Bifidobacterium longum SX-1326 ameliorates gastrointestinal toxicity after irinotecan chemotherapy via modulating the P53 signaling pathway and brain-gut axis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant malignancy affecting the gastrointestinal tract that is usually treated clinically with chemotherapeutic agents, whereas chemotherapeutic agents can cause severe gastrointestinal toxicity, which brings great pain to patients. Therefore, finding effective adjuvant agents for chemotherapy is crucial. METHODS: In this study, a CRC mouse model was successfully constructed using AOM/DSS, and the treatment was carried out by probiotic Bifidobacterium longum SX-1326 (B. longum SX-1326) in combination with irinotecan. Combining with various techniques of modern biomedical research, such as Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting and 16S rDNA sequencing, we intend to elucidate the effect and mechanism of B. longum SX-1326 in improving the anticancer efficacy and reducing the side effects on the different levels of molecules, animals, and bacteria. RESULTS: Our results showed that B. longum SX-1326 enhanced the expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 (M vs. U = p < 0.01) and down-regulated the expression level of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) through up-regulation of the p53 signaling pathway in CRC mice, which resulted in an adjuvant effect on the treatment of CRC with irinotecan. Moreover, B. longum SX-1326 was also able to regulate the gut-brain-axis (GBA) by restoring damaged enterochromaffin cells, reducing the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain tissue (I vs. U = 89.26 vs. 75.03, p < 0.05), and further alleviating the adverse effects of nausea and vomiting. In addition, B. longum SX-1326 reversed dysbiosis in CRC model mice by increasing the levels of Dehalobacterium, Ruminnococcus, and Mucispirillum. And further alleviated colorectal inflammation by downregulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our work reveals that B. longum SX-1326 has a favorable effect in adjuvant irinotecan for CRC and amelioration of post-chemotherapy side effects, and also provides the theoretical basis and data for finding a safe and efficient chemotherapeutic adjuvant.

Construction of Ultrafine PtIr Clusters Supported on Co3O4 Nanoflowers for Enhanced Overall Water Splitting.

Green hydrogen production through electrochemical overall water splitting has suffered from sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics, inferior conversion efficiency, and high cost. Herein, ultrafine PtIr clusters are synthesized via an electrodeposition method and decorated on the Co3O4 nanoflowers assembled by nanowires (PtIr-Co3O4). The encouraging performances in electrochemical OER and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are achieved over the PtIr-Co3O4 catalyst, with the overpotentials as low as 410 and 237 mV at 100 mA cm-2, respectively, outperforming the commercial IrO2 and Pt/C catalysts. Due to the ultralow loading of PtIr clusters, the PtIr-Co3O4 catalyst exhibits 1270 A gIr -1 for OER at the overpotential of 400 mV. Our detailed analyses also show that the strong interactions between the ultrafine PtIr clusters and the Co3O4 nanoflowers enable the PtIr-Co3O4 catalyst to afford 10 mA cm-2 for the overall water splitting at the potential of 1.57 V, accompanied by high durability for 100 h.

Sesquilignans PD from Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum exerts antitumor effects via the ROS/MAPK pathway in liver cancer cells.

Sesquilignans PD is a natural phenylpropanoid compound that was isolated from Zanthoxylum nitidum var. tomentosum. In this study, we assessed the antitumor effect of PD on SK-Hep-1 and HepG2 cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results revealed that PD markedly inhibited the proliferation and migration of both liver cancer cells. Moreover, PD induced apoptosis, autophagy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in liver cancer cells. Notably, PD increased the protein levels of p-p38 MAPK and p-ERK1/2 in liver cancer cells. This is the first report on the anticancer effect of PD, which is mediated via increased ROS production and MAPK signaling activation.

Modeling the mechanisms of conifer mortality under seawater exposure.

Relative sea level rise (SLR) increasingly impacts coastal ecosystems through the formation of ghost forests. To predict the future of coastal ecosystems under SLR and changing climate, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying coastal tree mortality and to integrate this knowledge into dynamic vegetation models. We incorporate the physiological effect of salinity and hypoxia in a dynamic vegetation model in the Earth system land model, and used the model to investigate the mechanisms of mortality of conifer forests on the west and east coast sites of USA, where trees experience different form of sea water exposure. Simulations suggest similar physiological mechanisms can result in different mortality patterns. At the east coast site that experienced severe increases in seawater exposure, trees loose photosynthetic capacity and roots rapidly, and both storage carbon and hydraulic conductance decrease significantly within a year. Over time, further consumption of storage carbon that leads to carbon starvation dominates mortality. At the west coast site that gradually exposed to seawater through SLR, hydraulic failure dominates mortality because root loss impacts on conductance are greater than the degree of storage carbon depletion. Measurements and modeling focused on understanding the physiological mechanisms of mortality is critical to reducing predictive uncertainty.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Applications.

Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CSB), whose common name in Chinese is Yanhuanglian, is a herb in the family Papaveraceae. When applied in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used to treat various diseases including hepatitis, abdominal pain, and bleeding haemorrhoids. In addition, Corydalis saxicola Bunting injection (CSBI) is widely used against acute and chronic hepatitis. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on the botanical distribution, description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of CSB. A comprehensive review was implemented on studies about CSB from several scientific databases, such as SciFinder, Elsevier, Springer, ACS Publications, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Phytochemical studies showed that 81 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from CSB, most of which are alkaloids. This situation indicates that these alkaloids would be the main bioactive substances and that they have antitumour, liver protective, antiviral, and antibacterial pharmacological activities. CSBI can not only treat hepatitis and liver cancer but can also be used in combination with other drugs. However, the relationships between the traditional uses and modern pharmacological actions, the action mechanisms, quality standards, and the material basis need to be implemented in the future. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of CSBI in vivo and the toxicology should be further investigated.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of new 2-oxoquinoline arylaminothiazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

A series of novel 2-oxoquinoline derivatives containing arylaminothiazole were designed and synthesized as potential antitumor agents. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity activity against HeLa, NCI-H460, T24 and SKOV3 cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Among them, compound A7 exhibited the most potent activity against the test cancer cell lines, with the IC50 values ranged from 4.4 to 8.7 µM. The results of tubulin polymerization assay showed that compound A7 could inhibit tubulin polymerization in vitro. Meanwhile, molecular docking study revealed that A7 can bind to the colchicine site of tubulin and formed hydrogen bonds with key amino acid residues in the active site. Further mechanism study demonstrated that compound A7 blocked cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, induced cell apoptosis and depolarized mitochondria of HeLa cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that A7 could serve as a promising lead for the development of more efficient microtubule polymerization inhibitors for cancer therapy.

Molecular chaperone HspB2 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation via activating p53 downstream gene RPRM, BAI1, and TSAP6.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were known as the molecular chaperones, which play a pivotal role in the protein quality control system, ensuring correct folding of proteins, and facilitating the correct refolding of damaged proteins via the transient interaction with their substrate proteins. They also practice in the regulation of cell cycles and are involved in apoptosis. We found that HspB2 was almost completely silent in pancreatic cancer and few studies investigated the role of HspB2 in cancer cells, particularly in pancreatic cancer. Here, we reported that HspB2 effectively inhibited cell proliferation in Panc-1 cells. Specifically, we demonstrated that HspB2 could combine mut-p53 and change the DNA binding site of mutant p53, subsequently upregulated the expression of RPRM, BAI-1, and TSAP6 which were the downstream genes of wt-p53, participate in mediating downstream responses to p53, including inhibiting cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between HspB2 and p53, and provide a novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer.

Radical cyclizations of enynes/dienes with alcohols in water using a green oxidant.

A simple, eco-friendly, and efficient methodology for performing radical cyclizations of enynes/dienes with alcohols in water has been established. This methodology showed ease of scale up, and it was designed to use mild reaction conditions and no catalyst. It was also designed to employ K2S2O8 as a green oxidant and water as the solvent, conditions making this process clean and easy to operate, hence achieving the criteria of green chemistry.

Water Table Dynamics and Biogeochemical Cycling in a Shallow, Variably-Saturated Floodplain.

Three-dimensional variably saturated flow and multicomponent biogeochemical reactive transport modeling, based on published and newly generated data, is used to better understand the interplay of hydrology, geochemistry, and biology controlling the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron, sulfur, and uranium in a shallow floodplain. In this system, aerobic respiration generally maintains anoxic groundwater below an oxic vadose zone until seasonal snowmelt-driven water table peaking transports dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrate from the vadose zone into the alluvial aquifer. The response to this perturbation is localized due to distinct physico-biogeochemical environments and relatively long time scales for transport through the floodplain aquifer and vadose zone. Naturally reduced zones (NRZs) containing sediments higher in organic matter, iron sulfides, and non-crystalline U(IV) rapidly consume DO and nitrate to maintain anoxic conditions, yielding Fe(II) from FeS oxidative dissolution, nitrite from denitrification, and U(VI) from nitrite-promoted U(IV) oxidation. Redox cycling is a key factor for sustaining the observed aquifer behaviors despite continuous oxygen influx and the annual hydrologically induced oxidation event. Depth-dependent activity of fermenters, aerobes, nitrate reducers, sulfate reducers, and chemolithoautotrophs (e.g., oxidizing Fe(II), S compounds, and ammonium) is linked to the presence of DO, which has higher concentrations near the water table.

One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis of Novel Diethyl((2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)(arylamino)methyl)phosphonate as Potential Anticancer Agents.

With the aim of discovering new anticancer agents, we have designed and synthesized novel α-aminophosphonate derivatives containing a 2-oxoquinoline structure using a convenient one-pot three-component method. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for antitumor activities against the A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma cell), HeLa (human cervical carcinoma cell), MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell), and U2OS (human osteosarcoma cell) cancer cell lines in vitro, employing a standard 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results of pharmacological screening indicated that many compounds exhibited moderate to high levels of antitumor activities against the tested cancer cell lines and that most compounds showed more potent inhibitory activities comparable to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) which was used as a positive control. The mechanism of representative compound 4u (diethyl((2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)(phenyl-amino)methyl)phosphonate) indicated that the compound mainly arrested HeLa cells in S and G2 stages and was accompanied by apoptosis in HeLa cells. This action was confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, Hoechst 33342 staining, and flow cytometry.

Reversal of Platinum-based Chemotherapy Resistance in Ovarian Cancer by Naringin Through Modulation of The Gut Microbiota in a Humanized Nude Mouse Model.

As a chemotherapy agent, cisplatin (DDP) is often associated with drug resistance and gastrointestinal toxicity, factors that severely limit therapeutic efficacy in patients with ovarian cancer (OC). Naringin has been shown to increase sensitivity to cisplatin, but whether the intestinal microbiota is associated with this effect has not been reported so far. In this study, we applied a humanized mouse model for the first time to evaluate the reversal of cisplatin resistance by naringin, as well as naringin combined with the microbiota in ovarian cancer. The results showed that naringin combined with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis NCU-01 had an inhibitory effect on the tumor, significantly reducing tumor size (p<0.05), as well as the concentrations of serum tumor markers CA125 and HE4, increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides, inhibit Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-induced intestinal inflammation and increase the expression of intestinal permeability-associated proteins ZO-1 (p<0.001) and occludin (p<0.01). In conclusion, the above data demonstrate how naringin combined with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis NCU-01 reverses cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer by modulating the intestinal microbiota, inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and modulating the p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Maternal immune activation induces sex-dependent behavioral differences in a rat model of schizophrenia.

Background: Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a mature means to construct a schizophrenia model. However, some preclinical studies have reported that a MIA-induced schizophrenia model seemed to have gender heterogeneity in behavioral phenotype. On the other hand, the MIA's paradigms were diverse in different studies, and many details could affect the effect of MIA. To some extent, it is not credible and scientific to directly compare the gender differences of different MIA programs. Therefore, it is necessary to study whether the sex of the exposed offspring leads to behavioral differences on the premise of maintaining a consistent MIA mode. Methods: An animal model of schizophrenia was established by the administration of 10 mg/kg Poly (I: C) when dams were on day 9 of gestation. Then, a number of female and male offspring completed a series of behavioral tests during postnatal days 61-75. Results: Compared with the female control group (n = 14), female MIA offspring (n = 12) showed a longer movement distance (d = 1.07, p < 0.05) and higher average speed (d = 1.08, p < 0.05) in the open field test (OFT). In the Y maze test, the percentage of entering the novel arm of female MIA offspring was lower (d = 0.92, p < 0.05). Compared with the male control group (n = 14), male MIA offspring (n = 13) displayed less movement distance (d = 0.93, p < 0.05) and a lower average speed (d = 0.94, p < 0.05) in the OFT. In the Y maze test, the proportion of exploration time in the novel arm of male MIA offspring was lower (d = 0.96, p < 0.05). In the EPM, male MIA offspring showed less time (d = 0.85, p < 0.05) and a lower percentage of time spent in the open arms (d = 0.85, p < 0.05). Male MIA offspring also had a lower PPI index (76 dB + 120 dB, d = 0.81, p < 0.05; 80 dB + 120 dB, d = 1.45, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results showed that the behavioral phenotypes induced by prenatal immune activation were highly dependent on the sex of the offspring.

Experimental and Numerical Study of Radioiodine Sorption and Transport in Hanford Sediments.

Radioiodine (129I) poses a potential risk to human health and the environment at several U.S. Department of Energy sites, including the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State. Experimental studies and numerical modeling were performed to provide a technical basis for field-scale modeling of iodine sorption and transport behavior. The experiments were carried out using six columns of repacked contaminated sediments from the Hanford Site. Although iodate has been determined to be the dominant iodine species at the Hanford Site, the sorption and transport behaviors of different iodine species were investigated in a series of column experiments by first leaching sediments with artificial groundwater (AGW) followed by AGW containing iodate (IO3-), iodide (I-), or organo-iodine (2-iodo-5-methoxyphenol, C7H7IO2). Ferrihydrite amendments were added to the sediments for three of the columns to evaluate the impact of ferrihydrite on 129I attenuation. The results showed that ferrihydrite enhanced the iodate sorption capacity of the sediment and retarded the transport but had little effect on iodide or organo-I, providing a technical basis for developing a ferrihydrite-based remedial strategy for iodate under oxidizing conditions. Data from the column transport experiments were modeled using the linear equilibrium Freundlich isotherm model, the kinetic Langmuir adsorption model, and a distributed rate model. Comparisons of the experimental data and modeling results indicated that sorption was best represented with the distributed rate model with rates and maximum sorption extents varying by iodine species and ferrihydrite treatment. However, the linear Freundlich isotherm (Kd) model was also found to fit the laboratory experimental data relatively well, suggesting that the Kd model could also be used to represent iodine transport at the field scale.

Synthesis and antioxidant activities of 2-oxo-quinoline-3-carbaldehyde Schiff-base derivatives.

A series of 2-oxo-quinoline-3-carbaldehyde Schiff-base derivatives 4a(1)-4n(2) were designed and synthesized based on the 2-oxo-quinoline structure core as novel antioxidants. In vitro antioxidant activities of these compounds were evaluated and compared with commercial antioxidants ascorbic acid, BHT and BHA, employing DPPH() assay, ABTS(+) assay, O(2)(-) assay and OH() assay. The results showed that IC(50) of most compounds were lower than standard value 10mg/mL, indicating good antioxidant activities of these compounds. In addition, in vitro antioxidant activities screening revealed that 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of compounds 4b(2), 4e(1), 4e(2) and 4g(2), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) cation (ABTS(+)) radical scavenging activities of compounds 4a(1), 4e(1), 4e(2), 4f(1), 4f(2), 4g(1), 4g(2), 4h(1), 4h(2), 4k(1), 4k(2), 4n(1) and 4n(2), superoxide anion radical scavenging activities of 4b(1), 4e(1), 4f(2), 4j(1), 4k(1), 4k(2), 4m(1), 4m(2), and 4n(2), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of almost all the compounds except 4f(1), 4f(2), 4j(2), 4l(1) and 4l(2) were better than that of the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).

A new phenylpropanoic acid congener from Zanthoxylum nitidum.

One new phenylpropanoic acid congener, 2R-(5'-methoxy) pandanusphenol B (1), along with 26 known isolates, were isolated from Zanthoxylum nitidum. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data and circular dichroism analyses. All compounds, except 4, 7-10, 15, 17, 19 and 25, were reported from Z. nitidum for the first time. Among them, 16 compounds (1-3, 5-6, 12-14, 16, 20-24 and 26-27) were discovered from genus Zanthoxylum for the first time, while 15 compounds (1-3, 5-6, 12-14, 20-24 and 26-27) were isolated from the Rutaceae family for the first time. All isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines and the results showed that compound 27 exhibited significant cytotoxicity toward HepG2 and T24, with IC50 values of 2.49 and 7.0 µM, respectively.

Psychobiotic Lactobacillus plantarum JYLP-326 relieves anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms in test anxious college via modulating the gut microbiota and its metabolism.

Introduction: Test anxiety is a common issue among college students, which can affect their physical and psychological health. However, effective interventions or therapeutic strategies are still lacking. This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of Lactobacillus plantarum JYLP-326 on test anxious college students. Methods: Sixty anxious students were enrolled and randomly allocated to the placebo group and the probiotic group. Both groups were instructed to take placebo and JYLP-326 products twice per day for three weeks, respectively. Thirty unanxious students with no treatments were assigned to a regular control group. The anxiety, depression, and insomnia questionnaires were used to measure students' mental states at the baseline and the end of this study. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were performed to analyze the changes in the gut microbiota and fecal metabolism. Results: The questionnaire results suggested that JYLP-326 administration could relieve the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in test anxious students. The gut microbiomes of the placebo group showed a significantly greater diversity index than the control group (p < 0.05). An increased abundance of Bacteroides and Roseburia at the genus level was observed in the placebo group, and the relative abundance of Prevotella and Bifidobacterium decreased. Whereas, JYLP-326 administration could partly restore the disturbed gut microbiota. Additionally, test anxiety was correlated with disordered fecal metabolomics such as a higher Ethyl sulfate and a lower Cyclohexylamine, which could be reversed after taking JYLP-326. Furthermore, the changed microbiota and fecal metabolites were significantly associated with anxiety-related symptoms. Conclusion: The results indicate that the intervention of L. plantarum JYLP-326 could be an effective strategy to alleviate anxiety, depression, and insomnia in test anxious college students. The potential mechanism underlying this effect could be related to the regulation of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites.

Evaluation of a genome-scale in silico metabolic model for Geobacter metallireducens by using proteomic data from a field biostimulation experiment.

Accurately predicting the interactions between microbial metabolism and the physical subsurface environment is necessary to enhance subsurface energy development, soil and groundwater cleanup, and carbon management. This study was an initial attempt to confirm the metabolic functional roles within an in silico model using environmental proteomic data collected during field experiments. Shotgun global proteomics data collected during a subsurface biostimulation experiment were used to validate a genome-scale metabolic model of Geobacter metallireducens-specifically, the ability of the metabolic model to predict metal reduction, biomass yield, and growth rate under dynamic field conditions. The constraint-based in silico model of G. metallireducens relates an annotated genome sequence to the physiological functions with 697 reactions controlled by 747 enzyme-coding genes. Proteomic analysis showed that 180 of the 637 G. metallireducens proteins detected during the 2008 experiment were associated with specific metabolic reactions in the in silico model. When the field-calibrated Fe(III) terminal electron acceptor process reaction in a reactive transport model for the field experiments was replaced with the genome-scale model, the model predicted that the largest metabolic fluxes through the in silico model reactions generally correspond to the highest abundances of proteins that catalyze those reactions. Central metabolism predicted by the model agrees well with protein abundance profiles inferred from proteomic analysis. Model discrepancies with the proteomic data, such as the relatively low abundances of proteins associated with amino acid transport and metabolism, revealed pathways or flux constraints in the in silico model that could be updated to more accurately predict metabolic processes that occur in the subsurface environment.

Preparation and Characterization of Mesocarbon Microbeads by the Co-Polycondensation of High-Temperature Coal Tar Pitch and Coal Pyrolytic Extracts.

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) are a kind of engineering and functional artificial carbon materials generally prepared by the polymerization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The physicochemical property of the raw materials plays a key role in the quality of MCMBs. For a detailed analysis of the synergistic effects of the generation of MCMBs, a high-temperature coal tar pitch was used as raw materials, and coal pyrolytic extracts were used as additive to synthesize the MCMBs. The microstructure and morphology of the derived MCMBs were determined by an optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrum, and laser particle size analyzer. In fact, the addition of the coal pyrolytic extracts can adjust the molecular structure of the blending pitch, and the coal pyrolytic extracts can promote the generation of the MCMBs during the co-polycondensation process. The MCMBs obtained by co-polycondensation method have a good degree of sphericity, lower defects in the surface morphology, and a lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 4.677 Ω.

Enhancement of Carbon Conversion and Value-Added Compound Production in Heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris Using Sweet Sorghum Extract.

High-cost carbon sources are not economical or sustainable for the heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris. In order to reduce the cost, this study used sweet sorghum extract (SE) and its enzymatic hydrolysate (HSE) as alternative carbon sources for the heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris. Under the premise of the same total carbon concentration, the value-added product production performance of Chlorella vulgaris cultured in HSE (supplemented with nitrogen sources and minerals) was much better than that in the glucose medium. The conversion rate of the total organic carbon and the utilization rate of the total nitrogen were both improved in the HSE system. The biomass production and productivity using HSE reached 2.51 g/L and 0.42 g/L/d, respectively. The production of proteins and lipids using HSE reached 1.17 and 0.35 g/L, respectively, and the production of chlorophyll-a, carotenoid, and lutein using HSE reached 30.42, 10.99, and 0.88 mg/L, respectively. The medium cost using HSE decreased by 69.61% compared to glucose. This study proves the feasibility and practicability of using HSE as a carbon source for the low-cost heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris.