Age differences in the impact of dietary salt on metabolism, blood pressure and cognitive function in male rats.

The influence of salt consumption on physiological processes, especially blood pressure (BP), metabolism, and cognition, remains a topical concern. While guidelines endorse reduced salt diets, there are gaps in understanding the age-specific implications and challenges in adherence. The present study delved into the differential effects of salt intake on young adult and aged male rats over a 12-week period, using control, low-, and high-salt diets.

Design, synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of arylurea derivatives as potent and selective type II irreversible covalent FGFR4 inhibitors.

Aberrant FGF19/FGFR4 signaling has been demonstrated to be an oncogenic driver of growth and survival in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, the development of FGFR4-specific drugs has become a hotspot in tumor-targeted therapy research. However, no selective FGFR4 inhibitors have been approved by FDA so far.

PROTACS: A technology with a gold rush-like atmosphere.

Abnormally expressed or malfunctioning proteins may affect or even damage cells, leading to the onset of diseases. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology has been proven to be a fresh therapeutic strategy, superior to conventional small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic proteins. Unlike conventional small molecule inhibitors that are occupancy-driven, PROTACs are heterobifunctional small molecules with catalytic properties.

Two Fungi with Opposite Functions to the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect Have Different Genome Characters.

Insects encounter infection of microorganisms, and they also harbor endosymbiosis to participate in nutrition providing and act as a defender against pathogens. We previously found the Chinese white wax scale insect, , was infected and killed by sp. (pathogen).

Design, synthesis and anticancer evaluation of 3-methyl-1H-indazole derivatives as novel selective bromodomain-containing protein 4 inhibitors.

Bromodomain-containing Protein 4 (BRD4), an 'epigenetic reader', regulates chromatin structure and gene expression via recognizing and binding acetylated lysine in histones. BRD4 has become a therapeutic target for cancers because it promotes the expression of the tumor genes, such as c-Myc, NF-κB, and Bcl-2. In this study, a new series of 3-methyl-1H-indazole derivatives were designed via virtual screening and structure-based optimization.

Discovery of 4,6-Disubstituted Pyrimidine Derivatives as Novel Dual VEGFR2/FGFR1 Inhibitors.

Abnormalities in the FGFRs signaling pathway and VEGFR2 amplification often occur in a variety of tumors, and they synergistically promote tumor angiogenesis. Studies have shown that the up-regulation of FGF-2 is closely related to the resistance of VEGFR2 inhibitors. Activation of the FGFRs signal is a signal of compensatory angiogenesis after VEGFR2 resistance.

Discovery of 4-amino-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin derivatives as novel discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) inhibitors.

DDR1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by triple-helical collagens and has become an attractive target for anticancer therapy given its involvement in tumor growth, metastasis development, and tumor dormancy. Several drugs on the market, such as dasatinib and nilotinib, were reported to potently suppress the function of DDR1 and show significant therapeutic benefits in a variety of preclinical tumor models. Whereas only a few selective DDR1 inhibitors were disclosed in recent years.

PROTAC: A promising technology for cancer treatment.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs), which attract much more attention today, may be a potential way to treat cancer. PROTACs are made up of ligands of target proteins, E3 ligase recruiting elements and linkers. PROTACs can hijack the intracellular inherent ubiquitin proteasome system in cells to degrade different target proteins.

Yin Yang 1 Dynamically Regulates Antiviral Innate Immune Responses During Viral Infection.

Background/aims: Type I interferon (IFN-1) production and IFN-1 signaling play critical roles in the host antiviral innate immune responses. Although transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) has been reported to have a dual activator/repressor role during the regulation of interferon beta (IFN-β) promoter activity, the roles of YY1 in the regulation of upstream signaling pathways leading to IFN-1 induction and IFN-1 signaling during viral infection remain to be elucidated.

Methods: The roles of YY1 in IFN-1 production and IFN-1 signaling were investigated using immunoblotting, real-time PCR, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated YY1 knockdown, YY1 overexpression by transient transfection, and co-immunoprecipitation, using mouse cells.

[Experimental Research of HgRemoval by TiO/Bentonite Composite].

The TiO/bentonite composite was synthesized by modifying calcium-based bentonite with Nano-TiO. The products before and after modification were characterized via the approach of X-ray power diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The effect of TiO/bentonite composite on mercury removal from aqueous solutions of HgClwas studied at different dosage, pH, adsorption time and the initial concentration of Hg was investigated and compared with the bentonite by indoor simulation experiment, as well as the orthogonal experiments to determine the optimal condition of Hg adsorption.

[Effect of Nano-TiO₂ on Release and Speciation Changes of Heavy Metals in Soil].

The effects of nano-TiO₂ on migration and transformation of heavy metals in soil were investigated by outdoor flooding simulation experiments. Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu contents of different forms were determined in soil of typical fluctuating zone of Three Gorges Reservoir. The results showed that, after flooding months, both addition of 4 g · kg⁻¹ of rutile and anatase particles resulted in the release of about 30% Cr into the water.

[Experimental Research of Hg (II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions of HgCl2 with Nano-TiO2].

Mercury removal from aqueous solutions of HgCl2 was studied by indoor simulation experiments, and the effects of three different diameter of particles of Nano-TiO2 ( Nano-Titanium Dioxide) at different dosage, pH, adsorption time and the initial concentration of Hg2+ on the mercury adsorption from simulated wastewater were investigated. The single factor experiments showed that the optimal conditions were: 7.5 g x L(-1) of 5 nm TiO2 or 2.

[Effect of nano-TiO2 on the release and activation of mercury in sediment].

To investigate the effects of nano-TiO2 on mercury release and activation in sediment, flooding simulation experiments were conducted. The impacts of nano-TiO2 on total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in overlying water were analyzed. And the influences of nano-TiO2 on the migration and transformation of mercury were discussed based on changes of mercury speciation in sediment.

[Release of mercury from soil and plant in water-level-fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir area and its accumulation in zebrafish].

To investigate the production, distribution and bioavailability of methylmercury (MMHg) in soil and plants of the water-level-fluctuating zone (WLFZ) of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, simulation experiments were conducted in laboratory. Results indicated that the level of total mercury (THg) in soil decreased with the lengthening of submerging time while that in water increased obviously. The level of MMHg in inundated soil and water increased, especially in the water treated by Echinochloa crusgalli and soils.

[Distribution and risk assessment of mercury species in soil of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir].

To investigate pollution level and ecological risk of mercury in soils of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, 192 surface soil samples from 14 counties (districts) in Chongqing were obtained. Concentrations of THg and Hg species, bioavailable Hg were analyzed and discussed. Geoaccumulation index (I(geo)) and Håkanson potential ecological risk index (E(r)) were applied to assess the pollution status and potential ecological risk of THg and Hg species, respectively.

Beneficial effects of natural Jeju groundwaters on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Background: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo™), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Materials/methods: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups.

[Mercury speciation transformation in soil of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges area under alternative dry-wet condition].

The speciation transformation, influencing factors, as well as bioavailability of mercury (Hg) in soil of the water-level-fluctuating zone in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area were simulated. The results showed that Hg in soil under alternative dry-wet condition could be transformed and released. The total Hg content in the soil was decreased by 28.

Preparation of the albumin nanoparticle system loaded with both paclitaxel and sorafenib and its evaluation in vitro and in vivo.

Paclitaxel and sorafenib loaded albumin nanoparticles (PTX-SRF-BSA-NPs) were prepared and studied here to avoid the toxicities from the excipients in the Taxol® and explore the effect of such combination on the antitumour efficacy and toxicity. PTX-BSA-NPs and so on were used as controls. The particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and morphology were evaluated.

Evaluation and structure-activity relationship study of acute toxicity of naphthoquinones to Photobacterium phosphoreum, Photobacterium T3B.

The acute toxicities of five naphthoquinone compounds to Photobacterium phosphoreum were determined. We evaluated the mechanism of toxicity using the structure-activity relationship technique. The results showed that some factors, including the species of substituents, shape/size of molecule and oil-water partition coefficient (log P) played the important roles in the interaction between the naphthoquinones and the target.