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Septic shock is one of the most significant health concerns across the world, involving hypo-perfusion and defects in tissue energy. The current study investigates the role of NLR family CARD domain containing protein 4 (NLRC4) in septic shock-induced inflammatory reactions, lung tissue injuries, and dendritic cell (DC) apoptosis. Septic shock mice models were established by modified cecal ligation and puncture and injected with retroviral vector expressing siRNA-NLRC4. DCs were then isolated and transfected with siRNA-NLRC4. The degree of lung tissue injury, cell cycle distribution, cell apoptosis and cell viability of DCs were assessed. NLRC4 was found to be expressed at high levels in mice with septic shock. NLRC4 silencing inhibited the activation of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) pathway as evidenced by the decreased levels of NOD1, NOD2, RIP2, and NF-κB. In addition, NLRC4 silencing reduced the inflammatory reaction as attributed by reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6. Suppressed NLRC4 levels inhibited cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis evidenced by inhibited induction of DC surface markers (CD80, CD86, and MHC II), along with alleviated lung tissue injury. In conclusion, NLRC4 silencing ameliorates lung injury and inflammation induced by septic shock by negatively regulating the NLR pathway.

Although primary microvascular angina (PMVA) can be diagnosed clinically, the etiology and pathophysiology of PMVA remain unclear. The effects of conventional clinical medications (aspirin, statins, and nitrates) are unsatisfactory, and PMVA can lead to serious cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to analyze the correlation between the load perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) results and the Streptococcus sanguinis(S sanguinis) count and the correlations between the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and changes in the plasma levels of platelet alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein 140 (GMP-140), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with PMVA after increased anti-infective treatment of the oral cavity. This study also discusses the pathogenesis of PMVA from this perspective. The differences in the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and oral health status between healthy people and PMVA patients will be compared, and the correlation between the oral cavity health status and disease in PMVA patients will be analyzed.The present randomized controlled trial with a parallel control group will be conducted in 68 PMVA patients diagnosed by the in-patient cardiology department. The selected patients will be randomly divided into 2 groups, one receiving routine drug treatment and the other a combination of anti-infective treatments. The normal control group will comprise 30 healthy people with no infectious oral cavity disease matched by age and sex. We will conduct CMR, and the presence of S sanguinis in subgingival plaques will be used to determine the bacterial count in PMVA patients. Blood samples will also be collected to determine the levels of GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy. S sanguinis in the subgingival plaque of PMVA patients will be further analyzed after increasing the oral cavity anti-infective treatment; the resulting changes and their correlations with changes in GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy levels will be assessed. Additionally, the differences in the S sanguinis count and the oral cavity health status of oral cavity dental plaque between healthy people and PMVA patients will be determined, and the correlation between the oral cavity conditions and PMVA will be analyzed. The relationship between the perfusion CMR results and the oral cavity S sanguinis count of PMVA patients, and the potential pathogenesis, will be explored. We will use the SPSS19.0 statistical software package to analyze the data. The measurements will be expressed as means±standard deviation. Student t test will be used for intergroup comparisons, a relative number description will be used for the count data, and the chi-square test will be used for intergroup comparisons. Multivariate logistic regression will be performed to identify associations. A P value.05 will be considered significant.In this study, the correlation between the perfusion CMR results and the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque of PMVA patients will be analyzed. Changes in the levels of GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy of PMVA patients after receiving increased oral cavity anti-infective treatment will be explored, and the difference in the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and the oral cavity health status between healthy people and PMVA patients will be compared.Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=45091).

An oxidative radical cascade cyclization of 2-cyano-3-arylaniline derived acrylamides with acetonitrile has been developed. The reaction provides a straightforward and practical access to cyano substituted pyrido[4,3,2-gh]phenanthridines, and exhibits a good functional group tolerance. Furthermore, such methyl substituted polyheterocycles were also obtained through a similar radical cascade.

Most cases of primary microvascular angina pectoris (PMVA) are diagnosed clinically, but the etiology and pathological mechanisms are unknown. The effect of routine clinical medications is minimal, and PMVA can progress to serious cardiovascular events. To improve the diagnosis and effective treatment of this disease, this study was designed to diagnose PMVA via cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and the coronary angiography thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) blood flow grade, as well as to analyze vascular endothelial function to elucidate the pathogenesis of PMVA and compare the effects of routine clinical medications. The present randomized controlled trial including a parallel control group will be conducted on 63 PMVA patients in our cardiovascular department. The patients will be selected and randomly divided into the control, diltiazem, and nicorandil groups. The control group will be administered routine drug treatments (aspirin, atorvastatin, betaloc ZOK, perindopril, and isosorbidemononitrate sustained-release tablets). The diltiazem group will be additionally treated with 90 mg qd diltiazem sustained-release capsules. The nicorandil group was additionally given 5 mg tid nicorandil tablets. Coronary angiography will be performed before treatment, the severity and frequency of chest pain will be evaluated before and after 9 months of treatment, and homocysteine and von Willebrand factor levels will be measured. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, dynamic electrocardiography, a treadmill exercise test, and CMR will be performed. Sex, age, body mass index, complications, smoking, and family history will also be recorded. The SPSS19.0 statistical software package will be used to analyze the data. The measurements will be expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. Measurement data will be compared between the groups using Student's t-test. A relative number description will be used for the counting data, and the chi-squaretest will be used to compare the groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis will be performed A P-value

A copper-mediated oxidative radical addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamides with sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (Langlois’ reagent) has been achieved. The reaction proceeds through radical addition, cyclization, and imine hydrolysis, in which the cyclization was accomplished by an intramolecular addition of the carbon radical to the nitrile. This transformation exhibits a wide substrate scope and good functional group tolerance, thus providing a highly efficient and practical access to a variety of trifluoromethylated quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones. Furthermore, using other sulfinic acid sodium salts as sulfonylating agents, sulfonated quinolinediones were also obtained through a similar radical cascade.

Oxidative radical addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamides with α-keto acids as well as aldehydes is reported. This transformation exhibits a wide substrate scope and significant functional group tolerance and provides a convenient and highly efficient access to carbonyl-containing quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones. A possible mechanism for the transformation is proposed.

A convenient and efficient iron-catalyzed radical addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamides with alcohols is presented for the synthesis of carbonyl substituted quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones in moderate to excellent yields. This transformation exhibits a wide substrate scope and significant functional group tolerance.

Photonic crystals were fabricated using self-assembled polystyrene (PS) submicrospheres with different content of nanospheres with different glass transition temperatures ( Tg: 100 to −54°C) and their opalescent and mechanical properties were investigated. PS spheres (185.4 nm) and nanospheres were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization. Nanospheres were prepared using one or two types of monomers, styrene, n-butyl methacrylate, and butyl acrylate with sodium p-styrenesulfonate. Surface morphology, particle size ( Dn), and wavelength ( λ) of photonic crystals were determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), effective refractive index equation, and modified Bragg’s law, respectively. The reflection wavelength ( λmax) was measured from ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. SEM results showed that hard nanospheres were distributed around PS spheres in their photonic crystals. On the other hand, soft nanospheres were coated onto PS spheres in their photonic crystals. With increasing weight fraction of hard or soft nanospheres in the photonic crystals, Dn and λ were increased. The value of λmax corresponded to that of λ. The mechanical property of the photonic crystals was measured by the pencil hardness (PH) test. The result showed that by decreasing the Tg and increasing the weight fraction of nanospheres, PH was increased. The opal film prepared from PS spheres with 20% N-54 nanospheres had the highest PH (H).

All known drinking water treatments have produced a large amount of sludge until now, and a significant environmental issue has been left over, which would be how to effectively utilize the “waste” economically and environmentally. This paper attempts to modify drinking water treatment residuals by an approach of consecutive thermal and acid activation and use them to enhance molybdenum(VI) adsorption capability in water solution. The surface structure characteristics of drinking water treatment residuals before and after activation were investigated. Moreover, the effects of different factors on molybdenum(VI) adsorption and the adsorption mechanism were also analyzed. The optimal condition of the activation was ascertained as thermal activation at 600 °C for 4 h followed by activation of hydrochloric acid at 4.0 mol/L with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:1. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that there was a resemblance between the structure of drinking water treatment residuals before and after the activation. Nevertheless, the average pore size was reduced because of the loss of activated carbon during the heating process, and the surface areas and average diameter were increased after activation. The pseudo-second-order model could better fit the kinetic data, and the maximum capacity of molybdenum(VI) adsorption was improved from 18.44 mg/g before modification to 39.52 mg/g at 25 °C at pH 4.0, as indicated by the Langmuir model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the process of molybdenum(VI) adsorption was endothermal, entropy increasing, and spontaneous. The adsorption efficiency of molybdenum(VI) by the modified drinking water treatment residuals was dependent on pH values and low pH was beneficial for molybdenum(VI) adsorption. The effect of pH, as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicated that electrostatic interaction and ion exchange were the main mechanisms of molybdenum(VI) adsorption. Regeneration experiments revealed that molybdenum(VI) was removed efficiently and the modified drinking water treatment residuals could be recyclable for a long term. These results suggested that the modified drinking water treatment residuals was an green and recyclable adsorbent and could be used for the repair of molybdenum(VI) sewage.

This paper focuses on the study of ALOHA software (Version 5.4.4), and expects to do some help for the rapid and accurate predetermination of involved areas and the efficient organization and direction of evacuation in different areas by the decision-maker who is in charge of the emergency rescue during accidents caused by hazardous chemicals. It may also have the practical application value by offering technical support for the on-spot commander for the purpose of taking effective measures for the emergency response.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York. Four new hydroxycinnamic acid amides, scotanamines A-D (1-4), and seven known alkaloids, including N 1,N 10-di-dihydrocaffeoylspermidine (5), scopolamine (6), anisodamine (7), hyoscyamine (8), anisodine (9), caffeoylputrescine (10), and N 1-caffeoyl-N 3-dihydrocaffeoylspermidine (11), were obtained from the roots of Scopolia tangutica. The present study represents the first recognition of hydroxycinnamic acid amides containing putrescine or spermidine in S. tangutica. Compound 1, in particular, contains a moiety resulting from the condensation of nortropinone and putrescine. Compound 2 exhibited moderate agonist activity at the μ-opioid receptor (EC50=7.3μM). Compound 2 was tested in vivo and induced analgesia in mice. The analgesic effect was recorded using the tail-flick assay and was reversed by naloxone.

This study presents a simple approach to the preparation of hollow silica spheres via template-sacrificial techniques. The hard poly(styrene) (PS) template was prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization in the boiling state for a specified period, followed by introduction of silane into the reaction system to generate the core–shell PS/silicon dioxide (SiO2) spheres without the use of structure-directing agents or surface modification. The SiO2 shell was constructed by co-hydrolysis/condensation of mixed silane containing various weight ratios of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and triethoxymethylsilane. The degree of compatibility between PS and SiO2 was shown to be affected by the composition of the silane mixture, and increasing the proportion of TEOS in the silane mix enhanced the mechanical robustness of the SiO2 shell. Based on the residual weight percentage from thermogravimetric analysis, the portion of SiO2 in the PS/SiO2 spheres prepared using various compositions of silane was about 10 wt%. Furthermore, hollow SiO2 spheres were obtained by calcination of the PS/SiO2 spheres prepared using an appropriate formulation of silane at 400°C. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the size of the hollow spheres was about 200 nm, and the spheres displayed a high degree of monodispersity. Observation of certain cavities on the surface of the spheres also demonstrated the hollow structure of the SiO2 spheres.

A convenient and efficient iron-catalyzed radical addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamides with alcohols is presented for the synthesis of carbonyl substituted quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones in moderate to excellent yields. This transformation exhibits a wide substrate scope and significant functional group tolerance.

Oxidative radical addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamides with α-keto acids as well as aldehydes is reported. This transformation exhibits a wide substrate scope and significant functional group tolerance and provides a convenient and highly efficient access to carbonyl-containing quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones. A possible mechanism for the transformation is proposed.

In this study the preparation of a superhydrophobic epoxy-based thin film with excellent high adhesion properties was carried out by mixing epoxy polymer solution, MTMOS solution, and silica powder. It was found that the adhesion between the film and a substrate could be improved by adding PET fibers to the above solution. The characteristic properties of the as-prepared films were analyzed by contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The adhesion between the film and the substrate was estimated by the cross-cut method. The experimental parameters were: the mole fraction of MTMOS, weight fraction of silica powder, weight fraction of PET fibers, and the curing temperature. The result indicated that the contact angle and the sliding angle of the hybrid film were 153° and 4°, respectively, and the adhesion test result was very good (5B degree), while the mole fraction of MTMOS was 0.4, the silica powder concentration was 30 wt%, and the PET fibers co...

Atrial fibrillation is associated with the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the atria. It is not clear whether the expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and aldosterone synthase CYPII B2 in patients with atrial fibrillation is altered. This study aimed to investigate the mRNA expression of MR and CYPIIB2 and to reveal the correlation between CYPIIB2 mRNA and matrix remodelling in patients with atrial fibrillation.Twenty-five patients with rheumatic heart valve disease, 12 in sinus rhythm and 13 in atrial fibrillation (or = 6 months), underwent a valve replacement operation and right and left atrial lateral wall tissue samples were obtained. The MR and CYPI IB2 expressions were analysed at the mRNA level and collagen volume fraction was determined by Van Gieson's staining. Results - Collagen volume fraction was found to be increased significantly in atrial fibrillation groups compared with sinus rhythm groups (P0.001). Both the mRNA of MR and CYPIIB2 were significantly increased in the fibrillation group compared with the group in sinus rhythm (P0.01). Collagen volume fraction significantly and positively correlated with left atrial dimension (r = 0.845, P0.001).There was a positive correlation between CYPI I B2 mRNA and collagen volume fraction (r = 0.757, P0.001).Increased expression of MR and CYPIIB2 in the atria is one of the molecular mechanisms for the development of atrial interstitial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Two new cyclopeptide alkaloids, xylopyrine-D and xylopyrine-E, from Zizyphus xylopyra and a new alkaloid, jubanine-E, from Zizyphus jujuba have been isolated and their structures were established by chemical and spectral evidences.

The title compounds are efficiently obtained by radical mediated cascade reaction which shows significant functional group tolerance.

To explore antithrombotic effects and mechanisms of total alkaloids (VnA) and single alkaloids (Al - A6) from Veratrum nigrum.The effects of VnA and Al - A6 on thrombosis and coagulation parameters (APTT, PT and TT) were examined in rat in vivo, while their effects on platelet aggregation induced by ADP and thrombin were determined in rabbit in vitro.VnA and Al ~ A5 decreased thrombus wet weight and platelet aggregation, increased TT, while they had no influence on APTT or PT. A6 had no obvious effect on thrombus wet weight, platelet aggregation or coagulation parameters.VnA and Al ~ A5 have antithrombotic activities on venous thrombosis. The effective component in VnA is A2 probably. The antithrombotic effects are possibly related to the inhibition of platelet aggregation and the extension of TT. The cevanine type skeleton of steroidal alkaloids is necessary for antithrombotic activities and the ester substitute at C3 can enhance antithrombotic activities.

A novel and facile Cu-catalyzed addition/cyclization cascade of o-cyanoarylacrylamide was developed. The process exhibits significant functional group tolerance, and provides an efficient and straightforward pathway for the synthesis of various phosphonylated quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of matrine (Mt.) on myocardial interstitial fibrosis induced by pressure overload. Methods: Pressure overloaded myocardial hypertrophy was produced by banding of aorta abdominalis in 67 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing (200±15) g. The rats were assigned into one of the following groups: sham-operation control, operation control, operation group treated with matrine (15 mg/(kg·d)) and treated with carvedilol (Car.) (3.6 mg/(kg·d)) group. The rats were given drugs one day after operation. Five weeks after treatment, the left ventricular weight (LVW) was measured and the volume of myocardial cells was detected with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) stain and Masson stain was used to assess the level of fibrosis of the myocardial matrix. Myocardial metalloproteinase activity was quantified with zymography, and survival rate was calculated. Results: Survival rate significantly decreased (P

Two new iridoid glycosides designated as senburiside III (2) and senburiside IV (3), together with one known iridoid glycoside senburiside I (1) and three known secoiridoid glucosides swertiamarin (4), gentiopicroside (5) and sweroside (6), were isolated from the whole plant of Swertia franchetiana. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

isolation and structural elucidation of steroidal alkaloids veraussine A (Ia) and veraussine B (Ib)

The paper introduces that an approach of Electrocardiograph(ECG) FIR filtering based on FPGA, combined with DSP Builder and Quartus II for hardware and software simulation,gains the best ECG FIR filter. FPGA is used to dually filter the collected ECG signals which includes the 50Hz interference and high-frequency interference, which further enhance the filtering effect. The design can effectively filter out noisy signal, to overcome the shortcomings of analog circuit filter, thus reducing the complexity of analog circuits to improve FPGA-based ECG monitoring system performance, contribute to the judgment of the ECG's diagnostic accuracy, and has a well practical value.

Dissipation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) with initial concentration of 85 mg/kg in red paddy field with rice cultivation and non-rice cultivation were investigated under the conditions of four long-term fertilization treatments, including the ones without fertilizer (CK), application of urea (N), application of organic fertilizer (OM), and N + OM. The results showed that the extractable PCP residues in surface soil in the treatments CK, N, OM and N + OM under non-rice cultivation condition were 28.3, 34.2, 19.3, 18.7 mg/kg after harvesting rice plant, and the extractable PCP residues in subsurface soil were 6.3, 9.1, 5.1, 4.1 mg/kg,respectively. Under rice cultivation condition, the extractable PCP residues in surface soil were 19.4, 30.9, 16.7, 8.7 mg/kg, and the extractable PCP residues in subsurface soil were 3.7, 6.1, 2.6, 2.8 mg/kg, respectively. The results indicated that the long-term application of organic fertilizer or inorganic plus organic fertilizer significantly accelerated the dissipation of PCP in surface soil, and decreased the transportation of PCP down the soil profile. However, long-term application of urea inhibited the dissipation of PCP in surface soil, and increased the transportation of PCP down the soil profile. When compared with non-rice cultivation, rice cultivation significantly accelerated the dissipation of PCP in surface soil other than the treatment N. In addition,the rice cultivation significantly decreased the transportation of PCP down the soil profile. No matter rice was cultivated or not, the dechlorinated metabolites of PCP detected in paddy soil were 2,3,4,5-TeCP and 3,4,5-TCP. 2,3,4,5-TeCP was the major dechlorinated metabolite of PCP under non-rice cultivation condition,whereas 3,4,5-TCP was the major dechlorinated metabolite of PCP under rice cultivation condition.

Two new isoflavone diglycosides, formononetin 8-C-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and formononetin 8-C-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the roots of Pueraria lobata, together with four known compounds, 4'-methoxypuerarin (3), daidzin (4), genistin (5), and daidzein (6). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by the spectroscopic methods.

The aim of the study was to investigate the sesquiterpene constituents from the rhizomes of Curcuma wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling. The isolation and purification of the constituents from the 50% EtOH extracts of the rhizomes were performed with repeated column chromatography over sillica gel and macroporous resin. Eight sesquiterpenes were obtained and identified as wenyujinlactone A (1), neolitamone A (2), zedoarondiol (3), isozedoarondiol (4), aerugidiol (5), curcumol (6), curdione (7) and (1R, 10R)-epoxy-(-)-1, 10-dihydrocurdine (8) by means of spectral analysis. Among them, compound 1 was found to be a new eudesmane sesquiterpene lactone, whilst compounds 2-5 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Dicofol with high impurity of DDT compounds is still widely used in agricultural practice such as cotton cultivation and becomes an important source of DDT pollution in China. In this study, investigations on the DDT residues in cotton fields from northern Jiangsu province, China were conducted. The results showed that DDTs in cotton soil were much higher than other mode of land use. The DDTs levels ranged from 4.2 to 678.6 ngg(-1), with a mean concentration of 190.4 ngg(-1), of which the most abundant compounds were p,p'-DDE (mean of 129.38 ngg(-1)), p,p'-DDT (mean of 26.57 ngg(-1)) and o,p'-DDT (mean of 16.92 ngg(-1)). The concentrations of o,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDE were significantly higher (p

A new xanthone glycoside (1) has been isolated from Swertia franchetiana together with five known xanthone glycosides. Their structures were elucidated as 7-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-1,7,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (1), 7-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-1,7,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (2), 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (3), 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone (4), 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-1-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone (5) and 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-1-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (6) on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.