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-β), and IL-17. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of IL-23R, IL-17R, RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα), RORγt, 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-β, and IL-17 secretion. The expression levels of IL-23R, IL-17R, RORα, RORγt, 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-β 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 R–P 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 Ruddlesden–Popper (R-P) oxide, Sr₃Fe₂O_7‑δ (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^2– diffusion. Unfortunately, the stable SrO surface of SFO was demonstrated to be inert to O₂ 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^–2 at 650 °C, about 15% higher than those when using LSCF cathode. Operating at 200 mA cm^–2, the new cell using SFCO is quite stable within the 100-h’ 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, SrEu₂Fe_1.8Co_0.2O_7−δ (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 H₂ (∼3% H₂O) and 10% H₂O–air 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_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ 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 gas–solid interface is crucial but full of challenges. Herein, the heteroatom boron (B) is first introduced to modify the PCFC cathode surface (Pr4Ni3O10+δ, 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 Brønsted acid (−OH) concentration yet depress the surface Lewis acidity, both of which are conducive to P-ORR reaction. At 600 °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 μmol/L, 100 mg/L fluorouracil, 10 μmol/L AM80, 100 mg/L fluorouracil plus 10 μmol/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