The anti-sepsis activity of the components of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction with high lipid A-binding affinity

Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD), one of the classic recipes for relieving toxicity and fever, is a common method for treating sepsis in China. However, the effective components of HJD have not yet been identified. This experiment was carried out to elucidate the effective components of HJD against sepsis. Thus, seven fractions from HJD were tested using a biosensor to test their affinity for lipid A. The components obtained that had high lipid A-binding fractions were further separated, and their affinities to lipid A were assessed with the aid of a biosensor. The levels of LPS in the blood were measured, and pathology experiments were conducted. The LPS levels and mRNA expression analysis of TNF-α and IL-6 of the cell supernatant and animal tissue were evaluated to investigate the molecular mechanisms. Palmatine showed the highest affinity to lipid A and was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results of the in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that the levels of LPS, TNF-α and IL-6 of the palmatine group were significantly lower than those of the sepsis model group (p \u3c 0.01). The group treated with palmatine showed strong neutralizing LPS activity in vivo. The palmatine group exhibited stronger protective activity on vital organs compared to the LPS-induced animal model. This verifies that HJD is a viable treatment option for sepsis given that there are multiple components in HJD that neutralize LPS, decrease the release of IL-6 and TNF-α induced by LPS, and protect vital organs

Linear Thermodynamics of Rodlike DNA Filtration

Linear thermodynamics transportation theory is employed to study filtration of rodlike DNA molecules. Using the repeated nanoarray consisting of alternate deep and shallow regions, it is demonstrated that the complex partitioning of rodlike DNA molecules of different lengths can be described by traditional transport theory with the configurational entropy properly quantified. Unlike most studies at mesoscopic level, this theory focuses on the macroscopic group behavior of DNA transportation. It is therefore easier to conduct validation analysis through comparison with experimental results. It is also promising in design and optimization of DNA filtration devices through computer simulation.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Wind Effects on Dome Structures and Evaluation of CFD Simulations through Wind Tunnel Testing

In the Study, a Series of Wind Tunnel Tests Were Conducted to Investigate Wind Effects Acting on Dome Structures (1/60 Scale) Induced by Straight-Line Winds at a Reynolds Number in the Order of 106. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulations Were Performed as Well, Including a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) Simulation, and their Performances Were Validated by a Comparison with the Wind Tunnel Testing Data. It is Concluded that Wind Loads Generally Increase with Upstream Wind Velocities, and They Are Reduced over Suburban Terrain Due to Ground Friction. the Maximum Positive Pressure Normally Occurs Near the Base of the Dome on the Windward Side Caused by the Stagnation Area and Divergence of Streamlines. the Minimum Suction Pressure Occurs at the Apex of the Dome Because of the Blockage of the Dome and Convergence of Streamlines. Suction Force is the Most Significant among All Wind Loads, and Special Attention Should Be Paid to the Roof Design for Proper Wind Resistance. Numerical Simulations Also Indicate that LES Results Match Better with the Wind Tunnel Testing in Terms of the Distribution Pattern of the Mean Pressure Coefficient on the Dome Surface and Total Suction Force. the Mean and Root-Mean-Square Errors of the Meridian Pressure Coefficient Associated with the LES Are About 60% Less Than Those Associated with RANS Results, and the Error of Suction Force is About 40–70% Less. Moreover, the LES is More Accurate in Predicting the Location of Boundary Layer Separation and Reproducing the Complex Flow Field Behind the Dome, and is Superior in Simulating Vortex Structures Around the Dome to Further Understand the Unsteadiness and Dynamics in the Flow Field

Tuning the emission properties of a fluorescent polymer using a polymer microarray approach - identification of an optothermo responsive polymer

Fluorescent polymer microarrays were prepared using inkjet printing and screened. The fluorescence intensity was found to be tunable by temperature change when the dye was immobilized in identified thermo-responsive polymer beads.</p

Effects of 1.84 GHz radio-frequency electromagnetic field on sperm maturation in epididymis microenvironment

In recent years, intense interest has been drawn to the effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on reproduction. To explore the effects of RF-EMF on sperm maturation in epididymis microenvironment, 24 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three exposed groups (SAR 1, 2 and 4 W/kg) and one sham group. The rats in exposed group were exposed to 1.84 GHz RFEMF for 5 days (1 h/day). After that, the rats were anaesthetized immediately and epididymis were taken out. Half of them were fixed in 4% formalin and the others were placed in tissue homogenate. The morphology of sperm and microstructure of epididymis were observed under microscope after hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. Expression of Bin1b protein was detected by immunohistochemistry; the level of glutathione (GSH) and enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), acid  phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and disaccharidase were determined by commercial kits. It was found that,  compared with sham group, the sperm morphology and microstructure of epididymis did not change obviously; similarly, there was no significant change in Bin1b protein expression and the levels of GSH, SOD, ACP and ALP in exposure group. These results  suggest that 1.84 GHz RF-EMF under this experimental condition could not affect the sperm maturation in epididymis  microenvironment of SD rats.Keywords: 1.84 GHz, radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF), epididymis, sperm maturation, Bin1

An analysis of microbiota-targeted therapies in patients with avian influenza virus subtype H7N9 infection

BACKGROUND: Selective prophylactic decontamination of the digestive tract is a strategy for the prevention of secondary nosocomial infection in patients with avian influenza virus subtype H7N9 infection. Our aim was to summarize the effectiveness of these therapies in re-establishing a stable and diverse microbial community, and reducing secondary infections. METHODS: Comprehensive therapies were dependent on the individual clinical situation of subjects, and were divided into antiviral treatment, microbiota-targeted therapies, including pro- or pre-biotics and antibiotic usage, and immunotherapy. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used for real-time monitoring of the predominant intestinal microbiome during treatment. Clinical information about secondary infection was confirmed by analyzing pathogens isolated from clinical specimens. RESULTS: Different antibiotics had similar effects on the gut microbiome, with a marked decrease and slow recovery of the Bifidobacterium population. Interestingly, most fecal microbial DGGE profiles showed the relative stability of communities under the continual suppression of the same antibiotics, and significant changes when new antibiotics were introduced. Moreover, we found no marked increase in C-reactive protein, and no cases of bacteremia or pneumonia, caused by probiotic use in the patients, which confirmed that the probiotics used in this study were safe for use in patients with H7N9 infection. Approximately 72% of those who subsequently suffered exogenous respiratory infection by Candida species or multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were older than 60 years. The combination of probiotics and prebiotics with antibiotics seemed to fail in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients infected with the influenza A (H7N9) virus are considered a high-risk group for developing secondary bacterial infection. Microbiota restoration treatment reduced the incidence of enterogenous secondary infection, but not exogenous respiratory infection. The prophylactic effects of microbiota restoration strategies for secondary infection were unsatisfactory in elderly and critically ill patients