Simulation of Microscopic Seepage Characteristics of Interphase Mass Transfer in CO2 Miscible Flooding under Multiphysics Field Coupling Conditions.

CO2 miscible flooding in low permeability reservoirs is conducive to significantly improving oil recovery. At present, the microscopic displacement simulation of CO2 miscible flooding is mainly reflected in the simulation of the seepage process, but the pressure control of the seepage process is lacking, and the simulation of the characterization of CO2 concentration diffusion is less studied. In view of the above problems, a numerical model of CO2 miscible flooding is established, and the microscopic seepage characteristics of interphase mass transfer in CO2 miscible flooding are analyzed by multiphysics field coupling simulations at the two-dimensional pore scale. The injection velocity, contact angle, diffusion coefficient, and initial injection concentration are selected to analyze their effects on the microscopic seepage characteristics of CO2 miscible flooding and the concentration distribution in the process of CO2 diffusion. The research shows that after injection into the model, CO2 preferentially diffuses into the large pore space and forms a miscible area with crude oil through interphase mass transfer, and the miscible area expands continuously and is pushed to the outlet by the high CO2 concentration area. The increase in injection velocity will accelerate the seepage process of CO2 miscible displacement, which will increase the sweep area at the same time. The increase in contact angle increases the seepage resistance of CO2 and weakens the interphase mass transfer with crude oil, resulting in a gradual decrease in the final recovery efficiency. When the diffusion coefficient increases, the CO2 concentration in the small pores and the parts that are difficult to reach at the model edge will gradually increase. The larger the initial injection concentration is, the larger the CO2 concentration in the large pore and miscible areas in the sweep region at the same time. This study has guiding significance for the field to further understand the microscopic seepage characteristics of CO2 miscible flooding under the effect of interphase mass transfer.

CBXs-related prognostic gene signature correlates with immune microenvironment in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Chromobox (CBX) proteins are important Polycomb family proteins in the development of gastric cancer. Nonetheless, the relationship between CBXs and gastric cancer microenvironment remains unclear. METHODS: Multiple databases were used for the analysis of CBXs expression and clinical value in gastric cancer patients. A Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic importance of CBXs. Thereafter, regression analysis of LASSO Cox was used to construct the prognostic model. Spearman's correlation between risk score and immune infiltration was analyzed using the McP-counter algorithm. A predicted nomogram was developed to predict the overall survival of gastric cancer patients after 1, 2, and 3 years. RESULTS: In contrast with normal tissues, mRNA and protein expression levels of CBX2/3 were significantly high in gastric cancer tissues, whereas those of CBX6/7 were low. CBXs significantly correlated with immune subtypes and molecular subtypes. A prognostic gene model based on five CBX genes (CBX1, CBX2, CBX3, CBX7, and CBX8) predicted the overall survival of gastric cancer patients. A significant correlation was noted between the risk score of the CBXs-related prognostic gene model and immune-cell infiltration. Low risk patients could achieve a better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. A predictive nomogram constructed using the above five CBX genes revealed that overall survival rates over 1, 2, and 3 years could be reasonably predicted. Therefore, the roles of CBXs were associated with chromatin modifications and histone methylation, etc. Conclusion: In summary, we identified a prognostic CBXs model comprising five genes (CBX1, CBX2, CBX3, CBX7, and CBX8) for gastric cancer patients through bioinformatics analysis.

Plant Salinity Sensors: Current Understanding and Future Directions.

Salt stress is a major limiting factor for plant growth and crop yield. High salinity causes osmotic stress followed by ionic stress, both of which disturb plant growth and metabolism. Understanding how plants perceive salt stress will help efforts to improve salt tolerance and ameliorate the effect of salt stress on crop growth. Various sensors and receptors in plants recognize osmotic and ionic stresses and initiate signal transduction and adaptation responses. In the past decade, much progress has been made in identifying the sensors involved in salt stress. Here, we review current knowledge of osmotic sensors and Na+ sensors and their signal transduction pathways, focusing on plant roots under salt stress. Based on bioinformatic analyses, we also discuss possible structures and mechanisms of the candidate sensors. With the rapid decline of arable land, studies on salt-stress sensors and receptors in plants are critical for the future of sustainable agriculture in saline soils. These studies also broadly inform our overall understanding of stress signaling in plants.

Root Na+ Content Negatively Correlated to Salt Tolerance Determines the Salt Tolerance of Brassica napus L. Inbred Seedlings.

Soil salinization is a major environmental stressor that reduces the growth and yield of crops. Maintaining the balance of ions under salinity is vital for plant salt tolerance; however, little is known about the correlation between the salt tolerance of crops and the ion contents of their roots and shoots. Here, we investigated the poorly understood salt-tolerance mechanisms, particularly regarding ion contents (particularly Na+), in Brassica napus subsp. napus L., an agriculturally important species. Twenty B. napus inbred lines were randomly chosen from five salt-tolerance categories and treated with increasing concentrations of NaCl (0-200 mmol) for this work. We found that the root Na+ content is the most correlated limiting factor for the salt tolerance of B. napus; the higher the salt tolerance, the lower the root Na+ content. Correspondingly, the Ca2+/Na+ and K+/Na+ ratios of the roots were highly correlated with B. napus salt tolerance, indicating that the selective absorption ability of these ions by the roots and their translocation to the shoots play a pivotal role in this trait. These data provide a foundation for the further study of the molecular mechanisms underlying salt tolerance and for breeding salt-tolerant B. napus cultivars.

LncRNA AFAP1-AS1/miR-27b-3p/VEGF-C axis modulates stemness characteristics in cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate target genes expression by sponging microRNAs (miRs) to play cancer-promoting roles in cancer stem cells. However, the regulatory mechanism of AFAP1-AS1 in cervical cancer (CC) stem cells is unknown. The present study aimed to provide a new therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of CC. METHODS: Hyaluronic acid receptor cluster of differentiation 44 variant exon 6 (CD44v6)(+) CC cells were isolated by flow cytometry (FCM). Small interfering RNAs of AFAP1-AS1 (siAFAP1-AS1) were transfected into the (CD44v6)(+) cells. The levels of AFAP1-AS1 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Sphere formation assay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blotting were used to detect the effect of siAFAP1-AS1. RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the relationship between miR-27b-3p and AFAP1-AS1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C. RESULTS: CD44v6(+) CC cells had remarkable stemness and a high level of AFAP1-AS1. However, AFAP1-AS1 knockdown with siAFAP1-AS1 suppressed the cell cycle transition of G(1)/S phase and inhibited self-renewal of CD44v6(+) CC cells, the levels of the stemness markers octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), osteopontin (OPN), and cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins Twist1, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9, and VEGF-C. In the mechanism study, miR-27b-3p/VEGF-C signaling was demonstrated to be a key downstream of AFAP1-AS1 in the CD44v6(+) CC cells. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 knockdown inhibits the CC cell stemness by upregulating miR-27b-3p to suppress VEGF-C.

Hypoglycemic effects of Tibetan medicine Huidouba in STZ-induced diabetic mice and db/db mice.

Objective: Huidouba (HDB) is a Chinese folk medicine used to treat diabetes in Sichuan Province, China. Therefore, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of HDB and its underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that HDB treatment could enhance glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and thus prevent a hyperglycemia state. Methods: To test the hypothesis, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and db/db mice, widely used models of hyperglycemia and insulin-resistant diabetes, were either treated with HDB, metformin, or acarbose. Blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, pancreatic histopathology and serum biochemistry were detected to assess the hypoglycemic effect of HDB. Results: HDB treatments were found to show the effect in reducing glucose levels. HDB also resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and food intake in the STZ-induced diabetic mouse model. Furthermore, it significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in the two diabetic mouse models. Importantly, insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin immunohistochemistry revealed that HDB treatment improved the function and the location of the cells in the islets compared with the other two treatments. HDB treatment resulted in significant restoration of islet function. Our results illustrated the underlying mechanism of HDB in the progression of diabetes, and HDB can be an effective agent for the treatment of diabetes. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that HDB can reduce blood glucose levels in STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice and db/db mice.

Hypoglycemic effects of Tibetan medicine Huidouba in STZ-induced diabetic mice and db/db mice / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Huidouba (HDB) is a Chinese folk medicine used to treat diabetes in Sichuan Province, China. Therefore, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of HDB and its underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that HDB treatment could enhance glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and thus prevent a hyperglycemia state. Methods: To test the hypothesis, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and db/db mice, widely used models of hyperglycemia and insulin-resistant diabetes, were either treated with HDB, metformin, or acarbose. Blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, pancreatic histopathology and serum biochemistry were detected to assess the hypoglycemic effect of HDB. Results: HDB treatments were found to show the effect in reducing glucose levels. HDB also resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and food intake in the STZ-induced diabetic mouse model. Furthermore, it significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in the two diabetic mouse models. Importantly, insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin immunohistochemistry revealed that HDB treatment improved the function and the location of the cells in the islets compared with the other two treatments. HDB treatment resulted in significant restoration of islet function. Our results illustrated the underlying mechanism of HDB in the progression of diabetes, and HDB can be an effective agent for the treatment of diabetes. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that HDB can reduce blood glucose levels in STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice and db/db mice.

LncRNA AFAP1-AS1/miR-27b-3p/VEGF-C axis modulates stemness characteristics in cervical cancer cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate target genes expression by sponging microRNAs (miRs) to play cancer-promoting roles in cancer stem cells. However, the regulatory mechanism of AFAP1-AS1 in cervical cancer (CC) stem cells is unknown. The present study aimed to provide a new therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of CC.@*METHODS@#Hyaluronic acid receptor cluster of differentiation 44 variant exon 6 (CD44v6)(+) CC cells were isolated by flow cytometry (FCM). Small interfering RNAs of AFAP1-AS1 (siAFAP1-AS1) were transfected into the (CD44v6)(+) cells. The levels of AFAP1-AS1 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Sphere formation assay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blotting were used to detect the effect of siAFAP1-AS1. RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the relationship between miR-27b-3p and AFAP1-AS1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C.@*RESULTS@#CD44v6(+) CC cells had remarkable stemness and a high level of AFAP1-AS1. However, AFAP1-AS1 knockdown with siAFAP1-AS1 suppressed the cell cycle transition of G(1)/S phase and inhibited self-renewal of CD44v6(+) CC cells, the levels of the stemness markers octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), osteopontin (OPN), and cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133), and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins Twist1, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9, and VEGF-C. In the mechanism study, miR-27b-3p/VEGF-C signaling was demonstrated to be a key downstream of AFAP1-AS1 in the CD44v6(+) CC cells.@*CONCLUSIONS@#LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 knockdown inhibits the CC cell stemness by upregulating miR-27b-3p to suppress VEGF-C.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Portulacae Herba on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To explore the effect and mechanism of Portulacae Herba protecting carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury. Method::Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, silybin group (200 mg·kg-1) and Portulacae Herba high, medium, low (2, 1, 0.5 g·kg-1) dose groups. After continuous intragastric administration for 5 days, mice in each group were intraperitoneally injected with 0.2% CCl4 peanut oil solution to establish acute liver injury model, except normal mice. After 23 hours of modeling, serum and liver tissue were collected. Fully automatic analysis of serum serum liver function indicators in mice. Liver tissues were taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) staining to observe liver pathological changes. RNA Sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to analyze differential genes and functional enrichment, real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(Real-time PCR) was used to verify the mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 family members(CYP)26A1, CYP2C37, CYP2C44, CYP2C50, CYP2C54. Result::Compared with normal group, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), malondialdehyde (MDA) in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the activities of triglyceride (TG) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, Portulaca Herba significantly reduced ALT, AST, TBIL and MDA levels in mice with acute liver injury (P<0.05), significantly increased SOD activity (P<0.01), and decreased the degree of liver tissue damage in mice. Compared with normal group, the mRNA expressions of CYP2C44, CYP2C50 in mice with acute liver injury were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the mRNA expressions of CYP26A1, CYP2C37, CYP2C44, CYP2C50 and CYP2C54 were significantly increased in all dose groups of Portulaca Herba (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion::Portulacae Herba has significant protective effects on acute liver injury caused by CCl4, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of cytochrome P450 related genes.

Huidouba Ameliorates Kidney Oxidative Stress Injury by Down-regulating Nox4 Expression in Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:From a new perspective，to explore therapeutic effect of Huidouba (HDB) on alleviating kidney oxidative damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and provide a scientific basis for developing HDB as a potential Tibetan medicine for treatment of DN. Method:Rats were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and injected with streptozocin (STZ, 65 mg·kg-1) intraperitoneally to induce DN model, while rats in Blank group were injected with an equal volume of vehicle and fed with normal chow. The successfully modeling DN rats were randomly divided into three groups, 8 rats per group, DN model group (10 mL·kg-1·d-1), Metformin group (0.045 g·kg-1·d-1) and HDB group (0.18 g·kg-1·d-1). Monitor body weight (BW) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) weekly, and collect 24 hours urine before and after medication to examine microalbuminuria (mAlb). Calculate kidney index (KI) after sacrificing, analyze mAlb, serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) with a fully automatic biochemical analyzer. Histopathology of kidney was observed by Masson staining. Lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) assay kit was used to examine MDA content in kidney tissue. Nox4, as a subtype of triphosphopyridine nucleotide (NADPH) oxidase family was determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay of kidney tissue. Result:Compared with blank group, levels of FBG, 24 h mAlb, SCr, BUN and MDA in DN model group were increased (P<0.01), tissue damage was obvious and Nox4 expression in glumeruli was increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with DN model group, levels of FBG, 24 h mAlb, SCr, BUN and MDA in drug administration groups were decreased (P<0.01), kidney injury was alleviated and Nox4 expression was down-regulated（P<0.01）. Conclusion:HDB as a Yiqiyangyin Tibetan medicine, could ease oxidative stress injury of kidney and reduce proteinuria in DN rats, thus prevent the development of DN. Its mechanism is closely related to down-regulating Nox4 expression of kidney tissue in DN rats.

[Study on extraction process of coumarin in a Mongolian drug Chagan-sorlo (Radix Glehniae)].

The present paper discusses ultrasonic extraction method aided extraction of coumarin from a Mongolian drug, Chagan-sorlo (Radix Glehniae), aiming to study out how much coumarin contained in Chagan-sorlo, and to provide the scientific basis and production guidance for extracting coumarin from Chagan-sorlo. Under different conditions the coumarin in Chagan-sorlo was extracted by ultrasonic, measured and analyzed, and then HPLC was used to carry out the measurement. Result showed that with solvent volume fraction of 70%, extraction time of 20 min, ultrasonic power of 175 W, temperature of 25 degrees C, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 20, and 80-100 mesh extraction, the coumarin extraction reaches the highest yield.

[Impacts of climate warming on nine element contents in Mongolian drug Agi using ICP-AES].

Global warming has become a fact of life, and the night temperature increase higher than during the day. In the present research, to explore the effects of climate warming on element contents of plants, ICP-AES was used for the direct determination of nine kinds of element contents of reproductive branches and vegetative branches of the Mongolian drug Agi, which grew in the day, night and diurnal warming field. The results of the study show that the responses of reproductive branches and vegetative branches to day, night and diurnal warming were not significant different, but the negative response was greater than the positive response. The effects of day warming on the element contents were not significant, but night warming lower the contents of Al, Fe and Mn significantly. There was interaction between day warming and night warming.

[Study on the hemostatic effects in raw and charred Mongolian drug Agi and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of raw and charred Agi on hemostasis and its mechanism. METHODS: The rabbit bleeding time was measured by traumatic hemorrhage test, and the clotting time was measured by tube test. The rabbit prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thormboplastia time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (FIB), plasma recalcification time (PRT), euglobulin lysis time (ELT), max platelet aggregation rate (MPAR) were measured by solidification method, turbidimetry and tube test to analyze the effects of raw and charred Agi on rabbit coagulation-fibrinolysis system and platelet function. RESULTS: The medium doses and high doses of raw Agi groups, all of the groups of charred Agi decreased rabbit BT obviously (P<0.01 or P<0.05); all of the groups of raw and charred Agi declined rabbits CT (P<0.01 or P<0.05). All of the doses groups of raw and charred Agi had no apparent influences on PT (P>0.05); the high dose of raw Agi group and all of the groups of charred Agi decreased APTT apparently (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and prolonged ELT (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the high doses groups of raw and charred Agi decreased TT apparently (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the medium and high doses groups of charred Agi increased FIB obviously (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the high doses group of charred Agi showed the decreased PRT significantly (P<0.05) and increased MPAR obviously (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Raw Agi can play its role in hemostasis and coagulation by affecting the intrinsic pathway of coagulation and fibrinolytic system. These effects are inhanced after processing drugs; moreover, the charred Agi could increase FIB and MPAR with promoting more in blood coagulation.

Effective compounds group of Mongolian prescriptions BAIMAI-SAN protect against peripheral neuropathy in lower limbs of rats through neuro protective effect.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: BAIMAI-SAN prescription is a famous Chinese minority complex prescription used for curing neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Effective Compounds Groups of BAIMAI-SAN (ECGBM) is determined by high through-put screening, and it includes picroside II, verbascose, taurine and ellagic acid and borneol. To research the potential protective effect of ECGBM on the function of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic rats with peripheral neuropathy were induced by streptozotocin and treated with ECGBM (0.1, 0.3, 0.9 mg/kg/day i.g.) for 75 days. Primary cortical neuronal cultures were subjected to high d-glucitol, and treated with ECGBM prophylactically. RESULTS: The administration resulted in reductions in speed of sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and response speed to pain in the sciatic nerve fiber. Data from primary cortical neuronal cultures experiments indicated that neuronal survival rates were increased, and LDH release was decreased and the loss of neurite length was alleviated in ECGBM group. CONCLUSIONS: It is first report that ECGBM could protect the peripheral neuron in diabetic rat in vivo and in vitro. This activity may be associated with the neuron protective effect.

[Determination of eight metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet by microwave digestion-FAAS].

The Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet is a traditional Uighur natural herbal medicine, but has not been analyzed and studied in terms of its metal elements. In the experiment, the Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet powder was digested with HNO3 by microwave digestion before determination. The eight metal elements, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet were determined by FAAS. The working conditions, accuracy and precision of the method were studied. The linear correlations of standard curves are good (r = 0.999 1-0.999 9). The recovery (n = 6) is 92.25%-110.5%, and the RSD (n = 6) is 0.7%-3.88%. The results showed that there were comparatively rich metal elements, among which are comparatively high calcium (65.84 mg x g(-1)), iron (24.38 mg x g(-1)), magnesium (278.17 mg x g(-1)) and potassium (18.50 mg x g(-1)), in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet, and the contents of other elements are nickel of 0.004 38 mg x g(-1), manganese of 0.52 mg x g(-1), copper of 0.016 5 mg x g(-1) and zinc of 0.18 mg x g(-1). This provided useful data for discussing the relationship between the content of the metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet and its clinical application in cardiovascular and osteoporosis disease.

[Application and projects approved for fundamental research on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in National Natural Science Foundation of China from 2000 to 2004].

From 2000 to 2004, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) accepted 1 171 applications and funded 160 projects for fundamental research on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The success rate is 13.64%. Being supported by NSFC, a number of achievements well known in China and abroad have been made, such as acupuncture complementary anaesthesia, treatment of leukemia, viral hepatitis, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, acute abdomen, burns and fracture with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and their therapeutic mechanisms, and some new concepts and theories have been put forward, such as the theories of activating blood to resolve stagnation, simultaneous treatment of bacteria and toxin, etc. But there still exit some problems in the research of the funded projects. The research ways are mainly combination of different methods instead of integration of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The research results are mainly confirmation of traditional Chinese medical theories instead of exploration of their innate regularities. The relationship among disease, syndrome and symptom is not clearly explored. The principal-subordinate relationship between macro- and micro-differentiation of syndromes is not clear. Academic research is short of new ideas. Improper or biased explanation of the theories of traditional Chinese medicine still exists. On analysis of above problems, some preferable aspects of projects for fundamental research on integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine funded by NSFC in future are suggested in this article.