Study by means of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance of the oxidation process in high oleic sunflower oil and palm oil during deep-frying of fish cakes.

This study aimed to compare the frying performance of palm oil (PO) and high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) during frying aquatic products. The quality change and frying performance of HOSO and PO during frying of fish cakes were investigated. The oxidation and hydrolysis products of both oils were explored by the nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The results showed that the color deepening rate of PO was higher than that of HOSO. After 18 h of frying, the total polar compound content of PO and HOSO reached 25.67% and 27.50%, respectively. HOSO had lower degree of oxidation than PO after 24 h of continuous frying. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content in HOSO and PO significantly decreased. The oleic acid content in HOSO remained above 80% during the frying process. The major aldehydes in both oils were (E, E)-2,4-alkadienals and n-alkanals and glycerol diesters (DAGs) were abundant in PO. Furthermore, the addition of fish cakes had slight effect on the quality of the frying oil. Therefore, HOSO is an appropriate candidate for frying owing to its excellent frying stability and nutritional value.

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.

Harmonizing international quality standards for Andrographis paniculata: A comparative analysis of content determination methods across pharmacopeias.

The quality standards for Andrographis paniculata, a widely used medicinal herb, exhibited significant variations across different pharmacopeias. In this study, we compared the HPLC content determination methods and total lactone content of A. paniculata samples from different regions, as specified in the Chinese (CP), United States (USP), European (EP), Thai (TP), and Indian pharmacopeias (IP), as well as the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HK). We aimed to assess the differences and similarities among these pharmacopeias and harmonized international quality standards for A. paniculata. The analysis revealed variations in sample preparation, liquid chromatographic conditions, fingerprint profiles, and total lactone content among the different pharmacopeias. Specifically, the CP and HK methods exhibited superior sample preparation and chromatographic separation. Further comparing the content of 20 A. paniculata samples with the CP, USP, EP and HK methods showed consistent determinations for the same components, indicating similar detection capabilities. The discrepancies in total lactone content primarily stemmed from differences in the number and types of detected compounds. Moreover, the acceptance criteria exhibited a stringency in the order CP > HK > EP > USP. In conclusion, this comparison analysis of content determination in CP, USP, HK, EP, TP and IP provided a scientific foundation for the international standardization and trade regulations of A. paniculata. It also served as a valuable reference for the development of international quality standards for other medicinal herbs, facilitating the harmonization of global pharmaceutical standards.

Effect of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pills on Coronary Heart Disease Comorbid with Depression or Anxiety: The ADECODE-Real World Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Guanxin Danshen Dripping Pill (GXDSDP) in treating anxiety and depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: A total of 1,428 patients diagnosed with CHD screened for anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) at baseline received 0.4 g of GXDSDP treatment 3 times per day and returned for monthly reassessment. Patients were recruited after stable treatment for CHD and received assessment of General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) for evaluating anxiety, depression, and QOL. Patients were followed up 3 times, once every 4 weeks, during outpatient visits for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the third follow-up (F3), the anxiety symptom of 63.79% (673/1,055) of the patients improved to sub-clinical level, and the GAD-7 score improved significantly (8.11 vs. 3.87, P<0.01); 57.52% (585/1,017) patients' depressive symptoms improved to sub-clinical level, with a significant improvement in PHQ-9 score (8.69 vs. 4.41, P<0.01) at F3. All aspects of QOL significantly improved at the end of treatment compared to those at baseline (all P<0.01) as assessed by SAQ: physical limitation (31.17 vs. 34.14), anginal stability (2.74 vs. 4.14), anginal frequency (8.16 vs. 9.10), treatment satisfaction (13.43 vs. 16.29), and disease perception (8.69 vs. 11.02). CONCLUSIONS: A fixed dosage of GXDSDP may be a potential treatment option for CHD patients comorbid with anxiety or depression. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100051523).

ent-Atisane Diterpenoids from Euphorbia helioscopia and Their Anti-inflammatory Activities.

Phytochemical investigation on the anti-inflammatory fraction extracted from the whole plant of Euphorbia helioscopia L. led to the isolation of three new ent-atisane diterpenoids (1-3) and five known analogues (4-8). The structures and absolute configurations of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of the NMR, MS, IR, ECD, and X-ray crystallography. It is worth mentioning that compound 3 belongs to a rare class of ent-atisane diterpenoid featuring a hydroxyl group at C-9. Bioactivity investigation showed that compounds 4, 7, and 8 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates their anti-inflammatory potential.

A study on the mechanism of action of YiQiYangYindecotion for the treatment of diabetes based on network pharmacology.

To study the mechanism of action of YiQiYangYin decoction on diabetes mellitus by a network pharmacology method. The chemical components and targets of all the drugs in the YiQiYangYin decoction were obtained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID), and the targets of diabetes were screened through the GeneCards and OMIM databases. The obtained targets were imported into Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to construct the active ingredient target network and were imported into the String database to construct the protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network, and the Bisogenet plug-in in Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used for network topology analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto gene and genomic KEGG enrichment analysis were performed on the potential targets of YiQiYangYin decoction for diabetes mellitus using the R language Bioconductor platform, and the results were imported into Cytoscape3.7.2 software to obtain KEGG network relationship maps. Molecular docking software AutoDock Vina was used to dock the core targets with the active ingredients. A total of 61 chemical components and 581 disease targets were obtained, including 1100 intersecting targets. The key targets included ALB, AKT1, and IL-6. GO functional analysis showed that BP was mainly involved in oxidative stress and response to lipopolysaccharide, epithelial cell proliferation, response to oxidative stress and ossification. MF was mainly involved in receptor‒ligand activity, cytokine activity, cytokine receptor binding, nuclear receptor activity, etc. CC was mainly involved in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, transcription factor complex, membrane raft, microfilm region, etc. KEGG enriched 159 signaling pathways, including the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and IL-17-mediated MAPK signaling pathway. The molecular docking results showed that quercetin and lignocaine had good binding activity with AKT1 and ALB. The treatment of diabetes mellitus by YiQiYangYin decoction works through multiple components and targets, which lays the foundation for further study of its mechanism of action.

Salidroside suppresses proliferation and migration in prostate cancer via the PI3K/AKT pathway.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in men. PCa is difficult to detect in its early stages, and most patients are diagnosed in the middle to late stages. At present, drug therapy for advanced PCa is still insufficient. Some patients develop drug resistance in the later stage of therapy, which leads to tumor recurrence, metastasis and even treatment failure. Therefore, it is crucial to find new and effective drugs to treat prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effect of salidroside, an active ingredient in a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on PCa. METHODS: Two human PCa cell lines, PC3 and DU145, were cultured and treated with salidroside. Cell viability and proliferation ability were analyzed through CCK-8 and colony assays, and cell migration ability was detected by Transwell and Scratch assays. RT-PCR and WB were used to detected the expression levels of moleculars related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and AKT signaling pathway. Forthmore, we performed rescue experiments with agonist to verify the affected signaling pathway. RESULTS: Salidroside inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, and migration of PCa cells. Meanwhile, apoptosis of PCa cells was enhanced. Moreover, salidroside inhibited PI3K/AKT pathway in PCa cells. The treatment of AKT agonist 740Y-P abrogated the inhibitory effect of salidroside on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that in PCa cells, salidroside inhibites proliferation and migration and promots apoptosis via inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway.

Efficacy and safety of self-administered acupressure on symptoms, quality of life and nasal mucosal function in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: study protocol for a randomized controlled exploratory trial.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem that can potentially be managed through acupressure. Our clinical observations have identified Allergic Rhinitis Acupressure Therapeutic (ARAT) as a novel acupressure treatment acting on specific acupoints, which may enhance the effectiveness of acupressure. Therefore, we propose a three-arm randomized controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of ARAT for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). METHODS/DESIGN: In this trial, eligible 111 participants diagnosed with PAR will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: the ARAT group, the non-specific acupoints group, or the blank control group. The primary outcome will be the change in the total nasal symptom score, and the secondary outcomes will include: 1) changes in the scores of the standard version of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQs); 2) acoustic rhinometry and anterior rhinomanometry; 3) changes in the scores of relief medication usage; 4) incidence of adverse events. Additionally, we will measure and compare the changes in cytokine levels (IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, and TSLP) in nasal secretions. The RQLQs and primary outcomes will be assessed at the beginning, middle, and end stages of the treatment period, with monthly follow-ups conducted over a total of three months. The secondary outcomes and biomarkers in nasal secretions will be measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. Any adverse events or need for rescue medication will be carefully noted and recorded. DISCUSSION: This study may produce a new acupressure treatment prescription that is easy to learn, more targeted, and adaptable. This trial represents the first clinical investigation comparing ARAT treatment for PAR with the non-specific acupoints group and blank control group. Our data is expected to provide evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ARAT for PAR patients, while also exploring the functional mechanism underlying ARAT treatment, moreover, the results offer valuable insights for healthcare professionals in managing PAR symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300072292. Registered on June 08, 2023.

Effects of fungal agents and biochar on odor emissions and microbial community dynamics during in-situ treatment of food waste.

The effects of the co-addition of fungal agents and biochar on physicochemical properties, odor emissions, microbial community structure, and metabolic functions were investigated during the in-situ treatment of food waste. The combined addition of fungal agents and biochar decreased cumulative NH3, H2S, and VOCs emissions by 69.37%, 67.50%, and 52.02%, respectively. The predominant phyla throughout the process were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Combined treatment significantly impacted the conversion and release of nitrogen from the perspective of the variation of nitrogen content between different forms. FAPROTAX analysis revealed that the combined application of fungal agents and biochar could effectively inhibit nitrite ammonification and reduce the emission of odorous gases. This work aims to clarify the combined effect of fungal agents and biochar on odor emission and provide a theoretical basis for developing an environmentally friendly in-situ efficient biological deodorization (IEBD) technology.

Naringin Regulates Microglia BV-2 Activation and Inflammation via the JAK/STAT3 Pathway.

Objective: Microglial BV-2 cells are activated in the brain following insomnia. Naringin (NAR) is a polymethoxylated flavonoid that is also commonly found in citrus fruits and is known for its antioxidant potential. However, the effect of NAR on microglial cells has rarely been studied in the brain of an organism after insomnia. This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of action of NAR on microglial cell activation and inflammation. Methods: BV-2 cells were obtained from the China Center for Type Culture Collection and randomly divided into five treatment groups: control, model, NAR (10 µM), WP1066 (5 µM), and NAR + WP1066. With the exception of the control group, all groups were stimulated with LPS (1 µg/mL) for 6 h. CCK8 was used to quantify cell viability and a scratch test was performed to detect cell migration. The expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), nterleukin 10 (IL-10), and insulin like growth factor (1IGF-1) were measured by ELISA. Western blotting was performed to determine the levels of p-STAT3 and p-JAK. The Focalcheck™ Thin-Ring Fluorescent Microspheres kit was used to detect cell phagocytosis. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the expression of iNOS and arginase1 in BV-2 cells. Results: Compared with the control group, cell migration, cell viability, and the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS were significantly increased in the model group, whereas the expression levels of IL-10, IGF-1, and arginase 1, as well as cell phagocytosis were reduced. With the increase in NAR concentration, cell migration, cell viability, the expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS decreased, while the expression of IL-10, IGF-1, and arginase 1 increased. Compared with the control group, p-STAT3, and p-JAK expression in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of p-STAT3 and p-JAK in the NAR, NAR + WP1066, and WP1066 groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: NAR treatment inhibited the proliferation, migration, and inflammation of BV-2 cells as well as the activation of microglia to the M1 phenotype. Conversely, NAR treatment promoted the activation of microglia to the M2 phenotype and enhanced the phagocytic function of BV-2 cells by regulating the activity of the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Association Between Exposure to Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Sleep Disorders Among Children in China.

Importance: Healthy sleep has an important role in the physical and mental health of children. However, few studies have investigated the association between outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) and sleep disorders in children. Objective: To explore the associations between outdoor ALAN exposure and sleep disorders in children. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cross-sectional study, part of the National Chinese Children Health Study, was conducted from April 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, in the first stage and from May 1, 2016, to May 31, 2018, in the second stage in 55 districts of 14 cities in China. This analysis included 201 994 children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years. Data were analyzed from February 20 to March 21, 2022. Exposures: Outdoor ALAN exposure (in nanowatts per centimeters squared per steradian) within 500 m of each participant's residential address obtained from the satellite imagery data, with a resolution of approximately 500 m. Main Outcomes and Measures: Sleep disorders were measured by the Chinese version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate the associations of outdoor ALAN with sleep scores and sleep disorders. Results: The study included 201 994 children and adolescents (mean [SD] age, 11.3 [3.2] years; 106 378 boys [52.7%]), 7166 (3.5%) of whom had sleep disorder symptoms. Outdoor ALAN exposure of study participants ranged from 0.02 to 113.48 nW/cm2/sr. Compared with the lowest quintile (Q1) of outdoor ALAN exposure, higher quintiles of exposure (Q2-Q5) were associated with an increase in total sleep scores of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.66-0.96) in Q2, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.68-0.97) in Q3, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.46-0.77) in Q4, and 0.53 (95% CI, 0.36-0.70) in Q5. Higher quintiles of exposure were also associated with odds ratios for sleep disorder of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.23-1.45) in Q2, 1.43 (95% CI, 1.32-1.55) in Q3, 1.31 (95% CI, 1.21-1.43) in Q4, and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.14-1.38) in Q5. Similar associations were observed for sleep disorder subtypes. In addition, greater effect estimates were found among children younger than 12 years. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that sleep disorders are more prevalent among children residing in areas with high levels of outdoor ALAN and the associations are generally stronger in children younger than 12 years. These findings further suggest that effective control of outdoor ALAN may be an important measure for improving the quality of children's sleep.

Protective effects of Ligularia fischeri root extracts against ulcerative colitis in mice through activation of Bcl-2/Bax signalings.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and epithelial barrier dysfunction. The root of Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb.) Turcz. is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with diverse therapeutic properties, which has been successfully used to treat inflammation-related diseases. However, little is known about its effect and mechanism against UC. PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of L. fischeri root extracts against UC. METHODS: L. fischeri root samples were prepared using the alcohol extraction method and liquid-liquid extraction method. A dextran sodium sulfate-induced UC mouse model and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cell model were employed in the present study. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify the abundance of inflammatory factors in tissues. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining were employed to analyze drug toxicity to the liver and kidney. A myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay kit was used to detect neutrophil infiltration in colon tissues. RT-qPCR was then employed to quantify the transcriptional levels of proinflammatory and apoptotic-related genes, while tight junction and apoptosis-related proteins were quantified via western blotting. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry analysis was then performed to identify the natural compounds in L. fischeri root extracts. RESULTS: The water decoction extract, methanol extract, and especially the chloroform extract (CE) exerted potent therapeutic effects in UC mice. Similar to the positive control group (5-aminosalicylic acid), oral administration of CE (30, 60, and 90 mg/kg/d) elicited distinct therapeutic effects on UC mice in the medium- and high-dose groups. CE decreased disease activity index, histopathological score, and MPO level significantly, and effectively retained the colon length. Furthermore, CE significantly reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α and enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins, such as zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2, claudin-1, and occludin, as well as the transcriptional levels of mucins, such as MUC-1 and MUC-2, in UC mice. Notably, CE prevented apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells by up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating Bax. Also, CE inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages via the activation of Bcl-2/Bax signals. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, L. fischeri root extracts, especially CE, have obvious therapeutic effects against UC. CE reduces inflammation and protects the intestinal epithelial cells and intestinal epithelial barrier via activation of the Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway, and may be a promising therapeutic agent for UC treatment.

Clinical efficacy of melatonin as adjunctive therapy to non-surgical treatment of periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adjunctive melatonin supplementation on clinical outcomes after non-surgical periodontal treatment. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of melatonin adjuvant therapy for periodontitis from inception until May 2021. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered on The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021250630). The risk of bias of included studies was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The pooled effect estimates were calculated by a random-effects model, and results were expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD). RESULTS: Seven RCTs comprising 412 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that adjuvant use of melatonin for non-surgical periodontal treatment significantly improved the probing depth (PD) [WMD = - 1.18, 95% CI (- 1.75, - 0.62) I2 = 85.7%], clinical attachment loss (CAL) [WMD = - 1.16, 95% CI (- 1.60, - 0.72) I2 = 76.7%] and gingival index (WMD = - 0.29, 95%CI [- 0.48, - 0.11], I2 = 63.6%) compared with non-surgical treatment alone. In addition, subgroup analysis showed that higher doses of melatonin (3-10 mg) significantly improved PD [WMD = - 1.32, 95%CI (- 2.31, - 0.15) I2 = 93%] and CAL [WMD = - 1.30, 95%CI (- 1.80, - 0.81) I2 = 73.7%] compared with lower doses of melatonin (< 3 mg). CONCLUSIONS: We found that adjunctive melatonin supplementation can significantly improve the periodontal status after non-surgical treatment, suggesting that melatonin may be a new adjuvant therapy for periodontitis when non-surgical periodontal treatment alone cannot achieve the desired improvement.

Progress and Viewpoints of Multifunctional Composite Nanomaterials for Glioblastoma Theranostics.

The most common malignant tumor of the brain is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adults. Many patients die shortly after diagnosis, and only 6% of patients survive more than 5 years. Moreover, the current average survival of malignant brain tumors is only about 15 months, and the recurrence rate within 2 years is almost 100%. Brain diseases are complicated to treat. The reason for this is that drugs are challenging to deliver to the brain because there is a blood-brain barrier (BBB) protection mechanism in the brain, which only allows water, oxygen, and blood sugar to enter the brain through blood vessels. Other chemicals cannot enter the brain due to their large size or are considered harmful substances. As a result, the efficacy of drugs for treating brain diseases is only about 30%, which cannot satisfy treatment expectations. Therefore, researchers have designed many types of nanoparticles and nanocomposites to fight against the most common malignant tumors in the brain, and they have been successful in animal experiments. This review will discuss the application of various nanocomposites in diagnosing and treating GBM. The topics include (1) the efficient and long-term tracking of brain images (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, and near-infrared light (NIR)); (2) breaking through BBB for drug delivery; and (3) natural and chemical drugs equipped with nanomaterials. These multifunctional nanoparticles can overcome current difficulties and achieve progressive GBM treatment and diagnosis results.

Integrated therapy platform of exosomal system: hybrid inorganic/organic nanoparticles with exosomes for cancer treatment.

Recent studies have found that exosomes or extracellular vehicles (EVs) are associated with cancer metastasis, disease progression, diagnosis, and treatment, leading to a rapidly emerging area of exocrine vesicle research. Relying on the superior targeting function and bio-compatibility of exosomes, researchers have been able to deliver drugs to cancer stem cells deep within tumors in mouse models. Despite significant efforts made in this relatively new field of exosome research, progress has been held back by challenges such as inefficient separation methods, difficulties in characterization/tracking, and a lack of specific biomarkers. Therefore, current researches are devoted to combining nanomaterials with exosomes to improve these shortcomings. Adding inorganic/organic nanoparticles such as artificial liposomes and iron oxide can bring more drug options and various fluorescent or magnetic diagnostic possibilities to the exosome system. Moreover, the applications of exosomes need to be further evaluated under actual physiological conditions. This review article highlights the potential of exosome-biomimetic nanoparticles for their use as drug carriers to improve the efficacy of anticancer therapy.

Plasmon-Triggered Upconversion Emissions and Hot Carrier Injection for Combinatorial Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Despite the unique ability of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to convert near-infrared (NIR) light to high-energy UV-vis radiation, low quantum efficiency has rendered their application unpractical in biomedical fields. Here, we report anatase titania-coated plasmonic gold nanorods decorated with UCNPs (Au NR@aTiO2@UCNPs) for combinational photothermal and photodynamic therapy to treat cancer. Our novel architecture employs the incorporation of an anatase titanium dioxide (aTiO2) photosensitizer as a spacer and exploits the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties of the Au core. The LSPR-derived near-field enhancement induces a threefold boost of upconversion emissions, which are re-absorbed by neighboring aTiO2 and Au nanocomponents. Photocatalytic experiments strongly infer that LSPR-induced hot electrons are injected into the conduction band of aTiO2, generating reactive oxygen species. As phototherapeutic agents, our hybrid nanostructures show remarkable in vitro anticancer effect under NIR light [28.0% cancer cell viability against Au NR@aTiO2 (77.3%) and UCNP@aTiO2 (98.8%)] ascribed to the efficient radical formation and LSPR-induced heat generation, with cancer cell death primarily following an apoptotic pathway. In vivo animal studies further confirm the tumor suppression ability of Au NR@aTiO2@UCNPs through combinatorial photothermal and photodynamic effect. Our hybrid nanomaterials emerge as excellent multifunctional phototherapy agents, providing a valuable addition to light-triggered cancer treatments in deep tissue.

Shumian capsule improves symptoms of sleep mood disorder in convalescent patients of Corona Virus Disease 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Shumian capsule in improving the symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of convalescent patients of COVID-19. METHODS: Totally 200 patients were collected and randomly divided into experiment group (n = 100) and control group (n = 100). The control group was treated with Shumian capsule simulator, and the experiment group was treated with Shumian capsule. The improvement of TCM symptom score, the total effective rate and symptom disappearance rate of TCM symptoms in the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical effect was evaluated. RESULTS: One week after treatment, the scores of anxiety symptoms in the experiment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the scores of insomnia and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total effective rate and disappearance rate of TCM symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P > 0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the scores of insomnia, anxiety, depression and the total effective rate of TCM symptoms in the experiment group were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the disappearance rate of insomnia, anxiety and depression between the experiment group and the control group (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in heart rate, respiration, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure between the experiment group and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shumian capsule can significantly improve the symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression in COVID-19's convalescent patients with sleep and mood disorders.

[Thought on diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for facial spasm based on qijie theory].

In the guidance of qijie (qi street, path of qi ) theory, the thought on diagnosis and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion for facial spasm is analyzed. Qijie theory is a summary of the horizontal distribution rule of human body and the conclusion of the characteristics of function and indication in a certain area. In terms of spatial location and functional characteristics, facial spasm is related to "head qijie". In treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, the local acupoints are predominated. Additionally, the distal acupoints are selected based on the characteristics of qijie in pathological condition, "qijie is unblocked even though the obstruction occurs in minor collateral"; and the acupoints for calming the mind are combined based on the relationship between head qijie and the brain function, aiming to regulating the body, qi and spirit. Regarding the techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion, align with the spatial location and hierarchical location of disease, the depth of filiform needle insertion and needling stimulation are specified and the palpation on the local meridians and acupoints are emphasized before acupuncture specially.

Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawater.

Six aerobic Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from seawater in Guangdong Province, P.R. China. Cells were observed to be Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore forming. Growth of the designated type strain 19X3-30T occurred at a temperature range of 14-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), a pH range of 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7) and up to 7.5% NaCl (optimum, 1.5%; w/v), and was enhanced by CO2 and L-cysteine supplementation. The major polar lipids identified in strain 19X3-30T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The principal cellular fatty acids profile showed the presence of anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0 (> 8% of total fatty acids), and the respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8). According to the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, these strains represented a novel species within the family Fastidiosibacteraceae, sharing maximum similarities with Cysteiniphilum litorale DSM 101832T (96.6%) and Cysteiniphilum halobium DSM 103992T (95.3%). Phylogenetic dendrograms based on 16S rRNA gene and protein marker genes from the genomic sequences both indicated that the strains formed a monophyletic lineage closely linked to the genus Cysteiniphilum, which was also supported by the UPGMA dendrogram based on the MALDI-TOF MS profile. The genomic DNA G + C contents of six strains ranged from 38.0% to 38.1%. Based on different taxonomic genomic metrics, phylogeny and phenotypic features, we propose that the strains warrant the assignment to a novel species, for which the name Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 19X3-30T (= KCTC 82154T = CGMCC 1.18585T).

To assess the effective and safety of compound glutamine entersoluble capsules in irritable bowel syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one the common medical condition of functional GI disorder (FGD) characterized by bowel-related symptoms without other organic gastrointestinal (GI) disease. Compound Glutamine Entersoluble Capsules(CGEC),a compound preparation in which each capsule contains 120 mg L-glutamine, 50 mg ginseng, 50 mg licorice, 50 mg Atractylodes macrocephala and 50 mg Poria cocos, have been reported the efficacy of CGEC for patients with IBS in improving the clinical symptoms and quality of patients' life. However, there is no a systematic review related to CGEC for IBS to this day. In this study, we will systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CGEC in the treatment of IBS-D with a meta-analysis method, so as to provide a solid evidence for clinical practice. METHODS: In this study, a literature search was performed by using the Chinese and English databases, which include PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, the VIP information resource integration service platform (cqvip), China Biology Medicine Disc (Sino Med),and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), to find the related literature of CGEC in the treatment of IBS published from the inception date of each predefined database upto January 2021. The evaluation of the risk of bias for eligible studies will be performed by two investigators. Data synthesis will be performed by RevMan 5.4 software. Heterogeneity between studies can be assessed by a heterogeneity X2 test. The degree of heterogeneity among multiple included studies can be measured by I2. The stability of systematic review or meta-analysis outcomes will be evaluated by Sensitivity analysis. Reporting bias will be evaluated by funnel plot. Finally, The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) will be used to assess the quality of evidence obtained. RESULTS: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Whether it is the effectiveness and safety of CGEC in the treatment of IBS will be judged in the result of this systematic review.