Effectiveness of electroacupuncture on postoperative ileus prevention after abdominal surgery: A systematic review and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to verify the effectiveness of electroacupuncture on postoperative ileus prevention after abdominal surgery by meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA). METHODS: From inception to May 14, 2024, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched. TSA was used to determine an optimal sample size and control false-positive findings. The primary outcome was the time to first defecation (hours). RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included, with 1105 participants. Meta-analysis and TSA revealed firm evidence for benefits that electroacupuncture shorted the time to first defecation (mean difference [MD] -12.73 h, I2 = 22%, P < 0.01), the time to first flatus (MD -7.03 h, I2 = 25%, P < 0.01), the time to start of sips of water (MD -12.02 h, I2 = 0%, P < 0.01), and the time to start of liquid diet (MD -12.97 h, I2 = 0%, P < 0.01) compared with usual care. While compared with sham electroacupuncture, meta-analysis and TSA also confirmed that electroacupuncture shortened the time to first defecation (MD -10.81 h, I2 = 31%, P = 0.02) and the time to first flatus (MD -10.81 h, I2 = 0%, P < 0.01). However, TSA revealed that firm evidence for benefit or futility was not reached for the length of hospital stay and the rates of postoperative prolonged ileus. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture shortened the duration of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, and the adverse events related to electroacupuncture were minor. Further investigation of the effect of electroacupuncture on the risk of prolonged postoperative ileus is warranted in the future.

Identification of new hub- ferroptosis-related genes in Lupus Nephritis.

Background: Lupus Nephritis (LN) is the primary causation of kidney injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death. Therefore, understanding the crosstalk between LN and ferroptosis is still a significant challenge. Methods: We obtained the expression profile of LN kidney biopsy samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and utilised the R-project software to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, we conducted a functional correlation analysis. Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) crossover to select FRGs with LN. Afterwards, we used CIBERSORT to assess the infiltration of immune cells in both LN tissues and healthy control samples. Finally, we performed immunohistochemistry on LN human renal tissue. Results: 10619 DEGs screened from the LN biopsy tissue were identified. 22 hub-ferroptosis-related genes with LN (FRGs-LN) were screened out. The CIBERSORT findings revealed that there were significant statistical differences in immune cells between healthy control samples and LN tissues. Immunohistochemistry further demonstrated a significant difference in HRAS, TFRC, ATM, and SRC expression in renal tissue between normal and control groups. Conclusion: We developed a signature that allowed us to identify 22 new biomarkers associated with FRGs-LN. These findings suggest new insights into the pathology and therapeutic potential of LN ferroptosis inhibitors and iron chelators.

Global trends in research on miRNA-microbiome interaction from 2011 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis.

An increasing number of research suggests that the microRNA (miRNA)-microbiome interaction plays an essential role in host health and diseases. This bibliometric analysis aimed to identify the status of global scientific output, research hotspots, and frontiers regarding the study of miRNA-microbiome interaction over the past decade. We retrieved miRNA-microbiome-related studies published from 2011 to 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection database; the R package bibliometrix was used to analyze bibliometric indicators, and VOSviewer was used to visualize the field status, hotspots, and research trends of miRNA-microbiome interplay. In total, 590 articles and reviews were collected. A visual analysis of the results showed that significant increase in the number of publications over time. China produced the most papers, and the United States contributed the highest number of citations. Shanghai Jiaotong University and the University of California Davis were the most active institutions in the field. Most publications were published in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. Yu Aiming was the most prolific writer, as indicated by the h-index and m-index, and Liu Shirong was the most commonly co-cited author. A paper published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2017 had the highest number of citations. The keywords "expression" and "gut microbiota" appeared most frequently, and the top three groups of diseases that appeared among keywords were cancer (colorectal, et al.), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and neurological disorders (anxiety, Parkinson's disease, et al.). This bibliometric study revealed that most studies have focused on miRNAs (e.g., miR-21, miR-155, and miR-146a), gut microbes (e.g., Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, and Fusobacterium nucleatum), and gut bacteria metabolites (e.g., butyric acid), which have the potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. We found that therapeutic strategies targeting the miRNA-microbiome axis focus on miRNA drugs produced in vitro; however, some studies suggest that in vivo fermentation can greatly increase the stability and reduce the degradation of miRNA. Therefore, this method is worthy of further research.

Protective Effect of Fresh/Dry Dandelion Extracts on APAP-Overdose-Induced Acute Liver Injury.

OBJECITVIE: To compare the liver protective activity of fresh/dried dandelion extracts against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Totally 90 Kunming mice were randomly divided into 10 groups according to body weight (9 mice for each group). The mice in the normal control and model (vehicle control) groups were administered sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na, 0.5%) only. Administration groups were pretreated with high and low-dose dry dandelion extract (1,000 or 500 g fresh herb dried and then decocted into 120 mL solution, DDE-H and DDE-L); low-, medium- and high-dose dandelion juice (250, 500, 1,000 g/120 mL, DJ-L, DJ-M, and DJ-H); fresh dandelions evaporation juice water (120 mL, DEJW); dry dandelion extract dissolved by pure water (1 kg/120 mL, DDED-PW); dry dandelion extract dissolved by DEJW (120 g/120 mL, DDED-DEJW) by oral gavage for 7 days at the dosage of 0.5 mL solution/10 g body weight; after that, except normal control group, all other groups were intraperitonealy injected with 350 mg/kg APAP to induce liver injury. Twenty hours after APAP administration, serum and liver tissue were collected and serum alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were quantified by biochemical kits; tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-1 ß contents in liver tissue were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Histopathological changes in liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining; TUNEL Assay and Hoechst 33258 staining were applied for cell apoptosis evaluation. The expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), caspase-9, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bax and p-JNK were determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Pretreatment with fresh dandelion juice (FDJ, including DJ-L, DJ-M, DJ-H, DEJW and DDED-DEJW) significantly decreased the levels of serum ALT, AST, AKP, TNF-α and IL-1ß compared with vehicle control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, compared with the vehicle control group, FDJ decreased the levels of hepatic MDA and restored GSH levels and SOD activity in livers (P<0.05 or P<0.01). FDJ inhibited the overexpression of pro-inflammatory factors including cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the liver tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that FDJ pretreatment inhibited activation of apoptotic signaling pathways via decreasing of Bax, and caspase-9 and JNK protein expression, and inhibited activation of JNK pathway (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Liver histopathological observation provided further evidence that FDJ pretreatment significantly inhibited APAP-induced hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and congestion. CONCLUSIONS: FDJ pretreatment protects against APAP-induced hepatic injury by activating the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, and the effect of fresh dandelion extracts was superior to dried dandelion extracts in APAP hepatotoxicity model mice.

[Preparation of nanoemulsion spray from Moslae Herba volatile oil and its antibacterial activity].

Moslae Herba is a commonly used aromatic Chinese medicinal with volatile oil as the main effective component and exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral effects. However, the irritation and instability of Moslae Herba volatile oil necessitate the preparation into a specific dosage form. In this study, the steam distillation method was employed to extract the Moslae Herba volatile oil. The content of thymol and carvacrol in Moslae Herba volatile oil was determined by HPLC as(0.111 9±0.001 0) and(0.235 4±0.004 7) mg·mL~(-1), respectively. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams and surfactants compounding were applied in the selection of the optimal excipients(surfactant and cosurfactant). On this basis, a nanoemulsion was prepared from the Moslae Herba volatile oil and then loaded into pressure vessels to get sprays, whose stability and antibacterial activity were evaluated afterward. With clarity, viscosity, smell and body feeling as comprehensive indexes, the optimal formulation of the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was determined as follows: Moslae Herba volatile oil∶peppermint oil∶cremophor EL∶absolute ethanol∶distilled water 7.78∶1.58∶19.26∶6.15∶65.23. The as-prepared nanoemulsion was a light yellow transparent liquid, with Tyndall effect shown under the irradiation of parallel light. It has the pH of 5.50, conductivity of 125.9 µS·cm~(-1), average particle size of 15.45 nm, polydispersity index(PDI) of 0.156, and Zeta potential of-17.9 mV. Under a transmission electron microscope, the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was presented as regular spheres without adhesion and agglomeration. Stability test revealed that the Moslae Herba volatile oil nanoemulsion was stable at 4-55 ℃, which was free from demulsification and stratification within 30 days. After the centrifugation at 12 000 r·min~(-1) for 30 min, there was no stratification either. The nanoemulsion had good inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and resistant S. aureus strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.39, 3.12 and 1.56 mg·mL~(-1), respectively. The above results demonstrated that the nanoemulsion was prepared feasibly and showed stable physical and chemical properties and good antibacterial effects. This study provides a practicable technical solution for the development of anti-epidemic and anti-infection products from Moslae Herba volatile oil.

Aneurysmal Fibrous Histiocytoma: Clinicopathology Analysis of 30 Cases of a Rare Variant of Cutaneous Fibrohistiocytoma.

Aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma is often clinically misdiagnosed. In this study, we put forward an insight on how to help diagnose this disease clinically. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients diagnosed with aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma from 2007 to 2017 in the Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, China, and all clinical data were collected from the hospital archives. From a total of 418 patients diagnosed with cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma, only 30 patients were confirmed to have aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma out of which only 2 patients were clinically diagnosed with aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma. The remaining 28 patients were diagnosed with various types of vascular tumors although pathology classified them as having aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma. Among the 30 patients, 9 were male and 21 were female. There were following age groups: 13-19 (mean 16, n=4), 20-29 (mean 26.25, n=8), 30-39 (mean 33, n=7), 40-49 (mean 44, n=4), 50-59 (mean 56.75, n=4), 60 and above (mean 61, n=3). Tumors were present on the head, neck, back, waist, hips and upper and lower extremities. After complete excision, there was no recurrence and no complications. Histologically, lesions showed the typical pseudoangiomatoid spaces without endothelial lining and infiltration of fibrohistiocytes in hemosiderotic pigmentation. It was suggested that although the prognosis of aneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma is good, accurate diagnosis is paramount to avoid clinical misdiagnosis and subsequent complications.

Silencing endothelin-3 expression attenuates the malignant behaviors of human melanoma cells by regulating SPARC levels.

Endothelin-3 (ET-3) is aberrantly expressed in both metastatic melanoma tissues and cultured melanoma cells. Our previous work showed that ET-3 could promote survival of metastatic melanoma cells via its altered expression. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for these gene-induced phenotypes in melanoma cells. An ET-3 gene sequence-specific shRNA vector pLVTHM-ET3-RNAi was constructed and transfected into human malignant melanoma cells A375 and MMRU, and the resultant molecular events and cellular changes were examined. As compared with the empty-vector group, cell proliferation was slowed down, and the growth inhibition rates were 38.9% in A375 cells and 38.4% in MMRU cells after transfection. In addition, cell invasion capability was also inhibited, with a reduction of 62.2% in A375 cells and 54.3% in MMRU cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells was found to increase. Meanwhile, in both cell lines, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) levels were down-regulated together with inhibition of its upstream signaling molecule, NF-κB. Thus, the current results suggested that down-regulated expression of ET3 attenuates the malignant behaviors of human melanoma cells partially by decreasing the expression of SPARC and NF-κB.

[Characteristics of the patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated with lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the understanding of diagnosis and treatment of patients with primary The data of clinical features, laboratory Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) complicated with lymphoma. METHODS: findings, therapeutic response and follow-up of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome complicated with lymphoma from January 2006 to January 2011 in our single center were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Totally twelve inpatients with pSS complicated with lymphoma were diagnosed, which accounted for 1.29% of newly-diagnosed lymphoma inpatients during the same period. The characteristic immunologic changes were hyperimmunoglobulinemia, hypocomplementemia and decrease of CD4 T cell number. In our study, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was the most common type, and the main pathological subtype was diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Most of the patients were in advanced stages, Ann Arbor stage IIl-IV, at diagnosis. Extranodal involvement was common, most frequently in the livers and the lungs. All of the patients received combination chemotherapy. Most of the NHL patients received CHOP/R-CHOP-like regimens, and the Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patient received AVD regimen. The median follow-up time was 27 months (range 1-56 months). In terms of median survival time and overall survival there were no statistical significant differences between both low C3 and low C4 group and control group (P > 0.05). In terms of median survival time and overall survival there were no statistical significant differences between rituximab treatment group and control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with pSS complicated with lymphoma were not uncommon clinically. Hypocomplementemia could not be identified as a risk factor for the prognosis of pSS complicated with lymphoma in our study. Although expected prognosis of these patients was unfavorable, we found that treatment with rituximab combination chemotherapy could not improve the therapeutic effects and survival of patients with pSS complicated with lymphoma.

[Effect of alendronate sodium on torque-out testing on implant-bone interfaces in estrogen-deficient rabbits with alendronate systemic administration].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of systemic application of Alendronate sodium, a bone resorption inhibitor, on the osseointegration of implant-bone interface in estrogen-deficient rabbits through mechanical assessment. METHODS: 27 five-month-old Japanese white female rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (9 rabbits each group). An ovariectomy group (OVX), an ovariectomy and Alendronate sodium group (ALN) and a shamed-operated group (S). 12 weeks after operation, implants were installed into bilateral distal femurs and proximal tibias in each group. Alendronate sodium was administrated by intraperitoneal injection in ALN group; meanwhile equivalent of normal saline was administrated by intraperitoneal injection in OVX group and S group. Bone mineral density was measured right after the implant operation and also in 4, 8, 12 weeks. Torque-out values were measured in 4, 8, 12 weeks after animal sacrifice. RESULTS: Bone mineral density of tibias in ALN group was closed to S group and was significantly different from OVX group (P < 0.05) after 8 weeks. While after 12 weeks, the bone mineral density of tibias and femurs in ALN group was both closed to S group and was significantly different from OVX group (P < 0.05). The torque-out values of tibias in ALN group were closed to S group and were significantly different from OVX group (P < 0.05) after 8 weeks. After 12 weeks, the torque-out values of tibias and femurs in ALN group were both closed to S group and were significantly different from OVX group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Systemic application of Alendronate sodium in osteoporosis rabbits can improve the bone-implant osseointegration significantly.

Initial study on facilitating wound healing after tooth extraction by using microbial fiber membrane-flagyl.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of microbial fiber membrane-Flagyl (MF-FLA) on facilitating hemostasis and wound healing and its anti-inflammatory ability after tooth extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the animal experiment, 60 healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. Each group included 5 subgroups corresponding to different experimental periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks) and each subgroup had 6 rabbits. After the different experimental periods, the rabbits were killed, and the mandible was removed for histologic examination and analysis. For the human trial, 80 patients (32 males and 48 females; age range, 13 to 32 years), who were undergoing orthodontic treatment and who had undergone bilateral extraction of teeth were included. For every patient, the left tooth socket was treated with biting gauze for 30 to 60 minutes as the control group. The right fossa was covered with MF-FLA as the treatment group. The wound was inspected visually, its depth was measured, and radiographs were taken at the different experimental periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks) to evaluate the wound healing effect. RESULTS: In the animal experiment, the results of the histologic examination indicated MF-FLA could facilitate the growth of fibroblasts and osteoblasts and inhibit inflammatory cells. In the human trial, the clinical observation indicated that the MF-FLA treatment showed better hemostatic ability than the biting gauze. After 4 weeks, the wound depth of the control and treatment groups was 3.08 ± 0.05 mm and 1.26 ± 1.06 mm (P < .01), respectively. The radiographs showed that the treatment group was superior to control group in the degree and rate of wound healing. CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that the MF-FLA can promote early wound healing and reduce the incidence of postextraction complications because of its biocompatibility, isolating and anti-inflammatory ability, and supporting the formation of blood clot in the tooth socket.

[Construction and transfection of eucaryotic expression recombinant vector containing truncated region of UL83 gene of human cytomegalovirus and it's sheltered effect as DNA vaccine].

To construct eucaryotic expression recombinant vector containing vivo truncated region of UL83 gene of human cytomegalovirus, realize its steady expression in Hep-2 cell, and study sheltered effect of the eucaryotic expression recombinant vector as DNA vaccine. A vivo truncated UL83 gene fragment encoding for truncated HCMV pp65 was obtained by PCR from human cytomegalovirus AD169 stock genome. By gene recombinant ways, the truncated UL83 gene fragment was cloned into eucaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C1 with reported gene coding GFP to construct recombinant vector pEGFP-C1-UL83. The recombinant vector pEGFP-C1-UL83 was tested by different methods including PCR, restriction digestion and gene sequencing. Test results showed the recombinant vector was constructed successfully. After pEGFP-C1-UL83 was transfected into Hep-2 cell by lipofectin mediation, expression of GFP and truncated pp65 fusion protein in Hep-2 cell was observed at different time points by fluorescence microscope. Results showed that quantity of fusion protein expression was the highest at 36h point. Then, Hep-2 cell was cultured selectively by RPMI-1640 containing G418 (200 microg/mL) to obtain a new cell stock of expressing truncated UL83 Gene fragment steadily. RT-PCR and Western blot results showed the truncated fragment of UL83 gene could be expressed steadily in Hep-2 cell. The result showed a new cell stock of expressing Tpp65 was established. This cell stock could be useful in some HCMV research fields, for example, it could be a tool in study of pp65 and HCMV infection, and it could provide a platform for the research into the therapy of HCMV infection. Immune sheltered effect of pEGFP-C1-UL83 as DNA vaccine was studied in vivo of HCMV congenital infection mouse model. The mouse model was immunized solely by pEGFP-C1-UL83, and was immunized jointly by pEGFP-C1-UL83 and its expression product. When the mouse was pregnant and brought to bed, differential antibody of anti-HCMV pp65 was tested by indirect ELISA in mother mouse, the infectious virus was separated with the method of virus separation, and pp65 antigen was checked up by indirect immunofluorescence staining in fetal mouse. Results showed differential antibody of anti-HCMV pp65 was produced in mouse model. Tilter of the antibody was from 1:2.51 to 1:50.79. Results of virus separation and pp65 checkup of fetal mouse brain tissue were negative. So the conclusion can be reached that pEGFP-C1-UL83 as DNA vaccine in vivo has sheltered effect which can prevent HCMV vertical transmission from mother mouse to her fetus.

[Preventive and therapeutic effect of genetic vaccine based on recombinant alpha virus against mouse mastocytoma P815].

AIM: To explore the immunological effect of genetic vaccine based on alpha-virus and to seek out better forms of gene vaccines. METHODS: Expression plasmid P1A/pSMART2a and packaging plasmid helper were cotransfected into mammalian 293 cells by calcium phosphate precipitation method and high level of recombinant alpha-virus P1A/SFV was prepared. Following identification of rSFV and its expression, BALB/c mice were inoculated with rSFV, and the production of antigen-specific antibody and the cytotoxic effect of CTLs were determined. In the preventive and therapeutic experiments, the percents of tumor-free and of survival mice immunized with rSFV were observed. RESULTS: The recombinant SFV could express correctly in cultured cells. After being inoculated into the mice, rSFV could prime stronger CTL response than that in control mice. When the ratio of E/T cells was 100:1, the (51)Cr release rate reached 75%. No antibody could be detected in mice from all groups. The immunological effect of P1A/SFV among all groups was the best in both preventive and therapeutic experiment within experimental deadline. On 60th day in preventive experiment, the percent of tumor-free animal in P1A/SFV group reached 60%, whereas that was only 20% in P1A/pCI-neogroup. On 60th day in therapeutic experiment, survival rate of mice in P1A/SFV group reached 50%, but only 10% mice could survive in all control groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with common gene vaccines, the genetic vaccine based on recombinant SFV has the best immunological effect, which provides some new strategies for clinical genetic therapy of tumors.

[Study on the protective effect of recombinant human N-terminal lipopolysaccharide binding protein in mice challenged with LPS].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of recombinant human N-terminal lipopolysaccharide binding protein in mice challenged with LPS. METHODS: Seventy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. LPS challenge (Injection of LPS into abdominal cavity, n = 21); tLBP protection (Injection of LPS and tLBP into abdominal cavity, n = 21) and control (Injection of normal saline into abdominal cavity, n = 8) groups. The blood samples and tissue samples of the liver and lungs were harvested on 15 and 30 minutes and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after the injection. The serum contents of ALT and TNF-alpha were determined by biochemical velocity analysis and RIA method, respectively. The pathomorphological changes in the liver and pulmonary tissue were examined under light microscope (LM). The mortality rate of ten mice each was observed within 24 hours after the injection of tLBP + 400 ng LPS or 400ng LPS. RESULTS: The ALT content of tLBP group reached the peak level at 12 post-injection hour (PIH) (41.00 +/- 4.58), but it was significantly lower than that in LPS group in which it peaked at 6PIH (99.50 +/- 62.63) (P < 0.01). The TNF-alpha content in tLBP and LPS group was lower than that in LPS group, and both reached the peak level at 3 PIH (35.96 +/- 7.33). Compared with those in LPS, injury to hepatocytes in tLBP group was obviously milder without scattered necrosis. The pulmonary congestion in tLBP group was abated, and the inflammatory exudation in the alveoli was evidently less than that in LPS group. There were 9 out of 10 mice died in the LPS challenge group, while only 3 out of 10 mice died during 24 hours after LPS injection in tLBP protection group. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results indicated that recombinant human tLBP might possess biological activity with a potential protection effect in LPS challenged mice.