Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced imbalance in microbiome-derived butyric acid levels promotes the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors globally.Recent reports suggest that Fusobacterium nucleatum(F.nucleatum)contributes to the initiation,progression,and prognosis of CRC.Butyrate,a short-chain fatty acid derived from the bacterial fermentation of soluble dietary fiber,is known to inhibit various cancers.This study is designed to explore whether F.nucleatum influences the onset and progression of CRC by impacting the intestinal metabolite butyric acid.AIM To investigate the mechanism by which F.nucleatum affects CRC occurrence and development.METHODS Alterations in the gut microbiota of BALB/c mice were observed following the oral administration of F.nucleatum.Additionally,DLD-1 and HCT116 cell lines were exposed to sodium butyrate(NaB)and F.nucleatum in vitro to examine the effects on proliferative proteins and mitochondrial function.RESULTS Our research indicates that the prevalence of F.nucleatum in fecal samples from CRC patients is significantly greater than in healthy counterparts,while the prevalence of butyrate-producing bacteria is notably lower.In mice colonized with F.nucleatum,the population of butyrate-producing bacteria decreased,resulting in altered levels of butyric acid,a key intestinal metabolite of butyrate.Exposure to NaB can impair mitochondrial morphology and diminish mitochondrial membrane potential in DLD-1 and HCT116 CRC cells.Consequently,this leads to modulated production of adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species,thereby inhibiting cancer cell prolif-eration.Additionally,NaB triggers the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)signaling pathway,blocks the cell cycle in HCT116 and DLD-1 cells,and curtails the proliferation of CRC cells.The combined presence of F.nucleatum and NaB attenuated the effects of the latter.By employing small interfering RNA to suppress AMPK,it was demonstrated that AMPK is essential for NaB’s inhibition of CRC cell proliferation.CONCLUSION F.nucleatum can promote cancer progression through its inhibitory effect on butyric acid,via the AMPK signaling pathway.

Treatment of lumbar disc herniation with robot combined with unilateral biportal endoscopic technology:A case report

BACKGROUND This reported procedure combines the orthopedic surgical robot with the unilateral biportal endoscopy-lumbar interbody fusion(UBE-LIF),utilizing the UBE's wide viewing field and operating space to perform minimally invasive decompressive fusion of the lesioned segment,and the orthopedic surgical robot's intelligence and precision to perform percutaneous pedicle screw placement.The advancement of this procedure lies in the superposition of advantages and offsetting disadvantages of the two new technologies,and the maximum effect of treatment is achieved with maximum minimization of invasiveness and precision under the monitoring of imaging instruments to maximize the benefit of patients,and this review reports a case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE for reference.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old patient presented to our hospital.Combining various clinical data,we diagnosed the patient with lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy,lumbar spondylolisthesis,and lumbar spinal stenosis.We developed a surgical plan of"UBE decompression+UBE-LIF+orthopedic surgery robot-assisted percutaneous pedicle screw implantation for internal fixation".The results were satisfactory.CONCLUSION We present an extremely rare case of multiple-segment lumbar decompression and fusion surgery for lumbar disc herniation via robot-assisted UBE and achieved good results.Therefore,the technique is worthy of clinical promotion.

Acacetin protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the NLRP3 signaling pathway

Acacetin(5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone), a potential neuroprotective agent, has an inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammatory reactions. However, whether acacetin has an effect on inflammatory corpuscle 3(NLRP3) after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury has not been fully determined. This study used an improved suture method to establish a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model in C57BL/6 mice. After ischemia with middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 hour, reperfusion with intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg/kg of acacetin(acacetin group) or an equal volume of saline(0.1 mL/10 g, middle cerebral artery occlusion group) was used to investigate the effect of acacetin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Infarct volume and neurological function scores were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and the Zea-Longa scoring method. Compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group, neurological function scores and cerebral infarction volumes were significantly reduced in the acacetin group. To understand the effect of acacetin on microglia-mediated inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, immunohistochemistry for the microglia marker calcium adapter protein ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1(Iba1) was examined in the hippocampus of ischemic brain tissue. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 expression in ischemic brain tissue of mice was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of Iba1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 was significantly lower in the acacetin group compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group. Western blot assay results showed that expression of Toll-like receptor 4, nuclear factor kappa B, NLRP3, procaspase-1, caspase-1, pro-interleukin-1β, and interleukin-1β were significantly lower in the acacetin group compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion group. Our findings indicate that acacetin has a protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and its mechanism of action is associated with inhibition of microglia-mediated inflammation and the NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Melatonin for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury（SCI） from trauma or disease severely impairs sensory and motor function. Neurorehabilitation after SCI is a complex medical process that focuses on improving neurologic function and repairing damaged connections in the central nervous system. An increasing number of preclinical studies suggest that melatonin may be useful for the treatment of SCI. Melatonin is an indolamine that is primarily secreted by the pineal gland and known to be regulated by photoperiodicity. However, it is also a versatile hormone with antioxidative, antiapoptotic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we review the neuroprotective properties of melatonin and the potential mechanisms by which it might be beneficial in the treatment of SCI. We also describe therapies that combine melatonin with exercise, oxytetracycline, and dexamethasone to attenuate the secondary injury after SCI and limit potential side effects. Finally, we discuss how injury at different spinal levels may differentially affect the secretion of melatonin.

Effect of intensity-modulated radiation therapy on sciatic nerve injury caused by echinococcosis

Conventional radiotherapy has a good killing effect on femoral echinococcosis.However,the sciatic nerve around the lesion is irreversibly damaged owing to bystander effects.Although intensity-modulated radiation therapy shows great advantages for precise dose distribution into lesions,it is unknown whether intensity-modulated radiation therapy can perfectly protect the surrounding sciatic nerve on the basis of good killing of femoral echinococcosis foci.Therefore,this study comparatively analyzed differences between intensity-modulated radiation therapy and conventional radiotherapy on the basis of safety to peripheral nerves.Pure-breed Meriones meridiani with bilateral femoral echinococcosis were selected as the research object.Intensity-modulated radiation therapy was used to treat left femoral echinococcosis of Meriones meridianus,while conventional radiotherapy was used to treat right femoral echinococcosis of the same Meriones meridianus.The total radiation dose was 40 Gy.To understand whether intensity-modulated radiation therapy and conventional radiotherapy can kill femoral echinococcosis,trypan blue staining was used to detect pathological changes of bone Echinococcus granulosus and protoscolex death after radiotherapy.Additionally,enzyme histochemical staining was utilized to measure acid phosphatase activity in the protoscolex after radiotherapy.One week after radiotherapy,the overall structure of echinococcosis in bilateral femurs of Meriones meridiani treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy disappeared.There was no significant difference in the mortality rate of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus between the bilateral femurs of Meriones meridiani.Moreover,there was no significant difference in acid phosphatase activity in the protoscolex of Echinococcus granulosus between bilateral femurs.To understand the injury of sciatic nerve surrounding the foci of femoral echinococcosis caused by intensity-modulated radiation therapy and conventional radiotherapy,the ultrastructure of sciatic nerves after radiotherapy was observed by transmission electron microscopy.Additionally,apoptosis of neurons was examined using a terminaldeoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick end labeling assay,and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in sciatic nerve tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blot assay.Our results showed that most neurons in the left sciatic nerve of Meriones meridiani with echinococcosis treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy had reversible injury,and there was no obvious apoptosis.Compared with conventional radiotherapy,the number of apoptotic cells and Bax expression in sciatic nerve treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy were significantly decreased,while Bcl-2 expression was significantly increased.Our findings suggest that intensity-modulated radiation therapy has the same therapeutic effect on echinococcosis as conventional radiotherapy,and can reduce apoptosis of the sciatic nerve around foci caused by radiotherapy.Experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(Approval No.20130301A41)on March 1,2013.

Joint Detection of Serum Vitamin D,Body Mass Index,and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for the Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease

Objective Vitamin D(VD)deficiency was reported to contribute to the progression of Crohn’s disease(CD)and affect the prognosis of CD patients.This study investigated the role of serum VD,body mass index(BMI),and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)in the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.Methods CD patients(n=76)and healthy subjects(n=76)were enrolled between May 2019 and December 2020.The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]levels,BMI,and TNF-αlevels,together with other biochemical parameters,were assessed before treatment.The diagnostic efficacy of the single and joint detection of serum 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwas determined using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The levels of 25(OH)D,BMI,and nutritional indicators,including hemoglobin,total protein,albumin,and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,were much lower,and the TNF-αlevels were much higher in the CD patients than in the healthy subjects(P<0.05 for all).The areas under the ROC curve for the single detection of 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwere 0.887,0.896,and 0.838,respectively,with the optimal cutoff values being 20.64 ng/mL,19.77 kg/m^(2),and 6.85 fmol/mL,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy of the joint detection of 25(OH)D,BMI,and TNF-αwas the highest,with an area under the ROC curve of 0.988(95%CI:0.968–1.000).Conclusion The joint detection of 25(OH)D,TNF-α,and BMI showed high sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy in CD diagnosis;thus,it would be effective for the diagnosis of CD in clinical practice.

Influence of Flexoelectric Effect on Director Alignment of Nematic Liquid Crystals in Axial Arrangement Cylindrical Cells

A positive nematic liquid crystal(5CB)sample is confined in cylindrical cells under strong or weak axial anchoring boundary conditions when a radial nonuniform low-frequency electric field is applied and the flexoelectric effect is taken into account.Based on the Frank elastic free energy,the surface energy of the Rapini-Papoular approximation,the polarization free energy and the flexoelectric free energy caused by electric field,we obtain the free energy density of the nematic and solve the corresponding Euler-Lagrange equation numerically.We investigate the director distribution,the critical voltage and the critical exponent of nematic liquid crystal in cylindrical cells.It follows that the critical exponent is the classical one.It is also shown that the critical voltage in the system is affected by the flexoelectric effect,the geometric effect and radial weak anchoring effect on the cylindrical surfaces.A new type of director transition caused by the flexoelectric effect,the dielectric coupling effect and the radial weak anchoring effect is found.

Oral Xeloda plus bi-platinu two-way combined chemotherapy in treatment of advanced gastrointestinal malignancies

AIM： To compare the effect, adverse events, cost-effectiveness and dose intensity （DI） of oral Xeloda vs calcium folinate （CF）/5-FU combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, both combined with bi-platinu two-way chemotherapy.METHODS： A total of 131 patients were enrolled and randomly selected to receive either oral Xeloda （X group） or CF/5-FU （control group）. Oral Xeloda 1 000 mg/m^2 was administered twice daily from d 1 to 14 in X group, while CF 200 mg/m^2 was taken as a 2-h intravenous infusion followed by 5-FU 600 mg/m^2 intravenously for 4-6 h on d 1-5 in control group. Cisplatin and oxaliplatin were administered in the same way to both the groups： cisplatin 60-80 mg/m^2 by hyperthermic intraperitoneal administration, and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m^2 intravenouslyfor 2 h on d 1. All the drugs were recycled every 21 d, with at least two cycles. Pyridoxine 50 mg was given t.i.d. orally for prophylaxis of the hand-foot syndrome （HFS）. Then the effect, adverse events, cost-effectiveness and DI of the two groups were evaluated.RESULTS： Hundred and fourteen cases （87.0%） finished more than two chemotherapy cycles. The overall response rate of them was 52.5% （X group） and 42.4% （control group） respectively. Tumor progression time （TTP） was 7.35 mo vs5.95 too, and 1-year survival rate was 53.1% vs 44.5%. There was a remarkable statistical significance of TTP and 1-year survival between the two groups. The main Xelocla-related adverse events were myelosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, neurotoxicity and HFS, which were mild and well tolerable. Therefore, no patients withdrew from the study due to side effects before two chemotherapy cycles were finished. Both groups finished pre-arranged DI and the relative DI was nearly 1.0. The average cost for 1 patient in one cycle was ￥9 137.35 （X group） and ￥8 961.72 （control group）, or US ＄1 100.89 in X group and ＄1 079.73 in control group. To add 1% to the response rate costs ￥ 161.44 vs ￥210.37 respectively （US ＄19.45 vs ＄25.35）. One-month prolongation of TTP costs ￥1 243.18 vs ￥1 506.17 （US ＄149.78 vs ＄181.47）. Escalation of 1% of 1-year survival costs ￥172.74 vs ￥201.64 （US ＄20.75 vs ＄24.29）. CONCLUSION： Oral Xeloda combined with bi-platinu two-way combination chemotherapy is efficient and tolerable for patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies; meanwhile the expenditure is similar to that of CF/5-FU combined with bi-platinu chemotherapy, and will be cheaper if we are concerned about the increase of the response rate, TTP or 1-year-survival rate pharmacoeconomically.

DSC based Dual-Resunet for radio frequency interference identification

Radio frequency interference(RFI)will pollute the weak astronomical signals received by radio telescopes,which in return will seriously affect the time-domain astronomical observation and research.In this paper,we use a deep learning method to identify RFI in frequency spectrum data,and propose a neural network based on Unet that combines the principles of depthwise separable convolution and residual,named DSC Based Dual-Resunet.Compared with the existing Unet network,DSC Based Dual-Resunet performs better in terms of accuracy,F1 score,and MIoU,and is also better in terms of computation cost where the model size and parameter amount are 12.5%of Unet and the amount of computation is 38%of Unet.The experimental results show that the proposed network is a high-performance and lightweight network,and it is hopeful to be applied to RFI identification of radio telescopes on a large scale.

Study on the effect of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae on glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic mice

Objective:To investigate the effect of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae extract on glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic mice,and provide basis for follow-up research.Methods:The method of streptozotocin combined with high-fat diet was used to replicate the diabetes model in this study.After continuous intragastric administration for 6 weeks,the effects of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae extract on body weight,blood sugar,blood lipids,serum insulin and the organ index in diabetic mice were detected.Results:The fasting blood glucose and blood lipids(serum total cholesterol,triglyceride,low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels)of the Rhizoma Anemarrhenae group of mice were significantly decreased,which was statistically significant compared with the model group.The area under the curve of the Rhizoma Anemarrhenae group is significantly smaller than that of the model group,and the result is statistically significant.Rhizoma Anemarrhenae can increase serum insulin levels in diabetic mice,which is statistically significant compared with the model group.Compared with the model group,the liver,spleen,kidney and pancreas indexes of the Rhizoma Anemarrhenae group are significantly reduced.Conclusion:The extract of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae can significantly reduce blood glucose concentration,lower blood lipid levels,promote serum insulin secretion,and protect liver,kidney,spleen,pancreas and other tissues and organs.

Protection of Shengmai Recipe on Improving Cardiac Function and Attenuating Kidney Injury in Pressure Overload Rats

Objective Shengmai Recipe （SMR） is a Chinese patent medicine used for the treatment of chronic heart disease. In order to further assess the renal-protective effect against ischemia lesion of SMR, the cardioprotective effect of SMR on pressure overload-induced left ventricular （LV） systolic dysfunction and the potential mechanism on alleviating myocardial damage, myocardial fibrosis, and renal ischemia lesion in chronic heart failure （CHF） rats were investigated. Methods Rats with partially ligated abdominal aorta were randomly divided into model, Sham, and SMR groups. One week after recovery from surgery, animals were preventively ig administered with SMR at the dose of 810 mg/kg once daily for 8 weeks. Cardiac function and structure, endogenous biomarkers （CK-MB and LDH）, myocardial fibrosis, and organ pathological change were estimated by echocardiography, immunodepression and velocity method, hematoxylin- eosin staining, and masson＇s trichrome staining, respectively. Results The administration of SMR significantly decreased serum CK-MB and LDH levels and reduced myocardial fibrosis. Interestingly, SMR not only improved cardiac function but also ameliorated kidney injury induced by ischemia in CHF rats. Conclusion SMR could enhance the LV contractile function, reduce myocardial necrosis, and reverse LV remodeling in CHF rats, and most importantly, SMR could be used to treat the renal ischemia injury in pressure overload rats.

聚苯乙烯-g-聚(2-乙基-2-噁唑啉)两亲性接枝共聚物的合成与性能

采用接出接枝(grafting from)合成策略,以含有苄基氯官能团的聚苯乙烯为大分子引发剂,碘化钾、高氯酸银和三氟甲磺酸银为活化剂,引发2-乙基-2-噁唑啉进行正离子开环聚合反应.通过傅里叶变换红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱测定共聚物组成及接枝量,通过透射电子显微镜研究共聚物的微观形态,并研究原位制备的共聚物/纳米银复合物的两亲性、热稳定性与生物性能.结果表明:通过可控正离子开环聚合方法可以设计合成不同接枝量的聚苯乙烯-g-聚(2-乙基-2-噁唑啉)两亲性接枝共聚物(PS-g-PEOX)及其与纳米银的复合物,其中PEOX接枝质量含量在8%~97%之间,依赖于单体浓度及活化剂用量;纳米银颗粒直径为5~10 nm,质量含量在0.1%~3.5%之间,依赖于含银活化剂的用量.两亲性接枝共聚物能形成明显的微观相分离结构,其微观形态与PEOX含量有关.支化的拓扑结构有利于提高PEOX的热稳定性.PS-g-PEOX两亲性接枝共聚物的亲水性随着PEOX含量增加而提高,当PEOX质量含量为97%时,水接触角(WCA)为24°,亲水性支链PEOX的存在使PS-g-PEOX具有对牛血清蛋白的抗吸附性能.PS-g-PEOX在水中能形成稳定且均匀的微/纳米胶束,质量含量为0.054%的PS-g-PEOX能使水/甲苯互不相容的两相形成稳定的微纳乳液体系.原位制备的共聚物/纳米银复合物对大肠杆菌有一定的抑菌性,在生物医用材料领域有潜在的应用前景.

Application and prospect of toxicity quality markers of Chinese materia medica based on metabolomics

In view of the problem that the quality evaluation indicators divorced from effectiveness and safety in Chinese materia medica（CMM）, Prof. Chang-xiao Liu et al have put forward a concept of quality markers（Q-markers） of CMM, which provided a new thought for improving the CMM quality control method. The toxicity Q-markers of CMM are described as follows, the early toxicity prediction of CMM, the discovery, formation and susceptibility research of toxicity Q-markers of CMM. Metabolomics is a systematic biology approach, closely related to the toxicity phenotype of organism, has unique advantages in toxicity Q-markers research. The toxicity Q-markers of CMM are explained from the following four aspects in this review： 1） the establishment of toxicity prediction model of CMM, which is based on metabolomics,pattern recognition, and other techniques; 2） the discovery of toxicity Q-markers of CMM based on metabolomic, which is meaning that the toxicity Q-markers are interpreted regarding to the chemical composition analysis of CMM, preliminary screening and verification of the toxicity Q-markers and toxicity mechanism research; 3） the research on the formation of toxicity Q-markers based on metabolomics,which is described from biosynthetic pathway analysis and the secondary metabolites analysis of toxicity Q-markers; and 4） the susceptibility study of toxicity Q-markers based on metabolomics, namely, the key targets, and metabolic pathways of toxicity Q-markers are explained according to the target organ toxicity susceptibility caused by CMM, and then the toxicity susceptibility mechanism of CMM is clarified. Therefore, the application of metabolomics helps to systematically and comprehensively discover the quality control indicators related to the CMM safety, which further provides a rational evidence for the clinical application of toxicity of CMM.

Diversification of amphioxus and vertebrate Cerberus protein function in modulating Nodal,BMP and Wnt signals

Cerberus is a multifunctional antagonist implicated in embryonic patterning through modulation of Nodal,BMP and Wnt signals.Although its function is largely conserved in chordates,certain activities have diverged,even among vertebrates.Moreover,the antagonistic action of Cerberus from the basal chordate amphioxus toward Nodal,BMP and Wnt signals remains elusive.Here,we compared the activity of amphioxus and Xenopus Cerberus proteins using cross-species assays.We found that amphioxus and Xenopus Cerberus proteins display similar activities in antagonizing Nodal-induced events,but they exhibit both shared and distinct activities in modulating BMP and Wnt signals.Amphioxus Cerberus has reduced neuralizing activity that is dependent on inhibition of BMP signaling,and it modulates the signals of a restricted subset of Wnt proteins.Furthermore,we revealed that Xenopus Cerberus interacts with Wnt4 and Wntl 1 to activate canonical Wnt signaling,whereas amphioxus Cerberus lacks this activity.These differences may be correlated with the divergence in the N-terminal region of Cerberus proteins between amphioxus and Xenopus.Our results indicate that chordate Cerberus proteins have evolved sub-functionalities that depend not only on their concentrations,but also on the properties of BMP and Wnt signals.This may account for their evolutionary distinct functions in different patterning processes.

Toxicity-efficacy converting of ginseng combined with Fuzi Banxia incompatibility in heart failure stage of cor pulmonale

Objective：Fuzi Banxia is one of eighteen antagonisms,previous studies have shown that the incompatibility could play special effects in the specific condition of diseases and appropriate compatible environment.The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity-efficacy of ginseng combined with Fuzi Banxia incompatibility intervening in the heart failure stage of cor pulmonale and to explore its mechanism.Methods：Monocrotaline（MCT）-induced cor pulmonale were used in this study.Ultra high-resolution small animal ultrasound real-time imaging system and the right heart catheterization were used to estimate cardiac function.Semi automatic biochemical analyzer was used to test myocardial enzyme LDH,CK,and CK-MB in serum.The heart tissues were stained with HE,and TUNEL assay was used to assess the pathomorphological changes and myocardial apoptosis.The expression of hypertrophy and apoptosis associated genes：ANP,BNP,β-MHC,Bax,and Bcl-2 in the right ventricle were determined by RT-PCR.Results：Fuzi Banxia combined with ginseng obviously attenuated mortality,decreased RVHI,and increased cardiac index;RVSP and m PAP were significantly reduced,and EF and FS were raised obviously;Myocardial enzymes LDH,CK,and CK-MB were pronounced attenuated;heart diameter reduced,right ventricular dilatation was significantly decreased,inflammatory cell infiltration notably reduced,and cardiac apoptosis rate was decreased obviously.Meanwhile,the expression of hypertrophy-related ANP,BNP,andβ-MHC m RNA were up-regulated,the expression of apoptosis-related Bax m RNA was down-regulated,and the expression of anti-apoptosis-related Bcl-2 m RNA and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were upregulated.Conclusion：Ginseng compatible environment could attenuate cardiac toxicity of Fuzi Banxia incompatibility intervening in the heart failure stage of cor pulmonale,and improve cardiac function,which may be related to the expression of hypertrophy and apoptosis associated genes,and thus delay the occurrence and development of heart failure.

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81625020,81402736,and 81902791)and the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province(No.2019sf-079).

Objective:This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the human melanogenesis and antioxidant systems and to further confirm the synergistic effect of oxyresveratrol(OXYR)and resveratrol(RES)in human epidermal melanocyte cell line.Methods:The human epidermal melanocyte line PIG1 cells were divided into the UV groups and control group,treated with different doses of UVB and without UVB,respectively.MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis.The expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and melanogenesis-associated proteins/genes was measured by Western blotting and real-time qPCR(RT-qPCR).pCMV6-XL5-Nrf2 was used to upregulate the expression of Nrf2.Subsequently,the proteins/genes levels of Nrf2/HO-1 and tyrosinase(TYR),melanin/eumelanin content,and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were analyzed.Isobologram analysis and cell experiment were used to analyze whether OXYR and RES inhibit TYR synergistically.Western blotting,RT-qPCR,and NaOH splitting method were used to determine the Nrf2/HO-1 and melanogenesis-associated proteins/genes expression and melanin content to evaluate the efficacy of OXYR and RES.Results:The activated Nrf2 and HO-1 eliminated ROS produced by UVB irradiation.The melanogenesis-associated proteins/genes of melanocyte-inducing transcription factor(MITF,P<0.01 on protein expression),TYR(both P<0.01),TYR-related protein(TRP)-1(both P<0.05),and TRP2(P<0.05 on mRNA expression)were activated in PIG1 cells by UVB irradiation.Simultaneously,the upregulation of Nrf2 significantly reduced melanogenesis formation(P<0.001)and TYR level(P<0.01 on protein expression).Moreover,OXYR and RES synergistically inhibited TYR activity(P<0.001)and reduced melanin content(P<0.001).Conclusions:A microbalance exists between Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and melanogenesis production in the UVBinduced responses of melanocytes.Simultaneously,OXYR enhances the ability of RES to inhibit melanin production.

A quantitative colorimetric assay of H_2O_2 and glucose using silver nanoparticles induced by H_2O_2 and UV

A simple spectrophotometric assay of H2O2 and glucose using Ag nanoparticles has been carried out. Relying on the synergistic effect of H2O2 reduction and ultraviolet （UV） irradiation, Ag nanoparticles with enhanced absorption signals were synthesized. H2O2 served as a reducing agent in the Ag nanoparticles formation in which Ag＋ was reduced to Ago by O2- generated via the decomposition of H2O2 in alkaline media. On the other hand, photoreduction of Ag＋ to Ago under UV irradiations also contributed to the nanoparticles formation. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, XPS, and XRD. The proposed method could determine H2O2 with concentrations ranging from 5.0× 10^-7 to 6.0× 10^-5 tool/ L The detection limit was estimated to be 2.0 × 10^-7 mol/L. Since the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid catalyzed by glucose oxidase was companied with the formation of H2O2, the sensing protocol has been successfully utilized for the determination of glucose in human blood samples. The results were in good agreement with those determined by a local hospital. This colorimetric sensor thus holds great promises in clinical applications.