Calculation method for brittle fracture of functional gradient materials.

Combined the phase field model with the wavelet dummy node-virtual crack closure technique (WDN-VCCT) used for stress intensity factors (SIFs) calculation. Calculated the node displacement using an improved brittle fracture phase field method, established the relationship between node displacement and node force using WDN-VCCT, and calculated the SIFs at the crack tip. The correctness and accuracy of the proposed method were verified through functional gradient material (FGM) tensile experiment.

Protective effect of andrographolide against ulcerative colitis by activating Nrf2/HO-1 mediated antioxidant response.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurring inflammatory bowel disease, in which oxidative stress plays a role in its progression, and regulation of the oxidative/antioxidative balance has been suggested as a potential target for the treatment of UC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of andrographolide against UC and its potential antioxidant properties by modulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) -induced UC mice and the LPS-induced HT29 inflammatory cell model were established to uncover the potential mechanisms of andrographolide.

The Molecular Mechanisms of Fuel Utilization during Exercise.

Exercise is widely recognized for its positive impact on human health and well-being. The process of utilizing substrates in skeletal muscle during exercise is intricate and governed by complex mechanisms. Carbohydrates and lipids serve as the primary fuel sources for skeletal muscle during exercise.

TET3 plays a critical role in white adipose development and diet-induced remodeling.

Maintaining healthy adipose tissue is crucial for metabolic health, requiring a deeper understanding of adipocyte development and response to high-calorie diets. This study highlights the importance of TET3 during white adipose tissue (WAT) development and expansion. Selective depletion of Tet3 in adipose precursor cells (APCs) reduces adipogenesis, protects against diet-induced adipose expansion, and enhances whole-body metabolism.

Genistein Protects against Acetaldehyde-Induced Oxidative Stress and Hepatocyte Injury in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Mice.

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is one of the most prevalent forms of liver disease in the world. Acetaldehyde, an intermediate product of alcohol catabolism, is a cause of liver injury caused by alcohol. This study was designed to evaluate the protective role and mechanism(s) of genistein against acetaldehyde-induced liver injury in the pathological process of ALD.

(±)-5-bromo-2-(5-fluoro-1-hydroxyamyl) Benzoate Protects Against Oxidative Stress Injury in PC12 Cells Exposed to HO Through Activation of Nrf2 Pathway.

Oxidative stress is associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (±)-5-bromo-2-(5-fluoro-1-hydroxyamyl) benzoate (BFB) is a novel compound modified by dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP). Here, we hypothesized that BFB may protect the PC12 cells against HO-induced oxidative stress injury through activation of the Nrf2 pathway. We measured the cell viability and levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to determine the construction of the HO-induced models of oxidative stress in PC12 cells.

Research Progress on Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Propolis on Wound Healing.

Propolis is a kind of reduct collected by bees from various plant sources. Because propolis is a mixture, it has a variety of biological activities, excellent anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. Especially in the treatment of infectious wounds, acute wounds, burns, and scalds and promoting wound healing, more and more scientists began to apply it to the research field of wound healing.

AIFM2 Is Required for High-Intensity Aerobic Exercise in Promoting Glucose Utilization.

Skeletal muscle is a major regulator of glycemic control at rest, and glucose utilization increases drastically during exercise. Sustaining a high glucose utilization via glycolysis requires efficient replenishment of NAD+ in the cytosol. Apoptosis-inducing mitochondrion-associated factor 2 (AIFM2) was previously shown to be a NADH oxidoreductase domain-containing flavoprotein that promotes glycolysis for diet and cold-induced thermogenesis.

Long non-coding RNA-EN_181 potentially contributes to the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) possesses a strong capability to ameliorate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Our study aimed to clarify the involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the beneficial effects of NAC on HFD-induced NAFLD. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal-fat diet (10 % fat), a HFD (45 % fat) or a HFD plus NAC (2 g/l).

Study on Intrinsic Influence Law of Specimen Size and Loading Speed on Charpy Impact Test.

Charpy impact energy/impact toughness is closely related to external factors such as specimen size. However, when the sample size is small, the linear conversion relationship between the Charpy impact energy of the sub-size and full-size Charpy specimens does not hold; the Charpy impact toughness varies with the size of the specimen and other factors. This indicates that studying the internal influence of external factors on impact energy or impact toughness is the key to accurately understanding and evaluating the toughness and brittleness of materials.

Upregulation of 4-Hydroxynonenal Contributes to the Negative Effect of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid on Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury and Hepatic Steatosis.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the underlying mechanisms. C57BL/6J male mice were randomly fed a corn oil or palm oil diet (rich in n-6 PUFA and SFA, respectively) with or without ethanol for four weeks ( = 10/group). A series of experiments in vitro with AML-12 hepatocyte were conducted to better elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the phenomenon observed in animals.

Alcohol Abstinence Rescues Hepatic Steatosis and Liver Injury Improving Metabolic Reprogramming in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Mice.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) caused by chronic ethanol overconsumption is a common type of liver disease with a severe mortality burden throughout the world. The pathogenesis of ALD is complex, and no effective clinical treatment for the disease has advanced so far. Prolonged alcohol abstinence is the most effective therapy to attenuate the clinical course of ALD and even reverse liver damage.

Inhibition of TLR4/MAPKs Pathway Contributes to the Protection of Salvianolic Acid A Against Lipotoxicity-Induced Myocardial Damage in Cardiomyocytes and Obese Mice.

The occurrence of lipotoxicity during obesity-associated cardiomyopathy is detrimental to health. Salvianolic acid A (SAA), a natural polyphenol extract of (Danshen in China), is known to be cardioprotective. However, its clinical benefits against obesity-associated cardiomyocyte injuries are unclear.

Hyperphosphatemia, a Cause of High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Hyperphosphatemia is a common problem in patients with kidney failure. It is usually mild and rarely severe enough to cause metabolic acidosis on its own. Besides kidney failure, use of phosphate containing enemas, rhabdomyolysis, and tumor lysis syndrome are common causes of severe hyperphosphatemia.

Recurrent Syncope and Cardiac Arrest in a Patient with Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis Treated with Bortezomib.

About 10-15% of patients with multiple myeloma develop light chain (AL) amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis is a systemic disease that may involve multiple organs, often including the heart. It may present clinically with bradyarrhythmia and syncope.

Rare and unusual clinicopathologic presentation of renal AL amyloidosis.

Rarely, renal light chain (AL) amyloidosis may present without significant proteinuria owing to glomerular sparing and amyloid deposition confined to the vasculature and tubulointerstitium.

Ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block is an effective technique for perioperative analgesia in ambulatory arthroscopic surgery of the internal knee compartment.

Objectives: Arthroscopic knee surgery is a minimally invasive technique with moderate pain during the first 24h. Our main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guided saphenous nerve block as a method of pain control intraoperatively and postoperatively for this surgery.

Material And Methods: A prospective and observational study.

[Neurological complications associated with ultrasound-guided interscalene and supraclavicular block in elective surgery of the shoulder and arm. Prospective observational study in a university hospital].

Objectives: The incidence of postoperative neurological symptoms after performing interscalene block varies between 4 and 16%. The majority of cases are resolved spontaneously within a year, but some patients have their symptoms permanently. Our objective was to assess the incidence of postoperative neurological symptoms after performing the ultrasound-assisted interscalene and supraclavicular anaesthetic blocks.

[Perioperative mortality: retrospective cross-sectional study of surgical patients who died between 2004 and 2008 in a tertiary care hospital].

Objective: Retrospective analysis of all surgical, early postoperative, and 1-week to detect risk factors.

Material And Methods: A database was established to record clinical, anesthetic, and surgical variables, grouped as preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors, and reflecting comorbidities and postoperative complications. Each patient's cause of death was also recorded.

[Mortality risk factors in surgical patients in a tertiary hospital: a study of patient records in the period 2004-2006].

Objective: To determine mortality risk factors in surgical patients.

Material And Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out on all surgical patients who died while in hospital, over a period of three years (2004-2006). Pre, intra and postoperative variables were analysed.

Image Segmentation, Registration and Visualization of Serial MR Images for Therapeutic Assessment of Polycystic Kidney Disease in Transgenic Mice.

In vivo small animal imaging provides a powerful tool for the study of a variety of diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an established technology for the assessment of therapies. In this study, we used high-resolution MRI to evaluate polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in transgenic mice.

Major plasma proteins in pig serum during postnatal development.

The time-course of changes in the levels of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha(1)-protease inhibitor (alpha(1)-antitrypsin), alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, haptoglobin, transferrin, IgG and the major acute-phase protein (Pig-MAP) in the blood sera of pigs during the first days and weeks of life was investigated by quantitative radial immunodiffusion. The serum of newborn pigs before suckling was characterised by a very low concentration of total proteins (approximately 25 mg mL(-1)), low levels of albumin and transferrin and the lack of immunoglobulins. In contrast, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and fetuin are present at high levels (approximately 12 and 5 mg mL(-1) respectively).

[Acute meningitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae in adult patient with a spinal fluid fistula].

Acute meningitis in adults caused by Streptococcus agalactiae is a rare entity. To our knowledge, there are only two cases associated with a central spinal fluid fistula published in the English literature from 1942 to the present. We report the third case.