Application of furazolidone in Helicobacter pylori infection eradication

Increasing antibiotic resistance is the primary reason for treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. To enhance the eradication rate, minimize the development of secondary resistance, and alleviate the socioeconomic burden, it is crucial to select H. pylori-sensitive antibiotics carefully. Furazolidone has been used for H. pylori eradication in developing countries for decades due to its affordability and low resistance rate. Numerous studies have demonstrated that furazolidone-containing regimens are more efficacious than those containing other antibiotics, as both first- and second-line therapies, and are also well tolerated. However, utility of furazolidone is restricted or not optimal in certain countries due to its infrequent but potentially severe adverse effects. The decision to discontinue usage of furazolidone because of concerns regarding adverse effects may be misguided. Here we comprehensively reviewed the studies on furazolidone at different dosages and treatment durations for H. pylori eradication. Further research on the mechanisms of action and clinical trials of furazolidone are of great practical importance.

RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Potential Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Pachymic Acid Toward Iron-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cell Death

Iron dysregulation is a crucial factor in the development of neurological diseases, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress, triggering inflammatory responses, and ultimately causing neurological impairment. Pachymic acid (PA) is an active ingredient extracted from the medicinal fungus Poria cocos, which has been reported with multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemia/reperfusion, and anticancer actions. In this study, we test whether PA have neuroprotection effect aganist ferrous ions induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that pre-treatment with PA reduced intracellular ROS levels, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and protected cells from apoptotic death. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR results indicated that PA can regulate the key genes IL1B, CXCL8, CCL7, and LRP1 on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, such as NF-κB signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, to prevent Fe2+-induced apoptotic cell death. Our research indicated that PA has potential therapeutic effects on the neuroprotection by regulating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress damage.

Hydrogel-assisted microfluidic spinning of stretchable fibers via fluidic and interfacial self-adaptations

Stretchable polymeric fibers have enormous potential, but their production requires rigorous environmental controls and considerable resource consumption. It's also challenging for elastic polymers with high performance but poor spinnability, such as silicones like polydimethylsiloxane and Ecoflex. We present a hydrogel-assisted microfluidic spinning (HAMS) method to address these challenges by encapsulating their prepolymers within arbitrarily long, protective, and sacrificable hydrogel fibers. By designing simple apparatuses and manipulating the fluidic and interfacial self-adaptations of oil/water flows, we successfully produce fibers with widely controllable diameter (0.04 to 3.70 millimeters), notable length, high quality (e.g., smooth surface, whole-length uniformity, and rounded section), and remarkable stretchability (up to 1300%) regardless of spinnability. Uniquely, this method allows an easy, effective, and controllable reshaping production of helical fibers with exceptional stretchability and mechanical compliance. We deeply reveal the mechanisms in producing these fibers and demonstrate their potential as textile components, optoelectronic devices, and actuators. The HAMS method would be a powerful tool for mass-producing high-quality stretchable fibers.