Kangfuxin alleviates ulcerative colitis in rats by inhibiting NF-κB p65 activation and regulating T lymphocyte subsets.

Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) remains an enduring, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease marked by persistent mucosal inflammation initiating from the rectum and extending in a proximal direction. An ethanol extract of Periplaneta americana L., namely Kangfuxin (KFX), has a significant historical presence in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been broadly utilized in clinical practice for the treatment of injury. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of KFX on 2,4,6-trinitro'benzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC in Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials and Methods: We established the UC model by TNBS/ethanol method. Then, the rats were subject to KFX (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks by intragastric gavage. The body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal injury index (CMDI), and histopathological score were evaluated. The colonic tissue interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-10, transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-ß1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were determined by Elisa. To study T-lymphocyte subsets, flow cytometry was performed. In addition, the expression level of NF-κB p65 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Results: Compared with the TNBS-triggered colitis rats, the treatment of rats with KFX significantly increased the body weight, and decreased DAI, CMDI, and histopathological score. Also, KFX elicited a reduction in the secretion of colonic pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, concomitant with up-regulation of IL-10, TGF-ß1, and EGF levels. Upon KFX treatment, the CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ ratio in the spleen decreased, while the CD3+CD8+ subset and the CD3+CD4+CD25+/CD3+CD4+ ratio demonstrated an increase. In addition, the expression of NF-κB p65 in the colon was decreased. Conclusion: KFX effectively suppresses TNBS-induced colitis by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB p65 and regulating the ratio of CD4+/CD8+.

The proton conduction behavior of two 1D open-framework metal phosphates with similar crystal structures and different hydrogen bond networks.

Two open-framework zinc phosphates [C3N2H12][Zn(HPO4)2] (1) and [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn(HPO4)2] (2) were synthesized via hydrothermal reaction and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Both compounds have a similar crystal structure and macroscopic morphology. However, the difference in equilibrium cations, in which the propylene diamine is for 1 and the triethylenetetramine is for 2, results in a significant distinction in the dense hydrogen grid. The diprotonated propylene diamine molecule in 1 is more favorable for forming a hydrogen-bond network in three dimensions than in 2, in which the twisted triethylenetetramine forms a hydrogen bond grid with the inorganic framework only in two dimensions owing to its large steric effect. This distinction further leads to a disparity in the proton conductivity of both compounds. The proton conductivity of 1 can reach 1.00 × 10-3 S cm-1 under ambient conditions (303 K and 75% RH) and then increase to 1.11 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 333 K and 99% RH, which is the highest value among the open-framework metal phosphate proton conductors operated in the same conduction. In contrast, the proton conductivity of 2 is four orders of magnitude smaller than 1 at 303 K and 75% RH and two orders smaller than 1 at 333 K and 99% RH.

Effects of wasp venom on venous thrombosis in rats.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of wasp venom (WV) from Vespa magnifica on antithrombosis in rats with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis. Materials and Methods: The thrombosis rat model was established by improving the IVC stenosis, in which rats were subjected to IVC ligation for 75 min. Rats were administered argatroban (IP) or WV (s.c.) for 4 hr after IVC thrombosis. The weight, inhibition rate, and pathological morphology of the thrombosis induced by IVC ligation and the variation in four coagulation parameters, coagulation factors, and CD61+CD62P+ were simultaneously determined in IVC rats. Results: The thrombus formed as a result of IVC ligation was stable. Compared with the control group, the weight of the thrombus was significantly reduced in the argatroban group. Thrombus weight was reduced by treatment with 0.6, 0.2, and 0.05 mg/kg WV, with inhibition rates of 52.19%, 35.32%, and 28.98%, respectively. Inflammatory cells adhered to and infiltrated the vessel wall in the IVC group more than in the sham group. However, the pathological morphology and CD61+CD62P+ of the WV treatment groups tended to be normal. Conclusion: We improved the model of IVC thrombosis to be suitable for evaluation of antithrombotic drugs. Our findings demonstrated that WV could inhibit IVC thrombosis associated with reducing coagulation factors V and CD61+CD62p expression in rats.

The ethanol extract of Periplaneta Americana L. improves ulcerative colitis induced by a combination of chronic stress and TNBS in rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of Periplaneta americana L. on ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by a combination of chronic stress (CS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid enema (TNBS) in rats. METHODS: The experiment UC model with CS was established in rats by a combination of chronic restraint stress, excess failure, improper, and TNBS. The body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colonic mucosal injury index (CMDI), histopathological score (HS) and pro-inflammatory mediators were measured. The content of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in hypothalamus or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosteroids (CORT) in plasma were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The proportion of T lymphocyte subsets was detected by flow cytometry, and gut microbiota was detected by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS: Weight loss, DAI, CMDI, HS and proinflammatory mediators were reversed in rats by P. americana L. treatment after UC with CS. Increased epidermal growth factor (EGF) was observed in P. americana L. groups. In addition, P. americana L. could reduce the content of CRH and ACTH and regulate the ratio of CD3+, CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD4+CD25+/CD4+ in spleen. Comparably, P. americana L. changes composition of gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: The ethanol extract of Periplaneta Americana L. improves UC induced by a combination of CS and TNBS in rats.

Perspectives in the stability of emulsion explosive.

This review explores the stability of emulsion explosive, through summarizing its instability reason, stability mechanism, affecting factors, improvement ways and evaluation methods. The emulsion explosive can be recognized as highly concentrated emulsion due to the volume fraction of dispersed phase exceed 74%. The polydispersity, deformation of compassed droplets and the high content of AN in dispersed phase should be considered for the stability of emulsion explosive. The coalescence is one of the important factor for the instability of emulsion explosive as the droplets bound to each other tightly, together with that, the crystallization of AN in dispersed droplets will occur. This process will further decrease the stability of emulsion explosive. Interfacial tension, the strength of interfacial film and electrical properties of droplets are the important mechanism for preparation and stability of emulsion explosive, among the three, the effect of the strength of interfacial film is most important, and the greater the strength of the interfacial film, the more stable the emulsion explosive. The stability of emulsion explosive will be affected by the emulsifier's structure, the viscosity and polarity of oil, the crystallization point of AN and the nature of matrix, in which, it is important to pay attention to the influence of emulsifier structure because adjusting emulsifier structure is a key channel to improve the stability of emulsion explosive. Besides that, the targeted methods to improve the stability of different emulsion explosive, such as bulk emulsion explosive, packaged emulsion explosive and powdery emulsion explosive, were concluded and established. Finally, we proposed some effective methods for evaluating and predicting stability of emulsion explosive. These results will facilitate the further development of the researches in the mechanism and improvement approach of stability, as well as it will also provide effective technical support for exploring the stability of other similar highly concentrated emulsions.

Mastoparan M extracted from Vespa magnifica alleviates neuronal death in global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat model.

Objectives: Global cerebral ischemia (GCI), a consequence of cardiac arrest (CA), can significantly damage the neurons located in the vulnerable hippocampus CA1 areas. Clinically, neurological injury after CA contributes to death in most patients. Mastoparan-M extracted from Vespa magnifica (Smith) can be used to treat major neurological disorders. Hence, this study aimed to assess the effects of Mastoparan-M on GCI. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the neurotoxicity and neuroprotective effect of Mastoparan-M, the CCK8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis assays were first performed in hippocampal HT22 neuronal cells in vitro. Then, Pulsinelli's 4-vascular occlusion model was constructed in rats. After treatment with Mastoparan-M (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg, IP) for 3 or 7 days, behavioral tests, H&E staining or Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA were employed to investigate neuroprotective effects of Mastoparan-M on GCI in rats. Results: In vitro, the growth of HT22 neuronal cells was restrained at concentrations of 30-300 µg/ml (at 24 hr, IC50=105.2 µg/ml; at 48 hr, IC50=46.81 µg/ml), and Mastoparan-M treatment (0.1,1 and 5 µg/ml) restrained apoptosis. In vivo, Mastoparan-M improved neurocognitive function and neuronal loss in the hippocampal CA1 area of rats. In addition, these effects were associated with the prevention of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Conclusion: Mastoparan-M acts as a neuroprotective agent to alleviate neuronal death in rats.

Two chiral haloplumbate hybrids with thermochromism luminescence and application potential as luminescent thermometers.

Two noncentrosymmetric haloplumbate hybrids, [C6H10(NH3)2][PbCl4] (1) and [C6H10(NH3)2][PbBr4] (2), have been synthesized. Crystals of 1 and 2 belong to the chiral space group P212121. The inorganic parts comprise a one-dimensional chain structure for 1 and a two-dimensional sheet structure for 2. Both compounds exhibit thermochromic luminescence originating from dual emission and have potential applications as self-referencing luminescent thermometers.

Wasp Venom Possesses Potential Therapeutic Effect in Experimental Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. Wasp venom (WV), which is considered as a traditional folk medicine in Jingpo nationality in Yunnan, China, relieves rheumatoid arthritis. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of wasp venom ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in experimental rats. We established a model of type II collagen- (CII-) induced arthritis (CIA) in SD rats and examined the inhibition of inflammation and autoimmune response. The antiarthritic effects of WV were evaluated through the paw swelling, and histopathological score and histopathology changes of the affected paw were assessed. The anti-inflammation effects were assayed by the level of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and the number of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood. The alteration of the T cell subset ratio in the spleen of rats was detected by flow cytometry, and at the same time, the viscera index and immune serum globulin levels were evaluated. The results suggested that various doses of WV (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg) significantly alleviated paw swelling and arthritis score in CIA rats with the untreated control (P < 0.05). WV (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) relieved synovial tissue lesions of ankle joints and histopathology scores of synoviocyte hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration with vehicle group (P < 0.05). Regarding immunological regulation, 0.5 mg/kg WV lowered the immune serum globulin levels (P < 0.05), and we further found that WV (0.5 mg/kg) suppressed the immune response of Th cells, while enhancing the functions of Tc cells and Treg cells in spleen cells markedly (P < 0.05). The immunosuppressive action of WV displayed was analogous to its inhibitory effect on IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, COX-2, and PGE2 levels in rat serum. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that WV exhibited antiarthritic activity, which might be associated with their inhibitory effects on immunoregulation and anti-inflammatory action.

A 3D open-framework iron hydrogenophosphate showing high proton conductance under water and aqua-ammonia vapor.

Herein we report the first example of the proton conductivity of an open-framework metal phosphate (NH3(CH2)3NH3)2-[Fe4(OH)3(HPO4)2(PO4)3]·4H2O under aqua-ammonia vapor. Its optimized proton conductivity is 5 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 313 K and aqua-ammonium vapor from 1 M NH3·H2O solution. That is approximately two orders of magnitude greater than the maximum value under water vapor (8.0 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 317 K and 99% RH). The proton transfer mechanism has been proposed in terms of the structural analyses, activation energy calculations, and PXRD determinations.

An Alkali Metal Ion-Exchanged Metal-Phosphate (C2H10N2) xNa1- x[Mn2(PO4)2] with High Proton Conductivity of 10-2 S·cm-1.

A two-dimensional layered inorganic-organic hybrid metal hydrogenophosphate (1) was treated with 0.1 M NaOH-ethanol solution, which resulted in a Na+-ion substitution product that exhibits excellent thermal and aqueous stability with 1, as well as much higher proton conductivity (σ = 10-2 S·cm-1) even at low temperature (283 K). This is because Na+ ions in aqueous solution make a more dense and extensive H-bonding network of water molecules, which enables protons to more easily transfer along the network.

A Two-Dimensional Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Solid of Manganese(II) Hydrogenophosphate Showing High Proton Conductivity at Room Temperature.

The inorganic-organic hybrid metal hydrogenophosphate with a formula of (C2H10N2)[Mn2(HPO4)3](H2O) (1) shows layered crystal structure. The inorganic anion layer is built from Mn3O13 cluster units, and the interlayer spaces are filled by the charge-compensated ethylenediammonium dications together with the lattice water molecules. The thermogravimetry, variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, and the proton conductance under anhydrous and moisture environments were investigated for 1, disclosing that 1 shows high thermal stability and high proton transport nature, and the proton conductivity reaches to 1.64 × 10(-3) S·cm(-1) under 99%RH even at 293 K. The high proton conductivity is related to the formation of denser H-bond networks in the lattice.

Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus stimulation reduces intestinal injury in rats with ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To investigate the effect and mechanism of stimulation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus with glutamate acid in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: The rats were anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate via abdominal injection and treated with an equal volume of TNBS + 50% ethanol enema, injected into the upper section of the anus with the tail facing up. Colonic damage scores were calculated after injecting a certain dose of glutamic acid into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and the effect of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and vagus nerve in alleviating UC injury through chemical stimulation of the PVN was observed in rats. Expression changes of C-myc, Apaf-1, caspase-3, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17 during the protection against UC injury through chemical stimulation of the PVN in rats were detected by Western blot. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in colon tissues of rats were measured by colorimetric methods. RESULTS: Chemical stimulation of the PVN significantly reduced UC in rats in a dose-dependent manner. The protective effects of the chemical stimulation of the PVN on rats with UC were eliminated after chemical damage to the PVN. After glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid was injected into the PVN, the protective effects of the chemical stimulation of the PVN were eliminated in rats with UC. After AVP-Vl receptor antagonist ([Deamino-penl, val4, D-Arg8]-vasopressin) was injected into NTS or bilateral chemical damage to NTS, the protective effect of the chemical stimulation of PVN on UC was also eliminated. After chemical stimulation of the PVN, SOD activity increased, MDA content decreased, C-myc protein expression significantly increased, caspase-3 and Apaf-1 protein expression significantly decreased, and IL-6 and IL-17 expression decreased in colon tissues in rats with UC. CONCLUSION: Chemical stimulation of the hypothalamic PVN provides a protective effect against UC injury in rats. Hypothalamic PVN, NTS and vagus nerve play key roles in this process.

catena-Poly[1-[(2-fluoro-benzyl-idene)amino]-quinolinium [plumbate(II)-tri-µ-iodido]].

The title complex, {(C(16)H(12)FN(2))[PbI(3)]}(n), consists of 1-[(2-fluoro-benzyl-idene)amino]-quinolinium cations and a polymeric PbI(3) (-) anion formed by face-sharing PbI(6) octa-hedra. These octa-hedra form straight and regular infinite chains along the b axis. In the asymmetric unit, one cation and one anionic [PbI(3)](-) fragment are observed in general positions. Polymeric chains are produced by the glide plane perpendicular to the a axis.

Inorganic-organic hybrid compounds based on face-sharing octahedral [PbI3]∞ chains: self-assemblies, crystal structures, and ferroelectric, photoluminescence properties.

Eight inorganic-organic hybrid compounds with a formula of [R-Bz-1-APy][PbI(3)] (R-Bz-1-APy(+) = mono-substituted benzylidene-1-aminopyridinium Schiff base derivative; R = m-CN (1), m-CH(3) (2), H (3), p-F (4), p-Cl (5), p-Br (6), o-Cl (7), o-Br (8)) have been synthesized and characterized structurally. The common characteristic of the crystal structures of 1-8 is that the inorganic components form straight and face-sharing octahedral [PbI(3)](∞) chains and the Schiff base cations surround the [PbI(3)](∞) chains to form molecular stacks. The substituent (R) on the phenyl ring of the Schiff base cation clearly influences the packing structures of 1-8, and the hybrid compound crystallizes in the space group P6(3) when R = CN (1) in the meta-position of the phenyl ring, and in a central symmetric space group when R is in the ortho- or para-position of the phenyl ring. The conformation of the Schiff base cation is related to the R position, and the dihedral angle between the phenyl and pyridyl rings increases in the order of para- < meta- < ortho-position substitution of the phenyl ring. The long molecular axis of the Schiff base cation adopts a manner approximately parallel to the straight inorganic [PbI(3)](∞) chain in the para-substituted hybrid compounds, and perpendicular to the straight inorganic [PbI(3)](∞) chain in the ortho-substituted hybrid compounds. 1 is second harmonic generation (SHG) active with a comparable response as that of urea and also exhibits ferroelectricity with larger P(s) and P(r) values; 1-8 emit multi-band luminescence in the 300-650 nm regions under the excitation of ultraviolet light.

Larger spontaneous polarization ferroelectric inorganic-organic hybrids: [PbI3](infinity) chains directed organic cations aggregation to Kagomé-shaped tubular architecture.

Four isostructural inorganic-organic hybrid ferroelectric compounds, assembled from achiral 3-R-benzylidene-1-aminopyridiniums (R = NO(2), Br, Cl, or F for 1-4, respectively) and [PbI(3)](-) anions with the chiral Kagomé-shaped tubular aggregating architecture, show larger spontaneous polarizations.