Phenotype correlation analysis and excellent germplasm screening of herb Bletilla Rchb. f. based on comprehensive evaluation from thirty-three geographic populations.

BACKGROUND: The Bletilla genus of Orchidaceae includes plants with great economic value, among which B. striata is the main traditional medicinal plant, and its pseudobulb, known as BaiJi, was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. However, there has been little systemic evaluation of the germplasm quality of Bletilla plants in China. In order to comprehensive evaluate the Bletilla resources in China and screen out the candidate phenotypic traits determining yield and/or quality of Bletilla, the variation of phenotypic indicators (pseudobulb, leaf, stem, inflorescence, flower) and active ingredients contents (polysaccharide, total phenolics and militarine) in different populations of B. striata and B. ochracea were investigated through 4 years' common-garden experiment. RESULTS: There were abundant phenotypic variations and significant differences among different populations in the morphological phenotypes, pseudobulb weight and main active ingredient contents. AHBZ, HBLT and HBSN populations showed good prospects for industrial development, presenting higher quality in terms of yield and main active ingredient content. Pseudobulb yield, polysaccharide and total phenol content are positively correlated with phenotypic traits. Militarine content is negatively correlated with almost all indexes. Plant height, leaf width and stem diameter may be important indicators of potential excellent germplasms. CONCLUSIONS: Bletilla is not strictly geoauthentic medicinal plants. B. ochracea could be accepted as an alternative resource to B. striata. The best harvest period of Bletilla is the third year after cultivation. Plant height, leaf width and stem diameter may be important indicators of potential excellent germplasms. These results provide important information required for the efficient screening and utilization of Bletilla germplasm resources.

Essential roles of matrix metalloproteinases in axolotl digit regeneration.

Among vertebrates, urodele amphibians possess a unique ability to regenerate various body parts including limbs. However, reports of their digit regeneration remain scarce, especially information about the related genes. In this study, it was evident that matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) including mmp9, mmp3/10a, and mmp3/10b, which play a crucial role in tissue remodeling, are highly expressed during early stages of digit regeneration in axolotl. Using in situ hybridization, we revealed that wound epidermis and blastema are two major origins of the MMPs during the regeneration process. Additionally, we found that the inhibition of MMPs with GM6001 (a wide-spectrum inhibitor of MMPs) in vivo after amputation disturbed normal digit regeneration process and resulted in malformed regenerates. Furthermore, inhibition of MMPs hindered blastema formation and decreased cell apoptosis at early stages in the digit regenerates. All these points suggest that MMPs are required for digit regeneration, as they play a significant role in the regulation of blastema formation.

Electrospun medicated gelatin/polycaprolactone Janus fibers for photothermal-chem combined therapy of liver cancer.

Liver cancer is a common cancer in the world, and core-shell nanoparticles as a commonly used combination therapy for local tumor ablation, have many shortcomings. In this study, photothermal Janus nanofibers were prepared using a electrospinning technology for tumor treatment, and the products were characterized and in vitro photothermal performance investigated. The micromorphology analysis showed that the photothermic agent CuS and electrospun fibers (loaded with CuS and anticancer drug dihydromyricetin) were successfully prepared, with diameters of 11.58 ± 0.27 µm and 1.19 ± 0.01 µm, respectively. Water contact angle and tensile test indicated that the fiber membranes has a certain hydrophilic adhesion and excellent mechanical strength. The fiber membranes has 808 nm near-infrared laser photothermal heating performance and photothermal stability, and it also has a strong response to the laser that penetrates biological tissue. In addition, in vitro cell culture and in vivo implantation study showed that the fiber membranes could kill HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells combined with photothermal-chem and could be enriched in the implantation area, respectively. Hence, the Janus membranes may be a potential cancer treatment material.

Application and Development of Electrospun Nanofiber Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Nanofiber scaffolds have gained significant attention in the field of bone tissue engineering. Electrospinning, a straightforward and efficient technique for producing nanofibers, has been extensively researched. When used in bone tissue engineering scaffolds, electrospun nanofibers with suitable surface properties promote new bone tissue growth and enhance cell adhesion. Recent advancements in electrospinning technology have provided innovative approaches for scaffold fabrication in bone tissue engineering. This review comprehensively examines the utilization of electrospun nanofibers in bone tissue engineering scaffolds and evaluates the relevant literature. The review begins by presenting the fundamental principles and methodologies of electrospinning. It then discusses various materials used in the production of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, including natural and synthetic polymers, as well as certain inorganic materials. The challenges associated with these materials are also described. The review focuses on novel electrospinning techniques for scaffold construction in bone tissue engineering, such as multilayer nanofibers, multifluid electrospinning, and the integration of electrospinning with other methods. Recent advancements in electrospinning technology have enabled the fabrication of precisely aligned nanofiber scaffolds with nanoscale architectures. These innovative methods also facilitate the fabrication of biomimetic structures, wherein bioactive substances can be incorporated and released in a controlled manner for drug delivery purposes. Moreover, they address issues encountered with traditional electrospun nanofibers, such as mechanical characteristics and biocompatibility. Consequently, the development and implementation of novel electrospinning technologies have revolutionized scaffold fabrication for bone tissue engineering.

Natural polymer nanofiber dressings for effective management of chronic diabetic wounds: A comprehensive review.

Diabetic wounds present a chronic challenge in effective treatment. Natural polymer nanofiber dressings have emerged as a promising solution due to their impressive biocompatibility, biodegradability, safety, high specific surface area, and resemblance to the extracellular matrix. These qualities make them ideal materials with excellent biological properties and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, they can effectively deliver therapeutic agents, enabling diverse treatment effects. This review offers a comprehensive overview of natural polymer-based nanofibers in diabetic wound dressings. It examines the characteristics and challenges associated with diabetic wounds and the role of natural polymers in facilitating wound healing. The review highlights the preparation, mechanism, and applications of various functional dressings composed of natural polymer nanofibers. Furthermore, it addresses the main challenges and future directions in utilizing natural polymer nanofibers for diabetic wound treatment, providing valuable insights into effective wound management for diabetic patients.

Preparation and Investigation of Cellulose Acetate/Gelatin Janus Nanofiber Wound Dressings Loaded with Zinc Oxide or Curcumin for Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity.

The skin, as the largest organ, serves as a protective barrier against external stimuli. However, when the skin is injured, wound healing becomes a complex process influenced by physiological conditions, bacterial infections, and inflammation. To improve the process of wound healing, a variety of wound dressings with antibacterial qualities have been created. Electrospun nanofibers have gained significant attention in wound dressing research due to their large specific surface area and unique structure. One interesting method for creating Janus-structured nanofibers is side-by-side electrospinning. This work used side-by-side electrospinning to make cellulose acetate/gelatin Janus nanofibers. Curcumin and zinc oxide nanoparticles were added to these nanofibers. We studied Janus nanofibers' physicochemical characteristics and abilities to regulate small-molecule medication release. Janus nanofibers coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles and curcumin were also tested for antibacterial activity. The Janus nanofibers with specified physicochemical characteristics were successfully fabricated. Nanofibers released small-molecule medicines in a controlled manner. Additionally, the Janus nanofibers loaded with curcumin exhibited excellent antibacterial capabilities. This research contributes to the development of advanced wound dressings for promoting wound healing and combating bacterial infections.

Neuroprotective neolignan glycosides from the pseudobulbs of Bletilla striata.

Four undescribed neolignan glycosides, bletineosides A-D (1-4) were isolated from the pseudobulbs of Bletilla striata. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, along with acidic hydrolysis reactions and ECD experiments. All isolates were evaluated for their neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced PC12 cell injury. Compound 3 and 4 showed significantly neuroprotective effects at the concentration of 10 µM when compared with the model group. Compounds 1-4 represented the first examples of neolignan glycosides from the genus Bletilla. This study disclosed the potency of Bletilla striata as a new source of anti-neurodegenerative agents.

HPLC-PDA-Guided isolation of glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalates from the pseudobulbs of Bletilla striata with neuroprotective and antimicrobial activities.

Twelve undescribed glucosyloxybenzyl 2-isobutylmalates, bletistrosides A-L were obtained from the pseudobulbs of Bletilla striata under the guidance of HPLC-PDA. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by the spectroscopic analyses, along with acidic hydrolysis and alkaline hydrolysis experiments. The neuroprotective effects and the antimicrobial activities of selective compounds were evaluated. Bletistroside G exhibited potential neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced PC12 cell injury, with improving cell viabilities by 11.24% compared to the model group at 10 µM. Bletistrosides A, B, G, and L showed weak antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, however, bletistroside G showed obviously selective inhibition against P. aeruginosa.

Fatty Liver Disease Prediction Model Based on Big Data of Electronic Physical Examination Records.

Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a common liver disease, which poses a great threat to people's health, but there is still no optimal method that can be used on a large-scale screening. This research is based on machine learning algorithms, using electronic physical examination records in the health database as data support, to a predictive model for FLD. The model has shown good predictive ability on the test set, with its AUC reaching 0.89. Since there are a large number of electronic physical examination records in most of health database, this model might be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for FLD for large-scale screening.