Preparation and brain targeting effects study of recombinant human ferritin nanoparticles.

Human heavy-chain ferritin is a naturally occurring protein with high stability and multifunctionality in biological systems. This study aims to utilize a prokaryotic expression system to produce recombinant human heavy-chain ferritin nanoparticles and investigate their targeting ability in brain tissue. The human heavy-chain ferritin gene was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET28a and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells to explore optimal expression conditions. The recombinant protein was then purified to evaluate its immunoreactivity and characteristics. Additionally, the distribution of the administered protein in normal mice and its permeability in an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model were measured. The results demonstrate that the purified protein can self-assemble extracellularly into nano-cage structures of approximately 10 nm and is recognized by corresponding antibodies. The protein effectively penetrates the blood-brain barrier and exhibits slow clearance in mouse brain tissue, showing excellent permeability in the in vitro BBB model. This study highlights the stable expression of recombinant human heavy-chain ferritin using the Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression system, characterized by favorable nano-cage structures and biological activity. Its exceptional brain tissue targeting and slow metabolism lay an experimental foundation for its application in neuropharmaceutical delivery and vaccine development fields.

Probabilistic linguistic fuzzy cognitive maps: applications to the critical factors affecting the health of rural older adults.

BACKGROUND: Achieving healthy ageing has become the only way for China to alleviate the pressure of ageing, especially in rural areas. However, the factors affecting the health of rural older adults are numerous and complex. It is important to identify the critical factors that affecting the health of older adults in rural areas and provide decision-making support for targeted health interventions. METHODS: To overcome some limitations of existing works, an extended probabilistic linguistic fuzzy cognitive map model is proposed in this paper as a useful tool for modeling the cause-effect relationship between factors. The proposed model integrates the advantages of probabilistic linguistic term sets and fuzzy cognitive maps. In the end, to rank and identify the critical factors affecting the health, a novel similarity measure based on Euclidean distance and Z-mapping function is proposed. RESULTS: The proposed model can effectively deal with the uncertainty of experts and reflect different opinions of groups well. In terms of representing uncertainty and ambiguity, the proposed method outperforms other models in modeling complex systems. In the real-world case analysis, we find that education is the most important factor affecting the health of rural older adults, followed by previous occupational experiences, psychology, and physical exercise, among other things. Intergenerational relationship has become another important factor affecting the health of rural older adults in China as the development of Chinese society. CONCLUSIONS: From a macro perspective, social economic status, living environment, lifestyle, and health management, are the variables that have the greatest impact on the health of rural older adults. As a result, providing more precise health interventions with the characteristics of factors influencing health is a crucial guarantee for preserving and improving the health of rural older adults in China.

[Visualization analysis of traditional Chinese medicine for neurogenesis research based on CiteSpace].

To analyze the research hotspots and trends of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for neurogenesis with use of CiteSpace 5.7.R3 software. The bibliometrics analysis on the literatures of TCM for neurogenesis from 1987 to 2020 included in the CNKI database was conducted to visualize the number of papers, authors, institutions and keywords. Totally 736 literatures were included and the volume of annual publications showed an upward in volatility. At present, several stable research teams have been formed, which were represented by DING Fei, ZHOU Chong-jian and ZHOU Yong-hong, but the cooperation was not close among the teams. According to the analysis of research institutions, Institute of Diagnostics of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Research Center of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine produced largest number of literatures. The cooperation among institutions, with universities of TCM and affiliated hospitals as the main research force, was characterized by dominant cooperation among regional institutions and less cross-regional cooperation. Keywords analysis showed that in the field of TCM for neurogenesis, a lot of studies mainly focused on the disease field, treatment and medication, TCM therapy and molecular mechanism. The research on TCM therapy and molecular mechanism for neurogenesis of central nervous system will be the research hotspots in future.

Evaluation of a granulated formula for the nerve root type and vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis: a multicenter, single-blind, randomized, controlled, phase â ¢ clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cervical spondylosis formula granules in reducing the symptoms of patients with the nerve root type and the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis. METHODS: This was a multicenter, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. From April 2002 to November 2003, 499 patients were randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control group. The treatment group was orally administered granules prepared with a formula for cervical spondylosis, while the control group was given Jingfukang granules. The treatment course was 1 month for both groups. RESULTS: In patients with the nerve root type of cervical spondylosis, the total effect rate in the treatment group (87.21% ) was significantly higher than that in the control group (80.70%, P < 0.01). After the treatment period in both groups, the treatment group had a significantly greater rate of resolution of pain, numbness of the upper limbs, muscle strength of the upper limbs, and fatigue than the control group (all P < 0.05). In patients with the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis, the total effect rate in the treatment group (82.07%) was similar to that in the control group (71.21% , P > 0.05). After the treatment period in both groups, the treatment group had a significantly greater rate of resolution of weakness of the waist and knees than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The cervical spondylosis formula granules significantly improve numbness, muscle strength, and fatigue, and reduce pain in patients with the nerve root type of cervical spondylosis, and improve the weakness of the waist and knees in patients with the vertebral artery type of cervical spondylosis.

Protective effects and mechanisms of Yi Qi Huo Xue Fang in cerebral ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Yi Qi Huo Xue Fang (YQHXF) is an effective formula for treating cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS). However, its active ingredients and mechanism of action remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of action of YQHXF in the treatment of ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study identified the chemical components in YQHXF and the components absorbed by rat serum based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology and used network pharmacology to predict key candidate targets. A protein-protein-interaction (P-P-I) network was constructed using String 11.0 database and Cytoscape, and R software for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, molecular docking combined with animal experiments was used to verify network pharmacology results. RESULTS: This study identified and confirmed 36 chemical components of YQHXF and five chemical ingredients that were absorbed into the blood of rats and screened 66 key candidate targets. All targets in the P-P-I network were mainly related to inflammation and vascular processes. KEGG enrichment results revealed that these 66 key candidate targets were primarily involved in the "AGE-RAGE signaling pathway," "TNF-α signaling pathway, and "T cell receptor signaling pathway." Molecular docking results revealed that Prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2(PTGS-2), Nitric oxide synthase, endothelial (NOS3), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) were more stably bound to their active ingredients. Animal experiments demonstrated that YQHXF promoted M2 polarization, inhibited M1 polarization in microglia, and promoted angiogenesis, which may be related to the PPARG pathway. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the key active components and effective targets of YQHXF, identified the mechanism of action of YQHXF, laid the foundation for further research on YQHXF, and provided ideas for developing new drugs for CIS.

Impact of the new rural social pension insurance on the health of the rural older adult population: based on the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

The health issues of China's older adult population in rural areas have been receiving increasing attention with the continuous expansion of the nation's ageing population and the continuous promotion of urban-rural integration. The impact of the new rural social pension insurance (NRSPI) on the health of the rural older adult population, the mechanism of its action and how old-age service can be improved and optimised according to the health needs of the rural older adult population are urgent and realistic challenges. Based on survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015 and 2018, this study applies a multivariate ordered logistic regression model to explore the impact mechanism and effect of the NRSPI on the older adult population health in rural China while controlling for endogeneity. The results show that participation in the NRSPI can significantly improve the health of the rural older adult population at a 1% level. The results of the heterogeneity test reveal that the NRSPI has a significant impact on the self-reported health of the rural older adult at a 1% level, with a significantly positive impact on the mental and physical health of rural female older adult, whereas the impact on male older adult is not significant. The mediating effect test results show that medical services, food access and entertainment activities have a mediating effect on the new rural social endowment insurance. The results of the moderating effect test indicate that the NRSPI regulates 7.8% of the effect of physical health on mental health and 10.7% of the effect of mental health on physical health. Based on these findings, this study proposes to strengthen the construction of healthy lifestyle guidance and emotional support systems while improving the NRSPI's participation rate and treatment level to meet the diverse health service needs of different older adult groups.

To Analyze the Influencing Factors of Senile Coronary Heart Disease Patients Complicated with Frailty Syndrome.

To analyze the influencing factors of senile coronary heart disease patients complicated with frailty syndrome. A total of 80 elderly patients with coronary heart disease admitted to our hospital from March 2020 to March 2021 were selected as the research subjects. The Fried Frailty Symptom Scale was used to evaluate whether the 80 patients were complicated with frailty syndrome. According to the evaluation results, the patients were divided into a nonfrailty syndrome group (52 cases in total) and frailty syndrome group (28 cases in total). Clinical data of two groups of patients were collected, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of senile coronary heart disease patients complicated with frailty syndrome. Among 80 patients, the incidence of frailty syndrome was 35.00% (28/80), including 18 cases in early frailty and 10 cases in frailty stage. Univariate analysis showed that age, body mass (BMI), diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic renal insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tumor, high uric acid hematic disease, arrhythmia, interleukin-6 (IL-6), c-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), uric acid (UA), serum creatinine (Scr), serum protein (ALB), white blood cell count (WBC), and neutrophil count were the possible risk factors for senile coronary heart disease complicated with frailty syndrome (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that combined COPD, combined tumor, IL-6, BNP, UA, SCR, ALB, and neutrophil count were independent risk factors for senile CHD complicated with frailty syndrome (P < 0.05). Combined with COPD, combined with tumor, IL-6, BNP, UA, SCR, ALB, and neutron cell count are the influencing factors for senile coronary heart disease patients complicated with frailty syndrome. These factors can be used as the basis for the diagnosis of frailty syndrome and guide the clinical development of targeted diagnosis and treatment plan.

Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) and China's Export Fluctuation in the Post-pandemic Era: An Empirical Analysis based on the TVP-SV-VAR Model.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, the bidirectional policy adopted by the governments to stimulate domestic economy and reinforce foreign trade control is making the trade environment abnormally complex. China is facing a new challenge in export trade growth. Based on the continuous monthly data from January 2002 to April 2021, this paper uses the time-varying TVP-SV-VAR model to study the impulse response of China's export trade to economic policy uncertainty (EPU). It is found that (1) on the whole, the shock of global EPU and China's EPU on China's export to the OBOR/RCEP member countries is time-varying, different, and structurally significant; (2) during the pandemic, EPU has a significant short-term negative shock on China's gross exports and export to OBOR/RCEP members, and this shock is especially big in the case of global EPU. In the post-pandemic era, China should strengthen pandemic control and economic risk monitoring, continue with execution of multilateral FTAs and create a sustainably stable export trade environment.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for the Prevention of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: No specific treatment is available for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Recently, interest in the prevention of POCD during the perioperative period has increased. Although some studies suggest that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) may be beneficial, the relevant evidence remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the preventive effects of TEAS on POCD. Methods: Seven databases including PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were electronically searched up to April 2021. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, collected data, and assessed the risks of bias and grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluations certainty of the evidence. A meta-analysis of the incidence of POCD, cognitive function score, pain, adverse reactions, and length of hospital stay after surgery was also performed. Results: Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials with 1,994 participants were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the TEAS group has a significantly lower incidence of POCD compared with the control group on postoperative days 1 [OR = 0.33 (95%CI: 0.23, 0.47); p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%, moderate certainty], 3 [OR = 0.38 (95%CI: 0.29, 0.50); p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%, low certainty], and 7 [OR = 0.51 (95%CI: 0.32, 0.81); p = 0.005, I 2 = 0%, low certainty] but not on day 5 (p > 0.05, low certainty). Moreover, TEAS improved the Mini-Mental State Examination scores on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7 [MD = 2.44 (95%CI: 1.61, 3.27); p < 0.001, I 2 = 93%, low certainty]; [MD = 2.07 (95%CI: 1.53, 2.62); p < 0.001, I 2 = 87%, low certainty]; and [MD = 0.49 (95%CI: 0.18, 0.79); p = 0.002, I 2 = 21%, low certainty], respectively, but not on day 5 (p > 0.05, very low certainty). TEAS promoted a postoperative analgesic effect within 24 h after surgery. Furthermore, patients receiving TEAS showed a lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and a shorter hospital stay. Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that the application of TEAS in the perioperative period is associated with a reduced POCD rate and a protected early postoperative cognitive function.

Extracellular vesicles in mesenchymal stromal cells: A novel therapeutic strategy for stroke.

A stroke is a focal cerebral insult that frequently causes severe neurological deficit and mortality. Recent studies have demonstrated that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold great promise for neurovascular remodeling and neurological function recovery following a stroke. Rather than a direct replacement of parenchymal brain cells, the therapeutic mechanism of MSCs is suggested to be the secretion of soluble factors. Specifically, emerging data described MSCs as being able to release extracellular vesicles (EVs), which contain a variety of cargo including proteins, lipids, DNA and various RNA species. The released EVs can target neurocytes and vascular cells and modify the cell's functions by delivering the cargo, which are considered to mediate the neural restoration effects of MSCs. Therefore, EVs may be developed as a novel cell-free therapy for neurological disorders. In the present review, the current advances regarding the components, functions and therapeutic potential of EVs are summarized and the use of MSC-derived EVs as a promising approach in the treatment of stroke are highlighted.

[Clinical study of super crush-run Tongxinluo capsule on treatment of stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and security of super crush-run tong xinluo capsule (SCTXLC) for apoplexy due to energy-deficiency and blood-stasis. METHOD: The randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine, parallel contrast, different Kinds of Techniques and dosage, the clinical trial design was adopted, 144 patients with stroke of convalescent stage were selected by 2 group, which course of diseases was in 2 weekens to 3 months, neurological deficit scores was 8 to 30, grade of acaties of daily living scores was 2 to 5. the treatment group (n = 72) received SCTXLC 0.26 g (a capsule), 4 capsules at a time, three times a day, while that of the control group (n = 72) received common crush-run tong xinluo capsule (CCTXLC) 0.38 g (a capsule), 4 capsules at a time, three times a day, the therapeutic course for both groups was 28 d. RESULT: The synthesis total effective rates of the stroke in treatment group and control group were 91.3% and 87.3% respectively, showing no significant difference. The Lower Bound Upper Bound of Asymptotic 95% Confidence Interval of the total effective rates difference is -4.57%, over the beforehand Lower Bound of 15%, non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine was eligible. The adverse reactions occurred was 1 patient in the treatment group and 2 patients in control group in clinical trial. CONCLUSION: SCTXLC has definite effect for apoplexy due to energy-deficiency and blood-stasis, the efficacy in the treated group was equal to that in the control group, and favourable satety for usage.

Implantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for ischemic stroke: perspectives and challenges.

Ischemic stroke is a focal cerebral insult that often leads to many adverse neurological complications severely affecting the quality of life. The prevalence of stroke is increasing throughout the world, while the efficacy of current pharmacological therapies remains unclear. As a neuroregenerative therapy, the implantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) has shown great possibility to restore function after stroke. This review article provides an update role of hUC-MSCs implantation in the treatment of ischemic stroke. With the unique "immunosuppressive and immunoprivilege" property, hUC-MSCs are advised to be an important candidate for allogeneic cell treatment. Nevertheless, most of the treatments are still at primary stage and not clinically feasible at the current time. Several uncertain problems, such as culture conditions, allograft rejection, and potential tumorigenicity, are the choke points in this cellular therapy. More preclinical researches and clinical studies are needed before hUC-MSCs implantation can be used as a routinely applied clinical therapy.