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Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are a subgroup of flavonoids possessing various health benefits. 3,5,7,4'-Tetramethoxyflavone (1), 5,6,7,4'-tetramethylflavone (2), 3,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (3), 5,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (4), 5-hydroxy-3,7,2',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (5), 3,5,7,2',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (6), 5-hydroxy-3,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (7), 3-hydroxy-5,7,3',4'-tetramethylflavone (8), 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (9), 5-hydroxy-3,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (10), 3-hydroxy-5,7,3',4',5'-pentamethoxyflavone (11), and 3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexamethoxylflavone (12) were 12 bioactive and available PMFs. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic, metabolite, and antitumor activities as well as the structure-pharmacokinetic-antitumor activity relationships of these 12 PMFs to facilitate further studies of their medicinal potentials. The cytotoxicity of PMFs with a hydroxy group toward HeLa, A549, HepG2, and HCT116 cancer cell lines was generally significantly more potent than that of PMFs without a hydroxy group. Compounds 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 were all undetectable in rat plasma, while compounds 1-4, 6, 9, and 12 were detectable. Both the number and position of hydroxy and methoxy groups played an important role in modulating PMF pharmacokinetics and metabolites.

Holliday junction recognition protein (HJURP) refers to a histone H3 chaperone that has been implicated in different kinds of malignancies. Yet, its character in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. The expression of HJURP was assessed in PDAC tissues by RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. HJURP-deficient or overexpressed PDAC cell lines were constructed, using shRNA or plasmids with HJURP insert. MTT, sphere formation assay, migration, and invasion assays were performed to evaluate the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of PDAC cells. We used xenograft mice models to assess the tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RNA-seq was applicated in search of the potential downstream target of HJURP in PDAC and subsequent verification were fulfilled via multiple assays, including immunofluorescence. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to explore the potential regulation of MDM2 expression by HJURP through H3K4me2. In this current research, we found that the expression of HJURP in PDAC cells and tissue was significantly higher than those of adjacent normal tissue, and high HJURP expression predicted poor survival. HJURP significantly promoted the viability, sphere formation, migration, and invasion of PDAC cells in vitro, HJURP also facilitated tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanically, MDM2/p53 axis is critical for HJURP-mediated malignant behaviors in PDAC, and HJURP regulates MDM2 expression through H3K4me2. HJURP could serve as a promising biomarker, and target for PDAC prognosis and treatment.

Psidium guajava leaves (PGL) have been long used as an adjuvant therapy for diabetics. The present study evaluated the in vivo hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of dried and the rice-fried PGL decoctions (PGLD and RPGLD). Our results indicated that both PGLD and RPGLD could significantly decrease the contents of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in diabetic rats. Compared with the HFD/STZ (high-fat diet with streptozotocin) group, the PGLD and RPGLD-treated diabetic rats showed different degrees of recovery against the liver pathological changes. The upregulated expressions of glucokinase (GK), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2) in PGLD and RPGLD-treated groups were observed. In general, RPGLD exhibited a much better antidiabetic effect than PGLD, which was further verified by the comprehensive evaluation with the TOPSIS method. Besides, HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) and UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) analyses revealed that the contents of the primary constituents (ellagic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitroside, reynoutrin, guaijaverin, auicularin, and quercetin) in RPGLD increased obviously compared with PGLD. These results shed new light on the antidiabetic potential and mechanism of PGL, as well as the “higher efficacy” of the rice-fried processing method in traditional Chinese medicine.

Background：Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella infection, directly or indirectly leads to great loss to poultry industry. With the emergence of drug-resistance in chicken coccidia, it is imperative to develop new drugs. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate cell cycle progression in numerous organisms by acting as key molecular switches. Results: In the present study, a diclazuril anticoccidiosis animal model was established and CDK-related kinase 2 (CRK2) in the second-generation merozoite of E. tenella (EtCRK2) gene was amplified through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3). Purified recombinant protein was used for antiserum preparation. Subsequently, EtCRK2 transcription and translation levels were detected through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The localization of EtCRK2 in merozoites was examined via immunofluorescence techniques. Results showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of EtCRK2 decreased in the infected/diclazuril group compared with those in the infected/control group. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that EtCRK2 was localized in the cytoplasm of merozoites. The fluorescence intensity of EtCRK2 in the infected/diclazuril group was significantly weaker than that in the infected/control group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the anticoccidial drug diclazuril against E. tenella by affecting the expression pattern of EtCRK2 molecule, and EtCRK2 may be used as a candidate target for new drug development.

Psidium guajava leaves (PGL) have been long used as an adjuvant therapy for diabetics. The present study evaluated the in vivo hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of dried and the rice-fried PGL decoctions (PGLD and RPGLD). Our results indicated that both PGLD and RPGLD could significantly decrease the contents of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in diabetic rats. Compared with the HFD/STZ (high-fat diet with streptozotocin) group, the PGLD and RPGLD-treated diabetic rats showed different degrees of recovery against the liver pathological changes. The upregulated expressions of glucokinase (GK), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2) in PGLD and RPGLD-treated groups were observed. In general, RPGLD exhibited a much better antidiabetic effect than PGLD, which was further verified by the comprehensive evaluation with the TOPSIS method. Besides, HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) and UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) analyses revealed that the contents of the primary constituents (ellagic acid, hyperoside, isoquercitroside, reynoutrin, guaijaverin, auicularin, and quercetin) in RPGLD increased obviously compared with PGLD. These results shed new light on the antidiabetic potential and mechanism of PGL, as well as the “higher efficacy” of the rice-fried processing method in traditional Chinese medicine.

An anticoccidial model of chicken infected with Eimeria tenella was established to investigate the effect of toltrazuril (Tol) combined with the Radix Sophorae Flavescentis (RSF) on coccidiosis. The anticoccidial index (ACI) was evaluated, and the cecal developmental parameters (i.e., villus height, [VH], crypt depth, [CD], and VH/CD) were determined. The distributions of glycoproteins and goblet cells in the cecal tissue were determined through the Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue PAS staining methods, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 of the cecal tissue were determined through quantitative real-time PCR. The moderate ACI was obtained using the combination of Tol and RSF. Compared with the normal control (NC) group, the infected control (IC) group showed remarkably lower VH and VH/CD at five and seven days postinfection. Compared with the IC group, the IC + RSF and IC + TolRSF groups showed remarkably higher VH and VH/CD at five and seven days postinfection. Compared with the NC group, the IC group contained fewer glycoproteins and goblet cells, but the Tol and RSF treatment promoted more glycoproteins and goblet cells at five and seven days postinfection. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in the IC group were upregulated (P < 0.01) compared with those in the NC group. The IC + RSF and IC + TolRSF groups had downregulated mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 cytokines (P < 0.01), and upregulated mRNA expression levels of IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines (P < 0.01) compared with the IC group. Results showed that the combination of Tol and RSF exerts anticoccidial effect by reducing inflammation and promoting intestinal mucosal immunity.

Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasite of the chicken cecum; it brings huge economic loss to the chicken industry. Enolase is a multifunctional glycolytic enzyme involved in many processes of parasites, such as infection and migration. In this study, the effect of diclazuril on the expression of enolase in second-generation merozoites of E. tenella (EtENO) was reported. The prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-28a-EtENO was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Then, it was subjected to expression under the induction of isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside. The expressed products were identified and purified. The purified EtENO protein was used for antibody preparation. The EtENO mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed via real-time PCR and Western blotting. Localization of EtENO on the merozoites was examined by immunofluorescence technique. The mRNA and protein expression levels of EtENO were decreased by 36.3 and 40.36%, respectively, by diclazuril treatment. EtENO distributed in the surface, cytoplasm, and nucleus of the infected/control group. With diclazuril treatment, it was significantly reduced in the surface and cytoplasm and even disappeared in the nucleus of the infected/diclazuril group. These observations suggested that EtENO may play an important role in mechanism of diclazuril anticoccidial action and be a potential drug target for the intervention with E. tenella infection.

A hydroxide-bridged centrosymmetric DyIII dimer with each DyIII being five-coordinated has been synthesized using bulky hindered phenolate ligands. Magnetic studies revealed that this compound exhibits a slow magnetic relaxation of a single-ion origin together with a step-like magnetic hysteresis of the magnetic coupled cluster. The thermal relaxation barrier of magnetization is 721 K in the absence of a static magnetic field, while the intramolecular magnetic interaction is very large among reported 4f-only dimers. CASSCF calculations with a larger active space were performed to understand the electronic structure of the compound. The thermal relaxation regime and the quantum tunneling regime are well separated, representing a good model to study the relaxation mechanism of SMMs with intramolecular Dy–Dy magnetic interactions.

Eimeria tenella, an obligate intracellular parasite, can actively invade the cecal epithelial cells of chickens and cause severe enteric disease. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) plays a major role in protein synthesis and cell survival. This study aims to explore the exact mechanisms underlying diclazuril inhibition in second-generation merozoites of E. tenella. The eEF2 cDNA of the second-generation merozoites of E. tenella (EtEF2) was cloned by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Diclazuril-induced expression profiles of EtEF2 were also analyzed. The cloned full-length cDNA (2893 bp) of the EtEF2 nucleotide sequence encompassed a 2499 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a polypeptide of 832 residues with an estimated molecular mass of 93.12 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.99. The EtEF2 nucleotide sequence was submitted to the GenBank database with the accession number KF188423. The EtEF2 protein sequence shared 99 % homology with the eEF2 sequence of Toxoplasma gondii (GenBank XP_002367778.1). The GTPase activity domain and ADP-ribosylation domain were conserved signature sequences of the eEF2 gene family. The changes in the transcriptional and translational levels of EtEF2 were detected through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses. The mRNA expression level of EtEF2 was 2.706 fold increases and the protein level of EtEF2 was increased 67.31 % under diclazuril treatment. In addition, the localization of EtEF2 was investigated through immunofluorescence assay. Experimental results demonstrated that EtEF2 was distributed primarily in the cytoplasm of second-generation merozoites, and its fluorescence intensity was enhanced after diclazuril treatment. These findings indicated that EtEF2 may have an important role in understanding the signaling mechanism underlying the anticoccidial action of diclazuril and could be a promising target for novel drug exploration.

Intergeneric crop plant hybrid lines with small-segment chromosome translocations are very useful in plant genetic research and breeding. In this study, to create small-segment chromosome translocations with beneficial agronomic characters, the progeny of wheat-rye substitution lines 5R/5A and 6R/6A were selected from generations F2 to F5 for rye-specific characteristics. A PCR primer and specific simple sequence repeat marker for rye were used in F5 populations to detect rye chromatin and to amplify a specific chromosome band in six translocation lines (06-6-5, 06-6-6, 06-6-9, 6-26-1, 7-23, and 7-33). Fragment pSc119.1 cloned from 7-33 had 99% homology with the big ear gene sequence (GenBank AF512607.1) in wheat. The six lines were further characterized via pollen mother cell meiosis analysis for genetic stability, and chromosome C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization for rye chromatin. The results show that line 7-33 was still within the 5R/5A substitution lines and possessed the big ear gene. The other lines all contained small-segment rye chromosome translocations. The results indicated that substitution line hybridization is an effective method for creating small-segment chromosome translocations with useful agronomic traits. Trials for these six wheat-rye translocation lines are justified because they possess many important stably-inherited agronomic characters, including disease resistance and improved yield.

In order to investigate the content and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) in main economic macroalgaes in our country, fifteen rare earth elements in three economic macroalgaes (including 30 samples of kelp, 30 samples of laver and 15 samples of Enteromorpha) were detected using ICP-MS method. Results showed that the total content of REE in different species of macroalgaes was different. The highest total content of REE was in Enteromorpha (16,012.0 ng · g⁻¹), while in kelp and laver, the total REE was similar for two macroalgaes (3887.4 and 4318.1 ng · g⁻¹ respectively). The content of fifteen rare earth elements in kelp ranged from 7.9 to 1496.4 ng · g⁻¹; in laver, it ranged from 8.2 to 1836.6 ng · g⁻¹. For Enteromorpha, the concentration of 15 rare earth elements were between 19.2 and 6014.5 ng · g⁻¹. In addition, the content and distribution of different rare earth elements in different macroalgaes was also different. For kelp, the highest content of REE was Ce (1 496.4 ng · g⁻¹), and the second was La (689.1 ng · g⁻¹). For laver, the highest was Y (1836.6 ng · g⁻¹), and the second was Ce (682.2 ng · g⁻¹). For Enteromorpha, the highest was Ce (6014.5 ng · g⁻¹), and the second was La (2902.9 ng · g⁻¹). Present results also showed that three macroalgaes accumulated the light rare earth elements much more than the high rare earth elements. The light rare earth elements occupied 90.9%, 87.3% and 91.1% for kelp, laver and Enteromorpha respectively. The result that the Enteromorpha had high content of rare earth elements could provide important support for opening new research directions for the utilization of Enteromorpha.

In order to probe a new enhanced oil recovery technology during the post polymer flooding process, we constructed the 16SrDNA gene library and analysed PCR-DGGE during the post-microbial enhanced oil recovery of polymer flooding process. Through the research for the reservoir system, we studied the microbial community structure and genetic diversity after polymer flooding process, made the phylogenetic analysis. It is supposed to provide a dependable basis for MEOR through directional control microbial community of reservoir, through development and application of effective microbial flooding technology.

Based on the monitoring data of air quality and meteorological data from 2003 to 2009 in Beijing, the change of air quality and pollutants concentration are analyzed, and their relationship with meteorological conditions are figured out. The results showed below.(1)The annual average value of API (Air Pollution Index) decreased from 2007 gradually, and the value of 2008 is equal to 86.3% of 2007. As to monthly changing trend of API, the value in April is highest, and is lowest in august. API in summer is lowest relatively in all-year, and it is worst in spring. (2)The pollutants concentration of PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and NOX showed decreasing trends from 2006 to 2009. The monthly changing trends of PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and O3 were different. The monthly average concentrations of NOX SO2, NO2 and NOX were lowest in July, while the high values appeared in different month.(3)Correlation between pollutant concentration and meteorological conditions are figured out: SO2, NO2 and NOX are negative related to temperature, wind speed and sunlight hours and positive related to humidity, while O3 is adverse. PM2.5 is well related to relative humidity and cloud cover. PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and NOX are all positive related to wind speed.(4)The air quality and pollutant concentration displayed significant in different under each wind direction. When north wind blows, the average value of API is lowest relatively and south wind is adverse. The concentration of PM2.5, SO2, NO2 and NOX are lower when Beijing is controlled by the north wind or north-west wind.

Objective: to investigate the impact of craniotomy on oxidative stress and its effect on levels of plasma l-carnitine (LC). Methods: plasma levels of reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in 34 patients (26 males and 8 females, mean age 47.7 ± 6.7 years) before and after craniotomy. Plasma levels of LC, acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), and propionyl-l-carnitine (PLC) were also measured before and after the craniotomy. Results: the plasma concentrations of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, and T-AOC within the first 4 h after craniotomy were lower than their baseline values (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean plasma levels of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, or T-AOC between the baseline and 24 h post-operative values. The level of TBARS at 4 h after the craniotomy was lower than the pre-operative level (P < 0.05), but the 24 h post-operative value was similar to the baseline concentration (P > 0.05). Plasma levels of LC, ALC, and PLC were lower after the craniotomy (P < 0.05), but these levels returned to the baseline levels 24 h after the operation. Conclusions: craniotomy and the associated procedures for surgery/anesthesia temporarily reduce antioxidant activity and plasma levels of l-carnitine.

A method for on-line monitoring the dissolution of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets assisted by mathematical separation model of linear equations was established. UV spectrums of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide were overlapping completely at the maximum absorption wavelength respectively. According to the Beer-Lambert principle of absorbance additivity, the absorptivity of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide was determined at the maximum absorption wavelength, and the dissolubility of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets was detected by fiber-optic dissolution test (FODT) assisted by the mathematical separation model of linear equations and compared with the HPLC method. Results show that two ingredients were real-time determined simultaneously in given medium. There was no significant difference for FODT compared with HPLC (p0.05). Due to the dissolution behavior consistency, the preparation process of different batches was stable and with good uniformity. The dissolution curves of valsartan were faster and higher than hydrochlorothiazide. The dissolutions at 30 min of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide were concordant with US Pharmacopoeia. It was concluded that fiber-optic dissolution test system assisted by the mathematical separation model of linear equations that can detect the dissolubility of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide simultaneously, and get dissolution profiles and overall data, which can directly reflect the dissolution speed at each time. It can provide the basis for establishing standards of the drug. Compared to HPLC method with one-point data, there are obvious advantages to evaluate and analyze quality of sampling drug by FODT.

Sitafloxacin is a newly developed fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug. The crystal studied, C19H18ClF2N3O3·CH3OH, consists of one molecule of sitafloxacin and one methanol solvent molecule. The molecule of sitafloxacin is a zwitterion with a protonated primary amine group and a deprotonated carboxylate group. The cyclopropane ring and the CO2 group make dihedral angles of 79.5 (3) and 35.4 (4)°, respectively, with the fused ring system. The supramolecular structure is defined by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.

The sorption behavior of nonylphenol (NP, a toxic endocrine disruptor) on marine sediments was studied in detail through a series of kinetic and thermodynamic sorption experiments. The results showed that the sorption reaction of NP on marine sediments reached equilibrium in 1.5 h and that it accorded well with the non-linear Ho-McKay pseudo-second-order model. The sorption isotherms of NP on H2O-treated sediments could be well described by the Linear isotherm model, while the sorption isotherm on H2O2-treated sediments could be well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm model. A positive correlation was found between the distribution coefficient (Kd) and the sediment organic carbon contents. The medium salinity showed a positive relation with the Kd and a negative relation with the dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) enhanced the sorption amount of NP the most, while sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) enhanced it the least. The sorption reaction of NP on marine sediments was a spontaneous, physical, exothermic and entropy-decreasing process.

Sorption of nonylphenol (NP), a toxic endocrine disruptor, on marine sediments was studied through series of experiments. The sorption isotherms can be described by three models: linear model, Freundlich model and Langmuir model. The sorption amount of NP on the three sediment samples was in proportion to the organic carbon content of sediments. The adsorption ability of sediments with different grain sizes had positive correlation with organic carbon content. Moreover, the sorption of NP on marine sediments increased with the increase of salinity and the decline of temperature.

To compare the newborn piglet models of hypoxic ischemic brain damage in hypoxia and hypoxia combined with occlusion of both carotid arteries.Twenty four 7-day-old piglets were divided into two groups. Group H: mechanical ventilation with low concentration of oxygen, Group HI: mechanical ventilation with low concentration of oxygen combined with occlusion of both carotid arteries. The piglets were inhaled with 10%, 8%, and 6% low-concentration oxygen for 30 min, and grouped into mild, moderate, and severe hypoxia ones. The changes of physiological parameter, cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen perfusion were detected.There were no significant differences in blood gas analysis of oxygen saturation, blood lactic acid and pH between the two groups(P0.05).The mean arterial pressure of severe hypoxia in HI was significantly lower than in H (P0.05). The cerebral blood flow in H and HI was relatively stable after different degrees of hypoxia. As compared with the cerebral blood flow perfusion in group H and HI, there were no significant differences between them(P0.05). The cerebral oxygen perfusion in H and HI was significantly descent after different degrees of hypoxia(P0.05). As compared with the cerebral oxygen perfusion in groups H and HI, there were no significant differences between them.H and HI have the same effect on physiological parameter, cerebral volume and cerebral oxygen perfusion of newborn piglets. The mechanical ventilation with low concentration of oxygen to newborn piglets can develop the HIBD model, it is not necessary to occlude carotid arteries.

To analyze retrospectively the quantity and activation status of the tumor infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes in breast cancer and the draining lymph nodes, and its relation to the clinical pathological significance.Seventy-four breast cancer samples with their corresponding axillary lymph nodes were histologically typed and staged. Cytotxic lymphocytes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with the monoclonal antibodies against CD8, CD56, granzyme B and perforin.The number of infiltrating CD8(+) T cells in the cancerous interstitial tissue were much higher than that in the tumor parenchyma. Compared with the metastatic tumor samples, the CD8(+) T cells were more intensive in the primary tumors (35.7 +/- 16.0 vs. 23.7 +/- 9.6). The tumor infiltrating CD8(+) T cells of patients with 5 years survivals were more than that of the dead cases in this follow-up series death (32.9 +/- 14.1 vs. 20.1 +/- 9.9). There was no significant difference of activated tumor infiltrating cytotoxic T cell analyzed by using the activation marker granzyme B(+) and there was also no significant correlation between the intensity of CD8(+), CD56(+) cells and the clinicopathological stages. However, percentages of the activated cytotoxic lymphocytes in Stage I groups were significantly higher than those in stage III and IV. Moreover, the number of perforin(+) cells was significantly less than that of granzyme B(+) cells, particularly in the cancerous tissue, indicating a dysfunctional status of tumor infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes.Activated cytotoxic lymphocytes may play a significant role against the tumor progression and is associated with a favorable prognosis to some extent. However, a putative dysfunctional status of cytotoxic lymphocytes at tumor site may compromise the host immunity against cancer.

As a non-invasive technique for measuring tissue oxygenation, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has increasing applications in detecting cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. The authors, introduced the basic principle of the NIRS oximeter developed independently by our group (TSAH-100). The authors achieved the optimal coupling between the probe and the detected cerebral tissue. The present study investigated different regional oxygen saturations of brain (rSO2) measured non-invasively by NIRS, arterial blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured invasively by blood gas analysis and physiological parameters in newborn pigs with different hypoxia, in order to prove if the non-invasively cerebral rSO2 can indicate cerebral oxygenation status in clinical practice. Using this oximeter, cerebral rSO2 of 28 newborn piglets under different oxygenation status was detected. After mechanical ventilation and inhalation of 8%-17% oxygen for 30 min in the newborn pigs, the pigs were grouped according to the inhalation of oxygen. With the inhalation of 13%-17% oxygen was mild hypoxia group, with 10%-13% was moderate hypoxia group, and with 8%-10% was severe hypoxia group. There were 4 animals in mild hypoxia group, 8 animals in moderate hypoxia group, 12 animals in severe hypoxia group and 4 animals were in the normal control group. The physiological parameters were monitored during the experiment. The SaO2 were invasively measured by blood gas analysis after the experiment. The results indicate that both rSO2 and SaO2 decreased after different degree of hypoxia and there was a good correlation between cerebral rSO2 non-invasively measured by NIRS and SaO2 invasively measured by blood gas analysis (p0.001). Cerebral rSO2 was also consistent with the degree of hypoxia and the changes in physiological parameters after hypoxia. The arterial pH and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the severe hypoxia group was lower than that in the control group (p0.05). The blood lactic acid in the severe hypoxia group was higher than that in the control group (p0.05). Thus, the rSO2 can accurately and directly indicate cerebral oxygenation status and can also replace the SaO2 invasively measured by blood gas analysis. Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia can be non-invasively and conveniently diagnosed using NIRS.

To study correlation of brain hypoxia of different degrees with brain function and damage.The brain regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) was determined by using a non-invasive near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique in 15 piglets; the piglets were subjected to inhale 3% - 11% oxygen-nitrogen mixed gas through mechanical ventilation for 30 min. The piglets were divided into groups according to the level of brain rSO2 (i.e.30%, 30% - 35%, 35% - 40%, and 40% - 50%), and the data were compared with those of the control group (rSO260%). Changes of brain function were detected through amplitude and frequency of EEG waves and signal complexity. The piglets were sacrificed via decapitation 72 h after brain damage, and then histopathological and ultrastructural examinations were performed on cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area.In the group with rSO240%, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) after hypoxia was (56 +/- 0.00) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), the blood lactic acid (LA) was (2.3 +/- 1.2) mmol/L, the EEG findings were within normal range, and there was no change in brain tissue ultrastructure. In the group with brain rSO2 = 30% approximately 40%, the MAP was (73 +/- 8) mm Hg, the LA was (8.2 +/- 3.9) mmol/L, the EEG waves showed decreased amplitude, frequency and complexity, but restored to some extent after hypoxia. The brain tissue ultrastructure showed damages to the cerebral cortex and neuron mitochondria at hippocampal CA1 area. In the group with brain rSO230%, the MAP was (35 +/- 0) mm Hg, the LA was (12 +/- 2) mmol/L, the EEG showed decreased amplitude, frequency, and complexity of signals compared with those of the normal control group, and was difficult to restore after hypoxia in some of the piglets; the brain tissue ultrastructure appeared to be similar to the changes seen with high-degree swollen cerebral cortex and neuron mitochondria at hippocampal CA1 area.Different degrees of hypoxia had different influence on brain function and brain damage. The lower the brain rSO2, the more severe the damages to the brain and its function. The rSO2 of brain tissues detected with noninvasive NIRS can reflect brain injury and its severity during cerebral anoxia.

This study investigated the absorption spectrum and the fluorescence spectrum of rabbit hearts stained with the voltage sensitive dye (di-4-ANEPPS). The results suggested that the optical absorption of tissue with the dye was higher than that of the control group, and there were significant differences between the experimental group and control group in the range of 450-550 nm. It was also indicated that the maximum absorption peak of the dye in tissues was at (479.25 +/- 0.44) nm. Additionally, the different peaks of fluorescence emission spectra from the atriums, ventricles and aorta were originally found by testing the five parts of rabbit hearts with the dye. Their relative intensities were related to the distribution concentrations of the dye. Meanwhile, the peaks of excitation spectra and fluorescence emission spectra were determined by examining the three-dimensional and two-dimensional fluorescence spectra using ventricles and atriums with the dye. Based on the discrepancy of rest membrane voltages between ventricles and atriums, the best wavelength ranges of excitation light and emissions light of optical mapping were determined by the shifts of the dye in emission spectra with excitation at different wavelengths. These results offer a theoretical foundation for the design of a cardiac optical mapping system.