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Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) remains a dose-limiting and life-threatening complication of thoracic radiotherapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of the naturally extracted flavonoid, 5,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (HY-N7656), in inhibiting RILI. Lung injury in mice was evaluated using micro-computed tomography, histopathological analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. Network pharmacology was conducted to predict the potential therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of HY-N7656 in RILI. Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR and protein expression analyses were carried out in vitro using TGF-β-stimulated A549 cells to evaluate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and signaling activity. Results of the present study revealed that HY-N7656 markedly alleviated pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in irradiated mice, leading to a reduction in α-smooth muscle actin expression. In addition, EMT was effectively reversed following treatment with HY-N7656 in A549 alveolar epithelial cells treated with TGF-β, accompanied by restoration of E-cadherin expression and downregulation of mesenchymal markers, such as N-cadherin and vimentin. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking validation identified the PI3K/Akt pathway as a central target, which was subsequently confirmed via western blot analysis. Moreover, results of the present study demonstrated that HY-N7656 inhibited radiation-induced activation of PI3K and Akt. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that HY-N7656 modulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to suppress the progression of EMT in RILI, establishing HY-N7656 as a multi-target inhibitor of RILI. These findings present a potential strategy to enhance the safety of radiotherapy, warranting further preclinical and clinical evaluation.

The appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion performances at working temperature are vital for the applications of waterborne polyurethane (WPU). Understanding the relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structures and adhesive performances can be very useful to the rational design of waterborne polyurethane pressure sensitive adhesives (WPU-PSAs) for different operating temperatures, as well as other kinds of adhesives. In this study, four kinds of WPU-PSAs were prepared by reacting polypropylene glycol (PPG), hydrogenated hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HHTPB), dimethyl alcohol propionic acid (DMPA), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and four kinds of chain extenders. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), swelling and rheology tests were used in parallel with an analysis of adhesive performances of the dried films of the adhesives. Results showed that, in addition to the nature of chain extenders playing a role on the rheological behaviors and adhesive performances of polymer, the gel content could be used to adjust the macromolecular structure and molecular weight distribution of polymer, thus distinctly affected the adhesive performances of PSA. The relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structure and adhesive performances was investigated, and the rational design of WPU was achieved with appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion properties for different working temperatures of 25 and 60 °C.

The adipic acid glycidyl methacrylate (AA-GMA) containing double bond of carbon and hydroxyl as an ultraviolet-polyurethane dual-curing oligomer was prepared as a precursor to resin for three-dimensional (3D) printing. A dual-curing resin for 3D printing was formulated from the AA-GMA, PHDI (hexamethylene diisocyanate-based polyisocyanates, mainly trimer) and other reagents. The dual-curing oligomer AA-GMA was synthesized by the epoxide ring-opening reaction with dicarboxylic acid and the molecular structure of which was characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR analyses. AA-GMA has the double bond which could be cured via ultraviolet irradiation in the 3D printing process, and the hydroxyl could be cured by PU curing agent PHDI at the thermal post-curing process. The PHDI was not only employed as a diluent in the 3D printing process, but also acted as a reactant for post-curing. Compared to the traditional single-curing resin, this dual-curing resin could provide products with increased crosslinking density, flexibility and reduced volumetric shrinkage rate. The tensile strength of dual-curing sample was improved to 64 MPa after adding 20 wt% PHDI, which showed 18% boost compared to the sample without the PHDI. For the sample with a content of 30 wt% PHDI, the glass transition temperature (Tg) was about 121 °C, presenting 35 °C higher than that of the blank sample.

Little is known about genetic susceptibility to infectious disease. This study implicates variation in genes encoding molecules in the NOD2 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2) signaling pathway (which regulates innate immunity) in susceptibility to infection with Mycobacterium leprae and leprosy. This study implicates variation in genes encoding molecules in the NOD2 signaling pathway (which regulates innate immunity) in susceptibility to infection with Mycobacterium leprae and leprosy. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae . It affects the skin and peripheral nerves and can cause irreversible impairment of nerve function and consequent chronic disabilities. 1 Despite a dramatic decrease in its prevalence over the past two decades (largely due to the worldwide introduction of multidrug therapy in 1982), 2 leprosy remains a major public health problem and one of the most important preventable disabilities in many developing countries. 3 It is therefore particularly unfortunate that research into the mechanisms underlying infection and clinical sequelae has been limited by the fact that M. leprae infects only humans and . . .

A new binder, poly(2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 3-[(2-aminoethyl) amino]-2-hydroxypropyl ester) (P-HAEAPMA), is synthesized and applied to silicon/graphite (Si/graphite) anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The Si/graphite anode with the binder exhibits good electrochemical stability. Furthermore, the materials on the discarded Si/graphite/P-HAEAPMA electrode can be recycled for use based on water because the P-HAEAPMA binder is easily soluble in water. The discharge capacity and capacity retention rate of the electrode with reused materials are slightly lower than those of the original Si/graphite/P-HAEAPMA electrode. The binder is rich in polar amino and hydroxyl groups, which not only helps to form strong adhesion between the electrode active material and copper foil but also promotes the transport of Li ions. The electrochemical performance of the electrode with the P-HAEAPMA binder is significantly enhanced compared with that of the electrode with the traditional PVDF binder or water-based LA133 binder. After 305 cycles, a specific capacity of 485.0 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 74.8% are achieved for the Si/graphite/P-HAEAPMA electrode.A binder, poly(2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 3-[(2-aminoethyl) amino]-2-hydroxypropyl ester) (P-HAEAPMA), is synthesized and applied to silicon/graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries, which exhibits good electrochemical stability. After 305 cycles, a specific capacity of 485.0 mA h g−1 and a capacity retention rate of 74.8% are achieved. Moreover, the discarded electrode with P-HAEAPMA binder can be reused just based on water because the P-HAEAPMA binder is easily soluble in water, and the electrochemical properties of the electrode with reused materials are slightly lower than those of the original electrode.

As the central pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has long been considered the primary regulator of blood pressure circadian rhythm; however, this dogma has been challenged by the discovery that each of the clock genes present in the SCN is also expressed and functions in peripheral tissues. The involvement and contribution of these peripheral clock genes in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrate that selective deletion of the circadian clock transcriptional activator aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like (Bmal1) from smooth muscle, but not from cardiomyocytes, compromised blood pressure circadian rhythm and decreased blood pressure without affecting SCN-controlled locomotor activity in murine models. In mesenteric arteries, BMAL1 bound to the promoter of and activated the transcription of Rho-kinase 2 (Rock2), and Bmal1 deletion abolished the time-of-day variations in response to agonist-induced vasoconstriction, myosin phosphorylation, and ROCK2 activation. Together, these data indicate that peripheral inputs contribute to the daily control of vasoconstriction and blood pressure and suggest that clock gene expression outside of the SCN should be further evaluated to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms of diseases involving blood pressure circadian rhythm disruption.

The genus Ciliochorella is a group of pestalotioid fungi, which typically occurs in subtropical and tropical areas. Species from the Ciliochorella genus play important roles in the decomposition of litter. In this study, we introduce two new species ( Ciliochorella chinensis sp. nov. and C. savannica sp. nov. ) that were found on leaf litter collected from savanna-like vegetation in hot dry valleys of southwestern China. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and tub2 sequence datasets indicated that C. chinensis and C. savannica respectively form a distinct clade within the Ciliochorella genus. The comparison of the morphological characteristics indicated that the two new species are well differentiated within this genus species. Analysis of the evolutionary history suggests that Ciliochorella originated from the Eurasian continent during the Paleogene (38 Mya). Further, we find that both new species can produce cellulase and laccase, playing a decomposer role.

Autoclaving of crude oil is often used to evaluate the hydrocarbon-degrading abilities of bacteria. This may be potentially useful for bioaugmentation and microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). However, it is not entirely clear if \"endogenous\" bacteria (e.g., spores) in/on crude oil survive the autoclaving process, or influence subsequent evaluation of the hydrocarbon-degradation abilities of the \"exogenous\" bacterial strains. To test this, we inoculated autoclaved crude oil medium with six exogenous bacterial strains (three Dietzia strains, two Acinetobacter strains, and one Pseudomonas strain). The survival of the spore-forming Bacillus and Paenibacillus and the non-spore-forming mesophilic Pseudomonas, Dietzia, Alcaligenes, and Microbacterium was detected using a 16S rRNA gene clone library and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. However, neither bacteria nor bacterial activity was detected in three controls consisting of non-inoculated autoclaved crude oil medium. These results suggest that detection of endogenous bacteria was stimulated by the six inoculated strains. In addition, inoculation with Acinetobacter spp. stimulated detection of Bacillus, while inoculation with Dietzia spp. and Pseudomonas sp. stimulated the detection of more Pseudomonas. In contrast, similar exogenous bacteria stimulated similar endogenous bacteria at the genus level. Based on these results, special emphasis should be applied to evaluate the influence of bacteria capable of surviving autoclaving on the hydrocarbon-degrading abilities of exogenous bacteria, in particular, with regard to bioaugmentation and MEOR. Bioaugmentation and MEOR technologies could then be developed to more accurately direct the growth of specific endogenous bacteria that may then improve the efficiency of treatment or recovery of crude oil.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic (DA) pathway. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord (hUC-MSCs) have great potential for developing a therapeutic agent as such. HGF is a multifunctional mediator originally identified in hepatocytes and has recently been reported to possess various neuroprotective properties. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of hUC-MSCs infected by an adenovirus carrying the HGF gene on the PD cell model induced by MPP+ on human bone marrow neuroblastoma cells. Our results provide evidence that the cultural supernatant from hUC-MSCs expressing HGF could promote regeneration of damaged PD cells at higher efficacy than the supernatant from hUC-MSCs alone. And intracellular free Ca2+ obviously decreased after treatment with cultural supernatant from hUC-MSCs expressing HGF, while the expression of CaBP-D28k, an intracellular calcium binding protein, increased. Therefore our study clearly demonstrated that cultural supernatant of MSC overexpressing HGF was capable of eliciting regeneration of damaged PD model cells. This effect was probably achieved through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels by modulating of CaBP-D28k expression.

Skin wound healing is a critical and complex biological process after trauma. This process is activated by signaling pathways of both epithelial and nonepithelial cells, which release a myriad of different cytokines and growth factors. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine known to play multiple roles during the various stages of wound healing. This study evaluated the benefits of HGF on reepithelialization during wound healing and investigated its mechanisms of action. Gross and histological results showed that HGF significantly accelerated reepithelialization in diabetic (DB) rats. HGF increased the expressions of the cell adhesion molecules β 1 -integrin and the cytoskeleton remodeling protein integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in epidermal cells in vivo and in vitro . Silencing of ILK gene expression by RNA interference reduced expression of β 1 -integrin, ILK, and c-met in epidermal cells, concomitantly decreasing the proliferation and migration ability of epidermal cells. β 1 -Integrin can be an important maker of poorly differentiated epidermal cells. Therefore, these data demonstrate that epidermal cells become poorly differentiated state and regained some characteristics of epidermal stem cells under the role of HGF after wound. Taken together, the results provide evidence that HGF can accelerate reepithelialization in skin wound healing by dedifferentiation of epidermal cells in a manner related to the β 1 -integrin/ILK pathway.