Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) Increases Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Affects both Microglia/Macrophage Polarization and Autophagy after Rat Partial Optic Nerve Transection.

The rat partial optic nerve transection (PONT) model has been used for studying secondary degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in recent years. In this study, we carried out PONT of the temporal side of rat optic nerves, whereas PONT was carried out of the superior side in the previous publication. We found that this surgery is better and easier than the previous method and can produce a repeatable and reliable model. We detected significant changes in the polarization of microglia/macrophages and the level of autophagy in optic nerves after PONT. We also used this model to detect the effects of the polysaccharides extracted from Lycium barbarum (LBP) on the survival of RGCs and the changes in the polarization of microglia/macrophages and the level of autophagy after PONT. We find that LBP can delay secondary degeneration of RGCs after temporal injury of optic nerves, promote the M2 polarization of microglia/macrophages, and down-regulate the level of autophagy after PONT. In conclusion, we find that the polarization of microglia/macrophages and the autophagy level change after PONT; LBP treatment delays secondary degeneration of RGCs; and the polarization of microglia/macrophages and the level of autophagy are also altered after LBP treatment.

Photophysical and electrochemical properties of a dysprosium-zinc tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin complex.

A dysprosium-zinc porphyrin, [DyZn(TPPS)H3O]n (1) (TPPS = tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin), was prepared through solvothermal reactions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Complex 1 features a three-dimensional (3-D) porous open framework that is thermally stable up to 400 °C. Complex 1 displays a void space of 215 Å(3), occupying 9.2% of the unit cell volume. The fluorescence spectra reveal that it shows an emission band in the red region. The fluorescence lifetime is 39 µsec and the quantum yield is 1.7%. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement revealed one quasi-reversible wave with E1/2 = 0.30 V.

[Efficacy observation on Jin's three-needle therapy for allergic rhinitis of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication. METHODS: Sixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Jin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

[Treatment of autism children: observation on efficacy of behavior training with retention of needles on head].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect difference of behavior training with head needling retention and behavior training after acupuncture for autism children. METHODS: Sixty qualified autism children were divided randomly into simultaneous head needling retention and behavior training group (trial group) and behavior training after acupuncture treatment group (control group) with 30 case in each group. Retention needles on the head with simultaneous behavior training was applied for the trial group. The main acupoints included Sishen Xue, Dingshen Sanxue (3 points for mental tranquilization), Nao Sanxue (3 points for the function of brain), Shou Zhisanxue (3 points for mental activities on hand) and Zozhi Sonxue (3 points for mental activities on foot). Other points were combined according to conditions of patients. Needles on the 4 extremities were withdrawn first after 30 minutes, needles on head were remained during behavior training. While behavior training was applied to the control group when acupuncture treatment was completely accomplished. Treatments were applied once a day to both groups. And 3 months was taken as one observation cycle. Estimation was made on therapeutic effect and developing level of autism children with CARS and PEP. RESULTS: The total effective rate of the trial group was 83.3% (25/30), better than 66.7% (20/30) of the control group (P < 0.05). The CARS scores of both groups declined after the treatment. And the score of trail group was lower than the control group (all P < 0.05). While the PEP scores of both groups increased, and the score of trail group was higher than the control group (all P < 0.05). The increasing level of scores of cognitive understanding and cognitive expression were all better than the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of behavior training with head needle retention on autism children is better than behavior training after acupuncture treatment, especially in enhancing cognition understanding and cognition expression.

One-pot synthesis of 2'-aminobenzothiazolo-arylmethyl-2-naphthols catalyzed by NBS under solvent-free conditions.

To develop a new facile protocol for the synthesis of 2'-aminobenzothiazolo-arylmethyl-2-naphthol derivatives, N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) was used as an efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 2'-aminobenzothiazolo-arylmethyl-2-naphthols in excellent yields from ß -naphthol (1 mmol), aromatic aldehydes (1 mmol), and 2-aminobenzothiazole (1 mmol) at 60°C under solvent-free conditions.

Two new prenylated isoflavones from Sedum aizoon L.

Investigation of a methanol extract from the Chinese endemic species Sedum aizoon L. led to the isolation of two new isoflavone derivatives that were named sedacin A and B (1 and 2). Their structures were elucidated by the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Two new isoflavone derivatives were isolated compounds were assayed for antioxidant activity.

Erratum: (Dimethyl sulfoxide-κO)[3-hydr-oxy-2-hydroxy-methyl-2-(3-meth-oxy-2-oxido-benzyl-ideneamino-κO,N)propanolato-κO]dioxomolybdenum(VI). Corrigendum.

The crystal structure of the title compound in the paper by Sui, Fang, Luo, Chen & Zhou [Acta Cryst. (2006), E62, m1994-m1996] has been rerefined to allow for identification of a disordered dimethyl sulfoxide ligand.[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1107/S1600536806028832.].

Poly[mu2-4,4'-bipyridine-di-mu2-bromido-cadmium(II)], with novel colour-tunable fluorescence.

The title inorganic-organic hybrid complex, [CdBr2(C(10)H(8)N(2))]n, features two-dimensional [CdBr2(4,4'-bipy)]n (4,4'-bipy is 4,4'-bipyridine) neutral networks, based on the octahedral Cd atom coordinated by four mu2-Br and two mu2-4,4'-bipy at trans positions, yielding a CdBr(4)N(2) octahedron. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (Cmmm). All the crystallographically independent atoms are on special positions, namely Cd on mmm, Br on mm, N on mm2, and C on sites of symmetry m or mm2. Optical absorption spectroscopy reveals the presence of an optical gap of 3.76 eV, indicating that the complex is a wide-gap semiconductor. Photoluminescence investigation reveals that the complex displays strong colour-tunable emissions, which might originate from a ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) transition. Thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis shows that the complex is thermally stable up to 493 K.

Bis(µ-carboxyl-atoethyl-phospho-nato)bis-[aqua-(2,2'-bipyridine)manganese(II)].

The title compound, [Mn(2)(HO(3)PCH(2)CH(2)COO)(2)(C(8)H(8)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], was obtained by hydro-thermal synthesis. The manganese(II) ions are six-coordinate and are linked by two 2-carboxy-ethyl-phospho-nate ligands, forming a centrosymmetric dimer. The Mn ions adopts a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The dimers are further linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance 4.2754 (4) Å].