In animal models of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), neuropathology is associated with an overwhelming inflammatory response and sequestration of leucocytes and parasite-infected red blood cells in the brain. Here we explored the effect of vitamin D (VD, cholecalciferol) treatment on host immunity and outcome of ECM in C57BL/6 mice during Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection. We observed that oral administration of VD both before and after PbA infection completely protected mice from ECM. VD administration significantly dampened the inducible systemic inflammatory responses with reduced circulating cytokines IFN-γ and TNF and decreased expression of these cytokines by the spleen cells. Meanwhile, VD also resulted in decreased expression of the chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 and cytoadhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and CD36) in the brain, leading to reduced accumulation of pathogenic T cells in the brain and ultimately substantial improvement of the blood-brain barriers of PbA-infected mice. In addition, VD inhibited the differentiation, activation and maturation of splenic dendritic cells. Meanwhile, regulatory T cells and IL-10 expression levels were upregulated upon VD treatment. These data collectively demonstrated the suppressive function of VD on host inflammatory responses, which provides significant survival benefits in the murine ECM model.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

By designing an orthogonal experiment with four factors and three levels, (Na 0.5 Bi 0.495 Nd 0.005 )TiO 3 (NBT-Nd) nanopowders were prepared using a hydrothermal method under different conditions to determine the optimum hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The synthesized NBT-Nd nanopowders were characterized using X-ray diffraction measurement, ultraviolet-visible spectra, photoluminescence spectra, and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the orthogonal experimental conditions. The results showed that NBT-Nd powders with excellent crystalline and luminescence properties could be obtained at 160 C, with a 16 h reaction time, 8 molÁL −1 NaOH, and with 0.4489 g C 19 H 42 BrN. The optimized hydrothermal method-prepared NBT-Nd powder has a rather pure rhombohedral perovskite structure at room temperature, and exhibits an aggregated polycrystalline structure containing nanotubes and nano-sized particles. Under excitation of 247 nm light, strong fluorescence emissions are excited at 423 nm and 441 nm in the NBT-Nd powder that were generated by transitions of Nd 3+ from 2 D 5/2 to 4 I 9/2 and from 4 G 11/2 to 4 I 9/2 , respectively. Through CIE1931 chromaticity calculation of the emission peaks, the NBT-Nd powder was shown to emit indigo blue fluorescent light.fluorescence, hydrothermal method, nano-sized materials | INTRODUCTIONCeramic materials are among the most widely used functional materials, among which piezoelectric ceramics have important applications in the fields of electricity, sound, and light. [1,2] As early as 1954, researchers developed the lead-containing piezoelectric ceramic system Pb(Zr 1-x Ti x )O 3 (PZT), which has high stability and better performance. With the gradual interest in research into piezoelectric ceramics, increasingly ceramic systems with high stability and performance have been developed. [3][4][5][6] However, until the 21st century, lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics have still had an unshakeable position in applications such as various detectors, sensors, memory, ferroelectric photovoltaics, and other fields due to their excellent performance. [7] However, the main component PbO in the PZT-based ceramics volatilizes in large amounts during sintering and induces pollution during use and disposal, which not only easily causes composition changes but also decreases the repeatability and consistency of the material processing, and causes harm to the natural environment. [8] Furthermore, the effect of lead-containing materials on human health cannot be ignored. [9] Recently, the idea of green, healthy, and environmental protection has been advocated by many people.