Regio-specific lipid fingerprinting of edible sea cucumbers using LC/MS.

Sea cucumbers are a rich source of bioactive compounds and are gaining popularity as nutrient-rich seafood. They are consumed as a whole organism in Pacific regions. However, limited data are available on the comparison of their lipid composition and nutritional value. In this study, untargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was applied to comprehensively profile lipids in the skin, meat, and intestinal contents of three color-distinct edible sea cucumbers. Multivariate principal component analysis revealed that the lipid composition of the intestinal contents of red, black, and blue sea cucumbers differs from that of skin, and meats. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are abundant in the intestinal contents, followed by meats of sea cucumber. Lipid nutritional quality assessments based on fatty acid composition revealed a high P:S ratio, low index of atherogenicity, and high health promotion indices for the intestinal contents of red sea cucumber, suggesting its potential health benefits. In addition, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the intestinal contents of sea cucumbers were relatively high in PUFA-enriched phospholipids and lysophospholipids. Ceramides are abundant in black skin, blue meat, and red intestinal content samples. Overall, this study provides the first insights into a comprehensive regio-specific profile of the lipid content of sea cucumbers and their potential use as a source of lipid nutrients in food and nutraceuticals.

Dissecting new lipids and their composition in herbal tea using untargeted LC/MS.

Herbal teas and beverages have gained global attention because they are rich in natural bioactive compounds, which are known to have diverse biological effects, including antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. However, the lipidomic profiles of herbal teas remain unclear. In this study, we applied an untargeted lipidomics approach using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry to comprehensively profile, compare, and identify unknown lipids in four herbal teas: dokudami, kumazasa, sugina, and yomogi. A total of 341 molecular species from five major classes of lipids were identified. Multivariate principal component analysis revealed distinct lipid compositions for each of the herbs. The fatty acid α-linolenic acid (FA 18:3) was found to be abundant in kumazasa, whereas arachidonic acid (FA 20:4) was the most abundant in sugina. Interestingly, novel lipids were discovered for the first time in plants; specifically, short-chain fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (SFAHFAs) with 4-hydroxy phenyl nonanoic acid as the structural core. This study provides insight into the lipidomic diversity and potential bioactive lipid components of herbal teas, offering a foundation for further research into their health-promoting properties and biological significance.

The crude extract obtained from Cinnamomum macrostemon Hayata regulates oxidative stress and mitophagy in keratinocytes.

Four ethanol fractionated crude extracts (EFCEs [A-D]) purified from the leaves of Cinnamomum macrostemon Hayata were screened for antioxidative effects and mitochondrial function in HaCaT cells. The higher cell viability indicated that EFCE C was mildly toxic. Under the treatment of 50 ng/mL EFCE C, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels were reduced as well as the H2O2-impaired cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP production, and mitochondrial mass. The conversion of globular mitochondria to tubular mitochondria is coincident with EFCE C-restored mitochondrial function. The mitophagy activator rapamycin showed similar effects to EFCE C in recovering the H2O2-impaired cell viability, MMP, ATP production, mitochondrial mass, and also mitophagic proteins such as PINK1, Parkin, LC3 II, and biogenesis protein PGC-1α. We thereby propose the application of EFCE C in the prevention of oxidative stress in skin cells.

The effects of neurofeedback training for children with cerebral palsy and co-occurring attention deficits: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Limited research exists regarding the effectiveness of electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback training for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and co-occurring attention deficits (ADs), despite the increasing prevalence of these dual conditions. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the impact of neurofeedback training on the attention levels of children with CP and AD. METHODS: Nineteen children with both CP and co-occurring ADs were randomly assigned to either a neurofeedback or control group. The neurofeedback group received 20 sessions of training, lasting approximately 1 h per day, twice a week. Theta/beta ratios of the quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) recordings were measured pre-training and post-training in the resting state. The Continuous Performance Test (CPT), the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-3rd Version (TVPS-3) and the Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) were measured at pre- and post-training. RESULTS: The neurofeedback group showed both decreased theta/beta ratios compared with control group (p = 0.04) at post-training and a within-group improvement during training (p = 0.02). Additionally, the neurofeedback group had a trend of decreased omission rates of the CPT (p = 0.08) and the visual sequential memory and the visual closure subscores in the TVPS-3, compared with the control group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that children with CP and co-occurring AD may benefit from neurofeedback training in their attention level. Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and expand its application in this population.

A Novel Air-Cooled Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of the Venous Lakes of the Lips.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a novel air-cooled Nd:YAG laser in the venous lakes of the lips (VLL). Background: The thermal injury is one of the most important issues during laser therapy for venous lakes. Methods: Six pieces of fresh pork livers were used to provide 30 regions with a diameter of 6 mm for experiment in vitro, among which 15 regions were treated by Nd:YAG laser with air cooling until the tissue turned gray-white, whereas the rest were treated without air cooling as control. The operation time of laser irradiation, the degree of temperature increase, and the depth of coagulation tissue were compared between two groups. Then, 60 VLL patients were selected for Nd:YAG laser treatment with or without air cooling. The operation time of laser irradiation, the degree of temperature increase, the postoperative pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, and the percentage of lesions removed within 1 month were compared. Results: In tissue studies, the treated group showed a longer operation time of laser irradiation (p < 0.01), a lower degree of temperature increase (p < 0.01), and there was no significant statistical difference in the depth of coagulation tissue (p = 0.624). In clinical studies, the treated group showed a longer operation time of laser irradiation (p < 0.01), a lower degree of temperature increase (p < 0.01), and a lower VAS score on the 1st and 2nd day, compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Air cooling during Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of VLL can prolong the surgical time, but lowered tissue temperature and reduced patient pain within 2 days under the premise of ensuring the treatment effect.

Associations between the use of red yeast rice preparations and adverse health outcomes: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Red yeast rice (RYR), a natural lipid-lowering agent, is widely used in clinical practice. However, the existing meta-analyses concerning the safety of RYR preparations have yielded inconsistent results, and the credibility of the evidence has not been quantified. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the existing evidence and offer a comprehensive understanding of the associations between the use of RYR preparations and various adverse health outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: Seven literature databases were searched from inception to May 5, 2023, using medical subject headings and free-text terms (e.g., "red yeast rice," "Xuezhikang," and "Zhibitai"). INCLUSION CRITERIA: Meta-analyses that investigated and quantitatively estimated associations between the use of RYR preparations and adverse health outcomes were included in this study. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two researchers independently extracted data using a standardized data collection table; any disagreements were resolved by consulting a third researcher. Based on the participant, intervention, comparator and outcome (PICO) framework in each eligible meta-analysis, a series of unique associations between the use of RYR preparations and adverse health outcomes were determined. The associations' effect estimates were re-evaluated using random-effect models. RESULTS: Fifteen meta-analyses, comprising 186 (164 unique) randomized controlled trials, were identified. Based on A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews version 2, 3 (20%) and 12 (80%) of these meta-analyses had low and critically low confidence, respectively. A total of 61 unique associations between the use of RYR preparations and adverse health outcomes were extracted from eligible meta-analyses. Based on the random-effect models, 10 (16.4%) associations indicated a significant protective effect of RYR preparations against adverse health outcomes, while 5 (8.2%) indicated an increased risk of adverse health outcomes related to uric acid, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels. The other 46 (75.4%) associations showed no significant difference between the use of RYR preparations and control treatments. Regarding the credibility of the evidence, 21 (34.4%), 34 (55.7%) and 6 (9.8%) associations showed moderate, low and very low credibility, respectively. CONCLUSION: The evidence examined in this study suggests that RYR preparations are safe; however, the credibility of the evidence was not high. Further high-quality evidence is required. Please cite this article as: Ma ZY, Yang SP, Li Y, Xu TT, Yang YL, Yang HY, Li HB, Zhou LJ, Diao Y, Li SY. Associations between the use of red yeast rice preparations and adverse health outcomes: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 126-136.

Usage Patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) receive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for clinical needs unmet with psychotropic medications. However, the clinical characteristics of practices and outcomes of TCM in BD are not fully understood. This cohort study investigated the clinical characteristics, principal diagnoses, TCM interventions, and TCM prescriptions in patients with BD. METHODS: Data for a total of 12,113 patients with BD between 1996 and 2013 were withdrawn from Taiwan's longitudinal health insurance database 2000 (LHID 2000). The chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and the independent t-test was used for continuous variables. A p-value less than 0.05 indicated significance. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred nineteen patients who visited TCM clinics after the diagnosis of BD were in the TCM group, while those who never visited TCM were in the non-TCM group (n = 1053). Compared to the non-TCM group, patients in the TCM group had younger average age, a higher percentage of female individuals, more comorbidities of anxiety and alcohol use disorders, and higher mood stabilizer usage rates. The TCM group exhibited pain-related indications, including joint pain, myalgia, myositis, headache, and sleep disturbances. Corydalis yanhusuo and Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang were the most useful single herbs and herbal formulae. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians need to be aware of the use of TCM in patients with BD.

Identification of a ß-Carboline Alkaloid from Chemoselectively Derived Vanilla Bean Extract and Its Prevention of Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Human Hepatocytes (HepG2).

Targeting bioactive compounds to prevent lipid droplet accumulation in the liver, we explored an antioxidative extract from vanilla bean (Vainilla planifolia) after chemo-selective derivatization through heating and acid modification. The chemical analysis of vanilla bean extract through chemoselective derivatization resulted in the identification of sixteen compounds (34-50) using LC-MS/MS analysis. A ß-carboline alkaloid with a piperidine C-ring and a vanillin moiety at C-1 (34) was identified by molecular networking and diagnostic fragmentation filtering approaches. ß-carboline alkaloid 34 exhibited significant inhibitory activity of lipid droplet accumulation (LDAI) in oleic acid-loaded hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. The LDAI activity was associated with both activation of lipolysis and suppression of lipogenesis in the cells. The study indicates that crude plant extracts, following chemoselective derivatization, may contain bioactive compounds that could be beneficial in preventing hepatosteatosis and could serve as a source of lead compounds for drug development. This approach may be useful to investigate other mixtures of natural products and food resources.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Obtained from Eggshell via the Hydrothermal Process and the Precipitation Method.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a major component of the inorganic minerals in the hard tissues of humans and has been widely used as a biomedical ceramic material in orthopedic and dentistry applications. Because human bone contains several impurities, including carbonates, chlorides, fluorides, magnesium, and strontium, human bone minerals differ from stoichiometric HA. Additionally, natural bone is composed of nano-sized HA, and the nanoscale particles exhibit a high level of biological activity. In this paper, HA is prepared via the hydrothermal process because its reaction conditions are easy to control and it has been shown to be quite feasible for large-scale production. Therefore, the hydrothermal process is an effective and convenient method for the preparation of HA. Furthermore, eggshell is adopted as a source of calcium, and mulberry leaf extract is selectively added to synthesize HA. The eggshell accounts for 11% of the total weight of a whole egg, and it consists of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, and organic matter. Eggshell contains a variety of trace elements, such as magnesium and strontium, making the composition of the synthesized HA similar to that of the human skeleton. These trace elements exert considerable benefits for bone growth. Moreover, the use of eggshell as a raw material can permit the recycling of biowaste and a reduction in process costs. The purpose of this study is to prepare HA powder via the hydrothermal method and to explore the effects of hydrothermal conditions on the structure and properties of the synthesized HA. The room-temperature precipitation method is used for the control group. Furthermore, the results of an immersion test in simulated body fluid confirm that the as-prepared HA exhibits good apatite-forming bioactivity, which is an essential requirement for artificial materials to bond to living bones in the living body and promote bone regeneration. In particular, it is confirmed that the HA synthesized with the addition of the mulberry leaf extract exhibits good in vitro biocompatibility. The morphology, crystallite size, and composition of the carbonated nano-HA obtained herein are similar to those of natural bones. The carbonated nano-HA appears to be an excellent material for bioresorbable bone substitutes or drug delivery. Therefore, the nano-HA powder prepared in this study has great potential in biomedical applications.

Effects of fungal agents and biochar on odor emissions and microbial community dynamics during in-situ treatment of food waste.

The effects of the co-addition of fungal agents and biochar on physicochemical properties, odor emissions, microbial community structure, and metabolic functions were investigated during the in-situ treatment of food waste. The combined addition of fungal agents and biochar decreased cumulative NH3, H2S, and VOCs emissions by 69.37%, 67.50%, and 52.02%, respectively. The predominant phyla throughout the process were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Combined treatment significantly impacted the conversion and release of nitrogen from the perspective of the variation of nitrogen content between different forms. FAPROTAX analysis revealed that the combined application of fungal agents and biochar could effectively inhibit nitrite ammonification and reduce the emission of odorous gases. This work aims to clarify the combined effect of fungal agents and biochar on odor emission and provide a theoretical basis for developing an environmentally friendly in-situ efficient biological deodorization (IEBD) technology.

[Application prospect of conditional gene editing animals and viral vectors in experimental research of acupuncturology].

Conditional gene editing animals and viral vectors have been widely applied in the research fields of biology and medicine. Recently, they are also used as the effective approaches to reveal the underlying mechanism of acupuncture from the nervous system to the specific molecules. In order to further understand the application of conditional gene editing animals and viral vectors, in this article, we analyze their characteristics, advantages and recent development in the field of acupuncture research and discuss their potential roles and prospect in the future.

The direct effect of lipopolysaccharide on an isolated heart is different from the effect on cardiac myocytes in vitro.

Introduction: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is widely used to induce experimental animals. However, its effects on cardiac contraction is controversial. Although LPS probably induces its influence in vivo both directly and indirectly, we focused on the direct effects of LPS in this report. Material and methods: Isolated ventricular myocytes mounted on a Langendorff apparatus were perfused with LPS. The changes in cultured H9c2 cells incubated with LPS over a 3-h exposure were compared with the changes after a 24-h incubation. Apoptosis was identified using flow cytometry and Western blotting. The mRNA levels were also determined. Results: LPS directly stimulated cardiac contractility at low doses, although it produced inhibition at higher doses. The TLR4-coupled JAK2/STAT3 pathway was identified in H9c2 cells after LPS treatment, with an increase in intracellular calcium levels. LPS dose-dependently activated hypertrophic signals in H9c2 cells and induced apoptosis at the high dose. However, apoptosis was observed in H9c2 cells after a 24-h exposure to LPS, even at low doses. This observation appears to be associated with the level of paracrine cytokines. Changes in H9c2 cells by LPS were diminished by NPS2390, an inhibitor of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). LPS also promoted CaSR mRNA expression in H9c2 cells, which may be unrelated to the changes in cytokine expression influenced by an inflammasome inhibitor. Conclusions: In contrast to the isolated hearts, LPS activated hypertrophic signals prior to apoptotic signals in cardiac cells. Thus, LPS injury appears to be associated with CaSR, which was not markedly influenced by an inflammasome inhibitor.

Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Veterans Managing Chronic Pain.

Background. Chronic pain impacts people's activity participation, productivity, mental health, and sense of wellbeing. Purpose. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the feasibility of the Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management (MBCPMTM) program on reducing pain perception and enhancing the quality of life, and (2) understand veterans' experience with the program. Method. The pretest-posttest single-group, mixed-methods design was used. Thirty-one veterans were offered the 12-week intervention. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 were administered before and after the program. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted to understand the experience. Findings. Participants' PCS scores improved (Z = -3.116, p = .002), but the pain intensity did not change significantly. Themes from qualitative data include: (1) We are not alone! (2) I have a sense of awareness, choices, and control; and (3) It does work! Implications. The study shows preliminary feasibility of MBCPMTM for veterans. This promising effect supports future rigorous testing of this intervention.

Electro-acupuncture treatment ameliorates intestinal inflammatory injury in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats via regulating the balance of Treg / γδ T cells.

Electro-acupuncture (EA) has an anti-inflammatory role in ischemic stroke, but whether the protective effect of EA involves the regulation of the intestine barrier and Treg/ γδ T cells is unclear. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 24 h. The rats have treated with EA at the "Baihui" acupoint(GV20). Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Longa neurologic score were performed to evaluate the outcomes after ischemic stroke. Inflammatory factor expression levels in the serum, ischemic hemisphere brain, and small intestine were detected by ELISA or RT-qPCR. Additionally, the morphology change of the small intestine was evaluated by analyzing villus height and smooth muscle thickness. Meanwhile, the expression of tight-junction proteins, including Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1, were detected to evaluate the impact of EA on mucosal permeability in the small intestine. The percentages of regulatory T cells (Tregs) (CD45+CD4+Foxp3+) and γδ T cells (CD45+CD4-γδ T+) were measured to assess the effect of EA on intestinal T cells. EA decreased the brain infarction volume and intestine barrier injury in ischemic stroke rats. At the same time, it effectively suppressed the post-stroke inflammation in the brain and small intestine. More importantly, EA treatment increased the percentage of Tregs in the small intestine while reducing the rate of γδ T cells, and ultimately increased the ratio of Treg/ γδ T cells. These results demonstrated that EA ameliorated intestinal inflammation damage by regulating the Treg/ γδ T cell polarity shift and improving the intestine barrier integrity in rats with I/R injury. This may be one of the mechanisms underlying the anti-ischemic injury effects of acupuncture on stroke.

Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus Extracts Improved Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in High-Energy Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia Rats.

Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus both contain unique polyphenols called phlorotannins. Phlorotannins reportedly possess various pharmacological activities. A previous study reported that the activity of phlorotannin is strongly correlated with the normalization of metabolic function, and phlorotannins are extremely promising nutrients for use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome. To date, no study has explored the antihyperlipidemic effects of phlorotannins from A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus in animal models. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of phlorotannins using a rat model of high-energy diet (HED)-induced hyperlipidemia. The results showed that the rats that were fed an HED and treated with phlorotannin-rich extract from A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus had significantly lower serum fasting blood sugar (FBS), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglyceride (TG) and free fatty acids (FFAs) levels and hepatic TG level and had higher serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and lipase activity in their fat tissues than in the case with the rats that were fed the HED alone. A histopathological analysis revealed that phlorotannin-rich extract could significantly reduce the size of adipocytes around the epididymis. In addition, the rats treated with phlorotannin-rich extract had significantly lowered interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities than did those in the HED group. These results suggested that the phlorotannin-rich extract stimulated lipid metabolism and may have promoted lipase activity in rats with HED-induced hyperlipidemia. Our results indicated that A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus, marine algae typically used as health foods, have strong antihyperlipidemic effects and may, therefore, be useful for preventing atherosclerosis. These algae may be incorporated into antihyperlipidemia pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

[Natural regeneration of Larix principis-rupprechtii plantations with different densities and its influencing factors]. / ä¸åŒå¯†åº¦åŽåŒ—è½å¶æ¾æž—å¤©ç„¶æ›´æ–°åŠå ¶å½±å“å› å­.

In this study, we analyzed the natural regeneration of Larix principis-rupprechtii pure plantations with stand densities of 128, 240, 320, 400, 480, 560, 640 and 720 trees·hm-2 in the Guandi Mountains and its influencing factors. The results showed that the regeneration index first increased and then decreased with the increases of stand density, and that the regeneration performance of stand with medium density (400-560 trees·hm-2) was significantly better than other stands. Light conditions, herbaceous plants and litter of the understory had a dual effect on the regeneration of L. principis-rupprechtii. Excessive light, herbaceous plant cover or over-thick litter was not instrumental to the regeneration. Soil organic matter promoted stand regeneration by providing soft soil texture, adequate water content, low phosphorus but high nitrogen. The effects of the examined factors on the regeneration index were as follows: soil water content (0.798) > total nitrogen (0.621) > litter thickness (-0.597) > soil porosity (0.504) > soil organic matter (0.493) > total phosphorus (-0.404) > transmitted total light (-0.274) > herbaceous plants cover (-0.021). In the plantation management, stand density could be controlled at about 480 trees·hm-2 by thinning or replanting, while litter could be cleared properly to improve soil condition and to promote natural regeneration of L. principis-rupprechtii.

Electroacupuncture relieves hyperalgesia by regulating neuronal-glial interaction and glutamate transporters of spinal dorsal horns in rats with acute incisional neck pain.

Objective: Glial cells are involved in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in rats with chronic neurological pain. The objective of this study was to observe the role of neuronal-glial interaction and glutamate (Glu) transporters in EA-induced acute neck pain relief in rats. Materials and methods: Male rats were placed into the following five groups: control, model, EA Futu (LI18), EA Hegu (LI4)-Neiguan (PC6), and EA Zusanli (ST36)-Yanglingquan (GB34). The incisional neck pain model was established by making a longitudinal incision along the midline of the neck. The thermal pain threshold (TPT) was measured using a radiation heat detector. The immunoactivities of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), Glu aspartate transporter (GLAST), and Glu transporter-1 (GLT-1) in the dorsal horns (DHs) of the cervico-spinal cord (C2-C5) were detected using immunofluorescence histochemistry. The expression levels of GFAP, Iba-1, GLAST, and GLT-1 mRNAs were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The TPT and levels of mRNAs expression and immunoactivity of GLT-1 and GLAST were significantly decreased, and those of Iba-1 and GFAP were significantly increased in the model group than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The activated microgliacytes were gathered around the NK-1R positive neurons, and co-expression of NK-1R and astrocytes was observed in the model group. EA LI18 significantly increased the TPT and expression of GLAST and GLT-1 mRNAs (P < 0.05) and notably decreased the number of Iba-1 positive cells and Iba-l mRNA expression (P < 0.05), whereas GLAST and GLT-1 antagonists inhibited the analgesic effect of EA LI18. However, these effects, except for the downregulation of Iba-1 mRNA, were not observed in the EA ST36-GB34 group. Fewer NK-1R-positive neurons were visible in the spinal DHs in the EA LI18 group, and the co-expression of NK-1R and astrocytes was also lower than that in the three EA groups. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture of LI18 had an analgesic effect in rats with neck incisions, which may be related to its functions in suppressing the neuronal-glial cell interaction through NK-1R and upregulating the expression of GLAST and GLT-1 in the spinal DHs.

Network pharmacology and experimental evidence reveal the protective mechanism of Yi-Qi Cong-Ming decoction on age-related hearing loss.

CONTEXT: Yi-Qi Cong-Ming (YQCM) decoction has been widely used to prevent age-related hearing loss (ARHL), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of YQCM decoction in the treatment of ARHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical constituents of YQCM were screened from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database. Potential targets of YQCM against ARHL were predicted by DrugBank, GeneCards, and OMIM database. Protein-protein network and enrichment analysis were used for exploring possible molecular mechanisms. Molecular docking and an in vitro model of ARHL by exposing auditory cells with 100 µM H2O2 for 3 h were applied. Cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) were detected by CCK-8 and high-content analysis. γH2AX and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The main compounds have good affinities with hub targets, especially AKT1, PTGS2, and CASP3. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the main biological process and key targets were related to negative regulation of the apoptotic process. H2O2 treatment could reduce the cell viability by 68% and impaired ΔΨM, while 90 µg/mL YQCM pre-treatment could restore the cell viability by 97.45% and increase ΔΨM (2-fold higher). YQCM pre-treatment also reduced γH2AX and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that YQCM prevents ARHL by modulating the apoptosis process in auditory hair cells. Moreover, this study proved that bioinformatics analysis combined with molecular docking and cell model is a promising method to explore other possible pharmacological interventions of ARHL.

[Preadmission follow-up condition of neonates hospitalized due to severe hyperbilirubinemia after discharge from the department of obstetrics and influencing factors for follow-up compliance: a multicenter investigation]. / äº§ç§‘å‡ºé™¢åŽå› ä¸¥é‡é«˜èƒ†çº¢ç´ è¡€ç—‡ä½é™¢æ–°ç”Ÿå„¿å ¥é™¢å‰éšè®¿æƒ å†µåŠéšè®¿ä¾ä»Žæ€§å½±å“å› ç´ çš„å¤šä¸­å¿ƒè°ƒæŸ¥.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the preadmission follow-up condition of neonates hospitalized due to severe hyperbilirubinemia after discharge from the department of obstetrics and the influencing factors for follow-up compliance. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective case-control study was performed for the cases from the multicenter clinical database of 12 units in the Quality Improvement Clinical Research Cooperative Group of Neonatal Severe Hyperbilirubinemia in Jiangsu Province of China from January 2019 to April 2021. According to whether the follow-up of neonatal jaundice was conducted on time after discharge from the department of obstetrics, the neonates were divided into two groups: good follow-up compliance and poor follow-up compliance. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the influencing factors for follow-up compliance of the neonates before admission. RESULTS: A total of 545 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia were included in the study, with 156 neonates (28.6%) in the good follow-up compliance group and 389 (71.4%) in the poor follow-up compliance group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low gestational age at birth, ≥10% reduction in body weight on admission compared with birth weight, history of phototherapy of siblings, history of exchange transfusion of siblings, Rh(-) blood type of the mother, a higher educational level of the mother, the use of WeChat official account by medical staff to remind of follow-up before discharge from the department of obstetrics, and the method of telephone notification to remind of follow-up after discharge were associated with the increase in follow-up compliance (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Poor follow-up compliance is observed for the neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia after discharge from the department of obstetrics, which suggests that it is necessary to further strengthen the education of jaundice to parents before discharge and improve the awareness of jaundice follow-up. It is recommended to remind parents to follow up on time by phone or WeChat official account.

Shabyar Ameliorates High Glucose Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Injury Through Suppressing Aldose Reductase and AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 Autophagy Pathway.

Shabyar (SBA) is a traditional medicine formula for relieving vision loss caused by factors including diabetic retinopathy (DR) in clinics. However, the mechanism of it on retina protective effect still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether its protective effect was related to aldose reductase (AR) inhibition and retinal pigment epithelial cell injury mediated by autophagy or not. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) induced by high glucose was used as a model in vitro, with Epalrestat (EPL, AR inhibitor) and Difrarel (DFR, DR therapeutic drug) as positive controls. Western blotting and Polyol pathway products assay showed that SBA reduced the expression of AR protein and the content of ROS, and sorbitol, increased the level of Na+-K+-ATPase and alleviated cell edema. Western blotting and DCFH-DA probe assay showed that SBA decreased pAMPK/AMPK and pULK1/ULK1 which associated with autophagy initiation, down-regulated Beclin-1, Atg3, Atg5, Atg7, LC3 II and Bax/Bcl2 ratio, and up-regulated pmTOR/mTOR, SQSTM1/p62 and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reduces intracellular autophagosomes. Real-Time PCR assay showed that SBA had no significant effect on mRNA expression of AR and mTOR. These data demonstrated that SBA treatment inhibits the autophagy of ARPE-19 through the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway, and reduced early-stage apoptosis occurred by high glucose. These findings reveal the protective role and mechanism of SBA on retinal pigment epithelium, and provide experimental basis for the clinical application of SBA in the treatment of DR.