Exploring the masking of berberine bitterness by natural polysaccharides based on a "net-hook" dual-effect mechanism.

Bitterness masking is a crucial technical hurdle in the development and application of oral liquid medicines. Small-molecule excipients, such as cyclodextrin, often provide insufficient bitterness masking, thus prompting the exploration of large-molecule excipients, especially polysaccharides. In this study, the bitterness-masking effects of 10 polysaccharides were assessed using berberine as a model.

Neuropeptide FF prevented histamine- or chloroquine-induced acute itch behavior through non-NPFF receptors mechanism in male mice.

The neuropeptide FF (NPFF) system regulates various physiological and pharmacological functions, particularly pain modulation. However, the modulatory effect of NPFF system on itch remains unclear. To investigate the modulatory effect and functional mechanism induced by NPFF system on acute itch, we examined the effects of supraspinal administration of NPFF and related peptides on acute itch induced by intradermal (i.

Severe Organ Impairment Was Common in Elderly Individuals with Dengue in Guangdong, China.

Guangdong, China, has experienced several dengue epidemics involving thousands of confirmed cases in recent decades, and elderly individuals suffered severe dengue (SD) most seriously. However, the clinical characteristics and risk factors for SD among elderly patients in Guangdong have not been investigated. Patients older than 65 years were recruited and divided into a dengue fever (DF) group and an SD group according to the 2009 Dengue Guidelines of the WHO.

The immune function of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in response to bacterial infection.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible rate-limiting metabolic enzyme, exerts critical immunomodulatory functions by potential anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities. Although accumulative studies have focused on the immune functions of HO-1 in mammals, the roles in fish are poorly understood, and the reports on involvement in the defensive and immune response are very limited. In this study, On-HO-1 gene from Oreochromis niloticus was successfully cloned and identified, which contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 816 bp and coded for a protein of 271 amino acids.

[Comparative analysis of efficacy of different forms of Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum on functional dyspepsia in rats based on composition-pharmacodynamics].

A systematic evaluation of the differences in the chemical composition and efficacy of the different forms of Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum(GGEC) was conducted based on modern analytical techniques and a functional dyspepsia(FD) rat model, which clarifies the material basis of the digestive efficacy of GGEC. Proteins, enzymes, polysaccharides, amino acids, and flavonoids in GGEC powder and decoction were determined respectively. The total protein of the powder and decoction was 0.

Levels of antibodies against the monkeypox virus compared by HIV status and historical smallpox vaccinations: a serological study.

Men who have sex with men and people living with HIV are disproportionately affected in the 2022 multi-country monkeypox epidemic. The smallpox vaccine can induce cross-reactive antibodies against the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and reduce the risk of infection. Data on antibodies against MPXV induced by historic smallpox vaccination in people with HIV are scarce.

Genotype of dengue virus serotype 1 in relation to severe dengue in Guangzhou, China.

Guangzhou has been the city most affected by the dengue virus (DENV) in China, with a predominance of DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1). Viral factors such as dengue serotype and genotype are associated with severe dengue (SD). However, none of the studies have investigated the relationship between DENV-1 genotypes and SD.

Dengue encephalopathy in an adult due to dengue virus type 1 infection.

Background: Dengue is an important public health problem, which caused by the dengue virus (DENV), a single-stranded RNA virus consisted of four serotypes. Central nervus system (CNS) impairment in dengue usually results from DENV-2 or DENV-3 infection, which lead to life-threatening outcomes. Furthermore, neurological complications due to DENV-1 was rare especially in adult patients.

Molecular characteristics and functional analysis of non-specific cytotoxic cell receptor (NCCRP1) in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus).

Non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCCs) are cytotoxic cell population found in innate immune system of teleost, playing crucial role in immune defense. Non-specific cytotoxic cell receptor protein 1 (NCCRP1) is responsible for recognizing target cells and activating NCCs. That said, since the studies regarding NCCs' role in fish during pathogen infection are few, it is necessary to conduct more comprehensive studies.

Apolipoprotein Eb (On-ApoEb) protects Oreochromis niloticus against Streptococcus agalactiae infection.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a critical targeting protein, has been found to play an essential role in the protection against infection and inflammation. However, the immune functions of ApoE against bacterial infection in fish have not been investigated. In this study, a full-length cDNA for ApoE, named On-ApoEb was cloned from Oreochromis niloticus.

Interleukin-8 involved in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against bacterial infection.

Interleukin 8 (IL8) is vital in promoting inflammation and is a crucial mediator in various physiopathological processes while influencing immunological function. The effect of IL8 on the immunological response to acute bacterial infections in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remains unknown. This work found an IL8 gene from Nile tilapia (On-IL8).

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) protects Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against bacterial infection.

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is a lipoprotein involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, the immunomodulatory functions of ApoA-I in fish are not well understood. In this study, ApoA-I from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (On-ApoA-I) was identified, and its function in bacterial infection was investigated.

A novel perlucin-like protein (PLP) protects Litopenaeus vannamei against Vibrio harveyi infection.

C-type lectins (CTLs), as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), play an important role in the innate immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei. In this study, a novel CTL, named perlucin-like protein (PLP), was identified from L. vannamei, which shared homology sequences of PLP from Penaeus monodon.

A novel C-type lectin for Litopenaeus vannamei involved in the innate immune response against Vibrio infection.

C-type lectins (CTLs), as a member of pattern recognition receptors, play a vital role in the innate immune response of invertebrates to eliminate micro-invaders. In this study, a novel CTL of Litopenaeus vannamei, namely, LvCTL7, was successfully cloned, with an open reading frame of 501 bp and a capability to encode 166 amino acids. Blast analysis showed that the amino acid sequence similarity between LvCTL7 and MjCTL7 (Marsupenaeus japonicus) was 57.

Bistachybotrysin K, one new phenylspirodrimane dimer from with potent cytotoxic activity.

Bistachybotrysin K (), one new phenylspirodrimane dimer with a central 6/7 oxygen heterocycle core, was isolated from the fungus CGMCC 3.5365. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Bistachybotrysins F-J, five new phenylspirodrimane dimers with a central cyclopentanone linkage from Stachybotrys chartarum.

Bistachybotrysins F-J (1-5), five new phenylspirodrimane dimers with a central cyclopentanone core were isolated from Stachybotrys chartarum CGMCC 3.5365. The structures of 1-5 were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 1D/2D NMR, HR-MS, and ECD spectra.

Three new phenylspirodrimane derivatives with inhibitory effect towards potassium channel Kv1.3 from the fungus .

Three new phenylspirodrimanes derivatives named stachybotrysins H and I ( and ) and stachybotrin E (), together with one known compound stachybotrylactam (), were isolated from CGMCC 3.5365. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR data and mass spectroscopic analysis.

Quantifying Surface Temperature of Thermoplasmonic Nanostructures.

Precise measurement of the temperature right at the surface of thermoplasmonic nanostructures is a grand challenge but extremely important for the photochemical reaction and photothermal therapy. We present here a method capable of measuring the surface temperature of plasmonic nanostructures with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which is not achievable by existing methods. We observe a sensitive shift of stretching vibration of a phenyl isocyanide molecule with temperature (0.

Bistachybotrysins A-C, three phenylspirodrimane dimers with cytotoxicity from Stachybotrys chartarum.

Bistachybotrysins A-C (1-3), three phenylspirodrimane dimers representing an unusual [6,6,7,6]-tetracyclic skeleton with a central 2,10-dioxabicyclo[4.3.1]decan-7-ol core fused with two phenyl units, were isolated from a fungal strain, Stachybotrys chartarum CGMCC 3.

Stachybotrysins A-G, Phenylspirodrimane Derivatives from the Fungus Stachybotrys chartarum.

Seven new phenylspirodrimane derivatives named stachybotrysins A-G (2-8), together with five known compounds (1, 9-12), were isolated from Stachybotrys chartarum CGMCC 3.5365. Stachybotrysin D (5) is the first reported example of a naturally occurring alcoholic O-sulfation of a phenylspirodrimane, and stachybotrysins F and G (7 and 8) are the first examples possessing an isobenzotetrahydrofuran ring with an acetonyl moiety attached.

Activation of oxygen on gold and silver nanoparticles assisted by surface plasmon resonances.

Surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) have been found to promote chemical reactions. In most oxidative chemical reactions oxygen molecules participate and understanding of the activation mechanism of oxygen molecules is highly important. For this purpose, we applied surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to find out the mechanism of SPR-assisted activation of oxygen, by using p-aminothiophenol (PATP), which undergoes a SPR-assisted selective oxidation, as a probe molecule.

Label-free detection of native proteins by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy using iodide-modified nanoparticles.

Proteins perform vital functional and structural duties in living systems, and the in-depth investigation of protein in its native state is one of the most important challenges in the postgenomic era. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can provide the intrinsic fingerprint information of samples with ultrahigh sensitivity but suffers from the reproducibility and reliability issues. In this paper, we proposed an iodide-modified Ag nanoparticles method (Ag IMNPs) for label-free detection of proteins.

Probing the location of hot spots by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: toward uniform substrates.

Wide applications of surface plasmon resonance rely on the in-depth understanding of the near-field distribution over a metallic nanostructure. However, precisely locating the strongest electric field in a metallic nanostructure still remains a great challenge in experiments because the field strength decays exponentially from the surface. Here, we demonstrate that the hot spot position for gold nanoparticles over a metal film can be precisely located using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) by rationally choosing the probe molecules and excitation wavelengths.