Preparation of glycine-pectin complex and its application in drug delivery system.

The side chain modification of apple pectin was carried out to enhance its usablitity as a drug carrier. During the sequential drug release, indomethacin released with very low rate in the early two hours in artificial gastric juice, and then it released with much higher rate in the next six hours in artificial intestinal juice. Among all the tested samples, glycine-pectin complex showed the highest difference between the amount of cumulative drug release in artificial gastric juice and artificial intestinal juice.

The First Complete Mitogenome Characterization and Phylogenetic Implications of (Teleostei: Elopiformes: Elopidae).

This study presents the first complete mitochondrial genome characterization of (Teleostei: Elopiformes: Elopidae), a basal teleost lineage critical for understanding early actinopterygian evolution. The assembled mitogenome, deposited under GenBank accession number PV294982, spans 16,712 bp and exhibits the canonical vertebrate mitochondrial gene organization, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. Base composition analysis revealed 22.

Radical 1,3-Difunctionalization of β,γ-Unsaturated Ketones via Concomitant 1,2-Carbonyl Migration: An Entrance to β-SF-/β-CFSF Ketones.

The radical migration (RaM) mechanism via photoinduced transformation is a powerful tool in organic synthesis to construct new molecular scaffolds. Herein we disclose a metal-free, photoinduced 1,2-carbonyl migration of β,γ-unsaturated ketones to afford a wide range of valuable β-SF/β-CFSF ketones. This transformation exhibits broad functional group tolerance and is suitable for the late-stage modification of complex molecules in up to 93% yield with excellent chemoselectivity and regioselectivity.

In-depth analysis of the first complete mitochondrial genome of the rare shrimp Alpheus euphrosyne, with comparative phylogenetic genomics insights into the Alpheus species.

Background: Mitochondrial genomes, with their maternal inheritance, rapid evolution, and compact organization, are ideal for phylogenetic analysis.

Aim: This study presents the first comprehensive mitochondrial genome analysis of the rare shrimp Alpheus euphrosyne, a species known for its unique morphological traits and ecological niche.

Methods And Results: By sequencing and annotating its entire mitochondrial genome, we provide a detailed genetic blueprint that informs future studies on its evolutionary trajectory, population genetics, and conservation status.

Modeling habitat distribution and niche overlap of Asian horseshoe crabs: Implications for conservation.

Asian horseshoe crabs are ancient organisms essential for the balance of marine ecosystems. However, detailed information on their ecology and the environmental factors influencing their distribution remains limited. In this study, we analyzed habitat characteristics, potential distribution, and niche overlap for three species: Tachypleus tridentatus, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and Tachypleus gigas.

Assessing the quality and integrating the evidence and strength of recommendations in the guidelines for gastric precancerous lesions.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are intended to offer appropriate recommendations for clinical practice based on the available evidence while acknowledging existing gaps and uncertainties. The quality of CPGs for gastric precancerous lesions (GPL), distribution of evidence quality, and strength of recommendations are unknown.

Objective: Systematically evaluate the quality of CPGs for GPL and identify areas for improvement in the development process.

Melatonin Enhances Maize Germination, Growth, and Salt Tolerance by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation and Antioxidant Systems.

Melatonin (MT) is a crucial hormone that controls and positively regulates plant growth under abiotic stress, but the biochemical and physiological processes of the combination of melatonin seed initiation and exogenous spray treatments and their effects on maize germination and seedling salt tolerance are not well understood. Consequently, in this research, we utilized the maize cultivars Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) and Demeiya 1 (DMY1), which are extensively marketed in northeastern China's high-latitude cold regions, to reveal the modulating effects of melatonin on maize salinity tolerance by determining the impacts of varying concentrations of melatonin on maize seedling growth characteristics, osmoregulation, antioxidant systems, and gene expression. The findings revealed that salt stress (100 mM NaCl) significantly inhibited maize seed germination and seedling development, which resulted in significant increases in the HO and O content and decreases in the antioxidant enzyme activity and photosynthetic pigment content in maize seedlings.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 promotes the progression of liver fibrosis after HCV eradication with direct-acting antivirals.

Although therapies based on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) effectively eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients, there is still a high risk of liver fibrosis even after a sustained virological response. Therefore, it is of great clinical importance to understand the mechanism of potential factors that promote liver fibrosis after virological cure by treatment with DAAs. Here, we found that tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) is significantly increased in HCV-infected hepatocytes and in the liver of patients with liver fibrosis, and that higher TINAGL1 expression persists in HCV-eradicated hepatocytes after treatment with DAAs.

Native Defect-Dependent Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in p-Type Dopable Wide-Bandgap NiO.

NiO is a wide-bandgap p-type metal oxide that has extensive applications in optoelectronics and photocatalysts. Understanding the carrier dynamics in p-type NiO is pivotal for optimizing device performance, yet they remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to delve into the dynamics of photogenerated carriers in NiO films containing distinct prominent native defects: undoped NiO with oxygen vacancies () and O-rich NiO (denoted as NiO) with nickel vacancies ().

Biomechanism of abnormal stress on promoting osteoarthritis of temporomandibular joint through Piezo1 ion channel.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether flow fluid shear stress (FFSS)-mediated signal transduction affects the function of Piezo1 ion channel in chondrocyte and to further explore the role of mechanical overloading in development of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA).

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of Piezo1 in TMJ OA tissue collected from rat unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) models. Chondrocytes harvested from normal adult SD rats were treated with FFSS (0, 4, 8, 12 dyn/cm) in vitro.

The intramolecular self-assembly of bidesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins.

The phenomena of intramolecular self-assembly of bidesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins was identified for the first time in this paper. NMR (H-NMR, NOESY), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques were used to compare the spatial structures of bidesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins and monodesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins. The results showed that the bidesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins formed a clustered and twisted structure in space, whereas the monodesmosidic kalopanaxsaponins were in an extended state.

Clinical Characteristics and Fatality Risk Factors for Patients with Listeria monocytogenes Infection: A 12-Year Hospital-Based Study in Xi'an, China.

Introduction: Listeriosis is a severe food-borne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection. The data of listeriosis in Xi'an population are limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and fatality risk factors for listeriosis in three tertiary-care hospitals in Xi'an, China METHODS: The characteristics of demographic data, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory indicators, cranial imaging examination, antibiotics therapeutic schemes, and clinical outcomes were collected between 2011 and 2023.

Effects of stand ages on soil enzyme activities in Chinese fir plantations and natural secondary forests.

Forest type and stand age are important biological factors affecting soil enzyme activities. However, the changes in soil enzyme activities across stand ages and underlying mechanisms under the two forest restoration strate-gies of plantations and natural secondary forests remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the variations of four soil enzyme activities including cello-biohydrolase (CBH), β-1,4-glucosidase (βG), acid phosphatase (AP) and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), which were closely associated with soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling, across plantations and natural secondary forests (5, 8, 21, 27 and 40 years old).

The effects of social networks on HIV risk behaviors among Vietnamese female sex workers: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Female sex workers (FSWs) experience heightened vulnerability to HIV and other health harms, and cross-border FSWs face additional challenges due to language issues, higher mobility, and weaker negotiation skills. Given the critical role of social network factors in HIV transmission, it is imperative to explore the social network characteristics of Vietnamese cross-border FSWs in China to enhance AIDS prevention and control.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 Vietnamese FSWs in Hekou County, Yunnan Province from May to July 2018.

Effect of Reactive Oxygen Scavenger N,N'-Dimethylthiourea (DMTU) on Seed Germination and Radicle Elongation of Maize.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important part of adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses and regulate seed germination through positive or negative signaling. Seed adaptation to abiotic stress may be mediated by hydrogen peroxide (HO). The effects of the ROS scavenger N,N'-dimethylthiourea (DMTU) on maize seed germination through endogenous HO regulation is unclear.

supplementation improves glucose tolerance in intestinal knockout mice during the daily light to dark transition.

Alterations in the intestinal environment are associated with various diseases, and FFAR4 is abundantly enriched in the intestine, where it has been shown to have the ability to regulate intestinal hormone secretion and intestinal microbiota; here, we confirmed previous reports. Meanwhile, we found that intestinal FFAR4 regulates glucagon-like peptide 1 secretion by decreasing abundance and show that such change is associated with the level of glucose utilization at ZT12 in mice. Intestinal FFAR4 deficiency leads to severely impaired glucose tolerance at the ZT12 moment in mice, and supplementation ameliorates the abnormal glucose utilization at the ZT12 moment caused by FFAR4 deficiency, which is very similar to the dawn phenomenon in diabetic patients.

Hepatic MR imaging using IDEAL-IQ sequence: Will Gd-EOB-DTPA interfere with reproductivity of fat fraction quantification?

Background: Iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation quantification sequence (IDEAL-IQ) is based on chemical shift-based water and fat separation technique to get proton density fat fraction. Multiple studies have shown that using IDEAL-IQ to test the stability and repeatability of liver fat is acceptable and has high accuracy.

Aim: To explore whether Gadoxetate Disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) interferes with the measurement of the hepatic fat content quantified with the IDEAL-IQ and to evaluate the robustness of this technique.

Quality appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for motor neuron diseases or related disorders using the AGREE II instrument.

Objectives: This study aimed to systematically assess the quality of CPGs for motor neuron diseases (MNDs) or related disorders and identify the gaps that limit evidence-based practice.

Methods: Four scientific databases and six guideline repositories were searched for eligible CPGs. Three researchers assessed the eligible CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II instrument.

Proteomic analysis reveals that Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide ameliorates mice muscle atrophy in chemotherapy-induced cachexia.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide (PCP) is the main bioactive compound derived from the herb Polygonati Rhizoma, known for its anti-fatigue, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effectiveness on alleviating chemotherapy-induced muscle atrophy has been unclear. In this study, we utilized proteomic analysis to investigate the effects and mechanisms of PCP on gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) induced muscle atrophy in mice.

Analysis of factors influencing the distribution of 131-I in combined treatment of Licartin with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in primary hepatic carcinoma.

Objective: To analyze the factors influencing the distribution of 131-I in the liver of patients with advanced hepatic carcinoma treated with the combination of Licartin (I Metuximab) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). This study provides a reference and basis for the clinic on how to choose the best time for the treatment of Licartin and how to reduce other possible factors affecting the role of Licartin.

Methods: Data from 41 patients with advanced hepatic carcinoma treated with the combination of Licartin and TACE in the Interventional Department of our hospital from March 2014 to December 2020 were collected.

Establishment and application of a high-throughput screening model for cell adhesion inhibitors.

The cell adhesion between leukocytes and endothelial cells plays an important balanced role in the pathophysiological function, while excessive adhesion caused by etiological agents is associated with the occurrence and development of many acute and chronic diseases. Cell adhesion inhibitors have been shown to have a potential therapeutic effect on these diseases, therefore, efficient and specific inhibitors against cell adhesion are highly desirable. Here, using lipopolysaccharide-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and calcein-AM-labeled human monocytic cell THP-1, we established a high-throughput screening model for cell adhesion inhibitors with excellent model evaluation parameters.

Description of Limnobaculum eriocheiris sp. nov., an intestinal bacterium of Eriocheir sinensis, and reclassification of the genera Jinshanibacter and Insectihabitans as Limnobaculum.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped strain, designated LJY008, was isolated from the intestinal of Eriocheir sinensis in Pukou base of Jiangsu Institute of Freshwater Fisheries. Strain LJY008 could grow at 4-37 ℃ (optimum, 30 ℃), pH 6.0-8.

A systematic review of community pharmacist practices in complementary medicine.

Background: The people who use complementary medicines (CMs) believe that these medicines are safe and harmless. They could easily access CMs like herbal or traditional medicines in community pharmacies. Therefore, community pharmacists are important professionals in advising the safe choices of CMs and providing evidence-based information for customers to decrease adverse effects of CMs.

Family socioeconomic status and mental health in Chinese adolescents: the multiple mediating role of social relationships.

Background: The purpose of this study is to explore whether social relationships of family and school contexts mediate the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on Chinese adolescents' mental health.

Methods: A school-based study was conducted among a sample aged 13-18 in East China (n = 6902). We used scales for measuring social relationships and self-rated mental health.