Marcytoglobosins A and B, Cytochalasans From a Marine Sponge Associated Chaetomium globosum 162105 Fungus.

Two new cytochalasans, marcytoglobosins A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the marine sponge associated fungus Chaetomium globosum 162105, along with six known compounds (3-8). The complete structures of two new compounds were determined based on 1D/2D NMR and HR-MS spectroscopic analyses coupled with ECD calculations. All eight isolates were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. Among them, compounds 3-8 displayed antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Edwardsiella piscicida with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 10 to 25 µg/mL.

Hem-o-lok clip migration to duodenal bulb post-cholecystectomy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hem-o-lok clips are typically used to control the cystic duct and vessels during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and common bile duct exploration for stones in the bile duct and gallbladder. Here, we report a unique example of Hem-o-lok clip movement towards the duodenal bulb after LC, appearing as a submucosal tumor (SMT). Additionally, we provide initial evidence of gradual and evolving endoscopic manifestations of Hem-o-lok clip migration to the duodenal bulb wall and review the available literature. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old man underwent LC for gallstones, and Hem-o-lok clips were used to ligate both the cystic duct and cystic artery. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) 2 years later revealed an SMT-like lesion in the duodenal bulb. Due to the symptomatology, the clinical examination did not reveal any major abnormalities, and the patient was followed up as an outpatient. A repeat EGD performed 5 months later revealed an SMT-like lesion in the duodenal bulb with raised edges and a central depression. A third EGD was conducted, during which a Hem-o-lok clip was discovered connected to the front side of the duodenum. The clip was extracted easily using biopsy forceps, and no complications occurred. Two months after the fourth EGD, the scar was surrounded by normal mucosa. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of potential post-LC complications. Hem-o-lok clips should be removed if symptomatic.

Associations between genomic aberrations, increased nuchal translucency, and pregnancy outcomes: a comprehensive analysis of 2,272 singleton pregnancies in women under 35.

Objectives: Regarding increased nuchal translucency (NT), the cutoff values used are heterogeneous in clinical practice, this study aims to assess the efficacy of prenatal detection for chromosomal abnormalities and pregnancy outcomes in fetuses with varying NT thicknesses, in order to provide data that supports informed prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for such cases. Methods: We included 2,272 pregnant women under 35 with singleton pregnancies who underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis between 2014 and 2022. The cohort comprised 2,010 fetuses with increased NT (≥2.5 mm) and 262 fetuses with normal NT but exhibiting a single soft marker. Prenatal diagnoses were supported by chromosomal microarray (CMA) and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) analyses. Results: The detection rates of numerical chromosomal abnormalities were 15.4% (309/2,010) and 17.3% (297/1,717) in the NT ≥2.5 and ≥ 3.0 groups, respectively. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNV incidence increased with NT thickness (χ2 = 8.60, p < 0.05), peaking at 8.7% (22/254) in the NT 4.5-5.4 mm group. Structural defects were found in 18.4% of fetuses with NT values between 2.5 mm and 2.9 mm. Chromosomal abnormality rates in the isolated increased NT groups of 2.5-2.9 mm and 3.0-3.4 mm were 6.7% (16/239) and 10.0% (47/470), respectively, with no statistical significance (χ2 = 2.14, p > 0.05). Fetuses with NT thickness between 2.5 and 2.9 mm combined with the presence of soft markers or non-lethal structural abnormalities exhibited a significantly higher chromosomal abnormality risk (19.0%) compared to fetuses with isolated increased NT ranging from 3.5 to 4.4 mm (13.0%). Pregnancy termination rates increased with NT thickness (χ2 = 435.18, p < 0.0001), ranging from 12.0% (30/249) in the NT 2.5-2.9 mm group to 87.0% (141/162) in the NT ≥ 6.5 mm group. Conclusion: CMA or CNV-seq exhibited good performance in identifying genomic aberrations in pregnancies with increased NT thickness. NT ranging from 2.5 mm to 2.9 mm elevated the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, particularly when combined with other soft markers.

Fibroblasts/three-dimensional scaffolds complexes promote wound healing in rats with skin defects.

We aim to construct a three-dimensional nano-skin scaffold material in vitro and study its promoting effect on wound healing in vivo. In this study, hybrid constructs of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds were successfully fabricated by combination of type I collagen (COL-1) and polylactic-glycolic acid (PLGA). Fibroblasts and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) were used to implanted into 3D scaffolds and constructed into SD skin scaffolds in vitro. Finally, the fibroblasts/scaffolds complexes were inoculated on the surface of rat wound skin to study the promoting effect of the complex on wound healing. In our study, we successfully built a 3D scaffold, which had a certain porosity. Meanwhile, the content of COL-1 in the cell supernatant of fibroblast/scaffold complexes was increased. Furthermore, the expression of F-actin, CD105, integrin ß, VEGF, and COL-1 was up-regulated in hUCMSC/scaffold complexes compared with the control group. In vivo, fibroblast/scaffold complexes promoted wound healing in rats. Our data suggested that the collagen Ⅳ and vimentin were elevated and collagen fibers were neatly arranged in the fibroblast/scaffold complex group was significantly higher than that in the scaffold group. Taken together, fibroblast/scaffold complexes were expected to be novel materials for treating skin defects.

Facile synthesis and cytotoxicity of substituted uracil-1'(N)-acetic acid and 4-pyridone-1'(N)-acetic acid esters of 20(S)-camptothecins.

A series of novel substituted uracil-1'(N)-acetic acid esters (5-9) and 4-pyridone-1'(N)-acetic acid esters (10-11) of 20(S)-camptothecins (CPTs) have been synthesized by the acylation method. All of these new esters were assayed for in vitro cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines A549, Bel7402, BGC-823, HCT-8 and A2780. The in vitro bioassay results showed that all the synthesized compounds 5-11 had cytotoxities that were higher than TPT and comparable to CPT on these five tumor cell lines, some of them even showed comparable or superior cytotoxic activity to CPT. The in vitro data exhibited the cytotoxicity of the ester depended on that of its parent compound. The ester 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 even possessed the cytotoxity activity comparable to or even a little better than CPT on A549, HCT-8 and A2780. The compound 11 had the same level of cytoxity on Bel7402 as that of CPT. Here the synthesis and the in vitro antitumor evaluation of a series of novel 20-O-linked substituted uracil-1'(N)-acetic acid and 4-pyridone-1'(N)-acetic acid esters derivatives of CPTs are reported.

Effects of Geographical Origin and Tree Age on the Stable Isotopes and Multi-Elements of Pu-erh Tea.

Pu-erh tea is a famous tea worldwide, and identification of the geographical origin of Pu-erh tea can not only protect manufacture's interests, but also boost consumers' confidence. However, tree age may also influence the fingerprints of Pu-erh tea. In order to study the effects of the geographical origin and tree age on the interactions of stable isotopes and multi-elements of Pu-erh tea, 53 Pu-erh tea leaves with three different age stages from three different areas in Yunnan were collected in 2023. The δ13C, δ15N values and 25 elements were determined and analyzed. The results showed that δ13C, δ15N, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu had significant differences among different geographical origins (p < 0.05). Mn content was significantly influenced by region and tree age interaction. Based on multi-way analysis of variance, principal component analysis and step-wised discriminant analysis, 24 parameters were found to be closely related to the geographical origin rather than tree age, and the geographical origin of Pu-erh tea can be 100.0% discriminated in cross-validation with six parameters (δ13C, δ15N, Mn, Mg, La, and Tb). The study could provide references for the establishment of a database for the traceability of Pu-erh tea, and even the identification of tea sample regions with different tree ages.

Association of blood cadmium concentration with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease progression: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had indicated a potential correlation between cadmium (Cd) exposure and reduction in lung function. Nevertheless, the influence of Cd exposure on the progression of COPD remained unknown. Exploring the relationship between Cd exposure and the progression of COPD was the aim of this investigation. METHODS: Stable COPD patients were enrolled. Blood samples were collected and lung function was evaluated. Regular professional follow-ups were conducted through telephone communications, outpatient services, and patients' hospitalization records. RESULTS: Each additional unit of blood Cd was associated with upward trend in acute exacerbation, hospitalization, longer hospital stay, and death within 2 years. Even after adjusting for potential confounding factors, each 1 unit rise in blood Cd still correlated with a rise in the frequencies of acute exacerbation, longer hospital stay, and death. Moreover, COPD patients with less smoking amount, lower lung function and without comorbidities were more vulnerable to Cd-induced disease deterioration. CONCLUSION: Patients with COPD who have higher blood Cd concentration are susceptible to worse disease progression.

Longitudinal associations between serum IL-34 with severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia patients.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-34 (IL-34) is a hematopoietic cytokine and a ligand of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R). Numerous studies have demonstrated that IL-34 is involved in several inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, the role of IL-34 is obscure in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. This research aimed to assess the associations of serum IL-34 with severity and prognosis in CAP patients through a longitudinal study. METHODS: CAP patients and healthy volunteers were recruited. Peripheral blood samples were collected. Serum IL-34 and inflammatory cytokines were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics and clinical information were acquired through electronic medical records. RESULTS: Serum IL-34 was elevated in CAP patients compared with healthy volunteers. The content of serum IL-34 was gradually upregulated with increased CAP severity scores. Mixed logistic and linear regression models suggested that serum IL-34 elevation was associated with increased PSI and SMART-COP scores. Correlative analysis found that serum IL-34 was positively correlated with inflammatory cytokines among CAP patients. A longitudinal study indicated that higher serum IL-34 at admission elevated the risks of mechanical ventilation and death during hospitalization. Serum IL-34 had a higher predictive capacity for death than CAP severity scores. CONCLUSION: There are prominently positive dose-response associations between serum IL-34 at admission with the severity and poor prognosis, suggesting that IL-34 is implicated in the occurrence and development of CAP. Serum IL-34 may serve as a biomarker to forecast disease progression and poor prognosis in CAP patients.

Efficient extraction of pectic polysaccharides from thinned unripe kiwifruits by deep eutectic solvent-based methods: Chemical structures and bioactivities.

To promote the potentially industrial applications of thinned unripe kiwifruits, two deep eutectic solvent-based methods, including deep eutectic solvent-assisted extraction (DAE) and microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (MDE), were optimized for the extraction of polysaccharides from thinned unripe kiwifruits (YKP). Results showed that the yields of YKP-D prepared by DAE and YKP-DM prepared by MDE were extremely higher than YKP-H prepared by hot water extraction. Furthermore, YKP-H, YKP-D, and YKP-DM were mainly composed of pectic polysaccharides, including homogalacturonan (HG) and rhamnogalacturonan I (RG I) domains. Besides, both YKP-D and YKP-DM exhibited stronger antioxidant, anti-glycosylation, and immunomodulatory effects than those of YKP-H, and their higher contents of uronic acids and bound polyphenols as well as lower molecular weights could partially contribute to their bioactivities. Overall, these results revealed that the developed MDE method could be utilized as a promising method for highly efficient extraction of YKP with superior beneficial effects.

Short-term and long-term effectiveness of acupuncture and Tuina on knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture and tuina in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is still controversial, which limits their clinical application in practice. This study aims to evaluate the short-term and long-term effectiveness of acupuncture and tuina on KOA. Methods/design: This parallel-group, multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) will be conducted at the outpatient clinic of five traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in China. Three hundred and thirty participants with KOA will be randomly assigned to acupuncture, tuina, or home-based exercise group with a ratio of 1:1:1. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants achieving a minimal clinically important improvement defined as a ≥ 12% reduction on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain dimension on short term (week 8) and long term (week 26) compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes are knee joint conditions (pain, function, and stiffness), self-efficacy of arthritis, quality of life, and psychological conditions, which will be evaluated by the WOMAC score and the Patient Global Assessment (PGA), and in addition, the respondents index of OMERACT-OARSI, Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), arthritis self-efficacy scale, and European five-dimensional health scale (EQ-5D). Adverse events will be collected by self-reported questionnaires predefined. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn.

Recent advances in the influences of drying technologies on physicochemical properties and biological activities of plant polysaccharides.

Plant polysaccharides, as significant functional macromolecules with diverse biological properties, are currently receiving increasing attention. Drying technologies play a pivotal role in the research, development, and application of various foods and plant polysaccharides. The chemical composition, structure, and function of extracted polysaccharides are significantly influenced by different drying technologies (e.g., microwave, infrared, and radio frequency) and conditions (e.g., temperature). This study discusses and compares the principles, advantages, disadvantages, and effects of different drying processes on the chemical composition as well as structural and biological properties of plant polysaccharides. In most plant-based raw materials, molecular degradation, molecular aggregation phenomena along with intermolecular interactions occurring within cell wall components and cell contents during drying represent primary mechanisms leading to variations in chemical composition and structures of polysaccharides. These differences further impact their biological properties. The biological properties of polysaccharides are determined by a combination of multiple relevant factors rather than a single factor alone. This review not only provides insights into selecting appropriate drying processes to obtaining highly bioactive plant polysaccharides but also offers a fundamental theoretical basis for the structure-function relationship of these compounds.

Association of cumulative resting heart rate exposure with rapid renal function decline: a prospective cohort study with 27,564 older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prospective association between cumulative resting heart rate (cumRHR) and rapid renal function decline (RRFD) in a cohort of individuals aged 60 and older. METHODS: In the Tianjin Chronic Kidney Disease Cohort Study, the individuals who underwent three consecutive physical examinations between 2014 and 2017, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and aged 60 years or older were enrolled. A total of 27,564 patients were prospectively followed up from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. The 3-year cumRHR was calculated. The primary outcome was RRFD, defined as an annualized decline in eGFR of 5 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or greater. Logistic and restricted spline regression models and subgroup analysis were used to investigate the association of cumRHR with RRFD after adjusting for all confounders. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, a total of 4,347 (15.77%) subjects developed RRFD. In fully-adjusted models, compared with the lowest quartile of cumRHR, the odds ratio (OR) for the highest was 1.44 (1.28-1.61), P < 0.001. Furthermore, each 1-standard deviation (27.97 beats/min per year) increment in cumRHR was associated with a 17% (P < 0.001) increased risk of RRFD, with a linear positive correlation (P for non-linear = 0.803). Participants with a 3-year cumRHR ≥ 207 (beats/min) * year (equivalent to ≥ 69 beats/min per year in 3 years) were found to be at a higher risk of RRFD. CONCLUSIONS: The cumRHR is significantly associated with a higher risk of RRFD among older adults. These results might provide an effective goal for managing and delaying the decline of renal function in the older adults.

Cloning, Heterologous Expression, and Characterization of a Neutral Uricase from Arthrobacter sp. CSAJ-16 in Cangshan Mountain.

Uricase (or Urate oxidase), a key enzyme involved in purine metabolism, is commonly used in treating conditions such as gout, hyperuricemia, and tumor lysis syndrome. In this study, a uricase-producing strain (named CSAJ-16) was isolated from the soil sample of Cangshan Mountain, Yunnan Province, China. This strain was identified as Arthrobacter sp. CSAJ-16. Based on the gene sequence alignment, the uricase gene (named aruox) of Arthrobacter sp. CSAJ-16 was amplified and heterologously expressed. The recombinant uricase (ArUOX) was about 32 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature of ArUOX were pH 7 and 20°C, respectively. The ArUOX remained above 50% relative activity after incubation at 37°C for 100 min or at pH 6.0-8.6 for 24 h. Moreover, metal ions such as K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+ and Pb2+ can significantly enhance the activity of ArUOX (> 200%). These enzymatic properties indicate that ArUOX has potential applications in pharmaceutical enzymes and uric acid detection kits.

[Accumulation Pathway of Cd, Pb, and Zn in Chinese Cabbage under the Condition of Exogenous Pollution Superposition in High Geological Background Area].

Northwest Guizhou is a karst area with a high geological background. Affected by historical soil zinc smelting, the heavy metal content of atmospheric dust in the region is high, and soil pollution is severe. In order to explore the accumulation pathway of heavy metals in leafy vegetables, Chinese cabbage was used as the test crop, and the geological high background soil and zinc smelting-contaminated soil with the same contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn were selected. A pot experiment was carried out in the polluted area of zinc smelting and the non-polluting control area. The heavy metal content, enrichment coefficient (BCF), and transport coefficient (TF) of Chinese cabbage were studied under open-air, plastic mulching film, and greenhouse cultivation conditions. The results showed that the contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn in Chinese cabbage in the polluted area and the control area were 0.10-1.01 and 0.10-0.91 mg·kg-1, 0.31-0.62 and 0.23-0.37 mg·kg-1, and 7.50-32.74 and 4.88-21.79 mg·kg-1, respectively. Overall, the contents of heavy metals in the polluted area were relatively high. The contents of Cd and Pb in Chinese cabbage planted in soil with a high geological background met the requirements of the national food safety standard limits. Affected by atmospheric deposition, the contents of Pb and Zn in Chinese cabbage in the polluted area were significantly higher than that in the control area, and the difference in Cd was insignificant. The proportions of weak acid-soluble Cd, Pb, and Zn in the contaminated soil were 48%, 3.0%, and 16%, respectively, which were 3.15, 1.01, and 1.57 times higher than those in the control soil with a high geological background. Affected by the activity of heavy metals, the contents of Cd and Zn in Chinese cabbage planted in the contaminated soil exceeded the national standard and were significantly higher than those in the control soil. The root-soil BCF of Cd, Pb, and Zn in polluted soil was significantly higher than that in the control soil, and the BCF of Cd and Zn was higher than that of Pb. The TF aboveground root Cd and Zn in Chinese cabbage was significantly higher than in the control soil, whereas the TF aboveground root Pb in the polluted area was significantly higher than that in the control area. The Pb content of Chinese cabbage in the two study areas showed open field>plastic mulching film>greenhouse cultivation. In conclusion, the content of Cd and Zn in Chinese cabbage was greatly affected by the activity of heavy metals in soil, and the main accumulation pathway was root absorption and transportation. In addition to root absorption, atmospheric deposition was an important accumulation pathway of Pb. Therefore, in areas with high geological backgrounds, attention should be paid to controlling the exposure risk of Cd and Zn in leafy vegetables planted on exogenously polluted soils. Additionally, greenhouse cultivation could effectively reduce the accumulation of Pb.

Dysambiol, an Anti-inflammatory Secomeroterpenoid from a Dysidea sp. Marine Sponge.

An unusual secomeroterpenoid, dysambiol (1), was isolated from a Dysidea sp. marine sponge collected from the South China Sea. Dysambiol features an unprecedented secomeroterpene scaffold with a rare lactone bridge. The structure of 1 was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, Mosher's method, and electronic circular dichroism calculation. Dysambiol displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 macrophages by regulating the NF-κB/MPAK signaling pathway.

Ultrasound-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Thinned Young Kiwifruits and Their Beneficial Effects.

Fruit thinning is a common practice employed to enhance the quality and yield of kiwifruits during the growing period, and about 30-50% of unripe kiwifruits will be thinned and discarded. In fact, these unripe kiwifruits are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, the applications of thinned young kiwifruits and related bioactive compounds in the food and functional food industry are still limited. Therefore, to promote the potential applications of thinned young kiwifruits as value-added health products, the extraction, characterization, and evaluation of beneficial effects of phenolic compounds from thinned young fruits of red-fleshed Actinidia chinensis cv 'HY' were examined in the present study. A green and efficient ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UADE) method for extracting phenolic compounds from thinned young kiwifruits was established. A maximum yield (105.37 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g DW) of total phenolics extracted from thinned young kiwifruits by UADE was obtained, which was significantly higher than those of conventional organic solvent extraction (CSE, about 14.51 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g DW) and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAEE, about 43.85 ± 1.17 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, 29 compounds, e.g., gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside, were identified in the kiwifruit extract by UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the contents of major phenolic compounds in different kiwifruit extracts prepared by conventional organic solvent extraction (EE), ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UEE), and ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UDE) were compared by HPLC analysis. Results revealed that the content of major phenolics in UDE (about 15.067 mg/g DW) was significantly higher than that in EE (about 2.218 mg/g DW) and UEE (about 6.122 mg/g DW), suggesting that the UADE method was more efficient for extracting polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits. In addition, compared with EE and UEE, UDE exhibited much higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, which were closely associated with its higher content of phenolic compounds. Collectively, the findings suggest that the UADE method can be applied as an efficient technique for the preparation of bioactive polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits, and the thinned young fruits of red-fleshed A. chinensis cv 'HY' have good potential to be developed and utilized as functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Synthesis of (E)-2-(1-(methoxyimino)ethyl)-2-phenylbenzofuran-3(2H)-ones from (E)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oximes and iodobenzenes via a palladium-catalyzed dearomative arylation/oxidation reaction.

A new method has been successfully developed that offers a facile and reliable approach for synthesizing (E)-2-(1-(methoxyimino)ethyl)-2-phenylbenzofuran-3(2H)-one, providing 28 compounds. This optimized process enables efficient preparation of a wide range of compounds using readily available (E)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oxime and iodobenzene, and provides alternative ideas for the structural modification of benzofuran ketones.

Quality evaluation of citrus varieties based on phytochemical profiles and nutritional properties.

Introduction: China is one of the major producers and exporters of various kinds of citrus fruits. As one of China's major citrus planting bases, Sichuan has a citrus planting area that exceeds 400,000 hectares. Meanwhile, citrus cultivation has become one of the important agricultural pillar industries in the region. Citrus fruits are reported to show various health-promoting effects, especially antioxidant activity. However, reports on the functional, nutritional and qualitative characteristics of different citrus varieties in Sichuan are still scarce. Methods: The quality attributes (color parameters, shape, and size), juice properties (titratable acids and total soluble sugar), mineral elements, and health-promoting nutritional and functional components (protein, carbohydrates, fat, dietary fiber, ascorbic acid, phenolic acids, and flavonoids), as well as antioxidant properties of 10 typical citrus varieties cultivated in Sichuan, were systematically investigated and analyzed. Results and Discussion: Significant differences among different citrus varieties were found. In particular, the total soluble sugar content of Mingrijian was higher than that of other citrus, suggesting its potential for fresh consumption and food processing. Moreover, a total of five flavonoids and nine phenolic acids were identified and quantified. Yuanhong, with higher contents of ascorbic acid and phenolic acids, was considered to be a valuable variety with excellent antioxidant capacity and can be used for value-added processing in the food industry. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster heatmap analysis suggested that there were significant differences among the 10 citrus varieties. Correlation analysis confirmed the significant contribution of ascorbic acid and phenolic acids to antioxidant capacity in citrus. The results can provide some references for the cultivation and selection of nutritious citrus fruits.

Canagliflozin alleviates high glucose-induced peritoneal fibrosis via HIF-1α inhibition.

The cardioprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been demonstrated in many studies. However, their benefits for end-stage kidney disease patients, particularly those on peritoneal dialysis, remain unclear. SGLT2 inhibition has shown peritoneal protective effects in some studies, but the mechanisms are still unknown. Herein, we investigated the peritoneal protective mechanisms of Canagliflozin in vitro by simulating hypoxia with CoCl2 in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) and rats by intraperitoneal injection of 4.25% peritoneal dialysate simulating chronic high glucose exposure. CoCl2 hypoxic intervention significantly increased HIF-1α abundance in HPMCs, activated TGF-ß/p-Smad3 signaling, and promoted the production of fibrotic proteins (Fibronectin, COL1A2, and α-SMA). Meanwhile, Canagliflozin significantly improved the hypoxia of HPMCs, decreased HIF-1α abundance, inhibited TGF-ß/p-Smad3 signaling, and decreased the expression of fibrotic proteins. Five-week intraperitoneal injection of 4.25% peritoneal dialysate remarkably increased peritoneal HIF-1α/TGF-ß/p-Smad3 signaling and promoted peritoneal fibrosis and peritoneal thickening. At the same time, Canagliflozin significantly inhibited the HIF-1α/TGF-ß/p-Smad3 signaling, prevented peritoneal fibrosis and peritoneal thickening, and improved peritoneal transportation and ultrafiltration. High glucose peritoneal dialysate increased the expression of peritoneal GLUT1, GLUT3 and SGLT2, all of which were inhibited by Canagliflozin. In conclusion, we showed that Canagliflozin could improve peritoneal fibrosis and function by ameliorating peritoneal hypoxia and inhibiting the HIF-1α/TGF-ß/p-Smad3 signaling pathway, providing theoretical support for the clinical use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Effect of birth asphyxia on neonatal blood glucose during the early postnatal life: A multi-center study in Hubei Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Birth asphyxia causes hypoxia or inadequate perfusion to the organs of newborns, leading to metabolism dysfunctions including blood glucose disorders. METHODS: Neonates with and without birth asphyxia were retrospectively recruited from 53 hospitals in Hubei Province from January 1 to December 31, 2018. In summary, 875, 1139, and 180 cases in the control group, the mild asphyxia group, and the severe asphyxia group were recruited, respectively. Neonatal blood glucose values at postnatal 1, 2, 6, and 12 h (time error within 0.5 h was allowed) were gathered from the medical records. RESULTS: The incidence rates of hyperglycemia in the control group, the mild asphyxia group and the severe asphyxia group were 2.97%, 7.90%, and 23.33%, respectively (p < 0.001). Additionally, the incidence rates of hypoglycemia in the three groups above were 3.66%, 4.13%, and 7.78%, respectively (p = 0.042). The blood glucose values of neonates with hypoglycemia in the asphyxia group were lower than in the control group (p = 0.003). Furthermore, the blood glucose values of neonates with hyperglycemia were highest in the severe asphyxia group (p < 0.001). There were 778 and 117 cases with blood glucose records at four predefined time points in the mild and severe asphyxia group, respectively. The incidence of blood glucose disorders in the mild asphyxia group significantly decreased from postnatal 6 h (p＜0.05). However, we found no obvious changes of the incidence of glucose disorders within postnatal 12 h in the severe asphyxia group (p = 0.589). CONCLUSION: Birth asphyxia is likely to cause neonatal blood glucose disorders, both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, during the early postnatal life. The neonates with severe asphyxia have higher incidence, worse severity and longer duration of blood glucose disorders than neonates with mild asphyxia.