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Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have exhibited great potential for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, to date, it is difficult to fabricate MOF electrode materials with regular shape and rational pore distribution by an economic approach, and the currently achieved MOF electrode materials usually have a relatively low initial Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle stability, which is not satisfactory for practical application. In this study, by using the recycled AlCl

Background Our previous study indicated that Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (EGb) could protect against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in rabbits. The present study aimed to determine the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of EGb on chronic renal interstitial fibrosis induced by cisplatin using in vivo and in vitro models. Methods Rats received a single dose of cisplatin on Day 1, and a subset of rats was intraperitoneally injected with EGb daily between Days 22–40. In vitro, HK-2 cells were treated with cisplatin, and a subset of cells was cultivated with EGb or SIS3 (Smad3 inhibitor) for 48 h. Renal function of rats was assessed by detecting the levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson’s trichrome staining were used to evaluate the damage and fibrosis of renal tissue. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the protein levels of fibrosis-associated proteins and signaling pathway-related proteins. RT–qPCR analysis was used to examine the mRNA levels of related indicators. Results EGb significantly decreased the increased levels of Scr, BUN and urinary NAG and attenuated renal damage and the relative area of renal interstitial fibrosis induced by cisplatin. Additionally, EGb decreased the protein levels of α-SMA, Col I, TGF-β1, smad2/3, phosphorylated (p)-smad2/3, p38 MAPK, and p-p38 MAPK; the ratio of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK; and the mRNA level of p38 MAPK in renal tissues induced by cisplatin. In agreement with in vivo studies, EGb significantly reduced the increased protein levels of these indicators. Additionally, EGb significantly reduced the increased protein levels of vimentin, TIMP-1, and CTGF, as well as the mRNA levels of α-SMA, vimentin, and TGF-β1, while it significantly increased the reduced E-cadherin protein level and the MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio in HK-2 cells induced by cisplatin. It’s worth noting that the effects of SIS3 in changing the above indicators were similar to those of EGb. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that EGb improved cisplatin-induced chronic renal interstitial fibrosis, and its mechanisms were associated with inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular epithelial cells via the Smad3/TGF-β1 and Smad3/p38 MAPK pathways.

Ginaton injection (Ginkgo biloba extract; GBE) has been reported to protect against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats. In the present study, the effects and molecular mechanisms of GBE on cisplatin-induced renal interstitial fibrosis were evaluated using a rat model. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with cisplatin once on the first day and a subset of rats were treated with GBE or SB203580 (SB; a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor) daily from days 22 to 40. The levels of N-acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, and of urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Scr) in the blood were assessed. The damage and fibrosis of renal tissues were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, as well as Masson's trichrome staining, respectively. Apoptosis in renal tissues was detected using a TUNEL assay. The protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), collagen 1 (Col I), Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3/cleaved caspase-3, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), TGF-β1 and p38MAPK, as well as the mRNA levels of p38MAPK in renal tissues were investigated. The results showed that GBE markedly reduced the levels of urinary NAG, Scr and BUN, and renal expression of α-SMA and Col I levels were also reduced. Furthermore, GBE significantly reduced renal tissue injury and the relative area of renal interstitial fibrosis induced by cisplatin. GBE effectively reduced the apoptotic rate of renal tissues, the protein expression levels of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, phospho-p38MAPK, TGF-β1 and HIF-1α, as well as the mRNA expression levels of p38MAPK in renal tissues induced by cisplatin, whereas GBE significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression. SB exhibited similar effects to GBE, although it was not as effective. In summary, the present study is the first to show that GBE significantly alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis following cisplatin-induced acute renal injury. The mechanisms by which GBE exhibited its effects were associated with the inhibition of apoptosis via downregulation of the p38MAPK/TGF-β1 and p38MAPK/HIF-1α signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND Rhubarb and astragalus capsule (RAC) has been used in the clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease for decades. However, the mechanism of RAC has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of RAC on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal interstitial fibrosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The main components of RAC are detected by high-performance liquid phase (HPLC). A rat model of UUO was established, and a subset of rats underwent treatment with RAC. Renal function and renal pathology were examined at 14 days and 21 days after the UUO operation. Renal cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. The levels of Bcl-2 and Bax in the kidney were examined by western blotting, and the levels of collagen I, alpha-SMA, transforming growth factor (TGF)-s1, and p38 MAPK in the kidneys were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS High-performance liquid phase chromatography showed that RAC contained 1.12 mg/g aloe-emodin, 2.25 mg/g rhein, 1.75 mg/g emodin, and 4.50 mg/g chrysophanol. Administration of RAC significantly decreased the levels of urinary N-acetyl-s-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Scr) and also reduced renal tissue damages and interstitial fibrosis induced by UUO in rats. Moreover, the increased levels of collagen I, alpha-SMA, TGF-s1, p38 MAPK, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as cell apoptosis in the kidney, were induced by UUO, and were all found deceased by RAC treatment. CONCLUSIONS RAC can improve the renal interstitial fibrosis induced by UUO, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of renal tubular cell apoptosis via TGF-s1/p38 MAPK pathway.

With the increasing demand for green energy, the cheap tea waste is recycled to produce three-dimensional framework of porous carbon nanosheets materials with commercial value and excellent electrochemical properties. The TPCN-6 materials were prepared by simultaneous pyrolysis/activation. The density and pore structure of the material depend on the activation concentration. Due to the microporous structure and reasonable pore size distribution of the porous carbon, the TPCN material shows a high specific capacitance of 482.1 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and perfect cycling stability (retaining 87.6% after 6000 cycles at 10 A g-1) in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. The optimum symmetric supercapacitor device base on TPCN-6//TPCN-6 diaplayed a supreme energy density of 19.1 Wh kg-1 and power density of 325 W kg-1. What's more, it offers a potential way to recycle tea waste into high-valued product in large-scale with disposing of biological waste to relieve environmental concerns.

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the potential roles of Rutaecarpine (Rut) in hypoxia-induced human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) model. Methods HPASMCs were cultured with or without hypoxia followed by Rut administration. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation were assessed by CCK-8 and Cell counting method. Flow cytometry was used for the measurement of cell apoptosis rates. The mRNA expression of hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α and protein levels of HIF-1α, p53, p21, erythropoietin, and vascular endothelial growth factor were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Results Rut inhibited the proliferation of HPASMCs with IC50 value of 43.5 μmol·L. Hypoxia significantly increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis in HPASMCs, whereas Rut rescued this phenomenon at the appropriate concentration. Meanwhile, Rut effectively decreased the protein and mRNA expressions of HIF-1α. Knockdown of HIF-1α expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly enhanced the proapoptotic effect rather than antiproliferation effect of Rut in HPASMCs. Moreover, Rut simultaneously reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression, whereas increased p53 and p21 protein levels. However, no significant difference was observed in the protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that Rut exerted protective effects on HPASMCs against hypoxia partly through the HIF-1α-dependent signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Rheum palmatum L; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.), is referred to as ‘Dahuang, Huangqi’ in China. As an important medicinal plant, the rhizome of rhubarb and astragalus is traditionally used in the treatment of kidney diseases associated with renal failure, inflammation and tumors. Aim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus capsules (composed of rhubarb and astragalus) and to elucidate its mechanism in the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells. Materials and methods Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of HK-2 cells was induced by TGF-β1, and rhubarb-astragalus and losartan drug-containing serum from rats, as well as SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK), were used. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed to determine the main components of the drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus from rats. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis were used to determine the levels of protein expression, and real-time quantitative PCR analysis was used to detect the levels of gene expression. Results The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus contained emodin (0.36 μg/ml) and danthraquinone (0.96 μg/ml). Rhubarb-astragalus significantly decreased the protein expression levels of α-SMA, FN, vimentin and N-cadherin in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1, while it significantly increased the E-cadherin protein expression level that was decreased by TGF-β1. Rhubarb-astragalus also significantly decreased the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and p38 MAPK and the mRNA expression levels of α-SMA, vimentin, TGF-β1, p38 MAPK, Smad2 and Smad3 in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1. It is worth noting that SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) had similar effects as rhubarb-astragalus in this study. Conclusion The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus can inhibit EMT in HK-2 cells by downregulating the TGF-β1/p38 MAPK/Smad2/3 pathway.

Cisplatin (CDDP) may induce apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) and cause CDDP-induced acute kidney injury (CAKI) during cancer treatment, but yet lack of preventive measures and effective treatment. As a new Chinese herbal preparation, Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) has been found to mitigate CDDP-induced CAKI through elevating the expression of HIF-1α in the rat model, according to the data from our previous works. However, the underlying link between HIF-1α and apoptosis has not been well elucidated. The current study as a follow-up work, was aimed to reveal if PNS improves CAKI through HIF-1α-dependent apoptosis. A stably HIF-1α-knockdown human proximal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2) line was established by transfecting a HIF-1α-siRNA into HK-2 cells. Cell viability, mitochondrial function, cell apoptosis ratio and the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins (Cyt C, Bcl2, Bax, caspases 3) were determined. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanism, the expression of HIF-1α and BNIP3 were assessed. Our results showed that treatment of PNS rescued the cell viability of CDDP-injured HK-2 or HIF-1α-knockdown HK-2 cells, and increased the expression levels of ATP and MMP in HK-2 or HIF-1α-knockdown HK-2 cells which were reduced by CDDP. Moreover, PNS treatment decreased the CDDP or CDDP plus HIF-1α-knockdown-induced elevation of apoptosis and apoptosis-associated protein expressions. These findings demonstrate that PNS reduces CAKI through increasing HIF-1α to inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Hence, we suggest PNS as a protective and therapeutic new drug for CDDP treatment of cancers, which might have significant meaning of further research and application potential.

The effect of sulfonylurea for the treatment of neonatal diabetes (NDM) is remain uncertain. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of sulfonylurea for NDM and to provide the latest and most convincing evidence for developing clinical practice guidelines of NDM. A literature review was performed to identify all published studies reporting the sulfonylurea on the treatment of neonatal diabetes. The search included the following databases: PUBMED, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcome was the success rates of treatment, change of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-peptide. Data results were pooled by using MetaAnalyst with a random-effects model. Ten studies (6 cohort studies and 4 cross-sectional studies) involving 285 participants were included in the analysis. The pooled estimated success rate by the random-effects model was 90.1%(95% CI: 85.1%-93.5%). HbA1c had a significantly lower compared with before treatment. The pooled estimate of MD was -2.289, and the 95% CI was -2.790 to -1.789 (P < 0.001). The subgroup analysis showed a similar result for cohort studies and in cross-sectional studies. The common mild side effect is gastrointestinal reaction. The present meta-analysis suggested that sulfonylurea had a positive effect for treatment NDM due to KATP channel mutations. In addition, sulfonylurea also displayed sound safety except the mild gastrointestinal reaction. However, the findings rely chiefly on data from observational studies. Further well-conducted trials are required to assess sulfonylurea for NDM.

We investigated the role of HIF-1α in the mitigation of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) in a rat model. Serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) levels were all elevated in cisplatin treated rats. PNS reduced Scr, BUN and NAG levels in the presence or absence of the HIF-1α inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2). PNS also reduced the high tubular injury scores, which corresponded to renal tubular damage in cisplatin-treated rats and which were exacerbated by 2ME2. Renal tissues from PNS-treated rats showed increased HIF-1α mRNA and nuclear localized HIF-1α protein. Moreover, PNS treatment increased BNIP3 mRNA as well as LC3-II, BNIP3 and Beclin-1 proteins and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio in rat renal tissues. This suggested that PNS treatment enhanced HIF-1α, which in turn increased autophagy. This was confirmed in transmission electron micrographs of renal tissues that showed autophagosomes in PNS-treated renal tissues. These findings demonstrate that PNS mitigates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by enhancing mitophagy via a HIF-1α/BNIP3/Beclin-1 signaling pathway.

Both thermal insulation property and thermal cycling life are of significant importance to the high-efficiency operation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The spot spallation of the plasma sprayed nanostructured TBCs decreases the effective thickness and thermal insulation property. In this work, a novel layer-gradient nanostructured Sc2O3–Y2O3 co-stabilized ZrO2 (ScYSZ) coating is proposed and employed to enhance the thermal barrier performance. The average thermal insulation temperature of the novel layer-gradient coating is higher than that of the conventional nanostructured counterpart. The thermal cycling life of the layer-gradient TBCs reaches 641 cycles, approximately 70.5% longer than that of the conventional nano-coatings. This layer-gradient coating is more strain tolerant and exhibits much lower increment in the sintering rate and elastic modulus. The mechanism for the extended thermal cycling life of the layer-gradient coating is systematically discussed. This study is expected to provide a new idea for the structural design of high-performance nanostructured TBCs.

Background: Alcohol extract from the root of Urena lobata L. (ULL) had broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Studies in vitro have sho that ULL aqueous extract has antibacterial effect on S. aureusis, and the combination therapy of the ULL aqueous extract with cefazolin sodium showed additive effect. Materials and Methods: The mice underwent nasal inhalation with S. aureus, a subset of mice were intra-gastric gavage with ULL and/or intravenous injection cefazolin sodium twice daily. After being exposed to S. aureus for 5 days, 10 days and 14 days respectively, the white blood cells count (WBC), neutrophils absolute value (NEU) and the neutrophil percentage (NEU%) in peripheral blood, as well as the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM were determined using commercial kits. The colony count of S. aureus, the levels of interleukin (IL) -6 and IL-10 of mice lung tissue were detected, and the pathological changes of lung tissue were examined using H & E staining. Results: ULL significantly protected against S. aureus pneumonia, as evidenced by the remarkable decrease in the rate of S. aureus colony count/lung weight, WBC, NEU and NEU% in peripheral blood, as well as the attenuation of lung histopathological damage. Additionally, ULL+cefazolin could have markedly reduced the rate of S. aureus colony count/lung weight when compared with cefazolin. Furthermore, ULL and ULL+cefazolin both could significantly decrease the serum levels of IgG and IgM, and the levels of IL-6, IL-10 in mice lung tissue. Conclusion: This study first demonstrated that ULL may have potential use as a therapeutic agent for S. aureus pneumonia, and the roles of IgG, IgM, IL-6 and IL-10 in ULL protection against S. aureus pneumonia remain to be further studied.

Background:The effect of naproxen on the treatment of neoplastic fever is still unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate the effect of naproxen in the treatment of cancer fever or suspicion. Besides, the latest and most convincing evidence was provided for