Icariin ameliorates memory deficits through regulating brain insulin signaling and glucose transporters in 3×Tg-AD mice

Icariin,a major prenylated flavonoid found in Epimedium spp.,is a bioactive constituent of Herba Epimedii and has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease.In this study,we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of icariin in an APP/PS1/Tau triple-transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.We performed behavioral tests,pathological examination,and western blot assay,and found that memory deficits of the model mice were obviously improved,neuronal and synaptic damage in the cerebral cortex was substantially mitigated,and amyloid-βaccumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation were considerably reduced after 5 months of intragastric administration of icariin at a dose of 60 mg/kg body weight per day.Furthermore,deficits of proteins in the insulin signaling pathway and their phosphorylation levels were significantly reversed,including the insulin receptor,insulin receptor substrate 1,phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase,protein kinase B,and glycogen synthase kinase 3β,and the levels of glucose transporter 1 and 3 were markedly increased.These findings suggest that icariin can improve learning and memory impairments in the mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease by regulating brain insulin signaling and glucose transporters,which lays the foundation for potential clinical application of icariin in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Interaction and Compatibility Between DAAzF and Some Energetic Materials

The interaction and compatibility between diaminoazofuraz(DAAzF)and some energetic materials are studied by using pressure differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)method.The energetic materials include cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine(HMX),cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine(RDX),nitrocellulose(NC),nitroglycerine(NG),125/100-NC/NG mixture(NC+NG),N-nitrodihydroxyethylaminedinitrate(DINA),aluminum powder(Al),and 3,4-dinitrofurzanfuroxan(DNTF).The results show that there are obvious interactions between DAAzF and DNTF,DINA,HMX or RDX,while weak interactions between DAAzF and NC,NG,NC+NG or Al.According to the evaluated standard of compatibility,the binary systems of DAAzF with NC,NG,NC+NG and Al are compatible,the binary system of it with RDX is slightly sensitive,the binary systems of it with HMX and DINA are sensitive,and the binary system of it with DNTF is hazardous.

Difference in failure patterns of pT3-4N0-3M0 esophageal cancer treated by surgery vs surgery plus radiotherapy

BACKGROUND There has been no study comparing the difference in the failure patterns between patients with or without postoperative radiotherapy(PORT)after esophagectomy for pT3-4N0-3M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).AIM To investigate the difference in the failure patterns of stage pT3-4N0-3M0 ESCC patients with or without PORT.METHODS Patients with stage pT3-4N0-3M0 ESCC,who underwent surgery with or without PORT,were enrolled in this study.The primary endpoint was to investigate the difference in the failure patterns between patients with or without PORT after esophagectomy.The secondary endpoint was to estimate whether patients with stage pT3-4 ESCC could achieve a disease-free survival(DFS)advantage after receiving adjuvant PORT.Statistical analyses were performed by the Kaplan-Meier method,Cox regression model,and Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test.RESULTS In total,230 patients with stage pT3-4N0-3M0 ESCC were included in this study.Fifty-six patients who received PORT were screened from a prospective cohort(S+R arm).And 174 patients involving surgery alone were retrospectively selected from July 2006 to October 2014(S arm).There were no significant differences in the clinical or pathological characteristics of patients between the two arms,except for tumor location(P=0.031).The failure patterns between the two arms were significantly different(P<0.001).Patients in the S arm had a significantly higher proportion of locoregional recurrence and a lower proportion of distant metastasis than those in the S+R arm(92.0%vs 35.7%,P<0.001 and 19.0%vs 75.0%,P<0.001,respectively).The difference in the median DFS between the two arms was statistically significant(12.7 vs 8 mo,P=0.048).Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis both demonstrated that the number of lymph node metastases≥3(HR=0.572,95% CI:0.430-0.762,P<0.001)was an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS in patients with stage pT3-4N0-3M0 ESCC.CONCLUSION PORT could improve DFS and local control of patients with stage pT3-4N0-3M0 ESCC.However,further studies need to be conducted to control hematogenous metastasis after PORT.

High performance Aurivillius type Na_(0.5)Bi_(4.5)Ti_(4)O_(15) piezoelectric ceramics with neodymium and cerium modification

Bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics of Na0.5Bi4.5-x(Nd_(0.5)Ce_(0.5)))xTi4O15(NBT-x,0.0≤x≤0.4)were synthesized by a traditional solid-state reaction.The effect of(Nd,Ce)substitution for A-site on the microstructure and electrical properties of Na_(0.5)Bi_(4.5)Ti_(4)O_(15)(NBT)-based piezoelectric ceramics was investigated.X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis revealed that the(Nd,Ce)-modified NBT ceramics have a pure four-layer Aurivillius type structure.The piezoelectric properties of NBT ceramics were significantly improved by the modification of neodymium and cerium.The Curie temperature TC gradually decreased from 638℃to 618℃with increasing the(Nd,Ce)modification.The piezoelectric constant d33,mechanical quality factor Qm,dielectric loss tanδand Curie temperature TC of the Na0.5Bi4.3(Nd_(0.5)Ce_(0.5)))0.2Ti4O15 ceramic were found to be 28 pC/N,3239,0.0032 and 630℃,respectively.Thermal annealing studies indicated that the(Nd,Ce)-modified NBT ceramics possess stable piezoelectric properties,demonstrating that the Na0.5Bi4.3(Nd_(0.5)Ce_(0.5)))0.2Ti4O15 ceramic is a promising candidate for high temperature applications.

Hydraulic fluctuations during the pump power-off runaway transient process of a pump turbine with consideration of cavitation effects

A runaway transition after the pump power interruption and the simultaneous guide vane servomotor failure is one of the most dangerous and complex transitions for a pumped storage power system(PSPS).This paper analyzes the fluctuation behavior and mechanism of a PSPS during a runaway transition caused by the pump power interruption.The transient cavitation flow in the PSPS is simulated by using a one-dimensional and three-dimensional coupling flow simulation method for the runaway transition.Subsequently,the effects of the transient fluctuation of the radial hydraulic thrust on the runner and transient pressures are analyzed using the short-time Fourier transform method.Finally,the mechanisms are analyzed based on the analysis of the internal flow field.This study suggests that the extreme fluctuation generally occurs near the critical transformation points between the two operation modes.In addition,the extreme fluctuation behavior is primarily related to the local backflow near the runner inlet and the unstable cavitation phenomena in the runner and the draft tube.This finding helps for optimizing the runner design to resolve the instability problems of a PSPS.