A new method is developed for the catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at a graphite-zeolite-modi®ed electrode doped with iron(III) (Fe 3 YaZCME), in which iron(III) exchanged in zeolite Y can act as catalyst to oxidize AA. First, the electrochemical behavior of iron(III) incorporated in the zeolite Y-modi®ed electrode was studied. The results illustrate that diffusion controls the ferricaferrous redox process at the Fe 3 YaZCME. The anodic current of this process increases with the supporting electrolyte concentration of non-size-excluded cation and was suppressed when using size-excluded cation. Second, the catalytic oxidation of AA was explored at Fe 3 YaZCME. With constant potential amperometric measurements optimal conditions for AA determination were obtained. The working potential was 0.55 V (vs. SCE); the supporting electrolyte was 0.1 M KNO 3 or 0.05 M Na 2 HPO 4 -KH 2 PO 4 buffer solution (pH 6.8). The response current exhibits a linear relationship with the concentration of AA over the range of 1.58610 À6 ±2.15610 À2 M. When samples of urine, and fruit were analyzed with Fe 3 YaZCME, we obtained AA recovery of 98±102%, and a relative standard deviation lower than 3%. Meanwhile, interferences from other ions and organic substances were examined.

Background Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim is a medicinally valuable herb. However, the collection and protection of the wild germplasm resources of M. savatieri are still insufficient, and their genetic diversity and population structure have been poorly studied. Results We collected and examined 46 M. savatieri individuals from Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces for genetic diversity and population structure, using 33 newly developed expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. Applying these markers, we detected a total of 208 alleles, with an average of 6.303 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content varied from 0.138 to 0.884 (average: 0.668), indicating a high level of polymorphism. At the population level, there was a low degree of genetic diversity among populations (I = 0.535, He = 0.342), with Zhejiang individuals showing the highest genetic diversity among the four populations (Fst = 0.497), which indicated little gene flow within the M. savatieri populations (Nm = 0.253). Mantel test analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between geographical and genetic distance among populations (R2 = 0.3304, p < 0.05), and structure and principal coordinate analyses supported classification of populations into three clusters, which was consistent with the findings of cluster analysis. Conclusions As a rare medicinal plants, the protection of M. savatieri does not look optimistic, and accordingly, protective efforts should be beefed up on the natural wild populations. This study provided novel tools and insights for designing effective collection and conservation strategies for M. savatieri.

No abstract

ObjectiveTo study the effects of liraglutide or lifestyle interventions combined with other antidiabetic drugs on glucose metabolism and abdominal fat distribution in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsFrom April 30, 2020, to April 30, 2022, a prospective randomized controlled study was carried out at the Endocrinology Department of Beijing Hospital, the National Center of Gerontology. According to the in- and exclusion criteria and by the random table method, revisited T2DM patients were selected as the research subjects and were allocated into a Study group (taking liraglutide) and a Control group (underwent lifestyle interventions). All patients received continuous 12-weeks interventions to the endpoint, and the changes of value [Δ=(endpoint)-(baseline)] of physical measurements, blood tests, the energy spectrum CT examination results, and body composition analysis results were analyzed and compared.ResultsA total of 85 people completed this study, and among them, 47 were in the Study group and 38 were in the Control group. Compared with the Control group, the changes of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (-0.78 ± 1.03% vs. -1.57 ± 2.00%, P=0.025), visceral fat area (0.91 ± 16.59 cm2 vs. -7.1 ± 10.17 cm2, P=0.011), and subcutaneous fat area of abdomen [0 (-18.75, 15.5) cm2 vs. -16.5 (-41.75, -2.25) cm2, P=0.014] were all greater in the Study group. The adverse events caused by liraglutide were mainly concentrated in the gastrointestinal system and all of them were minor adverse events.ConclusionLiraglutide can be the drug of choice for weight management and reduction of abdominal fat distribution in patients with obesity and T2DM.

No abstract