Peripheral platelet count is a diagnostic marker for predicting the risk of rapid ejaculation: findings from a pilot study in rats.

Parameters of peripheral blood cell have been shown as the potential predictors of erectile dysfunction (ED). To investigate the clinical significance of hematological parameters for predicting the risk of rapid ejaculation, we established a rat copulatory model on the basis of ejaculation distribution theory. Blood samples from different ejaculatory groups were collected for peripheral blood cell counts and serum serotonin (5-HT) tests. Meanwhile, the relationship between hematological parameters and ejaculatory behaviors was assessed. Final analysis included 11 rapid ejaculators, 10 normal ejaculators, and 10 sluggish ejaculators whose complete data were available. The platelet (PLT) count in rapid ejaculators was significantly lower than that in normal and sluggish ejaculators, whereas the platelet distribution width (PDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) were significantly greater in rapid ejaculators. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the PLT was an independent protective factor for rapid ejaculation. Meanwhile, rapid ejaculators were found to have the lowest serum 5-HT compared to normal and sluggish ejaculators (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the PLT and serum 5-HT (r = 0.662, P < 0.001), indicating that the PLT could indirectly reflect the serum 5-HT concentration. In addition, we assessed the association between the PLT and ejaculatory parameters. There was a negative correlation between ejaculation frequency (EF) and the PLT (r = -0.595, P < 0.001), whereas there was a positive correlation between ejaculation latency (EL) and the PLT (r = 0.740, P < 0.001). This study indicated that the PLT might be a useful and convenient diagnostic marker for predicting the risk of rapid ejaculation.

Enhanced MALDI-2 Sensitivity with Reflecting Post-Ionization Laser for High-Resolution MS Imaging Combined with Real-Time Microscope Imaging.

Laser-induced matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization post-ionization (MALDI-2) could improve the MALDI sensitivity of biological metabolites by over 1 order of magnitude. Herein, we demonstrate that MALDI-2 sensitivity can be further enhanced with reflecting post-ionization laser that multiplies the intersection times between laser and MALDI plume. This method, which we named MALDI-2+, typically brought over 2 times sensitivity improvement from conventional MALDI-2. Advancing in sensitivity thereby prompted us to pursue higher mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) spatial resolution. A dedicated T-shaped ion guide was designed to allow perpendicular incidence of ablation laser in reflection geometry MALDI. Although 8-10 µm pixel was used in MALDI imaging due to the limited precision of the motorized stage, the laser spot diameter could be down to 2.5 µm for potentially higher spatial resolution. In addition, this ion source enabled real-time and high-quality microscope imaging from backward of the sample plate. Beneficially, we were able to monitor the actual laser spot condition in real time as well as obtain high-resolution microscopic sample images that inherently register with MSI images. All of these benefits have been demonstrated by analyzing standard samples and imaging of cells. We believe that the enhancement in sensitivity, spatial resolution, and microscope capacity of our design could facilitate spatial omics studies.

The effect of low-temperature straw-degrading microbes on winter wheat growth and soil improvement under straw return.

The application of straw-degrading microbes (SDMs) with straw returned to the field is an effective measure to improve soil quality, increase yield, and maintain soil microorganisms. However, the utilization of SDMs in winter in north China is limited by the poor effects at low temperatures. This study investigated the effects of a new compound SDM, including a novel low-temperature fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. SDF-LT, on winter wheat yield, soil improvement, and soil microbial diversity. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in two different soil textures of wheat-maize rotation fields with full corn straw return and application of SDMs at an amount of 67.5 kg hm-2. After 2 years of continuous application of SDMs, the winter wheat yield increased significantly, reaching 9419.40 kg hm-2 in Ningjin (NJSDM) and 9107.25 kg hm-2 in Mancheng (MCSDM). The soil properties have been significantly improved compared with the single straw return group, especially the sandy loam soil, whose quality is relatively low. The analysis of soil microbial diversity showed that SDMs significantly reduced the Chao1, Shannon, Simpson, and observed species of the sandy loam soil in the MCSDM group. The Simpson and Shannon indexes of fungi diversity in the two experimental sites were significantly increased by SDMs. The negative correlation of fungi increased from 47.1 to 48.85% in the SDM groups. The soil-dominant microbes changed in the SDM groups, in which the interactions between microbes were enhanced. These results suggested that the SDMs changed the the soil microbial community structure and its diversity and complexity, which is beneficial for crop growth. Our study provided sufficient evidence for the utilization of low-temperature SDMs with straw return in cold winter, which plays a role in soil improvement, especially for low-quality soils, to increase crop yield.

The effect of successive summer drought periods on bacterial diversity along a plant species richness gradient.

Drought is a major stressor to soil microbial communities, and the intensification of climate change is predicted to increase hydric stress worldwide in the coming decades. As a possible mitigating factor for the consequences of prolonged drought periods, above and belowground biodiversity can increase ecosystem resistance and resilience by improving metabolic redundancy and complementarity as biodiversity increases. Here, we investigated the interaction effect between plant richness and successive, simulated summer drought on soil microbial communities during a period of 9 years.To do that, we made use of a well-established biodiversity experiment (The Jena Experiment) to investigate the response of microbial richness and community composition to successive drought periods alongside a plant richness gradient, which covers 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, and 60-species plant communities. Plots were covered from natural precipitation by installing rain shelters 6 weeks every summer. Bulk soil samples were collected 1 year after the last summer drought was simulated. Our data indicate that bacterial richness increased after successive exposure to drought, with the increase being stable along the plant richness gradient. We identified a significant effect of plant species richness on the soil microbial community composition and determined the taxa significantly impacted by drought at each plant richness level. Our data successfully demonstrates that summer drought might have a legacy effect on soil bacterial communities.

KAT8-mediated H4K16ac is essential for sustaining trophoblast self-renewal and proliferation via regulating CDX2.

Abnormal trophoblast self-renewal and differentiation during early gestation is the major cause of miscarriage, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that trophoblast specific deletion of Kat8, a MYST family histone acetyltransferase, leads to extraembryonic ectoderm abnormalities and embryonic lethality. Employing RNA-seq and CUT&Tag analyses on trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), we further discover that KAT8 regulates the transcriptional activation of the trophoblast stemness marker, CDX2, via acetylating H4K16. Remarkably, CDX2 overexpression partially rescues the defects arising from Kat8 knockout. Moreover, increasing H4K16ac via using deacetylase SIRT1 inhibitor, EX527, restores CDX2 levels and promoted placental development. Clinical analysis shows reduced KAT8, CDX2 and H4K16ac expression are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Trophoblast organoids derived from these patients exhibit impaired TSC self-renewal and growth, which are significantly ameliorated with EX527 treatment. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of targeting the KAT8-H4K16ac-CDX2 axis for mitigating RPL, shedding light on early gestational abnormalities.

Prevalence of anemia of varying severity, geographic variations, and association with metabolic factors among women of reproductive age in China: a nationwide, population-based study.

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of anemia of varying severity among women of reproductive age, we conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional study between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, including 4 184 547 nonpregnant women aged 18-49 years from all 31 provinces in the mainland of China. Anemia was defined as having hemoglobin concentration < 120.0 g/L and categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. Multivariate logistic models with cluster effect were used to explore the association of anemia and metabolic risk factors. The standardized prevalence of anemia and moderate and worse anemia among women of reproductive age in China was 15.8% (95% CI 15.1%-16.6%) and 6.6% (6.3%-7.0%), respectively. The prevalence of anemia and the proportion of moderate and worse anemia significantly increased with age. We also observed great geographic variations in the prevalence of anemia, with a high likelihood in south, central, and northwest China. Moderate and/or severe anemia was positively associated with overweight and obesity, diabetes, and impaired kidney function. In conclusion, anemia remains a significant challenge for women of reproductive age in China. Geographic variations and metabolic risk factors should be considered in the comprehensive and targeting strategy for anemia reduction.

A dual-channel sensing platform for the cross-interference-free detection of tetracycline and copper ion.

Tetracycline (TC) and copper ion (Cu2+), as important additives in animal feed, play a crucial role in disease prevention and growth regulation. However, the abuse leads to concentration accumulation, which seriously threatens human health and the ecological environment. There is an urgent need to develop a detection method to achieve fast and synchronous detection of these pollutants without cross-interference. Here, a carbon dots-doped lanthanide-based fluorescent nanosensor (CDs@Tb-MOFs@SiO2-NH2-Eu) was synthesized, which can detect TC in the 380 nm channel by "antenna effect" and internal filtering effects (IFE), and identify Cu2+ in the 320 nm channel. The sensor was highly sensitive to TC within 0-4 µM with a detection limit as low as 3.64 nM, and Cu2+ could be detected within 0-40 µM with a detection limit of 38 nM. A portable dual-channel visual fluorescence sensor was obtained by loading the probes onto test paper and cotton swabs in food samples, which indicates the practicability of this sensing strategy.

Association between elevated homocysteine levels and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to distinguish between healthy controls and patients with OSAHS regarding homocysteine (HCY) levels and investigate how individuals with OSAHS respond to continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP) in terms of serum and plasma HCY levels. Methods: To ascertain published articles about OSAHS, an exhaustive search was performed across medical databases, encompassing PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and Cochrane Library, until January 2, 2024. This study reviewed the literature regarding HCY levels in individuals with OSAHS and control groups, HCY levels under pre- and post-CPAP treatment, the Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients between HCY levels and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and the hazard ratio (HR) of HCY levels concerning the occurrence of major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events (MACCEs) in patients with OSAHS. Meta-analyses were performed using weighted mean difference (WMD), correlation coefficients, and HR as effect variables. The statistical analysis was conducted using the R 4.1.2 and STATA 11.0 software packages. Results: In total, 33 articles were selected for the final analysis. The OSAHS group exhibited significantly higher serum/plasma HCY levels than the control group (WMD = 4.25 µmol/L, 95% CI: 2.60-5.91, P< 0.001), particularly among individuals with moderate and severe OSAHS. Additionally, subgroup analysis using mean age, ethnicity, mean body mass index, and study design type unveiled significantly elevated levels of HCY in the serum/plasma of the OSAHS group compared to the control group. CPAP treatment can significantly decrease serum/plasma HCY levels in patients with OSAHS. Moreover, elevated HCY levels in individuals with OSAHS could be one of the risk factors for MACCEs (adjusted HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.10-2.58, P = 0.017). AHI scores show a positive correlation with serum/plasma HCY levels. Conclusion: Patients with OSAHS had elevated serum/plasma HCY levels compared to healthy controls; however, CPAP therapy dramatically decreased HCY levels in patients with OSAHS. In patients with OSAHS, elevated HCY levels were linked with an increased risk of MACCEs, and HCY was positively connected with AHI values. HCY levels may serve as a useful clinical indicator for determining the severity and efficacy of OSAHS treatments. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024498806.

Global critical soil moisture thresholds of plant water stress.

During extensive periods without rain, known as dry-downs, decreasing soil moisture (SM) induces plant water stress at the point when it limits evapotranspiration, defining a critical SM threshold (θcrit). Better quantification of θcrit is needed for improving future projections of climate and water resources, food production, and ecosystem vulnerability. Here, we combine systematic satellite observations of the diurnal amplitude of land surface temperature (dLST) and SM during dry-downs, corroborated by in-situ data from flux towers, to generate the observation-based global map of θcrit. We find an average global θcrit of 0.19 m3/m3, varying from 0.12 m3/m3 in arid ecosystems to 0.26 m3/m3 in humid ecosystems. θcrit simulated by Earth System Models is overestimated in dry areas and underestimated in wet areas. The global observed pattern of θcrit reflects plant adaptation to soil available water and atmospheric demand. Using explainable machine learning, we show that aridity index, leaf area and soil texture are the most influential drivers. Moreover, we show that the annual fraction of days with water stress, when SM stays below θcrit, has increased in the past four decades. Our results have important implications for understanding the inception of water stress in models and identifying SM tipping points.

Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of HRS9432(A) injection in healthy Chinese subjects: a phase-I randomized, double-blind, dose escalation, placebo-controlled study.

HRS9432(A) is a long-acting echinocandin antifungal medication primarily used to treat invasive fungal infections, particularly invasive candidiasis. The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of HRS9432(A) injection were investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-ascending-dose Phase I study involving 56 healthy adult subjects. Doses ranging from 200 to 1200 mg were administered. Safety was continually monitored, including adverse events, clinical laboratory examinations, vital signs, 12-lead electrocardiograms, and physical examinations, while the pharmacokinetic profile within the body was evaluated. The results indicated that concentrations of HRS9432 peaked immediately after infusion, demonstrating essentially linear pharmacokinetic characteristics within the dosage range of 200-1,200 mg. It exhibited a low clearance rate and an extended half-life, with a clearance of approximately 0.2 L/h, a volume of distribution of around 40 L, and a half-life of approximately 140h following a single dose. The accumulation index for AUC0-τ after multiple doses ranged from 1.41 to 1.75. No severe adverse events occurred during the study, and the severity of all adverse events was mild or moderate. Therefore, the intravenous administration of HRS9432(A) in healthy Chinese adult subjects, either as multiple infusions of 200 to 600 mg (once a week, four doses) or as a single infusion of 900-1,200 mg, demonstrated overall good safety and tolerability. The pharmacokinetic exhibited essentially linear characteristics in the body, supporting a weekly dosing frequency for clinical applications and providing additional options for the treatment or prevention of invasive fungal infections. CLINICAL TRIALS: This study is registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform as ChiCTR2300073525.

Mycorrhizal associations modify tree diversity-productivity relationships across experimental tree plantations.

Decades of studies have demonstrated links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet the generality of the relationships and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, especially for forest ecosystems. Using 11 tree-diversity experiments, we tested tree species richness-community productivity relationships and the role of arbuscular (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal-associated tree species in these relationships. Tree species richness had a positive effect on community productivity across experiments, modified by the diversity of tree mycorrhizal associations. In communities with both AM and ECM trees, species richness showed positive effects on community productivity, which could have resulted from complementarity between AM and ECM trees. Moreover, both AM and ECM trees were more productive in mixed communities with both AM and ECM trees than in communities assembled by their own mycorrhizal type of trees. In communities containing only ECM trees, species richness had a significant positive effect on productivity, whereas species richness did not show any significant effects on productivity in communities containing only AM trees. Our study provides novel explanations for variations in diversity-productivity relationships by suggesting that tree-mycorrhiza interactions can shape productivity in mixed-species forest ecosystems.

Early efficacy of rTMS intervention at week 2 predicts subsequent responses at week 24 in schizophrenia in a randomized controlled trial.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique for modulating cortical activities and improving neural plasticity. Several studies investigated the effects of rTMS, etc., but the results are inconsistent. This study was designed to examine whether rTMS applied on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC) showed an effect on improving cognitive deficits in SZ and whether the early efficacy could predict efficacy at subsequent follow-ups. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) scale at baseline, weeks 2, 6, and 24. We found a significant interaction between time (weeks 0, 2, 6, and 24) and intervention on immediate memory and RBANS total scores (p â€‹= â€‹0.02 and p â€‹= â€‹0.04), indicating that both 10-Hz and 20-Hz rTMS stimulations had a delayed beneficial effect on immediate memory in SZ. Moreover, we found that 20-Hz rTMS stimulation, but not 10-Hz rTMS improved immediate memory at week 6 compared to the sham group (p â€‹= â€‹0.029). More importantly, improvements in immediate memory at week 2 were positively correlated with improvements at week 24 (ߠ​= â€‹0.461, t â€‹= â€‹3.322, p â€‹= â€‹0.002). Our study suggests that active rTMS was beneficial for cognitive deficits in patients with SZ. Furthermore, efficacy at week 2 could predict the subsequent efficacy at 24-week follow-up.

Effect analysis of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with fluoxetine in the treatment of first-episode adolescent depression.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with fluoxetine in enhancing the early antidepressant response in first-episode adolescent depression cases, providing insights for patient diagnosis and treatment. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five adolescents experiencing their first depressive episode were randomly assigned to either a sham group treated with fluoxetine or to low or high repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) groups receiving both rTMS and fluoxetine. Therapeutic effects were assessed by comparing changes in Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) scores, cognitive function scores from the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and Clinical Global Impression-improvement (CGI-I) scores, along with recording adverse reactions. Results: The total effectiveness rate in the rTMS groups (Low, 95.56%; High, 97.78%) was significantly higher than in the Sham rTMS group (80%) (F = 11.15, P<0.0001). Post-treatment, not only the Low but also the High rTMS group exhibited more significant reductions in HAMD-17 (Low, 21.05; High, 21.45) and CGI-I scores (Low, 3.44; High, 3.60) compared to the Sham rTMS group (HAMD-17, 16.05; CGI-I, 2.57) (two weeks: F = 7.889, P = 0.0006; four weeks: F = 15.900, P<0.0001). Additionally, the two rTMS groups exhibited fewer erroneous responses and persistent errors in the WCST and completed more WCST categorizations than the Sham rTMS group. There was no significant difference in adverse reaction rates between the groups (F=4.421, P=0.0794). Conclusions: The combination of fluoxetine with rTMS demonstrates enhanced therapeutic effectiveness in treating adolescent depression, effectively controlling disease progression, reducing depressive symptoms, and improving cognitive function, making it a valuable clinical approach.

miR-29 as diagnostic biomarkers for tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The timely diagnosis of tuberculosis through innovative biomarkers that do not rely on sputum samples is a primary focus for strategies aimed at eradicating tuberculosis. miR-29 is an important regulator of tuberculosis pathogenesis. Its differential expression pattern in healthy, latent, and active people who develop tuberculosis has revealed its potential as a biomarker in recent studies. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for the role of miR-29 in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Methods: EMBASE, PubMed, CNKI, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched utilizing predefined keywords for literature published from 2000 to February 2024.Included in the analysis were studies reporting on the accuracy of miR-29 in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, while articles assessing other small RNAs were not considered. All types of study designs, including case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies, were included, whether prospectively or retrospectively sampled, and the quality of included studies was determined utilizing the QUADAS-2 tool. Publication bias was analyzed via the construction of funnel plots. Heterogeneity among studies and summary results for specificity, sensitivity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) are depicted in forest plots. Results: A total of 227 studies were acquired from the various databases, and 18 articles were selected for quantitative analysis. These articles encompassed a total of 2,825 subjects, primarily sourced from the Asian region. Patient specimens, including sputum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cerebrospinal fluid and serum/plasma samples, were collected upon admission and during hospitalization for tuberculosis testing. miR-29a had an overall sensitivity of 82% (95% CI 77, 85%) and an overall specificity of 82% (95% CI 78, 86%) for detecting tuberculosis. DOR was 21 (95% CI 16-28), and the area under the curve was 0.89 (95% CI 0.86, 0.91). miR-29a had slightly different diagnostic efficacy in different specimens. miR-29a showed good performance in both the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. miR-29b and miR-29c also had a good performance in diagnosis of tuberculosis. Conclusion: As can be seen from the diagnostic performance of miR-29, miR-29 can be used as a potential biomarker for the rapid detection of tuberculosis. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=461107.

Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to volatiles of nymphal Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae).

Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating citrus disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, is efficiently vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) plays a crucial role as an ectoparasitoid, preying on D. citri nymphs. By collecting and identifying headspace volatiles from fifth instar nymphs of D. citri using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), we obtained a collection of 9 volatile compounds. These compounds were subsequently chosen to investigate the electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female T. radiata. At a concentration of 10 µg/µl, 9 compounds were compared with cis-3-hexen-1-ol (control), resulting in trans-2-nonenal inducing the highest relative electroantennogram (EAG) value, followed by hexanal, heptanal, n-heptadecane, tetradecanal, n-tetradecane, n-pentadecane, 1-tetradecanol, and 1-dodecanol. The top 5 EAG responses of female T. radiata to these compounds were further investigated through EAG dose-response experiments. The results showed positive dose-responses as concentrations increased from 0.01 to 10 µg/µl. In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, female T. radiata exhibited a preference for specific compounds. They were significantly attracted to tetradecanal at a concentration of 10 µg/µl and trans-2-nonenal at 0.01 µg/µl, while no significant attraction was observed toward hexanal, heptanal, or n-heptadecane. Our report is the first to demonstrate that volatiles produced by D. citri nymphs attract T. radiata, which suggests that this parasitoid may utilize nymph volatiles to locate its host.

Effects of different addition levels of CHM-JM113 on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, organ index, and intestinal health of AA broilers.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of different levels of a Chinese herbal medicine formulation combined with JM113 (CHM-JM113) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, organ index, and intestinal health of AA broilers. The AA broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 5 treatments as follows: a basic diet for the control group, the basic diet supplemented with 0.25% CHM-JM113, 0.5% CHM-JM113, 1% CHM-JM113 and 2% CHM-JM113 for the treatment group, respectively. The results showed that the addition of CHM-JM113 to the diet significantly reduced the mortality (p < 0.01) and improved the European Broiler Index (EBI) (p < 0.05), whereas it had no significance on growth performance of AA broilers (p > 0.05). Comparing the control group, 0.5 and 1% CHM-JM113 group significantly improved the organ index of liver, spleen and bursa (p < 0.05). In terms of intestinal morphology and structure, the addition of different levels of CHM-JM113 increased VH and VH/CD ratio, decreased CD in the small intestine compared to the control group, with 1 and 2% of the additive dose being more effective (p < 0.05). Chinese herbal medicine and probiotics as natural antioxidants also significantly increased the content of SOD in serum of 21-day-old broilers (p < 0.01), and significantly decreased the content of MDA in serum (p < 0.01). At 42 days of age, the addition of 1 and 2% CHM-JM113 significantly increased the content of SOD (p < 0.01) and significantly decreased the content of MDA in the organism (p < 0.01), accompanied by a significant increase in T-AOC and CAT content. In the study of the effect of CHM-JM113 on intestinal immunity, compared with the control group, we found that 1% or 2% CHM-JM113 had a better effect on the expression of occludin and claudin-1 in the intestinal segments of broilers (p < 0.05). For the expression of GATA-3, 0.5% CHM-JM113 may have a better effect (p < 0.05). CHM-JM113 may be used as an antibiotic alternative in broiler production.

Ammonium sulfate denatures transport medium less dependent on guanidinium isothiocyanate and enables SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antigen detection compatibility.

Introduction: Rapid identification of infected individuals through viral RNA or antigen detection followed by effective personal isolation is usually the most effective way to prevent the spread of a newly emerging virus. Large-scale detection involves mass specimen collection and transportation. For biosafety reasons, denaturing viral transport medium has been extensively used during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the high concentrations of guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) in such media have raised issues around sufficient GITC supply and laboratory safety. Moreover, there is a lack of denaturing transport media compatible with SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antigen detection. Methods: Here, we tested whether supplementing media containing low concentrations of GITC with ammonium sulfate (AS) would affect the throat-swab detection of SARS-CoV-2 or a viral inactivation assay targeting coronavirus and other enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The effect of adding AS to the media on RNA stability and its compatibility with SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection were also tested. Results and discussion: We found that adding AS to the denaturing transport media reduced the need for high levels of GITC, improved SARS-COV-2 RNA detection without compromising virus inactivation, and enabled the denaturing transport media compatible with SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection.

Facile Fabrication of Highly Efficient Chitosan-Based Multifunctional Coating for Cotton Fabrics with Excellent Flame-Retardant and Antibacterial Properties.

Interest in the development of eco-friendly, sustainable, and convenient bio-based coatings to enhance flame retardancy and antibacterial properties in cotton fabrics is growing. In this work, chitosan was protonated at its amino groups using a method with a high atom economy using an equimolar amount of amino trimethylene phosphonic acid (ATMP), resulting in the fabrication of a single-component chitosan-based multifunctional coating (ATMP-CS), thereby avoiding any additional neutralization or purification steps. Cotton fabrics coated with various loads of ATMP-CS were prepared through a padding-drying-curing process. The morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, antibacterial properties, flame-retardant behavior, and flame-retardant mechanism of these fabrics were investigated. The coating exhibited excellent film-forming properties, and it imparted a uniform protective layer onto the surfaces of the cotton fabrics. When the load capacity reached 11.5%, the coated fabrics achieved a limiting oxygen index of 29.7% and successfully passed the VFT test. Moreover, the ATMP-CS coating demonstrated antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reaching 95.1% and 99.9%, respectively. This work presents a straightforward and gentle approach to fabricating colorless, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient fabric coatings that have potential applications in promoting the use of bio-based materials.

Coffee leaf extract inhibits advanced glycation end products and their precursors: A mechanistic study.

Excessive accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the body is associated with diabetes and its complications. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential and mechanism of coffee leaf extract (CLE) in inhibiting the generation of AGEs and their precursors in an in vitro glycation model using bovine serum albumin and glucose (BSA-Glu) for the first time. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that CLE prepared with ultrasound pretreatment (CLE-U) contained higher levels of trigonelline, mangiferin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid than CLE without ultrasound pretreatment (CLE-NU). The concentrations of these components, along with caffeine and rutin, were dramatically decreased when CLE-U or CLE-NU was incubated with BSA-Glu reaction mixture. Both CLE-U and CLE-NU exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of fluorescent AGEs, carboxymethyllysine, fructosamine, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal, as well as protein oxidation products. Notably, CLE-U exhibited a higher inhibitory capacity compared to CLE-NU. CLE-U effectively quenched fluorescence intensity and increased the α-helix structure of the BSA-Glu complex. Molecular docking results suggested that the key bioactive compounds present in CLE-U interacted with the arginine residues of BSA, thereby preventing its glycation. Overall, this research sheds light on the possible application of CLE as a functional ingredient in combating diabetes by inhibiting the generation of AGEs.

Baicalein inhibits biofilm formation of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in vitro mainly by affecting adhesion.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a widespread bacterium that causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry. APEC biofilm formation may result in chronic, persistent, and recurrent infections in clinics, making treatment challenging. Baicalein is a natural product that exhibits antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. This study investigates the inhibitory effect of baicalein on APEC biofilm formation at different stages. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of baicalein on APEC was determined, and the growth curve of APEC biofilm formation was determined. The effects of baicalein on APEC biofilm adhesion, accumulation, and maturation were observed using optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The biofilm inhibition rate of baicalein was calculated at different stages. The MIC of baicalein against APEC was 256 µg/mL. The process of APEC biofilm maturation takes approximately 48 h after incubation, with initial adhesion completed at 12 h, and cell accumulation finished at 24 h. Baicalein had a significant inhibitory effect on APEC biofilm formation at concentrations above 1 µg/mL (p < 0.01). Notably, baicalein had the highest rate of biofilm formation inhibition when added at the adhesion stage. Therefore, it can be concluded that baicalein is a potent inhibitor of APEC biofilm formation in vitro and acts, primarily by inhibiting cell adhesion. These findings suggests that baicalein has a potential application for inhibiting APEC biofilm formation and provides a novel approach for the prevention and control APEC-related diseases.