Identifying and Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Older Adults in Care Facilities: Administrators of Chinese Nursing Homes Relate Their Perspectives.

Addressing the spiritual needs of older adults is a central component of holistic service provision. Using a qualitative description design, this study identified: (1) common spiritual needs among Chinese nursing home residents, including the needs of residents with dementia, (2) the process staff use to identify these needs when residents are unable to verbalize them, and (3) the strategies staff implement to meet the identified needs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 nursing home administrators. Analysis produced five themes, including the need for older adults to express their faith, receive love and care, have contact with their children, interact with others, and participate in activities. For residents with dementia who are unable to verbalize their concerns, staff used two primary strategies to identify spiritual needs: careful observation and communication with family members. To address the identified spiritual needs, multiple strategies were offered including arranging clergy visits and personalizing care.

[Screening of bioactive components endowing hawthorn with turbidity-eliminating and lipid-lowering functions and development of quality control method of hawthorn].

Hawthorn has the efficacy of eliminating turbidity and lowering the blood lipid level, and it is used for treating hyperlipidemia in clinic. However, the bioactive components of hawthorn are still unclear. In this study, the spectrum-effect relationship was employed to screen the bioactive components of hawthorn in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, and then the bioactive components screened out were verified in vivo. Furthermore, the quality control method for hawthorn was developed based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS). The hyperlipidemia model of rats was built, and different polar fractions of hawthorn extracts and their combinations were administrated by gavage. The effects of different hawthorn extract fractions on the total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) in the serum of model rats were studied. The orthogonal projections to latent structures(OPLS) algorithm was used to establish the spectrum-effect relationship model between the 24 chemical components of hawthorn and the pharmacodynamic indexes, and the bioactive components were screened out and verified in vivo. Finally, 10 chemical components of hawthorn, including citric acid and quinic acid, were selected to establish the method for evaluating hawthorn quality based on LC-MS. The results showed that different polar fractions of hawthorn extracts and their combinations regulated the TG, TC, and LDL-C levels in the serum of the model rats. The bioactive components of hawthorn screened by the OPLS model were vitexin-4″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, rutin, citric acid, malic acid, and quinic acid. The 10 chemical components of hawthorn, i.e., citric acid, quinic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vitexin-4″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, malic acid, vanillic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and fumaric acid were determined, with the average content of 38, 11, 0.018, 0.009 5, 0.037, 0.017, 8.1, 0.009 5, 0.073, and 0.98 mg·g~(-1), respectively. This study provided a scientific basis for elucidating the material basis of hawthorn in treating hyperlipidemia and developed a content determination method for evaluating the quality of hawthorn.

An aluminium adjuvant compound with ginseng stem leaf saponins enhances the potency of inactivated Pseudomonas plecoglossicida vaccine in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) farm industry in China suffered from huge economic loss caused by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection. Due to multi-antibiotic resistance, efficient vaccines are urgent to be developed to combat this pathogen. In this study, an inactivated vaccine was developed with an aluminium adjuvant (Alum) plus ginseng stem and leaf saponins (GSLS). As a result, the relative percentage survival (RPS) against P. plecoglossicida was up to 67.8 %. Comparatively, RPS of groups that vaccinated with only inactivated vaccine and vaccine containing Alum or Montanide™ 763A as adjuvant were 21.8 %, 32.2 % and 62.1 %, respectively. Assays for total serum protein and serum lysozyme activity in group vaccinated with inactivated vaccine plus Alum + GSLS adjuvant were significantly higher than that in control group. Moreover, specific antibody in serum elicited a rapid and persistent level. According to the expression of some immune related genes, inactivated vaccine plus Alum + GSLS adjuvant induced a stronger cellular immune response which was vital to defend against P. plecoglossicida. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the compound Alum and GSLS adjuvant is a potential adjuvant system to develop LYC vaccine.

Identifying the active ingredients of carbonized Typhae Pollen by spectrum-effect relationship combined with MBPLS, PLS, and SVM algorithms.

Typhae Pollen (TP) and its carbonized product (carbonized Typhae Pollen, CTP), as cut-and-dried herbal drugs, have been widely used in the form of slices in clinical settings. However, the two drugs exhibit a great difference in terms of their clinical efficacy, for TP boasts an effect of removing blood stasis and promoting blood circulation, while CTP typically presents a hemostatic function. Since the active ingredients of CTP, so far, still remain unclear, this study aimed at identifying the active ingredients of CTP by spectrum-effect relationship approach coupled with multi-block partial least squares (MBPLS), partial least squares (PLS), and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. In this study, the chemical profiles of a series of CTP samples which were stir-fried for different duration (denoted as CTP0∼CTP9) were firstly characterized by UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap MS. Then the hemostatic effect of the CTP samples was evaluated from the perspective of multiple parameters-APTT, PT, TT, FIB, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α, PAI-1 and t-PA-using established rat models with functional uterine bleeding. Subsequently, MBPLS, PLS and SVM were combined to perform spectrum-effect relationship analysis to identify the active ingredients of CTP, followed by an in vitro hemostatic bioactivity test for verification. As a result, a total of 77 chemical ingredients were preliminarily identified from the CTP samples, and the variations occurred in these ingredients were also analyzed during the carbonizing process. The study revealed that all the CTP samples, to a varying degree, showed a hemostatic effect, among which CTP6 and CTP7 were superior to the others in terms of the hemostatic effect. The block importance in the projection (BIP) indexes of MBPLS model indicated that flavonoids and organic acids made more contributions to the hemostatic effect of CTP in comparison to other ingredients. Consequently, 9 bioactive ingredients, including quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, 2-methylenebutanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, benzoic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, were further identified as the potential active ingredients based on PLS and SVM models as well as the in vitro verification. This study successfully revealed the bioactive ingredients of CTP associated with its hemostatic effect, and also provided a scientific basis for further understanding the mechanism of TP processing. In addition, it proposed a novel path to identify the active ingredients for Chinese herbal medicines.

Comparative study of sediment phosphorus immobilization via the addition of lanthanum-modified and thermal-modified drinking water treatment sludge.

Lanthanum-modified drinking water treatment sludge (DTSLa) and thermal-modified drinking water treatment sludge (TDTS) were prepared from drinking water treatment sludge(DTS). The adsorption properties of DTSLa and TDTS on phosphate in water and the effects on the controlled release and morphology of phosphorus in sediment at different dosages (0%, 2.5%, 5%) were discussed. Combining with SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, and XPS characterization methods, the immobilization mechanism of DTSLa and TDTS on phosphorus in sediment was explored. The addition of TDTS can transform NH4Cl-P (loosely sorbed P), BD-P (bicarbonate-dithionite extractable P), and Org-P (organic P) into stable NaOH-rP (metal oxide-bound P) in sediment, and the conversion amount will increase with the increase of TDTS supplemental amount. DTSLa converted NH4Cl-P, BD-P, Org-P, and NaOH-rP to more stable HCl-P (calcium-bound P). At the same time, the content of WSP (water-soluble phosphorus) and olsen-P (NaHCO3 extractable P) in sediment can be reduced by the addition of DTSLa and TDTS, reducing the risk of the release of phosphorus from the sediment to the overlying water. In addition, phosphorus can be directly removed from the interstitial water by DTSLa and TDTS, so as to reduce the phosphorus concentration gradient between the overlying water and the interstitial water, thus inhibiting the release of phosphorus from interstitial water to overlying water. The results showed that DTSLa is better than TDTS in terms of its adsorption capacity and adsorption effect on endogenous phosphorus in water, so DTSLa is more suitable to be used as a sediment conditioner to control the phosphorus content in water and sediment.

Molecular networking-assisted systematical profiling and the in vivo neuroprotective effect of ellagitannins from the Melastoma dodecandrum Lour.

BACKGROUND: Ellagitannins (ETs) are a major classification of natural tannins, with relatively large and complex structures. ETs from medicinal plants are focused increasingly due to urolithins, a kind of intestinal metabolite of ETs, which showed promising anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) effects. Melastoma dodecandrum (MD), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine is rich in ETs, but their chemistry and potential neuroprotective effects have not been investigated. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the chemical composition of ETs in the crude extract of MD and to investigate their neuroprotective effects in vivo. METHODS: UPLC-QTOF-MS-based molecular networking (MN) and structural characterization were applied to targeted profiling of the MD-ETs. Animal behavior experiments, including the novel object recognition test (NOR), open field test (OFT), and Morris water maze test (MWM), were conducted to assess the memory improvement effects of MD-ETs in AD model mice. RESULTS: A total of 70 ETs, ranging from monomers to tetramers, were tracked and characterized in the MD extract using MN-guided targeted profiling, with 59 of them reported for the first time in this species. MD-ETs significantly improved memory impairment in AD mice, as indicated by decreased escape latency, increased number of crossings and target quadrant distance in MWM, increased rearing number in OFT, and increased preference index in NOR. CONCLUSION: This study systematically characterized the composition and structural features of ETs in MD using targeted LC-MS profiling, expanding the chemical information of ETs in MD. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that MD-ETs have significant effects on improving impaired memory in AD mice, suggesting their potential as alternative natural medicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Quercetin serves as the major component of Xiang-lian Pill to ameliorate ulcerative colitis via tipping the balance of STAT1/PPARγ and dictating the alternative activation of macrophage.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The traditional Chinese herbal formula, Xiang-lian Pill (XLP), is commonly prescribed for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients to relieve their clinical symptom. Nonetheless, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of XLP's anti-UC effect remain incompletely understood. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and elucidate the possible working mechanisms of XLP in UC treatment. The major active component of XLP was also characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) dissolved in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. The UC mice were grouped and treated with XLP (3640 mg/kg) or vehicle orally during the procedure of DSS induction. Mouse body weight, disease activity index (DAI) score and colon length were recorded. Histopathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration were evaluated by pathological staining and flow cytometric analysis (FACS). Network pharmacology, bioinformatic analysis, widely targeted and targeted metabolomics analysis were performed to screen the potential effective ingredients and key targets. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells were used to dissect the anti-inflammatory effect of XLP. RESULTS: Oral administration of XLP ameliorated DSS induced mouse colitis, as evidenced by reduced DAI and colonic inflammatory destruction. FACS results demonstrated that XLP treatment effectively restored immune tolerance in colon, inhibited the generation of monocyte derived macrophages and skewed macrophage polarization into M2 phenotype. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that innate effector modules related to macrophage activation comprise the major targets of XLP, and the counter-regulatory STAT1/PPARγ signaling possibly serves as the critical downstream pathway. Subsequent experiments unveiled an imbalance of STAT1/PPARγ signaling in monocytes derived from UC patients, and validated that XLP suppressed LPS/IFN-γ induced macrophage activation (STAT1 mediated) but facilitated IL-4 induced macrophage M2 polarization (PPARγ dependent). Meanwhile, our data showed that quercetin served as the major component of XLP to recapitulate the regulatory effect on macrophages. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that quercetin serves as the major component of XLP that regulates macrophage alternative activation via tipping the balance of STAT1/PPARγ, which provides a mechanistic explanation for the therapeutic effect of XLP in UC treatment.

[Application of partial least squares algorithm to explore bioactive components of crude and stir-baked hawthorn for invigorating spleen and promoting digestion].

This study was aimed at identifying the bioactive components of the crude and stir-baked hawthorn for invigorating spleen and promoting digestion, respectively, to clarify the processing mechanism of hawthorn by applying the partial least squares(PLS) algorithm to build the spectrum-effect relationship model. Firstly, different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were prepared, respectively. Then, the contents of 24 chemical components were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of different polar fractions of crude hawthorn and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions were evaluated by measuring the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate. Finally, the PLS algorithm was used to establish the spectrum-effect relationship model. The results showed that there were significant differences in the contents of 24 chemical components for different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions, and the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of model rats were improved by administration of different polar fractions of crude and stir-baked hawthorn aqueous extracts and combinations of different fractions. The bioactive components of crude hawthorn identified by PLS models were vitexin-4″-O-glucoside, vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, neochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid, while neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, rutin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, citric acid, quinic acid and fumaric acid were the bioactive components of stir-baked hawthorn. This study provided data support and scientific basis for identifying the bioactive components of crude and stir-baked hawthorn, and clarifying the processing mechanism of hawthorn.

MS/MS molecular networking-guided in-depth profiling of triterpenoid saponins from the fruit of Eleutherococcus senticosus and their neuroprotectivity evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Eleutherococcus senticosus fruit (ESF) is a natural health supplement resource that has been extensively applied as a tonic for the nervous system. The structures and neural bioactivities of triterpenoid saponins (TS), which are the major constituents of ESF, have not been comprehensively analyzed thus far. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a complete in-depth MS/MS molecular networking (MN)-based targeted analysis of TS from the crude extract of ESF and investigated its neuroprotective value. METHODS: An MS/MS MN-guided strategy was used to rapidly present a series of precursor ions (PIs) of TS in a compound cluster as TS-targeted information used in the discovery and characterization of TS. In addition, a prepared TS-rich fraction of ESF was assayed for its restraining effects on ß-amyloid-induced inhibition of neurite outgrowth. RESULTS: A total of 87 TS were discovered using a PI tracking strategy, 28 of which were characterized as potentially undescribed structures according to their high-resolution MS values. Furthermore, the TS-rich fraction can significantly reduce ß-amyloid-induced damage to neural networks by promoting the outgrowth of neurites and axons. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal the richness of TS in ESF and will accelerate their application in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Identification and localization of morphological feature-specific metabolites in Reynoutria multiflora roots.

Reynoutria multiflora roots are a classical herbal medicine with unique nourishing therapeutic effects. Anomalous vascular bundle (AVB) forming "cloudy brocade patterns" is a typical morphological feature of R. multiflora roots and has been empirically linked to its quality classification. However, scientific evidence, especially for AVB-specific specialised metabolites, has not been comprehensively revealed thus far. Herein, desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) analysis was applied to carry out an in situ analysis of specialised metabolites distributed specifically at the AVB and cork of R. multiflora roots. To enlarge the scope of compounds by DESI detection, various solvent systems including acetone, acetonitrile, methanol, and water were used to assist in the discoveries of 40 specialised metabolites with determined localization. A series of bioactive constituents including stilbenes, flavonoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, and naphthalenes were found specifically around the brocade patterns. Notably, phospholipids were detected from R. multiflora roots by in situ analysis for the first time and were found mainly in the phloem of AVB (PAB). This is the first study to use gradient solvent systems in DESI-MSI analysis to locate the specialised metabolites distribution. The discovery of feature-specific compounds will bridge the empirical identification to precision quality control of R. multiflora roots.

Comparative efficacy and safety of prostatic urethral lift vs prostatic artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the clinical efficacy and safety of prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and prostatic artery embolization (PAE) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by means of a systematic review and network meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Web of Science from inception to March 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared PUL or PAE with either transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or sham procedures as control interventions. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to pool the data on direct and indirect comparisons between interventions using STATA 14. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 675 participants were included in our network meta-analysis. Quantitative synthesis revealed that TURP was the most efficacious intervention for clinical (International Prostate Symptoms Score and quality of life) and functional outcomes (maximum urinary flow rate and post-void residual urine volume), and was associated with a lower reintervention rate compared with PAE (risk ratio [RR] 2.08 with 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96 to 4.51) and PUL (RR 2.33 with 95% CI 0.50 to 10.86), although the difference were not statistically significant. Indirect comparison indicated that PUL and PAE resulted in similar outcomes. PAE was associated with fewer minor adverse events (AEs; RR 0.75 with 95% CI 0.48 to 1.18) and PUL with fewer major AEs (RR 0.72 with 95% CI 0.17 to 3.13) when compared with TURP. Whilst PAE had a better ranking with regard to improvement of most clinical and functional outcomes, PUL was the best ranked procedure regarding erectile function, as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function 5, but no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that PUL and PAE have similar clinical efficacy and safety profiles in the management of LUTS associated with BPH. However, the quality of evidence is relatively low because of the paucity of RCTs available, and results should be interpreted with caution.

Arginine metabolism regulates the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is related to genetic susceptibility, enteric dysbiosis, and uncontrolled, chronic inflammatory responses that lead to colonic tissue damage and impaired intestinal absorption. As a consequence, patients with IBD are prone to nutrition deficits after each episode of disease resurgence. Nutritional supplementation, especially for protein components, is often implemented during the remission phase of IBD. Notably, ingested nutrients could affect the progression of IBD and the prognostic outcome of patients; therefore, they should be cautiously evaluated prior to being used for IBD intervention. Arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential amino acid required for protein synthesis and intimately associated with gut pathophysiology. To help optimize arginine-based nutritional intervention strategies, the present work summarizes that during the process of IBD, patients manifest colonic Arg deficiency and the turbulence of Arg metabolic pathways. The roles of Arg-nitric oxide (catalyzed by inducible nitric oxide synthase) and Arg-urea (catalyzed by arginases) pathways in IBD are debatable; the Arg-polyamine and Arg-creatine pathways are mainly protective. Overall, supplementation with Arg is a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD; however, the dosage of Arg may need to be carefully tailored for different individuals at different disease stages. Additionally, the combination of Arg supplementation with inhibitors of Arg metabolic pathways as well as other treatment options is worthy of further exploration.

Taohong Siwu Decoction Promotes Osteo-Angiogenesis in Fractures by Regulating the HIF-1α Signaling Pathway.

Background: Vascular damage is a major consequence of bone fracture. Taohong Siwu decoction (TSD) can raise the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in fracture healing. However, its molecular mechanism in promoting angiogenesis is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms of TSD in the regulation of osteo-angiogenesis in fracture healing. Methods: A rat tibial fracture model was established. After low- (4.5 g·kg-1), medium- (9 g·kg-1), and high-dose TSD (18 g·kg-1) and panax notoginsenoside (25 mg kg-1) treatment, hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to visualize pathological changes in bone tissues. The levels of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, and IL-1ß), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and 6 ketone prostaglandin F1α (6-Keto-PGF1α) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence was used to identify the rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). Control serum, 10% TSD-containing serum, and 10% TSD-containing serum combined with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) inhibitor were used to treat the RAECs and rat osteoblasts. Transwell migration assay was utilized to examine the migration of the RAECs. The Matrigel tubulogenesis assay was used for the assessment of angiogenesis. The expression of angiogenesis- (von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL), HIF-1α, VEGF, angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and pVHL) and osteogenesis-related (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and osteopontin-1 (OPN-1)) protein and gene was detected by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Compared with the model group, TSD increased the trabecular bone areas, numbers, and thicknesses in fractured rats. In the plasma, the levels of cytokines and TXB2 in the middle- and high-dose TSD group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.01). The 6-keto-PGF1α content was increased by middle- and high-dose TSD intervention (P < 0.01). Compared to the control serum group, the angiogenesis and migration of the RAECs were enhanced in the TSD group (P < 0.001). The expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and Ang-2 in the TSD group upregulated significantly (P < 0.001). VHL and pVHL were inhibited under TSD-containing serum treatment (P < 0.001). ALP, Runx2, and OPN-1 were increased obviously in the TSD group (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, the HIF-1α inhibitor reversed these changes (P < 0.001). Conclusion: TSD promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis by regulating the HIF-1α signaling pathway. Meanwhile, it can effectively reduce the risk of inflammation and improve blood circulation.

A compound ginseng stem leaf saponins and aluminium adjuvant enhances the potency of inactivated Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine in turbot.

Furunculosis caused by Aeromonas salmonicida in turbot farming is increasingly leading to huge economic losses. In this study, an inactivated vaccine containing a compound adjuvant of ginseng stem leaf saponins and aluminum hydroxide gel (GSLS/Alum) was developed against A. salmonicida and evaluated on turbot. As a result, serum antibody titer in vaccinated group was significantly higher than that in control group and the relative percentage survival (RPS) was up to 75.7%. Comparatively, the RPS of groups that vaccinated with only inactivated vaccine and vaccine containing Alum adjuvant or an oil emulsion Montanide™ ISA 763A were 32.4%, 48.6% and 64.9%, respectively. Although the vaccine containing oil adjuvant elicited comparable IgM level as that containing the compound GSLS/Alum adjuvant, the latter had no obvious side effects. Moreover, the inactivated vaccine containing the compound adjuvant was more likely to induce a higher cellular immune response according to the expressions of some immune related genes. Most importantly, an excellent protection of the vaccine containing GSLS/Alum adjuvant was obtained when turbots were naturally infected under clinical condition. In summary, our study demonstrated that the formulation of GSLS and Alum is a potential compound adjuvant in turbot vaccine development.

Combining ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadruple exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry with chemometrics to identify and verify the blood-activating components of hawthorn.

Hawthorn, one of the widely-used Chinese herbal medicines, has been used to treat blood stasis syndrome in the clinic, but its blood-activating components are unclear. This study combined the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple exactive-orbitrap mass spectrometry with chemometrics to identify the blood-activating components of hawthorn. Different polar fractions of hawthorn aqueous extracts were extracted and mixed to prepare 14 samples. The contents of 25 chemical components for 14 samples were determined by the proposed quantitative method which was validated in terms of linearity, precision, stability, repeatability, and recovery, while the blood-activating effect was evaluated by measuring the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and plasma fibrinogen levels. Then the partial least squares model was established on the spectrum-effect relationship. The result showed that vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, rutin, citric acid, malic acid, gallic acid, and fumaric acid could reduce the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and plasma fibrinogen levels in blood stasis model rats, and these components were the blood-activating components of hawthorn. This study provided a scientific basis for clarifying the blood-activating components of hawthorn, and the spectrum-effect approach proved to be an effective approach to discovering the bioactive components of Chinese herbal medicines.

Perfluorooctanoic acid alters the developmental trajectory of female germ cells and embryos in rodents and its potential mechanism.

The epidemiological studies regarding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) suggests that its exposure causes reproductive health issues, the underlying mechanisms of which are still in its infancy. Here, we report that PFOA deteriorates female reproduction at multiple development stages. Oocyte meiosis and preimplantation development are severely impaired by PFOA with oxidative stress being a contributor. Supplementing with antioxidant melatonin partially rescues oocyte meiotic maturation and non-apoptotic demise. The attenuation in ovarian follicle development however can be improved by metformin but not melatonin. Importantly, metformin blunts PFOA-induced fetal growth retardation (FGR) and such protective effect could be recapitulated by transplantation of fecal material and pharmacological activation of AMPK. Mechanistically, PFOA causes gut microbiota dysbiosis, which might thereby rewire host metabolism of L-phenylalanine, histamine and L-palmitoylcarnitine that triggers hyperphenylalaninaemia, inflammation and ferroptosis to initiate FGR. Deregulated serine metabolism by the gut microbe constitutes an alternative mechanism underlying PFOA-induced FGR in that modulation of serine in dam's diet phenocopied the FGR. Our study expands the understanding of risk factors that impair human reproductive health, and proposes restoration of gut microbiota diversity and intervention of metabolism as therapeutics mitigating health risks predisposed by environmental perturbation.

Developing the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneously quantifying five components in rat serums after oral administration of hawthorn aqueous extracts and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Hawthorn, one of the widely-used traditional Chinese medicines, has been used to treat dyspepsia, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease in the clinic. Our previous study revealed that gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, vitexin, and quercetin were active components of hawthorn. In this study, a simple, precise, and reliable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of five components in rat serums. The separation was achieved on the Hypersil GOLD C18 column, and the mobile phases consisted of 0.1% acetic acid water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The mass spectrometry data acquisition was performed on Q-Extractive-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization source in negative ion mode. The proposed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was validated in terms of linearity, intra- and inter-precision, accuracy, recoveries, matrix effects, and stability. Then this newly proposed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study on rats after oral administration of hawthorn aqueous extracts. This study provided relevant information on the pharmacokinetics of active components of hawthorn and explained the underlying mechanism of their bioactivity.

Melatonin prevents oocyte deterioration due to cotinine exposure in mice†.

Levels of cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, have been positively correlated with risks of cigarette smoking-related diseases. Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland and has been demonstrated to be beneficial to oocyte maturation due to its antioxidative activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of cotinine on mouse oocyte meiosis and the protective roles of melatonin in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that cotinine exposure caused defects in the first polar body extrusion and reduced parthenogenetic activation in in vitro-matured oocytes. Additionally, cotinine exposure increased the level of oxidative stress, which resulted in aberrant actin distribution, abnormal spindle morphology, chromosome misalignment, and even oocyte aneuploidy. Simultaneously, cotinine exposure decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and antioxidant gene expression and increased apoptosis-related gene expression. However, all these toxic effects of cotinine could be reversed after the addition of melatonin, and the mechanism may be a decrease in reactive oxygen species production. In conclusion, cotinine causes poor oocyte quality, which could be rescued by melatonin supplementation during meiotic maturation in mouse oocytes.

Causes of Death in People With Cardiovascular Disease: A UK Biobank Cohort Study.

Background Therapeutic advances have reduced cardiovascular death rates in people with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We aimed to define the rates of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death in people with specified CVDs or accruing cardiovascular multimorbidity. Methods and Results We studied 493 280 UK residents enrolled in the UK Biobank cohort study. The proportion of deaths attributed to cardiovascular, cancer, infection, or other causes were calculated in groups defined by 9 distinct self-reported CVDs at baseline, or by the number of these CVDs at baseline. Poisson regression analyses were then used to define adjusted incidence rate ratios for these causes of death, accounting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidity. Of 27 729 deaths, 20.4% were primarily attributed to CVD, 53.6% to cancer, 5.0% to infection, and 21.0% to other causes. As cardiovascular multimorbidity increased, the proportion of cardiovascular and infection-related deaths was greater, contrasting with cancer and other deaths. Compared with people without CVD, those with 3 or more CVDs experienced adjusted incidence rate ratios of 7.0 (6.2-7.8) for cardiovascular death, 4.4 (3.4-5.6) for infection death, 1.5 (1.4-1.7) for cancer death, and 2.0 (1.7-2.4) for other causes of death. There was substantial heterogeneity in causes of death, both in terms of crude proportions and adjusted incidence rate ratios, among the 9 studied baseline CVDs. Conclusions Noncardiovascular death is common in people with CVD, although its contribution varies widely between people with different CVDs. Holistic and personalized care are likely to be important tools for continuing to improve outcomes in people with CVD.