HEF-19-induced relaxation of colonic smooth muscles and the underlying mechanisms

AIM:To investigate the relaxant effect of chromane HEF-19 on colonic smooth muscles isolated from rabbits,and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:The relaxant effect and action mechanisms of HEF-19 were investigated using descending colon smooth muscle of the rabbits.Preparations 1 cm long were mounted in 15-mL tissue baths containing Tyrode’s solution,maintained at 37±0.5℃and aerated with a mixture of 5%CO2in oxygen(Carbogen).The tension and amplitude of the smooth muscle strips were recorded after adding HEF-19(10-6,10-5and 10-4mol/L).After cumulative administration of four antispasmodic agents,including acetylcholine chloride(Ach)(10-4mol/L),histamine(10-4mol/L),high-K+(60 mmol/L)and BaCl2(8.2 mmol/L),HEF-19(3×10-7-3×10-4mol/L)was added to investigate the relaxant effect of HEF-19.CaCl2(10-4-2.5×10-3mol/L)was added cumulatively to the smooth muscle preparations pretreated with and without HEF-19(1×10-6or 3×10-6mol/L)and verapamil(1×10-7mol/L)to study the mechanisms involved.Finally,phasic contraction was induced with ACh(15×10-6mol/L),and CaCl2(4×10-3mol/L)was added to the smooth muscle preparations pretreated with and without HEF-19(3×10-6mol/L or 1×10-5mol/L)and verapamil(1×10-7mol/L)in calcium-free medium to further study the underlying mechanisms.RESULTS:HEF-19(1×10-6,1×10-5and 1×10-4mol/L)suppressed spontaneous contraction of rabbit colonic smooth muscles.HEF-19(3×10-7-3×10-4mol/L)relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner colonic smooth muscle preparations pre-contracted with BaCl2,high-K+solution,Ach or histamine with respective EC50values of 5.15±0.05,5.12±0.08,5.58±0.16and 5.25±0.24,thus showing a spasmolytic activity.HEF-19(1×10-6mol/L and 3×10-6mol/L)shifted the concentration-response curves of CaCl2to the right and depressed the maximum response to CaCl2.The two components contracted by Ach were attenuated with HEF-19(3×10-6mol/L or 10-5mol/L)in calcium-free medium.CONCLUSION:HEF-19 inhibited rabbit colonic smooth muscle contraction,probably through inhibiting opening of voltage-dependent Ca2+channels.HEF-19 reduced inflow and intracellular release of Ca2+ions.

High energy and high brightness laser compton backscattering gamma-ray source at IHEP

Based on the LINAC of BEPCII, a high-polarized, high bightness, energy-tunable, monoenergetic laser compton backscattering (LCS)gamma-ray source is under construction at IHEP. The gamma-ray energy range is from 1 MeV to 111 MeV. It is a powerful and hopeful researchplatform to reveal the underlying physics of the nuclear, the basic particles and the vacuum or to check the exist basic physical models, quantumelectrodynamic (QED) theories. In the platform, a 1.064 mm Nd:YAG laser system and a 10.6 mm CO_(2) laser system are employed. All the triggersignals to the laser system and the electron control system are from the only reference clock at the very beginning of the LINAC to make sure thetemporal synchronization. Two optical transition radiation (OTR) targets and two charged-couple devices (CCD) are used to monitor and to alignthe electron beam and the laser beam. With the LCS gamma-ray source, it is proposed to experimentally check the gamma-ray calibrations, thephoton-nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics and some basic QED phenomena.

Brugada syndrome associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A case report

BACKGROUND Brugada syndrome(BrS)is an inherited disease characterized by an electrocardiogram(ECG)with a coved-type ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads(V1-V3),which predisposes to sudden cardiac death(SCD)due to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in the absence of structural heart disease.We report the case of a 29-year-old man with out-ofhospital cardiac arrest.BrS is associated with a high incidence of SCD in adults,and increasing the awareness of BrS and prompt recognition of the Brugada ECG pattern can be lifesaving.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old man suffered from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest,and after defibrillation,his ECG demonstrated a coved-type elevated ST segment in V1 and V2.These findings were compatible with type 1 Brugada pattern,and ECG of his brother showed a type 2 Brugada pattern.The diagnosis was BrS,NYHF IV,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,sepsis,and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.The patient had no arrhythmia episodes after discharge throughout a follow-up period of 36 mo.CONCLUSION Increasing awareness of BrS and prompt recognition of the Brugada ECG pattern can be lifesaving.

Effect of Artemisia decoction on liver function and pERK/eIF2a signaling pathway in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis

Objective: To investigate the effects of Artemisia decoction on liver function and phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinase/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (pERK/eIF2a) signaling pathway in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis. Methods: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dole (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal group, the sham operation group, the model group and the Artemisia decoction group, with 10 rats in each group. Alcoholic liver fibrosis model was established by "alcohol-corn oil-pyrazole" combined with a 12-week high-fat diet. After successful modeling, the normal group was not treated, and the sham operation group was given saline. The model group and the Artemisia decoction group were given the same amount of wormwood soup at the same time. The serum hydroxyproline (HYP), hyaluronidase (HA), laminin (LN), type IV collagen (CIV), type III procollagen (PIIINP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-TG), total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TB), albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured after 12 weeks of continuous treatment. The degree of liver fibrosis was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE). The expression of pERK/eIF2a signaling pathway in liver tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Compared with the normal group, the levels of serum HYP, HA, LN, CIV, PIIINP, AST, ALT, γ-GT, ALP, TBL and TB in the sham operation group were not significantly changed (P>0.05), while these indexes in the model group were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After treatment with Artemisia decoction, the levels of serum HYP, HA, LN, CIV, PIIINP, AST, ALT, γ-GT, ALP, TBL and TB were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). The serum albumin, lipid metabolism and oxidative damage indicators showed that there was no significant change in serum ALB, CHOL, TG, GSH, SOD and MDA levels in the sham operation group compared with the normal group (P>0.01). The levels of GSH and SOD in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the levels of CHOL, TG and MDA in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum ALB, GSH and SOD levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), and CHOL, TG and MDA levels were significantly decreased after giving intervention with Artemisia decoction (P<0.01). The results of HE staining showed that compared with the control group, the morphology of the liver sections of the sham operation group was normal, while the liver sections of the model group showed obvious vacuolization changes. The liver sections of the rats treated with Artemisia decoction were significantly improved. The results of ELISA showed that there was no significant change in the levels of pERK and eIF2a in the liver tissue of the sham operation group compared with the normal group (P>0.05). The levels of pERK and eIF2a in the liver tissue of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). After treatment with Artemisia decoction, the levels of pERK and eIF2a in rat liver tissues were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Artemisia decoction can effectively block the degree of liver fibrosis in rats with alcoholic liver fibrosis, reduce liver fibrosis index and improve hepatobiliary function. This effect may be related to inhibition of the pERK/eIF2a signaling pathway.

Correlation of OPG/RANKL expression in gingival crevicular fluid with inflammatory factors, free radical generation and bone metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by periodontitis

Objective:To study the correlation of OPG/RANKL expression in gingival crevicular fluid with inflammatory factors, free radical generation and bone metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by periodontitis.Methods:Patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by periodontitis who were treated in Xi'an No. 4 Hospital between March 2015 and May 2017 were selected as the periodontitis group for the research, and healthy volunteers who underwent periodontal examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The gingival crevicular fluid was collected to determine the expression of OPG/RANKL, the contents of inflammatory factors and bone metabolism molecules as well as the generation of free radicals.Results: OPG protein expression, OPG/RANKL expression ratio as well as ICTP and Runx2 contents in gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis group were significantly lower than those of control group whereas RANKL protein expression, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, HMGB1, DKK1 and MMP1 contents as well as ROS, MDA and 8-OHdG generation were significantly higher than those of control group;OPG/RANKL expression ratio in gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis group was negatively correlated with TNF- , IL-1β, IL-17, HMGB1, DKK1 and MMP1 contents as well as ROS, MDA and 8-OHdG generation, and positively correlated with ICTP and Runx2 contents.Conclusion: The excessive activation of inflammation and oxidative stress in periodontal tissue of patients with diabetes mellitus complicated by periodontitis can cause OPG/RANKL expression disorder and then lead to bone metabolism disorder.

Enhanced cycling stability and rate performance of Co-doped and La_(2)O_(3)-coated LiNi_(0.9)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) toward power battery

Ultra-high nickel layered oxide cathode material with high energy density is the most promising material to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).However,the poor structural stability and severe surface/interface side reactions of the material lead to poor rate performance and cyclic stability,which limits its application in practice.In this paper,the dual-modification strategy of Co doping and La_(2)O_(3) coating is used to meet the above challenges.Co doping can effectively widen layer spacing and reduce Li^(+)/Ni^(2+) mixing,and La_(2)O_(3) coating can effectively eliminate the residual alkali on the surface of active material,inhibit the thickening of cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI)film and reduce surface/interface side reactions.Therefore,the modified material(NM90-CL)with excellent electrochemical properties is achieved through the synergistic enhancement of Co doping and La_(2)O_(3) coating.Its capacity retention rate can reach 77.9%after 200 cycles at 1.0℃ and 75.7%after 200 cycles at 5.0℃.Its reversible capacity can up to 153.5 mAh·g^(–1) at 10.0℃.This dual-modification strategy will provide theoretical guidance and technical support for the synthesis of other high-performance electrode materials.

常染色体19个STR位点在新疆蒙古族中的遗传多态性和法医学价值研究（英文）

目的:分析常染色体19个短串联重复序列(STR)位点在新疆蒙古族群体中的遗传多态性分布,为其法医学应用提供数据支持。创新点:丰富了新疆蒙古族群体的常染色体STR遗传数据。方法:从新疆地区采集1133个无血缘关系的蒙古族健康个体,应用一个包含常染色体19个STR位点的复合扩增体系对这些样本进行基因分型检测。同时,基于15个共有的STR位点,采用多维尺度分析、遗传距离(DA)和遗传分化系数(FST)的方法探讨了新疆蒙古族群体和既往报道的20个群体间的群体遗传关系。结论:研究的19个STR位点在新疆蒙古族群体中表现出高度的多态性,获得的累积非父排除概率和累计个体识别率分别为0.999 999 992 163和0.999 999 999 999 999 999 999 995 67,表明这19个STR位点可很好地应用于新疆蒙古族群体的个体识别和亲缘关系鉴识研究。群体遗传分析的结果显示:相比其他洲际群体,新疆蒙古族群体和维吾尔族、锡伯族以及其他中国群体具有更近的遗传距离。