An integrated approach for studying the metabolic profiling of herbal medicine in mice using high-resolution mass spectrometry and metabolomics data processing tools.

Analysis of exposure to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in vivo based on mass spectrometry is helpful for the screening of effective ingredients of TCM and the development of new drugs. The method of screening biomarkers through metabolomics technology is a nontargeted research method to explore the differential components between two sets of biological samples. By taking this advantage, this study aims to takes Forsythia suspensa, which is a TCM also known as Lian Qiao (LQ), as the research object and to study its in vivo exposure by using metabolomics technology. By comparing the significant differences between biological samples before and after administration, it could be focused on the components that were significantly upregulated, where a complete set of analysis strategies for nontargeted TCM in vivo exposure mass spectrometry was established. Furthermore, the threshold parameters for peak extraction, parameter selection during statistical data analysis, and sample concentration multiples in this method have also been optimized. More interestingly, by using the established analysis strategy, we found 393 LQ-related chemical components in mice after administration, including 102 prototypes and 291 LQ-related metabolites, and plotted their metabolic profiles in vivo. In short, this study has obtained a complete mass spectrum of LQ exposure in mice in vivo for the first time, which provides a reference for research on the active ingredients of LQ in vivo. More importantly, compared with other methods, the analysis strategy of nontargeted exposure of TCM in vivo-based mass spectrometry, constructed by using this research method, has good universality and does not require self-developed postprocessing software. It is worth mentioning that, for the identification and characterization of trace amounts of metabolites in vivo, this analysis strategy has no discrimination and has a detection capability similar to that of highly exposed components.

Prediction of network pharmacology, molecular docking-based strategy, and vitro assays to determine potential pharmacological mechanism of Dioscoreae bulbiferae and Bruceae fructus against laryngocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and vitro assays, investigate the probable pharmacological mechanism of Dioscoreae bulbiferae and Bruceae fructus in the treatment of laryngocarcinoma. METHODS: The active components and targets of Dioscoreae bulbiferae and Bruceae fructus were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database. Targets linked with laryngocarcinoma were gathered from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, and DrugBank databases. The String database was utilized to build a protein-protein interaction network of common medication and illness targets, after which the core targets were filtered out. The Metascape database served for gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis of common targets. AutoDock then performed molecular docking between the essential component and the vital target. To investigate the biological effects of diosbulbin B, we assessed the viability of laryngocarcinoma cells after diosbulbin B therapy using the Mahalanobis Taguchi system technique. Following that, we looked at how diosbulbin B affected colony formation after 14 days of culture of treated cells. Flow cytometry was utilized to detect apoptosis in order to examine the influence of diosbulbin B on laryngocarcinoma cell apoptosis. RESULTS: According to a study of the literature, the fundamental components of Dioscoreae bulbiferae and Bruceae fructus in the treatment of laryngocarcinoma include brusatol and diosbulbin B, which may operate on core targets such as cyclin D1, Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1A, and E2F Transcription Factor 1. The significant pathways discovered using Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis were the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling route, the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and so on. These pathways primarily influence the development and prognosis of laryngeal cancer by controlling cell growth, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. The molecular docking studies revealed that the affinity between the heart and crucial targets was robust. The results of vitro assays indicate that diosbulbin B suppressed Hep-2 cell activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, diosbulbin B has powerful antiproliferative properties in Hep-2 cells. Flow cytometry results showed that diosbulbin B promoted laryngocarcinoma cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The article delivered a preliminary discussion of the probable mechanism of Dioscoreae bulbiferae and Bruceae fructus in the treatment of laryngocarcinoma, which can serve as a theoretical basis and evidence for subsequent experimental investigation.

Are Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Related to Peace of Mind? The Mediating Role of Nonattachment.

Peace of mind is an important affective well-being valued in Chinese culture. Mindfulness and self-compassion could potentially promote peace of mind. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects were not well understood. The current cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether nonattachment explained the effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on peace of mind. A sample of 364 Chinese adults was recruited from WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform. Participants filled out an online survey including measures of dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, nonattachment, and peace of mind. The results of correlation analyses revealed significant and positive associations among mindfulness, self-compassion, nonattachment, and peace of mind. Furthermore, nonattachment significantly mediated the associations between mindfulness and self-compassion with peace of mind. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that the relationships between mindfulness and self-compassion with nonattachment were stronger for women than for men. Gender did not moderate the direct effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on peace of mind, the relationship between nonattachment and peace of mind, and the mediating effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on peace of mind through nonattachment. These findings suggest that nonattachment may be a potential mechanism through which mindfulness and self-compassion promote peace of mind among Chinese adults. If the mediating effects are confirmed in future longitudinal and experimental studies, mindfulness and self-compassion interventions can emphasize nonattachment to optimize their effects on peace of mind. It may also be important to tailor mindfulness and self-compassion training for men and women given the gender differences in the relationships between mindfulness and self-compassion with nonattachment.

Hormonal biomarkers provide insights into the reproductive biology and pollutants-associated health hazards of endangered dolphins.

Contaminants are known to contribute to the reproductive health hazards of wildlife, but pollutants-associated detrimental impacts on the endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis, IPHD) are largely unknown due to a lack of reproductive parameters. Here we validated and applied blubber progesterone and testosterone as reproductive biomarkers to assess reproductive parameters of IPHD (n = 72). The gender-specific progesterone concentrations and progesterone/testosterone (P/T) supported progesterone and testosterone as valid biomarkers in identifying the genders of IPHD. Significant month-to-month variations of two hormones indicated a seasonal reproduction, in accordance with the observation of photo-identification approach, further supporting testosterone and progesterone as ideal reproductive biomarkers. Progesterone and testosterone concentrations showed significant differences between Lingding Bay and West-four region, possibly due to chronically geographic-specific pollutants differences. The significant relationships between sex hormones and multiple contaminants suggested that contaminants contribute to the disruption of testosterone and progesterone homeostasis. The best explanatory models between pollutants and hormones suggested that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), lead (Pb) and selenium (Se) were the major risk factors jeopardizing the reproductive health of IPHD. This is the first study on the relationship between pollutant exposure and reproductive hormones in IPHD and represents a substantial advance in understanding the detrimental reproductive impacts of pollutants on endangered cetaceans.

Situating Meditation Apps Within the Ecosystem of Meditation Practice: Population-Based Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Meditation apps have the potential to increase access to evidence-based strategies to promote mental health. However, it is currently unclear how meditation apps are situated within the broader landscape of meditation practice and what factors may influence engagement with them. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and correlates of meditation app use in a population-based sample of individuals with lifetime exposure to meditation in the United States. In addition, we sought to identify the concerns and desired features of meditation apps among those with lifetime exposure to meditation. METHODS: A total of 953 participants completed an initial screening survey. Of these 953 participants, 434 (45.5%) reported lifetime exposure to meditation and completed a follow-up survey (434/470, 92.3% response rate) assessing their meditation app use, anxiety, depression, loneliness, initial motivation for meditation, and concerns about and desired features of meditation apps. RESULTS: Almost half (434/953, 45.5%) of the participants who completed the screening survey reported lifetime exposure to meditation. Among those with lifetime exposure to meditation (ie, meditators), more than half (255/434, 58.8%) had used meditation apps at least once in their lives, and 21.7% (94/434) used meditation apps weekly or daily (ie, active users). Younger age, higher anxiety, and a mental health motivation for practicing meditation were associated with lifetime exposure to meditation apps. Among meditators, those with lifetime exposure to meditation apps were more likely to report concerns about apps, including concerns regarding the cost and effectiveness of apps, time required for use, technical issues with apps, and app user-friendliness. Meditators who used meditation apps weekly or daily (ie, active users) were younger, less likely to be men and non-Latinx White individuals and have lower income, and more likely to have an initial spiritual motivation for meditation. Active users reported more concerns regarding usability and technical problems and were less likely to report disinterest in apps. Headspace and Calm were the most frequently used apps. Tips and reminders for practice, encouragement of "mini" practices, and mental health content were the most desired features. Participants were less interested in social features (eg, the ability to communicate with other users or teachers). CONCLUSIONS: Meditation apps are commonly used by meditators in the United States, with a higher use among certain demographic groups. Future studies may increase user engagement in meditation apps by addressing concerns (eg, cost and effectiveness) and incorporating desired features (eg, tips and reminders for practice).

The high dose of inulin exacerbated food allergy through the excess accumulation of short-chain fatty acids in a BABL/c mouse model.

Inulin dietary supplement is conventionally beneficial to gut health and can potentially prevent food allergy (FA). This study aimed to determine how dietary inulin interventions at different doses affect the OVA-induced FA in a BALB/c mouse model. Although the middle dose of inulin (50 mg per mouse) showed the best therapeutic effect on FA, high-inulin supplementation (80 mg per mouse) provoked severe allergic and intestinal inflammatory responses, which were characterized by elevated serum allergic inflammation-related factor levels, dysfunctional gut barrier, unbalanced luminal pH value, decrease in intestinal antioxidant capacity, and disordered gut microecology. Moreover, profiling of SCFAs indicated that the high-inulin-induced excess accumulation of SCFAs in the colon was responsible for the gut immune disorders. Spearman correlation analysis unraveled that the featured bacterial taxa in the high-inulin-treated mice were Ruminococcaceae and Bifidobacterium, of which the relative abundance was negatively correlated with expression of tight junction proteins and improvement of T cell homeostasis, and positively correlated with levels of allergic inflammation-related indexes. Our work suggested that high-inulin dietary supplementation can be detrimental to allergic individuals and highlighted the importance for personalized use of inulin-type dietary supplements to safely improve human health.

The potential mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in the impact of mindfulness training on anxiety and depression severity and impairment: A randomized controlled trial.

The benefits of mindfulness-based interventions to alleviate anxiety and depression have been supported by many studies. Given the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety and depression, the underlying mechanisms need to be explored. Using a randomized waitlist-controlled design, this study investigated whether anxiety sensitivity was a potential mechanism for the impact of mindfulness training on anxiety and depression. Participants with high psychological distress were randomly assigned to an eight-week mindfulness intervention (N = 35) or a wait-list control group (N = 34). Before and after the intervention or corresponding waitlist period, participants completed measures of anxiety and depression severity and impairment and anxiety sensitivity. Separate mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group (intervention vs. control group) × time (pre- vs. post-test) interactions for anxiety sensitivity and overall anxiety severity and impairment and marginally significant interaction for overall depression severity and impairment. Moreover, simple mediation models showed that reductions of anxiety sensitivity from pre- to post-test mediated the impact of mindfulness training on changes in anxiety and depression severity and impairment. The findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity is a potential mechanism underlying the effect of mindfulness training on anxiety and depression, which provides a new perspective for the study of processes of change of mindfulness-based interventions.

Prediction of network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy to determine potential pharmacological mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang pill against tinnitus.

BACKGROUND: Liuwei Dihuang Pill is widely used to treat tinnitus in China. However, the underlying mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill in treating tinnitus still remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential pharmacological mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill in the treatment of tinnitus based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. METHODS: The active components of the Liuwei Dihuang Pill were obtained from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) database. Cytoscape software was used to draw the active component-target network diagram of Liuwei Dihuang Pill, and obtain the core components. Then the corresponding targets were also obtained from the TCMSP database. Targets related to tinnitus were obtained from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, TTD and DrugBank databases. The String database was used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of common targets of drugs and diseases, then the core targets were screened out. The Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database was used for gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of common targets. Finally, the molecular docking between the core component and the core target was carried out by AutoDock. RESULTS: The core components of Liuwei Dihuang Pill in the treatment of tinnitus including quercetin, stigmasterol, kaempferol, ß-sitosterol, tetrahydroalstonine, which may act on core targets such as STAT3, transcription factor AP-1 (JUN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 and MAPK3. HIF-1 signaling pathway, Influenza A, P53 signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway play a role in anti-inflammatory, improving microcirculation in the blood-labyrinth barrier, increasing cochlear blood flow, and preventing hair cell damage. The molecular docking results showed that the affinity between core components and core targets was good. CONCLUSION: The potential mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pill in the treatment of tinnitus was preliminarily discussed in this study, which may provide a theoretical basis and evidence for further experimental research.

Potato starch films by incorporating tea polyphenol and MgO nanoparticles with enhanced physical, functional and preserved properties.

Due to the massive environmental pollution caused by synthetic plastic packaging accumulation and contemporary necessities of food packaging materials, the biodegradable and multifunctional bionanocomposite films based on potato starch (PS) incorporating tea polyphenol (TP) and MgO nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) were successfully fabricated by the solution casting method, and their physical and functional properties and application in fruits preservation were systematically investigated. Incorporation of TP and MgO-NPs improved the films' tensile strength, UV light-blocking, hydrophobicity and thermal stability, and decreased their moisture content (from 14.02 % to 11.21 %), water solubility (from 19.57 % to 16.56 %), and water vapor permeability (from 17.32 to 9.07 × 10-11 g∙m-1∙s-1∙Pa-1). Moreover, the PS/TP/MgO-NPs films exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the diameter of inhibition zone of 25.60 mm and 27.50 mm, respectively. SEM, ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses indicated the TP and MgO-NPs were dispersed homogeneously in the PS matrix, and identified the molecular interactions of hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic attraction. Biodegradability assessment showed that all the films were rapidly decomposed within ~20 days under simulated environmental conditions. Compared to control, the PS/TP/MgO-NPs film-forming solution coatings were capable of maintaining fruit quality by reducing the change in weight loss, firmness and total soluble solids. Overall, these results suggested that the multifunctional bionanocomposite films could be a potential approach for developing sustainable active food packaging.

Main active components of Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction (SMYAD) attenuate autophagy and apoptosis via the PDE5A-AKT and TLR4-NOX4 pathways in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced heart failure models.

Heart failure (HF), the main cause of death in patients with many cardiovascular diseases, has been reported to be closely related to the complicated pathogenesis of autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation. Notably, Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction (SMYAD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to treat cardiovascular disease; however, the main active components and their relevant mechanisms remain to be discovered. Based on our previous ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) results, we identified angoriside C (AC) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DiCQA) as the main active components of SMYAD. In vivo results showed that AC and 3,5-DiCQA effectively improved cardiac function, reduced the fibrotic area, and alleviated isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocarditis in rats. Moreover, AC and 3,5-DiCQA inhibited ISO-induced autophagic cell death by inhibiting the PDE5A/AKT/mTOR/ULK1 pathway and inhibited ISO-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the TLR4/NOX4/BAX pathway. In addition, the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA was shown to reduce ISO-induced apoptosis, indicating that ISO-induced autophagic cell death leads to excess apoptosis. Taken together, the main active components AC and 3,5-DiCQA of SMYAD inhibit the excessive autophagic cell death and apoptosis induced by ISO by inhibiting the PDE5A-AKT and TLR4-NOX4 pathways, thereby reducing myocardial inflammation and improving heart function to alleviate and treat a rat ISO-induced heart failure model and cell heart failure models. More importantly, the main active components of SMYAD will provide new insights into a promising strategy that will promote the discovery of more main active components of SMYAD for therapeutic purposes in the future.

[L-carnitine-astaxanthin compound nutrients for the treatment of idiopathic oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A multicenter clinical observation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of the L-carnitine-astaxanthin compound nutrients Menglankang (MLK) on idiopathic oligospermia (OS) and asthenospermia (AS). METHODS: This study included 73 cases of OS and 220 cases of AS treated with MLK once a bag, bid, for 3 successive months. Before and at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment, we obtained and analyzed the semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of the patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the OS patients showed remarkable increases after 1 and 2 months of treatment in the semen volume (ï¼»3.07 ± 1.47ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.26 ± 1.26ï¼½ and ï¼»3.30 ± 1.28ï¼½ ml), sperm concentration (ï¼»10.96 ± 6.09ï¼½ vs ï¼»16.74 ± 11.15ï¼½ and ï¼»17.56 ± 9.92ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), total sperm count (ï¼»29.78 ± 17.48ï¼½ vs ï¼»52.98 ± 32.07ï¼½ and ï¼»57.67 ± 36.98ï¼½ ×106, P < 0.05) and the percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) (ï¼»39.8 ± 11.66ï¼½% vs ï¼»45.3 ± 14.03ï¼½% and ï¼»46.42 ± 10.69ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and morphologically normal sperm (MNS) (ï¼»1.71 ± 1.07ï¼½% vs ï¼»1.79 ± 0.91ï¼½% and ï¼»1.84 ± 0.96ï¼½%), and so did the AS patients in PMS (ï¼»19.23 ± 8.32ï¼½% vs ï¼»25.46 ± 13.86ï¼½% and ï¼»27.33 ± 12.88ï¼½%, P < 0.05). After 3 months of medication, the OS patients exhibited even more significant increases in the semen volume (ï¼»3.63 ± 1.39ï¼½ ml) (P < 0.05), sperm concentration (ï¼»20.56 ± 14.7ï¼½ ×106/ml) (P < 0.05), total sperm count (ï¼»66.35 ± 55.91ï¼½ ×106) (P < 0.05), PMS (ï¼»49.24 ± 13.45ï¼½%) (P < 0.05) and MNS (ï¼»2.59 ± 0.93ï¼½%) (P < 0.05), and so did the AS patients in the semen volume (ï¼»3.27 ± 1.42ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.85 ± 1.59ï¼½ ml, P < 0.05), PMS (ï¼»29.11 ± 13.58ï¼½%) (P < 0.05) and NMS (ï¼»2.01 ± 1.14ï¼½% vs ï¼»2.57 ± 1.15ï¼½%, P < 0.05). In comparison with the baseline, the sperm DFI was not significantly improved at 1 month after treatment, but remarkably decreased at 2 and 3 months in the OS patients (ï¼»25.87 ± 13.76ï¼½% vs ï¼»18.66 ± 10.83ï¼½% and ï¼»16.48 ± 11.46ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and the AS patients as well (ï¼»26.40 ± 12.28ï¼½% vs ï¼»19.35 ± 11.54ï¼½% and ï¼»15.32 ± 10.89ï¼½%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The L-carnitine-astaxanthin compound nutrients Menglankang can significantly improve the semen quality of the patients with idiopathic oligospermia or asthenospermia.

An improved procedure for isolating adult mouse cardiomyocytes for epicardial activation mapping.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Although genetically modified mouse models offer great potential for robust research in vivo, in vitro studies using isolated cardiomyocytes also provide an important approach for investigating the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and drug actions. Currently, isolation of mouse adult cardiomyocytes often relies on aortic retrograde intubation under a stereoscopic microscope, which poses considerable technical barriers and requires extensive training. Although a simplified, Langendorff-free method has been used to isolate viable cardiomyocytes from the adult mouse heart, the system requires enzymatic digestions and continuous manual technical operation. This study established an optimized approach that allows isolation of adult mouse cardiomyocytes and epicardial activation mapping of mouse hearts using a Langendorff device. We used retrograde puncture through the abdominal aorta in vivo and enzymatic digestion on the Langendorff perfusion device to isolate adult mouse cardiomyocytes without using a microscope. The yields of isolated cardiomyocytes were amenable to patch clamp techniques. Furthermore, this approach allowed epicardial activation mapping. We used a novel, simplified method to isolate viable cardiomyocytes from adult mouse hearts and to map epicardial activation. This novel approach could be beneficial in more extensive research in the cardiac field.

Targeting Autophagy with Natural Compounds in Cancer: A Renewed Perspective from Molecular Mechanisms to Targeted Therapy.

Natural products are well-characterized to have pharmacological or biological activities that can be of therapeutic benefits for cancer therapy, which also provide an important source of inspiration for discovery of potential novel small-molecule drugs. In the past three decades, accumulating evidence has revealed that natural products can modulate a series of key autophagic signaling pathways and display therapeutic effects in different types of human cancers. In this review, we focus on summarizing some representative natural active compounds, mainly including curcumin, resveratrol, paclitaxel, Bufalin, and Ursolic acid that may ultimately trigger cancer cell death through the regulation of some key autophagic signaling pathways, such as RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, AMPK, ULK1, Beclin-1, Atg5 and p53. Taken together, these inspiring findings would shed light on exploiting more natural compounds as candidate small-molecule drugs, by targeting the crucial pathways of autophagy for the future cancer therapy.

Coupled influence of pH and dissolved organic carbon on the immobilization of phosphorus by lanthanum-modified zeolite.

Wind-driven waves and currents in shallow lakes frequently trigger the resuspension of sediments in the photic layer, which is characterized with a high pH and high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. The mechanism of phosphorus-inactivating agents (PIAs) immobilizing phosphorus under the coupled influence of pH and DOC is not clarified, and the applicability of PIAs in eutrophic shallow lakes is thus still doubtful. We found that, under the coupled influence of pH and DOC, the uptake of phosphate by LMZ was affected mainly by pH at low DOC concentrations and by DOC at high DOC concentrations. A high pH (9.3) and high DOC concentration (24.7 mg/L) greatly increased the release of phosphorus from sediment to water. However, the addition of LMZ substantially reduced the P concentrations in water, mainly via capture of dissolved inorganic phosphorus. The results of the reversibility of the adsorption of phosphates and DOC showed that phosphate had much higher affinity than DOC towards LMZ. The phosphate once adsorbed on LMZ was resistant to release when exposed to conditions of either a high pH (9.5), high DOC concentration (250 mg/L) or both; i.e., only <5% of the adsorbed phosphate is releasable. Therefore, we proposed that, to avoid the coupled influence of pH and DOC in the photic layer of eutrophic shallow lakes, LMZ could be applied in multiple low doses in the season when the growth of algae is minimal (a low pH and low DOC concentration).

Effect of algae on phosphorus immobilization by lanthanum-modified zeolite.

Phosphorus-inactivating agents (PIAs) as geoengineering tools in lakes have been investigated extensively, but PIA resuspension in the photic layer occurs frequently in shallow lakes and little is known about the influence of algae on PIA performance. Our results proved that algae increased the dissolved oxygen, pH and dissolved organic carbon concentration substantially. In the absence of sediment, lanthanum modified zeolite (LMZ) as a representative PIA and algae could deplete dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) from water but the former was faster than the latter. When LMZ and algae coexisted, the amount of phosphorus that was captured by LMZ was 3.1 times greater than that taken up by algae. An increase in pH or dissolved organic carbon increased the zero-equilibrium phosphorus concentration (EPC0) of the sediment but LMZ addition could lower the EPC0 and reduce the risk of phosphorus release during the algal blooming season. In the presence of sediment, LMZ reduced the DIP concentration more rapidly and yielded a lower final DIP concentration compared with algae. In conclusion, the influence of algae on the performance of LMZ by (i) taking up DIP to reduce the availability of DIP and convert DIP into a releasable phosphorus form and (ii) increasing the pH and dissolved organic carbon concentration to hinder the adsorption ability of DIP were recognized. The LMZ performed well, even in the presence of algae.

The anti-tussive, anti-inflammatory effects and sub-chronic toxicological evaluation of perilla seed oil.

BACKGROUND: Perilla seed oil (PSO) is the main constituent of perilla seeds currently being used in the food industry, however it also has great clinical potential in the regulation of lung function as a nutrition supplement because of the high content of α-linolenic acid (ALA). In this study, the pharmacological activities including anti-tussive, expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect of PSO were performed. Furthermore, the 90-day sub-chronic oral toxicity with a 30 day recovery period was evaluated in Wistar rats. RESULTS: The pharmacological studies demonstrated that PSO inhibited cough frequency induced by capsaicine in mice. PSO also inhibited the leukotriene B4 (LTB4) release from the calcium ionophore A23187-induced polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) to some extent. In this sub-chronic toxicity study, mortality, clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, organ weight, necropsy, and histopathology were used to evaluate the toxicity of PSO. Lower body weight and various negative impacts on liver related parameters without histopathological lesion were observed in the 16 g kg-1 groups. No clinically significant changes were discovered in the 4 g kg-1 group during the test period. CONCLUSION: In summary, PSO exhibited anti-tussive and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and in vitro. These sub-chronic toxicity studies inferred that the 'no-observed adverse effect level' (NOAEL) of PSO in Wistar rats was determined to be 4 g kg-1 . These results may provide a safety profile and a valuable reference for the use of PSO. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cedrol attenuates collagen-induced arthritis in mice and modulates the inflammatory response in LPS-mediated fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Ginger has been used as a flavoring agent and traditional medicine for a long time in Asian countries. Pharmacological studies showed that it has antiemetic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is attributed to its chemical constituents. The aim of the present study is to investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis properties of cedrol (CE) found in ginger. In an in vivo anti-RA study, CE remarkably alleviated the paw swelling and arthritis score in CE-treated CIA mice compared with the model group. The neutrophil count and the productions of TNF-α and IL-1ß were inhibited, and the expressions of Rankl, Cox-1 and Cox-2 were down-regulated at the mRNA level. Radiologic evaluation, histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry indicated that CE ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial hyperplasia, and bone and cartilage damage, and exhibited an immunotherapeutic effect. The MTT assay demonstrated that CE (10-10-10-5 M) had no cytotoxicity on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), and exhibited an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of LPS-induced FLSs at concentrations of 10-6 M and 10-5 M. Mechanism research showed that the suppressed expressions of pivotal inflammatory mediators including COX-1 and COX-2 subsequently reduced the production of PGE2, thereby causing the secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ultimately attenuating the progression of inflammation. Meanwhile, the reduction in the mRNA levels of Mmp-13 and Mcp-1 responsible for osteoclastogenesis resistance was detected. This illustrated that CE showed anti-rheumatoid arthritis properties via blocking the phosphorylation of ERK/MAPK and p65/NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-activated FLSs. The current research suggested that CE is an important functional component in ginger, which may be a promising candidate drug for RA therapy.

The Antitumor Efficacy of ß-Elemene by Changing Tumor Inflammatory Environment and Tumor Microenvironment.

Inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory microenvironment promote the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells in the early stage of cancer, promote the growth and development of cancer cells, and induce tumor immune escape. The monomeric active ingredient ß-elemene is extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma wenyujin and has been proven to have good anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities in clinical applications for more than 20 years in China. Recent studies have found that this traditional Chinese medicine plays a vital role in macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization, as well as in regulating immune disorders, and it even regulates the transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 to alter inflammation, tumorigenesis, and development. In addition, ß-elemene regulates not only different inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α, IFN, TGF-ß, and IL-6/10) but also oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. The excellent anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects of ß-elemene and its ability to alter the inflammatory microenvironment of tumors have been gradually elaborated. Although the study of monomeric active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines is insufficient in terms of quality and quantity, the pharmacological effects of more active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines will be revealed after ß-elemene.

Immobilization and Release Behavior of Phosphorus on Phoslock-Inactivated Sediment under Conditions Simulating the Photic Zone in Eutrophic Shallow Lakes.

Phosphorus-inactivating agents (PIAs) have increasingly been applied and extensively investigated to control internal phosphorus loading in lakes. However, little is known about the behavior of PIA-amended sediment in terms of phosphorus immobilization and release when the sediment is resuspended in the photic layer, whose environment differs from the lake bed. Lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB) is a popular PIA product. In this study, the 33 day core incubation experiment under dark conditions showed that capping sediment with LMB efficiently decreased the concentration of total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) by 90, 87, and 99%, respectively. Resuspension into overlying water under light conditions at high pH, high dissolved organic carbon, and in the presence of algae significantly impedes the performance of LMB. However, the adoption of a higher LMB dose improved the performance, including a reduction in the phosphorus level and control of algal growth. The dynamics of the phosphorus migration when the LMB-inactivated sediment was resuspended into the photic zone mainly involves the release of DIP from the sediment and the uptake of DIP by algae and LMB. In conclusion, a higher dose is needed in the PIA (particularly Phoslock) application in shallow productive lakes where sediment resuspension occurs frequently.

Inactivation of phosphorus in the sediment of the Lake Taihu by lanthanum modified zeolite using laboratory studies.

Release of phosphorus (P) from sediment to overlying water has to be dealt with to address algal blooms in eutrophic lakes. In this study, the sediment from the Lake Taihu was amended with lanthanum modified zeolite (LMZ) to reduce P release under different pH, temperature and anaerobic conditions. LMZ performed well, to decreasing P concentration in Lake Taihu water in the presence of sediment. The EPC0 value, the critical P concentration at which there was neither P adsorption nor P release, was lowered by adding LMZ, suggesting that amendment with LMZ could diminish the risk of P release from the sediment. From the Langmuir isotherm model, the adsorption capacity of phosphate by LMZ was estimated to be 64.1 mgP/g. The LMZ-amended sediment had a higher content of stable P forms (HCl-P and Res-P) and a lower content of P forms with a high (NH4Cl-P and BD-P) or medium-high (NaOH-P and Org-P) risk of release, when compared with the original sediment. The fractionation simulates conditions which release potentially mobile P which can then be simply re-bound to LMZ. At high pH (>9.0), anaerobic condition or high temperature promoted the liberation of P from sediment. However, P release could be greatly inhibited by LMZ. In addition, although Mn2+ and NH4+ ions were released from sediment under the anaerobic condition, the release could also be hindered by adding LMZ. LMZ is a promising P inactivation agent to manage eutrophication in the sediment of Lake Taihu.