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BackgroundPost-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder affecting about one-third of stroke survivors, significantly hindering recovery and quality of life. PSD also imposes a substantial burden on caregivers and healthcare systems. Aromatherapy has shown promise in alleviating depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of mixed herb aromatherapy in treating PSD. Feasibility outcomes encompass recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment. Secondary outcomes include evaluations of depression, anxiety, cognitive function, sleep quality, quality of life, and brain function using EEG and fNIRS.MethodsThis single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, enrolling ninety-nine post-stroke patients with PSD. Participants will be randomized into three groups: a Non-Active Control Group receiving standardized rehabilitation therapy, a CBT Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with bi-weekly CBT sessions, and an Aromatherapy Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with daily aromatic inhalation sessions. Interventions will last for four weeks, with efficacy assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one month post-intervention. Rating scales will be used to measure changes in depression, sleep quality, cognitive function, and quality of life. EEG and fNIRS will specifically be used to measure changes in cerebral cortex activity and their correlations with depression. Feasibility will be evaluated through recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment.DiscussionThis pilot study highlights the potential of mixed herb aromatherapy inhalation for treating PSD, addressing limitations of CBT by promoting self-management. While demonstrating feasibility through recruitment, adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment, the study also acknowledges limitations such as unequal intervention times, the lack of physical function data. And the use of culturally relevant plant powders may enhance compliance but limits generalizability. Despite these constraints, the study provides valuable preliminary data and insights into the mechanisms of aromatherapy, encouraging further research and development of effective PSD treatments.

Streptococcus dysgalactiae infection can cause bovine mastitis and lead to huge economic losses for the dairy industry. The abuse of antibiotics has resulted in growing drug resistance of S. dysgalactiae, which causes hard-to-treat infections. Bacteriophage lysin, as a novel antibacterial agent, has great potential for application against drug-resistant gram-positive bacteria. However, few studies have been conducted on the prophage lysin of S. dysgalactiae. In this study, we mined a novel prophage lysin, named Lys1644, from a clinical S. dysgalactiae isolate by genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Lys1644 was expressed and purified, and the lytic activity, antibacterial spectrum, optimal pH and temperature, lytic activity in milk in vitro, and synergistic bacteriostasis with antibiotics were assessed. The Lys1644 prophage lysin showed high bacteriolysis activity specifically on S. dysgalactiae, which resulted in CFU 100-fold reduction in milk. Moreover, Lys1644 maintained high activity over a wide pH range (pH 5–10) and a wide temperature range (4–42 °C). Synergistic bacteriostatic experiments showed that the combination of low-dose Lys1644 (50 μg/mL) with a subinhibitory concentration of aminoglycoside antibiotics (kanamycin or spectinomycin) can completely inhibit bacterial growth, suggesting that the combination of Lys1644 and antibiotics could be an effective therapeutic strategy against S. dysgalactiae infection.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) is manufactured and applied extensively due to its superior disinfectant capabilities. However, the inhalatory exposure to PHMG aerosols is increasingly recognized as a potential instigator of pulmonary fibrosis, prompting an urgent call for elucidation of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Within this context, alveolar macrophages play a pivotal role in the primary immune defense in the respiratory tract. Dysregulated lipid metabolism within alveolar macrophages leads to the accumulation of foam cells, a process that is intimately linked with the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, this study examines PHMG's effects on alveolar macrophage foaminess and its underlying mechanisms. We conducted a 3-week inhalation exposure followed by a 3-week recovery period in C57BL/6 J mice using a whole-body exposure system equipped with a disinfection aerosol generator (WESDAG). The presence of lipid-laden alveolar macrophages and downregulation of pulmonary tissue lipid transport proteins ABCA1 and ABCG1 were observed in mice. In cell culture models involving lipid-loaded macrophages, we demonstrated that PHMG promotes foam cell formation by inhibiting lipid efflux in mouse alveolar macrophages. Furthermore, PHMG-induced foam cells were found to promote an increase in the release of TGF-β1, fibronectin deposition, and collagen remodeling. In vivo interventions were subsequently implemented on mice exposed to PHMG aerosols, aiming to restore macrophage lipid efflux function. Remarkably, this intervention demonstrated the potential to retard the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In conclusion, this study underscores the pivotal role of macrophage foaming in the pathogenesis of PHMG disinfectants-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, it provides compelling evidence to suggest that the regulation of macrophage efflux function holds promise for mitigating the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby offering novel insights into the mechanisms underlying inhaled PHMG disinfectants-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

BackgroundBisphenol A (BPA) is an oil-derived, large-market volume chemical with endocrine disrupting properties and reproductive toxicity. Moreover, BPA is frequently used in food contact materials, has been extensively researched recently, and widespread exposure in the general population has been reported worldwide. However, national information on BPA levels in general Chinese people is lacking.MethodsThis study collected and analyzed 145 (104 in urine and 41 in serum) research articles published between 2004 and 2021 to reflect the BPA internal exposure levels in Chinese populations. The Monte Carlo simulation method is employed to analyze and estimate the data in order to rectify the deviation caused by a skewed distribution.ResultsData on BPA concentrations in urine and serum were collected from 2006 to 2019 and 2004 to 2019, respectively. Urinary BPA concentrations did not vary significantly until 2017, with the highest concentration occurring from 2018 to 2019 (2.90 ng/mL). The serum BPA concentration decreased to the nadir of 1.07 ng/mL in 2011 and gradually increased to 2.54 ng/mL. Nationally, 18 provinces were studied, with Guangdong (3.50 ng/mL), Zhejiang (2.57 ng/mL), and Fujian (2.15 ng/mL) having the highest urine BPA levels. Serum BPA was investigated in 15 provinces; Jiangsu (9.14 ng/mL) and Shandong (5.80 ng/mL) were relatively high. The results also indicated that males’ urine and serum BPA levels were higher than females, while the BPA levels in children were also higher than in adults (p

This study aims to investigate the probiotic properties of various isolated strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Specifically, the focus is on examining the expression of the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) gene and its role in the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a promising postbiotic metabolite. The investigation includes comprehensive analyses of morphology, genetics, resilience against bile, NaCl, and simulated pancreatin juice (SPJ), carbohydrate fermentation patterns, antibacterial activity, susceptibility to antibiotics, and the presence of β-D-galactosidase and GAD enzymes. Six L. plantarum strains exhibited remarkable resilience against bile, NaCl, and SPJ, as well as susceptibility to antibiotics and antagonistic behavior against pathogens. These strains also showed the presence of β-D-galactosidase. Additionally, five L. plantarum strains were found to harbor the gad gene. Further biochemical analysis of four specific L. plantarum strains revealed promising profiles consisting of antibiotics, vitamins, hormones, and a diverse array of metabolites with potential immunotherapeutic properties. This study highlights the substantial potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in generating beneficial postbiotic metabolites. The identified strains offer exciting avenues for further exploration, with potential applications in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. This research opens up possibilities for harnessing the probiotic and postbiotic potential of L. plantarum to develop novel products with health-promoting properties.