The intent of the present investigation is to develop and evaluate colon-specific coated tacrolimus solid dispersion pellet (SDP) that retards drug release in the stomach and small intestine but progressively releases in the colon. Tacrolimus-SDP was prepared by extrusion-spheronization technology and optimized by the micromeritic properties including flowability, friability, yields and dissolution rate. Subsequently, the pH-dependent layer (Eudragit L30D55) and time-dependent layer (Eudragit NE30D and L30D55) were coated on the SDP to form tacrolimus colon-specific pellets (CSP) using a fluidized bed coater. Under in vitro gradient pH environment, tacrolimus only released from CSP after changing pH to 6.8 and then quickly released in the phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.2. The Cmax of CSP was 195.68 ± 3.14 ng/mL at Tmax 4.5 ± 0.24 h where as in case of SDP, the Cmax was 646.16 ± 8.15 ng/mL at Tmax 0.5 ± 0.03 h, indicating the ability of CSP targeted to colon. The highest area under the curve was achieved 2479.58 ± 183.33 ng·h/mL for SDP, which was 2.27-fold higher than tacrolimus suspension. However, the best biodistribution performance was achieved from CSP. In conclusion, SDP combining of pH- and time-dependent approaches was suitable for targeted delivery of tacrolimus to colon.

Abstract Biofertilizer Ning shield was composed of different strains of plant growth promotion bacteria. In this study, the plant growth promotion and root-knot nematode disease control potential on Trichosanthes kirilowii in the field were evaluated. The application of Ning shield significantly reduced the diseases severity caused by Meloidogyne incognita, the biocontrol efficacy could reached up to 51.08%. Ning shield could also promote the growth of T. kirilowii in the field by increasing seedling emergence, height and the root weight. The results showed that the Ning shield could enhance the production yield up to 36.26%. Ning shield could also promote the plant growth by increasing the contents of available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter, and increasing the contents of leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment. Moreover, Ning shield could efficiently enhance the medicinal compositions of Trichosanthes, referring to the polysaccharides and trichosanthin. Therefore, Ning shield is a promising biofertilizer, which can offer beneficial effects to T. kirilowii growers, including the plant growth promotion, the biological control of root-knot disease and enhancement of the yield and the medicinal quality.

Abstract In this study, determination of heavy metal parameters and microbiological characterization of marine sediments obtained from two heavily polluted sites and one low-grade contaminated reference station at Jiaozhou Bay in China were carried out. The microbial communities found in the sampled marine sediments were studied using PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) fingerprinting profiles in combination with multivariate analysis. Clustering analysis of DGGE and matrix of heavy metals displayed similar occurrence patterns. On this basis, 17 samples were classified into two clusters depending on the presence or absence of the high level contamination. Moreover, the cluster of highly contaminated samples was further classified into two sub-groups based on the stations of their origin. These results showed that the composition of the bacterial community is strongly influenced by heavy metal variables present in the sediments found in the Jiaozhou Bay. This study also suggested that metagenomic techniques such as PCR-DGGE fingerprinting in combination with multivariate analysis is an efficient method to examine the effect of metal contamination on the bacterial community structure.

BACKGROUND: We have investigated the potential anticancer effects of karanjin, a principal furanoflavonol constituent of the Chinese medicine Fordia cauliflora, using cytotoxic assay, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis in three human cancer cell lines (A549, HepG2 and HL-60 cells). RESULTS: MTT cytotoxic assay showed that karanjin could inhibit the proliferation and viability of all three cancer cells. The induction of cell cycle arrest was observed via a PI (propidium iodide)/RNase Staining Buffer detection kit and analyzed by flow cytometry: karanjin could dose-dependently induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in the three cell lines. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining: all three cancer cells treated with karanjin exhibited significantly increased apoptotic rates, especially in the percentage of late apoptosis cells. CONCLUSION: Karanjin can induce cancer cell death through cell cycle arrest and enhance apoptosis. This compound may be effective clinically for cancer pharmacotherapy.

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.

Two adducts SF4AsF5 and SF4SbF5 have been studied in this work. Their structures, thermodynamic functions, and heats of formation were studied using density functional theory (DFT) method in gas phase and using the force field method and the DFT GGA-RPBE method in crystal state. The obtained crystal structures have the P2(1)lc space group. The lattice energies, sublimation enthalpies and heats of formation in crystal state were estimated. Based on the optimized crystal structures, the electronic energy band and density of state were predicted and the results indicate that they are semiconductors with the band gap between 2.3 ~ 2.5 eV.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a expressão de neurotrofinas e mudança no efeito neurotrófico de células-tronco mesenquimais (MSCs) sob diferentes tipos de estimulação. MÉTODOS: Os ratos foram expostos em 10.000 lux de luz branca para desenvolver a lesão da retina induzida por luz. Os sobrenadantes de homogeneizado de retina (SHR) quer a partir de retina normal ou da lesada por luz, foram usados para estimular as células-tronco mesenquimais. O RT-PCR quantitativa e ELISA foram realizados para análise da alteração de expressão do fator básico de crescimento de fibroblastos (bFGF), do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) e do fator neurotrófico ciliar (CNTF) em MSCs após a estimulação. O meio condicionado de células-tronco mesenquimais estimuladas por SHR e controles foram coletadas para avaliação de seu efeito sobre os explantes de retina. RESULTADOS: SHR de retinas de rato lesadas por luz promoveram aumento significativo de secreção de neurotrofinas em MSCs (p<0,01). O meio condicionado de SHR lesado por luz reduziu significativamente a fragmentação do DNA de MSCs (p<0,01), elevação de Bcl-2 (p<0,01) e redução de bax (p<0,01) em explantes de retina, mostrando um aumento do efeito protetor. CONCLUSÕES: A lesão da retina induzidos pela luz é capaz de aumentar a secreção de neurotrofinas e promover o efeito neurotrófico de células-tronco mesenquimais.

PURPOSE: To investigate neurotrophins expression and neurotrophic effect change in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under different types of stimulation. METHODS: Rats were exposed in 10,000 lux white light to develop light-induced retinal injury. Supernatants of homogenized retina (SHR), either from normal or light-injured retina, were used to stimulate MSCs. Quantitative real time for polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were conducted for analysis the expression change in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in MSCs after stimulation. Conditioned medium from SHR-stimulated MSCs and control MSCs were collected for evaluation their effect on retinal explants. RESULTS: Supernatants of homogenized retina from light-injured rats significantly promoted neurotrophins secretion from MSCs (p<0.01). Conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cells stimulated by light-injured SHR significantly reduced DNA fragmentation (p<0.01), up-regulated bcl-2 (p<0.01) and down-regulated bax (p<0.01) in retinal explants, displaying enhanced protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: Light-induced retinal injury is able to enhance neurotrophins secretion from mesenchymal stem cells and promote the neurotrophic effect of mesenchymal stem cells.