Identification and quality evaluation of Lushan Yunwu tea from different geographical origins based on metabolomics.

The relationship between the chemical composition and quality of Lushan Yunwu tea (LYT) from different geographical origins is not clear. Sensory evaluation, metabolomics analyses combined with chemometrics were conducted on LYT from 8 different geographical origins, and altitude was identified as the main factor responsible for the differences among LYT. A total of 32 non-volatile and 27 volatile compounds were identified as marker metabolites to distinguish the origins of high altitudes from those of low altitudes. LYT samples from higher altitude areas contained more free amino acids, sugars, and organic acids, and less catechins, which may contribute to the reduction of bitterness and astringency and the enhancement of umami. The contents of geranylacetone, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl caprylate, 3-carene, d-cadinene, linalool, nerol, and nerolidol in high altitude areas were higher than those in low altitude areas, indicating that LYT from high altitude had strong floral and fruity aroma. The altitudes were positively correlated with pH value, total flavonoids, soluble protein, total free amino acids, and the antioxidant capacities of the LYT. This study provided a theoretical basis for the study of the effect of altitude on tea quality.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates indomethacin-induced intestinal inflammation in rats through inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

The administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause significant intestinal alteration and inflammation and lead to the occurrence of inflammatory diseases resembling duodenal ulcers. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a glycoside of cycloartane-type triterpene isolated from the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (family Fabaceae), and has been used for ameliorating the NSAID-induced inflammation in the small intestine. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of AS-IV on indomethacin (IND)-induced inflammation in the small intestine of rats and its underlying mechanisms. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, transmission and scanning electron microscopy were carried out to observe the surface morphology and ultrastructure of the small intestinal mucosa. Immunofluorescence and ELISA tests were employed to detect the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and NF-κB proteins, as well as inflammatory factors IL-1ß and IL-18, to uncover potential molecular mechanisms responsible for mitigating small intestinal inflammation. The results demonstrated that AS-IV significantly decreased the ulcer index, improved the surface morphology and microstructure of the small intestinal mucosa, and increased mucosal blood flow. Molecular docking revealed a strong and stable binding capacity of AS-IV to NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and NF-κB proteins. Further experimental validation exhibited that AS-IV markedly decreased levels of IL-1ß and IL-18, and inhibited the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and NF-κB. Our data demonstrate that AS-IV ameliorates IND-induced intestinal inflammation in rats by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and reducing the release of IL-1ß and IL-18, thereby representing a promising therapy for IND-induced intestinal inflammation.

Metabolomics and network pharmacology reveal the mechanism of Castanopsis honey against Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) is one of the most virulent and infectious bacteria, severely threatening health and lives of people worldwide. Honey has been proven to have effective capability against GAS, but the underlying metabolites and mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the Castanopsis honey (CH) showed significant antibacterial ability compared to other seven kinds of honey and artificial honey. Furthermore, the antibacterial metabolites and their targets in CH were screened by combined method of metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. The results suggested that the activities of two antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and tyrosyl tRNA synthetase identified as the primary targets, were significantly inhibited by CH, which significantly increased the level of oxidative stress in GAS. The results revealed a possibly novel mechanism regulating the oxidative stress and inhibits the growth in bacteria, providing strong experimental evidence to support the further development of CH as a novel antibacterial agent.

Efficient removal of tetracycline hydrochloride through novel Fe/BiOBr/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst prepared by dual-strategy under visible-light irradiation.

It is important to investigate whether combining two modification strategies has a synergistic effect on the activity of photocatalysts. In this manuscript, Fe-doped BiOBr/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions were synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal method, and excellent photocatalytic performance was obtained for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) in water without the addition of surfactant. Combining experiments and characterization, the synergistic effect between Fe ion doping and the BiOBr/Bi2WO6 heterojunction was elucidated. The Fe/BiOBr/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalyst had a beneficial void structure, enhanced visible light response, and could inhibit the recombination of photogenerated support well, which improved the photocatalytic activity. The presented experiments demonstrate that Fe/BiOBr/Bi2WO6 removes 97% of TCH from aqueous solution, while pure BiOBr and Bi2WO6 only remove 56% and 65% of TCH, respectively. Finally, the separation and transfer mechanisms of photoexcited carriers were determined in conjunction with the experimental results. This study provides a new direction for the design of efficient photocatalysts through the use of a dual co-modification strategy.

Helicobacter pylori infection: a dynamic process from diagnosis to treatment.

Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative microaerophilic pathogen, causes several upper gastrointestinal diseases, such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. For the diseases listed above, H. pylori has different pathogenic mechanisms, including colonization and virulence factor expression. It is essential to make accurate diagnoses and provide patients with effective treatment to achieve positive clinical outcomes. Detection of H. pylori can be accomplished invasively and noninvasively, with both having advantages and limitations. To enhance therapeutic outcomes, novel therapeutic regimens, as well as adjunctive therapies with probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine, have been attempted along with traditional empiric treatments, such as triple and bismuth quadruple therapies. An H. pylori infection, however, is difficult to eradicate during treatment owing to bacterial resistance, and there is no commonly available preventive vaccine. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of our understanding of H. pylori infections and to highlight current treatment and diagnostic options.

Flavonoid profile of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. Under short-term heat stress revealed by integrated metabolome, transcriptome, and biochemical analyses.

Global warming severely threatens plant growth, and could lead to yield reduction. Although findings suggest that flavonoids play important roles in biological process in plants, their response to heat stress in Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. remains unclear. Here, we aimed to examine the flavonoid profile of A. roxburghii under heat stress and assess the effect of exogenous application of quercetin on heat stress tolerance. Metabolome analysis showed that quercetin, tricetin, isorhamnetin, scutellarein, and 4',7-Isoflavandiol were the main upregulated flavonoids in A. roxburghii, based on variable importance in the projection >1 and with fold change >2. Determination of the concentrations of the flavonoids using a standard curve revealed that quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin contents increased by 8.24-, 7.55-, and 5.01-fold, respectively, during heat stress, whereas rutin concentration decreased from 83.04 to 80.89 mg/kg (dry weight). Additionally, transcriptome analysis indicated increased expression of several genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and chalcone synthase. Moreover, exogenous application of quercetin improved the antioxidant capacity and physiological parameters, including photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content, of A. roxburghii under heat stress. Overall, the flavonoid profile of A. roxburghii under short-term heat stress was characterized based on integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and biochemical analyses, providing new insights for improving the biological value of A. roxburghii.

Research on antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori: a bibliometric analysis of the past decade.

Resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to antibiotics has reached alarming levels worldwide, and the efficacy of the H. pylori eradication treatment has decreased dramatically because of antibiotic resistance. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the development status, research hotspots, and future trends related to H. pylori antibiotic resistance, we conducted a thorough retrospective analysis via the bibliometrics method. We searched the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection for all pertinent articles on H. pylori antibiotic resistance from 2013 to 2022. R-bibliometrix, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer tools were utilized to depict statistical evaluations in order to provide an unbiased presentation and forecasts in the field. We incorporated a total of 3,509 articles related to H. pylori antibiotic resistance. Publications were inconsistent prior to 2017, but steadily increased after 2017. China generated the most papers and the United States of America received the most citations and the highest H-index. Baylor College of Medicine was the most influential institution in this field, with the highest number of publications and citations, as well as the highest H-index. Helicobacter was the most productive journal, followed by the World Journal of Gastroenterology and Frontiers in Microbiology. The World Journal of Gastroenterology had the highest citation. Graham, David Y was the most productive and cited author. Clarithromycin resistance, prevalence, gastric cancer, quadruple therapy, sequential therapy, 23S rRNA, whole genome sequencing, bismuth, and probiotics appeared with a high frequency in the keywords. The top keywords with the highest citation bursts were vonoprazan, RdxA, biofilm formation, and fatty acid chain. Our research illustrated a multi-dimensional facet and a holistic knowledge structure for H. pylori antibiotic resistance research over the past decade, which can serve as a guide for the H. pylori research community to conduct in-depth investigations in the future.

Li-Ion Transfer Mechanism of Gel Polymer Electrolyte with Sole Fluoroethylene Carbonate Solvent.

Although gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) represent a promising candidate to address the individual limitations of liquid and solid electrolytes, their extensive development is still hindered due to the veiled Li-ion conduction mechanism. Herein, the related mechanism in GPEs is extensively studied by developing an in situ polymerized GPE comprising fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) solvent and carbonate ester segments (F-GPE). Practically, although with high dielectric constant, FEC fails to effectively transport Li ions when acting as the sole solvent. By sharp contrast, F-GPE demonstrates superior electrochemical performances, and the related Li-ion transfer mechanism is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations and 7 Li/6 Li solid-state nNMR spectroscopy. The polymer segments are extended with the swelling of FEC, then an electron-delocalization interface layer is generated between abundant electron-rich groups of FEC and the polymer ingredients, which works as an electron-rich "Milky Way" and facilitates the rapid transfer of Li ions by lowering the diffusion barrier dramatically, resulting in a high conductivity of 2.47 × 10-4  S cm-1 and a small polarization of about 20 mV for Li//Li symmetric cell after 8000 h. Remarkably, FEC provides high flame-retardancy and makes F-GPE remains stable under ignition and puncture tests.

Chloride-Reinforced Solid Polymer Electrolyte for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries.

Flexible solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) enable intimate contact with the electrode and reduce the interfacial impedance for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). However, the low ionic conductivity and poor mechanical strength restrict the development of SPEs. In this work, the chloride superionic conductor Li2ZrCl6 (LZC) is innovatively introduced into the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based SPE to address these issues since LZC is crucial for improving the ionic conductivity and enhancing the mechanical strength. The as-prepared electrolyte provides a high ionic conductivity of 5.98 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 60 °C and a high Li-ion transference number of 0.44. More importantly, the interaction between LZC and PEO is investigated using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, which is conducive to inhibiting the decomposition of PEO and beneficial to the uniform deposition of Li ions. Therefore, a minor polarization voltage of 30 mV is exhibited for the Li||Li cell after cycling for 1000 h. The LiFePO4||Li ASSLB with 1% LZC-added composite electrolyte (CPE-1% LZC) demonstrates excellent cycling performance with a capacity of 145.4 mA h g-1 after 400 cycles at 0.5 C. This work combines the advantages of chloride and polymer electrolytes, exhibiting great potential in the next generation of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Dual In Situ Polymerization Strategy Endowing Rapid Ion Transfer Capability of Polymer Electrolyte toward Ni-Rich-Based Lithium Metal Batteries.

Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) is one of the most promising candidate electrolyte matrices for high energy batteries. However, the spherical skeleton structure obtained through the conventional method fails to build continuous Li ion transmission channels due to the slow volatilization of high boiling solvent, leading to inferior cycling performance, especially in a Ni-rich system. Herein, a novel strategy is presented to enrich the Li ion transfer paths and improve the Li ion migration kinetics. The tactic is to prepare cross-linked segments through the PVDF-HFP matrix by adopting free radical polymerization and Li salt induced ring-opening polymerization. Most significantly, the visualization of the structure of as-prepared electrolyte is innovatively realized with the combination of polarization microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy, PVDF-HFP, and cross-linked network form interconnected microstructures. Therefore, poly(glycidyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile)@poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) electrolyte presents a high ionic conductivity (1.04 mS cm-1 at 30 °C) and a stable voltage profile for a Li/Li cell after 1200 h. After assembly with a LiNi0.8 Co0.15 Al0.05 O2 cathode, a high discharge specific capacity of 190.3 mAh g-1 is delivered, and the capacity retention reaches 88.2% after 100 cycles. This work provides a promising method for designing high-performance polymer electrolytes for lithium metal batteries.