Traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and applications of Labisia pumila: A comprehensive review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Labisia pumila (Blume) Fern.-Vill, also known as Kacip Fatimah, is a traditional medicinal herb common throughout Southeast Asia. It is primarily used to facilitate childbirth and postpartum recovery in women. Additionally, it can also be used to treat dysentery, rheumatism, gonorrhea, and as an anti-flatulent. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the traditional uses, botany, cultivation, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, practical applications, and potential uses of L. pumila (LP). Furthermore, we also explore the safety of this plant and its potential prospects for application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The keywords "Labisia pumila," "Kacip Fatimah," and "Marantodes pumilum" were used to collect relevant information through electronic searches (including Elsevier, PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science). RESULTS: This review summarizes 102 chemical components from different parts of the plant, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, and other chemical components. In addition, we also address the associated cultivation conditions, traditional uses, pharmacological effects and toxicity. A large number of reports indicate that LP has various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, phytoestrogenic, anti-inflammtory, antimicrobial, anti-osteoporosis and anti-obesity properties. These results provide valuable references for future research on LP. In addition, LP is also a potential medicinal and edible plant, and is currently sold on the market as a dietary supplement. CONCLUSIONS: LP is a renowned traditional ethnic medicine with numerous pharmacological activities attributed to its bioactive components. Therefore, isolation and identification of the chemical components in LP can be a focus of our future research. Current studies have focused only on the effects of LP on estrogen deficiency-related diseases in women and bone diseases. There is no scientific evidence for other traditional uses. Therefore, it is important to further explore its pharmacological activities and fill the research gaps related to other traditional uses. Furthermore, research on its safety should be expanded to prepare clinical applications.

Causality Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Urolithiasis in European Populations: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory condition affecting the spine. Observational studies have suggested a heightened risk of urolithiasis in AS patients. However, due to the inherent limitations of observational research, the causal relationship between the two remains to be determined. OBJECTIVE: Utilizing the Mendelian randomization analysis approach, this study sought to explore the causal link between AS and urolithiasis. METHODS: Data from genome-wide association studies were employed for analysis. Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted using the IVW, MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and Weighted Mode methods. Heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analyses, and pleiotropy analyses were also performed. RESULTS: The causality between AS and urolithiasis was supported by the IVW (P = .02), Weighted Median (P = .006), and Weighted Mode (P = .01) methods. The MR-Egger method (P = .07) did not support this causal relationship, yet its directionality was consistent with the other three methods. None of the four analysis methods supported a reverse causal relationship between AS and urolithiasis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a causal relationship between AS and urolithiasis, with no evidence of reverse causality. Given the increased risk of urolithiasis in AS patients, it is crucial to implement preventive strategies and early detection. Stone composition analysis should also be incorporated into clinical practice for these patients, as it can provide essential insights into the metabolic and genetic factors contributing to stone formation, thus improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes. Future studies are needed to further validate these findings and explore the detailed mechanisms involved.

Achieving precise dual detection: One-tube reverse transcription-recombinase aided amplification (RT-RAA) combined with lateral flow strip (LFS) assay for RNA and DNA target genes from pepper mild mottle virus and Colletotrichum species in crude plant samples.

Ensuring the detection sensitivity of both RNA-derived and DNA-derived target genes in a single reaction has posed a significant challenge for on-site detection of plant pathogens. This challenge was addressed by developing a one-tube dual RT-RAA assay combined with LFS for the rapid on-site detection of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and four Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose in Solanaceous crops. By testing four different combinations of primer groups, two combinations were precisely adjusted within the dual RT-RAA system to balance amplification efficiency and maintain consistent levels of amplification in crude plant samples. Utilizing commercially accessible small-scale equipment and following a streamlined optimization strategy, the assay achieved a limit of detection of 0.32 copies/µL of target genes in the reaction. Importantly, it demonstrated no cross-reactivity with other plant pathogens, thereby affirming the high sensitivity and specificity of the developed dual RT-RAA-LFS detection assay. Moreover, the entire process took only 25 min from sample collection to the visible presentation of results. The assay was validated with 60 field samples and 10 seed samples, producing results consistent with reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Notably, it successfully detected PMMoV in systemic leaves without visible symptoms three days post-inoculation, underscoring its effectiveness in early disease detection. This streamlined strategy offers a valuable approach for rapid, low-cost, and highly sensitive on-site simultaneous detection of RNA genome-contained PMMoV and DNA genome-contained Colletotrichum species.

Assessing Gene Therapy Efficacy in Infantile-Onset Pompe Disease: Myocardial Native T1 Values of CMR.

We report the novel finding of a widespread reduction in myocardial native T1 values and size of abnormal regions following gene therapy in a pediatric patient with infantile-onset Pompe disease. We emphasize the importance of serial cardiac magnetic resonance in assessing the efficacy of gene therapy and monitoring myocardial alterations in Pompe disease.

Efficacy and Safety of General Anesthesia Induction with Ciprofol in Hip Fracture Surgery of Elderly Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Ciprofol is a new intravenous sedative / anesthetic drug. In recent years, many clinical studies have also confirmed the sedative effect of ciprofol. However, more clinical research is still needed on its clinical application characteristics in special populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of ciprofol and propofol in general anesthesia induction of elderly patients. Methods: 60 elderly (aged ≥ 75 years) patients underwent hip fracture surgery were randomly into two groups of a 1:1 ratio. Group C (ciprofol group): 0.3mg/kg ciprofol was infused. Group P (propofol group): 1.5mg/kg propofol was infused. The observation period was from the infusion of test drug to 5 min after endotracheal intubation. The primary outcomes included the incidence of severe hypotension and hypotension during the observation period. The secondary outcomes were as follows: the success rate of general anesthesia induction, the number of additional sedation, the time of loss of consciousness (LOC), Δ MAP, Δ HR, adverse events and the frequency of vasoactive drugs used. Results: Finally, 60 subjects completed the study. Compared with Group P, the incidence of severe hypotension in Group C was lower (26.7% vs 53.3%, P = 0.035), the incidence of hypotension was also lower (36.7% vs 63.3%, P = 0.037), Δ MAP in Group C was significantly lower (31.4 ± 11.4 vs 39.6 ± 15.7, P = 0.025), the frequency of ephedrine used and the incidence of injection pain in Group C were also significantly lower. Conclusion: Ciprofol showed similar efficacy to propofol when used for general anesthesia induction in elderly patients underwent hip fracture surgery and could maintain more stable blood pressure.

Salviapenghuana (Lamiaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China.

Salviapenghuana, a new species from Guizhou Province of southwestern China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, Salviapenghuana is similar to S.filicifolia, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by ovate-lanceolate bracts, purple corolla, and foot-shaped fused lower arms of connective. In addition, S.penhuana is morphologically similar to S.cavaleriei, but differs by having 3-4-pinnate leave, ovate-lanceolate bracts, puberulent calyx, and longer upper arms of connective. Based on the fibril root, small calyx and corolla, and completely reduced posterior thecae, S.penghuana should be placed in section Sobiso of subg. Glutinaria.

Frailty and risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and other chronic liver diseases.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Frailty is associated with multiple morbidities. However, its effect on chronic liver diseases remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated the association of frailty with the risk of incident metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related mortality. METHODS: A total of 339,298 participants without prior liver diseases from the UK Biobank were included. Baseline frailty was assessed by using physical frailty and the frailty index, categorizing participants as nonfrail, prefrail, or frail. The primary outcome was MASLD, with secondary outcomes, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related mortality, confirmed through hospital admission records and death registries. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.6 years, 4,667 MASLD, 1,636 cirrhosis, 257 liver cancer, and 646 liver-related mortality cases were identified. After multivariable adjustment, the risk of MASLD was found to be higher in participants with prefrailty (physical frailty: HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.40-1.97; frailty index: HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.67-2.42) and frailty (physical frailty: HR = 3.32, 95% CI = 2.54-4.34; frailty index: HR = 4.54, 95% CI = 3.65-5.66) than in those with nonfrailty. Similar results were also observed for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related mortality. Additionally, the frail groups had a higher risk of MASLD, which was defined as magnetic resonance imaging-derived liver proton density fat fraction > 5%, than the nonfrail group (physical frailty: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.32-2.04; frailty index: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.30-1.68). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was associated with an increased risk of chronic liver diseases. Public health strategies should target reducing chronic liver disease risk in frail individuals. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: While frailty is common and associated with a poor prognosis in people with MASLD and advanced chronic liver diseases, its impact on the subsequent risk of these outcomes remains largely unexplored. Our study showed that frailty was associated with the increased risks of MASLD, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related mortality. This finding suggests that assessing frailty may help identify a high-risk population vulnerable to developing chronic liver diseases. Implementing strategies that target frailty could have major public health benefits for liver-related disease prevention.

Development and external validation of a risk prediction model for depression in patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Depression is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to develop a depression risk prediction model for CHD patients. METHODS: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In the training set, reference literature, logistic regression, LASSO regression, optimal subset algorithm, and machine learning random forest algorithm were employed to screen prediction variables, respectively. The optimal prediction model was selected based on the C-index, Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI), and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI). A nomogram for the optimal prediction model was constructed. 3 external validations were performed. RESULTS: The training set comprised 1375 participants, with a depressive symptoms prevalence of 15.2 %. The optimal prediction model was constructed using predictors obtained from optimal subsets algorithm (C-index = 0.774, sensitivity = 0.751, specificity = 0.685). The model includes age, gender, education, marriage, diabetes, tobacco use, antihypertensive drugs, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The model demonstrated consistent discrimination ability, accuracy, and clinical utility across the 3 external validations. LIMITATIONS: The applicable population of the model is CHD patients. And the clinical benefits of interventions based on the prediction results are still unknown. CONCLUSION: We developed a depression risk prediction model for CHD patients, which was presented in the form of a nomogram for clinical application.

Biomimetic hydrogel coatings for improving the corrosion resistance, hemocompatibility, and endothelial cell growth of the magnesium alloy.

The fast biodegradation and poor biocompatibility of Mg alloys in physiological environments are still the main problems restricting their application in cardiovascular stents. In this study, the hydrogel coatings (SBMA-AAM) with different proportions of methacryloyl ethyl sulfobetaine (SBMA) and acrylamide (AAM) were built on the surface of AZ31B magnesium alloy through ultraviolet (UV) polymerization. The corrosion degradation behavior, hemocompatibility, and endothelial cell (EC) growth performance of the samples were studied in detail. The findings revealed that the uniform and dense SBMA-AAM coatings could significantly enhance the corrosion resistance. In addition, the hydrogel coatings showed excellent hydrophilicity, which increased the albumin adsorption while inhibiting the fibrinogen adsorption, and thus reduced the platelet adhesion and activation and hemolysis rate, accordingly significantly enhancing their anticoagulant performance. Furthermore, SBMA-AAM hydrogel coating promoted the EC adhesion and proliferation and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) secretion of ECs, which is conducive to promoting endothelialization. When the concentration ratio of SBMA and AAM was 1: 2, the modified magnesium alloy showed the best corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Therefore, the SBMA-AAM hydrogel coating could effectively regulate the corrosion degradation performance and biocompatibility of Mg alloys, laying a foundation for the application of Mg alloys in cardiovascular stents.

Unveiling the viroporin arsenal in plant viruses: Implications for the future.

Viroporins are small, hydrophobic viral proteins that modify cellular membranes to form tiny pores for influx of ions and small molecules. Previously, viroporins were identified exclusively in vertebrate viruses. Recent studies have shown that both plant-infecting positive-sense single-stranded (+ss) and negative-sense single-stranded (-ss) RNA viruses also encode functional viroporins. These seminal discoveries not only advance our understanding of the distribution and evolution of viroporins, but also open up a new field of plant virus research.

Depressive symptom mediates the association between the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment: a multi-center cross-sectional study based on community older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between the multiple chronic conditions (MCC), mental health and cognitive function of older adults in the community, and to propose a hypothesis that depressive symptom mediate the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment in older adults. Method: Participants aged 65 years and older from 35 communities in 14 cities in Guangxi, China were recruited. The residents' depressive symptom (PHQ-9) and cognitive status (AD-8) were evaluated, Chi-square test was used to explore the effects of different socio-demographic characteristics on depressive symptom and cognitive impairment. Pearson correlation analysis and the process model 4 were used to explore the relationship between the number of chronic diseases, depressive symptom and cognitive impairment. Result: A total of 11,582 older adults were included in our analysis. The rate of MCC reaching 26.53%. Hypertension combined with diabetes accounts for the highest proportion of two chronic diseases (13.2%). Among the combination of three chronic diseases, the highest incidence of coexisting hypertension combined with cervical/lumbar spondylosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (7.1%). In this study, depression symptoms accounted for 12.9% of older adults aged 65 and above, and cognitive impairment accounted for 27.4%. Female, older age, reside in urban areas, lower educational levels, no spouse, live alone, and MCC were risk factors for depressive symptom and cognitive impairment in older adults (P<0.05). Depressive symptom had a mediating effect in the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment, and the mediating effect (1.109) accounted for 44.13% of the total effect (0.247). Conclusion: The mental health of the older adult needs to be taken seriously, and improving depressive symptom can reduce the occurrence of cognitive impairment in older patients with MCC to a certain extent.

Formononetin Alleviates Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury by Regulating Macrophage Polarization through KLF6/STAT3 Pathway.

Recent research has indicated that formononetin demonstrates a potent anti-inflammatory effect in various diseases. However, its impact on sterile inflammation kidney injury, specifically acute kidney injury (AKI), remains unclear. In this study, we utilized an ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI (IRI-AKI) mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) to investigate the effects of formononetin on sterile inflammation of AKI and to explore the underlying mechanism. The administration of formononetin significantly preserved kidney function from injury, as evidenced by lower serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels compared to IRI-AKI mice without treatment. This was further confirmed by less pathological changes in renal tubules and low expression of tubular injury markers such as KIM-1 and NGAL in the formononetin-treated IRI-AKI group. Furthermore, formononetin effectively suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-[Formula: see text], and IL-1[Formula: see text]) and macrophage infiltration into the kidneys of AKI mice. In vitro studies showed that formononetin led to less macrophage polarization towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype in BMDMs stimulated by LPS and IFN-[Formula: see text]. The mechanism involved the KLF6 and p-STAT3 pathway, as overexpression of KLF6 restored pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and pro-inflammatory polarization. Our findings demonstrate that formononetin can significantly improve renal function and reduce inflammation in IRI-AKI, which may be attributed to the inhibition of KLF6/STAT3-mediated macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization. This discovery presents a new promising therapeutic option for the treatment of IRI-AKI.

Cardioprotection of voluntary exercise against breast cancer-induced cardiac injury via STAT3.

Exercise is an effective way to alleviate breast cancer-induced cardiac injury to a certain extent. However, whether voluntary exercise (VE) activates cardiac signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the role of STAT3-microRNA(miRNA)-targeted protein axis in VE against breast cancer-induced cardiac injury.VE for 4 weeks not only improved cardiac function of transgenic breast cancer female mice [mouse mammary tumor virus-polyomavirus middle T antigen (MMTV-PyMT +)] compared with littermate mice with no cancer (MMTV-PyMT -), but also increased myocardial STAT3 tyrosine 705 phosphorylation. Significantly more obvious cardiac fibrosis, smaller cardiomyocyte size, lower cell viability, and higher serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were shown in MMTV-PyMT + mice compared with MMTV-PyMT - mice, which were ameliorated by VE. However, VE did not influence the tumor growth. MiRNA sequencing identified that miR-181a-5p was upregulated and miR-130b-3p was downregulated in VE induced-cardioprotection. Myocardial injection of Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 driving STAT3 tyrosine 705 mutations abolished cardioprotective effects above. Myocardial STAT3 was identified as the transcription factor binding the promoters of pri-miR-181a (the precursor of miR-181a-5p) and HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR, sponged miR-130b-3p) in isolated cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, miR-181a-5p targeting PTEN and miR-130b-3p targeting Zinc finger and BTB domain containing protein 20 (Zbtb20) were proved in AC-16 cells. These findings indicated that VE protects against breast cancer-induced cardiac injury via activating STAT3 to promote miR-181a-5p targeting PTEN and to promote HOTAIR to sponge miR-130b-3p targeting Zbtb20, helping to develop new targets in exercise therapy for breast cancer-induced cardiac injury.

Allopolyploidization from two dioecious ancestors leads to recurrent evolution of sex chromosomes.

Polyploidization presents an unusual challenge for species with sex chromosomes, as it can lead to complex combinations of sex chromosomes that disrupt reproductive development. This is particularly true for allopolyploidization between species with different sex chromosome systems. Here, we assemble haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genomes of a female allotetraploid weeping willow (Salix babylonica) and a male diploid S. dunnii. We show that weeping willow arose from crosses between a female ancestor from the Salix-clade, which has XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 7, and a male ancestor from the Vetrix-clade, which has ancestral XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 15. We find that weeping willow has one pair of sex chromosomes, ZW on chromosome 15, that derived from the ancestral XY sex chromosomes in the male ancestor of the Vetrix-clade. Moreover, the ancestral 7X chromosomes from the female ancestor of the Salix-clade have reverted to autosomal inheritance. Duplicated intact ARR17-like genes on the four homologous chromosomes 19 likely have contributed to the maintenance of dioecy during polyploidization and sex chromosome turnover. Taken together, our results suggest the rapid evolution and reversion of sex chromosomes following allopolyploidization in weeping willow.

A multi-targeting immunotherapy ameliorates multiple facets of Alzheimer's disease in 3xTg mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an intricate disorder involving amyloid deposits, neurofibrillary tangles, and chronic neuroinflammation. Though current Aß-directed immunotherapies effectively eliminate amyloid plaques, their limited clinical benefits and notable safety concerns arise from overlooking two other neglected neurodegenerative features. Compelling evidence highlights synergistic cooperation between Aß and tau, underscoring the imperative need to develop combinational therapies to target the diverse pathologies of AD. In this study, we present a dual AD vaccine combining Aß and pTau vaccines, eliciting robust and enduring antibody responses against pathological Aß and pTau in 3xTg transgenic mice. It significantly eradicated Aß plaques and pTau tangles, suppressed neuroinflammatory factors, and markedly enhancing cognitive abilities in 3xTg mice. Mechanistically, peripheral antibodies penetrated the brain, recognizing and inhibiting Aß and pTau aggregation, thereby reducing their cytotoxicity. In summary, this innovative multi-targeting immunotherapy remarkably ameliorates diverse AD pathologies, demonstrating maximum benefits in slowing the clinical progression of AD.

Bariatric surgery and diabetes: Current challenges and perspectives.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity have become public issues of global concern. Bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity combined with type 2 DM has been shown to be a safe and effective approach; however, there are limited studies that have systematically addressed the challenges of surgical treatment of obesity combined with DM. In this review, we summarize and answer the most pressing questions in the field of surgical treatment of obesity-associated DM. I believe that our insights will be of great help to clinicians in their daily practice.

Using Flexible-Printed Piezoelectric Sensor Arrays to Measure Plantar Pressure during Walking for Sarcopenia Screening.

Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Community screening, commonly used in early diagnosis, usually lacks features such as real-time monitoring, low cost, and convenience. This study introduces a promising approach to sarcopenia screening by dynamic plantar pressure monitoring. We propose a wearable flexible-printed piezoelectric sensing array incorporating barium titanate thin films. Utilizing a flexible printer, we fabricate the array with enhanced compressive strength and measurement range. Signal conversion circuits convert charge signals of the sensors into voltage signals, which are transmitted to a mobile phone via Bluetooth after processing. Through cyclic loading, we obtain the average voltage sensitivity (4.844 mV/kPa) of the sensing array. During a 6 m walk, the dynamic plantar pressure features of 51 recruited participants are extracted, including peak pressures for both sarcopenic and control participants before and after weight calibration. Statistical analysis discerns feature significance between groups, and five machine learning models are employed to screen for sarcopenia with the collected features. The results show that the features of dynamic plantar pressure have great potential in early screening of sarcopenia, and the Support Vector Machine model after feature selection achieves a high accuracy of 93.65%. By combining wearable sensors with machine learning techniques, this study aims to provide more convenient and effective sarcopenia screening methods for the elderly.