Hupo powder promotes autophagy of menstrual blood-derived stem cells from patients with endometriosis

Objective:To explore the effect of Hupo powder(HP)on autophagy in menstrual blood-derived stem cells(MenSCs)with endometriosis(EMT).Methods:EMT MenSCs(E-MenSCs)and healthy MenSCs(H-MenSCs)were isolated from the menstrual blood of patients with EMT and healthy female participants,respectively.We identified their stem cells’characteristics via adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation.Twelve male SpragueeDawley rats received 0.9% NaCl and HP-dispensing granules by gastric irrigation to prepare blank serum and medicated serum,respectively.We used serum concentrations of 5%,10%,and 20%,each at administered times of 12,24,and 48 h to select the best condition.These cells were divided into three groups:blank serum of the control group,blank serum of the model group,and medicated serum of the HP group.H-MenSCs were used in the control group,while E-MenSCs were used in the model and HP groups.We analyzed cell viability using a cell counting kit-8 assay,observed cell morphology,evaluated the amounts of auto-phagosomes and autolysosomes by transmission electron microscopy,and detected the protein expression of autophagy markers(LC3-II and Beclin1)by Western blot.Results:E-MenSCs and H-MenSCs became long fusiform with a diffuse radial pattern,forming lipid droplets and calcium nodules after adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation.We then used the best conditiond 20% serum and 48 hdfor the subsequent experiments.In contrast to the model group,the HP group exhibited lower cell viability(=0.007),larger amounts of autophagosomes and autolysosomes(P<0.001 and P=0.001,respectively),and higher expression of LC3-II and Beclin1(P=0.021 and P=0.019,respectively).Conclusion:Hupo powder can promote autophagy in E-MenSCs,which might be one of the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects.

Enhanced circular dichroism of TDBC in a metallic hole array structure

We investigate the enhanced chirality of chiral molecular J-aggregates(TDBC)by the propagating surface plasmons(PSPs)in the metallic hole array structure filled with TDBC.The two ends of the hole in the metal film form a low quality factor Fabry-Perot(FP)cavity,and this cavity confines PSPs.The resonant wavelength of the metallic hole array is tuned by the lattice constant and the size of the hole.Both the resonant wavelength of Ag hole array and the volume ratio of TDBC in the hybridized structure influence on the enhancement of the circular dichroism(CD)spectrum.The curve of CD spectrum shows Fano-like line-shape,due to the interaction between the non-radiative field in the FP cavity and the radiative field in chiral TDBC.The maximum of the CD spectrum of the hybridized structure is 0.025 times as the one of the extinction spectrum in a certain structure,while the maximum of the CD spectrum of TDBC is 1/3000 times as the one of the extinction spectrum.The enhanced factor is about 75.The resonant wavelength of the metallic hole array can be tuned in a large wavelength regime,and the chirality of a series of molecular J-aggregates with different resonant wavelengths can be enhanced.Our structure provides a new method to amplify the chirality of molecular J-aggregates in experiments.

Nrf2-mediated ferroptosis of spermatogenic cells involved in male reproductive toxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics in mice

Microplastics(MPs)and nanoplastics(NPs)have become hazardous materials due to the massive amount of plastic waste and disposable masks,but their specific health effects remain uncertain.In this study,fluorescence-labeled polystyrene NPs(PS-NPs)were injected into the circulatory systems of mice to determine the distribution and potential toxic effects of NPs in vivo.Interestingly,whole-body imaging found that PS-NPs accumulated in the testes of mice.Therefore,the toxic effects of PS-NPs on the reproduction systems and the spermatocytes cell line of male mice,and their mechanisms,were investigated.After oral exposure to PS-NPs,their spermatogenesis was affected and the spermatogenic cells were damaged.The spermatocyte cell line GC-2 was exposed to PS-NPs and analyzed using RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)to determine the toxic mechanisms;a ferroptosis pathway was found after PS-NP exposure.The phenomena and indicators of ferroptosis were then determined and verified by ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),and it was also found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)played an important role in spermatogenic cell ferroptosis induced by PS-NPs.Finally,it was confirmed in vivo that this mechanism of Nrf2 played a protective role in PS-NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity.This study demonstrated that PS-NPs induce male reproductive dysfunction in mice by causing spermatogenic cell ferroptosis dependent on Nrf2.

Reactivity of Al-rich Alloys with Water Promoted by Liquid Al Grain Boundary Phases

Al–Ga–Sn, Al–Ga–In and Al–Ga–In–Sn alloys were prepared using arc melting technique. Their microstructures were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersed X-ray. Based on microstructure analysis, the phase constituents of alloys at Al grain boundaries were identified. The melting points of Al grain boundary phases were measured using differential scanning calorimeter.The reactivities of Al–water at different water temperatures indicate that liquid Al grain boundary phases promote Al–water reactions of alloys. The melting points of Al grain boundary phases affect the reaction temperatures of Al–water, leading to different reaction temperatures of alloys. The measured H2 generation rate and yields of alloys are related to the compositions of alloys. The theory of microgalvanic cell is used to explain the observed different H2 generation rates of alloys.

Microstructure and Hardness of Laser Shocked Ultra-fine-grained Aluminum

Ultra-fine-grained commercial purity aluminum was produced by severe cold rolling, annealing and then strain- ing at ultra-high rate by a single pass laser shock. Resulted microstructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Microhardness of annealed 0.6μm ultra-fine grained aluminum increased by 67% from 24 to 40 HV. Many 0.3 μm sub-grains appeared at the shock wave center after a single pass laser shock, while high density dislocation networks were observed in some grains at the shock wave edges. Accordingly, microhardness at the impact center increased by 37.5% from 40 to 55 HV. From the impact center to the edge, microhardness decreased by 22% from 55 to 45 HV.