Aspergillus Niger Derived Wrinkle-Like Carbon as Superior Electrode for Advanced Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.

The scarcity of high electrocatalysis composite electrode materials has long been suppressing the redox reaction of V(II)/V(III) and V(IV)/V(V) couples in high performance vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Herein, through ingeniously regulating the growth of Aspergillus Niger, a wrinkle-like carbon (WLC) material that possesses edge-rich carbon, abundant heteroatoms, and nature wrinkle-like structure is obtained, which is subsequently successfully introduced and uniform dispersed on the surface of carbon fiber of graphite felt (GF). This composite electrode presents a lower overpotential and higher charge transfer ability, as the codoped multiheteroatoms increase the electrocatalysis activity and the wrinkled structure affords more abundant reaction area for vanadium ions in the electrolyte when compared with the pristine GF electrode, which is also supported by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Hence, the assembled battery using WLC electrodes achieves a high energy efficiency of 74.5% for 300 cycles at a high current density of 200 mA cm-2 , as well as the highest current density of 450 mA cm-2 . The WLC material not only uncovers huge potential in promoting the application of VRFBs, but also offers referential solution to synthesis microorganism-based high-performance electrode in other energy storage systems.

Colchicine Inhibits NETs and Alleviates Cardiac Remodeling after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

PURPOSE: Colchicine, a multipotent anti-inflammatory drug, has been reported to alleviate cardiac remodeling and improve cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Because neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs) enhance inflammation and participate in myocardial ischemia injury, and colchicine can inhibit NETosis, we thus aimed to determine whether colchicine exerts cardioprotective effects on AMI via suppressing NETs. METHODS: Adult C57BL/6 mice were subjected to permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and treated with colchicine (0.1 mg/kg/day) or Cl-amidine (10 mg/kg/day) for 7 or 28 days after AMI. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, and NETs detected by immunofluorescence. ROS production was detected using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetates (DCFH-DA) fluorometry. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was assessed by a fluorometric ratio technique. RESULTS: We found that colchicine treatment significantly increased mice survival (89.8% in the colchicine group versus 67.9% in control, n = 32 per group; log-rank test, p < 0.05) and improved cardiac function at day 7 (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 28.0 ± 9.2% versus 12.6 ± 3.9%, n = 8 per group; p < 0.001) and at day 28 (LVEF: 26.2 ± 7.2% versus 14.8 ± 6.7%, n = 8 per group; p < 0.001) post-AMI. In addition, the administration of colchicine inhibited NETs formation and inflammation. Furthermore, colchicine inhibited NETs formation by reducing NOX2/ROS production and Ca2+ influx. Moreover, prevention of NETs formation with Cl-amidine significantly alleviated AMI-induced cardiac remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Colchicine inhibited NETs and cardiac inflammation, and alleviated cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

A rare case of pure testosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma in a postmenopausal elderly woman.

BACKGROUND: Hyperandrogenemia is more common in puberty and reproductive age, but relatively rare in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal virilization may result from androgen-producing tumors. Androgen-secreting adrenal tumors are rare in clinical practice and are diagnosed as adrenocortical carcinoma, most of which can co-secrete androgen and cortisol. Highly elevated serum testosterone level with normal adrenal androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstenedione is usually regarded as ovary origin. Here we describe an unusual case of a postmenopausal woman with markedly elevated serum testosterone level, while DHEAS, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol were within the normal range. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old postmenopausal woman with hirsutism in the upper lip and armpit, accompanied by clitoromegaly for 5 months. Hormonal evaluation showed markedly elevated serum testosterone level (714.8 ng/ml), whereas DHEAS, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and cortisol were within the normal range. Imaging examination showed a mass of 1.5 cm in diameter in the left adrenal gland and normal appearance of both ovaries. PET-CT indicated that it was a case of benign adrenal adenoma and excluded ovarian abnormalities and other ectopic tumors. Thus, a pure testosterone-secreting adrenal tumor was suspected and then adrenalectomy was performed. Histology and immunohistochemistry furtherly confirmed the benign adrenocortical adenoma with immunohistochemistry positive for inhibin α, melan A, ß-captenin, SYN (focal), Ki-67(< 3%), and negative for chromogranin (CgA), cytokeratin (CK), S-100, P53. After surgery, the level of testosterone returned to normal range and the clinical symptoms also subsided. CONCLUSIONS: Pure testosterone-secreting adrenal adenomas are extremely rare, but it can induce severe hyperandrogenism and virilization. The source identification of hyperandrogenemia only based on the levels of testosterone, DHEAS and androstenedione is limited. It is important to evaluate not only ovaries but also adrenals in all women with virilization particularly during menopause, even their androstenedione, DHEA and DHEAS level are normal.

[Immunomodulatory effects of human amniotic versus bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunomodulatory effects of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell (hAMSCs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in an in vitro co-culture system. METHODS: hAMSCs and hBMSCs isolated using enzymatic digestion and Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation, respectively, were culture-expanded in vitro to obtain the 4th-generation cells. The two MSCs were co-cultured separately with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-PBMSC) to investigate the changes in T lymphocyte subsets using flow cytomety and the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-10 by the T lymphocytes using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Co-culture with either hAMSCs or hBMSCs significantly increased the proportions of Treg, Th2 and Tc2 and decreased Th1 and Tc1 cell subsets in the PBMCs as compared with the PBMCs cultured alone (P<0.05), and the changes in the PBMCs were similar between the two co-culture systems (P>0.05). In both of the two co-culture systems, IL-2 production by the lymphocytes was significantly lowered (P<0.05) and IL-10 production was significantly increased (P<0.05) as compared with their levels in the PBMCs cultured alone; no significant difference was found in IL-2 or IL-10 levels between the two co-culture systems (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The MSCs derived from human amnion and bone marrow have similar immunomodulatory effects on the T lymphocytes, suggesting the possibility of using hAMSCs in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

[The metabolic characteristics of isolated impaired fasting glucose and fasting hyperglycemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the metabolic characteristics of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in isolated impaired fasting glucose (iIFG) and isolated fasting hyperglycemia (IFH) and to clarify the factors responsible for the development of IFH. METHODS: Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted in 1852 subjects. Three groups were classified according to a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): (1) normal glucose tolerance (NGT), n = 557; (2) iIFG, n = 221; (3) IFH, n = 81. The three groups were compared with insulin secretion (insulinogenic index) and insulin sensitivity (insulin sensitivity index). RESULTS: Using ROC analysis, the optimal cut point of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) related to diabetes diagnosis with OGTT was 6.695 mmol/L and the optimal cut point of FPG related to impaired glucose to lerance (IGT) diagnosis with OGTT was 5.590 mmol/L. From NGT to iIFG and IFH in these subjects, the insulinogenic index and insulin sensitivity index showed gradual decrease. CONCLUSION: Subjects with iIFG and IFH exhibit distinctly impaired early-phase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, indicating that both reduced insulin secretion and insulin resistance are the determinants of deterioration from NGT to iIFG and IFH.

[Comparison of adsorbent with varying arm length and ligand density for the purification of recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen].

Novel hydrophobic absorbents were synthesized by immobilizing butyl derivative onto the highly cross-linked agarose beads manufatured in China, which are used as matrix. The effect of the spacer arm length (3C, 8C and 10C) and ligand density (from 13 to 45 micromol/mL) on the hydrophobicity were investigated using purified Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expressed by CHO cell lines. Also considering the effects of salt concentration and pH on HBsAg recovery and purification factor, orthogonal experiment design method was used to evaluated the absorbents. The results showed the butyl-S absorbent with the spacer arm length of C8, the ligand density of 22 micromol/mL gel showed the best performance for the separation of HBsAg. Approximately 100% HBsAg recovery and 60 as purification fold were achieved by this media under the operating condition of pH 7.0 and 9% of salt concentrateion.

[Development of a new hydrophobic interaction chromatography absorbent and its application to the purification of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen].

A new hydrophobic absorbent based on homemade highly cross-linked agarose beads was synthesized by immobilizing butyl derivative onto the matrix linkage. The density of ligand was controlled by adjusting the concentration of butanethiol and the synthesis route was optimized by evaluating the purification efficiency of recombinant Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expressed by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. A high performance absorbent was finally screened out with up to 80% of HBsAg recovery and purification-fold (PF) about 20. Furthermore, the column pressure was about 0.06 MPa under the flow rate of 500cm/h, and no leaked butyl were detected after exposing the gel in common buffers, chaotropic agents, high concentrations of denaturing agents such as guanidine hydrochloride, urea and polar organic solvents. These results demonstrated that the absorbent have high physico-chemical stability, so it was available for the downstream process. Finally, after scaled up to 2L wet gel/batch, the absorbent was applied to the integration of three-step chromatography and obtained the purified CHO-HBsAg with 95% purity by SDS-PAGE and HPLC, which meet the requirements of SFDA. The purification efficiency and the reproducible ability of the absorbents were also evaluated from batch-to-batch. The results demonstrated that the absorbent met the requirement of scalable, reproducible, economic effect as well. This absorbent is a promising alternative exported HIC gel for wildly being used in Chinese pharmaceutical industries.

[Polyethylene glycol-accompanied ion-exchange chromatography to purify recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen].

The dissociation of virus-like particles of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during the adsorption-desorption on the solid-phase of chromatography is a main challenge for its purification. Herein, poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was applied as an additive during the purification of HBsAg from recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture to improve the HBsAg recovery and protect its structural assembly. The presence of 1% of PEG10000 in the mobile phase of ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) of DEAE-Sepharose FF column could increase the recovery of HBsAg from about 55% to 80%, with a similar purification (-fold) (about 12) compared with the absence of PEG. Importantly, glycosylated protein forms of HBsAg were reserved well by PEG-accompanied chromatography. Furthermore, size exclusion chromatography-multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS) analysis was performed on line to monitor the aggregates, particle size and molecular weight distribution of HBsAg. The results demonstrated that the HBsAg particle size and assembly are more homogenous after adding PEG in the mobile phase of IEC than no PEG added in the mobile phase.

[Effect of ligustrazine on the expression and activity of heme oxygenase-1 in the pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits].

AIM: To explore the effect of ligustrazine injection on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in rabbits with pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury after. METHODS: Single lung ischemia/reperfusion injury animal model was used in vivo. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups( n = 10, in each), pulmonary ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) group and I/R + ligustrazine injection (LGT) group. The tissue slides were stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) for HO-1 to detect the expression of HO-1 in lung and to analyze the absorbance, wet to dry ratio of lung tissue weight (W/D) and the injured alveoli rate (IAR) were measured at 180 minutes after lung reperfusion. Meanwhile the lung tissue slide was prepared for electron microscopic observation at 180 minutes after reperfusion. RESULTS: HO-1 expression was upregulated in two groups in the pulmonary endothelial cells, part of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells, extima of vessels and epithelial cells of airway, the absorbance was 0.168 +/- 0.016 (0.148 +/- 0.013), 0.186 +/- 0.014 (0.158 +/- 0.012) respectively.The LGTI group showed higher absorbance than those of the I/R group (P < 0.01), lower W/D and IAR values than those of the I/R group (P < 0.01) significantly and lighter abnormal changes of the lung tissue in morphology than those of the I/R group. CONCLUSION: Ligustrazine injection possesses notable protective effects on I/R in rabbits by increasing the expression of HO-1 in lung.

Purification and identification of recombinant hirudin and its degradation products expressed in Pichia pastoris.

The purification and identification of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) (rHV2-Lys47) and its several C-terminal proteolytic degradation derivatives, produced by Pichia pastoris, were described. The high-purity rHV2-Lys47 of above 99% and its three degradation products were obtained by a straightforward two-step chromatography procedure, a combination of cation exchange and reverse phase chromatography, with a recovery yield of 74% for hirudin. The purified rHV2 had the predicted N-terminal amino acid sequence and the derivatives were the degradation products of hirudin, short of one to three amino acid residues at C-terminal.