Climate and soil properties regulate the vertical heterogeneity of minor and trace elements in the alpine topsoil of the Hengduan Mountains.

Soil minor and trace elements are vital regulators of ecological processes that sustain alpine ecosystem functions. In this study, the vertical pattern and driving factors of element concentrations in alpine soils of the Tibetan Plateau were investigated. Three snow mountains (Meili, Baima, and Haba) part of the Hengduan Mountain range, were selected as the study area to determine the vertical distribution of 12 typical elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ca, Sr, As, and Se) in topsoil with increasing and decreasing elevation, as well as the dominant driving factors of their spatial heterogeneity.

[Coupling Relationship Between Soil Functions and Environmental Factors Along an Altitudinal Gradient: A Case Study of the Meili Mountain].

Soil respiration and extracellular enzyme activity are important components of the material cycle of mountain ecosystems and play key roles in maintaining ecosystem functions. To explore the coupling relationship between soil functions and environmental factors, the soil functional indicators, environmental factors, and effects of altitude on the soil function of 36 soil samples from 12 altitudes of the Meili Mountain were analyzed. The results showed that there were significant differences in soil respirations and enzyme activities among altitudes of Meili Mountain, and high-altitude areas had higher soil functions.

Niclosamide attenuates inflammatory cytokines via the autophagy pathway leading to improved outcomes in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a debilitating condition that leads to loss renal function and damage to kidney tissue in the majority of patients with acute kidney disease. Previous studies have indicated that autophagy serves a protective function in renal I/R injury. In the present study, the effect of the anthelmintic niclosamide in the regulation of inflammatory responses in kidney I/R was investigated.

[Expression and regulation of drug transporters in placenta].

Placenta, an important organ, mediates the exchange of nutrients and metabolites between mother and fetus. The transporters, including ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and solute carrier (SLC), expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast play a vital role in substance exchange. Some transporters, such as organic cation transporters (OCTs) and organic anion transporters (OATs), mediate the uptake of endogenous substances and drugs.

Hyaluronic acid reagent functional chitosan-PEI conjugate with AQP2-siRNA suppressed endometriotic lesion formation.

To identify a new drug candidate for treating endometriosis which has fewer side effects, a new polymeric nanoparticle gene delivery system consisting of polyethylenimine-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-PEI) with hyaluronic acid (HA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed. There was no obvious difference in sizes observed between (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA and CSO-PEI/siRNA, but the fluorescence accumulation in the endometriotic lesion was more significant for (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA compared with CSO-PEI/siRNA due to the specific binding of HA to CD44. In addition, the (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA nanoparticle gene therapy significantly decreased the endometriotic lesion sizes with atrophy and degeneration of the ectopic endometrium.

Stereoselective metabolism of tetrahydropalmatine enantiomers in rat liver microsomes.

Tetrahydropalmatine (THP), with one chiral center, is an active alkaloid ingredient in Rhizoma Corydalis. The aim of the present paper is to study whether THP enantiomers are metabolized stereoselectively in rat, mouse, dog, and monkey liver microsomes, and then, to elucidate which Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms are predominately responsible for the stereoselective metabolism of THP enantiomers in rat liver microsomes (RLM). The results demonstrated that (+)-THP was preferentially metabolized by liver microsomes from rats, mice, dogs, and monkeys, and the intrinsic clearance (Cl(int)) ratios of (+)-THP to (-)-THP were 2.

Relative contribution of small and large intestine to deglycosylation and absorption of flavonoids from Chrysanthemun morifolium extract.

The flower of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (CM) is an established part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Luteolin and apigenin flavonoids are the effective components of the CM extract (CME); however, they exist in the orally consumed CME as glycosides. The present study was carried out to determine the relative contribution of the small and large intestine to the deglycosylation and absorption of flavonoids from CME using a rat model system.

Crystalline characteristics of alpha precipitates in Ti-15V-3Sn-3Al-3Cr alloy.

The experiment was designed to analyse the orientation relationship between alpha precipitates and beta matrix and to determine the habit plane of alpha phase in Ti-15-3 alloy using transmission electron microscopy. The orientation relationship was turned out to be 110(alpha)||111(beta) and (001)(alpha)||{110}(beta) obtained from diffraction patterns, which corresponded to Burgers orientation relationship. Based on the patterns and the crystal structure, it was determined that there were 12 possible orientation relationships between alpha precipitates with beta matrix and alpha precipitates had 12 variants.

Stereoselective protein binding of tetrahydropalmatine enantiomers in human plasma, HSA, and AGP, but not in rat plasma.

Tetrahydropalmatine (THP) is one of the active alkaloid ingredients of Rhizoma Corydalis. THP has a chiral center, and the stereoselective pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution have been reported. The aim of the present article is to study the stereoselective protein binding of THP using equilibrium dialysis followed by HPLC-UV analysis.

[Determination of bis (p-fluorobenzyl) trisulfide and bis (p-fluoro-benzyl) disulfide in lungs of rat by HPLC].

Objective: To establish an HPLC method for analysis of bis(p-fluorobenzyl) trisulfide(BFTS) and bis(p-fluorobenzyl)disulfide(BFDS) in the lungs of rat.

Methods: 5.0 ml extract solvent (n-hexane: isopropyl alcohol=95:5, v/v) and 20 microl of 11.