Exploratory study of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and age of onset of bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Sunlight contains ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that triggers the production of vitamin D by skin. Vitamin D has widespread effects on brain function in both developing and adult brains. However, many people live at latitudes (about > 40 N or S) that do not receive enough UVB in winter to produce vitamin D. This exploratory study investigated the association between the age of onset of bipolar I disorder and the threshold for UVB sufficient for vitamin D production in a large global sample. METHODS: Data for 6972 patients with bipolar I disorder were obtained at 75 collection sites in 41 countries in both hemispheres. The best model to assess the relation between the threshold for UVB sufficient for vitamin D production and age of onset included 1 or more months below the threshold, family history of mood disorders, and birth cohort. All coefficients estimated at P ≤ 0.001. RESULTS: The 6972 patients had an onset in 582 locations in 70 countries, with a mean age of onset of 25.6 years. Of the onset locations, 34.0% had at least 1 month below the threshold for UVB sufficient for vitamin D production. The age of onset at locations with 1 or more months of less than or equal to the threshold for UVB was 1.66 years younger. CONCLUSION: UVB and vitamin D may have an important influence on the development of bipolar disorder. Study limitations included a lack of data on patient vitamin D levels, lifestyles, or supplement use. More study of the impacts of UVB and vitamin D in bipolar disorder is needed to evaluate this supposition.

Tetrahydrocurcumin Add-On therapy to losartan in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy decreases blood pressure and markers of kidney injury.

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a principal metabolite of curcumin, was tested in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. THC was administered via daily oral gavage with the lipid carrier polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) as add-on therapy to losartan (angiotensin receptor blocker) to examine effects on kidney oxidative stress and fibrosis. A combination of unilateral nephrectomy, high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin was used to induce diabetic nephropathy in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals with fasting blood glucose >200 mg/dL were randomized to PPC, losartan, THC + PPC or THC + PPC + losartan. Untreated chronic kidney disease (CKD) animals had proteinuria, decreased creatinine clearance, and evidence of kidney fibrosis on histology. THC + PPC + losartan treatment significantly lowered blood pressure concurrent with increased messenger RNA levels of antioxidant copper-zinc-superoxide dismutase and decreased protein kinase C-α, kidney injury molecule-1 and type I collagen in the kidneys; there was decreased albuminuria and a trend for increased creatinine clearance compared to untreated CKD rats. There was decreased fibrosis on kidney histology in PPC-only and THC-treated CKD rats. Plasma levels of kidney injury molecule-1 were decreased in THC + PPC + losartan animals. In summary, add-on THC to losartan therapy improved antioxidant levels and decreased fibrosis in the kidneys, and lowered blood pressure in diabetic CKD rats.

Mental Health Among University Students, Using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire.

Context: To date, researchers have found that poor mental health was common during the COVID-19 epidemic. Even if they had been relatively resistant to suicidal ideation during the first three waves of the pandemic, university students may experience a delayed impact on their mental health. Objective: The study intended to measure mental health among university students in Wuhu City, China and to identify an effective approach to universities can use to prevent mental-health issues. Design: The research team performed a cross-sectional study. Setting: The study took place at Anhui polytechnic university, Wuhu, China. Participants: Participants were 2371 students at Anhui polytechnic university in Wuhu city, China. Outcome Measures: The research team used the two-item General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) to measure participants' mental health. Results: Among the 2371 participants, 1727 had poor mental health (72.84%), including 843 males (48.81%) and 884 females (51.19%). Poor mental health was significantly associated with an urban residential location (P > .01), the female gender (p>0.01), the second school year (P > .01), and the parents' education level of junior high school or below (both P > .01). Conclusions: The current study suggests that poor mental health among university students is common. Being female, from an urban area, and in the second year of school and having parents with an education of junior high school or below had poorer mental health than those who were male, from the countryside, and in the first year of school and who had parents with a higher level of education.

Venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for patients poisoned by Macleaya cordata.

Macleaya cordata is a Chinese herbal medicine containing a variety of highly cardiotoxic alkaloids, and might result in cardiac failure. Venous-arterial Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) could be used as a therapeutic option in patients poisoned by Macleaya cordata complicating refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. A 60-year-old man suffered from severe arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest after consuming Macleaya cordata. The patient received VA-ECMO support in the emergency department at 5 hours after hospitalization, and was weaned from VA-ECMO on day 4, and was discharged with complete clinical improvement on Day 12. VA-ECMO is an effective method in treating cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest induced by severe poisoning from Chinese herbal medicine. Timely and appropriate interventions with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation devices could improve clinical outcomes in these patients.

Intestinal microbiomics and liver metabolomics insights into the preventive effects of chromium (III)-enriched yeast on hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia induced by high-fat and high-fructose diet.

In recent years, organic chromium (III) supplements have received increasing attentions for their low toxicity, high bioavailability and wide range of health-promoting benefits. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of chromium (III)-enriched yeast (YCr) on high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHFD)-induced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in mice, and further clarify its mechanism of action from the perspective of intestinal microbiomics and liver metabolomics. The results indicated that oral administration of YCr remarkably inhibited the aberrant elevations of body weight, blood glucose and lipid levels, hepatic cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels caused by HFHFD. Liver histological examination showed that oral YCr intervention inhibited HFHFD induced liver lipid accumulation. Besides, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing showed that YCr intervention was beneficial to ameliorating intestinal microbiota dysbiosis by altering the proportion of some intestinal microbial phylotypes. Correlation-based network analysis indicated that the key intestinal microbial phylotypes intervened by YCr were closely related to some biochemical parameters associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that dietary YCr intervention significantly regulated the levels of some biomarkers involved in purine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, citrate cycle, pyrimidine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and so on. Moreover, dietary YCr intervention regulated the mRNA levels of key genes associated with glucose, cholesterol, fatty acids and bile acids metabolism in liver. These findings suggest that dietary YCr intervention has beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal microbiota and liver metabolic pathway, and thus can be served as a functional component to prevent hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.

Organic chromium derived from the chelation of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide and chromium (III) alleviates metabolic syndromes and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis induced by high-fat and high-fructose diet.

Organic chromium is of great interest and has become an important chromium supplement resource in recent years because of its low toxicity and easy absorption. In our previous study, we synthesized a novel organic chromium [GLP-Cr] through the chelation of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide and chromium (III). The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of GLP-Cr on the improvement of metabolic syndromes (MetS) in mice fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFHFD) and its mechanism of action. The results indicated that oral administration of GLP-Cr inhibited the excessive exaltation of body weight, glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose and lipid levels, hepatic total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) levels caused by HFHFD. Besides, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that GLP-Cr intervention evidently ameliorated intestinal microbiota dysbiosis by changing the proportions of some intestinal microbial phylotypes. In addition, correlation network-based analysis indicated that the key intestinal microbial phylotypes were closely related to biochemical parameters associated with MetS under GLP-Cr intervention. Liver metabolomics analysis suggested that GLP-Cr intervention significantly regulated the levels of some biomarkers involved in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and so on. Moreover, GLP-Cr intervention regulated liver mRNA levels of key genes associated with glucose and lipid metabolism. The mRNA level of glucose transporter type 4 (Glut4) was markedly increased by GLP-Cr intervention, and the mRNA levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in the liver were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, GLP-Cr intervention significantly decreased hepatic mRNA levels of cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (Acc1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c), indicating that GLP-Cr intervention inhibited the excessive accumulation of free fatty acids in the liver. These findings suggest that the prevention of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia by GLP-Cr may be closely related to the regulation of gut microbial composition and hepatic metabolic pathways, thus GLP-Cr can be serving as a functional component in the prevention of MetS.

[Anti-photoaging effects and mechanisms of active ingredients of Chinese medicine: a review].

Skin photoaging is exogenous aging caused by long-term ultraviolet radiation, which not only affects skin appearance, but also has a close relationship with the development of skin cancer. Saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and extracts of Chinese medicine have been found to have anti-skin photoaging effects in recent studies. Various mechanisms such as anti-oxidative stress damage, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase expression, promotion of collagen synthesis, inhibition of inflammatory response, DNA damage repair, enhancement of cell autophagy, and inhibition of melanin synthesis can improve the symptoms of skin photoaging and delay the photoaging process. With the active ingredients of Chinese medicine for anti-skin photoaging as the entry point, the study systematically discussed the research progress of the mechanisms underlying the anti-photoaging effects of active ingredients of Chinese medicine in recent years, in order to provide theoretical reference for the development of new anti-photoaging drugs and methods.

[Mechanism of Liangfu Pills in treatment of functional dyspepsia: based on network pharmacology and experimental verification].

This study aims to explore the potential mechanism of Liangfu Pills in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking, and verify the mechanism by animal experiment. The active components of Liangfu Pills were screened from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), and the targets of Liangfu Pills were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. The targets of FD were retrieved from GeneCards. On this basis, the common targets of the disease and the pills were yielded and the protein interaction was retrieved based on STRING. The core targets were screened out, followed by Gene Oncology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis with DAVID. Finally, molecular docking was carried out with the help of AutoDock Tools to predict the binding degree between the effective components of Liangfu Pills and core targets. A total of 19 active components of Liangfu Pills and 591 FD-related targets were screened out by network pharmacology, of which 253 were common targets of the disease and the prescription. Liangfu Pills was mainly involved in the biological processes of response to drug, negative regulation of transcription, positive regulation of apoptotic process, and cell surface receptor signaling pathway, and the KEGG pathways of hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1) signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) signaling pathway, calcium signal pathway, and inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential(TRP) channels. The results of molecular docking showed that the key active components of Liangfu Pills had certain binding activity to the targets mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1), protein kinase B(AKT1), transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1(TRPV1), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1 A(HTR1 A), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2 A(HTR2 A). FD was induced in rats, and then Liangfu Pills was given to FD rats for 7 days. The results showed that Liangfu Pills could significantly relieve the symptoms of FD rats, significantly increase the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), and down-regulate the expression of TRPV1. Through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification, this study proved that Liangfu Pills improved FD through multiple components and multiple targets. The result lays a basis for further research on the mechanism and clinical application of Liangfu Pills in the treatment of FD.

Abnormal Functional Connectivity of Thalamic Subdivisions in Alzheimer's Disease: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by global cognitive impairment in multiple cognitive domains. Thalamic dysfunction during AD progression has been reported. However, there are limited studies regarding dysfunction in the functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subdivisions and the relationship between such dysfunction and clinical assessments. This study examined dysfunction in the FC of thalamic subdivisions and determined the relationship between such dysfunction and clinical assessments. Forty-eight patients with AD and 47 matched healthy controls were recruited and assessed with scales for multiple cognitive domains. Group-wise comparisons of FC with thalamic subdivisions as seed points were conducted to identify abnormal cerebral regions. Moreover, correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between abnormal FC and cognitive performance. Decreased FC of the intralaminar and medial nuclei with the left precuneus was observed in patients but not in heathy controls. The abnormal FC of the medial nuclei with the left precuneus was correlated with the Mini Mental State Examination score in the patient group. Using the FC values showing between-group differences, the linear support vector machine classifier achieved quite good in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve. Dysfunction in the FC of the intralaminar and medial thalamus with the precuneus may comprise a potential neural substrate for cognitive impairment during AD progression, which in turn may provide new treatment targets.

Ganoderic acid A from Ganoderma lucidum protects against alcoholic liver injury through ameliorating the lipid metabolism and modulating the intestinal microbial composition.

Alcoholic liver injury is mainly caused by long-term excessive alcohol consumption and has become a global public threat to human health. It is well known that Ganoderma lucidum has excellent beneficial effects on liver function and lipid metabolism. The object of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of ganoderic acid A (GAA, one of the main triterpenoids in G. lucidum) against alcohol-induced liver injury and reveal the underlying mechanisms of its protective effects. The results showed that oral administration of GAA significantly inhibited the abnormal elevation of the liver index, serum total triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mice exposed to alcohol intake, and also significantly protected the liver against alcohol-induced excessive lipid accumulation and pathological changes. Besides, alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the liver was significantly ameliorated by the dietary intervention of GAA through decreasing the hepatic levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increasing hepatic activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH). In addition, GAA intervention evidently ameliorated intestinal microbial disorder by markedly increasing the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Prevotellaceae, Jeotgalicoccus, Bilophila, Family_XIII_UCG_001, Aerococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_005, Harryflintia, Christensenellaceae, Rumonpcpccaceae, Prevotelaceae_UCG_001, Clostridiales_vadinBB60_group, Parasutterella and Bifidobacterium, but decreasing the proportion of Lactobacillus, Burkholderia_Caballeroria_Paraburkholderia, Escherichia_Shigella and Erysipelatoclostridium. Furthermore, liver metabolomics based on UPLC-QTOF/MS demonstrated that oral administration of GAA had a significant regulatory effect on the composition of liver metabolites in mice exposed to alcohol intake, especially the levels of the biomarkers involved in the metabolic pathways of riboflavin metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, fructose and mannose metabolism. Moreover, dietary supplementation of GAA significantly regulated the hepatic mRNA levels of lipid metabolism and inflammatory response related genes. Conclusively, these findings demonstrate that GAA has beneficial effects on alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury and is expected to become a new functional food ingredient for the prevention of alcoholic liver injury.

Secondary alloanti-D immunization post transfusion of "Asia type" DEL red blood cells.

BACKGROUND: "Asia type" DEL red blood cells (RBCs) express a very weak D antigen and cannot be detected by routine RhD typing. Thus, it is routinely typed as D-negative (D-) blood group and transfused to D- recipients. Here we described a case of secondary alloanti-D immunization that was associated with transfusion of DEL RBCs to D- recipients and was initially considered as primary alloanti-D immunization. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old D- woman (G2P2) with adenomyosis and anemia underwent transabdominal hysterectomy. She received four units of D- RBCs before operation. Before transfusion, the alloantibody screening test was negative. Four days after the first transfusion, she needed another RBC transfusion. Unexpectedly, the routine pre-transfusion alloantibody screening test became positive and anti-D (titer, 128-fold) was identified, indicating an alloanti-D immunization. The anti-D developed four days after the first transfusion was unexplained, so alloantibody identification was performed on the sample collected before the first transfusion, and weak anti-D combined with anti-E, which was not detectable during the previous routine pre-transfusion alloantibody screening test with non-enzyme-treated screening cells, was identified using bromelain-treated panel cells. The remaining blood samples of first transfusion in bag tails from two donors were collected for RHD genotyping analysis. One donor was later identified as "Asia type" DEL having RHD* 1227 A/01 N.01 genotype. CONCLUSION: Caution should be applied when we conclude that transfusion of "Asia type" DEL RBCs to true D- recipients could induce primary alloanti-D immunization, especially if the short time interval between transfusion and detection of anti-D is observed.

Octreotide-based therapies effectively protect mice from acute and chronic gastritis.

Gastritis is a common inflammation of stomach with multiple pathogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of oral octreotide (OCT) against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury and H. pylori-induced chronic gastritis via promoting gastric mucosa restoration, reducing gastric acid secretion and inflammation. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided and treated with three doses of OCT (0.5, 2.5, 10 mg/kg) alone or combined respectively with 10 mg/kg omeprazole (OME), 0.2 g/L metronidazole (MTZ)/0.1 g/L clarithromycin (CLR) in drinking water. Oxidative stress analysis, bacterial load analysis, qPCR, gastric histopathology examinations were performed in our study. Ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer was restored by OCT alone at doses of 2.5 mg/kg, or combined with OME as indicated by markedly reducing Gastrin, Il-6 and Il1b expression through induction of Muc5ac and Occludin, significantly improving hyperacidity and gastric bleeding. As well, OCT combined with MTZ/CLR restored the integrity of gastric mucosa damaged by H. pylori via elevating the expression of Muc5ac and somatostatin receptor 2, decreasing inflammation and increasing the number of chorionic or glands. Besides, OCT is more suitable for long-term medication in the treatment of chronic gastritis than OME. In conclusion, our results proved that the newly developed oral OCT-based therapies were more effective to reverse gastric mucosa damage and inflammation in ethanol and H. pylori infection-induced gastric injury, it is of great significance for supplementing new clinical regimens for the treatment of acute and chronic gastritis.

Ganoderic acids-rich ethanol extract from Ganoderma lucidum protects against alcoholic liver injury and modulates intestinal microbiota in mice with excessive alcohol intake.

Alcoholic liver injury is mainly caused by excessive alcohol consumption and has become a global public health problem threatening human health. It is well known that Ganoderma lucidum possesses various excellent beneficial effects on liver function and lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the underlying protective effect and action mechanism of ganoderic acids-rich G. lucidum ethanol extract (GLE) on alcohol-induced liver injury in mice with excessive alcohol intake. Results showed that oral administration of GLE could obviously inhibit the abnormal increases of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and also significantly protect the liver against alcohol-induced excessive hepatic lipid accumulation and pathological changes. In addition, alcohol-induced oxidative stress in liver was significantly ameliorated by the dietary intervention of GLE through reducing the hepatic levels of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and increasing the hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Compared with the model group, GLE intervention significantly ameliorated the intestinal microbial disorder by elevating the relative abundance of Ruminiclostridium_9, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Oscillibacter, [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum_group, norank_f_Clostridiates_vadinBB60_group, GCA-900066225, Bilophila, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-009, norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae and Hydrogenoanaerobacterium, but decreasing the proportion of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. Furthermore, liver metabolomic profiling suggested that GLE intervention had a significant regulatory effect on the composition of liver metabolites in mice with excessive alcohol intake, especially the levels of some biomarkers involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fructose and mannose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Additionally, dietary supplementation with GLE significantly regulated the mRNA levels of key genes related to fatty acids metabolism, ethanol catabolism and inflammatory response in liver. Conclusively, these findings indicate that GLE has a potentially beneficial effect on alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury and may be developed as a promising functional food ingredient.

Novel intestinal dialysis interventions and microbiome modulation to control uremia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the gut plays a key role in the homeostasis of fluid and electrolyte balance and the production and disposal of uremic toxins. This review summarizes the current evidence on the gut-targeted interventions to control uremia, fluid overload, hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia in CKD. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies have emerged that support the concept of intestinal dialysis, such as colonic perfusion with a Malone antegrade continence enema stoma or colonic irrigation with a rectal catheter, as a promising adjuvant approach to control uremia in CKD, although most findings are preliminary. The use of AST-120, an oral adsorbent, has been shown to reduce circulating levels of indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol sulfate and have potential renoprotective benefits in patients with advanced CKD. Diarrhea or inducing watery stools may modulate fluid retention and potassium and phosphorus load. Accumulating evidence indicates that plant-based diets, low-protein diets, and pre-, pro-, and synbiotic supplementation may lead to favorable alterations of the gut microbiota, contributing to reduce uremic toxin generation. The effects of these gut-targeted interventions on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes are still limited and need to be tested in future studies including clinical trials. SUMMARY: Interventions aimed at enhancing bowel elimination of uremic toxins, fluid and electrolytes and at modulating gut microbiota may represent novel therapeutic strategies for the management of uremia in patients with CKD.

[Effects of BiejiaYugan Granule on TGF-ß1/Smads pathway in rats with hepatic fibrosis caused by compound factors].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Biejia Yugan Granule on hepatic fibrosis caused by compound factors in rats and its effect on TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group, colchicine group, Biejia Yugan Granule low, medium and high dose (1.85, 3.70, 7.40 g/kg) groups (n= 8 in each group). The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by treating with 5% alcohol 15 ml/kg (ig) everyday and injecting with 40% carbon tetrachloride (sc) twice a week for 42 days. The effects of Biejia Yugan Granule on liver function, liver index and water content, serum hepatic fibrosis related indicators, key proteins and gene expression of TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway in rats were observed. Results: Biejia Yugan Granule at the doses of 1.85, 3.70 and 7.40 g/kg could decrease the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP and HA, PCⅢ, C-Ⅳ, LN significantly, reduce the water content of liver tissue leads to the decrease of liver index, regulate the liver tissue TGF-ß1, Smad3 mRNA and Smad7 mRNA expressions. Conclusion: Biejia Yugan Granule has obvious effects of reducing enzyme and protecting liver and inhibiting hepatic fibrosis, and inhibiting TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway is one of its mechanisms of anti-hepatic fibrosis.

Cancer CRC: A Comprehensive Cancer Core Transcriptional Regulatory Circuit Resource and Analysis Platform.

A core transcriptional regulatory circuit (CRC) is a group of interconnected auto-regulating transcription factors (TFs) that form loops and can be identified by super-enhancers (SEs). Studies have indicated that CRCs play an important role in defining cellular identity and determining cellular fate. Additionally, core TFs in CRCs are regulators of cell-type-specific transcriptional regulation. However, a global view of CRC properties across various cancer types has not been generated. Thus, we integrated paired cancer ATAC-seq and H3K27ac ChIP-seq data for specific cell lines to develop the Cancer CRC (http://bio.liclab.net/Cancer_crc/index.html). This platform documented 94,108 cancer CRCs, including 325 core TFs. The cancer CRC also provided the "SE active core TFs analysis" and "TF enrichment analysis" tools to identify potentially key TFs in cancer. In addition, we performed a comprehensive analysis of core TFs in various cancer types to reveal conserved and cancer-specific TFs.

A Method to Realize Efficient Deep-Red Phosphorescent OLEDs with a Broad Spectral Profile and Low Operating Voltages.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) used as phototherapy light sources require sufficient spectral distribution in the effective wavelength ranges and low operating voltages. Herein, a double emitting layer structure consisting of a red-emitting Ir(piq)2acac and a deep-red Ir(fliq)2acac was designed to generate a broad electroluminescence spectrum. An efficient TCTA:CN-T2T exciplex system was used as the host of the emitting layer, facilitating effective energy transfer from the exciplex host to the red and deep-red phosphors. The materials used in the exciplex host were also used as the carrier transport layers to eliminate the energy barriers and thus increase the current density. The hole injection layer structures were varied to examine the hole injection capabilities and the carrier balance. The resulting optimized phosphorescent OLEDs with a broad spectral profile exhibit a 90% coverage ratio in the target ranges from 630 to 690 nm, together with a high peak efficiency of 19.1% (10.2 cd/A and 13.8 lm/W). The proposed device only needs 5.2 V to achieve a power density of 5 mW/cm2, implying that the device could be driven via two series-connected button cell batteries. These results illustrate the feasibility of our design concepts and demonstrate the realization of a portable and lightweight OLED phototherapy light source.

Studies on the Incompatibility between Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata Based on the P-gp.

Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata are an incompatible herbal pair in the traditional Chinese medicine theory "eighteen incompatible medicaments," and they should not be used simultaneously in clinical treatment for safety. This study aimed to investigate the incompatibility mechanism between Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata based on their interaction with P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The interaction between Bulbus fritillariae and Radix aconiti praeparata during in vitro decocting as well as in vivo absorption was investigated by determining the dry extract yield and by rat single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model. Inhibition of different species of Bulbus fritillariae on P-gp function was examined using the SPIP model. The mRNA and protein expression of P-gp was determined by PCR and western blotting. The active ingredients of Bulbus fritillariae were predicted and screened for inhibiting P-gp activity by Schrodinger's molecular docking and MDR1-MDCK cell transport study, respectively. Mediation of monoester alkaloids in Radix aconiti praeparata by P-gp was predicted and examined using Schrodinger's molecular docking and SPIP experiment, respectively. In the results, when Radix aconiti praeparata was combined with Bulbus fritillariae, the toxic ingredient benzoylmesaconine in Radix aconiti praeparata displayed higher intestinal permeability, whereas the toxic ingredients showed no significant difference during the in vitro decoction process. Bulbus fritillariae thunbergii inhibited both the P-gp function and expression; in contrast, Bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae inhibited the function only. Alkaloids including peimine, peimisine, and imperialine were the active ingredients for inhibiting P-gp activity. Benzoylmesaconine in Radix aconiti praeparata was the substrate of P-gp.

Why are physical assessment skills not practiced? A systematic review with implications for nursing education.

BACKGROUND: Physical assessment skills are taught in pre-registration nursing programs to equip nurses with the competencies to provide holistic nursing care. However, only a fraction of the skills they acquired during training are routinely performed in clinical practice thus highlighting a disconnect between learning and practicing. OBJECTIVE: To better understand the issues surrounding the teaching and practice of physical assessment skills among nurses as described in the literature. DESIGN: A systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was used. REVIEW METHOD: A search of databases including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Scopus was conducted from January 1970 to December 2019. Two independent researchers performed the methodological quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklists. Twenty-one papers, including two qualitative studies, 17 quantitative studies and two mixed methods study, were selected in this review. Data were synthesised narratively. RESULTS: The review identified six overarching themes: (1) role ambiguity, (2) reliance on technology, (3) collegial support and culture, (4) practice variations across specialties, (5) a lack of confidence and knowledge, and (6) over-teaching using biomedical model. CONCLUSION: This review identified the need to improve the teaching of the physical assessment skills. There is also a need to evaluate the physical assessment content taught within nursing curricula, with emphasis on depth rather than breadth of skills. The ability to interpret physical assessment observations and develop clinical judgement need to be incorporated into the curriculum. To aid in the development of an effective care plan, the physical assessment framework should move away from a biomedical framework to include nursing models such as nursing process and clinical reasoning model. This revised framework can be used in future studies in the development and testing of teaching and evaluation tools for physical assessment skills.