Electroacupuncture alters brain network functional connectivity in subacute stroke: A randomised crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising rehabilitation treatment for upper-limb motor recovery in stroke patients. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying its clinical efficacy remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the immediate modulatory effects of EA on brain network functional connectivity and topological properties. METHODS: The randomized, single-blinded, self-controlled two-period crossover trial was conducted among 52 patients with subacute subcortical stroke. These patients were randomly allocated to receive either EA as the initial intervention or sham electroacupuncture (SEA) as the initial intervention. After a washout period of 24 hours, participants underwent the alternate intervention (SEA or EA). Resting state electroencephalography signals were recorded synchronously throughout both phases of the intervention. The functional connectivity (FC) of the parietofrontal network and small-world (SW) property indices of the whole-brain network were compared across the entire course of the two interventions. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that EA significantly altered ipsilesional parietofrontal network connectivity in the alpha and beta bands (alpha: F = 5.05, P = .011; beta: F = 3.295, P = .047), whereas no significant changes were observed in the SEA group. When comparing between groups, EA significantly downregulated ipsilesional parietofrontal network connectivity in both the alpha and beta bands during stimulation (alpha: t = -1.998, P = .049; beta: t = -2.342, P = .022). Significant differences were also observed in the main effects of time and the group × time interaction for the SW index (time: F = 5.516, P = .026; group × time: F = 6.892, P = .01). In terms of between-group comparisons, the EA group exhibited a significantly higher SW index than the SEA group at the post-stimulation stage (t = 2.379, P = .018). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EA downregulates ipsilesional parietofrontal network connectivity and enhances SW properties, providing a potential neurophysiological mechanism for facilitating motor performance in stroke patients.

Analysis of Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Rhizosphere Soil of Three Astragalus Species Grown in Special High-Cold Environment of Northwestern Yunnan, China.

Astragalus is a medicinal plant with obvious rhizosphere effects. At present, there are many Astragalus plants with high application value but low recognition and resource reserves in the northwestern area of Yunnan province, China. In this study, metagenomics was used to analyze the microbial diversity and community structure of rhizosphere soil of A. forrestii, A. acaulis, and A. ernestii plants grown in a special high-cold environment of northwestern Yunnan, China, at different altitudes ranging from 3225 to 4353 m. These microbes were taxonomically annotated to obtain 24 phyla and 501 genera for A. forrestii, 30 phyla and 504 genera for A. acaulis, as well as 39 phyla and 533 genera for A. ernestii. Overall, the dominant bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, while the dominant fungal ones were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. At the genus level, Bradyrhizobium, Afipia, and Paraburkholderia were the most prevalent bacteria, and Hyaloscypha, Pseudogymnoascus, and Russula were the dominant fungal genera. Some of them are considered biocontrol microbes that could sustain the growth and health of host Astragalus plants. Redundancy analysis revealed that pH, TN, and SOM had a significant impact on the microbial community structures (p < 0.05). Finally, triterpene, flavonoid, polysaccharide, and amino acid metabolisms accounted for a high proportion of the enriched KEGG pathways, which possibly contributed to the synthesis of bioactive constituents in the Astragalus plants.

Prevalence and risk factors of osteoporotic fracture among the elderly population in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Prevalence of osteoporotic fracture (OPF) is increasing with ageing, resulting in a significant financial burden for healthcare. However, research on the nationwide epidemiological data of OPF in Chinese elderly is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of OPF in Chinese population aged 60 years or order. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an elderly Chinese population in five centres. Questionnaire investigation and imaging examination were taken in all participants to identify OPF prevalence and risk factors. Diagnosis of OPF was determined based on imaging of vertebral fractures or history of fall-related fractures. We then used multivariate logistic regression model to analyze the associations between the potential risk factors and OPF. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OPF in population aged 60 years or older was 24.7% (1,071/4,331), showing an increasing trend with age (P < 0.001). The prevalence of OPF was geographically distinct (P < 0.001), but similar between men and women (P > 0.05). Up to 96.8% of OPFs consisted of vertebral fractures, especially involving T11, T12, and L1 segments. Advanced age (≥ 80), vision loss, severe hearing loss, multiple exercise forms, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and trauma-related vertebral fractures were significantly associated with risk factors, while education level and vitamin D supplementation were associated with protective factors of OPF. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of OPF is a serious threat to bone health among elderly people in China. There is an urgent need for effective strategies to diagnose, prevent, and treat OPF in elderly adults.

Phosphate solubilization and plant growth properties are promoted by a lactic acid bacterium in calcareous soil.

On the basis of good phosphate solubilization ability of a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain Limosilactobacillus sp. LF-17, bacterial agent was prepared and applied to calcareous soil to solubilize phosphate and promote the growth of maize seedlings in this study. A pot experiment showed that the plant growth indicators, phosphorus content, and related enzyme activity of the maize rhizospheric soils in the LF treatment (treated with LAB) were the highest compared with those of the JP treatment (treated with phosphate solubilizing bacteria, PSB) and the blank control (CK). The types of organic acids in maize rhizospheric soil were determined through LC-MS, and 12 acids were detected in all the treatments. The abundant microbes belonged to the genera of Lysobacter, Massilia, Methylbacillus, Brevundimonas, and Limosilactobacillus, and they were beneficial to dissolving phosphate or secreting growth-promoting phytohormones, which were obviously higher in the LF and JP treatments than in CK as analyzed by high-throughput metagenomic sequencing methods. In addition, the abundance values of several enzymes, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthology, and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZys), which were related to substrate assimilation and metabolism, were the highest in the LF treatment. Therefore, aside from phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, LAB can be used as environmentally friendly crop growth promoters in agriculture and provide another viable option for microbial fertilizers. KEY POINTS: • The inoculation of LAB strain effectively promoted the growth and chlorophyll synthesis of maize seedlings. • The inoculation of LAB strain significantly increased the TP content of maize seedlings and the AP concentration of the rhizosphere soil. • The inoculation of LAB strain increased the abundances of the dominant beneficial functional microbes in the rhizosphere soil.

Electroencephalography-based parietofrontal connectivity modulated by electroacupuncture for predicting upper limb motor recovery in subacute stroke.

BACKGROUND: Predicting motor recovery in stroke patients is essential for effective rehabilitation planning and goal setting. However, intervention-specific biomarkers for such predictions are limited. This study investigates the potential of electroacupuncture (EA) - induced brain network connectivity as a prognostic biomarker for upper limb motor recovery in stroke. METHODS: A randomized crossover and prospective observational study was conducted involving 40 stroke patients within 30 days of onset. Patients underwent both EA and sham electroacupuncture (SEA) interventions. Simultaneously, resting electroencephalography signals were recorded to assess brain response. Patients' motor function was monitored for 3 months and categorized into Poor and proportional (Prop) recovery groups. The correlations between the targeted brain network of parietofrontal (PF) functional connectivity (FC) during the different courses of the 2 EA interventions and partial least squares regression models were constructed to predict upper limb motor recovery. RESULTS: Before the EA intervention, only ipsilesional PF network FC in the beta band correlated with motor recovery (r = -0.37, P = .041). Post-EA intervention, significant correlations with motor recovery were found in the beta band of the contralesional PF network FC (r = -0.43, P = .018) and the delta and theta bands of the ipsilesional PF network FC (delta: r = -0.59, P = .0004; theta: r = -0.45, P = .0157). No significant correlations were observed for the SEA intervention (all P > .05). Specifically, the delta band ipsilesional PF network FC after EA stimulation significantly differed between Poor and Prop groups (t = 3.474, P = .002, Cohen's d = 1.287, Poor > Prop). Moreover, the partial least squares regression model fitted after EA stimulation exhibited high explanatory power (R2 = 0.613), predictive value (Q2 = 0.547), and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE = 0.192) for predicting upper limb proportional recovery compared to SEA. CONCLUSION: EA-induced PF network FC holds potential as a robust prognostic biomarker for upper limb motor recovery, providing valuable insights for clinical decision-making.

Reduction of selenite to selenium nanospheres by Se(IV)-resistant Lactobacillus paralimentarius JZ07.

Elemental selenium nanosphere is considered to exhibit high bioavailability compared to its salts. In this study, a Se(IV)-resistant Lactobacillus paralimentarius strain JZ07 with great selenium biotransformation ability was screened and the red elemental selenium biosynthesized by it was characterized. The results indicated that Se(0) occurred as major accumulated species and the S atom content of the cells increased significantly in the presence of selenite. The reduced amorphous selenium nanospheres (150 to 300 nm in diameter) deposited in the extracellular space of JZ07 and the cells exhibited altered morphology under selenium stress. The macromolecules containing carboxylate bands and amide groups played an important role in Se(IV) bioaccumulation. The findings of present study indicate that JZ07 can be a promising SeNPs producing probiotic LAB and has the potential to be explored as an alternative source of Se supplements for human or animal consumption.

[Chemical constituents of steroidal saponins in rhizome of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis cultured in vitro].

In this study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) were employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the steroidal saponins in rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis from three different habitats cultured in vitro, in an attempt to explore whether the rhizomes of the medicinal herb cultured in vitro can synthesize the steroidal saponins, including polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ, and Ⅶ, the quality markers specified in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). A total of 20 steroidal saponins were identified in the rhizomes from Changxin, Yunlong(S1), Fengyi, Dali(S2), and Niujie, Eryuan(S3): parisyunnanoside A and parisyunnanoside D or E, proto-polyphyllin Ⅱ, polyphyllins G and H, polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅴ, Ⅵ, and Ⅶ, dioscin, gracillin, prosapogenin A, Tg, isomer of Th, saponin Th, reclinatoside, proto-pairs D, pseudoproto-dioscin, and 23-O-glc-(23S,25R)-spirost-5-en-3ß,23α,27-triol-3-O-rha-(1→2)-[ara(1→4)]-glc or 27-O-glc-(23S,25R)-spirost-5-en-3ß,27α-diol-3-O-rha-(1→2)-[ara(1→4)]-glc. Among them, polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ, and Ⅶ were detected in the rhizomes from S1, with the mass fraction of 0.109 1%, 0.165 2%, and 0.051 03%, respectively(total 0.325 3%). Polyphyllins Ⅱ and Ⅶ were identified in the rhizomes from S2 with the respective mass fraction of 0.192 2% and 0.074 23% and total content of 0.266 5%. Moreover, polyphyllins Ⅱ and Ⅶ were also found in the rhizomes from S3, which had the mass fraction of 0.207 7% and 0.186 9%, separately, with the total content of 0.394 6%. Thus, steroidal saponins, including the quality makers polyphyllins Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅶ recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) can be synthesized in rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis cultured in vitro, but their total content fails to meet the standard(0.60% in Chinese Pharmacopoeia). Therefore, in vitro culture of the Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis is feasible, but the culture conditions need to be further improved.

Environmental damage cost assessment from municipal solid waste treatment based on LIME3 model.

Environmental damage cost can measure the impact of pollution caused by human activity on final safeguard subjects from endpoint perspective. Application of environmental damage cost to municipal solid waste (MSW) management is still rare. To fill such a research gap, this study established a MSW environmental damage cost assessment method using Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method based on Endpoint (LIME) model. Four types of environmental damage cost, namely, primary productivity, social assets, biodiversity and human health for waste treatment were investigated in the city of Shanghai. Results show that the environmental damage cost was 113.7, 116.9, 140.0, 144.0 and 170.8 million dollars in Shanghai from 2014 to 2018, respectively. Damage cost of social assets was the dominant component, accounting for about 55%. Landfill mainly caused social assets damage cost, while incineration mainly caused human health damage cost. Scenarios analysis further revealed that after implementing MSW separation, the total environmental damage cost could be reduced by about 1/3. The best MSW treatment method is fermentation, followed by compost, incineration and landfill, with unit environmental damage cost being 0.22, 4.51, 16.04 and 23.47 USD/ton, respectively.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation.

The mortality rate of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) who develop respiratory muscle paralysis and need mechanical ventilation is increased. Though an unestablished indication, hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has been used to treat patients with mild GBS who do not have respiratory muscle paralysis. The use of HBOT in severe cases has not been reported. We present a patient with severe GBS who received HBOT while ventilated in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber. Three courses of HBOT (one session per day, 10 sessions per course) were administered with a 2-day rest period between each course. The HBOT protocol was 40 minutes at 220 kPa with 25 minutes of compression and decompression. Following weeks of gradual deterioration, motor function improved after the first HBOT session. After eight HBOT sessions, the patient was successfully discontinued from mechanical ventilation and after 10 sessions the patient's muscle strength was significantly improved. After 30 HBOT sessions, the patient had normal breathing and speech, and did not cough when eating. Upper limb muscle strength was graded as 4 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, lower limb muscle strength was graded as MRC 3. The patient was successfully discharged. Mechanically ventilated GBS patients may benefit from HBOT but studies are required to separate spontaneous recovery rates from treatment benefit.

Antioxidants suppress radiation-induced apoptosis via inhibiting MAPK pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is relatively sensitive to ionizing radiation, and radiotherapy is the main treatment modality for non-metastatic NPC. Radiation therapy generates overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause DNA damage and induce apoptosis in tumors, thereby killing the malignant cells. Although dietary antioxidant supplementation reduces oxidative stress and promotes tumor progression, the effects of antioxidants on the NPC cells upon radiation have not been reported. In the present study, we showed that antioxidants (ß-Carotene, NAC, GSH) played an anti-apoptotic role in response to radiation via decreasing ROS production and inhibiting MAPK pathway in NPC cells. Based on that, we conclude that the use of supplemental antioxidants during radiotherapy should be avoided because of the possibility of tumor protection and reduced treatment efficacy.

The Traditional Formula Kai-Xin-San Alleviates Polyglutamine-Mediated Neurotoxicity by Modulating Proteostasis Network in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The inherited polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion diseases are characterized by progressive accumulation of aggregation-prone polyQ proteins, which may provoke proteostasis imbalance and result in significant neurotoxicity. Using polyQ transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models, we find that Kai-Xin-San (KXS), a well-known herbal formula traditionally used to treat mental disorders in China, can alleviate polyQ-mediated neuronal death and associated chemosensory deficiency. Intriguingly, KXS does not reduce polyQ aggregation in vitro as demonstrated by Thioflavin-T test, but does inhibit polyQ aggregation in C. elegans models, indicating an indirect aggregation-inhibitory mechanism. Further investigation reveals that KXS can modulate two key arms of the protein quality control system, that is, heat shock response and autophagy, to clear polyQ aggregates, but has little effect on proteasome activity. In addition, KXS is able to reduce oxidative stress, which is involved in proteostasis and neurodegeneration, but has no effect on life span or dietary restriction response. To examine potential interaction of the four component herbs of KXS, a dissection strategy was used to study the effects of differential herbal combinations in C. elegans polyQ models. While the four herbs do contribute additively to KXS function, Panax ginseng is found to be the most effective constituent. Taken together, these findings not only demonstrate the neuroprotective ability of KXS but also suggest its potential as a proteostasis regulator in protein aggregation disorders and provide an insight into the mechanism studies of traditionally used complex prescriptions and their rationality.

[Clinical observation on the inflammatory indexes in septic gastrointestinal dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2)].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on the inflammatory indexes of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2). METHODS: A total of 118 patients of septic gastrointestinal dysfunction were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 59 cases in each one. In the control group, mosapride citrate was prescribed for oral administration, 5 mg each time, 3 times a day, bifidobacterium triple viable capsules, 420 mg each time, twice a day, intravenous drip with omeprazole, 40 mg, twice a day. Additionally, the antibiotics and the symptomatic treatment were selected rationally for maintaining the functions of the important organs, e.g. heart, lung, brain and kidney, and water-electrolyte balance. In the observation group, on the routine management as the control group, acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2, T6-T12) was added, the needles were retained for 30 min in each treatment, once a day, 10 days as one course and 1 course was required. Separately, on the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th days of treatment, the white blood cell (WBC) count, the levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were observed, the enteral nutrition feeding dose and gastrointestinal dysfunction score before and after treatment as well as the clinical effect were assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: The differences were not significant in the indexes mentioned above on 1st and 3rd days of treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). On the 6th and 10th days of treatment, regarding the gastrointestinal dysfunction score and inflammatory indexes count, the results in the observation group were lower than the control group (all P<0.05), and feeding dose in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the gastrointestinal dysfunction scores and inflammatory indexes count were all reduced and feeding dose was increased as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 91.5% (54/59) in the observation group, higher than 76.3% (45/59) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points achieves the satisfactory effect on septic gastrointestinal dysfunction and reduces the inflammatory indexes count.

[Efficacy of acupuncture for spastic cerebral palsy in infancy stage].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for spastic cerebral palsy in infancy stage. METHODS: A total of 62 children with spastic cerebral palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases in each one. Both groups were given comprehensive rehabilitation therapy (sport therapy, electronic biofeedback therapy, speech cognitive training, massage therapy). On the basis of comprehensive rehabilitation therapy, the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), motor area, Jiaji (EX-B 2), Weizhong (BL 40), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Zusanli (ST 36) and Hegu (LI 4), etc, the needles were retained for 15-20 min each time, once a day, 5 days a week, 45 days as a course with 10 days interval, a total of 3 courses were required. The Gesell development scale adaptive DQ scores, gross motor function measure (GMFM88) and muscular tension of adductor and gastrocnemius muscle were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The Gesell development scale adaptive DQ score after treatment in the observation group was increased (P<0.05), there was no significant difference before and after treatment in the control group (P>0.05), the change of the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the GMFM88 scores in the two groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), the change of the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the muscular tension of the adductor in the two groups were decreased (P<0.05), the change of the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the muscle tension of the gastrocnemius muscle in the two groups were decreased (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the two groups in the variation range (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy can improve cognitive function, spasticity and motor function of children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Effects of Ginkgo leaf tablets on the pharmacokinetics of atovastatin in rats.

Context: Ginkgo leaf tablets (GLT), an effective traditional Chinese multi-herbal formula, are often combined with atorvastatin calcium (AC) for treating coronary heart disease in clinic. Objective: This study investigated the effects of GLT on the pharmacokinetics of AC and the potential mechanism. Materials and methods: The pharmacokinetics of AC (oral administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg) with or without pre-treatment of GLT (oral administered at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 10 days) were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of GLT on the metabolic stability of AC were also investigated using rat liver microsome incubation systems. Results: The results indicated that the Cmax increased from 36.84 ± 4.21 to 48.68 ± 6.35 ng/mL, and the AUC(0-t) increased from 135.82 ± 21.05 to 77.28 ± 12.92 ng h/mL, and t1/2 also increased from 2.62 ± 0.31 to 3.32 ± 0.57 h when GLT and AC were co-administered. The metabolic stability of AC was also increased (48.2 ± 6.7 vs. 36.7 ± 5.3 min) with the pre-treatment of GLT. Discussion: This study indicated that the main components in GLT could accelerate the metabolism of AC in rat liver microsomes and change the pharmacokinetic behaviours of AC. So these results showed that the herb-drug interaction between GLT and AC might occur, and the clinical efficacy could increase when they were co-administered. Therefore, the clinical dose of AC should be decreased when GLT and AC are co-administered.

Variant angina induced by carbon monoxide poisoning: A CARE compliant case report.

RATIONALE: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can cause severe damage to the nervous system, and can also cause serious damage to organs, such as the heart, kidneys, and lungs. CO damage to myocardial cells has been previously reported. This can lead to serious complications, such as myocardial infarction. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 47-year-old female patient complained of sudden chest pain for 30 minutes. Before admission, the patient had non-radiating burning chest pain after inhalation of soot. DIAGNOSIS: An electrocardiogram showed that myocardial ischemia was progressively aggravated, manifested by progressive ST-segment elevation, and accompanied by T wave inversion and other changes. No obvious coronary stenosis was observed in a coronary angiographic examination. Therefore, the patient was considered to have developed variant angina resulting from CO poisoning-induced coronary artery spasm. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with drugs for improving blood circulation and preventing thrombosis, and underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy. OUTCOMES: Clinical symptoms relieved after the treatment. LESSONS: Findings from this case suggest that CO can cause coronary artery spasm and it is one of the predisposing factors of variant angina. For these patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve blood circulation and prevent formation of thrombus and encephalopathy.

Unconventional Antiferromagnetic Quantum Critical Point in Ba(Fe_{0.97}Cr_{0.03})_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2}.

We have systematically studied physical properties of Ba(Fe_{0.97}Cr_{0.03})_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2}, where superconductivity in BaFe_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2} is fully suppressed by just 3% of Cr substitution of Fe. A quantum critical point is revealed at x∼0.42, where non-Fermi-liquid behaviors similar to those in BaFe_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2} are observed. Neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering measurements suggest that the quantum critical point is associated with the antiferromagnetic order, which is not of conventional spin-density-wave type as evidenced by the ω/T scaling of spin excitations. On the other hand, no divergence of low-temperature nematic susceptibility is observed when x is decreased to 0.42 from higher doping level, demonstrating that there are no nematic quantum critical fluctuations. Our results suggest that non-Fermi-liquid behaviors in iron-based superconductors can be solely resulted from the antiferromagnetic quantum critical fluctuations, which cast doubts on the role of nematic fluctuations played in the normal-state properties in iron-based superconductors.

[Clinical trials of acupuncture of Jiaji (EX-B2) for treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction in sepsis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture of Huatuo Jiaji (EX-B2) in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction in sepsis patients, aiming at providing new clinical approach and evidence for improving septic gastrointestinal activity. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with septic gastrointestinal dysfunction who met our inclusive criteria were randomly divided into control group and treatment group (n＝20 cases in each). Patients in the control group received routine treatment of nasogastric mosapride citrate (5 mg/time, three times a day) and tifidobacterium triple viable capsules (420 mg, twice a day), intravenous infusion of omeprazole (40 mg, twice a day), rational dose of antibiotics, maintenance treatment of functions of the heart, lung, brain, kidney and other important organs and water electrolyte balance, as well as symptomatic treatment. Patients of the treatment group were treated by acupuncture of EX-B2 on the basis of routine treatment mentioned above in the control group. The acupuncture needle was inserted into EX-B2, twirled for a while and retained for 30 min, once a day for 10 successive days. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score was given according to Knaus and colleagues' method, the intra-abdominal pressure was detected by using a manometer which was connected to an inserted canal in the urinary bladder, and the intragatric residul volume detected by using an injection syriange pumping via a nasal feeding tube. RESULTS: After the treatment, the APACHE II score, intra-abdominal pressure and intragastric residual volume on day 10 were significantly decreased in both groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment (P<0.05), while the borborygmus levels on day 10 were considerably increased in both groups relevant to their own pre-treatment (P<0.05). The APACHE II scores, intra-abdominal pressure and intragastric residual volume on day 3, 6 and 10 were significantly lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05), whereas the borborygmus levels at the 3rd , 6th and 10th day in the treatment group were apparently higher than those of the control group (P<0.05)．. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of EX-B2 has a good curative effect in improving gastrointestinal dysfunction in sepsis patients.

Therapeutic effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection combined with telmisartan in patients with diabetic nephropathy by influencing collagen IV and fibronectin: A case-control study.

Involvement of collagen IV (ColIV) and fibronectin (FN) in the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the effects of telmisartan and Salvia miltiorrhiza injection in the treatment of the patients were investigated. Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with stage IV DN were selected as the case group, and another 110 normal healthy subjects were incorporated as the control group. Involved patients were subdivided into different groups according to different treatment therapies; patients in the telmisartan group (T group) were given oral telmisartan; patients in the Salvia miltiorrhiza injection + telmisartan (S + T group) were administered with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection combined with telmisartan treatment, and there was a group of patients who received no intervention as the placebo group. After intervention, levels of glycemic indexes and renal damage indexes indicated downwards trends both in the T group and the S + T group when compared to the placebo group; besides, levels in the S + T group were much lower than those in the T group (all P<0.05). Additionally, in comparison among the above three intervention groups, differences in the fasting blood glucose, 2 h post-prandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion rate were significant after treatment (all P<0.05). Further, before intervention, both Co1IV and FN in the urine were increased in the case group compared to the control group (all P<0.05). After intervention, both levels were apparently decreased. There were remarkable differences of Co1IV and FN levels in the urine when compared among three different intervention groups after treatment (P<0.05). Increased ColIV and FN levels may be partially responsible for the development of DN. Salvia miltiorrhiza injection with telmisartan have beneficial synergistic effects for DN patients through attenuating the increase in ColIV and FN, reversing hyperglycemia state and postponing ultrastructure changes of glomerular basement membrane.

DNA Barcoding for the Identification and Authentication of Animal Species in Traditional Medicine.

Animal-based traditional medicine not only plays a significant role in therapeutic practices worldwide but also provides a potential compound library for drug discovery. However, persistent hunting and illegal trade markedly threaten numerous medicinal animal species, and increasing demand further provokes the emergence of various adulterants. As the conventional methods are difficult and time-consuming to detect processed products or identify animal species with similar morphology, developing novel authentication methods for animal-based traditional medicine represents an urgent need. During the last decade, DNA barcoding offers an accurate and efficient strategy that can identify existing species and discover unknown species via analysis of sequence variation in a standardized region of DNA. Recent studies have shown that DNA barcoding as well as minibarcoding and metabarcoding is capable of identifying animal species and discriminating the authentics from the adulterants in various types of traditional medicines, including raw materials, processed products, and complex preparations. These techniques can also be used to detect the unlabelled and threatened animal species in traditional medicine. Here, we review the recent progress of DNA barcoding for the identification and authentication of animal species used in traditional medicine, which provides a reference for quality control and trade supervision of animal-based traditional medicine.

Combined effects of phosphate-solubilizing bacterium XMT-5 (Rhizobium sp.) and submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum on phosphorus release in eutrophic lake sediments.

Simulation experiments were conducted using sediments collected from the Taihu Lake to determine the combined effects of submerged macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) strain XMT-5 (Rhizobium sp.) on phosphorus (P) concentrations in overlying waters and sediments. After 30 days of experimental incubation, the total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) concentrations of the overlying water subjected to AMB and AHMB treatments (both with the combined effects of PSB cells and submerged macrophytes) were generally lower than those of the AM (with individual effects of inoculated C. demersum) and AB (with individual effects of a smaller amount of inoculated PSB cells) control treatments but higher than that of the A (with no effects of inoculated PSB cells or C. demersum) and AHB (with individual effects of a larger amount of inoculated PSB) control treatments. The TP contents of the sediment in the AMB and AHMB treatments were significantly lower than those of the other control treatments. The TP contents of the C. demersum cocultured with the PSB strain XMT-5 cells in the AMB and AHMB treatments were all significantly higher than that of the AM treatment, indicating the enhancement of P uptake by submerged plants inoculated with PSB. The bacterial diversity structures of the rhizosphere sediment subjected to different treatments were also analyzed by the high-throughput sequencing method. According to the ACE and Chao 1 indices, the bacterial diversity in the AMB and AHMB treatments were the highest. Although many sources contributed to the decrease in the nutrient loads of the lake sediment, harvesting macrophytes inoculated with PSB cells prior to their senescence might constitute a significant in-lake measure for reducing internal P load.