Explore the vast range of titles available.

Traditional soaking plum wine production is time-consuming and often results in high levels of bitter amygdalin and toxic cyanide, posing health risks. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize pulsed electric field (PEF) parameters, developing a novel process integrating kernel detoxification and PEF pretreatment to mitigate these hazards, enhance the characteristic aroma (benzaldehyde), and shorten the maceration cycle. The experimental results showed that the contents of bitter amygdalin and cyanide in plum kernels after detoxification and PEF pretreatment were reduced by 62.34% and 59.62%, respectively, compared with the control group, and the contents of both were further reduced with the addition of plum flesh for further soaking in the new process. In addition, the PEF pretreatment also increased the amount of benzaldehyde extracted by 4.63% compared to the control group and resulted in a 10.53% reduction in equilibration time. Moreover, compared to the previous whole-fruit maceration process, the new process resulted in a 37.5% reduction in the final plum wine production cycle. This study provides a practical solution for improving the safety and efficiency of plum wine production and supports the industrial application of PEF technology.

This study aimed to systematically elucidate the antihyperlipidemic mechanism of paeoniflorin, and we adopted an integrated multi-omics strategy to screen the key molecular targets and regulatory pathways involved in its action, followed by experimental validation to verify the potential regulatory effects of paeoniflorin on the screened targets and metabolic processes. Rats with high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia received paeoniflorin treatment. Liver histopathology was evaluated using hematoxylin–eosin and Oil Red O staining. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bile acids, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen were measured using a biochemical analyzer. Integrated multi-omics analyses were performed to investigate paeoniflorin’s lipid-lowering mechanism. Critical pathways and targets identified were validated using Western blotting. Paeoniflorin alleviated pathological liver damage in hyperlipidemic rats and improved blood lipid levels, coagulation function, and liver function markers. Multi-omics analyses verified that paeoniflorin downregulated the expression of TREM-1, TLR4, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β, thereby alleviating hepatic inflammation. Paeoniflorin also upregulated the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1), while downregulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) expression, contributing to balanced cholesterol metabolism. Paeoniflorin normalized glycerophospholipid and branched-chain amino acid metabolism, which correlated with reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol metabolism. Paeoniflorin ameliorates hyperlipidemia through multitarget mechanisms, potentially by suppressing the TREM-1-TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce inflammation and by regulating cholesterol metabolism via the PCSK9-LDLR and LXRα-ABCG1 pathways.

Background Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often experience acute exacerbation (AE) after an episode of common cold. Aims To establish a mouse model of virus infection‐induced AE‐IPF and investigate the mechanism underlying the AE‐IPF. Methods Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) was inoculated intranasally to wild‐type (WT) and IL‐17A gene knockout (IL‐17A‐/‐) mice 21 days after intratracheal administration of bleomycin (BLM). Results HSV1 infection caused acute exacerbation in mice with BLM‐induced fibrosis. Compared with the BLM+Saline mice, the mice with BLM+HSV1 showed significantly higher acute lung injury (ALI) score (P < 0.0001), lower survival rate (100% vs 21.4%, P < 0.0001), poorer lung function and higher inflammatory response representing by increased total inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (P = 0.0323), increased proportion of Th17 cells in peripheral blood (P = 0.0004) and higher inflammatory factors in BALF. In addition, HSV1 infection increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‐related proteins in mice with BLM‐induced fibrosis. The inhibition of ERS by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, an ERS inhibitor) significantly reduced the IL‐17A levels in BALF (P = 0.0140) and TH17 cells in the peripheral blood (P = 0.0084) of mice with BLM+HSV1, suggesting that suppression of ERS may reduce TH17 response in mice with AE‐IPF. Compared with WT mice with BLM+HSV1, IL‐17A‐/‐ mice with BLM+HSV1 had lower ALI score (P = 0.0119), higher survival rate (78.6% vs 21.4%, P = 0.004), improved lung function, and milder inflammatory response. Conclusions HSV1 infection in addition to BLM‐induced IPF can successfully establish AE‐IPF in mice. IL‐17A and ERS promote lung inflammation in AE‐IPF development.

Glucocorticoid (GC) hormone has been commonly used to treat systemic inflammation and immune disorders. However, the side effects associated with long-term use of high-dose GC hormone limit its clinical application seriously. GC hormone that can specifically target the lung might decrease the effective dosage and thus reduce GC-associated side effects. In this study, we successfully prepared human lung-targeting liposomal methylprednisolone crosslinked with nanobody (MPS-NSSLs-SPANb). Our findings indicate that MPS-NSSLs-SPANb may reduce the effective therapeutic dosage of MPS, achieve better efficacy, and reduce GC-associated side effects. In addition, MPS-NSSLs-SPANb showed higher efficacy and lower toxicity than conventional MPS.

Both schistosomes and malaria parasites produce hemozoin and cause host anaemia. However, the relationship between anaemia and hemozoin is unclear. Although some studies have proposed that hemozoin is related to anaemia in malaria patients, whether hemozoin alone can cause anaemia in patients infected by malaria parasites or schistosomes is uncertain. To investigate the effect of hemozoin on hosts, β-haematin was injected intravenously to normal mice. Then, liver and spleen tissues were observed. Mouse blood was examined. Red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and haemoglobin were analysed. Macrophage changes in the spleens and marrow cells were compared using immunofluorescence and H&E or Giemsa stain, respectively. We found that after 15 injections of β-haematin, a large amount of β-haematin was observed to deposit in the livers and spleens. Splenomegaly and bone marrow mild hyperplasia were detected. The average number of RBCs, average number of WBCs and average concentration of haemoglobin decreased significantly from 9.36 × 1012 cells/L to 8.7 × 1012 cells/L, 3.8 × 109 cells/L to 1.7 × 109 cells/L and 142.8 g/L to 131.8 g/L, respectively. In specific, the number of macrophages in the spleens greatly increased after β-haematin infection. The results showed that injections of β-haematin alone can cause anaemia possibly through hypersplenism.

High-quality Al-doped ZnO nanosheet arrays have been prepared by hydrothermal methods assisted with the pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). These effects of PEMF on the morphology and structural properties of Al-doped ZnO nanosheet arrays were studied in detail. Results showed Al-doped ZnO nanosheet arrays with PEMF had better orientation, more density, a greater ratio of diameter to thickness and stronger ultraviolet emission peak than those without PEMF. Finally, a possible mechanism of PEMF acting on Al-doped ZnO nanosheet arrays is proposed.

Recently organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have attracted attention as light harvesting materials in mesoscopic cells. However questions remain concerning their diverse structural characters and stability. The article provided a detailed description of preparation, structural characterization, thermal stability and light absorption of lead-bromide hybrid perovskite with variable organic matter. The effect of the organic component on lead-bromide hybrid perovskite was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and UV–Vis spectrometer. Results revealed that CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 hybrid perovskites had better thermal stability under temperature of 375 °C and broader absorption range compared to C 4 H 9 NH 3 PbBr 3 hybrid perovskites. It is more promising as light harvesting materials to improve the cell stability and efficiency.

Gradient Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were deposited by magnetron sputtering. The effects of Al concentration gradient on the structure, optical and electrical properties of gradient AZO films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, four probe tester and UV–visible spectrophotometer. Results show that all of the gradient AZO films have the hexagonal wurtzite structure with c axis preferential orientation and no other secondary phase exits. With the increase of the Al concentration gradient, the resistivity of AZO thin films deteriorates. The resistivity was least, 1.18 × 10 −2  Ω cm, for magnetron sputtering-gradient AZO films at 0.02 % nm −1 Al concentration gradient. The average transmittance of the gradient AZO thin films on the glasses in the band of visible light is about 80 %.

BackgroundPatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) often experience acute exacerbation (AE) after an episode of common cold.AimsTo establish a mouse model of virus infection‐induced AE‐IPF and investigate the mechanism underlying the AE‐IPF.MethodsHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) was inoculated intranasally to wild‐type (WT) and IL‐17A gene knockout (IL‐17A‐/‐) mice 21 days after intratracheal administration of bleomycin (BLM).ResultsHSV1 infection caused acute exacerbation in mice with BLM‐induced fibrosis. Compared with the BLM+Saline mice, the mice with BLM+HSV1 showed significantly higher acute lung injury (ALI) score (P < 0.0001), lower survival rate (100% vs 21.4%, P < 0.0001), poorer lung function and higher inflammatory response representing by increased total inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (P = 0.0323), increased proportion of Th17 cells in peripheral blood (P = 0.0004) and higher inflammatory factors in BALF. In addition, HSV1 infection increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)‐related proteins in mice with BLM‐induced fibrosis. The inhibition of ERS by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, an ERS inhibitor) significantly reduced the IL‐17A levels in BALF (P = 0.0140) and TH17 cells in the peripheral blood (P = 0.0084) of mice with BLM+HSV1, suggesting that suppression of ERS may reduce TH17 response in mice with AE‐IPF. Compared with WT mice with BLM+HSV1, IL‐17A‐/‐ mice with BLM+HSV1 had lower ALI score (P = 0.0119), higher survival rate (78.6% vs 21.4%, P = 0.004), improved lung function, and milder inflammatory response.ConclusionsHSV1 infection in addition to BLM‐induced IPF can successfully establish AE‐IPF in mice. IL‐17A and ERS promote lung inflammation in AE‐IPF development.

The spindle or spherical cobalt oxalate powders were prepared by conventional precipitation in the presence of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). The morphology and phase structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The aspect ratio and surface fractal dimension of cobalt oxalate aggregate were calculated using Image tool software and Differential Box Counting (DBC) algorithm. The results indicate that the products prepared from ammonium oxalate and cobalt chloride give rise to the formation of β-CoC2O4∙2H2O. With the increase of pulsed time, the morphology of cobalt oxalate sample varies periodically from rod-like to spheroidic. For the sample treated for 60 s, the degree of sphericity is the highest. The surface fractal dimension is 2.096 and the corresponding fractal form is tight type.