Indolylfuran,a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist from sauerkraut,interacts with the oestrogen pathway

Numerous ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) have been found in plants, especially edible plants, such as cruciferous vegetables, which exert beneficent health effects. A potent activator of the AhR was found in sauerkraut juice. The isolated active ingredient was identified as the novel AhR ligand, (1-(2-furanyl)2-(3-indolyl)ethanone, common name indolylfuran. The isolated and the synthesised compound exerted similar potencies; their EC₅₀-values in an AhR transactivation assay were 160 and 123 nM, respectively. Our in vivo studies confirm and enlighten basic interactions between the AhR and oestrogen receptors (ERs). Further anti-oestrogenic effects of sauerkraut extract were shown. Indolylfuran regulates ER α and β expression, most likely via the AhR pathway, since indolylfuran had no effect on uterus weight and did not agonise ERα. Sauerkraut and indolylfuran may have potential for the prevention or treatment of diseases through modulation of AhR regulation and, indirectly, the ER pathway.     

火试金方法及其实验室的设计

火试金方法是将冶金学原理和技术运用到分析化学中的一种经典的分析技术,是贵金属分析的主要手段。本文归纳总结了火法—铅试金方法的分析步骤,并结合已设计投产的实验室的工程实践,从工程设计角度,对火试金实验室的设计提出了笔者的看法和建议。     

Evaluation of Selective COX-2 Inhibition and In Silico Study of Kuwanon Derivatives Isolated from Morus alba

Six kuwanon derivatives (A/B/C/E/H/J) extracted from the roots of Morus alba L. were evaluated to determine their cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and 2 inhibitory effects. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is known as the target enzyme of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are the most widely used therapeutic agents for pain and inflammation. Among six kuwanon derivatives, kuwanon A showed selective COX-2 inhibitory activity, almost equivalent to that of celecoxib, a known COX inhibitor. Kuwanon A showed high COX-2 inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 14 μM) and a selectivity index (SI) range of >7.1, comparable to celecoxib (SI > 6.3). To understand the mechanisms underlying this effect, we performed docking simulations, fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations, and pair interaction energy decomposition analysis (PIEDA) at the quantum-mechanical level. As a result, kuwanon A had the strongest interaction with Arg120 and Tyr355 at the gate of the COX active site (−7.044 kcal/mol) and with Val89 in the membrane-binding domain (−6.599 kcal/mol). In addition, kuwanon A closely bound to Val89, His90, and Ser119, which are residues at the entrance and exit routes of the COX active site (4.329 Å). FMO calculations and PIEDA well supported the COX-2 selective inhibitory action of kuwanon A. It showed that the simulation and modeling results and experimental evidence were consistent.     

Barium carbonate nanostructures: Biosynthesis and their biomedical applications

In recent years, nanostructures and nanoarchitectures have attracted much attention in the development of biomedicine and nanomedicine. The plant-mediated synthesis of barium carbonate nanoparticles (BACN) has been performed using barium chloride and aqueous extract of natural sweetener (Stevia). In this study, the biosynthesis of BACN has been selected due to the useful medicinal potentials and suitable obtained biocompatibility of produced nanoparticles as well as its simplicity, lesser production steps, and cost-effectiveness. Barium carbonate nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscope. The toxicity of BACN on U87 brain cancer cells was evaluated based on MTT assay. According to the results, the prepared nanostructures can be employed for biomedical applications, especially cancer therapy.     

小体系高通量比色测定糖化酶活力新方法

本研究建立了一种小体系结合96孔板比色测定糖化酶活力的新方法.经实验证明,在96孔板内,波长540nm处,葡萄糖浓度与光密度(OD)值有很好的线性关系,其线性相关系数r值达到0.9996；通过加样回收实验发现,其回收率为98.5％～103.2％,相对标准差为1.8％；通过精密度分析实验发现该方法测量样品的精密度优于国标法及普通DNS法,其测定的结果与现行国家标准测定糖化酶方法所得到的结果差异率小于0.5％.本研究建立的方法不仅准确、可靠,而且实现了小体系、高通量快速比色测定,为糖化酶工业检测及糖化酶生产菌株的高通量筛选奠定了重要方法基础.     

孕激素受体与Ki-67指数组合对激素受体阳性中分化早期乳腺癌预后的评估价值

目的探讨孕激素受体(progesterone receptor,PR)及Ki-67指数(PK)组合对激素受体阳性腋窝淋巴结阴性中分化早期乳腺癌的预后评估价值。方法回顾性分析2012年5月至2017年5月于北京协和医院乳腺外科行手术治疗且行21基因检测的中分化早期乳腺癌患者的临床及病理资料,根据21基因复发风险评分(recurrence score,RS)将患者分为RS低危组(RS<18)、RS中危组(18≤RS<31)和RS高危组(RS≥31),同时按照PR表达及Ki-67指数设定PR与Ki-67指数组合,将患者分为PK低危组(PR≥10%且Ki-67≤20%)、PK高危组(PR<10%且Ki-67>20%)及PK中危组(非高危或低危组),分析并比较PK组合与RS评分的一致性。结果共389例符合纳入及排除标准的患者入选本研究,其中RS低危组247例(63. 5%,247/389),RS中危组115例(29. 6%,115/389),RS高危组27例(6. 9%,27/389); PK低危组248例(63. 8%,248/389),PK中危组125例(32. 1%,125/389),PK高危组16例(4. 1%,16/389)。推荐的PK组合对RS低危组和高危组的预测敏感度分别为75. 3%和37. 0%,阳性预测值分别为75. 0%和62. 5%,不一致性分别为0. 4%和6. 3%。中位随访40个月的结果显示,PK低、中、高危组的总事件发生率分别为3. 6%、7. 2%和12. 5%,RS低、中、高危组的总事件发生率分别为3. 2%、8. 7%和7. 4%,两组差异无统计学意义(χ2=0. 200,P=0. 655)。结论针对激素受体阳性腋窝淋巴结阴性中分化早期乳腺癌的PK组合具有与21基因RS评分相当的预后评估价值。     

Development of PRIDE UNDA for safeguards application

In order to enhance the safeguardability of a pyroprocessing facility, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has been endeavoring to develop more efficient and effective safeguards technologies for nuclear material accountancy (NMA), process monitoring, and containment and surveillance (C/S). NMA has two components: destructive analysis (DA) and non-destructive assay (NDA). Although DA is more accurate, it is typically time-consuming and cost-intensive. NDA, on the other hand, can provide reasonable accuracy on a real-time or near-real-time basis, which maximizes the utilization efficiency of a facility. In this study, the PRIDE (PyRoprocessing Integrated inactive DEmonstration) UNDA (unified non-destructive assay) was developed for testing NDA techniques at PRIDE, a demonstration facility within KAERI for integrated pyroprocessing using depleted uranium and surrogate materials. Each component of the PRIDE UNDA (i.e., neutron, gamma-ray, and mass measurement systems) was characterized and calibrated using calibration sources and standard weights as well as nuclear material used in the facility (depleted uranium). It is expected that in the near future, the PRIDE UNDA will be installed and tested with various types of process materials.     

Utilizing PUNITA experiments to evaluate fundamental delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy interrogation requirements for nuclear safeguards

ABSTRACT

Present safeguards verification methods for small samples of high-radioactivity nuclear material (e.g. spent nuclear fuel solution) in reprocessing facilities use destructive analysis techniques since passive non-destructive techniques are incapable of directly determining the nuclear material content. To supplement these methods, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) are collaborating to develop delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy non-destructive assay technology for composition analysis of the fission nuclides. Multiple experiments were performed in the JRC-Ispra site using the Pulsed Neutron Interrogation Test Assembly (PUNITA) to study the signature from short-lived fission products from low-radioactivity U and Pu standard samples. From these spectra, we identify many gamma rays useful to determine the composition of a mixed nuclear material sample. Here we present the results of these experiments along with correlations to the interrogation, mass, volume, and sample homogeneity.