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Anandamide (AEA) analogs show fair effects in counteracting the deterioration of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our previous studies demonstrated that AEA analog-N-linoleyltyrosine (NITyr) exerted significant activities. In our current research, the role and mechanisms of NITyr were assessed in APP/PS1 mice mimicking the AD model. NITyr improved motor coordination in the rotarod test (RRT) and ameliorated spatial memory in the Morris water maze (MWM) but did not increase spontaneous locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT). In addition, NITyr protected neurons against β-amyloid (Aβ) injury via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Nissl staining. Moreover, the related biochemical indexes showed that NITyr reduced the levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the hippocampus but did not affect the expression of p-APP and β-secretase 1 (BACE1). Furthermore, the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3 MA) attenuated the effect of NITyr on animal behaviors and neurons. Meanwhile, NITyr upregulated the expression levels of LC3-II and Beclin-1, which were weakened by AM630 (an antagonist of CB2 receptor and a weak partial agonist of CB1 receptors). AM630 also weakened the role of NITyr in animal behaviors. Thus, NITyr improved behavioral impairment and neural loss by inducing autophagy mainly mediated by the CB2 receptor, and weakly mediated by the CB1 receptor.

In this study, we investigate the effect of heat treatment on the surface properties of carbon cloth electrodes and on the power generation efficiencies of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) configured with the heat-treated carbon cloth electrodes. Water contact angle measurements show that the hydrophobic surfaces of the carbon cloth became super-hydrophilic after heat treatment at a temperature above 500 °C, making it suitable for bacterial propagation. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry revealed that the signal of the C-O functional group of the carbon cloth electrodes increased in intensity after heat treatment. The MFCs configured with heat-treated carbon cloth electrode exhibited high power density of 16.58 mW/m2, whereas that of the untreated MFCs was only 8.86 mW m2. Compared with other chemical modifications, heat treatment does not use any environmentally unsound acidic or toxic solutions during modification and are promising for manufacturing large-scale MFC stacks.

circRNAs have been considered as a rising factor in cancers. However, the roles and mechanisms of circ-sirt1 in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that the expressions of sirt1 and circ-sirt1 are decreased in tissues or serums of GC patients by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The expressions of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p showed an opposite tendency in these samples. The co-transfection of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p mimics counteracted the enhancement of sirt1 expression induced by circ-sirt1. The results of cell colony-formation assay and transwell assays demonstrated that the proliferation, migration, and invasion activities of BGC-823 cells were inhibited by circ-sirt1 overexpression or miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p knockdown, respectively. The xenograft tumor model result indicated that the circ-sirt1 overexpression suppressed the tumor growth of BGC-823 cells. The regulation of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p between circ-sirt1 and sirt1 was verified in the mice tumor tissues. Thus, circ-sirt1 inhibited tumor growth and invasion probably by sponging miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p and upregulating sirt1 expression in GC. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for the classification of GC and a novel therapeutic target for GC patients.

Background Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a key role in atherosclerosis. Long noncoding RNA ANRIL (lncRNA-ANRIL) is critical in vascular homeostasis. Metformin produces multiple beneficial effects in atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be elucidated. Methods and results Metformin increased lncRNA-ANRIL expression and AMPK activity in cultured VSMCs, and inhibited the phenotypic switching of VSMCs to the synthetic phenotype induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Overexpression of lncRNA-ANRIL inhibited phenotypic switching and reversed the reduction of AMPK activity in PDGF-treated VSMCs. While, gene knockdown of lncRNA-ANRIL by adenovirus or silence of AMPKγ through siRNA abolished AMPK activation induced by metformin in VSMCs. RNA-immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that the affinity of lncRNA-ANRIL to AMPKγ subunit was increased by metformin. In vivo, administration of metformin increased the levels of lncRNA-ANRIL, suppressed VSMC phenotypic switching, and prevented the development of atherosclerotic plaque in Apoe-/- mice fed with western diet. These protective effects of metformin were abolished by infecting Apoe-/- mice with adenovirus expressing lncRNA-ANRIL shRNA. The levels of AMPK phosphorylation, AMPK activity, and lncRNA-ANRIL expression were decreased in human atherosclerotic lesions. Conclusion Metformin activates AMPK to suppress the formation of atherosclerotic plaque through upregulation of lncRNA-ANRIL.

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the antistatic and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene/carbon nanotubes (PLA/PP/CNT) nanocomposites. PLA/PP (blend ratio = 60:40) containing CNT (loading 1.0 to 2.5 phr) was melt-compounded followed by compression moulding. The antistatic properties of PLA/PP/CNT nanocomposites achieved at 2.5 phr CNT loading. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results indicated that the thermal stability of PLA/PP/ CNT nanocomposite was higher than PLA/PP blend. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results demonstrated that CNT reduced the cold crystallisation temperature of PLA, while increased the crystallisation temperature of PP, which evidenced the nucleatingability of CNT in the PLA/PP blends.

Biocompatible 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) can enhance the adsorption of water molecules and is therefore used for manufacturing contact lenses. This study investigated the mechanical strength, anti-protein deposition, and anti-lipid adsorption effects of MPC addition to contact lenses. Experimental contact lenses produced by copolymerizing multiple ratios of MPC to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were analyzed. Atomic force microscopy revealed that MPC addition increased surface roughness. The anti-protein deposition and anti-lipid adsorption effects on poly(HEMA-MPC) polymers of various phosphorylcholine quantities were experimentally confirmed. The water content of the contact lenses was proportional to the MPC content in the polymer. The hydrated PC moiety of MPC drastically altered the network of the poly-HEMA polymer by inserting water molecules, which were trapped in the concave region of the surface. MPC addition had negative effects on all examined strength factors because of structural destabilization of the copolymer through water insertion. The anti-deposition effects of MPC were verified by examining the lysozyme and lipid adsorption abilities of the prepared contact lenses. Our results revealed that MPC enhanced interactions of the poly(HEMA-MPC) copolymer with water molecules; these interactions weakened the mechanical strength of the copolymer but markedly improved the anti-adsorption property of the biomolecules. The optimal proportion of HEMA-MPC for contact lenses is in the range 14.9%–28.5%.

Background:Sodium hyaluronate (NaHA) is generally supplemented in products related to contact lenses for increasing comfort during wearing. The quantity of sodium hyaluronate and the material of lenses affect the retention of sodium hyaluronate on the contact lenses.Methods:We developed a convenient and sensitive but unconventional chromatographic method to quantify sodium hyaluronate and analyze its release behavior from contact lenses. The reverse-phase chromatography eluted sodium hyaluronate with high molecular masses in the shortest time and could separate salt and small compounds from sodium hyaluronate.Results:This method could accurately quantify sodium hyaluronate with diverse molecular sizes. Because sodium hyaluronate was eluted in a narrow time frame, sensitivity was significantly enhanced, and the limit of detection of this method was 0.45 μg/mL. According to this quantitation method, the attached quantity of sodium hyaluronate is related to the water content of the material. Furthermore, a material test indicated that the release efficiency of sodium hyaluronate depends on the material of lenses. Nonionic Polymacon had a longer half-life in the sodium hyaluronate release curve than negative Methafilcon A and silicone hydrogel.Conclusion:This hyaluronate quantification method is a fast, sensitive and accurate method, making it suitable for the in vitro hyaluronate research without further derivatization.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and oxygen regulated protein 150 (ORP150) in a rat COPD model by inducing changes in ER stress and apoptosis. We separated 48 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats into four groups randomly: the control group, resveratrol group, COPD group and the resveratrol intervention group. Rats were challenged with cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide with resveratrol (a selective activator of SIRT1). The lung functions of the rats were measured and recorded. The expression levels of SIRT1 and ORP150 in lung tissues were examined by western blot and RTq PCR. The expression levels of the ER stress apoptosis-associated protein were determined .The apoptotic level of lung tissues was analyzed. The results suggest that SIRT1 attenuated apoptosis and ER stress in the lung tissues of rats with COPD. During this process, a positive correlation was identified between SIRT1 and ORP150.

Aim. The slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon was characterized by delayed perfusion of epicardial arteries, and no obvious coronary artery lesion in coronary angiography. The prognosis of patients with slow coronary flow was poor. However, there is lack of rapid, simple, and accurate method for SCF diagnosis. This study aimed to explore the utility of plasma choline as a diagnostic biomarker for SCF. Methods. Patients with coronary artery stenosis Results. Forty-four patients with SCF and 21 patients with NCF were included in this study. TFC in LAD, LCX, and RCA and mean TFC were significantly higher in patients with SCF in comparison with patients with NCF (32.67 ± 8.37 vs. 20.66 ± 3.41, P < 0.01). Plasma choline level was obviously higher in patients with SCF when compared with patients with NCF (754.65 ± 238.18 vs. 635.79 ± 108.25, P=0.007). Plasma choline level had significantly positive correlation with Mean TFC (r = 0.364, P=0.002). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that choline with or without confounding factor adjustment had an AUC score of 0.65 and 0.77, respectively. Conclusions. TFC were closely related with plasma choline level, and plasma choline can be a suitable and stable diagnostic biomarker for SCF.

In this study, hierarchically mesoporous silica (HMS) with properties such as high specific surface area, high photostability, and no cellular toxicity was synthesized. The synthesized silica can be considered as an excellent carrier candidate material. Through the use of nitrogen adsorption and desorption analysis, the shape of the hysteresis loop implied the presence of mesoporous structures in the HMS powder. In addition, the encapsulation efficiency was more than 90%. These results showed that avobenzone could be encapsulated into the HMS powder because of its high specific surface area and pore volume. Additionally, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV-visible (Vis) spectrophotometry were used to prove that the hierarchically mesoporous silica was able to effectively encapsulate avobenzone. In addition, the new synthetic sunscreen kept its excellent UVA absorption properties after being encapsulated.

Background: Phthalates esters are widely used commercially and can leach from a food container or food packaging. Few studies have been conducted in Asia regarding food processed to varying levels and human phthalate exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the association between unprocessed and ultra-processed food intake and urinary phthalate metabolite levels in the Taiwanese adult population.Methods: A total of 516 participant data were extracted from the cross-sectional 1993–1996 and 2005–2008 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan of those aged over 18 years, where urinary measures and one 24-h dietary recall were collected. Urinary concentrations of dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites including monomethyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were measured in spot urine samples. The NOVA food processing classification system was applied to divide all consumed foods into four mutually exclusive groups including unprocessed or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed and ultra-processed food. Generalized linear models were employed to examine the associations between the percentage quartiles (Qs) of unprocessed and ultra-processed foods in the total weight of food and the urinary phthalate metabolites.Results: Compared with participants in the lowest quartiles (Q1) of ultra-processed food intake, highest ultra-processed food intake (Q4) had 65.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.83, 162) higher urinary concentrations of MEP after adjusted for covariates. In contrast, the higher unprocessed food consumption was inversely associated with urinary concentrations of MEP and MBP (P for trend = 0.03). When compared to the lowest unprocessed food consumers (Q1), higher consumers (Q4) presented 38.6% (95% CI: −61.3, −2.59) lower MEP concentrations and 23.1% (95% CI: −38.5, −3.71) lower MBP concentrations.Conclusion: Ultra-processed food consumption was associated with increased concentrations of urinary MEP. Conversely, consuming unprocessed food was associated with lower concentrations of MEP and MBP in the Asian Taiwanese adult population.

Inulin as a commercial prebiotic could selectively promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Whether LAB in rabbit gut possesses the capability to metabolize and utilize inulin is little known. Therefore, this study recovered 94 LAB strains from neonate rabbits and found that only 29% (28/94) could metabolize inulin with both species- and strain-specificity. The most vigorous inulin-degrading strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei YT170, could efficiently utilize both short-chain and long-chain components through thin-layer chromatography analysis. From genomic analysis, a predicted fosRABCDXE operon encoding putative cell wall-anchored fructan β-fructosidase, five fructose-transporting proteins and a pts1BCA operon encoding putative β-fructofuranosidase and sucrose-specific IIBCA components were linked to long-chain and short-chain inulin utilization respectively. This study provides a mechanistic rationale for effect of inulin administration on rabbits and lays a foundation for synbiotic applications aimed at modulating the intestinal microbiota of young rabbits.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has emerged as a promising and versatile method for high-throughput graphene patterning; however, its full potential in creating complex structures and devices for practical applications is yet to be explored. In this study, an in-situ growing LIG process that enables to pattern superhydrophobic fluorine-doped graphene on fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)-coated polyimide (PI) is demonstrated. This method leverages on distinct spectral responses of FEP and PI during laser excitation to generate the environment preferentially for LIG formation, eliminating the need for multistep processes and specific atmospheres. The structured and water-repellant structures rendered by the spectral-tuned interfacial LIG process are suitable as the electrode for the construction of a flexible droplet-based electricity generator (DEG), which exhibits high power conversion efficiency, generating a peak power density of 47.5 W m-2 from the impact of a water droplet 105 µL from a height of 25 cm. Importantly, the device exhibits superior cyclability and operational stability under high humidity and various pH conditions. The facile process developed can be extended to realize various functional devices.

Discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress T lymphocyte activation and proliferation by inhibiting TCR/CD3 and IL-2/IL-2R signaling is still needed in clinic, though rapamycin and other related reagents have made great success. Taraxasterol (TAS) is an active ingredient of dandelion, an anti-inflammatory medicinal herb with low in vivo toxicity that has long been used in China. Yet the action mechanism of TAS on lymphocytes remains elusive. The anti-inflammatory effects of TAS were evaluated in C57BL/6 mouse primary lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro and in mouse model of Con A-induced acute hepatitis in vivo. Our results showed that TAS significantly suppressed Con A-induced acute hepatitis in a mouse model, reducing the hepatic necrosis areas, the release of aminotransferases, and the production of IL-2 and other inflammatory cytokines. Supporting this, in vitro study also showed that TAS reduced the production of IL-2 and the expression of IL-2 receptor subunit α (CD25) upon the stimulation of Con A, which was likely mediated by suppressing NF-κB activation. The downstream pathways of IL-2/IL-2R signaling, including the activation of PI3K/PDK1/mTOR, STAT3 and STAT5, were also suppressed by TAS. Consistently, Con A-induced T cell proliferation was also inhibited by TAS in vitro. Our data indicate that TAS can suppress both T lymphocyte activation and cell proliferation by down-regulating IL-2 expression and its signaling pathway thereby ameliorating Con A-induced acute hepatitis, highlighting TAS as a potential drug candidate for treating inflammatory diseases including autoimmune hepatitis.

This study evaluated the new bone formation potential of micro–macro biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP) and Bio-Oss grafting materials with and without dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DPSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a rabbit calvarial bone defect model. The surface structure of the grafting materials was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The multipotent differentiation characteristics of the DPSCs and BMSCs were assessed. Four circular bone defects were created in the calvarium of 24 rabbits and randomly allocated to eight experimental groups: empty control, MBCP, MBCP+DPSCs, MBCP+BMSCs, Bio-Oss+DPSCs, Bio-Oss+BMSCs, and autogenous bone. A three-dimensional analysis of the new bone formation was performed using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and a histological study after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of healing. Homogenously porous structures were observed in both grafting materials. The BMSCs revealed higher osteogenic differentiation capacities, whereas the DPSCs exhibited higher colony-forming units. The micro-CT and histological analysis findings for the new bone formation were consistent. In general, the empty control showed the lowest bone regeneration capacity throughout the experimental period. By contrast, the percentage of new bone formation was the highest in the autogenous bone group after 2 (39.4% ± 4.7%) and 4 weeks (49.7% ± 1.5%) of healing (p &lt, 0.05). MBCP and Bio-Oss could provide osteoconductive support and prevent the collapse of the defect space for new bone formation. In addition, more osteoblastic cells lining the surface of the newly formed bone and bone grafting materials were observed after incorporating the DPSCs and BMSCs. After 8 weeks of healing, the autogenous bone group (54.9% ± 6.1%) showed a higher percentage of new bone formation than the empty control (35.3% ± 0.5%), MBCP (38.3% ± 6.0%), MBCP+DPSC (39.8% ± 5.7%), Bio-Oss (41.3% ± 3.5%), and Bio-Oss+DPSC (42.1% ± 2.7%) groups. Nevertheless, the percentage of new bone formation did not significantly differ between the MBCP+BMSC (47.2% ± 8.3%) and Bio-Oss+BMSC (51.2% ± 9.9%) groups and the autogenous bone group. Our study results demonstrated that autogenous bone is the gold standard. Both the DPSCs and BMSCs enhanced the osteoconductive capacities of MBCP and Bio-Oss. In addition, the efficiency of the BMSCs combined with MBCP and Bio-Oss was comparable to that of the autogenous bone after 8 weeks of healing. These findings provide effective strategies for the improvement of biomaterials and MSC-based bone tissue regeneration.

The detection of nitrite is of great significance because it is closely related to food safety. In this work, a rapid colorimetric method was developed for nitrite detection based on the reaction of propylene glycol alginate (PGA) gel interface. In the reaction of nitrite and 4-Aminoacetophenone, diazo compound formed, which could be further transformed to purplish red compound by reacting with N-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine (NED). Nitrite exhibited a linear relationship with the grayscale of the gel interface in the range of 0.3-9 μg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.3 μg mL-1. The method was applied to detect nitrite in four types of pickled vegetables with recovery of 80.9-119.02% and relative standard deviation of 0.11-6.73%. Notably, the detection process can be accomplished within 5 minutes. The proposed colorimetric method exhibited advantages of simplicity, quickness and sensitivity, showing potential application prospects for the real-time and on-site detection of nitrite in pickled vegetables.

We developed a new method to synthesize single-phase transition metal carbide powders by combining citric acid complexing method and ball-milling dispersion. High-entropy carbides (Zr0.25Ti0.25Ta0.25Nb0.25)C (4TmC), (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Hf0.2)C (5TmC-H) and (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Mo0.2)C (5TmC-M) were successfully fabricated by this method using low-cost raw materials. The element and phase composition and microstructures of the obtained carbide powders were investigated. The relationships of synthesis process and temperature with chemical composition were also discussed. (Zr0.25Ti0.25Ta0.25Nb0.25)C can be obtained by a one-step process at 1550 °C, while (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Hf0.2)C and (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Mo0.2)C are fabricated by a two-step process of carbothermal reduction followed by solid solution at the temperatures not lower than 1850 °C and 1650 °C. The higher synthesis temperatures of the five-component carbides are attributed to the obvious sluggish diffusion effect induced by the larger lattice distortions. The particle sizes of (Zr0.25Ti0.25Ta0.25Nb0.25)C, (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Hf0.2)C and (Zr0.2Ti0.2Ta0.2Nb0.2Mo0.2)C powders are 118.2±26.1 nm (at 1550 °C), 284.8±73.7 nm (at 1850 °C) and 65.5±13.9 nm (at 1750 °C), respectively.

Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, the etiological agent of gout, are formed in joints and periarticular tissues due to long-lasting hyperuricemia. Although MSU crystal-triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) release are known to have key roles in gouty arthritis, recent studies revealed that MSU crystal-induced necrosis also plays a critical role in this process. However, it remains unknown what forms of necrosis have been induced and whether combined cell death inhibitors can block such necrosis. Here, we showed that MSU crystal-induced necrosis in murine macrophages was not dependent on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, as neither genetic deletion nor pharmacological blockade of the NLRP3 pathway inhibited the necrosis. Although many cell death pathways (such as ferroptosis and pyroptosis) inhibitors or reactive oxygen species inhibitors did not have any suppressive effects, necroptosis pathway inhibitors GSK′872 (RIPK3 inhibitor), and GW806742X (MLKL inhibitor) dose-dependently inhibited MSU crystal-induced necrosis. Moreover, a triple combination of GSK′872, GW806742X, and IDN-6556 (pan-caspase inhibitor) displayed enhanced inhibition of the necrosis, which was further fortified by the addition of MCC950 (NLRP3 inhibitor), suggesting that multiple cell death pathways might have been triggered by MSU crystals. Baicalin, a previously identified inhibitor of NLRP3, inhibited MSU crystal-induced inflammasome activation and suppressed the necrosis in macrophages. Besides, baicalin gavage significantly ameliorated MSU crystal-induced peritonitis in mice. Altogether, our data indicate that MSU crystals induce NLRP3-independent necrosis, which can be inhibited by combined inhibitors for multiple signaling pathways, highlighting a new avenue for the treatment of gouty arthritis.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan that was first isolated and identified from the vitreous body of a bull’s eye. HA is ubiquitous in the soft connective tissues of animals and therefore has high tissue compatibility for use in medication. Because of HA’s biological safety and water retention properties, it has many ophthalmology-related applications, such as in intravitreal injection, dry eye treatment, and contact lenses. Due to its broad range of applications, the identification and quantification of HA is a critical topic. This review article discusses current methods for analyzing HA. Contact lenses have become a widely used medical device, with HA commonly used as an additive to their production material, surface coating, and multipurpose solution. HA molecules on contact lenses retain moisture and increase the wearer’s comfort. HA absorbed by contact lenses can also gradually release to the anterior segment of the eyes to treat dry eye. This review discusses applications of HA in ophthalmology.

Background Information on the relationships between phthalate exposure, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in younger adults is limited. It is still unclear whether changes in insulin resistance represent an intermediate biological mechanism linking phthalate exposure and MetS. Objective To investigate the associations between cumulative risk of phthalates (such as daily intake [DI] and hazard index [HI]), insulin resistance, and MetS in younger adults and to examine the mediating role of insulin resistance in the associations between phthalate exposure and MetS. Methods Urinary phthalate metabolite levels, insulin resistance (by using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of estimated Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR]), and MetS status were determined in 435 military personnel in Taiwan. We estimated the DI of five phthalates: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBzP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and the HI based on urinary phthalate metabolite levels. Cross-sectional associations between DI and HI, HOMA-IR, and the indicators of MetS were explored using logistic regression models. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the role of insulin resistance in the associations between phthalate exposure and MetS. Results Higher DIDMP was associated with an increased odds of high HOMA-IR and MetS (odds ratio [OR], 1.686; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.079–2.634 for high HOMA-IR; OR, 2.329; 95% CI, 1.263–4.295 for MetS). The mediation analysis indicated that 43% of the association between higher DIDMP and MetS was mediated by HOMA-IR. Higher DIBBzP and HI were associated with an increased odds of abdominal obesity (OR, 1.816; 95% CI, 1.180–2.797 for the high DIBBzP group; OR, 1.700, 95% CI, 1.105–2.614 for the high HI groups). Conclusions Exposure to environmental phthalates may be positively associated with insulin resistance and MetS. Insulin resistance may mediate these associations between exposure to certain phthalates and MetS.

Developing γ-TiAl intermetallic alloys as candidate materials for manufacturing components of aircraft gas turbines has been limited because of their poor oxidation resistance at high temperature. In this study, a nano-structured (Al2O3+Y2O3)/AlY coating was deposited on a γ-TiAl alloy by sputtering, to improve its oxidation resistance. To evaluate this coating under real-life critical operating conditions in aircraft engines, the isothermal oxidation exposure at an elevated temperature of 1200 °C was carried out. The analysis results indicated that Al and Y diffused through the grain boundary to synthesize or grow oxides outward, toward the testing atmosphere during the oxidation tests. During this process, oxygen was somewhat prevented from penetrating the coating because of the strong oxytropism of the coating surface to form Al and Y oxides. The coating exhibited a nanosized Al and Y oxides surface morphology after 100 h of oxidation. Weight change kinetics revealed that the weight gain of the coating was 7.49 mg/cm2, while that of the substrate fluctuated because of oxide scale spallation. The nano-structured (Al2O3+Y2O3)/AlY coating improved the oxidation resistance of the γ-TiAl alloy at elevated temperature.

Many clinical cases show that the failure of root-canal treatment is primarily attributable to remnants of bacteria in root canal systems, especially Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). In this study, silver nanoparticle (AgNP) confined mesoporous structured bioactive powder (M-BP-Ag) was prepared by the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method and evaluated for antibacterial activity against E. faecalis. The composition of the M-BP-Ag belongs to the SiO2-CaO-P2O5 system. The M-BP-Ag was obtained with the composition ratios of Si, Ca, P, and Ag in mole% being (80-X), 15, 5, and X, where X = 0, 1, 5, or 10, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas adsorption and desorption analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize these M-BP-Ag. The antibacterial activity of the test samples against E. faecalis was verified by the time-killing curve test and the colony-forming capacity assay. The samples' antibacterial activities depended on the confined AgNP position. From bacterial morphology observation, we also speculated the antibacterial mechanism of the M-BP-Ag test samples in this study.

Certain studies have reported various insulin resistance responses to ambient heavy metal pollution, but few have reported such responses to occupational heavy metal pollution. Even fewer have demonstrated a relationship between mixture effects of heavy metals and insulin resistance in welding workers. Overall, we recruited 53 welders and 48 administrative staff from a shipyard located in northern Taiwan. Personal exposure to heavy metals was monitored for PM2.5 and urine. Blood samples from each participant were collected from the antecubital vein after fasting. Urine samples from each participant were collected in the same period as blood samples. The geometric mean levels for chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in the PM2.5 of the personal breathing zone and urinary Mn of welders were significantly higher than those in administrative staffs. Ambient Cr, Co, Ni, and Cu levels in the PM2.5 and urinary Cd were positively related to HOMA2-IR after adjusting for personal covariates (PM2.5-Cr: β=0.036, 95%C.I.: 0.002 to 0.070; PM2.5-Co: β=0.040, 95%C.I.: 0.002 to 0.077; PM2.5-Ni: β=0.054, 95%C.I.: 0.013 to 0.094; PM2.5-Cu: β=0.049, 95%C.I.: 0.010 to 0.088; U-Cd: β=0.209, 95%C.I.: 0.052 to 0.366, respectively). Our findings indicated the PM2.5 metal components and urinary metals were associated with increased insulin resistance in shipyard welders.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that causes disability and diminishes the quality of life of affected individuals. The disease is characterized by cartilage destruction, increased inflammatory responses and cholesterol metabolic disorder. Scutellarin is the major active ingredient extracted from Erigeron breviscapus, and it has been demonstrated to possess various pharmacological functions in the treatment of the disease. However, its effects on OA are complex. The present study investigated whether scutellarin can mediate the release of inflammatory cytokines, the expression of collagen- and cholesterol-related proteins, and regulate the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in a cell model of OA. Interleukin (IL)-1β was used to stimulate OA in SW1353 cells in vitro. The primary methods used were ELISA and western blotting, which were carried out to examine the effects of scutellarin on the cell model of OA. It was found that scutellarin increased the expression of collagen II and SRY-box 9, whereas it suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13. In addition, scutellarin downregulated the expression levels of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase and cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily B polypeptide 1, but upregulated the expression of apolipoprotein A-1 and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1. The IL-1β-induced increase in the expression of IL-6 was decreased by treatment with scutellarin; however, scutellarin did not alter the expression of C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α. The protein expression levels of AKT, phosphorylated (p)-AKT, mTOR and p-mTOR in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were decreased in the IL-1β-induced SW1353 cells following scutellarin treatment. Overall, the findings of the present study demonstrated that scutellarin regulated OA in vitro by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Sichuan pickle is a natural combination of probiotics and dietary fibers, in which a strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum QS7T was found to be capable of efficiently metabolizing inulin. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of inulin consumption by the strain QS7T is unclear. Therefore, this study firstly investigated the metabolic characteristics of inulin in the strain QS7T, and the results showed it could grow very well on the medium containing inulin as a carbon source (maximum OD600 nm, 1.891 ± 0.028) and degrade both short-chain oligofructose and long-chain fructan components through thin layer chromatography analysis. Genomic sequencing and analysis revealed a high percentage of functional genes associated with carbohydrate transport and metabolism, particularly glycoside hydrolase (GH) genes responsible for hydrolysing carbohydrates, within the genome of the strain QS7T. Furthermore, comparative transcriptomic analysis of L. plantarum QS7T in response to inulin or glucose indicated that functional genes associated with inulin consumption including several genes encoding PTS sugar transporters and two predicted GH32 family genes encoding beta-fructofuranosidase and beta-fructosidase were significantly up-regulated by inulin compared to the gene expression on glucose. In conclusion, we obtained a mechanistic understanding of interplay between probiotic L. plantarum QS7T derived from Sichuan pickle and natural dietary fiber, inulin; totally two operons including a sacPTS1 operon responsible for metabolizing short-chain oligofructose primarily in the cytoplasm and a fos operon responsible for extracellularly degrading all moderate and long-chain fructan components linked to inulin consumption by L. plantarum QS7T.

Background: Dietary betaine intake was reported to associate with favorable profile of metabolic disorders. However, the role of circulating betaine in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with dysglycemia is still unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the potential associations between plasma betaine levels and dysglycemia in CAD patients. Methods: Total 307 subjects were enrolled in the present study with 165 CAD patients (57 with dysglycemia and 108 with normal glycemia) and 142 age- and sex-matched controls (CON). Fasting plasma betaine was detected using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Plasma betaine was lower in normal glycemia CAD patients (28.29 (22.38–35.73) μM) compared with healthy controls (29.75 (25.32–39.15) μM), and was further decreased in CAD patients with dysglycemia (24.14 (20.84–30.76) μM, P Conclusion: Plasma betaine levels are independently and inversely associated with dysglycemia in CAD after adjustment for multiple factors, and may be useful for risk stratification of dysglycemia in CAD.

Choline is an important nutrient involved in multiple biosynthesis pathways. However, whether circulating choline levels are associated with the risk of hypertension (HTN) and artery stenosis in HTN remains unknown. We investigated the correlations of plasma choline with HTN and coronary artery injury and explored the utility of plasma choline as a diagnostic biomarker for HTN and artery stenosis. 193 HTN patients and 154 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (CON) were recruited in this study. Fasting plasma choline was detected using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Choline levels were significantly higher in HTN without artery stenosis (HTN-AS) than CON (8.07 [7.19-9.24] μM vs 7.03 [6.21-8.13] μM, P < .01) group and were further upregulated in HTN with artery stenosis (HTN + AS) (8.63 [7.09-10.59] μM, P < .01) group. Patients with multivessel disease (MVD) also exhibited higher choline levels than those with single vessel disease (SVD) (8.64 [7.16-10.55] μM vs 8.04(6.74-9.38) μM, P < .01). Increased choline levels were independently associated with the risk of HTN (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1-1.45, P = .05), HTN + AS (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09-1.48, P < .01), and MVD (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.31, P = .02) after adjustment for multiple risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that choline had an area under curve (AUC) score of 0.69, 0.67, and 0.63 in determining HTN, HTN + AS, and MVD. In conclusion, higher choline levels were associated with increased risk of HTN and artery stenosis in hypertensive patients.

Establishing appropriate sizes and shapes of dendritic arbors is critical for proper wiring of the central nervous system. Here we report that Insulin-like Peptide 2 (DILP2) locally activates transiently expressed insulin receptors in the central dendrites of Drosophila Dm8 amacrine neurons to positively regulate dendritic field elaboration. We found DILP2 was expressed in L5 lamina neurons, which have axonal terminals abutting Dm8 dendrites. Proper Dm8 dendrite morphogenesis and synapse formation required insulin signaling through TOR (target of rapamycin) and SREBP (sterol regulatory element-binding protein), acting in parallel with previously identified negative regulation by Activin signaling to provide robust control of Dm8 dendrite elaboration. A simulation of dendritic growth revealed trade-offs between dendritic field size and robustness when branching and terminating kinetic parameters were constant, but dynamic modulation of the parameters could mitigate these trade-offs. We suggest that antagonistic DILP2 and Activin signals from different afferents appropriately size Dm8 dendritic fields.

BACKGROUND The objective of this meta-analysis of observational studies was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of febuxostat in treating hyperuricemia among kidney transplant patients. METHODS We conducted electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1960 to July 2019 to identify studies that investigated the effects of febuxostat in kidney transplant patients on uric acid as well as safety profiles including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin level (Hb), white blood cell counts (WBC), liver enzymes, and trough level of tacrolimus. RESULTS Seven observational studies with 367 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with allopurinol, the febuxostat group demonstrated a higher odds of achieving target uric acid levels lower than 6 mg/dL within 12 months (OR = 2.9, P = .004). However, there was no statistical difference in change of uric acid (WMD = -1.0 mg/dL/y, P = .32) and change in allograft eGFR within a year (WMD = 0.01 mL/min/1.73 m2 /y, P = .98) between febuxostat and allopurinol. Regarding safety profiles, there were no statistical differences in eGFR, Hb, WBC, liver enzymes (AST, ALT), and trough level of tacrolimus between baseline and at the study end. Only one study reported suspected graft loss among febuxostat group. CONCLUSION Among kidney transplant patients, treating hyperuricemia with febuxostat showed a higher odds of reaching the target of serum uric acid

Basal cell carcinoma is driven by the aberrant activation of hedgehog signaling. DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 is frequently overexpressed in human cancer cells and associated with the tumor growth and invasion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 in the growth, migration, and invasion of basal cell carcinoma. The role of DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay in basal cell carcinoma cells. The associations between JAK2/STAT3 pathway and DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 were analyzed in basal cell carcinoma cells. Results showed that DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 is overexpressed in basal cell carcinoma cells. DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 knockdown inhibited the migration and invasion of basal cell carcinoma cells. DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 knockdown increased the apoptosis of basal cell carcinoma cells induced by tunicamycin. Results found that DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 knockdown increased JAK2 and STAT3 expression in basal cell carcinoma cells. JAK2 inhibitor decreased STAT3 expression and abolished the inhibitory effects of DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 silencing on migration and invasion in basal cell carcinoma cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box protein 5 is a potential target for inhibiting basal cell carcinoma cells growth, migration, and invasion by downregulating JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Background: Phthalate esters (PAEs), which may have potential adverse health effects, are widely used in industrial and consumer products. The public raised concerns of exposure to PAEs after di-2-ethylhexyl PAE (DEHP) had been illegally used in food products in Taiwan in 2011. However, there is little information regarding the exposure levels of PAEs among Taiwanese military personnel. Objective: Health risk assessment indicators, including daily intake (DI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI), were used to assess the distribution and trends of PAEs and cumulative risk in Taiwanese military personnel. Materials and Methods: We recruited 503 participants who participated in northern voluntary military service from June to August 2017. We calculated the DI of five PAEs, namely dimethyl PAE, diethyl PAE, dibutyl PAE (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate, and DEHP, and selected the reference dose (RfD) described by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an acceptable exposure reference value to compute the HQ and HI. We used statistical analysis to examine the differences and trends of PAE metabolites in urine and investigated the possible primary sources of PAEs with principal component analysis. Results: The detection rates of 7 PAE metabolite concentrations were ≥72.2%. All DIs, HQRfDs, and HIRfDs were not over the standard EPA RfD. For all participants, two principal components (PC) were extracted. Three DEHP metabolites and MBP were correlated with PC1, and MiBP and MnBP were correlated with PC2. Conclusions: The main potential sources of PAE exposure for Taiwanese military personnel are DEHP and DBP. Efforts to reduce exposure to environmental PAEs are necessary to maintain health within the military.

Three baicalin derivatives named methyl ester of baicalin (BM), ethyl ester of baicalin (BE), and n-propyl ester of baicalin (BP) were synthesized in the laboratory using the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi as raw material. The inhibition effect of the as-synthesized baicalin derivatives was investigated as eco-friendly green inhibitors on the corrosion of aluminum in 1.0 M HCl solution by weight loss and various electrochemical techniques. Results show that the baicalin derivatives exhibit excellent performance as inhibitors for aluminum corrosion. The synthesized baicalin derivatives suppress both the anodic and cathodic process and the compounds behave as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors for aluminum in HCl solution. Also, results obtained indicate that compound BM is the best inhibitor and the effectiveness of these inhibitors decreases in the order of BM > BE > BP. The maximum inhibition efficiency obtained at 25 °C using BM = 0.9 g/l was ∼95%. The interpretation of the inhibition due to adsorption of the compounds on the aluminum surface is according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The free energy of adsorption for inhibition process was determined on the basis of Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface analyses were performed to establish the mechanism of corrosion inhibition of aluminum in acidic solution. The formation of the adsorbed baicalin-Al3+ complex on the metal surface led to slow down the corrosion rate of aluminum and improvement of the inhibition process.

The mediating influence of thyroid function on the association of phthalate exposure with glucose metabolism, including insulin resistance, remains unclear. We explored the mediating influence of thyroid hormone levels on the phthalate exposure–insulin resistance association. This cross-sectional study of 217 Taiwanese adults assessed insulin resistance (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, HOMA-IR scores) and the levels of 11 urinary phthalate metabolites and 5 thyroid hormones. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the associations among serum thyroid hormone levels, urinary phthalate metabolite levels, and HOMA-IR scores. The mediation analysis assessed the influence of thyroid function on the phthalate exposure–HOMA-IR association. Our data indicated urinary mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) levels was negatively associated with free thyroxine (T4) (β = −0.018; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.031, −0.005) and positively associated with HOMA-IR scores (β = 0.051, 95% CI: 0.012, 0.090). The study also revealed urinary mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) levels was negatively associated with free T4 (β = −0.036, 95% CI: −0.056, −0.017) and HOMA-IR (β = 0.070, 95% CI: 0.013, 0.126). Free T4 and HOMA-IR had a negative association (β = −0.757, 95% CI: −1.122, −0.392). In the mediation analysis, free T4 mediated 24% and 35% of the associations of urinary MEHP and MEOHP with HOMA-IR, respectively. Our findings revealed the mediating role of thyroid function in the phthalate exposure–glucose metabolism association in adults.

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a common and challenging pathogen of nosocomial infections, due to its ability to survive on inanimate objects, desiccation tolerance, and resistance to disinfectants. In this study, we investigated an antibacterial strategy to combat A. baumannii via the combination of antibiotics and silver protein. This strategy used a functional platform consisting of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) resurrected from silver-based calcium thiophosphate (SSCP) through casein and arginine. Then, the silver protein was combined with tigecycline, the first drug in glycylcycline antibiotic, to synergistically inhibit the viability of A. baumannii. The synergistic antibacterial activity was confirmed by the 96-well checkerboard method to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and calculated for the combination index (CI). The MIC of the combination of silver protein and tigecycline (0.31 mg/mL, 0.16 µg/mL) was significantly lower than that of the individual MIC, and the CI was 0.59, which indicates a synergistic effect. Consequently, we integrated the detailed synergistic antibacterial properties when silver protein was combined with tigecycline. The result could make for a promising approach for the treatment of A. baumannii.

This study investigated the surface characteristics and anticoagulant properties of 316L stainless steel coated with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/chitosan (CS) composite films, using various EVA/CS ratios, for biomedical applications. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that in the EVA/CS composite films, the signal of the –CH 3 hydrophobic functional group became more significant when the EVA powder content increased. The results of the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay showed that EVA/CS composite films with EVA/CS content ratios lower than 5 possessed lower adsorption concentrations of bovine serum albumin than chitosan films, suggesting that the anticoagulant properties of 316L stainless steel could be improved after its surface modification with EVA/CS composite films. However, when the EVA/CS content ratio was higher than 8, the anticoagulant properties of the EVA/CS composite films deteriorated significantly because its surface morphology became rougher with abundant protuberances. Therefore, EVA/CS composite films with appropriate EVA/CS content ratios are good candidate materials for biomedical applications because they possess advantages such as hydrophobic properties, smooth surface morphologies, and a low capacity for protein adsorption.

Phloretin, which can be isolated from apple trees, has demonstrable anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in macrophages. We previously reported that phloretin could inhibit the inflammatory response and reduce intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression in interleukin (IL)-1β-activated human lung epithelial cells. In the present study we now evaluate whether phloretin exposure could ameliorate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in mice. Intra-peritoneal injections of phloretin were administered to mice for 7 consecutive days, prior to the induction of lung injury by intra-tracheal administration of LPS. Our subsequent analyses demonstrated that phloretin could significantly suppress LPS-induced neutrophil infiltration of lung tissue, and reduce the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We also found that phloretin modulated myeloperoxidase activity and superoxide dismutase activity, with decreased gene expression levels for chemokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and ICAM-1 in inflamed lung tissue. Phloretin also significantly reduced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), thus limiting the inflammatory response, while promoting expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, both of which are cytoprotective. Our findings suggest that, mechanistically, phloretin attenuates the inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways that accompany lung injury in mice via blockade of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

The autosomal recessive Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (HMSN/ACC) is associated with the dysfunction of the K + –Cl − cotransporter type 3 (KCC3), which is an electroneutral cotransporter. We previously found that the inhibition of KCC3 cotransporter activity reduces the propagation of action potentials in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). However, the pathogenesis by which KCC3 deficiency impairs peripheral nerve function remains to be examined. Thus, we conducted imaging and electrophysiological studies in the peripheral nerves of KCC3 −/− mice at various ages. Analysis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed an age-dependent progressive swelling of microvilli and disorganization of paranodal loops in KCC3 −/− nerves. Yet, no mislocated voltage-dependent channels were observed between the nodes and juxtaparanodes of KCC3 −/− nerves. However, electrophysiological studies using the threshold tracking technique indicated a reduced stimulus–response curve slope with an elevated rheobase, a decreased strength–duration time constant, diminished persistent Na + currents, and an outward deviation of threshold electrotonus in KCC3 −/− nerves compared to wild-type nerves. These functional changes indicate an overall reduction in axonal excitability and suggest an increase in paranodal conductance, which was relevant to the pathology at the paranode. Altogether, our findings highlight the importance of KCC3 in maintaining paranodal integrity and in optimizing the propagation of action potentials along peripheral nerves.

This study explored an economically-feasible and environmentally friendly attempt to provide more electrochemically promising carbon cloth anodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by modifying them with candle soot coating. The sponge-like structure of the deposited candle soot apparently increased the surface areas of the carbon cloths for bacterial adhesion. The super-hydrophilicity of the deposited candle soot was more beneficial to bacterial propagation. The maximum power densities of MFCs configured with 20-s (13.6 ± 0.9 mW·m−2), 60-s (19.8 ± 0.2 mW·m−2), and 120-s (17.6 ± 0.8 mW·m−2) candle-soot-modified carbon cloth electrodes were apparently higher than that of an MFC configured with an unmodified electrode (10.2 ± 0.2 mW·m−2). The MFCs configured with the 20- and 120-s candle-soot-modified carbon cloth electrodes exhibited lower power densities than that of the MFC with the 60-s candle-soot-modified carbon cloth electrode. This suggested that the insufficient residence time of candle soot led to an incomplete formation of the hydrophilic surface, whereas protracted candle sooting would lead to a thick deposited soot film with a smaller conductivity. The application of candle soot for anode modification provided a simple, rapid, cost-effective, and environment-friendly approach to enhancing the electron-transfer capabilities of carbon cloth electrodes. However, a postponement in the MFC construction may lead to a deteriorated hydrophilicity of the candle-soot-modified carbon cloth.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between indium exposure and lung effects markers among indium tin oxide (ITO) manufacturing workers without job change.Methods: We enrolled 179 male workers fro...

Repairing articular cartilage defects is difficult due to the hypovascular biostructure and poor self-repairing capacity of articular cartilage. Currently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with excellent differentiation potential are considered as a promising biological approach for cartilage regeneration. The effect, however, remains far from satisfactory for clinical applications owing to the main drawbacks of tracking the retention of cells and a low differentiation efficiency. As known, the nanoparticles with superparamagnetic properties has been used to monitor the MSCs in vivo through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical application. In this study, different external and internal bio-conditions were applied to regulate the biological behavior of cells. Here, intracellular MRI contrast agents, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals (SPIONs), and a hypoxic culture environment were found to exert synergistic effects on gene and protein expression, and the cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species and the stem cell differentiations were measured. The levels of chondrogenic and migrant markers (including collagen II, collagen X, aggrecan, SOX9, MMPs and CXCR4) increased, triggering directional differentiation and enhancing cell migration to the inflammatory site. Moreover, SPION-labeled hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs were found without reactive oxygen species generation and transplanted into rat models with articular cartilage disorders. Interestingly, MRI and histological identification confirmed that new cartilage-like tissue was regenerated and that defects were repaired, and this method is more efficient for cartilage regeneration than SPION-labeled normoxia MSCs. The synergistic effect of hypoxia-precondition and SPIONs based cellular iron source could improve the cell migration and facilitate chondrogenic differentiation.

Compound semiconductors doped with magnetically active transition metals (TM) are actively pursued for semiconductor spintronics. Herein we report that delta doping (δ-doping) has been used to incorporate manganese (Mn) into the gallium nitride (GaN) matrix resulting in phase pure highly crystalline heteroepitaxial thin films of (Ga,Mn)N on c-plane sapphire (Al2O3) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Magnetotransport measurements reveal the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) while magnetic measurements show the existence of ferromagnetic ordering. Density functional theory calculations show that δ-doping of Mn atom enables exchange interactions between the Mn 3d states and N 2p states thereby resulting in spin polarized holes in the valence band giving rise to observed AHE and ferromagnetism. This work opens new avenues for incorporating spin polarized carriers in III-nitrides based semiconductors by creating magnetically active Mn layers in heterostructures for spintronics applications.

Tetrazole and its derivatives with rich nitrogen atoms may be potential candidates for energetic materials. Alkaline earth metal coordination compounds based on such ligands are relatively less investigated. Hpytza was prepared from 4-cyanopyridine and sodium azide, ethyl bromoacetate, where Hpytza = 5-(4-pyridyl)tetrazole-2-acetic acid. Hpytza and four alkaline earth metal coordination polymers [Mg(pytza)2]n (1), [Ca(pytza)2(H2O)2]n·3nH2O (2), [Sr(pytza)2(H2O)2]n (3) and [Ba(pytza)2(H2O)2]n·nH2O (4) were prepared under solvothermal conditions. The thermal behavior of these compounds were characterized by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric-differential thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analyses. Furthermore, the critical temperature of thermal explosion and relevant thermal parameters ΔS, ΔH, ΔG of Hpytza and polymers 1–4 were calculated, as well, indicating that these compounds are potential energetic materials.

Glycosyltransferase 1 from Bacillus cereus (BcGT1) catalyzes the transfer of a glucosyl moiety from uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose) to various acceptors; it was expressed and characterized. The specificity of acceptors was found to be broad: more than 20 compounds classified into O-, S-, and N-linkage glucosides can be prepared with BcGT1 catalysis. Based on this work, we conclude that the corresponding acceptors of these compounds must possess the following features: (1) the acceptors must contain at least one aromatic or fused-aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; (2) the reactive hydroxyl or sulfhydryl or amino group can attach either on the aromatic ring or on its aliphatic side chain; and (3) the acceptors can be a primary, secondary, or even a tertiary amine. Four representative acceptors-fluorescein methyl ester, 17-β-estradiol, 7-mercapto-4-methylcoumarin, and 6-benzylaminopurine-were chosen as a candidate acceptor for O-, S-, and N-glucosidation, respectively. These enzymatic products were purified and the structures were confirmed with mass and NMR spectra. As all isolated glucosides are β-anomers, BcGT1 is confirmed to be an inverting enzyme. This study not only demonstrates the substrate promiscuity of BcGT1 but also showed the great application prospect of this enzyme in bioconversion of valuable bioactive molecules.

After water imbibition, the outer layer seed coat of shaddock (Citrus grandis Osbeck) produces transparent gel-like mucilage (MSS), but its characteristics have never been studied before. This study aimed to assess the physico-chemical and functional properties of MSS. Extractions of MSS with deionized water at room temperature yielded about 3.5% based on the dry weight of seed. The major components were neutral sugars and uronic acids in the amounts of 33.5% and 49.6%, respectively. The acidic nature of MSS was confirmed by ruthenium red staining. Its water holding capacity and viscosity were 44.53 g•g-1 DW and 1660 cP at 10 g/L, respectively. MSS showed a weak quenching activity against DPPH radical, and moderate ferrous ion-chelating and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities, with IC50 value of 1.5 g/L and 1.1 g/L, respectively. A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay demonstrated that MSS significantly stimulated the viability of mouse skin fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) at 5 - 300 mg/L. These results impart the potential usefulness of the MSS to food, cosmetics and other applications.

A key step in regulating the flowering of Phalaenopsis is to control the emergence of the flower stalk or spiking. Light quality is an important factor to regulate plant reproduction. We used either red or blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) to substitute for 10% photosynthetic photon flux emitted by white fluorescent tubes as the control (WC) at approximately 70 μmole&middotm-2&middots-1 to examine the effects of enhanced red (WR) or blue (WB) light on spiking and the dawn-to-dusk fluctuations in the photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrates of Phalaenopsis aphrodite, which were grown in 7.5 cm diameter pots for six weeks. WR treatment significantly elevated the ratio of red to far-red light and the level of phytochrome photostationary state in concurrence with an increase in the spiking ratio and length, but had little effect on the concentrations of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in the leaf, levels of soluble sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, and insoluble starch in the leaf and shortened stem, the locus of spiking, when compared to the other two treatments. Evidently, the spiking of Phalaenopsis is improved by dependent on the relative amount of active phytochrome expressed in the photostationary state.

Many studies have suggested that folate-related one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients may play a role in certain cancer risks, but few studies have assessed their associations with the risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we investigated the association between four folate-related one-carbon metabolism-related nutrients (folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and methionine) and NPC risk in Chinese adults. A total of 600 patients newly diagnosed (within 3 months) with NPC were individually matched with 600 hospital-based controls by age, sex and household type (urban v. rural). Folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and methionine intakes were measured using a validated seventy-eight-item FFQ. A higher dietary folate or vitamin B6 intake was associated with a lower NPC risk after adjusting for potential confounders. The adjusted OR of NPC for quartiles 2–4 (v. 1) were 0·66 (95 % CI 0·48, 0·91), 0·52 (95 % CI 0·37, 0·74) and 0·34 (95 % CI 0·23, 0·50) (PtrendPtrend6. No significant association with NPC risk was observed for dietary vitamin B12 or methionine intake. The risk for NPC with dietary folate intake was more evident in the participants who were not exposed to toxic substances than in those who were exposed (Pinteraction=0·014). This study suggests that dietary folate and vitamin B6 may be protective for NPC in a high-risk population.