Fast Nano-IR Hyperspectral Imaging Empowered by Large-Dataset-Free Miniaturized Spatial-Spectral Network.

The emerging field of nanoscale infrared (nano-IR) offers label-free molecular contrast, yet its imaging speed is limited by point-by-point traverse acquisition of a three-dimensional (3D) data cube. Here, we develop a spatial-spectral network (SS-Net), a miniaturized deep-learning model, together with compressive sampling to accelerate the nano-IR imaging. The compressive sampling is performed in both the spatial and spectral domains to accelerate the imaging process. The SS-Net is trained to learn the mapping from small nano-IR image patches to the corresponding spectra. With this elaborated mapping strategy, the training can be finished quickly within several minutes using the subsampled data, eliminating the need for a large-labeled dataset of common deep learning methods. We also designed an efficient loss function, which incorporates the image and spectral similarity to enhance the training. We first validate the SS-Net on an open stimulated Raman-scattering dataset; the results exhibit the potential of 10-fold imaging speed improvement with state-of-the-art performance. We then demonstrate the versatility of this approach on atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) microscopy with 7-fold imaging speed improvement, even on nanoscale Fourier transform infrared (nano-FTIR) microscopy with up to 261.6 folds faster imaging speed. We further showcase the generalization of this method on AFM-force volume-based multiparametric nanoimaging. This method establishes a paradigm for rapid nano-IR imaging, opening new possibilities for cutting-edge research in materials, photonics, and beyond.

Wearable sensor supports in-situ and continuous monitoring of plant health in precision agriculture era.

Plant health is intricately linked to crop quality, food security and agricultural productivity. Obtaining accurate plant health information is of paramount importance in the realm of precision agriculture. Wearable sensors offer an exceptional avenue for investigating plant health status and fundamental plant science, as they enable real-time and continuous in-situ monitoring of physiological biomarkers. However, a comprehensive overview that integrates and critically assesses wearable plant sensors across various facets, including their fundamental elements, classification, design, sensing mechanism, fabrication, characterization and application, remains elusive. In this study, we provide a meticulous description and systematic synthesis of recent research progress in wearable sensor properties, technology and their application in monitoring plant health information. This work endeavours to serve as a guiding resource for the utilization of wearable plant sensors, empowering the advancement of plant health within the precision agriculture paradigm.

Metabolic profiles of Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule in rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Fufang Xiling Jiedu capsule (FXJC), a traditional Chinese medicine that evolved from "Yinqiao Powder", is widely used for the treatment of cold and influenza. However, due to a lack of in vivo metabolism research, the chemical components responsible for the therapeutic effects still remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to describe the metabolic profiles of the FXJC in rat plasma, urine, and feces. A combined data mining strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry was employed and 201 xenobiotics, including 117 prototype components and 84 metabolites were detected. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenes, and lignans were prominent ingredients absorbed in vivo, and the major metabolic pathways of the detected metabolites were glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, and oxidation. This is the first systematic study on the metabolism of the FXJC in vivo, providing valuable information for future studies on the efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism of the FXJC.

Active volatile components of the preferred hosts are potential attractants to Hyphantria cunea adults.

The extraordinary adaptability and dispersal abilities have allowed Hyphantria cunea to expand its range, posing a great threat to urban landscapes and natural ecosystems. Searching for safe, efficient, and low-cost control methods may provide new strategies for pest management in H. cunea spread areas. In this study, based on the attraction of insects by preferred hosts, it was found that the response rates of virgin H. cunea female adults to Salix matsudana, Juglans mandshurica and Ulmus pumila were 89.17%, 97.92% and 93.98%, respectively. It was further found that this significant preference was mainly related to the volatiles m-xylene, o-xylene, dodecane and tetradecane found in the three species. Even though all four compounds at 10 µL/mL and 100 µL/mL had significant attractive effects on the virgin H. cunea female adults, m-xylene and dodecane at 100 µL/mL elicited significant EAG responses and tending behaviors by stimulating the olfactory receptor neurons (ORN A) of females, with response rates of 83.13% and 84.17%, while also having significant attractive effects on virgin male adults with rates of 65.74% and 67.51%. Therefore, both m-xylene and dodecane which at concentrations of 100 µL/mL had strong attractions to adults, could be used as the first choice of attractants for both sexes of H. cunea. This has important practical significance in reducing the frequency of H. cunea generations, limiting their population, controlling their spread range, and improving the efficiency of pest management in epidemic areas.

Impact of total cerebral small vessel disease score on ophthalmic artery morphologies and hemodynamics.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a systemic disease, affecting not only the brain, but also eyes and other organs. The total CSVD score is a tool for comprehensive evaluation of brain lesions in patients with CSVD. The ophthalmic artery (OA) is a direct response to ocular blood flow. However, little is known about the correlation between CSVD and characteristics of OA. We investigated the OA morphologies and hemodynamics in patients with CSVD and the correlation between these changes and the total CSVD score. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 34 eyes from 22 patients with CSVD and 10 eyes from 5 healthy controls. The total CSVD score was rated according to the CSVD signs on magnetic resonance imaging. OA morphological characteristics were measured on the basis of 3D OA model reconstruction. OA hemodynamic information was calculated using computational fluid dynamics simulations. RESULTS: The total CSVD score negatively correlated with the OA diameter, blood flow velocity, and mass flow ratio (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the total CSVD score was still independently correlated with the OA blood velocity (ß = - 0.202, P = 0.005). The total CSVD score was not correlated with OA angle (P > 0.05). The presence of cerebral microbleeds and enlarged perivascular spaces was correlated with the OA diameter (both P < 0.01), while the lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities were correlated with the OA blood velocity (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease of the blood velocity in the OA was associated with the increase in the total CSVD score. The changes of the OA diameter and velocity were associated with the presence of various CSVD signs. The findings suggest that more studies are needed in the future to evaluate CSVD by observing the morphologies and hemodynamics of OA.

Rapid theoretical method for inverse design on a tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) probe.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) can provide correlated topographic and chemical information at the nanoscale, with great sensitivity and spatial resolution depending on the configuration of the TERS probe. The sensitivity of the TERS probe is largely determined by two effects: the lightning-rod effect and local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). While 3D numerical simulations have traditionally been used to optimize the TERS probe structure by sweeping two or more parameters, this method is extremely resource-intensive, with computation times growing exponentially as the number of parameters increases. In this work, we propose an alternative rapid theoretical method that reduces computational loading while still achieving effective TERS probe optimization through the inverse design method. By applying this method to optimize a TERS probe with four free-structural parameters, we observed a nearly 1 order of magnitude improvement in enhancement factor (|E/E0|2), in contrast to a parameter sweeping 3D simulation that would take ∼7000 hours of computation. Our method, therefore, shows great promise as a useful tool for designing not only TERS probes but also other near-field optical probes and optical antennas.

Swelling-Activated, Soft Mechanochemistry in Polymer Materials.

Swelling in polymer materials is a ubiquitous phenomenon. At a molecular level, swelling is dictated by solvent-polymer interactions, and has been thoroughly studied both theoretically and experimentally. Favorable solvent-polymer interactions result in the solvation of polymer chains. For polymers in confined geometries, such as those that are tethered to surfaces, or for polymer networks, solvation can lead to swelling-induced tensions. These tensions act on polymer chains and can lead to stretching, bending, or deformation of the material both at the micro- and macroscopic scale. This Invited Feature Article sheds light on such swelling-induced mechanochemical phenomena in polymer materials across dimensions, and discusses approaches to visualize and characterize these effects.

Analysis of the factors affecting the loss of correction effect in patients with congenital scoliosis after one stage posterior hemivertebrae resection and orthosis fusion.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the factors affecting the loss of correction effect in patients with congenital scoliosis after one stage posterior hemivertebra resection, orthosis, fusion and internal fixation. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with congenital scoliosis (CS) who underwent one-stage posterior hemivertebra resection, orthosis, fusion and internal fixation were retrospectively included in Hebei Children's Hospital General demographic information of patients was collected. Preoperative and postoperative imaging indicators were compared, Including cobb Angle of the main curvature of the spine, segmental Cobb Angle, compensatory cephalic curve, compensatory curve on the caudal side, segmental kyphosis, coronal balance, sagittal balance, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and apical vertebra translation. Correlation analysis is used to evaluate the factors affecting the loss of judgment and correction effect, and the correlation indicators are included in the multi-factor Logistics regression. RESULTS: In terms of radiographic indicators in the coronal plane, compared to preoperative values, significant improvements were observed in postoperative Cobb Angle of main curve (8.00°±4.62° vs. 33.30°±9.86°), Segmental Cobb angle (11.87°±6.55° vs. 31.29°±10.03°), Compensatory cephalic curve (6.22°±6.33° vs. 14.75°±12.50°), Compensatory curve on the caudal side (5.58°±3.43° vs. 12.61°±8.72°), coronal balance (10.95 mm ± 8.65 mm vs. 13.52 mm ± 11.03 mm), and apical vertebra translation (5.96 mm ± 5.07 mm vs. 16.55 mm ± 8.39 mm) (all P < 0.05). In the sagittal plane, significant improvements were observed in Segmental kyposis Angle (7.60°±9.36° vs. 21.89°±14.62°, P < 0.05) as compared to preoperative values. At the last follow-up, Segmental kyphosis Angle (6.09°±9.75° vs. 21.89°±14.62°, P < 0.05), Thoracic kyphosis (26.57°±7.68° vs. 24.06°±10.49°, P < 0.05) and Lumbar lordosis (32.12°±13.15° vs. 27.84°±16.68°, P < 0.05) had statistical significance compared with the preoperative department. The correlation analysis showed that the correction effect of the main curve Cobb angle was correlated with fixed segment length (rs=-0.318, P = 0.048), postoperative segment Cobb angle (rs=-0.600, P < 0.001), preoperative apical vertebra translation (rs = 0.440, P = 0.005), and spinal cord malformation (rs=-0.437, P = 0.005). The correction effect of segmental kyphosis was correlated with age (rs = 0.388, P = 0.037). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that postoperative segmental Cobb angle > 10° (OR = 0.011, 95%CI:0.001-0.234, P = 0.004), associated spinal cord anomalies (OR = 24.369, 95%CI:1.057-561.793, P = 0.046), and preoperative apical translation > 10 mm (OR = 0.012, 95%CI:0.000-0.438, P = 0.016) were influential factors in the progression of the main curve Cobb angle. CONCLUSION: The one-stage posterior hemivertebra resection and short-segment corrective fusion with internal fixation are effective means to treat congenital scoliosis. However, attention should be paid to the loss of correction and curve progression during follow-up. Patients with spinal cord malformation and a large preoperative apical vertebra translation have a greater risk of losing the correction after surgery.

Psoralen induces liver injury and affects hepatic bile acids metabolism in female and male C57BL/6J mice.

Psoralen is a major component of Fructus Psoraleae that could induce liver injury. In this study, C57BL/6J mice were administered with psoralen at doses of 80 mg/kg for 3, 7 and 14 days. Blood and liver samples were collected for serum biochemistry and histopathology examinations, respectively. Psoralen led to liver injury with significantly increased liver weight and liver coefficient and up regulated serum ALT, AST and TG but down regulated serum TC and TP. The expression of bile acid-associated transporters and enzymes was detected by western blot, and the results showed that psoralen significantly down-regulates the expressions of CYP7A1, CYP27A1, BSEP and OSTα protein while up-regulates the expressions of HMGCR and FASN, resulting in the obstacles of bile acid efflux in the liver. The contents of 24 kinds of bile acids in the liver were measured by LC-MS/MS, and the results showed that psoralen led to the accumulation of unconjugated bile acids in the liver, such as ALCA and CA, which were more severe in male mice than female mice. It was indicated that psoralen may disrupt the balance of bile acid metabolism by inhibiting the expression of the efflux transporter, which then leads to liver damage.

Effect of intraoperative remimazolam on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients after total joint arthroplasty: a randomized control trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intraoperative remimazolam sedation on postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients after total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: Between May 15, 2021 and March 26, 2022, 108 elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) who received total joint arthroplasty under neuraxial anesthesia were randomized into remimazolam group (a loading dose of 0.025-0.1 mg/kg and followed by an infusion rate of 0.1-1.0 mg/kg/h till end of surgery) or routine group (sedation was given on patient's requirement by dexmedetomidine 0.2-0.7 µg/kg/h). Primary outcome was the subjective sleep quality at surgery night which was evaluated by Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). Secondary outcomes included RCSQ scores at postoperative first and second nights and numeric rating scale pain intensity within first 3 days after surgery. RESULTS: RCSQ score at surgery night was 59 (28, 75) in remimazolam group which was comparable with 53 (28, 67) in routine group (median difference 6, 95% CI - 6 to 16, P = 0.315). After adjustment of confounders, preoperative high Pittsburg sleep quality index was associated worse RCSQ score (P = 0.032), but not remimazolam (P = 0.754). RCSQ score at postoperative first night [69 (56, 85) vs. 70 (54, 80), P = 0.472] and second night [80 (68, 87) vs. 76 (64, 84), P = 0.066] were equivalent between two groups. Safety outcomes were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative remimazolam did not significantly improve postoperative sleep quality in elderly patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. But it is proved to be effective and safe for moderate sedation in these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY URL: ChiCTR2000041286 ( www.chictr.org.cn ).

A Parotid Gland Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma in a 4-Year-Old Boy: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is characterized by similar histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features with breast secretory carcinoma. MASC usually occurs in adults. Case report: A 4-year-old boy presented with a right infra-auricular mass. Features of the tumor include solid, tubular, and papillary growth patterns, with homogenous eosinophilic secretions inside microcystic structures. Immunohistochemical stains showed strong, diffuse staining for CK7, S100, pan-TRK protein. P63 was positive in a peripheral pattern. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed the characteristic ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion. Conclusion: Typical histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features are present in MASC occurring early in childhood.

[Mechanism of Marsdenia tenacissima against ovarian cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

The present study aimed to explore the main active components and underlying mechanisms of Marsdenia tenacissima in the treatment of ovarian cancer(OC) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro cell experiments. The active components of M. tenacissima were obtained from the literature search, and their potential targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction. The OC-related targets were retrieved from Therapeutic Target Database(TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), GeneCards, and PharmGKB. The common targets of the drug and the disease were screened out by Venn diagram. Cytoscape was used to construct an "active component-target-disease" network, and the core components were screened out according to the node degree. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of the common targets was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape, and the core targets were screened out according to the node degree. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of potential therapeutic targets were carried out with DAVID database. Molecular docking was used to determine the binding activity of some active components to key targets by AutoDock. Finally, the anti-OC activity of M. tenacissima extract was verified based on SKOV3 cells in vitro. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was selected for in vitro experimental verification according to the results of GO function and KEGG pathway analyses. Network pharmacology results showed that 39 active components, such as kaempferol, 11α-O-benzoyl-12ß-O-acetyltenacigenin B, and drevogenin Q, were screened out, involving 25 core targets such as AKT1, VEGFA, and EGFR, and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was the main pathway of target protein enrichment. The results of molecular docking also showed that the top ten core components showed good binding affinity to the top ten core targets. The results of in vitro experiments showed that M. tenacissima extract could significantly inhibit the proliferation of OC cells, induce apoptosis of OC cells through the mitochondrial pathway, and down-regulate the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This study shows that M. tenacissima has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergistic effect in the treatment of OC, which provides a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the material basis, mechanism, and clinical application.

Synthesis of Cationic Biphen[4, 5]arenes as Biofilm Disruptors.

Since bacteria in biofilms are inherently resistant to antibiotics and biofilm-associated infections pose a serious threat to global public health, new therapeutic agents and schemes are urgently needed to meet clinical requirements. Here two quaternary ammonium-functionalized biphen[n]arenes (WBPn, n=4, 5) were designed and synthesized with excellent anti-biofilm potency. Not only could they inhibit the assembly of biofilms, but also eradicate intractable mature biofilms formed by Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli bacterial strains. Moreover, they could strongly complex a conventional antibiotic, cefazolin sodium (CFZ) with complex stability constants of (7.41±0.29)×104  M-1 for CFZ/WBP4 and (4.98±0.49)×103  M-1 for CFZ/WBP5. Combination of CFZ by WBP4 and WBP5 synergistically enhanced biofilm eradication performance in vitro and statistically improved healing efficacy on E. coli-infected mice models, providing a novel supramolecular strategy for combating biofilm-associated infections.

Mechanism of Cations Suppressing Proton Diffusion Kinetics for Electrocatalysis.

Proton transfer is crucial for electrocatalysis. Accumulating cations at electrochemical interfaces can alter the proton transfer rate and then tune electrocatalytic performance. However, the mechanism for regulating proton transfer remains ambiguous. Here, we quantify the cation effect on proton diffusion in solution by hydrogen evolution on microelectrodes, revealing the rate can be suppressed by more than 10 times. Different from the prevalent opinions that proton transport is slowed down by modified electric field, we found water structure imposes a more evident effect on kinetics. FTIR test and path integral molecular dynamics simulation indicate that proton prefers to wander within the hydration shell of cations rather than to hop rapidly along water wires. Low connectivity of water networks disrupted by cations corrupts the fast-moving path in bulk water. This study highlights the promising way for regulating proton kinetics via a modified water structure.

Pericytes Regulate Cerebral Perfusion through VEGFR1 in Ischemic Stroke.

Neurons in the penumbra (the area surrounding ischemic tissue that consists of still viable tissue but with reduced blood flow and oxygen transport) may be rescued following stroke if adequate perfusion is restored in time. It has been speculated that post-stroke angiogenesis in the penumbra can reduce damage caused by ischemia. However, the mechanism for neovasculature formation in the brain remains unclear and vascular-targeted therapies for brain ischemia remain suboptimal. Here, we show that VEGFR1 was highly upregulated in pericytes after stroke. Knockdown of VEGFR1 in pericytes led to increased infarct area and compromised post-ischemia vessel formation. Furthermore, in vitro studies confirmed a critical role for pericyte-derived VEGFR1 in both endothelial tube formation and pericyte migration. Interestingly, our results show that pericyte-derived VEGFR1 has opposite effects on Akt activity in endothelial cells and pericytes. Collectively, these results indicate that pericyte-specific expression of VEGFR1 modulates ischemia-induced vessel formation and vascular integrity in the brain.

Clip closure to prevent adverse events after EMR of proximal large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps: meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After EMR, prophylactic clipping is often performed to prevent clinically significant post-EMR bleeding (CSPEB) and other adverse events (AEs). Prior evidence syntheses have lacked sufficient power to assess clipping in relevant subgroups or in nonbleeding AEs. We performed a meta-analysis of individual patient data (IPD) from randomized trials assessing the efficacy of clipping to prevent AEs after EMR of proximal large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCPs) ≥20 mm. METHODS: We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and PubMed from inception to May 19, 2021. Two reviewers screened citations in duplicate. Corresponding authors of eligible studies were invited to contribute IPD. A random-effects 1-stage model was specified for estimating pooled effects, adjusting for patient sex and age and for lesion location and size, whereas a fixed-effects model was used for traditional meta-analyses. RESULTS: From 3145 citations, 4 trials were included, representing 1248 patients with proximal LNPCPs. The overall rate of CSPEB was 3.5% and 9.0% in clipped and unclipped patients, respectively. IPD were available for 1150 patients, in which prophylactic clipping prevented CSPEB with an odds ratio (OR) of .31 (95% confidence interval [CI], .17-.54). Clipping was not associated with perforation or abdominal pain, with ORs of .78 (95% CI, .17-3.54) and .67 (95% CI, .20-2.22), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic clipping is efficacious in preventing CSPEB after EMR of proximal LNPCPs. Therefore, clip closure should be considered a standard component of EMR of LNPCPs in the proximal colon.

Complexation of specific residues by carboxylatopillar[6]arene for improving the zymolytic stability of arginine-containing peptides.

A general strategy for improving the zymolytic stability against proteases is reported. Carboxylatopillar[6]arene (CP6A) could effectively bind arginine and arginine-containing peptides, thereby improving the stability of angiotensin peptides in the presence of trypsin by the complexation of the side chain of the arginine residue.

Prophylactic clipping to prevent delayed colonic post-polypectomy bleeding: meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Delayed post-polypectomy bleeding (DPPB) is a commonly described adverse event following polypectomy. Prophylactic clipping may prevent DPPB in some patient subgroups. We performed a meta-analysis to assess both the efficacy and real-world effectiveness of prophylactic clipping. METHODS: We performed a database search through March 2020 for clinical trials or observational studies assessing prophylactic clipping and DPPB. Pooled risk ratios (RR) were calculated using random effects models. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were performed to elucidate clinical or methodological factors associated with effects on outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 2771 citations were screened, with 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 9 observational studies included, representing 24,670 colonoscopies. DPPB occurred in 2.0% of patients overall. The pooled RR of DPPB was 0.47 (95% CI 0.29-0.77) from RCTs enrolling only patients with polyps ≥ 20 mm. Remaining pooled RCT data did not demonstrate a benefit for clipping. The pooled RR of DPPB was 0.96 (95% CI 0.61-1.51) from observational studies including all polyp sizes. For patients with proximal polyps of any size, the RR was 0.73 (95% CI 0.33-1.62) from RCTs. Meta-regression confirmed that polyp size ≥ 20 mm significantly influenced the effect of clipping on DPPB. CONCLUSION: Pooled evidence demonstrates a benefit when clipping polyps measuring ≥ 20 mm, especially in the proximal colon. In lower-risk subgroups, prophylactic clipping likely results in little to no difference in DPPB.

The changes of hepatic bile acid synthesis and transport and bile acids profiles in isopsoralen-induced liver injury C57BL/6J mice.

CONTEST: Isopsoralen, one of the main active and quality-control compounds in Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae), has antitumor and oestrogen-like effects. Previous studies demonstrated that isopsoralen induced hepatotoxicity and its long-term exposure led to cholestatic liver injury. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the effect of three- or seven-day exposure of low dose isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) on bile acid homeostasis in C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, three- and seven-day groups (n = 14 per group, half female and half male). Isopsoralen suspension was administrated intragastrically at 80 mg/kg once a day. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure biochemical indices and transport of BAs. The histopathology of the liver was also observed. HPLC-MS/MS was also used to measure the BAs profiles and transport activity. RESULTS: In the study, isopsoralen increased the levels of serum AST, ALT in three- and seven-day groups, and caused vacuolar degeneration and swelling in the liver. Canalicular efflux transporters BSEP, OSTα, MRP2, MRP3, and basolateral uptake transporters NTCP, OATP4 were inhibited after seven-day-administration. Moreover, amino acid binding enzymes (BAAT and BACS) were also inhibited after seven-day-administration. The composition of BAs changed greatly and the concentration of some unconjugated-BAs which have stronger hydrophobicity, such as CA, CDCA, was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) caused hepatotoxicity after short-term exposure by inhibiting the expression of efflux transporters, amino acid binding enzymes, and disrupting BAs spectrum.

Anti-pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus potential of Xilingjiedu capsule in vitro.

This study is aimed to investigate the effect of Xilingjiedu capsule (XLC), one of a preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, on influenza A (H1N1) virus as well as its preliminary mechanism. The median cell mortality (TC50) to A549 cells and half effective inhibition concentration (IC50) of influenza A (H1N1) virus of XLC were determined by MTT assay. Reed-Muench method was used to calculated the 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of H1N1 virus to A549 cells. In mechanism research, the mRNA expression levels of MyD88, TLR4, TLR7 and TRAF6 and the protein expression level of MyD88 were detected by using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The results suggested that XLC showed good anti influenza A (H1N1) virus activity. The antiviral mechanism of XLC was related to the Toll-like signaling pathway. It could drown regulate the mRNA expression level of MyD88 and TLR4 and the protein level of MyD88. This research provides reference for the application of XLC in anti influenza virus.