Properties and Fungal Communities of Different Soils for Growth of the Medicinal Asian Water Plantain, Alisma orientale, in Fujian, China.

The Asian water plantain, Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. The dried tubers of the Alisma orientale, commonly referred to as Alismatis rhizome (AR), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Soil properties and the soil microbial composition are known to affect the quality and bioactivity of plants. Here, we sought to identify variations in soil fungal communities and soil properties to determine which would be optimal for cultivation of A. orietale. Soil properties, heavy metal content, and pesticide residues were determined from soils derived from four different agricultural regions around Shaowu City, Fujian, China, that had previously been cultivated with various crops, namely, Shui Dao Tu (SDT, rice), Guo Shu Tu (GST, pecan), Cha Shu Tu (CST, tea trees), and Sang Shen Tu (SST, mulberry). As fungi can either positively or negatively impact plant growth, the fungal communities in the different soils were characterized using long-read PacBio sequencing. Finally, we examined the quality of A. orientale grown in the different soils. Our results show that fungal community diversity of the GST soil was the highest with saprotrophs the main functional modes in these and SDT soils. Our data show that GST and SDT soils were most suitable for A. orientale growth, with the quality of the AR tubers harvested from GST soil being the highest. These data provide a systematic approach at soil properties of agricultural lands in need of replacement and/or rotating crops. Based on our findings, GST was identified as the optimal soil for planting A. orientale, providing a new resource for local farmers.

Treatment of gastric ulcer, traditional Chinese medicine may be a better choice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gastric ulcer (GU) is the injury of the gastric mucosa caused by the stimulation of various pathogenic factors penetrating the deep mucosal muscle layer. An increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is highly effective in treating GU due to its multitarget, multilevel, and multi-pathway effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: To review the latest research progress in the treatment of GU by TCM, including clinical and experimental studies, focusing on the target and mechanism of action of drugs and providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of GU by natural herbs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic databases (PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Web of Science, and CNKI) were searched using the keywords "gastric ulcer", "gastric mucosal lesion", "TCM" and or paired with "peptic ulcer" and "natural drugs" for studies published in the last fifteen years until 2023. RESULTS: TCM, including single components of natural products, Chinese patent medicines (CPM), and TCM decoction, is expected to treat GU by regulating various mechanisms, such as redox balance, inflammatory factors, angiogenesis, gastric mucosal protective factors, intestinal flora, apoptosis, and autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: We discussed and summarized the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of GU, which provided a sufficient basis for TCM treatment of GU.

Xiangshao Decoction alleviates gastric mucosal injury through NRF2 signaling pathway and reduces neuroinflammation in gastric ulcer rats.

BACKGROUND: A type of gastric mucosal injury disease known as gastric ulcer (GU) is clearly connected to the aberrant release of gastric acid. Traditional botanicals have the potential for anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and other multitarget therapies, as well as being safe. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effects of Xiangshao Decoction (XST) on gastric mucosal injury in GU rats and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: After identifying XST and its components, we established GU rats and cell models by acetic acid and H2O2 induction, respectively. SOD and MDA indexes in gastric tissues and GES-1 cells, and the serum levels of BDNF, ALT, and AST were detected with relevant kits, changes of the gastric mucosa were observed and recorded, and gastric tissue pathology was observed by H&E staining. The production of ROS in GES-1 cells was detected by fluorescent probes. Cell transfection techniques were used to silence or overexpress NRF2. The mRNA or protein expressions of NRF2, KEAP1, NQO1, HO-1, SOD2, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IBA1, GFAP, or γ-H2AX in the gastric tissue, hippocampus, or GES-1 cells were measured via qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, or immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The pH of gastric acid, ulcer score, and pathological damage score in GU rats could be reversed by XST administration. Expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in the gastric mucosal tissues and the hippocampus of GU rats after administration of XST were down. Expressions of NRF2, NQO1, HO-1, SOD2, etc. in the gastric mucosal tissues and BDNF in the hippocampus were up-regulated. The production of ROS and MDA and the expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and KEAP1 in H2O2-induced GES-1 cells were significantly reduced after XST intervention, while the activities of SOD and the expression of NRF2, NQO1, HO-1, and SOD2 were significantly increased, and these could be blocked by silencing NRF2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: XST can improve oxidative stress injury and inflammatory response in GU rats and cell models, and its mechanism is mediated by the NRF2 signaling pathway.

Effects of the Probiotic Psychrobacter sp. B6 on the Growth, Digestive Enzymes, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Resistance of Exopalaemon carinicauda to Aeromonas hydrophila.

Probiotics, known to improve the water quality and the host's intestinal microbial balance, has gained more and more attention in recent years. The effects of Psychrobacter sp. B6 on the growth and immunity of Exopalaemon carinicauda were investigated in this study. Psychrobacter sp. B6 was sprayed to the basal diet with four different levels (0 [basal diet], 5 × 105, 5 × 107, and 5 × 109 CFU/100 g diet) and were fed to E. carinicauda (average weight 1.15 ± 0.04 g) for 30 days. At the end of the feeding trial, shrimps were immersed in seawater contaminated with 106 CFU/mL pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila for 2 h and then the cumulative mortality was calculated after 14 days observation. The results showed that the weight gain rate, survival rate, and specific growth rate of E. carinicauda were significantly increased with the increasing dietary level of Psychrobacter sp. B6. The activities of digestive enzymes (α-amylase and chymotrypsin) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the groups fed with Psychrobacter sp. B6, and the highest activities of digestive enzymes were detected in the 5 × 109 CFU/100 g diet group. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) in probiotics treated shrimp were significantly higher than those in the control shrimp, with the highest activity in 5 × 109 and 5 × 107 CFU/100 g diet group separately. At the same time, the activities of immune-related enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme) were significantly affected by the dietary B6 content, and the highest activity of immune-related enzymes was found in shrimps fed with 5 × 107 CFU/100 g diet. The relative expression levels of CTL (C-type lectin), MBL (mannose-binding lectin), SPI (serine protease inhibitor), and ProPo (prophenoloxidase) in hepatopancreas of E. carinicauda with 5 × 109 CFU/100 g diet were significantly higher than those in the control. Moreover, cumulative mortality (22.22%) post-challenge with A. hydrophila was the lowest in 5 × 109 CFU/100 g diet. The results suggested that Psychrobacter sp. B6 could effectively promote the growth, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance of E. carinicauda. This study provided a reference for the study on the artificial breeding of E. carinicauda.

The first high resolution PAH record of industrialization over the past 200 years in Liaodong Bay, northeastern China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are excellent tracers for fossil fuel combustion, natural fires and petroleum contamination, and have been widely used for reconstructing past wildfires and industrial activities at a variety of time scales. Here, for the first time, we obtain a high resolution (annual to decadal scale) record of PAHs from two parallel marine sediment cores from the Liaodong Bay, Northeastern China to reconstruct the industrial activities, spanning the past ∼ 200 years from 1815 to 2014. Our data indicate that PAH variations can be divided into four episodes: I) low (probably near background) PAHs from natural fires and domestic wood combustion during the pre-industrial period from 1815 to 1890; II) slightly increased (but with large fluctuations) PAH concentrations derived from intermittent warfare during the World War (1891-1945) and increased industrial activities after 1946 (1946-1965); III) a period of stagnation and, in some cases, reduction in PAHs during the "Cultural Revolution" (1966 to 1979); and IV) a rapid and persistent rise in PAHs post 1979 linked to fast economic development, with PAH concentrations doubled from 1979 to 2014. Changes in PAH distributions demonstrate major shifts in the dominant types of fuels over time from vegetation/wood, to coal and wood, followed by coal and petroleum (including vehicle emissions) over the past 200 years. We find that PAH records also show similar trend to domestic economy and the estimated regional Anthropocene CO2 emissions from industrial activities, suggesting sedimentary PAH fluxes could be used as an indirect and qualitative proxy to track the trend for regional anthropogenic CO2 emissions.

Cascade Tumor Therapy Platform for Sensitized Chemotherapy and Penetration Enhanced Photothermal Therapy.

As a stand-alone therapy strategy may not be sufficient for effective cancer treatment and a combination of chemotherapy with other therapies is a main trend in cancer treatment. A combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) is reported here to achieve the goal of cascade multistage cancer treatment. A thermally responsive amphiphilic copolymer is designed and then a CuS nanoparticles (NPs)-based carbon monoxide (CO) photoinduced release system and doxorubicin (Dox) are encapsulated to construct the nanomedicine. The large-sized nanomedicine can accumulate in tumors after long circulation in vivo and will generate heat to act as a photothermal therapeutic agent by near infrared (NIR) light. Moreover, synergically release of CO and Dox is achieved and acted as a sensitized chemotherapeutic agent. The combination of PTT and chemotherapy sensitization can effectively eliminate active tumor cells in the periphery of the tumor. CuS NPs are also released after the degradation of nanomedicine and small-sized CuS NPs possess better tumor penetration and achieve penetration-enhanced PTT by further NIR irradiation, thereby effectively eliminating tumor cells inside solid tumors. Hence, cascade multistage cancer treatment of "combined PTT and chemotherapy sensitization"-"penetration-enhanced PTT" is achieved, and tumor cells are comprehensively and effectively eliminated.

Research on the effects of soil petroleum pollution concentration on the diversity of natural plant communities along the coastline of Jiaozhou bay.

This study examines the 4 typical natural plant communities at the coastal waterfront of Jiaozhou Bay. Based on field survey and sampling, laboratory analysis, application of classical statistical methods and the requirements for urban ecological preservation and data restoration in IoT engineering technology, this study investigates the diversity pattern of the 4 natural plant communities, i.e. Phragmitesaustralis, Suaeda salsa, Setariaviridis and Conyzacanadensis, analyzes the characteristics of the petroleum pollution suffered by these 4 natural plant communities and the soil at the coastal waterfront of Jiaozhou Bay. By investigating the impact on the natural regulation ability of the natural ecosystem, species and habitat, this study provides the basis for protection of the natural plant communities in the petroleum polluted area and for the design of plants arrangement in ecological restoration in the site and provides the support for application of IoT technology in urban ecosystem establishment and urban ecological restoration. Findings: (1) During investigation of 30 quadrats of the plant communities in the petroleum polluted area at coastal waterfront of Qingdao, 74 plant species have been discovered.They belong to 12 families, where Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae and Compositae are dominant families and account for 9.09%, 20.45% and 38.63% respectively; Phragmitesaustralis, Suaeda salsa, Conyza canadensis and Setariaviridis communities are all herbosa, their species composition is quite simplex and most of them are in monodominant community patch; (2) The Conyzacanadensis community has the largest Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Patrick richness index and Simpson dominance index, which are 2.115, 1.930 and 1.228 respectively; in terms Pielou evenness index, the rank is Phragmitesaustralis > Conyzacanadensis > Setariaviridis > Suaeda salsa, which are 1.056, 0.907, 0.877 and 0.661; (3) According to the result of data analysis, the petroleum polluted area at coastal waterfront of Jiaozhou Bay has average total salt content 0.626%, average PH 8.067 and average petroleum hydrocarbons content 69.306 mg/kg.According to the result of difference examination of different plant communities, the total salt, PH and petroleum hydrocarbons content in the soil at the coastal waterfront Jiaozhou Bay are the main factors that affect the distribution of plant communities in that area (P < 0.05), and the petroleum hydrocarbons content in the soil has significant impact on the distribution of the communities (P < 0.01).(4) In this study, the petroleum hydrocarbon tolerance degrees of the 4 typical tolerant plant communities are ranked as Conyzacanadensis > Suaeda salsa > Setariaviridis > Phragmitesaustralis.In the soil environment with light (Level Ⅰ) and severe (Level Ⅳ) petroleum hydrocarbon pollution, the indexes of Suaeda salsa and Conyzacanadensis are optimal among the communities; the indexes of Phragmitesaustralis and Setariaviridis are optimal in the soil environment with Level Ⅱ and Level Ⅲ petroleum hydrocarbon pollution and can grow better in that environment.

Ionic response of algal-bacterial granular sludge system during biological phosphorus removal from wastewater.

Biological phosphorus removal (BPR) from wastewater can be generally realized through alternative non-aeration and aeration operation to create anaerobic and aerobic conditions respectively for P release and uptake/accumulation by polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), with P removal finally achieved by controlled discharge of P-rich sludge. In this study, the response of algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AB-AGS) during BPR to main ions including Ac- (acetate), Cl-, SO42-, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Na+ in wastewater was investigated with conventional bacterial AGS (B-AGS) as control and acetate as the sole carbon source. Results show that BPR process mainly involved the changes of Ac-, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ rather than Cl-, SO42-, NH4+ and Na+. The mole ratio of ΔP/ΔAc kept almost unchanged during the non-aeration (P release) phase in both B-AGS and AB-AGS systems (ΔPB-AGS/ΔAcB-AGS > ΔPAB-AGS/ΔAcAB-AGS), and it was negatively influenced by the light in AB-AGS systems, in which 62% of acetate was not utilized for P release at the high illuminance of 81 k lux. During the entire non-aeration/aeration period, both ΔK/ΔP and ΔMg/ΔP remained constant, while ΔKAB-AGS/ΔPAB-AGS > ΔKB-AGS/ΔPB-AGS and ΔMgAB-AGS/ΔPAB-AGS ≈ ΔMgB-AGS/ΔPB-AGS. The presence of algae seemed not beneficial for PAOs to remove P, while more K+ and P uptake by algae in AB-AGS suggest its great potential for manufacturing biofertilizer.

Landscape evaluation and plant allocation research of petroleum polluted coastal plant communities in Jiaozhou Bay of China.

The plant community is the basic landscape unit of the coastal green space. The study of the oil-contaminated coastal green space plant community has an important role in improving the landscape quality and aesthetics of the coastal green space. This article takes the oil pollution shoreline of Jiaozhou Bay as an entry point to build a plant community landscape evaluation model, analyzes and evaluates the most scenic plant community types in the coastal area of Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay in order to provide scientific basis for the plant community landscape configuration along the oil polluted coastline of Jiaozhou Bay, and provide reference for the evaluation and construction of plant community landscape in other cities.

Cinnamaldehyde Ameliorates Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Mice by Activating Nrf2.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is known to be associated with the development of diabetes. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a spice compound in cinnamon that enhances the antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which has been shown to have a cardioprotection effect. However, the relationship between CA and Nrf2 in diabetic vascular complications remains unclear. METHODS: Leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice were fed normal chow or diet containing 0.02% CA for 12 weeks. The vascular tone, blood pressure, superoxide level, nitric oxide (NO) production, renal morphology, and function were measured in each group. RESULTS: CA remarkably inhibited ROS generation, preserved NO production, increased phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS), attenuated the upregulation of nitrotyrosine, P22 and P47 in aortas of db/db mice, and apparently ameliorated the elevation of type IV collagen, TGF-ß1, P22, and P47 in kidney of db/db mice. Feeding with CA improved endothelium-dependent relaxation of aortas and mesenteric arteries, and alleviated the remodeling of mesenteric arteries in db/db mice. Additionally, dietary CA ameliorated glomerular fibrosis and renal dysfunction in diabetic mice. Nrf2 and its targeted genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) were slightly increased in db/db mice and further upregulated by CA. However, these protective effects of CA were reversed in Nrf2 downregulation mice. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged diet of CA protects against diabetic vascular dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress through activating of Nrf2 signaling pathway in db/db mice.

Molecular Antenna-Sensitized Upconversion Nanoparticle for Temperature Monitored Precision Photothermal Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Photothermal therapy with accurate and real-time temperature detection is desired in clinic. Upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) are candidate materials for simultaneous temperature detection and photothermal agents carrying. However, the weak luminescence and multiple laser excitations of UCNs limit their application in thermal therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+,Nd3+, PL-PEG-NH2, IR-806 and folic acid are selected as structural components. A nanoprobe (NP) integrated with efficient photothermal conversion and sensitive temperature detection capabilities is synthesized for precise photothermal therapy. The probes are based on near-infrared upconversion nanocrystals doped with Yb, Er and Nd ions, which can be excited by 808 nm light. IR-806 dye molecules are modified on the surface as molecular antennas to strongly absorb near-infrared photons for energy transfer and conversion. RESULTS: The results show that under an 808 nm laser irradiation upconversion luminescence of the nanocrystals is enhanced based on both the Nd ion absorption and the FRET energy transfer of IR-806. The luminescence ratio at 520 and 545 nm is calculated to accurately monitor the temperature of the nanoparticles. The temperature of the nanoprobes increases significantly through energy conversion of the molecular antennas. The nanoparticles are found successfully distributed to tumor cells and tumor tissue due to the modification of the biocompatible molecules on the surface. Tumor cells can be killed efficiently based on the photothermal effect of the NPs. Under the laser irradiation, temperature at mouse tumor site increases significantly, tissue necrosis and tumor cell death can be observed. CONCLUSION: Precision photothermal therapy can thus be achieved by highly efficient near-infrared light absorption and accurate temperature monitoring, making it promising for tumor treatment, as well as the biological microzone temperature detection.

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysate of cottonseed protein supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs in Thailand.

This study investigated the effects of enzymatic hydrolysate of cottonseed protein (EHCP) supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs in Thailand. A total of 180 newly weaned piglets were randomly allocated to 3 groups with 6 replicates in each group and 10 piglets per replicate. Nursery pigs were fed three diets containing 0, 1%, and 1.5% EHCP for 28-63 days of age. The results indicated that 1% EHCP supplementation increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed conversion rate (FCR) in the numerical, suggesting that appropriate EHCP supplementation could numerically improve growth performance of nursery pigs in Thailand. Moreover, 1% EHCP supplementation significantly decreased intestinal crypt depth and diarrhea incidence and increased intestinal villus height to crypt depth ratio and fecal consistency, suggesting that optimum EHCP supplementation could improve intestinal morphology and decreased diarrhea incidence of nursery pigs in Thailand. Furthermore, 1% EHCP supplementation significantly improved intestinal glutathione (GSH) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and indicated that optimal EHCP supplementation could improve intestinal antioxidant capacity of nursery pigs in Thailand. Optimum EHCP supplementation numerically increased growth, significantly decreased diarrhea incidence, significantly improved intestinal morphology and antioxidant capacity of nursery pig in Thailand.

Stability and performance of algal-bacterial granular sludge in shaking photo-sequencing batch reactors with special focus on phosphorus accumulation.

The granular stability, nutrients removal and phosphorus (P) accumulation of algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was examined by using shaking photoreactors (at a fixed light/dark cycle of 12 h/12 h). During the 25 days' operation, algal-bacterial AGS possessed good granular integrity (8.4 ±â€¯0.6%), and excellent removals of dissolved organic carbon (94.8 ±â€¯1.6%) and total nitrogen (71.1 ±â€¯3.3%). More extracellular proteins (153.7 ±â€¯2.3 mg/g) were excreted from the granules with a high proteins/polysaccharides ratio (∼7.4) on day 25, especially the tightly bound proteins mainly responsible for granular stability. Decrease in P content, especially non-apatite inorganic P relating to Fe-PO4 precipitates, was detected in the granules to some extent, although 54.8 ±â€¯17.1% of total P removal was achieved during the light-on cycles. Still, high P bioavailability (92.0%) was kept in the algal-bacterial AGS throughout the test period. Further optimization of light-on/light-off cycle and hydraulic/sludge retention time is demanding for better and stable P accumulation in the algal-bacterial granules with high bioavailability.

Tiaopi huxin recipe improved endothelial dysfunction and attenuated atherosclerosis by decreasing the expression of caveolin-1 in ApoE-deficient mice.

The Tiaopi Huxin recipe (TPHXR) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the clinical treatment of coronary heart disease. However, the mechanism of TPHXR treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we have aimed to explore the potential antiatherosclerotic effect of TPHXR and its underlying mechanisms. Male ApoE knockout (ApoE-/- ) mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks and were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, and the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose TPHXR groups. The nitric oxide (NO) levels in arterial tissue and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were measured by diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate staining. Vasorelaxation of mice aorta was performed by wire myograph. Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hs-CRP, IL-6, and IL-1ß, in mice plasma were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was applied to observe protein expression. Oil Red O staining was utilized for the quantification of atherosclerotic plaques. Results showed that 4 weeks of high- and medium-dose TPHXR treatment by oral gavage reduced atheromatous lesions in ApoE -/- mice. The high- and medium-dose TPHXR treatment, but not the low-dose treatment, promoted eNOS phosphorylation, increased NO levels and improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in ApoE -/- mice. High- and medium-dose TPHXR, but not low-dose TPHXR, decreased the expression of cav-1, NF-κB p50, NF-κB p65, ICAM1, VCAM-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in the vasculature of ApoE -/- mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis indicated that high- and medium-dose TPHXR decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, hs-CRP, and IL-1ß. In conclusion, our findings show that TPHXR improved the endothelial function and reduced atheromatous lesions in ApoE -/- mice. This result may be due to the decreased expression of caveolin-1 and NF-κB and, hence, the attenuated inflammatory response in AS mice vasculature. TPHXR may represent a promising intervention in patients with AS.

Investigation of chemical constituents of safflower and their tyrosinase inhibitory activity.

Investigation on bioactive chemical constituents of safflower led to the isolation of 10 compounds from the aqueous extract, including a new alkaloid (1), a new glucopyranoside (2), and 8 known compounds (3-10). The structures of two new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analyses, including 1D, 2D-NMR and HRESIMS. Biological research on the isolates indicated that compounds 3, 4 and 9 remarkably inhibited tyrosinase with IC50 at 0.11, 0.20 and 0.11 mM, respectively, compared with the positive control arbutin (0.26 mM). To investigate the interaction between enzyme and isolated compounds, an in silico docking study was carried out. The research provided valuable experience for phytochemistry and biological investigation on safflower.

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Inhibits TNF-α-Induced Inflammation of Human Fetal Lung Fibroblasts via NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), an effective ingredient of the Chinese herb Carthamus tinctorius L, attenuated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. This study is to investigate the effect of HSYA on the proliferation and inflammatory level of human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells) induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: MRC-5 cells were treated with different concentrations of TNF-α, HSYA, or/and etanercept (ENCP, TNF-α receptor (TNFR1) antagonist, 500 ng/mL) before cell proliferation was detected. The laser confocal microscope was used to observe the role of HSYA in binding of TNF-α and its receptor. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to detect the binding of TNFR1 and TAK1-TAB2 complex. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expressions of inflammation-related cytokines and proteins related with the NF-κB pathway. Luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin coprecipitation method were used to detect the interaction between AP-1 and TGF-ß1 promoter. RESULTS: TNF-α (5 ng/mL) was used to induce inflammation and proliferation in MRC-5 cells. HSYA can partially suppress the stimulation of TNF-α on proliferation and inflammatory response of MRC-5 cells. HSYA could compete with TNF-α to bind with TNFR1 and hamper the binding of TNFR1 to TAK1-TAB2 complex. In addition, HSYA could also inhibit the activation of the NF-κB signal pathway and suppress the binding of TGF-ß1 promoter with AP-1. CONCLUSION: Evidence in this study suggested that HSYA affects TNF-α-induced proliferation and inflammatory response of MRC-5 cells through the NF-κB/AP-1 signaling pathway, which may provide theoretical basis for HSYA treatment in pulmonary fibrosis.

An Anti-Inflammatory PPAR-γ Agonist from the Jellyfish-Derived Fungus Penicillium chrysogenum J08NF-4.

An investigation of the jellyfish-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum J08NF-4 led to the isolation of two new meroterpene derivatives, chrysogenester (1) and 5-farnesyl-2-methyl-1-O-methylhydroquinone (2), and four known farnesyl meroterpenes. Docking analysis of 1 showed that it binds to PPAR-γ in the same manner as the natural PPAR-γ agonist amorfrutin B (7). Compound 1 activated PPAR-γ in murine Ac2F liver cells and increased nuclear PPAR-γ protein levels in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. Because one of the main biological functions of PPAR-γ agonists is to suppress inflammatory response, an in vitro study was performed to explore the anti-inflammatory potency of 1 and the mechanism involved. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, 1 inhibited phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and suppressed the expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators iNOS, NO, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. We propose 1 suppresses inflammatory responses by activating PPAR-γ and subsequently downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Bilateral anterior shoulder dislocation as a result of manipulation: A case report.

RATIONALE: Bilateral anterior shoulder dislocation is clinically rare and has been reported to be related to high-speed sports. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 76-year-old woman presented with bilateral shoulders pain after traditional Chinese manipulation. DIAGNOSES: She was diagnosed with bilateral anterior dislocations, and a closed reduction was immediately performed. INTERVENTION: The patient was referred for rehabilitation 3 days later, and bilateral rotator cuff injuries were identified from musculoskeletal ultrasound. After 4 weeks of physical therapy, the patient's shoulder pain had reduced and the passive ROM was nearly full. OUTCOMES: At 1-year follow-up, only mild intermittent shoulder pain was noted, and there was no limitation of shoulder ROM. LESSONS: This case illustrates that patients with acute shoulder injuries who receive proper diagnosis and treatment can achieve good outcomes. Therefore, patients with musculoskeletal disorders should seek qualified specialists for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.

Anti-RhoJ antibody functionalized Au@I nanoparticles as CT-guided tumor vessel-targeting radiosensitizers in patient-derived tumor xenograft model.

The clinical success of radiotherapy is greatly hampered due to its intolerable off-target cytotoxicity induced by the high dose of radiation. Meanwhile, low dose of irradiation greatly potentiates the intratumoral angiogenesis, which promotes the local relapse and metastasis of tumor. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the irradiation dosage while inhibiting the tumor angiogenesis during radiotherapy. In this work, tumor vessel specific ultrafine Au@I nanoparticles (AIRA NPs) are fabricated and used as targeted radiosensitizers. Due to the presence of Au and iodine, these AIRA NPs exhibit superb X-ray attenuation for contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Once injected, these AIRA NPs bind specifically to both newly formed tumor vessels in peri- and intratumoral regions and pre-existing tumor vessels. Upon radiation under CT guidance, AIRA NPs remarkably enhanced the killing efficacy against tumors in vivo with respect to radiation alone or anti-angiogenesis chemotherapy. Meanwhile, down-regulation of the level of circulating VEGF cytokine further indicates that our strategy can eradicate tumor without risking the recurrence of hypoxia and angiogenesis. Our demonstration provides a robust method of cancer therapy integrating good biocompatibility, high specificity and relapse-free manner alternative to traditional metal NPs enhanced radiotherapy.

Chiral Separation of Cytotoxic Flavan Derivatives from Daphne giraldii.

Twelve new flavan derivatives including four pairs of enantiomers, daphnegiralins A1-A4 (1) and daphnegiralins B1-B4 (2), and two pairs of epimers, daphnegiralins C1/C2 (3) and daphnegiralins D1/D2 (4), were isolated from the stem bark and roots of Daphne giraldii. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic analyses, computational approaches, and chemical methods. Separation of the enantiomeric mixtures (1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b) was achieved using chiral HPLC. The compounds were evaluated against a small panel of human cancer cell lines, and 1b-2, 2a, and 2b were cytotoxic against Hep3B human hepatoma cells.