Adsorption of phosphate over a novel magnesium-loaded sludge-based biochar.

The production of sludge-based biochar to recover phosphorus (P) from wastewater and reuse the recovered phosphorus as agricultural fertilizer is a preferred process. This article mainly studied the removal of phosphate (PO4-P) from aqueous solution by synthesizing sludge-based biochar (MgSBC-0.1) from anaerobic fermentation sludge treated with magnesium (Mg)-loading-modification, and compared it with unmodified sludge-based biochar (SBC). The physicochemical properties, adsorption efficiency, and adsorption mechanism of MgSBC-0.1 were studied. The results showed that the surface area of MgSBC-0.1 synthesized increased by 5.57 times. The material surface contained MgO, Mg(OH)2, and CaO nanoparticles. MgSBC-0.1 can effectively remove phosphate in the initial solution pH range of 3.00-7.00, with a fitted maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity of 379.52 mg·g-1. The adsorption conforms to the pseudo second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm adsorption curve. The characterization of the adsorbed composite material revealed the contribution of phosphorus crystal deposition and electrostatic attraction to phosphorus absorption.

Potential effects and mechanism of flavonoids extract of Callicarpa nudiflora Hook on DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Callicarpa nudiflora Hook (C. nudiflora) is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hemostatic ethnomedicine. To date, little has been reported regarding the activity of C. nudiflora against ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, we investigated the effect of a flavonoid extract of C. nudiflora on Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Mice in the treatment group (CNLF+DSS group) and drug-only (CNLF group) groups were administered 400 mg/kg of flavonoid extract of C. nudiflora leaf (CNLF), and drinking water containing 2.5 % DSS was given to the model and treatment groups. The symptoms of colitis were detected, relevant indicators were verified, intestinal barrier function was assessed, and the contents of the cecum were analyzed for intestinal microorganisms. The results showed that CNLF significantly alleviated the clinical symptoms and histological morphology of colitis in mice, inhibited the increase in pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IFN-γ), and increased the level of IL-10. The expression of NF-κB and MAPK inflammatory signal pathway-related proteins (p-p65, p-p38, p-ERK, p-JNK) was regulated. The expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, OCLDN, and CLDN1) was increased, while the content of D-LA, DAO, and LPS was decreased. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that CNLF restored the gut microbial composition, and increased the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae, Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, and Barnesiella_intestinihominis. In conclusion, CNLF alleviated colitis by suppressing inflammation levels, improving intestinal barrier integrity, and modulating the intestinal microbiota, and therefore has promising future applications in the treatment of UC.

Paeoniflorin attenuates cuproptosis and ameliorates left ventricular remodeling after AMI in hypobaric hypoxia environments.

This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of Paeoniflorin (PF) on left ventricular remodeling following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) under conditions of hypobaric hypoxia. Left ventricular remodeling post-AMI plays a pivotal role in exacerbating heart failure, especially at high altitudes. Using a rat model of AMI, the study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of PF under hypobaric hypoxia. Ninety male rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated controls under normoxia/hypobaria, an AMI model group, and a PF treatment group. PF was administered for 4 weeks after AMI induction. Left ventricular function was assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Biochemical assays of cuproptosis, oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were performed. Results demonstrated PF significantly improved left ventricular function and remodeling after AMI under hypobaric hypoxia. Mechanistically, PF decreased FDX1/DLAT expression and serum copper while increasing pyruvate. It also attenuated apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis by modulating Bcl-2, Bax, NLRP3, and oxidative stress markers. Thus, PF exhibits therapeutic potential for left ventricular remodeling post-AMI at high altitude by inhibiting cuproptosis, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to optimize dosage and duration and elucidate PF's mechanisms of action.

Vitamin D delays intervertebral disc degeneration and improves bone quality in ovariectomized rats.

Known to be involved in bone-cartilage metabolism, Vitamin D (VD) may play a role in human's disc pathophysiology. Given that postmenopausal women are prone to suffer VD deficiency and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), this study is intended to investigate whether VD can delay IDD in ovariectomized rats by improving bone microstructure and antioxidant stress. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: sham, oophorectomy (OVX)+VD deficiency (VDD), OVX, and OVX+VD supplementation (VDS). In vivo, after a 6-month intervention, imaging and pathology slice examinations showed that IDD induced by OVX was significantly alleviated in VDS and deteriorated by VDD. The expressions of aggrecan and Collagen II in intervertebral disc were reduced by OVX and VDD, and elevated by VDS. Compared with the OVX+VDD and OVX group vertebrae, OVX+VDS group vertebrae showed significantly improved endplate porosity and lumbar bone mineral density with increased percent bone volume and trabecular thickness. Furthermore, 1α,25(OH)2D3 restored the redox balance (total antioxidant capacity, ratio of oxidized glutathione/glutathione) in the disc. The cocultivation of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) was conducted to observe its potential ability to resist excessive oxidative stress damage induced by H2O2. In vitro experiments revealed that 1α,25(OH)2D3 reduced the senescence, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation induced by H2O2 in NPCs. In conclusion, VDS exhibits protective effects in OVX-induced IDD, partly by regulating the redox balance and preserving the microstructure of endplate. This finding provides a new idea for the prevention and treatment of IDD.

Monitoring the dynamic changes in aroma during the whole processing of Qingzhuan tea at an industrial scale: From fresh leaves to finished tea.

Aroma is one of the most outstanding quality characteristics of Qingzhuan tea (QZT), but its formation is still unclear. Thus, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the whole processing of QZT were investigated by headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Based on 144 identified VOCs, the results showed that de-enzyming, sun-drying, and piling fermentation were the key processes of QZT aroma formation. Furtherly, 42 differential VOCs (VIP > 1.0 and p < 0.05) and 16 key VOCs (rOAV > 1.0 and/or ROAV > 1.0) were screened. Especially, sulcatone and ß-ionone (rOAV > 100 and ROAV > 10) were considered the most important contributors to the aroma of QZT. The metabolisms of key VOCs were mainly involved in oxidative degradation of fatty acids, degradation of carotenoids, and methylation of gallic acid. This study could help to more comprehensively understand the aroma formation in QZT processing at an industrial scale.

[Heterocyclic compounds and phenolic glycosides from flowers of Dendrobium officinale].

Eight heterocyclic compounds and twelve phenolic glycosides were separated from the water extract of Dendrobium officinale flowers through chromatographic techniques, such as Diaion HP-20 macroporous adsorption resin column chromatography(CC), silica gel CC, ODS CC, Sephadex LH-20 CC, and preparative high performance liquid chromatography(PHPLC). According to the spectroscopic analyses(MS, ~1H-NMR, and ~(13)C-NMR) and optical rotation data, the compounds were identified as dendrofurfural A(1), 2'-deoxyadenosine(2), 4-[2-formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl] butanoic acid(3), 4-[2-formyl-5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl] butanoic acid(4), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde(5), 5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde(6), methyl 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furan-2-carboxylate(7),(S)-5-hydroxymethyl-5H-furan-2-one(8), 2-methoxyphenyl-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(9), arbutin(10), isotachioside(11), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenol-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(12), orcinol glucoside(13), tachioside(14), gastrodin(15), 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylvanillyl alcohol(16), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymethylphenol-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(17), icariside D_2(18), 4-formylphenyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside(19), and vanillin-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside(20). Among them, compound 1 is a new furfural benzyl alcohol condensate, with the skeleton first found in Dendrobium. Compounds 2-9, 11, 13, and 19 are reported from Dendrobium for the first time, and compounds 14 and 18 are reported for the first time from D. officinale. Compounds 11 and 14 showed moderate DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and compounds 11-14 demonstrated potent ABTS radical scavenging capacity, possessing antioxidant activity.

α-Ketoglutaric acid ameliorates intervertebral disk degeneration by blocking the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is the major cause of low back pain. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG), an important intermediate in energy metabolism, has various functions, including epigenetic regulation, maintenance of redox homeostasis, and antiaging, but whether it can ameliorate IVDD has not been reported. Here, we examined the impacts of long-term administration of α-KG on aging-associated IVDD in adult rats. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that α-KG supplementation effectively ameliorated IVDD in rats and the senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). α-KG supplementation significantly attenuated senescence, apoptosis, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) protein expression, and it increased the synthesis of aggrecan and collagen II in IL-1ß-treated NPCs. In addition, α-KG supplementation reduced the levels of IL-6, phosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3, and the nuclear translocation of p-STAT3 in IL-1ß-induced degenerating NPCs. The effects of α-KG were enhanced by AG490 in NPCs. The underlying mechanism may involve the inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation and the reduction of IL-6 expression. Our findings may help in the development of new therapeutic strategies for IVDD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Alpha-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG) exerted its protective effect on nucleus pulposus cells' (NPCs) degeneration by inhibiting the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and extracellular matrix degradation. The possible mechanism may be associated with negatively regulating the JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation and the decreased IL-6 expression, which could be explained by a blockage of the positive feedback control loop between IL-6 and JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

The basic chemical substances of total alkaloids of Menispermi Rhizoma and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Menispermi Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC. (Menispermaceae), which commonly used to treat sore throat, enteritis, and dysentery in traditional Chinese medicine. To clarify the chemical basis of the total alkaloids of M. Rhizoma, HPLC was used to analyze total alkaloids, and then representative chemical constituents were separated by tracking. Nineteen compounds, including two new alkaloids (1R-methymenidaurine A-α-N-oxide (1) and 1R-7'-hydroxymethyl-menidaurine A (2)), thirteen known alkaloids, and four known flavonoids were isolated and identified using spectroscopic methods. Meanwhile, seven characteristic peaks were identified from the total alkaloids using HPLC analysis. Furthermore, compounds 1-18 were screened in vitro for their inhibitory effect against nitric oxide production in BV-2 microglia cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Among them, six compounds showed weak inhibition, and the IC50 values of compounds 1 and 2 were 56.87 ± 1.61 and 53.67 ± 1.52 mM, respectively.

Effect of purple sweet potato-derived anthocyanins on heat stress response in Wenchang chickens and preliminary mechanism study.

This study was conducted to investigate the beneficial effect of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPA) on growth performance, oxidative status, immune response, intestinal morphology, and intestinal flora homeostasis in heat-stressed Wenchang chickens. A total of 100 Wenchang chickens (50-day-old) were randomly assigned to 5 groups, including the thermoneutral environment (TN) group (26°C); high-temperature stressed (HS) group (33°C ± 1°C); low-dose PSPA treatment (L_HS) group (8 mg/kg body weight, 33°C ± 1°C); medium-dose PSPA treatment (M_HS) group and high-dose PSPA treatment (H_HS) group (16 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg body weight, respectively, 33°C ± 1°C). The results showed that PSPA reversed the adverse effects of heat stress on growth performance, meat quality, and carcass characteristics. And the effect was associated with the concentration of PSPA partially. Heat stress increased the serum lipids of Wenchang chickens. LDL-C, TG, TC, and FFA in the serum were significantly decreased, and HDL-C and LPS in the serum were increased by PSPA treatment. The digestive enzymes in duodenal chyme were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by PSPA treatment. And PSPA treatment significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the redox status by improving antioxidant parameters (GSH-Px and SOD) and decreasing the MDA level in the serum and liver. Moreover, the level of inflammatory cytokines was significantly (P < 0.05) regulated by PSPA treatment compared to the HS group. The villus length and goblet cell numbers after PSPA treatment were significantly higher than HS group. Furthermore, PSPA also played protection on the intestine structure by decreasing the level of D-LA and DAO. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed the microbial composition was altered by PSPA, and Acetanaerobacterium and Oscillibacter were dominant in the H_HS group. Microbial functional prediction indicated that function pathways based on KEGG and metacyc database were regulated by PSPA, and intestinal flora correlated with metabolic function significantly. The spearman correlation analysis showed that Saccharibacteria and Clostridium_IV correlated with the serum lipids, antioxidant, and inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these findings suggest that PSPA has a positive effect against heat stress in poultry.

Effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine decoction for diabetic gastroparesis: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) is a prevalent complication of diabetes that impairs people's quality of life and places a significant financial burden on them. The gastrointestinal symptoms of DGP patients can be improved by several Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoctions that have been shown to be effective in treating the disease. There are still many unanswered questions regarding the identification of appropriate therapeutic agents for the treatment of DGP in clinical practice. AIM: To analyze the efficacy of several TCM decoctions in the treatment of DGP using Bayesian network meta-analysis for reference. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Kno-wledge Infrastructure, The China Biology Medicine DVD, Wanfang, and CQVIP were searched from inception to September 17, 2022, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TCM decoctions for DGP. Clinical effects and symptom scores were the primary outcomes. Additionally, we assessed motilin (MOT), somatostatin (SS), gastrin (GAS), gastric emptying rate, gastric emptying time, and adverse drug events as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 67 eligible RCTs involving 4790 DGP patients and 7 TCM decoctions were included. The results of network meta-analysis (NMA) and surface under the cumulative ranking curve showed that with western medicine (WM) as a common control, the Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXXD) + WM was most effective in clinical effects and enhancing early satiety scores; the Simo decoction (SMD) + WM was most effective in improving nausea and vomiting scores and anorexia scores, bloating scores; the Chaishao Liujunzi Decoction (CSLJD) was most effective in MOT, the Zhishi Xiaopi Decoction (ZSXPD) was most effective in SS and upgrading emptying rate; the Jianpi Xiaozhi Decoction was most effective in GAS; the CSLJD + WM was most effective in improving gastric emptying time. CONCLUSION: These NMA results suggest that the BXXD + WM and SMD + WM may be one of the potential optimal treatments. Due to various limitations, further large-sample, double-blind, multi-center randomized RCTs are needed.

GC-MS and LC-MS/MS metabolomics revealed dynamic changes of volatile and non-volatile compounds during withering process of black tea.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive HF-X mass spectrometer (UHPLC-Q-Exactive HF/MS) were carried out to reveal dynamic changes of volatile and non-volatile compounds during the withering process of black tea. A total of 118 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 648 metabolites were identified in fresh and withered tea-leaves, respectively. Among them, 47 VOCs (OAV > 1.0) for the aroma formation, and 46 characteristic metabolites (VIP > 1.50, p < 0.01) selected through orthonormal partial least squares-discriminant analysis, indicated the withering contribution during black tea processing. Overall, the withering promoted alcohols, aldehydes, phenols, heterocyclic oxygen, hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons through relevant hydrolyzation, decomposition, terpene synthesis, and O-methylation. The hydrolyzation, O-methylation, condensation and N-acylation of kaempferol glycosides, quercetin glycosides, ester catechins, and gallic acid generated the accumulation of methoxyl flavonoids and flavonoid glucosides, dihydrokaempferol, syringic acid, theaflavins, and N-acylated amino acids, respectively.

Correlation between serum vitamin D level and glucose and lipid metabolism among primary and middle school students in Inner Mongolia / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the correlation between serum vitamin D level and glucose and lipid metabolism among primary and middle school students in Inner Mongolia, so as to providing a scientific basis for guiding rational vitamin D supplementation among primary and middle school students in Inner Mongolia Region.@*Methods@#A total of 2 206 students of primary and middle school students from 8 counties (districts) in Inner Mongolia were enrolled for a questionnaire survey, physical examination, and laboratory test by a multi stage stratified random sampling approach.The levels of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and other related indexes with different vitamin D levels were analyzed, and their correlation was further discussed.@*Results@#The deficiency and insufficiency rates of vitamin D among primary and middle school students were 33.2% and 42.8%, respectively, and the suitable rate was 24.0%. The body mass index (BMI) and waist height ratio (WHtR) of the vitamin D deficiency group [(22.87±7.41) kg/m 2 , 0.46±0.08)]were higher than the insufficiency [(20.59±8.00)kg/m 2, 0.44±0.09)] and suitable group [(18.01±7.38)kg/m 2, 0.43 ±0.08)] ( P <0.05). Compared with the vitamin D suitable group [(3.87±0.85) mmol/L], the total cholesterol (TC) level in the deficiency group [(3.73±0.67)mmol/L] decreased, with a statistically significant difference ( P <0.05). The levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL) in the vitamin D insufficiency[(1.40±0.33)mmol/L] and deficiency groups [(1.34±0.31)mmol/L] were lower than the suitable group [(1.48±0.34)mmol/L], with a statistically significant difference ( P <0.05). The detection rate of hyperuricemia (HUA) in the vitamin D deficiency group (22.95%) was higher than the suitable group (17.20%), with a statistically significant difference ( P <0.016 7). Pearson correlation analysis showed that vitamin D was negatively correlated with BMI and WHtR ( r =-0.23, -0.11), and positively correlated with TC and HDL level ( r =0.06, 0.16) ( P <0.05).@*Conclusions@#The deficiency and insufficiency rates of serum vitamin D among primary and middle school students in Inner Mongolia are high which are associated with several indicators of blood lipids. Therefore, it is recommended to supplement vitamin D preparations in moderation in daily life.

Association Between Poor Nutritional Status and Increased Risk for Subsequent Vertebral Fracture in Elderly People with Percutaneous Vertebroplasty.

Background: The relationship between a poor nutritional state and the risk of fractures has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the ability of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) to predict the incidence of subsequent vertebral fracture (SVF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). Methods: A total of 307 women and 138 men over 50 years old who underwent PVP for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) were included. Blood biochemical indexes, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), physical function, and muscle strength were measured at baseline. Cox regression analysis was used to determine whether nutritional state was an independent predictor for SVF. Results: During follow-up, 35 (25.4%) men and 85 (27.7%) women suffered SVF. Patients with SVF had lower BMI, serum albumin levels, GNRI scores, grip strength, lumbar BMD, and Short-Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores and higher fall rates and CONUT scores (P < 0.05). Compared with normal nutrition, mild malnutrition was associated with higher risk for SVF (women: HR 2.37, p=0.001, men: HR 2.97, p=0.021 by GNRI; women: HR 2.36, p=0.005, men: HR 3.62, p=0.002 by CONUT) after adjusting for confounding factors. Those with moderate-severe malnutrition also had a higher risk of SVF. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that poor nutrition state was significantly associated with lower SVF-free survival (P<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) for predicting SVF was 0.65 and 0.73 for the GNRI and 0.67 and 0.66 for the CONUT in men and women, respectively. Conclusion: GNRI and CONUT are simple and effective tools for predicting SVF in patients undergoing PVP. Health management and nutrition supplement after PVP is a potentially effective prevention strategy against SVF.

Microbial community succession in the fermentation of Qingzhuan tea at various temperatures and their correlations with the quality formation.

With the aim to reveal the microbial community succession at various temperatures in the fermentation of Qingzhuan tea (QZT), the Illumina NovaSeq sequencing was carried out to analyze bacterial and fungal community structure in tea samples collected from the fermentation set at various temperatures, i.e., 25 °C, 30 °C, 37 °C, 45 °C, 55 °C, and room temperature. The results showed that fermentation temperature profoundly affected the microbial community succession in the QZT fermentation. Microbial richness and community diversity decreased along with the increase of fermentation temperature. Despite the differences between microorganisms and their metabolic types among various temperatures, most bacteria and fungi showed positive correlations at the genera level. Klebsiella, Paenibacillus, Cohnella, and Pantoea were confirmed as the main bacterial genera, and Aspergillus and Cyberlindnera were the main fungal genera in QZT fermentation. The microbial genera (i.e. Aspergillus, Rhizomucor, Thermomyces, Ralstonia, Castellaniella, and Vibrio) were positively correlated with fermentation temperature (P < 0.05), while Klebsiella, Paenibacillus, and Aspergillus had good adaptability at different temperatures. Conversely, Pantoea and Cyberlindnera were only suitable for low temperature (≤37 °C) growth, and Thermomyces was only suitable for high temperature (>37 °C) growth. Aspergillus had a significant positive correlation with tea aroma quality (r = 0.64, p < 0.05). This study would help to understand the formation mechanism of QZT from microflora perspective.

[Influence of Optimal Land Use Allocation on Phosphorus Loss in the Process of Rainfall and Runoff].

In order to explore the impact of optimized land use allocation on phosphorus loss in the runoff process of a small watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, a traditional agricultural model catchment area (CG) and a catchment area after optimized land use allocation in the Shipanqiu watershed in Zhong County, Chongqing (EG) were selected as the research object, sampling at the outlets of the two catchment areas, respectively, to monitor the runoff process and different forms of phosphorus in rainfall events and to analyze the influence of land use configuration on the law of phosphorus loss. The results showed that:① in the 10 monitored rainfall and runoff processes, the ρ[total phosphorus (TP)] of EG was lower than that of CG, and the ranges of the two were 0.09-0.75 mg·L-1 and 0.13-2.82 mg·L-1, respectively. Compared with that of CG, EG significantly reduced the peak value of TP. ② The average EMC of TP, total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) in the process of rainfall and runoff was lower than that of CG, and EG and CG showed significant differences in EMC of TP, TDP, and DIP (P<0.05); the main form of phosphorus loss in the two catchment areas in the process of rainfall and runoff was TDP, but the average TDP/TP of EG was larger. ③ The output load of EG was 45%, 43%, 57%, and 47% lower than that of the TP, TDP, DIP, and PP in CG. The output load of EG and CG of various forms of phosphorus was significantly correlated with the total runoff (P<0.01). In addition, the slope of the linear fitting of various phosphorus forms in the CG catchment area to the total amount of runoff was 1.66 to 1.75 times that of EG. The output load of various phosphorus forms of CG was more sensitive to runoff than that of EG, and the output per unit area in the process of rainfall and runoff was more sensitive than that of EG. The amount of sand could have caused the difference in phosphorus concentration and output load more than the output per unit area. Optimizing land use configuration can effectively reduce the loss of various forms of phosphorus and provide a reference for the prevention and control of phosphorus loss in small watersheds in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

The Biological Activity of 3-O-Acetyl-11-keto-ß-Boswellic Acid in Nervous System Diseases.

Frankincense is a hard gelatinous resin exuded by Boswellia serrata. It contains a complex array of components, of which acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid of the resin class, is the main active component. AKBA has a variety of physiological actions, including anti-infection, anti-tumor, and antioxidant effects. The use of AKBA for the treatment of mental diseases has been documented as early as ancient Greece. Recent studies have found that AKBA has anti-aging and other neurological effects, suggesting its potential for the treatment of neurological diseases. This review focuses on nervous system-related diseases, summarizes the functions and mechanisms of AKBA in promoting nerve repair and regeneration after injury, protecting against ischemic brain injury and aging, inhibiting neuroinflammation, ameliorating memory deficits, and alleviating neurotoxicity, as well as having anti-glioma effects and relieving brain edema. The mechanisms by which AKBA functions in different diseases and the relationships between dosage and biological effects are discussed in depth with the aim of increasing understanding of AKBA and guiding its use for the treatment of nervous system diseases.

Unique BiFeO3/g-C3N4 mushroom heterojunction with photocatalytic antibacterial and wound therapeutic activity.

Bacterial infections have become a major problem threatening public health, and it is of great significance to treat wound infections in biological systems caused by bacteria. However, traditionally used bacteriostatic agents usually cause additional pollution. Herein a mushroom-shaped clean and Green BiFeO3/g-C3N4 composite is employed for the first time for photocatalytic antibacterial activity and for the further promotion of wound healing. The ratio between BiFeO3 and g-C3N4 was delicately regulated to control the generated amount of ˙OH and ˙O2- by catalyzing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under illumination. Results show that 10%BFO/CN demonstrates the best performance for ˙OH and ˙O2- production, resulting in the highest antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. aureus. In addition, the catalytic mechanism of BiFeO3/g-C3N4 towards antibacterial activity is disclosed by a combination of ESR monitoring and analysis of the Mott-Schottky diagram. Furthermore, in vivo experiments prove that 10%BFO/CN can effectively promote anti-infection and wound healing in nude mice. This work sheds deep scientific insight on the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and photo-Fenton degradation as well as their application in antibacterial and wound therapeutic activity.

The basic chemical substances of three medicinal parts from Rhododendron molle G. Don.

Rhododendron Molle G. Don belongs to Ericaceae family. As a toxic traditional Chinese medicine, its roots, flowers, and fruit are often mixed and substituted arbitrarily to treat rheumatoid arthritis in clinic. To clarify the main chemical basis of each medicinal part, and provide sufficient scientific basis for clinical application, analysis using HPLC-ELSD of the roots, flowers, and fruit from R. molle was established, and characteristic chemical constituents of them were separated by tracking. The structures were determined by NMR methods. Finally, 16, 21, and 18 compounds were obtained from the roots, flowers, and fruit, respectively. Overall, 49 compounds were obtained, of which 25 were identified for the first time in R. molle. Meanwhile, among the obtained compounds, 12, 11, and 6 characteristic peaks were identified from the roots, flowers, and fruit, respectively. Thus, the basic chemical substances of the medicinal parts of R. molle were determined initially.

A 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase converts dihydrofuran to furan in Salvia diterpenoids.

Tanshinone ⅡA (TⅡA), a diterpene quinone with a furan ring, is a bioactive compound found in the medicinal herb redroot sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge), in which both furan and dihydrofuran analogs are present in abundance. Progress has been made recently in elucidating the tanshinone biosynthetic pathway, including heterocyclization of the dihydrofuran D-ring by cytochrome P450s; however, dehydrogenation of dihydrofuran to furan, a key step of furan ring formation, remains uncharacterized. Here, by differential transcriptome mining, we identified six 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) genes whose expressions corresponded to tanshinone biosynthesis. We showed that Sm2-ODD14 acts as a dehydrogenase catalyzing the furan ring aromatization. In vitro Sm2-ODD14 converted cryptotanshinone to TⅡA and thus was designated TⅡA synthase (SmTⅡAS). Furthermore, SmTⅡAS showed a strict substrate specificity, and repression of SmTⅡAS expression in hairy root by RNAi led to increased accumulation of total dihydrofuran-tanshinones and decreased production of furan-tanshinones. We conclude that SmTⅡAS controls the metabolite flux from dihydrofuran- to furan-tanshinones, which influences medicinal properties of S. miltiorrhiza.

Evaluation of the Anti-Aging Effects of a Probiotic Combination Isolated From Centenarians in a SAMP8 Mouse Model.

Population aging is a prominent global problem in today's society. However, there are currently no good methods to treat or prevent aging, so anti-aging research has crucial implications. In this research, we screened bacteria from centenarians, and finally selected four probiotics (Lactobacillus fermentum SX-0718, L. casei SX-1107, Bifidobacterium longum SX-1326, and B. animalis SX-0582) to form a probiotic combination. By using the senescence accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) model, the anti-aging effects of the probiotic combination were evaluated by using behavioural testing, neuroinflammation, intestinal inflammation, and intestinal microbiota. The results showed that probiotic combination improved the impaired spatial memory, motor dysfunction, and decreased exploratory behavior in aging mice. The probiotic combination inhibited Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)-induced neuroinflammation and up-regulated the expression of Sirt 1 to protect hippocampal neurons. At the same time, the probiotic combination regulated the intestinal microbiota, reduced the relative abundance of Alistipes and Prevotella in SAMP8 mice, inhibited TLR4/NFκB-induced intestinal inflammation, and increased the expression of intestinal permeability related proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occuldin. The anti-aging effects of the probiotic combination may be through the regulating intestinal microbiota and inhibiting TLR4/NFκB-induced inflammation. This research provides the basis and technical support for the future production and application of the probiotic combination.