RPL35A drives ovarian cancer progression by promoting the binding of YY1 to CTCF promoter.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynaecological malignancies with poor prognosis and lack of effective treatment. The improvement of the situation of ovarian cancer urgently requires the exploration of its molecular mechanism to develop more effective molecular targeted drugs. In this study, the role of human ribosomal protein l35a (RPL35A) in ovarian cancer was explored in vitro and in vivo. Our data identified that RPL35A expression was abnormally elevated in ovarian cancer. Clinically, high expression of RPL35A predicted short survival and poor TNM staging in patients with ovarian cancer. Functionally, RPL35A knock down inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration, enhanced apoptosis, while overexpression had the opposite effect. Mechanically, RPL35A promoted the direct binding of transcription factor YY1 to CTCF in ovarian cancer cells. Consistently, RPL35A regulated ovarian cancer progression depending on CTCF in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RPL35A affected the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells through PPAR signalling pathway. In conclusion, RPL35A drove ovarian cancer progression by promoting the binding of YY1 and CTCF promoter, and inhibiting this process may be an effective strategy for targeted therapy of this disease.

The antimicrobial property of JY-1, a complex mixture of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is linked to it abilities to suppress biofilm formation and disrupt membrane permeability.

The substantial increase of infections, caused by novel, sudden, and drug-resistant pathogens, poses a significant threat to human health. While numerous studies have demonstrated the antibacterial and antiviral effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the potential of a complex mixture of traditional Chinese Medicine with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial property remains underexplored. This study aimed to develop a complex mixture of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), JY-1, and investigate its antimicrobial properties, along with its potential mechanism of action against pathogenic microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a zone of inhibition assay and the drop plate method. Hyphal induction of Candida albicans was conducted using RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS, followed by microscopic visualization. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to quantify the transcript levels of hyphal-specific genes such as HWP1 and ALS3. The impact of JY-1 on biofilm formation was evaluated using both the XTT reduction assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the cell membrane integrity was assessed by protein and nucleic acid leakage assays. Our results clearly showed that JY-1 significantly inhibits the vegetative growth of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. In addition, this complex mixture is effectively against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. More interestingly, JY-1 plays a direct anti-viral role against the mammalian viral pathogen vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Further mechanistic studies indicate that JY-1 acts to reduce the expression of hyphal specific genes HWP1 and ALS3, resulting in the suppression of the hyphal formation of C. albicans. The antimicrobial property of JY-1 could be attributed to its ability to reduce biofilm formation and disrupt the cell membrane permeability, a process resulting in microbial cell death and the release of cellular contents. Taken together, our work identified a potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, a complex mixture of TCM which might be developed as a potential antimicrobial drug.

Shengjihuayu formula ameliorates the oxidative injury in human keratinocytes via blocking JNK/c-Jun/MMPs signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The reactive oxygen species (ROS) surge in the chronic wound tissue of diabetic ulcers (DUs) aggravates the inflammatory response. The oxidative stress state during inflammation will exacerbate inflammation and cause tissue damage, resulting in prolonged wound healing. Shengjihuayu Formula (SJHYF) is a renowned Chinese medicine prescription for treating chronic wounds in diabetic ulcers. Growing clinical evidence has demonstrated that SJHYF exhibits superior therapeutic efficacy and has a favorable safety profile. However, the underlying mechanisms by which SJHYF ameliorates oxidative damage under pathological conditions of DUs remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cytoprotective properties of SJHYF on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage in human HaCaT keratinocytes and to explore its potential targets and molecular pathways in treating DUs using RNA-seq. METHODS: HaCaT cells were incubated with H2O2 for 24 h to construct an oxidative stress cell model. Cell viability and proliferation were measured using the MTT and EdU assays, respectively. Cell migration was assessed using the scratch assay, and the fluorescence intensity of ROS was measured using the DCFH-DA probe. The chemical components of SJHYF were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, while the therapeutic effects of SJHYF on H2O2-induced HaCaT cells were analyzed using RNA-Seq. The potential target genes were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). At the same time, the pathway phenotype expression of SJHYF on the protection of H2O2-induced HaCaT cells was explored using Western Blot. RESULTS: The application of SJHY at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL promoted cell proliferation, cell migration, and reduced ROS production. In addition, SJHYF was detected to have a total of 93 active compounds, including key components such as Galloyl-beta-D-glucose, Danshensu, Procyanidin B2, Catechin, and Alkannin. The RNA-seq analysis identified several core targets namely KRT17, TGM1, JUNB, PRDX5, TXNIP, PRDX1, HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, HSPA8, and TNF-α. Western blot revealed the presence of the JNK/c-Jun/MMPs pathway and its related transcription factors. CONCLUSION: SJHYF displays significant protective effects on H2O2-induced oxidative cell damage in HaCaT cells via blocking the JNK/c-Jun/MMPs pathway.

Effect and Safety of Herbal Medicine Foot Baths in Patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Multicenter Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of foot baths with Tangbi Waixi Decoction (TW) in treating patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: It is a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants with DPN were recruited between November 18, 2016 and May 30, 2018 from 8 hospitals in China. All patients received basic treatments for glycemic management. Patients received foot baths with TW herbal granules either 66.9 g (intervention group) or 6.69 g (control group) for 30 min once a day for 2 weeks and followed by a 2-week rest, as a therapeutic course. If the Toronto Clinical Scoring System total score (TCSS-TS) ⩾6 points, the patients received a total of 3 therapeutic courses (for 12 weeks) and were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in TCSS-TS score at 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in bilateral motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the median and common peroneal nerve. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Totally 632 patients were enrolled, and 317 and 315 were randomized to the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the 12-week intervention, patients in both groups showed significant declines in TCSSTS scores, and significant increases in MNCV and SNCV of the median and common peroneal nerves compared with pre-treatment (P<0.05). The reduction of TCSS-TS score at 12 weeks and the increase of SNCV of median nerve at 24 weeks in the control group were greater than those in the intervention group (P<0.05). The number of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), and no serious adverse event was related with treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of TW foot baths was safe and significantly benefitted patients with DPN. A low dose of TW appeared to be more effective than a high dose. (Registry No. ChiCTR-IOR-16009331).

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment of periodontitis, MRONJ, and ONJ: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the available prospective literature on hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for periodontal conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive electronic and manual search was performed to identify clinical studies on adult patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy for periodontal treatments. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, and Dentistry Oral Sciences Source databases. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included in the final literature review, of which five were RCTs and 11 were prospective clinical studies. Four studies discussed HBO as an adjunct to nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis, eight reported on HBO and osteoradionecrosis, and one examined HBO in bisphosphonate-related necrosis of the jaws. CONCLUSIONS: HBO has shown superior efficacy compared to antibiotics as a prophylactic measure in preventing osteoradionecrosis (ORN) in patients with a history of high mandibular irradiation. Clinicians should consider referring such patients for HBO therapy before and after tooth extractions. However, for the surgical excision of existing ORN lesions, HBO therapy does not yield significant benefits but does not negatively impact outcomes either. Regarding the treatment of periodontitis patients, the variability among studies prevents definitive conclusions. HBO therapy as an adjunct to SRP in periodontitis treatment produces mixed results. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study's clinical relevance lies in its exploration of the potential benefits of HBO for periodontal conditions. Also, it provides clinicians with insights into when and how to integrate HBO therapy into their treatment approaches, particularly for patients with a history of irradiation and those undergoing complex dental procedures.

Effects of enzymolysis and fermentation of Chinese herbal medicines on serum component, egg production, and hormone receptor expression in laying hens.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of enzymolysis fermentation of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) on egg production performance, egg quality, lipid metabolism, serum reproductive hormone levels, and the mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor of laying hens in the late-laying stage. METHODS: A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (age, 390 days) were randomly categorized into four groups. Hens in the control (C) group were fed a basic diet devoid of CHMs, the crushed CHM (CT), fermented CHM (FC), and enzymatically fermented CHM (EFT) groups received diets containing 2% crushed CHM, 2% fermented CHM, and 2% enzymatically fermented CHM, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with crushed CHM, the acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of fermented CHM showed improvement (p<0.05); furthermore, the neutral and acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of enzymatically fermented CHM improved (p<0.05). At 5 to 8 weeks, hens in the FC and EFT groups showed increased laying rates, haugh unit, albumin height, yolk color, shell thickness, and shell strength compared with those in the C group (p<0.05). Compared with the FC group, the laying rate, albumin height, and Shell thickness in the EFT group was increased (p<0.05). Compared with the C, CT, and FC groups, the EFT group showed reduced serum total cholesterol and increased serum luteinizing hormone levels and mRNA expressions of follicle stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the ETF group improved the laying rate and egg quality and regulated the lipid metabolism in aged hens. The mechanism underlying this effect was likely related to cell wall degradation of CHM and increased serum levels of luteinizing hormone and mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor.

Acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for gastric ulcer: A modified Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is often used as an adjunctive therapy for gastric ulcer (GU). However, there is still a lack of evidence on the appropriate and optimal interventions for acupuncture. This study aimed to optimize the acupuncture treatment of gastric ulcers based on expert consensus for guiding acupuncturists in clinical practice. METHODS: To conduct this study, research evidence was gathered from databases in both Chinese and English. After discussion, preliminary clinical questions were developed. Following three rounds of multidisciplinary clinical expert consultation, the initial consensus questionnaire was formed after testing and modification by team members. A Delphi consensus was ultimately reached to answer the questionnaire and develop guidance for acupuncture treatment. A 9-point Likert-type scale was used to measure the agreement of expert consensus, where a score of 80% between 7 and 9 was defined as "agreement." RESULTS: After two rounds of Delphi voting, a total of 35 items reached an agreement. These items can be roughly divided into 6 domains. According to expert consensus, the application of acupuncture for gastric ulcer should follow a semistandardized approach. Based on the syndrome differentiation, the main acupoints recommended are Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (CV12), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6), while the adjunct acupoints include Taichong (LR3), Guanyuan (CV4), Xuehai (SP10), and Taixi (KI3). In the experience of experts, adverse events associated with acupuncture are typically mild and often manifest as subcutaneous hematomas. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of definitive acupuncture guidelines that can effectively determine the optimal therapeutic approach for the treatment of gastric ulcer. This expert consensus provides recommendations for clinical research and practice of acupuncture, with a particular focus on the selection of acupoints. However, further exploration through rigorous studies is necessary due to the limited availability of clinical evidence.

Attenuation effects of ZVI/PDS pretreatment on propagation of antibiotic resistance genes in bioreactors: Driven by antibiotic residues and sulfate assimilation.

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) combined biological system was a promising technology for treating antibiotic wastewater. However, how pretreatment influence antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) propagation remains largely elusive, especially the produced by-products (antibiotic residues and sulfate) are often ignored. Herein, we investigated the effects of zero valent iron/persulfate pretreatment on ARGs in bioreactors treating sulfadiazine wastewater. Results showed absolute and relative abundance of ARGs reduced by 59.8%- 81.9% and 9.1%- 52.9% after pretreatments. The effect of 90-min pretreatment was better than that of the 30-min. The ARGs reduction was due to decreased antibiotic residues and stimulated sulfate assimilation. Reduced antibiotic residues was a major factor in ARGs attenuation, which could suppress oxidative stress, inhibit mobile genetic elements emergence and resistant strains proliferation. The presence of sulfate in influent supplemented microbial sulfur sources and facilitated the in-situ synthesis of antioxidant cysteine through sulfate assimilation, which drove ARGs attenuation by alleviating oxidative stress. This is the first detailed analysis about the regulatory mechanism of how sulfate radical-based AOPs mediate in ARGs attenuation, which is expected to provide theoretical basis for solving concerns about by-products and developing practical methods to hinder ARGs propagation.

Benefits of herbal formulae containing Poria cocos (Fuling) for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf or Fuling is one of the top 10 most frequently prescribed herbs in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the additional benefit of Fuling formulae use in addition to hypoglycaemic agents for T2DM in randomised clinical trials. METHODS: English (5) and Chinese (4) medical databases were searched from their inception to August 2021. RCTs that included Fuling in herbal formulae for T2DM were included. Risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's procedures. Stata software (13.0) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three RCTs (6,489 participants) with herbal formulae containing Fuling were included. Most studies were at risk of bias and strength of the evidence were low to moderate. Meta-analysis findings showed that the addition of formulae containing Fuling to hypoglycaemic agent-treatments could benefit people with T2DM by reducing fasting blood glucose (MD -0.82 [-0.93, -0.71]; I2 = 79.6%, P = 0.00), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (MD-1.15 [-1.31, -0.98], I2 = 80%, P = 0.00) and haemoglobin A1c (MD-0.64 [-0.75, -0.53], I2 = 84.7%, P = 0.00). Adverse events were also significantly lower in the integrative group than in the hypoglycaemic alone group (RR 0.99 [0.93, 1.06], P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: Evidence from this study supports the use of Fuling formulae combined with hypoglycaemic agents for T2DM. The combined therapies appear to be well tolerated. TRAIL REGISTRATION: This review is registered with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42020214635).

Flavonoids for viral acute respiratory tract infections: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Herbal and 'natural' products are a growing industry in today's society because they reportedly help with numerous diseases and ailments. To date, there are some randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted on patients concerning the efficacy of flavonoids against viral acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) showing inconsistent results. On this basis, we will summarise the available evidence to investigate the efficacy of flavonoids on viral ARTI by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol has been registered. The systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted by Cochrane guidelines and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. RCTs comparing the flavonoids group with the control group for treating virus-induced ARTI will be included. RCTs published with relative outcomes will be searched through 12 databases. Data were searched from inception to 25 March 2022. Relevant literature search, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by pairs of reviewers independently, and the third researcher will be involved in a discussion for disagreements. Stata V.16.0 software will be used for statistical analysis. Dichotomous data will use the ORs with 95% CIs. Continuous data will use the weighted mean difference with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity will be tested by χ2-based Cochran Q statistic and I2 statistic. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses will be used to observe the heterogeneity between included studies. The funnel plot, Egger's test and Begg's test will be used to judge the publication bias. A p<0.05 will be considered to indicate a statistically significant result. TRAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202180107.

Flavonoid-containing supplements for preventing acute respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of flavonoid-containing supplements in preventing acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of flavonoid-containing supplements on ARTI prevention in the aspects of ARTI incidence, mean ARTI sick days, symptoms, bio-immune markers, and adverse effects were searched in 5 databases. Data were searched from inception to November 26, 2021. Stata 16.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty RCTs (n = 4521) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that in the flavonoid-containing supplement group, the ARTI incidence and mean ARTI sick days were significantly decreased compared to those in the control group (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74-0.89, p < 0.001; WMD = -0.56, 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.08, p = 0.021; respectively). In 8 RCTs, flavonoids were singly used for interventions, ARTI incidence in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to that in the control group (RR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72-1.00, p = 0.047). In ten RCTs, flavonoid-containing mixtures were applied for interventions, and ARTI incidence in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to that in the control group (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71-0.89, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the ARTI incidence and mean ARTI sick days were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to those in the control group in the flavan-3-ols subgroup (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67-0.92, p = 0.002; WMD = -2.75, 95% CI: -4.30 to -1.21, p < 0.001; respectively) and the multiple subclasses subgroup (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.88, p = 0.001; WMD = -0.56, 95% CI: -1.11 to -0.01, p = 0.046; respectively). However, the bio-immune markers including interleukin-6, hypersensitive-c-reactive-protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ did not differ between the flavonoid group and the control group. Moreover, in the flavonoid-containing supplement group, the incidence of adverse reactions did not increase compared to that in the control group (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.78-1.73, p = 0.469). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that flavonoid-containing supplements were efficacious and safe in preventing ARTIs. The most important limitations result from the small number of trials, poor quality of some included RCTs, differences in the composition and types of interventions, principal subclasses of flavonoids, methods of administration, and methodology. Moreover, only a few RCTs conducted independent verification of the flavonoid supplements used in the trial in terms of purity and potency, which may lead to a potential source of bias. Thus, larger and better-designed studies are needed to further verify this conclusion.

Huayu Sanjie Enema Liquid Relieves Pain in Endometriosis Model Rats by Inhibiting Inflammation, Peripheral Sensitization, and Pelvic Adhesion.

The objective of this study is to observe the effect of relieving pain of Huayu Sanjie enema liquid (HYSJ-EL) on endometriosis model rats and to explore its mechanism of action. Of 24 female Sprague Dawley rats, six were randomly selected as the sham operation group (normal control group). The remaining rats were used to establish rat models of endometriosis through autologous endometrial transplantation combined with estrogen injection. Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model, indomethacin (Western medicine group), and HYSJ-EL (Chinese herbs group) treatment groups. The thermal pain threshold of rats was measured, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe pathological changes after sampling. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, the protein and mRNA expression levels of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the endometrium and endometriotic lesions were measured using Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR assays, respectively. Compared to the model group, the heat pain threshold of rats in the HYSJ-EL group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the serum levels of PGE2, IL-6, MIP-2, PAI-1, and TGF-ß were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), as well as the expression of TRPV1 and TNF-α protein and mRNA in the tissue of the ectopic lesion was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the Huayu Sanjie enema liquid exerts analgesic effects on endometriosis by inhibiting inflammation, peripheral nerve sensitization, and pelvic adhesion.

Efficacy of the Integrative Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: The Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Single-Blinded, Randomized Trial in China.

Introduction: Antidepressants are the front-line treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), but remain unsatisfactory in outcome. An increasing number of patients are interested in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment as complementary therapies. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of integrative acupuncture and moxibustion (iAM) treatment in patients with MDD. Methods and Analysis: This multicenter, single-blind, 2 × 2 factorial randomized trial will enroll 592 patients with MDD of moderate severity from nine hospitals. All patients will be randomized, in a ratio of 2:2:2:1, through a computerized central randomization system, into four groups (the combined, iAM-only, sertraline-only, and placebo groups). Participants will undergo a 12-week intervention with either 50 mg of sertraline or a placebo once a day and active/sham iAM treatment three times per week. The primary outcome is depression severity, assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17. The secondary outcomes include self-rated depression severity, anxiety, and sleep quality. The primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, and the 8th week posttreatment. Safety will be evaluated through liver and kidney function tests conducted before and after treatment and through monitoring of daily adverse events. An intent-to-treat principle will be followed for the outcome analyses. Conclusion: This trial will provide sufficient evidence to ascertain whether iAM is effective and safe for treating MDD and provides a suitable combination strategy for treating MDD. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.chictr.org.cn], identifier [ChiCTR2100042841].

Succession of function, assembly, and interaction of microbial community in sequencing biofilm batch reactors under selenite stress.

The mechanism of interaction between selenite, a toxic substance, and the microbial community in wastewater is still not well understood. Herein, nine sequencing biofilm batch reactors were used to systematically investigate the response of the microbial community to the continuous selenite stress. The results showed that selenite affected the reactor performance and reduced the biofilm mass. Also, it increased the proportion of the living cells, and changed the protein and polysaccharide composition of the biofilm as well as cellular secretions. Selenite facilitated the removal of NO3-N, according to water-quality and bioinformatics analyses. As such, the selenite was converted into selenium nanoparticles. α-diversity analysis further revealed that 20 µM selenite enhanced the microbial community resilience, while 200 µM selenite had the reverse effect. Community composition analysis showed that Variovorax, Rhizobium, and Simkania had positive correlations with selenite (P < 0.05). Functional prediction suggested that selenite changed the C, N, and S cycle functions. Furthermore, determinism dominated the community assembly process, and the deterministic proportion increased with the increase of selenite concentration. Network analysis showed that selenite improved the stability and positive correlation ratio of the overall microbial network, and accelerated the communication between microorganisms. However, when compared with the 20 µM selenite, the 200 µM selenite boosted the competition and parasitism/predation among microorganisms. Low-abundance genera played a key role in the network of selenite-reducing microbial community. In addition, under selenite stress, biofilm network exhibited better stability and faster information exchange than suspended network, and the positive association between biofilm and suspended microorganisms increased. All in all, this research sheds light on the interaction between selenite and microbial community, as well as provides crucial information on selenium-containing wastewater.

Global analysis of floral longevity reveals latitudinal gradients and biotic and abiotic correlates.

The length of time a flower remains open and functional - floral longevity - governs important reproductive processes influencing pollination and mating and varies considerably among angiosperm species. However, little is known about large-scale biogeographic patterns and the correlates of floral longevity. Using published data on floral longevity from 818 angiosperm species in 134 families and 472 locations world-wide, we present the first global quantification of the latitudinal pattern of floral longevity and the relationships between floral longevity and a range of biotic and abiotic factors. Floral longevity exhibited a significant phylogenetic signal and was longer at higher latitudes in both northern and southern hemispheres, even after accounting for elevation. This latitudinal variation was associated with several biotic and abiotic variables. The mean temperature of the flowering season had the highest predictive power for floral longevity, followed by pollen number per flower. Surprisingly, compatibility status, flower size, pollination mode, and growth form had no significant effects on flower longevity. Our results suggest that physiological processes associated with floral maintenance play a key role in explaining latitudinal variation in floral longevity across global ecosystems, with potential implications for floral longevity under global climate change and species distributions.

Different toxicity to liver and gill of zebrafish by selenium nanoparticles derived from bio/chemical methods.

With the wide application of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in pharmaceutical fields, the toxicity assessment is of great significance. In this study, zebrafish were selected as model organisms to compare the toxicity of SeNPs derived from biological and chemical methods. The results showed that the size of bio-SeNPs was about 5-fold bigger than chem-SeNPs. When exposed to SeNPs for 96 h, LC50 of bio-SeNPs and chem-SeNPs was 1.668 mg/L and 0.699 mg/L, respectively. Compared with the control, the results showed a significant increase in oxidative toxicity index (P < 0.05), such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the liver, and gill in SeNPs-treated group. The neurotoxicity index, such as acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and Na+-K+-ATP enzyme activity, was significantly decreased both in the liver and gill (P < 0.05). It was found that the toxicity of bio-SeNPs to the liver and gill of zebrafish was lower than chem-SeNPs and the toxicity to the liver was higher than gill. In this study, the toxicity of chem-SeNPs and bio-SeNPs to the target organs of zebrafish were systematically evaluated, which provided the basis for the safe application of SeNPs synthesized by different pathways.

Flavonoids for Treating Viral Acute Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 30 Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of flavonoids in treating viral acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were entered into meta-analyses performed separately for each indication. Efficacy analyses were based on changes in disease-specific symptom scores. Safety was analyzed based on the pooled data from all eligible trials, by comparing the incidence of adverse events between flavonoids and the control. RESULTS: In this study, thirty RCTs (n = 5,166) were included. In common cold, results showed that the flavonoids group decreased total cold intensity score (CIS), the sum of sum of symptom intensity differences (SSID) of CIS, and duration of inability to work vs. the control group. In influenza, the flavonoids group improved the visual analog scores for symptoms. In COVID-19, the flavonoids group decreased the time taken for alleviation of symptoms, time taken for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR clearance, the RT-PCR positive subjects at day 7, time to achievement of the normal status of symptoms, patients needed oxygen, patients hospitalized and requiring mechanical ventilation, patients in ICU, days of hospitalization, and mortality vs. the control group. In acute non-streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, the flavonoids group decreased the tonsillitis severity score (TSS) on day 7. In acute rhinosinusitis, the flavonoids group decreased the sinusitis severity score (SSS) on day 7, days off work, and duration of illness. In acute bronchitis, the flavonoids group decreased the bronchitis severity score (BSS) on day 7, days off work, and duration of illness. In bronchial pneumonia, the flavonoids group decreased the time to symptoms disappearance, the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In upper respiratory tract infections, the flavonoids group decreased total CIS on day 7 and increased the improvement rate of symptoms. Furthermore, the results of the incidence of adverse reactions did not differ between the flavonoids and the control group. CONCLUSION: Results from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that flavonoids were efficacious and safe in treating viral ARTIs including the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, acute non-streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, acute rhinosinusitis, acute bronchitis, bronchial pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infections. However, uncertainty remains because there were few RCTs per type of ARTI and many of the RCTs were small and of low quality with a substantial risk of bias. Given the limitations, we suggest that the conclusions need to be confirmed on a larger scale with more detailed instructions in future studies.Systematic Review Registration: inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-8-0107/, identifier: INPLASY20218010.

Cysteine-Activated Small-Molecule H2Se Donors Inspired by Synthetic H2S Donors.

The importance of selenium (Se) in biology and health has become increasingly clear. Hydrogen selenide (H2Se), the biologically available and active form of Se, is suggested to be an emerging nitric oxide (NO)-like signaling molecule. Nevertheless, the research on H2Se chemical biology has technique difficulties due to the lack of well-characterized and controllable H2Se donors under physiological conditions, as well as a robust assay for direct H2Se quantification. Motivated by these needs, here, we demonstrate that selenocyclopropenones and selenoamides are tunable donor motifs that release H2Se upon reaction with cysteine (Cys) at pH 7.4 and that structural modifications enable the rate of Cys-mediated H2Se release to be tuned. We monitored the reaction pathways for the H2Se release and confirmed H2Se generation qualitatively using different methods. We further developed a quantitative assay for direct H2Se trapping and quantitation in an aqueous solution, which should also be operative for investigating future H2Se donor motifs. In addition, we demonstrate that arylselenoamide has the capability of Cys-mediated H2Se release in cellular environments. Importantly, mechanistic investigations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations illustrate the plausible pathways of Cys-activated H2Se release from arylselenoamides in detail, which may help understand the mechanistic issues of the H2S release from pharmacologically important arylthioamides. We anticipate that the well-defined chemistries of Cys-activated H2Se donor motifs will be useful for studying Se biology and for development of new H2Se donors and bioconjugate techniques.

Turmeric Extract (Curcuma longa) Mediates Anti-Oxidative Effects by Reduction of Nitric Oxide, iNOS Protein-, and mRNA-Synthesis in BV2 Microglial Cells.

Plant-derived products have been used since the beginnings of human history to treat various pathological conditions. Practical experience as well as a growing body of research suggests the benefits of the use of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and some of its active components in the reduction of oxidative stress, a mechanism leading to neurodegeneration. In this current study, we investigated the effects of a preparation of Curcuma longa, and its constituents curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin, and curcumenol, in one of the molecular pathways leading to oxidative stress, which is the release of NO, a free radical involved in stress conditions, using the BV2 microglial cell line. The concentration-dependent reduction of NO is linked to reduced amounts of iNOS protein- and mRNA-synthesis and is possibly mediated by the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) such as p42/44 or p38 MAPK. Therefore, the use of turmeric extract is a promising therapeutic option for diseases linked to the dysregulation of oxidative stress, with fewer side-effects in comparison to the currently used pharmacotherapeutics.

Association between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and lower risk of preterm delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is associated with lower risk of preterm delivery. METHODS: Searching the RCTs which were compared preterm birth between women with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and without before December 2019 on Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane's Library, then performing a meta-analysis. RESULTS: 26 trials were identified, included 20124 women. There was almost no association between omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and lower risk of preterm delivery (risk ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.85 to 1.01, I2 = 9%), gestational duration (0.30, -0.05 to 0.64, I2 = 48%). In subgroup analyses, preterm delivery lower rate occurred in groups with mixed DHA and EPA supplementation not only DHA supplementation groups (P for interaction = 0.02); The dose of equivalent greater than 1 g made a higher reduction in preterm birth significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was not associated with reduced risk of preterm delivery compared with placebo or no treatment during pregnancy. Relationship between Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and other pregnant outcomes need more evidence and clinical studies.