Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Analyses Identify the Core Genes and Pyroptosis-Related Mechanisms of Nardostachys Chinensis for Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Nardostachys chinensis is an herbal medicine widely used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of N. chinensis against AF. METHODS: The TCMSP was used to screen the active N. chinensis compounds and their targets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for AF were identified using open-access databases. Using Venn diagrams, the cross-targets of N. chinensis, pyroptosis, and AF were obtained. The genes underwent molecular docking as well as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A nomogram based on candidate genes was constructed and evaluated with the clinical impact curve. After that, the immune infiltration of the dataset was analyzed by single sample GSEA (ssGSEA). Finally, microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors (TFs) were predicted based on candidate genes. RESULTS: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and caspase-8 (CASP8) were obtained as candidate genes by taking the intersection of DEGs, targets of N. chinensis, and pyroptosis-related genes. Tolllike receptor (TLR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways were linked to candidate genes. Additionally, immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that CASP8 was associated with natural killer T cells, natural killer cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), macrophages, CD8 T cells, and CD4 T cells. Finally, miR-34a-5p and several TFs were found to regulate the expression of CASP8 and TNF. CONCLUSION: CASP8 and TNF are potential targets of N. chinensis intervention in pyroptosisrelated AF, and the TLR/NLRP3 signaling pathway may be associated with this process.

Discovery of plant chemical defence mediated by a two-component system involving ß-glucosidase in Panax species.

Plants usually produce defence metabolites in non-active forms to minimize the risk of harm to themselves and spatiotemporally activate these defence metabolites upon pathogen attack. This so-called two-component system plays a decisive role in the chemical defence of various plants. Here, we discovered that Panax notoginseng, a valuable medicinal plant, has evolved a two-component chemical defence system composed of a chloroplast-localized ß-glucosidase, denominated PnGH1, and its substrates 20(S)-protopanaxadiol ginsenosides. The ß-glucosidase and its substrates are spatially separated in cells under physiological conditions, and ginsenoside hydrolysis is therefore activated only upon chloroplast disruption, which is caused by the induced exoenzymes of pathogenic fungi upon exposure to plant leaves. This activation of PnGH1-mediated hydrolysis results in the production of a series of less-polar ginsenosides by selective hydrolysis of an outer glucose at the C-3 site, with a broader spectrum and more potent antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo than the precursor molecules. Furthermore, such ß-glucosidase-mediated hydrolysis upon fungal infection was also found in the congeneric species P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng. Our findings reveal a two-component chemical defence system in Panax species and offer insights for developing botanical pesticides for disease management in Panax species.

Simultaneous decontamination of phosphorus and bisphenol A from livestock wastewater with boehmite-modified carbon composite.

In this work, a novel boehmite-modified carbon adsorbent (BMCC) derived from moldy corn was used for simultaneous removal of P and bisphenol A (BPA) from livestock wastewater. The results showed that BMCC had a high specific surface area (308.82 m2/g) with boehmite nanoparticles anchored on its surface. BMCC showed high P and BPA decontamination capabilities (40.98 mg/g for P and 54.65 mg/g for BPA by Langmuir model). The adsorbed amount of P declined as pH increased from 4 to 10, while the adsorbed amount of BPA remained steady until pH increased to 10. After 6 cycles of BMCC use, the P and BPA adsorption efficiencies reduced by 21.75 % and 19.41 %, respectively. The adsorption of P was dominated by electrostatic attraction and complexation, while the adsorption of BPA was controlled by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and π-π association. In conclusion, BMCC is an effective treatment for decontaminating P- and BPA-contaminated livestock wastewater.

Discovery and Optimization of Novel hDHODH Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

As a key rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is considered a known target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Herein, BAY 41-2272 with a 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine scaffold was identified as an hDHODH inhibitor by screening an active compound library containing 5091 molecules. Further optimization led to 2-(1-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-5-cyclopropylpyrimidin-4-amine (w2), which was found to be the most promising and drug-like compound with potent inhibitory activity against hDHODH (IC50 = 173.4 nM). Compound w2 demonstrated acceptable pharmacokinetic characteristics and alleviated the severity of acute ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, w2 exerted better therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis than hDHODH inhibitor vidofludimus and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib. Taken together, w2 is a promising hDHODH inhibitor for the treatment of IBD and deserves to be developed as a preclinical candidate.

[Quality control mechanism of mitochondria by 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde through OGT-PINK1 pathway].

Based on the O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT)-PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1) pathway, the mechanism of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde(DBD) on mitochondrial quality control was investigated. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) rats were established. SD rats were randomized into sham operation group(sham), model group(MCAO/R), DBD-L group(5 mg·kg~(-1)), and DBD-H group(10 mg·kg~(-1)). After 7 days of administration(ig), MCAO/R was induced in rats except the sham group with the suture method. Twenty-four h after reperfusion, the neurological function and the percentage of cerebral infarct area were measured. Based on hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining, the pathological damage of cerebral neurons was examined. Then the ultrastructure of mitochondria was observed under the electron microscope, and the co-localization of light chain-3(LC3), sequestosome-1(SQSTM1/P62), and Beclin1 was further detected by immunofluorescence staining. It has been reported that the quality of mitochondria can be ensured by inducing mitochondrial autophagy through the OGT-PINK1 pathway. Therefore, Western blot was employed to detect the expression of OGT, mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and E3 ubiquitin ligase(Parkin), and mitochondrial kinetic proteins dynamin-like protein 1(Drp1) and optic atrophy 1(Opa1). The results showed that MCAO/R group had neurological dysfunction, large cerebral infarct area(P<0.01), damaged morphological structure of neurons, decreased number of Nissl bodies, mitochondrial swelling, disappearance of mitochondrial cristae, decrease of cells with LC3 and Beclin1, rise of cells with P62(P<0.01), inhibited expression of OGT, PINK1, and Parkin, up-regulated expression of Drp1, and down-regulated expression of Opa1 compared with the sham group(P<0.01). However, DBD improved the behavioral deficits and mitochondrial health of MCAO/R rats, as manifested by the improved morphology and structure of neurons and mitochondria and the increased Nissl bodies. Moreover, DBD increased cells with LC3 and Beclin1 and decreased cells with P62(P<0.01). In addition, DBD promoted the expression of OGT, PINK1, Parkin, and Opa1 and inhibited the expression of Drp1, enhancing mitophagy(P<0.05, P<0.01). In conclusion, DBD can trigger PINK1/Parkin-mediated brain mitophagy through the OGT-PINK1 pathway, which plays a positive role in maintaining the health of the mitochondrial network. This may be a mitochondrial therapeutic mechanism to promote nerve cell survival and improve cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid reduces fat deposition and alleviates liver damage induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharides in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Liver health is important to maintain survival and growth of fish. Currently, the role of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in improving fish liver health is largely unknown. This study investigated the role of DHA supplementation in fat deposition and liver damage caused by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four diets were formulated as control diet (Con), Con supplemented with 1 % DHA, 2 % DHA and 4 % DHA diets, respectively. The diets were fed to 25 Nile tilapia (2.0 ± 0.1 g, average initial weight) in triplicates for four weeks. After the four weeks, 20 fish in each treatment were randomly selected and injected with a mixture of 500 mg D-GalN and 10 µL LPS per mL to induce acute liver injury. The results showed that the Nile tilapia fed on DHA diets decreased visceral somatic index, liver lipid content and serum and liver triglyceride concentrations than those fed on the Con diet. Moreover, after D-GalN/LPS injection, the fish fed on DHA diets decreased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase activities in the serum. The results of liver qPCR and transcriptomics assays together showed that the DHA diets feeding improved liver health by downregulating the expression of the genes related to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, inflammation and apoptosis. This study indicates that DHA supplementation in Nile tilapia alleviates the liver damage caused by D-GalN/LPS through increasing lipid catabolism, decreasing lipogenesis, TLR4 signaling pathway, inflammation, and apoptosis. Our study provides novel knowledge on the role of DHA in improving liver health in cultured aquatic animals for sustainable aquaculture.

Atorvastatin remodels lipid distribution between liver and adipose tissues through blocking lipoprotein efflux in fish.

The regulation of cholesterol metabolism in fish is still unclear. Statins play important roles in promoting cholesterol metabolism development in mammals. However, studies on the role of statins in cholesterol metabolism in fish are currently limited. The present study evaluated the effects of statins on cholesterol metabolism in fish. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed on control diets supplemented with three atorvastatin levels (0, 12, and 24 mg/kg diet, ATV0, ATV12, and ATV24, respectively) for 4 wk. Intriguingly, the results showed that both atorvastatin treatments increased hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents mainly through inhibiting bile acid synthesis and efflux, and compensatorily enhancing cholesterol synthesis in fish liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, atorvastatin treatment significantly inhibited hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and thus decreased serum VLDL content (P < 0.05). However, fish treated with atorvastatin significantly reduced cholesterol and triglycerides contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05). Further molecular analysis showed that atorvastatin treatment promoted cholesterol synthesis and lipogenesis pathways, but inhibited lipid catabolism and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake in the adipose tissue of fish (P < 0.05). In general, atorvastatin induced the remodeling of lipid distribution between liver and adipose tissues through blocking VLDL efflux from the liver to adipose tissue of fish. Our results provide a novel regulatory pattern of cholesterol metabolism response caused by atorvastatin in fish, which is distinct from mammals: cholesterol inhibition by atorvastatin activates hepatic cholesterol synthesis and inhibits its efflux to maintain cholesterol homeostasis, consequently reduces cholesterol storage in fish adipose tissue.

Adsorption properties and mechanism research of phosphorus with different molecular structures from aqueous solutions by La-modified biochar.

In order to explore the adsorption characteristics of phosphorus from molecules with different molecular structures and varying number of phosphate groups on metal-modified biochar, walnut shell biochar was modified with LaCl3 to prepare lanthanum-loaded biochar (BC-La). Adsorption of four polar components, namely phytic acid (IHP), adenosine-5'-disodium triphosphate (5-ATP), hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP), and sodium pyrophosphate (PP), was studied. The adsorption properties and mechanism of phosphorus sorption by BC-La were analyzed by SEM-EDS and FTIR for the different structures. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of BC-La for IHP, 5-ATP, HEDP, and PP was 85.85, 9.04, 15.80, and 14.45 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption capacity was positively correlated with the polarity of organic phosphorus. The adsorption behavior conformed to the quasi second-order kinetic fitting equation, and the increase of temperature was conducive to the removal of all four phosphorus pollutants. BC-La adsorbs IHP and HEDP mainly through electrostatic attraction. The adsorption of 5-ATP and PP is dominated by complexation. The La-modified biochar has broad prospects in water remediation, which can provide a theoretical basis for removal of different forms of phosphorus pollutants and prevention and control of water eutrophication.

Qingre Huoxue Decoction regulates macrophage polarisation to attenuate atherosclerosis through the inhibition of NF-κB signalling-mediated inflammation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a common pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Qingre Huoxue Decoction (QRHX) is an herbal formula used for the prevention and treatment of AS. However, the potential mechanism of QRHX is not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: In our study, RNA sequencing combined with preclinical models were used to analyse the effect and mechanism of QRHX for the treatment of AS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For in vivo studies, ApoE-/- mice were fed with a high-fat diet to induce AS. We measured weight, blood lipid, inflammatory cytokines, lipid deposition, plaque, and the M1/M2 macrophage. For in vitro studies, RAW264.7 were induced by lipopolysaccharides and treated with different concentrations of QRHX. We focusd on the relationship between QRHX, the NF-κB pathway, and macrophage polarisation, and performed simultaneous RNA sequencing both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: In vivo, QRHX decreased weight, improved blood lipid, relieved the degree of lipid deposition, reduced plaque area, decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, NLRP3, and TNFα), down-regulated the expression of iNOS, and up-regulated the expression of Arg-1. In vitro, QRHX down-regulated M1 markers, iNOS and CCR7, with lower concentrations of IL-1ß; furthermore, QRHX up-regulated M2 markers, Arg-1, CD163, Ym-1, and Fizz-1, with higher concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10. RNA sequencing of both samples in vivo and in vitro suggested that NF-κB was the target pathway of QRHX to regulate macrophage polarisation; this result was validated at the gene and protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: QRHX induced M2 polarisation, reduced an inflammatory response, and played a role in stabilising plaque by mediating the NF-κB signalling pathway.

[Effect of ethanol extract of Gastrodiae Rhizoma on mitochondrial dysfunction in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury].

This study observed the effects of ethanol extract of Gastrodiae Rhizoma(GE) on multiple aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction by investigating the mitochondria isolated from rat brains subjected to focal middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R). SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group(Sham), a model group(MCAO/R), low-and high-dose ethanol extract of GE groups(262.3 and 524.6 mg·kg~(-1)), and a nimodipine group(Nim, 15 mg·kg~(-1)). After continuous intragastric administration for 7 days, the MCAO/R model was induced in rats by the suture method. The neurological function and percentage of cerebral infarction volume were measured 24 h after reperfusion, and mitochondrial ultrastructure was observed under an electron microscope. Mitochondria were separated by gradient centrifugation and detected for reactive oxygen species(ROS), malondialdehyde(MDA), respiratory chain enzyme complex Ⅰ-Ⅳ activity, mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP), mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP), and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate(ATP) content. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the expression of cytochrome C(Cyt C) in different sites. TUNEL staining was used to observe the apoptosis of brain tissues in each group, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) in brain tissues. The experimental results revealed that compared with the Sham group, the MCAO/R group showed evident neurological dysfunction and cerebral infarction(P<0.01) accompanied by mitochondrial swelling and crest disappearance, increased ROS level and MDA content, inhibited activity of respiratory chain enzyme complex Ⅰ-Ⅳ, abnormal opening of mPTP, and reduced MMP and mitochondrial ATP(P<0.01). Besides, many Cyt C was released from mitochondria into the cytoplasm to induce apoptosis(P<0.01). The ethanol extract of GE positively affected the behavior deficit and mitochondrial health of MCAO/R rats, with the manifestations of decreased production of ROS and MDA(P<0.01), potentiated activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme complex Ⅰ-Ⅳ, and restored the level of mPTP(P<0.05). In addition, the ethanol extract of GE reduced the loss of MMP and the escape of Cyt C to the cytoplasm(P<0.05), reduced the number of TUNEL positive cells(P<0.01) accompanied by the decrease in Bax and the up-regulation of Bcl-2(P<0.01), and increased the level of ATP(P<0.01). In conclusion, GE ethanol extract has a protective effect against MCAO/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of oxidative stress, maintenance of functional morphology of mitochondria, and inhibition of endogenous apoptosis.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis on molecular targets and mechanisms of Gastrodia elata Blume in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is widely used to treat cardio-cerebrovascular disease in China and in traditional Chinese medicine it is considered to be a dispelling wind and dredging collateral. However, the mechanism and active components of the plant in treating ischemic stroke (IS) remain unclear. The present study aimed to identify the active components and mechanism of GEB in treating IS using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Network analysis predicted 752 potential targets from 14 compounds in GEB, sharing 32 key targets with IS-associated targets. Gene Ontology analysis of key targets showed that 'oxidative stress', 'immune response' and 'regulation of blood circulation' were significantly enriched. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that the key targets regulated 11 representative pathways including 'arachidonic acid metabolism', 'lipid and galactose metabolism'. In the protein-protein interaction network, five core targets, including toll-like receptor agonist, STAT3, myeloperoxidase (MPO), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9, were identified and successfully docked with four active components: Palmitic acid, alexandrin, para-hydroxybenzaldehyde and gastrodin. Alexandrin, para-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and gastrodin are closely related to brain ischemia/reperfusion damage and repair. Therefore, to further verify the mechanism of action of three active components in the second part, we established the HT22 oxygen-glucose deprivation-reperfusion (OGD/R) model. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and western blot analysis demonstrated that these three active components of GEB regulated core targets of molecular docking, such as STAT3, MPO and MMP9. In vitro experiments showed that OGD/R decreased cell survival, while this effect was reversed by the three active components of GEB. In addition, western blot analysis indicated that alexandrin upregulated expression of phosphorylated-STAT3, para-hydroxybenzaldehyde downregulated MPO and gastrodin downregulated MMP9. Therefore, the present study showed that GEB may prevent and treat IS via interaction between the active components and the main targets, which is key for investigating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.

Long-term exercise training down-regulates m6A RNA demethylase FTO expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus: an effective intervention for epigenetic modification.

BACKGROUND: Exercise boosts the health of some brain parts, such as the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Several studies show that long-term exercise improves spatial learning and memory, enhances hypothalamic leptin sensitivity, and regulates energy balance. However, the effect of exercise on the hippocampus and hypothalamus is not fully understood. The study aimed to find epigenetic modifications or changes in gene expression of the hippocampus and hypothalamus due to exercise. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sedentary and exercise groups. All mice in the exercise group were subjected to treadmill exercise 5 days per week for 1 h each day. After the 12-week exercise intervention, the hippocampus and hypothalamus tissue were used for RNA-sequencing or molecular biology experiments. RESULTS: In both groups, numerous differentially expressed genes of the hippocampus (up-regulated: 53, down-regulated: 49) and hypothalamus (up-regulated: 24, down-regulated: 40) were observed. In the exercise group, increased level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) was observed in the hippocampus and hypothalamus (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) of the hippocampus and hypothalamus were down-regulated in the exercise group (p < 0.001). In addition, the Fto co-expression genes of the mouse brain were studied and analyzed using database to determine the potential roles of exercise-downregulated FTO in the brain. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that long-term exercise might elevates the levels of m6A-tagged transcripts in the hippocampus and hypothalamus via down-regulation of FTO. Hence, exercise might be an effective intervention for epigenetic modification.

Oyster Shell Modified Tobacco Straw Biochar: Efficient Phosphate Adsorption at Wide Range of pH Values.

In order to improve the phosphate adsorption capacity of Ca-loaded biochar at a wide range of pH values, Ca (oyster shell) was loaded as Ca(OH)2 on the tobacco stalk biochar (Ca-BC), which was prepared by high-temperature calcination, ultrasonic treatment, and stirring impregnation method. The phosphorus removal performance of Ca-BC adsorption was studied by batch adsorption experiments, and the mechanism of Ca-BC adsorption and phosphorus removal was investigated by SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XRD. The results showed that after high-temperature calcination, oyster shells became CaO, then converted into Ca(OH)2 in the process of stirring impregnation and had activated the pore expansion effect of biochar. According to the Langmuir model, the adsorption capacity of Ca-BC for phosphate was 88.64 mg P/g, and the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The Ca(OH)2 on the surface of biochar under the initial pH acidic condition preferentially neutralizes with H+ acid-base in solution, so that Ca-BC chemically precipitates with phosphate under alkaline conditions, which increases the adsorption capacity by 3-15 times compared with other Ca-loaded biochar. Ca-BC phosphate removal rate of livestock wastewater (pig and cattle farms) is 91~95%, whereas pond and domestic wastewater can be quantitatively removed. This study provides an experimental basis for efficient phosphorus removal by Ca-modified biochar and suggesting possible applications in real wastewater.

Dietary l-carnitine supplementation recovers the increased pH and hardness in fillets caused by high-fat diet in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The wide use of high-fat diet (HFD) causes negative effects on flesh quality in farmed fish. l-carnitine, a lipid-lowering additive, enhances mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation. However its roles in alleviating the effects of HFD on flesh quality in fish are unknown. We fed Nile tilapia with medium-fat diet (MFD, 6% dietary lipid), high-fat diet (HFD, 12% dietary lipid) and HFCD supplemented with l-carnitine (HFCD + 400 mg/kg l-carnitine) for 10 weeks. The HFD-fed fish had higher fat deposition, pH value, myofiber density and flesh hardness than those fed on MFD. However, feeding the fish with the HFCD improved lipid catabolism, which increased significantly lactic acid content and myofiber diameter in muscle, thus reduced pH and hardness values. HFCD also reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress and myofiber apoptosis caused by HFD in the fish. Our study suggests that dietary l-carnitine supplementation alleviates the negative effects of HFD on flesh quality of farmed fish.

Modified biochar improves the storage capacity and adsorption affinity of organic phosphorus in soil.

The loss of soil organic phosphorus can easily cause water eutrophication. In order to effectively reduce the loss of soil organic phosphorus, this manuscript investigated the adsorption of soil organic phosphorus by lanthanum modified biochar (BC), traditional adsorbent gypsum (GY) and zeolite (ZE) by taking phytic acid as the representative. The adsorption isotherm model and kinetic models were used to fit the phosphorus absorption characteristics of the adsorbents. The effects of initial pH and temperature on the adsorption capacity were discussed, and the adsorption mechanism of each adsorbent was explained by means of FTIR and XRD. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of phytate phosphorus followed the trend of BCTS > GYTS > ZETS > TS (soil), and the maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm for treatment with BCTS was 2.836 mg g-1, and the treatment had the strongest affinity for phytate phosphorus and also the ability to store phosphorus. The adsorption process fits well with Langmuir isotherm equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, and the adsorption behavior of phytate phosphorus was mainly controlled by the chemisorption of monolayer. When the concentration of phytate phosphorus was 100 mg L-1, percentage of modified biochar added to the soil was 3% and the pH was 6, the adsorption capacity reached the maximum, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 2.000 mg g-1. The results of FTIR and XRD characterization showed that complexation was the main adsorption mechanism. In this study, the combination of modified biochar and soil phytate phosphorus can provide a good theoretical basis for reducing the loss of soil organic phosphorus.

Two new diterpenoids from Penicillium chrysogenum MT-12, an endophytic fungus isolated from Huperzia serrata.

Two new diterpenoids, penicichrysogene A (1) and penicichrysogene B (2), were isolated from the solid substrate fermentation cultures of Penicillium chrysogenum MT-12, an endophytic fungus isolated from the medicinal plant of Huperzia serrata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric data (1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR, and HRESIMS). The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were assigned on the basis of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Compound 1 exhibited inhibitory activity on ATP release of thrombin-activated platelets with IC50 = 42.7 ± 3.5 µM.

Augmented Intelligence to Identify Patients With Advanced Heart Failure in an Integrated Health System.

BACKGROUND: Timely referral for specialist evaluation in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) is a Class 1 recommendation. However, the transition from stage C HF to advanced or stage D HF often goes undetected in routine care, resulting in delayed referral and higher mortality rates. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to develop an augmented intelligence-enabled workflow using machine learning to identify patients with stage D HF and streamline referral. METHODS: We extracted data on HF patients with encounters from January 1, 2007, to November 30, 2020, from a HF registry within a regional, integrated health system. We created an ensemble machine learning model to predict stage C or stage D HF and integrated the results within the electronic health record. RESULTS: In a retrospective data set of 14,846 patients, the model had a good positive predictive value (60%) and low sensitivity (25%) for identifying stage D HF in a 100-person, physician-reviewed, holdout test set. During prospective implementation of the workflow from April 1, 2021, to February 15, 2022, 416 patients were reviewed by a clinical coordinator, with agreement between the model and the coordinator in 50.3% of stage D predictions. Twenty-four patients have been scheduled for evaluation in a HF clinic, 4 patients started an evaluation for advanced therapies, and 1 patient received a left ventricular assist device. CONCLUSIONS: An augmented intelligence-enabled workflow was integrated into clinical operations to identify patients with advanced HF. Endeavors such as this require a multidisciplinary team with experience in design thinking, informatics, quality improvement, operations, and health information technology, as well as dedicated resources to monitor and improve performance over time.

Protective effect of Qingre Huoxue decoction against myocardial infarction via PI3K/Akt autophagy pathway based on UPLC-MS, network pharmacology, and in vivo evidence.

CONTEXT: Qingre Huoxue (QRHX) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to prevent and treat myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVE: This study elucidates the possible mechanisms of QRHX in preventing or treating MI in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical constituents of QRHX were identified by UPLC-MS. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the Sham (normal saline), Model (normal saline), QRHX-L, QRHX-M and QRHX-H group (n = 10 per group). QRHX decoction was administered by gavage to the rats for 14 days (5, 10 and 20 g/kg/day). The left anterior descending ligation method was performed to develop MI in Model and QRHX groups, and the same surgical procedures excluding ligation sutures were performed for the sham group. Finally, we evaluated cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis degree, serum inflammatory factors, autophagy levels and verified the signalling pathways in vivo. RESULTS: A total of 68 active components of QRHX corresponding to 223 active targets were obtained and 2558 MI-related disease targets were collected. After integration, 123 QRHX anti-MI targets were obtained, and 70 signalling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, were identified by enrichment analysis. In vivo experiments suggest that QRHX could reduce the degree of myocardial fibrosis, downregulate serum inflammatory factors, and promote autophagy in MI rats. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: QRHX plays a protective role in the myocardium by mediating PI3K/Akt signalling pathway to activate autophagy and inhibiting inflammatory factor expression. These findings provide a scientific basis for further research and validation of QRHX as a potential therapeutic for MI.

Enhanced adsorption of phosphorus in soil by lanthanum-modified biochar: improving phosphorus retention and storage capacity.

Use of soil adsorbent is an effective method for the promotion of phosphorus adsorption capacity of soil, though most of the soil adsorbents have weak phosphorus retention ability. Herein, we compared the traditional gypsum (GP) and zeolite (ZP) adsorbents to explore the phosphorus retention ability of lanthanum modified walnut shell biochar (La-BC) in soil. The results showed that with the increase of exogenous phosphorus concentration, the adsorption amount of phosphorus by adsorbents in soil increased at first and then tended to be stable. The maximum adsorption capacity of soil to phosphorus is gypsum, lanthanum-modified biochar > zeolite, and the addition of lanthanum-modified biochar can improve the adsorption capacity of soil to phosphorus, enhance the binding strength of soil and phosphorus, improve the ability of soil to store phosphorus, reducing phosphorus adsorption saturation, and is beneficial to control the leaching of soil phosphorus. FTIR and XRD analysis showed that the adsorption of phosphorus by each adsorbent in soil was mainly chemical precipitation. The response surface analysis showed that the adsorption performance of La-BC+S was the best when the concentration of exogenous phosphorus was 50.0 mg/L, pH was 6.47, and the reaction time was 436.98 min. This study provides a reference for soil adsorbents to hold phosphorus and reduce the risk of phosphorus leaching to avoid groundwater pollution.

Discovery of novel inhibitors of human phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase by activity-directed combinatorial chemical synthesis strategy.

Serine, the source of the one-carbon units essential for de novo purine and deoxythymidine synthesis plays a crucial role in the growth of cancer cells. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) which catalyzes the first, rate-limiting step in de novo serine biosynthesis has become a promising target for the cancer treatment. Here we identified H-G6 as a potential PHGDH inhibitor from the screening of an in-house small molecule library based on the enzymatic assay. We adopted activity-directed combinatorial chemical synthesis strategy to optimize this hit compound. Compound b36 was found to be the noncompetitive and the most promising one with IC50 values of 5.96 ± 0.61 µM against PHGDH. Compound b36 inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells, reduced intracellular serine synthesis, damaged DNA synthesis, and induced cell cycle arrest. Collectively, our results suggest that b36 is a novel PHGDH inhibitor, which could be a promising modulator to reprogram the serine synthesis pathway and might be a potential anticancer lead worth further exploration.