Itaconate alleviates ß2-microglobulin-induced cognitive impairment by enhancing the hippocampal amino-ß-carboxymuconate-semialdehyde-decarboxylase/picolinic acid pathway.

ß2-microglobulin (B2M) has been established to impair cognitive function. However, no treatment is currently available for B2M-induced cognitive dysfunction. Itaconate is a tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate that exerts neuroprotective effects in several neurological diseases. The amino-ß-carboxymuconate-semialdehyde-decarboxylase (ACMSD)/picolinic acid (PIC) pathway is a crucial neuroprotective branch in the kynurenine pathway (KP). The present study sought to investigate whether Itaconate attenuates B2M-induced cognitive impairment and examine the mediatory role of the hippocampal ACMSD/PIC pathway. We demonstrated that 4-Octyl Itaconate (OI, an itaconate derivative) significantly alleviated B2M-induced cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal neurogenesis impairment. OI treatment also increased the expression of ACMSD, elevated the concentration of PIC, and decreased the level of 3-HAA in the hippocampus of B2M-exposed rats. Furthermore, inhibition of ACMSD by TES-991 significantly abolished the protections of Itaconate against B2M-induced cognitive impairment and neurogenesis deficits. Exogenous PIC supplementation in hippocampus also improved cognitive performance and hippocampal neurogenesis in B2M-exposed rats. These findings demonstrated that Itaconate alleviates B2M-induced cognitive impairment by upregulation of the hippocampal ACMSD/PIC pathway. This is the first study to document Itaconate as a promising therapeutic agent to ameliorate cognitive impairment. Moreover, the mechanistic insights into the ACMSD/PIC pathway improve our understanding of it as a potential therapeutic target for neurological diseases beyond B2M-associated neurocognitive disorders.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Hengyang, Hunan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China. The characteristics of COVID-19 patients treated in local hospitals in Wuhan are not fully representative of patients outside Wuhan. Therefore, it is highly essential to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in areas outside Wuhan or Hubei Province. To date, a limited number of studies have concentrated on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with different genders, clinical classification, and with or without basic diseases. AIM: To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Hengyang (China) and provide a reliable reference for the prevention and control of COVID-19. METHODS: From January 16 to March 2, 2020, a total of 48 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hengyang, and those cases were included in this study. The diagnostic criteria, clinical classification, and discharge standard related to COVID-19 were in line with the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Trial Version 7) released by National Health Commission and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in pharyngeal swab specimens was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. All the data were imported into the excel worksheet and statistically analyzed by using SPSS 25.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 48 cases of COVID-19 were collected, of which 1 was mild, 38 were moderate, and 9 were severe. It was unveiled that there were 31 (64.6%) male patients and 17 (35.4%) female patients, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.82:1. The range of age of patients with COVID-19 was dominantly 30-49 years old [25 (52.1%) of 48], followed by those aged over 60 years old [11 (22.9%)]. Besides, 29.2% (14 of 48) of patients had basic diseases, and 57.2% (8 of 14) of patients with basic diseases were aged over 60 years old. The occupations of 48 COVID-19 patients were mainly farmers working in agricultural production [15 (31.5%) of 48], rural migrant workers from Hengyang to Wuhan [15 (31.5%)], and service workers operating in the service sector [8 (16.7%)]. The mean latent period was 6.86 ± 3.57 d, and the median was 7 [interquartile range (IQR): 4-9] d. The mean time from onset of symptoms to the first physician visit was 3.38 ± 2.98 (95%CI: 2.58-9.18) d, with a median of 2 (IQR: 1-5) d, and the mean time from hospital admission to confirmed diagnosis was 2.29 ± 2.11 (95%CI: 1.18-6.42) d, with a median of 2 (IQR: 1-3) d. The main symptoms were fever [43 (89.6%) of 48], cough and expectoration [41 (85.4%)], fatigue [22 (45.8%)], and chills [22 (45.8%)]. Other symptoms included poor appetite [13 (27.1%)], sore throat [9 (18.8%)], dyspnea [9 (18.8%)], diarrhea [7 (14.6%)], dizziness [5 (10.4%)], headache [5 (10.4%)], muscle pain [5 (10.4%)], nausea and vomiting [4 (8.3%)], hemoptysis [4 (8.3%)], and runny nose [1 (2.1%)]. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils were significantly reduced in the majority of the patients. The levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, blood glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), myoglobin (MB), and creatine kinase (CK) were increased in 64.6%, 44.7%, 43.2%, 37.0%, 29.5%, 22.9%,20.8%, 21.6%, 13.6%, and 12.8% of patients, respectively. The incidence of ALT elevation in male patients was remarkably higher than that in females (P < 0.01), while the incidences of AST, CK, and blood glucose elevations in severe patients were remarkably higher than those in moderate patients (P < 0.05, respectively). Except for the mild patients, chest computed tomography showed characteristic pulmonary lesions. All the patients received antiviral drugs, 38 (79.2%) accepted traditional Chinese medicine, and 2 (4.2%) received treatment of human umbilical-cord mesenchymal stem cells. On March 2, 2020, 48 patients with COVID-19 were all cured and discharged. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, patients with COVID-19 often have multiple organ dysfunction or damage. The incidences of ALT elevation in males, and AST, CK, and blood glucose elevations in severe patients are remarkably higher.

[Effects of drought stress on glandular trichomes,stomatal density and volatile exudates of Schizonepeta tenuifolia].

In this research,we explored the effect of three groups of water treatments,including severe drought(the corresponding water content of cultivated substrate 5%-10%),moderate drought(45%-50%) and control(85%-90%),and different drought stress time(15,30,45 d) on the glandular trichome density(TD),stomatal density(SD) and volatile exudates of Schizonepeta tenuifolia.The results showed that there were two kinds of glandular trichomes on the surface of S. tenuifolia leaves: peltate and capitate glandular trichomes. The density of capitate glandular trichomes(CTD) was higher than that of peltate glandular trichomes(PTD). Both CTD and PTD on the abaxial surface of leaf were higher than those on the adaxial surface. Under severe drought stress,the CTD and SD were higher than the other two treatments. Under the same stress time,the biomass and leaf surface area of S. tenuifolia decreased with the deepening of stress degree. As the stress time prolonged,the surface area of leaves and biomass gradually increased,and the TD and SD decreased. The most abundant compound in volatile exudates of S. tenuifolia was pulegone. Under drought stress,the relative content of pulegone decreased,and the relative content of other monoterpenoids such as D-limonene and menthone increased. The n-hexadeconic acid and 2-methyl-1-hexadecanol were detected only at the stress of 15 d,while menthone was detected at the stress of 30 d and45 d. Drought stress affected the leaf growth and secondary metabolism of S. tenuifolia.

Untargeted liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry reveals metabolic changes in nitrogen-deficient Isatis indigotica Fortune.

Isatis indigotica Fortune is a popular herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and various types of metabolites are the basis for its pharmacological efficacy. The biosynthesis and accumulation of these metabolites are closely linked to nitrogen availability; the benefits of low nitrogen application on the environment and herb quality are increasingly prominent. To analyze metabolic changes in the leaves and roots of I.indigotica in nitrogen deficiency conditions, and to identify the pathways and metabolites induced by low nitrogen availability, we used untargeted liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TripleTOF) to obtain metabolomics profiling of I.indigotica under two N-deficiency treatments (0 kg/hm2; 337.5 kg/hm2) and normal nitrogen treatment (675 kg/hm2). A total of 447 metabolites were annotated. Principal component analysis separated the three nitrogen treatments. A greater diversity of metabolites was observed in roots than in leaves under N-deficiency treatments, suggesting that roots have a more important function in low N tolerance. Differential metabolites were mainly enriched in purine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the shikimate pathway, tryptophan metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis that notably induced only in leaves in low nitrogen stress. Moderate N-deficiency benefits carbohydrate accumulation, whereas accumulation of most amino acids decreases. Uniquely, L-tryptophan was maintained at a high concentration in N-deficiency conditions. Low nitrogen stress induced the accumulation of some specialized metabolites (matairesinol, dictamnine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetate (serotonin) in roots and vitexin, xanthohumol, sinapyl alcohol in leaves). N-deficiency also increased the accumulation of adenosine and quality indicators of I.indigotica (indirubin-indigo, epigoitrin and anthranilic acid) in a certain degree. Our findings showed that nitrogen deficiency modified roots and leaves conditions of I.indigotica, affecting both the primary and secondary metabolism. Moderate nitrogen reduction was beneficial to the accumulation of active ingredients. Our methods and analysis are expected to provide an insight regarding the diversity of metabolites and regulation of their synthesis in low nitrogen application, and better investigate the nitrogen deficiency effect on I.indigotica.

[Changes of ion absorption, distribution and essential oil components of flowering Schizonepeta tenuifolia under salt stress].

In this paper, a pot experiment using quartz sands was conducted to study the effects of different concentrations of NaCl (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mmol·L⁻¹) on the ion absorption, distribution and essential oil components of flowering Schizonepeta tenuifolia. The results showed that as NaCl concentration increased, Na⁺ content of root, stem, leaf and flower increased significantly, and that of the aerial parts was in a higher level than in the root. Regarding the K⁺ content, it decreased in the root but increased in stem, leaf and flower. Some changes were detected in the Ca²âº content, but not significant on the whole. The value of K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²âº/Na⁺ reduced as a result of increasing NaCl concentrations. The content of essential oil increased under medium salt treatment (50 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl). However, the synthesis and accumulation of essential oil was inhibited by the serious salt treatment (100 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl). Over 98% of the essential oil components were terpenes, in which pulegone and menthone were the most two abundant compounds. Varieties of essential oil components did not change significantly under salt stress but their relative proportions did. The transformation of pulegone to menthone was enhanced and the value of pulegone/menthone based on their relative contents decreased with NaCl concentration increasing. Consequently, menthone ranked the most abundant compound by replacing pulegone. Relative content of D-limonene increased under medium and serious salt stress, and that of ß-caryophyllene only increased under mild treatments. So our research could provide references for the standard cultivation on saline soil of S. tenuifolia.

[Effects of nitrogen and sulfur combined application on nutritional components and active components of Isatis indigotica at seedling stage].

Using split plot design, a pot experiment with sand culture was conducted to investigate the effects ofnitrogen and sulfur combined application on nutritional components and active component of Isatis indigotica at seedling stage under different N (5，15，25 mmol·L⁻¹)and S(0.00，1.25，2.50，5.00，7.50 mmol·L⁻¹) levels. The results showed thatthe two elements had obvious effects and the leaf and root dry weights of I. indigotica seedlings increased greatly at N2 level. Under the same nitrogen concentration, the leaf and root dry weights increased firstly and decreased with the rising of sulfur concentrations in which S2 was conducive to the growth and biomass accumulation. Soluble sugar, soluble protein, soluble amino acids contents were the highest in N1, N2 and N3 treatments, respectively. The influence of sulfur concentrations on nutritional components was same as biomass, but the peak of different nutritional components was diversity in different nitrogen levels. The effects on secondary metabolites (total flavones, indigo, indriubin, epigotrin contents) were not obvious significantly, in which these indexes by N1S3，N1S2，N3S0，N3S1were the highest, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of nitrogen and sulfur of N2S2(N 15 mmol·L⁻¹ and S 2.5 mmol·L⁻¹) was beneficial to the growth and secondary metabolites accumulation of I. indigotica. These results could provide a theoretical basis for rational fertilization and cultivation of I. indigotica seedling.

[Effect of different nitrogen forms and concentrations on biomass and alkaloids of isatidis folium].

OBJECTIVE: In order to provide theoretical basis of improving nitrogen utilization efficiency in Isatis indigotica, the biomass and active components in Isatidis Folium under different nitrogen forms and concentrations were analyzed. METHOD: I. indigotica was cultivated by sand culture in greenhouse, and the experiment was designed with orthogonal test L25 (5(6)). As an index to the biomass and indigo, indirubin, the effects on the I. indigotica by three factors [NO3(-) -N, NH4(+) -N, CO(NH2)2] at five different levels were studied. RESULT: There were significant difference of the biomass and active components by different nitrogen forms and concentrations. The effect of amide nitrogen [CO(NH2)2] on biomass of Isatidis Folium was the most apparent, and the effect of ammonium nitrogen on indirubin was more obvious. Considering the biomass and active ingredient, one combination was optimized, which was (NH4)2SO(4)-7.5 mmol x L(-1), KNO(3)-2.5 mmol x L(-1), CO(NH2)(2)- 5 mmol x L(-1). CONCLUSION: It is important to promote the growth in pre-stage of I. indigotica, and cost-effective combination of balanced nitrogen fertilizer could reasonably promote the growth, and improve the contents of active components and individual biomass.

[Effect of neferine on adriamycin-resistance of thermotolerant hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2/thermotolerance].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, reversing the multidrug resistance (MDR) of thermotolerant carcinoma cells is a hot topic in tumor thermatology. This study was to investigate the adriamycin (ADR)-resistance of thermotolerant hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2/thermotolerance and the effect of neferine (Nef) on the ADR-resistance of HepG2/thermotolerance cells. METHODS: Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) with PI staining. The expression of Bcl-2 was measured by FCM using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-bcl-2 antibodies. RESULTS: The proliferation rate and apoptosis rate of HepG2/thermotolerance cells cultured in 43 degrees C for 24 h were (89.6+/-5.4)% and (13.6+/-5.4)%, respectively; however, those of HepG2 cells were (23.9+/-3.6)% and (68.9+/-7.3)%, respectively. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of ADR was 10.8 times higher for HepG2/thermotolerance cells than for HepG2 cells [(113.7+/-12.7) micromol/L vs. (10.5+/-2.3) micromol/L]. When treated with 1, 10, 100 micromol/L ADR at 37 degrees C for 24 h, the apoptosis rates of HepG2/thermotolerance cells were (9.3+/-2.6)%, (17.8+/-7.3)%, and (32.9+/-8.6)%, respectively, but those of HepG2 cells were (14.3+/-3.9)%, (38.9+/-6.8)%, and (62.7+/-5.9)%, respectively. In the presence of 10 and 40 micromol/L Nef, the IC50 of ADR for HepG2/thermotolerance cells was significantly decreased from (113.7+/-12.7) micromol/L to (63.7+/-5.6) micromol/L and (16.8+/-2.8) micromol/L, and the cell apoptosis induced by 10 micromol/L ADR was significantly increased from (17.8+/-4.3)% to (26.8+/-5.9)% and (34.9+/-8.7)%, respectively. Bcl-2 was overexpressed in HepG2/thermotolerance cells, whereas it was down-regulated when the cells were treated with 40 micromol/L Nef for 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: HepG2/thermotolerance cells are ADR-resistant. Nef may reverse the ADR-resistance of HepG2/thermotolerance cells by down-regulating Bcl-2 expression.

[Effects of formula fertilization to yield and content on polysaccharide of Isatis indigotica].

OBJECTIVE: To select the optimum formula fertilization of Isatis indigotica through analyzing the yield and contents of polysaccharide of Radix Isatis for different treatments. METHOD: An orthogonal experiment design on the basis of three factors and four levels was applied for studying the effect of formula fertilization on yield. The contents of polysaccharides were determined with phenol-witriolic colorimetry. RESULT: The optimum formula fertilization of Radix Isatis was carbamide 869.0 kg x hm(-2), superphosphate 1 428.6 kg x hm(-2) and potassium sulfate 0 kg x hm(-2). CONCLUSION: Superphosphate can observably influence the yields of Radix Inditis. while carbamide influence the contents of polysaccharide of Radix Inditis.

[Analysis on biomasses and contents of active components in roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza from different populations].

OBJECTIVE: To provide some evidence for breeding excellent lines of Salvia miltiorrhiza. METHOD: Contents of tanshinone II(A), cryptotanshinone, salvialic acid A and salvianolic acid B in root of S. miltiorrhiza from different populations were determined by HPLC. Total tanshinone and total salvianolic acids were determined by spectrophotometry. RESULT: The biomass of individual plant from Zhongjiang of Sichuan province, content of tanshinone II(A), from Shanxi province, cryptotanshinone and total tanshinone from Zhongjiang of Sichuan province, salvialic acid A of High-Stem cultivation from Hebei province, salvianolic acid B and total salvianolic acids of tetroploid were higher than the other samples, respectively. With the value of biomass of individual plant multiplying contents of every active components as indicative constituents, the multiplying value from Zhongjiang of Sichuan province was higher than the other samples. CONCLUSION: With biomasses and effective components as indicative constituents, it suggested that S. miltiorrhiza from Zhongjiang of Sichuan province was a better derivative material.

[Comparison of the botanic morphology and blooming characteristics of four cultivars of rose].

OBJECTIVE: To establish identifying method for further development and utilization by studying botanic morphology and blooming characteristics of four varieties of roses in Jiangsu province. METHOD: Flower-bud and flower-form were observed by dissection and plant modality and blooming process were investigated. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The flower form and plant modality was obviously different among the 4 varieties of roses. The process of differentiation of flower-bud could be divided into five stages: the transformation of nutritive growth cone, the occurrence and development of sepal, formation of petal primordium, formation of pistil and stamen. The blooming process was made up of flower-bud period, display-petal period, initiating blooming period, blooming period, withering period and corresponding biological marks.