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Gitishree Das,1 Sujin Seo,2 In-Jun Yang,3 Ly Thi Huong Nguyen,3 Han-Seung Shin,2 Jayanta Kumar Patra1 1Research Institute of Integrative Life Sciences, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Food Science & Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Jayanta Kumar Patra, Research Institute of Integrative Life Sciences, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, 10326, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-31-961-5625, Email jkpatra@dongguk.eduIntroduction: A number of biological wastes and factory waste materials have been tested recently for the eco-friendly biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Sericin protein (SSP) is usually removed from the silk cocoon during the degumming process in the process of making the silk, and this sericin protein is normally thrown away by the sericulture industries as waste materials. It is found that this sericin protein possesses a number of biological properties.Methods: Considering this, in the present study, an effort has been made to biosynthesize gold nanoparticles (SSP-AuNPs) using the waste sericin solution as the reducing and capping agent and investigate its biopotential in terms of its wound healing, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.Results: The synthesis of SSP-AuNPs was perceived by the visual color change and confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy with absorption maxima at 522 nm. Further characterization of SSP-AuNPs was done by TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, DLS, zeta potential, TGA, AFM, etc. The size of SSP-AuNPs was found out to be 54.82 nm as per the particle size analyzer and the zeta potential is − 19.8 mV. The SSP-AuNPs displayed promising wound healing potential of 70.96 and 69.76% wound closure rate at 5 and 10 μg/mL respectively as compared to 74.91% by the Centella asiatica taken as a positive control. It also exhibited promising antioxidant potential in terms of the DPPH, ABTS free radical scavenging, reducing power potential, and total antioxidant capacity. Besides, the SSP-AuNPs also displayed significant antibacterial activities against the tested pathogenic bacterial with the diameter of inhibition zones ranging between 12.10 and 14.96 mm as compared to the positive control cephalexin that displayed inhibition zones ranging between 12.08 and 13.24 mm.Discussion: Taken together, SSP-AuNPs could serve as an interesting candidate for food, cosmetics, and biomedical fields in the applications of wound healing, cosmetics, antibacterial bandages, and ointments, etc.Keywords: silk cocoon, biowaste, sericin, silk protein, biosynthesis, wound healing, antioxidant, antibacterial, gold nanoparticles, wound healing

Tuan Dinh Le,1,* Nga Thi Phi Nguyen,2,3,* Son Tien Nguyen,2,3 Hoa Thi Thanh Tran,4 Lan Thi Ho Nguyen,4 Hoang Huy Duong ,1 Ha Manh Nguyen ,4 Binh Nhu Do5,* 1Department of Internal Medicine, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam; 2Department of Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 3Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 4The National Endocrinology Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 5Division of Military Science, Military Hospital 103, Ha Noi, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Nga Thi Phi Nguyen; Binh Nhu Do Email ngabv103@yahoo.com.vn; nhubinh.do@vmmu.edu.vnIntroduction: To investigate effects of Sitagliptin on the enhancement of beta-cell function, reducing insulin resistance, serum glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations and blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and suggest one of the underlying mechanisms on beta-cell function and insulin resistance.Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study in comparison to the control group. A study population of 44 newly diagnosed patients with T2D treated with Sitagliptin with a dose of 100 mg/day for 3 months was analyzed to compare 52 healthy participants. Indices for beta-cell function, peripheral insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance were calculated with homeostasis model assessment 2 (HOMA2) calculator and compared. Serum GLP-1 concentrations were analyzed, and regression analysis was conducted to find the correlations between GLP-1 and beta-cell function and insulin resistance.Results: Newly diagnosed patients with T2D witnessed a significant reduction in beta-cell function, serum GLP-1 concentrations at the time of diagnosis. After treatment with Sitagliptin 100 mg/day, they achieved significant improvements in beta-cell function, peripheral insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. Serum GLP-1 concentrations were increased significantly to those levels in the control group and correlated with peripheral insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in patients whose beta-cell functions improved.Conclusion: Sitagliptin improved beta-cell function, insulin resistance and blood glucose in newly diagnosed patients with T2D. Meanwhile, Sitagliptin ameliorated serum GLP-1 concentrations, which contributed to the enhancement of beta-cell.Keywords: Sitagliptin, serum GLP-1 concentrations, beta-cell function, insulin resistance, newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objectives: We investigated the effect modification of health literacy (HL) in ameliorating the negative impact of underlying health conditions (UHC) on long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized survivors., Study Design: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022., Methods: A sample of 4507 participants recruited from 18 hospitals and health centers were those aged 18 or older, had contracted COVID-19 for at least 28 days, and were not in the acute phase of reinfection. Participants reported their long COVID symptoms, UHC, health literacy, socio-demographics, clinical parameters, the COVID-19 impact battery disability scale, and health-related behaviors. The logistic regression models were used to examine the associations and interactions., Results: Underlying health conditions were associated with a higher likelihood of long COVID in non-hospitalized participants (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 2.10 [1.61, 2.61]; p < 0.001), and hospitalized ones (aOR = 2.26 [1.87, 2.73]; p < 0.001). In non-hospitalized participants, higher HL scores were significantly linked to a reduced likelihood of experiencing long COVID (aOR = 0.96 [0.95, 0.97]; p < 0.001). Furthermore, HL moderated the adverse effect of underlying health conditions (UHC) on long COVID in this group (aOR = 0.97 [0.94-0.99]; p = 0.042). In hospitalized participants, although higher HL scores were also associated with a lower risk of long COVID (aOR = 0.99 [0.98-0.99]; p = 0.036), HL did not significantly mitigate the negative impact of UHC on long COVID (aOR = 1.01 [0.99-1.03]; p = 0.332)., Conclusions: In non-hospitalized individuals, high health literacy ameliorated the negative impact of UHC on long COVID. Such effects of health literacy were not observed in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, a series of novel quinazoline-4(3 H )-one-2-carbothioamide derivatives (8a-p) were designed and synthesized via the Wilgerodt-Kindler reaction between 2-methylquinazoline-4-one 10 and amines using S 8 /DMSO as the oxidizing system. Their characteristics were confirmed by IR, NMR, HRMS spectra, and their melting point. These novel derivatives (8a-p) were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Compounds 8d (IC 50 = 2.99 μM), 8g (IC 50 = 3.27 μM), and 8k (IC 50 = 1.12 μM) exhibited potent inhibition of NO production compared to the standard drug dexamethasone (IC 50 = 14.20 μM). Compound 8a (IC 50 = 13.44 μM) exhibited NO inhibition comparable to dexamethasone. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies indicated that the presence of both the thioamide functional group (NH-C[double bond, length as m-dash]S) directly attached to the phenyl ring containing halogen substituents (4-Cl, 8d), (4-Br, 8g) and (4-CF 3 , 8k), is responsible for the potent anti-inflammatory activity of these novel quinazolinone derivatives. Computational modeling studies revealed that compounds 8d, 8g, and 8k are potent inhibitors of TLR4 signaling through the formation of hydrophobic interactions and are stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Replacing the thioamide (8k) with an amide (8q) resulted in an 83-fold decrease in NO inhibitory potency. This highlights the important role of H-bonding involving the thioamide group. The structural shape difference results in favorable interactions of quinazolinones containing thioamide linkers compared to amide linkers to the target receptor. Furthermore, the ADMET profiles and physicochemical properties of these three lead compounds were predicted to meet the criteria for drug-like properties. Therefore, these compounds may be potential candidates for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases associated with immune disorders., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Virion-mediated outbreaks are imminent and despite rapid responses, continue to cause adverse symptoms and death. Therefore, tunable, sensitive, high-throughput assays are needed to help diagnose future virion-mediated outbreaks. Herein, it is developed a tunable in situ assay to selectively enrich virions and extracellular vesicles (EVs) and simultaneously detect antigens and nucleic acids at a single-particle resolution. The Biochip Antigen and RNA Assay (BARA) enhanced sensitivities compared to quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), enabling the detection of virions in asymptomatic patients, genetic mutations in single virions, and enabling the continued long-term expression of viral RNA in the EV-enriched subpopulation in the plasma of patients with post-acute sequelae of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). BARA revealed highly accurate diagnoses of COVID-19 by simultaneously detecting the spike glycoprotein and nucleocapsid-encoding RNA in saliva and nasopharyngeal swab samples. Altogether, the single-particle detection of antigens and viral RNA provides a tunable framework for the diagnosis, monitoring, and mutation screening of current and future outbreaks., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Healthcare Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Survivors of COVID-19 are susceptible to diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse psychological health, which may be exacerbated by their experiences of fear and the impact of the pandemic itself. This study aims to identify distinct fear and impact patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic among survivors through latent profile analysis (LPA) and examine the associations of fear and impact patterns with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and HRQoL. A total of 5,890 Vietnamese COVID-19 survivors completed the COVID-19 Impact Battery- Disability Scale (CIB-D), the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCoV-19 S), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised for PTSS, and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) for HRQoL. Four distinct groups of fear and impact were identified: "Fearful and highly impacted" (26.8%), "moderately impacted yet not fearful" (22.9%), "less impacted and less fearful" (18.6%), and "mildly impacted and neutral" (31.7%). Survivors who were "less impacted and less fearful" exhibited significantly higher HRQoL scores (regression coefficient, B: 10.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.0 - 11.7), both in terms of physical (B: 12.0; 95%CI: 11.1 - 12.9) and mental health (B: 19.4; 95%CI: 9.6 - 11.1), and lower PTSS levels (B: -24.5; 95%CI: -25.8 - -23.3) compared to those who were "highly impacted and fearful". It is imperative to acknowledge the intricate association between fear, impact, and mental health to comprehensively address the diverse needs of this distinct population post-COVID-19. These findings provide insights for designing interventions and support mechanisms for COVID-19 survivors., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: The study protocol received approval from the Institutional Ethical Review Committee of Hanoi University of Public Health (No. 400/2021/YTCC-HD3 and 45/2022/YTCC-HD3). All participants gave consent online consent after receiving information about the study and before joining the survey. Consent for Publication: This study is approved by the respective ethics review board for publication. All authors approve this manuscript for submission and publication. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Although Southeast Asia is among the largest producers and consumers of cigarettes in the world, information about environmental contamination with littered cigarette butts (CBs) in this region is very limited, especially in urban areas. In this study, we collected CBs in 58 locations of 6 categories (i.e., parks, apartments, streets, shopping malls, universities, and relic sites) in Hanoi, a megacity of Vietnam, to elucidate the occurrence, pollution levels, and physicochemical properties of this specific waste type. A total of 25,943 CBs with 86 brands from 16 origin countries was obtained, showing a density range of 0.0056 to 1.16 (mean 0.125) CB/m 2 and cigarette butt pollution index (CBPI) range of 0.23 to 86.9 (mean 6.14). CB contamination levels were higher in parks, apartments, streets, and shopping malls than in universities and relic sites, but CB density and CBPI values varied greatly between locations of the same category. Generally, CB contamination levels measured in Hanoi were within a moderate range compared to other countries worldwide. Several physicochemical properties of CBs were preliminarily determined, which partly confirmed the formation of smoking-derived chemicals captured in CBs and their release potentials into surrounding environments. Further investigations are required to evaluate detailed chemical profiles, leaching behavior, and toxic effects of hazardous substances in CBs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methylene blue (MB) is hazardous in natural water because this dye causes serious diseases that endangers public health and ecosystems. Photocatalytic degradation is a prominent technique for achieving the effective elimination of dye pollutants from wastewater and contribute vitally to ecology and environmental safety. Herein, Cu 2+ -substituted ZnFe 2 O 4 nanomaterials (Cu x Zn 1-x Fe 2 O 4 ; x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6) were synthesized, characterized, and applied for the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye beneath visible light with the assistance of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). The feature of the photo-catalysts was determined by XRD, EDX, FTIR, DRS, BET, SEM, and TEM techniques. Incorporation of Cu 2+ ions changed the crystalline phase, particle size, morphology, and surface area. The photocatalysis condition was optimized with the following major factors, the amout of doping Cu 2+ ions, H 2 O 2 concentration, adsorbent dosage, and MB concentration. As a result, the photocatalytic MB degradation efficiency by Cu 0.6 Zn 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 catalyst was 99.83% within 90 min under LED light (λ ≥ 420 nm), which was around 4 folds higher than that of pure ZnFe 2 O 4 . The photo-Fenton kinetics were in accordance with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R 2  = 0.981), giving the highes rate constant of 0.034 min -1 . It can be, therefore, concluded that Cu 2+ substitution considerably boosted the photocatalytic activity of Cu x Zn 1-x Fe 2 O 4 ZnFe 2 O 4 , suggesting a bright prospect of Cu 0.6 Zn 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 as a photo-catalyst in the dyes wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Disclosure: The authors declare that all authors have been personally and actively involved in substantive work leading to the manuscript and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Receiving hemodialysis treatment makes end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients highly vulnerable amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, their kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL) is affected. We aimed to examine the association between fear of COVID-19 (FCoV-19) and KDQOL, and the effect modification of Health literacy (HL) on this association., Material and Methods: A survey was conducted at 8 hospitals from July 2020 to March 2021 on 972 patients. Data collection includes socio-demographic factors, clinical parameters, HL, digital healthy diet literacy (DDL), hemodialysis diet knowledge (HDK), FCoV-19, suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), and KDQOL., Results: Higher HL scores B = 0.13 (95% CI = 0.06-0.21, p  = 0.001) and HDK scores B = 0.58 (95% CI = 0.31-0.85, p  = 0.001) were associated with higher KDQOL scores. Whereas, S-COVID-19-S B = -6.12 (95% CI = -7.66 to - 4.58, p  = 0.001) and FCoV-19 B = -0.91 (95% CI = -1.03 to - 0.80, p  = 0.001) were associated with lower KDQOL scores. Notably, higher HL scores significantly attenuate the negative impact of FCoV-19 on overall KDQOL and the kidney disease component summary., Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, FCoV-19 and S-COVID-19-S were associated with a lower KDQOL. Health literacy significantly mitigates the negative impact of FCoV-19 on KDQOL. Strategic public health interventions to improve HL are suggested to protect patient's KDQOL during the pandemic., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Objective: To identify the efficacy and tolerability of Proteoglycan F in patients with primary knee OA. Design : A 24-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial with two arms: (1) Proteoglycan F (received 10 ​mg proteoglycan daily, for 24 weeks) and (2) control group (received placebo). Knee symptoms and joint cartilage status (evaluated by ultrasound and MRI of knee joints), quality of life, serum cytokine levels ( IL-1β and TNF-α), and safety evaluation were measured before, during, and after the treatment., Results: After 24-week treatment, pain reduction (in the KOOS pain score) of at least 20% and at least 50% (NRS scale) compared to baseline in the PGF group was significantly higher than those in the control group. The PGF group had greater reductions in the total scores of subchondral bone marrow edema, and bone cocoon under cartilage on knee MRI (classification according to WORMs), which were -2.27 (-4.0; -0.51) and -1.77 (-3.08; -0.46), respectively (p ​< ​0.05). The two groups had no statistically significant difference in knee ultrasound characteristics. After 4 weeks, 12, and 24 weeks compared to baseline, there was no statistically significant difference in levels of urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase within the group and between the two study groups., Conclusions: Salmon cartilage PG with 10 ​mg per day has potential to improve pain symptoms and subchondral bone marrow edema and bone cocoon under cartilage lesions in primary knee OA. However, the efficacy of PGF should be viewed with caution, and future studies are needed for more specific evaluation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Papaya contains high amounts of vitamins A, C, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, ascorbic acid, potassium, and carotenoids. It is confirmed by several studies that all food waste parts such as the fruit peels, seeds, and leaves of papaya are potential sources of phenolic compounds, particularly in the peel. Considering the presence of numerous bioactive compounds in papaya fruit peels, the current study reports a rapid, cheap, and environmentally friendly method for the production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) employing food biowaste (vegetable papaya peel extract (VPPE)) and investigated its antioxidant, antidiabetic, tyrosinase inhibition, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and photocatalytic degradation potentials. The phytochemical analysis gave positive results for tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac steroidal glycoside, protein, and carbohydrates. The manufactured VPPE-AuNPs were studied by UV-Vis scan (with surface plasmon resonance of 552 nm), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) (with average crystallite size of 44.41 nm as per the Scherrer equation), scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), particle size, zeta potential, etc. The mean dimension of the manufactured VPPE-AuNPs is 112.2 d.nm (PDI-0.149) with a -26.1 mV zeta potential. The VPPE-AuNPs displayed a significant antioxidant effect (93.24% DPPH scavenging and 74.23% SOD inhibition at 100 µg/mL); moderate tyrosinase effect (with 30.76%); and substantial α-glucosidase (95.63%) and α-amylase effect (50.66%) at 100 µg/mL. Additionally, it was found to be very proficient in the removal of harmful methyl orange and methylene blue dyes with degradation of 34.70% at 3 h and 24.39% at 5 h, respectively. Taken altogether, the VPPE-AuNPs have been proven to possess multiple biopotential activities, which can be explored by the food, cosmetics, and biomedical industries.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Perillae Folium, the leaves and twigs of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, has been included in many traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulas to treat depression. However, the precise antidepressant mechanism of the essential oil from Perillae Folium (PFEO) has not been fully investigated., Aim of the Study: To assess the effects and potential mechanisms of PFEO on depression using animal models and network pharmacology analysis., Materials and Methods: PFEO was intranasally administered to a mouse model of social defeat stress (SDS). The antidepressant effects of PFEO on SDS-induced mice were evaluated using behavioral tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot were performed to measure the levels of depression-related biomarkers in the hippocampus and serum of the mice. The chemical compounds of PFEO were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were conducted to investigate the potential bioactive components of PFEO and the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects. To validate the mechanisms of the bioactive compounds, in vitro models using PC12 and BV2 cells were established and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated., Results: The intranasal administration of PFEO suppressed SDS-induced depression in mice by increasing the time spent in the social zone and the social interactions in the social interaction test and by decreasing the immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests. Moreover, the PFEO treatment reduced the SDS-induced anxiety-like behavior, as inferred from the increased activity in the central zone observed in the open field test and in the open arms observed in the elevated plus maze test. PFEO administration recovered the SDS-induced decrease in the levels of 5-HT, NE, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and p-ERK in the hippocampus of mice. Furthermore, the increased serum corticosterone level was also attenuated by the PFEO treatment. A total of 21 volatile compounds were detected in PFEO using GC-MS, among which elemicin (15.52%), apiol (15.16%), and perillaldehyde (12.79%) were the most abundant ones. The PFEO compounds targeted 32 depression-associated genes, which were mainly related to neural cells and neurotransmission pathways. Molecular docking indicated good binding affinities between the bioactive components of PFEO (apiol, β-caryophyllene, elemicin, and myristicin) and the key targets, including ACHE, IL1B, IL6, MAOB, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4, and tumor necrosis factor. Among the four compounds, β-caryophyllene, elemicin, and myristicin were more effective in reducing neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Elemicin showed the highest BBB permeability rate., Conclusions: This study shows the antidepressant activities of PFEO in an SDS-induced mouse model and suggests its potential mechanisms of action: regulation of the corticosterone levels, hippocampal neurotransmitters, and ERK signaling. Apiol, β-caryophyllene, elemicin, and myristicin may be the main contributors to the observed effects induced by PFEO. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the main PFEO bioactive components., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significance of adopting healthy lifestyles to mitigate the risk of severe outcomes and long-term consequences., Objective: This study focuses on assessing the prevalence and clustering of 5 unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among Vietnamese adults after recovering from COVID-19, with a specific emphasis on sex differences., Methods: The cross-sectional data of 5890 survivors of COVID-19 in Vietnam were analyzed from December 2021 to October 2022. To examine the sex differences in 5 unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (smoking, drinking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior), the percentages were plotted along with their corresponding 95% CI for each behavior. Latent class analysis was used to identify 2 distinct classes of individuals based on the clustering of these behaviors: the "less unhealthy" group and the "more unhealthy" group. We examined the sociodemographic characteristics associated with each identified class and used logistic regression to investigate the factors related to the "more unhealthy" group., Results: The majority of individuals (male participants: 2432/2447, 99.4% and female participants: 3411/3443, 99.1%) exhibited at least 1 unhealthy behavior, with male participants being more susceptible to multiple unhealthy behaviors. The male-to-female ratio for having a single behavior was 1.003, but it escalated to 25 for individuals displaying all 5 behaviors. Male participants demonstrated a higher prevalence of combining alcohol intake with sedentary behavior (949/2447, 38.8%) or an unhealthy diet (861/2447, 35.2%), whereas female participants tended to exhibit physical inactivity combined with sedentary behavior (1305/3443, 37.9%) or an unhealthy diet (1260/3443, 36.6%). Married male participants had increased odds of falling into the "more unhealthy" group compared to their single counterparts (odds ratio [OR] 1.45, 95% CI 1.14-1.85), while female participants exhibited lower odds (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51-0.83). Female participants who are underweight showed a higher likelihood of belonging to the "more unhealthy" group (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.89-1.39), but this was not observed among male participants (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.41-0.89). In both sexes, older age, dependent employment, high education, and obesity were associated with higher odds of being in the "more unhealthy" group., Conclusions: The study identified notable sex differences in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among survivors of COVID-19. Male survivors are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors compared to female survivors. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored public health interventions targeting sex-specific unhealthy behaviors. Specifically, addressing unhealthy habits is crucial for promoting post-COVID-19 health and well-being., (©Lan T H Le, Thi Ngoc Anh Hoang, Tan T Nguyen, Tien D Dao, Binh N Do, Khue M Pham, Vinh H Vu, Linh V Pham, Lien T H Nguyen, Hoang C Nguyen, Tuan V Tran, Trung H Nguyen, Anh T Nguyen, Hoan V Nguyen, Phuoc B Nguyen, Hoai T T Nguyen, Thu T M Pham, Thuy T Le, Thao T P Nguyen, Cuong Q Tran, Ha-Linh Quach, Kien T Nguyen, Tuyen Van Duong. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 02.04.2024.)

Detecting pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in its early stages and predicting late-stage patient prognosis undergoing chemotherapy is challenging. This work shows that the activation of specific oncogenes leads to elevated expression of mRNAs and their corresponding proteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) circulating in blood. Utilizing an immune lipoplex nanoparticle (ILN) biochip assay, these findings demonstrate that glypican 1 (GPC1) mRNA expression in the exosomes-rich (Exo) EV subpopulation and GPC1 membrane protein (mProtein) expression in the microvesicles-rich (MV) EV subpopulation, particularly the tumor associated microvesicles (tMV), served as a viable biomarker for PDAC. A combined analysis effectively discriminated early-stage PDAC patients from benign pancreatic diseases and healthy donors in sizable clinical from multiple hospitals. Furthermore, among late-stage PDAC patients undergoing chemotherapy, lower GPC1 tMV-mProtein and Exo-mRNA expression before treatment correlated significantly with prolonged overall survival. These findings underscore the potential of vesicular GPC1 expression for early PDAC screenings and chemotherapy prognosis., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased, particularly among individuals who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Health literacy is considered a "social vaccine" that helps people respond effectively to the pandemic. We aimed to investigate the association between long COVID-19 and PTSD, and to examine the modifying role of health literacy in this association., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 18 hospitals and health centers in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022. We recruited 4,463 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 infection for at least 4 weeks. Participants provided information about their sociodemographics, clinical parameters, health-related behaviors, health literacy (using the 12-item short-form health literacy scale), long COVID-19 symptoms and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised score of 33 or higher). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations and interactions., Results: Out of the study sample, 55.9% had long COVID-19 symptoms, and 49.6% had PTSD. Individuals with long COVID-19 symptoms had a higher likelihood of PTSD (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-2.12; p<0.001). Higher health literacy was associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99; p=0.001). Compared to those without long COVID-19 symptoms and the lowest health literacy score, those with long COVID-19 symptoms and a 1-point health literacy increment had a 3% lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; p=0.001)., Conclusion: Health literacy was found to be a protective factor against PTSD and modified the negative impact of long COVID-19 symptoms on PTSD.

Background: Pterocarpus santalinus L. essential oil (PSEO) is traditionally employed for treating fever and mental aberrations. We aim to explore the antidepressant potential of intranasal PSEO in social defeat stress (SDS)-expose mice and identify its mechanisms and components., Methods: PSEO components were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). C57BL/6 mice underwent a 10-day SDS with intranasal PSEO (10, 20 mg/kg) for 21 days. Efficacy was evaluated through changes in behaviors and serum corticosterone (CORT), hippocampal neurotransmitter, and inflammatory cytokine levels. In vitro effects were examined using primary hippocampal neurons, PC12 and BV2 cells., Results: GC-MS identified 22 volatile compounds in PSEO, and (+)-ledene (16.7%), cedrol (13.5%), and isoaromadendrene epoxide (7.0%) as major components. PSEO (20 mg/kg) significantly reversed SDS-induced social withdrawal, increased open-area explorations in the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and reduced immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). PSEO downregulated serum CORT and hippocampal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, while increasing hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) levels. PSEO (0.1, 1, 10 µg/mL) reduced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation in PC12 and BV2 cells, respectively. PSEO (10 µg/mL) enhanced glutamic acid decarboxylase 6 (GAD6)- and GABA B receptor 1 (GABABR1)-positive puncta in the hippocampal neurons and FM1-43 fluorescence intensity., Conclusion: Intranasal PSEO exhibited antidepressant-like effects on SDS-exposed mice, potentially through modulating stress hormone, neurotransmission, and neuroinflammation. Further investigation into the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and mechanisms of (+)-ledene, cedrol, and isoaromadendrene epoxide is needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents a mathematical model based on stochastic differential equations (SDEs) to depict the dynamics of a predator-prey system in an aquatic environment characterized by schooling behavior among the prey. The model employs a particle-like approach, incorporating attractive and repulsive forces, akin to phenomena observed in molecular physics, to capture the interactions among the constituent units. Two hunting tactics of the predator, center-attacking and nearest-attacking strategies, are integrated into the model. Numerical simulations of this model unveil four distinct predator-avoidance patterns exhibited by schooling prey: Split and Reunion, Split and Separate into Two Groups, Scattered, and Maintain Formation and Distance. Our results also confirm the effectiveness of large groups of schooling prey in mitigating predation risk, consistent with real-life observations in natural aquatic ecosystems. These findings validate the accuracy and applicability of our model., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicting interest in this study., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cyclization and cycloreversion of organic compounds are fundamental kinetic processes in the design of functional molecules, molecular machines, nanoscale sensors, and switches in the field of molecular and nanoelectronics. We present a fully automatic computational platform for the design of a class of five- and six-membered ring lactones by optimizing the ring-opening reaction rate. Starting from a minimal initial parent set, our algorithm generates iteratively cascades of pools of candidate lactone derivatives where optimization and down-selection are performed without human supervision. We employ the density functional theory combined with the transition state theory to elucidate the exact mechanism leading to the lactone ring-opening reaction. On the basis of the analysis of the reaction pathway and the frontier molecular orbitals, we identify a simple descriptor that can easily correlate with the reaction rate. Consequently, we can omit computationally expensive transition state calculations and deduce the reaction rate from simple ground-state and ionic calculations. To accelerate the platform, we use a data set of the order of 800 molecules to train machine learning models for the prediction of targeted chemical properties, reducing the computational time by a 90% factor. We developed an evolutionary algorithm capable of generating data sets 3 orders of magnitude larger than the initial parent set. Thus, we can explore a large domain of chemical space using minimal computational effort. Our entire platform is modular, and our current implementation for lactone can be further generalized to more complex systems via substitution of the quantum chemical and fingerprinting modules.

The molecular heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the co-isolation of physically similar particles, such as lipoproteins (LPs), confounds and limits the sensitivity of EV bulk biomarker characterization. Herein, we present a single-EV and particle (siEVP) protein and RNA assay ( siEVP PRA) to simultaneously detect mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins in subpopulations of EVs and LPs. The siEVP PRA immobilizes and sorts particles via positive immunoselection onto micropatterns and focuses biomolecular signals in situ. By detecting EVPs at a single-particle resolution, the siEVP PRA outperformed the sensitivities of bulk-analysis benchmark assays for RNA and protein. To assess the specificity of RNA detection in complex biofluids, EVs from various glioma cell lines were processed with small RNA sequencing, whereby two mRNAs and two miRNAs associated with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) were chosen for cross-validation. Despite the presence of single-EV-LP co-isolates in serum, the siEVP PRA detected GBM-associated vesicular RNA profiles in GBM patient siEVPs. The siEVP PRA effectively examines intravesicular, intervesicular, and interparticle heterogeneity with diagnostic promise., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society for Extracellular Vesicles.)

Background: Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is increasing worldwide, with geographical variations, impacting the treatment outcomes. This study assessed the antibiotic resistance patterns of H. pylori in Vietnamese children., Materials and Methods: Symptomatic children undergoing gastroduodenoscopy at two tertiary Children's Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City were recruited. Antral and corpus biopsies were obtained and cultured separately. Susceptibility to amoxicillin (AMO), clarithromycin (CLA), metronidazole (MET), levofloxacin (LEV), and tetracycline (TET) was determined using E-test. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on another antral biopsy to detect the urease gene, cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA), vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA) genotypes, and 23S rRNA mutations conferring CLA resistance., Results: Among 123 enrolled children, a high primary resistance rate was found for CLA (68.5%, 61/89), followed by LEV (55.1%), MET (31.5%), AMO (25.8%), and TET (1.1%). Secondary resistance rates were 82.1% (7/28), 71.4%, 53.6%, and 3.6% for CLA, LEV, MET, and TET, respectively. Multidrug resistance was frequent (67.7%), with common patterns including CLA + LEV (20.3%) and CLA + MTZ + LEV (15.2%). Heteroresistance was detected in eight children (6.5%). The A2143G mutation was detected in 97.5% (119/122) of children. 86.1% of children had positive cagA strains and 27.9% had multiple vacA genotypes. No factor was significantly associated with antibiotic resistance., Conclusions: The alarming rate of antibiotic resistance for H. pylori, especially for CLA, with emerging multi- and hetero-resistant strains, pose a major treatment challenge that precludes CLA use as empirical therapy. Biopsies from both antrum and corpus can improve H. pylori culture, allowing tailored treatment based on antimicrobial susceptibility., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Extensive research has been conducted over the years on the bacterial degradation of dioxins and their related compounds including carbazole, because these chemicals are highly toxic and has been widely distributed in the environment. There is a pressing need to explore and develop more bacterial strains with unique catabolic features to effectively remediate dioxin-polluted sites. Carbazole has a chemical structure similar to dioxins, and the degradation pathways of these two chemicals are highly homologous. Some carbazole-degrading bacterial strains have been demonstrated to have the ability to degrade dioxins, such as Pseudomonas sp. strain CA10 và Sphingomonas sp. KA1. The introduction of strain KA1 into dioxin-contaminated model soil resulted in the degradation of 96% and 70% of 2-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2-CDD) and 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3-DCDD), respectively, after 7-day incubation period. These degradation rates were similar to those achieved with strain CA10, which removed 96% of 2-CDD and 80% of 2,3-DCDD from the same model soil. Therefore, carbazole-degrading bacteria hold significant promise as potential candidates for dioxin bioremediation. This paper overviews the connection between the bacterial degradation of dioxins and carbazole, highlighting the potential for dioxin biodegradation by carbazole-degrading bacterial strains., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The current investigation aimed at bimetallic gold-silver nanoparticles (Au/Ag NPs), here called BM-GS NPs, synthesis using sericin protein as the reducing agent in an easy, cost-effective, and sustainable way. The obtained BM-GS NPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential, X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Thermogravimetric analysis followed by evaluation of its multitherapeutic and photocatalytic degradation potentials. The TEM analysis revealed its spherical nature and the EDS result displayed the presence of both Ag and Au elements, confirming the synthesis of BM-GS NPs. The XRD pattern verified the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles (NPs). The DLS analysis showed an average size of 86.08 d nm and the zeta potential showed a highly negative value (-26.3 mV) which specifies that the generated bimetallic NPs are stable. The BM-GS NPs exhibited positive wound healing potential (with 63.38% of wound closure rate at 25 μg/ml, as compared to 54.42% by the untreated control) with very negligible toxicity effect on the cell viability of the normal keratinocyte cells. It also demonstrated promising antioxidant properties with 65.00%, 69.23%, and 63.03% activity at 100 μg/ml concentration for ABTS (2, 2-azinobis) (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), DPPH (1, 1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and SOD (superoxide dismutase enzyme) assays respectively, antidiabetic potential (with a significantly high α-glucosidase inhibition potential of 99.69% at 10μg/ml concentration and 62.11% of α-amylase enzyme inhibition at 100 μg/ml concentration) and moderate tyrosinase inhibitory potential (with 17.09% at 100 μg/ml concentration). Besides, it displayed reasonable antibacterial potential with the diameter of zone of inhibition ranging between 10.89 and 12.39 mm. Further, its antibacterial mode of action reveals that its effects could be due to being very smaller, the NPs could have penetrated inside the cellular membrane thereby causing rupture and damage to the interior materials leading to cellular lysis. The photocatalytic evaluation showed that synthesized BM-GS NPs have the efficiency of degrading methylene blue dye by 34.70% within 3 h of treatment. The above findings revealed the multi-therapeutic efficacy of the sericin globular protein-mediated BM-GS NPs and its potential future applications in the cosmetics and food sector and environmental contamination management industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Jayanta Kumar Patra reports financial support was provided by National Research Foundation of Korea., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study reports on the development of a new concept of on-line dual preconcentration stages for capillary electrophoresis (CE), in which two completely different preconcentration approaches can be realized in the same capillary. In the first stage, a dynamic magneto-extraction of target analytes on circulating magnetic beads is implemented within the capillary. In the second one, electrokinetic preconcentration of eluted analytes via large volume sample stacking is carried out to focus them into a nano band, prior to CE separation of enriched analytes. To implement the dual-stage preconcentration operation, a purpose-made instrument was designed, combining electrophoretic and microfluidic modules to allow precise control of the movement of magnetic beads and analyte's flow. The potential of this new enrichment principle and its associated instrument was demonstrated for CE separation with light-emitting-diode-induced fluorescent (LEDIF) detection of target double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). The workflow consists of purification and preconcentration of a target DNA fragment (300 bp) on negatively charged magnetic beads, followed by in-capillary elution and fluorescent labelling of the enriched DNA. Large volume sample stacking of the DNA eluent was then triggered to further preconcentrate the labelled DNA before its analysis by CE-LEDIF. An enrichment factor of 125 was achieved for the target DNA fragment. With our new approach, dual-stage sample pretreatment and CE separation can now be performed in-capillary without any mismatch of working volumes, nor any waste of pretreated samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Treatment adherence (TA) is a critical issue and is under-investigated in hemodialysis patients. A multi-center study was conducted from July 2020 to March 2021 on 972 hemodialysis patients in eight hospitals in Vietnam to explore the factors associated with TA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected, including socio-demographics, an End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire (ESRD-AQ), 12-item short-form health literacy questionnaire (HLS-SF12), 4-item digital healthy diet literacy scale (DDL), 10-item hemodialysis dietary knowledge scale (HDK), 7-item fear of COVID-19 scale (FCoV-19S), and suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID19-S). Bivariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to explore the associations. Higher DDL scores were associated with higher TA scores (regression coefficient, B, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 0.59, 2.12; p = 0.001). Higher FCoV-19S scores were associated with lower TA scores (B, -1.78; 95%CI, -3.33, -0.24; p = 0.023). In addition, patients aged 60-85 (B, 24.85; 95%CI, 6.61, 43.11; p = 0.008) with "very or fairly easy" medication payment ability (B, 27.92; 95%CI, 5.89, 44.95; p = 0.013) had higher TA scores. Patients who underwent hemodialysis for ≥5 years had a lower TA score than those who received <5 years of hemodialysis (B, -52.87; 95%CI, -70.46, -35.28; p < 0.001). These findings suggested that DDL and FCoV-19S, among other factors, should be considered in future interventions to improve TA in hemodialysis patients.

Appetite dysregulation is one of the factors contributing to anorexia, bulimia nervosa, obesity, and diabetes. Essential oils or fragrant compounds have been proven to regulate food intake and energy expenditure; hence, this study aimed to summarize their effects on appetite and the underlying mechanisms. The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched until July 2022. Only two of the 41 studies were performed clinically, and the remaining 39 used animal models. Oral administration was the most common route, and a dosage range of 100-2000 mg/kg for mice or 2-32 mg/kg for rats was applied, with a duration of 12 days to 4 weeks, followed by inhalation (10 -6 -10 -3 mg/cage or 10 -9 -10 -2 mg/cm 3 within 1 h). Approximately 11 essential oil samples and 22 fragrant compounds were found to increase appetite, while 12 essential oils and seven compounds decreased appetite. These fragrant components can exert appetite-regulating effects via leptin resistance, the activity of sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, or the mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related protein (AgRP), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART)/proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the hypothalamus. Fragrance memory and cognitive processes may also play roles in appetite regulation. The findings of this study accentuate the potential of essential oils and fragrant compounds to regulate appetite and eating disorders.

Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder with high prevalence, and the delayed onset of antidepressant effects remains a limitation in the treatment of depression. This study aimed to screen essential oils that have the potential for rapid-acting antidepressant development. PC12 and BV2 cells were used to identify essential oils with neuroprotective effects at doses of 0.1 and 1 µg/mL. The resulting candidates were treated intranasally (25 mg/kg) to ICR mice, followed by a tail suspension test (TST) and an elevated plus maze (EPM) after 30 min. In each effective essential oil, five main compounds were computationally analyzed, targeting glutamate receptor subunits. As a result, 19 essential oils significantly abolished corticosterone (CORT)-induced cell death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and 13 reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). From in vivo experiments, six essential oils decreased the immobility time of mice in the TST, in which Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. and Myristica fragrans Houtt. also increased time and entries into the open arms of the EPM. Four compounds including atractylon, α-curcumene, α-farnesene, and selina-4(14),7(11)-dien-8-one had an affinity toward GluN1, GluN2B, and Glu2A receptor subunits surpassed that of the reference compound ketamine. Overall, Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat essential oils are worthy of further research for fast-acting antidepressants through interactions with glutamate receptors, and their main compounds (atractylon, α-curcumene, α-farnesene, and selina-4(14),7(11)-dien-8-one) are predicted to underlie the fast-acting effect.

Rare earth metal doping spinel ferrites offer excellent electronic, magnetic, and photocatalytic properties, but they have not been well explored for environmental mitigation. Herein, we report the facile fabrication of novel CoNd x Fe 2- x O 4 ( x = 0-0.05) photocatalysts based on Nd 3+ incorporated into CoFe 2 O 4 for the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The Nd 3+ dopant considerably increased the specific surface area (35 m 2 g -1 ) and enhanced the degradation performance (94.7%) of CoNd x Fe 2- x O 4 catalysts. Nd 3+ -doped CoFe 2 O 4 played a role in the formation of radicals, including ˙OH, h + , and ˙O 2 - . With high recyclability and performance, CoNd 0.05 Fe 1.95 O 4 nanoparticles can be efficient and reusable photocatalysts for degrading organic dyes, including Rhodamine B from wastewaters., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Continuing bonds is a multifaceted process, encompassing perceptions, beliefs, illusions and hallucinations, and overt behaviors. We developed the Proximity-Seeking Behavior Scale (PSBS) to assess overt behavior to continue bonds with the deceased person. We had 694 bereaved adults complete an online survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a one-factor model for PSBS items. PSBS reliability was good. PSBS scores correlated positively with rumination and yearning, feeling connected to the deceased person, and prolonged grief and depression symptoms. The PSBS appears a reliable and valid instrument to assess proximity-seeking behaviors.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder. Rheum palmatum L. is a common traditional medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-psoriatic effects of the ethanolic extract from R. palmatum L. (RPE) and its chemical constituents, as well as the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic significance. An imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model was used to examine the anti-psoriatic effect of RPE in vivo. Network pharmacological analysis was performed to investigate the potential targets and related pathways of the RPE components, including rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, and physcion. The anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms of these components were examined using in vitro models. Topical application of RPE alleviated psoriasis-like symptoms and reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines and proliferation markers in the skin. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that RPE components target 20 genes that are linked to psoriasis-related pathways, such as IL-17, MAPK, and TNF signaling pathways. Among the five components of RPE, rhein and emodin showed inhibitory effects on TNF-α and IL-17 production in EL-4 cells, attenuated the production of CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL20, and MMP9, and reduced proliferation in HaCaT cells. Chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, and physcion were less effective than rhein and emodin in suppressing inflammatory responses and keratinocyte proliferation. The effects of these compounds might occur through the inhibition of the ERK, STAT3, and NF-κB signaling pathways. This study suggested the anti-psoriatic effect of RPE, with rhein and emodin as the main contributors that regulate multiple signaling pathways.

Osteoporosis is a common bone health disorder in hemodialysis patients that is linked with a higher morbidity and mortality rate. While previous studies have explored the associated factors of osteoporosis, there is a lack of studies investigating the impacts of health literacy (HL) and digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) on osteoporosis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations of HL, DDL, and other factors with osteoporosis among hemodialysis patients. From July 2020 to March 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 675 hemodialysis patients in eight hospitals in Vietnam. The data were collected by using the osteoporosis self-assessment tool for Asians (OSTA) and the 12-item short form of the health literacy questionnaire (HLS-SF12) on digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) and hemodialysis dietary knowledge (HDK). In addition, we also collected information about the socio-demographics, the clinical parameters, the biochemical parameters, and physical activity. Unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were utilized in order to investigate the associations. The proportion of patients at low, medium, and high levels of osteoporosis risk was 39.6%, 40.6%, and 19.8%, respectively. In the adjusted models, women had a higher likelihood of osteoporosis risk than men (odds ratio, OR, 3.46; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.86, 6.44; p < 0.001; and OR, 6.86; 95% CI, 2.96, 15.88; p < 0.001). The patients with rheumatoid arthritis (OR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.67, 11.52; p = 0.003) and stomach ulcers (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.01, 3.77; p = 0.048) were more likely to have a higher likelihood of osteoporosis risk than those without. The patients who had a higher waist circumference (WC), HL, and DDL were less likely to have a medium level of osteoporosis risk (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92, 0.98; p = 0.004; OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.88, 0.96; p < 0.001; OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93, 0.99; p = 0.017, respectively) and a high level of osteoporosis risk (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89, 0.97; p = 0.001; OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84, 0.94; p < 0.001; OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91, 0.99; p = 0.008, respectively) compared with a low level of osteoporosis risk and to those with a lower WC, HL, and DDL. In addition, higher levels of hemoglobin (Hb) (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66, 0.95; p = 0.014), hematocrit (Hct) (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92, 0.99; p = 0.041), albumin (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83, 0.99; p = 0.030), and education (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.16, 0.88; p = 0.025) were associated with a lower likelihood of a high level of osteoporosis risk. In conclusion, osteoporosis risk is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. Improved HL, DDL, education, WC, albumin, Hb, and Hct levels should be considered in preventing hemodialysis patients from developing osteoporosis.

Aromatherapy is one of the most common safer alternative treatments for psychiatric disorders with fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Here, we investigated the effects of cinnamon essential oil (CIEO) inhalation on mouse behaviors by performing different behavioral tests. CIEO inhalation showed anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze test, as inferred from increased time spent in open arms and decreased time spent in closed arms. Moreover, the CIEO treatment enhanced social behavior by increasing the total contact number, time spent in the center, distance traveled in the center, and total distance in the social interaction test. However, CIEO inhalation did not have any effect on performance in the open field test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and Y maze tests. The microarray analysis indicated that the CIEO treatment downregulated 17 genes and upregulated 15 genes in the hippocampus. Among them, Dcc, Egr2, and Fos are the most crucial genes that are involved in anxiety-related biological processes and pathways, including the regulation of neuronal death and neuroinflammation. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that cinnamaldehyde is the main component of CIEO. Cinnamaldehyde recovered MK-801-induced anxiety-related changes in the electroencephalogram power spectrum in zebrafish. Taken together, our findings suggest that CIEO and its main component cinnamaldehyde have an anxiolytic effect through the regulation of the expression of genes related to neuroinflammatory response and neuronal death.

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. (AL) has been indicated in traditional prescriptions for the treatment of depression. However, the mechanism of action of AL in the treatment of depression is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant potential of AL using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. The active components of AL were retrieved from the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP), and the depression-related targets were screened through the DisGeNET database. Overlapping targets of AL and depression were selected and analyzed. Ten active compounds of AL showed anti-depressant potential, including stigmasterol, 3β-acetoxyatractylone, wogonin, β-sitosterol, selina-4(14),7(11)-dien-8-one, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, patchoulene, and cyperene. These compounds target 28 potential antidepressant genes/proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the potential targets might directly influence neural cells and regulate neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter-related processes. The potential Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways for the antidepressant effects of AL include neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, calcium signaling pathways, dopaminergic synapse, interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathways, and the pathways of neurodegeneration. IL-6, nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4), estrogen receptor (ESR1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were the most important proteins in the protein-protein interaction network and these proteins showed high binding affinities with the corresponding AL compounds. AL showed an antidepressant effect in mice by decreasing immobility time in the tail suspension test and increasing the total contact number in the social interaction test. This study demonstrated the antidepressant potential of AL, which provides evidence for pursuing further studies to develop a novel antidepressant.

The present work focused on the synthesis of novel ZnLa x Fe 2-x O 4 catalysts (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05) and their utilization for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye. Structurally, the band gap energy of the catalysts tended to decrease (1.94-1.70 eV) with increasing the amount of La 3+ dopant. ZnLa 0.05 Fe 1.95 O 4 had an average particle size (40 nm), high surface area (41.07 m 2  g -1 ) and large pore volume (0.186 cm 3  g -1 ). Moreover, the effect of doping ratio, reaction time, H 2 O 2 concentration, catalyst loading on the treatment performance of La 3+ substituted ZnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites was investigated. ZnLa 0.05 Fe 1.95 O 4 /H 2 O 2 system exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 99.5% and nonlinear pseudo first-order kinetic reaction rate (14.8 × 10 -3  min -1 ) in the presence of visible light irradiation. The key role of reactive oxygen species involving • O 2 - and • OH radicals was well explained through the scavenger study. A plausible mechanism of the degradation of Rhodamine B dye was also proposed. Due to two advantageous points including high recyclability (up to 4 cycles) and stability, La 3+ substituted ZnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites can be an effective and competitive catalyst for the visible light-driven photodegradation of toxic dyes in the real wastewaters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Conventional PD-L1 immunohistochemical tissue biopsies only predict 20%-40% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that will respond positively to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Herein, we present an immunogold biochip to quantify single extracellular vesicular RNA and protein ( Au SERP) as a non-invasive alternative. With only 20 μl of purified serum, PD-1/PD-L1 proteins on the surface of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV PD-1/PD-L1 messenger RNA (mRNA) cargo were detected at a single-vesicle resolution and exceeded the sensitivities of their bulk-analysis conventional counterparts, ELISA and qRT-PCR, by 1000 times. By testing a cohort of 27 non-responding and 27 responding NSCLC patients, Au SERP indicated that the single-EV mRNA biomarkers surpass the single-EV protein biomarkers in predicting patient responses to immunotherapy. Dual single-EV PD-1/PD-L1 mRNA detection differentiated responders from non-responders with an accuracy of 72.2% and achieved an NSCLC diagnosis accuracy of 93.2%, suggesting the potential for Au SERP to provide enhanced immunotherapy predictions and cancer diagnoses within the clinical setting., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles published by Wiley Periodicals, LLC on behalf of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles.)

In recent years, photocatalysis has been used as an environmentally friendly method for the degradation of organic pigments in water. In this study, Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ -doped ZrO 2 /CuO as a mixed semiconductor oxide was successfully prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. The Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ -doped ZrO 2 /CuO has shown high degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB), and the maximum degradation percentage was observed to be 94.5% at 180 min under irradiation visible light. The photocatalytic activity increases significantly by doping Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ in ZrO 2 /CuO for MB degradation. Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ doping is shown to reduce the (e - /h + ) recombination rate and improve the charge transfer, leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity of materials. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, EDS, BET and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

Investigating cellular and vesicular heterogeneity in breast cancer remains a challenge, which encourages the development of controllable in vitro systems that mimic the tumor microenvironment. Although three-dimensional cell culture better recapitulates the heterogeneity observed in tumor growth and extracellular vesicle (EV) biogenesis, the physiological relevance is often contrasted with the control offered by two-dimensional cell culture. Therefore, to challenge this misconception we developed a novel microfluidic system harboring highly tunable three-dimensional EV microbioreactors ( EV μBRs) to model micrometastatic EV release in breast cancer while capitalizing on the convenient, low-volume, and sterile interface provided by microfluidics. The diameter and cellular occupancy of the EV μBRs could be precisely tailored to various configurations, supporting the formation of breast cancer tumor spheroids. To immobilize the EV μBRs within a microchannel and facilitate EV extraction, oxygen inhibition in free-radical polymerization was repurposed to rapidly generate two-layer hydrodynamic traps in situ using a digital-micromirror device (DMD)-based ultraviolet (UV) projection system. Breast cancer tumor spheroid-derived EVs were harvested with as little as 20 μL from the microfluidic system and quantified by single-EV immunofluorescence for CD63 and CD81. Despite the low-volume extraction, differences in biomarker expression and coexpression of the tetraspanins on single EVs were observed. Furthermore, the EV μBRs were capable of recapitulating heterogeneity at a cellular and vesicular degree, indicating the utility and robustness of the microfluidic system to investigate physiologically relevant EVs in breast cancer and other disease models.

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disorder, which can be associated with psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This study investigated the efficacy and the mechanism of action of a natural compound coptisine using imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mice. Coptisine reduced the severity of psoriasis-like skin lesions, decreased epidermal hyperplasia and the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-22. Furthermore, coptisine improved IMQ-induced anxiety in mice by increasing the number of entries and time in open arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Coptisine also lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the prefrontal cortex of psoriasis mice. HaCaT keratinocytes and BV2 microglial cells were used to investigate the effects of coptisine in vitro. In M5-treated HaCaT cells, coptisine decreased the production of IL-6, MIP-3α/CCL20, IP-10/CXCL10, and ICAM-1 and suppressed the NF-κB signaling pathway. In LPS-stimulated BV2 cells, coptisine reduced the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β. These findings suggest that coptisine might be a potential candidate for psoriasis treatment by improving both disease severity and psychological comorbidities.

Liposomes are potential drug carriers for atherosclerosis therapy due to low immunogenicity and ease of surface modifications that allow them to have prolonged circulation half-life and specifically target atherosclerotic sites to increase uptake efficiency. However, the effects of their size, charge, and lipid compositions on macrophage and foam cell behaviour are not fully understood. In this study, liposomes of different sizes (60 nm, 100 nm and 180 nm), charges (-40 mV, -20 mV, neutral, +15 mV and +30 mV) and lipid compositions (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, L-a-phosphatidylcholine, and egg sphingomyelin) were synthesized, characterized and exposed to macrophages and foam cells. Compared to 100 nm neutral 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes, flow cytometry and confocal imaging indicated that cationic liposomes and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) liposomes were internalized more by both macrophages and foam cells. Through endocytosis inhibition, phagocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis were identified as the dominant mechanisms of uptake. Anionic and DSPC liposomes induced more cholesterol efflux capacity in foam cells. These results provide a guide for the optimal size, charge, and lipid composition of liposomes as drug carriers for atherosclerosis treatment., (© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease triggered and sustained by risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and unhealthy lifestyle. Inflammation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. In this study, we developed a simvastatin (STAT) loaded nanoliposomal formulation (LIPOSTAT) which can deliver the drug into atherosclerotic plaque, when administered intravenously. This formulation is easily prepared, stable, and biocompatible with minimal burst release for effective drug delivery. 2D and 3D in vitro models were examined towards anti-inflammatory effects of STAT, both free and in combination with liposomes. LIPOSTAT induced greater cholesterol efflux in the 2D foam cells and significantly reduced inflammation in both 2D and 3D models. LIPOSTAT alleviated inflammation by reducing the secretion of early and late phase pro-inflammatory cytokines, monocyte adherence marker, and lipid accumulation cytokines. Additionally, the 3D foam cell spheroid model is a convenient and practical approach in testing various anti-atherosclerotic drugs without the need for human tissue., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Deep partial-thickness burns damage most of the dermis and can cause severe pain, scarring, and mortality if left untreated. This study serves to evaluate the effectiveness of crosslinked keratin-alginate composite sponges as dermal substitutes for deep partial-thickness burns. Crosslinked keratin-alginate sponges were tested for the ability to support human dermal fibroblasts in vitro and to support the closure and healing of partial-thickness burn wounds in Sus scrofa pigs. Keratin-alginate composite sponges supported the enhanced proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts compared to alginate-only sponges and exhibited decreased contraction in vitro when compared to keratin only sponges. As dermal substitutes in vivo, the sponges supported the expression of keratin 14, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and collagen IV within wound sites, comparable to collagen sponges. Keratin-alginate composite sponges supported the regeneration of basement membranes in the wounds more than in collagen-treated wounds and non-grafted controls, suggesting the subsequent development of pathological scar tissues may be minimized. Results from this study indicate that crosslinked keratin-alginate sponges are suitable alternative dermal substitutes for clinical applications in wound healing and skin regeneration.

The skin is a unique immune organ that constitutes a complex network of physical, chemical and microbiological barriers against external insults. Keratinocytes are the most abundant cell type in the epidermis. These cells form the physical skin barrier and represent the first line of the host defense system by sensing pathogens via innate immune receptors, initiating anti-microbial responses and producing various cytokines, chemokines and anti-microbial peptides, which are important events in immunity. A damaged epidermal barrier in atopic dermatitis allows the penetration of potential allergens and pathogens to activate keratinocytes. Among the dysregulation of immune responses in atopic dermatitis, activated keratinocytes play a role in several biological processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the innate immune functions of keratinocytes in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, with a special emphasis on skin-derived anti-microbial peptides and atopic dermatitis-related cytokines and chemokines in keratinocytes. An improved understanding of the innate immunity mediated by keratinocytes can provide helpful insight into the pathophysiological processes of atopic dermatitis and support new therapeutic efforts., (© 2021 British Society for Immunology.)

It is reported in this study a new approach for modulation and even suppression of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) to achieve better electrokinetic preconcentration in capillary electrophoresis. This is based on the augmentation of the buffer's concentrations to very high levels (more than a thousand of mM) without recourse to any dynamic/permanent coating nor viscous gel. The use of large weakly charged molecules as background electrolyte's constituents allows working at extreme concentration ranges without penalty of high electric currents and Joule heating. By this way, the electroosmotic mobility could be modulated over a wide range (2-60 × 10 -5  cm 2  V -1  s -1 under alkaline conditions), and suppressed to levels equivalent to those obtained with several neutral coatings. The highest buffer concentrations, and the lowest EOF magnitudes, accordingly, were achieved with diethanolamine/3-(Cyclohexylamino)-1-propanesulfonic acid (ionic strength (IS) of 250 mM, pH 9.5), Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris)/2-(Cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES) (IS of 280 mM, pH 8.7) and triethanolamine/2-(Cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (IS of 250 mM, pH 8.5). For demonstration, this new approach was applied for sensitive determination of core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (CSMNPs) having high potential for healthcare applications such as imaging agents for diagnostics and controllable cargos for nanomedicine. Different profiles were achieved for purpose-made and commercial magnetic nanoparticles using CE coupled with light-emitting-diode induced fluorescence (LEDIF) detection. The best performance for EOF-assisted preconcentration and CE-LEDIF of CSMNPs was achieved with these nanoparticles prepared in TRIS/CHES (IS 10 mM, pH 8.4) for preconcentration, and separation under BGE of TRIS/CHES (IS 100 mM, pH 8.4). Compared to the conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE-UV) method for characterization of magnetic nanoparticles, our proposed approach with fluorescent detection and EOF-assisted preconcentration offers almost 350-fold sensitivity improvement. Furthermore, our scheme can be used for monitoring the interaction between CSMNPs and target pharmaceutical molecules, serving for drug delivery development. A preliminary study with two antibiotics using this approach revealed that kanamycin interacts better with the target nanoparticles than amikacin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Neutrophils are known to be the first responders to infection or injury. However, as inflammation progresses, other leukocytes become increasingly important in inflammation propagation, tissue reconstruction, and inflammation resolution. In recent years, there has been an increase in publications that analyze neutrophil behavior in vitro , but there remains a gap in the literature for in vitro technologies that enable quantitatively measuring interactions between different types of human leukocytes. Here, we used an in vitro platform that mimics inflammation by inducing neutrophil swarming to analyze the behavior of various leukocytes in a swarming setting. Using human peripheral blood leukocytes isolated directly from whole blood, we found that myeloid cells and lymphoid cells had different migratory behaviors. Myeloid cells, which are predominately neutrophils, exhibited swarming behavior. This behavior was not seen with lymphoid cells. We perturbed the peripheral blood leukocyte system by adding exogenous leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) to the medium. Notably, only the myeloid cell compartment was significantly changed by the addition of LTB 4 . Additionally, LTB 4 had no significant impact on myeloid cell migration during the recruitment phase of swarming. To further investigate the myeloid cell compartment, we isolated neutrophils and monocytes to analyze their interaction on the platform. We found that neutrophils increase monocyte migration toward the bioparticle clusters, as measured through speed, chemotactic index, track straightness, and swarm size. These results were confirmed with in vivo mouse experiments, where monocyte accumulation only occurred when neutrophils were present. Additionally, we found that both neutrophils and monocytes release the monocyte chemoattractant proteins CCL2 and CCL3 in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus bioparticles. Furthermore, extracellular vesicles from swarming neutrophils caused monocyte activation. These findings suggest that neutrophils play an essential role in the onset of inflammation not only by sealing off the site of infection or injury, but also by recruiting additional leukocytes to the site., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Walters, Zhang, Rima, Nguyen, Germain, Lämmermann and Reátegui.)

In this study, nanocrystalline ZnNd x Fe 2-x O 4 ferrites with x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05 were fabricated and used as a catalyst for dye removal potential. The effect of Nd 3+ ions substitution on the structural, optical and photo-Fenton activity of ZnNd x Fe 2-x O 4 has been investigated. The addition of Nd 3+ ions caused a decrease in the grain size of ferrites, the reduction of the optical bandgap energies and thus could be well exploited for the catalytic study. The photocatalytic activity of the ferrite samples was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of H 2 O 2 under visible light radiation. The results indicated that the ZnNd x Fe 2-x O 4 samples exhibited higher removal efficiencies than the pure ZnFe 2 O 4 ferrites. The highest degradation efficiency was 98.00%, attained after 210 min using the ZnNd 0.03 Fe 1.97 O 4 sample. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the ZnFe 2 O 4 doped with Nd 3+ is explained due to the efficient separation mechanism of photoinduced electron and holes. The effect of various factors (H 2 O 2 oxidant concentration and catalyst loading) on the degradation of RhB dye was clarified.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from tumor cells have the potential to provide a much-needed source of non-invasive molecular biomarkers for liquid biopsies. However, current methods for EV isolation have limited specificity towards tumor-derived EVs that limit their clinical use. Here, we present an approach called immunomagnetic sequential ultrafiltration (iSUF) that consists of sequential stages of purification and enrichment of EVs in approximately 2 h. In iSUF, EVs present in different volumes of biofluids (0.5-100 mL) can be significantly enriched (up to 1000 times), with up to 99% removal of contaminating proteins (e.g., albumin). The EV recovery rate by iSUF for cell culture media (CCM), serum, and urine corresponded to 98.0% ± 3.6%, 96.0% ± 2.0% and 94.0% ± 1.9%, respectively (p > 0.05). The final step of iSUF enables the separation of tumor-specific EVs by incorporating immunomagnetic beads to target EV subpopulations. Serum from a cohort of clinical samples from metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients and healthy donors were processed by the iSUF platform and the isolated EVs from patients showed significantly higher expression levels of BC biomarkers (i.e., HER2, CD24, and miR21).

Psychological stress (PS) plays a significant role as an aggravating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD). The traditional medicine prescription, Gyogamdan, has been used to treat chest discomfort and mood disorders caused by PS. This study investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of Gyogamdan (GGDE) on stress-associated AD models and the underlying mechanisms. 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) treated BALB/c mice were exposed to social isolation (SI) stress. The effects of orally administered GGDE (100 or 500 mg/kg) were evaluated by ELISA, western blotting, and an open field test (OFT). SI stress exaggerated the skin inflammation and induced locomotor hyperactivity in the AD mouse model. GGDE reduced the levels of IgE, TNF- α , IL-13, eotaxin, and VEGF and mast cell/eosinophil infiltration and prevented the decreases in the levels of involucrin and loricrin in the skin. GGDE also suppressed the SI-induced increases in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) in socially isolated AD mice. Furthermore, GGDE reduced traveling distances and mean speed significantly in the OFT. The in vitro experiments were performed using HaCaT, HMC-1, PC12, and BV2 cells. In the TNF- α /IFN- γ - (TI-) stimulated HaCaT cells, GGDE decreased the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) production significantly by inhibiting p-STAT1 and NF- κ B signaling. GGDE also reduced VEGF production in HMC-1 cells stimulated with CRH/substance P (SP) by inhibiting p-ERK signaling pathway. GGDE increased the cell viability significantly and suppressed apoptosis in CORT-stimulated PC12 cells. Moreover, GGDE suppressed the LPS-induced production of NO, TNF- α , IL-1 β , and IL-6 in BV2 cells. These results suggest that GGDE might be useful in patients with AD, which is exacerbated by PS., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Ly Thi Huong Nguyen et al.)

Gardeniae Fructus (GF) is the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and is traditionally prescribed to treat pyogenic infections and skin ulcers. This study investigated the protective effects of GF and the underlying mechanism responsible for these effects on diesel exhaust particulate matter- (DEP-) induced skin damage. The protective effects of an ethanolic extract of GF (GFE) and its constituents (geniposidic acid, gardenoside, geniposide, chlorogenic acid, and genipin) were examined by analyzing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and tight junction (TJ) protein expression in HaCaT cells. Treatment with GFE dose-dependently inhibited intracellular ROS production and apoptosis by regulating the protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and cytochrome C in DEP-stimulated (100  μ g/ml) HaCaT cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that the protective effects of GFE were related to its activation of Nrf2 and HO-1 signaling in HaCaT cells. Geniposide, a main constituent of GFE, enhanced the expression of occludin in DEP-stimulated HaCaT cells. Furthermore, topical application of geniposide reduced the expressions of 8-OHdG and Bax and increased the expression of occludin in the dorsal skin lesions of DEP-stimulated mice. Gardeniae Fructus and its main component geniposide are potential candidates for the repair of DEP-induced skin damage due to their antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Ly Thi Huong Nguyen et al.)