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Using acrylic acid advanced ester and styrene as raw materials, the long-chain polyester polymer, polyacrylic acid advanced ester-styrene pour point depressant (P-PPD), was synthesized by molecular design, and its structure was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, this study experimentally investigated the effect of P-PPD on the phase equilibrium and induction time of natural gas hydrate inhibitors in deionized water (DW) and crude oil/water (O/W) systems, respectively. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and mono ethylene glycol (EG) were selected as representatives of kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHIs) and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THIs), respectively. The results exhibit that P-PPD played a sight role in the phase equilibrium of hydrate, while the addition of P-PPD significantly prolonged the induction time of methane hydrate both in O/W + PVP, OW + EG and O/W + PVP + EG system, indicating that the addition of as-synthesized PPD has a synergistic inhibition effect on the nucleation ability of methane hydrate and can prevent hydrate from formatting during oil and gas transport process, and thus guarantee the flow assurance. The findings of this work will provide a data reference for the hybrid use of hydrate inhibitors and pour point depressants in oil and gas transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Using acrylic acid advanced ester and styrene as raw materials, the long-chain polyester polymer, polyacrylic acid advanced ester-styrene pour point depressant (P-PPD), was synthesized by molecular design, and its structure was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, this study experimentally investigated the effect of P-PPD on the phase equilibrium and induction time of natural gas hydrate inhibitors in deionized water (DW) and crude oil/water (O/W) systems, respectively. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and mono ethylene glycol (EG) were selected as representatives of kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHIs) and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THIs), respectively. The results exhibit that P-PPD played a sight role in the phase equilibrium of hydrate, while the addition of P-PPD significantly prolonged the induction time of methane hydrate both in O/W + PVP, OW + EG and O/W + PVP + EG system, indicating that the addition of as-synthesized PPD has a synergistic inhibition effect on the nucleation ability of methane hydrate and can prevent hydrate from formatting during oil and gas transport process, and thus guarantee the flow assurance. The findings of this work will provide a data reference for the hybrid use of hydrate inhibitors and pour point depressants in oil and gas transport.

Summary: To address the adverse effects of current hypoglycaemic drugs and the limited effect of individual extracts, this research investigated the inhibitory effect of combined green tea extract (GTE) and coffee (CE) on α‐amylase (α‐AMY) and α‐glucosidase (α‐GLU) and their inhibitory mechanisms. The inhibitory effects of single extracts and the complexes on α‐AMY and α‐GLU activities were compared by the principle of equivalence line. The results showed that the complexes had a good synergistic inhibition effect on both α‐AMY and α‐GLU at GTE: CE = 4:1 (w/w). Fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the complexes of GTE: CE = 4:1 (w/w) altered the secondary and tertiary structures of α‐AMY and α‐GLU more than the individual extracts, resulting in a synergistic inhibitory effect. The orthogonal experiments showed that tea polyphenols (TP) and coffee polyphenols (CP) were the main components responsible for the synergistic inhibitory effect of the two extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the interaction between aloe emodin and α-glucosidase, enzyme kinetics, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of aloe emodin on α-glucosidase and the synergistic effect of aloe emodin in combination with acarbose was also investigated in this study. The results showed that aloe emodin had better inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase as both a non-competitive and anti-competitive inhibitor when compared with acarbose. The results of UV spectroscopy indicated that a new complex was formed through the interaction between aloe emodin and α-glucosidase. The characteristic vibrations of amide groups in the IR spectra indicated that the structural conformation of α-glucosidase changed with the addition of aloe emodin. The results of fluorescence quenching experiments showed that the endogenous fluorescence of α-glucosidase was statically quenched by aloe emodin. In addition, it was also found that aloe emodin combined with acarbose had a synergistic inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity. This study provides an experimental basis for the future application of aloe emodin in health foods for regulating blood glucose.

Mine fires have always been one of the disasters that restrict coal mining in China and endanger the life safety of underground workers. The research and development of new fire prevention materials are undoubtedly important to ensure the safe and efficient production of modern mines. At present, the main inhibiting materials used are grout material, inert gas, retarding agent, foam, gel, and so on. In order to explore the current situation of coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) fire prevention, the existing fire prevention materials were reviewed and prospected from three aspects: physical, chemical, and physicochemical inhibition. The results show that, at present, most of the methods of physicochemical inhibition are used to inhibit CSC. Antioxidants have become popular chemical inhibitors in recent years. In terms of physical inhibition, emerging biomass-based green materials, including foams, gels, and gel foams, are used to inhibit CSC. In addition, CSC fire-fighting materials also have shortcomings, including incomplete research on the mechanism of material action, poor stability of inhibitory properties, low efficiency, and economic and environmental protection to be improved. The future research direction of fire-fighting materials will be based on theoretical experiments and numerical simulation to study the mechanism and characteristics of CSC and develop new directional suppression materials with physicochemical synergies. These findings have extremely important implications for improving materials designed to prevent CSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf can effectively inhibit the digestion of starchy foods, and α‐glucosidase (AG) is its main target. This study employed an untargeted metabolomics approach combined with molecular docking to identify AG inhibitors. Subsequently, inhibition kinetics, fluorescence spectroscopy, and interaction force analysis were utilized to investigate the inhibitory mechanism. Results indicated that vitexin exhibited significant reversible inhibition of AG through competitive inhibition, with an IC50 value of 105.50 ± 1.30 μg/mL. Molecular docking revealed hydrogen bonding as the main interaction force between vitexin and AG, and quenching mechanism analysis showed that they underwent static quenching driven by entropy. The results of the combined experiment showed that 1‐deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a known bioactive component in mulberry, has a synergistic effect of inhibiting AG activity with vitexin. This study elucidates the potential mechanism of vitexin in inhibiting AG activity and provides theoretical evidence for utilizing vitexin‐DNJ complexes as functional components of AG inhibitors.

Purpose: To establish a prognostic model of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients based on tenascin-C (TNC) expression level and clinicopathological characteristics, and to explore the therapeutic potential of TNC inhibition. Methods: The expression of TNC was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 326 ESCC specimens and 50 normal esophageal tissues. Prognostic factors were determined by Cox regression analyses and were incorporated to establish the nomogram. The effects of TNC knockdown on ESCC cells were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to reveal signaling pathways regulated by TNC knockdown. The therapeutic significance of TNC knockdown combined with small-molecule inhibitors on cell proliferation was examined. Results: TNC protein was highly expressed in 48.77 % of ESCC tissues compared to only 2 % in normal esophageal epithelia (p < 0.001). The established nomogram model, based on TNC expression, pT stage, and lymph node metastasis, showed good performance on prognosis evaluation. More importantly, the reduction of TNC expression inhibited tumor cell proliferation and xenograft growth, and mainly down-regulated signaling pathways involved in tumor growth, hypoxia signaling transduction, metabolism, infection, etc. Knockdown of TNC enhanced the inhibitory effect of inhibitors targeting ErbB, PI3K-Akt, Ras and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusion: The established nomogram may be a promising model for survival prediction in ESCC. Reducing TNC expression enhanced the sensitivity of ESCC cells to inhibitors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and downstream signaling pathways, providing a novel combination therapy strategy.

Abstract Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating disease that lacks effective drugs for targeted therapy. Previously, we found that the third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor AZD-9291 persistently blocked the activation of the ERK pathway but had no inhibitory effect on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Given that the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0084 is being evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials of GBM treatment, we hypothesized that combined inhibition of the EGFR/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways may have a synergistic effect in the treatment of GBM. Methods The synergistic effects of cotreatment with AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 were validated using cell viability assays in GBM and primary GBM cell lines. Moreover, the underlying inhibitory mechanisms were assessed through colony formation, EdU proliferation, and cell cycle assays, as well as RNA-seq analyses and western blot. The therapeutic effects of the drug combination on tumor growth and survival were investigated in mice bearing tumors using subcutaneously or intracranially injected LN229 xenografts. Results Combined treatment with AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 synergistically inhibited the proliferation and clonogenic survival, as well as induced cell cycle arrest of GBM cells and primary GBM cells, compared to monotherapy. Moreover, AZD-9291 plus GDC-0084 combination therapy significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors and orthotopic brain tumor xenografts, thus prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, the combination of AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 simultaneously blocked the activation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, thereby exerting significant antitumor activity. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the combined blockade of the EGFR/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways is more effective against GBM than inhibition of each pathway alone, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that AZD-9291 combined with GDC-0084 may be considered as a potential treatment strategy in future clinical trials. Video Abstract

Background: As a common drug for tumor therapy, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is not yet widely used as a clinical solution. This is due to its toxicity and potential drug resistance. Objective: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of enteromorpha prolifera polysaccaharide (EPP) combined with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) on A549 cells, which fall into the cell line of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It also explained the attenuated and synergistic effect of enteromorpha acid polysaccharide along with its synergistic effect on DOX. Methods: To evaluate the proliferation inhibitory effect of EPP, DOX and both combined, we monitored cell growth curve and morphology using the real-time cell function analysis and imaging system—xCELLigence RTCA eSight system (eSight system). Flow cytometry was used to monitor cell apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution. Mitochondrial function was tested by the energy metabolism analysis system. Results: EPP could work with DOX to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Growth curve showed that when 0.4 mg/mL of EPP was mixed with 0.2 µg/mL of DOX for 24 h, the mixure liquid had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 cells (p < 0.0001). The cells had lower cell adhesiveness, shrinking cell membrane, cytoplasmic aggregation, and hyperchromatic nuclei. According to the flow cytometry results, the combined drug of EPP and DOX could significantly increase the apoptosis rate of A549 cells (p < 0.0001), and block the cell cycle in the G1-S phase. Based on the results of the real-time energy metabolism, we found that the combined drug could significantly reduce A549 cells’ ATP production rate and inhibit their mitochondrial respiratory function. Conclusions: The combination of EPP and DOX can block cell cycle, inhibit cell mitochondrial function, promote cell apoptosis, and enhance the killing ability of DOX on tumor cells. This study supports the antitumor activity of enterococcus acid polysaccharide and provides insights on reducing doxorubicin toxicity and drug resistance. It holds great significance for applying traditional Chinese natural medicine in clinical disease treatment.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating disease that lacks effective drugs for targeted therapy. Previously, we found that the third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor AZD-9291 persistently blocked the activation of the ERK pathway but had no inhibitory effect on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Given that the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0084 is being evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials of GBM treatment, we hypothesized that combined inhibition of the EGFR/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways may have a synergistic effect in the treatment of GBM. Methods: The synergistic effects of cotreatment with AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 were validated using cell viability assays in GBM and primary GBM cell lines. Moreover, the underlying inhibitory mechanisms were assessed through colony formation, EdU proliferation, and cell cycle assays, as well as RNA-seq analyses and western blot. The therapeutic effects of the drug combination on tumor growth and survival were investigated in mice bearing tumors using subcutaneously or intracranially injected LN229 xenografts. Results: Combined treatment with AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 synergistically inhibited the proliferation and clonogenic survival, as well as induced cell cycle arrest of GBM cells and primary GBM cells, compared to monotherapy. Moreover, AZD-9291 plus GDC-0084 combination therapy significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors and orthotopic brain tumor xenografts, thus prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, the combination of AZD-9291 and GDC-0084 simultaneously blocked the activation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, thereby exerting significant antitumor activity. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the combined blockade of the EGFR/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways is more effective against GBM than inhibition of each pathway alone, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that AZD-9291 combined with GDC-0084 may be considered as a potential treatment strategy in future clinical trials. 396yfhm1sdcH9_KhVkr-Mc Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Glucosidase, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in glucose absorption in the intestine, is a key therapeutic intervention in the management of diabetes mellitus. The inhibition of this enzyme is critical for controlling postprandial hyperglycemia. The present study aims to investigate the stability of phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of six Thai folk anti-diabetes remedies by in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion methods, as well as to evaluate their synergistic effect with acarbose. The TFD-04 decoction and 90% EtOH extract showed higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (86.83 mg GAE/g extract, 10.00 mg QE/g extract) and (75.32 mg GAE/g extract, 12.45 mg QE/g extract), respectively. The α- glucosidase inhibitory activities (maltase and sucrase) of TFD-04 were found maximum in decoction and GD-decoction with IC50 values of 0.25±0.02 and 0.78±0.04 mg/mL, respectively, when compared with acarbose with statistical significance (P< 0.05). The IC50 values of 0.59±0.02 and 1.59±0.02 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the decoction extract of TFD-04 showed the most potent synergistic inhibitory effect with acarbose. A kinetic analysis showed that TFD-04 showed uncompetitive inhibition against intestinal maltase. This study suggests that decoction extracts of TFD-04 may serve as effective anti-hyperglycemic remedies in the field of diabetic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early blight of tomato caused by Alternaria solani results in significant crop losses. In this study, Bacillus subtilis J3 and Pseudomonas fluorescens J8 were co-cultured as a synthetic microbial community (BCA) for synergistic biocontrol of A. solani, and the inhibition mechanism was investigated. BCA presented an inhibition ration against A. solani at 94.91%, which lowered the disease incidence by 38.26–42.87%; reduced peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase activity of tomatoes by 73.11–90.22%; and promoted the biomass by 66.91–489.21%. With BCA protection, the relative expression of tomato resistance genes (including gPAL2, SWRKY, PR-10, and CHI) in roots and leaves was 12.83–90.70% lower than without protection. BCA also significantly altered the rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial community. The abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Lysobacter, and Rhizobium, elevated by 6.58–192.77%. They were negatively correlated with resistance gene expression, indicating their vital involvement in disease control. These results provided essential information on the synergistic biocontrol mechanism of bacteria against pathogens, which could contribute to developing novel biocontrol strategies. Key points: • Bacillus and Pseudomonas present a synergistic biocontrol effect against A. solani. • Biocontrol prevents pathogen damage and improves tomato growth and systemic resistance. • Beneficial bacteria thrive in the rhizosphere is the key to microbial regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonina natural harmless molecule—displays versatile roles in human health and crop disease control such as for rice blast. Rice blast, caused by the filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is one devastating disease of rice. Application of fungicides is one of the major measures in the control of various crop diseases. However, fungicide resistance in the pathogen and relevant environmental pollution are becoming serious problems. By screening for possible synergistic combinations, here, we discovered an eco‐friendly combination for rice blast control, melatonin, and the fungicide isoprothiolane. These compounds together exhibited significant synergistic inhibitory effects on vegetative growth, conidial germination, appressorium formation, penetration, and plant infection by M. oryzae. The combination of melatonin and isoprothiolane reduced the effective concentration of isoprothiolane by over 10‐fold as well as residual levels of isoprothiolane. Transcriptomics and lipidomics revealed that melatonin and isoprothiolane synergistically interfered with lipid metabolism by regulating many common targets, including the predicted isocitrate lyase‐encoding gene MoICL1. Furthermore, using different techniques, we show that melatonin and isoprothiolane interact with MoIcl1. This study demonstrates that melatonin and isoprothiolane function synergistically and can be used to reduce the dosage and residual level of isoprothiolane, potentially contributing to the environment‐friendly and sustainable control of crop diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Safety Science is the property of Fire Safety Science Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Organic inhibitors provide advantages for corrosion protection through formation of chelation layers. However, individual inhibitors have weak inhibition efficiency when they are exposed to neutral media containing chloride ions. In this study, corrosion resistance of Mg alloy AZ91D is synergistically enhanced by combining green chicory (CA) extracts with metal cations (Ca2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, and Ni2+). The Mg(OH)2 and MgO corrosion products are porous in the early stages of immersion. The main organic compounds in CA including caffeic acid (Caf) and chicoric acid (Chi), which combine with inorganic cations via chelation reaction, are adsorbed on the corroded area. The large Bader charge and adsorption energies of Chi-Calcium-Chi (CaChi) complexes determined through density functional theory calculations suggest that CaChi interacts strongly with inorganic cations. The combined organic–inorganic inhibitors can therefore be absorbed firmly on the Mg substrate to form an active inhibitory layer. Among the various investigated CA-cation mixtures, CA-Ca2+ exhibited the highest anti-corrosion effect after immersion for 120 h and a corrosion current density (icorr), corrosion potential (Ecorr), and inhibition efficiency (η) of 0.09 ± 0.03 μA·cm−2, –0.87 ± 0.03 V (vs. SCE), and 92%, respectively. This work provides an effective approach for corrosion protection through combination of organic and inorganic inhibitors.

Objective To study the effects of three ferroptosis inducers Erastin (Era), sulfasalazine (SASP) and artesunate (Art) alone or combined with gemcitabine hydrochloride (hcGEM) on the proliferation inhibition of Human pancreatic cell line PANC -1. Methods The CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of Era, SASP and Art alone or combined with hcGEM on the proliferation of PANC-1, and the combination index (CI) was used to judge whether three ferroptosis inducers combined with hcGEM had synergistic inhibitory effect on PANC-1. Results The three ferroptosis inducers and hcGEM alone or in combination could significantly inhibit the activity of PANC-1. The inhibitory effects were enhanced with the concentration increasing. The CI values of hcGEM-Era 4∶1 or 1∶4 combination group and hcGEM-SASP 1∶400 combination group were less than 1.The CI values of hcGEM-Art 1∶4 or 1∶16 combination group were less than 1 only within a certain concentration range. Conclusion The inhibitory effects of the three ferroptosis inducers and hcGEM alone or in combination were dose-dependent. The combination of hcGEM and three ferroptosis inducers could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of PANC-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has posed a severe global health threat. In this study, we screened an antibiotic and non-antibiotic combination that provides a viable strategy to solve this issue by broadening the antimicrobial spectrum. We found that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could synergistically act with carbapenem antibiotics to eradicate MRSA-related infections. This synergy specifically targets MRSA and was also validated using 25 clinical MRSA strains using time–kill analysis. We speculated that the underlying mechanism was associated with the interaction of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). As a result, the synergistic efficiency of CDCA with carbapenems targeting PBP1 was better than that of β-lactams targeting PBPs. Moreover, we showed that CDCA did not affect the expression level of PBPs, but sensitized MRSA to carbapenems by disrupting the cell membrane. In our study, we have revealed a novel synergistic combination of antibiotics and non-antibiotics to combat potential bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, critical reactants were identified in glycine/glucose/creatinine model system to clarify the formation pathways of imidazoquinoxaline-type heterocyclic amines (IQx-type HAs). It has been confirmed that the condensation between pyrazines and creatinine was the critical step to produce IQx-type HAs. There was a conversion between methylglyoxal and glyoxal, and their carbonyl-amine reaction was a route for the production of 2,5-dimethylpyrazine and methylpyrazine. When cysteine was combined with proline at the mass ratio of 4:1 (2 mg/mL in total), the inhibitory rate of MeIQx and IQx in glucose/creatinine/glycine model system increased to 62 % and 55 %, respectively. The synergistic inhibition of cysteine-proline combinations was further assessed in roast yellow croaker, and the total content of IQx-type HAs decreased from 4.99 ± 0.48 ng/g of the control group to 2.46 ± 0.21 ng/g. The carbonyl scavenging rate of corresponding cysteine-proline combinations also increased compared with that of single agents. These findings suggest that scavenging methylglyoxal and glyoxal simultaneously to control the production of pyrazines may be a potential inhibitory strategy to enhance the suppression of IQx-type HAs formation. [Display omitted] • Methylglyoxal and glyoxal can produce pyrazines via carbonyl-amine reactions. • Pyrazines can condense with creatinine to form IQx-type HAs. • There is a conversion between methylglyoxal and glyoxal. • Scavenging carbonyls leads to synergistic inhibition of HAs formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of CO 2 hydrates during CO 2 transportation and deep-sea injection poses a significant risk of pipeline blockage. Combining kinetic (KHIs) and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) serves as a promising efficient and economical strategy to mitigate this issue, whose performance and microscopic mechanisms yet are still poorly understood. This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to explore the effects of the combination of winter flounder antifreeze protein (wf-AFP) as a KHI and methanol as a THI on CO 2 hydrate growth. We find that methanol and wf-AFP exhibit an intriguing synergistic inhibition performance on hydrate growth. In the AFP-only system, AFP serves as a spatial hindrance near the hydrate growth interface. However, in the AFP + methanol system, AFP changes its position due to the attractive force of methanol. Part of the AFP fragment remains on the hydrate interface, while the rest surrounds the CO 2 droplet. Methanol, in addition to disrupting the water structure, combines with AFP to act as a double barrier to CO 2 dissolution into the aqueous solution, thereby significantly reducing the gas source for hydrate growth. These findings provide molecular-level insights into hydrate inhibition mechanisms and guide the design of efficient inhibitors for safe CO 2 transportation and injection. [Display omitted] • The inhibitory effect of methanol on the growth of CO 2 hydrates is not significant. • Antifreeze protein prevents the growth of hydrates by adsorbing at the hydrate growth interface. • AFP and methanol can act as a double-barrier to reduce the solubility of CO 2. • The strength of the synergistic effect is related to the concentration of methanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue transplantations are often associated with severe infections. Cornea replacement as the most frequent transplantation worldwide bears the risk of keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), posing a severe and sight‐threatening complication. To overcome the current lack of effective HSV therapy in the eye, biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds incorporating acyclovir (ACV) intended for transplantation along with the cornea graft to prevent viral infections are designed. The rational development of these matrices reveals the strong dependency of the surface wettability on the release kinetics of the tested biocompatible poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymers. Using a mixture of two PLGA polymers, a tailor‐made release of the antiviral active ACV is achieved for the intended treatment period. In a human in vitro HSV infection model, a synergistic viral inhibition mechanism by binding the virus particles on the fibers surface, while simultaneously releasing the antiviral active, could be confirmed. Besides the controlled ACV release, the polymer fibers bind virus particles to their surface, significantly reducing the virus titer. Based on this tunable dual effect, the fiber scaffolds exhibit a promising antiviral drug delivery platform, which can overcome the limitations of current infection therapy associated with cornea transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Tea polyphenols have been reported to have the effect of lowering uric acid. However, there are few studies on the inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms of specific catechins on the urate‐metabolizing enzyme xanthine oxidase (XO). In this research, multiple spectroscopic methods and computer simulations were used to determine the inhibitory ability and mechanisms of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) on XO. RESULTS: Herein, EGCG and GCG reversibly inhibited XO activity in a mixed manner, with IC50 values of 40.50 ± 0.32 and 33.60 ± 0.53 μmol L−1, and also decreased the superoxide anion radical (O2−) of the catalytic system by reducing the XO molecule and inhibiting the formation of uric acid. The combination of EGCG or GCG with allopurinol showed synergistic inhibition on XO. The binding of EGCG or GCG to XO with moderate affinity formed a stable complex by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. The presence of EGCG and GCG made the structure of XO more stable and compact. The two inhibitors bound to the vicinity of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in XO, hindering the entry of substrate; thus the activity of XO was suppressed. CONCLUSION: Both EGCG and GCG are excellent natural XO inhibitors, and inhibited the activity of XO by occupying the channel of the substrate to enter the active center and interfering with the dual substrate reaction catalyzed by XO. These findings provide a scientific basis for the application of catechins in dietary supplements and medicines with lowering uric acid effects. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hexanal and geraniol are essential oil components with anti‐quorum sensing (QS) activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens. This study demonstrated that QS inhibition (QSI) efficacy of the hexanal and geraniol combination (HG) was significantly higher when compared to those of their mono‐counterparts at the same concentration. Methods and Results: Tests on P. fluorescens motility, biofilm formation, acyl‐homoserine lactones' (AHLs) production, gene expression in vitro, and molecular docking in silico were conducted to evaluate the synergistic effect of hexanal and geraniol on QSI. HG mixture at 0.5 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed a strong synergistic inhibition of biofilm formation (51.8%), motility (60.13%), and extracellular protease activity (58.9%) of P. fluorescens. The synthesis of AHLs, e.g., C8‐HSL and C12‐HSL, was inhibited by hexanal, geraniol, and HG; both AHLs are responsible for regulating virulence factors in P. fluorescens. The expression of pcoI and gacA genes regulating AHL synthetase and sensor kinase was significantly down‐regulated by HG (0.29 and 0.38‐fold) at 0.5 MIC. Hexanal and HG showed significant inhibition of the expression of pcoR and gacS genes, which are responsible for AHL receptor protein and response regulation; however, geraniol failed to downregulate the two genes. Molecular docking in silico also supported these findings. Hexanal, which gets inserted into the minor groove of pcoI/pcoR DNA fragments, inhibits the expression of both the genes. Both hexanal (−31.487 kcal/mol) and geraniol (−25.716 kcal/mol) had a higher binding affinity with PcoI protein than the halogenated furanone C30 (−24.829 kcal/mol), which is a known competitor of AHLs. Similarly, hexanal and geraniol strongly bind to the PcoR protein also. Conclusions: It was found that HG at 0.5 MIC could effectively inhibit QS by suppressing the expression of pcoR/gacS and gacA/gacS genes and therefore, could inhibit the motility and biofilm formation of P. fluorescens. Significance and Impact of the Study: The present study indicated that HG at sub‐MIC as QS inhibitor could be further developed as a new preservative of agri‐food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fundamental understanding of the design of polymer ligands of proximal enzymes is essential for the precise targeting of cancer cells, but it is still in its infancy. In this study, we systematically investigated the contribution of the chain length, ligand density, and ligand ratio of proximal enzyme-targeted polymers to the efficacy, synergy, and selectivity for the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. The results revealed that employing a moderate chain length as a scaffold allowed for an intrinsically high efficacy and synergy of proximal enzyme-targeted polymers, in contrast to single enzyme-targeted polymers that prefer longer chain length for efficacy. The synergy obtained in proximal enzyme targeting was not provided by the combination of the corresponding small molecules. Moreover, the maturation of the synergistic efficacy of the proximal enzyme-targeted polymers also improved selectivity. This study proposes a rational design for polymer inhibitors and/or ligands for cancer cells with a high efficacy and selectivity.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are closely related to tumorigenesis and metastasis. Thioridazine (THZ) is a usual phenothiazine antipsychotic drug that can destroy CSCs. We aimed to explore whether THZ could sensitize metastatic TNBC cells, especially the CSCs, to carboplatin (CBP) treatment. Metastatic TNBC cells, 4T1 cells, and tumor-bearing mice were treated with THZ and CBP as monotherapy or combination therapy. MTT, flow cytometry, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and western blotting were applied to assess the cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial morphology and the relevant protein levels, respectively. Tumor size and lung metastasis under different treatments as well as tumorigenesis of residual tumor cells from each group were monitored. THZ combined with CBP inhibited 4T1 tumor cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and activating estrogen receptor stress. THZ also showed strong activity against breast CSCs, THZ combined with CBP significantly destroyed cancer cells, inhibited lung metastasis and relieved the tumor burden; Our data demonstrated that THZ can sensitize TNBC cells to CBP treatment and this combination therapy may provide a bright strategy for TNBC treatment by targeting both cancer cells and CSCs.

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Carbohydrate digestibility is a key determinant for elevated postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). Apart from dietary restrictions, one of the strategies to reduce PPHG is to limit the activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes within the gastrointestinal tract in order to reduce monosaccharide absorption rates. The present work aimed to assess the inhibitory capabilities of digestive enzymes (e.g., α-glucosidase and α-amylase) by anthoxanthins when used independently, in combination with acarbose, or with a different anthoxanthin. Our results showed that quercetin, myricetin, and luteolin presented lower IC50 values than acarbose and inhibited α-glucosidase through mixed-type inhibition. On the other hand, acarbose when compared with these anthoxanthins, remained the most potent inhibitor of α-amylase. Combinatorial treatment (i) acarbose-quercetin and (ii) myricetin-luteolin showed synergistic activity (CI value less than 0.9) in α-glucosidase inhibition. An additive effect (CI value between 0.9 and 1.1) in α-glucosidase inhibition was observed when acarbose-myricetin, acarbose-luteolin or when a combination of two different anthoxanthins (quercetin-myricetin and quercetin-luteolin) was used. This study suggests the potential use of anthoxanthins as functional food ingredients to mitigate PPHG towards the management of T2DM.

Spice essential oils (EOs) have potent antimicrobial ability, but their application as food preservatives was severely limited by strong sensory properties. In this study, high voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) was applied to strengthen the antimicrobial effect of EOs while reducing their additive dosage. First, cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was selected from ten spice EOs because of its strongest inhibition against bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and molds (Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus niger) common in foods. Then, the antimicrobial effect and mechanism of CEO and HVEF used alone or in combination were investigated. The results exhibited that the antimicrobial effect of CEO was dramatically enhanced by combining with HVEF, as the required concentration for the same antimicrobial effect was only 1/4∼1/3 of that when used alone. Both CEO and HVEF treatments changed the permeability of the microbial cell wall as well as the permeability and integrity of the cell membrane, resulted in the change in membrane protein structure, led to the increase in content of reactive oxygen species in the microbial cells, while the combined treatment of HVEF and CEO (HVEF + CEO) caused the significantly greater effect on microbes than two treatments applied alone. Finally, HVEF was found to substantially improve the preservative effect of CEO, allowing CEO to prolong the shelf life of minced pork from about 3 d to 7 d without compromising its original sensory quality. • Bullet point 1: HVEF drastically reduced the antimicrobial dosage of CEO based on synergistic effect. • Bullet point 2: Cell structure damage and ROS formation of HVEF + CEO generated synergistic effect. • Bullet point 3: HVEF + CEO efficiently ensure the microbial safety and quality of minced pork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistic inhibition mechanism of imidazolidine (IM) with sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (SLPES) for the corrosion of Q235 steel in H 2 SO 4 solution was systematically studied by experimental and theoretical methods. The results show that there is a synergism between IM and SLPES with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.5 %. IM/SLPES retards both anodic and cathodic reactions to more extent as compared with IM or SLPES. SEM, AFM, CLSM and XPS reveal that IM/SLPES can form a denser inhibition film on steel surface through the co-adsorptions of IM and SLPES, which can also well be elucidated by theoretical calculations. [Display omitted] • Incorporation of imidazolidine (IM) with sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (SLPES) produces a strong synergism. • IM/SLPES can more efficiently retard both cathodic and anodic reactions as compared with IM or SLPES. • IM/SLPES affords higher charge transfer resistance than either IM or SLPES, but lower double-layer capacitance. • SEM, AFM and CLSM show the steel surface inhibited by IM/SLPES is nearly uncorroded and very smooth. • Both physisorption and chemisorption of inhibitor molecules are enhanced as IM is compounded with SLPES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrus atlantica is a tree species found in Morocco with many clinical benefits in genitourinary, musculoskeletal, and skin systems. Previous studies have reported that extracts of Cedrus atlantica have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Cedrus atlantica extract (CAt) using HT‐29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) and CT‐26 CRC cell lines. The 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to measure cell viability. Flow cytometry analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) assay were used to study the cell cycle and cell apoptosis, respectively. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis‐associated proteins was detected by western blotting or immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. CAt showed significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HT‐29 and CT‐26 cells, and combined with the clinical drug, 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), exhibited synergistic effects. CAt induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase through the upregulation of p53/p21 and the downregulation of cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs)/cyclins. In addition, CAt‐treated cells exhibited chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and apoptotic bodies, which are typical characteristics of apoptosis activated via both the extrinsic (Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas/caspase‐8) and intrinsic (Bax/caspase‐9) pathways. Importantly, CAt suppressed tumor progression and prolonged the life span of mice within a well‐tolerated dose. Therefore, our findings provide novel insights into the use of CAt for the treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jet fire caused by thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries can be regarded as typical hazard, severely threatening human life. To study the inhibitory effect of water mist containing additives on thermal runaway-induced jet fire in lithium-ion batteries, an experimental test device employing water mist to suppress fire in lithium-ion batteries was developed. In this work, water mist containing additives was used to extinguish the thermal runaway-induced jet fire. The optimal composition of the additive-containing water mist was as follows by mass: 0.22% FC4430, 0.2% TEOA, 0.32% urea, and 2% KCl. The four-factor and three-level orthogonal methods were employed to explore the inhibitory effect of additive-containing water mist on thermal runaway-induced jet fire in lithium-ion batteries. The optimal composition of mist as determined from these methods was: 0.17% FC-4430, 0.2% TEOA, 0.32% urea, and 2.5% KCl. The results show that the synergistic effects of the physical and chemical additives can significantly improve the ability of water mist to suppress jet fires in lithium-ion batteries. In addition, the additive-containing water mist could be used as a new type of extinguishing agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a common drug for tumor therapy, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is not yet widely used as a clinical solution. This is due to its toxicity and potential drug resistance., Objective: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of enteromorpha prolifera polysaccaharide (EPP) combined with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) on A549 cells, which fall into the cell line of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It also explained the attenuated and synergistic effect of enteromorpha acid polysaccharide along with its synergistic effect on DOX., Methods: To evaluate the proliferation inhibitory effect of EPP, DOX and both combined, we monitored cell growth curve and morphology using the real-time cell function analysis and imaging system-xCELLigence RTCA eSight system (eSight system). Flow cytometry was used to monitor cell apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution. Mitochondrial function was tested by the energy metabolism analysis system., Results: EPP could work with DOX to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Growth curve showed that when 0.4 mg/mL of EPP was mixed with 0.2 µg/mL of DOX for 24 h, the mixure liquid had a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 cells ( p < 0.0001). The cells had lower cell adhesiveness, shrinking cell membrane, cytoplasmic aggregation, and hyperchromatic nuclei. According to the flow cytometry results, the combined drug of EPP and DOX could significantly increase the apoptosis rate of A549 cells ( p < 0.0001), and block the cell cycle in the G1-S phase. Based on the results of the real-time energy metabolism, we found that the combined drug could significantly reduce A549 cells' ATP production rate and inhibit their mitochondrial respiratory function., Conclusions: The combination of EPP and DOX can block cell cycle, inhibit cell mitochondrial function, promote cell apoptosis, and enhance the killing ability of DOX on tumor cells. This study supports the antitumor activity of enterococcus acid polysaccharide and provides insights on reducing doxorubicin toxicity and drug resistance. It holds great significance for applying traditional Chinese natural medicine in clinical disease treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has posed a severe global health threat. In this study, we screened an antibiotic and non-antibiotic combination that provides a viable strategy to solve this issue by broadening the antimicrobial spectrum. We found that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could synergistically act with carbapenem antibiotics to eradicate MRSA-related infections. This synergy specifically targets MRSA and was also validated using 25 clinical MRSA strains using time–kill analysis. We speculated that the underlying mechanism was associated with the interaction of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). As a result, the synergistic efficiency of CDCA with carbapenems targeting PBP1 was better than that of β-lactams targeting PBPs. Moreover, we showed that CDCA did not affect the expression level of PBPs, but sensitized MRSA to carbapenems by disrupting the cell membrane. In our study, we have revealed a novel synergistic combination of antibiotics and non-antibiotics to combat potential bacterial infections.

Antibiotics worldwide were abused to kill all kinds of pathogens in shrimp industry, which resulted in the emergence of many drug‐resistant strains, such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Natural plant extracts (NPEs) as adjuvant of antibiotics offer an effective alternative to minimize the problems. We evaluated the antimicrobial activities of different combinations of eight NPEs and eight antibiotics allowed to be used in aquaculture and found tea polyphenols (TP) was the optimum adjuvant of oxytetracycline against V. parahaemolyticus. The smallest FIC index of 0.14 was obtained with the combination of 1/64 MIC TP and 1/8 MIC oxytetracycline. The combination of TP and oxytetracycline could improve the survival rate to 53.3 ± 2.74% of Exopalaemon carinicauda in vitro, higher than that in the TP or oxytetracycline group significantly. The activities of digestive enzymes (pepsin and amylase) and immune enzyme including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase (AKP), the expression levels of cathepsin D (CatD) and Toll receptor (Toll) of E. carinicauda were up‐regulated significantly. The changes of immune parameters thereby promoted the growth and improved the immunity of E. carinicauda, which led to the increase in resistance against V. parahaemolyticus. The results showed that the synergistic inhibition mechanisms of TP and antibiotics may be involved in the immune defence process and the increased abilities of digestion. The combination could reduce the use of oxytetracycline when the better therapeutic effect was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel fused heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt (BQD) was synthesised using a one-pot method, which can be easily operated and was increased the effective content of BQD in the product to 50 %. • The performance of synergy and inhibition of different compounding agents and BQD in acid solution were studied by different evaluative methods. • Molecular simulations of three systems of BQD corrosion inhibitor were carried out to explain the corrosion inhibition mechanism from a microscopic point of view. A novel fused heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salt (BQD) corrosion inhibitor was developed using the one-pot synthesis method, which employed quinoline and benzyl chloride. The one-pot synthesis method was easy to operate and successfully increased the effective BQD content to 50 %, aiming to provide an effective acidic corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibition performance of BQD on N80 steel sheets in 20 % HCl solution was evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical tests. The synergistic inhibition between BQD and different compounding agents was investigated. The results indicated that BQD possessed good inhibition performance at 363 K. A corrosion inhibition rate of 99.17 % was achieved at an ultra-low concentration (0.05 % BQD). In addition, a synergistic performance was observed when combining BQD with either KI or urotropine. The system of BQD with urotropine presented the best inhibition performance, and the corrosion rate was further reduced to 2.87 g·m−2·h−1. The adsorption of the inhibitor system on the N80 steel surface was followed by Langmuir adsorption isotherm, which adsorbed on the N80 steel surface by chemical adsorption. The inhibition mechanism of BQD on N80 steel was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, contact angle determination, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. BQD can be adsorbed parallel to the surface of a steel sheet by using a conjugate plane consisting of a five-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle and two six-membered rings on either side of the five-membered heterocycle as the reference plane. Therefore, BQD forms an adsorption protection film on the steel sheet surface, which can effectively slow down metal corrosion by acid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current luminescent bacteria test for acute toxicity with short contact time was invalid for antibiotics, and the non-uniformed contact times reported in the literature for long-term toxicity assessment led to incomparable results. Herein, a representative long-term toxicity assessment method was established which unified the contact time of antibiotics and Vibrio fischeri within the bioluminescence increasing period (i.e. 10–100% maximum luminescence) of control samples. The effects of excitation and detoxification of antibiotics such as β-lactams were discovered. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of toxic antibiotics (0.00069–0.061 mmol/L) obtained by this method was 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than acute test, quantifying the underestimated toxicity. As antibiotics exist in natural water as mixtures, an equivalent concentration addition (ECA) model was built to predict mixture toxicity based on physical mechanism rather than mathematical method, which showed great fitting results (R 2 = 0.94). Furthermore, interaction among antibiotics was investigated. Antibiotics acting during bacterial breeding period had strong synergistic inhibition (IC 50 relative deviation from 0.1 to 0.6) such as macrolides and quinolones. Some antibiotics produced increasing synergistic inhibition during concentration accumulation, such as macrolides. The discharge of antibiotics with severe long-term toxicity and strong synergistic inhibition effect should be seriously restricted. [Display omitted] • Toxicity test of antibiotics should cover the whole luminescence increasing period. • The concentration addition models predict mixture toxicity accurately (R 2 ≥ 0.94). • Specific antibiotics showing hormesis effect are revealed under low concentrations. • Strong synergistic inhibition appears in antibiotics for bacterial breeding period. • Mixture concentrations affect synergism and antagonism interactions of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the inhibitory effect of stoichiometric methane/air explosions, NaHCO 3 with a bimodal distribution were selected as inhibitors. A 5 L vertical transparent duct was used. All the results revealed that Blend 82 , whose mass fraction contained 80% OP 500 – 600 and 20% OP 200 – 220 NaHCO 3 , exhibited the optimal inhibitory effect. For the bimodal distribution of NaHCO 3 , assessing the inhibitory effect solely on the basis of a single particle size parameter is unreliable. Synergistic effects between particles of different sizes should be considered when the interaction index I S < 1. Multiple size classes of bimodal NaHCO 3 were proposed for use in response surface methodology to predict the inhibitory effect of methane/air flames. Furthermore, we employed a detailed chemical kinetic model to quantify the endothermic and chemical effects of NaHCO 3 on the laminar burning velocity of methane/air flames and established a good relationship between the explosion parameters and laminar flame properties. [Display omitted] • An optimal mass ratio exists between OP 500 – 600 and OP 200 – 220 in NaHCO 3 blends. • Synergistic effects between two inhibitors with different sizes are quantified. • Drop ratios in overpressure can be predicted via response surface methodology. • The endothermic effect of NaHCO 3 is considered in the kinetic calculations. • A correlation between explosion parameters and laminar flame properties is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud shale hydration and swelling are major challenges in the development of water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs). In this work, the inhibition performance and inhibition mechanism of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and potassium chloride (KCl) were investigated by hot rolling recovery tests, linear swell tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption spectrophotometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results show that the combination of PEG and KCl achieved higher recovery and lower linear swelling rate than those obtained by individual PEG or KCl. Compared to the d-spacing of Na-montmorillonite (Na-Mt) with PEG or KCl, the d-spacing of Na-Mt with PEG+KCl was lower, which indicates that KCl and PEG have synergistic inhibition effect. This synergistic effect can replace sodium ions and water molecules from the interlayer space of Na-Mt and decrease the d-spacing of Na-Mt. Based on the above experimental results and analysis, a method for optimizing PEG and KCl concentrations was proposed and further verified by rheological and hot rolling recovery tests of WBDFs. Hence, the results of this work can provide valuable theoretical guidance for developing other synergistic inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experiments for determining the LIT of pure niacin and niacin/inert were carried out. • Ignition time of niacin was delayed by using pharmaceutical excipient as inert dust. • Inhibition mechanism is revealed based on macro morphology and micro characteristics. • Synergistic inhibition of Al(OH) 3 and aerosil on niacin deflagration was efficient. As an important pharmaceutical intermediate product, niacin is widely used in the production process where dust explosions could occur if processed in powdered form. Aluminum hydroxide and aerosil are commonly used in the manufacturing process as pharmaceutical excipients. The effects of dust concentration and dispersed pressure on the lowest ignition temperature of niacin dust cloud were experimentally investigated. Results show that niacin dust has an optimal ignition concentration and the lowest ignition temperature basically remains unchanged and then increases with the dispersed pressure. Inerting experiments of niacin dust were conducted at different dust concentrations, dispersed pressures and the addition of inert dust. With inert dust of aluminum hydroxide, aerosil or mixed aluminum hydroxide-aerosil, the lowest ignition temperature increases with inert dust concentration, and the inhibition effectiveness increases in the order of aluminum hydroxide, aerosil and mixed aluminum hydroxide-aerosil. The synergistic inhibition effect of aluminum hydroxide and aerosil is efficient, and its inhibition mechanism is mainly manifested by thermal stability, diluting the oxygen, and as a third body which has passive influence on the combustion chemical kinetic reaction. This work provides reference for prevention and mitigation of accidental explosions during processing, storage and transportation in the industry of pharmaceuticals. Inhibition mechanism of inert dust on deflagration of niacin dust cloud [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BTAE belongs to the anodic type corrosion inhibitor and its corrosion inhibition efficiency can exceed 97%. • Surface characteristics analysis provided that BTAE exhibit excellent corrosion inhibition performance for X65 steel. • BTAE adsorption on the X65 steel/solution interface is conformed to the Langmuir adsorption model. • BTAE belong to the physicochemical adsorption at the X65 steel/solution interface. The propensity of acid corrosion for X65 steel substrate leads to application restrictions. In this research, we develop an efficient and new corrosion inhibitor, S-(benzo[ d ]thiazol-2-yl) (E)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(methoxyimino)ethanethioate (BTAE), as a first example of a sulfuric acid medium additive containing both benzothiazole and aminothiazole with multiple anchoring centers, which can inhibit the X65 corrosion in the sulfuric acid medium. The electrochemical experiment test shows that BTAE can effectually control the anodic reaction of X65 steel and belongs to the anodic type corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of BTAE can still be maintained above 97% within a certain temperature range. The surface topography analysis and electrochemical test results are highly consistent. The adsorption of BTAE onto the interface of X65 steel conforms to the Langmuir model. Quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulation results have proved that BTAE is an excellent corrosion inhibitor. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. OUCMDZ-4032 derived from Antarctica was cultivated under 16 °C to produce a new glucolipid compound (1). Its structure was elucidated by analysis of detailed spectroscopic data, acid hydrolysis and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone precolumn derivatization, and 13 C NMR quantum chemical calculations. Though compound 1 did not show inhibitory activity against bacteria, it can reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin against Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella paratyphi by 1024, 256 and 256-fold. Compound 1 showed potential as a synergistically inhibiting adjuvant in co-administration with antibiotic to enhance antibacterial activities., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Purpose: To establish a prognostic model of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients based on tenascin-C (TNC) expression level and clinicopathological characteristics, and to explore the therapeutic potential of TNC inhibition., Methods: The expression of TNC was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 326 ESCC specimens and 50 normal esophageal tissues. Prognostic factors were determined by Cox regression analyses and were incorporated to establish the nomogram. The effects of TNC knockdown on ESCC cells were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to reveal signaling pathways regulated by TNC knockdown. The therapeutic significance of TNC knockdown combined with small-molecule inhibitors on cell proliferation was examined., Results: TNC protein was highly expressed in 48.77 % of ESCC tissues compared to only 2 % in normal esophageal epithelia (p < 0.001). The established nomogram model, based on TNC expression, pT stage, and lymph node metastasis, showed good performance on prognosis evaluation. More importantly, the reduction of TNC expression inhibited tumor cell proliferation and xenograft growth, and mainly down-regulated signaling pathways involved in tumor growth, hypoxia signaling transduction, metabolism, infection, etc. Knockdown of TNC enhanced the inhibitory effect of inhibitors targeting ErbB, PI3K-Akt, Ras and MAPK signaling pathways., Conclusion: The established nomogram may be a promising model for survival prediction in ESCC. Reducing TNC expression enhanced the sensitivity of ESCC cells to inhibitors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and downstream signaling pathways, providing a novel combination therapy strategy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Many cyanobacterial species co-occur commonly in a freshwater ecosystem and can be consumed simultaneously by zooplankton. Both Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii are the dominant species and coexist in eutrophic tropical waters, and they together are assumed to have exert a stronger effect on the life history traits of cladocerans than a single cyanobacterial species. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis with life-history experiments of Daphnia sienesis, a large cladoceran species in tropics. In the experiments, M. aeruginosa and C. raciborskii were used as a mixture of food with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for the experimental animals. D. sienesis showed excellent growth and survival on sole diets of C. pyrenoidosa (CP). By contrast, Daphnia's growth decreased significantly and reproduction was completely inhibited when cyanobacteria comprised 100% of the food offered. The supplementation of C. pyrenoidosa into cyanobacterial diets significantly decreased their harmful effects on Daphnia, who improved the life history traits with the reduction of cyanobacterial percentage in mixed foods, irrespective of cyanobacterial species. Compared with the cultures of D. sienesis fed with a single cyanobacteria species, the animals in the treatments fed both M.aeruginosa-FACHB469 (F469) and C. raciborskii N8 (N8) had a lower growth rate in all the proportion of C. pyrenoidosa (25% CP, 50% CP or 75% CP). The strongest synergistic inhibition by the two cyanobacterial strains was found in the treatments with the 25% CP (i.e., 25% CP + 37.5% F469 + 37.5% N8), and no animal survived to maturity and reproduced. Thus, the simultaneous exposure to the two cyanobacterial species should be taken into account in assessing the ecological risks of cyanobacterial blooms, since multiple cyanobacterial coexistence can result in strong synergistic inhibition on growth and reproduction of zooplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Portulaca oleracea L., common purslane, is an insecticidal plant that has been documented as a 'Chinese indigenous pesticide', and it is seldom visited by insects in the field. However, identification of anti‐insect compounds and mechanisms of action are still unclear. RESULTS: Interplanting purslane with Chinese cabbage demonstrated that purslane may contain secondary compounds that S. litura avoids eating. Four compounds were isolated from P. oleracea by directed anti‐insect activity, and their chemical structures were identified by NMR spectra as (9Z,11E,15Z)‐13‐hydroxyoctadeca‐9,11,15‐trienoic acid (1), portulacanone A (2), portulacanone D (3), and a new natural product 2,4′‐dihydroxy‐3′,5′‐dimethoxychalcone (4). A combination of compound 1 and 2 possessed stronger activity than other combinations (compounds 1 + 3; 1 + 4; 2 + 3; 2 + 4; 3 + 4). Both active compounds were detected in all samples from 23 regions in China, and concentrations in samples collected from 17 regions were generally above 500 μg/kg. Concentrations of compounds 1 and 2 fluctuated greatly from April to November, and reached maximum concentrations of 45 951.44 μg/kg for compound 1 and 3739.09 μg/kg for compound 2 in November. The combination of these compounds (1 + 2) caused mid‐gut structural deformation and tissue decay as determined by mid‐gut histopathology of S. litura. CONCLUSION: In general, these active compounds coexisting contributed to partly protect purslane from insects. This research also provides new insights into the use of purslane as important ingredient of botanical pesticide alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, methylglyoxal, and glyoxal were HAs intermediates. • Amino acid combinations showed synergistic inhibitory effects against HAs formation. • Synergism of amino acid combinations mainly results from scavenging these carbonyls. • The addition of amino acid combinations mainly affects lipid oxidation. The inhibitory effects of amino acids and their combinations on the formation of heterocyclic amines were investigated in this study. The great potential in the inhibition of HAs was observed in amino acid combinations compared with that of single agents. At a mass ratio of 1:1, a His-Pro combination achieved a maximum inhibitory rate of 80 %, and the total HAs content decreased to 4.70 ± 0.18 ng/g relative to the control (24.49 ± 2.18 ng/g). However, the inhibitory rate of triple combinations showed no obvious increase compared with the binary combinations. Benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, methylglyoxal, and glyoxal were positively correlated with HAs formation, and His-Pro combination (1:4) led to a significant reduction of benzaldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde at scavenging rates of 79 % and 92 %. Thus, the synergistic inhibition was achieved by simultaneously scavenging these aldehyde intermediates, and other inhibitory target, such as competition with precursors and elimination of final products can serve as supporting factors. These results provide a new perspective for approaches to enhance the suppression of HAs and control the formation of flavor compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The inhibition of S235JR steel in HCl by poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)(PO) is studied. • Myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTAB) and KI effect on PO is examined. • PO average inhibition efficiency (η) is 80 % at 1000 mg/L. • The additives synergistically enhanced the performance of PO. • PO + MTAB + KI can offer ∼ 99 % inhibition and corrosion rate of 0.09 mm/y after 72 h. Organic compounds that exhibit little or no toxicity, have high solubility properties, and are affordable are highly sought after as metal corrosion inhibitors. The key to formulating an effective and economically viable corrosion inhibitor is the identification of compounds with strong synergistic effects. The synergistic inhibition of S235JR carbon steel in 1 M HCl by poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PO), KI, and myristyl trimethylammonium bromide (MTAB) is studied. The durability of the PO + KI + MTAB blend is examined for up to 72 h. Results reveal an average inhibition efficiency (η) of 80 % for PO at 1000 mg/L. Adding 5 mg/L KI or MTAB to 1000 mg/L PO raised η to 97 % or 94 % from EIS measurements. PO(1000 mg/L) + KI(5 mg/L) + MTAB(5 mg/L) produced ∼ 99 % inhibition and kept the corrosion rate at 0.09 mm/y for up to 72 h. Spectroscopic and computational studies reveal PO interacted with the steel surface making use of the carbonyl functional group. The DFT calculations and MD simulations confirm the favorable tendency of the PO molecule to adsorb on the metal surface and the synergistic adsorption with KI and MTAB. Furthermore, SEM and AFM results confirm the high inhibitive performance of the blend. PO + KI + MTAB blend is highly recommended for long-term acid pickling of a metal surface and acid cleaning of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the corrosion resistance of reinforcing steel is particularly important to prolong the service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This study proposes a novel mixed corrosion inhibitor of sodium molybdate and sodium phytate to enhance the corrosion resistance of Q235 carbon steel in concrete exposed to aggressive environments. Based on the synergistic inhibition of the mixed corrosion inhibitor with an optimal concentration ratio, the passivation and chloride-induced corrosion of steel in simulated concrete pore solutions were investigated using electrochemical measurements, XPS, AFM, SEM/EDS and ATR-FTIR. The results indicated that the mixed corrosion inhibitor could promote the passivation process of steel by increasing the passive film thickness, despite no significantly improved passivation ability was highlighted for steel. Furthermore, due to the formation of a protective and thick passive film with a specific three-layer structure, the mixed corrosion inhibitor markedly improved the pitting corrosion resistance of steel and exhibited a high inhibition efficiency after 30 days of chloride exposure. Accordingly, the corresponding synergistic inhibition mechanism of the mixed corrosion inhibitor was proposed. • A mixed corrosion inhibitor of molybdate and phytate with optimal concentration ratio was determined. • The mixed corrosion inhibitor promoted steel passivation by increasing passive film thickness. • The steel passive film with specific three-layer structure improved its pitting corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]