Unleashing the potential: integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese medicine.

This review explores the potential of integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medical theory. It highlights the intersections and potential of nano-delivery systems in enhancing the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments. In addition, it discusses how the integration of nano-delivery systems with Chinese medical theory can modernize herbal medicine and make it more readily accessible on a global scale. Finally, it analyzes the challenges and future directions in this field.

TNFα modulates PANX1 activation to promote ATP release and enhance P2RX7-mediated antitumor immune responses after chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

ATP and its receptor P2RX7 exert a pivotal effect on antitumor immunity during chemotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD). Here, we demonstrated that TNFα-mediated PANX1 cleavage was essential for ATP release in response to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC). TNFα promoted PANX1 cleavage via a caspase 8/3-dependent pathway to enhance cancer cell immunogenicity, leading to dendritic cell maturation and T-cell activation. Blockade of the ATP receptor P2RX7 by the systemic administration of small molecules significantly attenuated the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy and decreased the infiltration of immune cells. In contrast, administration of an ATP mimic markedly increased the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy and enhanced the infiltration of immune cells in vivo. High PANX1 expression was positively correlated with the recruitment of DCs and T cells within the tumor microenvironment and was associated with favorable survival outcomes in CRC patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, a loss-of-function P2RX7 mutation was associated with reduced infiltration of CD8+ immune cells and poor survival outcomes in patients. Taken together, these results reveal that TNFα-mediated PANX1 cleavage promotes ATP-P2RX7 signaling and is a key determinant of chemotherapy-induced antitumor immunity.

Glutamine Supplementation on Burn Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To evaluate the effect of glutamine supplement on patients with burns, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis via synthesizing up-to-date studies. Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Central Register, EMBASE, Google scholar, Wanfang data, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to October 2023 to find randomized trials evaluating glutamine supplement on patients with burns. The main outcomes included hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, infection, and wound healing. Twenty-two trials that randomized a total of 2170 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled the length of hospital stay was shortened by glutamine supplement (weighted mean differences [WMD] = -7.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] -10.53 to -5.36, I2 = 67.9%, 16 trials). Both pooled wound healing rates (WMD = 9.15, 95% CI 6.30 to 12.01, I2 = 82.7%, 6 studies) and wound healing times (WMD = -5.84, 95% CI -7.42 to -4.27, I2 = 45.7%, 7 studies) were improved by glutamine supplement. Moreover, glutamine supplement reduced wound infection (risk ratios [RR] = 0.38, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.69, I2 = 0%, 3 trials), but not nonwound infection (RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.05, I2 = 39.6%, 9 trials). Neither in-hospital mortality (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.22, I2 = 36.0%, 8 trials) nor the length of intensive care unit stay (WMD = 1.85, 95% CI -7.24 to 10.93, I2 = 78.2%, 5 studies) was improved by glutamine supplement. Subgroup analysis showed positive effects were either influenced by or based on small-scale, single-center studies. Based on the current available data, we do not recommend the routine use of glutamine supplement for burn patients in hospital. Future large-scale randomized trials are still needed to give a conclusion about the effect of glutamine supplement on burn patients.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards community-acquired pneumonia and COVID-19 among general population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the general population to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2022 and February 2023, involving the general population from Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a self-developed questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 637 valid questionnaires were collected, with the majority of participants being female (62.48%). The mean score for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 7.60 ± 2.39 (possible range: 0-12), 43.20 ± 4.57 (possible range: 11-55), and 34.57 ± 4.95 (possible range: 10-50), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that master's degree or above (OR = 6.04, 95% CI: 1.80-20.31, P = 0.004) and occupation in business or service careers (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17-0.48, P < 0.001) were independent associated with knowledge. The knowledge (OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.20-1.44, P < 0.001) and female gender (OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.03-2.14, P = 0.036) were independently associated with positive attitudes. Attitudes (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.26-1.43, P < 0.001) and a monthly household income greater than 20,000 RMB (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.15-0.64, P = 0.001) were independent associated with practices. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that knowledge positively correlated with attitude scores (r = 0.348, P < 0.001) and practice scores (r = 0.259, P < 0.001), and attitude and practice scores were also positively correlated (r = 0.563, P < 0.001). Structural equation modeling showed that knowledge predicted attitudes (ß = 0.67, P < 0.001) and practices (ß = 0.17, P = 0.017), while attitudes predicted practices (ß = 0.58, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: General population had moderate knowledge, positive attitudes and average practices towards CAP and COVID-19.

ADFCNN: Attention-Based Dual-Scale Fusion Convolutional Neural Network for Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successfully applied to motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interface (BCI). Nevertheless, single-scale CNN fail to extract abundant information over a wide spectrum from EEG signals, while typical multi-scale CNNs cannot effectively fuse information from different scales with concatenation-based methods. To overcome these challenges, we propose a new scheme equipped with attention-based dual-scale fusion convolutional neural network (ADFCNN), which jointly extracts and fuses EEG spectral and spatial information at different scales. This scheme also provides novel insight through self-attention for effective information fusion from different scales. Specifically, temporal convolutions with two different kernel sizes identify EEG µ and ß rhythms, while spatial convolutions at two different scales generate global and detailed spatial information, respectively, and the self-attention mechanism performs feature fusion based on the internal similarity of the concatenated features extracted by the dual-scale CNN. The proposed scheme achieves the superior performance compared with state-of-the-art methods in subject-specific motor imagery recognition on BCI Competition IV dataset 2a, 2b and OpenBMI dataset, with the cross-session average classification accuracies of 79.39% and significant improvements of 9.14% on BCI-IV2a, 87.81% and 7.66% on BCI-IV2b, 65.26% and 7.2% on OpenBMI dataset, and the within-session average classification accuracies of 86.87% and significant improvements of 10.89% on BCI-IV2a, 87.26% and 8.07% on BCI-IV2b, 84.29% and 5.17% on OpenBMI dataset, respectively. What is more, ablation experiments are conducted to investigate the mechanism and demonstrate the effectiveness of the dual-scale joint temporal-spatial CNN and self-attention modules. Visualization is also used to reveal the learning process and feature distribution of the model.

Corydalis tomentella Franch. Exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by regulating the calcium signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Corydalis tomentella Franch. is a perennial cespitose plant commonly used to treat stomachaches as a folk medicine. The C. tomentella total alkaloids have good protective effects against acute liver injury and potential anti-hepatoma and anti-Alzheimer's disease activities. AIM OF THE STUDY: To establish an effective purification process for total alkaloids from C. tomentella and investigate the mechanism of their anti-inflammatory effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corydalis tomentella were purified using macroporous resin. Then the crude and purified C. tomentella extracts (cCTE and pCTE) were qualitatively analyzed using UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS. The cCTE and pCTE were used to investigate and compare their anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Doses at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/d of pCTE were used to study their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in mice with xylene-induced ear swelling and acetic acid-induced writhing tests. Content of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined both in RAW264.7 cells and mice. Network pharmacology was used to predict the anti-inflammatory mechanism of C. tomentella, and the key enzymes were validated using qPCR and Western Blot analysis. Concentration of intracellular Ca2+ was detected using flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: The C. tomentella total alkaloid purity increased from 6.29% to 47.34% under optimal purification conditions. A total of 54 alkaloids were identified from CTE. Both cCTE and pCTE could suppress the LPS-induced production of NO, IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. The pCTE exhibited a more potent anti-inflammatory effect; it also inhibited pain induced by xylene and acetic acid in mice. The calcium signaling pathway is associated with the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of C. tomentella. The mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 2, NOS3 and calmodulin1 (CALM1) was regulated by C. tomentella through the reduction of inflammation-induced Ca2+ influx, and it also exhibited a more pronounced effect than the positive control (L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester). CONCLUSIONS: Purified C. tomentella extract shows anti-inflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. It exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects through the calcium signaling pathway by down-regulating NOS2 and CALM1 expression and up-regulating NOS3 expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, and decreasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Design and Construction of the Optical Bench Interferometer for the Taiji Program.

A kind of full-function two-sided optical bench interferometer (OBI) is designed to meet the practical requirements of the Taiji Program for space gravitational wave detection. The main optical paths are arranged on the A-side for transmission and interference, and other optical paths and electronic devices are placed on the B-side. According to the design scheme, we successfully constructed two OBIs by using hydrogen-oxygen catalytic stress-free bonding technology. When the OBI is installed and adjusted, the position and Angle error of the interference beam are controlled within 30 µm and 50 µrad through the self-designed precision mechanical clamping mechanism and beam position measuring device. The built OBI was placed on the vibration isolation platform in the vacuum tank for the stability test. The test results show that the noise of the OBI is less than 10 pm/√Hz in the frequency band of 0.1 Hz to 1 Hz, which meets the noise budget requirements of the Taiji Pathfinder in the middle- and high-frequency band.

Acupuncture May Help to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Single-Blind Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: This single center, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial randomly assigned patients with stage 3 CRC attending outpatient clinics in China Medical University Hospital to either verum or sham acupuncture treatment concurrently with chemotherapy. Primary outcomes were nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and touch thresholds of limb terminals. Secondary outcomes were total and subdomain scores on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and scores on the FACT/GOG-Ntx subscale and the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), at baseline, weeks 12, 36, and follow-up (week 48). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria and received verum acupuncture (N = 16) or sham acupuncture (N = 16). Under the -intent-to-treat principle, 26 participants were analyzed. Significant changes from baseline for questionnaire scores and sensory NCV were observed in both study groups. Sham acupuncture was associated with significant reductions from baseline in motor NCV and sensory touch thresholds; no such changes were observed with verum acupuncture. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic acupuncture may exert neuroprotective effects on mechanical or tactile touch thresholds during chemotherapy regimens in patients with CRC, with evidence of this protectiveness persisting at 6 months' follow-up. The lack of change in motor NCV values with verum acupuncture indicates neuroprotective effects. Sensory NCV values and patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly between the study groups.

A new polysaccharide from Hawk tea: Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity associated with regulating gut microbiota.

In this study, a novel 28.6 kDa acidic polysaccharide (HTP-1), containing â†’ 4)-GalpA-(1→, →2)-Rhap-(1 â†’ and â†’ 3,6)-Galp-(1 â†’ residues as the backbone, analogous to pectin, was isolated from mature Hawk tea leaves. HTP-1 exhibited significant immunoregulatory activities on CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice in a dose-depend manner by alleviating jejunum injury and improving the levels of immune organ indexes, cytokines and immunoglobulins. Moreover, HTP-1 supplementation boosted the content of SCFAs, altered the intestinalmicrobiota composition, and raised the abundances of beneficial bacteria Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae, which showed a strong positive correlation with most immune indicators. The current findings suggested that the immunomodulatory action of HTP-1 might rely on the regulation of the gut microbiota, and these results may also serve as a foundation for the future exploitation of HTP-1 as functional foods.

Targeting CD73 increases therapeutic response to immunogenic chemotherapy by promoting dendritic cell maturation.

The CD39-CD73-adenosinergic pathway converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine for inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, targeting CD73 to reinvigorate anti-tumor immunity is considered the novel cancer immunotherapy to eradicate tumor cells. To fully understand the critical role of CD39/CD73 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), this study aims to comprehensive investigate the prognostic significance of CD39 and CD73 in stage I-IV COAD. Our data demonstrated that CD73 staining strongly marked malignant epithelial cells and CD39 was highly expressed in stromal cells. Attractively, tumor CD73 expression was significantly associated with tumor stage and the risk of distant metastasis, which suggested CD73 was as an independent factor for colon adenocarcinoma patients in univariate COX analysis [HR = 1.465, 95%CI = 1.084-1.978, p = 0.013]; however, high stromal CD39 in COAD patients was more likely to have favorable survival outcome [HR = 1.458, p = 1.103-1.927, p = 0.008]. Notably, high CD73 expression in COAD patients showed poor response to adjuvant chemotherapy and high risk of distant metastasis. High CD73 expression was inversely associated with less infiltration of CD45+ and CD8+ immune cells. However, administration with anti-CD73 antibodies significantly increased the response to oxaliplatin (OXP). Blockade of CD73 signaling synergistically enhanced OXP-induced ATP release, which is a marker of immunogenic cell death (ICD), promotes dendritic cell maturation and immune cell infiltration. Moreover, the risk of colorectal cancer lung metastasis was also decreased. Taken together, the present study revealed tumor CD73 expression inhibited the recruitment of immune cells and correlated with a poor prognosis in COAD patients, especially patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Targeting CD73 to markedly increased the therapeutic response to chemotherapy and inhibited lung metastasis. Therefore, tumor CD73 may be an independent prognostic factor as well as the potential of therapeutic target for immunotherapy to benefit colon adenocarcinoma patients.

Nanoheterojunction-Mediated Thermoelectric Strategy for Cancer Surgical Adjuvant Treatment and ß-Elemene Combination Therapy.

As an indispensable strategy for tumor treatment, surgery may cause two major challenges: tumor recurrence and wound infection. Here, a thermoelectric therapeutic strategy is provided as either an independent cancer therapy or surgical adjuvant treatment. Bi0.5 Sb1.5 Te3 (BST) and Bi2 Te2.8 Se0.2 (BTS) nanoplates composed of Z-scheme thermoelectric heterojunction (BST/BTS) are fabricated via a two-step hydrothermal processes. The contact between BST and BTS constructs an interfacial electric field due to Fermi energy level rearrangement, guiding electrons in the conductive band (CB) of BTS combine with the holes in the valance band (VB) of BST, leaving stronger reduction/oxidation potentials of electrons and holes in the CB of BST and the VB of BTS. Moreover, under a mild temperature gradient, another self-built-in electric field is formed facilitating the migration of electrons and holes to their surfaces. Based on the PEGylated BST/BTS heterojunction, a novel thermoelectric therapy platform is developed through intravenous injection of BST/BTS and external cooling of the tumors. This thermoelectric strategy is also proved effective for combination cancer therapy with ß-elemene. Moreover, the combination of heterojunction and hydrogel is administrated on the wound after surgery, achieving efficient residual tumor treatment and antibacterial effects.

Research progress in role of autophagy in diabetic wound healing and traditional Chinese medicine intervention / 中国中药杂志

Diabetic ulcer(DU) is a chronic and refractory ulcer which often occurs in the foot or lower limbs. It is a diabetic complication with high morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of DU is complex, and the therapies(such as debridement, flap transplantation, and application of antibiotics) are also complex and have long cycles. DU patients suffer from great economic and psychological pressure while enduring pain. Therefore, it is particularly important to promote rapid wound healing, reduce disability and mortality, protect limb function, and improve the quality of life of DU patients. By reviewing the relevant literatures, we have found that autophagy can remove DU wound pathogens, reduce wound inflammation, and accelerate ulcer wound healing and tissue repair. The main autophagy-related factors microtubule-binding light chain protein 3(LC3), autophagy-specific gene Beclin-1, and ubiquitin-binding protein p62 mediate autophagy. The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) treatment of DU mitigates clinical symptoms, accelerates ulcer wound healing, reduces ulcer recurrence, and delays further deterioration of DU. Furthermore, under the guidance of syndrome differentiation and treatment and the overall concept, TCM treatment harmonizes yin and yang, ameliorates TCM syndrome, and treats underlying diseases, thereby curing DU from the root. Therefore, this article reviews the role of autophagy and major related factors LC3, Beclin-1, and p62 in the healing of DU wounds and the intervention of TCM, aiming to provide reference for the clinical treatment of DU wounds and subsequent in-depth studies.

Research advances in role of angiogenesis in diabetic ulcer and traditional Chinese medicine intervention / 中国中药杂志

Diabetic ulcer(DU) is one of the common complications of diabetes often occurring in the peripheral blood vessels of lower limbs or feet with a certain degree of damage. It has high morbidity and mortality, a long treatment cycle, and high cost. DU is often clinically manifested as skin ulcers or infections in the lower limbs or feet. In severe cases, it can ulcerate to the surface of tendons, bones or joint capsules, and even bone marrow. Without timely and correct treatment, most of the patients will have ulceration and blackening of the extremities. These patients will not be able to preserve the affected limbs through conservative treatment, and amputation must be performed. The etiology and pathogenesis of DU patients with the above condition are complex, which involves blood circulation interruption of DU wound, poor nutrition supply, and failure in discharge of metabolic waste. Relevant studies have also confirmed that promoting DU wound angiogenesis and restoring blood supply can effectively delay the occurrence and development of wound ulcers and provide nutritional support for wound healing, which is of great significance in the treatment of DU. There are many factors related to angiogenesis, including pro-angiogenic factors and anti-angiogenic factors. The dynamic balance between them plays a key role in angiogenesis. Meanwhile, previous studies have also confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine can enhance pro-angiogenic factors and down-regulate anti-angiogenic factors to promote angiogenesis. In addition, many experts and scholars have proposed that traditional Chinese medicine regulation of DU wound angiogenesis in the treatment of DU has broad prospects. Therefore, by consulting a large number of studies available, this paper expounded on the role of angiogenesis in DU wound and summarized the research advance in traditional Chinese medicine intervention in promoting the expression of angiogenic factors [vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), fibroblast growth factor(FGF), and angiopoietin(Ang)] which played a major role in promoting wound angiogenesis in the treatment of DU to provide ideas for further research and new methods for clinical treatment of DU.

Understanding the relationships between teacher mindfulness, work engagement, and classroom emotions.

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between teacher mindfulness, work engagement, and classroom emotions composed of positive and negative emotions. A sample of 498 Chinese primary, secondary, and high school teachers completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, bivariate correlation, and a series of regression equations were conducted to analyze the data. The results indicate that teacher mindfulness, work engagement, and classroom emotions are all at the intermediate level, and significantly correlated. The effect of teacher mindfulness on classroom emotions is partially mediated by work engagement. In addition, negative emotions partially mediate the effect of teacher mindfulness on work engagement, while positive emotions fully mediate it. These results highlight the importance of fostering teacher mindfulness through mindfulness-based intervention, developing teacher emotion regulation competence in teacher education, and cultivating supportive classroom and school culture for teachers to experience more positive emotions from students and administrators.

Long-term follow-up of motor cortex stimulation on central poststroke pain in thalamic and extrathalamic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effects of motor cortex stimulation (MCS) on central poststroke pain (CPSP) in patients with thalamic and extrathalamic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 21 cases of CPSP patients who were treated with MCS. Pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) before the operation and at follow-up assessments. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 65.43 ± 26.12 months. In the thalamus stroke group (n = 11), the mean preoperative VAS score was 8.18 ± 0.75 and the final mean follow-up VAS score was 4.0 ± 2.14. The mean total NPSI score at the last follow-up (20.45 ± 12.7) was significantly reduced relative to the pre-MCS score (30.27 ± 8.97, p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean PSQI value at the last follow-up (12.63 ± 1.91) was significantly reduced compared with the pre-MCS value (16.55 ± 1.97, p < 0.001). In the extrathalamic stroke group (n = 11), the mean preoperative VAS score was 8.2 ± 0.79 and the final mean follow-up VAS score was 6.6 ± 2.12. The mean total NPSI score before MCS was not statistically different from that at the last follow-up. There were no statistical differences in sleep quality before versus after surgery. CONCLUSION: Motor cortex stimulation has higher long-term efficacy in CPSP patients with stroke confined to the thalamus than in CPSP patients with stroke involving extrathalamic structures.

Fluidity-Guided Assembly of Au@Pt on Liposomes as a Catalase-Powered Nanomotor for Effective Cell Uptake in Cancer Cells and Plant Leaves.

The fluidity of the liposomes is essential to nanoparticle-membrane interactions. We herein report a liposomal nanomotor system by controlling the self-assembly behavior of gold core-platinum shell nanoparticles (Au@Pt) on liposomes. Au@Pt can aggregate immediately on fluid-phase dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) liposomes, forming an uneven distribution. By control of the lipid phase and fluidity, either using pure 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) above its phase transition temperature or adding cholesterol as an adjuvant to DPPC lipids, we precisely control the assembly of Au@Pt on liposomes. Au@Pt maintained high catalase-like activity on the liposomal surface, promoting the decomposition of H2O2 and the movement of the liposomal nanomotors. Finally, we demonstrate that liposomal nanomotors are biocompatible and they can speed up the cellular uptake in mammalian HepG2 cancer cells and Nicotiana tabacum (Nb) plant leaves. This liposomal nanomotor system is expected to be further investigated in biomedicine and plant nanotechnology.

The Comparison Study of Anatomic Vapor-incision Technique (AVIT) Using the 180W-XPS Greenlight Laser and Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To prospective compared the preoperative parameters and postoperative functional outcomes between anatomic vapor-incision technique (AVIT) and the photoselective vaporization of prostate (PVP) with Greenlight 180W-XPS. METHODS: Total 174 BPH patients were enrolled in the study and 86 cases, 88 cases were underwent with traditional PVP and AVIT, respectively. The relevant pre-, intra-, and postoperative data were recorded and compared between the both groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between both groups in baseline characteristics and no major complications (capsule perforation and TUR syndrome) occurred intraoperatively. In AVIT group, the energy consumption and energy density were greater than those in PVP group. The operative time and laser time were longer in AVIT group than it in PVP group. Compared to the AVIT group, the incidence of irritative symptoms after operation was higher in the PVP group. During the follow-up period, the functional outcomes (IPSS, QoL, prostate volume and PSA level) in both groups were significant improved compared to the baseline. The reduction of prostate volume and PSA level were significant greater in AVIT group than it in PVP group. CONCLUSION: Compared to PVP, AVIT is safe and efficacious treatment for BPH patients with more adenoma removal and more improvements of clinical outcomes. But the long-term follow-up data is needed to evaluate the functional outcomes and retreatment rates.

Elucidation of the Reinforcing Spleen Effect of Jujube Fruits Based on Metabolomics and Intestinal Flora Analysis.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit (JF) is widely consumed as food in Asian countries due to its potential effects for human health. As a traditional Chinese medicine, JF is often used to treat anorexia, fatigue and loose stools caused by spleen deficiency syndromes in China, but the mechanism underlying this effect has not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, a rat model of spleen deficiency syndromes was adopted to investigate the therapeutic effect of JF extract and its possible mechanism by metabolomics analyses of plasma and urine as well as the intestinal flora analysis. The results showed that the changes in plasma and urine metabolites caused by spleen deficiency were reversed after administration of JF, and these changed endogenous metabolites were mainly involved in retinol metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, nicotinate and niacinamide metabolism pathways. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that JF could regulate intestinal flora imbalance caused by spleen deficiency. The covariance analysis of intestinal flora structure and metabolome indicated that Aerococcus may be a candidate strain for predicting and treating the metabolic pathways of spleen deficiency and related disorders. In summary, it can be revealed that spleen deficiency, which alters metabolic profiles and the intestinal flora, could be alleviated effectively by JF extract.

Hawk tea prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice by activating the AMPK/ACC/SREBP1c signaling pathways and regulating the gut microbiota.

Scope: Hawk tea, a non-Camellia tea, is an ancient tea drink from southwest China and has been proven to exhibit significant hypoglycaemic and lipid-lowering effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Hawk tea extract (HTE) can improve obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in a mouse model and to determine whether its anti-obesity effects are related to improvements in lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota. Methods and results: We tested the ability of HTE to prevent obesity and regulate gut microbiota in C57BL/6J mice fed with a HFD. We found that HTE significantly reduced body weight, fat deposition, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and significantly increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) induced by HFD. HTE also increased the levels of AMPK and ACC phosphorylation, up-regulated the expression of CPT-1, and downregulated the expression of SREBP1c and FAS. In addition, the administration of HTE significantly altered the composition of the gut microbiota, reduced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides-vulgatus, and Faecalibaculum_rodentium, and decreased the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Conclusions: Collectively, our data demonstrate that HTE can prevent HFD-induced obesity by regulating the AMPK/ACC/SREBP1c signaling pathways and the gut microbiota.

Non-Invasive Thermal Therapy for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

Owing to the development of nanotechnology and noninvasive treatment, thermal therapy in combination with external stimuli has been applied for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM), which has attracted more and more attention in recent years. In this review, the recent progress of applying a variety of non-invasive thermal therapeutic modalities for TERM, including photothermal therapy, magnetic thermotherapy, and ultrasound thermotherapy, as well as other thermal therapeutics are discussed. The parameters and conditions that need to be considered and regulated to realize a well-controlled thermal therapy for tissue regeneration are also discussed. Afterwards, the current concerns and challenges of putting thermal therapy into clinical applications are pointed out. At last, perspectives are provided for the future development directions, aiming to providing opportunities and a novel pathway for TERM.