Amino acid transporter (AAT) gene family in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum L. Gaertn.): Characterization, expression analysis and functional prediction.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum L. Gaertn., TB) is an ancient minor crop and an important food source for humans to supplement nutrients such as flavonoids and essential amino acids. Amino acid transporters (AATs) play critical roles in plant growth and development through the transport of amino acids. In this study, 104 AATs were identified in TB genome and divided into 11 subfamilies by phylogenetic relationships. Tandem and segmental duplications promoted the expansion of FtAAT gene family, and the variations of gene sequence, protein structure and expression pattern were the main reasons for the functional differentiation of FtAATs. Based on RNA-seq and qRT-PCR, the expression patterns of FtAATs in different tissues and under different abiotic stresses were analyzed, and several candidate FtAATs that might affect grain development and response to abiotic stresses were identified, such as FtAAP12 and FtCAT7. Finally, combined with the previous studies, the expression patterns and phylogenetic relationships of AATs in multiple species, the functions of multiple high-confidence FtAAT genes were predicted, and the schematic diagram of FtAATs in TB was initially drawn. Overall, this work provided a framework for further functional analysis of FtAAT genes and important clues for the improvement of TB quality and stress resistance.

Clinical effect of TESSYS technique under spinal endoscopy combined with drug therapy in patients with lumbar disc herniation and its effect on quality of life and serum inflammatory factors: results of a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out based on the background that lumbar disc herniation seriously affects patients' quality of life but its clinical treatment effect remains unsatisfactory. METHODS: In total, 140 patients with lumbar disc herniation are randomly divided into a single operation group (SO) and a combined treatment group (CT). Among them, patients in the SO group received single treatment of TESSYS technique under spinal endoscopy, while patients in the CT group received combined drug therapy including coenzyme A, adenosine triphosphate, 10% glucose injection, 10% potassium chloride, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, dexamethasone, 20% mannitol and traditional Chinese medicine on the basis of the SO group. The clinical effect, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), recurrence rate, levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and quality of life score were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The treatment effectiveness rate of the CT group was markedly better than that in the SO group (P<0.01). At 3- and 6-month postoperatively, the JOA scores, VAS scores, World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α in the CT group were significantly better than those in the SO group (P<0.05). During the 6-12-month follow-up, the recurrence rate and WHOQOL-BREF scores in the SO group and CT group was no statistical difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TESSYS technique under spinal endoscopy combined with drug therapy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation has a significant clinical effect. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical popularization. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100049153.

Bioreducible alginate-poly(ethylenimine) nanogels as an antigen-delivery system robustly enhance vaccine-elicited humoral and cellular immune responses.

Although polysaccharide nanogels have emerged as a novel antigen delivery system for vaccine development, whether modulating the redox sensitivity of nanogels could improve vaccine efficacy remains unclear. In the present study, we generated bioreducible cationic alginate-polyethylenimine (PEI) nanogels as a novel vaccine delivery system. Briefly, nanogels were prepared by the electrostatic interaction of negatively charged alginate sodium with branched PEI2k, followed by disulfide cross-linking to generate bioreducible nanogels (AP-SS). The AP-SS nanogels demonstrated great antigen-loading capacity and minimal cytotoxicity. The in vitro study showed that reducible AP-SS nanogels not only facilitated antigen uptake by mouse bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs), but also promoted intracellular antigen degradation and cytosolic release. Moreover, AP-SS nanogels significantly enhanced both MHC class I and II antigen presentation by BMDCs. Compared with the non-reducible nanogels, AP-SS nanogels more potently enhanced vaccine-induced antibody production and CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor cell lysis. Hence, the bioreducible alginate-PEI nanogels could serve as a potent adjuvant to improve vaccine-elicited humoral and cellular immune responses.

[Multicentral randomized controlled clinical trials about treatment of perimenopausal syndrome with electroacupuncture of sanyinjiao (SP 6)].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on perimenopausal syndrome (PMS). METHODS: Multicentral randomized controlled trials and single blind test were adopted in the present study. A total of 157 PMS patients were randomly divided into EA group (n=81) and medication group (n=76) . EA (2/100 Hz, 8-10 mA) was applied to bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), 3 times a week and for 3 months (mon). Patients of medication group were treated by oral administration of nylestriol, 2 mg/time, twice a mon for 3 mon. For PMS patients, medroxyprogesterone (6 mg/d, for 10 days) was added from the third mon on after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by using "symptoms-signs score scale", and changes of serum estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotrophic hormone (LH) were detected by chemiluminescence immune assay. Kupperman index was determined before and after the treatment. RESULTS: In comparison with pre-treatment, Kupperman index of EA group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). After the treatment, contents of serum FSH and LH of EA group decreased significantly (P < 0.01), while serum E2 contents of EA and medication groups increased significantly (P < 0. 01). Serum LH and E2 levels of EA group were significantly lower than those of medication group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between two groups in Kupperman index, markedly-effective rates and total effective rates (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) is able to regulate serum E2, FSH and LH levels and effectively improve perimenopausal syndrome.

[Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on peri-menopausal syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for treatment of peri-menopausal syndrome. METHODS: All the patients enrolled were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 3 therapeutic courses, thrice each week, 30 min each time, one month constituting one course. The control group were treated with oral administration of nylestriol for 3 months, 2 mg each time, twice each month. For the menopausal patient, medroxyprogesterone was added from the third month of the treatment for 7 days, 6 mg each day. Changes of vasomotorial symptoms, mental symptoms and scores of Kupperman indexes before and after treatment for 1 month, 2 months and 3 months were investigated. RESULTS: EA could significantly decrease the score of Kupperman indexes, improve vasomotorial symptoms and mental symptoms in the patient of peri-menopausal syndrome with no severe adverse effects. The control group in the score of Kupperman indexes was slightly higher than the treatment group with no significant difference between the two groups, but the treatment group in improvement of the vasomotorial symptoms was better than the control group and in improvement of mental symptoms was not as good as the control group. CONCLUSION: EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) is effective and safe for treatment of peri-menopausal syndrome.