Unveiling hidden interactions: Microorganisms, enzymes, and mangroves at different stages of succession in the Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, China.

Understanding the interactions between microorganisms, soil extracellular enzymes, and mangroves is crucial for conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems. However, the unique environments associated with mangroves have resulted in a lack of pertinent data regarding the interactions between these components. Root, stem, leaf, and soil samples were collected at three distinct stages of mangrove succession. Stoichiometry was employed to analyze the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of these samples and to quantify extracellular enzyme activities, microbial biomass, and various physicochemical factors in the soil. The results showed that the trends of C, N, and P in the mangrove plants were consistent. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) were the highest in the Kandelia obovate community. Catalase (CAT) and ß-D-G showed the highest content in K. obovate and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, whereas cellulase showed the opposite trend. Urease was least abundant in the K. obovate community, whereas neutral protease (NPR) and acid phosphatase (ACP) were most abundant. The overall soil environment in mangroves exhibited a state of N limitation, with varying degrees of limitation observed across different succession stages. The demand for P became more intense in the later stages of succession, particularly in the K. obovate and B. gymnorrhiza communities. In conjunction with correlation analysis, it indicated that the input of mangrove plant litter had a significant regulatory influence on the C, N, and P contents in the soil. There was a significant positive correlation between MBC, MBN, and MBP, indicating synergistic effects of C, N, and P on soil microorganisms. Therefore, evaluating the nutrient ratios and sufficiency of mangroves allowed us to comprehensively understand the present environmental conditions. This study aims to develop sustainable management strategies for the conservation and restoration of mangroves.

Paiteling induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by down-regulation of the E6/E7-Pi3k/Akt pathway: A network pharmacology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is considered to be the main pathogen causing intraepithelial neoplasia. Paiteling (PTL) has been used to treat intraepithelial neoplasia caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection for more than 20 years in China, but its specific mechanism of action is not very clear, and further research is still needed. OBJECTIVE: This study designed a comprehensive strategy to study the pharmacological mechanism of paiteling in regulating cervical cancer cell apoptosis by integrating LC-MS/MS, network pharmacology and pharmacological experiments. METHODS: We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to detect the active substances in PTL and performed protein-protein interaction analysis on the intersection of the targets of these key compounds and the targets of intraepithelial neoplasia. Additionally, by using Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the potential pathway of PTL against HPV-induced intraepithelial neoplasia was predicted. Finally, we used HeLa and Ect1/E6E7 cells for experimental verification. RESULTS: The protein-protein interaction network predicted that AKT1, TP53, MYC, STAT3, MTOR, and MAPK were pivotal targets for PTL to inhibit epithelial neoplasia. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the Pi3k/Akt pathway and HPV infection had scientific significance. Compared to the control group, after PTL diluent stimulated HeLa and Ect1/E6E7 cells for 24 h, cell viability, migration, and invasion capabilities were significantly reduced, and cell apoptosis was significantly increased, conforming to a dose-effect relationship and time-effect relationship. PCR, cellular immunohistochemistry, and western blot experiments showed that PTL reduced the expression of E6, Pi3k, E7, Akt, Bcl-xl, while increasing the expression of Bad in HeLa and Ect1/E6E7 cells. CONCLUSION: PTL can induce cervical cancer cell apoptosis by inhibiting the E6/E7-Pi3k/Akt signaling pathway. It may provide an effective alternative strategy of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of epithelial neoplasia caused by HPV infection.

A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial of Pingmu Decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of non-active thyroid-related ophthalmopathy.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid eye disease of orbital disease first, it is main and clinical expression with exophthalmos, visual impairment, serious influence patient's quality of life and beautiful, especially for the non-active Graves' ophthalmopathy, there is no effective treatment methods at home and abroad, for the non-active thyroid eye disease only recommended surgery, but the procedure pain, poor curative effect, postoperative recurrence, most patients are difficult to accept. Pingmu Decoction can effectively reduce the degree of exophthalmus and TCM syndrome integral, and The combination therapy with acupuncture and moxibustion on the basis of Pingmu Decoction has achieved remarkable clinical effect, but the lack of rigorous evidence of evidence-based medicine (ebm). The test is designed to further evaluate flat mesh in active soup combined with acupuncture treatment of thyroid related ophthalmopathy card belongs to the yang qi-deficiency, phlegm and blood stasis block syndrome in patients with clinical efficacy and safety. METHODS/DESIGN: A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pingmu Decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of non-active thyroid-related eye disease in patients with Yang qi deficiency and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome. A total of 120 patients with non-active thyroid-related eye disease, namely deficiency of Yang qi and blockage of phlegm and blood stasis, are randomly divided into 3 groups and treated for 12 weeks. All three groups will maintain basic western medicine treatment. The primary outcomes are to observe the degree of prominence of eyes, and the TCM syndrome scores. The secondary result is clinical efficacy. Free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb)will be used as the observation indicators in this study. In addition, adverse reactions will be observed and recorded as safety indicators. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will provide convincing evidence for the efficacy and safety of Pingmu Decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of patients with non-active thyroid-associated eye disease with deficiency of Yang qi and phlegm and blood stasis block, and it will expand the treatment options for patients with non-active thyroid-related eye disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov ID: ChiCTR2000039626. Registered on 3 November 2020.