Optimization of fungal secondary metabolites production via response surface methodology coupled with multi-parameter optimized artificial neural network model.

Filamentous fungi's secondary metabolites (SMs) possess significant application owing to their distinct structure and diverse bioactivities, yet their restricted yield levels often hinder further research and application. The study developed a response surface methodology-artificial neural network (RSM-ANN) strategy with multi-parameter optimizations of the ANN model to optimize medium for the production of two high-value fungal SMs, echinocandin E and paraherquamide A. Multi-parameter optimization of the ANN model was achieved through stratifying experimental data, fully adjusting neural network internals, and evaluating metaheuristic algorithms for optimal initial weights and biases.

Secretory Phenotype in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Elderly Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This study aims to investigate the expression differences of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with elderly rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PBMCs between young patients with RA (RA_Y) and elderly patients with RA (RA_A) were identified by RNA sequencing using the package, followed by bioinformatics analysis. The overlapped targets of the current DEGs and proteomic differentially expressed proteins (another set of unpublished data) were identified and further validated.

Associations between Milk Intake and Sleep Disorders in Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

We aimed to examine the association of milk intake with sleep disorders and their specific indicators. The current study included 768 adults aged 28-95 from Wenling, China. Milk intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire with ten food items, while sleep disorders were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with higher scores indicating poorer sleep.

Novel indole diketopiperazine stereoisomers from a marine-derived fungus sp.

Four dimeric diketopiperazine stereoisomers () including two new ones () had been isolated from the culture broth of one marine-derived fungus sp. Z3, which was found in the gut of a marine isopod . The planner structures and absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by combination of NMR, HRESIMS, electronic circular dichroism calculation, Marfey's method as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Unnatural tetradeoxy echinocandins produced by gene cluster design and heterologous expression.

The hydroxyl groups in the amino acid residues of echinocandin B were related to the biological activity, the instability, and the drug resistance. The modification of hydroxyl groups was expected to obtain the new lead compounds for next generation of echinocandin drug development. In this work one method for heterologous production of the tetradeoxy echinocandin was achieved.

sp. nov., isolated from beach sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-haemolytic, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive bacillus strain (A3.8) was isolated from beach sediment from Zhairuo Island, PR China. The strain grew at pH 6.

Assessment of sulfamethoxazole toxicity to marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Combine p38-MAPK signaling pathway modulation with histopathological alterations.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), is a ubiquitous antibiotic in the aquatic environment and received concerns on its health hazards, especially its sub-lethal effects on non-target organisms which were remained largely unknown. In the present study, in order to investigate SMX induced tissue damages and reveal underlying mechanisms, marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis were challenged to SMX series (0.5, 50 and 500 μg/L) for six-days followed by six-day-recovery.

The interaction of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies positivity and cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis.

Background: The antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positivity was suggested as a nontraditional risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and it was associated with cigarette smoking. The co-occurrence of them was usually reported in individuals with cardiovascular diseases. This study was to demonstrate their interaction on the increasing risk of cardiovascular events.

Comprehensive investigation of the content and the origin of matrine-type alkaloids in Chinese honeys.

A HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of four matrine-type alkaloids (matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine and sophoridine) in honey was established and was applied to 567 Chinese honey samples. The overall detection rate was 61.0 % and all eight Sophora viciifolia Hance honey samples were detected with the average content of 1183.

Ancylobacter gelatini sp. nov., isolated from beach sediment of Zhairuo Island, China.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, oxidase-positive, catalase-positive, methyl red-positive, and lipase-negative bacterium, designated A5.8, was isolated from beach sediment of Zhairuo Island located in the East China Sea. Growth occurred at 10-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.

Recent Advances in the Heterologous Expression of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters for Marine Natural Products.

Marine natural products (MNPs) are an important source of biologically active metabolites, particularly for therapeutic agent development after terrestrial plants and nonmarine microorganisms. Sequencing technologies have revealed that the number of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in marine microorganisms and the marine environment is much higher than expected. Unfortunately, the majority of them are silent or only weakly expressed under traditional laboratory culture conditions.

Tanzawaic Acids from a Deep-Sea Derived Species.

Twelve new tanzawaic acid derivatives, penitanzacids A-F (), and G-J (), and hatsusamides C-D (), together with two revised structures [tanzawaic acids I-J ()] and three known compounds () were isolated from the deep-sea-derived fungus sp. KWF32. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, HRESIMS data, modified Mosher's method, chemical degradation studies, ECD calculations, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and biogenic considerations in comparison with reported known analogues.

Rosmarinic Acid Decreases the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer Through Inhibiting Gli1 Signaling.

Background: Rosmarinic acid (RA) has been shown to exert anti-tumor effects on various types of cancer. However, its roles in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of RA on PDAC as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 associating with serotonin and dopamine in the cerebrospinal fluid predicts impulsivity in healthy subjects.

Background: Impulsivity is more commonly reported in subjects with mental disorders compared to healthy subjects, suggesting a potential application of impulsivity in predicting impulsivity-related mental disorders. However, no biomarker of impulsivity available so far. This study explored the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a key hormonal mediator of the stress response, and impulsivity in healthy subjects.

The Interaction of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Superfamily Genes Is Associated With Alcohol Dependence-Related Aggression.

Alcohol dependence (AD) is characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption, which involves behavioral impairments such as aggression. Members of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 superfamily, including FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, are major endocrine mediators that play an important role in alcohol metabolism and alcohol related disorders. The objective of the present study is to explore the possible associations among the interaction of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FGF 19 superfamily, AD occurrence, and aggression in patients with AD.

Design, Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Glycosylated Derivatives of Marine Natural Product Lamellarin D.

Lamellarin D, a marine natural product, acts as a potent inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I). To modify its physicochemical property and biological activity, a series of mono- and di-glycosylated derivatives were designed and synthesized through 22-26 multi-steps. Their inhibition of human Topo I was evaluated, and most of the glycosylated derivatives exhibited high potency in inhibiting Topo I activity as well as lamellarin D.

Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Fabricated Rhein Micelles.

Rhein is a potential anti-inflammatory agent, but its poor water solubility significantly restricts its clinical application. In this study, rhein micelles (RMs) with improved water solubility were fabricated on Pluronic F127 (F-127). Transmission electron microscopy showed that the as-prepared RMs displayed a mean diameter of approximately 20 nm and a spherical morphology.

Association of Cigarette Smoking with Sleep Disturbance and Neurotransmitters in Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Background: Cigarette smoking has shown to be associated with sleep disturbance, especially prolonged sleep onset latency (SOL). Cigarette smoking stimulates the release of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), which might promote awakening and inhibit rapid eye movement sleep. Dopamine transporter (DAT) and serotonin transporter play a key role in the reuptake of DA and 5-HT from the synaptic cleft into presynaptic neurons.

Association of Cigarette Smoking With Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidation.

Importance: Cigarette smoking has been associated with risk of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer disease. The association between smoking and biomarkers of changes in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is not fully understood.

Objective: To investigate the association of cigarette smoking with CSF biomarkers of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, oxidation, and neuroprotection.

Use of the modified Glasgow Coma Scale score to guide sequential invasive-noninvasive mechanical ventilation weaning in patients with AECOPD and respiratory failure.

Sequential invasive-noninvasive ventilation (NIV) improves the outcomes of patients with respiratory failure caused by acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD); however, there is no clear consensus on the optimal timing of the switch to sequential invasive-NIV in these patients. In the present study, a potential role for the modified Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score to guide sequential weaning was investigated. Patients with AECOPD and respiratory failure were prospectively recruited from three study centers (Wenling Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Changsha Central Hospital) between January 1st 2016 and December 31st 2018.

Active smoking, sleep quality and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neuroinflammation.

Backgrounds: Cigarette smoking has been shown to be associated with sleep disorders and the related neuropathogenesis including neuroinflammation. Previous studies showed that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are physiologically important in maintaining circadian function. In addition, sleep deprivation leads to immune dysregulations.

Flavobacterium ajazii sp. nov., Isolated from Seaweed of Gouqi Island, China.

A novel bacterium designated SSM4.2 was isolated from seaweed of Gouqi Island, which is the center of the Zhoushan fishing ground in the East China Sea. Strain SSM4.

sp. nov., isolated from surface water of a hypersaline lake, and descriptions of subsp. subsp. nov. and subsp. subsp. nov.

Two yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria were isolated from the water of the hypersaline Chaka Salt Lake (strain SaA2.12) and sediment of Qinghai Lake (strain LaA7.5), PR China.

A comprehensive analysis of C isotope ratios data of authentic honey types produced in China using the EA-IRMS and LC-IRMS.

In the current study, we have comprehensively analyzed different kinds of pure honey which was produced in various areas in China according to δC-EA -IRMS (AOAC method 998.12) and δC-LC-IRMS (proposed by the Intertek laboratory in Europe) methods. As for the δC-EA -IRMS method, the study was confirmed that the C4 sugar of all authentic honey samples was qualified.