[Intensive Citrus Cultivation Suppresses Soil Phosphorus Cycling Microbial Activity].

Soil microbes are key drivers in regulating the phosphorus cycle. Elucidating the microbial mineralization process of soil phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria is of great significance for improving nutrient uptake and yield of crops. This study investigated the mechanism by which citrus cultivation affects the soil microbial acquisition strategy for phosphorus by measuring the abundance of the phoD gene, microbial community diversity and structure, and soil phosphorus fractions in the soils of citrus orchards and adjacent natural forests. The results showed that citrus cultivation could lead to a decrease in soil pH and an accumulation of available phosphorus in the soil, with a content as high as 112 mg·kg-1, which was significantly higher than that of natural forests (3.7 mg·kg-1). Citrus cultivation also affected the soil phosphorus fractions, with citrus soil having higher levels of soluble phosphorus (CaCl2-P), citrate-extractable phosphorus (Citrate-P), and mineral-bound phosphorus (HCl-P). The phosphorus fractions of natural forest soils were significantly lower than those of citrus soils, whereas the phoD gene abundance and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly higher in natural forest soils than in citrus soils. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the Shannon diversity index of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in citrus soils was 4.61, which was significantly lower than that of natural forests (5.35). The microbial community structure in natural forests was also different from that of citrus soils. In addition, the microbial community composition of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in citrus soils was also different from that of natural forests, with the relative abundance of Proteobacteria being lower in natural forest soils than in citrus soils. Therefore, citrus cultivation led to a shift of soil microbial acquisition strategy for phosphorus, with external phosphorus addition being the main strategy in citrus soils, whereas microbial mineralization of organic phosphorus was the main strategy in natural forest soils to meet their growth requirements.

[Multi-index evaluation of different parts of Amomum villosum].

To investigate the quality differences between the seeds and husks of Amomum villosum and explore the rationality of using the seeds without husks, this study determined the content of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, epicatechin, quercitrin, volatile oil, water extract, and ethanol extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activities of seeds and husks. The quality differences between the seeds and husks were assessed through orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP) combined with the entropy weight method(EWM). Significant differences(P<0.05) were observed in all 10 indicators between the seeds and husks. The levels of epicatechin, quercetin, and volatile oil were higher in the seeds, whereas those of protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, water extract, and ethanol extract were higher in the husks. The seeds showed stronger scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals, while the husks showed a stronger scavenging effect on hydroxyl radicals. OPLS-DA significantly discriminated between the seeds and husks. Furthermore, volatile oil, water extract, DPPH radical scavenging rate, quercitrin, ABTS radical scavenging rate, hydroxyl radical scavenging rate, and vanillic acid were selected as the main differential indicators by variable importance in projection(VIP). Comprehensive scores calculated by AHP combined with EWM indicated that the seeds were superior to husks in terms of overall quality. However, there are still some dominant components and a certain antioxidant effect in the husks. Therefore, it is suggested to using Amomi Fructus with a certain amount of husks or utilizing the husks for other purposes.

[Metabolomic study on urine of chronic inflammation rats treated with Buyang Huanwu Decoction based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS].

The study investigated the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD) on endogenous biomarkers in the urine of rats with chronic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), aiming to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of BYHWD on chronic inflammation from a metabolomics perspective. Male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose BYHWD groups(7.5, 15, and 30 g·kg~(-1)). The model group and BYHWD groups received tail intravenous injection of LPS(200 µg·kg~(-1)) on the first day of each week, followed by oral administration of BYHWD once a day for four consecutive weeks. Urine samples were collected at the end of the administration period, and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to analyze the metabolic profiles of the rat urine in each group. Multivariate statistical analysis methods such as principal component analysis(PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to analyze the effect of BYHWD on endogenous metabolites. One-way ANOVA and variable importance for the projection(VIP) were used to screen for potential biomarkers related to chronic inflammation. The identified biomarkers were subjected to pathway and enrichment analysis using MetaboAnalyst 5.0. A total of 25 potential biomarkers were screened and identified in the rat urine in this experiment. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significant increases in the levels of 14 substances(P<0.05) and significant decreases in the levels of 11 substances(P<0.05). BYHWD was able to effectively reverse the trend of most endogenous biomarkers. Compared with the model group, BYHWD significantly down-regulated 13 biomarkers(P<0.05) and up-regulated 10 biomarkers(P<0.05). The metabolic products were mainly related to the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A, tryptophan metabolism, retinol metabolism, and propionate metabolism. BYHWD has therapeutic effect on chronic inflammation induced by LPS, which may be related to its ability to improve the levels of endogenous metabolites, enhance the body's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, and restore normal metabolic activity.

Yiqi Yangjing recipe stimulates apoptosis while suppressing the energy metabolism via under-expression of PFKFB3 in A549 cells.

Background: Lung cancer is a malignant tumor associated with high morbidity and mortality. Yiqi Yangjing recipe (YYR) is a formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is commonly used for the treatment of lung cancer with good clinical efficacy. The specific anti-cancer mechanism of YYR is still unknown. We need to embark on a more in-depth pharmacological study of YYR to determine the complex compound ingredients, which could be promoted in clinical practice to achieve efficacy in prolonging recurrent metastasis of lung cancer. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of YYR on A549 cells were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The PFKFB3-under-expressed and overexpressed A549 cell lines were constructed via PFK15 treatment and transfection, respectively. The effects of YYR on PFKFB3 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. The pro-apoptotic and anti-glycolytic abilities of YYR were measured using flow cytometry assay and hippocampal XF96 extracellular flux analyzer. An in vivo tumorigenicity assay was performed on nude mice to confirm the anti-cancer effects of YYR. Results: YYR has a noticeable cytotoxic activity on A549 cells, with the treatment with both YYR and PFK15 significantly inducing apoptosis. YYR and PFK15 treatment reduced the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in A549 cells. Similar to PFK15, YYR can down-regulate PFKFB3 expression, and PFKFB3 overexpression suppressed the apoptosis, which was reversed by YYR. Animal experiments confirmed that YYR was able to inhibit tumor growth, induce tumor cell apoptosis, and down-regulate PFKFB3 in tumor tissues. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that YYR promoted lung cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited energy metabolism by targeting PFKFB3. Furthermore, we believe that YYR may be a suitable supplement or alternative drug for lung cancer treatment.

Integrating In Vitro and In Silico Approaches to Assess Monotheca buxifolia Plant Extract against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Sarcoptes scabiei.

Tick and mite infestations pose significant challenges to animal health, agriculture, and public health worldwide. The search for effective and environmentally friendly acaricidal agents has led researchers to explore natural alternatives. In this study, we investigated the acaricidal potential of the Monotheca buxifolia plant extract against Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Additionally, we employed a computational approach to identify phytochemicals from the extract that could serve as drug candidates against these ectoparasites. The contact bioassay results demonstrated that the M. buxifolia plant extract exhibited significant efficacy against R. microplus and S. scabiei, with higher concentrations outperforming the positive control acaricide permethrin in terms of mite mortality. Time exposure to the extract also showed a positive correlation with better lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90) values. Similarly, the adult immersion test revealed a notable inhibition of tick oviposition via the plant extract, especially at higher concentrations. The two-protein primary structure, secondary structure and stability were predicted using the Expasy's ProtParam server, SOPMA and SUSUI server, respectively. Using Homology modeling, the 3D structure of the protein was obtained and validated through the ERRAT server, and active sites were determined through the CASTp server. The docking analysis revealed that Alpha-Amyrenyl acetate and alpha-Tocopherol exhibited the highest docking scores for S. scabiei and R. microplus aspartic protease proteins, respectively. These phytochemicals demonstrated strong binding interactions, suggesting their potential as acaricidal drug candidates. In conclusion, the M. buxifolia plant extract displayed significant acaricidal activity against R. microplus and S. scabiei. Moreover, the computational approach identified promising phytochemicals that could serve as potential drug candidates for controlling these ectoparasites.

[Effect of High-volume Straw Returning and Applying Bacillus on Bacterial Community and Fertility of Desertification Soil].

This study was conducted to explore the fertilization potential of the high-volume straw returning mode in cooperation with Bacillus and other functional flora on desertification soil and to analyze the changing characteristics of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus components and functional activities of flora, so as to provide a basis for efficiently improving desertification soil fertility. A randomized block experiment was conducted, setting straw not returning to field (CK) and high-volume straw returning of 6.00 kg·m-2 (ST1), 12.00 kg·m-2 (ST2), 24.00 kg·m-2+(ST3), 6.00 kg·m-2+Bacillus (SM1), 12.00 kg·m-2+Bacillus (SM2), and 24.00 kg·m-2+Bacillus (SM3). In this study, we conducted a randomized block experiment to investigate the effect of the treatment for soil microbial and nutrient contents using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and soil biochemical properties analysis. Our results showed that:① the α diversity of the soil bacterial community was significantly reduced by the combination of high-volume straw returning and Bacillus application. ② The single mode of high-volume straw returning significantly enriched Proteobacteria and decreased the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, and the effect of the combined application of Bacillus on the variability of bacterial community structure was more significant. At the genus level, the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Rhodanobacter, and Bacillus increased significantly. ③ The functional prediction based on FAPROTAX found that the high-volume straw returning combined with Bacillus could significantly improve the decomposition potential of soil flora to organic substances and the transformation potential of nitrogen components. ④ Compared with that in the control, the application of Bacillus with high-volume straw returning significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus by 31.20-32.75 g·kg-1, 0.11-0.18 g·kg-1, and 29.69-35.09 mg·kg-1, respectively. In conclusion, the application of Bacillus in the sand-blown area with a high-volume straw returning can notably improve the contents of soil organic matter and phosphorus components, the functional activity of bacteria, and the abundance of beneficial bacteria, which is of great significance to the rapid improvement of soil fertility in the middle- and low-yield fields in arid areas.

Myofascial acupuncture versus routine acupuncture for mechanical neck pain: a protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is defined as pain in the area of the neck and/or neck-shoulder provoked by body mechanics and which adversely affects physical, psychological and social function. The treatments for MNP are limited. Previous studies and clinical experience have indicated that myofascial acupuncture might be a better treatment option for MNP, but the efficacy is controversial. Therefore, our aim is to compare the efficacy of myofascial acupuncture and routine acupuncture for MNP. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study is a multicentre, prospective randomised clinical trial. Patients will be recruited from four tertiary hospitals in China. A total of 438 participants with MNP will be randomly assigned into two groups, namely the 'Sancai-Tianbu' myofascial acupuncture group and the routine acupuncture group, at a ratio of 1:1. Each group will receive the acupuncture treatment twice a week for 21 days, totalling six sessions. The primary outcome will be the Visual Analogue Scale score. The secondary outcomes will be the Neck Disability Index, the cervical range of motion and the MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The assessments will be performed at baseline (immediately after allocation), pretreatment (5 min before every treatment), post-treatment (within 10 min after every treatment), postcourse (within 1 day after the course), and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the course. All patients will be included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Repeated-measure analysis of covariance will be used to determine the effects of the intervention on the outcome measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was obtained from China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation 731 Hospital, with permission number 2022-0204-01. Written informed consent will be obtained from the enrolled patients. Trial results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2200061453.

The clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam versus piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam with piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). The retrospective study was conducted from March 1, 2018 to May 30, 2019. Clinical outcomes were compared for patients who received either cefoperazone-sulbactam or piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of SCAP. A total of 815 SCAP patients were enrolled. Among them, 343 received cefoperazone-sulbactam, and 472 received piperacillin-tazobactam. Patients who received cefoperazone-sulbactam presented with higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. (6.20 ± 2.77 vs 5.72 ± 2.61; P = .009). The clinical cure rates and effectiveness for patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam were 84.2% versus 80.3% (P = .367) and 85.4% versus 83.3% (P = .258), respectively. In addition, the overall mortality rate of the cefoperazone-sulbactam group was 16% (n = 55), which was also comparable to the piperacillin-tazobactam group (17.8%, n = 84, P = .572). The primary clinical outcomes for patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam were superior compared to those receiving piperacillin-tazobactam after adjusting disease severity status. The clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam in the treatment of adult patients with SCAP is comparable to that of piperacillin-tazobactam. After adjusting for disease severity, cefoperazone-sulbactam tended to be superior to piperacillin-tazobactam.

Genome-wide identification and immune response analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in tea geometrid, Ectropis grisescens Warren (Geometridae, Lepidoptera).

BACKGROUND: Tea geometrid Ectropis grisescens (Geometridae: Lepidoptera), is one of the most destructive defoliators in tea plantations in China. The MAPK cascade is known to be an evolutionarily conserved signaling module, acting as pivotal cores of host-pathogen interactions. Although the chromosome-level reference genome of E. grisescens was published, the whole MAPK cascade gene family has not been fully identified yet, especially the expression patterns of MAPK cascade gene family members upon an ecological biopesticide, Metarhizium anisopliae, remains to be understood. RESULTS: In this study, we have identified 19 MAPK cascade gene family members in E. grisescens, including 5 MAPKs, 4 MAP2Ks, 8 MAP3Ks, and 2 MAP4Ks. The molecular evolution characteristics of the whole Eg-MAPK cascade gene family, including gene structures, protein structural organization, chromosomal localization, orthologs construction and gene duplication, were systematically investigated. Our results showed that the members of Eg-MAPK cascade gene family were unevenly distributed in 13 chromosomes, and the clustered members in each group shared similar structures of the genes and proteins. Gene expression data revealed that MAPK cascade genes were expressed in all four developmental stages of E. grisescens and were fairly and evenly distributed in four different larva tissues. Importantly, most of the MAPK cascade genes were induced or constitutively expressed upon M. anisopliae infection. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present study was one of few studies on MAPK cascade gene in E. grisescens. The characterization and expression profiles of Eg-MAPK cascades genes might help develop new ecofriendly biological insecticides to protect tea trees.

Double-contrast barium enema is no longer justified as a backup examination for colonoscopy in the population screening program: Population study in an organized fecal immunochemical test-based screening program.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Currently, some countries still acknowledge double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) as a backup confirmatory examination when colonoscopy is not feasible or incomplete in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs. This study aims to compare the performance of colonoscopy and DCBE in terms of the risk of incident CRC after negative results in the fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based Taiwan Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. METHODS: Subjects who had positive FITs and received confirmatory exams, either colonoscopy or DCBE, without the findings of neoplastic lesions from 2004 to 2013 in the screening program comprised the study cohort. Both the colonoscopy and DCBE subcohorts were followed until the end of 2018 and linked to the Taiwan Cancer Registry to identify incident CRC cases. Multivariate analysis was conducted to compare the risk of incident CRC in both subcohorts after controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 102 761 colonoscopies and 5885 DCBEs were performed after positive FITs without neoplastic findings during the study period. By the end of 2018, 2113 CRCs (2.7 per 1000 person-years) and 368 CRCs (7.6 per 1000 person-years) occurred in the colonoscopy and DCBE subcohorts, respectively. After adjusting for major confounders, DCBE had a significantly higher risk of incident CRC than colonoscopy, with an adjusted HR of 2.81 (95% CI = 2.51-3.14). CONCLUSIONS: In the FIT screening program, using DCBE as a backup examination was associated with a nearly threefold risk of incident CRC compared with colonoscopy, demonstrating that it is no longer justified as a backup examination for incomplete colonoscopy.

Electroacupuncture Improves Depression-Like Behavior by Regulating the Abundance of Lactobacillus and Staphylococci in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota can affect depression-like behavior, and electroacupuncture (EA) can regulate the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. At the same time, not a lot of research has been done on how EA affects gut microbiota to depression-like behavior. The objective of this study was to study the associated mechanisms by which EA exerts antidepressant effects by modulating gut microbiota. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups, one group (n = 8) was the normal control group (NC). And the other two groups was chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling + electroacupuncture group (CUMS + EA) (n = 8) and chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling group (CUMS) (n = 8). Both CUMS and EA groups were subjected to 28 days of CUMS, but only the EA group received an additional 14 days of EA procedure. Behavior tests were used to determine the antidepressant effect of EA. Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was applied to examine alterations in the intestinal microbiome between groups. RESULTS: The findings were compared to those of the NC group, the sucrose preference rate and the total distance of Open Field Test (OFT) in CUMS group decreased, the abundance of Lactobacillus decreased, while the abundance of staphylococci increased. After the intervention of EA, the sucrose preference index and the total distance of OFT increased, the abundance of Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of staphylococci decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated EA may play an antidepressant effect by adjusting the abundance of Lactobacillus and staphylococci.

Effects of total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng stems and leaves on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids metabolism in acute lung injury mice / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to investigate the biological effects and underlying mechanisms of the total ginsenosides from Panax ginseng stems and leaves on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced acute lung injury(ALI) in mice. Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, the total ginsenosides from P. ginseng stems and leaves normal administration group(61.65 mg·kg~(-1)), and low-, medium-, and high-dose total ginsenosides from P. ginseng stems and leaves groups(15.412 5, 30.825, and 61.65 mg·kg~(-1)). Mice were administered for seven continuous days before modeling. Twenty-four hours after modeling, mice were sacrificed to obtain lung tissues and calculate lung wet/dry ratio. The number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was detected. The levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in BALF were detected. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and the levels of myeloperoxidase(MPO), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) in lung tissues were determined. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues. The gut microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was applied to detect the content of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) in se-rum. The results showed that the total ginsenosides from P. ginseng stems and leaves could reduce lung index, lung wet/dry ratio, and lung damage in LPS-induced ALI mice, decrease the number of inflammatory cells and levels of inflammatory factors in BALF, inhibit the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors and levels of MPO and MDA in lung tissues, and potentiate the activity of GSH-Px and SOD in lung tissues. Furthermore, they could also reverse the gut microbiota disorder, restore the diversity of gut microbiota, increase the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae, decrease the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae, and enhance the content of SCFAs(acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid) in serum. This study suggested that the total ginsenosides from P. ginseng stems and leaves could improve lung edema, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in ALI mice by regulating gut microbiota and SCFAs metabolism.

Anti-obesity and Gut Microbiota Modulation Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharides Combined with Berberine on High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate whether astragalus polysaccharides (APS) combined with berberine (BBR) can reduce high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice.@*METHODS@#Except for normal mice, 32 HFD-induced obese mice were randomized into HFD, APS (1,000 mg/kg APS), BBR (200 mg/kg BBR), and APS plus BBR (1,000 mg/kg APS plus 200 mg/kg BBR) groups, respectively. After 6-week treatment (once daily by gavage), the obesity phenotype and pharmacodynamic effects were evaluated by histopathological examination of epididymal fat, liver, and colon using hematoxylin-eosin staining and serum biochemical analyses by an automated chemistry analyzer. The feces were collected at the 12 th week, and taxonomic and functional profiles of gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) sequencing.@*RESULTS@#Compared with HFD group, the average body weight of APS plus BBR group was decreased (P<0.01), accompanied with the reduced fat accumulation, enhanced colonic integrity, insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Importantly, APS combined with BBR treatment was more effective than APS or BBR alone in improving HFD-induced insulin resistance (P<0.05 or P<0.01). 16S rRNA sequence-based analysis of fecal samples demonstrated that APS combined with BBR treatment exhibited a better impact on HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, exclusively via the enriched abundances of Bacteroides, which corresponded to the large increase of predicted bacterial genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.@*CONCLUSION@#APS combined with BBR may synergistically reduce obesity and modulate the gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice.

Network Pharmacology-Based Dissection of the Mechanism of Drynariae Rhizoma for Low Back Pain.

Objective: To explain the potential mechanisms of Drynariae Rhizoma (DR) in the treatment of low back pain (LBP). Design: Network pharmacology was used to reveal the potential mechanisms including collecting the active ingredients of DR, analyzing the common gene targets of LBP and DR, constructing protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, collecting protein classification, performing Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and verifying significant gene targets. Results: 234 different gene targets and 18 active compounds altogether were obtained. AKT1, VEGFA, and HIF1A were deemed to be major gene targets based on the degree values. According to GO analysis, steroid metabolic process involved 42 (18.10%) potential therapeutic LBP targets, neuronal cell body involved 24 (10.30%) potential therapeutic LBP targets, and protein serine/threonine kinase activity involved 28 (12.02%) potential therapeutic LBP targets in biological process (BP), cellular component (CC), and molecular function (MF), respectively. According to KEGG and pathway interaction analyses, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway involved 34 (15.89%) potential therapeutic LBP targets, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway played a significant role in the treatment of LBP. The mRNA expression levels of AKT1 and HIF1A were upregulated in healthy nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue than in degenerative NP tissue. In contrast, the mRNA expression level of VEGFA was downregulated in healthy NP tissue than in degenerative NP tissue. Conclusions: In this study, we identified a potential relationship between LBP and DR in this work, as well as a synergistic mechanism of DR in the treatment of LBP, which serves as a benchmark for further in vivo and in vitro research.

Targets and Effective Constituents of ZhiziBaipi Decoction for Treating Damp-Heat Jaundice Syndrome Based on Chinmedomics Coupled with UPLC-MS/MS.

Background: Damp-heat jaundice syndrome (DHJS) is a diagnostic model of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that refers to jaundice caused by damp-heat pathogen invasion. DHJS is the most common clinical manifestation of TCM, with yellow skin, yellow eyes and anorexia. ZhiziBaipi Decoction (ZBD) is a classic TCM formula that is effective at treating DHJS and various liver diseases. However, the effective components of ZBD in the context of DHJS and the underlying mechanism are unclear. Purpose: This study of ZBD using the DHJS rat model aimed to elucidate the pathobiology of DHJS and the metabolic targets of therapeutic ZBD, construct the network relationship between the components of ZBD and endogenous biomarkers, and clarify the underlying mechanism of ZBD in preventing and treating DHJS. Methods: Using chinmedomics as the core strategy, an animal model was generated, and the therapeutic effect of ZBD was evaluated based on behavioral, histopathological and biochemical indicators. Metabonomics tools were used to identify biomarkers of DHJS, TCM-based serum pharmacochemistry was used to analyze the effective constituents of ZBD, and chinmedomics technology was used to identify ZBD components highly related to DHJS biomarkers. Results: A total of 42 biomarkers were preliminarily identified, and ZBD significantly affected the levels of 29 of these biomarkers. A total of 59 compounds in ZBD were characterized in vivo. According to chinmedomics analysis, the highly correlated components found in blood were isoformononetin, 3-O-feruloylquinic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, oxyberberine, obaculactone and five metabolites. Conclusions: Chinmedomics combined with UPLC-MS/MS was used to study the targets and effective constituents of ZBD for the treatment of DHJS.

Exploring the mechanism of Qinbaiqingfei-concentrate pills in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia from the perspective of intestinal microbiota and mucosal immunity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese medicine categorizes Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia as "lung heat", and treatment with heat clear and detoxify. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the lungs and intestines come from the same source, and the intestine is related to pneumonia. This is the same as the gut-lung axis theory. Qinbaiqingfei concentrate pills (QBs) were modified based on Cough San in the ancient medical book Medical Awareness. It clears lung heat, moisturizes the lungs and dredges collaterals, and has a good ability to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae. AIM OF THE STUDY: A rat model of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was established. From the aspect of intestinal flora and mucosal immunity, the potential mechanism of the QBs was researched. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, the content of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in lung tissue and the levels of the inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ were detected. To determine the expression of NF-kB related proteins in lung tissue, which can understand the ability in treating disease. Next, metagenomic sequencing was performed to detect changes in short-chain fatty acids, proving the ability of the drug to regulate intestinal microecology. Finally, HDAC, LPS, SIgA, etc. were detected to facilitate the correlation of the overall experimental indicators. RESULTS: QBs reduces the levels of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ in the serum by inhibiting the expression of MyD88, IKKα, IκBα, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. In addition, QBs restores the ratio of gram-negative bacteria to gram-positive bacteria in the intestine, restores the secretion of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid, and promotes the secretion of NF-κB p65 and SIgA by HDAC1/3. The result is that the lung tissue is repaired and the proliferation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: From the "gut-lung axis", a new research perspective was discovered. QBs intervened in the intestines and lungs to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Investigation of Serum and Macular Carotenoids in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate serum lutein and zeaxanthin levels and macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods: Fifty-four patients with acute CSC (28-56 years old; 44 men and 10 women) and 62 matched controls were enrolled. Serum lutein and zeaxanthin were measured using the high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. MPOD was measured at 7° of eccentricity and reported in parameters as "max" and "mean" optical density (OD) (Visucam 200; Carl Zeiss Meditec). MPOD was re-measured in 9 patients whose subretinal fluid was absorbed. Results: The average max OD and the mean OD in CSC were 0.275 ± 0.047 d.u. and 0.098 ± 0.018 d.u., respectively, which were significantly lower than the control (p < 0.001). The average MPOD value in the unaffected eyes of patients with CSC was 0.298 ± 0.045 for max OD, 0.106 ± 0.017 for mean OD, and both were significantly lower compared with the affected eyes (p < 0.001 for max OD, p = 0.01 for mean OD). In the 9 follow-up patients, the decrease in MPOD was partially recovered. The mean serum level was 409.80 ± 182.52 ng/ml for lutein and 22.97 ± 12.23 ng/ml for zeaxanthin in patients with CSC. In controls, the mean serum level was 393.38 ± 202.44 ng/ml for lutein and 22.16 ± 10.12 ng/ml for zeaxanthin. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.649, p = 0.698, respectively). Conclusion: MPOD decreased within 7° of eccentricity in CSC without serum lutein and zeaxanthin changes. The decrease may be due to the subretinal fluid. Whether local oxidative stress is involved in CSC and the supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin is helpful for CSC requires further investigation.

Characterization of the WRKY gene family in Akebia trifoliata and their response to Colletotrichum acutatum.

BACKGROUND: Akebia trifoliata, belonging to the Lardizabalaceae family, is a well-known Chinese traditional medicinal plant, susceptible to many diseases, such as anthracnose and powdery mildew. WRKY is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor families and plays important roles in plant growth, development and stress response, especially in disease resistance. However, little was known about the numbers, characters, evolutionary relationship and expression of WRKY genes in A. trifoliata in response to plant disease due to lacking of A. trifoliata genome. RESULTS: A total of 42 putative AktWRKY genes were identified based on the full-length transcriptome-sequencing data of A. trifoliata. Then 42 AktWRKY genes were divided into three major groups (Group I-III) based on the WRKY domains. Motif analysis showed members within same group shared a similar motif composition, implying a functional conservation. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that AktWRKY genes could be detected in all tissues, while few AktWRKY genes were tissue specific. We further evaluated the expression of AktWRKY genes in three varieties in response to Colletotrichum acutatum by qRT-PCR. The expression patterns of AktWRKY genes were similar between C01 and susceptible variety I02, but distinctly different in resistant variety H05. In addition, it showed that more than 64 percentages of AktWRKY genes were differentially expressed during fungal infection in I02 and H05. Furthermore, Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that AktWRKY genes were categorized into 26 functional groups under cellular components, molecular functions and biological processes, and a predicted protein interaction network was also constructed. CONCLUSIONS: Results of bioinformation analysis and expression patterns implied that AktWRKYs might play multiple function in response to biotic stresses. Our study could facilitate to further investigate the function and regulatory mechanism of the WRKY in A. trifoliata during pathogen response.

The Association Between Sleep Disorders and Incidence of Dry Eye Disease in Ningbo: Data From an Integrated Health Care Network.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between sleep disorders and dry eye disease (DED) in Ningbo, China. METHODS: Our data came from the Yinzhou Health Information System (HIS), including 257932 patients and was based on a 1:1 matching method (sleep disorder patients vs. patients without sleep disorders) during 2013-2020. Sleep disorders and DED were identified using ICD-10 codes. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify the association between sleep disorders and DED. RESULTS: The eight-year incidence of DED was significantly higher in participants with diagnosis of sleep disorders (sleep disorders: 50.66%, no sleep disorders: 16.48%, P < 0.01). Sleep disorders were positively associated with the diagnosis of DED (HR: 3.06, 95% CI: 2.99-3.13, P < 0.01), when sex, age, hypertension, diabetes and other systemic diseases were adjusted. In the sleep disorders patients, advancing age, female sex, and presence of coexisting disease (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disease, depression, heart disease, and arthritis) were significantly associated with the development of DED by the multivariate cox regression analysis (all P < 0.05).In addition, there was a significantly positive association between estazolam and the incidence of DED in both sleep disorder and non-sleep disorder groups (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disrder was associated with a three-time increased risk of DED. This association can be helpful in effective management of both sleep disorders and DED.

Deciphering the Q-markers of nourishing kidney-yin of Cortex Phellodendri amurense from ZhibaiDihuang pill based on Chinmedomics strategy.

BACKGROUND: Cortex Phellodendri amurensis (CPA) has high medicinal value in the treatment of kidney-yin deficiency diseases. However, due to the lack of research on the therapeutic material basis of CPA, the current quality control standard for CPA is defective, and the effect of the nourishing kidney-yin of CPA was limited. PURPOSE: Based on the principle of correspondence between the syndrome and prescriptions, we studied the CPA in ZhibaiDihuang pill (ZBDH) to identify quality markers (Q-markers) of CPA in ZBDH for treating kidney-yin deficiency and seek the potential Q-markers of CPA under nourishing kidney-yin effect combined with the analysis of single CPA. METHODS: Taking Chinmedomics as the core strategy, metabonomics analysis and effective component identification were performed by UPLC-MS. RESULTS: A total of 121 chemical components of ZBDH were identified, among which the contents of berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine changed the most obviously with the addition of CPA. Forty-five components were identified in the blood in the markedly effective state, including berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine. The therapeutic material basis of ZBDH in the treatment of kidney-yin deficiency was found, and 6 components were found to derive from CPA, including magnoflorine and jatrorrhizine. In addition, seventeen components were identified in the blood in the single CPA treatment, including berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine. CONCLUSIONS: Magnoflorine and jatrorrhizine were the Q-markers of CPA for treating kidney-yin deficiency in the formula of ZBDH and they were also potential Q-markers of the nourishing kidney-yin of CPA.