The therapeutic effect of Taijiquan combined with acupoint pressing on the treatment of anxiety insomnia in college students: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Sleep health is an important part of health and has become a common concern of society. For anxiety insomnia, the commonly used clinical therapies have limitations. Alternative and complementary therapy is gradually rising and showing remarkable effect in clinical practice. This is the first study to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Taijiquan combined with acupoint pressing in the treatment of anxiety insomnia in college students and to compare the difference in intervention before and after sleep, to choose the best treatment time. Methods and analysis: This is a multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. A total of 126 eligible subjects who have passed the psychological evaluation and met inclusion criteria by completing a psychometric scale will be randomly divided into treatment group A (treat before sleep), treatment group B (treat after sleep) and control group C (waiting list group) in a ratio of 1:1:1. All the three groups will receive regular psychological counseling during the trial, and the treatment groups will practice 24-style Taijiquan and do meridian acupuncture at Baihui (DU20), Shenting (DU24), Yintang (EX-HN3), Shenmen (HT7) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). This RCT includes a 2-week baseline period, a 12-week intervention period, and a 12-week follow-up period. The main results will be measured by changes in the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA). The secondary results will be measured by the generalized anxiety scale (GAD-7) and insomnia severity index (ISI). The safety of the intervention will be evaluated at each assessment. The statistical analysis of data will be carried out by SPSSV.26.0 software. Discussion: We expect this trial to explore the effectiveness of Taijiquan combined with acupoint pressing in the treatment of anxiety insomnia in college students and choose the best treatment time by comparison. Clinical trial registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR2200057003].

Cationic Polyelectrolytes with Alkylsulfonate Counterions as a Cathode Interface Layer for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells.

Three cationic polyelectrolytes polyethyleneimine ethoxylate (PEIE)-1,4-butanediol dimethylsulfonate (MSB), PEIE-1,4-butanediol diethylsulfonate (ESB), and PEIE-1,4-butanediol dibenzylsulfonate (BSB), containing methylsulfonate, ethylsulfonate, and benzylsulfonate, respectively, were prepared for cathode interface layers (CILs) via a one-step reaction with 1,4-butanediol dialkylsulfonate and PEIE as the reactants. The results indicate that PEIE-MSB and PEIE-ESB with smaller counterions possess more efficient electron extraction, higher electron mobilities, and better photovoltaic performance than PEIE-BSB with larger counterions. The PTB7-Th:PC71BM-based single junction bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs) with PEIE-ESB as the CIL showed power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 10.44 and 9.23% under the thickness conditions of 8 and 30 nm, respectively. The PM6:Y6-based PSCs displayed a high PCE of 15.69%. The study provides not only new high-performance CILs but also a new strategy to construct light-soaking-free PSCs via tuning alkylsulfonate counterions.

Discovery of a potent and selective noncovalent linear inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease (BI 201335).

C-Terminal carboxylic acid containing inhibitors of the NS3 protease are reported. A novel series of linear tripeptide inhibitors that are very potent and selective against the NS3 protease are described. A substantial contribution to the potency of these linear inhibitors arises from the introduction of a C8 substituent on the B-ring of the quinoline moiety found on the P2 of these inhibitors. The introduction of a C8 methyl group results not only in a modest increase in the cell-based potency of these inhibitors but more importantly in a much better pharmacokinetic profile in rats as well. Exploration of C8-substitutions led to the identification of the bromo derivative as the best group at this position, resulting in a significant increase in the cell-based potency of this class of inhibitors. Structure-activity studies on the C8-bromo derivatives ultimately led to the discovery of clinical candidate 29 (BI 201335), a very potent and selective inhibitor of genotype1 NS3 protease with a promising PK profile in rats.