Efficient removal of phosphorus and nitrogen from aquatic environment using sepiolite-MgO nanocomposites: preparation, characterization, removal performance, and mechanism.

Excessive phosphorus will lead to eutrophication in aquatic environment; the efficient removal of phosphorus is crucial for wastewater engineering and surface water management. This study aimed to fabricate a nanorod-like sepiolite-supported MgO (S-MgO) nanocomposite with high specific surface area for efficient phosphate removal using a facile microwave-assisted method and calcining processes. The impact of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial phosphate concentrations, Ca2+ addition, and N/P ratio on the phosphate removal was extensively examined by the batch experiments. The findings demonstrated that the S-MgO nanocomposite exhibited effective removal performance for low-level phosphate (0 ~ 2.0 mM) within the pH range of 3.0 ~ 10.0. Additionally, the nanocomposite can synchronously remove phosphate and ammonium in high-level nutrient conditions (> 2.0 mM), with the maximum removal capacities of 188.49 mg P/g and 89.78 mg N/g. Quantitative and qualitative analyses confirmed the successful harvesting of struvite in effluent with high-phosphate concentrations, with the mechanisms involved attributed to a synergistic combination of sorption and struvite crystallization. Due to its proficient phosphate removal efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and substantial removal capacity, the developed S-MgO nanocomposite exhibits promising potential for application in phosphorus removal from aquatic environments.

Kuntai capsule attenuates premature ovarian insufficiency by activating the FOXO3/SIRT5 signaling pathway in mice: A comprehensive study using UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap and integrated pharmacology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Classical prescriptions are not only a primary method of clinical treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but also represent breakthroughs in the inheritance and development of this field. Kuntai capsule (KTC), a formulation based on a classical prescription, comprises six TCMs: Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Coptidis Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Scutellariae Radix, Asini Corii Colla, and Poria. This formulation possesses various beneficial effects, such as nourishing yin and blood, clearing heat and purging fire, and calming the nerves and relieving annoyance. The investigation of the efficacy and mechanism of KTC in regulating anti-aging factors in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is not only a prominent topic in classical prescription research but also a crucial issue in the treatment of female reproductive aging using TCM. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of KTC on POI and its underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy and specific pathogen-free (SPF) female Kunming mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected. After acclimatization, the mice were randomly divided into a control, model, and high, middle, and low dose groups of KTC (1.6, 0.8, and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively). Except for the control group, the animals in the other groups were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide and 30 mg/kg Busulfan to induce the model of POI. After modeling, the mice were treated with the corresponding drugs for 7 days. Serum and ovarian tissues were collected, and the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The chemical composition of KTC was characterized and analyzed using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using network pharmacology research methods to identify the key active components of KTC in treating POI and to elucidate its potential mechanism. The protein expression of the FOXO3/SIRT5 pathway was detected by western blotting. RESULTS: Compared to the model group, the high-dose group of KTC showed a significant increase in ovarian index, significant increase in levels of E2 and SOD2, and a significant decrease in FSH levels. Through systematic analysis of the chemical constituents of KTC, 69 compounds were identified, including 7 organic acids, 14 alkaloids, 28 flavonoids, 15 terpenoids, 2 lignans, 2 phenylpropanoids, and 1 sugar. Based on network pharmacology research methods, it was determined that KTC exerts its therapeutic effect on POI through multiple components (paeoniflorin and malic acid), multiple targets (FOXO3 and SIRT5), and multiple pathways (prolactin signaling pathway, longevity regulating pathway, and metabolic pathways). The accuracy of the network pharmacology prediction was further validated by detecting the protein expression of SIRT5 and FOXO3a, which showed a significant increase in the middle and high-dose groups of KTC compared to the model group. CONCLUSIONS: KTC may effectively treat POI through a multi-component, multi-target, multi-pathway approach, providing an experimental basis for using KTC based on classical prescriptions in the treatment of POI.

Effects of dietary Astragalus membranaceus and Codonopsis pilosula extracts on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status, and intestinal health in broilers.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) consisting of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (AMT) and Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf (CPO) extracts on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status, and intestinal health of broiler chickens. Two groups were formed, each consisting of six replicates of 12 one-day-old healthy male 817 white feather broilers. Broilers were fed either a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg CHM. The trial lasted 50 days. The results showed that CHM supplementation resulted in enhanced feed efficiency and antioxidant capacity in both the serum and liver, while it reduced uric acid and endotoxin levels, as well as diamine oxidase activity (p < 0.05). Additionally, CHM treatment increased the height of jejunum villi and upregulated Claudin-1 expression in the jejunal mucosa accompanied by an increase in the mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interferon-ß (IFN-ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) (p < 0.05). The presence of dietary CHM caused an increase in the proportions of Bacteroidetes and unclassified Bacteroidales but led to a decrease in those of Firmicutes and Alistipes (p < 0.05). The composition of the jejunal mucosa microbiota was correlated with the feed conversion ratio, serum metabolites, and gene expression based on Spearman correlation analysis. The findings indicated that the consumption of dietary CHM improved the utilization of feed, increased the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the jejunal mucosa, and decreased the endotoxin level and activities of diamine oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase in the serum, which could potentially be linked to changes in the gut microbiota of broiler chickens.

Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on growth performance, slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity and meat quality characteristics of finishing bulls.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE) on growth performance, slaughter performance, antioxidant capacity and meat quality characteristics of finishing bulls. Twenty Yanbian cattle (bulls) with initial body weight (BW) 485 ± 42 kg were randomly divided into two groups (control and treatment groups) and participated in a100-day finishing trial. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet (total mixed ration, TMR). The treatment group was fed a basal diet supplemented with VE (provided as α-tocopherol acetate, 700 IU/bull/day). VE supplementation significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) of finishing bulls, the beef marbling score, meat color parameters (a* [redness]), intramuscular fat content, the concentration of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), VE and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-13) in the serum and muscle tissue (P < 0.05). VE supplementation significantly decreased drip loss and cooking loss of the beef, the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in the serum and muscle tissue, the concentration of malondialdehyde in the muscle tissue (P < 0.05), and tended to decrease the feed: gain (P = 0.077) and shear force (P = 0.062) of the beef. In conclusion, VE supplementation can improve the meat quality parameters of finishing bulls, especially the improvement of beef tenderness. The improvement of beef tenderness by VE supplementation may be related to the increase of MMPs concentration, and a potential mechanism for the secretion of MMPs by VE supplementation may be related to its antioxidant capacity.

Quantitative Detection of the Raw Ore Turquoise Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Technology.

Turquoise is one of the key ingredients in some magical Tibetan medicines, and its quality and content directly affect the medicine's effectiveness. In this paper, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology was first applied to detect the raw materials of Tibetan medicine. The traditional data analysis methods could not meet the practical requirements of modern Tibetan medicine factories due to matrix effects. The concept of correlation coefficient (ρ) in pattern recognition technique was introduced as an evaluation index, and the model was established based on the intensities of the four characteristic Al and Cu spectral lines of the samples for different contents of turquoise, which was applied to estimate the contents of turquoise in the samples to be tested. We detected the LIBS on 126 samples of raw ore from 42 areas in China and evaluated the turquoise content using self-developed software with an error of <10%. This paper's technical testing process and methods can also be applied to test other mineral compositions and provide technical support for modernizing and standardizing Tibetan medicines.

Systems biology strategy through integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanisms of Xiaopi Hewei Capsule improves functional dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the more common functional disorders, with a prevalence of 20-25 %. It seriously affects the quality life of patients. Xiaopi Hewei Capsule (XPHC) is a classic formula originated from the Chinese Miao minority. Clinical studies have demonstrated that XPHC can effectively alleviate the symptoms of FD, but the molecular mechanism has not been elucidated. The purpose of this work is to investigate the mechanism of XPHC on FD by integrating metabolomics and network pharmacology. The mice models of FD were established, and gastric emptying rate, small intestine propulsion rate, serum level of motilin and gastrin were evaluate to study the interventional effect of XPHC on FD. Next, a metabolomics strategy has been developed to screen differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways induced by XPHC. Then, prediction of active compounds, targets and pathways of XPHC in treating FD were carried out by commonly used network pharmacological method. Finally, two parts of the results were integrated to investigate therapeutic mechanism of XPHC on FD, which were preliminary validated based on molecular docking. Thus, twenty representative different metabolites and thirteen related pathways of XPHC in treating FD were identified. Most of these metabolites were restored using modulation after XPHC treatment. The results of the network pharmacology analysis showed ten crucial compounds and nine hub genes related to the treatment of FD with XPHC. The further integrated analysis focused on four key targets, such as albumin (ALB), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and roto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC), and three representative biomarkers such as citric acid, L-leucine and eicosapentaenoic acid. Furthermore, molecular docking results showed that ten bioactive compounds from XPHC have good binding interactions with the four key genes. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the potential mechanism of XPHC in treating FD was mainly associated with energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, inflammatory reactions and mucosal repair. Our work confirms that network pharmacology-integrated metabolomics strategyis a powerful means to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms of XPHC improves FD, which contribute its further scientific research.

Microbial degradation of petroleum characteristic pollutants in hypersaline environment, emphasizing n-hexadecane and 2,4 di-tert-butylphenol.

In this paper, nine strains of salt-tolerant petroleum-degrading bacteria were applied to an biological aerated filter. Simulating the degradation of high-salinity petroleum wastewater with n-hexadecane and 2,4-ditert-butylphenol as the primary pollutants and analyzing the structure of the biofilm at various salt concentrations. According to the results, when the salinity was 4%, the COD removal efficiency reached 74.34%. Various halotolerant microorganisms have adapted to various salt concentrations. At a salinity of 3%, n-hexadecane exhibited the best degradation effect, with a rate of 83.21%. Shewanella, Acinetobacter, and Marinobacter were the predominant bacterial groups at the time. At 4% salinity, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas were the predominant bacteria, and the average 2,4-ditert-butylphenol degradation rate was the highest at 63.02%. This study provided an experimental basis for further studying the biological treatment of high-salinity petroleum wastewater.

Clinical efficacy of the shallow puncture and more-twirling acupuncture method in migraine treatment and its effects on serum 5-HT and ß-EP levels.

BACKGROUND: The incidence rate for migraine is 12% worldwide, and recurrence is common, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Shallow Puncture and More Twirling method of acupuncture in treating migraine and its impact on serum 5-HT and ß-EP. METHODS: A total of 76 patients with migraine were randomized into a control group and acupuncture group with 38 cases in each. In the control group, patients were orally administered flunarizine hydrochloride before sleep, 2 capsules once daily for 4 weeks. In the acupuncture group, Shallow Puncture and More Twirling method was adopted for the acupoints of Sizhukong (SJ 23), Toulinqi (GB 15) Shuaigu (GB 8), Xuanlu (GB 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Waiguan (SJ 5), Zulinqi (GB 41). Patients were given acupuncture 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Then, the total VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) scores, composite score of migraine, serum level of 5-HT and ß-EP, and the clinical efficacy differences were observed before and after treatment and the side-effects were recorded among the two groups. RESULTS: The total VAS scores and composite score of migraine were significantly reduced among both groups after the treatment (P< 0.05), and the serum level of 5-HT and ß-EP was significantly improved (P< 0.05). Compared with control group, the acupuncture group reported lower results in VAS score and migraine composite score (P< 0.05), and higher results in serum 5-HT and ß-EP level (P< 0.05). The acupuncture group with shallow puncture and more twirling method showed a total effective rate of 86.5%, which is higher than the control group (78.4%). The difference is statistically significant (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shallow Puncture and More Twirling method was superior to flunarizine hydrochloride in the treatment of clinical symptoms of migraine. Acupuncture also increases the serum level of 5-HT and ß-EP in migraine.

Value of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Therapy in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and its Effect on Improving Inflammation.

Objective: To investigate the value of comprehensive rehabilitation therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its effect on improvement in patients' inflammation. Methods: A total of 174 patients with acute COPD exacerbation in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University in China from March 2020 to January 2022 were selected as research subjects. They were divided into control, acute and stable groups according to the random number table method (n=58 in each group). The control group was given conventional treatment; the acute group started comprehensive rehabilitation treatment in the acute phase; in the stable group, comprehensive rehabilitation treatment was initiated in the stable period after the condition was stabilized with conventional treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and pulmonary function were measured before and after treatment, with the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF). A 6-min walk test (6MWD) was performed on the patient, and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to assess patients' ability to perform ADL and psychology. Finally, the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients was recorded and a quality of life (QoL) survey was completed. Results: The 6MWD test, ADL, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEF were elevated in the acute and stable groups compared with the control group, whereas shortness of breath, TNF-α, hs-CRP and IL-6 were decreased (P < .05). SAS and SDS scores were reduced in the acute and stable groups after treatment (P < .05), while there was no change in the control group (P > .05). In addition, QoL was higher in the acute and stable groups (P < .05). The improvement of all indicators in the acute group was better than in the stable group (P < .05). Conclusion: Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy can improve the exercise capacity and lung function of patients with COPD, reduce inflammation, and improve patients' negative psychology.

Isolation and identification of novel phenolic and lignan glycosides from Swertia davidii Franch.

Phytochemical analyses of Swertia davidii Franch. extracts using column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC were performed. Two novel phenolic glycosides named swertiosides A and B (compounds 1 and 2, respectively) were isolated and characterized. Four known phenolic glycosides were also extracted (compounds 3-6). The structural characteristics of these novel compounds were analyzed using 1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS. All six compounds have never been isolated from this particular plant species before this study. Subsequent assessment of bioactive properties suggested that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate levels of cytotoxicity.

Antioxidative and Mitochondrial Protection in Retinal Pigment Epithelium: New Light Source in Action.

Low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (called 1900 K LEDs for short) have the potential to become a healthy light source due to their blue-free property. Our previous research demonstrated that these LEDs posed no harm to retinal cells and even protected the ocular surface. Treatment targeting the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a promising direction for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Nevertheless, no study has evaluated the protective effects of these LEDs on RPE. Therefore, we used the ARPE-19 cell line and zebrafish to explore the protective effects of 1900 K LEDs. Our results showed that the 1900 K LEDs could increase the cell vitality of ARPE-19 cells at different irradiances, with the most pronounced effect at 10 W/m2. Moreover, the protective effect increased with time. Pretreatment with 1900 K LEDs could protect the RPE from death after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) damage by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial damage caused by H2O2. In addition, we preliminarily demonstrated that irradiation with 1900 K LEDs in zebrafish did not cause retinal damage. To sum up, we provide evidence for the protective effects of 1900 K LEDs on the RPE, laying the foundation for future light therapy using these LEDs.

Effect of oil phases on the stability of myofibrillar protein microgel particles stabilized Pickering emulsions: The leading role of viscosity.

The Pickering emulsion may be restricted in the foods owing to the unreasonable use of oils. Herein, the effect of different oil phases on the stability of myofibrillar protein microgel particles stabilized Pickering emulsions was investigated. Results showed sunflower oil Pickering emulsions with high stability have the smallest droplet size (-26.17 µm). While peanut oil Pickering emulsions have the largest droplet size (-77.00 µm) and poor emulsion stability. The fatty acid analysis showed sunflower oil had low content of saturated (15.68 %) and super-long-chain (0) fatty acids, while peanut oil had high content of saturated (23.67 %) and super-long-chain (9.02 %) fatty acids, leading to a difference in viscosity. Low viscosity was more conducive to dispersing oil droplets and inhibiting the floating and gathering of droplets, thus enhancing the emulsion stability. Therefore, the oil with low content of super-long-chain and saturated fatty acids could be suitable for preparing MMP Pickering emulsions.

Triptolide exposure induces oxidative stress and decreases oocyte quality in mouse.

Triptolide is a major active ingredient isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and immunomodulatory effects. However, in clinical studies, triptolide has toxic side effects on the heart, kidney, liver and reproductive organs. With respect to female reproductive toxicity, damaging effects of triptolide on the ovary have been reported, but it has remained unknown whether oocytes are affected by triptolide. Therefore, this study established a concentration gradient of triptolide exposure in mice using 0 (control), 30, 60, and 90 µg triptolide/kg body weight/day administered by gavage. Triptolide administration for 28 d reduced body weight and ovarian weight and affected the developmental potential of oocytes. The triptolide-treated group exhibited meiotic failure of oocytes due to impaired spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, and tubulin stability. Triptolide was also found to induce mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy and early apoptosis, iron homeostasis, and abnormal histone modifications. These adverse effects could be associated with oxidative stress induced by triptolide. In conclusion, our findings suggest detrimental effects of triptolide on mouse oocytes and, thus, on female reproduction.

Effect of replacing inorganic minerals with small peptide chelated minerals on production performance, some biochemical parameters and antioxidant status in broiler chickens.

Due to the low bio-availability of inorganic trace minerals, its application in poultry production has been causing many problems such as environment pollution and waste of resources. The current study was designed to evaluate if replacing inorganic trace minerals (ITM) with small peptide chelate trace minerals (SPM) affects production performance, some biochemical parameters and antioxidant status, tibia mineral deposition, and fecal mineral content in 817 white-feathered broilers. A total of 432 broilers (21-day-old) were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates of 18 chicks each. The four groups included inorganic trace minerals group (addition of 1,000 mg/kg ITM; common practice by commercial poultry farms), three organic trace minerals groups with supplementation of 150, 300, and 500 mg/kg SPM, respectively. The experiment lasted for 30 days. The results showed that there was no significant difference in growth performance and slaughter performance among the four groups (p > 0.05). Total cholesterol in the SPM group was significantly lower than those in the ITM groups (p < 0.01). Compared with the ITM group, the serum urea nitrogen in 150 and 300 mg/kg SPM groups decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Among all SPM treatments, 300 mg/kg SPM groups had the highest serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (p < 0.01). The activity of copper and zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) of liver in ITM group was the lowest among the four groups (p < 0.01). The catalase (CAT) activity of liver in the 150 mg/kg SPM group was significantly higher than the ITM group and 300 mg/kg SPM group (p < 0.05). Compared to the ITM group, the iron content of the tibia was significantly increased in 300 mg/kg SPM group (p < 0.05) and 500 mg/kg SPM group (p < 0.01). Compared to the ITM group, dietary supplementation with SPM significantly reduced fecal content of zinc and manganese (p < 0.01). The 150 mg/kg SPM and 300 mg/kg SPM group had significantly reduced content of iron (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that replacing inorganic minerals with low doses of SPM (300 and 500 mg/kg) did not negatively affect growth and slaughter performance, as well as the antioxidant status of broiler chickens. In addition, SPM can also promote mineral content in the tibia and reduce mineral content in the feces.

Exploring the Active Ingredients and Mechanism of Action of Huanglian Huazhuo Capsule for the Treatment of Obese Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Background: Obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (obese T2DM) is one of the prime diseases that endangers human health. Clinical studies have confirmed the ability of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule to treat obese T2DM; however, its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, effects and mechanisms of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule in obese T2DM were systematically investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Methods: The active ingredients and targets of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule were extracted from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Obese T2DM diabetes-related targets were retrieved from a geographic dataset combined with a gene card database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen core targets. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Interactions between potential targets and active compounds were assessed using molecular docking. Molecular docking was performed on the best core protein complexes obtained using molecular docking. Results: A total of 89 and 108 active ingredients and targets, respectively, were identified. Seven core targets were obtained using a topological analysis of the PPI network. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses showed that the effects of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsules were mediated by inflammation, lipid response, oxidative stress-related genes, and HIF-1 and IL-17 signaling pathways. Good binding ability was observed between the active compounds and screened targets using molecular docking. Conclusions: The active ingredients, potential targets, and pathways of the Huanglian Huazhuo capsule for the treatment of obese T2DM were successfully predicted, providing a new strategy for further investigation of its molecular mechanisms. In addition, the potential active ingredients provide a reliable source for drug screening in obese T2DM.

Investigating the Active Substance and Mechanism of San-Jiu-Wei-Tai Granules via UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS and Network Pharmacology.

San-Jiu-Wei-Tai granules (SJWTG) are a significant Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of chronic gastritis (CG), having outstanding advantages in long-term treatment; however, the chemical composition and potential mechanism have not been investigated until now. In this study, a rapid separation and identification method based on UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS was established, and 95 chemical components from SJWTGs were identified, including 6 chemical components of an unknown source that are not derived from the 8 herbs included in SJWTGs. The identified chemical components were subsequently analysed by network pharmacology, suggesting that the core targets for the treatment of CG with SJWTGs were EGFR, SRC, AKT1, HSP90AA1, MAPK1, and MAPK3 and thus indicating that SJWTGs could reduce the inflammatory response of gastric epithelial cells and prevent persistent chronic inflammation that induces cancerization by regulating the MAPK signalling pathway and the C-type lectin receptor signalling pathway as well as their upstream and downstream pathways in the treatment of CG. The key bioactive components in SJWTGs were identified as 2,6-bis(4-ethylphenyl)perhydro-1,3,5,7-tetraoxanaphth-4-ylethane-1,2-diol, a chemical component of an unknown source, murrangatin, meranzin hydrate, paeoniflorin, and albiflorin. The results of molecular docking showed the strong binding interaction between the key bioactive components and the core targets, demonstrating that the key bioactive components deserve to be further studied and considered as Q-markers. By acting on multiple targets, SJWTG is less susceptible to drug resistance during the long-term treatment of CG, indicating the advantage of Chinese patent medicines. Furthermore, the preventive effect of SJWTGs on gastric cancer also demonstrates the superiority of preventive treatment of disease with traditional Chinese medicine.

LAP3 contributes to IFN-γ-induced arginine depletion and malignant transformation of bovine mammary epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: IFN-γ has been traditionally recognized as an inflammatory cytokine that involves in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Previously we have shown that sustained IFN-γ induced malignant transformation of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) via arginine depletion. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this is still unknown. METHODS: In this study, the amino acids contents in BMECs were quantified by a targeted metabolomics method. The acquisition of differentially expressed genes was mined from RNA-seq dataset and analyzed bioinformatically. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay were performed to detect gene mRNA and protein expression levels. CCK-8 and would healing assays were used to detect cell proliferation and migration abilities, respectively. Cell cycle phase alternations were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The targeted metabolomics analysis specifically discovered IFN-γ induced arginine depletion through accelerating arginine catabolism and inhibiting arginine anabolism in BMECs. Transcriptome analysis identified leucine aminopeptidase 3 (LAP3), which was regulated by p38 and ERK MAPKs, to downregulate arginine level through interfering with argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) as IFN-γ stimulated. Moreover, LAP3 also contributed to IFN-γ-induced malignant transformation of BMECs by upregulation of HDAC2 (histone deacetylase 2) expression and promotion of cell cycle proteins cyclin A1 and D1 expressions. Arginine supplementation did not affect LAP3 and HDAC2 expressions, but slowed down cell cycle process of malignant BMECs. In clinical samples of patients with breast cancer, LAP3 was confirmed to be upregulated, while ASS1 was downregulated compared with healthy control. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that LAP3 mediated IFN-γ-induced arginine depletion to malignant transformation of BMECs. Our findings provide a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer both in humans and dairy cows.

MXene Quantum Dot/Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Nanocarriers for Dual Stimulus Triggered Tumor Chemo-Phototherapy.

It is critical to construct stimuli-responsive multifunctional nanoparticles for the drug delivery system for cancer treatment. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has a large specific surface area and decomposes quickly under acidic conditions, which presents an excellent potential in pH-sensitive drug carriers. However, the mere chemotherapeutic drug loaded into ZIF-8 is a monotherapy and may restrict the therapeutic efficacy of malignancies. In this work, an effective nanoparticle-based delivery platform is established to simultaneously encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX) and MXene quantum dot (MQD) in ZIF-8 nanoparticles (MQD@ZIF-8/DOX). Under near-infrared (NIR) laser (808 nm) and UV light (365 nm) irradiation, MQD@ZIF-8 demonstrates a high photothermal conversion efficiency and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which shows excellent photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy effects. Furthermore, the release of DOX-loaded into MQD@ZIF-8 nanoparticles is significantly increased under NIR laser irradiation and at pH 5.6, indicating that acidic conditions and NIR laser irradiation can be effectively combined to stimulate the drug release. The cellular experiments show that MQD@ZIF-8/DOX has an obvious killing effect on HeLa cells and achieves the combined anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy and phototherapy.

Study on the synergistic and attenuating mechanism of the combination of Epimedium and Ligustri lucidi fructus based on pharmacokinetics.

Epimedium has a wide range of clinical applications; however, there have been numerous reports of adverse reactions in recent years, which has resulted in it being changed from a widely recognized "nontoxic" to a "potentially toxic" traditional Chinese medicine. The combination of Epimedium and Ligustri lucidi fructus is commonly used in the clinic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of Epimedium and Ligustri lucidi fructus to explore the possible synergism and reduction in toxicity. Based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, a method was established for the determination of icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, baohuoside Ⅰ, and specnuezhenide in biological samples and was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the drug pair. The results showed that the five flavonoids (specnuezhenide could not be detected) could be rapidly absorbed into the blood, and the second peak time in vivo was earlier after the combination, indicating that the metabolic pathway may be changed. In addition, combination with Ligustri lucidi fructus could significantly reduce the concentration of 5 flavonoids in vivo and increase their elimination rate, which may attenuate their virulence, thus providing a reference for the rational clinical use of Epimedium.

In situ deposition of 0D CeO2 quantum dots on Fe2O3-containing solid waste NH3-SCR catalyst: Enhancing redox and NH3 adsorption ability.

As NOx has been turning into a crucial environmental problem, NH3-SCR technology with relatively simple device, reliable operation and low secondary pollution, has become a widely used commercial and mature de-nitration technology. However, some weaknesses restricted the further application of commercialized V2O5-WO3/TiO2 NH3-SCR catalysts, while Fe2O3-based catalysts have received much attention due to their high thermal stability, passable N2 selectivity and low cost. In this study, Fe2O3-containing solid waste derived from Zn extraction process of electric arc furnace dust was exploited as the base material for catalyst preparing. Owing to the complementary and synergistic effect of CeO2 and Fe2O3, 0D CeO2 quantum dots (CeQDs) with fully-exposed active sites, large specific surface area, and rapid charge transfer have been introduced and deposited onto Fe2O3-containing solid waste nanorods. The in-situ deposition of CeQDs led to the admirable enhancement in NH3-SCR catalytic activity, N2 selectivity and SO2 tolerance of the extremely low-cost Fe2O3 catalyst. Comprehensive characterizations and DFT calculations describing the adsorption of O2 and NH3 were applied to analyze the catalyst structure and further investigate the detailed relationship between structural properties and activity as well as reaction mechanism. This work provides new insights for the high-value utilization of iron-containing solid waste and a practical reference for boosting the performance of NH3-SCR catalysts by introducing quantum dots.