Background:Lower urinary tract symptoms commonly occur in the elderly population and seriously constrain the quality of life.Glandular fibrosis is an important pathobiological process in benign prostatic hyperplasia a...Background:Lower urinary tract symptoms commonly occur in the elderly population and seriously constrain the quality of life.Glandular fibrosis is an important pathobiological process in benign prostatic hyperplasia and is also a main inducing factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia-associated lower urinary tract symptoms.Cistanches species is an important herbal medicine resource and is traditionally used in ameliorating renal and prostatic defects.Methods:This study was to investigate the potential protective function of echinacoside(a bioactive compound from Cistanches)against prostatic fibrosis in mice and human benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial-1 cell models.Results:It was found that echinacoside attenuated testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia and collagen deposition in mice,relieved prostate local inflammation and oxidative damage,and ameliorated prostatic epithelial-mesenchymal transition.Additionally,echinacoside inhibited the activation of the MKK6/MK2 signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion:This study added new evidence for the anti-fibrotic function of echinacoside on the prostate and provided new insights for understanding its possible pharmacological mechanisms.展开更多
Low-molecular-weight polysaccharides(RLPs)extracted from Rosa laevigata fruits showed multiple biofunctions in Asia.This study aimed to investigate its anti-inflammatory obesity effect in high-fat dietfed rats and fur...Low-molecular-weight polysaccharides(RLPs)extracted from Rosa laevigata fruits showed multiple biofunctions in Asia.This study aimed to investigate its anti-inflammatory obesity effect in high-fat dietfed rats and further elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism by multi-omics methods.The results showed that RLPs administration had significantly restored immune organ indexes and reduced body weight gain.RNA-seq revealed that the effect of RLPs was partially attributed to its regulation on PPARs signaling by increasing the expressions of Scd,Acox3 and Hmgcs2,and on other redox-related pathways by decreasing the expressions of Cyp2 e1,Il1-r1 and Lbp.Moreover,16 S rRNA sequencing coupled with metagenome sequencing showed that RLPs had significantly reduced the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes from 8.01 to2.37,and significantly increased the relative abundances of Alistipes,Prevotella,and Akkermansia from 0.36%,1.10%and 2.61%to 0.65%,2.37%and 4.42%,respectively.Spearman correlation analysis result indicated that the abundances of Lachnospiraceae,Prevotella and Bacteroidales were significantly negatively correlated with obesity phenotype,liver function and inflammatory factors.These results revealed that RLPs exerted significant anti-inflammatory obesity property partially via regulation on gut microbiota interface and the redox balance.Therefore,RLPs could be a promising functional food resource with the potential for redox imb alance-related diseases chemoprevention.展开更多
Background: China is facing with a crisis of the aging population. After the implementation of the latest fertility policy, the research on fertility related issues is urgent. Objective: The objective of this study is...Background: China is facing with a crisis of the aging population. After the implementation of the latest fertility policy, the research on fertility related issues is urgent. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the fertility values among women of childbearing age and the socio-demographic factors associated with it under the background of three-child policy, which is helpful to cope with the aging of the population. Methods: This study was conducted among 383 women of childbearing age who met the inclusion criteria using a general information questionnaire and the fertility values questionnaire from May to August 2021 in Hunan Province, China. Data were collected on the women’s socio-demographic characteristics and fertility values. The descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: The total mean score of the positive values was 43.55 ± 10.10, and that of the negative values was 50.87 ± 13.85. There were significant differences in the scores of the overall positive and negative values, as well as scores of each dimension (p The item mean score of the overall negative values (3.38 ± 0.93) was higher than that of the overall positive values (2.90 ± 0.67). Among the positive values, “emotional value” (4.26 ± 0.93) scored the highest, while “worrying about life changes” (3.88 ± 1.10) scored the highest among the negative values. There were significant differences in both the positive and negative values in terms of age, marital status, and “only-child” women or not (p Conclusion: The fertility values among women of childbearing age in Hunan Province were relatively negative, especially, excessive worries about life change since having a child, which may lead to further declines in fertility levels. Relevant support measures are urgently needed from the government to adapt to the three-child policy.展开更多
Through material innovation,nanoscale structural design and hybrid manufacturing methods,great efforts have been made in developing high-performance energy storage systems.These devices can be comprised of twodimensio...Through material innovation,nanoscale structural design and hybrid manufacturing methods,great efforts have been made in developing high-performance energy storage systems.These devices can be comprised of twodimensional(2D)nanomaterials,such as MXene,and show promise for use in energy storage devices.In order to achieve better electrochemical properties of MXene,one crucial technique is to modify its structure by introducing defects or heteroatom dopants,which may expand the interlayer spacing and increase the ion transfer kinetics during the charge/discharge process.Here,a modified two-step multi-element strategy is explored utilizing ammonium citrate as intercalant and nitrogen source to enhance the level of heteroatom doping during annealing of MXene with sulfur.The resulting nitrogen/sulfur co-doped MXene displayed enhanced gravimetric capacitance(495 F g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1)),outstanding rate capability(180 F g^(-1) at 10 A g^(-1))and excellent cycle stability(98%retention after 6000 charge/discharge cycles).The synthesis of NS-MXene reveals a novel and facile multiheteroatom pathway for functionalizing Ti_(3)C_(2)Tx MXene and demonstrates the potential variety of this family of modified MXenes that has yet to be explored,as well as unveils great promise for use in applications such as high performance supercapacitors.展开更多
基金supported by the Research Fund of Jianghan University(grant number 2023KJZX23).
文摘Background:Lower urinary tract symptoms commonly occur in the elderly population and seriously constrain the quality of life.Glandular fibrosis is an important pathobiological process in benign prostatic hyperplasia and is also a main inducing factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia-associated lower urinary tract symptoms.Cistanches species is an important herbal medicine resource and is traditionally used in ameliorating renal and prostatic defects.Methods:This study was to investigate the potential protective function of echinacoside(a bioactive compound from Cistanches)against prostatic fibrosis in mice and human benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial-1 cell models.Results:It was found that echinacoside attenuated testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia and collagen deposition in mice,relieved prostate local inflammation and oxidative damage,and ameliorated prostatic epithelial-mesenchymal transition.Additionally,echinacoside inhibited the activation of the MKK6/MK2 signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion:This study added new evidence for the anti-fibrotic function of echinacoside on the prostate and provided new insights for understanding its possible pharmacological mechanisms.
文摘Low-molecular-weight polysaccharides(RLPs)extracted from Rosa laevigata fruits showed multiple biofunctions in Asia.This study aimed to investigate its anti-inflammatory obesity effect in high-fat dietfed rats and further elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism by multi-omics methods.The results showed that RLPs administration had significantly restored immune organ indexes and reduced body weight gain.RNA-seq revealed that the effect of RLPs was partially attributed to its regulation on PPARs signaling by increasing the expressions of Scd,Acox3 and Hmgcs2,and on other redox-related pathways by decreasing the expressions of Cyp2 e1,Il1-r1 and Lbp.Moreover,16 S rRNA sequencing coupled with metagenome sequencing showed that RLPs had significantly reduced the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes from 8.01 to2.37,and significantly increased the relative abundances of Alistipes,Prevotella,and Akkermansia from 0.36%,1.10%and 2.61%to 0.65%,2.37%and 4.42%,respectively.Spearman correlation analysis result indicated that the abundances of Lachnospiraceae,Prevotella and Bacteroidales were significantly negatively correlated with obesity phenotype,liver function and inflammatory factors.These results revealed that RLPs exerted significant anti-inflammatory obesity property partially via regulation on gut microbiota interface and the redox balance.Therefore,RLPs could be a promising functional food resource with the potential for redox imb alance-related diseases chemoprevention.
文摘Background: China is facing with a crisis of the aging population. After the implementation of the latest fertility policy, the research on fertility related issues is urgent. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the fertility values among women of childbearing age and the socio-demographic factors associated with it under the background of three-child policy, which is helpful to cope with the aging of the population. Methods: This study was conducted among 383 women of childbearing age who met the inclusion criteria using a general information questionnaire and the fertility values questionnaire from May to August 2021 in Hunan Province, China. Data were collected on the women’s socio-demographic characteristics and fertility values. The descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: The total mean score of the positive values was 43.55 ± 10.10, and that of the negative values was 50.87 ± 13.85. There were significant differences in the scores of the overall positive and negative values, as well as scores of each dimension (p The item mean score of the overall negative values (3.38 ± 0.93) was higher than that of the overall positive values (2.90 ± 0.67). Among the positive values, “emotional value” (4.26 ± 0.93) scored the highest, while “worrying about life changes” (3.88 ± 1.10) scored the highest among the negative values. There were significant differences in both the positive and negative values in terms of age, marital status, and “only-child” women or not (p Conclusion: The fertility values among women of childbearing age in Hunan Province were relatively negative, especially, excessive worries about life change since having a child, which may lead to further declines in fertility levels. Relevant support measures are urgently needed from the government to adapt to the three-child policy.
基金the Tsinghua-Foshan Innovation Special Fund(Grant No.2019THFS0125)support from Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Fellowship.Z.Wang acknowledges financial support from China Scholarship Council(File No.201606930013)+2 种基金the Australian Research Council for funding(FT130100380,IH140100018 and DP190103290)the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science(ACES)(No.CE140100012)the Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility(ANFF).
文摘Through material innovation,nanoscale structural design and hybrid manufacturing methods,great efforts have been made in developing high-performance energy storage systems.These devices can be comprised of twodimensional(2D)nanomaterials,such as MXene,and show promise for use in energy storage devices.In order to achieve better electrochemical properties of MXene,one crucial technique is to modify its structure by introducing defects or heteroatom dopants,which may expand the interlayer spacing and increase the ion transfer kinetics during the charge/discharge process.Here,a modified two-step multi-element strategy is explored utilizing ammonium citrate as intercalant and nitrogen source to enhance the level of heteroatom doping during annealing of MXene with sulfur.The resulting nitrogen/sulfur co-doped MXene displayed enhanced gravimetric capacitance(495 F g^(-1) at 1 A g^(-1)),outstanding rate capability(180 F g^(-1) at 10 A g^(-1))and excellent cycle stability(98%retention after 6000 charge/discharge cycles).The synthesis of NS-MXene reveals a novel and facile multiheteroatom pathway for functionalizing Ti_(3)C_(2)Tx MXene and demonstrates the potential variety of this family of modified MXenes that has yet to be explored,as well as unveils great promise for use in applications such as high performance supercapacitors.
