Oral cancer cell to endothelial cell communication via exosomal miR-21/RMND5A pathway.

Required for meiotic nuclear division 5 homolog A (RMND5A), a novel ubiquitin E3 Ligase, has been reported to correlate with poor prognosis of several cancers. However, its role in endothelial cells has not been reported. In this study, overexpression of RMND5A in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was performed via lentiviral infection, followed by MTT, would healing and tube formation assay as well as signaling analysis. Moreover, crosstalk between HUVECs and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells was investigated by indirect co-culture with condition medium or tumor cell derived exosomes. Our results showed that overexpression of RMND5A reduced the proliferation, migration and tube formation ability of HUVECs by inhibiting the activation of ERK and NF-κB pathway. Interestingly, OSCC cells can inhibit RMND5A expression of endothelial cells via exosomal miR-21. In summary, our present study unveils that OSCC cells can activate endothelial cells via exosomal miR-21/RMND5A pathway to promote angiogenesis, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of OSCC.

Is it safe and effective to extract impacted maxillary tooth adjacent to maxillary sinus via submaxillary sinus membrane space approach?-a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes following extraction of impacted maxillary tooth adjacent to maxillary via submaxillary sinus membrane space approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients were enrolled in our study. The positions of the maxillary impacted tooth were confirmed by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Cases were randomly divided into two groups: the "submaxillary sinus membrane space approach" was applied in the new method (NM) group, and the conventional "avoid maxillary sinus membrane exposure" strategy was executed in the traditional method (TM) group. The clinical and follow-up data were recorded. RESULTS: The duration of the procedure in the TM group was significantly longer than those in the NM group (P < 0.05). Four teeth were accidentally displaced into the maxillary sinus with MSM perforation. The MSM perforation rate was slightly higher in the TM group than in the NM group, however, without significant difference between the two groups (8/36 vs. 3/36, P = 0.19). The maxillary sinus membrane perforation was associated with the displacement of tooth into the maxillary sinus (OR = 16.2, P = 0.026). The root tip exposure of the adjacent tooth was significantly higher in the TM group than in the NM group (10/36 vs. 1/36, P = 0.006). The incidence of reduced pulp vitality of the adjacent tooth was significantly higher in the TM group (10/36 vs. 1/36, P = 0.006), and it was associated with the exposure of the root tip intraoperatively (OR = 456.5, P < 0.001). The incidence of external root resorption was significantly lower in the NM group, and there was no significant association with the root exposure intraoperatively (OR = 3.7, P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Submaxillary sinus membrane space approach is a safe and efficient approach in extraction of impacted maxillary tooth. It is an alternative way for cases which are in close proximity to the maxillary sinus. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A novel method to extract impacted maxillary tooth adjacent to maxillary sinus.

[Evaluation of the effect of cattle calcined bone grafting material to repair alveolar bone defect after tooth extraction].

PURPOSE: To verify the efficacy and safety of calcined cattle bone grafting material in filling alveolar bone defect after tooth extraction. METHODS: A randomized, bind, parallel, positive-control multicenter clinical trial was conducted. A total of 280 subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (calcined cattle bone group) or control group (Bio-Oss group) equally. The main efficacy indicator was the imaging changes 24 weeks after material implantation. Secondary efficacy indicators were wound healing, rejection, bone metabolism, post-filling symptoms and signs of bone infection. The safety of material was assessed by the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events. SAS 8.2 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 280 cases were included, of them 267 cases completed the study while 13 cases fell off. The effective rate of FAS(PPS) was 90.58%(97.46%) in the experimental group and 87.05% (95.04%) in the control group. The difference of effective rate between the experimental group and control group (95%CI) was 3.53% (-3.88%, 10.94%) of FAS, 2.42% (-2.38%, 7.22%) of PPS, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. The incision healing of the two groups was good, and the incidence of rejection, bone infection signs, post-filling symptoms and bone metabolic changes was very low. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups, and no serious adverse events related to the study materials occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of calcined cattle bone grafting material in filling alveolar bone defect after tooth extraction is not inferior to that of Bio-Oss, and it is safe and effective for alveolar bone defect repair.

The efficacy of minocycline hydrochloride ointment versus iodoform gauze for alveolar osteitis: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is one of the most commonly encountered complication following tooth extraction, however, to date there is no standard methods of prevention and treatment. The study aims to investigate the efficiency of minocycline hydrochloride ointment (MHO) for the treatment of alveolar osteitis compared with traditional treatment with iodoform gauze (IG). METHODS/DESIGN: STROBE checklist was followed to report this study. All patients underwent tooth extraction either in our department or other hospitals, whom presented with postoperative pain, were screened out to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study about AO. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in our prospective cohort study, and MHO or IG was administered. The Visual analog scale scores were used to assess the pain score of patients. The healing status of the extraction sockets was followed up. Differences in responses between groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. Chi-square test was performed to explore the differences in the teeth position of AO. RESULTS: Of 41,371 patients underwent tooth extraction with post-operative follow-up in our departments, only 20 patients (0.05%) suffered from AO. 31 patients with AO, whose teeth were extracted in other places, were also enrolled. The incidence of AO was significantly higher in third molars than other teeth (P < 0.01). In 28 patients that were treated with MHO, the pain was relieved substantially on day 3 and almost painless on day 7. And only 25% of cases required dressing change more than once. Whilst 23 patients treated with IG, the pain was relieved on day 5, and 56.5% of cases required multiple dressing change. The difference between the two groups of VAS scores had statistical significance during treatment at 8 h, 24 h, 3d, 5d, and 7d. No allergic reaction or further infection occurred. CONCLUSION: MHO has a safer and higher therapeutic effect in the treatment of AO compared with traditional treatment with IG. MHO may become a preferred treatment modality for AO.

Uncontrollable bleeding after tooth extraction from asymptomatic mild hemophilia patients: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Uncontrollable bleeding after tooth extraction usually occurs in patients with coagulation diseases, including hemophilia, von Willebrand's disease, vitamin K deficiency, platelet deficiency, and taking anticoagulant drugs. Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by insufficiency of coagulation factor VIII. Mild hemophilia, defined by factor level between 0.05 and 0.40 IU/mL, is characterized by uncontrollable hemorrhage after trauma or invasive operations. Some mild hemophiliacs may remain undiagnosed until late adulthood. Therefore, surgical management of these patients may be relatively neglected. These case reports describe two uncontrollable bleeding patients with unknown mild hemophilia A after tooth extraction. CASE PRESENTATION: This paper reports 2 cases of persistent bleeding after tooth extraction under local anesthesia which could not be completely stopped by routine treatments. Both of them denied prior illness and injury, allergies, anticoagulant medication history, systemic and family illness. The APTT and other coagulation screening tests of the two patients before surgery were normal. Finally, they were diagnosed with mild hemophilia A via coagulation factor assays. The patients acquired complete hemostasis by receiving coagulation factor supplement therapy in hematologic department. CONCLUSION: Mild hemophilia is marked by subclinical, asymptomatic and even normal coagulation test results. The purpose of these case reports is to bring dental professionals' attention that APTT test alone cannot be used to exclude mild hemophilia, and provide reasonable evaluation and treatment procedures of bleeding patients after tooth extraction.

Pseudolaric Acid B Attenuates High Salt Intake-Induced Hypertensive Left Ventricular Remodeling by Modulating Monocyte/Macrophage Phenotypes.

BACKGROUND Studies in ApoE knockout mice have shown that pseudolaric acid B (PB) can act as an immunomodulatory drug and attenuate atherosclerosis progression by modulating monocyte/macrophage phenotypes. Our previous study demonstrated that high salt intake could shift the phenotype of monocytes/macrophages to an inflammatory phenotype, and that this shift was related to hypertension and hypertensive left ventricular (LV) remodeling. However, no comprehensive assessment of the effects of PB on hypertensive LV remodeling has been conducted. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, RAW264.7 macrophages cultured with different concentrations of NaCl were used to investigate the modulating effects of PB on macrophage phenotype. Furthermore, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hypertensive mice were used to investigate the modulating effects of PB on monocyte phenotype. LV remodeling was investigated by echocardiography. LV morphologic staining (for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and collagen deposition) was performed at the time of sacrifice. RESULTS The results showed that PB significantly improved the viability of RAW264.7 cells, suppressed their phagocytic and migration abilities, and inhibited their phenotypic shift to M1 macrophages. In addition, the blood pressure of PB-treated mice was significantly decreased relative to that of control mice. Furthermore, after PB treatment, the percentage of Ly6Chi monocytes was significantly decreased while that of Ly6Clo monocytes was apparently increased. Moreover, PB preserved LV function and alleviated myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as measured at the end of the experimental period. The transfer of monocytes from PB-treated mice to hypertensive mice achieved the same effects. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings indicate that PB exerts its protective effects on hypertensive LV remodeling by modulating monocyte/macrophage phenotypes and warrants further investigation.

Performance and Microbial Community Analysis of an Electrobiofilm Reactor Enhanced by Ferrous-EDTA.

The biological reduction of ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII) is an important process in the integrated electrobiofilm reduction method, and it has been regarded as a promising alternative method for removing NO x from industrial boiler flue gas. EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII are crucial substrates that should be biologically reduced at a high rate. However, they inhibit the reduction processes of one another when these two substrates are presented together, which might limit further promotion of the integrated method. In this study, an integrated electrobiofilm reduction system with high reduction rates of EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII was developed. The dynamic changes of microbial communities in the electrobiofilms were mainly investigated to analyze the changes during the reduction of these two substrates under different conditions. The results showed that compared to the conventional chemical absorption-biological reduction system, the reduction system exhibited better performance in terms of resistance to substrate shock loading and high microbial diversities. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that Alicycliphilus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Raoultella were the dominant genera (>25% each) during the process of EDTA-FeII-NO reduction. Chryseobacterium had the ability to endure the shock loading of EDTA-FeIII, and the relative abundance of Chryseobacterium under abnormal operation conditions was up to 30.82%. Ochrobactrum was the main bacteria for reducing nitrate by electrons and the relative abundance still exhibited 16.11% under shock loading. Furthermore, higher microbial diversity and stable reactor operation were achieved when the concentrations of EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII approached the same value (9 mmol·L-1).

Sub-bandgap absorption and photo-response of molybdenum heavily doped black silicon fabricated by a femtosecond laser.

Molybdenum (Mo)-doped black silicon (Si) is obtained by using femtosecond laser irradiation. The concentration of Mo atoms at the depth from 10 to 200 nm has exceeded 1019cm-3. In contrast, the carrier concentration in the Mo-doped layer is lower than 1015cm-3. The surface morphologies with ripple and conical spike microstructures are formed by changing the pulsed laser fluences. The Mo-doped Si samples exhibit a sub-bandgap (1100∼2500nm) absorptance of more than 60% at a wavelength of 1310 nm. A Mo-doped Si photodetector is made, and the responsivity of the device for 1310 nm is up to 76 mA/W at a -10V bias.

Surviving Inhibition Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Disrupts Multipotency in Haemangioma Stem Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential therapies for infantile haemangiomas by targeting survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, using its specific small molecule inhibitor YM155. METHODS: The expression of survivin in human haemangioma tissue was explored using immunohistochemistry and immunohistofluorescence. Cell cycle analysis and EdU assays were used to measure cell proliferation. Heochst33342 and Annexin V/PI double staining were performed to measure cell apoptosis. The capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential of haemangioma stem cells (HemSCs) were measured by clone formation assays and multiple differentiation assays. Murine haemangioma models were established to explore the therapeutic efficacy of YM155 in vivo. RESULTS: Strong staining of survivin in stromal cells was observed in the proliferative haemangioma tissue. In vitro studies demonstrated that YM155 induced cell cycle arrest and proliferation suppression of HemSCs, and also caused cell apoptosis at a higher concentration. YM155 impaired the self-renewal capacities and damaged multiple differentiation potentials of HemSCs. Importantly, YM155 suppressed blood vessel formation and cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis in murine haemangioma models. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that targeting survivin using its specific suppressant, YM155, prevented the progression of infantile haemangioma by suppressing cell proliferation, inducing cell apoptosis and disrupting the differentiation potential of HemSCs. These results indicate a novel and promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of infantile haemangioma.

Study on NOx removal from simulated flue gas by an electrobiofilm reactor: EDTA-ferrous regeneration and biological kinetics mechanism.

The regeneration of EDTA-FeII is a key step in electrobiofilm reduction-integrated systems for NOx removal from industrial boiler flue gas. The current and carbon sources are proposed to be the two crucial electron donors for EDTA-FeII regeneration. These parameters strongly influence the reactivity of EDTA-FeII-generated products in the system. Therefore, their effects on EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII reduction and the EDTA-FeII generation mechanism were studied. The results showed that the electrobiofilm method has obvious advantages over biological or electrochemical methods used alone for EDTA-FeII regeneration. Under the optimal conditions at a current of 22.9A m-3 net cathode chamber, the rate of EDTA-FeII regeneration reached 98.35%. The glucose concentration is the primary factor influencing the reduction of both EDTA-FeII-NO and EDTA-FeIII, while the current significantly promotes both processes. Comparison of the Km values of the two substrates indicated that microbial activity was crucial to the reduction of EDTA-FeII-NO, but the biological reduction of EDTA-FeIII had a competitive influence on EDTA-FeII-NO reduction, which limited the abundance and effectiveness of the bacteria responsible for EDTA-FeII-NO reduction in the electrobiofilm system.

Bleomycin: A novel osteogenesis inhibitor of dental follicle cells via a TGF-ß1/SMAD7/RUNX2 pathway.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tooth eruption is a complicated process regulated by the dental follicles (DF). Our recent study discovered that tooth eruption was inhibited upon injection of bleomycin into DF. However, the mechanisms were unknown. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Human dental follicle cells (hDFCs) were treated by bleomycin or exogenous TGF-ß1 or transfected by plasmids loading SMAD7 or shRNA targeting SMAD7, followed by osteogenesis induction assay and signalling analysis. Human fresh DF tissues and Wistar rats were used to further confirm bleomycin function. KEY RESULTS: Bleomycin decreased expression of RUNX2 and osteogenic genes in hDFCs, reducing osteogenic capacity. TGF-ß1 expression was up-regulated in bleomycin-treated hDFCs. The effects of exogenous TGF-ß1 were similar to those of bleomycin in hDFCs. Additionally, compared to SMAD2/3, SMAD7 expression increased more in bleomycin- or TGF-ß1-treated hDFCs. Overexpression of SMAD7 likewise significantly decreased RUNX2 expression and osteogenic capacity of hDFCs. Knockdown of SMAD7 markedly attenuated the inhibitory effects of bleomycin and TGF-ß1 on osteogenic capacity and RUNX2 expression of hDFCs. Most importantly, changes in TGF-ß1, SMAD7, and RUNX2 expressions were similar in the DF of rats and humans treated with bleomycin. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: SMAD7 was a negative regulator of osteogenic differentiation in DFCs through suppressing RUNX2 expression. Bleomycin or TGF-ß1 inhibited osteogenic differentiation of DFCs via a TGF-ß1/SMAD7/RUNX2 pathway. Our findings might be beneficial for enhancing the osteogenic activity of DFCs or inhibiting the eruption of undesirable teeth.

Effects of bleomycin on tooth eruption: a novel potential application.

There are many kinds of potentially undesirable teeth. At present, surgical extraction is the most efficient way to eliminate these teeth, but it's very complex and invasive. In this study, we investigated the effects of bleomycin (BLM) on dental follicle and tooth eruption as a potential conservative therapy for undesirable teeth. Our data showed that local injection of 0.2 U/kg BLM had no significant effects on tooth eruption compared to the control group in Wistar rats. With higher dose of BLM (0.5 or 2 U/kg), the eruption of treated teeth was interrupted and their root formation failed until 4 weeks postnatal without significant systemic toxicity. Additionally, those effects were not depending on the toxicity of overdose evidenced by TUNEL assay. In summary, injecting BLM into dental follicle at an early stage could interrupt tooth development and eruption, and may prevent the potentially clinical problems resulting from undesirable teeth instead of surgical removal.

Influence of matured compost inoculation on sewage sludge composting: Enzyme activity, bacterial and fungal community succession.

The influence of matured compost inoculation during sewage sludge with sawdust composting was assessed. Mature compost reduced the heating rate, thermophilic phase, peak temperature, and volatile solid degradation rate, with no significant effect on pH and germination index. Matured compost addition also increased the cellulase, peroxidase, arylsulfatase, and urease contents during the mesophilic phase, and increased the urease content but decreased the cellulase, peroxidase, protease, and arylsulfatase contents during the cooling phase, with no significant effect on enzyme activities at the thermophilic phase. Matured compost increased the diversity of bacteria during the mesophilic and thermophilic phases, but reduced the fungal diversity throughout composting. Matured compost significantly improved uniformity of the bacterial community and affected the structure of the bacterial and fungal communities, while changing the correlation between some functional microorganisms and enzyme activities. These results provide guidance for optimizing the composting process when matured compost as bulking agent.

Direct evidence of lead contamination in wheat tissues from atmospheric deposition based on atmospheric deposition exposure contrast tests.

A field experiment was conducted to assess the atmospheric deposition effects on lead (Pb) contamination in wheat by two contrasting treatments: wheat exposed or not to atmospheric deposition. Plants were housed in a shed during wheat greening for the non-exposed treatment. The Pb contents of wheat during different growth stages, of soil and of atmospheric deposits were analysed and combined with Pb stable isotope data to quantify the contribution of atmospheric deposition and soil to Pb in wheat tissue. The Pb content in atmospheric deposits was significantly higher than those in soil and wheat tissue, and the Pb content in wheat tissue exposed to atmospheric deposition was significantly higher than the Pb content in non-exposed tissue (p < 0.05). The 206Pb/207Pb of soil was significantly higher than the 206Pb/207Pb of atmospheric deposits (p < 0.05), and soil and atmospheric deposition were the two sources of Pb in wheat tissue. Atmospheric deposition was the main source of wheat tissue Pb in the exposed treatment, and most of the wheat tissue Pb, except for that in the stem, also came from atmospheric deposition in the maturing stage. The proportion of Pb from atmospheric deposition in roots, stems and leaves evidently decreased after the shed was erected, and the contribution of Pb from atmospheric deposition to wheat tissue was significantly higher in the exposed treatment than in the non-exposed treatment (p < 0.05). This contrast test directly confirmed that atmospheric deposition was the main source of Pb in the wheat tissues. Therefore, taking measures to reduce the absorption of Pb by wheat from atmospheric deposition can effectively ensure food safety.

Elevated ATF4 Expression in Odontogenic Keratocysts Epithelia: Potential Involvement in Tissue Hypoxia and Stromal M2 Macrophage Infiltration.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in odontogenic keratocysts (OKC), its association with hypoxia and M2-polarized macrophages infiltration, and its potential relationships with angiogenesis in OKC. The expression of ATF4, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) in OKC samples and normal oral mucosa (OM) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, microvessel density (MVD) was measured using antibody against CD31. M2-polarized macrophages were identified using double-staining for CD68+ and CD163+. The correlations of ATF4 with HIF-1α, M-CSF, and M2-polarized macrophages infiltration were determined by Spearman's rank correlation test and hierarchical clustering. Human immortalized oral epithelial cells (HIOECs) were used in in vitro experiments. Our data showed that the expression of HIF-1α, ATF4, and M-CSF was significantly upregulated in the epithelium of OKC when compared with the OM. The expression of ATF4 was positively correlated with that of HIF-1α, M-CSF, MVD, and M2-polarized macrophages infiltration. Elevated expression of ATF4 in the epithelial lining of OKC may facilitate the M2 macrophages infiltration in response to hypoxia, leading to the development of OKC.

The Dynamics of Circulating Monocyte Subsets and Intra-Plaque Proliferating Macrophages during the Development of Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice.

To detect the development of monocytes and proliferative macrophages in atherosclerosis of ApoE-/- mice, we randomly assigned 84 ApoE-/- mice fed western diet or chow diet. On weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after fed high-fat diet or normal chow diet, animals were euthanized (n = 7 for each group at each time point). Flow cytometry methods were used to analyze the proportions of circulation monocyte subsets. The macrophage and proliferative macrophage accumulation within atherosclerotic plaques was estimated by confocal florescence microscopy. Plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured by ELISA kit. The plaques of aortic sinus were stained with Oil Red O. The percent of Ly6Chi circulation monocyte, the density of proliferation macrophage, the total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the lesion area of ApoE-/- mice were consistently elevated in chow diet throughout the trial. The total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, the lesion area were elevated in western diet group with age, and they were always higher than the chow diet group. The Ly6Chi monocytes and proliferative macrophages reached a plateau at 8 weeks and 6 weeks; despite continued high-triglyceride high-cholesterol diet the percent did not significantly change. Interestingly, the density of macrophage did not change significantly over age in western and chow diet groups. Our results provide a dynamic view of Ly6Chi monocyte subset, the density of macrophage and proliferation macrophage change during the development and progression of atherosclerosis, which is relevant for designing new treatment strategies targeting mononuclear phagocytes in this model.

Flapless boning to increase space by piezosurgery: A novel mini-invasive strategy for teeth extraction. A retrospective study.

This study aimed to investigate the application of piezosurgery-associated flapless surgery for increasing bone space during teeth extraction and evaluate its success rate, postoperative outcomes, and incidence of major complications.From January 2014 to December 2016, patients who experienced teeth extraction via piezosurgery-associated flapless surgery were enrolled in this study. The positions, diagnosis, dental medical history, and radiographic examination of teeth were recorded before the treatment. During the surgery, the fracture or displacement of root, injuries of soft tissue, and fractures of the alveolar process were noted.A total of 140 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria in the present study. All these teeth were classified into 4 groups based on diagnosis: residual roots that underwent root canal therapy (28 cases), teeth with root fracture (37 cases), teeth extraction because of orthodontics needed (31 cases), and the vertically impacted lower third molar (44 cases). The radiographic presentation revealed about 50% ankylosed teeth. No root fracture and root displacement emerged, and all roots were removed intact. Moreover, fracture of the alveolar process did not occur. Two cases with buccal mucosal injury were noted, which were because of heat injuries caused by the basement of the tip while cool water was used out.This study introduced a novel mini-invasive strategy for increasing space during teeth extraction. The advantage of this piezosurgery-associated flapless surgery included maximal preservation of the alveolar bone, minimal injury to soft tissues, and prevention of root fracture during the surgery. Furthermore, the cool water used during the surgery must be carefully checked before the procedure.

Pseudolaric acid B attenuates atherosclerosis progression and inflammation by suppressing PPARγ-mediated NF-κB activation.

AIMS/OBJECTIVE: Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease of large arteries characterized with chronic inflammation and aberrant immune response. Pseudolaric acid B (PB) has been found to exert multiple effects by inhibiting inflammatory response. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of the effects of PB on atherosclerosis using relevant in vivo and in vitro models. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male ApoE-/- mice were treated with PB orally with a high fat diet (HFD) to clarify its anti-atherosclerotic activities. RAW264.7 macrophage line, a well-accepted cell model of atherosclerosis, was used to investigate anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of PB. RESULTS: PB significantly attenuated atherosclerotic lesions by modulating plasma lipid profiles as well as inhibiting inflammatory responses in macrophages of atherosclerotic mice. Meanwhile, PB markedly suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and regulated cholesterol efflux related genes in oxidative low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-loaded macrophages. The cellular uptake of Dil-labeled ox-LDL was significantly inhibited by PB either. Moreover, the ability of PB to suppress nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was confirmed using luciferase reporter assays. Conversely, the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 reversed the influence of PB in macrophages. CONCLUSION: Together, these findings indicate that PB exerts its protective effects on atherosclerosis by inhibiting macrophage-mediated inflammatory response and cellular ox-LDL uptake, and promoting cholesterol efflux by suppressing NF-κB activation PPARγ-dependently. Therefore, PB may be a promising agent for inflammatory and atherosclerotic diseases.

Sub-bandgap photo-response of non-doped black-silicon fabricated by nanosecond laser irradiation.

Non-doped black silicon (b-Si) is fabricated on the surface layer of a near-intrinsic Si substrate by nanosecond (ns) laser direct writing in an argon (Ar) atmosphere. The non-doped samples exhibit a near-unity sub-bandgap (1100∼2500 nm) absorptance of more than 50%. Amazingly, the resistivity of the ns laser irradiated b-Si layer is about five orders of magnitude lower than that of the unprocessed Si substrate. The carrier density of the b-Si layer is about 1×1018 cm-3, according to the Hall effect measurement. Temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements show that the non-doped b-Si layer exhibits an energy level of 0.026 eV below the conduction band minimum (CBM). At last, Si infrared photodiodes are made based on the difference of carrier concentration between the ns laser-processed b-Si layer and the high-resistivity Si substrate. The responsivity of the b-Si photodiode for 1310 nm is up to 256 mA/W at a 10-V reverse bias, which is much higher than that of the reported pure Si bulk-structure photodiodes.