Clinical efficacy and kinematic analysis of Chinese knotting technique-assisted posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A retrospective analysis.

To investigate the clinical efficacy and knee joint kinematic changes of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction assisted by Chinese knotting technique (CKT). A retrospective analysis was conducted on 88 cases of PCL reconstructive surgery admitted between September 2016 and September 2020. All patients were operated on by the same senior doctor and his team. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the CKT was applied, with 44 cases in each group. Both groups received active rehabilitation treatment after surgery. All patients were followed up for more than 2 years. International knee documentation committee, hospital for special surgery (HSS), and Lysholm scores were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the 2 methods at 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. The motion cycle and kinematic indices of the knee joint were measured by the Opti_Knee three-dimensional motion measurement system before surgery and at 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. A secondary arthroscopic examination was performed at 12 months after surgery, MAS score was used to evaluate the secondary endoscopic examination of PCL. All the patients had wound healing in stage I without infection. International Knee in both sets Documentation Committee scores, HSS scores and Lysholm scores were gradually improved at all time points (P < .05); compared with the traditional group, the HSS score was higher in the reduction group 12 months after surgery (P < .05), but there was no significant difference at 24 months after surgery. 12 months and 24 months after 3 dimensional motion measurement system using Opti_Knee showed a reduction group before and after displacement and displacement of upper and lower range than the traditional group (P < 0. 05). One year after surgery, the good and good rate of MAS score reduction group was higher than traditional group. CKT assisted PCL reconstruction can improve the subjective function score of the affected knee joint and the results of secondary microscopy. Satisfactory knee kinematic function can be obtained in the early stage, and the anteroposteric relaxation of the knee joint can be reduced.

in silico transcriptome dissection of neocortical excitatory neurogenesis via joint matrix decomposition and transfer learning.

The rising quality and amount of multi-omic data across biomedical science demands that we build innovative solutions to harness their collective discovery potential. From publicly available repositories, we have assembled and curated a compendium of gene-level transcriptomic data focused on mammalian excitatory neurogenesis in the neocortex. This collection is open for exploration by both computational and cell biologists at nemoanalytics.org, and this report forms a demonstration of its utility. Applying our novel structured joint decomposition approach to mouse, macaque and human data from the collection, we define transcriptome dynamics that are conserved across mammalian excitatory neurogenesis and which map onto the genetics of human brain structure and disease. Leveraging additional data within NeMO Analytics via projection methods, we chart the dynamics of these fundamental molecular elements of neurogenesis across developmental time and space and into postnatal life. Reversing the direction of our investigation, we use transcriptomic data from laminar-specific dissection of adult human neocortex to define molecular signatures specific to excitatory neuronal cell types resident in individual layers of the mature neocortex, and trace their emergence across development. We show that while many lineage defining transcription factors are most highly expressed at early fetal ages, the laminar neuronal identities which they drive take years to decades to reach full maturity. Finally, we interrogated data from stem-cell derived cerebral organoid systems demonstrating that many fundamental elements of in vivo development are recapitulated with high-fidelity in vitro, while specific transcriptomic programs in neuronal maturation are absent. We propose these analyses as specific applications of the general approach of combining joint decomposition with large curated collections of analysis-ready multi-omics data matrices focused on particular cell and disease contexts. Importantly, these open environments are accessible to, and must be fueled with emerging data by, cell biologists with and without coding expertise.

Endogenous cAMP elevation in Brassica napus causes changes in phytohormone levels.

In higher plants, the regulatory roles of cAMP (cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate) signaling remain elusive until now. Cellular cAMP levels are generally much lower in higher plants than in animals and transiently elevated for triggering downstream signaling events. Moreover, plant adenylate cyclase (AC) activities are found in different moonlighting multifunctional proteins, which may pose additional complications in distinguishing a specific signaling role for cAMP. Here, we have developed rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) transgenic plants that overexpress an inducible plant-origin AC activity for generating high AC levels much like that in animal cells, which served the genetic model disturbing native cAMP signaling as a whole in plants. We found that overexpression of the soluble AC activity had significant impacts on the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and stress phytohormones, i.e. jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and salicylic acid (SA) in the transgenic plants. Acute induction of the AC activity caused IAA overaccumulation, and upregulation of TAA1 and CYP83B1 in the IAA biosynthesis pathways, but also simultaneously the hyper-induction of PR4 and KIN2 expression indicating activation of JA and ABA signaling pathways. We observed typical overgrowth phenotypes related to IAA excess in the transgenic plants, including significant increases in plant height, internode length, width of leaf blade, petiole length, root length, and fresh shoot biomass, as well as the precocious seed development, as compared to wild-type plants. In addition, we identified a set of 1465 cAMP-responsive genes (CRGs), which are most significantly enriched in plant hormone signal transduction pathway, and function mainly in relevance to hormonal, abiotic and biotic stress responses, as well as growth and development. Collectively, our results support that cAMP elevation impacts phytohormone homeostasis and signaling, and modulates plant growth and development. We proposed that cAMP signaling may be critical in configuring the coordinated regulation of growth and development in higher plants.

A Versatile Approach for the Synthesis of Antimicrobial Polymer Brushes on Natural Rubber/Graphene Oxide Composite Films via Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization.

A simple strategy was adopted for the preparation of an antimicrobial natural rubber/graphene oxide (NR/GO) composite film modified through the use of zwitterionic polymer brushes. An NR/GO composite film with antibacterial properties was prepared using a water-based solution-casting method. The composited GO was dispersed uniformly in the NR matrix and compensated for mechanical loss in the process of modification. Based on the high bromination activity of α-H in the structure of cis-polyisoprene, the composite films were brominated on the surface through the use of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under the irradiation of a 40 W tungsten lamp. Polymerization was carried out on the brominated films using sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) as a monomer via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The NR/GO composite films modified using polymer brushes (PSBMAs) exhibited 99.99% antimicrobial activity for resistance to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A novel polymer modification strategy for NR composite materials was established effectively, and the enhanced antimicrobial properties expand the application prospects in the medical field.

Grafting photochromic spiropyran polymer brushes on graphene oxide surfaces via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization.

A practical "grafting-from" strategy is described to grow photochromic polymer brushes bearing spiropyran (SP) functional groups on graphene oxide (GO) surfaces via surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP). The Grubbs II catalyst was fixed on the GO surface, and the norbornene derivatives functionalized using spiropyran were synthesized from this active site via the ROMP method. The results indicated that the spiropyran-modified polymer brushes were obtained on the GO surface in the form of thin films. The solubility of GO modified by spiropyran polymers (GO-SPs) in organic solvents was significantly improved. The GO-SPs exhibited excellent photochromic properties, including fast coloration/decoloration. The modified GO with an isomeric structure was colored in 90 s under ultraviolet irradiation and decolored in 360 s under white light. The fading kinetic rate in the dark was slow and the kinetic attenuation curve followed bi-exponential decay. The GO-SP composite materials took more than 2 h to return to thermodynamically stable forms. The reversible change in the water contact angle reached 8° after continuous cycling with ultraviolet and visible light. GO-SP maintained its photochromic performance and possessed excellent fatigue resistance after more than six successive UV/light cycles. This work describes a practical strategy for the preparation of photochromic polymer brush modified GO composite materials and extends the applications of GO in photochromic materials.

Silencing LY6D Expression Inhibits Colon Cancer in Xenograft Mice and Regulates Colon Cancer Stem Cells' Proliferation, Stemness, Invasion, and Apoptosis via the MAPK Pathway.

This study explored the role of lymphocyte antigen 6 family member D (LY6D) in colon cancer stem cells' (CCSCs) proliferation and invasion. LY6D was knocked down using siRNA, and the down-regulation of LY6D was verified using Western blotting. After LY6D knockdown, CCSCs' proliferation, stemness, and invasion were suppressed, whereas apoptosis was increased. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between siLY6D and the negative control groups were significantly enriched in the cell-substrate adherens junction, focal adhesion, and cell-substrate junction terms. Meanwhile, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the MAPK pathway. In addition, Western blotting results showed that pBRAF and pERK1/2, cascade kinases of the MAPK pathway, were significantly down-regulated after LY6D knockdown. In addition, nude mice xenograft experiments showed that the siLY6D treatment decreased tumor sizes and weights and improved tumor-bearing mice survival rates compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that LY6D, which is highly expressed in CCSCs, is a key factor involved in tumor growth and development and might be a potential cancer marker and therapeutic target for colon cancer.

Effective DBS treatment improves neural information transmission of patients with disorders of consciousness: an fNIRS study.

Objective.Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a potential treatment that promotes the recovery of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). This study quantified the changes in consciousness and the neuromodulation effect of DBS on patients with DOC.Approach.Eleven patients were recruited for this study which consists of three conditions: 'Pre' (two days before DBS surgery), 'Post-On' (one month after surgery with stimulation), and 'Post-Off' (one month after surgery without stimulation). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was recorded from the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe of patients during the experiment of auditory stimuli paradigm, in parallel with the coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) assessment. The brain hemodynamic states were defined and state transition acceleration was taken to quantify the information transmission strength of the brain network. Linear regression analysis was conducted between the changes in regional and global indicators and the changes in the CRS-R index.Main results.Significant correlation was observed between the changes in the global transition acceleration indicator and the changes in the CRS-R index (slope = 55.910,p< 0.001,R2= 0.732). For the regional indicators, similar correlations were found between the changes in the frontal lobe and parietal lobe indicators and the changes in the CRS-R index (slope = 46.612,p< 0.01,R2= 0.694; slope = 47.491,p< 0.01,R2= 0.676).Significance.Our study suggests that fNIRS-based brain hemodynamics transition analysis can signify the neuromodulation effect of DBS treatment on patients with DOC, and the transition acceleration indicator is a promising brain functional marker for DOC.

Multitarget Protective Effects of JUB on Aß-Induced Neurotoxicity and the Mechanism Predication Using Network Pharmacology Analysis.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) is one of the core factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the accumulation of its aggregates in the brain can form age-related plaques, leading to brain cell damage and intellectual decline, which may be the common intersection of all causes of neurotoxicity. Jujuboside B (JUB) has many characteristics such as hypnosis, sedation, antianxiety, and antioxidant stress. However, it is still unclear whether JuB can alleviate the neurotoxicity caused by Aß. Our study demonstrates that JUB improves learning and memory deficits in the nematode model. At the same time, JUB increases the antioxidant activity, prevents excessive accumulation of lipid synthesis, and resists endogenous lipofuscin deposition, thereby inhibiting the toxic effect of Aß. In vitro, JUB can improve Aß1-42-induced neuronal apoptosis level through the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway and restore mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. The network pharmacology has been used to predict the potential neuroprotective mechanism of JUB. In summary, JUB exhibits neuroprotective properties employing both a neural cell and a nematode, which provides a basis for screening candidate ingredients for preventing AD.

Optical fractal in cryogenic environments based on distributed feedback Bragg photonic crystals.

We studied the optical fractal effect of the one-dimensional distributed feedback Bragg photonic crystals formed by semiconductor GaAs and dielectric TiO2. Light wave is transmitted in the intermediate dielectric slab and reflected back by the periodic photonic crystals at both ends, forming multiple fractal resonance output. The transmission channels expand exponentially by thickening the bulk in a cryogenic environment. The quality factor of each fractal resonant state improves with a greater periodic number of crystals. Furthermore, central wave of resonance has a blue-shift as the external pressure increases, while the influence of environment temperature on the fractal resonance could be ignored. It is hoped that our study can highlight the potential of these findings for designing multi-channel communication filters in cryogenic environments.

Study of a Multiple Responses, High Deformation, and Programmable PLA-PPC/PVA-PDA Actuator.

The intelligent response actuators based on bilayer polymer can deform under the stimulation of temperature, humidity, light, and other external environment, which is the focus of research. However, achieving multiple responses, high deformation, and programmability is still one of the challenges for these actuators. Herein, a nondetachable bilayer structure, polylactic acid-polypropylene carbonate/polyvinyl alcohol-polydopamine (PLA-PPC/PVA-PDA) multiresponse programmable actuator is prepared by a simple scraping film method. Using PLA-PPC as the solvent-driven response layer, the effects of length, thickness, shape, and solvent vapor on the deformation of PLA-PPC/PVA-PDA actuators are studied. Among them, the high curvature of the film stimulated by ethyl acetate (EA) solution is 29.85 cm-1 . Using PVA-PDA as the response layer to water molecules and infrared (IR) light, the bilayer film shows excellent curling performance. Moreover, the dynamic processes of human clothing and biomimetic squid under solvent stimulation, the picture rolling motion under water molecule stimulation, the biomimetic flower blooming and merging under the synergistic of water molecules and IR light, and the deformation process of biomimetic mimosa under the competition between water molecules and IR light are simulated, which broadens the road for the development of intelligent driving materials.

The Preparation of Superhydrophobic Polylactic Acid Membrane with Adjustable Pore Size by Freeze Solidification Phase Separation Method for Oil-Water Separation.

An environmentally friendly pore size-controlled, superhydrophobic polylactic acid (PLA) membrane was successfully prepared by a simpler freeze solidification phase separation method (FSPS) and solution impregnation, which has application prospects in the field of oil-water separation. The pore size and structure of the membrane were adjusted by different solvent ratios and solution impregnation ratios. The PLA-FSPS membrane after solution impregnation (S-PLA-FSPS) had the characteristics of uniform pore size, superhydrophobicity and super lipophilicity, its surface roughness Ra was 338 nm, and the contact angle to water was 151°. The S-PLA-FSPS membrane was used for the oil-water separation. The membrane oil flux reached 16,084 L·m-2·h-1, and the water separation efficiency was 99.7%, which was much higher than that of other oil-water separation materials. In addition, the S-PLA-FSPS membrane could also be applied for the adsorption and removal of oil slicks and underwater heavy oil. The S-PLA-FSPS membrane has great application potential in the field of oil-water separation.

[Establishment of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction model in cynomolgus monkey with autogenous hamstring tendon transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of establishing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction model using hamstring tendon autograft in cynomolgus monkeys. Methods: Twelve healthy adult male cynomolgus monkeys, weighing 8-13 kg, were randomly divided into two groups ( n=6). In the experimental group, the ACL reconstruction model of the right lower limb was prepared by using a single bundle of hamstring tendon, and the ACL of the right lower limb was only cut off in the control group. The survival of animals in the two groups was observed after operation. Before operation and at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, the knee range of motion, thigh circumference, and calf circumference of the two groups were measured; the anterior tibial translation D-value (ATTD) was measured by Ligs joint ligament digital body examination instrument under the loads of 13-20 N, respectively. At the same time, the experimental group underwent MRI examination to observe the graft morphology and the signal/ noise quotient (SNQ) was caculated. Results: All animals survived to the end of the experiment. In the experimental group, the knee range of motion, thigh circumference, and calf circumference decreased first and then gradually increased after operation; the above indexes were significantly lower at 3 and 6 months after operation than before operation ( P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between pre-operation and 12 months after operation ( P>0.05). In the control group, there was no significant change in knee range of motion after operation, showing no significant difference between pre- and post-operation ( P>0.05), but the thigh circumference and calf circumference gradually significantly decreased with time ( P<0.05), and the difference was significant when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). At 6 and 12 months after operation, the thigh circumference and calf circumference were significantly larger in the experimental group than in the control group ( P<0.05). At 3 and 6 months after operation, the knee range of motion was significantly smaller in the experimental group than in the control group ( P<0.05). Under the loading condition of 13-20 N, the ATTD in the experimental group increased first and then decreased after operation; and the ATTD significantly increased at 3, 6 months after operation when compared with the value before operation ( P<0.05). But there was no significant difference between the pre-operation and 12 months after operation ( P>0.05). There was no significant change in ATTD in the control group at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation ( P>0.05), and which were significantly higher than those before operation ( P<0.05). At each time point after operation, the ATTD was significantly smaller in the experimental group than in the control group under the same load ( P<0.05). The MRI examination of the experimental group showed that the ACL boundary gradually became clear after reconstruction and was covered by the synovial membrane. The SNQ at each time point after operation was significantly higher than that before operation, but gradually decreased with time, and the differences between time points were significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion: The ACL reconstruction model in cynomolgus monkey with autogenous hamstring tendon transplantation was successfully established.

Electrochemical degradation of acrylic acid using Ti/Ta2O5-IrO2 electrode.

Acrylic acid (AA) is widely used as a raw material in the industrial production of various chemicals. Its extensive use has produced environmental problems that need to be solved. The Ti/Ta2O5-IrO2 electrode, a type of dimensionally stable anode, was used to investigate the electrochemical deterioration of AA. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that IrO2 existed as an active rutile crystal and as a TiO2-IrO2 solid solution in Ti/Ta2O5-IrO2 electrode with a corrosion potential of 0.212 V and chlorine evolution potential of 1.30 V. The effects of current density, plate spacing, electrolyte concentration, and initial concentration on the electrochemical degradation of AA were investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the ideal degradation conditions: current density 22.58 mA cm-2, plate spacing 2.11 cm, and electrolyte concentration 0.07 mol L-1, and the highest degradation rate reached was 95.6%. Free radical trapping experiment verified that reactive chlorine played a dominant role in the degradation of AA. The degradation intermediates were analyzed by GC-MS.

[Chemical reaction mechanism of decoction of traditional Chinese medicines: a review].

Complicated chemical reactions occur in the decoction of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) which features complex components, influencing the safety, efficacy, and quality controllability of TCMs. Therefore, it is particularly important to clarify the chemical reaction mechanism of TCMs in the decoction. This study summarized eight typical chemical reactions in the decoction of TCMs, such as substitution reaction, redox reaction, isomerization/stereoselective reaction, complexation, and supramolecular reaction. With the "toxicity attenuation and efficiency enhancement" of aconitines and other examples, this study reviewed the reactions in decoction of TCMs, which was expected to clarify the variation mechanisms of key chemical components in this process and to help guide medicine preparation and safe and rational use of medicine in clinical settings. The current main research methods for chemical reaction mechanisms of decoction of TCMs were also summed up and compared. The novel real-time analysis device of decoction system for TCMs was found to be efficient and simple without the pre-treatment of samples. This device provides a promising solution, which has great potential in quantity evaluation and control of TCMs. Moreover, it is expected to become a foundational and exemplary research tool, which can advance the research in this field.

Construction of a ratiometric fluorescent sensing platform based on near-infrared carbon dots for organophosphorus pesticides detection.

In this work, a convenient ratiometric fluorescent platform was designed to measure organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylthiocholine (ATCh), manganese dioxide nanosheets (MnO2), near-infrared carbon dots (RCDs) and o-phenylenediamine (OPD). In this platform, a direct oxidation of OPD by MnO2 generated the luminescent product 2,3-diaminophenolazine (DAP) through intrinsic oxidase activity, while RCDs served as a fluorescent reference indicator. In the presence of AChE and ATCh, the enzymatic hydrolysate thiocholine (TCh) would reduce MnO2 nanosheets to Mn2+, leading to the quenching of DAP fluorescence. On the other hand, OPs can inhibit the catabolism of ATCh by AChE thus acting as a recognizer of OPs. According to these reactions, OPs were quantitatively analyzed by the intensity ratio of fluorescence emitted from RCDs and DAP (F560/F676). The constructed platform can detect OPs with the range of 0.2-0.6 µM with a detection limit of 4.3 nM. Figure A ratiometric fluorescent probe based on carbon dots was obtained and using it to determine the concentration of organophosphorus pesticides.

In-Depth Insight into the Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 Photocatalytic Degradation of Typical Antibiotics: Influence Factor, Mechanism and Toxicity Evaluation of Intermediates.

In this paper, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of typical antibiotics (norfloxacin (NOR), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH)) by Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation was studied. Various strategies were applied to characterize the morphology, structure and photochemical properties of the Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 composites. The superior photocatalytic activity of Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 was attributed to the wide light response range and the enhancement of interfacial charge transfer. At the same time, the effect of the influence factors (pH, Humic acid (HA) and coexisting ions) on the antibiotics degradation were also investigated. Furthermore, the electron spin resonance (ESR) technology, free radical quenching experiments, LC/MS and DFT theoretical calculations were applied to predict and identify the active groups and intermediates during the photocatalytic degradation process. In addition, Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 exhibited the obvious antibacterial effect to Escherichia coli due to the addition of Ag NPs. This study develops a new way for the removal of emerging antibiotic pollution from wastewaters.

fNIRS-based functional connectivity signifies recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness after DBS treatment.

OBJECTIVE: While deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proved effective for certain patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), the working neural mechanism is not clear, the response varies for patients, and the assessment is inadequate. This paper aims to quantify the DBS-induced changes of consciousness in DOC patients at the neural functional level. METHODS: Ten DOC patients were included for DBS surgery. The DBS target was the right centromedian-parafascicular (CM-pf) nuclei for four patients and the bilateral CM-pf nuclei for six patients. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was taken to measure the neural activation of patients, in parallel with Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), before the DBS surgery and one month after. The fNIRS signals were recorded from the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. Functional connectivity analysis quantified the communication between brain regions, area communication strength, and global communication efficiency. Linear regression analysis was conducted between the changes of indices based on functional connectivity analysis and the changes of the CRS-R index. RESULTS: Patients with trauma (n = 4) exhibited a greater increase of CRS-R scores after DBS treatment compared with patients with hemorrhage (n = 4) and brainstem infarction (n = 2). Global communication efficiency changed consistently with the CRS-R index (slope = 57.384, p < 0.05, R2=0.483). No significant relationship was found between the changes of area communication strength of six brain lobes and the changes of the CRS-R index. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of DOC is essential for the outcome of DBS treatment, and brain communication efficiency is a promising functional marker for DOC recovery. SIGNIFICANCE: fNIRS-based functional connectivity analysis on brain network signifies changes of consciousness in DOC patients after DBS treatment.

Research progress of quality control for the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow (Suan-Zao-Ren) and its proprietary Chinese medicines.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS), the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow (Chinese name Suan-Zao-Ren), is widely distributed in China, Laos, Myanmar, and Iran. It is a classic traditional Chinese medicine with sedative and sleeping effects. In clinical practice, there are more than 155 proprietary Chinese medicines containing SZS. However, many commercial SZS products are difficult to qualify using current methods. Moreover, there is a scarcity of quality standards for SZS in proprietary Chinese medicines. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to clearly reveal the quality indicators during the entire production process of SZS and its products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reviewed more than 230 articles and related books on the quality control of SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines published over the last 40 years (from January 1979 to October 2022). Moreover, where available, information on the quality of SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines was also collected from websites for comparison, including online publications (e.g. PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, and Web of Science), the information at Yaozhi website and China Medical Information Platform, along with some classic books on Chinese herbal medicine. The literature and information search were conducted using keywords such as "Suan-Zao-Ren", " Ziziphus jujuba" and "quality control", and the latest results from various databases were combined to obtain valid information. The active components, which in vivo exposure, and Q-markers were also summarized. RESULTS: The jujuboside A, jujuboside B, and spinosin were revealed as the key Q-markers for SZS. Moreover, the advancements and prospects of the quality control for SZS and its extract, proprietary Chinese medicines, health foods, and adulterants were comprehensively summarized. The high-performance liquid chromatography-UV/evaporative light scattering detection and fingerprint analysis were found to be the mainstream methods for the SZS quality control. In particular, the novel quality evaluation method based on the unit content was applied for SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines. Significant fluctuations were found in the contents of Q-markers. Moreover, the mass transfer rule of Q-markers was comprehensively clarified based on the entire production process, including production origins, ripening time, primary process, processing, compatibility decoction/extract, and storage. Ultimately, the crushing and compatibility of SZS were found to be the key steps affecting the active components. CONCLUSIONS: In short, this study provides solid evidences to reveal quality indicators for the entire production process of developing rational quality standards for SZS and its products. Moreover, this study also provides a template quality control overview, which could be extended to other traditional Chinese medicines.

Establishing a glutamine metabolism-based model for predicting the prognosis of low-grade glioma.

Background: The natural history of patients with low-grade glioma (LGG) varies widely, but most patients eventually deteriorate, leading to poor prognostic outcomes. We aim to develop biological models that can accurately predict the outcome of LGG prognosis. Methods: Prognostic genes for glutamine metabolism were searched by univariate Cox regression, and molecular typing was constructed. Functional enrichment analysis was done to evaluate potential prognostic-related pathways by analyzing differential genes in different subtypes. Enrichment scores of specific gene sets in different subtypes were measured by gene set enrichment analysis. Different immune infiltration levels among subtypes were calculated using algorithms such as CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE. Gene expression levels of prognostic-related gene signatures of glutamine metabolism phenotypes were used to construct a RiskScore model. Receiver operating characteristic curve, decision curve and calibration curve analyses were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the risk model. The decision tree model was used to determine the best predictor variable ultimately. Results: We found that C1 had the worst prognosis and the highest level of immune infiltration, among which the highest macrophage infiltration can be found in the M2 stage. Moreover, most of the pathways associated with tumor development, such as MYC_TARGETS_V1 and EPITHELIAL_MESENCHYMAL_TRANSITION, were significantly enriched in C1. The wild-type IDH and MGMT hypermethylation were the most abundant in C1. A five-gene risk model related to glutamine metabolism phenotype was established with good performance in both training and validation datasets. The final decision tree demonstrated the RiskScore model as the most significant predictor of prognostic outcomes in individuals with LGG. Conclusion: The RiskScore model related to glutamine metabolism can be an exceedingly accurate predictor for LGG patients, providing valuable suggestions for personalized treatment.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of swertisin from sour Jujube seed and comprehensive revelation of its antioxidant activity.

As a typical flavonoid glycoside, swertisin mainly exists in sour Jujube seed. In this study, swertisin was extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction method optimized with Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. The antioxidant effect of swertisin was determined in vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Furthermore, the potential mechanisms of its antioxidant stress were comprehensively evaluated and explored with network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. The results showed obvious scavenging ability of swertisin on free radical and swertisin (50, 250, and 500 µmol/L) significantly enhanced antioxidative enzymes activity (GST-4, SOD-3, and GSH-PX ) and reduced the reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde accumulation in C. elegans, thereby protecting them from oxidative stress (heat stress and hydrogen peroxide). A total of 139 antioxidant targets of swertisin were screened and 70 signal pathways were enriched, including cancer-related pathways, lipid metabolism, liver injury-related pathways, acute lung injury, nervous system diseases, etc. This study provides the basis for further investigation on the antioxidant stress mechanism and contributes to the development of relevant drugs from natural products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The imbalance between the antioxidant defense system and reactive oxygen species is one of the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and aging. Therefore, alleviating oxidative stress injury has become a common strategy, which is helpful for the multi-target treatment of related diseases. The flavonoid of sour Jujube seed possesses potential antioxidant activity with multiple food health effects. From this study results, we optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction method for extracting the swertisin from sour Jujube seed and supported the use of C. elegans as an in vivo experimental model. We can recommend that the swertisin as a natural ingredient has a positive effect on antioxidation, which provided a scientific basis for treating related diseases through relevant pharmacological mechanisms and making antiaging functional food formula.