Far-infrared stimulation of Neiguan acupoints improves heart rate variability and ameliorate fatigue in hemodialysis patients: A randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, 84 615 patients in Taiwan received hemodialysis, of which about 62% to 97% suffered from fatigue. Fatigue caused by hemodialysis may be mental or physical. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether far-infrared stimulation of the Neiguan acupoint (P6) could effectively reduce fatigue and improve heart rate variability (HRV) in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: We conducted a two-arm, randomized trial in a hemodialysis center between March 2015 and March 2016. A total of 73 hemodialysis patients were included and were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 37) and a control group (n = 36). The experimental group received far-infrared radiation on Neiguan acupoint during hemodialysis for 12 weeks. The outcomes were fatigue level and HRV. RESULTS: All patients showed moderate fatigue ( M = 26.00 ± 13.01, range = 0-78) at baseline. Far-infrared stimulation on Neiguan acupoint significantly reduced overall fatigue ( ß = 24, p < 0.001) and improved HRV ( ß = 74.36, p < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the experiment group had significantly reduced fatigue levels in all aspects such as reduced energy and motivation ( ß = -2.97, p < 0.001), reduced physical strength ( ß = -1.28, p < 0.01), reduced mental capability ( ß = -2.38, p < 0.001), reduction in daily activities ( ß = -1.48, p < 0.01), depressed mood and loss of control ( ß = -1.21, p < 0.05) as well as increased autonomous nervous system activity ( ß = 14.71, p < 0.01) in the third month of stimulation. CONCLUSION: Far-infrared stimulation of the Neiguan acupoints effectively reduces fatigue and increases autonomic nervous system activity in hemodialysis patients.

Moxibustion for Managing Postoperative Urinary Retention After Hemorrhoidectomy and Anorectal Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: Common surgical procedures for conditions affecting the anus and rectum such as hemorrhoidectomy are associated with high risks of postoperative urinary retention (POUR). Little is known about the efficacy of moxibustion in managing POUR after such surgical procedures. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review the related literature and synthesize data on the effectiveness of moxibustion in managing POUR after common anorectal surgeries. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP information, and Wanfang databases were searched to October 1, 2021 using the keywords urinary retention, moxibustion, and moxa. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating patients who had developed POUR after hemorrhoidectomy or other anorectal surgeries were eligible for inclusion. Patients receiving moxibustion formed the intervention group and the control group received usual care alone. Primary outcomes were markedly effective rate, defined as spontaneous voiding with complete symptom relief within 30 to 60 minutes after treatment; and total effective rate (ie, markedly effective rate plus effective rate, defined as spontaneous voiding with partial relief of symptoms within 60 minutes to 4 hours after treatment). Secondary outcome was time to first urination after treatment. FINDINGS: Thirty-four RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Pooled analysis revealed that the markedly effective rate was significantly higher in the moxibustion group than that in the control group (pooled RR = 2.53, 95% CI = 2.17-2.95), and the total effective rate in the moxibustion group was also higher than that in the control group (pooled RR = 5.02, 95% CI = 4.01-6.28). The intervention group had significantly shorter times to first urination than controls (pooled effect = -2.81, 95% CI = -2.06 to -3.56). CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion appears superior to usual care in relieving POUR after common anorectal surgeries. Future studies are still warranted to confirm these findings.

Research Progress on Structural Modification of Effective Antitumor Active Ingredients in Licorice.

Licorice, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, contains more than 300 flavonoids and more than 20 triterpenoids, which have potential medicinal value and can prevent the growth of tumor cells by blocking the cell cycle, affecting the regulation of the apoptosis gene of tumor cells, and inhibiting tumor cell angiogenesis. However, many of the compounds in licorice still have the drawbacks of poor solubility, significant toxic side effects, and low antitumor activity. This article reviews the structural modification of effective antitumor active ingredients in licorice, thus providing a theoretical basis for further investigation of licorice and the development of new antitumor drugs.

Comparing Arsenic-Containing Qinghuang Powder and Low-Intensity Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of arsenic-containing Qinghuang Powder (QHP) and low-intensity chemotherapy (LIC) in treatment of elderly acute myeloid leukemia (eAML) patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 80 eAML patients treated at Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The treatment scheme was designed by real world study according to patients' preference, and patients were divided into a QHP group (35 cases) and a LIC group (45 cases). The median overall survival (mOS), 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates, and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mOS of 80 patients was 11 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 45.51%, 17.96%, and 11.05%, respectively. The QHP and LIC groups demonstrated no significant difference in mOS (12 months vs. 10 months), 1- (48.57% vs. 39.65%), 2- (11.43% vs. 20.04%), and 3-year OS rates (5.71% vs. 13.27%, all P>0.05). Moreover, the related factors of mOS demonstrated no significant difference in patients with age>75 years (11 months vs. 8 months), secondary AML (11 months vs. 8 months), poor genetic prognosis (9 months vs. 7 months), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score ⩾ 3 (10 months vs. 7 months) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant comorbidity index ⩾ 4 (11 months vs. 7 months) between the QHP and LIC groups (all P>0.05). However, the incidence of myelosuppression was significantly lower in the QHP group than that in the LIC group (28.57% vs. 73.33%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: QHP and LIC had similar survival rates in eAML patients, but QHP had a lower myelosuppression incidence. Hence, QHP can be an alternative for eAML patients who do not tolerate LIC.

An Interaction Effect of Life-Threatening Experience, Self-Efficacy, and Financial Resources on Quality of Life Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Women.

The current study explores the interaction effect of adversities and self-efficacy at baseline on quality of life (QoL) at follow-up among middle-aged and older Chinese women. 531 women were interviewed in 2008 and 226 of them were re-interviewed a year later using Quality of Life Ladder (QoLL), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), List of Threatening Experiences (LTE), Somatic Complaint Scale, and self-rated health. Respondents' mean age at baseline was 55.7 (SD = 4.7, range: 50-78). Over a year's time, respondents had a decline in quality of life and self-rated health (p < .001), experienced more life-threatening events (p < .05) and somatic complaints. The hierarchical multiple regression model, employed in the study, identifies three predictors of future quality of life after adding the interaction term 'Previous LTE × Previous GSE × Previous household income' - previous quality of life (ß = .492, p < .001), previous LTE (ß = -.292, p < .001), and the interaction term (ß = .221, p < .05). This model explains 34.1% of the variance of future quality of life (Adjusted R2 = .341, p < .001). The findings suggests that respondents' good self-appraisal of coping resources could moderate the impact of adversities on their future quality of life. Interventions for promoting positive psychological growth among middle-aged and older adults should cover four domains, i.e. event-related factors, environmental factors, personal factors, and cognitive and coping responses. Traditional Chinese wisdom emphasizes the importance of understanding the bad ('Yin'-the shady side) and the good ('Yang'-the sunny side) aspect of life events. Future research may explore the Yin Yang perspective on life-threatening experiences and its applications in cross-cultural quality of life studies in the era of globalization.

Dietary Habits Modify the Association of Physical Exercise with Cognitive Impairment in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have confirmed that both healthy diets and physical exercise have preventive effects with respect to cognitive decline with aging. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the associations of physical exercise with cognitive impairment differ in community-dwelling older adults with different dietary habits. METHODS: In the 2008/2009 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, 14,966 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) were included for analyses. Dietary habits (including daily intake of fruits, vegetables, tea, meat, fish, eggs, food made from beans, salt-preserved vegetables, sugar, garlic, milk products, nut products, mushroom or algae, vitamins and medicinal plants) and physical exercise were assessed. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Chinese version of the MMSE in the 2008/2009 and 2011/2012 waves. The effect modifications of physical exercise on cognitive impairment by dietary habits were estimated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Older adults who practiced physical exercise exhibited a trend of decreased probability of cognitive impairment at baseline and follow-up (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.80-1.06, p = 0.273; OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.65-1.05, p = 0.123, respectively) compared with those who did not practice physical exercise. When stratified by dietary habits, physical exercise had a protective effect with respect to prevalent cognitive impairment in older adults who ate fruits (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.94, p = 0.016), ate food made from beans (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62-0.93, p = 0.007), did not eat sugar (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68-0.98, p = 0.028) and ate milk products (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57-0.97, p = 0.030); in the longitudinal analyses, physical exercise had a protective effect with respect to incident cognitive impairment in older adults who ate fruits (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.41-0.98, p = 0.040) and milk products (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.35-0.94, p = 0.027). Fruits, food made from beans and milk products modified the associations of physical exercise with prevalent cognitive impairment (p values for interaction = 0.008, 0.005 and 0.082, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The associations of physical exercise with cognitive impairment could be modified by certain dietary habits. Physical exercise was not found to be significantly protective with respect to cognitive impairment in older adults unless they had specific dietary habits. Thus, dietary habits should be emphasized when investigating the beneficial effects of physical exercise on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.

Effect of application mode (capping and amendment) on the control of cadmium release from sediment by apatite/calcite mixture and its phosphorus release risk.

In this research, the influence of application mode (capping and amendment) on the control of cadmium (Cd) liberation from sediment by apatite/calcite mixture and its phosphorus release risk were investigated. The results showed that calcite addition had a limited effect on the speciation of Cd in sediment, but apatite addition had a significant impact on the fractionation of Cd in sediment. Apatite amendment could effectively immobilize the most readily mobilized Cd by transferring the acid-soluble fraction to the reducible and residual fractions. Apatite addition also could effectively reduce the concentration of toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)-leachable Cd in sediment, and apatite had a much higher reduction efficiency of TCLP-leachable Cd than calcite. Apatite/calcite mixture capping could reduce the risk of Cd liberation from sediment into the overlying water, and the controlling efficiency of apatite/calcite mixture capping was higher than that of apatite/calcite mixture amendment. The effect of apatite/calcite mixture addition on the concentration of reactive soluble phosphorus (SRP) in the overlying water was limited. The introduction of calcite into the apatite capping layer could lower the risk of phosphorus release from apatite to the overlying water as compared to single apatite capping. However, the apatite/calcite mixture capping layer still had a relatively high risk of phosphorus liberation into the overlying water. Results of this work suggest that apatite/calcite mixture has a high potential to be used as a capping material to control Cd release from sediment from the perspective of controlling efficiency and application convenience.

Ancient genomes from the Himalayas illuminate the genetic history of Tibetans and their Tibeto-Burman speaking neighbors.

Present-day Tibetans have adapted both genetically and culturally to the high altitude environment of the Tibetan Plateau, but fundamental questions about their origins remain unanswered. Recent archaeological and genetic research suggests the presence of an early population on the Plateau within the past 40 thousand years, followed by the arrival of subsequent groups within the past 10 thousand years. Here, we obtain new genome-wide data for 33 ancient individuals from high elevation sites on the southern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau in Nepal, who we show are most closely related to present-day Tibetans. They derive most of their ancestry from groups related to Late Neolithic populations at the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau but also harbor a minor genetic component from a distinct and deep Paleolithic Eurasian ancestry. In contrast to their Tibetan neighbors, present-day non-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman speakers living at mid-elevations along the southern and eastern margins of the Plateau form a genetic cline that reflects a distinct genetic history. Finally, a comparison between ancient and present-day highlanders confirms ongoing positive selection of high altitude adaptive alleles.

Establishment of a Drug Screening Model for Cardiac Complications of Acute Renal Failure.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a clinical critical syndrome with rapid and severe decline of renal function. Complications of ARF, especially its cardiac complications (cardiorenal syndrome type 3, CRS-3), are the main causes of death in patients with ARF. However, the shortage and limited efficacy of therapeutic drugs make it significant to establish new large-scale drug screening models. Based on the Nitroreductase/Metronidazole (NTR/MTZ) cell ablation system, we constructed a Tg(cdh17:Dendra2-NTR) transgenic zebrafish line, which can specifically ablate renal tubular epithelial cells. The absence of renal tubular epithelial cells can lead to ARF in zebrafish larvae. The ARF symptoms, such as heart enlargement, slow heart rate and blood stasis, are similar to the clinical manifestations of human CRS-3. Furthermore, two therapeutic drugs (digoxin and enalapril) commonly used in the clinical treatment of heart failure were also effective in alleviating the symptoms of CRS-3 in zebrafish, which proved the effectiveness of this model. Drug screening further discovered a potential drug candidate, α-lipoic acid, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms of CRS-3 through its antioxidant function. Accordingly, we established a new ARF model of zebrafish, which laid a foundation for large-scale screening of new therapeutic drugs for its complications.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Establishment of an Association Model between Metabolic Syndrome, TCM Constitution, and the Guidance of Medicated Diet Care.

BACKGROUND: This study conducted exploratory research using artificial intelligence methods. The main purpose of this study is to establish an association model between metabolic syndrome and the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) constitution using the characteristics of individual physical examination data and to provide guidance for medicated diet care. METHODS: Basic demographic and laboratory data were collected from a regional hospital health examination database in northern Taiwan, and artificial intelligence algorithms, such as logistic regression, Bayesian network, and decision tree, were used to analyze and construct the association model between metabolic syndrome and the TCM constitution. Findings. It was found that the phlegm-dampness constitution (90.6%) accounts for the majority of TCM constitution classifications with a high risk of metabolic syndrome, and high cholesterol, blood glucose, and waist circumference were statistically significantly correlated with the phlegm-dampness constitution. This study also found that the age of patients with metabolic syndrome has been advanced, and shift work is one of the risk indicators. Therefore, based on the association model between metabolic syndrome and TCM constitution, in the future, metabolic syndrome can be predicted through the syndrome differentiation of the TCM constitution, and relevant medicated diet care schemes can be recommended for improvement. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the public's knowledge and methods for mitigating metabolic syndrome, in the future, nursing staff can provide nonprescription medicated diet-related nursing guidance information via the prediction and assessment of the TCM constitution.

GDI2 is a target of paclitaxel that affects tumorigenesis of prostate cancer via the p75NTR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) refers to malignant tumors derived from prostate epithelial cells, whose morbidity and mortality rates have been increasing every year. Although new drugs for treating prostate cancer continue to emerge, the unclear mechanism underlying drug targets limits this therapy, thereby constraining identification of effective therapeutic targets. Although GDP dissociation inhibitor 2(GDI2) is highly expressed and closely associated with occurrence and development of many tumors, its role in prostate cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of GDI2 and elucidated its underlying mechanism of action in prostate cancer. Moreover, we screened chemotherapeutic drugs that affect GDI2 expression with a view of identifying novel targets for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS: We performed sequence analyses and functional assays to precisely elucidate the GDI2 role in prostate cancer. Moreover, we induced tumorigenesis in nude mice to verify the role of GDI2 in vivo. Finally, we used the CCK8 assay to ascertain the most suitable IC50 across the three drugs and performed quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot to analyze the effects of drugs on expression of GDI2, p75NTR, and p-NFκB. RESULTS: GDI2 was up-regulated in prostate cancer cells and tissues. Knocking down GDI2 suppressed cell proliferation but promoted cell apoptosis. Interestingly, knocking down GDI2 activated the p75NTR signaling pathway, indicating, for the first time, that p75NTR is negatively correlated with GDI2 expression. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results indicate that GDI2 is a therapeutic target of paclitaxel. Knocking down of GDI2 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis via the p75NTR signaling pathway in prostate cancer. Notably, paclitaxel inhibits GDI2 expression, implying that GDI2 may be a promising therapeutic target in prostate cancer.

Emodin Suppresses the Migration and Invasion of Melanoma Cells.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone), as an active ingredient in rhubarb roots and rhizomes, has been reported to possess various pharmacological properties including anti-tumor effects. Recent studies have confirmed that emodin inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. However, the inhibitory effect of emodin on the migration and invasion of melanoma cells and its underlying mechanism are still unclear. In the study, we observed the impercipient effects of emodin in B16F10 and A375 melanoma cells with strong metastatic abilities, focusing on the functions and mechanisms of migration and invasion of B16F10 and A375 melanoma cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation test and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) staining tests confirmed that emodin possessed anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in B16F10 and A375 cells. The inhibitory effects on the migration and invasion of B16F10 and A375 cells were proved by wound healing assay and Transwell methods. Moreover, immunofluorescence assay approved the decrease in protein expression of matrix metalloproteinas (MMP)-2/-9 by emodin, and Western blot analyses revealed that emodin could increase the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and inhibit the MMP-2/-9 protein expression and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in a dose-depended manner. BML-284, as an agonist of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, reversed the effects of emodin on cell growth, migration and invasion in B16F10 cells. These findings may suggest that emodin treatment can be a promising therapeutic strategy for melanoma with highly metastatic abilities.

Involvement of Aquaporins in the Intense Pulsed Light-Enhanced Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We previously demonstrated that intense pulsed light (IPL) irradiation prior to wounding improved the wound healing in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM). Also, we found that IPL upregulated the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3), a protein that is crucial for wound healing, in normal rats. This present study aimed to examine the involvement of AQPs in the IPL-enhanced wound healing in diabetic rats. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into four groups: normal group, DM only group, DM rats with IPL treatment 2 weeks before wounding (DM + IPL-Pre group), and DM rats with concurrent IPL irradiation and wounding (DM + IPL-Con group). Wounds were created on the dorsal skin of rats. The expressions of AQP1, 3, 4, 7, and 9 in the pre-injured skin, periwound, and wound were determined. RESULTS: Among all the AQPs analyzed, only the expressions of AQP3 and AQP7 were significantly altered. Unirradiated diabetic rats showed much higher expression level of AQP3 in the regenerating skin compared with normal rats. IPL pretreatment, but not concurrent treatment, attenuated the expression toward the level detected in the normal wounds. In contrast, a lower expression level of AQP7 was noted in the regenerating skin of DM only rats and IPL pretreatment upregulated the expression to a level similar to that in the normal rats. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effect of IPL pretreatment on the wound healing in diabetic rats might involve a mechanism by which the expression of AQPs is regulated. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Icariin-induced inhibition of SIRT6/NF-κB triggers redox mediated apoptosis and enhances anti-tumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer.

Abnormal activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is closely implicated in triple-negative breast cancer growth, metastasis, and tumor immune escape. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, toward breast cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. This investigation showed that icariin selectively inhibited proliferation and triggered apoptosis in breast cancer cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but exhibited little cytotoxicity in normal breast cells. Moreover, icariin induced cell apoptosis via a mitochondria-mediated pathway, as indicated by the upregulated ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and reactive oxygen species induction. Importantly, icariin impaired the activation of the NF-κB/EMT pathway, as evidenced by upregulation of SIRT6, resulting in inhibition of migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Additionally, oss-128167, an inhibitor of SIRT6, dramatically attenuated anti-migration and anti-invasion effects of icariin. Transcriptomic analysis verified that impairment of NF-κB led to the selective function of icariin in breast cancer cells. Notably, icariin exhibited a significant tumor growth inhibition and anti-pulmonary metastasis effect in a tumor mouse model of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells by regulating the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Together, these results showed that icariin could effectively trigger apoptosis and inhibit the migration of breast cancer cells via the SIRT6/NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that icariin might serve as a potential candidate drug for the treatment of breast cancer.

Genetic history from the Middle Neolithic to present on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

The island of Sardinia has been of particular interest to geneticists for decades. The current model for Sardinia's genetic history describes the island as harboring a founder population that was established largely from the Neolithic peoples of southern Europe and remained isolated from later Bronze Age expansions on the mainland. To evaluate this model, we generate genome-wide ancient DNA data for 70 individuals from 21 Sardinian archaeological sites spanning the Middle Neolithic through the Medieval period. The earliest individuals show a strong affinity to western Mediterranean Neolithic populations, followed by an extended period of genetic continuity on the island through the Nuragic period (second millennium BCE). Beginning with individuals from Phoenician/Punic sites (first millennium BCE), we observe spatially-varying signals of admixture with sources principally from the eastern and northern Mediterranean. Overall, our analysis sheds light on the genetic history of Sardinia, revealing how relationships to mainland populations shifted over time.

Arsenic-Containing Qinghuang Powder () is an Alternative Treatment for Elderly Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Refusing Low-Intensity Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the overall survival (OS) of elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with oral arsenic-containing Qinghuang Powder (, QHP) or low-intensity chemotherapy (LIC). METHODS: Forty-two elderly AML patients treated with intravenous or subcutaneous LIC (1 month for each course, at least 3 courses) or oral QHP (3 months for each course, at least 2 courses) were retrospectively analyzed from January 2015 to December 2017. The main endpoints of analysis were OS and 1-, 2-, 3-year OS rates of patients, respectively. And the adverse reactions induding bone marrow suppression, digestive tract discomfort and myocardia injury were observed. RESULTS: Out of 42 elderly AML patients, 22 received LIC treatment and 20 received QHP treatment, according to patients' preference. There was no significant difference on OS between LIC and QHP patients (13.0 months vs. 13.5 months, >0.05). There was no significant difference on OS rates between LIC and QHP groups at 1 year (59.1% vs. 70.0%), 2 years (13.6% vs. 15%), and 3 years (4.6% vs. 5.0%, all >0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference of OS on prognosis stratification of performance status > 2 (12 months vs. 12 months), age> 75 year-old (12.0 months vs. 12.5 months), hematopoietic stem cell transplant comorbidity index >2 (12 months vs. 13 months), poor cytogenetics (12 months vs. 8 months), and diagnosis of secondary AML (10 months vs. 14 months) between LIC and QHP patients (>0.05). CONCLUSION: QHP may be an alternative treatment for elderly AML patients refusing LIC therapy.

Application of Meridian Electrical Conductance in the Setting of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Acupuncture is widely used for improving poststroke care. Knowing the condition of meridian can help traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors make a tailored choice of acupoints for every patient. The establishment of an objective meridian energy measurement for acute ischemic stroke that can be used for future acupuncture treatment and research is an important area in stroke-assisted therapy. In this study, a total of 102 subjects diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset were recruited, and the meridian energy analysis device (MEAD) was used to record the meridian electrical conductance (MEC) values of twelve meridians on unaffected and affected limbs. We found that the MEC value of the twelve meridians on the affected limbs was significantly higher than that on the unaffected limbs (P=0.001). Compared with the unaffected limbs, there was a higher value of MEC on the affected limbs of the lung meridian, heart meridian, pericardium meridian, and small intestine meridian, with significant differences (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively). Further analysis revealed that the MEC values of both Yin and Yang meridians of the affected limbs were significantly higher than those of the unaffected limbs (P=0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Meanwhile, the mean of the index of sympathovagal balance in patients with acute ischemic stroke (5.49 ± 4.21) was higher than the normal range (1-1.5), indicating autonomic imbalance. The results of this study are consistent with TCM theory as well as clinical observation and pathological mechanisms, suggesting that the measurement of MEC values may be used as a supplementary diagnostic method for acupuncture in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Efficacy of probiotic supplementary therapy for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and wheeze: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Probiotic supplementary therapy to prevent allergic diseases, including asthma in children, has been widely explored in many randomized controlled trials. However, there is conflicting evidence on the effect of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and infancy to the incidence of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Method: This study was designed to systematically explore the potential effects of probiotic supplementation on the occurrence and development of asthma, wheeze, and allergic rhinitis. Randomized controlled trials were searched in several medical literature data bases. A meta-analysis was undertaken by using the fixed-effects model or the random effects model to calculate the pooled risk of significant heterogeneity. Two writers were designated to perform the study selection and data extraction. The primary outcome was clinically diagnosed asthma; the secondary outcomes included wheeze, allergic rhinitis, and a positive aeroallergen skin-prick test result. Results: Seventeen randomized controlled trials, which composed a total of 5264 children, were analyzed. The pooled data for risk of developing asthma after probiotic supplementation showed no significant reduction compared with controls (risk ratio [RR] 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.73-1.01]; I² = 0%; p = 0.06). A subgroup of strains indicated that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation only had a reduction to the occurrence of asthma (RR 0.75 [95% CI, 0.57-0.99]; I² = 11%; p = 0.04). The supplement in the postnatal group had a similar result, but the incorporated data were limited. Meanwhile, it is failed to identify that probiotic supplementary therapy have a clear benefit to the secondary outcomes: wheeze, allergic rhinitis, positive aeroallergen skin-prick test result. Conclusion: This study showed a significant benefit that supplementation with probiotics in pre- and postnatal periods was likely to play an essential strategic role in the prevention of asthma. However, these effects were based on the type of probiotics used, which also need more large-sample and high-quality RCTs to confirm the reliability of this study.

Intravenous treatment of choroidal neovascularization by photo-targeted nanoparticles.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the major cause of vision loss in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current therapies require repeated intravitreal injections, which are painful and can cause infection, bleeding, and retinal detachment. Here we develop nanoparticles (NP-[CPP]) that can be administered intravenously and allow local drug delivery to the diseased choroid via light-triggered targeting. NP-[CPP] is formed by PEG-PLA chains modified with a cell penetrating peptide (CPP). Attachment of a DEACM photocleavable group to the CPP inhibits cellular uptake of NP-[CPP]. Irradiation with blue light cleaves DEACM from the CPP, allowing the CPP to migrate from the NP core to the surface, rendering it active. In mice with laser-induced CNV, intravenous injection of NP-[CPP] coupled to irradiation of the eye allows NP accumulation in the neovascular lesions. When loaded with doxorubicin, irradiated NP-[CPP] significantly reduces neovascular lesion size. We propose a strategy for non-invasive treatment of CNV and enhanced drug accumulation specifically in diseased areas of the eye.

The Cancer Prevention, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidation of Bioactive Phytochemicals Targeting the TLR4 Signaling Pathway.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a well-known family of pattern recognition receptors that play an important role in a host immune system. TLR triggering leads to the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, driving the activation of both innate and adaptive immunity. Recently, an increasing number studies have shown the link between TLRs and cancer. Among them, the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway is associated with inflammatory response and cancer progression. Dietary phytochemicals are potential modulators of immunological status with various pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Curcumin, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 1-dehydro-10-gingerdione, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), luteolin, quercetin, resveratrol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, xanthohumol, genistein, berberine, and sulforaphane can inhibit TLR4 activation. The aim of the present review is to describe the role of the TLR4 signaling pathway between inflammatory response and cancer progression. We further introduce bioactive phytochemicals with potential anti-inflammation and chemoprevention by inhibiting TLR activation.