A systematic study of Erzhu Erchen decoction against damp-heat internalized type 2 diabetes based on data mining and experimental verification

Background:Erzhu Erchen decoction(EZECD),which is based on Erchen decoction and enhanced with Atractylodes lancea and Atractylodes macrocephala,is widely used for the treatment of dampness and heat(The clinical manifestations of Western medicine include thirst,inability to drink more,diarrhea,yellow urine,red tongue,et al.)internalized disease.Nevertheless,the mechanism of EZECD on damp-heat internalized Type 2 diabetes(T2D)remains unknown.We employed data mining,pharmacology databases and experimental verification to study how EZECD treats damp-heat internalized T2D.Methods:The main compounds or genes of EZECD and damp-heat internalized T2D were obtained from the pharmacology databases.Succeeding,the overlapped targets of EZECD and damp-heat internalized T2D were performed by the Gene Ontology,kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis.And the compound-disease targets-pathway network were constructed to obtain the hub compound.Moreover,the hub genes and core related pathways were mined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on Gene Expression Omnibus database,the capability of hub compound and genes was valid in AutoDock 1.5.7.Furthermore,and violin plot and gene set enrichment analysis were performed to explore the role of hub genes in damp-heat internalized T2D.Finally,the interactions of hub compound and genes were explored using Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:First,herb-compounds-genes-disease network illustrated that the hub compound of EZECD for damp-heat internalized T2D could be quercetin.Consistently,the hub genes were CASP8,CCL2,and AHR according to weighted gene co-expression network analysis.Molecular docking showed that quercetin could bind with the hub genes.Further,gene set enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology represented that CASP8,or CCL2,is negatively involved in insulin secretion response to the TNF or lipopolysaccharide process,and AHR or CCL2 positively regulated lipid and atherosclerosis,and/or including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Ultimately,the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analysis showed that quercetin could down-regulated the mRNA and protein experssion of CASP8,CCL2,and AHR.It was consistent with the results in Comparative Toxicogenomics Database databases.Conclusion:These results demonstrated quercetin could inhibit the expression of CASP8,CCL2,AHR in damp-heat internalized T2D,which improves insulin secretion and inhibits lipid and atherosclerosis,as well as/or including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway,suggesting that EZECD may be more effective to treat damp-heat internalized T2D.

Research on visual differences of exits of different grades of tunnels based on machine learning

Tunnels are vital in connecting crucial transportation hubs as transportation infrastructure evolves.Variations in tunnel design standards and driving conditions across different levels directly impact driver visual perception and traffic safety.This study employs a Gaussian hybrid clustering machine learning model to explore driver gaze patterns in highway tunnels and exits.By utilizing contour coefficients,the optimal number of classification clusters is determined.Analysis of driver visual behavior across tunnel levels,focusing on gaze point distribution,gaze duration,and sweep speed,was conducted.Findings indicate freeway tunnel exits exhibit three distinct fixation point categories aligning with Gaussian distribution,while highway tunnels display four such characteristics.Notably,in both tunnel types,65%of driver gaze is concentrated on the near area ahead of their lane.Differences emerge in highway tunnels due to oncoming traffic,leading to 13.47%more fixation points and 0.9%increased fixation time in the right lane compared to regular highway tunnel conditions.Moreover,scanning speeds predominantly fall within the 0.25-0.3 range,accounting for 75.47%and 31.14%of the total sweep speed.

Cerebrospinal fluid used as culture medium prior to autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation

BACKGROUND： Cerebrospinal fluid can be an inducer for neural stem cells in vitro, but few studies employ cerebrospinal fluid to culture olfactory ensheathing cells. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the growth of nasal mucosa olfactory ensheathing cells in normal cerebrospinal fluid, and to analyze the feasibility of cerebrospinal fluid for culturing olfactory ensheathing cells used for transplantation. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A completely randomized, block design study was performed at the Cell Laboratory, Wuxi Third People＇s Hospital, and Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, China, in August 2008. MATERIALS： Dulbecco＇s modified Eagle＇s medium/F12 （DMEM/F12） and fetal bovine serum （Gibco BRL, USA）, mouse anti-rat P75 monoclonal antibody and rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein polyclonal anti body （＇Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA）, mouse anti-rat myelin basic protein monoclonal antibody （Cymbus, UK）, mouse anti-rat microtubule-associated protein-2 monoclonal antibody （Transduction Laboratories, USA）, FITC conjugated rabbit anti-mouse monoclonal antibody （Boster, China）, TRITC conjugated goat anti-rabbit monoclonal antibody （Sigma, USA） were used. METHODS： Nasal mucosa olfactory ensheathing cells were separately incubated in DMEM/F12, cerebrospinal fluid, and changing DMEM/F12 into cerebrospinal fluid. Adult female Sprague Dawley rat models of spinal hemisection were established. Nerve injury was repaired by transplantation of nasal mucosa olfactory ensheathing cells cultured in cerebrospinal fluid or DMEM/F12. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The proliferative ability of olfactory ensheathing cells cultured in cerebrospinal fluid was determined by a 3-（4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The morphology and purity of olfactory ensheathing cells were detected using immunohistochemistry. Animal behavior was evaluated by the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. Morphological repair was assessed by a horseradish peroxidase-tetramethylbenzidine retrograde tracer technique and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： Changing from DMEM/F12 to cerebrospinal fluid did not change overall culture morphology and purity on day 14. These cells also contributed to myelinization and the conduction velocity of regenerated axons, and improved motor abilities of denervated muscle fibers in rats with spinal cord injury. The recovery of behavioral function and neuronal regeneration was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION： Cerebrospinal fluid culture prior to autologous olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation is feasible for clinical use.

宣威肺癌分子流行病学研究：煤种、基因型与肺癌风险

背景与目的已有的研究证明:宣威是我国农村肺癌死亡率最高的地区,肺癌危险与室内燃烧烟煤产生的多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)有关,肺癌发病具有明显的地域性差别和家族聚集性。本研究从分子流行病学角度探索宣威肺癌风险的危险因素及与发病机理有关的基因型和燃煤类型。方法运用两个基于人群的病例对照研究,开展问卷调查,同时采集口腔细胞和痰等生物样品,提取DNA。应用PCR法检测GST超家族、AKR超家族和OGG1等基因型。通过Logistic回归分析煤种、基因型与肺癌风险的关联。结果与燃用无烟煤或木柴的研究对象相比,家用来宾烟煤的肺癌风险比数比(odds ratio,OR)值高达24.8,其次为龙潭(OR=11.6)、宝山(OR=6.0)、龙场(OR=4.1)、羊场(OR=3.8)等;燃用同种烟煤的男女肺癌风险相似。对于GSTM1缺失、AKR1C3(Ex1-70C>G)、OGG1(Ex6-315C>G)基因型,肺癌风险明显增高,且具统计学意义[OR(95%CI)分别为2.3(1.3-4.2)、1.8(1.0-3.5)和1.9(1.1-3.3)]。与家用烟煤量小且具GSTM1阳性的研究对象相比,用量大且GSTM1缺失的研究对象肺癌风险更高,女性OR为4.9(1.3-18.2),男性OR为2.7(1.0-7.4)。但对于AKR1C3(Ex1-70C>G)和OGG1(Ex6-315C>G),仅观察到女性肺癌风险的明显增高,OR分别为12.9(2.2-107.8)和5.7(1.1-34.2)。结论宣威不同煤种的肺癌风险有很大差异,但暴露于相同煤种的男性与女性肺癌风险相似。GSTM1缺失基因型与肺癌风险增高有关联。AKR1C3与OGG1这2种基因型与肺癌风险有关联,且在烟煤使用量高的女性中肺癌风险更高。

A bioinformatics-based study of the mechanism of JQ-1 on BET protein and atherosclerosis induced by vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Background:Based on previous theoretical studies,JQ-1 as a common inhibitor of bromodomain and extraterminal(BET)proteins was used to treat a variety of diseases.Therefore,we aimed to explore the mechanism of action of JQ-1 on BET proteins based on bioinformatics and build the novel hypothesis of JQ-1 in treating atherosclerosis(AS)caused by proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs).Methods:We selected the chip GSE138323 which was searched with the key words“Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation”in Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,and differential gene analysis was performed between the GRO and JQ-1 groups.Then the top twenty significantly up-regulated genes and the top twenty significantly down-regulated genes were selected for Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis.Thirdly,structured the PPI network of forty differential genes,and the core genes were screened by using the MCC algorithm which in“Cytohubba”plugin in the Cytoscapev3.9.1 software.After that,single gene Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)enrichment analysis was performed on the selected core genes in R language.Finally molecular docking validation was performed.Results:Five core genes was selected:H3C2,H3C4,H3C7,H3C10 and AREG.The GO enrichment analysis results showed that there were twenty-five entries in biological process,eight entries in cellular components(CC),and twenty-five entries in molecular function.The KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that there were seven pathways,mainly including systemic lupus erythematosus and external neutrophil trap formation.The GSEA results showed that the five genes were mainly through the regulation of cytochrome P450 metabolism,PPAR signaling pathway and other pathways.The molecular docking results showed that JQ-1 had binding activity with these five genes.Conclusions:JQ-1 may regulate the expression of the genes that H3C2,H3C4,H3C7,H3C10 and AREG,to mainly regulate the genes in cytochrome P450 metabolism,PPAR singling pathway and other pathways,to make some influence in the proliferation of VSMCs,and improved atherosclerotic symptoms due to vascular smooth muscle proliferation,thus treating cardiovascular disease.

云南宣威、富源地区非吸烟女性肺癌生存分析

背景与目的云南东部农村地区宣威市、富源县女性居民主要从事农业生产和家务工作,基本不吸烟,但肺癌死亡率却是世界上最高的,而且发病、死亡年龄提前。本研究对宣威、富源非吸烟女性肺癌生存状况及其影响因素进行分析。方法以2006年-2010年被当地省、市、县9家医院新诊断、并纳入"非吸烟女性肺癌病例对照研究项目"的常住户籍女性肺癌病例为研究对象随访至2016年末。通过Life-table法进行全部病例生存分析,评估人群相对生存率和年龄别标化相对生存率。应用Kaplan-Meier法和Cox比例风险模型分别进行单因素生存分析、分层分析和多因素分析。结果随访的1,250例病例中,死亡1,075例,删失175例,随访中位时间为69个月(95%CI:61.9-76.0)。病例平均年龄(54.8±10.9)岁,I期、II期、III期、IV期和未知分期分别占3.5%、8.7%、20.7%、29.7%和37.4%;手术、非手术治疗和未治疗分别占17. 2%、39.0%和43. 8%,组织学、细胞学诊断占51.6%。中位生存时间13.2个月,5年观察生存率、相对生存率、年龄标化相对生存率分别为8.9%(95%CI:7.0-10.6)、9.4%(95%CI:7.6-11.5)和10.1%(95%CI:3.7-20.5)。I期、II期、III期、IV期、未分期5年生存率分别为41.1%、22.4%、5. 3%、1. 3%、11.2%;手术治疗、非手术治疗、未治疗分别为34.8%和3.2%、4.7%;腺癌、鳞癌分别为17.9%和5.6%。省级医院治疗、X线胸部筛查、非农民职业、城镇居住、65岁以下年龄等因素有利于提高生存率,而市县级医院治疗、农民职业、乡村居住、65岁以上年龄等则生存率较低。分层分析显示,任意原发灶-淋巴结-远处转移(tumornode-met a st a si s,T N M)分期,无论腺癌或鳞癌患者,行手术治疗的生存率明显高于非手术治疗;与未治疗病例相比非手术治疗仅在III期显示差异;腺癌生存率大于鳞癌不仅仅因为早期和手术病例较多,在III期、未分期也显示明显生存优势。不同级别医院治疗疗效有明显差异,省级医院治疗的IV期、鳞癌的生存预后明显优于市、县级医院。Cox分析显示治疗方法、TNM分期、治疗医院级别、X线胸部筛查是独立预后因素,其中TNM分期、手术治疗对肺癌患者生存影响较大,而治疗医院级别、X胸部筛查相对较弱。结论宣威、富源非吸烟女性肺癌生存率较低,主要与其诊断时早期病例和手术、综合治疗较少、而未治疗病例较多有关,其次较差的农村社会经济、健康保障等也是生存预后的不利因素。

Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to explore the mechanism of Smilax china L.in the treatment of myocardial infarction

Objective:To predict the relevant targets and signaling pathways of Smilax china L.(SC)for treating myocardial infarction on the basis of network pharmacology and molecular docking.Consequently,the basis for additional in-depth investigation is obtained.Methods:First,the targets of SC and the targets for treating myocardial infarction were screened from different databases,Then the intersection genes of SC for treating myocardial infarction were performed in Venny 2.1.0.Second,to obtain the protein interaction network,the Metascape database,String database,were used to analyze the important modules related to the signaling pathway using MCODE algorithm.Furthermore,the DAVID database was used for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis.And we constructed the“interaction targets-pathways”network by Cytoscape software,and using Network Analyzer was used to screen the core compound,core targets and core pathways.Finally,molecular docking was used to verify whether the core compounds and core targets had better docking binding.Results:11 active ingredients and 98 targets of SC,1846 targets to treat myocardial infarction and 58 targets related to treat myocardial infarction in SC were obtained;MCODE analysis of the protein-protein interaction network yielded 4 important modules related to signaling pathways;Gene Ontology enrichment analysis yielded 848 entries and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis yielded 144 signaling pathways;the core compounds were beta-sitosterol,diosgenin,kaempferol,core targets were AKT1,CASP9,BCL2,core pathways were pathways in cancer,pathways of neurodegeneration-multiple diseases,Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection,lipid and atherosclerosis and human cytomegalovirus infection.Finally,molecular docking between core components and core targets was verified.Conclusion:The preliminary prediction of the mechanism of the SC in the treatment of myocardial infarction is that it acts through a multi-compounds,multi-targets and multi-pathways.This study provided a theoretical basis and research direction for the mechanism of action of SC in the treatment of myocardial infarction,and lays the foundation for further research on SC in the treatment of myocardial infarction.

血清Hcy对不稳定型心绞痛患者焦虑症发生的影响

目的探讨血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)水平对不稳定型心绞痛患者焦虑症发生的影响。方法纳入150例不稳定型心绞痛患者作为研究对象,采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)对其焦虑症进行调查,根据结果分为无焦虑组和焦虑组。抽取空腹肘正中静脉血2 ml检测Hcy,分析Hcy水平对焦虑症的影响。结果 150例不稳定型心绞痛患者中出现焦虑症68例,占45.3%。两组患者年龄、SAS评分、病程及Hcy水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。病程延长及Hcy水平升高是影响不稳定型心绞痛患者焦虑症的独立危险因素。轻度组Hcy水平及高同型半胱氨酸血症(HH)比例与中、重度组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);中度组Hcy水平及HH比例与重度组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。相关性分析结果表明,Hcy水平随SAS评分增加而升高(P<0.05)。结论血清Hcy水平是不稳定型心绞痛患者焦虑症发生的危险因素,且与焦虑症严重程度呈正相关。临床上对存在血清Hcy水平升高的不稳定型心绞痛患者需要密切注意其情绪变化。

云南富源县肺癌发病状况调查

[目的]了解自然状况下的富源县贫困山区肺癌发病水平,为肺癌进一步防治研究提供基线数据。[方法]搜集2002年经云南省内省、市、县级医院一、二级诊断的富源县籍肺癌新发病例,以1998～2001年当地县级医院诊断的肺癌病例用于核查、剔除重复病例。[结果]2002年富源县新发肺癌病例366例,男、女肺癌中国人口调整发病率为59.32/10万、43.42/10万,世界调整发病率为85.15/10万、62.64/10万;男女肺癌发病率比值为1.36,而且发病率最高的乡镇女性高于男性,女性肺癌发病率是全国女性的4.6倍,男女性发病率的特点不同于其他以吸烟为主要原因的地区或人群。男女肺癌发病率从25～30岁以后明显上升,至65～74岁达到高峰。不同地域肺癌发病率相差甚大,肺癌发病率的高低与煤矿资源种类及产量分布有关。出产烟煤、以烟煤为生活燃料的北部乡镇肺癌发病率是以无烟煤、木材为燃料的南部乡镇的12.28倍。[结论]富源煤矿资源的分布和使用影响当地人群肺癌发病。加强富源肺癌动态监测和综合防治势不可待。

茶多酚微胶囊对腊肉理化性质及挥发性风味物质的影响

为研究添加茶多酚微胶囊对腊肉理化性质及风味的影响,以相同工艺制得空白组、茶多酚组(0.3 g/kg茶多酚)、茶多酚微胶囊组(0.3 g/kg茶多酚微胶囊)三组腊肉,测定三组腊肉色差、过氧化值(POV)、硫代巴比妥酸反应物(TBARs)值、亚硝酸盐残留、感官评价、挥发性风味物质。结果显示,添加茶多酚后样品保持较好的颜色,POV值和TBARs值明显降低,同时有较低水平的亚硝酸盐残留和更好的感官品质;电子鼻线性判别分析(LDA)能有效区分三组腊肉的区别。气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)分析结果显示,添加茶多酚微胶囊处理后的腊肉其醛类、酮类、醇类等与脂肪氧化相关的挥发性物质相对含量分别为16.093%、4.588%、13.208%,低于空白组(19.363%、16.203%、24.246%)。茶多酚微胶囊处理组的腊肉特征风味物质酚类物质的相对含量为61.361%,较空白组(29.619%)与茶多酚组(54.794%)更高。说明在腊肉中添加茶多酚微胶囊能较好地改善产品的理化性质及风味。

D混料最优设计优化茶多酚微胶囊工艺及其脂肪氧化抑制作用

本文以壳聚糖、明胶为壁材,茶多酚为芯材,包封率为响应值,采用D-混料最优设计研究了自组装法包埋茶多酚的工艺优化,将得到的茶多酚微胶囊按一定质量比例添加到肉糜中,通过电子鼻测定其风味差异,并研究肉样储藏过程中的丙二醛含量变化对其抑制脂肪氧化作用。结果表明体系中茶多酚、明胶、壳聚糖的含量分别为0.40、0.50和0.10时(以试验体系干物质总量为1),包封率为50.87%。添加0.01%、0.03%、0.05%的茶多酚微胶囊的猪肉,4℃下处理10 d后其丙二醛含量(TBARs)值分别为0.183、0.135、0.108 mg/kg,均较未添加茶多酚的空白处理和非微胶囊茶多酚处理组显著降低(P<0.05),电子鼻测定结果也显示添加不同茶多酚处理组的风味和空白组有较大区别,说明得到的茶多酚微胶囊能有效抑制脂肪氧化,延长猪肉的保藏时间。

Household air pollution and lung cancer in China:a review of studies in Xuanwei

Over half of the world's population is exposed to household air pollution from the burning of solid fuels at home. Household air pollution from solid fuel use is a leading risk factor for global disease and remains a major public health problem, especially in low- and mid-income countries. This is a particularly serious problem in China, where many people in rural areas still use coal for household heating and cooking. This review focuses on several decades of research carried out in Xuanwei County, Yunnan Province, where household coal use is a major source of household air pollution and where studies have linked household air pollution exposure to high rates of lung cancer. We conducted a series of case-control and cohort studies in Xuanwei to characterize the lung cancer risk in this population and the factors associated with it. We found lung cancer risk to vary substantially between different coal types, with a higher risk associated with smoky(i.e., bituminous) coal use compared to smokeless(i.e., anthracite) coal use. The installation of a chimney in homes resulted in a substantial reduction in lung cancer incidence and mortality. Overall, our research underscores the need among existing coal users to improve ventilation, use the least toxic fuel, and eventually move toward the use of cleaner fuels, such as gas and electricity.

Dihydromyricetin alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury via JNK-dependent mechanism in mice

AIM: To assess the effects of dihydromyricetin(DHM) as a hepatoprotective candidate in reducing hepatic injury and accelerating hepatocyte proliferation after carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) treatment.METHODS: C57 BL/6 mice were used in this study. Mice were orally administered with DHM(150 mg/kg) for 4 d after CCl4 treatment. Serum and liver tissue samples were collected on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 after CCl4 treatment. The anti-inflammatory effect of DHM was assessed directly by hepatic histology detection and indirectly by serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), albumin, and superoxide dismutase(SOD). Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), were detected using ELISA kits. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) staining was used to evaluate the role of DHM in promoting hepatocyte proliferation. Hepatocyte apoptosis wasmeasured by TUNEL assay.Furthermore,apoptosis proteins Caspases-3,6,8,and 9 were detected by Western blot.SP600125 were used to confirm whether DHM regulated liver regeneration through JNK/TNF-αpathways.RESULTS:DHM showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.DHM could significantly decrease serum ALT,AST,IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-αand increase serum albumin,SOD and liver SOD compared to the control group after CCl4 treatment(P<0.05).PCNA results indicated that DHM could significantly increase the number of PCNA positive cells compared to the control(348.9±56.0 vs 107.1±31.4,P<0.01).TUNEL assay showed that DHM dramatically reduced the number of apoptotic cells after CCl4 treatment compared to the control(365.4±99.4 vs 90.5±13.8,P<0.01).Caspase activity detection showed that DHM could reduce the activities of Caspases-8,3,6 and 9 compared to the control(P<0.05).The results of Western blot showed that DHM increased the expression of JNK and decreased TNF-αexpression.However,DHM could not affect TNF-αexpression after SP600125 treatment.Furthermore,DHM could significantly improve the survival rate of acute liver failure(ALF)mice(73.3%vs 20.0%,P<0.0001),and SP600125 could inhibit the effect of DHM.CONCLUSION:These findings demonstrate that DHM alleviates CCl4-induced liver injury,suggesting that DHM is a promising candidate for reversing liver injury and ALF.

非小细胞肺癌脑转移免疫治疗的相关肿瘤微环境基础

脑是非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)最常见的远处转移部位,脑转移也是晚期肺癌致残致死的主要原因。近年来,小分子酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的应用和疗效奠定了驱动基因突变阳性的NSCLC脑转移的治疗基础。随着程序性死亡受体1(programmed cell death protein 1, PD-1)/程序性死亡受体配体1(programmed cell death protein ligand 1, PD-L1)抑制剂及相应联合疗法的不断发展,免疫治疗已成为驱动基因突变泛阴性的NSCLC脑转移患者的重要选择,相关生物标志物的价值也日益凸显。由于NSCLC脑转移肿瘤及其微环境的免疫病理特征具有一定的特殊性,本文旨在回顾相关研究进展,并为免疫治疗联合策略的探索与新型免疫疗法的开发提供参考。

Electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers promote Schwann cell adhesion, growth and proliferation

In this study, Schwann cells, at a density of 1 x 105 cells/well, were cultured on regenerated silk fibroin nanofibers （305 ＋ 84 nm） prepared using the electrospinning method. Schwann cells cultured on the silk fibroin nanofibers appeared more ordered, their processes extended further, and they formed more extensive and complex interconnections. In addition, the silk fibroin nanofibers had no impact on the proliferation of Schwann cells or on the secretion of ciliary neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor or nerve growth factor. These findings indicate that regenerated electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers can promote Schwann cell adhesion, growth and proliferation, and have excellent biocompatibility.

Effect of REs(Y,Nd)addition on high temperature oxidation kinetics,oxide layer characteristic and activation energy of AZ80 alloy

The oxidation behaviors of AZ80,AZ8O-0.32 Y and AZ8O-0.38 Nd(wt.%)alloys were researched at 413℃,420℃,427v and 433℃for up to 6 h in air environment via a high precision analytical balance,a laser confocal microscope,differential scanning calorimeter(DSC)analysis,X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis,scanning electron microscope(SEM)observation,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)analysis.The results show that the weight gain and oxidation rate of AZ80 are reduced significantly,the initiation form and propagation of cracks in oxide layer are changed.Compact and protective oxide layer forms on alloy surface with Y or Nd addition.And the activation energies of AZ80,AZ80-0.32Y and AZ8O-0.38Nd alloys calculated via Arrhenius equation are 82.556 kJ/mol,177.148kJ/mol and 136.738 kJ/mol,respectively.

Research on human glioma stem cells in China

Research on human glioma stem cells began early in the 21st century and since then has become a rapidly growing research field with the number of publications increasing year by year. The research conducted by our diverse group of investigators focused primarily on cell culture techniques, molecular regulation, signaling pathways, cancer treatment, the stem cell microenvironment and the cellular origin and function of glioma stem cells. In particular, we put forward our view that there are inverse or forward transformations among neural stem cells, glial cells and glioma stem cells in glioma tissues under certain conditions. Based on the background of the progress of international research on human glioma stem cells, we aim to share our progress and current findings of human glioma stem cell research in China with colleagues around the world.

Metal-Oxo Cluster Catalysts for Photocatalytic Water Splitting and Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Photocatalytic water splitting and carbon dioxide photoreduction are considered eff ective strategies for alleviating the energy crisis and environmental pollution.Polynuclear metal-oxo clusters possess excellent electron storage/release ability and unique catalytic properties via intermetallic synergy,which enables them with great potential in environmentally friendly photosynthesis.Importantly,metal-oxo clusters with precise structure can not only act as high-effi ciency catalysts but also provide well-defi ned structural models for exploring structure-activity relationships.In this review,we systematically sum-marize recent progress in the catalytic application of polynuclear metal-oxo clusters,including polyoxometalate clusters,low-cost transition metal clusters,and metal-oxo-cluster-based metal-organic frameworks for water splitting and CO_(2)reduction.Furthermore,we discuss the challenges and solutions to the problems of polynuclear metal-oxo clusters in photocatalysis.

Effect of ultrasonic field treatment on degassing of 2024 alloy

The 2024 aluminum alloy was prepared with different ultrasonic processes.Effects of ultrasonic treatment parameters including ultrasonic power,treatment time,treatment temperature,and frequency resonance,as well as C_(2)Cl_(6) degasser on degassing of the 2024 aluminum alloy were investigated.Results indicate that increasing ultrasonic power at the same ultrasonic treatment time can improve the degassing effect.The optimum degassing efficiency can be obtained under the resonant ultrasound condition.With the combination of 1%C_(2)Cl_(6) addition and 150 W ultrasonic treatment for 40 s,the hydrogen content of the alloy is decreased by 52.9%.At the same time,the tensile strength and elongation are increased by 28.3%and 92.3%,respectively,and the yield strength is slightly increased by 6.7%.The degassing mechanism is also discussed.

Ultrastructure of human neural stem/progenitor cells and neurospheres

BACKGROUND： Biological and morphological characteristics of neural stem/progenitor cells （NSPCs） have been widely investigated. OBJECTIVE： To explore the ultrastructure of human embryo-derived NSPCs and neurospheres cultivated in vitro using electron microscopy. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cell biology experiment was performed at the Brain Tumor Laboratory of Soochow University, and Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University between August 2007 and April 2008. MATERIALS： Human fetal brain tissue was obtained from an 8-week-old aborted fetus; serum-free Dulbecco＇s modified Eagle＇s medium/F12 culture medium was provided by Gibco, USA; scanning electron microscope was provided by Hitachi Instruments, Japan; transmission electron microscope was provided by JEOL, Japan. METHODS： NSPCs were isolated from human fetal brain tissue and cultivated in serum-free Dulbecco＇s modified Eagle＇s medium/F12 culture medium. Cells were passaged every 5-7 days. After three passages, NSPCs were harvested and used for ultrastructural examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Ultrastructural examination of human NSPCs and adjacent cells in neurospheres. RESULTS： Individual NSPCs were visible as spherical morphologies with rough surfaces under scanning electron microscope. Generally, they had large nuclei and little cytoplasm. Nuclei were frequently globular with large amounts of euchromatin and a small quantity of heterochromatin, and most NSPCs had only one nucleolus. The Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum were underdeveloped; however, autophagosomes were clearly visible. The neurospheres were made up of NSPCs and non-fixiform material inside. Between adjacent cells and at the cytoplasmic surface of apposed plasma membranes, there were vesicle-like structures. Some membrane boundaries with high permeabilities were observed between some contiguous NSPCs in neurospheres, possibly attributable to plasmalemmal fusion between adjacent cells. CONCLUSION： A large number of autophagosomes were observed in NSPCs and gap junctions were visible between adjacent NSPCs.