The present study evaluated the potential beneficial effect of kefir (KF) against fatigue. Furthermore, the composition of the gut microbiota is related to health benefits in the host; therefore, the ...study also investigated the effect of KF on the gut microbiota composition. Male ICR mice from four groups (
= 8 per group) were orally administered KF once daily for four weeks at 0, 2.15, 4.31, and 10.76 g/kg/day and were designated as the vehicle, KF-1X, KF-2X, and KF-5X groups, respectively. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed a significant clustering of cecum after treatment in the vehicle, KF-1X, KF-2X, and KF-5X groups. The KF-2X and KF-5X groups showed a decreased
/
ratio compared with the vehicle group. In addition, anti-fatigue activity and exercise performance were evaluated on the basis of exhaustive swimming time, forelimb grip strength, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK) after a swimming exercise. The exhaustive swimming time for the KF-1X, KF-2X, and KF-5X groups was significantly longer than that for the vehicle group, and the forelimb grip strength of the KF-1X, KF-2X, and KF-5X groups was also significantly higher than that of the vehicle group. KF supplementation also decreased serum lactate, ammonia, BUN, and CK levels after the swimming test. However, tissue glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise, increased significantly with KF supplementation. Thus, KF supplementation can alter the gut microbiota composition, improve performance, and combat physical fatigue.
Residual intra-peritoneal gas may be associated with post-laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP), which is a frequently and disturbance compliant after surgery. Herein, we aimed to examine whether ...expiring residual gas via a surgical drain reduces the frequency and intensity of PLSP in the first day after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. 448 participants were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. The incidence and severity of PLSP after surgery were recorded. Of these, the cumulative incidence of PLSP in the drain group was lower particularly at the 12th postoperative hour (18.3% vs. 27.6%; P = 0.022), 24th postoperative hour (28.8% vs. 38.1%; P = 0.039), and throughout the first postoperative day (P = 0.035). The drain group had less severe PLSP (crude Odds ratio, 0.66; P = .036). After adjustment using inverse probability of treatment weighting, the drain group also had a significant lower PLSP incidence (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.61, P < 0.001), and less severe PLSP (adjusted odds ratio = 0.56, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the maneuver about passive force to expel residual gas, surgical drain use, contributes to reduce the incidence and severity of PLSP, suggesting that to minimize residual gas at the end of surgery is useful to attenuate PLSP.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an effective way of tracking the appearance and spread of SARS-COV-2 lineages through communities. Beginning in early 2021, we implemented a targeted approach ...to amplify and sequence the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-COV-2 to characterize viral lineages present in sewersheds. Over the course of 2021, we reproducibly detected multiple SARS-COV-2 RBD lineages that have never been observed in patient samples in 9 sewersheds located in 3 states in the USA. These cryptic lineages contained between 4 to 24 amino acid substitutions in the RBD and were observed intermittently in the sewersheds in which they were found for as long as 14 months. Many of the amino acid substitutions in these lineages occurred at residues also mutated in the Omicron variant of concern (VOC), often with the same substitutions. One of the sewersheds contained a lineage that appeared to be derived from the Alpha VOC, but the majority of the lineages appeared to be derived from pre-VOC SARS-COV-2 lineages. Specifically, several of the cryptic lineages from New York City appeared to be derived from a common ancestor that most likely diverged in early 2020. While the source of these cryptic lineages has not been resolved, it seems increasingly likely that they were derived from long-term patient infections or animal reservoirs. Our findings demonstrate that SARS-COV-2 genetic diversity is greater than what is commonly observed through routine SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Wastewater sampling may more fully capture SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity than patient sampling and could reveal new VOCs before they emerge in the wider human population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The main issues in planar perovskite solar cells are the coverage and crystallinity of the perovskite film on the PEDOT:PSS layer. To enhance these features, we introduced alkali metal halides ...(salts) as additives into the perovskite precursor solution used in a two-step preparation method. These alkali metal halides chelate with Pb2+ ions and enhance the crystal growth of PbI2 films, resulting in nanostructured morphologies. The nanostructured PbI2 films promote homogeneous nucleation and larger crystallite sizes, thereby enhancing the morphology and crystallinity of the perovskite films. The alkali metal halides recrystallize the small grains and passivate the grain boundaries and interface states, allowing effective charge generation and dissociation in perovskite films. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that perovskite films prepared with salt additives featured fewer charge traps and defects. The power conversion efficiency of the device incorporating a small amount of a salt additive increased by approximately 33%-from 11.4 to 15.08%. This device was more stable than a corresponding device prepared without the additive, with only 16.5% degradation occurring over a period of 50 days.
Billions of tons of keratin bio-wastes are generated by poultry industry annually but discarded that result in serious environmental pollution. Keratinase is a broad spectrum protease with the unique ...ability to degrade keratin, providing an eco-friendly way to convert keratin wastes to valuable amino acids. In this report, a feather-degrading thermophilic bacterium, Meiothermus taiwanensis WR-220, was investigated due to its ability to apparently complete feather decay at 65 °C in two days. By genomics, proteomics, and biochemical approaches, the extracellular heat-stable keratinase (MtaKer) from M. taiwanensis WR-220 was identified. The recombinant MtaKer (rMtaKer) possesses keratinolytic activities at temperatures ranging from 25 to 75 °C and pH from 4 to 11, with a maximum keratinolytic activity at 65 °C and pH 10. The phylogenetic and structural analysis revealed that MtaKer shares low sequence identity but high structural similarity with known keratinases. Accordingly, our findings have enabled the discovery of more keratinases from other extremophiles, Thermus and Deinococcus. Proteins encoded in the extremophiles shall be evolved to be functional in the extreme conditions. Hence, our study expands the current boundary of hunting keratinases that can tolerate extreme conditions for keratin wastes biorecycle and other industrial applications.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Due to the elusive nature of polyoxometallates (POMs) in the assembly of silver clusters, POMs trapped by silver clusters are usually different from the pristine form, which surely increases the ...novelty of the assembly results but makes the final structure predictability challenging. Herein, three novel high-nuclearity silver-thiolate clusters trapping two kinds of classical POMs, Lindqvist-Mo
6
O
19
2−
and V
10
O
28
6−
, are reported. They are identified to be (V
10
O
28
)@Ag
44
(
SD/Ag44a
), (V
10
O
28
)@Ag
46
(
SD/Ag46
), and (Mo
6
O
19
)@Ag
44
(
SD/Ag44b
) clusters, which are further extended to 1D chain, 2D
sql
layer, and 3D
pcu
framework, respectively. Of note,
SD/Ag44b
contains a regular cubic Mo
6
O
19
core sealed by an Ag
44
(EtS)
24
shell in a pseudo-sodalite unit and six SCl
4
planar squares connecting the respective adjacent silver tetragonal faces. This structure is a novel zeolite closely related to the natural alumino-silicate 'sodalite' but exceptionally made of core-shell silver clusters. Moreover, the O
h
symmetric Mo
6
O
19
2−
templates an O
h
symmetric Ag
44
cluster in
SD/Ag44b
, realizing authentic symmetry delivery from guest to host in this system. This is a rare silver cluster family with classical POMs encapsulated.
Two classic Polyoxometallates, Lindqvist-Mo
6
O
19
2−
and V
10
O
28
6−
, were encapsulated by three novel silver-thiolate clusters, (V
10
O
28
)@Ag
44
(
SD/Ag44a
), (V
10
O
28
)@Ag
46
(
SD/Ag46
), and (Mo
6
O
19
)@Ag
44
(
SD/Ag44b
).
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are composed of complex glycans linked to sphingosines and various fatty acid chains. Antibodies against several GSLs designated as stage-specific embryonic antigens ...(SSEAs), have been widely used to characterize differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. In view of the cross-reactivities of these antibodies with multiple glycans, a few laboratories have employed advanced mass spectrometry (MS) technologies to define the dynamic changes of surface GSLs upon ES differentiation. However, the amphiphilic nature and heterogeneity of GSLs make them difficult to decipher. In our studies, systematic survey of GSL expression profiles in human ES cells and differentiated derivatives was conducted, primarily with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS (MALDI-MS) and MS/MS analyses. In addition to the well-known ES-specific markers, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4, several previously undisclosed globo- and lacto-series GSLs, including Gb4Cer, Lc4Cer, fucosyl Lc4Cer, Globo H, and disialyl Gb5Cer were identified in the undifferentiated human ES and induced pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, during differentiation to embryoid body outgrowth, the core structures of GSLs switched from globo- and lacto- to ganglio-series. Lineage-specific differentiation was also marked by alterations of specific GSLs. During differentiation into neural progenitors, core structures shifted to primarily ganglio-series dominated by GD3. GSL patterns shifted to prominent expression of Gb4Cer with little SSEA-3 and- 4 or GD3 during endodermal differentiation. Several issues relevant to MS analysis and novel GSLs in ES cells were discussed. Finally, unique GSL signatures in ES and cancer cells are exploited in glycan-targeted anti-cancer immunotherapy and their mechanistic investigations were discussed using anti-GD2 mAb and Globo H as examples.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Scope
SlimTrym® is a formulated product composed of citrus polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), green tea extract, and lychee extract. We investigated the effect of dietary SlimTrym® on diet‐induced obesity ...and associated non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice.
Methods and results
Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing 0.1% or 0.5% SlimTrym® for 16 weeks. Dietary SlimTrym® significantly reduced weight gain and relative perigonadal, retroperitoneal, mesenteric fat weight as well as the size of adipocyte in HFD‐fed mice. SlimTrym® supplementation also effectively diminished hepatic steatosis and the serum levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), triacylglycerol (TG), and total cholesterol (TCHO). Down‐regulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)γ, sterol regulatory element‐binding protein (SREBP)‐1, and the activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling by SlimTrym® in both adipose tissue and liver may be responsible for the observed anti‐obesity effects.
Conclusion
SlimTrym® supplementation potentially diminished diet‐induced obesity and hepatic steatosis via regulating AMPK signaling and molecules involved in lipid metabolism.
Dietary SlimTrym reduces hepatic lipogenic protein levels of C/EBP‐β, PPAR‐γ, SREBP‐1c, and FAS via increasing the activation of AMPK and down‐regulated ACC, resulting in reduce TG accumulation in adipocytes.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A new class of amphiphilic tetradentate platinum(
ii
) Schiff base complexes has been designed and synthesized. The self-assembly properties by exploiting the potential Pt Pt interactions of ...amphiphilic platinum(
ii
) Schiff base complexes in the solution state have been systematically investigated. The presence of Pt Pt interactions has further been supported by computational studies and non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis of the dimer of the complex. The extent of the non-covalent Pt Pt and π-π interactions could be regulated by a variation of the solvent compositions and the hydrophobicity of the complexes, which is accompanied by attractive spectroscopic and luminescence changes and leads to diverse morphological transformations. The present work represents a rare example of demonstration of directed cooperative assembly of amphiphilic platinum(
ii
) Schiff base complexes by intermolecular Pt Pt interactions in solution with an in-depth mechanistic investigation, providing guiding principles for the construction of supramolecular structures with desirable properties using platinum(
ii
) Schiff base building blocks.
Amphiphilic platinum(
ii
) Schiff base complexes self-assemble into highly ordered diverse nanostructures
via
directed cooperative assembly. The formation of Pt Pt interactions has been supported by NCI analysis.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, UL, UM, UPUK
GFRA1 and RET are overexpressed in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers. Binding of GDNF to GFRA1 triggers RET signaling leading to ER phosphorylation and estrogen-independent ...transcriptional activation of ER-dependent genes. Both GFRA1 and RET are membrane proteins which are N-glycosylated but no O-linked sialylation site on GFRA1 or RET has been reported. We found GFRA1 to be a substrate of ST3GAL1-mediated O-linked sialylation, which is crucial to GDNF-induced signaling in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Silencing ST3GAL1 in breast cancer cells reduced GDNF-induced phosphorylation of RET, AKT and ERα, as well as GDNF-mediated cell proliferation. Moreover, GDNF induced transcription of ST3GAL1, revealing a positive feedback loop regulating ST3GAL1 and GDNF/GFRA1/RET signaling in breast cancers. Finally, we demonstrated ST3GAL1 knockdown augments anti-cancer efficacy of inhibitors of RET and/or ER. Moreover, high expression of ST3GAL1 was associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with late stage breast cancer and high expression of both ST3GAL1 and GFRA1 adversely impacted outcome in those with high grade tumors.
•ST3GAL1 silencing inhibits GDNF-induced activation of downstream kinases.•ST3GAL1-mediated O-linked sialylation of GFRA1 promotes its interaction with RET.•GDNF upregulates transcription of ST3GAL1 by Sp1 through GFRA1/RET/PI3K/AKT pathway.•ST3GAL1 knockdown augments anti-cancer efficacy of inhibitors of RET and/or ER.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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