepatocellular ROS and TXNIP were increased in animal and cell models. TXNIP silencing blocked NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammation, and lipid metabolism perturbations but not ROS induction in fructose-exposed hepatocytes, whereas antioxidants addition abrogated TXNIP induction and diminished the detrimental effects in fructose-exposed hepatocytes and rat livers. Innovation and Conclusions: This study provides a novel mechanism for fructose-induced NAFLD pathogenesis by which the ROS-TXNIP pathway mediates hepatocellular NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammation and lipid accumulation. Antioxidant-based interventions can inhibit the ROS-TXNIP pathway. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 22, 848–870.

Energy efficiency is crucial to achieve satisfactory network lifetime in ad hoc networks. In order to reduce the energy consumption significantly, a node needs to turn off its transceiver. Many existing energy-saving algorithms are based on constructing a simplified routing backbone for global connectivity. In this paper some problems involved with node sleep in on-demand ad hoc networks are addressed firstly. Then we propose a distributed, cross-layer Traffic-Aware Participation (TAP) algorithm, where nodes make decisions on whether to sleep or not based on both the traffic pattern and local connectivity. Nodes get dynamic traffic characteristics as well as active neighbors within two hops via routing control and data packets periodically. We further present a lightweight algorithm to avoid network partition resulted from node sleeping. Simulation results show that, compared to current sleep-based topology control algorithms, TAP achieves better network service quality and lower delay while allowing comparable energy conservation.

Multicasting is a necessity for a broadband metro‐area‐network. Discusses the security problems with current multicast protocols. To make the multicast delivery infrastructure more secure and reliable, a stateful multicast access control mechanism, based on MAPE, is proposed. This mechanism expands the current forwarding procedure of a layer 2 switch so that stateful multicast access control can be carried out at the very edge of the metro area network. The architecture of MAPE is discussed in detail, as well as the states maintained and messages exchanged. Further explains that the scheme is flexible and scalable.

One new neolignan identified as 2, 3-( trans) -dihydro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) -3-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy) methyl]-7-methoxybenzofuran-5-propenoic acid (1) and five known steroidal glycosides namely torvoside A(2), torvoside C(3), torvoside H(4), solanolactoside A (5), (25S)-6alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-spirostan-3-one-6-0-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1--3-beta3)-beta-D-D-quinovopyr-anoside] (6) were isolated from the fruits of Solanum torvum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis.

Background —Altered vascular mechanics resulting from changes in collagen and integrins may influence resistance artery structure and function and, therefore, peripheral resistance and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods and Results —Effects of age, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (fosinopril, 10 to 30 mg/kg per day), and AT 1 -receptor antagonism (irbesartan, 50 mg/kg per day) on vascular structure, mechanics, and composition were assessed in SHR. Systolic blood pressure was elevated in young SHR (130±2 mm Hg) compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (106±2 mm Hg). In adult SHR, the rise in systolic blood pressure (44±3 mm Hg) was blunted by fosinopril (18±1 mm Hg) and irbesartan (9±3 mm Hg). Lumen diameter of mesenteric resistance arteries was smaller and media/lumen ratio was greater in young and adult SHR versus WKY rats. Growth index was 24% in untreated adult SHR versus WKY rats; these values were −35% for fosinopril-treated and −29% for irbesartan-treated SHR versus untreated SHR. Isobaric wall stiffness was normal despite increased stiffness of wall components in adult SHR vessels. Irbesartan partially prevented stiffening of wall components in SHR. The collagen/elastin ratio was greater in adult SHR vessels (6.5±1.3) than in WKY (3.2±0.4) vessels. Expression of α v β 3 and α 5 β 1 integrins was increased in SHR aged 20 versus 6 weeks. Expression of α 5 β 1 integrins was lower in young SHR, and α v β 3 integrins were overexpressed in adult SHR versus WKY rats. Irbesartan and fosinopril attenuated differences in the collagen/elastin ratio and integrin expression. Conclusions —Wall components of mesenteric resistance arteries stiffen with age in SHR. Interrupting the renin-angiotensin system has normalizing effects on integrin expression and composition, stiffness, and growth of the arterial wall.

Abstract —In vitro experiments suggest that angiotensin II (Ang II) may cause growth via angiotensin type 1 (AT 1 ) receptors and apoptosis via angiotensin type 2 (AT 2 ) receptors. To answer the question of whether AT 1 or AT 2 receptor activation could induce apoptosis in the vasculature in vivo, Wistar rats were infused for 7 days with Ang II (120 ng · kg −1 · min −1 subcutaneously) and treated with the AT 2 receptor antagonist PD 123319 (30 mg · kg −1 · d −1 subcutaneously) or the AT 1 receptor antagonist losartan (10 mg · kg −1 · d −1 orally). Apoptosis in thoracic aorta was quantified by radiolabeled DNA laddering and by terminal deoxynucleotide transferase–mediated dUTP nick end-labeling. The expression of p53, bax, bcl-2, and caspase-3, which play critical roles in apoptotic signaling, was examined by Western blot analysis. The mRNA expression of AT 1 and AT 2 receptors was determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The increase in systolic blood pressure and aortic growth induced by Ang II infusion was completely prevented by losartan alone or losartan given with PD 123319, whereas PD 123319 resulted in a greater increase in systolic blood pressure and aortic growth than Ang II alone. Radiolabeled DNA laddering showed that Ang II infusion±losartan or PD 123319 significantly increased apoptosis (147±8%, 178±20%, and 238±41%, respectively, P 1 and AT 2 receptor mRNA was downregulated by losartan and PD 123319, respectively. Thus, when AT 1 or AT 2 receptors are stimulated in vivo, apoptosis is enhanced in the media of blood vessels. In the case of AT 1 receptor stimulation, this may occur secondary to vascular growth and modulate the latter. Both bax and caspase-3 participate in the pathways of apoptosis triggered by in vivo AT 1 receptor stimulation.

The fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz, commonly known as Turkey berry, are edible and commonly used as a vegetable in the South Indian population's diet and as an essential ingredient in Thai cuisine. Five new steroidal glycosides together with five known ones were isolated from the fruits of S. torvum Swartz. Based on chemical and spectral evidence, the five new compounds were identified to be 25( S )-26- O - β - d -glucopyranosyl-5 α -furost-22(20)-en-3 β ,6 α ,26-triol-6- O -[ α - l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O - β - d -quinovopyranoside] ( 1 ), 25( S )-26- O - β - d -glucopyranosyl-5 α -furost-22(20)-en-3-one-6 α ,26-diol-6- O -[ α - l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O - β - d -quinovopyranoside] ( 2 ), 25( S )-26- O - β - d -glucopyranosyl-5α-furost-22(20)-en-3 β ,6 α ,26-triol-6- O - β - d -quinovopyranoside ( 3 ), 5α-pregn-16-en-20-one-3β,6 α -diol-6- O -[ α - l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- β - d -quinovopyranoside] ( 4 ), and 5α-pregn-16-en-3,20-dione-6 α -ol-6- O -[ α - l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- β - d -quinovopyranoside] ( 5 ). These new compounds were assayed for cytotoxicities in vitro , and 1 to 4 showed cyotoxic activity against the human melanoma cell line A375, with IC 50 values of 30 μM to 260 μM.

Endothelin (ET)-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide which is also endowed with hypertrophic and mitogenic properties. Enhanced ET-1 gene expression in blood vessels of rats with hypertension induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt has been previously demonstrated. The objective of this study was: (1) to investigate the individual effects of salt and DOCA, and of the development of hypertension in DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats, on ET-1 gene expression in blood vessels; and (2) to correlate the presence of enhanced ET expression and the severity of vascular hypertrophy. By providing salt and/or DOCA to rats which were or were not unilaterally nephrectomized, groups of rats with variable degrees of blood pressure elevation were generated. Increased abundance of ET-1 mRNA and a greater content of immunoreactive ET-1 were found with progression of hypertension in aorta and the mesenteric arterial bed only in unilaterally nephrectomized DOCA-salt-treated rats (DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats). Vascular expression of ET-1 was not enhanced in other DOCA-or salt-treated rats, even when blood pressure rose to a mean systolic pressure of 180 mm Hg. The wet weight of aorta and the mesenteric arterial bed, the media thickness, the media cross-sectional area, and the media-to-lumen ratio of mesenteric small arteries of all groups of rats exhibited a close correlation with systolic blood pressure. In DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats after 5 weeks, in which overexpression of ET-1 was maximal, the vascular morphometric parameters were excessive for the level of systolic blood pressure. However, in DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats treated with the combined ETA/ETBET receptor antagonist bosentan, vascular morphometry correlated closely with blood pressure, even though blood pressure was only slightly lower than than of untreated DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats. These data support the hypothesis that ET-1 gene overexpression in blood vessels may accentuate vascular hypertrophy in some forms of hypertension.

Background: Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOs) have been reported to exert neuroprotective and antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test (FST) in mice. However, the mechanisms that underlie the antidepressant-like effects of MOs are unclear. Methods: Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and FST were used to explore the antidepressant-like effects of MOs and resilience to stress in rats. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was microinjected in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to explore the role of GSK-3β in the antidepressant-like effects of MOs. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphorylated-Ser9-glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), β-catenin, and synaptic proteins was determined in the mPFC and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) by Western blot. Results: We found that MOs effectively ameliorated CUS-induced depression-like behaviors in the sucrose preference test (SPT) and FST. The MOs also significantly rescued CUS-induced abnormalities in the BDNF-GSK-3β-β-catenin pathway and synaptic protein deficits in the mPFC but not OFC. The activation of GSK-3β by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished the antidepressant-like effects of MOs in the FST. Naive rats that were treated with MOs exhibited resilience to CUS, accompanied by increases in the expression of BDNF, phosphorylated-Ser9-GSK-3β, and β-catenin in the mPFC. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the BDNF-GSK-3β-β-catenin pathway in the mPFC may underlie the antidepressant-like effect of MOs and resilience to stress.

To analyze the relation between uric acid (UA) and malignant ventricular arrhythmia (MVA) in patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and to provide clinic basis for predicting the risk of death. Methods: We divide the 48 patient with dilated cardiomyopathy into 2 groups according to MVA. They are MVA group and normal group. We analyze the difference of the incidence of hyperuricemia (HUA) between the 2 groups. Results: ⑴ The indices of age, creatinine (Crea), uric acid, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and the percentage of HUA and ventricular late potential (VLP%) in MVA group are higher than those in normal group, as to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the normal group is higher than that in MVA group. And the difference between the two groups is statistically significant. There is no statistically difference in the indices of proportion of men, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate(HR) between the 2 groups. ⑵Using logistic regression, MVA was positively related to UA, VLP, age, NT-proBNP and LVEDV, and it is negatively related to LVEF. Conclusions: MVA is closely related to uric acid. Uric acid might be used to predict the incidence of MVA in patient with DCM.

1. Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation has been previously demonstrated in blood vessels of hypertensive rats and in humans with essential hypertension. Arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats have been shown to produce, in response to high concentrations of acetylcholine, a vasoconstrictor substance called endothelium-derived contracting factor, the production of which can be inhibited by indomethacin or other cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, suggesting that it is a prostanoid. The mechanisms involved in endothelium-dependent relaxation of human arteries are unclear, and the potential generation of endothelium-derived contracting factor by endothelium in human hypertension has not been established. 2. We investigated the effects of acetylcholine on precontracted small arteries dissected from gluteal subcutaneous fat biopsies from normotensive subjects and subjects with borderline and mild essential hypertension. Vessels from normotensive subjects and those from borderline hypertensive patients, precontracted by noradrenaline, were relaxed completely by acetylcholine, whereas those from patients with mild essential hypertension relaxed slightly but significantly less, indicating that generation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (endothelium-derived nitric oxide) was only minimally reduced or that production of minor amounts of endothelium-derived contracting factor occurred in small arteries from these hypertensive subjects. This impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation was not corrected by indomethacin, which indicated that the contribution of endothelium-derived contracting factor, if any, was minimal in this subset of essential hypertensive patients. In contrast, mesenteric small arteries of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats presented strong contractions in response to the higher concentrations of acetylcholine, which were abolished by exposure to indomethacin. 3. The relaxation induced by acetylcholine in arteries from both hypertensive and normotensive humans was partially blunted (by 30%) by pretreatment with 0.1 mmol/l NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester or NG-nitro-monomethyl-l-arginine (inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase) and by 10 μmol/l Methylene Blue (a blocker of soluble guanylate cyclase), indicating the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide and the generation of its intracellular second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate in acetylcholine-induced relaxation. The remaining relaxation elicited by acetylcholine could be blocked with 30 mmol/l KCl or with 10 μmol/l ouabain (inhibitor of Na+, K+-ATPase), and, when combined with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, these interventions abolished acetylcholine-induced relaxation. Tolbutamide at 2 mmol/l or 10 μmol/l glyburide (blockers of ATP-sensitive potassium channels) partially inhibited NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-resistant endothelium-dependent relaxation. Apamin (a blocker of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels), which has been shown to block NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-resistant endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat arteries, was without effect. Charybdotoxin (blocker of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels) displaced to the right the responses to acetylcholine, in the absence and presence of NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and/or tolbutamide. 4. In conclusion, in contrast to mesenteric small arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats, which produce endothelium-derived contracting factor, subcutaneous small arteries from subjects with mild essential hypertension appear not to do so in significant amounts. Thirty per cent of the relaxation induced by acetylcholine in human small arteries is mediated by release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, whereas more than 60% is the result of release of another agent, perhaps the putative endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, which may act in part by opening ATP-sensitive potassium channels and large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels. Endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine was normal in borderline hypertensive subjects and only slightly abnormal in the mildly hypertensive patients studied.

Objective: Endothelins bind to different receptor subtypes identified as ETA and ETB receptors. ETA receptors are present on smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. ETB receptors seem to predominate on endothelial cells of blood vessels, but may also be present on smooth muscle in some vascular beds. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of ETA and ETB receptors in human and in rat resistance arteries. Methods: Contractile responses to endothelin-1 and to the ETB agonist sarafotoxin S6c were investigated in human subcutaneous resistance arteries and in rat mesenteric resistance arteries mounted on a wire myograph. Results: Contractile responses to endothelin-1 were significantly reduced by the ETA selective antagonists BQ123 or BQ610 in human resistance arteries, and were almost abolished by the antagonists in rat arteries. The ETB agonist sarafotoxin S6c induced smaller responses than endothelin-1. When responses to sarafotoxin S6c were obtained in the presence of BQ610, the relatively small contractile response remained. It was slightly enhanced if the responses were obtained in the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME or after removal of the endothelium. Conclusions: Vasoconstrictor ETB receptors appear to be present in resistance vessels isolated from subcutaneous fat in humans and from the mesentery in rats, but their contribution to endothelin mediated constriction is small, particularly in rat resistance arteries. ETA receptors appear to be the more important endothelin receptor subtype in the human and rat resistance arteries examined.

To explore the feasibility and efficacy of the vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technique combined with skin flap for the treatment of chronic ulcerative wounds.From June 2009 to Aug. 2011, the VSD technique combined with skin flap has been applied in the treatment of 15 patients with chronic ulcerative wounds caused by various reasons. The VSD was applied to the wound for 1-6 times. When infection was controlled and fresh granulation grew, skin flap was used to cover the wound.Flap necrosis happened in a small area at the distal end in one case, which healed after skin graft. All the other flaps survived with primary healing. The patients were followed up for 6-24 months postoperatively with no recurrence of infection.VSD combined with skin flap is an ideal choice for reconstruction of chronic ulcerative wounds. It has the advantages of low complications, reliable flap survival rate, and low infection recurrence.

This work concerns the modeling of evolvement of trading behavior in stock markets which can cause significant impact on the movements of prices and volatilities. Based on the assumption of the investors' limited rationality, the evolution mechanism of trading behavior is modeled according to peer effect in network, that investors are prone to imitate their neighbors' activity through comprehensive analysis on the neighboring preferred degree, self-psychological preference, and the network topology of the relationship among them. We investigate by mean-field analysis and extensive simulations the evolution of investors' trading behavior in various typical networks under different characteristics of peer effect. Our results indicate that the evolution of investors' behavior is affected by the network structure of stock market and the effect of neighboring preferred degree; the stability of equilibrium states of investors' behavior dynamics is directly related with the concavity and convexity of the peer effect function; connectivity and heterogeneity of the network play an important role in the evolution of the investment behavior in stock market.

Background Zoledronic acid, one of the most potent nitrogen-containing biphosphonates, has been demonstrated to have direct anti-tumor and anti-metastatic properties in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. In particular, tumor-cell apoptosis has been recognized to play an important role in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer with zoledronic acid. However, the precise mechanisms remain less clear. In the present study, we investigated the specific role of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (BK(Ca)) channel in zoledronic acid-induced apoptosis of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Methodology/principal findings The action of zoledronic acid on BK(Ca) channel was investigated by whole-cell and cell-attached patch clamp techniques. Cell apoptosis was assessed with immunocytochemistry, analysis of fragmented DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry assays. Cell proliferation was investigated by MTT test and immunocytochemistry. In addition, such findings were further confirmed with human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells which were transfected with functional BK(Ca) α-subunit (hSloα). Our results clearly indicated that zoledronic acid directly increased the activities of BK(Ca) channels, and then activation of BK(Ca) channel by zoledronic acid contributed to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. The possible mechanisms were associated with the elevated level of intracellular Ca(2+) and a concomitant depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) in MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusions Activation of BK(Ca) channel was here shown to be a novel molecular pathway involved in zoledronic acid-induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro.