Hyperoside protects the blood-brain barrier from neurotoxicity of amyloid beta 1–42

Mounting evidence indicates that amyloid β protein（Aβ） exerts neurotoxicity by disrupting the blood-brain barrier（BBB） in Alzheimer＇s disease. Hyperoside has neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo against Aβ. Our previous study found that hyperoside suppressed Aβ1-42-induced leakage of the BBB, however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, bEnd.3 cells were pretreated with 50, 200, or 500 μM hyperoside for 2 hours, and then exposed to Aβ1-42 for 24 hours. Cell viability was determined using 3-（4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl）-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick-end labeling assay were used to analyze cell apoptosis. Western blot assay was carried out to analyze expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, caspase-3, caspse-8, caspase-9, caspase-12, occludin, claudin-5, zonula occludens-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2（MMP-2）, and MMP-9. Exposure to Aβ1-42 alone remarkably induced bEnd.3 cell apoptosis; increased ratios of cleaved caspase-9/caspase-9, Bax/Bcl-2, cleav ed caspase-8/caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-12/caspase-12; increased expression of cytochrome c and activity of caspase-3; diminished levels of zonula occludens-1, claudin-5, and occludin; and increased levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. However, hyperoside pretreatment reversed these changes in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings confirm that hyperoside alleviates fibrillar Aβ1-42-induced BBB disruption, thus offering a feasible therapeutic application in Alzheimer＇s disease.

Feasibility of hyperspectral analysis for discrimination of rabbit liver VX2 tumor

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Currently, the most accurate diagnosis imaging modality for hepatocellular carcinoma is enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. However, it is still difficult to distinguish cirrhosis lesions, and novel diagnosis modalities are still needed.AIM To investigate the feasibility of hyperspectral analysis for discrimination of rabbit liver VX2 tumor.METHODS In this study, a rabbit liver VX2 tumor model was established. After laparotomy,under direct view, VX2 tumor tissue and normal liver tissue were subjected to hyperspectral analysis.RESULTS The spectral signature of the liver tumor was clearly distinguishable from that of the normal tissue, simply from the original spectral curves. Specifically, two absorption peaks at 600-900 nm wavelength in normal tissue disappeared but a new reflection peak appeared in the tumor. The average optical reflection at the whole waveband of 400-1800 nm in liver tumor was higher than that of the normal tissue.CONCLUSION Hyperspectral analysis can differentiate rabbit VX2 tumors. Further research will continue to perform hyperspectral imaging to obtain more information for differentiation of liver cancer from normal tissue.

Flexible breeding performance under unstable climatic conditions in a tropical passerine in Southwest China

DEAR EDITOR,Parents may adjust their breeding time to optimize reproductive output and reduce reproductive costs associated with unpredictable climatic conditions,especially in the context of global warming.The breeding performance of tropical bird species in response to local climate change is relatively understudied compared with that of temperate bird species.

Application of Autologous Costal Cartilage Scaffold in Reconstruction of Microtia Ear

Objective To investigate the application effect and manufacturing skills of autologous costal cartilage scaffold in ear reconstruction for microtia.Methods From January 2016 to January 2019,41 patients with microtia reconstruction in our hospital were selected,all of whom were type II or type III pediatric deformities.All patients underwent auricle reconstruction and retroauricular skin expansion and autologous costal cartilage stent.The first stage of the operation is to insert a skin dilator behind the residual ear and inject water to expand.The second stage of the operation is to carve and repair the soft ribs(usually 6 or 7 ribs)from the body,make a three-dimensional auricle support for auricle reconstruction,place a negative pressure drainage tube,and follow up for 3 to 6 months to observe the three-dimensional shape of the reconstructed auricle and the formation of cranioauricular angle.Results 41 patients with microtia had good three-dimensional shape of auricle reconstruction,normal auricle position,moderate cranioauricular angle,good helix and triangular fossa structure,and good bilateral symmetry.Patients and their families were satisfied with the effect of auricle reconstruction.Conclusion Autologous costal cartilage is a good scaffold for auricle reconstruction.It is through efficient and elaborate carving and splicing that a good three-dimensional auricle structure can be formed.Combined with early flap expansion,a good postoperative appearance effect can be obtained,which is the appropriate method for auricle reconstruction at present.

Cellulose Solubility in Deep Eutectic Solvents:Inspecting Quantitative Hydrogen-Bonding Analysis

According to the Kamlet-Abraham-Taft(KAT)polarity parameters(α,β,π*),polymers and solvents can be categorized as hydrogen-bond(H-bond)acidic(α>β)or H-bond basic(α<β).Recently,we proposed a quantitative hydrogen bonding(QHB)analysis to predict the solubility of polymers in ionic liquids(ILs)using the product ofΔαΔβ<0 as an indicator,whereΔαis the difference between the H-bond acidic parameters of the polymer and IL,andΔβis the difference in their basicity,while the prerequisite of the“complementary”principle(i.e.,that one component is H-bond acidic and the other is basic)is satisfied.Here,the applicability of QHB analysis was first confirmed by testing the solubilities of carefully chosen polymer/deep eutectic solvent(DES)pairs,as the DESs were eutectic mixtures dominated by hydrogen bonding interactions.Then,our attention focused on the solubility of cellulose in DESs.Our testing results as well as the typical published results were summarized,which indicate that the potential DESs for cellulose dissolution and regeneration must be of the H-bond basic type because the“complementary”principle should be satisfied as a prerequisite.However,the H-bond basic DESs investigated in this study do not show the superior solubility of cellulose that has been commonly observed for H-bond basic ILs,even if the criterion ofΔαΔβ<0 is satisfied for both DESs and ILs.Possible reasons for this discrepancy are given to understand the varying effectiveness in cellulose dissolution for H-bond basic DESs and ILs.

Synthesis of novel hierarchical porous polymers with a nanowire-interconnected network structure from core-shell polymer nanoobjects

Design and fabrication of the micro/nanostructures of the network units is a critical issue for porous nanonetwork structured materials. Significant progress has been attained in construction of the network units with zero-dimensional spherical shapes.However, owing to the limitations of synthetic methods, construction of porous building blocks in one dimension featuring high aspect ratios for porous nanonetwork structured polymer(PNSP) remains largely unexplored. Here we present the successful design and preparation of PNSP with a novel type of one-dimensional network unit, i.e., microporous heterogeneous nanowire. Well-defined core-shell polymer nanoobjects prepared from a gelable block copolymer, poly(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene are employed as building blocks, and facilely transformed into PNSP via hypercrosslinking of polystyrene shell. The as-prepared PNSP exhibits unique three-dimensional hierarchical nanonetwork morphologies with large surface area. These findings could provide a new avenue for fabrication of unique well-defined PNSP, and thus generate valuable breakthroughs in many applications.