Distribution and Drug Resistance of Common Pathogens Causing Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Xinjiang Region.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the composition and distribution of pathogenic bacteria in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in a hospital in Xinjiang, to guide more effective antibiotic selection and inform clinical management. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 545 strains isolated from various clinical specimens like sputum and blood, collected between June 2020 and June 2023, using the LIST system. The strains were subjected to drug resistance testing, and statistical analyses included t tests and Chi-square tests. Results: Among gram-negative bacilli, Acinetobacter baumannii dominated, accounting for 32.11%, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounting for 18.35%. Among gram-positive bacteria, thrombin-negative staphylococcus was at the top of the list, followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Among Acinetobacter baumannii (AB), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii plays a dominant role. The sensitivity rate of these strains to tigecycline and amikacin could reach more than 80%. The sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) to piperacillin, gentamicin, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin ranged from 50% to 80%. It is worth mentioning that the sensitivity rate of PA to amikacin, cefoperazone, and tobramycin exceeded 80%. Amikacin was more than 60% sensitive to carbapenem, ß-lactam inhibitors, tigecycline, quinolones, and aminoglycosides of ESBL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among gram-positive coccus, methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus was 100% sensitive to duration, e, tigecycline, and vancomycin. In addition, the susceptibility rate of these strains to rifampicin and linezolid was greater than 70%. Conclusions: In patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in a hospital in Xinjiang, the most common pathogenic bacteria are gram-negative bacilli, mainly Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both resistant and non-resistant strains showed sensitivity to amikacin and tigecycline. Additionally, staphylococcus accounted for half of the total number of gram-positive bacteria, among which methicillin-resistant strains were more sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid.

Chemical composition and absorption characteristics of Raw and Prepared Cassiae Semen extracts based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the two commodity forms of Cassiae Semen Raw and Prepared Cassiae Semen, exert different clinical applications, in which Prepared Cassiae Semen is commonly used to treat liver and eye diseases. However, the material basis of Raw and Prepared Cassiae Semen remains unclear due to the limited studies on their overall composition and metabolism in vivo. In this study, an integrated analysis strategy based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry was established to systematically screen the prototype and metabolite constituents of Raw and Prepared Cassiae Semen. Automatic matching analysis of metabolites was performed on Compound Discoverer software based on the function of predicting metabolites. Using this strategy, a total of 77 compounds in Raw Cassiae Semen and 71 compounds in Prepared Cassiae Semen were identified. Furthermore, in vivo study, 46 prototype components and 104 metabolites from the Raw Cassiae Semen group and 41 prototype components and 87 metabolites from the Prepared Cassiae Semen group were unambiguously or preliminarily identified in mice (plasma, urine, feces, eye, and liver). This is the first study of chemical component analysis and in vivo metabolite profiling of Raw and Prepared Cassiae Semen.

Exploration of the profiles of steroidal saponins from Rhizoma Paridis and their metabolites in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

INTRODUCTION: Steroidal saponins characterised by intricate chemical structures are the main active components of a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rhizoma Paridis. The metabolic profiles of steroidal saponins in vivo remain largely unexplored, despite their renowned antitumor, immunostimulating, and haemostatic activity. OBJECTIVE: To perform a comprehensive analysis of the chemical constituents of Rhizoma Paridis total saponins (RPTS) and their metabolites in rats after oral administration. METHOD: The chemical constituents of RPTS and their metabolites were analysed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). RESULTS: A reliable UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was established, and a total of 142 compounds were identified in RPTS. Specifically, diosgenin-type saponins showed the diagnostic ions at m/z 415.32, 397.31, 283.25, 271.21, and 253.20, whereas pennogenin-type saponins exhibited the diagnostic ions at m/z 413.31, 395.30, and 251.20. Based on the characteristic fragments and standard substances, 15 specific metabolites were further identified in the faeces, urine, plasma, and bile of rats. The metabolic pathways of RPTS, including phase I reactions (de-glycosylation and oxidation) and phase II reactions (glucuronidation), were explored and summarised, and the enrichment of metabolites was characterised by multivariate statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: The intricate RPTS could be transformed into relatively simple metabolites in rats through de-glycosylation, which provides a reference for further metabolic studies and screening of active ingredients for TCM.

Cardioprotective polyphenols from Geum japonicum var. chinense.

Seven undescribed tannins, namely gejaponin A-G, and one dehydrodigallic acid derivative 3,4-dihydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-ethoxycarbonyl phenoxy)benzoic acid, together with eighteen known polyphenols were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the aerial part of Geum japonicum Thunb. var. chinense F. Bolle. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive analysis of UV, IR, NMR, HRMS, and CD spectroscopy experiments. To evaluate their bioactivities, sixteen major compounds were selected to intervene in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage on H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts. Some compounds demonstrated high activity in this assay, of which, the known compounds 16 and 21 exhibited strong protective effects against H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts, with a comparable cardioprotective activity as that of the positive control trimetazidine, thereby revealing cardioprotective activities from G. japonicum var. chinense.

Chemical composition and absorption characteristics of Angong Niuhuang Pill based on two-dimensional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula with significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of stroke. Due to its complex composition, little attention has been directed toward the analysis of chemical composition and absorption characteristics of ANP. In this study, a reliable two-dimensional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (2D-UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap HRMS) method was established to characterize the chemical constituents in ANP as well as the prototype components and metabolites absorbed in plasma, urine, feces, and brain tissues after oral administration. The prototype components were identified by a high mass accuracy (within 5 ppm) and MS/MS data based on online, local, and ANP self-built databases. The metabolites were predicted and identified using Compound Discoverer metabolic platform. A total of 154 compounds mainly including 37 flavonoids, 35 alkaioids, 19 organic acid, 19 bile acid, 32 terpenoids and 12 others were identified in this way. In addition, 60 prototype components mainly including flavonoids, alkaioids, organic acid, terpenoids and 164 metabolites were confirmed or preliminarily identified in rats. The metabolic pathways phase I reaction (hydration, reduction, oxidation, demethylation, and hydroxylation) and phase II reaction (acetylation, stearyl conjugation, and methylation) for the absorbed constituents were explored and summarized. This is the first systematic and comprehensive chemical characterization in ANP and its metabolism in vivo by 2D-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. This approach provides an effective strategy for the characterization of compounds and metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine formulas.

Thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut-Liver Axis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant and urgent global health concern. Thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak) is a plant commonly used in cuisine and traditional medicine in Asian countries and possesses potential liver-protective properties. This study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effects of thyme polyphenol-rich extract (TPE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD and further explore possible mechanisms based on the gut-liver axis. HFD-induced liver injury in C57 mice is markedly ameliorated by TPE supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. TPE also regulates the expression of liver lipid metabolic genes (i.e., Hmgcr, Srebp-1, Fasn, and Cyp7a1), enhancing the production of SCFAs and regulating serum metabolites by modulating gut microbial dysbiosis. Furthermore, TPE enhances the intestinal barrier function and alleviates intestinal inflammation by upregulating tight junction protein expression (i.e., ZO-1 and occluding) and inactivating the intestinal TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HFD-fed mice. Consequently, gut-derived LPS translocation to the circulation was blocked, the liver TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was repressed, and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokine production was restrained. Conclusively, TPE might exert anti-NAFLD effects through the gut-liver axis and has the potential to be used as a dietary supplement for the management of NAFLD.

Therapeutic Effects of Valeriana jatamansi on Ulcerative Colitis: Insights into Mechanisms of Action through Metabolomics and Microbiome Analysis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), belonging to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which has not been completely cured in patients so far. Valeriana jatamansi is a Chinese medicine used clinically to treat "diarrhea," which is closely related to UC. This study was to elucidate the therapeutic effects of V. jatamansi extract (VJE) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in mice and its underlying mechanism. In this work, VJE effectively ameliorates the symptoms and histopathological scores and reduces the production of inflammatory factors in UC mice. The colon untargeted metabolomics analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing showed remarkable differences in colon metabolite profiles and intestinal microbiome composition between the control and DSS groups, and VJE intervention can reduce these differences. Thirty-two biomarkers were found and modulated the primary pathways including pyrimidine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Meanwhile, twelve significant taxa of gut microbiota were found. Moreover, there is a close relationship between endogenous metabolites and intestinal flora. These findings suggested that VJE ameliorates UC by inhibiting inflammatory factors, recovering intestinal maladjustment, and regulating the interaction between intestinal microbiota and host metabolites. Therefore, the intervention of V. jatamansi is a potential therapeutic treatment for UC.

Systematic Analysis of Galactinol Synthase and Raffinose Synthase Gene Families in Potato and Their Expression Patterns in Development and Abiotic Stress Responses.

Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) are very important for plant growth, development, and abiotic stress tolerance. Galactinol synthase (GolS) and raffinose synthase (RFS) are critical enzymes involved in RFO biosynthesis. However, the whole-genome identification and stress responses of their coding genes in potato remain unexplored. In this study, four StGolS and nine StRFS genes were identified and classified into three and five subgroups, respectively. Remarkably, a total of two StGolS and four StRFS genes in potato were identified to form collinear pairs with those in both Arabidopsis and tomato, respectively. Subsequent analysis revealed that StGolS4 exhibited significantly high expression levels in transport-related tissues, PEG-6000, and ABA treatments, with remarkable upregulation under salt stress. Additionally, StRFS5 showed similar responses to StGolS4, but StRFS4 and StRFS8 gene expression increased significantly under salt treatment and decreased in PEG-6000 and ABA treatments. Overall, these results lay a foundation for further research on the functional characteristics and molecular mechanisms of these two gene families in response to ABA, salt, and drought stresses, and provide a theoretical foundation and new gene resources for the abiotic-stress-tolerant breeding of potato.

[Comparison of HPLC fingerprints and determination of main components of Viticis Fructus from different species].

In order to comprehensively evaluate the quality of Viticis Fructus, this study established HPLC fingerprints and evaluated the quality of 24 batches of Viticis Fructus samples from different species by similarity evaluation and multivariate statistical analysis(PCA, HCA, PLS-DA). On this basis, an HPLC method was established to compare the content differences of the main components, including casticin, agnuside, homoorientin, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The analysis was performed on the chromatographic column(Waters Symmetry C_(18)) with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution(B) at the flow rate of 1 mL·min~(-1) and detection wavelength of 258 nm. The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 10 µL. The HPLC fingerprint of 24 batches of Viticis Fructus samples was established with 21 common peaks, and nine peaks were identified. Similarity analysis was carried out based on chromatographic data of 24 batches of chromatographic data of Viticis Fructus, and the results showed that except for DYMJ-16, the similarity of Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia was ≥0.900, while that of V. trifolia was ≤0.864. In addition, the similarity analysis of two different species showed that the similarity of 16 batches of V. trifolia var. simplicifolia was 0.894-0.997 and that of the eight batches of V. trifolia was between 0.990 and 0.997. The results showed that the similarity of fingerprints of these two species was different, but the similarity between the same species was good. The results of the three multivariate statistical analyses were consistent, which could distinguish the two different species. The VIP analysis results of PLS-DA showed that casticin and agnuside contributed the most to the distinction. The content determination results showed that there was no significant difference in the content of homoorientin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in Viticis Fructus from different species, but the content of casticin and agnuside was significantly different in different species(P<0.01). The content of casticin was higher in V. trifolia var. simplicifolia, while agnuside was higher in V. trifolia. The findings of this study show that there are differences in fingerprint similarity and component content of Viticis Fructus from different species, which can provide references for the in-depth study of the quality and clinical application of Viticis Fructus.

Pharbitidis Semen: A review of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pharbitidis Semen (the seeds of Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth or Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth), a popular traditional Chinese medicine, is also known as "Heichou" or "Baichou" (Chinese: , ). It can purge the bowels, promote diuresis, remove stagnated accumulation, and kill worms. It can be used for treating anasarca with constipation and oliguria; dyspnea and cough caused by retained fluid; abdominal pain because of intestinal parasitosis; ascariasis; and taeniasis. AIMS: This review discusses the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and quality control of Pharbitidis Semen, to obtain a complete understanding of its effects and provide a basis for further research and the development of new drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature on Pharbitidis Semen is mainly obtained from pharmacopoeias of different countries, masterpieces of traditional Chinese medicine, Master's and Ph.D. theses, and published articles obtained from literature retrieval websites, such as CNKI, PubMed, SciFinder, WanFang data, Web of Science, Springer, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS Publications, Taylor & Francis, J-STAGE, and Google Scholar. Its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and quality control are discussed to understand its effects and provide a basis for further research. RESULTS: Pharbitidis semen has been used ethnomedically in many tropical and subtropical countries as deobstruents, diuretics, and anthelmintics. About 170 chemical compounds, including terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, resin glycosides, fatty acids and other compounds, have been isolated. It has been reported to have different effects, including laxative, renal-protective, neuroprotective, insecticidal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Moreover, a brief introduction to processing, toxicity, and quality control is provided. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional efficacy of Pharbitidis Semen in diarrhea has been confirmed, but its bioactive and toxic ingredients are not entirely clear. It is necessary to strengthen the research and identification of effective parts or natural active components of Pharbitidis Semen, clarify the molecular mechanism of its toxicity and change rule of endogenous substances to make Pharbitidis Semen better used in clinical practice. Additionally, the imperfect quality standard is also a challenge that must be solved urgently. The study of modern pharmacology has broadened the application of Pharbitidis Semen and provided ideas for better utilization of this resource.

Secoiridoids from the traditional Chinese medicine Swertia pseudochinensis.

Detailed phytochemical investigation on the traditional Chinese medicine Swertia pseudochinensis Hara led to the isolation of ten undescribed secoiridoids and fifteen known analogs. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis (including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS). Selected isolates were assayed for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities, and moderate anti-inflammatory activity via inhibiting the secretion of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in macrophages RAW264.7 induced by LPS were observed. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was not found at 100 µM.

Phosphorus functional microorganisms and genes: A novel perspective to ascertain phosphorus redistribution and bioavailability during copper and tetracycline-stressed composting.

There is limited information on the phosphorus availability under copper and tetracycline-amended composting: Insights into microbial communities and genes. Thus, this work investigated the phosphorus redistribution and transformation, illustrated the variation in microbial communities and genes, and ascertained the multiple action-patterns among which within copper and tetracycline-amended composting. Phosphorus bioavailability reduced by 8.96 % âˆ¼ 13.10 % due to the conservation of Ex-P to Ca-P. Copper and tetracycline showed a significant effect on fungal succession, but not to bacteria, as well as inhibited the phosphorus functional genes in fungal communities, while accelerated it in bacterial communities. Under the copper/tetracycline-stressed conditions, bacterial Firmicutes could promote the mineralization of organic phosphorus, and bacterial Proteobacteria might facilitate the dissolution of inorganic phosphorus. These findings could provide theoretical guidance for the further research on phosphorus bioavailability ascribed to microbial communities and genes.

Cassiae Semen: A comprehensive review of botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cassiae Semen, belonging to the family Leguminosae, is derived from the dry mature seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. or Cassia tora L. and has long been used as a laxative, hepatoprotective, improve eyesight, and antidiabetic complications medicine or functional food in Asia. AIMS OF THE REVIEW: This review summarizes the integrated research progress of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of Cassiae Semen. Additionally, the emerging challenges and possible developing directions are discussed as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information on Cassiae Semen was collected from published scientific materials, including ancient books of traditional Chinese Medicine; Ph.D. and M. Sc. dissertations; monographs on medicinal plants; pharmacopoeia of various countries and electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, Science Direct, J-STAGE, Springer link, Taylor, CNKI and Google Scholar, etc. RESULTS: First, the traditional uses and plant origins of Cassiae Semen are outlined. Secondly, approximately 137 compounds, including anthraquinones, naphthopyranones, naphthalenes, flavones, polysaccharides and other compounds, have been isolated and identified from Cassia obtusifolia L. and Cassia tora L. Third, the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of crude extract of Cassiae Semen and its main bioactive compounds are summarized. Moreover, the processing, toxicity, and quality control are introduced briefly. CONCLUSIONS: Cassiae Semen is a frequently used Chinese Materia Medica with pharmacological effects that mainly affect the digestive system, cardiovascular systems and nervous system. This review summarized its botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology, it also exhibited recent scientific research advances and gaps, which provide a deeper insight into the understanding and application of Cassiae Semen. In future research on Cassiae Semen, more attention should be given to the pharmacological activities of naphthopyranones and polysaccharides and the mechanism of action for improving eye diseases. Meanwhile, it is essential to focus on strengthening the study on the pharmacokinetics research and the safety evaluation of related health products research.

Dietary supplementation of probiotics fermented Chinese herbal medicine Sanguisorba officinalis cultures enhanced immune response and disease resistance of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative bacterium, is one of the major pathogens causing bacterial sepsis in aquatic animals due to drug resistance and pathogenicity, which could cause high mortality and serious economic losses to the aquaculture. Sanguisorba officinalis (called DiYu in Chinese, DY) is well known as herbal medicine, which could inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, hemostasis and regulate the immune response. Moreover, the active ingredients in DY could remarkably reduce drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of probiotic fermentation cultures on A. hydrophila through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Three lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG), Lactobacillus casei (LC) and Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), were selected to ferment the Chinese herbal medicine DY. The assays of antagonism showed that all three fermented cultures could influence the ability of A. hydrophila growth, among which L. rhamnosus fermented DY cultures appeared to be the strongest inhibitory effect. In addition, the biofilm determination revealed that L. rhamnosus fermented DY cultures could significantly inhibit the biofilm formation of A. hydrophila compared to the other groups. Furthermore, protease, lecithinase and urease activities were found in the three fermentation cultures. Three probiotics fermented DY cultures were orally administration with crucian carp to evaluate the growth performance, immunological parameters and pathogen resistance. The results showed that the three fermentation cultures could promote the growth performance of crucian carp, and the immunoglobulins, antioxidant-related enzymes and immune-related genes were significantly enhanced. Besides, the results showed that crucian carp received L. rhamnosus (60.87%), L. casei (56.09%) and L. plantarum (41.46%) fermented DY cultures had higher survival rates compared with the control group after infection with A. hydrophila. Meanwhile, the pathological tissue results revealed that the probiotic fermented cultures could largely improve the tissues damage caused by the pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, this study proved that the fermentation cultures of three probiotics could effectively inhibit the growth of A. hydrophila, regulate the level of immune response and improve the survival rate against A. hydrophila in crucian carp. The present data suggest that probiotic fermented Sanguisorba officinalis act as a potential gut-targeted therapy regimens to protecting fish from pathogenic bacteria infection.

Exploring the Ferroptosis Mechanism of Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu Capsule for the Treatment of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Based on Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Validation.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of the Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZL) capsule in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) via targeting ferroptosis based on network pharmacology. Methods: The active ingredients and related key targets of the ZL capsule were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were also performed. Finally, identified targets were validated in an in-vivo model of ICH. Results: A total of 30 active ingredients and 33 intersecting targets were identified through a TCMSP database search. Ingredients-Targets-Pathways network was constructed to filter out the key targets according to the degree value. TP53 was selected as the key target. The in-vivo validation studies demonstrated that TP53 was down-regulated and GPX4 was upregulated in rats following ZL capsule treatment. Conclusions: It is concluded that the ZL capsule could alleviate ICH in a muti-target and multi-pathway manner. ZL capsule could alleviate ICH by inhibiting ferroptosis, and TP53 is identified to be the potential target. Further research is needed to clarify the detailed anti-ferroptotic mechanism of the ZL capsule.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupoint for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over an acupoint (acu-TENS), a new technique applied in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, has been gradually used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of acu-TENS have not been fully evaluated. Therefore, this review was conducted to assess the effects of acu-TENS on COPD. Methods: A total of seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to September 2021 for randomized controlled trials of acu-TENS for COPD. Two investigators independently performed data extraction and methodological quality assessment. Heterogeneity was examined by Cochrane χ2 and I 2 tests. The source of heterogeneity was investigated by subgroup analysis or sensitivity analysis. Results: In our review, ten studies between 2008 and 2021 were included. The aggregated results indicated that acu-TENS showed positive effects in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) [MD = 0.13 L, 95% CI (0.11-0.16), P < 0.00001], FEV1% predicted [MD = 5.92%, 95% CI (3.43-8.41), P < 0.00001], 6-min walk distance (6MWD) [MD = 14.68m, 95% CI (6.92-22.44), P = 0.0002], dyspnea visual analog scale (DVAS) [MD = -7.58, 95%CI (-14.33 to -0.84), P = 0.03], modified Borg scale (MBS) [MD = -0.46, 95% CI (-0.86 to -0.06), P = 0.03], and COPD assessment test (CAT) [MD = -4.25, 95% CI (-5.24 to -3.27), P < 0.00001]. Although six studies reported adverse effects, only one patient had shoulder pain after acu-TENS. Conclusion: Acu-TENS seems to be effective in improving pulmonary function and health status in patients with COPD, with little effect on exercise capacity and dyspnea. However, this result should be interpreted with caution, and high-quality RCTs were needed for further verification.

ClC-3 silencing mediates lysosomal acidification arrest and autophagy inhibition to sensitize chemo-photothermal therapy.

Protective autophagy can be activated by external stimuli such as chemotherapy (CT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), leading to tumour resistance. As a key subcellular for autophagy, lysosomal dysfunction is crucial for autophagy suppression. Furthermore, lysosomal drug sequestration enhances basic drug resistance such as doxorubicin (DOX), which is trapped away from its target site, namely, the nucleus. Moreover, most of nanodrug delivery systems are internalised to lysosome for degradation, which further leads to DOX resistance. Lysosome serves as an essential organelle in drug resistance mechanisms, whose acidification arrest provides a potential strategy to inhibit autophagy and lysosomal drug sequestration simultaneously. The chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) protein is known as an important Cl--H+ transporter to maintain lysosomal pH at low values of various human cells. Herein, a black phosphorus-based theranostic nanoplatform of BP-A-S@D is constructed, and HeLa cells are used as a model to verify the effect of ClC-3 on tumour lysosomal acidification and autophagy regulation. Consequently, ClC-3 silencing inhibits not only protective autophagy to sensitise chemo-photothermal therapy, but also DOX resistance by suppressing lysosomal acidification. Therefore, ClC-3 silencing could simultaneously inhibit autophagy and lysosomal drug sequestration to improve anti-tumour efficiency.

Effects of typical sludge treatment on microplastics in China-Characteristics, abundance and micro-morphological evidence.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that are enriched in sludge. They enter soil through sludge soil amendment, landfill, and discard, which will cause inescapable environmental pollution risks. Sludge treatment technology commonly used in China include anaerobic digestion (AD), thermal drying (TD), thermal hydrolysis (TH) and aerobic composting (AC). In this study, characteristics of MPs in sewage sludge from four representative large cities in China (Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Guilin) were analyzed. Effects of four representative sludge treatment technology on sludge MPs were also studied. In addition, the amount of MPs input to soil from sludge in China was estimated. The abundance range of sludge MPs of representative cities in China was 1448-11,125 n∙kg-1 DW. Previous studies indicate that this abundance range is low among other domestic cities and is close to that of European countries. MPs were predominantly fiber-shaped, accounting for 46.66%; 56.5% MPs were white and transparent, and 62.5% were polypropylene and polyethylene. The abundance of MPs in the sludge increased after TH, indicating that MPs broke into smaller particles. However, the other three treatment methods had no significant influence on the abundance of MPs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the micro-morphology of sludge MPs surface were rougher after AD, and MPs cracked following TD and TH. Furthermore, broken edges were more blurred after TH, and surfaces of MPs were damaged and eroded after AC. The input quantities of MPs in sludge to soil was deduced to be 1013 particles per year. These results are important for controlling the potential risk of sludge MPs in China.

Dissolved organic carbon, a critical factor to increase the bioavailability of phosphorus during biochar-amended aerobic composting.

Considerable research efforts have been devoted to increase phosphorus (P) availability during aerobic composting. However, there is little discussion weather the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) controls the transformation among P-fractions. Thus, we investigated the changes in DOC compositions and P-fractions during biochar-amended composting (wet weight basis, 5% and 10%). TP content continuously increased since the 'concentration effect' during aerobic composting. NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi and HCl-Pi were main P-fractions, and biochar can improve P-bioavailability by transforming NaOH-Pi and HCl-Pi into NaHCO3-Pi. Structure equation models (SEMs) indicated that biochar enhanced the P-bioavailability through regulating the decomposition of DOC. Our results at least hint that the activation mechanism on P under the influence of DOC during biochar-amended composting.

Hepatoprotective effects of Cassiae Semen on mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on gut microbiota.

Cassiae Semen (CS), the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia L. and C. tora L, have a long medicinal history in China, with suggestions for it to relieve constipation and exert hepatoprotective effects. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were used to study the hepatoprotective effects of CS. The relationship between gut microbiota and hepatoprotective effect mechanisms mediated by CS extracts, the total aglycone extracts of CS, rubrofusarin-6-ß-gentiobioside, and aurantio-obtusin were examined. Our data indicate that CS extracts and components confer a protective effect by ameliorating lipid accumulation, intestinal barrier damage, liver damage, and inflammation on HFD-induced liver injury. Meanwhile, fecal microbe transplantation exerted the pharmacological effect of CS on HFD-fed mice; however, the efficacy of CS was inhibited or eliminated by antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of CS on NAFLD were closely related to the gut microbiota, suggesting a role for TCM in treating disease.