Short-term culture for rapid identification by mass spectrometry and automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing from positive bottles.

BACKGROUND: Early and appropriate antibiotic treatment improves the clinical outcome of patients with sepsis. There is an urgent need for rapid identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of bacteria that cause bloodstream infection (BSI). Rapid ID and AST can be achieved by short-term incubation on solid medium of positive blood cultures using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) and the BD M50 system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of rapid method compared to traditional method. METHODS: A total of 124 mono-microbial samples were collected. Positive blood culture samples were short-term incubated on blood agar plates and chocolate agar plates for 5 ∼ 7 h, and the rapid ID and AST were achieved through Zybio EXS2000 MS and BD M50 System, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the traditional 24 h culture for ID, this rapid method can shorten the cultivation time to 5 ∼ 7 h. Accurate organism ID was achieved in 90.6% of Gram-positive bacteria (GP), 98.5% of Gram-negative bacteria (GN), and 100% of fungi. The AST resulted in the 98.5% essential agreement (EA) and 97.1% category agreements (CA) in NMIC-413, 99.4% EA and 98.9% CA in PMIC-92, 100% both EA and CA in SMIC-2. Besides, this method can be used for 67.2% (264/393) of culture bottles during routine work. The mean turn-around time (TAT) for obtaining final results by conventional method is approximately 72.6 ± 10.5 h, which is nearly 24 h longer than the rapid method. CONCLUSIONS: The newly described method is expected to provide faster and reliable ID and AST results, making it an important tool for rapid management of blood cultures (BCs). In addition, this rapid method can be used to process most positive blood cultures, enabling patients to receive rapid and effective treatment.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Primary Amines to Nitriles.

The direct double dehydrogenation from primary amines to nitriles without an oxidant or hydrogen acceptor is both intriguing and challenging. In this paper, we describe a non-noble metal catalyst capable of realizing such a transformation with high efficiency. A cobalt-centered N,N-bidentate complex was designed and employed as a metal-ligand cooperative dehydrogenation catalyst. Detailed kinetic studies, control experiments, and DFT calculations revealed the crucial hydride transfer, proton transfer, and hydrogen evolution processes. Finally, a tandem outer-sphere/inner-sphere mechanism was proposed for the dehydrogenation of amines to nitriles through an imine intermediate.

[Research progress in Astragali Radix and its active ingredients in treatment of lung cancer].

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and its effective treatment is a difficult medical problem. Lung cancer belongs to the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) disease categories of lung accumulation, lung amassment, and overstrain cough. Rich theoretical basis and practical experience have been accumulated in the TCM treatment of lung cancer. Astragali Radix is one of the representatives of Qi-tonifying drugs. It mainly treat the lung cancer with the syndrome of Qi deficiency and pathogen stagnation, following the principle of reinforcing healthy Qi and eliminating patgogenic Qi. Astragali Radix exerts a variety of pharmacological activities in the treatment of lung cancer, including inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and promoting tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor invasion and migration, regulating the tumor microenvironment, suppressing tumor angiogenesis, modulating autophagy, inducing macrophage polarization, enhancing immunity, inhibiting immune escape, and reversing cisplatin resistance. The active ingredients of Astragali Radix in treating lung cancer include polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids. This study reviewed the pharmacological activities and active ingredients of Astragali Radix in the treatment of lung cancer, providing a basis for the development and utilization of Astragali Radix resources and active ingredients and the research and development of anti-tumor drugs.

Vegetable oils: Classification, quality analysis, nutritional value and lipidomics applications.

Lipids are widespread in nature and play a pivotal role as a source of energy and nutrition for the human body. Vegetable oils (VOs) constitute a significant category in the food industry, containing various lipid components that have garnered attention for being natural, environmentally friendly and health-promoting. The review presented the classification of raw materials (RMs) from oil crops and quality analysis techniques of VOs, with the aim of improving comprehension and facilitating in-depth research of VOs. Brief descriptions were provided for four categories of VOs, and quality analysis techniques for both RMs and VOs were generalized. Furthermore, this study discussed the applications of lipidomics technology in component analysis, processing and utilization, quality determination, as well as nutritional function assessment of VOs. Through reviewing RMs and quality analysis techniques of VOs, this study aims to encourage further refinement and development in the processing and utilization of VOs, offering valuable references for theoretical and applied research in food chemistry and food science.

Antimicrobial indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa.

Four unreported monoterpene indole alkaloids, tabernaecorymines B-E (1-4), together with twenty-one known indole alkaloids (5-25) were obtained from the stem bark of Tabernaemontana corymbosa. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopy, quantum chemical calculations, DP4+ probability analyses and Mo2(OAc)4-induced electronic circular dichroism experiment. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these compounds were evaluated and some of them showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Candida albicans.

Mechanistic Insights into the Synergistic Effect of Palladium(0) and Copper(I) on the Selective Transformation of Isocyanate to Indole.

Density functional theory calculations have been utilized to investigate the synergistic effect of palladium(0) and copper(I) catalyzed selective formation of allylated indole from (2-alkynyl)-phenylisocyanate and allyl methyl carbonate. The main competing reaction yielding the N-allyl carbamate was also considered. Calculated results indicate that using the Pd(0)-complex alone, the generation of indole is kinetically much less favored than producing the N-allyl carbamate compound. However, the co-addition of Cu(I) catalyst can considerably decrease the barrier for the intramolecular cyclization step, leading to the formation of the indole product. Analysis of the cyclization process suggests that Cu(I) complex can act as a Lewis acid to activate the linear alkyne group via a π-coordination manner prior to the formation of a 5-membered ring transition state toward indole formation. Altogether, the mechanistic insights revealed in the present study aim at a better understanding of the mechanism and the factors governing the selectivity in synergistic Pd/Cu catalysis.

Simultaneous detection of human norovirus GI, GII and SARS-CoV-2 by a quantitative one-step triplex RT-qPCR.

Background: There are many similarities in the clinical manifestations of human norovirus and SARS-CoV-2 infections, and nucleic acid detection is the gold standard for diagnosing both diseases. In order to expedite the identification of norovirus and SARS-CoV-2, a quantitative one-step triplex reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) method was designed in this paper. Methods: A one-step triplex RT-qPCR assay was developed for simultaneous detection and differentiation of human norovirus GI (NoV-GI), GII (NoV-GII) and SARS-CoV-2 from fecal specimens. Results: The triplex RT-qPCR assay had high detection reproducibility (CV < 1%) and sensitivity. The lower limits of detection (LLOD95) of the triplex RT-qPCR assay for each target site were 128.5-172.8 copies/mL, and LLOD95 of the singleplex RT-qPCR assay were 110.3-142.0 copies/mL. Meanwhile, among the detection of clinical oropharyngeal swabs and fecal specimens, the results of the singleplex and triplex RT-qPCR assay showed high agreement. Conclusion: The triplex RT-qPCR assay for simultaneous detection of NoV-GI, NoV-GII and SARS-CoV-2 from fecal specimens has high clinical application value.

Copper-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation Reaction.

This review describes recent advances in copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation reactions. The RCF2 radical is generally proposed in the mechanism of these reactions. At present, various types of copper-catalyzed difluoroalkylation reactions have been realized. According to their characteristics, we classify these difluoroalkylation reactions into three types.

Psychosocial adaptation and influencing factors among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe and long-lasting side effect caused by various anticancer agents that damage sensory, motor and autonomic nerves. It can cause maladaptive behaviors, including disease severity, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, falls, and social impairment. These disorders have physical, psychological and social effects on patients and can seriously influence their quality of life. AIM: To investigate the current situation of psychosocial adaptation to the disease and its influencing factor in patients with CIPN. METHODS: A convenience sampling method was used to select 233 patients with CIPN in our hospital from February to August 2021. In addition, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Report Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, and the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life CIPN20 (QLQ-CIPN20). Factors influencing psychosocial adaptation in patients with CIPN were analyzed by t-test or one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and structural equation models. RESULTS: The psychosocial adaptation score of patients with CIPN was 52.51 ± 13.18. Multivariate analysis showed that autonomic nerves, tumor stage, motor nerves, education level, availability of caregivers, semi-retirement status, CIPN grade were independent risk factors for patients with CIPN (P < 0.05). Structural equation models showed that QLQ-CIPN20 mediated the relationship between CIPN grade, tumor stage, and psychosocial adaptation. CONCLUSION: Patients with CIPN have poor psychosocial adaptation and are affected by a variety of physiological, psychological, and social factors. Patients' adaptive responses should be assessed, and targeted interventions implemented.

Investigation of the mechanisms and experimental verification of Cuscuta-Salvia in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) via network pharmacology.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease associated with reproduction. The Cuscuta-Salvia formula has been widely used to treat for PCOS in clinic. However, its chemical and pharmacological properties remain unclear. We identified the active components and related targets of Cuscuta-Salvia using UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS and TCMSP database. Disease targets were obtained from the DisGeNET and GeneCards databases. Subsequently, common targets between Cuscuta-Salvia and PCOS were identified using a Venn diagram. PPI network was established. Core genes were selected using a Cytoscape software plugin. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed for common targets using the "pathview" package in R. Several core targets were verified using molecular and Immunological methods. By combining UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS with a network pharmacology study, 14 active components and a total of 80 common targets were obtained. Ten core genes were regulated by Cuscuta-Salvia in PCOS, including IL6, AKT1, VEGFA, TP53, TNF, MAPK1, JUN, EGF, CASP3, and EGFR. GO results showed that cellular response to drugs, response to oxygen levels, response lipopolysaccharides, and response to molecule of bacterial origin in BP category; membrane, transcription regulator complex, nuclear chromatin, postsynaptic membrane, and vesicle lumen in CC category; DNA-binding transcription factor binding, RNA polymerase II-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding, DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific, DNA-binding transcription activator activity, and cytokine receptor binding in MF terms. The KEGG enrichment pathway was mainly involved in the PI3K - Akt, MAPK, TNF, IL-17 signalling pathways, and in cellular senescence. Furthermore, the results of the experimental study showed that Cuscuta-Salvia ameliorated the pathological changes in the ovaries, liver and adipose tissue. And it improved the expressions of the genes or proteins. Our results demonstrate that Cuscuta-Salvia may provide a novel pharmacological basis in an experimental model of PCOS by regulating gene expression. This study provides a basis for future research and clinical applications.

Monoterpene indole N-oxide alkaloids from Tabernaemontana corymbosa and their antimicrobial activity.

Tabernaemontana corymbosa is a traditional folk medicine. In our research, six monoterpene indole N-oxide alkaloids and their parent alkaloids were obtained from the stem bark of T. corymbosa, including seven new alkaloids (1-7) and five known alkaloids (8-12). Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopy, quantum chemical calculations, and DP4+ probability analyses. The antimicrobial activity of the obtained compounds was evaluated, among which alkaloids 4, 8, 12 showed significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC value of 6.25 µg/mL, while alkaloids 11, 12 showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis with an MIC value of 25 µg/mL.

Research on the coordinated development of ecosystem services and well-being in agricultural and pastoral areas.

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) has been widely accepted as a policy tool for promoting ecological and social progress. However, PES development and implementation in traditional agricultural and pastoral areas are often more challenging than in other areas. The contradiction between ecological protection and people's livelihood development in traditional agricultural and pastoral areas is related to developing country's sustainable development strategy. Based on this, we evaluate the PES (ERCCP: the Ecological Relocation and Capital Compensation Program) program in Tianzhu County, as a case study to investigated the impact of ERCCP on the local natural and social ecosystems on a 20-year scale. The results of indicated that ERCCP has achieved "win-win" gains of restoring environment and promoting socioeconomic development: in the 10 years since ERCCP was implemented, the area of forest land and grassland increased significantly, increasing by 1135.6 ha and 919.62 ha, respectively. 57.5% of farmland was converted to grassland and 30.8% to forest, respectively. In addition, 92.2% and 7.5% of bare land were replaced by grassland and forest, respectively, indicating a gradual recovery of green land during this period. We also analyzed the effects of ERCCP on social systems, and found that the change of agro-pastoralists' attitude towards ERCCP promoted the transfer of labor force from the primary industry to the tertiary industry, accelerated the development of urbanization, and made the poor population completely out of poverty by 2020. In addition, we predict that the income level of households, the PES return on investment of local governments, and the value of regional ecosystem services will increase significantly after 2025. In this context, We establish a theoretical model to explain the win-win plan for the coordinated development of ecosystem services and regional well-being to explore the sustainability of PES and provided a typical case for the similar research area in the world, especially in the areas with the ecological fragility and poverty problems.

Tabernaecorymine A, an 18-normonoterpenoid indole alkaloid with antibacterial activity from Tabernaemontana corymbosa.

Tabernaecorymine A, an 18-normonoterpenoid indole alkaloid with conjugated (E)-3-aminoacrylaldehyde fragment was obtained from the stem bark of Tabernaemontana corymbosa. Its structure was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, and further verified by ACD/structure elucidator, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses and density functional theory (DFT) chemical shift predictions. The compound exhibited significant antibacterial bioactivity against Streptococcus dysgalactiae with an MIC value of 3.12 µg/mL, which is better than the plant drug berberine.

Phaeosphspirone (1/1'), a pair of unique polyketide enantiomers with an unusual 6/5/5/6 tetracyclic ring from the desert plant endophytic fungus Phaeosphaeriaceae sp.

Phaeosphspirone, an undescribed polyketide with a unique 6/5/5/6-fused tetracyclic system, and two known analogues, herbarin and O-methylherbarin, were purified from the endophytic fungus Phaeosphaeriaceae sp. isolated from the desert plant Bassia dasyphylla. The connectivity and relative configuration of phaeosphspirone was elucidated by comprehensive HR-ESI-MS and NMR analysis together with a computer-assisted structure elucidation (CASE) method. A pair of enantiomers existing in phaeosphspirone were separated by HPLC chromatography after reacting with chiral reagents, from which the absolute configuration of phaeosphspirone was simultaneously determined based on Mosher's rule. This tandem strategy provides a useful approach for the separation and stereochemical determination of enantiomers possessing secondary hydroxyl groups. The structural feature of phaeosphspirone, herbarin and O-methylherbarin together with gene cluster analysis suggested their polyketide biosynthetic origin. Herbarin and O-methylherbarin exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines.

New oxindole alkaloids with selective osteoclast inhibitory activity from Gelsemium elegans.

A new alkaloid 14-hydroxygelseziridine (1), along with four known oxindoles (2-5), was isolated and characterized from the well-known toxic medicine Gelsemium elegans. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemistry calculations. Structurally, new compound 1 has a three membered oxygen ring at N-4/C-20. All compounds were tested for osteoclast (MOC-1) inhibitory activity in vitro. Compound 2 exhibited the selective osteoclast inhibitory activity. Flow cytometry revealed that the apoptosis of osteoclasts induced by 2. Furthermore, the PCR bioassay suggested that compound 2 may activate the apoptotic pathway of osteoclasts by reducing the expression of IL-6 and c-Jun, and increasing caspase 9. This work provided the evidence for the rationality as the traditional treatment for bone related diseases of G. elegans, and shed a new light on its further research.

Corrigendum: Wuzi Yanzong pill-Based on network pharmacology and In Vivo evidence-Protects against spermatogenesis disorder via the regulation of the apoptosis pathway.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.592827.].

New Monoterpenoid Indoles with Osteoclast Activities from Gelsemium elegans.

The well-known toxic medicine Gelsemium elegans is widely and historically used to treat bone fracture and skin ulcers by the folk people of China. Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, gelselegandines D and E, together with the known analogue gelegamine A were isolated from G. elegans. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemical calculations. All isolated compounds were tested for the effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast formation. Interestingly, gelselegandine E and gelegamine A, respectively, showed significant promoting and inhibitory activities on osteoclastogenesis, while gelselegandine D had no activity under the same concentration. This work suggested the different configurations for the carbons near the C-19/20 oxygen rings of the isolated compounds may be the key active groups on osteoclast formation and provided the evidence for the rationality as the traditional treatment for bone-related diseases of G. elegans.

[Effects of warming on radial growth of Picea crassifolia in the eastern Qilian Mountains, China]. / 升温对祁连山东部青海云杉径向生长的影响.

Tree-rings of Picea crassifolia from high (3000 m), middle (2750 m) and low (2500 m) altitudes were collected from the Xiying River basin in the eastern Qilian Mountains, with the standard chronology being established using dendrochronological methods. Results of the correlation analysis between tree-ring width index and temperature and precipitation during different periods showed that radial growth of P. crassifolia at different altitudes responded differently to climate warming in the eastern Qilian Mountains. Water and heat availability were the main limiting factors for the radial growth of P. crassifolia in the eastern part of Qilian Mountains. The growth limiting factors at different altitudes were generally the same. Before the prominent warming (1961-1986), radial growth of P. crassifolia at the three sampling altitudes was significantly negatively correlated with mean maximum temperature in July-August of the previous year and August of the current year, and significantly positively correlated with the relative humidity in June of the current year. After the prominent warming period (1986-2014), tree growth at high, middle, and low altitudes remained significantly negatively correlated with air temperature, changed from non-significantly negative to significantly positive correlation with relative humidity in February of the current year, and changed from significantly positive to non-significantly negative correlation with precipitation and relative humidity in June. Warming caused a slowing growth of P. crassifolia tree-ring at all altitudes, with the highest altitude being the most sensitive. Drought stress caused by climate warming might be the main reason for the changes of radial growth of P. crassifolia.