Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide protects against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity

Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) against CdCl₂-induced neurotoxicity in N2a and SH-SY5Y cells and in the cerebral cortex of BALB/c mice. In addition, we aimed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these protective effects. Relative to CdCl₂ treatment alone, pretreatment with PAP prevented the reduction in cell viability evoked by CdCl₂, decreased rates of apoptosis, promoted calcium homeostasis, decreased ROS accumulation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cytochrome C and AIF release, and prevented the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. In addition, PAP significantly decreased the CdCl₂-induced phosphorylation of CaMKII, Akt, and mTOR. In conclusion, PAP represents a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced neurotoxicity, functioning in part via attenuating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the Ca²⁺-CaMKII-dependent Akt/mTOR pathway.     

四种大宗常用中药饮片中黄曲霉毒素污染状况分布比较研究

目的 测定不同来源的4种大宗常用中药饮片中黄曲霉毒素（AFB₁、AFB₂、AFG₁和AFG₂）的含量，比较不同基质中药饮片中黄曲霉毒素的分布状况。方法 基于免疫亲和柱净化-高效液相色谱分离-荧光检测器（IAC-HPLC-FLD）方法，分析不同产地共75批中药样品。结果 柏子仁、薏苡仁、决明子及党参共计75批中药饮片中，阳性检出：26批柏子仁（AFs 1.22-46.67 μg·kg^-1，AFB₁ 1.22-31.40 μg·kg^-1）、4批薏苡仁（AFs 1.97-41.13 μg·kg^-1，AFB₁ 1.97-36.40 μg·kg^-1）、1批决明子（AFs 13.65 μg·kg^-1，AFB₁ 12.60 μg·kg^-1），阳性率41%，超标率15%。阳性样品经 LC-MS/MS确证，排除假阳性。4种大宗常用中药饮片柏子仁、薏苡仁、决明子、党参中黄曲霉毒素的污染水平依次降低，阳性检出率分别为77%、29%、7%、0%，表明中药材中黄曲霉毒素的污染状况与药材基质密切相关。结论 针对易污染AFs的中药品种，需进一步加强其污染状况的全面检测分析，为黄曲霉毒素的有效防控以及完善中药的质量标准提供科学依据，从而保障中药用药安全。     

煮炸鹿茸加工过程中晚期糖基化终产物生成规律及动力学分析

目的研究煮炸鹿茸加工过程中晚期糖基化终产物的生成规律及动力学参数。方法通过构建葡萄糖与赖氨酸模拟煮炸鹿茸加工过程美拉德(Maillard)反应体系,分别采用紫外-可见分光光度法和UPLC-MS/MS法测定体系褐变指数和典型晚期糖基化终产物(羧甲基赖氨酸和羧乙基赖氨酸)含量变化,探讨晚期糖基化终产物的生成规律和动力学参数。结果鹿茸加工过程中煮炸时发生褐变反应,生成羧甲基赖氨酸和羧乙基赖氨酸反应的活化能分别为5.07、40.44、78.47 kJ/mol,且均为零级反应;烘烤时相应反应的活化能分别为6.72、89.34、164.77 kJ/mol,也均为零级反应。相对于生成羧甲基赖氨酸而言,生成羧乙基赖氨酸所需能量更高,反应更难发生。结论烘烤过程温度变化对晚期糖基化终产物的动力学参数影响显著高于煮炸过程,长时间较高温度的烘烤使鹿茸中产生了较多的晚期糖基化终产物,这些结果为鹿茸加工过程中晚期糖基化终产物的阻断、抑制策略提供了理论基础,对生产绿色安全的鹿茸及加强中药安全具有重要意义。     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

Prevalence and genetic analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and type 3 (PCV3) between 2018 and 2020 in central China

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), causing substantial economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. PCV3, as a recently discovered virus, is associated with porcine dermatitis, nephropathy syndrome, reproductive failure, congenital tremors, and other clinical symptoms. To further investigate the epidemic profile and genetic diversity of the two viruses, a total of 198 samples from swine at various growth stages suspected for PCVAD on 55 different pig farms between 2018 and 2020 were analyzed for presence of PCV2 and PCV3 by using a multiplex real-time PCR assay. Among the 198 samples, 113 (57.07%) and 72 (36.36%) were positive for PCV2 and PCV3 respectively, and 39 (19.7%) were positive for PCV2 and PCV3 co-infection. Subsequently, whole genome sequences of 34 PCV2 and 19 PCV3 strains were obtained from 30 and 19 clinical samples, respectively. Of these, 8 PCV2 strains belonged to PCV2a, 10 belonged to PCV2b and 16 belonged to PCV2d, indicating PCV2d was the predominant PCV2 genotype circulating in central China. Furthermore, co-infection of different PCV2 genotype strains was identified in three samples (JZ-4, KF-2 and JY-1), and a cross-recombination was found in the ORF2 region of the sequenced 13 PCV2d strains whose putative parental strains were LN6/1999 (MF278777) and MEX/41238/2014 (KT795287) strains. The phylogenetic analysis of PCV3 showed high nucleotide identity (>98%) among sequences obtained in this study and reference sequences. These data will aid our understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolution of PCV2 and PCV3.     

Toxic Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile colitis: No longer a diarrhea associated infection

BackgroundClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is traditionally taught to be an antibiotic associated diarrheal infection. This diagnosis is based on the presence of clinical symptoms (usually defined as more than 3 watery, loose or unformed stool within 24 h) coupled with a diagnostic test. There is now a new presentation of CDI, including progression to toxic megacolon, in patients without diarrhea.MethodsWe report a case series of 9 surgical patients from a single institution who developed CDI without preceding diarrhea.ResultAll 9 patients had CDI with positive laboratory testing for C. difficile toxin. They, however, presented with a lack of or minimal bowel movements. Six patients had rapid development of abdominal distention, 1 patient had a single episode of watery stool in 3 days, while the other 2 patients presented with constipation. Seven patients received stool softeners, suppositories and/or enemas for presumed constipation. Four patients had a mild course of infection and were successfully treated medically. The other 5 patients developed toxic megacolon, and eventually required total abdominal colectomy. Out of the 5 patients that required total colectomy, 2 expired.ConclusionCDI must be suspected in patients who rapidly develop abdominal distention, vague abdominal complaints or change in bowel function even in the absence of diarrhea, especially if coupled with multi-system organ failure.     

硬尖神香草的化学成分研究

目的 研究硬尖神香草Hyssopus cuspidatus地上干燥部分的化学成分。方法 采用硅胶柱色谱、高效液相色谱技术等进行分离纯化,通过现代波谱学技术对所得化合物进行结构鉴定,并采用MTT比色法对分离得到的化合物进行体外抑制人胃癌HGC-27细胞的活性筛选。结果 从神香草95%乙醇提取物中分离得到9个化合物,分别鉴定为4S-(2-羟基异丙基)-环己烷-2-烯-1-酮（1）、(3R,4aR,5R,6R)-6-羟基-4a,5-二甲基-3-(丙-1-烯-2-基)-3,4,4a,5,6,7-六氢萘-1(2H)-酮（2）、对茴香酸（3）、三裂鼠尾草素（4）、5-羟基-6,7,3'',4''-四甲氧基黄酮（5）、蓟黄素（6）、E-p-香豆醇乙醚（7）、(E)-p-香豆醇γ-O-甲醚（8）、4-羟基-3-甲氧基乙基肉桂酸盐（9）。其中,化合物1为新化合物,命名为神香草酮A。对化合物1～9进行抗肿瘤活性筛选,结果显示,化合物1、3、8对HGC-27胃癌细胞具有一定的抑制作用,其半数抑制浓度（median inhibition concentration,IC₅₀）值分别为8.76、16.34、25.28 μmol/L。结论 化合物1为新化合物,化合物5～9为首次从该属植物中分到。