A method for accurate identification of Uyghur medicinal components based on Raman spectroscopy and multi-label deep learning.

Uyghur medicine is one of the four major ethnic medicines in China and is a component of traditional Chinese medicine. The intrinsic quality of Uyghur medicinal materials will directly affect the clinical efficacy of Uyghur medicinal preparations. However, in recent years, problems such as adulteration of Uyghur medicinal materials and foreign bodies with the same name still exist, so it is necessary to strengthen the quality control of Uyghur medicines to guarantee Uyghur medicinal efficacy. Identifying the components of Uyghur medicines can clarify the types of medicinal materials used, is a crucial step to realizing the quality control of Uyghur medicines, and is also an important step in screening the effective components of Uyghur medicines. Currently, the method of identifying the components of Uyghur medicines relies on manual detection, which has the problems of high toxicity of the unfolding agent, poor stability, high cost, low efficiency, etc. Therefore, this paper proposes a method based on Raman spectroscopy and multi-label deep learning model to construct a model Mix2Com for accurate identification of Uyghur medicine components. The experiments use computer-simulated mixtures as the dataset, introduce the Long Short-Term Memory Model (LSTM) and Attention mechanism to encode the Raman spectral data, use multiple parallel networks for decoding, and ultimately realize the macro parallel prediction of medicine components. The results show that the model is trained to achieve 90.76% accuracy, 99.41% precision, 95.42% recall value and 97.37% F1 score. Compared to the traditional XGBoost model, the method proposed in the experiment improves the accuracy by 49% and the recall value by 18%; compared with the DeepRaman model, the accuracy is improved by 9% and the recall value is improved by 14%. The method proposed in this paper provides a new solution for the accurate identification of Uyghur medicinal components. It helps to improve the quality standard of Uyghur medicinal materials, advance the research on screening of effective chemical components of Uyghur medicines and their action mechanisms, and then promote the modernization and development of Uyghur medicine.

Different wavelengths of LED irradiation promote secondary metabolite production in Pycnoporus sanguineus for antioxidant and immunomodulatory applications.

Pycnoporus sanguineus is a fungus of the phylum Basidiomycota that has many applications in traditional medicine, modern pharmaceuticals, and agricultural industries. Light plays an essential role in the metabolism, growth, and development of fungi. This study evaluated the mycelial growth and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in P. sanguineus fermentation broth (PFB) cultured under different wavelengths of LED irradiation or in the dark. Compared to the dark cultures, the dry weight of mycelia in red- and yellow-light cultures decreased by 37 and 35% and the yields of pigments increased by 30.92 ± 2.18 mg and 31.75 ± 3.06 mg, respectively. Compared with the dark culture, the DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS+ free radical scavenging capacity, and reducing power of yellow-light cultures increased significantly, and their total phenolic content peaked at 180.0 ± 8.34 µg/mL. However, the reducing power in blue-light cultures was significantly reduced, though the total phenol content did not vary with that of dark cultures. In LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, nitrite release was significantly reduced in the red and yellow light-irradiated PFB compared with the dark culture. In the dark, yellow-, and green-light cultures, TNF-α production in the inflamed RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by 62, 46, and 14%, respectively. With red-, blue-, and white-light irradiation, TNF-α production was significantly enhanced. Based on these results, we propose that by adjusting the wavelength of the light source during culture, one can effectively modulate the growth, development, and metabolism of P. sanguineus.

Exosomal miR-151-3p in saliva: A potential non-invasive marker for gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis modulated by Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) in mice.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prominent malignancies that originate in the epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa and is one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. New circulating biomarkers of exosomal RNA might have great potential for non-invasive early prognosis of GC. Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) is a typical representative formula of the method of benefiting Qi and strengthening the spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, the effects and mechanism of SJZD in treating GC remain unclear. This study looked for biomarkers of exosomal RNA for early prognosis of GC, and explored the mechanism of SJZD in treating GC. A gastric cancer model with spleen deficiency syndrome was established in nude mice, and the curative effects of SJZD were investigated. Differentially expressed miRNAs in plasma and saliva exosomes were sequenced and analyzed. Potential target genes of these miRNAs were predicted and applied for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment annotation. Overlapping miRNAs in saliva and plasma samples were analyzed, and qRT-PCR was performed for verification. miR-151a-3p was selected, and qRT-PCR further determined that miR-151a-3p was downregulated in saliva and plasma exosomes from the SJZD group. The intersected miR-151a-3p target genes were predicted and enriched in the extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways. SJZD significantly ameliorates gastric cancer with spleen deficiency syndrome in mouse models, and exosomal miRNAs, particularly miR-151-3p, might be modulated by SJZD in plasma and saliva. The exosomal miR-151-3p in saliva may serve as a non-invasive potential marker for gastric cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Cerebral blood flow changes in maintenance hemodialysis patients with restless legs syndrome and their clinical significance:a cross-sectional case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) stands as a prevalent neurological complication within maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, the alterations in cerebral blood flow (CBF) among MHD-RLS patients remain uncharted. Through the utilization of the arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique, we evaluated the fluctuations in CBF within distinct brain regions and analyzed the risk factors for the development of RLS in MHD patients in the context of the clinic. METHODS: Thirty-one MHD patients with concomitant RLS (MHD-RLS group) and thirty-one non-RLS patients matched based on age, gender, as well as cognitive function (MHD-nRLS group) were included. Through image preprocessing and data analysis, the changes in CBF values in distinct brain regions were obtained, and the CBF values of brain regions with substantial differences between the two groups were correlated with the RLS scores. Furthermore, the differences in baseline data were compared, and through the utilization of multifactorial logistic regression, the independent risk factors for the development of RLS were examined. RESULTS: Compared with the MHD-nRLS group, the MHD-RLS group had increased CBF in the right superior temporal gyrus, reduced CBF in the right hippocampus, left middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus of right triangle, middle frontal gyrus of left orbit, left precentral gyrus, and left precuneus. Only left precentral gyrus CBF were negatively correlated with RLS scores after correction for dialysis duration(r = -0.436, P = 0.016). Accordingly, multifactorial regression analysis by stepwise method yielded that the left precentral gyrus CBF values(OR: 0.968, 95%CI: 0.944-0.993, P = 0.012) remained an independent risk factor for RLS in MHD patients. In addition, the results showed that hemodialysis duration (OR: 1.055, 95%CI: 1.014-1.098, P = 0.008) and serum iron levels (OR: 0.685, 95%CI: 0.551-0.852, P = 0.001) were also risk factors for the development of RLS. CONCLUSION: Patients afflicted with MHD-RLS exhibit alterations in CBF across several brain regions. Notably, the left precentral gyrus might serve as a pivotal region influencing the onset of RLS among MHD patients. Furthermore, extended hemodialysis duration and a relative insufficiency in serum iron levels independently contribute as risk factors for RLS development within the MHD patient population.

Trends in exposure to drugs and prohibited substances among sports: A nationwide analysis of 2008-2022 inquiry records.

To prevent athletes from unintentional doping, the anti-doping authorities in Taiwan have launched several sports-prohibited substances inquiry services since 2008. This study aimed to enhance the prevention of sports-prohibited substance misuse by analyzing data collected from major nationwide service systems, enabling the identification of trends in athletes' exposure to drugs and prohibited substances. The study collected over 30,000 data points from three major national anti-doping inquiry systems, spanning from 2008 to 2022. The information of the users consulted products, prohibited substances, and sports disciplines in the data were calculated and categorized. The usage of inquiry systems has shown an increasing trend from 2008 to 2022. Athletes comprised the majority of users (> 40%), significantly outnumbering other user groups (all below 20%). Among the inquiries, Western medicine accounted for the highest percentage (up to 79.6%), and it also contained the majority of the prohibited substances. Interestingly, traditional Chinese medicines had a higher chance (35.9%) of containing prohibited substances, as indicated by the mobile application. The prohibited substances mainly belonged to class S6 stimulants and S9 glucocorticoids. Among the daily medicinal products and nutritional supplements encountered by sports personnel, approximately 30% of them were found to contain prohibited substances. Future educational efforts should focus on raising awareness about traditional Chinese medicines and drugs for the common cold, ADHD, and pain relief, as well as their regulation, to prevent the misuse of prohibited substances.

Body constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine caused a significant effect on irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), all types of body constitutions, except for the Gentleness (ie, the control group in our study), have disease susceptibility and affect the disease development process. This study attempted to investigate the relationship between TCM body constitutions and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on Taiwan Biobank (TWB) and collected clinical data from 13 941 subjects aged 30 to 70. The results of the study showed that subjects with Yang-deficiency (N = 3161 subjects, odds ratio [OR] = 2.654, 95% CI = 1.740-3.910), Ying-deficiency (N = 3331 subjects, OR = 1.096, 95% CI = 0.627-1.782) or Stasis (N = 2335 subjects, OR = 1.680, 95% CI = 0.654-3.520) were more likely to have IBS. RESULTS: If the subjects with two or more TCM body constitutions: Yang-deficiency + Ying-deficiency (OR = 3.948, 95% CI = 2.742-5.560), Yang-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 2.312, 95% CI = 1.170-4.112), Ying-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 1.851, 95% CI = 0.828-3.567), or Yang-deficiency + Ying-deficiency + Stasis (OR = 3.826, 95% CI = 2.954-4.932) were also prone to IBS. CONCLUSION: These results confirmed the high correlation between TCM body constitutions and IBS. Because the current treatment for IBS is not entirely satisfactory, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine might provide patients with an alternative treatment option to alleviate IBS.

Efficacy of home phototherapy versus inpatient phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Home phototherapy (HPT) remains a contentious alternative to inpatient phototherapy (IPT) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. To guide evidence-based clinical decision-making, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies and assessed the comparative risks and benefits of HPT and IPT. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform trial were searched from inception until June 2, 2023. We included RCTs and cohort studies and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The outcome measures were phototherapy duration, daily bilirubin level reduction, exchange transfusion, hospital readmission, parental stress scale, and complications. We used fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis models, assessed heterogeneity (I2), conducted subgroup analyses, evaluated publication bias, and graded evidence quality. RESULTS: Nine studies (998 patients) were included (four RCTs, five cohort studies). HPT was associated with longer phototherapy duration (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.06-1.04, P = 0.03). Cohort study subgroup analysis yielded consistent results (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.11, P < 0.001, I2 = 39%); the RCTs were not significantly different (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.08, P = 0.54, I2 = 0%). Hospital readmission was higher with HPT (RR = 4.61; 95% CI: 1.43-14.86, P = 0.01). Daily bilirubin reduction (WMD = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.68 to 0.44, P = 0.68) or complications were not significantly different (RR = 2.29; 95% CI: 0.31-16.60, P = 0.41). The evidence quality was very low. HPT was associated with lower parental stress (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.71 to -0.16, P = 0.002). None of three included studies reported exchange transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence does not strongly support HPT efficacy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as high-quality data on long-term outcomes are scarce. Future research should prioritize well-designed, large-scale, high-quality RCTs to comprehensively assess HPT risks and benefits.

Effect of cranial electrotherapy stimulation as an add-on therapy on late-life generalized anxiety disorder: An open-label study.

INTRODUCTION: Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is beneficial in reducing anxiety in psychiatric patients. However, no studies have reported on elderly patients with generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a 6-week CES intervention for late-life GAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-arm pilot study assessed 6-week CES treatment (Alpha-Stim AID) for late-life GAD and 4-week follow-up post intervention. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used as baseline and outcome measures at weeks 4, 6, and 10, respectively. Treatment response was defined as 50 % or more reduction of the HAMA score and remission was defined as a of score ≤7 on the HAMA. Other measures included depression, sleep quality, and quality of life assessment. RESULTS: We included participants (n = 27) aged 68.0 ± 5.0 years, 81.5 % of whom were female. Fifteen (55.6 %), 18 (66.7 %), and 15 (55.6 %) patients were concurrently treated with antidepressants, BZDs, and antipsychotics, respectively. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed a significant decrease in HAMA scores from baseline (20.96 ± 3.30) to week 6 (12.26 ± 7.09) and one-month (12.85 ± 7.08) follow-up at W10 (all p < 0.001). The response and remission rates were 33.3 %, 40.7 %, and 48.1 % and 25.9 %, 29.6 %, and 25.9 % at W4, W6, and W10, respectively. The CES improved depression and sleep conditions as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. CONCLUSION: CES clinically reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and may improve sleep quality in late-life GAD. Future randomized controlled study is needed.

Effect fraction of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f. alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting p47phox/NOX2 and promoting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The effect fraction of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f. (EFBS), a phenolic-rich extract, has significant protective effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), but its composition and molecular mechanisms are unclear. This study elucidated its chemical composition and possible protective mechanisms against LPS-induced ALI from an antioxidant perspective. METHODS: EFBS was prepared by ethanol extraction, enriched by polyamide column chromatography, and characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The LPS-induced ALI model and the RAW264.7 model were used to evaluate the regulatory effects of EFBS on oxidative stress, and transcriptome analysis was performed to explore its possible molecular mechanism. Then, the pathway by which EFBS regulates oxidative stress was validated through inhibitor intervention, flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence techniques. RESULTS: A total of 22 compounds in EFBS were identified. The transcriptome analyses of RAW264.7 cells indicated that EFBS might reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by inhibiting the p47phox/NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) pathway and upregulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. Both in vitro and in vivo data confirmed that EFBS significantly inhibited the expression and phosphorylation of p47phox protein, thereby weakening the p47phox/NOX2 pathway and reducing ROS production. EFBS significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 in primary peritoneal macrophages and lung tissue and promoted its nuclear translocation, dose-dependent increase in HO-1 levels, and enhancement of antioxidant activity. In vitro, both Nrf2 and HO-1 inhibitors significantly reduced the scavenging effects of EFBS on ROS, further confirming that EFBS exerts antioxidant effects at least partially by upregulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: EFBS contains abundant phenanthrenes and dibenzyl polyphenols, which can reduce ROS production by inhibiting the p47phox/NOX2 pathway and enhance ROS clearance activity by upregulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, thereby exerting regulatory effects on oxidative stress and improving LPS-induced ALI.

Alumina inhibits pyrite oxidative dissolution by regulating solid film passivation layer and S, Fe, and Al speciation transformation.

The oxidation of pyrite results in the formation of a solid film passivation layer on its surface. This layer effectively hinders the direct interaction between H2O, O2, and the pyrite surface, thereby impeding the oxidation dissolution of pyrite. There are few studies on whether alumina (Al2O3), a common aluminum-containing oxide, affects the formation of a solid film passivation layer on the surface of pyrite and inhibits the oxidation dissolution of pyrite. This research investigates the impact of Al2O3 incorporation on the speciation transformation of S, Fe, and Al on the surface of pyrite during oxygen pyrite process. The oxidation of pyrite followed the "polysulfide-thiosulfate" complex oxidation pathway. When <1.5 g/L Al2O3 was introduced, it increase pyrite oxidation, whereas ≥1.5 g/L Al2O3 prevented pyrite oxidation. The process of Al2O3 dissolution results in the consumption of H+ and the subsequent release of Al3+. This, in turn, facilitates the hydrolysis of Fe3+ and Al3+ to generate a secondary mineral layer on the pyrite surface. As a result of the accumulation of S promotes the formation of polysulfide chemical (FeSn) or iron deficiency sulfide (Fe1-xS), resulting in the formation of a solid film passivation layer composed of sulfur film and secondary mineral layer. The results demonstrated that Al2O3 can promote the formation of a solid film passivation layer on the surface of pyrite, which has significant implications for controlling the oxidation dissolution process of pyrite and offers a new perspective for the source control of acid mine drainage.

Expression, purification, characterization and crystallization of Panax quinquefolius ginsenoside glycosyltransferase Pq3-O-UGT2.

Pq3-O-UGT2, derived from Panax quinquefolius, functions as a ginsenoside glucosyltransferase, utilizing UDP-glucose (UDPG) as the sugar donor to catalyze the glycosylation of Rh2 and F2. An essential step in comprehending its catalytic mechanism involves structural analysis. In preparation for structural analysis, we expressed Pq3-O-UGT2 in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain Rosetta (DE3). The recombinant Pq3-O-UGT2 was purified through Ni-NTA affinity purification, a two-step ion exchange chromatography, and subsequently size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Notably, the purified Pq3-O-UGT2 showed substantial activity toward Rh2 and F2, catalyzing the formation of Rg3 and Rd, respectively. This activity was discernible within a pH range of 4.0-9.0 and temperature range of 30-55 °C, with optimal conditions observed at pH 7.0-8.0 and 37 °C. The catalytic efficiency of Pq3-O-UGT2 toward Rh2 and F2 was 31.43 s-1 mΜ-1 and 169.31 s-1 mΜ-1, respectively. We further crystalized Pq3-O-UGT2 in both its apo form and co-crystalized forms with UDPG, Rh2 and F2, respectively. High-quality crystals were obtained and X-ray diffraction data was collected for all co-crystalized samples. Analysis of the diffraction data revealed that the crystal of Pq3-O-UGT2 co-crystalized with UDP-Glc belonged to space group P1, while the other two crystals belonged to space group P212121. Together, this study has laid a robust foundation for subsequent structural analysis of Pq3-O-UGT2.

A systematic review for prevention of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity using different hydration protocols and meta-analysis for magnesium hydrate supplementation.

BACKGROUND: Nephrotoxicity remains the most serious side effect of cisplatin therapy. Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) limits the use of this drug and affects up to 20% of patients. Several possible interventions such as magnesium supplementation may prevent CIN. This study aimed to review different types of hydration protocols and we conducted a meta-analysis of magnesium supplementation to understand its effect in protecting against CIN. METHODS: A search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed. Trials were eligible if they enrolled patients who received cisplatin and different hydration protocols to prevent CIN. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the efficacy of different protocols. RESULTS: We initially identified 1113 different studies and included 33 of them which met the selection criteria. A meta-analysis of 11 retrospective studies that examined magnesium supplementation during hydration showed that this treatment provided significant protection against CIN (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.35). CONCLUSION: There has been uncertainty regarding the best method to prevent CIN. Our results highlight the potentially protective effect of magnesium supplementation during hydration. This study is registered in PROSPERO, CRD42020212682.

"Green" synthesized versus chemically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles: In vivo antihyperglycemic activity and pharmacokinetics.

Zinc is one of the most studied trace elements, commonly used as supplement in diabetes treatment. By its involvement in the synthesis, secretion of insulin, promotion of insulin sensitivity and its multiple enzymatic functions it is known to contribute to reduce hyperglycemia. Researchers have shown that zinc administered under the form of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) is more effective than under its ionic form. Studies evaluating the antihyperglycemic activity of these nanocarriers include both ZnONPs synthesised using plants (i.e. green synthesized) or chemically synthesized. The present work aims to compare green synthesized ZnONPs with the marketed chemically synthesized ones. Green ZnONPs were synthesized using the aqueous extract of the stem bark of the medicinal plant Panda oleosa and zinc nitrate hexahydrate. Both nanocarriers were compared in terms of optical properties, morphology, composition, chemical functions, resistance to oxidation, in vivo antihyperglycemic activity via oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and pharmacokinetics in relation to zinc in C57BL/6J mice. A UV absorption peak was observed at 354 nm and 374 nm for the green and marketed ZnONPs, respectively. The shape and hydrodynamic diameters were anisotropic and of 228.8 ± 3.0 nm for the green ZnONPs and spherical and of 225.6 ± 0.9 nm for the marketed ZnONPs. Phenolic compounds accounted for 2.58 ± 0.04% of the green ZnONPs and allowed them to be more stable and unaffected by an oxidizing agent during the experiment, while the marketed chemically synthesized ZnONPs aggregated with or without contact with an oxidizing agent. No significant differences were observed on the amounts of zinc absorbed when comparing green ZnONPs, chemically synthesized ZnONPs and zinc sulfate in a pharmacokinetics study in normoglycemic mice. When evaluating the in vivo hypoglycemic activity of the nanocarriers in obese/diabetic mice, green synthesized ZnONPs displayed a significant hypoglycemic effect compared with the chemically synthesized nanoparticles following an OGTT. Altogether, these data indicate that phytocompounds, as catechin derivatives and polyphenols, attached to the green synthesized ZnONPs' surface, could contribute to their hypoglycemic activity. The comparison thus demonstrated that green synthesized ZnONPs are significantly more efficient than chemically ones at reducing hyperglycemia regardless of their absorption.

The triangular relationship between traditional Chinese medicines, intestinal flora, and colorectal cancer.

Over the past decade, colorectal cancer has reported a higher incidence in younger adults and a lower mortality rate. Recently, the influence of the intestinal flora in the initiation, progression, and treatment of colorectal cancer has been extensively studied, as well as their positive therapeutic impact on inflammation and the cancer microenvironment. Historically, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of colorectal cancer via promoted cancer cell apoptosis, inhibited cancer metastasis, and reduced drug resistance and side effects. The present research is more on the effect of either herbal medicine or intestinal flora on colorectal cancer. The interactions between TCM and intestinal flora are bidirectional and the combined impacts of TCM and gut microbiota in the treatment of colon cancer should not be neglected. Therefore, this review discusses the role of intestinal bacteria in the progression and treatment of colorectal cancer by inhibiting carcinogenesis, participating in therapy, and assisting in healing. Then the complex anticolon cancer effects of different kinds of TCM monomers, TCM drug pairs, and traditional Chinese prescriptions embodied in apoptosis, metastasis, immune suppression, and drug resistance are summarized separately. In addition, the interaction between TCM and intestinal flora and the combined effect on cancer treatment were analyzed. This review provides a mechanistic reference for the application of TCM and intestinal flora in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer and paves the way for the combined development and application of microbiome and TCM.

Identification of recurrent atrial fibrillation using natural language processing applied to electronic health records.

AIMS: This study aimed to develop and apply natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to identify recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes following rhythm control therapy initiation using electronic health records (EHRs). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included adults with new-onset AF who initiated rhythm control therapies (ablation, cardioversion, or antiarrhythmic medication) within two US integrated healthcare delivery systems. A code-based algorithm identified potential AF recurrence using diagnosis and procedure codes. An automated NLP algorithm was developed and validated to capture AF recurrence from electrocardiograms, cardiac monitor reports, and clinical notes. Compared with the reference standard cases confirmed by physicians' adjudication, the F-scores, sensitivity, and specificity were all above 0.90 for the NLP algorithms at both sites. We applied the NLP and code-based algorithms to patients with incident AF (n = 22 970) during the 12 months after initiating rhythm control therapy. Applying the NLP algorithms, the percentages of patients with AF recurrence for sites 1 and 2 were 60.7% and 69.9% (ablation), 64.5% and 73.7% (cardioversion), and 49.6% and 55.5% (antiarrhythmic medication), respectively. In comparison, the percentages of patients with code-identified AF recurrence for sites 1 and 2 were 20.2% and 23.7% for ablation, 25.6% and 28.4% for cardioversion, and 20.0% and 27.5% for antiarrhythmic medication, respectively. CONCLUSION: When compared with a code-based approach alone, this study's high-performing automated NLP method identified significantly more patients with recurrent AF. The NLP algorithms could enable efficient evaluation of treatment effectiveness of AF therapies in large populations and help develop tailored interventions.

Effects of a low-protein nutritional formula with dietary counseling in older adults with chronic kidney disease stages 3-5: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although combining a low-protein diet (LPD) with oral nutritional supplements increases treatment adherence and nutritional status in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the effect of this combination approach in older adults remains unclear. This study examined the impact of a 6% low-protein formula (6% LPF) with diet counseling in older adults with stage 3-5 CKD. METHODS: In this three-month randomized controlled study, 66 patients (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, non-dialysis, over 65 years of age) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (LPD plus a 6% LPF) or control group (LPD alone). The 6% LPF comprised 400 kcal, 6 g of protein, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and various micronutrients. All data were collected at baseline and after three months, including physical performance based on hand grip strength (HGS) and gait speed, nutritional status using Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) scores, body composition through bioelectrical impedance analysis, and dietary intake from 24-h dietary records. RESULTS: This study incorporated 47 participants (median age, 73; median eGFR, 36 ml/min/1.73 m2; intervention group: 24; control group: 23). The intervention group exhibited significant differences in HGS and gait speed, and micronutrient analysis revealed significantly higher monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), EPA, DHA, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, B12, and folic acid intake than the control group. MNA-SF scores, macronutrient intake, and body composition did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to LPD counseling alone, an LPD prescription with 6% LPF in older adults with CKD stages 3-5 helped relieve physical deterioration and increased micronutrient intake after three months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05318014 (retrospectively registered on 08/04/2022).

[Medication rules of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions for treating angina in national patent database based on multiple data mining].

This study explored the medication rules of Chinese herbal compound prescriptions for the treatment of angina based on the Chinese herbal compound patents in the patent database of the China National Intellectual Property Administration. The data of eligible Chinese herbal compound patents for the treatment of angina were collected from the patent database of the China National Intellectual Property Administration from database inception to November 10, 2022, and subjected to data modeling, analysis of main syndromes, medication frequency analysis, cluster analysis, association rule analysis, and data visualization by using Excel 2021, IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0, IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0, Cytoscape 3.9.1, and Rstudio R 4.2.2.2 to explore the medication rules for angina. The study included 636 pieces of patent data for angina that met the inclusion criteria, involving 815 drugs, with a total frequency of 6 586. The most common main syndromes were blood stasis obstructing the heart syndrome(222, 34.91%) and Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome(112, 17.61%). The top 10 most frequently used drugs were Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Carthami Flos, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Borneolum Syntheticum, and Corydalis Rhizoma. High-frequency drugs included blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs(1 197, 18.17%) and deficiency-tonifying drugs(809, 12.28%). Cluster analysis identified eight drug combinations, including five new prescriptions suitable for clinical use and new drug development, and three drug pairs. The core drug combination of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Carthami Flos was identified through the complex co-occurrence network analysis of Chinese medicines. Association rule analysis yielded a total of 17 rules, including 13 drug pairs and 4 tripartite combinations. Common drug pairs included Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma(support degree 25.79%, confidence coefficient 69.49%, lift 1.30) and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(support degree 22.01%, confidence coefficient 61.95%, lift 1.16). Common tripartite combinations included Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Astragali Radix(support degree 10.85%, confidence coefficient 73.40%, lift 1.37) and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Chuanxiong Rhizoma-Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(support degree 10.69%, confidence coefficient 79.07%, lift 1.48). The results showed that the underlying pathogenesis of angina involved blood stasis obstructing the heart and Qi deficiency and blood stasis. The overall nature of the disease was characterized as asthenia in origin and sthenia in superficiality. In the prescription formulation, blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, and Carthami Flos were often used to resolve the excess manifestation, which were combined with tonifying drugs such as Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to reinforce the deficiency. The syndrome, pathogenesis, disease nature, and medication were consistent with clinical practice. Additionally, the new compound prescriptions and drug combinations derived from the multiple data mining in this study could provide references and insights for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of angina and the development of new drugs.

Bioinspired, vertically stacked, and perovskite nanocrystal-enhanced CMOS imaging sensors for resolving UV spectral signatures.

Imaging and identifying target signatures and biomedical markers in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum is broadly important to medical imaging, military target tracking, remote sensing, and industrial automation. However, current silicon-based imaging sensors are fundamentally limited because of the rapid absorption and attenuation of UV light, hindering their ability to resolve UV spectral signatures. Here, we present a bioinspired imaging sensor capable of wavelength-resolved imaging in the UV range. Inspired by the UV-sensitive visual system of the Papilio xuthus butterfly, the sensor monolithically combines vertically stacked photodiodes and perovskite nanocrystals. This imaging design combines two complementary UV detection mechanisms: The nanocrystal layer converts a portion of UV signals into visible fluorescence, detected by the photodiode array, while the remaining UV light is detected by the top photodiode. Our label-free UV fluorescence imaging data from aromatic amino acids and cancer/normal cells enables real-time differentiation of these biomedical materials with 99% confidence.

Exploring the association of metal mixture in blood to the kidney function and tumor necrosis factor alpha using machine learning methods.

This research aimed to approach relationships between metal mixture in blood and kidney function, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by machine learning. Metals levels were measured by Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometry in blood from 421 participants. We applied K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Naive Bayes classifier (NB), Support Vector Machines (SVM), random forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Categorical boosting (CatBoost), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Whale Optimization-based XGBoost (WXGBoost) to identify the effect of plasma metals, TNF-α, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR by CKD-EPI equation). We conducted not only toxic metals, lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) but also included trace essential metals, selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), to predict the interaction of TNF-α, TNF-α/white blood count, and eGFR. The high average TNF-α level group was observed among subjects with higher Pb, As, Cd, Cu, and Zn levels in blood. No associations were shown between the low and high TNF-α level group in blood Se and Co levels. Those with lower eGFR group had high Pb, As, Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn levels. The crucial predictor of TNF-α level in metals was blood Pb, and then Cd, As, Cu, Se, Zn and Co. The machine learning revealed that As was the major role among predictors of eGFR after feature selection. The levels of kidney function and TNF-α were modified by co-exposure metals. We were able to acquire highest accuracy of over 85% in the multi-metals exposure model. The higher Pb and Zn levels had strongest interaction with declined eGFR. In addition, As and Cd had synergistic with prediction model of TNF-α. We explored the potential of machine learning approaches for predicting health outcomes with multi-metal exposure. XGBoost model added SHAP could give an explicit explanation of individualized and precision risk prediction and insight of the interaction of key features in the multi-metal exposure.

Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum targeting gut microbiota and metabolites in very preterm infants: protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum (OAC) has an immune-stimulating effect on oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue, and can promote the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract. However, how OAC promotes intestinal maturation in preterm infants by altering gut microbiota remains unclear. We aim to assess changes in gut microbiota and metabolites after OAC in very preterm infants. METHODS: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial will be conducted in three large neonatal intensive care units in Shenzhen, China, with preterm infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks at birth and birth weight less than 1500 g. It is estimated that 320 preterm infants will be enrolled in this study within one year. The intervention group will receive oropharyngeal administration of 0.2 ml colostrum every 3 h, starting between the first 48 to 72 h and continued for 5 consecutive days. Following a similar administration scheme, the control group will receive oropharyngeal administration of sterile water. Stool samples will be collected at the first defecation, as well as on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after birth for analysis of effect of OAC on gut microbiota and metabolites through 16sRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. DISCUSSION: This proposal advocates for the promotion of OAC as a safe and relatively beneficial protocol in neonatal intensive care units, which may contribute to the establishment of a dominant intestinal flora. Findings of this study may help improve the health outcomes of preterm infants by establishment of targeted gut microbiota in future studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05481866 (registered July 30, 2022 on ClinicalTrials.gov).