Estimating tissue permeability and other bioelectrical parameters using membrane voltage and short-circuit current

Evaluating the acute toxic effects of drugs or toxins is based mainly on studies which require the use of light microscopy. Recently, the effects of such substances on biological membranes, such as the nasal membrane, has been studied using the traditional Ussing chambers, which make it possible to study the transepithelial flux of drugs across membranes and to measure some bioelectrical parameters. A model is described, with which the changes in the membrane permeability, for sodium, potassium and chlorine, can be calculated directly, based on values obtained from the Ussing chamber system. Also, an experiment is described for evaluating the toxic effects of the cholera toxin B subunit, by measuring these changes in isolated rabbit nasal mucosa.     

高频聚焦超声声场和温度场的仿真研究*

为探究临床常用的7 MHz高频聚焦超声在多层生物组织中的声传播以及毫秒级时间内的生物传热规律问题,基于Westervelt方程和Pennes传热方程,使用有限元方法建立高频聚焦超声辐照多层组织的非线性热黏性声传播及传热模型。首先分析了线性模型和非线性模型之间的差异,然后在非线性模型下探究换能器的参数对声场和温度场的影响。仿真结果显示：在7 MHz频率下,当换能器输出声功率超过5 W时,声波传播的非线性效应不可忽视(p <0.05);当声功率从5 W增大到15 W时,非线性模型与线性模型预测的温度偏差从20%增加到34.703%;高频聚焦超声波的非线性行为比低频更加显著,基频能量向高次谐波转移的程度增大,声功率为10 W和15 W时4次谐波与基波之比分别达到7.33%和12.12%;高频换能器参数的改变对组织中声场和温度场分布的影响较大,换能器焦距从12 mm减小到11.2 mm,焦点处最高温度增加了77%。结果表明,7 MHz聚焦超声的非线性声传播需要考虑到4次谐波的影响。该文提出的多层组织非线性仿真模型可为高频聚焦超声换能器参数优化及制定安全、有效的术前治疗方案提供理论参考。     

The Intervention of Prebiotics on Depression via the Gut–Brain Axis

The imbalance of intestinal microbiota can cause the accumulation of endotoxin in the main circulation system of the human body, which has a great impact on human health. Increased work and life pressure have led to a rise in the number of people falling into depression, which has also reduced their quality of life. The gut–brain axis (GBA) is closely related to the pathological basis of depression, and intestinal microbiota can improve depressive symptoms through GBA. Previous studies have proven that prebiotics can modulate intestinal microbiota and thus participate in human health regulation. We reviewed the regulatory mechanism of intestinal microbiota on depression through GBA, and discussed the effects of prebiotics, including plant polysaccharides and polyphenols on the regulation of intestinal microbiota, providing new clues for the prevention and treatment of depression.     

Polymer electrolyte membranes based on polystyrenes with phosphonic acid via long alkyl side chains

A series of polystyrenes with phosphonic acid ( 5 ) via long alkyl side chains (4, 6, and 8 methylene units) were prepared by the radical polymerization of the corresponding diethyl ω‐(4‐vinylphenoxy)alkylphosphonates, followed by the hydrolysis with trimethylsilyl bromide. The resulting phosphonated polystyrene membranes had a high oxidative stability against Fenton's reagent at room temperature. The membranes prepared from 5 exhibited a very low water uptake, similar to that of Nafion 117 over the wide range of 30 to 80% relative humidity (RH). The proton conductivities of these membranes are lower than that of Nafion 117 in the range of 30 to 90% RH, but comparable or higher than those of the reported phosphonated polymers with higher IEC values, such as the phosphonated poly(N‐phenylacrylamide) (PDPAA, IEC: 6.72 mequiv/g) and fluorinated polymers with pendant phosphonic acids (M47, IEC: 8.5 mequiv/g), at low RH conditions despite the much lower IEC values (3.0–3.8 mequiv/g) of these membranes. These results suggest that the flexible pendant side chains of 5 would contribute to the formation of hydrogen‐bonding networks by considering the very low water uptake of these polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

A NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR THE COEXISTENCE OF A CLASS OF CUBIC CURVE SEPARATRIX CYCLES AND LIMIT CYCLES TO THE CUBIC SYSTEM

In this paper, we give the necessary and sufficient condition for the coexistence of a class of cubic curve separatrix cycles and limit cycles to the cubic system, and study their topological structures.     

Surfaces which contain helical geodesics

LetM be a complete smooth surface of constant mean curvature in the Euclidean 3-space. If there exists two helical geodesics onM through each point ofM, thenM is either a plane, a sphere, or a circular cylinder.     

Light Scattering Changes in Isolated Brain Mitochondria during Anoxia - Magnesium Effect on Morphological Changes and Respiration -

Under pathological conditions, morphological changes of the cells and tissues may differ from those of normal conditions, which can be reflected by changes in light scattering (LS). Consequently, LS has been recognized as a potential non-invasive tool for optical diagnosis of living tissue. This paper aimed to identify the basic properties of LS of isolated brain mitochondria in vitro under normoxic and anoxic conditions in the presence and absence of Mg²⁺. An increase in LS was observed during anoxia in both the presence and absence of Mg²⁺. In both cases, the changes in LS initiated by anoxia and reoxygenation started concomitantly with the reduction of heme aa₃. The rates of LS changes were slower than those of heme aa₃, particularly in the presence of Mg²⁺. Mg²⁺ inhibited the morphological responses of mitochondria caused by the addition of ADP and ATP, and significantly reduced the oxygen consumption rate in state 4. These results are due to modulation of the K⁺/H⁺ antiporter affected by Mg²⁺. In addition, the mitochondria were well coupled, although the basal level of LS fell after addition of Mg²⁺. Therefore, the observed responses of mitochondria at anoxia were physiological and independent of the presence or absence of Mg²⁺. The relationship between LS and redox state of cytochrome c oxidase, an anoxic indicator, provides a basis to assess the tissue conditions in vivo.