Effects of age and tissue of Juniperus sabina L. on its phytochemical characteristics, anti-cholinesterase, antidiabetes, and anti-drug resistant bacteria activities.

Juniperus sabina L. is used in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system to prevent or treat various diseases. However, only the leaves and branches are used as medicinal parts. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical characteristics of different tissues (leaves, branches, stems, and roots) of J. sabina at different ages by HPLC-MS and to evaluate the biological activity (enzyme inhibition, anti-drug-resistant bacteria). Total phenol (TPC) and total lignan (TLC) contents in J. sabina were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and UV spectrophotometry, respectively. High levels of total phenols (87.16 mg GAE/g dry weight) and total lignans (491.24 mg PPT/g dry weight) were detected in fifteen annual J. sabina roots and current year leaves, respectively. Eleven compounds, of which six were phenolic compounds and five were lignans, were identified and quantified by HPLC/HPLC-MS. Statistical analysis showed that the distribution and content of the detected compounds showed considerable variation among ages and tissues, and that the current year leaves of fifteen annual J. sabina could be used as a potential application site for the source of podophyllotoxin. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was found to be the highest on the extracts of fifteen annual J. sabina current year leaves (47.37 µg/mL), while the highest inhibition towards butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was observed for the extracts of seven annual J. sabina previous year leaves (136.3 µg/mL). And the second annual J. sabina current year stem's extracts showed the best antidiabetic activity (anti-α-glucosidase, 62.59 µg/mL). In addition, the extracts of fifteen annual J. sabina roots (47.37 µg/mL) showed the highest anti-MRSA activity (31.25 µg/mL). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted to clarify the factors affecting the biological activity of J. sabina, and its results showed that epicatechin and matairesinol showed positive promotion. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the chemical differences and comprehensive utilization of different tissues of J. sabina.

A Multicentre Randomized Controlled Clinical Study of Cross Electro-Nape-Acupuncture (CENA) for the Treatment of Pseudobulbar Palsy in Patients with Tracheotomy Intubation for Severe Cerebral Haemorrhage.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of cross electro-nape-acupuncture (CENA) in the treatment of pseudobulbar palsy in patients with tracheotomy intubation for severe cerebral haemorrhage and to provide an innovative acupuncture method for the treatment of such patients. Methods: A total of 126 patients from six trial centres who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 1, with 42 patients in each group, and the three groups were divided into CENA group, electro-acupuncture group, and acupuncture group. Each group's acupuncture treatment lasted for 30 minutes, and the needles were removed at the end of the treatment. Acupuncture was performed once a week on Sunday only and twice a day from Monday to Saturday, a total of 4 weeks of treatment. The SWT, FDA, ChSWAL-QOL, and TCRGS scores of the three groups of patients before and after treatment were compared to evaluate the effect of CENA on remodelling the function of swallowing reflex and cough reflex and promoting the recovery of dysarthria and swallowing quality of life in pseudobulbar palsy in patients with tracheotomy intubation for severe cerebral haemorrhage. Results: After treatment, the WST and TCRGS grade scores decreased and the FDA and ChSWAL-QOL scores increased significantly in all three groups compared with the pretreatment scores and were statistically significant. There was a significant difference between the three groups for these four indicators after treatment; the comparison between groups showed significant differences in the CENA group compared to the electro-acupuncture and acupuncture groups. The efficiency of the CENA group was significantly better than that of the electro-acupuncture and acupuncture groups. Conclusion: Compared with the acupuncture and electro-acupuncture groups, the CENA could better promote the remodelling of swallowing function and cough reflex function, promote the recovery of dysarthria, and better improve the quality of life of patients with pseudobulbar palsy from tracheotomy intubation in severe cerebral haemorrhage.

Juniperus sabina L. as a Source of Podophyllotoxins: Extraction Optimization and Anticholinesterase Activities.

Juniperus sabina L. (J. sabina) has been an important plant in traditional medicine since ancient times. Its needles are rich in podophyllotoxin, a precursor compound to anti-tumor drugs. However, no systematic research has been done on J. sabina as a source of podophyllotoxins or their biological action. Hence, extracts of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin were the main optimization targets using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). The total phenol content and antioxidant activity of J. sabina needle extract were also optimized. Under the optimal process conditions (ratio of material to liquid (RLM) 1:40, 90% methanol, and ultrasonic time 7 min), the podophyllotoxin extraction rate was 7.51 mg/g DW, the highest level reported for Juniperus spp. distributed in China. To evaluate its biological potential, the neuroprotective acetyl- and butyrylcholinease (AChE and BChE) inhibitory abilities were tested. The needle extract exhibited significant anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (520.15 mg GALE/g extract), which correlated well with the high levels of podophyllotoxin and deoxypodophyllotoxin. This study shows the potential medicinal value of J. sabina needles.

Effects of cross electro-nape-acupuncture (CENA) on recovery of consciousness and tracheotomy tube sealing in serious cerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the effects of cross electro-nape-acupuncture (CENA) treatment on the recovery of consciousness and tracheotomy tube sealing in patients with serious cerebral hemorrhage (SCH). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with SCH admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the South Hospital of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2020 to June 2021 were selected and randomized into two groups: the CENA group and a control group, given no acupuncture. Both groups were given the same basic treatment and patients in the CENA group were additionally given CENA treatment. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, mismatch negative wave (MMN) and the cough reflex grading score (TCRGS) were recorded and compared after treatment for four weeks. The time to tracheostomy tube sealing was also recorded. RESULTS: After treatment, the GCS scores and MMN latency values of the two groups were significantly improved, with significantly better GCS scores and MMN latency values in the CENA group than in the control group. After treatment, the two groups of TCRGS were reduced, with more significant decreases in the CENA group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: With CENA, it took less time to achieve recovery of consciousness, improve cough reflex score and shortened the time to tracheal tube cutting and sealing in patients with SCH.

Cross electro-nape-acupuncture ameliorates cerebral hemorrhage-induced brain damage by inhibiting necroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)-mediated cell death, including apoptosis and necroptosis, belongs to programmed cell death. It has been reported that RIPK1-mediated necroptosis exists in lesions of cerebral hemorrhage (CH). Electroacupuncture, a treatment derived from traditional Chinese medicine, could improve neurological impairment in patients with brain injury. AIM: To investigate the protective role of cross electro-nape acupuncture (CENA) in CH, and clarify the potential mechanism. METHODS: CH rat models were established, and CENA was applied to the experimental rats. Neurological functions and encephaledema were then measured. Necrotic cells in the brain of rats with CH were evaluated by propidium iodide staining. Necroptosis was assessed by immunofluorescence. Activation of the necroptosis-related pathway was detected by western blot. Extraction of brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples was conducted to measure the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The necroptotic marker p-MLKL was detectable in the brains of rats with CH. Next, we found that CENA could ameliorate neurological functions in rat models of CH. Moreover, the upregulation of RIPK1-mediated necroptosis-related molecules in the brains of rats with CH were inhibited by CENA. Further investigation revealed that CENA partially blocked the interaction between RIPK1 and RIPK3. Finally, in vivo assays showed that CENA decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in CH rat models. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that CENA exerts a protective role in CH models by inhibiting RIPK1-mediated necroptosis.

Impact of zero valent iron on blackwater anaerobic digestion.

The source diverted blackwater treatment is receiving growing attention as an alternative to conventional energy intensive wastewater management and treatment systems. Blackwater, containing concentrated organic materials, can be anaerobically digested to recovery bioenergy. However, the methane recovery from blackwater is often inhibited by the presence of high free ammonia (FA) in blackwater. In order to improve the methane production in blackwater, nano-scale zero valent iron (nZVI, 35 nm or 50 nm) or micro-scale zero valent iron (mZVI, 200 µm) at different dosages (i.e., 0.5, 1, and 10 g/L) were applied respectively in the anaerobic digestion (AD) reactor for blackwater treatment. The results demonstrated that low doses (0.5-1 g/L) of nZVI slightly improved methane (CH4) production, possibly due to a reduced oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and improved hydrolysis-acidification in the nZVI supplemented systems. However, a lower biochemical methane potential (BMP) of blackwater was observed with high doses (10 g/L) of nZVI which induced a pH increase (>8.5) in AD reactor leading to a higher FA inhibition of CH4 production. In contrast, the effect of mZVI on blackwater AD system was not significant. The study demonstrated the successful application of nZVI for improving AD of blackwater, however, which requires dosage control.

Aminoglycoside-based novel probes for bacterial diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Specific detection of pathogens has long been recognized as a vital strategy in the control of infectious diseases. Two novel theranostic neomycin analogs exhibit efficient targeting, labelling and killing of broad spectrum bacteria while not damaging macrophage-like cells. Furthermore, lipidated probe 2 clearly showed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

Kinetics of Nutrient Removal by Nano Zero-Valent Iron under Different Biochemical Environments.

The effectiveness of nano zero-valent iron (NZVI; an average size of 55 nm at a concentration of 200 mg Fe/L) in nutrient removal was determined under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions. Compared to the rate of reduction of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) to ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+-N) by NZVI alone, the presence of activated sludge increased the rate of complete reduction by 300%. About 31% of NO3--N was converted to NH4+-N through NZVI-facilitated dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, while 56% of NO3--N was removed by heterotrophic denitrification. The presence of sludge reduced the rates of phosphorus removal by NZVI, with the first-order reaction rate constants of 0.06/hour, 0.42/hour, and 0.18/hour under anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic conditions, respectively. The highest phosphorus removal efficiency (95%) by NZVI was observed under anoxic abiotic conditions, whereas the efficiency dropped to 31% under anaerobic biotic conditions, which was attributed to significant sludge-facilitated NZVI agglomeration.

Impact of hydraulic retention time on organic and nutrient removal in a membrane coupled sequencing batch reactor.

Although solids retention time (SRT) is the key parameter in wastewater treatment design and operation, this study determined the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on biological nutrient removal in a membrane coupled sequencing batch reactor (MSBR) at the fixed SRT of 10 days. During more than 200 days of operation, the HRT of the MSBR were decreased from 24 to 12 and to 6 h while the volumetric exchange ratio in each operating cycle was fixed at 50%. The decrease of HRT led to a proportional increase in biomass concentration at the fixed SRT. The system demonstrated excellent removal of organic matter with the highest COD removal efficiency (97%) achieved at the shortest HRT of 6 h. As HRT was reduced from 24 to 12 h, the total nitrogen removal efficiency improved from 68 ± 5% to 80 ± 4%, but there was no further improvement when HRT decreased to 6 h. Coincidently, similar and higher abundance of nitrifying bacteria was observed in the MSBR operated at the HRTs of 6 and 12 h than that at the HRT of 24 h. The total phosphorus removal efficiencies were 62 ± 15%, 77 ± 4% and 85 ± 3% at the HRTs of 24, 12 and 6 h, respectively. The maximum P release rates for activated sludge at the HRTs of 24, 12 and 6 h were 3.7 ± 0.5, 6.4 ± 0.2 and 8.7 ± 0.1 mg P/h, respectively, while the maximum P uptake rates were 3.2 ± 0.1, 8.6 ± 0.2 and 15.2 ± 0.2 mg P/h, respectively. Contradictory to the theory that effluent water quality is solely SRT dependent, the results suggest that it is also affected by HRT and resultant biomass concentration possibly due to factors such as change in hydrolysis of particulate organic matter, the unique microenvironment and transition between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism at high biomass concentrations in MSBR operation.