Rice Bran Supplementation Ameliorates Gut Dysbiosis and Muscle Atrophy in Ovariectomized Mice Fed with a High-Fat Diet.

Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling, is rich in fiber and phytochemicals and confers several health benefits. However, its effects on gut microbiota and obesity-related muscle atrophy in postmenopausal status remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of rice bran on gut microbiota, muscle synthesis, and breakdown pathways in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) mice receiving a high-fat diet (HFD). ICR female mice were divided into five groups: sham, OVX mice receiving control diet (OC); OVX mice receiving HFD (OH); OVX mice receiving control diet and rice bran (OR); and OVX mice receiving HFD and rice bran (OHR). After twelve weeks, relative muscle mass and grip strength were high in rice bran diet groups. IL-6, TNF-α, MuRf-1, and atrogin-1 expression levels were lower, and Myog and GLUT4 were higher in the OHR group. Rice bran upregulated the expression of occludin and ZO-1 (gut tight junction proteins). The abundance of Akkermansiaceae in the cecum was relatively high in the OHR group. Our finding revealed that rice bran supplementation ameliorated gut barrier dysfunction and gut dysbiosis and also maintained muscle mass by downregulating the expression of MuRf-1 and atrogin-1 (muscle atrophy-related factors) in HFD-fed OVX mice.

Extraction optimization and identification of four advanced glycation-end products inhibitors from lotus leaves and interaction mechanism analysis.

Previous research indicated lotus leaves extract could effectively inhibit advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation, but the optimal extraction condition, bio-active compounds and interaction mechanism remain unclear. The current study was designed to optimize the extraction parameters of AGEs inhibitors from lotus leaves by bio-activity-guided approach. The bio-active compounds were enriched and identified, the interaction mechanisms of inhibitors with ovalbumin (OVA) were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking. The optimum extraction parameters were solid-liquid ratio of 1:30, ethanol concentration of 70 %, ultrasonic time of 40 min, temperature of 50 °C, and power of 400 W. Isoquercitrin, hyperoside, astragalin, and trifolin were identified from the 80 % ethanol fraction of lotus leaves (80HY). Hyperoside and isoquercitrin were dominant AGEs inhibitors and accounted for 55.97 % of 80HY. Isoquercitrin, hyperoside, trifolin interacted with OVA via the same mechanism, hyperoside exhibited the strongest affinity, trifolin caused the most conformational changes.

Characteristic pollutant purification analysis of modified phosphogypsum comprehensive utilization.

The waste product phosphogypsum (PG) is produced in phosphoric acid production processes. Its storage requires large amounts of land resources and poses serious environmental risks. In this work, detailed experimental research was carried out to investigate the potential reuse of PG after calcination modification as a novel building material for cast-in-place concrete products. The calcination modification mechanism was studied, and the environmental risk assessment of modified PG was presented. The results showed that the calcination modification includes crystal phase transformation, removal of impurities, and modifying the pH value. The calcination was carried out at 280 °C for 5 h, where the resulting product was a pH value of 7.1, and the soluble fluorine and phosphorus removal rates reached up to 69.2% and 71.2%, respectively. These removal rates met the requirements of the China national standard Phosphogypsum (GB/T 23456-2018). To ensure the environmental safety, ecological risk assessment methods for determining the leaching toxicity of the modified PG were employed. The toxicity of Ba and P elements in the modified PG products was assessed, as well as the leaching toxicity concentrations of all particular heavy metals, which were found well below the limits set by the national standards. All the results presented strongly suggest that the 280 °C modified PG presented here has excellent application potential as a raw component in building materials.

[Analysis of prescription regularity of traditional Chinese medicine for colorectal cancer based on data mining].

The tumor prescriptions contained in Dictionary of Tumor Formulas, Compendium of Good Tumor Formulas, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Ministry of Health Drug Standards for Chinese Medicine Formulas and National Compilation of Standards for Proprietary Chinese Medicines were selected and organized to construct a database for tumor prescriptions, and the data mining techniques were applied to investigate the prescription regularity of colorectal cancer prescriptions. The formula data were extracted after screening in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were then analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010 for frequency statistics, Apriori block provided by SPSS Clementine 12.0 software for correlation rule analysis, and arules and arulesViz packages in R 4.0.2 software for correlation rule visualization. In addition, SPSS 18.0 software was used for cluster analysis and factor analysis, in which cluster analysis was performed by Ochiai algorithm with bicategorical variables in systematic clustering method and factor analysis was performed mainly with principal component analysis. A total of 285 prescriptions were included in the statistical analysis, and the frequency statistics showed that 43 herbs had been used more than 16 times. The association rules analysis showed that 26 high-frequency me-dicine pair rules were obtained, and the association rules for those dispelling evil spirits, strengthening the body, resolving stasis, dispelling dampness, etc. were visualized. In the cluster analysis, we generated a dendrogram from which 7 groups of traditional Chinese medicines with homogeneity were extracted. 10 common factors were obtained in the factor analysis. The types of herbal medicines involved in the colorectal cancer prescription included anti-cancer antidotes, strengthening and tonifying medicines, blood-regulating medicines, and expectorant medicines, corresponding to the treatment for eliminating evil spirits, strengthening, resolving stasis, and expectorating dampness. The prescriptions for anti-cancer detoxification were normally based on the pairs composed of Scutellaria barbata-Hedyotis diffusa and Sophora flavescens, Sargentodoxa cuneata, S. barbata, often combined with stasis relieving drug and dampness eliminating drug, reflecting the characteristics of treatment for both toxicity and stasis, dampness and toxicity simultaneously. The prescriptions for strengthening the righteousness and tonifying the deficiency were composed of Astragalus membranaceus and Atractylodes macrocephala mainly, exerting the effect of benefiting Qi, strengthening the spleen and drying dampness, tonifying kidney and essence, tonifying blood and invigorating blood. Meanwhile, anti-cancer detoxification medicines shall be reduced as much as possible. The compatibility of the medicines for the intestinal tract reflected the principle of using the right medicine for the right condition and eliminating evil spirits or strengthening the body, as appropriate.

Impact of Caring for Terminally Ill Children on Physicians: A Systematic Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Caring for terminally ill children influences nurses' and allied health provider's quality of life, ability to provide personalized, dignified and empathetic care and even their concepts of personhood. In the absence of data this review utilizes the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP) to evaluate how a physician's concept of personhood is affected caring for terminally ill children in order to better support them holistically. METHODS: Using PRISMA Guidelines, 14 researchers carried out independent searches of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and gray literature databases for articles published between 2000 to 2019. Concurrent and independent employment of content and thematic analysis (Split Approach) was used to enhance the trustworthiness of the analysis. RESULTS: 13,424 titles and abstracts were retrieved, 188 full texts were evaluated, and 39 articles were included and analyzed. Identical categories and themes identified using the Split Approach suggest that caring for dying children in PPC impacts the physician's professional identity, clinical decision making, personal well-being and relationships. The data also suggests that the magnitude of these effects depends on the presence of protective and risk factors. CONCLUSION: Aside from providing a novel insight into the upon the physician, this review proffers a unique approach to accounting for the presence, magnitude and influence of incoming catalysts, resultant conflicts, and protective and risk factors upon the physician's personhood. Further studies into the changes in personhood are required. Design of a personalized assessment tool based on the RToP will help direct timely, appropriate and personalized support to these physicians.

Analysis of prescription regularity of traditional Chinese medicine for colorectal cancer based on data mining / 中国中药杂志

The tumor prescriptions contained in Dictionary of Tumor Formulas, Compendium of Good Tumor Formulas, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Ministry of Health Drug Standards for Chinese Medicine Formulas and National Compilation of Standards for Proprietary Chinese Medicines were selected and organized to construct a database for tumor prescriptions, and the data mining techniques were applied to investigate the prescription regularity of colorectal cancer prescriptions. The formula data were extracted after screening in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were then analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010 for frequency statistics, Apriori block provided by SPSS Clementine 12.0 software for correlation rule analysis, and arules and arulesViz packages in R 4.0.2 software for correlation rule visualization. In addition, SPSS 18.0 software was used for cluster analysis and factor analysis, in which cluster analysis was performed by Ochiai algorithm with bicategorical variables in systematic clustering method and factor analysis was performed mainly with principal component analysis. A total of 285 prescriptions were included in the statistical analysis, and the frequency statistics showed that 43 herbs had been used more than 16 times. The association rules analysis showed that 26 high-frequency me-dicine pair rules were obtained, and the association rules for those dispelling evil spirits, strengthening the body, resolving stasis, dispelling dampness, etc. were visualized. In the cluster analysis, we generated a dendrogram from which 7 groups of traditional Chinese medicines with homogeneity were extracted. 10 common factors were obtained in the factor analysis. The types of herbal medicines involved in the colorectal cancer prescription included anti-cancer antidotes, strengthening and tonifying medicines, blood-regulating medicines, and expectorant medicines, corresponding to the treatment for eliminating evil spirits, strengthening, resolving stasis, and expectorating dampness. The prescriptions for anti-cancer detoxification were normally based on the pairs composed of Scutellaria barbata-Hedyotis diffusa and Sophora flavescens, Sargentodoxa cuneata, S. barbata, often combined with stasis relieving drug and dampness eliminating drug, reflecting the characteristics of treatment for both toxicity and stasis, dampness and toxicity simultaneously. The prescriptions for strengthening the righteousness and tonifying the deficiency were composed of Astragalus membranaceus and Atractylodes macrocephala mainly, exerting the effect of benefiting Qi, strengthening the spleen and drying dampness, tonifying kidney and essence, tonifying blood and invigorating blood. Meanwhile, anti-cancer detoxification medicines shall be reduced as much as possible. The compatibility of the medicines for the intestinal tract reflected the principle of using the right medicine for the right condition and eliminating evil spirits or strengthening the body, as appropriate.

Pomegranate peel extract ameliorates the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via modulation of gut microbiota.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CNS autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and inflammatory infiltration with a high disability rate. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the importance of gut microbiota as an environmental risk factor in MS and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Diet is the main determinant of gut microbiota composition and function, which greatly affects the shaping of microbial structure. Pomegranate peel, a waste product in the production of juice, is rich in health-promoting compounds. However, its individual constituents, immunoregulatory activities, and action associated with bacterial diversity in the gut microbiota are largely unknown. Here, the main nutrient ingredients of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) were identified as phenols, flavonoids, amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, lipids, nucleotides, organic acids, alcohols, and vitamins via metabolomics evaluation. We found, for the first time, oral PPE (100 mg/kg/day) not only effectively relieves EAE, inhibits CNS inflammatory factor infiltration and myelin loss, but also reshapes gut microbiota. Furthermore, recipient EAE mice with fecal transplantation from the PPE-treated donor delayed the disease development significantly. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the increased gut microbiota richness in PPE-treated group. Among them, Lactobacillaceae enriched significantly, while Alcaligenaceae and Acidaminococcacea decreased remarkably. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that gut microbiota mediated the beneficial effects of oral PPE on EAE, and provided new ideas for developing the prebiotic value of pomegranate peel for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The impact of death and dying on the personhood of medical students: a systematic scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The re-introduction of medical students into healthcare systems struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns as to whether they will be supported when confronted with death and dying patients in resource-limited settings and with reduced support from senior clinicians. Better understanding of how medical students respond to death and dying will inform educationalists and clinicians on how to best support them. METHODS: We adopt Krishna's Systematic Evidence Based Approach to carry out a Systematic Scoping Review (SSR in SEBA) on the impact of death and dying on medical students. This structured search process and concurrent use of thematic and directed content analysis of data from six databases (Split Approach) enhances the transparency and reproducibility of this review. RESULTS: Seven thousand six hundred nineteen were identified, 149 articles reviewed and 52 articles included. The Split Approach revealed similar themes and categories that correspond to the Innate, Individual, Relational and Societal domains in the Ring Theory of Personhood. CONCLUSION: Facing death and dying amongst their patients affect how medical students envisage their personhood. This underlines the need for timely, holistic and longitudinal support systems to ensure that problems faced are addressed early. To do so, there must be effective training and a structured support mechanism.

[Effect of medicated thread moxibustion of Chinese Zhuang Minority medicine on colonic inflammatory impairment and Th17/IL-17F signaling in rats with ulcerative colitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of medicated thread moxibustion of Zhuang Minority medicine on helper T cell 17 (Th17)/ Interleukin-17F(IL-17F) signaling pathway in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of UC. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, medication and medicated thread moxibustion (MTM) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The UC model was induced by free drinking of 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 10 d. After successful modeling, rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of salazosulfapyridine (SASP). Medicated thread moxibustion was applied to unilateral "Tianshu" (ST25) and "Qihai" (CV6) alternatively for rats of the MTM group, once daily for 14 d. The body mass, stool shape, and fecal occult test were recorded and conducted daily to perform disease activity index (DAI) score. H．E. staining was used to display pathological changes of the colon tissue. The Th17 cells and IL-17F and retinoic acid related orphan receptor γ t (ROR-γt) in the colon tissue were detected by flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively, and the expression levels of RORγt and IL-17F mRNA in colon tissue were detected by quantitive real-time PCR. RESULTS: After modeling, the DAI score, colonic Th17 percentage, RORγt and IL-17F contents, and RORγt and IL-17F mRNA expression were significantly increased in the model group in contrast to the normal control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Following the intervention, all the aforementioned indexes were reversed in both medication and MTM groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the medication and MTM groups in the levels of the above mentioned indexes (P>0.05, except RORγt and IL-17F mRNA expression). H．E. staining showed disappearance of goblet cells, infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells, exfoliation of the epithelial tissue and edema of colonic mucosal in rats of the model group, which was relatively milder in both medication and MTM groups. CONCLUSION: Medicated thread moxibustion of Zhuang Minority medicine can reduce the inflammatory damage of colon tissue in UC rats, which is associated with its effects in suppressing the expression of RORγt, production of Th17 cells, and secretion of pro-inflammatory factor IL-17F in colon tissue.

Dose-Escalated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: 15-Year Outcomes Data.

PURPOSE: To report 15-year outcomes for dose-escalated intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for localized prostate cancer (PC) by evaluating biochemical relapse, distant metastases, cancer-specific survival, and long-term toxicity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A database search was conducted for the first cohort of patients treated at this institution with 81 or 86.4 Gy between 1996 and 1998 using IMRT. Toxicity data were scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Median follow-up was 11.6 years (range, 5-21 years). RESULTS: In the study, 301 patients were treated with 81 Gy (n = 269, 89%) or 86.4 Gy (n = 32, 11%). Patients were analyzed by National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk group, with 29% low risk (LR), 49% intermediate risk (IR), and 22% high risk (HR). Late grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was seen in 3 patients (1.0%). No grade 4 GI toxicity events occurred. Median time from radiation therapy to late grade 3 GI toxicity was 2.9 years. One event occurred after 10 years. Late grade 3 and 4 genitourinary (GU) toxicity was seen in 6 (2.0%) and 1 (0.3%) patient, respectively. Median time to late grade 3+ GU toxicity was 5.5 years. Two events occurred after 10 years. In addition, 38 (12.6%) developed second primary malignancies (SPMs), 8 of which were in-field malignancies. Median time from radiation therapy to all SPM and in-field SPM was 10 years. The 15-year relapse-free survival was 76%, 65%, and 55% in the LR, IR, and HR groups, respectively. Distant metastases-free survival was 88%, 75%, and 63% for LR, IR, and HR patients, respectively. PC-specific mortality was 1.9%, 7.1%, and 12.2% for LR, IR, and HR patients. CONCLUSIONS: This report represents the longest follow-up data set to our knowledge of patients treated with high-dose IMRT for PC. Our findings indicate that it is well tolerated with 1.0% and 2.3% incidence of long-term grade 3+ GI and GU toxicity, respectively. The cohort had excellent PC-specific survival.

[Determination of three anthroic acids in petri dish cultured Antrodia camphorate by quantitative analysis of multi-component with single marker].

The present study is establish the quantitative analysis of multi-component with single marker for determining three anthroic acids, (25S)-antcin K, (25R)-antcin K and (25S)-antcin C in the petri dish cultured Antrodia camphorata. The relative correction factors of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K were established by high performance liquid chromatography with (25S)-antcin C as the internal reference. Relative correction factors were used to calculate the contents of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K which were difficult to gain in abundance. At the same time, the contents of these three compounds were determined by external standard method. Two methods were compared to evaluate the accuracy and rationality of the multi-components with single marker method in the determination of the petri dish cultured A. camphorate. It was found that the quantitative method of multi-component with single marker and external standard method showed no significant difference. In summary, taking (25S)-antcin C as the internal reference, the method of multi-component with single marker can be applied to the quantitative analysis of (25S)-antcin K and (25R)-antcin K in the petri dish cultured A. camphorata.

Polysaccharides from Bupleurum Induce Immune Reversal in Late Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Bupleurum chinense, a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used for thousands of years in China. In this study, we would suggest that Bupleurum polysaccharides (BPS) could improve the prognosis of sepsis through its impact on redistribution of BMCs, which triggers immune reversal in late sepsis. METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: sham burn group, burn plus P aeruginosa group, burn plus P aeruginosa with BPS (40 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg) treatment group, and they were sacrificed at post-burn day (PBD) 0, 3, 5, and 7. BMCs, liver cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) were harvested. Flow cytometry was used to determine the change of phenotypes of DCs and isolate these cells. Cytometric beads array was utilized to analyze the level of inflammatory factors. Cell therapy of BMCs, liver cells, and DCs was administrated to explore the protective role of regional organ immunity. RESULTS: BPS could decrease the lethality of burn sepsis in a dose-dependent fashion and increase both the percentage of CD11cCD45RB DCs in bone marrow (BM) and liver and the number of BMCs and liver cells significantly. Cell therapy of BMCs, liver cells, and CD11cCD45RB DCs at PBD7 could protect septic mice from sepsis. CONCLUSION: BPS has shown its potential in promoting the prognosis of post-burn sepsis through its effect on immune redistribution of BMCs, especially via differentiation of CD11cCD45RB DC cells in BM and nonimmune organs to induce immune reversal in late sepsis.

Unification of favourable intermediate-, unfavourable intermediate-, and very high-risk stratification criteria for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To improve on the existing risk-stratification systems for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective investigation including 2 248 patients undergoing dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) at a single institution. We separated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) intermediate-risk prostate cancer into 'favourable' and 'unfavourable' groups based on primary Gleason pattern, percentage of positive biopsy cores (PPBC), and number of NCCN intermediate-risk factors. Similarly, NCCN high-risk prostate cancer was stratified into 'standard' and 'very high-risk' groups based on primary Gleason pattern, PPBC, number of NCCN high-risk factors, and stage T3b-T4 disease. Patients with unfavourable-intermediate-risk (UIR) prostate cancer had significantly inferior prostate-specific antigen relapse-free survival (PSA-RFS, P < 0.001), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, P < 0.001), prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM, P < 0.001), and overall survival (OS, P < 0.001) compared with patients with favourable-intermediate-risk (FIR) prostate cancer. Similarly, patients with very high-risk (VHR) prostate cancer had significantly worse PSA-RFS (P < 0.001), DMFS (P < 0.001), and PCSM (P = 0.001) compared with patients with standard high-risk (SHR) prostate cancer. Moreover, patients with FIR and low-risk prostate cancer had similar outcomes, as did patients with UIR and SHR prostate cancer. RESULTS: Consequently, we propose the following risk-stratification system: Group 1, low risk and FIR; Group 2, UIR and SHR; and Group 3, VHR. These groups have markedly different outcomes, with 8-year distant metastasis rates of 3%, 9%, and 29% (P < 0.001) for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and 8-year PCSM of 1%, 4%, and 13% (P < 0.001) after EBRT. This modified stratification system was significantly more accurate than the three-tiered NCCN system currently in clinical use for all outcomes. CONCLUSION: Modifying the NCCN risk-stratification system to group FIR with low-risk patients and UIR with SHR patients, results in modestly improved prediction of outcomes, potentially allowing better personalisation of therapeutic recommendations.

[Expression of YY 1 protein in human insulinoma and its clinical implication].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein in human insulinoma and explore its clinical significance. METHODS: Nineteen pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissue were collected from patients treated in Nanfang Hospital between 2000 and 2014. The protein expression of YY1 in benign and malignant insulinoma tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Positive expression for YY1 protein was detected in both benign and malignant tumor tissues, but the malignant tissues had a significantly greater intensity of YY1 expression than the benign tissues (P=0.042). The intensity of YY1 expression was positively correlated with the nature of the tumor, and the insulinomas with high expressions of YY1 had significantly greater malignant potentials (P=0.037). CONCLUSION: The high expression of YY1 protein is associated with the development of insulinima. YY1 may serve as a new tumor marker for detecting the malignant transformation of insulinoma.

Expression of YY 1 protein in human insulinoma and its clinical implication / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein in human insulinoma and explore its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissue were collected from patients treated in Nanfang Hospital between 2000 and 2014. The protein expression of YY1 in benign and malignant insulinoma tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Positive expression for YY1 protein was detected in both benign and malignant tumor tissues, but the malignant tissues had a significantly greater intensity of YY1 expression than the benign tissues (P=0.042). The intensity of YY1 expression was positively correlated with the nature of the tumor, and the insulinomas with high expressions of YY1 had significantly greater malignant potentials (P=0.037).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high expression of YY1 protein is associated with the development of insulinima. YY1 may serve as a new tumor marker for detecting the malignant transformation of insulinoma.</p>

Mass effect of redox reactions: A novel mode for surface plasmon resonance-based bioanalysis.

The pursuit of more specific and sensitive response is a perpetual goal for modern bioassays. This work proposed a novel label-free strategy about redox-related mass effect based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique for ultrasensitive determination of DNA. The protocol starts with the modification of SPR gilded disk with the capture DNA (cDNA). After the conjugation of immobilized cDNA with the target DNA (tDNA), the hybridization chain reaction was triggered by the introduction of mutual partial complementary primers to elongate the terminal into a nanoscale duplex. As it is reported that porphyrin could intercalate into the grooves of the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) scaffold, multiple positive-charged Fe(III)meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphine (FeTMPyP) with symmetric structure were uptaken for in situ formation of porphyrin-dsDNA complex. Given FeTMPyP a highly efficient catalysis for the peroxide reduction, its presence as a biomimetic cofactor was validated via circular dichroism and UV-vis spectroscopy, demonstrating a tight binding as well as high catalytic activity and stability. Using 4-chloro-1-naphthol as a proton donor, the catalytic reduction of H2O2 would oxidize it into insoluble benzo-4-chloro-hexadienone, which simultaneously deposited on the heterogeneous interface, leading to a significant amplification in both SPR response and topological height profile. The signal increment was proportional to the concentration of tDNA, thus an ultrasensitive SPR-based DNA assay was developed with a linear range over four orders of magnitudes and a sub-femtomolar detection limit of 0.73 fM. The developed methodology exemplifies a different way of thinking about mass-sensing modes, extending conventional SPR-based DNA analysis to relevant biomedical applications.

Statin use not associated with improved outcomes in patients treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between statin use and prostate cancer outcomes in intermediate- and high-risk patients treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1998 and 2010, 754 men with National Comprehensive Cancer Network intermediate- (n = 627) and high-risk (n = 127) prostate cancer were treated with prostate brachytherapy at our institution. Patients received either low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate brachytherapy as monotherapy or in combination with supplemental external beam radiotherapy. Two hundred eighty-five patients (37.8%) also received androgen-deprivation therapy. Two hundred seventy-three men (36.2%) were identified as taking statin medication before initiating radiation therapy. Prostate-specific antigen relapse-free survival (PSA-RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival were compared using log-rank tests. Associations of patient and treatment characteristics with outcomes were analyzed with univariate and multivariate regression. The median followup was 48 months. RESULTS: The 8-year PSA-RFS for intermediate-risk, high-risk, and all patients was 92.2%, 64.1%, and 87.7%, respectively. The 8-year DMFS was 97.1%, 82.9%, and 94.9%, respectively. The 8-year overall survival for the entire cohort was 86.6%. There were no significant differences between statin users and nonusers when stratified by risk group, nor when analyzed as a full cohort. On multivariate analysis, Gleason score 4 + 3 = 7 and >7 were significantly associated with worse PSA-RFS (p ≤ 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). Gleason score > 7 (p = 0.008) and the use of neoadjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy (p = 0.03) was associated with worse DMFS. Statin use did not significantly impact PSA-RFS or DMFS. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment statin use is not associated with improved outcomes in intermediate- and high-risk patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy-based regimens for prostate cancer.

WLPVG approach to the analysis of EEG-based functional brain network under manual acupuncture.

Functional brain network, one of the main methods for brain functional studies, can provide the connectivity information among brain regions. In this research, EEG-based functional brain network is built and analyzed through a new wavelet limited penetrable visibility graph (WLPVG) approach. This approach first decompose EEG into δ, θ, α, ß sub-bands, then extracting nonlinear features from single channel signal, in addition forming a functional brain network for each sub-band. Manual acupuncture (MA) as a stimulation to the human nerve system, may evoke varied modulating effects in brain activities. To investigating whether and how this happens, WLPVG approach is used to analyze the EEGs of 15 healthy subjects with MA at acupoint ST36 on the right leg. It is found that MA can influence the complexity of EEG sub-bands in different ways and lead the functional brain networks to obtain higher efficiency and stronger small-world property compared with pre-acupuncture control state.

Isolation, characterization, and antitumor activity of a novel heteroglycan from cultured mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis.

A novel heteroglycan, Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide 1 (molecular weight 1 17 × 10(5) Da), was isolated and purified from mycelia of the fungus C. sinensis obtained by solid-state culture. Structural characterization by chemical analysis, GC-MS, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy showed that C. sinensis polysaccharide 1 was mainly composed of (1 → 6)-linked α-D-Glc and α-D-Gal, with minor ß-(1 → 4)-D-Xyl and ß-(1 → 4)-D-Man residues probably located in the side chains with a trace amount of α-(1 → 3)-L-Rha residue. In biological assays, C. sinensis polysaccharide 1 significantly inhibited proliferation of sarcoma 180 cells and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies will elucidate the antitumor mechanism of C. sinensis polysaccharide 1 and promote its utilization for the development of novel, effective anticancer drugs.

The Effects of Needling Fenglong (ST40) and Neiguan (PC6) on IL-17 of ApoE-Gene-Knockout Mice's Liver.

The aim of the present paper was to observe the effects of needling ST40 and PC6 on IL-17 of ApoE(-/-) mice with fatty liver. Forty male ApoE(-/-) mice were randomized into Needling-Acupoint Group, Simvastatin Intragastric Administration Group, Needling Nonacupoint Group, and Model Group. Each was fed with high fat diet for 8 weeks since 16 weeks of age; after 8 weeks of intervention, mice were sacrificed and tested for various examinations. Result showed that the body weight, TC, and serum IL-17 in Needling-Acupoint Group decreased. Compared with Model Group, the immunohistochemical expressions of IL-17 in liver tissue were significantly decreased among the other three groups. In conclusion, acupuncture was able to lower the expression of IL-17 level both in serum and liver tissue in ApoE(-/-) mice, which is helpful to reduce the inflammation and defers the progress from fatty liver to cirrhosis.