Aqueous extract of Sargentodoxa cuneata alleviates ulcerative colitis and its associated liver injuries in mice through the modulation of intestinal flora and related metabolites.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory disease worldwide. Liver injury can be found clinically with UC, and now, it is found that gut dysbiosis is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of UC. Sargentodoxa cuneata has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine and is commonly used clinically for the treatment of UC. The main objective of this study was to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms of Sargentodoxa cuneata in the treatment of UC and its associated liver injuries from the perspective of intestinal flora and related metabolites. Methods: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the components in the aqueous extract of Sargentodoxa cuneata (AESc). Mice with UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium were used to study the effects of AESc on UC and its associated liver injuries. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analysis were performed on intestinal contents, and correlation analysis of intestinal flora with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and organic acids was performed. Results: A total of 114 compounds were identified in AESc. AESc improved disease activity index scores, liver index, and colon length in mice with UC and had a good protective effect on intestine and liver injuries. Moreover, the administration of AESc regulated gut microbiota dysbiosis and the levels of a few SCFAs and organic acids in mice with UC. In addition, the correlation analysis results showed that the Megamonas and Bifidobacterium were the key intestinal flora related to the levels of differential SCFAs and organic acids in mice with UC after AESc intervention. Conclusion: AESc has a good protective effect on UC and UC related liver injuries. Modulation of the intestinal flora and its metabolites (SCFAs and a few organic acids) is an important pathway for AESc in the treatment of UC and also provides a rationale for the clinical use of Sargentodoxa cuneata in the treatment of UC.

Modulatory effects of acupuncture on raphe nucleus-related brain circuits in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized neuroimaging trial.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture has shown promise in treating neck pain. Clinical trials have shown mixed results, possibly due to heterogeneous methodologies and the lack of knowledge regarding underlying brain circuit mechanism of action. In this study, we investigated the specific contribution of the serotonergic system in treating neck pain, and the specific brain circuits involved. METHODS: A total of 99 patients with chronic neck pain (CNP) were randomized to receive true acupuncture (TA) or sham acupuncture (SA) 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Patients with CNP in each group were assessed for primary outcomes by measuring the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the duration of each attack; secondary outcomes were measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the 12-item Short Form Quality Life Scale (SF-12); levels of functional circuits connectivity were assessed using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in the dorsal (DR) and median (MR) raphe nucleus, before and after undergoing acupuncture. RESULTS: Patients receiving TA showed more extensive symptom improvement compared with SA. Regarding the primary outcomes, changes observed in the TA group were as follows: VAS = 16.9 mm (p < 0.001) and the duration of each attack = 4.30 h (p < 0.001); changes in the SA group: VAS = 5.41 mm (p = 0.138) and the duration of each attack = 2.06 h (p = 0.058). Regarding the secondary outcomes, changes in the TA group: NDI = 7.99 (p < 0.001), NPQ = 10.82 (p < 0.001), MPQ = 4.23 (p < 0.001), SAS = 5.82 (p < 0.001), SDS = 3.67 (p = 0.003), and SF-12 = 3.04 (p < 0.001); changes in the SA group: NDI = 2.97 (p = 0.138), NPQ = 5.24 (p = 0.035) and MPQ = 2.90 (p = 0.039), SAS = 1.48 (p = 0.433), SDS = 2.39 (p = 0.244), and SF-12 = 2.19 (p = 0.038). The modulatory effect of TA exhibited increased functional connectivity (FC) between the DR and thalamus, between the MR and parahippocampal gyrus, amygdala, and insula, with decreased FC between the DR and lingual gyrus and middle frontal gyrus, between the MR and middle frontal gyrus. Furthermore, changes in the DR-related circuit were specifically associated with the intensity and duration of pain, and the MR-related circuit was correlated with the quality of life with CNP. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated the effectiveness of TA in treating neck pain and suggested that it regulates CNP by reconfiguring the function of the raphe nucleus-related serotonergic system.

The tuber-specific StbHLH93 gene regulates proplastid-to-amyloplast development during stolon swelling in potato.

In potato, stolon swelling is a complex and highly regulated process, and much more work is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms. We identified a novel tuber-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, StbHLH93, based on the high-resolution transcriptome of potato tuber development. StbHLH93 is predominantly expressed in the subapical and perimedullary region of the stolon and developing tubers. Knockdown of StbHLH93 significantly decreased tuber number and size, resulting from suppression of stolon swelling. Furthermore, we found that StbHLH93 directly binds to the plastid protein import system gene TIC56 promoter, activates its expression, and is involved in proplastid-to-amyloplast development during the stolon-to-tuber transition. Knockdown of the target TIC56 gene resulted in similarly problematic amyloplast biogenesis and tuberization. Taken together, StbHLH93 functions in the differentiation of proplastids to regulate stolon swelling. This study highlights the critical role of proplastid-to-amyloplast interconversion during potato tuberization.

Efficacy of acupuncture or moxibustion in treating senile insomnia compared with a control group: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture or moxibustion therapy in senile insomnia patients. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using 7 electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials reported on the use of acupuncture or moxibustion therapy in insomnia. The time frame was set from database establishment to March 11, 2023. The RevMan (version 5.3) and STATA (version 17.0) software were used to evaluate the quality of the included randomized controlled trials and perform a meta-analysis. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Subgroup analysis was performed based on different intervention methods. The I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity among studies. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies conducted between 2007 and 2022 were included, involving 1677 patients with senile insomnia. In terms of efficacy, acupuncture or moxibustion alone was significantly better than western drugs (RR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06-1.20), acupuncture combined with drugs was better than drugs alone (RR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12-1.29), and acupuncture combined with cognitive behavior therapy intervention (CBT-I) was significantly better than CBT-I alone (RR = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.07-2.17). In terms of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, acupuncture or moxibustion alone was more effective than western drugs (MD = -1.82; 95% CI, -2.37 to -1.26), acupuncture combined with drugs was more effective than drugs alone (MD = -3.10; 95% CI, -4.25 to -1.95), and acupuncture was significantly more effective than sham acupuncture (MD = -4.18; 95% CI, -5.85 to -2.51) and psychological intervention (MD = -3.54; 95% CI, -4.33 to -2.75) in improving sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture or moxibustion alone or combination with other therapies(drugs, CBT-I or psychological intervention) has high clinical efficacy and can improve the sleep quality of patients with senile insomnia. However, further well-designed studies are warranted to verify these findings.

Extracellular biomineralization of uranium and its toxicity alleviation to Bacillus thuringiensis X-27.

Uranium biomineralization can slow uranium migration in the environment and thus prevent it from further contaminating the surroundings. Investigations into the uranium species, pH, inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration, and microbial viability during biomineralization by microorganisms are crucial for understanding the mineralization mechanism. In this study, Bacillus thuringiensis X-27 was isolated from soil contaminated with uranium and was used to investigate the formation process of uranium biominerals induced by X-27. The results showed that as biomineralization proceeded, amorphous uranium-containing deposits were generated and transformed into crystalline minerals outside cells, increasing the overall concentration of uramphite. This is a cumulative rather than abrupt process. Notably, B. thuringiensis X-27 precipitated uranium outside the cell surface within 0.5 h, while the release of Pi into the extracellular environment and the change of pH to alkalescence further promoted the formation of uramphite. In addition, cell viability determination showed that the U(VI) biomineralization induced by B. thuringiensis X-27 was instrumental in alleviating the toxicity of U(VI) to cells. This work offers insight into the mechanism of U(VI) phosphate biomineralization and is a reference for bioremediation-related studies.

Alantolactone induces concurrent apoptosis and GSDME-dependent pyroptosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer through ROS mitochondria-dependent caspase pathway.

BACKGROUND: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the fatal cancers and has not effective treatments. Alantolactone (ATL), a terpenoid extracted from traditional Chinese medicinal herb Inula helenium L., confers significant anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antitumor activity. However, the activity and mechanisms of ATL in ATC remain unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential anti-ATC effects in vitro and in vivo and the mechanisms involved. METHODS: The anti-proliferative activity of Alantolactone (ATL) against ATC cells was analyzed through CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry assay was performed to assess the cell cycle, cell apoptosis, ROS, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), whereas the cellular localization of cytochrome c and calreticulin were determined using cellular immunofluorescence assays. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity in the cell culture medium was measured using a commercial LDH kit, whereas ELISA was conducted to assess the secretory function of IL-1ß. Western blot assays were conducted to determine the expression or regulation of proteins associated with apoptosis and pyroptosis. Subcutaneous tumor model of nude mice was established to evaluate the anticancer activity of ATL in vivo. The expression of Ki67, cyclin B1, cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 3, and IL-1ß in the animal tumor tissues was profiled using immunohistochemistry analyses. RESULTS: Our data showed that ATL significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation activity of ATC cells. ATL induced ATC cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, and downregulated the expression of cyclin B1 and CDC2. Furthermore, ATL induced concurrent apoptosis and pyroptosis in the ATC cells, and the cleavage of PARP and GSDME. It also significantly increased the release of LDH and IL-1ß. Mechanically, ATL-mediated increase in ROS suppressed the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, downregulated the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the release of cytochrome c, leading to caspase 9 and caspase 3 cleavage. We also found that ATL induced the translocation of an immunogenic cell death marker (calreticulin) to the cell membrane. In addition, it inhibited the growth of the ATC subcutaneous xenograft model, and activated proteins associated with apoptosis and pyroptosis, with a high safety profile. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results firstly demonstrated that ATL exerted an anti-ATC activity by inducing concurrent apoptosis and GSDME-dependent pyroptosis through ROS-mediated mitochondria-dependent caspase activation. Meanwhile, these cell deaths exhibited obvious characteristics of immunogenic cell death, which may synergistically increase the potential of cancer immunotherapy in ATC. Further studies are needed to explore deeper mechanisms for the anti- ATC activity of ATL.

The Efficacy and Safety of the Zhuyun Formula and Auricular Acupressure for the Infertile Women with Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Recurrent implantation failure (RIF), a clinical disorder characterized by failure to achieve pregnancy after repeated (≥3) embryo transfer, is a challenge for reproductive demands worldwide. In our preliminary work, the Zhuyun formula (ZYF) with auricular acupressure, a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with a small sample size for RIF, can improve the clinical pregnancy rate (41.2% vs. 26.7%, treatment group vs. control group, p < 0.05). Based on the toxicological and pregnancy-related pharmacological analysis of ZYF for RIF, the T-cell receptor signaling pathway might be involved in the pharmacological activity. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of the CAM therapy according to pregnancy outcomes and maternal and child health and investigating the changes of T-helper (Th) cells in the peripheral blood of unexplained RIF women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective, two-arms, randomized, nonblinded study. All eligible women were randomly assigned to the treatment group (TG) and the control group (CG) according to a computer-generated randomization list in sealed opaque envelopes. Blood samples were collected from the two groups, and serum Th1, Th2, and Treg were detected by flow cytometry. The cytokines were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The TG was administrated with ZYF and auricular acupressure for three months before ovarian stimulation, while the control group was on a waiting list for the same period. The primary outcome was CPR. The second outcomes were the serum levels of immune parameters. For the safety evaluation, the perinatal outcomes of maternal and child were obtained by follow-up. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the effect of missing data. Results: One hundred and twenty-three women were randomized into the TG (n = 62) and CG (n = 61). The CPR was increased significantly in the TG (45.2%) than CG (26.2%) (p = 0.029). Twenty blood samples were collected, and the Th2/Th1 and Treg expression level was significantly higher in the TG than in the CG. IL-2, IL-10, and Foxp3 were higher significantly in the TG than in the CG. The maternal and child perinatal outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: The ZYF with auricular acupressure was effective and safe in improving the pregnancy outcomes of RIF. It might be related to balancing the level of cytokines related to the immune tolerance of the maternal-fetal interface to protect the embryo from the maternal immune system. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry; date: 14/Dec/2013; no. NCT03078205.

Effects of acupuncture on the pregnancy outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acupuncture is increasingly used as adjuvant therapy for infertile women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET); however, its effects and safety are highly controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the pooled effects of adjuvant acupuncture on FET pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We considered only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture or no adjuvant treatment during FET and the primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate. Two authors separately selected studies, extracted data, and performed a risk of bias assessment. Pooled data were expressed as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). In addition, we conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses to investigate the sources of heterogeneity, and we also constructed funnel plots to assess the likelihood of publication bias. Finally, Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence. Results: A total of 14 RCTs with a total of 1,130 participants were included in the study. We found significant effects of acupuncture adjuvant to FET on the outcomes of clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.54, 95% CI [1.28, 1.85], I 2 = 34%; 14 trials), biochemical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.21, 1.89]; 5 trials), endometrial thickness (MD = 0.97, 95% CI [0.43, 1.51]; 12 trials), and endometrial pattern (RR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.13, 1.75]; 7 trials). For live birth rate (RR = 1.48, 95% CI [0.90, 2.43], 4 trials), there were no statistical effectiveness. For subgroup analyses, most variables had tolerable heterogeneity (I 2 = 0%) except for trials that were sham-controlled, performed acupuncture only after FET, or <5 times, which appeared to interpret most of the heterogeneity. Additionally, the quality of evidence of all outcomes in this review ranged from low to moderate. Conclusion: Acupuncture could be instrumental in the pregnancy outcomes of FET, and has very few risks of severe adverse events; however, the quality of evidence is unsatisfactory. Further research with rigorous methodological quality should be considered, and the protocols of acupuncture also need more investigations (e.g., appropriate control groups, sessions, and times).

The dynamic behavior and mechanism of uranium (VI) biomineralization in Enterobacter sp. X57.

The important role of microbes in the biomineralization and migration behavior of uranium in the field of environmental chemistry has been well emphasized in previous work. However, limited work on mineralization processes of indigenous microorganism has prevented us from a deeper understanding of the process and mechanisms of uranium biomineralization. In this work, the dynamic process and mechanism of uranium biomineralization in Enterobacter sp. X57, a novel uranium-tolerant microorganism separated from uranium contaminated soil, were systematically investigated. Enterobacter sp. X57 can induce intracellular mineralization of U (VI) to Uramphite (NH4UO2PO4·3H2O) under neutral conditions by alkaline phosphatase. In this biomineralization process, soluble U (VI) first bonded with the amino and phosphate groups on the plasma membrane, providing initial nucleation site for the formation of U (VI) biominerals. Then the impairment of cell barrier function and the enhancement of alkaline phosphatase metabolism occurred with the accumulation of uranium in cells, creating a possible pathway for soluble U (VI) to diffuse into the cell and be further mineralized into U (VI)-phosphate minerals. All the results revealed that the intracellular biomineralization of uranium by Enterobacter sp. X57 was a combined result of biosorption, intracellular accumulation and phosphatase metabolism. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of uranium biomineralization behavior and mechanism of microorganisms, as well as possible in-situ bioremediation strategies for uranium by indigenous microorganisms.

Effect of Zhuyun I Recipe Capsule Enema on the Immune Microenvironment of the Endometrium during Implantation Window in Rats.

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, and there are no effective clinical means for the prevention and treatment of spontaneous preterm birth, mainly because the mechanism for labor initiation has not been fully elucidated. Objective: The effect of enucleation with Zhuyun I Recipe Capsule enema (ZRC) on the maternal-fetal interface microenvironment in SD rats with kidney deficiency and blood stasis. Methods: In this study, poor endometrial tolerance was induced by hydroxyurea and epinephrine in SD rats with kidney deficiency and blood stasis type of endometrium, and gavage with norethindrone (estradiol) or Bamboo Rhythm No.1 formula. HOXA10 mRNA levels were measured by qPCR. In addition, the expression of IL-6, VEGF, TGF-ß, and IGFBP-1 in the uterus was detected by IHC and ELISA. Results: Hydroxyurea- and epinephrine-induced PER was associated with low levels of HOXA10 in the endometrium and reduced levels of IL-6, TGF-ß, VEGF, and IGFBP-1 in the endometrium. These were abolished by ZRC and Progynova treatment compared to PER rats, resulting in a dramatic increase in the levels of HOXA10 mRNA, IL-6, TGF-ß, VEGF, and IGFBP-1 proteins. Conclusions: ZRC improves metaplasticization of endometrial stromal cells and promotes angiogenesis in rats with kidney deficiency and blood stasis. The moderate dose of kidney tonic to promote blood circulation method is superior in promoting angiogenesis, facilitating the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, limiting trophoblast invasion of metaplasia, reducing miscarriage, and improving pregnancy rate.

Repurposing cancer drugs identifies kenpaullone which ameliorates pathologic pain in preclinical models via normalization of inhibitory neurotransmission.

Inhibitory GABA-ergic neurotransmission is fundamental for the adult vertebrate central nervous system and requires low chloride concentration in neurons, maintained by KCC2, a neuroprotective ion transporter that extrudes intracellular neuronal chloride. To identify Kcc2 gene expression­enhancing compounds, we screened 1057 cell growth-regulating compounds in cultured primary cortical neurons. We identified kenpaullone (KP), which enhanced Kcc2/KCC2 expression and function in cultured rodent and human neurons by inhibiting GSK3ß. KP effectively reduced pathologic pain-like behavior in mouse models of nerve injury and bone cancer. In a nerve-injury pain model, KP restored Kcc2 expression and GABA-evoked chloride reversal potential in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Delta-catenin, a phosphorylation-target of GSK3ß in neurons, activated the Kcc2 promoter via KAISO transcription factor. Transient spinal over-expression of delta-catenin mimicked KP analgesia. Our findings of a newly repurposed compound and a novel, genetically-encoded mechanism that each enhance Kcc2 gene expression enable us to re-normalize disrupted inhibitory neurotransmission through genetic re-programming.

PPARγ mediates the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effect of icaritin.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease with limited treatment options. Icaritin is the active ingredient derived from the traditional Chinese medical plant Epimedium and possesses many biomedical activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of icaritin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. METHODS: To assess its preventative effects, bleomycin treated mice received 0, 0.04, 0.2, and 1 mg/kg of icaritin from day 1 onwards. To assess its therapeutic effects, bleomycin treated mice received 0 and 1 mg/kg of icaritin from day 15 onwards. Mice were sacrificed on day 21 and lung tissues were collected, stained with HE, Masson and immunohistochemistry. Q-PCR was used to measure Collagen I and Collagen III expression, western blotting was used to quantify α-SMA, Collagen I expression. Hydroxyproline content was measured using a biochemical method. NIH3T3 and HLF-1 cells were treated with TGF-ß1with or without icaritin, and α-SMA, Collagen I were tested. PPARγ antagonist GW9662 and PPARγ-targeted siRNA were used to investigate the mechanism of icaritin in inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation. RESULTS: Both preventative and therapeutic administration of icaritin improved the histopathological changes, decreased Collagen and α-SMA, lowered hydroxyproline content in bleomycin-treated lung tissues. Icaritin decreased α-SMA and Collagen I expression in TGF-ß1-stimulated NIH3T3 and HLF-1 cells. However, its effect in reducing α-SMA and Collagen I expression was suppressed when expression or activity of PPARγ was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: Icaritin has therapeutic potential against pulmonary fibrosis via the inhibition of myofibroblast differentiation, which may be mediated by PPARγ.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of threatened abortion: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Threatened abortion (TA) is the commonest complication that occurs in early pregnancy, especially in 8-12 gestational weeks when the secretion of estrogen and progesterone shifts from corpus luteum to placental. Conventional therapies are little evidence of their value. In China, traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used for the treatment of TA for a long time. The lack of strong scientific evidences make this a priority area for research. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of TA, provide medical staffs with more useful information, and provide patients with better advises. METHODS: We will search 8 databases and additional sources, including the Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CBM, Wanfang, VIP, CNKI, and WHO ICTRP, ChiCTR, Clinical Trials, Grey Literature Database, for potentially eligible studies. Literature search, screening and retrieval are performed independently by two researchers. In the event of a dispute, a third party will be consulted to support the judgment. We will use RevmanV.5.3 to perform a fixed-effect meta-analysis for clinical homogeneity study data, and the level of evidence will be assessed using the GRADE method. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will put a high-quality synthesis of the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of TA. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this systematic review will provide evidence to assess traditional Chinese herbal medicine therapy whether is an efficacy and safe intervention to treat TA. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Since this article does not contain patient personal information, ethical approval is not required. The contract is distributed by a peer-reviewed journal or conference report. REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/DG3T8.

[Normativity of overview report of the systematic review of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad based on PRIO-harms scale].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the normativity of overview report of systematic review (Overviews) of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad so as to further improve the report quality of Overviews of acupuncture and moxibustion in China and provide reliable evidences. METHODS: The articles relevant with Overviews of acupuncture and moxibustion at home and abroad were retrieved by computer from the databases of CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, China BioMedical Literature database (SinoMed), PubMed, Embase and Conchrane Library, dated from the time of establishment to February 12, 2019. The preferred reporting items for Overviews (PRIO-harms) was adopted to evaluate their normativity and make the comparison of the articles between China and foreign countries. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles of Overviews of acupuncture and moxibustion were included, 9 articles of them were of Chinese version and the rest were of English version. The results of PRIO-harms indicated that the proportions of the item numbers related to adequate, partial and inadequate adherence of Chinese version were 3.7%, 63.8% and 32.5%, and those of English version were 12.0%, 57.4% and 30.6% respectively. The reports on the item 10 "additional search for primary studies", the item 12 "data items" and the item 26 "Dual/(co-)authorship" were inadequate adherence by 100% in the articles of both Chinese and English version. CONCLUSION: The overall information of English article report is better than Chinese one, but the reports of either Chinese or English articles are not so satisfactory. It is suggested that the Overviews report should be in reference to the specification in PRIO-harms and the Chinese researchers should study the advantages of English article report and improve the normalization and report quality so as to obtain the high-quality evidences in evidence-based medicine.

[Literature quality analysis of RCTs regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain].

The internationally-accepted Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) were applied to evaluate the literature quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain in past 10 years. The literature of RCTs regarding acupuncture for chronic neck pain was searched by computer; the English literature was searched in PubMed and EMbase, while the Chinese literature was searched in CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database and China Biomedical Literature Database. The literature published from January 2008 to January 2018 was searched. As a result, 29 Chinese articles and 10 English articles were included. According to CONSORT, among Chinese articles, 28 articles (96.6%) described baseline data, 23 articles (79.3%) described randomization, 0 articles (0.0%) described allocation concealment, 3 articles (10.3%) described blind method; among English articles, 6 articles (60.0%) described baseline data, 8 articles (80.0%) described randomization, 8 articles (80.0%) described allocation concealment, and 7 articles (70.0%) described blind method. According to STRICTA, among Chinese articles, 8 articles (27.6%) described needle instrument selection, 18 articles (62.1%) described needle depth, 24 articles (82.8%) described needling sensation, and 0 articles (0.0%) described acupuncturist' qualifications; among English articles, 5 articles (50.0%) described needle instrument selection, 8 articles (80.0%) described needle depth, 3 articles (30.0%) described needling sensation, and 4 articles (40.0%) described acupuncturist' qualifications. In conclusion, the reporting of acupuncture details in Chinese literature is superior to that in English literature, while the reporting of trial design in English literature is slightly superior to that in Chinese literature. Moreover, both Chinese and English literature need to further improve clinical trial design to improve the reporting quality of clinical evidence based on CONSORT and STRICTA.

Curative effect of assisted reproduction technology by Traditional Chinese Medicine multi-channel interventional therapy on 95 cases of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer failure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) multi-channel interventional therapy on women with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) failure, to compare the curative effect of the dual therapy and triple therapy on women with ART Failure, and to choose the best TCM interventional therapeutic plan. METHODS: The 95 cases with ART Failure from West China second University Hospital of Sichuan University meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into three groups:dual therapy group (31 cases), triple therapy group (33 cases) and control group (31 cases). According to the intervene treatment of in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) long cycle scheme, the control group wait naturally for 3 months before IVF- ET. The dual therapy group take TCM prescription Ⅱ of cultivating emotion and assisting reproduction and auricular acupoint therapy for 3 months before IVF-ET, then Western Medicine treatment progestin supporting as well as auricular application and Antai Recipe after IVF-ET transplantation. The triple therapy group take TCM prescription Ⅱ of cultivated emotion and assisted reproduction, auricular acupoint therapy and retention enema of TCM, and combination treatment the same as dual therapy group after transplantation. The natural pregnancy number, the period condition of secondary IVF-ET and the improvement of the kidney deficiency, liver depression and blood stasis syndrome among those three groups were compared. RESULTS: It was showed from analysis in 95 cases with ART failure that the number of natural pregnancy was as followings: 3 patients from the dual therapy group, 10 patients from the triple therapy group, and no patient from the control group. The comparison among three groups have statistical significance (P < 0.05). The treatment group is superior to the control group, while the triple therapy is superior to the dual therapy. The comparison of the condition of the fertility rate, clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate and early abortion rate during the period of secondary IVF-ET between pre-therapy and post-treatment of both the dual therapy group and the triple therapy group have statistical significance (P < 0.05). The comparison of the improvement of the kidney deficiency, liver depression and blood stasis syndrome between pre-therapy and post-treatment of both the dual therapy group and the triple therapy group have statistical significance (P < 0.05). The comparison between three groups after treatment have statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TCM multi-channel interventional therapy can increase the natural pregnancy rate of patients with ART Failure (the triple therapy is superior to the dual therapy); it can increase the fertility rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and decrease the early abortion rate during the period of secondary IVF-ET; it can improve syndromes of kidney deficiency, liver depression and blood stasis.

Release of Growth Factors into Root Canal by Irrigations in Regenerative Endodontics.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the release of growth factors into root canal space after the irrigation procedure of regenerative endodontic procedure. METHODS: Sixty standardized root segments were prepared from extracted single-root teeth. Nail varnish was applied to all surfaces except the root canal surface. Root segments were irrigated with 1.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA, 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA, 17% EDTA, or deionized water. The profile of growth factors that were released after irrigation was studied by growth factor array. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to validate the release of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at 4 hours, 1 day, and 3 days after irrigation. The final concentrations were calculated on the basis of the root canal volume measured by cone-beam computed tomography. Dental pulp stem cell migration on growth factors released from root segments was measured by using Transwell assay. RESULTS: Total of 11 of 41 growth factors were detected by growth factors array. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that TGF-ß1 was released in all irrigation groups. Compared with the group with 17% EDTA (6.92 ± 4.49 ng/mL), the groups with 1.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA had significantly higher release of TGF-ß1 (69.04 ± 30.41 ng/mL and 59.26 ± 3.37 ng/mL, respectively), with a peak release at day 1. The release of bFGF was detected at a low level in all groups (0 ng/mL to 0.43 ± 0.22 ng/mL). Migration assay showed the growth factors released from root segments induced dental pulp stem cell migration. CONCLUSIONS: The root segment model in present study simulated clinical scenario and indicated that the current irrigation protocol released a significant amount of TGF-ß1 but not bFGF. The growth factors released into root canal space induced dental pulp stem cell migration.

Correlation between women's sub-health and reproductive diseases with pregnancies and labors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether female sub-health conditions and reproductive diseases are associated with pregnancies and labors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed by using a structured questionnaire. A total of 1343 women aged 35 years or younger in six urban areas of Chengdu were included in the study. According to the Screening Criteria of sub-health conditions, these women were categorized into three groups: postpartum healthy group, sub-healthy group, and reproductive disease group. Data were double-entered using EpiData and then analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: Pregnancy and labor were correlated with postpartum sub-health conditions. The number of pregnancies was negatively correlated with women's postnatal health but was positively correlated with the incidence of postpartum reproductive diseases. CONCLUSION: The number of pregnancies and labors is probably an important factor leading to sub-health conditions and the occurrence of reproductive diseases in women. Avoiding or reducing unwanted pregnancies and labors, enhancing the awareness of health among childbearing-age women are effective measures for preventing sub-health conditions.

Use acupuncture to relieve perimenopausal syndrome: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Whether acupuncture is effective for relieving perimenopausal syndrome has been controversial recently. In this article, we report the protocol of a randomized controlled trial using acupuncture to treat perimenopausal syndrome, aiming to answer this controversy. DESIGN: A multicenter randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms is underway in China. Two hundred and six women with perimenopausal syndrome will be randomly assigned to a treatment group using acupuncture plus auricular acupressure (AA group) and a control group using Climen (Bayer Healthcare Company Limited, Guangzhou, China), a 28-day sequential hormone replacement therapy, in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the AA group will receive three acupuncture sessions per week in the first 4 weeks and two sessions per week in the following 8 weeks, for a total of 28 sessions over 12 weeks. Auricular points will be plastered by Semen Vaccariae twice per week for a consecutive 12 weeks, with both ears used alternately. The Climen control group is prescribed a tablet containing estradiol valerate 2 mg/day for the first 11 days, and a tablet containing estradiol valerate 2 mg/day plus cyroterone acetate 1 mg/day for the following 10 days. The total treatment period of the control group is three cycles. The post-treatment follow-up period will last 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) assessed at baseline and 4, 12, 16, 24 and 36 weeks after randomization. The secondary outcomes are Menopause-Specific Quality of Life, average hot flash score during 24 hours, serum estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone level. The first two secondary outcomes are measured at the same point as the MRS. Other secondary outcomes are measured at baseline and 12, 24 weeks after randomization. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial, which will be available in 2015, will clarify whether acupuncture is effective to relieve perimenopausal syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01933204 (registered 9 August 2013).