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Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) exert increasingly lethal or disabling effects on humans, but the associations among these diseases at the molecular level remain unclear. In our research, lists of genes related to these three diseases were acquired from public databases. We constructed gene-gene networks of the lists of disease-related genes using the STRING database and selected the plug-in MCODE as the most suitable method to divide the three disease-associated networks into modules through an entropy calculation. Notably, 1173 AD-related, 203 VD-related, and 722 PD-related genes as well as 72 overlapping genes were observed among the three diseases. By dividing the modules from the gene network, we divided the AD-related gene network into 27 modules, the VD-related gene network into 8 modules, and the PD-related gene network into 17 modules. After the enrichment analysis of each disease-related gene, 146 overlapping biological processes and 32 overlapping pathways were identified. Ultimately, through similarity analysis of the genes, biological processes, and pathways, we found that AD and VD were the most closely related at the biological process and pathway levels, with similarity coefficients of 0.2784 and 0.3626, respectively. After analyzing the overlapping gene network, we found that INS might play an important role in the network and that insulin and its signaling pathways may play a key role in these neurodegenerative diseases. Our research illustrates a new method for in-depth research on the three diseases, which may accelerate the progress of developing new therapeutics and may be applied to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Sinorhizobium meliloti 320 is a vitamin B12 (VB12 ) high-producing strain that has been isolated and identified in our previous study. Because the regulatory toolbox for S. meliloti is limited, we searched for new genetic components and identified the two xylose-inducible promoters PA and PB based on a promoter-probe vector with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as reporter. Compared with the ParaA promoter from S. meliloti, both promoters exhibited higher induced expression and lower basal expression. Subsequently, the influence of glucose or sucrose on the expression of GFP driven by these three promoters was assayed. Glucose repressed all three promoters, and the expression of ParaA was the lowest in the presence of glucose. Although sucrose repressed the expression of PA by 35% and improved the expression of ParaA by 16%, the expression level of PA was the highest and was 13% higher than that of ParaA . Lastly, we overexpressed the hemA gene in the C4 pathway using the PA promoter in S. meliloti 320, and the VB12 production of the engineered strain increased by 11%. The VB12 production was further increased by 11% by adding 0.1% sodium succinate to the culture medium.

Xue Bai,1 Yibo Tang,2 Qiang Li,1 Dan Liu,1 Guimin Liu,1 Xiaolei Fan,2 Zhejun Liu,2 Shujun Yu,1 Tian Tang,1 Shuyan Wang,2 Lingru Li,3 Kailin Zhou,4 Yanfei Zheng,3 Zhenquan Liu1,3 1School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4School of Humanities, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yanfei ZhengNational Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +8618010091957Email yanfei_z@163.comZhenquan LiuSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13810419708Email lzqbzy@sina.comPurpose: One of the most common types of male infertility is recognized as oligoasthenozoospermia (OA), characterized by low sperm count and quality in males. As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Cuscutae Semen-Mori Fructus coupled-herbs (CSMFCH) has been known to act a curative effect on OA for thousands of years. Nevertheless, the substantial basis and molecular mechanism of CSMFCH in treating OA remain elusive.Methods: Herein, an integrated approach, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experiment validation, was utilized to reveal the new candidate active component and mechanism of CSMFCH in treating OA.Results: The results show that kaempferol is the most significant bioactive component of CSMFCH on OA. The mechanism and targets of CSMFCH against OA are relevant to hormone regulation, oxidant stress, and reproductive promotion. In order to validate network pharmacology results, molecular docking and experiment validation were conducted. In detail, molecular docking was employed to verify the strong binding interactions between kaempferol and the core targets. UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS was used to identify kaempferol in the CSMFCH extract. In vitro and in vivo experiments further proved CSMFCH and kaempferol could enhance the mouse Leydig (TM3) and mouse Sertoli (TM4) cell viability, improve the male reproductive organ weights, sperm quality, and decrease testis tissue damage in the OA mouse model induced by CP.Conclusion: Our results not only identify the new candidate active component of CSMFCH in treating OA but also provide new insights into the mechanisms of CSMFCH against OA.Keywords: traditional Chinese medicine, oligoasthenozoospermia, kaempferol, network pharmacology

Background: Male infertility (MI) affects almost 5% adult men worldwide, and 75% of these cases are unexplained idiopathic. There are limitations in the current treatment due to the unclear mechanism of MI, which highlight the urgent need for a more effective strategy or drug. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescriptions have been used to treat MI for thousands of years, but their molecular mechanism is not well defined. Methods: Aiming at revealing the molecular mechanism of TCM prescriptions on MI, a comprehensive strategy integrating data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking verification was performed. Firstly, we collected 289 TCM prescriptions for treating MI from National Institute of TCM Constitution and Preventive Medicine for 6 years. Then, Core Chinese Materia Medica (CCMM), the crucial combination of TCM prescriptions, was obtained by the TCM Inheritance Support System from China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Next, the components and targets of CCMM in TCM prescriptions and MI-related targets were collected and analyzed through network pharmacology approach.Results: The results showed that the molecular mechanism of TCM prescriptions for treating MI are regulating hormone, inhibiting apoptosis, oxidant stress and inflammatory. Estrogen signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway are the most important signaling pathways. Molecular docking experiments were used to further validate network pharmacology results. Conclusions: This study not only discovers CCMM and the molecular mechanism of TCM prescriptions for treating MI, but may be helpful for the popularization and application of TCM treatment.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a cytokine family that includes 6 members, IL-17A through IL-17F, most of them are reported to have pro-inflammatory role. Through binding to their receptors (IL-17Rs), IL-17 activates the intracellular signalling pathways to play an important role in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Ischaemic stroke is a complex pathophysiological process mainly caused by regional cerebral ischaemia. Inflammatory factors contribute to the physiological process of stroke that leads to poor prognosis. IL-17 plays a crucial role in promoting inflammatory response and inducing secondary injury in post-stroke. Though immune cells and inflammatory factors have been reported to be involved in the damage of stroke, the functions of IL-17 in this process need to be elucidated. This review focuses on the pathological modulation and the mechanism of IL-17 family in ischaemic stroke and seeking to provide new insights for future therapies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) exert increasingly lethal or disabling effects on humans, but the associations among these diseases at the molecular level remain unclear. In our research, lists of genes related to these three diseases were acquired from public databases. We constructed gene-gene networks of the lists of disease-related genes using the STRING database and selected the plug-in MCODE as the most suitable method to divide the three disease-associated networks into modules through an entropy calculation. Notably, 1173 AD-related, 203 VD-related, and 722 PD-related genes as well as 72 overlapping genes were observed among the three diseases. By dividing the modules from the gene network, we divided the AD-related gene network into 27 modules, the VD-related gene network into 8 modules, and the PD-related gene network into 17 modules. After the enrichment analysis of each disease-related gene, 146 overlapping biological processes and 32 overlapping pathways were identified. Ultimately, through similarity analysis of the genes, biological processes, and pathways, we found that AD and VD were the most closely related at the biological process and pathway levels, with similarity coefficients of 0.2784 and 0.3626, respectively. After analyzing the overlapping gene network, we found that INS might play an important role in the network and that insulin and its signaling pathways may play a key role in these neurodegenerative diseases. Our research illustrates a new method for in-depth research on the three diseases, which may accelerate the progress of developing new therapeutics and may be applied to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

Oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) is one of the most common types of male infertility affecting sperm count and sperm motility. Unfortunately, it is difficult for existing drugs to fundamentally improve the sperm quality of OA patients, because the pathological mechanism of OA has not been fully elucidated yet. Morinda officinalis–Lycium barbarum coupled-herbs (MOLBCH), as traditional Chinese Medicines, has been widely used for treating OA over thousands of years, but its molecular mechanism is still unclear. For this purpose, we adopted a comprehensive approach integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking to reveal the bioactive components and potential targets of MOLBCH against OA. The results showed that MOLBCH alleviated apoptosis, promoted male reproductive function, and reduced oxidant stress in the treatment of OA. Ohioensin-A, quercetin, beta-sitosterol and sitosterol were the key bioactive components. Androgen receptor (AR), Estrogen receptor (ESR1), Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were the core potential targets. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, prostate cancer, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications were the most representative pathways. Moreover, molecular docking was performed to validate the strong binding interactions between the obtained core components and targets. These observations provide deeper insight into the pathogenesis of OA and can be used to design new drugs and develop new therapeutic instructions to treat OA.

Cerebral ischemia is a common refractory brain disease, resulting from a reduction in the blood flow to the brain. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to ischemic stroke and brain injury. Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is an important traditional Chinese medicine, which has been linked to neuroprotection in recent studies. In this study, we investigated the role of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway on the protective effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract (CSE) against cerebral ischemia injury both in vivo and in vitro. In a murine middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, administration of CSE relieved neuronal morphological damage and attenuated the neuronal apoptosis. CSE also reduced neurobehavioral scores and oxygen free radical (OFR), while improving the levels of ATP, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and mitochondrial complexes I-IV. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of Bax, cytochrome c (Cyt c) and caspase-3 were down-regulated. In brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), CSE prevented OGD-induced cellular apoptosis, and recovered the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Moreover, CSE treatment induced an increase of Bcl-2 protein expression and a decrease of Bax, Cyt c and caspase-3 protein expression. Meanwhile, the caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were also inhibited. The results indicate that CSE can relieve cerebral ischemia injury and exhibit protective effects via modulating the mitochondrial respiratory chain and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Weight loss has been suggested as an important indicator of torrefaction severity for describing the performance of this thermal pretreatment process. The present study establishes a correlation of torrefaction performance, severity, and energy usage for the applications of this pretreatment for solid fuel (biochar) production. Three different biomass wastes, namely, spent coffee grounds, Chinese medicine residue, and microalga residue, have been torrefied in nitrogen at a temperature range of 200–300 °C for 15–60 min to produce biochars. Their properties such as the enhancement factor of higher heating value, energy yield, decarbonization, dehydrogenation, deoxygenation, and atomic O/C and H/C ratios have been investigated. The obtained results indicate that the introduced dimensionless parameter (the torrefaction severity index in terms of the weight loss of biomass) correlates sufficiently with the biochar properties; the exception is the O/C ratio as a consequence of the intrinsic difference in components between the utilized wastes. A new parameter (the upgrading energy index) was also defined to account for the energy efficiency of the torrefaction system. This index follows a decreasing trend with increasing torrefaction severity index. This shows that biochar quality or heating value is intensified at a higher torrefaction severity; however, the energy efficiency is lowered.

Background PPVI 1 and PPⅦ 2 were a group of Pennogenin compounds extracted from the Paris polyphylla and caused hepatotoxicity in human, while the potential underlying mechanism was unclear. Purpose To evaluated the adverse effects of PP VI and PP Ⅶ on the liver in the zebrafish. Method In this study, 4dpf zebrafish were used for acute toxicity test, LC0 was calculated, and 1/2LC0 and 3/5LC0 were selected for pathological section and liver area measurement to verify the hepatotoxicity of PPVI and PPⅦ. Etabonomics study was then conducted to further explore the mechanism of hepatotoxicity of PPVI and PPⅦ. Lovastatin was used as an inhibitor, and PCR was used to verify the results. Result The result showed that under the condition of sub-lethal concentration exposure, hepatotoxicity-included changes in liver phenotype (liver area), hepatocyte swelling and degeneration, liver cell apoptosis and disturbed biochemical index were observed in zebrafish treated with PPVI and PPVII. Furthermore, the transcriptome was conducted to confirm the toxicity mechanism shared with PPVI and PPVII, and we found that steroid biosynthesis process and the related target genes were mainly affected. While, lovastatin treatment effectively ameliorated PPVII-induced zebrafish liver injury by improving the liver tissue structure and regulate the expression of associated genes including HMGCRA, SREBP, LSS, CYP2R1, PIK3R3A, GDPD1 and PFKFB-2. Conclusion This study was the first investigation to provide the direct evidence of hepatotoxicity of PP Ⅵ and PP Ⅶ in vivo zebrafish model, which were related to the steroid biosynthesis. furthermore, in lovastatin played an important role in protection against hepatotoxicity induced by PPVI and PPⅦ by regulating the cholesterol metabolism.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract (CSE) on injury of primary cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMECs) induced by oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD). Methods: We isolated and cultured primary rBMECs in order to establish an in vitro OGD model. Cellular activity was detected using a cell counting kit to determine the appropriate dosage. The rBMECs were divided into control, model, low-, mid-, and high-dose (5, 10, 20 μg·mL−1) CSE groups under OGD for 6 hours. CSE was dissolved in cell culture medium to the appropriate concentration, passed through a 0.22 μm sterile filter, and administered for 12 hours before and during OGD. Cellular morphology was observed under a microscope. Lactate dehydrogenase level in cultural supernatant, superoxide dismutase activity, and the content of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in cells were tested by colorimetric methods. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 beta in cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After 12-hour administration of CSE at the concentration of 5, 10, 20 μg·mL−1 before and during OGD, compared with the model group, the CSE groups obviously alleviated the damage of rBMECs induced by OGD, inhibited the apoptosis and the necrosis of the cells, and improved cellular morphology of rBMECs. Additionally, compared with the model group, CSE also restrained lactate dehydrogenase leakage in hypoxic cells (P

Unlike the widely studied linear diaryliodoniums as electrophilic arylating reagents, cyclic diaryliodoniums have the potential to initiate dual arylations with atom and step economy. In our current work, cascade reactions of cyclic diaryliodoniums and two equivalent alkynes have been successfully achieved under mild conditions, catalyzed by CuI/PdCl2(PPh3)2. The transformation could also be realized in a stepwise way with two different alkynes or with one alkyne and one alkene. The reaction enables a rapid access to a variety of complex fluorenes containing conjugate enyne and diene fragments.

In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (EEOS) on neuroprotective efficacy in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (IR). The effects of EEOS on mortality rate, neurobehavior, grip strength, polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells, interleukin (IL)-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. The cerebral infarction was examined through tetrazolium chloride staining. EEOS significantly inhibited IR-induced brain production of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, ICAM-1, and COX-2. Moreover, EEOS suppressed infiltration of PMN cells. EEOS caused a significant reduction in the infarct size compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group. The study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of EEOS inhibition of IR through anti-inflammatory activity in a rat model of IR.

Background: Isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RFP) are first-line antituberculosis drugs; however, one of the most common adverse effects of their use is hepatotoxicity. Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide (SSP) is the primary component of S. sagittifolia. Our previous research has confirmed the protective effect of SSP against INH and RFP-induced hepatic injury in in vivo model system. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effect and the underlying mechanisms of SSP in cultured HepG2 cells after induction with INH and RFP. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as follows: normal (without any treatment), model (injury induced by INH + RFP), and SSP group (treated with SSP followed by INH + RFP). Cell viability, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH), along with malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase, were assessed by corresponding kits. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Nrf2, and Keap1. Results: SSP had a potential protective effect as it increased the cell viability and reduced the intracellular levels of hepatic injury markers. SSP reduced the intracellular content of MDA and increased the activity of SOD, CAT, and GSH. It is noteworthy that the optimum protective effect was observed with a 0.5 mg/mL SSP at 24 h after treatment. In addition, the protection appears to be associated with its activation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 signaling pathway. Conclusion: SSP protected against INH + RFP-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells and this protection might via Nrf2 signaling pathway.

The work of a scroll compressor is performed by its scroll mechanism. In this paper, the coefficient of compression chambers of the scroll mechanism is defined. Based on energy counting system of the scroll compressor, the working process of a scroll compression chamber is analyzed and the compression process of the scroll mechanism in its working period is expressed by that of one scroll compression chamber. Thereafter, a compression process model with integral equations for the scroll mechanism is developed. The developed model uses the real working conditions (such as the suction and discharge temperatures, suction and discharge pressures, and flow rate) as the initial and supplementary conditions. The compression process model for the scroll mechanism in an air scroll compressor, as a case study, shows that the developed model can describe the compression process and predicate the volumetric efficiency and compression efficiency of the scroll mechanism well.

This two-part work proposes a dynamic model for the orbiting scroll based on the pressures in the scroll chambers. In Part I, the scroll mechanism and characteristic polygon of the scroll compressor are defined, the geometry of the multi-wrap compressor is described, the modification and construction methods for one multi-wrap scroll are presented, and the dynamic model is developed. Thereafter, the overturning moment and theoretical driving power of the scroll mechanism are discussed. This dynamic model can predict the pressure distribution on wrap surfaces as well as the variations of the axial force, tangential force, radial force, overturning moment, self-rotation moment, and resistance moment. This dynamic model provides better understanding of scroll compressors and other types of scroll machines. The investigations on scroll compressors using this model and the model verification are reported in Part II.

General criteria for scroll profiles that include the evolute, orbiting movement, differential, and integrative conditions are proposed. The profile error sensitivity is defined based on the composite meshing error and meshing clearances of the scroll profiles. A case study on regular polygon involutes as scroll profiles indicates that the general criteria are satisfied when the edge number of the two involutes of a regular polygon is equal to the common multiple of the doubled number of scroll wraps on one scroll. The profile error sensitivity of the involutes of a base circle is shown to be controlled by the radial machining error, which is extremely low. The involute of a base circle is the ideal profile for a scroll compressor because it contains low error sensitivity and more stable dynamic characteristics.

This two-part study proposes a dynamic model for the orbiting scroll based on the pressures in scroll chambers. Part II investigates scroll compressors by using the dynamic model developed in this work to predicate the dynamic characteristics of the scroll compressors and the dynamic model is validated by comparing the predicted results with the experimental results of the powers of two air scroll compressors. This study utilizes two air scroll compressors and ten virtual scroll compressors to investigate the pressure distribution on the wrap surfaces of orbiting scrolls, the component forces and moments of orbiting scrolls, the overturning moment of the scroll mechanism, and the theoretical driving power of scroll compressors. The effects of scroll type (such as modified-wrap scroll, truncated-wrap scroll, single-wrap scroll, multi-wrap scroll, odd-wrap scroll, and even-wrap scroll) on the dynamic performance of the scroll compressor based on the pressures in scroll chambers are also analyzed.

Unlike the widely studied linear diaryliodoniums as electrophilic arylating reagents, cyclic diaryliodoniums have the potential to initiate dual arylations with atom and step economy. In our current work, cascade reactions of cyclic diaryliodoniums and two equivalent alkynes have been successfully achieved under mild conditions, catalyzed by CuI/PdCl2(PPh3)2. The transformation could also be realized in a stepwise way with two different alkynes or with one alkyne and one alkene. The reaction enables a rapid access to a variety of complex fluorenes containing conjugate enyne and diene fragments.

A simple method is demonstrated to detect DNA at low concentrations on the basis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) via polyvinyl alcohol-protected silver grasslike patterns (PVA-Ag GPs) grown on the surface of the common Al substrate. By the SERS measurements of sodium citrate and thymine, the PVA-Ag GPs are shown to be an excellent SERS substrate with good activity, stability and reproducibility. With the use of the tested molecule of thymine, the enhancement factor of the PVA-Ag GPs is up to ~1.4 × 108. The PVA-Ag GPs are also shown to be an excellent SERS substrate with good biocompatibility for DNA detection, and the detection limit is down to ~10−5 mg/g. Meanwhile, the assignations of the Raman bands and the adsorption behaviors of the DNA molecules are also analyzed. In this work, the geometry optimization and the wavenumber analysis of adenine–Ag and guanine–Ag complexes for the ground states are performed using density functional theory, B3LYP functional and the LanL2DZ basis set. The transition energies and the oscillator strengths of adenine–Ag and guanine–Ag for the lowest six singlet excited states were calculated by using the time-dependent density functional theory method with the same functional and basis set. The results show that the charge transfer in the adenine–Ag and guanine–Ag complexes should be the chemical factor for the SERS of the DNA molecules. Lastly, this method may be employed in large-scale preparation of substrates that have been widely applied in the Raman analysis of DNA because the fabrication process is simple and inexpensive. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new SERS-active Ag nanofilm on the surface of a glass slide has been prepared by a low-cost electrochemical strategy using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at a proper voltage. The two-dimensional morphology of the Ag nanofilm has been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average size of the aggregated particles on the surface of the Ag nanofilm is up to ca. 200 ± 50 nm, which is much larger than that of PVA-protected Ag colloidal nanoparticles (PVA–Ag CNPs, 45 ± 8 nm). Meanwhile, many nano-scale regions with average sizes of ca. 300 ± 50 nm are formed between the adjacent Ag nanoparticles. By the SERS measurements of human serum (HS) and hemoglobin (Hb), this Ag nanofilm is shown to be an excellent SERS substrate with good stability and biocompatibility. As the fabrication process of this SERS substrate is simple and inexpensive, this method may be used in large-scale preparation of substrates that have been widely applied in Raman analysis. In addition, this SERS-active Ag nanofilm can serve as a novel SERS substrate in biochemical analysis due to the biocompatibility.

The aims of this review are to describe the biosynthetic pathway of cordycepin and summarize the strategies for increasing cordycepin production of Cordyceps militaris by liquid fermentation. In recent years, researchers made remarkable progress in cordycepin production. They focused their attention on the three aspects to improve cordycepin production: strain improving, optimizing ingredients of medium and optimizing culture conditions. This review might be helpful for understanding of cordycepin boisynthesis and increasing the production of cordycepin.

Fucoxanthin, an allenic carotenoid, can be isolated from edible brown seaweeds. Recent studies have reported that fucoxanthin has many physiological functions and biological properties, such as antiobesity, antitumor, antidiabetes, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effects. Therefore, fucoxanthin can be used as both medicinal and nutritional ingredient to prevent and treat chronic diseases. Although fucoxanthin possesses many medicinal ingredient and nutritional qualities, studies indicated that its structure was unstable. In this paper, we consulted the current documents and reviewed structural properties and factors affecting the stability of fucoxanthin. We also reported the metabolism, safety, pharmacological activities, and the methods of improving the bioavailability of fucoxanthin. Based on these studies providing essential background knowledge, fucoxanthin can be developed into marine drugs and nutritional products.

Aryl alkynes containing strongly electron-withdrawing or strongly electron-donating substituents provide low yields in comparison to other aryl or alkyl substituted alkynes.

Linear iodoniums are widely used as arylating reagents. However, cyclic diaryl idodoniums are ignored despite their potential to initiate dual arylations, atom and step economically. In our current work, a three-component cascade reaction of cyclic diaryliodoniums, sodium azide, and alkynes has been successfully achieved under mild conditions, catalyzed by cheap copper species. The regioselectivity associated with unsymmetrical iodoniums was enhanced by installing two methyls ortho and para to the I(III) center. The reaction enables a rapid access to a variety of complex molecules, triazolophenanthridine derivatives.

With Y 2 O 3 /carbon composite rods, Carbon nanotube bundles were synthesized in high yield by d.c. arc-vaporizing method. The carbon nanotube bundles and carbon nanotubes were observed by optical microscope, scan electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. According to our observations, a new model is proposed to account for the growth of cathode deposit with nanotube bundles.

Background: The pathological and physiological mechanism of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is considered to be related to energy metabolism failure, excitotoxicity, free radicals, Ca 2+ overload, and platelet activation, et al. In recent years, it is proved that inflammatory cascade plays an important role in I/R damage. Jiedu Tongluo injection (JDTL) is a compound prescription comprising of Geniposide (50 mg/ml), Panax Notoginseng Saponins (180 mg/ml), and Scutellarin (8 mg/ml), which are extracted from Chinese herb medicine. Several previous researches have proved that JDTL can inhibit experimental thrombosis and platelet aggregation significantly. We assessed the hypothesis that JDTL could ameliorate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by modulating inflammatory cascade. Methods: One hundred and twenty SD rats (4 months old, 250±20g) were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hours followed by 24 hours reperfusion or sham operation. Vehicle, JDTL (4 ml/kg, 2 ml/kg, and 1 ml/kg respectively) were injected 15 minutes after ischemia. Neurobehavioral tests were conducted 1, 4, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Infarct size, adhesion molecule, inflammatory molecule, and transcription factors were measured at 24 hours after reperfusion. Results: JDTL 4 ml/kg and 2 ml/kg significantly ameliorated the neurobehavioral impairment (p Conclusion: JDTL has a protective effect on rats after I/R injury by decreasing infarct size, down-regulating the expression of adhesion molecules, inflammatory factors, transcription factors and inhibiting MAPK pathway.

Background Although many physiological functions of Coprinus comatus have been reported, there has been no report on the antinociceptive activity of Coprinus comatus. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to demonstrate the production, isolation, and biological properties of triglycerides (TFC) of the fermented mushroom of Coprinus comatus. Methods The effects of TFC on cytokines levels, total antioxidant activity, antinociceptive effects in vivo, LD50 and tactile hyperalgesia were analyzed respectively. Results TFC treatment decreased the levels of cytokines and total antioxidant status (TAOS) and inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in mice. In addition, TFC reduced CFA-induced tactile hyperalgesia in a dose-dependent manner and the LD50 of TFC was determined to be 400 mg/kg. However, TFC did not significantly inhibit the reaction time to thermal stimuli in the hot-plate test. Conclusions TFC showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, peripheral antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic activity in various models of inflammatory pain. The data suggest that TFC may be a viable treatment option for inflammatory pain.

Cordymin is a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis. The present study investigated the effects of Cordymin in prevention of focal cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (IR) injury. The right middle cerebral artery occlusion model was used in the study. The effects of Cordymin on mortality rate, neurobehavior, grip strength, glutathione content, lipid Peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase activity, glutathione reductase activity, catalase activity, Na(+)K(+)ATPase activity glutathione S transferase activity and on the regulation of C3 and C4 protein level, polymorphonuclear cells, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in a rat model were studied respectively. Treatment (orally) of Cordymin significantly boosted the defense mechanism against cerebral ischemia by increasing antioxidants activity related to lesion pathogenesis. Restoration of the antioxidant homeostasis in the brain after reperfusion may have helped the brain recover from ischemic injury. Moreover, Cordymin significantly inhibited infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells and IR-induced up-regulation of the brain production of C3 protein level, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Cordymin significantly improved the outcome in rats after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in terms of neurobehavioral function. Our findings suggest that cordymin have a neuroprotective effect in the ischemic brain, which is due to the inhibition of inflammation and increase of antioxidants activity related to lesion pathogenesis. Cordymin can be used as potential preventive agent against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

There is now substantial epidemiological evidence that diabetes is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. The protection by vanadium from focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats was studied in this paper. Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 4 weeks of administration of 0.6 mg/ml sodium orthovanadate in drinking water. Vanadium significantly improved the outcome in diabetic rats after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in terms of neurobehavioral function. Vanadium reduces brain damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by imitating action of insulin.

Brain ischemia–reperfusion (IR) triggers a complex series of biochemical events including inflammation. To test the neuroprotective efficacy of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium (CSM) in a rat model of focal cerebral IR, ischemic animals were treated with CSM. They were evaluated at 24 h after reperfusion for neurological deficit score. Furthermore, the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory potential of CSM in the regulation of nuclear factor kappaB, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. CSM significantly inhibited IR-induced up-regulation of NF-kappaB activation and the brain production of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, ICAM-1, and COX-2. Moreover, CSM suppressed infiltration of PMN. The study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of CSM inhibition through anti-inflammation in a rat model of ischemia–reperfusion.