An injectable hydrogel formed by in situ cross-linking of glycol chitosan and multi-benzaldehyde functionalized PEG analogues for cartilage tissue engineering.

In this study, a multi-benzaldehyde functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) analogue, poly(ethylene oxide-co-glycidol)-CHO (poly(EO-co-Gly)-CHO), was designed and synthesized for the first time, and was applied as a cross-linker to develop an injectable hydrogel system. Simply mixing two aqueous precursor solutions of glycol chitosan (GC) and poly(EO-co-Gly)-CHO led to the formation of chemically cross-linked hydrogels under physiological conditions in situ. The cross-linking was attributed to a Schiff's base reaction between amino groups of GC and aldehyde groups of poly(EO-co-Gly)-CHO.

Aryl organophosphate flame retardants induced cardiotoxicity during zebrafish embryogenesis: by disturbing expression of the transcriptional regulators.

As a result of the ban on some brominated flame retardants (BFRs), the use of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) increases, and they are detected in multi-environment media at higher frequency and concentrations. However, the toxicity data of OPFRs, especially those on developmental toxicology are quite limited, which prevents an accurate evaluation of their environmental and health risk. Because a previous study reported that two aryl-OPFRs induced cardiotoxicity during zebrafish embryogenesis, we designed experiments to compare the heart developmental toxicity of a series of aryl-OPFRs with alkyl-OPFRs and explored possible internal mechanism.

The genus Carpesium: a review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The plants in the genus Carpesium, which grow naturally in Asia and Europe, have long been used in traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese medicines. The antipyretic, antimalarial, haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties of their extracts enabled their use in the treatment of several diseases, such as fevers, colds, contusions, diarrhoea, mastitis, mumps, hepatitis, malaria, etc. This review summarises the state-of-the-art and comprehensive information surrounding its use as traditional medicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology to reveal the potential therapeutic effects of Carpesium plants and to establish a solid foundation for directing future research.

Eight pairs of epimeric triterpenoids involving a characteristic spiro-E/F ring from Abies faxoniana.

Five pairs of new epimeric lanostane-type triterpenoids, abiespirones A-D (1-4) and G (7), two pairs of new epimeric cycloartane-type triterpenoids, abiespirones E and F (5, 6), and a pair of new epimeric 7(8→9)abeo-spirolanostane abiespirones H (8) with spiro-B/C and -E/F ring systems were isolated from Abies faxoniana as inseparable mixtures of C-23 epimers in a specific proportion. The HPLC plots showed that each purified isomer rapidly equilibrated with the C-23 epimer in solution. The structures of compounds 1-8 were elucidated by analysis of the NMR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Abieslactone induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinomas through the mitochondrial pathway and the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Abieslactone is a triterpenoid lactone isolated from Abies plants. Previous studies have demonstrated that its derivative abiesenonic acid methyl ester possesses anti-tumor-promoting activity in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, cell viability assay demonstrated that abieslactone had selective cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cell lines.

In vitro and in vivo study of a sodium chloride impregnated microarc oxidation-treated titanium implant surface.

Microarc oxidation (MAO) has been well-documented as an advantageous surface coating technique to improve implant osseointegration. Nevertheless, its strong susceptibility to bacteria critically impedes the development of MAO in clinical trials. Aimed at the efficient inhibition of bacterial invasion of MAO treated titanium (MAO-Ti) implants, a composite coating created by applying sodium chloride (NaCl) on a MAO-Ti implant surface layer was designed herein with the capacity to resist a broad spectrum of bacteria.

A novel animal model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced using a magnetic resonance imaging-guided argon-helium cryotherapy system.

The aim of the present study was to establish a novel animal model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided argon-helium cryotherapy system. A total of 48 rabbits were used to generate the ONFH models. In group I, the left femoral head of the rabbits received two cycles of argon-helium freezing-thawing under MRI guidance, while in group II, the right femoral head of each rabbit received only one cycle of argon-helium freezing-thawing.

Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline 20 versus 40 mg/day as augmentation for Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline 20 mg/day has been approved this year for manufacturing and market in Japan. Therefore, we did this meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the clinical applicability of 40 mg/day as augmentation to levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared istradefylline with placebo for short-course treatment of PD in adults were systematically reviewed up to November 2013.

Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of lercanidipine based on N-chlorosuccinimide-eosin Y post-chemiluminescence reaction.

A novel post-chemiluminescence (PCL) reaction was discovered when lercanidipine was injected into the CL reaction mixture of N-chlorosuccinimide with alkaline eosin Y in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), where eosin Y was used as the CL reagent and CTAB as the surfactant. Based on this observation, a simple and highly sensitive PCL method combined with a flow injection (FI) technique was developed for the assay of lercanidipine. Under optimum conditions, the CL signal was linearly related to the concentration of lercanidipine in the range 7.

New phenylpropanoid and other compounds from Illicium lanceolatum with inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Illicium lanceolatum is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating inflammatory diseases. Anti-inflammatory activities of I. lanceolatum stems and leaves were tested using ear edema models induced by dimethyl benzene in mice.

Inula sesquiterpenoids: structural diversity, cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity.

Introduction: The plants of the genus Inula (Asteraceae) are widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, and many of these plants have long been used in folk medicine. This genus is a rich source of sesquiterpenoids, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities. Recently, a series of bioactive sesquiterpenoid dimers, with unusual carbon skeletons, have been reported and these have gathered considerable interest.

The ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of the genus Pinellia.

The genus Pinellia (Araceae), consisting of nine species, is mainly distributed in Eastern Asia. In traditional medicine, some Pinellia species have long been used for the treatment of various ailments, such as cough, vomiting, inflammation, epilepsy, cervical cancer and traumatic injury. Pharmacological studies revealed that Pinellia species possess a wide range of biological activities including cytotoxic, anti-tumor, antiemetic, insecticidal, antitussive, antimicrobial and anticonvulsant activities.

Preparation and characterization of novel anion phase change heat storage materials.

In this paper, polyurethane phase change material was successfully prepared with TDI with BDO for hard segments and PEG for soft segments. Moreover, based on this the solid-solid phase change material, A-PCM1030 which can release anions was prepared with the successful addition of anion additives A1030 for the first time. Then the test of the above material was conducted utilizing FT-IR, DSC, TEM, WAXD and Air Ion Detector.

[Studies on absorption kinetics characteristics of diterpenoid alkaloids in rats after oral administration of Sini Tang powder].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the absorption kinetics of aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine in rats after oral administration of Sini Tang powder. With cannulate portal and jugular veins cannulated (double-cannulate), conscious moving rats were orally administered Sini Tang. Then samples of portal and systemic blood were collected at the designated periods of time and analyzed for aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine by HPLC.

Effect of a magnetron-sputtered ZrSiN/ZrO2 film on the bond strength of commercially pure titanium to porcelain.

Statement Of Problem: The excessively thick and nonadherent titanium oxide layer formed during the porcelain sintering process can cause bonding problems between titanium and porcelain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a magnetron-sputtered ZrSiN/ZrO2 composite film on the bond strength of commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) to porcelain.

Material And Methods: Sixty-eight cast titanium specimens were prepared according to the ISO 9693 standard and then divided into 2 coated and 2 noncoated groups (n=17).

Single InAs quantum dot grown at the junction of branched gold-free GaAs nanowire.

We report a new type of single InAs quantum dot (QD) embedded at the junction of gold-free branched GaAs/AlGaAs nanowire (NW) grown on silicon substrate. The photoluminescence intensity of such QD is ~20 times stronger than that from randomly distributed QD grown on the facet of straight NW. Sharp excitonic emission is observed at 4.

Degenerative changes in rat condylar cartilage induced by non-matching occlusion created by scattered orthodontic teeth-moving.

The effect of occlusion on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is debated. By inserting rubber-bands that were replaced by self-curing resin one week later, the left maxillary and the right mandibular first-molars were moved and kept mesially in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in both experimental I (EXP-I) and II (EXP-II) groups, aiming to establish a non-matching cusp-to-fossa occlusal relation. Four weeks later, the left maxillary and the right mandibular third-molars were moved and kept distally in the EXP-II group.

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective vinylogous aldol reaction by LiCl-assisted BINOL-titanium species.

The first highly enantio- and diastereoselective vinylogous aldol reaction between propionyl acetate-derived Brassard's diene and aldehydes was accomplished by titanium-lithium combined Lewis acid, affording δ-hydroxy-γ-methyl-β-methoxy acrylates. This methodology was utilized in convenient and concise construction of the polypropionate moiety in cystothiazole A and melithiazole C.

The genus Broussonetia: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Plants belonging to the genus Broussonetia (Moraceae), which grow naturally in Asian and Pacific countries, have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various conditions, particularly tinea, dysentery, hernia and oedema. Various parts of plants of this genus such as the fruits, bark, leaves, flowers and roots are used medicinally. According to Flora of China, the inner bark fibre is used in making paper, and the wood is used for furniture.

Chemical composition, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oil from the roots of Illicium lanceolatum.

Illicium lanceolatum is a popular aromatic and medicinal plant in China. Essential oil from the roots of I. lanceolatum, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analysed by GC-MS.

[TLR9 expression and its relationship with MCP-1 and TNF-α in HCV-stimulated BV2 cells].

Aim: To detect TLR9 expression and its effect on the secretion of MCP-1 and TNF-α after mouse microglia (BV2) were infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), and to explore the mechanism of HCV-induced central nervous system (CNS) infection.

Methods: BV2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into a HCV-positive serum group, a normal serum group (negative control) and a blank control group, with each group of 20 samples. The cells and the supernatants were collected at 12 h, detected for TLR9 expression by flow cytometry (FCM), and determined for the levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 by ELISA.

Synthesis of eight-shaped poly(ethylene oxide) by the combination of Glaser coupling with ring-opening polymerization.

The eight-shaped poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is synthesized by a combination of Glaser coupling with ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Firstly, the star-shaped (PEO-OH)(4) is synthesized by ROP of ethylene oxide (EO) using pentaerythritol as an initiator and diphenylmethyl potassium (DPMK) as a deprotonated agent, and then the alkyne group is introduced onto the PEO arm-end to give (PEO-Alkyne)(4) in a NaH/tetrahydrofuran (THF) system. The intramolecular cyclization is carried out by a Glaser coupling reaction in a pyridine/CuBr/N,N,N',N",N"-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) system at room temperature in an air atmosphere, and eight-shaped PEO was formed with high efficiency (almost 100%).

1,1'-[(1,3-Dihydroxypropane-2,2-diyl)dimethylene]dipyridinium bis-(hexa-fluoro-phosphate).

The title compound, C(15)H(20)N(2)O(2) (2+)·2PF(6) (-), was prepared by anion exchange of two bromide ions in the ionic liquid 2,2'-bis-(pyridinium-1-ylmeth-yl)-propane-1,3-diol dibromide with potassium hexa-fluoro-phosphate. The two pyridine rings are planar (r.m.

[TLR9 mRNA expression and tumor necrosis factor-alpha/interleukin-6 secretion in murine microglia by hepatitis C virus stimulation].

Objective: To analyze the expression of toll-like receptor 9 mRNA, TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α and IL (interleukin)-6 after the stimulation of murine microglia (BV2) by hepatitis C virus (HCV) so as to elucidate the immune pathogenesis of HCV in the injury of central nervous system (CNS).

Methods: BV2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into 3 groups: HCV-positive serum group, normal serum group (negative control) and blank control group. Each group had 20 samples.