[Banxia Xiexin Decoction inhibiting colitis-associated colorectal cancer infected with Fusobacterium nucleatum by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway].

This paper investigates the intervention effect and mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction(BXD) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer(CAC) infected with Fusobacterium nucleatum(Fn). C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, Fn group, CAC group [azoxymethane(AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt(DSS)](AOM/DSS), model group, and BXD group. Except for the control and AOM/DSS groups, the mice in the other groups were orally administered with Fn suspension twice a week. The AOM/DSS group, model group, and BXD group were also injected with a single dose of 10 mg·kg~(-1) AOM combined with three cycles of 2.5% DSS taken intragastrically. The BXD group received oral administration of BXD starting from the second cycle until the end of the experiment. The general condition and weight changes of the mice were monitored during the experiment, and the disease activity index(DAI) was calculated. At the end of the experiment, the colon length and weight of the mice in each group were compared. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin(IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-6 inflammatory factors in the serum. Immunohistochemistry(IHC) was used to detect the expression of Ki67, E-cadherin, and ß-catenin in the colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein content of Wnt3a, ß-catenin, E-cadherin, annexin A1, cyclin D1, and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß(GSK-3ß) in the colon tissue. The results showed that compared with the control group, the Fn group had no significant lesions. The mice in the AOM/DSS group and model group had decreased body weight, increased DAI scores, significantly increased colon weight, and significantly shortened colon length, with more significant lesions in the model group. At the same time, the colon histology of the model group showed more severe adenomas, inflammatory infiltration, and cellular dysplasia. The levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the serum were significantly increased, while the IL-2 content was significantly decreased. The IHC results showed low expression of E-cadherin and high expression of Ki67 and ß-catenin in the model group, with a decreased protein content of E-cadherin and GSK-3ß and an increased protein content of Wnt3a, ß-catenin, annexin A1, and cyclin D1. After intervention with BXD, the body weight of the mice increased; the DAI score decreased; the colon length increased, and the tumor decreased. The histopathology showed reduced tumor proliferation and reduced inflammatory infiltration. The levels of IL-6 and IL-4 in the serum were significantly decreased, while the IL-2 content was increased. Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin was upregulated, and that of Ki67 and ß-catenin was downregulated. The protein content of E-cadherin and GSK-3ß increased, while that of Wnt3a, ß-catenin, annexin A1, and cyclin D1 decreased. In conclusion, BXD can inhibit CAC infected with Fn, and its potential mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Fn binding to E-cadherin, the decrease in annexin A1 protein level, and the regulation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

IL1R2 Blockade Alleviates Immunosuppression and Potentiates Anti-PD-1 Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with limited therapeutic options. IL1 receptor type 2 (IL1R2) promotes breast tumor-initiating cell (BTIC) self-renewal and tumor growth in TNBC, indicating that targeting it could improve patient treatment. In this study, we observed that IL1R2 blockade strongly attenuated macrophage recruitment and the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) to inhibit BTIC self-renewal and CD8+ T-cell exhaustion, which resulted in reduced tumor burden and prolonged survival in TNBC mouse models. IL1R2 activation by TAM-derived IL1ß increased PD-L1 expression by interacting with the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) and inducing YY1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation in both TAMs and TNBC cells. Loss of YY1 alleviated the transcriptional repression of c-Fos, which is a transcriptional activator of PDL-1. Combined treatment with an IL1R2-neutralizing antibodies and anti-PD-1 led to enhanced antitumor efficacy and reduced TAMs, BTICs, and exhausted CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that IL1R2 blockade might be a strategy to potentiate immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in TNBC to improve patient outcomes. Significance: IL1R2 in both macrophages and breast cancer cells orchestrates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by upregulating PD-L1 expression and can be targeted to enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in triple-negative breast cancer.

Protective effect of phenylpropionamides in the seed of Cannabis Sativa L. on Parkinson's disease through autophagy.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. As one of the major degradation pathways, autophagy plays a pivotal role in maintaining the effective turnover of proteins and damaged organelles in cells. Lewy bodies composed of α-synuclein (α-syn) abnormally aggregated in the substantia nigra are important pathological features of PD, and autophagy dysfunction is considered to be an important factor leading to abnormal aggregation of α-syn. Phenylpropionamides (PHS) in the seed of Cannabis sativa L. have a protective effect on neuroinflammation and antioxidant activity. However, the therapeutic role of PHS in PD is unclear. In this study, the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. were extracted under reflux with 60% EtOH-H2O, and the 60% EtOH-H2O elution fraction was identified as PHS with the UPLC-QTOF-MS. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model in C57BL/6 J mice was used for behavioral and pharmacodynamic experiments. Behavioral symptoms were improved, Nissl-stained and TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra were significantly increased in PHS-treated MPTP-induced PD model mice. Compared with the model group, PHS treatment reduced the expression level of α-syn, and the expression of TH increased significantly by western blotting, compared with the model group, the PHS group suppressed Caspase 3 and Bax expression and promoted Bcl-2 expression and levels of p62 decreased significantly, the ratio of LC3-II/I and p-mTOR/mTOR in the PHS group had a downward trend, suggesting that the therapeutic effect of PHS on MPTP-induced PD model mice may be triggered by the regulation of autophagy.

Astragali Radix: comprehensive review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical application.

Astragali Radix (A. Radix) is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bge) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge., belonging to the family Leguminosae, which is mainly distributed in China. A. Radix has been consumed as a tonic in China for more than 2000 years because of its medicinal effects of invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi. Currently, more than 400 natural compounds have been isolated and identified from A. Radix, mainly including saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and others. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that A. Radix has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-aging effects. It has been clinically used in the treatment of tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular complications associated with diabetes with few side effects and high safety. This paper reviewed the progress of research on its chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, developing applications, and toxicology, which provides a basis for the better development and utilization of A. Radix.

Genus Helleborus: a comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications.

The genus Helleborus belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, distributed in southeastern Europe and western Asia. In folk medicine, it is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine for rheumatoid arthritis and bruises. Through reviewing recent articles, it was found that two hundred and twenty-six compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Helleborus. These compounds include steroids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, lignans, anthraquinones, phenolics and others. Among them, the main chemical constituents are steroids. Pharmacological studies show Helleborus has anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-hyperglycaemic, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This article reviews the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of the genus Helleborus. Hopefully, it will provide a reference for in-depth research and exploitation of the genus Helleborus.

Molecular Mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on colorectal cancer, as well as the mechanisms involved. Methods: The active compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza and the associated genes in colorectal cancer were sourced from publicly available databases. Targets associated with colorectal cancer were identified by searching the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Subsequently, the Cytoscape 3.6.0 software was employed to create a regulatory network that illustrates the relationships among active ingredients, colorectal cancer, and their corresponding targets. The String database was utilized to generate a PPI network. Molecular docking studies, conducted with AutoDock Vina, verified the binding capabilities of these active components to core targets. The findings from network pharmacology analysis were corroborated through in vitro experiments. Results: In this study, we identified 39 active components derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza that are predicted to target 544 genes associated with colorectal cancer through network pharmacology. Through a combined analysis of network pharmacology, we isolated three key targets: SRC, IL6, and INS. Molecular docking results convincingly demonstrated Salvia miltiorrhiza's strong binding affinity to these targets. Additionally, in vitro experiments confirmed that Salvia miltiorrhiza effectively inhibited the progression of colorectal cancer via regulating the INS/SRC/IL6 pathway. Conclusion: Salvia miltiorrhiza emerges as a compelling herbal intervention for colorectal cancer. This study lays the foundation for potential future clinical trials assessing the efficacy of Salvia miltiorrhiza in the management of colorectal cancer.

Marinimicrococcus flavescens gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Geminicoccaceae, isolated from a marine sediment of the South China Sea.

A Gram-stain-negative, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive, nonmotile, aerobic, light yellow, spherical-shaped bacterial strain with no flagella, designated strain YIM 152171T, was isolated from sediment of the South China Sea. Colonies were smooth and convex, light yellow and circular, and 1.0-1.5×1.0-1.5 µm in cell diameter after 7 days of incubation at 28°C on YIM38 media supplemented with sea salt. Colonies could grow at 20-45°C (optimum 28-35°C) and pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-9.0), and they could proliferate in the salinity range of 0-6.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c), C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω11c, C16 : 1 ω5c, C17 : 1 ω6c and C18 : 1 ω5c. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10, and the polar lipid profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified aminolipid. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain YIM 152171T within the order Rhodospirillales in a distinct lineage that also included the genus Geminicoccus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of YIM 152171T to those of Arboricoccus pini, Geminicoccus roseus and Constrictibacter antarcticus were 92.17, 89.25 and 88.91 %, respectively. The assembled draft genome of strain YIM 152171T had 136 contigs with an N50 value of 134704 nt, a total length of 3 001 346 bp and a G+C content of 70.27 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data showed that strain YIM 152171T (=MCCC 1K08488T=KCTC 92884T) represents a type of novel species and genus for which we propose the name Marinimicrococcus gen. nov., sp. nov.

Diagnostic Value of Quantitative Ultrasound for Osteoporosis in Elderly Women: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To assess the reliability of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in diagnosing and screening osteoporosis in elder women. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the online databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge, and screened the studies according to the inclusion criteria. We directly extract or calculate the value of true positive (TP), false positive (FP), false negative (FN), and true negative (TN) from eligible studies. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic parameters of QUS, containing the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC). Results: Twelve studies were included in this study with a total of 2260 women. QUS showed a pooled diagnostic odds ratio of 5.07 (95% CI 3.28-7.84), sensitivity of 0.69 (95% CI 0.65-0.72), specificity of 0.67 (95% CI 0.64-0.69), and an AUC of 0.7523 (Q*=0.6953). There was no obvious heterogeneity and threshold effect according to the Spearman correlation coefficient (P = 0.059). No significant publication bias was found through the Deek's funnel. Conclusion: Our study suggested that the diagnostic value of QUS for osteoporosis in elder women was acceptable, but the accuracy still needed to be improved, QUS can be recommended as a pre-screening tool for osteoporosis to determine whether DXA measurement was needed.

Ore improver additions alter livestock manure compost ecosystem C:N:P stoichiometry.

Deciphering the pivotal components of nutrient metabolism in compost is of paramount importance. To this end, ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, enzyme vector modeling, and statistical analysis were employed to explore the impact of exogenous ore improver on nutrient changes throughout the livestock composting process. The total phosphorus increased from 12.86 to 18.72 g kg-1, accompanied by a marked neutralized pH with ore improver, resulting in the Carbon-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-related enzyme activities decreases. However, the potential C:P and N:P acquisition activities represented by ln(ßG + CB): ln(ALP) and ln(NAG): ln(ALP), were increased with ore improver addition. Based on the ecoenzymatic stoiometry theory, these changes reflect a decreasing trend in the relative P/N limitation, with pH and total phosphorus as the decisive factors. Our study showed that the practical employment of eco stoichiometry could benefit the manure composting process. Moreover, we should also consider the ecological effects from pH for the waste material utilization in sustainable agriculture.

Multi-imaging platform for rhizosphere studies: Phosphorus and oxygen fluxes.

Rhizosphere is a soil volume of high spatio-temporal heterogeneity and intensive plant-soil-microbial interactions, for which visualization and process quantification is of highest scientific and applied relevance, but still very challenging. A novel methodology for quick assessment of two-dimensional distribution of available phosphorus (P) in rhizosphere was suggested, tested, and development up to the application platform. Available P was firstly trapped by an in-situ diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) sampler with precipitated zirconia as the binding gel, and subsequently, the loaded gel was analyzed with an optimized colorimetric imaging densitometry (CID). The imaging platform was established linking: i) DGT, ii) planar optode, and iii) soil zymography techniques to simultaneously determine available P, oxygen, and acid phosphatase in rhizosphere at sub-millimeter spatial scales. The DGT identified available P level in rice rhizosphere were spatially overlapping to the localized redox hotspots and phosphatase activity. The spatial relationship between available P and acid phosphatase activity was dependent on root development. The root radial oxygen loss (ROL) remained active during the experimental observations (2-3 days), while a flux of available P of 10 pg cm-2 s-1 was visualized within 2-3 mm of roots, confirming the correlative response of rice roots to oxygen secretion and P uptake. Summarizing, the established imaging platform is suitable to capture spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of root activities, nutrient bioavailability, ROL and enzyme activities in rhizosphere.

Design and synthesis of dabigatran etexilate derivatives with inhibiting thrombin activity for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal solid malignancies worldwide. Evidence suggests that thrombin stimulates tumor progression via fibrin formation and platelet activation. Meanwhile, we also found a correlation between thrombin and HCC through bioinformatics analysis. Dabigatran is a selective, direct thrombin inhibitor that reversibly binds to thrombin. Dabigatran was used as the lead agent in this study, and 19 dabigatran derivatives were designed and synthesized based on docking mode. The thrombin-inhibitory activity of the derivative AX-2 was slightly better than that of dabigatran. BX-2, a prodrug of AX-2, showed a fairly strong inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, and effectively antagonized proliferation of HCC tumor cells induced by thrombin at the cellular level. Furthermore, BX-2 reduced tumor volume, weight, lung metastasis, and secondary tumor occurrence in nude mouse models. BX-2 combined with sorafenib increased sorafenib efficacy. This study lays the foundation for discovering new anti-HCC mechanism based on thrombin. BX-2 can be used as an anti-HCC drug lead for further research.

[Tongxie Yaofang regulates tumor-associated macrophage polarization in colorectal cancer under chronic stress].

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in regulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization on colorectal cancer under chronic stress. BALB/C mice were randomized into blank, control, model, mifepristone, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Tongxie Yaofang groups. The other groups except the blank and model groups were subjected to chronic restraint stress and subcutaneous implantation of colon cancer cells for the modeling of colon cancer under stress. Du-ring this period, the body mass and tumor size of each group of mice were recorded. The degree of depression in mice was assessed by behavioral changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of cortisol(CORT), 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), norepinephrine(NE), M1-associated inflammatory cytokines [interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α], and M2-associated inflammatory cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10) in the serum. The tumor growth of mice in each group was regularly monitored by in vivo imaging. The histopathological changes of tumors in each group of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The proportions of CD86 and CD206 in the tumor tissue were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of Janus kinase(JAK)1, JAK2, JAK3, signal transducer and activator of transcription(STAT)3, and STAT6 in the tumor tissue. The results showed that chronic stress increased the immobility time of mice, elevated the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, lowered the levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1ß, IL-12, and TNF-α, and promoted the growth of subcutaneous tumors. The tumor cells in the tumor tissue grew actively, with obvious atypia and up-regulated protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and down-regulated protein level of CD86. The treatment with Tongxie Yaofang shortened the immobility time of mice, lowered the serum levels of CORT, IL-4, and IL-10, elevated the serum levels of 5-HT, NE, IL-1ß, IL-12, and TNF-α, and inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors in mice. Moreover, the treatment caused different degrees of necrosis in the tumor tissues, down-regulated the protein levels of CD206, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, and STAT6, and up-regulated the protein level of CD86. In summary, Tongxie Yaofang can promote the transformation of M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages and change the tumor microenvironment under chronic stress to inhibit the development of colorectal cancer, which may be related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Correlating chemistry and mass transport in sustainable iron production.

Steelmaking contributes 8% to the total CO2 emissions globally, primarily due to coal-based iron ore reduction. Clean hydrogen-based ironmaking has variable performance because the dominant gas-solid reduction mechanism is set by the defects and pores inside the mm- to nm-sized oxide particles that change significantly as the reaction progresses. While these governing dynamics are essential to establish continuous flow of iron and its ores through reactors, the direct link between agglomeration and chemistry is still contested due to missing measurements. In this work, we directly measure the connection between chemistry and agglomeration in the smallest iron oxides relevant to magnetite ores. Using synthesized spherical 10-nm magnetite particles reacting in H2, we resolve the formation and consumption of wüstite (Fe1-xO)-the step most commonly attributed to whiskering. Using X-ray diffraction, we resolve crystallographic anisotropy in the rate of the initial reaction. Complementary imaging demonstrated how the particles self-assemble, subsequently react, and grow into elongated "whisker" structures. Our insights into how morphologically uniform iron oxide particles react and agglomerate in H2 reduction enable future size-dependent models to effectively describe the multiscale aspects of iron ore reduction.

Therapeutic effects of low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes on dry eye.

BACKGROUND: As a new technology for treating dry eye diseases, phototherapy has attracted great attention, but the research on its safety and effectiveness is limited. In this study, the therapeutic effects of low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes on dry eye in humans, rabbits, and rats were investigated. METHODS: In clinical experiments, subjects in both groups read the same paper for 3 h under light sources of two color temperatures: 1900 K (low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes) or 4000 K (artificial fluorescent white light-emitting diodes). The differences in the non-invasive tear film breakup time, tear meniscus height, and conjunctival congestion scores before and after the experiment were compared between the two groups. In animal experiments, corneal epithelial barrier function and tear production of Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits with dry eye were compared before and after low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes treatment. TUNEL staining and Western blotting were used to detect the apoptosis of corneal and conjunctival cells and the expression of inflammatory factor IL-1ß. RESULTS: Low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes prolonged tear film breakup time in patients with dry eye. Moreover, it increased tear secretion, decreased fluorescein sodium staining scores, corneal and conjunctival cell apoptosis, and inflammatory factor expression in rabbits and rats with dry eye. CONCLUSIONS: Low-color-temperature light-emitting diodes phototherapy can be used as an effective treatment for dry eye, reducing its symptoms and related ocular surface damage in humans, rabbits, and rats.

Terpenoid compounds from the fruits of Solanum virginianum.

Eleven compounds were isolated and identified from ethanolic extracts of Solanum virginianum fruits, including two new compounds (1-2) and nine known compounds (3-11). Their structures were determined to be melongenaterpene C15-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), (9Z)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl -hexadeca-1,6,10-triene-3,5,14,15-tetraol-5-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), actini-dioionoside A (3), byzantionoside B (4), citroside A (5), 7Z-roseoside (6), matenoside A (7), megastigmane (8), dihydrophaseic acid 3'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (9), taraxerol (10), and huzhangoside C (11). In this paper, NMR spectroscopy was used to study the structures of the compounds, comparing their data with those in the literature. In addition, the potential anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was also evaluated using the RAW264.7 cell inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The terpenoids showed no significant anti-inflammatory activity.

[Decursin affects proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway].

We investigated the effects of decursin on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer HT29 and HCT116 cells through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt) pathway. Decursin(10, 30, 60, and 90 µmol·L~(-1)) was used to treat HT29 and HCT116 cells. The survival, colony formation ability, proliferation, apoptosis, wound hea-ling area, and migration of the HT29 and HCT116 cells exposed to decursin were examined by cell counting kit-8(CCK8), cloning formation experiments, Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin), neural cadherin(N-cadherin), vimentin, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), tumor suppressor protein p53, PI3K, and Akt. Compared with the control group, decursin significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony number and promoted the apoptosis of HT29 and HCT116 cells, and it significantly down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulated the expression of Bax. Decursin inhibited the wound healing and migration of the cells, significantly down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, and up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin. In addition, it significantly down-regulated the expression of PI3K and Akt and up-regulated that of p53. In summary, decursin may regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thereby affecting the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer cells.

DHA supplementation and pregnancy complications.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation is recommended for women during pregnancy because of its neurological, visual, and cognitive effects. Previous studies have suggested that DHA supplementation during pregnancy may prevent and treat certain pregnancy complications. However, there are contradictions in the current related studies, and the specific mechanism by which DHA acts remains unclear. This review summarizes the research on the relationship between DHA intake during pregnancy and preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and postpartum depression. Furthermore, we explore the impact of DHA intake during pregnancy on the prediction, prevention, and treatment of pregnancy complications as well as its impact on offspring neurodevelopment. Our results suggest that there is limited and controversial evidence for the protective effect of DHA intake on pregnancy complications, with the exception of preterm birth and gestational diabetes mellitus. However, additional DHA supplementation may improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring of women with pregnancy complications.

Tumor-derived semaphorin 3D promoting cancer cachexia via regulating hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin neurons.

Cachexia is very common in cancer patients and predicts a poor prognosis; however, the molecular basis for progress in these individuals remains unclear, especially the effect of tumors on the hypothalamus energy regulation center. To investigate the regulatory pathway of tumors associated with hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons known as appetite-inhibiting neurons, we conducted observations both on patients and mice models. Results showed that the highly expressed exocrine semaphorin 3D (SEMA3D) both in cachexia patients and mice was positively related to the expression of POMC and its proteolytic peptide. Compared with the control group, mice inoculated with the SEMA3D-knockout C26 cell line decreased the activity of POMC neurons resulting in a 1.3-fold increase in food intake, a 22.2% increase in body weight, and reduced skeletal muscle and fat catabolism. The effect of SEMA3D on cachexia progression can be partially alleviated by knocking-down POMC expression in the brain. In terms of mechanism, SEMA3D enhances the activity of POMC neurons by activating the expression of NRP2 (membrane receptor) and PlxnD1 (intracellular receptor). Our research revealed the overexpression of SEMA3D in tumors works as an activator of POMC neurons, which may play a vital role in suppressing appetite and promoting catabolic metabolism.

The Effects of Mindfulness on Sensory Marketing: The Role of Mental Imagery Vividness and the Sensory Type Number.

Mindfulness refers to paying attention to the present sensation, attention, and thoughts without judgment and is proven to enhance sensations. Although researchers began to investigate the role of mindfulness in consumer decision-making, few studies pay attention to the impact of mindfulness on the effect of sensory marketing. In the current study, we investigated whether and how mindfulness enhances the purchase intentions of sensory marketing products. We conducted three studies (n = 593) to test our hypotheses. The first study tested the correlation between trait mindfulness and the purchase intentions of sensory ads. The results showed that the level of trait mindfulness and purchase intentions were positively correlated. The second study primed the state mindfulness of participants and demonstrated that high-level state mindfulness enhanced purchase intentions, which was moderated by the number of sensory types. The third study further tested the mental imagery vividness and proved the mediating role of vividness between state mindfulness and purchase intentions. The current study shows the enhancing effect of mindfulness on purchase intentions. This effect is moderated by the number of sensory types and mediated by the vividness of mental images. Our study illustrates the critical contribution of mindfulness to promoting sensory marketing.

Phosphate interactions with iron-titanium oxide composites: Implications for phosphorus removal/recovery from wastewater.

Understanding the interactions between phosphate (P) and mineral adsorbents is critical for removing and recovering P from wastewater, especially in the presence of both cationic and organic components. To this end, we investigated the surface interactions of P with an iron-titanium coprecipitated oxide composite in the presence of Ca (0.5-3.0 mM) and acetate (1-5 mM), and quantified the molecular complexes and tested the possible removal and recovery of P from real wastewater. A quantitative analysis of P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) confirmed the inner-sphere surface complexation of P with both Fe and Ti, whose contribution to P adsorption relies on their surface charge determined by pH conditions. The effects of Ca and acetate on P removal were highly pH-dependent. At pH 7, Ca (0.5-3.0 mM) in solution significantly increased P removal by 13-30% by precipitating the surface-adsorbed P, forming hydroxyapatite (14-26%). The presence of acetate had no obvious influence on P removal capacity and molecular mechanisms at pH 7. At pH 4, the removal amount of P was not obviously affected by the presence of Ca and acetate. However, acetate and high Ca concentration jointly facilitated the formation of amorphous FePO4 precipitate, complicating the interactions of P with Fe-Ti composite. In comparison with ferrihydrite, the Fe-Ti composite significantly decreased the formation of amorphous FePO4 probably by decreasing Fe dissolution due to the coprecipitated Ti component, facilitating further P recovery. An understanding of these microscopic mechanisms can lead to the successful use and simple regeneration of the adsorbent to recover P from real wastewater.