Development of a Novel Spawn (Block Spawn) of an Edible Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, in Liquid Culture and its Cultivation Evaluation

Mushroom cultivation has gained increased attention in recent years. Currently, only four types of spawn, including sawdust spawn, grain spawn, liquid spawn, and stick spawn, are commonly available for mushroom cultivation. This limited spawn diversity has led to difficulty in selecting suitable inoculum materials in some cultivation. In this study, three small blocks of lignocellulosic agro-wastes and one block of a synthetic matrix were prepared as support for growing Pleurotus ostreatus in liquid medium. Mycelium-adsorbed blocks were then evaluated for their potential as block spawn for fructification. Our results indicated that the edible fungus was adsorbed and abundantly grew internally and externally on loofah sponge and synthetic polyurethane foam (PUF) supports and also has the ability to attach and grow on the surface of sugarcane bagasse and corncob supports. The mycelia of P. ostreatus adhered on corncob exhibited the highest metabolic activity, while those on the PUF showed the least activity. Mycelial extension rates of block spawns made of agro-waste materials were comparable to that of sawdust spawn, but the block spawn of PUF showed a significantly lower rate. No significant differences in cropping time and yield were observed among cultivations between experimental block spawns and sawdust spawns. Moreover, the corncob block spawn maintained its fruiting potential during an examined period of 6-month storage. The developed block spawn could be practically applied in mushroom cultivation.

Research progress in role and mechanism of ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中国药理学通报

Hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) is the most com-mon primary liver cancer resulted from various etiological fac-tors, among which HBV infection is the most important reason in China. The development and progression of HCC are regulated by a variety of cytokines and intracellular signaling pathways. In recent years, both clinical and basic studies have shown that fer-roptosis plays an important role in the occurrence of HCC. Fer-roptosis can affect the development of liver diseases by regulating the level of intracellular iron and lipid peroxidation. Many schol-ars believe that ferroptosis can be used as a target for the diagno-sis, prevention and treatment of HCC. In this review, the role of ferroptosis in HCC and its research progress has been summa-rized, including ferroptosis summary, the relationship between ferroptosis and HCC, and the molecular mechanisms of ferropto-sis in HCC.

Advances on role of extracellular vesicles in chronic liver diseases / 中国病理生理杂志

In recent years, extracellular vesicles are found as an important medium for intercellular signal communication in prokaryotic and higher eukaryotic cells for regulating a variety of biological processes.Extracellular vesi-cles include exosomes,microvesicles and apoptotic bodies,and can be released into extracellular media by almost all types of cells in vivo and in vitro.Extracellular vesicles are released under physiological and pathological conditions, including liver diseases,and have a wide range of effects on the target cells.This review summarizes the progress in understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in chronic liver diseases.Specifically, how extracellular vesicles regulate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is discussed in detail highlighting extracellular vesicles as a promising therapeutic target for chronic liver diseases.

Effect of emodin in attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress of pancreatic acinar AR42J cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of emodin on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress of pancreatic acinar AR42J cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were cultured in 6-well plates, and divided into the normal control group, the model group (with the final concentration at 1 x 10(-7) mol · L(-1) for cerulean and lipopolysaccharide at 10 mg · L(-1)) and the emodin group (10, 20, 40 μmol · L(-1)). Cells in each group were cultured in three multiple pores for 24 h, and their supernate was removed after cell attachment. The normal control group was added with haploids, the model group was added with the modeling liquid for haploids, and the treatment groups were added with different concentrations of emodin at 15-20 min before the modeling liquid. The cells were continuously cultured for 3 h under 37 °C and 5% CO2. Their intracellular protease and lipase expressions were detected with kits. The cellular morphology was observed under optical microscope. The level of calcium in endoplasmic reticulum was measured under laser confocal microscopy. Western blot assay were used to determine the protein expression of ER-related signaling molecules.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Emodin could significantly inhibit levels of amylase, lipase and intracellular calcium and ER.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Emodin could reduce pancreatic acinar cell injury induced by the combination of cerulean and lipopolysaccharide. Its action mechanism is correlated with the inhibition of intracellular calcium overload and ER stress.</p>

Effect of aqueous extracts of several kinds of herbs on human platelet aggregation and expression of P-selectin in vitro / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of aqueous extract of several kinds of herbs on human platelet aggregation and expression of P-selectin in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood was collected from volunteers. Effects of the prepared water extracts of herbs on platelet aggregation were monitored on a Packs-4 aggregometer. The fluorescence intensity of water extracts of Caulis Spatholobi, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae on the expression of P-selectin in human platelets of healthy persons was measured with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of several herbs investigated, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae potently inhibited platelet aggregation after incubation with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for 15 min. Caulis Spatholobi Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae inhibited adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) or platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet aggregation in PRP in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae, Caulis Spatholobi could not inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Despite its inability to inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in PRP, Caulis Spatholobi had a greater anti-aggregating activity in PRP induced by ADP or PAF. Caulis Spatholobi and Flos Carthami showed significant inhibitory effects on the expression of P-selectin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Caulis Spatholobi, Flos Carthami and Rhizoma Curcumae have potent anti-platelet properties, and their inhibitory actions are mediated via different mechanisms. Caulis Spatholobi inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation but not by thrombin, indicating that its mechanism of action might be independent of the thromboxane pathway. The effect of Caulis Spatholobi and Flos Carthami were associated with suppressing the expression of P-selectin.</p>

Prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration by extract of Fructus lycii and its constituents lutein/zeaxanthin: an in vive and in vitro experimental research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the in vivo inhibition of extract of Fructus lycii (FL) on the expressions of cathepsin B (Cat B) and cystatin C (Cys C) in high-fat diet and hydroquinone (HQ) induced model mice with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to explore the in vitro effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2,) induced expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) on ARPE-19 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty female 8-month-old C57BL/6 mice were recruited in this research. Ten mice fed with regular diet was taken as the age control group. The rest 40 mice were fed with high fat diet for 6 months, followed by adding HQ (0. 8%) in the drinking water for 3 consecutive months. Then the modeled mice were randomly divided into the model control group (n =10), the high (at the daily dose of 3.75 g/kg), middle (at the daily dose of 2.50 g/kg), and low dose (at the daily dose of 1.25 g/kg) FL groups, 10 in each group. The extract of FL at each dose was respectively administered to mice by gastrogavage for 3 successive months. By the end of the experiment, the mice were killed and their eyeballs were removed. The protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were observed by immunohistochemical assay. The mRNA and protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. The drug concentrations of H2O2, lutein, and zeaxanthin were screened and detected using the activity of cell proliferation. The protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the age control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were significantly higher in the in vivo model control group (P <0.05, P <0.01). The mRNA expressions of Cat B and Cys C were weaker in the middle and high dose FL groups than in the model control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). In in vitro cells, lutein and zeaxanthin could down-regulate the protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in H202 induced ARPE-19 cells (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extract of FL could down-regulate the high protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C in high-fat diet and HQ induced model mice. Lutein and zeaxanthin could down-regulate the protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in H202 induced ARPE-19 cells.</p>

Stress analysis of separators with different specifications / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the shape and structure of different separators affecting the mechanical behavior.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The stress of different separators was analyzed by ANSYS software. Various separators were meshed into one-dimensional solid elements and the material character parameters were inputted. The loads were added gradually.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The stress was related to the arm of force and the point of force application.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The force applied can be controlled by selecting different separators.</p>