Emergence and transmission of visual awareness through optical coding in the brain: A redox molecular hypothesis on visual mental imagery

Does the primary visual cortex mediate consciousness for higher-level stages of information processing by providing an outlet for mental imagery? Evidence based on neural electrical activity is inconclusive as reflected in the “imagery debate” in cognitive science. Neural information and activity, however, also depend on regulated biophoton (optical) signaling. During encoding and retrieval of visual information, regulated electrical (redox) signals of neurons are converted into synchronized biophoton signals by bioluminescent radical processes. That is, visual information may be represented by regulated biophotons of mitochondrial networks in retinotopically organized cytochrome oxidase-rich neural networks within early visual areas. Therefore, we hypothesize that regulated biophotons can generate intrinsic optical representations in the primary visual cortex and then propagate variably degraded versions along cytochrome oxidase pathways during both perception and imagery. Testing this hypothesis requires to establish a methodology for measurement of in vivo and/or in vitro increases of biophoton emission in humans' brain during phosphene inductions by transcranial magnetic stimulation and to compare the decrease in phosphene thresholds during transcranial magnetic stimulation and imagery. Our hypothesis provides a molecular mechanism for the visual buffer and for imagery as the prevalent communication mode (through optical signaling) within the brain. If confirmed empirically, this hypothesis could resolve the imagery debate and the underlying issue of continuity between perception and abstract thought.     

Preparation and antioxidant activity of alpha-pyridoin and its derivatives

Focusing on alpha-pyridoin (1, 1,2-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2-ethenediol) as the lead compound of the novel antioxidative enediol, we synthesized 5,5'- or 6,6'-bis-substituted derivatives of 1 from disubstituted pyridines. The antioxidant activity of 1 and its synthetic derivatives 2-7 was evaluated by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) scavenging assay and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In the DPPH assay, 1 exhibited an activity stronger than that of ascorbic acid, and 5,5'-dimethyl-(5) or 5,5'-dimethoxy-substituted derivatives (6) exhibited more potent activity than 1. The DPPH scavenging activities of alpha-pyridoins were correlated with their oxidation potential and thus the electron density of enediol. 5 and 6 effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation in the rat liver microsome/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system. Therefore, 5 and 6 serve as good candidates for a pharmacologically useful enediol antioxidant.     

Comparison of antioxidant effectiveness of lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid

The abilities of dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) to scavenge peroxynitrite (ONOO^?), galvinoxyl radical, 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate) cation radical (ABTS^+?), and 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) were higher than those of lipoic acid (LA). The effectiveness of DHLA to protect methyl linoleate against 2,2′‐azobis(2‐amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH)‐induced oxidation was about 2.2‐fold higher than that of LA, and DHLA can retard the autoxidation of linoleic acid (LH) in the β‐carotene‐bleaching test. DHLA can also trap ～0.6 radicals in AAPH‐induced oxidation of LH. Moreover, DHLA can scavenge ～2.0 radicals in AAPH‐induced oxidation of DNA and AAPH‐induced hemolysis of erythrocytes, whereas LA can scavenge ～1.5 radicals at the same experimental conditions. DHLA can protect erythrocytes against hemin‐induced hemolysis, but accelerate the degradation of DNA in the presence of Cu²⁺. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity of –SH in DHLA is higher than S‐S in LA. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 25:216–223, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.20378     

Magnetic field dependence of radical-pair decay kinetics and molecular triplet quantum yield in quinone-depleted reaction centers

Radical-pair decay kinetics and molecular triplet quantum yields at various magnetic fields are reported for quinone-depleted reaction centers from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R26. The radical-pair decay is observed by picosecond absorption spectroscopy to be a single exponential to within the experimental uncertainty at all fields. The decay time increases from 13 ns at zero field to 17 ns at 1 kG, and decreases to 9 ns at 50 kG. The orientation averaged quantum yield of formation of the molecular triplet of the primary electron donor, ³P, drops to 47% of its zero-field value at 1 kG and rises to 126% at 50 kG. Combined analysis of these data gives a singlet radical-pair decay rate constant of 5 · 10⁷s^?1, a lower limit for the triplet radical-pair decay rate constant of 1 · 10⁸s^?1 and a lower limit for the quantum yield of radical-pair decay by the triplet channel of 38% at zero field. The upper limit of the quantum yield of ³P formation at zero field is measured to be 32%. In order to explain this apparent discrepancy, decay of the radical pair by the triplet channel must lead to some rapid ground state formation as well as some ³P formation. It is proposed that the triplet radical pair decays to a triplet charge-transfer state which is strongly coupled to the ground state by spin-orbit interactions. Several possibilities for this charge-transfer state are discussed.     

血清白介素8基因多态性与食管鳞癌根治术后的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨与分析血清白细胞介素8（IL-8）基因多态性与食管鳞癌（ESCC）根治术后的相关性。方法：2017年8月到2020年6月选择在本院诊治的食管鳞癌患者98例作为研究对象,检测血清IL-8表达水平。所有患者都给予根治手术治疗,随访患者的预后并进行相关性分析。结果：所有患者术后随访到2021年7月,平均随访时间为25.69±2.58个月,死亡28例,死亡率为28.6 %（死亡组）。两组血清IL-8表达水平表达具有差异（P<0.05）。所有患者的基因型频率均符合Hardy-Weinberg这一平衡法则,表明本文所选取的样本均具有群体代表性。IL-8基因启动子rs4073A/T的AA基因型较死亡组高,TT基因型较死亡组低,两组A、T等位基因频率分布对比有差异（P<0.05）。直线相关性分析显示：IL-8基因启动子rs4073A/T的AA基因型、A等位基因、血清IL-8表达水平与预后死亡率存在相关性（P<0.05）。多因素logistic回归分析显示：IL-8基因启动子rs4073A/T的AA基因型、A等位基因、血清IL-8表达水平为导致患者随访死亡的主要因素（OR=2.051,3.094,P<0.05）。结论：食管鳞癌根治术后患者依然存在一定的死亡率,患者死亡与血清IL-8基因多态性存在相关性,同时多伴随有IL-8的高表达。IL-8基因启动子rs4073A/T的AA基因型、A等位基因、血清IL-8表达水平为导致患者死亡的主要因素。     

Effects of pretreatment with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor on free radical levels during carotid endarterectomy

Objective: Free radicals contribute to the tissue damage caused by ischaemia-reperfusion. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether preoperative antioxidant therapy (allopurinol) affects free radical levels in cerebral venous blood in connection with surgery for carotid artery stenosis.

Materials and methods: Twenty-five patients were randomised into the study. Thirteen were controls and 12 were pretreated with allopurinol the day before surgery. Before, during and after surgery, blood samples were drawn from the ipsilateral jugular vein. Radical levels were measured using the spin trap technique ex vivo using OXANOH as the spin trap. Multivariate statistics were used with Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Square regression analysis.

Results: Radical levels increased with diabetes, high leukocyte count, high creatinine and a high degree of contralateral stenosis. Radical levels decreased with high age, blood pressure, collateral circulation as well as operation for left-side carotid artery stenosis. After pretreatment with allopurinol, several of the relationships noted in the control group were eliminated, i.e. leukocyte count, side of operation, Betapred pretreatment and collateral circulation.

Conclusions: Radical levels can be determined in connection with surgery for carotid artery stenosis using an ex vivo spin trap method. With preoperative antioxidant therapy the relationships between enhanced radical levels and clinical data, as seen in control subjects, disappeared. This might indicate a beneficial effect of preoperative pretreatment with antioxidants.     

Studies on the antioxidant activity of some chromonylrhodanine derivatives

Fifteen chromonylrhodamine derivatives (CRs) were synthesized and the antioxidant activity levels were evaluated for the first time. The antioxidant activity potencies of these chromone derivatives were evaluated towards superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radicals. Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the tested compounds was measured using the ferric‐ferrozine assay. The antioxidant activities were investigated using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay, spectrophotometry measurements, direct electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and the EPR spin‐trapping technique. The 5,5‐dimethyl‐ 1‐pyrroline‐1‐oxide (DMPO) was applied as spin trap. Eleven of the 15 chromone compounds exhibited a decrease in the CL accompanying the superoxide anion radical produced in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), ranging from 71–94% at concentration of 1 mmol /L; four of these compounds enhanced light emission in the range 231–672%. Similarly, these compounds caused 28–58% inhibition in the intensity of the DMPO‐OOH radical EPR signal and the DMPO‐OH radical (from 12–48%). Furthermore, three of these compounds showed very good antioxidant response towards the DPPH radical (EC₅₀: 0.51–0.56 µmol/L) and the high reduction potentials. These findings demonstrate that the chromone compounds tested may be considered as effective free radicals scavengers, a finding that is of great pharmacological importance. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

肝癌乙型肝炎病毒感染患者术后恩替卡韦抗病毒治疗的临床疗效及安全性评价

目的:探讨肝癌乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染患者根治性切除术后采用恩替卡韦抗病毒治疗的临床疗效及安全性。方法:收集2015年1月-2017年8月在我院行根治性切除术的肝癌HBV感染患者279例为研究对象,以血清HBV-DNA载量10~5 copies/ml为界限,分为高病毒复制组128例,低病毒复制组151例,按照随机数字表法将高病毒复制组分为高-治疗组64例、高-对照组64例,将低病毒复制组分为低-治疗组76例、低-对照组75例。高-治疗组和低-治疗组术后给予恩替卡韦0.5 mg/d,高-对照组和低-对照组未行抗病毒治疗。比较手术前、术后7 d各组的血清HBV-DNA水平,血清白蛋白(ALB)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、前白蛋白(PA),以及术后并发症的发生情况。结果:高-治疗组、高-对照组、低-治疗组、低-对照组术后血清ALB、PA均较治疗前降低,血清ALT均较治疗前升高,且高-治疗组或低-治疗组术后血清ALB、PA均高于高-对照组或低-对照组,血清ALT水平均低于高-对照组或低-对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);高-治疗组或低-治疗组术后血清HBV-DNA水平均低于治疗前,且均低于同期高-对照组或低-对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。高-治疗组与高-对照组、低-治疗组与低-对照组患者术后并发症发生率均无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:恩替卡韦能显著改善肝癌HBV感染患者术后的血清HBV-DNA载量水平和肝功能,安全性高,值得临床推广。     

Antioxidant activity of polyphenolic extracts of Ichnocarpus frutescens

In the present study antioxidant activities by (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical inhibition, hemolysis by hydrogen peroxide assay, reducing power and total antioxidant activities of polyphenolic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens leaves were investigated. The flavonoids and total polyphenolic contents of the extract were also determined using standard methods. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins and simple phenolic acids. The results of antioxidant activities of polyphenol extract obtained by different in vitro methods were varied depending on the method used. Nevertheless, polyphenol extract showed significant inhibitory activities in all in vitro reactive oxygen species scavenging, might be attributed due to the high level of polyphenolic compound. Also, these various antioxidant activities were compared to α-tocopherol and l-ascorbic acid as reference antioxidant compounds. These findings provide evidence that the polyphenolic extract of I. frutescens is a natural source of antioxidant against oxidative damage.     

Change of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity of guinea pig lung in experimental asthma

Correlation between the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by airway inflammatory cells and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of pulmonary tissue during an asthma attach was investigated in a guinea pig model of allergic asthma. In addition, the influence of SOD inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC, Cu-chelating agent) on the airway was investigated in terms of pulmonary function during an asthma attach. Relative to controls, the capacity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) cells to release ROS was significantly increased in guinea pigs sensitized with ovalbumin (OA) as the antigen, and significantly increased in guinea pigs with an asthma attack provoked by the inhalation of OA. SOD activity was increased significantly in the antigen-sensitized group. The asthma provocation group showed a tendency for increase in total SOD activity, compared with the sensitization group, whose increase was dependent on the increase in copper, zinc-SOD (Cu, Zn-SOD) activity. Pretreatment with DDC increased the severity and duration of the asthma attack. These results were indicated that Cu, Zn-SOD was closely involved in the asthma process, particularly in the scavenging of oxygen radicals secreted from BAL cells.