Effects of soil drought on cottonseed kernel carbohydrate metabolism and kernel biomass accumulation.

Cottonseed is the main coproduct of cotton production. The carbohydrate metabolism provides carbon substrate for the accumulation of cottonseed kernel biomass which was the basis of cottonseed kernel development. However, the responses of drought stress on carbohydrate metabolism in kernels are still unclear. To address this, two cotton cultivars (Dexiamian 1 and Yuzaomian 9110) were cultivated under three water treatments including soil relative water content (SRWC) at (75 ± 5)% (control), (60 ± 5)% (mild drought) and (45 ± 5)% (severe drought) to investigate the effects of soil drought on cottonseed kernel carbohydrate metabolism and kernel biomass accumulation. Results suggested that drought restrained the accumulation of cottonseed kernel biomass which eventually decreased cottonseed kernel biomass at maturity. In detail, the down-regulation of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity led to the inhibition of sucrose synthesis, while the up-regulation of invertase (INV) promoted the sucrose decomposite, which reduced the sucrose content eventually under drought. Though hexose content was increased, phosphoenolpyruvic acid (PEP) content was decreased under drought by downregulating 6-phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities, which hindered the conversion of hexose to PEP. The large decrease of sucrose and PEP contents hindered the accumulation of kernel biomass. The related substances contents and enzyme activities in carbohydrate metabolism of Yuzaomian 9110 were more susceptible to drought stress than Dexiamian 1.

The efficacy of adding hyperthermia to the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients based on the states of EGFR.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to explore the efficacy of adding hyperthermia to the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients based on the states of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 205 advanced NSCLC patients who were received hyperthermia plus other treatment (hyperthermia group) or non- hyperthermia and other treatments (non- hyperthermia group). The OS and progression free survival (PFS) were retrospectively estimated. Using Kaplan-Meier and the log-rank test compare the OS and PFS between the groups. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 22 months. The Univariate analysis have shown that 1-year OS and PFSfirst rates in the hyperthermia group and non- hyperthermia group were 83.3% vs 71.5% (P=0.010) and 62.0% vs 42.7% (P=0.001). The subgroup analyses revealed that patients didn't have EGFR mutant who received hyperthermia had significantly higher 1 year OS and PFSfirst rates than those treated with non- hyperthermia (OS: 79.1% vs 65.2% P=0.037, PFS: 64.2% vs 36.5%, P=0.001). For patients with EGFR mutation, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The PFSfirst in first-line and PFSpost in posterior-line was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study revealed that adding hyperthermia to the treatment of NSCLC patients without EGFR mutation had better prognosis than those who did not adding hyperthermia to the regimen. Moreover, adding hyperthermia in first-line or in posterior-line treatment was no significant difference. However, these results need more prospective studies to confirm the conclusions.

Electroacupuncture modulates the intestinal microecology to improve intestinal motility in spinal cord injury rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease involving gastrointestinal disorders. The underlying mechanisms of the potential protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system on SCI remain unknown. We investigated whether EA improves gut microbial dysbiosis in SCI and regulates the 5-HT system. 16S rDNA gene sequencing was applied to investigate alterations in the gut microbiome of the rats. Faecal metabolites and the expression of the 5-HT system were detected. EA and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) treatment facilitated intestinal transmission functional recovery and restored the colon morphology of SCI rats. The composition of the intestinal microbiota, including numbers of phylum Proteobacteria, class Clostridia, order Bacteroidales, and genus Dorea, were amplified in SCI rats, and EA and FMT significantly reshaped the intestinal microbiota. SCI resulted in disturbed metabolic conditions in rats, and the EA and FMT group showed increased amounts of catechin compared with SCI rats. SCI inhibited 5-HT system expression in the colon, which was significantly reversed by EA and FMT treatment. Therefore, EA may ameliorate SCI by modulating microbiota and metabolites and regulate the 5-HT system. Our study provides new insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of SCI from the perspective of microbiota and 5-HT regulation.

Traditional Chinese Exercise for Cardiovascular Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) has widespread use for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease; however, there appears to be no consensus about the benefits of TCE for patients with cardiovascular disease. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effects of TCE for patients with cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Relevant studies were searched by PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. We covered only published articles with randomized controlled trials. The outcome measures included physiological outcomes, biochemical outcomes, physical function, quality of life, and depression. A total of 35 articles with 2249 cardiovascular disease patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The pooling revealed that TCE could decrease systolic blood pressure by 9.12 mm Hg (95% CI -16.38 to -1.86, P=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure by 5.12 mm Hg (95% CI -7.71 to -2.52, P<0.001). Patients performing TCE also found benefits compared with those in the control group in terms of triglyceride (standardized mean difference -0.33, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.09, P=0.006), 6-minute walk test (mean difference 59.58 m, 95% CI -153.13 to 269.93, P=0.03), Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire results (mean difference -17.08, 95% CI -23.74 to -10.41, P<0.001), 36-Item Short Form physical function scale (mean difference 0.82, 95% CI 0.32-1.33, P=0.001), and Profile of Mood States depression scale (mean difference -3.02, 95% CI -3.50 to -2.53, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that TCE can effectively improve physiological outcomes, biochemical outcomes, physical function, quality of life, and depression among patients with cardiovascular disease. More high-quality randomized controlled trials on this topic are warranted.

Tai Chi for improving cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of Tai Chi on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database. METHODS: Articles on randomized controlled trials comparing Tai Chi with other treatments or no treatment were identified. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Fifteen articles involving 1354 participants were included. Compared with the control group, Tai Chi was more effective in improving exercise capacity on 6-minute walking distance (short term: MD = 16.02, 95% CI 2.86 to 29.17; mid term: MD = 30.90, 95% CI 6.88 to 54.93; long term: MD = 24.63, 95% CI 2.30 to 46.95), as well as pulmonary functions on forced expiratory volume in the first second (mid term: MD = 0.10; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.19), and forced vital capacity (mid term: MD = 0.20; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.36). Concerning quality of life, we found Tai Chi was better than the control group for the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire dyspnoea score (short term: MD = 0.90; 95% CI 0.51 to 1.29), fatigue score (short term: MD = 0.75; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.09), and total score (short term: MD = 1.92; 95% CI 0.54 to 3.31). CONCLUSIONS: Tai Chi may improve exercise capacity in the short, mid, and long terms. However, no significant long term differences in pulmonary function and quality of life were observed for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Erratum to "Whole-Body Vibration Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/758147.].

Whole-Body Vibration Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives. To assess the effects of WBV exercise on patients with KOA. Methods. Eight databases including Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, CNKI, and Wanfang were searched up to November 2014. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of WBV for KOA were eligible. The outcomes were pain intensity, functional performances, self-reported status, adverse events, and muscle strength. A meta-analysis was conducted. Results. Five trials with 168 participants provided data for the meta-analysis. No significant difference was shown in pain intensity and self-reported status between WBV and other forms of exercise. Improvement in functional performance (evaluated by BBS; WMD, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.29 to 4.62; P = 0.0005) was greater in WBV group, but the other parameters of functional performance (including 6MWT and TGUG) revealed no statistically significant difference. Adverse events were only reported in one trial and no significant difference was discovered in muscle strength. The overall quality of evidence was very low. Conclusion. Currently there is only limited evidence that suggested that WBV is effective in the treatment of KOA. Large, well-designed RCTs with better designs are needed.

Effect of Traditional Chinese Exercise on Gait and Balance for Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review is conducted to determine the effect of traditional Chinese exercise for patients with stroke. METHODS: Studies are obtained from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Web of Science, and CNKI. Only randomized controlled trials were left to evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese exercise for patients with stroke, and with no limits on study data or language. The primary outcome was the Berg balance score (BBS), Functional walking scale. And a random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 9 studies on 820 participants conform to the inclusion criteria, whereas eight studies on 704 participants are used as data sources for the meta-analysis, all trials were published between 2004 and 2013. The BBS indicates that the efficacy of traditional Chinese exercise on balance of patients with stroke is better than that of other training or no training in short term [MD (95%CI) = 11.85 [5.41, 18.30], P < 0.00001]. And the short physical performance battery, Functional walking scale, limit of stability were observed significant differences on balance (p<0.05) and gait (p<0.05) between traditional Chinese exercise and other exercises or no exercise. In addition, there is an article showed that some other form (physiotherapy exercises focused on balance) significantly improved balance ability for stroke patients compared to tai chi chuan practice (Berg test = 0.01, Romberg, and standing on one leg). CONCLUSION: In our meta analysis, the positive findings of this study suggest traditional Chinese exercise has beneficial effects on the balance ability in short term. However, we drew the conclusion according to the extreme heterogeneity, and evidence of better quality and from a larger sample size is required. Because of the inconsistent outcomes, there are short of enough good evidence for patients with stroke to prove the effects of traditional Chinese exercise on gait. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO PROSPERO registration number: CRD42013006474.