Histidine-epoxy-activated sepharose beads embedded poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogels for pseudobiospecific adsorption of human immunoglobulin G

The use of highly purified immunoglobulin became among the most powerful adopted strategies in therapeutic trials nowadays. Their role as immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agents has widened their scope of use. A novel continuous supermacroporous monolithic cryogels embedded with histidine-epoxy-activated-sepharose beads were synthetized as a new monolithic adsorbents for the separation of immunoglobulin G from human serum. The histidine-epoxy-activated-sepharose beads were embedded into the 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) cryogels present in frozen aqueous solution inside a plastic syringe. The microstructure morphology of the cryogels was characterized by swelling measurement and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption of human IgG on the histidine-epoxy-activated-sepharose beads pHEMA cryogels appeared to follow the Langmuir–Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. The maximum IgG adsorption was observed at 4°C and pH 7.4 and was found to be 26.95 mg/g of cryogel which is close to that obtained experimentally (24.49 mg/g). The cryogels were used for several adsorption-desorption cycles without any negligible decrease in their adsorption capacity.     

The Norsesquiterpene Glycoside Ptaquiloside as a Poisonous,Carcinogenic Component of Certain Ferns

Previous studies related to the ptaquiloside molecule, a carcinogenic secondary metabolite known from the world of ferns, are summarised. Ptaquiloside (PTA) belongs to the group of norsesquiterpenes of the illudane type. The name illudane refers to the fungal taxa from which the first representatives of the molecular group were identified. Ptaquiloside occurs mainly in Pteridium fern species, although it is also known in other fern taxa. The species of the genus Pteridium are common, frequent invasive species on all continents, and PTA is formed in smaller or larger amounts in all organs of the affected species. The effects of PTA and of their derivatives on animals and humans are of great toxicological significance. Its basic chemical property is that the molecule can be transformed. First, with the loss of sugar moiety, ptaquilosine is formed, and then, under certain conditions, a dienone derivative (pteridienone) may arise. The latter can alkylate (through its cyclopropane groups) certain molecules, including DNA, in animal or human organisms. In this case, DNA adducts are formed, which can later have a carcinogenic effect through point mutations. The scope of the PTA is interdisciplinary in nature since, for example, molecules from plant biomass can enter the body of animals or humans in several ways (directly and indirectly). Due to its physico-chemical properties (excellent water solubility), PTA can get from the plant into the soil and then into different water layers. PTA molecules that enter the soil, but mainly water, undergo degradation (hydrolytic) processes, so it is very important to clarify the toxicological conditions of a given ecosystem and to estimate the possible risks caused by PTA. The toxicoses and diseases of the animal world (mainly for ruminant farm animals) caused by PTA are briefly described. The intake of PTA-containing plants as a feed source causes not only various syndromes but can also enter the milk (and meat) of animals. In connection with the toxicological safety of the food chain, it is important to investigate the transport of carcinogenic PTA metabolites between organisms in a reassuring manner and in detail. This is a global, interdisciplinary task. The present review aims to contribute to this.     

Herbal Arsenal against Skin Ailments: A Review Supported by In Silico Molecular Docking Studies

Maintaining healthy skin is important for a healthy body. At present, skin diseases are numerous, representing a major health problem affecting all ages from neonates to the elderly worldwide. Many people may develop diseases that affect the skin, including cancer, herpes, and cellulitis. Long-term conventional treatment creates complicated disorders in vital organs of the body. It also imposes socioeconomic burdens on patients. Natural treatment is cheap and claimed to be safe. The use of plants is as old as mankind. Many medicinal plants and their parts are frequently used to treat these diseases, and they are also suitable raw materials for the production of new synthetic agents. A review of some plant families, viz., Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, etc., used in the treatment of skin diseases is provided with their most common compounds and in silico studies that summarize the recent data that have been collected in this area.     

Potential Benefits of Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Fruits and Their Constituents in Improving Human Health

Aronia berry (black chokeberry) is a shrub native to North America, of which the fresh fruits are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary products. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia berries) have been found to show multiple bioactivities potentially beneficial to human health, including antidiabetic, anti-infective, antineoplastic, antiobesity, and antioxidant activities, as well as heart-, liver-, and neuroprotective effects. Thus far, phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, cyanidins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, triterpenoids, and their analogues have been identified as the major active components of Aronia berries. These natural products possess potent antioxidant activity, which contributes to the majority of the other bioactivities observed for Aronia berries. The chemical components and the potential pharmaceutical or health-promoting effects of Aronia berries have been summarized previously. The present review article focuses on the molecular targets of extracts of Aronia berries and the examples of promising lead compounds isolated from these berries, including cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and ursolic acid. In addition, presented herein are clinical trial investigations for Aronia berries and their major components, including cancer clinical trials for chlorogenic acid and COVID-19 trial studies for quercetin. Additionally, the possible development of Aronia berries and their secondary metabolites as potential therapeutic agents is discussed. It is hoped that this contribution will help stimulate future investigations on Aronia berries for the continual improvement of human health.     

Antitumor Activity and Mechanism of Action of the Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 on Human Leukemia K562 Cells

Cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in the world. Hence, there is an urgent need to search for novel drugs with antitumor activity against cancer cells. AMP-17, a natural antimicrobial peptide derived from Musca domestica, has antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. However, its antitumor activity and potential mechanism of action in cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we focused on evaluating the in vitro antitumor activity and mechanism of AMP-17 on leukemic K562 cells. The results showed that AMP-17 exhibited anti-proliferative activity on K562 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 58.91 ± 3.57 μg/mL. The membrane integrity of K562 was disrupted and membrane permeability was increased after AMP-17 action. Further observation using SEM and TEM images showed that the cell structure of AMP-17-treated cells was disrupted, with depressions and pore-like breaks on the cell surface, and vacuolated vesicles in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, further mechanistic studies indicated that AMP-17 induced excessive production of reactive oxygen species and calcium ions release in K562 cells, which led to disturbance of mitochondrial membrane potential and blocked ATP synthesis, followed by activation of Caspase-3 to induce apoptosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the antitumor activity of AMP-17 may be achieved by disrupting cell structure and inducing apoptosis. Therefore, AMP-17 is expected to be a novel potential agent candidate for leukemia treatment.     

Essential Oils as Novel Anthelmintic Drug Candidates

Helminths, with an estimated 1.5 billion annual global infections, are one of the major health challenges worldwide. The current strategy of the World Health Organization to prevent helminth infection includes increasing hygienic awareness, providing better sanitation and preventative anthelmintic drug therapy in vulnerable populations. Nowadays, anthelmintic drugs are used heavily in livestock, both in case of infection and as a preventative measure. However, this has led to the development of resistance against several of the most common drugs, such as levamisole, ivermectin and thiabendazole. As many as 70% of the livestock in developed countries now has helminths that are drug resistant, and multiple resistance is common. Because of this, novel anthelmintics are urgently needed to help combat large-scale production losses. Prior to this review, no comprehensive review of the anthelmintic effects of essential oils and their components existed. Multiple review articles have been published on the uses of a single plant and its extracts that only briefly touch upon their anthelmintic activity. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of essential oils and their components as anthelmintic treatment against a wider variety of helminths.     

1H NMR Metabolomics of Chinese Human Milk at Different Stages of Lactation among Secretors and Non-Secretors

Human milk is an intricate, bioactive food promoting infant health. We studied the composition of human milk samples collected over an 8-month lactation using ¹H NMR metabolomics. A total of 72 human breast milk samples were collected from ten Chinese mothers at eight different time points. The concentrations of ten human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), fucose and lactose were quantified. Six of the mothers were classified as Lewis-positive secretors (Se⁺Le⁺) and four as Lewis-positive non-secretors (Se⁻Le⁺) based on the levels of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), lacto-N-fucopentaose (LNFP) II, lactodifucotetraose (LDFT) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT). Acetate, citrate, short/medium-chain fatty acids, glutamine and urea showed a time-dependent trend in relation to the stage of lactation. The concentrations of 2′-FL, 3-FL (3-fucosyllactose), 3′-SL (3′-sialyllactose), LDFT, LNFP I, LNFP II, LNFP III, LNnT, LNT (lacto-N-tetraose), and fucose were statistically different between secretors and non-secretors. A temporal difference of approximately 1–2 months between the development of non-secretor and secretor HMO profiles was shown. The results highlighted the importance of long-term breastfeeding, especially among non-secretors.     

创新导向减税与就业结构升级—基于研发费用加计扣除的检验

创新在中国经济社会发展中的作用愈发突出,如何促进高技能劳动力向创新主体部门集聚,值得深入探索。基于2018年企业所得税研发费用加计扣除比例提升冲击,利用A股上市公司2016−2019年数据,本文研究了创新导向减税对就业结构的影响。研究发现,加计扣除比例提升显著提高了企业雇佣劳动力中研究生所占比例,促进了企业创新人力资本积累。异质性分析显示,政策在非公有制企业、主板上市企业中效果更明显。对企业各层次雇佣规模的评估表明,雇佣总量及研究生、本科生雇佣数均有所提高,同时本科以下学历人员并未明显减少,这意味着政策未产生明显的挤出效应,高技能劳动力雇佣的增加并不以低技能劳动力的减少为代价。综合来看,政策不但能促进企业加大研发投入,还有助于提高全要素生产率和盈利水平。本文结论为通过实施结构性减税,推动创新驱动发展提供了经验支撑。