Celastrol reverses palmitic acid (PA)-caused TLR4-MD2 activation-dependent insulin resistance via disrupting MD2-related cellular binding to PA.

Elevated plasma statured fatty acids (FFAs) cause TLR4/MD2 activation-dependent inflammation and insulin tolerance, which account for the occurrence and development of obesity. It has been confirmed that statured palmitic acid (PA) (the most abundant FFA) could bind MD2 to cause cellular inflammation. The natural compound celastrol could improve obesity, which is suggested via inhibiting inflammation, yet the detailed mechanism for celastrol is still unclear.

COMPARISON OF ORGAN DOSES IN HUMAN PHANTOMS: VARIATIONS DUE TO BODY SIZE AND POSTURE.

Organ dose calculations performed using human phantoms can provide estimates of astronauts' health risks due to cosmic radiation. However, the characteristics of such phantoms strongly affect the estimation precision. To investigate organ dose variations with body size and posture in human phantoms, a non-uniform rational B-spline boundary surfaces model was constructed based on cryosection images.

[Effects of triptolide-medicated serum on secretion function of adrenocortical cells isolated from rats].

Objective: To study the effects of triptolide-medicated serum on secretory function of adrenocortical cells isolated from rats.

Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into control group, prednisone group, and low-, medium- and high-dose triptolide groups. Rats were administered with normal saline, prednisone and low-, medium- and high-dose triptolide respectively by gastrogavage to prepare sera containing drugs.

[Tripterine inhibits all-trans retinoic acid-caused adhesion between leukemia cells and endothelial cells].

Objective: Increasing of adhesion between leukemia cells and endothelial cells during all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) treatment plays an important role in retinoic acid syndrome. This work observed the effects of tripterine on this ATRA-caused increasing in adhesion.

Methods: The effects of tripterine on ATRA-induced expressions of adhesive molecules in acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4 and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) were detected by flow cytometry.

Tripterine inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules in activated endothelial cells.

Cell adhesion molecules (CAM) expressed by vascular endothelium in response to cytokine stimulation play a key role in leukocyte adhesion to endothelium during the inflammatory response. Tripterine, a chemical compound of the Chinese plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f, displays anti-inflammatory properties in several animal models. However, mechanisms of its action are poorly understood.

[An experimental study of effects of active-heating-system for extravehicular spacesuit gloves on working performance].

Objective: To observe the effects of active heating system for spacesuit gloves on extravehicular working performance.

Method: After analyzing the factors with gloves influence on the working performance, the effects of active heating system for gloves were studied experimentally with aspects to fatigue, hand strength, dexterity and tactile sensing.

Result: 1) Heating-system had not influence to grip; 2) Heating-system had 17% influence to fatigue except specific person; 3) Nut assembly and nipping pin showed that heating-system had little influence to dexterity; 4) Apperceiving shape of object and two-point distance showed heating-system had little influence to tactility.

[Advances in the research on targeted preparations of traditional Chinese medicine and natural drugs].

Targeting dosage form is a kind of targeting drug delivery system which can be used to lock drugs aroud the target organs, tissues, cells and obtain more effective treatment for dose concentration, thus reducing the side-effects of such drugs while increasing their effeciveness. Targeting dosage form is the fourth-generation drug dosage form and it is ideal system for administration because it release the theraping drugs in the targeting-site. Particular emphasis was placed on liposome due to it was used as a drug carrier.