ZnO nanomaterials target mitochondrial apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy pathways in cancer cells

In recent years, the application of engineering nanomaterials has significantly contributed to the development of various biomedical fields. Zinc oxide nanomaterials (ZnO NMts) have gained wide popularity due to their biocompatibility, unique physical and chemical properties, stability, and cost-effectiveness for large-scale production. They have emerged as potential materials for anticancer applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of the synthesis methods of ZnO NMts and highlights the advantages of combining ZnO NMts with anticancer drugs as a nano platform for cancer treatment. Additionally, the article briefly explains the mechanism of action of ZnO NMts in tumor cells, focusing on the mitochondrial pathways that target cell apoptosis and autophagy. It is observed that these pathways are primarily influenced by reactive oxygen species generated through oxidative stress. The article discusses the promising prospects of ZnO NMts combined with anticancer drugs in the field of cancer medicine and emphasizes the need for further in-depth research on the mitochondrial apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy pathways.     

Synthesis and study of optical properties of a Gd3+-doped NaYF4 phosphor for phototherapy lamp application

In recent trends, radiation falls under the narrowband ultraviolet-B region (305–315 nm) widely used in phototherapy lamp applications in the treatment of skin diseases. In this paper, we report a Gd³⁺-doped NaYF₄ luminescent material synthesized for the first time using the low-temperature co-precipitation method. It crystallized into a face-centred cubic structure, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction characterization techniques and Rietveld refinement. The photoluminescence property of the as-prepared sample shows a highly intense, sharp emission band obtained at 311 nm, which belongs to the narrowband ultraviolet-B region and corresponds to the transition of the ⁶P_7/2→⁸S_7/2 level of the Gd³⁺ ions under 272 nm excitation (⁸S_7/2 to ⁶I_J). The transitions of the Gd³⁺ ions are detected entirely with different concentrations of Gd³⁺ ions. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the average particle was 288 nm. The critical distance for energy transfer was calculated to be equal to 11.5017 Å. Dipole–dipole interaction is responsible for energy transfer, as analyzed by Dexter theory. These excellent optical characteristics, together with their highly efficient and low-cost synthesis approach, indicate that synthesized NaYF₄:Gd³⁺ phosphors have excessive potential for phototherapeutic lamp applications.     

Tunable warm white light emission and energy transfer of Dy3+ co-doped Sr2LaZrO5.5:Eu3+ phosphors

Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺ co-doped Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-based phosphors were prepared through a sol–gel method. Through characterization, it was found that the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-based fluorescent powder co-doped with Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ had a cubic structure. At an excitation wavelength of 290 nm, the substrate Sr₂LaZrO_5.5 exhibited strong blue emission at 468 nm, and the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:18%Eu³⁺ phosphor exhibited a strong red emission peak at 612 nm. When the doping amount of Dy³⁺ was 5, 8, 12, 15, or 18%, the Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:18%Eu³⁺ phosphor changed from an orange-red light, to a warm white light, and to a cold white light. According to the emission spectra, the emission intensities of the substrates Sr₂LaZrO_5.5 and Sr₂LaZrO_5.5:Eu³⁺ decreased with increasing Dy³⁺ concentration, confirming the energy transfer between the host Sr₂LaZrO_5.5-Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺, and resulting in a lower CCT value, with significantly improved white light emission.     

Aspergillus sp. EA-LJS80的分离及其发酵液提取物七叶皂苷C的生物活性

本研究从陕西留坝紫柏山采集的七叶树Aesculus chinensis根和茎中分离出一株具有高产七叶皂苷C的内生真菌,将其编号为EA-LJS80。利用ITS序列分析鉴定其种属并对其形态进行观察;采用紫外-可见分光光度计进行全波长扫描,确定其最大紫外吸收峰;采用HPLC测定七叶皂苷C的产量;采用滤纸片扩散法研究其发酵液提取物的抑菌活性;采用CCK-8法测定提纯后七叶皂苷对肺腺癌A₅₄₉细胞的增殖抑制率,探究其生物活性。结果显示,该菌株EA-LJS80为曲霉菌属Aspergillus真菌,最大紫外吸收波长为230nm,测得提纯后七叶皂苷C的产量为9.23mg/mL。生物活性实验表明：菌株EA-LJS80的发酵液提取物对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli等4种致病菌有明显的抑菌效果;经CCK-8法测定,提纯后的七叶皂苷对肺腺癌A₅₄₉细胞的增殖有明显的抑制作用。综上所述,菌株EA-LJS80具有产七叶皂苷活性,尤其是七叶皂苷C的产量较高,且其产生的七叶皂苷具有较高的生物活性,这对于改进七叶皂苷生产模式,提高生产效率具有重要意义,同时对于七叶皂苷C的进一步研究有一定的促进作用。     

向日葵茎芯多糖的提取工艺优化及其体外抗肿瘤活性研究

研究了向日葵茎芯中主要活性物质多糖的提取工艺,并对此工艺进行了优化,选取的提取方法为水提醇沉法,以多糖含量作为指标,采用单因素试验研究了提取次数、原料颗粒的大小（目数）、料液比、提取时间、提取温度对向日葵茎芯多糖含量的影响。用苯酚-硫酸法测定提取液中多糖的含量,得出向日葵茎芯中多糖的最佳提取工艺条件为：提取次数2次,原料颗粒的大小（目数）60~80目,料液比（g·mL^-1）1：50,提取时间3.0 h,提取温度90℃,在最优提取条件下,多糖的提取得率为6.56%,多糖的含量为266.03 mg·g^-1。本文也对多糖的体外抗肿瘤活性进行了研究,结果表明向日葵茎芯多糖的体外抗肿瘤活性较弱。这些条件的确定为向日葵茎芯的深入研究奠定了基础。     

基于陈述性偏好法的三江平原湿地生态保护价值比较

陈述性偏好法是当前用于评估环境物品非市场价值的主要方法,包括条件价值评估法(CVM)和选择实验(CE).本文利用陈述性偏好法对三江平原湿地的生态保护价值进行评估,基于随机效用理论构建陈述性偏好方法的支付意愿评价模型,求出基于CVM与CE的三江平原湿地生态保护价值的支付意愿(WTP).结果表明: 基于CE的平均支付意愿为每年379元,不同选择属性的边际支付意愿分别是水源涵养为每年114.00元,湿地面积为每年72.55元,自然景观为每年59.55元,生物多样性为每年37.09元;CVM的平均支付意愿为每年134元.分析支付意愿的影响因素,并对受访者拒绝支付原因进行探讨.CE方法得到受访者的支付意愿显著高于CVM方法,社会经济属性中受教育程度和个人平均年收入与受访者的支付意愿呈显著正相关,而拒绝支付原因没有显著差异.CE可以进行多属性、多水平分析,求出湿地各选择属性的支付意愿,因此CE比CVM更能揭示受访者的偏好信息,其评估结果更接近于实际.     

坡改梯工程对胡家山小流域非点源污染负荷时空变化的影响

以丹江口库区胡家山小流域为研究对象,利用2005、2010和2015年3个时期的Landsat TM/ETM遥感影像,结合长期野外观测资料,应用输出系数模型,在GIS技术支持下,研究了以坡改梯工程为主要内容的小流域综合治理工程实施前后,流域非点源污染总氮(TN)负荷的时空变化及其影响因素.结果表明: 由于坡改梯工程的实施,流域内坡度15°以上区域的耕地面积明显增加,林地和荒地面积有所减少.流域非点源污染TN负荷由工程实施前的63028 kg增加到2010年的72778 kg ,实施后则降低到46876 kg.其中,农村生活的贡献率较高,3期平均贡献率为53.5%,但呈逐年减少趋势;土地利用的贡献率平均为45%,呈逐年增加趋势;畜禽养殖贡献率始终较低.流域非点源氮素负荷强度的空间分布在工程实施前后发生了较为明显的变化.实施前,高负荷强度区主要集中在5°～15°坡度区间,实施后高负荷强度区集中在15°～35°区间,5°～8°区间成为低负荷强度区;在时间变化上,0°～8°坡度区间的TN负荷强度随时间的变化较小,8°以上坡度区间,表现为先增加后减少的趋势.随着村落污水、垃圾和畜禽粪便得到治理,居民生活、畜禽养殖非点源氮素输出明显减少;由于坡改梯工程的实施,耕地面积增加了31%.     

Impact of naturalistic lighting on hospitalized stroke patients in a rehabilitation unit: Design and measurement

Introduction and rationale: Stroke is a major cause of acquired cerebral disability among adults, frequently accompanied by depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, disrupted sleep and fatigue. New ways of intervention to prevent these complications are therefore needed. The major circadian regulator, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is mainly controlled by natural daylight, and the blue spectrum is considered the most powerful. During stroke rehabilitation, patients typically are mostly indoors and therefore not exposed to the natural daytime variation in light intensity. Furthermore, several rehabilitation hospitals may be exposed to powerful light in the blue spectrum, but at a time that is adversely related to their endogenous circadian phase, for example in the late evening instead of the daytime. Hypothesis: Naturalistic light that mimics the natural daytime spectrum variation will have a positive impact on the health of poststroke patients admitted to rehabilitation. We test specifically for improved sleep and less fatigue (questionnaires, polysomnography, Actiwatch), improved well-being (questionnaires), lessen anxiety and depression (questionnaires), improved cognition (tests), stabilizing of the autonomous nervous system (ECG/HR, blood pressure, temperature) and stabilizing of the diurnal biochemistry (blood markers). Study design: The study is a prospective parallel longitudinal randomized controlled study (quasi randomization). Stroke patients in need of rehabilitation will be included at the acute stroke unit and randomized to either the intervention unit (naturalistic lighting) or the control unit (CU) (standard lighting). The naturalistic light is installed in the entire IU (Cromaviso, Denmark). Conclusion: This study aims to elucidate the influence of naturalistic light on patients during long-term hospitalization in a real hospital setting. The hypotheses are based on preclinical research, as studies using naturalistic light have never been performed before. Investigating the effects of naturalistic light in a clinical setting is therefore much needed.