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Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising technique for brackish water desalination. However, its salt electrosorption capacity is insufficient for practical application yet, and little information is available on hardness ion (Mg2+, Ca2+) removal in CDI. Herein, hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) was prepared from low-cost and renewable microalgae via a simple one-pot approach, and both MnO2/HPC and polyaniline/HPC (PANI/HPC) composites were then synthesized using a facile, one-step hydrothermal method. Compared with the MnO2 electrode, the MnO2/HPC electrode presented an improved hydrophilicity, higher specific capacitance, and lower electrode resistance. The electrodes exhibited pseudocapacitive behaviors, and the maximum salt electrosorption capacities of MnO2/HPC-PANI/HPC CDI cell was up to 0.65 mmol g−1 NaCl, 0.71 mmol g−1 MgCl2, and 0.76 mmol g−1 CaCl2, respectively, which were comparable and even higher than those of the previously reported CDI cells. Additionally, the MnO2/HPC electrode presented a selectivity order of Ca2+ ≥ Mg2+ > Na+, and the divalent cation selectivity was found to be attributed to their stronger binding strength in the cavity of MnO2. Multiscale simulations further reveal that the MnO2/HPC electrodes with the unique luminal configuration of MnO2 and HPC as supportive framework could offer a great intercalation selectivity of the divalent cations and exhibit a great promise in hardness ion removal.

Al2O3-based self-lubricating ceramics are cutting tool materials that meet the extreme working conditions of dry cutting. However, due to the soft lubricating components, the mechanical properties of composites are dramatically reduced. In this paper, Al2O3-cBN-hBN self-lubricating material was designed. High density, fine grain ceramics were synthesized by high-pressure technology. The influence of thermodynamic condition, cBN/hBN addition on mechanical and thermal properties of sintered composites was analyzed. Friction and wear tests were carried out. It is found that the addition of cBN particles can significantly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. However, the truss effect caused by excessive volume fraction of cBN can reduce the pressure transfer efficiency, and then affect the properties of sintered composites. The different hBN content can change the wear mechanism of the composites. The release efficiency of hBN particles in composites was enhanced due to the large modulus difference between cBN and hBN. The well-sintered Al2O3-cBN-hBN bulks present an excellent mechanical property. The hardness of the composites is improved at least by 54% compared with the traditional self-lubricating material on the premise of ensuring fracture toughness and lubrication performance.

A broad tunability of the thermoelectric and mechanical properties of CoSb3 has been demonstrated by adjusting the composition with the addition of an increasing number of elements. However, such a strategy may negatively impact processing repeatability and composition control. In this work, single-element-filled skutterudite is engineered to have high thermoelectric and mechanical performances. Increased Yb filling fraction is found to increase phonon scattering, whereas cryogenic grinding contributes additional microstructural scattering. A peak zT of 1.55 and an average zT of about 1.09, which is comparable to the reported results of multiple-filled SKDs, are realized by the combination of simple composition and microstructure engineering. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of Yb single-filled CoSb3 skutterudite are improved by manipulation of the microstructure through cryogenic grinding. These findings highlight the realistic prospect of producing high-performance thermoelectric materials with reduced compositional complexity. Keywords: Skutterudites, Thermoelectric material, Compositional complexity, Microstructure engineering, Cryogenic grinding

In this study, a novel fluorine-containing carbon nanosphere was synthesized by high-temperature carbonization of waste fluororubber trimmings, and its mixing method with fluororubber was investigated. It was found that the solution mixing method resulted in the highest tensile strength (7.6 %) and modulus at 100 % strain (13.3 %) of fluororubber compared to the mechanical mixing method. Furthermore, the addition of fluorine-containing carbon nanosphere can significantly enhance fluororubber's heat resistance, inhibit its thermal degradation, and increase its ultimate service temperature (266.3 °C, 2 years). This work provides new insights into the preparation of high-performance fluororubber composites.

Background: While numerous studies have examined the influence of perineural dexamethasone on nerve block duration, its potential impact on postoperative nerve injury has not been adequately addressed. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the effect of perineural dexamethasone on nerve injury and nerve function recovery after surgery. Design: A prospective randomized double-blinded trial. Setting: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China. The study was conducted between 14 June and 30 December 2022. Participants: Patients aged 18 – 80 years, ASA I - II, scheduled for elective orthopedic or burn and plastic surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either perineural dexamethasone (D group) or no dexamethasone (ND group). Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were the incidence and recovery of nerve injury. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, and adverse events. Results: Initial postoperative nerve injury rates were similar between groups (D: 30.4 %, ND: 33.3 %, P > 0.05). At 12 weeks post-discharge, significantly more patients in the ND group recovered from nerve deficits (78.8 % vs 60.3 %; OR = 2.45, 95 % CI = 1.05 – 5.72, P

Fluororubber (FKM) is an irreplaceable sealing material that plays a critical role in new energy vehicles, petrochemical and aerospace industries. Their broad applications arise from the excellent thermal stability and solvent resistance of fluororubber. Despite there are increasing number of reports on preparation methods, properties and characterization of FKM in literature, there is still a lack of a thorough and comprehensive review that summarizes these results. This paper provides an overview of FKM types, preparation methods, property testing and microscopic characterization, and attempts to give a comprehensive introduction to the vulcanization mechanism of FKM using ternary fluororubber. The mechanical mixing method was identified as the most versatile preparation method in the review, but it is susceptible to causing agglomeration of nanomaterials. Furthermore, different vulcanization systems and reinforcing fillers can be chosen based on the application direction of FKM. Carbon nanomaterials with high inherent strength have the best reinforcing effect on FKM, although they also exhibit the most significant self-agglomeration effect. This can be mitigated through synergistic use of fillers of multiple dimensions and interfacial modification in future research. Additionally, current challenges and future prospects for FKM nanocomposites are also discussed.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a pathogen that induces chronic respiratory illnesses in chickens, leading to tracheal and lung injury, and eliciting immune reactions that support sustained colonization. Baicalin, a compound found in scutellaria baicalensis, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. This study aimed to investigate the potential of baicalin in alleviating lung and cell damage caused by MG by restoring imbalances in M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 differentiation and to explore its underlying mechanism. In this research, a model for M1/M2 polarization induced by MG was initially developed. Specifically, infection with MG at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 400 for 6 h represented the M1 model, while infection for 10 h represented the M2 model. The polarization markers were subsequently validated using qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot analysis. Baicalin disrupts the activation of M1 cells induced by MG and has the potential to restore the balance between M1 and M2 cells, thereby mitigating the inflammatory damage resulting from MG. Subsequent studies on MG-infected chickens detected imbalances in M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 differentiation in alveolar lavage fluid, as well as imbalances in macrophages and Th cells in the lung. The M1/Th1 model was exposed to MG for 5 d, while the M2/Th2 model was infected with MG for 7 d. The utilization of both light and electron transmission microscopes revealed that the administration of baicalin resulted in a reduction in the number of M1 cells, a decrease in cytoplasmic vacuoles, restoration of mitochondrial swelling and chromatin agglutination, as well as alleviation of alveolar rupture and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, baicalin restored MG-induced M1/M2 and Th1/Th2 imbalances and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and p65 proteins, thereby hindering the activation of the TLR4-p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway. This study provides insights into the potential long-term effects of baicalin in MG infection and offers a theoretical basis for practical applications.

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of a nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating and a conventional Yb2SiO5 coating, both prepared using atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The investigation focused on the phase composition, microstructure, thermal properties, and fracture toughness of the two types of Yb2SiO5 coatings. The findings revealed that both nanostructured and conventional coatings consisted of Yb2SiO5, Yb2O3, and amorphous phases. The nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating exhibited lower residual tensile stress compared to the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating, resulting in fewer crack defects in the former. The thermal conductivity of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating ranged from 0.71 to 1.22 W/(m·K) between 200 and 1200 °C, while the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating exhibited a thermal conductivity range of 0.81–1.32 W/(m·K) within the same temperature range. Consequently, the thermal conductivity of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating was lower than that of the conventional counterpart. Furthermore, the presence of nanograins significantly enhanced the fracture toughness of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating, which was found to be 1.7 times greater than that of the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating.

Obtaining cemented carbides with smaller WC grain size and better properties is key to their wider application. Ultrafine cemented carbides were prepared by using spark plasma sintering (SPS) with nano VC-Cr3C2 as nanocomposite grain growth inhibitors (NGGIs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as reinforcing materials. The effects of NGGIs and MWCNTs on the microstructure and mechanical properties of alloys were evaluated. The results indicated that the specimens (0.5 wt % NGGIs and 0.4 wt % MWCNTs) prepared at 1350 °C for 8 min under a pressure of 50 MPa have enhanced mechanical properties (HV 2520.85 kgf/mm2, KIC 13.26 MPa m1/2) and a homogeneous microstructure. The grain size of WC is suppressed (the average grain size is 200–400 nm). NGGIs can prevent the dissolution of W and C in liquid Co, thereby inhibiting the growth of WC grains. The uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in WC matrix mobilizes their fiber-reinforcement effect. The combination of NGGIs, MWCNTs, and SPS can improve the mechanical properties and optimize the microstructure of the alloy.

Ductile cast iron pipes (DCIPs) are widely utilized in water and gas supply due to their exceptional mechanical and material properties. Quality control during production is paramount for optimal performance, with surface defect detection being of utmost importance. Currently, production sites primarily rely on manual visual inspection, which presents several challenges, including high labor intensity, low efficiency, and subjectivity in defect judgment. 2D detection algorithms based on single images struggle to effectively detect small defects such as pores, pinholes, and scratches, resulting in high missed detection rates and vulnerability to interference from oil and water stains. To address these issues, this paper proposes a symmetrical twin-light photometric stereo (TLPS) detection algorithm based on photometric stereo theory, and image correction algorithm for mitigating the effects of ambient light. A visual inspection prototype system was designed and successfully implemented at a production site. The system comprises eight visual inspection units, each equipped with a high-speed line scan camera and two bar light sources for image acquisition of moving DCIP. Under the Lambertian model and parallel light source assumption, the gradient expression in the texture direction of the DCIP surface is derived based on light source symmetry. Production experiment results demonstrate that the gradient map obtained through the proposed TLPS effectively enhances defect contrast and accurately detects and locates micro defects such as pores, pinholes, and scratches on cast pipe surfaces. This verifies the effectiveness of the TLPS algorithm, addresses the shortcomings of traditional 2D detection algorithms, and lays the foundation for subsequent online detection of DCIP surface defects.

In view of the importance of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as a clinical diagnostic indicator of related diseases and physiological research, developing a reliable measurement assay with high efficiency and accuracy is of tremendous value. In this study, bifunctional carbon dots (CDs) with peroxidase-like and fluorescence properties were synthesized through a readily available solvothermal method. Peroxidase-like CDs could oxidaze colorless 1,4-phenylenediamine (PPD) to the colored oxidized product (oxPPD), which quenched the CDs' fluorescence. A multi-signal sensing system was strategically fabricated for detecting ALP for the first time, taking advantage of CDs' remarkable peroxidase-mimic activity and fluorescence properties. The limits of detection (LOD) and linear ranges for ALP was 0.034 and 0.027 U/L, 0.1 to 1.8 and 0.05 to 1.8 U/L by the colorimetric and fluorescent method, respectively. Besides, the results of hydrogel devices processed by smartphones also exhibited satisfactory results. The multi-signal strategy developed in this study provides a new impetus for designing different biosensors with bifunctional nanomaterials.

Summary: Protein lysine crotonylation has been recently identified as a vital posttranslational modification in cellular processes, particularly through the modification of histones. We show that lysine crotonylation is an important modification of the cytoplastic and mitochondria proteins. Enzymes in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, fatty acid metabolism, glutamine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, the urea cycle, one-carbon metabolism, and mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics are found to be extensively crotonylated in pancreatic cancer cells. This modulation is mainly controlled by a pair of crotonylation writers and erasers including CBP/p300, HDAC1, and HDAC3. The dynamic crotonylation of metabolic enzymes is involved in metabolism regulation, which is linked with tumor progression. Interestingly, the activation of MTHFD1 by decrotonylation at Lys354 and Lys553 promotes the development of pancreatic cancer by increasing resistance to ferroptosis. Our study suggests that crotonylation represents a metabolic regulatory mechanism in pancreatic cancer progression.

Summary: Droplets directionally bouncing off moving superhydrophobic solid surfaces are universal in nature and are crucial in many biological, sustainable, environmental, and engineering applications. However, their underlying physics and regulation strategies remain relatively unknown. This paper demonstrates that the maximum directional acceleration of a post-impact droplet mainly occurs in the spreading stage and that the orientational velocity of the droplet mainly originates in the early impingement process. Furthermore, it clarifies the underlying physics based on momentum transfer process imposed by the boundary layer of impacts and proposes a strategy for regulating the directional droplet velocity using a comprehensive formula. Finally, it shows that directional bouncing reduces the flight momentum of a small flying device by 10%–22%, and the experimental values agree closely with the predicted values. This study reveals the droplet bounce orientation mechanism imposed by moving substrates, provides manipulation methods, and makes positive and meaningful discussions of practical applications.

An overview of recent developments of flame-retardant nylon 6 and nylon 66 is presented in this paper. The research of flame-retardant composites is mainly through adding flame-retardant elements to nylon molecules, which can be divided into physical addition and chemical addition. Each of these two methods has its advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, according to the different addition methods and flame-retardant mechanism of various flame-retardants, the flame-retardant properties of phosphorus flame-retardants, nitrogen flame-retardants, bio based flame-retardants and synergistic systems, as well as their effects on the mechanical properties of flame-retardant composites have been critically reviewed and summarized. This review will objectively explore and give new direction for the development of the flame-retardant nylon materials, which would be more accessible to the emerging field of materials science.

To manipulate the mechanical properties of fluororubber (FKM) composites, aminated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-A) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were introduced to synergistically create additional crosslinking between the FKM networks. Effects of the improved crosslinking on the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of the FKM composites were systematically investigated in this research. The results showed that additional linkages were created due to the interactions between FKM and MWCNT-A and between MWCNT-A and RGO, resulting the thus-prepared FKM/MWCNT-A/RGO composites with excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Compared with the pristine FKM composite, the tensile strength, modulus at 100% strain, hardness, thermal and electrical conductivity of the FKM/MWCNT-A/RGO composite exhibited great increment of 43.8%, 656.3%, 34.5%, 30.3% and eight orders of magnitude, respectively. This research demonstrates that the construction of additional crosslinking with nanofillers represents an effective and promising route for a more broad range of industrial applications of FKM.

A novel tetranuclear copper complex (TCC) has been successfully synthesized and characterized using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray single crystal diffraction technique. TCC was capable of triggering by Glutathione (GSH) to produce Cu (Ⅰ), then the resulted Cu (Ⅰ) further converted the overexpression of endogenous H2O2 into •OH, a highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby killing the cancer cells. TCC showed high cytotoxicity to 4T1, MCF7, HepG2 cancer cells. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of TCC to non-cancerous cells is much lower than that of cancer cells. Cell cycle experiments demonstrated that TCC was capable of arresting the cancer cell cycle in the G2/M phase. The apoptosis experiments shown that TCC could induce apoptosis rather than necrosis.

Summary: Core structures with linear, planar, and spiral conformations have been designed as triphenylamine (TPA)-based hole-transporting materials (HTMs), which are the most prevalent small molecular HTMs in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, most of the reported TPA-based HTMs cannot achieve sufficient balance between efficiency and stability, which is governed by core structures. Herein, a sym-penta(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)aniline)corannulene (cor-OMePTPA) featuring a corannulene core and five TPA peripheral arms is designed as alternative HTM. Planar negative-intrinsic-positive (n-i-p) PSCs with cor-OMePTPA exhibit champion efficiencies of 20% and maintain 86% of their initial performances for more than 1,000 h after thermal annealing at 60°C. Compared with spiro-OMeTAD, cor-OMePTPA-based PSCs show slightly lower efficiencies but much better thermal stabilities. The main merit of cor-OMePTPA lies in its bimolecular interpenetration capability with noncovalent interactions to modulate the HTM configurations from single-molecular curvature to bimolecular planarity, thereby providing promising opportunities to achieve excellent balance between efficiency and stability.

Summary: Sodium-ion batteries are emerging energy storage and conversion devices for a sustainable and clean society. The performance of sodium-ion batteries can be reasonably boosted through structural engineering of electrode materials. Herein, different structural engineering strategies for typical electrode materials are clearly classified and introduced. For different types of electrode materials, emphasis is put on structural design and/or modification, both of which are presented in detail. The roles and effects of effective strategies are systematically summarized and prospected at the end. It is expected to provide a whole picture and insight into the structural design and modification of various electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries that can be extended to other metal-ion batteries.

A selective aerobic oxidative cleavage of CC bond is developed with black nickel oxide (NiOx) as the catalyst. For the oxidation of 1-phenyl-1, 2-ethanediol, a 97.5% conversion in 96.7% selectivity of benzaldehyde is obtained under 0.3 MPa of O2 at 140 °C for 3 h. The relationship between the catalytic performance of NiOx and structure is discussed. It is concluded that the existence of Ni3+ should be crucial to the activity of catalyst. Moreover, the recycling experiments showed that the catalyst can retain a high activity even after being reused for five times.

A Twice-FFT demodulation method for signal distortion state is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in an optical fiber Fabry-Perot (FP) acoustic sensor. Here the fiber FP acoustic sensor element is build with fiber end face and combination of diaphragms which is composed of a small round aluminum foil and a polymer PET film. The hypotenuse intensity demodulation method is applied to acquire the acoustic signal in time domain assisted with a Photodetector (PD) and an oscilloscope. The first Fast Fourier transform (FFT) processing results show harmonic distortion on the frequency domain spectrum. To demodulate the acoustic frequency and amplitude information, twice-FFT processing is preformed. Experimental results reveal an accuracy up to 95.6% of acoustic signal in the frequency range 2–100 Hz. Our scheme provides a new option for signal demodulation of optical fiber acoustic sensors (OFAS).

Background: β-adrenergic activation is able to exacerbate cardiac hypertrophy. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and its phosphorylated substrate, phospho-myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC2), play vital roles in regulating cardiac hypertrophy. However, it is not yet clear whether there is a relationship between β-adrenergic activation and MLCK in the progression of cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we explored this relationship and the underlying mechanisms in this work. Methods: Cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were induced by pressure overload and isoproterenol (ISO) stimulation, respectively. Echocardiography, histological analysis, immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR were used to confirm the successful establishment of the models. A β-blocker (metoprolol) and a calpain inhibitor (calpeptin) were administered to inhibit β-adrenergic activity in rats and calpain in cardiomyocytes, respectively. The protein expression levels of MLCK, myosin light chain 2 (MLC2), p-MLC2, myosin phosphatase 2 (MYPT2), calmodulin (CaM) and calpain were measured using western blotting. A cleavage assay was performed to assess the degradation of recombinant human MLCK by recombinant human calpain. Results: The β-blocker alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, increased MLCK and MLC2 phosphorylation and decreased calpain expression in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, the calpain inhibitor calpeptin attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, upregulated MLCK and p-MLC2 and reduced MLCK degradation in ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Recombinant human calpain degraded recombinant human MLCK in vitro in concentration- and time-dependent manners, and this degradation was inhibited by the calpain inhibitor calpeptin. Conclusion: Our study suggested that β-adrenergic activation may promote the degradation of MLCK through calpain in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Summary: Metal organic framework (MOF) derivatives have been extensively used as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. However, the utilization of active sites is still not satisfactory owing to the sluggish mass transport within their narrow pore channels. Herein, interconnected macroporous channels were constructed inside MOFs-derived Co-Nx-C electrocatalyst to unblock the mass transfer barrier. The as-synthesized electrocatalyst exhibits a honeycomb-like morphology with highly exposed Co-Nx-C active sites on carbon frame. Owing to the interconnected ordered macropores throughout the electrocatalyst, these active sites can smoothly “exhale/inhale” reactants and products, enhancing the accessibility of active sites and the reaction kinetics. As a result, the honeycomb-like Co-Nx-C displayed a potential difference of 0.773 V between the oxygen evolution reaction potential at 10 mA cm−2 and the oxygen reduction reaction half-wave potential, much lower than that of bulk-Co-Nx-C (0.842 V). The rational modification on porosity makes such honeycomb-like MOF derivative an excellent bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst in rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

Background: Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix (PCRR; the root and rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc) has long been used to treat atherosclerosis, gastrointestinal disorders, and liver disease. However, the underlying mechanism of PCRR against liver steatosis remains unclear. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the potential therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of PCRR in improving liver steatosis. Methods: A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced simple steatosis model in rats was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of polyphenol-rich water extract from PCRR. Its underlying mechanisms were revealed using untargeted mass spectrometry-based serum metabolomics, hepatic lipidomic profiling approaches, qPCR, and Western blotting assays. Results: Our study showed that PCRR-treated rats displayed significant reduction of serum TC and LDL-C, hepatic TG, TC levels, and total liver lipid content under a HFD feeding condition. Untargeted metabolomics showed that PCRR significantly restored the overall levels of nine lipid classes in liver tissues and elevated the bile acid levels in the serum samples. We demonstrated that PCRR prevented HFD-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating the expressions of TG metabolism proteins, including p-AMPK, p-ACC, PPARα, and FAS, as well as the expressions of TC metabolism proteins, including p-AMPK, LDLR, and CYP7A1. Moreover, resveratrol and/or polydatin­-derived metabolites were solely detected in the serum samples of the PCRR-treated group, indicating these microbial transformed metabolites might partly contribute to the beneficial effects of PCRR. Conclusion: PCRR can be employed as a therapeutic agent to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via regulating lipid metabolism.

This study aims at examining the hypolipidemic effect of piceatannol on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hypercholesterolemic Sprague-Dawley rats and serum metabolite changes. Piceatannol supplement significantly lowered the total cholesterols, low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the atherogenic index as compared to the HFD model which only have increased dietary cholesterol intake. Using untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomic platforms, multivariate statistics revealed that HFD significantly perturbed fatty acids, lysophospholipids, bile acids and conjugated bile acids. Reduced CYP7A1 protein expression and increase in glycocholate and taurodeoxycholate after piceatannol treatment suggested the conjugated bile acid might contribute to the cholesterol-lowering effect. For lipid profiles, lysoPC (20:2) and lysoPC (20:0) were decreased while the ratio of esterified arachidonic acid to esterified dihomo-γ linoleic acid was up-regulated for rats after piceatannol supplement. These results indicated that the therapeutic effect of piceatannol is associated with bile acid and fatty acid metabolisms and reduced absorption of dietary cholesterols.

Lycium barbarum fruit (Goji or wolfberry) is widely used as a functional food as well as an herb in Chinese medicine. The polysaccharides of L. barbarum (LBPs) are well-known for immunomodulation and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the yields, properties and bioactivities of LBPs extracted from L. barbarum fruit by different methods including hot water (HWE 100 °C), ultrasonic water (UWE 30–40 °C), subcritical water (SWE 110 °C), and ultrasound-enhanced subcritical water extraction (USWE 110 °C). The total LBP yield (80 min extraction followed by ethanol precipitation) was the highest from USWE (14% w/w) and the lowest from HWE (7.6%). The LBP from USWE also showed the highest protein (27.9%) and phenolic content (5.3%, w/w), and the highest antioxidant activities (scavenging radicals by DPPH and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays; ferric reducing power). It also showed the highest immunoactivities in activating the phagocytosis and NO production of RAW264.7 macrophages. USWE was proven the most efficient method for extraction of LBPs. Temperature and ultrasound were two chief factors affecting the extraction yield, chemical properties and bioactivities of LBP.

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are major active constituents of P. notoginseng. This study investigated the mechanisms of the hypocholesterolaemic and atheroscleroprotective effects of PNS. It was found that treatment of PNS (30 or 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) could significantly reduce elevated serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index induced by feeding rats with high cholesterol diet for 28 days. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol could also be increased by PNS treatment. Additionally, PNS significantly enhanced the hypercholesterolaemia-induced reduction of superoxide dismutase activity in the liver. In hypercholesterolaemic rats, PNS significantly improved the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, acetylcholine-induced nitric oxide production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. It also significantly reversed the hypercholesterolaemia-induced changes in mRNA expressions of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α but not HMG-CoA reductase. The findings provided evidence for using PNS to prevent the development of hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis. The hypocholesterolaemic activity of PNS is likely to be resulted from inducing the biosynthesis of bile acids from cholesterol and promoting the β-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver. The vasoprotective function of PNS may be brought about by increasing the gene expression of eNOS in endothelial cells, its antioxidative activity, or both.

Consumption of functional foods for managing plasma cholesterol level has gained acceptance globally. The hypocholesterolaemic and vascular protective effects of the dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida, hawthorn (Shan Zha), were investigated in rats fed with normal diet, high cholesterol diet (HCD) or HCD plus Shan Zha 80% ethanolic extract treatment (30 or 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 4 weeks. Shan Zha extract markedly reversed the increased plasma total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol induced by HCD with a dose-dependent improvement on the atherogenic index. It also demonstrated good hepatoprotective function by reducing lipid content in the liver. The blunted endothelium-mediated aortic relaxation in HCD-fed rats was restored by high dosage of Shan Zha extract treatment. The current results showed that Shan Zha extract could provide its cholesterol lowering effect by up-regulating hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA expression which leads to enhanced bile acid biosynthesis. It is postulated that the hypocholesterolaemic effect is the primary beneficial effect given by Shan Zha extract; it then leads to other secondary beneficial effects such as vascular protective and hepatoprotective functions. Thus, Shan Zha extract could provide an overall improvement on the hepatic and vascular systems that may be important in relieving hypercholesterolaemia-related complications.

Gui-ling-gao (GLG), also known as turtle jelly, is a popular medicinal Chinese health/functional food prepared from several traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The present study aimed at examining and explaining the anti-inflammatory properties of GLG by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in splenocytes isolated from BALB/c mice. Additionally, the effects of GLG on mRNA and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot assays. We demonstrated that GLG significantly inhibited LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. LPS-mediated up-regulations in the gene and protein expressions of iNOS, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were suppressed by GLG. These findings suggest for the first time that GLG exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of iNOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α. The current study provides strong scientific evidence for the health-beneficial claim that consumption of GLG could help the body to modulate the immune system.

The hypocholesterolemic and atheroscleroprotective potentials of dietary consumption of hawthorn (dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida, Shan Zha) were investigated by monitoring plasma lipid profiles and aortic relaxation in Sprague–Dawley rats fed with either normal diet, high-cholesterol diet (HCD) or HCD supplemented with hawthorn powder (2%, w/w) (4 weeks). In HCD-fed rats, an increased plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with a decreased HDL-cholesterol was observed, and consumption of hawthorn markedly suppressed the elevated total cholesterol and LDL-lipoprotein levels plus an increased HDL-cholesterol level. The blunted acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated aortas of HCD-fed rats was improved by hawthorn. The development of fatty liver, an increased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and an elevated oxidative stress (as estimated by the attenuated levels of anti-oxidant enzymes) associated with HCD were attenuated by hawthorn. Thus, the results demonstrated that hawthorn consumption provides overall beneficial effects on reversing HCD associated detrimental changes.

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural polyphenolic compound that exists in Polygonum cuspidatum, grapes, peanuts and berries, as well as their manufactured products, especially red wine. Resveratrol is a pharmacologically active compound that interacts with multiple targets in a variety of cardiovascular disease models to exert protective effects or induce a reduction in cardiovascular risks parameters. This review attempts to primarily serve to summarize the current research findings regarding the putative cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and the molecular pathways underlying these effects. One intent is to hopefully provide a relatively comprehensive resource for clues that may prompt ideas for additional mechanistic studies which might further elucidate and strengthen the role of the stilbene family of compounds in cardiovascular disease and cardioprotection. Model systems that incorporate a significant functional association with tissues outside of the cardiovascular system proper, such as adipose (cell culture, obesity models) and pancreatic (diabetes) tissues, were reviewed, and the molecular pathways and/or targets related to these models and influenced by resveratrol are discussed. Because the body of work encompassing the stilbenes and other phytochemicals in the context of longevity and the ability to presumably mitigate a plethora of afflictions is replete with conflicting information and controversy, especially so with respect to the human response, we tried to remain as neutral as possible in compiling and presenting the more current data with minimal commentary, permitting the reader free reign to extract the knowledge most helpful to their own investigations., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hypercholesterolemia is a dominant risk factor for the development and progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Natural compounds have been proved to be useful in lowering serum cholesterol to slow down the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Pueraria lobata is employed clinically to treat cardiovascular diseases in China. In the present study, the atheroscleroprotective potential of the herb's major active compound, puerarin, was investigated by monitoring serum lipid profile and major enzyme expressions on cholesterol homeostasis in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with control diet, hypercholesterolmic diet or hypercholesterolmic diet plus administration of puerarin (300 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 4 weeks. Puerarin markedly attenuated the increased total cholesterol induced by hypercholesterolmic diet in both serum and liver. It caused a significant reduction in the atherogenic index. Expression of mRNA for hepatic 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) was significantly enhanced but not for those of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51). To further explore the atheroscleroprotective potential of puerarin, acetylcholine induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression on isolated thoracic aortas were analyzed. Animals administered with puerarin suppressed the hypercholesterolemic diet induced impairment of eNOS expression, whereas there was no significant difference in the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation among various groups of animals. These data indicated that puerarin reduced the atherogenic properties of dietary cholesterol in rats. Its hypocholesterolemic function may be due to the promotion of cholesterol and bile acids excretion in liver. Whether puerarin targets directly on cholesterol homeostasis or both cholesterol homeostasis and endothelial function remains to be determined.