OBJECTIVE:To determine the therapeutic effects of the Zhuangyao Jianshen pill(壮腰健肾丸,ZYJSP)against benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and investigate the underlying mechanism.METHODS:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley ...OBJECTIVE:To determine the therapeutic effects of the Zhuangyao Jianshen pill(壮腰健肾丸,ZYJSP)against benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and investigate the underlying mechanism.METHODS:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups:Control group,BPH model group,finasteride-treated group,ZYJSP low,medium and high dose groups.Except for the control group,40 rats were castrated and injected with testosterone propionate(TP)for 28 consecutive day to induce BPH.Meanwhile,the corresponding drugs were administered by gavage.The prostate wet weight,prostate index(PI),and the histopathological changes in the prostate were measured as the basis for examining the efficacy of ZYJSP against BPH.Levels of the serum sex hormones,oxidative stress markers,inflammatory markers,renal function markers,growth factors,and Cyclin D1 expression in prostate were measured to characterize the therapeutic mechanism of ZYJSP against BPH.RESULTS:ZYJSP administration significantly reduced prostate wet weight and PI and ameliorated histological changes of the prostate in TP-treated castrated rats.TP markedly increased the levels of creatinine,blood urea nitrogen and growth factors in the serum as well as the expression of the Cyclin D1 in the prostate.Most of these markers were significantly decreased by ZYJSP.ZYJSP significantly restored the dysregulation of testosterone,estradiol,and dihydrotestosterone caused by TP.Furthermore,ZYJSP relieved TP-induced prostate injury and exhibited both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity by decreasing interleukin-6,interleukin-8,and malondialdehyde levels and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase in the serum.CONCLUSION:These findings indicate that ZYJSP can effectively ameliorate BPH induced by TP in castrated rats,and the underlying mechanism might be related to regulating sex hormone balance,reducing oxidative stress,and inhibiting the inflammatory response.展开更多
Hypoxia is a common pathological process in various clinical diseases and is characterized by abnormal changes in metabolism, function, and morphological structure of tissues resulting from insufficient oxygen supply ...Hypoxia is a common pathological process in various clinical diseases and is characterized by abnormal changes in metabolism, function, and morphological structure of tissues resulting from insufficient oxygen supply or oxygen barriers in tissues. In particular, hypoxia in vital organs such as the brain and heart is an important cause of death;. The prevention of tissue hypoxia and the展开更多
Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the periodontal tissue and an irreversible alveolar bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Four-octyl itaconate(4-OI) is...Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the periodontal tissue and an irreversible alveolar bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Four-octyl itaconate(4-OI) is a cell-permeable itaconate derivative and has been recognized as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we explored, for the first time,the protective effect of 4-OI on inhibiting periodontal destruction, ameliorating local inflammation, and the underlying mechanism in periodontitis. Here we showed that 4-OI treatment ameliorates inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in the periodontal microenvironment. 4-OI can also significantly alleviate inflammation and alveolar bone loss via Nrf2 activation as observed on samples from experimental periodontitis in the C57BL/6 mice. This was further confirmed as silencing Nrf2 blocked the antioxidant effect of 4-OI by downregulating the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, molecular docking simulation indicated the possible mechanism under Nrf2 activation. Also, in Nrf2-/-mice, 4-OI treatment did not protect against alveolar bone dysfunction due to induced periodontitis, which underlined the importance of the Nrf2 in 4-OI mediated periodontitis treatment.Our results indicated that 4-OI attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress via disassociation of KEAP1-Nrf2 and activation of Nrf2 signaling cascade. Taken together, local administration of 4-OI offers clinical potential to inhibit periodontal destruction,ameliorate local inflammation for more predictable periodontitis.展开更多
Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is typified by the increment of chronic blood glucose levels that is caused by an absolute and/or a relative deficiency of insulin,accounts for 90%of diabetes and causes a range of compli...Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is typified by the increment of chronic blood glucose levels that is caused by an absolute and/or a relative deficiency of insulin,accounts for 90%of diabetes and causes a range of complications[1].展开更多
Rosiglitazone up-regulates caveolin-1 levels and has neuroprotective effects in both chronic and acute brain injury. Therefore, we postulated that rosiglitazone may ameliorate diffuse axonal injury via its ability to ...Rosiglitazone up-regulates caveolin-1 levels and has neuroprotective effects in both chronic and acute brain injury. Therefore, we postulated that rosiglitazone may ameliorate diffuse axonal injury via its ability to up-regulate caveolin-1, inhibit expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein, and reduce the loss and abnormal phosphorylation of tau. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of rosiglitazone significantly reduced the levels of amyloid-beta precursor protein and hyperphosphorylated tau（phosphorylated at Ser^（404）（p-tau（S^（404）））, and it increased the expression of total tau and caveolin-1 in the rat cortex. Our results show that rosiglitazone inhibits the expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein and lowers p-tau（S^（404）） levels, and it reduces the loss of total tau, possibly by up-regulating caveolin-1. These actions of rosiglitazone may underlie its neuroprotective effects in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury.展开更多
AIM： To study the effect of blocking the eo-2 pathwaon the development and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE）. METHODS： We produced mAb directed against eo-2named D8. MOG35-55 induced-EAE ...AIM： To study the effect of blocking the eo-2 pathwaon the development and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE）. METHODS： We produced mAb directed against eo-2named D8. MOG35-55 induced-EAE mice were dailintravenously injected with either 25 μg or 100 μg D8or with vehicle control alone [phosphate-buffered saline（PBS）], starting from day 0 post immunization and weremonitored for EAE clinical score （n = 10 in each group）Mice were sacrifced on day 58 and their sera were assessed for the presence of anti-myelin oligodendrocyteglycoprotein （anti-MOG） antibodies autoantibodies, awell as for the profle of pro-infammatory cytokines andchemokines. Histological analysis of brain sections waperformed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.RESULTS： Daily treatment of EAE induced mice with D8 signifcantly decreased the severity of EAE symp-toms. Treatment with both concentrations of D8 ame-liorated EAE symptoms compared to PBS treated mice, starting from day 42 post immunization （0.89 ± 0.35 in D8 25 μg and D8 100 μg treated groups vs 2.11 ± 0.38 in the PBS treated group, P = 0.03）. A signifcant im-provement in EAE clinical score compared to total IgG treated mice was observed with the higher concentra-tion of D8 （0.81 ± 0.38 in D8 100 μg treated group vs 2.11 ± 0.31 in IgG1 treated group, on day 56 post immunization, P = 0.04）. D8 treated mice with EAE did not signifcantly exhibit lower sera levels of anti-MOG autoantibodies compared to IgG-treated mice. How-ever, they expressed lower sera levels of the pro-in-fammatory cytokines： tumor necrosis factor （7.8 ± 0.2 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 19.9 ± 3.4 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.005） and interferon-gamma （1.4 ± 0.6 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 3.6 ± 0.4 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.02）, as well as reduced levels of the chemokine macrophage che-moattractant protein-1 （27.2 ± 3.1 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 63.7 ± 12.3 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.03）. These fndings indicate that blocking the eo-2 pathway in EAE may affect not only eosino-phil infltration into the central nervous system （CNS）, but also have an effect on monocytes and T cells, but not humoral, mediated responses. Histological analysis of the brains of D8 treated mice with EAE support that this treatment decreases immune cells infltrates in the CNS.CONCLUSION： Taken together, these fndings suggest a role for eo-2 in EAE pathogenesis and consequen-tially may support a therapeutic potential of anti-eo-2 neutralizing mAb in multiple sclerosis.展开更多
Hydrofluorosis is a major public health problem in India, which is aggravated by presence or absence of some minerals in water or food. Fluoride by itself or in combination with other elements like molybdenum （Mo） i...Hydrofluorosis is a major public health problem in India, which is aggravated by presence or absence of some minerals in water or food. Fluoride by itself or in combination with other elements like molybdenum （Mo） in diet or water changes excretion/retention of bone minerals. Sorghum and pearl millet grown and consumed in fluorosis endemic areas contained significantly higher amounts of Mo than that grown in non-fluorotic areas in India.展开更多
Oxidative stress is one of the major mechanisms implicated in carbon ion irradiation[1;2]. Curcumin is a naturalphenolic compound with impressive antioxidant properties[3]. What's more, curcumin is recently proved...Oxidative stress is one of the major mechanisms implicated in carbon ion irradiation[1;2]. Curcumin is a naturalphenolic compound with impressive antioxidant properties[3]. What's more, curcumin is recently proved to exertradioprotective effect. In vivo, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin against 12C6+radiation-inducedcerebral injury.Our results showed that 4 Gy heavy ion radiation-induced spatial strategy and memory decline (Fig. 1), reductionof brain Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity levels, were all consistently improved by curcumin, as well as theaugmentation of cerebral malonaldehyde (MDA), was lowered by curcumin (Fig. 2). Furthermore, both the cerebralcells Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein and three typically recognized Nrf2 downstream genes,NADP(H) quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and -glutamyl cysteine synthetase (-GCS) were consistently up-regulated in curcumin-pretreated mice (Fig. 3).展开更多
Rapeseed cake （RC）, the residue of rapeseed oil extraction, is effective for improving tea （Camellia sinensis） quality, especially taste and aroma, but it has limited ability to ameliorate strongly acidic soil. In...Rapeseed cake （RC）, the residue of rapeseed oil extraction, is effective for improving tea （Camellia sinensis） quality, especially taste and aroma, but it has limited ability to ameliorate strongly acidic soil. In order to improve the liming potential of RC, alkaline slag （AS）, the by-product of recovery of sodium carbonate, was incorporated. Combined effects of different levels of RC and AS on ameliorating acidic soil from a tea garden were investigated. Laboratory incubations showed that combined use of AS and RC was an effective method to reduce soil exchangeable acidity and A1 saturation and increase base saturation, but not necessarily for soil pH adjustment. The release of alkalinity from the combined amendments and the mineralization of organic nitrogen increased soil pH initially, but then soil pH decreased due to nitrifications. Various degrees of nitrification were correlated with the interaction of different Ca levels, pH and N contents. When RC was applied at low levels, high Ca levels from AS repressed soil nitrification, resulting in smaller pH fluctuations. In contrast, high AS stimulated soil nitrification, when RC was applied at high levels, and resulted in a large pH decrease. Based on the optimum pH for tea production and quality, high ratios of AS to RC were indicated for soil acidity amelioration, and 8.0 g kg-1 and less than 2.5 g kg-1 were indicated for AS and RC, respectively. Further, field studies are needed to investigate the variables of combined amendments.展开更多
Background : This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats. Methods : Thi...Background : This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats. Methods : Thirty-six rats were assigned to three treatment groups(n = 12). Group A(2 mL distilled water), group B:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2) and group C:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2 and D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol 2 mg/kg b.w.). Bone ash, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and zinc content, as well as bone histological changes were determined at the end of months 1, 2, and 3. Results : There were significant differences( P ≤ 0.05) in the weight of the cervical, tibia, and femoral bones in all groups. The serum concentration of CdCl_2 was significantly different across the three groups with time. There was significant variation( P < 0.005) in the mean bone ash across groups. The concentration of OH-proline was significantly different( P < 0.0001) across groups. There were significant differences( P < 0.0001) in bone calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus concentrations. Histology revealed high levels of bone mineralisation in the CdCl_2-treated group, indicative of osteoporosis with hypertrophied osteocytes, while the femur of Wistar rats treated with D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol showed bone trabeculae and viable osteocytes. Conclusion : The study concluded that D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol extract from Piliostigma thionningii stem bark ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.展开更多
Collagen, recognized as the primary structural component of human skin, is essential for preserving dermal integrity and function. Its progressive depletion has been closely associated with structural deterioration of...Collagen, recognized as the primary structural component of human skin, is essential for preserving dermal integrity and function. Its progressive depletion has been closely associated with structural deterioration of the dermis and the visible signs of skin aging. Among current therapeutic strategies, the injection of exogenous collagen has been established as an effective method for alleviating aging-related skin changes. In the present study, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to assess the injectability, cellular interactions, and photoaging repair efficacy of recombinant human collagen type III(RHC). The RHC solution was found to demonstrate favorable injectability and support the adhesion and chemotactic behavior of L929 cells, while also upregulating the expression of type I and type III collagen. In co-culture systems with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, RHC treatment suppressed macrophage proliferation and reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, suggesting notable immunomodulatory properties. Upon intradermal injection of RHC into photoaged rat skin, an increased density of dermal collagen fibers was observed, accompanied by a more organized and uniform fiber arrangement. Additionally, hydroxyproline content and the expressions of collagen I and III were markedly elevated in the RHC group compared with the control and hyaluronic acid groups. Collectively, these findings suggest that RHC holds considerable promise as a therapeutic agent for both medical and cosmetic purposes targeting the restoration and maintenance of youthful skin characteristics.展开更多
Concerns about the long-term safety and efficacy of glibenclamide(GLIB),a type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)treatment,have been reported[1].Recent evidence indicates the gut microbiota composition significantly affects ho...Concerns about the long-term safety and efficacy of glibenclamide(GLIB),a type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)treatment,have been reported[1].Recent evidence indicates the gut microbiota composition significantly affects host glucose metabolism and drugbioavailability,increasingthe efficacy of T2DM therapy[2].In this context,probiotic-drug coadministration,an emerging adjunct approach for treating metabolic diseases,improves therapeutic outcomes and ameliorates side effects[3].展开更多
tsRNAs(tRNA-derived small RNAs),as products of the stress response,exert considerable influence on stress response and injury regulation.However,it remains largely unclear whether tsRNAs can ameliorate liver injury.He...tsRNAs(tRNA-derived small RNAs),as products of the stress response,exert considerable influence on stress response and injury regulation.However,it remains largely unclear whether tsRNAs can ameliorate liver injury.Here,we demonstrate the roles of tsRNAs in alleviating liver injury by utilizing the loss of NSun2(NOP2/Sun domain family,member 2)as a tsRNAs-generating model.Mechanistically,the loss of NSun2 reduces methyluridine-U5(m^(5)U)and cytosine-C5(m^(5)C)of tRNAs,followed by the production of various tsRNAs,especially Class I tsRNAs(tRF-1s).Through further screening,we show that tRF-Gln-CTG-026(tG026),the optimal tRF-1,ameliorates liver injury by repressing global protein synthesis through the weakened association between TSR1(pre-rRNA-processing protein TSR1 homolog)and pre-40S ribosome.This study indicates the potential of tsRNA-reduced global protein synthesis in liver injury and repair,suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for liver injury.展开更多
Interleukin(IL)-6 is central to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).1 IL-6 receptor(IL-6R)blockade is an effective treatment strategy for RA based on the clinical efficacy of tocilizumab.However,serious infec...Interleukin(IL)-6 is central to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).1 IL-6 receptor(IL-6R)blockade is an effective treatment strategy for RA based on the clinical efficacy of tocilizumab.However,serious infections are the most frequent adverse events associated with long-term monotherapy with tocilizumab,an exogenous biomacromolecule.2 Novel small-molecule IL-6R inhibitors with fewer deleterious side effects could therefore have potential as RA treatments.We previously identified chikusetsusaponin IVa butyl ester(CS)as a natural small-molecule IL-6R antagonist.3 Here,we assessed the effects of CS on a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)to evaluate its therapeutic potential against RA.The results showed that CS ameliorated arthritis in CIA mice by inhibiting T-helper 17(Th17)cell differentiation and could serve as a novel agent for treating RA.展开更多
Herbal Medicines used to tonify Kidney and ameltorate the marrow microenvironmentwere applied in the treatment of 50 patients of aplastic anemia. Stanazol was also used to some cases.Forty-one cases (82. 0 % )respond...Herbal Medicines used to tonify Kidney and ameltorate the marrow microenvironmentwere applied in the treatment of 50 patients of aplastic anemia. Stanazol was also used to some cases.Forty-one cases (82. 0 % )responded well. It is significantly better than the 56. 5 % response among thosetreated with stanazol alone. Experimentally, the herbal medicines appear to stimulate hemopoietic pro-genitor cell proliferation, improve the marrow microenyironment and repair marrow damage induced bycyclophosphamide in vivo. The hemopoietic promoting effect might be partly due to the desialation of themarrow stroma cells. The herbal medicines also exert a positive effect on immune system by increasingleukocyte phagocytic activity and elevating the interleukin-2 production. Moreover , the decrease of super-oxide dismutase resulting from cyclophosphamide injection could be reversed by the use of the herbalmedicines. In conclusion, to tonify the Kidney and ameliorate marrow microenvironment medicines pro-duce broad biological results that are beneficial to the body.展开更多
Streptococcus pneumoniae stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophagc to release tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in vitro. When penicillin was added into the medium with bacteria, TNFα release was accelerated. Pentoxifyll...Streptococcus pneumoniae stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophagc to release tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in vitro. When penicillin was added into the medium with bacteria, TNFα release was accelerated. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, significantly attenuated TNFα release caused either by Streptococcus pneumoniae or by its lysates. In this experiment, 150 Kunming mice were infected with Streptococcus peumoniae through inspiration. Dynamic changes of TNFα concentration in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined, and pulmonary pathological changes were also observed. It was found that PTX significantly attenuated TNFα activity in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and inhibited white blood cell chemotaxis, emigration and infiltration. In conclusion, Streptococcus pneumoniae infection stimulates the release of TNFα which is probably the major mediater that causes tissue damage during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The mechanism is probably that Steptococcus pneumoniae and its lysates activate TNFα gene transcription. As penicillin accelerates TNFα release, treatment with penicillin alone may aggravate the tissue damage. Combined treatment with PTX may be more reasonable.展开更多
Objective To investigate the effets of nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA)on the expression of IL-6,IL-17and TGF-βin mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE).Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG35...Objective To investigate the effets of nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA)on the expression of IL-6,IL-17and TGF-βin mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE).Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG35-55 to induce EAE.The 54 mice were randomly and equally divided into control group,model group and treatment group.Mice in treatment展开更多
The wettability of coarse-grained soils has been studied previously.However,soil drying in arid regions due to limited precipitation or irrigation has resulted in soil water repellency to some extent in fine-grained s...The wettability of coarse-grained soils has been studied previously.However,soil drying in arid regions due to limited precipitation or irrigation has resulted in soil water repellency to some extent in fine-grained soils.In this study,laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of plane(Platanus orientalis L.)leaf biochar with fine(<0.1 mm)and coarse grains(0.1-0.5 mm)on the wettability of a silty clay soil irrigated with saline and non-saline water.Eleven rates of each biochar,ranging from 0 to 10%with 1%intervals,were investigated along with five ionic strengths of water,including 0,0.2,0.4,0.6,and 0.8 mol L^(-1),prepared using sodium and calcium chloride,which are two dominant salts in arid regions.The results showed that application of 5%-10%fine-grained biochar changed the soil hydrophobicity class from strongly to slightly water-repellent,while only 4%coarse-grained biochar was sufficient for the same change in soil wettability.Furthermore,the use of 10%coarse-grained biochar made the soil hydrophilic.The positive effect of plane leaf biochar on soil water repellency reduction was limited by water salinity.The sodium chloride solution was more effective in decreasing the soil wettability than calcium chloride solution and increased the demand for biochar for soil water repellency reduction.In conclusion,plane leaf biochar could be beneficial in managing the hydrophobicity of fine-grained soils.However,water quality as well as biochar particle size determined the quantity of biochar required for improving soil wettability.展开更多
GP algorithm of correlation dimension computation is ameliorated which overcomes the shortage of traditional one. Improved process of GP algorithm takes the influence of temporal correlative pairs of points on correla...GP algorithm of correlation dimension computation is ameliorated which overcomes the shortage of traditional one. Improved process of GP algorithm takes the influence of temporal correlative pairs of points on correlation dimension into account and promotes the computational efficiency prominently. Iterative SVD method is applied to remove the influence of noise on the result of correlation dimension. The faults of steam flow turbulence and oil film disturbance which occur in 600 MW Steam Turbine Generator are analyzed and whose correlation dimensions are computed. More distinct quantitative index than FFT is gained to distinguish two faults and it’s of little importance to apply correlation dimension to study the influence of various factors on steam flow turbulence fault for nonexistence of convergent floor in correlation integral curve, which presents a new way to learn the operational function of large capacity steam turbine generator and carry out comprehensive condition monitoring.展开更多
We chose a definition of heatwaves (HWs) that has ~4-year recurrence frequency at world hot spots. We first examined the 1940-2022 HWs climatology and trends in lifespan, severity, spatial extent, and recurrence frequ...We chose a definition of heatwaves (HWs) that has ~4-year recurrence frequency at world hot spots. We first examined the 1940-2022 HWs climatology and trends in lifespan, severity, spatial extent, and recurrence frequency. HWs are becoming more frequent and more severe for extratropical mid- and low-latitudes. To euphemize HWs, we here propose a novel clean energy-tapping concept that utilizes the available nano-technology, micro-meteorology knowledge of temperature distribution within/without buildings, and radiative properties of earth atmosphere. The key points for a practical electricity generation scheme from HWs are defogging, insulation, and minimizing the absorption of infrared downward radiation at the cold legs of the thermoelectric generators. One sample realization is presented which, through relay with existing photovoltaic devices, provides all-day electricity supply sufficient for providing air conditioning requirement for a residence (~2000-watt throughput). The provision of power to air conditioning systems, usually imposes a significant stress on traditional city power grids during heatwaves.展开更多
文摘OBJECTIVE:To determine the therapeutic effects of the Zhuangyao Jianshen pill(壮腰健肾丸,ZYJSP)against benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and investigate the underlying mechanism.METHODS:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups:Control group,BPH model group,finasteride-treated group,ZYJSP low,medium and high dose groups.Except for the control group,40 rats were castrated and injected with testosterone propionate(TP)for 28 consecutive day to induce BPH.Meanwhile,the corresponding drugs were administered by gavage.The prostate wet weight,prostate index(PI),and the histopathological changes in the prostate were measured as the basis for examining the efficacy of ZYJSP against BPH.Levels of the serum sex hormones,oxidative stress markers,inflammatory markers,renal function markers,growth factors,and Cyclin D1 expression in prostate were measured to characterize the therapeutic mechanism of ZYJSP against BPH.RESULTS:ZYJSP administration significantly reduced prostate wet weight and PI and ameliorated histological changes of the prostate in TP-treated castrated rats.TP markedly increased the levels of creatinine,blood urea nitrogen and growth factors in the serum as well as the expression of the Cyclin D1 in the prostate.Most of these markers were significantly decreased by ZYJSP.ZYJSP significantly restored the dysregulation of testosterone,estradiol,and dihydrotestosterone caused by TP.Furthermore,ZYJSP relieved TP-induced prostate injury and exhibited both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity by decreasing interleukin-6,interleukin-8,and malondialdehyde levels and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase in the serum.CONCLUSION:These findings indicate that ZYJSP can effectively ameliorate BPH induced by TP in castrated rats,and the underlying mechanism might be related to regulating sex hormone balance,reducing oxidative stress,and inhibiting the inflammatory response.
基金financially supported by 1226 major project [Grant no.AWS16J018]
文摘Hypoxia is a common pathological process in various clinical diseases and is characterized by abnormal changes in metabolism, function, and morphological structure of tissues resulting from insufficient oxygen supply or oxygen barriers in tissues. In particular, hypoxia in vital organs such as the brain and heart is an important cause of death;. The prevention of tissue hypoxia and the
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31971282 and 32071362)2019 Chongqing Graduate Tutor Team Construction Project (dstd201903)Scientific and Technological Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (KJQN201900415)。
文摘Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the periodontal tissue and an irreversible alveolar bone loss, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Four-octyl itaconate(4-OI) is a cell-permeable itaconate derivative and has been recognized as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we explored, for the first time,the protective effect of 4-OI on inhibiting periodontal destruction, ameliorating local inflammation, and the underlying mechanism in periodontitis. Here we showed that 4-OI treatment ameliorates inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in the periodontal microenvironment. 4-OI can also significantly alleviate inflammation and alveolar bone loss via Nrf2 activation as observed on samples from experimental periodontitis in the C57BL/6 mice. This was further confirmed as silencing Nrf2 blocked the antioxidant effect of 4-OI by downregulating the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, molecular docking simulation indicated the possible mechanism under Nrf2 activation. Also, in Nrf2-/-mice, 4-OI treatment did not protect against alveolar bone dysfunction due to induced periodontitis, which underlined the importance of the Nrf2 in 4-OI mediated periodontitis treatment.Our results indicated that 4-OI attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress via disassociation of KEAP1-Nrf2 and activation of Nrf2 signaling cascade. Taken together, local administration of 4-OI offers clinical potential to inhibit periodontal destruction,ameliorate local inflammation for more predictable periodontitis.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China[No.81872626]Science and Technology Foundation for Innovation Talent of Henan Province[No.154200510010]Science and Technology Plan of Henan Province[No.172102310029]。
文摘Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is typified by the increment of chronic blood glucose levels that is caused by an absolute and/or a relative deficiency of insulin,accounts for 90%of diabetes and causes a range of complications[1].
基金funded by the New Century Supporting Programs to Excellent Talents in China,No.NCET-05-0831
文摘Rosiglitazone up-regulates caveolin-1 levels and has neuroprotective effects in both chronic and acute brain injury. Therefore, we postulated that rosiglitazone may ameliorate diffuse axonal injury via its ability to up-regulate caveolin-1, inhibit expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein, and reduce the loss and abnormal phosphorylation of tau. In the present study, intraperitoneal injection of rosiglitazone significantly reduced the levels of amyloid-beta precursor protein and hyperphosphorylated tau（phosphorylated at Ser^（404）（p-tau（S^（404）））, and it increased the expression of total tau and caveolin-1 in the rat cortex. Our results show that rosiglitazone inhibits the expression of amyloid-beta precursor protein and lowers p-tau（S^（404）） levels, and it reduces the loss of total tau, possibly by up-regulating caveolin-1. These actions of rosiglitazone may underlie its neuroprotective effects in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury.
文摘AIM： To study the effect of blocking the eo-2 pathwaon the development and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE）. METHODS： We produced mAb directed against eo-2named D8. MOG35-55 induced-EAE mice were dailintravenously injected with either 25 μg or 100 μg D8or with vehicle control alone [phosphate-buffered saline（PBS）], starting from day 0 post immunization and weremonitored for EAE clinical score （n = 10 in each group）Mice were sacrifced on day 58 and their sera were assessed for the presence of anti-myelin oligodendrocyteglycoprotein （anti-MOG） antibodies autoantibodies, awell as for the profle of pro-infammatory cytokines andchemokines. Histological analysis of brain sections waperformed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.RESULTS： Daily treatment of EAE induced mice with D8 signifcantly decreased the severity of EAE symp-toms. Treatment with both concentrations of D8 ame-liorated EAE symptoms compared to PBS treated mice, starting from day 42 post immunization （0.89 ± 0.35 in D8 25 μg and D8 100 μg treated groups vs 2.11 ± 0.38 in the PBS treated group, P = 0.03）. A signifcant im-provement in EAE clinical score compared to total IgG treated mice was observed with the higher concentra-tion of D8 （0.81 ± 0.38 in D8 100 μg treated group vs 2.11 ± 0.31 in IgG1 treated group, on day 56 post immunization, P = 0.04）. D8 treated mice with EAE did not signifcantly exhibit lower sera levels of anti-MOG autoantibodies compared to IgG-treated mice. How-ever, they expressed lower sera levels of the pro-in-fammatory cytokines： tumor necrosis factor （7.8 ± 0.2 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 19.9 ± 3.4 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.005） and interferon-gamma （1.4 ± 0.6 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 3.6 ± 0.4 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.02）, as well as reduced levels of the chemokine macrophage che-moattractant protein-1 （27.2 ± 3.1 pg/mL in D8 100 μg treated mice vs 63.7 ± 12.3 pg/mL in IgG treated mice, P = 0.03）. These fndings indicate that blocking the eo-2 pathway in EAE may affect not only eosino-phil infltration into the central nervous system （CNS）, but also have an effect on monocytes and T cells, but not humoral, mediated responses. Histological analysis of the brains of D8 treated mice with EAE support that this treatment decreases immune cells infltrates in the CNS.CONCLUSION： Taken together, these fndings suggest a role for eo-2 in EAE pathogenesis and consequen-tially may support a therapeutic potential of anti-eo-2 neutralizing mAb in multiple sclerosis.
文摘Hydrofluorosis is a major public health problem in India, which is aggravated by presence or absence of some minerals in water or food. Fluoride by itself or in combination with other elements like molybdenum （Mo） in diet or water changes excretion/retention of bone minerals. Sorghum and pearl millet grown and consumed in fluorosis endemic areas contained significantly higher amounts of Mo than that grown in non-fluorotic areas in India.
文摘Oxidative stress is one of the major mechanisms implicated in carbon ion irradiation[1;2]. Curcumin is a naturalphenolic compound with impressive antioxidant properties[3]. What's more, curcumin is recently proved to exertradioprotective effect. In vivo, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin against 12C6+radiation-inducedcerebral injury.Our results showed that 4 Gy heavy ion radiation-induced spatial strategy and memory decline (Fig. 1), reductionof brain Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity levels, were all consistently improved by curcumin, as well as theaugmentation of cerebral malonaldehyde (MDA), was lowered by curcumin (Fig. 2). Furthermore, both the cerebralcells Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein and three typically recognized Nrf2 downstream genes,NADP(H) quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and -glutamyl cysteine synthetase (-GCS) were consistently up-regulated in curcumin-pretreated mice (Fig. 3).
基金Supported by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(No.2009BADC6B02)the National Environmental Protection Public Benefit Research Foundation of China(No.2013467036)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41030531 and 40701078)
文摘Rapeseed cake （RC）, the residue of rapeseed oil extraction, is effective for improving tea （Camellia sinensis） quality, especially taste and aroma, but it has limited ability to ameliorate strongly acidic soil. In order to improve the liming potential of RC, alkaline slag （AS）, the by-product of recovery of sodium carbonate, was incorporated. Combined effects of different levels of RC and AS on ameliorating acidic soil from a tea garden were investigated. Laboratory incubations showed that combined use of AS and RC was an effective method to reduce soil exchangeable acidity and A1 saturation and increase base saturation, but not necessarily for soil pH adjustment. The release of alkalinity from the combined amendments and the mineralization of organic nitrogen increased soil pH initially, but then soil pH decreased due to nitrifications. Various degrees of nitrification were correlated with the interaction of different Ca levels, pH and N contents. When RC was applied at low levels, high Ca levels from AS repressed soil nitrification, resulting in smaller pH fluctuations. In contrast, high AS stimulated soil nitrification, when RC was applied at high levels, and resulted in a large pH decrease. Based on the optimum pH for tea production and quality, high ratios of AS to RC were indicated for soil acidity amelioration, and 8.0 g kg-1 and less than 2.5 g kg-1 were indicated for AS and RC, respectively. Further, field studies are needed to investigate the variables of combined amendments.
文摘Background : This study examined the ameliorative effect of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol, isolated from the stem bark of Piliostigma thonningii, on cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats. Methods : Thirty-six rats were assigned to three treatment groups(n = 12). Group A(2 mL distilled water), group B:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2) and group C:(2.5 mg/kg b.w. CdCl_2 and D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol 2 mg/kg b.w.). Bone ash, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and zinc content, as well as bone histological changes were determined at the end of months 1, 2, and 3. Results : There were significant differences( P ≤ 0.05) in the weight of the cervical, tibia, and femoral bones in all groups. The serum concentration of CdCl_2 was significantly different across the three groups with time. There was significant variation( P < 0.005) in the mean bone ash across groups. The concentration of OH-proline was significantly different( P < 0.0001) across groups. There were significant differences( P < 0.0001) in bone calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus concentrations. Histology revealed high levels of bone mineralisation in the CdCl_2-treated group, indicative of osteoporosis with hypertrophied osteocytes, while the femur of Wistar rats treated with D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol showed bone trabeculae and viable osteocytes. Conclusion : The study concluded that D-3-O-methyl-chiroinositol extract from Piliostigma thionningii stem bark ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced osteoporosis in male Wistar rats.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFC2401800)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32301116)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(Grant No.2023 NSFSC0996).
文摘Collagen, recognized as the primary structural component of human skin, is essential for preserving dermal integrity and function. Its progressive depletion has been closely associated with structural deterioration of the dermis and the visible signs of skin aging. Among current therapeutic strategies, the injection of exogenous collagen has been established as an effective method for alleviating aging-related skin changes. In the present study, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to assess the injectability, cellular interactions, and photoaging repair efficacy of recombinant human collagen type III(RHC). The RHC solution was found to demonstrate favorable injectability and support the adhesion and chemotactic behavior of L929 cells, while also upregulating the expression of type I and type III collagen. In co-culture systems with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, RHC treatment suppressed macrophage proliferation and reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, suggesting notable immunomodulatory properties. Upon intradermal injection of RHC into photoaged rat skin, an increased density of dermal collagen fibers was observed, accompanied by a more organized and uniform fiber arrangement. Additionally, hydroxyproline content and the expressions of collagen I and III were markedly elevated in the RHC group compared with the control and hyaluronic acid groups. Collectively, these findings suggest that RHC holds considerable promise as a therapeutic agent for both medical and cosmetic purposes targeting the restoration and maintenance of youthful skin characteristics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32525049).
文摘Concerns about the long-term safety and efficacy of glibenclamide(GLIB),a type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)treatment,have been reported[1].Recent evidence indicates the gut microbiota composition significantly affects host glucose metabolism and drugbioavailability,increasingthe efficacy of T2DM therapy[2].In this context,probiotic-drug coadministration,an emerging adjunct approach for treating metabolic diseases,improves therapeutic outcomes and ameliorates side effects[3].
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program (2019YFA0110900 to G.F.,2018YFA0108500,2019YFA0110800 to W.L.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31621004 to Q.Z.and W.L.,81972633 to Y.Z.)+1 种基金CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research (YSBR-012 to W.L.)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA16030400 to W.L.).
文摘tsRNAs(tRNA-derived small RNAs),as products of the stress response,exert considerable influence on stress response and injury regulation.However,it remains largely unclear whether tsRNAs can ameliorate liver injury.Here,we demonstrate the roles of tsRNAs in alleviating liver injury by utilizing the loss of NSun2(NOP2/Sun domain family,member 2)as a tsRNAs-generating model.Mechanistically,the loss of NSun2 reduces methyluridine-U5(m^(5)U)and cytosine-C5(m^(5)C)of tRNAs,followed by the production of various tsRNAs,especially Class I tsRNAs(tRF-1s).Through further screening,we show that tRF-Gln-CTG-026(tG026),the optimal tRF-1,ameliorates liver injury by repressing global protein synthesis through the weakened association between TSR1(pre-rRNA-processing protein TSR1 homolog)and pre-40S ribosome.This study indicates the potential of tsRNA-reduced global protein synthesis in liver injury and repair,suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for liver injury.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81773973).
文摘Interleukin(IL)-6 is central to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).1 IL-6 receptor(IL-6R)blockade is an effective treatment strategy for RA based on the clinical efficacy of tocilizumab.However,serious infections are the most frequent adverse events associated with long-term monotherapy with tocilizumab,an exogenous biomacromolecule.2 Novel small-molecule IL-6R inhibitors with fewer deleterious side effects could therefore have potential as RA treatments.We previously identified chikusetsusaponin IVa butyl ester(CS)as a natural small-molecule IL-6R antagonist.3 Here,we assessed the effects of CS on a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)to evaluate its therapeutic potential against RA.The results showed that CS ameliorated arthritis in CIA mice by inhibiting T-helper 17(Th17)cell differentiation and could serve as a novel agent for treating RA.
文摘Herbal Medicines used to tonify Kidney and ameltorate the marrow microenvironmentwere applied in the treatment of 50 patients of aplastic anemia. Stanazol was also used to some cases.Forty-one cases (82. 0 % )responded well. It is significantly better than the 56. 5 % response among thosetreated with stanazol alone. Experimentally, the herbal medicines appear to stimulate hemopoietic pro-genitor cell proliferation, improve the marrow microenyironment and repair marrow damage induced bycyclophosphamide in vivo. The hemopoietic promoting effect might be partly due to the desialation of themarrow stroma cells. The herbal medicines also exert a positive effect on immune system by increasingleukocyte phagocytic activity and elevating the interleukin-2 production. Moreover , the decrease of super-oxide dismutase resulting from cyclophosphamide injection could be reversed by the use of the herbalmedicines. In conclusion, to tonify the Kidney and ameliorate marrow microenvironment medicines pro-duce broad biological results that are beneficial to the body.
文摘Streptococcus pneumoniae stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophagc to release tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in vitro. When penicillin was added into the medium with bacteria, TNFα release was accelerated. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, significantly attenuated TNFα release caused either by Streptococcus pneumoniae or by its lysates. In this experiment, 150 Kunming mice were infected with Streptococcus peumoniae through inspiration. Dynamic changes of TNFα concentration in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined, and pulmonary pathological changes were also observed. It was found that PTX significantly attenuated TNFα activity in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and inhibited white blood cell chemotaxis, emigration and infiltration. In conclusion, Streptococcus pneumoniae infection stimulates the release of TNFα which is probably the major mediater that causes tissue damage during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The mechanism is probably that Steptococcus pneumoniae and its lysates activate TNFα gene transcription. As penicillin accelerates TNFα release, treatment with penicillin alone may aggravate the tissue damage. Combined treatment with PTX may be more reasonable.
文摘Objective To investigate the effets of nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA)on the expression of IL-6,IL-17and TGF-βin mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE).Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG35-55 to induce EAE.The 54 mice were randomly and equally divided into control group,model group and treatment group.Mice in treatment
文摘The wettability of coarse-grained soils has been studied previously.However,soil drying in arid regions due to limited precipitation or irrigation has resulted in soil water repellency to some extent in fine-grained soils.In this study,laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of plane(Platanus orientalis L.)leaf biochar with fine(<0.1 mm)and coarse grains(0.1-0.5 mm)on the wettability of a silty clay soil irrigated with saline and non-saline water.Eleven rates of each biochar,ranging from 0 to 10%with 1%intervals,were investigated along with five ionic strengths of water,including 0,0.2,0.4,0.6,and 0.8 mol L^(-1),prepared using sodium and calcium chloride,which are two dominant salts in arid regions.The results showed that application of 5%-10%fine-grained biochar changed the soil hydrophobicity class from strongly to slightly water-repellent,while only 4%coarse-grained biochar was sufficient for the same change in soil wettability.Furthermore,the use of 10%coarse-grained biochar made the soil hydrophilic.The positive effect of plane leaf biochar on soil water repellency reduction was limited by water salinity.The sodium chloride solution was more effective in decreasing the soil wettability than calcium chloride solution and increased the demand for biochar for soil water repellency reduction.In conclusion,plane leaf biochar could be beneficial in managing the hydrophobicity of fine-grained soils.However,water quality as well as biochar particle size determined the quantity of biochar required for improving soil wettability.
文摘GP algorithm of correlation dimension computation is ameliorated which overcomes the shortage of traditional one. Improved process of GP algorithm takes the influence of temporal correlative pairs of points on correlation dimension into account and promotes the computational efficiency prominently. Iterative SVD method is applied to remove the influence of noise on the result of correlation dimension. The faults of steam flow turbulence and oil film disturbance which occur in 600 MW Steam Turbine Generator are analyzed and whose correlation dimensions are computed. More distinct quantitative index than FFT is gained to distinguish two faults and it’s of little importance to apply correlation dimension to study the influence of various factors on steam flow turbulence fault for nonexistence of convergent floor in correlation integral curve, which presents a new way to learn the operational function of large capacity steam turbine generator and carry out comprehensive condition monitoring.
文摘We chose a definition of heatwaves (HWs) that has ~4-year recurrence frequency at world hot spots. We first examined the 1940-2022 HWs climatology and trends in lifespan, severity, spatial extent, and recurrence frequency. HWs are becoming more frequent and more severe for extratropical mid- and low-latitudes. To euphemize HWs, we here propose a novel clean energy-tapping concept that utilizes the available nano-technology, micro-meteorology knowledge of temperature distribution within/without buildings, and radiative properties of earth atmosphere. The key points for a practical electricity generation scheme from HWs are defogging, insulation, and minimizing the absorption of infrared downward radiation at the cold legs of the thermoelectric generators. One sample realization is presented which, through relay with existing photovoltaic devices, provides all-day electricity supply sufficient for providing air conditioning requirement for a residence (~2000-watt throughput). The provision of power to air conditioning systems, usually imposes a significant stress on traditional city power grids during heatwaves.
