Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway as a Therapeutic Strategy for ALS Treatment

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive and fatal disease that causes motoneurons degeneration and functional impairment of voluntary muscles, with limited and poorly efficient therapies. Alterations in the Nrf2-ARE pathway are associated with ALS pathology and result in aberrant oxidative stress, making the stimulation of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response a promising therapeutic strategy in ALS to reduce oxidative stress. In this review, we first introduce the involvement of the Nrf2 pathway in the pathogenesis of ALS and the role played by astrocytes in modulating such a protective pathway. We then describe the currently developed activators of Nrf2, used in both preclinical animal models and clinical studies, taking into consideration their potentialities as well as the possible limitations associated with their use.     

In Vitro Antineoplastic and Antiviral Activity and In Vivo Toxicity of Geum urbanum L. Extracts

This study evaluated the in vitro antineoplastic and antiviral potential and in vivo toxicity of twelve extracts with different polarity obtained from the herbaceous perennial plant Geum urbanum L. (Rosaceae). In vitro cytotoxicity was determined by ISO 10993-5/2009 on bladder cancer, (T-24 and BC-3C), liver carcinoma (HEP-G2) and normal embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. The antineoplastic activity was elucidated through assays of cell clonogenicity, apoptosis induction, nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NFκB p65) activation and total glutathione levels. Neutral red uptake study was applied for antiviral activity. The most promising G. urbanum extract was analyzed by UHPLC–HRMS. The acute in vivo toxicity analysis was carried out following OEDC 423. The ethyl acetate extract of aerial parts (EtOAc-AP) exhibited the strongest antineoplastic activity on bladder cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 21.33–25.28 µg/mL) by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting NFκB p65 and cell clonogenicity. EtOAc and n-butanol extracts showed moderate antiviral activity against human adenovirus type 5 and human simplex virus type I. Seventy four secondary metabolites (gallic and ellagic acid derivatives, phenolic acids, flavonoids, etc.) were identified in EtOAc-AP by UHPLC–HRMS. This extract induced no signs of acute toxicity in liver and kidney specimens of H-albino mice in doses up to 210 mg/kg. In conclusion, our study contributes substantially to the detailed pharmacological characterization of G. urbanum, thus helping the development of health-promoting phytopreparations.     

Musa sp. Leaves Extract Ameliorates the Hepato-Renal Toxicities Induced by Cadmium in Mice

Heavy metals intoxication causes several health problems that necessitate finding new protective and therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Musa sp. leaves extract (MLE) on hepato-renal toxicities induced by cadmium (Cd) in male mice. The phytochemical screening, metal chelating activity (MCA), and the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of MLE were determined. Fifty CD-1 male mice were used and intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with MLE (1000 to 5000 mg/kg b.wt) for MLE LD₅₀ determination. Another 50 mice were used for evaluating the effect of MLE on Cd toxicity. Blood samples were collected for hematological, liver, and kidney functions assessments. Liver tissue homogenates were used for determination of oxidant/antioxidant parameters. Liver and kidney tissues were harvested for histopathological and molecular investigations. MLE showed potent in vitro antioxidant activities. The MCA and LD₅₀ of the MLE were 75 µg/mL and 3000 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. MLE showed beneficial therapeutic activity against hepato-renal toxicities in Cd-intoxicated mice, evidenced by improving the hematological, biochemical, histopathological, and molecular alterations.     

基于联合神经网络学习的中文电力计量命名实体识别

随着电力计量业务的不断扩展,迫切需要由业务信息、技术知识、行业标准及其内在联系所组成的电力计量知识图谱,为电网的决策和发展提供更为全面有效的支持。命名实体识别是构建知识图谱的基础。针对电力计量领域需要,结合中文分词技术特点,基于联合学习思想,提出了一种基于联合学习的中文电力计量命名实体识别技术。该技术联合CNN-BLSTM-CRF模型与整合词典知识的分词模型,使其共享实体类别和置信度;同时将2个模型的先后计算顺序改为并行计算,减少了识别误差累积。结果表明,在不需要人工构建特征的情况下,方法的正确率、召回率、F值等均显著优于以往方法。     

Identification of the New Metabolite of Nebivolol Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Chemometrics

In this study, the phase I hepatic metabolism pathway of a cardiovascular drug nebivolol was proposed on the basis of a human liver microsomes assay with the use of LC-HR-MS coupled with the chemometric method. Six biotransformation products were found with the assistance of chemometric analysis. Five of them were identified as the previously reported products of alicyclic hydroxylation and dihydroxylation, aromatic hydroxylation, as well as alicyclic oxidation of the parent compound. Moreover, one metabolite, not reported so far, was found to be a product of N-dealkylation of nebivolol—2-amino-1-(6-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-2-yl)ethan-1-ol. The novel metabolite was submitted to an in silico toxicity analysis to assess its biological properties. The applied computational methods indicated a significantly elevated risk of its mutagenic activity, compared to the parent molecule. Several metabolites of the nebivolol described in the literature were not detected in this study, indicating their non-hepatic origin.     

基于三维接触有限元分析的管片等效抗弯刚度和错台研究

针对盾构隧道管片接头等效抗弯刚度预测研究中,对梁-弹簧与三维模型整体等效性考虑的不充分,以三维接触有限元计算结果作为测量信息,借助基于挠度等效的反问题求解,提出了一种确定管片接头等效抗弯刚度的新方法;并利用不同轴力-偏心距组合下的反演结果,建立了基于Kriging代理模型的轴力-弯矩-等效抗弯刚度的非线性关系,提出了由此关联的管片结构非线性问题的数值求解方法。与三维有限元结果相比,所提方法可较为准确地预测管片结构的内力和变形,表现出良好的整体等效性。此外,借助三维接触有限元分析,进一步深入探讨了螺栓孔间隙与衬垫本构关系对管片纵向错台量的影响。     

托卡马克真空室内线圈水冷管道接头强化二次流的数值研究

基于计算流体力学(CFD)理论,研究了不同曲率半径的螺旋导流片的托卡马克真空室内线圈水冷管道接头。利用湍流数值模拟方法,分析了线圈管道接头导流片曲率半径比、冷却水入口流速对线圈管道内流体平均雷诺数分布的影响。结果表明,不同导流片曲率半径比的线圈管道内的流体雷诺数分布曲线相似,平均雷诺数随入口流速的增加而增大,管道接头出口雷诺数随导流片曲率半径比的增大而减小,导流片曲率半径比小的管接头更适用于线圈水冷曲线管的二次流强化。此外,还为导流片曲率半径比为0.2的管接头拟合了管接头出口雷诺数与入口流速的关系式,为进一步研究类似于托卡马克真空室内线圈管道的曲线管接头的二次流强化提供理论基础。     

全球性环境污染物多氯联苯的结构-活性相关性研究进展*

本文对全球性典型污染物--多氯联苯(PCBs) 的结构-活性相关性研究的最新成果进行了综述。给出了该类环境污染物的分组归类、结构特征与活性、毒性当量因子的应用和利用有关结构模型阐述毒性机理的研究进展, 并对将来的有关研究方向做了展望。     

Computational design of rasagiline derivatives: Searching for enhanced antioxidant capability

A set of new rasagiline derivatives is presented. They were designed to be antioxidant compounds with the potential to be used for treating neurodegenerative disorders. They are expected to be multifunctional molecules that can help reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. The CADMA-Chem computational protocol was used to produce rasagiline derivatives and to evaluate their likeliness as oral drugs and antioxidants. Three of them were identified as the most promising ones. They are proposed to be better free radical scavengers than rasagiline. In addition, they are expected to keep the parent's molecule neuroprotective capability. Hopefully, the results presented here would promote further experimental and theoretical investigations on these compounds.     

Insecticidal potential of Ocimum canum plant extracts against Anopheles stephensi,Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus larval and adult mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes have developed resistance to various synthetic insecticides, making their control increasingly difficult. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable natural control. This study evaluates the toxic potential of Ocimum canum (Sims) leaf extract and powder against Anopheles stephensi (Liston), Aedes aegypti (Lin) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) larval and adult mosquitoes. Larval mortality was observed after 24 h recovery period and adult smoke toxicity observed for 40 min duration at 10 min interval. Methanol extract of O. canum showed highest larval mortality against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus LC₅₀ = 28.3225, LC₉₀ = 44.1150; Ae. aegypti LC₅₀ = 43.327, LC₉₀ = 61.249; and An. stephensi LC₅₀ = 30.2001, LC₉₀ = 48.2866 ppm. The smoke toxicities were 93% mortality in C. quinquefasciatus, 74% in Ae. aegypti and 79% in An. stephensi adults, respectively, whereas 100% mortality was recorded in the commercial mosquito control. Our results suggest that O. canum leaf extract and powder are natural insecticide, and ideal eco friendly approach for mosquito control.