Non-targeted metabolomics strategy reveals the role of Geng-Nian-Shu in regulating ferroptosis in perimenopausal syndrome

Ovariectomy (OVX) is usually accompanied by the occurrence of metabolic syndrome. Previous studies have shown that Geng-Nian-Shu (GNS) plays an important regulatory role in perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) rats. GNS is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription which composed of Suanzaoren Decoction and Ganmai Dazao Decoction in "Jingui Yaolue" and Siwu Decoction in "Heji Jufang". Recently, metabolomics analysis has been used to identify slight changes in the metabolic profile and to help understand disease progression and therapeutic interventions in PMS. However, the mechanism of GNS in the treatment of PMS is still unknown. We purposed to study the metabolic characteristics of PMS by serum and fecal metabolomics, and revealed the internal mechanism of GNS regulating ferroptosis against PMS. The PMS model was established by surgical removal of 4/5 ovaries of rats. HPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used to analyze the metabolomics of rat plasma and feces to explore the potential mechanism of GNS in PMS. The expression of ferroptosis-related proteins in rat ovaries was detected by tissue Prussian blue staining, Elisa kit and Western blotting. Cluster analysis of differential metabolites in plasma and feces between the control group and the model group showed that organic acids and their derivatives, lipids and lipid molecules were mainly disturbed during PMS in rats. After GNS administration, 17 differential metabolites were adjusted, involving several major pathways, such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, biosynthesis of amino acids and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Further, we found that GNS affected ferroptosis in ovarian cells by regulating endogenous substances in OVX rats. Our study provides new insights into the mechanism of OVX-induced metabolic syndrome based on non-targeted metabolomics. It provides new ideas for the development and application of GNS and the diagnosis and treatment of PMS.

Semisolid medium internal phase emulsions stabilized by dendritic-like mushroom cellulose nanofibrils: Concentration effect and stabilization mechanism

Emulsions with reduced fat and natural stabilizers are currently prevalent. Herein, semisolid emulsions with an oil phase of 50 % were successfully prepared using cellulose nanofibrils from mushroom stipes as stabilizers. Cellulose nanofibrils obtained by high-pressure homogenization were dendritic-like and possessed a contact angle of 70.50 ± 0.41°. The rheological properties and stability of emulsions increased significantly as nanocellulose concentrations increased from 5 to 20 mg/mL, while nanocellulose at 25-30 mg/mL significantly reduced the storage stability and anti-lipid oxidation ability of emulsions. The microstructure of semisolid emulsions demonstrated that nanocellulose fibers at 20 mg/mL could stabilize emulsions by forming compact interfacial films around droplets and creating intensive bridging networks between neighboring droplets, while nanofibers at concentrations over 20 mg/mL easily clustered in the aqueous phase, making the droplets more susceptible to aggregation and demulsification. The results demonstrate that cellulose nanofibrils from mushroom byproducts have the potential to stabilize semisolid food-grade emulsions.

Spatial Fuzzy Clustering and Its Application for MRI and CT Image Segmentation

Due to the low segmentation accuracy and sensitivity to initial contour in image segmentation of CV model, an image segmentation algorithm based on CV model combined with spatial fuzzy c-means was proposed for MRI and CT image segmentation with unclear boundary, artifact and high noise. Based on the rough segmentation of the image by using the fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm in the spatial domain, the initial contour is set by using the clustering information to assist the CV model, and the target region is segmented by iterative evolution. The experimental results showed that when the number of iterations was only 50, the Dice coefficient of our algorithm for segmentation of brain MRI images was 89.17%, 38.9% higher than the traditional CV model. It can be seen that the algorithm has higher discrimination and better segmentation effect for medical images.

High Internal Phase Emulsion for Food-Grade 3D Printing Materials

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has attracted significant attention for its use in additive manufacturing techniques because it provides customizability and flexibility for fabricating structures with arbitrary shapes. Certain applications in the food and medicine industries require 3D printable materials that are both biocompatible and biodegradable. Consequently, this study reports 3D printable materials constructed from food-grade high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The studied HIPEs (phase ratio 85%) were stabilized by the efficient adsorption behavior of cod proteins (concentration range, 10-50 mg mL^-1) at the oil-water interface. The stability of the oil-in-water HIPEs was improved by the formation of a concentration-dependent percentage of adsorbed proteins and cross-linking networks, and homogeneous and self-supporting structures were generated after 7 days of storage at 4 °C. The gel-like shear thinning rheological behavior induced by the cross-linking networks in the studied HIPEs can be tuned to obtain the desired printability and extrudability during 3DP. In the present study, the HIPEs stabilized with 50 mg mL^-1 of cod proteins exhibited the highest printing resolution, gel strength, hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness during 3DP. These food-grade HIPE inks have the potential to diversify the applications of 3DP in foods, cosmetics, drug delivery systems, and packaging materials.

Cloning and characterization of a novel member of human beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase gene family

By using the EST strategy for identifying novel members belonging to homologous gene families, a novel fulklength cDNA encoding a protein significantly homologous to UDP-Gal: N-acetylglucosamine beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferase (GalT) was isolated from a human testis cDNA library. A nucleotide sequence of 2 173 bp long was determined to contain an open reading frame of 1 032 nucleotides (344 amino acids). In view of the homology to memben of the galactosyltransferase gene family and especially the closest relationship toGallus gallus GalT type I (CK I), the predicted product of the novel cDNA was designated as human beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase homolog I (HumGT-H1). Its mRNA is present in different degrees in 16 tissues examined. Southern analysis of human genomic DNA revealed its locus on chromosome 3.

Application of cumulative odds logistic model on risk factors analysis for sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Kaiyuan city, Yunnan province, China

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among female sex workers (FSW) in Kaiyuan city, Yunnan province, China, and to identify risk factors associated with STI.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 737 FSW was carried out from March to May 2006, with confidential interviews and laboratory tests for STI. A cumulative logit model was used to evaluate the risk factors for STI.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of HIV is 10.3%. The prevalence of syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomonas was 7.5%, 68.1%, 8.3%, 25.9% and 10.6%, respectively. In multivariate cumulative odds logistic analysis, the factors associated with STI were education level, living in the entertainment location, injection drug use, non-injection drug use, over five clients in the previous week and inconsistent use of condoms with clients.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the gravity of the STI epidemic among FSW in China, where sexual transmission has now overtaken unsafe injection practices as the dominant mode of HIV transmission. Targeted intervention programmes for FSW should focus on increasing condom use, strengthening knowledge and awareness of STI/HIV and encouraging routine screening and treatment-seeking behaviours. Reducing the spread of STI also has profound implications for the prevention of HIV.

Modeling and analysis of the structure of the thermostable catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Bacillus Stearothermophilus

The three-dimensional structure of thermostable catechol 2,3-dioxygenase(TC230) from Bacillus Stearothermophilus has been modeled basing on the known x-ray structure of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase(metapyrocatechase) from Pseudomonas putida mt-2, using computer graphics energy minimization techniques. The rationality of the resulting model was validated by Ramachandran plot and Profile-3D. The structure-functionally important residues, such as M++ binding residues and the substrate binding residues, were identified from the model. These residues are candidates for further site-directed mutagenesis experiments. The reason that the thermostability of TC230 is greater than metapyrocatechase(MPC) has been found, which may be due to the specific structure of the TC230 in the C-end mainly.

[An observation on long-term influence of middle ear bacterial infection on inner ear function and systemic immune reaction]

OBJECTIVE

To understand whether long-term inner ear heat shock response related to heat shock protein(HSP70) caused by middle ear bacterial infection and the potential influence on inner ear function.

METHODS

Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly classified into 6 groups including Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pyocyaneus, Bacillus coli, Bacillus proteus and physiological saline control groups. On 135 days after injection, distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) was tested and all the samples were collected, which were examined with light and electronic microscopes. HSP70 related molecule expression in inner ear, nuclear factor (NF) kappa Bp65 characterization in mononuclear cell, anti-KP antibody and anti-membranous labyrinth proteins (MLP) were examined.

RESULTS

No nuclear transfer of NF kappa Bp65 was observed in any animal. Anti-KP antibody was detected in 30% (3/10) of Staphylococcus aureus group, 29% (2/7) of KP group, 33% (3/9) of Bacillus pyocyaneus group and 10% (1/10) of control group. Anti-MLP antibody was created in 20% (2/10) of Staphylococcus aureus group, 20% (2/10) of KP group, one each in Bacillus pyocyaneus group and control group respectively. Double positive antibody against KP and MLP were found in Staphylococcus aureus group and KP group. When analyzed with Western blot, all the positive bands were small molecules including strongest 26,000-30,000, medium degree 38,000-41,000 and weak 46,000-50,000 except for 68,000 in one case. There was only one significant DPOAE amplification decrease at 1,625 Hz (2f1-f2) in left ear of Bacillus pyocyaneus group and right ear of Bacillus proteus group. No abnormal phenomenon was found in inner ear both under light microscope and electronic microscope. No significant expression of HSP70 was observed in inner ears.

CONCLUSION

No long-term heat shock response related to HSP70 existed in the inner ear and the immune inner ear damage may be caused by multiplefactors.

[A novel method for screening anti-inner ear autoantibody in patients with autoimmune diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To appraise the clinical value of a newly established method, rapid electric field immobilizing liquid phase molecule dot blot analysis (REILMD), for screening anti-inner ear autoantibody in patients with autoimmune diseases.

METHODS

Seventy-one patients with 11 kinds of autoimmune diseases were chosen for the study. Both the general immunity and autoantibodies were tested. In the processes of detection of anti-inner ear autoantibody, REILMD was used for screening, and then the Western blot was used to define the molecular weight of inner ear antigen recognized by the positive autoantibody.

RESULTS

Acceleration of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ES), positive rheumatoid factor (RF), increases in C reactive protein (CRP), IgG and circulating immune complex (CIC) were found in most cases with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE). Some of these patients had increased IgA, IgM and C4. Two of 16 RA had anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and anti-mitochondria and 4/16 had anti-nucleus antibodies. Eleven of 16 SLE had antinucleus, 7/13 had anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP), anti-Sjögren syndrome A (SSA) and anti-dsDNA, 3/13 had anti-smooth muscle (Sm) and 1/13 had anti-DNA topoisomerase I (Scl)-70, striated muscle and stomach acid cell antibodies. No autoantibody was detected in AS. Anti-inner ear autoantibody existed in 9 out of 71 patients (13%) with autoimmune diseases, in 2 of 21 patients (10%) with sudden deafness and only in 1 of 48 control subjects (2%, coronary heart disease). The anti-inner ear autoantibody was positive in 5 of 16 (31%) patients with SLE and 1 each in RA, AS, Behset's disease and streptococcus infection syndrome. In patients with positive anti-inner ear antibody, 67% had anti-nucleus antibody, 50% had anti-RNP and dsDNA antibody. The molecules recognized by the positive anti-inner ear antibody were defined as 52,000, 36,000, 31,000 and 15,000 molecules of inner ear antigen.

CONCLUSION

REILMD is a feasible and easy method for screening anti-inner ear autoantibody. Several autoimmune diseases, particularly SLE, may be implicated in damage to the inner ear.