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To explore the mechanism of effects of total saponin fraction from Dioscorea Nipponica Makino (TSDN) on M1/M2 polarization of monocytes/macrophages and arachidonic acid (AA) pathway in rats with gouty arthritis (GA).Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18 in each): normal, model, TSDN at 160 mg/kg, and celecoxib at 43.3 mg/kg. Monosodium urate crystal (MSU) was injected into the rats' ankle joints to induce an experimental GA model. Blood and tissue samples were collected on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration. Histopathological changes in the synovium of joints were observed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of arachidonic acid (AA) signaling pathway were assessed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of M1 and M2 macrophages in the peripheral blood. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect interleukine (IL)-1 β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-10, prostaglandin EHE staining showed that TSDN improved the synovial tissue. qPCR and Western blot showed that on the 3rd, 5th and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 derived eicosanoids (mPGES-1), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), recombinant human mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NALP3), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rats' ankle synovial tissues (P0.01). TSDN decreased COX1 mRNA and protein expression on 3rd and 5th day of drug administration and raised it on the 8th day (both P0.01). It lowered CD68 protein expression on days 3 (P0.01), as well as mRNA and protein expression on days 5 and 8 (P0.01). On the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN elevated the mRNA and protein expression of Arg1 and CD163 (P0.01). Flow cytometry results showed that TSDN decreased the percentage of M1 macrophages while increasing the percentage of M2 in peripheral blood (P0.05 or P0.01). ELISA results showed that on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN decreased serum levels of IL-1 β, TNF-α, and LTB4 (P0.01), as well as PGEThe anti-inflammatory effect of TSDN on rats with GA may be achieved by influencing M1/M2 polarization through AA signaling pathway.

To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of neovascular density in plaques with different carotid atherosclerosis. 97 patients with carotid plaques were observed by conventional ultrasound from January 2016 to December 2018. The CEUS test was used to grade and quantify the new blood vessels in the plaque. The results showed of the 97 patients with 101 plaques, 49 were soft plaques, 45 were mixed plaques, and 7 were hard plaques. CEUS clearly showed the continuity of plaque fibrous caps and found plaque ulcers that were easily missed by conventional ultrasound. The lower the echo of the plaque, the more obvious contrast enhancement in the plaques. Quantitative analysis of CEUS showed the peak time of soft plaques was shorter and the peak intensity of soft plaques was higher compared with mixed plaques. The difference was statistically significant (P <0.01). The results displayed that carotid CEUS is a convenient and intuitive new technology that can better help analyze plaque morphology and determine and quantify the extent of neovascularization in plaque. It can be used for clinical evaluation of potential cerebrovascular risk and also provides an accurate and reproducible detection method for clinical efficacy evaluation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic autoimmune disease with high morbidity and disability rate. Currently, there is no effective allopathic treatment for RA, and most of the drugs provoke many adverse effects. Simiao Yong'an decoction (SMYAD) is a traditional Chinese prescription for the treatment of sore and gangrene caused by hot poison. With the development of pharmacology and clinical research, SMYAD has remarkable anti-inflammatory properties and has been used for RA treatments for years.This study aimed to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of SMYAD and further explore the immunopharmacological mechanisms.Arthritis was induced in DBA/1 mice by two-time immunizations. Collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) mice were divided into 4 groups: control, model, methotrexate (MTX), and SMYAD group (n = 6). The administration groups were given MTX (0.5 mg/kg/3 d) and SMYAD (4.5 g/kg/d) by gavage from day 14. The arthritis index (AI) score was evaluated every 3 days after the second immunization. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Safranin-O fast green staining, Trap staining, and Micro-CT were used to measure the histopathology injuries and bone destruction of joints. Granulocyte changes in the spleen, bone marrow, and period blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in joints were detected by qRT-PCR. SMYAD-containing serum was obtained from SD rats gavaged with SMYAD. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood and bone marrow for the in vitro experiments of transwell cell assay, apoptosis assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation.SMYAD significantly relieved arthritis severity in CIA mice. The AI score was significantly decreased in the SMYAD group compared with the model group. Additionally, SMYAD alleviated inflammatory infiltration, cartilage damage, osteoclast formation, and bone damage in the ankle joints. In the flow cytometry assay, SMYAD significantly reduced granulocytes number in the spleen and bone marrow, while increased in peripheral blood. Furthermore, compared with the CIA group, SMYAD suppressed the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2, and IL-8 in the inflamed joints. In the in vitro studies, 20% SMYAD-containing serum effectively inhibited the migration of neutrophils, promoted neutrophils apoptosis, reduced ROS production and NETs formation.Collectively, our results demonstrated that SMYAD effectively restrained arthritis in CIA mice by modulating neutrophil activities.

Neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs) are networks of extracellular fibers primarily composed of DNA, histones, granular proteins, and cytoplasmic proteins and released to the outside of cells by neutrophils under the stimulation of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, etc. NETs are generated in two forms, suicidal NETs and vital NETs, according to different stimuli. NETs have both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effects. On the one hand, they can play the anti-microbial role to resist inflammation by capturing, fixing, and killing invading pathogens, which is a special way for neutrophils to exert host defenses. On the other hand, in case of excessive formation or insufficient elimination, they can cause tissue damage directly, and also promote the release of inflammatory factors by recruiting other pro-inflammatory cells or proteins to further expand the inflammatory response, which is related to the pathologies of many diseases. In autoimmune diseases, NETs as important sources of autoantigens, can act as danger-associated molecular patterns( DAMPs) and activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain leucine-rich repeats containing pyrin domain 3(NLRP3) inflammasome and complement system, thereby breaking self-tolerance and accelerating autoimmune inflammation. In addition, NETs can also activate other immune cells(such as B cells, antigen-presenting cells, and T cells) and regulate the acquired immune response. The present study reviewed the correlation of NETs with diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis(RA), and gouty arthritis(GA) to reveal the effect of dynamic balance between formation and clearance of NETs in autoimmune diseases and provide a theoretical basis for the investigation of underlying mechanisms and targeted therapies of traditional Chinese medicine.

The crystal structures of $\mathrm{CaB}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{H}}_{n}$ compounds with $n=1--12$ in a pressure range of 50--300 GPa were studied using the genetic algorithm method and first-principles density-function theory calculations. Stable structures with stoichiometry of $\mathrm{CaB}{\mathrm{H}}_{6}$ and $\mathrm{CaB}{\mathrm{H}}_{7}$ were predicted in different pressure range. $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{5}$, and $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{6}$ units were found to be the main motifs in these compounds. Moreover, metastable $Imm2$ $\mathrm{CaB}{\mathrm{H}}_{7}$ is dynamically stable above 180 GPa, with the formation of tetrahedral $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ unit surrounded by Ca atom and ${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ unit. Electron-phonon coupling (EPC) calculations reveal that the superconducting properties are closely related to the strong hydrogen-boron bonding of the $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ unit in $Imm2$, and ${T}_{c}$ can reach \ensuremath{\sim}200 K at 200 GPa. As the major units, $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}$, $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{5}$, and $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{H}}_{6}$ units exist in the $Imm2$, ${P}_{2}$, and $P{2}_{1}/m$ phases of $\mathrm{CaB}{\mathrm{H}}_{7}$ at 300 GPa, respectively; the corresponding EPC parameter \ensuremath{\lambda} decreases with the increase of hydrogen content in $\mathrm{CaB}{\mathrm{H}}_{7}$.

To investigate and reveal the underlying mechanism of the effect of total saponins from Dioscoreae nipponica Makino (TSDN) on the arachidonic acid pathway in monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced M1-polarized macrophages.M1 polarization of RAW264.7 cells were induced by 1 µ g/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide method was then used to screen the concentration of TSDN. MSU (500 µ g/mL) was used to induce the gouty arthritis model. Afterwards, 10 µ g/L TSDN and 8 µ mol/L celecoxib, which was used as a positive control, were added to the above LPS and MSU-induced cells for 24 h. The mRNA and protein expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), microsomal prostaglandin E synthase derived eicosanoids (mPGES)-1, leukotriene B (LTB)4, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 4A, and prostaglandin E2 (PGETSDN inhibited the proliferation of M1 macrophages and decreased both the mRNA and protein expressions of COX2, 5-LOX, CYP4A, LTB4, and PGETSDN has an anti-inflammation effect on gouty arthritis in an in vitro model by regulating arachidonic acid signaling pathway.

To evaluate carotid stiffening in participants without conventional cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) by using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). The present study enrolled 517 participants without conventional CVRFs (CVRF-Free total population). Subjects in this population were defined as current non-smokers with untreated blood pressure

Twelve lanthanide complexes with cinnamate (cin(-) ) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and characterized. Their compositions were assumed to be RE(cin)3 phen (RE(3+) = La(3+) , Pr(3+) , Nd(3+) , Sm(3+) , Eu(3+) , Gd(3+) , Tb(3+) , Dy(3+) , Ho(3+) , Tm(3+) , Yb(3+) , Lu(3+) ). The interaction mode between the complexes and DNA was investigated by fluorescence quenching experiment. The results indicated the complexes could bind to DNA and the main binding mode is intercalative binding. The fluorescence quenching constants of the complexes increased from La(cin)3 phen to Lu(cin)3 phen. Additionally, the antibacterial activity testing showed that the complexes exhibited excellent antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli, and the changes of antibacterial ability are in agreement with that of the fluorescence quenching constants.

Twelve ternary lanthanide complexes RE(sal)3phen (RE3+ = La3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Tm3+, Yb3+, Lu3+, sal = salicylic acid, phen = phenanthroline) were prepared. Interactions between the complexes and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) were investigated using UV–visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence quench experiment and viscosity measurement. Hypochromicity and red shift of the absorption spectra of complexes were observed in the presence of DNA. The enhanced emission intensity of ethidium bromide (EB) in the presence of DNA was quenched by the addition of lanthanide complexes, which indicated that the lanthanide complexes displaced EB from its binding sites in DNA. Based on the systematic research of the binding constant (Kb) and the fluorescence quenching constant (Kq) of the 12 complexes, we found that the complexes with smaller lanthanide ion radius had stronger binding abilities with DNA. Viscosity measurement showed that the relative viscosity of the DNA solution was enhanced with increasing the amounts of the complexes. All these results suggested that the complexes could bind to DNA and the major binding mode was intercalative binding. Moreover, all these complexes exhibited excellent antibacterial abilities against Escherichia coli. Also, the antibacterial activities of complexes with heavy rare earth were higher than those of complexes with light rare earth. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

One of the top-level researches of biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) is the study on single component in compound Chinese medicine. The medicines shall be classified according to its solubility and intestinal permeability, as well as the ascending degree in multicomponent environment. Based on above, we chose berberine as the main object to explore the change rules of its solubility and intestinal permeability in Gegen Qinlian decoction. Shaking flask-HPLC was used to detect the solubility changes of berberine in compounds. The qualitative investigation of berberine in intestinal absorption was measured by everted gut sac, and the quantitative research of berberine in intestinal absorption was measured by single-pass intestinal perfusion experiment, while the qualitative and quantitative research of berberine absorption into blood was measured by in intestinal perfusion with venous sampling experiment.

Aiming at these problems of complicated analysis, high repeated rate and resource sharing in the process of the NC machine tools design and performance analysis, a development platform is built to integrate the structure design, performance analysis, optimization of spindle and resource sharing. The platform includes digital design, 3D entity modeling and virtual assembly, finite element analysis and optimization, and dynamic simulation module. Each module can normally operate and exchange data by means of coordinating the interface between modules. The experiment shows that the developed system could effectively improve the efficiency of design and analysis of spindle, and could provide reference for the optimization design and the actual production manufacturing.

2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-5,6-dihydropyrazine and a protonated phenanthroline (Phen) have been synthesized and the structure of protonated Phen is established by X-ray diffraction single crystal structure analysis. The coordination reactions of Phen, 2,2'- bipyridine and 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-5,6-dihydropyrazine with rare earth ions in low pH have been studied. The results show that 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-5,6-dihydropyrazine is hydrolyzed to be 2,2’-pyridil and protonated ethylenediamine. Meanwhile, Phen combines with proton, which results that nitrogen atoms can not coordinate with rare earth ions. The molecular formula of protonated Phen is C12H8N2HCl·H2O. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P -1 (2), with a = 7.1212(14) Å, b = 7.2786(15) Å, c = 20.817(4) Å, α = 90.00º, β = 96.69(3) º, γ = 90.00 º, V = 1071.65(379) Å3, Z = 4.

A series of novel ternary rare earth complexes showing attractive luminescence properties were prepared with both neutral and anion ligands. Three azatriphenylene neutral ligands, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), dipyrido [3,2-a: 2′,3′-c] quinoxaline (dpq) and dipyrido [3,2-a: 2′,3′-c] phenazine (dppz) were investigated systematically as sensitizers in the ternary rare earth complexes. Benzoate ions (BA − ) and phenoxyacetate ions (POA − ) were chosen as anion ligands. The compositions of these complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, rare earth coordination titration, molar conductivity measurement, IR spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, 1 H NMR spectroscopy and TGA–DTA. The luminescence spectra, luminescence decay time and quantum efficiency of the complexes were also studied. The very strong luminescence intensities and rather long luminescence lifetimes (typically > 1.0 ms) were achieved for both Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ ternary complexes with phen and dpq as neutral ligands. Moreover, high quantum efficiencies (40–60%) were also obtained for Eu 3+ ternary complexes with phen and dpq as neutral ligands.

In the study of biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS), the interactions of multiple components in the absorption should be taken into consideration in simultaneous multi-component determination. To investigate the absorption of multiple components, the in vitro everted gut sac model was used in this study, wtih lotus leaves as the research object. Aquantitative analysis was also carried out for the known components in this study. Totally 19 components in lotus extracts were absorbed by the intestinal tract, the Papp levels of the known components were nuciferine (1×10⁻⁵-1×10⁻⁶ cm•s⁻¹), rutin (1×10⁻⁶-1×10⁻⁷ cm•s⁻¹), hyperoside (1×10⁻⁶ cm•s⁻¹), isoquercitrin (1×10⁻⁶-1×10⁻⁷ cm•s⁻¹) and astragalin (1×10⁻⁶-1×10⁻⁷ cm•s⁻¹), respectively. These components showed a low permeability under a multi-component environment. This study was carried out to lay a foundation for further relevant target studies for different categories of components.

Twelve lanthanide complexes with cinnamate (cin(-) ) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and characterized. Their compositions were assumed to be RE(cin)3 phen (RE(3+) = La(3+) , Pr(3+) , Nd(3+) , Sm(3+) , Eu(3+) , Gd(3+) , Tb(3+) , Dy(3+) , Ho(3+) , Tm(3+) , Yb(3+) , Lu(3+) ). The interaction mode between the complexes and DNA was investigated by fluorescence quenching experiment. The results indicated the complexes could bind to DNA and the main binding mode is intercalative binding. The fluorescence quenching constants of the complexes increased from La(cin)3 phen to Lu(cin)3 phen. Additionally, the antibacterial activity testing showed that the complexes exhibited excellent antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli, and the changes of antibacterial ability are in agreement with that of the fluorescence quenching constants.

By replacing a part of terbium ions with yttrium ions using doping method, a series of dinuclear complexes of 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) and phenanthroline (phen) with different molar ratios of Tb3+ to Y3+ were synthesized in the present paper. Their elemental analysis, rare earth complexometric titration, molar conductivity, IR spectra and UV spectra were studied, and the contents of terbium and yttrium of three doped complexes were measured by a plasma emission spectrophotometer. Their chemical formula is inferred to be (Tb(x)Y(1-x)) (HL)L'Cl x 1/2H2O (x = 0.10, 0.30, 0.50, 0.70, 0.90, L = BTC3-, L' = phen). The infrared spectra and ultraviolet spectra were determined, the results showed that the rare earth ions are bounded with the oxygen atoms of trimesic acid, and with the nitrogen atoms of phenanthroline. The fluorescence spectra of the complexes were determined at the room temperature (the exit and entrance slits are both 1.5 nm). The fluorescence intensity of terbium doped yttrium complexes is stronger than those of the terbium complex; it was showed that the fluorescence intensity of Tb3+ ion is greatly enhanced by Y3+ ion in the complexes. The fluorescence intensity of (Tb0.7 Y0.3)(HL)L'C1 x 1/2H2O complex is the strongest among the six complexes. The lowest excitation state energy level of Tb3+ ion and the triplet state energy level of the ligands (H3BTC and phen) match well each other, and the absorbing energy of the ligands is effectively transferred to Tb3+ ion.

Terahertz (THz) technology has huge potential in detection of concealed objects as well as in medical imaging for non-invasive diagnostics. Recently thanks to improvement of THz sources and detectors, the THz imaging technology has become the hotspot. This paper presents a real-time imaging system for THz radiation from BWO source. The key component of the system is the IR-FPA which is a bi-material MEMS detector array optimized for infrared wave lengths. In order to get a better THz image, the paper presents a modified FPA for THz region. Two main methods were explored to improve the detector performance in the THz region. The first way identified was the use of novel optical readout system based on SPR. The second detector improvement approach involved the change of the micro-cantilever structure that the cantilever of each pixel can shift in vertical direction. A model of one pixel was set up to optimize the structure. Computer simulations results show that both approaches are effective. The manufacturing of the proposed detector are also discussed. The technological investigation shows that it is feasible to employ sacrificial layer technique related to MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology.l.+

Two terbium complexes were synthesized, with dibenzoylmethane (HDBM) as the first ligand and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c] quinoxaline as the second ligand. The studies of elemental analysis, rare earth complexometric titration, molar conduction, IR spectra, UV spectra, fluorescence excitation and emission spectra indicate that the complexes have the compositions of Tb (DBM)3 phen and Tb (DBM)3dpq. The results show that the rare earth ion (Tb3+) was bonded with the carbonyl oxygen atom of DBM and nitrogen atoms of phen and dpq. For the terbium complexes prepared by precipitation, the peak positions of the transitions were similar with the ones of the common complexes. The peaks at 490, 545, 586 and 621 nm were assigned to the D4 --7F6, 5D4 --7F6, D4 --7F6, 5D4 --7F6 transitions. For the fluorescence intensities of their 5D4 --7F6, 5D4 --7F5 and 5D4 --7F4 transitions were lower than that of the 5D4 --7F3 transition, the terbium complexes did not exhibit the characteristic fluorescence (green), but strong red fluorescence. The reason why terbium complexes exhibit the red fluorescence was investigated in the paper by studying the triplet state of ligands, the energy level transitions of complexes and the aggregation state of particles.

To investigate the preservation of laryngeal function for the patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.Two hundred and ninety-three cases of hypopharyngeal cancer with surgical management were reviewed retrospectively, and 222 cases were originated from pyriform sinus, 13 from post-cricoid, and 21 from posterior pharyngeal wall. Radiotherapy (37 cases), operation only (56 cases) and the combined treatment (operation plus radiation or chemotherapy, 200 cases) were adopted. 159 cases were treated with function preserved laryngectomy and 97 with total laryngectomy.The 5 year survival rates of patient with laryngeal function preserved and no laryngeal function preserved were 51.3%, 47.6% (for stage III); 40.4%, 43.3% (for stage IV), respectively. There were no significant differences in 5-year survival between the functionally preserved group and no functioned group (P0.05). The analysis of survival rates revealed a significant difference between combined therapy and radiotherapy.There is no significant difference between the survive rates of function preserved and non-preserved groups. Conservation laryngectomy improves the quality of patient's life, and combined therapy is the best choice for hypopharyngeal cancer.