Ceramides increase mitochondrial permeabilization to trigger mtDNA-dependent inflammation in astrocytes during brain ischemia.

The brain is rich in lipids, and disorders or abnormalities in lipid metabolism can induce neurotoxicity. Ceramides are the central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism. This study was designed to investigate the potential lipotoxicity of ceramides in brain ischemia.

N -Acetyl-Tryptophan in Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery.

Key Points: -acetyl-tryptophan (NAT) was elevated in plasma of patients with cardiac surgery–associated AKI compared with those who do not develop AKI after surgery. NAT exhibited kidney-protective effects in ischemia-reperfusion–, cisplatin-, and unilateral ureteral obstruction–induced kidney injury mouse models and epithelial cellular models. NAT interacted with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 at 483 and 508 sites, resulting in Nrf2 nuclear translocation and proteasome genes transcription, respectively.

The effect of problem-based learning on improving problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability for the pharmacy students: A randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of PBL on problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability of pharmaceutical students through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Methods: In 2021, 57 third-year pharmacy students from China Pharmaceutical University were randomly divided into a PBL group and a lecture-based learning (LBL) group. Mean scores were compared between the two groups for problem-solving, self-directed learning, communication skills, critical thinking, and final exam grades.

Relationship between metabolomics of T2DM patients and the anti-diabetic effects of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex-Anemarrhenae Rhizoma herb pair in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses significant threats to public health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex-Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (PCC/AR) herb pair has long been used for T2DM treatment, although its specific anti-diabetic mechanisms remain unclear.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between metabolomics of T2DM patients and the anti-diabetic effects of PCC/AR herb pair in mice through clinical metabolomics and both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Gut Bacteroides ovatus ameliorates renal fibrosis by promoting the production of HDCA through upregulation of Clostridium scindens.

Renal fibrosis, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis are all linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here we show that Bacteroides ovatus protects against renal fibrosis. Mechanistically, B.

Comparative genomics of the medicinal plants Lonicera macranthoides and L. japonica provides insight into genus genome evolution and hederagenin-based saponin biosynthesis.

Lonicera macranthoides (LM) and L. japonica (LJ) are medicinal plants widely used in treating viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Although the two species are morphologically similar, their secondary metabolite profiles are significantly different.

Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits astrocyte activation and promotes transfer of astrocytic mitochondria to neurons against ischemic stroke.

Astrocytes activation in response to stroke results in altered mitochondrial exchange with neurons. Ginsenoside Rb1is a major ginsenoside of Panax ginseng particularly known for its neuroprotective potential. This work aimed to investigate if Rb1 could rescue neurons from ischemic insult via astrocyte inactivation and mitochondrial transfer.

Cordyceps Improves Obesity and its Related Inflammation via Modulation of Abundance and Bile Acid Metabolism.

Dysbiotic gut microbiota has been identified as a primary mediator of inherent inflammation that underlies the pathogenesis of obesity. Cordyceps comprises the larval body and the stroma of (BerK.) Sacc.

Integrated metagenomics identifies a crucial role for trimethylamine-producing Lachnoclostridium in promoting atherosclerosis.

Microbial trimethylamine (TMA)-lyase activity promotes the development of atherosclerosis by generating of TMA, the precursor of TMA N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO is well documented, but same can not be said of TMA-producing bacteria. This work aimed to identify TMA-producing genera in human intestinal microbiota.

Paired Derivatization Approach with H/D-Labeled Hydroxylamine Reagents for Sensitive and Accurate Analysis of Monosaccharides by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Monosaccharides play important roles in biological processes. Sensitive and accurate analyses of monosaccharides remain challenging because of their high hydrophilicities and poor ionization efficiencies. Here, we developed a paired derivatization approach with H/D-labeled hydroxylamines for simultaneous quantification of 12 monosaccharides by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

The mitochondrial β-oxidation enzyme HADHA restrains hepatic glucagon response by promoting β-hydroxybutyrate production.

Disordered hepatic glucagon response contributes to hyperglycemia in diabetes. The regulators involved in glucagon response are less understood. This work aims to investigate the roles of mitochondrial β-oxidation enzyme HADHA and its downstream ketone bodies in hepatic glucagon response.

Omics and Transgenic Analyses Reveal that Salvianolic Acid B Exhibits its Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Inhibiting the Mincle-Syk-Related Pathway in Macrophages.

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the main water-soluble compound in , is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, however, the underlying mechanism(s) is not completely uncovered. In this study, Sal B inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced M1 activation and promoted the transformation of macrophages from M1- to M2-type polarization. The altered lipid profiles of LPS-induced RAW 264.

Intestinal α1-2-Fucosylation Contributes to Obesity and Steatohepatitis in Mice.

Background & Aims: Fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2)-mediated intestinal α1- 2-fucosylation is important for host-microbe interactions and has been associated with several diseases, but its role in obesity and hepatic steatohepatitis is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Fut2 in a Western-style diet-induced mouse model of obesity and steatohepatitis.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) and Fut2-deficient littermate mice were used and features of the metabolic syndrome and steatohepatitis were assessed after 20 weeks of Western diet feeding.

Proteomic analysis reveals ginsenoside Rb1 attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibiting ROS production from mitochondrial complex I.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst from mitochondrial complex I is considered the critical cause of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Ginsenoside Rb1 has been reported to protect the heart against I/R injury; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This work aimed to investigate if ginsenoside Rb1 attenuates cardiac I/R injury by inhibiting ROS production from mitochondrial complex I.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of the anti-rheumatoid arthritis potential of xylopic acid in a bioinspired lipoprotein nanoformulation.

Xylopic acid (XA), a diterpene kaurene and the major active ingredient of the African spice Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae), is reported to possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of XA for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by joint damage, in the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis model in rats. We synthesized bioinspired reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) nanoparticles loaded with purified XA crystals (rHDL/XA) that passively accumulate in inflamed joints of CFA-induced arthritic rats.

Untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics uncovering the cardioprotective effects of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction on pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: As a classic herbal prescription, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJDD) exhibits positive effects against cardiac dysfunction. However, its cardioprotective effects and potential mechanism(s) of action still need to be systematically investigated.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to reveal the underlying therapeutic mechanism of HLJDD on transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.

Metabolomics identifying biomarkers of PM exposure for vulnerable population: based on a prospective cohort study.

Long-term exposure to particular matter (PM), especially fine PM (< 2.5 μm in the aerodynamic diameter, PM), is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term exposure to PM/PM and the metabolic change in the plasma.

A mass spectrometry database for identification of saponins in plants.

Saponins constitute an important class of secondary metabolites of the plant kingdom. Here, we present a mass spectrometry-based database for rapid and easy identification of saponins henceforth referred to as saponin mass spectrometry database (SMSD). With a total of 4196 saponins, 214 of which were obtained from commercial sources.

Cerebrospinal fluid-based metabolomics to characterize different types of brain tumors.

Background: Brain tumors cause significant morbidity and mortality due to rapid progression and high recurrence risks. Reliable biomarkers to improve diagnosis thereof are desirable.

Objective: This work aimed to identify panels of biomarkers for diagnostic purposes using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based metabolomics.

A simple and rapid fluorescent approach for flavonoids sensor based on gold nanoclusters.

The development of simple, easy-to-operate and real-time detection methods for the active ingredients in herbal medicines has aroused growing interest owing to their pivotal health benefits. In this study, a qualitative and quantitative detection method for the flavonoids was developed based on the specific interaction between flavonoids and bovine serum albumin (BSA). A fluorescent gold nanocluster was imbedded into the cavity enclosed in the tertiary structure of BSA, the fluorescence of which can be quenched by the flavonoids with fast response (<5 s).

Functional Metabolomics Characterizes a Key Role for -Acetylneuraminic Acid in Coronary Artery Diseases.

Background: As new biomarkers of coronary artery diseases (CAD) emerge via metabolomics, the underlying functional mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Functional metabolomics aims to translate metabolomics-derived biomarkers to disease mechanisms.

Methods: A cohort of 2324 patients who underwent coronary angiography from 4 independent centers was studied.

Regioselective Synthesis of Carbonyl-Containing Alkyl Chlorides via Silver-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Chlorination of Cycloalkanols.

A novel and regioselective approach to carbonyl-containing alkyl chlorides via silver-catalyzed ring-opening chlorination of cycloalkanols is reported. Concurrent C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) bond cleavage and C(sp(3))-Cl bond formation efficiently occur with good yields under mild conditions, and the chlorinated products are readily transformed into other useful synthetic intermediates and drugs. The reaction features complete regioselectivity, high efficiency, and excellent practicality.