Effectiveness of kumquat decoction for the improvement of cough caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, a multicentre, prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Kumquat decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine formula and has been widely used to alleviate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cough in China. However, the effectiveness and safety of kumquat decoction remain unclear. PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of kumquat decoction for COVID-19-related cough. STUDY DESIGN: A multicentre, prospective observational study. METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 from December 31, 2022, to January 3, 2023, during the Omicron phase in Yangshuo County, China. The primary outcome was the time from study baseline to sustained cough resolution by the last follow-up day on January 31, 2023. The effectiveness was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards models based on propensity score analyses. The secondary outcomes were the resolution of cough and other COVID-19-related symptoms by Days 3, 5, and 7. RESULTS: Of 1434 patients, 671 patients were excluded from the analysis of cough resolution. Among the remaining 763 patients, 481 (63.04%) received kumquat decoction, and 282 (36.96%) received usual care. The median age was 38.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 29.0, 50.0) years, and 55.7% were women. During a median follow-up of 7.000 days, 68.2% of patients in the kumquat group achieved sustained cough resolution (93.77 per 1000 person-days) compared to 39.7% in the usual care group (72.94 per 1000 person-days). The differences in restricted mean survival time (RMST) (kumquat decoction minus usual care group) for cough resolution were -0.742 days (95% CI, -1.235 to -0.250, P = 0.003) on Day 7. In the main analysis using propensity-score matching, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for cough resolution (kumquat decoction vs. usual care group) was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.53, P < 0.001). Similar findings were found in multiple sensitivity analyses. In addition, the use of kumquat decoction was associated with the resolution of cough, and a stuffy nose on Days 5 and 7, as well as the resolution of sore throat on Day 7 following medication. CONCLUSION: In this study among patients with COVID-19-related cough, receiving kumquat decoction was associated with an earlier resolution of cough symptoms.

[Effect of acupuncture on swallowing function for patients of Parkinson's disease with dysphagia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on swallowing function and quality of life for patients with dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A total of 60 patients of PD with dysphagia were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped off). The control group was given conventional medication therapy and rehabilitation training. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, the observation group was given acupuncture at Fengfu (GV 16), Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Yintang (GV 24+), Yansanzhen and bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), 30 min each time, once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test, standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) and swallowing quality of life (SWAL-QOL) were used to evaluate the swallowing function and quality of life of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the Kubota water swallowing test grade, SSA scores in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.001)，the SWAL-QOL scores were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.001); in the observation group，the Kubota water swallowing test grade and SSA score were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05)，the SWAL-QOL score was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: On the basis of conventional medication therapy and rehabilitation training，acupuncture could improve the swallowing function and quality of life for patients of PD with dysphagia.

The leucine-responsive regulatory protein SCAB_Lrp modulates thaxtomin biosynthesis, pathogenicity, and morphological development in Streptomyces scabies.

Streptomyces scabies is the best-characterized plant-pathogenic streptomycete, which is a special species among the large genus Streptomyces. The pathogenicity of S. scabies relies on the production of the secondary metabolite thaxtomin A. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of thaxtomin biosynthesis in S. scabies beyond the pathway-specific activator TxtR and the cellulose utilization repressor CebR. The leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) family modulates secondary metabolism in nonpathogenic streptomycetes. However, the regulatory relationship between the Lrp and pathogenic streptomycetes remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that SCAB_Lrp (SCAB_77931) from S. scabies significantly affects thaxtomin biosynthesis, pathogenicity, and morphological development. SCAB_Lrp deletion resulted in a dramatic decline in thaxtomin A production and a low-virulence phenotype of S. scabies. An in-depth dissection of the regulatory mechanism of SCAB_Lrp revealed that it positively regulates the transcription of the thaxtomin biosynthetic gene cluster by directly binding to the promoter of the cluster-situated regulator gene txtR. SCAB_Lrp also controls the morphological development of S. scabies by directly activating the transcription of amfC, whiB, and ssgB. SCAB_Lrp directly controls the transcription of its own gene by binding a specific sequence (5'-GGACAGTCGCCGTGCTACG-3'). Moreover, phenylalanine and methionine have been characterized as SCAB_Lrp effectors by strengthening the binding affinity and complex status between SCAB_Lrp and DNA. Our findings characterize a multifunctional regulatory protein, SCAB_Lrp, that controls secondary metabolism, pathogenicity, and sporulation in S. scabies and provide new insights into the complex regulatory network that modulates thaxtomin phytotoxins in pathogenic Streptomyces.

Dimorphism of Trichosporon cutaneum and impact on its lipid production.

BACKGROUND: Compared to the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, Trichosporon cutaneum can metabolize pentose sugars more efficiently, and in the meantime is more tolerant to inhibitors, which is suitable for lipid production from lignocellulosic biomass. However, this species experiences dimorphic transition between yeast-form cells and hyphae during submerged fermentation, which consequently affects the rheology and mass transfer performance of the fermentation broth and its lipid production. RESULTS: The strain T. cutaneum B3 was cultured with medium composed of yeast extract, glucose and basic minerals. The experimental results indicated that yeast-form morphology was developed when yeast extract was supplemented at 1 g/L, but hyphae were observed when yeast extract supplementation was increased to 3 g/L and 5 g/L, respectively. We speculated that difference in nitrogen supply to the medium might be a major reason for the dimorphic transition, which was confirmed by the culture with media supplemented with yeast extract at 1 g/L and urea at 0.5 g/L and 1.0 g/L to maintain total nitrogen at same levels as that detected in the media with yeast extract supplemented at 3 g/L and 5 g/L. The morphological change of T. cutaneum B3 affected not only the content of intracellular lipids but also their composition, due to its impact on the rheology and oxygen mass transfer performance of the fermentation broth, and more lipids with less polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (C18:2) were produced by the yeast-form cells. When T. cutaneum B3 was cultured at an aeration rate of 1.5 vvm for 72 h with the medium composed of 60 g/L glucose, 3 g/L yeast extract and basic minerals, 27.1 g (dry cell weight)/L biomass was accumulated with the lipid content of 46.2%, and lipid productivity and yield were calculated to be 0.174 g/L/h and 0.21 g/g, respectively. Comparative transcriptomics analysis identified differently expressed genes for sugar metabolism and lipid synthesis as well as signal transduction for the dimorphic transition of T. cutaneum B3. CONCLUSIONS: Assimilable nitrogen was validated as one of the major reasons for the dimorphic transition between yeast-form morphology and hyphae with T. cutaneum, and the yeast-form morphology was more suitable for lipid production at high content with less polyunsaturated fatty acids as feedstock for biodiesel production.

Determination of contents of four alkaloids in Pericarpium arecae by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker.

By using a typical component in traditional Chinese medicine Pericarpium Arecae (PA), quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) was performed to determine the contents of four alkaloids. With a column packed with strong cation exchange bonded silica particles, the alkaloids were well separated, showing linear relationships within certain ranges. The limit of detection, limit of quantitation, precision, stability, repeatability and recovery all met requirements. By employing arecoline as internal standard, relative correction factors for arecaidine, guvacine and guvacoline at five concentrations were detected with three HPLC systems and three HPLC columns. The peaks of arecaidine, guvacine and guvacoline were positioned, during which the columns with the same packing materials from different manufacturers significantly affected relative retention values and retention time differences of the alkaloids. However, the columns, from different batches, managed to give relative retention values satisfying the requirements of HPLC peak positioning. The Thermo Fisher Scientific column packed with strong cation exchange bonded silica particles was finally selected by considering resolution and peak time. Compared with the external standard method, QAMS detected the alkaloid contents in 12 PA samples more accurately and reliably. The results provide valuable evidence for content determination and quality control of alkaloids in PA.

[Optimization of Preparation of Cutting-processed Arecae Pericarpium with Multi-index Orthogonal Method].

OBJECTIVE: 10 optimize the preparation of cutting-processed Arecae Pericarpium by the orthogonal method. METHODS: With four alkaloids such as arecoline, arecaidine, guvacoline, guvacine and yield of water-soluble decoction as indexes, a L9 (3(4)) orthogonal test was adopted to compare the effect of different factors on cutting-processed Arecae Pericarpium. RESULTS: According to the finalized optimal process, Arecae Pericarpium was washed quickly, moisturized, chopped lengthwise in 1 cm segment and then dried for 2.5 h at 50 °C. CONCLUSION: The optimal process method is reasonable and reliable, it can provide basis for the preparation of cutting-processed Arecae Pericarnium.