Tyro3 receptor tyrosine kinase contributes to pathogenic phenotypes of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis and disturbs immune cell balance in experimental arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by synovitis and joint damage, the underlying causes of which remain unclear. Our prior investigations revealed a notable correlation between the expression of Tyro3 Protein Tyrosine Kinase (Tyro3TK) and the progression of RA. To further elucidate the pathogenic role of Tyro3TK in RA, we analyzed the influence of Tyro3TK on pathogenic phenotypes of RA fibroblast like synoviocyte (FLS) in vitro and compared disease severity, joint damages and immunological parameters of K/BxN serum transfer arthritis (STA) in Tyro3TK-/- deficient mice and wild type controls. Our findings underscored the remarkable effectiveness of Tyro3TK blockade, as evidenced by diminished secretion of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), curtailed migration and invasiveness of RAFLS, and attenuated differentiation of pathogenic helper T cell subsets mediated by RAFLS. Correspondingly, our in vivo investigations illuminated the more favorable outcomes in Tyro3TK-deficient mice, characterized by reduced joint pathology, tempered synovial inflammation, and restored immune cell equilibrium. These data suggested that Tyro3TK might contribute to aggravated autoimmune arthritis and immunological pathology and act as a potential therapeutic target for RA.

Hyperthermic intrathoracic/intraperitoneal chemotherapy versus conventional intrapleural/intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the malignant effusion: a multi-center randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of hyperthermic intrathoracic/intraperitoneal chemotherapy versus conventional intrapleural/intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant pleural or peritoneal effusion. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was carried out in 8 cancer centers across China. Patients with malignant pleural or peritoneal effusion were randomly assigned to the study group or control group. Patients in the study group were treated with cisplatin-based hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), while the control group was treated with conventional intrapleural or intraperitoneal chemotherapy using same chemotherapeutic regime as the study group. The objective response rate (ORR) was analyzed as primary outcome. Quality-of-life (QOL) score was recorded as secondary outcome using the questionnaire 30 (QLQ-C30) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). The efficacy and safety of the two treatments were compared. RESULTS: Total 135 patients were recruited and randomized in this study, with 67 patients in the study group and 68 patients in the control group. The ORR in the study group (80.70%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (31.03%, p < 0.001). However, neither changes of QOL scores, nor incidence rates of adverse events were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.076 and 0.197, respectively). CONCLUSION: Efficacy of HITHOC or HIPEC is superior to that of conventional modality for the treatment of malignant effusion with comparable side effects.

Isoorientin ameliorates osteoporosis and oxidative stress in postmenopausal rats.

CONTEXT: Isoorientin has many biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor. However, the effect of isoorientin on postmenopausal osteoporosis remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of isoorientin on postmenopausal osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 5): sham, model, 17-ß-oestradiol (E2, 10 µg/kg/day), low-dose isoorientin (L-Iso, 50 mg/kg), and high-dose isoorientin (H-Iso, 100 mg/kg). The rats were ovariectomized, treated by gavage daily for 12 weeks, and serum and femur samples were collected. Bone mineral density, bone metabolism, and oxidative stress were assessed. H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting were employed. RESULTS: Isoorientin improved the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae (2.01 ± 0.05 g/cm3 in H-Iso group vs. 1.74 ± 0.07 g/cm3 in model group) and femur (1.46 ± 0.06 g/cm3 vs. 1.19 ± 0.03 g/cm3), increased the trabecular bone number (1.97 ± 0.03 vs. 1.18 ± 0.13) and thickness (0.27 ± 0.02 vs. 0.16 ± 0.03 mm). Isoorientin decreased the separation degree of trabecular bone, ameliorated bone histomorphology changes, and significantly improved the mechanical properties. Isoorientin diminished MDA (by 60%) and increased SOD (by 49.2%), and GSH-Px (by 159%) activity. Furthermore, osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2), haem oxygenase (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1(NQO1), and oestrogen receptor 1(ESR1) protein expression increased, while receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) protein expression decreased after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Isoorientin ameliorates osteoporosis via upregulating OPG and Nrf2/ARE signalling, suggesting isoorientin maybe a potential therapeutic drug for PMOP.

[ZHOU Mei-sheng's academic thought and clinical application of "three-phase moxibustion sensation"].

This paper collects professor ZHOU Mei-sheng's academic thought, "three-phases moxibustion sensation" and expounds its clinical value. Proposed by professor ZHOU, in accordance with the occurrence and development characteristics of the moxibustion propagated sensation, three time phases of moxibustion propagated sensation are divided, i.e. directional conduction phase (the first time phase), effect onset phase (the second time phase), and descending suspension and along-meridian re-transmission phase (the third time phase). In terms of the different characteristics among these three time phases, the clinical therapeutic regimens are designed accordingly. It provides a novel approach to the clinical application of moxibustion.

[Effect of moxibustion on autophagy lysosome function mediated by mTOR/TFEB pathway and lncRNA H19 expression in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion (Moxi) at acupoints of Governor Vessel on autophagy lysosomal function and lncRNA H19 in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in relieving AD. METHODS: Fifty two male APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into model, Moxi, Moxi+inhibitor and medication (rapamycin) groups, with 13 mice in each group. Other 13 male C57BL/6J mice of the same age were selected as the control group. The mice of the Moxi group received aconite cake-separated Moxi stimulation at "Baihui" (GV20), "Dazhui"(GV14) and "Fengfu" (GV16), for 15 min, those of the Moxi+inhibitor group received intraperitoneal injection of 3-methyladenine (an inhibitor of PI3K for suppressing autophagy) 1.5 mg· kg-1 · d-1 on the basis of Moxi, and those of the medication group received intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin 2 mg· kg-1 · d-1. The treatment was conducted once daily for 2 weeks. The mouse's learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tests. The hippocampus tissue was sampled for observing the formation of autophagy by using transmission electron microscope, detecting the expression of Aß_(1-42) protein with immunohistochemical staining, and for detecting the expression levels of long noncoding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19), mammalian target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), nuclear transcription factor EB (TFEB), Cathepsin D and lysosome associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP1) genes and proteins as well as microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B)-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰand autophagy protein p62 protein by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In contrast to the control group, the model group had an evident increase in the escape latency of Morris water maze test, and in the expression levels of Aß_(1-42) protein, lncRNA H19 mRNA, mTOR mRNA and protein, and p62 protein (P<0.05), and a significant decrease in the expression levels of TFEB, Cathepsin D, LAMP1 mRNAs and proteins and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ (P<0.05). After the treatment and relevant to the model and Moxi+inhibitor groups, both the Moxi and medication groups had an obvious down-regulation in the levels of latency of Morris water maze, expression levels of Aß_(1-42) protein, lncRNA H19 mRNA, mTOR mRNA and protein, and p62 protein (P<0.05), and a significant up-regulation in the levels of TFEB, Cathepsin D, LAMP1 mRNAs and proteins and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxi at acupoints of Governor Vessel can improve cognitive function of AD mice, which may be associated with its functions in inhibiting mTOR/TFEB pathway by down-regulating the expression of lncRNA H19, improving autophagy lysosomal function, promoting autophagy and clearing away Aß1-42 in the hippocampus.

Mechanisms of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin in the treatment of simple obesity revealed by network pharmacology.

Background: This study sought to examine the mechanism of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin in the treatment of obesity by network pharmacology. Methods: The active components and corresponding targets of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin were identified using the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform, and the obesity-related targets were acquired from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database. The drug and disease targets were also identified. Cytoscape software was used to construct the "active component target" network diagram. The protein-protein interaction network was drawn using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins platform, and the Cytoscape MCODE plugin was used to find clusters for the protein cluster analysis. The gene annotation and analysis were performed with the Metascape database via functional databases, such as the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Autodock and PyMOL were used for the molecular docking. Results: The GO analysis identified 244 target genes of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin, 1,378 targets of obesity, and 123 targets of drug and disease. Additionally, 208 biological process items, 38 molecular function items, and 33 cell component items were also identified. The KEGG pathway analysis identified the hypoxia-inducible factor, forkhead box O, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathways. The results of the molecular docking showed that the main active components of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin in the treatment of obesity were quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, luteolin, isorhamnetin, ß-sitosterol, sapogenin, tanshinone, and formononetin, all of which have been proven to bind to core obesity-related proteins, such as AKT1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), tumor protein 53 (TP53), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), caspase-3 (CASP3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), JUN, and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Thus, our study revealed the potential mechanism of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel treatment for obesity. These findings lay the foundation for further studies on the mechanism of the Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin in obesity treatment. Conclusions: The Jian Pi Tiao Gan Yin can be used as a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel treatment for obesity.

A novel method of bedside hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy for stage-III gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel method of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as adjuvant therapy for stage-III gastric cancer. METHODS: Patients with stage-III gastric cancer who underwent D2 radical gastrectomy were randomly assigned to the HIPEC or control group four weeks after surgery. The HIPEC group was treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2) administered with a HIPEC device on days 1 and 3 (30 mg/m2 each time), along with oral S-1, 40-60 mg, twice daily, for 14 days. The control group was treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2) administered intravenously plus oral S-1 (40-60 mg, 2/d for 14 days). The primary outcome of the study was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Total 114 patients were included in the study, with 57 patients in each group. The median DFS was 29.0 months in the HIPEC group, which was significantly longer than that in the control group (15.0 months, p = 0.006). The two-year DFS rate in the HIPEC group was higher than that in the control group (50.4% vs. 25.5%). Median OS was 42.0 month in the HIPEC group and 31.0 month in the control (p = 0.042). Peritoneal metastasis occurred in six patients in the HIPEC group (10.5%) and 12 patients in the control (21.1%, p = 0.198). No significant difference in the incidence of adverse event except for thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: HIPEC with cisplatin plus oral S-1 is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer following D2 radical gastrectomy. Trial registration: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier (NCT number): NCT02396498.

[Effect of moxibustion on cognitive function and proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia (VD), and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion on improving VD. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were selected from 100 rats (3 rats were excluded) and randomly divided into a normal group and a sham operation group, 15 rats in each group. The remaining 67 rats were treated with ischemia-reperfusion method at bilateral common carotid artery to establish VD model. The 45 rats with successful VD model were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medication group, 15 rats in each group. On the 7th day after successful modeling, the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with suspended moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Dazhui" (GV 14), 15 min per acupoint, once a day; there was 1 d of rest after 6 d of moxibustion, and the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The rats in the medication group was treated with nimodipine tablets by gavage, 2 mg/kg per day, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Before and after intervention, the Morris water maze test was used to detect the escape latency of rats in each group; after the intervention, the TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the number of co-expression positive cells of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/NeuN in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence single labeling method was used to detect cytochrome C (cytC) and outer mitochondrial membrane receptor Tom20 (Tom20) in hippocampal CA1 area; the Western blot method was used to detect the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in hippocampus. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the escape latency in the model group, the moxibustion group and the medication group was prolonged (P<0.01). After intervention, the escape latency in the moxibustion group and the medication group was shorter than that before intervention (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the escape latency in the moxibustion group and the medication group was shortened (P<0.05); compared with the medication group, the escape latency in the moxibustion group was shortened (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area was increased, the number of Bcl-2/NeuN co-expression positive cells was decreased, and the number of Bax/NeuN co-expression positive cells was increased in the model group (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the apoptosis rates of hippocampal CA1 neurons were decreased, the number of Bcl-2/NeuN co-expression positive cells was increased, and the number of Bax/NeuN co-expression positive cells was decreased in the moxibustion group and the medication group (P<0.01); compared with the medication group, the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area was decreased, the number of Bcl-2/NeuN co-expression positive cells was increased, and the number of Bax/NeuN co-expression positive cells was decreased in the moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the expressions of cytC, Tom20 protein in hippocampal CA1 area and PUMA protein in hippocampal tissue in the model group were increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the expressions of cytC, Tom20 protein in hippocampal CA1 area and PUMA protein in hippocampal tissue in the moxibustion group and the medication group were decreased (P<0.01); compared with the medication group, the expressions of cytC, Tom20 protein in hippocampal CA1 area and PUMA protein in hippocampal tissue in the moxibustion group were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion could improve the cognitive function of VD rats, which may be related to reducing the expression of Bax, cytC, Tom20 and PUMA protein in hippocampal CA1 area, promoting the release of Bcl-2 and inhibiting the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Ameliorates Sjögren's Syndrome in a Murine Model.

SCOPE: This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Non-obese diabetic mice (the pSS model) are randomly divided into four groups: Low dose LBP (LBP.L, 5 mg kg-1  d-1 ), high dose LBP (10 mg kg-1  d-1 ), low dose interleukin (IL)-2 (25 000 IU/d), and control (saline water). Drugs were treated for 12 weeks. LBP.L significantly reduces the salivary gland inflammation compared with the control group (histological score p LBP.L vs Control  = 0.019; foci number: p LBP.L vs Control  = 0.038). LBP.L also remarkably reduces the effector follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and the CD4+ IL-17A+ helper T (Th17) cells in both spleen and cervical lymph node (cLN) cells. Additionally, the ratios of regulatory T cell (Treg)/Tfh cells and Treg/Th17 cells are substantially increased in mice treated with LBP.L in both spleen and cLNs. LBP also inhibits Th17 and Tfh cells and markedly increases the Treg/Tfh ratio in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CONCLUSION: LBP.L inhibits the progression of pSS in mice, associated with modulation of T cell differentiation.

Extremely stable amidoxime functionalized covalent organic frameworks for uranium extraction from seawater with high efficiency and selectivity.

Uranium extraction from seawater is of strategic significance for nuclear power generation. Amidoxime-based functional adsorbents play indispensable roles in the recovery of seawater uranium with high efficiency. Nevertheless, balancing the adsorption capacity and selectivity is challenging in the presence of complicated interfering ions especially vanadium. Herein, a polyarylether-based covalent organic framework functionalized with open-chain amidoxime (COF-HHTF-AO) was synthesized with remarkable chemical stability and excellent crystallinity. Impressively, the adsorption capacity of COF-HHTF-AO towards uranium in natural seawater reached up to 5.12 mg/g, which is 1.61 times higher than that for vanadium. Detailed computational calculations revealed that the higher selectivity for uranium over vanadium originated from the specific bonding nature and coordination pattern with amidoxime. Combining enhanced adsorption capacity, excellent selectivity and ultrahigh stability, COF-HHTF-AO serves as a promising adsorbent for uranium extraction from the natural seawater.

Effect of moxibustion on cognitive function and proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of moxibustion on proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia (VD), and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion on improving VD.@*METHODS@#Thirty SD rats were selected from 100 rats (3 rats were excluded) and randomly divided into a normal group and a sham operation group, 15 rats in each group. The remaining 67 rats were treated with ischemia-reperfusion method at bilateral common carotid artery to establish VD model. The 45 rats with successful VD model were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medication group, 15 rats in each group. On the 7th day after successful modeling, the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with suspended moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Dazhui" (GV 14), 15 min per acupoint, once a day; there was 1 d of rest after 6 d of moxibustion, and the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The rats in the medication group was treated with nimodipine tablets by gavage, 2 mg/kg per day, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Before and after intervention, the Morris water maze test was used to detect the escape latency of rats in each group; after the intervention, the TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the number of co-expression positive cells of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/NeuN in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence single labeling method was used to detect cytochrome C (cytC) and outer mitochondrial membrane receptor Tom20 (Tom20) in hippocampal CA1 area; the Western blot method was used to detect the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in hippocampus.@*RESULTS@#Before intervention, compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the escape latency in the model group, the moxibustion group and the medication group was prolonged (@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion could improve the cognitive function of VD rats, which may be related to reducing the expression of Bax, cytC, Tom20 and PUMA protein in hippocampal CA1 area, promoting the release of Bcl-2 and inhibiting the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

Rapid chemome profiling of Cistanche salsa using DI-MS/MS~(ALL) / 中国中药杂志

The current study aims to rapidly and comprehensively profile the chemical composition of Cistanche salsa using direct infusion coupled with MS/MS~(ALL)(DI-MS/MS~(ALL)). The C. salsa extract was directly imported into electrospray ionization(ESI) source of quadrupole time-of-flight(Q-TOF) mass spectrometer with an infusion pump at a flow rate of 10 μL·min~(-1). Acquisition program was applied under negative ionization polarity to collect one MS~1 spectrum(m/z 50-1 200), followed by 1 150 MS~2 spectra with precursor isolation window(m/z 1) amongst mass range m/z 50-1 200. After each MS~2 spectrum was matched to its precursor ion, putative identification was conducted through matching mass spectral data with literature and database. A total of 31 components were identified from C. salsa, including 9 phenylethanoid glycosides, 2 iridoids, 4 saccharides, 9 organic acids, and 7 other compounds, similar to those from C. tubulosa and C. deserticola. In conclusion, DI-MS/MS~(ALL), a facile and reliable analytical tool, can be employed for qualitative analysis of chemical constituents in C. salsa. The research offers a promising strategy to achieve rapid chemome profiling of herbal medicine and provides an alternative source of Cistanches Herba.

Rapid chemome profiling of chemical components of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos using DI-MS/MS~(ALL) / 中国中药杂志

A new method of MS/MS~(ALL) was designed to sequentially record a MS~2 spectrum at each unit mass window through gas phase fractionation concept, so as to offer an opportunity for universal MS~2 spectral recording with direct infusion(DI). As a proof-of-concept, DI-MS/MS~(ALL) was applied for rapid chemome profiling of a famous herbal medicine named Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. After each MS~2 spectrum was correlated to its precursor ion, the structural annotation was conducted by applying well-defined mass cracking rules, matching the mass spectral data with literatures and referring to those accessible databases. As a result, a total of 54 components were identified from Lonicerae Japonicae Flos extract, including 21 phenolic acids, 13 flavonoids, 12 iridoids, 4 triterpenoids and 4 other compounds. Therefore, DI-MS/MS~(ALL) is a powerful tool for comprehensive, rapid qualitative analysis of chemical profiles of traditional Chinese medicine and other chemical components of complex systems.

[An ecological stoichiometry model based on the size of Nitraria tangutorum]. / 基于白刺个体大小的生态化学计量模型.

Ecological stoichiometry provides a new method for understanding the characteristics, driving forces and mechanisms of C, N and P coupled cycles. However, there are few reports on the variation in ecological stoichiometry of plants during their growth. In this study, we fitted the total elemental mass of different module based on the size of Nitraria tangutorum, and derived the ecological stoichiometry models of different module and whole ramet by measuring the biomass and nutrient concentrations of the current-year stems in 2017, 2-year-old stems, more than 2-year-old stems, leaves, roots and layerings of N. tangutorum ramet. Our results showed that the derivation model could well reflect the changes in ecological stoichiometry during plant growth. The old stems and the layering had higher N:P and C:P, while leaves,current-year stems, and roots had lower N:P and C:P. The whole plant nutrient elements cumulative rate was P:N:C during the growth process. These results were consistent with the growth rate hypothesis and allometric theory, and provide evidence for nutrient reabsorption. This model could be used as an effective way to analyze the dynamic characteristics of elements in plant growth.

[CAI Sheng-chao's experience in treatment of Sjögren's syndrome with moxibustion for promoting meridian circulation and warming yang].

Professor CAI Sheng-chao's clinical experience is summarized in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome with moxibustion for promoting meridian circulation and warming yang and the typical case is introduced. Professor CAI believes that Sjögren's syndrome refers to zao (dry) bi syndrome. It is the insufficiency of yin and body fluid for the primary and yang qi deficiency for the root. On the base of traditional long-snake moxibustion, the moxibustion therapy for promoting meridian circulation and warming yang is adopted to warm up and tonify zangfu organs. When the function of yang qi is restored, body fluid (yin) will be generated naturally. Hence, the diagnosis and treatment system is developed by the integration of the theory as "moxibustion applicable for yin deficiency" and the characteristic moxibustion therapy.

Chemome profiling and comparison of three Orobanche medicinal plants / 中国中药杂志

Several Orobanche medicinal plants sometimes served as alternative sources of Cistanches Herba, attributing to the benefits such as tonifying kidney, strengthening tendons and bones. Among them, O. coerulescens, O. cernua and O. pycnostachya have been widely utilized in northern China for treatments of pains in the loins and knees, impotence, and spermatorrhea. However, their chemical profiles haven't been elucidated. In the present study, UHPLC-IT-TOF-MS was implemented to conduct in-depth chemome profiling of O. coerulescens, O. cernua and O. pycnostachya, aiming to achieve a comprehensive chemical characterization and to provide pronounced information for the quality control and clinical applications. An ACE Ultra-Core 2.5 Super C_(18)(3.0 mm×150 mm, 2.5 μm) column was deployed for chromatographic separations, and high-resolution MS~n spectra were recorded by IT-TOF-MS. Forty-eight components, in total, were observed, and thirty-eight ones were structurally annotated according to proposing mass fragmentation patterns, matching with relevant databases. Particularly, nine ones were confirmed by reference compounds. Overall, the chemical compositions of O. coerulescens and O. cernua are quite similar, and differences occur between O. pycnostachya and the prior two ones; primary chemical family is phenylethanoid glycosides, and several lignan glycosides as well as iridoid glycosides are also observed; the primary components include acteoside, isoacteoside, crenatoside and 2'-acetylacteoside, etc.

Mixed Reality Combined with Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Updated Review with a Preliminary Case Presentation.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, virtual reality, and augmented reality technology have been used to help surgeons to complete complex total hip arthroplasty, while their respective shortcomings limit their further application. With the development of technology, mixed reality (MR) technology has been applied to improve the success rate of complicated hip arthroplasty because of its unique advantages. We presented a case of a 59-year-old man with an intertrochanteric fracture in the left femur, who had received a prior left hip fusion. After admission to our hospital, a left total hip arthroplasty was performed on the patient using a combination of MR technology and 3D printing technology. Before surgery, 3D reconstruction of a certain bony landmark exposed in the surgical area was first performed. Then a veneer part was designed according to the bony landmark and connected to a reference registration landmark outside the body through a connecting rod. After that, the series of parts were made into a holistic reference registration instrument using 3D printing technology, and the patient's data for bone and surrounding tissue, along with digital 3D information of the reference registration instrument, were imported into the head-mounted display (HMD). During the operation, the disinfected reference registration instrument was installed on the selected bony landmark, and then the automatic real-time registration was realized by HMD through recognizing the registration landmark on the reference registration instrument, whereby the patient's virtual bone and other anatomical structures were quickly and accurately superimposed on the real body of the patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to use MR combined with 3D printing technology in total hip arthroplasty.

Host serum iron modulates dengue virus acquisition by mosquitoes.

A blood meal is the primary route through which mosquitoes acquire an arbovirus infection. Blood components or their metabolites may regulate the susceptibility of mosquitoes to arboviruses. Here we report that serum iron in human blood influences dengue virus acquisition by mosquitoes. Dengue virus acquisition by Aedes aegypti was inversely correlated with the iron concentration in serum from human donors. In a mouse-mosquito acquisition model, iron supplementation reduced dengue virus prevalence and viral load, whereas neutralization of serum iron facilitated dengue virus infection in A. aegypti mosquitoes. Of note, mosquitoes feeding on iron-deficient (sideropenic) mice exhibited a higher prevalence of dengue virus. Reversal of the sideropenic status of hosts largely reduced dengue virus acquisition and infection by mosquitoes. Serum iron, rather than haem-bound iron, was utilized by the mosquito iron metabolism pathway to boost the activity of reactive oxygen species in the gut epithelium, subsequently inhibiting infection by dengue virus. On the basis of these results, a status of iron deficiency in the human population might contribute to the vectorial permissiveness to dengue virus, thereby facilitating its spread by mosquitoes.

[Moxibustion improves learning-memory ability by promoting cellular autophagy and regulating autophagy-related proteins in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in APP/PS1 transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion of acupoints of the Governor Vessel on the levels of cellular autophagy, ß amyloid protein (Aß) immunoactivity, and expression of LC3-Ⅰ， LC3-Ⅱ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampal tissue of APPswe/PS1de9 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice, so as to reveal its underlying mechanisms in improving AD. METHODS: APP/PS1 double-transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into AD model, moxibustion, autophagy-inducer (Rapamycin) and autophagy-inhibitor (3-MA)＋moxibustion groups (n＝10 in each group), and other 10 C57BL/6J male mice (the same age) were used as the normal control group. Herbal-cake (made of Chuanwu [Radix Aconiti Praeparata]) partitioned moxibustion was applied to "Baihui"(GV20), moxibustion was applied to "Fengfu"(GV16) and "Dazhui"(GV14), all for 20 min, once daily for 2 weeks, with one day's off between two weeks. For mice of the autophagy-inducer and 3-MA＋moxibustion groups, Rapamycin (2 mg•kg－1•d－1) and 3-MA (1.5 mg•kg－1•d－1) were separately administered by intraperitoneal injection for 2 weeks. The cognitive ability was examined by Morris water maze tests, and the ultrastructural changes (including autophagic lysosomes, etc.) of hippocampal neurons were observed by using transmission electron microscopy. The immunoactivity of cerebral cortex and hippocampal Amyloid ß peptide 1-42 (Aß1-42) was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of hippocampal LC3-Ⅰ， LC3-Ⅱ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling, the escape latency of Morris water maze tasks was prolonged in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05) and obviously shortened in the moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.05). Results of transmission electron microscope showed deformed, irregular or atrophic neurons with rough and incomplete and fuzzy nuclear membrane, and decreased intracellular autophagosomes in the hippocampus in the model group, and partial irregular, atrophic neurons with more autophagic vesicles and lysosomes in the moxibustion group. The expression levels of Aß1-42 in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues, and LC3-Ⅰ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampus were consi-derably up-regulated in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01), and evidently down-regulated in both moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.01), while that of hippocampal LC3-Ⅱ protein and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio levels were obviously down-regulated in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01), and significantly up-regulated in both moxibustion and autophagy-inducer groups (not the autophagy-inhibitor group) than in the model group (P<0.01)．. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can improve the cognitive ability of APP/PS1 double-transgenic AD mice, which is associated with its effects in promoting hip-pocampal and cerebral cortex autophagy level, and down-regulating the expression levels of Aß1-42, LC3-Ⅰ， p62 and p-P70S6K proteins in the hippocampus.

Cu/ZnSOD always responded stronger and rapider than MnSOD in Lymantria dispar larvae under the avermectin stress.

Metalloenzyme SODs play important roles in insects dealing with environmental stress. Here, we cloned the Cu/ZnSOD (LdCZS) and MnSOD (LdMS) mRNA of Lymantria dispar by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Afterwards their expression patterns were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) after bioinformatic analysis. We found that both LdCZS and LdMS were widely detected in all gypsy moth larvae and all five tissues that we analyzed, and both of them were up-regulated after larvae were fed with avermectin of sublethal concentration and LC10. The LdCZS expression value are always higher than LdMS after treating with avermectin of sublethal concentrations. In addition, temporal expression profile in avermectin treated larvae showed that LdCZS expressed highest at 2nd hour, and LdMS expressed highest at 6th hour. The cuticulas transcribed LdCZS and LdMS significantly higher than heads, fat bodies, Malpighian tubes, and midguts after spraying avermectin of sublethal concentration. These results suggested that both Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD are important antioxidant enzymes in L. dispar defensing against pesticide stress, and LdCZS always responded rapider and stronger than LdMS.