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Water deficiency threatens the health and function of wetlands in semi-arid areas. Optimum re-watering is an effective method for close-to-natural restoration to mitigate wetland degradation. Although the ecological importance of optimal re-watering as a nature-based solution for promoting wetland plant growth has been widely recognized, the response mechanisms of seed germination and seedling growth to re-watering are still poorly understood despite their decisive impact on plant life history. To fill this gap, this study compared the characteristics of seed germination and seedling growth in Carex schmidtii under initial water content with three levels (30%, 50%, and 70%) and five re-watering treatments (maintained at constant water content and re-watering to 100% on 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day). Moreover, the degree of reserve mobilization during four germination stages (seed suckering, sprouting, 20% germination, and seedling growth) was investigated. The results showed that water deficiency and re-watering treatments significantly affected C. schmidtii seed germination, seedling growth, and reserve mobilization. Compared with the other treatments, 50% moisture content and re-watering to 100% on the 14th day (50%-RT3) treatment significantly improved germination traits (germination rate, daily germination rate, germination index, and vigor index) and seedling growth characteristics (shoot length, root length, shoot biomass, root biomass, and total biomass). Furthermore, the degree of mobilization of starch, soluble protein, fat, and soluble sugar accumulation in C. schmidtii seeds under 50%-RT3 was higher than that in the other treatments. The structural equation model showed that the characteristics of seed germination and seedling growth of C. schmidtii were directly related to water deficiency and re-watering treatments, whereas reserve mobilization indirectly affected seed germination and seedling growth. These findings demonstrated that water deficiency and re-watering treatments have a crucial regulatory effect on seed germination and seedling growth of wetland plant species through a dual mechanism. This study provides information for the formulation of an optimum re-watering strategy for wetland vegetation restoration in semi-arid areas of the world. • Re-watering solution affected seed germination and seedling growth of Carex schmidtii. • Re-watering solution regulated the process of reserve mobilization of C. schmidtii. • Re-watering solution controls the seed development through a dual mechanism. • 50% moisture content and re-watering on the 14th day as the optimum solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the hydrological regime can significantly alter the structure, function, and biodiversity of wetlands. Soil seed banks (SSB) are crucial for maintaining the species diversity and plant regeneration in wetlands. Although the relationships between plant communities and hydrological conditions have been widely studied, the intrinsic mechanisms driving SSB dynamics are poorly understood because a tendency to neglect the influence of hydrological regimes on SSB. Field survey and germination experiments were conducted to determine the structure and composition of the aboveground plant community and SSB of Carex hummock wetlands under different hydrological regimes in the Western Songnen Plain of China and investigated the driving process of the hydrologic regime on SSB dynamics. The results showed that, compared with those under flooded (surface water depth was maintained at 5–10 cm for long-term) and drought (no still water on the soil surface, soil moisture content <65% for about 9–11 months annually) conditions, the values of characteristics of aboveground vegetation (Carex hummock, C. schmidtii population, and plant community) were generally higher under moist (no still water on the soil surface, soil moisture content >65% for about 8–9 months annually) conditions. C. schmidtii is the dominant species of plant community under different hydrological regimes. In response to hydrological regime changes, SSB differed in their density, richness, and diversity, and the soil bulk density and soil water content explained 41.8% and 6.8% of SSB structural variation, respectively. A non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated the significant differences between the species composition of SSB and aboveground vegetation under different hydrological regimes in Carex hummock wetlands. Based on the structural equation model, it was found that the variation in the hydrological regime directly affected the hummock morphology, plant community density, and SSB density. Additionally, it indirectly influenced the density of aboveground vegetation by directly associating with the density of SSB. This study demonstrates that the hydrological regime exerts an influence on the species composition of SSB, thereby governing the role of SSB in the process of plant community regeneration within Carex hummock wetlands. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of hydrological regimes on SSB and provide crucial information for the restoring of degraded Carex hummock wetlands. • Density and richness of soil seed bank(SSB) were regulated by hydrologic regime; • Hydrologic regime affects the similarity between aboveground plants and SSB; • Hydrologic regime directly and indirectly affects the soil seed bank in wetlands. • SSB is an important resource for implementing soil bioengineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping proves to be an efficacious method of establishing intermetallic interactions for enhancing toluene oxidation performance of bimetallic oxides. However, conventional bimetallic oxide catalysts are yet to overcome their inadequacy in establishing intermetallic interactions. In this work, the dispersion of Mn–Co bimetallic sites was improved by hydrolytic co-precipitation, strengthening the intermetallic interactions which improved the structural and physicochemical properties of the catalysts, thus significantly enhancing its catalytic behavior. MnCo–H catalysts fabricated by the hydrolytic co-precipitation method showed promising catalytic performance (T 50 = 223 °C, T 90 = 229 °C), robust stability (at least 100 h) and impressive water resistance (under 10 vol.% of water) for toluene elimination. Hydrolytic co-precipitation has been found to improve dispersion of MnCo elements and to enhance interaction between Co and Mn ions (Mn4+ + Co2+ = Mn3+ + Co3+), resulting in a lower reduction temperature (215 °C) and a weaker Mn–O bond strength, creating more lattice defects and oxygen vacancies, which are responsible for superior catalytic properties of MnCo–H samples. Furthermore, in situ DRIFTs showed that gaseous toluene molecules adsorbed on the surface of MnCo–H were continuously oxidized to benzyl alcohol → benzaldehyde → benzoate, followed by a ring-opening reaction with surface-activated oxygen to convert to maleic anhydride as the final intermediate, which further generates water and carbon dioxide. It was also revealed that the ring-opening reaction for the conversion of benzoic acid to maleic anhydride is the rate-controlling step. This study reveals that optimizing active sites and improving reactive oxygen species by altering the dispersion of bimetals to enhance bimetallic interactions is an effective strategy for the improvement of catalytic behavior, while the hydrolytic co-precipitation method fits well with this corollary. Doping is a successful approach to establish intermetallic interactions to improve the toluene oxidation capacity of bimetallic oxides. In spite of this, the classical bimetallic oxide catalysts are still struggling to overcome their inability to establish these interactions. In this work, hydrolytic co-precipitation has demonstrated the ability to enhance MnCo element dispersion and interaction between Co and Mn ions (Mn4+ + Co2+ = Mn3+ + Co3+). As a result, low-temperature reducibility improved while the Mn–O bond strength weakened, leading to more lattice defects and oxygen vacancies, ultimately resulting in superior catalytic properties of MnCo–H samples. [Display omitted] • Revealing the effect of Co–Mn intermetallic interactions on catalytic performance. • Stronger Co–Mn interactions are established by hydrolytic co-precipitation method. • MnCo–H with strong Co–Mn interaction shows favorable stability and H 2 O resistance. • Co–Mn interactions found to act on electron transfer and activation of oxygen. • The in-situ DRIFTS revealed mechanism and rate-limiting steps of toluene oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of conservation tillage on soil biodiversity are crucial for maintaining the balance and stability of agroecosystems, but research on soil animal-associated microbiota, an important compartment of soil biodiversity in addition to soil microbiota and soil animals, is still lacking. Here, we used 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing to investigate the diversity and composition of bacteria associated with two Collembola species (Entomobrya sibirica and Ceratophysella sp.) of different life forms under four different tillage practices: (1) conventional moldboard plow tillage with no straw mulch (CT), (2) moldboard plow tillage with straw mulch (MT), (3) no-tillage with straw cover (NT) and (4) no-tillage with straw cover and crop rotation (NTR). We found that conservation tillage increased Collembola abundance and Collembola-associated bacterial diversity, with no significant effect on soil bacteria. Ceratophysella sp. seemed to be more adapted to NTR, whereas E. sibirica was more adapted to MT. Interestingly, Collembola abundance was positively correlated with its associated bacterial diversity, with the relative abundance of Sphingomonas and Pelomonas being positively correlated, but Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus being negatively correlated with Collembola abundance. We identified Methylobacterium-Methtylorubrum and Streptomyces as indicator bacteria for the MT treatment, but no common indicator between the two Collembola species in the NTR treatment. Conservation tillage significantly affected the composition and network structure of Collembola-associated bacteria, particularly in the MT and NTR treatments. Our study suggests that conservation tillage practices affect at least two of the three compartments of soil biodiversity – soil microbiota, soil animals and soil-animal associated microbiota. If only one tillage practice is preferred, we recommend the no-tillage with straw mulch and rotation (NTR) as the most optimal strategy for conserving soil biodiversity. [Display omitted] • Conservation tillage affected Collembola abundance and associated bacterial diversity. • No significant effect of conservation tillage on soil bacteria was found. • Collembola-associated bacterial genera were positively correlated with host abundance. • Mulch and crop rotation were recommended as the best conservation tillage practice. Keywords [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), which is involved in the genesis and progression of breast cancer, is thought to be associated with the overall survival (OS) of patients. However, the predictive and prognostic significance of the IGF-1R expression in breast cancer remains controversial. The present study aimed to identify the factors associated with the levels of phosphorylated (p)-IGF-1R in breast cancer, their impact on the outcomes of breast cancer patients, and the prognostic value of alterations of p-IGF-1R during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The present study included 348 female breast cancer patients whose paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections had been collected by biopsy and/or resection, among which the pre-NAC and post-NAC sections were available from 40 patients. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity and molecular subtype were significantly associated with the presence of p-IGF-1R in the tumor tissue (P<0.05). Patients with p-IGF-1R present in the tumor tissue had a shorter OS (P=0.003). The p-IGF-1R levels in the tumor after NAC differed significantly from those prior to NAC (P=0.005); however, this alteration in p-IGF-1R levels was not associated with a shorter OS. In parallel with HER2, p-IGF-1R appears to be a promising indicator for predicting clinical outcomes and may be an attractive target for improving the efficacy of antitumor therapy, particularly for patients with HER2-negative, estrogen receptor-positive and luminal B tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LR004 is a novel chimeric (human/mouse) monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of advanced colorectal carcinoma with detectable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. We aimed to investigate the preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK) and in vivo biodistribution of LR004. The PK profiles of LR004 were initially established in rhesus monkeys. Subsequently, 125I radionuclide-labeled LR004 was developed and the biodistribution, autoradiography, and NanoSPECT/CT of 125I-LR004 in xenograft mice bearing A431 tumors were examined. The PK data revealed a prolonged half-life and nonlinear PK characteristics of LR004 within the dose range of 6–54 mg/kg. The radiochemical purity of 125I-LR004 was approximately 98.54%, and iodination of LR004 did not affect its specific binding activity to the EGFR antigen. In a classical biodistribution study, 125I-LR004 exhibited higher uptake in highly perfused organs than in poorly perfused organs. Prolonged retention properties of 125I-LR004 in tumors were observed at 4 and 10 days. Autoradiography and NanoSPECT/CT confirmed the sustained retention of 125I-LR004 at the tumor site in xenograft mice. These findings demonstrated the adequate tumor targeting capabilities of 125I-LR004 in EGFR-positive tumors, which may improve dosing strategies and future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortwave radiation has been reported to have harmful effects on several organs in humans and animals. However, the biological effects of 27 MHz shortwave on the reproductive system are not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of shortwave whole-body exposure at a frequency of 27 MHz on structural and functional changes in the testis. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 27 MHz continuous shortwaves at average power densities of 0, 5, 10, or 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min. The levels of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb) in the peripheral serum, sperm motility, sperm malformation rate, and testicular tissue structure of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, calpain, and Cdk5 expression were analyzed at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after exposure. We observed that the rats after radiation had decreased serum INSL3 levels (p < 0.01), increased AsAb levels (p < 0.05), decreased percentage of class A+B sperm (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased sperm malformation (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), injured testicular tissue structure, decreased SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased MDA content (p < 0.01), and testicular tissue expressions of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 were increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, Shortwave radiation caused functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats. Furthermore, oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway are likely involved in this process. Shortwave radiation has been used in communications, medical and military applications, and its damaging effects on several organs of the human body have been reported in the literature. However, the biological effects of shortwave radiation on the male reproductive system are unknown. The present study, by constructing an animal model of short-wave radiation and analyzing the experimental results, revealed that shortwave radiation could cause functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats, and that oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway might be involved in this process. It will provide organizational data for further studies on the mechanisms of male reproductive damage by shortwave radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mutant of Candida tropicalis was used to convert n-alkanes to the corresponding α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (DC). Effects of medium pH on dioic acid productions were studied in batch fermentations in which growth and conversion were separated into a growth and a conversion phase. A pH control strategy for the high-level production of α,ω-tridecanedioic acid has been proposed and optimized, i.e. programmed incremental pH increase from pH 7.2 to 8.10 during DC production stage, the dioic acid concentration reached 153 g/l after 120 h transformation and demonstrated a 22% increase in production compared to that obtained with an optimized constant pH value. Using the optimal strategy for n-dodecane and n-tetradecane fermentation, the corresponding dioic acid concentrations reached 166 and 138 g/l, respectively. The influences of the strategy on cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity of the cells were also examined; the maximum activity of the enzyme can be maintained for a longer period of time during the conversion phase using by this optimal strategy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The intracellular pH (pHi of α-ω-dicarboxylic acid producing Candida tropicalis was determined by a fluorescence technique using the pH-sensitive fluorescent probe 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate. Fermentations with n-tridecane substrate to produce α,ω-tridecanedioic acid were carried out in a 5-l bioreactor in which growth and production were separated. During the growth phase, the measured pHi values were varied from 5.65 to 6.15 in all the experiments performed under different constant pH-operating conditions. The specific rates of growth, sucrose consumption, CO2 production, and O2 consumption were correlated with pHi. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450), which catalyzes n-alkane hydroxylation, was only slightly expressed during the growth phase. During the first 6 h of the production phase, P450 activity was induced rapidly accompanying higher pHi. A much higher level of P450 activity was observed at pHi of 6.55±0.15 for all the fermentations, with maximum productivity (1.919 g/l/h) occurring when using an optimal pH-control strategy. However, P450 activity, tridecanedioic acid productivity, and pHi decreased progressively during the latter part of the production phase, as a consequence of the metabolic activity changes of the cells. Even though culture pH has only a slight influence on pHi, the metabolic activity of C. tropicalis is sensitive to the variations in pHi. The measured pHi varied from 6.1 to 6.7 during the production phase for all the fermentations. Thus, both tridecanedioic acid productivity and P450 activity are correlated with pHi or pH gradients across the cell membrane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• MOF templating method modulates the Cu-Co interactions. • Coupling of different crystal planes enhances the interaction between CuO and Co 3 O 4. • Strong interaction between CuO and Co 3 O 4 increased the Co3+ and O latt species. • The reaction pathway was optimized by strong interaction between metals. Incorporating a secondary metal into individual cobalt oxides has been viewed as an efficacious approach in creating intermetallic interactions. Nonetheless, the processes involved in the construction of intermetallic interactions, as well as the underlying mechanisms that contribute to catalytic activity, remain largely elusive in current scientific understanding. In this work, a range of Cu-Co bimetallic oxides were synthesized through various preparation methods, employing MOFs as templates. Notably, the hydrothermally-synthesized Cu/Co-HT catalyst exhibited impressive catalytic qualities for toluene combustion, with T 50 = 229 °C and T 90 = 239 °C, alongside exceptional stability and moisture resistance (under 10 vol. % of water) for at least 100 h. The optimal catalyst Cu/Co-HT is attributed to the stronger Cu-Co interaction, which leading to larger specific surface area and weaker Co-O bond strength. And it also affects the chemical properties, such as get more Co3+ and lattice oxygen species by a redox (Co2++Cu2+→Co3++Cu+), better electron transfer performance and low-temperature reducibility. In addition, the reaction mechanism of toluene over the surface of Cu/Co-HT was also revealed by in-situ DRIFTS. It was observed that the bimetallic catalyst, characterized by robust Cu-Co interactions, optimized the reaction pathway for toluene oxidation compared to pure Co 3 O 4. This facilitation led to the direct conversion of benzyl alcohol into benzoate and carboxylate, thereby bypassing the intermediate step involving benzaldehyde, which enhancing the reaction speed, yielding a long-term stable and efficient operational performance. This study reveals that optimize the physicochemical properties of catalytic by enhancing bimetallic interactions is an effective strategy for improving catalytic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Icaritin is a prenylflavonoid derivative of the genus Epimedium (Berberidaceae) and has a variety of pharmacological actions. Icaritin is approved by the National Medical Products Administration as an anticancer drug that exhibits efficacy and safety advantages in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma cells. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of icaritin on UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms. 4‐Methylumbelliferone (4‐MU) was employed as a probe drug for all the tested UGT isoforms using in vitro human liver microsomes (HLM). The inhibition potentials of UGT1A1 and 1A9 in HLM were further tested by employing 17β‐estradiol (E2) and propofol (PRO) as probe substrates, respectively. The results showed that icaritin inhibits UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A7, 1A8, 1A10, 2B7, and 2B15. Furthermore, icaritin exhibited a mixed inhibition of UGT1A1, 1A3, and 1A9, and the inhibition kinetic parameters (Ki) were calculated to be 3.538, 2.117, and 0.306 (μM), respectively. The inhibition of human liver microsomal UGT1A1 and 1A9 both followed mixed mechanism, with Ki values of 2.694 and 1.431 (μM). This study provides supporting information for understanding the drug–drug interaction (DDI) potential of the flavonoid icaritin and other UGT‐metabolized drugs in clinical settings. In addition, the findings provide safety evidence for DDI when liver cancer patients receive a combination therapy including icaritin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the wide variety of bioactivities of curcumin has been reported by researchers, the clinical application of curcumin is still limited due to its poor aqueous solubility. In view of this, a series of dimethylaminomethyl-substituted curcumin derivatives were designed and synthesized (compounds 1–15). Acetate of these derivatives were prepared (compounds 1a–15a). The Mannich reaction and aldol condensation reaction are the main reactions involved in this study. Compounds 6, 10, 12, 3a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a exhibited better in vitro anti-inflammatory activity compared to curcumin in the RAW264.7 cell line. Compounds 5, 1a, 5a, 8a, and 12a exhibited better in vitro antioxidant activity compared to curcumin in the PC 12 cell line. Compounds 11, 13, 5a, 7a, and 13a exhibited better in vitro radiation protection compared to curcumin in the PC 12 cell line. The aqueous solubilities of all the curcumin derivative acetates were greatly improved compared to curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orychophragmus violaceus (L.) O. E. Schulz (Brassicaceae) is widely distributed and plentiful in China and has been widely used for its application in ornamental, oil, ecology, foraging, and food. Recent studies have revealed that the main components of Orychophragmus violaceus include flavonoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, etc., which have pharmacological activities such as antioxidation, antiradiation, antitumor, hepatic protection, antiferroptosis, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. In this paper, the nutritional value, chemical compositions, pharmacological activity, and application value of Orychophragmus violaceus are summarized by referring to the relevant domestic and international literature to provide a reference for further research, development, and utilization of Orychophragmus violaceus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A traumatic hemorrhage is fatal due to the great loss of blood in a short period of time; however, there are a few biomaterials that can stop the bleeding quickly due to the limited water absorption speed. Here, a highly absorbent polymer (HPA), polyacrylate, was prepared as it has the best structure–effectiveness relationship. Within a very short period of time (2 min), HPA continually absorbed water until it swelled up to its 600 times its weight; more importantly, the porous structure comprised the swollen dressing. This instantaneous swelling immediately led to rapid hemostasis in irregular wounds. We optimized the HPA preparation process to obtain a rapidly water-absorbent polymer (i.e., HPA-5). HPA-5 showed favorable adhesion and biocompatibility in vitro. A rat femoral arteriovenous complete shear model and a tail arteriovenous injury model were established. HPA exhibited excellent hemostatic capability with little blood loss and short hemostatic time compared with CeloxTM in both of the models. The hemostatic mechanisms of HPA consist of fast clotting by aggregating blood cells, activating platelets, and accelerating the coagulation pathway via water absorption and electrostatic interaction. HPA is a promising highly water-absorbent hemostatic dressing for rapid and extensive blood clotting after vessel injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isochrysis galbana is widely used in the aquaculture industry and is a potential industrial biodiesel producer. The growth of I. galbana has been enhanced in mixotrophic conditions with glycerol supplementation. Nevertheless, the effect mechanism of glycerol on I. galbana remains unclear. This study aimed to reveal how glycerol supplementation (0.1% by volume fraction) altered the growth, photosynthesis, respiration, fatty acid profile and transcriptome of I. galbana. Glycerol was shown to favor the growth of I. galbana under light. The increase in oxygen uptake rate indicates that glycerol is involved in the respiratory carbon metabolism of I. galbana. Furthermore, the added glycerol downregulated the photosynthetic activity of the alga, with a decrease in light-harvesting pigments, i.e., chlorophyll c and carotenoids, and a decrease in photosynthetic electron transfer activity as indicators. In addition, the fatty acid profile of I. galbana was affected by the supplementation of glycerol with a pronounced increase in oleic acid to 36.47%. Meanwhile, the ratio of Σ(saturated fatty acids + monounsaturated fatty acids)/Σ(polyunsaturated fatty acids) in glycerol-treated samples (3.43) was significantly higher than that in control samples (2.13), indicating a better composition for biodiesel. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the molecular mechanisms involved in the impacts of glycerol on I. galbana. DEGs enriched to photosynthesis, light harvesting, chlorophyll binding, and chloroplast thylakoid membrane were mainly downregulated, and the DEGs enriched in translation, nitrate transport, stearoyl-CoA 9-desaturase activity were mainly upregulated, consistent with the results of photosynthesis, biomass and the fatty acid profile. This study demonstrated the essential role of 0.1% glycerol in accelerating the growth and altering the fatty acid profiles of I. galbana, as well as the preliminary molecular mechanism underlying these physiological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis ranks among the most common health problems worldwide, characterized by organ dysfunction resulting from infection. Excessive inflammatory responses, cytokine storms, and immune-induced microthrombosis are pivotal factors influencing the progression of sepsis. Our objective was to identify novel immune-related hub genes for sepsis through bioinformatic analysis, subsequently validating their specificity and potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in an animal experiment involving a sepsis mice model. Gene expression profiles of healthy controls and patients with sepsis were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was conducted. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to analyze genes within crucial modules. The functional annotated DEGs which related to the immune signal pathways were used for constructing protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Following this, two hub genes, FERMT3 and CD3G, were identified through correlation analyses associated with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores. These two hub genes were associated with cell adhesion, migration, thrombosis, and T-cell activation. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis was conducted to investigate the inflammation microenvironment influenced by the hub genes. The efficacy and specificity of the two hub genes were validated through a mice sepsis model study. Concurrently, we observed a significant negative correlation between the expression of CD3G and IL-1β and GRO/KC. These findings suggest that these two genes probably play important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of sepsis, presenting the potential to serve as more stable biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis, deserving further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation-induced skin injury (RISI) is a frequent and severe complication with a complex pathogenesis that often occurs during radiation therapy, nuclear incidents, and nuclear war, for which there is no effective treatment. Hyaluronan (HA) plays an overwhelming role in the skin, and it has been shown that UVB irradiation induces increased HA expression. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no study regarding the biological correlation between RISI and HA degradation and its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, in our study, we investigated low-molecular-weight HA content using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and changes in the expression of HA-related metabolic enzymes using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and a Western blotting assay. The oxidative stress level of the RISI model was assessed using sodium dismutase, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species assays. We demonstrated that low-molecular-weight HA content was significantly upregulated in skin tissues during the late phase of irradiation exposure in the RISI model and that HA-related metabolic enzymes, oxidative stress levels, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway, and inflammatory factors were consistent with changes in low-molecular-weight HA content. These findings prove that HA degradation is biologically relevant to RISI development and that the HA degradation mechanisms are related to HA-related metabolic enzymes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory factors. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway represents a potential mechanism of HA degradation. In conclusion, we aimed to investigate changes in HA content and preliminarily investigate the HA degradation mechanism in a RISI model under γ-ray irradiation, to consider HA as a new target for RISI and provide ideas for novel drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is one of the main active components extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Astragali and serves as a marker for assessing the herb's quality. AS-IV is a tetracyclic triterpenoid saponin in the form of lanolin ester alcohol and exhibits various biological activities. This review article summarizes the chemical structure of AS-IV, its pharmacological effects, mechanism of action, applications, future prospects, potential weaknesses, and other unexplored biological activities, aiming at an overall analysis. Papers were retrieved from online electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, and data from studies conducted over the last 10 years on the pharmacological effects of AS—IV as well as its impact were collated. This review focuses on the pharmacological action of AS-IV, such as its anti-inflammatory effect, including suppressing inflammatory factors, increasing T and B lymphocyte proliferation, and inhibiting neutrophil adhesion-associated molecules; antioxidative stress, including scavenging reactive oxygen species, cellular scorching, and regulating mitochondrial gene mutations; neuroprotective effects, antifibrotic effects, and antitumor effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaloids are a material treasure bestowed on humans by nature owing to their numerous biological activities. Orychophragine D, an alkaloid isolated from the seeds of Orychophragmus violaceus was identified as bearing a novel skeleton and proved to have an excellent radioprotective effect. Different from the common alkaloid structure, the main block of orychophragine D is constructed of an oxotriazine and an oxopiperazine, which are connected in parallel by a C-N bond. In this paper, a preparation method for the novel heterocycle skeleton of orychophragine D is proposed for the first time. N-Boc-L-serine was utilized as the original material to complete the preparation with 11 steps in a 13% overall yield. A hydroxyl group was established on the side chain of the skeleton as the reaction site for researchers to conduct further structural modification or derivatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxide catalysts are considered to be active in the catalytic purification of volatile organic compounds based on two theories. According to one view, defects are mainly constructed to increase the amount of adsorbed oxygen and, consequently, the catalytic activity, whereas the opposite view suggests that the mobility of lattice oxygen is the main reason for determining the catalytic performance. In order to investigate which form of oxygen is the key factor controlling the catalytic performance of manganese oxides, a series of manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS‐2) with different adsorption and lattice oxygen properties were synthesized in this study, and the catalytic oxidation performance of the catalysts for toluene was examined. The impact of various oxygen species on the catalytic activity of OMS‐2 was investigated in depth by characterization by Raman, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, O2 temperature‐programmed desorption, H2 temperature‐programmed reduction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and so forth. It was discovered that OMS‐2‐150 exhibits excellent catalytic activity for toluene purification due to its higher Mn4+ and lattice oxygen as well as low‐temperature reducibility. In addition, in situ diffuse reflectance, infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy also verified that lattice oxygen dominates the reaction and improves the catalytic performance. As such, in contrast to previous investigations, this study found that lattice oxygen migration was more important than adsorbed oxygen content for manganese oxides in the field of volatile organic compounds purification. This brings a new perspective to the preparation of manganese‐based catalysts with promising catalytic behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health hazards from long-term exposure to microwaves, especially the potential for changes in cognitive function, are attracting increasing attention. The purpose of this study was to explore changes in spatial learning and memory and synaptic structure and to identify differentially expressed proteins in hippocampal and serum exosomes after long-term exposure to 2.856 and 9.375 GHz microwaves. The spatial reference learning and memory abilities and the structure of the DG area were impaired after long-term exposure to 2.856 and 9.375 GHz microwaves. We also found a decrease in SNARE-associated protein Snapin and an increase in charged multivesicular body protein 3 in the hippocampus, indicating that synaptic vesicle recycling was inhibited and consistent with the large increase in presynaptic vesicles. Moreover, we investigated changes in serum exosomes after 2.856 and 9.375 GHz microwave exposure. The results showed that long-term 2.856 GHz microwave exposure could induce a decrease in calcineurin subunit B type 1 and cytochrome b-245 heavy chain in serum exosomes. While the 9.375 GHz long-term microwave exposure induced a decrease in proteins (synaptophysin-like 1, ankyrin repeat and rabankyrin-5, protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha and sodium-dependent phosphate transporter 1) in serum exosomes. In summary, long-term microwave exposure could lead to different degrees of spatial learning and memory impairment, EEG disturbance, structural damage to the hippocampus, and differential expression of hippocampal tissue and serum exosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the sequelae of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and currently, lung transplantation is the only viable treatment option. Hence, other effective treatments are urgently required. We investigated the therapeutic effects of an approved botanical drug, cepharanthine (CEP), in a cell culture model of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat models both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, CEP and pirfenidone (PFD) suppressed BLM-induced lung tissue inflammation, proliferation of blue collagen fibers, and damage to lung structures in vivo. Furthermore, we also found increased collagen deposition marked by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Type I Alpha 1 (COL1A1), which was significantly alleviated by the addition of PFD and CEP. Moreover, we elucidated the underlying mechanism of CEP against PF in vitro. Various assays confirmed that CEP reduced the viability and migration and promoted apoptosis of myofibroblasts. The expression levels of myofibroblast markers, including COL1A1, vimentin, α-SMA, and Matrix Metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), were also suppressed by CEP. Simultaneously, CEP significantly suppressed the elevated Phospho-NF-κB p65 (p-p65)/NF-κB p65 (p65) ratio, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) levels, and elevated inhibitor of NF-κB Alpha (IκBα) degradation and reversed the progression of PF. Hence, our study demonstrated that CEP prevented myofibroblast activation and treated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner by regulating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/ NLRP3 signaling, thereby suggesting that CEP has potential clinical application in pulmonary fibrosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds, ardisiapunine B (1) and ardisiapunine C (2), were isolated from Ardisia lindleyana D. Dietr. Their structures were examined using HR–ESI–MS, IR, (1D, 2D) NMR spectroscopic analyses, single–crystal X–ray diffraction, and ECD calculation. It was found that the two new compounds belong to unusual oleanane-type triterpenes, with compound 1 bearing an acetal unit and a C–13–C–18 double bond, and compound 2 bearing a C–28 aldehyde group and a C–18–C–19 double bond. The anti-inflammatory properties of compounds 1 and 2 were tested on NO production and cellular morphology using RAW264.7 cells, and their anti-tumor properties were tested on cytotoxic activities, cellular morphology, cell apoptosis, and cell cycle. The results showed that compound 1 exhibited a potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines with an IC50 of 12.40 μM. Furthermore, it is possible that compound 1 inhibits cell proliferation by blocking the cell G2/M phase and promoting cell apoptosis. Compound 2 exhibited a potential anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the production of NO in LPS–stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Comparative analysis of the structures of compounds 1 and 2 revealed that the acetal structure and double bond positions were the main differences between them, and these are presumed to be the main reasons for the extreme differences in their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities. From these new findings, two promising lead compounds were identified for the future development of potential anti–inflammatory or anti–tumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe bleeding from deep and irregular wounds poses a significant challenge in prehospital and surgical settings. To address this issue, we developed a novel chitosan-based hemostatic dressing with a magnetic targeting mechanism using Fe 3 O 4 , termed bovine serum albumin-modified Fe 3 O 4 embedded in porous α-ketoglutaric acid/chitosan (BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS). This dressing enhances hemostasis by magnetically guiding the agent to the wound site. In vitro, the hemostatic efficacy of BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS is comparable to that of commercial chitosan (Celox™) and is not diminished by the modification. In vivo, BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS demonstrated superior hemostatic performance and reduced blood loss compared to Celox™. The hemostatic mechanism of BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS includes the concentration of solid blood components through water absorption, adherence to blood cells, and activation of the endogenous coagulation pathway. Magnetic field targeting is crucial in directing the dressing to deep hemorrhagic sites. Additionally, safety assessments have confirmed the biocompatibility and biodegradability of BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS. In conclusion, we introduce a novel approach to modify chitosan using magnetic guidance for effective hemostasis, positioning BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS as a promising candidate for managing various wounds. Illustration of targeting BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS guided by a magnetic field for multiple bleeding events. (A) Schematic illustration of the preparation of BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS, which includes the following components: CS (chitosan), KA (α-ketoglutaric acid), BSA (bovine serum albumin), and Fe 3 O 4 (iron oxide). (B) Schematic depiction of BSA/Fe 3 O 4 @KA/CS, detailing the mechanisms of magnetic guidance and its hemostatic effects. [Display omitted] • By integrating Fe 3 O 4 into modified chitosan, a targeted hemostatic dressing was designed and evaluated. • Magnetics-guided hemostasis dressing could reach the deep wound and pervade the irregular sites. • Modified chitosan matrix with Fe 3 O 4 could swiftly form clot to counteract severe hemorrage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant efforts have been made in recent years to identify more environmentally benign and safe alternatives to side-chain protection and deprotection in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Several protecting groups have been endorsed as suitable candidates, but finding a greener protecting group in SPPS has been challenging. Here, based on the 2-(o-nitrophenyl) propan-1-ol (Npp-OH) photolabile protecting group, a structural modification was carried out to synthesize a series of derivatives. Through experimental verification, we found that 3-(o-Nitrophenyl) butan-2-ol (Npb-OH) had a high photo-release rate, high tolerance to the key conditions of Fmoc-SPPS (20% piperidine DMF alkaline solution, and pure TFA acidic solution), and applicability as a carboxyl-protective group in aliphatic and aromatic carboxyl groups. Finally, Npb-OH was successfully applied to the synthesis of head–tail cyclic peptides and side-chain–tail cyclic peptides. Moreover, we found that Npb-OH could effectively resist diketopiperazines (DKP). The α-H of Npb-OH was found to be necessary for its photosensitivity in comparison to 3-(o-Nitrophenyl)but-3-en-2-ol (Npbe-OH) during photolysis-rate verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective bleeding control is essential for the reduction of traumatic deaths among civilians and military personnel, particularly for physical visceral and arteriovenous injuries. Materials with good hemostatic properties have recently attracted significant scientific attention. In this study, a novel material of tranexamic acid modified porous starch (TAMPS) was produced through esterification. The structure of the final product was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The hemostatic effect of TAMPS was preliminarily analyzed via in vitro clotting time, mouse tail amputation model and liver injury model experiments. Hemostatic effect of TAMPS was found to be significantly better than that of the positive control Quickclean. Through the exploration of related hemostatic mechanisms, TAMPS can promote coagulation via rapid fluid absorption and high erythrocyte aggregation capacity. The in vitro cytotoxicity, acute toxicity, and hemolysis tests revealed that TAMPS is safe and nontoxic and has perfect blood compatibility. Therefore, the TAMPS has a great potential for future clinical application as a rapid and multitarget hemostatic material. • Tranexamic acid crosslinked porous starch composites were prepared by esterification. • Tranexamic acid crosslinked porous starch improves hemostatic potential by multi-target hemostatic mechanism. • Tranexamic acid crosslinked porous starch is safe, non-toxic and has good compatibility with blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel and accurate quantitative analysis method for the direct determination of chitosan (CS) in aqueous solutions using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) is presented. By detecting the mass spectrum response intensity of a series of CS characteristic ion pairs, the sample concentration (abscissa) was linearly fitted with the total ion current (TIC) response intensity of its characteristic ion pairs (ordinate). A reliable standard curve was derived for quantifying CS in the range of 125–4000 ng/mL. Under the detection conditions, this CS quantification method yielded acceptable specificity (no interference peak), linearity (with correlation coefficient (r2) values >0.999), precision (acceptable limit RSD r < 3 %, RSD R < 6 %), accuracy (RE within the acceptable limits of ±5 %), and stability (acceptable limit RE within ±5 %, RSD r < 3 %). Moreover, the applicability of measurement was verified when a series of substrates did not interact with CS in the solution. Results have verified the applicability of this method for determining CS content in different composites. This study provides a method for determining CS content with significant practical value and economic benefit. [Display omitted] • Chitosan (CS) could be quantified using the proposed method in 125–4000 ng/mL range. • The method's specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and stability were verified. • Its applicability was verified when there were a series of matrixes with CS. • The method can be used for determining CS content in composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionizing radiation in space, radiation devices or nuclear disasters are major threats to human health and public security. In this paper, in order to find the potential novel compounds decreasing the radiation-induced damage by targeting p53 apoptosis pathway and TLR2 passway, a series of novel quinoline derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated their biological activities. Most of the synthesized compounds showed significant radioprotective effects in vitro, and the compound 5 has the best performance. Therefore, we verified its radioprotective activity in vivo and investigated the mechanism of its excellent activity. The results in vivo indicated that compound 5 not only markedly enhanced the survival rate (80 %) of mice 30 days after lethal exposure to irradiation, but also significantly reduced the radiation-induced damage to haematopoietic system and intestinal tissue of mice. The mechanistic studies indicated that compound 5 acted on the p53 pathway to reduce radiation-induced cell apoptosis and at the same time stimulated TLR2 to up-regulate the expressions of radiation protection factors. Molecular dynamics study shows that compound 5 would effectively bind to the TLR2 protein and further revealed the binding mechanism. Taken together, all the findings of our study demonstrate the quinoline derivative 5 is a potent radioprotective compound, which holds a great therapeutic potential for further development. [Display omitted] • Forty-two new quinoline derivatives were designed and synthesized. • Radioprotective effect of most compounds were proved in vitro. • Compound 5 showed excellent radiation protection activity than Ex-RAD in vivo. • The mechanism of action was preliminarily probed and was fully consistent with the initial conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear, and there is no nomogram integrated SES and clinicopathological factors to predict the prognosis of HCC. This research aims to confirm the effects of SES on predicting patients' survival and to establish a nomogram to predict the prognosis of HCC. Methods: The data of HCC patients were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Final Results (SEER) database from 2011 to 2015. SES (age at diagnosis, race and sex, median family income, education level, insurance status, marital status, residence, cost of living index, poverty rate) and clinicopathological factors were included in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Nomograms for predicting 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were established and evaluated by the concordance index (C‐index), the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the calibration plot, the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and the net reclassification improvement (NRI). Results: A total of 33,670 diagnosed HCC patients were involved, and nomograms consisting of 19 variables were established. The C‐indexes of the nomograms are higher than TNM staging system, which predicts the CSS (0.789 vs. 0.692, p < 0.01) and OS (0.777 vs. 0.675, p < 0.01). The ROC curve, calibration diagram, IDI, and NRI showed the improved prognostic value in 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates. Conclusion: SES plays an important role in the prognosis of HCC patients. Therefore, policymakers can make more precise and socially approved policies to improve HCC patients' CSS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of photolabile protecting group (PLPG) for carboxyl moieties was designed and synthesized as the linker between resin and peptide. This group can be used for the protection of amino acid carboxyl groups. The peptide was synthesized on Nph (2‐hydroxy‐3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐heptanoic acid)‐derivatized resins and could be cleaved under UV exposure, thus avoiding the necessity for harsh acid‐mediated resin cleavage. The PLPG has been successfully used for solid‐phase synthesis of peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excellent CuMnO 2 catalyst has been successfully designed and fabricated by regulating its O latt reactivity and O ads content in order to efficiently degrade VOCs. The physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of the obtained catalysts were investigated by a series of characterization methods, based on which the individual role of O ads and O latt is carefully discussed. As a result, the synergistic effect of O ads and O latt significantly boosts the catalytic purification of VOCs over CuMnO 2. [Display omitted] • Abundant O ads and high activity O latt species in the CuMnO 2 are achieved. • The synergistic effect of O ads and O latt boosts the purification of toluene. • The CuMnO 2 catalyst shows excellent stability. Surface absorbed oxygen (O ads) and surface lattice oxygen (O latt) specie are critical for accelerating oxidative removal of toluene over MnO 2 -based catalyst. Herein, an excellent CuMnO 2 catalyst has been successfully designed and fabricated. Doping Cu2+ with strong Jahn-Taylor effect into the lattice of MnO 2 not only weakens the strength of Mn-O bonds but also induces the formation of oxygen defects, which enhances the reactivity of O latt and promotes the adsorption of gaseous oxygen molecules. As a result, CuMnO 2 reaches 50 % and 90 % of toluene conversion at 212 and 241 °C respectively, showing obviously better catalytic performance compared to CeMnO 2 , NiMnO 2 , CoMnO 2 and δ-MnO 2. Moreover, CuMnO 2 exhibits outstanding stability, good cycling stability and excellent water resistance ability. The in situ DRIFTS demonstrate that ring opening of benzoate and the dehydrogenation of benzaldehyde are key processes that affect the deep oxidation of toluene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuning the interaction between Ag and its supporters has been well accepted as a desirable way that adjusting the physicochemical properties and the catalytic performance of Ag-based catalysts. In this work, an in-situ surface reaction strategy was proposed to prepare high-performance Ag/Co 3 O 4 catalyst by controlling the Ag-Co interaction for the purpose of efficient degradation of aromatic VOCs. The results of characterizations confirmed that the unique surface reaction strategy was conducive to anchoring Ag on the surface of Co 3 O 4 and significantly enhanced Ag-Co interaction, as a result, Co-O bond was weakened by charge transfer between Ag and Co species, which showed great advantages in improving the reactivity of lattice oxygen species and in accelerating the adsorption of gaseous oxygen. Benefiting from this, 1%Ag/Co 3 O 4 -R synthesized by surface reaction method exhibited the best catalytic efficiency (T 90 = 238 °C), excellent stability and admirable cyclic stability. In-situ DRIFTS spectroscopy investigation revealed that the loading of Ag remained unchanged reaction path of the catalytic oxidation of toluene, and benzoate was deemed a decisive stage in the oxidation course of toluene. [Display omitted] • A surface reaction method was proposed to prepare Ag/Co 3 O 4 catalysts. • Strong interaction between Ag and Co 3 O 4 weakened Co-O bond. • Weakened Co-O bond endowed 1%Ag/Co 3 O 4 -R with excellent catalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UHPSFC was performed to separate 12 flavonoids, including hydrophilic glycosides. • Oxalic acid was used as an additive to improve separation for the first time. • UHPSFC-QTOF/MS was applied to profile and discriminate five Epimedium species. • 7 main flavonoids were quantified to assess five Epimedium species by UHPSFC-PDA. • Integrated UHPSFC approach could be used for analysis of Herbal Medicines. Herbal medicines (HMs) usually consist of complex matrices of phytochemical compounds responsible for their efficacy. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and ultra-high performance SFC (UHPSFC) are efficient techniques that can be advantageously used for the analysis of complex HMs. Here, the comprehensive UHPSFC methods were established for separation of similar flavonoids, chemical profiling and differentiation, and quality assessment of Epimedium species (EPs). An efficient separation of 12 polar flavonoids was enabled in UHPSFC with an important additive, oxalic acid. Then, 51 flavonoids were characterized, and 28 potential markers enabling the differentiation of E. wushanense from other four species were discovered by UHPSFC-QTOF/MS combined pattern recognition multivariate statistical analysis. Additionally, the UHPSFC-PDA was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of 7 predominant flavonoids in five EPs, and remarkable variation in their contents was observed. This integrated UHPSFC approach has potential applications in systematic analysis and quality evaluation of HMs containing hydrophilic flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that C-glucosylisoflavones often possess promising biological activities, the development of an efficient synthetic method for this type of molecules is useful for drug discovery. Accordingly, a highly efficient five-step strategy was developed for the total synthesis of puerarin, an isoflavone C-glycoside. An alkyl substituent 4-CH3OC6H4CH2CH2 with an electron-donating group on the aromatic ring was used to enhance the reactivity of phenol and the regioselectivity of O-C rearrangement of phenol glycoside. Thus, coupling of the ethylbenzene derivative of a phenol 1c with glycosyl trifluoroacetimidate 2 resulted in C-glycoside 3c in a 46.2% yield, which was easily de-tert-butylated with trifluoroacetic acid and oxidized with 2,3-dicyano-5,6-dichlorobenzoquinone to produce deoxybenzoin 5. The ring closure reaction of 5 followed by deprotection gave puerarin. This new synthetic strategy is also suitable for the total synthesis of other C-glucosylisoflavones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] DMTMM was used as condensing agent for synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from corresponding carboxylic acids and amidoximes in the mixed solvent of THF and NMP. First, carboxylic acids were activated by DMTMM, and then reacted with amidoximes to convert to O-acylated amidoximes. The unusual solvent system THF-NMP successfully promoted dehydration process of O-acylated amidoximes and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles were acquired in one-pot. This methodology provides a convenient and facile synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles with high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new alkaloid, Orychophragine D (1), together with three known alkaloids, were isolated from the seeds of Orychophragmus violaceus. Orychophragine D represented the first example of 2-piperazinone fused 5-azacytosine skeleton. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analyses and X-ray crystallography. Compared to Ex-RAD, compound 1 exhibited a significant radioprotective activity on cell survival of irradiated HUVEC. In vivo experiments showed that 1 not only remarkably enhanced the survival of irradiated mice in 30 days, but also significantly promoted the recovery of the blood system of irradiated mice. These results suggested that 1 was valuable for further research as promising radioprotectors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strategy for rapid identification of the chemical constituents from crude extracts of Tribulus terrestris was proposed using an informatics platform for the UHPLC/Q-TOF MS data analyses. This strategy mainly utilizes neutral losses, characteristic fragments, and in-house library to rapidly identify the structure of the compounds. With this strategy, rapid characterization of the chemical components of T. terrestris from Beijing, China was successfully achieved. A total of 82 steroidal saponins and nine flavonoids were identified or tentatively identified from T. terrestris. Among them, 15 new components were deduced based on retention times and characteristic MS fragmentation patterns. Furthermore, the chemical components of T. terrestris, including the other two samples from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, China, and Rome, Italy, were also identified with this strategy. Altogether, 141 chemical components were identified from these three samples, of which 39 components were identified or tentatively identified as new compounds, including 35 groups of isomers. It demonstrated that this strategy provided an efficient protocol for the rapid identification of chemical constituents in complex samples such as traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) by UHPLC/Q-TOF MS with informatics platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has good separation efficiency and is suitable for separating weakly polar compounds. Furostanol saponins, as an important kind of steroidal saponins, generally have two sugar chains, which are polar and hydrophilic. The hydroxyl group at the C-22 position of furostanol saponins is active and easily reacts with lower alcohols under appropriate conditions. The separation of hydrophilic furostanol saponins was tested by SFC in this study. The effects of chromatographic conditions on the separation of the mixed furostanol saponins and their hydroxyl derivatives at the C-22 position were studied. The conditions for SFC, which included different column polarity, modifier, additive, and column temperature, were tested. After optimization, the mixed 10 similar structures of furostanol saponins were separated in 22 min on the Diol column at a temperature of 40 °C. The mobile phase was CO 2 (mobile phase A) and methanol (containing 0.2% NH 3 ∙H 2 O and 3% H 2 O) (mobile phase B). The backpressure was maintained isobarically at 11.03 MPa. SFC was found to be effective in separating the furostanol saponins that shared the same aglycone but varied in sugar chains. SFC was sensitive to the number and type of sugars. The resolution of furostanol saponin isomers was not ideal. The extract of Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright was profiled by SFC–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The main saponins of the extract were well separated. Therefore, SFC could be used for separating hydrophilic furostanol saponins and analyzing traditional Chinese medicines that mainly contained steroidal saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon (222Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. Forty percent of the natural radiation to which the human body is exposed comes from radon gas. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of radon induces systemic damage. However, the effect of such exposure on gut microbiota still remains unclear. We explored the effects of radon exposure on gut microbiota and its metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in BALB/c mice by cumulative inhalation of radon at 30, 60, and 120 working level months (WLM). The radon-exposed mice showed slow body weight gain, decreased serum triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins, decreased diversity, lower community structure, and altered abundance of the gut microbiota. Lachnospiraceae, Amaricoccus , and Enterococcus could differentiate the IR30, 60, and 120 WLM groups, respectively. Meanwhile, radon exposure affected the metabolic functions of the gut microbiota, mainly carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolic pathways. The altered abundance of microbiota and resulting reduced levels of SCFAs may aggravate the damage caused by radon exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first total synthesis of an isoflavoneC-glycoside (6-tert-butylpuerarin) using commercially available 4,6-di-tert-butylbenzene-1,3-diol as starting material was achieved in five steps with an overall yield of 2.8%. The key intermediate4was obtained by de-tert-butylation of2with trifluoroacetic acid and Friedel-Crafts acetylation of 2-C-β-D-glucopyranoside3. Condensation of4with 4-(benzyloxy)benzaldehyde resulted in the formation ofC-glucosylchalcone5, which was cyclized by oxidative rearrangement using (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (DIB) and p-toluenesulfonic acid to obtain the target molecule6. This environmentally friendly and concise synthetic pathway should be applicable to the large-scale synthesis of various isoflavoneC-glycosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a rapid (within 10 min) quantitative lateral-flow immunoassay using a quantum dots (QDs)-antibody probe was developed for the analysis of puerarin (PUE) in water and biological samples. The competitive immunoassay was based on anti-PUE monoclonal antibody conjugated with QDs (detection reagent). Secondary antibody was immobilized on one end of a nitrocellulose membrane (control line) and PUE-bovine serum albumin conjugate was immobilized on the other end (test line). In the quantitative experiment, the detection results were scanned using a membrane strip reader and a detection curve (regression equation: y=−0.11 ln(x)+0.979, R 2 =0.9816) representing the averages of the scanned data was obtained. This curve was linear from 1 to 10 μg/mL. The IC 50 value was 75.58 ng/mL and the qualitative detection limit of PUE was 5.8 ng/mL. The recovery of PUE added to phosphate-buffered saline and biological samples was in the range of 97.38–116.56%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the quantitative detection of a natural product by QDs-based immunochromatography, which represents a powerful tool for rapidly screening PUE in plant materials and other biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel monoclonal antibody specific for naringin was prepared and characterized. Subsequently, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for naringin was developed, with an effective range from 4.8 to 156 ng/mL naringin. Next, an immunoaffinity column was obtained by coupling anti-naringin monoclonal antibodies to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and a rapid immunoaffinity chromatography assay for naringin was developed. The immunoaffinity column was used to separate naringin from Citrus aurantium. The results showed that 1 g of the dry Sepharose 4B can couple 10 mg of immunoglobulin G. And the immunoaffinity column can efficiently and specifically capture approximately 250 μg of naringin without cross reacting with its structurally similar compounds. Moreover, our results indicate that the application of immunoaffinity chromatography can simplify the pretreatment and the isolation process greatly compared to conventional methods, providing a potential method for extracting the target component from structurally similar compounds in natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daidzin, genistin, and glycitein are major isoflavone compounds in soybean that are indispensable nutrients in traditional Chinese foods. Generally, strategies for detecting and separating soy isoflavones have been based on HPLC and chromatographic techniques, which are tedious and time-consuming procedures. In the present study, we developed an ELISA-based approach for daidzin detection using a broad-specificity monoclonal antibody (clone number: AA9) with an effective detection range of 10-10 000 ng/mL. Subsequently, we prepared an immunoaffinity column by coupling the monoclonal antibody AA9 to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. Our results demonstrate that the immunoaffinity column can efficiently and specifically extract daidzin, glycitein, and genistin from numerous structurally similar soy isoflavones in leguminous plants, thereby providing a new method for the extraction of target components from similar compounds in natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel reactor was designed to treat pesticide wastewater efficiently. • The sludge yield was reduced by 41.2 ± 6.7% and the SVI was decreased by 32.5±13.8%. • The methane yield was increased by 34.4 ± 17.4% to achieve higher energy recovery. • Membrane fouling resistance was reduced and fouling rate was delayed by 31.0–38.5%. • The correlations of membrane fouling and EPS content and SVI were expounded. Electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor attracted attention due to stable treatment quality with low footprint, and draw solute has significant effect on the sludge characteristics and membrane fouling performance. In this pilot-scale study, an electrochemical anaerobic membrane bioreactor (E-AnMBR) was proposed for treating pesticide wastewater at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), demonstrating that E-AnMBR was superior on improvement of sludge characteristics and mitigation of membrane fouling, compared with the conventional anaerobic membrane bioreactor (C-AnMBR). E-AnMBR reduced sludge yield by 41.2 ± 6.7% and the SVI was significantly decreased by 32.5±13.8%. The accumulation of VFA in E-AnMBR was slighter than that of C-AnMBR, and the minimum average VFA was 255±6 mg/L. The methane yield of E-AnMBR (0.22–0.29 L CH 4 /g COD removed) was 1.2–1.4 times than that of C-AnMBR. The EPS contents in suspended and attached sludge of E-AnMBR were significantly reduced by 41.8 ± 3.3% and 77.4 ± 14.5% than that of C-AnMBR, respectively. These results suggested that E-AnMBR has lower sludge disposal pressure, higher stability and methane recovery potential. Not only that, E-AnMBR successfully reduced membrane resistance, delaying the fouling rate by 31.0–38.5%. Finally, the linear relationship between EPS characteristics and membrane pollution was determined. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combined TVDBFB and EC was developed for treating azimsulfuron and zoxamide. • The mass fraction divisions of azimsulfuron and zoxamide were revealed. • The mechanisms of sludge yield and attenuation were clarified. • The changes of DHA, ATP and ETS were analyzed. • Energy consumption and carbon emissions were investigated. The performance of the combination system of tapered variable diameter biological fluidized bed (TVDBFB) with electrochemistry (EC) was evaluated for removing azimsulfuron and zoxamide under different temperatures and influent concentrations. Maximum removal efficiency of azimsulfuron and zoxamide could reach 94% and 98% under higher influent concentration (about 780 mg/L). As temperature decreased from 32 ℃ to 8 ℃, the mS e increased from 48% to 56%, and the mS o and mS xv decreased from 30% to 22% and 27% to 24%, respectively. As the influent COD equivalent concentration of azimsulfuron and zoxamide enhanced from 260 mg/L to 780 mg/L, the K d increased from 0.06 d-1 to 0.23 d-1. Temperature and influent concentration were main influencing factors of DHA, ATP and ETS. Increasing aeration in TVDBFB and HRT in EC under shock conditions could improve azimsulfuron and zoxamide removal efficiency, however, it was also accompanied by higher carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total synthesis of two isoflavone C -glycosides (6- tert -butylpuerarin and 6- tert -butyl-4′-methoxypuerarin) was achieved through the deoxybenzoin pathway with overall yields of 14.6% and 14.2%. The key intermediate 12 was obtained by de- tert -butylation of 10 with trifluoroacetic acid and Friedel-Crafts acetylation of 2- C - β - d -glucopyranoside 11 . The ring closure of 12 with the POCl 3 /DMF reagent resulted glucosyl isoflavone formation 13 , which was debenzylated and demethylated by BBr 3 to obtain 14 and 15 . This pathway represents a novel synthetic pathway based on Friedel-Crafts acetylation and Vilsmeier-Haack cyclization to achieve isoflavone C -glycosides in high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) are a summarization of an individual's genetic risk for a disease or trait. These scores are being generated in research and commercial settings to study how they may be used to guide healthcare decisions. PRSs should be updated as genetic knowledgebases improve; however, no guidelines exist for their generation or updating. Methods: Here, we characterize the variability introduced in PRS calculation by a common computational process used in their generation—genotype imputation. We evaluated PRS variability when performing genotype imputation using 3 different pre-phasing tools (Beagle, Eagle, SHAPEIT) and 2 different imputation tools (Beagle, Minimac4), relative to a WGS-based gold standard. Fourteen different PRSs spanning different disease architectures and PRS generation approaches were evaluated. Results: We find that genotype imputation can introduce variability in calculated PRSs at the individual level without any change to the underlying genetic model. The degree of variability introduced by genotype imputation differs across algorithms, where pre-phasing algorithms with stochastic elements introduce the greatest degree of score variability. In most cases, PRS variability due to imputation is minor (< 5 percentile rank change) and does not influence the interpretation of the score. PRS percentile fluctuations are also reduced in the more informative tails of the PRS distribution. However, in rare instances, PRS instability at the individual level can result in singular PRS calculations that differ substantially from a whole genome sequence-based gold standard score. Conclusions: Our study highlights some challenges in applying population genetics tools to individual-level genetic analysis including return of results. Rare individual-level variability events are masked by a high degree of overall score reproducibility at the population level. In order to avoid PRS result fluctuations during updates, we suggest that deterministic imputation processes or the average of multiple iterations of stochastic imputation processes be used to generate and deliver PRS results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3-Haloflavones were synthesized from the corresponding flavones. • This method use Oxone® and potassium halide as a halogenation reagent. • 3-Chloro, 3-bromo and 3-iodo flavones can be conveniently synthesized. A two-step, one-pot method has been developed for the synthesis of 3-haloflavones from the corresponding flavones. The method uses Oxone® and potassium halide to produce the active molecular halogen in situ. The solvent (methanol) then participates in the reaction to afford the 2-methoxy-3-haloflavanone derivative. After adding sodium hydroxide, the corresponding 3-haloflavone product is obtained in good to excellent yields. This method provides a convenient synthesis of 3-chloro, 3-bromo and 3-iodo flavones from the same flavone starting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of benzylsulfone coumarin derivatives 5a–5o were synthesized and characterized. Kinase inhibitory activity assay indicated that most of the compounds showed considerable activity against PI3K. Anti-tumor activity studies of the active compounds were also carried out in vitro on the Hela, HepG2, H1299, HCT-116, and MCF-7 tumor cell lines by MTS assay. The structure–activity relationships (SARs) of these compounds were analyzed in detail. Compound 5h exhibited the most potent activities against the mentioned cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 18.12 to 32.60 μM, followed by 5m with IC50 values of 29.30–42.14 μM. Furthermore, 5h and 5m clearly retarded the migration of Hela cells in vitro. Next, an in silico molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the binding models of 5h and 5m towards PI3Kα and PI3Kβ. Collectively, the above findings suggested that compounds 5h and 5m might be promising PI3K inhibitors deserving further investigation for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]