The Relationships of Oral Reading Fluency at Word, Sentence, and Passage Levels and Reading Comprehension in Chinese.

This study aims to expand our understanding of the relations of oral reading fluency at word, sentence, and passage levels to reading comprehension in Chinese-speaking secondary school-aged students. In total, 80 participants (46 males and 34 females) ranging from 13 to 15 years old joined this study and were tested on tasks of oral reading fluency at three levels, reading comprehension, and nonverbal IQ. Our results showed a clear relationship from fluency at the level of the word to the sentence and then the passage in oral reading fluency as well as both the direct and indirect importance of word-level oral reading fluency in reading comprehension. Only the indirect effect from word-level oral reading fluency to reading comprehension through passage-level oral reading fluency was significant. Our findings suggest that sentence-level oral reading fluency is the crucial component to reading comprehension in Chinese. Additionally, recognition of the potential value of unique features, such as syntactic awareness and word segment accuracy, that happen at the sentence level should be integrated into instructional activities for reading.

Species' geographical range, environmental range and traits lead to specimen collection preference of dominant plant species of grasslands in Northern China.

Many different factors, such as species traits, socio-economic factors, geographical and environmental factors, can lead to specimen collection preference. This study aims to determine whether grassland specimen collection in China is preferred by species traits (i.e., plant height, flowering and fruiting period), environmental range (i.e., the temperature and precipitation range) and geographical range (i.e., distribution range and altitudinal range). Ordinary least squares models and phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the relationships between specimen number and the explanatory variables. Random Forest models were then used to find the most parsimonious multivariate model. The results showed that interannual variation in specimen number between 1900 and 2020 was considerable. Specimen number of these species in southeast China was notably lower than that in northwest China. Environmental range and geographical range of species had significant positive correlations with specimen number. In addition, there were relatively weak but significant associations between specimen number and species trait (i.e., plant height and flowering and fruiting period). Random Forest models indicated that distribution range was the most important variable, followed by flowering and fruiting period, and altitudinal range. These findings suggest that future floristic surveys should pay more attention to species with small geographical range, narrow environmental range, short plant height, and short flowering and fruiting period. The correction of specimen collection preference will also make the results of species distribution model, species evolution and other works based on specimen data more accurate.

Erratum: Addition to "Carbonic Anhydrase Robustness for Use in Nanoscale CO2 Capture Technologies".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02630.].

Bilateral Endoscopic Debridement Combined with Local Antituberculosis Drugs for Thoracic Tuberculosis with Large Paravertebral Abscess: A Multicenter Study with 4-year Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Paravertebral abscess represents a prevalent manifestation of thoracic tuberculosis, often necessitating surgical intervention. In this study, we introduced a novel approach by employing bilateral endoscopic debridement (BED) to address large Paravertebral abscesses associated with thoracic tuberculosis, a method not previously proposed in the literature. The clinical efficacy was examined through a comprehensive 4-year follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients diagnosed with thoracic tuberculosis and paravertebral abscess who underwent BED combined with local antituberculosis drugs (BED + LAD) between February 2015 and February 2019. A total of 29 eligible patients (12 males and 17 females) with a median (interquartile ranges) of 59.0(16.5) years were included in the study. All patients received the BED + LAD treatment. After the surgery, the patients were treated with a 4-drug antituberculosis therapy (Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol). All relevant indicators were meticulously recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The surgical procedures were successfully completed for all subjects, with an average intraoperative bleeding volume of (25.2 ± 8.9) ml, an average surgical time of (68.4 ± 14.0) minutes, an average fluoroscopy frequency of (21.7 ± 8.2) times, an average hospital stay of (14.2 ± 4.3) days, and an average medication period of (42.1 ± 9.6) weeks. All subjects completed at least a 4-year follow-up period. At the final follow-up, ESR and CRP levels returned to normal, and there was no significant increase in the Cobb angle (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of BED + LAD in the treatment of thoracic tuberculosis and paravertebral abscess proved to be a safe, effective, and feasible approach.

How Does Visual Temporal Processing Affect Chinese Character Reading in Children With Dyslexia? From the Perspective of Inhibition.

Given that inhibition interacts with visual temporal processing (VTP), the past evidence regarding the influence of VTP on the Chinese character reading of children with dyslexia may not disclose the whole picture without considering inhibition. Thus, the present study is among the first to investigate VTP and cognitive inhibition as well as their relationships to Chinese character reading. We compared the performances of 62 Chinese-speaking children with dyslexia in primary school (n = 62, Mage = 11.36 years) on VTP and inhibition tasks to those in a chronological-age-matched group (CA; n = 62, Mage = 11.57 years) and reading-level-matched group (RL; n = 62, Mage = 8.98 years). The results revealed that children with dyslexia performed worse than both the CA-matched and RL-matched groups in VTP and inhibition after controlling for age, nonverbal intelligence, and attention. Moreover, the relationship between VTP and Chinese character reading was moderated by inhibition in children with dyslexia. VTP is positively related to Chinese character reading, but this relationship is observed only at higher levels of inhibition. Our results suggest that inhibition plays a potential role in VTP and Chinese character reading, especially for those with dyslexia whose proficiency in inhibition is not as intact as that of typically developing children.

Carbonic Anhydrase Robustness for Use in Nanoscale CO2 Capture Technologies.

Continued dependence on crude oil and natural gas resources for fossil fuels has caused global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to increase to record-setting proportions. There is an urgent need for efficient and inexpensive carbon sequestration systems to mitigate large-scale emissions of CO2 from industrial flue gas. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has shown high potential for enhanced CO2 capture applications compared to conventional absorption-based methods currently utilized in various industrial settings. This study aims to understand structural aspects that contribute to the stability of CA enzymes critical for their applications in industrial processes, which require the ability to withstand conditions different from those in their native environments. Here, we evaluated the thermostability and enzyme activity of mesophilic and thermophilic CA variants at different temperature conditions and in the presence of atmospheric gas pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. Based on our enzyme activity assays and molecular dynamics simulations, we see increased conformational stability and CA activity levels in thermostable CA variants incubated week-long at different temperature conditions. The thermostable CA variants also retained high levels of CA activity despite changes in solution pH due to increasing NO and SO2 concentrations. A loss of CA activity was observed only at high concentrations of NO/SO2 that possibly can be minimized with the appropriate buffered solutions.

Action of the natural compound gomisin a on Ca2+ movement in human prostate cancer cells.

Gomisin A is a dietary lignan compound isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis and has many pharmacological properties, including hepato-protective, anti-diabetic, and anti-oxidative activities. However, the benefit of gomisin A is still not well understood. The action of gomisin A is diverse. However, the effect of gomisin A on Ca2+ signaling in prostate cancer cells is unknown. Ca2+ is a pivotal second envoy that triggers and regulates cellular processes such as apoptosis, fertilization, energy transduction, secretion, and protein activation. The goal of this study was to explore the action of gomisin A on [Ca2+]i and cytotoxicity in PC3 prostate cancer cells. Gomisin A at 100-200 µM provoked [Ca2+]i raises. 20% of the response was reduced by removing external Ca2+. The Ca2+ influx provoked by gomisin A was suppressed by 20% by store-caused Ca2+ entry suppressors: econazole, SKF96365, nifedipine; also by phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate and GF109203X. Without external Ca2+, gomisin A-caused [Ca2+]i raises were abolished by thapsigargin. In contrast, gomisin A suppressed the [Ca2+]i raises caused by thapsigargin. U73122 fell short to change gomisin A-caused [Ca2+]i responses. Gomisin A (20-100 µM) elicited cytotoxicity in a dose-associated fashion. Blockade of [Ca2+] elevations with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid/acetoxy methyl failed to inhibit cytotoxicity of gomisin A. Collectively, gomisin A evoked [Ca2+]i raises and provoked cytotoxicity in a Ca2+-dissociated fashion in prostate cancer cells.

Hydroxytyrosol [2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethanol], a natural phenolic compound found in the olive, alters Ca2+ signaling and viability in human HepG2 hepatoma cells.

Hepatotoma is the leading type of primary liver cancer in adults and third cause of death in the world. Hydroxytyrosol is a natural phenol existing in olive (Olea europaea L.). Hydroxytyrosol is the chief ingredient of olive oil, which was early deemed to be the most robust antioxidant in olive oil. Hydroxytyrosol is known to inhibit various types of cancer by different methods. This study was aimed to delineate the action of hydroxytyrosol on viability and [Ca2+]i in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Fura-2 was used to detect [Ca2+]i, and WST-1 assays were applied to explore cell cytotoxicity. Hydroxytyrosol elicited [Ca2+]i raises. Eliminating external Ca2+ diminished the Ca2+ signal by 30%. Hydroxytyrosol-evoked Ca2+ influx was diminished by 20% by three inhibitors of store-operated Ca2+ channels and by a protein kinase C activator and an inhibitor. In the absence of Ca2+, thapsigargin eradicated hydroxytyrosol-provoked [Ca2+]i raises. Suppression of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122, a PLC inhibitor, did not inhibit hydroxytyrosol-elicited [Ca2+]i raises. Hydroxytyrosol reduced cell viability. This cytotoxic action was not reversed by preincubation with BAPTA/AM, a cytosolic Ca2+ binder. In sum, in HepG2 hepatoma cells, hydroxytyrosol elicited [Ca2+]i raises by provoking PLC-unrelated discharge of Ca2+ from ER and Ca2+ influx through PKC-sensitive store-operated Ca2+ entry. In addition, hydroxytyrosol elicited Ca2+-dissociated cytotoxicity.

A Review of Parent-Implemented Early Start Denver Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of findings from selected research published between 2012 and 2022 in English-language peer-reviewed journals to evaluate the effectiveness of the parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM). Thirteen studies used quantitative methods to examine the relationship between variables. We considered four categories of variables in the analysis: child characteristics, intervention intensity and duration, child outcome measures, and parent-related outcome measures and parental fidelity. The findings revealed positive child-parent-related outcomes. In addition, the quality of implementation, relating to parent fidelity, should be considered when evaluating the efficacy of the intervention. However, only half the studies revealed that the standard benchmark for acceptable fidelity was being achieved. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Structural Elucidation and Immunostimulatory Activities of Quinoa Non-starch Polysaccharide Before and After Deproteinization.

Non-starch polysaccharides derived from natural resources play a significant role in the field of food science and human health due to their extensive distribution in nature and less toxicity. In this order, the immunostimulatory activity of a non-starch polysaccharide (CQNP) from Chenopodium quinoa was examined before and after deproteination in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The chemical composition of CQNP and deproteinated-CQNP (D-CQNP) were spectrometrically analysed that revealed the presence of carbohydrate (22.7 ± 0.8% and 39.5 ± 0.8%), protein (41.4 ± 0.5% and 20.8 ± 0.5%) and uronic acid (8.7 ± 0.3% and 6.7 ± 0.2%). The monosaccharide composition results exposed that CQNP possesses a high amount of arabinose (34.5 ± 0.3) followed by galactose (26.5 ± 0.2), glucose (21.9 ± 0.3), rhamnose (7.0 ± 0.1), mannose (6.0 ± 0.1) and xylose (4.2 ± 0.2). However, after deproteination, a difference was found in the order of the monosaccharide components, with galactose (41.1 ± 0.5) as a major unit followed by arabinose (34.7 ± 0.5), rhamnose (10.9 ± 0.2), glucose (6.6 ± 0.2), mannose (3.4 ± 0.2) and xylose (3.2 ± 0.2). Further, D-CQNP potentially stimulate the RAW 264.7 cells through the production of nitric oxide (NO), upregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and various pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Moreover, stimulation of RAW 264.7 cells by D-CQNP takes place along the NF-κB and the MAPKs signaling pathways through the expression of cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40). This results demonstrate that RAW 264.7 cells are effectively stimulated after removal of the protein content in C. quinoa non-starch polysaccharides, which could be useful for develop a new immunostimulant agent.

Effect of Hei Xiaoyaosan on Neuroinflammation in AD Model Rats： Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore whether Hei Xiaoyaosan can inhibit the inflammatory response in the hippocampi of Alzheimer's disease （AD） rats by regulating and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to improve the cognitive and memory dysfunction. MethodAmong the 90 male Wistar rats， 12 were randomly selected as the blank group （normal saline） and 12 as the sham operation group （normal saline）. For the remainder， amyloid β-protein42 （Aβ42） was injected in the left and right hippocampus to induce AD， and then the AD rats were randomized into model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups （corresponding doses of Hei Xiaoyaosan， ig）， and donepezil group （donepezil hydrochloride，ig）， with 12 in each group. The administration lasted 42 days. The pathological changes of hippocampal CA1 region was observed based on Nissl staining. The escape latency on the 1st to 5th day in Morris water maze was recorded and the spatial memory on the 6th day was tested. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to detect the expression of interleukin （IL）-6， IL-10， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in rat hippocampus and serum， Western blotting to examine the protein expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， β-catenin， and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma （PPARγ）， and real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） to determine the mRNA expression of rat GSK-3β， β-catenin， and PPARγ. ResultCompared with the blank group， the number of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area of model group was significantly reduced， the arrangement was uneven， the cell body was damaged more obviously， and the Neisser body was unclear. The treatment group was significantly prolonged （P<0.01）， and the number of crossing stations was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， the levels of IL-10 in serum and hippocampus of rats in the model group were significantly decreased， while the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased （P<0.01）， the GSK-3β protein and mRNA in the model group were significantly increased， and the protein expressions of β-catenin and PPARγ were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the difference was more obvious. The number of neurons in the donepezil group was more distributed， neatly arranged， the structure was intact， and the Nissl bodies were clear and definite， the escape latency on the 3rd to 5th days in middle and high dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan and the donepezil group was significantly shortened （P<0.01）， the number of crossing platforms increased significantly （P<0.01）， the expression levels of IL-10 in the rat hippocampus and serum were significantly increased， while IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， GSK-3β in the rat hippocampus was significantly increased. The expressions of GSK-3β protein and mRNA were significantly decreased， while the expression levels of β-catenin and PPARγ protein and mRNA were significantly increased （P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in each index between the donepezil hydrochloride group and the high-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan group. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan can inhibit the inflammatory response in the hippocampus of AD rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway， thereby alleviating the cognitive and memory impairment of AD rats.

Purification, characterization and immunostimulatory effects of polysaccharides from Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizomes.

The crude polysaccharide was extracted from A. asphodeloides rhizomes and further purified to produce two fractions F1 (50.0%) and F2 (19.6%). The chemical constitutions of the polysaccharides were neutral sugars (51.4%-89.7%), uronic acids (1.0%-30.2%) and sulfate esters (3.4%-8.1%), with various ratios of monosaccharides including rhamnose (1.4%-6.1%), arabinose (7.1%-21.2%), xylose (0.2%-4.8%), mannose (39.9%-79.0%), glucose (6.0%-11.1%) and galactose (2.6%-22.0%). The molecular properties of the polysaccharides were investigated by the HPSEC-UV-MALLS-RI system, revealing the Mw 130.0 × 103-576.5 × 103 g/moL, Rg 87.6-382.6 nm and SVg 0.3-54.3 cm3/g. The polysaccharides stimulated RAW264.7 cells to produce considerable amounts of NO and up-regulate the expression of TNF-α, IL-1 and COX-2 genes. Polysaccharides exhibited the growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells lines of AGS, MKN-28 and MKN-45, in which F2 fraction exhibited prominent bioactivities. The AGS cells treated with F2 experienced condensed cytoplasm, shrinkage of nucleus and chromatin marginalization with the highest number of cells at early-stage apoptosis reaching 54.6%. The inhibitory effect of F2 polysaccharide on AGS cells was through MAPKs and STAT3 signaling pathways. The backbone of the F2 was mainly linked by (1 â†’ 4)-linked mannopyranosyl and (1 â†’ 3)-linked galactopyranosyl. Taken together, the polysaccharide from A. asphodeloides rhizomes could be utilized as medicinal, pharmacological and functional food ingredients.

A ToF-based system for recording human sagittal back shape.

BACKGROUND: The sagittal back shape (SBS) of the human body, which should be highly consistent with the spinal morphology along the internal spine line, also presents an s-shaped curve. OBJECTIVE: We propose a novel time-of-flight (ToF) based system to record the s-shaped SBS of the human body, which was simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive. RESULTS: The system was composed of a bottom plate, an upright post, a vertical rod, dozens of horizontal measuring rods, and a ToF sensor. The experimental results showed that the system supported to obtain the s-shaped SBS of the human body with satisfactory accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The ToF-based system for recording human sagittal back shape will be useful for routine screening of spinal physiological conditions in schools, as well as for e.g. digital garment design, and special seat-back design.

Extraction, structural elucidation and immunostimulating properties of water-soluble polysaccharides from wheat bran.

A water-soluble polysaccharide was extracted from wheat bran (WBP) and investigate their structural characteristics and immunostimulatory activities. The chemical composition of WBP and purified fraction (WBP-F) mainly consists of neutral sugars (91.2 ± 1.2 and 98.7 ± 1.2%), proteins (8.6 ± 0.3 and 0.2 ± 0.1%) and uronic acids (0.7 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.1%). The molecular weight (Mw ) of WBP and WBP-F was calculated as 911.7 and 510.2 × 103  g/mol, respectively. The WBP-F stimulates the RAW264.7 cells through the production of nitric oxide and various cytokines. The treatment of WBP-F facilitated the phosphorylation of P38, JNK, ERK, and NF-ƘB in RAW264.7 cells suggesting that they might stimulate RAW264.7 cells through the activation of NF-ƙB and MAPKs pathways. Furthermore, the structural details of WBP-F were studied by GC-MS and NMR spectrum, which confirms that the main backbone consists of 4-α-D-linked glucopyranosyl residues with branching points at C-6. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Wheat bran is a potential source of health-promoting compounds. It has been reported that polysaccharides of wheat bran containing numerous beneficial activities. In this study, the wheat bran polysaccharide was extracted, fractionated and investigated their immunostimulatory activities. The results found in this study revealed that the purified polysaccharide from wheat bran potentially enhanced the RAW264.7 cells activation. Hence, these polysaccharides could be utilized as a potent immunity-enhancing agent in food and pharmaceutical industries.

The Association Between the Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene -308A/G Polymorphism and Chronic Pancreatitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a major proinflammatory cytokine that has been posited to be involved in the development of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Several studies have been carried out that explored the association between the TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism and CP; however, conflicting results have emerged. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to provide a more precise assessment of the relationship between the TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism and CP risk. Methods: Case-control studies were identified using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure through January 2019 from which seven were identified that met all inclusion criteria. Results: This meta-analysis included 695 CP cases and 742 controls. A positive association was found between the A allele and the risk of CP using the additive model (OR [odds ratio] = 1.83, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.08-3.10). We also found, after excluding the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium-violating studies, that the AA genotype was significantly associated with CP in both the additive and recessive models (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.27-4.07; OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.26-3.81). Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that the A allele of the TNF-α -308A/G polymorphism increases the risk of CP.

The design of hollow PdO-Co3O4 nano-dodecahedrons with moderate catalytic activity for Li-O2 batteries.

Hollow PdO-Co3O4 nano-dodecahedrons with moderate catalytic activity were designed as electrocatalysts for Li-O2 batteries, and not only reduce the overpotentials effectively but also improve the reversibility of the ORR and OER, and cycle for more than 90 cycles stably with extremely low overpotentials.

Analysis of influencing factors and predictive parameter of acute kidney injury in sepsis shock patients / 中国实用内科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influencing factors in patients with septic shock and the predictive value of related parameters for AKI.METHODS: Totally 256 patients with septic shock treated in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were collected.The patients were divided into acute kidney injury(AKI)group and non-AKI group.The miRNA-125,IL-6,neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin(NGAL)and tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)were compared between two groups.Multi-factor Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the variables in predicting the incidence rate.The patients in AKI group were divided into mild-AKI group(AKI stage 1-2)and severe AKI group(AKI stage 3).The factors were statistically compared between two groups.RESULTS: The levels of miRNA-125 and NGAL in AKI group were significantly higher than those in non-AKI group.The creatinine(OR 1.03,95%CI 0.88-1.36),glomerular filtration rate(OR1.23,95% CI 0.75-2.01),miRNA-125(OR 1.56,95% CI 1.02-2.10)and NGAL(OR 1.32,95%CI 0.83-1.67)were associated with AKI(P<0.05).The levels of miRNA-125,NGAL and TNF-a in severe AKI group were significantly higher than those in mild and moderate AKI group(P<0.05).The area under curve of miRNA-125 was 0.80(95%CI 0.75-0.83),the best cut-off value was 32.1,and the sensitivity and specificity were 81.5% and 76.2%.CONCLUSION: The creatinine,glomerular filtration rate and the level of miRNA-125 and NGAL were independently associated with AKI.The level of miRNA-125 can predict the incidence of AKI.

Hollow N-Doped Carbon Spheres with Isolated Cobalt Single Atomic Sites: Superior Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction.

The search for a low-cost, ultrastable, and highly efficient non-precious metal catalyst substitute for Pt in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is extremely urgent, especially in acidic media. Herein, we develop a template-assisted pyrolysis (TAP) method to obtain a unique Co catalyst with isolated single atomic sites anchored on hollow N-doped carbon spheres (ISAS-Co/HNCS). Both the single sites and the hollow substrate endow the catalyst with excellent ORR performance. The half-wave potential in acidic media approaches that of Pt/C. Experiments and density functional theory have verified that isolated Co sites are the source for the high ORR activity because they significantly increase the hydrogenation of OH* species. This TAP method is also demonstrated to be effective in preparing a series of ISAS-M/HNCS, which provides opportunities for discovering new catalysts.

Structural characterization of immunostimulating protein-sulfated fucan complex extracted from the body wall of a sea cucumber, Stichopus japonicus.

The water soluble protein-sulfated fucan (PSF) complex isolated from the body wall of Stichopus japonicus was fractionated using an anion-exchange chromatography to obtain four purified fractions (F1, F2, F3, and F4) and to investigate their structural characteristics and immuno-enhancing activities. The crude PSF and fractions mostly consisted of neutral sugars, proteins and sulfates in various proportions. Fucose was their major monosaccharide unit with small portion of mannose, glucose and galactose. The molecular weight (Mw) of the crude PSF and fractions ranged from 323.6×103 to 3630.0×103g/mol. The crude PSF, F2, and F3 were potent stimulator of RAW264.7 cells inducing marked nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines production. The glycosidic linkage of polysaccharides was evaluated using GC-MS and confirmed by 2D-NMR. The main backbone of highly immunostimulating F3 fraction was (1→3)-α-l-linked fucosyl residue with sulfation at C-2 and/or C-4.

Trans-differentiation from osteoblasts to adipocytes in indirect co-culture / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Co-culture technique makes different kinds of ceils cultured in the same system.The trans-differentiation from osteoblasts to adipocytes is usually analyzed under the action of adipogenesis inducers in vitro,but the cellular interactions in vivo are neglected.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the trans-differentiation from osteoblasts to adipocytes in indirect co-culture using Transwell system.METHODS:Mouse preadipocytes 3t3-l1 were induced to adipocytes.There were three groups:group A:mature adipocytes in the lower chamber of Transwell system;group B:mouse osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 in the upper chamber of Transwell system according to a ratio of 1:4 (MC3T3-E1:3t3-l1);group C:mouse osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 alone.At 7,14,and 21 days the cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope,the relative level of triglyceride,expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated recoptor y2 in each group were detected,and red oil O staining and alizarin red staining were performed.The cell proliferation inhibition rate in the groups B and C were detected at 0,24 and 36 hours.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 2 weeks after culture,spindle-shaped 3t3-l1 coils changed into round,the light and round lipid droplets in the cytoplasm were increased and were reserved after identified by oil red O staining.In the group B,the cells presented with spindle shape with no transparent lipid droplets after 7-day co-culture until black granules and small round lipid droplets appeared on day 14;and the cells changed from spindle shape to oval or round,and larger lipid droplets were found on day 21.Alizarin red staining results:the staining region in the group B was on a decline with time,while the group C showed no significant changes at each time point and all appeared with large staining region.Oil red O staining results:the staining region in the group B increased gradually in a time-dependant manner,while the group C was negative for oil red O staining and showed no significant changes at different time points.The relative level of triacylglycerol in the group B was increased with time,and there was significant difference between groups A and B (P ＜0.05),and the group C showed no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05).The coll proliferation inhibiting rate in the group B was increased with time,which showed significant difference from the group C (P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of peroxisome proliferator-activated recoptor y2 in the group B was on a rise with time,which had significant difference compared with the groups A and C (P ＜ 0.05).These results indicate that the trans-differentiation from osteoblasts to adipocytes appears in the Transwell system,and metabolic products and cytokines of adipocytes obviously inhibit the proliferation of osteoblasts,but all above conclusions need to be studied in depth.