The phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, quality control, and toxicity of Forsythiae Fructus: An updated systematic review.

Forsythiae Fructus (FF), the dried fruit of F. suspensa, is commonly used to treat fever, inflammation, etc in China or other Asian countries. FF is usually used as the core herb in traditional Chinese medicine preparations for the treatment of influenza, such as Shuang-huang-lian oral liquid and Yin-qiao powder, etc. Since the wide application and core role of FF, its research progress was summarized in terms of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, quality control, and toxicity. Meanwhile, the anti-influenza substances and mechanism of FF were emphasized. Till now, a total of 290 chemical components are identified in F. suspensa, and among them, 248 components were isolated and identified from FF, including 42 phenylethanoid glycosides, 48 lignans, 59 terpenoids, 14 flavonoids, 3 steroids, 24 cyclohexyl ethanol derivatives, 14 alkaloids, 26 organic acids, and 18 other types. FF and their pure compounds have the pharmacological activities of anti-virus, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, anti-bacteria, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, etc. Inhibition of TLR7, RIG-I, MAVS, NF-κB, MyD88 signaling pathway were the reported anti-influenza mechanisms of FF and phenylethanoid glycosides and lignans are the main active groups. However, the bioavailability of phenylethanoid glycosides and lignans of FF in vivo was low, which needed to be improved. Simultaneously, the un-elucidated compounds and anti-influenza substances of FF strongly needed to be explored. The current quality control of FF was only about forsythoside A and phillyrin, more active components should be taken into consideration. Moreover, there are no reports of toxicity of FF yet, but the toxicity of FF should be not neglected in clinical applications.

Multi-omics and chemical profiling approaches to understand the material foundation and pharmacological mechanism of sophorae tonkinensis radix et rhizome-induced liver injury in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (STR) is an extensively applied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in southwest China. However, its clinical application is relatively limited due to its hepatotoxicity effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: To understand the material foundation and liver injury mechanism of STR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemical compositions in STR and its prototypes in mice were profiled by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF MS). STR-induced liver injury (SILI) was comprehensively evaluated by STR-treated mice mode. The histopathologic and biochemical analyses were performed to evaluate liver injury levels. Subsequently, network pharmacology and multi-omics were used to analyze the potential mechanism of SILI in vivo. And the target genes were further verified by Western blot. RESULTS: A total of 152 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized in STR, including 29 alkaloids, 21 organic acids, 75 flavonoids, 1 quinone, and 26 other types. Among them, 19 components were presented in STR-medicated serum. The histopathologic and biochemical analysis revealed that hepatic injury occurred after 4 weeks of intragastric administration of STR. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that IL6, TNF, STAT3, etc. were the main core targets, and the bile secretion might play a key role in SILI. The metabolic pathways such as taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, purine metabolism, and vitamin B6 metabolism were identified in the STR exposed groups. Among them, taurine, hypotaurine, hypoxanthine, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxate were selected based on their high impact value and potential biological function in the process of liver injury post STR treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism and material foundation of SILI were revealed and profiled by a multi-omics strategy combined with network pharmacology and chemical profiling. Meanwhile, new insights were taken into understand the pathological mechanism of SILI.

A review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of Abri Herba (Ji-Gu-Cao).

Abri Herba (AH, known as 'Ji-Gu-Cao' in China) has a long-term medicinal history of treating cholecystitis, acute and chronic hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in China or other Asian countries. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of AH in terms of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. The information involved in the study was collected from a variety of electronic resources, and >100 scientific studies have been used since 1962. Until now, 95 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified from AH and the seeds of Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH), including 47 terpenoids, 26 flavonoids and 4 alkaloids. The pharmacological activities of AH extracts and their pure compounds have been explored in the aspects of anti-hyperlipidaemia, hepatoprotection, anti-tumour, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, immunomodulation, antioxidant and others. The pharmacokinetics and excretion kinetics of AH in vivo and 15 traditional and clinical prescriptions containing AH have been sorted out, and the potential therapeutic mechanism and drug metabolism pattern were also summarised. The pods of ACH are toxic, with a median lethal dose (LD50) of 10.01 ± 2.90 g/kg (i.g.) in mice. Interestingly, the toxicity of ACH's pods and seeds decreased after boiling. However, the toxicity mechanism of pods of ACH is unclear, limiting its clinical application. Clinical trials in the future should be used to explore its safety. Meanwhile, as one of the relevant pharmacological activities, the effects and mechanism of AH on anti-hyperlipidaemia and hepatoprotection should be further studied, which is of great significance for understanding its mechanism of action in the treatment of NAFL disease and improving its clinical application.

Disease-Related Factors Associated with Acupuncture Response in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache: A Secondary Analysis of A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). METHODS: Using data from a randomized clinical trial (218 cases) consisting of 4 weeks of baseline assessment, 8 weeks of treatment, and 24 weeks of follow-up, participants were regrouped into responders (at least a 50% reduction in monthly headache days at week 16 compared with baseline) and non-responders. Twenty-three demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in 183 participants were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen (65.0%) participants were classified as responders. Four factors were significantly independently associated with acupuncture response, including treatment assignment, headache intensity at baseline, and 2 domains [general health (GH) and social functioning (SF)] from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey quality of life questionnaire. Treatment assignment was associated with non-response: participants receiving true acupuncture were 3-time more likely to achieve a CTTH response than those receiving superficial acupuncture [odds ratio (OR) 0.322, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.162 to 0.625, P=0.001]. Compared with patients with mild-intensity headache, patients with moderate-intensity headache were twice as likely to respond to acupuncture (OR 2.001, 95% CI 1.020 to 4.011, P=0.046). The likelihood of non-response increased by 4.5% with each unit increase in the GH grade (OR 0.955, 95% CI 0.917 to 0.993, P=0.024) while decreased by 3.8% with each unit increase in the SF grade (OR 1.038, 95% CI 1.009 to 1.069, P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Greater headache intensity, lower GH score, and higher SF score were associated with better acupuncture responses in CTTH patients. These 3 factors require independent validation as predictors of acupuncture effectiveness in CTTH.

The comparative analysis of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos: A systematical review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF) and Lonicerae Flos (LF) were once used as the same herb in China, but they were distinguished by Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2005 in terms of their medicinal history, plant morphology, medicinal properties and chemical constituents. However, their functions, flavor, and meridian tropism are the same according to the Chinese pharmacopoeia 2020 edition, making researchers and customers confused. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aimed to provide a comparative analysis of LJF and LF in order to provide a rational application in future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information was gathered from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations (all chosen articles were reviewed attentively from 1980.1 to 2023.8). RESULTS: Till now, 507 chemical compounds have been isolated and identified in LJF, while 223 ones (79 overlapped compounds) are found in LF, including organic acids and derivatives, flavonoids, triterpenoids, iridoids, and essential oil components, etc. In addition, the pharmacological activities of LJF and LF, especially for their anti-influenza efficacy and mechanism, and their difference in terms of pharmacokinetic parameters, toxicology, and clinical applications were also summarized. CONCLUSION: The current work offers comparative information between LJF and LF in terms of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and pharmacology, especially their anti-influenza activities. Despite the same clinical applications and similar chemical components in LJF and LF, differentiated components were still existed, resulting in differentiated pharmacological activities and pharmacokinetics parameters. Moreover, the research about anti-influenza mechanism and functional substances of LJF and LF is dramatically limited, restricting their clinical applications. In addition, few studies have investigated the metabolism feature of LF in vivo, which is one of the important bases for revealing the pharmacological mechanism of LF. At the same time, the toxicity of LJF and LF is not fully studied, and the toxic compounds of LJF and LF need to be screened out in order to standardize the drug use and improve their rational applications.

RTA-408 Regulates p-NF-κB/TSLP/STAT5 Signaling to Ameliorate Nociceptive Hypersensitivity in Chronic Constriction Injury Rats.

Neuropathic pain following nerve injury is a complex condition, which often puts a negative impact on life and remains a sustained problem. To make pain management better is of great significance and unmet need. RTA 408 (Omaveloxone) is a traditional Asian medicine with a valid anti-inflammatory property. Thus, we aim to investigate the therapeutic effect of RTA-408 on mechanical allodynia in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats as well as the underlying mechanisms. Neuropathic pain was induced by using CCI of the rats' sciatic nerve (SN) and the behavior testing was measured by calibrated forceps testing. Activation of Nrf-2, the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and the inflammatory response were assessed by western blots. The number of apoptotic neurons and degree of glial cell reaction were examined by immunofluorescence assay. RTA-408 exerts an analgesic effect on CCI rats. RTA-408 reduces neuronal apoptosis and glial cell activation by increasing Nrf-2 expression and decreasing the inflammatory response (TNF-α/ p-NF-κB/ TSLP/ STAT5). These data suggest that RTA-408 is a candidate with potential to reduce nociceptive hypersensitivity after CCI by targeting TSLP/STAT5 signaling.

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in primary Meige syndrome: motor and non-motor outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a promising treatment for movement disorders. This prospective study aims to evaluate the effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus DBS (STN-DBS) on motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with primary Meige syndrome. METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS between April 2017 and June 2020 were included. Standardized and validated scales were utilized to assess the severity of dystonia, health-related quality of life, sleep, cognitive function and mental status at baseline and at 1 year and 3 years after neurostimulation. RESULTS: The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale movement scores showed a mean improvement of 63.0% and 66.8% at 1 year and 3 years, respectively, after neurostimulation. Similarly, the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale disability scores improved by 60.8% and 63.3% at the same time points. Postoperative quality of life demonstrated a significant and sustained improvement throughout the follow-up period. However, cognitive function, mental status, sleep quality and other neuropsychological functions did not change after 3 years of neurostimulation. Eight adverse events occurred in six patients, but no deaths or permanent sequelae were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral STN-DBS is a safe and effective alternative treatment for primary Meige syndrome, leading to improvements in motor function and quality of life. Nevertheless, it did not yield significant amelioration in cognitive, mental, sleep status and other neuropsychological functions after 3 years of neurostimulation.

[Effect of Suanzaoren Decoction on expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors and synaptic plasticity in hippocampus of anxiety rats].

This study investigated the effect of Suanzaoren Decoction on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors(NMDAR) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptors(AMPAR) in the hippocampus and synaptic plasticity in rats with conditioned fear-induced anxiety. The effect of Suanzaoren Decoction on rat behaviors were evaluated through open field experiment, elevated plus maze experiment, and light/dark box experiment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of glutamate(Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA) in the rat hippocampus. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR) and Western blot were employed to assess the gene and protein expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampal region. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the changes in the ultrastructure of synaptic neurons in the hippocampal region. Long-term potentiation(LTP) detection technique was employed to record the changes in population spike(PS) amplitude in the hippocampal region of mice in each group. The behavioral results showed that compared with the model group, the Suanzaoren Decoction group effectively increased the number of entries into open arms, time spent in open arms, percentage of time spent in open arms out of total movement time, number of entries into open arms out of total entries into both arms(P<0.01), and significantly increased the time spent in the light box and the number of shuttle crossings(P<0.01). There was an increasing trend in the number of grid crossings, entries into the center grid, and time spent in the center grid, indicating a significant anxiolytic effect. ELISA results showed that compared with the model group, the Suanzaoren Decoction group exhibited significantly reduced levels of Glu, Glu/GABA ratio(P<0.01), and significantly increased levels of GABA(P<0.01) in the rat hippocampus. Furthermore, Suanzaoren Decoction significantly decreased the gene and protein expression of NMDAR(GluN2B and GluN2A) and AMPAR(GluA1 and GluA2) compared with the model group. Transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated improvements in synapses, neuronal cells, and organelles in the hippocampal region of the Suanzaoren Decoction group compared with the model group. LTP detection results showed a significant increase in the PS amplitude changes in the hippocampal region of Suanzaoren Decoction group from 5 to 35 min compared with the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01). In conclusion, Suanzaoren Decoction exhibits significant anxiolytic effects, which may be attributed to the reduction in NMDAR and AMPAR expression levels and the improvement of synaptic plasticity.

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), reported in a few small-scale studies, is not convincing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether acupuncture leads to better effects on CSU than sham acupuncture or waitlist control. DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900022994). SETTING: Three teaching hospitals in China from 27 May 2019 to 30 July 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 330 participants diagnosed with CSU. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control over an 8-week study period (4 weeks for treatment and another 4 weeks for follow-up). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline in the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) at week 4. Secondary outcomes included itch severity scores, self-rated improvement, and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. RESULTS: The mean change in UAS7 (range, 0 to 42) for acupuncture from baseline (mean score, 23.5 [95% CI, 21.8 to 25.2]) to week 4 (mean score, 15.3 [CI, 13.6 to 16.9]) was -8.2 (CI, -9.9 to -6.6). The mean changes in UAS7 for sham acupuncture and waitlist control from baseline (mean scores, 21.9 [CI, 20.2 to 23.6] and 22.1 [CI, 20.4 to 23.8], respectively) to week 4 (mean scores, 17.8 [CI, 16.1 to 19.5] and 20.0 [CI, 18.3 to 21.6], respectively) were -4.1 (CI, -5.8 to -2.4) and -2.2 (CI, -3.8 to -0.5), respectively. The mean differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture and waitlist control were -4.1 (CI, -6.5 to -1.8) and -6.1 (CI, -8.4 to -3.7), respectively, which did not meet the threshold for minimal clinically important difference. Fifteen participants (13.6%) in the acupuncture group and none in the other groups reported adverse events. Adverse events were mild or transient. LIMITATION: Lack of complete blinding, self-reported outcomes, limited generalizability because antihistamine use was disallowed, and short follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Compared with sham acupuncture and waitlist control, acupuncture produced a greater improvement in UAS7, although the difference from control was not clinically significant. Increased adverse events were mild or transient. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The National Key R&D Program of China and the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province.

Danhong Injection Up-regulates miR-125b in Endothelial Exosomes and Attenuates Apoptosis in Post-Infarction Myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs)-derived exosomes in the anti-apoptotic effect of Danhong Injection (DHI) and the mechanism of DHI-induced exosomal protection against postinfarction myocardial apoptosis. METHODS: A mouse permanent myocardial infarction (MI) model was established, followed by a 14-day daily treatment with DHI, DHI plus GW4869 (an exosomal inhibitor), or saline. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-induced ECs-derived exosomes were isolated, analyzed by miRNA microarray and validated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The exosomes induced by DHI (DHI-exo), PBS (PBS-exo), or DHI+GW4869 (GW-exo) were isolated and injected into the peri-infarct zone following MI. The protective effects of DHI and DHI-exo on MI hearts were measured by echocardiography, Masson's trichrome staining, and TUNEL apoptosis assay. The Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression levels of miR-125b/p53-mediated pathway components, including miR-125b, p53, Bak, Bax, and caspase-3 activities. RESULTS: DHI significantly improved cardiac function and reduced infarct size in MI mice (P<0.01), which was abolished by the GW4869 intervention. DHI promoted the exosomal secretion in ECs (P<0.01). According to the results of exosomal miRNA microarray assay, 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in the DHI-exo were identified (28 up-regulated miRNAs and 2 down-regulated miRNAs). Among them, DHI significantly elevated miR-125b level in DHI-exo and DHI-treated ECs, a recognized apoptotic inhibitor impeding p53 signaling (P<0.05). Remarkably, treatment with DHI and DHI-exo attenuated apoptosis, elevated miR-125b expression level, inhibited capsase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression levels of proapoptotic effectors (p53, Bak, and Bax) in post-MI hearts, whereas these effects were blocked by GW4869 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: DHI and DHI-induced exosomes inhibited apoptosis, promoted the miR-125b expression level, and regulated the p53 apoptotic pathway in post-infarction myocardium.

Iristectorigenin C suppresses LPS-induced macrophages activation by regulating mPGES-1 expression and p38/JNK pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used clinically to treat inflammatory diseases clinically. However, the adverse effects of NSAIDs cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is critical for us to find alternative anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce adverse reactions to herbal medicine, such as Iris tectorum Maxim., which has therapeutic effects and can treat inflammatory diseases and liver-related diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to isolate active compounds from I. tectorum and investigate their anti-inflammatory effects and action mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen compounds were isolated from I. tectorum using silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were identified by examining physicochemical properties, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Classical inflammatory cell models were established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and rat primary peritoneal macrophages to examine the effect of these compounds. To examine the action mechanisms, the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by Griess reagent and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the supernatant were measured by ELISA; The expressions of major proteins in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were examined by Western blotting, and the mRNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; and the nuclear translocation of p65 was examined by high content imaging. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding of active compound to target protein. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that Iristectorigenin C (IT24) significantly inhibited the levels of NO and PGE2 without affecting cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/COX-2 expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and rat peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, IT24 was shown to decrease the expression of microsomal prostaglandin synthetase-1 (mPGES-1) in LPS-induced rat peritoneal macrophages. IT24 did not suppress the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of proteins in the NF-κB pathway, but it inhibited the phosphorylation of p38/JNK in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Additionally, molecular docking analysis indicated that IT24 may directly bind to the mPGES-1 protein. CONCLUSION: IT24 might inhibit mPGES-1 and the p38/JNK pathway to exert its anti-inflammatory effects and could be also developed as an inhibitor of mPGES-1 to prevent and treat mPGES-1-related diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, and holds promise for further research and drug development.

Monolithic integration of embedded III-V lasers on SOI.

Silicon photonic integration has gained great success in many application fields owing to the excellent optical device properties and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility. Realizing monolithic integration of III-V lasers and silicon photonic components on single silicon wafer is recognized as a long-standing obstacle for ultra-dense photonic integration, which can provide considerable economical, energy-efficient and foundry-scalable on-chip light sources, that has not been reported yet. Here, we demonstrate embedded InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers directly grown on trenched silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, enabling monolithic integration with butt-coupled silicon waveguides. By utilizing the patterned grating structures inside pre-defined SOI trenches and unique epitaxial method via hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), high-performance embedded InAs QD lasers with monolithically out-coupled silicon waveguide are achieved on such template. By resolving the epitaxy and fabrication challenges in such monolithic integrated architecture, embedded III-V lasers on SOI with continuous-wave lasing up to 85 °C are obtained. The maximum output power of 6.8 mW can be measured from the end tip of the butt-coupled silicon waveguides, with estimated coupling efficiency of approximately -6.7 dB. The results presented here provide a scalable and low-cost epitaxial method for the realization of on-chip light sources directly coupling to the silicon photonic components for future high-density photonic integration.

Evidence for predictions established by phantom sound.

Predictions, the bridge between the internal and external worlds, are established by prior experience and updated by sensory stimuli. Responses to omitted but unexpected stimuli, known as omission responses, can break the one-to-one mapping of stimulus-response and can expose predictions established by the preceding stimulus built up. While research into exogenous predictions (driven by external stimuli) is often reported, that into endogenous predictions (driven by internal percepts) is rarely available in the literature. Here, we report evidence for endogenous predictions established by the Zwicker tone illusion, a phantom pure-tone-like auditory percept following notch noises. We found that MMN, P300, and theta oscillations could be recorded using an omission paradigm in subjects who can perceive Zwicker tone illusions, but could not in those who cannot. The MMN and P300 responses relied on attention, but theta oscillations did not. In-depth analysis shows that an increase in single-trial theta power, including total and induced theta, with the endogenous prediction, is lateralized to the left frontal brain areas. Our study depicts that the brain automatically analyzes internal perception, progressively establishes predictions and yields prediction errors in the left frontal region when a violation occurs.

Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Chronic Urticaria: A Critical Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Background: Chronic urticaria (CU) can severely impair the quality of life. Acupuncture and related therapies have been widely used in the treatment of CU in China. This study aimed to summarize and critically evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of relevant systematic reviews (SRs) and present objective and comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and related therapies for CU. Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched from inception to October 2021 for SRs examining acupuncture and related therapies for CU, and gray literature was manually searched. Two authors independently identified SRs and extracted data. The methodological and reporting quality of these SRs were assessed by the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) tool and preferred reporting items for SRs and meta-analyses (PRISMA, 2020), respectively. In addition, the risk of bias in systematic reviews (ROBIS) was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was applied to evaluate the quality of evidence for outcome measures. Results: In total, 23 SRs, including a total of 11 outcome indicators, were published before October 2021. The AMSTAR-2 results showed that the methodological quality of all SRs was critically low; items 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 16 were found to have particularly low quality. For PRISMA, the reporting quality of the included SRs was unsatisfactory, and major reporting flaws were observed in the search strategy, synthesis method, certainly assessment, reporting biases, registrations, and financial support of the included SRs. For ROBIS, 22 SRs (95.65%) had a high risk of bias. Among the 55 outcomes assessed using the GRADE framework, there were 3 (5.45%) outcomes with moderate-quality evidence, 6 (10.91%) outcomes with low-quality evidence, and 46 (83.64%) outcomes with very low-quality evidence. We found the moderate quality of evidence indicating that the total effective rate and curing rate of the acupuncture group were higher than those of the western medicine group, and the recurrence rate was lower than that of the western medicine group. Conclusions: Acupuncture and related therapies for the treatment of CU are supported by low-quality evidence-based medicine. However, considering the poor quality of these SRs, we suggest that studies with more rigorous designs, larger sample sizes, and higher methodological and reporting quality are necessary to provide stronger evidence. Registration. The protocol for this study has been registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021259131).

[Outcome indicators in randomized controlled trials on traditional Chinese medicine intervention of sepsis-induced myocardial injury in recent five years].

This study aims to analyze the outcome indicators of randomized controlled trial(RCT) on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention of sepsis-induced myocardial injury(SIMI) in recent five years, which is expected to lay a basis for the construction of core outcome set(COS) for this disease treated by TCM. To be specific, RCT on the treatment of SIMI with TCM was retrieved from 4 Chinese databases, 3 English databases, and 2 clinical trial protocol registries. The quality of the included studies was evaluated with Cochrane risk-of-bias(ROB) tool, and the outcome indicators were analyzed. Finally, 42 RCTs were included, of which 2 were clinical trial registration schemes. The study found that 42 RCTs had a high risk of bias, and reported a total of 86 indicators in "clinical effective rate, disease severity, TCM syndrome score, inflammation, myocardium, cardiac structure and hemodynamics, electrocardiogram, immunology, metabolism and liver and kidney function, and safety". Outcome indicators on myocardium had the highest emergence frequency, followed by indicators on the cardiac structure and hemodynamics. A total of 8 RCTs reported TCM syndrome scores. Further analysis suggested the following problems in the selection of outcome indicators in the RCTs on TCM intervention of SIMI: no classification of primary and secondary indicators, disregard of endpoint indicators, irrational selection of alternative indicators, neglection of TCM characteristics, no assessment of patients' immune status, and no emphasis on economic indicators and safety indicators. Therefore, according to the recommendations of the core outcome measures in effectiveness trials(COMET) working group, a COS for TCM intervention of TCM for SIMI should be developed, so as to facilitate clinical researchers to select appropriate outcome indicators, the combination of conclusions of similar clinical studies, and the promotion of TCM interventions.

Design and Synthesis of a 2-Amino-pyridine Derivative as a Potent CDK8 Inhibitor for Anti-colorectal Cancer Therapy.

CDK8 is a transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase and considered as a potential target in colon cancer therapeutics. Here, a novel selective CDK8 inhibitor was identified against colon cancer in vivo. Specifically, based on the structural information of the sorafenib-bound CDK8 structure, a series of novel 2-amino-pyridine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Among them, compound 29 showed strong inhibitory activity against CDK8 with an IC50 value of 46 nM and favorable selectivity. And there is an apparent interaction between the endogenous or overexpressed CDK8 and biotinylated-29. This compound exhibited antiproliferation potency on colon cancer cell lines with a high CDK8 expression level, suppressed the activation of WNT/ß-catenin and transcriptional activity of the TCF family, and induced G1 phase arrested in HCT-116 cells. In addition, this compound showed potent activity against sorafenib-resistant HCT-116 cells. What's more, it exhibited low toxicity and suitable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles and showed preferable antitumor effects in vivo.

Using Haemocoagulase Agkistrodon in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Plasmakinetic Resection of the Prostate: A Pilot, Real-World, and Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Objectives: To compare the clinical outcomes of using different hemostatic agents after transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (TUPKP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Methods: The patients were divided into 5 groups according to the hemostatic agents used after TUPKP, including the haemocoagulase agkistrodon for injection (HCA), hemocoagulase for injection (HC), hemocoagulase bothrops atrox for injection (HCB), ethylenediamine diaceturate injection (EDD), and tranexamic acid (TXA). Propensity score matching was performed based on age, body mass index, prostate volume, hypertension status, fasting blood glucose, smoking, and drinking history. The hospitalization time, bladder irrigation time, indwelling catheterization time, the patency of urine flow, and blood transfusion records were used as outcome indicators to compare the clinical effects of these five agents. Results: We finally matched 65 pairs receiving HCA or HC, 71 pairs receiving HCA or HCB, 38 pairs receiving HCA or TXA, and 29 pairs receiving HCA or EDD. Compared with HC, HCA given during the perioperative period significantly reduced the median hospitalization time [7.00 days (5.00, 8.00) vs. 9.00 days (8.00, 10.00); p < 0.001] and median catheterization time (109.00 hours [88.00, 129.00] vs. 164.00 hours [114.00, 189.00], p < 0.001). Compared with EDD, the median hospitalization time (7.00 days [6.00, 8.00] vs. 10.00 days [8.00, 11.00]; p < 0.001) and median catheterization time (113.00 hours [95.00, 143.00] vs. 160.00 hours [139.00, 168.00]; p < 0.001) were also significant shorter in HCA group. Compared with HCB, median bladder irrigation time (45.00 hours [27.00, 71.00] vs. 49.00 hours [45.00, 72.00]; p = 0.04) was shorter in the HCA group. However, there were no statistical differences in outcomes between HCA and TXA. Conclusions: HCA probably has an advantage over HC, HCB, and EDD in reducing the hospitalization time, catheterization time, and bladder irrigation time among BPH patients undergoing TUPKP.

Supplementation with rac-GR24 Facilitates the Accumulation of Biomass and Astaxanthin in Two Successive Stages of Haematococcus pluvialis Cultivation.

The unicellular freshwater green alga Haematococcus pluvialis has attracted much research attention due to its biosynthetic ability for large amounts of astaxanthin, a blood-red ketocarotenoid that is used in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Recently, numerous studies have investigated the functions of natural astaxanthin; however, the high cost of the production of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis cultures restricts its commercial viability. There is an urgent need to fulfill commercial demands by increasing astaxanthin accumulation from H. pluvialis cultures. In this study, we discovered that treatment of H. pluvialis cultures at the beginning of the macrozooid stage (day 0) with 1 µM rac-GR24, a synthetic analogue of strigolactones (a class of phytohormones), led to significant increases in biomass [up to a maximum dry cell weight (DCW) of 0.53 g/L] during the macrozooid stage and astaxanthin (from 0.63 to 5.32% of DCW) during the hematocyst stage. We elucidated that this enhancement of biomass accumulation during the macrozooid stage by rac-GR24 is due to its increasing CO2 utilization efficiency in photosynthesis and carbohydrate biosynthesis. We also found that rac-GR24 stimulated the overproduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and antioxidant enzymes in H. pluvialis cultures, which alleviated the oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species generated during the hematocyst stage due to the exhaustion of nitrogen supplies. Moreover, rac-GR24 treatment of H. pluvialis synergistically altered the activity of the pathways of fatty acid biosynthesis and astaxanthin esterification, which resulted in larger amounts of astaxanthin being generated by rac-GR24-treated cultures than by controls. In summary, we have developed a feasible and economic rac-GR24-assisted strategy that increases the amounts of biomass and astaxanthin generated by H. pluvialis cultures, and have provided novel insights into the mechanistic roles of rac-GR24 to achieve these effects.

Real-Time Visual Biofeedback via Wearable Ultrasound Imaging Can Enhance the Muscle Contraction Training Outcome of Young Adults.

ABSTRACT: Huang, Z-H, Ma, CZ-H, Wang, L-K, Wang, X-Y, Fu, S-N, and Zheng, Y-P. Real-time visual biofeedback via wearable ultrasound imaging can enhance the muscle contraction training outcome of young adults. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 941-947, 2022-Real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI) can serve as visual biofeedback to train deep muscle contraction in clinical rehabilitative settings. However, its effectiveness in resistance training in sports/fitness fields remains unexplored. This article introduced a newly developed wearable RUSI system that provided visual biofeedback of muscle thickening and movement and reported its effectiveness in improving the training outcomes of muscle thickness change (%) during dynamic contraction. Twenty-five healthy young men participated and performed pec fly exercise both with and without RUSI biofeedback. Statistical analysis was conducted to examine the reliability of the measurements and the immediate effects of (a) RUSI biofeedback of muscle contraction and (b) training intensity (50 vs. 80% of 1-repetition maximum [1RM]) on the pectoralis major (PMaj) thickness change measured by ultrasound images. In addition to significantly high inter-contraction reliability (ICC3,1 > 0.97), we observed significantly increased PMaj thickness change for both training intensities upon receiving biofeedback in subjects, compared with without biofeedback (p < 0.001). We also observed significantly larger PMaj thickness change at 80% of 1RM compared with 50% of 1RM (p = 0.023). The provision of visual biofeedback using RUSI significantly enlarged the magnitude of PMaj thickness change during pec fly exercises, potentially indicating that RUSI biofeedback could improve the ability of targeted muscle contraction of PMaj in healthy young adults. To our knowledge, this study has pioneered in applying RUSI as a form of biofeedback during weight training and observed positive effectiveness. Future iterations of the technique will benefit more subject groups, such as athletes and patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Short-term supplementation of EPA-enriched ethanolamine plasmalogen increases the level of DHA in the brain and liver of n-3 PUFA deficient mice in early life after weaning.

A lack of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in mothers' diet significantly reduced the amount of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brains of offspring, which might affect their brain function. Our previous research has proven multiple benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched ethanolamine plasmalogen (pPE) in enhancing the learning and memory ability. However, the effect of dietary supplementation with EPA-pPE on the DHA content in the brain and liver of offspring lacking n-3 PUFAs in early life is still unclear. Female ICR mice were fed with n-3 PUFA-deficient diets throughout the gestation and lactation periods to get n-3 PUFA-deficient offspring. The lipid profiles in the cerebral cortex and liver of offspring were analyzed using lipidomics after dietary supplementation with EPA-pPE (0.05%, w/w) and EPA-phosphatidylcholine (PC) (0.05%, w/w) for 2 weeks after weaning. Dietary supplementation with EPA could significantly change fatty acid composition in a variety of phospholipid molecular species compared with the n-3 deficient group. EPA-pPE and EPA-PC remarkably increased the DHA content in the brain PC, ether-linked phosphatidylcholine (ePC), and phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen (pPE) and liver triglyceride (TG), lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC), ePC, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and pPE molecular species, in which EPA-pPE showed more significant effects on the increase of DHA in cerebral cortex PC, ePC and liver PC compared with EPA-PC. Both EPA-phospholipids could effectively increase the DHA levels, and the pPE form was superior to PC in the contribution of DHA content in the cerebral cortex PC, ePC and liver PC molecular species. EPA-enriched ethanolamine plasmalogen might be a good nutritional supplement to increase DHA levels in the brains of n-3 PUFA-deficient offspring.