Effect of Cynomorium total flavone on depression model of perimenopausal rat

PurposeTo observe the effect of cynomorium total flavone on the depression model of perimenopausal rat and to analyze the action characteristics of cynomorium total flavone on depression of rat with perimenopausal syndrome.MethodDuplicate the model of rat with perimenopausal depression based on the combined method of incomplete castration and chronic stimulation, and keep drug administration for 35d. And then measure related behavior indicators and the change of biochemical index level in serum and brains; measure the estrogen/androgen receptor (ER/AR) in related tissues and the ERmRNA expression in hypothalamus.ResultIt can be seen that cynomorium total flavone can significantly improve the behavior indicators of rat with perimenopausal depression; obviously or significantly change the level of related biomedical indexes in serum and brains of perimenopausal depressed rat; obviously or significantly increase the expression of ER/AR in related tissues of perimenopausal depressed rat; obviously or significantly increase the ERmRNA expression in hypothalamus.ConclusionCynomorium total flavone can adjust hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by increasing E2, and make related biomedical indexes and hormone receptors tend to be normal, so as to relieve perimenopausal syndrome and perimenopausal syndrome with depression.     

The effects of superoxide dismutase-rich melon pulp concentrate on inflammation,antioxidant status and growth performance of challenged post-weaning piglets

Piglets can often suffer impaired antioxidant status and poor immune response during post-weaning, especially when chronic inflammation takes place, leading to lower growth rates than expected. Oral administration of dietary antioxidant compounds during this period could be a feasible way to balance oxidation processes and increase health and growth performance. The aim of the trial was to study the effects of an antioxidant feed supplement (melon pulp concentrate) that contains high concentration of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) on inflammation, antioxidant status and growth performance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged weaned piglets. In total, 48 weaned piglets were individually allocated to four experimental groups in a 2×2 factorial design for 29 days. Two different dietary treatments were adopted: (a) control (CTR), fed a basal diet, (b) treatment (MPC), fed the basal diet plus 30 g/ton of melon pulp concentrate. On days 19, 21, 23 and 25 half of the animals within CTR and MPC groups were subjected to a challenge with intramuscular injections of an increasing dosage of LPS from Escherichia coli (serotype 0.55:B5) (+) or were injected with an equal amount of PBS solution (−). Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the trial and under the challenge period for interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor α, haptoglobin, plasma SOD activity, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species, red blood cells and plasma resistance to haemolysis, and 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2’-deoxyguanosine. Growth performance was evaluated weekly. A positive effect of melon pulp concentrate was evidenced on total antioxidant capacity, half-haemolysis time of red blood cells, average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake, while LPS challenge increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and haptoglobin serum concentrations, with a reduced feed intake and gain : feed (G : F). The obtained results show that oral SOD supplementation with melon pulp concentrate ameliorates the total antioxidant capacity and the half-haemolysis time in red blood cell of post-weaning piglets, with positive results on growing performance.     

Saroglitazar is noninferior to fenofibrate in reducing triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients in a randomized clinical trial

Saroglitazar, being a dual PPAR-α/γ agonist, has shown beneficial effect in diabetic dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Fibrates are commonly used to treat severe hypertriglyceridemia. However, the effect of saroglitazar in patients with moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia was not evaluated. We conducted a study to compare the efficacy and safety of saroglitazar (4 mg) with fenofibrate (160 mg) in patients with moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia. This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, active-control, and noninferiority trial in adult patients with fasting triglyceride (TG) levels of 500–1,500 mg/dl. The patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive daily dose of saroglitazar or fenofibrate for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was the percent change in TG levels at week 12 relative to baseline. The study comprised of 41 patients in the saroglitazar group and 41 patients in the fenofibrate group. We found that the percent reduction from baseline in TG levels at week 12 was significantly higher in the saroglitazar group (least square mean = ?55.3%; SE = 4.9) compared with the fenofibrate group (least square mean = ?41.1%; SE = 4.9; P = 0.048). Overall, 37 treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were reported in 24 patients (saroglitazar: 13; fenofibrate: 11). No serious AEs were reported, and no patient discontinued the study because of AEs. We conclude that saroglitazar (4 mg) is noninferior to fenofibrate (160 mg) in reducing TG levels after 12 weeks of treatment, was safe, and well tolerated.     

Senescence and N release from clover roots following permanent excision of the shoot

Six to seven week old red clover plants (Trifolium pratense L. cv Merviot) were used to investigate the time-course of root senescence following complete and permanent excision from the shoot. Plants were grown in sand culture watered with nutrient solution. After excision of the shoots, roots were left in situ and sampled over a period of up to 42 days. Respiration rate began to decrease immediately after excision, reaching 50% of its initial value after 24 h. The decline involved a reduction in the capacity of the respiratory pathways as measured in the presence of an uncoupler (FCCP) and exogenous glucose. The reduction in respiration could be prevented by supplying 100 mM sucrose to excised roots incubated in nutrient solution at the time of excision, but not 4–5 days after excision. There was a steady reduction in the protein and soluble sugar concentrations from the time of excision and a smaller reduction in starch. Free amino acid concentrations increased immediately after excision, but the temporal dynamics differed between individual amino acids. The total concentration of free amino acids rose to a maximum value 6–13 days after excision, before declining. Under these conditions roots survived for a remarkably long period of time. Depending on the experiment, cell viability, measured as the percentage of cells with positive turgor, was unchanged for at least 20 days, and complete loss of viability was not observed until 34–42 days after excision. There was no appreciable loss of N from the roots until cell viability declined significantly. The potential implications of these results for modelling and management of N cycling in cropping systems is discussed briefly.     

Structural Insights into the Mechanism of Base Excision by MBD4

DNA glycosylases remove damaged or modified nucleobases by cleaving the N-glycosyl bond and the correct nucleotide is restored through subsequent base excision repair. In addition to excising threatening lesions, DNA glycosylases contribute to epigenetic regulation by mediating DNA demethylation and perform other important functions. However, the catalytic mechanism remains poorly defined for many glycosylases, including MBD4 (methyl-CpG binding domain IV), a member of the helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) superfamily. MBD4 excises thymine from G·T mispairs, suppressing mutations caused by deamination of 5-methylcytosine, and it removes uracil and modified uracils (e.g., 5-hydroxymethyluracil) mispaired with guanine. To investigate the mechanism of MBD4 we solved high-resolution structures of enzyme-DNA complexes at three stages of catalysis. Using a non-cleavable substrate analog, 2′-deoxy-pseudouridine, we determined the first structure of an enzyme-substrate complex for wild-type MBD4, which confirms interactions that mediate lesion recognition and suggests that a catalytic Asp, highly conserved in HhH enzymes, binds the putative nucleophilic water molecule and stabilizes the transition state. Observation that mutating the Asp (to Gly) reduces activity by 2700-fold indicates an important role in catalysis, but probably not one as the nucleophile in a double-displacement reaction, as previously suggested. Consistent with direct-displacement hydrolysis, a structure of the enzyme-product complex indicates a reaction leading to inversion of configuration. A structure with DNA containing 1-azadeoxyribose models a potential oxacarbenium-ion intermediate and suggests the Asp could facilitate migration of the electrophile towards the nucleophilic water. Finally, the structures provide detailed snapshots of the HhH motif, informing how these ubiquitous metal-binding elements mediate DNA binding.     

Bone remodelling around the tibia due to total ankle replacement: effects of implant material and implant–bone interfacial conditions

Abstract

One of the major causes of implant loosening is due to excessive bone resorption surrounding the implant due to bone remodelling. The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of implant material and implant–bone interface conditions on bone remodelling around tibia bone due to total ankle replacement. Finite element models of intact and implanted ankles were developed using CT scan data sets. Bone remodelling algorithm was used in combination with FE analysis to predict the bone density changes around the ankle joint. Dorsiflexion, neutral, and plantar flexion positions were considered, along with muscle force and ligaments. Implant–bone interfacial conditions were assumed as debonded and bonded to represent non-osseointegration and fully osseointegration at the porous coated surface of the implant. To investigate the effect of implant material, three finite element models having different material combinations of the implant were developed. For model 1, tibial and talar components were made of Co–Cr–Mo, and meniscal bearing was made of UHMWPE. For model 2, tibial and talar components were made of ceramic and meniscal bearing was made of UHMWPE. For model 3, tibial and talar components were made of ceramic and meniscal bearing was made of CFR-PEEK. Changes in implant material showed no significant changes in bone density due to bone remodelling. Therefore, ceramic appears to be a viable alternative to metal and CFR-PEEK can be used in place of UHMWPE. This study also indicates that proper bonding between implant and bone is essential for long-term survival of the prosthetic components.     

MV-mimicking micelles loaded with PEG-serine-ACP nanoparticles to achieve biomimetic intra/extra fibrillar mineralization of collagen in vitro

Since their discovery, matrix vesicles (MVs) containing minerals have received considerable attention for their role in the mineralization of bone, dentin and calcified cartilage. Additionally, MVs' association with collagen fibrils, which serve as the scaffold for calcification in the organic matrix, has been repeatedly highlighted. The primary purpose of the present study was to establish a MVs–mimicking model (PEG-S-ACP/micelle) in vitro for studying the exact mechanism of MVs-mediated extra/intra fibrillar mineralization of collagen in vivo. In this study, high-concentration serine was used to stabilize the amorphous calcium phosphate (S-ACP), which was subsequently mixed with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to form PEG-S-ACP nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were loaded in the polysorbate 80 micelle through a micelle self-assembly process in an aqueous environment. This MVs–mimicking model is referred to as the PEG-S-ACP/micelle model. By adjusting the pH and surface tension of the PEG-S-ACP/micelle, two forms of minerals (crystalline mineral nodules and ACP nanoparticles) were released to achieve the extrafibrillar and intrafibrillar mineralization, respectively. This in vitro mineralization process reproduced the mineral nodules mediating in vivo extrafibrillar mineralization and provided key insights into a possible mechanism of biomineralization by which in vivo intrafibrillar mineralization could be induced by ACP nanoparticles released from MVs. Also, the PEG-S-ACP/micelle model provides a promising methodology to prepare mineralized collagen scaffolds for repairing bone defects in bone tissue engineering.     

Variation of Essential Oil Content and Composition,Phenolics, and Yield Related Traits Using Different Pollination Systems in Populations of Thymus Species

The production of self-pollinated plants could be important for improving medicinal plants secondary metabolites. In this study, 11 Thymus populations from eight species were evaluated to determine the effect of self and open pollination on agro-morphological characteristics, total phenolic content (TPC), essential oil (EO) content, and EO components. Inbreeding led to some positive effects of above mentioned traits in most of the studied populations. Total phenolic content ranged from 7.07 to 52.69 mg tannic acid equivalents (TAE) g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) in open pollinated derived populations, while it varied from 1.2 to 55.03 mg TAE g⁻¹ DW in self-pollinated ones. Under open and self-pollination condition, the highest EO content was obtained in T. trautvetteri (3.37 %) and T. pubescens (1.96 %), respectively. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) identified 42 compounds including thymol, carvacrol, linalool, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol as the main compounds. In most cases, selfed plants compared to open pollinated ones, revealed higher thymol content. T. daenensis-1 showed a significant increase in thymol content (from 25.22 % to 74.3 %) due to self-pollination. Moreover, self-pollination led to emergence of some new compounds. Carvacrol methyl ether was the constituents of Thymus EO that are being reported in self-pollinated populations. Finally, inbreeding in Thymus might be suggested as a useful tool to increase genetic homogeneity for the selection of superior plants for improving secondary metabolite.     

Effects of exotic plant invasion on soil nitrogen availability

外来植物入侵对土壤氮循环和氮有效性的影响是入侵成功或进一步加剧的重要原因。通过对比相同研究地点入侵区域和无入侵区域的土壤原位氮状态差异, 探讨了外来植物入侵对土壤氮有效性的影响程度和生理生态学机制。基于107篇相关研究文献数据的整合, 发现植物入侵区域相对于无入侵区域土壤总氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、无机氮、微生物生物量氮含量显著增加, 增幅分别为(50 ± 14)%、(60 ± 24)%、(470 ± 115)%、(69 ± 25)%、(54 ± 20)%。土壤硝态氮含量增幅较大反映硝化作用增强, 这可能增加入侵植物硝态氮利用以及喜硝植物的共存。温带地区植物入侵后土壤的硝态氮含量增幅显著高于亚热带地区。固氮植物入侵后土壤的总氮和无机氮含量增幅均显著高于非固氮植物入侵。木本和常绿植物入侵后土壤的总氮含量增幅分别高于草本和落叶植物入侵; 而土壤铵态氮含量的增幅没有显著差异且与固氮入侵植物占比无明显关系; 然而硝态氮含量的增幅普遍较高且与固氮入侵植物占比显著正相关。外来入侵植物固氮功能以及凋落物质量和数量是影响土壤氮矿化和硝化过程的关键因素。该研究为理解外来植物入侵成功和加剧的机制以及入侵植物功能性状与土壤氮动态之间的关系提供了新的见解。