1H NMR-based metabolomics combined with chemometrics to detect edible oil adulteration in huajiao (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.).

Huajiao is a highly valued spice that is susceptible to fraudulent adulteration, particularly the addition of edible oils to increase weight and improve color. Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and chemometrics were used to analyze 120 huajiao samples adulterated with different types and levels of edible oils. Using untargeted data and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the discrimination rate between types of adulteration reached 100% accuracy, and the R2 value of the prediction set for the level of adulteration using the targeted analysis dataset combined with PLS-regression methods reached 0.99. Triacylglycerols, major components of edible oils, were identified as a marker of adulteration through the variable importance in projection of the PLS-regression. A quantitative method based on the sn-3 triacylglycerol signal was developed that can achieve a detection limit of 0.11%. Testing of 28 market samples showed adulteration with various edible oils, with adulteration rates ranging from 0.96% to 4.41%.

METTL3 antagonizes 5­FU chemotherapy and confers drug resistance in colorectal carcinoma.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of top five leading causes of cancer­associated mortalities worldwide. 5­Fluorouracil (5­FU) is the first­line chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of CRC; however, its antineoplastic efficiency is limited due to acquired drug resistance. The regulatory mechanism underlying 5­FU chemotherapeutic response and drug resistance in CRC remains largely unknown. The present study identified that silencing of methyltransferase­like 3 (METTL3) suppressed the proliferation and migration of CRC HCT­8 cells. Using cell survival assays, flow cytometric and colony formation analyses, it was revealed that inhibition of METTL3 sensitized HCT­8 cells to 5­FU by enhancing DNA damage and inducing apoptosis in HCT­8 cells under 5­FU treatment. Furthermore, the expression of METTL3 was upregulated in 5­FU­resistant CRC cells (HCT­8R), which contributed to drug resistance through regulation of RAD51 associated Protein 1 (RAD51AP1) expression. Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and drug sensitivity assays demonstrated that knockdown of METTL3 augmented 5­FU­induced DNA damage and overcame 5­FU­resistance in HCT­8R cells, which could be mimicked by inhibition of RAD51AP1. The present study revealed that the METTL3/RAD51AP1 axis plays an important role in the acquisition of 5­FU resistance in CRC, and targeting METTL3/RAD51AP1 may be a promising adjuvant therapeutic strategy for patients with CRC, particularly for those with 5­FU­resistant CRC.

Evidence Quality Assessment of Tai Chi Exercise Intervention in Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Tai Chi (TC) exercise has recently received wide attention for its efficacy in the management of cognitive impairment. The purpose of this overview is to summarize the available evidence on TC treatment of cognitive impairment and assess its quality. Methods: We retrieved relevant systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) from 7 databases from the time they were established to January 2, 2022. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality, risk of bias, report quality, and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The tools used are Assessment System for Evaluating Methodological Quality 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias In Systematic (ROBIS) scale, the list of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: This overview finally included 8 SRs/MAs. According to the results of AMSTAR-2, all included SRs/MAs were rated as very low quality. Based on the ROBIS tool, none of the SR/MA had a low risk of bias. In light of PRISMA, all SRs/MAs had reporting deficiencies. According to the GRADE system, there was only 1 high-quality piece of evidence. Conclusion: TC is a promising complementary and alternative therapy for cognitive impairment with high safety profile. However, in view of the low quality of the included SRs/MAs supporting this conclusion, high-quality evidence with a more rigorous study design and a larger sample size is needed before making a recommendation for guidance.