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Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the transport properties of water molecules across 1.34 nm long single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) under hydrostatic pressure with different directions. It is found that when the deflection angle φ between the hydrostatic pressure and the tube-axis direction changes from 0 ° to 90 ° , the net flux shows significant differences. It is interesting to note that the maximum flux is counter-intuitively obtained at φ = 45 ° , which is about three times that of at φ = 0 °. This enhancement is mainly attributed to the excellent intermolecular structure, the orientation distribution, and the filling rate of in-tube water at φ = 45 °. Yet, it is worth noting that with the increase of the length of the SWCNT, the anomalous effect will gradually weaken until it almost disappears. Our work is of great significance for the practical application of high-efficiency nanofiltration membranes under pressure gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The malfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is an initiating factor in the pathogenesis of pathological vascular remodeling, including hypertension-related vascular lesions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of VSMC proliferation and migration in numerous cases of cardiovascular remodeling. The evidence for the regulatory role of miR-155-5p in the development of the cardiovascular system has been emerging. However, it was previously unclear whether miR-155-5p participated in the migration of VSMCs under hypertensive conditions. Thus, we aimed to define the exact role and action of miR-155-5p in VSMC migration by hypertension. Here, we detected that the level of miR-155-5p was lower in primary VSMCs from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Its overexpression attenuated, while its depletion accelerated, the migration and oxidative damage of VSMCs from SHRs. Our dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miRNA-155-5p directly targeted the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1). The miR-155-5p mimic inhibited BACH1 upregulation in SHR VSMCs. By contrast, the deletion of miR-155-5p further elevated the upregulation of BACH1 in SHR-derived VSMCs. Importantly, the overexpression of miR-155-5p and knockdown of BACH1 had synergistic effects on the inhibition of VSMCs in hypertension. Collectively, miR-155-5p attenuates VSMC migration and ameliorates vascular remodeling in SHRs, via suppressing BACH1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of curcumin on bile duct ligation(BDL)-induced liver cholestasis in mice, so as to provide a new treatment strategy for liver fibrosis., Methods: Forty-two healthy adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into sham group (n =6), sham+curcumin group (n=6), BDL treatment group (n=10), BDL+curcumin group(n=10), BDL+curcumin+ZnPP group (n=10). Seven days after BDL operation, the sham operation + curcumin group and the BDL+ curcumin group were treated with curcumin at the dose of 30 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 7 days.The mice in BDL+ curcumin +ZnPP group were treated with curcumin (30 mg/kg) and ZnPP (50 μmol/kg) by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 7 days. For the sham group and the BDL group, mice were treated with equal-volume saline daily by intraperitoneal injection. After 14 days of BDL, the plasma and liver tissues were collected, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. The pathological changes of liver tissue and liver fibrosis were observed, and the protein expression of HO-1 in liver tissue was detected., Results: Compared with the sham group, mice in the BDL group had enlarged liver gallbladder and the serum levels of ALT and AST were increased significantly (P＜0.05). Meanwhile, the results of Sirius red staining and qRT-PCR of pro-fibrosis related genes showed collagen deposition in the liver, and immunohistochemistry of macrophages and neutrophils showed inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver. Compared with the BDL group, the serum levels of ALT and AST in the curcumin treatment group were decreased significantly (P＜0.05), collagen deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration were improved, and HO-1 expression was increased (P＜0.05) after curcumin treatement. In the curcumin treatment group, the protective effect of curcumin on liver injury could be reversed by HO-1 active inhibitor ZnPP., Conclusion: Curcumin can improve liver inflammation and fibrosis caused by BDL, and this protective effect is related to the regulation of HO-1 activity by curcumin.

N-Benzyl matrinol was obtained by hydrolysis, benzylation and reduction reaction from matrine. A series of hybrids (8a-8n) from (phenylsulfonyl)furoxan and N-benzyl matrinol were synthesized and biologically evaluated as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents. All target compounds were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against human hepatocellular Bel-7402, SMMC-7721, Bel-7404, and HepG2 cells in vitro by MTT method. The results indicated that all of these compounds had potent anti-proliferative activity which were more potent than their parent compound and 5-FU, especially 8a-8h and 8j showed the strongest anti-HCC HepG2 cell activity with IC50 values of 0.12-0.93 μmol x L(-1).