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Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common type of puerperal mental syndrome and affects maternal physical and mental health and even the growth and development of infants. Paeoniflorin exerts a potential antidepressive effect; however, the functional roles and potential mechanisms of paeoniflorin in PPD are still largely unknown. PPD rat models were prepared by withdrawing hormone‑simulated pregnancy (HSP), and subjects were treated with paeoniflorin and fluoxetine or plasmids. The sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to monitor depression‑like behavior in rats. A radioimmunoassay was utilized for estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) measurements. ELISA was performed to detect serum corticosterone (Cor), hippocampal allopregnanolone (Allo), IL‑1β and TNF‑α levels. Expression of the E2 receptors ERα and ERβ was detected by qPCR. Western blotting was used to detect TSPO, BDNF and mTOR phosphorylation. Paeoniflorin drastically increased the sucrose preference of rats while decreasing the immobility time in the FST and TST in PPD models. Moreover, paeoniflorin intervention upregulated serum E2, hippocampal Allo, ERα, and ERβ levels but degraded P, serum Cor, IL‑1β, TNF‑α and ERα/ERβ levels. Mechanistically, paeoniflorin promoted TSPO and BDNF‑mTOR pathway activation in PPD rats. Furthermore, suppression of TSPO or the BDNF‑mTOR pathway partially reversed the effects of paeoniflorin on depression‑like behaviors, hormone levels, and inflammatory cytokine release. Paeoniflorin may improve symptoms of PPD by regulating the TSPO and BDNF‑mTOR pathways, indicating that paeoniflorin may be an effective anti‑PPD and antidepressant drug, providing evidence for the future treatment of PPD.

The uniformity of powder mixing during the preparation process is an important factor affecting the quality of media. In order to judge the uniformity of powder mixture during media preparation, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) based support vector data description (SVDD) method is proposed for detecting the uniformity of powder mixture. Firstly, uniform powder images' feature parameters based on RGB and HSV color space are extracted to build training data. Then, PSO is used to optimize the kernel parameters σ and penalty factor C of the SVDD algorithm. The judgment model of powder mixture uniformity is established. Finally, Uneven powder images and uniformity of powder images are constructed as test samples to test the effect of the judgment model. The results show that the proposed method performs better in judging powder's uniformity and higher classification accuracy.

Background Alternative N-glycosylation has significant structural and functional consequences on immunoglobulin G (IgG) and can affect immune responses, acting as a switch between pro- and anti-inflammatory IgG functionality. Studies have demonstrated that IgG N-glycosylation is associated with ageing, body mass index, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Methods Herein, we have demonstrated patterns of IgG glycosylation that are associated with blood lipids in a cross-sectional study including 598 Han Chinese aged 20–68 years. The IgG glycome composition was analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Results Blood lipids were positively correlated with glycan peak GP6, whereas they were negatively correlated with GP18 (P

Three species (Aconitum taipeicum, Delphinium giraldii, and Consolida ajacis) of the tribe Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy and histological methods. The results showed that members of Delphinieae differ from their polysymmetrical relatives by four unique features: (1) a spiral phyllotaxis of their perianth and stamens, and a series of carpels, which initiated superficially in a whorl-liked arrangement, (2) sepal 2 being the largest one among the five sepals and becoming helmet-shaped or having a spur, (3) petals 2 and 5 initiated adaxially of sepal 2 and also becoming spurred, and (4) the monosymmetry of the first flower becoming established when sepal 2 becomes the largest. Major differences among the species include the timing of development of the second series, the fusion of two petals into a single one in C. ajacis, and, during early developmental stages, the two young spurred petals giving rise to a stalk and two bulges in A. taipeicum, a single bulge in D. giraldii, or an arch blade in C. ajacis. The unequal growth of the perianth, together with the reduction and the rearrangement of the carpels, are critical in inducing the symmetrical transformation of the flowers.

Male infertility is an important global health burden that can benefit from novel biomarkers and diagnostics innovation. Aberrant methylation of the imprinted genes H19 and SNRPN (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N) in sperm DNA has been implicated in abnormal sperm parameters and male infertility. However, whether certain methylation patterns of one or multiple CpG sites within an imprinted gene are pathological for multiple sperm defects remains poorly understood. To examine the diagnostic potential of certain methylation patterns of CpG sites for multiphenotype defects in human sperm, the sperm DNA methylation patterns of individual CpG sites within imprinting control regions (ICRs) of imprinted genes H19 and SNRPN were measured by bisulfite pyrosequencing in a Han Chinese population sample: 39 oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) patients, 36 asthenoteratozoospermia (AT) patients, and 50 normozoospermia (N) controls. A partial least squares discriminant analysis model was built with the CpG sites as independent variables. Among the 16 CpG sites screened, the methylation patterns of eight CpG sites within H19-ICR (CpG sites 1, 6-9, 12 and 15-16), and eight CpG sites within SNRPN-ICR (CpG sites 2, 5-6, 8-10, 13, and 16) correctly classified 74.4% and 72.0% of the samples in terms of male fertile status, respectively. Furthermore, by combination of these 16 selected CpG sites within ICRs of H19 and SNRPN, 88.0% of the samples could be successfully classified. Our study demonstrates that methylation profiles of CpG sites within ICRs of imprinted genes H19 and SNRPN may potentially serve as epigenomic biomarkers for assessment of infertility in men with multiple sperm defects. Further studies in independent population samples are called for diagnostic significance of methylation patterns of CpG sites within imprinted genes.

The reform and opening-up policy prompts a rapid development of our social economy, science and technology, while the development of financial system plays an irreplaceable role in economic development. Our nation is in the key period of economic transformation. The financial support system, which can provide guarantee for rapid and stable economic transformation, is important in order to provide better economic services. It mainly includes banking system, security system and financial intermediaries. This paper analyzes the current status of financial support under the condition of economic transformation, puts forward the financial support measures for the development of China’s economic transformation and lays a good foundation for building a good folk financial market environment.

Hypertension results from the interaction of genetic and acquired factors. IgG occurs in the form of different subclasses, of which the effector functions show significant variation. The detailed differences between the glycosylation profiles of the individual IgG subclasses may be lost in a profiling method for total IgG N-glycosylation. In this study, subclass-specific IgG Fc glycosylation profile was investigated in the four northwestern Chinese minority populations, namely, Uygur (UIG), Kazak (KZK), Kirgiz (KGZ), and Tajik (TJK), composed of 274 hypertensive patients and 356 healthy controls. The results showed that ten directly measured IgG N-glycan traits (i.e., IgG1G0F, IgG2G0F, IgG2G1FN, IgG2G1FS, IgG2G2S, IgG4G0F, IgG4G1FS, IgG4G1S, IgG4G2FS, and IgG4G2N) representing galactosylation and sialylation are significantly associated with hypertension, with IgG4 consistently showing weaker associations of its sialylation, across the four ethnic groups. We observed a modest improvement on the AUC of ROC curve when the IgG Fc N-glycan traits are added into the glycan-based model (difference between AUCs, 0.044, 95% CI: 0.016–0.072, P = 0.002). The AUC of the diagnostic model indicated that the subclass-specific IgG Fc N-glycan profiles provide more information reinforcing current models utilizing age, gender, BMI, and ethnicity, and demonstrate the potential of subclass-specific IgG Fc N-glycosylation profiles to serve as a biomarker for hypertension. Further research is however required to determine the additive value of subclass-specific IgG Fc N-glycosylation on top of biomarkers, which are currently used.

Objective. The aim of this study is to observe the effect of Peony-Glycyrrhiza Decoction (PGD) on hyperprolactinemia in women with schizophrenia induced by Amisulpride. Material and Methods. A total of 41 female schizophrenia patients receiving Amisulpride were randomly divided into placebo (n=20) and PGD groups (n=21). Maintaining the original Amisulpride dose, the two groups were given placebo and PGD, respectively. The levels of Prolactin (PRL) and other hormones were measured on the initial day and at weeks 4 and 8 after treatment. Changes of clinical symptoms in patients with hyperprolactinemia were observed. The PANSS scores were recorded to assess the psychotic symptoms. Results. Compared with placebo group, level of PRL decreased while Progesterone increased remarkably in the PGD group at weeks 4 and 8 (p<0.01), and level of Estradiol in the PGD group increased significantly at week 8 (p<0.05). There were no differences in PANSS scores and biochemical indexes between two groups at weeks 4 and 8. Conclusion. PGD can improve symptoms of hyperprolactinemia and hormone levels in women with schizophrenia caused by Amisulpride, without affecting their mental symptoms and biochemical indexes.

The present study was carried out to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of luteolin by using a cell model of steatosis induced by palmitate. Incubation of HepG2 cells with palmitate markedly increased lipid accumulation (Oil Red O staining), the genes involved in lipogenesis, including fatty acid synthase (FAS) and its upstream regulator sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Luteolin enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and its primary downstream targeting enzyme, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), up-regulated gene expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT-1), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, and down-regulated SREBP-1c and FAS mRNA levels in the absence and presence of palmitate. In addition, luteolin significantly decreased ROS production and ameliorated lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells caused by palmitate. Furthermore, intracellular triglyceride (TG) measurement indicated that the luteolin-mediated reduction of enhanced TG caused by palmitate was blocked by pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor, compound C. The results suggested that the lipid-lowering effect of luteolin might be partially mediated by the up-regulation of CPT-1 and down-regulation of SREBP-1c and FAS gene expression, possibly by activation of the AMPK signaling pathway, and partially might be through its antioxidative actions.

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in Ca(2+) release through ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is not well understood. Caffeine was used to activate RyRs and the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was measured in both freshly isolated and cultured mouse aortic SMCs (ASMCs). Pre-activation of PKC with 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) prevented caffeine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients. Application of the PKC inhibitor calphostin C caused [Ca(2+)](i) transients which were not blocked by nifedipine or by removing extracellular Ca(2+) but were abolished after inhibition of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase with thapsigargin or after inhibition of RyRs with ryanodine. In addition, chelerythrine and GF109203X also elevated resting [Ca(2+)](i) but no further [Ca(2+)](i) increase was seen with subsequent application of caffeine. Selective inhibition of PKCalpha with safingol blocked caffeine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients, but the PKCepsilon inhibitory peptide V1-2 did not. In cells expressing a EGFP-tagged PKCalpha, caffeine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients were associated with a rapid focal translocation near the cell periphery, while application of ionomycin and DOG caused translocation to the plasma membrane. Western blot showed that caffeine increased the relative amount of PKCalpha in the particulate fraction in a time-dependent manner. Co-immunoprecipitation of RyRs and PKCalpha indicated that they interact. In conclusion, our studies suggest that PKC activation can inhibit the gating activity of RyRs in the SR of ASMCs, and this regulation is most likely mediated by the Ca(2+)-dependent PKCalpha isoform.

The present study describes the identification via privileged structure-based approach of the benzhydrylpiperazine moiety as a potential scaffold to develop novel CB(1) receptor modulators. Efficient structural optimization of the initial four hit compounds led to a high quality lead series, represented by compound 6c. Compound 6c is a highly potent and selective CB(1) receptor inverse agonist that is able to reduce body weight in diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. The preparation of privileged structure-based library, the progression from hit to lead, the structure-activity relationships in the lead series and in vitro and in vivo activity of compound 6c are discussed.

Baicalin, one of the major flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effects of baicalin on metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis have not been investigated.Body weight was examined in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats with or without baicalin treatment. At the end of the experiment, serum biochemical parameters, liver histology and lipid profile were analyzed to assess whether the animals were suffering from metabolic disorders or hepatic steatosis. In the liver, the phosphorylation of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and the gene expression of some enzymes involved in lipogenesis were examined. The effects of baicalin on the phosphorylation of AMPK and lipid accumulation induced by high glucose in human hepatoma HepG2 cells were also examined.Baicalin (80 mg/kg) administered ip for 16 weeks suppressed body weight gain in HFD-fed rats. Weight reduction was accompanied by the reduction of visceral fat mass. Baicalin significantly decreased the elevated serum cholesterol, free fatty acid and insulin concentrations caused by the HFD. Baicalin also suppressed systemic inflammation by reducing the serum level of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Baicalin reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC and down-regulated genes involved in lipogenesis, including fatty acid synthase and its upstream regulator SREBP-1c. In HepG2 cells, baicalin (5 and 10 micromol/L) increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and decreased lipid accumulation following the addition of high glucose.Our study suggests that baicalin might have beneficial effects on the development of hepatic steatosis and obesity-related disorders by targeting the hepatic AMPK.

1 Heptanol, 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (18alphaGA) and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (18betaGA) are known blockers of gap junctions, and are often used in vascular studies. However, actions unrelated to gap junction block have been repeatedly suggested in the literature for these compounds. We report here the findings from a comprehensive study of these compounds in the arterial wall. 2 Rat isolated mesenteric small arteries were studied with respect to isometric tension (myography), [Ca2+]i (Ca(2+)-sensitive dyes), membrane potential and--as a measure of intercellular coupling--input resistance (sharp intracellular glass electrodes). Also, membrane currents (patch-clamp) were measured in isolated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Confocal imaging was used for visualisation of [Ca2+]i events in single SMCs in the arterial wall. 3 Heptanol (150 microm) activated potassium currents, hyperpolarised the membrane, inhibited the Ca2+ current, and reduced [Ca2+]i and tension, but had little effect on input resistance. Only at concentrations above 200 microm did heptanol elevate input resistance, desynchronise SMCs and abolish vasomotion. 4 18betaGA (30 microm) not only increased input resistance and desynchronised SMCs but also had nonjunctional effects on membrane currents. 18alphaGA (100 microm) had no significant effects on tension, [Ca2+]i, total membrane current and synchronisation in vascular smooth muscle. 5 We conclude that in mesenteric small arteries, heptanol and 18betaGA have important nonjunctional effects at concentrations where they have little or no effect on intercellular communication. Thus, the effects of heptanol and 18betaGA on vascular function cannot be interpreted as being caused only by effects on gap junctions. 18alphaGA apparently does not block communication between SMCs in these arteries, although an effect on myoendothelial gap junctions cannot be excluded.

Background: DNA methylation in sputum has been an attractive candidate biomarker for the non-invasive screening and detection of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Databases including PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane library, Web of Science databases, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Vip Databases and Google Scholar were searched to collect the diagnostic trials on aberrant DNA methylation in the screening and detection of lung cancer published until 1 December 2016. Indirect comparison meta-analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the included candidate genes. Results: The systematic literature search yielded a total of 33 studies including a total of 4801 subjects (2238 patients with lung cancer and 2563 controls) and covering 32 genes. We identified that methylated genes in sputum samples for the early screening and auxiliary detection of lung cancer yielded an overall sensitivity of 0.46 (0.41–0.50) and specificity of 0.83 (0.80–0.86). Combined indirect comparisons identified the superior gene of SOX17 (sensitivity: 0.84, specificity: 0.88), CDO1 (sensitivity: 0.78, specificity: 0.67), ZFP42 (sensitivity: 0.87, specificity: 0.63) and TAC1 (sensitivity: 0.86, specificity: 0.75). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis demonstrates that methylated SOX17, CDO1, ZFP42, TAC1, FAM19A4, FHIT, MGMT, p16, and RASSF1A are potential superior biomarkers for the screening and auxiliary detection of lung cancer.

The role of smooth muscle [Ca2+]i and membrane potential for the relaxation to hypercapnic (increased CO2) and normocapnic (unchanged CO2) acidosis is not complete understood. It is often stated that membrane hyperpolarization plays an important role but this has not been vigorously tested. In this study we investigated isolated rat cerebral small arteries under isobaric conditions. Lumen diameter was measured simultaneously with either [Ca2+]i or membrane potential, and acidosis was induced by increasing PCO2 or reducing HCO3- of the bathing solution or by adding HCI to a nominally bicarbonate-free solution. Confocal microscopy verified loading of smooth muscle cells with fluorescent dyes. Acidosis always reduced myogenic tone at transmural pressures between 20 and 120 mmHg. Acidification at a transmural pressure of 40 mmHg caused an increase in diameter and a decrease in [Ca2+]i. This was also seen in the presence of L-NNA and after depolarization with 50 mM K+. The response to hypercapnic and normocapnic acidosis was similar. However, while hypercapnic acidosis caused hyperpolarization, normocapnic acidosis caused depolarization. Dilatation, decrease of [Ca2+]i and depolarization, was also seen with reduction of pH in bicarbonate-free solution. We conclude that the isobaric relaxation to both hypercapnic and normocapnic acidosis is most likely mediated by a reduction of [Ca2+]i. Membrane potential may on the other hand not play a major role for this reduction of [Ca2+]i and it is possible that molecular CO2 has an effect on the membrane potential.

The cellular mechanism responsible for the reduction of tension in cerebral small arteries to acidosis is not known. In this study the role of smooth muscle intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential for the relaxation to acidosis was investigated in isolated rat cerebral small arteries. Isometric force was measured simultaneously with [Ca2+]i(fura 2) or with membrane potential (intracellular microelectrodes), and acidosis was induced by increasing[Formula: see text] or reducing[Formula: see text] of the bathing solution. Both hypercapnic and normocapnic acidosis were associated with a reduction of intracellular pH [measured with 2′,7′-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5 (and -6)-carboxyfluorescein], caused relaxation, and reduced [Ca2+]i. However, whereas hypercapnic acidosis caused hyperpolarization, normocapnic acidosis was associated with depolarization. It is concluded that a reduction of [Ca2+]iis in part responsible for the direct effect of the acidosis on the vascular smooth muscle both during normo- and hypercapnia. The mechanism responsible for the reduction of [Ca2+]idiffers between the hypercapnic and normocapnic acidosis, being partly explained by hyperpolarization during hypercapnic acidosis, whereas it is seen despite depolarization during normocapnic acidosis.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, As an important post-translation modifying process, glycosylation significantly affects the structure and function of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules and is essential in many steps of the inflammatory cascade. Studies have demonstrated the potential of using glycosylation features of IgG as a component of predictive biomarkers for chronological age in several European populations, whereas no study has been reported in Chinese. Herein, we report various patterns of changes in IgG glycosylation associated with age by analyzing IgG glycosylation in 701 community-based Han Chinese (244 males, 457 females; 23–68 years old). Eleven IgG glycans, including FA2B, A2G1, FA2[6]G1, FA2[3]G1, FA2[6]BG1, FA2[3]BG1, A2G2, A2BG2, FA2G2, FA2G2S1, and FA2G2S2, change considerably with age and specific combinations of these glycan features can explain 23.3% to 45.4% of the variance in chronological age in this population. This indicates that these combinations of glycan features provide more predictive information than other single markers of biological age such as telomere length. In addition, the clinical traits such as fasting plasma glucose and aspartate aminotransferase associated with biological age are strongly correlated with the combined glycan features. We conclude that IgG glycosylation appears to correlate with both chronological and biological ages, and thus its possible role in the aging process merits further study.

A dual-band internal handset antenna (IHA) with a novel 3D structure is presented. Numerical results based on the finite-element method (FEM) for input-return loss and radiation-gain pattern are investigated and compared with the measurements. Good agreement between the computed and measured results is obtained. The effects of the geometric parameters on the characteristics of the proposed antenna performance are also extensively studied. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 37: 450–452, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10946

We recently discovered and reported a novel series of benzhydrylpiperazine derivatives bearing an asymmetric carbon atom that are potent and selective hCB1 inverse agonists. In the present study, we used Davis-Ellmann-type sulfonamide chemistry to asymmetrically synthesize two enantiomers of the most potent racemic N-cyclohexyl-4-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(p-tolyl)methyl]piperazine-1-carbo-xamide [14] . Enantiomer separation and configuration assignment were carried out. Our results indicate that the R-configuration is the more active enantiomer, displaying enhanced antagonistic activity for hCB1 receptor, better oral bioavailability, and greater efficacy in the reduction of body weight in diet-induced obese mice.

We recently discovered and reported a novel series of benzhydrylpiperazine derivatives bearing an asymmetric carbon atom that are potent and selective hCB1 inverse agonists. In the present study, we used Davis-Ellmann-type sulfonamide chemistry to asymmetrically synthesize two enantiomers of the most potent racemic N-cyclohexyl-4-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(p-tolyl)methyl]piperazine-1-carbo-xamide [14] . Enantiomer separation and configuration assignment were carried out. Our results indicate that the R-configuration is the more active enantiomer, displaying enhanced antagonistic activity for hCB1 receptor, better oral bioavailability, and greater efficacy in the reduction of body weight in diet-induced obese mice.

The present study describes the identification via privileged structure-based approach of the benzhydrylpiperazine moiety as a potential scaffold to develop novel CB(1) receptor modulators. Efficient structural optimization of the initial four hit compounds led to a high quality lead series, represented by compound 6c. Compound 6c is a highly potent and selective CB(1) receptor inverse agonist that is able to reduce body weight in diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. The preparation of privileged structure-based library, the progression from hit to lead, the structure-activity relationships in the lead series and in vitro and in vivo activity of compound 6c are discussed.