Identification of Panax notoginseng origin using terahertz precision spectroscopy and neural network algorithm.

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng), a Chinese herb containing various saponins, benefits immune system in medicines development, which from Wenshan (authentic cultivation) is often counterfeited by others for large demand and limited supply. Here, we proposed a method for identifying P. notoginseng origin combining terahertz (THz) precision spectroscopy and neural network. Based on the comparative analysis of four qualitative identification methods, we chose high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and THz spectroscopy to detect 252 samples from five origins. After classifications using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) model, we found that the performance of THz spectra was superior to that of HPLC. The underlying mechanism is that there are clear nonlinear relations among the THz spectra and the origins due to the wide spectra and multi-parameter characteristics, which makes the accuracy of five-classification origin identification up to 97.62%. This study realizes the rapid, non-destructive and accurate identification of P. notoginseng origin, providing a practical reference for herbal medicine.

Effect of Humanistic Pain Management in Postpartum Women after Cesarean Delivery Based on Active Pain Assessment and Visual Analog Scale.

Objective: To explore the effect of humanistic pain management based on active pain assessment and the visual analog scale in postpartum women after cesarean delivery. Methods: We selected 100 postpartum women who underwent cesarean delivery in Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from April to December 2021 and divided the postpartum women into a management group and a conventional group, with 50 cases in each group. The conventional group was given routine pain management, while the management group was given humanistic pain management based on active pain assessment and visual analog scale score. The quality of pain management, sleep quality, unhealthy emotion, maternal comfort, breastfeeding rates, and patient compliance in the 2 groups were compared. Results: The most severe degree of pain, the least degree of pain, the frequency of moderate and severe pain, and the influence of pain on sleep were lower in the management group than in the conventional group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was lower and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Self-Rating Depression Scale scores were higher in the management group than in the conventional group. In addition, the comfort scores for the second day and the third day after delivery were higher in the management group than in the conventional group. The breastfeeding rate and patient compliance were higher in the management group than in the conventional group. Conclusion: Humanistic pain management based on active pain assessment and the visual analog scale can improve the quality of maternal pain management, the quality of sleep, and maternal comfort, ameliorate maternal adverse emotions, and promote breastfeeding and patient compliance.

Danggui Shaoyao San protects cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure by inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress through the regulation of the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: It has been reported that apoptosis and oxidative stress are related to cyclophosphamide (CYC)-induced premature ovarian failure (POF). Therefore, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress treatments exhibit therapeutic efficacy in CYC-induced POF. Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS), which has been extensively used to treat gynecologic diseases, is found to inhibit apoptosis and reduce oxidative stress. However, the roles of DSS in regulating apoptosis and oxidative stress during CYC-induced POF, and its associated mechanisms are still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of DSS in inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress in CYC-induced POF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CYC (75 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected in mice to construct the POF mouse model for in vivo study. Thereafter, alterations of body weight, ovary morphology and estrous cycle were monitored to assess the ovarian protective properties of DSS. Serum LH and E2 levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed for examining ovarian pathological morphology and quantifying follicles in various stages. Meanwhile, TUNEL staining and apoptosis-related proteins were adopted for evaluating apoptosis. Oxidative stress was measured by the levels of ROS, MDA, and 4-HNE. Western blot (WB) assay was performed to detect proteins related to the SIRT1/p53 pathway. KGN cells were used for in vitro experiment. TBHP stimulation was carried out for establishing the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis cell model. Furthermore, MTT assay was employed for evaluating the protection of DSS from TBHP-induced oxidative stress. The anti-apoptotic ability of DSS was evaluated by hoechst/PI staining, JC-1 staining, and apoptosis-related proteins. Additionally, the anti-oxidative stress ability of DSS was measured by detecting the levels of ROS, MDA, and 4-HNE. Proteins related to SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway were also measured using WB and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Besides, SIRT1 expression was suppressed by EX527 to further investigate the role of SIRT1 in the effects of DSS against apoptosis and oxidative stress. RESULTS: In the in vivo experiment, DSS dose-dependently exerted its anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative stress, and ovarian protective effects. In addition, apoptosis, apoptosis-related protein and oxidative stress levels were inhibited by DSS treatment. DSS treatment up-regulated SIRT1 and down-regulated p53 expression. From in vitro experiment, it was found that DSS treatment protected KGN cells from TBHP-induced oxidative stress injury. Besides, DSS administration suppressed the apoptosis ratio, apoptosis-related protein levels, mitochondrial membrane potential damage, and oxidative stress. SIRT1 suppression by EX527 abolished the anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative stress, and ovarian protective effects, as discovered from in vivo and in vitro experiments. CONCLUSIONS: DSS exerts the anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative stress, and ovarian protective effects in POF mice, and suppresses the apoptosis and oxidative stress of KGN cells through activating SIRT1 and suppressing p53 pathway.

Sequential Diagnosis and Treatment for Colon Cancer via Derived Iridium and Indocyanine Green Hybrid Nanomicelles.

Indocyanine green (ICG) has been widely explored for the theranostics of tumors. However, ICG mainly accumulates in the liver, spleen, or kidney in addition to in tumors, causing inaccurate diagnoses and impaired therapeutic effects under NIR irradiation. Herein, a hybrid nanomicelle was constructed by integrating hypoxia-sensitive iridium(III) and ICG for precise tumor localization and photothermal therapy in sequence. In this nanomicelle, the amphiphilic iridium(III) complex (BTPH)2Ir(SA-PEG) was synthesized through the coordination substitution of hydrophobic (BTPH)2IrCl2 and hydrophilic PEGlyated succinylacetone (SA-PEG). Meanwhile, PEGlyated ICG (ICG-PEG) as a derivative of the photosensitizer ICG was also synthesized. (BTPH)2Ir(SA-PEG) and ICG-PEG were coassembled by dialysis to form the hybrid nanomicelle M-Ir-ICG. Hypoxia-sensitive fluorescence, ROS generation, and the photothermal effect of M-Ir-ICG were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The experimental results indicated that M-Ir-ICG nanomicelles could locate at the tumor site first and then perform photothermal therapy with 83.90% TIR, demonstrating great potential for clinical applications.

Cytokine Storm in Acute Viral Respiratory Injury: Role of Qing-Fei-Pai-Du Decoction in Inhibiting the Infiltration of Neutrophils and Macrophages through TAK1/IKK/NF-[Formula: see text]B Pathway.

COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to global public health since its outbreak. The Qing-Fei-Pai-Du decoction (QFPDD), a Chinese herbal formula, is widely used in China to treat COVID-19. It exerts an impressive therapeutic effect by inhibiting the progression from mild to critical disease in the clinic. However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses elicit similar pathological processes. Their severe manifestations, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure (MOF), and viral sepsis, are correlated with the cytokine storm. During flu infection, QFPDD reduced the lung indexes and downregulated the expressions of MCP-1, TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-6, and IL-1[Formula: see text] in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lungs, or serum samples. The infiltration of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes in lungs was decreased dramatically, and lung injury was ameliorated in QFPDD-treated flu mice. In addition, QFPDD also inhibited the polarization of M1 macrophages and downregulated the expressions of IL-6, TNF-[Formula: see text], MIP-2, MCP-1, and IP-10, while also upregulating the IL-10 expression. The phosphorylated TAK1, IKK[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text], and I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] and the subsequent translocation of phosphorylated p65 into the nuclei were decreased by QFPDD. These findings indicated that QFPDD reduces the intensity of the cytokine storm by inhibiting the NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathway during severe viral infections, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its clinical application in respiratory viral infections.

Effect of five-elements music therapy combined with Baduanjin qigong on patients with mild COVID-19.

Background: To investigate the physical and psychological effects of five-element music therapy combined with Baduanjin qigong treatment on inpatients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan. Methods: A mixed-methods study was used. In the quantitative study, a randomized controlled trial was performed on 40 study participants divided into a control group (n = 20) and an intervention group (n = 20). The Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were compared. For qualitative analysis, it adopted purposive sampling method, 13 patients of different ages from 18 to 60 years old and different exercise behavior were selected as the participants from the intervention group. A semi-structured interview method was used to collect data, and the content analysis method was used for data analysis. An interview outline was developed to assess the psychological condition and personal functional-exercise behavior of patients. Results: In the quantitative study, the anxiety self-scores and depression self-scores of patients in intervention group were significantly lower compared with control group after treatment (p < .05). The sleep quality of intervention group was significantly improved compared with control group (p < .001). Participants in the qualitative study responded to questions posed through semi-structured interviews. The effect of intervention was good, which has been supported and recognized by patients. Conclusion: The treatment of five-element music therapy combined with Baduanjin qigong on patients with mild COVID-19 alleviated anxiety and depression, and improved sleep quality, which was beneficial to the patients' physical and psychological recovery.

Vegetation restoration effects on soil carbon and nutrient concentrations and enzymatic activities in post-mining lands are mediated by mine type, climate, and former soil properties.

Vegetation restoration is a widely used, effective, and sustainable method to improve soil quality in post-mining lands. Here we aimed to assess global patterns and driving factors of potential vegetation restoration effects on soil carbon, nutrients, and enzymatic activities. We synthesized 4838 paired observations extracted from 175 publications to evaluate the effects that vegetation restoration might have on the concentrations of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as enzymatic activities. We found that (1) vegetation restoration had consistent positive effects on the concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus on average by 85.4, 70.3, 75.7, 54.6, 58.6, 34.7, and 60.4 %, respectively. Restoration also increased the activities of catalase, alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and urease by 63.3, 104.8, 125.5, and 124.6 %, respectively; (2) restoration effects did not vary among different vegetation types (i.e., grass, tree, shrub and their combinations) or leaf type (broadleaved, coniferous, and mixed), but were affected by mine type; and (3) latitude, climate, vegetation species richness, restoration year, and initial soil properties are important moderator variables, but their effects varied among different soil variables. Our global scale study shows how vegetation restoration can improve soil quality in post-mining lands by increasing soil carbon, nutrients, and enzymatic activities. This information is crucial to better understand the role of vegetation cover in promoting the ecological restoration of degraded mining lands.

Effect of Shengmai Yin on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radioresistant Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which Chinese medicine Shengmai Yin (SMY) reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through lipocalin-2 (LCN2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells CNE-2R. METHODS: Morphological changes in EMT in CNE-2R cells were observed under a microscope, and the expressions of EMT markers were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assays. Through the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset and text mining, LCN2 was found to be highly related to radiation resistance and EMT in NPC. The expressions of LCN2 and EMT markers following SMY treatment (50 and 100 µ g/mL) were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot assays in vitro. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were measured using colony formation, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays, respectively. The inhibitory effect of SMY in vivo was determined by observing a zebrafish xenograft model with a fluorescent label. RESULTS: The CNE-2R cells showed EMT transition and high expression of LCN2, and the use of SMY (5, 10 and 20 µ g/mL) reduced the expression of LCN2 and reversed the EMT in the CNE-2R cells. Compared to that of the CNE-2R group, the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of SMY high-concentration group were weakened (P<0.05). Moreover, SMY mediated tumor growth and metastasis in a dose-dependent manner in a zebrafish xenograft model, which was consistent with the in vitro results. CONCLUSIONS: SMY can reverse the EMT process of CNE-2R cells, which may be related to its inhibition of LCN2 expression. Therefore, LCN2 may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in patients with NPC.

A novel method for making cell blocks with higher cellular yield.

INTRODUCTION: Cytopathology is an important part of pathology that is used to diagnose disease on the cellular level. The application of the cell block (CB) technique plays a vital role in cytological diagnosis, as blocks and slides can be further used for special stains, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular pathological analysis. Several methods for making CBs have been reported, but their procedures and cellular yield are still deemed unsatisfactory. In this article, we used gellan gum (GG) as an adjuvant for CBs, which resulted in higher cellular yield with simpler procedures. METHODS: CBs were prepared by using GG, copper sulfate, plasma/thrombin, or pregelatinized starch methods. The procedures of each of these four methods were then compared. CB sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and the background and morphological features seen by H&E staining were compared. A preliminary IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) study was performed using cytology specimens from eleven and five cases, respectively. The expression of immunocomplex by IHC and the molecular signals detected by FISH were compared in CB sections made by the four methods and a section derived from the biopsy specimen block from the same patient. Feulgen staining, Alcian blue staining, and Masson trichrome staining were performed on the CB sections from 3 cases of pleural fluid. The cellular yield of CB sections from 83 cases according to the four methods was compared using NDP analysis software. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that sections derived from CBs made with GG had a clear background and good morphological features by H&E staining. The expression of immunocomplex by IHC and the molecular signals of FISH detection in the sections from CBs made by GG were accurately located just as those in biopsy sections from the same patient. The DNA, acidic mucus, and fibrin could be clearly identified through special stains in the CB sections. The procedures involved in the GG method were easily controllable and the coagulated gel increased the ease by which the CB was embedded and sectioned. Specifically, sections from CBs made by the GG method contained higher cellular yield because cells could be concentrated on the bottom of the gel after centrifugation. CONCLUSION: This novel method for making CBs is a practical, simple method that can result in higher cellular yield. This method is therefore worth promoting in clinical applications.

Natural product evodiamine-inspired medicinal chemistry: Anticancer activity, structural optimization and structure-activity relationship.

It is a well-known phenomenon that natural products can serve as powerful drug leads to generate new molecular entities with novel therapeutic utility. Evodiamine (Evo), a major alkaloid component in traditional Chinese medicine Evodiae Fructus, is considered a desirable lead scaffold as its multifunctional pharmacological properties. Although natural Evo has suboptimal biological activity, poor pharmacokinetics, low water solubility, and chemical instability, medicinal chemists have succeeded in producing synthetic analogs that overshadow the deficiency of Evo in terms of further clinical application. Recently, several reviews on the synthesis, structural modification, mechanism pharmacological actions, structure-activity relationship (SAR) of Evo have been published, while few reviews that incorporates intensive structural basis and extensive SAR are reported. The purpose of this article is to review the structural basis, anti-cancer activities, and mechanisms of Evo and its derivatives. Emphasis will be placed on the optimizing strategies to improve the anticancer activities, such as structural modifications, pharmacophore combination and drug delivery systems. The current review would benefit further structural modifications of Evo to discover novel anticancer drugs.

Dietary cinnamaldehyde improves muscle protein content by promoting muscle fiber growth via PTP1B/IGF1/PI3K/AKTs-TOR/FOXO3a signaling pathway in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Flesh quality is evaluated according to nutritional value and sensory quality. Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) improves mammalian meat quality, but research relating this to aquaculture is scarce. In this study, five doses of CIN (0, 36, 72, 108, 144 mg/kg diet) were fed to grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) for 60 days. The results show that CIN supplementation increased nutritional value by increasing crude protein content. CIN also improved the sensory quality by increasing the pH and collagen content, decreasing shear force, lactate, and cooking loss. These changes may be related to changes in muscle fiber growth by increasing myofiber diameter. The increased myofiber diameter induced by CIN is associated with TOR mRNA and protein levels, and down-regulated FOXO3a mRNA levels, which might be associated with PTP1B/IGF1/PI3K/AKTs-TOR/FOXO3a signaling. Based on muscle crude protein content, optimal CIN supplementation dosage was 88.01 mg/kg.

[Electroacupuncture promotes gastrointestinal motility by activating autophagy of Cajal interstitial cells via downregulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in stomach of diabetic gastro-paresis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Liangmen" (ST21) on gastrointestinal motility, blood glucose content and expression of autophagy-related proteins 1 light chain 3 (LC3), p62, phosphatidyli-nositol-3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), p-Akt and mammalian target protein of rapamycin (mTOR) of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the cultured gastric antrum cells in diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of DGP. METHODS: A total of 45 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, EA, medication (3-methyladenine, 3-MA) and EA+3-MA groups, with 9 rats in each group. The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 2% streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high-fat and high sugar diet for 8 weeks. The gastric emptying rate was measured by using gavage of phenol red (to measure the propelling length of the phenol red/total length of small intestine ×100%). The symptom score (mental state, coat color and luster, behavior and activity, stool traits) of rats was observed every week and the blood glucose content was measured by using a glucometer. EA (20 Hz/100 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to unilateral ST36, SP6 and ST21 alternatively for 15 min, once daily, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Rats of the 3-MA and 3-MA+EA groups received intraperitoneal injection of 3-MA (30 mg·kg-1·d-1, 10 mg/mL), once daily, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. After 15 days' intervention, the rats were operated for gastric emptying rate test, specimen collection, isolation, and culture of primary ICCs. The expression levels of microtubule associated protein LC3, p62, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and mTOR of ICCs of cultured gastric antrum cells were detected using Western blot, and the number of autophagosomes in ICC of gastric antrum was observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the symptom score, blood glucose, and the expression levels of p62, class Ⅰ PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and mTOR proteins were increased significantly (P<0.01), while the gastric emptying rate and ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and the expression level of class Ⅲ PI3K protein were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, the increase of symptom score, blood glucose, and expression levels of p62, class Ⅰ PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and mTOR proteins and the decrease of gastric empty rate and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and the expression level of class Ⅲ PI3K protein were all reversed in both EA and EA+3-MA groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), rather than in the 3-MA group. In addition, 3-MA also reversed modeling-induced increase of class Ⅰ PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and mTOR proteins expression (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the EA and EA+3-MA in downregulating the levels of symptom score and blood glucose content, and in upregulating gastric empty rate(P>0.05). The effect of EA was notably superior to that of EA+3-MA in upregulating the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and the expression level of class Ⅲ PI3K protein, and in downregulating the expression of p62, class Ⅰ PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and mTOR proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). The findings of transmission electron microscopy showed obvious swelling, breakage of some mitochondrial cristae in the ICC cells of antrum and no autophagosomes in the model group and 3-MA group, which was milder in the damage of mitochondrial cristae and marked increase in the autophagosomes in both EA and EA+3-MA groups. CONCLUSION: EA can improve the gastrointestinal motility and symptoms in DGP rats, which may be related to its functions in downregulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling to promote autophagy level of ICC.

Radiologist burnout: Trends in medical imaging utilization under the national health insurance system with the universal code bundling strategy in an academic tertiary medical centre.

PURPOSE: The utilization of diagnostic medical imaging has been growing worldwide. However, no study has investigated the trend in image utilization and the corresponding workload of radiologists under the National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) system with a code-bundling-based reimbursement strategy. We will analyse the trend in diagnostic imaging utilization and the corresponding workload of the radiologists at a single tertiary medical centre using the NHI system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study recruiting the diagnostic medical images, including X-rays, CT, and MR performed between 2005 and 2020 at a single medical centre. We investigated the change over time in image utilization and workload for interpreting the images. The two-sided Mann-Kendall test was used for the monotonic trend analysis and Sen's slope estimate was calculated for the annual mean change with the 95% confidence interval (CI). A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 10,069,583 examinations were performed at our institute from 2005 to 2020, including 7,821,880 X-rays, 1,665,787 CT, and 581,916 MR examinations. The numbers of examinations of X-rays, CT, and MR increased with average annual changes of 13,411.3 (95% CI = 11,875.0-14,773.8), 9,496.7 (95% CI = 8,845.3-9,828.7), and 2,417.1 (95% CI = 2,209.8-2,668.9) respectively, all P < 0.001. The proportion of cases including multiple examinations increased, growing from 21.5% (6,627 in 30,878 cases) to 43.8% (39,417 in 90,032 cases) for CT and from 8.9% (1,316 in 14,791 cases) to 15.7% (6,083 in 38,865 cases) for MR. The average time spent on interpreting each diagnostic image decreased significantly from 16.0 to 2.9 sec. (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Imaging utilization increased significantly under the NHI system at a medical centre. The corresponding demand for image interpretation also placed a significant workload on radiologists, potentially contributing to radiologist burnout.

Comprehensive transcriptional variability analysis reveals gene networks regulating seed oil content of Brassica napus.

BACKGROUND: Regulation of gene expression plays an essential role in controlling the phenotypes of plants. Brassica napus (B. napus) is an important source for the vegetable oil in the world, and the seed oil content is an important trait of B. napus. RESULTS: We perform a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional variability in the seeds of B. napus at two developmental stages, 20 and 40 days after flowering (DAF). We detect 53,759 and 53,550 independent expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for 79,605 and 76,713 expressed genes at 20 and 40 DAF, respectively. Among them, the local eQTLs are mapped to the adjacent genes more frequently. The adjacent gene pairs are regulated by local eQTLs with the same open chromatin state and show a stronger mode of expression piggybacking. Inter-subgenomic analysis indicates that there is a feedback regulation for the homoeologous gene pairs to maintain partial expression dosage. We also identify 141 eQTL hotspots and find that hotspot87-88 co-localizes with a QTL for the seed oil content. To further resolve the regulatory network of this eQTL hotspot, we construct the XGBoost model using 856 RNA-seq datasets and the Basenji model using 59 ATAC-seq datasets. Using these two models, we predict the mechanisms affecting the seed oil content regulated by hotspot87-88 and experimentally validate that the transcription factors, NAC13 and SCL31, positively regulate the seed oil content. CONCLUSIONS: We comprehensively characterize the gene regulatory features in the seeds of B. napus and reveal the gene networks regulating the seed oil content of B. napus.

Physiological and Biochemical Regulation Mechanism of Exogenous Hydrogen Peroxide in Alleviating NaCl Stress Toxicity in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn).

We aimed to elucidate the physiological and biochemical mechanism by which exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) alleviates salt stress toxicity in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn). Tartary buckwheat "Chuanqiao-2" under 150 mmol·L-1 salt (NaCl) stress was treated with 5 or 10 mmol·L-1 H2O2, and seedling growth, physiology and biochemistry, and related gene expression were studied. Treatment with 5 mmol·L-1 H2O2 significantly increased plant height (PH), fresh and dry weights of shoots (SFWs/SDWs) and roots (RFWs/RDWs), leaf length (LL) and area (LA), and relative water content (LRWC); increased chlorophyll a (Chl a) and b (Chl b) contents; improved fluorescence parameters; enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and content; and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Expressions of all stress-related and enzyme-related genes were up-regulated. The F3'H gene (flavonoid synthesis pathway) exhibited similar up-regulation under 10 mmol·L-1 H2O2 treatment. Correlation and principal component analyses showed that 5 mmol·L-1 H2O2 could significantly alleviate the toxic effect of salt stress on Tartary buckwheat. Our results show that exogenous 5 mmol·L-1 H2O2 can alleviate the inhibitory or toxic effects of 150 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress on Tartary buckwheat by promoting growth, enhancing photosynthesis, improving enzymatic reactions, reducing membrane lipid peroxidation, and inducing the expression of related genes.

Efficacy and Clinical Value of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation (NPWTi) of Compound Phellodendron Liquid in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and application value of compound Phellodendron liquid (CPL) for negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers by observing the improvement of diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: Sixty patients with diabetic foot ulcers who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Peripheral Blood Vessels (Wound Repair) of Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2020 to August 2021. The random number table method divided it into the CPL NPWTi group and normal saline NPWTi group, with 30 cases in each group. The experimental group adopted FufangHuangbaiye for NPWTi, and the control group used normal saline for NPWTi. The treatment effect was evaluated by baseline index, wound healing observation index, inflammatory factor index, pain scores during dressing change, and the number of days in hospital. Results: After 10 days of treatment, the symptom integration, procalcitonin (PCT), and C reactive protein (CRP) of the CPL NPWTi group were significantly reduced compared with the normal saline NPWTi group, while there was no obvious difference between wound area and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The wound area, symptom integral, PCT, ESR, and CRP of the CPL NPWTi group were significantly reduced compared with the normal saline NPWTi group after treatment for 20 days and 30 days. The positive proportion of bacterial culture in the CPL NPWTi group was significantly reduced compared with the normal saline NPWTi group after treatment for 10 days, 20 days, and 30 days. After treatment, the pain scores during dressing change and the number of days in hospital in normal saline NPWTi group were significantly lower than those in the CPL NPWTi group. Conclusion: Compound Phellodendron liquid NPWTi therapy can improve diabetic foot ulcers, providing a safe and effective method for treating diabetic foot ulcers.

Curcumenol Targeting YWHAG Inhibits the Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Enhances Antitumor Effects of Cisplatin.

Objective: Cervical cancer is a common cancer in women. The drug resistance of chemotherapeutic agents has always been an urgent problem to be solved in clinics. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein gamma polypeptide (YWHAG) in cervical cancer and explore the effect of Curcuma on cervical cancer and its possible mechanism. Methods: YWHAG expression in cervical cancer was confirmed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Then, the effects of YWHAG on the proliferation and invasion of HeLa and C33A cervical cancer cells were detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The relationship between YWHAG and the pentose phosphorylation pathway was further studied. CCK-8, Edu, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm that Curcuma inhibited the sensitivity of YWHAG to cisplatin chemotherapy and to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Results: YWHAG was highly expressed in cervical cancer and was associated with poor prognosis. The proliferation and invasion abilities of HeLa and C33A cells decreased after YWHAG knockout. The TCGA database of cervical cancer showed a positive correlation between YWHAG and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) expression. YWHAG expression increased with HIF-1α overexpression. YWHAG knockdown reduced the protein expression in the pentose phosphorylation pathway. Curcumenol inhibited YWHAG expression. Compared with cisplatin alone, curcumenol combined with cisplatin can reduce cell proliferation and invasion and reduce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 expression. It can also increase apoptosis, decrease B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, and increase the expression of Bcl-2 antagonist X, caspase-3, and polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase. Conclusion: YWHAG can interact with HIF-1α to affect the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells. YWHAG knockout can reduce the expression of pentose phosphorylation pathway-related proteins. Curcumenol can enhance cisplatin to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote tumor cell apoptosis. The combination of drugs may promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells through the YWHAG pathway.

Moxa Wool in Different Purities and Different Growing Years Measured by Terahertz Spectroscopy.

Moxa wool is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which can warm channels to dispel coldness. At present, there is no unified index to evaluate the purity and growing years of moxa wool in the market. Terpineol is one of the effective substances in the volatile oil of moxa wool. Here, we characterize the purity and growing years of moxa wool by studying terpineol. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are the methods for monitoring terpineol at present, all of which have defects of complicated procedures. We established linear fitting to distinguish the different purities of moxa wool through the intensities (areas) of terpineol, the characteristic peaks, and the consequence presented; the coefficient of determination (R 2) was higher than 0.90. Furthermore, based on the characteristic peak position of standard terpineol, the correlation model with the purity and growing year of moxa wool was set up, thereby differentiating the quality of moxa wool. We have built the partial least squares (PLS) model of the growing years of moxa wool with high accuracy, and the determination coefficient is greater than 0.98. In addition, we compare the quantitative accuracy of Raman spectroscopy with terahertz technology. Finally, a new method of terahertz spectroscopy to evaluate quality of moxa wool was found. It provides a new idea for the identification of inferior moxa wool in the market and a new method for identifying the quality of moxa wool in traditional Chinese medicine.

Mechanism of Action of Flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata on the Alleviation of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Oxytropis falcata Bunge is a plant used in traditional Tibetan medicine, with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidants effects and alleviation of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI). However, the underlying mechanism against MIRI and the phytochemical composition of O. falcata are vague. One fraction named OFF1 with anti-MIRI activity was obtained from O. falcata, and the chemical constituents were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The potential targets and signaling pathways involved in the action of O. falcata against MIRI were predicted by network pharmacology analysis, and its molecular mechanism on MIRI was determined by in vitro assays. The results revealed that flavonoids are the dominant constituents of OFF1. A total of 92 flavonoids reported in O. falcata targeted 213 potential MIRI-associated factors, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and the NF-κB signaling pathway. The in vitro assay on H9c2 cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury confirmed that the flavonoids in OFF1 reduced myocardial marker levels, apoptotic rate, and the inflammatory response triggered by oxidative stress. Moreover, OFF1 attenuated MIRI by downregulating the ROS-mediated JNK/p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of O. falcata in alleviating MIRI, being a potential therapeutic candidate.

Clinical correlation between serum cytokines and the susceptibility to Polygonum multiflorum-induced liver injury and an experimental study.

Polygonum multiflorum (PM), a popular functional food, and a herbal and dietary supplement, is widely used as a tonic in China and East Asia. In recent years, it has attracted great concern for its ability to cause idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI). However, identifying individuals susceptible to IDILI remains challenging. This is a prospective study. For 6 patients whose serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels after consuming PM were abnormally elevated (susceptible group), 15 patients with normal levels of liver injury markers were matched (tolerant group) based on similar baseline characteristics. ProcartaPlex immunoassays were adopted to quantitatively detect 33 serum cytokines in the two groups of patients before consuming PM, to characterize the cytokine profile and screen differential cytokines. Subsequently, the susceptibility of a potential biomarker to regulate PM-induced liver injury was validated in animal models. There were significant differences in the cytokine profiles between the susceptible and tolerant groups, wherein the susceptible patients showed immune perturbation characterized by high expression of multiple inflammatory cytokines, especially the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α (P = 0.006). Among them, the cytokine TNF-α had the strongest correlation with ALT, where the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.6, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was more than 0.8. Animal experiments revealed that both PM water extract and its susceptibility component of liver injury, cis-stilbene glucoside, could cause liver injury in the mice pre-stimulated using TNF-α. Conversely, administration of the same dose of drugs on control mice did not show any hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, immune perturbation mainly mediated by TNF-α may regulate the susceptibility to PM-induced liver injury. This provides a new perspective for the study of susceptibility to IDILI.