3′5-Dimaleamylbenzoic Acid Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by parenchymal scarring, leading progressively to alveolar architecture distortion, respiratory failure, and eventually death. Currently, there is no effective treatment for IPF. Previously, 3′5-dimaleamylbenzoic acid (3′5-DMBA), a maleimide, demonstrated pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, its potential therapeutic effects on IPF have not been addressed. Bleomycin (BLM) 100 U/kg was administered to CD1 mice through an osmotic minipump. After fourteen days of BLM administration, 3′5-DMBA (6 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) and its vehicle carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were administered intragastrically every two days until day 26. On day 28, all mice were euthanized. The 3′5-DMBA effect was assessed by histological and immunohistochemical staining, as well as by RT-qPCR. The redox status on lung tissue was evaluated by determining the glutathione content and the GSH/GSSG ratio. 3′5-DMBA treatment re-established typical lung histological features and decreased the expression of BLM-induced fibrotic markers: collagen, α-SMA, and TGF-β1. Furthermore, 3′5-DMBA significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in fibrogenesis. In addition, it decreased reduced glutathione and increased oxidized glutathione content without promoting oxidative damage to lipids, as evidenced by the decrease in the lipid peroxidation marker 4-HNE. Therefore, 3′5-DMBA may be a promising candidate for IPF treatment.     

浅谈基层班子团结的基础与认定

基层班子的团结是基层班子核心领导力量的基础和关键。基层班子的团结是建立在马克思主义义利统一观基础上的团结。班子全体成员共同认可的价值取向和价值目标及志趣爱好是班子成员团结的共同基础。认定基层班子的团结要承认差异并尊重差异;要看其是否开展了积极的思想斗争,是否形成了监督制约关系。     

考虑软土流变特性和应力历史的一维固结与渗透试验

利用GDS先进固结试验系统对萧山软土进行了常规分级加载固结与渗透试验、分级加载流变固结与渗透试验、压缩－回弹－再压缩流变固结与渗透试验,绘制了沉降曲线、孔压消散曲线以及孔隙比和渗透系数的变化曲线,通过回归分析得到了萧山软土的压缩指数、回弹指数、渗透指数、次固结系数。试验结果表明：萧山软土具有明显的流变特性,对于正常固结萧山软土,土样底部超静孔压消散大约在加载后5个小时左右完成,而超固结土孔压消散速度比正常固结土快;应力历史和超固结比对次固结系数有显著的影响。     

Oxidative Stress and Chemoradiation-Induced Oral Mucositis: A Scoping Review of In Vitro,In Vivo and Clinical Studies

Chemoradiation-induced mucositis is a debilitating condition of the gastrointestinal tract eventuating from antineoplastic treatment. It is believed to occur primarily due to oxidative stress mechanisms, which generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The aim of this scoping review was to assess the role of oxidative stress in the development of Oral Mucositis (OM). Studies from the literature, published in MEDLINE and SCOPUS, that evaluated the oxidative stress pathways or antioxidant interventions for OM, were retrieved to elucidate the current understanding of their relationship. Studies failing inclusion criteria were excluded, and those suitable underwent data extraction, using a predefined data extraction table. Eighty-nine articles fulfilled criteria, and these were sub-stratified into models of study (in vitro, in vivo, or clinical) for evaluation. Thirty-five clinical studies evaluated antioxidant interventions on OM’s severity, duration, and pain, amongst other attributes. A number of clinical studies sought to elucidate the protective or therapeutic effects of compounds that had been pre-determined to have antioxidant properties, without directly assessing oxidative stress parameters (these were deemed “indirect evidence”). Forty-seven in vivo studies assessed the capacity of various compounds to prevent OM. Findings were mostly consistent, reporting reduced OM severity associated with a reduction in ROS, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), but higher glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity or expression. Twenty-one in vitro studies assessed potential OM therapeutic interventions. The majority demonstrated successful a reduction in ROS, and in select studies, secondary molecules were assessed to identify the mechanism. In summary, this review highlighted numerous oxidative stress pathways involved in OM pathogenesis, which may inform the development of novel therapeutic targets.     

ZG20SiMn铸钢摇臂壳体铸造过程数值仿真及工艺优化

摇臂壳体是采煤机的重要组成部件,具有多级壁厚、变截面等异形特征。为提高采煤机摇臂壳体铸造质量,解决因铸造工艺不成熟导致的缩松、缩孔等缺陷问题。以MG325型采煤机摇臂壳体为研究对象,设计顶注式和底注式两种铸造工艺方案,采用ProCAST软件探究不同浇注工艺方案下摇臂壳体铸件充型及凝固过程,分析铸件温度场、凝固场及缩松、缩孔铸造缺陷位置。基于Niyama判据和应力场分布对底注式铸造工艺方案进行优化。结果表明:优化后摇臂壳体铸件在凝固冷却过程中保持温度梯度递增,促进铸件实现顺序凝固,铸件缺陷率明显降低且充型效果更佳,缩孔体积仅占摇臂壳体体积的0.004 9%,电机孔薄壁端面应力优化量为38.47%,输出端孔处应力优化量达到91.08%。本文研究成果为采煤机摇臂壳体的铸造工艺提供了理论基础和数据支撑。     

In Vitro Reactivity of the Glucose Degradation Product 3,4-Dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) towards Abundant Components of the Human Blood Circulatory System

3,4-Dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) is a glucose degradation product present in processed foods and medicinal products. Additionally, its constant formation from 3-deoxyglucosone in plasma has been suggested. Due to its α,β-unsaturated dicarbonyl moiety, 3,4-DGE is highly reactive and has shown harmful effects in vitro. Here, we investigated the impact of major components of the human blood circulatory system on 3,4-DGE in vitro. Under physiological conditions, plasma concentrations of human serum albumin (HSA) reacted efficiently with 3,4-DGE, resulting in only 8.5% of the initial 3,4-DGE concentration after seven hours (vs. 83.4% without HSA, p < 0.001). Thereby, accessible thiol groups were reduced from 0.121 to 0.064 mol/mol HSA, whereas ketoprofen binding and esterase-like activity of HSA were not affected. Plasma concentrations of glutathione (GSH) reacted immediately and completely with 3,4-DGE, leading to two stereoisomeric adducts. Plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) bound to 3,4-DGE to a lower extent, resulting in 62.6% 3,4-DGE after seven hours (vs. 82.2% in the control, p < 0.01). Immobilized human collagen type IV did not alter 3,4-DGE concentrations. The results indicated that particularly HSA, GSH, and IgG readily scavenge 3,4-DGE after its appearance in the blood stream, which may be associated with a reduced antioxidative and cytoprotective activity for the living cells and, thus, the human organism by blocking free thiol groups.     

Acanthopanax senticosus Polysaccharide Enhances the Pathogen Resistance of Radiation-Damaged Caenorhabditis elegans through Intestinal p38 MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 Pathway and Stress Response

With the advancement of science and technology, humans are chronically exposed to ionizing radiation. It is crucial to look for efficient and low-toxic anti-radiation agents. Through preliminary screening, we found that Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) played a major role in regulating immune damage caused by radiation. The objective of this study was to apply the Caenorhabditis elegans—P. aeruginosa (PA14) infection model to illuminate the mechanism of ASPS increasing the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes. Results indicated that ASPS (1 mg/mL) significantly enhanced the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes by directly elevating the immune response of nematodes rather than by affecting the bacterial activity. Through further research on the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and related mutants, we found that ASPS functioned by the p38 MAPK pathway in the intestine, and SKN-1, ATF-7 as the downstream targets of PMK-1 participated the regulation of ASPS. In addition, ASPS markedly alleviated the stress status of damaged nematodes by regulating oxidative stress. Collectively, our findings suggest that ASPS enhances the pathogen resistance of radiation-damaged nematodes through the intestinal p38MAPK-SKN-1/ATF-7 pathway and stress response.     

Responses of Growth,Oxidative Injury and Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Leaves of Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea to Elevated O3 Concentrations

The effects of increasing atmospheric ozone (O₃) concentrations on cool-season plant species have been well studied, but little is known about the physiological responses of cool-season turfgrass species such as Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea exposed to short-term acute pollution with elevated O₃ concentrations (80 ppb and 160 ppb, 9 h d⁻¹) for 14 days, which are widely planted in urban areas of Northern China. The current study aimed to investigate and compare O₃ sensitivity and differential changes in growth, oxidative injury, antioxidative enzyme activities, and chloroplast ultrastructure between the two turf-type plant species. The results showed that O₃ decreased significantly biomass regardless of plant species. Under 160 ppb O₃, total biomass of L. perenne and F. arundinacea significantly decreased by 55.3% and 47.8% (p < 0.05), respectively. No significant changes were found in visible injury and photosynthetic pigment contents in leaves of the two grass species exposed to 80 ppb O₃, except for 160 ppb O₃. However, both 80 ppb and 160 ppb O₃ exposure induced heavily oxidative stress by high accumulation of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in leaves and damage in chloroplast ultrastructure regardless of plant species. Elevated O₃ concentration (80 ppb) increased significantly the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidaseby 77.8%, 1.14-foil and 34.3% in L. perenne leaves, and 19.2%, 78.4% and 1.72-fold in F. arundinacea leaves, respectively. These results showed that F. arundinacea showed higher O₃ tolerance than L. perenne. The damage extent by elevated O₃ concentrations could be underestimated only by evaluating foliar injury or chlorophyll content without considering the internal physiological changes, especially in chloroplast ultrastructure and ROS accumulation.     

A Comprehensive Identification and Function Analysis of Serine/Arginine-Rich (SR) Proteins in Cotton (Gossypium spp.)

As one of the most important factors in alternative splicing (AS) events, serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins not only participate in the growth and development of plants but also play pivotal roles in abiotic stresses. However, the research about SR proteins in cotton is still lacking. In this study, we performed an extensive comparative analysis of SR proteins and determined their phylogeny in the plant lineage. A total of 169 SR family members were identified from four Gossypium species, and these genes could be divided into eight distinct subfamilies. The domain, motif distribution and gene structure of cotton SR proteins are conserved within each subfamily. The expansion of SR genes is mainly contributed by WGD and allopolyploidization events in cotton. The selection pressure analysis showed that all the paralogous gene pairs were under purifying selection pressure. Many cis-elements responding to abiotic stress and phytohormones were identified in the upstream sequences of the GhSR genes. Expression profiling suggested that some GhSR genes may involve in the pathways of plant resistance to abiotic stresses. The WGCNA analysis showed that GhSCL-8 co-expressed with many abiotic responding related genes in a salt-responding network. The Y2H assays showed that GhSCL-8 could interact with GhSRs in other subfamilies. The subcellular location analysis showed that GhSCL-8 is expressed in the nucleus. The further VIGS assays showed that the silencing of GhSCL-8 could decrease salt tolerance in cotton. These results expand our knowledge of the evolution of the SR gene family in plants, and they will also contribute to the elucidation of the biological functions of SR genes in the future.