The protective effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver fibrosis in mice via upregulation of Nrf2.

This study was designed to investigate the potentially protective effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and the role of transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2(NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in the regulation of Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced chronic liver fibrosis in mice. The potentially protective effects of GA on CCl(4)-induced chronic liver fibrosis in mice were depicted histologically and biochemically. Firstly, histopathological changes including regenerative nodules, inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis were induced by CCl(4).Then, CCl(4) administration caused a marked increase in the levels of serum aminotransferases (GOT, GPT), serum monoamine oxidase (MAO) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) as well as MAO in the mice liver homogenates. Also, decreased nuclear Nrf2 expression, mRNA levels of its target genes such as superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2), and activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes were found after CCl(4) exposure. All of these phenotypes were markedly reversed by the treatment of the mice with GA. In addition, GA exhibited the antioxidant effects in vitro by on FeCl(2)-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation in mouse liver homogenates, and on DPPH scavenging activity. Taken together, these results suggested that GA can protect the liver from oxidative stress in mice, presumably through activating the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, enhancing the expression of its target genes and increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, GA may be an effective hepatoprotective agent and viable candidate for treating liver fibrosis and other oxidative stress-related diseases

Analysis on Rock Properties Based on Exploration of Hole Wall's Stability

AbstractHole wall's stability is a complex problem which exploration engineering has been working to solve. There are many reasons which may lead to hole wall's instability. Aiming at hole wall's stability in coal exploration, this paper takes shale as objects of study and uses the MPC method (for example: analyzing on rock's microstructure characteristics, physical and mechanical properties, and chemical characteristics) to make a thorough research on unstable coal shale formations in a work area in LuoPing district. The results show that the shale in the area has high content of the mixed-layer of illite and smectite, water intrusion dramatically decreases rock strength and elastic modulus and leads to poor mechanical properties. Considering the coupling effects of mechanical properties as well as the drilling fluid sealing characteristics of drilling fluid must be improved and its osmotic pressure should be reduced

One-step synthesis of Pt@three-dimensional graphene composite hydrogel: an efficient recyclable catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol

A Pt@three-dimensional graphene (Pt@3DG) composite hydrogel with a unique porous nanostructure was prepared and used as an efficient, recyclable and robust catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol under mild conditions. The influence of graphene architecture on catalytic activities was comparatively investigated by loading the same amount of Pt on reduced graphene oxide. Pt@3DG exhibits a very high catalytic activity owing to the three-dimensional macroporous framework with high specific surface area, numerous activation sites and efficient transport pathways. Moreover, catalyst separation can be easily achieved by simple filtration, and the catalyst can be reused for at least five runs, maintaining its high catalytic activity

Serum miR-200c and miR-371-5p as the Useful Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) has complexly clinical features and laboratory parameters and there is no definitive biomarker for this disease and the therapy of KD also is complex and uncertain. In this study, 102 KD patients and 80 healthy controls were enrolled in this study and the serum microRNAs were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that, compared with KD patients with a good response to high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, serum miR-200c and miR-371-5p were significantly higher in KD patients with no response to IVIG therapy; compared with KD patients not needing plasma exchange, these two microRNAs were also significantly higher in KD patients needing plasma exchange. In addition, combination of serum miR-200c and miR-371-5p reflected obvious separation between KD patients and healthy controls or between KD patients with no response to IVIG therapy and KD patients with good response to IVIG therapy or KD patients needing plasma exchange and KD patients not needing plasma exchange. Finally, both serum miR-200c and miR-371-5p were also significantly lower in KD under different kinds of therapy. Therefore, serum miR-200c and miR-371-5p have ability as the useful diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in Kawasaki disease

Fabrication, Structure, and Thermal Properties of Mg–Cu Alloys as High Temperature PCM for Thermal Energy Storage

This work studied the thermophysical properties of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu (wt.%) alloys to comprehensively consider the possibility of using them as thermal energy storage (TES) phase change materials (PCMs) used at high temperatures. The microstructure, phase composition, phase change temperatures, and enthalpy of these alloys were investigated by an electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD and EPMA results indicated that the binary eutectic phase composed of α-Mg and Mg2Cu exists in the microstructure of the prepared Mg–Cu series alloys. The microstructure of Mg-24%Cu and Mg-31%Cu is composed of α-Mg matrix and binary eutectic phases, and Mg-45%Cu is composed of primary Mg2Cu and binary eutectic phases. The number of eutectic phases is largest in Mg-31%Cu alloy. The DSC curves indicated that the onset melting temperature of Mg-24%Cu, Mg-31%Cu, and Mg-45%Cu alloys were 485, 486, and 485 °C, and the melting enthalpies were 152, 215, and 91 J/g. Thermal expansion and thermal conductivity were also determined, revealing that the Mg–Cu alloys had a low linear thermal expansion coefficient and high thermal conductivity with respect to increasing temperatures. In conclusion, the thermal properties demonstrated that the Mg–Cu alloys can be considered as a potential PCM for TES

Potential mechanisms for anti-fibrosis mechanism of GA against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

<p>Potential mechanisms for anti-fibrosis mechanism of GA against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in mice.</p

Effects of the treatment with GA on the CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis and lipid peroxidation.

<p>The mice were treated with GA, silymarin or vehicle every day for 4 weeks on the other day of the first double-dosage administration with CCl_4. The CCl₄ dissolved in corn oil (6.4 g/kg of body weight, s.c.) was administrated under the skin between head and neck to each group every 6 days during this month, except Cont. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last CCl₄ administration. Hepatotoxicity was determined by quantifying the serum activities of GPT and GOT as well as hepatic lipid peroxidation. Cont, normal control; CCl₄, CCl₄ alone; Sil, CCl₄+100 mg/kg silymarin; GA25, CCl₄+25 mg/kg GA; GA50, CCl₄+50 mg/kg GA; GA100, CCl₄+100 mg/kg GA. Data are presented as the mean±SD (n = 8) in each group.</p>a<p>Significantly different from the control at <i>p</i><0.05.</p>b<p>Significantly different from the CCl ₄ at <i>p</i><0.05.</p

Effects of GA on histopathological changes by CCl₄ in mice were evaluated in sections stained with collagenous fiber.

<p>Mice in all groups were treated as the same with the front method. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last CCl₄ administration and the liver was removed, fixed and embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with collagenous fiber (V-G, 200×). (A) Liver tissue of a control mouse. (B) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with CCl₄, numerous fibrocytes appeared at the periphery of the lesions, and the collagen fibers became longer and thicker, presenting severe liver fibrosis and severe hepatocyte necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration around the portal vein. (C) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with silymarin (100 mg/kg, i.g.), showing broad-develop septa and moderate liver fibrosis around the portal vein. (D) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (25 mg/kg, i.g.), showing slender septa linking hepatic vein and mild hepatic fibrogenesis. (E) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (50 mg/kg, i.g.), showing mild fibrosis around centrilobular and midzone region. (F) Liver tissue of a mouse treated with GA (100 mg/kg, i.g.), showing moderate fibrosis. Arrow 1 shows collagen fibers which was stained red, while arrow 2 shows inflammatory cell infiltration.</p

Antioxidative effects of the treatment with GA on the CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis.

<p>The mice were treated with GA, silymarin or vehicle every day for 4 weeks on the other day of the first double-dosage administration with CCl_4. Then every 6 days during this month, CCl₄ dissolved in corn oil (6.4 g/kg of body weight, s.c.) was administrated under the skin between head and neck to each group, except Cont. The activities of antioxidant enzyme in the liver were determined. Cont, normal control; CCl₄, CCl₄ alone; Sil, CCl₄+100 mg/kg silymarin; GA25, CCl₄+25 mg/kg GA; GA50, CCl₄+50 mg/kg GA; GA100, CCl₄+100 mg/kg GA. Data are presented as the mean± SD (n = 8) in each group.</p>a<p>Significantly different from the control at <i>p</i><0.05.</p>b<p>Significantly different from the CCl₄ at <i>p</i><0.05.</p