Discovery of sesquiterpenoids from the roots of Chloranthus henryi Hemsl. var. hupehensis (Pamp.) K. F. Wu and their anti-inflammatory activity by IKBα/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway suppression.

Phytochemical analysis of Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis roots led to the identification of a new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid dimer, 18 new sesquiterpenoids, and three known sesquiterpenoids. Among the isolates, 1 was a rare sesquiterpenoid dimer that is assembled by a unique oxygen bridge (C11-O-C8') of two highly rearranged eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes with the undescribed C16 carbon framework. (+)-2 and (-)-2 were a pair of new skeleton dinorsesquiterpenoids with a remarkable 6/6/5 tricyclic ring framework including one γ-lactone ring and the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and quantum chemical computations. In the LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cell model, 17 suppressed IL-1ß and TNF-α expression with EC50 values of 6.81 and 2.76 µM, respectively, indicating its excellent efficacy in inhibiting inflammatory factors production in a dose dependent manner and without cytotoxicity. In subsequent mechanism studies, compounds 3, 16, and 17 could reduce IL-1ß and TNF-α production by inhibiting IKBα/p65 pathway activation.

Rapid identification of potential nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug overdose-induced liver toxicity and prediction of follow-up exposure: Integrating bioanalytical and population pharmacokinetic assay.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently used drugs that can cause liver toxicity. The aim of this study was to integrate bioanalytical and population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) assay to rapidly screen and quantify the concentrations of NSAIDs in plasma and monitor clinical safety. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of acetaminophen (APAP), flurbiprofen (FLB), aspirin (ASP), and ibuprofen (IBP), four commonly used NSAIDs. The PopPK model of the signature toxicant was analyzed based on the published literature. The LC-MS/MS method was successfully validated and applied to determine NSAID concentrations in patient plasma samples. APAP, ASP, and IBP data were best fitted using a one-compartment model, and FLB data were best fitted using a two-compartment model. Bootstrapping and visual predictive checks suggested that a robust and reliable pharmacokinetic model was developed. A fast, simple, and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for determining APAP, FLB, ASP, and IBP in human plasma. Combined with the PopPK model, this method was applied to rapidly analyze the concentrations of NSAIDs in clinical samples from patients presenting to the emergency department with acute liver dysfunction and monitored NSAIDs clinical safety.

Bacillus velezensis promotes the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria and influences the fermentation quality of whole-plant corn silage.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the promoting effect of a Bacillus velezensis (BV) strain on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and determine its influence on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of silage. Methods: Flat colony counting method was used to evaluate the effect of BV on the growth of LAB. Freshly harvested whole-plant corn was inoculated separately with BV and L. plantarum (LP), along with an uninoculated control group (CK), and assessed at 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, and 30 days of ensiling. Results: The results indicated that BV exhibited a proliferative effect on Weissella confusa, Lactobacillus plantarum L-2, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. And exhibited a more rapid pH reduction in BV-inoculated silage compared with that in CK and LP-inoculated silage during the initial stage of ensiling. Throughout ensiling, the BV and LP experimental groups showed enhanced silage fermentation quality over CK. Additionally, relative to LP-inoculated silage, BV-inoculated silage displayed reduced pH and propionic acid. BV also prolonged aerobic stability under aerobic conditions. The microbial community in BV-inoculated silage showed greater stability than that in LP-inoculated silage. Additionally, Firmicutes and Lactobacillus exhibited more rapid elevation initially in BV versus LP-inoculated silage, but reached comparable levels between the two inoculation groups in the later stage. Conclusion: In summary, BV enhanced the efficacy and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage fermentation by stimulating LAB proliferation.

Evidence summary on managing radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer.

Objective: To summarize the best evidence for managing radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer, and improve the quality of care. Methods: According to the "6S" evidence pyramid model, we searched local and other part of world published clinical guidelines, expert consensus, evidence summary, and systematic review. The literature quality assessment followed the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II). for guidelines, AMSTAR-2 for systematic reviews, and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence-Based Health Care Center's quality evaluation tool for expert opinions and expert consensus articles. The quality of other literature was evaluated according to the type of original literature. If there were any conflicts about the conclusions drawn from different sources of evidence, this study followed the principle of high-quality evidence priority and the latest published authoritative literature priority. The "JBI Evidence Pre-grading and Evidence Recommendation Level System 2014" was adopted for the evidence lacking a grading system. Quality evaluation, evidence extraction, and summary were performed by 2 or more researchers, combined with the advice of the head and neck cancer radiotherapy professionals. Results: Finally, a total of ten pieces of literature were included. Twenty-two best evidence items for radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis management were summarized from six aspects, including multidisciplinary management, oral assessment, basic oral care, pain management, nutritional support, and application of honey or propolis. Conclusions: This study provides clinical caregivers with the evidence-based measures on managing radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Clinical backgrounds, patients' condition, willingness, economy, and cost-effectiveness should be fully considered when promoting evidence transformation. Applying evidence-based approaches with high feasibility, strong appropriateness, clinical significance and high effectiveness could reduce the incidence of severe radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Systematic review registration: This study has been registered on the Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing. Registration No. is ES20232732.

Bibenzyl and naphthalene derivatives from Dendrobium chrysanthum and their anti-hepatic-steatosis activities.

In this study, 16 new compounds, six bibenzyls (1-6) and 10 naphthalenes (7-13), including three pairs of naphthalene enantiomers and three known compounds (14-16), were isolated from Dendrobium chrysanthum. Structurally, compounds 1-5 are previously undescribed dimeric bibenzyls, uniquely linked by unusual carbon bonds. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The screening results indicated that 1, 2, and 5 showed remarkable lipid-lowering activities in FFA-induced HepG2 cells, with EC50 values ranging from 3.13 to 6.57 µM. Moreover, 1, 2, and 5 significantly decreased both the mRNA and protein levels of the target SREBP-1c, and 5 also reduced PPARα mRNA and protein levels. Therefore, 1, 2, and 5 are potential drugs against hepatic steatosis by targeting PPARα or SREBP-1c.

Exploring watershed ecological risk bundles based on ecosystem services: A case study of Shanxi Province, China.

Humans are having an increasingly profound impact on the environment along with the advent of the Anthropocene. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) as a method to quantify ecological problems can provide support for decision-makers, and it is one of key issues to integrate ecosystem services into ERA. In this study, an ERA framework was proposed under the loss-probability paradigm from the perspective of ecosystem services risk bundles. The results showed that initiatives aimed at ecological protection in Shanxi Province had been effective, the number of watersheds with low-risk bundles increased significantly (from 16.09% to 34.49%) and the watersheds basically overlapped with key forestation areas. However, the effects of forestation activities may no longer be as significant as they once were, as the relationship between forestation and water supply was becoming increasingly contradictory. Meanwhile, the conflict between urban expansion and natural ecosystem protection was intensifying, habitat degradation risks were gradually polarized, and the risk bundles dominated by high carbon emission and habitat degradation were increasing significantly (from 15.88% to 33.54%). Strengthening the construction of urban green space and controlling the expansion of human activities may be the next focus of ecological conservation in Shanxi Province. This study enriched the ERA framework with an ecosystem services risk bundle approach.

Parameters Design and Optimization of SiC MOSFET Driving Circuit with Consideration of Comprehensive Loss and Voltage Stress.

In conventional parameters design, the driving circuit is usually simplified as an RLC second-order circuit, and the switching characteristics are optimized by selecting parameters, but the influence of switching characteristics on the driving circuit is not considered. In this paper, the insight mechanism for the gate-source voltage changed by overshoot and ringing caused by the high switching speed of SiC MOSFET is highlighted, and we propose an optimized design method to obtain optimal parameters of the SiC MOSFET driving circuit with consideration of parasitic parameters. Based on the double-pulse circuit, we evaluated the influence of main parameters on the gate-source voltage, including driving voltage, driving resistance, gate parasitic inductance, and stray inductance of the power circuit. A SiC-based boost PFC is constructed and tested. The test results show that the switching loss can be reduced by 7.282 W by using the proposed parameter optimization method, and the over-voltage stress of SiC MOSFET is avoided.

Delivery systems for fucoxanthin: Research progress, applications and future prospects.

Fucoxanthin is a special kind of keto-carotenoid found only in algae. The unique structure of fucoxanthin endows it with extraordinary biological activities, which are of great significance to improve food quality and enhance human health. However, due to its highly unsaturated structure, fucoxanthin also suffers from some limitations, such as instability, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, although its content is relatively abundant, its applications in the food industry are extremely scarce. In recent years, there have been many reports on the preparation and characterization of delivery systems for fucoxanthin. These well-designed delivery systems can efficaciously alleviate the instability of fucoxanthin under adverse conditions, thereby improving its oral bioavailability. Thus, this review emphatically summarizes the delivery systems that are widely used to encapsulate, protect and release fucoxanthin. Besides, the influence of delivery systems on the absorption of fucoxanthin by intestinal epithelial cells is highlighted. The applications and future development trends of delivery systems for fucoxanthin are also discussed. The extraction of fucoxanthin, development of novel delivery systems, sensory evaluation and toxicity studies, and industrial production may be promising research directions in the future. Overall, this review provides guidance for the development of fucoxanthin-loaded delivery systems.

Chlorahupetenes A-D, Four Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpenoid Dimer Enantiomers with Two Unusual Carbon Skeletons from Chloranthus henryi Var. hupehensis.

(+)- and (-)-Chlorahupetenes A (1a and 1b), B (2a and 2b), C (3a and 3b), and D (4a and 4b), four unique enantiomeric pairs of eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers with two new carbon skeletons, were isolated from the aerial parts of Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis. Compounds 1 and 2 possess an unprecedented 6/6/5/6/6 pentacyclic carbon skeleton with a new dimerization pattern of two eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids. Compounds 3 and 4, which are fused with two eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids via an unprecedented five-membered O-heterocyclic ring, represent a new 6/6/5/5/6/6/5 heptacyclic ring system. The structures of the compounds were determined through spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1a-3b significantly inhibited NO production with IC50 values ranging from 9.62 to 12.91 µM. Moreover, compounds 1b and 3a suppressed the production of a proinflammatory mediator (TNF-α) and enzyme expression (iNOS) at the mRNA level.

Browning inhibition of seabuckthorn leaf extract on fresh-cut potato sticks during cold storage.

Seabuckthorn extract is rich in bioactive compounds and well known for its health benefits. The study investigated the effect of seabuckthorn leaf extract on browning of fresh-cut potatoes. The results showed that seabuckthorn leaf extract significantly inhibited the browning of fresh-cut potatoes compared with seabuckthorn fruit extract. Catechin, hypericin, gallic acid, casuarinin and isorhamnetin were main components in seabuckthorn leaf extract. Further research revealed that seabuckthorn leaf extract competitively inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) with IC50 value of 0.7 mg/mL. Molecular docking indicated that gallic acid stably bound to the active site of PPO, while isorhamnetin had low affinity on PPO. These results also demonstrated that seabuckthorn leaf extract inhibited browning of fresh-cut potatoes by reducing activities of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, decreasing contents of phenolics and elevating antioxidant capacity. In addition, synergistic anti-browning effect was found with casuarinin, isorhamnetin, gallic acid and pedunculagin.

Following the Morphological Disruption by an Electrolyte of a Buried Interface.

A challenge of broad interest in both materials science and biology is the study of interfaces that are buried within a structure, particularly multilayer structures. Despite the enormous costs of corrosion and many decades of corrosion research, details of the mechanisms of various sorts of corrosion are still not clear, in part due to the difficulty in interrogating the interface between the corroding metal and an organic coating, which is typically used to mitigate corrosion. Generally, the performance of such coatings is evaluated by visual inspection after exposure or by modeling impedance data, which is a process not straightforwardly connected to physical interface structures. "Rocking-curve" X-ray scattering measurements provide a means of probing such interfaces due to the ability of X-rays to penetrate materials. Here, variations in the morphology of an interface between a protective coating and a metal substrate due to exposure to an electrolyte are derived from analysis of rocking-curve data in conjunction with atomic force microscopy imaging of the outer coating surface. The interfaces of cross-linked epoxy coatings with aluminum are irreversibly changed after 12 h of contact between the electrolyte solution and the face of the coating. The character of this change varies with the molecule used to cross-link the coating. Since X-ray off-specular scattering is sensitive to changes on the nanometer scale, it is also able to register interface degradation on time scales shorter than those probed by many other techniques, potentially expediting the evaluation of coatings for protection against degradation of the interface.