Application of Elastic Traction Band Combined with Pain Assessment in Elderly Patients After Hip Replacement.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the use of an elastic traction band in conjunction with pain evaluation in geriatric patients after hip replacement. Methods: Eighty hip arthroplasty cases involving senior patients at our institution were chosen for this study, covering the period from February 2021 to January 2022. They were separated into the control and observation groups using the premise of comparing and contrasting the two groups' shared fundamental characteristics. Traditional nursing care was given to the control group, while the observation group got an elastic stretch traction belt and pain assessment nursing care. The application effect of the two groups was observed. Results: Before surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in the Harris hip function score between the two groups (P > .05). Harris scores for research items in both groups improved 6 months after surgery, compared to scores obtained before surgery (P < .05), and the increase was greater in the observation group than in the control group (P < .05). Self-efficacy for physical activity, coping, and the overall SER scale were all greater in the observation group than in the control group (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups on any measure of material wellbeing (P > .05). Mental and physical health scores were better in the observation group than in the control group (P < .05). Patients' social dimensions were compared to those of two control groups, and the results showed no statistically significant difference in terms of social function aspects (P > .05), although the control group reported much lower levels of enjoyment, learning, and work, the observation group reported significantly greater levels (P < .05). Patient treatment compliance study using a rank sum test revealed that the observation group's postoperative exercise compliance was considerably greater than that of the control group. Observation group members were more compliant than control group members, with an average rank of 30.829 compared to 40.171 for both groups (P < .05). Conclusion: Patients who have had hip arthroplasty may benefit from using an elastic traction belt in conjunction with pain assessment to increase the likelihood that they would participate in rehabilitation exercises, so enhancing their self-efficacy, hip function, and quality of life.

To Explore the Mechanism of "Fuzi-Guizhi" for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis on the Basis of Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze and verify the main drug components and targets of "Fuzi-Guizhi" in the treatment of osteoarthritis by using the network pharmacology platform. METHODS: The integrated pharmacology of "Fuzi-Guizhi" was analyzed by using the platform of integrated pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine to explore its mechanism in the treatment of osteoarthritis. By establishing an arthritis model in vitro, the pharmacological effect of "aconitecassia twigs" on articular cartilage was evaluated and conducted for molecular docking. RESULTS: 28 candidate active components, 37 compound targets, and 583 osteoarthritis-related potential targets were screened, and 10 key target processes were screened in the protein interaction network model. Enrichment analysis showed that the 10 core targets involved 958 GO biologic function items and 76 KEGG signal pathways, which were mainly related to apoptosis and mitochondrial functional metabolism and "Fuzi-Guizhi" drug-containing serum inhibited the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in chondrocytes and promoted the synthesis of ATP. CONCLUSION: Our research is preliminary that the mechanism of action of "Fuzi-Guizhi" may inhibit chondrocyte degeneration by resisting mitochondrial apoptosis, and further experimental research is required to determine.

Melittin Inhibits Growth of Human Osteosarcoma 143B Cells through Induction of Apoptosis via Suppressing the Wnt/ß-catenin Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osteosarcoma is the most commonly seen type of primary malignant bone tumors in children and adolescents. Partial patients with osteosarcoma cannot tolerate the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Hence, it is urgent to find anti-osteosarcoma drugs with low side effects. Melittin is an anti-tumor Traditional Chinese Medicine with low side effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-osteosarcoma effect of melittin and its possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The effects of melittin on cell growth were detected by CCK-8, clonal formation, and flow cytometry. The related molecules were also investigated by Real-time PCR and Western blot. A xenograft model in nude mice was established to observe the effects of melittin on tumor growth and the related molecular expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Melittin can inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma 143B cells, reduce colony formation, and induce apoptosis while significantly up-regulating the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 proteins. Moreover, treatment with melittin significantly reduced the mRNA and protein levels of ß-catenin and Wnt/ß- catenin related genes (LRP5, c-Myc, and Survivin) in osteosarcoma 143B cells in vitro. The xenograft model found that melittin significantly inhibited tumor growth and decreased the protein expression levels of ß-catenin and Wnt/ß- catenin related genes in vivo. CONCLUSION: These findings show that melittin could inhibit the growth of osteosarcoma 143B cells, which may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway activity and induce apoptosis by up-regulating the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in osteosarcoma 143B cells. Therefore, melittin is a promising anti-tumor drug for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic data reveal the flavonoid biosynthesis metabolic pathway in Perilla frutescens (L.) leaves.

Perilla frutescens (L.) is an important medicinal and edible plant in China with nutritional and medical uses. The extract from leaves of Perilla frutescens contains flavonoids and volatile oils, which are mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic and metabolomic data of the leaves of two Perilla frutescens varieties: JIZI 1 and JIZI 2. A total of 9277 differentially expressed genes and 223 flavonoid metabolites were identified in these varieties. Chrysoeriol, apigenin, malvidin, cyanidin, kaempferol, and their derivatives were abundant in the leaves of Perilla frutescens, which were more than 70% of total flavonoid contents. A total of 77 unigenes encoding 15 enzymes were identified as candidate genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in the leaves of Perilla frutescens. High expression of the CHS gene enhances the accumulation of flavonoids in the leaves of Perilla frutescens. Our results provide valuable information on the flavonoid metabolites and candidate genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in the leaves of Perilla frutescens.

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of the anthocyanin regulatory networks in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. flowers.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to reveal the anthocyanin biosynthesis metabolic pathway in white and purple flowers of Salvia miltiorrhiza using metabolomics and transcriptomics, to identify different anthocyanin metabolites, and to analyze the differentially expressed genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. RESULTS: We analyzed the metabolomics and transcriptomics data of S. miltiorrhiza flowers. A total of 1994 differentially expressed genes and 84 flavonoid metabolites were identified between the white and purple flowers of S. miltiorrhiza. Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that cyanidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, malvidin 3,5-diglucoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactoside were mainly responsible for the purple flower color of S. miltiorrhiza. A total of 100 unigenes encoding 10 enzymes were identified as candidate genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza flowers. Low expression of the ANS gene decreased the anthocyanin content but enhanced the accumulation of flavonoids in S. miltiorrhiza flowers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide valuable information on the anthocyanin metabolites and the candidate genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways in S. miltiorrhiza.

Effects of prebiotics on immunologic indicators and intestinal microbiota structure in perioperative colorectal cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of prebiotics (containing fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides, polydextrose, and resistant dextrin) intake on immune function and intestinal microbiota structure in perioperative patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, no-treatment parallel control clinical trial involving 140 perioperative patients (90 men and 50 women, aged 40-75 y) with CRC was performed. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group (prebiotic group, n = 70) that received prebiotic supplementation of 30 g/d for 7 d, and a control group (non-prebiotic group, n = 70) that received no prebiotic supplementation. The nutritional and immunologic indices were evaluated for both groups before and after operation and analyzed against baseline values. Moreover, fecal samples were collected from 40 patients randomly chosen from the two groups to study intestinal microbiota, which was analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of 16S ribosomal DNA using the Illumina (San Diego, CA) MiSeq (PE 2 × 300 bp) platform. RESULTS: Oral intake of prebiotics produced significant effects on immunologic indices in both the preoperative and postoperative periods, but the patterns of effects were different. In the preoperative period, prebiotics increased serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG; P = 0.02), IgM (P = 0.00), and transferrin (P = 0.027; all P < 0.05). In the postoperative period, enhanced levels of IgG (P = 0.003), IgA (P = 0.007), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+; P = 0.043), and total B lymphocytes (CD19+; P = 0.012) were identified in the prebiotic group (all P < 0.05). The differences in the intestinal microbiota at the phylum level were not statistically significant between the intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). At the genus level, prebiotics increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium (P = 0.017) and Enterococcus (P = 0.02; both P < 0.05) but decreased the abundance of Bacteroides (P = 0.04) in the preoperative period (all P < 0.05). In the postoperative period, the abundance of Bacteroides (P = 0.04) was decreased, but the abundance of Enterococcus (P = 0.00), Bacillus (P = 0.01), Lactococcus (P = 0.00), and Streptococcus (P = 0.037) increased in the non-prebiotic group (all P < 0.05); however, no significant change was identified in the abundance of Enterococcus (P = 0.56), Lactococcus (P = 0.07), and Streptococcus (P = 0.56) as a result of prebiotic intervention in this period (all P > 0.05). The abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was increased after prebiotic intake in the postoperative period (P = 0.014, P < 0.05). There was a notable trend of decline in the abundance of intestinal microbiota from preoperative to postoperative in the non-prebiotic group. CONCLUSIONS: Prebiotic intake is recommended to improve serum immunologic indicators in patients with CRC 7 d before operation. Prebiotics improved the abundance of four commensal microbiota containing opportunistic pathogens in patients with CRC. Surgical stress decreased the abundance of most intestinal microbiota in the intestinal tract but increased the abundance of some opportunistic pathogens and commensal microbiota. Bacteroides is a relevant bacterial species for further research on the mechanism of prebiotics.

In vivo metabolic fingerprinting of neutral lipids with hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy.

Metabolic fingerprinting provides valuable information on the physiopathological states of cells and tissues. Traditional imaging mass spectrometry and magnetic resonance imaging are unable to probe the spatial-temporal dynamics of metabolites at the subcellular level due to either lack of spatial resolution or inability to perform live cell imaging. Here we report a complementary metabolic imaging technique that is based on hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (hsSRS). We demonstrated the use of hsSRS imaging in quantifying two major neutral lipids: cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol in cells and tissues. Our imaging results revealed previously unknown changes of lipid composition associated with obesity and steatohepatitis. We further used stable-isotope labeling to trace the metabolic dynamics of fatty acids in live cells and live Caenorhabditis elegans with hsSRS imaging. We found that unsaturated fatty acid has preferential uptake into lipid storage while saturated fatty acid exhibits toxicity in hepatic cells. Simultaneous metabolic fingerprinting of deuterium-labeled saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in living C. elegans revealed that there is a lack of interaction between the two, unlike previously hypothesized. Our findings provide new approaches for metabolic tracing of neutral lipids and their precursors in living cells and organisms, and could potentially serve as a general approach for metabolic fingerprinting of other metabolites.