Efficient Biosynthetic Fabrication of Spidroins with High Spinning Performance.

The unique 3D structure of spider silk protein (spidroin) determines the excellent mechanical properties of spidroin fiber, but the difficulty of heterologous expression and poor spinning performance of recombinant spider silk protein limit its application. A high-yield low-molecular-weight biomimetic spidroin (Amy-6rep) is obtained by sequence modification, and its excellent spinning performance is verified by electrospinning it for use as a nanogenerator. Amy-6rep increases the highly fibrogenic microcrystalline region in the core repeat region of natural spidroin with limited sequence length and replaces the polyalanine sequence with an amyloid polypeptide through structural similarity. Due to sequence modification, the expression of Amy-6rep increased by ≈200%, and the self-assembly performance of Amy-6rep significantly increased. After electrospinning with Amy-6rep, the nanofibers exhibit good tribopower generation capacity. In this paper, a biomimetic spidroin sequence design with high yield and good spinning performance is reported, and a strategy for electrospinning to produce an artificial nanogenerator is explored.

Bioinformatics and Machine Learning Methods Identified MGST1 and QPCT as Novel Biomarkers for Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a life-threatening gastrointestinal emergency. The study aimed to identify biomarkers and investigate molecular mechanisms of SAP. The GSE194331 dataset from GEO database was analyzed using bioinformatics. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with SAP were identified, and a protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed. Machine learning algorithms were used to determine potential biomarkers. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) explored molecular mechanisms. Immune cell infiltration were analyzed, and correlation between biomarker expression and immune cell infiltration was calculated. A competing endogenous RNA network (ceRNA) was constructed, and biomarker expression levels were quantified in clinical samples using RT-PCR. 1101 DEGs were found, with two modules most relevant to SAP. Potential biomarkers in peripheral blood samples were identified as glutathione S-transferase 1 (MGST1) and glutamyl peptidyltransferase (QPCT). GSEA revealed their association with immunoglobulin regulation, with QPCT potentially linked to pancreatic cancer development. Correlation between biomarkers and immune cell infiltration was demonstrated. A ceRNA network consisting of 39 nodes and 41 edges was constructed. Elevated expression levels of MGST1 and QPCT were verified in clinical samples. In conclusion, peripheral blood MGST1 and QPCT show promise as SAP biomarkers for diagnosis, providing targets for therapeutic intervention and contributing to SAP understanding.

Acupuncture improves immunity and fatigue after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients by inhibiting the Leptin/AMPK signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture has become a popular complementary treatment in oncology. This study is based on RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing technology to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of acupuncture-mediated regulation of the Leptin/AMPK signaling pathway on mitochondrial dysfunction-induced fatigue in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from 10 patients with post-operative chemotherapy for breast cancer were selected for transcriptome sequencing to screen the key molecular pathways involved in fatigue after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Besides, peripheral blood samples were collected from 138 post-operative chemotherapy patients with breast cancer to study the composite fatigue and quality of life scores. Flow cytometry was used to detect T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood-specific immune cells. In addition, a blood cell analyzer was used to measure peripheral blood leukocyte counts, and MSP-PCR was used to detect mitochondrial DNA mutations in peripheral blood leukocytes. RESULTS: Transcriptome bioinformatics analysis screened 147 up-regulated mRNAs and 160 down-regulated mRNAs. Leptin protein was confirmed as the key factor. Leptin was significantly higher in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients who developed fatigue after chemotherapy. Acupuncture treatment effectively improved post-chemotherapy fatigue and immune status in breast cancer patients, suppressed the expression of Leptin/AMPK signaling pathway-related factor and leukocyte counts, and significantly reduced the rate of mitochondrial DNA mutations in peripheral blood leukocytes. CONCLUSION: The Leptin/AMPK signaling pathway may be the key molecular pathway affecting the occurrence of fatigue after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Leptin may improve post-chemotherapy fatigue in breast cancer patients by activating AMPK phosphorylation and alleviating mitochondrial functional impairment.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Combined with Warm Acupuncture for External Humeral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave combined with warm acupuncture for external humeral epicondylitis. Methods: Eighty-two patients with external humeral epicondylitis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. Patients in the control group were treated with extracorporeal shock waves while those in observation group with warm acupuncture on the basis of the control group. Patients in both groups were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) before and after treatment. The inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-10, TNF-ɑ and clinical outcomes were contrasted before and after treatment. Results: There were statistically significant differences in VAS score, MEPS score and DASH score between the two groups before and after treatment (P<0.05), and the improvement of each score in the observation group was more obvious than that in the control group. After treatment, the inflammatory factors of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The decrease of inflammatory factors in the observation group was more obvious than that in the control group. The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Extracorporeal shock wave combined with warm acupuncture could effectively improve the pain symptoms and dysfunction of external humeral epicondylitis and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, and its effect may be better than that of extracorporeal shock wave treatment alone. Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2200066075.

Effects of Mind-Regulation Acupuncture Therapy on Serum Ghrelin, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide, Leptin, and Insulin Levels in Breast Cancer Survivors with Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: The aim of this research is to analyze the effects of mind-regulation acupuncture on serum ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, leptin, and insulin levels, fatigue, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in survivors of breast cancer with cancer-related fatigue. Methods: Total 136 breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue were randomly allocated to the mind-regulation acupuncture group and the control group in a 1:1 ratio, with 68 cases in each group. Finally, 57 cases each in both groups completed the study. The serum ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, leptin, and insulin levels were measured in pre-treatment and post-treatment. The 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Karnofsky Performance Status were used to evaluate patients' fatigue, quality of sleep, symptoms of depression, and quality of life, respectively. Results: In post-treatment, the serum ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, leptin, and insulin levels significantly reduced, 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Hamilton Depression scores were remarkably decreased, whereas the Karnofsky Performance Status scores were significantly increased in mind-regulation acupuncture group and control group comparing to those pre-treatment, while those in mind-regulation acupuncture group changed more significantly. The 20-item Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Hamilton Depression scores were remarkably lower, and remarkably higher Karnofsky Performance Status scores in the mind-regulation acupuncture group were seen than those in the control group. Conclusion: Mind-regulation acupuncture could reduce serum ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, leptin, and insulin levels of breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue. In addition, it alleviates cancer-related fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression in these survivors and improves their quality of life. Therefore, mind-regulation acupuncture may have potential as an alternative and complementary therapy for breast cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine-based rehabilitation nursing combined with scalp acupuncture on negative emotions and quality of life of patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the effect of traditional Chinese medicine-based rehabilitation nursing combined with scalp acupuncture (TCMRN + SA) on negative emotions and the quality of life of patients with stroke. METHODS: 102 patients with stroke admitted to The First People's Hospital of Huzhou from September 2019 to December 2020 were included in this study using the convenience sampling method and split into an observation group and a control group at random (n = 51 in each group). Individuals in the control group received TCMRN, whereas patients in the observation group received TCMRN + SA. Furthermore, the negative emotions and quality of life of the individuals in both groups were evaluated before and after the intervention using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), as well as Activity of Daily Living Scale. Furthermore, the efficiency of the sleep-quality intervention between the 2 groups was compared. RESULTS: After the intervention, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale, SDS, as well as self-rating anxiety scale scores of individuals in the observation group were considerably lower in comparison to the individuals in the control group (P < .01). Activity of daily living scale scores in the observation group also differed considerably from those in the control group (P < .01). Moreover, the sleep quality efficiency rate in the observation group (90.19% [46/51]) was substantially higher than that in the control group (70.59% [36/51]) (P < .05). CONCLUSION: TCMRN + SA can effectively improve patients' negative emotions and quality of life and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Ultrasensitive quantification of extracellular vesicles through dual signal amplification for the early diagnosis and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Accurate quantification of low-abundant EVs plays an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aptamers, which can specifically recognize and bind with protein molecules through transformation, make it possible to integrate DNA polymerase-based amplification strategies for protein detection. Thus, we have designed an allosteric probe and demonstrated its feasibility to convert the detection signals of EVs (extracellular vesicles) to nucleic acids through the specific recognition of target EVs. In addition, we have integrated the Nt.BstNBI and DNA polymerase based ssDNA generation process with the Exo III recycle process and greatly improved the detection sensitivity. The presence of target EVs initiates the Nt.BstNBI triggered multiple cycle amplification, enabling the achievement of high sensitivity and excellent selectivity, holding great potential in disease diagnosis and biomedical research.

[Electroacupuncture combined with PNF on proprioception and motor function of lower limbs in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and correlation of electroacupuncture combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on proprioception and motor function of lower limbs in stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 96 stroke patients were randomized into an electroacupuncture (EA) group, a PNF group and a combination group, 32 cases in each one. In the EA group, acupuncture was applied at cephalic motor and sensory areas, Huantiao (GB 30), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on affected side, and electroacupuncture was adopted at Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Xuanzhong (GB 39), continuous wave and 2 Hz in frequency for 20 min, once every day. In the PNF group, PNF was performed for 20 min, once a day. In the combination group, electroacupuncture was given before PNF, once a day. 4 weeks as one course and totally 3 courses were required, the effect was followed up after half a year. Before treatment, after 4, 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the average trace error (ATE) and Time, the scores of Fugl-Meyer scale (FMA) and modified Barthel index (MBI) were observed in the 3 groups. Correlation analysis between ATE, Time and FMA was performed. RESULTS: ① The total effective rate in the combination group was 90.3% (28/31), which was superior to 64.5% (20/31) in the EA group and 62.5% (20/32) in the PNF group (P<0.05). ②After 4, 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the ATE and Time in the 3 groups were reduced compared with before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). After 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the ATE in the combination group were lower than the EA group and the PNF group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the Time in the combination group were lower than the EA group and the PNF group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ③After 4, 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the FMA scores in the EA group and the combination group were increased compared with before treatment (P<0.01). After 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the FMA scores in the PNF group were increased compared with before treatment (P<0.01). After 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the FMA scores in the combination group were higher than the EA group and the PNF group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ④After 4, 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the MBI scores in the 3 groups were increased compared with before treatment (P<0.01). After 8, 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the MBI scores in the combination group were higher than the EA group (P<0.01). After 12 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the MBI scores in the combination group were higher than the PNF group (P<0.01). ⑤ The correlation coefficients of ATE, Time and FMA were from 0.4 to 0.75 (P<0.05), suggesting a moderate intensity correlation. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture, PNF and combination therapy can improve proprioception and motor function of lower limbs and activities of daily living, and combination therapy has a better effect. Proprioception and motor function have a strong correlation in the recovery of stroke patients.

[Effect of "Tiaoshen Acupuncture" on postpartum low back pain: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Tiaoshen Acupuncture" on postpartum low back pain. METHODS: A total of 98 cases of postpartum low back pain were randomly divided into a control group (45 cases, 4 cases dropping) and a treatment group (47 cases, 2 cases dropping). Conventional acupuncture was treated in the control group, and "Tiaoshen Acupuncture" was added in the treatment group on the basis treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3). The treatment was given 30 minutes each time, 5 times a week, 10 times for a total course of treatment. Before and after treatment, pain was assessed by the short-form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), dysfunction was assessed by Oswestry disability index (ODI), and depression was assessed by the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS). And the changes of various indexs were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the pain grade index (PRI) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score and present pain intensity (PPI) score in SF-MPQ of the control group and the treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). The ODI score and EPDS score were also significantly lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001). The decline scores of the treatment group before and after treatment were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.001, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: "Tiaoshen Acupuncture" combined with conventional acupuncture and conventional acupuncture can effectively improve the symptoms of pain, dysfunction and depression in patients with postpartum low back pain, and the former is significantly better than the latter.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome treated with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects and safety of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the conception vessel and the governor vessel. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients of chronic fatigue syndrome were randomized into an observation group (46 cases) and a control group (43 cases). In the observation group, TEAS was applied at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4) [the current intensity: (14±2) mA]. In the control group, the simulated TEAS was applied at the same acupoints as the observation group (the current intensity: 1 mA). The treatment was given for 30 min, once a day, 5 times a week and the treatment of 4 weeks was as 1 session in the two groups. One session of treatment was required. Before treatment and at the end of 1 session of treatment, the fatigue severity scale (FSS) was adopted to evaluate the fatigue symptoms and the somatic and psychological health report (SPHERE) was adopted to evaluate the potential symptoms and observe the safety of TEAS therapy. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, FSS score and SPHERE score in the control group were not different significantly as compared with those before treatment (both P>0.05). FSS score and SPHERE score in the observation group were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment (both P<0.01). FSS score and SPHERE score in the observation group were reduced apparently as compared with those in the control group (both P<0.001). In the entire process of treatment with TEAS, no any adverse reaction occurred. CONCLUSION: TEAS on the conception vessel and the governor vessel relieves fatigue symptoms and the potential symptoms in the patients of chronic fatigue syndrome. It is a safe therapy.