Insight into Dysmenorrhea Research from 1992 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Dysmenorrhea, classified as primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea, is a common gynecological symptom that seriously affects female daily life. At present, studies on dysmenorrhea are numerous and complex. To better reflect the trend and innovative progress of dysmenorrhea-related research, this study screened papers on the Web of Science from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 2022. A total of 1012 papers were selected and analyzed for their affiliated countries, institutions, authors, keywords, etc. China is the country with the most academic output, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the most influential institution, and Yang Jie, from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, is the scholar with the most papers. We consider that the current research focus is on pathogenesis, treatment, epidemiology, and self-management. With increasing research on functional connectivity between dysmenorrhea and various brain regions, functional connectivity has gradually become the forefront of research. We hope our study can promote the further study of dysmenorrhea.

Supplementation of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Combined with Aerobic Exercise Ameliorates High-Fat-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis via AMPK/PPARα/PGC-1α Pathway.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Either Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) or aerobic exercise (AE) has been reported to be beneficial to hepatic lipid metabolism. However, whether the combination of LBP with AE improves lipid accumulation of NASH remains unknown. Our study investigated the influence of 10 weeks of treatment of LBP, AE, and the combination (LBP plus AE) on high-fat-induced NASH in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results showed that LBP or AE reduced the severity of the NASH. LBP plus AE treatment more effectively ameliorated liver damage and lowered levels of serum lipid and inflammation. In addition, the combination can also regulate genes involved in hepatic fatty acid synthesis and oxidation. LBP plus AE activated AMPK, thereby increasing the expression of PPARα which controls hepatic fatty acid oxidation and its coactivator PGC-1α. Our study demonstrated the improvement of LBP plus AE on NASH via enhancing fatty acid oxidation (FAO) which was dependent on AMPK/PPARα/PGC-1α pathway.

Self-Assembling Peptide Scaffold Carrying Neural-Cell Adhesion Molecule-Derived Mimetic-Peptide Transplantation Promotes Proliferation and Stimulates Neurite Extension by Modulating Tau Phosphorylation and Calpain/Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (GSK-3ß) in Neurons.

BACKGROUND Self-assembling peptide scaffolds have been extensively applied in tissue engineering. Many investigations have modified self-assembling peptide scaffolds by integrating functional motifs, with promising applications. This study aimed to generate a novel RADA16 self-assembling peptide scaffold integrating a neural-cell adhesion molecule-derived mimetic-peptide (SIDRVEPYSSTAQ) and evaluated the effects on neuron proliferation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A 37-amino-acids peptide of RADA16-activation motif containing neural-cell adhesion molecule-derived mimetic-peptide (SIDRVEPYSSTAQ) was synthesized and self-assembled into a scaffold. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord motor neurons (SCMN) were primarily isolated and identified. Neurons (DRG and SCMN) were divided into FRM, FRM-MP, and FRM-MP-LiCl groups. The adherence ability of neurons was evaluated using toluidine blue staining. Proliferation and apoptosis of neurons were assessed using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Immunofluorescence assay was used to measure neurite extension. Western blot assay was used to assess GSK-3ß/p-GSK-3ß, Tau/p-Tau, and calpain expression in neurons. RESULTS FRM-MP-LiCl released multiple-peptide with higher efficiency. FRM-MP-LiCl significantly enhanced proliferation and inhibited apoptosis compared to FRM and FRM-MP groups (p.

[Acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping for knee osteoarthritis with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping and acupuncture combined with conventional cupping for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, and to seek a better solution for KOA. METHODS: A total of 78 patients of KOA with qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 39 cases in each group (3 cases in the observation group and 2 cases in the control group lost contact). Both groups were treated with acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Xuanzhong (GB 39). Based on the acupuncture treatment, the control group was treated with conventional cupping. The No. 4 cupping glass was used for Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Fengshi (GB 31), while the No. 3 cupping glass was used for Yinlingquan (SP 9), while the cupping with appropriate size was used for ashi points; the cupping glass was retained for 5 min. Based on the acupuncture treatment, the observation group was treated with cinesiotherapy cupping. The selection of acupoint and cupping glass was identical as the control group. The patients were instructed to perform knee flexion-extension, hip abduction-adduction, weight-bearing and other active exercise while cupping; the treatment was given once a day, 10 times as a course of treatment; totally three courses were given with an interval of 2 days between the courses. The patient's symptom scores, pain scores and knee function scores were recorded before and after treatment. The amount of joint effusion was measured by ultrasound; the level of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in joint effusion were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 94.4% (34/36), which was significantly higher than 86.5% (32/37) in the control group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the symptom scores, pain scores, amount of joint effusion and the levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α in joint fluid in both groups all were decreased after treatment, whereas the knee function scores were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the symptom scores, pain scores, and the levels of IL-1, TNF-α and the amount of joint effusion all were significantly decreased, whereas the knee function scores were increased in the observation group (P<0.05). The level of IL-6 in joint effusion was not significantly different between the observation group and the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupuncture combined with cinesiotherapy cupping could alleviate pain, improve joint function and reduce joint effusion, which is superior to acupuncture combined with conventional cupping.

Therapeutic Advantages of Internal Fixation with Kirschner Wire and Bone Grafting via Limited Tarsal Sinus Incision Approach for Displaced Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures of Children.

BACKGROUND Displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACF) are a serious injury and are clinically considered to be an important source of disability. This study investigated therapeutic effects of internal fixation with Kirschner wire and bone grafting via limited tarsal sinus incision in pediatric DIACF. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included pediatric DIACF patients admitted to our department from June 2010 to February 2014. Patients were divided into Sanders II, Sanders III, and Sanders IV groups. Patients were also divided into pre-operation and post-operation groups. All patients underwent the internal fixation with Kirschner wire and bone grafting via limited tarsal sinus incision operation. Bohler angles, Gissane angles, and modified American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS) were evaluated. RESULTS Four weeks after surgery, all patients had clinical healing and no complications appeared. According to CT and X-ray results, the operation had satisfactory reduction effects for pediatric DIACF of childhood and adolescence. The operation significantly enhanced the Bohler angle of patients in Sanders II, III, and IV patients in the post-operation group compared to the pre-operation group (p<0.05). The operation significantly increased Gissane angle in the post-operation group compared to the pre-operation group in Sanders II, III, and IV patients (p<0.05). The operation significantly improved AOFAS scores of patients in the Sanders II, III, and IV groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Internal fixation with Kirschner wire and bone grafting via limited tarsal sinus incision approach is safe and effective for pediatric DIACF. This approach exhibited advantages of satisfactory reduction for articular surface, solid fixation, and no complications due to infection or tissue necrosis.

Development of efficient docking strategies and structure-activity relationship study of the c-Met type II inhibitors.

c-Met is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase and an important therapeutic target for anticancer drugs. In the present study, we systematically investigated the influence of a range of parameters on the correlation between experimental and calculated binding free energies of type II c-Met inhibitors. We especially focused on evaluating the impact of different force fields, binding energy calculation methods, docking protocols, conformation sampling strategies, and conformations of the binding site captured in several crystallographic structures. Our results suggest that the force fields, the protein flexibility, and the selected conformation of the binding site substantially influence the correlation coefficient, while the sampling strategies and ensemble docking only mildly affect the prediction accuracy. Structure-activity relationship study suggests that the structural determinants to the high binding affinity of the type II inhibitors originate from its overall linear shape, hydrophobicity, and two conserved hydrogen bonds. Results from this study will form the basis for establishing an efficient computational docking approach for c-Met type II inhibitors design.

Long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 regulates the expression of Gli2 by miR-202 to strengthen gastric cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and ranks the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Some studies had reported the tumor-promoting effects of long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging to microRNAs. However, the molecular mechanism of ceRNA regulatory pathway involving MALAT1 in GC remains unclear. METHODS: MALAT1 and miR -202 expression was detected by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) in 60 gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, CCK8 cell proliferation assays, cell cycle analysis and cell apoptosis assays were performed to detect the GC cell proliferation and apoptosis. The mRNA and protein levels of Gli2 were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting assays. Furthermore, using online software, luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pulldown assays demonstrated miR-202 was a target of MALAT1. RESULTS: We found that MALAT1 was upregulated in GC tissues and higher MALAT1 expression was correlated with larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Moreover, we revealed that MALAT1 was a direct target of miR-202 and knockdown of MALAT1 significantly decreased the expression of Gli2 through negatively regulating miR-202. In addition, knockdown of Malat1 inhibited GC cells proliferation, S-phase cell number, and induced cell apoptosis via negatively regulating miR-202 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our results elucidated MALAT1/miR-202/Gli2 regulatory pathway, which maybe contribute to a novel therapeutic strategy for GC patients.

rhHMGB1 drives osteoblast migration in a TLR2/TLR4- and NF-κB-dependent manner.

Osteoblast migration is significant in skeletal development. Recently, high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) has been shown to highly expressed in cartilage to regulate endochondral ossification. Nevertheless, whether HMGB1 can modulate osteoblast proliferation and migration is poorly understood, as well as the intracellular signalling pathways that are involved in this process. Herein, we examined the effects of recombinant human HMGB1 (rhHMGB1) on the proliferation and migration of rat osteoblasts and investigated whether Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)- and TLR4-dependent signalling pathways are involved in the regulation of intracellular signalling. A transwell chamber assay was used to evaluate the migration of osteoblasts and the MTT assay was used to assess osteoblast proliferation. rhHMGB1 could significantly promote the migration of osteoblasts without inhibiting their proliferation. Meanwhile, rhHMGB1 can increase the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65. Specific siRNA constructs that target TLR2 or TLR4 could markedly inhibit HMGB1-induced migration of osteoblasts and HMGB1-enhanced activation of NF-κB. Collectively, HMGB1 could significantly enhance the migration of osteoblasts in vitro, and TLR2/TLR4-dependent NF-κB pathways are involved in HMGB1-induced osteoblast migration.

[Regulation of biochar on matrix enzyme activities and microorganisms around cucumber roots under continuous cropping].

The effects of addition of biochar on the matrix enzymes activity, microorganisms population and microbial community structure were evaluated under cucumber continuous cropping for 6 years (11 rotations). Cucumbers were grown in pots in greenhouse with 5% or 3% of medium (by mass) substituted with biochar. The control consisted of medium alone without biochar. The results showed that the activity of peroxidase was significantly improved to the level of the first rotation crop form 30 to 120 d after planting in both biochar treatments, with the effect of 5% biochar being more significant than that of 3% biochar. However, the neutral phosphatase activity was markedly reduced after biochar treatment. The addition of 5% biochar had significant regulation effect on the activities of invertase and urease from 30 to 90 d after planting, while the addition of 3% biochar had little effect. The populations of bacteria and actinomycetes were increased and the fungi population was reduced in both biochar treatments from 30 to 90 d after planting, and the effect of 5% biochar was more significant than that of 3% biochar. Meanwhile, the addition of biochar significantly increased the diversity of the bacterial community structure. In summary, biochar had obvious regulation effect on soil enzyme activity, microorganism quantity and microbial community in continuous cropping nutrition medium.

CdSe/ZnS quantum dots based fluorescence quenching method for determination of paeonol.

Aqueous polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots were used as fluorescence probes for paeonol determination. Based on the fluorescence quenching of aqueous CdSe/ZnS quantum dots caused by paeonol, a simple, sensitive and rapid method was developed. Under the optimal conditions, with excitation and emission wavelengths at 350 nm and 620 nm, respectively, the calibration plot of F0-F with concentration of paeonol was linear in the range of 25.04-175.2 mg L(-1) with correlation coefficient of 0.9986. The limit of detection was 0.017 mg L(-1). The concentration of paeonol in paeonol ointment was determined by the proposed method and the result agreed with the claimed value. Furthermore, the possible fluorescence quenching mechanism was discussed.

[Composition and property characterization of Rhizoma Dioscoreae polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize properties of Rhizoma Dioscoreae polysaccharide-Fe (III) complex (RDPC) and analyze its composition. METHOD: Physicochemical properties, such as character, solubility and stability of RDPC were studied. Surface structure of RDPC was studied by Infrared spectroscopic technique and transmission electron microscopy. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was determined by o-phenanthroline spectrophotometry after being treated by ashing, wet digestion, or direct dissolution methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was determined by sulphuric acid-phenol method. RESULT: RDPC was brownish red powder. It could dissolve in water, its aqueous solution was very stable at the pH from 3.8 to 11.6. RDPC was a surface complex in which polysaccharide combined with beta-FeOOH as core. The content of Fe (III) in RDPC was 17.05%, 16.53%, 17.10% respectively after being treated by 3 different pretreatment methods. Content of polysaccharide in RDPC was 16.27%. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of RDPC which was stable under physiological pH conditions and could be a new candidate for iron-supplementary.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Dioscorea opposita].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Dioscorea opposita. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, and the structures were elucidated by their spectroscopic data and physico-chemical properties. RESULT: Twelve compounds were obtained and identified as palmitic acid (1), beta-sitosterol (2), oleic acid (3), beta-sitosterol acetate (4), 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5), nonanedioic acid (6), beta-daucosterol (7), cyclo-(Phe-Tyr) (8), cyclo-(Tyr-Tyr) (9), 6-methyl citrate (10), 1, 5-dimethyl citrate (11), trimethyl citrate (12). CONCLUSION: Compounds 3-12 were isolated from this plant for the first time and cyclodipeptides were firstly isolated from the Dioscoreae family; Compound 9 was a new natural product.

[Statistical analysis of residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs. METHOD: The SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg collected in literatures. And, Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution condition of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg in Chinese crude drugs. RESULT: Chinese crude drugs were contaminated by heavy metals in different levels. The content of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 21.0%, 12.0%, 9.7%, 28.5%, 6.9%, respectively; the phenomena of two, three and four metals exceeding limited standard simultaneity in a drug were also found and the percentage was 4.6%, 1.5%, 0.7%, respectively; the content of heavy metals in Radix Platycodi, Radix Asari and Rhizoma Coptidis was higher among the thirty-six Chinese crude drugs; All of the content of five heavy metals in Barbary Fructus Lycii Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae, Radix Panacis Quiquefolii and Fructus Aurantii were below the limit; The pollution levels of heavy metals in different locality were different; The content of Cu, Pb in cultivated Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in wild Chinese crude drugs, while the content of As in wild Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in cultivated Chinese crude drugs. CONCLUSION: The pollution levels of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs were detailed reported in this paper. And it provided ways for the further study of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

[Studies on flavonoid constituents from herbs of Artemisia ordosica II].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of herbs of Artemisia ordosica. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column and the structures were elucidated by the NMR spectra and physicochemical properties. RESULT: Eight flavones were obtained and they were identified as isosakuranetin, 7, 4'-dimethylaro madendrin, acacetin, cirsimaritin, rhamnetin, eupatolin, 5, 7, 2', 4'-tetrahydroxy-6, 5'-dimethoxyflavone, hyperoside. CONCLUSION: All the compounds were obtained from herbs of A. ordosica for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Acroptilon repens].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Acroptilon repens. METHOD: The ethanol extract of A. repens was isolated and purified by means of chromatography. These compounds were identified by their spectral data. RESULT: 11 compounds were isolated and identified as 2alpha, 9beta-dihydroxy-dehydrocostus lactone (1) , cynaropicrin (2) , apigenin (3) , stigmasterol (4) , 4' -hydroxywogonin (5) , ethyl caffeate (6) , p-methoxy-cinnamic acid (7) , luteolin (8) , daucosterol (9) , apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (10) , syringin (11). CONCLUSION: Compounds 5-11 were isolated from A. repens for the first time. Compound 1 is new compounds.