Analysis on the Structure and Function of the Bacterial Community in the Replanting Soil of Basswood of Ganoderma lingzhi Medicinal Mushroom (Agaricomycetes).

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the replanting of basswood Ganoderma lingzhi on the soil bacterial community and reveal the obstacle phenomenon of replanting basswood G. lingzhi. In this study, the soil bacterial community of wild 20 cm (N0a) and 40 cm deep soil (N0b), cultivated once (N1a, N1b) and twice (N2a, N2b), were investigated by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The predominant bacterial phyla at the phylum classification level were Acidobacteria, Chloracidobacteria, Nitrospira, Spartobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Acidobacteria-6. Still, only the relative abundance of Chloracidobacteria and Acidobacteriia increased after two years of replanting of basswood G. lingzhi. At the genus level, the dominant genus included many unclassified bacteria. Among the known genera, the best genus was DA101, which showed a decreasing trend after two years of replanting. Network analysis showed that more connections of bacterial communities were observed in soil samples of the group "a," indicating that the replanting of basswood G. lingzhi can affect the relationship between soil bacterial communities at depths. The phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis showed that the gene metabolism function of soil bacteria was quite different after one year of replanting basswood G. lingzhi. The replanting of basswood G. lingzhi changed the composition and function of the soil bacterial community, and also affected the bacterial community diversity in the soil at different depths.

Nutritional Status in Chinese Patients with Obesity Following Sleeve Gastrectomy/Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Metabolic surgery (MS) is one of the most effective therapies for treating obesity. Due to the lack of multicenter cohort research on nutritional evaluations after surgery in Chinese patients, we explored the changes in nutritional status following MS in Chinese patients. This was a retrospective study of patients (n = 903) who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (n = 640) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 263) for obesity at five different hospitals in China between 17 February 2011, and 20 December 2019. Major nutrients were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Hb levels decreased, and anemia prevalence increased at 12 months after MS in the premenopausal female group. Moreover, patients with preoperative anemia had an increased risk of postoperative anemia. The ferritin levels (p < 0.001) decreased and iron deficiency increased (p < 0.001) at 12 months after MS among premenopausal females. No significant changes in folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency were found throughout the study. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total hip significantly decreased from baseline to 12 months after MS; however, no new patients developed osteopenia or osteoporosis after MS. Based on 12 months of follow-up, premenopausal females presented a high incidence of anemia after MS. Although we found no differences in osteopenia and osteoporosis prevalence after MS, the BMD did decrease significantly, which suggests that nutrient supplements and long-term follow-up are especially necessary postoperation.

Protective effect of paeoniflorin on H2O2 induced Schwann cells injury based on network pharmacology and experimental validation.

This study was to investigate the protective effect of paeoniflorin (PF) on hydrogen peroxide-induced injury. Firstly, "SMILES" of PF was searched in Pubchem and further was used for reverse molecular docking in Swiss Target Prediction database to obtain potential targets. Injury-related molecules were obtained from GeenCards database, and the predicted targets of PF for injury treatment were selected by Wayne diagram. For mechanism analysis, the protein-protein interactions were constructed by String, and the KEGG analysis was conducted in Webgestalt. Then, cell viability and cytotoxicity assay were established by CCK8 assay. Also, the experimental cells were allocated to control, model (200 µmol·L-1 H2O2), SB203580 10 µmol·L-1 (200 µmol·L-1 H2O2+ SB203580 10 µmol·L-1), PF 50 µmol·L-1 (200 µmol·L-1 H2O2+ PF 50 µmol·L-1), and PF 100 µmol·L-1 (200 µmol·L-1 H2O2+ PF 100 µmol·L-1) groups. We measured the intracellular ROS, Hoechst 33258 staining, cell apoptosis, the levels of Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Cleaved-caspase3, Cleaved-caspase7, TRPA1, TRPV1, and the phosphorylation expression of p38MAPK. There are 96 potential targets that may be associated with PF for injury treatment. Then, we chose the "Inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels" pathway for the experimental verification from the first 10 KEGG pathway. In experimental verification, H2O2 decreased the cell viability moderately (P < 0.05), and 100 µmol·L -1 PF increased the cell viability significantly (P < 0.05). Depending on the difference of intracellular ROS fluorescence intensity, PF inhibited H 2O2-induced reactive oxygen species production in Schwann cells. In Hoechst 33258 staining, PF reversed the condensed chromatin and apoptotic nuclei following H2O2 treatment. Moreover, Flow cytometry results showed that PF could substantially inhibit H2O2 induced apoptosis (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with PF obviously reduced the levels of Caspase3, Cleaved-caspase3, Cleaved-caspase7, TRPA1, TRPV1, and the phosphorylation expression of p38MAPK after H 2O2 treatment (P < 0.05), increased the levels of Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl ( P < 0.05). PF inhibited Schwann cell injury and apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide, which mechanism was linked to the inhibition of phosphorylation of p38MAPK.

Therapeutic Effect of Tetrapanax papyriferus and Hederagenin on Chronic Neuropathic Pain of Chronic Constriction Injury of Sciatic Nerve Rats Based on KEGG Pathway Prediction and Experimental Verification.

BACKGROUND: Hederagenin is one of the main components of Tetrapanax papyriferus, and Tetrapanax papyriferus is one of the ingredients of Danggui Sini decoction. To explore whether Tetrapanax papyriferus and hederagenin can alleviate mechanical pain, thermal hyperalgesia, and cold pain at the same time, we comprehensively investigated the effects of two drugs on the levels of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, TRP proteins, and IL1ß, IL6, and TNF-α in serum. METHODS: Firstly, we obtained pain-related targets and performed KEGG pathway enrichment on these targets. Then, 42 SD rats were separated randomly into six groups: sham operation group, CCI group, pregabalin group, mecobalamin group, Tetrapanax papyriferus group, and hederagenin group. All drugs were given orally. Rats in the sham operation group and CCI group were gavaged with saline. Rats in the pregabalin group were given pregabalin, while rats in the mecobalamin group were given mecobalamin. Rats in the Tetrapanax papyriferus group were given Tetrapanax papyriferus, while rats in the hederagenin group were given hederagenin. Besides, we conducted behavioral tests including acetone test, hot plate experiment, and von Frey filaments, and then dorsal root ganglion neurons were taken out on the 21st day after operation. Then, western blot, ELISA, and hematoxylin-eosin staining were conducted. RESULTS: Rats in the CCI group were more sensitive to hyperalgesia and allodynia to mechanical and thermal stimuli, as well as cold pain. All four drugs could relieve these pains. Pregabalin, mecobalamin, and Tetrapanax papyriferus can reduce the levels of IL1ß, IL6, and TNF-α in serum compared to those of the CCI group. The expression of TRPM8, TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV4, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK in DRG increased evidently on the 21st day after the operation in the CCI group. All four drugs could reduce the expressions of TRPM8, TRPA1, TRPV1, TRPV4, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK in dorsal root ganglion compared to those of the CCI group. CONCLUSION: Tetrapanax papyriferus and hederagenin relieved sciatica by reducing inflammation levels, inhibiting p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and decreasing the levels of dorsal root ganglion proteins.

Relationship between Selected Serum Metallic Elements and Obesity in Children and Adolescent in the U.S.

The prevalence of obesity has increased at an alarming rate worldwide. Metallic elements are involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and related diseases. To date, whether environmental exposure to metallic elements has effects on obesity in children and adolescents is still unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of blood metallic elements with obesity in U.S. children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was performed with 5404 children and adolescents (6-19 years, 2745 males and 2659 females) who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014. Blood lead, mercury, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc, as well as biochemical parameters including triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed for all subjects. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression were applied to assess associations of metallic elements and overweight, obesity status, and serum metabolites as distinct outcomes adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, and the poverty income ratio. When stratified by age and sex, significant associations were found between the highest quartile of copper concentrations in blood with obesity status (OR = 9.27, 95% CI: 5.43, 15.82, pfor trend < 0.001) and cholesterol (OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.43, 6.63, pfor trend < 0.001). The highest concentrations of manganese in the blood was associated with obesity in those aged 6-19 years (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.74, 3.02, pfor trend < 0.001). Moreover, blood mercury and selenium showed positive relationships with cholesterol. Further, a negative association existed between blood zinc and obesity. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data provide epidemiological evidence that blood metallic elements are positively associated with obesity in children and adolescents. However, the underlying mechanisms still need further exploration.

Toxicological assessment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in vitro: potential mitochondria effects on male reproductive cells.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been widely used in many fields and were reported to cause reversible testis damage in mice at high-dose. However the reproductive effects of low dose MWCNTs remained elusive. Herein, we used the mice spermatocyte cell line (GC-2spd) to assess the reproductive effects of MWCNTs. Size distribution, zeta potential, and intensity of MWCNTs were characterized. A maximal concentration of 0.5 µg/mL MWCNTs was found to be nonlethal to GC-2spd. At this dose, cell cycles and the ROS levels were in normal status. We also found MWCNTs accumulated in mitochondria, which caused potential mitochondrial DNA damage in spermatocyte. Furthermore, the expression level of mitochondria-related genes, the oxygen consumption rate, and cellular ATP content were declined compared to controls, even at the nonlethal dose. Our results suggested for the first time that, in germ cells, mitochondrion was a cellular organelle that accumulated MWCNTs.

[Application of metabolomics in treating polycystic ovary syndrome with berberine based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry].

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, heterogeneous disorder, which seriously impacts the health of reproductive age women. Thus reasonable individual-based treatment is important. In this study, the serum samples of 15 overweight PCOS patients before and after treatment with berberine for three months were collected for clinic biochemical test and metabolomic research. Metabolomic profiling based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (q-TOF MS) was used to investigate metabolic changes of PCOS. Compared with before treatment, the patients after berberine treatment can be separated into distinct clusters as displayed by the orthogonal signal correction partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OSC-PLS-DA) score plot with model parameter: R2Y = 0.892, Q2 (cum) = 0.577, which indicated changes in metabolites after berberine treatment. The differential metabolites related to berberine treatment were selected when their variable importance values were more than 1, and p < 0.05 with nonparametric test. These differential metabolites were all involved in lipids metabolism, including phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelin, stearic acid and erucamide. The pharmacological results and metabolomic data revealed that berberine can strengthen the sensitivity of insulin and rectify the dyslipidemia of overweight PCOS patients. This study also illustrates that the LC-MS based metabolomic method is helpful for evaluating the treatment of traditional Chinese medicines.