catena-Poly[[[μ-cyanido-1:2κ2 C:N-tricyanido-1κ3 C-bis(ethylenediamine)-2κ4 N,N′-copper(II)iron(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2 C:N-[bis(ethylenediamine-κ2 N,N′)copper(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2 N:C] 4.5-hy­drate]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {[Cu2Fe(CN)6(C2H8N2)4]·4.5H2O}n, consists of two [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cations, one [Fe(CN)6]4− anion, four water mol­ecules and a half water mol­ecule that lies on a twofold rotation axis. The FeII atom is coordinated by six C atoms from three terminal and three doubly bridging CN− ligands. The bridging CN− ligands connect the anion to a five-coordinate [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cation and to two symmetry-related six-coordinate [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cations, forming a one-dimensional polymer in the ab plane. Inter­molecular hydrogen bonds connect the polymer units into a three-dimensional network

Pharmaceutical approaches for COVID-19: An update on current therapeutic opportunities

SARS-CoV-2, a newly discovered coronavirus, has been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently an important public health issue. Despite all the work done to date around the world, there is still no viable treatment for COVID-19. This study examined the most recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of several therapeutic options available including natural substances, synthetic drugs and vaccines in the treatment of COVID-19. Various natural compounds such as sarsapogenin, lycorine, biscoclaurine, vitamin B12, glycyrrhizic acid, riboflavin, resveratrol and kaempferol, various vaccines and drugs such as AZD1222, mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, Sputnik V, and remdesivir, lopinavir, favipiravir, darunavir, oseltamivir, and umifenovir, resp., have been discussed comprehensively. We attempted to provide exhaustive information regarding the various prospective therapeutic approaches available in order to assist researchers and physicians in treating COVID-19 patients

Non-communicable diseases sustained high call: China's health care model should be transformed as soon as possible

Background: There is sufficient evidence that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in China is increasing rapidly. Results from the Fourth China National Health Services Survey (2008) show that compared to 2003, the prevalence of chronic diseases in China increased by 5%, while results from the Fifth National Health Services Survey (2013) showed an increase of 9% since 2008. As the world's most populous country and in the face of the rapid rise of non-communicable diseases, China lacks effective measures to achieve significant results on aspects of tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, harmful alcohol use and other risk factors. Of more concern is that the Chinese health care model is still stuck in the "medical services" stage. The "therapy" of health care models not only cause China to experience high health costs - there is also a steady increase in adverse health outcomes, with a failure to timely and effectively respond to the challenges of NCDs. Purpose: This article aims to analyze health care inputs and outputs since Chinese health care reform, and to provide a useful reference to improve Chinese future health care policies

Chemoattraction of bone marrow-derived stem cells towards human endometrial stromal cells is mediated by estradiol regulated CXCL12 and CXCR4 expression

AbstractBone marrow derived cells engraft to the uterine endometrium and contribute to endometriosis. The mechanism by which these cells are mobilized and directed to the endometrium has not been previously characterized. We demonstrate that human endometrial stromal cells (hESCs) produce the chemokine CXCL12 and that bone marrow cells (BMCs) express the CXCL12 receptor, CXCR4. Treatment with physiological levels of estradiol (E2) induced both CXCL12 and CXCR4 expression in hESCs and BMCs, respectively. BMCs migrated towards hESCs conditioned media; a CXCR4 antagonist blocked migration indicating that CXCL12 acting through its receptor, CXCR4, is necessary for chemoattraction of BM cells to human endometrial cells. E2 increased both CXCL12 expression in endometrial cells and CXCR4 expression in BM cells, further enhancing chemoattraction. E2 induced CXCL12/CXCR4 expression in endometrium and BM, respectively, drives migration of stem cells to the endometrium. The E2-CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling pathway may be useful in determining treatments for endometrial disorders, and may be antagonized to block stem cell migration to endometriosis

Microarray-based screening system identifies temperature-controlled activity of Connexin 26 that is distorted by mutations

Here, we show that human Connexin 26 (hCx26 or Cx26WT) hemichannel opening rapidly enables the transport of small molecules when triggered by temperature and by compensation of the Ca2+ blockade with EDTA. Point mutations within Cx26 were analysed by a novel optical microarray-based Lucifer Yellow uptake assay or by two electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) on frog oocytes to monitor simultaneous activities of channel proteins. Point mutations L90P, F161S, R184P or K188N influenced the temperature-dependent activity drastically. Since several mutations blocked trafficking, the temperature-dependent activity of the recombinant synthesized and purified wild-type Cx26WT and Cx26K188N hemichannel was tested by liposome flux assay (LFA) and on a microarray-based Lucifer Yellow uptake assay under warm conditions (>30 °C). The data from TEVC measurements and dye flux experiments showed that the mutations gave no or only a weak activity at increased temperature (>30 °C). We conclude that the position K188 in the Cx26WT forms a temperature-sensitive salt bridge with E47 whereas the exchange to K188N destabilizes the network loop- gating filter, which was recently identified as a part of the flexible Ca2+ binding site. We assume that the temperature sensitivity of Cx26 is required to protect cells from uncontrolled release or uptake activities through Cx26 hemichannels

Reflections on Literature : East and West

This publication has three thematic essays written by professors from Pace University and Nanjing Normal University that discuss the similarities and differences between Chinese and western literature. Hongling Lyu identifies certain aesthetic differences between Chinese and western literature, and explains these divergences from a cross-cultural perspective. Li Po presents an overview of the aesthetics of classical literature. Ying Wang draws on her expertise in French literature and feminist studies to discuss the challenge of reading Chinese literature from the historical, cross-cultural, and feminist perspectives. These essays challenge us to go beyond the conventional East-and-West divide with its predictable polarities, and gives us a feasible framework to evaluate the evolution of Chinese literature in the modern era

The Role of Various Powders during the Hydration Process of Cement-Based Materials

The role of various powders including glass powder (GP), limestone powder (LP), and steel slag powder (SSP) during the hydration process of cement-based materials was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and strength tests. GP has adverse impact on early strength, but the pozzolanic reaction at later stage enhances the strength development greatly. LP can significantly improve early strength. SSP has a good contribution to the early and later strength of the paste when its content is less than 15%. GP has little effect on the kind of hydration products but relatively large effects on the quantity. Calcium hydroxide (CH) content of GP paste decreases over curing age gradually, which is different from pure cement paste because its pozzolanic activity consumes more CH than that generated from the cement hydration. SSP and LP mainly play a role of filling effect at early stage. Nucleating effect of LP also promotes the early hydration of cement. The hydration of LP occurs at later stage and forms the calcium carboaluminate hydrates. The hydration of SSP is relatively slow, which generates CH at later stage and is effective in the strength development

INFLUENCES OF STORAGE CONDITIONS ON BEEF TEXTURE

This study aimed to explore the influences of different storage conditions on beef texture from both micro-perspective and macro-perspective. In this study, the postmortem beef was stored under three storage conditions, i.e. (1) freezing point temperature + vacuum packaging (Cv), (2) 0 ℃ +vacuum packaging (Zv), (3) 4 ℃ + vacuum packaging (Fv). During the storage, sulfhydryl group (-SH) content, myofiber diameter, sarcomere length (SL), myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) and shear force (SF) were determined regularly. The result showed that: under above three conditions, both -SH content and myofiber diameter gradually decreased while MFI increased. With the treatment of Cv, Zv and Fv, myofiber diameter decreased by 46.67 %, 52.27 % and 57.23 % respectively on the 24th day. The SL was minimized at the 1st day with Zv and Fv condition and at the 4th day with Cv condition. The SF of three types of samples behaved in the similar pattern as increasing firstly and then decrease, however, the change of samples with Cv condition was much slower than those with Zv and Fv condition. Therefore, we conclude that Cv condition can effectively delay the rigor mortis and rigor-off processes of beef, and thus, enable the beef maintain good quality for a long time, following by Zv condition and then Fv condition

Effect of solvent fractions of crude extract of Liushenqu on gastrointestinal motility in guinea pigs, and the underlying mechanism(s)

Purpose: To study the effect of solvent fractions of the crude extract of liushenqu on gastrointestinal motility in guinea pigs, and the mechanism of action. Methods: The effects of solvent fractions of crude extract of liushenqu (LSQ) on receptors in guinea pig isolated small intestinal cells were determined by treatment with different receptor blockers, including diphenhydramine (0.067 mg/mL), atropine sulfate (0.064 mg/mL), propranolol hydrochloride (0.033mg/mL), phentolamine mesylate (0.04mg/mL) and ondansetron hydrochloride (0.048mg/mL), to investigate the possible pharmacological mechanism of action. Results: There was no significant change in the maximum amplitude of muscle tension before and after administration in the control group, petroleum ether fraction group, and dichlormethane fraction group, while muscle tension in the 95 % ethanol and n-butanol fractions significantly increased (p < 0.01). The mean changes in tension were significantly different from that of control group (p < 0.01), but ethyl acetate fraction showed significant intestinal muscle inhibition (p < 0.01). Addition of LSQ did not alleviate the inhibition caused by diphenhydramine, but it significantly reversed the inhibition caused by blockers of cholinergic muscarinic receptor, adrenergic alpha- and beta- receptors, and 5-HT receptor (p < 0.01). Conclusion: These results indicate that n-butanol fraction is the most effective bioactive fraction of LSQ, while ethyl acetate fraction has the opposite effect. In addition, its mechanism of action is related to increase in the amplitude of small intestine smooth muscle contraction and acceleration of small intestine peristalsis