Sesamin ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis and .

Sesamin (Ses) is a natural lignan abundantly present in sesame and sesame oil. Pyroptosis, a newly identified type of pro-inflammatory programmed necrosis, contributes to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when hepatocyte pyroptosis is excessive. In this study, Ses treatment demonstrated an improvement in hepatic damage in mice with high-fat, high-cholesterol diet-induced NASH and palmitate (PA)-treated mouse primary hepatocytes.

Metformin improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in db/db mice by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the primary complication of type 2 diabetes (T2DM)-related liver disease, lacking effective treatment options. Metformin (Met), a widely prescribed anti-hyperglycemic medication, has been found to protect against NAFLD. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered form of cell death, is associated with the development of NAFLD.

A stable atmospheric-pressure plasma for extreme-temperature synthesis.

Plasmas can generate ultra-high-temperature reactive environments that can be used for the synthesis and processing of a wide range of materials. However, the limited volume, instability and non-uniformity of plasmas have made it challenging to scalably manufacture bulk, high-temperature materials. Here we present a plasma set-up consisting of a pair of carbon-fibre-tip-enhanced electrodes that enable the generation of a uniform, ultra-high temperature and stable plasma (up to 8,000 K) at atmospheric pressure using a combination of vertically oriented long and short carbon fibres.

Protective effects of metformin on pancreatic β-cell ferroptosis in type 2 diabetes in vivo.

Metformin (Met) is the recommended first-line therapeutic drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and exerts protective effects on β-cell damage. Ferroptosis, a new form of cell death, is associated with pancreatic islet injury in patients with T2DM. However, the protective effects of Met treatment against β-cell damage through ferroptosis modulation remain under-reported.

Metformin alleviates glucolipotoxicity-induced pancreatic β cell ferroptosis through regulation of the GPX4/ACSL4 axis.

Ferroptosis, a new type of cell death, is associated with pancreatic β cell damage. However, the role of glucolipotoxicity in inducing β cell ferroptosis remains unclear. Metformin (Met), exenatide (Exe), and saxagliptin (Sax) are frequently used anti-hyperglycaemic drugs.

The content and effectiveness of physical activity for cancer-related fatigue among colorectal cancer survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To review the content and efficacy of physical activity (PA) for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among colorectal cancer survivors.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials from inception to April 1, 2022, of the following database was performed: EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data and China Biology Medicine (CBM).

Applications for natural deep eutectic solvents in Chinese herbal medicines.

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), with a wide range of bioactive components, are considered to be an important source for new drug discovery. However, the process to isolate and obtain those bioactive components to develop new drugs always consumes a large amount of organic solvents with high toxicity and non-biodegradability. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), a new type of green and designable solvents composed of primary plant-based metabolites, have been used as eco-friendly substitutes for traditional organic solvents in various fields.

Portal vein aneurysm combined with intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt diagnosed by multimodal imaging techniques: A case report.

Introduction: Portal vein aneurysms (PVA) and intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts are rarely diagnosed clinically.

Patient Concerns: A 75-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of significant weight loss, diabetes, and an irregularly shaped cystic lesion in the left lateral lobe of the liver.

Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with a portal vein aneurysm combined with an intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt using multiple imaging techniques.

Steamed and its Saponins Inhibit the Migration and Induce the Apoptosis of Neutrophils in a Zebrafish Tail-Fin Amputation Model.

(PN) is a Chinese medicinal herb that is traditionally used to treat inflammation and immune-related diseases. Its major active constituents are saponins, the types and levels of which can be changed in the process of steaming. These differences in saponins are causally relevant to the differences in the therapeutic efficacies of raw and steamed PN.

Quality Assessment of the Clinical Practice Guidelines of Ostomy Care Based on the AGREE II Instrument.

Objectives: To assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) of ostomy care, and to analyze the status quo and challenges of guideline development.

Methods: CPGs of ostomy care were systematically searched in relevant guideline websites and electronic databases, including PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, WANFANG, and SinoMed, from January 1, 2012, to November 24, 2021. Two appraisers used the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, 2nd edition (AGREE II) instrument to assess the quality of the included CPGs independently and objectively.

Market access for Chinese herbal medicinal products in Europe-A ten-year review of relevant products, policies, and challenges.

Background: With increased consumer demand in Europe for natural and efficacious health products, the use of herbal products in the market is rising. Products of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) could greatly expand European consumer options; however, only seven herbal medicinal products (HMPs) based on CHM formulae have been registered in the European Union (EU) since 2012.

Purpose: This study reviews the ten-year registration status of HMPs based on CHM formulae in Europe and identifies major challenges and possible solutions for pharmaceutical companies seeking market access for new HMPs.

An electrochemically stable homogeneous glassy electrolyte formed at room temperature for all-solid-state sodium batteries.

All-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSSBs) are promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage. However, there are no commercialized ASSSBs yet, in part due to the lack of a low-cost, simple-to-fabricate solid electrolyte (SE) with electrochemical stability towards Na metal. In this work, we report a family of oxysulfide glass SEs (NaPSO, where 0 < x ≤ 0.

Circular RNA circFGD4 suppresses gastric cancer progression via modulating miR-532-3p/APC/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Background: Mounting evidence has displayed critical roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in multiple cancers. The underlying mechanisms by which circFGD4 contributed to gastric cancer (GC) are still unclear.

Methods: The levels and clinical values of circFGD4 in GC patients were detected and analysed by quantitative real-time PCR.

The application of a lateral flow immunographic assay to rapidly test for dexamethasone in commercial facial masks.

Dexamethasone (DE) is a synthetic glucocorticoid that is frequently added to cosmetic products for its good short-term effects, especially in facial masks, but long-term use is hazardous to the health. The abuse of DE in whitening and acne cosmetic products is currently a serious problem in China. It is necessary to establish a rapid method of detecting illegal DE addition in cosmetics.

Synthesis of 2-substituted 3-chlorobenzofurans via TMSCl-mediated nucleophilic annulation of isatin-derived propargylic alcohols.

A TMSCl-mediated cascade annulation of isatin-derived propargylic alcohols for the synthesis of 2-substituted 3-chlorobenzofurans is now reported. Mechanistic investigations showed that this proceeded through a sequential Meyer-Schuster rearrangement/nucleophilic addition/intramolecular annulation. TMSCl not only acts as a promoter, but also acts as a chlorine source in this protocol.

A novel self-assembled targeted nanoparticle platform based on carboxymethylcellulose co-delivery of anticancer drugs.

Single-drug therapy for cancer is greatly hampered by its non-specific delivery to the target tissue, limited efficacies, poor tolerability, and resistance profiles. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a new targeted nanoparticle platform for co-delivery of two different anticancer drugs. A conjugate based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was first synthesized by introducing hydrophilic molecules (PEG), target molecules (folate), and drug molecules (betulinic acid) into CMC.

Sesamin Ameliorates Advanced Glycation End Products-Induced Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction and Apoptosis.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the direct modulators of β-cells, have been shown to cause insulin-producing β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis through increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Sesamin has been demonstrated to possess antioxidative activity. This study was designed to investigate whether sesamin protects against AGEs-evoked β-cell damage via its antioxidant property.

Sesamin enhances nitric oxide bioactivity in aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: The blood pressure lowering effect of sesamin has been demonstrated to be associated with the increase in vascular nitric oxide (NO) biological activity by our previous studies and others. The present study was designed to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the effect of sesamin on aortic NO bioactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Methods: Sesamin was orally administered for 8 consecutive weeks in SHRs.

Differentiation therapy: sesamin as an effective agent in targeting cancer stem-like side population cells of human gallbladder carcinoma.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that side population (SP) cells isolated from various cancer cell lines and primary tumors possess stem cell-like properties. Sesamin, a food-derived agent, possesses anti-cancer activities both in vitro and in vivo. The present study was designed to determine whether sesamin also have effects on cancer stem-like SP cells from gallbladder cancer (GBC).

Response of the soil microbial community to imazethapyr application in a soybean field.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of imazethapyr on soil microbial communities combined with its effect on soybean growth. A short-term field experiment was conducted, and imazethapyr was applied to the soil at three different doses [1-fold, 10-fold, and 50-fold of the recommended field rate (H1, H10, H50)] during the soybean seedling period (with two leaves). Soil sampling was performed after 1, 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of application to determine the imazethapyr concentration and microbial community structure by investigating phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC).

Sesamin improves endothelial dysfunction in renovascular hypertensive rats fed with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet.

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible in vivo protective effects of sesamin on hypertension and endothelial function in two-kidney, one-clip renovascular hypertensive rats fed with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (2K1C rats on HFS diet). Sesamin was orally administered for 8 weeks in 2K1C rats on HFS diet. Then, the serum malondialdehyde level was determined.

[Proof of solid state cathodoluminescence by using brightness waveform].

Three different inorganic-organic hetero-junctions (A: ITO/SiO2/Alq3/Al, B: ITO/Alq3/SiO2/Al and C: ITO/SiO2/Alq3/SiO2/Al) were fabricated. The emission can be observed only under positive bias in devices A and B, but under both biases in device C according to their brightness waveforms. With increasing voltage, the increase in blue emission in devices B and C is faster than that in green emission.

[Saponins with low sugar chain from the leaves of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen].

Six saponins with low sugar chain were isolated from the leaves of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen.