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Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic drug for a variety of malignancies, while its application is restricted by the cardiovascular toxic effects characterized by oxidative stress. Ferroptosis is a novel iron-dependent regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation. Our study aimed to investigate the role of Elabela (ELA) in DOX-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis. In cultured rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts (AFs), stimulation with DOX dramatically induced cytotoxicity with reduced cell viability and migration ability, and enhanced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Importantly, ELA and ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) mitigated DOX-mediated augmentation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rat aortic AFs, accompanied by upregulated levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, GPX4, and GSH. In addition, ELA reversed DOX-induced dysregulation of apoptosis- and inflammation-related factors including Bax, Bcl2, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL6, IL-10, and CXCL1. Intriguingly, knockdown of Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) by siRNA abolished ELA-mediated alleviation of ROS production and inflammatory responses. More importanly, KLF15 siRNA impeded the beneficial roles of ELA in DOX-pretreated rat aortic AFs by suppressing the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling. In conclusion, ELA prevents DOX-triggered promotion of cytotoxicity, and exerts anti-oxidative and anti-ferroptotic effects in rat aortic AFs via activation of the KLF15/GPX4 signaling, indicating a promising therapeutic value of ELA in antagonizing DOX-mediated cardiovascular abnormality and disorders.

Hypertension is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease characterized with renal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate roles and mechanisms of sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) in hypertensive renal injury. Mini-pumps were implanted to male C57BL/6 mice to deliver angiotensin (Ang) Ⅱ (1.5 mg/kg/d) or saline for 2 weeks. Ang Ⅱ infusion resulted in marked increases in systolic blood pressure levels, renal ferroptosis and interstitial fibrosis in hypertensive mice, concomitantly with downregulated SIRT7 and Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) levels. Notably, administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus-SIRT7 or ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 effectively mitigated Ang Ⅱ-triggered renal ferroptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), interstitial fibrosis, renal functional and structural injury in hypertensive mice by blunting the KIM-1/NOX4 signaling and enforcing the KLF15/Nrf2 and xCT/GPX4 signaling, respectively. In primary cultured mouse renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs), Ang Ⅱ pretreatment led to repressed SIRT7 expression and augmented ferroptosis as well as partial EMT, which were substantially antagonized by rhSIRT7 or ferrostatin-1 administration. Additionally, both Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 and KLF15 siRNA strikingly abolished the rhSIRT7-mediated beneficial roles in mouse renal TECs in response to Ang Ⅱ with reduced expression of Nrf2, xCT and GPX4. More importantly, ML385 administration remarkably amplified Ang Ⅱ-mediated ROS generation, lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in renal TECs, which were significantly reversed by ferrostatin-1. In conclusion, SIRT7 alleviates renal ferroptosis, lipid peroxidation, and partial EMT under hypertensive status by facilitating the KLF15/Nrf2 signaling, thereby mitigating renal fibrosis, injury and dysfunction. Targeting SIRT7 signaling serves as a promising strategy for hypertension and hypertensive renal injury.

Aiming at the shortcomings of the current forward converter, such as low utilization rate of excitation energy, complex circuit structure and single function of magnetic reset technology, a novel secondary side parallel LCD forward converter is proposed. By analyzing the working principle of the proposed converter, the optimal combined working mode is obtained, which can improve the energy transmission efficiency of the converter, ensure high power transmission and reduce the output voltage ripple. The energy transfer process of the optimal mode is deeply analyzed, the input–output relationship and the critical inductance expression in this mode are deduced, and the optimization of the parameters of the capacitor and inductance components in the converter is proposed. Finally, according to the parameter optimization design scheme, a prototype of the secondary side parallel LCD forward converter is developed. The experimental results of the prototype show that the proposed forward converter can not only achieve reliable magnetic reset, but also transmit the excitation energy of the converter to the load side, which effectively improves the efficiency of the converter.

Catalysts with two single-atom sites promote reversible conversion reactions between S and Li2S. The Co active site enhances the transformation kinetics of polysulfides upon charging, the Fe active site accelerates the transformation of Li2S to S8.

Safety concerns related to the abuse operation and thermal runaway are impeding the large-scale employment of high-energy-density rechargeable lithium batteries. Here, we report that by incorporating phosphorus-contained functional groups into a hydrocarbon-based polymer, a smart risk-responding polymer is prepared for effective mitigation of battery thermal runaway. At room temperature, the polymer is (electro)chemically compatible with electrodes, ensuring the stable battery operation. Upon thermal accumulation, the phosphorus-containing radicals spontaneously dissociate from the polymer skeleton and scavenge hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals to terminate the exothermic chain reaction, suppressing thermal generation at an early stage. With the smart risk-responding strategy, we demonstrate extending the time before thermal runaway for a 1.8-Ah Li-ion pouch cell by 100% (~9 hours) compared with common cells, creating a critical time window for safety management. The temperature-triggered automatic safety-responding strategy will improve high-energy-density battery tolerance against thermal abuse risk and pave the way to safer rechargeable batteries.

Li metal possesses a high theoretical specific capacity, high electronic conductivity, and a low electrochemical potential, making it a promising anode material for building next-generation rechargeable metal batteries. In case conventional liquid electrolytes were used, and the anode using Li metal has been hindered by unstable(electro)chemistry at Li/electrolyte interface and the accompanied dendrite issue. Specifically, for the Li-Se batteries, the dissolution and shuttle of polyselenide intermediates lead to the deposition of poorly-conductive species on the anode, which further aggravates the chemical environment at the anode. In this work, we proposed to stabilize the Li-Se electrochemistry by constructing a gel polymer electrolyte via in situ gelations of conventional ether-based electrolytes at room temperature. The results demonstrate that the in situ gelated electrolyte helps to build electrochemically stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces and promote the efficient transfer of charge carriers across the interface. Compared with the liquid electrolytes, the gelated electrolyte shows improved chemical compatibility with the Li metal anode, which effectively alleviates the unfavorable side reactions and dendrite formation at the anode/electrolyte interface, and the polyselenide shuttle from the cathode to the anode. As a result, the Li-Se battery shows a higher Coulombic efficiency and improved cycling performance.

Chalcogen elements, such as sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and the interchalcogen compounds, have been studied extensively as cathode materials for the next-generation rechargeable lithium/sodium (Li/Na) batteries. The high energy output of the Li/Na-chalcogen battery originates from the two-electron conversion reaction between chalcogen cathode and alkali metal anode, through which both electrodes are able to deliver high theoretical capacities. The reaction also leads to parasitic reactions that deteriorate the chemical environment in the battery, and different cathode-anode combinations show their own features. In this article, we intend to discuss the fundamental conversion electrochemistry between chalcogen elements and alkali metals and its potential influence, either positive or negative, on the performance of batteries. The strategies to improve the conversion electrochemistry of chalcogen cathode are also reviewed to offer insights into the reasonable design of rechargeable Li/Na-chalcogen batteries.

As two stable hydrogen isotopes, protium and deuterium show magnified isotope effects in physicochemical properties due to the significantly varied atomic masses. In this work, aqueous electrolytes based on heavy water (D

Hypertensive renal injury is accompanied by tubular interstitial fibrosis leading to increased risk for renal failure. This study aimed to explore the influences of miR-122-5p in hypertension-mediated renal fibrosis and damage. 14-week-old male SHR and WKY rats were randomly assigned to treat with rAAV-miR-122-5p or rAAV-GFP for 8 weeks. There were marked increases in miR-122-5p and Kim-1 levels and decreases in FOXO3 and SIRT6 levels in hypertensive rats. Transfection with rAAV-miR-122-5p triggered exacerbation of renal fibrosis, apoptosis and inflammatory injury in SHR, associated with downregulated levels of FOXO3, SIRT6, ATG5 and BNIP3 as well as upregulated expression of Kim-1, NOX4, CTGF, and TGF-β1. In cultured primary mouse renal tubular interstitial fibroblasts, exposure to angiotensin II resulted in obvious downregulation of FOXO3, SIRT6, ATG5, BNIP3 and nitric oxide levels as well as augmented cellular migration, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which were exacerbated by miR-122-5p mimic while rescued by miR-122-5p inhibitor and rhFOXO3, respectively. Notably, knockdown of FOXO3 strikingly blunted cellular protective effects of miR-122-5p inhibitor. In summary, miR-122-5p augments renal fibrosis, inflammatory and oxidant injury in hypertensive rats by suppressing the expression of FOXO3. Pharmacological inhibition of miR-122-5p has potential therapeutic significance for hypertensive renal injury and fibrosis-related kidney diseases.

Orchid mycorrhizal fungi are essential for the seed germination and vegetative growth of orchids. The orchid Bletilla striata has great medical value in China because its tuber is rich in mannan. Some endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of B. striata. The isolate KB-3 was selected for experiments because it could promote the germination of B. striata seeds. Based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis, the isolate KB-3 was identified as Fusarium oxysporum. Co-cultivation experiments of KB-3 with B. striata and Dendrobium candidum were performed to demonstrate orchid mycorrhizal structures. Microscopic examination showed that KB-3 established colonization and produced coiled hyphal structures known as pelotons within the cortical cells of both orchid roots. The results confirm that F. oxysporum KB-3 can behave as an orchid mycorrhizal fungus.

Background Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has recently been identified as the functional receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent response for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to explore the roles of ACE2, apelin and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in SARS-CoV-2-mediated cardiorenal damage. Methods and Results The published RNA-sequencing datasets of cardiomyocytes infected with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 patients were used. String, UMAP plots and single cell RNA sequencing data were analyzed to show the close relationship and distinct cardiorenal distribution patterns of ACE2, apelin and SGLT2. Intriguingly, there were decreases in ACE2 and apelin expression as well as marked increases in SGLT2 and endothelin-1 levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected cardiomyocytes, animal models with diabetes, acute kidney injury, heart failure and COVID-19 patients. These changes were linked with downregulated levels of interleukin (IL)-10, superoxide dismutase 2 and catalase as well as upregulated expression of profibrotic genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Genetic ACE2 deletion resulted in upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines containing IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor α. More importantly, dapagliflozin strikingly alleviated cardiorenal fibrosis in diabetic db/db mice by suppressing SGLT2 levels and potentiating the apelin-ACE2 signaling. Conclusion Downregulation of apelin and ACE2 and upregulation of SGLT2, endothelin-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute to SARS-CoV-2-mediated cardiorenal injury, indicating that the apelin-ACE2 signaling and SGLT2 inhibitors are potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19 patients., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image

Cardiovascular disorders and associated renal diseases account for the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating the development of novel effective approaches for the prevention and treatment of cardiorenal diseases. Mammalian sirtuins (SIRTs) function as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD

In order to address the increasingly severe pollution issue caused by heavy metals, activated carbon-based absorbents have gained considerable attention. Herein, two novel adsorbents, amino-functionalized activated carbon (N-AC) and thiol-functionalized activated carbon (S-AC), were successfully synthesized by stepwise modification with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), cyanuric chloride (CC) and sodium sulfide. The pristine and synthesized materials were characterized by BET analysis, SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and zeta-potential analyzer. Meanwhile, their adsorption properties for Cd2+ and Pb2+ and the effects of various variables on the adsorption processes were systematically investigated. The findings confirmed that amino-groups and thiol-groups endowed the AC with a strong affinity for metal ions and that the pH of solution affected the uptake efficiencies of the adsorbents by influencing their surface charges. Furthermore, six isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Sips and Redlich-Peterson) and four kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Intra-particle diffusion and Elovich) were applied to interpret the adsorption process at three different temperatures (288 K, 298 K and 308 K). The results indicated that temperature played an important role and that the rate-limiting step was chemosorption. A better fit for all adsorption systems was obtained with Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption capacities at 298 K of 79.20 mg Cd2+/g and 142.03 mg Pb2+/g for N-AC, 130.05 mg Cd2+/g and 232.02 mg Pb2+/g for S-AC, respectively. Subsequently, the thermodynamic parameters revealed the nature of the adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous under the experimental condition. The possible adsorption procedures and the underlying mechanisms comprising physical and chemical interactions were proposed. Moreover, the as-synthesized adsorbents exhibited excellent regeneration performance after five adsorption/desorption cycles. The overall results demonstrated that both N-AC and S-AC could be the promising efficient candidates for removing Cd2+ and Pb2+ from contaminated water.

Purpose. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) have been used to reflect the platelet activity in clinics. We assessed initial serum MPV and PDW levels in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, in predicting the development of sepsis in CRC patients postoperatively. Patients and Methods. This study included 220 patients diagnosed with CRC. 55 patients were stratified to one group that developed sepsis postoperatively, and 165 patients were stratified to the other group that did not develop sepsis postoperatively. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected 3 days before the operation. Results. MPV (p<0.001) was significantly higher and PDW (p<0.001) was significantly lower in the sepsis group than in the nonsepsis group. Either MPV or PDW is independently associated with ICU mortality in sepsis patients with CRC. MPV is independently associated with 14-day, 28-day, and 90-day mortality and PDW is independently associated with 90-day mortality in patients with CRC. The prevalence of sepsis increased as MPV tertiles increased (p<0.001), and the prevalence of sepsis increased as PDW tertiles decreased (p<0.001). Conclusions. Serum MPV and PDW levels between CRC patients with/without sepsis postoperatively are significantly different. The initial serum MPV or PDW levels can potentially serve as a predictor of sepsis in CRC patients postoperatively.

Objectives This study was to explore the prognostic value of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods We compared CTGF expression in 198 samples from patients with endometrial cancer and 50 samples from patients with healthy endometrial tissues as determined by immunohistochemistry. Results Expression of CTGF was significantly higher in endometrial cancers as compared to normal endometrial tissues. Positive CTGF expression displayed a strong association with CA125 level, histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. Our findings revealed histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion, FIGO stage, vascular/lymphatic invasion, and the CTGF expression are related to 5-year survival in patients with endometrial cancer. Positive CTGF expression, lymph node status, as well as vascular/lymphatic invasion, were identified as independent prognostic factors in endometrial cancer. Conclutions Over-expression of CTGF is an independent prognostic factor that will allow the successful differentiation of high-risk population from the group of patients with stage III-IV endometrial cancer. The up-regulation of CTGF may contribute to the progression of endometrial cancer and serve as a new prognostic biomarker in patients with endometrial cancer survival.

BACKGROUND Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are important and common endoscopic methods for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and colorectal diseases. However, endoscopy is usually associated with adverse reactions such as nervousness, nausea, vomiting, choking cough, and pain. Severe discomfort, such as vomiting, coughing, or body movement, may lead to aggravation of a pre-existing condition or even interruption of examination or treatment, especially in some critically ill patients with physiological dysfunction (e.g., cardiovascular or respiratory disease). The optimal methods for inducing analgesia and sedation in endoscopy are areas of ongoing debate; nevertheless, determining an appropriate regimen of sedation and analgesia is important. AIM To evaluate the effects of propofol combined with dezocine, sufentanil, or fentanyl in painless gastroscopy and colonoscopy. METHODS Four hundred patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups for anesthesia: intravenous dezocine, sufentanil, fentanyl, or saline. Propofol was administered intravenously for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. RESULTS The dosage of propofol in the dezocine group was significantly lower than those in other groups (P < 0.01). Bispectral index and Steward score (0-6 points, an unresponsive, immobile patient whose airway requires maintenance to a fully recovered patient) after eye opening in the dezocine group were significantly higher than those in other groups (P < 0.01). Awakening time and postoperative pain score (0-10 points, no pain to unbearable pain) in the dezocine group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure and pulse oxygen saturation in the dezocine group were significantly more stable at various time points (before dosing, disappearance of eyelash reflex, and wakeup) than those in other groups (P < 0.01). The rates of hypopnea, jaw thrust, body movements, and usage of vasoactive drugs in the dezocine group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P < 0.01). Additionally, the rates of reflex coughing, nausea, and vomiting were not statistically different between the four groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of propofol and dezocine can decrease propofol dosage, reduce the risk for the development of inhibitory effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, increase analgesic effect, decrease body movement, shorten awakening time, and improve awakening quality.

We investigated the mediating role of global self-esteem in the relationship between general self-efficacy and general procrastination among a sample of 304 Chinese undergraduate students. An online survey method was employed for data collection and willing participants completed an online survey consisting of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Aitken Procrastination Inventory. The results showed that procrastination was negatively related to self-efficacy and self-esteem, and that self-efficacy was positively correlated with self-esteem. Mediation analysis revealed that self-esteem completely mediated the effect of self-efficacy on procrastination. Thus, we suggest that general self-efficacy decreases general procrastination because high self-efficacy fosters high self-esteem. As a result, it is necessary for preventive therapy in the context of procrastination to be focused on the enhancement of self-efficacy in order to cultivate a sense of self-worth in Chinese undergraduate student procrastinators.

In order to address the increasingly severe pollution issue caused by heavy metals, activated carbon-based absorbents have gained considerable attention. Herein, two novel adsorbents, amino-functionalized activated carbon (N-AC) and thiol-functionalized activated carbon (S-AC), were successfully synthesized by stepwise modification with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), cyanuric chloride (CC) and sodium sulfide. The pristine and synthesized materials were characterized by BET analysis, SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and zeta-potential analyzer. Meanwhile, their adsorption properties for Cd

Based on the hydrogen bonding between MAA and PDEA, the synthesis of surfactant-free PDEA/PMAA interpenetrating (IPN) nanogels was studied in ultrapure water with N, N-methylene acrylamide (BIS) as a crosslinker, ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS) as an initiator, N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as an accelerator. First, poly (N, N-diethyl acrylamide) (PDEA) nanogels were synthesized using emulsion precipitation polymerization. As MAA was polymerized in the aqueous dispersion of PDEA nanogels as seeds, PDEA nanogels got interpenetrated with poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA) due to the effect of the hydrogen bonding between PDEA and PMAA. The chemical structure of the PDEA/PMAA nanogels was studied with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The nanogels morphology was characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). And the volume phase transition behaviors and swelling properties were studied with dynamic light scattering (DLS). The experimental results show that the interpenetrating nanogels were very sensitive to temperature. As the amount of MAA increased, the volume of the neutralized PDEA/PMAA nanogels changed less above phase transition temperature and was finally no change. The temperature responsive PDEA/PMAA nanogels will promise to have significant influence on fundamental studies and real applications.

Port inventory is a very important part in iron ore supply chain. Through the inventory management, we can get the best inventory strategy to minimize the total inventory cost. The inventory management of the port iron ore can get a reasonable and feasible inventory management strategy through the dynamic planning model.

The goal of this paper was to develop an optically transparent nanocomposite with high strength by reinforcing polyurethane (PU) with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) extracted from newspapers. The FE-SEM images show that through chemical and mechanical treatments, newspaper CNFs with diameters ranged from 20 to 100 nm and an aspect ratio of over 1000 were successfully obtained as well as wood powder. They were cross-linked together and formed a special three-dimensional network structure. The nanocomposite was fabricated by impregnating the CNF sheet into transparent PU resin and cured under ultraviolet. Results demonstrate that the transparency of newspaper CNF/PU nanocomposite was as high as wood CNF/PU nanocomposite. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of newspaper CNF/PU composite were increased roughly eighteen times and two times respectively while retaining the high transparency of PU, which was nearly the same with wood CNF/PU composite.

OBJECTIVE Lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4 beta (LAPTM4B) is an important novel gene associated with the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Recent studies have shown that it was overexpressed in many cancer tissues. This study investigated the association between different LAPTM4B polymorphisms and the susceptibility and prognosis of ovarian cancer. METHODS A case-control study was performed in 282 patients with ovarian cancer and 365 control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes in all participants. LAPTM4B genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS There was a significantly higher LAPTM4B 2 allele frequency in ovarian cancer cases than controls (P < 0.05). Using the LAPTM4B 1/1 genotype as the reference, we found that the LAPTM4B 1/2 and LAPTM4B 2/2 genotypes were positively associated with ovarian cancer. Additionally, we found a negative correlation between the tumor grade and LAPTM4B allele genotype, which indicates strongly that LAPTM4B 2 could affect the survival of patients. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the LAPTM4B 2 allele may be a risk factor for ovarian cancer and may play an important role in genetic susceptibility to ovarian cancer.

This paper reviews several suitable microvalves for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). First, three type micro-valves in PCR chips are discussed, including pneumatic, servomotor-controlled and passive plug microvalves. Then we present our servomotor-controlled microvalves, with the structure of long passive plug. This valve had many obvious advantages such as simple fabrication and operation, perfect sealing, the ability to withstand relatively high pressure. Furthermore, the microvalve can be operated in a self-actuated mode.

We have recently shown that 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) protects PC12 cells against 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity through its antioxidant activity. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuronal protective activity of 7,8-DHF. Western blot analysis showed that 6-OHDA (100μM, 24h) enhanced the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK1/2, but it markedly suppressed the expression of p-Akt, implying that 6-OHDA induces PC12 cell death through activating the pro-apoptotic MAPKs pathway but suppressing the survival PI3K/Akt pathway. More importantly, addition of 7,8-DHF fully prevented the activation of JNK and suppression of Akt induced by 6-OHDA. Interestingly, pretreatment with the PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 largely blocked 7,8-DHF function in protecting PC12 cells from 6-OHDA-induced cell death. In contrast, the MEK inhibitor PD98059 showed little effect on the protective activity of 7,8-DHF. These results suggest that 7,8-DHF might protect PC12 cells from 6-OHDA-induced cell death through activating PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibiting JNK pathway.

A cDNA gene encoding a mature peptide of the mono- and diacylglycerol lipase (abbreviated to PcMdl) from Penicillium cyclopium PG37 was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. The recombinant PcMdl (rePcMdl) with an apparent molecular weight of 39 kDa showed the highest activity (40.5 U/mL of culture supernatant) on 1,2-dibutyrin substrate at temperature 35°C and pH 7.5. The rePcMdl was stable at a pH range of 6.5-9.5 and temperatures below 35°C. The activity of rePcMdl was inhibited by Hg2+ and Fe3+, but not significantly affected by EDTA or the other metal ions such as Na+, K+, Li+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+. PcMdl was identified to be strictly specific to mono- and diacylglycerol, but not triacylglycerol. Stereographic view of PcMdl docked with substrate (tri- or diacylglycerol) analogue indicated that the residue Phe256 plays an important role in conferring the substrate selectivity. Phe256 projects its side chain towards the substrate binding groove and makes the sn-1 moiety difficult to insert in. Furthermore, sn-1 moiety prevents the phosphorus atom (substitution of carboxyl carbon) from getting to the Oγ of Ser145, which results in the failure of triacylglycerol hydrolysis. These results should provide a basis for molecular engineering of PcMdl and expand its applications in industries.

Background and Purpose Studies have suggested that the caudal ventral artery is a potential site for continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring in rats. However, the agreement of mean arterial pressure values between the femoral artery and the caudal ventral artery has not been investigated. This study was performed to identify whether the caudal ventral artery could be safely used for continuous blood pressure monitoring as an alternative site to the femoral artery. Methods Rats were randomized into four groups: Sprague Dawley rats under normothermia; Wistar rats under normothermia; Sprague Dawley rats under hypothermia; Wistar rats under hypothermia. Each rat underwent simultaneous monitoring of blood pressure using femoral artery and caudal ventral artery catheterization during a stable hemodynamic state and three periods of acute severe hemodynamic changes. The effects of rat strain, rectal temperature, experimental time course and hemodynamic factors on pressure gradients, the concordance of mean arterial pressure values between the femoral artery and the caudal ventral artery, and the rates of distal ischemia after surgery were determined. Results There was a significant difference in the rate of distal ischemia between femoral and caudal ventral arteries after catheterization (25% vs 5%, P

Propofol has been shown to attenuate brain injury in experimental ischemia models, but few studies have focused on the direct effect of propofol on mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we observed the effects of propofol on multiple aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction by studying the mitochondria isolated from rat brains subjected to focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The mitochondria of the cortical tissue were isolated by the Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The isolated mitochondria were fixed and examined with electron microscopy. The calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling was quantified by measuring the decrease in light transmission at 540 nm with a spectrometer. Fluorescent probes were used to selectively stain mitochondria. Flow cytometry was used to measure the membrane potential and the production of reactive oxidative species. Propofol improved the signs of injury in the cortical mitochondria that were exposed to reperfusion following 2 h of focal ischemia. Propofol prevented calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling in a concentration-dependent manner. It did not affect the reperfusion-induced reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. However, it decreased the production of the mitochondrial reactive oxidative species, which are generated during reperfusion. These results demonstrate that propofol may protect against mitochondrial dysfunction by preventing the ultrastructural change to the mitochondria and the calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling. This protective effect may be mediated by inhibiting the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition and reducing the production of reactive oxidative species in mitochondria.

Photocatalysis technology was used to investigate its removal capability of disinfection by products (DBPs). The photocatalytic degradation rates of different compounds were obviously larger than those in photolytic degradation. They were 3-7 times for halogenated alkyls and 2-3 times for alkenes and aromatic compounds. Investigation of photocatalytic degradation orderliness show that cinnameneo-cresolalkenesalkyls.