Synthesis and characterization of Ag deposited TiO2 particles by laser ablation in water

Ag deposited TiO2 (Ag/TiO2) particles were synthesized by laser ablation of silver and titanium targets in de-ionized (DI) water. Post-annealing makes the structure stable and the materials change to crystalline state. It is a new approach to form Ag/TiO2 particles with a simple system and non-toxic materials. TiO2 particles with size from 20 to 30 nm coated with silver nano-clusters were observed. The silver nano-clusters can enhance the absorption capability of TiO2 photocatalysts. UV-vis spectrum analysis shows that there is a strong absorption peak at around 400 nm. It is attributed to Ag nanoparticles surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. This effect helps to improve the spectral characteristics of TiO2 nanoparticles with its absorption spectra shifted to a longer wavelength region. From the above properties, Ag/TiO 2 nanoparticles would have new potential applications in photocatalyst and photo-anode. © 2007 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Irisflorentin improves α-synuclein accumulation and attenuates 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration, implication for Parkinson's disease therapy

[[abstract]]Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta as well as motor impairment. Aggregation of α-synuclein in neuronal cells plays a key role in this disease. At present, therapeutics for PD provides moderate symptomatic benefits, but it is not able to delay the development of the disease. Current efforts toward the treatment of PD are to identify new drugs that slow or arrest the progressive course of PD by interfering with a disease-specific pathogenetic process in PD patients. Irisflorentin derived from the roots of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. is an herb which has been used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential for irisflorentin to ameliorate PD in Caenorhabditis elegans models. Our data reveal that irisflorentin prevents α-synuclein accumulation in the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model and also improves dopaminergic neuron degeneration, food-sensing behavior, and life-span in a 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Caenorhabditis elegans model, thus indicating its potential as a anti-parkinsonian drug candidate. Irisflorentin may exert its effects by promoting rpn-3 expression to enhance the activity of proteasomes and down-regulating egl-1 expression to block apoptosis pathways. These findings encourage further investigation on irisflorentin as a possible potent agent for PD treatment

Inhibition of Cardiac Hypertrophy Effects in D-Galactose-Induced Senescent Hearts by Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus Treatment

[[abstract]]Aging is a complex physiological phenomenon accelerated by ROS accumulation, with multisystem decline and increasing vulnerability to degenerative diseases and death. Cardiac hypertrophy is a key pathophysiological component that accompanies the aging process. Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus (Alpinia oxyphylla MIQ, AOF) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which provides cardioprotective activity against aging, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disorders. In this study, we found the protective effect of AOF against cardiac hypertrophy in D-galactose-induced aging rat model. The results showed that treating rats with D-galactose resulted in pathological hypertrophy as evident from the morphology change, increased left ventricular weight/whole heart weight, and expression of hypertrophy-related markers (MYH7 and BNP). Both concentric and eccentric cardiac hypertrophy signaling proteins were upregulated in aging rat model. However, these pathological changes were significantly improved in AOF treated group (AM and AH) in a dose-dependent manner. AOF negatively modulated D-galactose-induced cardiac hypertrophy signaling mechanism to attenuate ventricular hypertrophy. These enhanced cardioprotective activities following oral administration of AOF reflect the potential use of AOF for antiaging treatments