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Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbiota in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy controls in Quanzhou aiming to explore the correlation between microbiome changes and AS activities. Patients and methods: In this study, high-throughput sequencing of the gene of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) in fecal samples from 40 AS patients and 40 healthy controls, for a total of 80 participants (70 males, 10 females; mean age 33.7±10.7 years; range, 15 to 58 years), was conducted between January 2018 and January 2019. Alpha and beta diversity were analyzed using the QIIME (Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology) software, and differences were analyzed using Student's t-test, linear discriminant analysis coupled with effect size and Metastats. Finally, a correlation network was constructed using Pearson's analysis. Results: The alpha index values of the AS group were not significantly different from those of the control group. At the genus level, eight genera, Ruminiclostridium_9, Fusicatenibacter, Adlercreutzia, CAG-56, Intestinimonas, Lachnospira, Bacteroides, and Pseudoflavonifractor, were significantly enriched in patients with AS, whereas the abundance of uncultured_bacterium_f_Saccharimonadaceae, Prevotella_7, uncultured_bacterium_f_ Enterobacteriaceae, Cronobacter, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Weissella were significantly decreased in patients with AS. In addition, diseaserelated gut microbial communities were detected in patients with AS. Conclusion: We found differences in the gut microbiome between the patients with AS and controls and identified potential disease activity-related bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diosmetin (DGVL) extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Galium verum L. has been found to have anticancer activity. In this study, the effects of DGVL on the thymus of U14-bearing mice were investigated. Using flow cytometry, peripheral blood lymphocytes were characterized based on the expression of surface markers for T helper cells (CD[4.sup.+]) and T suppressor cells (CD[8.sup.+]). Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a), interleukin-2 (IL- 2), IL-10, and transforming growth factor |31 (TGF-f51) and a cell proliferation assay were determined with an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) on the thymus was determined by Western blotting. Our results showed that DGVL inhibited tumor growth and significantly increased the thymus weight compared with the control. Also, DGVL elevated serum levels of IL-2 and significantly reduced levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and IL-10 in a dose-dependent manner. Histological study and terminal dUTP nick end labeling staining results showed that DGVL protected thymus tissue against the onslaught of tumor growth by inhibiting thymus lymphocyte apoptosis. The cell proliferation assay revealed that DGVL might promote more thymus lymphocytes towards proliferation. Furthermore, the ratio of CD[4.sup.+]/CD[8.sup.+] T lymphocytes was significantly increased from 0.69 to 2.29 by treatment with DGVL. Immunoblotting analyses revealed that the expression of Fas and FasL on the thymus was lower in mice in the DGVL treatment group than in the control mice. In conclusion, DGVL can inhibit tumor growth and protect tumor-induced apoptosis of the thymus, and the mechanism is closely associated with reduced cell death in the thymus and a Fas-FasL-dependent pathway. Key words: diosmetin, Galium verum L., CD[4.sup.+], CD[8.sup.+], Fas-FasL. Resume: La diosmetine (DGVL) extrait de Galium verum L., qui est une plante utilisee en medicine chinoise traditionnelle, a une activite anticancereuse. Dans la presente etude, nous avons examine les effets de DGVL sur le thymus de souris porteuses d'une tumeur U14. Nous avons caracterise les lymphocytes du sang peripherique par l'expression des marqueurs de surface des cellules T auxiliaires (CD[4.sup.+]) et T suppressives (CD[8.sup.+]), en utilisant la cytometrie en flux. Nous avons mesure les taux seriques de facteur de necrose tumorale a (TNF-α), d'interleukine-2 (IL-2), d'IL-10 et de facteur de croissance transformant β1 (TGF-β1) ainsi que la proliferation des cellules par la methode ELISA. Nous avons determine l'expression de Fas et de FasL dans le thymus par transfert Western. Nos resultats ont montre que DGVL a inhibe la croissance de la tumeur et augmente significativement le poids du thymus par rapport aux valeurs temoins. DGVL a aussi augmente les taux seriques d'IL-2 et reduit significativement les taux de TNF-α, de TGF- β1 et d'IL-10, de maniere dose dependante. Les resultats de l'analyse histologique et du marquage par la methode TUNEL (<< terminal dUTP nick end labeling >>) ont montre que DGVL a protege le thymus contre l' attaque tumorale en inhibant l' apoptose des lymphocytes thymiques. Le test de proliferation cellulaire a revele que DGVL pourrait favoriser la multiplication des lymphocytes thymiques. De plus, le rapport CD[4.sup.+]/CD[8.sup.+] a augmente significativement de 0,69 a 2,29 a la suite du traitement. Le transfert Western a indique que l'expression de Fas et de FasL dans le thymus a ete plus faible chez les souris traitees par DGVL que chez les souris temoins. En conclusion, DGVL pourrait inhiber la croissance tumorale et proteger le thymus contre l'apoptose induite par les tumeurs; le mecanisme a ete etroitement associe a une diminution de l'apoptose dans le thymus et dans la voie dependante de Fas-FasL. Mots-cles: diosmetine, Galium verum L., CD[4.sup.+], CD[8.sup.+], Fas-FasL. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Cervical carcinoma is the second most prevalent cancer affecting women worldwide, and 500 000 new cases are reported per year. The incidence is higher in Asia, South America, and [...]

Fragrance encapsulates (FEs) are designed to deliver fragrance components, notably in laundry care products. They are made of thermoset polymeric shells surrounding the fragrance content. These materials enter the environment mainly during laundry washing, but little is known about their distribution in and impact on the environment. The aim of the present study was to estimate the environmental concentrations of FE shells in freshwater, sediment, and soil compartments for 34 selected countries and to compare them with ecotoxicological effects. Probabilistic material flow analysis was used to estimate worst‐case predicted environmental concentrations (PECs). The lowest freshwater PEC was predicted for Finland (0.00011 µg/L) and the highest for Belgium (0.13 µg/L). Accumulation of FE shells between 2010 and 2019 was considered for sediments and sludge‐treated soils. The PECs in sediments ranged from 3.0 µg/kg (Finland) to 3400 µg/kg (Belgium). For sludge‐treated soil, the concentration was estimated to be between 0 (Malta and Switzerland) and 3600 µg/kg (Vietnam). Ecotoxicological tests showed no effects for FE shells at any tested concentration (up to 2700 µg/L freshwater, 5400 µg/kg sediment, and 9100 µg/kg soil), thus not allowing derivation of a predicted‐no‐effect concentration (PNEC). Therefore, to characterize the environmental risks, the PEC values were compared with highest‐observed‐no‐effect concentrations (HONECs) derived from ecotoxicological tests. The PEC/HONEC ratios were 9.3 × 10–6, 0.13, and 0.04 for surface waters, sediments, and sludge‐treated soils, respectively, which are much below 1, suggesting no environmental risk. Because the PEC values constitute an upper boundary (no fate considered) and the HONEC values represent a lower boundary (actual PNEC values based on NOECs will be higher), the current risk estimation can be considered a precautionary worst‐case assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:905–916. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]