The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several ...The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.展开更多
Moxibustion is one of treatment modalities in Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）. Its working mechanism is activated through heat-induced local thermal stimulation. By reviewing and compiling clear, scientific analys...Moxibustion is one of treatment modalities in Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）. Its working mechanism is activated through heat-induced local thermal stimulation. By reviewing and compiling clear, scientific analysis of the biological and physiological effects from local thermal heat, the authors provides a coherent and systemic source to aid us to form an understanding of the mechanism of moxibustion’s promotion of qi and blood circulation throughout the body from local thermal stimulation. This has been done by a rigorous review of previous studies of the thermal effect on the body. The following presents the local, distal and systemic biological effects from local thermal stimulation while also discussing the similarities and differences between local thermal stimulation and moxibustion.展开更多
For avoiding extra-damage to healthy tissues surrounding the focal point during high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) treatment in medical therapy, to reduce the ultrasonic intensity outside the focal point is expec...For avoiding extra-damage to healthy tissues surrounding the focal point during high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) treatment in medical therapy, to reduce the ultrasonic intensity outside the focal point is expected. Thus, the heating processes induced by moderate intensity focused ultrasound(MIFU) and enhanced by combined irradiation of laser pulses for bio-tissues are studied in details. For fresh bio-tissues, the enhanced thermal effects by pulsed laser combined with MIFU irradiation are observed experimentally. To explore the mechanisms of these effects, several tissue-mimicking materials composed of agar mixed with graphite powders are prepared and studied for comparison, but the laser-enhanced thermal effects in these mimicking materials are much less than that in the fresh bio-tissues. Therefore, it is suggested that the laser-enhanced thermal effects may be mainly attributed to bio-activities and related photo-bio-chemical effects of fresh tissues.展开更多
A finite-difference time-domain approach was used to investigate the excitation of surface plasmons of the circular sub-wavelength apertures on an optical fiber endface. This phenomenon provided the basis of a sensiti...A finite-difference time-domain approach was used to investigate the excitation of surface plasmons of the circular sub-wavelength apertures on an optical fiber endface. This phenomenon provided the basis of a sensitive liquid refractive index sensor. The proposed sensor is compact and has the potential to be used in biomedical applications, having a sensitivity of （373 ± 16）nm per refractive index unit （RIU） as found through the variation of a reflection minimum with the wavelength.展开更多
基金Supported by The Junta de Castilla y Leon(Grants GR75-2008,SA033A08,SA03508 and SA03608)Ministerio de Cienciae Innovacion(Grants BFU2006-12577,MAT2001-2911,MAT2004-04606 y BFU2007-30688-E/BFI)
文摘The family of bile acids includes a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar physical-chemical and biological characteristics.They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways that are controlled by mechanisms involving finetuning by the levels of certain bile acid species.Although their best-known role is their participation in the digestion and absorption of fat,they also play an important role in several other physiological processes.Thus,genetic abnormalities accounting for alterations in their synthesis,biotransformation and/or transport may result in severe alterations,even leading to lethal situations for which the sole therapeutic option may be liver transplantation.Moreover,the increased levels of bile acids reached during cholestatic liver diseases are known to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis,resulting in damage to the liver parenchyma and,eventually,extrahepatic tissues.When this occurs during pregnancy,the outcome of gestation may be challenged.In contrast,the physical-chemical and biological properties of these compounds have been used as the bases for the development of drugs and as pharmaceutical tools for the delivery of active agents.
基金Supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China:8137375
文摘Moxibustion is one of treatment modalities in Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）. Its working mechanism is activated through heat-induced local thermal stimulation. By reviewing and compiling clear, scientific analysis of the biological and physiological effects from local thermal heat, the authors provides a coherent and systemic source to aid us to form an understanding of the mechanism of moxibustion’s promotion of qi and blood circulation throughout the body from local thermal stimulation. This has been done by a rigorous review of previous studies of the thermal effect on the body. The following presents the local, distal and systemic biological effects from local thermal stimulation while also discussing the similarities and differences between local thermal stimulation and moxibustion.
基金supported by the Special Funds for Quality Supervision,Inspection and Quarantine Research in Public Interest of China(Grant No.201510068)
文摘For avoiding extra-damage to healthy tissues surrounding the focal point during high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) treatment in medical therapy, to reduce the ultrasonic intensity outside the focal point is expected. Thus, the heating processes induced by moderate intensity focused ultrasound(MIFU) and enhanced by combined irradiation of laser pulses for bio-tissues are studied in details. For fresh bio-tissues, the enhanced thermal effects by pulsed laser combined with MIFU irradiation are observed experimentally. To explore the mechanisms of these effects, several tissue-mimicking materials composed of agar mixed with graphite powders are prepared and studied for comparison, but the laser-enhanced thermal effects in these mimicking materials are much less than that in the fresh bio-tissues. Therefore, it is suggested that the laser-enhanced thermal effects may be mainly attributed to bio-activities and related photo-bio-chemical effects of fresh tissues.
文摘A finite-difference time-domain approach was used to investigate the excitation of surface plasmons of the circular sub-wavelength apertures on an optical fiber endface. This phenomenon provided the basis of a sensitive liquid refractive index sensor. The proposed sensor is compact and has the potential to be used in biomedical applications, having a sensitivity of （373 ± 16）nm per refractive index unit （RIU） as found through the variation of a reflection minimum with the wavelength.
