Particularly uniform: Monodisperse ferrite microspheres can be synthesized to have diameters of about 200–800 nm (TEM image, left). High‐resolution TEM analysis (image, right and inset) shows that each microsphere is a single crystal. Their hydrophilic and magnetic properties impart to the microparticles many potential uses in electronics and biomedicine.

Ungewöhnlich einheitlich: Monodisperse Ferrit‐Mikrokugeln mit Durchmessern von rund 200–800 nm (TEM‐Bild, links) wurden hergestellt. Gemäß Hochauflösungs‐TEM‐Analyse (Bild rechts und Einschub) ist jede Mikrokugel ein Einzelkristall. Wegen ihrer hydrophilen und magnetischen Eigenschaften sollten die Mikropartikel für viele Anwendungen in der Elektronik und der Biomedizin von Interesse sein.

Ternary bismuth oxyhalide crystalline nanobelts (such as Bi24O31Br10, Bi3O4Br, Bi12O17Br2, BiOCl, and Bi24O31Cl10) and nanotubes (such as Bi24O31Br10) have been synthesized by using convenient hydrothermal methods. The composition and morphologies of the bismuth oxyhalides could be controlled by adjusting some growth parameters, including reaction pH, time, and temperature. All the nanostructures were characterized by using various methods including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution TEM, electron diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The possible reaction mechanism and growth of the crystals are discussed based on the experimental results.

ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of anti-inflammatory agents for patients with major depressive disorders.MethodsWe searched the literature to identify potentially relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to 1 January 2019. The primary outcome was efficacy, measured by mean changes in depression score from baseline to endpoint. Secondary outcomes included response and remission rates and quality of life (QoL). Safety was evaluated by incidence of classified adverse events. Heterogeneity was examined using the I2 and Q statistic. Pooled standard mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs) were calculated. Subgroup meta-analyses were conducted based on type of treatment, type of anti-inflammatory agents, sex, sponsor type and quality of studies.ResultsThirty RCTs with 1610 participants were included in the quantitative analysis. The overall analysis pooling from 26 of the RCTs suggested that anti-inflammatory agents reduced depressive symptoms (SMD −0.55, 95% CI −0.75 to −0.35, I2=71%) compared with placebo. Higher response (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.79, I2=29%) and remission rates (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.49, I2=41%) were seen in the group receiving anti-inflammatory agents than in those receiving placebo. Subgroup analysis showed a greater reduction in symptom severity in both the monotherapy and adjunctive treatment groups. Subgroup analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, omega-3 fatty acids, statins and minocyclines, respectively, disclosed significant antidepressant effects for major depressive disorder (MDD). For women-only trials, no difference in changes of depression severity was found between groups. Subanalysis stratified by sponsor type and study quality led to the same outcomes in favour of anti-inflammatory agents in both subgroups. Changes of QoL showed no difference between the groups. Gastrointestinal events were the only significant differences between groups in the treatment periods.ConclusionsResults of this systematic review suggest that anti-inflammatory agents play an antidepressant role in patients with MDD and are reasonably safe.

We and others have recently shown that soyasaponins abundant in soybeans can decrease inflammation by suppressing the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)-mediated inflammation. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which soyasaponins inhibit the NF-kB pathway have not been established. In this study in macrophages, soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of inflammatory marker prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to a similar extent as the NF-kB inhibitor (BAY117082). Soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) also suppressed the LPS-induced expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), another inflammatory marker, in a dose-dependent manner by inhibiting NF-kB activation. In defining the associated mechanisms, we found that soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) blunted the LPS-induced IKKα/β phosphorylation, IkB phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-kB p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. In studying the upstream targets of soyasaponins on the NF-kB pathway, we found that soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) suppressed the LPS-induced activation of PI3K/Akt similarly as the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, which alone blocked the LPS-induced activation of NF-kB. Additionally, soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) reduced the LPS-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the same extent as the anti-oxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine, which alone inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of Akt, IKKα/β, IkBα, and p65, transactivity of NF-kB, PGE2 production, and malondialdehyde production. Finally, our results show that soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) elevated SOD activity and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Together, these results show that soyasaponins (A1, A2 and I) can blunt inflammation by inhibiting the ROS-mediated activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-kB pathway.

Background: Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders that leads to disabilities. However, the conventional drug therapy for migraine might be unsatisfactory at times. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of calcitonin-gene-related peptide binding monoclonal antibody (CGRP mAb) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine, and provide high-quality clinical evidence for migraine therapy. Methods: A systematic electronic database search was conducted to identify the potentially relevant studies. Two independent authors performed data extraction and quality appraisal. Mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR) were pooled for continuous and dichotomous data, respectively. The significance levels, weighted effect sizes and homogeneity of variance were calculated. Results: Eleven high-quality randomized control trials that collectively included 4402 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to placebo group, CGRP mAb therapy resulted in a reduction of monthly migraine days [weighted mean difference (WMD) = − 1.44, 95% CI = (− 1.68,− 1.19)] and acute migraine-specific medication days [WMD = − 1.28, 95% CI = (− 1.66,− 0.90)], with an improvement in 50% responder rate [RR = 1.51, 95% CI = (1.37,1.66)]. In addition, the adverse events (AEs) and treatment withdrawal rates due to AEs were not significantly different between CGRP mAb and placebo groups. Similar efficacy and safety results were obtained for erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab in subgroup analysis. Conclusions: The current body of evidence reveals that CGRP mAb is an effective and safe preventive treatment for episodic migraine.

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This study was designed to investigate the inhibition effect and mechanism of total flavonoids, myricetin and quercetin extracted from Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in order to explore the potential use of Hovenia flavonoids in alleviating postprandial hyperglycemia. The results demonstrate that total flavonoids, myricetin, and quercetin were effective inhibitors of α-amylase with IC values of 32.8, 662 and 770 μg ml, respectively. And all three were effective inhibitors of α-glucosidase with IC values of 8, 3 and 32 μg ml, respectively. Enzyme kinetics tests and Lineweaver-Burk results showed the inhibition effects of total flavonoids, myricetin and quercrtin on α-amylase were all reversible and competitive, and the effects on α-glucosidase were all reversible but non-competitive. This study revealed that Hovenia flavonoids, especially myricetin, are effective and promising functional foods in alleviating type 2 diabetes mellitus.