Proinflammatory Diet Increases the Risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Prospective Study of 129,408 UK Biobank Participants and Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have chronic low-grade inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. Some dietary components are known to be associated with inflammation. However, there is currently limited research on the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and the risk of IBS. METHODS: A total of 129,408 participants in the UK Biobank were included in this study. Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) based on 26 nutrients and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) based on 17 food groups were constructed, and on the basis of the tertiles, the continuous score was categorized into proinflammatory, neutral, and antiinflammatory categories. Associations between IBS and E-DII and EDIP were investigated by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Potential confounders including sociodemographic, lifestyle, body mass index (BMI), psychological state, type 2 diabetes, and thyroiditis were adjusted. In addition, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Finally, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore the independent causality of nutrients and dietary-derived serum antioxidants with IBS. RESULTS: In the cohort study, over a median follow-up period of 13.26 years, 2421(1.87%) participants developed IBS. In the E-DII categories, after adjusting for the confounders, individuals in the proinflammatory diet category had a higher risk of IBS compared with the antiinflammatory category (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03-1.28, p = 0.015, p trend = 0.017) and neutral category (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, p = 0.030, p trend = 0.017). In the EDIP categories, after adjusting for the confounders, individuals in the proinflammatory diet category had a higher risk of IBS compared with antiinflammatory category (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.33, p = 0.002, p trend = 0.002) but no significant association compared with neutral category (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.99-1.23, p = 0.067, p trend = 0.002). In the MR analysis, genetically determined intake levels of 16 nutrients and 6 dietary sources of circulating antioxidants did not have a causal effect on IBS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that proinflammatory dietary components are independent risk factors for IBS. However, there is no causal relationship between individual nutrient intake or serum antioxidants from dietary sources and IBS.

Association of platelet-to-HDL cholesterol ratio with frailty and all-cause mortality.

BACKGROUND: Frailty often requires intensive care, and the admission outcomes of frail patients are often poor. However, owing to the lack of reliable diagnostic indicators, quickly identifying frailty is challenging. The present study aimed to explore the associations of the platelet/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (PHR; a novel inflammatory indicator) with frailty and all-cause mortality. METHODS: The present study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018. Frailty was assessed on the basis of the 49-item Frailty Index. The associations of the PHR with frailty and long-term survival prognosis were explored through weighted logistic regression, weighted restricted cubic spline (RCS), and weighted Cox regression, with adjustments for demographic factors, lifestyle, blood lipids, medication history, and complications. In addition, subgroup and interaction analyses were conducted. Finally, several sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 15,615 adult participants were included, with 7,928 women (53.63%) and an average age of 60.76 years. After fully adjusting for confounding variables, the prevalence of frailty in the highest PHR quartile group of was significantly greater than that in the lowest quartile group (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47; P = 0.02). The RCS showed that the inflection point was 166.7. Before and after the inflection point, the PHR was negatively associated (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.97, P = 0.01) and positively associated (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02-1.19, P = 0.01) with frailty, respectively. Subgroup analysis suggested that the association between PHR and frailty was stronger in women than in men. A total of 5,544 frail participants were included in the survival analysis. The RCS revealed that the PHR was associated with the all-cause mortality risk of frail participants in a U-shaped manner, with an inflection point of 240.4. Before and after the inflection point, the PHR decreased (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.97, P = 0.01) and the all-cause mortality risk increased (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14, P = 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that there is a J-shaped association between PHR and frailty in the adult population of the United States and that the association between the PHR and frailty is stronger in women. In addition, the PHR has a U-shaped relationship with the all-cause mortality risk of frail patients.

The association of platelet count, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and platelet/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with serum soluble Klotho.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Klotho is a protein that is closely related to human aging. Soluble Klotho (S-Klotho) is a circulating protein, and its level decreases in response to systemic inflammation. The relationship between the platelet/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (PHR), an emerging inflammatory index, and S-Klotho concentrations is still unclear. In addition, the mean platelet volume has been confirmed to have a significant negative association with S-Klotho concentrations, but the relationship between the platelet count (PC) and S-Klotho concentrations has not yet been reported. METHODS: Data from individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the five cycles from 2007 to 2016 were retrieved for analysis. Linear regression, two-piecewise linear regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were used to analyze the associations of the PHR index and its components with S-Klotho concentrations. In addition, subgroup analysis and effect modification tests were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 11,123 participants (5463 men (48.17%)), with an average age of 56.2 years, were included. After full adjustment, the S-Klotho levels of participants in the highest quartile group of PHR (ß: -51.19, 95% CI: -75.41 to -26.97, P < 0.001) and the highest quartile group of PC (ß: -72.34, 95% CI: -93.32 to -51.37, P < 0.0001) were significantly lower than those in their respective lowest quartile groups, and a significant downward trend was presented among the four groups (P for trend < 0.05, respectively). However, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were not significantly associated with S-Klotho concentrations. RCS revealed that the PHR and PC were nonlinearly associated with S-Klotho concentrations; two-piecewise linear regression revealed that the inflection points were 175.269 and 152, respectively, and that these associations slightly weakened after the inflection point. According to the subgroup analysis, liver disease status enhanced the association between the PC and S-Klotho concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Both the PHR and PC were significantly negatively associated with S-Klotho concentrations, and these associations were nonlinear. There was no significant association between HDL-C and S-Klotho concentrations. Liver disease status enhances the negative association between the PC and S-Klotho concentrations, and the specific mechanism deserves further exploration.

Effect of atom diffusion on the efficiency of Bragg diffraction in atom interferometers.

The transition efficiency of atomic Bragg diffraction as mirrors and beam splitters in Bragg atom interferometers plays an essential role in impacting the fringe contrast and measurement sensitivity. This can be attributed to the properties of atomic sources, Bragg pulse shapes, the pulse duration, and the relative position deviation of the atoms and Bragg pulses. Here, we investigate the effect of the atomic source's diffusion and velocity width on the efficiency of Bragg diffraction of the moving cold atomic cloud. The transfer efficiency of Bragg mirrors and beam splitters are numerically simulated and experimentally measured, which are well consistent in comparison. We quantify these effects of atomic diffusion and velocity width and precisely compute how Bragg pulses' efficiencies vary as functions of these parameters. Our results and methodology allow us to optimize the Bragg pulses at different atomic sources and will help in the design of large momentum transfer mirrors and beam splitters in atom interferometry experiments.

Constituents, Antibacterial Effect, and Cytotoxicity of Essential Oil from Aerial Parts of Notopterygium incisum.

Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H. T. Chang (N. incisum) is a precious Chinese traditional medicine distributed in high-altitude regions of southwest China. The aim of this study was to investigate the composition, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity of essential oil from aerial parts of N. incisum. N. incisum essential oil (NI-EO) was extracted by hydro-distillation, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the major components of NI-EO were D-limonene (18.42%) and γ-terpinene (15.03%). The antibacterial activity and mechanism study showed that the diameters of inhibition zone (DIZs) of NI-EO against E. coli and S. aureus were 14.63 and 11.25 mm and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were 3.75 and 7.5 µL/mL, respectively. NI-EO not only caused intracellular biomacromolecule leakage and cell deformation by destroying bacterial cell wall integrity and cell membrane permeability, but also degraded the mature biofilm. The low toxicity of NI-EO was demonstrated in an assay on bovine mammary epithelial cells. These results implied that NI-EO was mainly composed of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes and had excellent antibacterial activity and showed low levels of cytotoxicity. It is expected to be applied as a natural antibacterial agent in the future.

Investigating the Synergistic Interaction of Maternal Gestational Hypertension and Chlamydia Infection on the Use of Antibiotics for Newborns.

Objective: Maternal gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection are recognized as common diseases of pregnancy, which are associated with an increased risk of antibiotic usage for newborns. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between co-existing maternal gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection during pregnancy and the risk of neonatal antibiotic use. Methods: Our study included 3 383 942 eligible subjects from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) database in 2019. Clinical characteristics, including a history of pre-pregnancy diabetes and hypertension, pregnancy complications, pregnancy infections, etc. were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between maternal gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection and the risk of the use of antibiotics for newborns. Simultaneously, we adopted attributable proportion (AP) and synergy index (S) to assess whether the interactions are statistically significant. Results: Of 3 383 942 participants, 61 133 participants had antibiotic use and 3 322 809 did not. After adjusting for all covariates, gestational hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 1.04; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.04-1.04] and chlamydia infection (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.32-1.32) were associated with an increased risk of antibiotic use. Mothers with both gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.72-2.20) had a higher risk of antibiotic usage for newborns. Moreover, the synergistic interaction of gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection was found to be significant (AP = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-0.24; S = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.02-1.76). Finally, stratification analyses based on mothers' age elucidated that the interaction was robust among the group with non-advanced maternal age. Conclusion: Synergistic interaction between maternal gestational hypertension and chlamydia infection may significantly increase the risk of antibiotic usage for newborn. However, more studies are required in the future to confirm this association and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Eliminating the phase shifts arising from additional sidebands in an atom gravimeter with a phase-modulated Raman laser.

The additional sidebands (ASBs) in a Raman laser will have a significant effect on the performance of atom gravimeters (AGs) based on phase-modulated Raman lasers. We propose a method of modulating the sideband-to-carrier ratio in Raman lasers to determine the magic time intervals where the phase shift induced by the ASB effect is minimized, and this method is demonstrated by experiments. Among these magic time intervals, some noise-immunity points are predicted. Based on the prediction and the result of the ASB effect changing with the interval time T between adjacent Raman pulses, an optimal magic time interval is selected. Therefore, the uncertainty to the gravity measurement induced by the ASB effect when the AG works at the magic time interval is reduced to 0.5 µGal. Furthermore, the ASB effect and its zero-phase points in four-pulse atom interferometers are also discussed. This work provides a clear way to eliminate the phase shift induced by the ASB effect in high-precision AGs employing phase-modulated Raman lasers.

Impact of additional sidebands generated by a tapered amplifier on an atom interferometer.

Stimulated Raman transitions are often used in an atom interferometer (AI) for wave packet manipulation. Normally, two lasers with different frequencies contained in a Raman beam are combined first and then amplified by a single tapered amplifier (TA). This configuration can simplify the laser system of the AI, however, additional sidebands will be generated by the TA because of the nonlinear effect in the TA. In this work, the impact of additional sidebands generated with a single TA on the AI is studied. We first observe the additional sidebands in a Raman laser by a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI), and the additional sidebands will be greatly suppressed by reducing the injection laser power of the TA. This is also confirmed by observing the position-dependent Raman transitions induced by additional sidebands at different injection power in an AI. However, the phase shifts induced by additional sidebands are not reduced obviously when the injection power of the TA is reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to separately amplify two lasers contained in the Raman laser by two TAs for a high precision AI. The spectroscopy of Raman laser generated by two TAs is also measured by the FPI, and the impact of additional sidebands on the AI is eliminated. This work has guiding significance for the design of the laser system in a high-precision AI.

Self-reported hearing difficulty increases 3-year risk of incident cognitive impairment: The role of leisure activities and psychological resilience.

OBJECTIVE: Although hearing difficulty is associated with cognitive impairment, little is known about the potential mechanisms involved. This study assessed the mediating effects of leisure activities and psychological resilience on the association between hearing difficulty and cognitive impairment. METHODS: Two waves of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2011-2014) were used in the current analysis. Hearing difficulty, leisure activities and psychological resilience were measured at baseline. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. The data were analyzed using generalized structural equation modeling with adjustment for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of the 4267 participants at baseline, 33.5% (1430) reported hearing difficulty. The incidence of cognitive impairment was 15.3% (651) during the 3-year follow-up. Hearing difficulty increased the risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.26-1.92). Leisure activities and psychological resilience partly mediated the association between hearing difficulty and cognitive impairment. Hearing difficulty was negatively related to leisure activities (ß = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.05) and psychological resilience (ß = -0.34, 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.11). Furthermore, leisure activities (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89-0.96) and psychological resilience (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93-0.98) would significantly decrease the risk of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing difficulty was associated with the incidence of cognitive impairment in older adults. Leisure activities and psychological resilience mediated the relationship. Participation in leisure activity and promoting psychological resilience may be candidate interventions in preventing cognitive impairment among the individuals with hearing difficulty.

Influence of Port-wine Stains on Quality of Life of Children and Their Parents.

Port-wine stains are congenital vascular malformations that affect the quality of life of children and their parents. This study used the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index and Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index to examine the effects of port-wine stains on the quality of life of children and their parents, including an in-depth, systematic analysis of the moderating effects of the children's sex and port-wine stain classification. The study included 43 children (25 girls and 18 boys) and their parents. The presence of a port-wine stain had a significantly greater impact on the quality of life of mothers than on that of fathers (p < 0.001). Port-wine stains in girls had a greater effect on paternal quality of life than did port-wine stains in boys (girls p < 0.01; boys p = 0.542). Severe types of port-wine stains exerted a greater impact on maternal quality of life (pink-red type, dark-red type, and purple-dark type: p < 0.001, p = 0.948 and p = 0.086, respectively). There-fore, clinicians should consider familial relationships and differences when offering psychological support.

Type of tea consumption and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Existing research indicates that tea drinking may exert beneficiary effects on mental health. However, associations between different types of tea intake and mental health such as depression have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea consumption with depressive symptoms. METHODS: We used data from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a nationwide survey on older adults in mainland China. A total of 13,115 participants (mean age 83.7 years, 54.2% were women) with valid responses were included in the analysis. The type (green, fermented [black, Oolong, white, yellow, dark, and compressed teas], and floral) and the frequency of tea consumption were recorded, and depressive symptoms were assessed using 10-item of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). We examined the associations between the type and the frequency of tea intake and depression, controlling for a set of demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related variables. RESULTS: Overall, intakes of green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea were all significantly associated with lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, independent of other risk factors. Compared with the group of no tea intake, the adjusted ORs of depressive symptoms for daily green tea, fermented tea, and floral tea intake were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76-0.95), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76-0.99), and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.59-0.82), respectively. Linear associations were observed between the frequencies of all three types of tea intake and depressive symptoms (P < 0.05 for trends for all three types). The associations of the type and the frequency of tea intake and depressive symptoms were robust in several sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Among Chinese older adults, regularly consumed any type of tea (green, fermented, or floral) were less likely to show depressive symptoms, the associations seemed more pronounced among floral tea and green tea drinkers.

Multi-wave atom interferometer based on Doppler-insensitive Raman transition.

An atom interferometer based on Doppler-insensitive Raman transition is proposed, which has sharply peaked interference fringes for multi-wave interference. We show that two sets of counter-propagating Doppler-insensitive Raman beam pairs can be used to construct a new type of multi-wave beam splitter, which can be used to construct an atom interferometer. Although the spacing between adjacent diffraction orders of the interferometer is small, they can be distinguished by the internal state of the atom. Our analysis shows that the width of the fringes of this atom interferometer is inversely proportional to the width (duration) of the beam splitter and the Rabi frequency of the Raman beams, that is, the interferometer can achieve high resolution at high light intensity and long pulse width.

Poverty increases the risk of incident cognitive impairment among older adults: a longitudinal study in China.

Objectives: With a longitudinal design, we aimed to investigate the relationship between poverty and the risk of incident cognitive impairment in China.Methods: We used three waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2008-2014). Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Chinese version of the Mini Mental State Examination. Poverty was measured according to the latest national poverty line settled at an annual per-capita income of 2300 yuan (approximately equivalent to 1.25 dollar/day) in 2011 in China. A marginal structural model was utilized to explore the association between poverty and the risk of incident cognitive impairment. The subgroup analyses were also conducted in this study.Results: The cumulative incidence of cognitive impairment over 6 years was 30.69% (1936/6309). Poverty increased 34% risk of incident cognitive impairment in the elderly (odds ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.56) after controlling behavioral factors and health status covariates. Participants who were male (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.08-1.76), lived in urban areas (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.22-1.98), and were married (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.28-2.32) had higher poverty risks on incident cognitive impairment in subgroup analyses.Conclusions: Our results provide empirical support for the ongoing discussion about how economic hardship impacts of cognitive functioning, and highlight the negative health risks that economically disadvantaged individuals may experience.

Primary care reforms in managing chronic diseases in Xiamen, China: A tentative assessment.

BACKGROUND: The primary care reform developed in Xiamen City stood out among the dozens of pilot reforms conducted in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the reform. METHODS: The data were collected from the Annual Statistical Report on Xiamen's Hospitals and face-to-face questionnaire interviews among physicians (n = 107) and community members (n = 399). Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the factors influencing the community members' preference for treatment in community health centers (CHCs). RESULTS: The drug cost declined nearly 3.0% in hospitals, and outpatient visits increased more quickly (27.1%) in CHCs. A total of 86.2% of community members preferred to receive treatment for slight illness or chronic diseases in CHCs, and 77.9% of them were willing to be referred to CHCs during the recovery period. Patients who were managed by the general practice (GP) team showed higher percentages in examining and controlling blood pressure and blood glucose. CONCLUSION: The reform in Xiamen was easily accepted by physicians and community members. The reform had rendered initial achievements in reducing drug income in hospitals, increasing outpatient visits in CHCs, seeking health care in CHCs, and controlling blood pressure and glucose for patients with chronic diseases.

Baseline Sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea to the Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Isopyrazam and Efficacy of this Fungicide.

Isopyrazam is a new broad-spectrum, foliar-absorbed and -translocated succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide. In this study, 159 Botrytis cinerea isolates collected from different geographical regions of Shandong Province of China were characterized for baseline sensitivity to isopyrazam. Furthermore, the protective and curative activity of isopyrazam on strawberry fruit and the control efficacy in the field were also determined. In contrast to its mycelial growth, the spore germination of B. cinerea was inhibited completely by lower concentrations of isopyrazam, about 1 µg ml-1 on yeast-peptone-acetate medium. Frequency distributions of isopyrazam 50% effective concentration (EC50) values were unimodal curves, with mean EC50 values of 0.07 ± 0.04 (standard deviation) and 0.68 ± 0.36 µg ml-1 for the inhibition of spore germination and mycelial growth, respectively. In addition, there was no positive multiple resistance between isopyrazam and other classes of botryticides such as diethofencarb, iprodione, pyrimethanil, or SYP-Z048. In field trials conducted during 2014 and 2015, isopyrazam used at a concentration of active ingredient at 150 and 200 g ha-1 provided a control efficacy ranging from 76.7 to 87.8% on leaves and from 81.5 to 90.7% on fruit. These results suggest that isopyrazam has the potential to play an important role in the management of gray mold.

Can the Spontaneous Electroencephalography Theta/Beta Power Ratio and Alpha Oscillation Measure Individuals' Attentional Control?

Past studies have shown that spontaneous electroencephalography indicators-namely, the theta/beta power ratio and alpha oscillation-may measure individuals' attentional control processes. However, there is lack of research distinguishing these differences. This study investigated whether the theta/beta power ratio and alpha oscillation were separately related to the objective and subjective criteria of attentional control in eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. The results showed two main findings: (1) In the eyes-open condition, the theta/beta power ratio at the Fz and Pz electrode sites were significantly negatively correlated with the attentional control scale score; the alpha power at the Pz electrode site was significantly negatively correlated with flanker RT interference effect; (2) In the eyes-closed condition, the alpha power at the Cz and Pz electrode sites were significantly positively correlated with flanker P3d. In summary, this study showed that the eyes-open spontaneous theta/beta power ratio may reflect individuals' beliefs in their attentional control ability, and the alpha oscillation may be related to individuals' attentional control ability.

Severe acute urticaria is associated with elevated plasma levels of D-dimer.

Evaluation of the disease severity of acute urticaria (AU) is essential for adequate treatment of patients. However, there are no reliable biomarkers for such an evaluation. In our department, we observed patients with severe AU having elevated plasma D-dimer levels. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the elevated D-dimer levels in patients with severe AU in more detail. One hundred and thirty-nine hospital patients diagnosed with severe AU were enrolled. Clinical laboratory data were collected from electronic medical records. One hundred and seventeen of the patients presented with elevated plasma D-dimer levels. Compared to the normal group, the elevated group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who were female, younger, febrile, and had a shorter prehospital time (P < 0.05). Univariate regression analysis showed that neutrophil percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels increased as D-dimer levels increased, while prehospital time showed the opposite trend. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the simultaneous effects of CRP and LDH on D-dimer levels. Patients who responded to additional antibiotic treatment had higher levels of D-dimer. The group with highly elevated D-dimer levels required a higher maximum dose of daily glucocorticoids (GCs) to control the symptoms of AU. In conclusion, patients with severe AU might have elevated plasma D-dimer levels, which are positively correlated with CRP and LDH levels. Patients with severe AU with dramatically elevated D-dimer levels might need a higher dose of daily GCs and antibiotics to relieve symptoms. D-dimer may be a reasonable marker to evaluate the severity of AU and guide treatment.

Sophora flavescens-Angelica sinensis in the treatment of eczema by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sophora flavescens Ait.-Angelica sinensis(Oliv.) Diels drug pairing (SA) is a transformed drug pairing from Shengui pill, a traditional Chinese medicine prescription in the ninth volume of Traditional Chinese Medicine classic "Gu Jin Yi Jian", which is famous for clearing heat, moistening dryness, and promoting blood circulation. It is commonly used in the treatment of eczema, a skin condition that causes itching and inflammation. Despite its widespread use, there is still limited research on the mechanism of how SA treats eczema. This paper aims to fill this gap by conducting animal experiments to uncover the mechanism behind SA's therapeutic effects on eczema. Our findings provide a solid foundation for the clinical use of this TCM prescription. AIM OF THE STUDY: The basic purpose of this study is to clarify the therapeutic mechanism of Sophora flavescens-Angelica sinensis (SA) in the treatment and control of eczema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical compositions of SA were analyzed using HPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. In vivo, a mouse model of eczema was created, and the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to assess the pathological state of the mouse skin, and immunohistochemical technique (IHC) was employed to estimate the contents of TNF-α, TLR4, and NF-κB semi-quantitatively. The expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB mRNA were determined through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western Blotting was utilized to identify the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in mouse skin tissue. RESULTS: SA identified 18 active chemicals, some of which were shown in vivo to inhibit the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway while reducing serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß, making them ideal agents for the treatment of eczema. CONCLUSIONS: SA's anti-inflammatory properties are attributed to its ability to reduce serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß, likewise inhibit the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

LaCoO3/SBA-15 as a high surface area catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate for degrading atrazine in water.

An efficient perovskite-based heterogeneous catalyst is highly desired to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for removing organic pollutants in water. A high surface area PMS-activator was fabricated by loading LaCoO3 on SBA-15 to degrade atrazine (ATR) in water. The LaCoO3/SBA-15 depicted better textural properties and higher catalytic activity than LaCoO3. In 6.0 min, atrazine (ATZ) degradation in the selected LaCoO3/SBA-15/PMS system, LaCoO3, adsorption by LaCoO3/SBA-15, sole PMS processes reached approximately 100%, 55.15%, 12.80%, and 16.65 % respectively. Furthermore, 0.04 mg L-1 Co was leached from LaCoO3/SBA-15 during PMS activation by LaCoO3/SBA-15. The LaCoO3/SBA-15 showed stable catalytic activity after reuse. The use of radical scavengers and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) demonstrated that ROS such as 1O2, O2•-, •OH, and SO4•- were generated by PMS activated by LaCoO3/SBA-15 owing to redox reactions [Co2+/Co3+, and O2-/O2]. EPR, XPS, ATR-FTIR, EIS, LSV, and chronoamperometric measurements were used to explain the catalytic mechanism for PMS activation. Excellent atrazine degradation was due to high surface area, porous nature, diffusion-friendly structure, and ROS. Our investigation proposes that perovskites with different A and B metals and modified perovskites can be loaded on high surface area materials to activate PMS into ROS.