Effects of Lianhuaqingwen Capsules in adults with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019: an international, multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In a randomized trial, Lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) capsule was effective for accelerating symptom recovery among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the lack of blinding and limited sample sizes decreased the level of clinical evidence. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LHQW capsule in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (17 sites from China, Thailand, Philippine and Vietnam). Patients received standard-of-care alone or plus LHQW capsules (4 capsules, thrice daily) for 14 days. The primary endpoint was the median time to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of nine major symptoms. RESULTS: The full-analysis set consisted of 410 patients in LHQW capsules and 405 in placebo group. LHQW significantly shortened the primary endpoint in the full-analysis set (4.0 vs. 6.7 days, hazards ratio: 1.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.39-1.90). LHQW capsules shortened the median time to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of stuffy or runny nose (2.8 vs. 3.7 days), sore throat (2.0 vs. 2.6 days), cough (3.2 vs. 4.9 days), feeling hot or feverish (1.0 vs. 1.3 days), low energy or tiredness (1.3 vs. 1.9 days), and myalgia (1.5 vs. 2.0 days). The duration to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of shortness of breath, headache, and chills or shivering did not differ significantly between the two groups. Safety was comparable between the two groups. No serious adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION: LHQW capsules promote recovery of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 via accelerating symptom resolution and were well tolerated. Trial registration ChiCTR2200056727 .

The effect of acupuncture on emotional disorders in patients with insomnia: A protocol for systemic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia with high incidence is usually accompanied by many other diseases, especially mental disorders with the under-diagnosis and under-treatment. Some studies demonstrated that acupuncture may be effective for emotional disorders accompanied by insomnia. The systematic review protocol is designed to guiding analysis the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for emotional disorders in patients with insomnia. METHODS: Seven databases, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Medline, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature database, VIP database and Wanfang database, will be searched from initial to December 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for insomnia with emotional disorders (depression and anxiety) outcomes, which were reported in Chinese or English, will be included. The primary outcome is the change of degree of anxiety and depression. Study selection, data extraction and assessment of the risk of bias will be performed independently by 2 or more reviewers. Available data will be synthesized and statistically analyzed in RevMan V.5.3. The model of fixed effects will be used for the pooled data when the heterogeneity tests show little or no statistical heterogeneity (I2 < 50%). The random-effects model will be taken with heterogeneous data (50% ≤ I2 < 75%). RESULTS: The effect of acupuncture on emotional disorders in patients with insomnia will be assessed on Hamilton anxiety Scale, Hamilton anxiety Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Self-rating Depressive Scale and the number of participants secede and the number of patients reported adverse events. CONCLUSION: the emotional disorders interaction with insomnia and the increase of risk on disease evolving and insomnia-related burden, it is so momentous to know that the role of insomnia treatment on comorbidities. We should concern about the management of emotional disorders when treat insomnia, and acupuncture treatment anxiety and depression caused by insomnia may be effective. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not be needed because the data will not contain individual patient data, and there are no concerns about privacy. The results of this meta-analysis will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal or relevant conference. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020100115.

Drug delivery with PEGylated MoS2 nano-sheets for combined photothermal and chemotherapy of cancer.

MoS2 nanosheets functionalized with poly-ethylene glycol are for the first time used as a multifunctional drug delivery system with high drug loading capacities. Using doxorubicin as the model drug and taking advantages of the strong near-infrared absorbance of MoS2, combined photothermal and chemotherapy of cancer is realized in animal experiments, achieving excellent synergistic anti-tumor effect upon systemic administration.

Solution-processed 2D niobium diselenide nanosheets as efficient hole-transport layers in organic solar cells.

Thin-layer, two-dimensional NbSe2 nanosheets with lower trap density have been obtained and act as an alternative hole-transporting layer to replace MoO3 in organic solar cells. If poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester acts as an active layer, a power conversion efficiency of 8.10 % has been achieved without any further thermal treatment. The properties of this hole-transporting layer were investigated and the improvements in the devices are discussed.

PEGylated WS(2) nanosheets as a multifunctional theranostic agent for in vivo dual-modal CT/photoacoustic imaging guided photothermal therapy.

A new generation of photothermal theranostic agents is developed based on PEGylated WS2 nanosheets. Bimodal in vivo CT/photoacoustic imaging reveals strong tumor contrast after either intratumoral or intravenous injection of WS2 -PEG. In vivo photothermal treatment is then conducted in a mouse tumor model, achieving excellent therapeutic efficacy with complete ablation of tumors. This work promises further exploration of transition-metal dichalcogenides for biomedical applications, such as cancer imaging and therapy.

Tenuigenin ameliorates learning and memory impairments induced by ovariectomy.

Estrogen deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has proven to be effective in preventing and reversing the memory and learning deficiencies. However, conventional estrogenic treatment could increase the risks of breast cancer and venous thromboembolism. Tenuigenin (TEN) is putatively believed as the active component extracted from a Chinese herb Polygala tenuifolia root. Although TEN has been shown to enhance learning and memory in healthy mice, it remains unknown whether or not TEN could ameliorate learning and memory impairments. In the present study, mice were divided into four groups: sham-operated (sham), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX+estradiol benzoate (EB) and OVX+TEN groups. Step-through passive avoidance and Y-maze tests were used to assess learning and memory abilities, and the number of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive neurons and the synaptic measurement of hippocampal CA1 area were examined. The results showed that TEN was given orally to OVX mice, leading to the improvement of learning and memory in step-through passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. TEN could reduce the loss of NOS positive neurons and prevent the synaptic morphological changes induced by ovariectomy. Our results suggest that TEN may exert a potential therapeutic value for menopause cognitive dysfunction.

Tenuigenin treatment improves behavioral Y-maze learning by enhancing synaptic plasticity in mice.

Polygala tenuifolia root has been used to improve memory and cognitive function in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 2000 years. Since tenuigenin (TEN) is one of the most utilized P. tenuifolia root extracts, it is surprising there is no evidence for the effects of TEN on learning and memory so far. In the present study, we investigated the effects of TEN on learning and memory with Y-maze test in mice. We found that oral administration of 4mg/kg TEN significantly improved learning and memory in Y-maze task. Treatment with 4mg/kg TEN markedly reduced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in hippocampus. In the electrophysiological test of hippocampal brain slice, 2µg/ml TEN perfusion substantially enhanced field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) amplitude both in basic synaptic transmission and after high frequency stimulation (HFS) in Schaffer to CA1 pathway (Scha-CA1). These results indicate that TEN enhancing learning and memory may result from inhibiting AChE activity, improving antioxidation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in mice. Therefore, TEN shows promise as a potential nootropic product in improving learning and memory.

[Effects of pulmonary arterial perfusion with shenqi fuzheng injection on lung injury during cardiopulmonary bypass].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of pulmonary arterial perfusion with Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI)on lung injury during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Twenty-two patients with cardiac valvular disease and pulmonary hypertension were randomly divided into the control and the SFI group equally. SFI mixed pure oxygenated blood to the SFI group, and oxygenated blood alone to the control group was perfused via pulmonary artery during CPB. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), ratio of leucocyte counts in venous and arterial blood, and time of mechanical ventilation applied were measured before and at the end of CPB, and 6th, 24th hours after CPB. RESULTS: After treatment, MDA content and PVR were significantly higher than those before CPB (P < 0.05), and reduced to normal level 24 h after CPB in both groups, but the peak levels were lower in the SFI group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The leucocyte counts ratio in venous and arterial blood were significantly higher at the end of CPB and 6 h later than those before CPB in both groups (P < 0.05), but the increment were lower in the SFI group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the applying mechanical ventilation time in the SFI group was 16.1 +/- 5.5 h, significantly shorter than that in the control group (29.1 +/- 6.9 h, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary arterial perfusion with SFI could alleviate the CPB induced lung injury.

[Effects of blood washing and autotransfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass on erythrocyte immune and kidney function].

OBJECTIVE: To study changes of erythrocyte immune and kidney function after autotransfusion washed red blood cells during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing valve replacement with CPB were randomly divided into study group and control group (16 in each group). In study group, the blood in operative field and the residual blood in the extracorporal machine were collected, centrifuged, washed and retransfused to patients. Patients in control group were transfused with the residual blood in the extracorporal machine without any disposal or banked blood. All patients were used with membrane oxygenator. Before CPB, 12 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 d after CPB, whole blood were taken, then the erythrocyte immune function (C3bRR, RICR) and level of plasma free hemoglobin (FHB) were assayed, and post-operation renal function was compared between the two groups. Moreover, total volume of banked blood transfused to patients after CPB was recorded. RESULTS: (1) After 12 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days of CPB, the RBC-C3bRR (14.3% +/- 4.7%, 15.9% +/- 3.6%, 16.6% +/- 2.8%, 19.9% +/- 4.1%) and RBC-ICR (8.7% +/- 1.9%, 9.2% +/- 2.0%, 9.5% +/- 2.6%, 12.0% +/- 2.0%) in study group were significantly elevated than that in control group (RBC-C3bRR 10.7% +/- 2.4%, 11.3% +/- 3.0%, 12.3% +/- 3.5%, 14.5% +/- 2.0%, RBC-ICR 5.9% +/- 1.4%, 6.0% +/- 1.8%, 7.0% +/- 1.7%, 8.7% +/- 2.7%). The erythrocyte immune function after CPB was better and restored faster in study group than that in control group (P < 0.05 in all). (2) After 12 hours, 24 hours of CPB, the levels of FHB (0.41 g/L +/- 0.13 g/L, 0.03 g/L +/- 0.02 g/L) in study group were significantly lower than that in control group (1.02 g/L +/- 0.23 g/L, 0.54 g/L +/- 0.09 g/L) (P < 0.01). After 24 hours of CPB, the level of urinary protein excretion (0.19 g/d +/- 0.08 g/d) in study group was significantly lower than that in control group (0.32 g/d +/- 0.07 g/d) (P < 0.05). (3) After 24 hours of CPB, the level of 24 h creatinine clearance was significantly elevated in study group (68 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2) +/- 10 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) than that in control group (45 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2) +/- 4 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) (P < 0.01). (4) The total volume of banked RBCs transfused after CPB were fewer in study group (2.0 U +/- 1.1 U) than that in control group (7.4 U +/- 2.3 U) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Autotransfusion of washed red blood cells during CPB may improve significantly the erythrocyte immune function and protect kidney function better than transfusion of residual blood in the extracorporal machine or banked blood.

Identification and characterization of a novel Cut family cDNA that encodes human copper transporter protein CutC.

Copper is an essential heavy metal trace element that plays important roles in cell physiology. The Cut family was associated with the copper homeostasis and involved in several important metabolisms, such as uptake, storage, delivery, and efflux of copper. In this study, a novel Cut family cDNA was isolated from the human fetal brain library, which encodes a 273 amino acid protein with a molecular mass of about 29.3 kDa and a calculated pI of 8.17. It was named hCutC (human copper transporter protein CutC). The ORF of hCutC gene was cloned into pQE30 vector and expressed in Escherichia coli M15. The secreted hCutC protein was purified to a homogenicity of 95% by using the Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. RT-PCR analysis showed that the hCutC gene expressed extensively in human tissues. Subcellular location analysis of hCutC-EGFP fusion protein revealed that hCutC was distributed to cytoplasm of COS-7 cells, and both cytoplasm and nucleus of AD293 cells. The results suggest that hCutC may be one shuttle protein and play important roles in intracellular copper trafficking.

[Study on aqueous extraction process for preparation of yuxianling granules].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the aqueous extraction process for preparation of Yuxianling Granules in order to provide a basis for industrial-scale produce. METHODS: The amount of extract and the content of ferulic acid were used as indexes of the extraction process for Yuxianling Granules. The aqueous extract optimum condition of preparation was selected by orthogonal experimental design. RESULTS: The optimum extraction condition was adding ten, eight times amount of water into crude drug, soaking for 30 min, decocting for 1.5 h, 1.0 h. Both the content of ferulic acid and the amount of extract were the highest. CONCLUSION: The above extraction process gave the most rational, feasible and satisfactory results.