Blood levels of omega-6 fatty acids and coronary heart disease: a systematic review and metaanalysis of observational epidemiology.

Individual omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), principally linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), may have differential impacts on cardiovascular risk. We aimed to summarize the up-to-date epidemiology evidence on the relationship between blood levels of omega-6 PUFAs and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Population-based studies determining PUFA levels in blood were identified until May 2021 in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Random-effects meta-analyses of cohorts comparing the highest versus lowest category were conducted to combine study-specific risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Blood levels of omega-6 PUFAs were compared between the CHD case and non-case, presented as a weight mean difference (WMD). Twenty-one cohorts and eleven case-control studies were included. The WMD was -0.71 (95% CI: -1.20, -0.21) for LA and 0.08 (95% CI: -0.28, 0.43) for AA. LA levels were inversely associated with total CHD risk (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.71, 1.00), but not AA. Each one-SD increase in LA levels resulted in 10% reductions in the risk of fatal CHD (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.95), but not in non-fatal CHD. Such findings highlight that the current recommendation for optimal intakes of omega-6 PUFAs (most LA) may offer a coronary benefit in primary prevention.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2056867 .

From the body-mind holism to psychosomatic medicine: theory and practice of acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

The traditional life concept of "body-mind holism" in Chinese medicine has drawn a special attention with the development of modern psychosomatic medicine. The "body-mind holism" is valuable in the guidance for clinical acupuncture practice, but, it is only remained on the theoretical significance by the medical masters in the past dynasties. In the paper, based on the understanding of Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the similarities and differences are compared between the body-mind theory and psychosomatic medicine. In association with clinical observation, from three aspects, i.e. body-mind pathogenesis, acupoint detection and observing the mind, and body-mind treatment, the guidance of "body-mind holism" is explored for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion; the referents of "body" and "mind" are clarified in views of disease, diagnosis and treatment; and the treatment strategies of acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed in the perspective of "body-mind holism".

Acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for stroke-related pneumonia / 中国针灸

Using data mining technology, the rules of acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion were explored in treatment of stroke-related pneumonia. The clinical articles of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of stroke-related pneumonia were retrieved from CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang and VIP databases from their inception through to January l 2021, and then, the acupuncture-moxibustion prescription database was set up for stroke-related pneumonia. SPSS Modeler 18.0 Apriori algorithm was adopted to analyze the association rules of acupoints and draw complex network diagrams. SPSS26.0 was used in clustering analysis of acupoints. Finally, a total of 44 articles were included, with 51 acupoint prescriptions and 82 acupoints extracted. The total frequency of acupoints was 340 times. The high-frequency acupoints in treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for stroke-related pneumonia were Feishu (BL 13), Fenglong (ST 40), Hegu (LI 4), etc. These acupoints were mainly distributed on the limbs and back and mostly from yang meridians. Of these extracted acupoints, the five-shu points, convergent points and back-shu points were selected specially. Regarding acupoint combination, the association of Quchi (LI 11) had the highest support with Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). The core prescription of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for stroke-related pneumonia could be composed of Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40) and Taichong (LR 3).

Consideration on the construction of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical diagnosis and treatment system with the core of "differentiation of disease location": taking "treatment" of Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion as an example / 中国针灸

Based on the difference between disease and syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and moxibustion and each department of TCM, i.e. internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology and pediatrics, it is believed that "differentiation of disease location" is the key of disease and syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and moxibustion. According to the disease location, in the section "treatment" of Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the disorders/illness are classified as zangfu disorder, disorders of limbs and meridians, dermatological disorder, ophthalmological and otorhinolaryngological disorder, gynecological disorder, as well as qi, blood and body fluid disorder. Besides, the rules of disease and syndrome differentiation, as well as treatment characteristics of each category are explained separately. It is considered that the clinical diagnosis and treatment system of acupuncture and moxibustion should be constructed by focusing on "differentiation of disease location".

Quchi (LI 11) for treatment of allergic diseases based on coincidence of key therapeutic characteristics of acupoints and pathogenesis of allergic diseases / 中国针灸

According to the etiology, allergic diseases are related to wind and heat; according to the pathogenesis, most of allergic diseases are

Analysis on the defensive function of defensive / 中国针灸

The defensive function of defensive

Effects of tetrandrine on proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioblastoma cells / 中国中药杂志

Glioblastoma is the most common intracranial primary malignant tumor, which leads to the poor quality of life of patients and has a high recurrence rate. Chemotherapy is a vital part in the treatment of this disease. Tetrandrine(Tet) is an active ingredient extracted from the root of the Chinese medicinal plant Stephania tetrandra, which has been proved with a wide range of pharmacological effects including anti-tumor. However, there are few studies regarding the effect of Tet on glioma. In this study, MTT and BrdU assays were employed to detect the effect of Tet on the proliferation of LN229 glioblastoma cells; flow cytometry was used to analyze the cycle distribution and apoptosis; plate cloning assay and soft agar colony formation assay were performed to study the colony formation ability of LN229 cells exposed to Tet; scratch assay and Transwell assay were conducted to detect the ability of migration and invasion; Western blot was adopted to the exploration of the molecular mechanism. The MTT and BrdU assays showed that Tet inhibited the proliferation of LN229 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. The plate cloning assay and soft agar colony formation assay showed that Tet weakened the colony formation of LN229 cells in vitro; cytometry assay showed that Tet blocked cells in the G_1 phase and promoted cell apoptosis; scratch and Transwell assays proved that Tet inhibited the migration and invasion of LN229 cells; Western blot results showed that Tet down-regulated the expression levels of CDK2, CDK6, cyclin D1, cyclin E1, snail, slug, vimentin, and N-cadherin, while up-regulated the level of E-cadherin. The results indicate that Tet has a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LN229 glioblastoma cells, and such effect may be related to the participation of Tet in the regulation of c-Myc/p27 axis and snail signaling pathway.

Analysis on specific effect of acupoints at the upper arms in treatment of scrofula and goiter / 中国针灸

Through analyzing the indication distribution of the different acupoints located at the upper limbs recorded in

Chinese Herbal Formula Ermiao Powder () Regulates Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway in Rats with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Chinese herbal formula Ermiao Powder (, EMP) on the expression of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).@*METHODS@#Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body weight, including normal control group, collageninduced arthritis (CIA) group, three doses EMP groups, and methotrexate (MTX) group (n=12 per group). All of the rats except for those in the normal control group were given multipoint subcutaneous injection of bovine type II collagen to establish a CIA model. Three EMP groups received a high- (4.5 g/kg), medium- (3.0 g/kg), and low- (1.5 g/kg) doses of EMP by intragavage, respectively. MTX group was injected intraperitoneally MTX at 0.9 mg/kg once a week as the positive control. The administration was 3 consecutive weeks. Joint swelling, arthritis index, and body weight changes in different experimental groups of rats were tested. The joint damage was evaluated by masson staining. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to evaluate the expression of CHRNA7, encoding α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, in different tissues and their localization in the spleen and joints.@*RESULTS@#CHRNA7 expression levels were significantly higher in the joints and spleens of CIA group than those in normal control group (both P<0.05). Moreover, the CHRNA7 mRNA and protein levels in the spleen and joints of MTX and three doses of EMP groups were significantly lower than CIA group (all P<0.05). Compared with the MTX group, treatment with low-dose EMP resulted in significant reduction of CHRNA7 mRNA and protein expression levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). IHC showed positive signals of CHRNA7 in the white pulp and red pulp of the spleens of rats; CHRNA7 was expressed on fibroblast-like synoviocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells in the joints of rats, and the expression in the joints of low-dose EMP group was significantly lower than that in the CIA group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway was involved in the generation of the inflammatory reaction in CIA rats, and EMP exerted therapeutic effect on RA through cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Study on therapeutic mechanism of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata- Corni Fructus in sequelae of ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology technology / 中国中药杂志

In ischemic stroke sequela phase, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus drug pair has the effect in protecting damaged neurons, but its mechanism has not been clear. In this study, network pharmacology was used to predict the mechanism of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus in the treatment of ischemic stroke sequela. Through database search and literature retrie-val, 40 active ingredients of Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata and Corni Fructus were obtained, and their targets were obtained through STITCH and TCMSP databases. The targets of ischemic stroke sequela were obtained through OMIM,GAD,TTD and DrugBank databases. By screening the intersections of active ingredients targets and stroke treatment targets, 21 potential targets were obtained. The DAVID database was used for GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis of potential targets. GO enrichment analysis showed that Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus were mainly involved in regulation of blood pressure, negative regulation of extrinsic apoptotic signaling and positive regulation of angiogenesis. KEGG pathway analysis showed that Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus could inhibit inflammatory response and apoptosis signaling pathway by regulating HIF-VEGFA signaling pathway in neural stem cell proliferation, TNF signaling pathway and NF-kappaB signaling pathway. Molecular docking technique was used to verify that Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus component has a good binding activity with potential targets. The results showed that in ischemic stroke sequela phase, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus drug pair could play an important role in recovering neural function, promoting the proliferation of neural stem cells, angiogenesis, preventing neural cells apoptosis and regulating inflammatory factors.

Efficient Bioconversion of Sucrose to High-Value-Added Glucaric Acid by In†Vitro Metabolic Engineering.

Glucaric acid (GA) is a major value-added chemicals feedstock and additive, especially in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. The increasing demand for GA is driving the search for a more efficient and less costly production pathway. In this study, a new in vitro multi-enzyme cascade system was developed, which converts sucrose efficiently to GA in a single vessel. The in vitro system, which does not require adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) supplementation, contains seven enzymes. All enzymes were chosen from the BRENDA and NCBI databases and were expressed efficiently in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). All seven enzymes were combined in an in vitro cascade system, and the reaction conditions were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the in vitro seven-enzyme cascade system converted 50 mm sucrose to 34.8 mm GA with high efficiency (75 % of the theoretical yield). This system represents an alternative pathway for more efficient and less costly production of GA, which could be adapted for the synthesis of other value-added chemicals.

Mechanism of Prunellae Spica on Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Prunellae Spice in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on the network pharmacological method, in order to elaborate its scientific connotation. Method:The active ingredients and targets of Prunellae Spice were obtained through retrieval of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMSP), the disease-genome association database (DisGeNET) was searched to obtain the disease targets relating to non-small cell lung cancer, and the drug-component-disease-target network was constructed. The mechanism of action was analyzed. The key target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The gene ontology (GO) classification and enrichment analysis of key targets and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Result:Totally 11 active ingredients and 178 targets were obtained from TCMSP, 2019 genes relating to non-small cell lung cancer were obtained from DisGeNET database, 114 key targets for Prunellae Spice to treat non-small cell lung cancer were obtained from drug-component-disease-target network, and 114 PPI networks were constructed, including 114 nodes and 1 952 edges. According to the analysis of PPI network, the key targets of Prunella vulgaris in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer included protein kinase B (Akt)1, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGFA), Caspase-3, interleukin(IL)-6, JUN, mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK)8, MYC, epithelial growth factor receptor(EGFR). The enrichment of KEGG involved 152 biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell division, cell apoptosis. KEGG enrichment involved 147 signaling pathways. phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, NF-kappa B pathway, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway, p53 signaling pathway and EGFR signaling pathway played key roles in the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer. Conclusion:This study preliminarily verified the basic pharmacological effect and mechanisms of Prunellae Spice on NSCLC, and laid a foundation for further exploring its mechanisms.

Effects of Chinese herb ingredients with different properties on OAT4, URAT1 and serum uric acid level in acute hyperuricemia mice / 中草药

Objective To study the effects of Chinese herb ingredients with different properties on transporters (URAT1 and OAT4) involved in renal urate reabsorption and serum uric acid level in acute hyperuricemia mice. Methods The OAT4, URAT1- overexpressed monoclonal cell line (MDCK-hOAT4, HEK293-hURAT1) was constructed. The inhibition effect and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of different ingredients to transport activity of OAT4 and URAT1 mediating 14C-uric acid were determined. The effects of protocatechuic, liquiritigenin and isoliquiritigenin on serum uric acid levels in acute hyperuricemia mice were studied by the acute hyperuricemia mice induced by potassium oxonate and xanthine. Results The results indicated that nobiletin,liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, licochalcone A with bitter flavor showed strong inhibition to OAT4. The IC50 of nobiletin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, and licochalcone A on OAT4 were 0.556 μmol/L, 18.40 μmol/L, 6.831 μmol/L, and 6.825 μmol/L, respectively. Protocatechuic acid and liquiritigenin showed strong inhibition to URAT1 with IC50 of 7.709 μmol/L and 14.54 μmol/L, respectively. Liquiritigenin can significantly reduce the level of serum uric acid of acute hyperuricemia mice, increase the excretion of uric acid, and reduce the level of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Conclusion Nobiletin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone A can inhibit the transport activity of OAT4, while protocatechuic acid and liquiritigenin can inhibit the transport activity of URAT1. Liquiritigenin can significantly reduce the level of serum uric acid in acute hyperuricemia mice and protect kidney, the mechanism of which may be associated with the decreasing reabsorption of uric acid by inhibiting the activity of URAT1 and OAT4.

Efficacy analysis of THP-containing regimens as neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of anthracycline pirarubicin-based regimen in association with different ways of fluorouracil (5-Fu) as neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and eighty-nine primary breast cancer patients who were to be operated, two to eight cycles of pirarubicin in association with cyclophosphamide and 5-Fu (CTF or CTFci regimen) were given before operation. The pathological response rate, effect and its relation with the infusion routes of 5-Fu were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall pathological complete remission (pCR) rate was 28.4%. The median follow-up period was 39 months. The 5-year DFS was 87.6% (95% CI:82.1% to 92.7%), 5-year DDFS was 89.9% (95% CI:84.0% to 95.8%), and overall survival was 99.6%. CTFci (5-Fu, continuous infusion) regimen was superior to CTF regimen in pCR rates (32.3% vs. 20.2%, P = 0.037), and 5-year DDFS were 92.9% and 80.1%, respectively (P = 0.015). The pCR group was superior to non-pCR group in 5-year DDFS (92.4% vs. 85.6%, P = 0. 033). The pCR rate of patients with ER/PR-positive tumor was significantly lower than those of ER/PR-negative (P = 0.004). The 5-year DDFS rates of HER-2 (+) and HER-2(-) groups were 75.0% and 91.9%, respectively (P = 0.043). In the ER/PR-positve group, the 5-year DDFS of CTFci regimen was superior to those of CTF regimen, 91.4% vs. 81.4% (P = 0.047).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTF/CTFci regimen as neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy is effective for primary breast cancer. CTFci regimen is superior to CTF regimen in pathological complete response rate and 5-year DDFS. CTFci regimen may do better to ER/PR (+) patients' benefits compared with CTF regimen.</p>

Effects of iron on growth and intracellular chemical contents of Microcystis aeruginosa / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of iron on the growth, physiology and photosynthesis of cyanobacteria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A gradient of iron concentrations was employed to investigate the growth, photo-pigments (chlorophyll A and phycocyanin), and cell chemical contents (C, N, P) of Microcystis aeruginosa in response to different iron additions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The specific growth rate during the exponential growth phase, as well as the cell chlorophyll A and the phycocyanin content, was limited by iron below 12.3 tmol Fe x L(-1). The growth was inhibited when the iron concentration was at 24.6 micromol Fe x L(-1). The cell chlorophyll A and the phycocyanin content were saturated when the iron concentration was above 12.3 micromol Fe x L(-1) and declined slightly at 24.6 micromol Fe x L(-1). At a low iron concentration (about 6.15 micromol Fe x L(-1) and less), the cell nitrogen and carbohydrate content were iron limited, and the variation of the cell phosphorus content was similar to that of the nitrogen and carbohydrate, with a transition point of 12.3 micromol Fe x L(-1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The variation of cynobacteria growth is synchronous with that of the photo-pigments or the cell chemical content, and there exist relationships among photosynthesis, growth and internal chemical content, which could be useful for the growth estimation from the cell characteristics.</p>