Broadband Visible Light Harvesting BODIPY-Perylene Dyad and Triad:Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Photooxidation Applications

In this study,diodo boron dipyrromethene(BODIPY)is employed a8 the energy donor and 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride(PDA)as the energy acceptor,enabling the synthesis of two new compounds:a BODIPY-perylene dyad named P1,and a triad named P2.To investigate the impact of the energy donor on the photophysical processes of the system,P1 comprises one diodo-BODIPY unit and one PDA unit,whereas P2 contains two diodo-BODIPY moieties and one PDA unit.Due to the good spectral complementarity between diiodo-BODIPY and PDA,these two compounds exhibit excellent light-harvesting capabilities in the 400-620 nm range.Steady-state fluorescence spectra demonstrate that when preferentially exciting the diodo-BODIPY moiety,it can effectively transfer energy to PDA;when selectively exciting the PDA moiety,quenching of PDA fluorescence is observed in both P1 and P2.Nanosecond transient absorption results show that both compounds can efficiently generate triplet excited states,which are located on the PDA part.The lifetimes of the triplet states for these two compounds are 103 and 89μs,respectively,significantly longer than that of diiodo-BODIPY.The results from the photooxidation experiments reveal that both P1 and P2 demonstrate good photostability and photooxidation capabilities,with P2 showing superior photooxidative efficiency.The photooxidation rate constant for P2 is 1.3 times that of P1,and its singlet oxygen quantum yield is 1.6 times that of P1.The results obtained here offer valuable insights for designing new photosensitizers.

前囊抛光对白内障术后视觉质量的影响

目的:评价前囊抛光对白内障超声乳化术后视觉质量的影响。方法:前瞻性随机对照研究。纳入2021-11/2022-06于应急总医院眼科行白内障超声乳化联合人工晶状体(IOL)植入术的年龄相关性白内障患者65例73眼,随机分为抛光组(30例35眼,术中行前后囊联合抛光)和对照组(35例38眼,术中仅行后囊抛光)。观察术后1wk,1、3、6mo最佳矫正视力,术后3、6mo测量前囊口面积,并使用Pentacam三维眼前节系统评估后囊膜混浊程度(P评分)、IOL倾斜度和偏心量,使用OPD-ScanⅢ光程差分析系统评估波前像差、点扩散函数(PSF)的斯特列尔比(SR)和调制传递函数(MTF)。结果:术后1wk,1、3、6mo,抛光组患者最佳矫正视力均优于对照组(P<0.05)。术后3、6mo,两组患者前囊口面积、后囊膜混浊程度(P评分)、IOL偏心量、PSF的SR值和MTF均无差异(P>0.05)。术后3mo,两组患者IOL倾斜度、波前像差均无差异(P>0.05),但术后6mo,抛光组IOL倾斜度小于对照组[(1.65±0.60)°vs(2.34±0.43)°,P<0.001)],波前像差也小于对照组(0.03±0.01μm vs 0.06±0.03μm,P<0.001)。结论:白内障超声乳化吸除术中行360°抛光前后囊膜能提高术后最佳矫正视力,且术后IOL倾斜度更低、波前像差更小,视觉质量更好。

Regulatory effect of a Chinese herbal medicine formula on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has become a major cause of chronic liver disease.The Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)Dachaihu decoction(DCHD)has been proved to treat NAFLD with good efficacy in previous studies.Based on the TCM principle of formula formation,we divided DCHD into soothing liver part,invigorating spleen part,and dredging intestine part.Marshall officially proposed the concept of“intestinal-hepatic axis”,which systematically explains the interactions between the intestine and liver.We hypothesized that the effect of CHM on NAFLD is achieved by regulating the liver and intestine.Thus,we aimed to investigate the possible effect of a CHM formula on NAFLD in a rat model.AIM To investigate the effects of a CHM formula(a decoction of Chinese thorowax root,scutellaria root,and white peony root)on NAFLD and its regulatory effect on the“intestinal-liver”axis.METHODS Sixty rats were randomly divided into control,model,pioglitazone hydrochloride(PH),and CHM(a decoction of Chinese thorowax root,scutellaria root,and white peony root)groups.An NAFLD rat model was established using a high-fat highfructose diet for 16 wk.From the 13th week,rats were administered with PH or a decoction of Chinese thorowax,scutellaria,and white peony root(CHM group)for 4 wk.Rats in the control group and model group were administered with an equal volume of distilled water.At the end of the study,blood was collected via the abdominal aorta.Liver tissues were harvested and any morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,Oil red O staining,and Masson staining.In addition,blood lipids,liver function markers,and triglyceride(TG)in liver tissues were analyzed.The levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),Toll-like receptor-4(TLR4),and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-кB)in liver tissues and secreted immunoglobulin A(sIgA)in intestinal tissues were analyzed by ELISA,and protein and mRNA expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)in the intestine were measured using Western blot and reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction,respectively.The endotoxin level in plasma was detected by endpoint chromogenic assay.RESULTS Compared to the normal control group,the liver coefficient,serum TG,total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein(LDL),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and alanine aminotransferase(ALT),blood glucose,plasma endotoxin,and the levels of TG,TNF-α,TGF-β,NF-kB,and TLR4 in liver tissues increased significantly in the model group,while serum high density lipoprotein(HDL),intestinal sIgA,and protein and mRNA expression of occludin and ZO-1 decreased significantly in the model group(P<0.01).PH and CHM attenuated the elevated liver coefficient,serum TG,TC,LDL,AST,and ALT,blood glucose,plasma endotoxin,and the levels of TG,TNF-α,TGF-β,NF-kB,and TLR4 in liver tissues and increased serum HDL levels compared to the model group(P<0.01).Intestinal sIgA and the protein and mRNA expression of intestinal occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased in the PH group compared to the model and CHM groups(P<0.01).CONCLUSION The decoction of Chinese thorowax root,scutellaria root,and white peony root is beneficial in regulating lipid metabolism and liver function,which indicates that it has a good effect on the liver.To a certain extent,this CHM formula can affect both the liver and intestine,while its effect on the liver is superior to that on the intestine.

Changes of resting cerebral activities in subacute ischemic stroke patients

This study aimed to detect the difference in resting cerebral activities between ischemic stroke pa- tients and healthy participants, define the abnormal site, and provide new evidence for pathological mechanisms, clinical diagnosis, prognosis prediction and efficacy evaluation of ischemic stroke. At present, the majority of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies focus on the motor dysfunc- tion and the acute stage of ischemic stroke. This study recruited 15 right-handed ischemic stroke patients at subacute stage （15 days to 11.5 weeks） and 15 age-matched healthy participants. A rest- ing-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed on each subject to detect cerebral activity. Regional homogeneity analysis was used to investigate the difference in cerebral activities between ischemic stroke patients and healthy participants. The results showed that the ischemic stroke patients had lower regional homogeneity in anterior cingulate and left cerebrum and higher regional homogeneity in cerebellum, left precuneus and left frontal lobe, compared with healthy participants. The experimental findings demonstrate that the areas in which regional homogeneity was different between ischemic stroke patients and healthy participants are in the cerebellum, left precuneus, left triangle inferior frontal gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate. These locations, related to the motor, sensory and emotion areas, are likely po- tential targets for the neural regeneration of subacute ischemic stroke patients.

Regional brain structural abnormality in ischemic stroke patients:a voxel-based morphometry study

Our previous study used regional homogeneity analysis and found that activity in some brain areas of patients with ischemic stroke changed significantly. In the current study, we examined structural changes in these brain regions by taking structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 11 ischemic stroke patients and 15 healthy participants, and analyzing the data using voxel-based morphometry. Compared with healthy participants, patients exhibited higher gray matter density in the left inferior occipital gyrus and right anterior white matter tract. In contrast, gray matter density in the right cerebellum, left precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and left middle temporal gyrus was less in ischemic stroke patients. The changes of gray matter density in the middle frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the clin- ical rating scales of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment （r = -0.609, P = 0.047） and the left middle temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with the clinical rating scales of the nervous functional deficiency scale （r = -0.737, P = 0.010）. Our findings call objectively identify the functional abnormality in some brain regions of ischemic stroke patients.

血清PDGF-BB作为糖尿病视网膜病变生物标志物的研究

目的:研究血清中血小板源性生长因子-BB(PDGF-BB)的水平与2型糖尿病患者DR的相关性。方法:以健康体检者为对照组(75例),糖尿病病例组分为NDR 25例、NPDR 25例和PDR 25例。用ELISA测定各组样本血清中PDGF-BB水平,并分析血清PDGF-BB与糖尿病病程、HbA1c等各项生化指标的关系,分析PDGF-BB与黄斑厚度的关系。结果:对照组、NDR组、NPDR组、PDR组血清PDGF-BB水平各组间均有差异(F=14.259,P<0.01)。NPDR组、PDR组血清PDGF-BB水平(535.67±69.21、551.60±103.46pg/mL)均高于对照组、NDR组(400.28±44.55、409.65±50.37pg/mL)。多元回归分析血清PDGF-BB水平与空腹血糖(FPG)、甘油三酯(TG)、糖尿病病程有相关性(均P<0.05)。PDR组血清PDGF-BB水平与黄斑厚度存在相关性(r=0.613,P<0.05),对照组、NDR组、NPDR组血清PDGF-BB水平与黄斑厚度无相关性(r=0.013、0.051、0.062,均P>0.05)。结论:血清PDGF-BB水平随着DR病变程度加重而升高,与黄斑水肿存在相关性,并与FPG、TG、糖尿病病程有相关性,可以考虑作为DR的生物学标志物。

Protective effects of imperatorin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress through Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats

OBJECTIVE To investigates the effects of imperatorin on the oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.METHODS Transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model in male Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion.Imperatorin(1.25 and 2.5 mg·kg-1)or vehicle were administered intraperitoneally at 1,5 and 9 h after the onset of ischemia.At 24 h after reperfusion,the biomarkers of oxidative stress such as the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde(MDA),nitric oxide(NO)and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iN OS),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were observed.We also assessed the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),and the NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO-1)protein expression by Western blot.RESULTS As compared to vehicle-treated animals,imperatorin treatment significantly reduced the ROS,MDA,NO levels and i NOS activity,increased T-AOC and the activities of SOD and CAT.Furthermore,imperatorin treatment also significantly induced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2,enhanced the protein expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that imperatorin can protect the brain against the excessive oxidative stress induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion through activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Central retinal artery occlusion after endovascular coil embolization for internal carotid artery aneurysm

Dear Editor,We are writing this letter to report an unexpected rare caseofcentralretinalarteryocclusion(CRAO)happened after stent-assisted coiling for internal carotid artery(ICA)aneurysm in a female patient.CRAO is a devastating ocular emergency with poor visual prognosis and no universal acceptedtreatmentatpresent.CRAOisusuallyassociated witharterialhypertension,diabetesmellitus,renaldisease.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-boron steel with different ratios of boron and carbon

Boron and carbon contents are the main factors influencing the properties of high-boron steel.In this study,experimental samples with different boron-to-carbon ratios(%B/%C)were prepared.The microstructures of the different samples were observed,and their hardness,bending strength,and impact toughness were investigated.Results show that the main microstructures in the investigated high-boron steel samples are the eutectic Fe_(2)B structure with a fishbone shape and the ternary peritectic Fe_(3)(C,B)structure with a chrysanthemum shape.When the boron content is 2.5wt.%and the carbon content is 0.43wt.%(i.e.,%B/%C=5.82),the overall mechanical properties of the alloy are the best.The alloy's hardness,bending strength and impact toughness reach their maximums,which are 67.3 HRC,1,267.36 MPa and 6.19 J·cm^(-2),respectively.The optimized alloy is compared with conventional materials exhibiting excellent wear resistance(namely,high-manganese steel and high-chromium cast iron)through two-body and three-body abrasion tests.The wear resistance of this high-boron steelinvestigated in this work is found to be superior to those of the more common materials.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 serves as a target of miR542 to promote glioblastoma proliferation and invasion

Background:Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is strongly linked with tumor invasion and metastasis, which performs a vital role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) expression are closely associated to EMT by regulating targeted genes. MiR542 has been found to be involved in the EMT program and bound up with various cancers. However, the functions of miR542 and its underlying mechanism in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remain largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effect of astrocyte elevated gene-1 ( AEG-1) on U251 cells aggressiveness, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Methods:The screening of targeted miRNAs was performed, as well as the functional roles and mechanisms of miR542 were explored.Results:MiR542 was selected as the target because of the most significantly differential expression and this high level of expression negatively correlated with cell migration and proliferation, which suggested that miR542 could be a novel tumor suppressor. Moreover, we confirmed that AEG-1 was a direct targeted gene of miR542 by luciferase activity assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunoblotting analysis. Furthermore, miR542 suppressed the expression of AEG-1, which upgraded the level of E-cadherin and degraded Vimentin expression contributing to retraining EMT. Conclusion:The in vitro findings demonstrated that miR542 inhibited the migration and proliferation of U251 cells and suppressed EMT through targeting AEG-1, indicating that miR542 may be a potential anti-cancer target for GBM.

4,5,6,7-Tetrahydro-[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine as a new scaffold for heat shock protein 90 inhibitors

Heat shock protein 90（hsp90） is a promising anticancer drug target. A library of 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl（resorcinol） substituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine compounds that target this protein were designed and prepared based on our earlier study. The compounds were tested in five cancer cell lines and seven of them showed notable anticancer activity（IC_（50）2-10 mmol/L）. The active subset compounds were further subjected to a polarized fluorescent assay and exhibited high binding affinity toward purified hsp90（IC_（50）60-100 nmol/L）. These results indicated that the tetrahydrotriazolopyrazine motif of the molecules may represent a novel scaffold for the development of hsp90 inhibitors.

Wide-range tracking technique for process-variation-robust clock and data recovery applications

A wide-range tracking technique for clock and data recovery(CDR) circuit is presented. Compared to the traditional technique, a digital CDR controller with calibration is adopted to extend the tracking range. Because of the use of digital circuits in the design, CDR is not sensitive to process and power supply variations. To verify the technique, the whole CDR circuit is implemented using 65-nm CMOS technology. Measurements show that the tracking range of CDR is greater than ±6×10-3 at 5 Gb/s. The receiver has good jitter tolerance performance and achieves a bit error rate of <10–12. The re-timed and re-multiplexed serial data has a root-mean-square jitter of 6.7 ps.