Baicalin Normalizes Blood Glucose Level in Streptozotocin -induced Diabetic Rats

This study aimed to determine the effect of baicalin on insulin resistance, glucose absorption, and blood lipids in type 2 diabetic rat model. Diabetic rats were treated with baicalin (40, 80 mg/kg) for 40 days. The results showed that diabetic rats treated with baicalin resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, improved the body weight. Furthermore, baicalin markedly decreased blood glucose level in the diabetic rats. The levels of plasma insulin and resistin exhibited significantly lower in the diabetic rats treated with baicalin than those of the model group. These findings suggest that baicalin can improve adipose metabolic disturbance in the experimental type 2 diabetic rats, can effectively ameliorate insulin resistance and plasma glucose transport by decreasing the levels of plasma resistin.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Baicalin Normalizes Blood Glucose Level in Streptozotocin -induced Diabetic Rats

This study aimed to determine the effect of baicalin on insulin resistance, glucose absorption, and blood lipids in type 2 diabetic rat model. Diabetic rats were treated with baicalin (40, 80 mg/kg) for 40 days. The results showed that diabetic rats treated with baicalin resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, improved the body weight. Furthermore, baicalin markedly decreased blood glucose level in the diabetic rats. The levels of plasma insulin and resistin exhibited significantly lower in the diabetic rats treated with baicalin than those of the model group. These findings suggest that baicalin can improve adipose metabolic disturbance in the experimental type 2 diabetic rats, can effectively ameliorate insulin resistance and plasma glucose transport by decreasing the levels of plasma resistin.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Spatiotemporal assembly and functional composition of planktonic microeukaryotic communities along productivity gradients in a subtropical lake

Microeukaryotes play crucial roles in the microbial loop of freshwater ecosystems, functioning both as primary producers and bacterivorous consumers. However, understanding the assembly of microeukaryotic communities and their functional composition in freshwater lake ecosystems across diverse environmental gradients remains limited. Here, we utilized amplicon sequencing of 18S rRNA gene and multivariate statistical analyses to examine the spatiotemporal and biogeographical patterns of microeukaryotes in water columns (at depths of 0.5, 5, and 10 m) within a subtropical lake in eastern China, covering a 40 km distance during spring and autumn of 2022. Our results revealed that complex and diverse microeukaryotic communities were dominated by Chlorophyta (mainly Chlorophyceae), Fungi, Alveolata, Stramenopiles, and Cryptophyta lineages. Species richness was higher in autumn than in spring, forming significant hump-shaped relationships with chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a, an indicator of phytoplankton biomass). Microeukaryotic communities exhibited significant seasonality and distance-decay patterns. By contrast, the effect of vertical depth was negligible. Stochastic processes mainly influenced the assembly of microeukaryotic communities, explaining 63, 67, and 55% of community variation for spring, autumn, and both seasons combined, respectively. Trait-based functional analysis revealed the prevalence of heterotrophic and phototrophic microeukaryotic plankton with a trade-off along N:P ratio, Chl-a, and dissolved oxygen (DO) gradients. Similarly, the mixotrophic proportions were significantly and positively correlated with Chl-a and DO concentrations. Overall, our findings may provide useful insights into the assembly patterns of microeukaryotes in lake ecosystem and how their functions respond to environmental changes

Prediction models for major adverse cardiovascular events following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and subgroup-specific performance

BackgroundST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are at a high residual risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after revascularization. Risk factors modify prognostic risk in distinct ways in different STEMI subpopulations. We developed a MACEs prediction model in patients with STEMI and examined its performance across subgroups.MethodsMachine-learning models based on 63 clinical features were trained in patients with STEMI who underwent PCI. The best-performing model (the iPROMPT score) was further validated in an external cohort. Its predictive value and variable contribution were studied in the entire population and subgroups.ResultsOver 2.56 and 2.84 years, 5.0% and 8.33% of patients experienced MACEs in the derivation and external validation cohorts, respectively. The iPROMPT score predictors were ST-segment deviation, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), age, hemoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) count. The iPROMPT score improved the predictive value of the existing risk score, with an increase in the area under the curve to 0.837 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.784–0.889] in the derivation cohort and 0.730 (95% CI: 0.293–1.162) in the external validation cohort. Comparable performance was observed between subgroups. The ST-segment deviation was the most important predictor, followed by LDL-C in hypertensive patients, BNP in males, WBC count in females with diabetes mellitus, and eGFR in patients without diabetes mellitus. Hemoglobin was the top predictor in non-hypertensive patients.ConclusionThe iPROMPT score predicts long-term MACEs following STEMI and provides insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms for subgroup differences

Programmed Cell Death and Aerenchyma Formation in Water-Logged Sunflower Stems and Its Promotion by Ethylene and ROS

Previous studies have shown that waterlogging/ hypoxic conditions induce aerenchyma formation to facilitate gas exchange. Ethylene (ET) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as regulatory signals, might also be involved in these adaptive responses. However, the interrelationships between these signals have seldom been reported. Herein, we showed that programmed cell death (PCD) was involved in aerenchyma formation in the stem of Helianthus annuus. Lysigenous aerenchyma formation in the stem was induced through waterlogging (WA), ethylene and ROS. Pre-treatment with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) partially suppressed aerenchyma formation in the seedlings after treatment with WA, ET and 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole (AT, catalase inhibitor). In addition, pre-treatment with the ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) partially suppressed aerenchyma formation induced through WA and ET in the seedlings, but barely inhibited aerenchyma formation induced through ROS. These results revealed that ethylene-mediated ROS signaling plays a role in aerenchyma formation, and there is a causal and interdependent relationship during WA, ET and ROS in PCD, which regulates signal networks in the stem of H. annuus

Baicalin Normalizes Blood Glucose Level in Streptozotocin -induced Diabetic Rats

This study aimed to determine the effect of baicalin on insulin resistance, glucose absorption, and blood lipids in type 2 diabetic rat model. Diabetic rats were treated with baicalin (40, 80 mg/kg) for 40 days. The results showed that diabetic rats treated with baicalin resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, improved the body weight. Furthermore, baicalin markedly decreased blood glucose level in the diabetic rats. The levels of plasma insulin and resistin exhibited significantly lower in the diabetic rats treated with baicalin than those of the model group. These findings suggest that baicalin can improve adipose metabolic disturbance in the experimental type 2 diabetic rats, can effectively ameliorate insulin resistance and plasma glucose transport by decreasing the levels of plasma resistin.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Performance improvement of a direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell through integrating an Otto heat engine

This research is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. LQ14E060001), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51406091), a grant (PolyU 152127/14E) from Research Grant Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong SAR, a grant from Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF 54/2015), Hong Kong SAR, and the K. C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.A novel system consisting of an external heat source, a direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC), a regenerator and an air standard Otto cycle engine is proposed to improve the performance of the DC-SOFC. Considering the electrochemical/chemical reactions, ionic/electronic charge transport, mass/momentum transport and heat transfer, a 2D tubular DC-SOFC model shows that the overall heat released in the cell can be smaller than, equal to or larger than the heat required by the internal Boudouard reaction. Three different operating modes of the proposed system are identified, and accordingly, analytical expressions for the equivalent power output and efficiency of the proposed system are derived under different operating conditions. The modeling results show that the Otto heat engine can effectively recover the waste heat from the DC-SOFC for additional power production especially at large operating current density. Comprehensive parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of the different operating conditions of DC-SOFC on its performance and heat generation. The effects of compression ratio, internal irreversibility factor and power dissipation of the Otto heat engine on the system performance improvement are also studied.PostprintPeer reviewe

Undifferentiated liver sarcoma – rare entity: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Undifferentiated Liver Sarcoma, also known as Undifferentiated Embryonal Sarcoma of the Liver, is a rare, highly malignant neoplasm which affects mostly the pediatric population, although a few cases have been reported in adults. It accounts for about 13% of pediatric hepatic malignancies.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a case of undifferentiated liver sarcoma in a 14-year-old Chinese boy who presented with non-specific right hypochondriac pain. Exploratory laparotomy with tumor resection was performed, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Undifferentiated Liver Sarcoma is a rare, highly malignant hepatic neoplasm affecting almost exclusively the pediatric population. The prognosis is poor but recent evidence shows that long-term survival is possible after complete surgical resection and postoperative chemotherapy.</p

Gapless surface Dirac cone in antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2_2Te4_4

The recent discovered antiferromagnetic topological insulators in Mn-Bi-Te family with intrinsic magnetic ordering have rapidly drawn broad interest since its cleaved surface state is believed to be gapped, hosting the unprecedented axion states with half-integer quantum Hall effect. Here, however, we show unambiguously by using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy that a gapless Dirac cone at the (0001) surface of MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ exists between the bulk band gap. Such unexpected surface state remains unchanged across the bulk N\'eel temperature, and is even robust against severe surface degradation, indicating additional topological protection. Through symmetry analysis and $\textit{ab}$-$\textit{initio}$ calculations we consider different types of surface reconstruction of the magnetic moments as possible origins giving rise to such linear dispersion. Our results reveal that the intrinsic magnetic topological insulator hosts a rich platform to realize various topological phases such as topological crystalline insulator and time-reversal-preserved topological insulator, by tuning the magnetic configurations.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. X. See Version 1 for the supplementary fil