Discovery of a Potent Antiosteoporotic Drug Molecular Scaffold Derived from Angelica sinensis and Its Bioinspired Total Synthesis.

Angelica sinensis, commonly known as Dong Quai in Europe and America and as Dang-gui in China, is a medicinal plant widely utilized for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. In this study, we report the discovery of a new category of phthalide from Angelica sinensis, namely falcarinphthalides A and B (1 and 2), which contains two fragments, (3R,8S)-falcarindiol (3) and (Z)-ligustilide (4). Falcarinphthalides A and B (1 and 2) represent two unprecedented carbon skeletons of phthalide in natural products, and their antiosteoporotic activities were evaluated. The structures of 1 and 2, including their absolute configurations, were established using extensive analysis of NMR spectra, chemical derivatization, and ECD/VCD calculations. Based on LC-HR-ESI-MS analysis and DFT calculations, a production mechanism for 1 and 2 involving enzyme-catalyzed Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder reactions was proposed. Falcarinphthalide A (1), the most promising lead compound, exhibits potent in vitro antiosteoporotic activity by inhibiting NF-κB and c-Fos signaling-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, the bioinspired gram-scale total synthesis of 1, guided by intensive DFT study, has paved the way for further biological investigation. The discovery and gram-scale total synthesis of falcarinphthalide A (1) provide a compelling lead compound and a novel molecular scaffold for treating osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.

Cayratia albifolia C.L.Li exerts anti-rheumatoid arthritis effect by inhibiting macrophage activation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

BACKGROUND: Cayratia albifolia C.L.Li (CAC), commonly known as "Jiao-Mei-Gu" in China, has been extensively utilized by the Dong minority for several millennia to effectively alleviate symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases. CAC extract is believed to possess significant anti-inflammatory properties within the context of Dong medicine. However, an in-depth understanding of the specific pharmaceutical effects and underlying mechanisms through which CAC extract acts against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has yet to be established. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups, with six rats in each group. To induce the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, the rats underwent a process of double immunization with collagen and adjuvant. CAC extract (100 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats. The anti-RA effects were evaluated in CIA rats by arthritis score, hind paw volume and histopathology analysis. Pull-down assay was conducted to identify the potential targets of CAC extract from RAW264.7 macrophage lysates. Moreover, mechanism studies of CAC extract were performed by immunofluorescence assays, real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: CAC extract was found to obviously down-regulate hind paw volume of CIA rats, with diminished inflammation response and damage. 177 targets were identified from CAC extract by MS-based pull-down assay. Bioinformatics analysis found that these targets were mainly enriched in macrophage activation and neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs). Additionally, we reported that CAC extract owned significant anti-inflammatory activity by regulating PI3K-Akt-mTOR signal pathway, and inhibited NETosis in response to PMA. CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that CAC extract significantly attenuated RA by inactivating macrophage and reducing NETosis via a multi-targets regulation.

A bibliometric analysis of brachial plexus injury from 1980 to 2022.

Background: Brachial plexus injury is a common severe peripheral nerve injury with high disability. At present, the bibliometric analysis of brachial plexus injury is basically unknown. Methods: This article analyzes the data retrieved to the web of science and uses the R language (version 4.2), Citespace (version 6.1.R3 Advanced), Vosviewer (Lei deng university) to make a scientific map. Specifically, we analyze the main publication countries, institutions, journals where the article is published, and the cooperative relationship between different institutions, the relationship between authors, main research directions in this field, and current research hotspots. Results: From 1980 to 2022, the total number of publications is 1542. In terms of countries where articles were published, 551 records were published in the United States, accounting for 35% of the total. With 74 articles, Fudan University ranks first in the world in terms of the number of articles issued by the institution, followed by 72 articles from Mayo Clinic. The magazine with the largest number of articles is JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-AMERICAN VOLUME, which has published 87 articles in total. GU YD (Gu Yu-Dong) team (Fudan University) and spinner RJ (Robert J Spinner) team (Mayo clinic) are in a leading position in this field. Nerve transfer and nerve reconstruction have been a hot topic of brachial plexus injury. "Spinal nerve root repair and reimplantation of avulsed ventral roots into the spinal cord after brachial plexus injury" has the strongest citation bursts. Conclusion: Research on brachial plexus injury shows a trend of increasing heat. At present, there is a lack of communication and cooperation between scholars from different countries. Nerve transfer and nerve reconstruction are the current and future research directions in the treatment of brachial plexus injury.

Therapeutic potential of Angelica sinensis in addressing organ fibrosis: A comprehensive review.

Fibrosis-related diseases (FRD) include conditions like myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, and others. The impact of fibrosis can be severe, causing organ dysfunction, reduced functionality, and even organ failure, leading to significant health issues. Currently, there is a lack of effective modern anti-fibrosis drugs in clinical practice. However, Chinese medicine has a certain beneficial effect on the treatment of such diseases. Angelica sinensis, with its considerable medicinal value, has garnered attention for its anti-fibrosis properties in recent investigations. In the past few years, there has been a growing number of experimental inquiries into the impact of angelica polysaccharide (ASP), angelica water extract, angelica injection, and angelica compound preparation on fibrosis-associated ailments, piquing the interest of researchers. This paper aims to consolidate recent advances in the study of Angelica sinensis for the treatment of fibrosis-related disorders, offering insights for prospective investigations. Literature retrieval included core electronic databases, including Baidu Literature, CNKI, Google-Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science. The applied search utilized specified keywords to extract relevant information on the pharmacological and phytochemical attributes of plants. The investigation revealed that Angelica sinensis has the potential to impede the advancement of fibrotic diseases by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and metabolism. ASP, Angelica sinensis extract, Angelica sinensis injection, and Angelica sinensis compound preparation were extensively examined and discussed. These constituents demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis activity. In essence, this review seeks to gain a profound understanding of the role of Angelica sinensis in treating fiber-related diseases. Organ fibrosis manifests in nearly all tissues and organs, posing a critical challenge to global public health due to its widespread occurrence, challenging early diagnosis, and unfavorable prognosis. Despite its prevalence, therapeutic options are limited, and their efficacy is constrained. Over the past few years, numerous studies have explored the protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine on organ fibrosis, with Angelica sinensis standing out as a multifunctional natural remedy. This paper provides a review of organ fibrosis pathogenesis and summarizes the recent two decades' progress in treating fibrosis in various organs such as the liver, lung, kidney, and heart. The review highlights the modulation of relevant signaling pathways through multiple targets and channels by the effective components of Angelica sinensis, whether used as a single medicine or in compound prescriptions.

Degradation of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide: Structures and protective activities against ethanol-induced acute liver injury.

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) possesses diverse bioactivities; however, its metabolic fate following oral administration remains poorly understood. To intuitively determine its intestinal digestion behavior after oral administration, ASP was labeled with fluorescein, and it was found to accumulate and be degraded in the cecum and colon. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro enzymatic degradation behavior and identified the products. The results showed that ASP could be degraded into fragments with molecular weights similar to those of the fragments observed in vivo. Structural characterization revealed that ASP is a highly branched acid heteropolysaccharide with AG type II domains, and its backbone is predominantly composed of 1,3-Galp, →3,6)-Galp-(1→6)-Galp-(1→, 1,4-Manp, 1,4-Rhap, 1,3-Glcp, 1,2,3,4-Galp, 1,3,4,6-Galp, 1,3,4-GalAp and 1,4-GlcAp, with branches of Araf, Glcp and Galp. In addition, the high molecular weight enzymatic degradation products (ASP H) maintained a backbone structure almost identical to that of ASP, but exhibited only partial branch changes. Then, the results of ethanol-induced acute liver injury experiments revealed that ASP and ASP H reduced the expression of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) levels, thereby relieving ethanol-induced acute liver injury.

ASAP: a platform for gene functional analysis in Angelica sinensis.

BACKGROUND: Angelica sinensis (Danggui), a renowned medicinal orchid, has gained significant recognition for its therapeutic effects in treating a wide range of ailments. Genome information serves as a valuable resource, enabling researchers to gain a deeper understanding of gene function. In recent times, the availability of chromosome-level genomes for A. sinensis has opened up vast opportunities for exploring gene functionality. Integrating multiomics data can allow researchers to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying gene function in A. sinensis and further enhance our knowledge of its medicinal properties. RESULTS: In this study, we utilized genomic and transcriptomic data to construct a coexpression network for A. sinensis. To annotate genes, we aligned them with sequences from various databases, such as the NR, TAIR, trEMBL, UniProt, and SwissProt databases. For GO and KEGG annotations, we employed InterProScan and GhostKOALA software. Additionally, gene families were predicted using iTAK, HMMER, OrholoFinder, and KEGG annotation. To facilitate gene functional analysis in A. sinensis, we developed a comprehensive platform that integrates genomic and transcriptomic data with processed functional annotations. The platform includes several tools, such as BLAST, GSEA, Heatmap, JBrowse, and Sequence Extraction. This integrated resource and approach will enable researchers to explore the functional aspects of genes in A. sinensis more effectively. CONCLUSION: We developed a platform, named ASAP, to facilitate gene functional analysis in A. sinensis. ASAP ( www.gzybioinformatics.cn/ASAP ) offers a comprehensive collection of genome data, transcriptome resources, and analysis tools. This platform serves as a valuable resource for researchers conducting gene functional research in their projects, providing them with the necessary data and tools to enhance their studies.

Preparation and evaluation of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide-modified chitosan sponge for acute liver injury protection.

In this study, a porous sponge material was formed by physically mixing chitosan (CS) and Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP). After removing the water by freeze-drying, the CS/ASP sponge was obtained. The prepared sponges exhibited excellent swelling properties, thermal stability and biocompatibility as well as improvements over the insufficient mechanical properties of pure chitosan sponges. Notably, the ASP released from the CS/ASP sponge could be effectively absorbed by the liver, which endowed the CS/ASP sponge with effective liver-protective effects against CCl4-induced acute liver injury; these protective effects surpassed those of both blank CS and CS/Dextran sponges. The underlying protective mechanism may involve the activation of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling pathway and the inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis. Understanding CS/ASP sponges may provide new insights and inspire new methods for the clinical application of ASP. At the same time, we hope to suggest future directions for the development of polysaccharide preparations.

The efficacy and mechanism of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels root aqueous extract based on RNA sequencing and 16S rDNA sequencing in alleviating polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) leads to persistent anovulation, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovary, and is mainly characterized by menstrual disorders, and reproductive dysfunction. Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels root has been used in many classical formulas of traditional Chinese medicine, and is commonly used to treat various gynecological diseases. PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of water extract of A. sinensis root (WEA) on PCOS rats, and the mechanism by RNA sequencing, and 16S rDNA sequencing. METHODS: The PCOS rat model was established by letrozole combined with high-fat diet (gavage; 2 months), and treated with WEA (gavage; 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg or 8 g/kg; 1 month). To evaluate the therapeutic effect of WEA on PCOS rats, vaginal smear, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and biochemical indicators detection were performed. The rat ovarian tissue was analyzed by RNA sequencing, and the results were verified by qRT-PCR, and Western blot. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota of rats. RESULTS: The results of the vaginal smear, and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that WEA improved estrous cycle disorder, and ovarian tissue lesions. WEA (4 g/kg or 8 g/kg; 1 months) alleviated hormone disorders, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. RNA sequencing showed that WEA intervention significantly changed the expressions of 2756 genes, which were enriched in phosphatidylinositol3-kinase/phosphorylated protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and insulin signaling pathways. 16S rDNA sequencing found that WEA increased the species diversity of gut microbiota, and regulated the abundance of some microbiota (genus level: Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium, Coriobacteriaceae (UCG-002), and Treponema; species level: Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus murinus, and Lactobacillus johnsonii). CONCLUSION: WEA regulated hormone, and glycolipid metabolism disorders, thereby relieving the PCOS induced by letrozole combined with high-fat diet. The mechanism was related to the regulation of PI3K/AKT, PPAR, MAPK, AMPK, and insulin signaling pathways in ovarian tissues, and the maintenance of gut microbiota homeostasis. Clarifying the efficacy and mechanism of WEA in alleviating PCOS based on RNA sequencing and 16S rDNA sequencing will guide the more reasonable clinical use of WEA.

[Dong's extraordinary point needling technique combined with medication for postoperative complications of anal fistula: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Dong's extraordinary point needling technique on postoperative complications of anal fistula. METHODS: A total of 241 patients undergoing anal fistula surgery were randomly divided into an observation group (121 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (120 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with intramuscular injection of compound diclofenac sodium injection and oral administration of tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained release capsules. In addition to the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with Daoma needling technique at the "Sanqi points" (Qimen point, Qijiao point, and Qizheng point) combined with Dongqi needling technique at "Sanhuang points" (sub-Tianhuang point, Dihuang point, Renhuang point), with each session lasting 30 min. The treatment in the two groups both started on the first day after surgery, and was given once daily for 14 consecutive days. Visual analog scale (VAS) score was compared between the two groups on postoperative day 1, 7, and 14; bladder residual urine volume, spontaneous voiding volume, and urinary catheterization frequency were assessed after treatment on postoperative day 1; and anorectal dynamic indexes (anal canal resting pressure, rectal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure of the anal canal, and minimum rectal sensory threshold) were evaluated before surgery and on postoperative day 4. Clinical efficacy was assessed in both groups one month after surgery. RESULTS: On postoperative day 7 and 14, the VAS scores of both groups were lower than those on postoperative day 1 (P<0.05), and the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The bladder residual urine volume and urinary catheterization frequency in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the spontaneous voiding volume was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). On postoperative day 4, the anal canal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure of the anal canal, and the minimum rectal sensory threshold were lower than preoperative values (P<0.05), while the rectal resting pressure was higher than preoperative value (P<0.05) in both groups. The anal canal resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure of the anal canal, and minimum rectal sensory threshold were lower than those in the control group, and the rectal resting pressure was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate was 93.2% (110/118) in the observation group, which was higher than 84.7% (100/118) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dong's extraordinary point needling technique could reduce postoperative pain, alleviate urinary retention, and improve defecation in patients undergoing anal fistula surgery.

Comprehensive quality evaluation of two different geography originated Angelica sinensis Radix based on potential production area development and resource protection.

Angelica sinensis Radix (ASR) is mainly produced in the southern region of Gansu, China, and is a famous edible and medicinal herb. Noticeably, Aba region in Sichuan, China has similar geographical and climatic conditions to the southern region of Gansu, China, and has the potential to further develop the ASR planting industry chain. This study was the first to use an innovative method that combines GC-MS, HPLC-DAD fingerprints, and stoichiometric analysis to compare and explore the feasibility of using the Aba region as a source of high-quality ASR supplements. GC-MS analysis showed that the composition of ASR essential oil(AEO) in these two regions was highly similar (>99%). The HPLC data showed that the main sources of differences in ASR components between the two regions were coniferyl ferulate, E-ligustilide, Z-ligustilide, and Butylidenephthalide, which have great potential in anti-depression, regulating gut microbiota, and other aspects. The ASR in Aba region was rich in these components, and its biological activity might be higher to some extent than that in southern Gansu. This study confirmed the potential of the Aba region in Sichuan to become a high-quality production area for ASR, which was conducive to the expansion of ASR resources and the development of related industrial chains.

Qi-Dong-Huo-Xue-Yin balances the immune microenvironment to protect against LPS induced acute lung injury.

COVID-19 induces acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and leads to severe immunological changes that threatens the lives of COVID-19 victims. Studies have shown that both the regulatory T cells and macrophages were deranged in COVID-19-induced ALI. Herbal drugs have long been utilized to adjust the immune microenvironment in ALI. However, the underlying mechanisms of herbal drug mediated ALI protection are largely unknown. This study aims to understand the cellular mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine, Qi-Dong-Huo-Xue-Yin (QD), in protecting against LPS induced acute lung injury in mouse models. Our data showed that QD intrinsically promotes Foxp3 transcription via promoting acetylation of the Foxp3 promoter in CD4+ T cells and consequently facilitates CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs development. Extrinsically, QD stabilized ß-catenin in macrophages to expedite CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs development and modulated peripheral blood cytokines. Taken together, our results illustrate that QD promotes CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs development via intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and balanced cytokines within the lungs to protect against LPS induced ALI. This study suggests a potential application of QD in ALI related diseases.

Key points of development of motor skills in childhood embodied in gait parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of correlations of gait parameters of four sets of body in children aged 3-6. DESIGN: A cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Dong Gang kindergarten in Suzhou, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 89 children between 3 and 6 years old. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of 37 three-dimensional (3-D) gait parameters assessed with a wearable gait analysis system in 2-min walking test, for 3 times. RESULTS: There were significant differences in gait speed, stride length and sagittal range of motion (ROM) of trunk among children of 3-6 years old (P < 0.05). The left and right toe out angle, sagittal ROM of waist, coronal ROM of trunk and arm swing velocity of male were significantly greater than those of female children (P < 0.05). Most gait parameters were symmetrical (P < 0.01). Canonical correlations of Upper Limbs Set vs. Trunk and Waist Sets increased by ages (P < 0.05). Canonical correlation of Trunk Set vs. Waist Set decreased by ages. Canonical correlations of Lower Limbs Set to any other sets were not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Values and symmetry of gait parameters cannot reflect the development of motor skill during ages of 3-6. Proper trunk movement coordinating with upper limbs and isolating from waist is the key point of development of motor skill in walking. It is built during preschool period and girls develop better. Before the preschool period, lower limbs' isolating movements from the other segments have already developed well. These key points of motor skills in walking should be considered when motor tasks for segment isolation and coordination are given to children with motor dysfunction.

Magnetic graphitized carbon black based on crystal growth method combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry for screening of 300 pesticide residues in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis.

In this study, a high-throughput method for analyzing 300 pesticide residues in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis was established by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS) using iron tetroxide loaded graphitized carbon black magnetic nanomaterial (GCB/Fe3O4) as the purification material. It was optimized that saturated salt water and 1 % acetate acetonitrile were used as the extraction solution, then the supernatant was purified with 2 g anhydrous CaCl2 and 300 mg GCB/Fe3O4. As a result, 300 pesticides in Radix Codonopsis and 260 in Angelica sinensis achieved satisfactory results. The limits of quantification of 91 % and 84 % of the pesticides in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis reached 10 µg/kg, respectively. The matrix-matched standard curves ranging from 10 to 200 µg/kg were established with correlation coefficients (R) above 0.99. The pesticides meeting SANTE/12682/2021 accounted for 91.3 %, 98.3 %, 100.0 % and 83.8 %, 97.3, 100.0 % of the total pesticides added in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis respectively, which were spiked at 10, 20,100 µg/kg. The technique was applied to screen 20 batches of Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis. Five pesticides were detected, three of which were prohibited according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition). The experimental results showed that GCB/Fe3O4 coupled with anhydrous CaCl2 exhibited good adsorption performance and could be used for sample pretreatment of various pesticide residues in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis. Compared with the reported methods for determining pesticides in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the proposed method has the advantage of less time-consuming in the clean-up procedure. Furthermore, as a case study on root TCM, this approach may serve as a reference for other TCM.

Extensive genetic admixture between Tai-Kadai-speaking people and their neighbours in the northeastern region of the Yungui Plateau inferred from genome-wide variations.

BACKGROUND: Yungui Plateau in Southwest China is characterized by multi-language and multi-ethnic communities and is one of the regions with the wealthiest ethnolinguistic, cultural and genetic diversity in East Asia. There are numerous Tai-Kadai (TK)-speaking populations, but their detailed evolutionary history and biological adaptations are still unclear. RESULTS: Here, we genotyped genome-wide SNP data of 77 unrelated TK-speaking Zhuang and Dong individuals from the Yungui Plateau and explored their detailed admixture history and adaptive features using clustering patterns, allele frequency differentiation and sharing haplotype patterns. TK-speaking Zhuang and Dong people in Guizhou are closely related to geographically close TK and Hmong-Mien (HM)-speaking populations. Besides, we identified that Guizhou TK-speaking people have a close genetic relationship with Austronesian (AN)-speaking Atayal and Paiwan people, which is supported by the common origin of the ancient Baiyue tribe. We additionally found subtle genetic differences among the newly studied TK people and previously reported Dais via the fine-scale genetic substructure analysis based on the shared haplotype chunks. Finally, we identified specific selection candidate signatures associated with several essential human immune systems and neurological disorders, which could provide evolutionary evidence for the allele frequency distribution pattern of genetic risk loci. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive genetic characterization of TK people suggested the strong genetic affinity within TK groups and extensive gene flow with geographically close HM and Han people. We also provided genetic evidence that supported the common origin hypothesis of TK and AN people. The best-fitted admixture models further suggested that ancestral sources from northern millet farmers and southern inland and coastal people contributed to the formation of the gene pool of the Zhuang and Dong people.

A liquid chromatography-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry method for analysis of pesticides and transfer behavior in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis decoctions.

The safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered considerable interest worldwide. In this study, a high-throughput method for the determination of 255 pesticide residues in decoctions of Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis was developed using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry. The methodological verification demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of this method. The frequently detected pesticides in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis were determined to build a correlation between pesticide properties and the transfer rate of pesticide residues in their decoctions. Water solubility (WS) with a higher correlation coefficient (R) made a significant contribution to the accuracy of the transfer rate prediction model. The regression equations for Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis were T = 13.64 log WS + 10.56 with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.8617 and T = 10.66 log WS + 25.48 with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.8072, respectively. This study provides preliminary data on the potential risk of exposure to pesticide residues in Radix Codonopsis and Angelica sinensis decoctions. Furthermore, as a case study on root TCM, this approach may serve as a model for other TCMs.

Colon-Targeting Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Nanoparticles with Dual Responsiveness for Alleviation of Ulcerative Colitis.

Intestinal immune dysfunction and gut microbiota dysbiosis are critically causative factors in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC); however, the current first-line drugs for UC treatment in clinics often remain great challenges due to their nontargeting therapeutic efficacy and severe side effects. In the current study, colon-targeting nanoparticles based on Angelica sinensis polysaccharide with pH- and redox-responsiveness were fabricated to specifically release the naturally active compound ginsenoside Rh2 in the colonic inflammatory site, which greatly alleviated the UC symptoms and improved the gut microbial homeostasis. These dual responsive Rh2-loaded nanoparticles (Rh2/LA-UASP NPs) with a particle size of 117.00 ± 4.80 nm were prepared using the polymer LA-UASP obtained by grafting A. sinensis polysaccharide with urocanic acid and α-lipoic acid (α-LA). As expected, these Rh2/LA-UASP NPs achieved dual pH- and redox-responsive drug release at pH 5.5 and 10 mM GSH. The stability, biocompatibility, and in vivo safety experiments exhibited these prepared nanoparticles had excellent colon-targeting ability and significant accumulation of Rh2 in the inflammatory colon. Meanwhile, these Rh2/LA-UASP NPs could escape from lysosomes and be efficiently internalized into intestinal mucosal cells, thereby effectively inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines. The animal experiments indicated that Rh2/LA-UASP NPs significantly improved the integrity of intestinal mucosa and increased the colon length compared with UC mice. Additionally, the weight loss, histological damage, and inflammation level were greatly ameliorated. The homeostasis of intestinal flora and the level of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were significantly improved after being treated with Rh2/LA-UASP NPs in UC mice. Our study proved that these Rh2/LA-UASP NPs with dual pH-and redox-responsiveness are promising candidates for UC treatment.

[Mercury Pollution in Dryland Soil and Evaluation of Maize Safety Production in Guizhou Province].

Guizhou Province is the province with the largest Hg production and reserves in China, and maize is the second largest grain crop in Guizhou Province. It is necessary to identify the status of soil Hg content in Guizhou Province and evaluate the safety of maize production. A total of 990 soil-maize samples and 270 single soil samples were collected in the main maize-producing areas to determine soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter content (SOM), as well as Hg content in soil and maize. The results showed that the pH of dryland soil in Guizhou Province ranged from 3.93 to 9.82, the geometric mean of ω(SOM) was 27.5 g·kg-1, and the geometric mean of CEC was 11.7 cmol·kg-1. Soil ω(Hg) ranged from 0.005 to 686 mg·kg-1, the geometric mean was 0.632 mg·kg-1, and the over-standard rate was 7.22%. Among them, the soil Hg pollution in Tongren was the most prominent, with the exceedance rate of 21.3%. At the county level, Danzhai County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, and Tongren City Wanshan District and Bijiang District had high exceedance rates of Hg. According to the Limit of Pollutants in Food according to National Standards for Food Safety (GB 2762-2017), the exceedance rate of Hg content in maize grains was 1.11%, and the exceedance points were mainly distributed around industrial and mining activity areas such as Wanshan District in Tongren City and Xixiu District in Anshun City. According to the results, there was serious soil Hg pollution in Guizhou Province. On the whole, maize can be safely planted, but it is necessary to pay close attention to the Hg content in grains and the Hg exposure risk of residents around industrial and mining areas.

Amino accelerators and antioxidants in sediments from the Dong Nai River System, Vietnam: Distribution and influential factors.

Amino accelerators and antioxidants (AAL/Os) have become a suite of contaminants of emerging concern recently due to the accumulating evidence for their environmental occurrence and associated toxic potential. Nevertheless, data on sedimentary deposition of AAL/Os has remained scarce, particularly for regions beyond the North America. In the present study, we elucidated spatial distribution of fifteen AAL/Os and five AAO transformation products (AAOTPs) in seventy-seven sediments from the Dong Nai River System (DNRS), Vietnam. Total concentrations of AAL/Os (∑AAL/Os) ranged from 0.377 to 51.4 ng/g (median: 5.01 ng/g). 1,3-Diphenylguanidine and 4,4'-bis(1,1-dimethylbenzyl) diphenylamine were the two most prevalent congeners, both with detection frequencies >80%. Additionally, AAOTPs were quantifiable in 79% of the DNRS sediments with a median ∑AAOTPs at 2.19 ng/g, dominated by N, N'-diphenylbenzidine and 2-nitrodiphenylamine. Higher sediment-associated levels of AAL/Os and AAOTPs were spotted in downstream and the primary tributary of the DNRS compared to the upstream, implying their cumulative sedimentation towards the estuarine region. The distribution patterns of AAL/Os and AAOTPs across individual transects also demonstrated the influence of human activities (e.g., urbanization and agriculture), hydrodynamics, and decontamination by mangrove reserves. Meanwhile, characteristics of sediments, i.e., total organic carbon (TOC) content and grain sizes, exhibited significant correlations with the burdens of these compounds, indicating their preferential partitioning into the fine and TOC-rich matter. This research sheds light on environmental behavior of AAL/Os and AAOTPs beneath Asian aquatic system, and highlights the need for further evaluation of their impacts on the wildlife and public health.

The relationship between psychosocial job stressors and insomnia: The mediating role of psychological capital.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the association of job-related stressors and insomnia; to determine the association of psychological capital and insomnia; and to explore whether psychological capital mediates the association between job-related stressors and insomnia among Chinese nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. METHODS: The STROBE statement was utilized to guide the study. A total of 810 nurses from one tertiary grade hospital in Shan Dong Province, China, were recruited for the present study and a total of 658 valid questionnaires were obtained (effective recovery rate: 81.2%). The study survey consisted of demographic variables, psychological capital, job stress and insomnia. Descriptive analysis, independent-samples T-test, one-way analysis of variance, stratified regression analysis, Pearson correlation analyses, ordinary least-squares regression and the bootstrap method were used to analyse data. RESULTS: Findings of the study determined that demographic, work-related, behavioural and work setting (i.e. working hours, chronic disease, negative life events, smoking behaviour and night shift) factors were differentially associated with experiences of insomnia. The empirical study showed that psychological capital had statistically significant mediating effects between job stressors and insomnia. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study explored the factors associated with nurses' psychological job stressors and insomnia. Some of the associated factors could be used for the prevention and mitigation of psychosocial dysfunction among nurses. This study found nurses in surgery, emergency department, ICU, working >40 h a week, with chronic illness, experiencing negative life events, shift work and high effort, high overcommitment and low reward had higher scores of insomnia respectively. The results of this study also showed that reward was correlated with the increase of psychological capital, and the increase of psychological capital was correlated with the decrease of insomnia in nurses. On the contrary, effort and overcommitment decreased psychological capital, and then increased insomnia among nurses. These findings have important implications for future research and policy interventions to improve sleep quality of nurses and enhance nurses' health and patients' safety. This study significantly suggests that improving nurses' psychological capital is a potential way to help nurses improve sleep quality when psychosocial job stressors are difficult external environment to change.

Characterization of the volatile profile and its estrogenic activity in Kadsura coccinea fruit.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The fruit of Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith is an ethnomedicine used to treat abnormal menstruation, menopausal syndrome, and female infertility among the Dong Nationality in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aimed to identify the volatile oil profiles of the K. coccinea fruit and elucidate their estrogenic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peel volatile oil (PeO), pulp volatile oil (PuO), and seed volatile oil (SeO) of K. coccinea were extracted using hydrodistillation and qualitatively analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Estrogenic activity was evaluated in vitro using cell assay and in vivo using immature female rats. Serum 17ß-Estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were detected using ELISA. RESULTS: In total, 46 PeO, 27 PuO, and 42 SeO components representing 89.96%, 90.19%, and 97% of the total composition, respectively, were identified. The compounds with the highest content in PeO, PuO, and SeO were ß-caryophyllene, γ-amorphene, and n-hexadecanoic acid, respectively. PeO induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells with an EC50 of 7.40 µg/mL. Subcutaneous administration of 10 mg/kg PeO significantly increased the weight of the uteri in immature female rats, with no effect on serum E2 and FSH levels. PeO acted as an agonist of ERα and ERß. PuO and SeO showed no estrogenic activity. CONCLUSION: The chemical compositions of PeO, PuO, and SeO of K. coccinea are different. PeO is the main effective fraction for estrogenic activities, providing a new source of phytoestrogen for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.