Human diet-derived polyphenolic compounds and hepatic diseases: From therapeutic mechanisms to clinical utilization.

This review focuses on the potential ameliorative effects of polyphenolic compounds derived from human diet on hepatic diseases. It discusses the molecular mechanisms and recent advancements in clinical applications. Edible polyphenols have been found to play a therapeutic role, particularly in liver injury, liver fibrosis, NAFLD/NASH, and HCC. In the regulation of liver injury, polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, primarily targeting the TGF-ß, NF-κB/TLR4, PI3K/AKT, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. In the regulation of liver fibrosis, polyphenolic compounds effectively reverse the fibrotic process by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Furthermore, polyphenolic compounds show efficacy against NAFLD/NASH by inhibiting lipid oxidation and accumulation, mediated through the AMPK, SIRT, and PPARγ pathways. Moreover, several polyphenolic compounds exhibit anti-HCC activity by suppressing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. This inhibition primarily involves blocking Akt and Wnt signaling, as well as inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, clinical trials and nutritional evidence support the notion that certain polyphenols can improve liver disease and associated metabolic disorders. However, further fundamental research and clinical trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of dietary polyphenols.

Comparison of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and a novel amplified intergenic locus polymorphism method for molecular typing of Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter is regarded as the leading cause of zoonotic diseases and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the predominant pathogenic species. To track C. jejuni infections, various genotyping methods have been used. In this study, amplified intergenic locus polymorphism (AILP) was used to type C. jejuni for the first time. To confirm its feasibility, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed as a control, and the results obtained by the AILP and PFGE methods were compared. Fifty-one isolates were resolved into 34 and 29 different genotypes with Simpson's indices of 0.976 and 0.967 using the AILP and PFGE methods, respectively. The adjusted Rand coefficient of the two approaches was as high as 0.845. In summary, the data showed that the two genotyping methods were similar for discriminating isolates and were both appropriate methods to distinguish whether two isolates were indistinguishable, but the AILP was faster and less costly than PFGE. Therefore, the AILP is a reliable, rapid, and highly discriminative method to genotype C. jejuni collected from poultry meat, which is helpful to effectively monitor C. jejuni.

Rapid Genotyping of Campylobacter coli Strains from Poultry Meat by PFGE, Sau-PCR, and fla-DGGE.

The genotyping of Campylobacter coli was done using three methods, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), Sau-polymerase chain reaction (Sau-PCR), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis assay of flagellin gene (fla-DGGE) and the characteristics of these assays were compared. The results showed that a total of 53 strains of C. coli were isolated from chicken and duck samples in three markets. All isolates were clustered into 31, 33, and 15 different patterns with Simpson's index of diversity (SID) values of 0.972, 0.974, and 0.919, respectively. Sau-PCR assay was simpler, more rapid, and had higher discriminatory power than PFGE assay. Fla-DGGE assay could detect and illustrate the number of contamination types of C. jejuni and C. coli without cultivation, which saved more time and cost than Sau-PCR and PFGE assays. Therefore, Sau-PCR and fla-DGGE assays are both rapid, economical, and easy to perform, which have the potential to be promising and accessible for primary laboratories in genotyping C. coli strains.

Synthesis and identification of a novel skeleton of N-(pyridin-3-yl) proline as a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor with anti-breast cancer activities.

CDK4/6 were attractive chemotherapeutic targets for the treatment of malignant tumors, CDK4/6 selective inhibitors have made outstanding contributions in the treatment of breast cancer. However, these inhibitors share a single skeleton of N-(pyridin-2-yl) pyrimidin-2-amine which cannot overcome the side effects in clinical application. In our previous study, an N'- acetylpyrrolidine-1-carbohydrazide was hit as the initial fragment by analyzing the active site characteristics of CDK6. Two series of N-(pyridin-3-yl) proline were obtained by fragment growth method. The QSAR study was carried out according to the in vitro activities data against CDK4/6, and two compounds 7c and 7p with potent inhibitory activities were found to interact with CDK4 in different binding conformation. They showed potential inhibition of cell proliferation against the breast cancer cell, and 7c exhibited promised anti-breast cancer effect in vivo.

Benzoquinone, a leukemogenic metabolite of benzene, catalytically inhibits the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN2 and alters STAT1 signaling.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor type 2 (PTPN2) is mainly expressed in hematopoietic cells, where it negatively regulates growth factor and cytokine signaling. PTPN2 is an important regulator of hematopoiesis and immune/inflammatory responses, as evidenced by loss-of-function mutations of PTPN2 in leukemia and lymphoma and knockout mice studies. Benzene is an environmental chemical that causes hematological malignancies, and its hematotoxicity arises from its bioactivation in the bone marrow to electrophilic metabolites, notably 1,4-benzoquinone, a major hematotoxic benzene metabolite. Although the molecular bases for benzene-induced leukemia are not well-understood, it has been suggested that benzene metabolites alter topoisomerases II function and thereby significantly contribute to leukemogenesis. However, several studies indicate that benzene and its hematotoxic metabolites may also promote the leukemogenic process by reacting with other targets and pathways. Interestingly, alterations of cell-signaling pathways, such as Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), have been proposed to contribute to benzene-induced malignant blood diseases. We show here that 1,4-benzoquinone directly impairs PTPN2 activity. Mechanistic and kinetic experiments with purified human PTPN2 indicated that this impairment results from the irreversible formation (kinact = 645 m-1·s-1) of a covalent 1,4-benzoquinone adduct at the catalytic cysteine residue of the enzyme. Accordingly, cell experiments revealed that 1,4-benzoquinone exposure irreversibly inhibits cellular PTPN2 and concomitantly increases tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 and expression of STAT1-regulated genes. Our results provide molecular and cellular evidence that 1,4-benzoquinone covalently modifies key signaling enzymes, implicating it in benzene-induced malignant blood diseases.

T-Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Is Irreversibly Inhibited by Etoposide-Quinone, a Reactive Metabolite of the Chemotherapy Drug Etoposide.

Etoposide is a widely prescribed anticancer drug that is, however, associated with an increased risk of secondary leukemia. Although the molecular basis underlying the development of these leukemias remains poorly understood, increasing evidence implicates the interaction of etoposide metabolites [i.e., etoposide quinone (EQ)] with topoisomerase II enzymes. However, effects of etoposide quinone on other cellular targets could also be at play. We investigated whether T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP), a protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays a key role in normal and malignant hematopoiesis through regulation of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling, could be a target of EQ. We report here that EQ is an irreversible inhibitor of TCPTP phosphatase (IC50 = ∼7 µM, second-order rate inhibition constant of ∼810 M-1⋅min-1). No inhibition was observed with the parent drug. The inhibition by EQ was found to be due to the formation of a covalent adduct at the catalytic cysteine residue in the active site of TCPTP. Exposure of human hematopoietic cells (HL60 and Jurkat) to EQ led to inhibition of endogenous TCPTP and concomitant increase in STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Our results suggest that in addition to alteration of topoisomerase II functions, EQ could also contribute to etoposide-dependent leukemogenesis through impairment of key hematopoietic signaling enzymes, such as TCPTP.

Genotype-specific neutralization determinants in envelope protein: implications for the improvement of Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

Japanese encephalitis remains the leading cause of viral encephalitis in children in Asia and is expanding its geographical range to larger areas in Asia and Australasia. Five genotypes of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) co-circulate in the geographically affected areas. In particular, the emergence of genotype I (GI) JEV has displaced genotype III (GIII) as the dominant circulating genotype in many Asian regions. However, all approved vaccine products are derived from GIII strains. In the present study, bioinformatic analysis revealed that GI and GIII JEV strains shared two distinct amino acid residues within the envelope (E) protein (E222 and E327). By using reverse genetics approaches, A222S and S327T mutations were demonstrated to decrease live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) SA14-14-2-induced neutralizing antibodies in humans, without altering viral replication. A222S or S327T mutations were then rationally engineered into the infectious clone of SA14-14-2, and the resulting mutant strains retained the same genetic stability and attenuation characteristics as the parent strain. More importantly, immunization of mice with LAV-A222S or LAV-S327T elicited increased neutralizing antibodies against GI strains. Together, these results demonstrated that E222 and E327 are potential genotype-related neutralization determinants and are critical in determining the protective efficacy of live Japanese encephalitis vaccine SA14-14-2 against circulating GI strains. Our findings will aid in the rational design of the next generation of Japanese encephalitis LAVs capable of providing broad protection against all JEV strains belonging to different genotypes.

Abcc9 is required for the transition to oxidative metabolism in the newborn heart.

The newborn heart adapts to postnatal life by shifting from a fetal glycolytic metabolism to a mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Abcc9, an ATP-binding cassette family member, increases expression concomitant with this metabolic shift. Abcc9 encodes a membrane-associated receptor that partners with a potassium channel to become the major potassium-sensitive ATP channel in the heart. Abcc9 also encodes a smaller protein enriched in the mitochondria. We now deleted exon 5 of Abcc9 to ablate expression of both plasma membrane and mitochondria-associated Abcc9-encoded proteins, and found that the myocardium failed to acquire normal mature metabolism, resulting in neonatal cardiomyopathy. Unlike wild-type neonatal cardiomyocytes, mitochondria from Ex5 cardiomyocytes were unresponsive to the KATP agonist diazoxide, consistent with loss of KATP activity. When exposed to hydrogen peroxide to induce cell stress, Ex5 neonatal cardiomyocytes displayed a rapid collapse of mitochondria membrane potential, distinct from wild-type cardiomyocytes. Ex5 cardiomyocytes had reduced fatty acid oxidation, reduced oxygen consumption and reserve. Morphologically, Ex5 cardiac mitochondria exhibited an immature pattern with reduced cross-sectional area and intermitochondrial contacts. In the absence of Abcc9, the newborn heart fails to transition normally from fetal to mature myocardial metabolism.-Fahrenbach, J. P., Stoller, D., Kim, G., Aggarwal, N., Yerokun, B., Earley, J. U., Hadhazy, M., Shi, N.-Q., Makielski, J. C., McNally, E. M. Abcc9 is required for the transition to oxidative metabolism in the newborn heart.

[Eosin Y-water test for sperm function examination].

Based on the principles of the in vitro staining technique, hypotonic swelling test, and water test, the Eosin Y-water test method was developed to simultaneously detect the integrity of the sperm head and tail and sperm membrane structure and function. As a widely used method in clinical laboratories in China, the Eosin Y-water test is methodologically characterized by three advantages. Firstly, both the sperm head and tail can be detected at the same time, which allows easy and comprehensive assessment of membrane damage in different parts of sperm. Secondly, distilled water is used instead of the usual formula solution to simplify and standardize the test by eliminating any potential effects on the water molecules through the sperm membrane due to different osmotic pressure or different sugar proportions and electrolyte solutions. Thirdly, the test takes less time and thus can be repeated before and after treatment. This article focuses on the fundamental principles and modification of the Eosin Y-water test and its application in sperm function examination and routine semen analysis for male infertility, assessment of the quality of sperm retrieved by testicular fine needle aspiration, semen cryopreservation program development, and evaluation of sperm membrane integrity after microwave radiation.

Development of reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid detection of novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus.

BACKGROUND: The emerged human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China since 2013 has aroused global concerns. There is great demand for simple and rapid diagnostic method for early detection of H7N9 to provide timely treatment and disease control. The aim of the current study was to develop a rapid, accurate and feasible reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for detection of H7N9 virus. RESULTS: The detection limits of the H7- and N9-specific RT-LAMP assay were both approximately 0.2 PFU per reaction. No cross-reactivity was observed with other subtype of influenza viruses or common respiratory viral pathogens. The assay worked well with clinical specimens from patients and chickens, and exhibited high specificity and sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The H7/N9 specific RT-LAMP assay was sensitive and accurate, which could be a useful alternative in clinical diagnostics of influenza A (H7N9) virus, especially in the hospitals and laboratories without sophisticated diagnostic systems.

Disrupting KATP channels diminishes the estrogen-mediated protection in female mutant mice during ischemia-reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen has been shown to mediate protection in female hearts against ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) stress. Composed by a Kir6.2 pore and an SUR2 regulatory subunit, cardiac ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) remain quiescent under normal physiological conditions but they are activated by stress stimuli to confer protection to the heart. It remains unclear whether KATP is a regulatory target of estrogen in the female-specific I-R signaling pathway. In this study, we aimed at delineating the molecular mechanism underlying estrogen modulation on KATP channel activity during I-R. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed KATP knockout mice in which SUR2 is disrupted (SUR2KO) to characterize their I-R response using an in vivo occlusion model. To test the protective effects of estrogen, female mice were ovariectomized and implanted with 17ß-estradiol (E2) or placebo pellets (0.1 µg/g/day, 21-day release) before receiving an I-R treatment. Comparative proteomic analyses were performed to assess pathway-level alterations between KO-IR and WT-IR hearts. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Echocardiographic results indicated that KO females were pre-disposed to cardiac dysfunction at baseline. The mutant mice were more susceptible to I-R stress by having bigger infarcts (46%) than WT controls (31%). The observation was confirmed using ovariectomized mice implanted with E2 or placebo. However, the estrogen-mediated protection was diminished in KO hearts. Expression studies showed that the SUR2 protein level, but not RNA level, was up-regulated in WT-IR mice relative to untreated controls possibly via PTMs. Our antibodies detected different glycosylated SUR2 receptor species after the PNGase F treatment, suggesting that SUR2 could be modified by N-glycosylation. We subsequently showed that E2 could further induce the formation of complex-glycosylated SUR2. Additional time-point experiments revealed that I-R hearts had increased levels of N-glycosylated SUR2; and DPM1, the first committed step enzyme in the N-glycosylation pathway. Comparative proteomic profiling identified 41 differentially altered protein hits between KO-IR and WT-IR mice encompassing those related to estrogen biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that KATP is likely a downstream regulatory target of estrogen and it is indispensable in female I-R signaling. Increasing SUR2 expression by N-glycosylation mediated by estrogen may be effective to enhance KATP channel subunit expression in I-R.

Contaminant migration in unsaturated porous media using X-ray computerized tomography (CT).

Landfills are usually located in unsaturated zones. Contaminant leaking can easily infiltrate groundwater through these porous media and contribute to groundwater pollution. The main objective of this work is to study the leachate migration in unsaturated porous media using X-ray computerized tomography (CT) and image-processing software. Silica sand and Yamazuna sand (collected from Japan) with different particle sizes are considered. Potassium iodide (KI) solution is used as a contaminant and injected into sand specimens at appropriate rates. The specimens are scanned at each cross section before and after contaminant injection by X-ray CT. Subsequently, all CT images are transformed into mean CT values by Image J software. VGStudio software is then used to reconstruct the subtracted images into three-dimensional images. The results indicate that vertical migration is dominant in uniform sand and horizontal migration is the main behavior in well-graded sand. Meanwhile, it is also confirmed that CT scanning is an effective technology to study contaminant migration in unsaturated porous media with different grain sizes.

[Clinical studies of shang ring male circumcision in China and Africa].

HIV/STIs remain a major global public health problem. One of the global strategies for the prevention and control of HIV/STIs is to interrupt their transmission, which requires the public health methods based on scientific evidence and cost-effectiveness. The scale-up of male circumcision services in the priority countries of the HIV-prevention project in sub-Saharan Africa has been hampered by the scarcity of trained providers and relative technical difficulty of male circumcision techniques recommended by WHO and UNAIDS. Shang Ring is an innovative and disposable device for male circumcision, which has been safely used for over 600 000 males in China since 2006. Clinical studies of more than 3 000 cases of Shang Ring circumcision in China, Kenya, Zambia, and Uganda have demonstrated its safety, effectiveness, acceptability and ease of use. The most obvious advantages of Shang Ring include short procedure time (3-6 min), excellent postoperative cosmesis, low rate of complications, high acceptance by clients and providers, ease of use, and standardization for reliable performance. As an innovative technique, Shang Ring has a great potential for facilitating the safe and effective scale-up of circumcision services. This article comprehensively reviews the clinical studies of Shang Ring male circumcision in China and Africa.

[Long-term benefit of male circumcision to the reduction of urinary tract infections and genitourinary cancers in China].

Increasingly accumulated results from randomized controlled trials and other clinical studies have demonstrated that male circumcision reduces the risks of acquisition and transmission of HIV, HPV, HSV-2, and other sexually transmitted infections, and thus has a potential role in preventing cervical cancer, penile cancer and prostate cancer. The prevalence of male circumcision in China is currently less than 5%. The clinical evaluation studies and randomized controlled trials of the Shang Ring device showed excellent safety profiles, extremely high acceptability, and satisfaction among the participants and service providers in Africa and China. Given the recent recommendations by the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), voluntary medical male circumcision should be promoted in China at the national level as an important alternative intervention to reduce reproductive tract infections and prevent both males and females from reproductive tract cancers. More emphasis is required on the studies of the long-term health benefits of male circumcision in uro-andrology.

Unraveling the pathogenesis of myelosuppression and therapeutic potential of natural products.

BACKGROUND: Myelosuppression is a serious and common complication of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients and is characterized by a reduction of peripheral blood cells. This condition not only compromises the efficacy of treatment but also increases the risk of patient death. Natural products are emerging as promising adjuvant therapies due to their antioxidant properties, ability to modulate immune responses, and capacity to stimulate haematopoietic stem cell proliferation. These therapies demonstrate significant potential in ameliorating myelosuppression. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed utilizing the search terms "natural products," "traditional Chinese medicine," and "myelosuppression" across prominent databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science. All pertinent literature was meticulously analysed and summarized. The objective of this study was to perform a pertinent analysis to elucidate the mechanisms underlying myelosuppression and to categorize and synthesize information on natural products and traditional Chinese medicines employed for the therapeutic management of myelosuppression. RESULTS: Myelosuppression resulting from drug and radiation exposure, viral infections, and exosomes is characterized by multiple underlying mechanisms involving immune factors, target genes, and the activation of diverse signalling pathways, including the (TGF-ß)/Smad pathway. Recently, traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compounds, including more than twenty natural products, such as Astragalus and Angelica, have shown promising potential as therapeutics for ameliorating myelosuppression. These natural products exert their effects by modulating haematopoietic stem cells, immune factors, and critical signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the various mechanisms of myelosuppression facilitates the exploration of natural product therapies and biological target identification for evaluating herbal medicine efficacy. This study aimed to establish a foundation for the clinical application of natural products and provide methodologies and technical support for exploring additional treatments for myelosuppression.

Targeting neutrophil extracellular traps: A novel strategy in hematologic malignancies.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have emerged as a critical factor in malignant hematologic disease pathogenesis. These structures, comprising DNA, histones, and cytoplasmic proteins, were initially recognized for their role in immune defense against microbial threats. Growing evidence suggests that NETs contribute to malignant cell progression and dissemination, representing a double-edged sword. However, there is a paucity of reports on its involvement in hematological disorders. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between malignant cells and NETs is necessary to explore effective therapeutic strategies. This review highlights NET formation and mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. Moreover, we discuss recent advancements in targeted inhibitor development for selective NET disruption, empowering precise design and efficacious therapeutic interventions for malignant hematologic diseases.

Natural products for gastric carcinoma prevention and treatment: Focus on their antioxidant stress actions in the Correa's cascade.

BACKGROUND: Correa's cascade is a pathological process beginning from gastritis to gastric precancerous lesions, and finally to gastric carcinoma (GC). While the pathogenesis of GC remains unclear, oxidative stress plays a prominent role throughout the entire Correa's cascade process. Studies have shown that some natural products (NPs) could halt and even reverse the development of the Correa's cascade by targeting oxidative stress. METHODS: To review the effects and mechanism by which NPs inhibit the Correa's cascade through targeting oxidative stress, data were collected from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases from initial establishment to April 2023. NPs were classified and summarized by their mechanisms of action. RESULTS: NPs, such as terpenoid, polyphenols and alkaloids, exert multistep antioxidant stress effects on the Correa's cascade. These effects include preventing gastric mucosal inflammation (stage 1), reversing gastric precancerous lesions (stage 2), and inhibiting gastric carcinoma (stage 3). NPs can directly impact the conversion of gastritis to GC by targeting oxidative stress and modulating signaling pathways involving IL-8, Nrf2, TNF-α, NF-κB, and ROS/MAPK. Among which polyphenols have been studied more and are of high research value. CONCLUSIONS: NPs display a beneficial multi-step action on the Correa's cascade, and have potential value for clinical application in the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer by regulating the level of oxidative stress.

Effects of object working memory load on visual search in basketball players: an eye movement study.

BACKGROUND: Working memory may affect the athletes' visual search ability. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the differences in the performance of visual search tasks among basketball players of varying sport levels, considering the influence of different object working memory loads. METHOD: This study recruited forty-two participants who were divided into three groups based on the classification of elite athletes: competitive elite, semi-elite, and novice. RESULTS: Objective working memory load significantly impacts the accuracy of visual search, reaction time, and gaze fixation in basketball players. In the visual search task of the basketball sports scene, the inclusion of object working memory load led to a significant decrease in the accuracy of visual search, a significant increase in reaction time, a significant increase in the number of fixation points, and a more complex gaze trajectory. In a visual search task with object working memory load, the difference in reaction time between basketball players of different sport levels was observed during the search initiation time and scanning time, with higher sport levels associated with shorter reaction times. The effect of object working memory load on the eye movement phase of visual search varied among basketball players of different sport levels. For the novice group, the effect was on the reaction time during the verification phase, while for the semi-elite and competitive elite groups, the effect was on the reaction time during the scanning phase. CONCLUSION: The effect of object working memory load on visual search varied among basketball players of different sport levels.

Role of Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress in the Progression of Transplant-Related Complications following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), also known as bone marrow transplantation, has curative potential for various hematologic malignancies but is associated with risks such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), severe bloodstream infection, viral pneumonia, idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS), lung fibrosis, and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), which severely deteriorate clinical outcomes and limit the wide application of HSCT. Recent research has provided important insights into the effects of gut microbiota and oxidative stress (OS) on HSCT complications. Therefore, based on recent studies, we describe intestinal dysbiosis and OS in patients with HSCT and review recent molecular findings underlying the causal relationships of gut microbiota, OS, and transplant-related complications, focusing particularly on the involvement of gut microbiota-mediated OS in postengraftment complications. Also, we discuss the use of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory probiotics to manipulate gut microbiota and OS, which have been associated with promising effects in improving HSCT outcomes.