Leech extract alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leech, as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of blood circulation and blood stasis, was also widely used to cure pulmonary fibrosis in China. In clinical practice, some traditional Chinese medicine preparation such as Shui Zhi Xuan Bi Hua Xian Tang and Shui Zhi Tong Luo Capsule composed of leech, could improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the material basis of the leech in the treatment of IPF were not yet clear.

Effects of Anions and pH on the Stability of ZnO Nanorods for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

This work demonstrates the improved stability of zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) for the photoanode of solar water splitting under voltage biases by the addition of borate or carbonate ions in the aqueous electrolyte with suitable pH ranges. The ZnO NRs prepared by the hydrothermal method are highly active and stable at pH 10.5 in both borate and carbonate buffer solutions, where a photocurrent higher than 99% of the initial value has been preserved after 1 h polarization at 1.

Side-chain conformations in the isomorphous polyfluorinated {4,4'-bis[(2,2-difluoroethoxy)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridine-κN,N'}dichloridopalladium and -platinum complexes.

The polyfluorinated title compounds, [MCl(CHFNO)] or [4,4'-(HCFCHOCH)-2,2'-bpy]MCl [M = Pd, (1), and M = Pt, (2)], have -C(H)OC(H)CFH side chains with H-atom donors at the α and β sites. The structures of (1) and (2) are isomorphous, with the nearly planar (bpy)MCl molecules stacked in columns. Within one column, π-dimer pairs alternate between a π-dimer pair reinforced with C-H.