67 research outputs found

    Qiditangshen Granules Alleviates Diabetic Nephropathy Podocyte Injury: A Network Pharmacology Study and Experimental Validation in Vivo and Vitro

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    BACKGROUND: QiDiTangShen granules (QDTS), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescription, have remarkable efficacy in diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients, and their pharmacological mechanism needs further exploration. METHODS: According to the active ingredients and targets of the QDTS in the TCMSP database, the network pharmacology of QDTS was investigated. The potential active ingredients were chosen based on the oral bioavailability and the drug similarity index. At the same time, targets for DN-related disease were obtained from GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGKB, TTD, and DrugBank. The TCM-component-target network and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed with the Cytoscape and STRING platforms, respectively, and then the core targets of DN were selected with CytoNCA. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis using R software. Molecular docking to identify the core targets of QDTS for DN. In vivo, db/db mice were treated as DN models, and the urine microalbuminuria, the pathological changes in the kidney and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, JUN, nephrin and synaptopodin were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence method and Western blotting. After QDTS was used in vitro, the protein expression of mouse podocyte clone-5 (MPC5) cells was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blot. RESULTS: Through network pharmacology analysis, 153 potential targets for DN in QDTS were identified, 19 of which were significant. The KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that QDTS might have therapeutic effects on IL-17, TNF, AGE-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and EGFR through interfering with Akt1 and JUN. The main active ingredients in QDTS are CONCLUSION: Through network pharmacology, in vivo and in vitro experiments, QDTS has been shown to improve the urine microalbuminuria and renal pathology in DN, and to reduce podocyte damage via the PI3K/Akt pathway

    Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

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    The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

    Controllable preparation and mechanism of nano-silver mediated by the microemulsion system of the clove oil

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    A clove oil microemulsion system was proposed for preparing silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). The effects of the clove oil concentration and the reaction time on the formation of Ag-NPs were investigated. The synthesized Ag-NPs was characterized by UV–Vis, X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the clove oil acted as a reducing agent and a stabilizer in the formation of silver nanoparticles. The mechanism was that Ag+ was adsorbed on the oil–water interface by the active groups of the clove oil in the microemulsion in which it was then reduced to nano-Ag. Furthermore, microspheres were formed on the surface of nano-Ag through complexation of macromolecular substances. Alkyl and aromatic hydrophobic groups that were distributed on the surface of nano-Ag were driven into the clove oil phase under the promotion of Gibbs free energy. Thus, Ag nano-particles with good dispersibility and stability were obtained. The infrared spectrum shows that the outer layer of the nanoparticles coated with active groups of clove oil, which can give the silver nanoparticles better antibacterial. Ag nano-particles of spherical, polygonal, and rod-like shapes were achieved by controlling the initial clove oil concentration and the reaction time. Keywords: Clove oil, Microemulsion, Nano-silver, Surface morphology, Mechanis

    featuresandoriginofturbiditycurrentsedimentwavesinthehuatungbasinofftheeasterntaiwanisland

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    Based on numerous high-resolution seismic profiles, sediment waves and their distribution, morphological characteristics, internal structure, and potential origins were revealed in the eastern waters of Taiwan. The sediment waves are located at the junction between the Taitung Canyon and other canyons in the slope. The wave length and the wave height of a single waveform ranged from 0.8 to 7.2 km and from 18 to 75 m, respectively (NE-SW direction). Sediment waves, located inside the bend of the Taitung Canyon, were characterized by an upward migration and showed mass transport deposits (MTDs) at the bottom, while the inner curve of the bend was subdivided into lower and upper wavy transition units. The sediment waves on the outer curve of the bend were characterized by vertical accumulation, and there was no mass flow deposit at the bottom. According to the geometry of the sediment waves, the calculated flow thicknesses across the entire wave field ranged from 196 to 356 m,and the current velocity ranged from 15 to 21 cm/s. The morphological characteristics, the internal structure, and the distribution of sediment waves, as well as the numerical calculations, evidenced that these sediment waves had formed by turbidity currents. The development of the sediment wave field in eastern Taiwan was found to be similar to that in southwestern Taiwan. It was the sedimentary response of the tectonic movement between 3 and ?1 Ma which created the sedimentary systems where gravity flow processes predominated. Turbidity current sediments settled in the place of less topographical constraints or overflowed in the bend section of the Taitung Canyon, which resulted in the formation of sediment wave fields

    Efficient and low-delay task scheduling for big data clusters in a theoretical perspective

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    A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of TCM Decoctions Made from Formulas in the Liuwei Dihuang Wan Categorized Formulas in Treating Diabetic Nephropathy Proteinuria

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    Objective. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Proteinuria is the most important clinical characteristics of DN and an independent risk factor for disease progression of DN; reducing urine protein is the primary target of treatment strategies for DN. Liuwei Dihuang Wan Categorized Formulas (LDWCFs), a group of classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas aiming at “kidney -tonifying”, have been widely used in the treatment of DN. This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the TCM method “kidney-tonifying” in the treatment of DN by conducting a meta-analysis to analyze the clinical efficacy of decoctions made from the LDWCFs in the treatment of DN proteinuria. Methods. CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu, CBM, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched; 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results. The results showed that the overall efficacy of the LDWCFs in treating DN was significantly better than that of the comparators (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.98–4.15, P<0.00001). These formulas showed better efficacy than the comparators in reducing 24-hour urinary protein level (MD 0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.17, P<0.0001) and in reducing urine microalbumin excretion rate (SMD 0.87, 95% CI 0.41–1.32, P<0.0002). No serious adverse reactions were reported. Conclusions. TCM formulas included in the LDWCFs are safe and effective in the treatment of DN proteinuria. These findings suggested that the TCM therapeutic principle of “kidney-tonifying” is a valuable addition to the treatment strategies for DN

    HTc rf SQUID magnetometer as low frequency antenna

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    Antenna is a key component of radio system. The existing low-frequency (refering to 3Hz-30KHz) receiving antenna has low efficiency, high level noise, and low sensitivity. We propose using HTc rf SQUID magnetometer as low frequency receiving antenna to improve the receiving system&apos;s performance. Therefore, we introduce a typical low-frequency radio system to demonstrate the effectiveness of HTc rf SQUID antenna. ?2010 IEEE.EI

    Comparative Analysis of SCMOC and Models Rainstorm Forecasting Performance in Qinling Mountains and Their Surrounding Areas

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    Taking CMPA (CMA Multi-source Merged Precipitation Analysis System) analysis data as a reference, the research analyzes the forecast performance of ECMWF, CMA-Meso, and SCMOC (National Meteorological Center grid precipitation forecast guidance product) in 74 rainstorm cases in 2020 and 2021 in Qinling Mountains and their surrounding areas by using the dichotomy classical verification score comprehensive diagram and the object-oriented MODE spatial verification method, based on the circulation classification in rainstorm weather. The research conclusions are as follows: (1) based on the high- and low-altitude circulation situation and focused on the direct impact system, rainstorms in the Qinling Mountains and their surrounding areas can be divided into five patterns. (2) Point-to-point verification shows that SCMOC has obvious advantages in rainstorm forecast, but the disadvantage is that the Bias is relatively high. CMA-Meso has advantages in RST (weak weather system) decentralized rainstorm forecast. (3) MODE verification shows that the number of ECMWF and SCMOC independent objects is significantly lower than that of observation, the forecast area of regional rainstorm objects of SCMOC is significantly larger, the SCMOC scattered rainstorm objects are missed, and the number of independent precipitation objects of CMA-Meso is higher than that of the other two precipitation products. (4) The forecast object area and intensity of SCMOC and observation match best in the XFC (westerly trough) circulation situation, while ECMWF has the best results for the forecast of FGXFC (subtropical high westerly trough) rainstorms

    3D particle size distribution of inter-ground Portland limestone/slag cement from 2D observations: Characterization and distribution evaluation

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    Abstract In this research, the particle size distribution (PSD) of different components in inter-ground Portland limestone cement (PLC) and limestone-slag cement (PLC-S) was characterization by using an electron microscopy approach. Firstly, the 2D PSD of limestone, slag, and Portland cement (OPC) was determined by means of image analysis. Based on the 2D data and using a discrete stereology, the 3D size distribution was reconstructed. Finally, the PSD of inter-ground mixtures was assessed by using a compressible packing model. The results showed that the addition of limestone in cement makes the OPC component coarser and distribution broader; meanwhile, the limestone particles were found to be finer than the OPC particles. The addition of both limestone and slag (PLC-S) were found to further broaden the PSD of OPC component and limestone component with the mean size of particles increased in the following order (limestone<slag<OPC). Among the tested samples, the packing density of OPC was the lowest while the packing density of PLC-S was found to be the highest. Based on test results, it can be concluded that the addition of more components during inter-grinding makes the particle size of binder coarser and distribution broader, which in turn, benefits the particle packing and possibly improves the mechanical and durability performance of the cement based composites
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