Shenge Formula attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity and fatty liver via inhibiting ACOX1.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Shenge Formula (SGF) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used in the clinical treatment of NAFLD, and its therapeutic potential in patients and NAFLD animal models has been demonstrated in numerous studies. However, its underlying mechanism for treating NAFLD remains unclear. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of SGF in the treatment of NAFLD using the proteomics strategy. METHODS: Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to determine the main components of SGF. A mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was constructed by feeding mice with a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. SGF was administered for an additional 8 weeks, and metformin was used as a positive control. Liver sections were subjected to histopathological assessments. LC-MS/MS was used for the label-free quantitative proteomic analysis of liver tissues. Candidate proteins and pathways were validated both in vivo and in vitro through qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The functions of the validated pathways were further investigated using the inhibition strategy. RESULTS: Thirty-nine ingredients were identified in SGF extracts, which were considered to be key compounds in the treatment of NAFLD. SGF administration attenuated obesity and fatty liver by reducing the body weight and liver weight in HFD-fed mice. It also relieved HFD-induced insulin resistance. More importantly, hepatic steatosis was significantly attenuated by SGF administration both in vivo and in vitro. Proteomic profiling of mouse liver tissues identified 184 differential expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with SGF treatment. Bioinformatic analysis of DEPs revealed that regulating the lipid metabolism and energy consumption process of hepatocytes was the main role of SGF in NAFLD treatment. This also indicated that ACOX1 might be the potential target of SGF, which was subsequently verified both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that SGF inhibited ACOX1 activity, thereby activating PPARα and upregulating CPT1A expression. Increased CPT1A expression promoted mitochondrial ß-oxidation, leading to reduced lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings confirmed the protective effect of SGF against NAFLD and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism of regulating lipid metabolism.

Evaluating the opportunities for mainstream P-recovery in anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic systems.

Mainstream P-recovery can help wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to effectively maintain good enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) while helping to recover P. In this study, a pilot-scale anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic (A2O) process was operated for simultaneous COD/N/P removal and P-recovery under different operational conditions. The operation with conventional extraction of waste activated sludge (WAS) from the aerobic reactor was compared to the mainstream P-recovery strategy of WAS extraction from the anaerobic reactor. Successful nutrient removal was obtained for both scenarios, but the anaerobic WAS extraction results improved polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) activity by increasing almost 27 % P concentration in the anaerobic reactor. WAS fermentation was also evaluated, showing that anaerobic WAS required only 3 days to reach a high P concentration, while the aerobic WAS fermentation required up to 7 days. The fermentation process increased the amount of soluble P available for precipitation from 24.4 % up to 51.6 % in the fermented anaerobic WAS scenario. Results obtained by precipitation modelling of these streams showed the limitations for struvite precipitation due to Ca2+ interference and Mg2+ and NH4+ as limiting species. The optimum precipitation scenario showed that P-recovery could reach up to 51 % of the input P, being 90 % struvite.

Xie Zhuo Tiao Zhi formula modulates intestinal microbiota and liver purine metabolism to suppress hepatic steatosis and pyroptosis in NAFLD therapy.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence indicates a rising global prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is closely associated to conditions such as obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. The relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolites in NAFLD is gaining attention understanding the pathogenesis and progression of dysregulated lipid metabolism and inflammation. The Xie Zhuo Tiao Zhi (XZTZ) decoction has been employed in clinical practice for alleviating hyperlipidemia and symptoms related to metabolic disorders. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effects of XZTZ remain to be elucidated. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of XZTZ decoction in a mouse model of NAFLD, as well as the effects of supplementing exogenous metabolites on PO induced cell damage and lipid accumulation in cultured hepatocytes. METHODS: A high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model was established to examine the effects of XZTZ through oral gavage. The general condition of mice and the protective effect of XZTZ on liver injury were evaluated using histological and biochemical methods. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) staining and oil red O staining were performed to assess inflammatory and lipid accumulation detection, and cytokine levels were quantitatively analyzed. Additionally, the study included full-length 16S rRNA sequencing, liver transcriptome analysis, and non-targeted metabolomics analysis to investigate the relationship among intestinal microbiome, liver metabolic function, and XZTZ decoction. RESULTS: XZTZ had a significant impact on the microbial community structure in NAFLD mice. Notably, the abundance of Ileibacterium valens, which was significantly enriched by XZTZ, exhibited a negative correlation with liver injury biomarkers such as, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity. Moreover, treatment with XZTZ led to a significant enrichment of the purine metabolism pathway in liver tissue metabolites, with inosine, a purine metabolite, showing a significant positive correlation with the abundance of I. valens. XZTZ and inosine also significantly enhanced fatty acid ß-oxidation, which led to a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the inhibition of liver pyroptosis. These effects contributed to the mitigation of liver injury and hepatocyte damage, both in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, the utilization of HPLC fingerprints and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS elucidated the principal constituents within the XZTZ decoction, including naringin, neohesperidin, atractylenolide III, 23-o-Acetylalisol B, pachymic acid, and ursolic acid which are likely responsible for its therapeutic efficacy. Further investigations are imperative to fully uncover and validate the pharmacodynamic mechanisms underlying these observations. CONCLUSION: The administration of XZTZ decoction demonstrates a protective effect on the livers of NAFLD mice by inhibiting lipid accumulation and reducing hepatocyte inflammatory damage. This protective effect is mediated by the upregulation of I.valens abundance in the intestine, highlighting the importance of the gut-liver axis. Furthermore, the presesnce of inosine, adenosine, and their derivatives are important in promoting the protective effects of XZTZ. Furthermore, the in vitro approaching, we provide hitherto undocumented evidence indicating that the inosine significantly improves lipid accumulation, inflammatory damage, and pyroptosis in AML12 cells incubated with free fatty acids.

A novel, robust mechanical strength, and naturally degradable double crosslinking starch-based bioplastics for practical applications.

The increasing number of petroleum-based plastics has caused severe environmental pollution, which has attracted great research interest in the development of low-cost, renewable, and degradable starch-based bioplastics. However, developing starch-based bioplastics with robust mechanical strength, excellent water resistance, and thermal resistance remains a great challenge. In this study, we presented a simple and efficient method for preparing high-performance novel starch-based bioplastics with chemical and physical double crosslinking network structures filled with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxy-oxidized cellulose nanofibers and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Compared with pure starch-based bioplastics, the tensile strength of the novel robust strength starch-based bioplastics increased by 431.2 %. The novel starch-based bioplastics exhibited excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 24.54 MPa), water resistance, thermal resistance, and biodegradability. In addition, the novel starch-based bioplastics could be reused, crushed, dissolved, and re-poured after use. After recycling, the novel starch-based bioplastics could be discarded in the soil to achieve complete degradation within six weeks. Owing to these characteristics, the novel starch-based bioplastics are good alternatives used to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics and have great development prospects.

Nitrogen application improves salt tolerance of grape seedlings via regulating hormone metabolism.

Salt stress is a dominant environmental factor that restricts the growth and yield of crops. Nitrogen is an essential mineral element for plants, regulates various physiological and biochemical processes, and has been reported to enhance salt tolerance in plants. However, the crosstalk between salt and nitrogen in grapes is not well understood. In this study, we found that nitrogen supplementation (0.01 and 0.1 mol L-1 NH4 NO3 ) significantly increased the accumulation of proline, chlorophyll, Na+ , NH4 + , and NO3 - , while it reduced the malondialdehyde content and inhibited photosynthetic performance under salt stress conditions (200 mmol L-1 NaCl). Further transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that a total of 4890 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 753 differently accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified. Joint omics results revealed that plant hormone signal transduction pathway connected the DEGs and DAMs. In-depth analysis revealed that nitrogen supplementation increased the levels of endogenous abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid by inducing the expression of 11, 4, and 13 genes related to their respective biosynthesis pathway. In contrast, endogenous indoleacetic acid content was significantly reduced due to the remarkable regulation of seven genes of its biosynthetic pathway. The modulation in hormone contents subsequently activated the differential expression of 13, 10, 12, and 29 genes of the respective downstream hormone signaling transduction pathways. Overall, all results indicate that moderate nitrogen supplementation could improve salt tolerance by regulating grape physiology and endogenous hormone homeostasis, as well as the expression of key genes in signaling pathways, which provides new insights into the interactions between mineral elements and salt stress.

Exploring the stability of an A-stage-EBPR system for simultaneous biological removal of organic matter and phosphorus.

This work evaluates the performance and stability of a continuous anaerobic/aerobic A-stage system with integrated enhanced biological phosphorus removal (A-stage-EBPR) under different operational conditions. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the aerobic reactor was tested in the 0.2-2 mgDO/L range using real wastewater amended with propionic acid, obtaining almost full simultaneous COD and P removal without nitrification in the range 0.5-1 mgDO/L, but failing at 0.2 mgDO/L. Anaerobic purge was tested to evaluate a possible mainstream P-recovery strategy, generating a P-enriched stream containing 22% of influent P. COD and N mass balances indicated that about 43% of the influent COD could be redirected to the anaerobic digestion for methane production and 66% of influent NH4+-N was discharged in the effluent for the following N-removal B-stage. Finally, when the system was switched to glutamate as sole carbon source, successful EBPR activity and COD removal were maintained for two months, but after this period settleability problems appeared with biomass loss. Microbial community analysis indicated that Propionivibrio, Thiothrix and Lewinella were the most abundant species when propionic acid was the carbon source and Propionivibrio was the most favoured with glutamate. Thiothrix, Hydrogenophaga, Dechloromonas and Desulfobacter appeared as the dominant polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) under different operation stages.

Astragalus saponins and its main constituents ameliorate ductular reaction and liver fibrosis in a mouse model of DDC-induced cholestatic liver disease.

Cholestatic liver disease (CLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by ductular reaction, inflammation and fibrosis. As there are no effective chemical or biological drugs now, majority of CLD patients eventually require liver transplantation. Astragali radix (AR) is commonly used in the clinical treatment of cholestatic liver disease and its related liver fibrosis in traditional Chinese medicine, however its specific active constituents are not clear. Total astragalus saponins (ASTs) were considered to be the main active components of AR. The aim of this study is to investigate the improvement effects of the total astragalus saponins (ASTs) and its main constituents in cholestatic liver disease. The ASTs from AR was prepared by macroporous resin, the content of saponins was measured at 60.19 ± 1.68%. The ameliorative effects of ASTs (14, 28, 56 mg/kg) were evaluated by 3, 5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1, 4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced CLD mouse model. The contents of hydroxyproline (Hyp), the mRNA and protein expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissue were dose-dependently improved after treatment for ASTs. 45 astragalus saponins were identified in ASTs by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap HRMS, including astragaloside I, astragaloside II, astragaloside III, astragaloside IV, isoastragaloside I, isoastragaloside II, cycloastragenol, etc. And, it was found that ductular reaction in sodium butyrate-induced WB-F344 cell model were obviously inhibited by these main constituents. Finally, the improvement effects of astragaloside I, astragaloside II, astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol (50 mg/kg) were evaluated in DDC-induced CLD mice model. The results showed that astragaloside I and cycloastragenol significantly improved mRNA and protein expression of CK19 and α-SMA in liver tissue. It suggested that astragaloside I and cycloastragenol could alleviate ductular reaction and liver fibrosis. In summary, this study revealed that ASTs could significantly inhibit ductular reaction and liver fibrosis, and astragaloside I and cycloastragenol were the key substances of ASTs for treating cholestatic liver disease.

Serum pharmacochemistry and pharmacokinetics of major components after oral administration of Luhong recipe in rats using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Luhong recipe (LHR) is has been used as an empirical prescription for treating chronic heart failure for long, with safety, reliability, and significant efficacy. However, its pharmacokinetics has not yet been studied. This study aims to establish a ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous analysis of epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, psoralen, and isopsoralen in rat plasma and apply it to the pharmacokinetic study of LHR after oral administration. These six analytes were ionized using positive electrospray ionization (ESI+ ). The MS/MS transitions used for monitoring are successively converted to m/z 839.3 → 369.1, m/z 809.2 → 369.1, m/z 823.3 → 369.1, m/z 677.2 → 205.2, m/z 187.1 → 115.2, and m/z 230 → 120.9. Linearity, precision, accuracy, stability, matrix effect, and recovery of the established method were within the acceptable range. The method was suitable for the determination of six analytes after oral administration of LHR. The pharmacokinetic results showed that the time to reach the peak concentration (Tmax ) was from 0.17 to 13.5 h, the peak concentration (Cmax ) was 109.23-980 ng/mL, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC[0 - t] ) was 65.48-8846.08 ng·h/mL, and the apparent distribution volume (Vd) was 24,772-896,132 mL/kg. These results provided a meaningful basis for formulating the clinical dose regimen of LHR.

Meta-Analysis of PKP or PVP Combined with Acupuncture in the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

The efficacy of acupuncture combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) or percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture is systematically evaluated. The clinical trials of acupuncture combined with PKP or PVP in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture published before July 2021 are searched in databases of CNKI, WF, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. The information of included studies is extracted, and the quality is assessed by two independent researchers. The meta-analysis is performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. A total of 9 trials are included, involving 851 patients. The experimental results show that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with PKP/PVP in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is superior to that of PKP/PVP alone, and both the VAS score and ODI score of PKP/PVP combined with ordinary acupuncture or silver needle acupuncture are better than those of the control group one month after the operation. The effect of ordinary acupuncture combined with PKP/PVP on the increase of bone mineral density is better than that of the control group. Acupuncture combined with PKP/PVP in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture has better efficacy than PKP/PVP, and it can effectively relieve patients' pain, improve bone density, and improve the quality of life.

Rubus chingii Hu. unripe fruits extract ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis and improves the associated gut microbiota imbalance.

BACKGROUND: The unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu. ("Fu-peng-zi" in Chinese) is a well-known herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for tonifying liver and kidney. However, little is known regarding its therapeutic efficacy against liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The current research aims to explore the potential of Rubus chingii Hu. unripe fruits extract (RF) in the treatment of liver fibrosis and explore the underlying mechanism. RF was administered (450 and 900 mg·kg- 1 of body weight per day) orally to male C57BL/6 mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis for 3 weeks. The histopathological changes and fibrosis stage in liver tissue were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Sirius red staining. The distribution of α-SMA and Col1A1 in the liver was analyzed to determine the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent analysis. Various biochemical markers in serum (ALT, AST) and liver (Hyp, IL1-ß, IL6, TNF-α and MCP-1) were observed to assess the liver's injury, fibrosis, and inflammation. In liver tissue, fibrosis-associated proteins including α-SMA, TGF-ß1, Smad2/3, p-Smad2/3, and Smad4 were detected through a Western blot assay. Pyrosequencing-based analysis of bacterial 16 S ribosomal RNA from variable regions V3-V4 of fecal samples characterized the gut microbiota. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was performed for the association between altered bacterial genera by RF and pharmacodynamics parameters. RESULTS: Three weeks of RF treatment can significantly lower liver inflammatory levels, pathological abnormalities, and collagen fibrous deposition in mice with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The expressions of α-SMA and Col1A1 were lowered by RF, while the expression levels of TGF-ß/Smads signaling pathway-related proteins, including TGF-ß1, p-Smad2/3, and Smad4, were dramatically decreased by RF. The RF treatment significantly increased or reduced 18 different bacterial species, restoring the CCl4-induced gut microbiota imbalance to the normal group's levels. According to correlation analysis, the bacterial genera Bifidobacterium and Turicibacter were the most significant in restoring CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: RF can reduce liver damage and delay the onset of liver fibrosis through modulating TGF-ß/Smads signaling pathway. Furthermore, RF's anti-liver fibrosis effect was related to balancing the gut microbial community, partly attained by increasing Bifidobacterium and Turicibacter in liver fibrosis.

Job Demands and Resources, Mindfulness, and Burnout Among Delivery Drivers in China.

The food and package delivery workforce in China has grown substantially in the past decade. However, delivery drivers face volatile and stressful work conditions, which can give rise to high turnover and burnout. Past research has indicated that job demands and resources (JD-R) significantly predict burnout. Scholars have also found evidence that mindfulness may be a protective factor against negative outcomes like burnout. Using data collected from 240 food and package delivery drivers in Beijing, China, we examined the effects of JD-R on burnout and whether these relations were moderated by mindfulness. Estimates produced by regression analyses indicated that job demands (JD) have significantly positive effects on burnout (ß = 0.33), while job resources (JR) have a significant negative effect on burnout (ß = -0.32). Mindfulness significantly moderated the effects of JD and JR on burnout (ß = -1.64 and - 1.30, respectively). Results suggest that mindfulness is a protective factor for delivery drivers. Practice and policy implications are discussed.

Pharmacokinetics and anti-liver fibrosis characteristics of amygdalin: Key role of the deglycosylated metabolite prunasin.

BACKGROUND: Amygdalin (Amy) is a cyanoside and is one of the chief active ingredients in Persicae Semen, Armeniacae Semen Amarum, and Pruni Semen. Amy has extensive and remarkable pharmacological activities, including against anti-hepatic fibrosis. However, the pharmacokinetic and anti-liver fibrosis effects of Amy and its enzyme metabolite prunasin (Pru) in vivo have not been studied and compared, and studies on Pru are limited. PURPOSE: To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and anti-liver fibrosis effect of Amy and its metabolite Pru in vivo and in vitro, and elucidate whether the metabolism of Amy in vivo for Pru is activated. METHODS: Pru was prepared from Amy via the enzymatic hydrolysis of ß-glucosidase, and isolated by silica gel column chromatography. An efficient and sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-Q exactive hybrid quadrupole orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry was developed and validated to determine simultaneously Amy and Pru in rat plasma after dosing intravenously and orally for pharmacokinetic studies. The affinities of Amy and Pru for ß-glucosidase were compared by enzyme kinetic experiments to explain the possible reasons for the differences in pharmacokinetic behavior. In vitro, the inhibitory effects of Amy and Pru on hepatic stellate cell activation and macrophage inflammation on JS1 and RAW 264.7 cells were determined. In vivo, the ameliorative effects of Amy and Pru on liver fibrosis effects were comprehensively evaluated by CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model in mice. RESULTS: The standard curves of Amy and Pru in rat plasma showed good linearity within the concentration range of 1.31-5000.00 ng/ml, with acceptable selectivity, carry-over, detection limit and quantification limits, intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability. The Cmax and AUC(0-∞) of Pru (Cmax = 1835.12 ± 268.09 ng/ml, AUC(0-∞) = 103,913.17 ± 14,202.48 ng•min/ml) were nearly 79.51- and 66.22-fold higher than those of Amy (Cmax = 23.08 ± 5.08 ng/ml, AUC(0-∞) = 1569.22 ± 650.62 ng•min/ml) after the oral administration of Amy. The oral bioavailability of Pru (64.91%) was higher than that of Amy (0.19%). The results of enzyme hydrolysis kinetics assay showed that the Vmax and Km of Pru were lower than those of Amy in commercial ß-glucosidase and intestinal bacteria. In vitro cellular assays showed that Amy and Pru were comparable in inhibiting the NO production in the RAW264.7 cell supernatant and the mRNA expression of α-SMA and Col1A1 in JS1 cells. Amy and Pru were also showed comparable activity in ameliorating CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetic characteristics of Amy and Pru in rat plasma were significantly different. After the separate gavage of Amy and Pru, Amy was absorbed predominantly as it's metabolite Pru, whereas Pru was absorbed predominantly as a prototype. The anti-liver fibrosis effects of Amy and its deglycosylated metabolite Pru were comparable in vivo and in vitro. The deglycosylated activated metabolite Pru of Amy plays an important role in anti-liver fibrosis. These findings will facilitate the further exploitation of Amy and Pru.

Gynura segetum induces hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in mice by impairing autophagy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the underlying mechanism of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) induced by Gynura segetum by measuring autophagy in mouse models. METHODS: The model group was administered G. segetum (30 g/kg/d) by gavage, while the normal control group was administered an equal volume of saline daily for five weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatic histopathological examinations, and Masson staining were performed to evaluate liver injury. Liver intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocellular apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Protein expression levels of autophagy markers were measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Gynura segetum was found to significantly induce liver injury compared with control mice, as evidenced by the increase of serum transaminases, a decrease in triglyceride levels, and histopathological changes in mice. Gynura segetum remarkably induced hepatocellular apoptosis and upregulated the expressions of ICAM-1 and P-selectin and also downregulated the protein expression levels of LC3, Atg12 and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that G. segetum induced liver injury with HSOS, and it was partly due to its ability to impair the autophagy pathway.

A review on the integration of mainstream P-recovery strategies with enhanced biological phosphorus removal.

Phosphorus (P), an essential nutrient for all organisms, urgently needs to be recovered due to the increasing demand and scarcity of this natural resource. Recovering P from wastewater is a feasible and promising way widely studied nowadays due to the need to remove P in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). When enhanced biological P removal (EBPR) is implemented, an innovative option is to recover P from the supernatant streams obtained in the mainstream water line, and then combine it with liquor-crystallisation recovery processes, being the final recovered product struvite, vivianite or hydroxyapatite. The basic idea of these mainstream P-recovery strategies is to take advantage of the ability of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAO) to increase P concentration under anaerobic conditions when some carbon source is available. This work shows the mainstream P-recovery technologies reported so far, both in continuous and sequenced batch reactors (SBR) based configurations. The amount of extraction, as a key parameter to balance the recovery efficiency and the maintenance of the EBPR of the system, should be the first design criterion. The maximum value of P-recovery efficiency for long-term operation with an adequate extraction ratio would be around 60%. Other relevant factors (e.g. COD/P ratio of the influent, need for an additional carbon source) and operational parameters (e.g. aeration, SRT, HRT) are also reported and discussed.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mindfulness in Chinese College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mindfulness has been found to have many positive effects on life outcomes, including mental health and educational achievement. However, less is known about the antecedents of mindfulness, particularly in Chinese college students. This study examines the effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mindfulness among Chinese college students in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that ACEs negatively affected students' mindfulness. The data were collected from 1,871 college students from 12 colleges across China. The results aligned with our hypothesis that ACEs was negatively associated with mindfulness. In particular, emotional abuse and neglect in childhood appear to have the most negative effects on mindfulness compared to other dimensions of ACEs such as physical abuse and household challenges.

Comprehensive profiling and characterization of the absorbed components and metabolites in mice serum and tissues following oral administration of Qing-Fei-Pai-Du decoction by UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap HRMS.

Qing-Fei-Pai-Du decoction (QFPDD) is a Chinese medicine compound formula recommended for combating corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. The latest clinical study showed that early treatment with QFPDD was associated with favorable outcomes for patient recovery, viral shedding, hospital stay, and course of the disease. However, the effective constituents of QFPDD remain unclear. In this study, an UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS based method was developed to identify the chemical constituents in QFPDD and the absorbed prototypes as well as the metabolites in mice serum and tissues following oral administration of QFPDD. A total of 405 chemicals, including 40 kinds of alkaloids, 162 kinds of flavonoids, 44 kinds of organic acids, 71 kinds of triterpene saponins and 88 kinds of other compounds in the water extract of QFPDD were tentatively identified via comparison with the retention times and MS/MS spectra of the standards or refereed by literature. With the help of the standards and in vitro metabolites, 195 chemical components (including 104 prototypes and 91 metabolites) were identified in mice serum after oral administration of QFPDD. In addition, 165, 177, 112, 120, 44, 53 constituents were identified in the lung, liver, heart, kidney, brain, and spleen of QFPDD-treated mice, respectively. These findings provided key information and guidance for further investigation on the pharmacologically active substances and clinical applications of QFPDD.

Achieving simultaneous biological COD and phosphorus removal in a continuous anaerobic/aerobic A-stage system.

Recovering energy from wastewater in addition to its treatment is a hot trend in the new concept of water resource recovery facility (WRRF). High-rate systems operating at low solid retention time (SRT) have been proposed to meet this challenge. In this paper, the integration of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) in an anaerobic/aerobic continuous high-rate system (A-stage EBPR) was evaluated. Successful P and COD removal were obtained operating at SRT 6, 5 and 4 days treating real wastewater, while a further decrease to 3 days led to biomass washout. The best steady state operational conditions were obtained at SRT = 4d, with high removal percentage of P (94.5%) and COD (96.3%), and without detecting nitrification. COD mineralization could be reduced to 30%, while 64 % of the entering carbon could be diverted as biomass to energy recovery. Regarding nitrogen, about 69±1% of the influent N was left as ammonium in the effluent, with 30% used for biomass growth. The aerobic reactor could be operated at low dissolved oxygen (DO) (0.5 mg/L), which is beneficial to decrease energy requirements. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests showed better productivity for the anaerobic sludge than the aerobic sludge, with an optimal BMP of 296±2 mL CH4/gVSS. FISH analysis at SRT = 4d revealed a high abundance of Accumulibacter (33±13%) and lower proportion of GAO: Competibacter (3.0±0.3%), Defluviicoccus I (0.6±0.1%) and Defluviicoccus II (4.3±1.1%).

Gynura segetum induces hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in mice by impairing autophagy

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the underlying mechanism of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) induced by Gynura segetum by measuring autophagy in mouse models. Methods: The model group was administered G. segetum (30 g/kg/d) by gavage, while the normal control group was administered an equal volume of saline daily for five weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatic histopathological examinations, and Masson staining were performed to evaluate liver injury. Liver intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Hepatocellular apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Protein expression levels of autophagy markers were measured using Western blot analysis. Results: Gynura segetum was found to significantly induce liver injury compared with control mice, as evidenced by the increase of serum transaminases, a decrease in triglyceride levels, and histopathological changes in mice. Gynura segetum remarkably induced hepatocellular apoptosis and upregulated the expressions of ICAM-1 and P-selectin and also downregulated the protein expression levels of LC3, Atg12 and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein. Conclusions: Our results suggested that G. segetum induced liver injury with HSOS, and it was partly due to its ability to impair the autophagy pathway.

["SHAO's five-needle method" as the main treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome: a multi-center randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect differences between "SHAO's five-needle method" and routine acupoint selection on allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group (105 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (105 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group were treated with "SHAO's five-needling method", and the acupoints of Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Yintang (GV 29), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Hegu (LI 4), etc. were selected; the patients in the control group was treated with routine acupuncture, and the acupoints of Feishu (BL 13), Zhongfu (LU 1), Taiyuan (LU 9), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Danzhong (CV 17), Yintang (GV 29), Fengmen (BL 12) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. were selected. The treatment in the two groups was given once a day, 6 times a week, for 4 weeks. The score of symptoms and signs was observed before and after treatment as well as 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after treatment. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and eosinophils in peripheral blood were measured before and after treatment in the two groups. After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 98.0% (99/101) in the observation group, which was superior to 94.1% (95/101) in the control group (P<0.01). Compared before treatment, the total score of symptoms and signs in the two groups was significantly decreased at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment (P<0.01); after treatment and at each time point of follow-up, the total score of symptoms and signs in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). Compared with 4 weeks of treatment, the total score of symptoms and signs at each time point of follow-up was not statistically different in the observation group (P>0.05), and the total score of symptoms and signs in the third month of follow-up in the control group was significantly increased (P<0.05). After treatment, FEV1 and PEF in the two groups were increased (P<0.01), eosinophil count in peripheral blood was decreased (P<0.01), and the improvement in the observation group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: "SHAO's five-needle method" can improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function, reduce the count of eosinophils in peripheral blood in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome, and the curative effect is better than routine acupuncture.

Tanshinone IIA mediates SMAD7-YAP interaction to inhibit liver cancer growth by inactivating the transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway.

Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA)-an active constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant-is known to have blood circulation promotion and anti-tumor properties. Tan IIA can induce tumor cell death and inhibit tumor growth. However, the functions and underling molecular mechanisms of Tan IIA action on human liver cancer cells remain poorly understand. In this study, we found that Tanshinone IIA mediates SMAD7-YAP interaction to induce liver cancer cell apoptosis and inhibit cell growth and migration by inactivating the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) signaling pathway. Our findings showed that the Tan IIA-SMAD7-YAP regulatory network might be an effective strategy for liver cancer treatment.