Cardiorenal Protective Effect of Costunolide against Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity in Rats by Modulating Oxidative Stress,Inflammation and Apoptosis

Doxorubicin (DXB) is one of the most commonly used anticancer agents for treating solid and hematological malignancies; however, DXB-induced cardiorenal toxicity presents a limiting factor to its clinical usefulness in cancer patients. Costunolide (COST) is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone with excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. This study evaluated the effect of COST on DXB-induced cardiorenal toxicity in rats. Rats were orally treated with COST for 4 weeks and received weekly 5 mg/kg doses of DXB for three weeks. Cardiorenal biochemical biomarkers, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were evaluated. DXB-treated rats displayed significantly increased levels of lipid profiles, markers of cardiorenal dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin T, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine). In addition, DXB markedly upregulated cardiorenal malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 levels and decreased glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. COST treatment significantly attenuated the aforementioned alterations induced by DXB. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that COST ameliorated the histopathological features and reduced p53 and myeloperoxidase expression in the treated rats. These results suggest that COST exhibits cardiorenal protective effects against DXB-induced injury presumably via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.     

Preparation and Performance of Thickened Liquids for Patients with Konjac Glucomannan-Mediated Dysphagia

The present study sought to characterize the rheological and thickening properties of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and prepare thickening components for special medical purposes using KGM and maltodextrin as the primary raw materials and guar gum (GG), xanthan gum (XG), locust bean gum (LBG), and carrageenan (KC) as the supplemented materials. The formulation and preparation processes were optimized through single factor experiments taking sensory evaluation as an indicator. The results confirm that KGM had excellent thickening performance, reaching about 90 times its own mass. The optimal formulation process of the thickening components based on KGM was as follows: the mass concentration of the compound thickener (KGM/GG/XG/LBG/KC = 13:2:2:2:1) was 5.0–7.0 mg/mL; the maltodextrin concentration was 10.0 mg/mL; the brewing temperature of the thickening component was 60 °C with no restriction on consumption time. The rheology test results revealed that the thickening components had shear thinning characteristics, which could provide three different thickening effects of nectar-thick level (350 mPa·s), honey-thick level (1250 mPa·s), and pudding-thick level (1810 mPa·s) suitable for people with different degrees of chewing disorders. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for KGM as a dietary nutrition support for patients with dysphagia.     

Bruch’s-Mimetic Nanofibrous Membranes Functionalized with the Integrin-Binding Peptides as a Promising Approach for Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Transplantation

Background: This study aimed to develop an ultrathin nanofibrous membrane able to, firstly, mimic the natural fibrous architecture of human Bruch’s membrane (BM) and, secondly, promote survival of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after surface functionalization of fibrous membranes. Methods: Integrin-binding peptides (IBPs) that specifically interact with appropriate adhesion receptors on RPEs were immobilized on Bruch’s-mimetic membranes to promote coverage of RPEs. Surface morphologies, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, contact angle analysis, Alamar Blue assay, live/dead assay, immunofluorescence staining, and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the outcome. Results: Results showed that coated membranes maintained the original morphology of nanofibers. After coating with IBPs, the water contact angle of the membrane surfaces varied from 92.38 ± 0.67 degrees to 20.16 ± 0.81 degrees. RPE cells seeded on IBP-coated membranes showed the highest viability at all time points (Day 1, p < 0.05; Day 3, p < 0.01; Days 7 and 14, p < 0.001). The proliferation rate of RPE cells on uncoated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes was significantly lower than that of IBP-coated membranes (p < 0.001). SEM images showed a well-organized hexa/polygonal monolayer of RPE cells on IBP-coated membranes. RPE cells proliferated rapidly, contacted, and became confluent. RPE cells formed a tight adhesion with nanofibers under high-magnification SEM. Our findings confirmed that the IBP-coated PCL membrane improved the attachment, proliferation, and viability of RPE cells. In addition, in this study, we used serum-free culture for RPE cells and short IBPs without immunogenicity to prevent graft rejection and immunogenicity during transplantation. Conclusions: These results indicated that the biomimic BM-IBP-RPE nanofibrous graft might be a new, practicable approach to increase the success rate of RPE cell transplantation.     

Mg、B配比对MgB2材料的影响

我们通过固态反应法制备了MgxB2(x=0.2,0.6,0.8,1.0,1.2,1.4,1.8,2.2,2.6)系列超导样品.用四引线法测量了每一个样品在制备烧结过程中的高温R～T曲线.由这些曲线的升温阶段数据得知MgxB2系列样品的起始成相温度Tonset随着x值的增加而降低.由它们的X光衍射图可知,x≤1.0时,没有Mg和MgO的杂相峰;到x＞1.0后,随x值的增大,杂相Mg和MgO的衍射峰强度逐渐增强.它们的低温R～T曲线表明随x值的增加,正常态电阻减小,起始超导转变温度在39.3 K到39.9 K之间.综合Tc(onset)和△Tc,Mg1.4B2样品呈现出最好的超导状态.这些样品的单位质量M～T测量数据表明起起转变温度处于37.4～38.6 K之间,且Mg1.4B2样品呈现出最高的磁测Tc(onset)=38.60 K.在Mg含量x大于或低于1.4时,磁测Tc(onset)均小于此值.综合R～T和M～T这两种测量,为得到高Tc的MgB2超导块材,胚体MgB2的配比应取x=1.4为好.     

先位粉末套管法制备MgB2/Fe线材的超导性能研究

采用先位法将MgB2粉装入纯铁管中,制备出MgB2/Fe超导线材.用X射线衍射仪和扫描电子显微镜分析了样品的物相组成和显微结构;用SQUID测量了样品的超导转变温度;用标准四引线法测量了短样的临界电流.结果显示,超导样品的临界转变温度约为38.3 K,在4.2 K/4 T下MgB2/Fe线材的临界电流密度为～104A/cm2.研究结果表明,高温退火有效地减少了冷加工过程中产生的应力,改善了晶粒连接性,提高了芯材的致密度,可以显著地提高先位法制备线材的临界电流密度.     

C3手性合成子的合成及应用

简要介绍了两种重要的C3手性合成子———环氧氯丙烷(ECH)和缩水甘油(GLD)的合成方法;综述了ECH在药物合成以及GLD在部分有机合成中的应用。参考文献34篇。     

高温超导体磁通钉扎和磁通动力学研究简介

ψ=ψ0eiφ行为用统一的波函数进行描述,其相位φ在宏观尺度上是相同的.当磁场低于一定值的时候,在超Φ0=h/2e保证最大的界面面积,降低系统能量.该最小的磁通束被称为磁通量子,其磁通量是(h为普朗克超导态是一个宏观量子相干态,其载流子是库珀对.在没有外加磁场和电流的时候,这些库珀对的运动导体的边界处穿透深度内会出现一...     

动态柱形空穴膨胀模型及其在侵彻问题中的应用

 在侵彻问题中的应用进行了研究。通过采用相似变换求解塑性区控制方程,获得了动态柱形空穴膨胀中的弹塑性界面速度、径向应力分布、空穴表面应力的解。基于柱形空穴模型,推导了侵彻方程,并将其得到的预测结果与侵彻实验数据进行了比较。结果表明,模型的理论解与现有数据吻合得很好。 结果还显示了材料的可压缩性和塑性强化模量对柱形空穴膨胀以及侵彻阻力的影响。     

数学形态学在红外多弱小目标提取中的应用

应用了高帽和低帽变换对图像进行对比度增强、采用基于流域变换的粘连目标分割的方法把图像中粘连目标分割开来,进而采用了自适应的阈值把图像二值化.通过这一系列的处理后,从红外图像中提取出了弱小目标信息.这种方法在红外弱小目标的判别中对目标的提取效果较佳,也给后续处理提供了方便.     

空间雷电探测实时采集定位系统

星载雷电探测定位系统是利用光学探测器探测闪电事件的地理位置和光脉冲波形,系统采用CPLD+DSP的数字图像处理方案,利用了CPLD复杂逻辑可编程特性将系统的部分或全部功能集成在一片CPLD上,减小了系统硬件复杂程度,节省了印制版空间.利用DSP高速数字信号处理特性完成实时处理图像数据的功能.系统用CPLD完成图像信号的采集、编码和存储控制,缩小了星载设备体积,简化了电路结构;用DSP完成大量图像数据处理工作,提高了系统工作的实时性.