Biofortification of tomatoes with beta-carotene through targeted gene editing.

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most severe micronutrient-related health issues worldwide. Tomatoes, a widely cultivated crop for their adaptability, nutritional value, and lycopene content (a beta-carotene precursor), are ideal candidates for biofortification. In this study, CRISPR-mediated knockout mutants (cr-SlLCYe and cr-SlBCH) were generated to enhance the precursor supply to the β-carotene biosynthetic pathway and reduce its degradation.

[Effects and mechanisms of Yuxuebi Tablets combined with ibuprofen in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain through "integrated regulation of inflammation and pain-related oxylipins"].

This study adopted a three-dimensional "effect-dose-mechanism" evaluation system to screen the optimal regimen of Yuxuebi Tablets(YXB) combined with ibuprofen(IBU) for chronic musculoskeletal pain(CMP) intervention and elucidate its pharmacological mechanism, so as to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of the regimen. The experiments were conducted using 8-week-old ICR mice, which were randomly divided into sham operation(sham) group, model(CFA) group, IBU group, YXB group, stasis paralysis tablets combined with ibuprofen low-dose group(IBU-L-YXB), stasis paralysis combined with ibuprofen high-dose group(IBU-H-YXB), stasis paralysis tablets combined with ibuprofen high-dose with ibuprofen discontinuation on the 10th day of administration(IBU-10-YXB), and stasis paralysis tablets combined with ibuprofen high-dose with ibuprofen halving on the 10th day of administration(IBU-1/2-YXB) group. An animal model was established using the CFA plantar injection method.

Biotransformation of oleanonic acid from jujube by food fermentation fungus Actinomucor elegans and the potential anti-neuroinflammatory properties of metabolites.

This study investigated the biotransformation of oleanonic acid (1), a major bioactive constituent of jujube, using Actinomucor elegans, a filamentous fungus commonly employed in food fermentation. The process yielded 12 previously undescribed metabolites (compounds 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 14-20), along with seven known compounds. Structural elucidation of these metabolites was conducted through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses.

Interactive effects of atmospheric oxidative pollutants and heat on circulatory disease mortality.

Background: Atmospheric oxidative pollutants, air temperature, and heatwave events pose potential threats to public health. However, the combined effects of these factors on the risk of mortality from circulatory disease remain insufficiently studied. This study aims to evaluate the synergistic effects of ozone (O₃), oxidant (O), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) with temperature and heat waves, and to explore their impact on circulatory disease mortality, providing evidence to support public health interventions.

Combining Untargeted Metabolomics and High-Throughput Sequencing to Explore the Dynamics of Small-Molecular Metabolites in the Fermentation Stage of Inner Mongolian Cheese.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the metabolite changes, taste compounds, and microbial composition throughout the fermentation process of Inner Mongolian cheese, comprising a total of 106 differential metabolites, including 71 kinds of lipids and lipid-like molecules, 9 kinds of organoheterocyclic compounds, and so on. Determination of free amino acids (FAAs) showed that the contents of FAAs with delightful tastes (i.e.

Nodosin alleviates cholestatic liver injury by activation of SIRT1/FXR signaling pathway and inhibition of hepatic inflammation.

Cholestatic liver injury is characterized by abnormal synthesis and excretion of bile acids, which often deteriorates into liver fibrosis, liver cancer and other diseases. Nodosin (Nod), a natural active compound derived from Chinese herb Isodon serra (Maxim.) Kudo, has been reported with valuable bioactivity for anti-cancer and anti-inflammation.

Feasibility study on contactless infusion pump based on giant magnetostrictive actuator.

To solve the low accuracy and poor stability problems of traditional existing infusion pumps at microflow rates, a new conceptual design based on a giant magnetostrictive actuator (GMA) is proposed. The conceptual structure and working principle of the new infusion pump are introduced. A GMA for the core device was tested experimentally.

Oxygen vacancy-rich defective CoO-RuO heterostructure catalysts for efficient acidic oxygen evolution reaction.

This study develops a CoO-RuO heterojunction catalyst for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The presence of oxygen vacancies at the heterointerface, along with the electronic coupling synergistically enhances OER activity. This results in a low overpotential of 218 mV at 10 mA cm, demonstrating its potential for efficient hydrogen production through proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.

Glycosidic acids with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity as the alkaline hydrolysis products of resin glycoside fractions from Convolvulus tricolor and Ipomoea biflora.

Alkaline hydrolysis of the resin glycoside fractions of Convolvulus tricolor and Ipomoea biflora yielded three glycosidic acids (1-3). Contrilic acid A (1), a hexasaccharide glycosidic acid with a 3S,11S-dihydroxytetradecanoic acid as the aglycone, was isolated from Convolvulus tricolor, while a tetrasaccharide ipomofic acid A (2) and pentasaccharide operculinic acid A (3) were obtained from Ipomoea biflora, and were identified to possess a 11S-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid as the aglycone. Their structures were thoroughly established by the spectroscopic data and chemical evidences.

Novel Umami Peptides from : Evaluation of the Umami Enhancing Effect Using Biosensors and Molecular Simulation.

are edible fungi with a unique aroma and umami flavor. The current study sought to identify novel umami peptides in while investigating their umami-enhancing properties. We conducted a virtual screening of 12 potential umami peptides from the ultrasound-assisted hydrolysate of , and five potential umami peptides were finally obtained.

Relative Binding Free Energy Methods Based on the Alchemical Transformation Framework: An Effective Strategy for Predicting the Umami Recognition Threshold of Umami Peptide Derivatives.

Umami peptides integrating both flavor and nutritional properties possess numerous derivatives that pose challenges for prediction using absolute free energy prediction tools and peptide classification models. While relative binding free energy (RBFE) methods based on the alchemical transformation framework have demonstrated excellent performance in drug activity prediction, their application in taste activity prediction remains unexplored. Through scientific literature analysis, 611 umami peptides and derivatives were systematically organized and cataloged with their structures and recognition thresholds then clustered into eight clusters.

A STAT1-GBP3-STING positive feedback loop governs inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage to trigger acute aortic dissection.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a degenerative aortic remodeling disease characterized by exceedingly high mortality without effective pharmacologic therapies. Although oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation are associated with AAD, the precise interplay among these responses has remained unclear. In this study, aortas from mouse AD models were subjected to integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis.

IDO-Dependent Tryptophan Metabolites and Endocan as Effective Diagnostic Biomarkers for Pregnancy with Pulmonary Hypertension.

Objective: Pregnancy with pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is one of the main causes of maternal heart failure and death. Endocan is a well-established soluble proteoglycan biomarker for endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. The Indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme family comprises IDO1, IDO2, and TDO2, with IDO1-dependent tryptophan metabolites being particularly promising as candidate biomarkers for pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Bilateral vertebral arteries originate from the ipsilateral occipital arteries.

Purpose: We report a case of a 69-year-old female patient with bilateral vertebral arteries (VAs) originate from the ipsilateral occipital arteries.

Case Report: The patient presented to our hospital with chest discomfort and shortness of breath. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed an atypical VA course, where the V1 and V2 segments of both VAs were absent.

Effects of Lactation Lactoferrin Deficiency on Intestinal Microbiota in Different Mice Models.

Background/objectives: The establishment of early gut microbiota is crucial for host health. Lactoferrin (LF), which is present in breast milk, positively impacts gut microbiota composition. However, the effect of lactation LF on the establishment and composition of early gut microbiota in different disease models in adulthood remains unclear.

Analysis of the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of viruses carried by atmospheric PM based on metaviromics.

Background: Fine particulate matter (PM) is a well-known air pollutant and has been suggested as a potential vector for airborne viruses, raising public health concerns. This study employed metaviromic sequencing to systematically analyze the composition, temporal-spatial distribution, and environmental influencing factors of viral communities in PM samples collected from Fuzhou, China, to identify potential high-risk viruses and the key factors influencing their presence.

Methods: Three outdoor PM sampling sites were established in the city center, rural-urban fringe, and rural areas of Fuzhou.

Motion artifact suppression method based on adaptive time-varying homogeneous field correction for OPM-MEG.

Optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) offers significant advantages over traditional systems based on superconducting quantum interference devices, including flexibility and the ability to record brain activity without cryogenic cooling. However, OPM-MEG is highly susceptible to motion artifacts due to its sensitivity to external magnetic field fluctuations.To address this challenge, we propose an Adaptive Time-varying (ATH) Homogeneous field correction (HFC) method, which integrates time-varying HFC with adaptive filtering to suppress head motion artifacts.

Asynchronous and correlations of radial growth between different lateral meristems in Abies forrestii var. smithii.

Understanding radial growth phenology is crucial in the comprehension of tree physiology and its susceptibility to climate change. Numerous studies have investigated the impacts of radial growth activity in stem meristems and environmental factors on wood formation and tree growth in treeline trees. Nevertheless, studies on the radial growth dynamics of lateral meristems across different tree parts and the variations in their responses to environmental factors are scarce.

Umami_IP: An integrated model and explanatory analysis for quantitative prediction of Umami recognition threshold.

Umami peptides have gained considerable attention due to high nutritional value and distinct flavor. However, because of experimental complexity and time cost, the identification of umami peptides encounters obstacles. Based on the recognition threshold documented in TastePeptidesDB (http://tastepeptides-meta.

Further new resin glycosides from Convolvulus tricolor seeds and their neuroprotective activities.

Resin glycosides, the characteristic constituents of family Convolvulaceae, are a kind of new and complex glycolipids with diversified biological activities. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of Convolvulus tricolor seeds were purified by various separation methods, leading to the isolation of seven new resin glycosides (1-7). Their structures were established as glycosidic acids methyl esters by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidences, and were considered to be generated via methyl esterification of natural resin glycosides during the NH silica gel chromatography.

Maize ZmDLR2/BRU1 Is Required for Lateral Root Primordium Emergence by Participating in DNA Repair.

Lateral roots (LRs), the primary component of the maize root system, are crucial for water and nutrient acquisition. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying LR formation and development is therefore essential for improving maize yield and stress resilience. In this study, we characterised a mutant, defective in lateral root 2-1 (dlr2-1), which displays impaired LR development and compromised drought resistance.

Correlation of non-esterified fatty acids with acute coronary syndrome risk in young Chinese adults.

Objective: Circulating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are linked to endothelial dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD) mainly in older adults. This study examines the association between NEFAs and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk in young Chinese individuals.

Method: Of the 1264 young ACS patients and 1072 age-matched controls aged 55 years or younger assessed, 1108 ACS patients and 979 controls were found eligible.

Impact of a mobile health intervention on health management among children with phenylketonuria based on a multi-theory model of the behavior change wheel theory and family health theory: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a hereditary metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase () gene, leading to the accumulation of phenylalanine (Phe) in the blood. Without timely treatment, PKU patients may develop irreversible intellectual and neurocognitive deficits. The primary treatment for PKU is a strict low-Phe diet, which must be initiated in early life to achieve better outcomes.

Phytochemistry, bioactivities and application of Gynostemma pentaphyllum polysaccharide: A review.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (GP) (Cucurbitaceae), commonly considered as a folk remedy, has a long history of use in many parts of Asia. Polysaccharides are one of the main components of GP and possess antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cardioprotective properties.