The Potential of Berberine to Target Telocytes in Rabbit Heart.

A brand-new class of interstitial cells, called telocytes, has been detected in the heart. Telocytes can connect and transmit signals to almost all cardiomyocytes; this is highly interrelated with the occurrence and development of heart diseases. Modern studies have shown that berberine has a therapeutic effect on cardiovascular health. However, berberine's mechanism of action on the cardiovascular system through cardiac telocytes is unclear. Interestingly, 5 µm of berberine remarkably decreased the concentration of intracellular calcium and membrane depolarization in cultured telocytes, upregulated the expression of CX43 and ß-catenin, and downregulated the expressions of TRPV4 and TRPV1. Here, telocytes were identified in the vascular adventitia and intima, endocardium, myocardium, adventitia, and heart valves. Moreover, telocytes were broadly dispersed around cardiac vessels and interacted directly through gap junctions and indirectly through extracellular vesicles. Together, cardiac telocytes interact with berberine and then deliver drug information to the heart. Telocytes may be an essential cellular target for drug therapy of the cardiovascular system.

Cellular Evidence for Telocytes Mediating Electroacupuncture to Ameliorate Obesity in Mice.

Electroacupuncture has been generally applied to target obesity, the principle of which is based on the meridian in traditional Chinese medicine. Although Telocytes (TCs) have been reported as the potential essence of meridians, their specific role in the electroacupuncture treatment of obesity remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the cellular evidence for TC-mediated electroacupuncture to alleviate obesity. Mice were divided into three groups as follows: electroacupuncture group (EA), control group (CG), and normal group (NG). The present study showed that the weight of perirenal white adipose tissue (rWAT), the serum level of total cholesterol, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all significantly decreased after electroacupuncture. Ultrastructurally, the prolongations (telopodes, Tps) of TCs were in direct contact with adipocytes, and lipid droplets were distributed on the surface of Tps. The proportions of double-positive fluorescent areas of TCs (CD34 and PDGFRα) were significantly elevated with concomitant elongated Tps in EA mice, as compared to those in CG mice. The expression of Cx43 and CD63 (gap junction and exosome markers) was significantly enhanced. These characteristics facilitated the transmission of electroacupuncture stimulation from skin to rWAT. We conclude that electroacupuncture relieved obesity by activating TCs morphologically, upregulating the gap junctions between TCs, and increasing the exosomes around TCs.

Effectiveness of sleep interventions to reduce delirium in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the effectiveness of sleep interventions in reducing the incidence and duration of delirium in the ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases for relevant randomized controlled trials from inception to August 2022. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two investigators. Data from the included studies were analyzed using Stata and TSA software. RESULTS: Fifteen randomized controlled trials were eligible. Meta-analysis showed that the sleep intervention was associated with a reduced incidence of delirium in the ICU (RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.93, p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The results of the trial sequence analysis further confirm that sleep interventions are effective in reducing the occurrence of delirium. Pooled data from the three dexmedetomidine trials showed significant differences in the incidence of ICU delirium between groups (RR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.59, p < 0.001). The respective pooled results of other sleep interventions (e.g., light therapy, earplugs, melatonin, and multicomponent nonpharmacologic treatments) did not find a significant effect on reducing the incidence and duration of ICU delirium (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence suggests that non-pharmacological sleep interventions are not effective in preventing delirium in ICU patients. However, limited by the number and quality of included studies, future well-designed multicenter randomized controlled trials are still needed to validate the results of this study.

Effect of Cyclocarya Paliurus on Hypoglycemic Effect in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the hypoglycemic effect of Cyclocarya paliurus extract (CPE) on diabetes mellitus (DM) mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS A DM mouse model was established to test FBG, TC, and TG. The DM mice were divided into 3 groups: a DM group, a DM+CPE (0.5 g/Kg) group, and a DM+CPE (1.0 g/Kg) group. The FBG and body weight were measured. The glucose tolerance ability was determined by OGTT test. FINS was measured to calculate ISI and IRI. Serum MDA, SOD, and GSH-Px levels were detected. NIT-1 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into 4 groups: a control group, a STZ group, a STZ+CPE (80 µg/mL) group, and a STZ+CPE (160 µg/mL) group. Cell apoptosis and ROS content were assessed by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was detected by EdU staining. RESULTS Compared with the control group, FBG, TC, and TG were significantly increased in the DM group. CPE gavage obviously reduced FBG level, increased body weight, enhanced glucose tolerance, elevated FINS level and ISI, and reduced IRI, all in a dose-dependent manner. CPE gavage reduced serum MDA content and increased SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities in DM mice. STZ markedly enhanced ROS production, induced apoptosis, and inhibited proliferation in NIT-1 cells. CPE treatment clearly reduced ROS production and apoptosis, enhanced cell proliferation, and alleviated STZ damage to NIT-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS CPE has the effects of decreasing blood glucose and insulin resistance, and enhancing glucose tolerance in DM mice, which may be related to its effects of reducing oxidation and reduced apoptosis, and relieving STZ in pancreatic beta cell injury.

Evaluation of Intense Androgen Deprivation Before Prostatectomy: A Randomized Phase II Trial of Enzalutamide and Leuprolide With or Without Abiraterone.

PURPOSE: Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer have an increased risk of cancer recurrence and mortality. In this phase II trial, we evaluate neoadjuvant enzalutamide and leuprolide (EL) with or without abiraterone and prednisone (ELAP) before radical prostatectomy (RP) in men with locally advanced prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had a biopsy Gleason score of 4 + 3 = 7 or greater, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) greater than 20 ng/mL, or T3 disease (by prostate magnetic resonance imaging). Lymph nodes were required to be smaller than 20 mm. Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to ELAP or EL for 24 weeks followed by RP. All specimens underwent central pathology review. The primary end point was pathologic complete response or minimal residual disease (residual tumor ≤ 5 mm). Secondary end points were PSA, surgical staging, positive margins, and safety. Biomarkers associated with pathologic outcomes were explored. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were enrolled at four centers. Most patients had high-risk disease by National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria (n = 65; 87%). The pathologic complete response or minimal residual disease rate was 30% (n = 15 of 50) in ELAP-treated patients and 16% (n = four of 25) in EL-treated patients (two-sided P = .263). Rates of ypT3 disease, positive margins, and positive lymph nodes were similar between arms. Treatment was well-tolerated. Residual tumors in the two arms showed comparable levels of ERG, PTEN, androgen receptor PSA, and glucocorticoid receptor expression. Tumor ERG positivity and PTEN loss were associated with more extensive residual tumors at RP. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant hormone therapy followed by RP in locally advanced prostate cancer resulted in favorable pathologic responses in some patients, with a trend toward improved pathologic outcomes with ELAP. Longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the impact of therapy on recurrence rates. The potential association of ERG and PTEN alterations with worse outcomes warrants additional investigation.

[Identification of Official Rhubarb Samples by Using PLS and Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy].

The development of terahertz technology is attracting broad intention in recent years. The quality identification is important for the quality control of Chinese medicine production. In the present work, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) combined with partial least squares (PLS) were used for the identification model building and studied based on 41 official and unofficial rhubarb samples. First, the THz-TDS spectra of rhubarb samples were collected and were preprocessed by using chemometrics methods rather than transformed to absorption spectra. The identification models were then established based on the processed terahertz time domain spectra. The spectral preprocessing methods include Savitzky-Golay (S-G) first derivative, detrending, standard normal transformation (SNV), autoscaling, and mean centering. The identification accuracy of 90% was accomplished by using proper pretreatment methods, which was higher than the classified accuracy of 80% without any preprocessing for the time domain spectra. The component number of the PLS model was evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). The minimum values of the root-mean squared error of cross-validation (RMSECV) and root-mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.076 6 and 0.169 0 by using mean centering method, respectively. The results of this work showed that the combination of terahertz time domain spectroscopy technology with chemometrics methods, as well as PLS can be applied for the recognition of genuine and counterfeit Chinese herbal medicines, as well as official and unofficial rhubarbs. The advantage of using terahertz time domain spectra directly with no transformation into absorption spectra is: (1) the thickness of samples could not be considered in the model establishment, and (2) the spectral processing was simplified. The proposed method based on the combination of THz-TDS and chemometrics proved to be rapid, simple, non-pollution and solvent free, suitable to be developed as a promising tool for quality control of many other Chinese herbal medicines.

[Gao Yuchun's experience of facial paralysis treatment].

To introduce professor Gao Yuchun's clinical experience and treating characteristics of facial paralysis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. Professor Gao pays attention to yangming when he selects acupoints for clinical syndrome, and directs acupoints selection based on syndrome differentiation in different levels of jingjin, meridians and zangfu; he praises opposing needling technique and reinforcing the deficiency and reducing the excess highly; the acupuncture manipulation is gentle,shallow and slow for reducing the healthy side and reinforcing the affected side, and through losing its excess to complement its deficiency; besides, he stresses needle retaining time and distinguishes reinforcing and reducing. Facial paralysis is treated with key factors such as acupoints selecting based on yangming, acupuncture manipulation, needle retaining time, etc. And the spleen and stomach is fine and good at transportation and transformation; the meridians is harmonious; the qi and blood is smooth. The clinical efficacy is enhanced finally.

Scapairrins A-Q, Labdane-Type Diterpenoids from the Chinese Liverwort Scapania irrigua and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Seventeen new labdane-type diterpenoids, scapairrins A-Q (1-17), including six pairs of diastereoisomers, and three known analogues (18-20) were isolated from the Chinese liverwort Scapania irrigua. The structures of 1-17 were determined based on a combination of the analysis of their MS and NMR spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Cytotoxicity testing showed that compounds 7-10 exhibited inhibitory activities against a small panel of human cancer cell lines.

[Optimal extraction of puerarin from Pueraria lobata based on central composite design and response surface methodology].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the parameters of extraction technology for Puerarin from Pueraria lobata by Central Composite Design-Response Surface Methodology. METHODS: Used the ratio of dosage liquid and extraction time as the examination factor,the content of puerarin for the extraction percentage as the index. The multielement linear model and the polynomial model were used to describe the mathematics relation with response surface. RESULTS: The optimal extraction technology was as follows: ratio of herb-to-solvant was 1: 8.88 (W/V) and extraction time was 150 min. The coefficient correlation was 0.9977 and closed to the predicted value. CONCLUSION: The results are accordant with model predictions. The technology can be used as the extraction process of puerarin from Pueraria lobata.

[Optimization of the extraction process for qingrejiedu oral liquid with synthesizing multiple guidelines grading method].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction process for Qingrejiedu oral liquid with synthesizing multiple guidelines grading method. METHODS: Used the extraction rate of baicalin and geniposide comprehensive contribution rate variance as index, extraction time and added water were as factors, central composite design was used for optimization of extraction process, and forecasting analysis parameters. RESULTS: The optimal extraction process was as follows: extraction time 139 min, added water 13 times, grading index was 0.768. CONCLUSION: Synthesizing multiple guidelines grading method is ideal for multi-component extraction experiment design, its easy application, the forecast is good and so on.

[Quadratic regression-orthogonal design optimization ethanol extraction craft of baicalin].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction process of baicalin using the quadratic regression-orthogonal design. METHODS: The influential factors were ethanol doses, ethanol concentration and extract time. Used the high level statistical method to design experiment parameter and forecast analysis results. RESULTS: The optimization conditions of extraction was 64% ethanol, 115 min for extract time,volume of use 11. 6 times and it's extraction rate was 85.21%. CONCLUSION: It shows that the optimum model is simple,highly precision and highly predictive.

[Quadratic-orthogonal-rotation-combination design for optimization of ethanol extraction craft from Radix Paeoniae Rubra].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the ethanol extraction process of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR) using quadratic-orthogonal-rotation-combination design. METHODS: The influential factors were ethanol volume, ethanol concentration and extracting time. The evaluating indicator was the extraction rate of peoniflorin. The quadratic-orthogonal-rotation-combination design was used to optimize the process and the prediction was carried out. RESULTS: The optimum conditions of extraction were 73% ethanol, 100 min for extraction, volume of ethanol was 8. 3 times. CONCLUSION: It shows that the optimum model is simple and highly predictive.

[Clinical observation on shallow needling for treatment of acute intracerebral hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: To approach to the best therapy for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: Eighty-five cases of acute ICH were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 45) and a control group (n = 40). The control group were treated by routine Western medicine, and the treatment group by the medication plus shallow needling. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 95.5% in the treatment group and 45.0% in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Shallow needling and the western medicine have cooperation with a better therapeutic effect in treatment of acute intracerebral hemorrhage.