Synthesis and Chemical Structure of the Cyclic Heptapeptide Stylissamide H.

We investigated the chemical structures and conformational isomers of the cyclic heptapeptides stylissamide H and euryjanicin A isolated from marine sources. Despite sharing the same molecular structure, stylissamide H and euryjanicin A exhibit different conformational isomers in solution and solid states. The main difference arises from the configurations of the two Pro residues.

Synthesis and evaluation of catecholamine derivatives as amyloid-beta aggregation inhibitors.

Effectively inhibition of amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation is considered an important method for treatment of the Alzheimer's disease. Herein, inspired by the ability of trans-clovamide to effectively inhibit Aβ aggregation, we synthesized a series of structurally related catecholamine derivatives and tested them as Aβ aggregation inhibitors using the Thioflavin T assay. The results show that they demonstrated a higher inhibitory rate against Aβ aggregation.

Addition of α-1,3-glucan-binding domains to α-1,3-glucanase Agn1p from Schizosaccharomyces pombe enhances hydrolytic activity of insoluble α-1,3-glucan.

The glycoside hydrolase (GH) 71 α-1,3-glucanase (Agn1p) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe consists of an N-terminal signal sequence and a catalytic domain. Meanwhile, the GH87 α-1,3-glucanase (Agl-KA) from Bacillus circulans KA-304 consists of an N-terminal signal sequence, a first discoidin domain (DS1), a carbohydrate-binding module family 6 (CBM6), a threonine and proline repeat linker (TP), a second discoidin domain (DS2), an uncharacterized domain, and a catalytic domain. DS1, CBM6, and DS2 exhibit α-1,3-glucan binding activity.

CAZymes-associated method to explore glycans that mitigate DSS-induced colitis via targeting Bacteroides cellulosilyticus.

Improving Bacteroides cellulosilyticus abundance is a feasible approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although B. cellulosilyticus is responsive to dietary components, untargeted manipulation cannot focus on target microbe and lead to an increase in harmful bacteria in the microbiota.

Identification of circulating miRNA as early diagnostic molecular markers in malignant glioblastoma base on decision tree joint scoring algorithm.

Purpose: The lack of clinical markers prevents early diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Many studies have found that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as early diagnostic markers of malignant tumours. Therefore, the identification of novel circulating miRNA biomolecular markers could be beneficial to clinicians in the early diagnosis of GBM.

Cholecystectomy Significantly Alters Gut Microbiota Homeostasis and Metabolic Profiles: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Cholecystectomy (CCE) is a standard clinical treatment for conditions like gallstones and cholecystitis. However, its link to post-CCE syndrome, colorectal cancer, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has raised concerns. Additionally, studies have demonstrated the disruptive effects of CCE on gut microbiota homeostasis and bile acid (BA) metabolism.

A High-Fat, High-Cholesterol Diet Promotes Intestinal Inflammation by Exacerbating Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Bile Acid Disorders in Cholecystectomy.

Patients with post-cholecystectomy (PC) often experience adverse gastrointestinal conditions, such as PC syndrome, colorectal cancer (CRC), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), that accumulate over time. An epidemiological survey further revealed that the risk of cholecystectomy is associated with high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFHC) dietary intake. Mounting evidence suggests that cholecystectomy is associated with disrupted gut microbial homeostasis and dysregulated bile acids (BAs) metabolism.

Meta-analysis reveals gut microbiome and functional pathway alterations in response to resistant starch.

Resistant starch (RS) has the ability to improve the structure of the gut microbiota, regulate glucolipid metabolism and maintain the health of the human body, and has been extensively studied by many scholars in recent years. However, previous studies have provided a wide range of results on the differences in the gut microbiota after RS intake. In this article, we performed a meta-analysis of a total of 955 samples of 248 individuals from the seven studies included to compare the gut microbiota of the baseline and the end-point of RS intake.

Effect of psychotropics on the risk of COVID-19 in middle-aged and older adults.

Older adults have been markedly impacted by the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, and many reports have cited concerns regarding potential psychiatric sequelae of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the actual effects of psychotropics on the COVID-19 are unclear. In this study, multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between the prescription of psychotropics and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19-related death among the participants who were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) before October 18, 2021, in UK Biobank. The psychotropics included 18 types of medications.

A nucleotide signature for the identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia) and its products.

Background: Ensuring the authenticity of raw materials is a key step prior to producing Chinese patent medicines. Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit.

Association of comprehensive mental health with incident cardiovascular disease: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Evidence is limited regarding the impact of comprehensive mental health on the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events.

Objectives: To investigate the association of mental health status with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK Biobank.

Methods: This prospective study included 339,616 participants aged 40 to 69 years who were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and were followed up to 2020, without CVD at baseline.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of the self-assembled antimicrobial peptides based on the ovalbumin-derived peptide TK913.

The preparation, self-assembly, and antimicrobial activity of peptides based on TK913 is described. TK9Z4 incorporating a Pro-Pro motif exhibited self-assembly but no cytotoxicity. However, peptide TKZ3 (obtained by changing the amino acid sequence of TK9Z4) showed morphological changes at different concentrations, potent antimicrobial activity, low cytotoxicity, and trypsin resistance.

Sex Differences in Association Between Anti-Hypertensive Medications and Risk of COVID-19 in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background: There is ongoing debate about the associations between drug therapies targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and adverse outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Objective: This study aims to examine the associations between using medications for the cardiovascular system and the risks associated with COVID-19 in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: A total of 77,221 participants (aged 50-86 years) from UK Biobank were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Associations of sleep duration and quality with incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: a prospective cohort study of 407,500 UK biobank participants.

Objective: Few studies have investigated the associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with incident cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, and mortality in the same large population. This study aimed at estimating the independent risk factors of long or short sleep durations and several typical characteristics of poor sleep quality for incident CVDs, cancer, and mortality.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 407 500 individuals were enrolled.

Metabolic Healthy Obesity, Vitamin D Status, and Risk of COVID-19.

Aging and obesity-related conditions seem to worsen the effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study assessed the possible roles of metabolic/obesity phenotypes and vitamin D status in increasing the greater severity of COVID-19. We studied 353,299 UK Biobank participants from England with a mean age of 67.

Associations of BMI and Serum Urate with Developing Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Context: Recent studies have suggested that a higher body mass index (BMI) and serum urate levels were associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. However, these reverse relationships remain controversial, and whether serum urate and BMI confound each other is not well established.

Objectives: To investigate the independent associations of BMI and urate, as well as their interaction with the risk of developing dementia.

Association of obesity status and metabolic syndrome with site-specific cancers: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) appear in clusters and are both associated with an increased risk of cancer. However, it remains unknown whether obesity status with or without MetS increases the risk of site-specific cancers.

Methods: We used data derived from 390,575 individuals (37-73 years old) from the UK Biobank who were enrolled from 2006-2016 with a median of 7.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence determination of Rheum species and comparative chloroplast genomics for the members of Rumiceae.

Complete plastomes of Rheum species facilitated to clarify the phylogeny of Polygonaceae, and comparative chloroplast genomics contributed to develop genetic markers for the authentication of Rheum species. Rheum (Polygonaceae) is widely distributed throughout the temperate and subtropical areas of Asian interior. Rheum species are usually perennial herbs, and half of them are endemic to China with important medicinal properties.

Heterogeneous Prolinamide-Catalyzed Atom-Economical Synthesis of β-Thioketones from Bio-Based Enones.

Sulfur-containing compounds are a class of important motifs extensively applied in pharmaceutical and pesticidal industries as well as in electrochemistry, toxicant separation, and organic syntheses. Herein, we describe a novel and efficient metal-free catalytic strategy for the rapid synthesis of β-thioketones from sustainable enone derivatives and thiols via thia-Michael addition enabled by heterogeneous prolinamide. At room temperature, up to 98% yield of β-thioketones could be obtained over the solid UiO-66-NH-proline catalyst facilely prepared by the covalent immobilization of proline onto UiO-66-NH (a well-known metal-organic framework) via a stable amido linkage.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome of , Pseudogenization of Genes and the Phylogenetic Relationships Within Orobanchaceae.

(Orobanchaceae) is a genus which is widely distributed in temperate regions of the southern and northern hemisphere. The taxonomy of is still controversial due to the similarity of morphological characters and a lack of genomic resources. Here, we present the first complete chloroplast (cp) genome of this taxonomically challenging genus.

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analyses of Species in section (Gentianaceae) and the Development of Authentication Markers.

section is widely distributed across Eurasia at high altitudes, and some species in this section are used as traditional Chinese medicine. Accurate identification of these species is important for their utilization and conservation. Due to similar morphological and chemical characteristics, correct discrimination of these species still remains problematic.