Aim To investigate the synergistic effect of the combination of pinellia total alkaloid (PTA) and uncaria total alkaloid (UTA), and explore the mechanism of anticonvulsant action. Methods Anticonvulsant and toxic ...Aim To investigate the synergistic effect of the combination of pinellia total alkaloid (PTA) and uncaria total alkaloid (UTA), and explore the mechanism of anticonvulsant action. Methods Anticonvulsant and toxic effect profiles of combinations of PTA with UTA, alone and at three fixed ratios of 1:4, 1 :1, 4:1, were evaluated in maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures and acute toxicity test in mice. Respective ED50 and LD50 were calculated with Bliss's method. Their synergistic effect were evaluated by isobolographic analysis and allowed the determination of benefit indices (BI) for respective combinations. The model of convulsive rats kindled by penicillin topically injected into cortex was used to investigated the content of Glu, Asp, Gly and GABA in hippocampus using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Combinations of PTA and UTA at the ratio of 4:1 were synergistic in MES test and antagonistic in acute toxicity test, showing the best profile for combinations of PTA with UTA. In contrast, the ratios of 1 :4 and 1 : 1, despite synergistic in MES test, were additive in acute toxicity test. The 4:1 combination and two drugs alone significantly decreased Glu level and increased GABA level in the hippocampus, but the GABA level in the 4:1 combination group was higher than that in the two drugs alone groups. They did not have significant influence on the levels of ASp and Gly. Conclusion Combinations of PTA and UTA at 4:1 ratio demonstrated synergistic effect in anticonvulsant action and antagonistic effect in toxicity. The anticonvulsant mechanism might be related to decreasing the excitability of Glutamatergic neurons and increasing the inhibition of GABAergic neurons.展开更多
A systematic study of air gap distance effects on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl butyral)hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation(TIPS)has been carried out.The results show that the hol...A systematic study of air gap distance effects on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl butyral)hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation(TIPS)has been carried out.The results show that the hollow fiber membrane prepared at air gap zero has no skin layer; the pore size near the outer surface is larger than that near the inner surface; and the special pore channel-like structure near the outer surface is formed,which is quite different with the typical sponge-like structure caused by TIPS and the finger-like structure caused by non-solvent induced phase separation(NIPS),because of the synergistic action of non-solvent induced phase separation at air gap zero.The pore size gradually decreases from outer surface layer to the intermediate layer,but increases gradually from intermediate layer to the inner surface layer.With the increase of air gap distance,the pore size near the outer surface gets smaller and a dense skin layer is formed,and the pore size gradually increases from the outer surface layer to the inner surface layer.Water permeability of the hollow fiber membrane decreases with air gap distance,the water permeability decreases sharply from 45.50×10-7 to 4.52×10-7 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as air gap increases from 0 to 10 mm at take-up speed of 0.236 m/s,further decreases from 4.52×10-7 to 1.00×10-8 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as the air gap increases from 10 to 40 mm.Both the breaking strength and the elongation increase with the increase of air gap distance.The breaking strength increases from 2.25 MPa to 4.19 MPa and the elongation increases from 33.9% to 132.6% as air gap increases from 0 mm to 40 mm at take-up speed 0.236 m/s.展开更多
OBJECTIVE It has been recognized that HBV infection and alcohol consumption are two important risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, the role of clonorchiasis as a risk factor for HCC is ...OBJECTIVE It has been recognized that HBV infection and alcohol consumption are two important risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, the role of clonorchiasis as a risk factor for HCC is controversial. We aimed to investigate whether these factors increase the risk of HCC in Guangxi, China. METHODS A hospital-based, case-control study of HCC was conducted from July 2005 to July 2007. We enrolled 500 consecutive patients with HCC as an experimental group and 500 patients without tumor in liver as a control group. The risk factors that the patients were exposed to were assessed. RESULTS Comparing the risks of developing the HCC, we found out the following results. The risk of developing HCC for the patients with clonorchiasis was 5 folds of that for the patients without clonorchiasis (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 3.1-8.1), and the risk for the patients with alcohol consumption was 3 folds of that for the patients without drinking alcohol (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3-4.9), and similarly, the risk for the patients with HBV infection was 21 times of that for the patients without HBV infection (OR = 20.6; 95% CI: 14.3-29.7). According to crossover analysis, there was significant interaction among clonorchiasis, HBV infection and alcohol consumption, with synergistic indices greater than 1. The etiologic fractions attributed to these interactions [EF (A × B)] are 0.7465, 0.5789 and 0.5506, respectively. CONCLUSION Clonorchiasis, HBV infection and heavy alcohol consumption are independent risk factors for developing HCC in our population in Guangxi, and as they can interact synergistically, the risk of developing HCC is increased. Data from this study may indicate new prevention strategies of developing HCC in high-risk individuals.展开更多
Radical scavenging activity (RSA), antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power, total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of oregano (Oreganum vulgare spp), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and Indian borage (Plectr...Radical scavenging activity (RSA), antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power, total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of oregano (Oreganum vulgare spp), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) extracts were evaluated. Oregano exhibited maximum radical scavenging activity (88.2%, 82.3%) for aqueous and ethanolic extracts at 50 ppm concentration respectively, followed by ajowan (86.9%, 68.4%) and Indian borage (30.5%, 30.4%). Extracts of oregano and ajowan showed better antioxidant activity and reducing power than that of Indian borage. Aqueous extracts of oregano had highest TP (Gallic acid equivalents) and TFC (Catechin equivalents) of 27.7% and 50.6 % respectively compared to ajowan (6.7%, 24.4%) and Indian borage (4.2%, 5.5%). Synergistic studies showed that the addition of oregano extract appreciably enhanced the RSA of ajowan and Indian borage extracts even at 50 ppm concentration.展开更多
This paper reports that an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, which uses argon or argon + hydrogen peroxide vapour as the working gas, is designed to sterilize the bacillus subtilis. Compar...This paper reports that an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, which uses argon or argon + hydrogen peroxide vapour as the working gas, is designed to sterilize the bacillus subtilis. Compared with the pure argon plasma, the bacterial inactivation efficacy has a significant improvement when hydrogen peroxide vapour is added into the plasma jet. In order to determine which factors play the main role in inactivation, several methods are used, such as determination of optical emission spectra, high temperature dry air treatment, protein leakage quantification, and scanning electron microscope. These results indicate that the possible inactivation mechanisms are the synergistic actions of chemically active species and charged species.展开更多
Hormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and m...Hormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and modulation of this interplay by ethylene (ET) in favor of JA signaling pathway in plant stress responses is well recognized, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the opposing function of two transcription factors, ethylene insensitive3 (EIN3) and EIN3-Like1 (EIL1), in SA-mediated suppression and JA- mediated activation of PLANT DEFENSINI.2 (PDFI.2). This functional duality is mediated via their effect on protein, not transcript levels of the PDF1.2 transcriptional activator octadecanoid-responsive Arabidopsis59 (ORA59). Specifically, JA induces ORA59 protein levels independently of EIN3/EIL1, whereas SA reduces the protein levels dependently of EIN3/EIL1. Co-infiltration assays revealed nuclear co-localization of ORA59 and EIN3, and split- luciferase together with yeast-two-hybrid assays established their physical interaction. The functional ramification of the physical interaction is EIN3-dependent degradation of ORA59 by the 26S proteasome. These findings allude to SA-responsive reduction of ORA59 levels mediated by EIN3 binding to and targeting of ORA59 for degrada4tion, thus nominating ORA59 pool as a coordination node for the antagonistic function of ET/JA and SA.展开更多
A synergistic action among hydrogen, stress and corrosion medium on austenitic stainlesssteel has been investigated. The results show that both hydrogen and stress would increase thecorrosion rate and the effects of h...A synergistic action among hydrogen, stress and corrosion medium on austenitic stainlesssteel has been investigated. The results show that both hydrogen and stress would increase thecorrosion rate and the effects of hydrogen and stress on the corrosion rate are synergistic ratherthan simple additive. Hydrogen decreases the threshold stress and delays fracture time of stresscorrosion cracking in a boiling MgCl_2 solution by a factor of 1/5 and 10, respectively.展开更多
基金Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province(No 20041109).
文摘Aim To investigate the synergistic effect of the combination of pinellia total alkaloid (PTA) and uncaria total alkaloid (UTA), and explore the mechanism of anticonvulsant action. Methods Anticonvulsant and toxic effect profiles of combinations of PTA with UTA, alone and at three fixed ratios of 1:4, 1 :1, 4:1, were evaluated in maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures and acute toxicity test in mice. Respective ED50 and LD50 were calculated with Bliss's method. Their synergistic effect were evaluated by isobolographic analysis and allowed the determination of benefit indices (BI) for respective combinations. The model of convulsive rats kindled by penicillin topically injected into cortex was used to investigated the content of Glu, Asp, Gly and GABA in hippocampus using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Combinations of PTA and UTA at the ratio of 4:1 were synergistic in MES test and antagonistic in acute toxicity test, showing the best profile for combinations of PTA with UTA. In contrast, the ratios of 1 :4 and 1 : 1, despite synergistic in MES test, were additive in acute toxicity test. The 4:1 combination and two drugs alone significantly decreased Glu level and increased GABA level in the hippocampus, but the GABA level in the 4:1 combination group was higher than that in the two drugs alone groups. They did not have significant influence on the levels of ASp and Gly. Conclusion Combinations of PTA and UTA at 4:1 ratio demonstrated synergistic effect in anticonvulsant action and antagonistic effect in toxicity. The anticonvulsant mechanism might be related to decreasing the excitability of Glutamatergic neurons and increasing the inhibition of GABAergic neurons.
基金Project(21176264)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(11JJ2010)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China
文摘A systematic study of air gap distance effects on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl butyral)hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation(TIPS)has been carried out.The results show that the hollow fiber membrane prepared at air gap zero has no skin layer; the pore size near the outer surface is larger than that near the inner surface; and the special pore channel-like structure near the outer surface is formed,which is quite different with the typical sponge-like structure caused by TIPS and the finger-like structure caused by non-solvent induced phase separation(NIPS),because of the synergistic action of non-solvent induced phase separation at air gap zero.The pore size gradually decreases from outer surface layer to the intermediate layer,but increases gradually from intermediate layer to the inner surface layer.With the increase of air gap distance,the pore size near the outer surface gets smaller and a dense skin layer is formed,and the pore size gradually increases from the outer surface layer to the inner surface layer.Water permeability of the hollow fiber membrane decreases with air gap distance,the water permeability decreases sharply from 45.50×10-7 to 4.52×10-7 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as air gap increases from 0 to 10 mm at take-up speed of 0.236 m/s,further decreases from 4.52×10-7 to 1.00×10-8 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as the air gap increases from 10 to 40 mm.Both the breaking strength and the elongation increase with the increase of air gap distance.The breaking strength increases from 2.25 MPa to 4.19 MPa and the elongation increases from 33.9% to 132.6% as air gap increases from 0 mm to 40 mm at take-up speed 0.236 m/s.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30660162).
文摘OBJECTIVE It has been recognized that HBV infection and alcohol consumption are two important risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, the role of clonorchiasis as a risk factor for HCC is controversial. We aimed to investigate whether these factors increase the risk of HCC in Guangxi, China. METHODS A hospital-based, case-control study of HCC was conducted from July 2005 to July 2007. We enrolled 500 consecutive patients with HCC as an experimental group and 500 patients without tumor in liver as a control group. The risk factors that the patients were exposed to were assessed. RESULTS Comparing the risks of developing the HCC, we found out the following results. The risk of developing HCC for the patients with clonorchiasis was 5 folds of that for the patients without clonorchiasis (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 3.1-8.1), and the risk for the patients with alcohol consumption was 3 folds of that for the patients without drinking alcohol (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 2.3-4.9), and similarly, the risk for the patients with HBV infection was 21 times of that for the patients without HBV infection (OR = 20.6; 95% CI: 14.3-29.7). According to crossover analysis, there was significant interaction among clonorchiasis, HBV infection and alcohol consumption, with synergistic indices greater than 1. The etiologic fractions attributed to these interactions [EF (A × B)] are 0.7465, 0.5789 and 0.5506, respectively. CONCLUSION Clonorchiasis, HBV infection and heavy alcohol consumption are independent risk factors for developing HCC in our population in Guangxi, and as they can interact synergistically, the risk of developing HCC is increased. Data from this study may indicate new prevention strategies of developing HCC in high-risk individuals.
文摘Radical scavenging activity (RSA), antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power, total polyphenol (TP) and flavonoid contents (TFC) of oregano (Oreganum vulgare spp), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) extracts were evaluated. Oregano exhibited maximum radical scavenging activity (88.2%, 82.3%) for aqueous and ethanolic extracts at 50 ppm concentration respectively, followed by ajowan (86.9%, 68.4%) and Indian borage (30.5%, 30.4%). Extracts of oregano and ajowan showed better antioxidant activity and reducing power than that of Indian borage. Aqueous extracts of oregano had highest TP (Gallic acid equivalents) and TFC (Catechin equivalents) of 27.7% and 50.6 % respectively compared to ajowan (6.7%, 24.4%) and Indian borage (4.2%, 5.5%). Synergistic studies showed that the addition of oregano extract appreciably enhanced the RSA of ajowan and Indian borage extracts even at 50 ppm concentration.
基金Project supported by the Science Foundation of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 085FZ10134)
文摘This paper reports that an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, which uses argon or argon + hydrogen peroxide vapour as the working gas, is designed to sterilize the bacillus subtilis. Compared with the pure argon plasma, the bacterial inactivation efficacy has a significant improvement when hydrogen peroxide vapour is added into the plasma jet. In order to determine which factors play the main role in inactivation, several methods are used, such as determination of optical emission spectra, high temperature dry air treatment, protein leakage quantification, and scanning electron microscope. These results indicate that the possible inactivation mechanisms are the synergistic actions of chemically active species and charged species.
基金supported by National Institutes of Health(R01GM107311)National Science Foundation(IOS-1036491and IOS1352478) grants awarded to K.D.
文摘Hormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and modulation of this interplay by ethylene (ET) in favor of JA signaling pathway in plant stress responses is well recognized, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the opposing function of two transcription factors, ethylene insensitive3 (EIN3) and EIN3-Like1 (EIL1), in SA-mediated suppression and JA- mediated activation of PLANT DEFENSINI.2 (PDFI.2). This functional duality is mediated via their effect on protein, not transcript levels of the PDF1.2 transcriptional activator octadecanoid-responsive Arabidopsis59 (ORA59). Specifically, JA induces ORA59 protein levels independently of EIN3/EIL1, whereas SA reduces the protein levels dependently of EIN3/EIL1. Co-infiltration assays revealed nuclear co-localization of ORA59 and EIN3, and split- luciferase together with yeast-two-hybrid assays established their physical interaction. The functional ramification of the physical interaction is EIN3-dependent degradation of ORA59 by the 26S proteasome. These findings allude to SA-responsive reduction of ORA59 levels mediated by EIN3 binding to and targeting of ORA59 for degrada4tion, thus nominating ORA59 pool as a coordination node for the antagonistic function of ET/JA and SA.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘A synergistic action among hydrogen, stress and corrosion medium on austenitic stainlesssteel has been investigated. The results show that both hydrogen and stress would increase thecorrosion rate and the effects of hydrogen and stress on the corrosion rate are synergistic ratherthan simple additive. Hydrogen decreases the threshold stress and delays fracture time of stresscorrosion cracking in a boiling MgCl_2 solution by a factor of 1/5 and 10, respectively.