Evaluation of Iron Chlorin e6 disappearance and hydrolysis in soil and garlic using salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet-visible detection.

Iron Chlorin e6 (ICE6), a star plant growth regulator (PGR) with independent intellectual property rights in China, has demonstrated its efficacy through numerous field experiments. We innovatively employed salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) with HPLC-UV/Vis to detect ICE6 residues in water, soil, garlic seeds, and sprouts. Using methanol and a C18 column with acetonitrile: 0.1% phosphoric acid mobile phase (55:45, v:v), we achieved a low LOQ of 0.43 to 0.77 µg kg-1. Calibration curves showed strong linearity (R2 > 0.992) within 0.01 to 5.00 mg kg-1. Inter-day and intra-day recoveries (0.05 to 0.50 mg kg-1) demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy (recoveries: 75.36% to 107.86%; RSD: 1.03% to 8.78%). Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) analysis aligned UV/Vis spectra and indicated ICE6's first-order degradation (2.03 to 4.94 days) under various environmental conditions, mainly driven by abiotic degradation. This study enhances understanding of ICE6's environmental behavior, aids in risk assessment, and guides responsible use in agroecosystems.

Waterlogging in soil restricts the growth of Gleditsia sinensis seedlings and inhibits the accumulation of lignans and phenolic acids in thorns.

Gleditsia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Zaojiao, has important economic value and medicinal compounds in its fruits and thorns, making it widely cultivated artificially in China. However, the available literature on the impact of waterlogging on the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and the accumulation of metabolite compounds in its thorns is limited. To address this knowledge gap, G. sinensis seedlings were planted in soil supplemented with pindstrup substrate, which enhances the water-holding capacity of the soil. The analyses of morphological traits and nutrient elements in one-year-old G. sinensis seedlings grown naturally under ambient conditions and metabolite accumulation in its thorns were conducted. The results showed that the waterlogged soil significantly diminished the height, fresh weight, and dry weight of seedling roots and stems (P < 0.05). Furthermore, waterlogging hindered the uptake of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), as well as the transport of potassium (K). The identified metabolites within the thorns were categorized into 16 distinct groups. Relative to the control soil, fatty acids and derivatives were the most down-regulated metabolites in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 40.58% of the total metabolites, followed by lignans (38.71%), phenolic acids (34.48%), saccharides and alcohols (34.15%), steroids (16.67%), alkaloids (12.24%), flavonoids (9.28%), and glycerophospholipids (7.41%). Conversely, nucleotides and derivatives experienced the greatest up-regulation in the waterlogged soil, accounting for 50.00% of the total metabolites. In conclusion, waterlogging negatively impacted the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and inhibited the accumulation of metabolites. Hence, when considering the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as lignans and phenolic acids, appropriate management of soil moisture levels should be taken into account.

Establishment and Corresponding Nursing Measures of Intelligent Health Education Platform for Parkinson's Patients Based on Behavior Change Theory.

Objective: Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that can cause mobility problems as well as mental health, sleep, pain and other health problems. To analyze the establishment of a platform for Parkinson's patients to cooperate with intelligent health education based on behavior change theory and the corresponding nursing measures. Methods: 80 patients with Parkinson's disease in the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2021 to September 2022 were selected and included in the conventional and wisdom education groups according to different health education methods, with 40 patients in each group. The conventional education group carried out routine health education and nursing. Based on routine health education and nursing, the wisdom education group established a smart health education platform based on behavior change theory. It implemented corresponding health education and nursing measures. The knowledge, belief and practice (KAP score), psychological status, self-efficacy [General self-efficacy scale (GSES) score], motor function [Parkinson's disease Uniform Scoring Scale (UPDRS) - III score], daily living ability (Barthel index), sleep quality (PSQI score), quality of life (QOL score), complication rate (pressure sores, constipation, bruises), and education satisfaction of the two groups were compared. Results: The KAP score of the wisdom education group after health education was higher than that of the conventional education group (P < .05); The SAS and SDS scores of the wisdom education group after health education were lower than those of the conventional education group (P < .05); The GSES score of the wisdom education group after health education was higher than that of the conventional education group (P < .05); The UPDRS - III score of the wisdom education group after health education was lower than that of the conventional education group, and the Barthel index was higher than that of the conventional education group, P < .05; The PSQI score of the wisdom education group after health education was lower than that of the conventional education group, and the QOL score was higher than that of the conventional education group, P < .05; The incidence of complications in the wisdom education group was lower than that in the conventional education group (P < .05); The satisfaction of the wisdom education group was higher than that of the conventional education group (P < .05). Conclusion: The establishment of an intelligent health education platform based on behavior change theory for Parkinson's patients and the implementation of corresponding health education and nursing measures can significantly improve the knowledge, belief, practice, and psychological status of patients. This will be helpful for those patients and clinicians. There are also limitations, such as little numbers of patients and no mechanisms.

Effect of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats.

OBJEVTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Cyclocarya paliurus (C. paliurus) polysaccharides on stre- ptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into 6 groups, including group of normal control, group of diabetic control, group of metformin treatment, low-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharides treatment, middle-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharides treatment and high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharides treatment. Histological analysis of kidney was analyzed using hematoxilin and eosin. Levels of blood glucose, creatinine, urea, uric acid were determined by spectrophotometry. Anti-oxidative enzymes were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) level was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Abnormal changes were observed in the group of diabetic control characterized by atrophy of the renal glomeruli with hypercellularity, congestion of glomerular tufts, dilation of the renal spaces, and degeneration of renal tubule. Compared with that of normal group, blood glucose, creatinine, urea, uric acid level was significantly increased in the group of diabetic control. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase level was significantly decreased, but AGEs and TGF-ß1 level was significantly increased. By contrast, administration of C. paliurus polysaccharides and metformin could reverse the above-mentioned results of the group of diabetic control, especially in the high-dose group of C. paliurus polysaccharides. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that C. paliurus polysaccharides may play a protecting role for nephropathy of diabetic rats by lowering glucose, creatinine, urea, uric acid level, enhancing the antioxidative ability, and reducing AGEs and TGF-ß1 expression.

Integrating Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics to Investigate the Processing Chemistry of Polygoni Multiflori Radix.

Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR, Heshouwu in Chinese), derived from the tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., is a widely-used Chinese medicinal material. For traditional clinical use, raw PMR (RPMR) is processed by nine cycles of steaming and drying to generate processed PMR (PPMR); RPMR and PPMR have distinct medicinal purposes based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. While PMR has been processed for hundreds of years, including the present, the chemistry of that processing has not been well studied. In this study, targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) were integrated to investigate the processing chemistry of PMR. The results demonstrate that processing by nine cycles of steaming and drying qualitatively and quantitatively alters the chemical profile of PMR. Several mechanisms, namely hydrolysis, dehydration, isomerization, and Maillard reaction appear to be involved in the chemical transformation that occurs. The qualitative and quantitative data further suggest that nine cycles might be necessary for the preparation of PPMR, as PPMR that has been processed nine times shows significant differences in its chemical profile.

Tissue-specific chemical profiling and quantitative analysis of bioactive components of Cinnamomum cassia by combining laser-microdissection with UPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

BACKGROUND: Cinnamomi Cortex, the dried stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Rougui in Chinese) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, cooking and perfumery for thousands of years. Traditionally, the Cinnamomi Cortex of thick size is considered to be of good quality; however, there is no scientific data to support this point. Considering that essential oils are the main bioactive components, Cinnamomi Cortex of greater variety and amount essential oils is thought to be of better quality. In this study, laser microdissection coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was applied to profile the essential oils in different tissues of Cinnamomi Cortex and to determine if there is a correlation between the essential oil content and the stem bark thickness. RESULTS: We report the tissue-specific metabolic profiles of different grades of Cinnamomi Cortex. Nineteen chemical components were unequivocally or tentatively identified in the chromatogram of the test samples. The results indicate that the bioactive components, the essential oils, were mainly present in the phloem. CONCLUSION: Phloem thickness is the key character for evaluating the quality of Cinnamomi Cortex. Our results can be of great importance in improving the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of Cinnamomi Cortex, as well as enhancing its effects in clinical applications.

Significance of oxygen carriers and role of liquid paraffin in improving validamycin A production.

Validamycin A (Val-A) synthesized by Streptomyces hygroscopicus 5008 is widely used as a high-efficient antibiotic to protect plants from sheath blight disease. A novel fermentation strategy was introduced to stimulate Val-A production by adding oxygen carriers. About 58 % increase in Val-A production was achieved using liquid paraffin. Further, biomass, carbon source, metabolic genes, and metabolic enzymes were studied. It was also found that the supplementation of liquid paraffin increased the medium dissolved oxygen and intracellular oxidative stress level. The expression of the global regulators afsR and soxR sensitive to ROS, ugp catalyzing synthesis of Val-A precursor, and Val-A structural genes was enhanced. The change of the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was observed, which reflected the redirection of carbon metabolic flux. Based on these results, liquid paraffin addition as an oxygen carrier could be a useful technique in industrial production of Val-A and our study revealed a redox-based secondary metabolic regulation in S. hygroscopicus 5008, which provided a new insight into the regulation of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

[Impact of neonatal exposure to different doses of bisphenol A on puberty in female rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of neonatal exposure to different doses of bisphenol A (BPA) on the vaginal opening day (VOD), hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression, and ovarian estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA expression in female rats. METHODS: Neonatal female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: blank control, vehicle, 17ß-estradiol (17ß-estradiol, E2, 10 µg/d), low-dose BPA [25 µg(kg·d)], medium-dose BPA [50 µg(kg·d)], and high-dose BPA groups [250 µg(kg·d)]. The rats were subcutaneously injected with respective agents on postnatal days 0-6. The VOD was recorded, and each rat was sacrificed on the same day. The hypothalamus and ovary were taken and weighed, and the organ coefficients of hypothalamus and ovary were calculated. The hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression and ovarian ERα and ERß mRNA expression were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the E2 and medium- and high-dose BPA groups had advanced VOD, and the E2 group had significantly reduced hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression and ovarian ERß mRNA expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal exposure to medium- and high-dose BPA[50 and 250 µg/(kg·d)] can induce precocious puberty in rats, but it may not result from the change in hypothalamic Kiss-1 mRNA expression. Neonatal exposure to low-dose BPA [25 µg/(kg·d)] does not induce precocious puberty in rats.

Repeated administration of AC-5216, a ligand for the 18 kDa translocator protein, improves behavioral deficits in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severely disabling anxiety disorder that may occur following exposure to a serious traumatic event. It is a psychiatric condition that can afflict anyone who has experienced a life-threatening or violent event. Previous studies have shown that changes in 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) expression (or function), a promising target for treating neurological disorders without benzodiazepine-like side effects, may correlate with PTSD. However, few studies have investigated the anti-PTSD effects of TSPO ligands. AC-5216, a ligand for TSPO, induces anxiolytic- and anti-depressant-like effects in animal models. The present study aimed to determine whether AC-5216 ameliorates PTSD behavior in mice. Following the training session consisting of exposure to inescapable electric foot shocks, animals were administered AC-5216 daily during the behavioral assessments, i.e., situational reminders (SRs), the open field (OF) test, the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, and the staircase test (ST). The results indicated that exposure to foot shocks induced long-term behavioral deficiencies in the mice, including freezing and anxiety-like behavior, which were significantly ameliorated by repeated treatment with AC-5216 but without any effect on spontaneous locomotor activity or body weight. In summary, this study demonstrated the anti-PTSD effects of AC-5216 treatment, suggesting that TSPO may represent a therapeutic target for anti-PTSD drug discovery and that TSPO ligands may be a promising new class of drugs for the future treatment of PTSD.

Lipid production by Rhodosporidium toruloides Y2 in bioethanol wastewater and evaluation of biomass energetic yield.

The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides Y2 was employed to remove waste nutrients from bioethanol wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass enriched in microbial lipids. Under optimal conditions, the COD degradation ratio, biomass and lipid content reached 72.3%, 3.8 g/l and 34.9%, respectively. For accelerating biomass and lipid accumulation, different feeding strategies of substrate were conducted. The biomass and lipid production increased by 39.5% and 53.8%, respectively, when glucose at 1.2g/(ld) was added during the last three days of the cultivation. An equation was established to estimate biomass energetic yield. Under optimal conditions, the biomass energetic yield was 50.9% and an increase of 26.0% was obtained by feeding glucose at 1.2g/(ld) during the last three days. The fatty acid composition of the lipids was similar to that from plant oils and other microbial lipids, and could thus be used as raw material for feed additives and biodiesel production.

Growth of dandelion-shaped CuInSe2 nanostructures by a two-step solvothermal process.

CuInSe(2) (CIS) nanodandelion structures were synthesized by a two-step solvothermal approach. First, InSe nanodandelions were prepared by reacting In(acac)(3) with trioctylphosphine-selenide (TOP-Se) in 1-octadecene (ODE) at 170 °C in the presence of oleic acid. These InSe dandelions were composed of polycrystalline nanosheets with thickness < 10 nm. The size of the InSe dandelions could be tuned within the range of 300 nm-2 µm by adjusting the amount of oleic acid added during the synthesis. The InSe dandelion structures were then reacted with Cu(acac)(2) in the second-step solvothermal process in ODE to form CIS nanodandelions. The band gap of the CIS dandelions was determined from ultraviolet (UV) absorption measurements to be ∼ 1.36 eV, and this value did not show any obvious change upon varying the size of the CIS dandelions. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements showed that the specific surface area of these CIS dandelion structures was 44.80 m(2) g(-1), which was more than five times higher than that of the CIS quantum dots (e.g. 8.22 m(2) g(-1)) prepared by using reported protocols. A fast photoresponsive behavior was demonstrated in a photoswitching device using the 200 nm CIS dandelions as the active materials, which suggested their possible application in optoelectronic devices.

Isolation and characterization of ZH14 with antiviral activity against Tobacco mosaic virus.

A large number of bacteria were isolated from plant samples and screened for antiviral activity against the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The bacterium ZH14, which was isolated from Chinese Anxi oolong tea, secreted the antiviral substances, having 94.2% virus inhibition when the bacterial culture filtrate and TMV extract were mixed at a ratio of 1:1. The ZH14 strain is a gram-positive, spore-forming rod and has the ability to degrade ribonucleic acid. Based on its effectiveness on virus inhibition, ZH14 was selected for characterization and was identified as a strain of the Bacillus cereus group based on phenotypic tests and comparative analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. At the same time, we determined the antiviral product of ZH14 as an extracellular protein with high molecular mass, having an optimum temperature of 15-60 degrees C and an optimum pH of 6-10. Hence, the ZH14 strain and its culture filtrate have potential application in controlling plant diseases caused by TMV.