Factors associated with the composition of the gut microbiome in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis and its value for predicting treatment responses.

Background: We aimed to investigate the gut microbiota of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have been managed with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for a long time. We focused on factors that might affect composition of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we investigated whether gut microbiota composition predicts future clinical responses to conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with an insufficient response to initial therapy.

Potent and Selective Inhibition of CYP1A2 Enzyme by Obtusifolin and Its Chemopreventive Effects.

Obtusifolin, a major anthraquinone component present in the seeds of Cassia tora, exhibits several biological activities, including the amelioration of memory impairment, prevention of breast cancer metastasis, and reduction of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis. We aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of obtusifolin and its analogs on CYP1A enzymes, which are responsible for activating procarcinogens, and investigate its inhibitory mechanism and chemopreventive effects. P450-selective substrates were incubated with human liver microsomes (HLMs) or recombinant CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in the presence of obtusifolin and its four analogs.

Dysbiotic but nonpathogenic shift in the fecal mycobiota of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is closely associated with the oral and gut microbiomes. Fungal cell wall components initiate inflammatory arthritis in mouse models. However, little is known regarding the role of the fungal community in the pathogenesis of RA.

Comparative evaluation of bioactive phytochemicals in Spinacia oleracea cultivated under greenhouse and open field conditions.

Various factors related to growing conditions can influence the nutritional quality of plants, including vegetable crops, especially the contents of health-promoting phytochemicals. In this study, the phytochemical contents of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) cultivated under greenhouse and open field conditions were comparatively analyzed using a metabolomic approach with Mass Profiler Professional (MPP) software. S.

Facile Detection of Light-Controlled Radical Scavengers from Natural Products Using In Situ UV-LED NMR Spectroscopy.

With the recent development of chemical analysis technology, attention has been placed on natural light-sensitive compounds that exhibit photoreactivity to expand the structural diversity of natural product chemistry. Photochemical reactions that proceed via a free radical mechanism could be used to modulate the radical-scavenging ability of natural products as well as involve structural change. As the health benefits of radicals are also presented, there is a need for a controllable radical scavenging method for topical and selective application.

Meyeroguilline E, a New Isoindolinone Alkaloid from the Poisonous Mushroom , and Identification of Compounds with Multidrug Resistance (MDR) Reversal Activities.

Three isoindolinone alkaloids (-), including one new isoindolinone-type alkaloid, meyeroguilline E (), and six other known compounds (-) were isolated from the poisonous mushroom (Agaricaceae). The structure of the new compound was determined using extensive spectroscopic analyses via one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR data interpretation and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). To the best of our knowledge, compound is the first example of a natural isoindolinone with a butanoic acid moiety, and this study is the first to detect the other known compounds (-) in .

Bacteroides vulgatus SNUG 40005 Restores Akkermansia Depletion by Metabolite Modulation.

Background & Aims: Weight loss and exercise intervention have been reported to increase the interaction between Bacteroides spp and Akkermansiamuciniphila (Am), although the underlying mechanisms and consequences of the interaction remain unknown.

Methods: Using a healthy Korean twin cohort (n = 582), we analyzed taxonomic associations with host body mass index. B vulgatus strains were isolated from mice and human subjects to investigate the strain-specific effect of B vulgatus SNUG 40005 (Bvul) on obesity.

Nanoencapsulation enhances the bioavailability of fucoxanthin in microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum extract.

The marine carotenoid fucoxanthin (FX) has various health benefits but suffers from poor bioavailability. We hypothesize that the bioavailability of FX in microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum extract (PE) could be improved through nanoencapsulation. Here, we developed two types of nanoparticles: one consisting of alginate and casein (A-C-PE, 246 nm diameter, 79.

Rubiarbonol B induces RIPK1-dependent necroptosis via NOX1-derived ROS production.

The activation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) by death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) formation is essential for triggering the necroptotic mode of cell death under apoptosis-deficient conditions. Thus, targeting the induction of necroptosis by modulating RIPK1 activity could be an effective strategy to bypass apoptosis resistance in certain types of cancer. In this study, we screened a series of arborinane triterpenoids purified from Rubia philippinesis and identified rubiarbonol B (Ru-B) as a potent caspase-8 activator that induces DISC-mediated apoptosis in multiple types of cancer cells.

Antitumor Potential of Withanolide Glycosides from Ashwagandha () on Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Tube Formation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest-growing tumor capable of spreading to other organs via blood vessels formed by endothelial cells. Apoptosis and angiogenesis-targeting therapies are attractive for cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to study the in vitro cytotoxicity of against human HCC (HepG2) cells, identify potential antitumoral withanolide glycosides from the active fraction, and elucidate cytotoxic molecular mechanisms of identified bioactive compounds.

Anti-Osteoporosis Effects of the Fruit of Sea Buckthorn () through Promotion of Osteogenic Differentiation in Ovariectomized Mice.

The fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides has been widely used for medicinal purposes because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, and antimicrobial effects. Since there are no clear reports on the therapeutic efficacy of H. rhamnoides in osteoporosis, this study aimed to confirm the potential use of H.

Labdane-type Diterpenes from Needles and Their Anti- Activity.

is a medicinal tree used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma and various skin diseases. As part of our ongoing search for bioactive phytochemicals with novel structures in natural products, we performed a phytochemical analysis of the methanol (MeOH) extract from needles collected in Iran. Phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract, aided by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based analysis, resulted in the isolation and identification of three labdane-type diterpenes (), including a new and relatively unique norlabdane-type diterpene with a peroxide moiety, eldaricoxide A ().

Translating CO[Formula: see text] variability in a plant growth system into plant dynamics.

Plant growth occurs owing to the continuous interactions between environmental and genetic factors, and the analysis of plant growth provides crucial information on plant responses. Recent agronomic and analytical methodologies for plant growth require various channels for capturing broader and more dynamic plant traits. In this study, we provide a method of non-invasive growth analyses by translating CO[Formula: see text] variability around a plant.

Drug Discovery Using Evolutionary Similarities in Chemical Binding to Inhibit Patient-Derived Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Drug resistance causes therapeutic failure in refractory cancer. Cancer drug resistance stems from various factors, such as patient heterogeneity and genetic alterations in somatic cancer cells, including those from identical tissues. Generally, resistance is intrinsic for cancers; however, cancer resistance becomes common owing to an increased drug treatment.

Black raspberry extract can lower serum LDL cholesterol via modulation of gut microbial composition and serum bile acid profile in rats fed trimethylamine-N-oxide with a high-fat diet.

Unlabelled: Blood trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has been associated with cardiovascular disease. Black raspberry (, BR) has been regarded to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate how BR extract affects serum lipid profile, gut microbial composition, metabolites in rats fed TMAO with a high-fat diet.

Immunostimulating and intracellular signaling pathways mechanism on macrophage of rhamnogalacturonan-I type polysaccharide purified from radish leaves.

In this study, the intracellular signaling pathways involved in macrophage activation through the RG-I-type polysaccharide (REP-I) purified from radish leaves were elucidated. The gene expression and secretion of immune-related factors such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nitrogen oxide (NO) from macrophages were enhanced by the addition of REP-I. Moreover, immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry analyses indicated that REP-I dose-dependently phosphorylated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways.

Stone Wool Substrate Cover Incision Impacts on the Root-Zone Water Content, Temperature, and Yield of Tomato Cultures.

Standardized cultivation systems are crucial for establishing reproducible agronomic techniques. Especially stone wool-based cultivation is governed by standardized specifications and provides a controllable root-zone environment. However, the effects of stone wool cover incision on root-zone variability have rarely been studied.

Dual Beneficial Effects of α-Spinasterol Isolated from on Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle Cells and Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic β-Cells.

Herein, we determined whether α-Spinasterol, a stigmastane-type phytosterol isolated from , potentially impacts glucose uptake and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in skeletal muscle cells and pancreatic β-cells, respectively. We observed that and its fractions enhanced glucose uptake, with no toxic effects on C2C12 cells, with the -hexane fraction exhibiting the most potent effect. α-Spinasterol, isolated from the -hexane fraction, enhanced glucose uptake with no toxic effects on C2C12 cells.

Nutrient Dosing Framework for an Emission-Free Urban Hydroponic Production.

The urban hydroponic production system is accelerating industrialization in step with the potentials for reducing environmental impact. In contrast, establishing sustainable fertilizer dosing techniques still lags behind the pace of expansion of the system. The reproducibility of root-zone nutrient dynamics in the system is poorly understood, and managing nutrients has so far primarily relied on periodic discharge or dumping of highly concentrated nutrient solutions.