Three megastigmane glycosides from the stem of Mallotus barbatus.

Three undescribed megastigmane glycosides, mallbarbalosides A-C (1-3) together with 3 known analogues (4-6) were isolated from the stem of Mallotus barbatus. Their structures were elucidated using extensive NMR spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy) and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of the undescribed compounds were determined by the experimental circular dichroism spectroscopy. All the compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, and they showed no inhibitory effect to NO release.

Erucic acid improves the progress of pregnancy complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus by inhibiting the effector function of CD8+ T cells.

Pathogenic CD8+ T cells are pivotal contributors to the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Erucic acid (EA) has been proven to have anti-inflammatory activity. However, the capacity of EA to regulate pathogenic CD8+ T cells in the context of pregnancy complicated with SLE (pSLE) remains unclear. In our investigation, we observed augmented CD8+ T cell effector function juxtaposed with diminished EA levels in pSLE patients relative to healthy pregnant controls. Significantly, plasma EA levels exhibited a negative correlation with the severity of pSLE-associated complications. In blood from patients with pSLE, EA inhibited the effector function of CD8+ T cells, concurrently dampening the maintenance of stem cell-like memory CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, EA orchestrated the inhibition of CD8+ T cell effector function by impeding signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation and promoting ferroptosis. Moreover, EA supplementation in pregnant MRL/lpr mice manifested as the attenuation of uterine CD8+ T cell effector function, culminating in the mitigation of placental pathological damage. Our findings uncover the immune response modulatory effects of EA upon pathogenic CD8+ cells, thereby unveiling new perspectives for therapeutic strategies targeting pSLE patients.

The mediating role of perceived social support: alexithymia and parental burnout in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Parental burnout is a concept that reflects the emotional exhaustion and emotional distance of parents from children due to their inability to cope with the pressure of parenting. It has been confirmed that parents of autistic children are at higher risk for parental burnout. Additional research has suggested a relationship between parental burnout and parents' personality traits. However, the relationship between alexithymia, an independent personality factor, with parental burnout is little to none. Objective: To look into the connection between parental burnout and alexithymia among parents of autistic children. Method: Three hundred and one parents were approached for recruitment and data were collected from 203 parents through a cross-sectional survey assessing parental burnout, alexithymia status, and perceived social support. Because the data is not normally distributed, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rho(p) was used to assess the correlation between the variables; and then using AMOS to analyze the mediating effects of perceived social support and the moderating effect of gender. Result: The result showed that (1) There is a negative association between alexithymia with parental burnout (ß = 0.6, p < 0.01), while perceive social support was the negative predictor of alexithymia (ß = -0.45, p < 0.01) and parental burnout (ß = -0.26, p < 0.01); (2) perceive social support partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and parental burnout of parents of autistic children, which can explain 16.3% of the total effect; (3) Gender plays a moderating role in the first half of the indirect effect of alexithymia on parental burnout, as evidenced by the significant difference in path coefficients between the male and female models (male: ß = -0.10, p < 0.05; female: ß = -0.60, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Health professionals and policymakers should be aware of parental burnout among parents of autistic children in China and take early intervention steps. Furthermore, they should recognize the negative impact of alexithymia and the positive impact of social support when developing plans to alleviate parental burnout in children with autism, with a particular focus on mothers with alexithymia, who are more likely to experience low social support and burnout than fathers with alexithymia.

Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus and Their Glucose Uptake Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Four new dammarane triterpenoid saponins cypaliurusides Z1-Z4 (1-4) and eight known analogs (5-12) were isolated from the leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using a comprehensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. The docking study demonstrated that compound 10 strongly bonded with PTP1B (a potential drug target for the treatment of type-II diabetes and obesity), hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions, verifying the importance of sugar unit. The effects of the isolates on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated and three dammarane triterpenoid saponins (6, 7 and 10) were found to enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, compounds 6, 7, and 10 exhibited potent abilities to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the abundant dammarane triterpenoid saponins from C. paliurus leaves exhibited stimulatory effects on glucose uptake with application potential as a antidiabetic treatment.

Megastigmane glycosides from Streblus ilicifolius (S.Vidal) Corner and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Twelve undescribed megastigmane glycosides, streilicifolosides A-L (1-12), together with 8 known analogues (13-21) were isolated from the leaves of Streblus ilicifolius (S.Vidal) Corner. Their plannar structures were elucidated using extensive NMR spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy), and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of the undescribed compounds were determined by the glucose-induced shift-trend, calculated and experimental circular dichroism spectroscopy. All the compounds were tested for inhibitory effects on the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, and streilicifoloside E and platanionoside D exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of the positive control, with IC50 values of 26.33 and 21.84 µM, respectively. Furthermore, these two compounds markedly decreased the secretion of PGE2 and TNF-α and inhibited the expression of COX‒2, iNOS and NF-κB/p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the structure-activity relationships of the isolates were also discussed. The results suggest that streilicifoloside E and platanionoside D could be used as potential candidates for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.

Two new terpenoid glycosides from Isodon macrocalyx.

One previously undescribed tricyclo-diterpenoid saponin (1), one undescribed dammarane triterpenoid saponin (2) and four known triterpenoids (3-6) were isolated from the aerial part of Isodon macrocalyx. Their structures were determined using 1 D- and 2 D-NMR, HRESIMS, and comparison of their spectroscopic data with previously reported data. The isolates were evaluated for their anti-HBV activity in vitro using the HBV transfected Hep G2.2.15 cell line. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited moderate anti-HBV activity.

The effects of mental fatigue on effort allocation: Modeling and estimation.

Mental fatigue is usually accompanied by drops in task performance and reduced willingness for further exertion. A value-based theoretical account may help to explain such negative effects. In this view, mental fatigue influences perceived costs and rewards of exerting effort. However, no formal mathematical framework has yet been proposed to model and quantitatively estimate the effects of mental fatigue on subjective evaluations of effort expenditure, under possibly imperfect self-perceptions of internal fatigue states. We proposed a mathematical framework to model human cognitive effort allocations, assuming mental fatigue states are partially observable with semi-Markov dynamics. We modeled effort allocation decisions as a means to the goal of maximizing cumulative subjective values over a given time horizon. We developed an estimation method to identify subjective values and the hidden dynamics of mental fatigue, which can in future work be applied to self-reports, psychophysiological indices, and behavioral outcomes associated with fatigue. The modeling and estimation method was tested using a simulated n-back task under a free-choice paradigm, with model parameters fine-tuned from past studies. The proposed approach was able to recapitulate task performance and task engagement patterns observed under mental fatigue. This work advances a reward/cost trade-off account for explaining the exertion of mental effort and suggests new avenues for both theoretically and empirically relevant understandings of how cognitive operations are affected by mental fatigue. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

High-risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in systemic lupus erythaematosus: a retrospective study of a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify high-risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE). DESIGN: A retrospective chart review study. SETTING: Data were collected in a tertiary medical centre, Shanghai, China, from November 2010 to December 2018. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 513 pregnancies with SLE were retrospectively analysed. Twenty-seven patients who underwent artificial abortions due to personal reasons were excluded. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: APOs were primary outcomes, including foetal loss, premature birth, small for gestational age (SGA), asphyxia neonatorum, composite foetal APOs and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Multivariable logistic regression and Spearman correlation analysis were performed to determine the risk factors for APOs in SLE. RESULTS: Risk factors for foetal loss included prepregnancy hypertension, hypocomplementaemia-C3, anticardiolipin antibodies-IgM positivity and disease flares during pregnancy. Risk factors for premature birth included disease flares, use of immunosuppressive agents and HDP. Moreover, twin pregnancy, disease flares and HDP were risk factors for SGA, and prepregnancy hypertension was an independent risk factor for asphyxia neonatorum. Independent risk factors for composite foetal APOs included twin pregnancy, prepregnancy hypertension, disease flares during pregnancy, HDP, hypocomplementaemia-C3 and the use of immunosuppressive agents. Risk factors for SLE complicated with HDP included prepregnancy hypertension, renal disorders and thrombocytopaenia. Conversely, the use of aspirin was a protective factor against foetal loss and premature birth. The ds-DNA value had a low diagnostic value for APOs, whereas the extent of complement reduction may predict the incidence of composite foetal APOs and foetal loss. Proteinuria occurring in the first 20 gestational weeks may lead to APOs. CONCLUSION: Established risk factors for each APO were identified in this study. Indicators with more predictive significance have been screened out from conventional indicators, which may help clinicians predict the pregnancy outcome of patients with SLE more accurately and minimise the incidence of APOs.

Short-chain fatty acids accompanying changes in the gut microbiome contribute to the development of hypertension in patients with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is regarded as a pregnancy-associated hypertension disorder that is related to excessive inflammatory responses. Although the gut microbiota (GM) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been related to hypertension, their effects on PE remain unknown. We determined the GM abundance and faecal SCFA levels by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and gas chromatography, respectively, using faecal samples from 27 patients with severe PE and 36 healthy, pregnant control subjects. We found that patients with PE had significantly decreased GM diversity and altered GM abundance. At the phylum level, patients with PE exhibited decreased abundance of Firmicutes albeit increased abundance of Proteobacteria; at the genus level, patients with PE had lower abundance of Blautia, Eubacterium_rectale, Eubacterium_hallii, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Alistipes, and Subdoligranulum, albeit higher abundance of Enterobacter and Escherichia_Shigella. The faecal levels of butyric and valeric acids were significantly decreased in patients with PE and significantly correlated with the above-mentioned differential GM abundance. We predicted significantly increased abundance of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-synthesis pathway and significantly decreased abundance of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway in patients with PE, based on phylogenetic reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt). Finally, we evaluated the effects of oral butyrate on LPS-induced hypertension in pregnant rats. We found that butyrate significantly reduced the blood pressure (BP) in these rats. In summary, we provide the first evidence linking GM dysbiosis and reduced faecal SCFA to PE and demonstrate that butyrate can directly regulate BP in vivo, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for PE.

Effects of Surface Charges on the Bactericide Activity of CdTe/ZnS Quantum Dots: A Cell Membrane Disruption Perspective.

The inhibitory effects of CdTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (negatively charged) or cysteamine (positively charged) on the metabolic activity of Escherichia coli were investigated using biological microcalorimetry. Results show that the inhibitory ratio of positive QDs is higher than that of negative QDs. Transmission electron microscopy images indicate that QDs are prone to be adsorbed on the surface of E. coli. This condition disturbs the membrane structure and function of E. coli. Fluorescence anisotropy results demonstrate that positive QDs show a significant increase in the membrane fluidity of E. coli and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) model membrane. Furthermore, fluorescence anisotropy values of DPPC membrane in the gel phase decreased upon the addition of positive QDs. By contrast, anisotropy values in the liquid-crystalline phase are almost constant. The change in membrane fluidity is associated with the increased permeability of the membrane. Finally, the kinetics of dye leakage from liposomes demonstrate that the surface charge of QDs is crucial to the interaction between QDs and membrane.

Optimizing the power output of a ZnO photocell by piezopotential.

Using a metal-semiconductor-metal back-to-back Schottky contacted ZnO microwire device, we have demonstrated the piezoelectric effect on the output of a photocell. An externally applied strain produces a piezopotential in the microwire, which tunes the effective height of the Schottky barrier (SB) at the local contact, consequently changing the transport characteristics of the device. An equivalent circuit model together with the thermionic emission theory has explained the four kinds of relationships observed between the photocurrent and the applied strain. Our study shows the possibility of maximizing the output of a photocell by controlling strain in the device.

Designing the electric transport characteristics of ZnO micro/nanowire devices by coupling piezoelectric and photoexcitation effects.

The localized coupling between piezoelectric and photoexcitation effects of a ZnO micro/nanowire device has been studied for the first time with the goal of designing and controlling the electrical transport characteristics of the device. The piezoelectric effect tends to raise the height of the local Schottky barrier (SB) at the metal-ZnO contact, while photoexcitation using a light that has energy higher than the band gap of ZnO lowers the SB height. By tuning the relative contributions of the effects from piezoelectricity via strain and photoexcitation via light intensity, the local contact can be tuned step-by-step and/or transformed from Schottky to Ohmic or from Ohmic to Schottky. This study describes a new principle for controlling the coupling among mechanical, photonic, and electrical properties of ZnO nanowires, which could be potentially useful for fabricating piezo-phototronic devices.