Development of genetic markers in Yarrowia lipolytica.

The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica represents a potential microbial cell factory for the recombinant production of various valuable products. Currently, the commonly used selection markers for transformation in Y. lipolytica are limited, and successive genetic manipulations are often restricted by the number of available selection markers. In our study, we developed a dominant marker, dsdA, which encodes a D-serine deaminase for genetic manipulation in Y. lipolytica. In Y. lipolytica, this marker confers the ability to use D-serine as a nitrogen source. In addition, the selection conditions of several infrequently used dominant markers including bleoR (zeocin resistance), kanMX (G418 resistance), and guaB (mycophenolic acid resistance) were also analyzed. Our results demonstrated that these selection markers can be used for the genetic manipulation of Y. lipolytica and their selection conditions were different for various strains. Ultimately, the selection markers tested here will be useful to expand the genetic toolbox of Y. lipolytica. KEY POINTS: • The dsdA from Escherichia coli was developed as a dominant marker. • The applicability of several resistance markers in Y. lipolytica was determined. • We introduced the Cre/mutant lox system for marker recycling.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of marine naphthoquinone-naphthol derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

1'-Hydroxy-4',8,8'-trimethoxy-[2,2'-binaphthalene]-1,4-dione (compound 5), a secondary metabolite recently discovered in marine fungi, demonstrates promising cytotoxic and anticancer potential. However, knowledge regarding the anticancer activities and biological mechanisms of its derivatives remains limited. Herein, a series of novel naphthoquinone-naphthol derivatives were designed, synthesised, and evaluated for their anticancer activity against cancer cells of different origins. Among these, Compound 13, featuring an oxopropyl group at the ortho-position of quinone group, exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects on HCT116, PC9, and A549 cells, with IC50 values decreasing from 5.27 to 1.18 µM (4.5-fold increase), 6.98 to 0.57 µM (12-fold increase), and 5.88 to 2.25 µM (2.6-fold increase), respectively, compared to compound 5. Further mechanistic studies revealed that compound 13 significantly induced cell apoptosis by increasing the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and reducing Bcl-2 proteins through downregulating the EGFR/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, leading to the inhibition of proliferation in HCT116 and PC9 cells. The present findings suggest this novel naphthoquinone-naphthol derivative may hold potential as an anticancer therapeutic lead.

Mitsuaria noduli sp. nov., isolated from the root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia in a lead-zinc mine.

A novel endophytic bacterium, designated strain HZ7T, was isolated from the root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in a lead-zinc mine in Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, China. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, methyl-red-negative, catalase-positive, positive for chitosan-degrading activity and did not produce H2S. Strain HZ7T grew at 4-45 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 5-9 (optimum pH 7-8) and with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. The quinone type was ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8). The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.5 mol% by whole genome sequencing. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the closest phylogenetic relative was Mitsuaria chitosanitabida 3001T (99.05 % similarity). Genome relatedness was computed using average nucleotide identity and genome-to-genome distance analysis, both of which strongly supported strain HZ7Tas belonging to the genus Mitsuaria as a representative of a novel species. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data and physiological characteristics, strain HZ7T represents a novel species of the genus Mitsuaria, for which the name Mitsuaria noduli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HZ7T (=JCM 31671T=CCTCC AB 2014353T).

Herbaspirillum robiniae sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia in a lead-zinc mine.

A novel endophytic bacterium, designated strain HZ10T, was isolated from root nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in a lead-zinc mine in Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, China. The bacterium was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, slightly curved- and rod-shaped, methyl red-negative, catalase-positive, and did not produce H2S. Strain HZ10T grew at 4-45 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C), pH 5-9 (optimum, pH 7-8) and 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), and the quinone type was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.9 mol% based on the whole genome sequence. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the closest phylogenetic relative to strain HZ10T is Herbaspirillum chlorophenolicum CPW301T (98.72 % sequence identity). Genome relatedness of the type strains H. chlorophenolicum CPW301T, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z67T and Herbaspirillum aquaticum IEH 4430T, was quantified by using the average nucleotide identity (86.9-88.0 %) and a genome-to-genome distance analysis (26.6 %-29.3 %), with both strongly supporting the notion that strain HZ10T belongs to the genus Herbaspirillum as a novel species. Based on the results from phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological analyses, strain HZ10T represents a novel Herbaspirillum species, for which the name Herbaspirillum robiniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HZ10T (=JCM 31754T=CCTCC AB 2014352T).

Alkyne Hydroheteroarylation: Enantioselective Coupling of Indoles and Alkynes via Rh-Hydride Catalysis.

We report an enantioselective coupling between alkynes and indoles. A Rh-hydride catalyst isomerizes alkynes to generate a metal-allyl species that can be trapped with both aromatic and heteroaromatic nucleophiles.

Cu-Catalyzed Cyanation of Arylboronic Acids with Acetonitrile: A Dual Role of TEMPO.

The cyanation of arylboronic acids by using acetonitrile as the "CN" source has been achieved under a Cu(cat.)/TEMPO system (TEMPO=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxide). The broad substrate scope includes a variety of electron-rich and electron-poor arylboronic acids, which react well to give the cyanated products in high to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies reveal that TEMPO-CH2 CN, generated in situ, is an active cyanating reagent, and shows high reactivity for the formation of the CN(-) moiety. Moreover, TEMPO acts as a cheap oxidant to enable the reaction to be catalytic in copper.

Copper-catalyzed aromatic C-H bond halogenation with lithium halides under aerobic conditions.

A concise and practical Cu-catalyzed protocol for the preparation of chloro- and bromoarenes via C-H bond activation has been developed. The advantages of this strategy are the employment of cheap Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, LiX and O2, and its compatibility with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on aryl rings.

Effect of acrolein on the formation of harman and norharman in chemical models and roast beef patties.

Harman and norharman were the most abundant ß-carboline-type heterocyclic amines (HCAs) detected in various foodstuffs. Unsaturated fatty acids in foods may undergo rapid oxidative deterioration during transportation, storage and heat treatment, forming reactive carbonyl species (RCS). This work studied the effects of acrolein, a highly reactive RCS, on the formation of harman and norharman in the tryptophan model system. Results showed that 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mmol of acrolein led to harman production increased by 528 %, 752 %, 981 %, 1172 %, 1375 %, 1288 % and 768 % respectively, and led to norharman formation increased by 116 %, 129 %, 152 %, 169 %, and 197 %, 185 % and 157 %, respectively. Furthermore, acrolein addition reduced the residue of tryptophan (up to 63.19 %), but increased the level of the intermediates including formaldehyde (up to 352 %), acetaldehyde (up to 491 %), (1S,3S)-1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA, up to 1936 %), and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carboline-3-carboxylicacid (THCA, up to 2142 %) in the tryptophan model system. Acrolein might react with tryptophan, harman and norharman to eliminate them directly. These data suggested that acrolein may contribute to harman and norharman formation through participating in the above complex chemical reactions. In addition, the content of harman and norharman produced in roast beef patties made of minced beef oxidized for 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days increased by 118 %, 188 %, 267 %, 137 %, and 48 %, respectively, and led to norharman formation increased by 140 %, 132 %, 90 %, 86 %, and 74 %, respectively compared with those made of fresh minced beef, which further illustrated that lipid oxidation products potentially contributed to harman and norharman formation.

Targeting the E2F1/Rb/HDAC1 axis with the small molecule HR488B effectively inhibits colorectal cancer growth.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer worldwide, remains highly lethal as the disease only becomes symptomatic at an advanced stage. Growing evidence suggests that histone deacetylases (HDACs), a group of epigenetic enzymes overexpressed in precancerous lesions of CRC, may represent promising molecular targets for CRC treatment. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have gradually become powerful anti-cancer agents targeting epigenetic modulation and have been widely used in the clinical treatment of hematologic malignancies, while only few studies on the benefit of HDACis in the treatment of CRC. In the present study, we designed a series of small-molecule Thiazole-based HDACis, among which HR488B bound to HDAC1 with a high affinity and exerted effective anti-CRC activity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we revealed that HR488B specifically suppressed the growth of CRC cells by inducing cell cycle G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis via causing mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA damage accumulation. Importantly, we noticed that HR488B significantly decreased the expression of the E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), which was crucial for the inhibitory effect of HR488B on CRC. Mechanistically, HR488B obviously decreased the phosphorylation level of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), and subsequently prevented the release of E2F1 from the E2F1/Rb/HDAC1 complex, which ultimately suppressed the growth of CRC cells. Overall, our study suggests that HR488B, a novel and efficient HDAC1 inhibitor, may be a potential candidate for CRC therapy in the future. Furthermore, targeting the E2F1/Rb/HDAC1 axis with HR488B provides a promising therapeutic avenue for CRC.

Antiviral efficacy of RAY1216 monotherapy and combination therapy with ritonavir in patients with COVID-19: a phase 2, single centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAY1216, a novel inhibitor of 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro), in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This phase 2, single centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included hospitalised patients between August 14, 2022, and September 26, 2022, in Sanya Central Hospital (The Third People's Hospital of Hainan Province) in China with no severe symptoms if they had laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection for not more than 120 h (5 days) and a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) cycle threshold (Ct) value of ≤30 for both the open reading frames 1 ab (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid (N) genes within 72 h before randomisation. Half of the participants (n = 30) were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either RAY1216 or a matched placebo three times a day (TID) for 5 days (15 doses in total), while the other half received RAY1216 plus ritonavir (RAY1216 plus RTV) or a matched placebo every 12 h for 5 days (10 doses in total). The primary endpoint was the time of viral clearance. Secondary outcomes included the changes of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA viral load, the positivity rate of the nucleic acid test, and the recovery time of clinical symptoms. A safety evaluation was performed to record and analyse all adverse events that occurred during and after drug administration as well as any cases in which dosing was halted because of these events. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2200062889. Findings: The viral shedding times in the RAY1216 and RAY1216 plus RTV groups were 166 h (95% confidence interval (CI): 140-252) and 155 h (95%CI: 131-203), respectively, which were 100 h (4.2 days) and 112 h (4.6 days) shorter than that of the placebo group, respectively (RAY1216 group vs. Placebo p = 0.0060, RAY1216 plus RTV group vs. Placebo p = 0.0001). At 24 h, 72 h, and 120 h after administration, the viral RNA loads in the RAY1216 and RAY1216 plus RTV groups were significantly less than those of the placebo groups. At 280 h (11.5 days) after administration, the nucleic acid test results in the RAY1216 and RAY1216 plus RTV groups were both negative. The common adverse events related to the investigational drugs were mild and self-limiting laboratory examination abnormalities. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that RAY1216 monotherapy and RAY1216 plus ritonavir both demonstrated significant antiviral activity and reduced the duration of COVID-19 while maintaining a satisfactory safety profile. Considering the limited clinical application of RTV, it is recommended to use RAY1216 alone to further verify its efficacy and safety. Funding: This study was sponsored by the Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC0868700).

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular decarboxylative coupling of arene carboxylic acids/esters with aryl bromides.

Give me a ring? An efficient approach has been developed for the intramolecular decarboxylative coupling of arene carboxylic acids/esters with aryl bromides catalyzed by palladium (see scheme). From a synthetic viewpoint, this method is highly attractive because the catalyst loading is low, the optimized reaction conditions are mild, and the substrate scope is broad.

Dietary astaxanthin-rich extract ameliorates atherosclerosis/retinopathy and restructures gut microbiome in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed on a high-fat diet.

Scope: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the leading cause of ischemic disease. However, the anti-AS effects of astaxanthin and its potential mechanisms remain unclear. This study is aimed to investigate the function of astaxanthin-rich extract (ASTE) on AS and gut microbiota as well as the difference from atorvastatin (ATO) in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. Methods and results: Wild type (WT) and ApoE-/- mice were divided into seven groups: the low-fat diet (LFD) and high-fat diet (HFD) groups (in both types) as well as three ApoE-/- groups based on HFD added with two doses of ASTE and one dose of ATO, respectively. After 30 weeks of intervention, results showed that ASTE significantly inhibited body weight increase, lipids accumulation in serum/liver, and AS-lesions in the aorta. Furthermore, fundus fluorescein angiography and retinal CD31 immunohistochemical staining showed that ASTE could alleviate the occurrence of AS-retinopathy. H&E staining showed that ASTE could protect the colon's mucosal epithelium from damage. The gas chromatographic and gene expression analyses showed that ASTE promoted the excretion of fecal acidic and neutral sterols from cholesterol by increasing LXRα, CYP7A1, and ABCG5/8 and decreasing FXR, NPC1L1, ACAT2, and MTTP expressions. Remarkably, the ASTE administration maintained the gut barrier by enhancing gene expression of JAM-A, Occludin, and mucin2 in the colon and reshaped gut microbiota with the feature of blooming Akkermansia. Conclusion: Our results suggested that ASTE could prevent AS in both macrovascular and/or microvascular as well as used as novel prebiotics by supporting the bile acid excretion and growth of Akkermansia.

Effect of acrolein, a lipid oxidation product, on the formation of the heterocyclic aromatic amine 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in model systems and roasted tilapia fish patties.

The effect of acrolein on the formation of the 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was investigated in a chemical model. Acrolein was found to increase PhIP formation at each tested addition level. 0-0.2 mmol of acrolein increased PhIP formation dose-dependently, while high levels of acrolein (>0.2 mmol) did not further increase PhIP formation. Mechanistic study showed that acrolein addition decreased the residue of phenylalanine and creatinine, but increased the content of some key intermediates. Further analysis indicated that acrolein can react with phenylalanine, creatinine, and PhIP to form adducts. These results suggested that acrolein was able to contribute to PhIP formation as a consequence of its comprehensive ability to facilitate Strecker degradation of phenylalanine and react with phenylalanine, creatinine, and PhIP. In addition, oxidation of the tilapia fish increased the PhIP formation in the roasted fish patties, further supporting the potential contribution role of lipid oxidation products to the formation of PhIP.

Quercetin Inhibited the Formation of Lipid Oxidation Products in Thermally Treated Soybean Oil by Trapping Intermediates.

In this research, we studied the inhibitory mechanism of quercetin, one popular phenolic compound, against aldehyde formation in thermally treated soybean oil. It was found that quercetin reduced unsaturated aldehyde formation significantly, with the inhibitory effect decreased with the extension of the heating time. Meanwhile, quercetin had minimum effects on the fatty acid profile compared to untreated samples. Some new phenolic derivatives were formed in thermally treated soybean oil with quercetin, further analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and compared to newly synthesized derivatives (characterized by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). On the basis of their chemical structures, we proposed that quercetin reacted with 13-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, 10-oxo-hexadecenoic acid, and 10-oxo-octadecenoic acid formed from peroxidation of linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid, respectively, to inhibit aldehyde formation. In addition, newly formed quercetin-3-O-hexanoate, quercetin-3-O-heptanoate, and quercetin-3-O-nonanoate showed weaker 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation scavenging activity and weaker antioxidant activity in soybean oil, which explained the decreased inhibitory activity of quercetin against aldehyde formation during heat treatment. More interesting, quercetin-3-O-hexanoate showed improved cellular antioxidant activity compared to the parent quercetin. Overall, quercetin inhibited the formation of lipid oxidation products in thermally treated soybean oil by reacting with early intermediates in the lipid oxidation reaction, and quercetin derivatives formed in the process could be with enhanced cellular antioxidant activity. Our results provide novel insight into the inhibitory mechanism of quercetin against the formation of lipid oxidation products.

Puerarin inhibited 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters formation by reacting with glycidol and glycidyl esters.

The inhibitory effects of seven polyphenols on 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol fatty acid esters (3-MCPDE) formation were investigated in palm oil models. Results showed that there was not a positive significant correlation between the free-radical scavenging activities of the tested compounds and their 3-MCPDE-formation inhibitory activities; puerarin, with weak antioxidant activity, showed the highest inhibitory capacity. Moreover, puerarin reduced the content of glycidol and glycidyl esters (GEs), two key intermediates of 3-MCPDE formation in the oil models; and a puerarin-adduct was discovered in the oil fortified with glycidol or GEs, with its structure elucidated by LC-MS/MS and comparison with newly synthesized ones. Based on its chemical structure, we proposed that puerarin, at least in part, reacted with glycidol and GEs to inhibit 3-MCPDE formation. In addition, the formed compound, puerarin-7-O-propanediol was identified in the potato chips frying system, further confirming reacting with glycidol/GEs as a key mechanism of puerarin to inhibit 3-MCPDE formation.

Antioxidative Properties and Chemical Changes of Quercetin in Fish Oil: Quercetin Reacts with Free Fatty Acids to Form Its Ester Derivatives.

In this research, we studied the antioxidative properties and chemical changes of quercetin in fish oil during accelerated storage at 60 °C for 5 days. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis showed that quercetin inhibited aldehyde formation and unsaturated fatty acid oxidation in fish oil significantly; however, the inhibitory effects decreased gradually with prolonged heating time. Moreover, quercetin was consumed with increasing heating time. Some new phenolic derivatives were discovered in the fish oil with quercetin, with their structures fully elucidated by LC-MS/MS and comparison with newly synthesized ones (characterized by MS and NMR spectroscopy). Based on their chemical structures, we proposed that quercetin reacted with EPA and DHA to form the corresponding quercetin fatty acid esters in fish oil. In addition, the newly formed quercetin-3-O-eicosapentaenoate and quercetin-3-O-docosahexaenoate showed weaker DPPH and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity but much improved lipophilicity, higher cell membrane affinity, and hence enhanced cellular antioxidant activity compared with the parent quercetin. Overall, quercetin could be used as a safe dietary polyphenol to inhibit lipid oxidation. The newly formed quercetin-polyunsaturated fatty acid esters may render improved bioactivity to humans, which needs further investigation.

FGFC1 Selectively Inhibits Erlotinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Elevation of ROS Mediated by the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have been used as a first-line treatment for patients harboring with EGFR mutations in advanced NSCLC. Nevertheless, the drug resistance after continuous and long-term chemotherapies considerably limits its clinical efficacy. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop new chemotherapeutic agents and treatment strategies to conquer the drug resistance. FGFC1 (Fungi fibrinolytic compound 1), a type of bisindole alkaloid from a metabolite of the rare marine fungi Starchbotrys longispora. FG216, has exhibited excellent fibrinolytic and anti-inflammatory activity. However, the potent efficacy of FGFC1 in human cancer therapy requires further study. Herein, we demonstrated that FGFC1 selectively suppressed the growth of NSCLC cells with EGFR mutation. Mechanistically, FGFC1 treatment significantly induced the apoptosis of erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cells H1975 in a dose-dependent manner, which was proved to be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Scavenging ROS not only alleviated FGFC1-induced apoptosis but also relieved the decrease of phospho-Akt. We further confirmed that FGFC1 significantly decreased the phosphorylation of protein EGFR, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in H1975 cells. Notably, PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) could promote the accumulation of ROS and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins induced by FGFC1. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that FGFC1 can inhibit EGFR and its downstream PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway through directly binding to EGFR, which displayed a much higher binding affinity to EGFRT790M/L858R than EGFRWT. Additionally, FGFC1 treatment also inhibited the migration and invasion of H1975 cells. Finally, FGFC1 effectively inhibited tumor growth in the nude mice xenograft model of NSCLC. Taken together, our results indicate that FGFC1 may be a potential candidate for erlotinib-resistant NSCLC therapy.

Comparing the effects of dexmedetomidine versus propofol on the treatment of emergence agitation in adult patients after general anesthesia: study protocol for a randomized, superiority, controlled trial (DP-TEA Trial).

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) after general anesthesia is a common complication in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Once EA occurs, there are still no guidelines established for the treatment in adults. Propofol is excessively used in managing agitated patients in the PACU, but it lacks analgesia and can result in apnea. Intraoperative infusion of dexmedetomidine has been proven to have a preventive effect on EA, but the treatment effect of dexmedetomidine on EA remains unknown. This study aims to compare the effects between dexmedetomidine and propofol on relieving EA in adult patients after general anesthesia in the PACU. METHODS: In this randomized, superiority, controlled clinical study, a total of 120 adult patients aged 18-65 years of both genders, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I or II developing EA in the PACU after general anesthesia, will be enrolled. Patients will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio into two groups, receiving either a single dose of dexmedetomidine (0.7µg/kg) or propofol (0.5 mg/kg). The primary outcome is the proportion of patients having a recurrent EA within 15 min after intervention in the PACU. DISCUSSION: Previous studies have focused on premedication for preventing EA, while therapeutics for reliving EA have rarely been reported. To our knowledge, this study is the first randomized, superiority, controlled trial to compare a bolus of dexmedetomidine with the current routine care for this indication. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04142840 . Registered on October 26, 2019.

Zinc-Enriched Yeast Improves Learning and Memory Impairments in Zinc-Deficient Rats.

Zinc (Zn) highly concentrates in the brain and plays a key role in memory formation and learning processes. Zn deficiency results in cognitive impairments, memory deficits, alterations of neuropsychological behavior, and motor development. Although Zn-enriched yeast (ZnY) is widely used for dietary fortification and supplementation of Zn, the effect of ZnY on cognition still remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ZnY on behavior in Zn-deficient and Zn-sufficient rats. Three-week-old rats were fed low Zn diets for 145 days to establish Zn-deficient rats. ZnY was orally administered to Zn-deficient rats at three dose levels of 1, 2, and 4 mg Zn/kg/day for 55 days. Rat appearance, body weight, plasma and brain Zn, Morris water maze test, and step-through passive avoidance test were observed. Compared to Zn-sufficient rats, body weight gain, plasma zinc level, resident time, and step-through time in Zn-deficient rats were significantly lower. Zn deficiency impaired functions of learning and memory, while ZnY as a plausible therapeutic intervention alleviated the cognitive impairments caused by Zn deficiency.