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Additional file 1: Fig. S1. The animal experimental protocol. DSS, dextran sulfate sodium; GC-K, ginsenoside compound K. Fig. S2. The frequency of Foxp3 + Treg cells among the CD4 + T cells (CD3 + CD4 + CD25 + cells) in spleen(A) and blood(B) of mice detected by flow cytometry; The frequency of IL-17a + Th17 cells among the CD4 + T cells (CD3 + CD4 + cells) in spleen(C) and blood(D) of mice detected by flow cytometry (n = 4, 5). Fig. S3. The relative abundance of the top 5 species at the phylum level in each group. Relative abundance of Bacteroidetes(a), Firmicutes(b), Verrucomicrobia(c), Patescibacteria(d) and Proteobacteria(e) in each group (n = 6). (* p < 0.1 and ** p < 0.01 vs. model group.) Fig. S4. Relative abundance of Akkermansia(a), Dubosiella(b), Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136(c), Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014(d), Turicibacter(e) and Candidatus_Saccharimonas(f) in each group (n = 6). (* p < 0.1 and ** p < 0.01 vs. model group.) Fig. S5 Effects of GC-K on the growth of representative strains in Bacteroides. (*** p < 0.001 vs. model group.) Fig. S6. Fecal microbial DNA concentration of mice before and after antibiotic administration. (** p < 0.01 vs. model group.) Fig. S7. Flow cytometry analysis of Treg cells (CD3 + CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 +) and Th17 cells (CD3 + CD4 + IL-17a +) in spleen of mice in FMT group (n = 4). (* p < 0.1 and **** p < 0.0001 vs. model group; ### p < 0.001 vs. model group.)

Additional file 2: Table S1. The primer sequences used in real-time qPCR assays in colonic tissue.

Additional file 2: Figure S1. Representative MRM chromatograms of blank gut microbiota solution, GCK, PPD and PPT. a1,b1,c1 were the corresponding chromatograms of blank gut microbiota solution; a2: GCK; b2: PPD; c2: PPT. Figure S2. Relative abundance of differentially abundant bacteria in each sample. (a) Bifidobacterium; (b) Blautia; (c) Corynebacterium; (d) Enhydrobacter; (e) Rothia; (f) SMB53; (g) Bacteroides; (h) Collinsella; (i) Coprobacillus; (j) Enterobacteriaceae; significant difference of relative abundance were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test; * p 2).

Additional file 1: Table S1. Population Characteristics of recruited volunteers. Table S2. MRM parameters of GCK, PPD and PPT. Table S3. Linearity range, correlation coefficients (r), calibration curves and LLOQ of GCK and PPD. Table S4. Precision and accuracy of GCK and PPD. Table S5. Recovery and matrix effect of GCK and PPD. Table S6. Taxonomical information of the differentially abundance bacteria by LEfSe analysis.

Correction for ‘Plasticizer and catalyst co-functionalized PEDOT:PSS enables stretchable electrochemical sensing of living cells’ by Jing Yan et al., Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 14432–14440, DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04138j.

INTRODUCTION: As a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, fluorouracil (5-FU) has serious dose-limiting side effects. In this study, we evaluated the synergy between red American ginseng (RAG) and 5-FU on human colorectal cancer cells, and explored the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Ginsenoside contents of white American ginseng (WAG) and RAG were determined by HPLC. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS assay. Combination Index (CI) analysis was executed using CompuSyn software. Paraptotic events were observed after crystal violet staining. Cell cycle distribution, cyclin A expression and apoptotic induction were analyzed using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We observed the heat treatment remarkably increased levels of ginsenoside Rg3, 20R-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5. When the combinations of 5-FU and RAG were applied, cell proliferation inhibition rates were notably increased, indicating that RAG significantly enhanced 5-FU’s effect. Additionally, CI analysis suggested that there was a synergistic action of 5-FU and RAG when combined. The cell cycle data indicated 5-FU induced S phase arrest, and the combination of 5-FU and RAG increased G1 phase. Further, the RAG’s ability to enhance the anti-cancer effects of 5-FU was linked to both paraptosis and apoptosis inductions. CONCLUSION: RAG may have clinical utility to decrease the dosage of 5-FU in colorectal cancer therapeutics.

Oplopanax horridus, well-known as Devil’s club, is probably the most important ethnobotanical to most indigenous people living in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Compared with the long history of traditional use and widespread distribution in North America, the study of O. horridus is relatively limited. In the past decade, some exciting advances have been presented on the phytochemistry and pharmacological diversity and structure-activity relationship on anticancer effects of O. horridus. To date, no systematic review has been drafted on the recent advances of O. horridus. In this review, the different phytochemicals in O. horridus are compiled, including purified compounds and volatile components. Animal and in vitro studies are also described and discussed. Especially, the potential structural-activity relationship of polyynes on anticancer effects is highlighted. This review aimed to provide comprehensive and useful information for researching O. horridus and finding potential agents in drug discovery.

Additional file 1. The post-hoc test for the effects of the specific inhibitors on the MCR of STS.

Objective: Pleural effusion is common problem, but the rapid and reliable diagnosis for specific pathogenic effusions are lacking. This study aimed to identify the diagnosis based on clinical variables to differentiate pleural tuberculous exudates from other pleural effusions. We also investigated the role of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of pleural exudates.Experimental design: The major components in RAS and extracellular matrix metabolism, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities, were measured and compared in the patients with transudative (n = 45) and exudative (n = 80) effusions. The exudative effusions were come from the patients with tuberculosis (n = 20), pneumonia (n = 32), and adenocarcinoma (n = 28).Results: Increased ACE and equivalent ACE2 activities, resulting in a significantly increased ACE/ACE2 ratio in exudates, were detected compared to these values in transudates. MMP-9 activity in exudates was significantly higher than that in transudates. The significant correlation between ACE and ACE2 activity that was found in transudates was not found in exudates. Advanced analyses showed significantly increased ACE and MMP-9 activities, and decreased ACE2 activity in tuberculous pleural effusions compared with those in pneumonia and adenocarcinoma effusions. The results indicate that increased ACE and MMP-9 activities found in the exudates were mainly contributed from a higher level of both enzyme activities in the tuberculous pleural effusions.Conclusion: Interplay between ACE and ACE2, essential functions in the RAS, and abnormal regulation of MMP-9 probably play a pivotal role in the development of exudative effusions. Moreover, the ACE/ACE2 ratio combined with MMP-9 activity in pleural fluid may be potential biomarkers for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy.

Copper microelectrodes were used in microvoltammetry to detect histamine and several amino acid neurotransmitters. High sensitivity was obtained through the use of copper microelectrodes, and detection limits of 50 nmol/L and 90 nmol/L were obtained for histamine and histidine, respectively. Furthermore, histamine and several amino acids neurotransmitters were firstly separated and detected by capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection on copper microelectrodes. Mass limits of 490 amol and 440 amol were achieved for histamine and histidines, respectively, by using this mothod.

Floral patterning in Papilionoideae plants, such as pea (Pisum sativum) and Medicago truncatula, is unique in terms of floral organ number, arrangement, and initiation timing as compared to other well-studied eudicots. To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the floral patterning in legumes, we have analyzed two mutants, proliferating floral meristem and proliferating floral organ-2 (pfo-2), obtained by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis of Lotus japonicus. These two mutants showed similar phenotypes, with indeterminate floral structures and altered floral organ identities. We have demonstrated that loss of function of LjLFY and LjUFO/Pfo is likely to be responsible for these mutant phenotypes, respectively. To dissect the regulatory network controlling the floral patterning, we cloned homologs of the ABC function genes, which control floral organ identity in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We found that some of the B and C function genes were duplicated. RNA in situ hybridization showed that the C function genes were expressed transiently in the carpel, continuously in stamens, and showed complementarity with the A function genes in the heterogeneous whorl. In proliferating floral meristem and pfo-2 mutants, all B function genes were down-regulated and the expression patterns of the A and C function genes were drastically altered. We conclude that LjLFY and LjUFO/Pfo are required for the activation of B function genes and function together in the recruitment and determination of petals and stamens. Our findings suggest that gene duplication, change in expression pattern, gain or loss of functional domains, and alteration of key gene functions all contribute to the divergence of floral patterning in L. japonicus.

A microchip electrophoresis system with integrated amperometric detector was developed. Using 0.02 M Tris-HCl (pH = 8) as buffer, at the detection potential of 0.6 V ( vs . Ag/AgCl), dopamine (DA) and isoprenaline (IP) were detected by chip-CE with end-column amperometric detection using a carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME), a carbon fiber nanoelectrode (CFNE), a carbon fiber microelectrode modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs-CFME), and a carbon fiber microdisc electrode (CFMDE). The resolution of DA and IP are 0.64, 1.06, 0.61 and 1.22, and the sensitivity of DA ( S / N = 3) are 1.7 × 10 −7 , 5.9 × 10 −8 , 2.3 × 10 −8 , and 5.3 × 10 −7 , respectively. As the CFNE had high resolution and sensitivity, the nanoelectrode-based microchip CE system was successfully applied to the determination of DA in cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, and the average content of DA in an individual PC12 cell was 0.57 ± 0.07 fmol ( n = 5), which was in good agreement with that reported in the literatures.