Cichorium glandulosum Ameliorates HFD-Induced Obesity in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids.

Obesity is an ongoing global health problem, and Cichorium glandulosum (CG, chicory) is traditionally used as a hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering drug. However, there is still a lack of research on the role of CG in the treatment of obesity. In the present study, we found that CG significantly delayed weight gain and positively affected glucolipid metabolism disorders, serum metabolism levels, and the degree of liver and kidney oxidative stress in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. Further examination of the effects of CG on intestinal microenvironmental dysregulation and its metabolites in HFD mice revealed that the CG ethanol extract high-dose group (CGH) did not have a significant regulatory effect on short-chain fatty acids. Still, CGH significantly decreased the levels of 12α-OH/non-12α-OH bile acids and also found significant upregulation of proteobacteria and downregulation of cyanobacteria at the phylum level. CG may have ameliorated obesity and metabolic abnormalities in mice by repairing gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulating bile acid biosynthesis.

Dual Enhancement of Phosphorescence and Circularly Polarized Luminescence through Entropically Driven Self-Assembly of a Platinum(II) Complex.

Addressing the dual enhancement of circular polarization (glum) and luminescence quantum yield (QY) in circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) systems poses a significant challenge. In this study, we present an innovative strategy utilizing the entropically driven self-assembly of amphiphilic phosphorescent platinum(II) complexes (L-Pt) with tetraethylene glycol chains, resulting in unique temperature dependencies. The entropically driven self-assembly of L-Pt leads to a synergistic improvement in phosphorescence emission efficiency (QY was amplified from 15 % at 25 °C to 53 % at 60 °C) and chirality, both in the ground state and the excited state (glum value has been magnified from 0.04×10-2 to 0.06) with increasing temperature. Notably, we observed reversible modulation of phosphorescence and chirality observed over at least 10 cycles through successive heating and cooling, highlighting the intelligent control of luminescence and chiroptical properties by regulating intermolecular interactions among neighboring L-Pt molecules. Importantly, the QY and glum of the L-Pt assembly in solid state were measured as 69 % and 0.16 respectively, representing relatively high values compared to most self-assembled CPL systems. This study marks the pioneering demonstration of dual thermo-enhancement of phosphorescence and CPL and provides valuable insights into the thermal effects on high-temperature and switchable CPL materials.

Effect of Cichorium glandulosum on intestinal microbiota and bile acid metabolism in db/db mice.

This study aims to investigate the effects of Chorum glandulosum Boiss. et Huet (CG) on the intestinal microbiota and serum bile acid (BA) in db/db mice. A total of 12 db/db mice were randomly divided into model (MOD), high-dose CG (CGH), and control (CON) groups. The CON and MOD groups received distilled water by gavage for 8 weeks. Whereas, the CGH group received an alcohol extract of CG at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day. Results showed that CG can reduce blood lipid levels. It change the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and increase the relative abundances of Muribaculaceae, Prevotellaceae, Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum, Bacteroidaceae in db/db mice as well. LC-MS metabolomics results showed that CG adjusted the serum BA levels. The results reduced the levels of primary BAs, such as cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The results decreased the primary BA/secondary BA (PSA/SBA) ratio in db/db mice. Correlation analysis showed that the abundances of Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum and Bacteroidaceae were positively correlated with acetic acid level and negatively correlated with ursocholic acid (UCA), α-muricholic acid (αMCA), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels (TC), indicating an interaction between the intestinal microbiota and serum BAs. CG may play a positive role in the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and BAs in lipid metabolism.

Maternal postnatal confinement practices and postpartum depression in Chinese populations: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered especially effective in helping mothers recover during the postpartum period. However, research has not provided evidence to confirm its benefits. Postpartum depression is a common postpartum disease that seriously threatens maternal health. The systematic review aims to explore the association between "doing-the-month" and postpartum depression in the Chinese female population and to provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based postpartum maternal care. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched according to the protocol (INPALSY202320102). The JBI assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Sixteen quantitative studies from China and Chinese female immigrants in other countries, including 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 randomized controlled study, were identified. Four studies indicated that "doing-the-month" rituals reduced postpartum depression risk while 2 studies showed opposite results; 10 studies did not show a significant association between "doing-the-month" practices and postpartum depression. CONCLUSION: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between "doing-the-month" and the likelihood of developing postpartum depression. Some studies have explored the impact of family ties, particular rituals, and specific stressors during the postpartum period on the occurrence of postpartum depression in Chinese women. According to current research, "doing-the-month" practice failed to show a significant protective effect on postpartum depression in the Chinese maternal population. Evidence-based medical health education for the Chinese postpartum female community is urgently needed.

Precursor Engineering of Lead Acetate-Based Precursors for High-Open-Circuit Voltage Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells.

Wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskites have great potential for inclusion in efficient tandem solar cells, but large open-circuit voltage losses have limited device performance to date. Here, we show that a high-quality WBG perovskite, FA0.83Cs0.17Pb(I0.8Br0.2)3, with enlarged grain sizes and improved crystallinity can be achieved by incorporating lead chloride (PbCl2) into a lead acetate (PbAc2)-based precursor. The improved film quality resulted in the suppression of nonradiative recombination and a reduction in defect density. Efficient WBG perovskite solar cells (1.66 eV) with an efficiency of 19.3% and a high Voc of 1.22 V were fabricated using a facile one-step spin-coating method without the need for an antisolvent. Notably, the unencapsulated devices retained 90% of their initial power conversion efficiency after storage in a dry box (10% humidity) for 800 h.

Glycoursodeoxycholic acid regulates bile acids level and alters gut microbiota and glycolipid metabolism to attenuate diabetes.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the bile acid regulates type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through gut microbiota-host interactions. However, the mechanisms underlying such interactions have been unclear. Here, we found that glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) positively regulates gut microbiota by altering bile acid metabolism. GUDCA in mice resulted in higher taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) level and Bacteroides vulgatus abundance. Together, these changes resulted in the activation of the adipose G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor, GPBAR1 (TGR5) and upregulated expression of uncoupling protein UCP-1, resulting in elevation of white adipose tissue thermogenesis. The anti-T2DM effects of GUDCA are linked with the regulation of the bile acid and gut microbiota composition. This study suggests that altering bile acid metabolism, modifying the gut microbiota may be of value for the treatment of T2DM.

High-Performance and Stable Semi-Transparent Perovskite Solar Cells through Composition Engineering.

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PeSCs) have tremendous potential as solar windows owing to their higher efficiency and visible transmittance. However, studies toward this application are still nascent, particularly in unraveling the interplay between how the perovskite composition impacts the achievable device performance and stability. Here, the role of A- and X-site modification in APbX3 perovskites is studied to understand their influence on these factors. Through detailed experimental and simulation work, it is found that a perovskite composition consisting of cesium (Cs) and formamidinium (FA) at the A-site delivers the best device performance over a range of band gaps, which are tuned by changes to the X-site anion. Using this optimized perovskite composition, power conversion efficiencies of 15.5% and 4.1% are achieved for ST-PeSCs with average visible transmittance values between 20.7% and 52.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the CsFA-based ST-PeSCs show excellent long-term stability under continuous illumination and heating. The stability of the precursor solutions across each of the studied compositions has also been considered, showing dramatic differences in the structural properties of the perovskites and their device performance for all mixed A-site compositions possessing the archetypal methyl ammonium species, while also confirming the superior stability of the CsFA precursor solutions.

Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Compared with Observation Alone for Postoperative Residual Nonfunctional Pituitary Adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: The management of residual nonfunctional pituitary tumors after surgical resection remains controversial. In this study, we compared the prognosis of postoperative radiation therapy and observation only in patients with residual nonfunctional pituitary adenoma and reviewed the long-term complications after radiation therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients who underwent surgery for nonfunctional pituitary adenomas from January 2008 to April 2012. Residual tumors were classified by size, location, and pathologic staining. Tumor progression was defined as volume progression ≥15% with or without clinical symptoms. Postoperative radiation therapy was performed <1 year after the last surgery. We compared the progression and 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival between the observation group and postoperative radiation therapy group. Postradiation complications including hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, deterioration in visual field or acuity, cranial nerve palsy, and hydrocephalus were also analyzed. RESULTS: More of the patients who received postoperative radiation therapy had a tumor progression-free survival of ≥3 years than did those who did not receive postoperative radiation therapy. Postoperative radiation therapy was significantly beneficial for the patients with a tumor size ≥3 cm or with tumors in the cavernous sinus. The most frequent complication after radiation therapy was hypopituitarism and a few cases had third cranial nerve palsy; however, there were no significant relationships with radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, immediate radiation therapy after tumor resection was an effective and relatively safe treatment for residual or progressive nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. Moreover, the long-term complications of radiation therapy were mild.

Luminescent Helical Nanofiber Self-Assembled from a Cholesterol-Based Metalloamphiphile and Its Application in DNA Conformation Recognition.

Compared to pure organic amphiphiles, metalloamphiphiles display distinctive features, including luminescence, magnetism and catalytic properties. However, the self-organization of metalloamphiphiles is commonly driven by solvophobic effects. Alkyl chains and oligomeric ethylene glycol moieties are thus the most frequently used aggregation units to drive the self-assembly of metalloamphiphiles. We expect novel metallo-supramolecular structures with exciting functions to be created if additional noncovalent interaction modes are incorporated. In this work, a new type of metalloamphiphile, consisting of a Tb(III) complex head and a cholesteryl unit (TbL3+(I)), was designed and synthesized. TbL3+(I) spontaneously self-assembles into helical nanofibers (d = 6 nm) in water. This synthetic multivalent nanoscale binding array displays powerful capability for the recognition of DNA conformations through a turn-on luminescence sensing mechanism. ssDNA-kit1 triggered a 26-fold increase in the luminescence intensity of TbL3+(I). Its corresponding G-quadruplex structure (G-quadruplex-kit1), however, induced a 6.6-fold enhancement under the same conditions. Consequently, TbL3+(I) nanofibers can monitor DNA folding. In contrast, neither ssDNA-kit1 nor G-quadruplex-kit1 markedly promoted the luminescence of molecularly dispersed TbL3+(II), illustrating that the multivalent electrostatic interactions between the phosphate groups on the backbone of DNA and TbL3+(I) self-assembled into nanofibers could greatly improve the efficiency of the energy transfer between the guanine units and the organized TbL3+(I). The TbL3+(I) nanofibers could bind and distinguish not only the kit1-ssDNA/G-quadruplex but also the conformations of other G-rich DNA, such as spb1, htelo, and intermolec-htelo. The self-assembly of luminescent metalloamphiphiles thus provides a general and convenient strategy for the efficient recognition and conversion of molecular information.

Ferrocene-containing thixotropic molecular gels: creation and a novel strategy for water purification.

Low-molecular-mass gelators and relevant molecular gels have been employed for water purification owing to their convenience and efficiency, but the process is time consuming due to low extraction efficiency originated from limited contact of the two phases. In this work, two novel di-cholesterol-based gelators, 1 and 2, with a ferrocenyl unit were synthesized and the gels based on 2 possess a smart thixotropic property. In particular, 2/heptane gel, the shear force induced phase transition is fast (within seconds) and fully reversible without the need of heating-cooling cycle. Based upon the thixotropic molecular gel, a novel separation strategy, which combines the great efficiency of liquid-liquid extraction and the convenience of liquid-solid separation, has been successfully conducted for removing iodine from wastewater. It was demonstrated that iodine was removed within several minutes and the extraction efficiency (72%) was the same with the one using corresponding liquid. Furthermore, 2/heptane gel is also responsive to chemical oxidation and variation in temperature. FTIR, NMR, CD and XRD studies revealed that helical fibers were formed via intermolecular hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interaction. It is believed that the results presented in this work are of importance for extending real-life applications of molecular gels.

Luminescent vesicular nanointerface: a highly selective and sensitive "turn-on" sensor for guanosine triphosphate.

A novel amphiphilic Tb(3+) complex (TbL(3+)(I)) consisting of a +3 charged head and a hydrophobic alkyl chain has been developed. It spontaneously self-assembles in water and forms stable vesicles at neutral pH. TbL(3+)(I) has no aromatic groups (functioning as an antenna), and its intrinsic luminescence is thus minimized. These features lead to the self-assembling TbL(3+)(I) receptor molecules demonstrating an increased luminescence intensity upon binding of nucleotides. Upon addition of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), the luminescence from Tb(3+) was notably promoted (127-fold), as the light energy absorbed by the guanine group of GTP was efficiently transferred to the Tb(3+) center. In the case of guanosine diphosphate (GDP) and guanosine monophosphate (GMP), respectively, 78-fold and 43-fold increases in luminescence intensity were observed. This enhancement was less significant than that observed for GTP, due to fewer negative charges on GDP and GMP. No other nucleotides or the tested nonphosphorylated nucleosides affected the luminescence intensity to any notable extent. In marked contrast, all tested nucleotides, including guanine nucleotides, barely promoted the luminescence of molecularly dispersed receptors, TbL(3+)(II), indicating that the confinement and organization of molecules in a nanointerface play vital roles in improving the performance of a sensing system. This Tb(3+) complex nanointerface is successfully used for monitoring the GTP-to-GDP conversion.

Preparation and functions of hybrid membranes with rings of Ag NPs anchored at the edges of highly ordered honeycomb-patterned pores.

We report a new, simple strategy to apply honeycomb films for the patterning of colloidal particles. By combination of a "bottom-up" breath figure method and the electrochemical properties of the honeycomb films of ferrocenyl-based oligomers, highly ordered hybrid membranes coated with ring-like patterning of 0D- and 1D-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) have been fabricated. One interesting phenomenon is that the nucleation and adsorption of Ag dots occurred preferentially at the edges of the micropores. The hybrid membranes exhibited richly electrochemical activities towards reduction of iodate and enhanced effectively catalytic reduction of organic dyes. We believe that this method can be used to decorate and/or assemble functional metal NPs such as Au, Pd, and Cu on honeycomb-patterned materials for the further applications of photonics, sensors, and catalysis.

Novel dimeric cholesteryl derivatives and their smart thixotropic gels.

Three novel LS(2)-type dimeric-cholesteryl derivatives (1-3), where S is a steroidal residue and L stands for a linker connecting the two S residues and contains three benzene rings and two amide and two carbamate groups, were designed and prepared. The compounds can gel a wide variety of organic solvents via three different ways, including mixing at room temperature, a heating-cooling cycle, and ultrasound treatment. SEM measurements revealed that the structures and the concentrations of the gelators, the nature of the solvent, and the preparation method employed have a great effect on the morphologies of the gel networks. It was revealed that 1 is a supergelator for DMSO (cgc = 0.04% w/v) and that the 1/DMSO gel can be prepared via any of the three methods mentioned above. Furthermore, the gel possesses excellent mechanical strength and a very smart thixotropic property. FT-IR and temperature- and concentration-dependent (1)H NMR spectroscopy studies revealed that hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking among the molecules of 1 are two important driving forces for the physical gelation of DMSO. In addition, XRD analysis confirmed the layered packing structure of 1 in its DMSO gel.

Dimensional architecture of ferrocenyl-based oligomer honeycomb-patterned films: from monolayer to multilayer.

We report a fabrication of highly ordered honeycomb-patterned films by the breath figure method from ferrocenyl-based oligomer with ferrocene units in the main chain and hydrophobic cholesteryl groups as side chains and investigate their dimensionality nature, i.e., the array of pores varying from monolayer to multilayer structure. A tentative model, including several key influencing parameters, is described to illustrate the varying layer numbers in the one film. The formation of the multilayer structure is ascribed to the Marangoni convection, thermocapillary effects, wet thickness, and evaporation speed.

Tunable morphology of 2D honeycomb-patterned films and the hydrophobicity of a ferrocenyl-based oligomer.

Honeycomb-patterned polymer films with tunable pore size and regularity of ordered two- or three-dimensional hexagonal arrays have met with widespread interest in recent years in different areas, for instance as separation and superhydrophobic materials. Herein, 2D honeycomb-patterned films of amphiphilic ferrocenyl-based oligomer with cholesterol as side chains were prepared by the breath-figure method on solid surfaces and their surface-wetting behavior were tested. These films can be simply prepared by spreading a mixture of polymer and organic solvents on a solid surface under moist airflow and at an air/water interface without any extra moist airflow. An ordered 2D hexagonal array of pores with monodisperse size distribution can be obtained over a large area by changing various influencing factors, including humidity, wet volume, concentration, selective solvent, and spreading method, which provides a facile route to regulate the morphology of patterned porous films. The surface-wetting behavior indicates that a higher hydrophobicity of the ferrocenyl-based oligomer honeycomb films can be obtained by modulating the pore size and regularity. It is expected that this could promote the potential application of ordered porous polymer films in hydrophobic materials and biochemistry.

Oligo(FcDC-co-CholDEA) with ferrocene in the main chain and cholesterol as a pendant group-preparation and unusual properties.

With ever-increasing need for thin, flexible, and functional materials in electrochemical systems, various techniques have been explored for creating materials used in fuel cells, batteries, electrochromic devices, solar cells, and sensors. In the present study, a novel ferrocene (Fc) and cholesterol (Chol)-containing oligomer, oligo(FcDC-co-CholDEA), was specially designed and prepared by putting Fc in the main chain and Chol as a side group. MALDI-TOF MS and freezing point depression measurements revealed that in average each oligomer contains three Fc units and three Chol units. Cyclic voltammetric measurements revealed that the oligomer displays superior electrochemical stability if compared with other Fc derivatives containing only one Fc unit and one or two Chol unit and with poly(ferrocenylsilane) with Fc in the main chain. In particular, the Fc-containing oligomer possesses an unusual oxidation center, of which the oxidation potential could be as high as 1.81 V. The oligomer is also superior in self-assembly, as demonstrated by forming an LB film of layered structures. Furthermore, supramolecular films with high mechanical strength in the wet state can be prepared by employing a simple solution casting method. This finding demonstrates that self-assembly is a simple but effective way to create films of potential uses in real-life applications provided proper building blocks are designed and employed.

A novel low-molecular-mass gelator with a redox active ferrocenyl group: tuning gel formation by oxidation.

A novel low-molecular-mass gelator containing a redox-active ferrocenyl group, cholesteryl glycinate ferrocenoylamide (CGF), was intentionally designed and prepared. It was demonstrated that the gelator gels 13 out of the 45 solvents tested. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements revealed that the gelator self-assembled into different supramolecular network structures in different gels. Chemical oxidation of the ferrocenyl residue resulted in phase transition of the gel from gel state to solution state. FTIR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy studies revealed that hydrogen bonding between the gelator molecules in the gel was one of the main driving forces for the formation of the gels.