Coexistence of hexatic and isotropic phases in two-dimensional Yukawa systems

We have performed Brownian dynamics simulations on melting of two-dimensional colloidal crystal in which particles interact with Yukawa potential. The pair correlation function and bond-orientational correlation function was calculated in the Yukawa system. An algebraic decay of the bond orientational correlation function was observed. By ruling out the coexistence region, only a unstable hexatic phase was found in the Yukawa systems. But our work shows that the melting of the Yukawa systems is a two-stage melting not consist with the KTHNY theory and the isotropic liquid and the hexatic phase coexistence region was found. Also we have studied point defects in two-dimensional Yukawa systems.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. any comments are welcom

microRNA-223 Deficiency Exacerbates Acute Inflammatory Response to Monosodium Urate Crystals by Targeting NLRP3

Objective: MicroRNAs were identified as master-switch molecules limiting acute inflammatory response. This study investigated the potential role of microRNA (miR)-223 in the mechanism of gout. Methods: Wild-type (WT) and miR-223 knock-out (KO) mice were used to evaluate the phenotypes of gout models. Inflammatory cytokines were measured in air pouch and peritoneal cavity lavage fluid. In addition to miR-223 level in gout patients, miR-223 and pro-inflammatory genes were examined in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from mice as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy controls (HC) treated with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in vitro. Results: MiR-223 was up-regulated in the early phase in BMDMs from WT mice after MSU challenge and decreased rapidly, and this was not observed in miR-223 KO mice in vitro. In addition, miR-223 was required for macrophages homeostasis. In comparison with WT mice in vivo, miR-223 deficiency exacerbated swelling index of MSU-induced inflammation in foot pad and ankle joint models. MiR-223 deficiency also markedly aggravated inflammatory cells infiltration and cytokines release including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the air pouch and peritonitis models. In the in vitro experiments, miR-223 deficiency promoted the inflammatory response by targeting NLR family pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3). Besides, miR-223 level was down-regulated in gout patients and in HC exposed to MSU in vitro. Conclusion: MiR-223 was down-regulated in gout patients and miR-223 deficiency exacerbated inflammatory response in diverse murine models, suggesting that up-regulation of miR-223 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating gouty inflammation

Identification and characterization of a novel subtype of Tula virus in Microtus arvalis obscurus voles sampled from Xinjiang, China

Although most of Arvicolinae associated hantaviruses can not cause disease in humans, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) cases caused by Tula virus (TULV) have been described in Europe since 2002. In addition to Europe, TULV was also identified in the Microtus arvalis obscurus voles sampled from Kazakhstan, which shares borders with China. To gain more insight into the molecular epidemiology of TULV, a total of 365 rodents representing 7 species of 4 subfamily (Arvicolinae, Murinae, Gerbillinae, and Cricetinae) were captured in Qapqal county, Xinjiang, northwest China. Hantavirus RNA was recovered from 40 lung tissue samples of M. arvalis obscurus, with the prevalence of 10.96%. Genetic analysis revealed that all recovered viral sequences were most closely related to those of TULV, but exhibited >11% nucleotide differences from all currently known TULV, suggesting that they may represent a new subtype of TULV. In the S tree, the newly identified viruses formed a distinct lineage and showed a close evolutionary relationship with those sampled from Southwestern Siberia and Kazakhstan. However, they exhibited a different clustering pattern in both the M and the L trees, suggesting the possibility of genetic reassortment. Finally, the recombination event was also observed in Xinjiang TULV viruses. In sum, all these data reveal a complex evolutionary history of TULV in Central Asia.Peer reviewe

Hypoxia-mimetic agents inhibit proliferation and alter the morphology of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The therapeutic efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic diseases is closely related to level of hypoxia in the damaged tissues. To elucidate the potential therapeutic applications and limitations of hMSCs derived from human umbilical cords, the effects of hypoxia on the morphology and proliferation of hMSCs were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After treatment with DFO and CoCl₂, hMSCs were elongated, and adjacent cells were no longer in close contact. In addition, vacuole-like structures were observed within the cytoplasm; the rough endoplasmic reticulum expanded, and expanded ridges were observed in mitochondria. In addition, DFO and CoCl₂treatments for 48 h significantly inhibited hMSCs proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner (<it>P </it>< 0.05). This treatment also increased the number of cells in G0/G1 phase and decreased those in G2/S/M phase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The hypoxia-mimetic agents, DFO and CoCl₂, alter umbilical cord-derived hMSCs morphology and inhibit their proliferation through influencing the cell cycle.</p

Ethyl (E)-3-anilino-2-cyano-3-mercaptoacrylate

In the title compound, C12H12N2O2S, there are S—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter­actions. The N—H⋯O hydrogen bond is bifurcated, with the hydrogen being simultaneously donated to two equivalent O atoms, forming one intra- and one inter­molecular N—H⋯O bond with an R 1 2(4) motif. The motif of the S—H⋯N hydrogen bond is R 2 2(12)

The mouse and ferret models for studying the novel avian-origin human influenza A (H7N9) virus.

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to establish animal models (including mouse and ferret) for the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus.FindingsA/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) virus was administered by intranasal instillation to groups of mice and ferrets, and animals developed typical clinical signs including body weight loss (mice and ferrets), ruffled fur (mice), sneezing (ferrets), and death (mice). Peak virus shedding from respiratory tract was observed on 2 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) for mice and 3-5 d.p.i. for ferrets. Virus could also be detected in brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine from inoculated mice, and in heart, liver, and olfactory bulb from inoculated ferrets. The inoculation of H7N9 could elicit seroconversion titers up to 1280 in ferrets and 160 in mice. Leukopenia, significantly reduced lymphocytes but increased neutrophils were also observed in mouse and ferret models.ConclusionsThe mouse and ferret model enables detailed studies of the pathogenesis of this illness and lay the foundation for drug or vaccine evaluation

Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus membranaceus and Salvia miltiorrhiza (AM/SM) are well used in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) for nourishing Qi and activating blood circulation method. From TCM theory, the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) was determined as Qi deficiency and blood stagnation. In this study, we are aiming to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of AM/SM on a rat model of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced ALI in rats and to elucidate potential molecular mechanisms. ALI was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS (5 mg/kg) in Sprague–Dawley rats. SM/AM was given orally before and after LPS administration. Results demonstrated that AM/SM attenuated lung histopathological changes induced by LPS, decreased wet/dry weight ratios and protein concentrations, and inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in BALF. Moreover, AM/SM significantly downregulated protein and mRNA expression of toll-like receptors 4 (TLR-4), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB/p65). These findings suggest that AM/SM showed protective and therapeutic effects in LPS-induced ALI rat through modulating TLR-4 signaling pathways. Nourishing Qi and activating blood circulation may be a beneficial treatment for ALI

Relationship between sedentary behavior and endothelial dysfunction in a cross-sectional study in China

Sedentary behavior is a risk factor for several diseases, and previous studies have mostly reported the effects of acute sedentary behavior on vascular endothelial function. Data on the relationship between sedentary lifestyle habits and vascular function in large sample populations are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the correlation between self-reported sedentary behavior and peripheral vascular function in a check-up population from real-world data.MethodsWe recruited 13,220 participants from two health management centers of general tertiary hospitals located in northern and southern China between 2017 and 2021. All participants had undergone both questionnaires and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measurements.ResultsIn total, 3,205 participants with FMD ≤ 5.0% were identified to have endothelial dysfunction. In a multivariable regression model including lifestyle habits such as sedentary behavior and cardiovascular risk factors, taking leisure sedentary time &lt;2 h/day as a reference, the risk of vascular endothelial dysfunction gradually increased with time: 2–4 h/day (OR = 1.182, 95% CI: 1.058–1.321, P = 0.003), 4–6 h/day (OR = 1.248, 95% CI: 1.100–1.414, P = 0.001) and &gt;6 h/day (OR = 1.618, 95% CI: 1.403–1.866, P &lt; 0.001).ConclusionLonger leisure sedentary time is associated with a higher prevalence of vascular endothelial dysfunction. These findings suggest that leisure sedentary behavior is a risk factor for the occurrence of vascular endothelial dysfunction in the Chinese check-up population