Effect of electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff injuries.

BACKGROUND: The rotator cuff is located below the acromion and deltoid muscles and comprises multiple tendons that wrap around the humeral head, maintaining shoulder joint stability. AIM: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff injuries. METHODS: We selected 97 patients with rotator cuff injuries treated in the People's Hospital of Yuhuan from February 2020 to May 2023. Patients were grouped using the envelope method. RESULTS: After treatment, the study group's treatment effective rate was 94.90% (46/49 patients), significantly higher than that in the control group (79.17%, 38/48 cases; P < 0.05). Before treatment, there was no difference in Constant Murley Score (CMS) scores, shoulder mobility, or 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scale scores (P > 0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the CMS scores (including pain, daily living ability, shoulder mobility, and muscle strength), all aspects of shoulder mobility (forward flexion, posterior extension, external rotation, internal rotation), and SF-36 scale scores (including physiological, psychological, emotional, physical, vitality, and health status) were higher in both groups after treatment and significantly higher in the study group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the occurrence of complications between the two treatment groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques has a good treatment effect on patients with rotator cuff injuries, helps accelerate the recovery of shoulder function, improves the quality of life, and is highly safe.

A bibliometric analysis of top-cited journal articles in interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To identify and compare the top-cited articles from all indexed journals and urology-nephrology and obstetrics-gynecology journals in the Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science's Citation Index Expanded on interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). METHODS: Cross-sectional bibliometric analysis of top-cited articles in Web of ScienceTM (WoS) from 1900-2022. The articles were retrieved by the MeSH terms from NCBI. The characteristics of top 100 cited articles from all indexed journals and specialized journals were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 5547 articles were collected from 1115 journals, in which 3225 articles were from 141 urological and gynecological specialized journals. The USA and the UK were the top two origins for articles on interstitial cystitis. The articles from non-specialized journals were more frequently cited than those from specialized journals (median [IQR], 221.5 [189.8-313.5] vs 131.0 [126.0-142.8], P < 0.0001). The citation number per year showed similar results (median [IQR], 239.9 [194.5-311.8] vs 132.0 [126.7-140.5], P < 0.0001). There were many more open-access articles in non-specialized than specialized journals (P = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS: The current study initially queried the articles published on WoS on IC/BPS by the number of citations to identify the differences between two journal categories. The characteristics and trends of research were analyzed by citations to provide insights into the current research status and future direction.

Chetocochliodins A-I, Epipoly(thiodioxopiperazines) from Chaetomium cochliodes.

Nine new epipoly(thiodioxopiperazine) (ETP) analogues, chetocochliodins A-I (1-9), along with two known ones, chetoseminudins E and C (10 and 11), were purified from the fungus Chaetomium cochliodes. The planar structures and absolute configurations of these new compounds were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, CD spectra, and chemical reactions. Shielding effects from the indole on the 3-SCH3/3-OCH3/3-OCH2- groups facilitated the determination of relative configuration of the analogues. Compound 9 was cytotoxic, suggesting the importance of the sulfide bridge for the diketopiperazine bioactivities.

Bioactive Resorcylic Acid Lactones with Different Ring Systems from Desert Plant Chaetosphaeronema hispidulum. [corrected].

Five new resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) hispidulactones A-E (1, 4, 5, 8, and 9), a new natural product (2), and four known ones (3, 6, 7, and 10) with different ring systems were isolated from the desert plant Chaetosphaeronema hispidulum. [corrected]. The new compounds were characterized by NMR data, CD spectra, and X-ray experiment. The new natural product (2) displayed strongly biological effects on the seedlings growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Echinochloa crusgalli with a dose-dependent relationship. Compounds 1, 2, and 6 were also tested cytotoxic activities against three cancer cell lines HCT116, Hela, and MCF7 and only did the new natural product (2) display biological activities with IC50 values at 54.86 ± 1.52, 4. 90 ± 0.02, and 20.04 ± 4.00 µM, respectively, whereas the IC50 values of the positive control cis-platinum were 11.36 ± 0.42, 3.54 ± 0.12, and 14.32 ± 1.01 µM, respectively.

Highly Photosensitive Poly-Sulfur-Bridged Chetomin Analogues from Chaetomium cochliodes.

The highly photosensitive characteristic of poly-sulfide chetomins was first unveiled, and four new unstable analogues, chetomins A-D (1-4), with significant cytotoxicity were successfully purified in darkness. The visible-light-induced desulfurization and intermolecular disproportionation were revealed to initiate the interconversion of chetomin analogues, which explained the long-recognized puzzle of rarity and instability of chetomin analogues.

Spiciferone analogs from an endophytic fungus Phoma betae collected from desert plants in West China.

Endophytic fungi from desert, arid, and grassland areas are an ecologically important but unique group with poor chemical investigation. During our ongoing study to mine bioactive secondary metabolites from unique fungal environments, a new shunt product spiciferone F (1) including two new analogs spiciferones G (2) and H (3) together with four known ones spiciferone A (4), spiciferol A (5), 6, and 7 were isolated from endophytic fungus Phoma betae inhabiting in plant Kalidium foliatum (Pall.) Moq from Ningxia Province of West China. The planar, relative, and absolute configurations of these new compounds were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and electronic circular dichroism experiments. According to the shunt products, intermediates and analogs isolated from this endophytic fungus, the possible biosynthetic pathway of spiciferones was reconstructed. Compounds 1-7 were evaluated cytotoxic activities against three cancer cell lines HCT 116, HeLa, and MCF7, and only did 1 display strong biological effect against MCF7 with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value at 7.73 ± 0.11 µM compared with the cis-platinum (14.32 ± 1.01 µM).

Trichoderpyrone, a Unique Polyketide Hybrid with a Cyclopentenone-Pyrone Skeleton from the Plant Endophytic Fungus Trichoderma gamsii.

Trichoderpyrone (1), a unique polyketide with a cyclopentenone-pyrone hybrid skeleton, was isolated from the plant endophytic fungus Trichoderma gamsii. The structure of 1 was determined by detailed analysis of NMR data together with comparison of chemical shift values of similar fragments. The relative and absolute configurations were established by NOESY correlations and CD experiment. Trichoderpyrone (1) displayed weak cytotoxic activities against A549, HepG2, and HeLa cancer cell lines. 1 might originate from a hybrid biosynthetic pathway through two nonreduced (NR) polyketide megasynthetases.

Two new unsaturated fatty acids from the whole plant of Pothos chinensis.

Two new unsaturated fatty acids, (Z)-octadec-13-en-11-ynoic acid (1) and (Z)-octadec-16-en-12,14-diynoic acid (2), along with six known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Pothos chinensis. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR data. Compound 2 showed moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

[Chemical investigation of triterpenoids from Dichrocephala benthamii].

The triterpenoids of Dichrocephala benthamii were investigated by means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Nine triterpenoids were isolated from D. benthamii. By analysis of the EI-MS, NMR spectra and comparison to the data reported in literatures, the structures of these compounds were determined as ß-amyrin formiate (1), ß-amyrin acetate (2), ß-amyrenol (3), ß-amyrone (4), 3ß-hydroxy-olean-11, 13 (18)-diene (5) , Δ12-oleanene (6) , friedelin (7), dammaradienyl acetate (8), epi-friedeband (9), respectively. Compounds 1-8 were isolated for the first time form this genus, compound 9 was isolated for the first time from this plant, whereas ß-amyrin formiate (1) was a new natural product.

A new ellagic acid derivative from Polygonum runcinatum.

A new ellagic acid derivative, 3,3'-dimethylellagic acid-4'-O-(6″-galloyl)-ß-D-glucoside, named runcinatside (5), together with four known compounds 3,3'-dimethylellagic acid (1), 3,3',4'-trimethylellagic acid (2), 3,3'-dimethylellagic acid-4'-O-ß-D-glucoside (3) and 3-methylellagic acid-4'-O-α-L-rhamno-pyranoside (4), was isolated from the roots of Polygonum runcinatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Var. sinense Hemsl and the structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and comparison with previously reported data. All compounds showed antioxidant activities in vitro and compound 5 possessed the highest activity.

A new antioxidant flavone glycoside from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.

A new flavone glycoside, wogonin 7-O-ß-D-ethylglucuronide (1), together with a new natural flavone glycoside baicalein 7-O-ß-D-ethylglucuronide (2) and four known analogues, wogonoside (3), wogonin (4), oroxylin A 7-O-ß-D-methylglucuronide (5) and oroxylin A (6), was isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. The structure elucidation of the new compound was primarily based on HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR analyses. Compounds 1 and 3 inhibited FeSO4-Cys-induced liver homogenate lipid peroxidation with IC50 at 18.2 µM and 24.9 µM, respectively, and exhibited strong cytoprotective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells at low concentrations of 10.0 µM and 3.0 µM.

Flavonoids and other constituents from Aletris spicata and their chemotaxonomic significance.

Eleven compounds, including four flavonoids [(2R,3R)-2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (1), 5-hydroxy-7,8,4'-trimethoxy-flavone (2), amentoflavone (10) and apigenin (11)], two penylpropanoids [sinapaldehyde (3) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-cinnamic aldehyde (4)], three phenolic acids [4-hydroxyl-3,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde (5), 4-hydroxyacetophen-one (6) and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7)], one furan derivative [5-hydroxymethyl furfural (8)] and one steroid saponin [ß-sitosterol-3-O-ß-d-glucoside (9)], were isolated and identified from Aletris spicata. Among them, compounds 1-7, 9 and 10 were reported from the genus Aletris for the first time. Furthermore, seven of them (1-6, 10) were obtained from the family Liliaceae for the first time. Chemotaxonomy of the isolated compounds is discussed briefly.

A new taxane diterpenoid from Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

Taxadiene (3), a new taxane diterpenoid with an unusual hydroxy substituting at C-17, and six known compounds including two taxane diterpenoids (1 and 2) and four flavonoids (4-7) were isolated from the whole seedling of the Taxus chinensis var. mairei. Among them, compound 7 was isolated from T. chinensis var. mairei for the first time. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and by comparison with reported literature data.

Irradiance formations of on-axis Lambertian pointlike sources in polygonal total-internal-reflection straight light pipes.

Different geometric shapes of light pipes cause different irradiance distributions. We analytically explore the irradiance distributions of on-axis Lambertian pointlike sources in polygonal total-internal-reflection (TIR) straight light pipes. It is analytically shown that the irradiance of pentagonal light pipes concentrates on the center of the exit plane. Numerical verifications are also provided, and experimental explorations with different shapes of acrylic light pipes are carried out for comparison. We also analyze the influence of light-pipe length on distribution uniformity and deduce the smallest uniform-mixing length/circumradius ratios for polygonal light pipes.

[Tissue culture of bovine lens as an in vitro model for posterior capsule opacification and the effects of pranoprofen on the cell confluence].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an in vitro model of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) by culturing the posterior capsule of bovine lens, to observe the proliferation and differentiation of lens epithelial cells and to study the influence of serum and pranoprofen eyedrops on cell confluence of this model. METHODS: The bovine lens posterior capsule was spread on the surface of a 25 ml culture flask with cell layer upward. DMEM with 0%, 10% and 20% fetal calf serum was used as culture medium. The cell coverage and confluence time on the posterior capsule were observed by inverted microscope and the cell morphology was observed by Giemsa staining and scanning electron-microscope. Pranoprofen was added to the culture medium at a concentration similar to the aqueous humor concentration (0.23 mg/L), which was presented at 4 hours after the instillation of pranoprofen eyedrops. The difference of confluence time between the treated group and the control group was compared. RESULTS: The lens epithelial cells migrated and proliferated rapidly on the posterior capsule from the equatorial region to the center. The cell coverage was increased and the confluence time was shortened with the increase of serum concentration (P < 0.05). The PCO and wrinkles were presented. Pranoprofen at 0.23 mg/L could inhibit the confluence of lens epithelial cells (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro model for PCO was an useful method to study the mechanism of PCO formation. Pranoprofen can inhibit the proliferation of lens epithelial cells and is a safe and efficient drug for preventing the occurrence of PCO and can be used as a routine medication after the cataract operation.