In search of novel immune-modulatory compounds from British Columbia wild mushrooms and their effectiveness in inflammatory micro-circulation of mice

Natural products have been an integral component of people's health and health outcomes for thousands of years. In particular, several mushroom species have demonstrated beneficial therapeutic potential. The goals of this research are to explore the immune-stimulatory and anti-inflammatory potential of wild mushrooms native to the North Central region of British Columbia. Out of 42 mushroom extracts examined, four exhibited strong immune-stimulatory activity as assessed by induction of tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) production in macrophage cells. Out of thirty-three extracts tests, nineteen demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity as determined by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-a production in macrophage cells. Sodium hydroxide extract of Echinodontium trinctorium exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity and was selected for further study. A small molecular weight (~5-25 kDa) carbohydrate was successfully purified using sequential size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. GC-MS analysis showed that the polysaccharide has glucose (89.7%) as the major back-bone monosaccharide, and also the presence of other monosaccharides such as mannose (3.1%), galactose (2.8%), fucose (2.4%), and xylose (2.0%). The study also revealed the presence of 1,3-linked glucose linkages. Both the semi-purified anti-inflammatory compound(s) from E. tinctorium and the methanol extract of Inonotus obliquus can ameliorate histamine-induced vasodilation in the 2A arterioles (gluteus maximus muscle) in mice. This is the first study to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of purified compounds and extracts from mushroom in an animal microcirculation model using intravital microscopy

Insulin Amyloid Fibrils: An Excellent Platform for Controlled Synthesis of Ultrathin Superlong Platinum Nanowires with High Electrocatalytic Activity

Highly uniform single-crystal ultrathin Pt nanowires (UTPtNWs) with a diameter of ∼1.8 nm and a superhigh aspect ratio of >10⁴ were fabricated using insulin amyloid fibrils (INSAFs) as sacrificial templates. The use of INSAFs to build the UTPtNWs allowed for the preferential exposure of low-energy crystal facets that would be highly advantageous for the methanol oxidation reaction. The UTPtNWs displayed a large electrochemical active surface area of 71.34 m²/g, which is much higher than that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst. The UTPtNWs also maintained excellent electrochemical durability under repeated cyclic voltammetry scans. Because of its exciting high electrochemical activity, UTPtNWs is a promising material for the design of next-generation electrocatalysts and would also be useful in sensing, biomedical, and other electrochemical applications

sj-docx-1-ict-10.1177_15347354231210811 – Supplemental material for Shenqi Fuzheng Injection Combined With Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-ict-10.1177_15347354231210811 for Shenqi Fuzheng Injection Combined With Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses by Jing Xu, Xiao Li, Qing Dong, Liyuan Lv, Zhangjun Yun and Li Hou in Integrative Cancer Therapies</p

sj-docx-2-ict-10.1177_15347354231210811 – Supplemental material for Shenqi Fuzheng Injection Combined With Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Supplemental material, sj-docx-2-ict-10.1177_15347354231210811 for Shenqi Fuzheng Injection Combined With Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses by Jing Xu, Xiao Li, Qing Dong, Liyuan Lv, Zhangjun Yun and Li Hou in Integrative Cancer Therapies</p

Simultaneous Multiplexed Stripping Voltammetric Monitoring of Marine Toxins in Seafood Based on Distinguishable Metal Nanocluster-Labeled Molecular Tags

Marine toxins from microscopic algae can accumulate through the food chain and cause various neurological and gastrointestinal illnesses for human health. Herein, we designed a new ultrasensitive multiplexed immunoassay protocol for simultaneous electrochemical determination of brevetoxin B (BTX-2) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) in seafood using distinguishable metal nanocluster-labeled molecular tags as traces on bifunctionalized magnetic capture probes. To construct such a bifunctionalized probe, monoclonal mouse anti-BTX-2 (mAb₁) and anti-DTX-1 (mAb₂) antibodies were co-immobilized on a magnetic bead (MB–mAb_1,2). The distinguishable metal nanoclusters including cadmium nanoclusters (CdNC) and copper nanoclusters (CuNC) were synthesized using the artificial peptides with amino acid sequence CCCYYY, which were used as distinguishable signal tags for the label of the corresponding bovine serum albumin–BTX-2 and bovine serum albumin–DTX-1 conjugates. A competitive-type immunoassay format was adopted for the online simultaneous monitoring of BTX-2 and DTX-1 on a homemade flow-through magnetic detection cell. The assay was based on the stripping voltammetric behaviors of the labeled CdNC and CuNC at the various peak potentials in pH 2.5 HCl containing 0.01 M KCl using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Under optimal conditions, the multiplexed immunoassays enabled simultaneous detection of BTX-2 and DTX-1 in a single run with wide working ranges of 0.005–5 ng mL^–1 for two marine toxins. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 1.8 and 6.0 pg mL^–1 for BTX-2, while those for DTX-1 were 2.2 and 7.3 pg mL^–1, respectively. No non-specific adsorption and electrochemical cross-talk between neighboring sites were observed during a series of procedures to detect target analytes. The covalent conjugation of biomolecules onto the nanoclusters and magnetic beads resulted in good repeatability and intermediate precision down to 9.5%. The method featured unbiased identification of negative (blank) and positive samples. No significant differences at the 0.05 significance level were encountered in the analysis of 12 spiked samples, including Sinonovacula constricta, Musculista senhousia, and Tegillarca granosa, between the multiplexed immunoassay and commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for analysis of BTX-2 and DTX-1

Iodine and Nitrogen-Codoped Carbon Microspheres for Ultrahigh Volumetric Capacity of Li-Ion Batteries

Because of its high density, a carbon microsphere is a good candidate for ultrahigh volumetric capacity electrode materials. We find that the synergistic effects of nitrogen and iodine element can tremendously improve the carbon electrode capacity. Here, we present a high volumetric capacity anode consisting of iodine and nitrogen codoping carbon microspheres synthesized by a low-temperature solvothermal route. A reversible capacity of 1418 mAh cm^–3, which is much larger than that of commercial graphitic carbon anode, is achieved at a current density of 0.05 mA cm^–2 by using these carbon microspheres as anode material. After 100 charge–discharge cycles at 0.1 mA cm^–2 and 500 charge–discharge cycles at 1 mA cm^–2, carbon microspheres retained volumetric capacities of 1335 and 1090 mAh cm^–3, respectivel

Highly Efficient Phosphate Sequestration in Aqueous Solutions Using Nanomagnesium Hydroxide Modified Polystyrene Materials

Phosphate removal is important for the control of eutrophication, and adsorption may serve as a powerful supplement to biological phosphate sequestration. Here, we develop a new composite adsorbent (denoted as HMO-PN) by encapsulating active nano-Mg­(OH)₂ onto macroporous polystyrene beads modified with fixed quaternary ammonium groups [CH₂N⁺(CH₂)₃Cl]. The N⁺-tailored groups can accelerate the diffusion of target phosphate through electrostatic attractions. The performance of the as-prepared HMO-PN was found to depend on the pH value of an aqueous medium. HMO-PN also exhibits high sorption selectivity toward the target phosphate. Kinetic equilibrium of phosphate adsorption can be achieved within 100 min, and the calculated maximum adsorption capacity is approximately 1.47 mmol/g (45.6 mg/g). Column experiments further show that the effluent concentration of phosphate can be reduced to below 0.5 mg/L (500 BV), suggesting highly efficient phosphate sequestration. Moreover, the exhausted HMO-PN can be readily regenerated using an alkaline brine solution

Strynuxlines A and B, Alkaloids with an Unprecedented Carbon Skeleton from <i>Strychnos nux-vomica</i>

The investigation of the seeds of <i>Strychnos nux-vomica</i> led to the isolation of two novel indole alkaloids, strynuxlines A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>), with an unprecedented 6/5/9/6/7/6 hexacyclic ring system. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of their MS, NMR, and ECD data. A plausible biosynthesis pathway of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> is also proposed

Morphologies of the cultured L929 mouse fibroblasts for 3 and 5 days.

<p>Morphologies with the light microscopy of the cultured L929 mouse fibroblasts for 3 days and extracts test. (A) negative control (×100): Fibroblasts were polygonal and cell division could be observed; (B) positive control (×200): Dying and dead fibroblasts were significantly smaller and floating. (C) nano-Cu/LDPE IUD-50% extracts (×400): Fibroblasts were polygonal and cell division could be observed. A very small amount of cells were round; (D) TCu220C IUD-50% extracts (×400): An amount of fibroblasts were dying and dead. Morphologies with scanning electron microscopy of the L929 mouse fibroblasts cultured with 50% extracts for 5 days. (E) nano-Cu/LDPE IUD-50% extracts (×3000): Fibroblasts membrane was integral; (F) nano-Cu/LDPE IUD-50% extracts (×6000): Membrane surface and the edge had long microvillus. (G) TCu220C IUD-50% extracts (×3000): Cells disintegrated and became larger. The cytoplasm was spillover; (H) TCu220C IUD-50% extracts (×4000): Fibroblasts were partial rupture.</p

The OD values of the extracts of the nano-Cu/LDPE and TCu220C IUD for 3 d.

<p>*<i>p</i><.05 compared with the positive group; ^▴<i>p</i><.05 compared with the negative group; ^★<i>p</i><.05 between two groups.</p