Reduced graphene oxide-BiPO4 ( RGO-BiPO4 ) nanocomposite was synthesized successfully via a one-pot solvothermal method using graphene oxide and bismuth nitrate as precursors and glycerin as solvent at 200℃ for 1 h. The morphology and structure of as-prepared nanocomposite were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, SERS and UV-Visible spectrum. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B ( RhB) dye under UV irradiation and it was found that RGO-BiPO4 nanocomposite possessed higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure BiPO4 . RhB could be decomposed 87. 5% within 2 h. Under the same conditions, only 45. 7% of the RhB dye could be decomposed by BiPO4 . The enhancement of photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the effective charge separation due to the electron-accepting and transporting properties of graphene.

Objective To evaluate the functional outcomes and complications of patients with bone tumors who were treated with the excision-alcoholization-replantation (EAR) method. Methods From August 1965 to August 2003, 191 patients treated with the EAR method who had suitable follow-up were evaluated in our department, including 102 males and 89 females with an average age of 20 years (range, 10-62). On the basis of Enneking tumor staging, 136 patients were identified II B stage, 25 I B stage, and 30 invasive benign tumors and tumor-like lesion. The length of the resected part ranged from 5 cm to 26 cm, with marginal resection in 30 cases, wide resection in 116. The oncological parameters that were evaluated included survival of the patients, local recurrence, and metastasis. Complications included non-union, infection, and fracture of the grafts. Mankin evaluation system was used to assess functional outcomes. Results The mean follow-up time was 32 months (range, 1-372), 52 patients died with disease at the final follow-up. Five-year survival rates of high grade sarcoma and low grade sarcoma were 59% and 90%, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.02). Lung metastasis were demonstrated in 52 patients (27.2%, 52/191), 51 (26.7%, 51/191) had local recurrence. Except the tumor factor, the total complication rate was 50.3%(96/191). Local complications included 33 nonunion (17.3%, 33/191), 39 fracture of the grafts (20.4%, 39/191), 39 infections of the graft (20.4%, 39/191), 15 fracture of internal fixation (7.9%, 15/191), 5 instability or semiluxation of the joint (2.6%, 5/191). The 5-year survival rate of inactivated bone was 55%. On the basis of Mankin functional evaluation, the satisfied rate was 50.3%. At last there were 141 patients (73.8%, 141/191) preserved their extremities. Conclusion Compared to other methods in the same period, EAR method is considered on the same level of safety in oncology, which superiorities are economic-applicable to patients and the well fitness of bone graft with the defects.

Animals ; Brain Abscess ; etiology ; Encephalitis ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; etiology ; Multiple Sclerosis ; etiology ; Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; chemistry ; physiology

In order to solve the problems of present quartz crystal microbalance ( QCM ) measuring instruments, such as high demand for crystal cutting technology and uncomprehensive measurements for crystal parameters, a modified quadrature demodulation-based method was proposed with broadband adaptive response capacity and high frequency resolution. Moreover, it is also capable of measuring both resonant frequencies and dissipation factor D synchronously and continuously. Experimental results at room temperature indicated that the adaptive frequency range was 1-9 MHz while the frequency resolution was less than 1 Hz, measured resonance frequency shifts of crystals in the range scale linearly with the equal thickness increments of poly acrylic acid ( PAA) membrane on the working electrode, and with the volatilization of different solvent factor D is measured continuously and effectively along the time axis. To sum up, compared with traditional ones, this new method has lower material cost and more obtained parameters.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Diploidy ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Transfection

Objective To explore the normal range of serum uric acid in quails.Method The data were collect-ed from male and female quails of different strains in 11 experiments, and analyzed by the way of medical reference value. Result The mean value of serum uric acid of male Difake strain quails was (221.06 ±79.59)μmol/L,and the normal range was (87.32 to 382.34)μmol/L.The mean value of serum uric acid of female Difake strain quails was (189.85 ± 68.58)μmol/L, and the normal range was ( 72.72 to 369.73 )μmol/L.The mean value of serum uric acid of male Longcheng strain quails was (217.22 ±72.91)μmol/L,and the normal range was (82.92 to 360.24)μmol/L.The mean value of serum uric acid of female Longcheng strain quails was ( 197.27 ±66.84 )μmol/L, and the normal range was (95.36 to 348.73)μmol/L.The serum uric acid value of female quails was significantly lower than that of male quails. There was no significant difference in the value of serum uric acid between female and male quails from each day-age groups.Conclusions This study has established the normal ranges for serum uric acid in quails of different strains and genders.

Methods hMSCs were isolated from human bone marrow by density gradient fractionation and adherence to plastic flasks. Individual colonies were selected and cultured in tissue dishes. Packaging cells PT67 were transfected by PLEGFP-N1 retroviral vector , and hMSCs were transduced by viral supernatant infection. Meanwhile, hMSCs-EGFP were identified by immune phenotypes and whether it could differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes under conditioned media was investigated. Results The rate of stably transduced hMSCs-EGFP was up to 96% after being screened by G418. hMSCs-EGFP exhibited fibroblast-like morphological features. Flow cytometric analyses showed that hMSCs-EGFP were positive for CD73, CD105, CD166, CD90 and CD44, but negative for CD34 and CD45. In addition, it could functionally be induced into osteocytes or adipocytes under conditioned media. These biological features of hMSCs-EGFP were consistent with those of hMSCs.Conclusions hMSCs transduced by PLEGFP-N1 retroviral vector can be used in vivo securely because they can maintain their biological characteristics and differentiation. It is a simple and reliable way to trace the changes of hMSCs in vivo by EGFP during cell transplantation and gene therapy.

Human xanthine oxidase is considered to be a target for therapy of hyperuricemia. Cichorium intybus is a Chinese plant medicine which widely used in Xinjiang against various diseases. In order to screen the inhibitors of xanthine oxidase from C. intybus and to explore main pharmacological actions of cichory a compound collection of C. intybus was built via consulting related references about chemical research on cichory. The three-dimensional crystal structure of xanthine oxidase (PDB code: 1N5X) from Protein Data Bank was downloaded.. Autodock 4.2 was employed to screen the inhibitors of xanthine oxidase from cichory 70 compounds were found to possess quite low binding free energy comparing with TEI (febuxostat). C. intybus contains constituents possessing potential inhibitive activity against xanthine oxidase. It can explain the main pharmacological actions of cichory which can significantly lower the level of serum uric acid.
Chicory ; chemistry ; Databases, Protein ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Molecular Structure ; Xanthine Oxidase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

This study was to investigate the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Zygophyllumfabago, by phytochemical methods. The compounds were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies from the EtOAc extract. Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic data (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS) and comparison with the literature. As a result, thirteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 1-hydroxyhinesol(1), hinesol(2), atractylenolactam(3), beta-eudesmol (4), 5alpha-hydroperoxy-beta-eudesmol(5), 12-hydroxy-valenc-1(10)-en-2-one(6), pubinernoid A(7), (6S,7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione(8), 3-hydroxy-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone (9), (3S,5R, 6S, 7E)-3, 5, 6-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one(10), (6R,7E,9R)-9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one(11), (S)-3-hydroxy-beta-ionone(12), and blumenol A(13). Compounds 1-7 were sesquiterpenoids and 8-13 were megastigmane type norsesquiterpenoids. All the compounds were obtained from Z. fabago for the first time, and compound 1 was a new natural product.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Zygophyllum ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the association of serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 concentration in patients with meta-bolic syndrome (MS), and explore the role of inflammtory markers in these patients. Methods 83 patients with MS were enrolled into study group, among of them, 47 were male and 36 were female, their average was 48.95±10. 17 years. The control group was made of 85 normal volunteers. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin, plasma lipids, interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 were meas-ured in all the patients and normal subjects. The insulin sensitive index was calculated. The levels of the fasting blood inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, the HOMA-βof the MS group was significantly de-creased, but the levels of IL-18 and IL-6 were significantly increased. The serum IL-18 levels were positive correlated with FPG, FINS, TG, HOMA-IR, IL-6. Conclusion There are IR and abnormal serum level of IL-18 and IL-6 in patients with MS. It has an intimate association between abnormal serum IL-18 and IR. The inflammatory reaction may play an important role in the development of IR in patients with MS.