Bacillus licheniformis-based intensive fermentation of Tibetan tea improved its bioactive compounds and reinforced the intestinal barrier in mice.

Tibetan tea changes during microorganism fermentation. Research on microorganisms in Tibetan tea has focused on their identification, while studies on the influence of specific microorganisms on the components and health functions of Tibetan tea are lacking. Bacillus licheniformis was inoculated into Tibetan tea for intensive fermentation, and the components of B. licheniformis-fermented tea (BLT) were detected by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS), and then the effects of BLT on intestinal probiotic functions were investigated by experiments on mice. The results revealed the metabolites of BLT include polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, amino acids, and lipids. Intensified fermentation also improved the antioxidant capacity in vivo and the protective effect on the intestinal barrier of Tibetan tea. In addition, the enhanced fermentation of Tibetan tea exerted intestinal probiotic effects by modulating the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. Therefore, intensive fermentation with B. licheniformis can improve the health benefits of Tibetan tea.

Solibacillus daqui sp. nov., isolated from high-temperature Daqu.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterial strain, designated ZS111008T, was isolated from high-temperature Daqu, a starter for production of Chinese Jiang-flavour Baijiu, and was characterized by polyphasic taxonomy. This novel isolate grew in the presence of 0-5 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.0-9.0 and 25-45 °C; optimum growth was observed with 1 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 8.0 and 30 °C. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1461 bp) of strain ZS111008T showed highest similarity to Solibacillus silvestris DSM12223T (96.7%), followed by Solibacillus cecembensis PN5T (96.6%) and Solibacillus isronensis AMCK01000046 (96.5%). The DNA G+C content of strain ZS111008T was 37.21 mol%. The respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and one unknown phospholipid. Lys was detected as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall. Based on morphological characteristics, chemotaxonomic characteristics and physiological properties, strain ZS111008T represents a novel species of the genus Solibacillus, for which the name Solibacillus daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for this proposed species is ZS111008T (=CGMCC 1.19455T=JCM 35214T).

Lentibacillus daqui sp. nov., isolated from high-temperature Daqu, a starter for production of Chinese Jiang-flavour Baijiu.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterial strain, designated ZS110521T, was isolated from high-temperature Daqu, a starter for production of Chinese Jiang-flavour Baijiu and was characterised by polyphasic taxonomy. This novel isolate grew in the presence of 0-20 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.0-9.0 and 20-50 °C; optimum growth was observed with 8-10 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0 and 37 °C. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1460 bp) of ZS110521T revealed that it displayed the highest similarity to Lentibacillus populi WD4L-1T (95.5 %), followed by Lentibacillus garicola SL-MJ1T (95.4 %) and Lentibacillus lacisalsi BH260T (95.2 %). ANI and dDDH values between ZS110521T and other strains of species of the genus Lentibacillus were less than 78 and 28 %, respectively. The predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10 %) of ZS110521T were anteiso-C17 : 0 (37.8 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (28.1 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (15.5 %). The respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The polyphasic taxonomic data and the results of chemotaxonomic analysis confirmed that ZS110521T represents a novel species, for which the name Lentibacillus daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this proposed species is ZS110521T (=CGMCC 1.19456T =JCM 35213T).

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Fagopyrum Tataricum (L.) Gaertn. Bran flavonoids extract and its effect on Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammatory response.

Tartary buckwheat flavonoids have a variety of effects on anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, as well as anti-tumor and are valuable for academic research and industrial application. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with various gastrointestinal diseases in humans, and an increase in its resistance has led to the failure of many drugs. In this study, we quantified the main monomers of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum Tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) bran flavonoids extract through HPLC analysis. Then, we investigated the anti-H. pylori activity and the effect on cell inflammation of tartary buckwheat flavonoids extract and its four main flavonoid monomers (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and nicotiflorin). The results showed that tartary buckwheat flavonoids extract and its four flavonoid monomers could inhibit the growth of H. pylori and down-regulate the expression of proinflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL-1 in H. pylori-induced GES-1 cells. Moreover, we also confirmed that tartary buckwheat flavonoids extract could reduce the expression of virulence factor gene of H. pylori. In summary, tartary buckwheat can alleviate the cell inflammation induced by H. pylori, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of tartary buckwheat healthcare products.

Plasmon-enhanced fluorescence for ellagic acid detection based on surface structure of gold nanoparticles.

Ellagic acid (EA), as a natural polyphenolic acid, is considered a naturally occurring inhibitor of carcinogenesis. Herein, we developed a plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF) probe for EA detection based on silica-coated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). A silica shell was designed to control the distance between silica quantum dots (Si QDs) and Au NPs. The experimental results indicated that an 8.8-fold fluorescence enhancement was obtained compared with the original Si QDs. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) simulations further demonstrated that the local electric field enhancement around Au NPs led to the fluorescence enhancement. In addition, the fluorescent sensor was applied for the sensitive detection of EA with a detection limit of 0.14 µM. It can be used to detect EA in pomegranate rind with a recovery rate of 100.26-107.93%. It can also be applied to the analysis of other substances by changing the identification substances. These experimental results indicated that the probe provides a good option for clinical analysis and food safety.

The Underling Mechanisms Exploration of Rubia cordifolia L. Extract Against Rheumatoid Arthritis by Integrating Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics.

Purpose: Rubia cordifolia L. (RC) is a classic herbal medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has been used since ancient times. The ethanol extract of Rubia cordifolia L. (RCE) showed obvious anti-RA effects in our previous study. However, further potential mechanisms require more exploration. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of RCE for the treatment of RA by integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology in this study. Methods: An adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model was established, and we evaluated the therapeutic effects of RCE. Metabolomics of serum and urine was used to identify the differential metabolites. Network pharmacology was applied to determine the key metabolites and potential targets. Finally, the potential targets and compounds of RCE were verified by molecular docking. Results: The results indicated that RCE suppressed foot swelling and alleviated joint damage and also had anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-1ß, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and P65. Ten and seven differential metabolites were found in the serum and urine, respectively, of rats. Six key targets, ie, phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A), phospholipase A2 group X (PLA2G10), cytidine deaminase (CDA), uridine-cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2), charcot-leyden crystal galectin (CLC), and 5',3'-nucleotidase, mitochondrial (NT5M), were discovered by network pharmacology and metabolite analysis and were found to be related to glycerophospholipid metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism. Molecular docking confirmed that the favorable compounds showed affinities with the key targets, including alizarin, 6-hydroxyrubiadin, ruberythric acid, and munjistin. Conclusion: This study revealed the underlying mechanisms of RCE and provided evidence that will allow researchers to further investigate the functions and components of RCE against RA.

The Effective Treatment of Purpurin on Inflammation and Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis.

Rubia cordifolia L. (Rubiaceae), one of the traditional anti-rheumatic herbal medicines in China, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since ancient times. Purpurin, an active compound of Rubia cordifolia L., has been identified in previous studies and exerts antibacterial, antigenotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. However, the efficacy and the underlying mechanism of purpurin to alleviate RA are unclear. In this study, the effect of purpurin on inflammation was investigated using macrophage RAW264.7 inflammatory cells, induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat was established to explore the effect of purpurin on joint damage and immune disorders; the network pharmacology and molecular docking were integrated to dig out the prospective target. Purpurin showed significantly anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the content of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß and increasing IL-10. Besides, purpurin obviously improved joint injury and hypotoxicity in the liver and spleen and regulated the level of FOXP3 and CD4+/CD8+. Furthermore, purpurin reduced the MMP3 content of AIA rats. Network pharmacology and molecular docking also suggested that MMP3 may be the key target of purpurin against RA. The results of this study strongly indicated that purpurin has a potential effect on anti-RA.

Ascophyllum nodosum polysaccharide regulates gut microbiota metabolites to protect against colonic inflammation in mice.

Ascophyllum nodosum polysaccharide (ANP) can protect against colonic inflammation but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study has determined the metabolites of gut microbiota regulated by ANP to reveal the mechanism of the anti-inflammation effect of ANP. Using an in vitro colonic fermentation model, the results indicate that gut microbiota could utilize a proportion of ANP to increase the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and decrease ammonia content. Metabolomics revealed that 46 differential metabolites, such as betaine, L-carnitine, and aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), could be altered by ANP. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that ANP mainly up-regulated the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, which were negatively correlated with inflammation progression. Interestingly, these metabolites associated with inflammation were also up-regulated by ANP in colitis mice, including betaine, L-carnitine, AICAR, N-acetyl-glutamine, tryptophan, and valine, which were mainly associated with amino acid metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. Furthermore, the metabolites modulated by ANP were associated with the relative abundances of Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Blautia, Coprobacillus, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. Additionally, based on VIP values, betaine is a key metabolite after the ANP supplement in vitro and in vivo. As indicated by these findings, ANP can up-regulate the production of SCFAs, betaine, L-carnitine, and AICAR and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis to protect against colonic inflammation and maintain intestinal health.

Fermented milk of cheese-derived Lactobacillus delbrueckiisubsp.bulgaricus displays potentials in alleviating alcohol-induced hepatic injury and gut dysbiosis in mice.

An isolate of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus L7) with robust antioxidant capacity was screened from traditional fermented Xinjiang cheese. Here, we focused on evaluating the effect of L. bulgaricus fermented milk on acute alcoholic liver disease prevention using a mice model, with glutathione treated mice as positive control. The results showed that both fermented milk and glutathione feeding could relieve alcohol-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses significantly. However, fermented milk feeding seemed to hold more promise in restoring gut dysbiosis relative to glutathione. Enhanced abundance of potential pathogens, Porphyromonas sp. and Enterococcus sp., induced by alcohol was considerably attenuated by additional feeding of fermented milk. Different scenario was firstly observed when additionally fed with glutathione in this study, showing remarkably increased abundance of Bacteroides sp. and Enterococcus sp. Our results suggested the more robust capability of L. bulgaricus fermented milk in restoring alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis relative to glutathione, indicating its potential protective effects on alcohol-induced hepatic injury.

The antitumour activity of C21 steroidal glycosides and their derivatives of Baishouwu: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Baishouwu has been used in China for thousands of years since it was first discovered in the late Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song and Ming Dynasties. The Chinese herbal medicines named Baishouwu include Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight., Cynanchum bungei Decne. and Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsl. It is described in the Sign of Materia Medica as "sweet, bitter, reinforce liver and kidney, and non-toxic". It is widely used for nourishing the blood to expel wind, reinforcing liver and kidney, strengthening bones and muscles. AIM OF THE REVIEW: In this review, the current research status of the C21 steroidal glycosides and their derivatives of Baishouwu for malignant tumours and their anti-tumour mechanisms are discussed. This may lay the ground for potential application of Baishouwu and its active ingredients in the treatment of tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scientific databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, Google Scholar, CNKI, WANFANG DATA and VIP were searched to gather data about Baishouwu and its C21 steroidal glycosides and their derivatives. RESULTS: Prior literature indicates that Baishouwu has important biological activities such as anti-tumour, anti-epileptic, reducing cholesterol, protection of liver and kidney and immunomodulatory, which are of increasing interest, especially its anti-tumour activity. Recent studies demonstrate that the C21 steroidal glycosides of Baishouwu, which have prominent antitumour efficacy, are one of its main active ingredients. Presently, a variety of C21 steroidal glycosides have been isolated from Baishouwu medicinal part, the tuberous root. This review summarizes the various antitumour activities of the C21 steroidal glycosides and their derivatives of Baishouwu. CONCLUSIONS: In this review, the antitumour effects and mechanisms of total C21 steroidal glycosides and monomers and derivatives of Baishouwu in vitro and in vivo were summarized. Baishouwu can inhibit tumourigenesis by blocking tumour cell cycle progression, regulating numerous signaling pathways, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting tumour cells proliferation and metastasis, improving immunity and so on. This review provides a theoretical basis for inheriting and developing the medical heritage of the motherland, exploring the resources of traditional Chinese medicine for ethnic minorities and clinical rational drug use.

Novisyntrophococcus fermenticellae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an anaerobic fermentation cellar of Chinese strong-flavour baijiu.

A Gram-stain-negative, coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain JN500902T, was isolated from the mud in a fermentation cellar used continuously over 30 years for Chinese strong-flavour baijiu production. Colonies were white, circular, convex and smooth-edged. Growth was observed at 20-40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 5.0-10 (optimum, pH 7.5), with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl and with 0-4 % (v/v) ethanol. The Biolog assay demonstrated positive reactions of strain JN500902T in the metabolism of l-fucose and pyruvate. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) consisted of C16 : 0 and C14 : 0. The major end metabolites of strain JN500902T were acetic acid and ethanol when incubated anaerobically in liquid reinforced clostridial medium. Acetate was the major organic acid end product. The complete genome size of strain JN500902T was 3 420 321 bp with 3327 identified genes. The G+C content was 43.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain JN500902T with the family Lachnospiraceae, having low sequence similarity (92.8 %) to the nearest type strain, Syntrophococcus sucromutans DSM 3224T and forming a clearly distinct branch. Core genome phylogenetic analysis of the isolate and 134 strains belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae also revealed that strain JN500902T was well-separated from other genera of this family as a monophyletic clade. The average nucleotide identity and amino acid identity values between strain JN500902T and 134 Lachnospiraceae strains were less than 74 and 65 %, respectively. Considering its polyphasic characteristics, strain JN500902T represents a novel genus and species within the family Lachnospiraceae, for which the name Novisyntrophococcus fermenticellae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JN500902T (=CICC 24502T=JCM 33939T).

Fabrication of Cu-hemin metal-organic-frameworks nanoflower supported on three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide for the amperometric detection of H2O2.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on Cu-hemin metal-organic-frameworks nanoflower/three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (Cu-hemin MOFs/3D-RGO) was constructed to detect H2O2 released from living cells. The nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile co-precipitation method using hemin as the ligand, then decorated with 3D-RGO. The prepared Cu-hemin MOFs showed a 3D hollow spherical flower-like structure with a large specific surface area and mesoporous properties, which could load more biomolecules and greatly enhance the stability by protecting the activity of hemin. In addition, the introduction of 3D-RGO effectively enhanced the conductivity of Cu-hemin MOFs. Thus, the proposed sensor (Cu-hemin MOFs/3D-RGO/GCE) showed excellent electrochemical performances towards H2O2 with a wide linear range (10-24,400 µM), high sensitivity (207.34 µA mM-1 cm-2), low LOD (0.14 µM), and rapid response time (less than 3 s). Most importantly, we prepared a Cu-hemin MOFs/3D-RGO/ITO electrode with cells growing on it. Compared with detecting H2O2 in cell suspension by GCE-based electrode, adhesion of cells on ITO could shorten the diffusion distance of H2O2 from solution to the surface of the electrode and achieve in situ and a real-time monitor of H2O2 released by living cells. This self-supported sensing electrode showed great potential applications in monitoring the pathological and physiological dynamics of cancer cells.

Au doped poly-thionine and poly-m-Cresol purple: Synthesis and their application in simultaneously electrochemical detection of two lung cancer markers CEA and CYFRA21-1.

The single tumor antigen does not have enough specificity and sensitivity to meet the accurate diagnostic criteria, and single antigen measurement is often prone to false negative and false positive perceptions. Therefore, simultaneous monitoring of multiple tumor antigens related to precise tumors in serum samples has become an interesting and encouraging analytical method. In this work, we demonstrated an electrochemical biosensor based on multiple signal amplification methods, and simultaneously detect two lung cancer markers, cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Large number of gold nanoparticles distributed on the surface of three-dimensional graphene (3D-G), poly-thionine (pThi) and poly-m-Cresol purple (pMCP) not only provide large number of binding sites for antigen and antibody, but also enhance the electrochemical signal of biosensor and greatly improves the sensitivity of the biosensor. The detection linear range extends from 0.5 to 200 ng/mL, with low detection limits (LOD) of 0.18 ng/mL and 0.31 ng/mL for CYFRA21-1 and CEA, respectively. Overall, this kind of immune-biosensor provides great potential for the simultaneous detection of multiple targets in early clinical diagnosis.

Surgical intervention combined with weight-bearing walking training improves neurological recoveries in 320 patients with clinically complete spinal cord injury: a prospective self-controlled study.

Although a large number of trials in the SCI field have been conducted, few proven gains have been realized for patients. In the present study, we determined the efficacy of a novel combination treatment involving surgical intervention and long-term weight-bearing walking training in spinal cord injury (SCI) subjects clinically diagnosed as complete or American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) Class A (AIS-A). A total of 320 clinically complete SCI subjects (271 male and 49 female), aged 16-60 years, received early (≤ 7 days, n = 201) or delayed (8-30 days, n = 119) surgical interventions to reduce intraspinal or intramedullary pressure. Fifteen days post-surgery, all subjects received a weight-bearing walking training with the "Kunming Locomotion Training Program (KLTP)" for a duration of 6 months. The neurological deficit and recovery were assessed using the AIS scale and a 10-point Kunming Locomotor Scale (KLS). We found that surgical intervention significantly improved AIS scores measured at 15 days post-surgery as compared to the pre-surgery baseline scores. Significant improvement of AIS scores was detected at 3 and 6 months and the KLS further showed significant improvements between all pair-wise comparisons of time points of 15 days, 3 or 6 months indicating continued improvement in walking scores during the 6-month period. In conclusion, combining surgical intervention within 1 month post-injury and weight-bearing locomotor training promoted continued and statistically significant neurological recoveries in subjects with clinically complete SCI, which generally shows little clinical recovery within the first year after injury and most are permanently disabled. This study was approved by the Science and Research Committee of Kunming General Hospital of PLA and Kunming Tongren Hospital, China and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04034108) on July 26, 2019.

Colorimetric and fluorescent dual-identification of glutathione based on its inhibition on the 3D ball-flower shaped Cu-hemin-MOF's peroxidase-like activity.

Hemin as the organic linker ligand and Cu (II) as the metal center were applied to prepare a copper-metal-organic framework (Cu-hemin-MOF) via one-step hydrothermal method. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) demonstrate that the acquired Cu-hemin-MOF possesses the appearance of 3D ball-flower shape with the existence of C, N, O, Fe, and Cu on the surface. Further study found that this 3D ball-flower shaped Cu-hemin-MOF exhibits peroxidase-like activity, which can catalyze the peroxidase substrate of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to generate 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) in the presence of H2O2. DAP has a yellow color and also emits a strong fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet light. Interestingly, Cu-hemin-MOF's peroxidase-like activity can be strongly inhibited by glutathione (GSH). In view of this, a dual readout (fluorescence and colorimetry) was proposed to detect GSH for the first time. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method exhibits good linear relationship between the signal response (fluorescence and colorimetry) and the concentration of GSH, and low limits of detection (LOD) of 2.3 and 26.6 nM, respectively.Graphical abstract.

Validation of a QuEChERS-Based Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Method for Analysis of Phthalate Esters in Grain Sorghum.

A modified QuEChERS method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for analysis of 14 phthalate esters (PAEs) in grain sorghum (GS). Chemical extraction was done with acetonitrile followed by dispersive-solid phase extraction technique with a mixture of sorbents including primary secondary amine and octadecyl silica. Under the optimized condition, the matrix-matched calibration curves for all PAEs showed good linear relationship in the concentration range between 5 and 500 µg/L with correlation coefficients (R2 ) better than 0.99. Mean recoveries were between 82.0% and 120.2% at spiking levels of 0.06, 0.6, and 2.0 mg/kg with RSD of 0.3% to 7.8% (n = 5) for intra-day precision and 1.2% to 7.6% (n = 5) for inter-day precision. The LODGS and LOQGS for 14 PAEs were between 0.4 and 10.0 µg/kg and 0.5 and 20.0 µg/kg, respectively. Analysis of 32 commercial GS samples revealed that dimethyl-, diethyl-, diisobutyl-, dibutyl-, and di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate esters were detected in all of the analytes. In addition, content-color scale model was applied to visualize the concentration differences of PAEs in real GS samples. Principal component analysis of PAEs revealed that the GS samples did not have a distinctive cluster based on their geographic origins. The established method was proven to be simple, accurate, and effective for analysis of PAEs in GS, which might also be applied for analysis of PAEs in other matrices. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A modified QuEChERS-based GC-MS method was developed for the determination of phthalate esters (PAEs) in grain sorghum (GS). The ubiquitous presence of PAEs can migrate into GS. Therefore, evaluation of the total content of PAEs in GS is helpful to understand its impact of overall pollution level on other foods. This study has provided some basic information in terms of the content and contamination of PAEs in GS, which is helpful to establish relevant standards and risk assessment of GS for the government.

Anti-fatigue activity of sea cucumber peptides prepared from Stichopus japonicus in an endurance swimming rat model.

BACKGROUND: Sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) is a well-known nutritious and luxurious seafood in Asia which has attracted increasing attention because of its nutrition and bioactivities in recent years. In this study, the anti-fatigue activity of sea cucumber peptides (SCP) prepared from S. japonicus was evaluated in a load-induced endurance swimming model. RESULTS: The SCP prepared in this study was mainly made up of low-molecular-weight peptides (<2 kDa). The analysis result of amino acid composition revealed that SCP was rich in glycine, glutamic acid and proline. The endurance capability of rats to fatigue was significantly improved by SCP treatment. Meanwhile, the remarkable alterations of energy metabolic markers, antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress biomarkers were normalized. Moreover, administration of SCP could modulate alterations of inflammatory cytokines and downregulate the overexpression of TRL4 and NF-κB. CONCLUSION: SCP has anti-fatigue activity and it exerted its anti-fatigue effect probably through normalizing energy metabolism as well as alleviating oxidative damage and inflammatory responses. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

An electrochemical DNA biosensor based on nitrogen-doped graphene/Au nanoparticles for human multidrug resistance gene detection.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has become a major obstacle to the adequate treatment of cancer patients; thus, there is an urgent need for exploring new strategies for early diagnosis of MDR in clinic. Here, we report a novel electrochemical biosensor based on nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets functionalized with Au nanoparticles (N-G/Au) for sensitive and selective DNA detection. The highly conductive nanocomposite layer was characterized by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. DNA with thiol groups at the 5' end was immobilized on the N-G/Au surface via the strong Au-S bond. Differential pulse voltammetry was applied to monitor the target DNA hybridization event using methylene blue as an electrochemical indicator. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor could detect target DNA down to 3.12×10(-15)M with a linear range from 1.0×10(-14) to 1.0×10(-7)M, showing high sensitivity. Further, the sensing strategy was successfully used for detecting MDR1 DNA in real clinical samples. These results will aid in developing a new portable detection system for MDR that will allow effective diagnosis in the early stages of related cancer.

Phase I-II Clinical Trial Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell Transplant Therapy of Chronic Complete Spinal Cord Injury.

Umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cell (UCB-MNC) transplants improve recovery in animal spinal cord injury (SCI) models. We transplanted UCB-MNCs into 28 patients with chronic complete SCI in Hong Kong (HK) and Kunming (KM). Stemcyte Inc. donated UCB-MNCs isolated from human leukocyte antigen (HLA ≥4:6)-matched UCB units. In HK, four patients received four 4-µl injections (1.6 million cells) into dorsal entry zones above and below the injury site, and another four received 8-µl injections (3.2 million cells). The eight patients were an average of 13 years after C5-T10 SCI. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging of five patients showed white matter gaps at the injury site before treatment. Two patients had fiber bundles growing across the injury site by 12 months, and the rest had narrower white matter gaps. Motor, walking index of SCI (WISCI), and spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) scores did not change. In KM, five groups of four patients received four 4-µl (1.6 million cells), 8-µl (3.2 million cells), 16-µl injections (6.4 million cells), 6.4 million cells plus 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone (MP), or 6.4 million cells plus MP and a 6-week course of oral lithium carbonate (750 mg/day). KM patients averaged 7 years after C3-T11 SCI and received 3-6 months of intensive locomotor training. Before surgery, only two patients walked 10 m with assistance and did not need assistance for bladder or bowel management before surgery. The rest could not walk or do their bladder and bowel management without assistance. At about a year (41-87 weeks), WISCI and SCIM scores improved: 15/20 patients walked 10 m ( p = 0.001) and 12/20 did not need assistance for bladder management ( p = 0.001) or bowel management ( p = 0.002). Five patients converted from complete to incomplete (two sensory, three motor; p = 0.038) SCI. We conclude that UCB-MNC transplants and locomotor training improved WISCI and SCIM scores. We propose further clinical trials.

Chemical analysis of the Chinese liquor Luzhoulaojiao by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Luzhoulaojiao liquor is a type of Chinese liquor that dates back hundreds of years, but whose precise chemical composition remains unknown. This paper describes the screening of the liquor and the identification of its compounds using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOF-MS). Samples were prepared by both liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase microextraction, which facilitated the detection of thousands of compounds in the liquor, thus demonstrating the superior performance of the proposed method over those reported in previous studies. A total of 320 compounds were common to all 18 types of Luzhoulaojiao liquor studied here, and 13 abundant and potentially bioactive compounds were further quantified. The results indicated that the high-performance method presented here is well suited for the detection and identification of compounds in liquors. This study also contributes to enriching our knowledge of the contents of Chinese liquors.