Nicotinamide mononucleotide maintains cytoskeletal stability and fortifies mitochondrial function to mitigate oocyte damage induced by Triocresyl phosphate.

Triocresyl phosphate (TOCP) was commonly used as flame retardant, plasticizer, lubricant, and jet fuel additive. Studies have shown adverse effects of TOCP on the reproductive system. However, the potential harm brought by TOCP, especially to mammalian female reproductive cells, remains a mystery. In this study, we employed an in vitro model for the first time to investigate the effects of TOCP on the maturation process of mouse oocytes. TOCP exposure hampered the meiotic division process, as evidenced by a reduction in the extrusion of the first polar body from oocytes. Subsequent research revealed the disruption of the oocyte cell cytoskeleton induced by TOCP, resulting in abnormalities in spindle organization, chromosome alignment, and actin filament distribution. This disturbance further extended to the rearrangement of organelles within oocytes, particularly affecting the mitochondria. Importantly, after TOCP treatment, mitochondrial function in oocytes was impaired, leading to oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell apoptosis, and subsequent changes of epigenetic modifications. Supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) alleviated the harmful effects of TOCP. NMN exerted its mitigating effects through two fundamental mechanisms. On one hand, NMN conferred stability to the cell cytoskeleton, thereby supporting nuclear maturation. On the other hand, NMN enhanced mitochondrial function within oocytes, reducing the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), restoring meiotic division abnormalities caused by TOCP, preventing oocyte DNA damage, and suppressing epigenetic changes. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of TOCP induced oocyte damage but also offer a promising avenue for the potential application of NMN in optimizing reproductive treatment strategies.

Crown-Assisted CsCu2I3 Growth and Trap Passivation for Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Copper (Cu)-based perovskites are promising for lead-free perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). However, it remains a significant challenge to achieve high performance devices due to the nonradiative loss caused by the disordered crystallization and lack of passivation. Crown ethers are known to form host-guest complexes by the interaction between C-O-C groups and certain cations, and 18-crown-6 (18C6) with an appropriate complementary size can interact with Cs+ and Cu+ cations. Herein, we studied the interaction between CsCu2I3 and two crowns with the same cyclic size, 18C6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6 (D18C6). Particularly, D18C6 can reduce the nonradiative recombination rate of CsCu2I3 film by passivating the defects and optimizing the film morphology effectively. The room mean square (RMS) decreased from 5.06 to 2.95 nm, and the PLQY was promoted from 4.71% to 19.9%. Besides, D18C6 can also decrease the barrier of hole injection. The PeLEDs based on D18C6-modified CsCu2I3 realized noticeable improvement with a maximum luminance and EQE of 583 cd/m2 and 0.662%, respectively.

Characterization and stability assessment of polyphenols bound to Lycium barbarum polysaccharide: Insights from gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation.

Polysaccharides and polyphenols are biologically active components that coexist in Lycium barbarum fruit, and there may be interactions between them that affect the release of each other. In this study, polyphenols bound to L. barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) were characterized, and the stability of bound phenolics (BP) was assessed by gastrointestinal digestion and colon fermentation. The results showed that a total of 65 phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and coumarins were identified by UPLC-MS/MS. Quantitative analysis revealed that the major phenolic constituents were rutin, p-coumaric acid, catechin, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and gallic acid, and their contents were 58.72, 24.03, 14.24, 13.28, 10.39, and 6.7 mg GAE/100 g DW, respectively. The release of BP by gastric digestion and gastrointestinal digestion was 9.67 % and 19.39 %, respectively. Most polyphenols were greatly affected by gastric digestion, while rutin was released in small intestine. The BP were fully released (49.77 %) and metabolized by gut microorganisms, and a considerable number of intermediates and end-products were detected, such as phloroglucinol, phenylacetic acid, and phenyllactic acid. Microbiomics data emphasized the positive impact of LBP on gut bacteria of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Clostridioides. These findings could deepen our understanding of the bioavailability and biological fate of BP and also provide reference data for nutrient release and utilization of L. barbarum as a whole.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance active ingredients of medicinal plants: a quantitative analysis.

Medicinal plants are invaluable resources for mankind and play a crucial role in combating diseases. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely recognized for enhancing the production of medicinal active ingredients in medicinal plants. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the quantitative effects of AMF on the accumulation of medicinal active ingredients. Here we conducted a comprehensive global analysis using 233 paired observations to investigate the impact of AMF inoculation on the accumulation of medicinal active ingredients. This study revealed that AMF inoculation significantly increased the contents of medicinal active ingredients by 27%, with a particularly notable enhancement observed in flavonoids (68%) and terpenoids (53%). Furthermore, the response of medicinal active ingredients in belowground organs (32%) to AMF was more pronounced than that in aboveground organs (18%). Notably, the AMF genus Rhizophagus exhibited the strongest effect in improving the contents of medicinal active ingredients, resulting in an increase of over 50% in both aboveground and belowground organs. Additionally, the promotion of medicinal active ingredients by AMF was attributed to improvements in physiological factors, such as chlorophyll, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate. Collectively, this research substantially advanced our comprehension of the pivotal role of AMF in improving the medicinal active ingredients of plants and provided valuable insights into the potential mechanisms driving these enhancements.

Identification of potential biomarkers and candidate therapeutic drugs for clear cell renal cell carcinoma by bioinformatic analysis and reverse network pharmacology.

This study aims to analyze the potential biomarkers using bioinformatics technology, explore the pathogenesis, and investigate potential Chinese herbal ingredients for the Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which could provide theoretical basis for early diagnosis and effective treatment of ccRCC. The gene expression datasets GSE6344 and GSE53757 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in ccRCC carcinogenesis and disease progression. Enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction networks construction, survival analysis and herbal medicines screening were performed with related software and online analysis platforms. Moreover, network pharmacology analysis has also been performed to screen potential target drugs of ccRCC and molecular docking analysis has been used to validate their effects. Total 274 common DEGs were extracted through above process, including 194 up-regulated genes and 80 down-regulated genes. The enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were significantly focused on multiple amino acid metabolism and HIF signaling pathway. Ten hub genes, including FLT1, BDNF, LCP2, AGXT2, PLG, SLC13A3, SLC47A2, SLC22A8, SLC22A7, and SLC13A3, were screened. Survival analysis showed that FLT1, BDNF, AGXT2, PLG, SLC47A2, SLC22A8, and SLC12A3 were closely correlated with the overall survival of ccRCC, and AGXT2, SLC47A2, SLC22A8, and SLC22A7 were closely associated with DFS. The potential therapeutic herbs that have been screened were Danshen, Baiguo, Yinxing, Huangqin and Chuanshanlong. The active compounds which may be effective in ccRCC treatment were kaempferol, Scillaren A and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

Lung cancer screening adherence among people living with and without HIV: An analysis of an integrated health system in Florida, United States (2012-2021).

Although lung cancer is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLWH), limited research exists characterizing real-world lung cancer screening adherence among PLWH. Our objective was to compare low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) adherence among PLWH to those without HIV treated at one integrated health system. Using the University of Florida's Health Integrated Data Repository (01/01/2012-10/31/2021), we identified PLWH with at least one LDCT procedure, using Current Procedural Terminology codes(S8032/G0297/71271). Lung cancer screening adherence was defined as a second LDCT based on the Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS®). Lung-RADS categories were extracted from radiology reports using a natural language processing system. PLWH were matched with 4 randomly selected HIV-negative patients based on (+/- 1 year) age, Lung-RADS category, and calendar year. Seventy-three PLWH and 292 matched HIV-negative adults with at least one LDCT were identified. PLWH were more likely to be male (66% vs.52%,p < 0.04), non-Hispanic Black (53% vs.23%,p < 0.001), and live in an area of high poverty (45% vs.31%,p < 0.001). PLWH were more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer after first LDCT (8% vs.0%,p < 0.001). Seventeen percent of HIV-negative and 12% of PLWH were adherent to LDCT screenings. Only 25% of PLWH diagnosed with category 4A were adherent compared to 44% of HIV-negative. On multivariable analyses, those with older age (66-80 vs.50-64 years) and with either Medicaid, charity-based, or other government insurance (vs. Medicare) were less likely to be adherent to LDCT screenings. PLWH may have poorer adherence to LDCT compared to their HIV-negative counterparts.

Synthesis process-based mechanical property optimization of alkali-activated materials from red mud: A review.

Repeated red mud (RM) stockpile accidents have sounded an alarm that a healthy alumina industry requires secure RM disposal. Unfortunately, the flawed mechanical properties of RM-based alkali-activated materials (RM-AAM) with bulk RM incorporation have impeded the ideal large-volume, low-risk utilization of RM and the provision of sustainable binders for communities. By reviewing a wide range of studies, this work provides insights into establishing a mature synthesis technique for optimizing the mechanical properties of RM-AAM. Brief evaluations of the nature and the current RM-AAM synthesis systems were conducted. The following emphasis is on addressing the influence characteristics and mechanisms of the known RM-AAM synthesis factors, including RM pre-activation, precursor composition, alkali activator property, preparation process treatment, and curing regime, on the mechanical properties of RM-AAM. Further optimization suggestions on each aspect of the synthesis process and the final complete set of synthesis technology that could best enhance the mechanical properties of RM-AAM were proposed. The general limitations of current research on developing a mature RM-AAM synthesis technique were identified, along with possible solutions.

Lung Cancer Screening Adherence Among People with HIV Treated at an Integrated Health System in Florida.

We evaluated low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) adherence among people with HIV (PWH) treated at University of Florida (UF). From the UF Health Integrated Data Repository, we identified PWH who underwent at least one LDCT procedure (January 1, 2012-October 31, 2021). Lung cancer screening adherence was defined as having a second LDCT within recommended observation window, based on the Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS®). We identified 73 PWH with a history of at least one LDCT. PWH were mostly male (66%), non-Hispanic Black (53%), and living in urban (86%), high poverty (45%) areas. Almost 1 in 10 of PWH were diagnosed with lung cancer after their first LDCT. Overall, 48% and 41% of PWH were diagnosed with Lung-RADS categories 1 and 2, respectively. We observed that 12% of PWH were adherent to LDCT. Only 25% of PWH diagnosed with category 4A were adherent. PWH may have poor adherence to lung cancer screening.

[Anatomical observation and CT three-dimensional reconstruction of Five-shu acupoints of Shaoyin Heart Meridian in rabbit's forelimb].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the location and anatomical structure of "Shaochong"(HT9), "Shaofu"(HT8), "Shenmen"(HT7), "Lingdao"(HT4) and "Shaohai"(HT3) in the rabbit's forelimb. METHODS: Sixteen rabbits (half male and half female) were used in the present study. By referring to the national standards on the location of acupoints in the human body and the literature about the location of acupoints in the rabbit, and by using the method of comparative anatomy, the location and needling operation of the Five-shu acupoints of Shaoyin Heart Meridian on the rabbit's forelimb were defined, and these acupoints were needled and CT three-dimensional reconstruction were conducted. Then, the rabbits were killed, and intravascular perfusion was performed, followed by inserting acupuncture needles into these five acupoints for observing the anatomical relationship between the inserted acupuncture needle and the structure of surrounding tissues. RESULTS: HT9 is located at the medial side of the little finger of forelimb, about 1 mm beside the nail root, and is adjacent to the superficial flexor tendon of the finger, the dorsal branches of the proper palmar digital artery and vein, and the endings of dorsal branch of palmar digital proper nerve of the ulnar nerve on the fifth finger side. HT8 is located at the palm side of the forelimb, horizontally parallel to the proximal end of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint and between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, and is adjacent to the lumbricalis, the 4th and 5th interossei, and common palmar digital artery and vein and the palmar digital proper nerve of the ulnar nerve. HT7 is located at the medial margin of the extensor carpal tendon on the ulnar side, between the distal end of the ulna and the ulnar carpal bone, and is adjacent to the tendons of flexor carpi ulnaris and extensor carpi ulnaris, ulnar artery, ulnar vein and ulnar nerve. HT4 is located at the medial border of the ulnar flexor tendon, about 1.5 cun superior to HT7, and is adjacent to extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, ulnar artery, vein and ulnar nerve. HT3 is located at the depression, medial to the condyle of humerus when the elbow is bent at 90°, its neighbor structure is composed of pronator teres, biceps brachii, brachial artery and vein, radial collateral artery, radial collateral vein, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve and median nerve. CONCLUSION: In the rabbit, there is a close relationship between HT9, HT8, HT7, HT4 and HT3 regions and brachial vascular and its branches, cephalic vein and its branches, medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve, median nerve and ulnar nerve, which is the morphological basis of the Five-shu acupoints of Shaoyin Heart Meridian for treating some related clinical disorders.

[Analysis and evaluation on Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and HPLC].

In this study, an established ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was combined with multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the commonality and difference of main chemical components in the medicinal parts of Paeonia lactiflora from different cultivars; in addition, a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was established to simultaneously determine the content of eight active components in Paeoniae Radix Alba. Non-targeted analysis was carried out by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18)(2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 µm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous formic acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃, and an electrospray ionization source was used to acquire mass spectrometry data in positive and negative ion modes. According to the accurate molecular weight and fragment ion information provided by multi-stage mass spectrometry and by comparison with reference substances and literature reports, thirty-six identical components were identified in Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars with positive and negative ion modes. In the negative ion mode, two groups of samples were well separated; specifically, seventeen components with significant differences in content were screened and identified, and one component unique in "Bobaishao" was obtained. Quantitative analysis was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) on an Agilent HC-C_(18)(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 µm) column with a gradient elution of 0.1% aqueous phosphoric acid(A)-acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was at 230 nm. An HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eight active components(gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin, 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose, benzoyl-paeoniflorin) in Paeoniae Radix Albaa from different cultivars. Satisfactory linearity was achieved within the investigated linear ranges and with fine coefficients(r>0.999 0), and the methodological investigation showed that the method had good precision, repeatability and stability. The mean recoveries were 90.61% to 101.7% with RSD of 0.12% to 3.6%(n=6). UPLC-Q-OF-MS provided a rapid and efficient qualitative analytical method for the identification of the chemical components in Paeoniae Radix Alba, and the developed HPLC method was simple, rapid and accurate, which could provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of the germplasm resources and herbal quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba from different cultivars.

Xuanfei Baidu Decoction regulates NETs formation via CXCL2/CXCR2 signaling pathway that is involved in acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are life-threatening symptoms in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Xuanfei Baidu Decoction (XFBD) is a recommend first-line traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula therapeutic strategy for COVID-19 patients. Prior studies demonstrated the pharmacological roles and mechanisms of XFBD and its derived effective components against inflammation and infections through multiple model systems, which provided the biological explanations for its clinical use. Our previous work revealed that XFBD inhibited macrophages and neutrophils infiltration via PD-1/IL17A signaling pathway. However, the subsequent biological processes are not well elucidated. Here, we proposed a hypothesis that XFBD can regulate the neutrophils-mediated immune responses, including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation and the generation of platelet-neutrophil aggregates (PNAs) after XFBD administration in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice. The mechanism behind it was also firstly explained, that is XFBD regulated NETs formation via CXCL2/CXCR2 axis. Altogether, our findings demonstrated the sequential immune responses of XFBD after inhibiting neutrophils infiltration, as well as shedding light on exploiting the therapy of XFBD targeting neutrophils to ameliorate ALI during the clinical course.

The efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine as an add-on therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has attracted widespread attention because of its unknown pathogenesis, rapid progression, and life-threatening and incurable characteristics. A series of complementary therapies, including Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), is available for use in the clinic and has been the focus of much research. However, it is unclear as to whether supplementary CHM relieves disease symptoms or extends life span; thus, we conducted this updated meta-analysis to validate the efficacy and safety of this practice. Methods: We searched six electronic databases for randomized controlled trials involving CHM and patients with ALS that were published up to April 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, assessed the risk of bias for each trial, and then extracted data. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and a pooled data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results: A total of 14 trials led to the publication of 15 articles featuring 1,141 participants during the study period; the articles were included in the systematic review. In terms of increasing ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS) scores, CHM was superior to the placebo after 3 months of treatment [mean difference (MD):0.7; 95% CI:0.43 to 0.98; P < 0.01] and to riluzole after 4 weeks of treatment (MD: 2.87; 95% CI: 0.81 to 4.93; P < 0.05), and it was superior to conventional medicine (CM) alone when used as an add-on therapy after 8 weeks of treatment (MD: 3.5; 95% CI: 0.51 to 6.49; P < 0.05). The change in the modified Norris score (m-Norris) from baseline to the end of more than 3 months of treatment was significantly different when compared between the CHM plus CM group and the CM alone group (MD: 2.09; 95% CI: 0.62 to 3.55; P < 0.01). In addition, CHM had a significantly better effect on increase in clinical effective rate (RR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.92; P < 0.01) and improvement in forced vital capacity (MD: 7.26; 95% CI: 2.92 to 11.6; P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the CHM therapy and CM in terms of improving life quality (MD: 5.13; 95% CI: -7.04 to 17.31; P = 0.41) and decreasing mortality (RR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.04 to 4.21; P = 0.46). Conclusion: The analysis suggested that the short-term adjunct use of CHM could improve the ALSFRS score and clinical effect with a good safety profile when compared with the placebo or riluzole alone. However, future research should be centered on the long-term efficacy of patient-oriented outcomes. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=323047, identifier: CRD42022323047.

Chinese herbal medicine for symptoms of depression and anxiety in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on symptoms of depression and anxiety complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Literature from 8 electronic medical databases were searched for meta-analysis using RevMan (version 5.3) and Stata (version 12.0) software. The GRADE Pro Guideline Development Tool and TSA Viewer (version.0.9.5.10 beta) were adopted to evaluate the certainty and conclusiveness of the evidence. RESULTS: 26 studies involving 2529 participants were identified. CHM demonstrated significant lower scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale compared to the control group without CHM. Moreover, CHM showed favorable safety. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence verified the efficacy and safety of CHM on relieving depression and anxiety in COPD. However, further large-scale and rigorously designed studies are urgently warranted to strengthen the evidence.

[Effect of Huangqi decoction on delaying renal cell apoptosis induced by 12C6+ ion irradiation in rats and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the molecular protective mechanisms of Huangqi decoction inhibiting the apoptosis of renal cells in the 12C6+ radiation brain model rats. Methods: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, radiation alone model group, Huangqi decoction (high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose ) groups. The normal control group and the radiation alone group were treated with saline10 ml/(kg·d) by gavage, the Huangqi decoction treatment groups were treated with Huangqi decoction at the doses of 4.5, 9 and 18 g/(kg·d) by gavage respectively. After 7 d, except mice in normal control group, the brain of the rats in radiation alone model group, high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose Huangqi decoction group were radiated by 4 Gy 12C6+ ion once. The rats were killed by the femoral artery after irradiation 7 d. The pathomorphism changes of renal tissue were observed by HE, the IL-6 level in serum was detected by ELISA, the gene expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 in renal tissue were assessed by RT-PCR, and the protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and NF-κB in renal tissue were analyzed by immunehistochemical staining. Results: Compared with normal control group, the body weight and kidney index were decreased significantly, the expression of Bcl-2 in renal tissue was decreased significantly, the serum content of IL-6 was increased obviously, and the expressions of Bax, caspase-3 and NF-κB in renal tissue were increased significantly in the radiation alone model group (P＜0.01). The mesangial cells proliferated obviously, interstitial vessels of renal tubules were dilated and congested obviously, the lumen of renal tubules was narrow and irregular in the radiation alone model group. As compared with the radiation alone model group, the body weight and the kidney index were increased obviously in high-dose Huangqi decoction group, the gene and protein expressions of Bcl-2 in renal tissue were increased significantly in Huangqi decoction intervention group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). whereas, the protein expressions of Bax and caspase-3 in renal tissue were decreased significantly in middle-dose and high-dose Huangqi decoction group, the serum content of IL-6 was decreased obviously, the gene expressions of Bax and caspase-3 in renal tissue were decreased significantly and the protein expression of NF-κB in renal tissue was decreased significantly in Huangqi decoction intervention group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). The proliferation of mesangial cells was improved and the contour of renal tubules was clear in high-dose huangqi decoction group. Conclusion: High-dose of huangqi decoction has protective effect on kidney in rats induced by 12C6+ radiation brain, the mechanism may be related to the regulation of Bcl-2/NF-κB signal pathway.

Inducing Intermediates in Biotransformation of Natural Polyacetylene and A Novel Spiro-γ-Lactone from Red Ginseng by Solid Co-Culture of Two Gut Chaetomium globosum and The Potential Bioactivity Modification by Oxidative Metabolism.

The ω-hydroxyl-panaxytriol (1) and ω-hydroxyl-dihydropanaxytriol (2)-are rare examples of polyacetylene metabolism by microbial transformation, and these new metabolites (1, 2) from fermented red ginseng (FRG) by solid co-culture induction of two Chaetomium globosum should be the intermediates of biotransformation of panaxylactone (metabolite A). The metabolic pathway of panaxylactone was also exhibited. The ingredients of red ginseng (RG) also induced the production of rare 6/5/5 tricyclic ring spiro-γ-lactone skeleton (3). The ω-hydroxylation of new intermediates (1, 2) decreases cytotoxicity and antifungal activity against C. globosum compared with that of its bioprecursor panaxytriol. Additionally, compounds 1 and 2 indicated obvious inhibition against nitric oxide (NO) production, with ratios of 44.80 ± 1.37 and 23.10 ± 1.00% at 50 µM. 1 has an equivalent inhibition of NO production compared with the positive drug. So, the microbial biotransformation that occurred in FRG fermented by gut C. globosum can change the original bioactivity of polyacetylene, which gave a basis about the metabolic modification of red ginseng by intestinal fungus fermentation.

Inducing secondary metabolite production from Daldinia eschscholzii JC-15 by red ginseng medium.

Red ginseng (RG) is one of the most popular herbal medicines and used as a dietary supplement in recent years. The bioactive ingredient in RG can induce the production of novel microbial metabolite from fermented RG. Using the one strain-many compounds strategy, the reinvestigation of the metabolites from Daldinia eschscholzii JC-15 cultured in red ginseng medium led to the isolation of an unprecedented benzopyran-naphthalene hybrid, daldinsin (1) and a new lactone (2). In this research, a new lactone, 8-hydroxylhelicascolide A (2) instead of helicascolide A was produced by the D. eschscholzii JC-15 induced by the red ginseng medium. Compound 1 showed anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with the inhibition ratio of 38.8% at 50 µM. Compound 2 indicated antimicrobial activities against Fusarium Solani, F. oxysporum, and Escherichia coli with MICs at 128 µg/mL. RG is therefore a promising activator in production of novel microbial metabolite.

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction possesses anti-arthritic effects on type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats via suppression of inflammatory reactions, inhibition of invasion & migration and induction of apoptosis in synovial fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a known intractable chronic inflammatory disease of synovial joints characterized by hyperplasia and consecutive inflammation with a high prevalence.Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu (GSZD) is the first choice for clinical treatment of RA in Chinese traditional medicine. This study is aimed to explore the possible pharmacological mechanisms of anti-arthritic effect of GSZD. METHODS: Type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was used to study the anti-arthritic activity of GSZDin vivo, and toe swelling & arthritis score, serum levels of cytokines, and pathological examinations were carried out. In vitro, TNF-α induced MH7A cells were used to study the possible mechanisms of GSZD. The anti-proliferative effects of GSZD were determined by MMT assay, and pro-apoptotic activity of GSZD in MH7A cells was determined by flow cytometry analysis & DAPI staining. Furthermore, the adhesive and invasive abilities of MH7A cells were determined using cell adhesion and transwell assays. MMPs levels were determined by ELISA assays, and mRNA expressions of Caspase-3, -9, Bax, SOCS1, Bcl-2, JAK2, STAT-3 and -5 were determined using qRT-PCR analysis. Besides, the major chemical components in GSZD were analyzed by HPLC-QqQ-MS analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed GSZD reduced the toe swelling & arthritis score, and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 & IL-17a in CIA rats; pathological examination results indicated GSZD improved ankle joint injury in CIA rats.In vitro, GSZD showed significant anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on TNF-α stimulated MH7A cells. After GSZD treatment, the adhesive and invasive abilities of MH7A cells were reduced, and secretions of MMPs, IL-6 and IL-8 were also reduced. GSZD decreased the releases of TNF-α and IL-1ß in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Further studies showed GSZD up-regulated mRNA expressions of Caspase-3, -9, Bax, and SOCS1, whereas down-regulated mRNA expressions of Bcl-2, JAK2, STAT3 and STAT5. Besides, 13 major chemical components were identified in GSZD extracts through HPLC-QqQ-MS analysis. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested GSZD possesses an anti-rheumatic effect on CIA rats, and the possible mechanism is related to inhibiting inflammatory response, inhibiting invasion and migration of synovial fibroblasts, and inducing apoptosis in synovial fibroblasts.

Folate of pregnant women after a nationwide folic acid supplementation in China.

Folate insufficiency during the periconceptional period increases the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring, and folic acid supplementation substantially reduces the risk. Widespread large-scale folic acid supplementation (0.4-mg folic acid tablet) has been adopted as a main strategy to prevent NTDs in China since 2009. We examined folate concentrations in plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) of pregnant women and the factors associated with blood folate concentrations in a population with a high prevalence of NTDs in northern China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2014, and 1,107 pregnant women were recruited from 11 county or city maternal and child health centres across Shanxi province. Microbiological assays were used to determine folate concentrations. Factors associated with blood folate insufficiency were identified. The median (25th and 75th percentiles) folate concentrations were 28.4 (17.6, 45.2) nmol L-1 and 1,001.2 (658.7, 1,402.5) nmol L-1 in plasma and RBCs, respectively. According to the proposed RBC (906 nmol L-1 ) concentrations for optimal NTD prevention, 42.4% participants had RBC folate insufficiency. Rural women had a higher proportion of folate insufficiency than urban women. Folic acid supplementation was the only factor associated with RBC folate insufficiency. A large proportion of women had RBC folate concentrations that are not optimal for the prevention of NTDs despite free access to folic acid supplements. Actions that aim to improve folic acid supplementation compliance are needed to reach the full potential of the nationwide folic acid supplementation programme in terms of NTD prevention.

Influences of alkali on the quality and protein polymerization of buckwheat Chinese steamed bread.

The effects of alkali (NaHCO3 or Na2CO3) on the quality and protein polymerization of buckwheat Chinese steamed bread (CSB) were investigated. The alkali addition increased the specific volume of CSB, for NaHCO3 from 1.84 ml/g (control) to 2.66 ml/g. Image analysis showed that alkali increased the pore area fractions. The addition of Na2CO3 exhibited a greater pore count and lower pore average size. The texture properties were improved with the increase of crumb hardness and resilience. The extractability of protein in sodium dodecyl sulfate containing medium (SDSEP) decreased. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE showed an obvious decrease in the intensity of protein bands with lower molecular weight, while intensity of higher molecular protein bands increased. This demonstrated that alkali addition promoted protein aggregation in buckwheat CSB. In addition, the content of degydroalanine and lanthionine increased and free SH decreased, which indicated alkali addition prompted protein to form dehydroalanine-derived and disulfide cross-linkings.

Electrospun PCL/mupirocin and chitosan/lidocaine hydrochloride multifunctional double layer nanofibrous scaffolds for wound dressing applications.

BACKGROUND: An ideal wound dressing should exhibit good biocompatibility, minimize pain and infection, absorb excess exudates, and maintain a moist environment. However, few clinical products meet all these needs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fabricate a multifunctional double layer nanofibrous scaffolds (DLS) as a potential material for wound dressing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The scaffold was formed from mupirocin and lidocaine hydrochloride homogeneously incorporated into polycaprolactone as the first layer of scaffolds and chitosan as the second layer of scaffolds nanofibers through electrospinning. The fabricated nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and measurement of swelling ratio, contact angle, drug release, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, antibacterial assessment, live/dead cell assays, and MTT assays were used to investigate the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of the nanofibrous scaffolds. RESULTS: The morphology of the nanofibrous scaffolds was studied by scanning electron microscopy, showing successful nanofibrous scaffolds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the successful incorporation of the material used to produce the produced nanofibrous scaffolds. Thermal studies with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the DLS had high thermal stability. The DLS also showed good in vitro characteristics in terms of improved swelling ratio and contact angle. The mechanical results revealed that the DLS had an improved tensile strength of 3.88 MPa compared with the second layer of scaffold (2.81 MPa). The release of drugs from the scaffold showed different profiles for the two drugs. Lidocaine hydrochlo ride exhibited an initial burst release (66% release within an hour); however, mupirocin exhibited only a 5% release. Furthermore, the DLS nanofibers displayed highly effective antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were nontoxic to fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: The fabricated DLS exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, cytocompatibility, sustained drug release, and antibacterial activity, which are favorable qualities for its use as a multifunctional material for wound dressing applications.