Objective
Changes in gut microbiota have been linked to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but knowledge is limited. Our study aimed to provide an in‐depth understanding of the contribution of gut ...microbiota to the immunopathogenesis of SLE.
Methods
Fecal metagenomes from 117 patients with untreated SLE and 52 SLE patients posttreatment were aligned with 115 matched healthy controls and analyzed by whole‐genome profiling. For comparison, we assessed the fecal metagenome of MRL/lpr mice. The oral microbiota origin of the gut species that existed in SLE patients was documented by single‐nucleotide polymorphism–based strain‐level analyses. Functional validation assays were performed to demonstrate the molecular mimicry of newly found microbial peptides.
Results
Gut microbiota from individuals with SLE displayed significant differences in microbial composition and function compared to healthy controls. Certain species, including the Clostridium species ATCC BAA‐442 as well as Atopobium rimae, Shuttleworthia satelles, Actinomyces massiliensis, Bacteroides fragilis, and Clostridium leptum, were enriched in SLE gut microbiota and reduced after treatment. Enhanced lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis aligned with reduced branched chain amino acid biosynthesis was observed in the gut of SLE patients. The findings in mice were consistent with our findings in human subjects. Interestingly, some species with an oral microbiota origin were enriched in the gut of SLE patients. Functional validation assays demonstrated the proinflammatory capacities of some microbial peptides derived from SLE‐enriched species.
Conclusion
This study provides detailed information on the microbiota of untreated patients with SLE, including their functional signatures, similarities with murine counterparts, oral origin, and the definition of autoantigen‐mimicking peptides. Our data demonstrate that microbiome‐altering approaches may offer valuable adjuvant therapies in SLE.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and impaired Aβ clearance is the leading cause of Aβ deposition. Recently, studies have ...found that the glymphatic system performs similar functions to the peripheral lymphatic system. Glymphatic fluid transport mainly consists of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) entering the brain from the paravascular space (PVS) by penetrating arteries and CSF and interstitial fluid exchanging mediated by aquaporin-4 (AQP4). This system promotes the drainage of interstitial fluid (ISF) in the parenchyma and removes metabolic waste, including Aβ, in the brain. Glymphatic system dysfunction plays an essential role in the occurrence and progression of AD. Regulation of glymphatic fluid transport may be a critical target for AD therapy. This study explored the regulatory effects of continuous theta-burst stimulation (CTBS) on the glymphatic system in APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice with two-photon imaging. The results demonstrated that CTBS could increase glymphatic fluid transport, especially CSF and ISF exchange, mediated by improved AQP4 polarization. In addition, the accelerated glymphatic pathway reduced Aβ deposition and enhanced spatial memory cognition. It provided new insight into the clinical prevention and treatment of Aβ deposition-related diseases.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
3.
Micromixing performance in a rotating bar reactor Banaga, Abdelgadir Bashir; Yue, Xu‐Jia; Chu, Guang‐Wen ...
Canadian journal of chemical engineering,
August 2020, Volume:
98, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
A rotating bar reactor (RBR) was designed for adjusting micromixing efficiency. It consists of two concentric cylinders of inner rotating and outer fixed cylinders. Two feeding modes, named as radial ...and tangential feeding modes, were applied to modify the feeding at the bottom section of the RBR. The influence of feeding modes on the micromixing performance was measured with different rotational speeds, flow rates, viscosities, volumetric flow ratios, and hydrogen ion concentrations. Experimental results reveal that the RBR with tangential feeding mode has better micromixing performance than that with radial mode. The higher rotational speed has a positive impact on the segregation index (Xs). The values of Xs increased with the decrease of the flow rate, and the increase of the viscosity, volumetric flow ratio, and hydrogen ion concentration. The micromixing time, estimated by using an incorporation model, was in the range of 5.00 × 10−6‐1.13 × 10−5 seconds in the RBR with a tangential feeding mode, which indicates a promising prospect of the RBR for process intensification of fast and complex reactions.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Citrus folium and its main ingredient nobiletin (NOB) have received widespread attention in recent years due to their antitumor effects. The antitumor effect of Citrus folium is related to the ...traditional use, mainly in its Chinese medicinal properties of soothing the liver and promoting qi, resolving phlegm, and dispelling stagnation. Some studies have proved that Citrus folium and NOB are more effective for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is related to the syndrome of stagnation of liver qi. From the perspective of modern biomedical research, NOB has anticancer effects. Its potential molecular mechanisms include inhibition of the cell cycle, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. Citrus folium and NOB can also reduce the side effects of chemotherapy drugs and reverse multidrug resistance (MDR). However, more research studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms. The modern evidence of Citrus folium and NOB in breast cancer treatment has a strong connection with the traditional concepts and laws of applying Citrus folium in Chinese medicine (CM). As a low-toxic anticancer drug candidate, NOB and its structural changes, Citrus folium, and compound prescriptions will attract scientists to use advanced technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to study its potential anticancer effects and mechanisms. On the contrary, there are relatively few studies on the anticancer effects of Citrus folium and NOB in vivo. The clinical application of Citrus folium and NOB as new cancer treatment drugs requires in vivo verification and further anticancer mechanism research. This review aims to provide reference for the treatment of breast cancer by Chinese medicine.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Endometriosis (EM) is a common and benign estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder among women of reproductive age, and secondary dysmenorrhea is one of the more severe symptoms. However, the ...mechanism behind the development of dysmenorrhea is poorly understood, and there is a lack of effective methods for diagnosing and treating EM dysmenorrhea. In this regard, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has recently come into widespread use due to its limited adverse reactions and high efficiency. This review updates the progress of CAM in the treatment of EM dysmenorrhea and seeks to identify the therapeutic efficacy as well as the mechanisms behind these effects based on the available clinical and experimental studies. According to the literature, CAM therapy for EM dysmenorrhea, including herbs (herbal prescriptions, extracts, and patents), acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine enema (CHM enema), is effective for relieving dysmenorrhea with fewer unpleasant side effects when compared to hormonal and surgical treatments. In addition, we discuss and analyze the existing gaps in the literature. We hope to provide some instructive suggestions for clinical treatment and experimental research in the future.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
In this work, an II–VI group semiconductor zinc telluride (ZnTe) single crystal is prepared by a novel vertical Bridgman method using Te as flux. The initial mole ratio of Zn/Te = 3:7 is designed for ...raw material synthesis. ZnTe polycrystalline combined with rich Te is effectively fabricated through rocking technique at 1100 °C. A Φ 25 mm × 65 mm ZnTe boule is successfully grown under a ~ 40 °C·cm
−1
temperature gradient with a growth speed of 5 mm·day
−1
. The as-grown ZnTe crystal has a standard 1:1 stoichiometric ratio and pure
F
43
m
phase structure. The maximum transmittance perpendicular to (110) plane is about 64%, and the band gap (
E
g
) is tested to be 2.225 eV. Terahertz (THz) examination results demonstrate that the time of the highest THz signal is around 17 ps and the frequency of the highest THz transmission is about 0.78 THz, implying that the ZnTe crystal grown by the present Te flux vertical Bridgman method has a good feasibility for THz application.
Graphic abstract
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Objective Ovarian cancer (OC) has been regarded as the most malignant gynecological neoplasm and often confers grave outcomes owing to the frequent metastasis and high recurrence. A previous study ...has demonstrated that miR-1271-5p is implicated in OC progression, however, the possible mechanism of it remains unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to explore how miR-1271-5p regulates the progression of OC. Methods Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were employed to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs or genes as well as their corresponding prognostic values. miR-1271-5p expression in OC cells was examined by qRT-PCR. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and transwell tests were conducted to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion potentials. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase activity analysis were utilized to predict and verify the target gene of miR-1271-5p. Western blot assay was carried out to measure protein expression. Results miR-1271-5p was significantly decreased in OC and its down-regulation was associated with the grave outcome of OC patients. Upregulation of miR-1271-5p inhibited cell viability, but miR-1271-5p knockdown promoted the proliferation of OC cells. TIAM1 was a direct target gene of miR-1271-5p and expressed in OC tissues at higher level. High expression of TIAM1 induced the poorer prognosis of patients with OC. Further functional analyses showed that the suppressive role of miR-1271-5p on OC cell malignant behaviors was overturned by the upregulation of TIAM1. The protein levels of Cyclin D1, HES1, NOTCH and NUMB were remarkably changed due to the abnormal expression of miR-1271-5p and TIAM1. Conclusion To sum up, miR-1271-5p inhibits proliferation, invasion and migration of OC cells by directly repressing TIAM1 to inactivate the Notch signaling pathway, which provides an alternative therapeutic candidate for the advancement of OC treatment. Keywords: miR-1271-5p, Ovarian cancer, Prognosis, Cell behavior, Notch pathway
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system and has a high morbidity and mortality rate. The progression and metastasis of OC are complex and involve multiple ...signaling pathways. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is closely related to OC, and therefore blocking the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling directly or inhibiting related genes, and molecular targets is of great value in treating OC. Toxicities such as myelotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, genotoxicity, and vasospasm are the major side effects for common anticancer drugs and are well documented. There is, therefore, a need to develop new, effective, safer, and more affordable anticancer drugs from alternative sources. In recent years, plant-derived Chinese medicine monomers have drawn increasing attention due to their high safety, low toxicity, minimal side effects, and antitumor effects. Plant-derived Chinese medicine monomers are effective against multiple targets and can regulate the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of OC as well as reverse drug resistance by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this review, we summarize and provide mechanisms and prospects for the use of plant-derived Chinese medicines for the prevention and treatment of OC.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Rare-earth doped inorganic ferroelectrics are considered as novel photochromic materials,with potential applications for optical switch and information storage(K0.5Na0.5)1-xEuxNbO3（KNN:xEu） ceramics ...were prepared by high temperature calcination,with precursor powder obtained by hydrothermal method.Strong red emission at 615 nm was observed which corresponds to the 5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+ under excitation of 465 nm.Under UV light irradiation for 3 min,the color of the ceramics turned from milky white to dark gray.The colored samples returned to the original color when heated at 200 ℃ for 10 min,showing strong photochromic behavior.Meanwhile,the luminescence intensity of Eu3+ can be tuned without obvious degradation by alternating UV light and heat stimulus.Upon UV light irradiation,large luminescence modulation ratio（ΔRt） up to 83.9% was achieved for KNN:0.06 Eu,indicating good luminescence switching behavior.A possible mechanism for non-radiative energy transfer from the luminescent center to the color center was proposed according to their luminescent behavior.
Relaxing chemical pressure in phosphors with large‐size‐mismatched dopants, aiming at attaining high‐efficiency luminescence and a higher dopant concentration, remains a challenging subject of ...continuous research effort. Originally seen as undesirable and detrimental to the performance of luminescent systems, this study demonstrates that the formation of a tiny amount of oxygen vacancies favors chemical pressure relaxation (CPR), resulting in topotactic transformation of poorly luminescent parent phases to highly luminescent cousins, as exemplified by a model system of Bi3+‐doped Lu2O3. The integration of experimental observations with theoretical calculations reveals that the emergence of oxygen vacancies adjacent to Bi3+ can expand its size of coordination geometry, thus releasing the chemical pressure and significantly influencing the emission characteristics. Importantly, it is illustrated that the concept of oxygen‐vacancy‐mediated CPR is sufficiently general to allow the optimization of luminescence from other classes of foreign‐ion‐doped phosphors plagued by size mismatch. It is suggested that this concept can be applied to an array of optical materials in various forms, and also provides unique opportunities for tuning other properties of functional materials that are sensitive to local coordination environments of dopants.
Oxygen‐vacancy‐mediated chemical pressure relaxation is proposed and confirmed as a universal strategy to significantly enhance photoluminescence from phosphors with large‐size‐mismatched dopants. Experimental and theoretical results suggest that topotactic creation of oxygen vacancies favors the modification of local environment of dopant due to the expansion of coordination geometry, thus leading to the conversion of dark emitters into bright cousins.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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