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Ethnopharmacological relevance Anti-inflammatory effects of Angelica dahurica (AD) have been reported in previous studies. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of AD on periodontitis. Materials and methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7 weeks (n=7) were subjected to ligature around bilateral mandibular first molars. 1 and 100 mg/mL of AD were topically applied to first molars for 14 days. Histological changes were observed in gingival epithelial layer, and the thickness of the gingival epithelial layer as well as the number of epithelial cells were quantified. To investigate the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in gingival tissues, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed. To confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of AD, pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines and NF-kB, COX-2, and iNOS were analyzed in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Results Topical application of AD attenuated not only the thickness of epithelial layer, also the number of epithelial cells in gingival tissue. The expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ in gingiva were significantly reduced by AD treatment. Additionally, the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-γ mRNA were inhibited by AD in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Furthermore, AD treatment decreased LPS-induced elevation of NF-κB, COX-2 and iNOS protein levels in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion Taken together, AD application ameliorated the hyperplasia of gingival epithelial layer by down-regulating pro-inflammatory mediators. AD might have therapeutic potentials for periodontal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Zanthoxylum piperitum (ZP) has been used to prevent toothache in East Asia. Aim of study In this study, we investigated the effects of ZP on periodontitis along with alveolar bone loss. Materials and methods Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 4 groups; non-ligated (NOR), ligated and treated vehicle (CTR), ligated and treated 1 mg/mL ZP (ZP1), and ligated and treated 100 mg/mL ZP (ZP100). Sterilized 3-0 nylon ligature was placed into the subgingival sulcus around the both sides of mandibular first molar. After topical application of 1 and 100 mg/mL ZP for 2 weeks, mandibles was removed for histology. In addition, SaOS-2 osteoblast cells were treated 1, 10 and 100 μg/mL ZP for 24 h to analyze the expressions of alveolar bone-related markers. Results Several alveolar bone resorption pits, which indicate cementum demineralization were decreased by ZP treatment. Topical ZP treatment inhibited periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss. In addition, there were significant reduction of osteoclastic activities following topical ZP treatment in periodontium. The expression of RANKL was decreased in SaOS-2 osteoblast cells by treating ZP, while that of OPG was increased. ZP treatment increased the expressions of Runx2 and Osterix in SaOS-2 cells. Conclusion In summary, ZP treatment inhibited alveolar bone loss as well as maintained the integrity of periodontal structures via regulation of bone remodeling. ZP may be a therapeutic target for treating periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Spirodela polyrhiza has been used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of urticarial, acute nephritis, inflammation, as well as skin disease. Aim of study Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized hyperplasia of skin lesion and increase of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level. In this study, the topical effects of S. polyrhiza (SP) on 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mice model were investigated by several experiments. Materials and methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups as NOR, CON, DEX, SP 1, and SP 100 groups ( n =5, respectively). To induce atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions, DNCB had been applied on shaved dorsal skin. SP was topically treated to DNCB-induced mice as 1 and 100 mg/mL concentrations. Histological changes were showed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and the infiltration of mast cells was detected by toluidine blue staining. In addition, the level of IgE and each cytokines were measured and expressions of inflammatory signaling factors were analyzed by western blotting assay. Results SP treatment improved a hyperplasia of epidermis and dermis in DNCB-induced AD-like skin lesion. The infiltration of mast cells was also decreased by treatment of SP. In addition, SP reduced the level of IgE in serum and attenuated the secretion of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Treatment of SP also inhibited the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphor-IκB-α, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)s. Conclusions From these data, we propose that SP ameliorates AD via modulation of pro-inflammatory mediators. SP may have the potential to be used as an alternative for treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a stable battery separator was prepared to solve the thermal stability problem of lithium-ion batteries. A cellulose acetate (CA) and CaO composite solution was prepared, and a separator with improved stability was completed by coating it on polypropylene (PP). The added calcium oxide interacts with the carbonyl groups of CA to cause a crosslinking effect and at the same time to form the pores. By applying physical pressure based on water-molecules using a water treatment device, the pores of the two polymers (CA and PP) were partially connected, and interaction between the PP and the CA films was induced. The average water flux data and porosity for the separator were 208 L/m2h and 68.8%. The decomposition temperature increased by about 60 °C compared to pure CA. When this is used as a separator for a lithium-ion battery, its high porosity and thin thickness can enhance the charging efficiency and enable the fast lithium-ion movement. [Display omitted] • Interconnection of cellulose separator with nanoporous polypropylene. • Enhanced stability by calcium oxide on polypropylene for separator. • Water-treated channels for interconnection through two polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Online synchronization without local constraint applied to uneven batch monitoring. • Relative proceeding rate is defined to measure the progress of ongoing batch. • Bayesian posterior probability applied to determine the online synchronization. • Selection of hyper-parameter using the auto-correlation of relative proceeding rate. • Accurate synchronization enhanced state estimation and fault detection accuracy. Because of the inconsistent batch duration, identifying the progress of an ongoing batch highly affects the performance of the on-line monitoring. In this paper, a real-time synchronization scheme is proposed based on relative proceeding rates, newly defined as the time difference between the trajectory of an ongoing batch and the nominal trajectory. As the relative proceeding rate indicates how early the point attains its desired value compared to the nominal trajectory, the synchronized index is obtained on-line by estimating the relative proceeding rate. Compared with the conventional methods that optimize the synchronized index with local constraints, the proposed method can estimate its distribution using the relative proceeding rate without applying local constraints. It can reduce synchronization errors and increase the accuracies of the state estimation and fault detection. The utility of the proposed method is verified via a case study of industrial penicillin production with a real-time unmeasurable variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cationic barley β-glucan derivatives (bGPEIs) are synthesized for gene delivery systems. • Backbone modification of β-glucan by PEI graft is controllable. • bGPEIs form positively charged and nano-sized polyplexes. • bGPEIs show high transfection activity in RAW264.7 cells, notably in serum condition. • bGPEIs show specific molecular interaction with membrane receptors of RAW264.7 cells. Cationic barley β-glucan derivatives (bGPEIs) with various polyethylenimine 2k (PEI2k) graft degrees were synthesized by periodate oxidation of backbone vicinal diols and reductive amination of PEI2k for gene delivery systems. bGPEIs could form positively charged (∼40 mV zeta-potential) and nano-sized (∼150 nm) spherical polyplexes. Cytotoxicity of bGPEIs was concentration and PEI graft degree-dependent. bGPEIs showed higher transfection efficiency and intracellular localization ability than PEI25k in RAW264.7 cell, especially in serum condition. High cellular uptake of bGPEI polyplexes at 4 °C in RAW264.7 cells suggested that bGPEIs would possess specific interaction ability with membrane receptors of RAW264.7 cells. In addition, bGPEIs could activate RAW264.7 cells, inducing the secretion of cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Therefore, bGPEIs showed a potential for macrophage RAW264.7 cell-targeted gene delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]