Clinical features and antifungal treatment of invasive Scedosporium boydii infection: report of a case and literature overview.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present a case of persistent mycetoma caused by Scedosporium boydii and undertake a systematic literature overview to elucidate the clinical characteristics and antifungal treatment exhibited by such patients. METHODS: We report the case of a 24-year-old female who sustained a Scedosporium boydii infection in her right foot over a decade ago following a nail puncture. Concurrently, a comprehensive literature overview was conducted on PubMed, focusing on documented cases of Scedosporium boydii infections with the intent of extracting relevant clinical data. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that post-transplantation, trauma, near drowning, corticosteroid administration, and prior surgical history were the main risk factors for Scedosporium boydii infection. Prevalent infection sites included skin/bone tissues, the central nervous system, and ocular regions. Among the 49 patients identified, 24 received itraconazole therapy and 25 received voriconazole, with no significant difference in patient outcomes (P = 0.158). Of these, 12 patients experienced treatment failure. Notably, prolonged antifungal treatment duration was identified as a protective factor against mortality in Scedosporium boydii infections [P = 0.022, OR(95%CI): 0.972(0.949-0.996)]. Conversely, a history of post-transplantation emerged as a potential risk factor for mortality[P = 0.046, OR(95%CI): 7.017(1.034-47.636)]. CONCLUSION: While uncommon, Scedosporium boydii infections carry a significant burden of morbidity and adverse outcomes. Heightened clinical vigilance is warranted in individuals presenting with risk factors for this pathogen. Timely and effective antifungal intervention is crucial, with both voriconazole and itraconazole demonstrating positive treatment outcomes for Scedosporium boydii infection. Therefore, prioritizing these antifungal agents should be considered a key therapeutic strategy in the management of this patient population.

GDF15 and LCN2 for early detection and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) remains very poor, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection, where biomarkers offer unique potential. Although growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) have been linked to PDAC, their precise roles as biomarkers are uncertain. METHODS: Circulating levels of GDF15 and LCN2 were examined in human PDAC patients, heathy controls, and individuals with benign pancreatic diseases. Circulating levels of IL-6, CA19-9, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were measured for comparisons. Correlations between PDAC progression and overall survival were assessed. A mouse PDAC model was employed for comprehensive analyses, complementing the human studies by exploring associations with various metabolic and inflammatory parameters. Sensitivity and specificity of the biomarkers were evaluated. FINDINGS: Our results demonstrated elevated levels of circulating GDF15 and LCN2 in PDAC patients compared to both healthy controls and individuals with benign pancreatic diseases, with higher GDF15 levels associated with disease progression and increased mortality. In PDAC mice, circulating GDF15 and LCN2 progressively increased, correlating with tumor growth, behavioral manifestations, tissue and molecular pathology, and cachexia development. GDF15 exhibited highly sensitive and specific for PDAC patients compared to CA19-9, IL-6, or NLR, while LCN2 showed even greater sensitivity and specificity in PDAC mice. Combining GDF15 and LCN2, or GDF15 and CA19-9, enhanced sensitivity and specificity. INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that GDF15 holds promise as a biomarker for early detection and prognosis of PDAC, while LCN2 could strengthen diagnostic panels.

Effect of current collector on the coupled electro-chemo-mechanical performance of graphite electrodes in LiBs.

The current collector, one of the main components in the manufacture of composite electrodes, is mainly used to enhance the mechanical stability and improve the performance and cycle performance of the electrodes. During the electrochemical reaction, the lithium diffusion can induce compressive stress and affect the mechanical performance, lifespan, and performance of batteries. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of copper foil on the mechanical response and degradation performance of electrodes. In addition, a mathematical model was developed to analyze the effect of copper foil on the stress-strain behavior of the electrodes. The results indicated that the stress and modulus of the graphite electrodes have a non-linear increase with the lithiation process. Based on those findings, utilizing a thinner and more compliant current collector could effectively mitigate the in-plane strain and the stress within electrodes. Thus, developing a thinner and softer copper foil could simultaneously enhance the mechanical properties and specific density of composite electrodes for the next-generation LiBs.

Microencapsulation Efficiency of Carboxymethylcellulose, Gelatin, Maltodextrin, and Acacia for Aroma Preservation in Jasmine Instant Tea.

Enhancing the sensory appeal of jasmine instant tea, particularly its aroma, poses a significant challenge due to the loss of volatile organic compounds during conventional processing. This study introduces a novel approach to address this issue through the application of microencapsulation techniques, aimed at preserving these key aromatic elements. Our investigation focused on the encapsulating agents gelatin, acacia gum, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and maltodextrin, chosen for their compatibility with the volatile organic compounds of tea. A statistical analysis was conducted on the analytical results through comprehensive analytical techniques like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA), and Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) analysis for microcapsule characterization. The statistical analysis revealed gelatin to be a particularly effective encapsulating medium, preserving an aroma profile more akin to fresh tea. The statistical analysis confirmed the reliability of these findings, highlighting the potential of microencapsulation in refining the quality of jasmine instant tea products. The results of this research suggest that microencapsulation could be instrumental in improving the sensory quality and shelf life of instant tea products, offering new opportunities for product enhancement in the beverage industry.

Metal-Organic Framework-Based Nanostructures for Electrochemical Sensing of Sweat Biomarkers.

Sweat is considered the most promising candidate to replace conventional blood samples for noninvasive sensing. There are many tools and optical and electrochemical methods that can be used for detecting sweat biomarkers. Electrochemical methods are known for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, they need to be optimized in terms of selectivity and catalytic activity. Therefore, electrode modifiers such as nanostructures and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or combinations of them were examined for boosting the performance of the electrochemical sensors. The MOF structures can be prepared by hydrothermal/solvothermal, sonochemical, microwave synthesis, mechanochemical, and electrochemical methods. Additionally, MOF nanostructures can be prepared by controlling the synthesis conditions or mixing bulk MOFs with nanoparticles (NPs). In this review, we spotlight the previously examined MOF-based nanostructures as well as promising ones for the electrochemical determination of sweat biomarkers. The presence of NPs strongly improves the electrical conductivity of MOF structures, which are known for their poor conductivity. Specifically, Cu-MOF and Co-MOF nanostructures were used for detecting sweat biomarkers with the lowest detection limits. Different electrochemical methods, such as amperometric, voltammetric, and photoelectrochemical, were used for monitoring the signal of sweat biomarkers. Overall, these materials are brilliant electrode modifiers for the determination of sweat biomarkers.

Agricultural practices influence soil microbiome assembly and interactions at different depths identified by machine learning.

Agricultural practices affect soil microbes which are critical to soil health and sustainable agriculture. To understand prokaryotic and fungal assembly under agricultural practices, we use machine learning-based methods. We show that fertility source is the most pronounced factor for microbial assembly especially for fungi, and its effect decreases with soil depths. Fertility source also shapes microbial co-occurrence patterns revealed by machine learning, leading to fungi-dominated modules sensitive to fertility down to 30 cm depth. Tillage affects soil microbiomes at 0-20 cm depth, enhancing dispersal and stochastic processes but potentially jeopardizing microbial interactions. Cover crop effects are less pronounced and lack depth-dependent patterns. Machine learning reveals that the impact of agricultural practices on microbial communities is multifaceted and highlights the role of fertility source over the soil depth. Machine learning overcomes the linear limitations of traditional methods and offers enhanced insights into the mechanisms underlying microbial assembly and distributions in agriculture soils.

Access to Alkenyl Cyclobutanols by Ni-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantio-selective syn-Hydrometalative 4-exo-trig Cyclization of Alkynones.

Enantioselective synthesis of (spiro)cyclobutane derivatives poses significant challenges yet holds promising applications for both synthetic and medicinal chemistry. We report here a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric syn-hydrometalative 4-exo-trig cyclization of alkynones to synthesize alkenyl cyclobutanols with a tetrasubstituted stereocenter. This strategy features a broad substrate scope, delivering a variety of trifluoromethyl-containing rigid (spiro)carbocycle skeletons in good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 84% yield and 98.5:1.5 er). The synthetic utility is demonstrated through stereospecific transformations into fused spirocycles. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction is initiated by an active Ni-H species, with carbonyl-directed hydrometalation as the key for regioselective control. This catalytic method provides a general solution for regioselective hydrofunctionalization of alkynes and represents an efficient reaction pattern for assembling highly strained enantioenriched bioisosteres.

PI3K/AKT signaling and neuroprotection in ischemic stroke: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives.

ABSTRACT: It has been reported that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays a key role In the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. As a result, the development of drugs targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway has attracted increasing attention from researchers. This article reviews the pathological mechanisms and advancements in research related to the signaling pathways in ischemic stroke, with a focus on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.The key findings include the following: (1) The complex pathological mechanisms of ischemic stroke can be categorized into five major types: excitatory amino acid toxicity, Ca2+ overload, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. (2) The PI3K/AKT-mediated signaling pathway is closely associated with the occurrence and progression of ischemic stroke, which primarily involves the NF-kB, NRF2, BCL-2, mTOR, and endothelial NOS signaling pathways. (3) Natural products, including flavonoids, quinones, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, phenols, terpenoids, and iridoids, show great potential as candidate substances for the development of innovative anti-stroke medications. (4) Recently, novel therapeutic techniques, such as electroacupuncture and mesenchymal stem cell therapy, have demonstrated the potential to improve stroke outcomes by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, providing new possibilities for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke. Future investigations should focus on the direct regulatory mechanisms of drugs targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and their clinical translation to develop innovative treatment strategies for ischemic stroke.

Synergistic Therapy of Melanoma by Co-Delivery of Dacarbazine and Ferroptosis-Inducing Ursolic Acid Using Biomimetic Nanoparticles.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and is prone to metastasis, making current clinical treatment quite difficult. The usage of the first-line medication dacarbazine (DTIC) for melanoma is limited due to harsh side effects, limited water solubility, and a short half-life. To tackle these disadvantages, polylactic acid-hydroxyacetic acid copolymer nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with dacarbazine and ursolic acid (NPs) were fabricated, which were further encapsulated with a red blood cell membrane (RNPs). MTT, apoptosis assay, wound healing assay, colony formation assay, and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the antitumor effect of NPs and RNPs. Ferroptosis evaluation was implemented using GSH detection and the malondialdehyde assay. We found that RNPs exhibited stability and biosafety in vitro and in vivo and achieved superior anticancer ability against xenograft tumors compared with single agents and NPs, which indicated the synergistic and biomimetic efficacy. Furthermore, ferroptotic activity was observed in RNPs-treated tumor cells, and ferroptosis inhibition could partially rescue melanoma cells from RNPs-induced cell death. Collectively, this study evaluated the potential of RNPs as a novel biomimetic nanomedicine for synergistic melanoma therapy by eliciting ferroptosis in tumor cells with both anticancer activity and biosafety.

AptaDiff: de novo design and optimization of aptamers based on diffusion models.

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid ligands, featuring high affinity and specificity to target molecules. Traditionally they are identified from large DNA/RNA libraries using $in vitro$ methods, like Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). However, these libraries capture only a small fraction of theoretical sequence space, and various aptamer candidates are constrained by actual sequencing capabilities from the experiment. Addressing this, we proposed AptaDiff, the first in silico aptamer design and optimization method based on the diffusion model. Our Aptadiff can generate aptamers beyond the constraints of high-throughput sequencing data, leveraging motif-dependent latent embeddings from variational autoencoder, and can optimize aptamers by affinity-guided aptamer generation according to Bayesian optimization. Comparative evaluations revealed AptaDiff's superiority over existing aptamer generation methods in terms of quality and fidelity across four high-throughput screening data targeting distinct proteins. Moreover, surface plasmon resonance experiments were conducted to validate the binding affinity of aptamers generated through Bayesian optimization for two target proteins. The results unveiled a significant boost of $87.9\%$ and $60.2\%$ in RU values, along with a 3.6-fold and 2.4-fold decrease in KD values for the respective target proteins. Notably, the optimized aptamers demonstrated superior binding affinity compared to top experimental candidates selected through SELEX, underscoring the promising outcomes of our AptaDiff in accelerating the discovery of superior aptamers.

Eldecalcitol ameliorates diabetic osteoporosis and glucolipid metabolic disorder by promoting Treg cell differentiation through SOCE.

Active vitamin D, known for its role in promoting osteoporosis, has immunomodulatory effects according to the latest evidence. Eldecalcitol (ED-71) is a representative of the third-generation novel active vitamin D analogs, and its specific immunological mechanisms in ameliorating diabetic osteoporosis remain unclear. We herein evaluated the therapeutic effects of ED-71 in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), delving into its underlying mechanisms. In a T2DM mouse model, ED-71 attenuated bone loss and marrow adiposity. Simultaneously, it rectified imbalanced glucose homeostasis and dyslipidemia, ameliorated pancreatic ß-cell damage and hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorder. Subsequently, in mice injected with the Treg cell-depleting agent CD25, we observed that the beneficial effects of ED-71 mentioned earlier were partially contingent on the Treg subsets ratio. Mechanistically, ED-71 promoted the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Treg subsets, facilitating Ca2+ influx and the expression of ORAI1 and STIM1, pivotal proteins in store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). The SOCE inhibitor, 2-APB, partially attenuated the positive effects of ED-71 observed in the above results. Overall, ED-71 regulates SOCE-mediated Treg cell differentiation, accomplishing the dual purpose of simultaneously ameliorating diabetic osteoporosis and glucolipid metabolic disorders, showcasing its potential in osteoimmunity therapy and interventions for diseases involving SOCE.

Effects of Empathy on Loneliness Among Rural Left-Behind Children in China: The Chain-Mediated Roles of Social Anxiety and Psychological Resilience.

Objective: Loneliness is a prevalent issue among rural left-behind children in China, adversely affecting their physical and mental well-being, as well as social stability. However, the influencing factors and potential mechanisms of loneliness have not yet been fully clarified. This study aims to validate the mediating roles of social anxiety and psychological resilience by examining the association between affective/cognitive empathy and loneliness among Chinese rural left-behind children. Methods: This cross-sectional survey employed a convenience sampling approach among Chinese left-behind children. A total of 540 participants aged 6 to 11 years old (Average age = 8.54, SD = 1.682) from 3 primary schools in Hunan Province completed the Children's Loneliness Scale, Social Anxiety Scale for Children, The Chinese version of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Basic Empathy Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27.0, Origin 2020, and Mplus 8.3. Results: Pearson correlation analyses suggested strong significant correlations among affective/cognitive empathy, loneliness, social anxiety, and psychological resilience. Path analyses indicated that the chain mediation effect size of social anxiety and psychological resilience was 0.016 between affective empathy and loneliness, while the chain mediation effect size between cognitive empathy and loneliness was -0.011. Conclusion: Affective empathy positively correlates with loneliness among Chinese left-behind children through social anxiety and resilience, while cognitive empathy negatively correlates with loneliness. These findings suggest that left-behind children should enhance their cognitive empathy and psychological resilience to reduce their social anxiety, thereby mitigating their loneliness.

Joint Modifiable Risk Factor Control and Incident Stroke in Hypertensive Patients.

Recent guidelines have recognized several factors, including blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), smoking, and physical activity, as key contributors to stroke risk. However, the impact of simultaneous management of these risk factors on stroke susceptibility in individuals with hypertension remains ambiguous. This study involved 238 388 participants from the UK Biobank, followed up from their recruitment date until April 1, 2023. Cox proportional hazard models with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to illustrate the correlation between the joint modifiable risk factor control and the stroke risk. As the degree of risk factor control increased, a gradual reduction in stroke risk was observed. Hypertensive patients who had the optimal risk factor control (≥5 risk factor controls) had a 14.6% lower stroke risk than those who controlled 2 or fewer (HR: 0.854; 95% CI: 804-0.908; p < 0.001). The excess risk of stroke linked to hypertension slowly diminished as the number of controlled risk factors increased. However, the risk was still 25.1% higher for hypertensive patients with optimal risk factor control as compared to the non-hypertensive population (HR: 1.251; 95% CI: 1.100-1.422; p < 0.001). The protective effect of joint risk factor control against the stroke risk due to hypertension was stronger in medicated hypertensive patients than in those not medicated. This finding leads to the conclusion that joint risk factor control combined with pharmacological treatment could potentially eliminate the excess risk of stroke associated with hypertension.

Impact of awareness of sports policies, school, family, and community environmental on physical activity and fitness among children and adolescents: a structural equation modeling study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the impact of environmental factors on physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) is crucial for promoting a healthy lifestyle among children and adolescents. This study examines how awareness of sports policies, school, family, and community environments influence PA and PF in Chinese youth. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2747 children and adolescents (mean age 12.90 ± 2.49; 48.2% male) from 17 schools across five Chinese cities. Environmental factors were assessed via questionnaires, and PA levels were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). PF metrics, including BMI, waist-to-height ratio, grip strength, vertical jump, and 20-m shuttle run test (20-mSRT), were measured onsite. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to explore relationships between environmental factors and PA/PF outcomes. RESULTS: The school environment scored highest (78.0 ± 9.5), while the community environment scored lowest (38.7 ± 18.0). Family environment positively influenced low-intensity PA (LPA) (ß = 0.102, P < 0.001) but negatively affected moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (ß = -0.055, P = 0.035). Community environment and awareness of sports policies positively impacted MVPA (ß = 0.216, P < 0.001; ß = 0.072, P = 0.009, respectively). Family environment positively influenced BMI reduction (ß = -0.103, P < 0.001) but negatively affected grip strength (ß = -0.063, P = 0.018). Community environment improved grip strength and 20-mSRT performance (ß = 0.088, P = 0.002; ß = 0.065, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: School environments, despite high scores, do not significantly impact PA and PF. Community environments, though scoring lower, positively affect MVPA, grip strength, and 20-mSRT. Awareness of sports policies boosts MVPA, while family environments support LPA and BMI but are inversely related to MVPA and grip strength. Integrated strategies involving community infrastructure, family support, and policy awareness are essential for promoting active lifestyles among children and adolescents.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Benefit Finding Questionnaire for people with mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Benefit finding (BF) is correlated with mental health and recovery, and its presence will contribute to the recovery of patients with mental disorders. Most of the current tools for assessing BF in patients with somatic disorders are not adequate for patients with mental disorders. The present study proposes to introduce the Benefit Finding Questionnaire for People with Mental Disorders and to validate its psychometric properties. METHODS: The Beaton translation model was used to translate and cross-culturally adjust the Japanese version of the Benefit Finding Questionnaire for People with Mental Disorders. A survey of 514 people with mental disorders was conducted from January 2022 to October 2022 using a general information questionnaire and a translated Chinese version of the Benefit Finding Questionnaire for People with Mental Disorders (BFQ-C) using a convenience sampling method. The quality of the questionnaire was examined in terms of item analysis, reliability, and validity. RESULTS: The results of the item analysis showed that all items met the requirements. The interrater agreement of the BFQ-C was good, with an interrater agreement = 0.714; the values of the item-level content validity index ranged from 0.75 to 1.00; and the average of all item-level content validity index on the scale = 0.958. Exploratory factor analysis extracted three main factors "change in relationship with others," "change in spirituality," and "change in values and thinking styles"-and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 57.70%. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis were χ2/df of 2.194, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation of 0.075, and comparative fit index of 0.919, indicating that the model fitted well. The questionnaire had a Cronbach' alpha of 0.936, a split reliability of 0.956, and a retest reliability of 0.939. CONCLUSION: The BFQ-C demonstrated good reliability and validity, and can be used to assess the BF level of people with mental disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders) in China.

A novel molecular classification based on efferocytosis-related genes for predicting clinical outcome and treatment response in acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that macrophage-mediated efferocytosis is involved in immunosuppression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the regulatory role of efferocytosis in AML remains unclear and needs further elucidation. METHODS: We first identified the key efferocytosis-related genes (ERGs) based on the expression matrix. Efferocytosis-related molecular subtypes were obtained by consensus clustering algorithm. Differences in immune landscape and biological processes among molecular subtypes were further evaluated. The efferocytosis score model was constructed to quantify molecular subtypes and evaluate its value in prognosis prediction and treatment decision-making in AML. RESULTS: Three distinct efferocytosis-related molecular subtypes were identified and divided into immune activation, immune desert, and immunosuppression subtypes based on the characteristics of the immune landscape. We evaluated the differences in clinical and biological features among different molecular subtypes, and the construction of an efferocytosis score model can effectively quantify the subtypes. A low efferocytosis score is associated with immune activation and reduced mutation frequency, and patients have a better prognosis. A high efferocytosis score reflects immune exhaustion, increased activity of tumor marker pathways, and poor prognosis. The prognostic predictive value of the efferocytosis score model was confirmed in six AML cohorts. Patients exhibiting high efferocytosis scores may derive therapeutic benefits from anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, whereas those with low efferocytosis scores tend to exhibit greater sensitivity towards chemotherapy. Analysis of treatment data in ex vivo AML cells revealed a group of drugs with significant differences in sensitivity between different efferocytosis score groups. Finally, we validated model gene expression in a clinical cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that efferocytosis plays a non-negligible role in shaping the diversity and complexity of the AML immune microenvironment. Assessing the individual efferocytosis-related molecular subtype in individuals will help to enhance our understanding of the characterization of the AML immune landscape and guide the establishment of more effective clinical treatment strategies.

Phosphatases: Decoding the Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Plant Disease Resistance.

Mycorrhizal fungi, a category of fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, can participate in the induction of plant disease resistance by secreting phosphatase enzymes. While extensive research exists on the mechanisms by which mycorrhizal fungi induce resistance, the specific contributions of phosphatases to these processes require further elucidation. This article reviews the spectrum of mycorrhizal fungi-induced resistance mechanisms and synthesizes a current understanding of how phosphatases mediate these effects, such as the induction of defense structures in plants, the negative regulation of plant immune responses, and the limitation of pathogen invasion and spread. It explores the role of phosphatases in the resistance induced by mycorrhizal fungi and provides prospective future research directions in this field.

In vitro simulated digestion and fermentation behaviors of polysaccharides from Pleurotus cornucopiae and their impact on the gut microbiota.

This study investigated the physicochemical characteristics and fermentative behavior between original polysaccharides (PCPs) and polysaccharides extracted after microwave cooking (MPCPs) from Pleurotus cornucopiae during simulated digestion and fecal fermentation. The results revealed notable physicochemical differences between of PCPs and MPCPs. MPCPs exhibited a higher total carbohydrate content, with an increased proportion of glucose. Additionally, MPCPs showed a lower molecular weight (MW) and, a blue shift in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Digestion has a minimal effect on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of PCPs and MPCPs. Within the first 6 h of fermentation, the gut microbiota showed significantly higher utilization of MPCPs. However, PCPs were consumed faster and surpassed MPCPs later. After 24 h, both PCPs and MPCPs were degraded and utilized by the gut microbiota, showing an increased abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. PCPs excelled in promoting beneficial gut microbiota, such as Phascolarctobacterium, Megamonas, and Bacteroides. Conversely, MPCPs demonstrated a stronger ability to inhibit the growth of harmful opportunistic pathogenic gut microbiota, such as Fusobacterium and Parasutterella. In addition, the content of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids increased significantly in both PCPs and MPCPs. These findings highlight the potential of Pleurotus cornucopiae polysaccharides as prebiotics for intestinal homeostasis.

[Action mechanisms of Qianlie Jindan Tablets on chronic nonbcterial prostatitis in rats: An exploration based on non-targeted urine metabolomics].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of Qianlie Jindan Tablets (QLJD) acting on chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) in rats based on non-targeted urine metabolomics. METHODS: According to the body mass index, we equally randomized 30 eight-week-old male SD rats into a blank control, a CNP model control and a QLJD medication group. We established the CNP model in the latter groups and, from the 4th day of modeling, treated the rats in the blank and model control groups intragastrically with normal saline and those in the QLJD medication group with QLJD suspension, qd, for 30 successive days. Then we detected the changes in the metabolites of the rats by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and identified the differential metabolites in different groups by multivariate statistical analysis, followed by functional annotation of the differential metabolites. RESULTS: Eight common metabolites were identified by metabolomics analysis, of which 5 were decreased in the CNP model controls and increased in the QLJD medication group, while the other 3 increased in the former and decreased in the latter group. Creatinine and genistein were important differential metabolites, and the arginine and proline metabolic pathways and isoflavone biosynthesis pathways were the main ones for QLJD acting on CNP. Compared with the blank controls, the model controls showed up-regulated arginine and proline metabolic pathways, increased production of creatinine, down-regulated isoflavone biosynthetic pathway and decreased production of genistein. The above changes in the model controls were all reversed in the QLJD medication group. CONCLUSION: QLJD acts effectively on CNP in male rats by regulating L-arginine and proline metabolic pathways, as well as the isoflavone biosynthesis pathway and naringenin metabolism.

Long-term responses of internal environment dynamics in a freshwater lake to variations in external nutrient inputs: A model simulation approach.

Lake restoration usually focuses on reducing external nutrient sources. However, when sediments contain nutrients accumulated over multiple years, internal nutrient release can delay restoration progress. In lake restoration and management, it is important to understand the dynamic relationship between nutrient concentrations in a lake and internal and external nutrient sources. In this study, we quantified external nutrient inputs through measurements and compared them with internal sediment release from simulation using the PCLake+ model. Additionally, we evaluated alterations in the internal nutrient release, lake nutrient concentrations, and algae biomass (chlorophyll-a) within the lake following varying degrees of reduction in external nutrient loads. The results demonstrate that the PCLake+ effectively simulated the lake's nutrient concentration and algae biomass. Based on the PCLake+ estimates, internal nutrient loads accounted for 51 % of the total nitrogen (N) and 80 % of the total phosphorus (P) loadings in Lake Erhai in 2019. In 2020, the total contributions were 43 % for TN and 72 % for TP. We simulated four scenarios where external nutrient inputs were reduced to 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 99.99 % of their original levels. The 40-year simulation showed that the lake's ecological system initially exhibited a fast internal response but reached equilibrium after eight years. P concentrations took longer to reach equilibrium compared to N concentrations, probably due to the stronger binding characteristics of P. To meet the water quality target in the future, it is necessary to reduce external N and P inputs into Lake Erhai by at least 23 % and 15 %, respectively, under current conditions. Although reducing external nutrient loads can indirectly lower internal nutrient loads, water management should address both external and internal loads simultaneously, as internal release cannot be effectively reduced by external reductions alone. Additionally, the lake's internal release may continue for several years, even with reductions in external inputs.