The anabolic action of intermittent parathyroid hormone on cortical bone depends partly on its ability to induce nitric oxide‐mediated vasorelaxation in BALB/c mice

There is strong evidence that vasodilatory nitric oxide (NO) donors have anabolic effects on bone in humans. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), the only osteoanabolic drug currently approved, is also a vasodilator. We investigated whether the NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME might alter the effect of PTH on bone by blocking its vasodilatory effect. BALB/c mice received 28 daily injections of PTH[1–34] (80 µg/kg/day) or L‐NAME (30 mg/kg/day), alone or in combination. Hindlimb blood perfusion was measured by laser Doppler imaging. Bone architecture, turnover and mechanical properties in the femur were analysed respectively by micro‐CT, histomorphometry and three‐point bending. PTH increased hindlimb blood flow by >30% within 10 min of injection (P < 0.001). Co‐treatment with L‐NAME blocked the action of PTH on blood flow, whereas L‐NAME alone had no effect. PTH treatment increased femoral cortical bone volume and formation rate by 20% and 110%, respectively (P < 0.001). PTH had no effect on trabecular bone volume in the femoral metaphysis although trabecular thickness and number were increased and decreased by 25%, respectively. Co‐treatment with L‐NAME restricted the PTH‐stimulated increase in cortical bone formation but had no clear‐cut effects in trabecular bone. Co‐treatment with L‐NAME did not affect the mechanical strength in femurs induced by iPTH. These results suggest that NO‐mediated vasorelaxation plays partly a role in the anabolic action of PTH on cortical bone. © 2016 The Authors. Cell Biochemistry and Function published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improvement in the bleaching of kraft pulp with xylanase from Penicillium crustosum FP 11 isolated from the Atlantic forest

Xylanase produced from the newly isolated Penicillium crustosum FP 11 and its potential in the prebleaching of kraft pulp were evaluated using a statistical approach. A Plackett–Burman design (PBD) was carried out to select the significant variables of the medium, these being NaNO₃, KH₂PO₄, MgSO₄, KCl, Fe₂(SO₄)₃, yeast extract, corn stover, and initial pH, in a liquid culture under static conditions for 6 d at 28?°C. Statistical analysis with a central composite design and response surface methodology showed that 0.15% (w/v) KH₂PO₄, 2% (w/v) corn stover, and an initial pH of 6.0 provided the best conditions for xylanase production. Furthermore, xylanase from P. crustosum FP 11 was effective in the bleaching of Eucalyptus kraft pulp, with a significant kappa efficiency of 35.04%. Therefore, the newly isolated P. crustosum FP 11 from the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil showed two advantages: xylanase production with agricultural residue (corn stover) as a carbon source and an improvement in the bleaching of kraft pulp. Environmental pollution could thus be minimized because of a reduction in the use of chlorine as a bleaching agent.     

MiR‐802 causes nephropathy by suppressing NF‐κB‐repressing factor in obese mice and human

Obesity is associated with significant microvascular complications including renal injuries and may induce end‐stage renal disease. Emerging studies have demonstrated microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential mediators in the pathophysiological process of nephropathy. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR‐802 in obesity‐related nephropathy and potential molecular mechanisms. Through utilizing obese mouse model and human subjects, we explored the therapeutic benefits and clinical application of miR‐802 in protecting against nephropathy. Renal miR‐802 level was positively correlated with functional parameters, including blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in obese mice. Specific silencing of renal miR‐802 improved high fat diet (HFD)‐induced renal dysfunction, structural disorders and fibrosis. The up‐regulated inflammatory response and infiltrated macrophages were also significantly decreased in miR‐802 inhibitor‐treated obese mice. Mechanistically, miR‐802 directly bond to 3?‐UTR of NF‐κB‐repressing factor (NRF) and suppressed its expression. In clinical study, the circulating miR‐802 level was significantly increased in obese subjects, and positively correlated with plasma creatinine level but negatively correlated with creatinine clearance. Taken together, our findings provided evidence that miR‐802/NRF signalling was an important pathway in mediating obesity‐related nephropathy. It is a possible useful clinical approach of treating miR‐802 inhibitor to combat nephropathy.     

Association of interleukin‐27 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to HIV infection and disease progression

Interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) gene polymorphisms are linked to infectious disease susceptibility and IL‐27 plasma level is associated with HIV infection. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between IL‐27 polymorphisms and susceptibility to HIV infection and disease progression. A total of 300 patients with HIV infection (48 long‐term nonprogressors and 252 typical progressors) and 300 healthy controls were genotyped for three IL‐27 polymorphisms, rs17855750, rs181206, rs40837 which were performed by using multiple single nucleotide primer extension technique. Significant association was found between IL‐27 rs40837 polymorphisms with susceptibility to HIV infection (AG vs AA: adjusted OR = 1.60, 95% CI, 1.11‐2.30, P = 0.012; AG+GG vs AA: adjusted OR = 1.44, 95% CI, 1.02‐2.03, P = 0.038) and disease progression (LTNP: AG vs AA: adjusted OR = 2.33, 95% CI, 1.13‐4.80, P = 0.021; TP: AG vs AA: adjusted OR = 1.50, 95% CI, 1.04‐2.24, P = 0.030). Serum IL‐27 levels were significantly lower in cases compared to controls (P < 0.001). There were lower serum IL‐27 levels in TPs than in LTNPs (P < 0.001). We further found that LTNPs with rs40837 AG or GG genotype had lower serum IL‐27 levels than with AA genotype (P < 0.05). The CD4⁺T counts in cases were significantly lower than controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, individuals with rs40837 AG genotype had lower CD4⁺T counts than with AA genotype in cases (P < 0.05). In addition, CD4⁺T counts in TPs were significantly lower than LTNPs (P < 0.001). IL‐27 rs40837 polymorphism might influence the susceptibility to HIV infection and disease progression probably by regulating the level of serum IL‐27 or the quantity of CD4⁺T.     

A Desolvated Solid–Solid Interface for a High‐Capacitance Electric Double Layer

Understanding the electric double layer is essential for achieving efficient electrochemical energy storage technologies. A conventional solid–liquid electrode interface suffers from serious self‐discharge and a narrow voltage window, which makes the development of a solid–solid interface imperative. However, an in‐depth understanding of the electric double layer with a solid–solid interface is lacking. Here, a solid–solid interfacial electric double layer is proposed with excellent electrochemical performance. The solid layer is constructed by the electrochemical decomposition of lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate, which provides a desolvated environment for the establishment of a electric double layer. This makes a stronger interaction between the electrode surface and the ions. Based on this unique property, it is found that the solid–solid interfacial electric double layer has an increased capacitance, which suggests a way to develop high‐energy electrochemical capacitors.     

Quantifying the Volumetric Performance Metrics of Supercapacitors

Nanostructured materials have greatly improved the performance of electrochemical energy storage devices because of the increased activity and surface area. However, nanomaterials (e.g., nanocarbons) normally possess low packing density, and thus occupy more space which restricts their suitability for making electrochemical devices as compact as possible. This has resulted in their low volumetric performance (capacitance, energy density, and power density), which is a practical obstacle for the application of nanomaterials in mobile and on‐board energy storage devices. While rating electrode materials for supercapacitors, their volumetric performance is equally important as the gravimetric metrics and more reliable in particular for systems with limited space. However, the adopted criteria for measuring the volumetric performance of supercapacitors vary in the literature. Identifying the appropriate performance criteria for the volumetric values will set a universal ground for valid comparison. Here, the authors discuss the rationale for quantifying the volumetric performance metrics of supercapacitors from the three progressive levels of materials, electrodes, and devices. It is hoped that these thoughts will be of value for the general community in energy storage research.     

Refilling Nitrogen to Oxygen Vacancies in Ultrafine Tungsten Oxide Clusters for Superior Lithium Storage

Morphological engineering of nanosized transitional metal oxides shows great promise for performance improvement, yet limited efforts have been attempted to engineer the atomic structure. Oxygen vacancy (V_O) can boost charge transfer leading to enhanced performance; yet excessive V_O may impair the conductivity. Herein, tungsten oxide is atomically tailored by incorporating nitrogen heteroatoms into the oxygen vacancies. The efficient nitrogen‐filling into the oxygen vacancies is evidenced by the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The coordinated N atoms play a crucial role in facilitating the charge transfer and maintaining efficient lithium‐ion diffusion. Consequently, the tungsten oxide with N‐filled oxygen vacancies exhibits superior lithium‐ion storage performance.