[Combination of acupuncture and medication for dry eye complicated with computer vision syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, Chinese medication and combination of acupuncture and medication in the treatment of dry eye complicated with computer vision syndrome (CVS). METHODS: A total of 152 patients with dry eye complicated with CVS were randomly divided into an acupuncture-medication group (38 cases, 1 case was removed), an acupuncture group (38 cases, 1 case dropped off), a Chinese medication group (38 cases, 1 case was removed), and a western medication group (38 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the western medication group, sodium hyaluronate eye drop combined with esculin and digitalis glycosides eye drop were used. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at bilateral Taiyang (EX-HN 5)， Cuanzhu (BL 2), Fengchi (GB 20), Qimen (LR 14) , and Hegu (LI 4) etc., once a day. In the Chinese medication group, Yiqi Congming decoction formula ganule was given orally, one dose a day. In the acupuncture-medication group, acupuncture combined with Yiqi Congming decoction formula granule were used. All groups were treated for 14 d. The non-invasive first tear film break-up time (NIBUT f), non-invasive average tear film break-up time (NIBUT av), tear meniscus height (TMH), ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, and CVS symptom score were compared between the patients of each group before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the NIBUT f, NIBUT av, and TMH were increased compared with those before treatment in the patients of the 4 groups (P<0.01); the NIBUT f and NIBUT av in the acupuncture-medication group and the acupuncture group were higher than those in the Chinese medication group and the western medication group (P<0.05), and the TMH in the acupuncture-medication group and the Chinese medication group were higher than those in the acupuncture group and the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the OSDI scores, the various scores and total scores of CVS (except for head symptom score in the western medication group) were decreased compared with those before treatment in the patients of the 4 groups (P<0.01). The OSDI score, total score, eye symptom score, and body symptom score of CVS in the acupuncture-medication group were lower than those in the acupuncture group, the Chinese medication group, and the western medication group (P<0.01, P<0.05), the head symptom score of the acupuncture-medication group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0.05), and the CVS physical symptom scores and mental cognitive symptom scores of the acupuncture-medication group and the acupuncture group were lower than those in the Chinese medication group and the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has advantages in improving NIBUT f, NIBUT av, and CVS physical symptoms and cognitive symptoms, and the Chinese medication has advantage in improving TMH. The combination of acupuncture and Chinese medication has better effects compared with monotherapy.

Correlations of IL-6 and TGF-ß Gene Polymorphisms and Expressions With Osteoporotic, Thoracolumbar, Vertebral Compression Fracture.

Context: Associations between genes and diseases manifest as the influence of gene expression on disease development as well as the impact of variations in the disease-related genes themselves. It's important to determine the genetic variations that can lead to compressed fractures of osteoporotic, thoracic lumbar vertebrae to develop personalized clinical methods to prevent or delay the disease's development. Objective: The study intended to explore the correlations between the gene polymorphisms and gene expressions of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) gene and osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture. Design: The research team performed an observational study using data from medical records. Setting: The study took place at Xuzhou Medical University in Xuzhou, China. Participants: Participants were 200 patients with an osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture who had been admitted to the hospital at the university between 2019 and 2021 prior to the study and 200 healthy people The research team divided the participants into two groups. The patients became participants in the disease group, and the healthy individuals became participants in the control group. Outcome Measures: The research team: (1) collected peripheral blood from the two groups, (2) extracted genomic deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) from karyocytes, (3) examined the IL-6 and TGF-ß gene polymorphisms, and (4) analyzed and correlated participants' clinical data with the gene polymorphisms and expressions. The team used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to examine the expression levels of IL-6 and TGF-ß. Results: Compared to the control group, the disease group: (1) had allele distributions that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene (P < .001) and at the rs3087453 of the TGF-ß gene (P = .004); (2) had significantly higher frequencies of allele T at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene and of allele G at the rs3087453 locus of the TGF-ß gene; (3) had genotype distributions that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus (P < .001) and the rs2069857 locus (P = .048) of the IL-6 gene and at the rs3087453 locus (P < .001) of the TGF-ß gene; (4) had frequencies that were significantly higher of the TT genotype at the rs2069829 locus, the CC genotype at the rs2069857 locus, and the GC genotype at the rs3087453 locus of the IL-6 gene and the TGF-ß gene; (5) had dominant models that were significantly different at the rs2069829 locus of the IL-6 gene (P = .009) and at rs3087453 locus of the TGF-ß gene (P = .026) and had a recessive model that was significantly different at the rs2069857 locus of the IL-6 gene (P = .040); (6) had significantly different haplotypes CC (P < .001) and TC (P < .001) at the rs2069829 locus and the rs2069857 locus of the IL-6 gene and a significantly different haplotype AC (P = .011) at the rs1800469 locus and the rs3087453 locus of the TGF-ß gene; (7) had an IL-6 gene polymorphism at the rs2069857 locus that was related to the expression of the IL-6 gene (P < .05) and an expression of the IL-6 gene for participants with the AA genotype that was significantly lower than for other genotypes; (8) had a TGF-ß gene polymorphism at the rs1800469 locus that was associated with the expression of the TGF-ß gene (P < .05), and an expression for participants with the GG genotype that was significantly higher than for other genotypes; (9) had an IL-6 gene polymorphism at the rs2069857 locus with an overt correlation with the genotype of osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture (P < .001). Also, participants in the disease group with the genotype CC mainly had type 2 and 3 fractures, while those with genotype AA primarily had type 0 and 1 fractures. Conclusions: IL-6 and TGF-ß gene polymorphisms and expressions are significantly related to osteoporotic, thoracolumbar, vertebral compression fracture.

Mingjing granule, a traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss and blindness among the older people aged 50 and over. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have resulted in improving patient outcomes, there are limitations associated with these treatments. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat eye diseases for more than 2000 years. Previous studies have shown that TCM may be beneficial for nAMD patients. However, explicit evidence has not been obtained. The purpose of the present trial is to examine the efficacy and safety of the Mingjing granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, for nAMD patients. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of Mingjing granule as an add-on to intravitreous ranibizumab for nAMD. One hundred eighty nAMD patients from six hospitals in China will be enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly allocated into two groups, 90 in each. All participants will receive a 24-week treatment and then be followed up for another 24 weeks. The primary outcome is the mean change of best-corrected visual acuity at week 24 and 48 as compared to the baseline. The secondary outcomes include mean change in central retinal thickness, area of retinal hemorrhage and exudation, and TCM syndrome score, mean number of intravitreal ranibizumab injection, and total cost of the treatment. Indexes of safety include blood regular test, urine regular test, liver function test, renal function test, and electrocardiogram from baseline to weeks 24 and 48. Qualitative control and some standard operating processes will be formed throughout the trial. Any ocular or systemic adverse events will be treated suitably, and related data will be recorded accurately and completely in the case report form. DISCUSSION: Based on previous empirical and animal laboratory studies, this study will address the question of whether Mingjing granule could contribute to improving efficacy, safety, and efficiency with need for fewer intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, improving compliance and visual outcomes in the management of persons with nAMD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ), ChiCTR2000035990 . Registered on 21 August 2020.

Virucidal efficacy of treatment with photodynamically activated curcumin on murine norovirus bio-accumulated in oysters.

Norovirus (NoV) is one of the most important seafood- and water-borne viruses, and is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks. In the present study we investigated the effect of curcumin as a sensitizer to photodynamic treatment both in buffer and in oysters against murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), a surrogate of NoV. MNV-1 cultured in buffer and MNV-1 bio-accumulated in oysters were irradiated with a novel LED light source with a wavelength of 470nm and an energy of 3.6J/cm(2). Inactivation of MNV-1 was investigated by plaque assays. After virus was extracted from the gut of oysters treated over a range of curcumin concentrations, the ultrastructural morphology of the virus was observed using electron microscopy, and the integrity of viral nucleic acids and stability of viral capsid proteins were also determined. Results showed that the infectivity of MNV-1 was significantly inhibited by 1-3logPFU/ml, with significant damage to viral nucleic acids in a curcumin dose-dependent manner after photodynamic activation. Virus morphology was altered after the photodynamic treatment with curcumin, presumably due to the change of the viral capsid protein structures. The data suggest that treatment of oysters with photodynamic activation of curcumin is a potentially efficacious and cost-effective method to inactivate food-borne NoV. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the toxicology of this approach in detail and perform sensory evaluation of the treated product.

Dietary squid ink polysaccharide induces goblet cells to protect small intestine from chemotherapy induced injury.

Gastrointestinal mucositis induced by chemotherapy is associated with alterations of intestinal barrier function due to the potential damage induced by anti-cancer drugs on the epithelial cells. Goblet cells, an important epithelial lining in the intestine, contribute to innate immunity by secreting mucin glycoproteins. Employing a mouse model of chemotherapy induced intestinal mucosal immunity injury by cyclophosphamide, we demonstrated for the first time that polysaccharide from the ink of Ommastrephes bartramii (OBP) enhanced Cyto18, which is a mucin expression in goblet cells. The up-regulation of mucins by OBP relied on the augmented quantity of goblet cells, but not on the changes in the ultrastructure of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Our results may have important implications for enhanced immunopotentiation function of functional OBP on intestinal mucosal immunity against intestinal disorders involving inflammation and infection.

[Anatomic structure of "Shaoze" (SI 1), "Qiangu" (SI 2), "Houxi" (SI 3), "Yanggu" (SI 5) and Xiaohai" (SI 8) regions of Hand-Taiyang Meridian in the rabbit's forelimb].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the anatomic structure of the Five Shu-acupoints: "Shaoze" (SI 1) ,"Qiangu" (SI 2), "Houxi" (SI 3),"Yanggu" (SI 5) and "Xiaohai" (SI 8) regions of the Taiyang Meridian in the rabbit's forelimb. METHODS: Thirty rabbits (half male and half female) were used in the present study. The Five Shu-acupoints regions were located first based on the atlas of rabbits, stimulated by needling and confirmed later by using an electronic acupoint detector. Under anesthesia, the rabbit was perfused with warm normal saline via the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein, followed by arterial perfusion of dental base acrylic resin powder(30 g), dibutylphthalate(6 mL), red couring agent liquid for denture acrylic and acetoacetate (2 mL), respectively; and venous perfusion of 30% gelatin (filtered) and black ink (filtered) and formaldehyde (8%). After fixing in 8% formaldehyde for 10 days, the rabbit's forelimb containing the aforementioned Five Shu-acupoints were carefully dissected layer by layer, followed by observing the local anatomic structure under microscope. RESULTS: The superficial layers of these acupoint regions mainly contained the basilic vein and its branches, and the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve. The deep layers chiefly comprised of the ulnar artery, the ulnar vein and their branches, and the ulnar nerve. CONCLUSION: In "Shaoze"(SI 1 ), "Qiangu" (SI 2), "Houxi" (SI 3), "Yanggu" (SI 5) and "Xiaohai" (SI 8) acupoint regions, the ulnar artery, basilic vein, ulnar vein and their branches, the ulnar nerve and its superficial branches are found, which constitute the morphological basis of the five acupoints of the Hand-Taiyang Meridian for treating some related clinical disorders.

Small-molecule inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by targeting the interaction between Vif and ElonginC.

The HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif) protein is essential for viral replication. Vif recruits cellular ElonginB/C-Cullin5 E3 ubiquitin ligase to target the host antiviral protein APOBEC3G (A3G) for proteasomal degradation. In the absence of Vif, A3G is packaged into budding HIV-1 virions and introduces multiple mutations in the newly synthesized minus-strand viral DNA to restrict virus replication. Thus, the A3G-Vif-E3 complex represents an attractive target for development of novel anti-HIV drugs. In this study, we identified a potent small molecular compound (VEC-5) by virtual screening and validated its anti-Vif activity through biochemical analysis. We show that VEC-5 inhibits virus replication only in A3G-positive cells. Treatment with VEC-5 increased cellular A3G levels when Vif was coexpressed and enhanced A3G incorporation into HIV-1 virions to reduce viral infectivity. Coimmunoprecipitation and computational analysis further attributed the anti-Vif activity of VEC-5 to the inhibition of Vif from direct binding to the ElonginC protein. These findings support the notion that suppressing Vif function can liberate A3G to carry out its antiviral activity and demonstrate that regulation of the Vif-ElonginC interaction is a novel target for small-molecule inhibitors of HIV-1.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Ranunculus japonicus].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and determine the chemical constituents of Ranunculus japonicus in Liupan Mountain, Ningxia province, China. METHOD: The herb was extracted with ethanol by ultrasonic bath. The extractives were divided to petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol parts. The first two parts were separated and purified with silica gel and Sephadex LH -20 column chromatography. The structures of the separated compounds were idnetefied by physical and chemical properties and spectral analysis. RESULT: Nine compounds were isolated and identified as follows: scoparone (1), tricin (2), protocatechuic acid (3), luteolin (4), anemonin (5), scopoletin (6), 5-hydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone (7), ternatolide (8), 5-hydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxy-flavone (9). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-9 were isolated from Ranunculus japonicus for the first time.

Studies on chemical constituents of Ranunculus japonicus / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and determine the chemical constituents of Ranunculus japonicus in Liupan Mountain, Ningxia province, China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The herb was extracted with ethanol by ultrasonic bath. The extractives were divided to petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol parts. The first two parts were separated and purified with silica gel and Sephadex LH -20 column chromatography. The structures of the separated compounds were idnetefied by physical and chemical properties and spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Nine compounds were isolated and identified as follows: scoparone (1), tricin (2), protocatechuic acid (3), luteolin (4), anemonin (5), scopoletin (6), 5-hydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone (7), ternatolide (8), 5-hydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxy-flavone (9).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-9 were isolated from Ranunculus japonicus for the first time.</p>