Inhibiting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuates cerebral ischemic injury in Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice

Cerebral ischemia was induced using photothrombosis 1 hour after intraperitoneal injection of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB239063 into Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP/SWE) transgenic and non-transgenic mice. The number of surviving neurons in the penumbra was quantified using Nissl staining, and the activity of p38 MAPKs was measured by western blotting. The number of surviving neurons in the penumbra was significantly reduced in APP/SWE transgenic mice compared with non-transgenic controls 7 days after cerebral ischemia, but the activity of p38 MAPKs was significantly elevated compared with the non-ischemic hemisphere in the APP/SWE transgenic mice. SB239063 prevented these changes. The APP/SWE mutation exacerbated ischemic brain injury, and this could be alleviated by inhibiting p38 MAPK activity.     

犀角地黄汤合银翘散及其单方对小鼠流感病毒性肺炎治疗作用的比较

目的 比较截断疗法经典方犀角地黄汤合银翘散及其单方对小鼠流感病毒性肺炎的治疗作用,探究犀角地黄汤和银翘散在截断疗法中的不同作用.方法 ICR小鼠和BALB/c小鼠,随机分为正常组、模型组、犀角地黄汤合银翘散组(简称合方组)、犀角地黄汤组、银翘散组、达菲组,除正常组外其余小鼠以流感病毒滴鼻感染,1 h后给药.各组分别以对...     

Curzerene suppresses progression of human glioblastoma through inhibition of glutathione S‐transferase A4

AimsGlioblastoma is the central nervous system tumor with the highest mortality rate, and the clinical effectiveness of chemotherapy is low. Curzerene can inhibit the progression of non‐small‐cell lung cancer, but its role in glioma has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of curzerene on glioma progression and further explore its potential mechanism.MethodsThe expression of glutathione S‐transferase A4 (GSTA4) in glioblastoma and the effect of curzerene on the expression of GSTA4 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 and the activation of the mTOR pathway were detected by Western blotting and RT‐PCR, and the effects of curzerene treatment on glioma malignant character were detected by cell biological assays. The in vivo antitumor effects of curzerene were analyzed in a nude mouse xenograft model.ResultsCurzerene was found to inhibit the expression of GSTA4 mRNA and protein in U251 and U87 glioma cells, and this effect correlated with a downregulation of the proliferation of these cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Invasion and migration were also inhibited, and curzerene treatment correlated with induction of apoptosis. Curzerene inhibited the activation of the mTOR pathway and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9, and it correlated with increased 4‐hydroxynonenal levels. In vivo, curzerene was found to significantly inhibit tumor growth in nude mice and to prolong the survival time of tumor‐bearing nude mice.ConclusionIn conclusion, inhibition of GSTA4 correlates with positive outcomes in glioma models, and thus, this molecule is a candidate drug for the treatment of glioma.     

Double noncovalent network chitosan/hyperbranched polyethylenimine/Fe3+ films with high toughness and good antibacterial activity

The application of pure chitosan films is significantly limited due to their poor mechanical properties. In this study, a novel type of chitosan/hyperbranched polyethylenimine (CHP) and chitosan/hyperbranched polyethylenimine/Fe³⁺ (CHPF) films with high toughness and good antibacterial activity were prepared through a noncovalent crosslinking method. From the tensile test results, the strain and toughness of the CHP film increased by 798.1% and 292.3%, respectively, compared with pure chitosan film, after the addition of 20% hyperbranched polyethylenimine (HPEI). The addition of trace metal iron ions (3 mg) forms a metal coordination bond with the amine group on HPEI, as well as the hydroxyl group and amine group on chitosan, and develops a double noncovalent bond network structure with hydrogen bonding, which further enhances the mechanical tensile strength of the chitosan-based film, with an increase of 48.4%. Interestingly, HPEI and Fe³⁺ can be used as switches to increase and decrease the fluorescence property of chitosan, respectively. Furthermore, the CHP and CHPF films showed good antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli.

Double noncovalent network chitosan/hyperbranched polyethylenimine/Fe³⁺ films.     

Facile synthesis of peanut-like Sn-doped silica nano-adsorbent for affinity separation of proteins

A peanut-like hollow silica (denoted as p-l-hSiO₂) adsorbent is prepared in a facile method, which is composed of several silica nanospheres and has an average diameter of 22 nm, with thickness of 5 nm. Its Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume and pore size are 258.9 m² g⁻¹, 1.56 cm³ g⁻¹ and 3.9 nm, respectively. Then the afforded p-l-hSiO₂/GSH adsorbent is applied to purify glutathione S-transferases-tagged (denoted as GST-tagged) proteins. It is found that the p-l-hSiO₂ adsorbent exhibits a specific adsorption, a high binding capacity (6.80 mg g⁻¹), good recycling performance and high recovery (90.1%) to the target proteins, showing promising potential for the affinity separation of GST-tagged proteins.

Peanut-like Sn-doped hollow silica adsorbent is prepared in a facile method, which exhibits a specific adsorption, a high binding capacity , good recycle performance and high recovery to the GST-tagged proteins.     

Effects on the crystallization behavior and biocompatibility of poly(LLA-ran-PDO-ran-GA) with poly(d-lactide) as nucleating agents

The blends of poly(l-lactide acid-p-dioxanone-glycolide) (PLPG) with poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) (PLPG/PDLA) were prepared by a solution-casting method. The effects of PDLA on the properties of the PLPG were studied. DSC and WAXD results confirmed that PLA stereocomplex (sc-PLA) crystals were formed by blending PLLA segments in PLPG with PDLA, and the melting endotherm for both PLLA and sc-PLA relied on PDLA content. The non-isothermal crystallization results indicated that the crystallization process was remarkably accelerated by the addition of PDLA. Meanwhile, the results of isothermal crystallization indicated that the half-time of crystallization decreased with the increase of PDLA content. Besides, the enzymatic degradation behavior of the samples showed that with the increase of PDLA content, the mass loss gradually decreased. Furthermore, TGA and DTG results indicated that the thermal degradation of the samples was a complex process. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the samples was tested by cell culture and using CCK-8 and live/dead staining. Results showed that the samples possessed lower cytotoxicity. Therefore, the PLPG/PDLA blends are promising candidate materials in biomedical applications.

Sc-PLA crystals in the PLPG/PDLA blends were formed by hydrogen bond between PDLA and PLLA segments, which enhance the crystallization ability of PLLA in the PLPG matrix by decreasing the activation free energy.     

X综合征冠状循环内血浆内皮素浓度变化

目的　探讨X综合征患者中冠状血管内皮功能的变化。方法　采用心房起搏术,观察X综合征患者（n=8）冠状静脉窦血浆内皮素浓度水平,同时与年龄、性别相匹配的健康人（n=6）作对照。结果　X综合征组在整个试验过程中,冠状静脉窦血浆内皮素浓度明显增加（P<0.05）;并且在不同时点间的浓度均不同（P<0.05）。结论　X综合征患者冠状循环内血浆内皮素浓度增高,可能存在有内皮功能异常。     

Preconception alanine aminotransferase concentrations and risk of preterm birth in rural Chinese women aged 20–49 years: a population-based cohort study

Background

Previous studies have shown maternal hepatitis B virus infection is associated with preterm birth. However, whether liver dysfunction caused by hepatitis B virus infection or other factors can lead to preterm delivery needs further exploration. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a sensitive indicator of liver function, but few studies have investigated the association between serum ALT concentrations and preterm birth. We aimed to examine the relationship between maternal preconception ALT concentration and risk of preterm birth.

类胰蛋白酶与代谢综合征

代谢综合征是心血管疾病的多种代谢危险因素在个体内集结的状态,主要包括肥胖、糖尿病或糖调节受损、血脂紊乱以及高血压.近来研究发现,代谢综合征的发病与机体慢性炎性反应状态相关.类胰蛋白酶是肥大细胞中含量最丰富的颗粒蛋白,也是一种重要的炎性介质,它可通过促进炎性反应细胞的聚集、细胞凋亡、新生血管形成、基质蛋白重塑等多种机制参与代谢综合征的发生与发展.