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In this study, the morphology, ultrastructure, nutrient removal, metabolite levels, and interaction of an algal-bacterial consortium exposed to different concentrations of carboxylic single-walled carbon nanotubes (C-SWCNT) were investigated. At a C-SWCNT concentration of 0.05 mg·L−1, the removal rates of TN, NH 3 -N, PO 4 3−-P, and COD were 94.7%, 94.8%, 86.4% and 84.3%, respectively. When cells were exposed to 50 mg·L−1 C-SWCNT, its intracellular levels in individual algae and the algal-bacterial consortium were 23.6 μg·g−1 and 12.1 μg·g−1, respectively. C-SWCNT (0.05 mg·L−1) promoted the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, small molecules, and acid in the algal-bacterial consortium. The main response to the interaction of C-SWCNT and the consortium was the change in extracellular carbohydrate levels. C-SWCNT also increased chlorophyll a and glycine levels. These findings reveal new insights into our understanding of the biological responses and interactions between C-SWCNT and algal-bacterial consortium. Unlabelled Image • 0.05 mg·L−1 C-SWCNT helped to remove nutrients by the algal-bacterial consortium. • C-SWCNT promoted the metabolism processes in the algal-bacterial consortium. • The main interaction response was change of extracellular carbohydrate levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurological and mental developmental disorders in children. Published systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) concerning the use of acupuncture for ADHD have compared the efficacy of acupuncture treatment to that of drug therapies. However, the quality of these articles has not been evaluated and the evidence varies widely. To summarize and assess the efficacy of acupuncture for ADHD based on existing SRs and MAs. A systematic search of the literature was conducted from inception until September 16 2021, using seven electronic databases. The AMSTAR-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of SRs and MAs, and the GRADE system was used to assess the quality of evidence. There are a total of five SRs and MAs included in this overview. Using the AMSTAR-2, three articles were rated as having 'Low' quality, while two were rated as having of 'Critically Low' quality. The GRADE system was used to measure the quality of evidence for ten outcomes (five response rate outcomes, three Conners' Index of Hyperactivity (CIH) score outcomes, one Conners' rating scale score outcome, and one Chinese medicine syndrome outcome) across the five included MAs. Four of the ten outcomes demonstrated 'moderate' quality, four demonstrated 'low' quality, and two demonstrated 'very low' quality. The risk of bias and inconsistency accounted for most downgrading factors in the included reviews. It is still debatable whether acupuncture is efficacious in improving the CIH score and the Response rate. Considering the heterogeneity of clinical trials and the fact that this study did not search and evaluate the relevant data of each randomized controlled trial, large-sample and high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to draw reliable conclusions regarding acupuncture's role in treating ADHD. Due to the poor quality of existing available evidence, little inference can be drawn from the included studies. • Acupuncture might improve the efficacy and CIH score of ADHD. • Large sample and high-quality RCTs are still needed to draw reliable conclusions about acupuncture in the treatment of ADHD. • The re-evaluation method was used to evaluate the relevant research, providing more scientific evidence. • Suggestions of relevant articles are put forward to provide improvement directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AKR1B10 is a member of the human aldo–keto reductase superfamily which is highly expressed in several types of cancers, and has been regarded as a promising cancer therapeutic target. In this paper, a series of polyhydroxy steroids were designed and synthesized to selectively inhibit AKR1B10 activity. The most selective compound, novel compound 6, has an IC 50 of 0.83 ± 0.07 μM and a selectivity of more than 120-fold for AKR1B10/AKR1B1. Structure–activity relation analyses indicate that hydroxyl at C-19 can significantly improve the selective inhibition of AKR1B10. The binding mode of AKR1B10 and its inhibitors were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver X Receptor (LXR) is a potential drug target for atherosclerosis. One of the major challenges in taking LXR modulators to the clinic is steatosis. It was reported that sterol LXR agonists selectively activate LXR in the intestine and macrophage cells rather than in the liver. We hypothesize that sterol LXR agonists may selectively inhibit atherosclerosis without causing hepatic lipogenesis. Thus, based on LXR structure, 12 sterol compounds were designed and tested in a dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment. It was confirmed that compounds 4 and 6 were LXR agonists. Further experiments demonstrated that compounds 4 and 6 inhibit the formation of macrophage foam cells without inducing triglyceride accumulation in either hepatocytes or adipocytes. In vivo studies demonstrated that compound 4 promotes reverse cholesterol transport without inducing hepatic lipogenesis. Thus, we report that these compounds with sterol scaffolds can be promising leads for the treatment of atherosclerosis without inducing steatosis. Image 1 • Tissue selective LXR agonists inhibit the formation of macrophage foam cells without inducing triglyceride accumulation. • Sterol compounds are promising agents against atherosclerosis without inducing hepatic steatosis or obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination of the flexibility of polysaccharide-based aerogel with the conductivity and mechanical strength of carbon-based fillers is the ideal candidate for development of flexible strain sensors. In this study, exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus (P.m) LT1906 was extracted. The microbial EPS and carbon nanotube (CNT) composite aerogel was fabricated. Using Na2CO3 as the deacetylation intensifier and BDDE as the cross-linker, EPS was constructed into the 3D interconnected porous structure physically compounded with CNT through facile freeze-drying technique. The resulting EPS/CNT composite aerogel can withstand a high compression strain of 70% and exhibits excellent fatigue resistance, with only 1.4% plastic deformation after 5000 cycles at 50% strain. It can also real-time test dynamic compression in the wide linear strain range of 0∼30%, with the low strain detection limit of 0.25%, sensitivity of 4.28 and the high resistance stability. Cyclable compressibility, high sensitivity and resistance stability have been verified in application trials in real-time and in-situ monitoring of human motions, especially subtle motion, thus suggesting feasibility of EPS/CNT composite aerogels in wearable strain sensors. The renewable and cost-effective microbe-derived polysaccharide as aerogel precursors will help to expand the application range of bio-polysaccharide aerogels. [Display omitted] • Exopolysaccharides from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus can be crosslinked by 1,4-Butanediol diglycidyl ether. • Strain sensors based on exopolysaccharides/carbon nanotube composite aerogels were prepared. • Strain sensors exhibited good sensitivity (4.28) and low detection limit (0.25% strain). • Both subtle and dynamic human motions were monitored by the strain sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroids have been shown to have multiple effects on the nervous system including neuroprotective activities, and they have the potential to be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this current study, we tested the hypothesis that the marine steroid 24-methylenecholestane-3β,5α,6β,19-tetraol (Tetrol) has a neuroprotective effect. (1) We synthesized Tetrol through a multiple step reaction starting from hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA). (2) We then evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Tetrol with a glutamate-induced neuronal injury model in vitro . Tetrol concentration dependently increased the survival rate of cerebellar granule neurons challenged with toxic concentration of glutamate. Consistently, Tetrol significantly decreased glutamate-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release with a threshold concentration of 2.5 μM. (3) We further evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Tetrol in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced cerebral ischemia model in rat. Tetrol, at a dose of 12 mg/kg, significantly decreased MCAO-induced infarction volume by ∼50%. (4) Finally, we probed the mechanism and found that Tetrol concentration dependently attenuated N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-induced intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) increase with an IC 50 of 7.8 ± 0.62 μM, and inhibited NMDA currents in cortical neurons with an IC 50 of 10.28 ± 0.71 μM. Taken together, we have synthesized and characterized Tetrol as a novel neuroprotectant through negative modulation of NMDA receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Sixteen steroidal derivatives were designed and synthesized. [•] We evaluated their AKR1B10 and AKR1B1 biological activities. [•] The binding modes of AKR1B10 were identified by docking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]