Structural layer applicability of semi-flexible material for rutting resistance: A coupled temperature-mechanical approach.

Semi-flexible material (SFM) is produced by pouring cement grouting material into the asphalt concrete skeleton. It exhibits both characteristics of cement and asphalt, increasing structural stiffness and reducing rutting. Extensive studies have shown that the temperature load coupling effect is one of the leading causes of road rutting.

Astragalus polysaccharides repress myocardial lipotoxicity in a PPARalpha-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo in mice.

Background: The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in the development of myocardial lipotoxicity is widely observed in diabetic disorders. Thus, we investigated if treatment of Astragalus polysaccharides modulates lipotoxic cardiomyopathy both in vivo and in vitro through PPARα mechanisms.

Methodology/principal Findings: The effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on PPARα target gene expression and protein levels were tested in vitro and in vivo, including in mice with PPARα cardiac-restricted overexpression [myosin heavy chain (MHC)-PPARα] and in H9c2 embryonic rat cardiomyocytes with or without PPARα agonist.

Therapy with Astragalus polysaccharides rescues lipotoxic cardiomyopathy in MHC-PPARα mice.

Obesity-related diabetes mellitus leads to lipotoxic cardiomyopathy resulting in a form of cardiac dysfunction. Mice with heart-specific overexpression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α showed a metabolic and cardiomyopathic phenotype similar to the diabetic heart. To define the role of Astragalus Polysaccharides (APS) treatment for PPARα-mediated lipotoxicity in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy, myosin heavy chain [MHC]-PPARα mice with high-fat diet were administrated with APS or vehicle for 16 weeks.

The critical role of Astragalus polysaccharides for the improvement of PPARα [ correction of PPRAα]-mediated lipotoxicity in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Obesity-related diabetes mellitus leads to increased myocardial uptake and oxidation of fatty acids, resulting in a form of cardiac dysfunction referred to as lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. We have shown previously that Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) administration was sufficient to improve the systemic metabolic disorder and cardiac dysfunction in diabetic models.

Methodology/principal Findings: To investigate the precise role of APS therapy in the pathogenesis of myocardial lipotoxity in diabetes, db/db diabetic mice and myosin heavy chain (MHC)- peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α mice were characterized and administrated with or without APS with C57 wide- type mice as normal control.

Improvement of myocardial glycolipid metabolic disorder in diabetic hamster with Astragalus polysaccharides treatment.

The objective of the present study is to observe the effect of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on myocardial glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes (DM) hamster and to explore its mechanism in intervention of DM cardiomyopathy. Low-dose- streptozotocin-induced hamsters (STZ, 40 mg/kg × 3 days, i.p.

Beneficial effects of astragalus polysaccharides treatment on cardiac chymase activities and cardiomyopathy in diabetic hamsters.

Over-activation of the local chymase-angiotensin II (Ang II) system has a dominant role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost immunity. In this study, we investigated the effects of APS treatment on cardiac function, myocardial collagen expression, cardiac ultrastructure, cardiac matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, levels of plasma glycosylated serum protein (GSP), and myocardial enzymes, and the expression of Ang II, chymase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the diabetic hamster myocardium.

Astragalus polysaccharides inhibited diabetic cardiomyopathy in hamsters depending on suppression of heart chymase activation.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with high morbidity and mortality of heart failure. Overactivation of the local chymase-Ang II system plays a dominant role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost immunity.

Effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on chymase, angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II in diabetic cardiomyopathy in hamsters.

This study investigated the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active extract from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus, on myocardial chymase, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in diabetic cardiomyopathic hamsters. Plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and glycosylated serum protein (GSP), plasma and myocardial levels of Ang II, and myocardial gene expression and activity of chymase and ACE were measured after treatment with APS at a dose of 1 g/kg per day or 1 ml of normal saline per day (controls) for 10 weeks. GSP levels, myocardial Ang II levels, and myocardial gene expression and activity of chymase were significantly decreased in diabetic hamsters after treatment with APS compared with controls.

[The expression of galectin-3 in nodular thyroid goitre].

Objective: To investigate the expression of galectin-3 in benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods: Galectin-3 expression was assayed with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods in thyroid specimens.

Results: The majority of the specimens of thyroid carcinomas expressed galectin-3 with immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods (89.

Determination of vitamin C in plasma and dialysate from uremia patients by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A convenient and valid method for the determination of ascorbic acid(AA) and dehydroascorbic acid(DHAA) in plasma and dialysate from patients with uremia by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection is described. A mixture of 0.8 g/L metaphosphoric acid and 18% (volume fraction) perchloric acid was used as a protein precipitant and the extractant for AA from biosamples.