Involvement and regulation of the left anterior cingulate cortex in the ultrasonic communication deficits of autistic mice.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of diseases often characterized by poor sociability and challenges in social communication. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a core brain region for social function. Whether it contributes to the defects of social communication in ASD and whether it could be physiologically modulated to improve social communication have been poorly investigated. This study is aimed at addressing these questions. Methods: Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) mutant and valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD mice were used. Male-female social interaction was adopted to elicit ultrasonic vocalization (USV). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate USV-activated neurons. Optogenetic and precise target transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were utilized to modulate anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neuronal activity. Results: In wild-type (WT) mice, USV elicited rapid expression of c-Fos in the excitatory neurons of the left but not the right ACC. Optogenetic inhibition of the left ACC neurons in WT mice effectively suppressed social-induced USV. In FMR1-/-- and VPA-induced ASD mice, significantly fewer c-Fos/CaMKII-positive neurons were observed in the left ACC following USV compared to the control. Optogenetic activation of the left ACC neurons in FMR1-/- or VPA-pretreated mice significantly increased social activity elicited by USV. Furthermore, precisely stimulating neuronal activity in the left ACC, but not the right ACC, by repeated TMS effectively rescued the USV emission in these ASD mice. Discussion: The excitatory neurons in the left ACC are responsive to socially elicited USV. Their silence mediates the deficiency of social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-induced ASD mice. Precisely modulating the left ACC neuronal activity by repeated TMS can promote the social communication in FMR1-/- and VPA-pretreated mice.

Growing success with sustainability: The influence of green HRM, innovation, and competitive advantage on environmental performance in the manufacturing industry.

President Xi set a long-term mitigation target of carbon neutrality by 2060 in September 2020 to cut carbon emissions and improve environmental performance. As a result, the current study aims to investigate how green human resource management and green innovation affect environmental performance in pursuit of the ultimate objective of carbon neutrality. Furthermore, the research considers the potential mediating effect of a green competitive advantage to clarify the mechanisms by which GHRM and green innovation impact environmental performance. Data from 278 employees in the manufacturing industry of Heilongjiang Province were collected through a questionnaire, for which we used a quantitative random sampling technique. The study employed the Smart PLS-4 structural equation modeling technique and revealed that all three factors significantly influenced environmental performance: green HRM, innovation, and competitive advantage. Resource-based view (RBV) theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study. The study uniquely contributes to the literature on GHRM, green innovation, competitive advantage, and environmental performance.

Social determinants of health that impact the time to diagnosis and treatment of infertility in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Taiwan is one of the countries with the lowest birth rate in the world. We investigated factors associated with the time to diagnosis and treatment of infertility in Taiwan. METHODS: The study was conducted through an online questionnaire in December 2021. The questionnaire was adapted from a previously published multinational survey, and culture-specific questions were added. 91 infertile patients and 89 partners of patients in Taiwan, aged 20- to 45- year-old, were included. RESULTS: The average duration before diagnosis was 2.9 years, followed by 1.5 years before treatment. Older age at marriage (p = 0.0024), higher education level (P = 0.0001), and a higher gender equality score (p = 0.0031) were associated with earlier diagnosis. Conversely, folk therapy use was linked to later diagnosis (p < 0.0001) and treatment (p < 0.0001). Notably, in the female (p = 0.039) and patient (p = 0.0377) subgroups, a higher gender equality score was associated with a shorter duration of folk therapy. Subjectively, the most frequent factor influencing treatment decision was affordability or lack thereof. The government subsidy for in vitro fertilization led to increased treatment willingness for 46.3% of respondents, and 47.3% reported more likely to pursue earlier treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the influence of education, gender equality, folk therapy, and government subsidy on fertility care decisions. To improve the timeliness of infertility healthcare in Taiwan, potential strategies include promoting education, fostering gender equality, providing financial support, and raising awareness on the association between folk therapy and delayed medical care.

Measurements of peri-prostatic adipose tissue by MRI predict bone metastasis in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the role of MRI measurements of peri-prostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) in predicting bone metastasis (BM) in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 156 patients newly diagnosed with PCa by prostate biopsy between October 2010 and November 2022. Clinicopathologic characteristics were collected. Measurements including PPAT volume and prostate volume were calculated by MRI, and the normalized PPAT (PPAT volume/prostate volume) was computed. Independent predictors of BM were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and a new nomogram was developed based on the predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate predictive performance. Results: PPAT and normalized PPAT were associated with BM (P<0.001). Normalized PPAT positively correlated with clinical T stage(cT), clinical N stage(cN), and Grading Groups(P<0.05). The results of ROC curves indicated that PPAT and normalized PPAT had promising predictive value for BM with the AUC of 0.684 and 0.775 respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that high normalized PPAT, cN, and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were independently predictors of BM. The nomogram was developed and the concordance index(C-index) was 0.856. Conclusions: Normalized PPAT is an independent predictor for BM among with cN, and ALP. Normalized PPAT may help predict BM in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer, thus providing adjunctive information for BM risk stratification and bone scan selection.

Evaluating the risk of malignancies of the diagnostic categories proposed by the World Health Organization System for Reporting Lung Cytopathology: a two-year single institutional experience.

Introduction The WHO System of Reporting Lung Cytopathology proposed a 5-tiered system in 2023. We report the risk of malignancies (ROMs) of bronchial washing/lavage and percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. We also evaluated the change of ROMs when image correlation is required. Methods Lung cytology cases in 2021 and 2022 with histologic follow-up were included. CT reports were reviewed to identify cases with a solid nodule/tumor but benign cytological findings. These were reassigned from the "Benign" to "Non-diagnostic" category, and the ROMs were re-estimated. Results A total of 1031 bronchial washing/lavage and 206 FNAs were identified. The ROMs of bronchial washing/lavage were "Non-diagnostic" 56.5% (13/23), "Benign" 41.9% (320/764), "Atypical" 71.7% (71/99), "Suspicious for malignancy" 94.7% (72/76), and "Malignant" 100% (70/70). The ROMs of FNAs were "Non-diagnostic" 66% (33/50), "Benign" 58.2% (39/67), "Atypical" 70% (28/40), "Suspicious for malignancy" 96.2% (25/26), and "Malignant" 100% (70/70). When image finding was considered, cases initially assigned as "Benign" were re-classified to "Non-diagnostic" with decreases in ROMs for the "Benign " category. Conclusions Malignancy risks associated with the WHO System of Reporting Lung Cytopathology diagnostic groups were reported. Image correlation for the "Benign" category led to a decrease in case number and ROM.

Establishment of a two-hit mouse model of environmental factor induced autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental diseases characterized by social dysfunction and repetitive stereotype behaviors. Besides genetic mutations, environmental factors play important roles in the development of ASD. Valproic acid (VPA) is widely used for modeling environmental factor induced ASD in rodents. However, traditional VPA modeling is low-in-efficiency and the phenotypes often vary among different batches of experiments. To optimize this ASD-modeling method, we tested "two-hit" hypothesis by single or double exposure of VPA and poly:IC at the critical time points of embryonic and postnatal stage. The autistic-like behaviors of mice treated with two-hit schemes (embryonic VPA plus postnatal poly:IC, embryonic poly:IC plus postnatal VPA, embryonic VPA plus poly: IC, or postnatal VPA plus poly:IC) were compared with mice treated with traditional VPA protocol. The results showed that all single-hit and two-hit schemes produced core ASD phenotypes as VPA single treatment did. Only one group, namely, mice double-hit by VPA and poly:IC simultaneously at E12.5 showed severe impairment of social preference, social interaction and ultrasonic communication, as well as significant increase of grooming activity and anxiety-like behaviors, in comparation with mice treated with the traditional VPA protocol. These data demonstrated that embryonic two-hit of VPA and poly:IC is more efficient in producing ASD phenotypes in mice than the single-hit of VPA, indicating this two-hit scheme could be utilized for modeling environmental factors induced ASD.

Safety and efficacy of Yaobitong capsules for lumbar disc herniation: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, positive-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the most common diseases and is a global medical and socioeconomic problem characterized by leg or back pain, weakness in the lower extremities and paresthesia. OBJECTIVES: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, positive-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yaobitong capsules (YBT) for LDH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients (n = 479) were recruited and randomized into YBT and Jingyaokang capsule (JYK) groups (the positive control), and received YBT or JYK at a dose of 3 capsules 3 times per day after a meal for 30 days. The primary efficacy outcome was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), with the visual analogue scale (VAS) used as the secondary efficacy outcome. The adverse events and adverse reactions were also evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between YBT (n = 358) and JYK groups (n = 120), and no difference was observed between groups for mean ODI score at day 0 (p = 0.064) or day 7 (p = 0.196), but there were differences at days 14, 21 and 30 (p < 0.001). The YBT showed more decline from baseline, and the decreased ODI score was substantially different from JYK (p < 0.001). The differences in decreased VAS scores between YBT and JYK were also significant at each time point (days 7, 14, 21, and 30), with better scores in the YBT group than in the JYK group (p < 0.001). In terms of safety, there was no obvious disparity in adverse events or adverse reactions between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Yaobitong was better than JYK for LDH treatment, with no significant difference in safety. The study suggests that YBT is a promising and effective treatment for LDH.

The effect of low-level laser therapy on the oxidative stress level and quality of life in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

This study aimed to examine the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with levothyroxine replacement therapy on thyroid function, oxidative stress (OS), and quality of life in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Forty-six patients diagnosed with HT were randomized to receive active LLLT (n = 23) and sham LLLT (n = 23) twice a week for three weeks. Clinical and laboratory evaluations of the participants were performed before treatment and three months after treatment. Biochemical parameters were taken from the patient file requested by the physician as a routine examination. Malondialdehyde and nitricoxide indicating oxidant stress and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, which indicate antioxidant capacity, were used in OS evaluation. The Oxidative Stress Index was calculated by measuring the Total Antioxidant Status and the Total Oxidant Status. At the end of our study, a significant improvement in oxidant and antioxidant biomarker levels showing OS and quality of life was observed in the treatment groups (p < 0.05). There was no change in thyroid function and autoimmunity at the end of the treatment between the two groups (p > 0.05). Improvements in glutathione levels and quality of life were significantly higher in the active treatment group than in the sham-controlled group. LLLT was found to be more effective on OS and quality of life in patients with HT than in patients in the sham-controlled group. It was concluded that LLLT is a safe and effective method that can be used in the treatment of patients with HT.

A practical synthesis of nitrone-derived C5a-functionalized isofagomines as protein stabilizers to treat Gaucher disease.

Isofagomine (IFG) and its analogues possess promising glycosidase inhibitory activities. However, a flexible synthetic strategy toward both C5a-functionalized IFGs remains to be explored. Here we show a practical synthesis of C5a-S and R aminomethyl IFG-based derivatives via the diastereoselective addition of cyanide to cyclic nitrone 1. Nitrone 1 was conveniently prepared on a gram scale and in high yield from inexpensive (-)-diethyl D-tartrate via a straightforward method, with a stereoselective Michael addition of a nitroolefin and a Nef reaction as key steps. A 268-membered library (134 × 2) of the C5a-functionalized derivatives was submitted to enzyme- or cell-based bio-evaluations, which resulted in the identification of a promising ß-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) stabilizer demonstrating a 2.7-fold enhancement at 25 nM in p.Asn370Ser GCase activity and a 13-fold increase at 1 µM in recombinant human GCase activity in Gaucher cell lines.

Chromosomal-Level Reference Genome for the Chinese Endemic Pygmy Grasshopper, Zhengitettix transpicula, Sheds Light on Tetrigidae Evolution and Advancing Conservation Efforts.

The pygmy grasshopper, Zhengitettix transpicula, is a Chinese endemic species with an exceedingly limited distribution and fragile population structure, rendering it vulnerable to extinction. We present a high-continuity, chromosome-scale reference genome assembly to elucidate this species' distinctive biology and inform conservation. Employing an integrated sequencing approach, we achieved a 970.40 Mb assembly with 96.32% coverage across seven pseudo-chromosomes and impressive continuity (N50 > 220 Mb). Genome annotation achieves identification with 99.2% BUSCO completeness, supporting quality. Comparative analyses with 14 genomes from Orthoptera-facilitated phylogenomics and revealed 549 significantly expanded gene families in Z. transpicula associated with metabolism, stress response, and development. However, genomic analysis exposed remarkably low heterozygosity (0.02%), implying a severe genetic bottleneck from small, fragmented populations, characteristic of species vulnerable to extinction from environmental disruptions. Elucidating the genetic basis of population dynamics and specialization provides an imperative guideline for habitat conservation and restoration of this rare organism. Moreover, divergent evolution analysis of the CYP305m2 gene regulating locust aggregation highlighted potential structural and hence functional variations between Acrididae and Tetrigidae. Our chromosomal genomic characterization of Z. transpicula advances Orthopteran resources, establishing a framework for evolutionary developmental explorations and applied conservation genomics, reversing the trajectory of this unique grasshopper lineage towards oblivion.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the pygmy grasshopper Eucriotettix oculatus (Orthoptera: Tetrigoidea).

The pygmy grasshoppers, which belong to the superfamily Tetrigoidea, exhibit remarkable environmental adaptability. However, no study has yet reported a reference genome for this group. In this study, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of Eucriotettix oculatus, which survive in the environment heavily polluted by heavy metals, achieved through Illumina and PacBio sequencing, alongside chromosome conformation capture techniques. The resulting genome spans 985.45 Mb across seven chromosomes (range: 71.55 to 266.65 Mb) and features an N50 length of 123.82 Mb. Chr5 is considered to be the single sex chromosome (X). This genome is composed of 46.42% repetitive elements and contains 14,906 predicted protein-coding genes, 91.63% of which are functionally annotated. Decoding the E. oculatus genome not only promotes future studies on environmental adaptation for the pygmy grasshopper, but also provides valuable resources for in-depth investigation on phylogeny, evolution, and behavior of Orthoptera.

Molecular strategies of the pygmy grasshopper Eucriotettix oculatus adapting to long-term heavy metal pollution.

To study the heavy metal accumulation and its impact on insect exterior and chromosome morphology, and reveal the molecular mechanism of insects adapting to long-term heavy metal compound pollution habitats, this study, in the Diaojiang river basin, which has been polluted by heavy metals(HMs) for nearly a thousand years, two Eucriotettix oculatus populations was collected from mining and non-mining areas. It was found that the contents of 7 heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sn, Sb) in E. oculatus of the mining area were higher than that in the non-mining 1-11 times. The analysis of morphology shows that the external morphology, the hind wing type and the chromosomal morphology of E. oculatus are significant differences between the two populations. Based on the heavy metal accumulation，morphological change, and stable population density, it is inferred that the mining area population has been affected by heavy metals and has adapted to the environment of heavy metals pollution. Then, by analyzing the transcriptome of the two populations, it was found that the digestion, immunity, excretion, endocrine, nerve, circulation, reproductive and other systems and lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and other cell structure-related gene expression were suppressed. This shows that the functions of the above-mentioned related systems of E. oculatus are inhibited by heavy metal stress. However, it has also been found that through the significant up-regulation of genes related to the above system, such as ATP2B, pepsin A, ubiquitin, AQP1, ACOX, ATPeV0A, SEC61A, CANX, ALDH7A1, DLD, aceE, Hsp40, and catalase, etc., and the down-regulation of MAPK signalling pathway genes, can enhanced nutrient absorption, improve energy metabolism, repair damaged cells and degrade abnormal proteins, maintain the stability of cells and systems, and resist heavy metal damage so that E. oculatus can adapt to the environment of heavy metal pollution for a long time.

Forward-predictive SERS-based chemical taxonomy for untargeted structural elucidation of epimeric cerebrosides.

Achieving untargeted chemical identification, isomeric differentiation, and quantification is critical to most scientific and technological problems but remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate an integrated SERS-based chemical taxonomy machine learning framework for untargeted structural elucidation of 11 epimeric cerebrosides, attaining >90% accuracy and robust single epimer and multiplex quantification with <10% errors. First, we utilize 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid to selectively capture the epimers at molecular sites of isomerism to form epimer-specific SERS fingerprints. Corroborating with in-silico experiments, we establish five spectral features, each corresponding to a structural characteristic: (1) presence/absence of epimers, (2) monosaccharide/cerebroside, (3) saturated/unsaturated cerebroside, (4) glucosyl/galactosyl, and (5) GlcCer or GalCer's carbon chain lengths. Leveraging these insights, we create a fully generalizable framework to identify and quantify cerebrosides at concentrations between 10-4 to 10-10 M and achieve multiplex quantification of binary mixtures containing biomarkers GlcCer24:1, and GalCer24:1 using their untrained spectra in the models.

Reassessment of the Phylogenetics of Two Pygmy Grasshopper Generic Groups Tetrix and Systolederus through Mitochondrial Phylogenomics Using Four New Mitochondrial Genome Assemblies.

Mitochondrial genomes offer pragmatic genetic markers to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and inform taxonomic classifications. Here, we present complete mitochondrial sequences for four Chinese pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae), aiming to reevaluate phylogenetic patterns and morphological taxonomy. Our 17,643 bp, 16,274 bp, 15,086 bp, and 15,398 bp mitogenomes of Exothotettix guangxiensis, Formosatettix longwangshanensis, Euparatettix sinufemoralis and Systolederus zhengi, respectively, exhibit archetypal Tetrigidae architecture. We constructed phylogenies using 13 protein-coding loci from 39 Tetrigidae mitogenomes, revealing several genus-level clusters with statistically solid support, conflicts regarding Ex. guangxiensis, F. longwangshanensis merging into Tetrix, and two subclades of Systolederus. The dated divergence analysis indicates over 150 Mya of Tetrigidae ancestry, tracing the Systolederus generic group splits up to ~75 million years ago. Moreover, the Tetrix generic group radiated over 14 Mya across vast distributions, consistent with rapid adaptive dispersals. Our mitochondrial reconstructions suggest that Synstolederus is taxonomically overextended for a single genus, while the distinctiveness of Ex. guangxiensis and F. longwangshanensis from Tetrix appears questionable, and the Tetrix generic group comprises a potential tRNA-Ile coding region. Our integrative mitogenomic approaches will help resolve issues stemming from morphological taxonomy that is reliant on traits that are prone to convergence. This investigation enhances comprehension of Tetrigidae phylogeny and accentuates molecular systematics.

Identification of anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic bioactive compounds from Ganoderma formosanum and their possible mechanisms in modulating TGF-ß1-induced lung fibrosis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Compendium of Materia Medica and the Classic of Materia Medica, the two most prominent records of traditional Chinese medicine, documented the therapeutic benefits of Ganoderma sinense particularly in addressing pulmonary-related ailments. Ganoderma formosanum, an indigenous subspecies of G. sinense from Taiwan, has demonstrated the same therapeutic properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to identify bioactive compounds and evaluate the potential of G. formosanum extracts as a novel treatment to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Using an in-house drug screening platform, two-stage screening was performed to determine their anti-fibrotic efficacy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: G. formosanum was fractionated into four partitions by solvents of different polarities. To determine their antifibrotic and pro-apoptotic properties, the fractions were analyzed using two TGF-ß1-induced pulmonary fibrosis cell models (NIH-3T3) and human pulmonary fibroblast cell lines, immunoblot, qRT-PCR, and annexin V assays. Subsequently, transcriptomic analysis was conducted to validate the findings and explore possible molecular pathways. The identification of potential bioactive compounds was achieved through UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, while molecular interaction study was investigated by multiple ligands docking and molecular dynamic simulations. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) extracted from G. formosanum demonstrated substantial anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic effects on TGF-ß1-induced fibrotic models. Moreover, the EAF exhibited no discernible cytotoxicity. Untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS analysis identified potential bioactive compounds in EAF, including stearic acid, palmitic acid, and pentadecanoic acid. Multiple ligands docking and molecular dynamic simulations further confirmed that those bioactive compounds possess the ability to inhibit TGF-ß receptor 1. CONCLUSION: Potential bioactive compounds in G. formosanum were successfully extracted and identified in the EAF, whose anti-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic properties could potentially modulate pulmonary fibrosis. This finding not only highlights the EAF's potential as a promising therapeutic candidate to treat pulmonary fibrosis, but it also elucidates how Ganoderma confers pulmonary health benefits as described in the ancient texts.

Next-Generation Sequencing in Lung Cancers-A Single-Center Experience in Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in Taiwan. With rapid advancement of targeted therapeutics in non-small cell lung cancers, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is becoming an important tool for biomarker testing. In this study, we describe institutional experience of NGS analysis in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A cohort of 73 cases was identified from the institutional pathology archive in the period between November 2020 and December 2022. Results: Adenocarcinoma was the most common histologic type (91.8%). Most patients presented with stage IIIB and beyond (87.7%). Twenty-nine patients (39.7%) were evaluated at the time of initial diagnosis, while the others had received prior chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The most frequently mutated gene was EGFR (63%), and this was followed by TP53 (50.7%), KRAS (13.7%), RB1 (13.7%), and CDKN2A (13.7%). Clinically actionable mutations associated with a guideline-suggested targeted therapy were identified in 55 cases (75.3%) overall, and in 47.1% of cases excluding EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutation. Biomarkers other than EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations were compared. Cases without TKI-sensitizing EGFR mutation had more level 1 or 2 biomarkers (excluding EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations) than cases with TKI-sensitizing EGFR mutations (47.1% versus 20.1%, p = 0.016). Progressive disease was associated with co-occurrence of clinically actionable mutations (20.5% versus 0%, p < 0.05). Eight of the nine cases with co-occurring actionable genetic alternations had an EGFR mutation. After an NGS test, 46.1% of actionable or potentially actionable genetic alternations led to patients receiving a matched therapy. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that NGS analysis identifies therapeutic targets and may guide treatment strategies in NSCLC. NGS tests may be advantageous over multiple single-gene tests for optimization of treatment plans, especially for those with non-EGFR mutations or those with progressive disease.

Speckle-Free, Angle-Free, Cavity-Free White Laser with a High Color Rendering Index.

The freedom from efficiency droop motivates monochromatic lasers to progress in general lighting applications due to the demand for more efficient and sustainable light sources. Still, a white light based on monochromatic lasers with high lighting quality, such as a high color rendering ability, an angle-independent output, and a speckle-free illumination, has not yet been fabricated nor demonstrated. Random lasers, with the special mechanism caused by multiple scattering, the angle-free emission, and the uncomplicated fabrication processes, inspire us to investigate the feasibility of utilizing them in general lighting. In this work, a white random laser with a high color rendering index (CRI) value, regardless of pumping energy and observing direction, was performed and discussed. We also investigated the stability of white RL as its CIE chromaticity coordinates exhibit negligible differences with increasing pump energy density, retaining its high-CRI measurement. Also, it exhibits angle-independent emission while having a high color rendering ability. After passing through a scattering film, it generated no speckles compared to the conventional laser. We demonstrated the advances in white laser illumination, showing that a white random laser is promising to be applied for high-brightness illumination, biological-friendly lighting, accurate color selections, and medical sensing.

Impact of Chinese herbal medicine on sarcopenia in enhancing muscle mass, strength, and function: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Sarcopenia has become important to the public health with the increase in the aging population in society. However, the therapeutic effects of conventional approaches, including pharmacotherapy, exercise, and nutritional intervention, are far from satisfactory. Chinese herbal medicine is a new treatment format with interesting possibilities in sarcopenia has been widely practiced. The study aims to explore the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in sarcopenia. We comprehensively searched the following electronic databases: Medline, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, and Chinese database from the establishment of the database to December 2022 (no language restrictions). Randomized controlled clinical studies on the use of Chinese herbal medicine in sarcopenia were selected in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. Review Manager and Stata were used for statistical analysis and the mean difference and standardized mean difference were adopted. Of 277 identified studies, 17 were eligible and included in our analysis (N = 1440 participants). The results showed that Chinese herbal medicine can improve total efficiency (RR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.21, 1.36], p < 0.00001) in sarcopenia and enhance muscle mass (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI [0.55, 1.50], p < 0.0001), and muscle strength measured by grip strength (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI [0.36, 0.96], p < 0.0001), measured by 60°/s knee extension peak TQ (MD = 5.63, 95% CI [-0.30, 11.57], p = 0.06) and muscle function measured by 6-meter walking speed (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI [0.60, 2.08], p = 0.0004), measured by the short physical performance battery of 1.50%, 95% CI (1.05, 1.95), measured by the EuroQoL 5-dimension of (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI [-0.10, 0.65], p = 0.16), suggesting that Chinese herbal medicine alone or combined with conventional treatment has ameliorating effect on sarcopenia. Chinese herbal medicine is a potential therapeutic strategy in sarcopenia. The funnel plot and Egger's test indicated publication bias. To confirm our conclusions, further high-quality studies should be conducted.