Novel insights into intrinsic mechanisms of magnetic field on long-term performance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation process.

The performance of an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) reactor with the magnetic field of 40 mT was systematically investigated. The total nitrogen removal rate was enhanced by 16% compared with that of the control group. The enhancing mechanism was elucidated from the improved mass transfer efficiency, the complicated symbiotic interspecific relationship and the improved levels of functional genes. The magnetic field promoted formation of the loose anammox granular sludge and the homogeneous and well-connected porous structure to enhance the mass transfer. Consequently, Candidatus Brocadia predominated in the sludge with an increase in abundance of 13%. Network analysis showed that the positive interactions between Candidatus Brocadia and heterotrophic bacteria were strengthened, which established a more complicated stable microbial community. Moreover, the magnetic field increased the levels of hdh by 26% and hzs by 35% to promote the nitrogen metabolic process. These results provided novel insights into the magnetic field-enhanced anammox process.

A rapid localization and analysis method for isoquinoline alkaloids with fluorescence in Coptis chinensis Franch. By fabricating the nano-silver sol as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) directly impacts their clinical efficacy and drug safety, making standardization a critical component of modern TCMs. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an effective physical detection method with speed, sensitivity, and suitability for large sample analyses. In this study, a SERS analysis method was developed using a nano-silver sol as the matrix to address the interference of fluorescence components in TCMs and overcome the limitations of traditional detection methods. RESULTS: The higher sensitivity and efficiency of SERS was used, enabling detection of a single sample within 30 s. Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCF) was chosen as the model medicine, the nano-silver sol was used as the matrix, and CCF's fourteen main fluorescent alkaloids were tested as index components. Typical signal peaks of the main components in CCF corresponded to the bending deformation of the nitrogen-containing ring plane outer ring system, methoxy stretching vibration, and isoquinoline ring deformation vibration. Through SERS detection of different parts, the distribution content of the main active components in the cortex of CCF was found to be lower than that in the xylem and phloem. Additionally, rapid quality control analyses indicated that among the nine batches of original medicinal materials purchased from Emei and Guangxi, the main active ingredient showed a higher content. SIGNIFICANCE: A SERS-based method for the rapid localization and analysis of multiple components of TCMs was established. The findings highlight the potential of SERS as a valuable tool for the analysis and quality control of TCMs, especially for fluorescent components.

Effect of different application duration of a venous foot pump on prevention of venous thromboembolism after hip and knee arthroplasty: a multicenter prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal duration of applying a venous foot pump (VFP) in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following hip and knee arthroplasty. METHODS: A total of 230 patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty between March 2021 and March 2022 in orthopaedic departments of four major teaching hospitals were prospectively enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into five groups based on the duration of the VFP application. Postoperative deep vein thromboses (DVT), including proximal, distal, and intermuscular DVT, were recorded for analysis. Postoperative blood coagulation examinations, such as D-dimer and active partial thromboplastin time (APTT), pain outcome, and degree of comfort were also collected. RESULTS: Two of the 230 patients withdrew due to early discharge from the hospital, and 228 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 60.38 ± 13.33 years. The baseline characteristics were comparable among the five groups. Compared with the other groups, patients treated with 6-hour VFP had the lowest incidence of DVT (8.7%, 4/46), followed by those treated with 1-hour VFP (15.2%, 7/46), 12-hour VFP (15.6%, 7/45), 18-hour VFP(17.8%, 8/45) and 20-hour VFP(21.7%, 10/46), but with no significant difference (P = 0.539). Regarding postoperative blood coagulation examinations, patients treated with 6-hour VFP had the lowest D-dimer (P = 0.658) and the highest APTT (P = 0.262) compared with the other four groups. 6-hour VFP also had the lowest pain score (P = 0.206) and the highest comfort score (P = 0.288) compared with the other four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Six hours may be the optimal duration of applying VFP for the prevention of VTE in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty in terms of VTE incidence, postoperative blood coagulation examinations, pain outcomes, and comfort scores.

Study on the mechanism of Coptis chinensis Franch. And its main active components in treating Alzheimer's disease based on SCFAs using Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid MS.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coptis chinensis Franch. (CCF), as an extensively used traditional Chinese medicine, has therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to reveal the mechanism of action of CCF via the gut-brain axis, and provide a new strategy for the clinical treatment of AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were used as AD models, and were given CCF extract by intragastric administration. Barnes maze was used to test the therapeutic effect of CCF on the treatment of AD. To reveal the mechanism of action of CCF in the treatment of AD, Vanquish Flex UHPLC-orbitrap fusion lumos mass was chosen to detect endogenous differential metabolite; MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was applied to derive relevant metabolic pathways; similarly, to explore the effects of CCF on the gut-brain axis, Vanquish Flex UPLC-Orbitrap fusion lumos mass was utilized to detect the changes in the content of SCFAs in AD mice after CCF administration; the prototype components and metabolites in CCF were identified by UPLC/ESI/qTOF-MS, then their effects on Bifidobacterium breve were explored. RESULTS: CCF shortened the latency time of AD mice, improved the target quadrant ratio of AD mice, and made the maze roadmap simpler of AD mice; CCF regulated fifteen potential metabolites of AD mice, interestingly, ILA (indole-3-lactic acid) in SCFAs (short-chain fatty acids) was also included; CCF acted on histidine and phenylalanine metabolic pathways of AD mice; CCF increased the contents of acetic acid and ILA in AD mice; magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, groenlandicine, thalifendine, palmatine, berberine, epiberberine, hydroxylated jatrorrhizine, and 3-methoxydemethyleneberberine in CCF were detected in fecal samples of AD mice; magnoflorine, palmatrubine, 13-methylberberine, berberine, coptisine, and palmatine promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium breve. CONCLUSIONS: we have demonstrated that CCF acts on the gut-brain axis by regulating SCFAs to treat AD.

Chronic kidney disease and risk of postoperative cardiovascular events in elderly patients receiving hip fracture surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term risk of cardiovascular events caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well described in the general population. Less is known concerning the risk of postoperative cardiovascular events in geriatric hip fracture patients with CKD. METHODS: This study involved patients at least 65 years of age who received surgery for acute hip fracture between January 2000 and April 2016. We identified CKD patients with a baseline diagnosis of CKD or an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at admission. Each CKD patient was matched, for age, gender, fracture type, and year of admission, with 4 control non-CKD patients. The primary endpoint was a compositepostoperative cardiovascular events, including pulmonary embolism, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmia, stroke, and death. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between CKD and the outcome after adjusting for potential confounders including age, gender, fracture type, body mass index, preexisting comorbidities, history of cardiovascular events, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy-five CKD patients were matched with 1,438 non-CKD patients. The mean age of the CKD patients was 81.9 ± 7.0 (mean ± SD), 69.9% were females, and 59.2% had an intertrochanteric fracture. Compared to non-CKD patients, CKD patients had a higher proportion of preexisting comorbidities, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes (all p < 0.05). The risk of postoperative cardiovascular events was 125.3 per 1000 persons (95%CI, 91.8-158.8) in CKD patients and 64.7 per 1000 persons (95%CI, 52.0-77.4) in non-CKD patients. A 1.96-fold risk of cardiovascular events after hip fracture surgery was found in CKD patients than those without CKD (adjusted OR, 1.96; 95%CI, 1.23-3.12). CONCLUSION: Patients with CKD were more likely to have cardiovascular events after hip fracture surgery than those without CKD. Appropriate preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment and corresponding preventive and therapeutic measures should be given to this vulnerable population to mitigate such complications.