Exploring aromatic components differences and composition regularity of 5 kinds of these 4 aroma types Phoenix Dancong tea based on GC-MS.

Different aromatic components do indeed give different tea flavors. There is still little research on whether there is a certain regularity in the combination and content of aromatic components in different aroma types of Phoenix Dancong (PDC) tea. This potential regularity may be a key factor in unraveling the relationship between reproduction and evolution in PDC tea. Here, the 5 kinds of these 4 aroma types PDC tea (Zhuye, Tuofu, Jianghuaxiang, Juduo, Yashixiang) were used as research materials in this study, the headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the aromatic components of these PDC teas. The results showed a total of 36 aromatic components identified in this study. When conducting cluster analysis, it was found that similarity degree arrangement sequence of 5 PDC teas was Juduo, Tuofu, Yashixiang, Zhuye and Jianghuaxiang. Among these aromatic components, the 7,9-Di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4,5)deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione, the 2-Cyclopenten-1-one, 3-methyl-2-(2-pentenyl)-,(Z)-, the 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, the 3,7-dimethyl-1,5,7-Octatrien-3-ol, and the 2-Furanmethanol,5-ethenyltetrahydro-.alpha.,.alpha.,5-trimethyl-,cis- are common to 5 PDC teas. This study aims to elucidate the similarities in the aromatic components of 5 PDC teas, revealing the major aroma-endowed substances of various aroma, and providing theoretical reference for further exploring the relationship between aroma type discrimination, variety selection, and evolution of PDC teas.

Effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for stroke and stroke complications: a protocol for meta-analysis and systematic review based on randomized, single-blind, controlled trials.

Introduction: The treatment and rehabilitation of stroke and its complications have become major global health issues. Acupuncture is widely used as a complementary and alternative treatment for stroke. Many clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, but the research results need to be more consistent. The quality of research based on previously published meta-analyzes is uneven, leading to unstable conclusions. This study aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the efficacy of high-quality, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on blinded designs for treating stroke and its complications. It also aims to review the characteristics of blinded designs and the current use of sham/placebo acupuncture controls in treating stroke. Methods and analysis: This study will be conducted under the reporting guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyzes. Randomized controlled trials using acupuncture as the primary measure for stroke will be searched in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), Wan-fang, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. To evaluate high-quality research based on a blind design, if the trial evaluates the efficacy of any acupuncture intervention by including a sham/placebo acupuncture control, it will be included. The primary outcome indicator will be the ability to perform daily activities. Secondary outcome indicators include evaluating quality of life and related functions in stroke-related sequelae. We will assess the quality of evidence, reporting quality, and risk of bias for the acupuncture intervention in the literature included in this study using the GRADE system, the STRICTA 2010 checklist, and ROB2.0, respectively. RevMan 5.4 software will be used to conduct the meta-analysis, and Stata 15.0 software will be used for sensitivity analysis and publication bias testing. Discussion: By analyzing high-quality, well-designed, randomized controlled trials of acupuncture, the results of this study may contribute to a more objective and standardized evaluation of acupuncture efficacy in treating stroke and its complications.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, Identifier (CRD42023378930).

[Mechanism of melatonin-mediated antihyperglycemic effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation （taVNS） on plasma melatonin （MLT） content and insulin receptor expression in the liver, the skeletal muscles, and the pancreas of Zucker diabetic fatty （ZDF） rats, so as to explore the hypoglycemic mechanism of taVNS. METHODS: Thirty male ZDF rats were randomly divided into model group, taVNS group and sham-taVNS group, with 10 rats in each group； besides, 10 male Zucker lean rats of the same strain were collected for the blank control group. ZDF rats were fed with high-fat diet to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） rat model. In the taVNS group, HANS-100A electroacupuncture instrument was used to stimulate the cavum conchae of both sides. The stimulation sites of rats in the sham-taVNS were the same as the taVNS group, but without electricity delivered. The above interventions were performed 30 min each time, once daily, lasting for 6 weeks. Fasting blood glucose （FBG） was measured weekly in each group, the plasma metatonin （MLT） content was detected by ELISA, and the insulin receptor expression level in the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the level of FBG of rats were increased （P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was decreased （P<0.01） and the insulin receptor expression level in the pancreatic tissue was decreased （P<0.01） in the model group. In the taVNS gruop, FBG was decreased （P<0.05, P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was increased （P<0.01）, and the insulin receptor expression level in the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was increased （P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001） when compared with the model group. Compared with the taVNS group, FBG was increased （P<0.05, P<0.01）, the plasma MLT content was decreased （P<0.01）, and the expression level of insulin receptors in the skeletal muscle and the pancreas was decreased （P<0.01, P<0.001） in the sham-taVNS group. CONCLUSION: The taVNS can improve the insulin resistance and ultimately obtain the antihyperglycemic effect through regulating MLT concentration.

Functional expansion of the natural inorganic phosphorus starvation response system in Escherichia coli.

Phosphorus, an indispensable nutrient, plays an essential role in cell composition, metabolism, and signal transduction. When inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is scarce, the Pi starvation response in E. coli is activated to increase phosphorus acquisition and drive the cells into a non-growing state to reduce phosphorus consumption. In the six decades of research history, the initiation, output, and shutdown processes of the Pi starvation response have been extensively studied. Simultaneously, Pi starvation has been used in biosensor development, recombinant protein production, and natural product biosynthesis. In this review, we focus on the output process and the applications of the Pi starvation response that have not been summarized before. Meanwhile, based on the current status of mechanistic studies and applications, we propose practical strategies to develop the natural Pi starvation response into a multifunctional and standardized regulatory system in four aspects, including response threshold, temporal expression, intensity range, and bifunctional regulation, which will contribute to its broader application in more fields such as industrial production, medical analysis, and environmental protection.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation With Pelvic Floor Exercises in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation.

INTRODUCTION: The management of childhood constipation is challenging. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is one of the most common causes of childhood constipation. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) with pelvic floor exercises (PFE) has achieved a satisfactory outcome in the elderly individuals and women with PFD. The efficacy of PTNS with PFE in childhood constipation has not been established. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with 84 children who met the inclusion criteria was conducted. All participants were randomly assigned to PTNS with PFE or sham PTNS with PFE groups and received their individual intervention for 4 weeks with a 12-week follow-up evaluation. The spontaneous bowel movements (SBM) ≥3 per week were the main outcomes, and the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. High-resolution anorectal manometry and surface electromyography were used for the assessment of pelvic floor function, and the adverse effects were assessed based on symptoms. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, 26 patients (61.9%) in the PTNS with PFE group and 15 patients (35.7%) in the sham group had ≥3 SBM per week compared with baseline (net difference 26.2%, 95% CI 5.6%-46.8%; RR 2.750, 95% CI 1.384-5.466; P < 0.05). PFD remission occurred in 49 children, 33 (78.6%) in the PTNS with PFE group and 16 (38.1%) in the sham group (RR 2.063, 95% CI 1.360-3.128, P < 0.05). No adverse effects occurred. DISCUSSION: PTNS with PFE is a safe and effective method in the treatment of childhood constipation, particularly in children with PFD or dyssynergic defecation.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: An overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the primary cause of anovulatory infertility, bringing serious harm to women's physical and mental health. Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS. However, systematic reviews (SRs) on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS have reported inconsistent results, and the quality of these studies has not been adequately assessed. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS, as well as to assess the quality and risks of bias of the available SRs. SEARCH STRATEGY: Nine electronic databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and China Biology Medicine disc) were searched from their establishment to July 27, 2022. Based on the principle of combining subject words with text words, the search strategy was constructed around search terms for "acupuncture," "polycystic ovary syndrome," and "systematic review." INCLUSION CRITERIA: SRs of randomized controlled trials that explored the efficacy and (or) safety of acupuncture for treating patients with PCOS were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently extracted study data according to a predesigned form. Tools for evaluating the methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality, and confidence in study outcomes, including A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Acupuncture (PRISMA-A), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), were used to score the included SRs. RESULTS: A total of 885 studies were retrieved, and 11 eligible SRs were finally included in this review. The methodological quality of 2 SRs (18.18%) was low, while the other 9 SRs (81.82%) were scored as extremely low. Four SRs (36.36%) were considered to be of low risk of bias. As for reporting quality, the reporting completeness of 9 SRs (81.82%) was more than 70%. Concerning the confidence in study results, 2 study results were considered to have a high quality of evidence (3.13%), 14 (21.88%) a "moderate" quality, 28 (43.75%) a "low" quality, and 20 (31.24%) considered a "very low" quality. Descriptive analyses suggested that combining acupuncture with other medicines can effectively improve the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and ovulation rate, and reduce luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and body mass index (BMI). When compared with medicine alone, acupuncture alone also can improve CPR. Further, when compared with no intervention, acupuncture had a better effect in promoting the recovery of menstrual cycle and reducing BMI. Acupuncture was reported to cause no adverse events or some adverse events without serious harm. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS remains uncertain due to the limitations and inconsistencies of current evidence. More high-quality studies are needed to support the use of acupuncture in PCOS.

Study on tongue coating microbes of bitter taste, sticky and greasy taste in chronic atrophic gastritis.

OBJECTIVE: To objectively reveal the relationship between tongue coating microbes and bitter taste, sticky and greasy taste in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients. METHODS: 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to detect bacterial diversity and community composition of tongue coating microbes from samples of CAG patients. LEfSe algorithm was used for discovering the different tongue coating microbes in CAG patients with or without bitter taste, also that in CAG patients with or without sticky and greasy taste. RESULTS: We respectively compared the features of tongue coating microbes in bitter taste, sticky and greasy taste of CAG patients. At the genus level, 25 tongue coating microbes were significantly different in CAG patients with bitter taste or without bitter taste; 17 tongue coating microbes were significantly different in CAG patients with sticky and greasy taste or without sticky and greasy taste. and were closely related to CAG patients with bitter taste. , , and were closely related to CAG patients with stick and greasy taste. CONCLUSION: and possibly contribute to bitter taste of CAG patients, and and contribute to stick and greasy taste of CAG patients, which is potential for the diagnosis and treatment of CAG.

Moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study exploring the alteration of functional connectivity strength and functional connectivity.

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is a common gynecological disease and chronic pain disorder. Moxibustion, a form of traditional Chinese medicine therapy, has proven to be effective for PDM. However, the central mechanisms of PDM and moxibustion for PDM are still unclear. This study aims to explore the potential central mechanism of PDM and clarify the possible mechanism of moxibustion for relieving pain. Materials and methods: A total of 23 PDM patients and 23 matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. For PDM patients, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected pre- and post-moxibustion treatment of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles, respectively. For HCs, rs-fMRI data were collected in the baseline. The resting-state functional connectivity strength (rs-FCS) analysis and the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analysis based on the region of interest (ROI) were combined to be conducted. Results: Compared to HCs, PDM patients showed weaker rs-FCS in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). After the moxibustion treatment, rs-FCS in the left IFG was increased with clinical improvement. Then, the left IFG was chosen as ROI, and the rs-FC analysis was conducted. It showed that the left IFG rs-FC in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/middle cingulate cortex (MCC), the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus (PCU), and the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) decreased after moxibustion treatment, most of which belong to the default mode network (DMN). Conclusion: Our results highlight the role of the left IFG and the DMN in PDM. Specifically, the central mechanism of moxibustion for analgesia may be related to modulating the disorders of the reappraisal and processing of pain stimuli through influencing the cognition of pain.

Effect of non-pharmacological interventions for overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome on ovulation and pregnancy outcomes: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Most overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have infertility issues which are difficult to treat. Non-pharmacological interventions used for the management of infertility include lifestyle interventions, acupuncture therapies and nutritional supplements. These interventions have been reported to be beneficial in alleviating infertility among overweight women with PCOS. However, effect and safety of these non-pharmacological interventions vary, and there is no standard method of clinical application. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to rank these non-pharmacological interventions in terms of effect and determine which one is more effective for clinical application. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will retrieve eight databases including Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, the Chongqing VIP Database and China Biology Medicine disc from their inceptions onwards. In addition, four clinical trial registries and the related references will be manually retrieved. The primary outcome will be clinical pregnancy. Live birth, ovulation, pregnancy loss, multiple pregnancy and adverse events related to interventions will be considered as the secondary outcomes. STATA software V.15.0 and Aggregate Data Drug Information System V.1.16.8 will be used to conduct pairwise meta-analysis and NMA. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system will be adopted to evaluate the certainty of evidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval will not be required because the study will not include the original information of participants. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021283110.

A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis about the Efficacy and Safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various conventional synthetic DMARDs, including Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by network meta-analysis. Methods: We retrieved the related literature from online databases and supplemented it by using a manual retrieval method. Data was extracted from the literature and analyzed with STATA software. Results: A total of 21 trials (5,039 participants) were identified. Assessment of ACR20 response found that TwHF combined with methotrexate (MTX) had the greatest probability for being the best treatment option among the treatments involved, while TwHF used singly was second only to TwHF combined with MTX. Assessment of ACR50 response found that TwHF combined with MTX ranked second in all treatment options after cyclosporine A (CsA) combined with leflunomide (LEF) and TwHF alone, followed by TwHF combined with MTX. Assessment of ACR70 response found that CsA combined with LEF ranked first, TwHF combined with LEF ranked second, TwHF combined with MTX ranked third, and TwHF used singly ranked fourth. In the safety analysis, TwHF had the least probability of adverse event occurrence, followed by TwHF combined with MTX, which ranked first and second, respectively. Conclusion: Compared with the current csDMARDs for treating RA, the efficacy of TwHF was clear, and TwHF combined with MTX performed well under various endpoints. In the future, large, rigorous, and high-quality RCTs are still needed to confirm the benefits of TwHF therapy on RA.

[Volatile Organic Compound Emission Characteristics and Influences Assessment of a Petrochemical Industrial Park in the Pearl River Delta Region].

The petrochemical industry is one of the major emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the current studies have mostly focused on the identification of the chemical characteristics of non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) VOCs species from the petroleum refining sub-sector. Research on the characteristics of VOCs components in oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) species and other important sub-sectors is still lacking. Therefore, eight enterprises at a petrochemical industrial park in the Pearl River Delta region were carefully selected to represent three major subsectors, namely petroleum refining, synthetic materials, and organic chemicals, for the petrochemical industry. The VOCs (including 22 OVOCs species) from stack emissions and fugitive emissions, as well as nearby sensitive sites, were sampled, and the source reactivity (SR), the thresholds of malodor, and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed. The main results were as follows:① the VOCs concentrations of the stack emissions from the petrochemical industrial park were between 0.2-46.3 mg·m-3. The VOCs species were greatly affected by the type of after-treatment technology. A major VOC species emitted from the combustion-based after treatments was formaldehyde, whereas the species emitted from the non-combustion-based equipment were acetone, 1,3-butadiene, acrylic, and isobutane. ② The fugitive VOCs emissions from the petroleum storage tank area were dominated by alkanes, whereas the other fugitive emission sites and the sensitive sites were dominated by OVOCs such as acetone, formaldehyde, and ethyl acetate. ③ The SRs were mainly contributed by OVOCs, aromatics, and olefins, with average proportions of 43.1%, 24.2%, and 21.1%, respectively, with the major species being formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, m/p-xylene, ethylene, and toluene. ④ The malodor appeared both in fugitive emission areas and the sensitive sites. The main odor components were OVOCs such as n-butyraldehyde, propionaldehyde, hexanal, and valeraldehyde. ⑤ The non-carcinogenic risks occurred in the fugitive emission areas and the sensitive sites of resin, alcohol, and aldehyde production, which were mainly caused by OVOCs such as free acetaldehyde, acrolein, and propionaldehyde. No carcinogenic risk was found in any of the sampled sites. This research can provide scientific support for the formulation of priority VOCs species-based precise control strategies in petrochemical industrial parks.

A coordinate-based meta-analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain: Evidence from fMRI studies.

Background: Chronic pain (CP) patients tend to represent aberrant functional brain activity. Acupuncture is an effective clinical treatment for CP, and some fMRI studies were conducted to discover the alternation of brain regions after acupuncture therapy for CP. However, the heterogeneity of neuroimaging studies has prevented researchers from systematically generalizing the central mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of CP. Methods: We searched bibliographic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, ScienceDirect, China Academic Journal Network Publishing Database, etc., and trials registration platforms (From inception to September 1st, 2022). Two independent researchers assessed the study's bias and quality. Furthermore, activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis was applied to explore aberrant brain functional activity and acupuncture's central mechanism for CP. Results: Totally 14 studies with 524 CP patients were included in the study. ALE analysis showed that CP patients presented with decreased ALFF/ReHo in the precuneus, posterior cingulate cortex, right inferior parietal lobule, right superior temporal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus including medial prefrontal gurus, left middle frontal gyrus. Conclusion: This ALE meta-analysis pointed out that acupuncture could modulate the default mode network, the frontoparietal network to treat CP. This provided a systematic summary of the neuroimage biomarker of acupuncture for the treatment of CP. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42021239633.

[Theoretic analysis on twirling acupuncture manipulation for reinforcing and reducing in treatment of hypertension by academician SHI Xue-min].

The paper explains academician SHI Xue-min's understanding on hypertension and the concrete application of twirling acupuncture technique for reinforcing and reducing in treatment of hypertension, and explores the theoretic basis of the first and second definitions of twirling acupuncture technique for reinforcing and reducing proposed by the academician SHI Xue-min. It is believed that the dysfunction of the sea of qi and the disharmony of the liver and spleen are the etiologies of hypertension, thus, the treatment principles are suggested as "activating blood circulation, dispersing wind, smoothing liver qi and strengthening spleen functions". Renying (ST 9) is selected as the main acupoint, while Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) are used as the adjuvant acupoints. The twirling acupuncture technique is applied to achieve reinforcing or reducing. Four elements are determined to the successful application of this needling technique, i.e. direction of exertion, strength of exertion, manipulation duration of twirling needle, and the interval duration between two treatments of acupuncture. Eventually, the specification on acupuncture treatment for hypertension can be effectively promoted.

Acupuncture for Hypertension in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to summarize and evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in hypertension animal study. METHODS: Studies were searched from six databases, including Medline, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP information database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Study quality of each included study was evaluated according to the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines, and the risk of bias was evaluated by the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were selected as outcomes. Meta-analyses were performed using Stata 12.0 software. The effect size was calculated by combining SBP/DBP/MAP data with the random effects model, respectively. RESULTS: 67 studies containing 1522 animals were included. According to the ARRIVE guideline, 8 items were assessed as poor and 4 items were assessed as excellent. According to the SYRCLE tool, all studies were judged as having high risk of bias. Compared with the hypertension group, the pooled results showed significant antihypertension effects of acupuncture for SBP, DBP, and MAP. Similarly, compared with the sham-acupuncture group, the pooled results showed significant antihypertension effects of acupuncture for SBP, DBP, and MAP. CONCLUSION: Although pooled data suggested that the acupuncture group was superior to the hypertension group or sham-acupuncture group for SBP/DBP/MAP, the presentation of poor methodological quality, high risk of bias, and heterogeneity deserves cautious interpretation of the results.

A novel human endometrial epithelial cell line for modeling gynecological diseases and for drug screening.

Endometrium-related malignancies including uterine endometrioid carcinoma, ovarian clear cell carcinoma and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma are major types of gynecologic cancer, claiming more than 13,000 women's lives annually in the United States. In vitro cell models that recapitulate "normal" endometrial epithelial cells and their malignant counterparts are critically needed to facilitate the studies of pathogenesis in endometrium-related carcinomas. To achieve this objective, we have established a human endometrial epithelial cell line, hEM3, through immortalization and clonal selection from a primary human endometrium culture. hEM3 exhibits stable growth in vitro without senescence. hEM3 expresses protein markers characteristic of the endometrial epithelium, and they include PAX8, EpCAM, cytokeratin 7/8, and ER. hEM3 does not harbor pathogenic germline mutations in genes involving DNA mismatch repair (MMR) or homologous repair (HR) pathways. Despite its unlimited capacity of in vitro proliferation, hEM3 cells are not transformed, as they are not tumorigenic in immunocompromised mice. The cell line is amenable for gene editing, and we have established several gene-specific knockout clones targeting ARID1A, a tumor suppressor gene involved in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling. Drug screening demonstrates that both HDAC inhibitor and PARP inhibitor are effective in targeting cells with ARID1A deletion. Together, our data support the potential of hEM3 as a cell line model for studying the pathobiology of endometrium-related diseases and for developing effective precision therapies.

Exploring the genes involved in biosynthesis of dihydroquercetin and dihydromyricetin in Ampelopsis grossedentata.

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), an extremely low content compound (less than 3%) in plants, is an important component of dietary supplements and used as functional food for its antioxidant activity. Moreover, as downstream metabolites of DHQ, an extremely high content of dihydromyricetin (DHM) is up to 38.5% in Ampelopsis grossedentata. However, the mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and regulation from DHQ to DHM in A. grossedentata remain unclear. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis of A. grossedentata containing extreme amounts of DHM was performed on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing platform. A total of 167,415,597 high-quality clean reads were obtained and assembled into 100,584 unigenes having an N50 value of 1489. Among these contigs, 57,016 (56.68%) were successfully annotated in seven public protein databases. From the differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, 926 DEGs were identified between the B group (low DHM: 210.31 mg/g) and D group (high DHM: 359.12 mg/g) libraries, including 446 up-regulated genes and 480 down-regulated genes (B vs. D). Flavonoids (DHQ, DHM)-related DEGs of ten structural enzyme genes, three myeloblastosis transcription factors (MYB TFs), one basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF, and one WD40 domain-containing protein were obtained. The enzyme genes comprised three PALs, two CLs, two CHSs, one F3'H, one F3'5'H (directly converts DHQ to DHM), and one ANS. The expression profiles of randomly selected genes were consistent with the RNA-seq results. Our findings thus provide comprehensive gene expression resources for revealing the molecular mechanism from DHQ to DHM in A. grossedentata. Importantly, this work will spur further genetic studies about A. grossedentata and may eventually lead to genetic improvements of the DHQ content in this plant.

Arsenic Trioxide Combining Leflunomide Activates Nrf2-ARE-HO-1 Signaling Pathway and Protects Heart Xenografts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in combination with leflunomide on the hamster-to-rat heart xenotransplant. METHODS: Transplantation of LVG hamster hearts to Lewis rats was performed by anastomosis of vessels in the neck using end-to-end anastomosis with a non-suture cuff technique. Four groups of recipient rats (n=6 in each) were treated with normal saline (control), As2O3 [5 mg/(kg·day) intraperitoneally], leflunomide [5 mg/(kg·d) orally], or leflunomide [5 mg/(kg·d)+As2O3 [5 mg/(kg·d)] in combination. Donor hearts and/or rat spleens were harvested and analyzed 4 days after transplantation. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor (Nrf2) and its target gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Treg cell marker fork-head Box P3 (FOXP3), apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the levels of inflammatory natural killer cell and macrophage infiltration, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and complement C3. RESULTS: Expression of Nrf2-ARE-HO-1 signaling pathway was upregulated in heart xenografts in rats treated with As2O3 plus leflunomide compared with control rats or rats treated with either drug alone (P<0.01), and this was accompanied by an increased Treg cells in the recipient rat spleen (P<0.01). In contrast, the expressions of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, ICAM-1, and complement C3, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the xenografts were inhibited by As2O3 plus leflunomide treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Combination treatment with As2O3 and leflunomide protected hamster heart-xenografts in recipient rats.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Chinese herb medicine (CHM) is one of the most popular complementary and alternative therapies, which has been widely used to treat Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia (RMPP). However, the effect and safety of CHM remain controversial. Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate whether CHM combination therapy could bring benefits to children and adolescents with RMPP. Methods: Seven databases were used for data searching through November 11, 2020 following the PRISMA checklist generally. Review Manager 5.3, Trial sequential analysis 0.9.5.10 Beta software and Stata16.0 were applied to perform data analyses. Mean difference or risk ratio was adopted to express the results, where a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied. Results: In general, this research enrolled 17 trials with 1,451 participants. The overall pooled results indicated that CHM was beneficial for children and adolescents with RMPP by improving the clinical efficacy rate [RR = 1.20, 95% CI (1.15, 1.25), p < 0.00001], shortening antipyretic time [MD = -2.60, 95% CI (-3.06, -2.13), p < 0.00001], cough disappearance time [MD = -2.77, 95% CI (-3.12, -2.42), p < 0.00001], lung rale disappearance time [MD = -2.65, 95% CI (-3.15, -2.15), p < 0.00001], lung X-ray infiltrates disappearance time [MD = -2.75, 95% CI (-3.33, -2.17), p < 0.00001], reducing TNF-α level [MD = -5.49, 95% CI (-7.21, -3.77), p < 0.00001]. Moreover, subgroup results suggested that removing heat-phlegm and toxicity therapy had more advantages in shortening antipyretic time, cough disappearance time, lung X-ray infiltrates disappearance time and reducing TNF-α level. Meanwhile promoting blood circulation therapy seemed to be better at relieving lung rale. However, regarding adverse events, the two groups displayed no statistical difference [RR = 0.97, 95% CI (0.60, 1.57), p = 0.91]. Conclusion: Despite of the apparently positive results in relieving clinical symptoms, physical signs and reducing inflammation, it is premature to confirm the efficacy of CHM in treating RMPP because of the limitation of quality and the number of the included studies. More large-scale, double-blind, well-designed, randomized controlled trials are needed in future research.

Acupuncture methods for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A protocol for a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many clinical trials and systematic reviews have suggested that acupuncture (include moxibustion) could be effective in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). However, clinical practices vary greatly leads to different choices which are mainly based on personal experience. The aim of this Bayesian network meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of different acupuncture methods for DPN. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials on acupuncture treatment of DPN published before January of 2021 will be searched in 9 databases including Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database. The methodological assessment performed using the risk of bias assessment tool of Cochrane, and the level of evidence quality for the main results will be evaluated by a recommended grading, evaluation, formulation, and evaluation system approach. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be conducted using STATA V.14.0 and WinBUGS V.1.4.3. RESULTS: The primary outcome involves: clinical efficacy. The secondary outcomes include: motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve conduction velocity, Toronto clinical scoring system, Michigan neuropathy screening instrument, the modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scale, the Utah early neuropathy scale, or the neuropathy disability score, and adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: To find the most effective acupuncture therapy for the treatment of DPN supported by evidence-based medicine.

Study on quantitative diagnosis model of TCM syndromes of post-stroke depression based on combination of disease and syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the most common stroke complications with high morbidity. Researchers have done much clinical research on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment, but very little research on diagnosis. Based on the thought of combination of disease and syndrome, this study will establish a unified and objective quantitative diagnosis model of TCM syndromes of PSD, so as to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PSD. OBJECTIVE: First: To establish a unified and objective quantitative diagnosis model of TCM syndromes in PSD under different disease courses, and identify the corresponding main, secondary, and concurrent symptoms, which are based on the weighting factor of each TCM symptom. Second: To find out the relationship between different stages of PSD and TCM syndromes. Clarify the main syndrome types of PSD under different stages of disease. Reveal the evolution and progression mechanism of TCM syndromes of PSD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a retrospective study of PSD TCM diagnosis. Three hundred patients who were hospitalized in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM with complete cases from January 2014 to January 2019 are planned to be recruited. The study will mainly collect the diagnostic information from the cases, find the related indicators of TCM and Western medicine in PSD, and clarify the relationship between different disease stages and TCM syndromes. Finally, the PSD TCM syndrome quantitative diagnosis model will be established based on the operation principle of Back Propagation (BP) artificial neural network. CONCLUSION: To collect sufficient medical records and establish models to speed up the process of TCM diagnosis.