Biomimetic nanoprodrugs from fatty acid modified camptothecin and albumin for enhanced pharmacotherapy.

Design of nanovectors inspired by nature is a short cut to improve the efficacy and bioavailability of chemotherapeutic agents, while reduce the toxicity. In this work, strongly hydrophobic camptothecin (CPT) was modified with different chain length of fatty acid (C4, C9 and C18) to synthesize CPT4C, CPT9C and CPT18C, respectively. CPT4C, CPT9C and CPT18C could complex with human serum albumin (HSA) readily to prepare CPT4C-HSA, CPT9C-HSA and CPT18C-HSA nanoagents. In vitro MTT assays demonstrated CPT18C-HSA possessed the highest cell killing capacity, due to the elevated cellular uptake that resulted from albumin-mediated transportation. In vivo tumor inhibition experiments verified that CPT18C-HSA had the most remarkable antitumor efficiency with distinctly lowered physiological toxicity. It could be used in large doses without obvious side effects. We believe this albumin-mediated transportation mode has great potential for efficient delivery of hydrophobic and/or physiologically unstable drugs.

Relationship Among Physical Literacy, Mental Health, and Resilience in College Students.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to examine the relationship among physical literacy, mental health, and resilience in college students. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study. Participants (N = 5,265; 46.6% males) completed perceived physical literacy instruments, mental health continuum short forms, and the 12-item child and youth resilience measures. Mediation models were applied to explore the association among three concepts. Results: Physical literacy, resilience, and mental health were significantly linked with each other. In the mediation model, the direct effect of physical literacy on mental health was 0.49. The indirect effect of physical literacy on mental health through the mediation of resilience was 0.97. The mediating effect of resilience accounts for 66.30% of the total effect, indicating the partial mediating effect of resilience in the relationship between physical literacy and mental health. In more detailed models, resilience was found to mediate the relationship between physical literacy and social and psychological wellbeing, accounting for 61.02% and 56.92% of the total effect, respectively. In addition, resilience acted as full mediator in the relationship between physical literacy and emotional wellbeing (>100%). These findings suggest that physical literacy increases mental health by improving resilience. Conclusions: This is the first time to connect physical literacy with mind factors. The mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between physical literacy and mental health was found. Our findings support the development of physical literacy in universities as part of a holistic approach to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of undergraduates. This study provides a new perspective for the development of large-scale interventions in the health of body and mind in college students.

Biotic shortcut deselenization coupled to abiotic sulfide oxidation enabled pollutants co-removal and products recovery.

Selenate and sulfide are both contaminants which severely pollute water bodies. Respective bioremediation of selenate- and sulfide-contaminated wastewaters requires abundant electron donors and acceptors. Here, we present a novel concept coupling biological selenate to selenite (shortcut deselenization) and chemical sulfide-driven selenite reduction, to remove multiple pollutants simultaneously. Vial tests showed that shortcut deselenization could save at least two thirds of operation time and one third of carbon source, compared to the complete deselenization to elemental selenium. Subsequent co-removal of sulfide and selenite was optimized at reaction pH of ∼10 and reactant molar ratio of ∼4. Using a newly-designed continuous flow system, >95% removal of both selenate and sulfide was achieved by coupling shortcut deselenization to sulfide oxidation. A series of characterization tools revealed that the final collected precipitates were comprised of high-purity hexagonal selenium (97.4%, wt) and inconsiderable sulfur (2.6%, wt). Superior over selenate-reducing solutions generally producing selenium mixed with reagents or microorganisms, the selenium products generated here were highly purified thus very favorable for further recovery and reuse. Overall, this proof-of-concept study provided a promising technology not only for co-removal of multiple pollutants, but also for substantial costs saving, as well as for valuable products recovery.

Structures of fructan and galactan from Polygonatum cyrtonema and their utilization by probiotic bacteria.

Polygonatum cyrtonema is a known tonic herb in Chinese Materia Medica, extensively consumed in China, but the structure and activity of its polysaccharide components remain to be clarified. Herein, two new polysaccharides (a fructan and a galactan) were purified from the dried and the processed P. cyrtonema rhizome, respectively. Structural analysis suggested that the fructan consisted of a (2 â†’ 6) linked ß-d-Fruf residues backbone with an internal α-d-Glcp residue and two (2 â†’ 1) linked ß-d-Fruf residues branches, and that the galactan was a (1 â†’ 4)-ß-d-galactan branched with a single ß-d-galactose at C-6 at about every nine residues in its main chain. The bioactive assay showed that the fructan and the galactan remarkably promoted growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains, indicating that they possess prebiotic activity. These findings may help expand the application of the polysaccharides from the tonic herb P. cyrtonema as functional ingredients in food products.

Huangyusang decoction for Type 2 diabetes: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction. In China, Huangyusang decoction (HYS) has been widely used to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, there is no systematic review found. In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HYS in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, we need to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic evaluation. METHODS: We will enroll the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness and safety of HYS in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Data come mainly from 4 Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, and VIP Database) and 4 English databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of science). The enrollment of RCTs is from the starting date of database establishment till January 30, 2021. Fasting blood glucose is considered as the main indicator of the dyslipidemia, while the body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol are regarded as the secondary indicators. There are safety indicators including liver enzyme and kidney function. The work such as selection of literature, data collection, quality evaluation of included literature, and assessment of publication bias will be conducted by 2 independent researchers. Meta-analysis will be performed by RevMan 5.0 software. RESULTS: This study will provide high-quality evidence for the effectiveness and safety of HYS in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: The results of the study will help us determine whether HYS can effectively treat type 2 diabetes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study does not require ethical approval. We will disseminate our findings by publishing results in a peer-reviewed journal. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/AXBRV.