Search

Formononetin, an isoflavone compound, has been extensively researched due to its various biological activities, including a potent protective effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the impact of formononetin on cardiac fibrosis has not been investigated. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were used to establish cardiac fibrosis animal models by subcutaneous injecting of isoproterenol (ISO) and formononetin was orally administrated. The results showed that formononetin reversed ISO-induced heart stiffness revealed by early-to-atrial wave ratio (E/A ratio). Masson staining, western blot, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR exhibited that the cardiac fibrosis and fibrosis-related proteins (collage III, fibronectin, TGF-β1, α-SMA, and vimentin) and genes (Col1a1 , Col3a1 , Acta2 and Tgfb1) induced by ISO were significantly suppressed by formononetin. Furthermore, by combining metabolomics and network pharmacology, we found three important targets (ALDH2 , HADH , and MAOB), which are associated with mitochondrial function, were involved in the beneficial effect of formononetin. Further validation revealed that these three genes were more abundance in cardiomyocyte than in cardiac fibroblast. The mRNA expression of ALDH2 and HADH were decreased, while MOAB was increased in cardiomyocyte upon ISO treatment and these phenomena were reversed by formononetin. In addition, we investigated mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS production in cardiomyocytes, the results showed that formononetin effectively improved mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ISO. In summary, we demonstrated that formononetin via regulating the expressions of ALDH2 , HADH, and MAOB in cardiomyocyte to improve mitochondrial dysfunction and alleviate β-adrenergic activation cardiac fibrosis. [Display omitted] • Formononetin ameliorates cardiac fibrosis induced by ISO. • New mechanisms were discovered by combining metabolomics and network pharmacology. • Formononetin regulates the expressions of ALDH2, HADH, and MAOB in cardiomyocytes. • Formononetin regulates mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 100 surgical procedures have been reported to address recurrent patellar instability. Trochlear dysplasia is the most common finding among the anatomic risk factors for recurrent patellar instability. Various studies have shown that trochleoplasty combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction is an effective technique to treat recurrent patellar instability. Nevertheless, trochleoplasty is still a daunting procedure for surgeons because of its multiple and gloomy complications. This article introduces a technique to treat recurrent patellar instability with severe trochlear dysplasia: precise arthroscopic mini-trochleoplasty (PAM trochleoplasty) combined with medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. This technique precisely removes the supratrochlear spur and trochlear bump, accurately reshapes the trochlear sulcus with minimal invasion and less osteotomy volume, and keeps the sulcus cartilage intact. The purpose of this technique is to develop trochleoplasty into a common and safe technique, which has good outcomes and low complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The xylanase can be detected as a soluble form when fused with MBP and Nus tags. • Small ratio of cells expressing HRV3C protease removed the tags of the fusion proteins efficiently with co-fermentation and post-fermentation methods. • The ratio of co-fermentation is smaller. • The tags were cleaved precisely and endogenous protease of E. coli had no obvious non-specific degradation to the target protein. Abstract Human rhinovirus 3C protease (HRV 3C protease) is commonly used as a tool to remove fusion tags from recombinant proteins in gene engineering due to its distinguished specificity and high activity at low temperature. This paper is aimed to simplify the strategy of removing epitope tags from target proteins with HRV 3C protease. Fusion proteins composed of a xylanase from Bacillus sp. HBP8 (xylHB) and double tags (MBP/Nus and 6×His, with an HRV 3C protease recognition site between them) were applied as substrates. To perform the cleavage and purification, strains expressing HRV 3C protease and the substrates were mixed before (co-fermentation method) or after (post-fermentation method) inducing with IPTG, followed by cell disruption and incubation at 4℃, overnight for cleavage. The soluble cytoplasmic fraction was added to Ni-NTA resin to recover the cleaved target protein. Because the process was carried out in the cell lysate, it was named as cell lysate purification system based on HRV 3C protease (CLP3C). Our data indicated small number of cells expressing HRV 3C protease was enough to remove the fusion tags efficiently with both co-fermentation and post-fermentation methods. More importantly, the tags were cleaved precisely with no obvious non-specific degradation to the target protein. Hence, active xylanase was recovered easily with this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an effective design approach for quickly determining the specification, size and amount of components of a flexible rockfall protection barrier structure. The approach is based on a reliable numerical modelling validated by several experimental tests that include both component tests and full-scale impact tests. The interception structure made up of a steel wire-ring net is accurately investigated through a series of in-plane and out-of-plane quasi-static tests carried out on net specimens, to define the ring constitutive model and failure criterion. The accuracy of the numerical strategy for an overall barrier structure with nominal energy level of 1500 kJ is validated by a full-scale in-situ test including service energy level (SEL) and maximum energy level (MEL) impacts, according to the European guidelines. From the numerical models, it is inferred that the total energy of the impact is simultaneously dissipated in different ways, where the internal energy of the structure plays a significant role. The distribution of the absorbed energy among the different barrier components is explored and defined by means of the developed finite element model. Besides, the design values of the internal force in the ropes are derived with an adequate safety margin. The proposed design procedure, applied to a barrier structure with nominal energy level of 3500 kJ, is assessed by a full-scale impact test, proving that the design approach is reliable and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an ingredient of vaccines, adjuvants are indispensable for enhancing and directly inducing robust and extensive adaptive immune responses associated with vaccine antigens. In this study, we initially determined that a new molecular immunopotentiator, ophiopogonin D (OP-D), enhanced the antibody response to antigen. Because OP-D has certain disadvantages, including poor solubility, we next encapsulated OP-D in a nanoemulsion adjuvant (nanoemulsion-encapsulated OP-D, NOD) using low-energy emulsification methods. The NOD thus produced was small, with an average size of 76.45 nm, and exhibited good distribution (PdI value 0.16), significantly increasing the solubility of OP-D. Furthermore, NOD exhibited reduced cellular toxicity and acute toxicity. Our results showed that a fusion antigen of MRSA (HlaH 35L IsdB 348-465 ) formulated with NOD significantly improved humoral and cellular immune responses compared to those observed in the antigen/OP-D and antigen/AlPO 4 groups. Compared with antigen/OP-D, the antigen formulated with NOD more effectively promoted antigen uptake by dendritic cells (DCs) and the activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Moreover, the NOD-formulated antigen had ideal protective efficacy in a MRSA sepsis model by inducing more potent antibody responses and a Th1/Th17-biased CD4 + T cell immune response. Therefore, these results suggest that NOD is a promising and robust adjuvant platform for a MRSA vaccine. Statement of Significance We first identified a new powerful immunopotentiator, Ophiopogonin D, among dozens of natural products and then used nanotechnology to construct a highly efficient and low toxic adjuvant system (NOD). Our approach intersects natural medicinal chemistry, nanomaterials and immunology, revealing that a strong adjuvant activity of this adjuvant system was verified in vitro and in vivo, and the application of MRSA subunit vaccine model for survival experiments achieved a 100% protection rate. This research illustrate that NOD is a promising and robust adjuvant platform for subunit vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) negatively regulates adipocyte differentiation; however, the mechanism underlying its activity in mammals and birds remains poorly understood. To identify genome-wide KLF7-binding motifs in preadipocytes, we conducted a chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis of immortalized chicken preadipocytes (ICP2), which revealed 11,063 specific binding sites. Intergenic binding site analysis showed that KLF7 regulates several novel factors whose functions in chicken and mammal adipogenesis are underexplored. We identified a novel regulator, troponin I2 (TNNI2), which is positively regulated by KLF7. TNNI2 is downregulated during preadipocyte differentiation and acts as an adipogenic repressor at least in part by repressing FABP4 promoter activity. In conclusion, we demonstrated that KLF7 functions through cis -regulation of TNNI 2, which inhibits adipogenesis. Our findings not only provide the first genome-wide picture of KLF7 associations in preadipocytes but also identify a novel function of TNNI2. KLF7 regulates TNNI2 in preadipocyte differentiation. The transcription factor KLF7 may interact with PU.1 and binds to the 5′-flanking region (5′-GCGCCATGC-3′, −7772/−7,769) of TNNI2 , promoting TNNI2 expression. TNNI2 translocates to the nucleus, and as a transcription factor or nuclear receptor cofactor, reduces the promoter activity of FABP4 , which is a key factor in fatty acid accumulation, to inhibit preadipocyte differentiation. [Display omitted] • We for the first time identified genome-wide binding sites of KLF7 in preadipocytes. • KLF7 upregulates TNNI2 transcription in chicken preadipocytes. • TNNI2 is a nuclear protein in chicken preadipocytes. • TNNI2 inhibits preadipocyte differentiation by attenuating FABP4 promoter activity. • TNNI2 mediates the negative regulation of KLF7 in chicken adipogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Steam on the camera may happen in any arthroscopic procedure, especially in shoulder arthroscopy. Although multiple techniques and devices have been applied to avoid steam, it still cannot be prevented completely. We designed a simple device to terminate this problem by protecting against the ingress of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four types of commercial grade glass fiber reinforced thermoplastics (GFRP) were used in this study. Polymer matrices included polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6). The contents of GF were 10%, 20% and 40%. The GFRP were fabricated to dumbbell specimens by injection molding machine. Tensile strength of the GFRP composites was carried out by tensile testing. Theoritical caluculation of interfacial shear strenght was analyzed using a modified rule of hybrid maixture (MRoHM) strength equation according to the orientation and direction of glass fiber reinforcing. The fiber orientation was characterized from the fractured surface observation by scanning electron microscope and optical microscope. The tensile strength of GFRP composites increased with incresing glass fiber contents. However, the declination of tensile strength from the prediction was attributed to the reduction of glass fibers length and fiber orientation in GFRP composites. It is interesting to report that the interfacial shear strength of GFRP composites was calulated according to the MroHM and the Kelly-Tyson model, which the interfacial shear strength of the composites increased with incresing glass fiber contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated that the graphite felt anodized by NaOH, NH 4 HCO 3 , or H 2 SO 4 aqueous, and then as the cathode materials for in-situ hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) production and its employed for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation via Electro-Fenton (EF) process. At −0.60 V (vs. SCE), after 120 min electrolysis, the H 2 O 2 yield by graphite felt which anodized by 0.2 M H 2 SO 4 achieved up 110.5 mg L−1 in 0.05 M Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte. Compared with the raw graphite felt used for cathode, the H 2 O 2 yield increased by 15.85 times under the same conditions. The results of Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that graphite felt anodized by H 2 SO 4 solution can be achieved the highest defect degree. For the degradation of RhB, the cathode which anodized by H 2 SO 4 solution has the highest removal rate. For the degradation rate of RhB, the effect of applied current density, Fe2+ ions concentration, pH value were investigated. In addition, suggested that the efficient Fe3+ reduction reaction on the cathode surface was an important reason of the high efficiency of RhB degradation. 5-times continuous runs indicated that the modified cathode has remarkable stability and reusability during the EF process. [Display omitted] • Graphite felt modified by anodic oxidation used for the cathode of Electro-Fenton technology. • Modification significantly improved the yield of H 2 O 2 and the degradation rate of RhB. • The effect of solution types of electrolyte on graphite felt modification was studied. • Investigated the effect factors of current density, Fe2+ concentration, pH for RhB removal rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]