Association of Monocyte-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio with Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Aims: To explore the relationship between monocyte-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR) and endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: 243 patients diagnosed with T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into two groups by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) quintile as nonendothelial dysfunction (FMD ≥ 6.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 acts as an upstream regulator of inhibition of pulmonary fibroblast activation.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling plays a crucial role in lung development and repair. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) can inhibit fibrotic gene expression and suppress the differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts (PFs) into myofibroblasts in vitro, suggesting that FGF2 is a potential target for inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis. To gain deeper insights into the molecular mechanism underlying FGF2-mediated regulation of PFs, we performed mRNA sequencing analysis to systematically and globally uncover the regulated genes and biological functions of FGF2 in PFs.

In vitro promotion of SDF-1α on the migration and proliferation of C-kit+ cardiac stem cells in neonatal mice.

The aim of this study was to explore the In Vitro effects of stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) on the migration and proliferation of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells. The lentivirus containing SDF-1α (LV-SDF-1α) was constructed. Primary myocardial fibroblasts were transfected by LV-SDF-1α, followed by primary culture of cardiac tissue cells and separation of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells with a flow cytometer, in order to investigate the effects of SDF-1α on the migration and proliferation of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells using cell co-culture, immunofluorescence and EdU tracing technologies.

Effects of Steel Slag Powder Content and Curing Condition on the Performance of Alkali-Activated Materials Based UHPC Matrix.

The accumulation of steel slag and other industrial solid wastes has caused serious environmental pollution and resource waste, and the resource utilization of steel slag is imminent. In this paper, alkali-activated ultra-high-performance concrete (AAM-UHPC) was prepared by replacing ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) powder with different proportions of steel slag powder, and its workability, mechanical properties, curing condition, microstructure, and pore structure were investigated. The results illustrate that the incorporation of steel slag powder can significantly delay the setting time and improve the flowability of AAM-UHPC, making it possible for engineering applications.

Mechanical and Microstructural Characteristics of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Exposed to Early-Age Carbonation Curing.

The early-age carbonation curing technique is an effective way to improve the performance of cement-based materials and reduce their carbon footprint. This work investigates the early mechanical properties and microstructure of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement specimens under early-age carbonation curing, considering five factors: briquetting pressure, water-binder (w/b) ratio, starting point of carbonation curing, carbonation curing time, and carbonation curing pressure. The carbonization process and performance enhancement mechanism of CSA cement are analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Influence of Different Lithium Compounds on Hydration and Mechanical Properties of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement.

This work investigated the influence of three different lithium compounds, lithium carbonate (LiCO), lithium sulfate (LiSO) and lithium chloride (LiCl), on the hydration and mechanical properties of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement mixtures. Five concentrations of Li, 0, 0.05, 0.

Protective effect of flavonoids from Tratt on myocardial cells via autophagy.

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of flavonoids from Tratt (FRRT) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced autophagy of myocardial cells. Primary isolation and culture of myocardial cells and H9C2 myocardial cell lines from 1 to 3-day-old rats were performed, myocardial cells were incubated using 5 μmol/L DOX and a cardiotoxicity model was established, intervention was conducted via FRRT, and the ultrastructure of myocardial cells was observed under a transmission electron microscope. The expressions of LC3-II and P62 proteins were detected through immunofluorescence and Western blotting.

SDF-1α promotes repair of myocardial ischemic necrosis zones in rats.

Objective: To explore the repair effect of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) on myocardial ischemic necrosis zones.

Methods: Lentivirus (LV-SDF-1α-GFP) containing SDF-1α target gene was established, the separated and cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were transfected, and caudal intravenous injection of isoproterenol was conducted to prepare a rat model of myocardial ischemia. Small animal ultrasound was used to evaluate the effect on cardiac functions.

Continuous monitoring for leaching of calcium sulfoaluminate cement pastes incorporated with ZnCl under the attacks of chloride and sulfate.

Ionic zinc is considered as an environmental pollutant. This work systematically investigated leaching mechanisms of calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CSA) pastes incorporated with/without ZnCl under the attacks of chloride and/or sulfate. The leaching behaviors of CSA pastes in the leaching solution are in-situ and continuously monitored by innovative non-contact electrical impedance measurement (NCEIM) and pH meter.

A new and important relationship between miRNA-147a and PDPK1 in radiotherapy.

It was found that the expression level of miR-147a was significantly increased and the pathway of PI3K/AKT was dramatically inhibited after radiation. In view of the relationship between miRNA and target genes, we put forward the question, what is the relationship between PI3K/AKT and miR-147a? In order to find the answer to the question, we used bioinformatics techniques to analyze the relationship between miR-147 (a or b) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. miR-147a overexpression plasmid and PDPK1 3'UTR luciferase reporter gene plasmid were constructed.

Flavonoids of Rosa roxburghii Tratt Exhibit Anti-Apoptosis Properties by Regulating PARP-1/AIF.

Radioprotection is an important approach to reduce the side-effects of radiotherapy. The radioprotective effect of the flavonoids of Rosa roxburghii Tratt (FRT) has been confirmed, and the mechanism has been identified as theBcl-2/caspase-3/PARP-1 signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects of FRT on the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), and vascular cell adhesion protein (VCAM) in addition to apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax/Bcl-2, p-ERK/ERK, p-p53/p53, and p-p38/p38.

Activating AKT to inhibit JNK by troxerutin antagonizes radiation-induced PTEN activation.

Radiotherapy is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments for many tumors. However, radiation damage remains a major negative consequence of radiotherapy. At present, radio-protective effect of troxerutin has been confirmed, but the mechanism of this radioprotection has not been elucidated.

Flavonoids of Rosa roxburghii Tratt exhibit radioprotection and anti-apoptosis properties via the Bcl-2(Ca(2+))/Caspase-3/PARP-1 pathway.

The objective of our study was to assess the radioprotective effect of flavonoids extracted from Rosa roxburghii Tratt (FRT) and investigate the role of Bcl-2(Ca(2+))/Caspase-3/PARP-1 pathway in radiation-induced apoptosis. Cells and mice were exposed to (60)Co γ-rays at a dose of 6 Gy. The radiation treatment induced significant effects on tissue pathological changes, apoptosis, Ca(2+), ROS, DNA damage, and expression levels of Bcl-2, Caspase-3 (C-Caspase-3), and PARP-1.

Surface modification of PLGA nanoparticles with biotinylated chitosan for the sustained in vitro release and the enhanced cytotoxicity of epirubicin.

In this study, poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) with biotinylated chitosan (Bio-CS)-surface modification were prepared to be usded as a tumor-targeted and prolonged delivery system for anticancer drugs. Epirubicin (EPB), as a model drug, was encapsulated into Bio-CS surface modified PLGA (Bio-CS-PLGA) NPs with a drug encapsulation efficiency of 84.1 ± 3.

Microtubule-targetable fluorescent probe: site-specific detection and super-resolution imaging of ultratrace tubulin in microtubules of living cancer cells.

Tubulins in microtubules have been recognized as potential targets in cancer chemotherapy for several years. However, their detection and imaging in living cells, especially following exposure to anticancer drugs, remains difficult to achieve. This difficulty is due to the very small cross section of microtubules and the very small changes in tubulin concentration involved.

Flavonoids of Rosa roxburghii Tratt act as radioprotectors.

Background: To study the radioprotective effects of flavonoids from Rosa roxburghii Tratt (FRT).

Materials And Methods: The radioprotective effects of FRT were investigated by examining cell viability, 30-day survival of mice and the number of colony-forming units in spleen (CFU-S) after total-body 60Co irradiation.

Results: The survival rates of irradiated cells gradually increased with increasing concentrations of FRT.

[X-ray hardening correction for ICT in testing workpiece].

Since energy spectrum of X-ray is polychromatic source in X-ray industrial computerized tomography, the variation of attenuation coefficient with energy leads to the lower energy of X-ray radiation being absorbed preferentially when X-ray is transmitting the materials. And the higher the energy of X-ray, the lower the attenuation coefficient of X-ray. With the increase in the X-ray transmission thickness, it becomes easier for the X-ray to transmit the matter.

[Beam hardening simulated correction research for X-ray TICT in testing composites workpiece].

In X-ray TICT, when X-ray is transmitted in the materal, the phenomenon of energy spectrum hardening takes place, resulting in artifacts. Thus, hardening correction has to be done. In the present paper, the phenomenon of X-ray beam hardening resulting in analyized, and the relation between the X-ray beam sum and the transmission thickness in testing composites workpiece is discussed.

[Hardening correction model of energy spectrum for X-ray TICT in testing composites workpiece].

In the case of a polychromatic source in X-ray TICT, the variation of attenuation coefficient with energy leads to low energy radiation being absorbed preferentially. In other words, the higher the energy, the lower the attenuation coefficient. With the transmission thickness augmenting, it is easier for X-ray to transmit the matter.