Effects of essential amino acids supplementation in a low-protein diet on growth performance, intestinal health and microbiota of juvenile blotched snakehead (Channa maculata).

Developing a low-protein feed is important for the sustainable advancement of aquaculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation in a low-protein diet on the growth, intestinal health, and microbiota of the juvenile blotched snakehead, Channa maculata in an 8-week trial conducted in a recirculating aquaculture system. Three isoenergetic diets were formulated to include a control group (48.66 % crude protein (CP), HP), a low protein group (42.54 % CP, LP), and a low protein supplementation EAA group (44.44 % CP, LP-AA). The results showed that significantly lower weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were observed in fish that were fed LP than in the HP and LP-AA groups (P < 0.05). The HP and LP-AA groups exhibited a significant increase in intestinal villus length, villus width, and muscular thickness compared to the LP group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HP and LP-AA groups demonstrated significantly higher levels of intestinal total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to the LP group (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of intestinal cells in the LP group was significantly higher than those in the LP and HP groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase (sod), nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (nfκb-p65), heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), and inhibitor of NF-κBα (iκba) in the intestine were significantly higher in the LP group than those in the HP and LP-AA groups (P < 0.05). The 16s RNA analysis indicated that EAA supplementation significantly increased the growth of Desulfovibrio and altered the intestinal microflora. The relative abundances of Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria were positively correlated with antioxidant parameters (CAT and T-AOC), whereas Desulfobacterota was negatively correlated with sod and T-AOC. The genera Bacillus, Bacteroides, and Rothia were associated with the favorable maintenance of gut health. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with EAAs to achieve a balanced amino acid profile could potentially reduce the dietary protein levels from 48.66 % to 44.44 % without adversely affecting the growth and intestinal health of juvenile blotched snakeheads.

Salinomycin and IR780-loaded upconversion nanoparticles influence biological behavior of liver cancer stem cells by persistently activating the MAPK signaling pathway.

The combination of chemotherapy and phototherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatment and mitigating drug resistance. Salinomycin (SAL), a polyether antibiotic, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells. IR780 iodide, a novel photosensitive reagent with excellent near-infrared (NIR) light absorption and photothermal conversion abilities, is suitable for use in photothermal therapy for cancers. However, both SAL and IR780 exhibit hydrophobic properties that limit their clinical applicability. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are an emerging class of fluorescent probe materials capable of emitting high-energy photons upon excitation by low-energy NIR light. The UCNPs not only function as nanocarriers for drug delivery but also serve as light transducers to activate photosensitizers for deep-tissue photodynamic therapy. Here, to enhance the targeting and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), we employ distearoyl phosphorethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) to encapsulate SAL and IR780 on the surface of UCNPs. Cell viability was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Cell migration was assessed by the Transwell Boyden Chamber. The activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was measured via western blot. The results demonstrated successful loading of both IR780 and SAL onto the UCNPs, and the SAL and IR780-loaded UCNPs (UISP) exhibited a robust photothermal effect under NIR light irradiation. The UISP effectively inhibited the viability of HCCLM3 and LCSCs. Under NIR light irradiation, the UISP further suppressed HCCLM3 viability but had no impact on LCSC viability; however, it could further inhibit LCSC migration. Meanwhile, under NIR light irradiation, the UISP persistently activated the MAPK pathway more significantly in LCSCs. These findings suggest that exposure to NIR light results in persistent activation of the MAPK pathway by UISP, thereby influencing the biological behavior of LCSCs and enhancing their therapeutic efficacy against liver cancer.

A stable rhombohedral phase in ferroelectric Hf(Zr)1+xO2 capacitor with ultralow coercive field.

Hafnium oxide-based ferroelectric materials are promising candidates for next-generation nanoscale devices because of their ability to integrate into silicon electronics. However, the intrinsic high coercive field of the fluorite-structure oxide ferroelectric devices leads to incompatible operating voltage and limited endurance performance. We discovered a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible rhombohedral ferroelectric Hf(Zr)1+xO2 material rich in hafnium-zirconium [Hf(Zr)]. X-ray diffraction combined with scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals that the excess Hf(Zr) atoms intercalate within the hollow sites. We found that the intercalated atoms expand the lattice and increase the in-plane and out-of-plane stresses, which stabilize both the rhombohedral phase (r-phase) and its ferroelectric properties. Our ferroelectric devices, which are based on the r-phase Hf(Zr)1+xO2, exhibit an ultralow coercive field (~0.65 megavolts per centimeter). Moreover, we achieved a high endurance of more than 1012 cycles at saturation polarization. This material discovery may help to realize low-cost and long-life memory chips.

Differentially Expressed Genes and Signalling Pathways Regulated by High Selenium Involved in Antioxidant and Immune Functions of Goats Based on Transcriptome Sequencing.

The objective of this study is to observe the effect of high selenium on the antioxidant and immune functions of growing goats based on transcriptome sequencing. Eighteen goats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) the control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, and (2) the treatment 1 group (LS) and treatment 2 group (HS) were fed a basal diet with 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg selenium-yeast (SY), respectively. The results indicate that HS treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased the apparent digestibility of either extract and significantly increased (p < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity, whereas it significantly (p < 0.05) decreased plasma aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde relative to the control group. The LS treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) increased glutathione S-transferase and catalase compared to CON. A total of 532 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the CON and HS were obtained using transcriptome sequencing. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified upregulated (p < 0.05) DEGs mainly related to vascular smooth muscle contraction, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, the VEGF signalling pathway, and proteoglycans in cancer; downregulated (p < 0.05) DEGs mainly related to the NOD-like receptor signalling pathway, influenza A, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, haematopoietic cell lineage, and African trypanosomiasis. Ontology analyses of the top genes show that the identified DEGs are mainly involved in the regulation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production for biological processes, the external side of the plasma membrane for cellular components, and carbohydrate derivative binding for molecular functions. Seven genes are considered potential candidate genes for regulating antioxidant activity, including selenoprotein W, 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, glutathione S-transferase A1, tumour necrosis factor, tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 10, tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 8, and tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 13b. The experimental observations indicate that dietary supplementation with 4.8 mg/kg SY can enhance antioxidant and immune functions by improving muscle immunity, reducing the concentrations of inflammatory molecules, and modulating antioxidant and inflammatory signalling pathways in growing goats.

Apigenin ameliorates non-eosinophilic inflammation, dysregulated immune homeostasis and mitochondria-mediated airway epithelial cell apoptosis in chronic obese asthma via the ROS-ASK1-MAPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Obese asthma is one of the important asthma phenotypes that have received wide attention in recent years. Excessive oxidative stress and different inflammatory endotypes may be important reasons for the complex symptoms, frequent aggravation, and resistance to traditional treatments of obese asthma. Apigenin (API), is a flavonoid natural small molecule compound with good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in various diseases and proved to have the potential efficacy to combat obese asthma. METHODS: In vivo, this study fed C57BL/6 J mice with high-fat diets(HFD)for 12 weeks and then stimulated them with OVA for 6 weeks to establish a model of chronic obese asthma, while different doses of oral API or dexamethasone were used for therapeutic interventions. In vitro, this study used HDM to stimulate human bronchial cells (HBEs) to establish the model and intervened with API or Selonsertib (SEL). RESULTS: This study clarified that OVAinduced a type of mixed granulocytic asthma with elevated neutrophils and eosinophils in obese male mice fed with long-term HFD, which also exhibited mixed TH17/TH1/TH2 inflammation. Apigenin effectively suppressed this complex inflammation and acted as a regulator of immune homeostasis. Meanwhile, apigenin reduced AHR, inflammatory cell infiltration, airway epithelial cell apoptosis, airway collagen deposition, and lung oxidative stress via the ROS-ASK1-MAPK pathway in an obese asthma mouse model. In vitro, this study found that apigenin altered the binding status of TRAF6 to ASK1, inhibited ASK1 phosphorylation, and protected against ubiquitin-dependent degradation of ASK1, suggesting that ROS-activated ASK1 may be an important target for apigenin to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. To further verify the intervention mechanism, this study clarified that apigenin improved cell viability and mitochondrial function and inhibited apoptosis by interfering with the ROS-ASK1-MAPK pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time the therapeutic effect of apigenin in chronic obese asthma and further clarifies its potential therapeutic targets. In addition, this study clarifies the specificity of chronic obese asthma and provides new options for its treatment.

Effectiveness of six-step complex decongestive therapy for treating upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) is currently recommended as the standard treatment for lymphedema. CDT is a four-step detumescence therapy that can effectively treat upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, and is considered non-invasive, painless and without side effects. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of a six-step CDT involving a foam granule bandage for the treatment of upper extremity lymphedema pressure after breast cancer surgical intervention. METHODS: The study included 100 patients with upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. The surgical methods were mastectomy plus axillary lymph node dissection and breast preservation plus sentinel lymph node biopsy. The study population was further divided into the experimental group and control group with 50 cases in each group. The control group was given conventional CDT (four-step method), which included skin care, freehand lymphatic drainage, foam granule pressurized bandage, and functional exercise. In the experimental group, a six-step CDT method was applied that involved a foam particle bandage combined with air wave pressure therapy in addition to the four steps of conventional CDT. Patients in both groups were given one course of treatment daily (20 times), and the changes in body moisture and subjective symptoms were measured before and after treatment, preoperatively and 20 times after treatment. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in 50-Hz bioelectrical impedance and extracellular moisture ratio were observed between the two groups before treatment, suggesting comparability of the baseline data. After treatment, the 50-Hz bioelectrical impedance of the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the extracellular moisture ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group. A comparison of the differences between the two groups before and after treatment indicated that the treatment effect in the experimental group was better than that in the control group. After 20 treatments, according to subjective evaluations, the tightness and swelling of the limbs in the experimental group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The six-step CDT method can effectively reduce lymphedema, promote lymphatic circulation, and alleviate the subjective symptoms of patients, and thereby improve the quality of life and treatment compliance among patients.

Louki Zupa decoction attenuates the airway inflammation in acute asthma mice induced by ovalbumin through IL-33/ST2-NF-κB/GSK3ß/mTOR signalling pathway.

CONTEXT: Asthma is a common respiratory system disease. Louki Zupa decoction (LKZP), a traditional Chinese medicine, presents a promising efficacy against lung diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of asthma and reveal the intervention mechanism of LKZP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group (NC), ovalbumin (OVA)/saline asthma model group, OVA/LL group, OVA/LM group, OVA/LH group and OVA/DEX group (n = 8 per group). The asthmatic mice were modelled through intraperitoneal injecting and neutralizing OVA. LKZP decoction was administrated by gavage at the challenge stage for seven consecutive days (2.1, 4.2 and 8.4 g/kg/day). We investigated the change in lung function, airway inflammation, mucus secretion and TH-1/TH-2-related cytokines. We further verify the activated status of the IL-33/ST2/NF-κB/GSK3ß/mTOR signalling pathway. RESULTS: LKZP was proved to improve asthmatic symptoms, as evidenced by the down-regulated airway resistance by 36%, 58% and 53% (p < 0.01, p < 0.001 vs. OVA/saline group), up-regulated lung compliance by 102%, 114% and 111%, decreased airway inflammation and mucus secretion by 33%, 40% and 33% (p < 0.001 vs. OVA/saline group). Moreover, the content of cytokines in BALF related to airway allergy (such as IgE) and T helper 1/T helper 2 cells (like IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α and IFN-γ), were also markedly reduced by 13-65% on LKZP intervention groups compared with model group. Mechanistic research revealed that the IL-33/ST2-NF-κB/GSK3ß/mTOR signalling pathway was activated in the OVA/saline group and LKZP significantly down-regulated this pathway. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: LKZP improves lung function, airway inflammation, mucus secretion and correct immune imbalance by intervening with the IL-33/ST2-NF-κB/GSK3ß/mTOR signalling pathway, presenting a promising therapeutic choice for asthma.

Ultrasound-Guided Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation to Promote Upper Limb Function Recovery after Stroke.

Peripheral electrical nerve stimulation enhances hand function during stroke rehabilitation. Here, we proposed a percutaneous direct median nerve stimulation guided by ultrasound (ultrasound-guided median nerve electrical stimulation, UG-MNES) and evaluated its feasibility and effectiveness in the treatment of stroke patients with upper limb extremity impairments. Sixty-three stroke patients (2-3 months of onset) were randomly divided into control and UG-MNES groups. Both groups received routine rehabilitation and the UG-MNES group received an additional ultrasound-guided electrical stimulation of the median nerve at 2 Hz, 0.2 ms pulse-width for 20 minutes with gradual intensity enhancement. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity motor function (FMA-UE) was used as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were the Functional Test for the Hemiplegic Upper Extremity (FTHUE-HK), Hand Function Rating Scale, Brunnstrom Stages, and Barthel Index scores for motor and daily functions. All the participants completed the trial without any side effects or adverse events during the intervention. After 4 weeks of intervention, the functions of the upper limbs on the hemiplegic side in both groups achieved significant recovery. Compared to the control group, all evaluation indices used in this trial were improved significantly in the UG-MNES group after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention; particularly, the first intervention of UG-MNES immediately improved all the assessment items significantly. In conclusion, the UG-MNES is a safe and feasible treatment for stroke patients with upper limb extremity impairments and could significantly improve the motor function of the affected upper limb, especially in the first intervention. The UG-MNES could be an effective alternative intervention for stroke with upper limb extremity impairments.

Serum vitamin D status among healthy children in Hainan, South China: a multi-center analysis of 10,262 children.

Background: There are limited data regarding the prevalence and risk factors relating to vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in children of Hainan, a tropical city with abundant sunlight in China. To gather and analyze the serum VD levels of healthy children in Hainan, so as to understand their VD nutritional status and improve the representative data of VD nutritional status in south China. Methods: Children who presented to the outpatient clinic for physical examination at 4 hospitals in the Hainan Province from 2012 to 2020 were enrolled in this study. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels was analyzed. 25-OHD levels <50 nmol/L is considered VDD, 50-75 nmol/L is vitamin D insufficiency (VDI), and ≥75 nmol/L is VD sufficient (VDS). Results: The average serum 25-OHD level was 94.63±49.99 nmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI): 93.67-95.60]. VDD was detected in 13.98% of participants (1,435 cases), VDI was detected in 30.60% of participants (3,140 cases), and 55.42% presented with VDS (5,687 cases). The average 25-OHD level of boys was significantly higher than that of girls (t=3.67, P<0.001). The average serum 25-OHD levels in the following age groups 0-1, 1-3, 3-7, 7-14, and 14-18 years were 105.92±57.39, 100.55±53.22, 86.35±39.19, 73.61±34.21, and 54.97±19.19 nmol/L, respectively. These results suggested that with an increase in age, the 25-OHD levels decreased. The average 25-OHD levels of children with a body mass index (BMI) <85th percentile were significantly higher than that of children in the overweight and obese group (F=7.393, P=0.001). Conclusions: A certain proportion of all age groups showed vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Hainan. A formal recommendation for vitamin D supplementation should be considered, especially in autumn and winter seasons for children over 7 years old, and in those with BMI ≥85th percentile or BMI ≥95th percentile.

Sorafenib-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for topical ocular therapy of corneal neovascularization: development, in-vitro and in vivo study.

Sorafenib (SRB), a multikinase inhibitor, is effective in reducing experimental corneal neovascularization (CNV) after oral administration; however, its therapeutic use in ocular surface disorders is restricted due to poor solubility and limited bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and optimize SRB-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (SRB-NLCs) for topical ocular delivery by a central composite design response surface methodology (CCD-RSM). It was spherical and uniform in morphology with an average particle size of 111.87 ± 0.93 nm and a narrow size distribution. The in vitro drug release from the released SRB-NLC formulation was well fitted to Korsmeyer Peppas release kinetics. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) cell viability assay demonstrated that SRB-NLC was not obviously cytotoxic to human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). An in vivo ocular irritation test showed that SRB-NLC was well tolerated by rabbit eyes. Ocular pharmacokinetics revealed 6.79-fold and 1.24-fold increase in the area under concentration-time curves (AUC0-12h) over 12 h in rabbit cornea and conjunctiva, respectively, treated with one dose of SRB-NLC compared with those treated with SRB suspension. Moreover, SRB-NLC (0.05% SRB) and dexamethasone (0.025%) similarly suppressed corneal neovascularization in mice. In conclusion, the optimized SRB-NLC formulation demonstrated excellent physicochemical properties and good tolerance, sustained release, and enhanced ocular bioavailability. It is safe and potentially effective for the treatment of corneal neovascularization.

A Polarization-Switching, Charge-Trapping, Modulated Arithmetic Logic Unit for In-Memory Computing Based on Ferroelectric Fin Field-Effect Transistors.

Nonvolatile logic devices are crucial for the development of logic-in-memory (LiM) technology to build the next-generation non-von Neumann computing architecture. Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (Fe FET) are one of the most promising candidates for LiMs because of high compatibility with mainstream silicon-based complementary metal-oxide semiconductor processes, nonvolatile memory, and low power consumption. However, because of the unipolar characteristics of a Fe FET, a nonlinear XOR or XNOR logic gate function is difficult to realize with a single device. In addition, because single Fe polarization switch modulation is available in the devices, a reconfigurable logic gate usually needs multiple devices to construct and realize fewer logic functions. Here, we introduced polarization-switching (PS) and charge-trapping (CT) effects in a single Fe FET and fabricated a multi-field-effect transistor with bipolar-like characteristics based on advanced 10 nm node fin field-effect transistors (PS-CT FinFET) with 9 nm thick Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films. The special hybrid effects of charge-trapping and polarization-switching enabled eight Boolean logic functions with a single PS-CT FinFET and 16 Boolean logic functions with two complementary PS-CT FinFETs were obtained with three operations. Furthermore, reconfigurable full 1 bit adder and subtractor functions were demonstrated by connecting only two n-type and two p-type PS-CT FinFET devices, indicating that the technology was promising for LiM applications.

Origin, evolution, breeding, and omics of Apiaceae: a family of vegetables and medicinal plants.

Many of the world's most important vegetables and medicinal crops, including carrot, celery, coriander, fennel, and cumin, belong to the Apiaceae family. In this review, we summarize the complex origins of Apiaceae and the current state of research on the family, including traditional and molecular breeding practices, bioactive compounds, medicinal applications, nanotechnology, and omics research. Numerous molecular markers, regulatory factors, and functional genes have been discovered, studied, and applied to improve vegetable and medicinal crops in Apiaceae. In addition, current trends in Apiaceae application and research are also briefly described, including mining new functional genes and metabolites using omics research, identifying new genetic variants associated with important agronomic traits by population genetics analysis and GWAS, applying genetic transformation, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system, and nanotechnology. This review provides a reference for basic and applied research on Apiaceae vegetable and medicinal plants.

Brain structural alterations in MDD patients with gastrointestinal symptoms: Evidence from the REST-meta-MDD project.

OBJECTIVE: While gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are very common in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), few studies have investigated the neural basis behind these symptoms. In this study, we sought to elucidate the neural basis of GI symptoms in MDD patients by analyzing the changes in regional gray matter volume (GMV) and gray matter density (GMD) in brain structure. METHOD: Subjects were recruited from 13 clinical centers and categorized into three groups, each of which is based on the presence or absence of GI symptoms: the GI symptoms group (MDD patients with at least one GI symptom), the non-GI symptoms group (MDD patients without any GI symptoms), and the healthy control group (HCs). Structural magnetic resonance images (MRI) were collected of 335 patients in the GI symptoms group, 149 patients in the non-GI symptoms group, and 446 patients in the healthy control group. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) was administered to all patients. Correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to determine if there was a correlation between the altered brain regions and the clinical symptoms. RESULTS: There were significantly higher HAMD-17 scores in the GI symptoms group than that of the non-GI symptoms group (P < 0.001). Both GMV and GMD were significant different among the three groups for the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left lingual gyrus, bilateral caudate nucleus, right Fusiform gyrus and bilateral Thalamus (GRF correction, cluster-P < 0.01, voxel-P < 0.001). Compared to the HC group, the GI symptoms group demonstrated increased GMV and GMD in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and the non-GI symptoms group demonstrated an increased GMV and GMD in the right superior temporal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus and decreased GMV in the right Caudate nucleus (GRF correction, cluster-P < 0.01, voxel-P < 0.001). Compared to the non-GI symptoms group, the GI symptoms group demonstrated significantly increased GMV and GMD in the bilateral thalamus, as well as decreased GMV in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and bilateral insula lobe (GRF correction, cluster-P < 0.01, voxel-P < 0.001). While these changed brain areas had significantly association with GI symptoms (P < 0.001), they were not correlated with depressive symptoms (P > 0.05). Risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms in MDD patients (p < 0.05) included age, increased GMD in the right thalamus, and decreased GMV in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and left Insula lobe. CONCLUSION: MDD patients with GI symptoms have more severe depressive symptoms. MDD patients with GI symptoms exhibited larger GMV and GMD in the bilateral thalamus, and smaller GMV in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and bilateral insula lobe that were correlated with GI symptoms, and some of them and age may contribute to the presence of GI symptoms in MDD patients.

Human Methylmercury Exposure and Potential Impacts in Central Tibet: Food and Traditional Tibetan Medicine.

Methylmercury presents potent neurotoxicity to humans. Fish consumption is the leading source of human exposure to methylmercury worldwide. However, the exposure source in Tibet remains poorly understood because of the scarcity of observational data on most Tibetan foods, although high mercury levels were recently detected in some traditional Tibetan medicines. Here, the results of field investigations show that the joint consumption of traditional Tibetan medicines (TTMs), fish, and rice constitutes a primary exposure pathway to methylmercury in Tibetans and that the probable daily intake of methylmercury is close to that for many coastal regions. People who are young and high-income may have higher methylmercury exposure levels mainly because of economic development and cultural exchanges among regions. Our analysis indicates that a large proportion of the Tibetan population are likely to face a high methylmercury exposure risk and that mercury-susceptible populations in Tibet should be attentive to consuming TTMs with fish.

Activating soil microbial community using bacillus and rhamnolipid to remediate TPH contaminated soil.

Soil petroleum contamination has become a global environmental problem. In order to develop a new soil remediation technology, this study established bacteria isolation, surfactant toxicity matching and petroleum contaminated soil remediation practice. The simulated field remediation showed that inoculating the soil with Bacillus methylotrophicus and adding 500 mg kg-1 rhamnolipid (N + RL) to soil can remove 80.24% of aged total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) within 30 days. In particular, although the remediated soil has inoculated sufficient bacterial suspension, the microbial abundance of Bacillus was not a significantly dominant genus after remediation, especially in N + RL (0.73% of the total), but the colonies of indigenous petroleum-degrading bacteria (such as Massilia and Streptomyces) increased significantly. The interaction among genera has been further proved to drive soil non-specific oxidases (such as polyphenol oxidase, laccase and catalase) to remove TPHs. This indicates that the interaction among microorganisms, rather than the degradability of exogenous degrading bacteria, plays more critical role in the degradation of organic pollutants, which enriches the traditional understanding of micro-remediation of contaminated soil. It can be concluded from the obtained results that the remediation of pollutants can be achieved by adjusting the purification capacity of the microbial community and the natural environment.

Effect of Supplementation With Selenium-Yeast on Muscle Antioxidant Activity, Meat Quality, Fatty Acids and Amino Acids in Goats.

The objective of this study was to observe the effects of selenium-yeast (SY) on growth performance, muscle antioxidant activity, meat quality, fatty acid and amino acid profiles in growing goats. A total of 18 Qianbei-pockmarked goats were assigned to three groups (six duplicates per group) by body weight (25.75 ± 1.75 kg; mean ± standard deviation) according to a completely randomized design: (1) basal diet (CON); (2) CON with 2.4 mg/kg SY (LS); and (3) CON with 4.8 mg/kg SY (HS). The results indicated that goats receiving SY did not show any differences (P > 0.05) in terms of dry matter intake, growth performance, or muscle chemical composition. In addition, dietary treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the pH values (pH45min and pH24h), percentage of water loss, drip loss, or cooking loss. The HS group showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the dressing percentage, eye muscle area and meat color, as well as muscle total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity levels, whereas it showed a significant drop (P < 0.05) in shear force and muscle malondialdehyde levels relative to the control. Feeding 4.8 mg/kg SY led to a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the levels of C8:0, C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C20:0 and total saturated fatty acids, whereas it led to a significant (P < 0.05) increase in C15:1 in comparison with that of the control group. Goats receiving 2.4 mg/kg SY had significantly (P < 0.05) increased C16:1, C17:1, C18:1n7, C18:2n6, C18:3n3, C20:4n6, C22:1n9, and PUFA relative to the control group. Compared with the control group, the treatment groups had higher (P < 0.05) levels of C18:1n9, C22:4, and monounsaturated fatty acids. The inclusion of 2.4 mg/kg SY induced significant (P < 0.05) increases in 4-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid and umami amino acid concentrations compared to the control. In addition, the feeding of 4.8 mg/kg SY had significantly higher (P < 0.05) muscle serine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine hydrochloride, methionine, and tyrosine levels than the control group. Collectively, Se supplementation in the diet did not affect growth performance, muscle chemical composition, whereas it could improve meat quality, muscle antioxidant activity, fatty acid and amino acid profiles in Qianbei-pockmarked goats. This showed that the optimal accession SY level was 4.8 mg/kg under the experimental conditions of this study.

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities in vitro of polysaccharides from bee collected pollen of Chinese wolfberry.

China is a larger apiculture producer in the world and more than 120 million kg of bee collected pollens of Chinese wolfberry (WBP) are produced per year. However, the lack of knowledge of the nutritional benefits of WBP limits the use of this natural product in food industry. In the present study, three polysaccharides (WBPPS-1, WBPPS-2 and WBPPS-3) were obtained by ion-exchange chromatography, and their preliminary structures, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities were investigated. The results showed that WBPPS-1, WBPPS-2 and WBPPS-3 were composed of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose and arabinose with different ratio and their average molecular weights were 1016.3, 878.7 and 901.6 KDa, respectively. In addition, the contents of zinc were far higher than other trace elements in the three polysaccharides, suggesting these polysaccharides probably be polysaccharides­zinc complex. Moreover, WBPPS-3 exhibited stronger scavenging activities on 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals than WBPPS-1 and WBPPS-2. Likewise, WBPPS-3 exhibited a superior enhanced effect on secretion of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 in RAW264.7 cells than other two polysaccharides. Overall, these results suggest that WBPPS-3 has potential to be developed as antioxidant and immunomodulatory ingredients in functional foods, but further animal or clinical studies are required.

Abietane Diterpenoids with Antioxidative Damage Activity from Rosmarinus officinalis.

Nine new and nineteen known compounds were isolated and identified from Rosmarinus officinalis under the guidance of bioassay and LCMS. They all belonged to abietane diterpenoids which enriched the types of compounds in R. officinalis, especially the discovery of a series of 20-norabietane diterpenoids (4, 6-9, and 26-27). The antioxidative damage activity of the compounds was tested on H2O2 damaged SH-SY5Y cells. Compounds 5, 6, and 7 presented moderate ability for promoting the growth of damaged cells. Compounds 10, 11, 13-20, 27, and 28 displayed a high antioxidative damage effect whose cell viability rates were more than 80%. The antioxidative damage effect of 11, 16, 18, and 20 were higher than that of EGCG (positive control) in which 11, 18, and 20 were the acetylated derivatives of carnosic acid (10), 7α-methoxy-isocarnosol (16), and carnosol (19), respectively. It suggested that 10-carboxyl/formyl of abietane diterpenoids was essential for maintaining the antioxidative damage activity and the adjacent hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring was less important for holding the bioactivity. These acetylated derivatives with high bioactivity and stability could be regarded as new sources of antioxidants or antioxidative damage agents being used in the food and medical industry.

EGb761 ameliorates cell necroptosis by attenuating RIP1-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production in both in vivo and in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of Gingko biloba extract 761 (EGb761) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) models both in vivo and in vitro and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Cultured BV2 microglial cells were treated with Aß1-42 to establish an in vitro AD model. The in vivo rat AD model was established by injecting Aß1-42. Cells were pre-treated with EGb761, and the proliferation and necroptosis were examined by MTT or flow cytometry assays, respectively. In addition, the membrane potential and oxidative stress were measured. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Morris water maze, and the activation of the JNK signaling pathway was quantified by Western blotting. RESULTS: Cultured BV2 cells exhibited prominent cell death after Aß1-42 induction, and this cell death was alleviated by EGb761 pre-treatment. EGb761 was found to relieve oxidative stress and suppress the membrane potential and calcium overload. EGb761 treatment in AD model rats also improved cognitive function deficits. Both cultured microglial cells and the rat hippocampus exhibited activation of the JNK signaling pathway, and EGb761 relieved this activation in cells. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that EGb761 regulated cell proliferation, suppressed necroptosis and apoptosis, relieved mitochondrial damage, and ameliorated tissue damage to improve cognitive function in AD models. All of these effects may involve the suppression of the JNK signaling pathway.

[Isolation of homogeneous polysaccharide from Poria cocos and effect of its sulfated derivatives on migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells].

SATB1 plays a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer,and inhibition of SATB1 expression can effectively control breast cancer metastasis. In this study,homogeneous polysaccharides were isolated from Poria cocos and their sulfated derivatives were prepared to screen out the polysaccharide compositions with inhibitory effects on SATB1 expression. Smal-molecule components were removed from P. cocos by ethanol extraction,and P. cocos crude polysaccharide PPS was obtained by water extraction and ethanol precipitation. Then PPS was successively separated by DEAE Sepharose fast flow anion-exchange and Superdex-75 gel permeation chromatographic steps to give PPSW-1. The structure of PPSW-1 was identified and its sulfated derivatives were prepared. Then their inhibitory effects on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated. A kind of polysaccharide,PPSW-1 with inhibitory effect on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,was obtained from P. cocos,with a relative molecular weight of 3. 06×104,and structure of 1,6-branched 1,3-α-D-galactan. PPSW-1 and its sulfated derivative Sul-W-1 showed good inhibitory effect on cells migration,and the water solubility of Sul-W-1 was better than that of PPSW-1. In addition,it was found that polysaccharide of P. cocos and its sulfated derivative can inhibit expression of SATB1. In this study,a kind of homogeneous polysaccharide with inhibitory effect on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells was isolated from P. cocos,and its sulfated derivative with similar efficacy but better solubility was prepared,laying the foundation for the substance basis study of P. cocos.