Analysis of the effect of Qizhuyigan on liver function in a mouse model of immunological liver injury

Purpose: To assess the protective effect of Qizhuyigan capsules containing an  herbal mixture on liver function in a mouse model of immunological liver injury and to explore the mechanism of action.Methods: One hundred and twenty mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, test, bifendate, and Qizhuyigan. Immunological liver injury was induced in all groups except the control group. Mice in the control group and the test group were gavaged with 2.5 g/kg tap water, mice in the bifendate group were gavaged with 12 mg/kg bifendate in water, and mice in the Qizhuyigan group were gavaged with 1,000 mg/kg of an aqueous solution containing the contents of a Qizhuyigan capsule. The gavage continued for 10 days. Changes in liver function-related indices, such as the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate  aminotransferase (AST), malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were assessed.Results: Compared with the test and bifendate groups, the Qizhuyigan group exhibited lower serum ALT (98.3 U/L ± 8.7 U/L vs. 224.7 U/L ± 18.4 U/L vs. 132.8 U/L ± 9.4 U/L); AST (165.5 U/L ± 12.1 U/L vs. 362.6 U/L ± 16.6 U/L vs. 224.6 U/L ± 12.2 U/L); and MDA levels (12.7 ± 2 μmol/L vs. 31.3 ± 6.60 μmol/L vs. 14.4 ± 2.3 μmol/L); a higher SOD level; and reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels. The differences of the above indices had statistical significance (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Qizhuyigan exerted a protective effect in a mouse model of immunological liver injury.Keywords: Qizhuyigan capsule, Immunological liver injury, Biochemical parameter

Europium-doped amorphous calcium phosphate porous nanospheres: preparation and application as luminescent drug carriers

Calcium phosphate is the most important inorganic constituent of biological tissues, and synthetic calcium phosphate has been widely used as biomaterials. In this study, a facile method has been developed for the fabrication of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)/polylactide-block-monomethoxy(polyethyleneglycol) hybrid nanoparticles and ACP porous nanospheres. Europium-doping is performed to enable photoluminescence (PL) function of ACP porous nanospheres. A high specific surface area of the europium-doped ACP (Eu3+:ACP) porous nanospheres is achieved (126.7 m2/g). PL properties of Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are investigated, and the most intense peak at 612 nm is observed at 5 mol% Eu3+ doping. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments indicate that the as-prepared Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are biocompatible. In vitro drug release experiments indicate that the ibuprofen-loaded Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres show a slow and sustained drug release in simulated body fluid. We have found that the cumulative amount of released drug has a linear relationship with the natural logarithm of release time (ln(t)). The Eu3+:ACP porous nanospheres are bioactive, and can transform to hydroxyapatite during drug release. The PL properties of drug-loaded nanocarriers before and after drug release are also investigated

8-(2,2,2-Trifluoro­ethoxy)quinolinium perchlorate–8-(2,2,2-trifluoro­ethoxy)quinoline (1/1)

The title compound, C11H9F3NO+·ClO4 −·C11H8F3NO or [(C11H8F3NO)H(C11H8F3NO)]ClO4, contains two 8-(2,2,2-trifluoro­eth­­oxy)quinoline molecules, one of which combines a proton from perchloric acid to form the corresponding quinolinium cation. The quinolinium and quinoline rings form a cationic unit via an inter­molecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The heterocyclic units are almost perpendicular to each other [inter­planar angle 86.97 (6)°]. In the crystal, each perchlorate anion bridges two adjacent cationic units and creates a chain by a combination of C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Two inversion-related chains associate into a mol­ecular column by π–π stacking inter­actions between the quinolinium rings. The perpendicular and centroid–centroid distances between adjacent quinolinium rings are 3.501 (3) and 3.634 (9) Å, respectively. The molecular column is linked to its neighbors, creating a two-dimensional network via the weak π–π stacking between the quinoline rings [perpendicular and centroid–centroid separations 3.340 (4) and 4.408 (4) Å, respectively]. Finally, a three-dimensional framework is formed by a combination of intermolecular C—F⋯π contacts. One –CF3 group is disordered over two positions of equal occupancy

The Long-term Monitoring Results of Insight-HXMT in the First 4 Yr Galactic Plane Scanning Survey

The first X-ray source catalog of Insight-HXMT Galactic Plane (|b|<10deg) Scanning Survey (GPSS) is presented based on the data accumulated from June 2017 to August 2021. The 4 yr limit sensitivities at main energy bands can reach 8.2x10^(-12) erg/s/cm^2} (2-6 keV), 4.21x10^(-11) erg/s/cm^2 (7-40 keV) and 2.78x10^(-11) erg/s/cm^2 (25-100 keV). More than 1300 sources have been monitored at a wide band (1$-$100\,keV), of which 223 sources have a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 5. We combined the GPSS data of Insight-HXMT and MAXI and found it is feasible to obtain more complete long-term light curves from their scanning results. The flux variabilities at different energy bands of the 223 bright sources are analyzed based on the excess variances. It is found that the fluxes of X-ray binaries are more active than those of supernova remnants and isolated pulsars. Different types of binaries, e.g., low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), neutron star binaries, and black hole binaries, also distinctively show different regularities. In addition, the relations between the hardness ratio (HR) and excess variances, and HR and source types are analyzed. It is obvious that the HRs of HMXBs tend to be harder than those of LMXBs and HMXBs tend to be more active than those of LMXBs.Comment: 43 pages, 26 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Musashi1 expression cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells can be enriched in side population isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorter

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Purifying stem cells is an inevitable process for further investigation and cell-therapy. Sorting side population (SP) cells is generally regarded as an effective method to enrich for progenitor cells. This study was to explore whether sorting SP could enrich for the Musashi1 (Msi1) positive cells from Msi1 high expression cells (Msi1^highcells) derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, Msi1^highcell population derived from ESCs were stained by Hoechst 33342, and then the SP and non-SP (NSP) fractions were analyzed and sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorter. Subsequently, the expressions of Msi1 and other markers for neural and intestinal stem cells in SP and NSP were respectively detected. SP and NSP cells were hypodermically engrafted into the backs of NOD/SCID mice to form grafts. The developments of neural and intestinal epithelial cells in these grafts were investigated. SP fraction was identified and isolated from Msi1^highcell population. The expression of Msi1 in SP fraction was significantly higher than that in NSP fraction and unsorted Msi1^highcells (<it>P</it>< 0.05). Furthermore, the markers for neural cells and intestinal epithelial cells were more highly expressed in the grafts from SP fraction than those from NSP fraction (<it>P</it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SP fraction, isolated from Msi1^highcells, contains almost all the Msi1-positive cells and has the potential to differentiate into neural and intestinal epithelial cells in vivo. Sorting SP fraction could be a convenient and practical method to enrich for Msi1-positive cells from the differentiated cell population derived from ESCs.</p

Review of CHINARE chemical oceanographic research in the Southern Ocean during 1984–2016

Between 1984 and 2016, China executed 33 Antarctic cruises with the icebreaker R/V Xuelong, which have provided opportunities for Chinese scientists to investigate the status and changes of the Southern Ocean. Research in chemical oceanography constitutes one of the primary missions of the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE). This paper reviews nearly 30 years of Chinese Antarctic expeditions, focusing on the major progress achieved in chemical oceanographic research. Specifically, the sea-surface distributions and air–sea fluxes of CO2 and N2O are considered, and the transport, flux, and budget of organic matter are investigated based on isotopes in the Southern Ocean, especially in Prydz Bay. In addition, the nutrient distribution and deep-water particle export in Prydz Bay and the study of aerosol heavy metal characteristics are considered. Finally, the prospects for future Chinese Antarctic chemical oceanographic research are outlined

Quantum Griffiths singularity in three-dimensional superconductor to Anderson critical insulator transition

Disorder is ubiquitous in real materials and can have dramatic effects on quantum phase transitions. Originating from the disorder enhanced quantum fluctuation, quantum Griffiths singularity (QGS) has been revealed as a universal phenomenon in quantum criticality of low-dimensional superconductors. However, due to the weak fluctuation effect, QGS is very challenging to detect experimentally in three-dimensional (3D) superconducting systems. Here we report the discovery of QGS associated with the quantum phase transition from 3D superconductor to Anderson critical insulator in a spinel oxide MgTi2O4 (MTO). Under both perpendicular and parallel magnetic field, the dynamical critical exponent diverges when approaching the quantum critical point, demonstrating the existence of 3D QGS. Among 3D superconductors, MTO shows relatively strong fluctuation effect featured as a wide superconducting transition region. The enhanced fluctuation, which may arise from the mobility edge of Anderson localization, finally leads to the occurrence of 3D quantum phase transition and QGS. Our findings offer a new perspective to understand quantum phase transitions in strongly disordered 3D systems