Improvement of Pre-check and Triage Efficiency and Guarantee of Maternal and Infant Safety in Pandemic Situation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to enhance the efficiency of pre-check and triage procedures in gynecology and obstetrics, while ensuring the safety of maternal and infant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between March 2020 and July 2022, the workflow in gynecology and obstetrics was optimized, and the management of medical staff working in outpatient, ward, and obstetric ward settings was strengthened. Special protocols were developed and implemented for pregnant women, parturients, and neonates. Detailed procedures and routes were established for patient movement from outpatient areas to wards, with strict adherence to pandemic prevention and control measures. Information-based methods were employed to track and monitor the health status of high-risk pregnant women, parturients, and their families, facilitating accurate and efficient pre-check and triage processes. Results: The implementation of these measures yielded favorable outcomes. No cases of COVID-19 infection were reported among pregnant women and parturients admitted to Liangzhou Hospital. The source of infection was effectively controlled, ensuring the safety of the patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the significance of improving pre-check and triage efficiency, strengthening the management of medical staff, and implementing specialized measures for pregnant women, parturients, and neonates to ensure their safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The established protocols and procedures can serve as a valuable reference for other healthcare facilities seeking to enhance their pandemic prevention and control strategies in gynecology and obstetrics settings.

Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm): A Global Epidemiological Overview, Radiographic Characteristics, Comorbid Associations, and Differentiation from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) manifests notable epidemiological disparities across the globe, with its prevalence and influential factors showcasing pronounced diversities among various geographical territories and demographics. The prevalence of PRISm fluctuates considerably among regions such as Latin America, the United States, and Asian nations, potentially correlating with a myriad of determinants, including socioeconomic status, environmental factors, and lifestyle modalities. Concurrently, the link between PRISm and health risks and other disorders, especially its distinction and interrelation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has become a pivotal subject of scientific enquiry. Radiographic anomalies, such as perturbations in the pulmonary parenchyma and structural alterations, are posited as salient characteristics of PRISm. Furthermore, PRISm unveils intricate associations with multiple comorbidities, inclusive of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, thereby amplifying the intricacy in comprehending and managing this condition. In this review, we aim to holistically elucidate the epidemiological peculiarities of PRISm, its potential aetiological contributors, its nexus with COPD, and its association with radiographic aberrations and other comorbidities. An integrative understanding of these dimensions will provide pivotal insights for the formulation of more precise and personalised preventative and therapeutic strategies.

Synthesis and characterization of marine seagrass (Cymodocea serrulata) mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles for antibacterial, antibiofilm and antioxidant properties.

Cymodocea serrulata mediated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized. The XRD pattern and FTIR spectra demonstrated the crystalline structure of TiO2 NPs and the presence of phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids in the extract. Further SEM revealed that TiO2 NPs has uniform structure and spherical in shape with their size ranged from 58 to 117 nm. Antibacterial activity of TiO2 NPs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), provided the zone of inhibition of 33.9 ± 1.7 and 36.3 ± 1.9 mm, respectively at 100 µg/mL concentration. MIC of TiO2 NPs against MRSA and V. cholerae showed 84% and 87% inhibition at 180 µg/mL and 160 µg/mL respectively. Subsequently, the sub-MIC of V. cholerae demonstrated minimal or no impact on bacterial growth at concentration of 42.5 µg/mL concentration. In addition, TiO2 NPs exhibited their ability to inhibit the biofilm forming V. cholerae which caused distinct morphological and intercellular damages analysed using CLSM and TEM. The antioxidant properties of TiO2 NPs were demonstrated through TAA and DPPH assays and exposed its scavenging activity with IC50 value of 36.42 and 68.85 µg/mL which denotes its valuable antioxidant properties with potential health benefits. Importantly, the brine shrimp based lethality experiment yielded a low cytotoxic effect with 13% mortality at 100 µg/mL. In conclusion, the multifaceted attributes of C. serrulata mediated TiO2 NPs encompassed the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-biofilm inhibition effects with low cytotoxicity in nature were highlighted in this study and proved the bioderived TiO2 NPs could be used as a promising agent for biomedical applications.

Quercetin as a promising intervention for rat osteoarthritis by decreasing M1-polarized macrophages via blocking the TRPV1-mediated P2X7/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by an imbalance between M1 and M2 polarized synovial macrophages. Quercetin has shown protective effects against OA by altering M1/M2-polarized macrophages, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, rat chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL of IL-1ß. To create M1-polarized macrophages in vitro, rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (rBMDMs) were treated with 100 ng/mL LPS. To mimic OA conditions observed in vivo, a co-culture system of chondrocytes and macrophages was established. ATP release assays, immunofluorescence assays, Fluo-4 AM staining, Transwell assays, ELISA assays, and flow cytometry were performed. Male adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to create an OA model. Histological analyses, including H&E, and safranin O-fast green staining were performed. Our data showed a quercetin-mediated suppression of calcium ion influx and ATP release, with concurrent downregulation of TRPV1 and P2X7 in the chondrocytes treated with IL-1ß. Activation of TRPV1 abolished the quercetin-mediated effects on calcium ion influx and ATP release in chondrocytes treated with IL-1ß. In the co-culture system, overexpression of P2X7 in macrophages attenuated the quercetin-mediated effects on M1 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Either P2X7 or NLRP3 knockdown attenuated IL-1ß-induced M1/M2 polarization, migration, and inflammation. Moreover, overexpression of TRPV1 reduced the quercetin-mediated suppressive effects on OA by promoting M1/M2-polarized macrophages in vivo. Collectively, our data showed that quercetin-induced suppression of TRPV1 leads to a delay in OA progression by shifting the macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 subtypes via modulation of the P2X7/NLRP3 pathway.

Carpaine alleviates tendinopathy in mice by promoting the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of p65 via targeting the E3 ubiquitin ligase LRSAM1.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no specific drugs or targets available for the treatment of tendinopathy. However, inflammation has recently been found to play a pivotal role in tendinopathy progression, thereby identifying it as a potential therapeutic target. Carpaine (CA) exhibits potential anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties and may offer a therapeutic option for tendinopathy. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CA in addressing tendinopathy and uncovering its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Herein, the efficacy of CA by local administration in vivo in comparison to the first-line drug indomethacin was evaluated in a mouse collagenase-induced tendinopathy (CIT) model. Furthermore, IL-1ß induced a simulated pathological inflammatory microenvironment in tenocytes to investigate its underlying mechanisms in vitro. Further confirmation experiments were performed by overexpressing or knocking down the selective targets of CA in vivo. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that CA was dose-dependent in treating tendinopathy and that the high-dose group outperformed the first-line drug indomethacin. Mechanistically, CA selectively bound to and enhanced the activity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase LRSAM1 in tendinopathy. This effect mediated the ubiquitination of p65 at lysine 93, subsequently promoting its proteasomal degradation. As a result, the NF-κB pathway was inactivated, leading to a reduction in inflammation of tendinopathy. Consequently, CA effectively mitigated the progression of tendinopathy. Moreover, the LRSAM1 overexpression demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating the tendinopathy progression and its knockdown abolished the therapeutic effects of CA. CONCLUSION: CA attenuates the progression of tendinopathy by promoting the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of p65 via increasing the enzyme activity of LRSAM1. The exploration of LRSAM1 has also unveiled a new potential target for treating tendinopathy based on the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway.

Enhancing the stability of natural anthocyanins against environmental stressors through encapsulation with synthetic peptide-based gels.

The instability of anthocyanin to environmental stressors severely limits its applications as a natural bioactive pigment. To overcome these limitations, this proof-of-concept study utilizes the high biocompatibility of peptide molecules and the unique gel microstructure to develop innovative peptide-based gels. Characterization of the gels was conducted through AFM, SEM, rheological analysis, and CD spectrum. These analyses confirmed the fibrous mesh structure and impressive mechanical strength of the peptide-based gels. The cytotoxicity evaluation using MTT and hemolysis analysis showed high biocompatibility. Encapsulation efficiency analysis and fluorescence microscopy images demonstrated successful and efficient encapsulation of anthocyanins in all four peptide-based gels, with uniform distribution. Moreover, systematic investigations were conducted to assess the impact of peptide-based gels on the stability of natural anthocyanins under environmental stressors such as temperature, pH variations, and exposure to metal ions. Notably, the results revealed a significant enhancement in stability, including improved long-term storage and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this study successfully developed four novel peptide-based gels that effectively protect natural anthocyanins from environmental stressors, highlighting their potential in various fields such as food and biology.

The Main Medicinal Plants in Arid Regions of Uzbekistan and Their Traditional Use in Folk Medicine.

Seventy percent of the territory of Uzbekistan consists of arid regions. This situation is considered very favorable for plants adapted to a desert climate. Medicinal plants distributed in the arid regions of Uzbekistan have not been studied much. Medicinal plants are considered inexpensive, yet are vital for the lives of local residents. They play a very important role in the traditional healing of ailments. To determine the current state of medicinal plants and enhance their subsequent protection and sustainable use, it is necessary to obtain annual information on the state of their distribution, their population size, and the impact of negative factors on their populations. Based on our field studies, which were conducted during the period from 2012 to 2022 in the arid regions of Uzbekistan, we updated the checklists of the main medicinal plants used in these regions. A total of 529 medicinal species belonging to 70 families and 269 genera were identified in the study region. Several species, including Peganum harmala L., Capparis spinosa L., Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. ex Wangerin, Lagochilus inebrians Bunge, Xanthium strumarium L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Onopordum acanthium L., Ziziphora tenuior L., and Cichorium intybus L., are spread over large areas and have been used regularly by the locals since ancient times. These species are common in saline and degraded soils in arid regions of Uzbekistan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with tabibs (traditional doctors), elders, herders, and residents with experience in traditional healing using medicinal plants. The medicinal value of most plants was based on the interviews with representatives of the local population, which were useful for understanding traditional healing skills and customer service skills.

Comparative analysis of complete Artemisia subgenus Seriphidium (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) chloroplast genomes: insights into structural divergence and phylogenetic relationships.

BACKGROUND: Artemisia subg. Seriphidium, one of the most species-diverse groups within Artemisia, grows mainly in arid or semi-arid regions in temperate climates. Some members have considerable medicinal, ecological, and economic value. Previous studies on this subgenus have been limited by a dearth of genetic information and inadequate sampling, hampering our understanding of their phylogenetics and evolutionary history. We therefore sequenced and compared the chloroplast genomes of this subgenus, and evaluated their phylogenetic relationships. RESULTS: We newly sequenced 18 chloroplast genomes of 16 subg. Seriphidium species and compared them with one previously published taxon. The chloroplast genomes, at 150,586-151,256 bp in length, comprised 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and one pseudogene, with GC content of 37.40-37.46%. Comparative analysis showed that genomic structures and gene order were relatively conserved, with only some variation in IR borders. A total of 2203 repeats (1385 SSRs and 818 LDRs) and 8 highly variable loci (trnK - rps16, trnE - ropB, trnT, ndhC - trnV, ndhF, rpl32 - trnL, ndhG - ndhI and ycf1) were detected in subg. Seriphidium chloroplast genomes. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole chloroplast genomes based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses resolved subg. Seriphidium as polyphyletic, and segregated into two main clades, with the monospecific sect. Minchunensa embedded within sect. Seriphidium, suggesting that the whole chloroplast genomes can be used as molecular markers to infer the interspecific relationship of subg. Seriphidium taxa. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal inconsistencies between the molecular phylogeny and traditional taxonomy of the subg. Seriphidium and provide new insights into the evolutionary development of this complex taxon. Meanwhile, the whole chloroplast genomes with sufficiently polymorphic can be used as superbarcodes to resolve interspecific relationships in subg. Seriphidium.

Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine: New hopes for drug discovery in pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and irreversible pulmonary disease, and can lead to decreased lung function, respiratory failure and even death. The pathogenesis research and treatment strategy of PF significantly lag behind the medical progress and clinical needs. The treatment of this disease remains a thorny clinical problem, and the effective therapeutic drugs are still limited. Monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine own various biological activities and high safety. They play a broad part in treating diseases and is also a candidate drug for preventing and treating PF. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanism of action and potential value of various anti-PF monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine. These monomeric compounds can attenuate inflammatory response, oxidative stress, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and other processes of lung through many signaling pathways, and inhibit the activation and differentiation of fibroblasts, thus contributing to the treatment of PF. This review can provide new ideas for the development of anti-PF drugs in high efficiency with low toxicity.

Khellin as a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor ameliorated paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of paclitaxel (PTX)-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is full of challenges because of the unclear pathogenesis of PIPN. Herbal folk medicine Khellin (Khe) is a natural compound extracted from Ammi visnaga for treatment of renal colics and muscle spasms. PURPOSE: Here, we aimed to assess the potential of Khe in ameliorating PIPN-like pathology in mice and investigate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: PIPN model mice were conducted by injection of PTX based on the published approach. The capability of Khe in ameliorating the PTX-induced neurological dysfunctions was assayed by detection of nociceptive hypersensitivities including mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hypersensitivity, and cold allodynia in mice. The underlying mechanisms were investigated by assays against the PIPN mice with MAOB-specific knockdown in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissues by injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-MAOB-shRNA. RESULTS: We determined that MAOB not MAOA is highly overexpressed in the spinal cord and DRG tissues of PIPN mice and Khe as a selective MAOB inhibitor improved PIPN-like pathology in mice. Khe promoted neurite outgrowth, alleviated apoptosis, and improved mitochondrial dysfunction of DRG neurons by targeting MAOB. Moreover, Khe inhibited spinal astrocytes activation and suppressed neuroinflammation of spinal astrocytes via MAOB/NF-κB/NLRP3/ASC/Caspase1/IL-1ß pathway. CONCLUSION: Our work might be the first to report that MAOB not MAOA is selectively overexpressed in the spinal cord and DRG tissues of PIPN mice, and all findings have highly addressed the potency of selective MAOB inhibitor in the amelioration of PIPN-like pathology and highlighted the potential of Khe in treating PTX-induced side effects.

Analysis of complete chloroplast genome sequences and insight into the phylogenetic relationships of Ferula L.

BACKGROUND: Ferula L. is one of the largest and most taxonomically complicated genera as well as being an important medicinal plant resource in the family Apiaceae. To investigate the plastome features and phylogenetic relationships of Ferula and its neighboring genera Soranthus Ledeb., Schumannia Kuntze., and Talassia Korovin, we sequenced 14 complete plastomes of 12 species.  RESULTS: The size of the 14 complete chloroplast genomes ranged from 165,607 to 167,013 base pairs (bp) encoding 132 distinct genes (87 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes), and showed a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions. Based on comparative analysis, we found that the 14 plastomes were similar in codon usage, repeat sequence, simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and IR borders, and had significant collinearity. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, Soranthus, Schumannia, and Talassia should be considered synonymous with Ferula. Six highly divergent regions (rps16/trnQ-UUG, trnS-UGA/psbZ, psbH/petB, ycf1/ndhF, rpl32, and ycf1) were also detected, which may represent potential molecular markers, and combined with selective pressure analysis, the weak positive selection gene ccsA may be a discriminating DNA barcode for Ferula species. CONCLUSION: Plastids contain abundant informative sites for resolving phylogenetic relationships. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that there is still much room for improvement in the classification of Ferula. Overall, our study provides new insights into the plastome evolution, phylogeny, and taxonomy of this genus.

The Metabolic Potential of Endophytic Actinobacteria Associated with Medicinal Plant Thymus roseus as a Plant-Growth Stimulator.

Bio-fertilizer practice considers not only economical but also environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture. Endophytes can play important beneficiary roles in plant development, directly, indirectly, or synergistically. In this study, the majority of our endophytic actinobacteria were able to possess direct plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, including auxin (88%), ammonia (96%), siderophore production (94%), and phosphate solubilization (24%), along with cell-wall degrading enzymes such as protease (75%), cellulase (81%), lipase (81%), and chitinase (18%). About 45% of tested strains have an inhibitory effect on the phytopathogen Fusarium oxysporum, followed by 26% for Verticillium dahlia. Overall, our results showed that strains XIEG63 and XIEG55 were the potent strains with various PGP traits that caused a higher significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in length and biomass in the aerial part and roots of tomato and cotton, compared to the uninoculated plants. Our data showed that the greatest inhibition percentages of two phytopathogens were achieved due to treatment with strains XIEG05, XIEG07, XIEG45, and XIEG51. The GC-MS analysis showed that most of the compounds were mainly alkanes, fatty acid esters, phenols, alkenes, and aromatic chemicals and have been reported to have antifungal activity. Our investigation emphasizes that endophytic actinobacteria associated with medicinal plants might help reduce the use of chemical fertilization and potentially lead to increased agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Evansella halocellulosilytica sp. nov., an alkali-halotolerant and cellulose-dissolving bacterium isolated from bauxite residue.

An alkali and salt-tolerating strain FJAT-44876T was isolated from the bauxite residue sample. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis suggest that strain FJAT-44876T was a member of the genus Evansella. It grew at 15-45 â„ƒ (optimum 20-25 â„ƒ) and pH 6.5-11.0 (optimum pH 8.0-9.0) with 0-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 6-8%). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C17:0, and C16:0. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and MK-7 as the menaquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.2%. The average nucleotide identity values between strain FJAT-44876T and closely related members were below the cutoff level for species delineation. Thus, based on the above results, strain FJAT-44876T represents a novel species of the genus Evansella, for which the name Evansella halocellulosilytica sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-44876T (=CCTCC AB 2016264T = DSM 104633T).

Synergistic Plant-Microbe Interactions between Endophytic Actinobacteria and Their Role in Plant Growth Promotion and Biological Control of Cotton under Salt Stress.

Bacterial endophytes are well-acknowledged inoculants to promote plant growth and enhance their resistance toward various pathogens and environmental stresses. In the present study, 71 endophytic strains associated with the medicinal plant Thymus roseus were screened for their plant growth promotion (PGP), and the applicability of potent strains as bioinoculant has been evaluated. Regarding PGP traits, the percentage of strains were positive for the siderophore production (84%), auxin synthesis (69%), diazotrophs (76%), phosphate solubilization (79%), and production of lytic enzymes (i.e., cellulase (64%), lipase (62%), protease (61%), chitinase (34%), and displayed antagonistic activity against Verticillium dahliae (74%) in vitro. The inoculation of strain XIEG05 and XIEG12 enhanced plant tolerance to salt stress significantly (p < 0.05) through the promotion of shoot, root development, and reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT), compared with uninoculated controls in vivo. Furthermore, inoculation of strain XIEG57 was capable of reducing cotton disease incidence (DI) symptoms caused by V. dahliae at all tested salt concentrations. The GC-MS analysis showed that many compounds are known to have antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Our findings provide valuable information for applying strains XIEG05 and XIEG12 as bioinoculant fertilizers and biological control agent of cotton under saline soil conditions.

Eriodictyol ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice by inhibiting ferroptosis via vitamin D receptor-mediated Nrf2 activation.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disease in the contemporary era, and it is still clinically incurable. Eriodictyol, a natural flavonoid compound that is mainly present in citrus fruits and some Chinese herbal medicines, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and neuroprotective effects. However, few studies have examined the anti-AD effect and molecular mechanism of eriodictyol. METHODS: APP/PS1 mice were treated with eriodictyol and the cognitive function of mice was assessed using behavioral tests. The level of amyloid-ß (Aß) aggregation and hyperphosphorylation of Tau in the mouse brain were detected by preforming a histological analysis and Western blotting. HT-22 cells induced by amyloid-ß peptide (1-42) (Aß1-42) oligomers were treated with eriodictyol, after which cell viability was determined and the production of p-Tau was tested using Western blotting. Then, the characteristics of ferroptosis, including iron aggregation, lipid peroxidation and the expression of glutathione peroxidase type 4 (GPX4), were determined both in vivo and in vitro using Fe straining, Western blotting and qPCR assays. Additionally, the expression level of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathway were tested using Western blotting and qPCR assays. Afterward, HT-22 cells with VDR knockout were used to explore the potential mechanisms, and the relationship between VDR and Nrf2 was further assessed by performing a coimmunoprecipitation assay and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: Eriodictyol obviously ameliorated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice, and suppressed Aß aggregation and Tau phosphorylation in the brains of APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, eriodictyol inhibited Tau hyperphosphorylation and neurotoxicity in HT-22 cells induced by Aß1-42 oligomer. Furthermore, eriodictyol exerted an antiferroptosis effect both in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Additionally, further experiments explained that the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by eriodictyol treatment mediated by VDR. CONCLUSIONS: Eriodictyol alleviated memory impairment and AD-like pathological changes by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway through a mechanism mediated by VDR, which provides a new possibility for the treatment of AD.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don Polysaccharides Inhibit High Glucose-Induced Proliferation and Angiogenesis of Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cells.

PURPOSE: The traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata) has been reported to exhibit anti-cancer and anti-inflammation activities. The ethanol extract of S. barbata has been confirmed to attenuate diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of the polysaccharides isolated from S. barbata (PSB) on the proliferation and angiogenesis of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs) in DR. METHODS: Human RVECs (HRVECs) were cultured in normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mM), mannitol (MA, 30 mM), high glucose (HG, 30 mM) and HG plus 40 µg/mL PSB, respectively. Then, cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis were evaluated. The cell proliferation was also estimated in the presence of SLIGKV, which was used to induce the phosphorylation of ERK (p-ERK). RESULTS: PSB reduced normal and HG-induced HRVECs cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and proliferating antigen KI67 (Ki67), the migration rate and tube formation ability, which were increased by HG treatment, were significantly decreased by PSB. PSB also inhibited the phosphorylation of Raf, MEK and ERK in HG-stimulated HRVECs. Moreover, the application of SLIGKV recovered cell viability and the expression of p-ERK, PCNA and Ki67, in HG plus PSB-treated cells. Finally, the HG-enhanced expression of VE-cadherin, Frizzed, ß-catenin, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was all reversed by PSB. CONCLUSION: PSB could inhibit HG-induced HRVECs proliferation, migration and neovascularization, and these effects might work through blocking the activation of MEK/ERK pathway and VEGF/VE-cadherin axis.

Diversity and function of rhizosphere microorganisms between wild and cultivated medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch under different soil conditions.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch is a widely cultivated traditional Chinese medicine plant. In the present study, culture-independent microbial diversity analysis and functional prediction of rhizosphere microbes associated with wild and cultivated G. uralensis Fisch plant (collected from two locations) were carried. Soil physicochemical parameters were tested to assess their impact on microbial communities. A total of 4428 OTUs belonging to 41 bacterial phyla were identified. In general, cultivated sample sites were dominated by Actinobacteria whereas wild sample sites were dominated by Proteobacteria. The alpha diversity analysis showed the observed species number was higher in cultivated soil samples when compared with wild soil samples. In beta diversity analysis, it was noticed that the weighted-unifrac distance of two cultivated samples was closer although the samples were collected from different regions. Functional annotation based on PICRUST and FAPROTAX showed that the nitrogen metabolism pathway such as nitrate reduction, nitrogen fixation, nitrite ammonification, and nitrite respiration were more abundant in rhizosphere microorganisms of wild G. uralensis Fisch. These results also correlate in redundancy analysis results which show correlation between NO3--N and wild samples, which indicated that nitrogen nutrition conditions might be related to the quality of G. uralensis Fisch.

Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawater.

Six aerobic Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from seawater in Guangdong Province, P.R. China. Cells were observed to be Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore forming. Growth of the designated type strain 19X3-30T occurred at a temperature range of 14-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), a pH range of 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7) and up to 7.5% NaCl (optimum, 1.5%; w/v), and was enhanced by CO2 and L-cysteine supplementation. The major polar lipids identified in strain 19X3-30T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The principal cellular fatty acids profile showed the presence of anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0 (> 8% of total fatty acids), and the respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8). According to the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, these strains represented a novel species within the family Fastidiosibacteraceae, sharing maximum similarities with Cysteiniphilum litorale DSM 101832T (96.6%) and Cysteiniphilum halobium DSM 103992T (95.3%). Phylogenetic dendrograms based on 16S rRNA gene and protein marker genes from the genomic sequences both indicated that the strains formed a monophyletic lineage closely linked to the genus Cysteiniphilum, which was also supported by the UPGMA dendrogram based on the MALDI-TOF MS profile. The genomic DNA G + C contents of six strains ranged from 38.0% to 38.1%. Based on different taxonomic genomic metrics, phylogeny and phenotypic features, we propose that the strains warrant the assignment to a novel species, for which the name Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 19X3-30T (= KCTC 82154T = CGMCC 1.18585T).

Confining copper nanoclusters on exfoliation-free 2D boehmite nanosheets: Fabrication of ultra-sensitive sensing platform for α-glucosidase activity monitoring and natural anti-diabetes drug screening.

α-Glucosidase (α-Glu) and its inhibitors play critical roles in diabetes therapy. Herein, a simple and ultra-sensitive fluorescence sensing approach was fabricated for α-Glu activity monitoring and natural inhibitor screening by electrostatically confining negatively charged glutathione-capped copper nanoclusters (GSH-CuNCs) on exfoliation-free and positively charged 2D boehmite (Boe) nanosheets. Boe significantly improved the fluorescence emission/stability of GSH-CuNCs and simultaneously led to an obvious blue-shift of the excitation peak of CuNCs from 365 nm to 330 nm. As a result, the fluorescence emission of Boe@GSH-CuNCs was efficiently quenched by 4-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) with a maximum absorbance peak (λmax) at 310 nm via inner filter effect, and sequentially recovered by α-Glu through the hydrolysis of PNPG to p-nitrophenol (λmax = 410 nm). Accordingly, an ultra-sensitive fluorescence assay for the determination of α-Glu activity was proposed by using Boe@GSH-CuNCs as fluorescence probes. The detection limit of 0.43 U/L was achieved, which was lower than most of other α-Glu activity assays. Furthermore, this method was capable of screening α-Glu inhibitors originated from actinomycetes, peanut, sophora flower, celery, and orange as potential anti-diabetes drugs. Taken together, this work provided a promising strategy for clinical treatment of diabetes and discovery of anti-diabetes drugs.