Hepatoprotective effects of polysaccharide from Morchella esculenta are associated with activation of the AMPK/Sirt1 signaling pathway in mice with NAFLD.

The functional food application of edible fungus polysaccharides has been widely studied based on their variety of potential pharmacological activities. However, the hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of Morchella esculenta polysaccharide against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain unknown. A high-fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL/6 J mice for 8 weeks was employed to establish NAFLD with simple steatosis, methionine choline deficiency (MCD) diet for 4 weeks induced hepatic steatohepatitis and fibrosis.

The synergistic effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and glycerol on the performance of chitosan films.

In this study, we examined the plasticizing effects of 1-butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride (BmimCl), glycerol, and their combination on chitosan (CS) films. Additionally, we examined the effect of plasticizers for chitosan films structure and physicochemical properties of CS films by FTIR, XRD, SEM and mechanism of action of plasticizers on the structure of CS films. The results indicated that the interaction between BmimCl and chitosan is mainly ionic interaction and hydrogen bonding, while the interaction between glycerol and CS is mainly hydrogen bonding.

Octyl succinic anhydride-modified chitosan/oxidized sodium alginate Schiff base hydrogel loaded with terbinafine hydrochloride: pH-responsive, self-repairing, antifungal properties.

The application of hydrogels to drug delivery limited by the difficulty of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs; therefore, the development of novel composite hydrogels for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs is urgently needed. In this study, terbinafine hydrochloride/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (TFH/HP-β-CD ICs) were added to a Schiff base hydrogel matrix containing octenyl succinic anhydride-modified chitosan (OSA-CS) and sodium alginate (OIA) to prepare a TFH composite hydrogel (TFH GEL). The results revealed that the solubility of TFH in water within TFH/HP-β-CD IC reached 32.

On-demand celastrol delivery by hyaluronic acid-porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks for synergistic sonodynamic/pharmacological antibacterial therapy.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent bacterial pathogens. The multi-drug resistance and strong biofilm-forming ability make the treatment of MRSA infections challenging. It is urgent to develop antibiotic-free, noninvasive and effective strategies against MRSA infections.

Post-acid modification-enhanced gelation of casein-tamarind seed polysaccharide-based medium internal phase emulsion and its application in 3D printing.

Printable protein-based medium internal phase emulsions (MIPEs) with low oil fraction have the advantages of reducing the incidence of obesity, coronary heart disease and hypertension. However, the development of printable protein-based MIPEs is still a considerable challenge because reducing oil content will cause phase separation and increase the fluidity of emulsion. In this study, we successfully prepared printable MIPEs (φ = 40 %) inks by co-stabilizing with casein and tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) and using post-acid modification technology.

Green lignocellulose-nanofibers-based molecular imprinting membranes for baicalin selective adsorption.

Lignocellulosic nanofibers (LCNF), blending nano-scale cellulose and lignin, were carboxylated and integrated with PVA and baicalin to create a molecularly imprinted membrane (CLCNF-MINM). This innovation, leveraging reactive deep eutectic solvent technology and electrospinning, boosts adsorption capacity by 12.3-21.

DM9CP-8 upon binding microbes activates MASPL-1-C3 axis to regulate the mRNA expressions of IL17s in oysters.

DM9 domain-containing protein (DM9CP) as pattern recognition molecule is involved in regulating the inflammation-related signaling pathway in invertebrates. In the present study, a DM9CP with two tandem DM9 repeats (designated as CgDM9CP-8) was identified from Crassostrea gigas. The mRNA transcript of CgDM9CP-8 was the highest in haemocytes.

Fucoidan and chitosan electrostatically coated nanoliposomes enhance physicochemical stability and bioavailability of rutin.

Rutin, a promising bioactive hydrophobic compound, suffers from poor physicochemical stability, resulting in low bioavailability. Herein, we used positively charged chitosan and negatively charged fucoidan as biopolymers coating rutin-nanoliposome (RNL) via electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly approach to prepare fucoidan/chitosan-coated rutin-nanoliposome (FC-RNL). The FC-RNL exhibited the encapsulation efficiency of 77.

Proteoglycan-degrading enzymes engineered for enhanced tumor microenvironment interaction in renal cell carcinoma.

This work optimized proteoglycan-degrading enzymes through targeted mutagenesis to enhance their interaction with the tumor microenvironment in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). A comprehensive mutagenesis approach identified 60 key mutations significantly improving enzymatic activity, stability, and structural integrity. When compared to Wild Type (WT) enzyme, a remarkable increase in specific activity by 35 % (p < 0.

Tomato B-cell lymphoma2 (Bcl2)-associated athanogene 5 (SlBAG5) contributes negatively to immunity against necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea through interacting with SlBAP1 and modulating catalase activity.

The evolutionarily conserved and multifunctional B-cell lymphoma2 (Bcl2)-associated athanogene proteins (BAGs), serving as co-chaperone regulators, play a pivotal role in orchestrating plant stress responses. In this study, the possible involvement of tomato SlBAG genes in resistance to Botrytis cinerea was examined. The SlBAG genes respond with different expression change patterns to B.

In situ biosynthesis of functionalized fluorescent bacterial cellulose.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a porous biopolymer synthesized via microbial fermentation. BC exhibits remarkable properties and is widely utilized in diverse applications. Despite all its merits, BC is constrained by certain performance limitations.

Interfacial properties of whey protein hydrolysates monitored by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation.

Whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) can be used to develop hypoallergenic foods. However, the stabilization mechanism of WPH-stabilized emulsion is not fully understood. Here, a real-time quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used in conjunction with a rheometer to investigate the interfacial properties of WPH.

A biomass-based "double-encapsulation structure" heightens the flame retardancy, antimicrobial effectiveness, and hydrophobicity of cotton fabric.

Due to the non-renewable nature of petroleum resources, there has been a notable shift toward utilizing biomass materials to confer flame retardant properties to cotton fabrics. However, endow solely with single function cannot meet the application requirements across various fields. Therefore, there is considerable impetus to develop multifunctional cotton fabrics integrating flame retardant, antimicrobial, and hydrophobic properties sourced from biomass.

Acute hyperglycemia impedes spinal cord injury recovery via triggering excessive ferroptosis of endothelial cells.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious central nervous system injury that often causes sensory and motor dysfunction in patients. Diabetes seriously destroys the blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) and aggravates SCI. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death.

Polysaccharides from Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. Improve reserpine-induced depression-like behavior by inhibiting HTR2A/HTR2C mediated AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin/CBP/BDNF signaling.

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. is a traditional Chinese medicine used to regulate blood sugar levels, immunity, etc. We previously isolated polysaccharides from S.

Carbohydrate polymer-based nanoparticles in curcumin delivery for cancer therapy: A review.

The use of natural products for cancer treatment has a lengthy history. The safety and multifunctionality of naturally occurring substances have rendered them appropriate for cancer treatment. Curcumin influences multiple molecular pathways and is advantageous for treating both hematological and solid tumors.

Allosteric site engagement and cooperativity mechanism by PHI1 for BRAF kinase inhibition.

With the ability to reveal allosteric sites, Ponatinib and Ponatinib Hybrid Inhibitor 1 (PHI1) are novel inhibitors of BRAF, a potent oncogene that activates the MAPK pathway. PHI1 also exhibits unique positive cooperativity, with enhanced inhibition on the other monomer when one monomer of the BRAF dimer bound to an inhibitor. The abovementioned properties lack rigorous theoretical verification, so this study compared the interaction mechanisms of four inhibitor types and explored the source of the cooperativity of PHI1 via various computational methods.

Nucleolin-targeted silicon-based nanoparticles for enhanced chemo-sonodynamic therapy of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The limited selectivity and high systemic toxicity of traditional chemotherapy hinder its efficacy in treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The combination of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) with chemotherapy has emerged as a novel strategy for cancer treatment, aiming to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce systemic toxicity. However, challenges such as elevated drug clearance rates and non-selecitivity remain to be resolved.

Enhancement of neurogenesis and antidepressant-like efficacy through combined activation of Sigma-1 and 5-HT1A receptors: focus on Sigma-1-5-HT1A heteroreceptor complex.

The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) attracts significant interests as a potential target for rapid-onset antidepressant-like effects, particularly due to its capacity to swiftly stimulate serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). However, the precise regulatory mechanism involved remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to examine the interaction between the selective S1R agonist, SA-4503 and 8-OH-DPAT, a serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist, in mice with depressive-like behavior induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS).

Effect of two novel GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators on neuropathic and inflammatory pain in mice.

Loss of GABAergic inhibition in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) is implicated in central sensitization and chronic pain. Both agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of GABAA receptor are found to be effective in the management of chronic pain. In addition to benzodiazepines, neuroactive steroids (NASs) also act as PAMs through binding to unique sites of GABAA receptors.

Elucidation and biosynthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: Recent advances and prospects.

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (THIAs) are a prominent class of plant-derived compounds with various important pharmaceutical applications. Considerable progress has been made in the biosynthesis of THIAs in microorganisms due to the elucidation of their natural biosynthetic pathways and the discovery of key enzymes. In this review, we systematically summarize recent progress in elucidating the natural biosynthetic pathways of THIAs and their biosynthesis in industrial microorganisms.

Roles of gastric cancer-derived exosomes in the occurrence of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Gastric cancer (GC), particularly in East Asia, is among the most prevalent cancers with high mortality rates. According to recent epidemiological data, patients with GC account for over a quarter of all cancer incidences and approximately one third of cancer-related deaths in East Asia. Liver metastasis (LM) is not only a common form of GC distant metastasis but also poses a major challenge to the prognosis and treatment of patients with advanced GC.

SERCA2 dysfunction accelerates angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis by induction of oxidative stress in aortic smooth muscle cells.

Background And Aim: Our previous research indicates that sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2 (SERCA2) dysfunction facilitates the phenotypic transformation of aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and intensifies aortic aneurysm through the regulation of calcium-dependent pathways and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our hypothesis is that additional mechanisms are involved in aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis induced by SERCA2 dysfunction from the perspective of ASMC phenotypic transformation.

Methods & Results: In SERCA2 dysfunctional mice and their control littermates, ASMCs were isolated to analyze protein expression and cell functions, and angiotensin II was infused into these mice that were backcrossed into LDL receptor deficient background to induce aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.

Spatiotemporal changes of vegetation in the northern foothills of Qinling Mountains based on kNDVI considering climate time-lag effects and human activities.

Vegetation is fundamental to regulating the climate system and ensuring carbon balance. Recognizing the effects of climate change (CC) and human activities (HA) is vital for understanding shifts in vegetation. However, climate time-lag effects are rarely measured, resulting in an inadequate assessment of CC's effects on vegetation dynamics.