Decomposition of exotic versus native aquatic plant litter in a lake littoral zone: Stoichiometry and life form analyses.

The decomposition rates and stoichiometric characteristics of many aquatic plants remain unclear, and our understanding of material flow and nutrient cycles within freshwater ecosystems is limited. In this study, an in-situ experiment involving 23 aquatic plants (16 native and 7 exotic species) was carried out via the litter bag method for 63 days, during which time the mass loss and nutrient content (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) of plants were measured. Floating-leaved plants exhibited the highest decomposition rate (0.038 ± 0.002 day-1), followed by submerged plants and free-floating plants (0.029 ± 0.002 day-1), and emergent plants had the lowest decomposition rate (0.019 ± 0.001 day-1). Mass loss by aquatic plants correlated with stoichiometric characteristics; the decomposition rate increased with an increasing P content and with a decreasing C content, C:N ratio, and C:P ratio. Notably, the decomposition rate of submerged exotic plants (0.044 ± 0.002 day-1) significantly exceeded that of native plants (0.026 ± 0.004 day-1), while the decomposition rate of emergent exotic plants was 55 ± 4 % higher than that of native plants. The decomposition rates of floating-leaved and free-floating plants did not significantly differ between the native and exotic species. During decomposition, emergent plants displayed an increase in C content and a decrease in N content, contrary to patterns observed in other life forms. The P content decreased for submerged (128 ± 7 %), emergent (90 ± 5 %), floating-leaved (104 ± 6 %), and free-floating plants (32 ± 6 %). Exotic plants released more C and P but accumulated more N than did native plants. In conclusion, the decomposition of aquatic plants is closely linked to litter quality and influences nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Given these findings, the invasion of the littoral zone by submerged and emergent exotic plants deserves further attention.

Study on synergistic mechanism of molybdenum disulfide/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose composite nanofiber mats for photothermal/photodynamic antibacterial treatment.

Innovative antibacterial therapies using nanomaterials, such as photothermal (PTT) and photodynamic (PDT) treatments, have been developed for treating wound infections. However, creating secure wound dressings with these therapies faces challenges. The primary focus of this study is to prepare an antibacterial nanofiber dressing that effectively incorporates stable loads of functional nanoparticles and demonstrates an efficient synergistic effect between PTT and PDT. Herein, a composite nanofiber mat was fabricated, integrating spherical molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles. MoS2 was deposited onto polylactic acid (PLA) nanofiber mats using vacuum filtration, which was further stabilized by sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) adhesion and glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking. The composite nanofibers demonstrated synergistic antibacterial effects under NIR light irradiation, and the underlying mechanism was explored. They induce bacterial membrane permeability, protein leakage, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation, ultimately leading to >95 % antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is higher than that of single thermotherapy (almost no antibacterial activity) or ROS therapy (about 80 %). In addition, the composite nanofiber mats exhibited promotion effects on infected wound healing in vivo. This study demonstrates the great prospects of composite nanofiber dressings in clinical treatment of bacterial-infected wounds.

The genus Dioscorea L. (Dioscoreaceae), a review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The genus Dioscorea, a member of the Dioscoreaceae family, comprises approximately 600 species and is widely distributed across temperate and tropical regions such as Asia, South Africa, and North America. The traditional medicinal uses of Dioscorea have been documented in Asian and African pharmacological systems. In Asia, this genus is traditionally used to treat respiratory illnesses, rheumatism, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, and other conditions. In Africa, this genus has been used to treat human immunodeficiency virus and ring worms. However, the traditional medicinal practices in North America rarely mention the use of this genus. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this review is to comprehensively review the genus Dioscorea, focusing on its traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and potential toxicities. The research also aims to highlight the valuable bioactive compounds within Dioscorea and emphasize the need for further investigations into acute and chronic toxicity, activity mechanisms, molecular markers, and other relevant factors to contribute to the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for available information on Dioscorea was conducted using scientific databases, including PubMed, ISI-WOS, Scopus, and Google Scholar, as well as recent academic publications from reputable publishers and other literature sources. The search was not limited by language and spanned the literature published between 1950 and 2022. RESULTS: This article provides a comprehensive review of the Dioscorea genus, focusing on its traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and potential toxicities. Extensive research has been conducted on this genus, resulting in the isolation and examination of over 1000 compounds, including steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, to determine their biological activities. These activities include anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects. However, some studies have indicated the potential toxicity of high doses of Dioscorea, highlighting the need for further investigations to assess the safety of this genus. Additionally, this review explores potential avenues for future research and discusses the challenges associated with a comprehensive understanding of the Dioscorea genus. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the existing literature, it can be concluded that Dioscorea is a valuable source of bioactive compounds that have the potential to treat various disorders. Future research should prioritize the investigation of acute and chronic toxicity, activity mechanisms, molecular markers, and other relevant factors. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the Dioscorea genus, emphasizing its potential to enable a deeper exploration of the biological activity mechanisms of these plants and contribute to the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals.

Effects of Rhizopus-arrhizus-31-Assisted Pretreatment on the Extraction and Bioactivity of Total Flavonoids from Hibiscus manihot L.

The Hibiscus manihot L. (HML) Medic, an edible hibiscus of the Malvaceae family, is abundant with flavonoids. The study investigated how Rhizopus-arrhizus-31-assisted pretreatment affects the extraction and bioactivity of flavonoids from HML. The fiber structure of the fermented flavonoid sample (RFF) appears looser, more porous, and more disordered than the unfermented flavonoid sample (RUF). RFF demonstrates milder conditions and yields higher extraction rates. According to the Box-Behnken response surface optimization experiment, the optimal conditions for RFF include a material-liquid ratio of 1:41 g/mL, a 2 h extraction time, a 57% ethanol concentration, and an extraction temperature of 800 °C, resulting in a 3.69% extraction yield, which is 39.25% higher than that of RUF. Additionally, RFF exhibits greater activity than RUF in the radical-scavenging system. The IC50 values for DPPH, OH, and ABTS radicals are 83.43 µg/mL and 82.62 µg/mL, 208.38 µg/mL and 175.99 µg/mL, and 108.59 µg/mL and 75.39 µg/mL for RUF and RFF, respectively. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis of the active components in the HML flavonoid sample revealed significant differences in the chromatograms of RUF and RFF, indicating that biofermentation led to substantial changes in composition and content from HML.

Clinical Experience of External Application of Clearing Heat and Removing Dampness in Relieving Grade 2 to 3 Rash Caused by Programed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1)/Programed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Inhibitors: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: In China, grade 2 to 3 immune-related rash will probably lead to the interruption of immunotherapy. Corticosteroid (CS) is the main treatment, but not always effective. The external application of clearing heat and removing dampness, which is represented by Qing-Re-Li-Shi Formula (QRLSF), has been used in our hospital to treat immune-related cutaneous adverse events (ircAEs) for the last 5 years. The purpose of this study was to discuss its efficacy and safety in the treatment of grade 2 to 3 rash. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with grade 2 to 3 immune-related rash in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 was conducted. These patients received QRLSF treatment. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcome, and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty patients with grade 2 to 3 rash (median onset time: 64.5 days) were included. The skin lesions of 24 cases (80%) returned to grade 1 with a median time of 8 days. The accompanying symptoms were also improved with median time of 3 to 4 days. The addition of antihistamine (AH) drug didn't increase the efficacy of QRLSF (AH + QRLSF: 75.00% vs QRLSF: 83.33%, P = .66). No significant difference was observed in the efficacy of QRLSF treatment regardless of whether patients had previously received CS therapy (untreated population: 88.24% vs treated population: 69.23%, P = .36). During 1-month follow-up, 2 cases (8.33%) underwent relapses. In terms of HrQoL, QRLSF treatment could significantly reduce the median scores of all domains of Skindex-16, including symptoms (39.58 vs 8.33, P < .0001), emotions (58.33 vs 15.48, P < .0001), functioning (46.67 vs 13.33, P < .0001) and composite (52.60 vs 14.06, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: External application of clearing heat and removing dampness was proven to be an effective and safe treatment for such patients. In the future, high-quality trials are required to determine its clinical application in the field of ircAEs.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pulmonary Embolism Combined with Tuberculosis and the Efficacy of Anticoagulation Combined with Anti-tuberculosis.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of combined pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), as well as evaluate the clinical efficacy of anticoagulation in combination with anti-tuberculosis therapy. Methods: A total of 96 TB patients were included in the study. Among them, 31 patients had combined PE (PE group) and 65 patients did not have PE (no-PE group). Various indicators including lung images, clinical symptoms, blood tests, coagulation function, and others were analyzed to identify risk factors for combined PE in TB patients. Within the PE group, patients were divided into a combined treatment group (received anticoagulation therapy alongside anti-tuberculosis treatment) and a control group (received only anti-tuberculosis treatment). The effectiveness of anticoagulation, serological indexes, and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results: The prevalence of combined PE in TB patients was 32.29%. Encapsulated effusion or upper lobe predominance, dyspnea, and high creatinine levels were identified as risk factors for combined PE in TB patients. The combined treatment group showed a significantly higher anticoagulation efficiency rate (95.00%) compared to the control group (72.73%). After treatment, serum D-dimer levels were significantly lower in the rivaroxaban group compared to the warfarin group. The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: Combined PE was found in 32.29% of TB patients. Encapsulated effusion or upper lobe predominance, dyspnea, and high creatinine levels were identified as risk factors for combined PE in TB patients. Anticoagulation combined with anti-tuberculosis therapy was effective and safe for managing TB patients with combined PE.

Review of the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Artemisia Argyi, Artemisia Princeps, and Artemisia Montana.

BACKGROUND: Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Van., Artemisia princeps Pamp., and Artemisia montana Pamp., which are the sources of mugwort, have been popular across East Asian countries for nearly 2000 years now. Essential oils are the major chemical component obtained from them, exhibiting a variety of biological activities. OBJECTIVE: This review mainly focuses on the chemical composition and biological activities of A. argyi essential oil (AAEO), A. princeps essential oil (APEO), and A. montana essential oil (AMEO), with a special focus on their common and specific characteristics. The traditional use, distribution, and botany of A. argyi, A. princeps, and A. montana have also been summarized. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of AAEO was involved. METHODS: We collected literature from online and offline databases by entering the following keywords: mugwort, wormwood, A. argyi, A. princeps, A. montana, essential oil, and volatile oil. No language limitation was present in our search. RESULTS: A. argyi, A. princeps, and A. montana were used as traditional medicine, food, and health care products for a long time in Asia. They are widely distributed in most parts of China, Korea, and Japan. AAEO, APEO, and AMEO composed of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and their derivatives, alkanes, olefins, etc. Most of the specific compounds of AAEO were monoterpenoids, nearly half of the specific compounds of APEO were aliphatic hydrocarbons, and the sesquiterpenes were the typical specific compounds of AMEO. The mugwort essential oil showed multiple biological activities, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulation, sedative, and insecticide. CONCLUSION: The present review provided insight into the chemical composition and biological activity of AAEO, APEO, and AMEO. The comprehensive literature showed that they possessed wide application prospects in various fields. However, they should be studied in more depth. The underlying bioactive mechanisms should be elucidated and their toxicity and quality control should be determined.

Adjuvant qi-invigorating blood-activating tongmai decoction promotes effect of rosuvastatin on senile diabetes mellitus complicated with atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of qi-invigorating blood-activating tongmai decoction combined with rosuvastatin in the treatment of senile type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with atherosclerosis (AS). METHODS: The clinical data of 122 elderly patients with T2DM complicated with AS treated in Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2020 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 57 patients treated with rosuvastatin alone were divided into a Monotherapy group, and 65 patients treated with qi-invigorating blood-activating tongmai decoction adjuvant combined with rosuvastatin were divided into a combined group. The two groups were compared in terms of efficacy after treatment, incidence of adverse reactions after 8 weeks of treatment, and carotid plaque indexes, glucose metabolism indexes and lipid metabolism indexes before and after 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The Combined group showed a notably higher response rate than the Monotherapy group (P<0.05), but the two groups showed no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions (P>0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque area, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the two groups decreased significantly, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in them increased significantly. Furthermore, the Combined group showed significantly higher levels of IMT, plaque area, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, TC, TG and LDL-C, and a significantly lower HDL-C level than the Monotherapy group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Qi-invigorating blood-activating tongmai decoction can promote the therapeutic efficacy of rosuvastatin in elderly patients with T2DM complicated with AS.

[Correlations between appearance traits and internal quality of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots based on theory of "quality evaluation through morphological identification"].

It is generally believed that high-quality Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots possess specific morphological characteristics, being red, robust, and long with strong odor. However, the scientific connotation of these characteristics has not been elucidated. According to the theory of "quality evaluation through morphological identification", we studied the correlations between appearance traits(the RGB value of root surface, root length, root diameter, dry weight, and ratio of phloem to xylem) and content of main chemical components(volatile oils, total saponins, total flavonoids, total polysaccharides, and seven saikosaponins) of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Epson Scanner and ImageJ were used to scan the root samples and measure the appearance traits. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry and HPLC were employed to determine the content of chemical components. The correlation, regression, and cluster analyses were performed to study the correlations between the appearance traits and the content of chemical components. The results showed that the content of volatile oils and saikosaponins were significantly correlated with RGB value, root length, and root diameter, indicating that within a certain range, the roots being redder, longer, and thicker had higher content of volatile oils and saikosaponins. According to the appearance traits and chemical component content, the 14 samples from different producing areas were classified into four grades, and the differences in morphological traits and chemical component content were consistent among different grades. The findings in this study demonstrate that appearance traits(RGB value, root length, and root diameter) can be used to evaluate the quality of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Meanwhile, this study lays a foundation for establishing an objective quality evaluation method for B. scorzonerifolium roots.

Study on molecular mechanism of volatiles variation during Bupleurum scorzonerifolium root development based on metabolome and transcriptome analysis.

Bupleurum scorzonerifolium Willd. is a medicinal herb. Its root has a high content of volatile oil (BSVO), which shows a variety of biological activities. Currently, BSVO in the injectable form is used for treating fever in humans and livestock. The yield and quality of volatile oils depends on the developmental stages of plants. However, the changes in BSVO yield and quality during root development in Bupleurum scorzonerifolium and the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This knowledge gap is limiting the improvement in the quality of BSVO. In the present study, B. scorzonerifolium root was collected at germinative, vegetative, florescence, fruiting and defoliating stages. The yield of BSVO, metabolic profile of volatile components and transcriptome of root samples at various developmental stages were comprehensively determined and compared. BSVO continuously accumulated from the germinative to fruiting stages, and its level slightly decreased from the fruiting to defoliating stages. A total of 82 volatile components were detected from B. scorzonerifolium root, of which 22 volatiles were identified as differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) during the root development. Of these volatiles, fatty acids and their derivatives accounted for the largest proportion. The contents of most major volatiles were highest at the fruiting stage. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected during B. scorzonerifolium root development, of which 65 DEGs encoded various enzymes and transcription factors regulating the biosynthesis of fatty acids and their derivatives. In further analysis, 42 DEGs were identified to be significantly correlated with DAMs, and these DEGs may be the key genes for the biosynthesis of volatiles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively report the changes in the composition and content of volatiles and underlying mechanism during B. scorzonerifolium root development. This study provided important reference for future studies to determine the harvest time of B. scorzonerifolium roots and improve the quality of BSVO.

Application of Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain Over the Past 22 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Purpose: Acupuncture is widely used to relieve shoulder pain. A survey was conducted in order to recognize hotspots and frontiers of acupuncture for shoulder pain from the year 2000-2022. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection was used to collect literature related to acupuncture therapy for shoulder pain, which spanned January 2000 to August 2022. The number of publications yearly, countries/institutions, journals, and keywords was analyzed and visualized in shoulder pain with acupuncture therapy by CiteSpace v.5.7.R5. Results: We totally analyzed 214 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The overall trend of publication volume continues to increase. The most productive authors in the field were César Fernández las Peñas and José L Arias-Buría, and the most influential author was Green S. Kyung Hee University and the People's Republic of China had the highest volume of publications, respectively. The most influential journal is Pain with high citation and impact factor. The hot keywords were "acupuncture", "shoulder pain", "dry needling", "randomized trial", and "injection". The research frontier in acupuncture for treating chronic shoulder pain was mainly "mechanism". Conclusion: Over the last 22 years, the findings of this bibliometric analysis have provided research trends and frontiers in clinical research on acupuncture therapy for patients with shoulder pain, which identifying hot topics and exploring new directions for the future may be helpful to researchers. Studying mechanisms underlying acupuncture therapy for shoulder pain remains a focus of future research.

Responses of soil phosphorus cycling and bioavailability to plant invasion in river-lake ecotones.

The invasion of exotic plants in the river-lake ecotone has seriously affected the nutrient cycling processes in wetland soil. The South American species Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. is rapidly invading the river-lake ecotone in subtropical China, and has become the dominant species in the river-lake ecotone. However, there have been few studies on the effects of A. philoxeroides invasion on soil phosphorus (P) cycling and bioavailability in this ecotone. Here, we measured the bioavailable P fractions, physicochemical properties and nutrient content in the surface soils of the native plant (Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) communities and the adjacent invasive A. philoxeroides communities in three river-lake ecotones with different nutrient substrates in the subtropical Dongting Lake basin over a 3-year period to reveal the effects of A. philoxeroides invasion on the morphology and concentrations of soil bioavailable P. The principal coordinate analysis results showed that the A. philoxeroides invasion significantly altered the bioavailable P concentrations in the soil of native plant communities in the different river-lake ecotones, and this effect was not disturbed by the heterogeneity of the soil matrix. However, the effects of invasion into different native plant communities on the fractions of soil bioavailable P were different. Compared with native Z. latifolia and N. nucifera communities, A. philoxeroides invasion increased the concentration of inorganic P by 39.5% and 3.7%, respectively, and the concentration of organic P decreased by 32.7% and 31.9%, respectively. In addition, the invasion promoted P cycling and accumulation in the river-lake ecotone, which resulted in average decreases in the soil N:P and C:P ratios of 7.9% and 12.5%, respectively. These results highlight the impact of exotic plant invasions on nutrient cycling in wetland ecosystems in the river-lake ecotone, and this process may be detrimental to the late recovery of native plants.

In situ remediation mechanism of internal nitrogen and phosphorus regeneration and release in shallow eutrophic lakes by combining multiple remediation techniques.

Large anthropogenic inputs of N and P alter the nutrient cycle and exacerbate global eutrophication problems in aquatic ecosystems. This study in Lake Datong, China, investigates the remediation mechanism of multiple remediation technique combinations (dredging, adsorbent amendment, and planting aquatic vegetation) on sediment N and P loads based on two high-resolution sampling techniques (HR-Peeper and DGT) and P sequential extraction procedures. The results showed that high temperature and low dissolved oxygen considerably enhanced pore water dissolved reactive P (DRP) and NH4+ concentrations attributable to abundant Fe-P and organic matter content in the sediment. Fe reduction is critical for regulating pore water DRP release and promoting N removal. Overall, for Lake Datong, combining multiple remediation techniques is more effective in controlling sediment P loads (pore water DRP, P fluxes, forms of P, and labile P), from a long-term perspective, than a single remediation. Lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB) inactivation treatment can transfer mobile P in the surface sediment into more refractory forms over time, thereby reducing the risk of sediment labile P release. However, it is difficult to effectively remediate internal P loads owing to inappropriate dredging depths and low biomass of aquatic vegetation. Future lake restoration practices should optimize the selection of different remediation technique combinations based on internal N and P pollution characteristics, while reducing external wastewater input. These results are important for understanding the remediation mechanisms of internal N and P and provide suggestions for sediment management of shallow eutrophic lakes.

New insights into immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria fermented herbal medicines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought more attention to the immune system, the body's defense against infectious diseases. The immunomodulatory ability of traditional herbal medicine has been confirmed through clinical trial research, and has obvious advantages over prescription drugs due to its high number of potential targets and low toxicity. The active compounds of herbal drugs primarily include polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and phenolics and can be modified to produce new active compounds after lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. LAB, primary source of probiotics, can produce additional immunomodulatory metabolites such as exopolysaccharides, short-chain fatty acids, and bacteriocins. Moreover, several compounds from herbal medicines can promote the growth and production of LAB-based immune active metabolites. Thus, LAB-mediated fermentation of herbal medicines has become a novel strategy for regulating human immune responses. The current review discusses the immunomodulatory properties and active compounds of LAB fermented herbal drugs, the interaction between LAB and herbal medicines, and changes in immunoregulatory components that occur during fermentation. This study also discusses the mechanisms by which LAB-fermented herbal medicines regulate the immune response, including activation of the innate or adaptive immune system and the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis.

Response of spatio-temporal changes in sediment phosphorus fractions to vegetation restoration in the degraded river-lake ecotone.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in the ecosystem and the cause of the eutrophication of rivers and lakes. The river-lake ecotone is the ecological buffer zone between rivers and lakes, which can transfer energy and material between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Vegetation restoration of degraded river-lake ecotone can improve the interception capacity of P pollution. However, the effects of different vegetation restoration types on sediment P cycling and its mechanism remain unclear. Therefore, we seasonally measured the P fractions and physicochemical properties of sediments from different restored vegetation (three native species and one invasive species). The results found that vegetation restoration significantly increased the sediment total P and bioavailable P content, which increased the sediment tolerance to P pollution in river-lake ecotone. In addition, the total P content in sediments was highest in summer and autumn, but lower in spring and winter. The total P and bioavailable P contents in surface sediments were the highest. They decreased with increasing depth, suggesting that sediment P assimilation by vegetation restoration and the resulting litter leads to redistribution of P in different seasons and sediment depths. Microbial biomass-P (MBP), total nitrogen (TN), and sediment organic matter (SOM) are the main factors affecting the change of sediment phosphorus fractions. All four plants' maximum biomass and P storage appeared in the autumn. Although the biomass and P storage of the invasive species Alternanthera philoxeroides were lower, the higher bioavailable P content and MBP values of the surface sediments indicated the utilization efficiency of sediment resources. These results suggest that vegetation restoration affects the distribution and circulation of P in river and lake ecosystems, which further enhances the ecological function of the river-lake ecotone and prevents the eutrophication and erosion of water and sediment in the river-lake ecotone.

6'-O-Caffeoylarbutin from Que Zui tea ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury via enhancing antioxidant ability and regulating the PI3K signaling pathway.

Que Zui tea (QT), a traditional herbal tea in China, has a significant hepatoprotective effect. 6'-O-Caffeoylarbutin (CA) is the most abundant chemical compound in the QT. However, the hepatoprotective effect of CA has not been investigated. This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of CA on acetaminophen (APAP) induced hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro and its possible underlying mechanism. In APAP-induced HepG-2 cells, CA inhibited intracellular ROS accumulation and cell apoptosis, and improved the expression of antioxidants including SOD, CAT and GSH. In APAP-administrated mice, CA pretreatment remarkably ameliorated the histopathological damage and inflammatory response, and antioxidant enzyme activity in the serum and liver tissues. Moreover, the immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assay results revealed that the CA markedly reduced ROS production and apoptosis, and activated antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 in the liver. Meanwhile, molecular docking results showed that the strong binding force of CA and PI3K was due to the higher number of hydrogen- and π-bonds with active site residues. Notably, CA pretreatment significantly regulated the expression of PI3K, Akt, Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 proteins in APAP-treated liver tissues. These data demonstrated that CA had a protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity via regulating the PI3K/Akt and Nrf2 signaling pathway.

New anti-pulmonary fibrosis prenylflavonoid glycosides from Epimedium koreanum.

Four new prenylflavonoid glycosides, namely koreanoside H-K (1-4), together with eleven known ones (5-15) were isolated from the leaves of Epimedium koreanum Nakai. Their structures were elucidated by 1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR and UV. The identification of the sugar moieties was carried out by means of acid hydrolysis and HPLC analysis of their derivatives. It is worth noting that compound 3 and compound 4 were elucidated to contain fucose and quinovose moieties, which were two extremely rare sugar units from the genus Epimedium. The anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity of the new compounds was evaluated using A549 cell line. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 showed significant anti-pulmonary fibrosis activities.

Multi-omics joint analysis reveals the mechanism of action of the traditional Chinese medicine Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon, (M. tenacissima) a traditional herbal medicine, has been used for thousands of years. It is noted in Dian Nan Ben Cao that M. tenacissima is bitter in flavor and cold in property, and extracts possess diverse pharmacological effects, including immunomodulation and anti-tumor activities. AIM OF THE STUDY: The anti-tumor effects of M. tenacissima extracts (MTE) have been repeatedly confirmed, and this medicine has also been extensively applied in cancer treatment or prognostic adjuvant therapy, with significant curative effect. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the anti-tumor mechanism of M. tenacissima starting from the key features of traditional Chinese medicine and by studying the main active components individually to identify anti-tumor targets in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molecular network profiling and multi-omic joint analyses were conducted using an H22 mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma to determine the main active ingredients in MTE and the underlying anti-tumor mechanisms. RESULTS: Tenacissosides I, H, and G (TI,TH and TG) were found to be the likely active ingredients of MTE in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. These compounds were shown to promote apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis and improve immune function through targeting P53, JAK-1 and HIF1α, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, based on the theory that multiple components and multiple targets synergistically exert the beneficial effects of a traditional Chinese medicine, this paper comprehensively analyzes the mechanisms of action of M. tenacissima and provides a novel strategy for the subsequent development of anti-tumor therapies.

A measure for perioperative anxiety symptoms in patients with FUAS - treated uterine fibroids: development and validation.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a scale that measured the perioperative anxiety symptoms of uterine fibroids (PASM-UF) treated with focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS). METHODS: A panel of gynecologists, nurses, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) experts created a draft of the PASM-UF scale. Women who underwent FUAS for uterine fibroids were recruited for its psychometric validation. Assessments were conducted during admission, before surgery, and at discharge. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was administered to assess criterion validity. We assessed the relationship between the developed PASM-UF and the SCL-90 via a correlation analysis. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency for reliability. RESULTS: We included five items, pain, lack of appetite, fatigue (tiredness), disturbed sleep, and anxiety, in the final version of the PASM-UF. Data were collected from 228 patients. Cronbach's alpha was 0.745, whereas the correlation coefficient between SCL-90 and PASM-UF was 0.345 (p < 0.001). The total PASM-UF scores were significantly higher in patients whose SCL-90 scores were ≥160 compared to those with <160 (9.85 ± 9.07 vs. 4.01 ± 5.15, p = .002). Those who did not complete the SCL-90 reported lower PASM-UF scores than those who did (2.33 ± 3.27 vs. 4.67 ± 5.99, p = .006). Patients reported significantly lower PASM-UF scores postoperatively than preoperatively (2.95 ± 4.18 vs. 3.92 ± 4.90, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The PASM-UF is a valid, reliable, and sensitive scale for assessing perioperative anxiety levels among women with uterine fibroids. Statistical analysis suggests that it is also an effective instrument for scientific research.Key MessageWe developed a brief scale to assess anxiety in perioperative patients with uterine fibroids. In addition, the scale monitored the anxiety levels at multiple frequencies and did not increase burden on the patients. The scale has been proven to be effective, reliable, and highly sensitive.

Bioinformatics study of the potential therapeutic effects of ginsenoside Rf in reversing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: Ginsenoside Rf, a tetracyclic triterpenoid only present in Panax ginseng, has been proven to relieve lipid metabolism and inflammatory reactions, which can be a potential treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of ginsenoside Rf in the treatment of early-stage NAFLD (NAFL) by using a bioinformatics method and biological experiments. METHODS: Target genes associated with NAFL were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, a database repository of high-throughput gene expression data and hybridization arrays, chips, and microarrays. Subsequently, gene set enrichment analysis was performed by using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis tool. Then, the binding capacity between ginsenoside Rf and NAFL-related targets was evaluated by molecular docking. Finally, the FFA-induced HepG2 cell model treated with ginsenoside Rf was adopted to verify the effect of ginsenoside Rf and the related mechanisms. RESULTS: There were 41 common differentially expressed genes in the GEO dataset. Gene Ontology and Reactome pathway enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that many pathways could be related to the pathogenesis of NAFL, including those participating in the cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, and response to lipopolysaccharide. Finally, the qRT-PCR analysis results indicated that ginsenoside Rf therapy could ameliorate the transcription of ANXA2, BAZ1A, DNMT3L and MMP9. CONCLUSION: Our research discovered the relevant mechanisms and basic pharmacological effects of ginsenoside Rf in the treatment of NAFL. These results might facilitate the development of ginsenoside Rf as an alternative medication for NAFL.