Efficacy of doxycycline therapy for macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children at different periods.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae has increased considerably. Treatment in children has become challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of doxycycline therapy for macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children at different periods. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia hospitalized between May 2019 to August 2022. According to treatment, patients were divided into three groups: oral doxycycline treatment alone (DOX group), changed from intravenous azithromycin to oral doxycycline (ATD group), and intravenous azithromycin treatment alone (AZI group). ATD group cases were separated into two sub-groups: intravenous azithromycin treatment<3 days (ATD1 group) and ≥ 3 days (ATD2 group). Clinical symptoms were compared in each group and adjusted by Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 106 were recruited in this study. 17 (16%) were in DOX group, 58 (55%) in ATD group, and 31(29%) in AZI group. Compared with ATD group and AZI group, the DOX group showed shorter hospitalization duration and fever duration after treatment, while higher rate of chest radiographic improvement. After using PSM analysis, shorter days to hospitalization duration (P = 0.037) and to fever duration after treatment (P = 0.027) in DOX + ATD1 group than in ATD2 group was observed. A higher number of patients in the DOX + ATD1 group achieved defervescence within 72 h (P = 0.031), and fewer children received glucocorticoid adjuvant therapy (P = 0.002). No adverse reactions associated with doxycycline was observed during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Children receiving early oral doxycycline had a shorter duration of fever and hospitalization in macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae patients.

Serum Fat-Soluble Vitamin Levels of 6,082 Minors in Zhuzhou City.

Objective: To explore the nutritional status of serum fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and vitamin E of minors in the Zhuzhou area to provide a scientific basis for clinical guidance to supplement fat-soluble vitamins reasonably. Method: A total of 6,082 minors who underwent physical examination from January 2017 to February 2019 in the Children's Health Department of Zhuzhou Hospital affiliated with XiangYa School of Medicine of Central South University were selected as the subjects to measure the levels of serum fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E. Results: (1) Their average levels of serum vitamin A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and vitamin E were (0.34 ± 0.08) mg/mL, (34.65 ± 10.24) ng/mL, and (10.11 ± 2.65) mg/mL, respectively. (2) Serum vitamin E showed a gender difference (P < 0.001). (3) The average levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin E in infancy, early childhood, preschool age, school age, and adolescence decreased gradually (P < 0.05). In contrast, the average level of serum vitamin A ranged between 0.32 mg/mL and 0.37 mg/mL. (4) The age was negatively correlated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (r = -0.517, P < 0.001) and weakly negatively correlated with vitamin E (r = -0.366, P < 0.001), but weakly positively correlated with vitamin A (r = 0.269, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Minors from infancy to adolescence in Zhuzhou should strengthen their supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins.

Emodin alleviates arthritis pain through reducing spinal inflammation and oxidative stress.

Chronic pain is the predominant problem for rheumatoid arthritis patients, and negatively affects quality of life. Arthritis pain management remains largely inadequate, and developing new treatment strategies are urgently needed. Spinal inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to arthritis pain and represent ideal targets for the treatment of arthritis pain. In the present study, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model was established by intradermally injection of type II collagen (CII) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) solution, and exhibited as paw and ankle swelling, pain hypersensitivity and motor disability. In spinal cord, CIA inducement triggered spinal inflammatory reaction presenting with inflammatory cells infiltration, increased Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) expression, and up-regulated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) and cleaved caspase-1 levels, elevated spinal oxidative level presenting as decreased nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. To explore potential therapeutic options for arthritis pain, emodin was intraperitoneally injected for 3 days on CIA mice. Emodin treatment statistically elevated mechanical pain sensitivity, suppressed spontaneous pain, recovered motor coordination, decreased spinal inflammation score and IL-1ß expression, increased spinal Nrf2 expression and SOD activity. Further, AutoDock data showed that emodin bind to Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through two electrovalent bonds. And emodin treatment increased the phosphorylated AMPK at threonine 172. In summary, emodin treatment activates AMPK, suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome response, elevates antioxidant response, inhibits spinal inflammatory reaction and alleviates arthritis pain.

Protective role of bayberry extract: associations with gut microbiota modulation and key metabolites.

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is inextricably intertwined with the onset and development of metabolic diseases. Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota has received much attention in recent years; however, currently there are still few effective approaches. Polyphenols extracted from fruits protect against metabolic disorders, and this effect is associated with the gut microbiota. We aimed to investigate the metabolic impact of bayberry extract cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and its associations with changes in the gut microbiota. Based on C57BL/6 and db/db mouse models, combined with 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and metabolomic profiling, we found that C3G administration reduced weight gain and fasting blood glucose levels. More importantly, C3G significantly modulated the gut microbiota including its composition, diversity and functional pathways. A distinct metabolite profile in addition to alterations of key metabolites was observed probably resulting from changes in the gut bacterial composition and metabolic pathways induced by C3G administration. This study may provide evidence for the missing link in mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of poorly absorbed dietary polyphenols.

Traditional uses, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of Osmanthus fragrans: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Osmanthus fragrans Lour., is a medicinal plant distributed widely in some Asian countries including Japan and Korea and southwestern China. It has been used traditionally for the treatment of weakened vision, halitosis, panting, asthma, cough, toothache, stomachache, diarrhea, rheumatism, physique pain and hepatitis. AIM OF THE REVIEW: Recent advances in traditional uses, botanical characteristics, distribution, taxonomy, phytochemical constituents, biological effects as well as the toxicities of O. fragrans are comprehensively presented and critically evaluated, and the underlying mechanism associated with the bioactivities of extracts, essential oil and components from this plant is also well summarized. In order to provide comprehensive scientific basis for the medical application and help interested researchers discover food and medicinal natural products from O. fragrans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All information was systematically gathered from globally accepted scientific databases by Internet databases, including Elsevier, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley, Springer, SciFinder, ACS Publications, CNKI, WanFang, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, The Plant List Database, and other literature sources (Ph.D. and MSc dissertations). All published contributions on O. fragrans different languages were included and cited. The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were drawn by using ChemBioDraw Ultra 14.0 software. RESULTS: To date, more than 183 compounds were isolated and structurally identified from different plant parts of O. fragrans. Among them, ionone, ionol, flavonoids, polyphenols and iridoids, as the major bioactive substances, have been extensively studied and displayed the best bioactivity. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that O. fragrans and its active components had a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-thrombotic, anti-melanogenesis, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities, etc. CONCLUSION: O. fragrans, as a food and medicinal resource, has a good health care function and important edible and medicinal value, and thus has good prospects for utilization. However, many studies on biological activities were mainly based on extracts and the bioactive ingredients of this plant, and the mechanism responsible for these extracts and ingredients have not been well identified and there is a gap in research regarding clinical effect and safety. Therefore, the detail in vitro and in vivo studies on the mechanisms of action of the pure bioactive compounds and more clinical studies are encouraged to be conducted to ensure safety and effectiveness of the plant for human use.

Research Progress in the Pharmacological Activities, Toxicities, and Pharmacokinetics of Sophoridine and Its Derivatives.

Sophoridine is a natural quinolizidine alkaloid and a bioactive ingredient that can be isolated and identified from certain herbs, including Sophora flavescens Alt, Sophora alopecuroides L, and Sophora viciifolia Hance. In recent years, this quinolizidine alkaloid has gained widespread attention because of its unique structure and minimal side effects. Modern pharmacological investigations have uncovered sophoridine's multiple wide range biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-arrhythmia, and analgesic functions, among others. These pharmacological activities and beneficial effects point to sophoridine as a strong potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of various diseases, including several cancer types, hepatitis B virus, enterovirus 71, coxsackievirus B3, cerebral edema, cancer pain, heart failure, acute myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, inflammation, acute lung injury, and osteoporosis. The data showed that sophoridine had adverse reactions, including hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Additionally, analyses of sophoridine's safety, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic parameters in animal models of research have been limited, especially in the clinic, as have been investigations on its structure-activity relationship. In this article, we comprehensively summarize the biological activities, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of sophoridine and its derivatives, as currently reported in publications, as we attempt to provide an overall perspective on sophoridine analogs and the prospects of its application clinically.

Improved utilization of active sites for phosphorus adsorption in FeOOH/anion exchanger nanocomposites via a glycol-solvothermal synthesis strategy.

Metal oxide/hydroxide-based nanocomposite adsorbents with porous supporting matrices have been recognized as efficient adsorbents for phosphorus recovery. Aiming at satisfying increasingly restrictive environmental requirements involving improving metal site utilization and lowering metal leakage risk, a glycol-solvothermal confined-space synthesis strategy was proposed for the fabrication of FeOOH/anion exchanger nanocomposites (Fe/900s) with enhanced metal site utilization and reduced metal leakage risk. Compared to composites prepared using alkaline precipitation methods, Fe/900s performed comparably, with a high adsorption capacity of 19.05 mg-P/g with an initial concentration of 10 mg-P/L, a high adsorption selectivity of 8.2 mg-P/g in the presence of 500 mg-SO42-/L, and high long-term resilience (with a capacity loss of ~14% after five cycles), along with substantially lower Fe loading amount (4.11 wt.%) and Fe leakage percentage. Mechanistic investigation demonstrated that contribution of the specific FeOOH sites to phosphate adsorption increased substantially (up to 50.97% under the optimal conditions), in which Fe(III)-OH was the dominant efficient species. The side effects of an excessively long reaction time, which included quaternary ammonium decomposition, FeOOH aggregation, and Fe(III) reduction, were discussed as guidance for optimizing the synthesis strategy. The glycol-solvothermal strategy provides a facile solution to environmental problems through nanocrystal growth engineering in a confined space.

Depression of Fungal Polygalacturonase Activity in Solanum lycopersicum Contributes to Antagonistic Yeast-Mediated Fruit Immunity to Botrytis.

The acquisition of susceptibility to necrotrophy over the course of ripening is one of the critical factors limiting shelf life. In this study, phytopathology and molecular biology were employed to explore the roles of pectinase in fruit susceptibility and ripening. Solanum lycopersicum fruit softened dramatically from entirely green to 50% red, which was accompanied by a continuously high expressed SlPG2 gene. The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea further activated the expression of SlPGs and SlPMEs to accelerate cell wall disassembly, while most of the polygalacturonase inhibitor proteins encoding genes expression were postponed in ripe fruit following the pathogen attack. Pectin induced the antagonistic yeast to secrete pectinolytic enzymes to increase fruit resistance against gray mold. The activities of pathogenic pectinase of B. cinerea were correspondingly depressed in the pectin-inducible yeast enzyme elicited ripe fruit. These data suggest that pectinase is a molecular target for regulation of disease resistance during fruit ripening.

Mulberry ethanol extract attenuates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common complications of obesity. Mulberry is an important source of phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins, polyphenols and flavonoids, which are related to its antioxidant activity. In this study, we developed a hypothesis that mulberry exerted beneficial effects on metabolic disorders and evaluated the influence of the mulberry ethanol extract (MEE) on high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in mice. Thirty-six male C57BL/6J mice were assigned into 3 groups and fed either a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet with or without supplementation with MEE. Our results showed that administration of MEE reduced diet-induced body weight gain, improved high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and adipose hypertrophy, alleviated insulin resistance, and improved glucose homeostasis. Analysis of hepatic gene expression indicated that MEE treatment changed the expression profile of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that MEE supplementation protected mice from high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. Moreover, the protective effects of MEE were associated with the induction of fatty acid oxidation and decreased fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis.

Effect of different struvite crystallization methods on gaseous emission and the comprehensive comparison during the composting.

This study compared 4 different struvite crystallization process (SCP) during the composting of pig feces. Four combinations of magnesium and phosphate salts (H3PO4+MgO (PMO), KH2PO4+MgSO4 (KPM), Ca(H2PO4)2+MgSO4 (CaPM), H3PO4+MgSO4 (PMS)) were assessed and were also compared to a control group (CK) without additives. The magnesium and phosphate salts were all supplemented at a level equivalent to 15% of the initial nitrogen content on a molar basis. The SCP significantly reduced NH3 emission by 50.7-81.8%, but not the N2O. Although PMS group had the lowest NH3 emission rate, the PMO treatment had the highest struvite content in the end product. The addition of sulphate decreased CH4 emission by 60.8-74.6%. The CaPM treatment significantly decreased NH3 (59.2%) and CH4 (64.9%) emission and yielded compost that was completely matured. Due to its effective performance and low cost, the CaPM was suggested to be used in practice.

Inhibitory effects of sweet cherry anthocyanins on the obesity development in C57BL/6 mice.

In the present study, purified sweet cherry anthocyanins (CACN) were evaluated to determine their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and their anti-obesity properties in male C57BL/6 mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). CACN prevented HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. In vivo experiment revealed that 40 and 200 mg/kg of CACN in food reduced the body weight by 5.2% and 11.2%, respectively. CACN supplementation could also reduce the size of adipocytes, leptin secretion, serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and liver triglycerides. Furthermore, CACN could effectively reduce the expression levels of IL-6 and TNFα genes, markedly increase the SOD and GPx activity. Our results indicated that CACN slowed down the development of HFD-induced obesity in male C57BL/6 mice.

Honeysuckle anthocyanin supplementation prevents diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of honeysuckle anthocyanins (HA) in a high fat diet-induced mouse model. The mice were initially fed with a low-fat diet (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. After that, the HFD-fed mice were divided into five groups, with 12 mice in each group, including a HFD group, a HFD plus Orlistat group, and three HFD plus HA (at a dose of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg(-1)) groups, for another 8-week experiment. HA at 100 or 200 mg kg(-1) can suppress body weight gain, reduce serum and liver lipid profiles, ameliorate impaired hepatic function, and significantly increase serum adiponectin concentration while decreasing serum insulin and leptin levels. These results suggest that the anti-obesity effect of HA might be through the blockage of lipid accumulation.