High efficiency production of ginsenoside compound K by catalyzing ginsenoside Rb1 using snailase

The rare ginsenoside Compound K （C-K） is attracting more attention because of its good physiological activity and urgent need. There are many pathways to obtain ginsenoside C-K, including chemical and biological methods. Among these, the conversion of PPD-type ginsenosides by enzymatic hydrolysis is a trend due to its high efficiency and mild conditions. For effectively extracting from the other panaxadiol saponins, the conversion process for ginsenoside C-K was investigated using snailases in this study. The univariate experimental design and response surface methodology were used to determine the optimal hydrolysis conditions for the conversion of ginsenoside Rbl into ginsenoside C-K by snailases. The optimum conditions were as follows： pH 5,12, temperature 51 ℃, ratio of snailase/substrate 0.21, and reaction time 48 h. On the basis of these parameters, the addition of 1.0 mmol· L- 1 ferric ion was found to significantly improve the enzymolysis ofsnailases for the first time. With the above conditions, the maximum conversion rate reached 89.7%, suggesting that the process can obviously increase the yield of ginsenoside C-K. The bioassay tests indicated that the ginsenoside C-K showed anti-tumor activity in a series of tumor cell lines. Based on these results, we can conclude that the process of rare ginsenoside C- K production by enzymolysis with snailase is feasible, efficient, and suitable for the industrial production and application.

Spherical Nucleic Acid-Amplified Digital Flow Cytometric Bead Assay for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Protein and Exosome

Comprehensive Summary,Most conventional digital bioassays rely on the use of fully-sealed microchambers as independent units to compartmentalize the target molecules and the signal generation reaction,which require specialized equipment or proprietary reagents/consumables.Herein,we report a microchamber-free and spherical nucleic acid(SNA)-amplified digital flow cytometric bead assay(dFBA)for ultrasensitive protein and exosome analysis with simple workflows,easily accessible instruments/reagents,and high discriminating ability towards the fluorescence-positive and fluorescence-negative beads.In this dFBA,microbeads are employed as independent carriers to anchor the single target molecule-initiated signal amplification reaction,avoiding the use of sealed droplets or microwell microchambers.Meanwhile,antibody-functionalized SNAs(FSNAs)with a high density of DNA probes act as a bridge for efficiently amplified target-to-DNA signal conversion,which allows the use of DNA-based rolling circle amplification(RCA)as the fluorescence signal amplification technique to quantify non-nucleic acid targets.Even a single target-induced on-bead RCA and fluorescence enriching are sufficient to make the target-loaded bead bright enough to be clearly discriminated from the negative ones just by use of a most common flow cytometer(FCM).This dFBA has successfully realized the digital analysis of ultralow levels of protein and exosome biomarkers,enlarging the toolbox of digital bioassays for clinical applications.

Titanium nitride hollow nanospheres with strong lithium polysulfide chemisorption as sulfur hosts for advanced lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries are promising electrochemical energy storage devices because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. An ideal sulfur host should possess high conductivity and embrace the physical confinement or strong chemisorption to dramatically suppress the polysulfide dissolution. Herein, uniform TiN hollow nanospheres with an average diameter of N 160 nm have been reported as highly efficient lithium polysulfide reservoirs for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Combining the high conductivity and chemical trapping of lithium polysulfides, the obtained S/TiN cathode of 70 wt.% sulfur content in the composite delivered an excellent long-life cycling performance at 0.5C and 1.0C over 300 cycles. More importantly, a stable capacity of 710.4 mAh.g-1 could be maintained even after 100 cydes at 0.2C with a high sulfur loading of 3.6 mg-cm-1 The nature of the interactions between TiN and lithium polysulfide species was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies. Theoretical calculations were also carried out and the results revealed a strong binding between TiN and the lithium polysulfide species. It is expected that this dass of conductive and polar materials would pave a new way for the high-energy lithium-sulfur batteries in the future.

Resveratrol promotes the survival and neuronal differentiation of hypoxia-conditioned neuronal progenitor cells in rats with cerebral ischemia

Hypoxia conditioning could increase the survival of transplanted neuronal progenitor cells(NPCs)in rats with cerebral ischemia but could also hinder neuronal differentiation partly by suppressing mitochondrial metabolism.In this work,the mitochondrial metabolism of hypoxia-conditioned NPCs(hcNPCs)was upregulated via the additional administration of resveratrol,an herbal compound,to resolve the limitation of hypoxia conditioning on neuronal differentiation.Resveratrol was first applied during the in vitro neuronal differentiation of hcNPCs and concurrently promoted the differentiation,synaptogenesis,and functional development of neurons derived from hcNPCs and restored the mitochondrial metabolism.Furthermore,this herbal compound was used as an adjuvant during hcNPC transplantation in a photothrombotic stroke rat model.Resveratrol promoted neuronal differentiation and increased the long-term survival of transplanted hcNPCs.18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and rotarod test showed that resveratrol and hcNPC transplantation synergistically improved the neurological and metabolic recovery of stroke rats.In conclusion,resveratrol promoted the neuronal differentiation and therapeutic efficiency of hcNPCs in stroke rats via restoring mitochondrial metabolism.This work suggested a novel approach to promote the clinical translation of NPC transplantation therapy.

信息-知识-信念-行为健康教育模式对髋关节置换术患者疾病认知水平及术后康复训练依从性的影响

目的探究信息-知识-信念-行为(IKAP)健康教育模式对髋关节置换术患者疾病认知水平及术后康复训练依从性的影响。方法选取2017年1月至2019年1月湖州第一人民医院收治的髋关节置换术患者192例的临床资料,根据健康教育方法不同分为常规组92例,IKAP组100例,常规组采用常规健康宣教,IKAP组采用信息-知识-信念-行为健康教育模式。比较两组患者干预前后疾病认知水平和康复训练依从性;干预前后采用髋关节功能量表(Harris)和生活质量评定量表(SF-36)评估两组患者髋关节功能和生活质量。结果干预前两组患者认知水平评分、训练依从性评分差异均无统计学意义(t=0.29、1.23,P=0.766、0.218),干预后IKAP组患者疾病认知水平评分、训练依从性评分均高于常规组(t=3.58、4.90,均P<0.001);干预前两组Harris量表中疼痛评分、功能评分、关节活动评分差异均无统计学意义(t=0.86、1.15、1.42,P=0.388、0.249、0.156),干预后IKAP组Harris量表各维度评分均高于常规组(t=4.45、4.07、4.41,均P<0.001);干预前两组SF-36量表中的骨关节症状、全身症状、情感能力评分差异均无统计学意义(t=0.14、0.57、0.28,P=0.881、0.566、0.774),干预后IKAP组SF-36量表各维度评分均高于常规组(t=2.37、2.52、2.14,P=0.019、0.012、0.033)。结论对髋关节置换术患者实行信息-知识-信念-行为健康教育模式,能够提升其疾病认知水平、训练依从性、髋关节功能以及生活质量。

Tetra-EDOT substituted 3D electrochromic polymers with lower band gaps

A couple of novel electrochromic materials poly(2,3,4,5-tetrakis(2,3-hydrothieno[3,4-b]dixin-5-yl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole)(P(t-EDOT-mPy))and poly(5,5',5",5'"-(thiophene-2,3,4,5-tetrayl)tetrakis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine))(P(t-EDOTTh))are electrodeposited via multi-position polymerization of their tetra-EDOT substituted monomers t-EDOT-mPy and t-EDOT-Th,respectively.Compared with the linear 2D structured poly(thiophene)(E_g=2.2 eV)and poly(2,5-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)thiophene)(E_g=1.7eV),P(t-EDOT-Th)(E_g=1.62eV)has the lowest band gap.Hence,we speculate that the band gaps of the two polymers,having 3D structures,are decreased in contrast to non-substituted polymers or bi-EDOT substituted polymers,thiophene and 1-methyl-1H-pyrrole.The results indicated that P(t-EDOT-Th)thin films are more stable and show higher transmittance amid two polymers,which may find their utilization in organic optoelectronics.

Molecular engineering tuning optoelectronic properties of thieno[3,2-b]thiophenes-based electrochromic polymers

Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene(TT)monomers end-capped with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene(EDOT)moieties are electropolymerized to formπ-conjugated polymers with distinct electrochromic(EC)properties.Steric and electronic factors(electron donor and acceptor substituents)in the side groups of the TT core,as well as the structure of the polymer backbone strongly affect the electrochemical and optical properties of the polymers and their electrochromic characteristics.The studied polymers show low oxidation potentials,tunable from-0.78 to+0.30 V(vs.Fc/Fc^+)and the band gaps from 1.46 to 1.92 eV and demonstrate wide variety of color palettes in polymer films in different states,finely tunable by structural variations in the polymer backbone and the side chains.EC materials of different colors in their doped/dedoped states have been developed(violet,deep blue,light blue,green,brown,purple-red,pinkish-red,orange-red,light gray,cyan and colorless transparent).High optical contrast(up to 79%),short response time(0.57-0.80 s),good cycling stability(up to 91%at 2000 cycles)and high coloration efficiency(up to 234.6 cm2C^(-1))have been demonstrated and the influence of different factors on the above parameters of EC polymers have been discussed.