Prospect of value and application of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to control blood pressure in proactive healthcare perspective. / 主动健康视域下经皮穴位电刺激调控血压的价值与应用展望.

Hypertension is a global problem threatening human health and life. Although there are many antihypertensive drugs, the low compliance of medication affects its efficacy, and the effect in regulating hypertension has become increasingly prominent. Focusing on the new trend of proactive healthcare management, in the present paper, we made a summary about the status and existing problems of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in the regulation of blood pressure, and put forward some suggestions, such as selecting acupoints based on classical acupuncture theory to highlight the advantages of TEAS to control blood pressure as a whole, optimizing and screening the parameters of TEAS in the regulation of blood pressure, expanding the research observation indexes etc. We also made a prospect about its future application, hoping to provide new ideas for the proactive regulation, whole-process regulation and integrated regulation of blood pressure.

Tangshen formula targets the gut microbiota to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HFD mice: A 16S rRNA and non-targeted metabolomics analyses.

BACKGROUND: Tangshen formula (TSF) has an ameliorative effect on hepatic lipid metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the role played by the gut microbiota in this process is unknown. METHOD: We conducted three batches of experiments to explore the role played by the gut microbiota: TSF administration, antibiotic treatment, and fecal microbial transplantation. NAFLD mice were induced with a high-fat diet to investigate the ameliorative effects of TSF on NAFLD features and intestinal barrier function. 16S rRNA sequencing and serum untargeted metabolomics were performed to further investigate the modulatory effects of TSF on the gut microbiota and metabolic dysregulation in the body. RESULTS: TSF ameliorated insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia, lipid metabolism disorders, inflammation, and impairment of intestinal barrier function. 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that TSF regulated the composition of the gut microbiota and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation confirmed the importance of the gut microbiota in the treatment of NAFLD with TSF. Subsequently, untargeted metabolomics identified 172 differential metabolites due to the treatment of TSF. Functional predictions suggest that metabolisms of choline, glycerophospholipid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid are the key metabolic pathways by which TSF ameliorates NAFLD and this may be influenced by the gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: TSF treats the NAFLD phenotype by remodeling the gut microbiota and improving metabolic profile, suggesting that TSF is a functional gut microbial and metabolic modulator for the treatment of NAFLD.

Effects of Aromatherapy on Physical and Mental Health of Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy and/or Chemotherapy: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUP: Currently, aromatherapy is being increasingly utilized in clinical practice, particularly in managing the side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. However, it remains to be established whether aromatherapy can effectively alleviate these symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aromatherapy on the physical and mental health of patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS: Seven databases were researched from inception until September 29, 2023, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, China Biology Medicine disc and VIP Chinese Medical Journal Database. Review Manager version 5.3 was utilized for data analysis. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2 was employed to evaluate the quality of the literature included in the study. Evidence quality rating was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach through the GRADEpro GDT online tool. RESULTS: Nineteen studies involving 1,541 patients were included. Aromatherapy can alleviate nausea [relative risk (RR)=0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53 to 0.78, P<0.05, I2=46%; standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.86, 95% CI: -1.21 to -0.51, P<0.05, I2=64%] and vomiting (RR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.69, P<0.05, I2=35%; SMD=-1.28, 95% CI: -1.52 to -1.03, P<0.05, I2=92%), improve sleep disorders [mean difference (MD)=-3.39, 95% CI: -3.95 to -2.84, P<0.05, I2=0%], relieve pain (SMD=-1.58, 95% CI: -1.96 to -1.21, P<0.05, I2=0%), mitigate fatigue (SMD=-1.28, 95% CI: -2.44 to -0.11, P<0.05, I2=93%) and enhance quality of life (SMD=0.50, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.79, P<0.05, I2=0%) in cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but it may not have a significant effect on anxiety. The risk of bias was high in the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool RoB2, and no studies were considered to be of high grade according to the GRADE system. CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy is an efficacious, safe and economic adjunctive therapy for cancer patients, which can mend the physical symptoms and mental health of cancer patients. However, more high-quality studies are needed to verify it. (PROSPERO registration No. CRD42023390171).

Prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation based on local diffusion characteristics.

Comprising numerous subnuclei, the thalamus intricately interconnects the cortex and subcortex, orchestrating various facets of brain functions. Extracting personalized parcellation patterns for these subnuclei is crucial, as different thalamic nuclei play varying roles in cognition and serve as therapeutic targets for neuromodulation. However, accurately delineating the thalamic nuclei boundary at the individual level is challenging due to intersubject variability. In this study, we proposed a prior-guided parcellation (PG-par) method to achieve robust individualized thalamic parcellation based on a central-boundary prior. We first constructed probabilistic atlas of thalamic nuclei using high-quality diffusion MRI datasets based on the local diffusion characteristics. Subsequently, high-probability voxels in the probabilistic atlas were utilized as prior guidance to train unique multiple classification models for each subject based on a multilayer perceptron. Finally, we employed the trained model to predict the parcellation labels for thalamic voxels and construct individualized thalamic parcellation. Through a test-retest assessment, the proposed prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation exhibited excellent reproducibility and the capacity to detect individual variability. Compared with group atlas registration and individual clustering parcellation, the proposed PG-par demonstrated superior parcellation performance under different scanning protocols and clinic settings. Furthermore, the prior-guided individualized parcellation exhibited better correspondence with the histological staining atlas. The proposed prior-guided individualized thalamic parcellation method contributes to the personalized modeling of brain parcellation.

Synergistic effect of ion-releasing fillers on the remineralization and mechanical properties of resin-dentin bonding interfaces.

In modern restorative dentistry, adhesive resin materials are vital for achieving minimally invasive, esthetic, and tooth-preserving restorations. However, exposed collagen fibers are found in the hybrid layer of the resin-dentin bonding interface due to incomplete resin penetration. As a result, the hybrid layer is susceptible to attack by internal and external factors such as hydrolysis and enzymatic degradation, and the durability of dentin bonding remains limited. Therefore, efforts have been made to improve the stability of the resin-dentin interface and achieve long-term clinical success. New ion-releasing adhesive resin materials are synthesized by introducing remineralizing ions such as calcium and phosphorus, which continuously release mineral ions into the bonding interface in resin-bonded restorations to achieve dentin biomimetic remineralization and improve bond durability. As an adhesive resin material capable of biomimetic mineralization, maintaining excellent bond strength and restoring the mechanical properties of demineralized dentin is the key to its function. This paper reviews whether ion-releasing dental adhesive materials can maintain the mechanical properties of the resin-dentin bonding interface by supplementing the various active ingredients required for dentin remineralization from three aspects: phosphate, silicate, and bioactive glass.

Electrophysiological mechanisms of motion-style scalp acupuncture for treating poststroke spasticity in rats. / è¿åŠ¨å¤´é’ˆæ³•æŠ—å’ä¸­åŽç—‰æŒ›æ•ˆåº”çš„ç”µç”Ÿç†æœºåˆ¶ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of motion-style scalp acupuncture (MSSA) on H-reflex in rats with post-stroke spasticity (PSS), so as to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms of MSSA against spasticity. METHODS: A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and MSSA groups, with 12 rats in each group. The stroke model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. After modeling, rats in the MSSA group were treated by scalp acupuncture (manipulated every 15 min, 200 r/min) at ipsilesional "parietal and temporal anterior oblique line" (MS6) for a total of 30 min, the treadmill training (10 m/min) was applied during the needling retention, once daily for consecutive 7 days. The neurological deficits, muscle tone and motor function were assessed by Zea Longa score, modified modified Ashworth scale (MMAS) score and screen test score before and after treatment, respectively. The H-reflex of spastic muscle was recorded by electrophysiological recordings and the frequency dependent depression (FDD) of H-reflex was also recorded. The cerebral infarction volume was evaluated by TTC staining. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the Zea longa score, MMAS score, cerebral infarction volume, motion threshold, Hmax/Mmax ratio and FDD of H-reflex were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the screen test score was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Intriguingly, compared with the model group, the above results were all reversed (P<0.01) in the MSSA group. CONCLUSIONS: MSSA could exert satisfactory anti-spastic effects in rats with PSS, the underlying mechanism may be related to the improvement of nerve function injury, the reduction of spastic muscle movement threshold, Hmax/Mmax ratio and H-reflex FDD.

Copper Ion-Modified Germanium Phosphorus Nanosheets Integrated with an Electroactive and Biodegradable Hydrogel for Neuro-Vascularized Bone Regeneration.

Severe bone defects accompanied by vascular and peripheral nerve injuries represent a huge orthopedic challenge and are often accompanied by the risk of infection. Thus, biomaterials with antibacterial and neurovascular regeneration properties are highly desirable. Here, a newly designed biohybrid biodegradable hydrogel (GelMA) containing copper ion-modified germanium-phosphorus (GeP) nanosheets, which act as neuro-vascular regeneration and antibacterial agents, is designed. The copper ion modification process serves to improve the stability of the GeP nanosheets and offers a platform for the sustained release of bioactive ions. Study findings show that GelMA/GeP@Cu has effective antibacterial properties. The integrated hydrogel can significantly boost the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, facilitate angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and up-regulate neural differentiation-related proteins in neural stem cells in vitro. In vivo, in the rat calvarial bone defect mode, the GelMA/GeP@Cu hydrogel is found to enhance angiogenesis and neurogenesis, eventually contributing to bone regeneration. These findings indicate that in the field of bone tissue engineering, GelMA/GeP@Cu can serve as a valuable biomaterial for neuro-vascularized bone regeneration and infection prevention.

POU Class 2 Associating Factor 1 Exerts a Protective Effect on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Induced Acute Bronchiolitis by the NF-κB Pathway.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main pathogen causing acute bronchiolitis, which is common in infants and young children. A previous study revealed the possible involvement of POU class 2 associating factor 1 (POU2AF1) in RSV-triggered acute bronchiolitis. We attempted to clarify the specific action mechanism of POU2AF1 underlying RSV-triggered inflammation. Methods: RT-qPCR measured POU2AF1 levels in RSV-infected children, mice, and airway epithelial cell lines (HBECs). HE staining showed histopathological features in the lung tissue of RSV-infected mice. ELISA examined the contents of proinflammatory cytokines in RSV-infected mice. Western blotting evaluated the protein abundance of proinflammatory cytokines in RSV-infected HBECs and assessed NF-κB pathway-associated protein expression in RSV-infected mice and RSV-treated HBECs. Results: POU2AF1 presented depletion in RSV-infected children, mice, and HBECs. RSV-infected triggered lung injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in the mouse lung tissue, while POU2AF1 overexpression rescued these changes. RSV-infected induced inflammatory impairment in HBECs, whereas POU2AF1 reversed this effect. POU2AF1 suppressed the upregulated NF-κB pathway-associated protein expression in mice and HBECs under RSV infection. Conclusion: POU2AF1 exerts a protective impact on RSV-induced acute bronchiolitis in vitro and in vivo through the NF-κB pathway. Our research may provide a novel direction for better therapy of RSV-triggered acute bronchiolitis.

Biofeedback physical regulation of hypertension based on acupoints: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a predominant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has imposed a global disease burden. Poor medication compliance is the major obstacle to antihypertensive drug therapy, and negative mood status is also detrimental to blood pressure (BP) management. While transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), as an electrical stimulation modality for biofeedback physical regulation based on acupoints, offers a such nondrug alternative option that is noninvasive, safe, and effective with high adherence. However, the optimal stimulation parameters of TEAS for hypertension remain unclear, especially the frequency, which needs further exploration. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate the efficacy of TEAS for hypertension, and to screen the optimal electrical stimulation frequency. METHODS: This is an 8-week, randomized, controlled pilot trial with 3 parallel groups. In a ratio of 1:1:1, 120 patients with stage 1 hypertension will be divided into the TEAS-2Hz group, TEAS-10Hz group, or usual care group. All patients will receive the usual care for hypertension including lifestyle education, etc. Additionally, the 2 TEAS groups will receive 12 sessions of TEAS interventions at 2 Hz or 10 Hz, 3 times weekly for 30 minutes each, with 4 weeks of follow-up. The main outcome will be the change from baseline to week 4 in systolic BP among the groups. Secondary outcomes consist of changes in diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, medication adherence, and quality of life. The safety outcomes will be any adverse event during the treatment. DISCUSSION: As a pre-study for the next large clinical trial of TEAS for hypertension, this study will offer references for optimized frequency of biofeedback electrical devices and promote more consciousness of the benefits of body-mind holistic regulation of BP, thereby achieving proactive and overall process management of BP.

New insights into acupuncture techniques for poststroke spasticity.

With the trend of aging population getting more obvious, stroke has already been a major public health problem worldwide. As a main disabling motor impairment after stroke, spasticity has unexpected negative impacts on the quality of life and social participation in patients. Moreover, it brings heavy economic burden to the family and society. Previous researches indicated that abnormality of neural modulation and muscle property corelates with the pathogenesis of poststroke spasticity (PSS). So far, there still lacks golden standardized treatment regimen for PSS; furthermore, certain potential adverse-events of the mainstream therapy, for example, drug-induced generalized muscle weakness or high risk related surgery somehow decrease patient preference and compliance, which brings challenges to disease treatment and follow-up care. As an essential non-pharmacological therapy, acupuncture has long been used for PSS in China and shows favorable effects on improvements of spastic hypertonia and motor function. Notably, previous studies focused mainly on the research of antispastic acupoints. In comparison, few studies lay special stress on the other significant factor impacting on acupuncture efficacy, that is acupuncture technique. Based on current evidences from the clinic and laboratory, we will discuss certain new insights into acupuncture technique, in particular the antispastic needling technique, for PSS management in light of its potential effects on central modulations as well as peripheral adjustments, and attempt to provide some suggestions for future studies with respect to the intervention timing and course, application of acupuncture techniques, acupoint selection, predictive and aggravating factors of PSS, aiming at optimization of antispastic acupuncture regimen and improvement of quality of life in stroke patients. More innovations including rigorous study design, valid objective assessments for spasticity, and related experimental studies are worthy to be expected in the years ahead.

Causal effects of fatty acids on atopic dermatitis: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Some evidence suggests abnormalities in fatty acids in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), and benefits of supplementation with these fatty acids have been reported. However, there is still substantial controversy on the correlation between fatty acids and AD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether fatty acid levels are causally related to AD using a Mendelian randomization approach. Methods: We evaluated the data about the fatty acids levels and AD with various methods from Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). GWAS results were available both from European ancestry. Mendelian randomization methods were used to analysis the casual inference of fatty acids on AD. MR Egger and MR-PRESSO were used to determine pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Further analysis was conducted using instruments associated with the FADS genes to address mechanisms involved. We also used Multivariate MR (MVMR) to show the independent casual inference of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids on AD. Results: Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis suggests that n-3 fatty acid levels are associated with a lower risk of AD (n-3 ORIVW: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-0.98; p = 0.01). Moreover, docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) levels, which is a kind of long-chain, highly unsaturated omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid, and its higher level was associated with a lower risk of AD (DHA ORIVW: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.98; p = 0.02). We ran multivariable MR analysis while controlling for variables within the other types of fatty acids. The effect estimates agreed with the preliminary MR analysis indicating the effect of n-3 fatty acids levels on AD was robust. MR-egger suggest no significant pleiotropy and heterogeneity on genetic instrumental variants. Outliers-corrected MR analyses after controlling horizontal pleiotropy were still robust. The single-SNP analyses revealed that n-3 fatty acids are likely linked to a decreased risk of AD through FADS cluster, highlighting the significance of the FADS gene in the fatty acids synthesis pathway in the development of AD. Conclusion: Our studies suggest that n-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of AD. Risk prediction tools based on n-3 fatty acid levels may be valuable methods for improving AD screening and primary prevention. To reduce the risk of AD, individuals could enhance n-3 fatty acids intake through supplement or diet.

The factors affecting neurogenesis after stroke and the role of acupuncture.

Stroke induces a state of neuroplasticity in the central nervous system, which can lead to neurogenesis phenomena such as axonal growth and synapse formation, thus affecting stroke outcomes. The brain has a limited ability to repair ischemic damage and requires a favorable microenvironment. Acupuncture is considered a feasible and effective neural regulation strategy to improve functional recovery following stroke via the benign modulation of neuroplasticity. Therefore, we summarized the current research progress on the key factors and signaling pathways affecting neurogenesis, and we also briefly reviewed the research progress of acupuncture to improve functional recovery after stroke by promoting neurogenesis. This study aims to provide new therapeutic perspectives and strategies for the recovery of motor function after stroke based on neurogenesis.

Effect of oil phases on the stability of myofibrillar protein microgel particles stabilized Pickering emulsions: The leading role of viscosity.

The Pickering emulsion may be restricted in the foods owing to the unreasonable use of oils. Herein, the effect of different oil phases on the stability of myofibrillar protein microgel particles stabilized Pickering emulsions was investigated. Results showed sunflower oil Pickering emulsions with high stability have the smallest droplet size (-26.17 µm). While peanut oil Pickering emulsions have the largest droplet size (-77.00 µm) and poor emulsion stability. The fatty acid analysis showed sunflower oil had low content of saturated (15.68 %) and super-long-chain (0) fatty acids, while peanut oil had high content of saturated (23.67 %) and super-long-chain (9.02 %) fatty acids, leading to a difference in viscosity. Low viscosity was more conducive to dispersing oil droplets and inhibiting the floating and gathering of droplets, thus enhancing the emulsion stability. Therefore, the oil with low content of super-long-chain and saturated fatty acids could be suitable for preparing MMP Pickering emulsions.

In vivo biosynthesis of nutritional holoferritin nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization, iron content analysis, and synthetic pathway.

Natural holoferritin, containing average 2000 Fe3+/ferritin, has been considered as promising iron supplementary in food and medical science. However, the low extraction yields highly limited its practical application. Herein, we provided a facile strategy for holoferritin preparation through in vivo microorganism-directed biosynthesis, and the structure, iron content, and the composition of iron core have been investigated. The results revealed that in vivo biosynthesized holoferritin possesses great monodispersity and water-solubility. In addition, the in vivo biosynthesized holoferritin contains a comparative iron content as compared to natural holoferritin, giving the ratio of âˆ¼ 2500 iron/ferritin. Besides, the composition of iron core has been identified as ferrihydrite and FeOOH, and three steps might be involved in iron core formation. This work highlighted that the microorganism-directed biosynthesis could be an efficient strategy for preparation of holoferritin, which might be beneficial for its practical application for iron supplementation.

Influence of Psychological Factors in Primary Dysmenorrhea Patients on De qi: a Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: De qi , the needling sensation, is important in acupuncture treatment. Almost all studies believe that deep needling and manipulation could achieve a significant de qi sensation. However, relatively few studies have examined the effect of psychological factors on de qi, and those that did often reached different conclusions. Objectives: To explore the influence of psychologic factors on de qi in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Methods: Sixty-eight PD patients with cold and dampness stagnation were randomly allocated to de qi (deep insertion using thick needles, with manipulation, n=17) and non-de qi groups (shallow insertion using thin needles, without manipulation, n=51). Both groups received bilateral needling at Sanyinjiao (SP6) for 30 min. De qi was assessed using the Acupuncture De qi Clinical Assessment Scale (ADCAS). The patients' acupuncture-related anxiety and their expectations of the relationship between needle sensation and curative effect were evaluated using a five-point and four-point scale, respectively. Results: Within the de qi group, all patients experienced the de qi sensation, although anxiety levels were unrelated to de qi. Patients' expectations correlated negatively with de qi timing, and positively with electric sensation. Within the non-de qi group, 59.5% of patients experienced de qi. Between those who experienced it and those who did not, no significant differences were found in anxiety levels, although patients' expectations differed significantly. Among patients who experienced de qi sensations in the non-de qi group, anxiety and throbbing were positively correlated. Additionally, patients' expectations correlated positively with de qi intensity, as well as coldness, and numbness. Conclusion: Psychological factors should be considered when studying de qi since PD patients' expectations could influence the de qi sensation at SP6.

Approaching the quantum limit in two-dimensional semiconductor contacts.

The development of next-generation electronics requires scaling of channel material thickness down to the two-dimensional limit while maintaining ultralow contact resistance1,2. Transition-metal dichalcogenides can sustain transistor scaling to the end of roadmap, but despite a myriad of efforts, the device performance remains contact-limited3-12. In particular, the contact resistance has not surpassed that of covalently bonded metal-semiconductor junctions owing to the intrinsic van der Waals gap, and the best contact technologies are facing stability issues3,7. Here we push the electrical contact of monolayer molybdenum disulfide close to the quantum limit by hybridization of energy bands with semi-metallic antimony ([Formula: see text]) through strong van der Waals interactions. The contacts exhibit a low contact resistance of 42 ohm micrometres and excellent stability at 125 degrees Celsius. Owing to improved contacts, short-channel molybdenum disulfide transistors show current saturation under one-volt drain bias with an on-state current of 1.23 milliamperes per micrometre, an on/off ratio over 108 and an intrinsic delay of 74 femtoseconds. These performances outperformed equivalent silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technologies and satisfied the 2028 roadmap target. We further fabricate large-area device arrays and demonstrate low variability in contact resistance, threshold voltage, subthreshold swing, on/off ratio, on-state current and transconductance13. The excellent electrical performance, stability and variability make antimony ([Formula: see text]) a promising contact technology for transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based electronics beyond silicon.

Gelatin films functionalized by lignocellulose nanocrystals-tannic acid stabilized Pickering emulsions: Influence of cinnamon essential oil.

The Pickering emulsions containing cinnamon essential oil (CEO) stabilized by lignocellulose nanocrystals-tannic acid (LCNC-TA) complexes were used to improve properties of gelatin film. The influences of various volume proportion mixed oil (sunflower oil/CEO 1:0, 5:1, 2:1 and 1:1) were investigated. Introducing CEO reduced the droplet size approximately from 57 to 30 µm, facilitating droplet distribution in film matrix. With increasing CEO proportion, the surface structure of emulsion films became uniform without micropores or cavities, showing good compatibility with film matrix during film-forming process. Furthermore, increasing CEO proportion improved tensile strength (TS, 3.75-4.61 MPa) and water vapor permeability (WVP, 9.16 × 10-12-7.61 × 10-12 g·cm-1s-1Pa-1) of emulsion films. Besides, the UV blocking, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of emulsion films improved as CEO proportion increased. Compared with the control gelatin film, the loss of CEO in emulsion films effectively decreased through pre-embedding approach by Pickering emulsion method.

[Sichuan Dark Tea-Based Medicated Dietary Formula Improves Obesity-Induced Renal Lipid Metabolism Disorder in Mice by Remodeling Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism]. / å››å·é»‘èŒ¶è¯è†³é æ–¹é€šè¿‡é‡å¡‘è‚ é“èŒç¾¤å’ŒçŸ­é“¾è„‚è‚ªé ¸ä»£è°¢æ”¹å–„è‚¥èƒ–å°é¼ è‚¾è„è„‚è´¨ç´Šä¹±.

Objective: To investigate the renoprotective effects of a Sichuan dark tea-based medicated dietary formula (alternatively referred to as Qing, or clarity in Chinese) on mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) and to explore the specific mechanisms involved. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, a control group, a DIO group, and a Qing treatment group, or the Qing group, with 8 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given normal maintenance feed and purified water, and the other two groups were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the DIO model. After that, high-fat diet continued in the DIO group, while the Qing group was given Qing at the same time for 12 weeks, during which period the weight of the mice was monitored and recorded every week. The mice were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Serum samples were collected and the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin were measured to evaluate liver function. In addition, renal lipids were extracted to determine the levels of TG and TC in the kidney and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and oil red O stainings were performed to evaluate kidney pathological injury. Western blot was performed to determine the phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK)/AMPK ratio in the kidney tissue. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to determine the expression of proteins related to fatty acid oxidation, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), carnitine acyltransferase 1 (CTP1), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-1 α (PPAR1α), sterol-regulatory element binding proteins (SREBP-1), and key proteins related to lipid synthesis, including fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (stearoyl-CoA desaturase) in the kidney tissue. 16SrRNA and metabolomics were applied to analyze the gut microbiota in the intestinal contents and its metabolites. Results: Compared with those of the control group, the levels of liver mass (P=0.0003), serum ALT (P<0.0001) and AST (P=0.0001), and kidney TC (P=0.0191) and TG (P=0.0101) of the DIO group were significantly increased and there was lipid deposition in the kidney. Compared with those of the DIO group, mice in the Qing group showed effective reduction in liver mass (P=0.0316) and improvements in the abnormal serum levels of AST (P=0.0012) and ALT (P=0.0027) and kidney TC (P=0.0200) and TG (P=0.0499). In addition, mice in the Qing group showed significant improvement in lipid deposition in the kidney. Qing group showed increased pAMPK/AMPK ratio in comparison with that of the DIO group. In comparison with those of the control group, mice in the DIO group had upregulated expression of lipid synthesis-related genes and proteins (SREBP-1, FASN, and SCD1). As for the fatty acid oxidation-related genes and proteins, DIO mice showed upregulated expression of ACC1 and downregulated expression of CPT1A, PPARγ, and PGC1α in comparison with those of the control group. In the Qing goup, improvements in regard to all these changes were observed. The Qing group demonstrated improvement in the disrupted homeostasis of the gut microbiota. Short-chain fatty acids in the cecal contents, especially isovaleric acid and propionic acid, were also restored. Conclusion: Sichuan dark tea-based medicated dietary formula may improve renal lipid metabolism by regulating gut microbiota and the levels of intestinal short-chain fatty acids, thereby protecting obesity-related kidney injury. Isovaleric acid and propionic acid may be the metabolites key to its regulation of gut microbiota.

Second-line treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma: current state and challenges for the future.

INTRODUCTION: Since the approval of sorafenib for systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), many tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown efficacy and tolerability as first-line treatments. On the other hand, these first-line therapies are associated with low objective response and drug resistance. Many drugs have been successfully tested for second-line treatment of advanced HCC. While the rapid proliferation of second-line treatments for advanced HCC brings hope to patients, it also complicates clinical decision-making. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to facilitate decisions by summarizing the latest guidelines for second-line treatment of HCC in various countries or regions. We then review existing second-line treatment options and discuss challenges that should be addressed in the future. A literature search was conducted in April 2022 of PubMed/Medline, Cochrane library, and abstracts of international cancer meetings. EXPERT OPINION: There is no standard second-line treatment, especially for the case of sequential treatment after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo+bev) and further studies focused on sequential treatment are warranted in this setting. The design of clinical trials, different etiologies, and complications or quality of life (QoL) are interesting issues in the second-line setting.

Enhanced biodegradation of oil-contaminated soil oil in shale gas exploitation by biochar immobilization.

The enhanced biodegradation of oil-contaminated soil by fixing microorganisms with corn cob biochar was investigated. It was found that the components of oil in the test soil were mainly straight-chain alkanes and branched alkanes. When using corn cob biochar as a carrier to immobilize microorganisms, the best particle size of corn cob biochar as an immobilization carrier was 0.08 mm, and the best immobilization time was 18 h. SEM analysis confirmed that the microorganisms were immobilized on the corn cob biochar. Immobilized microorganisms exhibited high biodegradability under stress to high concentrations of petroleum pollutants, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that oxygen-containing groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and methoxy on the surface of biochar were involved in the complexation of heavy metals. The mechanism of immobilization promoted microbial degradation of oil contamination was explained by gas chromatography mass. First, alkanes and aromatics were adsorbed by corn cob biochar and passed to immobilized microorganisms to promote their degradation. Their bioavailability increased, especially for aromatics. Second, biochar provided a more suitable environment for microorganisms to degrade. Third, the conversion of ketones to acids was accelerated during the biodegradation of alkanes, and the biodegradation of alkanes was accelerated by immobilization. The biodegradable efficiency of oil by immobilized microorganisms in soil was 70.10% within 60 days, 28.80% higher than that of free microorganisms. The degradation of immobilized microorganisms was highly correlated with the activities of catalase, urease, and polyphenol oxidase.