Resolution of anti-LGI1-associated autoimmune encephalitis in a patient after treatment with efgartigimod.

BACKGROUND: Anti leucine-rich, glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is the second most common AE, where the trafficking and recycling of the pathogenic immunoglobulin (IgG) can be controlled by the neonatal crystallizable fragment receptor (FcRn), making the latter as a candidate therapeutic target. Efgartigimod is an antagonist of FcRn, its ability to increase the degradation of IgGs and improve the health and quality of life of patients. ADAPT trail indicated its rapid efficacy and safety on myasthenia gravis. However, there is currently no case reported using efgartigimod for the treatment of anti-LGI1-associated AE. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient presented with five episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the past 2 weeks. The patient had no abnormal signs on magnetic resonance imaging. Electroencephalogram examinations showed an increase in bilateral symmetric or asymmetric slow activity, without any clear epileptic waves. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination results indicated a slight increase in protein (47 mg/dL). The anti-LGI1 antibody titer in serum was 1:100 and that in CSF was 1:3.2. The treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone 1000 mg once a day combined with levetiracetam tablets failed to completely control the patient's seizures. Thus, 10 mg/kg efgartigimod was administered intravenously once a week for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, serum levels of anti-LGI1 antibody and IgG decreased and the patient's epilepsy did not recur in the next 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case report of using efgartigimod to treat anti-LGI1-associated AE. The combination of efgartigimod and methylprednisolone resulted in favorable outcomes, indicating that this is an optional treatment plan.

Hyaluronic acid dissolving microneedle patch loaded with tranexamic acid for melasma treatment.

Melasma is an acquired hypermelanotic condition characterized by the presence of irregular light-to-dark brown macules that primarily manifest on the sun-exposed areas of the skin, particularly the face. The management of melasma poses significant challenges, as it is often recalcitrant to treatment and tends to recur despite successful treatment. In this study, we explored a safe, easy, and effective melasma treatment strategy. A hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microneedle (MN) patch loaded with tranexamic acid (TXA) was designed to deliver the necessary medication for melasma treatment. The MN patch features uniform needles with adequate mechanical strength and effective penetration and solubility in the skin without cytotoxicity. Remarkably, these MNs substantially reduce the thickness of the epidermis of melasma mice, curtail melanin production, and diminish dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) expression.

Real-world efficacy of 2% crisaborole ointment on chronic hyperplasia lesions in 49 patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Crisaborole, as a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor (PDE4i), effectively inhibits inflammatory pathways, showing promising results in atopic dermatitis (AD), particularly in chronic hyperplasia lesions. OBJECTIVES: Based on real-world data from China, this study assesses the effectiveness and safety of 2% PDE4i ointment as monotherapy for chronic hyperplastic AD lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 AD patients aged 12 and above with chronic hyperplastic lesions and Investigator's Static Global Assessment scores of mild or moderate were enrolled. They received 2% PDE4i ointment twice daily until the lesions completely cleared. The effectiveness endpoints comprised the onset time of pruritus and lesion remission and the time of complete lesion clearance. RESULTS: PDE4i demonstrated high effectiveness with minimal irritation, notable improvement in hyperpigmentation, and early remission of pruritus and lesions. The response varied across age groups; elderly patients experienced quicker pruritus relief compared to adolescents and adults, while adolescents showed earlier lesion remission by about 3 days. No significant difference was observed across age groups in the time for complete lesion clearance. Additionally, AD duration (less or more than 3 years) did not significantly impact pruritus or lesion remission. CONCLUSIONS: PDE4i monotherapy is effective and safe for chronic hyperplasia lesions in AD across all age groups, and its effectiveness appears to be independent of AD duration.

Preparation of copolymer 7-hydroxyethyl chrysin loaded PLGA nanoparticles and the in vitro release. / 7-ç¾Ÿä¹™åŸºç™½æ¨ç´ èšä¹³é ¸-ç¾ŸåŸºä¹™é ¸å ±èšç‰©çº³ç±³ç²’çš„åˆ¶å¤‡åŠä½“å¤–é‡Šæ”¾è¯„ä»·.

OBJECTIVES: To prepare 7-hydroxyethyl chrysin (7-HEC) loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles and to detect the in vitro release. METHODS: The 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by emulsification solvent volatilization method. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation rate, drug loading and zeta potential were measured. The prescription was optimized by single factor investigation combined with Box-Behnken response surface method. Mannitol was used as protectant to prepare lyophilized powder, and the optimal formulation was characterized and studied for the in vitro release. RESULTS: The optimal formulation of 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles was as follows: drug loading ratio of 2.12∶20, oil-water volume ratio of 1∶14.7, and 2.72% soybean phospholipid as emulsifier. With the optimal formulation, the average particle size of 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles was (240.28±0.96) nm, the PDI was 0.25±0.69, the encapsulation rate was (75.74±0.80)%, the drug loading capacity was (6.98±0.83)%, and the potentiostatic potential was (－18.17±0.17) mV. The cumulative in vitro release reached more than 50% within 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: The optimized formulation is stable and easy to operate. The prepared 7-HEC/PLGA nanoparticles have uniform particle size, high encapsulation rate and significantly higher dissolution rate than 7-HEC.

Protective effects of butyrate on cerebral ischaemic injury in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Cerebral ischaemic stroke is a common disease that poses a serious threat to human health. Butyrate is an important metabolite of intestinal microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that butyrate has a significant protective effect in animal models of cerebral ischaemic injury. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of butyrate on cerebral ischaemic stroke by meta-analysis, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of butyrate in patients with cerebral ischaemia. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted for all relevant studies published before 23 January 2024, in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Methodological quality was assessed using Syrcle's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Data were analysed using Rev Man 5.3 software. Results: A total of nine studies were included, and compared with controls, butyrate significantly increased BDNF levels in the brain (SMD = 2.33, 95%CI = [1.20, 3.47], p < 0.005) and P-Akt expression (SMD = 3.53, 95% CI = [0.97, 6.10], p < 0.05). Butyrate also decreased IL-ß levels in the brain (SMD = -2.02, 95% CI = [-3.22, -0.81], p < 0.005), TNF-α levels (SMD = -0.86, 95% CI = [-1.60, -0.12], p < 0.05), and peripheral vascular IL-1ß levels (SMD = -2.10, 95%CI = [-3.59, -0.61], p < 0.05). In addition, butyrate reduced cerebral infarct volume (MD = -11.29, 95%CI = [-17.03, -5.54], p < 0.05), mNSS score (MD = -2.86, 95%CI = [-4.12, -1.60], p < 0.005), foot fault score (MD = -7.59, 95%CI = [-9.83, -5, 35], p < 0.005), and Morris water maze time (SMD = -2.49, 95%CI = [-4.42, -0.55], p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that butyrate has a protective effect on cerebral ischaemic stroke in animal models, and the mechanism is related to reducing inflammation and inhibiting apoptosis. It provides an evidence-based basis for the future clinical development of butyrate in the treatment of ischaemic stroke. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, CRD42023482844.

Stress response membrane protein OsSMP2 negatively regulates rice tolerance to drought.

In a gene chip analysis, rice (Oryza sativa) OsSMP2 gene expression was induced under various abiotic stresses, prompting an investigation into its role in drought resistance and abscisic acid signaling. Subsequent experiments, including qRT-PCR and ß-glucuronidase activity detection, affirmed the OsSMP2 gene's predominant induction by drought stress. Subcellular localization experiments indicated the OsSMP2 protein primarily localizes to the cell membrane system. Overexpressing OsSMP2 increased sensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid, reducing drought resistance and leading to reactive oxygen species accumulation under drought stress. Conversely, in simulated drought experiments, OsSMP2-silenced transgenic plants showed significantly longer roots compared with the wild-type Nipponbare. These results suggest that OsSMP2 overexpression negatively affects rice drought resistance, offering valuable insights into molecular mechanisms, and highlight OsSMP2 as a potential target for enhancing crop resilience to drought stress.

Point-of-care detection of Monkeypox virus clades using high-performance upconversion nanoparticle-based lateral flow assay.

There is an urgent need for a point-of-care testing (POCT) method in developing and underserved regions to distinguish between two Monkeypox virus (MPXV) clades, given their varying transmissibility and clinical manifestations. In this paper, we target the specific complement protein gene fragment of two MPXV clades and construct a high-performance upconversion nanoparticles-based lateral flow assay (UCNPs-based LFA) with double T-lines and a shared C-line. This enables qualitative and quantitative dual-mode detection when combined with a smartphone and a benchtop fluorescence analyzer. The developed LFA exhibits stable performance, convenient operation, rapid readout (within 8 min), and a much lower limit of detection (LOD) (~ pM level) compared to existing POCT methods. The proposed detection platform demonstrates significant potential for pathogen diagnosis using a POCT approach.

Recent Advancements in Pyrolysis of Halogen-Containing Plastics for Resource Recovery and Halogen Upcycling: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Plastic waste has emerged as a serious issue due to its impact on environmental degradation and resource scarcity. Plastic recycling, especially of halogen-containing plastics, presents challenges due to potential secondary pollution and lower-value implementations. Chemical recycling via pyrolysis is the most versatile and robust approach for combating plastic waste. In this Review, we present recent advancements in halogen-plastic pyrolysis for resource utilization and the potential pathways from "reducing to recycling to upcycling" halogens. We emphasize the advanced management of halogen-plastics through copyrolysis with solid wastes (waste polymers, biomass, coal, etc.), which is an efficient method for dealing with mixed wastes to obtain high-value products while reducing undesirable substances. Innovations in catalyst design and reaction configurations for catalytic pyrolysis are comprehensively evaluated. In particular, a tandem catalysis system is a promising route for halogen removal and selective conversion of targeted products. Furthermore, we propose novel insights regarding the utilization and upcycling of halogens from halogen-plastics. This includes the preparation of halogen-based sorbents for elemental mercury removal, the halogenation-vaporization process for metal recovery, and the development of halogen-doped functional materials for new materials and energy applications. The reutilization of halogens facilitates the upcycling of halogen-plastics, but many efforts are needed for mutually beneficial outcomes. Overall, future investigations in the development of copyrolysis and catalyst-driven technologies for upcycling halogen-plastics are highlighted.

Circular RNA CircACAP2 regulates temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis via miR-21-5p/PLAG1 axis.

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) remains not fully understood. Our previous studies demonstrated that miR-21-5p may participate in the TMJOA development and the interaction between circRNA-ACAP2 (CircACAP2) and miR-21-5p. Our present study aimed to explore the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of CircACAP2 in TMJOA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The differential expression pattern of CircACAP2 in OA and normal tissues or cells was detected. CircACAP2 biological functions experiments were performed in chondrocytes by overexpression and interference techniques. The interaction of CircACAP2 with miR-21-5p and downstream target mRNA, polymorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1), was predicted by bioinformatic databases and then demonstrated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The biological role of CircACAP2 in TMJOA was investigated and validated in a mouse model. RESULTS: The expression level of CircACAP2 was markedly reduced in OA cartilage and directly related to chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis as well as ECM metabolism in the cartilage. CircACAP2 functioned in chondrocytes via targeting miR-21-5p and PLAG1. Overexpressing of CircACAP2 alleviated TMJOA in mouse models. CONCLUSIONS: The present study unveiled that CircACAP2/miR-21-5p/PLAG1 axis may play an important regulatory role in TMJOA progression, which may highlight a potentially effective intervention and therapeutic strategy for the treatment of TMJOA.

NLRP3 regulates CIITA/MHC II axis and interferon-γ-inducible chemokines in Malassezia globosa-infected keratinocytes.

CIITA, a member of NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, is the major MHC II trans-activator and mediator of Th1 immunity, but its function and interaction with NLRP3 have been little studied. We found activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, increased expression of CIITA, CBP, pSTAT1, STAT1, MHC II, IFN-γ and IFN-γ-inducible chemokines (CCL1 and CXCL8), and colocalisation of NLRP3 with CIITA in Malassezia folliculitis lesions, Malassezia globosa-infected HaCaT cells and mouse skin. CoIP with anti-CIITA or anti-NLRP3 antibody pulled down NLRP3 or both CIITA and ASC. NLRP3 silencing or knockout caused CIITA downexpression and their colocalisation disappearance in HaCaT cells and mouse skin of Nlrp3-/- mice, while CIITA knockdown had no effect on NLRP3, ASC, IL-1ß and IL-18 expression. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors and knockdown significantly suppressed IFN-γ, CCL1, CXCL8 and CXCL10 levels in M. globosa-infected HaCaT cells. CCL1 and CXCL8 expression was elevated in Malassezia folliculitis lesions and reduced in Nlrp3-/- mice. These results demonstrate that M. globosa can activate NLRP3 inflammasome, CIITA/MHC II signalling and IFN-γ-inducible chemokines in human keratinocytes and mouse skin. NLRP3 may regulate CIITA by their binding and trigger Th1 immunity by secreting CCL1 and CXCL8/IL-8, contributing to the pathogenesis of Malassezia-associated skin diseases.

Adipose Tissue Targeting Ultra-Small Hybrid Nanoparticles for Synergistic Photodynamic Therapy and Browning Induction in Obesity Treatment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a means of locally and rapidly inducing adipocyte death via light illumination, in combination with adipose browning induction, a more gradual and widespread effect that could transform white adipose tissue into thermogenic adipose tissue, manifests a promising approach to combat obesity. Herein, adipose-targeting ultra-small hybrid nanoparticles (Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs) composed of an adipose-targeting peptide, Fe3+, a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX), and a browning agent (baicalin) are introduced. Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs have been designed to simultaneously enhance the photodynamic effect and induce browning. After intravenous injection in obese mice, the hybrid nanoparticles can specifically accumulate in white adipose tissues, especially those rich in blood supply, and drive adipose reduction owing to the synergy of the PDT effect and baicalin browning induction. Overall, Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs exhibited superior anti-obesity potential through PDT synergistic with adipose browning induction. The designed multifunctional adipose-targeting hybrid nanoparticles present a prospective nanoplatform for obesity treatment.

Graph-Based Multicentroid Nonnegative Matrix Factorization.

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is a widely recognized approach for data representation. When it comes to clustering, NMF fails to handle data points located in complex geometries, as each sample cluster is represented by a centroid. In this article, a novel multicentroid-based clustering method called graph-based multicentroid NMF (MCNMF) is proposed. Because the method constructs the neighborhood connection graph between data points and centroids, each data point is represented by adjacent centroids, which preserves the local geometric structure. Second, because the method constructs an undirected connected graph with centroids as nodes, in which the centroids are divided into different centroid clusters, a novel data clustering method based on MCNMF is proposed. In addition, the membership index matrix is reconstructed based on the obtained centroid clusters, which solves the problem of membership identification of the final sample. Extensive experiments conducted on synthetic datasets and real benchmark datasets illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed MCNMF method. Compared with single-centroid-based methods, the MCNMF can obtain the best experimental results.

[Three surgical strategies for the treatment of intercourse-related hematuria in males: A summary of clinical experience].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experience in the treatment of sexual intercourse-related hematuria in males using biopsy forceps, electrocoagulation and holmium laser cauterization. METHODS: From July 2018 to April 2022, we treated 11 male patients with intercourse-related hematuria using biopsy forceps, electrocoagulation and holmium laser cauterization. The patients ranged in age from 29 to 47 years, with clinical manifestations of gross hematuria, blood dripping from the urethral orifice or blood clots in the urine after sexual intercourse or erection, 3 with hemospermia, but none with pain. All the patients received urological imaging examination to exclude lesions in the upper urinary tract and bladder preoperatively. During the operation, varicose vessels were found around the posterior urethral verumontanum under the cystourethroscope in all the cases, 5 with active bleeding in the posterior varicose vessel. The 3 cases with hemospermia first underwent trans-prostatic utricle seminal vesiculoscopy. According to the range and number of varicose vessels, 5 of the patients were treated by electrocoagulation with the resectoscope, 2 by holmium laser cauterization and the other 4 with biopsy forceps to destroy the vascular tissue. After the operation, urinary catheters were retained for 3－7 days, abstinence lasted 30 days, and the patients were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: The operations were successfully completed in all the cases, 10 with good prognosis and none with recurrence. Occasional postoperative hematuria and blood clots in the urine were observed in 1 of the patients treated by electrocoagulation under the resectoscope, with dysuria at 3 months after operation, who underwent repeated electrocoagulation and experienced no more recurrence thereafter. Different degrees of postoperative urethral irritation and gross hematuria were found in all the cases, which spontaneously disappeared within 1－4 weeks, with no such complications as ED, ejaculation pain, ejaculation difficulty and ejaculation weakness. CONCLUSION: In the absence of other genitourinary diseases, painless hematuria, blood clots in the urine or even dysuria in males after sexual intercourse can be considered as the results of possible varicose veins around the posterior urethral verumontanum, which can be treated satisfactorily by destroying the vascular tissue with biopsy forceps, electrocoagulation with the resectoscope or holmium laser cauterization according to the location, number and degree of varicose veins.

AP2/EREBP Pathway Plays an Important Role in Chaling Wild Rice Tolerance to Cold Stress.

Cold stress is the main factor limiting rice production and distribution. Chaling wild rice can survive in cold winters. AP2/EREBP is a known transcription factor family associated with abiotic stress. We identified the members of the AP2/EREBP transcription factor family in rice, maize, and Arabidopsis, and conducted collinearity analysis and gene family analysis. We used Affymetrix array technology to analyze the expression of AP2/EREBP family genes in Chaling wild rice and cultivated rice cultivar Pei'ai64S, which is sensitive to cold. According to the GeneChip results, the expression levels of AP2/EREBP genes in Chaling wild rice were different from those in Pei'ai64S; and the increase rate of 36 AP2/EREBP genes in Chaling wild rice was higher than that in Pei'ai64S. Meanwhile, the MYC elements in cultivated rice and Chaling wild rice for the Os01g49830, Os03g08470, and Os03g64260 genes had different promoter sequences, resulting in the high expression of these genes in Chaling wild rice under low-temperature conditions. Furthermore, we analyzed the upstream and downstream genes of the AP2/EREBP transcription factor family and studied the conservation of these genes. We found that the upstream transcription factors were more conserved, indicating that these upstream transcription factors may be more important in regulating cold stress. Meanwhile, we found the expression of AP2/EREBP pathway genes was significantly increased in recombinant inbred lines from Nipponbare crossing with Chaling wild rice, These results suggest that the AP2/EREBP signaling pathway plays an important role in Chaling wild rice tolerance to cold stress.

Guar gum series affect nanostructured lipid carriers via electrostatic assembly or steric hindrance: Improving their oral delivery for phytosterols.

Surface modification of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) can be an effective way to improve their oral delivery for active ingredients. In this study, four type of guar gum series modified NLCs for the delivery of phytosterols (PS) were constructed and the effects of the polysaccharides on their structure and physicochemical properties were studied. DLS and AFM results revealed that positively charged polysaccharides could bind to PS-NLCs through electrostatic attraction and made the complexes finally take positive charges, while negatively charged polysaccharides were more likely to fill in the gaps of NLC systems to achieve a balance between electrostatic repulsion and intermolecular forces. Although all four polysaccharides exhibited good storage stability and controlled release of PS in simulated intestinal digestion, PS-NLCs modified with partially hydrolyzed cationic guar gum (PHCG) at medium or high concentrations exhibited better gastric stability, mucoadhesion, and cellular uptake, which had considerable significance for improving the oral bioavailability of PS. This might be related to the coating structure of PHCG-PS-NLCs confirmed by AFM, FTIR, and Raman characterization. This study provide a reference value for designing suitable PS-NLC complexes without synthetic surfactants.

Balanced nitrogen-iron sufficiency boosts grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency by promoting tillering.

Crop yield plays a critical role in global food security. For optimal plant growth and maximal crop yields, nutrients must be balanced. However, the potential significance of balanced nitrogen-iron (N-Fe) for improving crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has not previously been addressed. Here, we show that balanced N-Fe sufficiency significantly increases tiller number and boosts yield and NUE in rice and wheat. NIN-like protein 4 (OsNLP4) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the N-Fe balance by coordinately regulating the expression of multiple genes involved in N and Fe metabolism and signaling. OsNLP4 also suppresses OsD3 expression and strigolactone (SL) signaling, thereby promoting tillering. Balanced N-Fe sufficiency promotes the nuclear localization of OsNLP4 by reducing H2O2 levels, reinforcing the functions of OsNLP4. Interestingly, we found that OsNLP4 upregulates the expression of a set of H2O2-scavenging genes to promote its own accumulation in the nucleus. Furthermore, we demonstrated that foliar spraying of balanced N-Fe fertilizer at the tillering stage can effectively increase tiller number, yield, and NUE of both rice and wheat in the field. Collectively, these findings reveal the previously unrecognized effects of N-Fe balance on grain yield and NUE as well as the molecular mechanism by which the OsNLP4-OsD3 module integrates N-Fe nutrient signals to downregulate SL signaling and thereby promote rice tillering. Our study sheds light on how N-Fe nutrient signals modulate rice tillering and provide potential innovative approaches that improve crop yield with reduced N fertilizer input for benefitting sustainable agriculture worldwide.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of different surgical procedures for patients with hemorrhoids: a network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study used a network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different surgical approaches in patients with hemorrhoids. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of science, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials on patients with hemorrhoids treated by different surgical procedures. The search was conducted until January 15, 2023. Two investigators independently screened the resulting literature, extracted information, evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies, and performed a network meta-analysis. RESULT: A total of 23 randomized controlled studies were included and involved 3573 patients and 10 interventions, namely L (Ligasure), M-M (Milligan-Morgan), F (Ferguson), H (Harmonic), OH (open Harmonic), CH (closed Harmonic), PPH (procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids), TST (tissue selecting technique), T-S (TST STARE+; tissue selection therapy stapled transanal rectal resection plus), and STARR (stapled transanal rectal resection). Network meta-analysis results showed that L has the shortest mean operating time and STARR has the longest mean operating time, F and H have the longest length of hospitalization and T-S has the shortest length of hospitalization, PPH has the most intraoperative blood loss and L has the least intraoperative blood loss, TST has the shortest time to first defecation and M-M has the longest time to first defecation, STARR had the least recurrence and PPH had the most recurrence, PPH had the least anal stenosis and L had the most anal stenosis, and F had the least postoperative pain after 24 h and PPH had the most postoperative pain after 24 h. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that L is best at reducing mean operative time and intraoperative bleeding, T-S is best at reducing mean length of stay, TST has the shortest time to first defecation, STARR is best at reducing recurrence rates, PPH is best at reducing postoperative anal stricture, and F is best at reducing postoperative pain after 24 h.

Metabolomics Reveals Distinctive Metabolic Profiles and Marker Compounds of Camellia (Camellia sinensis L.) Bee Pollen.

Camellia bee pollen (CBP) is a major kind of bee product which is collected by honeybees from tea tree (Camellia sinensis L.) flowers and agglutinated into pellets via oral secretion. Due to its special healthcare value, the authenticity of its botanical origin is of great interest. This study aimed at distinguishing CBP from other bee pollen, including rose, apricot, lotus, rape, and wuweizi bee pollen, based on a non-targeted metabolomics approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among the bee pollen groups, 54 differential compounds were identified, including flavonol glycosides and flavone glycosides, catechins, amino acids, and organic acids. A clear separation between CBP and all other samples was observed in the score plots of the principal component analysis, indicating distinctive metabolic profiles of CBP. Notably, L-theanine (864.83-2204.26 mg/kg) and epicatechin gallate (94.08-401.82 mg/kg) were identified exclusively in all CBP and were proposed as marker compounds of CBP. Our study unravels the distinctive metabolic profiles of CBP and provides specific and quantified metabolite indicators for the assessment of authentic CBP.

Regularized Simple Multiple Kernel k -Means With Kernel Average Alignment.

Multiple kernel clustering (MKC) aims to learn an optimal kernel to better serve for clustering from several precomputed basic kernels. Most MKC algorithms adhere to a common assumption that an optimal kernel is linearly combined by basic kernels. Based on a min-max framework, a newly proposed MKC method termed simple multiple kernel k -means (SimpleMKKM) can acquire a high-quality unified kernel. Although SimpleMKKM has achieved promising clustering performance, we observe that it cannot benefit from any prior knowledge. This would cause the learned partition matrix may seriously deviate from the expected one, especially in clustering tasks where the ground truth is absent during the learning course. To tackle this issue, we propose a novel algorithm termed regularized simple multiple kernel k -means with kernel average alignment (R-SMKKM-KAA). According to the experimental results of existing MKC algorithms, the average partition is a strong baseline to reflect true clustering. To gain knowledge from the average partition, we add the average alignment as a regularization term to prevent the learned unified partition from being far from the average partition. After that, we have designed an efficient solving algorithm to optimize the new resulting problem. In this way, both the incorporated prior knowledge and the combination of basic kernels are helpful to learn better unified partition. Consequently, the clustering performance can be significantly improved. Extensive experiments on nine common datasets have sufficiently demonstrated the effectiveness of incorporation of prior knowledge into SimpleMKKM.