Decomposition of exotic versus native aquatic plant litter in a lake littoral zone: Stoichiometry and life form analyses.

The decomposition rates and stoichiometric characteristics of many aquatic plants remain unclear, and our understanding of material flow and nutrient cycles within freshwater ecosystems is limited. In this study, an in-situ experiment involving 23 aquatic plants (16 native and 7 exotic species) was carried out via the litter bag method for 63 days, during which time the mass loss and nutrient content (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) of plants were measured. Floating-leaved plants exhibited the highest decomposition rate (0.038 ± 0.002 day-1), followed by submerged plants and free-floating plants (0.029 ± 0.002 day-1), and emergent plants had the lowest decomposition rate (0.019 ± 0.001 day-1). Mass loss by aquatic plants correlated with stoichiometric characteristics; the decomposition rate increased with an increasing P content and with a decreasing C content, C:N ratio, and C:P ratio. Notably, the decomposition rate of submerged exotic plants (0.044 ± 0.002 day-1) significantly exceeded that of native plants (0.026 ± 0.004 day-1), while the decomposition rate of emergent exotic plants was 55 ± 4 % higher than that of native plants. The decomposition rates of floating-leaved and free-floating plants did not significantly differ between the native and exotic species. During decomposition, emergent plants displayed an increase in C content and a decrease in N content, contrary to patterns observed in other life forms. The P content decreased for submerged (128 ± 7 %), emergent (90 ± 5 %), floating-leaved (104 ± 6 %), and free-floating plants (32 ± 6 %). Exotic plants released more C and P but accumulated more N than did native plants. In conclusion, the decomposition of aquatic plants is closely linked to litter quality and influences nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Given these findings, the invasion of the littoral zone by submerged and emergent exotic plants deserves further attention.

One-Step Preparation of High-Stability CsPbX3/CsPb2X5 Composite Microplates with Tunable Emission.

The core-shell structure is an effective means to improve the stability and optoelectronic properties of cesium lead halide (CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I)) perovskite quantum dots (QDs). However, confined by the ionic radius differences, developing a core-shell packaging strategy suitable for the entire CsPbX3 system remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce an optimized hot-injection method for the epitaxial growth of the CsPb2X5 substrate on CsPbX3 surfaces, achieved by precisely controlling the reaction time and the ratio of lead halide precursors. The synthesized CsPbX3/CsPb2X5 composite microplates exhibit an emission light spectrum that covers the entire visible range. Crystallographic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a minimal lattice mismatch between the (002) plane of CsPb2X5 and the (11¯0) plane of CsPbX3, facilitating the formation of high-quality type-I heterojunctions. Furthermore, introducing Cl- and I- significantly alters the surface energy of CsPb2X5's (110) plane, leading to an evolutionary morphological shift of grains from circular to square microplates. Benefiting from the passivation of CsPb2X5, the composites exhibit enhanced optical properties and stability. Subsequently, the white light-emitting diode prepared using the CsPbX3/CsPb2X5 composite microplates has a high luminescence efficiency of 136.76 lm/W and the PL intensity decays by only 3.6% after 24 h of continuous operation.

Correlation of circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 levels with inflammatory factors and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a secreted protein that plays an important role in atherosclerosis and pathological cardiac remodeling. However, the correlation between FGF21 and the degree of coronary artery stenosis and its potential role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain unclear. We examined whether changes in FGF21 levels in AMI correlate with the degree of coronary artery stenosis and the levels of inflammatory factors, and preliminarily investigated the effects of FGF21 on inflammatory factor levels and myocardial injury in rats with AMI. METHODS: Serum levels of FGF21 and inflammatory factors in the AMI group and control group were measured, and the correlation between FGF21 and clinical indicators and inflammatory factors was analyzed. The effects of FGF21 on cardiac function and inflammatory response were evaluated through echocardiography and measurement of inflammatory factors. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that neutrophil percentage (NEUT%, odds ratio [OR]: 1.232; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.028-1.477; p = 0.024) and FGF21 levels (OR: 2.063; 95 % CI: 1.187-3.586; p = 0.01) had independent effects on AMI. Spearman's rank correlation test showed that FGF21 levels were positively correlated with leukocyte count, NEUT%, neutrophil count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and Gensini scores (p < 0.01), but negatively correlated with lymphocyte count (p < 0.01). FGF21 levels in myocardial tissues and serum levels of FGF21, IL-6, TNF-a, and MCP-1 were significantly higher in AMI rats than in the sham-operated group (p < 0.01). After overexpression of FGF21, serum levels of IL-6, TNF-a, and MCP-1 in rats were significantly decreased (p < 0.01), and cardiac function improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: FGF21 levels were independently associated with AMI and may be related to the severity of coronary artery stenosis. Overexpression of FGF21 reduced serum inflammatory factor levels and improved cardiac function in AMI rats.

Ceramide kinase-mediated C1P metabolism attenuates acute liver injury by inhibiting the interaction between KEAP1 and NRF2.

Acute liver injury is the basis of the pathogenesis of diverse liver diseases. However, the mechanism underlying liver injury is complex and not completely understood. In our study, we revealed that CERK, which phosphorylates ceramide to produce ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), was the sphingolipid pathway-related protein that had the most significantly upregulated expression during acute liver injury. A functional study confirmed that CERK and C1P attenuate hepatic injury both in vitro and in vivo through antioxidant effects. Mechanistic studies have shown that CERK and C1P positively regulate the protein expression of NRF2, which is a crucial protein that helps maintain redox homeostasis. Furthermore, our results indicated that C1P disrupted the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1 by competitively binding to KEAP1, which allowed for the nuclear translocation of NRF2. In addition, pull-down assays and molecular docking analyses revealed that C1P binds to the DGR domain of KEAP1, which allows it to maintain its interaction with NRF2. Importantly, these findings were verified in human primary hepatocytes and a mouse model of hepatic ischemia‒reperfusion injury. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that CERK-mediated C1P metabolism attenuates acute liver injury via the binding of C1P to the DGR domain of KEAP1 and subsequently the release and nuclear translocation of NRF2, which activates the transcription of cytoprotective and antioxidant genes. Our study suggested that the upregulation of CERK and C1P expression may serve as a potential antioxidant strategy to alleviate acute liver injury.

The oral-brain axis: can periodontal pathogens trigger the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, characterized by a progressive cognitive decline. Sporadic AD, accounting for more than 95% of cases, may arise due to the influence of environmental factors. It was reported that periodontitis, a common oral ailment, shares several risk factors with AD, including advanced age, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, among others. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease triggered by dysbiosis of oral microorganisms, whereas Alzheimer's disease is characterized by neuroinflammation. Many studies have indicated that chronic inflammation can instigate brain AD-related pathologies, including amyloid-ß plaques, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. The potential involvement of periodontal pathogens and/or their virulence factors in the onset and progression of AD by the oral-brain axis has garnered significant attention among researchers with ongoing investigations. This review has updated the periodontal pathogens potentially associated with AD, elucidating their impact on the central nervous system, immune response, and related pathological processes in the brain to provide valuable insights for future research on the oral-brain axis.

Efficacy and Safety of Loxoprofen Sodium Hydrogel Patch in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Pain: A 4-Week Real-World Study.

Purpose: Chronic inflammatory pain is usually treated with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, oral NSAIDs can cause some adverse events, and local preparation is an important alternative drug. Currently, small sample clinical studies show that loxoprofen sodium hydrogel patch (LX-P) has good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects; however, there is a lack of real-world clinical research data. Patients and Methods: This study included 60 patients with chronic inflammatory pain. They were treated with LX-P without affecting their real-world treatment for two weeks. Results: After 2 weeks of continuous medication, 93.33% of the patients stated that the treatment was effective. Only 3.33% of the patients had a relapse after 4 weeks. Moreover, the swelling range and degree of swelling decreased markedly and the dysfunction of the pain site was markedly alleviated. The total satisfaction of patients after treatment reached 90.00%. Conclusion: In this real-world observational study, LX-P showed good efficacy and safety in patients with chronic inflammatory pain.

FTO ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting ferroptosis via P53-P21/Nrf2 activation in a HuR-dependent m6A manner.

Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity seriously limits its clinical applicability, and no therapeutic interventions are available. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death characterised by lipid peroxidation, plays a pivotal role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the most frequent type of RNA modification and involved in DOX-induced ferroptosis, however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. P21 was recently found to inhibit ferroptosis by interacting with Nrf2 and is regulated in a P53-dependent or independent manner, such as through m6A modification. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying m6A modification in DOX-induced ferroptosis by focusing on P21. Our results show that fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) down-regulation was associated with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. FTO over-expression significantly improved cardiac function and cell viability in DOX-treated mouse hearts and H9C2 cells. FTO over-expression significantly inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis, and the Fer-1 inhibition of ferroptosis significantly reduced DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. P21 was significantly upregulated by FTO and activated Nrf2, playing a crucial role in the anti-ferroptotic effect. FTO upregulated P21/Nrf2 in a P53-dependent manner by mediating the demethylation of P53 or in a P53-independent manner by mediating P21/Nrf2 directly. Human antigen R (HuR) is crucial for FTO-mediated regulation of ferroptosis and P53-P21/Nrf2. Notably, we also found that P21 inhibition in turn inhibited HuR and P53 expression, while HuR inhibition further inhibited FTO expression. RNA immunoprecipitation assay showed that HuR binds to the transcripts of FTO and itself. Collectively, FTO inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis via P21/Nrf2 activation by mediating the m6A demethylation of P53 or P21/Nrf2 in a HuR-dependent manner and constituted a positive feedback loop with HuR and P53-P21. Our findings provide novel insight into key functional mechanisms associated with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and elucidate a possible therapeutic approach.

Stability Enhancement in All-Inorganic Perovskite Light Emitting Diodes via Dual Encapsulation.

Addressing the challenge of lighting stability in perovskite white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) is crucial for their commercial viability. CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I, or mixed) nanocrystals (NCs) are promising for next-generation lighting due to their superior optical and electronic properties. However, the inherent soft material structure of CsPbX3 NCs is particularly susceptible to the elevated temperatures associated with prolonged WLED operation. Additionally, these NCs face stability challenges in high humidity environments, leading to reduced lighting performance. This study introduces a two-step dual encapsulation method, resulting in CsPbBr3 @SiO2 /Al2 SiO5 composite fibers (CFs) with enhanced optical stability under extreme conditions. In testing, WLEDs incorporating these CFs, even under prolonged operation at high power (100 mA for 9 h), maintain consistent electroluminescence (EL) intensity and optoelectronic parameters, with surface temperatures reaching 84.2 °C. Crucially, when subjected to 85 °C and 85% relative humidity for 200 h, the WLEDs preserve 97% of their initial fluorescence efficiency. These findings underscore the efficacy of the dual encapsulation strategy in significantly improving perovskite material stability, marking a significant step toward their commercial application in optoelectronic lighting.

Clinical Efficacy of 2-Needle Joint Lavage for Osteoarthritis-Related Knee Pain and Predictors of Response Based on Knee MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score: A Medical Records Review Study.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is notoriously difficult to treat. Pain is the key symptom for patients to seek medical attention. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of joint lavage (JL) for OA-related knee pain and to explore the knee pathological changes detected by magnetic resonance imaging that may affect the prognosis of patients who received JL. METHODS: Eighty-two hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with knee OA and received JL in our department were finally enrolled in this study. The patients' clinical data including Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale, analgesic medication usage, adverse events, and magnetic resonance imaging data of the affected knee joint scored by the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The NRS scores significantly decreased after JL and remained steady until 6 months ( p < 0.001). The Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index pain scores and the percentage of patients who needed analgesic medication significantly decreased at 6 months compared with baseline ( p < 0.001). At 6 months after JL, 51 of the 82 patients experienced ≥50% improvement in their NRS scores (effective). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that duration of pain (odds ratio [OR], 1.022; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003-1.042; p = 0.024), bone marrow lesion score (OR, 1.221; 95% CI, 1.028-1.450; p = 0.023), and cartilage loss score (OR, 1.272; 95% CI, 1.021-1.585; p = 0.032) significantly influenced the therapeutic efficacy of JL. CONCLUSIONS: JL treatment can significantly alleviate the OA-related knee pain in at least 6 months. JL tends to provide limited benefit for patients with long duration of pain, serious bone marrow lesions, and severe cartilage loss.

Inhibiting microRNA-200a-3p attenuates pyroptosis via targeting the SIRT1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in H2O2-induced HAEC.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall caused by many factors. Endothelial cell dysfunction is the initial factor in the development of atherosclerosis, and ROS activates the assembly of inflammasomes and induces the pyroptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Whether H2O2 induced human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) pyroptosis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA-200a-3p in H2O2-induced HAECs pyroptosis. First, we found that the pyroptosis-related protein was upregulated in aortia in HFD apoE-/- mice. The in vitro study showed that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and the pyroptosis in H2O2-induced HAECs, which is characterized by an increase in Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and an increase in propidium iodide (PI)-positive cells. The expression of silent information regulator of transcription 1 (SIRT1) was also decreased in H2O2-induced HAECs, and the overexpression of SIRT1 could reverse the occurrence of pyroptosis, partly through p65 deacetylation, thereby inhibiting nuclear translocation of p65 and regulating NLRP3 expression. Further studies revealed increased miRNA-200a-3p expression in H2O2-induced HAECs and the promotion of pyroptosis, which was achieved by targeting SIRT1. Inhibition of miR-200a-3p reduced pyroptosis by promoting the expression of the downstream target gene SIRT1 and reducing the accumulation of p65 and NLRP3. Collectively, our results suggest that H2O2 can regulate NLRP3 inflammasomes through the miR-200a-3p/SIRT1/NF-κB (p65) signaling pathway and promote HAEC pyroptosis. The miR-200a-3p inhibitor can promote the expression of SIRT1 and inhibit pyroptosis, which may be important to prevent and treat atherosclerosis.

Phenotyping cardiogenic shock that showed different clinical outcomes and responses to vasopressor use: a latent profile analysis from MIMIC-IV database.

Background: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is increasingly recognized as heterogeneous in its severity and response to therapies. This study aimed to identify CS phenotypes and their responses to the use of vasopressors. Method: The current study included patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the time of admission from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Laboratory and clinical variables were collected and used to conduct latent profile (LPA) analysis. Furthermore, we used a multivariable logistic regression (LR) model to explore the independent association between the use of vasopressors and endpoints. Result: A total of 630 eligible patients with CS after AMI were enrolled in the study. The LPA identified three profiles of CS: profile 1 (n = 259, 37.5%) was considered as the baseline group; profile 2 (n = 261, 37.8%) was characterized by advanced age, more comorbidities, and worse renal function; and profile 3 (n = 170, 24.6%) was characterized by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)-related indexes and acid-base balance disturbance. Profile 3 showed the highest all-cause in-hospital mortality rate (45.9%), followed by profile 2 (43.3%), and profile 1 (16.6%). The LR analyses showed that the phenotype of CS was an independent prognostic factor for outcomes, and profiles 2 and 3 were significantly associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality (profile 2: odds ratio [OR] 3.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.61-5.97, p < 0.001; profile 3: OR 3.90, 95%CI 2.48-6.13, p < 0.001) compared with profile 1. Vasopressor use was associated with an improved risk of in-hospital mortality for profile 2 (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.15-3.60, p = 0.015) and profile 3 (OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.02-8.32, p = 0.047), respectively. The results of vasopressor use showed no significance for profile 1. Conclusion: Three phenotypes of CS were identified, which showed different outcomes and responses to vasopressor use.

Ultrastable CsPbBr3@CsPb2Br5@TiO2 Composites for Photocatalytic and White Light-Emitting Diodes.

Although cesium halide lead (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have excellent photovoltaic properties, their unstable characteristics are major limitations to application. Previous research has demonstrated that the core-shell structure can significantly improve the stability of CsPbX3 QDs and form heterojunctions at interfaces, enabling multifunctionalization of perovskite materials. In this article, we propose a convenient method to construct core-shell-structured perovskite materials, in which CsPbBr3@CsPb2Br5 core-shell micrometer crystals can be prepared by controlling the ratio of Cs+/Pb2+ in the precursor and the reaction time. The materials exhibited enhanced optical properties and stability that provided for further postprocessing. Subsequently, CsPbBr3@CsPb2Br5@TiO2 composites were obtained by coating a layer of dense TiO2 nanoparticles on the surfaces of micrometer crystals through hydrolysis of titanium precursors. According to density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results, the presence of surface TiO2 promoted delocalization of photogenerated electrons and holes, enabling the CsPbBr3@CsPb2Br5@TiO2 composites to exhibit excellent performance in the field of photocatalysis. In addition, due to passivation of surface defects by CsPb2Br5 and TiO2 shells, the luminous intensity of white light-emitting diodes prepared with the materials only decayed by 2%-3% at high temperatures (>100 °C) when working for 24 h.

Preparation of CsPb(Cl/Br)3/TiO2:Eu3+ composites for white light emitting diodes.

The inherent single narrow emission peak and fast anion exchange process of cesium lead halide perovskite CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals severely limited its application in white light-emitting diodes. Previous studies have shown that composite structures can passivate surface defects of NCs and improve the stability of perovskite materials, but complex post-treatment processes commonly lead to dissolution of NCs. In this study, CsPb(Cl/Br)3 NCs was in-situ grown in TiO2 hollow shells doped with Eu3+ ions by a modified thermal injection method to prepare CsPb(Cl/Br)3/TiO2:Eu3+ composites with direct excitation of white light without additional treatment. Among them, the well-crystalline TiO2 shells acted as both a substrate for the dopant, avoiding the direct doping of Eu3+ into the interior of NCs to affect the crystal structure of the perovskite materials, and also as a protection layer to isolate the contact between PL quenching molecules and NCs, which significantly improves the stability. Further, the WLED prepared using the composites had bright white light emission, luminous efficiency of 87.39 lm/W, and long-time operating stability, which provided new options for the development of perovskite devices.

Studies on the optical stability of CsPbBr3 with different dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D) under thermal environments.

The thermal stability of phosphor materials had long been a bottleneck in their commercialization. Nowadays, cesium lead halide perovskite CsPbBr3 has been considered a potential replacement for the next generation of optoelectronic devices due to its excellent optical and electronic properties, however, the devices inevitably generate high temperatures on the surface under prolonged energization conditions in practical applications, which can be fatal to CsPbBr3. Despite the various strategies that have been employed to improve the thermal stability of CsPbBr3, systematic studies of the thermal stability of the basis CsPbBr3 are lacking. In this study, CsPbBr3 with different dimensions (0D quantum dots (QDs), 1D nanowires (NWs), 2D nanoplate (NPs), 3D micron crystals (MCs)) was prepared by traditional high-temperature thermal injection, and a systematic study was carried out on their optical properties and thermal stability. The results revealed that the dimensional change will directly influence the optical properties as well as the thermal stability of CsPbBr3. In particular, 3D CsPbBr3 MCs maintained relatively high thermal stability under high-temperature environments, which will bring interest for the commercialization of next-generation perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Resveratrol suppresses neuroinflammation to alleviate mechanical allodynia by inhibiting Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of intractable complications of spinal cord injury (SCI) and lacks effective treatment. Resveratrol (Res) has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effect of Res and its underlying mechanism in a rat model of SCI. Methods: The rat thoracic (T10) spinal cord contusion injury model was established, and mechanical thresholds were evaluated during an observation period of 21 days. Intrathecal administration with Res (300 µg/10 µl) was performed once a day for 7 days after the operation. On postoperative day 7, the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), the expression of Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway was determined by western blot and RT-qPCR, and the co-labeled phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3) with neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) were explored by double immunofluorescence staining in the lumbar spinal dorsal horns. The temporal changes of p-STAT3 were investigated by western blot on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after the operation. Results: Intrathecal administration with Res for 7 successive days alleviated mechanical allodynia of rats during the observation period. Meanwhile, treatment with Res suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6, and inhibited the expressions of phospho-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in the lumbar spinal dorsal horns on postoperative day 7. Additionally, the protein expression of p-STAT3 was significantly increased on the 1st day following the operation and remained elevated during the next 21 days, immunofluorescence suggested that the up-regulated p-STAT3 was co-located with glial cells and neurons. Conclusion: Our current results indicated that intrathecal administration with Res effectively alleviated mechanical allodynia after SCI in rats, and its analgesic mechanism might be to suppress neuroinflammation by partly inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

The Effect and Mechanism of Corilagin from Euryale Ferox Salisb Shell on LPS-Induced Inflammation in Raw264.7 Cells.

(1) Background: Euryale ferox Salisb is a large aquatic plant of the water lily family and an edible economic crop with medicinal value. The annual output of Euryale ferox Salisb shell in China is higher than 1000 tons, often as waste or used as fuel, resulting in waste of resources and environmental pollution. We isolated and identified the corilagin monomer from Euryale ferox Salisb shell and discovered its potential anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin isolated from Euryale ferox Salisb shell. (2) Methods: We predict the anti-inflammatory mechanism by pharmacology. LPS was added to 264.7 cell medium to induce an inflammatory state, and the safe action range of corilagin was screened using CCK-8. The Griess method was used to determine NO content. The presence of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-10 was determined by ELISA to evaluate the effect of corilagin on the secretion of inflammatory factors, while that of reactive oxygen species was detected by flow cytometry. The gene expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were determined using qRT-PCR. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and expression of target genes in the network pharmacologic prediction pathway. (3) Results: Network pharmacology analysis revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin may be related to MAPK and TOLL-like receptor signaling pathways. The results demonstrated the presence of an anti-inflammatory effect, as indicated by the reduction in the level of NO, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-10, and ROS in Raw264.7 cells induced by LPS. The results suggest that corilagin reduced the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS genes in Raw264.7 cells induced by LPS. The downregulation of the phosphorylation of IκB-α protein related to the toll-like receptor signaling pathway and upregulation of the phosphorylation of key proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway, P65 and JNK, resulted in reduced tolerance toward lipopolysaccharide, allowing for the exertion of the immune response. (4) Conclusions: The results demonstrate the significant anti-inflammatory effect of corilagin from Euryale ferox Salisb shell. This compound regulates the tolerance state of macrophages toward lipopolysaccharide through the NF-κB signaling pathway and plays an immunoregulatory role. The compound also regulates the expression of iNOS through the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby alleviating the cell damage caused by excessive NO release.

In Situ Fabrication of Lead-Free Double Perovskite/Polymer Composite Films for Optoelectronic Devices and Anticounterfeit Printing.

Lead-free double perovskites (DP) have the potential to become a rising star in the next generation of lighting markets by addressing the toxicity and instability issues associated with traditional lead-based perovskites. However, high concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) were often employed as a solvent in the preparation of most DPs, accompanied by slow crystallization at high temperatures, which not only raised the risk and cost in the preparation process, but also had a potential threat to the environment. Here, an in situ fabrication strategy was proposed to realize the crystallization of DP in the polymer at low temperature with a mild dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent, and subsequently obtained optically well-behaved Cs2Na0.8Ag0.2BiCl6/PMMA composite films (CFs) by doping with Ag+, generating bright orange luminescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 21.52%. Moreover, the growth dynamics of Cs2Na0.8Ag0.2BiCl6/PMMA CFs was further investigated by in situ optical transformation, which was extended to other DP-based polymer CFs. Finally, these CFs exhibited excellent performance in optoelectronic devices and anticounterfeit printing, the results of which provide a new pathway to advance the development of lead-free DP materials in the optical field.

A novel method for quality consistency evaluation of Glycyrrhiza formula granules based on a spectrum-effect study.

Quality consistency of Glycyrrhiza formula granules is essential for guaranteeing clinical efficacy. However, a suitable method to accurately and conveniently evaluate the consistency of the clinical efficacy of Glycyrrhiza formula granules is currently not available. This study established a method for the simultaneous determination of 12 active components in Glycyrrhiza formula granules using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. The rate of inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by different batches of Glycyrrhiza formula granules was determined. Near-infrared spectra were collected for different batches of Glycyrrhiza formula granules to detect their biological activity in the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2. The quality consistency of the 11 batches of Glycyrrhiza formula granules was evaluated using principal component and correlation analyses. The results showed significant differences in the formula granules of Glycyrrhiza uralensis produced by the different manufacturers. Some differences were also observed among batches of formula granules produced by the same manufacturer. Correlation analysis of the chemical components and cyclooxygenase-2 activity showed that glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, and isoliquiritin were the main active components of Glycyrrhiza. Correlation analysis of the near-infrared spectra and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition activity showed a high correlation between the active components and three characteristic bands: 3383-3995, 4227-4651, and 5315-5878 cm-1 . In this study, the main active anti-inflammatory components of Glycyrrhiza granules were screened. Thus, the near-infrared spectrum and characteristic active band of multi-index active components can be used to quickly detect the quality consistency of Glycyrrhiza formula granules, thereby improving the ability to control the quality and consistency of these granules.

Proteomic analysis of small extracellular vesicles from the plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Liver cancer is one of the most common tumors with the seventh-highest incidence and the third-highest mortality. Many studies have shown that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play an important role in liver cancer. Here, we report comprehensive signatures for sEV proteins from plasma obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which might be valuable for the evaluation and diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: We extracted sEVs from the plasma of controls and patients with HCC. Differentially expressed proteins in the sEVs were analyzed using label-free quantification and bioinformatic analyses. Western blotting (WB) was used to validate the abovementioned sEV proteins. RESULTS: Proteomic analysis was performed for plasma sEVs from 21 patients with HCC and 15 controls. Among the 335 identified proteins in our study, 27 were significantly dysregulated, including 13 upregulated proteins that were involved predominantly in the complement cascade (complement C1Q subcomponent subunit B (C1QB), complement C1Q subcomponent subunit C (C1QC), C4B-binding protein alpha chain (C4BPA), and C4B-binding protein beta chain (C4BPB)) and the coagulation cascade (F13B, fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), fibrinogen beta chain (FGB), and fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG)). We verified increased levels of the C1QB, C1QC, C4BPA, and C4BPB proteins in the plasma sEVs from patients with HCC in both the discovery cohort and validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The complement cascade in sEVs was significantly involved in HCC progression. C1QB, C1QC, C4BPA, and C4BPB were highly abundant in the plasma sEVs from patients with HCC and might represent molecular signatures.

Experimental Detection and Simulation of Terahertz Spectra of Aqueous L-Arginine.

Terahertz (THz) wave is a good candidate for biological sample detection, because vibration and rotation energy levels of biomolecule are in THz band. However, the strong absorption of THz wave by water in biological samples hinders its development. In this paper, a method for direct detection of THz absorption spectra of L-arginine suspension was proposed by using a strong field THz radiation source combined with a polyethylene cell with micrometer thickness in a THz time-domain spectroscopy system. And the THz absorption spectrum of L-arginine solution was simulated by the density functional theory and the simulation result is in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, the types of chemical bond interaction that cause the absorption peak are identified based on the experimental and simulation results. This work paves a way to investigate the THz absorption spectra and intramolecular interactions of aqueous biological samples.