Schisandra chinensis polysaccharides attenuate the growth of tuberculosis bacilli in rats via immunity enhancement

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of Schisandrachinensis polysaccharides (SCPP11) on the growth of tuberculosis (TB) bacilli in a rat model.Methods: Tuberculosis (TB) was induced by administration of colonies of tubercle bacilli via the inhalation route. SCPP11 was administered at separate doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg to different rat groups, p.o., for 4 weeks. Untreated rats served as TB control. At the end of treatment, assessments were made on the effect of SCPP11 on colony forming unit (CFU), cytokine levels, and population of immune cells present in lung tissue homogenates of the TB-infected rats.Results: The CFU of TB bacilli was significantly reduced in the lung tissues of SCPP11-treated group, when compared to untreated TB control group. Moreover, SCPP11 attenuated lung tissue levels of inflammatory cytokines, and significantly enhanced immunity, relative to the TB control group.Conclusion: These results indicate that SCPP11 ameliorates TB by suppressing the growth of tuberculosis bacilli.Keywords: Schisandra chinensis, Polysaccharides, Immune cells, Tuberculosis bacilli, Cytokine

Synthesis of porous reduced graphene oxide as metal-free carbon for adsorption and catalytic oxidation of organics in water

Activation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using CO2 to obtain highly porous and metal-free carbonaceous materials for adsorption and catalysis was investigated. A facile one-pot thermal process can simultaneously reduce graphene oxide and produce activated RGO without introducing any solid or aqueous activation agent. This process can significantly increase the specific surface area (SSA) of RGO from 200 to higher than 1200 m2 g-1, and the obtained materials were proven to be highly effective for adsorptive removal of both anionic (phenol) and cationic (methylene blue, MB) organics from water. Moreover, the activated RGO materials exhibited much better activity in effective activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to produce sulfate radicals for oxidative degradation of MB

Low-dose metformin reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment in human esophageal cancer:Results of a phase II clinical trial

PURPOSE: The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has an important impact on response to cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically, an "infiltrated-excluded"/"cold" TIME is predictive of poor response. The antidiabetic agent metformin may influence anti-cancer immunity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We analyzed matched pre- and post-treatment ESCC specimens in a phase II clinical trial of low-dose metformin treatment (250 mg/day) to evaluate direct anti-ESCC activity and TIME-reprogramming. Follow-up correlative studies using a carcinogen-induced ESCC mouse model were performed with short-term (1 week) or long-term (12 weeks) low-dose metformin (50 mg/kg/day) treatment. RESULTS: In the clinical trial, low-dose metformin did not affect proliferation or apoptosis in ESCC tumors as assayed by Ki67 and cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining. However, metformin reprogrammed the TIME towards "infiltrated-inflamed" and increased the numbers of infiltrated CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and CD20+ B-lymphocyte. Further, an increase in tumor-suppressive (CD11c+) and a decrease in tumor-promoting (CD163+) macrophages were observed. Metformin augmented macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of ESCC cells in vitro. In ESCC mouse model, short-term metformin treatment reprogrammed the TIME in a similar fashion to humans, whereas long-term treatment further shifted the TIME towards an active state (e.g., reduction in CD4+ FoxP3+ Tregs) and inhibited ESCC growth. In both humans and mice, metformin triggered AMPK activation and STAT3 inactivation, and altered the production of effector cytokines (i.e. TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10) in the immune cells. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose metformin reprograms the TIME to an activated status and may be a suitable immune response modifier for further investigation in ESCC patients

The association between frailty index and abdominal aortic calcification in the middle-aged and older US adults: NHANES 2013–2014

BackgroundAbdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is one of the earliest observed forms of atherosclerotic calcification and is crucial for early cardiovascular risk prediction. Frailty, a global clinical and public health challenge, is associated with increased risks of mortality, functional decline, and loss of independence. However, the relationship between the Frailty Index (FI) and AAC among middle-aged and older adults has yet to be explored.MethodsThis study analyzed data from 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohort, focusing on individuals aged ≥ 40 years. The FI was calculated using a 49-item model to assess frailty status and participants were stratified into three groups: non-frail (FI ≤ 0.15), pre-frail (0.15 < FI ≤ 0.25), and frail (FI > 0.25). AAC was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantified by Kauppila scores. Severe AAC was defined as an AAC score > 6. The relationship between FI and AAC was investigated using multivariable logistic regression, sensitivity analyses, and smoothing curve fitting. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted to assess the stability of this association across different populations.ResultsA total of 2,572 participants were enrolled in this study. Following adjustment for potential confounders, FI exhibited a statistically significant positive association with both AAC score (β = 2.64, 95%CI = 1.20–4.08) and Severe AAC (OR = 6.36, 95%CI = 1.48–27.41). Similar trends (P for trend < 0.05) were observed when FI was analyzed as a categorical variable. Smooth curve fitting and subgroup analysis were used to investigate the relationship between baseline FI Z-score and AAC score and Severe AAC. Interestingly, we found that the FI Z-score was linearly related to the occurrence of severe AAC, while it was nonlinearly related to the AAC score. The FI-Z score was positively associated with the likelihood of AAC score before the breakpoint (K = 0.78), but not significant after the breakpoint. The association between FI-Z score and Severe AAC was stable in the different subgroups (all P for interaction > 0.05).ConclusionOur study indicated a stable positive correlation between FI and AAC. FI may serve as a biomarker for early subclinical atherosclerosis detection in middle-aged and older US adults

Metal-free graphene-carbon nitride hybrids for photodegradation of organic pollutants in water

Hybrid photocatalysts of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites were prepared in one-pot via a thermal condensation of melamine with different amounts of graphene oxide (GO). As metal-free hybrids, the prepared photocatalysts presented enhanced performances in photooxidation of both methylene blue and phenol in water solutions under various light irradiations. The level of rGO significantly affected MB photodegradation efficiencies. The introduced graphene can improve the MB adsorption and optical absorption in visible light region, therefore enables the hybrids to efficiently degrade MB under visible light with wavelengths longer than 430 nm. The metal-free photocatalysts were also able to degrade phenol effectively and the effects of catalyst loading and initial phenol concentration were investigated. This study provided an efficient and environmentally benign photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants in water, with complete prevention of secondary contamination from metal-leaching

Nest-site selection by Isabelline Wheatears Oenanthe isabellina on the Tibet plateau

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