Guanxintai Exerts Protective Effects on Ischemic Cardiomyocytes by Mitigating Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress participates in numerous myocardial pathophysiological processes and is considered a therapeutic target for myocardial ischemia and heart failure. Guanxintai (GXT), a traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used to treat cardiovascular disease on account of its numerous beneficial physiological activities, such as dilating coronary arteries, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and reducing the serum lipid content. However, the antioxidative properties of GXT and potential underlying mechanisms remain to be established. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of GXT on ischemic cardiomyocytes and the associated antioxidative mechanisms, both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, GXT treatment reduced the degree of cardiomyocyte injury, myocardial apoptosis, and fibrosis and partially improved cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Furthermore, GXT suppressed the level of ROS as well as expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) and phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins. Our results collectively suggest that the protective effects of GXT on ischemic cardiomyocytes are exerted through its antioxidative activity of NOX inhibition

Geology, U-Pb geochronology and stable isotope geochemistry of the Heihaibei gold deposit in the southern part of the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China : A granitic intrusion-related gold deposit?

The Heihaibei gold deposit is a newly discovered gold deposit in the southern part of the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt. Its most distinctive features are that the gold mineralization is hosted in monzogranite, and that the presence of pre-ore (possibly syn-ore) monzogranite and post-ore gabbro allows to constrain the minerali-zation's formation age. Zircons from the monzogranites yield U-Pb ages of 454 +/- 3 Ma, while zircons separated from the gabbro dikes cutting the monzogranites and gold mineralized body yield U-Pb ages of 439 +/- 3 Ma, which is interpreted to be the minimum age of the Au mineralizing event. Combined with the regional geological background, we proposed that the Heihaibei Au mineralization occurred during the subduction stage of the Early Paleozoic Proto-Tethys ocean. The ore assemblage is dominated by pyrite, arsenopyrite and native gold. The hydrothermal alteration that has led to the peculiar enrichment of Au is not systematically distributed and displays no clear concentric zoning pattern. The main mineralization formed during three stages: the K-feldspar-quartz-pyrite (Py1)-arsenopyrite-sericite-epidote stage (I), the quartz-pyrite (Py2)-native gold-chlorite stage (II), and the quartz-carbonate stage (III). The main gold mineralization occurred during stage II. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and salinities decrease from stage I (Th., 268-412 C; W., 6.87-16.63 wt% NaCl equiv.) to stage II (Th., 183-288 C; W., 3.69-14.84 wt% NaCl equiv.). The 818O and 8D values (818OH2O = 4.9 to 9.7%o; 8DV-SMOW =-84.1%o to -81.1%o) of quartz samples from stage I and stage II are comparable to a magmatic-hydrothermal ore-forming fluid that possibly underwent fluid-rock interaction with the Nachitai Group metamorphic rocks during the early ore-forming stage. The relatively uniform 834S values (834SV-CDT = 7.7 to 8.5%o) are slightly elevated compared to magmatic 834S values, but could be derived from a magma if a significant crustal melt component is present. Moreover, the 834S values are within the S isotopic composition range of a granitic reservoir, suggesting that they are probably inherited from the Heihaibei monzogranites. The Pb and Hf isotope compositions imply a close genetic association between the gold mineralization and granitic magmatism, which are both the products of the mixing of crustal and mantle sources. The trace element compositions of pyrite provide additional evidence that the gold mineralization in the Heihaibei deposit was related to the magmatism. Compared with the typical characteristics of orogenic gold and intrusion-related gold systems (IRGS) deposits, the Heihaibei gold deposit may instead be classified as a granitic intrusion-related gold deposit.Peer reviewe

On the shell and radular morphology of two endangered species of the genus Margarya Nevill, 1877 (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) from lakes of the Yunnan Plateau, Southwest China

The viviparid genus Margarya Nevill, 1877 is endemic to China and has only been recorded from the lakes of the Yunnan Plateau. Currently, all recognized species of this genus have become threatened or even extinct due to water pollution and over-harvesting. In the current paper, Margarya melanioides Nevill, 1877 and Margarya mansuyi Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1905 are re-described based on newly collected material from Lake Dianchi and Lake Xingyun respectively. Intraspecific morphological variability of the shell, especially with respect to the development of the spiral keel, was found to be great. M. melanioides and M. mansuyi can be easily distinguished from each other as well as from other congeners by their relative size, as well as the number and development of the spiral keels. Radulae of the two species are relatively uniform with little differentiation in the number and shape of the teeth

Janus aramid nanofiber aerogel incorporating plasmonic nanoparticles for high-efficiency interfacial solar steam generation

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) is a novel and potential solution to global freshwater crisis. Here, based on a facile sol-gel fabrication process, we demonstrate a highly scalable Janus aramid nanofiber aerogel (JANA) as a high-efficiency ISSG device. JANA performs near-perfect broadband optical absorption, rapid photothermal conversion and effective water transportation. Owning to these features, efficient desalination of salty water and purification of municipal sewage are successfully demonstrated using JANA. In addition, benefiting from the mechanical property and chemical stability of constituent aramid nanofibers, JANA not only possesses outstanding flexibility and fire-resistance properties, but its solar steaming efficiency is also free from the influences of elastic deformations and fire treatments. We envision JANA provides a promising platform for mass-production of high-efficiency ISSG devices with supplementary capabilities of convenient transportation and long-term storage, which could further promote the realistic applications of ISSG technology

Distribution and Diversity of Molluscs in the Mid-lower Yangtze Lakes

In China, the most diverse molluscan fauna occurs in the Yangtze basin. The molluscan fauna in this region are highly imperiled due to increasing human activities. Aiming at effective conservation of the deteriorating molluscan fauna, intensive field investigations of freshwater molluscs on the mid-lower Yangtze Lakes were conducted between June, 2003 and May, 2005. Altogether 69 species were identified during the collection, including 29 gastropod species belonging to 9 families, 40 bivalve species belonging to 5 families, and 42 endemic species. Among them, Unionidae and Viviparidae are the two families with the highest species numbers, accounting for 50.7% and 14.5% of the total, respectively. The diversity variesgreatly from lake to lake. River-connected lakes contain the most diverse fauna, especially those adapted to lotic habitat, such as Rivularia spp, Semisulcospira spp and some species of Unionidae. In the two large river-connected lakes, Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, there are 66 species and 40 endemic species, accounting for 95.7% of the total species number and 95.2% of the total endemic species number, respectively. In contrast,the historical records, it is found that total species number and endemic species number decreased greatly, with a loss of about 50% of the historical records. Meanwhile, the distribution ranges of most taxa were also shrunk. Habitat loss and hydrological alteration in the Yangtze Potamo-lacustrine Complex Ecosystem caused by river-lake isolation should be the primary factor causing the decline of molluscan fauna. Other human activities, such as overharvesting, reclamation and pollution, may be also the important factors

Distribution and Diversity of Molluscs in the Mid-lower Yangtze Lakes

In China, the most diverse molluscan fauna occurs in the Yangtze basin. The molluscan fauna in this region are highly imperiled due to increasing human activities. Aiming at effective conservation of the deteriorating molluscan fauna, intensive field investigations of freshwater molluscs on the mid-lower Yangtze Lakes were conducted between June, 2003 and May, 2005. Altogether 69 species were identified during the collection, including 29 gastropod species belonging to 9 families, 40 bivalve species belonging to 5 families, and 42 endemic species. Among them, Unionidae and Viviparidae are the two families with the highest species numbers, accounting for 50.7% and 14.5% of the total, respectively. The diversity variesgreatly from lake to lake. River-connected lakes contain the most diverse fauna, especially those adapted to lotic habitat, such as Rivularia spp, Semisulcospira spp and some species of Unionidae. In the two large river-connected lakes, Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, there are 66 species and 40 endemic species, accounting for 95.7% of the total species number and 95.2% of the total endemic species number, respectively. In contrast,the historical records, it is found that total species number and endemic species number decreased greatly, with a loss of about 50% of the historical records. Meanwhile, the distribution ranges of most taxa were also shrunk. Habitat loss and hydrological alteration in the Yangtze Potamo-lacustrine Complex Ecosystem caused by river-lake isolation should be the primary factor causing the decline of molluscan fauna. Other human activities, such as overharvesting, reclamation and pollution, may be also the important factors

Zircon U-Pb dating and sulfide Re-Os isotopes of the Xiarihamu Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in Qinghai Province, Northwestern China

The Xiarihamu Cu-Ni sulfide deposit is the secondary largest Cu-Ni deposit in China, located in the Eastern Kunlun orogenic belt. However, despite some previous study, the formation and evolution of this deposit remains a key unknown in the tectonic evolution of the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt. Moreover, the petrogenesis of the ore-bearing rocks and the nature of ore genesis are the subject of on-going debate. Here, we present detailed field observations, petrology, zircon U-Pb geochronology, and Re-Os isotopic analyses to constrain the timing and genesis of the Xiarihamu Cu-Ni sulfide deposit. Sulfides from the massive ores yielded a Re-Os isotopic isochron age of 408 11 Ma. Four samples from the ore-bearing Xiarihamu mafic-ultramafic intrusions yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 423.12 Ma, 422.93.1 Ma, 422.72.3 Ma, and 422.62.7 Ma, respectively, indicating that the ore formed during the Silurian. The calculated initial 187Os/188Os ratio and γOs values ranged from 0.5109 to 0.8499 and from 311 to 584, respectively, indicating that crustal contamination played an extremely important role in triggering sulfide saturation. In combination with previous research, drill core observations and Re-Os data provide robust evidence for multiple pulses of magma replenishment throughout the process of ore genesis. Based on this evidence, the large-scale magmatic Cu-Ni mineralization in Xiarihamu likely occurred in a post-collisional setting related to tectonic slab breakoff.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Synergism between Hydramethylnon and Metarhizium anisopliae and Their Influence on the Gut Microbiome of Blattella germanica (L.)

(1) Background: The widespread use of insecticides has cause extensive resistance in German cockroach (Blattella germanica) populations globally. Biological control has the potential to mitigate insecticide resistance, and Metarhizium anisopliae (Meschn.) Sorokin, an entomopathogenic fungus, alone and in combination with various insecticides, has shown good effects against cockroaches. (2) Methods: This experiment compared the cumulative mortality after infecting B. germanica with M. anisopliae conidia by two routes, per os and topical application. To probe the mechanisms that underlie the synergism between M. anisopliae and hydramethylnon, we conducted dose–response assays with cockroaches fed combinations of M. anisopliae and hydramethylnon and characterized the gut microbiomes of the treated cockroaches. (3) Results: The study showed that the mortality with per os infection was lower than that with topical application. In addition, the combination of M. anisopliae and hydramethylnon had a synergistic effect in 16 treatments. The gut microbiome was also altered by hydramethylnon treatment. The abundance of Parabacteroides and Enterococcus declined with the hydramethylnon and combination treatments, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities. The abundance of Alistipes, which is a fungal cell wall component, significantly increased in these treatments. (4) Conclusions: Therefore, we speculate that the major mechanism underlying this synergism is hydramethylnon promoting the survival of M. anisopliae in the harsh gut environment and enhancing its virulence for German cockroaches by altering the gut microbiome. This may provide a method for the fight against B. germanica and lay the foundation for the development of new baits

Testosterone Replacement Modulates Cardiac Metabolic Remodeling after Myocardial Infarction by Upregulating PPARα

Despite the importance of testosterone as a metabolic hormone, its effects on myocardial metabolism in the ischemic heart remain unclear. Myocardial ischemia leads to metabolic remodeling, ultimately resulting in ATP deficiency and cardiac dysfunction. In the present study, the effects of testosterone replacement on the ischemic heart were assessed in a castrated rat myocardial infarction model established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery 2 weeks after castration. The results of real-time PCR and Western blot analyses showed that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) decreased in the ischemic myocardium of castrated rats, compared with the sham-castration group, and the mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism (the fatty acid translocase CD36, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and glucose transporter-4 also decreased. A decline in ATP levels in the castrated rats was accompanied by increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and fibrosis and impaired cardiac function, compared with the sham-castration group, and these detrimental effects were reversed by testosterone replacement. Taken together, our findings suggest that testosterone can modulate myocardial metabolic remodeling by upregulating PPARα after myocardial infarction, exerting a protective effect on cardiac function