Optimal Treatment Time Research Articles

Regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, hormone secretion and gene expression by acetyl-L-carnitine in yak (Bos grunniens) granulosa cells

Supplementation with acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) during in vitro maturation significantly improves the rates of oocyte cleavage and morula and blastocyst formation in sheep and buffalo; however, the mode of action of ALC in improving oocyte competence is not completely understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALC on proliferation, antioxidant properties, lipid droplet accumulation and steroid hormone secretion in yak (Bos grunniens) granulosa cells (GCs). Yak GCs were identified using FSHR immunofluorescence. The cells were treated with different concentrations of ALC, cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8, and the optimal concentration and treatment time were determined for subsequent experiments. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by a DCFH-DA probe, and lipid droplet accumulation was observed by oil red O staining. Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in the medium were detected by ELISA, and the expression of genes related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, the cell cycle, antioxidants and steroid synthesis was determined by RT‒qPCR. The results showed that 1 mM ALC treatment for 48 h was the optimum treatment. It significantly increased cell viability (P < 0.05), significantly decreased the amount of ROS and lipid droplet content, and promoted P4 and E2 secretion (P < 0.05) of yak GCs. RT‒qPCR results verified that GCs treated with 1 mM ALC for 48 h significantly increased the expression of genes related to anti-apoptosis and the cell cycle (BCL-2, PCNA, CCND1 and CCNB1), antioxidants (CAT, SOD2 and GPX1), and E2 and P4 secretion (StAR, CYP19A1 and HSD3B1) (P < 0.05), but it significantly decreased the expression of apoptosis genes (BAX and P53) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ALC increased the viability of yak GCs, reduced the amount of ROS and lipid droplets, increased P4 and E2 synthesis and affected the expression of related genes in yak GCs.

Necrotizing Pneumonia in Children: Early Recognition and Management

Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) is an uncommon complicated pneumonia with an increasing incidence. Early recognition and timely management can bring excellent outcomes. The diagnosis of NP depends on chest computed tomography, which has radiation damage and may miss the optimal treatment time. The present review aimed to elaborate on the reported predictors for NP. The possible pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and coinfection, clinical manifestations and management were also discussed. Although there is still a long way for these predictors to be used in clinical, it is necessary to investigate early predictors for NP in children.

4‐octyl itaconate improves the viability of D66H cells by regulating the KEAP1‐NRF2‐GCLC/HO‐1 pathway

As a novel nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activator, the itaconate has shown significant therapeutic potential for oxidative stress diseases. However, its role in Vohwinkel syndrome in relation to the gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2) mutation is still unclear. This study aimed at investigating the effect of 4-octyl itaconate (OI) on HaCaT and D66H cells and clarify its potential mechanism in vitro. The optimal concentration and treatment time of OI on HaCaT cells and D66H cells were determined by CCK-8 and LDH experiments. The effect of OI on cell proliferation was detected by EdU staining and FACS analysis of PI, while the apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining and FACS analysis of Annexin V. The ROS staining was performed, and the levels of SOD, MDA, GSH and GSH/GSSG were detected to evaluate the effect of OI on oxidative damage induced by D66H-type mutation. CO-IP, Western blot, immunofluorescence and qPCR analyses were employed to detect the activation of KEAP1-NRF2-GCLC/HO-1 pathway by OI. Finally, sh-NRF2 was used to confirm the activation of this pathway by OI. Results showed that OI could improve the cell viability decreased by GJB2 gene mutation by regulating the balance between cell growth and apoptosis induced by oxidative damage. Furthermore, this alleviation process was regulated by the KEAP1-NRF2-HO-1/GCLC pathway. In conclusion, OI could improve the viability of HaCaT and D66H cells via regulating the KEAP1-NRF2-GCLC/HO-1 pathway, which provided a wide spectrum of potential targets for effective therapeutic treatments of Vohwinkel syndrome in the clinic.

Establishing a simple perfusion cell culture system for light-activated liposomes

The off-target effects of light-activated or targeted liposomes are difficult to distinguish in traditional well plate experiments. Additionally, the absence of fluid flow in traditional cell models can lead to overestimation of nanoparticle uptake. In this paper, we established a perfusion cell culture platform to study light-activated liposomes and determined the effect of flow on the liposomal cell uptake. The optimal cell culturing parameters for the A549 cells under flow conditions were determined by monitoring cell viability. To determine optimal liposome treatment times, particle uptake was measured with flow cytometry. The suitability of commercial QuasiVivo flow-chambers for near-infrared light activation was assessed with a calcein release study. The chamber material did not hinder the light activation and subsequent calcein release from the liposomes. Furthermore, our results show that the standard cell culturing techniques are not directly translatable to flow cultures. For non-coated liposomes, the uptake was hindered by flow. Interestingly, hyaluronic acid coating diminished the uptake differences between the flow and static conditions. The study demonstrates that flow affects the liposomal uptake by lung cancer cell line A549. The flow also complicates the cell attachment of A549 cells. Moreover, we show that the QuasiVivo platform is suitable for light-activation studies.

Application of Modified DTT Methods to Reduce the Interference of Daratumumab on Serological Detection

To modified the classic dithiothreitol (DTT) method for treating red blood cells (RBCs) in Technical Manual of American Association of Blood Banks（AABB） and evaluate its application value in pre-transfusion examination of patients treated with daratumumab. The classic 0.2 mol/L DTT method was improved in terms of PBS, DTT concentration, donor RBCs concentration (suspended/packed) and sample processing time. The modified DTT methods and AABB classic DTT method were applied to the blood matching tests of 12 multiple myeloma patients treated with daratumumab. The effect of treating panel RBCs with modified DTT methods on the detection of other irregular antibodies was evaluated by using antiserum and antibody reagents with known antibody properties. Two modified DTT methods were established (method 1: changed the concentration of DTT to 0.01 mol/L; method 2: changed the concentration of DTT to 0.02 mol/L and replaced the packed RBCs with 3% RBCs suspension). The optimal treatment time was 35 min for the modified DTT methods. At this time, the pan-agglutination caused by daratumumab was eliminated, but the detection of antibodies such as anti-E, anti-JKa, anti-M were not affected, and the titer of anti-K antibodies was only slightly decreased. The modified DTT methods were effective, which can eliminate the interference of daratumumab while retaining the activity of the Kell blood group system, and can replace the current classic DTT method in AABB Technical Manual.

Improved supercapacitive performances of manganese dioxide on acid-treated carbon nanofibers derived from polyaniline

Polyaniline-based carbon nanofibers were treated with a mixed acid and then reacted with potassium permanganate to obtain manganese dioxide/carbon nanofiber composites. The effects of acid treatment time, reaction temperature, reactant ratio, and the addition method of potassium permanganate on the electrochemical properties of composites were studied thoroughly. Results showed that the optimum time for acid treatment was 6 h, the optimum reaction temperature was 70 °C and the optimum reactant ratio was 1:2. Besides, mixing the reactants sufficiently well in advance was critical for the formation of uniformly shaped MnO2 nanoflakes. Moreover, the acid treatment increased the specific capacitance of composites from 88.7 to 166.7 F/g, and the composites achieved a lifespan up to 1000 cycles with 85.08 % capacity retention.

Characterization of chemically treated waste wood fiber and its potential application in cementitious composites

In recent years, the utilization of various fibers in cementitious composites gained remarkable popularity worldwide. Unlike well-known fibers, this study focused on examining the incorporation of waste wood fiber (WWF) assorted from construction and demolition sites into the cementitious matrix. In the first stage of the study, alkali-treatment of the WWF was carried out with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution (i.e., 1.0 M, 2.0 M, 2.5 M, 5.0 M, 10.0 M) and treatment durations (i.e., 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h) to eliminate impurities and enhance fiber properties and fiber-matrix compatibility through surface treatment. To investigate alkali-treatment efficiency, microstructural analyses were conducted on the untreated and alkali-treated WWFs by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer measurements. Afterward, physical and mechanical performance assessments were conducted by water absorption test, compressive and four-point bending tests on the WWF-incorporated cementitious composites to monitor the compatibility behaviour of the WWF-matrix interface. Microstructural examinations showed that after the alkali treatment, impurities (i.e., painting, hemicellulose, lignin, etc.) on the WWF surface were successfully removed; however, higher alkali concentrations (beyond 5.0 M) and longer treatment duration (after 6 h) lead to deterioration, fragmentation, and a more heterogeneous structure due to the degradation of long cellulosic chains of WWF. Four-point bending test results showed that the flexural strength capacity of 2.5M-2 h-WWF-composite was 7.9 MPa, which was higher than untreated WWF-composite and plain mortar by 34.7% and 39.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the 2.5M-2 h treated WWF composite had the highest compressive strength of 46.3 MPa, which was higher than plain mortar, and the untreated WWF composite by 6.4% and 21.5%, respectively. The elimination of impurities such as painting, lignin, hemicellulose, and other inorganic compounds at the optimal alkali treatment concentration and time increases the WWF surface area and strengthens the fiber-matrix interface adhesion, resulting in a stronger matrix-WWF interface connection and an increase in load-carrying capability. The study's findings are believed to encourage the usage of alkali-treated WWF in cementitious matrix with improved mechanical performance and high waste upcycling.

Ultrasound assisted preparation, characterization, and application of biosorbent for Rhodamine 6G removal from wastewater

AbstractNatural adsorbents offer promise for application in environmental protection mainly based on the cost efficiency and biodegradable nature. In the current work, a biosorbent has been synthesized from coconut shell (a common agrochemical waste) in the presence of ultrasound with an objective to improve the microstructure of the carbon coupled with activation using mixture of HNO3 with H2SO4 (7:3 proportion). SEM analysis clearly confirmed that ultrasound induced cavitational effects improved the porous structure of the sample. FTIR and XRD results confirmed the favorable adsorption characteristics for the synthesized activated carbon with no negative changes due to the use of ultrasound. The synthesized adsorbent was used for the removal of a toxic dye, Rhodamine 6G present in effluent at a level of 25 mg L−1. The detailed study into effect of operating parameters elucidated that optimum treatment time for maximum dye removal was 22 min whereas the optimal value of biosorbent loading and pH were 8 gL−1 and 10, respectively. The equilibrium data was fitted into different types of adsorption isotherm models, and Langmuir isotherm model was elucidated as the best fitted model with an adsorption capacity of 90.9 mg g−1. Similarly, the kinetic studies revealed that pseudo second order model fitted better than all the other models. Overall, the efficacy of prepared adsorbent in the presence of ultrasound was effectively demonstrated for the Rhodamine 6G removal from wastewater, also demonstrating the effect of different operating conditions during the adsorption.

Low-noise room-temperature terahertz detector based on the photothermoelectric effect of graphene oxide-Bi films

Graphene has a very wide range of applications in terahertz (THz) photothermoelectric (PTE) detection due to its unique optical properties, but its high thermal conductivity leads to less than ideal performance of graphene PTE detectors. We experimentally demonstrate a method using UV/ozone to oxidize graphene, breaking the C–C bond by UV irradiation on the graphene surface and reacting with the excited oxygen atoms to promote the release of CO2, CO gas from the surface defects to produce hole structures by oxidative etching of graphene. Bi was assembled at the surface defects by liquid phase treatment to form graphene oxide (GO) - Bi films. The surface feature morphology was analyzed by SEM and XPS, and the optimal treatment time was found by setting control groups (G-0 to G-5) for UV/ozone oxidation. The devices are able to achieve a responsivity of 0.226 V/W for 0.22 THz and a value of NEP about 1.34 nW/√Hz. Simple preparation method provides new ideas for designing terahertz detectors.

Treatment of Public Sewage Wastewater Using Electrocoagulation Process

Sewage needs to be treated before it is discharged into the water bodies such as rivers and lakes. Sewage wastewater were analyzed in this study, by electrocoagulation process using an alternating power source with current density of 10 A/m2 and 20 A/m2 at treatment time of 10, 20, 40, 60 minutes respectively using copper and zinc electrodes. The effect of electrode material was determined and how chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), Conductivity, pH and turbidity were affected by changing contact time and with changing the current density. We obtained very satisfactory results for the two electrochemical cells such as copper and zinc electrodes. The optimum conditions were determined at treatment time of 20 minutes for a current density of 10 A/m2 with TSS removal efficiency of 92%, COD removal efficiency of 91.5%, pH of 7.50 , with a low turbidity value of 4.27 turbidity (NTU) and the conductivity of 108 μs for copper electrodes. Whereas, using zinc electrodes, the optimum treatment time was 20 minutes at 10 A/m2 current density, TSS removal efficiency was of 92%, COD removal efficiency of 85.7%, pH of 7.80 with turbidity removal efficiency of 87.3 % and the conductivity of 117.3 μs. This electrocoagulation process has attracted a great deal of attention in treating various wastewaters because of its versatility and environmental compatibility.

Study on regeneration performance of carbon fluoride adsorbent in SF6 gas

To study the regeneration of CF-100 type microcrystalline material after adsorbing carbon fluorides in SF6, an experimental device was built that can achieve both vacuum desorption of carbon fluorides and auxiliary heating to promote vacuum desorption of carbon fluorides. Thermogravimetric analyzer and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer were used to analyze the optimal treatment temperature and time of regeneration technology for promoting vacuum desorption of fluorocarbon by auxiliary heating. A comparative study was conducted on the two regeneration techniques mentioned above by analyzing the relationship between adsorption performance and the number of regenerations. The regeneration effects were also validated by using a specific surface area tester to examine the test data. The results demonstrate that desorption of fluorocarbons from CF-100 microcrystalline material is more efficient using a vacuum desorption method aided by auxiliary heating, as opposed to pure vacuum desorption. The CF-100 type of microcrystalline material achieves the best desorption effect when heated to 300°C with an auxiliary heating duration of 2 h, with an activation energy of 293.933 KJ/mol. After activation, CF-100 microcrystalline materials exhibit stable adsorption and desorption performance for decarbonization and possess excellent recyclability.

Anti-solvent treatment time approach to high efficiency perovskite solar cells with temperature of coating environmental

The fabrication conditions of the light absorber layer (organic-inorganic halide perovskite) have a very large effect on the device performance in perovskite solar cells. In case of using the 1-step anti-solvent treatment (AST), their show very different characteristics depending on the AST time, amount, and temperature, etc. Here, we determined the optimal AST time for the synthesis of perovskite light absorber layer in relation to the turbidity point (TP) of the precursor solution during spin coating according to the temperature inside the glovebox. The TP was examined according to the fluid flow of the host solvent, and it depended on various conditions, such as the temperature and substrate. The measured TP was almost identical to the estimated TP, and both tended to decrease as the internal temperature increased. The AST time and the internal temperature of the glovebox significantly affected the crystallinity and device performance of the perovskite, and the best device performance of 18.9% for a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) solar cell with n-i-p normal planar structure was achieved by applying an AST time of 9.5 s at 25 °C. Drive-level capacitance profiling and thermal admittance spectroscopy results confirmed that the optimal AST time of 9.5 s yielded a minimum trap density of 2.1 × 10 15 /cm 3 , which was related to the trap states of MAPbI 3 . • The investigation of optimal anti-solvent treatment time according to the temperature inside glove box for perovskite solar cells. • Analysis of defect density and state by drive level capacitance profile and admittance measurement for MAPbI 3 based perovskite solar cells. • Investigation of MAPbI 3 perovskite solar cells with n-i-p planar structure. • Study in relation to the Meyerhofer model, which is the fluid flow of the host solvent, and the antisolvent process for perovskite thin film layer.

Structure and functional properties of whey protein conjugated with carboxymethyl cellulose through maillard reaction

This study investigated the effects of reaction time in preparation of Whey Protein-Carboxymethyl Cellulose (WP-CMC) conjugates and characterized the functional properties of the conjugates. WP-CMC conjugates were prepared under the wet heating condition of the Maillard reaction. The degree of response was distinguished by variations in the pH value, browning degree, and grafting (up to 23.24%). The emulsification performance of WP-CMC was improved, which was verified by emulsifying activity (up to 4.48% increase), particle size, zeta-potential, and other indicators by conjugates. Meanwhile, the solubility (up to 24.14% increase), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl Radical (DPPH•) scavenging capacity (up to 3.14 times), and iron-reducing power (up to 1.98 times) of conjugates were also improved. The results of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed the elevated molecular weight of the binders, the fluorescence spectra showed bursts and red shifts that identified changes in the hydrophobic structure of the binders, and the Fourier infrared spectroscopy analysis responded to changes in structure and functional groups. The results showed that the optimal treatment time for WP-CMC was 140 min, and the properties and functions were better than those of the simple mixture of CMC and WP, which may play a positive role in the industrial application of WP.

Upregulation of miRNA-200c during Disease Progression in COVID-19 Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 6 million deaths worldwide since its first outbreak in December 2019 and continues to be a major health problem. Several studies have established that the infection by SARS-CoV-2 can be categorized in a viremic, acute and recovery or severe phase. Hyperinflammation during the acute pneumonia phase is a major cause of severe disease progression and death. Treatment of COVID-19 with directly acting antivirals is limited within a narrow window of time between first clinical symptoms and the hyperinflammatory response. Therefore, early initiation of treatment is crucial to assure optimal health care for patients. Molecular diagnostic biomarkers represent a potent tool to predict the course of disease and thus to assess the optimal treatment regimen and time point. Here, we investigated miRNA-200c as a potential marker for the prediction of the severity of COVID-19 to preventively initiate and personalize therapeutic interventions in the future. We found that miRNA-200c correlates with the severity of disease. With retrospective analysis, however, there is no correlation with prognosis at the time of hospitalization. Our study provides the basis for further evaluation of miRNA-200c as a predictive biomarker for the progress of COVID-19.

Boosted photocatalytic performance of OVs-rich BiVO4 hollow microsphere self-assembled with the assistance of SDBS

In this study, monoclinic phase bismuth vanadate (BiOV4) photocatalyst with unique hollow microsphere morphology was successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method in the existence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). Experimental results show that SDBS definitely changes the microstructure of BiVO4, which is allocated to the template role of SDBS in the preparation process. Moreover, the hydrothermal treatment time is also of crucial importance in affecting the structure and morphology of the photocatalysts, and the optimal hydrothermal treatment time for the formation of hollow microsphere is 24 h. Furthermore, the feasible growth mechanism for hollow microsphere was elaborated. Enriched oxygen vacancies (OVs) are introduced into BiOV4 prepared with SDBS, largely elevating the separation efficiency of photo-generated charges. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic activities of BiOV4 for destruction of rhodamine (RhB) were evaluated. The photocatalytic degradation rate constant of RhB on the 3SBVO is 2.23 times of that on the blank BiOV4 as the mass ratio of SDBS/BiOV4 is 3 %. Photocatalytic degradation mechanism of BiVO4 toward detoxification of organic pollutants was presented.

INFLUENCE OF WIDE-APERTURE ROTATING GLIDING DISCHARGE ON SUNFLOWER SEED GERMINATION

The results of the study of the influence of wide-aperture rotating gliding discharge on the germination of sunflower seeds under different conditions are presented. The emission spectra of the plasma torch of DC wideaperture rotating gliding discharge are investigated. Vibrational Tv and rotational Tr temperatures of plasma inside the torch at the outlet of the discharge chamber were determined. The dependences of the percentage of germination of sunflower seeds germinated under favourable (sufficient amount of sunlight) and unfavourable conditions (insufficient amount of sunlight) on the 10th and 20th day after planting at different time intervals of treatment with a wide-aperture rotating gliding discharge were investigated. The optimal treatment time was determined.

Modification of the Surface of 40 Kh Steel by Electrolytic Plasma Hardening

The high-strength, medium-carbon alloy construction steel 40 Kh is commonly used in the manufacture of tools and machine parts. This paper experimentally investigates the effect of electrolytic plasma thermocyclic hardening on the surface hardening and microstructure modification of 40 Kh steel. The research was carried out using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and micro-hardness measurements. Modified samples were obtained at different electrolyte plasma thermal cycling modes. As a result of the heat treatment, hardened layer segments of different thicknesses and structural composition formed on the surface of the steel. The parameters and mechanisms of surface hardening were determined by examining the microstructural modification and phase transformation both before and after treatment. It was revealed that the main morphological structural-phase component of the initial state of 40 Kh steel was a ferrite–pearlite structure, and after electrolytic plasma thermocyclic hardening, the hardened martensite phase was formed. It was found that in order to achieve a hardening depth of 1.6 mm and an increase in hardness to 966 HV, the optimum time for electrolytic plasma treatment of 40 Kh steel was 2 s. The technology under discussion gives an insight into the surface hardening potential for improving the service life and reliability of 40 Kh steel.

Regulation of Parkin in Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes

The large amount of heavy metal chromium emissions from industrial production, ore smelting and sewage treatment plants have made chromium one of the most widespread heavy metal pollutants, with Cr (VI) being the most toxic. In recent years, people have gradually recognized the great harm of heavy metal chromium pollution, but the research on its pathogenic mechanism is still not deep enough. In this study, we treated the Primary cells of chicken liver with Cr (VI) to establish a model of toxicity. The optimal treatment time and Cr (VI) concentration were screened using the CCK-8 test. The intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured qualitatively and quantitatively by laser confocal and flow cytometry, respectively. This result was confirmed by the fact that Cr (VI) could cause mitophagy by causing damage to mitochondria. Subsequently, this study used LMH cells to construct a Parkin silencing model to further investigate that Parkin exerts the function on the Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes. The results showed that the knockdown of Parkin effectively blocked p62 degradation and LC3 lipidation and that PINK1 expression was significantly inhibited in LMH cells, further suggesting that the knockdown of Parkin effectively inhibited mitophagy. Mitochondrial morphology, MMP, and ROS were observed using laser confocal. The results showed that Parkin knockdown resulted in mitochondrial fission and increased levels of reactive oxygen species, together with increased depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. These changes led to increased mitochondrial damage. In conclusion, this study showed that Cr (VI) could cause the occurrence of mitophagy by damaging mitochondria, and Parkin played a crucial role in Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in chicken hepatocytes.

Cheng's Juanbi Decoction enhances autophagy in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like syn-oviocytes by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal axis

To study the regulatory effect of Cheng's Juanbi Decoction (JBT) on autophagy in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) and role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling axis in the mechanism mediating this effect. CCK8 assay was used to determine the optimal concentration and treatment time of JBT for inhibiting the viability of RA- FLS. The effect of freeze-dried powder of JBT, RAPA, or both on morphology of the autophagosomes in RA-FLS was observed under transmission electron microscope, and the changes in the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes were observed with autophagy double-labeled adenovirus experiment. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of the related indicators. The results of CCK8 assay showed that treatment with 0.5 mg/mL JBT for 12 h produced the optimal effect for inhibiting RA-FLS viability. Observation with transmission electron microscope and the results of the autophagy double-labeled adenovirus experiment both showed the presence of a small number of autophagosomes in control RA-FLS group, and treatment with JBT significantly increased the number of autophagosomes and lowered the number of autophagolysosomes in the cells. Compared with the control cells and the cells treated with JBT or RAPA alone, the cells treated with both JBT and RAPA showed significantly decreased mRNA levels of PI3K, Akt and mTOR (P < 0.01) but without significant changes in their protein expressions (P > 0.05); the combined treatment significantly inhibited the protein expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and P62 (P < 0.05) and upregulated the protein expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3B (P < 0.05) in the cells. JBT can inhibit the survival rate of RA-FLS and increase the level of autophagy possibly through a mechanism that down-regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

The effect of combined of hyaluronic acid dermal filler and microfocused ultrasound treatment: A clinicopathological study.

Microfocused ultrasound (MFU) and hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection are increasingly popular aesthetic procedures. HA filler injection is generally recommended after MFU if combined treatment is required in a single visit. However, data regarding the safe and optimal time of MFU treatment after HA injection is still limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of HA loss when performing MFU treatment after dermal filler injection. Fourteen subjects were recruited in this pilot study. HA was injected intradermally on four 2 × 2cm areas at the abdomen (0.25 ml/site). Site A was served as control whereas site B, C, D were treated with MFU using 1.5 mm transducer at 60 min, Day 14, and Day 28 after the injection, respectively. All experimental sites were biopsied using a 3-mm punch biopsy to evaluate the histopathological profile at baseline and Day 56. Grading of the quantity of retained HA was evaluated by a blinded experienced dermatopathologist. All 14 subjects completed the study. One subject has been excluded due to the poor quality of histopathologic slides. Seven subjects (53.9%) at site B and 6 subjects (46.2%) at site C had HA loss at Day 56 compared with baseline. The mean HA grading at baseline and Day 56 was 3.7 vs. 2.8 (p < 0.001) at site B and 3.7 vs. 3.0 (p=0.001) at site C, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the mean HA grading at baseline and Day 56 at site D (3.7 vs. 3.3, p=0.073). No inflammation or granuloma was observed on Day 56 of the study. MFU treatment after HA injection appears to be safe. However, some degree of HA loss was observed if MFU treatment was done within 2 weeks after HA injection.