Co-exposure to Environmentally Relevant Levels of Molybdenum and Cadmium Induces Oxidative Stress and Ferroptosis in the Ovary of Ducks.

Excessive doses of molybdenum (Mo) and cadmium (Cd) have toxic effects on animals. Nevertheless, the reproductive toxicity elicited by Mo and Cd co-exposure remains obscure. To evaluate the co-induce toxic impacts of Mo and Cd on ovaries, 8-day-old 40 healthy ducks were stochastically distributed to four groups and were raised a basal diet supplemented with Cd (4 mg/kg Cd) and/or Mo (100 mg/kg Mo). In the 16th week, ovary tissues were gathered. The data revealed that Mo and/or Cd decreased GSH content, CAT, T-SOD, and GSH-Px activities and increased MDA and H2O2 levels. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in nuclear Nrf2 protein level and its related downstream factors, while cytoplasmic Nrf2 protein level showed a substantial increase. Additionally, a marked elevation was observed in ferrous ion content and TFRC, GCLC, SLC7A11, ACSL4, and PTGS2 expression levels, while FTH1, FTL1, FPN1, and GPX4 expression levels were conversely reduced. These indicators exhibited more marked changes in the joint exposure group. In brief, our results announced that Mo and/or Cd resulted in oxidative stress and ferroptosis in duck ovaries. Synchronously, the Cd and Mo mixture intensified the impacts.

Copper-Based Metal-Organic Framework Enables ROS Amplification and Drug Potency Activation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cancer therapy is extremely limited by tumor hypoxia, insufficient endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), overexpressed glutathione (GSH), and slower reaction rate. To address these challenges, in this paper, a hybrid nanomedicine (CaO2@Cu/ZIF-8-ICG@LA, CCZIL) is developed using a copper-based metal-organic framework (Cu/ZIF-8) for cancer synergistic therapy. H2O2/O2 self-supplementing, GSH-depleting, and photothermal properties multiply amplify ROS generation. Moreover, disulfiram (DSF) chemotherapy (CT) was activated by chelating with Cu2+ to synergize therapy. This novel strategy has enormous potential for ROS-involved synergistic antitumor therapy.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its association with antibiotic usage practices: A nationally representative population study.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate antibiotic use drives antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is often used alongside Western medicine in multi-cultural Singapore. This study aimed to assess the influence of CAM use on antibiotic usage practices. METHODS: A nationally representative cross-sectional population survey was conducted in Singapore from November 2020 to January 2021. CAM use was defined as the use of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Jamu, Ayurvedic medicine or herbal remedies. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between CAM use and good antibiotic usage practices, as defined by six proxy statements adapted from guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sociodemographic characteristics, motivations for CAM use, and knowledge of antibiotic use and AMR were analysed. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of 2004 respondents used CAM. The majority of CAM users were female (CAM users 57% vs non-CAM users 50%; P=0.004), Chinese (82% vs 66%; P<0.001), had a higher level of education (68% vs 64%; P=0.036), lived in the highest tier of public housing apartments or private housing (45% vs 36%; P<0.001), and had good knowledge of antibiotic use (63% vs 58%; P=0.036). After adjusting for potential confounding, CAM use (adjusted odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.52; P=0.048) was associated with 23% increased odds of good antibiotic usage practices. The top reasons for CAM use included recommendations from family and friends (65%), and concern about the side effects of Western medicine (44%). CONCLUSION: CAM use is positively associated with good antibiotic usage practices. Further studies assessing educational interventions utilizing social networks and highlighting the side effects of antibiotics may be useful in improving antibiotic usage practices in communities.

Extraction, separation and kinetics of phenylethanosides from Plantago asiatica L. by an innovative extraction technology-deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction.

In this paper, the total phenylethanosides (TPS) were extracted efficiently by an innovative extraction technology--deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (DES-UAE) from Plantago asiatica L. Ten diverse types of DESs were synthesized as alternative extraction solutions. The extraction efficiency of DES-3 (constituted by choline chloride and lactic acid) was much higher than those of other DESs. On the basis of single factor tests and Box-Behnken design (BBD), the optimum processing parameters of DES-UAE as follow: DES-3 with molar ratio of 1:3, extraction temperature 51 °C, solid/liquid 22.5 mg/ml, water content 30%, ultrasonic power 65 W, extraction time 23 min. The extraction efficiency of TPS from Plantago asiatica L. was 8.395 mg/ml, which was more superior than those of organic solvents (water, methanol, 50% methanol, ethanol, 50% ethanol). The extraction kinetics experiment results showed that water content had a significant influence upon the extraction efficiency of TPS. At the same time, AB-8 macroporous resin column was used to efficiently isolate TPS from DES extraction with a recovery rate of 88.5%.

NIR-Activated Thermosensitive Liposome-Gold Nanorod Hybrids for Enhanced Drug Delivery and Stimulus Sensitivity.

Combinatorial photothermal therapy and chemotherapy is an extremely promising tumor therapeutic modality. However, such systems still remain challenges in stimulus sensitivity, avoiding drug leakage, and therapeutic safety. To solve these problems, we engineered actively loaded doxorubicin (DOX) and gold nanorod (GNR) liposomes through embedding stiff hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) in the liposomal water cavity (HMLGDB) to resist the influence of shear force of GNRs to prevent drug leakage. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the ambient temperature was raised greatly because of the photothermal conversion of GNRs, thereby rupturing the lipid layer and then triggering the DOX release. The results of in vitro experiments showed that the low concentration of HMLGDB (15 µg/mL) could effectively overcome the MCF-7 cells (human breast cancer cell line) by the increase of DOX concentration intracellularly and the good photothermal effect of GNRs. After intravenous injection, HMLGDB exhibited intratumor aggregation and PTT capacity. Furthermore, the combined chemo-photothermal antitumor strategy demonstrated a high inhibition of tumor growth and low damage to normal tissues. The developed hybrids provide a paradigm for efficient combinatorial photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy (CT).

[Kinetics and variation of volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma during hot-air drying].

The present study explored the kinetics and variation of volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma during the hot-air drying process to obtain the optimal process parameters under multiple goals such as drying efficiency and drying quality. The dry basis moisture content and drying rate curves along with the change of drying time of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were investigated at five levels of drying air temperatures(30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 ℃). The relationship between moisture ratio and time in the drying process of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was fitted and verified by Midilli model, Page model, Overhults model, Modified Page model, Logaritmic model, Two terms Exponential model, and Newton model. Meanwhile, the effective diffusion coefficient of moisture(D_(eff)) and activation energy(E_a) in Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were calculated under different drying air temperatures. GC-MS was used to determine the volatile components and content changes of the fresh Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and dried products at different temperatures. The dry basis moisture content and drying rate of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were closely related to the temperature of the drying medium, and the moisture of the Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decreased with the prolonged drying time. As revealed by the drying rate curve, the drying rate increased with the increase in hot air temperature, and the migration of moisture was accelerated. The comparison of the correlation coefficient(R~2), chi-square(χ~2), and root mean standard error(RMSE) of each model indicated that the parameter average of the Midilli model had the highest degree of fit, with R~2=0.999 2, χ~2=8.78×10~(-5), and RMSE=8.20×10~(-3). Besides, the D_(eff) at 30-70 ℃ was in the range of 1.04×10~(-9)-6.28×10~(-9) m~2·s~(-1), and E_a was 37.47 kJ·mol~(-1). The volatile components of fresh Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and dried products at different temperatures were determined by GC-MS, and 18, 18, 18, 17, 17, and 18 compounds were identified respectively, which accounted for more than 84.76% of the volatile components. In conclusion, the hot-air drying of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma can be model-fitted and verified and the variation law of the moisture and volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma with temperature is obtained. This study is expected to provide new ideas for exploring the drying characteristics and quality of aromatic Chinese medicine.

Silver triethanolamine-loaded PVB/CO films for a potential liquid bandage application.

Many studies have reported that silver has excellent antibacterial properties. However, silver ions can easily react with oxygen to form Ag2O, thus leading to a color change and a reduction in its anti-microbial characteristics. In this study, silver triethanolamine- (ST) loaded PVB/CO solution was prepared as a potential candidate liquid bandage. PVB/CO/ST retained high transparency after exposure to light for 12 months, which allowed convenient inspection of the wound bed without removal of the dressing. The PVB/CO/ST film exhibited favorable properties, such as speed of drying, excellent tensile strength and elongation characteristics and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). It was comfortable and waterproof, and therefore effective at preventing bacterial invasion, providing effective biosafety. PVB/CO/ST solution-treated wounds exhibited accelerated healing and reduced inflammation in a nude mouse mode. Our data suggested that PVB/CO/ST solution could serve as a promising liquid bandage for treatment of minor trauma.

Fractal features of soil particle size distributions and their potential as an indicator of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion1.

To study the fractal dimensions of the soil particle size distributions (PSDs) within different plantations (of Pinus densiflora, Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Larix kaempferi) and evaluate PSDs as an indicator of the likelihood of Robinia pseudoacacia invasion, the soil porosity of 0-20 cm soil layers was measured at different plantations in the Yaoxiang Forest Farm, Shandong Province, China. The results showed that the fractal dimension (Dm) values varied from 2.59 to 2.70 among the different plantations and were significantly negatively correlated to sand content and positively correlated to silt content and clay content. Significant negative correlations were observed between Dm and both soil organic matter (SOM) (P < 0.05) and available phosphorus (P < 0.01). The multifractal entropy dimension (D1) and entropy dimension/capacity dimension (D1/D0) parameters were not significantly correlated with SOM, although significant correlations were found between SOM and each of D0, Δα, and Δf(α). Compared with the other plantations, the Robinia pseudoacacia plantation had higher nutrient contents, higher D0 and D1 values and lower Dm values. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) ordination, we concluded that Robinia pseudoacacia and Pinus densiflora shared a similar habitat and that Robinia pseudoacacia is more likely to invade Pinus densiflora plantations for soil.

[Inhibitory effect of huangqi and dangshen extraction with pacilitaxel on metastasis and angiogenesis on mouse Lewis lung carcinoma model].

AIM: To study enhance effect of huangqi and dangshen extraction (Shenqi) on pacilitaxel inhibitory metastasis and angiogenesis on mouse Lewis lung carcinoma model. METHODS: Lewis lung carcinoma cells were inoculated into right hind footpad of C57BL/6 mice. Six hour after tumor inoculated, the mice were randomly divided into 3 groups.Shenqi (paclitaxel plus Shenqi) or paclitaxel was intraperitoneally injected in two group since the second day of the establishment of animal model. The third group simply administered with normal saline was set as placebo-control. Tumor volume, quantitation of microvessel density (MVD) in inoculated tumor, the number of metastasis in the lungs and survival analysis were compared in 3 groups. RESULTS: Paclitaxel plus Shenqi can effectively reduced MVD in inoculated tumor and the number of lung metastasis as compared with other two group (P<0.05). The survival time of Shenqi group was also significantly longer (P<0.05). Tumor volume was no statistical difference in three group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Shenqi can amplify the paclitaxel effect of anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis, enhances the survival time of mice bearing LLC, might has possible therapeutic applications in the treatment of lung cancer.

[The influence on hemodynamics of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of animals with shenfu injection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of Shenfu injection on the hemodynamic indexes of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of dogs and rats. METHOD: Myocardial ischemic model was made and hypotension in the dogs was induced with ligating left front descending limb coronary artery method, and secondary hypertension by narrowing nephridium artery of rats, Shenfu injection was administered with 5, 10 mL.kg-1 to the above dogs and rats separately to investigate the influence of it on the hemodynamic indexes of myocardial ischemic dogs and blood pressure of rats. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Shenfu injection enhanced the capacity of myocardial work markedly; it augmented the myocardium contractility and cardiac output without raising the oxygen consume, and at the same time it returned normal the blood pressure in myocardial ischemic; but it had no effects on the normal blood pressure and secondary hypertension of rats.