Real-time online monitoring technology for sweeping frequency ultrasound (SFU) assisted extraction of amur grape (Vitis amurensis) seed oil.

Sweeping frequency ultrasound (SFU) was used to assist extraction of amur grape (Vitis amurensis) seed (AGS) oil. Extraction conditions and physicochemical properties were optimized and analyzed under different extraction methods. Meanwhile, frequency and time domains were online monitored during SFU assisted extraction of AGS oil. PVDF piezoelectric sensor was used in time domain, and the hydrophone in frequency domain, so as to obtain the time-voltage waveform, signal power, spectrum distribution and other visual models. Physical models of the spatial peak acoustic intensity, charge quantity and work done by electric field force under different ultrasonic conditions were derived. The mathematical model between the work done by electric field force and the spatial peak acoustic intensity under the working state of PVDF piezoelectric sensor was constructed. Results show that the content of AGS oil by SFU assisted extraction was higher than that by organic extraction. Furthermore, the optimal single-frequency was 40 kHz and dual-frequency was 28/33 kHz, and SFU extraction time of 30 min was suitable with higher oil yield of 16.70 % and 16.94 %, respectively. In addition, the selection and combination of SFU also affected the oil oxidation degree. The peak voltage, spatial peak acoustic intensity, signal power and work of electric field force at 28/33 kHz were all higher than those at 40 kHz.

Study of okra pectin prepared by sweeping frequency ultrasound/freeze-thaw pretreatment on corrosion inhibition of ANSI 304 stainless steel in acidic environment.

Green and efficient metal corrosion inhibitors are very essential, and natural okra pectin (OP) can fulfill this need with rational use of resources. OP was prepared by water-alcohol extraction method after freeze-thaw pretreatment (FTP)/sweeping frequency ultrasound pretreatment (SFUP), and used for corrosion inhibition of ANSI 304 stainless steel (304 SS) in 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl). The molecular weight, hydrodynamic diameter and monosaccharide composition of OP were analyzed to determine the factors on the corrosion inhibition of 304 SS. During SFUP of okra, the time-domain variation of ultrasound field was monitored by piezoelectric film sensor, its frequency-domain variation was monitored by a hydrophone, and analyzed respectively by oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. Static weight-loss method, electrochemical and microscopic analyses were used to evaluate the corrosion inhibition efficiency of OP at temperatures (25, 30, 40, 50 °C) and concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 g·L-1) to optimize corrosion inhibition performance. It was found that OP by FTP and SFUP had higher corrosion inhibition efficiency on metals in acidic environment. According to static weight-loss method, the corrosion inhibition efficiency of OP with concentration of 2 g·L-1 (25 °C) was improved to 90.27 % in the FTP group and 93.53 % in the SFUP group, which 5.14 % and 8.93 % higher than Control (without pretreatment). Meanwhile, the corrosion inhibition efficiency decreased gradually as the temperature increased. OP corrosion inhibition performance fit Langmuir adsorption isothermal model as a mixed adsorption based on physical adsorption. It was a mixed inhibitor to protect 304 SS from corrosion.

Integrative applications of network pharmacology and molecular docking: An herbal formula ameliorates H9c2 cells injury through pyroptosis.

Background: QiShen YiQi pills (QSYQ) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, which has a significant effect on the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical practice. However, the molecular mechanism of QSYQ regulation pyroptosis after MI is still not fully known. Hence, this study was designed to reveal the mechanism of the active ingredient in QSYQ. Methods: Integrated approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking, were conducted to screen active components and corresponding common target genes of QSYQ in intervening pyroptosis after MI. Subsequently, STRING and Cytoscape were applied to construct a PPI network, and obtain candidate active compounds. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding ability of candidate components to pyroptosis proteins and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced cardiomyocytes injuries were applied to explore the protective effect and mechanism of the candidate drug. Results: Two drug-likeness compounds were preliminarily selected, and the binding capacity between Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) and key target High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1)was validated in the form of hydrogen bonding. 2 µM Rh2 prevented OGD-induced H9c2 death and reduced IL-18 and IL-1ß levels, possibly by decreasing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, inhibiting the expression of p12-caspase1, and attenuating the level of pyroptosis executive protein GSDMD-N. Conclusions: We propose that Rh2 of QSYQ can protect myocardial cells partially by ameliorating pyroptosis, which seems to have a new insight regarding the therapeutic potential for MI.

Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills for Cardiovascular Diseases: Effects and Mechanisms.

Qishen Yiqi Dripping Pills (QSYQ) is a compound of Chinese medicine, which has been used to treat coronary heart disease and cardiac dysfunction. Its natural components include astragaloside IV, flavonoids, danshensu, protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid A, ginsenosides Rg1, ginsenosides Rb1, and essential oils, etc. It exerts effects of nourishing qi and promoting blood circulation to relieve pain. In this review, the bioactive components of QSYQ and its effects for treating cardiovascular diseases and possible mechanism were summarized, providing references for further study and clinical application of QSYQ.

Metabolomics and Proteomics Characterizing Hepatic Reactions to Dietary Linseed Oil in Duck.

The imbalance in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition in human food is ubiquitous and closely related to obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The development of n-3 PUFA-enriched poultry products is of great significance for optimizing fatty acid composition. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the effects of dietary linseed oil on hepatic metabolism using untargeted metabolomics and 4D label-free proteome analysis. A total of 91 metabolites and 63 proteins showed differences in abundance in duck livers between the high linseed oil and control groups. Pathway analysis revealed that the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, glycerophospholipid, and pyrimidine metabolisms were significantly enriched in ducks fed with linseed oil. Meanwhile, dietary linseed oil changed liver fatty acid composition, which was reflected in the increase in the abundance of downstream metabolites, such as α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) as a substrate, including n-3 PUFA and its related glycerophospholipids, and a decrease in downstream n-6 PUFA synthesis using linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) as a substrate. Moreover, the anabolism of PUFA in duck livers showed substrate-dependent effects, and the expression of related proteins in the process of fatty acid anabolism, such as FADS2, LPIN2, and PLA2G4A, were significantly regulated by linseed oil. Collectively, our work highlights the ALA substrate dependence during n-3 PUFA synthesis in duck livers. The present study expands our knowledge of the process products of PUFA metabolism and provides some potential biomarkers for liver health.

Comparative effectiveness of acupuncture and pharmacological interventions in treating diabetic stroke: A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a close and causative correlation between stroke and diabetes, and the complication of the 2 diseases seriously harms human health and currently becomes a topic of clinical importance. To date, the common methods of treating diabetic stroke include acupuncture and pharmacological interventions. However, there is no high-quality or direct evidence of their comparative effectiveness. This review aims to provide a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of acupuncture and pharmacological interventions in treating diabetic stroke. METHODS: Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine Disc will be searched for relevant randomized controlled trials to obtain literatures on the treatment of diabetic stroke, and clinical randomized controlled trials will be screened out from their inception to December 30, 2022. The participant intervention comparator outcomes of this study are as flowing: P, patients with diabetic stroke; I, acupuncture and pharmacological interventions; C, no treatment, pharmacological placebo, or sham acupuncture groups; O, primary outcome will be blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and the rate of stroke recurrence; secondary outcomes will include fasting and post-load blood glucose levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, and quality of life scale scores. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used in assessing literature's quality. Review Manager software 5.3 and Stata 15.1 will be used in data analysis. RESULT: This systematic review and network meta-analysis will provide evidence of the efficacy of different therapeutic methods in treating diabetic stroke, to show which forms of therapy are more commonly used with higher effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The results will systematically provide suggestions for medical practitioners to choose the effective, time-saving and economical therapeutic strategy for diabetic stroke.

Dietary linseed oil affects the polyunsaturated fatty acid and transcriptome profiles in the livers and breast muscles of ducks.

Linseed oil, an important source of dietary α-linolenic acid, is used to provide meat enriched in n-3 PUFA. We investigated the effects of dietary linseed oil (0, 0.5, 1, and 2%) on growth performance, meat quality, tissue fatty acid (FA), and transcriptome profiles in ducks. The result showed that dietary linseed oil had no effect on growth performance. Increasing dietary linseed oil enrichment raised n-3 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) levels in both the liver and breast muscle, but decreased dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels in the liver. The liver n-3 PUFA content was negatively correlated with duck body weight. Transcriptome analysis showed that dietary linseed oil caused hepatic changes in genes (SCD, FADS1, FADS2, and ACOT6) related to the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Besides, dietary linseed oil also affected the expression of genes related to PUFAs and downstream metabolites (such as linoleic acid, steroid hormone, progesterone, etc.) metabolic pathways in both liver and breast muscle. Key genes involved in PUFA synthesis and transport pathways were examined by RT-qPCR, and the results verified that hepatic expression levels of FADS1 and FADS2 decreased, and those of FABP4 and FABP5 increased when 2% linseed oil was added. CD36 expression level increased in breast muscle when 2% linseed oil was added. Thus, 2% dietary linseed oil supplementation produces n-3 PUFA-enriched duck products by regulating the PUFA metabolic pathways, which could be advantageous for health-conscious consumers.

Comparative effectiveness of external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatments in pain management of postherpetic neuralgia: A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: As the most common long-term complication of herpes zoster (HZ), postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is characterized by chronic, persistent, and debilitating neuropathic pain. PHN seriously harms human health and currently becomes a topic of clinical importance. To date, the common methods of pain management in PHN include external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatments. However, there is no high-quality or direct evidence of their comparative effectiveness. This review aims to provide a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatments in the pain management of PHN. METHODS: Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine Disc will be searched for relevant randomized controlled trials to obtain literatures on the treatment of PHN with external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatments, and clinical randomized controlled trials will be screened out from their inception to August 5, 2022. The participant intervention comparator outcomes of this study are as flowing: P, patients with PHN; I, external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine and surgical treatments; C, no treatment, pharmacological placebo, treatment as usual or sham acupuncture groups; O, primary outcome is pain intensity, and secondary outcomes are onset of pain relief time, quality of life, therapeutic effective rate and reverse effects. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used in assessing literature's quality. Network meta-analyses will be conducted to generate estimates of comparative effectiveness of each intervention class and rankings of their effectiveness, in terms of pain management. RESULT: This systematic review and network meta-analysis will provide evidence of the efficacy of different therapeutic methods for pain management in PHN, to show which forms of therapy are more commonly used with higher effectiveness. DISCUSSION: The results will systematically provide suggestions for medical practitioners to choose effective, time-saving and economical pain management method for PHN.

Data for all: Tactile graphics that light up with picture-perfect resolution.

People who are blind do not have access to graphical data and imagery produced by science. This exclusion complicates learning and data sharing between sighted and blind persons. Because blind people use tactile senses to visualize data (and sighted people use eyesight), a single data format that can be easily visualized by both is needed. Here, we report that graphical data can be three-dimensionally printed into tactile graphics that glow with video-like resolution via the lithophane effect. Lithophane forms of gel electropherograms, micrographs, electronic and mass spectra, and textbook illustrations could be interpreted by touch or eyesight at ≥79% accuracy (n = 360). The lithophane data format enables universal visualization of data by people regardless of their level of eyesight.

Case report: pathological complete response in an IIIB non-small cell lung cancer patient after preoperative neoadjuvant nivolumab therapy combined with chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: For locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the neoadjuvant therapy strategy of preoperative nivolumab combined with chemotherapy has great potential, especially for locally advanced NSCLC which are initially unresectable. They may be cured after neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and this may become a new direction of treatment. We hope that this representative medical record and literature review can provide some assistance for clinicians using immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat lung cancer. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old male patient was admitted to Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine on April 27, 2020 due to "coughing for more than one month.". The patient had nothing of note in either his medical history or that of his family, and no history of smoking. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis was cT4N2M0IIIB stage right lower lung NSCLC with right hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The stage was inoperable stage IIIB NSCLC, but the patient had a strong willingness for doing surgery. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received 3 rounds of the neoadjuvant nivolumab therapy combined with TP (paclitaxel plus cisplatin) regimen, on 5-14-21, 06-07-21 and 07-07-21. OUTCOMES: The tumor's area shrunk. Then the patient underwent thoracoscopic radical resection of the cancer in the right upper lung and postoperative pathology achieved pathological complete response (pCR). LESSONS: In this case, combined with the wishes of the patient and the latest research results, we confirmed pCR by radical surgery after 3 rounds of the neoadjuvant nivolumab therapy combined with chemotherapy. This may be a modality to cure more lung cancer patients in the future.

Hybrid techniques of pre and assisted processing modify structural, physicochemical and functional characteristics of okra pectin: Controlled-temperature ultrasonic-assisted extraction from preparative dry powders and its field monitoring.

Diversiform okra dry powders were prepared and controlled-temperature ultrasonic-assisted extraction (CTUAE) was then utilized to obtain okra pectin (OP) from the preparative powders. During processing of hybrid techniques, 6 types of dry powders were prepared through different drying technologies (hot air drying, HD; freeze-drying, FD) and meshes (60, 80, 120 meshes) at first. Next, the extraction yield, physicochemical and function characteristics, and molecular structure of OP were analyzed with or without CTUAE technique. Meanwhile, the time-frequency domains of acoustic fields during extraction process of OP were monitored to analyze the effects of ultrasonic fields. Results showed that OP main chains with less cracking by FD than that by HD; the yield, GalA, esterification degree (DE), Mw and viscosity of OP increased, but its particle size decreased. Water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC) of OP by HD were more prominent. Secondly, HD OP had dendritic rigid chains, while FD OP had flexible chains with multiple branches. For HD OP, as meshes of okra dry powders decreased, GalA, viscosity and emulsification ability decreased; while gel strength and thermal stability increased. For FD OP, the reduction of meshes improved thermal stability. Above all, CTUAE technique increased the yield and GalA, and decreased DE, Mw and particle size of OP. In terms of functional characteristics, the technique also improved gel strength, resilience and viscoelasticity, enhanced emulsifying stability, WHC and thermal stability, and reduced viscosity. Finally, the correlation between functional and structural characteristics of OP was quantified, and some suggestions were made for its application in food areas.

[Acupuncture intervention prolongates thrombolysis time window by regulating cerebral cortex angiogenesis-related genes and proteins in cerebral infarction rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and endostatin (Endostatin, ES) mRNAs and proteins (angiogenesis related factors) in the ischemic penumbra region in rats with cerebral infarction (CI), so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in prolonging the time window of thrombolysis therapy for CI. METHODS: A total of 48 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, medication (6 h thrombolysis) and acupuncture (Acupunct)+medication groups (n=12 in each group). The CI model was established using modified auto-thrombus method. Six hours after thrombolysis, recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA,10 mg/kg) was given to rats of the thrombolysis group through tail vein. Acupuncture was applied at "Shuigou"(CV26) and bilateral "Neiguan" (PC6) 2 h after successful modeling, and the needles were retained for 30 minutes. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was monitored during modeling in each group, and the neurological deficit score (0-7 points) was given 2 h and 24 h after successful modeling according to Bederson's methods. The cerebral infarction volume was observed after triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) staining. The protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF, bFGF and ES in the ischemic penumbra region of the right cerebral cortex were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR, separately. RESULTS: The neurological deficit score at both 2 h and 24 h after modeling, percentage of cerebral infarction volume, and the expression levels of VEGF, bFGF and ES proteins and mRNAs in the model group were significantly higher than those of the sham operation group (P<0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score 24 h (not at 2 h) after modeling and percentage of cerebral infarction volume, and the expression levels of ES protein and mRNA in the Acupunct+medication group (not in the medication group) were notably lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF proteins and mRNAs in the Acupunct +medication group (not in the medication group) were considerably higher (P<0.01, P<0.05). No significant differences were found between medication and model groups in the CI percentage, VEGF, bFGF and ES proteins and mRNAs (P>0.05). The therapeutic effect of Acupunct +medication group was significantly superior to that of medication in lowering neurological deficit score, percentage of CI volume and expression of ES protein and mRNA and in up-regulating the expression of VEGF and bFGF proteins and mRNAs (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and timely intervention can prolong the time window of thrombolysis in CI rats, which may be related to its function in up-regulating the expression of VEGF and bFGF mRNAs and proteins and in down-regulating the expression of ES mRNA and protein in ischemic cerebral cortex.

Ablation Therapy Combined with EGFR TKIs in the Treatment of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Systematically evaluate the efficacy of physical ablation combined with TKI in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We performed a comprehensive search of databases including OVID, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chongqing Weipu Database). The aim was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating physical ablation as the treatment for advanced NSCLC. We also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies and summarized the data extracted for meta-analysis with Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 9 studies, including 752 patients, were evaluable. The meta-analysis results show that the complete response rate (CRR) (RR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1. 46 to 3.40, P 0.01), partial response rate (PRR) (RR: -2.25, 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.59, P 0.01), and disease control rate (DCR) (RR: -2.80, 95% CI: 1.64 to 4.80, P< 0.01) of patients with advanced NSCLC who received physical ablation combined with TKI therapy were higher than those who did not receive physical ablation therapy. The control groups from seven of the studies had a total of 606 patients with targeted therapies and chemotherapy. The complete response rate was (CRR) (RR: 2.48, 2.4895% CI: 1.55 to 2.47, P 0.01), partial response rate (PRR) (RR: -1.66, 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.31, P< 0.01), and disease control rate (DCR) (RR: -2.68, 95% CI: 1.41 to 5.06, P< 0.01) for patients with advanced NSCLC who had received physical ablation combined with targeted therapies and chemotherapy, compared to patients who had not received physical ablation therapy. This difference was statistically significant. Above all, these results showed that the clinical efficacy of physical ablation combined EGFR-TKIs therapy (regardless of whether it was combined with chemotherapy) was better than that of EGFR-TKIs therapy alone. CONCLUSION: Physical ablation combined with TKI treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC can improve efficacy.

The nutrient requirements of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and their application to fermented milk.

Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 is a suitable probiotic for food application, but because of its slow growth in milk, an increase in its efficiency is desired. To shorten the time required for fermentation, the nutrient requirements of L. acidophilus LA-5 were analyzed, including the patterns of consumption of amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, vitamins, and metal ions. The nutrients required by L. acidophilus LA-5 were Asn, Asp, Cys, Leu, Met, riboflavin, guanine, uracil, and Mn2+, and when they were added to milk, the fermentation time of fermented milk prepared by L. acidophilus LA-5 alone was shortened by 9 h, with high viable cell counts that were maintained during storage of nutrient-supplemented fermented milk compared with the control. For fermented milk prepared by fermentation with Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and L. acidophilus LA-5, viable cell counts of L. acidophilus LA-5 increased 1.3-fold and were maintained during storage of nutrient-supplemented fermented milk compared with the control. Adding nutrients had no negative effect on the quality of the fermented milk. The results indicated that suitable nutrients enhanced the growth of L. acidophilus LA-5 and increased its viable cell counts in fermented milk prepared by L. acidophilus LA-5 alone and mixed starter culture, respectively.

[Effect of acupuncture on neurological function, cerebral infarction volume, thrombolysis time window and cerebral cell apoptosis signaling pathway in cerebral infarction rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture (Acupunct) on cerebral infarction volume and expression of poly ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo-G) in the cerebral cortex tissue at different time-points after cerebral ischemia (CI) in acute cerebral infarction rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in prolonging time window of thrombolysis. METHODS: Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT)-4.5 h, IVT-6 h, IVT-9 h, Acupunct＋IVT-4.5 h, Acupunct ＋IVT-6 h, Acupunct＋IVT-9 h groups (n＝6 in each group). The CI model was established by using modified autologous thromboembolism via the right common carotid artery. Two hours after modeling, rats of the Acupunct groups received Acupunct stimulation of "Shuigou" (GV26) and bilateral "Neiguan" (PC6) for 30 min. Thrombolysis was conducted by injection of recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA, 10 mg/kg) via caudal vein. The neurological deficit was assessed with reference to Bederson's methods. 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to assess the cerebral infarction volume, and the expression of cerebral PARP1, AIF and Endo-G proteins detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological score and percentage of cerebral infarction volume, expression levels of PARP1, AIF and Endo-G proteins were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01，P<0.05). After the intervention, modeling-induced increase of the aforementioned indexes was reversed in the IVT-4.5 h, Acupunct＋IVT-4.5 h and Acupunct＋IVT-6 h groups (P<0.05), except PARP1 expression of the Acupunct＋IVT 6 h group (P>0.05). The levels of neurological score, percentage of cerebral infarction volume, and AIF expression were significantly lower in both the Acupunct＋IVT 4.5 h and Acupunct＋IVT-6 h groups than in the simple IVT-4.5 h and simple IVT-6 h groups, respectively (P<0.05), and the expression levels of PARP1 and Endo-G proteins were obviously lower in the Acupunct＋IVT-4.5 h group than in the IVT-4.5 h group (P<0.05). Endo-G proteins were obviously lower in the Acupunct＋IVT-9 h group than in the IVT-9 h group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may improve neurological function, reduce cerebral infarction volume and prolong the time window of thrombolysis in CI rats, which may be associated with its effect in suppressing AIF/PARP1/ Endo-G signaling.

Walnut Polyphenol Extract Protects against Malathion- and Chlorpyrifos-Induced Immunotoxicity by Modulating TLRx-NOX-ROS.

Malathion (MT) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) are immunotoxic organophosphate pesticides that are used extensively in agriculture worldwide. Dietary polyphenols protect against a variety of toxins. In this study, walnut polyphenol extract (WPE) prevents MT- or CPF-induced toxicity to splenic lymphocytes in vitro. WPE promotes the proliferation of MT-exposed splenocytes, as indicated by increases in the proportions of splenic T-lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells) and levels of T-cell-related cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-γ, IL-4, and granzyme B, and decreases the apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and p53. WPE also significantly enhances the proliferation of CPF-exposed splenic B lymphocytes (CD19+ B cells) and levels of the B-cell-related cytokine IL-6, leading to decreases of the apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and p53. These effects are related to reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as evidenced by normalized hydroxyl radical (•OH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels, which are associated with decreased expression of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1). WPE inhibits the production of ROS and expression of NOX by regulating toll-like receptors 4 and 7 in MT- and CPF-exposed splenic lymphocytes. In conclusion, WPE protects against MT- or CPF-mediated immunotoxicity and inhibits oxidative damage by modulating toll-like receptor (TLR)x-NOX-ROS.

Prevention and treatment of chronic heart failure through traditional Chinese medicine: Role of the gut microbiota.

In recent years, although the concept and means of modern treatment of chronic heart failure(CHF) are continually improving, the readmission rate and mortality rate are still high. At present, there is evidence that there is a link between gut microbiota and heart failure, so the intervention of gut microbiota and its metabolites is expected to become a potential new therapeutic target in heart failure. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has apparent advantages in stabilizing the disease, improving heart function, and improving the quality of life. It can exert its effect by operating in the gut microbiota and is an ideal intestinal micro-ecological regulator. Therefore, this article will mainly discuss the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in treating CHF, the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and gut microbiota, the relationship between CHF and gut microbiota, and the ways of regulating gut microbiota by traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat CHF. It will specify the target and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treating heart failure by acting gut microbiota and provide ideas for the treatment of heart failure.

Walnut Polyphenol Extract Protects against Fenitrothion-Induced Immunotoxicity in Murine Splenic Lymphocytes.

Fenitrothion (FNT), an organophosphate pesticide, exerts an immunotoxic effect on splenocytes. Dietary polyphenol compounds exert antioxidant, anticancer and antihypertensive effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of walnut polyphenol extract (WPE) on FNT-induced immunotoxicity in splenic lymphocytes in vitro. Treatment with WPE significantly increased the proliferation of FNT-exposed splenocytes, as evidenced by increases in the proportions of splenic T lymphocytes (CD3⁺ T cells) and T-cell subsets (CD8⁺ T cells), as well as the secretion of the T-cell-related cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-γ, IL-4 and granzyme B. These effects were associated with a reduction in oxidative stress, as evidenced by changes in the levels of hydroxyl radical, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde. Moreover, WPE decreased the FNT-induced overexpression of NADPH oxidase 2 and dual oxidase 1 by regulating Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in splenic T-cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that WPE protects against FNT-mediated immunotoxicity and improves immune function by inhibiting oxidative stress.

[Progress of Researches on Brain Mechanism Underlying Regulatory Effect of Acupuncture Intervention on Visual Plasticity of Amblyopia].

Acupuncture therapy has a positive effect in the treatment of amblyopia. This article summarizes findings of the research on brain mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of acupuncture on visual plasticity of amblyopia. In a multi-system and multi-level viewpoints, we elaborated brain mechanism underlying the regulatory effect of acupuncture on visual plasticity in amblyopia from the perspective of ultrastructure, plasticity, electrical activities, neural coding and visual microcirculation of the neurons of the visual cortex, and the targeting points from the visual center to the effector organ.

Instant sedative effect of acupuncture at GV20 on the frequency of electroencephalogram α and ß waves in a model of sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation (SD) adversely affects brain function and is accompanied by frequency-dependent changes in electroencephalograms (EEGs). Recent studies have suggested that acupuncture is an emerging alternative therapy for SD. However, the involvement of the frequency of EEG α and ß waves in the protective effect of acupuncture against SD remains unknown. The present study investigated the instant effect of acupuncture at GV20 on insomnia by analyzing the frequency of α and ß waves using electroencephalography in a model of sleep deprivation. A total of 16 rats (Wistar; male; weight, 340±10 g) were divided randomly into four groups (4 rats per group) to create a rat model of sleep deprivation using the modified multiple platform method in the GV20 group, the sham acupoint group and the model group. After 72 h of sleep deprivation for these three groups and normal feeding for the blank group, the EEG data of all four groups were documented. Following the initial measurement, the GV20 group was treated by acupuncture at GV20 and the sham acupoint group was treated at the sham acupoint, and their EEGs were recorded during the treatment. The frequency of α and ß waves of all EEG data were analyzed. Prior to intervention, the GV20 group, the sham acupoint group and the model group exhibited no significant differences in α and ß wave frequencies; however, the α wave frequency of these three groups was significantly decreased compared with the blank group (P<0.05), whereas the ß wave frequency of these three groups was significantly increased compared with the blank group (P<0.05). This suggested that sleep deprivation affected the frequency of brain waves and enhanced the excitability of the cerebral cortex. During acupuncture treatment with retained needle conditioning, the GV20 group indicated a significant increase in α wave frequency (P<0.05), as well as a significant decrease in ß wave frequency compared with prior to treatment (P<0.05), whereas the sham acupoint group exhibited no significant changes. The present findings from a rat model of sleep deprivation suggested that acupuncture treatment at GV20 may reduce the excitability of the brain cortex. Due to its sedative effect, treatment at GV20 may be considered for the treatment of insomnia and related symptoms.