Objective To study the triterpenoid saponin from bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum.Methods The compound was isolated by repeated silica gel chromatographies and its strcuture was eluci-dated on the basis of physico chemical property and spectral analysis. Results A novel triterpenoidsaponin was isolated and determined as olean 12-en-28-oic acid, 3- {[2-O-[6-O-[(3R)-4-carboxy-3-hydrox-y-3-methyl-1-oxobutyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-β-D-glucopyranosyl] oxy}-2, 16, 23-trihydroxy-28-[2-O-α-L-rhamnose (1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl] ester ( I φ. Conclusion Compound I is a novel compoundnamed as dexylosyltubeimoside Ⅲ.

Objective To evaluate the relationships of the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and adiponectin with the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in senile metabolic syndrome (MS)patients. Methods The 74 cases with MS and 30 health controls (control group) were enrolled. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), digit-symbol test (DST), auditory verbal memory test (AVMT), trail making test(TMT), sunderland clock drawing test (CDT) and verbal fluency test (VFT) were applied to evaluate cognitive function. Based on the cognitive assessment, MS patients were divided into two groups: 39 cases with MCI (MS+MCI group) and 35 cases without cognitive impairment (MS group). The levels of MMP-9, ICAM-1 and adiponectin were measured by ELISA. Biochemical variables were measured by routine methods in all subjects. Results (1)MS+MCI group showed the higher levels of BMI, SBP, FBG and MMP-9 (all P＜0.05) and lower level of adiponectin (P＜0.05) than did the MS group. And MS group had higher levels of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 (P＜0.01) and lower adiponectin level (P＜0.01) than did the control group. (2)Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the serum levels of MMP-9 (r=-0.794, P＜0.001) and ICAM-l (r=-0.501, P＜0.001) were negatively correlated with adiponectin. However, MMP-9 was positively correlated with ICAM-1 (r=0.481, P=0.006). (3)Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that there was linear relationship of MoCA with MMP-9 (β=-3.438, P=0.0019), adiponectin (β=1.337, P=0.006), SBP (β=-0.058, P=0.003) and FBG (β=-0.227, P=0.049). (4)Stepwise logistic analysis showed that both high MMP-9 (OR=1.007) and low adiponectin (OR=0.359) were risk factors for the decline of cognitive function. Conclusions Elderly patients with MS may show deterioration in memory, calculation and visuospatial perception. Elevated inflammatory factors might contribute, in combination with abnormal metabolism, to MCI. MMP-9 might contribute to neuronal degeneration. However, adiponectin could strongly counteract the risk factors for cognitive impairment.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a lysosome-dependent selective degradation pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms that regulate CMA are not fully understood. Here, using unbiased drug screening approaches, we discover Metformin, a drug that is commonly the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes, can induce CMA. We delineate the mechanism of CMA induction by Metformin to be via activation of TAK1-IKKα/β signaling that leads to phosphorylation of Ser85 of the key mediator of CMA, Hsc70, and its activation. Notably, we find that amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) is a CMA substrate and that it binds to Hsc70 in an IKKα/β-dependent manner. The inhibition of CMA-mediated degradation of APP enhances its cytotoxicity. Importantly, we find that in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), activation of CMA by Hsc70 overexpression or Metformin potently reduces the accumulated brain Aβ plaque levels and reverses the molecular and behavioral AD phenotypes. Our study elucidates a novel mechanism of CMA regulation via Metformin-TAK1-IKKα/β-Hsc70 signaling and suggests Metformin as a new activator of CMA for diseases, such as AD, where such therapeutic intervention could be beneficial.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.