21 research outputs found
Effect of Miao medicine, Jinwujiangu decoction, on IL- 17/IL-23 inflammatory axis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis
Purpose: To explore the influence of the Miao medicine, Jinwujiangu decoction, on the interleukin (IL)- 17/IL-23 inflammatory axis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Synovial tissue samples were randomly divided into a blank control group, high-dose (0.06mg/mL), medium-dose (0.6mg/mL), and low-dose (6.0mg/mL) groups of Jinwujiangu decoction, a leflunomide group, and a tripterygium glycosides group. Proliferation of RA synovial cells was detected by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the secretion of IL-6, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-Ī²), and IL-17. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of IL-23R, IL-17R, RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (RORĪ±), RORĪ³t, and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) mRNA. The protein activities of IL-17R, STAT3 and pSTAT3 were assessed by Western blot assay.Results: Jinwujiangu decoction inhibited the proliferation of RA synovial cells. Treatment with different drug concentrations resulted in downregulation of IL-6, TGF-Ī², and IL-17 secretion. The expression levels of IL-23R, IL-17R, RORĪ±, RORĪ³t, and STAT3 mRNA in RA-FLS were significantly reduced after intervention with different drugs. Protein expression levels of STAT3, pSTAT3, and IL-17 in the different drug treatment groups were significantly decreased.Conclusion: Jinwujiangu decoction inhibits the secretion of IL-6 and TGF-Ī² in RA-FLS, and intervenes to regulate gene expression of IL-23/IL-17 inflammation axis and suppress immune inflammation. The results of this study provide new evidence for the study of anti-inflammatory mechanism of TCM compound prescription.Keywords: Jinwujiangu decoction, IL-17/IL-23, Fibroblast-like synoviocytes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ethnomedicin
A new software of calculating the pH values of coastal seawater: Considering the effects of low molecular weight organic acids
Effects of low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on the pH value of seawater were investigated in the surface seawater of the Jiaozhou Bay, China. The new software of Org center dot TCO2TA was developed to calculate the pH values of seawater based on the alkalinity (Alk) equation where organic acid Alk (Org-Alk) was separated into LMWOA Alk (LMWOA-Alk) and humic acid Alk (HA-Alk). In the calculations, all dissociation constants of organic acids were from previous literature. In our study, the average concentration of total LMWOAs was 14.5 +/- 11.2 mu mol.kg(-1) SW. pH values from the Org center dot TCO2TA software were closer to the pH values from spectrophotometric measurement than those from the CO2SYS program, indicating pH values can be influenced by high concentrations of LMWOAs in coastal seawater of the Jiaozhou Bay. Although the differences still existed between the pH values from the spectrophotometric method and the calculated pH values from the Org center dot TCO2TA software due to the influence of various factors, including the analytical errors of dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients, the new software can calculate the pH values of coastal seawater more accurately by considering the effects of LMWOAs
Effects of Nonpharmacological Interventions on Balance Function in Patients with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Objective. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions in improving balance function of patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia using network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods. We searched seven databases (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CKNI, Wanfang Data, VIP, and CBM) for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to August 31, 2020. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Time Up and Go Test (TUGT) were used as outcome measures. Two researchers independently screened studies, collected data from the studies, and estimated risk of study bias. Divergence in the evaluation process was settled by consulting a third researcher. We used Stata 15.1 software for network meta-analysis (NMA). Results. We identified 10 eligible RCTs, with a total of 737 patients and four intervention methods, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exercises, pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), strength training, and balance and strength training. The results revealed that all nonpharmacological interventions could improve balance function, but the effect of balance and strength training was better than other interventions. Conclusion. Exercise can significantly improve the balance function of patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia, and balance combined with strength training has the best effect, followed by TCM exercises
High-Performanced Cathode with a Two-Layered RāP Structure for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Driven
by the mounting concerns on global warming and energy crisis, intermediate
temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) have attracted special
attention for their high fuel efficiency, low toxic gas emission,
and great fuel flexibility. A key obstacle to the practical operation
of IT-SOFCs is their sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics.
In this work, we applied a new two-layered RuddlesdenāPopper
(R-P) oxide, Sr<sub>3</sub>Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7āĪ“</sub> (SFO), as the material for oxygen ion conducting IT-SOFCs. Density
functional theory calculation suggested that SFO has extremely low
oxygen ion formation energy and considerable energy barrier for O<sup>2ā</sup> diffusion. Unfortunately, the stable SrO surface
of SFO was demonstrated to be inert to O<sub>2</sub> adsorption and
dissociation reaction, and thus restricts its catalytic activity toward
ORR. Based on this observation, Co partially substituted SFO (SFCO)
was then synthesized and applied to improve its surface vacancy concentration
to accelerate the oxygen adsorptive reduction reaction rate. Electrochemical
performance results suggested that the cell using the SFCO single
phase cathode has a peak power density of 685 mW cm<sup>ā2</sup> at 650 Ā°C, about 15% higher than those when using LSCF cathode.
Operating at 200 mA cm<sup>ā2</sup>, the new cell using SFCO
is quite stable within the 100-hā test
New, Efficient, and Reliable Air Electrode Material for Proton-Conducting Reversible Solid Oxide Cells
Driven
by the demand to minimize fluctuation in common renewable energies,
reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) have drawn increasing attention
for they can operate either as fuel cells to produce electricity or
as electrolysis cells to store electricity. Unfortunately, development
of proton-conducting RSOCs (P-RSOCs) faces a major challenge of poor
reliability because of the high content of steam involved in air electrode
reactions, which could seriously decay the lifetime of air electrode
materials. In this work, a very stable and efficient air electrode,
SrEu<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>1.8</sub>Co<sub>0.2</sub>O<sub>7āĪ“</sub> (SEFC) with layer structure, is designed and deployed in P-RSOCs.
X-ray diffraction analysis and High-angle annular dark-filed scanning
transmission electron microscopy images of SEFC reveal that Sr atoms
occupy the center of perovskite slabs, whereas Eu atoms arrange orderly
in the rock-salt layer. Such a special structure of SEFC largely depresses
its Lewis basicity and therefore its reactivity with steam. Applying
the SEFC air electrode, our button switches smoothly between both
fuel cell and electrolysis cell (EC) modes with no obvious degradation
over a 135 h long-term test under wet H<sub>2</sub> (ā¼3% H<sub>2</sub>O) and 10% H<sub>2</sub>Oāair atmospheres. A record
of over 230 h is achieved in the long-term stability test in the EC
mode, doubling the longest test that had been previously reported.
Besides good stability, SEFC demonstrates great catalytic activity
toward air electrode reactions when compared with traditional La<sub>0.6</sub>Sr<sub>0.4</sub>Co<sub>0.2</sub>Fe<sub>0.8</sub>O<sub>3āĪ“</sub> air electrodes. This research highlights the potential of stable
and efficient P-RSOCs as an important part in a sustainable new energy
power system
Highly Active Cathode Achieved by Constructing Surface Proton Acid Sites through Electronic Regulation of Heteroatoms
For proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (PCFCs),
accelerating
the kinetics of the proton involved oxygen reduction reaction (P-ORR)
occurring primarily on the surface of cathodes is of key importance.
To this end, developing simple, efficient, and economical strategies
to optimize the gasāsolid interface is crucial but full of
challenges. Herein, the heteroatom boron (B) is first introduced to
modify the PCFC cathode surface (Pr4Ni3O10+Ī“, PN) by mechanical mixing method (0.5B-PN). Combined
with in situ/ex situ characterizations and DFT calculation, it is
found that the CO2 resistance, surface hydration ability,
and surface electrocatalytic activity toward P-ORR are significantly
improved by B decoration. Importantly, the B element is found to raise
the surface BrĆønsted acid (āOH) concentration yet depress
the surface Lewis acidity, both of which are conducive to P-ORR reaction.
At 600 Ā°C, the maximum power density of the cell using 0.5B-PN
as the cathode improved by 149.5% compared with that using the PN
cathode. This work opens up a new avenue for developing novel PCFC
cathodes via nonmetallic regulation of surface
All-trans retinoic acid suppresses the angiopoietin-Tie2 pathway and inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
<div><p>Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the second common cancer in Henan province and is well-known for aggressiveness and dismal prognosis. Adjuvant therapies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endoscopic treatment have not improved survival rates in patients with late stage esophageal carcinoma. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the active ingredient of Vitamin A and affects a wide spectrum of biological processes including development, growth, neural function, immune function, reproduction, and vision. It is one of the most potent therapeutic agents used for treating cancers, especially lung adenocarcinomas. ATRA inhibits metastatic potential and angiogenesis in several tumor models. We investigated the effects of ATRA on the expression of angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2) and receptor Tie-2 in EC1 cells in vitro. We also assessed the growth and migration of EC1 cells in vitro. ATRA treatment caused 29.5% and 40.3% reduction of the growth of EC1 cells after 24 hours and 48 hours, relative to the control. ATRA plus fluorouracil treatment reduced the viability more strongly than either drug alone, indicating an additive effect. Moreover, ATRA decreased EC1 migration by 87%. Furthermore, ATRA treatment led to a marked decrease of the transcript levels of Ang-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, VEGF, and VEGF receptors, as assessed by real-time RT-PCR. Importantly, the protein levels of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 were reduced by ATRA treatment. In vivo, we found ATRA treatment suppressed the tumor growth and improved the cachexia of mice. Importantly, ATRA treatment decreased the expression of CD31, Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 in subcutaneous tumors of EC1 cells. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that ATRA exhibits a dose- and temporal-dependent effect on the metastatic behavior, suppresses the angiopoietin-Tie2 pathway and inhibits angiogenesis and the progression of xenograft tumors of EC1 cells.</p></div
The transcript levels of Angiopioteins-Tie-2 pathway are downregulated in EC1 cells.
<p>EC1 cells were treated with ATRA at 0.1, 1, or 10 Ī¼mol/L, 100 mg/L fluorouracil, 10 Ī¼mol/L AM80, 100 mg/L fluorouracil plus 10 Ī¼mol/L AM80, or untreated for 24 hours. RNA was isolated from treated cells. Real-time RT-PCR analysis was performed to assessed the transcript levels of (A) Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2. (B) Ang-1. (C) Ang-2. (D) Tie-2. (E) VEGF. (F) Flt-1. (G) KDR. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; *** p<0.001. Student t-test.</p