Ice age unfrozen: severe effect of the last interglacial, not glacial, climate change on East Asian avifauna.

BACKGROUND: The glacial-interglacial cycles in the Pleistocene caused repeated range expansion and contraction of species in several regions in the world. However, it remains uncertain whether such climate oscillations had similar impact on East Asian biota, despite its widely recognized importance in global biodiversity. Here we use both molecular and ecological niche profiles on 11 East Asian avian species with various elevational ranges to reveal their response to the late Pleistocene climate changes. RESULTS: The ecological niche models (ENM) consistently showed that these avian species might substantially contract their ranges to the south during the Last Interglacial period (LIG) and expanded their northern range margins through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), leading to the LGM ranges observed for all 11 species. Consistently, coalescent simulations based on 25-30 nuclear genes retrieved signatures of significant population growth through the last glacial period across all species studied. Climate statistics suggested that high climatic variability during the LIG and a relatively mild climate at the LGM potentially explained the historical population dynamics of these birds. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study based on multiple species and both lines of ecological niche profiles and genetic data to characterize the unique response of East Asian biota to late Pleistocene climate. The present study highlights regional differences in the evolutionary consequence of climate change during the last glacial cycle and implies that global warming might pose a great risk to species in this region given potentially higher climatic variation in the future analogous to that during the LIG.

Metabolomics analysis of rice fermented by medicinal fungi providing insights into the preparation of functional food.

Rice, a primary staple food, may be improved in value via fermentation. Here, ten medicinal basidiomycetous fungi were separately applied for rice fermentation. After preliminary screening, Ganoderma boninense, Phylloporia pulla, Sanghuangporus sanghuang and Sanghuangporus weigelae were selected for further LC-MS based determination of the changes in metabolic profile after their fermentation with rice, and a total of 261, 296, 312, and 355 differential compounds were identified, respectively. Most of these compounds were up-regulated and involved in the metabolic pathways of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites. Sanghuangporus weigelae endowed the rice with the highest nutritional and bioactive values. The metabolic network of the identified differential compounds in rice fermented by S. weigelae illustrated their close relationships. In summary, this study provides insights into the preparation and application of potential functional food via the fermentation of rice with medicinal fungi.

[Temporal-spatial and non-stationarity characteristics of extreme precipitation in the Poyang Lake Basin, China]. / 鄱阳湖流域极端降水时空分布和非平稳性特征.

Extreme weather/climate events increased significantly because of global warming. Based on daily records from 16 meteorological stations in the Poyang Lake Basin (PLB) from 1959 to 2019, we comprehensively investigated the temporal-spatial and non-stationarity characteristics of extreme precipitation from three dimensions (intensity, frequency and duration) using PreWhite-ning Mann-Kendall (PWMK), extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition method (ESMD) and the generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS). The results showed that the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation increased significantly in the PLB, while the duration of extreme precipitation decreased from 1959 to 2019. The extreme precipitation had features of high intensity, high frequency, and short duration in the PLB. There was a clear distinction between flood season and non-flood season for extreme precipitation. Extreme precipitation was concentrated in the northern and central PLB during the flood season and in the central PLB during the non-flood season. The increasing trend of extreme precipitation amount was 2.10 mm·a-1 in the Xinjiang basin, which had the largest increment over the PLB. In the flood season, the extreme precipitation had longer duration but weaker intensity and smaller range, contrasting with the status during the non-flood season. The intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation showed stationarity characteristics in the PLB. However, the duration of extreme precipitation showed non-stationarity characteristics. With the continuous increase of extreme precipitation amount, the risk of related disasters would increase.

Bovine lactoferrin and Lentinus edodes mycelia polysaccharide complex: The formation and the activity to protect islet ß cells.

The formation of complexes may be used for the development of delivery systems in foods field. The aim of this study was to explore the interaction mechanism between Lentinus edodes mycelia polysaccharide (LMP) and bovine lactoferrin (BLF), and the activity of LMP-BLF complex to inhibit oxidative stress in islet ß cells. The interaction mechanisms of LMP with BLF were investigated with multi-spectroscopic techniques. The multi-spectroscopic analysis result showed that LMP bound with BLF by van der Waals force and hydrogen bond. The quenching mechanism of BLF with LMP was static quenching. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, apoptosis and the related signaling pathways were detected with thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 2,7-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining, Hoechst 33258 staining and Western blot methods respectively. The complex alleviated apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and inhibited oxidative stress via MAPK pathways in MIN6 cells. In addition, the complex was able to promote glucose uptake in HepG2 cells. These results will broaden our understanding of LMP-BLF complexes and the applications of polysaccharide-protein complexes in the foods field.

[Effects of moxibustion at 45 ℃ on blood lipoids and serum level of ox-LDL and NO in rats with hyperlipidemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures (38 ℃ and 45 ℃) on blood lipoids and serum level of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with hyperlipidemia, and to explore the correlation between regulating blood fat and anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium of moxibustion at 45 ℃. METHODS: According to random number table, 60 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and a moxibustion at 45 ℃ group, 15 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group received no treatment; the rats in the remaining three groups were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare rat models of hyperlipidemia. After successful modeling, the rats in the model group received no treatment; the rats in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group and moxibustion at 45 ℃ group were treated with moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), and the temperature was controlled at (38±1) ℃ and (45±1) ℃, respectively. The moxibustion was given for 10 min at each acupoint, once every two days, and totally 4-week treatment was given. After treatment, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by using biochemical colorimetric method; the levels of ox-LDL and NO were measured by using ELISA method. RESULTS: ① Compared with the normal group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (all P<0.01); compared with the model group and moxibustion at 38 ℃ group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased in the moxibustion at 45 ℃ group (P<0.01，P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were insignificantly decreased in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group (all P>0.05). ② Compared with the normal group, the level of ox-LDL was increased but that of NO was decreased in the model group (both P<0.01); compared with the model group and moxibustion at 38 ℃ group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 45 ℃ group (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the model group, the level of ox-LDL was decreased but that of NO was increased in the moxibustion at 38 ℃ group (both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion at 45 ℃ has regulating effects on blood lipid in rats with hyperlipidemia, which can regulate blood lipid through various ways, such as anti-oxidative stress and protection of vascular endothelium.

[Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with motor imagery therapy on hemiplegic cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with motor imagery therapy on motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction. METHODS: Ninety patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group, an EA group and a comprehensive group, 30 patients in each one. The patients in the rehabilitation group were treated with regular care, medication and rehabilitation training; based on the rehabilitation group, the patients in the EA group were treated mainly with electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Dingnieqianxiexian (MS 6), Dingniehouxiexian (MS 7), Jianyu (LI 15), Waiguan (TE 5), Fengshi (GB 31) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); with the arrival of qi. EA device was connected for 30 min. The patients in the comprehensive group were treated with EA as the EA group and motor imagery therapy, 20 min per treatment. The treatment was given once a day, five treatments per week, and totally 4-week treatment was performed. The Barthel index and Brunnstrom score before and after treatment were observed in the three groups. RESULTS: Three cases did not finish the trial and finally 87 cases were included into analysis, including 30 cases in the rehabilitation group, 29 cases in the EA group and 28 cases in the comprehensive group. Compared before treatment, the Barthel index and Brunnstrom score were significantly improved after treatment in the three groups (all P<0.01); after treatment, the Barthel index in the EA group and comprehensive group was significantly higher than that in the rehabilitation group (both P<0.01); the lower extremity score of Brunnstrom score in the comprehensive group was better than those in the EA group and rehabilitation group (both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA combined with motor imagery therapy and rehabilitation can significantly improve the motor function and activity of daily living in patients with hemiplegic cerebral infarction, which is superior to rehabilitation alone or EA alone.

Effects and mechanism of miR-214 on hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of miR-214 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its inhibitory mechanisms in depressing the signaling pathway of ß-catenin, this study was conducted. METHODS: We ectopically expressed miR-214 in HepG2 cells to obtain cell lines Lv-miR-214-HepG2 and their control Lv-control-HepG2. Differences between the two cell lines were compared in cell growth, proliferation, colony forming ability and cell cycles. RT-PCR method was applied for the quantification of ß-catenin mRNA expression. Western-blot method was applied for the determination of the protein level of ß-catenin and their downstream targets (ie. Cyclin D1, c-Myc and TCF-1). The effect of miR-214 on cells was further explored through RNA interference and restoring miR-214 expression. RESULTS: In comparison with negative (Lv-control-HepG2) and blank (HepG2) control, a significant inhibition of cell growth and proliferation caused by miR-214 was observed after 48∼72h of cell culture experiments (P<0.05). The miR-214 treatment resulted in a colony forming efficiency of (23.28±3.26)%, which was significantly lower than that of negative control [(51.31±3.97)%] (P<0.05). According to FCM results, the experimental group, compared with control, showed a higher proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase [(70.32±3.12)%] but a lower proportion in S phase [(18.42±2.90)%] (P<0.05). The MTT assay demonstrated a significant inhibition of the proliferation and ß-catenin expression of HCC cells compared with control (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed after HCC cells being transfected with ß-catenin overexpression plasmid (P>0.05). By comparing to the RT-PCR and Western-blot results of control, the miR-214 treatment led to a slightly decrease in the ß-catenin mRNA expression (P>0.05), but an extremely inhibition in the protein level of ß-catenin and its downstream targets Cyclin D1, c-Myc, and TCF-1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miR-214 functions as a suppressor during the progression of HCC, and its inhibitory role was achieved by down-regulating ß-catenin signaling pathway.

[Experimental study on anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency therapy in model rats with lumbar nerve root compression].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency therapy on lumbar nerve root compression. METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group (EA group), a medium frequency group(MF group) and an electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency group (EA + MF group), twelve rats in each group. Models were established by surgery except the normal group and the sham operation group. Rats in the normal group, the sham operation group and the model group were not treated. In the EA group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) and "Huantiao" (GB 30) etc., and by medium frequency at the "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) and "Huantiao"(GB 30) in the MF group. Rats in the EA + MF group were treated by both electroacupuncture and medium frequency. All treatments were started on the fifth day of established model, once a day for fourteen days. Rats' lower limb functions were observed before and after treatment, thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2) and prostacyclin F1alpha (PGF1alpha) in blood plasma were tested after treatment, and pathological changes in the local compressed nerve root were observed by light microscope. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of rats' lower limb neurologic function in three therapy groups were significantly lower than before (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, TXB 2 in the EA group and the EA + MF group after treatment were decreased significantly (both P < 0.01), and PGF1alpha in the EA + MF group was increased significantly (P < 0.01), and TXB 2/PGF1alpha level were all regulated favorably in three therapy groups (all P < 0.01), and the pathological scores in the EA group and the EA + MF group were improved significantly (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: n Electroacupuncture combined with medium frequency has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in model rats with lumbar nerve root compression, and its mechanism may be related with the regulation of homeostasis M between TXB 2 and PGF1alpha so as to improve microcirculation.

[Study on signal transmission characteristics of meridian based on electrical network theory and experiments].

Study on features of acupoints with resistance test in the past half century is reviewed in this article. Mechanism and technology of the method are introduced as well as its shortcomings. The determination method of signal transmission along meridians with the combination of electrical network theories and practice is advanced. And the result of a series experiments on one meridian at the superficial part of the body are given as well. Thus, it is concluded that the signals of the point-in/point-out and the signals along a non-meridian path with the same distance are significantly different, which gives a verification of the feasibility of the method by using electrical network theories to set out characteristics of signal transmission along meridians dynamically.

[Correlation between predominant pI genotypes, G120/A121 mutations and drug resistance].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predominant genotypes of outer membrane porin I (PI) and to determine the correlation between G120 as well as A121 mutations in PI proteins and drug resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in the local area. METHODS: A double PCR to simultaneously detect both pIA and pIB genes, was established in this study. The target amplification products were T-A cloned and then sequenced to determine the mutations at G120, A121 and the specificity of double PCR. By using acidity slip method and double agar dilution method, the beta-lactamase production and resistance to six antibiotics of pIA(+) and pIB(+) gonococcal isolates were detected. RESULTS: Double PCR could be used to accurately genotyping pI genes in all the tested gonococcal isolates with the sensitivity of 1 ng DNA template. In the 116 N. gonorrhoeae isolates, 30.2% (35/116) were pIA(+) strains and 69.8% (81/136) were pIB(+) strains. All the pIA(+) strains presented G120D/A121G double mutations (88.6%)or A121G single mutation (11.4%). 98.8% of the pIB(+) strains presented G120K/A121D (65.0%), G120K/A121G or G120N/A121D (13.8%) double mutations, and G120D/N/K single mutation (21.3%). 34.5% (40/116) of the isolates produced beta-lactamase, and the enzyme-produced rate (20%) in pIA(+) strains was significantly lower than that in pIB(+) strains (40.7%) with P < 0.05. No spectinomycin-resistant strains were identified but three ceftriaxone-resistant strains were presented. However, the resistance ratios to penicilin, tetramycin, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin of all the isolates were as high as 75.0% - 90.5%. 100% and 71.4% of the pIA(+) strains without beta-lactamase production and with G120 and/or A121 mutations were sensitive to penicillin and tetramycin, respectively. On the contrast, 100% of the pIB(+) strains without beta-lactamase production and with G120 and/or A121 mutations were resistant to both the two antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The established double PCR method could be used for fast and accurate genotyping of N. gonorrhoeae pI genes. The N. gonorrhoeae strains prevalent in the local areas mainly possessed pIB gene. Both spectinomycin and ceftriaxone could still be chosen to treat gonorrhea. The resistance enhancement caused by G120 and/or A121 mutations to penicillin and tetramycin was only presented in pIB(+) gonococci.