Organic acids from ice wine ameliorate fructose-induced disorders of glycolipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice.

Excessive intake of fructose has been widely reported to cause glycolipid metabolism disorders, and it is unclear whether long-term consumption of ice wine, a sweet wine with high sugar content, is beneficial for health. In this study, 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into pure water, ice wine, fructose, fructose + succinic acid, fructose + malic acid and fructose + alcohol groups to study the effects and mechanisms of organic acids on glycolipid metabolism. The results indicated that long-term consumption of ice wine did not lead to disorders of glycolipid metabolism, and organic acids inhibited the negative effects of fructose and reduced hepatic fat synthesis by decreasing the mRNA expression of hepatic ACC1, SREBP-1c, and ChREBP-β, as well as controlling the protein expression of KHK-C.

Effects of nitrification inhibitors DCD and DMPP on maturity, NO and NH emissions during manure composting.

In order to reduce NO emissions during composting, the effects of different nitrification inhibitors (NI), dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), on compost maturity, NO, and NH emissions were studied under continuous incremental addition. This study used pig manure and corn straw as composting materials, based on the total nitrogen (TN) content of the initial mixture, two treatments were set: DCD (2.5% in the early phase and 5.

Blocking GP130 binding in interleukin-11 through site-specific PEGylation attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Recent insights have identified interleukin-11 (IL-11) as a pivotal profibrotic cytokine, with its signaling through IL-11Rα and GP130 receptors emerging as a promising therapeutic target for fibrotic diseases. Herein, we developed receptor-biased IL-11 via site-specific PEGylation at the GP130 binding interface, aiming to explore its therapeutic potential for bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. By conducting single site-directed cysteine mutagenesis at site II or site III of IL-11, we refined the conjugation site, demonstrating that mutation at site III exhibits heightened sensitivity to GP130 binding and signaling.

Site-specific dimerization of interleukin-11 alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) has recently been identified as a critical profibrotic cytokine, and IL-11 signaling pathway via IL-11Rα and GP130 receptors has been shown to be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Herein, we devised two kinds of IL-11 dimer with receptor-biased binding ability through site-specific crosslinking at the interface involving GP130 binding and signaling, aiming to explore their therapeutic potentials for bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. A single cysteine mutation at site W147 of human IL-11 (IL-11 W147C) was conducted for site-specific crosslinking.

Diagnostic efficiency of conventional ultrasound, shear wave elastography, and superb microvascular imaging in evaluating ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Introduction/aims: The current diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) relies mainly on the clinical presentation and nerve electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing, which can be uncomfortable and yield false negatives. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of conventional ultrasound, shear wave elastography (SWE), and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in diagnosing UNE.

Methods: We enrolled 40 patients (48 elbows) with UNE and 48 healthy volunteers (48 elbows).

Revealing the impact of thermal annealing on the perovskite/organic bulk heterojunction interface in photovoltaic devices.

Perovskite/organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) integrated solar cells have tremendous development potential to exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit efficiency of single-junction photovoltaics, due to the merits of spectra response extension. However, the presence of energy level barriers and severe non-radiative recombination at the interface between perovskite and BHJ greatly hindered the transport and collection of charge carriers, usually leading to large and photocurrent loss, as well as the stability degradation of integrated devices. Therefore, investigating the interface properties of perovskite/BHJ is crucial for understanding the charge transport process and enhancing device performance.

Effect of short-term moderate intake of ice wine on hepatic glycolipid metabolism in C57BL/6J mice.

As the correlation between high fructose intake and metabolism-related diseases (, obesity, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes) has been increasingly reported, the health benefits of consuming ice wine high in fructose have been called into question. In this study, 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into control (pure water), fructose (130 g L fructose solution), alcohol (11% alcohol solution), low-dose (50% diluted ice wine) and high-dose ice wine (100% ice wine) groups to investigate the effects and mechanisms of short-term (4 weeks) ice wine intake on hepatic glycolipid metabolism in mice. The results showed that short-term consumption of ice wine suppressed the elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content and did not cause hepatic lipid accumulation compared with those of the fructose group.

Dinuclear NHC-gold(I)-thiolato and -alkynyl complexes: synthesis, anticancer activity, and catalytic activity in lactonization reactions.

A series of novel dinuclear NHC-gold-thiolato and -alkynyl complexes bearing aromatic linkers were successfully synthesized by an efficient and simple synthetic route. The catalytic activity of these complexes was tested in a lactonization reaction. The reaction proceeds in high efficiency, in short reaction time and under mild conditions, and is complementary to existing methods.

Quantum chemistry calculation-aided discovery of potent small-molecule mimics of glutathione peroxidases for the treatment of cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Hearing loss (HL) is a health burden that seriously affects the quality of life of cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, and few FDA-approved treatment specifically targets this condition. The main mechanisms that contribute to cisplatin-induced hearing loss are oxidative stress and subsequent cell death, including ferroptosis revealed by us as a new mechanism recently. In this study, we employed the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory approach as a convenient prediction method for the glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like activity of isoselenazolones and discovered new isoselenazolones with great GPx-like activity.

Periodontal ligament cells-derived exosomes promote osteoclast differentiation via modulating macrophage polarization.

Several studies have demonstrated that exosomes (Exos) are involved in the regulation of macrophage polarization and osteoclast differentiation. However, the characteristics as well as roles of exosomes from human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs-Exos) in M1/M2 macrophage polarization and osteoclast differentiation remain unclear. Here, periodontal ligament cells were successfully extracted by method of improved Type-I collagen enzyme digestion.

MIMO detection using an ALR-CNN in SDM transmission systems.

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detectors have been a key technology in communication systems. In this paper, a new MIMO detector is designed by combining the adaptive learning rate (ALR) with the convolutional neural network (CNN) and successfully implementing it in a mode division multiplexing (MDM) optical transmission system. The results show that the training and test accuracy of the signal in the system we proposed reaches 100%.

Evaluation of A-ring hydroxymethylene-amino- triterpenoids as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus and influenza H1N1.

A set of triterpene A-ring hydroxymethylene-amino-derivatives was synthesized and their antiviral activity was studied. The synthesized compounds were tested for their potential inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in BHK-21-hACE2 cells and influenza A/PuertoRico/8/34 (H1N1) virus in MDCK cell culture. Compounds 6, 8 and 19 showed significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus activity with EC value of 3.

Antiviral opportunities of Mannich bases derived from triterpenic N-propargylated indoles.

Oleanolic and glycyrrhetic acids alkyne derivatives were synthesized as a result of propargylation of the indole NH-group condensed with the triterpene A-ring, the following aminomethylation led to a series of Mannich bases. The synthesized compounds were tested for their potential inhibition of influenza A/PuertoRico/8/34 (H1N1) virus in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell culture and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in baby hamster kidney-21-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (BHK-21-hACE2) cells. Mannich bases of oleanolic and glycyrrhetic acids N-propargylated indoles 7, 8, and 12 were the most efficacious against influenza virus A with IC 7-10 μM together with a low toxicity (CC  > 145 μM) and high selectivity index SI value 20.

A High-Rigidity Organic-Inorganic Metal Halide Hybrid Enabling Reversible and Enhanced Self-Trapped Exciton Emission under High Pressure.

Zero-dimensional organic-inorganic metal halide hybrids provide ideal bulk-crystal platforms for exploring the pressure engineering of electron-phonon coupling (EPC) and self-trapped exciton (STE) emission at the molecular level. However, the low stiffness of inorganic clusters hinders the reversible tuning of these physical properties. Herein, we designed a Sb-doped metal halide with a high emission yield (89.

Semiconductor-on-diamond cavities for spin optomechanics.

Optomechanical cavities are powerful tools for classical and quantum information processing that can be realized using nanophotonic structures that co-localize optical and mechanical resonances. Typically, phononic localization requires suspended devices that forbid vertical leakage of mechanical energy. Achieving this in some promising quantum photonic materials such as diamond requires non-standard nanofabrication techniques, while hindering integration with other components and exacerbating heating related challenges.

Synthesis of Novel Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Derivatives that Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells through a ROS-dependent, Mitochondrial-Mediated Pathway.

Betulinic acid (BA) and oleanolic acid (OA) are plant-derived conjugates found in various medicinal plants that have emerged as potential antitumor agents. Herein, a series of novel BA and OA derivatives were synthesized by conjugation with per--methylated-β-cyclodextrin (PM-β-CD), and their anticancer properties against a panel of three human cancer cell lines were evaluated. Two OA-PM-β-CD conjugates ( and ) were observed to be the most potent conjugates against the three cell lines (MCF-7, BGC-823, and HL-60), with a 15- to 20-fold decrease in the IC values (IC: 6.

Active Ingredients of Reduning Injection Maintain High Potency against SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Objective: To investigate the anti-coronavirus potential and the corresponding mechanisms of the two ingredients of Reduning Injection: quercetin and luteolin.

Methods: A pseudovirus system was designed to test the efficacy of quercetin and luteolin to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and the corresponding cellular toxicity. Luteolin was tested for its activities against the pseudoviruses of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

[Changes in the functional connectivity of the thalamus in insomniac ED patients with yin deficiency and fire syndrome: An exploration based on functional MRI findings].

Objective: To investigate the changes of nocturnal erectile function and functional connectivity (FC) of bilateral thalami in insomniac ED patients with yin deficiency and fire syndrome.

Methods: We enrolled 30 healthy controls and 87 ED patients with yin deficiency and fire syndrome, 41 with and the other 46 without insomnia. Using IIEF-5 and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), we evaluated the nocturnal erectile function and sleep quality of the patients and compared the clinical indicators between the two groups.

Improved synthetic routes to -heterocyclic carbene-metal-diketonato complexes of gold and copper.

In our search for simple synthetic routes to -heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-metal complexes and their derivatives, we herein report an operationally simple, expedient and scalable method to obtain the widely used NHC-metal-diketonates. The reported complexes are synthesized for the first time under mild, aerobic conditions and in excellent yields in a sustainable manner. The protocol is general with regards to the anionic co-ligand and the ancillary carbene ligands.

Abietic, maleopimaric and quinopimaric dipeptide Ugi-4CR derivatives and their potency against influenza A and SARS-CoV-2.

A set of 12 abietane diterpene derivatives have been synthesised by the Ugi-four component reaction (Ugi-4CR) and tested for cytotoxicity and activity against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. Five dipeptide derivatives demonstrated a selectivity index (SI) higher than 10 and IC values from 2 to 32 μM against influenza virus. Compound was found to be a lead with SI of 200, and time-of-addition experiments showed the viral entry into the cell and the binding of the virus to the receptor as a possible target.

Synthesis and evaluation of diterpenic Mannich bases as antiviral agents against influenza A and SARS-CoV-2.

A chemical library was constructed based on the resin acids (abietic, dehydroabietic, and 12-formylabietic) and its diene adducts (maleopimaric and quinopimaric acid derivatives). The one-pot three-component CuCl-catalyzed aminomethylation of the abietane diterpenoid propargyl derivatives was carried out by formaldehyde and secondary amines (diethylamine, pyrrolidine, morpholine, and homopiperazine). All compounds were tested for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) in MDCK cells and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in BHK-21-hACE2 cells.

Discovery of Pentacyclic Triterpenoid PROTACs as a Class of Effective Hemagglutinin Protein Degraders.

Influenza hemagglutinin that drives viral entry into cells via the membrane fusion process is an up-and-coming antiviral drug target. Herein, we described for the first time the design, synthesis, and biological characteristics of a new class of pentacyclic triterpenoid-based proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to enhance the degradation of hemagglutinin target. Among these PROTACs, showed the best degradation effect on the hemagglutinin with a median degradation concentration of 1.

Novel -Cyclodextrin-Based Heptavalent Glycyrrhetinic Acid Conjugates: Synthesis, Characterization, and Anti-Influenza Activity.

In our continuing efforts toward the design of novel pentacyclic triterpene derivatives as potential anti-influenza virus entry inhibitors, a series of homogeneous heptavalent glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives based on -cyclodextrin scaffold were designed and synthesized by click chemistry. The structure was unambiguously characterized by NMR, IR, and MALDI-TOF-MS measurements. Seven conjugates showed sufficient inhibitory activity against influenza virus infection based on the cytopathic effect reduction assay with IC values in the micromolar range.