Global trends of acupuncture clinical research on analgesia from 2010 to 2023: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.

Objective: Acupuncture, acknowledged as a potent non-pharmacological therapy, is frequently employed to alleviate pain. Despite its widespread use, there has been a lack of overarching bibliometric analysis of clinical research on acupuncture analgesia. We aimed to summarize current patterns, hotspots, and development trends in this field through bibliometric analysis. Methods: This study evaluates academic publications retrieved from the Web of Science database (2010.01-2023.09) concerning acupuncture analgesia in clinical settings. All primary and secondary studies on humans were included. To track global developmental trends, we employed several software for analyzing annual publication volumes, countries/regions, institutions, authors, cited authors, journals, cited journals, references, and keywords and to draw collaborative networks and reference co-citation network maps. Results: The final search encompassed 7,190 relevant studies, including 1,263 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1,293 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The results indicated a gradual increase in the number of annual publications on acupuncture analgesia in clinical practice. Among countries and institutions, China (2,139) and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (258) ranked first. Liang FR (89 articles) was the most prolific author, while MacPherson H (604) was the most cited author. MEDICINE (455) was the most productive journal, and Pain (2,473/0.20) ranked first in both the frequency and centrality of cited journals. Notably, the most frequently cited reference was a systematic review of individual patient data on acupuncture carried out for chronic pain that was published by Vickers Andrew J in 2012 (156). Burst analysis identified frontier research areas for 2010-2020, encompassing network meta-analysis, case reports, dry needling, lumbar disc herniation, cancer, post-herpetic neuralgia, insomnia, and bibliometric analysis. Conclusion: This study outlines current trends and potential future research hotspots in clinical acupuncture analgesia over the past decade. Findings emphasize the necessity for enhanced international collaboration to improve research output and translation.

Efficacy and safety of tart cherry supplementary citrate mixture on gout patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Low urine pH, which may be mediated by metabolic syndrome (MetS), is common in gout. Tart cherries are shown to improve MetS symptoms and possess anti-inflammatory properties. However, the efficacy of tart cherry supplements on urine pH has yet to be studied. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of tart cherry supplementary citrate (TaCCi) mixture on urine pH, serum urate (sUA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and gout flares in gout patients initiating urate-lowering therapy (ULT), in comparison to citrate mixture and sodium bicarbonate. METHODS: A prospective, randomized (1:1:1), open-label, parallel-controlled trial was conducted among 282 men with gout and fasting urine pH ≤ 6, who were initiating ULT with febuxostat (initially 20 mg daily, escalating to 40 mg daily if serum urate ≥ 360 µmol/L). Participants were randomized to groups taking either sodium bicarbonate, citrate mixture, or TaCCi mixture. All participants were followed every 4 weeks until week 12. Urine pH and sUA were co-primary outcomes, with various biochemical and clinical secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Urine pH increased to a similar extent in all three groups. SUA levels declined in all three groups as well, with no significant differences observed between the groups. At week 12, the TaCCi mixture group exhibited a greater reduction in the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). Participants taking TaCCi mixture or citrate mixture experienced fewer gout flares than those in the sodium bicarbonate group over the study period (p < 0.05). Additionally, the TaCCi mixture group had a lower CRP level at week 12 relative to the other two groups (p < 0.01). Adverse events were similar across all three groups. CONCLUSION: The TaCCi mixture had similar efficacy and safety on urine alkalization and sUA-lowering as the citrate mixture and sodium bicarbonate in patients with gout. However, the TaCCi mixture resulted in greater improvements in UACR and CRP, which suggests that tart cherry supplements may provide additional benefits for renal protection and reduce inflammation in gout, particularly when starting ULT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This project was registered in ChiCTR ( www.chictr.org.cn ), with the registration number: ChiCTR2100050749.

Review of Molybdenum Disulfide Research in Slurry Bed Heavy Oil Hydrogenation.

With the growing demand for gasoline and diesel fuel and the shortage of conventional oil reserves, there has been extensive interest in upgrading technologies for unconventional feedstocks such as heavy oil. Slurry bed reactors with high tolerance to heavy oil have been extensively investigated. Among them, dispersive MoS2 is favored for its excellent hydrogenation ability for heavy oil even under harsh reaction conditions such as high pressure and high temperature, its ability to effectively prevent damage to equipment from deposited coke, and its ability to meet the requirement of high catalyst dispersion for slurry bed reactors. This paper reviews the relationship between the structure and hydrogenation effectiveness of dispersive molybdenum disulfide, the hydrogenation mechanism, and the improvement of its hydrogenation performance by adding defects and compares the application of molybdenum disulfide in heavy oil hydrogenation, desulfurization, deoxygenation, and denitrification. It is found that the current research on dispersive molybdenum disulfide catalysts focuses mostly on the reduction of stacking layers and catalytic performance, and there is a lack of research on the lateral dimensions, microdomain regions, and defect sites of MoS2 catalysts. The relationship between catalyst structure and hydrogenation effect also lags far behind the application of MoS2 in the precipitation of hydrogen, etc. Oil-soluble and water-soluble MoS2 catalysts eventually need to be converted to a solid sulfide state to have hydrogenation activity. The conversion history of soluble catalysts to solid-type catalysts and the key to their improved catalytic effectiveness remain unclear.

Telemedicine Adoption in an NCI-Designated Cancer Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Report on Patient Experience of Care.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer require timely access to care so that healthcare providers can prepare an optimal treatment plan with significant implications for quality of life and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred rapid adoption of telemedicine in oncology, but study of patient experience of care with telemedicine in this population has been limited. We assessed overall patient experience of care with telemedicine at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined changes in patient experience over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of outpatient oncology patients who received treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center. Press Ganey surveys were used to assess patient experience. Data from patients with appointments between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, were analyzed. Patient experience was compared between telemedicine and in-person visits, and patient experience with telemedicine over time was described. RESULTS: A total of 33,318 patients reported Press Ganey data for in-person visits, and 5,950 reported Press Ganey data for telemedicine visits. Relative to patients with in-person visits, more patients with telemedicine visits gave higher satisfaction ratings for access (62.5% vs 75.8%, respectively) and care provider concern (84.2% vs 90.7%, respectively) (P<.001). When adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, insurance, and clinic type, telemedicine visits consistently outperformed in-person visits over time regarding access and care provider concern (P<.001). There were no significant changes over time in satisfaction with telemedicine visits regarding access, care provider concern, telemedicine technology, or overall assessment (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a large oncology dataset showed that telemedicine resulted in better patient experience of care in terms of access and care provider concern compared with in-person visits. Patient experience of care with telemedicine visits did not change over time, suggesting that implementing telemedicine was effective.

Estimated Indirect Cost Savings of Using Telehealth Among Nonelderly Patients With Cancer.

Importance: Patients with cancer typically have greater financial hardships and time costs than individuals without cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this, while posing substantial challenges to delivering cancer care and resulting in important changes in care-delivery models, including the rapid adoption of telehealth. Objective: To estimate patient travel, time, and cost savings associated with telehealth for cancer care delivery. Design, Setting, and Participants: An economic evaluation of cost savings from completed telehealth visits from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, in a single-institution National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. All patients aged 18 to 65 years who completed telehealth visits within the designated time frame and had a Florida mailing address documented in their electronic medical record were included in the study cohort. Data were analyzed from April 2020 to June 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was estimated patient cost savings from telehealth, which included 2 components: costs of travel (defined as roundtrip distance saved from car travel) and potential loss of productivity due to the medical visit (defined as loss of income from roundtrip travel plus loss of income from in-person clinic visits). Two different models with a combination of 2 different mileage rates ($0.56 and $0.82 per mile) and census tract-level median hourly wages were used. Results: The study included 25 496 telehealth visits with 11 688 patients. There were 4525 (3795 patients) new or established visits and 20 971 (10 049 patients) follow-up visits. Median (IQR) age was 55.0 (46.0-61.0) years among the telehealth visits, with 15 663 visits (61.4%) by women and 18 360 visits (72.0%) by Hispanic non-White patients. According to cost models, the estimated mean (SD) total cost savings ranged from $147.4 ($120.1) at $0.56/mile to $186.1 ($156.9) at $0.82/mile. For new or established visits, the mean (SD) total cost savings per visit ranged from $176.6 ($136.3) at $0.56/mile to $222.8 ($177.4) at $0.82/mile, and for follow-up visits, the mean (SD) total cost savings per visit was $141.1 ($115.3) at $0.56/mile to $178.1 ($150.9) at $0.82/mile. Conclusions and Relevance: In this economic evaluation, telehealth was associated with savings in patients time and travel costs, which may reduce the financial toxicity of cancer care. Expansion of telehealth oncology services may be an effective strategy to reduce the financial burden among patients with cancer.

Estimated Carbon Emissions Savings With Shifts From In-Person Visits to Telemedicine for Patients With Cancer.

Importance: While the health care community advocates broadly for climate change policy, medical professionals can look within care practices to assess their contribution to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and provide solutions wherever possible. Telemedicine can help in mitigating climate change by providing care from a distance. Objective: To assess the carbon savings achieved from telemedicine visits. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study of telemedicine visits was conducted at a single-institution National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. Eligible patients were aged 18 years and above, completed telemedicine visits from April 1, 2020, to June 20, 2021, and had a Florida mailing address documented in their electronic medical record. Groups were divided between those within driving time of 60 minutes (1-way) to the cancer center vs those living beyond 60 minutes of drive time. Data were analyzed between April 2020 and June 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Carbon emission savings from telemedicine, measured in total and average per-visit savings. Results: A total 49 329 telemedicine visits with 23 228 patients were conducted from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. A total 21 489 visits were for patients with driving time of 60 minutes or less (median [IQR] age, 62.0 [52.0-71.0] years; 12 334 [57.4%] female; 1685 [7.8%] Black, 1500 [7.0%] Hispanic, 16 010 [74.5%] non-Hispanic White), while 27 840 visits were for patients with driving time greater than 60 minutes (median [IQR] age, 67.0 [57.0-74.0] years; 14 372 [51.6%] female; 1056 [3.8%] Black, 1364 [5.0%] Hispanic, 22 457 [80.7%] non-Hispanic White). For patients living within a driving time of 60 minutes from the cancer center, 424 471 kg CO2 emissions were saved (mean [SD] emissions savings, 19.8 [9.4] kg CO2 per visit) due to telemedicine-equivalent to 91.5 passenger vehicles driven for 1 year. For patients whose driving distance was greater than 60 minutes, 2 744 248 kg CO2 emissions were saved (mean emissions savings, 98.6 [54.8] kg CO2 per visit)-equivalent to 591 passenger vehicles driven for 1 year. Conclusions and Relevance: Using a large data set, this cross-sectional analysis highlighted the carbon emissions savings due to telemedicine in oncology. This has important implications in reducing health care-related carbon footprint.

Comparing the effects of different exercises on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of different exercises on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in postmenopausal women. We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases, up to July 2022. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected following the inclusion criteria. We assessed study quality with the PEDro scale. The Stata software was used for statistical analysis. Twenty-three papers (26 RCTs) and 729 participants were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise decreased SBP (WMD = -6.74 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.08, -4.41, p = 0.000), DBP (WMD = -4.13 mmHg, 95%CI: -5.78, -2.48, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.79 m/s, 95%CI: -1.02, -0.56, p = 0.000). Aerobic exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -7.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -12.99, -2.60, p = 0.003) and DBP (WMD = -5.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -8.55, -3.39, p = 0.000). Resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.62 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.00, -2.23, p = 0.001), DBP (WMD = -1.87 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.75, -0.99, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.67 m/s，95%CI: -0.98, -0.36, p = 0.000). Combined aerobic and resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.42 mmHg, 95%CI: -10.17, -0.68, p = 0.025). The efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV were not obvious (p > 0.05). Exercise significantly improved SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV in postmenopausal women. Aerobic exercise decreased SBP and DBP. Resistance exercise decreased SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV. Additionally, further research is required to confirm the efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Isolation, identification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide from Moringa oleifera seeds based on affinity adsorption.

This study aimed to characterize a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) obtained from Moringa oleifera seed protein hydrolysates. Cell membrane chromatography and live bacteria adsorption were combined into a single step to efficiently isolate the active fraction of the AMP. Five peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS, among which the MCNDCGA peptide (termed MOp3) showed the greatest inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 2 mg/mL]. MOp3 was identified as a hydrophobic anionic AMP rich in ß-sheet structures with negligible hemolytic activity at 2.0 × MIC. MOp3 had good tolerance to salt solutions at 5 % and pH range 6.0-8.0, but was sensitive to high temperatures (>100 °C) and acid protease. Microscopic observation further revealed that MOp3 induced irreversible damage onto the cell membrane of S. aureus and interacted with dihydrofolate reductase and DNA gyrase by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. These findings highlight the potential application of a new antimicrobial agent against S. aureus in the food industry.

Diversity of soil faunal community as influenced by crop straw combined with different synthetic fertilizers in upland purple soil.

Soil fauna play a crucial role in sustaining agro-ecosystem functions. Crop straw is recommended for application to agricultural fields to improve soil quality. However, the effects of crop straw combined with different synthetic fertilizers on the soil faunal community remain unclear, and knowledge regarding purple soil is limited. Using the conserved cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene as markers, we examined the responses of the soil faunal community to different fertilization in upland purple soil of southwestern China. The accuracy of the morphological and molecular methods in characterizing soil nematodes was compared. Our results showed that different fertilization treatments significantly changed the soil faunal community structure (Adonis test, R2 = 0.43, P = 0.011). Sixteen biomarkers were identified according to LEfSe (linear discriminant analysis effect size). The diversity and species number of soil fauna were closely related to soil organic matter (SOM) and total phosphorus (TP) (P < 0.05). This study indicates that crop straw return can improve the soil fertility and diversity of soil fauna in purple soil. Additionally, the morphological approach and molecular method based on the COI gene can be considered as complementary approaches in characterizing soil nematode community.

Acupuncture for cancer-related conditions: An overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is commonly used for cancer-related conditions worldwide, and evidence is increasing year on year. There is a need to summarize the evidence of acupuncture for cancer-related conditions comprehensively and critically. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and summarize the systematic reviews (SRs) that assess the effects and safety of acupuncture for cancer-related conditions, and to inform clinical practice and future studies. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted on Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, Sinomed, and Wanfang from their inception to October 16, 2021. SRs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for cancer-related conditions were to be included. Two reviewers screened the eligible articles, and four reviewers in pair extracted data and assessed the methodological quality/risk of bias of all included reviews by AMSTAR 2 and ROBIS tools. The overlap of primary studies was measured by calculating corrected covered areas. Data from the included reviews were synthesized with a summary of meta-analysis or narrative description. RESULTS: Fifty-one SRs of RCTs on acupuncture for cancer-related conditions were included and synthesized. The methodological quality of SRs included 1 "high", 5 "low" and 45 "very low" by AMSTAR 2. Sixteen SRs assessed as low risk of bias (31.37%), and 35 SRs had high risk of bias (68.63%) by ROBIS. Acupuncture showed effective on systemic conditions in relation to different cancers, including cancer-related pain (17 SRs, 80 RCTs), fatigue (7 SRs, 18 RCTs), insomnia (4 SRs, 10 RCTs), quality of life (2 SRs, 15 RCTs); conditions in relation to chemo-radiotherapy, including nausea and vomiting (3 SRs, 36 RCTs) and bone marrow suppression (2 SRs, 21 RCTs); and conditions in relation to specific cancers, including breast cancer-related menopause (3 SRs, 6 RCTs), hot flashes (12 SRs, 13 RCTs), arthralgia (5 SRs, 10 RCTs), and nasopharyngeal cancer-related dysphagia (1 SRs, 7 RCTs). Acupuncture appeared to have benefit for patients with lymphoedema (3 SRs, 3 RCTs), gastrointestinal function (5 SRs, 27 RCTs), and xerostomia (4 SRs, 7 RCTs). Limited evidence showed inconsistent results on acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (3 SRs, 6 RCTs), depression and anxiety (3 SRs, 9 RCTs). Acupuncture was regarded as a safe therapy for cancer patients as no severe adverse events related were reported. CONCLUSION: Evidence from SRs showed that acupuncture is beneficial to cancer survivors with cancer-related pain, fatigue, insomnia, improved quality of life, nausea and vomiting, bone marrow suppression, menopausal symptoms, arthralgia, and dysphagia, and may also be potential for lymphoedema, gastrointestinal function, and xerostomia. For neuropathy, depression and anxiety, acupuncture should be used as an option based on individual conditions. Acupuncture is relatively safe without serious adverse events. More well-designed clinical trials of acupuncture are recommended on cancer-related depression and anxiety, arthralgia, xerostomia, gastrointestinal dysfunction and dysphagia.

Efficacy and safety of reduning injection combined with azithromycin in the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia among children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reduning (RDN) injection is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation that can be used as an alternative to antibiotics with synergistic and toxicity-reducing effects. In China, RDN is widely used in the combined treatment of infectious diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of RDN combined with azithromycin (AZM) for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) among children and to determine its safety, providing an evidence-based reference for clinical treatment. METHODS: Eight databases were searched, including 4 English databases, namely, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and 4 Chinese databases, namely, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP), and Sino-Med. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in which RDN was combined with AZM for the treatment of MP pediatric patients. A comprehensive search was performed from the inception of each database until April 25, 2022. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies covering 1628 children were included. Meta-analysis showed that the clinical effectiveness rate (RR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.15, 1.26], I2 = 0%), time elapsed until disappearance of cough (MD = -2.04, 95% CI [-2.67, -1.41], I2 = 91%), time elapsed until disappearance of lung rales (MD = -2.55, 95% CI [-3.12, -1.98], I2 = 95%), time elapsed until reduction of fever (MD = -1.93, 95% CI [-2.37, -1.49], I2 = 92%), TNF-α level after treatment (SMD = -1.17, 95% CI [-1.96, -0.39], I2 = 97%), and IL-6 levels after treatment (SMD = -2.65, 95% CI [-3.51, -1.78], I2 = 97%) of the combined treatment of MPP were superior to those of other methods, and incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.56, 1.00], I2 = 0%) showed statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: RDN combined with AZM for the treatment of MP among children results in increased clinical efficacy with high safety.

Moringa oleifera seed ethanol extract and its active component kaempferol potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviours in mice via a GABAergic mechanism.

CONTEXT: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) (MO) is an important food plant that has high nutritional and medical value. However, there is limited information on whether its seeds can improve sleep. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of MO seed ethanol extracts (EEMOS) on sleep activity improvement and examined the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male ICR mice were placed into six groups (n = 12) and treated as follows: Control (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 20 mL/kg), estazolam tablets (2 mg/kg), EEMOS (1, 2 g/kg) and kaempferol (1, 2 mg/kg). These samples were successively given intragastric for 14 d. Locomotor activity assay, pentobarbital-induced sleeping and pentetrazol-induced seizures tests were utilized to examine the sedative-hypnotic effects (SHE) of EEMOS. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the results revealed that EEMOS (2 g/kg) and KA (2 mg/kg) possessed good SHE and could significantly elevate the levels of γ-aminobutyric acid and reduce the levels of glutamic acid in the mouse hypothalamus (p < 0.05). Moreover, SHE was blocked by picrotoxin, flumazenil and bicuculline (p < 0.05). EEMOS (2 g/kg) and KA (2 mg/kg) significantly upregulated the protein expression levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65) and α1-subunit of GABAA receptors in the hypothalamus of mice (p < 0.05), not affecting glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 (GAD67) and γ2-subunit expression levels (p > 0.05). Additionally, they cause a significant increase in Cl- influx in human cerebellar granule cells at a concentration of 8 µg/mL (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that EEMOS could improve sleep by regulating GABAA-ergic systems, and encourage further clinical trials to treat insomnia.

Characterization of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Isolated from Moringa oleifera Seed Protein Hydrolysates and Its Membrane Damaging Effects on Staphylococcus aureus.

The present study sought to identify and characterize a novel antimicrobial peptide, named MOp2 from Moringa oleifera seed protein hydrolysates, and elucidate its potential antimicrobial effects on Staphylococcus aureus. MOp2, with the amino acid sequence of His-Val-Leu-Asp-Thr-Pro-Leu-Leu (HVLDTPLL), was characterized as a hydrophobic anionic AMP of the ß-sheet structure. MOp2 exhibited negligible hemolytic activity at 2.0× MIC, suggesting its inhibitory effect on the growth of S. aureus (MIC: 2.204 mM). It maintained more than 90% of antimicrobial activity under 5% salt and about 78% of antimicrobial activity at a high temperature of 115 °C for 30 min. Protease, especially acid protease, reduced its antimicrobial activity to different extents. Moreover, MOp2 caused irreversible membrane damage to S. aureus cells by increasing the membrane permeability, resulting in the release of intracellular nucleotide pools. Additionally, molecular docking revealed that MOp2 could inhibit S. aureus growth by interacting with dihydrofolate reductase and DNA gyrase through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Overall, MOp2 could be a potential novel antimicrobial agent against S. aureus in food processing.

Computational fluid dynamics analysis of Trichosporon fermentans flocculation in refined soybean oil wastewater and flocculation rate prediction method.

Trichosporon fermentans can be used to treat refined soybean oil wastewater (RSOW) and produce microbial lipids. Bioflocculation is an effective method to recover Trichosporon fermentans which accumulates intracellular oils from wastewater. During the flocculation, the hydrodynamic distribution and parameters in the reactor are important limiting factors of yeast flocculation performance. In a 0.25 L flocculation device, it was found that the appropriate range of turbulence kinetic energy was within 0.00065-0.00073 m2/s2, the dissipation rate was within 0.119-0.317 m2/s3, and the shear force was less than 0.433 Pa by computational fluid dynamics. In this case, the flocculation rate (Fr) of Trichosporon fermentans could reach more than 90%. The empirical formula associated Fr of Trichosporon fermentans with hydrodynamic parameters was obtained by Matlab, and improved in the enlargement of flocculation device, displaying an error of less than 3.03%. A conical draft tube airlift circulating reactor for flocculation was designed based on the empirical formula, and the Fr reached 91.3%. The study shows that it is feasible to predict Fr of Trichosporon fermentans according to hydrodynamic parameters by numerical simulation, and design the industrial reactor for flocculation harvesting yeasts. It is also helpful for large-scale treatment of RSOW in a safe environment.

Characterization of the structure, stability, and activity of hypoglycemic peptides from Moringa oleifera seed protein hydrolysates.

Moringa oleifera seed protein hydrolysates exhibit good hypoglycemic activity, but their specific peptide components have not yet been characterized. Here, we identified the ultrafiltration peptide components (<3 kDa) of M. oleifera seed protein hydrolysates. A highly active α-glucosidase inhibitory peptide with an IC50 value of 109.65 µM (MoHpP-2) with the amino acid sequence KETTTIVR was identified. We characterized its structural properties, stability, and hypoglycemic activity. MoHpP-2 was found to be an amphipathic peptide with a ß-turn structure, and the hemolysis of red blood cells was not observed when its concentration was lower than 2 mg mL-1. MoHpP-2 was stable under weakly acidic conditions, at temperatures lower than 60 °C, and at high ion concentrations. Western blotting revealed that MoHpP-2 affected the PI3K and AMPK pathways of HepG2 cells. Molecular docking revealed that MoHpP-2 interacted with α-glucosidase through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces. Thus, MoHpP-2 from M. oleifera seeds could be used to make hypoglycemic functional foods.

Antihypertensive activity of the ACE-renin inhibitory peptide derived from Moringa oleifera protein.

Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf is a potential plant protein resource with high nutritional and medicinal value. The study aims to investigate the hypotensive activity and stability of MO leaf peptides. MO leaf protein was extracted and then hydrolyzed with Alcalase to produce the MO leaf protein hydrolysate (MOPH). The MOPH was separated into peptide fractions with different molecular weights by membrane ultrafiltration. The MOPH and ultrafiltration fractions were evaluated for antihypertensive activity. Inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (84.71 ± 0.07%) and renin (43.72 ± 0.02%) was significantly higher for <1 kDa peptides when compared to other fractions. Oral administration of the <1 kDa component in spontaneously hypertensive rats positively lowers the blood pressure (∼17 mmHg). The <1 kDa component was isolated and purified subsequently; the final active component was identified by mass spectrometry and amino acid sequence analysis. Two highly active ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) and renin dual inhibitory peptides Leu-Gly-Phe-Phe (LGF) and Gly-Leu-Phe-Phe (GLFF) were obtained. The two peptides exhibited a good dual inhibitory activity of ACE and renin with IC50 values of LGF (0.29 ± 0.13 mM, 1.88 ± 0.08 mM) and GLFF (0.31 ± 0.04 mM, 2.80 ± 0.08 mM). Furthermore, in vivo models, LGF and GLFF significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure (19.4 mmHg; 18.2 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (12 mmHg; 13.8 mmHg) of SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats). The peptide transmembrane transport experiments and simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiments with LGF and GLFF showed that they can resist gastrointestinal digestion in a complete form. Thus, bioactive peptides from MO leaf may possess the potential to be used for treating hypertension in humans.

Patterns and Predictors of Failure in Recurrent or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphomas After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy.

PURPOSE: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy is capable of eliciting durable responses in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) lymphomas. However, most treated patients relapse. Patterns of failure after CAR T have not been previously characterized, and may provide insights into the mechanisms of resistance guiding future treatment strategies. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This is a retrospective analysis of patients with R/R large B-cell lymphoma who were treated with anti-CD19 CAR T at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center between 2015 and 2019. Pre- and posttreatment positron emission/computed tomography scans were analyzed to assess the progression of existing (local failures) versus new, nonoverlapping lesions (de novo failures) and identify lesions at a high risk for progression. RESULTS: A total of 469 pretreatment lesions in 63 patients were identified. At a median follow-up of 12.6 months, 36 patients (57%) recurred. Most (n = 31; 86%) had a component of local failure, and 13 patients (36%) exhibited strictly local failures. Even when progressing, 84% of recurrent patients continued to have a subset of pretreatment lesions maintain positron emission/computed tomography resolution. Lesions at a high risk for local failure included those with a diameter ≥5 cm (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-3.55; P < .001), maximum standardized uptake value ≥10 (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.38-3.12; P < .001), or those that were extranodal (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.04; P = .01). In the 69 patients eligible for survival analysis, those with any lesion ≥5 cm (n = 46; 67%) experienced inferior progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.15-5.04; P = .02) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.17-9.96; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients who recur after CAR T experience a component of local progression. Furthermore, lesions with high-risk features, particularly large size, were associated with inferior treatment efficacy and patient survival. Taken together, these observations suggest that lesion-specific resistance may contribute to CAR T treatment failure. Locally directed therapies to high-risk lesions, such as radiation therapy, may be a viable strategy to prevent CAR T failures in select patients.

Viral and Host Transcriptomes in SARS-CoV-2-Infected Human Lung Cells.

Coronaviruses are commonly characterized by a unique discontinuous RNA transcriptional synthesis strategy guided by transcription-regulating sequences (TRSs). However, the details of RNA synthesis in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been fully elucidated. Here, we present a time-scaled, gene-comparable transcriptome of SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating that ACGAAC functions as a core TRS guiding the discontinuous RNA synthesis of SARS-CoV-2 from a holistic perspective. During infection, viral transcription, rather than genome replication, dominates all viral RNA synthesis activities. The most highly expressed viral gene is the nucleocapsid gene, followed by ORF7 and ORF3 genes, while the envelope gene shows the lowest expression. Host transcription dysregulation keeps exacerbating after viral RNA synthesis reaches a maximum. The most enriched host pathways are metabolism related. Two of them (cholesterol and valine metabolism) affect viral replication in reverse. Furthermore, the activation of numerous cytokines emerges before large-scale viral RNA synthesis. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the current severe global health emergency that began at the end of 2019. Although the universal transcriptional strategies of coronaviruses are preliminarily understood, the details of RNA synthesis, especially the time-matched transcription level of each SARS-CoV-2 gene and the principles of subgenomic mRNA synthesis, are not clear. The coterminal subgenomic mRNAs of SARS-CoV-2 present obstacles in identifying the expression of most genes by PCR-based methods, which are exacerbated by the lack of related antibodies. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2-related metabolic imbalance and cytokine storm are receiving increasing attention from both clinical and mechanistic perspectives. Our transcriptomic research provides information on both viral RNA synthesis and host responses, in which the transcription-regulating sequences and transcription levels of viral genes are demonstrated, and the metabolic dysregulation and cytokine levels identified at the host cellular level support the development of novel medical treatment strategies.

Proteomics analysis of the bio-functions of Dregea sinensis stems provides insights regarding milk-clotting enzyme.

Dregea sinensis (D. sinensis) stems have traditionally been used as milk coagulant in Dali of Yunnan Province, China. In this study, proteomics was used to investigate the bio-functions of D. sinensis stem proteins, leading to the purification and identification of the milk-clotting enzyme. A total of 205 proteins mainly involved in the catalytic and metabolic processes were identified, of which 28 proteins exhibited hydrolase activity. Among the 28 proteins, we focused on two enzymes (M9QMC9 and B7VF65). Based on proteomics, a cysteine protease (M9QMC9) with a molecular weight of 25.8 kDa and milk-clotting activity was purified from D. sinensis stems using double ammonium sulfate precipitation and was confirmed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The milk-clotting temperature using the purified enzyme was around 80 °C (specific activity at 314.38 U/mg), and it was found to be stable in the pH range of 6-9 in NaCl concentration of <0.8 mol/L. These findings indicated that the enzyme isolated from D. sinensis stems has potential in the dairy and food sectors, especially in the cheese-making industry.