[Effects of Luhong Yixin Granules on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure rats based on TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway].

To investigate the effects of Luhong Yixin Granules on myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure and its possible mechanism, a total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, and low-, medium-and high-dose Luhong Yixin Granules groups, with 12 rats in each group. Except for those in the control group, rats in the other groups were induced by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin(DOX) into a rat model. After the Luhong Yixin Granules were dissolved in the same amount of normal saline, they were given by gavage at low, medium and high doses(2.8, 5.6, 11.2 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the control group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage for 40 days. After the end of dosing, echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS). Rat body weight(BW) and heart weight(HW) were calculated as HW/BW. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-17(IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), transforming growth factor-ß1(TGF-ß1), growth stimulation expressed gene 2 protein(ST2), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), galectin-3(Gal-3) and creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB) in serum. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological morphology of myocardial tissue. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, Smad3, Smad7, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), and collagen Ⅰ(COL-Ⅰ), respectively. RESULTS:: showed that compared with those in the control group, LVEF, LVFS, and HW/BW in the model group were decreased(P<0.05), and the levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, ST2, NT-proBNP, Gal-3, and CK-MB were increased(P<0.05). HE staining showed inflammatory changes in myocardial tissue; Masson staining showed decreases in the cross-sectional area and ventricular cavity area of the heart, and myocardial fibrosis of varying degrees(P<0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, Smad3, α-SMA, and COL-Ⅰ were increased(P<0.05), and the protein and mRNA expression of Smad7 protein was decreased(P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, LVEF, LVFS and HW/BW of the low-, medium-and high-dose Luhong Yixin Granules groups were increased(P<0.05), and the levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, ST2, NT-proBNP, Gal-3 and CK-MB were decreased(P<0.05). HE staining showed gradually reduced inflammatory changes of myocardial tissue, and Masson staining showed increased cross-sectional area and ventricular cavity area of the heart and decreased area of myocardial fibrosis(P<0.05). The protein and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, Smad3, α-SMA, and COL-Ⅰ were decreased(P<0.05), while the protein and mRNA expression levels of Smad7 were increased(P<0.05). Luhong Yixin Granules may be of great value in the treatment of heart failure by regulating the TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway, inhibiting the expression of inflammation-related proteins, reducing the deposition of extracellular matrix, and alleviating myocardial fibrosis.

Transcriptomic insights into the shift of trophic strategies in mixotrophic dinoflagellate Lepidodinium in the warming ocean.

The shift between photoautotrophic and phagotrophic strategies in mixoplankton significantly impacts the planktonic food webs and biogeochemical cycling. Considering the projected global warming, studying how temperature impacts this shift is crucial. Here, we combined the transcriptome of in-lab cultures (mixotrophic dinoflagellate Lepidodinium sp.) and the metatranscriptome dataset of the global ocean to investigate the mechanisms underlying the shift of trophic strategies and its relationship with increasing temperatures. Our results showed that phagocytosis-related pathways, including focal adhesion, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and oxidative phosphorylation, were significantly stimulated in Lepidodinium sp. when cryptophyte prey were added. We further compared the expression profiles of photosynthesis and phagocytosis genes in Lepidodinium sp. in the global sunlit ocean. Our results indicated that Lepidodinium sp. became more phagotrophic with increasing temperatures when the ambient chlorophyll concentration was >0.3 mg.m-3 (~20.58% of the ocean surface) but became more photoautotrophic with increasing temperatures when the chlorophyll concentration was between 0.2 and 0.3 mg.m-3 (~11.47% of the ocean surface). Overall, we emphasized the crucial role of phagocytosis in phago-mixotrophy and suggested that the expression profile of phagocytosis genes can be a molecular marker to target the phagotrophic activity of mixoplankton in situ.

Astragaloside IV mediates radiation-induced neuronal damage through activation of BDNF-TrkB signaling.

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic radiation is relevant to human life, and radiation can trigger neurodegenerative diseases by altering the function of the central nervous system through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein degradation. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, activates the BDNF-TrkB pathway and enhances synaptic plasticity in radiated mice, which can exert its neuroprotection. However, the exact molecular mechanisms are still unclear. PURPOSE: This study investigated whether AS-IV could play a neuroprotective role by regulating BDNF-TrkB pathway in radiation damage and its underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Transgenic mice (Thy1-YFP line H) were injected with AS-IV (40 mg/kg/day body weight) by intraperitoneal injection daily for 4 weeks, followed by X-rays. PC12 cells and primary cortical neurons were also exposed to UVA after 24 h of AS-IV treatment (25 µg/ml and 50 µg/ml) in vitro. The impact of radiation on learning and cognitive functions was visualized in the Morris water maze assay. Subsequently, Immunofluorescence and Golgi-Cox staining analyses were utilized to investigate the structural damage of neuronal dendrites and the density of dendritic spines. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to examine how the radiation affected the ultrastructure of neurons. Finally, western blotting analysis and Quantitative RT-PCR were used to evaluate the expression levels and locations of proteins in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Radiation induced BDNF-TrkB signaling dysregulation and decreased the levels of neuron-related functional genes (Ngf, Bdnf, Gap-43, Ras, Psd-95, Arc, Creb, c-Fos), PSD-95 and F-actin, which subsequently led to damage of neuronal ultrastructure and dendrites, loss of dendritic spines, and decreased dendritic complexity index, contributing to spatial learning and memory deficits. These abnormalities were prevented by AS-IV treatment. In addition, TrkB receptor antagonists antagonized these neuroprotective actions of AS-IV. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone and AS-IV had neuroprotective effects after radiation. CONCLUSION: AS-IV inhibits morphological damage of neurons and cognitive dysfunction in mice after radiation exposure, resulting in a neuroprotective effect, which were mediated by activating the BDNF-TrkB pathway.

Causality of genetically proxied immunophenotypes on cardiovascular diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) stand as the foremost global cause of mortality, prompting a growing interest in using the potential of immune cells for heart injury treatment. This study aims to assess the causal association between immune cells and CVDs. Methods: A total of 731 immune cells were derived from a previously published genome-wide association study (GWAS), which included approximately 22 million genetic variants among 3,757 individuals of Sardinian ancestry. Genetic associations with atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and stroke were extracted from large-scale GWAS. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to assess the causal association between immune cells and CVDs. Replication MR analysis based on FinnGen dataset and meta-analysis are sequentially conducted to validate causal relationships. Results: Collectively, genetically predicted 4 immune cell traits were associated with AF and 5 immune cell traits were associated with stroke. Increased levels of IgD- CD38dim absolute count were associated with a higher susceptibility to AF, while increased expression of CD14+ CD16+ monocytes, CD62L on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cells, and CD16 on CD14- CD16+ monocytes were linked to a decreased susceptibility to AF. Additionally, an elevated susceptibility to stroke was linked to an increase in the percentage of CD39+ resting Tregs and heightened CD27 expression on IgD- CD38+ cells. Conversely, a decreased susceptibility to stroke was associated with increased CD40 expression on monocytes, particularly on CD14+ CD16+ and CD14+ CD16- monocytes, with the latter two showing the most compelling evidence. Conclusion: This study identified several immune cell traits that have a causal relationship with CVDs, thus confirming that immune cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Elucidating the mechanism of action of Radix Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Radix Astragalus mongholicus Bunge ultrafiltration extract on radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis based on network pharmacology and experimental research.

Myocardial fibrosis can induce cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. Great attention has been paid to traditional chinese medicine (TCM) 's effectiveness in treating MF. Radix Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Radix Astragalus mongholicus Bunge ultrafiltration extract (RAS-RA), which is a key TCM compound preparation, have high efficacy in regulating inflammation. However, studies on its therapeutic effect on radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) are rare. In this study, RAS-RA had therapeutic efficacy in RIMF and elucidated its mechanism of action. First, we formulated the prediction network that described the relation of RAS-RA with RIMF according to data obtained in different databases. Then, we conducted functional enrichment to investigate the functions and pathways associated with potential RIMF targets for RAS-RA. In vivo experiments were also performed to verify these functions and pathways. Second, small animal ultrasound examinations, H&E staining, Masson staining, transmission electron microscopy, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western-blotting, Immunohistochemical method and biochemical assays were conducted to investigate the possible key anti-RIMF pathway in RAS-RA. In total, 440 targets were detected in those 21 effective components of RAS-RA; meanwhile, 1,646 RIMF-related disease targets were also discovered. After that, PPI network analysis was conducted to identify 20 key targets based on 215 overlap gene targets. As indicated by the gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis results, inflammation and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways might have important effects on the therapeutic effects on RIMF. Molecular docking analysis revealed high binding of effective components to targets (affinity < -6 kcal/mol). Based on experimental verification results, RAS-RA greatly mitigated myocardial fibrosis while recovering the cardiac activity of rats caused by X-rays. According to relevant protein expression profiles, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was important for anti-fibrosis effect of RAS-RA. Experimental studies showed that RAS-RA improved cardiac function, decreased pathological damage and collagen fiber deposition in cardiac tissues, and improved the mitochondrial structure of the heart of rats. RAS-RA also downregulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß levels. Additionally, RAS-RA improved the liver and kidney functions and pathological injury of rat kidney and liver tissues, enhanced liver and kidney functions, and protected the liver and kidneys. RAS-RA also increased PI3K, AKT and mTOR protein levels within cardiac tissues and downregulated α-SMA, Collagen I, and Collagen III. The findings of this study suggested that RAS-RA decreased RIMF by suppressing collagen deposition and inflammatory response by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Thus, RAS-RA was the potential therapeutic agent used to alleviate RIMF.

Evolutionary ecology of denitrifying methanotrophic NC10 bacteria in the deep-sea biosphere.

The NC10 phylum links anaerobic methane oxidation to nitrite denitrification through a unique O2-producing intra-aerobic methanotrophic pathway. Although numerous amplicon-based studies revealed the distribution of this phylum, comprehensive genomic insights and niche characterization in deep-sea environments were still largely unknown. In this study, we extensively surveyed the NC10 bacteria across diverse deep-sea environments, including waters, sediments, cold seeps, biofilms, rocky substrates, and subseafloor aquifers. We then reconstructed and analysed 38 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), and revealed the extensive distribution of NC10 bacteria and their intense selective pressure in these harsh environments. Isotopic analyses combined with gene expression profiling confirmed that active nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) occurs within deep-sea sediments. In addition, the identification of the Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) and 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrat (3HB/4HP) pathways in these MAGs suggests their capability for carbon fixation as chemoautotrophs in these deep-sea environments. Indeed, we found that for their survival in the oligotrophic deep-sea biosphere, NC10 bacteria encode two branches of the WL pathway, utilizing acetyl-CoA from the carbonyl branch for citric acid cycle-based energy production and methane from the methyl branch for n-DAMO. The observed low ratios of non-synonymous substitutions to synonymous substitutions (pN/pS) in n-DAMO-related genes across these habitats suggest a pronounced purifying selection that is critical for the survival of NC10 bacteria in oligotrophic deep-sea environments. These findings not only advance our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations of NC10 bacteria but also underscore the intricate coupling between the carbon and nitrogen cycles within deep-sea ecosystems, driven by this bacterial phylum.

Malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast with predominant osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomatous differentiation: a rare case report and review of literature.

Background: Phyllodes tumors (PTs), which account for less than 1% of mammary gland tumors, composed of both epithelial and stromal components. If a malignant heterologous component is encountered, PT is considered malignant. Malignant phyllodes tumors (MPTs) only account for 8% to 20% of PTs. We report a case of MPT with osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma differentiation and review the literature to discuss the differential diagnosis and therapy. Case presentation: A 59-year-old Chinese woman come to our hospital because of a palpable mass she had had for 1 months in the left breast. Preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) was performed on the left breast mass on January 11, 2023. Pathological diagnosis was malignant tumor, the specific type was not clear. Mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy of the left breast was performed. No metastasis was found in 3 sentinel lymph nodes identified by carbon nanoparticles and methylene blue double staining. Heterologous osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomatous differentiation of phyllodes tumor were observed. Immunohistochemistry: spindle tumor cells ER(-), PR(-), HER-2(-), CK-pan(-), CK7(-), CK8(-), SOX10(-), S100(-), and MDM2(-), CK5/6(-), P63(-), P40(-) were all negative. CD34:(+), SATB2(+), P53(90% strong), CD68 (+), Ki-67(LI: about 60%). No ductal carcinoma in situ was found in the breast. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated USP6 was negatively expressed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Conclusion: MPTs are rare, and heterologous differentiation in MPTs is exceedingly rare. It could be diagnosed by pathology when metaplastic carcinoma, primary osteosarcoma, or myositis ossificans were excluded. This case could help clinicians to improve the prognosis and treatment of this disease.

The Circadian Rhythm of the Behavior and Gut Microbiota in Dybowski's Frogs (Rana dybowskii) during the Autumn Migration Period.

Many amphibian behaviors and physiological functions adapt to daily environmental changes through variations in circadian rhythms. However, these adaptations have yet to be reported in Dybowski's frog (Rana dybowskii). We aimed to elucidate the dynamic changes in the behavior and gut microbiota of R. dybowskii within a 24 h cycle during their migration to hibernation sites. Thus, we monitored their behavior at 4 h intervals and collected samples for microbiome analysis. We found that the juvenile frogs arrived at hibernation sites earlier than the adults. Among the adults, the male frogs arrived earlier. The richness and diversity of the gut microbiota in the adult R. dybowskii were lowest at 14:00. At 6:00, the differences between the males and females were most significant. At 18:00, there was an increase in the activity of Bacteroides, Coprobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Dorea in the intestinal tracts of the male frogs, whereas in the intestinal tract of the female frogs, there was an increase in the activity of Pseudoramibacter_Eubacterium, Desulfovibrio, Anaerotruncus, and PW3. This indicated diurnal rhythmic variations in the gut microbiota and significant sex-based differences in the microbial activity at different time points. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the circadian rhythm of R. dybowskii and provide crucial insights into improving breeding strategies.

Therapeutic potential of Angelica sinensis in addressing organ fibrosis: A comprehensive review.

Fibrosis-related diseases (FRD) include conditions like myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, and others. The impact of fibrosis can be severe, causing organ dysfunction, reduced functionality, and even organ failure, leading to significant health issues. Currently, there is a lack of effective modern anti-fibrosis drugs in clinical practice. However, Chinese medicine has a certain beneficial effect on the treatment of such diseases. Angelica sinensis, with its considerable medicinal value, has garnered attention for its anti-fibrosis properties in recent investigations. In the past few years, there has been a growing number of experimental inquiries into the impact of angelica polysaccharide (ASP), angelica water extract, angelica injection, and angelica compound preparation on fibrosis-associated ailments, piquing the interest of researchers. This paper aims to consolidate recent advances in the study of Angelica sinensis for the treatment of fibrosis-related disorders, offering insights for prospective investigations. Literature retrieval included core electronic databases, including Baidu Literature, CNKI, Google-Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science. The applied search utilized specified keywords to extract relevant information on the pharmacological and phytochemical attributes of plants. The investigation revealed that Angelica sinensis has the potential to impede the advancement of fibrotic diseases by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and metabolism. ASP, Angelica sinensis extract, Angelica sinensis injection, and Angelica sinensis compound preparation were extensively examined and discussed. These constituents demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis activity. In essence, this review seeks to gain a profound understanding of the role of Angelica sinensis in treating fiber-related diseases. Organ fibrosis manifests in nearly all tissues and organs, posing a critical challenge to global public health due to its widespread occurrence, challenging early diagnosis, and unfavorable prognosis. Despite its prevalence, therapeutic options are limited, and their efficacy is constrained. Over the past few years, numerous studies have explored the protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine on organ fibrosis, with Angelica sinensis standing out as a multifunctional natural remedy. This paper provides a review of organ fibrosis pathogenesis and summarizes the recent two decades' progress in treating fibrosis in various organs such as the liver, lung, kidney, and heart. The review highlights the modulation of relevant signaling pathways through multiple targets and channels by the effective components of Angelica sinensis, whether used as a single medicine or in compound prescriptions.

The effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function and functional capacity in patients with early stroke: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory muscle training is a continuous and standardized training of respiratory muscles, but the evidence of the effects on early stroke patients is not clear. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function and functional capacity in patients with early stroke. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, PEDro, ScienceDirect, AMED, CINAHL, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched from inception to December 8, 2023 for articles about studies that 1) stroke patients with age ≥ 18 years old. Early stroke < 3 months at the time of diagnosis, 2) respiratory muscle training, including inspiratory and expiratory muscle training, 3) the following measurements are the outcomes: respiratory muscle strength, respiratory muscle endurance, pulmonary function testing, dyspnea fatigue score, and functional capacity, 4) randomized controlled trials. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were extracted data and appraised the methodological quality and risk of bias using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool by two independent reviewers. RevMan 5.4 with a random effect model was used for data synthesis and analysis. Mean differences (MD) or standard mean differences (SMD), and 95% confidence interval were calculated (95%CI). RESULTS: Nine studies met inclusion criteria, recruiting 526 participants (mean age 61.6 years). Respiratory muscle training produced a statistically significant effect on improving maximal inspiratory pressure (MD = 10.93, 95%CI: 8.51-13.36), maximal expiratory pressure (MD = 9.01, 95%CI: 5.34-12.69), forced vital capacity (MD = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.54-1.10), peak expiratory flow (MD = 1.28, 95%CI: 0.94-1.63), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (MD = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.13-1.59), functional capacity (SMD = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.05-0.98) in patients with early stroke. Subgroup analysis showed that inspiratory muscle training combined with expiratory muscle training was beneficial to the recovery of maximal inspiratory pressure (MD = 9.78, 95%CI: 5.96-13.60), maximal expiratory pressure (MD = 11.62, 95%CI: 3.80-19.43), forced vital capacity (MD = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.47-1.27), peak expiratory flow (MD = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.22-1.80), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (MD = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.41-1.11), functional capacity (SMD = 0.61, 95%CI: 0.08-1.13), while inspiratory muscle training could improve maximal inspiratory pressure (MD = 11.60, 95%CI: 8.15-15.05), maximal expiratory pressure (MD = 7.06, 95%CI: 3.50-10.62), forced vital capacity (MD = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.21-1.21), peak expiratory flow (MD = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.37-1.31), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (MD = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.08-0.72). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides good-quality evidence that respiratory muscle training is effective in improving respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and functional capacity for patients with early stroke. Inspiratory muscle training combined with expiratory muscle training seems to promote functional recovery in patients with early stroke more than inspiratory muscle training alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospero registration number: CRD42021291918.

[Network Meta-analysis of different Chinese medicine injections combined with conventional western medicine in treatment of acute heart failure].

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine injection in the treatment of acute heart failure. PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, and SinoMed were searched for the randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Chinese medicine injection combined with conventional western medicines in the treatment of acute heart failure with the time interval from the inception to July 10, 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies. Stata 15.1 was used to perform network Meta-analysis. A total of 117 RCTs were included, involving 10 529 patients and 7 Chinese medicine injections: Shenfu Injection, Shenmai Injection, Danhong Injection, Puera-rin Injection, Xinmailong Injection, Shengmai Injection, and Yiqi Fumai Injection. Network Meta-analysis yielded the following results.(1) In terms of improving the total response rate, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) ranking was Shengmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Danhong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenmai Injection + conventio-nal western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > Puerarin Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(2)In terms of reducing brain natriuretic peptide(BNP), the SUCRA ranking was Danhong Injection + conventional western medicine > Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Puerarin Injection + conventional wes-tern medicine > Shengmai Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(3)In terms of reducing N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP), the SUCRA ranking was Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shengmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > Puerarin Injection + conventional western medicine > Danhong Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(4) In terms of improving the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), the SUCRA ranking was Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > Puerarin Injection + conventional western medicine > Danhong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shengmai Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(5) In terms of decreasing the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD), the SUCRA ranking was Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine=Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shengmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine > Puerarin Injection + conventional western medicine.(6) In terms of increasing the 6-min walk trail(6MWT), the SUCRA ranking was Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Yiqi Fumai Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(7) In terms of reducing the Minnesota heart failure quality of life scale(MLHFQ) scores, the SUCRA ranking was Xinmailong Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenmai Injection + conventional western medicine > Shenfu Injection + conventional western medicine > conventional western medicine.(8)In terms of safety, the group of Chinese medicine injection combined with conventional western medicine had lower incidence of adverse reactions than the control group. The current evidence shows that combining Chinese medicine injection with conventional western medicine treatment can improve the therapeutic effect on acute heart failure, with high safety. Due to the limited number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Impact Analysis of Photoperiodic Disorder on the Eyestalk of Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) through High-Throughput Sequencing Technology.

Light is an indispensable factor in the healthy growth of living organisms, and alterations in the photoperiod can have consequences for body homeostasis. The eyestalk is a photosensitive organ that secretes various hormones to regulate the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). However, the photoperiod-dependent eyestalk patterns of gene expression that may underlie changes in body homeostasis are unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in eyestalk transcriptomic responses in E. sinensis under different photoperiod regimes on days 2, 4, and 6. The photoperiods tested were 12, 24, and 0 h light/day. In total, we obtained 110, 958, 348 clean datasets and detected 1809 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Genes involved in the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone superfamily and juvenile hormones were observed, which play important roles in gonadal development, growth, and immunity in E. sinensis and may also be involved in photoperiod adaptation. In addition, the MAPK signaling pathway was the only signaling pathway identified in the continuous light group but was absent in the continuous darkness group. We suggest that the MAPK pathway is highly responsive to light input during the subjective night and insensitive to light during the middle of the subjective day. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of photoperiod on the immune regulation of E. sinensis.

The BRAFV600E mutation maintains the aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancers requiring downregulation of primary cilia.

Although disorders of primary cilia (PCs) were first reported in human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) tissues in 1987, their precise role in PTC remains unclear. PCs sense the thyroid follicle colloid environment and act as a cell signaling hub. The present study investigated whether PCs are needed for BRAFV600E-driven PTC. We assessed whether BRAFV600E protein expression correlates with papillary histological architecture and clinicopathological features of PTC. We found that expression of ciliary intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) and PC formation were reduced in BRAFV600E-driven PTCs and that loss of cilia may be associated with lymph node metastasis. In PTC cells, the BRAFV600E mutation maintained the aggressiveness of PTC, which was partially related to loss of PCs. Our work confirms that BRAFV600E mutation-driven PC downregulation contributes to maintaining the aggressiveness of PTCs and that manipulating PC can potentially reduce the adverse incidence of PTC in a range of conditions.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict cardiac death after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Patients frequently die from cardiac causes after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Early detection of cardiac death risk in these patients is crucial to improve clinical decision-making and prognosis. Thus, we modeled the risk of cardiac death after irradiation for esophageal cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 37,599 esophageal cancer cases treated with radiotherapy in the SEER database between 2000 and 2018 was performed. The selected cases were randomly assigned to the model development group (n = 26,320) and model validation group (n = 11,279) at a ratio of 7:3. We identified the risk factors most commonly associated with cardiac death by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis (LASSO). The endpoints for model development and validation were 5- and 10-year survival rates. The net clinical benefit of the models was evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA) and concordance index (C-index). The performance of the models was further assessed by creating a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis was performed on the probability of death. Patients were classified according to death probability thresholds. Five- and ten-year survival rates for the two groups were shown using K-M curves. Results: The major risk factors for cardiac death were age, surgery, year of diagnosis, sequence of surgery and radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a number of tumors, which were used to create the nomogram. The C-indexes of the nomograms were 0.708 and 0.679 for the development and validation groups, respectively. DCA showed the good net clinical benefit of nomograms in predicting 5- and 10-year risk of cardiac death. The model exhibited moderate predictive power for 5- and 10-year cardiac mortality (AUC: 0.833 and 0.854, respectively), and for the development and validation cohorts (AUC: 0.76 and 0.813, respectively). Conclusions: Our nomogram may assist clinicians in making clinical decisions about patients undergoing radiotherapy for esophageal cancer based on early detection of cardiac death risk.

Effects of an Omaha System-based follow-up regimen on self-care and quality of life in gastrointestinal surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, a variety of new nursing methods and routine nursing have been widely used in the nursing of gastrointestinal surgery patients. AIM: To investigate the effect of follow-up protocol based on the Omaha System on self-care ability and quality of life of gastrointestinal surgery patients. METHODS: A total of 128 patients with inflammatory bowel disease in gastrointestinal surgery in gastrointestinal surgery from March 2019 to August 2021 were divided into A (n = 64) and B (n = 64) groups according to different nursing methods. The group A received a follow-up program Omaha System-based intervention of the group B, whereas the group B received the routine nursing intervention. Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, Crohn's and Colitis Knowledge Score (CCKNOW), inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ), Exercise of Self-nursing Agency Scale (ESCA), The Modified Mayo Endoscopic Score, and Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Following the intervention, the group A were facing score significantly increased than group B, while the avoidance and yield scores dropped below of group B (all P < 0.05); in group A, the level of health knowledge, personal care abilities, self-perception, self-awareness score and ESCA total score were more outstanding than group B (all P < 0.05); in group A the frequency of defecation, hematochezia, endoscopic performance, the total evaluation score by physicians and the disease activity were lower than group B (all P < 0.05); in the group A, the total scores of knowledge in general, diet, drug, and complication and CCKNOW were higher than group B (all P < 0.05); in group A, the necessity of taking medicine, score of medicine concern and over-all score of BMQ were more significant than group B (all P < 0.05); at last in the group A, the scores of systemic and intestinal symptoms, social and emotional function, and IBDQ in the group A were higher than group B (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For gastrointestinal surgery patients, the Omaha System-based sequel protocol can improve disease awareness and intervention compliance, help them to face the disease positively, reduce disease activity, and improve patients' self-nursing ability and quality of life.

Microbiome and transcriptome analyses reveal the influence of calcined dolomite application on Eriocheir sinensis in a rice-crab co-culture system.

Co-culture systems of rice and aquatic animals can contribute to the ecological intensification of agriculture by reducing nutrient loss and the need for N fertilizer application and by enhancing nutrient-use efficiency. However, the input of high-protein diets into paddy fields, to facilitate the growth of aquatic animals, has been found to increase N pollution and acidification of the soil. Although soil amendments have been widely used to ameliorate acidic soils, reduce N2O emissions, and improve agronomic production, the relationship between soil amendments and aquatic animal remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of calcined dolomite (hereafter referred to as dolomite) as an acidic soil amendment and Ca-Mg supplement in rice-crab co-culture using Eriocheir sinensis crabs (Chinese mitten crabs). High-throughput sequencing was used to examine crab bacterial community composition and crab hepatopancreas biology. Although the water pH was significantly increased in the dolomite group, the number, composition, and diversity of bacteria identified in crab gut microbiome did not vary significantly between the dolomite and control groups. In the dolomite group, the probiotic agents Candidatus Hepatoplasma and Lactobacillus were highly abundant in the crab gut, and immune- and retinol metabolism-related genes were significantly upregulated in the crab hepatopancreas. Overall, dolomite application increased crab health and water pH. Dolomite is a low-cost amendment, with better stability, compared to other soil amendments, thus making it ideal for sustainable and clean rice-aquatic animal co-culture.

Development and Validation of a Nomogram Model for the Risk of Cardiac Death in Patients Treated with Chemotherapy for Esophageal Cancer.

The primary cause of mortality in esophageal cancer survivors is cardiac death. Early identification of cardiac mortality risk during chemotherapy for esophageal cancer is crucial for improving the prognosis. We developed and validated a nomogram model to identify patients with high cardiac mortality risk after chemotherapy for esophageal cancer for early screening and clinical decision-making. We randomly allocated 37,994 patients with chemotherapy-treated esophageal cancer into two groups using a 7:3 split ratio: model training (n = 26,598) and validation (n = 11,396). 5- and 10-year survival rates were used as endpoints for model training and validation. Decision curve analysis and the consistency index (C-index) were used to evaluate the model's net clinical advantage. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and computing the area under the curve (AUC). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis based on the prognostic index was performed. Patient risk was stratified according to the death probability. Age, surgery, sex, and year were most closely related to cardiac death and used to plot the nomograms. The C-index for the training and validation datasets were 0.669 and 0.698, respectively, indicating the nomogram's net clinical advantage in predicting cardiac death risk at 5 and 10 years. The 5- and 10-year AUCs were 0.753 and 0.772 for the training dataset and 0.778 and 0.789 for the validation dataset, respectively. The accuracy of the model in predicting cardiac death risk was moderate. This nomogram can identify patients at risk of cardiac death after chemotherapy for esophageal cancer at an early stage.

Pharmacological action of Hedysarum polysaccharides: a review.

Hedysarum, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and food with a long history of clinical application, is used to improve health conditions and treat various diseases. Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS), flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids, are the primary components of Hedysarum. HPS is the most important natural active ingredient of Hedysarum, which has many pharmacological effects. Currently, HPS exhibits significant promise in drug development for various ailments such as tumors, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and fibrosis. This review paper discusses the extraction, separation, and content determination techniques of HPS, along with the investigation of its chemical constituents. More importantly, we reviewed the anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects of HPS, such as inhibition of inflammatory factors and NF-κB signaling pathway; antitumor activity through apoptosis induction in tumor cells and blocking tumor cell proliferation and metastasis; antioxidant effects; regulation of various cytokines and immune cells; regulation of blood sugar levels, such as in type I and type II diabetes and in diabetic complications; improvement in symptoms of Alzheimer disease; anti-aging and anti-fibrosis properties; and improvement in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. This review paper establishes the theoretical foundation for future studies on the structure, mechanism, and clinical use of HPS.

Comparison of the gut microbiota and untargeted gut tissue metabolome of Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) with different shell colors.

Introduction: The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a highly valued freshwater crustacean in China. While the natural shell color of E. sinensis is greenish brown (GH), we found a variety with a brownish-orange shell color (RH). Although RH is more expensive, it exhibits a lower molting frequency and growth rate compared with GH, which significantly reduces its yield and hinders large-scale farming. The growth and development of animals are closely related to their gut microbiota and gut tissue metabolic profiles. Methods: In this study, we compared the gut microbiome communities and metabolic profiles of juvenile RH and GH crabs using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. Results: Our findings indicated that the intestinal microbial composition and metabolic characteristics of E. sinensis differed significantly between RH and GH. At the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, the α-diversity of the gut microbiota did not differ significantly between RH and GH, while the ß-diversity of the RH gut microbiota was higher than that of the GH gut microbiota. At the species level, the richness of unclassified_c_Alphaproteobacteria was significantly higher in the GH group, while the RH group had a significantly higher richness of three low-abundance species, Flavobacteria bacterium BAL38, Paraburkholderia ferrariae, and uncultured_bacterium_g__Legionella. In the current study, 598 gut tissue metabolites were identified, and 159 metabolites were significantly different between GH and RH. The metabolite profile of RH was characteristic of a low level of most amino acids and lipid metabolites and a high level of several pigments compared with that of GH. These metabolites were enriched in 102 KEGG pathways. Four pathways, including (1) Central carbon metabolism in cancer, (2) protein digestion and absorption, (3) alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and (4) aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, were significantly enriched. The correlation analysis between metabolites and microbiotas indicated that most key differential metabolites were positively correlated with the abundance of Shewanella_sp_MR-7. Discussion: This research provided a greater understanding of the physiological conditions of E. sinensis varieties with different shell colors by comparing the gut microbiota and gut tissue metabolome.

Early diagnostic value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T for cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction: a meta-analysis.

Early diagnosis of cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is important as cancer therapy increases the risk of cardiac dysfunction. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is a highly specific marker of myocardial injury. However, its diagnostic value for CTRCD has not been systematically evaluated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether hs-cTnT could be used as an early diagnostic biomarker for CTRCD. We systematically surveyed PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for studies of hs-cTnT for the diagnosis of CTRCD before 1 April 2022. Patients of all ages and all cancer types who underwent echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction assessment and blood hs-cTnT and received anticancer therapy (including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other treatments) were included in this study, resulting in a total of eight studies with 1294 patients. The occurrence of CTRCD was associated with elevated hs-cTnT [sensitivity: 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-0.88; specificity: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.86; area under the curve (AUC): 0.83, 95% CI: 0.80-0.86]. We further performed subgroup analysis and found that the AUC of hs-cTnT elevation for the diagnosis of CTRCD increased from 0.83 to 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92) at 3-6 months, suggesting a higher early diagnostic value of hs-cTnT compared with echocardiography for CTRCD. In terms of clinical applicability, the Fagan plot showed pre-test and post-test probabilities of 51% and 9%, respectively, indicating that hs-cTnT testing can improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of CTRCD. However, it was not possible to determine the optimal cut-off value for early diagnosis of CTRCD with hs-cTnT. The Deeks funnel plot was largely symmetrical (P = 0.74); hence, publication bias was not observed. Hs-cTnT allowed early CTRCD diagnosis at 3-6 months. However, further high-quality research is needed to determine the optimal cut-off value for early CTRCD diagnosis with this biomarker.