Targeting Tumor Microenvironment: Effects of Chinese Herbal Formulae on Macrophage-Mediated Lung Cancer in Mice

Our previous studies have shown that Qing-Re-Huo-Xue (QRHX) formulae had significant anti-inflammatory effects in chronic airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. Here, we examined the effects of QRHX on lung cancer cell invasion and the potential associated mechanism(s), mainly polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. In vivo, QRHX both inhibited tumor growth and decreased the number of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in mice with lung cancer. Further study indicated that QRHX inhibited cancer-related inflammation in tumor by decreasing infiltration of TAMs and IL-6 and TNF-α production and meanwhile decreased arginase 1 (Arg-1) expression and increased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression. QRHX could markedly inhibit CD31 and VEGF protein expression. Additionally, CXCL12/CXCR4 expression and JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation were reduced in QRHX treatment group. Thus, we draw that QRHX played a more important role in inhibiting tumor growth by regulating TAMs in mice, which was found to be associated with the inhibition of inflammation and the CXCL12/CXCR4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

A Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitution Associated with Overweight, Obesity, and Underweight

Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the associations among the nine types of body constitution in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the outcomes of overweight, obesity, and underweight. Method. Participants aged 30 to 90 years were recruited from communities in Shanghai and assessed using a self-administered questionnaire pertaining to their demographics, lifestyles, and self-reported medical history. The data of 3748 participants with complete information was available for the analysis. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) analysis was performed to determine the associations among the TCM constitution variables and the health outcomes. Results. The standards of classification and determination of the constitution in TCM were used to gauge the patients’ constitution type. MLR revealed independent and significant associations among the Qi_Deficient and Yang_Deficient groups with the outcomes of overweight, obesity, and underweight (P<0.10 for all). MLR revealed independent and significant associations among the Qi_Deficient and Yang_Deficient groups with the outcomes of overweight, obesity, and underweight (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion. Our study revealed significant negative correlations between the Qi_Deficient and Yang_Deficient groups with the outcomes of overweight, obesity, and underweight. On the other hand, positive correlations were found between Phlegm_Dampness and the outcomes of overweight and obesity

Intrusion Detection of NSM Based DoS Attacks Using Data Mining in Smart Grid

energie

An off-on fluorescent sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity for Fe(III)

<div><p>A new fluorescent derivative (<b>1</b>) containing coumarin exhibits Fe(III)-selective strong yellow-green fluorescence in ethanol. This compound could be used as an “off-on” chemosensor and allow the detection of Fe³⁺ by monitoring changes in absorption and fluorescence spectra. Upon addition of Fe³⁺, an overall emission change of 125-fold was observed. High selectivity and sensitivity were observed over other metal ions, mainly due to the spirolactam ring-opening power of Fe³⁺. The detection limit was as low as 5.6 ppb. Photo-induced electron transfer, coupled with intramolecular charge transfer are proposed to account for the observed spectral response.</p></div

CNT@Ni@Ni–Co silicate core–shell nanocomposite: a synergistic triple-coaxial catalyst for enhancing catalytic activity and controlling side products for Li–O2 batteries

A great challenge in the application of carbon-based materials to Li-O-2 batteries is to prevent the formation of carbonate-based side products, thereby extending the cycle life of Li-O-2 batteries. Herein, for the first time, CNT@Ni@NiCo silicate core-shell nanocomposite is designed and used as a cathode catalyst in Li-O-2 batteries. This nanocomposite shows a promising electrochemical performance with a discharge capacity of 10 046 mA h g(cat)(-1) and a low overpotential of 1.44 V at a current density of 200 mA g(cat)(-1), and it can sustain for more than 50 cycles within the voltage range of 2-4.7 V. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations prove that the formation of Li2CO3 and other side products are prevented, likely due to the encapsulation of CNTs by NiCo silicates and Ni nanoparticles, which may help decompose the side products. Finally, the synergistic effects, which are contributed by the high electrical conductivity of CNTs, high surface area, the high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities of NiCo silicate, and the simple decomposition of side products by Ni nanoparticles enable outstanding performance of the CNT@Ni@NiCo silicate core-shell nanocomposite as a cathode catalyst for Li-O-2 batteries