Regulation effect of magnetic field combined with low temperature storage on postharvest quality and cell wall pectic-polysaccharide degradation of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels.

This study investigated the regulation effect of magnetic field combined with low temperature storage on postharvest quality and cell wall pectic-polysaccharide degradation of wampee stored for 15 d at 4 °C and 15 °C. Results showed that magnetic field combined with low temperature storage reduced browning rate of fruit after 15 d storage, but its effect on weight loss rate and total soluble solids (TSS) did not surpass that of storage temperature. Interestingly, contents of flavonoid, total phenols and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also lowered at varying degrees by combined treatment. Furthermore, molecular weight distribution and monosaccharide compositions of cell wall pectic-polysaccharides were also affected, which resulted from the coordinated action of cell wall pectin-degrading enzymes. The activities of these enzymes during storage, including polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME) and ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) in treated wampee decreased. These findings suggested that magnetic field combined with low temperature storage was an effective technology and had great potential in preservation of postharvest wampee in future.

Early Detection of Molecular Residual Disease and Risk Stratification for Children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia via Circulating Tumor DNA.

PURPOSE: Patient-tailored minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing of leukemia-specific mutations enables early detection of relapse for pre-emptive treatment, but its utilization in pediatric acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is scarce. Thus, we aim to examine the role of ctDNA as a prognostic biomarker in monitoring response to the treatment of pediatric AML. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study with 50 children with AML was launched, and sequential bone marrow (BM) and matched plasma samples were collected. The concordance of mutations by next-generation sequencing-based BM-DNA and ctDNA was evaluated. In addition, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. RESULTS: In 195 sample pairs from 50 patients, the concordance of leukemia-specific mutations between ctDNA and BM-DNA was 92.8%. Patients with undetectable ctDNA were linked to improved OS and PFS versus detectable ctDNA in the last sampling (both P < 0.001). Patients who cleared their ctDNA post three cycles of treatment had similar PFS compared with persistently negative ctDNA (P = 0.728). In addition, patients with >3 log reduction but without clearance in ctDNA were associated with an improved PFS as were patients with ctDNA clearance (P = 0.564). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, ctDNA-based MRD monitoring appears to be a promising option to complement the overall assessment of pediatric patients with AML, wherein patients with continuous ctDNA negativity have the option for treatment de-escalation in subsequent therapy. Importantly, patients with >3 log reduction but without clearance in ctDNA may not require an aggressive treatment plan due to improved survival, but this needs further study to delineate.

Low vitamin D and uric acid status in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

PURPOSE: Growing evidence reported that vitamin D and uric acid metabolism played roles in the occurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, an otoconia-related vestibular disorder. We aimed to investigate the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and uric acid in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and to determine the risk factor for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. METHODS: This case-control study comprised 182 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and 182 age- and gender-matched controls. All subjects' age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), uric acid and serum calcium measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: We found a female preponderance of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients, with a median of 60 (52-66) years old. The results showed low vitamin D status both in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and controls, with no significant difference of 25(OH)D levels between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients and controls (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and a lower prevalence of vitamin D sufficiency (P < 0.05). Uric acid was significantly lower in the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo groups (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age and uric acid were considered higher risk predictors for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. CONCLUSION: Our study observed low vitamin D status in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, with no significant differences of the 25(OH)D level in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and controls. Elderly, vitamin D deficiency and low uric acid levels may be risk factors for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo occurrence.

Analysis between macrophage-related genes with prognosis and tumor microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly morbid and fatal disease that exhibits individualized differences in prognosis and drug efficacy. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and progression of lung cancer can improve early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Macrophages are a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) due to their high plasticity and heterogeneity. They play a multifaceted role in tumor initiation and progression. In order to elucidate the pathogenesis of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) related genes in NSCLC, transcriptomic sequencing, univariate COX regression, LASSO regression and multivariate COX regression analyses were conducted to identify the 11 genes that have the most significant association with prognosis. These genes include FCRLA, LDHA, LMOD3, MAP3K8, NT5E, PDGFB, S100P, SFXN1, TDRD1, TFAP2A and TUBB6. The risk score (RS) was computed, and all samples were split into high- and low-risk groups based on the median RS. The correlation of RS and 11 genes with macrophages was verified by the CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm. These above results suggest that the risk score developed in this study can be utilized for predicting patients' prognosis and evaluating their immune infiltration status. This study can serve as a guide for subsequent tumor immunotherapy and gene targeting therapy.

High risk of bloodstream infection of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae carriers in neutropenic children with hematological diseases.

BACKGROUND: Neutropenic children with hematological diseases were associated with higher morbidity of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) blood-stream infection (BSI) or colonization. But it was still murky regarding clinical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcomes of CRE-BSI in these patients. We aimed to identify the potential risk factors for subsequent bacteremia and clinical outcome caused by CRE-BSI. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2020, 2,465 consecutive neutropenic children were enrolled. The incidence and characteristics of CRE-BSI were explored in CRE-colonizers versus non-colonizers. Survival analysis was performed and risk factors for CRE-BSI and 30-day mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: CRE-carriers were identified in 59/2465 (2.39%) neutropenic children and19/59 (32.2%) developed CRE-BSI, while 12/2406 (0.5%) of non-carriers developed CRE-BSI (P < 0.001). The 30-day survival probability was significantly lower in patients with CRE-BSI than in non-BSI (73.9% vs. 94.9%, P = 0.050). Moreover, the 30-day survival probability of patients with CRE-BSI was also poorer in CRE-carriers versus non-carriers (49.7% vs. 91.7%, P = 0.048). Tigecycline and amikacin exhibited satisfactory antimicrobial activity against all isolated strains. Fluoroquinolone sensitivity was lower in E. coli (26.3%) strains versus satisfactory susceptibility of E. cloacae and other CRE-strains (91.2%). CRE-BSI accompanying intestinal mucosal damage were independent risk factors for 30-day survival probability (both P < 0.05), while combined antibiotic therapy and longer duration of neutropenia were more prone to developed CRE-BSI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CRE-colonizers were prone to subsequent BSI and CRE-BSI was regarded as an independent predictor predisposing to high mortality in neutropenic children. Moreover, individualized antimicrobial therapy should be adopted due to different features of patients with separate CRE strains.

Perillaldehyde improves diabetic cardiomyopathy by upregulating miR-133a-3p to regulate GSK-3ß.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is part of the most important causes of death from cardiovascular disease. Perillaldehyde (PAE), a major component of the herb perilla, has been shown to ameliorate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, but it is unclear whether PAE exerts beneficial effects on DCM. Exploring the potential molecular mechanisms of PAE for the treatment of DCM through network pharmacology and molecular docking. The SD rat type 1 diabetes model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg), the cardiac function indexes of each group were detected by echocardiography; the morphological changes, apoptosis, protein expression of P-GSK-3ß (S9), collagen I (Col-Ⅰ), collagen III (Col-Ⅲ) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and miR-133a-3p expression levels were detected. An DCM model of H9c2 cells was established in vitro and transfected with Mimic and Inhibitor of miR-133a-3p. The results showed that PAE ameliorated cardiac dysfunction, reduced fasting glucose and cardiac weight index, and improved myocardial injury and apoptosis in DCM rats. It reduced high glucose-induced apoptosis, promoted migration and improved mitochondrial division injury in H9c2 cells. PAE decreased P-GSK-3ß (S9), Col-Ⅰ, Col-Ⅲ and α-SMA protein expression and upregulated miR-133a-3p expression levels. After miR-133a-3p Inhibitor treatment, the expression of P-GSK-3ß (S9) and α-SMA expression were significantly increased; after miR-133a-3p Mimic treatment, the expression of P-GSK-3ß (S9) and α-SMA decreased significantly in H9c2 cells. It suggests that the mechanism of action of PAE to improve DCM may be related to the upregulation of miR-133a-3p and inhibition of P-GSK-3ß expression.

Performance and degradation mechanism of phycocyanin by Cu-TiO2 photocatalytic treatment.

The efficiency, transformation products, and mechanism of phycocyanin removal from water by simulated sunlight/Cu-decorated TiO2 photocatalyst treatment were studied. After 360 min of photocatalytic degradation, the removal rate of PC was higher than 96%, about 47% of DON was oxidized into NH4+-N, NO3- and NO2-. ·OH was the main active species in the photocatalytic system, which contributes about 55.7% to PC degradation efficiency, H+ and ·O2- also contributed to the photocatalytic activity. The degradation process of phycocyanin is firstly caused by the attack of free radicals, which leads to the disintegration of the chromophore group PCB and the apoprotein, and then apoprotein peptide chain was broken to generate small molecule dipeptides, amino acids, and their derivatives. Amino acid residues sensitive to free radical action in phycocyanin peptide chain include most hydrophobic amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, proline, valine, phenylalanine, and some hydrophilic amino acids which are easily oxidized such as lysine and arginine. Small molecular peptides (dipeptides), amino acids, and their derivatives are broken off and released into water bodies for further reaction and degradation into smaller molecular weight substances. During this process, part of organic nitrogen was transferred to inorganic nitrogen. When photocatalytic oxidation lasts for 300 min, NH4+ increases from 0.41 mg/L to 2.21 mg/L, and DON removal rate reaches 47%. The Cu-TiO2 photocatalyst was found to decrease the CHCl3 formation potential; however, it exacerbated the production of dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) beyond their initial levels. The divergent trends of these disinfection by-products are due to the fundamental differences in the precursor material.

Regulation mechanism of magnetic field on pectinase and its preliminary application in postharvest sapodilla (Manilkara zapota).

In this study, regulation mechanism of magnetic field on pectinase was investigated and it was preliminarily applied in postharvest sapodilla. Results indicated pectinase activity decreased by 44 % when treated by magnetic field (3 mT, 0.5 h) with kinetic parameters Vmax/Km decreasing from 0.799 to 0.366 min. The optimal temperature (48 °C) and pH (4.8) of pectinase was not altered by magnetic field but Ca2+ at 0.05 mol/L strengthened its regulation effect. Ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra suggested tyrosine and tryptophan residues in treated pectinase became more hydrophobic while opposite in phenylalanine. CO, CNH, COO- groups in pectinase were also influenced, resulting in decreased ß-sheet (from 53 % to 49 %), increased random coil (from 20 % to 22 %) and ß-turn content (from 27 % to 29 %). More importantly, the firmness of treated sapodilla remained 45 % of maximum at 12 days' storage. Our findings provided new insights to illustrate the role of magnetic field in fruit preservation.

Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra) and its hypoglycemic effect and mechanism on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A novel acidic polysaccharide named AeP-P-1 was prepared from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra). AeP-P-1 is a heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 3.02 × 103 kDa and is composed of L-rhamnose, D-galactose, and D-galacturonic acid in the ratio 1.87 : 3.58 : 1.00. Structural characterization based on methylation and 1D/2D NMR analyses indicated that AeP-P-1 is composed of T-linked-Rhap, T-linked-Galp, 1,2,4-linked-Rhap, 1,4-linked-Galp, 1,6-linked-Galp, and 1,3,4-linked-Galp in a molar ratio of 2.42 : 3.36 : 6.46 : 13.31 : 3.12 : 1, respectively. The hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of AeP-P-1 on type 2 diabetes mellitus were also explored. Firstly, AeP-P-1 can reduce blood lipids and liver and kidney damage caused by T2DM. Finally, AeP-P-1 induces the phosphorylation of GSK3ß, maintains the activity of glycogen synthase (GCS), and promotes glycogen synthesis by regulating the expression of insulin/PI3K/Akt pathway proteins. These results indicated that AeP-P-1 could be developed as a potential ingredient in immunostimulatory agents.

Plasma MicroRNA Signature Panel Predicts the Immune Response After Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients.

Background: Approximately 10-40% of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are unable to obtain successful improvements in immune function after antiretroviral therapy (ART). These patients are at greater risk of developing non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related conditions, with the accompanying increased morbidity and mortality. Discovering predictive biomarkers can help to identify patients with a poor immune response earlier and provide new insights into the mechanisms of this condition. Methods: A total of 307 people with HIV were enrolled, including 110 immune non-responders (INRs) and 197 immune responders (IRs). Plasma samples were taken before ART, and quantities of plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) were determined using reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Candidate biomarkers were established through four phases: discovery, training, validation, and blinded test. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the combined predictive capacity of the identified miRNAs. The effect of one miRNA, miR-16-5p, on T cell function was assessed in vitro. Results: Expression of five miRNAs (miR-580, miR-627, miR-138-5p, miR-16-5p, and miR-323-3p) was upregulated in the plasma of INRs compared with that in IRs. Expression of these miRNAs was negatively correlated with both CD4+ T cell counts and the increase in the proportion of CD4+ T cells after one year of ART. These five miRNAs were combined in a predictive model, which could effectively identify INRs or IRs. Furthermore, we found that miR-16-5p inhibits CD4+ T cell proliferation by regulating calcium flux. Conclusion: We established a five-miRNA panel in plasma that accurately predicts poor immune response after ART, which could inform strategies to reduce the incidence of this phenomenon and improve the clinical management of these patients.

[Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis Analysis of Pediatric Severe Aplastic Anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and factors affecting prognosis in children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). METHODS: Two hundred and five children with SAA treated in our department from January 2008 to April 2018 were selected, and the clinical characteristics and factors affecting prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among 205 SAA children, the effective rate (CR+PR) at 3, 6 and 12 months after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) treatment was 50.9%, 59.0% and 73.9%, respectively, and 5-year overall survival rate was 93.1%±2.0%. Univariate analysis showed that 5-year overall survival rate of SAA children of spontaneous delivery was higher than that of cesarean section (P=0.039), while multivariate analysis showed that birth way had no significant influence on 5-year overall survival rate (P>0.05). The response rate at 3 months after IST of children with a recent history of decoration before SAA onset was higher than those without history of decoration (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the SAA children can achieve high response rate and overall survival rate. Patients with recent history of home/school decoration may be the factor affecting hematological response after 3 months of IST, but have no influence on long-term overall survival.

[Yin-yang penetrating acupuncture with elongated needle for spastic limb dysfunction after stroke: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect between yin-yang penetrating acupuncture with elongated needle and routine acupuncture for spastic limb dysfunction after stroke. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups received basic treatment, yin-yang penetrating acupuncture with elongated needle was applied from Yanglingquan (GB 34) to Xuanzhong (GB 39), Quchi (LI 11) to Wenliu (LI 7), Huantiao (GB 30) to Fengshi (GB 31), Jianyu (LI 15) to Quchi (LI 11), etc. on the affected side in the observation group; routine acupuncture was applied at Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Jiquan (HT 1), Chize (LU 5), Weizhong (BL 40), Jianyu (LI 15), etc. on the affected side in the control group. Once a day, 5 times a week, 2 weeks as a course, 2 courses were required in the two groups. Before and after treatment，the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) grade, Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) score, activity of daily living scale (ADL) (Barthel index) score were observed, and the clinical effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the MAS grade after treatment was improved in the two groups (P<0.05), that in the observation group was superior to the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the FMA and ADL scores after treatment were increased in the two groups (P<0.05), the changes in the observation group were larger than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 80.0% (24/30), which was superior to 70.0% (21/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Yin-yang penetrating acupuncture with elongated needle could improve muscle tension, spasm grade and motor function in patients with spastic limb dysfunction after stroke, enhance the activity of daily living, its clinical effect is superior to routine acupuncture.

Galla Chinensis, a Traditional Chinese Medicine: Comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacology and toxicology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Galla chinensis (GC), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has a wide range of pharmacological properties which have been widely used for more than 1400 years. Based on shape, GC is divided into two groups: jiaobei and dubei. It is a bitter, sour, cold and astringent substance which is usually used for treating diarrhea, constipation, bleeding, cough, vomiting, sweating, hemorrhoids, and anal and uterine prolapse. It is distributed in Japan, North Korea, and all parts of China. AIM OF STUDY: This study was aimed at carrying out a comprehensive overview of the current status of research on Galla chinensis (GC) for better understanding of it characteristics, while providing a clear direction for future studies. It has aroused the interest of researchers, leading to development of medicinal value, expansion of its application, and provision of wider and more effective drug choices. This study was focused on the traditional uses, botany, chemical composition, pharmacology and toxicology of GC. Finally, the study focused on possible future research directions for GC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was done based on academic papers, pharmaceutical monographs, ancient medicinal works, and drug standards of China. This review used Galla and Galla chinensis as keywords for retrieval of information on GC from online databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, CNKI, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SCI hub, and Baidu academic. RESULTS: It was found that the chemical constituents of GC included tannins, phenolic acid, amino acids and fatty acid, with polyphenol compounds (especially tannins and gallic acid) as the distinct components. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that GC exerted numerous biological effects such as anti-caries, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. The therapeutic effect of GC was attributed mainly to the biological properties of its bioactive components. CONCLUSIONS: GC is an important TCM which has potential benefit in the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the relationship amongst the structure and biological activity of GC and its components, mechanism of action, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and target organs need to be further studied. Quality control and quality assurance programs for GC need to be further developed. There is need to study the dynamics associated with the accumulation of chemical compounds in GC as well as the original plants and aphid that form GC.

Effect of konjac glucomannan on metabolites in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine of constipated mice and prediction of the KEGG pathway.

The occurrence of constipation involves the whole gastrointestinal tract. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been clinically proven to alleviate constipation, but its mechanism has not been fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the excretion-promoting effect of KGM on constipated mice and the underlying molecular mechanism. In this study, the UHPLC-QE orbitrap/MS method was used to determine the metabolic phenotypes of total gastrointestinal segments (i.e., the stomach {St}, small intestine {S}, and large intestine {L}) in constipated mice treated with KGM. The results showed that KGM improved the fecal water content, body weight growth rate, and serum gastrointestinal regulation related peptide levels. The metabolomics results revealed the decreased levels of amino acids, cholines, deoxycholic acid, arachidonic acid, thiamine and the increased levels of indoxyl sulfate, histamine, linoelaidic acid etc. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the relaxation effect of KGM supplementation was most likely driven by modulating the expression levels of various key factors involved in biosynthesis of amino acid (i.e., phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan), linoleic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and arachidonic acid metabolism signalling pathways. The results indicated that KGM alleviates constipation by regulating potential metabolite markers and metabolic pathways in different gastrointestinal segments.

[The Correlation of Minimal Residual Disease with Prognosis in TCF3-PBX1+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the consistency between FCM and PCR on the detecting of MRD in TCF3-PBX1+ ALL, and to investigate the prognosis value of these 2 methods. METHODS: 55 cases of paediatric TCF3-PBX1+ ALL patients from April 2008 to April 2015 were enrolled and analyzed. The FCM and PCR was used to detect the MRD in 239 bone marrow samples of 55 patients. All statistical analyses were carried out by using SPSS software version 16. RESULTS: Among the 55 children with TCF3-PBX1+ ALL, there were 30 male and 25 female. The median age was 5 (1-14) years. 20 patients relapsed during follow-up. The MRD results from PCR and FCM showed a strong correlation between both methods (K=0.774, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in 5-years DFS and OS between the patients in PCR+ and PCR- groups on day 15 or day 33. The 5 year DFS rate between the patients in FCM- and FCM+ was 63.9%±7.0% and 0; the 5 year OS rate was 66.5%±7.9% and 0. Combined with the result of FCM and PCR, at the d 33 of treatment, the 5-year DFS rate in FCM-/PCR- and single positive group was 65.4%±7.2% and 25.0%±15.3% (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The detection result of MRD in TCF3-PBX1 detect by FCM and PCR shows better consistency. MRD positivity detected by FCM at the end of induction therapy (day 33) predicts a high risk of relapse in TCF3-PBX1 ALL patients.

The Important Role of Volatile Components From a Traditional Chinese Medicine Dayuan-Yin Against the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aromatic Chinese herbs have been used to prevent plagues since ancient times. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases. According to the traditional Chinese medicine treatment plan in the National COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (Trial Seventh Edition) of the National Health Commission, Chinese patent medicines or prescriptions rich in aromatic Chinese herbs are selected for prevention and treatment during the period of medical observation, clinical treatment, and recovery of confirmed COVID-19 patients. Some local health committees or traditional Chinese medicine administrations recommend a variety of other ways of using traditional aromatic Chinese herbs to prevent and cure COVID-19. These involve external fumigation, use of moxibustion, and wearing of sachet. The efficacy of aromatic Chinese herbs plays a decisive role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The unique properties, chemical composition, and mechanism of action of aromatic Chinese herbs are worthy of extensive and in-depth experimental and clinical research. The findings are expected to provide a reference for follow-up treatment of novel coronavirus and the development of corresponding drugs. In 2003, Dayuan-Yin produced excellent results in the treatment of the SARS virus. Individually, 112 confirmed cases were administered this drug between January and April 2003, and more than 93.7% of the patients showed noticeable mitigation of the symptoms, as well as recovery. Dayuan-Yin also was selected as one of the nationally recommended prescriptions for the COVID-19. Based on the national recommendation of Dayuan-Yin prescription, this review discusses the role of volatile components in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and speculates the possible mechanism of action, so as to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Enhanced phycocyanin and DON removal by the synergism of H2O2 and micro-sized ZVI: Optimization, performance, and mechanisms.

Micro-sized zero-valent iron (mZVI) has proven effective for phycocyanin (PC) removal, but efficiency needs to be enhanced. Here, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to enhance PC removal by mZVI and the corresponding mechanisms are discussed. The results showed that H2O2 could effectively enhance PC removal by mZVI and the PC removal efficiency increased from 37.8% to 80.6% with 1.5 g/L mZVI in 60 min reaction time. The trends of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) removal were consistent with PC removal. Low pH value, high mZVI dosage, and a suitable amount of H2O2 were conducive to PC removal. The SEM-mapping indicated that PC removal was not primarily by adsorption. Similarly, no obvious change was observed in PC molecular structure based on fluorescence spectroscopy and SDS-PAGE analyses. However, the PC removal mechanism could be inferred from the variation of iron concentration in the process. The coagulation of dissolved iron ions dissolved from mZVI was the main removal pathway. The OH oxidation only accounted for 20% of PC removal. PC removal led to the reduction of disinfection by-products with similar efficiency. The combination of mZVI and H2O2 is a promising strategy for the simultaneous removal of PC and DON in drinking water treatments.

Carboxymethylation and acetylation of the polysaccharide from Cordyceps militaris and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

The crude polysaccharide extracted from Cordyceps militaris was chemically modified to obtain carboxymethylated derivatives (CM-CPS) and acetylated derivatives (AC-CPS). The physicochemical characterizations were comparatively investigated by chemical methods, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, FT-IR spectra, NMR analysis, Congo red test, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Then α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were conducted to determine the structure-bioactivity relationship. Results indicated that carboxymethylation and acetylation modification of polysaccharide were successful with the carboxymethyl substitutions might being C-6, C-2 and acetyl substitutions at C-3, C-6 inferred from NMR analysis. In addition, the tertiary structure, ultrastructure, melting properties were also different from native polysaccharide. Besides, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of derivatives exhibited differently with CM-CPS to be the lowest. Therefore, it was concluded that change of structure in polysaccharide had certain effect on bioactivity with degree of substitution and substituents position being the influence factors.

Switchable organoplatinum metallacycles with high quantum yields and tunable fluorescence wavelengths.

The preparation of fluorescent discrete supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) has attracted considerable attention within the fields of supramolecular chemistry, materials science, and biological sciences. However, many challenges remain. For instance, fluorescence quenching often occurs due to the heavy-atom effect arising from the Pt(II)-based building block in Pt-based SCCs. Moreover, relatively few methods exist for tuning of the emission wavelength of discrete SCCs. Thus, it is still challenging to construct discrete SCCs with high fluorescence quantum yields and tunable fluorescence wavelengths. Here we report nine organoplatinum fluorescent metallacycles that exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields and tunable fluorescence wavelengths through simple regulation of their photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) properties. Moreover, 3D fluorescent films and fluorescent inks for inkjet printing were fabricated using these metallacycles. This work provides a strategy to solve the fluorescence quenching problem arising from the heavy-atom effect of Pt(II), and offers an alternative approach to tune the emission wavelengths of discrete SCCs in the same solvent.

Removal efficiency and mechanism of phycocyanin in water by zero-valent iron.

The efficiencies and mechanism of phycocyanin removal from water by zero-valent iron (ZVI) were studied. The trend for dissolved organic nitrogen removal was similar to phycocyanin and the removal efficiency was high at ∼81% and 95%, respectively, in 90 min. The experimental results showed that the phycocyanin removal efficiency was higher at pH < 6, with an almost complete removal. However, only 68% was removed at pH 9. Within 30 min, the removal efficiency of phycocyanin for 1-4 tested cycles was reduced from 55.8% to 15.2%. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the mechanisms of phycocyanin removal, which indicated that a small amount of phycocyanin was immobilized on the ZVI surface by adsorption. In addition, the main removal pathway was coagulation by dissolved iron ions. The Fe oxide formed in situ from ZVI had a higher removal efficiency than that in FeCl3, which can play improved roles in charge neutralization. The production of disinfection byproducts also decreased because of the decrease of precursors.