Aqueous colloid flow batteries with nano Prussian blue.

Flow battery is a safe and scalable energy storage technology in effectively utilizing clean power and mitigating carbon emissions from fossil fuel consumption. In the present work, we demonstrate an aqueous colloid flow battery (ACFB) with well-dispersed colloids based on nano-sized Prussian blue (PB) cubes, aiming at expanding the chosen area of various nano redox materials and lowering the cost of chemicals. Taking advantage of the two redox pairs of PB, the developed all-PB cell employing a low-cost dialysis membrane with the synthesized PB on both sides displays an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.74 V. Moreover, when paired with an organic tetra pyridine macrocycle the cell with PB as positive electrolyte exhibits an OCV of 1.33 V and a capacity fade rate of 0.039 %/cycle (0.8 %/day). Redox-active colloids exhibit enduring physicochemical stability, with no evident structural or morphological changes after extensive cycling, highlighting their potential for cost-effective and reliable ACFB energy storage.

SALINITY-Induced Changes in Diversity, Stability, and Functional Profiles of Microbial Communities in Different Saline Lakes in Arid Areas.

Saline lakes, characterized by high salinity and limited nutrient availability, provide an ideal environment for studying extreme halophiles and their biogeochemical processes. The present study examined prokaryotic microbial communities and their ecological functions in lentic sediments (with the salinity gradient and time series) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and a metagenomic approach. Our findings revealed a negative correlation between microbial diversity and salinity. The notable predominance of Archaea in high-salinity lakes signified a considerable alteration in the composition of the microbial community. The results indicate that elevated salinity promotes homogeneous selection pressures, causing substantial alterations in microbial diversity and community structure, and simultaneously hindering interactions among microorganisms. This results in a notable decrease in the complexity of microbial ecological networks, ultimately influencing the overall ecological functional responses of microbial communities such as carbon fixation, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolism. Overall, our findings reveal salinity drives a notable predominance of Archaea, selects for species adapted to extreme conditions, and decreases microbial community complexity within saline lake ecosystems.

Melatonin Induces Analgesic Effects through MT2 Receptor-Mediated Neuroimmune Modulation in the Mice Anterior Cingulate Cortex.

Neuropathic pain (NP) represents a considerable clinical challenge, profoundly impacting patients' quality of life. Presently, pharmacotherapy serves as a primary approach for NP alleviation, yet its efficacy often remains suboptimal. Melatonin (MLT), a biologically active compound secreted by the pineal gland, has long been associated with promoting and maintaining sleep. Although recent studies suggest analgesic effects of MLT, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown, particularly its impact on the cortex. In this study, we induced an NP model in mice through spared nerve injury (SNI) and observed a considerable, dose-dependent alleviation in NP symptoms following intraperitoneal or anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) administration of MLT. Our findings further indicated that the NP management of MLT is selectively mediated by MLT-related receptor 2 (MT2R), rather than MT1R, on neurons and microglia within the ACC. Transcriptome sequencing, complemented by bioinformatics analysis, implicated MLT in the modulation of Gα(i) and immune-inflammatory signals. Specifically, MLT inhibited the excitability level of pyramidal cells in the ACC by activating the Gα(i) signaling pathway. Simultaneously, MLT attenuated M1 polarization and promoted M2 polarization of microglia, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response and type II interferon response within the ACC. These findings unveil a hitherto unrecognized molecular mechanism: an MLT-mediated neuroimmune modulation pathway in the ACC mediated by MT2R. This elucidation sheds light on the regulatory character of MLT in chronic nociceptive pain conditions, offering a prospective therapeutic strategy for NP management.

A new Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitor regulated by MeJA pathway in maize exhibits anti-feedant activity against the Ostrinia furnacalis.

Jasmonic acid (JA), an important plant hormone, plays a crucial role in defending against herbivorous insects. In this study, we have identified a new Bowman-Birk type protease inhibitor (BBTI) protein in maize that is regulated by the JA pathway and exhibits significant antifeedant activity, which is notably induced by exogenous Methyl Jasmonate and Ostrinia furnacalis feeding treatments. Bioinformatics analysis revealed significant differences in the BBTI protein among different maize inbred lines, except for the conserved domain. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems were constructed and expressed, and combined with bioassays, it was demonstrated that the antifeedant activity of BBTI is determined by protein modifications and conserved domains. Through RT-qPCR detection of BBTI and JA regulatory pathway-related genes' temporal expression in different maize inbred lines, we identified the regulatory mechanism of BBTI synthesis under the JA pathway. This study successfully cloned and identified the MeJA-induced anti-feedant activity gene BBTI and conducted functional validation in different maize inbred lines, providing valuable insights into the response mechanism of insect resistance induced by the plant JA pathway. The increased expression of the anti-feedant activity gene BBTI through exogenous MeJA induction may offer a potential new strategy for mediating plant defense against Lepidoptan insects.

Macroscale connectome topographical structure reveals the biomechanisms of brain dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

The intricate spatial configurations of brain networks offer essential insights into understanding the specific patterns of brain abnormalities and the underlying biological mechanisms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), normal aging, and other neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigated alterations in the topographical structure of the brain related to aging and neurodegenerative diseases by analyzing brain gradients derived from structural MRI data across multiple cohorts (n = 7323). The analysis identified distinct gradient patterns in AD, aging, and other neurodegenerative conditions. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that inorganic ion transmembrane transport was the most significant term in normal aging, while chemical synaptic transmission is a common enrichment term across various neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the findings show that each disorder exhibits unique dysfunctional neurophysiological characteristics. These insights are pivotal for elucidating the distinct biological mechanisms underlying AD, thereby enhancing our understanding of its unique clinical phenotypes in contrast to normal aging and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Effect of thermophilic bacterial complex agents on synergistic humification of carbon and nitrogen during lignocellulose-rich kitchen waste composting.

This work reported the effects of thermophilic bacterial agents on degrading persistent lignocellulose and reducing the loss of valuable nitrogen in kitchen waste (KW) composting. The results showed that thermophilic bacterial compound agents improved the high temperature period by 8 days, and increased the ligninase activity by 0.5-3 times during the composting process. The activity of cellulase increased up to 1 time in agent A (Geobacillus, Clostridium caenicola, Haloplasma) adding group by improving the microbial activity of lignocellulosic degradation metabolic pathways. Nitrogen storage increased to 70% in group added with agent B (Clostridium caenicola, Geobacillus, Clostridium sp. TG60-81) by increasing the population abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms such as Bacillus, Hungateiclostridium and Herbaspirillum, and changed amino acid metabolic pathways. In general, agents A and B could increase the thermophilic phase, optimize the microbial community structure, realize the synergistic humification of carbon and nitrogen, and convert KW into mature and high quality fertilizers.

Chiral Inorganic Nanomaterials Characterized by Advanced TEM: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study.

Chiral inorganic nanomaterials (CINMs) have garnered significant interest due to their exceptional optical, electronic, and catalytic properties, offering promising advancements in energy conversion, data storage, catalysis, and biomedicine. While traditional optical spectrophotometers reveal the chiroptical performance of CINMs on an ensemble level, the direct structural visualization for the qualitative and quantitative discernment of their chiral features has become increasingly distinct with the advancements of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The need for reasonable and high-standard discrimination requirements of CINMs has driven the progress of chirality-based TEM technologies. Therefore, this review in the good season takes the initiative to summarize the current advancements in TEM technologies for CINMs characterization, emphasizing a qualitative analysis of chiral atomic-level features, 0D, 1D, and 2D nanocrystals, and assembled nanomaterials. Then, the quantitative methods for determining chirality is also highlighted, such as 3D electron tomography, and further address the evolution of chiral structures monitored by the Ex-situ and In-situ TEM technologies. By providing a roadmap for the current challenges and proposing future advancements in TEM technologies for the qualitative, quantitative, and real-time analysis of CINMs, it can drive innovations in the field of chiral nanomaterials as well as the development of TEM technologies.

Extended Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery with Total Cyst Wall Decollement for Suprasellar Cystic Craniopharyngioma: Case Report and Literature Review.

For most cystic craniopharyngiomas, intracapsular debulking is a good strategy to get a large operation space and protect vital structures. However, this surgical strategy may lead to the residual and recurrence of the tumor capsule wall. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new surgical strategy without residual capsule walls for the removal of cystic craniopharyngiomas. We reviewed a 45-year-old male with vision loss and visual field defects, whose head MRI revealed a suprasellar cystic lesion. The patient underwent extended endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. The surgical strategy of total cystic wall decollement was adopted, which was that the lesion surrounded by the capsule was completely separated from the surrounding tissue without destroying the capsule and maintaining the tension of the capsule. The lesion was totally resected and pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma. After the operation, both the visual acuity and pituitary function were significantly improved. In addition, he suffered from transient diabetes insipidus, which was subsequently relieved. During the 33-month follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence. Compared with the traditional surgical strategy of intracapsular debulking, the surgical strategy of total cystic wall decollement has the advantages of less residual tumor capsules, low tumor recurrence rates, etc. Therefore, for specific cystic craniopharyngiomas, the surgical strategy of total cystic wall decollement may be an effective surgical strategy to reduce tumor recurrence.

High-sensitivity miniaturized spectrometers using photonic crystal slab filters.

Miniaturized spectrometers have emerged as pivotal tools in numerous scientific and industrial applications, offering advantages such as portability, cost-effectiveness, and the capability for onsite analysis. Despite these significant benefits, miniaturized spectrometers face critical challenges, particularly in sensitivity. Reduced dimensions often lead to compromises in optical path length and component quality, which can diminish detection limits and limit their applications in areas such as low-light-level measurements. Here we developed a compact spectrometer that integrates an array of photonic crystal slab filters with band-stop spectral transmission characteristics into an image sensor. Compared to traditional gratings or bandpass filter strategies, where each detector can only read light of a single wavelength component, our band-stop strategy allows each detector to read the light of all wavelengths except the band-stop wavelength. This maximizes energy extraction from incident signals, significantly improving the sensitivity of the spectrometer. Spectral reconstruction is achieved mathematically using pre-calibrated band-stop responses combined with a single coded image. Our spectrometer delivers a spectral resolution of 1.9 nm and demonstrates sensitivity more than ten times greater than that of conventional grating spectrometers during fluorescence spectroscopy of Ascaris lumbricoides. The design is fully compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, allowing for mass production at low costs and thus promising broad deployment in sensitive applications.

A simple method to remove polyimide coating from fused silica capillaries for capillary electrophoresis.

A simple and cost-effective method for making capillary electrophoresis (CE) detection windows is reported. A low-cost laser engraving machine equipped with a 450 nm high-power blue laser was used to remove the polyimide coating from the fused silica capillary by laser scanning the desired section. The entire process is automated and controlled in real time by software. This method can be easily adopted by many CE users for routine practice and is scalable for high-throughput production of detection windows across multiple capillaries.

Non-surgical nursing care for tumor patients: an overview of sedation, analgesia, and recent innovations.

With the increasing prevalence of tumors, effective symptom management has emerged as a cornerstone of patient care. While surgical interventions remain pivotal, non-surgical nursing methods have gained prominence in providing relief from pain, discomfort, and other tumor-related symptoms. This review delves into the various non-surgical approaches employed, emphasizing tumor sedation and analgesia. We discuss the array of non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies, shedding light on their indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. Furthermore, the importance of addressing individual differences in pain perception and the ethical considerations in symptom management are highlighted. We conclude by providing insights into the recent innovations in the field, emphasizing the need for personalized and comprehensive care to enhance patients' quality of life. Tumor sedation, Tumor analgesia, Non-surgical nursing care, Pain management, Non-pharmacological interventions, Palliative care, Recent innovations, Symptom management.

Proteomic analysis and experimental validation reveal the blood-brain barrier protective of Huanshaodan in the treatment of SAMP8 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Huanshaodan (HSD) is a Chinese Herbal Compound which has a definite clinical effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to preliminarily reveal the mechanism of HSD in the treatment of AD model of SAMP8 mice. METHODS: Chemical composition of HSD and its drug-containing serum were identified by Q-Orbitrap high resolution liquid mass spectrometry. Six-month-old SAMP8 mice were treated with HSD and Donepezil hydrochloride by gavage for 2 months, and Wogonin for 28 days. Behavioral test was performed to test the learning and memory ability of mice. Immunofluorescence (IF) or Western-blot methods were used to detect the levels of pSer404-tau and ß-amyloid (Aß) in the brain of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assay was applied to observe the pathological changes of neurons. Proteomic technology was carried out to analyze and identify the protein network of HSD interventions in AD. Then the pathological process of the revealed AD-related differential proteins was investigated by IF, Q-PCR, Western-blot, Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 16S rRNA sequencing methods. RESULTS: The results showed that HSD and Wogonin, one of the components in its drug-containing serum, can effectively improve the cognitive impairments of SAMP8 mice, protect hippocampal neurons and synapses, and reduce the expression of pSer404-tau and Aß. HSD and Wogonin reduced the levels of fibrinogen ß chain (FGB) and γ chain (FGG), the potential therapeutic targets revealed by proteomics analysis, reduced the colocalization of FGB and FGG with Aß, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), increased level of and myelin basic protein (MBP). Meanwhile, HSD and Wogonin increased ZO-1 and Occludin levels, improved brain microvascular injury, and reduced levels of bacteria/bacterial DNA and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the brain of mice. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that HSD regulated the structure of intestinal microbiota of mice. CONCLUSION: The effects of HSD on AD may be achieved by inhibiting the levels of fibrinogen and the interactions on glia cells in the brain, and by modulating the structure of intestinal microbiota and improving the blood-brain barrier function.

DDX41 dissolves G-quadruplexes to maintain erythroid genome integrity and prevent cGAS-mediated cell death.

Deleterious germline DDX41 variants constitute the most common inherited predisposition disorder linked to myeloid neoplasms (MNs). The role of DDX41 in hematopoiesis and how its germline and somatic mutations contribute to MNs remain unclear. Here we show that DDX41 is essential for erythropoiesis but dispensable for the development of other hematopoietic lineages. Using stage-specific Cre models for erythropoiesis, we reveal that Ddx41 knockout in early erythropoiesis is embryonically lethal, while knockout in late-stage terminal erythropoiesis allows mice to survive with normal blood counts. DDX41 deficiency induces a significant upregulation of G-quadruplexes (G4), noncanonical DNA structures that tend to accumulate in the early stages of erythroid precursors. We show that DDX41 co-localizes with G4 on the erythroid genome. DDX41 directly binds to and dissolves G4, which is significantly compromised in MN-associated DDX41 mutants. Accumulation of G4 by DDX41 deficiency induces erythroid genome instability, defects in ribosomal biogenesis, and upregulation of p53. However, p53 deficiency does not rescue the embryonic death of Ddx41 hematopoietic-specific knockout mice. In parallel, genome instability also activates the cGas-Sting pathway, which is detrimental to survival since cGas-deficient and hematopoietic-specific Ddx41 knockout mice are viable without detectable hematologic phenotypes, although these mice continue to show erythroid ribosomal defects and upregulation of p53. These findings are further supported by data from a DDX41 mutated MN patient and human iPSC-derived bone marrow organoids. Our study establishes DDX41 as a G4 dissolver, essential for erythroid genome stability and suppressing the cGAS-STING pathway.

Current research status of Raman spectroscopy in glioma detection.

Glioma is the most common primary tumor of the nervous system. Conventional diagnostic methods for glioma often involve time-consuming or reliance on externally introduced materials. Consequently, there is an urgent need for rapid and reliable diagnostic techniques. Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a promising tool, offering rapid, accurate, and label-free analysis with high sensitivity and specificity in biomedical applications. In this review, the fundamental principles of Raman spectroscopy have been introduced, and then the progress of applying Raman spectroscopy in biomedical studies has been summarized, including the identification and typing of glioma. The challenges encountered in the clinical application of Raman spectroscopy for glioma have been discussed, and the prospects have also been envisioned.

Arginine vasopressin induces analgesic effects and inhibits pyramidal cells in the anterior cingulate cortex in spared nerve injured mice.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a severe disease caused by a primary disease or lesion affecting the somatosensory nervous system. It`s reported that NP is related to the increased activity of glutamatergic pyramidal cells and changed neural oscillations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Arginine vasopressin (AVP), a neurohypophyseal hormone, has been shown to cause pain-alleviating effects when applied to peripheral system. However, the extent to which, and the mechanisms by which, AVP induces analgesic effects in the central nervous system remain unclear. In the present study, we observed that intranasal delivery of AVP inhibited mechanical pain, thermal pain and spontaneous pain sensitivity in mice with spared nerve injury. Meanwhile, AVP application exclusively reduced the FOS expression in the pyramidal cells but not interneurons in the ACC. In vivo electrophysiological recording of the ACC further showed that AVP application not only inhibited the theta oscillation in local field potential analysis, but also reduced the firing rate of spikes of pyramidal cells in the ACC in neuropathic pain mice. In summary, AVP induce analgesic effects by inhibiting neural theta oscillations and the spiking of pyramidal cells of the ACC in mice with neuropathic pain, which should provide new potential noninvasive methods for clinical treatment of chronic pain.

Development of iPSC-derived human bone marrow organoid for autonomous hematopoiesis and patient-derived HSPC engraftment.

Current efforts in translational studies in hematology often rely on immunodeficient mouse models for engrafting patient-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), yet these models often face challenges in effectively engrafting cells from patients with various diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In this study, we developed an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human bone marrow organoid model that closely replicates the bone marrow microenvironment, facilitating the engraftment of MDS patient-derived HSPCs, thereby mirroring the patients' distinct disease characteristics. Specifically, through advanced microscopy, we verified the development of a complex three-dimensional network of endothelial, stromal, and hematopoietic cells within the organoids, resembling the autonomous human marrow microenvironment. Furthermore, we showed that HSPCs derived from the donor bone marrow of normal individuals or patients with MDS can migrate to and proliferate within the organoid's vascular niche while maintaining self-renewal and original genetic profiles. Within the organoids, the differentiation patterns from MDS HSPCs were significantly distinct compared to the multilineage hematopoiesis from normal HSPCs, which can be correlated with the clinical manifestations of the disease. These findings underscore the significance of the organoid model in studying human hematopoiesis and the pathophysiology of hematologic diseases, offering new avenues for personalized medicine and therapeutic interventions.

First report of leaf blight of water chestnut (Trapa natans L.) caused by Sclerotium hydrophilum in central China.

Trapa natans L., or water chestnut, is a currently globally distributed aquatic plant. The Yangtze River basin in China, a site origin of water chestnut (Fan et al., 2022), has extensive cultivation as a vegetable. In June 2021, a survey at the National Aquatic Vegetable Resource Garden in Wuhan, Hubei, China, revealed browning and wilting of water chestnut plants, with abundant white mycelia and brown to black sclerotia on leaves, indicative of southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii). Field disease incidence a 1 ha area reached 70%, reducing fruit yield by 50%. About 10% of diseased plants showed blackening and rot from petioles to leaves. White sclerotial primordia and small brown to black sclerotia formed on the plant surfaces. By late August, symptoms exceeded 60%. To identify the pathogen, isolations were made from 243 sclerotial samples using 75% alcohol to disinfect, rinsed three times with water, and then incubated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25℃. A total of 129 isolates were obtained, most of which exhibited characteristics of S. rolfsii. However, 21 isolates had sclerotia significantly smaller than those of S. rolfsii (1 to 1.5 mm in diameter). These isolates, cultured on PDA, produced abundant fluffy white aerial hyphae, 3 to 6 µm wide. Optimal mycelium growth was between 25 °C to 30 °C, with an average daily rate of 10 mm. White to light brown sclerotia appeared after 5 days and turned black within 10 to 14 days, averaging 0.34 mm in diameter (n=50). Some isolates produced a light brown pigment. These traits matched the description of S. hydrophilum (Bashyal et al. 2021). Isolates 221 and 238 were selected for molecular identification, with genomic DNA extracted from mycelia using the CTAB method. PCR amplification was conducted using ITS1/ITS4 and NS1/NS6 primers to target the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrRNA). Sequence analysis showed that the ITS sequence of isolate 221 (GenBank Acc. No. OR512512) had 99.84% sequence identity with S. hydrophilum Msh6 (GenBank Acc. No. FJ595946), and isolate 238 (GenBank Acc. No. PP035993) had 99.72% identity with S. hydrophilum Whcc-4 (GenBank Acc. No. PP035994). The ssrRNA sequences of both isolates (GenBank Acc. No. PP237261) had 99.69% identity with S. hydrophilum strain Hbq001 (GenBank Acc. No. KY995575), confirming their identification as S. hydrophilum. To assess pathogenicity, 16 water chestnut plants (cultivar Jia-yu Ling) at the rosette stage were placed individually in 32 cm diameter, 10 cm deep containers with fresh water. Eight plants were inoculated with 50 mature sclerotia from PDA cultures of isolates 221 and 238, and incubated at 25 °C for 14 days, with four plants per isolate. The remaining eight plants served as controls. Containers were covered to maintain 100% relative humidity at 25 °C to 32 °C for 3 days. This procedure was repeated twice. After 7 days, inoculated plants developed dark brown lesions on petioles that spread to leaves by 15 days post-inoculation. Fungi isolated from diseased leaves resembled isolates 221 and 238, fulfilling Koch's postulates. S. hydrophilum infecting at least 19 genera of plants, including rice (Zhong et al. 2018), wild rice, water lily (Kernkamp et al. 1977) and watershield (Fu et al. 2024). This is the first report of S. hydrophilum infecting water chestnut (T. natans) in central China, identifying it as a co-pathogen with S. rolfsii. Their combined presence may heighten plant mortality and threaten water chestnut cultivation.

Macroscale Gradient Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease: Patterns With Cognition Terms and Gene Expression Profiles.

Macroscale functional gradient techniques provide a continuous coordinate system that extends from unimodal regions to transmodal higher-order networks. However, the alterations of these functional gradients in AD and their correlations with cognitive terms and gene expression profiles remain to be established. In the present study, we directly studied the functional gradients with functional MRI data from seven scanners. We adopted data-driven meta-analytic techniques to unveil AD-associated changes in the functional gradients. The principal primary-to-transmodal gradient was suppressed in AD. Compared to NCs, AD patients exhibited global connectome gradient alterations, including reduced gradient range and gradient variation, increased gradient scores in the somatomotor, ventral attention, and frontoparietal regions, and decreased in the default mode network. More importantly, the Gene Ontology terms of biological processes were significantly enriched in the potassium ion transport and protein-containing complex remodeling. Our compelling evidence provides a new perspective in understanding the connectome alterations in AD.

Coffee intake leads to preeclampsia-like syndromes in susceptible pregnant rats.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, and there is an increasing concern of the health risk of coffee consumption in pregnancy. Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy disease that causes elevated blood pressure and proteinuria in pregnant women and growth restriction of fetuses due to poorly developed placental vasculature. The aim of our study is to investigate the possible effect of coffee intake during pregnancy in rats with potential underlying vasculature conditions. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(gamma)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at a high dose (125 mg/kg/d) was used to induce PE in pregnant rats, which were used as the positive control group. In addition, low-dose L-NAME (10 mg/kg/d) was used to simulate the compromised placental vasculature function in pregnant rats. Coffee was given together with low-dose L-NAME to the pregnant rats from gestational day 10.5-18.5. Our results show that the pregnant rats treated with low-dose L-NAME + coffee, but not low-dose L-NAME alone, developed PE symptoms such as prominent fetal growth restriction, hypertension, and proteinuria. Therefore, our findings suggest that coffee intake during pregnancy may cause an increased risk of PE in susceptible women.

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer, antibacterial activities of pentacyclic triterpenoid glycoside derivatives.

As a kind of glycoside, pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins have good biological activities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and hypoglycemic effects [1]. In this paper, twenty-four pentacyclic triterpenoid derivatives, including twelve monosaccharide derivatives, were designed and synthesized. The anticancer effect and antibacterial activities of all compounds were evaluated. It is noteworthy that compound UA-2b has the strongest inhibitory effect on the growth of A549, Hela and HepG2 cancer cells (IC50 = 5.37 ± 0.22 µM, 5.82 ± 0.25 µM and 5.47 ± 0.06 µM, respectively). Compounds OA-2b, OA-6a, OA-6b, UA-2b and UA-6a have the best activity against Escherichia coli 1924 (MIC = 16 µg/ml).