A Meta-analysis of the Effect of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Dysphagia in Patients with Cerebral Stroke.

The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in preventing and treating dysphagia in patients who have experienced a cerebral stroke (CS). Both Chinese and international guidelines for the management of dysphagia resulting from CS mention various non-pharmacological treatments, such as acupuncture, mechanical myoelectric stimulation, and NIBS. However, due to limited evidence, these treatments are often suggested as measures rather than interventions. Therefore, this study assesses the impact of NIBS on the severity and improvement of dysphagia in CS patients. The researchers provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice by conducting a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis. The researchers analyze the impact of NIBS on the severity of dysphagia and its overall improvement in CS patients. Employing a systematic computer-based search, the researchers retrieved randomized controlled trials and cohort studies published between the inception of relevant databases and December 1, 2022, about the utilization of NIBS in managing dysphagia in CS patients. This effort included nine articles for meta-analysis, with sample sizes ranging from 14 to 59, allowing an assessment of the effectiveness of NIBS in CS patients. The analysis revealed a mean difference (MD) score of 1.05 in the NIBS studies for the prevention and treatment of dysphagia severity in stroke patients, indicating a notable alleviation of dysphagia severity in CS patients through NIBS. The MD for the dysphagia score was also 1.05, and the MD for the functional dysphagia score was 1.78, suggesting that NIBS provided relief from dysphagia in CS patients. In summary, this meta-analysis thoroughly evaluated NIBS efficacy in CS patients and provided evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice. Future research needs to collect additional indicators to elucidate the nuances of various interventions, contributing to a more robust theoretical foundation for clinical therapy.

Development and comparison of parallel reaction monitoring and data-independent acquisition methods for quantitative analysis of hydrophilic compounds in white tea.

In the present work, parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and data-independent acquisition (DIA) methods were developed for the accurate quantitation of amino acids, alkaloids nucleosides and nucleotides in tea. The quality peaks were significantly enhanced by optimizing the LC elution procedure, HCD voltage, MS resolution, and scanning event. Both methods were validated with good liner linearity (0.004-200 µg/mL), LODs (0.001-0.309 µg/mL for PRM and 0.001-0.564 µg/mL for DIA). Applied to white tea sample, the contents of these hydrophilic compounds were range from 34,655.39 to 70,586.14 mg/kg, and caffeine (32,529.02 mg/kg) and theanine (5483.46 mg/kg) were determined as the most abundant ones. Based on the quantitation data set, the white tea samples from Puer, Lincang and Xishuangbanna were clearly discriminated using multivariate data analysis. The results of the present works show that PRM and DIA have great potential in quantitative analysis of multiple hydrophilic compounds in food samples.

[Research progress on natural guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids and their biological activities].

Guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids are a class of terpenoids with [5,7] ring-fused system as the basic skeletal structure composed of three isoprene units, which are substituted by 4,10-dimethyl-7-isopropyl. According to the difference in functional groups and degree of polymerization, they can be divided into simple guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, sesquiterpene dimers, and sesquiterpene trimers. Natural guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids are widely distributed in plants, fungi, and marine organisms, especially in families such as Compositae, Zingiberaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Lamiaceae, and Alismataceae. Guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids have good antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. In this paper, the novel guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids isolated and identified in recent 10 years(2013-2022) and their biological activities were reviewed in order to provide refe-rences for the research and development of guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids.

Effects of suspended particles and dispersants on marine oil snow formation of crude oil/diesel oil.

Marine oil snow (MOS) potentially forms after an oil spill. To fully understand the mechanism of its formation, we investigated the effects of suspended particles (SP) and dispersants on MOS formation of crude oil and diesel oil by laboratory experiments. In the crude oil experiment, the SP concentration of 0.2 g L-1 was more suitable for crude oil MOS formation. The addition of dispersants significantly stimulated N and TV during MS/MOS formation of SP at 0.4 g L-1 and 0.8 g L-1 concentration (p < 0.05). Without SP, the dispersants also stimulated crude oil MOS formation. Furthermore, the concentration of SP had a significantly positive effect on the reduction of the total amount of N-alkanes (p < 0.05). In the diesel oil experiment, after adding dispersants to diesel oil, the maximum N, Dm, and TV values at a SP concentration of 0.2 g L-1 were significantly higher than those at 0.4 g L-1 and 0.8 g L-1 (p < 0.05). Besides, we found that dispersants stimulated MOS formation in diesel oil at a SP concentration of 0.2 g L-1. However, the dispersants had an inhibitory effect on diesel oil MOS formation without SP. Notably, the MOS formed by diesel oil appeared white, unlike the black MOS associated with crude oil. These findings are important for the environmental impact of oil spills and elevated SP concentrations.

Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on the spinal cord PPIA/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹è‚ŒèŽç¼©ä¾§ç´¢ç¡¬åŒ–ç—‡å°é¼ è„Šé«“PPIA/NF-κB信号通路的影响.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on motor function, expression of extracellular cyclophile A(PPIA) and PPIA/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in spinal cord of amyotrophic la-teral sclerosis (ALS) mice, so as to explore the mechanism of EA intervention in regulating extracellular PPIA on neuroinflammation in ALS mice. METHODS: Thirty ALS-SOD1G93A mice with hSOD1-G93A gene were randomly divided into model, EA and Riluzole groups , with 10 mice in each group, and other 10 ALS-SOD1G93A negative mice were used as the blank group. EA was applied to bilateral "Yanglingquan"(GB34) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 20 min once daily, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. In the Riluzole group, riluzole solution (30 mg·kg-1·d-1) was administrated intragastrically, and the treatment time was the same as that in the EA group.Rotating rod experiment and open field experiment were used to evaluate the changes in motor function of mice .The morphology of motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord was observed by HE staining.The relative protein expression levels of PPIA, TDP-43 and NF-κB in the spinal cord were detected by Western blot.The positive expression level of TDP-43 in the spinal cord was detected by immunohistochemistry. The positive expression level of PPIA in spinal cord was marked by immunofluorescence. Serum PPIA content was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the time of rod dropping and the total distance of open field movement in the model group were shortened (P<0.01), the number of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord was reduced, the cell morphology was incomplete, the cell body was atrophied, the protein expression and positive expression of TDP-43 were increased (P<0.01), the protein expressions of PPIA and NF-κB in the spinal cord were increased(P<0.01), the serum content of PPIA and immunofluorescence expression of PPIA in spinal cord were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the time of rod dropping and the total distance of open field movement of mice in the EA group and the Riluzole group were prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the injury of motor neuron in the anterior horn of the spinal cord was decreased, the protein expression and positive expression of TDP-43 in the spinal cord were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01)；the relative expression levels of PPIA and NF-κB proteins were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the content of PPIA in serum and the immunofluorescence expression of PPIA in the spinal cord were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the EA group；the relative protein expression of NF-κB and fluorescence expression of PPIA in spinal cord of mice in the Riluzole group were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA intervention can improve motor function in ALS mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PPIA/NF-κB signaling pathway by EA to alleviating neuroinflammatory response.

Leaf Spot Caused by Didymella glomerata on Chaihu (Bupleurum falcatum L.) in China.

Bupleurum falcatum is a Apiaceae family herbal medicinal plant, which has the functions of soothing liver, relieving depression, relieving fever, dispelling stagnation, and regulating menstruation. B. falcatum roots have been used in Chinese herbal formbulary for at least 2000 years (Ahmadimoghaddam et al. 2021). In June 2021, infected leaves of B. falcatum that had dark brown, circular, elliptical or irregular shaped lesions or severely withered were obtained in Yichang (30.75 ° N，111.24 ° E), Hubei, China. Disease incidence was approximately 40% in the 20 hm2 B. falcatum plantation base. Fifteen small pieces (3 mm) were cut from the junction between disease and health of surface sterilized (with 75% alcohol) leaves and then plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). After 3 days incubation, eight isolates with the same colony morphology were sub-cultured and purified by hyphal tip isolation. Isolate CHYB1 cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) was selected for identification. The colony was initially white and later producing gray and brown. Pycnidia were dark, spherical or flat spherical, and 78.3 to 137.4 µm in diameter. Conidia were oval mostly, smooth, aseptate, and 18 the size was 3.7 to 5.1 × 1.6 to 2.5 µm. Following DNA extraction, PCR was performed using the TSINGKE 2×T5 Direct PCR Mix kit. Target areas of amplification were the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and beta-tubulin gene (TUB2) using ITS1/4 (White et al. 1990) Btu-F-F01/Btu-F-R01 primers (Wang et al. 2014), respectively. BLAST analysis of the ITS sequence (MZ818334.1) had 99% similarity to a 498 bp portion of D. glomerata sequence in GenBank (KR709012.1) and TUB2 sequence (OL439060) had 100% similarity to a 323 bp portion of D. glomerata sequence in GenBank (LT592974.1). All isolates (CHYB1-8) were taken for a pathogenicity test in laboratory on surface-disinfested leaves of B. falcatum. Mycelial plugs (5 mm) were excised from the margin of colony cultured for 5 days, and placed on surface-disinfested leaves of potted B. falcatum which involved creating small wounds. The potted plants were placed in a closed bucket to keep 80% relative humidity. Controls were inoculated with non-colonized PDA plugs (5 mm). All treatments had three replicates. On the inoculated B. falcatum, the leaves of B. falcatum appeared brown spot and been covered with off-white hyphae 7 DPI. By comparision, the control leaves had no symptoms. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated leaves and exhibited same morphological characteristics and ITS sequence as those of D. glomerata. D. glomerata was reported to cause round leaf spot on Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep and black spot disease of Actinidia chinensis in China (Pan et al. 2018; Song et al. 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot caused by D. glomerata on B. falcatum in China.

[Hot water washing processing technology of Euodiae Fructus based on change laws of active components and tastes].

In order to establish the standardized processing technology of the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus, this study, based on the traditional processing method of hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus recorded in ancient works and modern processing specifications of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, took the yield of decoction pieces and the content of main components as the indicators and optimized the processing conditions by orthogonal test based on the results of single factor investigation. At the same time, electronic tongue technology was used to analyze the change law of the taste index of Euodiae Fructus during the hot water washing. The results of the single factor investigation showed that the content of the main components in Euodiae Fructus showed some regular changes during the processing. Specifically, the content of chlorogenic acid, hyperin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, and dehydroevodiamine decreased significantly, with average decreases of-23.75%,-27.80%,-14.04%,-14.03%, and-13.11%, respectively. The content of limonin increased significantly with an average increase of 19.83%. The content of evodiamine, rutaecarpine, evocarpine, and dihydroevocarpine showed fluctuating changes and generally increased, with average variation amplitudes of 0.54%,-3.78%, 2.69%, and 5.13%, respectively. The orthogonal test results showed that the optimum processing parameters for the hot water washing of Euodiae Fructus were as follows: washing time of 2 min, the solid-to-liquid ratio of 1∶10 g·mL~(-1), washing temperature of 80 ℃, washing once, and drying at 50 ℃. After the hot water washing processing, the average yield of Euodiae Fructus pieces was 94.80%. The content of limonin, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine was higher than those of raw pro-ducts, and the average transfer rates were 102.56%, 103.15%, and 105.16%, respectively. The content of dehydroevodiamine was lower than that of the raw products, and the average transfer rate was 83.04%. The results of taste analysis showed that the hot water washing could significantly reduce the salty, astringent, and bitter tastes of Euodiae Fructus. This study revealed the influence of the hot water washing on the content of main components and taste of Euodiae Fructus, and the processing technology of the hot water was-hing of Euodiae Fructus established in this study was stable, feasible, and suitable for industrial production, which laid a foundation for clarifying its processing principle and improving the quality standard and clinical application value of decoction pieces.

Harnessing microbial phylum-specific molecular markers for assessment of environmental estrogen degradation.

Steroidal estrogens are ubiquitous contaminants that have garnered attention worldwide due to their endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic activities at sub-nanomolar concentrations. Microbial degradation is one of the main mechanisms through which estrogens can be removed from the environment. Numerous bacteria have been isolated and identified as estrogen degraders; however, little is known about their contribution to environmental estrogen removal. Here, our global metagenomic analysis indicated that estrogen degradation genes are widely distributed among bacteria, especially among aquatic actinobacterial and proteobacterial species. Thus, by using the Rhodococcus sp. strain B50 as the model organism, we identified three actinobacteria-specific estrogen degradation genes, namely aedGHJ, by performing gene disruption experiments and metabolite profile analysis. Among these genes, the product of aedJ was discovered to mediate the conjugation of coenzyme A with a unique actinobacterial C17 estrogenic metabolite, 5-oxo-4-norestrogenic acid. However, proteobacteria were found to exclusively adopt an α-oxoacid ferredoxin oxidoreductase (i.e., the product of edcC) to degrade a proteobacterial C18 estrogenic metabolite, namely 3-oxo-4,5-seco-estrogenic acid. We employed actinobacterial aedJ and proteobacterial edcC as specific biomarkers for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to elucidate the potential of microbes for estrogen biodegradation in contaminated ecosystems. The results indicated that aedJ was more abundant than edcC in most environmental samples. Our results greatly expand the understanding of environmental estrogen degradation. Moreover, our study suggests that qPCR-based functional assays are a simple, cost-effective, and rapid approach for holistically evaluating estrogen biodegradation in the environment.

Coptischinensis Franch root rot infection disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes.

Introduction: The ecological balance of the plant microbiome, as a barrier against pathogens, is very important for host health. Coptis chinensis is one of the important medicinal plants in China. In recent years, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was frequently used to analyze root rot pathogens and the effects of root rot on rhizosphere microorganisms of C. chinensis. But the effects of root rot infection on rhizosphere microecological balance of C. chinensis have received little attention. Methods: In this study, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to analyze the impact on microbial composition and diversity of C. chinensis by root rot. Results: The results showed that root rot infection had significant impact on bacterial α-diversity in rhizome samples, but had no significant effect on that in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, while root rot infection exhibited significant impact on the fungal α-diversity in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, and no significant impact on that in rhizome samples. PCoA analysis showed that the root rot infection had a greater impact on the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of C. chinensis than on the bacterial community structure. Root rot infection destroyed the microecological balance of the original microbiomes in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of C. chinensis, which may also be one of the reasons for the serious root rot of C. chinensis. Discussion: In conclusion, our findings suggested that root rot infection with C. chinensis disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes. The results of this study can provide theoretical basis for the prevention and control of C. chinensis root rot by microecological regulation.

[Feasibility analysis of puncture robot technology for the application of acupuncture robot].

The difficulties such as how to accurately locate acupoints and safely insert needles are presented in acupuncture robot. The puncture robot with high technological similarity to acupuncture robot is getting mature, and a large number of human trials and animal experiments have been conducted for the development of puncture robot. Through comparing the similarities and differences between puncture robot and acupuncture robot in the aspects of through-skin puncture, needle insertion and needle removal, the valuable technology of puncture robot is analyzed for the development of acupuncture robot, and the crucial direction of technology migration is determined. ①Integrating the mechanical feedback and medical imaging technology and utilizing the multi-modal perception to achieve the safety of acupuncture operation. ②Emphasizing the integration of the existing designs of chest puncture robot to realize the acupuncture operation with inhalation and exhalation involved. ③Focusing on the development of relevant technology of automatic needle removal through conducting the actual scenario of treatment with acupuncture robot in patients under non-anaesthetic condition.

Feasibility analysis of puncture robot technology for the application of acupuncture robot / 中国针灸

The difficulties such as how to accurately locate acupoints and safely insert needles are presented in acupuncture robot. The puncture robot with high technological similarity to acupuncture robot is getting mature, and a large number of human trials and animal experiments have been conducted for the development of puncture robot. Through comparing the similarities and differences between puncture robot and acupuncture robot in the aspects of through-skin puncture, needle insertion and needle removal, the valuable technology of puncture robot is analyzed for the development of acupuncture robot, and the crucial direction of technology migration is determined. ①Integrating the mechanical feedback and medical imaging technology and utilizing the multi-modal perception to achieve the safety of acupuncture operation. ②Emphasizing the integration of the existing designs of chest puncture robot to realize the acupuncture operation with inhalation and exhalation involved. ③Focusing on the development of relevant technology of automatic needle removal through conducting the actual scenario of treatment with acupuncture robot in patients under non-anaesthetic condition.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and complement dependent memory impairment in Parkinson's disease dementia mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Xiusanzhen" ï¼»bilateral "Yingxiang"(LI20)+"Yintang"(GV24+)ï¼½ on synaptophysin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), Iba-1+ CD68+ microglia and complement C related protein expression of hippocampus in Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) mice, so as to explore its mechanism in improving memory impairment of PDD. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, sham operation, model and EA groups, with 10 mice in each group. The PDD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain tract. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to unilateral LI20 and GV29 for 20 min once daily for consecutive 14 days. Morris water maze and new object recognition test were used to evaluate the learning and memory ability. Western blot was used to detect the expression of SYN and PSD-95 proteins in hippocampus. Immunofluorescence was used to label Iba-1+ CD68+ microglia and C1q positive cells in hippocampal CA1 region. The content of C3 protein in hippocampus was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, there was no statistical significance in all the observed indexes in the sham operation group. Compared with the sham operation group, the average escape latency (AEL) prolonged significantly (P<0.01), the target platform crossing times (TPCT) and new object recognition index (NORI) decreased remarkably (P<0.01); the expressions of SYN and PSD-95 proteins in hippocampal CA1 region were significantly decreased (P<0.01); the rate of Iba-1+CD68+ microglia, the rate of C1q positive cells and the content of C3 protein were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, the AEL was shortened (P<0.01), the TPCT and NORI were increased (P<0.05) remarkably; the expressions of SYN and PSD-95 proteins in hippocampal CA1 region were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the rate of Iba-1+ CD68+ microglia, the rate of C1q positive cells and the content of C3 protein were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the EA group. CONCLUSION: "Xiusanzhen" can alleviate the learning and memory impairment of PDD model mice, and improve the synaptic plasticity of hippocampal CA1 area. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of C1q and C3 deposition in hippocampal CA1 region and the reduction of microglia phagocytosis.

[Huayu Tongluo moxibustion combined with intradermal needling in patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Huayu Tongluo (resolving stasis and promoting collateral circulation) moxibustion combined with intradermal needling on depressive symptoms, quality of life and cognitive impairment in patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction on the basis of western medicine treatment. METHODS: Fifty patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into an acupuncture combined with western medication group (group A, 25 cases) and a western medication group (group B, 25 cases). In the group B, paroxetine hydrochloride tablets were taken orally, 20 mg after breakfast, once a day, and the dose could be adjusted to the maximum 40 mg/d according to the patients' condition, for 4 weeks totally. On the basis of the treatment in the group B, the group A was treated with Huayu Tongluo moxibustion, namely aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and suspended moxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenting (GV 24), combined with intradermal needling at Shenmen (HT 7), Jianshi (PC 5), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Huayu Tongluo moxibustion was performed 6 times a week, and intradermal needling was performed 3 times a week，for 4 weeks totally. In the two groups, the scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), stroke specific quality of life scale (SS-QOL) and mini mental state examination (MMSE) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and safety were compared. RESULTS: After treatment, the HAMD score in the each group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05), and that in the group A was lower than the group B (P<0.05); after treatment, the SS-QOL score in the group A and MMSE score in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the SS-QOL score in the group A was higher than the group B (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 88.0% (22/25) in the group A, which was higher than 60.0% (15/25) in the group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (4.0% [1/25] vs 16.0%[4/25], P>0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the treatment of western medication paroxetine hydrochloride tablets, Huayu Tongluo moxibustion combined with intradermal needling therapy can effectively improve the depressive symptoms, quality of life and cognitive impairment of patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction.

Full-Length Transcriptomic Sequencing and Temporal Transcriptome Expression Profiling Analyses Offer Insights into Terpenoid Biosynthesis in Artemisia argyi.

Artemisiae argyi Folium is a traditional herbal medicine used for moxibustion heat therapy in China. The volatile oils in A.argyi leaves are closely related to its medicinal value. Records suggest that the levels of these terpenoids components within the leaves vary as a function of harvest time, with June being the optimal time for A. argyi harvesting, owing to the high levels of active ingredients during this month. However, the molecular mechanisms governing terpenoid biosynthesis and the time-dependent changes in this activity remain unclear. In this study, GC-MS analysis revealed that volatile oil levels varied across four different harvest months (April, May, June, and July) in A. argyi leaves, and the primarily terpenoids components (including both monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) reached peak levels in early June. Through single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, corrected by Illumina RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq), 44 full-length transcripts potentially involved in terpenoid biosynthesis were identified in this study. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibiting time-dependent expression patterns were divided into 12 coexpression clusters. Integrated chemical and transcriptomic analyses revealed distinct time-specific transcriptomic patterns associated with terpenoid biosynthesis. Subsequent hierarchical clustering and correlation analyses ultimately identified six transcripts that were closely linked to the production of these two types of terpenoid within A. argyi leaves, revealing that the structural diversity of terpenoid is related to the generation of the diverse terpene skeletons by prenyltransferase (TPS) family of enzymes. These findings can guide further studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying the quality of A. argyi leaves, aiding in the selection of optimal timing for harvests of A. argyi.

Antibacterial property, corrosion and discoloration resistance of pure copper containing Zn or Ni.

This study focused on the effects of Zn and Ni addition on the antibacterial properties and corrosion resistance of copper alloys. The antimicrobial properties of copper and copper alloys were evaluated using Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 bacterial strain by employing the overlay and plate counting methods. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the surface composition of the alloy after contact with bacteria. A salt spray method was used to simulate an artificial sweat contact environment to test the discoloration and corrosion resistance of the alloy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the film layer and surface material composition of the corroded samples. The addition of Ni reduced the antibacterial performance of pure copper; however, the antibacterial performance of the alloy remained fast and efficient after the addition of Zn. Moreover, the addition of Zn and Ni significantly improved the corrosion resistance and surface discoloration of copper alloys in artificial sweat environments. This study provided support for the future application of copper alloys as antimicrobial surface-contact materials with safer public and medical environments in the face of diseases spread by large populations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12598-022-02098-8.

A multi-target directed ligands strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Dimethyl fumarate plus Tranilast modified Dithiocarbate as AChE inhibitor and Nrf2 activator.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) possessed intricate pathogenesis. Currently, multi-targeted drugs were considered to have the potential to against AD by simultaneously triggering molecules in functionally complementary pathways. Hence, a series of molecules based on the pharmacophoric features of Dimethyl fumarate, Tranilast, and Dithiocarbate were designed and synthesized. These compounds showed significant AChE inhibitory activity in vitro. Among them, compound 4c2 displayed the mighty inhibitory activity to hAChE (IC50 = 0.053 µM) and held the ability to cross the BBB. Kinetic study and molecular docking pointed out that 4c2 bound well into the active sites of hAChE, forming steady and sturdy interactions with key residues in hAChE. Additionally, 4c2 as an Nrf2 activator could promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 protein and induce the expressions of Nrf2-dependent enzymes HO-1, NQO1, and GPX4. Moreover, 4c2 rescued BV-2 cells from H2O2-induced injury and inhibited ROS accumulation. For the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of 4c2, we observed that 4c2 could lower the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (NO, IL-6 and TNF-α) and suppressed the expressions of iNOS and COX-2. In particular, 4c2 was well tolerated in mice (2500 mg/kg, p.o.) and efficaciously recovered the memory impairment in a Scopolamine-induced mouse model. Overall, these results highlighted that 4c2 was a promising multi-targeted agent for treating AD.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New 3,4-Dihydro-2(1H)-Quinolinone-Dithiocarbamate Derivatives as Multifunctional Agents for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) belongs to neurodegenerative disease, and the increasing number of AD patients has placed a heavy burden on society, which needs to be addressed urgently. ChEs/MAOs dual-target inhibitor has potential to treat AD according to reports. Purpose: To obtain effective multi-targeted agents for the treatment of AD, a novel series of hybrid compounds were designed and synthesized by fusing the pharmacophoric features of 3,4-dihydro-2 (1H)-quinolinone and dithiocarbamate. Methods: All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory abilities of ChEs and MAOs. Then, further biological activities of the most promising candidate 3e were determined, including the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), kinetics and molecular model analysis, cytotoxicity in vitro and acute toxicity studies in vivo. Results: Most compounds showed potent and clear inhibition to AChE and MAOs. Among them, compound 3e was considered to be the most effective and balanced inhibitor to both AChE and MAOs (IC50=0.28 µM to eeAChE; IC50=0.34 µM to hAChE; IC50=2.81 µM to hMAO-B; IC50=0.91 µM to hMAO-A). In addition, 3e showed mixed inhibition of hAChE and competitive inhibition of hMAO-B in the enzyme kinetic studies. Further studies indicated that 3e could penetrate the BBB and showed no toxicity on PC12 cells and HT-22 cells when the concentration of 3e was lower than 12.5 µM. More importantly, 3e lacked acute toxicity in mice even at high dose (2500 mg/kg, P.O.). Conclusion: This work indicated that compound 3e with a six-carbon atom linker and a piperidine moiety at terminal position was a promising candidate and was worthy of further study.

Preoperative electroacupuncture for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic gynecological surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of preoperative electroacupuncture (EA) on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and severity of postoperative pain, in gynecological patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. The effects of EA administered at different preoperative time points were compared. METHODS: A total of 413 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery were randomly allocated into 4 groups receiving EA the day before surgery (Group Pre, n = 103), 30 min before (Group 30, n = 104) or both (Group Comb, n = 103), or usual care alone (Group Usual, n = 103). All acupuncture groups had usual care. The incidence of PONV and pain at 24 h were primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the severity of postoperative nausea, vomiting and pain, requirement for antiemetic medication and quality of recovery (QoR)-15 scores after surgery. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the four groups in nausea and vomiting incidence (0-24 h), postoperative antiemetic use (0-48 h), and postoperative pain (0-6 h), with the EA groups recording the lowest levels. Regarding primary outcomes, incidence of nausea and vomiting at 6-24 h was 28/11/18/11% (p = 0.003) 23/5/8/9% (p < 0.001), respectively, for Groups Usual/Pre/30/Comb. Accordingly, EA reduced the incidence of nausea and vomiting at 6-24 h by 61/34/60% and 79/65/61% for Groups Pre/30/Comb, respectively. Regarding secondary outcomes, incidence of nausea and vomiting at 0-6 h was 20/9/11/7% (p = 0.013) and 17/7/9/6% (p = 0.021), respectively, for Groups Usual/Pre/30/Comb. Rescue antiemetics at 0-6 h were required by 18/4/11/4% (p = 0.001) in Groups Usual/Pre/30/Comb. The mean numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score (0-10) at 0-6 h was significantly different between groups (2.45/1.89/2.01/1.97 for Groups Usual/Pre/30/Comb, p = 0.024). There were no significant differences between the three EA-treated groups. CONCLUSION: In gynecological patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery and treated with multimodal antiemetic methods, one session of preoperative EA may be a safe adjunctive treatment for PONV prophylaxis. Optimal timing of EA requires further verification. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-INR-16010035 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).

Functionalization and Antibacterial Applications of Cellulose-Based Composite Hydrogels.

Pathogens, especially drug-resistant pathogens caused by the abuse of antibiotics, have become a major threat to human health and public health safety. The exploitation and application of new antibacterial agents is extremely urgent. As a natural biopolymer, cellulose has recently attracted much attention due to its excellent hydrophilicity, economy, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In particular, the preparation of cellulose-based hydrogels with excellent structure and properties from cellulose and its derivatives has received increasing attention thanks to the existence of abundant hydrophilic functional groups (such as hydroxyl, carboxy, and aldehyde groups) within cellulose and its derivatives. The cellulose-based hydrogels have broad application prospects in antibacterial-related biomedical fields. The latest advances of preparation and antibacterial application of cellulose-based hydrogels has been reviewed, with a focus on the antibacterial applications of composite hydrogels formed from cellulose and metal nanoparticles; metal oxide nanoparticles; antibiotics; polymers; and plant extracts. In addition, the antibacterial mechanism and antibacterial characteristics of different cellulose-based antibacterial hydrogels were also summarized. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of cellulose-based antibacterial hydrogels in biomedical applications were also discussed.

Mechanisms of the Ping-wei-san plus herbal decoction against Parkinson's disease: Multiomics analyses.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving loss of dopaminergic neurons. Multiple studies implicate the microbiota-gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease pathophysiology. Ping-wei-san plus Herbal Decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine composition with beneficial effects in Parkinson's disease, may have a complex array of actions. Here we sought to determine whether gut microbiota and metabolic pathways are involved in Ping-wei-san plus herbal therapy for Parkinson's disease and to identify functional pathways to guide research. Methods and results: The model of Parkinson's disease were induced with the rotenone. The Ping-wei-san plus group received the PWP herbal decoction for 90 days, after which all groups were analyzed experimentally. PWP herbal treatment improved motor behavior and emotional performance, balanced gut microbiota, and benefited dietary metabolism. Tandem Mass Tags mass spectrometry identified many differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the substantia nigra and duodenum in the PWP group, and these DEPs were enriched in pathways such as those involving cAMP signaling, glutamatergic synapses, dopaminergic synapses, and ribosome-rich functions in the gut. The PWP group showed increases in recombinant tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 3, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat, and pyrin domain containing proteins 6 in the substantia nigra and decreased parkin, gasdermin D, recombinant tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 3, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat and pyrin domain containing proteins 6 in the duodenum. Discussion: In conclusion, this study combined gut microbiota, metabolomics, and proteomics to evaluate the mechanism of action of Ping-wei-san plus on Parkinson's disease and revealed that PWP herbal treatment modulated gut microbiota, altered metabolite biological pathways, and affected functional pathway protein expression in Parkinson's disease mice, resulting in therapeutic effects.