Z-ligustilide reduces cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity via activation of NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathways

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Z-ligustilide (Z-lig) on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and examine whether NRF2 signaling mediates the underlying mechanism of action.Methods: Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were pretreated with 20 or 100 μM Z-lig for 2 h, followed by 10 μM cisplatin treatment for 24 h. Cell viability was measured using (3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A commercial kit was used todetermine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry while Western blotting was used to evaluate protein levels. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were assessed by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Cisplatin decreased HK-2 cell viability and increased LDH release, while Z-lig increased cell viability and decreased LDH release in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Moreover, Z-lig reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis (p < 0.01), and alleviated cellular oxidative stress caused by cisplatin (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Z-lig activated NRF2/HO-1 signaling in cells treated with cisplatin (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Z-lig reduces cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity via activation of NRF2/HO-1 signaling. Thus, Z-lig is a potential drug for the treatment of nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin. Keywords: Z-ligustilide, Cisplatin, Nephrotoxicity, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, Heme oxygenase-

Quality Assessment of YUNYAO GNSS-RO Refractivity Data in the Neutral Atmosphere

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Radio Occultation (RO) data is an important component of numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems. To incorporate more GNSS RO data into NWP systems, commercial RO data has become an excellent option. Tianjin Yunyao Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. (YUNYAO) plans to launch a meteorological constellation of 90 satellites equipped with GNSS-RO instruments, which will significantly increase the amount of GNSS-RO data in NWP systems. This study evaluates the quality of neutral atmosphere refractivity profiles from YUNYAO satellites Y003 to Y010 during the period from May 1 to July 31, 2023. Compared with the refractivity calculated from ERA5, the absolute value of the mean bias (MB) for YUNYAO refractivity data is generally less than 1.5 % between 0 and 40 km, and close to 0 between 4 and 40 km. The standard deviation (SD) is less than 3.4 %, and there are differences in the SDs for different GNSS satellites, especially in the lower troposphere and the stratosphere. Second, the refractivity error SD of YUNYAO RO data is estimated using the "three-cornered hat" (3CH) method and multiple data sets. In the pressure range of 1000–10 hPa, the refractivity error SD of YUNYAO RO data is below 2.6 %, and the differences in refractivity error SD among different GNSS satellites do not exceed 0.5 %. Finally, compared to COSMIC-2 and Metop-C RO data, YUNYAO RO data exhibit consistent refractivity error SD and are smaller within 300–50 hPa

Net Phosphorus Requirements of Dorper×Thin-tailed Han Crossbred Ram Lambs

A comparative slaughter trial was conducted to estimate the phosphorus (P) requirement for maintenance and growth of crossbred lambs of Dorper with a Chinese indigenous sheep breed, thin-tailed Han sheep. Thirty-five Dorper×thin-tailed Han crossbred, noncastrated ram lambs (20.3±0.22 kg of shrunk body weight (SBW)) were used. Seven lambs were randomly chosen and slaughtered at 20 kg SBW as the baseline group for measuring initial body composition. Another seven lambs were also randomly chosen and offered a pelleted mixed diet for ad libitum intake and slaughtered at 28 kg SBW. The remaining 21 sheep were randomly divided into 3 groups with 7 sheep each and subject to the same diet of either 70 or 40% of ad libitum intake. The 3 groups were slaughtered when the sheep fed ad libitum reached 35 kg of SBW. Body P contents were determined after slaughter. The results showed that the net P requirement for maintenance was 30.0 mg/kg of empty body weight (EBW) or 23.4 mg/kg body weight (BW), and the P requirement for growth decreased from 5.3 to 5.0 g/kg of EBW gain as the lamb grew from 20 to 35 kg. The net P requirement for growth of Dorper×thin-tailed Han crossbred ram lambs was lower than that of sheep adopted by the American nutritional system

The Limiting Sequence and Proper Ratio of Lysine, Methionine and Threonine for Calves Fed Milk Replacers Containing Soy Protein

The limiting sequence and relative ratio of lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr) for calves about 2 mo of age fed milk replacers (MR) containing soy protein are not clearly defined. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of supplementing MR containing 22% CP, half from soy protein concentrate (SPC, 40.56% CP, flour) and half from whey proteins, with Lys, Met, and Thr to estimate amino acid (AA) sequence and their relative ratio for calves about 2 mo of age. A method of partial deduction of AA was adopted. Twenty-four newborn calves (half males and half females, 40.7±0.9 kg of BW) were fed 1 of 4 MR diets for 56 d (n = 6/diet). The diets were supplemented with all (positive control) or with 2 of the 3 AAs: Lys, Met and Thr, (i.e., PC (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.80% Thr), PC-Lys (22% CP, 1.64% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.80% Thr), PC-Met (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.50% Met and 1.80% Thr), and PC-Thr (22% CP, 2.34% Lys, 0.72% Met and 1.26% Thr)). Calves were fed thrice daily; starter (20% CP, 1.03% Lys, 0.30% Met and 0.69% Thr), hay (3.23% CP, 0.29% Lys, 0.12% Met and 0.23% Thr) and water were offered free choice. Starter and hay were only offered beginning on d 36 (after 5 wk) and d 43 (after 6 wk), respectively. BW, body size and blood samples measures were taken every two weeks. Three-day total collection of feed refusals, feces, and urine were recorded starting at d 33 and d 54 of age, respectively. From the results, the limiting sequence and relative ratio between the 3 AAs in calves with different diet structures were calculated. The limiting sequence of the 3 AAs were ranked as Lys, Met and Thr; the proper ratio was 100:29:70 for MR-only diet and 100:30:60 for diets consisted of MR, starter and hay. Nitrogen digestion and utilization and nutrient digestibility were negatively affected by AA deletion treatments. From the evidence of this experiment, it did not appear that the AA limiting sequence was selectively altered by differences in diet structures such as would be encountered in practice. The relative ratio between the 3 AAs varied with the offer of starter and hay to calves, and the average ratio was 100:29.5:65 for calves during 2 to 10 wk of age

Numerical Study on Characteristics of Convection and Temperature Evolution in Microchannel of Thermal Flowmeter

During practical usage, thermal flowmeters have a limited range of applications. The present work investigates the factors influencing thermal flowmeter measurements and observes the effects of buoyancy convection and forced convection on the flow rate measurement sensitivity. The results show that the gravity level, inclination angle, channel height, mass flow rate, and heating power affect the flow rate measurements by influencing the flow pattern and the temperature distribution. Gravity determines the generation of convective cells, while the inclination angle affects the location of the convective cells. Channel height affects the flow pattern and temperature distribution. Higher sensitivity can be achieved with smaller mass flow rates or higher heating power. According to the combined influence of the aforementioned parameters, the present work investigates the flow transition based on the Reynolds number and the Grashof number. When the Reynolds number is below the critical value corresponding to the Grashof number, convective cells emerge and affect the accuracy of flowmeter measurements. The research on influencing factors and flow transition presented in this paper has potential implications for the design and manufacture of thermal flowmeters under different working conditions

Novel Latex Microsphere Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid Detection of Cadmium Ion in Asparagus

Recently, concerns about heavy metal cadmium ion (Cd2+) residue in asparagus have been frequently reported, and there is an urgent need to develop an effective, sensitive, and rapid detection method for Cd2+. In this study, we innovatively combined molecular microbiology to carry out the comparative screening of Cd2+ chelators in a green, efficient, and specific way. The knock-out putative copper-transporter gene (pca1Δ) yeast strain with high sensitivity to Cd2+ was first used to screen the Cd2+ chelator, and the optimum chelator 1-(4-Isothiocyanatobenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N,N,N′-tetraacetic acid (ITCBE) was obtained. Additionally, a rapid latex microsphere immunochromatographic assay (LMIA) was developed, based on the obtained monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high specificity and high affinity (affinity constant Ka = 1.83 × 1010 L/mol), to detect Cd2+ in asparagus. The 50% inhibitive concentration (IC50) of test strip was measured to be 0.2 ng/mL, and the limit of detection (IC10) for qualitative (LOD, for visual observation) and quantitative detection (LOQ, for data simulation) of the test strip was 2 ng/mL and 0.054 ng/mL, respectively. In all, the developed mAb-based LMIA shows a great potential for monitoring Cd2+ in asparagus, even in vegetable samples

Research progress on rapid detection methods of heavy metals

Heavy metals are applied more and more extensively in industry and agriculture,resulting in increasing environmental pollution of heavy metals.In response to the necessity to reduce environmental heavy metal pollution and ensure human health,new rapid detection techniques for heavy metals have become research hotspot.In view of the limitations of traditional heavy metal detection techniques such as the necessity of expensive equipment,professional operators needed,not portable,complicated procedure and long time-consuming,a variety of fast,sensitive,accurate,portable and on-site rapid heavy metal detection techniques have been developed rapidly.This paper briefly analyzed the current situations of heavy metal pollution and the types and characteristics of traditional heavy metal detection techniques, then the principle,research progress,applications,merits and demerits of various heavy metal rapid detection techniques were summarized as well.Based on our long-term research on heavy metal metabolism,we developed novel methods to improve the sensitivity and specificity of rapid detection techniques for heavy metals using heavy metal sensitive bacterial strains to screen chelators

Assessment of Contents and Health Impacts of Four Metals in Chongming Asparagus—Geographical and Seasonal Aspects

In this paper, the contents of four typical metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) in asparagus, water, and soil from Chongming Island were quantitatively determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The contents of these metals in asparagus showed a common rule of Pb > As > Cd > Hg in different harvest seasons and regions. Significant seasonal differences were found in the contents by difference analysis, but no obvious regional differences were observed. Furthermore, the asparagus did not accumulate these four metals from the soil in Chongming Island by the assessment of bio-concentration factor. The asparagus was proved safe by the analysis of single-factor pollution index and Nemerow pollution index. Through combining the analysis of the above indexes and the geological accumulation index, we found that 51.62% of soil samples were mildly polluted by cadmium. The results of health risk analysis showed that the risk value of children was higher than that of adults under oral exposure, but the four metals in asparagus possessed no obvious risk to health. The above assessments illustrate that the daily consumption of asparagus in Chongming Island will not cause potential health impacts. It is of benefit to ensure the quality and economic interests of asparagus planting in Chongming Island through the investigation of this study