Effect of magnesium gluconate administration on lipid metabolism, antioxidative status, and related gene expression in rats fed a high-fat diet.

To explore the effect of magnesium gluconate (MgG) on lipid metabolism and its regulation mechanism through animal experiments, and to provide basis for MgG dietary intervention in hyperlipidemia. The first four weeks was hyperlipidemia-inducing period through high-fat diet and the following eight weeks was the MgG supplementation. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver samples were collected for the measurements of lipid profile, antioxidative indexes, pathological examination, and cholesterol metabolism-related gene expression.

The association between serum vitamin D and inflammatory bowel disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and this may impact upon the disease activity. This study explored the association between serum vitamin D levels and inflammatory bowel disease in a Chinese population.Sixty-five patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 50 with Crohn's disease (CD) were investigated between January 2015 and December 2016 at the Kunshan Second People's Hospital, China.

Tandem Pd-Catalyzed Intermolecular Allylic Alkylation/Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of Benzoylmethyl pyridines, Pyrazines, and Quinolines.

An efficient synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles via Pd-catalyzed tandem allylic alkylation and dearomatization reactions was reported. In this reaction design, heteroarenes such as pyridines, pyrazines, and quinolines serve as bis-nucleophiles by installing a benzoyl group at the C2 benzylic position. With but-2-ene-1,4-diyl dimethyl dicarbonate as the bis-electrophile, the tandem Pd-catalyzed intermolecular allylic alkylation/allylic dearomatization reaction of benzoylmethyl-substituted heteroarenes has been developed.

Genomic analysis of WHH1689 reveals its probiotic properties and stress resistance.

() WHH1689, which was isolated from Chinese traditional highland barley wine, exhibited high survival period at room temperature in drinkable probiotic yogurt. This article aimed to indicate the genes involved in probiotic function of WHH1689 and reveal potential stress resistance based on genomic analysis. Analysis of comparative genome with closely related strains identified special stress adaptation.

Heterologous expression of Class IIb bacteriocin Plantaricin JK in Lactococcus Lactis.

Plantaricin JK (PlnJK) is a Class IIb LAB bacteriocin that includes two peptides; i.e., PlnJ and PlnK, which can synergistically halt many types of gram-positive bacteria, including food spoilage organisms.

The clinical value of circulating tumor DNA detection in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a kind of cell-free DNA which comes from tumor cells and effectively reflects the molecular characteristics of tumors, which providing us a novel method to explore its clinical therapeutic value in advanced lung cancer.

Methods: A total of 36 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were enrolled in this study, including 28 cases of adenocarcinoma and 8 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Next-generation sequencing based ctDNA detection, tissue DNA (tDNA) detection, corresponding survival analysis, and retrospective statistics were performed to explore the feasibility of clinical practice directed by molecular characteristics in NSCLC.

Probiotic therapy in Helicobacter pylori infection: a potential strategy against a serious pathogen?

Helicobacter pylori is a highly prevalent human pathogen responsible for chronic inflammation of the gastric tissues, gastroduodenal ulcers, and cancer. The treatment includes a pair of antibiotics with a proton pump inhibitor PPI. Despite the presence of different treatments, the infection rate is still increasing both in developed and developing states.

Cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity with midrange ejection fraction: A case report and review of the literature.

Rationale: Cisplatin monotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is rare, and the prevalence remains unknown. It's extremely important to stop cisplatin when cardiotoxicity is considered.

Patient Concerns: A 53-year-old woman developed cervical cancer.

Pd -Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Oxidative C-H/C-H Cross-Coupling Reaction between Ferrocenes and Azoles.

Asymmetric C-H bond functionalization reaction is one of the most efficient and straightforward methods for the synthesis of optically active molecules. Herein we disclose an asymmetric C-H/C-H cross-coupling reaction of ferrocenes with azoles such as oxazoles and thiazoles. Palladium(II)/monoprotected amino acid (MPAA) catalytic system which exhibits excellent reactivity and regioselectivity for oxazoles and thiazoles.

Effects of bifidobacteria-produced exopolysaccharides on human gut microbiota in vitro.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are carbohydrate polymers that are synthesized and present on the surface of bifidobacteria. Due to their potential applications in diverse sectors, such as food, biotechnology, cosmetics, and medicine, EPSs synthesized by bifidobacteria have recently attracted more attention. EPS production not only has benefits in food and health but also has effects on probiotics in the microbial ecosystem.

A rodent model of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) based on laser photoactivation of verteporfin.

Background: A rodent model of photodynamic AION resulting from intravenous verteporfin is presented. The analysis of the morphological function, the pathological changes and the potential mechanism of action were further investigated.

Methods: Photodynamic treatment was conducted on the optic nerve head (ONH) following administration of the photosensitizer.

Purification and Characterization of Plantaricin ZJ316, a Novel Bacteriocin against Listeria monocytogenes from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316.

Bacteriocins are known to be natural preservatives, which are becoming increasingly necessary in many types of food to control the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316, called plantaricin ZJ316, was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. By mass spectrometry, the molecular mass of plantaricin ZJ316 was determined to be 2,366.

Room-Temperature Continuous-Wave Operation of Organometal Halide Perovskite Lasers.

Solution-processed organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have recently emerged as promising gain media for tunable semiconductor lasers. However, optically pumped continuous-wave lasing at room temperature, a prerequisite for a laser diode, has not been realized so far. Here, we report lasing action in a surface-emitting distributed feedback methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) perovskite laser on a silicon substrate at room temperature under continuous-wave optical pumping.

Transgelin as a potential target in the reversibility of pulmonary arterial hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease.

Background: The reversibility of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in congenital heart disease (CHD) is of great importance for the operability of CHD. Proteomics analysis found that transgelin was significantly up-regulated in the lung tissue of CHD-PAH patients, especially in the irreversible group. However, how exactly it participated in CHD-PAH development is unknown.

DNMT1 and Sp1 competitively regulate the expression of BACE1 in A2E-mediated photo-oxidative damage in RPE cells.

Numerous studies have focused on the deteriorate role of amyloid-β (Aβ) on retina, implying the potential pathogenic mechanism underlying age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the mechanism underlying the Aβ deposition in AMD patients remains unknown. Beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), rate-limiting enzyme for Aβ production, plays an important role in Aβ deposition in the brain.

Enantioselective Carbonyl Catalysis Enabled by Chiral Aldehydes.

Organocatalytic methods have achieved spectacular advancements for the preparation of chiral molecules in highly enantioenriched forms. The fast development of this field can mainly be attributed to the evolution of general and reliable activation modes. The discovery and identification of new activation modes are therefore highly desirable to push the boundaries of asymmetric reactions.

[Effects of drought and rewatering on leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and root architecture of citrus seedlings.].

Drought severely affects citrus growth and development. In order to explore the mechanism of drought response of citrus, two cultivars (Sanhuhongju and Sanhuhuahong) that differing in drought tolerance were used as materials. The drought and rewatering treatment was conducted in pot experiments, with leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and root architecture being measured.

Ultrafast shifted-core coaxial nano-emitter.

We present an ultrafast nanoscale light source utilizing a shifted-core coaxial nano-cavity, with a footprint of merely one-third of its emission wavelength in all three dimensions at telecommunication wavelengths. We show that, by shifting the metallic core off center of the coaxial structure, the effective mode volume of the cavity can be as small as 0.0078 × (λ/n), resulting in a Purcell factor over 390 and a modulation bandwidth exceeding 60GHz.

Chemoselective N-H functionalization of indole derivatives via the Reissert-type reaction catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid.

An asymmetric N-alkylation of indole derivatives via the Reissert-type reaction was realized in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral phosphoric acid. Various enantioenriched indoles with N-1 substituted by 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline could be obtained under mild conditions in good yields and enantioselectivities at room temperature (up to 98% yield, 94% ee). The current method is compatible with gram-scale reaction and the products can undergo versatile chemical transformations.

Effects of oral selenium and magnesium co-supplementation on lipid metabolism, antioxidative status, histopathological lesions, and related gene expression in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Background: Supplementation with Selenium (Se) has been shown to lower blood cholesterol and increase tissue concentrations of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH); however, the effects of Se supplementation, in combination with supplemental magnesium, on high fat-induced hyperlipidemia have not been studied. This study was designed to elucidate the effects of oral selenium and magnesium co-supplementation on antihyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective, antioxidative activities, and related gene expression in a hyperlipidemic rat model.

Methods: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: one group served as control group (CT), provided control diet; The other groups were made hyperlipidemic with high-fat diet; specifically, a high-fat diet group (HF); low-dose selenium (0.

Potential and environmental control of carbon sequestration in major ecosystems across arid and semi-arid regions in China.

With the continuous expansion of drylands in the context of global climate change, governments have implemented a series of greening policies such as afforestation, to reduce ecological degradation. However, owing to historical conditions and technical constraints, few attempts have been made to quantitatively assess the differences in carbon sequestration capacity and the associated environmental controls among major ecosystems in the arid and semi-arid areas. Based on six flux towers located in northwestern China measuring the carbon fluxes in a maize (Zea mays L.

Plantaricin NC8 from Lactobacillus plantarum causes cell membrane disruption to Micrococcus luteus without targeting lipid II.

Plantaricin NC8, a two-peptide non-lantibiotic class IIb bacteriocin composed of PLNC8α and PLNC8β and derived from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316, has been shown to be highly potent against a range of bacteria and fungi. In this study, we assessed the antimicrobial mechanism of plantaricin NC8 against the most sensitive bacterial strain, Micrococcus luteus CGMCC 1.193.

Involvement of ciliary neurotrophic factor in early diabetic retinal neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has been evaluated as a candidate therapeutic agent for diabetes and its neural complications. However, its role in diabetic retinopathy has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: This is a randomized unblinded animal experiment.

Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission Preserves Photoreceptors after Retinal Detachment.

Photoreceptor degeneration is a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. Separation of neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium is a prominent feature preceding photoreceptor degeneration in a variety of retinal diseases. Although ophthalmic surgical procedures have been well developed to restore retinal structures, postoperative patients usually experience progressive photoreceptor degeneration and irreversible vision loss that is incurable at present.

PAPep Inhibits Secretion of Poly(I:C)-Induced Inflammatory Cytokines and ICAM-1 Expression in Corneal Fibroblasts by Suppressing the NF-κB/p38 Pathway.

Purpose: To assess the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of a novel peptide, PAPep, in poly(I:C)-stimulated corneal fibroblasts.

Methods: Corneal fibroblasts were treated with poly(I:C) to elicit inflammation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ELISA were used to measure the mRNA and protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemotactic factor (MCP)-1, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ).