Dazomet fumigation modification of the soil microorganism community and promotion of Panax notoginseng growth.

Introduction: Panax notoginseng, a medicinal herb in China, is attacked by several pathogens during its cultivation. Dazomet (DZ) is a soil fumigant that is effective in controlling soil-borne pathogens, but its long-term effects on P. notoginseng growth and soil properties are unknown. Methods: We conducted field experiments over two consecutive years to assess the impact of three concentrations of DZ fumigation (35 kg/666.7 m2, 40 kg/666.7 m2, and 45 kg/666.7 m2) on soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity, and P. notoginseng growth. Correlation analyses were performed between microbial community changes and soil properties, and functional predictions for soil microorganisms were conducted. Results: DZ fumigation increased total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, available potassium, and ammonia nitrogen levels in the soil. DZ fumigation promoted the nutrient accumulation and improvement of agronomic traits of P. notoginseng, resulted in a 2.83-3.81X yield increase, with the highest total saponin content increasing by 24.06%. And the 40 kg/666.7 m2 treatment had the most favorable impact on P. notoginseng growth and saponin accumulation. After DZ fumigation, there was a decrease in the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium, Plectosphaerella, and Ilyonectria, while beneficial bacteria such as Ramlibacter, Burkholderia, and Rhodanobacteria increased. The effects of fumigation on soil microorganisms and soil physicochemical properties persisted for 18 months post-fumigation. DZ fumigation enhanced the relative abundance of bacteria involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, reduced the relative abundance of plant-animal pathogenic fungi, reduced the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. Conclusion: In conclusion, DZ fumigation enhanced soil physicochemical properties, increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the soil, and rebalanced soil microorganism populations, consequently improving the growth environment of P. notoginseng and enhancing its growth, yield, and quality. This study offers a theoretical foundation for DZ fumigation as a potential solution to the continuous cropping issue in perennial medicinal plants such as P. notoginseng.

Prognostic impact of interstitial lung abnormalities in lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Newly identified as a radiological concept, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) is emerging as a prognostic factor for lung cancer. Yet, debates persist regarding the prognostic significance of ILA in lung cancer. Our inaugural meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between ILA and lung cancer outcomes, offering additional insights for clinicians in predicting patient prognosis. Methods: Articles meeting the criteria were found through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science by February 29, 2024. The outcomes evaluated were the survival rates such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results: A total of 12 articles with 4416 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that lung cancer patients with interstitial lung abnormalities had an inferior OS (n=11; HR=2.22; 95% CI=1.68-2.95; P<0.001; I2 = 72.0%; Ph<0.001), PFS (n=3; HR=1.59; 95% CI=1.08-2.32; P=0.017; I2 = 0%; Ph=0.772), and CSS (n=2; HR=4.00; 95% CI=1.94-8.25; P<0.001; I2 = 0%; Ph=0.594) than those without, however, the ILA was not significantly associated with the DFS (n=2; HR=2.07; 95% CI=0.94-7.02; P=0.066; I2 = 90.4%; Ph=0.001). Moreover, lung cancer patients with ILA were significantly correlated with male (OR=2.43; 95% CI=1.48-3.98; P<0.001), smoking history (OR=2.11; 95% CI=1.37-3.25; P<0.001), advanced age (OR=2.50; 95% CI=1.56-4.03; P<0.001), squamous carcinoma (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.24-0.71; P=0.01), and EGFR mutation (OR=0.50; 95% CI=0.32-0.78; P=0.002). The correlation between ILA and race, stage, ALK, however, was not significant. Conclusion: ILA was a availability factors of prognosis in patients with lung cancers. These findings highlight the importance of early pulmonary fibrosis, namely ILA for prognosis in patients with lung cancer, and provide a partial rationale for future clinical work.

Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for distylous-homostylous Primula secundiflora (Primulaceae) using HiSeq sequencing.

Primula secundiflora is an insect-pollinated, perennial herb belonging to the section Proliferae (Primulaceae) that exhibits considerable variation in its mating system, with predominantly outcrossing populations comprising long-styled and short-styled floral morphs and selfing populations comprising only homostyles. To facilitate future investigations of the population genetics and mating patterns of this species, we developed 25 microsatellite markers from P. secundiflora using next-generation sequencing and measured polymorphism and genetic diversity in a sample of 30 individuals from three natural populations. The markers displayed high polymorphism, with the number of observed alleles per locus ranging from three to 16 (mean = 8.36). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.100 to 1.000 and 0.145 to 0.843, respectively. Twenty-one of the loci were also successfully amplified in P. denticulata. These microsatellite markers should provide powerful tools for investigating patterns of population genetic diversity and the evolutionary relationships between distyly and homostyly in P. secundiflora.

Genomic and in-vitro characteristics of a novel strain Lacticaseibacillus chiayiensis AACE3 isolated from fermented blueberry.

Numerous different species of LAB are used in different fields due to their unique characteristics. However, Lacticaseibacillus chiayiensis, a newly established species in 2018, has limited microorganism resources, and lacks comprehensive evaluations of its properties. In this study, L. chiayiensis AACE3, isolated from fermented blueberry, was evaluated by genomic analysis and in vitro assays of the properties. The genome identified genes associated with biofilm formation (luxS, ccpA, brpA), resistance to oxidative stress (tpx, trxA, trxB, hslO), tolerance to acidic conditions (dltA, dltC), resistance to unfavorable osmotic pressure (opuBB, gbuA, gbuB, gbuC), and adhesion (luxS, dltA, dltC). The AACE3 showed 112 unique genes, relative to the other three L. chiayiensis strains. Among them, the presence of genes such as clpP, pepO, and feoA suggests a possible advantage of AACE3 over other L. chiayiensis in terms of environmental adaptation. In vitro evaluation of the properties revealed that AACE3 had robust antibacterial activity against eight common pathogens: Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella choleraesuis, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, AACE3 showed more than 80% survival rate in all tests simulating gastrointestinal fluid, and it exhibited high antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, the cell culture supernatant was superior to intact organisms and ultrasonically crushed bacterial extracts in all tests of antioxidant capacity. These results suggested that the antioxidant capacity may originate from certain metabolites and extracellular enzymes produced by AACE3. Moreover, AACE3 was a moderate biofilm producer due to the self-agglomeration effect. Taken together, L. chiayiensis AACE3 appears to be a candidate strain for combating the growing incidence of pathogen infections and antioxidant production.

Nano-Calcium Carbonate Affect the Respiratory and Function Through Inducing Oxidative Stress: A Cross-sectional Study Among Occupational Exposure of Workers and a Further Research for Underlying Mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate whether nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO 3 ) occupational exposure could induce adverse health effects in workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a nano-CaCO 3 manufacturing plant in China. Then, we have studied the dynamic distribution of nano-CaCO 3 in nude mice and examined the oxidative damage biomarkers of subchronic administrated nano-CaCO 3 on Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: The forced vital capacity (%) and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC is the rate of one second of workers were significantly decreased than unexposed individuals. Dynamic imaging in mice of fluorescence labeled nano-CaCO 3 showed relatively high uptake and slow washout in lung. Similar to population data, the decline in serum glutathione level and elevation in serum MDA were observed in nano-CaCO 3 -infected Sprague-Dawley rats. CONCLUSIONS: We found that nano-CaCO 3 exposure may result in the poor pulmonary function in workers and lead to the changes of oxidative stress indexes.

The role of symbiotic fungi in the life cycle of Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae): a comprehensive review.

Gastrodia elata Blume, a fully mycoheterotrophic perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae, is a traditional Chinese herb with medicinal and edible value. Interestingly, G. elata requires symbiotic relationships with Mycena and Armillaria strains for seed germination and plant growth, respectively. However, there is no comprehensive summary of the symbiotic mechanism between fungi and G. elata. Here, the colonization and digestion of hyphae, the bidirectional exchange of nutrients, the adaptation of fungi and G. elata to symbiosis, and the role of microorganisms and secondary metabolites in the symbiotic relationship between fungi and G. elata are summarized. We comprehensively and deeply analyzed the mechanism of symbiosis between G. elata and fungi from three perspectives: morphology, nutrition, and molecules. The aim of this review was to enrich the understanding of the mutualistic symbiosis mechanisms between plants and fungi and lay a theoretical foundation for the ecological cultivation of G. elata.

Efficacy and Safety of Gegen Qinlian Decoction for Pediatric Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea. Methods: A search for relevant RCTs was performed from which a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. This meta-analysis was registered at INPLASY (reference number ID: INPLASY202180105). Results: (1) Eleven trials involving 1126 patients were included in the meta-analysis. (2) Two trials recorded the adverse events. (3) The meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the experimental group has a significantly shorter duration of diarrhea in children (MD = -18.64, 95% CI (-23.76, -13.52), P < 0.00001), duration of fever (MD = -19.43, 95% CI (-25.76, -13.11), P < 0.00001), duration of vomiting [MD = -22.51, 95% CI (-29.92, -15.09), P < 0.00001], duration of correcting dehydration (MD = -23.35, 95% CI (-35.48, -11.22), P=0.0002), and the effective rate (OR = 4.64, 95% CI (3.12, 6.90), P < 0.00001). Conclusion: There were significant differences in the clinical efficacy in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea between the experimental and control groups. Thus, Gegen Qinlian decoction may have certain advantages in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea. In addition, we conclude the following: (1) the application of Gegen Qinlian decoction to treat this disease is recommended for >5 days. (2) We recommend conducting multicenter RCTs to avoid the impact of regional differences on the results. (3) We recommend using the unmodified Gegen Qinlian decoction, which may have better efficacy.

Effects of Zhishi Daozhi Decoction on the intestinal flora of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mice induced by a high-fat diet.

Background and aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common type of chronic liver disease with a high incidence, and the situation is not optimistic. Intestinal flora imbalance is strongly correlated with NAFLD pathogenesis. Zhishi Daozhi Decoction (ZDD) is a water decoction of the herbs used in the classical Chinese medicine prescription Zhishi Daozhi Pills. Zhishi Daozhi Pills has shown promising hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic properties, but its specific mechanism remains unclear. Methods: Mice were fed on a high fat-rich diet (HFD) for ten weeks, and then the animals were administrated ZDD through oral gavage for four weeks. The serum liver function and blood lipid indexes of the mice were then tested using an automatic biochemical analyzer. H&E and Oil Red O staining were used to observe the pathological conditions of mice liver tissue, and 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to analyze the changes in intestinal flora of mice. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut of mice was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins between ileal mucosal epithelial cells was analyzed using the immunofluorescence technique. Results: ZDD was found to reduce the bodyweight of NAFLD mice, reduce serum TG, CHO, ALT, and AST levels, reduce fat accumulation in liver tissue, make the structure of intestinal flora comparable to the control group, and increase the concentration of intestinal SCFAs. It was also found to increase the expression of TJ proteins such as occludin and ZO-1, making them comparable to the control group. Conclusions: ZDD has a therapeutic effect on NAFLD mice induced by HFD, which may act by optimizing the intestinal flora structure.

Individual and combined effects of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms on lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis and re-analysis of systematic meta-analyses.

ABSTRACT: Thirty-five previous meta-analyses have been reported on the individual glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) present/null, glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) present/null, and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) IIe105Val polymorphisms with lung cancer (LC) risk. However, they did not appraise the credibility and explore the combined effects between the 3 genes and LC risk.We performed a meta-analysis and re-analysis of systematic previous meta-analyses to solve the above problems.Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used. Moreover, we employed false-positive report probability (FPRP), Bayesian false discovery probability (BFDP), and the Venice criteria to verify the credibility of current and previous meta-analyses.Significantly increased LC risk was considered as "highly credible" or "positive" for GSTM1 null genotype in Japanese (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-1.44, I2 = 0.0%, statistical power = 0.997, FPRP = 0.008, BFDP = 0.037, and Venice criteria: AAB), for GSTT1 null genotype in Asians (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.12-1.36, I2 = 49.1%, statistical power = 1.000, FPRP = 0.051, BFDP = 0.771, and Venice criteria: ABB), especially Chinese populations (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.16-1.49, I2 = 48.9%, Statistical power = 0.980, FPRP = 0.039, BFDP = 0.673, and Venice criteria: ABB), and for GSTP1 IIe105Val polymorphism in Asians (Val vs IIe: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17-1.42, I2 = 30.3%, statistical power = 0.999, FPRP = 0.003, BFDP = 0.183, and Venice criteria: ABB). Significantly increased lung adenocarcinoma (AC) risk was also considered as "highly credible" or "positive" in Asians for the GSTM1 (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.22-1.48, I2 = 25.5%, statistical power = 0.988, FPRP < 0.001, BFDP < 0.001, and Venice criteria: ABB) and GSTT1 (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.17-1.58, I2 = 30.2%, statistical power = 0.900, FPRP = 0.061, BFDP = 0.727, and Venice criteria: ABB) null genotype.This study indicates that GSTM1 null genotype is associated with increased LC risk in Japanese and lung AC risk in Asians; GSTT1 null genotype is associated with increased LC risk in Chinese, and GSTP1 IIe105Val polymorphism is associated with increased LC risk in Asians.

[Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Organophosphate Esters in Rivers and Water Body Around Taihu Lake].

To explore the pollution characteristics, potential sources, and ecological and health risk of organophosphate eaters (OPEs) in the surface water of Taihu Lake, water samples from 18 surrounding rivers were collected, as well as 11 water samples from Taihu Lake. The concentrations of 13 OPEs in the water were determined using UPLC-MS/MS, and the spatial distribution of the OPEs in surface water of Taihu Lake basin was further analyzed. The results indicate that, in addition to tripropyl phosphate (TPrP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tricresyl phosphate (TCrP), ten OPEs were detected in all the water samples, the total concentration (ΣOPEs) ranged from 152.5 ng·L-1 to 2524 ng·L-1, and the concentration median value was 519.2 ng·L-1. Tri(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) and tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were the dominant OPEs, with the concentration ranges of 73.7-1753.9 ng·L-1 (medium value:204.6 ng·L-1) and 43.9-313.5 ng·L-1 (medium value:131.3 ng·L-1), respectively. The ΣOPEs decreased from the northwest region to the southeast, which corresponds to the economic and industrial development. The results of the source identification reveal that the wastewater discharge from electronics and textile enterprises, construction materials, and vehicular and marine traffic emissions may be the principal sources of the OPEs in Taihu Lake. The ecological risk assessment results indicate that only TCPP, tri(dichloropropyl) phosphate (TDCP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) in some sites had a low risk. The health risk assessment reveals that there were no risks based on water intake, but the long-term risk of OPEs to the aquatic ecosystem and surrounding residents still need attention.

Association between the combined effects of GSTM1 present/null and CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms with lung cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have been performed to explore the combined effects of glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) present/null and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) MspI polymorphisms with lung cancer (LC) risk, but the results are contradictory. Two previous meta-analyses have been reported on the issue in 2011 and 2014. However, several new articles since then have been published. In addition, their meta-analyses did not valuate the credibility of significantly positive results. OBJECTIVES: We performed an updated meta-analysis to solve the controversy following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. METHODS: False-positive report probability (FPRP), Bayesian false discovery probability (BFDP), and the Venice criteria were used to verify the credibility of meta-analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-three publications including 5734 LC cases and 7066 controls met the inclusion criteria in the present study. A significantly increased risk of LC was found in overall analysis, Asians and Indians. However, all positive results were considered as 'less-credible' when we used the Venice criteria, FPRP, and BFDP test to assess the credibility of the positive results. CONCLUSION: These positive findings should be interpreted with caution and results indicate that significant associations may be less-credible, there are no significantly increased LC risk between the combined effects of GSTM1 present/null and CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms.

Network meta-analysis of antiepileptic drugs in focal drug-resistant epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and rank the efficacy and acceptability of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases and Clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched from their inception through January 1, 2020, to identify trials evaluating AEDs for focal drug-resistant epilepsy. We included randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) comparing new AEDs with placebo or with other AEDs as adjunctive therapy for focal drug-resistant epilepsy. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to determine efficacy and acceptability, as reflected by odds ratios (ORs), 95 % credible intervals (CrIs) with random-effects and consistent models. RESULTS: Sixty-two RCTs were included, involving 12,739 patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. Regarding the seizure-free rate (40 RCTs involving 9,136 patients), 8 AEDs were more efficacious than placebo, with lnORs ranging between 1.69 for brivaracetam (95 % CrI, 0.56-2.81) and 0.72 for pregabalin (95 % CrI, 0.12-1.32). Regarding the responder rate, all AEDs except oxcarbazepine were more efficacious than placebo, with lnORs ranging between 1.31 for levetiracetam (95 % CrI, 0.92-1.71) and 0.66 for carisbamate (95 % CrI, 0.17-1.14). Regarding acceptability (60 RCTs comprising 12,139 patients), 9 AEDs were inferior to placebo. Estimated from seizure-free rate, brivaracetam was ranked as the most efficacious AED based on cumulative probability plots and SUCRAs, with fatigue as the main adverse event. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that, based on seizure-free rate and all-cause discontinuation rate, brivaracetam is the most efficacious and acceptable AED, with mild adverse events and acknowledgement of potential publication bias.

Genetic polymorphism in MDR1 C3435T is a determinant of methotrexate cerebrospinal fluid concentrations in Chinese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphism in exon 26 (C3435T) of multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) transporter gene on the concentration of methotrexate (MTX) in Chinese childhood patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving intravenous (IV) and intrathecal (IT) high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDR1 C3435T polymorphism was investigated in 60 patients with Chinese childhood ALL. The study also compared the MDR1; polymorphism between the patients with Chinese childhood ALL and the published data on Americans, Mexicans, Caucasians, and Thais. The C3435T polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and direct sequence analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma concentrations of MTX were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MTX concentrations were compared according to MDR1 C3435T genotypes. RESULTS: The frequencies of MDR1 C3435T genotype in male and female patients with Chinese childhood ALL were significantly different (p = 0.001). For the frequencies of MDR1 C3435T genotype in Hui and Han patients with Chinese childhood ALL there was no difference (p = 0.188). The distribution of allele frequencies in patients with Chinese childhood ALL was similar to the published data on Americans, Mexican, Caucasians, and Thais (p > 0.05). The CSF concentrations of MTX were found to be significantly different between the C allele (CC + CT) carriers and TT homozygous group (p = 0.04). The plasma concentrations of MTX had no significant difference between the C allele (CC + CT) carriers and TT homozygous group (p > 0.1). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the polymorphism of MDR1 C3435T influenced the CSF concentration of MTX in patients with Chinese childhood ALL receiving IV and IT HDMTX treatment.

Structural characterization and induced copper stress resistance in rice of exopolysaccharides from Lactobacillus plantarum LPC-1.

Excessive accumulation of copper could decrease growth and quality of crops, and little information was currently available on the role of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Lactobacillus plantarum in inducing copper stress resistance in plants. The main objective of this work was to purify and characterize the EPS produced by our isolated L. plantarum LPC-1, and evaluate its potential protection for rice against copper stress. Firstly, two fractions (EPS-1 and EPS-2) were separated and purified from L. plantarum LPC-1 by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 cellulose column chromatography. According to the further scanning electron microscope (SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) analyses, it was observed that EPS-1 and EPS-2 were heteropolysaccharides that were composed of mannose and glucose with molar ratio of 2.40:15.01 and 3.02:11.63, respectively. Additionally, the two fractions possessed considerable antioxidant activities, and EPS-1 had a stronger antioxidant activity than EPS-2 in vitro. Furthermore, exogenous addition of EPS significantly alleviated the toxic effects by copper on rice seedlings. In conclusion, this study provided evidence of the EPS-mediated reduction of copper toxicity in rice seedlings at physiological and biochemical levels, suggesting that EPS could be considered as novel and effective plant immune inducers in crops.

Impact of Elevated Body Mass Index on Surgical Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Cervical Fusion Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To investigate whether high body mass index (BMI) had adverse effects on the postoperative outcomes for patients who underwent anterior or posterior cervical fusion procedures. A literature search were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Comparative or controlled studies that examined the influences of high BMI on postoperative outcomes after cervical fusion procedures were included. Using a fixed-effect model or random-effect model, the effects of high BMI were determined by weight mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI. A total of seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled estimate showed that high BMI was associated with longer hospital stay (WMD = 1.61 days, 95% CI: 0.51, 2.71; P = 0.004), longer surgical time (WMD = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.04, 8.07; P = 0.011), higher mortality rate (RR = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.75, 3.29; P < 0.001), and higher postoperative rates of cardiac complication (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.52; P = 0.001), deep venous thromboembolism (RR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.86; P = 0.002), and wound complication (RR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.28; P < 0.001). However, there was no significant differences between high and normal BMI groups in terms of Neck Disability Index (WMD = 1.49, 95% CI: -2.34, 5.32; P = 0.447), SF-36 Mental Component Score (MCS) (WMD = -0.87, 95% CI: -2.09, 0.35; P = 0.164), overall complications (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.76; P = 0.399), central nervous system (CNS) complications (RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.17, 2.76; P = 0.586), pulmonary complications (RR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.87, 2.46; P = 0.150), and septic complications (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.32, 2.38; P = 0.785).High BMI seemed to be associated with longer hospital stay, surgical time, and higher postoperative complication rates compared to normal BMI. Therefore, high BMI patients should be counseled carefully regarding the risk of postoperative complications and surgical outcomes after cervical fusion procedures.

Efficacy of Vertebroplasty in Short-Segment Pedicle Screw Fixation of Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Short-segment pedicle screw instrumentation provides superior outcomes in treating thoracolumbar fractures. Nevertheless, the effect of intermediate screws on the outcome of short-segment instrumentation at the fracture level has not been specifically analyzed. We performed an update meta-analysis of the effect of additional vertebroplasty on the outcome of short-segment instrumentation to determine the role of screws for patients with fractured vertebra. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted, updated to January 2019, in terms of the efficacy of additional vertebroplasty on the outcome of short-segment instrumentation at the fracture level. After rigorous quality review, we extracted the data from qualified clinical studies. We further analyzed odds ratios (ORs) of the endpoints of interest based on the included trials. RESULTS Compared with the control group, short-segmental fixation combined with intermediate screws restored Cobb angle (P<0.001) and reduced anterior vertebral height compression (P=0.001). However, our results did not reveal statistically significant differences in operative time (P=0.28) or estimated blood loss (P=0.23). A statistically significant difference was observed in mean hospital stay (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Reinforcement with fracture-level screw combination can help stabilize the fractures and restore the anatomy. Nevertheless, additional trials and studies with longer follow-ups and on larger populations are warranted to confirm the current findings.

A Trial Study of Moxibustion with a Warming Needle on Edema.

Edema is an accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells or intercellular tissues. In order to examine the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on edema, seven subjects were randomly divided into three groups, that was a Control group, an Acupuncture group (Acp), and an acupuncture and moxibustion group (Acp-Mox). After sitting for 60 minutes keeping their bodies still, the Acp and Acp-Mox subjects were administered acupuncture or acupuncture/moxibustion on the points of Zusanli (ST-36) and Sanyinjiao (SP-6), separately as against the Control group who only lied on the bed after modelization. After modelization at 60 minutes, the skin temperature and blood flow of all the groups were significantly lower in blood flow when compared with premodelization. But shortly after the procedure at 80 minutes, skin temperature in the Acp and Acp-Mox groups were significantly increased when compared with premodelization (vs. 60 minutes, p < 0.05). Moreover, the skin temperature and blood flow of the Acp-Mox group were significantly increased as compared to both the Control and the Acp group at the 80-minute time point. These results indicate that Acp and Mox-Acp could relieve edematous conditions significantly, especially the procedure of moxibustion with warming needle, was effective in improving edema which is often accompanied with cold intolerance and would be a recommended and superior therapy for edema.

Aristoyunnolin H attenuates extracellular matrix secretion in cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting calcium influx.

Aristoyunnolin H is a novel aristophyllene sesquiterpenoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Aristolochia yunnanensis Franch. The present research was designed to explore the anti-fibrotic effects of aristoyunnolin H in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II). Western blot analysis data showed that aristoyunnolin H reduced the upregulation of fibronectin (FN), connective tissue growth factor and collagen I(Col I) production induced by Ang II in CFs. By studying the dynamic intracellular changes of Ca2+, we further found that while aristoyunnolin H relieved the calcium influx, it has no effect on intracellular calcium store release. Meanwhile, aristoyunnolin H also inhibited the Ang II-stimulated phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. In conclusion, aristoyunnolin H may attenuate extracellular matrix secretion in vitro by inhibiting Ang II-induced calcium signaling.

[Pharmacokinetics of SN-38 in rats and tissue distribution of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin in mice after intravenous injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles].

The paper reported an investigation of the pharmacokinetics of SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin) in rats and the tissue distribution in mice after injection of irinotecan hydrochloride nanoparticles (CPT-11) via tail veins. An LC-MS/MS method was established to determine the concentrations of SN-38 in whole blood of rats and in different tissues of mice. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of SN-38 were compared after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs and CPT-11 solution. Compared with irinotecan solution, the elimination half-life of SN-38 was prolonged from 2.17 h to 2.67 h after the intravenous injection of CPT-11 NPs, but its AUC had little change. After the injection of CPT-11 NPs in mice, over time, the concentrations of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in CPT-11 NPs were significantly higher in the whole blood, colon and lungs than those in CPT-11 solution, followed by in the spleen and liver, but those in the heart and brain had no change. However, the amount of SN-38 in the kidneys was reduced with time. CPT-11 NPs could prolong SN-38's (one of its metabolites) blood circulation time in rats and significantly increased the concentration of CPT-11-metabolized SN-38 in the whole blood, colon and lungs of mice. CPT-11 NPs made SN-38 efficiently target-bind to the colon and lungs of mice.