Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 alleviates liver fibrosis through the renin-angiotensin system

The present letter to the editor is related to the study titled‘Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 improves liver fibrosis in mice by regulating autophagy of hepatic stellate cells’.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 can alleviate liver fibrosis by regulating autophagy of hepatic stellate cells and affecting the renin-angiotensin system.

Growth and inhibition of zinc anode dendrites in Zn-air batteries:Model and experiment

Zinc(Zn)-air batteries are widely used in secondary battery research owing to their high theoretical energy density,good electrochemical reversibility,stable discharge performance,and low cost of the anode active material Zn.However,the Zn anode also leads to many challenges,including dendrite growth,deformation,and hydrogen precipitation self-corrosion.In this context,Zn dendrite growth has a greater impact on the cycle lives.In this dissertation,a dendrite growth model for a Zn-air battery was established based on electrochemical phase field theory,and the effects of the charging time,anisotropy strength,and electrolyte temperature on the morphology and growth height of Zn dendrites were studied.A series of experiments was designed with different gradient influencing factors in subsequent experiments to verify the theoretical simulations,including elevated electrolyte temperatures,flowing electrolytes,and pulsed charging.The simulation results show that the growth of Zn dendrites is controlled mainly by diffusion and mass transfer processes,whereas the electrolyte temperature,flow rate,and interfacial energy anisotropy intensity are the main factors.The experimental results show that an optimal electrolyte temperature of 343.15 K,an optimal electrolyte flow rate of 40 ml·min^(-1),and an effective pulse charging mode.

Sensitivity of Commercial Enzyme Inhibition Colorimetric Pesticide Residue Rapid Test Kit to a Variety of Pesticides

[Objectives]To fully understand the quality of commercial enzyme inhibition-colorimetric pesticide residue rapid detection kits,so that they can play a greater role in the detection and supervision of agricultural products.[Methods]The sensitivity of 28 kinds of pesticides was determined by using the commercially available enzyme inhibition colorimetric rapid detection kit with Hendu brand.[Results]There was a significant difference in the sensitivity of the kit to each pesticide,and the kit was more sensitive to dichlorvos among the 28 pesticides tested.The sensitivity to methyl isosalifos,dimethoate,isocarbophos,fenthion and phorate was poor,and the sensitivity to quinalphos was different between 3.0 and 2.5 mL.[Conclusions]The large difference of the sensitivity of the enzyme inhibition-colorimetric rapid detection kit for pesticide residues to different kits is a reason for the false positive and false negative test results of the kit,which needs to be considered by relevant personnel.

Neuroprotective effects of G9a inhibition through modulation of peroxisome-proliferator activator receptor gamma-dependent pathways by miR-128

Dysregulation of G9a,a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase,has been observed in Alzheimer’s disease and has been correlated with increased levels of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.Likewise,microRNAs are involved in many biological processes and diseases playing a key role in pathogenesis,especially in multifactorial diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.Therefore,our aim has been to provide partial insights into the interconnection between G9a,microRNAs,oxidative stress,and neuroinflammation.To better understand the biology of G9a,we compared the global microRNA expression between senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8(SAMP8)control mice and SAMP8 treated with G9a inhibitor UNC0642.We found a downregulation of miR-128 after a G9a inhibition treatment,which interestingly binds to the 3′untranslated region(3′-UTR)of peroxisome-proliferator activator receptor γ(PPARG)mRNA.Accordingly,Pparg gene expression levels were higher in the SAMP8 group treated with G9a inhibitor than in the SAMP8 control group.We also observed modulation of oxidative stress responses might be mainly driven Pparg after G9a inhibitor.To confirm these antioxidant effects,we treated primary neuron cell cultures with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidative insult.In this setting,treatment with G9a inhibitor increases both cell survival and antioxidant enzymes.Moreover,up-regulation of PPARγby G9a inhibitor could also increase the expression of genes involved in DNA damage responses and apoptosis.In addition,we also described that the PPARγ/AMPK axis partially explains the regulation of autophagy markers expression.Finally,PPARγ/GADD45αpotentially contributes to enhancing synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis after G9a inhibition.Altogether,we propose that pharmacological inhibition of G9a leads to a neuroprotective effect that could be due,at least in part,by the modulation of PPARγ-dependent pathways by miR-128.

Role of TSH Inhibition Therapy in the Postoperative Management of Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Objective:To investigate the effect of TSH inhibition therapy in the postoperative management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.Methods:Seventy patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer were selected for the study.TSH inhibition therapy was administered to the research group,while thyroxine replacement therapy was provided to the control group during the postoperative management phase.This allowed for a comparative analysis between the two groups.Results:In comparison with the control group,the research group exhibited significant decreases in serum TSH,T3,and T4 levels after treatment,while FT4 and FT3 levels significantly increased(P<0.05).Additionally,significant decreases in Tg,VEGF,TSGF,CD44V6,and sIL-2R levels were observed in the research group after treatment(P<0.05).No significant differences were found in pre-treatment thyroid function between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:The application of TSH inhibition therapy in the postoperative management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates promising outcomes.

Impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers on the mortality in sepsis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)or angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs)on the mortality of patients with sepsis is not well characterized.AIM To elucidate the association between prior ACEI or ARB exposure and mortality in sepsis.METHODS The PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and Cochrane Library databases were searched for all studies of premorbid ACEI or ARB use and sepsis mortality until November 302019.Two reviewers independently assessed,selected,and ab-stracted data from studies reporting ACEIs or ARBs,sepsis,and mortality.The primary extracted data consisted of premorbid ACEI or ARB exposure,mortality,and general patient data.Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence.RESULTS A total of six studies comprising 281238 patients with sepsis,including 49799 cases with premorbid ACEI or ARB exposure were eligible for analysis.Pre-morbid ACEIs or ARBs exposure decreased the 30-d mortality in patients with sepsis.Moreover,the use of ACEIs or ARBs was associated with approximately a 6%decreased risk of 30-d mortality.CONCLUSION The results of this systematic review suggest that ACEI or ARB exposure prior to sepsis may be associated with reduced mortality.Further high-quality cohort studies and molecular mechanism experiments are required to confirm our results.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 improves liver fibrosis in mice by regulating autophagy of hepatic stellate cells

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is the common pathological process associated with the occurrence and development of various chronic liver diseases.At present,there is still a lack of effective prevention and treatment methods in clinical practice.Hepatic stellate cell(HSC)plays a key role in liver fibrogenesis.In recent years,the study of liver fibrosis targeting HSC autophagy has become a hot spot in this research field.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)is a key negative regulator of reninangiotensin system,and its specific molecular mechanism on autophagy and liver fibrosis needs to be further explored.AIM To investigate the effect of ACE2 on hepatic fibrosis in mice by regulating HSC autophagy through the Adenosine monophosphate activates protein kinases(AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway.METHODS Overexpression of ACE2 in a mouse liver fibrosis model was induced by injection of liver-specific recombinant adeno-associated virus ACE2 vector(rAAV2/8-ACE2).The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed by histopathological staining and the biomarkers in mouse serum were measured by Luminex multifactor analysis.The number of apoptotic HSCs was assessed by terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)and immunofluorescence staining.Transmission electron microscopy was used to identify the changes in the number of HSC autophagosomes.The effect of ACE2 overexpression on Wu Y et al.ACE2 improves liver fibrosis through autophagy WJG https://www.wjgnet.com 4976 September 7,2023 Volume 29 Issue 33 autophagy-related proteins was evaluated by multicolor immunofluorescence staining.The expression of autophagy-related indicators and AMPK pathway-related proteins was measured by western blotting.RESULTS A mouse model of liver fibrosis was successfully established after 8 wk of intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride(CCl4).rAAV2/8-ACE2 administration reduced collagen deposition and alleviated the degree of liver fibrosis in mice.The serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor,angiopoietin-2,vascular endothelial growth factor and angiotensin II were decreased,while the levels of interleukin(IL)-10 and angiotensin-(1-7)were increased in the rAAV2/8-ACE2 group.In addition,the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin,fibronectin,and CD31 was down-regulated in the rAAV2/8-ACE2 group.TUNEL and immunofluorescence staining showed that rAAV2/8-ACE2 injection increased HSC apoptosis.Moreover,rAAV2/8-ACE2 injection notably decreased the number of autophagosomes and the expression of autophagy-related proteins(LC3I,LC3II,Beclin-1),and affected the expression of AMPK pathway-related proteins(AMPK,p-AMPK,p-mTOR).CONCLUSION ACE2 overexpression can inhibit HSC activation and promote cell apoptosis by regulating HSC autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR pathway,thereby alleviating liver fibrosis and hepatic sinusoidal remodeling.

Inhibition of fibroblast activation protein ameliorates cartilage matrix degradation and osteoarthritis progression

Fibroblast activation protein(Fap)is a serine protease that degrades denatured type I collagen,α2-antiplasmin and FGF21.Fap is highly expressed in bone marrow stromal cells and functions as an osteogenic suppressor and can be inhibited by the bone growth factor Osteolectin(Oln).Fap is also expressed in synovial fibroblasts and positively correlated with the severity of rheumatoid arthritis(RA).However,whether Fap plays a critical role in osteoarthritis(OA)remains poorly understood.Here,we found that Fap is significantly elevated in osteoarthritic synovium,while the genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of Fap significantly ameliorated posttraumatic OA in mice.Mechanistically,we found that Fap degrades denatured type II collagen(Col II)and Mmp13-cleaved native Col II.Intra-articular injection of r Fap significantly accelerated Col II degradation and OA progression.In contrast,Oln is expressed in the superficial layer of articular cartilage and is significantly downregulated in OA.Genetic deletion of Oln significantly exacerbated OA progression,which was partially rescued by Fap deletion or inhibition.Intra-articular injection of r Oln significantly ameliorated OA progression.Taken together,these findings identify Fap as a critical pathogenic factor in OA that could be targeted by both synthetic and endogenous inhibitors to ameliorate articular cartilage degradation.

Additive manufacturing of Ni-based superalloys: Residual stress, mechanisms of crack formation and strategies for crack inhibition

The additive manufacturing(AM)of Ni-based superalloys has attracted extensive interest from both academia and industry due to its unique capabilities to fabricate complex and high-performance components for use in high-end industrial systems.However,the intense temperature gradient induced by the rapid heating and cooling processes of AM can generate high levels of residual stress and metastable chemical and structural states,inevitably leading to severe metallurgical defects in Ni-based superalloys.Cracks are the greatest threat to these materials’integrity as they can rapidly propagate and thereby cause sudden and non-predictable failure.Consequently,there is a need for a deeper understanding of residual stress and cracking mechanisms in additively manufactured Ni-based superalloys and ways to potentially prevent cracking,as this knowledge will enable the wider application of these unique materials.To this end,this paper comprehensively reviews the residual stress and the various mechanisms of crack formation in Ni-based superalloys during AM.In addition,several common methods for inhibiting crack formation are presented to assist the research community to develop methods for the fabrication of crack-free additively manufactured components.

Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker on one-year outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from a multicenter registry study in China

Objective To evaluate the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI)/angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker(ARB)therapy on the prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods A total of 1,991 AF patients from the AF registry were divided into two groups according to whether they were treated with ACEI/ARB at recruitment.Baseline characteristics were carefully collected and analyzed.Logistic regression was utilized to identify the predictors of ACEI/ARB therapy.The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality,while the secondary endpoints included cardiovascular mortality,stroke and major adverse events(MAEs)during the one-year follow-up period.Univariable and multivariable Cox regression were performed to identify the association between ACEI/ARB therapy and the one-year outcomes.Results In total,759 AF patients(38.1%)were treated with ACEI/ARB.Compared with AF patients without ACEI/ARB therapy,patients treated with ACEI/ARB tended to be older and had a higher rate of permanent AF,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,heart failure(HF),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)<40%,coronary artery disease(CAD),prior myocardial infarction(MI),left ventricular hypertrophy,tobacco use and concomitant medications(all P<0.05).Hypertension,HF,LVEF<40%,CAD,prior MI and tobacco use were determined to be predictors of ACEI/ARB treatment.Multivariable analysis showed that ACEI/ARB therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of one-year all-cause mortality[hazard ratio(HR)(95%CI):0.682(0.527-0.882),P=0.003],cardiovascular mortality[HR(95%CI):0.713(0.514-0.988),P=0.042]and MAEs[HR(95%CI):0.698(0.568-0.859),P=0.001].The association between ACEI/ARB therapy and reduced mortality was consistent in the subgroup analysis.Conclusions In patients with AF,ACEI/ARB was related to significantly reduced one-year all-cause mortality,cardiovascular mortality and MAEs despite the high burden of cardiovascular comorbidities.

Inhibition mechanism of air nanobubbles on brass corrosion in circulating cooling water systems

Air nanobubbles(A-NBs)were used to inhibit the brass corrosion in circulating cooling water for the first time in the study.The results of mass loss method and electrochemical method showed that A-NBs had the obvious corrosion inhibition effect.The inhibition rate reached 52%at 35℃.The impedance and surface characterization results of corrosion samples indicated that the corrosion inhibition mechanisms of A-NBs mainly included adsorption of corrosion ions,promoting the formation of the passivation film on metal surface and the formation of the bubble layer and scale film on metal surface.A-NBs are potential excellent corrosion inhibitors.

High-temperature corrosion of phosphate completion fluid and corrosion inhibition method by membrane transformation

By analyzing the corrosion of phosphate completion fluid on the P110 steel at 170 °C, the high-temperature corrosion mechanism of phosphate completion fluid was revealed, and a corrosion inhibition method by membrane transformation was proposed and an efficient membrane-forming agent was selected. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, X-ray energy spectrum and X-ray diffraction results were used to characterize the microscopic morphology, elemental composition and phase composition of the precipitation membrane on the surface of the test piece. The effect and mechanism of corrosion inhibition by membrane transformation were clarified. The phosphate completion fluid eroded the test piece by high-temperature water vapor and its hydrolyzed products to form a membrane of iron phosphate corrosion product. By changing the corrosion reaction path, the Zn2+ membrane-forming agent could generate KZnPO4 precipitation membrane with high temperature resistance, uniform thickness and tight crystal packing on the surface of the test piece, which could inhibit the corrosion of the test piece, with efficiency up to 69.63%. The Cu2+ membrane-forming agent electrochemically reacted with Fe to precipitate trace elemental Cu on the surface of the test piece, thus forming a protective membrane, which could inhibit metal corrosion, with efficiency up to 96.64%, but the wear resistance was poor. After combining 0.05% Cu2+ and 0.25% Zn2+, a composite protective membrane of KZnPO4 crystal and elemental Cu was formed on the surface of the test piece. The corrosion inhibition efficiency reached 93.03%, which ensured the high corrosion inhibition efficiency and generated a precipitation membrane resistant to temperature and wear.

Analysis of a Strong-Inhibition Polyamine Drilling Fluid

Drilling technologies based on oil-based drillingfluids and strong inhibitory saltwaterfluids are affected by draw-backs such as downhole accidents where sticking and wellbore instabilities occur.Existing polyamine drillingfluids also exhibit problems such as easy decomposition and poor inhibition performances.In order to mitigate these issues,additives can be used,such as polyamine inhibitors and the synthesis of nanometerfiltrate reducers.Tests conducted in the frame of this study with a polyamine drillingfluid and such additives show that thisfluid has the same inhibitory,plugging,lubricating,and wellbore-stability performances as oil-based drillingfluids.However,it has long-term anti-wear performances even better than those of oil-based drillingfluids.The out-comes of a series of comparisons with other sample cases(other wells)are reported and the advantages related to the proposedfluid discussed in detail.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Albizia zygia Extracts on Bacterial Inhibition in Aquatic Microcosm

The objective of this study is the phytochemical analysis and the determination of the antibacterial activity of aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves and bark of the trunk of Albizia zygia, against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi bacteria in aquatic microcosms. Phytochemical screening was performed as described by Pareck. The results obtained show that the hydro-ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Albizia zygia trunk bark recorded higher extraction yields (26.71% and 33.2% respectively) compared to the aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts of leaves of the same plant. Secondary metabolites with antibacterial activities such as anthraquinones, anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins and saponins were found in both types of extracts. Flavonoids and anthocyanins were relatively more abundant than the other chemical constituents. The highest cellular inhibition rate of Escherichia coli was 99.88%, obtained after 9 hours of exposure in the hydro-ethanolic extract solution of trunk bark at the concentration 1.5 g/L. The Salmonella typhi rate was 99.95% after 9 hours of exposure of bacterial cells to the hydro-ethanol extract of the bark of the trunk at the concentration 1.5 g/L. This rate increased proportionally with the bacterial-extract contact time. The temperature of the medium did not significantly influence bacterial inhibition (P > 0.05). The obtained results justify the use of the plant Albizia zygia in the reduction of the flow of bacterio-pollutants contained in water intended for consumption.

Hyperkalemia of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Hemodialysis: A Meta-analysis

The safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used in hemodialysis (HD) patients was evaluated.Medline,Embase,the Cochrane Library,some databases of clinical trial registries,grey literatures,other reference lists of eligible articles and review articles for the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on comparison of ACEIs/ARBs or placebo in HD patients were retrieved.RCTs reporting the risk of hyperkalemia by using ACEIs/ARBs in HD patients were selected.Eight articles met the eligibility criteria and were subjected to meta-analysis by using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software package.The results showed that there was no significant difference in hyperkalemia in HD patients between ACEIs or ARBs group and control group (ACEIs vs.control:RD=0.03,95% CI=-0.13?0.18,Z=0.34,P=0.73;ARBs vs.control:RD=-0.02,95% CI=-0.07?0.03,Z=0.75,P=0.45).However,there was no significant difference in the serum potassium between ACEIs or ARBs group and control group in HD patients (ACEIs vs.control:WMD=0.10,95% CI=0.06?0.15,Z=4.64,P<0.00001;ARBs vs.control:WMD=-0.24,95% CI=-0.37--0.11,Z=3.58,P=0.0003).The use of ACEIs or ARBs could not cause an increased risk of hyperkalemia in HD patients,however the serum potassium could be increased with use of ACEIs in HD patients.Therefore the serum potassium concentration should still be closely monitored when ACEIs are taken during the maintenance HD.

Experimental study on the synergistic inhibition of malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by the combination of DMDD and sorafenib

Objective:To investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of the combination of DMDD(2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2-5-diene-1-4-dione),a traditional Chinese medicine monomer,and sorafenib on the malignant biological behavior of human hepatocellular carcinoma Huh7 cells.Methods:The experiment was divided into four groups:Huh7 cells control group,DMDD group,sorafenib group and DMDD and sorafenib combination group.The CCK-8 assay was used to measure the viability of Huh7 cells,and the Kim's formula was used to determine the synergistic effect.The plate cloning experiment was conducted to test colony formation ability of Huh7 cells.The scratch and Transwell experiments were performed to evaluate the migration ability and the invasion ability of Huh7 cells.The cell cycle of Huh7 cells was detected by flow cytometry.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA transcription level and protein expression level of PHGDH in the serine synthesis pathway.Results:The plate cloning experiment,scratch experiment,and Transwell migration experiment showed that the combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect on the proliferation,migration,and invasion ability of Huh7 cells compared to the control group,DMDD group,and Sorafenib group(P<0.05).According to the Kim's formula,the combination of DMDD(final concentrations of 2,4,8μmol/L)and Sorafenib(final concentrations of 1,2,4μmol/L)had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Huh7 cells(Q>1.15).6,10μmol/L DMDD combined with 3,5μmol/L Sorafenib showed additive effect.The cell cycle of Huh7 cells was detected by flow cytometry,and the results showed that after 48 hours of drug intervention,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the control group,DMDD group,Sorafenib group,and combination group were(10.63±0.32)%,(35.77±1.22)%,(30.03±2.22)%,and(38.97±0.60)%,respectively.Compared with the control group,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the three groups significantly increased(P<0.0001).Compared with the Sorafenib group,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the combination group significantly increased(P<0.0001).RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that the combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib significantly inhibited the mRNA transcription level and protein expression level of PHGDH(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib has a synergistic effect that can enhance the inhibitory effect on the proliferation,invasion,and migration ability of Huh7 cells.The mechanism of this effect is related to the synergistic inhibition of the gene transcription and protein expression of PHGDH in the serine synthesis pathway.

Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in cryoballoon ablation outcomes for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND Cryoballoon ablation(CBA)is recommended for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(AF)refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs.However,only 80%of patients benefit from initial CBA.There is growing evidence that pretreatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)and angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs)decreases the recurrence of AF postablation,particularly in nonparoxysmal AF undergoing radiofrequency ablation.The role of ACEIs and ARBs in patients with paroxysmal AF in CBA remains unknown.We decided to investigate the role of ACEIs and ARBs in preventing the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia(AA)following CBA for paroxysmal AF.AIM To investigate the role of ACEIs and ARBs in preventing recurrence of AA following CBA for paroxysmal AF.METHODS We followed 103 patients(age 60.6±9.1 years,29%women)with paroxysmal AF undergoing CBA 1-year post procedure.Recurrence was assessed by documented AA on electrocardiogram or any form of long-term cardiac rhythm monitoring.A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess if ACEI or ARB treatment predicted the risk of AA recurrence.RESULTS After a 1-year follow-up,19(18.4%)participants developed recurrence of AA.Use of ACEI or ARB therapy was noted in the study population.Patients on ACEI/ARB had a greater prevalence of hypertension and coronary artery disease.On a multivariate model adjusted for baseline demographics and risk factors for AF,ACEI or ARB therapy did not prevent recurrence of AA following CBA(P=0.72).Similarly,on Kaplan–Meier analysis pretreatment with ACEI/ARB did not predict the time to first recurrence of AA(P=0.2173).CONCLUSION In our study population,preablation treatment with an ACEI or ARB had no influence on the recurrence of AA following CBA for paroxysmal AF.

Galectin-3 inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis liver fibrosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to be one of the major health challenges facing the world,with estimates of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)prevalence in over 25 percent of the world’s population.NASH represents a spectrum of disease that may lead to hepatic fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis,with the risk of cirrhosis decompensation,and hepatocellular carcinoma.New therapies are desperately needed for NASH,especially for later stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis.Galectin-3 inhibition is being explored as a new liver antifibrotic therapy.This concise review will outline the state of the art of this new therapeutic target.

Hydrogen inhibition effect of chitosan and sodium phosphate on ZK60 waste dust in a wet dust removal system:A feasible way to control hydrogen explosion

Wet dust removal systems used to control dust in the polishing or grinding process of Mg alloy products are frequently associated with potential hydrogen explosion caused by magnesium-water reaction.For purpose of avoiding hydrogen explosion risks,we try to use a combination of chitosan(CS)and sodium phosphate(SP)to inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction between magnesium alloy waste dust and water.The hydrogen evolution curves and chemical kinetics modeling for ten different mixing ratios demonstrate that 0.4wt%CS+0.1wt%SP yields the best inhibition efficiency with hydrogen generation rate of almost zero.SEM and EDS analyses indicate that this composite inhibitor can create a uniform,smooth,tight protective film over the surface of the alloy dust particles.FTIR and XRD analysis of the chemical composition of the surface film show that this protective film contains CS and SP chemically adsorbed on the surface of ZK60 but no detectable Mg(OH)_(2),suggesting that magnesium-water reaction was totally blocked.Our new method offers a thorough solution to hydrogen explosion by inhibiting the hydrogen generation of magnesium alloy waste dust in a wet dust removal system.

The Biochemical Impact by Covalent Shielding of the Anionic Oxygen of the Phosphate Group in DNA and RNA as Methylated Phosphotriester Linkage on the Inhibition of DNA Duplication and on HIV-1 RNA Viral Infectivity Has Been Seriously Overlooked

With the help of model experiments, we are able to offer a detailed proposal for the inhibition of DNA duplication and no inhibition of RNA viral infectivity. As a backbone, we introduced methyl phosphotriester (MPTE). Duplex formation according to the traditional Watson and Crick base-pairing: [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * DNA and [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * RNA, where n = number of DNA and RNA bases. However, in the latter case, inhibition is obtained by reduction of the number of MPTE linkages, as is confirmed with model experiments and under biological conditions with micro (mi)RNA substrates. The latter results have recently been published. One or more single MPTEs are disseminated over different places of DNA without neighbour MPTEs (Prof. Wen-Yih Chen and his group, Taiwan).