Sinapic acid modulates oxidative stress and metabolic disturbances to attenuate ovarian fibrosis in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome SD rats.

Sinapic acid (SA) is renowned for its many pharmacological activities as a polyphenolic compound. The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a commonly encountered array of metabolic and hormonal abnormalities in females, has yet to be determined. The present experiment was performed to evaluate the antifibrotic properties of SA in rats with letrozole-induced PCOS-related ovarian fibrosis. SA treatment successfully mitigated the changes induced by letrozole in body weight (BW) (p < .01) and relative ovary weight (p < .05). Histological observation revealed that SA reduced the number of atretic and cystic follicles (AFs) and (CFs) (p < .01), as well as ovarian fibrosis, in PCOS rats. Additionally, SA treatment impacted the serum levels of sex hormones in PCOS rats. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) levels were decreased (p < .01, p < .05), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were increased (p < .05). SA administration also decreased triglyceride (TG) (p < .01) and total cholesterol (TC) levels (p < .05) and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p < .01), thereby alleviating letrozole-induced metabolic dysfunction in PCOS rats. Furthermore, SA treatment targeted insulin resistance (IR) and increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of antioxidant enzymes in the ovaries of PCOS rats. Finally, SA treatment enhanced the activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), reduced the activation of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/Smads, and decreased collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels in the ovaries of PCOS rats. These observations suggest that SA significantly ameliorates metabolic dysfunction and oxidative stress and ultimately reduces ovarian fibrosis in rats with letrozole-induced PCOS.

Effect of Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Will.Watson essential oil on antioxidant activity, immune and intestinal barrier-related function, and gut microbiota in pigeons infected by Candida albicans.

Essential oils are potential alternatives to antibiotics for preventing Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection which is responsible for economic losses in the pigeon industry. Cymbopogon martini essential oil (EO) can inhibit pathogens, particularly fungal pathogens but its potential beneficial effects on C. albicans-infected pigeons remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of C. martini EO on antioxidant activity, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal microbiota in C. albicans-infected pigeons. The pigeons were divided into four groups as follows: (1) NC group: C. albicans uninfected/C. martini EO untreated group; (2) PC group: C. albicans infected/C. martini EO untreated group; (3) LPA group: C. albicans infected/1% C. martini EO treated group; and (4) HPA group: C. albicans infected/2% C. martini EO treated group. The pigeons were infected with C. albicans from day of age 35 to 41 and treated with C. martini EO from day of age 42 to 44, with samples collected on day of age 45 for analysis. The results demonstrated that C. martini EO prevented the reduction in the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px causes by C. albicans challenge in pigeons. Furthermore, C. martini EO could decrease the relative expression of IL-1ß, TGF-ß, and IL-8 in the ileum, as well as IL-1ß and IL-8 in the crop, while increasing the relative expression of Claudin-1 in the ileum and the crop and Occludin in the ileum in infected pigeons. Although the gut microbiota composition was not significantly affected by C. martini EO, 2% C. martini EO increased the abundance of Alistipes and Pedobacter. In conclusion, the application of 2% C. martini EO not only enhanced the level of antioxidant activity and the expression of genes related to intestinal barrier function but also inhibited inflammatory genes in C. albicans-infected pigeons and increased the abundance of gut bacteria that are resistant to C. albicans.

Clinical significance of miR-9-5p in NSCLC and its relationship with smoking.

Purpose: Dysregulated expression of microRNA (miRNAs) in lung cancer has been wildly reported. The clinicopathologic significance of miR-9-5p in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and its effect on NSCLC progression were explored in this study. Patients and methods: A total of 76 NSCLC patients were included. miR-9-5p expression was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Then, in vitro experiments including cell growth curve assays, colony formation assays, and transwell migration assays were performed. Further clinicopathological and prognostic values were explored using bioinformatics analysis of the TCGA database. Results: miR-9-5p expression was significantly increased in tumor tissues (both P < 0.0001). miR-9-5p expression was relatively higher in larger tumors (P = 0.0327) and in lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) (P = 0. 0143). In addition, miR-9-5p was significantly upregulated in the normal lung tissues of cigarette smokers (P = 0.0099). In vitro, miR-9-5p was correlated with cell proliferation and migration. After that, bioinformatics analysis of the TCGA database indicated that miR-9-5p was correlated with tumor size (P = 0.0022), lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.0141), LUSC (P < 0.0001), and smoking history (P < 0.0001). Finally, a prognostic study indicated high miR-9-5p expression was correlated with poor prognosis in LUAD (P = 0.0121). Conclusion: Upregulation of miR-9-5p may have an oncogenic effect in NSCLC and may be related to smoking. The conclusion of this study may help find new prognostic and therapeutic targets for NSCLC and the exploration of the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.

[Effects of Modified Distillers' Grains Biochar on Cadmium Forms in Purple Soil and Cadmium Uptake by Rice].

Biochar and modified biochar have been widely used as remediation materials in heavy metal-contaminated agricultural soils. In order to explore economical and effective materials for the remediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated acidic purple soil, distillers 'grains were converted into distillers' grains biochar (DGBC) and modified using nano-titanium dioxide (Nano-TiO2) to produce two types of modified DGBCs:TiO2/DGBC and Fe-TiO2/DGBC. A rice pot experiment was used to investigate the effects of different biochar types and application rates (1%, 3%, and 5%) on soil properties, nutrient content, Cd bioavailability, Cd forms, rice growth, and Cd accumulation. The results showed that:① DGBC application significantly increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and nutrient content, with TiO2/DGBC and Fe-TiO2/DGBC exhibiting better effects. ② DGBC and modified DGBCs transformed Cd from soluble to insoluble forms, increasing residual Cd by 1.22% to 18.46% compared to that in the control. Cd bioavailability in soil decreased significantly, with available cadmium being reduced by 11.81% to 23.67% for DGBC, 7.64% to 43.85% for TiO2/DGBC, and 19.75% to 55.82% for Fe-TiO2/DGBC. ③ DGBC and modified DGBCs increased rice grain yield, with the highest yields observed at a 3% application rate:30.60 g·pot-1 for DGBC, 37.85 g·pot-1 for TiO2/DGBC, and 39.10 g·pot-1 for Fe-TiO2/DGBC, representing 1.13, 1.40, and 1.44 times the control yield, respectively. Cd content in rice was significantly reduced, with grain Cd content ranging from 0.24 to 0.30 mg·kg-1 for DGBC, 0.16 to 0.26 mg·kg-1 for TiO2/DGBC, and 0.14 to 0.24 mg·kg-1 for Fe-TiO2/DGBC. Notably, Cd content in rice grains fell below the food safety limit of 0.2 mg·kg-1 (GB2762-2022) at 5% for TiO2/DGBC and 3% and 5% for Fe-TiO2/DGBC. In conclusion, Nano-TiO2 modified DGBC effectively reduced the bioavailability of soil Cd through its own adsorption and influence on soil Cd forms distribution, thus reducing the absorption of Cd by rice and simultaneously promoting rice growth and improving rice yield. It is a type of Cd-contaminated soil remediation material with a potential application prospect. The results can provide scientific basis for farmland restoration and agricultural safety production of Cd-contaminated acidic purple soil.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNi0.95Mg0.02Al0.03O2@Li2ZrO3 cathode for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

High-nickel cobalt-free layered cathode is regarded as a highly potential cathode material for the next generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high energy density, low cost and environmentally benign. However, the poor cycle performance caused by its intrinsic unstable structure and chemo-mechanical instability frustrates its practical applications. Herein, we have developed a new core-shell high-nickel cobalt-free layered LiNi0.95Mg0.02Al0.03O2@Li2ZrO3 (LZO-NMA9523) cathode for high-performance LIBs. The Li2ZrO3 coating layer firstly helps to suppress and reduce the degree of Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing during the material preparation process. In addition, the Li2ZrO3 coating layer can not only accommodate the volume variations and enhance the electricity of the active materials, but also effectively inhibit the harmful irreversible phase transition during the charging/discharging process, thus greatly stabilizing the structure of the high-nickel cobalt-free cathode. As an advanced cathode for LIBs, the LZO-NMA9523 exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of 146.9 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 C with capacity retention of about 80%. This study provides a possible high-nickel cobalt-free layered cathode material for the next generation LIBs.

The relationship between different fatty acids intake and the depressive symptoms: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common psychological disorder worldwide, affecting mental and physical health. Previous studies have explored the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intake in depressive symptoms; however, few studies have focused on the association between all types of fatty acids intake and depressive symptoms. Therefore, we explored the relationship between the intake of different fatty acids intake and the risk of depressive symptoms. METHODS: The study was based on the data from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large US-based database. We used a nutrient residual model and multi-nutrient density model for the analysis. We calculated the nutrient density and residual in men and women separately, and the fatty acids intake was divided into quartiles based on the sex distribution. The relationship between the depressive symptoms and the intake of different fatty acids was examined using logistic regression; furthermore, we explored the relationships separately in men and women. RESULTS: The intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and PUFAs, particularly n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, were associated with reduced odds ratios for depressive symptoms. The inverse relationship between the intake of MUFAs, PUFAs, n-3, and n-6 PUFAs and depressive symptoms was stronger in women. The inverse relationship between total fatty acid (TFAs) intake and depressive symptoms existed only in a single model. In contrast, saturated fatty acid (SFAs) intake was not related to depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Consuming MUFAs and PUFAs can counteract the depressive symptoms, especially in women.

Phenolic constituents from the branches of Viburnum chinshanense as potential α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory agents.

This paper reports the isolation of two undescribed phenolic glycosides (1 and 2), together with seven known compounds (3-9) from the branches of Viburnum chinshanense. The structures of undescribed compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic methods (1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS). The sugar units of compounds 1 and 2 were identified by acid hydrolysis and HPLC analysis of the chiral derivatives of the monosaccharides. Furthermore, the α­amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of all isolates were evaluated and compounds 1, 5, and 8 displayed potential α­amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The molecular docking analyses of compounds 1 and 8 with the potent inhibition towards the target enzymes were also performed.

Long-term prognosis of patients with gallbladder carcinoma after curative-intent resection based on changes in the ratio of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 to total bilirubin (CA19-9/TB): a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is known to be affected by elevated bilirubin levels in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). The clinical significance of changes in the ratio of CA19-9 levels to total bilirubin (TB) levels in patients with GBC after curative-intent resection remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of changes in preoperative and postoperative CA19-9/TB ratio in these patients. METHODS: Prospectively colleced data on consecutive patients who underwent curative-intent resection for GBC between January 2015 and December 2020 stored in a multicenter database from 10 hospitals were analysed in this retrospective cohort study. Based on the adjusted CA19-9 defined as the ratio of CA19-9 to TB, and using 2×103 U/µmol as the upper normal value, patients were divided into a normal group (with normal preoperative and postoperative adjusted CA19-9), a normalization group (with abnormal preoperative but normal postoperative adjusted CA19-9), and a non-normalization group (with abnormal postoperative adjusted CA19-9). The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The log-rank test was used to compare OS and RFS among the groups. The Cox regression model was used to determine factors independently associated with OS and RFS. RESULTS: The normal group (n=179 patients) and the normalization group (n=73 patients) had better OS and RFS than the non-normalization group (n=65 patients) (the 3-year OS rates 72.0%, 58.4% and 24.2%, respectively; the RFS rates 54.5%, 25.5% and 11.8%, respectively; both P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the normal and the normalization groups in OS and RFS (OS, P=0.255; RFS, P=0.130). Cox regression analysis confirmed that the non-normalization group was independently associated with worse OS and RFS. Subgroup analysis revealed that the non-normalization group of patients who received adjuvant therapy had significantly improved OS and RFS as compared to those who did not receive adjuvant therapy (OS, P=0.025; RFS, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GBC who underwent curative-intent surgical resection with postoperative abnormal levels of adjusted CA19-9 (the CA19-9/TB ratio) were associated with poorer long-term survival outcomes. Adjuvant therapy after surgery improved the long-term outcomes of these patients.

[Source and Cause Analysis of High Concentration of Inorganic Aerosol During Two Typical Pollution Processes in Winter over Tianjin].

Inorganic aerosol is the main component of haze days in winter over Tianjin. In this study, two typical high concentrations of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) processes, defined as CASE1 and CASE2, were selected during polluted days in January 2020 over Tianjin, and the effects of meteorological factors, regional transport, and chemical processes were comprehensively investigated combined with observations and numerical models (WRF-NAQPMS). The average SIA concentrations in CASE1 and CASE2 were 76.8 µg·m-3 and 66.0 µg·m-3, respectively, and the nitrate concentration was higher than that of sulfate and ammonium, which were typical nitrate-dominated pollution processes. Meteorological conditions played a role in inorganic aerosol formation. The temperature of approximately -6-0℃ and 2-4℃ and the relative humidity of 50%-60% and 80%-100% would be suitable conditions for the high SIA concentration (>80 µg·m-3) in CASE1, whereas the temperature of approximately 2-4℃ and the relative humidity of 60%-70% would be suitable in CASE2. The average contribution rates of external sources to SIA in the CASE1 and CASE2 processes were 62.3% and 22.1%, which were regional transport-dominant processes and local emission-dominant processes, respectively. The contribution of the local emission of CASE1 to nitrate and sulfate was 16.2 µg·m-3 and 8.2 µg·m-3, respectively, higher than that of external sources (31.7 µg·m-3 and 8.8 µg·m-3). the local contribution of CASE2 to nitrate and sulfate was 29.3 µg·m-3 and 25.1 µg·m-3, respectively, whereas the contribution from external sources was 8.1 µg·m-3 and 9.4 µg·m-3, respectively. The quantitative result indicated that local formation and regional transport resulted in higher nitrate concentration than sulfate in CASE1, in contrast to only local sources in CASE2. The gas phase reaction was the main source of inorganic aerosol formation, contributing 48.9% and 57.8% in CASE1 and CASE2, respectively, whereas the heterogeneous reactions were also important processes, with contribution rates of 48.1% and 42.2% to SIA. The effect of aqueous phase reaction was negligible.

[Research on mechanism of hypolipidemic effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata based on metabolomics].

This paper aims to study the therapeutic effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata on hyperlipidemia model rats and investigate its mechanism of hypolipidemic effect with the help of non-targeted metabolomics. The mixed hyperlipidemia model rats were constructed by giving high-fat chow. After successful modeling, the rats were divided into the model group, pravastatin sodium group(4.4 mg·kg~(-1)), lipotropic group(0.1 g·kg~(-1)), high-dose group(2.4 g·kg~(-1)), medium-dose group(1.2 g·kg~(-1)), and low-dose group(0.6 g·kg~(-1)) of Massa Medicata Fermentata, and they were administered for four weeks once daily. An equal volume of ultrapure water was given to the blank group and model group. Serum lipid level and liver hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining were used as indicators to estimate the intervention effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata on mixed hyperlipidemia, and the changes in metabolites in plasma of mixed hyperlipidemia model rats were analyzed by non-targeted metabolomics. The mechanism of the hypolipidemic effect of Massa Medicata Fermentata was analyzed through metabolite pathway enrichment. The results showed that compared with the model group, the Massa Medicata Fermentata administration group, especially the high-dose group, could significantly reduce the content of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and liver HE staining revealed that the number of adipocytes in the high-dose group was reduced to some extent. The potential biomarkers obtained by non-targeted metabolomics screening included glycerol 3-phosphate, sphingomyelin, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and deoxyuridine, which were mainly involved in the sphingolipid metabolism process, glycerophospholipid metabolism process, glycerol ester metabolism pathway, and pyrimidine metabolism pathway, totaling four possible metabolic pathways related to lipid metabolism. This study provides a reference for an in-depth investigation of the hypolipidemic mechanism of Massa Medicata Fermentata, which is of great significance for further promoting the clinical application of Massa Medicata Fermentata and increasing the indications.

[Two new benzoyl-sesquiterpenes from Mesona chinensis].

Mesona chinensis is a common medicinal and edible plant in the Lingnan region of China, which has extensive pharmacological activity. However, the study of its chemical constituents is not sufficient. In this study, a variety of modern chromatographic separation techniques were used to isolate two compounds from 95% ethanol extract of the grass parts of M. chinensis. Their absolute configurations were determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), infrared spectroscopy(IR), high resolution mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance(1D NMR and 2D NMR), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction(SC-XRD). Specifically, they were two new benzoyl-sesquiterpenes and named mesonanol A and mesonanol B, respectively. The results of the pharmacological activity evaluation showed that neither of the two new compounds showed obvious antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities.

Modes of Nanodroplet Formation and Growth on an Ultrathin Water Film.

Using nanobubbles as geometrical confinements, we create a thin water film (∼10 nm) in a graphene liquid cell and investigate the evolution of its instability at the nanoscale under transmission electron microscopy. The breakdown of the water films, resulting in the subsequent formation and growth of nanodroplets, is visualized and generalized into different modes. We identified distinct droplet formation and growth modes by analyzing the dynamic processes involving 61 droplets and 110 liquid bridges within 31 Graphene Liquid Cells (GLCs). Droplet formation is influenced by their positions in GLCs, taking on a semicircular shape at the edge and a circular shape in the middle. Growth modes include liquid mass transfer driven by Plateau-Rayleigh instability and merging processes in and out-of-plane of the graphene interface. Droplet growth can lead to the formation of liquid bridges for which we obtain multiview projections. Data analysis reveals the general dynamics of liquid bridges, including drawing liquids from neighboring residual water films, merging with surrounding droplets, and merging with other liquid bridges. Our experimental observations provide insights into fluid transport at the nanoscale.

Chaotropic Effect-Induced Sol-Gel Transition and Radical Stabilization for Bacterially Sensitive Near-Infrared Photothermal Therapy.

Deep-seated bacterial infections (DBIs) are stubborn and deeply penetrate tissues. Eliminating deep-seated bacteria and promoting tissue regeneration remain great challenges. Here, a novel radical-containing hydrogel (SFT-B Gel) cross-linked by a chaotropic effect was designed for the sensing of DBIs and near-infrared photothermal therapy (NIR-II PTT). A silk fibroin solution stained with 4,4',4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(1-methylpyridin-1-ium) (TPT3+) was employed as the backbone, which could be cross-linked by a closo-dodecaborate cluster (B12H122-) through a chaotropic effect to form the SFT-B Gel. More interestingly, the SFT-B Gel exhibited the ability to sense DBIs, which could generate a TPT2+• radical with obvious color changes in the presence of bacteria. The radical-containing SFT-B Gel (SFT-B★ Gel) possessed strong NIR-II absorption and a remarkable photothermal effect, thus demonstrating excellent NIR-II PTT antibacterial activity for the treatment of DBIs. This work provides a new approach for the construction of intelligent hydrogels with unique properties using a chaotropic effect.

LIN28B induced PCAT5 promotes endometrial cancer progression and glycolysis via IGF2BP3 deubiquitination.

Endometrial cancer (EC) cells exhibit abnormal glucose metabolism, characterized by increased aerobic glycolysis and decreased oxidative phosphorylation. Targeting cellular glucose metabolism in these cells could be an effective therapeutic approach for EC. This study aimed to assess the roles of LIN28B, PCAT5, and IGF2BP3 in the glucose metabolism, proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells. LIN28B highly expressed in EC, binds and stabilizes PCAT5. PCAT5, overexpressed in EC, and its 1485-2288nt region can bind to the KH1-2 domain of IGF2BP3 to prevent MKRN2 from binding to the K294 ubiquitination site of IGF2BP3, thus stabilizing IGF2BP3. Finally, IGF2BP3 promotes the aerobic glycolysis, proliferation, migration and invasion of EC cells by stabilizing the key enzymes of glucose metabolism HK2 and PKM2. Taken together, our data reveal that the LIN28B/PCAT5/IGF2BP3 axis is critical for glucose reprogramming and malignant biological behavior in EC cells. Therefore, targeting this axis may contribute to the development of a novel therapeutic strategy for EC metabolism.

A prediction model based on random survival forest analysis of the overall survival of elderly female papillary thyroid carcinoma patients: a SEER-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common malignancy whose incidence is three times greater in females than in males. The prognosis of ageing patients is poor. This research was designed to construct models to predict the overall survival of elderly female patients with PTC. METHODS: We developed prediction models based on the random survival forest (RSF) algorithm and traditional Cox regression. The data of 4539 patients were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Twelve variables were analysed to establish the models. The C-index and the Brier score were selected to evaluate the discriminatory ability of the models. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also drawn to evaluate the accuracy of the models. The clinical benefits of the two models were compared on the basis of the DCA curve. In addition, the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) plot was used to visualize the contribution of the variables in the RSF model. RESULTS: The C-index of the RSF model was 0.811, which was greater than that of the Cox model (0.781). According to the Brier score and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the RSF model performed better than the Cox model. On the basis of the DCA curve, the RSF model demonstrated fair clinical benefit. The SHAP plot showed that age was the most important variable contributing to the outcome of PTC in elderly female patients. CONCLUSIONS: The RSF model we developed performed better than the Cox model and might be valuable for clinical practice.

Comprehensive analysis of phospholipid in milk and their biological roles as nutrients and biomarkers.

Phospholipids (PL) have garnered significant attention due to their physiological activities. Milk and other dairy products are important dietary sources for humans and have been extensively used to analyze the presence of PL by various analytical techniques. In this paper, the analysis techniques of PL were reviewed with the eight trigrams of phospholipidomics and a comprehensive fingerprint of 1295 PLs covering 8 subclasses in milk and other dairy products, especially. Technology is the primary productive force. Based on phospholipidomics technology, we further review the relationship between the composition of PL and factors that may be involved in processing and experimental operation, and emphasized the significance of the biological role played by PL in dietary supplements and biomarkers (production, processing and clinical research), and providing the future research directions.

[Specific changes in gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid levels in infants with cow's milk protein allergy]. / ç‰›å¥¶è›‹ç™½è¿‡æ•å©´å„¿è‚ é“èŒç¾¤ç‰¹å¼‚æ€§å˜åŒ–åŠçŸ­é“¾è„‚è‚ªé ¸æ°´å¹³åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the changes in gut microbiota and levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in infants with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA), and to clarify their role in CMPA. METHODS: A total of 25 infants diagnosed with CMPA at Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from August 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled as the CMPA group, and 25 healthy infants were selected as the control group. Fecal samples (200 mg) were collected from both groups and subjected to 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze the changes in gut microbial composition and metabolites. Microbial diversity was analyzed in conjunction with metabolites. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the CMPA group showed altered gut microbial structure and significantly increased α-diversity (P<0.001). The abundance of Firmicutes, Clostridiales and Bacteroidetes was significantly decreased, while the abundance of Sphingomonadaceae, Clostridiaceae_1 and Mycoplasmataceae was significantly increased in the CMPA group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Metabolomic analysis revealed reduced levels of acetic acid, butyric acid, and isovaleric acid in the CMPA group compared to the control group, and the levels of the metabolites were positively correlated with the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CMPA infants have alterations in gut microbial structure, increased microbial diversity, and decreased levels of SCFA, which may contribute to increased intestinal inflammation.

Regiodivergent Hydrosilylation of Polar Enynes to Synthesize Site-Specific Silyl-Substituted Dienes.

Herein, we present catalyst-regulated switchable site-selective hydrosilylation of enynes, which are suitable for a wide range of alkyl and aryl substituted polar enynes and exhibit excellent functional group compatibility. Under the optimized conditions, silyl groups can be precisely installed at various positions of 1,3-dienes.  While a- and γ-silylation products were obtained under platinum-catalytic systems, b-silylation products were delivered with [Cp*RuCl]4 as catalyst. This process leads to the formation of 1,3-dienoates with diverse substitutions, which would pose challenges with other methodologies.

Electroacupuncture protects the intestinal mucosal barrier in diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome rats by regulating the MCs/Tryptase/PAR-2/MLCK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is related to damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier function. Based on the Mast cell (MC)/Tryptase/Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2)/Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) pathway, this study explored the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on IBS-D rats and its possible mechanism of protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier. METHODS: The IBS-D rat model was established by mother-offspring separation, acetic acid enema, and chronic restraint stress. The efficacy of EA on IBS-D rats was evaluated by observing the rate of loose stool (LSP) and the minimum volume threshold of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) in rats. Mast cells and the ultrastructure of intestinal mucosa were observed by H&E staining, toluidine blue staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of Tryptase, PAR-2, MLCK, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and Occludin in rats were detected by ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot. RESULTS: After 7 days of intervention, compared to the IBS-D group, the loose stool rates of rats in IBS-D + EA group and IBS-D + ketotifen group were decreased (P < 0.01), the minimum volume thresholds of AWR were improved (P < 0.01), the inflammation of colon tissue decreased, the number of MCs were decreased (P < 0.01), the expression of Tryptase, PAR-2, and MLCK were lowered (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin were enhanced (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared to the EA group, there was no significant difference in each index between the ketotifen groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA has a good therapeutic effect on IBS-D rats. Regulating the MCs/Tryptase/PAR-2/MLCK pathway may be a mechanism to protect the intestinal mucosal barrier.