The Preservation Effect of Chitosan-hawthorn Leaf Extract Coating on Strawberries.

Strawberries rapidly deteriorate postharvest, necessitating effective measures to extend their shelf life. This study focused on developing an eco-friendly chitosan-based protective film for strawberry preservation. Strawberries were treated with a coating solution containing varying concentrations of hawthorn leaf extract (HLE) (0.4%, 0.7%, and 1.0%), 1.5% chitosan (CH), and 1% acetic acid. The results demonstrated that coating strawberry fruit with 1% CH-HLE notably delayed fruit spoilage. In-depth analysis revealed that, compared with the uncoated strawberry fruits, the 1% CH-HLE coating effectively reduced weight loss, the respiration intensity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide anion (O2·-) production. Additionally, the coated strawberries exhibited improved firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C (Vc) content, titratable acidity (TA), and total phenolic compound (TPC) content. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the CH-HLE-coated strawberries were greater than those in their uncoated counterparts. The application of a 1% CH-HLE coating successfully delayed spoilage and extend the shelf life of the strawberries by approximately 4-5 days. These findings suggest that CH-HLE has significant potential as a resource for protecting fruits and vegetables, offering an environmentally sustainable solution for postharvest preservation.

Irisin attenuates vascular remodeling in hypertensive mice induced by Ang II by suppressing Ca2+-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress in VSMCs.

Vascular remodeling plays a vital role in hypertensive diseases and is an important target for hypertension treatment. Irisin, a newly discovered myokine and adipokine, has been found to have beneficial effects on various cardiovascular diseases. However, the pharmacological effect of irisin in antagonizing hypertension-induced vascular remodeling is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the protection and mechanisms of irisin against hypertension and vascular remodeling induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). Adult male mice of wild-type, FNDC5 (irisin-precursor) knockout, and FNDC5 overexpression were used to develop hypertension by challenging them with Ang II subcutaneously in the back using a microosmotic pump for 4 weeks. Similar to the attenuation of irisin on Ang II-induced VSMCs remodeling, endogenous FNDC5 ablation exacerbated, and exogenous FNDC5 overexpression alleviated Ang II-induced hypertension and vascular remodeling. Aortic RNA sequencing showed that irisin deficiency exacerbated intracellular calcium imbalance and increased vasoconstriction, which was parallel to the deterioration in both ER calcium dysmetabolism and ER stress. FNDC5 overexpression/exogenous irisin supplementation protected VSMCs from Ang II-induced remodeling by improving endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. This improvement includes inhibiting Ca2+ release from the ER and promoting the re-absorption of Ca2+ into the ER, thus relieving Ca2+-dependent ER stress. Furthermore, irisin was confirmed to bind to its receptors, αV/ß5 integrins, to further activate the AMPK pathway and inhibit the p38 pathway, leading to vasoprotection in Ang II-insulted VSMCs. These results indicate that irisin protects against hypertension and vascular remodeling in Ang II-challenged mice by restoring calcium homeostasis and attenuating ER stress in VSMCs via activating AMPK and suppressing p38 signaling.

Effects of different selenium sources and levels on the physiological state, selenoprotein expression, and production and preservation of selenium-enriched eggs in laying hens.

Selenium (i.e., Se) is a trace element that is vital in poultry nutrition, and optimal forms and levels of Se are critical for poultry productivity and health. This study aimed to compare the effects of sodium selenite (SS), yeast selenium (SY), and methionine selenium (SM) at selenium levels of 0.15 mg/kg and 0.30 mg/kg on production performance, egg quality, egg selenium content, antioxidant capacity, immunity and selenoprotein expression in laying hens. The trial was conducted in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, and a total of 576 forty-three-wk-old Hyland Brown laying hens were randomly assigned into 6 treatment groups, with diets supplemented with 0.15 mg Se/kg and 0.3 mg Se/kg of SS, SY and SM for 8 wk, respectively. Results revealed that SM increased the laying rate compared to SS and SY (P < 0.05), whereas different selenium levels had no effect. Organic selenium improved egg quality, preservation performance, and selenium deposition compared to SS (P < 0.05), while SY and SM had different preferences for Se deposition in the yolk and albumen. Also, organic selenium enhanced the antioxidant capacity and immune functions of laying hens at 0.15 mg Se/kg, whereas no obvious improvement was observed at 0.30 mg Se/kg. Moreover, SY and SM increased the mRNA expression of most selenoproteins compared to SS (P < 0.05), with SM exhibiting a more pronounced effect. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPx2), thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs), selenoprotein K (SelK), selenoprotein S (SelS), and antioxidant and immune properties. In conclusion, the use of low-dose organic selenium is recommended as a more effective alternative to inorganic selenium, and a dosage of 0.15 mg Se/kg from SM is recommended based on the trail conditions.

TCM monotherapy achieves significant efficacy in crizotinib-refractory advanced NSCLC with brain metastasis.

RATIONALE: The morbidity and mortality of lung cancer rank the first among all kinds of cancer. In China, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive pulmonary tumors account for nearly 5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and these patients are quite likely to develop brain metastases, as high as around 45%. Although anaplastic lymphoma kinase-tyrosine kinase inhibitors crizotinib and alectinib have proved effective for controlling tumor metastases to the brain, drug resistance and disease progression cannot be ignored in the course of treatment. PATIENT CONCERNS: Most of the literature reports that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has produced satisfactory results in the treatment of cancer patients as an adjuvant treatment for various malignancies in a 53-year-old male patient who developed advanced NSCLC with brain metastases. As first-line crizotinib and erlotinib treatments were ineffective and the intracranial lesions progressed extensively, the patient chose to receive TCM treatment alone in the hope of prolonging his life and improving his quality of life. DIAGNOSES: A 53-year-old male patient who developed advanced NSCLC with brain metastasis. Because first-line crizotinib and alectinib have failed, and the intracranial lesions progressed in a large area. INTERVENTIONS: The patient requested that the final therapeutic strategy be Chinese medicine as monotherapy for long-term treatment. The patient took 30 mL of the decoction 1 hour after a meal, 3 times a day. The patient was not treated with dehydrating agents or diuretics during the TCM treatment. OUTCOMES: The improvement was obvious after 3 months of treatment, and significant reduction of cranial lesions. During the follow-up period, the patient developed neither severe liver damage nor kidney damage. LESSONS: This case is the first 1 in the world where TCM was introduced as monotherapy for severe conditions with extensive brain metastases and achieved remarkable efficacy.

Restoring microcirculatory perfusion in a preclinical model of severe hemorrhagic shock: The role of microcirculatory function.

BACKGROUND: No reflow in capillaries (no reflow) is the lack of tissue perfusion that occurs once central hemodynamics are restored. This prevents oxygen transfer and debt repayment to vital tissues after shock resuscitation. Since metabolic swelling of cells and tissues can cause no reflow, it is a target for study in shock. We hypothesize no reflow secondary to metabolic cell swelling causes the problem not addressed by current strategies that increase central hemodynamics alone. METHODS: Anesthetized swine were bled until plasma lactate reached 7.5 mM to 9 mM. Intravenous low volume resuscitation solutions were administered (6.8 mL/kg over 5 minutes) consisting of; (1) lactated Ringer (LR), (2) autologous whole blood, (3) high-dose vitamin C (200 mg/kg), or (4) 10% PEG-20k, a polymer-based cell impermeant that corrects metabolic cell swelling. Outcomes were macrohemodynamics (MAP), plasma lactate, capillary flow in the gut and tongue mucosa using orthogonal polarization spectral imaging (OPSI), and survival to 4 hours. RESULTS: All PEG-20k resuscitated swine survived 240 minutes with MAP above 60 mm Hg compared with 50% and 0% of the whole blood and LR groups, respectively. The vitamin C group died at just over 2 hours with MAPs below 40 and high lactate. The LR swine only survived 30 minutes and died with low MAP and high lactate. Capillary flow positively correlated ( p < 0.05) with survival and MAP. Sublingual OPSI correlated with intestinal OPSI and OPSI was validated with a histological technique. DISCUSSION: Targeting micro-hemodynamics in resuscitation may be more important than macrohemodynamics. Fixing both is optimal. Sublingual OPSI is clinically achievable to assess micro-hemodynamic status. Targeting tissue cell swelling that occurs during ATP depletion in shock using optimized osmotically active cell impermeants in crystalloid low volume resuscitation solutions improves perfusion in shocked tissues, which leverages a primary mechanism of injury.

[Development of General Practice in Communities From the Perspective of Supply and Demand].

Objective To put forward suggestions for improving the scheme of general practice for functional communities from the perspective of supply and demand,guide the efficient use of the resources of general practice by the communities,and incorporate the general practice of communities into hierarchical diagnosis and treatment management. Methods In July 2021,stratified random sampling was employed to conduct the questionnaire surveys of the young and middle-aged (demand side) and the general practitioners (supply side),respectively.SPSS 20.0 was used for data analysis. Results The two sides had the same cognition about the main reasons for not signing a contract with a family doctor,which were the lack of knowledge about general practitioners and the lack of face-to-face communication opportunities.They had the same response about the form of services,with high acceptance of medical services via WeChat,outpatient consultation,and the internet.There were differences in service content between the two sides.The top three demands of the young and middle-aged were appointment registration and referral in superior hospitals,medication guidance,and massage,acupuncture,and moxibustion.The top service self-rated by general practitioners was personalized guidance and report interpretation of physical examination,and the bottom was massage,acupuncture,and moxibustion. Conclusions The general practice varies between the demand and supply sides.General practitioners should be encouraged to enter and learn functional communities and provide personalized services,thus improving the general medical service in functional communities.

[Clinical Study of San Wei Sheng Huo Decoction in the Treatment of Refractory Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of treating refractory chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (RCIT) with San Wei Sheng Huo Decoction (SWSHD) as the main formula. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted and the data of RCIT patients treated with SWSHD as the main formula were collected. Changes in peripheral blood platelet (PLT) levels at different time points of treatment were examined and the significant effective rate (SER) and effective rate (ER) were analyzed. We measured the increase in peripheral blood PLT count before and after treatment, analyzed the differences in PLT count increase for different degrees of RCIT treatment, and evaluated the safety of the treatment. Results: A total of 35 cases of RCIT were included in the study. With SWSHD as the main treatment formula, the 2-week ER and SER were 74.29% and 14.29%, respectively, the 2-month ER and SER were 84.38% and 60.50, respectively, and the 1-year ER and SER were 92.31% and 80.77%, respectively. PLT count increased at all time points after treatment compared with that before treatment ( P<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that, 2 months after treatment started, peripheral blood PLT counts increased by as much as 51.02×10 9L －1 in the severe RCIT group, higher than that of the moderate RCIT group at 36.58×10 9L －1 ( P<0.05), and the difference persisted until 1 year after the treatment. No obvious traditional Chinese medicine-related adverse reaction was observed during the treatment. Conclusion: SWSHD takes effect rapidly and its effect is long-lasting and stable. Furthermore, SWSHD has a more significant effect on severe RCIT.

The clinical diagnostic value of plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p levels in retinoblastoma.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the abnormal expression of plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p in retinoblastoma (Rb) and explore the clinical diagnostic value of their expression levels for Rb. Methods: The 100 Rb patients who came to Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2018 to January 2019 were selected as the Rb group, and 100 healthy patients who came to the physical examination centre during the same period were selected as the control group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p in all subjects; analyse the relationship between plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p levels and the clinicopathological characteristics of Rb. Pearson correlation analysis evaluated the relationship between plasma miR-592 and miR-217-3p levels and overall survival. Results: Plasma levels of miR-592 and miR-217-3p in the Rb group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.0001), and the expression of miR-592 was significantly correlated with family genetic history (p 0.0001), tumour bias (p=0.0081), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0048) and pathological grade (p=0.0025), and the expression of miR-217-3p was significantly related to family genetic history (p 0.0001), optic nerve infiltration (p 0.0001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.0090), and pathological grade (p 0.0001). The high expression of miR-592 and miR-217-3p presents a more serious pathological manifestation of Rb, and the overall survival of patients is significantly shortened with the increase of miR-592 (r=-0.2276, p=0.0052) and miR-217-3p levels (r=-0.6461, p 0.0001). Conclusions: and miR-217-3p are highly expressed in the plasma of Rb patients, and their elevated levels present severe pathological manifestations of Rb and shortened overall survival, which is expected to become biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of Rb.

Acupuncture Enhances Signals at Sensitized Acupoints to Elevate Pressure Pain Threshold in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the pressure pain threshold (PPT), skin conductance (SC) and blood perfusion (BP) of the sensitized acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and explore the mechanism of acupuncture at the sensitized acupoints for treating diseases. METHODS: Eleven healthy subjects and 11 unilateral KOA patients were recruited from July 2020 to March 2021 in this study. The PPT, SC and BP of control acupoints in healthy controls, and non-sensitized and sensitized acupoints in KOA patients were measured and compared between baseline and after manual acupuncture (MA) treatment. RESULTS: Before MA treatment, lower PPT was observed at the sensitized acupoints compared with non-sensitized and control acupoints (P<0.05). After MA treatment, PPT at the sensitized acupoints increased significantly in KOA patients (P<0.05). Before MA treatment, there was no statistical difference in SC and BP among control, non-sensitized and sensitized acupoints (P>0.05). Compared with the control and non-sensitized acupoints, there were significant increases of SC and BP in sensitized acupoints of KOA patients after MA treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: MA at sensitized acupoints could elevate PPT of KOA patients, which may be associated with the increment of SC and BP.

Prim-O-glucosycimifugin attenuates liver injury in septic mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome/caspase-1 signaling cascades in macrophages.

BACKGROUND: Liver dysfunction and liver failure are serious complications of sepsis, directly leading to septic progression and death. Now, there is no specific therapeutics available for sepsis-related liver dysfunction. Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (POG), a chromone richest in the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk, is usually used to treat headache, rheumatoid arthritis and tetanus. While, the underlying mechanisms of POG against sepsis-induced liver damage and dysfunction are still not clear. PURPOSE: To study the anti-sepsis effect of POG, and its pharmacological mechanism to protect liver injury by weakening the function of macrophages in septic livers through inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway. METHOD: In vivo experiments, septic mouse model was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and then the mortality was detected, liver inflammatory damages and plasma biomarkers of liver injury were evaluated by histopathological staining and biochemical assays, respectively. In vitro experiments, mouse primary peritoneal macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ATP, and then the activated-inflammasomes, macrophage migration and polarization were detected by ASC immunofluorescence staining, transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. NLRP3 inflammasome components NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 protein expressions were detected using western blot assays, and the contents of IL-1ß and IL-18 were measured by ELISA assays. RESULTS: POG treatment significantly decreased the mortality, liver inflammatory damages, hepatocyte apoptosis and plasma biomarkers of liver injury in CLP-challenged male WT mice, which were comparable to those in ibuprofen (a putative anti-inflammatory drug)-supplemented septic male WT mice and septic NLRP3 deficient-male mice. POG supplementation significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in septic liver tissues and cultured macrophages, by significantly reducing NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 levels, the activated-inflammasome ASC specks, and macrophage infiltration and migration, as well as M1-like polarization, but significantly increasing M2-like polarization. These findings were similar to the pharmacological effects of ibuprofen, NLRP3 deficiency, and a special NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950. CONCLUSION: POG protected against sepsis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated macrophage activation in septic liver and attenuating liver inflammatory injury, indicating that it may be a potential anti-sepsis drug candidate.

The Impact of Qigong and Tai Chi Exercise on Drug Addiction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous preliminary studies have found that qigong exercises produced significant effects in healthy people and in various clinical populations. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effects of qigong and tai chi exercise on individuals with drug addiction. Methods: A systematic search of seven English databases and three Chinese databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized comparative studies (NRS) assessing the effects of qigong and tai chi on drug addiction. Study quality was assessed using the Checklist for the Evaluation of Non-Pharmaceutical Trial Reports (CLEAR-NPT). Results: Two RCTs and nine NRS studies were included in this study, including a total of 1072 patients with drug addiction (age range, 27-43 years). The results showed that qigong and tai chi exercise had a significant overall effect on depression (SMD = -0.353, 95%CI [-0.548, -0.159]), anxiety (SMD = -0.541, 95%CI [-0.818, -0.264]), quality of life (SMD = 0.673, 95%CI [0.438, 0.907]), and sleep quality (SMD = -0.373, 95%CI [-0.631, -0.116]). The subgroup analysis found that qigong outperformed tai chi on the improving depression, anxiety, and sleep quality. Conclusion: Existing studies suggest that qigong and tai chi are effective at improving depression, anxiety, and quality of life in drug users; however, the evidence from rigorous randomized controlled group trials is lacking.

The Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism of miR-27a rs895819 and the Expression of miR-27a in Helicobacter pylori-Related Diseases and the Correlation with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome.

Aims: The study aims to explore the effects of the single-nucleotide polymorphism of miR-27a and its expression in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-related diseases and the relationship between gastric pathology and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods: Subjects were classified into six histopathological groups and five TCM syndrome groups. All specimens underwent H. pylori detection through rapid urease test and methylene blue staining. Histopathological characteristics were observed by hematoxylin-eosin. The expression of miR-27a and its genotype were, respectively, detected by Quantitative Real-Time PCR and direct sequencing. Results: H. pylori promoted the malignant evolution of gastric mucosa and were involved in the formation of TCM syndrome. In H. pylori-positive patients, the frequency of miR-27a CT genotype at the rs895819 locus and its expression in the gastric cancer group were higher than those in other pathological groups. TCM syndrome had a close relationship with histopathological changes, and patients with spleen-qi deficiency syndrome had a higher risk of gastric cancer than other syndromes, regardless of H. pylori infection. Conclusion: The C allele at miR-27a rs895819 locus may be an oncogene in gastric cancer. High levels of miR-27a could play an important role in gastric malignant evolution, especially cancerization. There is a certain connection between TCM syndrome and pathological changes of the gastric mucosa to some extent, where patients with SQD syndrome had a higher risk of GC.

Visual Sensor Image Analysis and Massage Techniques to Prevent and Treat Common Injuries of Sports Dance Practitioners.

In recent years, the performance of sports dance in China has become better and better. Naturally, the technical requirements for this dance are getting higher and higher, and the number and intensity of training have also increased, which has led to increasing injuries in sports dance. This article is based on visual sensor images to analyze and study the common injuries and prevention of sports dance practitioners. It is aimed at providing a certain reference basis for athletes' injuries, so that dance practitioners and coaches can better master sports dance training and teaching. Injury-related rules and prevention reduce the injury rate. This article puts forward the related technology of a visual sensor image and applies its technology to the prevention and research of common injuries in sports dance. At the same time, it analyzes the causes of sports dance practitioners' injuries and seeks economical and affordable massage techniques for prevention, and the method of treatment provides protection for dance practitioners. The experimental results in this article show that the Tuina group cured 15 subjects, 41 subjects were markedly effective, 13 subjects were improved, and 6 subjects were unhealed. The total effective rate was 92%.

The Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong Exercise on Psychological Status in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of Tai Chi and Qigong exercise on adolescents' symptoms of depression and anxiety, and psychological status based on clinical evidences, and to calculate the pooled results using meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search using seven English and three Chinese databases was initiated to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-randomized comparison studies (NRS) assessing the effect of Tai Chi and Qigong exercise on psychological status among adolescents. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to determine the pooled effect of the intervention. Study quality was evaluated using a Checklist to Evaluate a Report of a Non-pharmacological Trial (CLEAR-NPT) designed for non-pharmacological trials. Results: Four RCTs and six NRS were identified, including 1,244 adolescents. The results suggested a potential beneficial effect of Tai chi and Qigong exercise on reducing anxiety (SMD = 0.386, 95 CI% [0.233, 0.538]) and depression (SMD = 1.937 [95 CI%, 1.392-2.546]) symptoms, and reducing cortisol level (SMD = 0.621 [95 CI%, 0.18-1.062]) in adolescents. Conversely, non-significant effects were found for stress, mood, and self-esteem. Conclusions: The findings of this review suggest Qigong appears to be an effective therapeutic modality to improve psychological well-being in adolescents. Hope future studies will have rigorously designed, well-controlled randomized trials with large sample sizes in order to confirm these findings.

Efficacy and safety of Qingre-Chushi therapies in active ulcerative colitis: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an increasing incidence in the world. Qingre-Chushi therapies (QC) can alleviate clinical symptoms. Therefore, a network meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of QC in the treatment of active UC patients. METHODS: 7 databases were screened and relevant randomized controlled trials were selected. The tools of Cochrane Handbook and the GRADE system were conducted to assess the quality of outcomes. Pooled risk ratio or standard mean difference was calculated with 95% credible interval for outcomes measurement using the random-effects model. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was performed to rank the treatments. The larger SUCRA scores, the more effective interventions. RESULTS: A total of 3560 articles were identified and 21 studies including 1829 participants were included for further analysis. Totally, 9 therapies regimens were compared: oral mesalazine, mesalazine enema, mesalazine suppository, oral mesalazine + mesalazine enema, oral QC, oral QC + oral mesalazine, QC enema, oral QC + QC enema, and oral mesalazine + QC enema. Based on the SUCRA plot, oral QC + oral mesalazine was the best treatment in inducing clinical response; oral QC + QC enema had the best efficacy in the improvement of Mayo scores and alleviating abdominal pain; oral mesalazine + mesalazine enema was the optimal therapy in the endoscopic improvement and reducing diarrhea; QC enema + oral mesalazine was the best option in preventing bloody stool. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy and safety of QC in treating active UC and suggested that the combination of oral medications with topical can achieve more benefits.

[Release Risk of Phosphorus by Sediments and Its Influencing Factors in Ponds and Ditches of a New Urban District Park].

This study examined five ponds and three ditches in the Shufengwan Sports Park in a new urban district of Hefei City, from which surface-layer sediments and overlying water samples were collected during autumn, winter, and summer. The equilibrium phosphate concentrations (EPC0) of the sediments and its response to exogenous carbon or nitrogen were then measured. The resulting EPC0values were used to assess the risk of phosphorus release by the sediments. Finally, major factors influencing phosphorous release were identified using the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) method. The sediments in the urban park exhibited a light-to-moderate level of phosphorous pollution, with the total phosphorus content (TP) ranging from 209.28 to 713.51 mg·kg-1 and biologically available phosphorus accounting for 18.51%-36.21% of the total phosphorus content. Under ambient background, the EPC0 values in pond sediments were 0.012-0.142 mg·L-1, with a mean value of 0.057 mg·L-1, while in ditches the values ranged from 0.036 to 0.156 mg·L-1 with an average value of 0.078 mg·L-1. The addition of exogenous carbon increased the EPC0 values (by approximately 47.5% in pond 3), and thus increased the risk of phosphorus release from sediments, in pond 1, 3, and ditch 1. However, EPC0 values of the other ponds and ditches decreased (in particular, by approximately 58.6% in pond 5), indicating that the risk of phosphorus release decreased. After the addition of exogenous nitrogen, the EPC0 values of almost all ponds and ditches declined to varying degrees (except in ditches 1 and 2 during the summer). In particular, in the EPC0 value of pond 2 declined by approximately 51.6%. The declining values imply that nitrogen was a limiting factor in phosphorus uptake by sediments in ponds and ditches. According to the results of PLSR, nitrogen and phosphorus had different effects on the EPC0 values of sediments in ponds and ditches.

Pharmacological treatments of Chinese herbal medicine for irritable bowel syndrome in adults: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Plenty of clinical studies have suggested the value of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but their efficacy and safety have not been systematically concluded yet. This article aimed to compare and rank the therapeutic effect and safety of CHM with routine pharmacotherapies and placebo in the treatment of IBS. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials regarding CHM to treat IBS were searched in six databases from inception to Jan 31, 2020. A network meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the data of included publications. The quality assessment was assessed by Cochrane Handbook and GRADEpro software. The risk ratio was calculated for dichotomous outcomes while the standardized mean difference was used for continuous variables with 95% credible intervals. A Funnel plot was performed to evaluate publication bias. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve was conducted to rank the included interventions. Data were analyzed with STATA 15.0 and Review Manager 5.3. RESULT: 3194 records were searched, and 28 eligible trials involving 3323 patients ere identified. Compared with conventional therapies and placebo, Jianpi-Chushi therapy showed significant improvement in adequate relief and IBS symptom severity scale; Shugan-Jianpi therapy showed the best efficacy in relieving the abdominal pain and abdominal distension; Wenshen-Jianpi therapy had a better effect on avoiding adverse effects and improving stool character. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that CHM could be beneficial for patients with IBS in relieving their clinical symptoms and should be recommended as alternative therapies. The quality of evidence in this study based on the GRADE system was "low".

Chinese Medicine Combined With EGFR-TKIs Prolongs Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Harboring EGFR Mutations, Compared With the Use of TKIs Alone.

Objective: To explore the efficacy comparison between epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and single EGFR-TKIs for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 91 NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation were divided into an experimental group and a control group (in a ratio of 2:1) to receive TCM and EGFR-TKIs (61 cases) or single EGFR-TKIs (30 cases). Patients in the control group took EGFR-TKIs and those in the experimental group took EGFR-TKIs plus TCM. We analyzed the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and treatment-related adverse events of two groups. Results: The mPFS of the experimental group and the control group was 12.3 and 8.9 months (P = 0.02), respectively, and the mOS of the experimental group and the control group was 28.2 and 24.2 months (P = 0.02), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that for the patients with exon 19 deletion mutation (19DEL), mPFS between experimental group and control group was 12.7 and 10.1 months, respectively (P = 0.12). For exon 21 deletion mutation (L858R), the PFS of two groups was 10.8 vs. 8.2 months, respectively (P = 0.03). The subgroup analysis also showed that, for the patients with exon 19 deletion mutation, mOS between the experimental group and the control group was 30.3 and 28.7 months, respectively (P = 0.19). For exon 21 deletion mutation, the mOS of two groups was 25.5 vs. 21.3 months, respectively (P = 0.01). The DCR of the experimental group and the control group was 93.3% and 80.1%, respectively (P = 0.77). Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events were less common with the experimental group (11.48%) than the control group (26.67%). Conclusion: For NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation, EGFR-TKIs combined with TCM had a certain effect to prolong mPFS and mOS, compared with the use of EGFR-TKIs alone, especially for the patients with L858R. This conclusion has a significant effect on improving the survival of NSCLC patients after EGFR-TKIs resistance. It deserves further study.

Zijuan tea- based kombucha: Physicochemical, sensorial, and antioxidant profile.

Zijuan tea is a representative anthocyanin-rich tea cultivar in China. In this study, Zijuan tea was used to produce a novel kombucha beverage (ZTK). The physicochemical, sensory properties, and antioxidant activity of ZTK were compared with that of black tea kombucha (BTK) and green tea kombucha (GTK). Results indicated that after fermentation, the color of ZTK changed from yellowish-brown to salmon-pink, because its anthocyanins (4.5 mg/L) appeared red in acidic conditions. Meanwhile no significant changes of color were observed in BTK and GTK. The dynamic changes of pH, biomass, and concentrations of sugars, amino acids, and main organic acids were similar in three kombucha beverages, except catechins showing different trends. Moreover, ZTK showed the highest overall acceptability score, antioxidant activity, and concentration of volatiles among the three kombucha beverages. Therefore, Zijuan tea is suitable for the preparation of kombucha beverage with attractive color and health benefits.

Utilization of Isoflavones in Soybeans for Women with Menopausal Syndrome: An Overview.

Based on their nutrient composition, soybeans and related foods have been considered to be nutritious and healthy for humans. Particularly, the biological activity and subsequent benefits of soy products may be associated with the presence of isoflavone in soybeans. As an alternative treatment for menopause-related symptoms, isoflavone has gained much popularity for postmenopausal women who have concerns related to undergoing hormone replacement therapy. However, current research has still not reached a consensus on the effects of isoflavone on humans. This overview is a summary of the current literature about the processing of soybeans and isoflavone types (daidzein, genistein, and S-equol) and supplements and their extraction and analysis as well as information about the utilization of isoflavones in soybeans. The processes of preparation (cleaning, drying, crushing and dehulling) and extraction of soybeans are implemented to produce refined soy oil, soy lecithin, free fatty acids, glycerol and soybean meal. The remaining components consist of inorganic constituents (minerals) and the minor components of biologically interesting small molecules. Regarding the preventive effects on diseases or cancers, a higher intake of isoflavones is associated with a moderately lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. It may also reduce the risks of breast and colorectal cancer as well as the incidence of breast cancer recurrence. Consumption of isoflavones or soy foods is associated with reduced risks of endometrial and bladder cancer. Regarding the therapeutic effects on menopausal syndrome or other diseases, isoflavones have been found to alleviate vasomotor syndromes even after considering placebo effects, reduce bone loss in the spine and ameliorate hypertension and in vitro glycemic control. They may also alleviate depressive symptoms during pregnancy. On the other hand, isoflavones have not shown definitive effects regarding improving cognition and urogenital symptoms. Because of lacking standardization in the study designs, such as the ingredients and doses of isoflavones and the durations and outcomes of trials, it currently remains difficult to draw overall conclusions for all aspects of isoflavones. These limitations warrant further investigations of isoflavone use for women's health.