The Ameliorative Effect of Empagliflozin in Vigabatrin-Induced Cerebellar/Neurobehavioral Deficits: Targeting mTOR/AMPK/SIRT-1 Signaling Pathways

Introduction. Vigabatrin (VGB) is an antiepileptic drug that acts to irreversibly inhibit the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase enzyme, elevating GABA levels. Broad studies have established that long-term treatment and/or high doses of VGB lead to variable visual defects. However, little attention has been paid to its other side effects, especially those demonstrating cerebellar involvement. Sodium glucose-linked co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are antidiabetic agents with protective effects far greater than expected based on their anti-hyperglycemic effect. Method. Our study herein was designed to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of empagliflozin, the SGLT2 inhibitors, in VGB-induced cerebellar toxicity. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were allocated equally into 4 groups: Group I: control group; Group II: VGB group; Group III empagliflozin treated VGB group; and Group IV: empagliflozin treated group. All groups were subjected to the detection of cerebellar messenger RNA gene expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) and Nucleoporin p62 (P62). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and beclin1 levels were assessed by the ELISA technique while malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected spectrophotometrically. Immuno-histochemical studies, focusing on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100 were performed, and the optical color density and the mean area percentage of GFAP positive astrocytes and the number of S 100 positive cells were also counted. Results. Following empagliflozin treatment, we documented significant upregulation of both SIRT1 and P62 mRNA gene expression. Additionally, AMPK, Beclin1 levels, and SOD activity were significantly improved, while both mTOR and MDA levels were significantly reduced. Conclusions. We concluded for the first time that empagliflozin efficiently ameliorated the VGB-induced disrupted mTOR/AMPK/SIRT-1 signaling axis with subsequent improvement of the autophagy machinery and mitigation of the oxidative and inflammatory cellular environment, paving the way for an innovative therapeutic potential in managing VGB-induced neurotoxicity.     

喷气燃料的化学组成与理化性质的定量关系研究

利用GC/MS分析了80个喷气燃料样品的烃族化学组成,将其分为直链烃、异构烃、环烷烃、芳烃、十氢萘五大类,并测定了燃料的密度、苯胺点、热值、冰点、闪点及沸程等主要理化性质.构建了喷气燃料组成和性质关系的数据库,考察了喷气燃料的烃族组成及沸程对各种性质的影响.结合Cookson等的理论,建立了八个模型方程,通过多元线性回归预测烃族化学组成与理化性质关系, 与已报道的其他方程比较,新模型的相关系数明显提高.     

Evaluation of Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of Alnus nitida

In the current study, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Alnus nitida (leaves and fruits) was evaluated in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Traditionally, A. nitida was used for the treatment of inflammatory ailments. However, A. nitida leaves and fruits have not been yet reported regarding any potential medicinal effects. Leaves/fruits of A. nitida were extracted with methanol and fractionated to attain n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. These extracts were then evaluated for in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential. For in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced paw edema assay, Freunds’ complete adjuvant-induced edema, xylene-induced ear edema and histamine-induced paw edema models were used in rats, which showed significant (p < 0.01) reduction (70–80%) in edema in comparison of inflammatory controls. On other hand, for the analgesic assessment, hot plate assay and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were used, which showed a significant (p < 0.01) rise in latency time (40–60%) as compared with pain-induced controls. These results were comparable with standard drugs in a concentration-dependent manner and no mortality or toxicity was observed during all experiments. Then, for the identification of chemical constituents gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed, which indicated the presence of neophytadiene, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, phytol and vitamin E, justifying the use of A. nitida to treat inflammatory disorders.     

一种紫外-可见光谱法检测水质COD的浊度影响实验研究

消除浊度影响是直接光谱法检测水质COD的关键技术问题。此源于紫外-可见光谱法检测水质参数的关键依赖于化学计量法所建立的准确的水质参数分析模型,而浊度是影响其建模的一个重要参数。为此,选取福尔马肼浊度液和邻苯二甲酸氢钾标准溶液,开展了紫外-可见吸收光谱法检测水质COD的浊度影响实验研究,获得了选定溶液在245,300,360和560 nm几个特征波长点的吸光度随浊度变化的最小二乘法拟合曲线,分析了吸光度随浊度的变化规律。研究结果表明,在240～380 nm的紫外光谱段,由于引起浊度的颗粒物对有机物产生了吸附,致使浊度对水样的紫外光谱影响较为复杂;在380～780 nm的可见光谱区域,浊度对光谱的影响则是随着波长的增大而减弱。基于此,开展了多元散射校正法对受浊度影响的水样光谱进行校正试验。对某溪水水样的紫外-可见吸收光谱进行多元散射校正,通过处理前后光谱对比表明,浊度引起各个波长点的基线偏移都得到了有效的校正,而在紫外区域特征并未减弱。接着对选取的三种液体的紫外-可见吸收光谱进行多元散射校正,实验结果表明：该方法可在不影响水样紫外-可见吸收光谱特征的前提下对其吸收曲线进行有效的校正,这不仅提高了光谱法检测水质COD的信噪比,而且还为化学计量法建立准确、有效的水质检测COD分析模型进行数据预处理提供了一种新途径。     

Narrow band quantitative and multivariate electroencephalogram analysis of peri-adolescent period

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The peri-adolescent period is a crucial developmental moment of transition from childhood to emergent adulthood. The present report analyses the differences in Power Spectrum (PS) of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) between late childhood (24 children between 8 and 13 years old) and young adulthood (24 young adults between 18 and 23 years old). RESULTS: The narrow band analysis of the Electroencephalogram was computed in the frequency range of 0--20 Hz. The analysis of mean and variance suggested that six frequency ranges presented a different rate of maturation at these ages, namely: low delta, delta-theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta. For most of these bands the maturation seems to occur later in anterior sites than posterior sites. Correlational analysis showed a lower pattern of correlation between different frequencies in children than in young adults, suggesting a certain asynchrony in the maturation of different rhythms. The topographical analysis revealed similar topographies of the different rhythms in children and young adults. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated the same internal structure for the Electroencephalogram of both age groups. Principal Component Analysis allowed to separate four subcomponents in the alpha range. All these subcomponents peaked at a lower frequency in children than in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present approaches complement and solve some of the incertitudes when the classical brain broad rhythm analysis is applied. Children have a higher absolute power than young adults for frequency ranges between 0-20 Hz, the correlation of Power Spectrum (PS) with age and the variance age comparison showed that there are six ranges of frequencies that can distinguish the level of EEG maturation in children and adults. The establishment of maturational order of different frequencies and its possible maturational interdependence would require a complete series including all the different ages.