Efficacy and safety assessment of traditional Chinese patent medicine for dyslipidemia: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia continues to increase, which poses a significant risk for coronary artery disease. Some patients with dyslipidemia do not respond to or benefit from conventional lipid-lowering therapy, which warrants the need for alternative and complementary therapies. Chinese patent medicine (CPM) has shown great potential in the treatment of dyslipidemia, but its clinical value needs to be further explored. This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CPM in treating dyslipidemia. Methods: This study was registered in INPLASY as INPLASY202330090. The randomized controlled trials included in this study were published in January 2013 to March 2023 and retrieved from the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Internet, WanFang, and VIP. The bias risk in the study was independently evaluated by two reviewers using the Cochrane Randomized Trial Bias Risk Tool (RoB 2) Review Manager 5.4 software was used for the overall effect analysis and subgroup analysis of four blood lipids, and the trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted to check the results. Results: A total of 69 studies were included, involving 6,993 participants. The methodological quality was in the middle level. Meta-analysis showed that CPM markedly improved the levels of total cholesterol (TC) [mean difference (MD) =-0.54 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.71 to -0.37; P<0.001], triglyceride (TG) (MD =-0.43 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.33; P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (MD =-0.40 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.30; P<0.001) and increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (MD =0.23 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.27; P<0.001), in patients with dyslipidemia. Though CPM did not differ significantly from statins when used alone, it could improve lipid profile better in all cases when used in combination with statins and with drugs used for comorbidities or co-morbidities. Subgroup analysis found that the efficacy of pill formulations was superior to other formulations, and CPM showed better lipid-lowering response in the context of comorbidity. The TSA confirmed the robustness of the analysis of the LDL-C level. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events between the treatment group and the control group [risk ratio (RR) =0.89; 95% CI: 0.69-1.16; P=0.40]. Conclusions: CPM can yield superior therapeutic effects in ameliorating dyslipidemia without exacerbating adverse effects as an alternative and complementary therapy. In addition, the therapeutic effect can be improved by emphasizing pill formulation and strengthening the standardization of syndromes.

The circadian rhythm: A new target of natural products that can protect against diseases of the metabolic system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of metabolic system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system diseases remains to be explored. In the internal environment of organisms, the metabolism of substances such as carbohydrates, lipids and proteins (including biohormones and enzymes) exhibit a certain circadian rhythm to maintain the energy supply and material cycle needed for the normal activities of organisms. As a key factor for the health of organisms, the circadian rhythm can be disrupted by pathological conditions, and this disruption accelerates the progression of diseases and results in a vicious cycle. The current treatments targeting the circadian rhythm for the treatment of metabolic system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system diseases have certain limitations, and the identification of safer and more effective circadian rhythm regulators is needed. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To systematically assess the possibility of using the biological clock as a natural product target for disease intervention, this work reviews a range of evidence on the potential effectiveness of natural products targeting the circadian rhythm to protect against diseases of the metabolic system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. This manuscript focuses on how natural products restore normal function by affecting the amplitude of the expression of circadian factors, sleep/wake cycles and the structure of the gut microbiota. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF THE REVIEW: This work proposes that the circadian rhythm, which is regulated by the amplitude of the expression of circadian rhythm-related factors and the sleep/wake cycle, is crucial for diseases of the metabolic system, cardiovascular system and nervous system and is a new target for slowing the progression of diseases through the use of natural products. This manuscript provides a reference for the molecular modeling of natural products that target the circadian rhythm and provides a new perspective for the time-targeted action of drugs.

PPARs in atherosclerosis: The spatial and temporal features from mechanism to druggable targets.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a chronic and complex disease caused by lipid disorder, inflammation, and other factors. It is closely related to cardiovascular diseases, the chief cause of death globally. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are valuable anti-atherosclerosis targets that showcase multiple roles at different pathological stages of atherosclerosis and for cell types at different tissue sites. AIM OF REVIEW: Considering the spatial and temporal characteristics of the pathological evolution of atherosclerosis, the roles and pharmacological and clinical studies of PPARs were summarized systematically and updated under different pathological stages and in different vascular cells of atherosclerosis. Moreover, selective PPAR modulators and PPAR-pan agonists can exert their synergistic effects meanwhile reducing the side effects, thereby providing novel insight into future drug development for precise spatial-temporal therapeutic strategy of anti-atherosclerosis targeting PPARs. KEY SCIENTIFIC: Concepts of Review: Based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of atherosclerosis, we have proposed the importance of stage- and cell type-dependent precision therapy. Initially, PPARs improve endothelial cells' dysfunction by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress and then regulate macrophages' lipid metabolism and polarization to improve fatty streak. Finally, PPARs reduce fibrous cap formation by suppressing the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Therefore, research on the cell type-specific mechanisms of PPARs can provide the foundation for space-time drug treatment. Moreover, pharmacological studies have demonstrated that several drugs or compounds can exert their effects by the activation of PPARs. Selective PPAR modulators (that specifically activate gene subsets of PPARs) can exert tissue and cell-specific effects. Furthermore, the dual- or pan-PPAR agonist could perform a better role in balancing efficacy and side effects. Therefore, research on cells/tissue-specific activation of PPARs and PPAR-pan agonists can provide the basis for precision therapy and drug development of PPARs.

Effects of plant natural products on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and the underlying mechanisms: a narrative review with a focus on the modulation of the gut microbiota.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat in hepatocytes. However, due to the complex pathogenesis of MAFLD, there are no officially approved drugs for treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective anti-MAFLD drugs. Recently, the relationship between the gut microbiota and MAFLD has been widely recognized, and treating MAFLD by regulating the gut microbiota may be a new therapeutic strategy. Natural products, especially plant natural products, have attracted much attention in the treatment of MAFLD due to their multiple targets and pathways and few side effects. Moreover, the structure and function of the gut microbiota can be influenced by exposure to plant natural products. However, the effects of plant natural products on MAFLD through targeting of the gut microbiota and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Based on the above information and to address the potential therapeutic role of plant natural products in MAFLD, we systematically summarize the effects and mechanisms of action of plant natural products in the prevention and treatment of MAFLD through targeting of the gut microbiota. This narrative review provides feasible ideas for further exploration of safer and more effective natural drugs for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD.

3D Aligned Nanofiber Scaffold Fabrication with Trench-Guided Electrospinning for Cardiac Tissue Engineering.

Constructing three-dimensional (3D) aligned nanofiber scaffolds is significant for the development of cardiac tissue engineering, which is promising in the field of drug discovery and disease mechanism study. However, the current nanofiber scaffold preparation strategy, which mainly includes manual assembly and hybrid 3D printing, faces the challenge of integrated fabrication of morphology-controllable nanofibers due to its cross-scale structural feature. In this research, a trench-guided electrospinning (ES) strategy was proposed to directly fabricate 3D aligned nanofiber scaffolds with alternative ES and a direct ink writing (DIW) process. The electric field effect of DIW poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) side walls on guiding whipping ES nanofibers was investigated to construct trench design rules. It was found that the width/height ratio of trenches greatly affected the nanofiber alignment, and the trench width/height ratio of 1.5 provided the nanofiber alignment degree over 60%. As a proof of principle, 3D nanofiber scaffolds with controllable porosity (60-80%) and alignment (30-60%) were fabricated. The effect of the scaffolds was verified by culturing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), which resulted in the uniform 3D distribution of aligned hiPSC-CMs with ∼1000 µm thickness. Therefore, this printing strategy shows great potential for the efficient engineered tissue construction.

Novel discovery of schisandrin A regulating the interplay of autophagy and apoptosis in oligoasthenospermia by targeting SCF/c-kit and TRPV1 via biosensors.

Oligoasthenospermia is the primary cause of infertility. However, there are still enormous challenges in the screening of critical candidates and targets of oligoasthenospermia owing to its complex mechanism. In this study, stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) biosensors were successfully established and applied to studying apoptosis and autophagy mechanisms. Interestingly, the detection limit reached 2.787 × 10-15 g/L, and the quantitative limit reached 1.0 × 10-13 g/L. Furthermore, biosensors were used to investigate the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis. Schisandrin A is an excellent candidate to form a system with c-kit similar to SCF/c-kit with a detection constant (KD) of 5.701 × 10-11 mol/L, whereas it had no affinity for SCF. In addition, it also inhibited autophagy in oligoasthenospermia through antagonizing TRPV1 with a KD of up to 4.181 × 10-10 mol/L. In addition, in vivo and in vitro experiments were highly consistent with the biosensor. In summary, high-potency schisandrin A and two potential targets were identified, through which schisandrin A could reverse the apoptosis caused by excessive autophagy during oligoasthenospermia. Our study provides promising insights into the discovery of effective compounds and potential targets via a well-established in vitro-in vivo strategy.

The impact of microbially modified metabolites associated with obesity and bariatric surgery on antitumor immunity.

Obesity is strongly associated with the occurrence and development of many types of cancers. Patients with obesity and cancer present with features of a disordered gut microbiota and metabolism, which may inhibit the physiological immune response to tumors and possibly damage immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In recent years, bariatric surgery has become increasingly common and is recognized as an effective strategy for long-term weight loss; furthermore, bariatric surgery can induce favorable changes in the gut microbiota. Some studies have found that microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), inosine bile acids and spermidine, play an important role in anticancer immunity. In this review, we describe the changes in microbial metabolites initiated by bariatric surgery and discuss the effects of these metabolites on anticancer immunity. This review attempts to clarify the relationship between alterations in microbial metabolites due to bariatric surgery and the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Furthermore, this review seeks to provide strategies for the development of microbial metabolites mimicking the benefits of bariatric surgery with the aim of improving therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients who have not received bariatric surgery.

Probiotics fortify intestinal barrier function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Probiotics play a vital role in treating immune and inflammatory diseases by improving intestinal barrier function; however, a comprehensive evaluation is missing. The present study aimed to explore the impact of probiotics on the intestinal barrier and related immune function, inflammation, and microbiota composition. A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted. Methods: Four major databases (PubMed, Science Citation Index Expanded, CENTRAL, and Embase) were thoroughly searched. Weighted mean differences were calculated for continuous outcomes with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), heterogeneity among studies was evaluated utilizing I2 statistic (Chi-Square test), and data were pooled using random effects meta-analyses. Results: Meta-analysis of data from a total of 26 RCTs (n = 1891) indicated that probiotics significantly improved gut barrier function measured by levels of TER (MD, 5.27, 95% CI, 3.82 to 6.72, P < 0.00001), serum zonulin (SMD, -1.58, 95% CI, -2.49 to -0.66, P = 0.0007), endotoxin (SMD, -3.20, 95% CI, -5.41 to -0.98, P = 0.005), and LPS (SMD, -0.47, 95% CI, -0.85 to -0.09, P = 0.02). Furthermore, probiotic groups demonstrated better efficacy over control groups in reducing inflammatory factors, including CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6. Probiotics can also modulate the gut microbiota structure by boosting the enrichment of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Conclusion: The present work revealed that probiotics could improve intestinal barrier function, and alleviate inflammation and microbial dysbiosis. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted to achieve a more definitive conclusion. Clinical trial registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=281822, identifier CRD42021281822.

The immunogenic involvement of miRNA-492 in mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in pediatric patients

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of miRNA-492 in the progression of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in pediatric patients. Methods: Forty-six children admitted to the present study's hospital and diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia were recruited as the study group from March 2018 to August 2019, and 40 healthy children were selected as the control group. Results: The expression levels of miRNA-492, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between miRNA-492 and most of the immune-correlated indicators in the study group, except for IL-6, IL-18 and HMGB1. Meanwhile, overexpression of miRNA-492 increased IL-6 secretion in PMA-activated monocytes (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The present study's results suggested that miRNA-492 might play a role in the pathogenesis of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children by regulating the secretion of immune-inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and IL-18 in the mononuclear macrophages.

Ginseng-Containing Sijunzi Decoction Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis by Orchestrating Gut Homeostasis in Microbial Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Integrity.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has become a global epidemic, and the lack of an effective cure highlights the necessity and urgency to explore novel therapies. Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD), a classical Chinese herbal formula, has been comprehensively applied and clinically proven effective in treating UC; however, the pharmacological mechanism behind its therapeutic benefits is largely obscure. Here, we find that SJZD can restore microbiota homeostasis and intestinal barrier integrity in DSS-induced colitis. SJZD significantly alleviated the colonic tissue damage and improved the goblet cell count, MUC2 secretion, and tight junction protein expressions, which indicated enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. SJZD remarkedly suppressed the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella, which are typical features of microbial dysbiosis. Escherichia-Shigella was negatively correlated with body weight and colon length, and positively correlated with disease activity index and IL-1[Formula: see text]. Furthermore, through gut microbiota depletion, we confirmed that SJZD exerted anti-inflammatory activities in a gut microbiota-dependent manner, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) validated the mediating role of gut microbiota in the SJZD treatment of UC. Through gut microbiota, SJZD modulates the biosynthesis of bile acids (BAs), especially tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which has been identified as the signature BA during SJZD treatment. Cumulatively, our findings disclose that SJZD attenuates UC via orchestrating gut homeostasis in microbial modulation and intestinal barrier integrity, thus offering a promising alternative approach to the clinical management of UC.

The immunogenic involvement of miRNA-492 in mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the role of miRNA-492 in the progression of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in pediatric patients. METHODS: Forty-six children admitted to the present study's hospital and diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia were recruited as the study group from March 2018 to August 2019, and 40 healthy children were selected as the control group. RESULTS: The expression levels of miRNA-492, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between miRNA-492 and most of the immune-correlated indicators in the study group, except for IL-6, IL-18 and HMGB1. Meanwhile, overexpression of miRNA-492 increased IL-6 secretion in PMA-activated monocytes (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study's results suggested that miRNA-492 might play a role in the pathogenesis of mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children by regulating the secretion of immune-inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and IL-18 in the mononuclear macrophages.

Isolation, Purification, and Antioxidant Activities of Polysaccharides from Choerospondias axillaris Leaves.

The extraction, characterization and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Choerospondias axillaris leaves were investigated in the present study. Two purified polysaccharide fractions, CALP-1 and CALP-2, were isolated from crude Choerospondias axillaris leaf polysaccharides (CALP) by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The characteristics of CAL-1 and CALP-2 were determined by using High-performance Gel Permeation Chromatography (HPGPC), High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography, HPAEC (HPAEC-PAD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). CALP-1 with molecular weight of 11.20 KDa was comprised of Rhamnose, Arabinose, Galactose, Glucose, Xylose, Mannose and galacturonic acid in a molar ratio of 5.16:2.31:5.50:27.18:1.00:0.76:1.07. CAL-2 with molecular weight of 8.03 KDa consisted of Rhamnose, Arabinose, Galactose, Glucose, and galacturonic acid at a ratio of 1.38:3.63:18.84:8.28:1.45. FTIR revealed that CALP-1 and CALP-2 were acidic polysaccharides. The antioxidant activity of crude CALP, CALP-1 and CALP-2 was evaluated in vitro. The fraction CALP-2 was demonstrated to be of polysaccharide nature containing a large percentage of Galactose but no Xylose and Mannose. The antioxidant activity assays showed that CALP-1 and CALP-2 exhibited antioxidant and scavenging activities on hydroxyl and DPPH radicals in vitro. Compared with pure polysaccharide, crude CALP exhibited stronger anti-oxidant activities. These results will provide a better understanding of Choerospondias axillaris leaf polysaccharide and promote the potential applications of Choerospondias axillaris leaf polysaccharide in the pharmacological field and as a natural antioxidant.

Novel monolithic catalysts for VOCs removal: A review on preparation, carrier and energy supply.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are considered the culprit of secondary air pollution such as ozone, secondary organic aerosols, and photochemical smog. Among various technologies, catalytic oxidation is considered a promising method for the post-treatment of VOCs. Researchers are sparing no effort to develop novel catalysts to meet the requirements of the catalytic process. Compared with the powdered or granular catalysts, the monolithic catalysts have the advantages of low pressure drop, high utilization of active phases, and excellent mechanical properties. This review summarized the new design of monolithic catalysts (including new preparation methods, new supports, and new energy supply methods) for the post-treatment of VOCs. It addressed the advantages of the new designs in detail, and the scope of applicability for each new monolithic catalyst was also highlighted. Finally, the highly required future development trends of monolithic catalysts for VOCs catalytic oxidation are recommended. We expect this work can inspire and guide researchers from both academic and industrial communities, and help pave the way for breakthroughs in fundamental research and industrial applications in this field.

Metabolomic profiling and alleviation of oxidative stress of Huangjing Zanyu capsule treating oligoasthenospermia.

Background: The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patent medicine Huangjing Zanyu capsule (HJZY capsule) has achieved satisfactory clinical effects in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS). This study aimed to elucidate the impact of HJZY capsule on the reproductive system, focusing on oxidative stress and metabolism profiling during the intervention, to clarify the therapeutic mechanism of HJZY capsule in treating OAS. Methods: Cyclophosphamide was used to establish OAS model rats. Time-sequence specimen collection was applied to monitor the dynamic development of the pharmacological effect of HJZY capsule. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and malonaldehyde (MDA) were evaluated by biochemistry kits to examine the impact of HJZY capsule on oxidative stress. Non-targeted metabolomics was conducted for urine and testis samples, respectively, to investigate metabolic pathways through which the HJZY capsule takes effect. Results: The HJZY capsule elevated sperm density from 62.1±8.28, passing 68.4±7.52, to 75.9±8.48×106/mL, and sperm motility from 62.0%±3.94%, passing 70.8%±9.72%, to 68.8%±4.37%. Meanwhile, SOD (P<0.05 in week 2) and GPX activity levels of HJZY groups were elevated to a certain degree, respectively, and lipid oxidation was attenuated, as shown by decreased MDA content (P<0.05 in week 2). Metabolomics results showed that the HJZY capsule could modulate pathways including taurine metabolism, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism, and multiple amino acid metabolisms, among others. The cluster analysis results showed that urinary and testicular metabolomics differed in the strength of discrimination between rats in the OAS model and the HJZY groups. Conclusions: The HJZY capsule exerts a comprehensive effect on OAS through influencing various metabolic pathways. Non-targeted metabolomics provides an effective way for profiling complex TCM prescriptions.

Integrative analysis of network pharmacology and proteomics to identify key targets of Tuomin-Zhiti-Decoction for allergic rhinitis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of most prevalent disease and it is urgent need to develop new drug. Tuomin-Zhiti-Decoction (TZD) is a traditional medicinal compound consisting of eleven different herbs and has a significant effect on AR, yet its underlying mechanism is still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to confirm the anti-AR effects and the underlying mechanism of TZD. Integrative analysis of network pharmacology and proteomics to explore the common mechanism of TZD treating AR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were subjected to serial intranasal challenge with ovalbumin (OVA), we examinaed the nasal symptoms, histopathology and Th1/Th2-related cytokines after TZD treatments. Active compounds, potential targets and underlying mechanisms of TZD against AR were systematically clarified by integrating network pharmacology and proteomics analysis. Then we validated the binding affinity between the key potential targets and matching active compounds using molecular docking evaluation. RESULTS: TZD controlled allergy by reduction of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine release. In nasal tissue, TZD decreased nasal rubbing, sneezing and reduced AR-induced damage to nasal mucosa, accordingly, the nasal symptoms were also clearly ameliorated. Moreover, TZD modulated the balance of Th1/Th2/Th17. The proteomics analysis recognized 41 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Integrative analysis of network pharmacology and proteomics, we found IL-6 and CD40 could be potential protein targets of TZD against AR, quercetin and wogonin may play more effective roles in AR. Active core compounds of TZD could bind closely to the key targets by molecular docking. CONCLUSION: TZD may have therapeutic potential for treating AR, integrating analysis of network pharmacology and proteomics uncovered the underlying mechanism and targets of TZD, which provides a scientific method for the sensible development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Acid Etching-Induced In Situ Growth of λ-MnO2 over CoMn Spinel for Low-Temperature Volatile Organic Compound Oxidation.

Surface lattice oxygen is crucial to the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over transition metal oxides according to the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Herein, λ-MnO2 in situ grown on the surface of CoMn spinel was prepared by acid etching of corresponding spinel catalysts (CoMn-Hx-Ty) for VOC oxidation. Experimental and relevant theoretical exploration revealed that acid etching on the CoMn spinel surface could decrease the electron cloud density around the O atom and weaken the adjacent Mn-O bond due to the fracture of the surface Co-O bond, facilitating electron transfer and subsequently the activation of surface lattice oxygen. The obtained CoMn-H1-T1 exhibited an excellent catalytic performance with a 90% acetone conversion at 149 °C, which is 42 °C lower than that of CoMn spinel. Furthermore, the partially maintained spinel structure led to better stability than pure λ-MnO2. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy confirmed a possible degradation pathway where adsorptive acetone converted into formate and acetate species and into CO2, in which the consumption of acetate was identified as the rate-limiting step. This strategy can improve the catalytic performance of metal oxides by activating surface lattice oxygen, to broaden their application in VOC oxidation.

Recent Advances of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds' Oxidation Catalyzed by Multiple Catalysts: Reasonable Adjustment of Acidity and Redox Properties.

The severe hazard of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) to human health and the natural environment makes their abatement technology a key topic of global environmental research. Due to the existence of Cl, the byproducts of CVOCs in the catalytic combustion process are complex and toxic, and the possible generation of dioxin becomes a potential risk to the environment. Well-qualified CVOC catalysts should process favorable low-temperature catalytic oxidation ability, excellent selectivity, and good resistance to poisoning, which are governed by the reasonable adjustment of acidity and redox properties. This review overviews the application of different types of multicomponent catalysts, that is, supported noble metal catalysts, transition metal oxide/zeolite catalysts, composite transition metal oxide catalysts, and acid-modified catalysts, for CVOC degradation from the perspective of balance between acidity and redox properties. This review also highlights the synergistic degradation of CVOCs and NOx from the perspective of acidity and redox properties. We expect this work to inspire and guide researchers from both the academic and industrial communities and help pave the way for breakthroughs in fundamental research and industrial applications in this field.

AZI2 positively regulates the induction of type I interferon in influenza-trigger pediatric pneumonia.

5-azacytidine-induced protein 2 (AZI2) is known to have a crucial role in antiviral innate immunity. This study aims to explore the roles of AZI2 in influenza-trigger pediatric pneumonia and its molecular mechanism. qPCR and immunoblotting assays were used to determine the levels of target genes and proteins. The lung infection mouse model was established by using PR8 H1N1 virus in AZI2 germline knockout (AZI2-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, HEK293T cell-based luciferase reporter assays were used to investigate the regulatory effects of AZI2 on type I interferon. Immune precipitation and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the interactions between AZI2 and TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1). We observed an elevation in the expressions of IFN-I and AZI2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the pneumonia patients with mild symptoms. Interestingly, AZI2 deficiency deteriorated the influenza-induced pathological symptoms in the lung as well as reduced the survival rate. It was further showed that AZI2 positively regulated the expressions of type I interferon, inflammatory cytokines, and IFN production-related genes. The molecular mechanism data revealed that AZI2 regulated the interactions between TBK1 and TANK. In summary, AZI2 positively regulates type I interferon production in influenza-induced pediatric pneumonia by promoting the interactions between TBK1 and TANK.

Hua-Tan-Sheng-Jing Decoction Treats Obesity With Oligoasthenozoospermia by Up-Regulating the PI3K-AKT and Down-Regulating the JNK MAPK Signaling Pathways: At the Crossroad of Obesity and Oligoasthenozoospermia.

Background: Oligoasthenozoospermia is the leading cause of male infertility, seriously affecting men's health and increasing the societal medical burden. In recent years, obesity-related oligoasthenozoospermia has attracted increased attention from researchers to find a cure. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Hua-Tan-Sheng-Jing decoction (HTSJD) in treating obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia, determine its active ingredients and identify its mechanism of action. Methods: The ingredients of HTSJD were determined by combining the ultra-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and systems pharmacology approach. The common pathogenesis of obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia and the potential mechanism of HTSJD against obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia were obtained through target fishing, network construction, and enrichment analyses. Further, molecular docking of the key ingredients with the upstream receptors of the key signaling pathways of the potential mechanism was used to predict their affinity. Finally, high-fat-induced obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia rat model was constructed to determine the effects of HTSJD on semen concentration, sperm motility, body weight, and serum lipid metabolism. The key proteins were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: A total of 70 effective components and 847 potential targets of HTSJD (H targets) were identified, of which 743 were common targets related to obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia (O-O targets) mainly enriched in the pathways related to inflammation, oxidative stress and hormone regulation. Finally, 143 common targets (H-O-O targets) for HTSJD against obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia were obtained. Combining the hub genes and the results of Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of H-O-O targets, PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways were identified as the key pathways. Molecular docking results showed that Diosgenin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Hederagenin, Isorhamnetin may act on the related pathways by docking EGFR, IGF1R and INSR. The animal-based in vivo experiments confirmed that HTSJD improves the sperm quality of high-fat diet-fed rats by reducing their body weight and blood lipid levels, influencing the PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling pathways and altering the corresponding protein expressions. Conclusion: HTSJD treats obesity with oligoasthenozoospermia by up-regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and down-regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, which are at the crossroad of obesity and oligoasthenozoospermia.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution Identification Based on Objective Facial and Tongue Features: A Delphi Study and a Diagnostic Nomogram for Blood Stasis Constitution.

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically summarize and form an expert consensus on the theoretical experience of tongue and facial features for the identification of nine types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution. Additionally, we sought to explore the feasibility of TCM constitution identification through objective tongue and facial features. Methods: We used Delphi method to investigate the opinions of experts on facial and tongue feature items for identifying TCM constitution. We developed and validated a diagnostic nomogram for blood stasis constitution (BSC) based on objective facial and tongue features to demonstrate the reliability of expert consultation. Results: Eleven experts participated in two rounds of expert consultation. The recovery rates of the two rounds of expert consultation were 100.0% and 90.9%. After the first round, 39 items were screened out from 147 initial items, and 2 items were supplemented by experts. In the second round, 7 items were eliminated, leaving 34 items for 8 types of TCM constitution. The coefficient of variation in the first round was 0.11-0.49 for the 147 items and 0.11-0.29 for the included items. The coefficient of variation in the second round was 0.10-0.27 for the 41 items and 0.10-0.20 for the included items. The W value was 0.548 (P < 0.001) in the first round and 0.240 (P < 0.001) in the second round. Based on expert consultation, we selected BSC as an example and developed and validated a diagnostic nomogram consisting of six indicators: sex, hair volume, lip color-dark purple, susceptibility-facial pigmentation/chloasma/ecchymosis, zygomatic texture-red blood streaks, and sublingual vein-varicose and dark purple. The nomogram showed good discrimination (AUC: 0.917 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.877-0.956] for the primary dataset, 0.902 [95% CI, 0.828-0.976] for the validation dataset) and good calibration. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion: This is the first study to systematically summarize the existing knowledge and clinical experience to form an expert consensus on the tongue and facial features of nine types of TCM constitution. Our results will provide important prior knowledge and expert experience for future constitution identification research. Based on expert consultation, this study presents a nomogram for BSC that incorporates objective facial and tongue features, which can be conveniently used to facilitate the individualized identification of BSC.