Abstract Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide (EP) is a water-soluble sulfated polysaccharide with many types of biological activities. In this study, the crude polysaccharide was extracted from Enteromorpha prolifera and degraded by different physical, chemical, and biological methods. The results showed that the enzymatic degradation products displayed the best tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The optimal enzymatic degradation conditions were as follows: 30 °C, pH 5.5, 750 U/mL enzyme dosage for 2 h. The enzymatic hydrolysates were then divided into six EP fractions (EPFs) by an ultrafiltration membrane. The in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity of these fractions showed that the smaller the molecular weight of EPF, the better the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase. The antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory effect of the most effective EPF, a molecular weight below 5 kDa, (EPF5), was further confirmed on B16 cells. A kinetic study of tyrosinase inhibitory activity revealed that EPF5 is a competitive-uncompetitive mixed-type inhibitor of tyrosinase. These findings suggested that EPF5 has significant potential as a skin-whitening agent in cosmetics as well as an antibrowning agent in the food and agriculture industries.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of recombinant human interferon α1b (rhIFNα1b) treatment in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections on subsequent wheezing. Methods: The clinical data of infants (n = 540) with viral pneumonia, wheezy bronchitis, or bronchiolitis hospitalized in 19 Chinese hospitals from June 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters relevant to wheezing episodes within the last year were collected by telephone and questionnaires. The rhIFNα1b treatment group (n = 253) and control group (n = 287) were compared in terms of wheezing episodes within the last year. Moreover, the wheezing group (95 cases) and non-wheezing group (445 cases) were compared. Results: Out of 540 cases, 95 (17.6%) experienced wheezing episodes, 13.8% (35/253) cases treated with rhIFNα1b, and 20.9% (60/287) cases without rhIFNα1b experienced wheezing episodes within the last year. The rhIFNα1b treatment significantly improved wheezing episodes within the last year, compared with the control peers (p = 0.031). Single-factor regression showed statistically significant differences between the wheezing and non-wheezing groups in terms of age, rhIFNα1b use, childhood and family history of allergy, housing situation, and feeding history (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression showed a childhood history of allergy (OR = 2.14, p = 0.004), no rhIFNα1b use (OR = 1.70, p = 0.028), and living in a crowded house (OR = 1.92, p = 0.012) might be risk factors of subsequent wheezing. Accordingly, breastfeeding (OR = 0.44, p = 0.008) and hospitalization age of 1-year-old (OR = 0.58, p = 0.024) were protective factors. Conclusions: Early use of rhIFNα1b in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections and breastfeeding could prevent subsequent wheezing. Living in a crowded house could promote subsequent wheezing.

Malt is the mature fruit of Hordeum vulgare L. after germination and drying and has been applied for treatment female abnormal galactorrhea. Previous studies have showed total alkaloids in malt have anti-HPRL effect. However, total alkaloids of malt change with the growth cycle, and the specified levels of total alkaloids in different bud length of malt have not been decided. To determine the definitive level of total alkaloids in different buds of malt and the most suitable bud length for clinical application by comparing effects on hyperprolactinemia rat. During the budding of malt, the content of total alkaloids first increased and then decreased, and it peaked at a bud length of 0.75 cm. Treated the HPRL model rats with different buds of malt, the PRL level was decreased, the number of PRLpositive cells and the mRNA expression level in the pituitary were significantly declined, and the number of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the hypothalamus was increased. The above changes were most significant in 0.75 cm bud. These results suggest that in terms of the content of effective substance and the effects on HPRL model rats, a malt bud length of 0.75 cm is optimal for clinical application.

Background and Objectives: As part of UN peacekeeping operations in Liberia, China has sent a dozen of batches of peacekeeping force to Liberia for medical, engineering and transporting purposes from 2003 to 2012. This study aimed to explore the mental health of Chinese peacekeepers under the influence of stressful and traumatic events in Liberia. Methods: A total of 440 Chinese peacekeepers were selected by cluster sampling and surveyed by Chinese Military Mental Health Scale (CMMHS) before, during and after peacekeeping deployment. Results: The total CMMHS score (48.90 ± 21.15), depression factor (7.25 ± 3.43), interpersonal sensitivity (4.20 ± 2.15) of Chinese peacekeepers were significantly higher than the Chinese military norm (23.04 ± 14.70, 2.47 ± 2.46, 3.95 ± 2.97 respectively) (p<0.01). The total score and anxiety, somatization factor score of the transporting group were significantly higher than those of the medical group (P <0.05); All CMMHS factors in the transporting group and the medical group were higher than those of the engineering group (p<0.01). CMMHS factors score of the peacekeepers positively correlated with the age, military service duration, years of eudcation and military rank (r = 0.107 ~ 0.523, p<0.05); stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that years of eudcation was the main influence factor for peacekeepers' mental health (t = 2.288 ~ 4.358, p<0.05 ~ 0.01). Conclusions: The mental health status of Chinese peacekeepers was worse than average Chinese servicemen. Peacekeepers of different mission groups had different degree of mental damage, and the years of education was the main influence factor for peacekeepers' mental health, whereas age, military service duration as well as military rank were the secondary influence factors.

Para investigar os efeitos da sanguinarina (SAN) em lesões induzidas em ratos por radiação aguda, 45 ratos foram aleatoriamente divididos em grupo controle, grupo 10 Gy e grupo SAN+10 Gy. Os ratos dos grupos 10 Gy e SAN+10 Gy foram expostos à radiação de raio-X simples com uma dose acumulada de 10 Gy. Aos ratos do grupo SAN+10 Gy administraram-se, intraperitonealmente, 2.5 mg/kg de peso de SAN antes da radiação. Aos 5 dias de exposição à radiação, sacrificaram-se 5 ratos de cada grupo e retiraram-se amostras do intestino delgado, pulmões, baço e fígado para exames histopatológicos. Comparando com o grupo 10 Gy, a doença por radiação foi claramente atrasada e atenuada no grupo SAN+10 Gy. A análise de sobrevivência mostrou diferença significativa entre os dois grupos de radiação (P<0.05) e o tempo de sobrevivência média foi de mais 3 dias no grupo SAN+10 Gy do que no grupo 10 Gy (7.21±0.19 vs 4.20±0.13, P<0.001). Danos induzidos nos órgãos por radiação, baseados em exames histopatológicos, foram reduzidos pelo pré-tratamento com SAN. As pontuações de classificação da patologia Chiu, um índice para os danos intestinais, foi significativamente menor no grupo SAN+10 Gy do que no grupo 10 Gy (2.77±0.48 vs 4.37±0.31, P<0.01). Resultado semelhante foi obtido na pontuação patológica do pulmão (1.67±0.21 vs 2.33±0.38, P<0.01). As nossas descobertas preliminares mostram que SAN protege os animais contra doenças induzidas pela radiação e danos agudos nos órgãos seguidos de morte animal.

To investigate the effects of sanguinarine (SAN) on acute radiation induced injury in mice, 45 mice were randomly divided into control, 10 Gy and SAN+10 Gy groups. Mice in the 10 Gy and SAN+10 Gy groups were exposed to single X-ray radiation with an accumulated dose of 10 Gy. Mice in the SAN+10 Gy group were administered intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg body weight of SAN before radiation. Five days after radiation exposure, 5 mice from each group were sacrificed and samples of the small intestine, lung, spleen and liver were fixed for histopathological examinations. Compared with the 10 Gy group, radiation sickness was obviously delayed or attenuated in the SAN+10 Gy group. Survival analysis showed a significant difference between 2 radiation groups (P<0.05) and mean survival time was 3 days longer in the SAN+10 Gy group than in the 10 Gy group (7.21±0.19 vs. 4.20±0.13, P<0.001). Radiation-induced organ damage, based on histopathological examinations, was decreased by SAN pretreatment. Chiu’s pathology grading scores, which is an index of intestinal damage, was significantly lower in the SAN+10 Gy group than in the 10 Gy group (2.77±0.48 vs. 4.37±0.31, P<0.01). A similar result was obtained in the pathological score of lung (1.67±0.21 vs. 2.33±0.38, P<0.01). Our preliminary findings demonstrated that SAN protects animals against radiation-induced sickness and acute damage to organs and following animal death.

Objective: To investigate the course of tubular cell senescence and expressions of p53, p21, and Rb during the late phase of ischemia/reperfusion (IRI) in the kidney, and assess the effects of the p53-Rb pathway on tubular cell senescence. Methods: Experimental models of unilateral renal IRI were used in p53(+/+) and p53(-/-) mice. Histological changes at the tubular level, progress of cell senescence, and the expression of Rb, p21, and/or p53 proteins in tubular cells were studied at different moments in time after IRI. Results: Chronic tubulointerstitial fibrosis was much more severe and widely distributed in IRI kidneys of p53(+/+) mice in later stages than in earlier stages. Senescent tubular cells were significantly increased at 3 and 6 months after IRI. In contrast, in contralateral kidneys of p53(+/+) mice and in both kidneys of p53(-/-) mice, almost no senescent cells were observed at 1 and 3 months after IRI, and only a few senescent cells were detected in IRI kidneys of p53(-/-) mice at 6 months. In mice of both genotypes, cell senescence was correlated with the expression levels of p53, p21, and Rb proteins. Conclusion: The IRI accelerated tubular cell senescence is presumed to be one of the mechanisms of the "long-term effect" of IRI. Furthermore, the activation of p53-Rb signaling pathway may play a vital role in tubular cell senescence induced by IRI.

DMT1 _ Divalent Metal (Ion) Transporter 1 or SLC11A2/DCT1/Nramp2 _ transports Fe2+ into the duodenum and out of the endosome during the transferrin cycle. DMT1 also is important in non-transferrin bound iron uptake. It plays similar roles in Mn2+ trafficking. Voltage clamping showed that six other metals evoked currents, but it is unclear if these metals are substrates for DMT1. This report summarizes progress on which metals DMT1 transports, focusing on results from the authors' labs. We recently cloned 1A/+IRE and 2/-IRE DMT1 isoforms to generate HEK293 cell lines that express them in a tetracycline-inducible fashion, then compared induced expression to uninduced expression and to endogenous DMT1 expression. Induced expression increases ~50x over endogenous expression and ~10x over uninduced levels. Fe2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Cu1+ or Cu2+ are transported. We also explored competition between metal ions using this system because incorporation essentially represents DMT1 transport and find this order for transport affinity: Mn>?Cd>?Fe>Pb~Co~Ni>Zn. The effects of decreased DMT1 also could be examined. The Belgrade rat has diminished DMT1 function and thus provides ways of testing. A series of DNA constructs that generate siRNAs specific for DMT1 or certain DMT1 isoforms yield another way to test DMT1-based transport.