Tuina (Chinese massage) for insulin resistance and sensitivity: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of animal and human studies.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin resistance (IR) could be regarded as a therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. Therefore, multiple therapeutic strategies that target IR should be applied to provide a more effective means of treatment. It aims to determine Tuina's efficacy and safety for IR through this systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: From the inception to July 31, 2023, we will search four English databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science) and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database). We will search and include studies of both human and animal models that evaluate Tuina's effects on insulin sensitivity or resistance. Data selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment will be made by two independent reviewers. We will evaluate the methodological quality of all included studies and conduct meta-analyses using Review Manager Software 5.4.1. DISCUSSION: In both animal and human studies, the effects and safety of Tuina for IR will be evaluated. The evidence generated bythis study will validate effects and safety of Tuinain treating IR and inform future research and clinical decision-making. TRAIL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42022360128.

Direct Fabrication of Micron-Thickness PVA-CNT Patterned Films by Integrating Micro-Pen Writing of PVA Films and Drop-on-Demand Printing of CNT Micropatterns.

The direct fabrication of micron-thickness patterned electronics consisting of patterned PVA films and CNT micropatterns still faces considerable challenges. Here, we demonstrated the integrated fabrication of PVA films of micron-thickness and CNT-based patterns by utilising micro-pen writing and drop-on-demand printing in sequence. Patterned PVA films of 1-5 µm in thickness were written first using proper micro-pen writing parameters, including the writing gap, the substrate moving velocity, and the working pressure. Then, CNT droplets were printed on PVA films that were cured at 55-65 °C for 3-15 min, resulting in neat CNT patterns. In addition, an inertia-pseudopartial wetting spreading model was established to release the dynamics of the droplet spreading process over thin viscoelastic films. Uniform and dense CNT lines with a porosity of 2.2% were printed on PVA substrates that were preprocessed at 55 °C for 9 min using a staggered overwriting method with the proper number of layers. Finally, we demonstrated the feasibility of this hybrid printing method by printing a patterned PVA-CNT film and a micro-ribbon. This study provides a valid method for directly fabricating micron-thickness PVA-CNT electronics. The proposed method can also provide guidance on the direct writing of other high-molecular polymer materials and printing inks of other nanosuspensions.

Genetic Variation of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family for Sulfur Assimilation in Maize.

Improving sulfur assimilation in maize kernels is essential due to humans and animals' inability to synthesize methionine. Serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is a critical enzyme that controls cystine biosynthesis in plants. In this study, all SAT gene members were genome-wide characterized by using a sequence homology search. The RNA-seq quantification indicates that they are highly expressed in leaves, other than root and seeds, consistent with their biological functions in sulfur assimilation. With the recently released 25 genomes of nested association mapping (NAM) founders representing the diverse maize stock, we had the opportunity to investigate the SAT genetic variation comprehensively. The abundant transposon insertions into SAT genes indicate their driving power in terms of gene structure and genome evolution. We found that the transposon insertion into exons could change SAT gene transcription, whereas there was no significant correlation between transposable element (TE) insertion into introns and their gene expression, indicating that other regulatory elements such as promoters could also be involved. Understanding the SAT gene structure, gene expression and genetic variation involved in natural selection and species adaption could precisely guide genetic engineering to manipulate sulfur assimilation in maize and to improve nutritional quality.

[Effects of Quercetin on Autophagy and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells].

Objective To investigate the effects of quercetin on cell viability,apoptosis,autophagy,and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signaling pathway in human prostate cell carcinoma PC-3 cells.Methods PC-3 cells were cultured in vitro,and cell viability was detected by CCK-8.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.Autophagy vesicle was observed by acridine orange staining.Autophagosomes was observed by GFP-LC3 plasmid transfection analysis.Expressions of autophagy-related protein microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 fusion protein(LC3)and Beclin-1 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway protein were detected by Western blot analysis.Results Quercetin inhibited cell viability in a dose-time dependent manner and induced apoptosis.Quercetin increased the number of autophagy vesicles and autophagosomes in PC-3 cells.Quercetin increased the expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and Beclin-1 in PC-3 cells and decreased the expression of phosphorylated-PI3K,phosphorylated-Akt and phosphorylated-mTOR.Conclusion Quercetin may induce autophagy by inactivating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in PC-3 cells.

Clinical efficacy of Duyiwei capsule in treating gingivitis: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study will investigate the clinical efficacy of Duyiwei capsule (DYWC) for the treatment of gingivitis. METHODS: Relevant studies will be searched in PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, WANGFANG, VIP, CBM, and CNKI from inception to the March 31, 2020 without limitations of language and publication time. All potential randomized controlled trials on the clinical efficacy of DYWC for the treatment of gingivitis will be considered. Two authors will independently perform literature selection, data collection, and study quality assessment. Any disagreements will be solved by a third author through discussion. We will utilize RevMan 5.3 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: This study will summarize present randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of DYWC for the treatment of gingivitis. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will provide evidence to show whether DYWC is effective and safety for gingivitis.Systematic review registration: INPLASY202040199.

The complete chloroplast genome of greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza 7498) using PacBio long reads: insights into the chloroplast evolution and transcription regulation.

BACKGROUND: Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are aquatic plants distributed all over the world. The chloroplast genome, as an efficient solar-powered reactor, is an invaluable resource to study biodiversity and to carry foreign genes. The chloroplast genome sequencing has become routine and less expensive with the delivery of high-throughput sequencing technologies, allowing us to deeply investigate genomics and transcriptomics of duckweed organelles. RESULTS: Here, the complete chloroplast genome of Spirodela polyrhiza 7498 (SpV2) is assembled by PacBio sequencing. The length of 168,956 bp circular genome is composed of a pair of inverted repeats of 31,844 bp, a large single copy of 91,210 bp and a small single copy of 14,058 bp. Compared to the previous version (SpV1) assembled from short reads, the integrity and quality of SpV2 are improved, especially with the retrieval of two repeated fragments in ycf2 gene. There are a number of 107 unique genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 25 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. With the evidence of full-length cDNAs generated from PacBio isoform sequencing, seven genes (ycf3, clpP, atpF, rpoC1, rpl2, rps12 and ndhA) are detected to contain type-II introns. The ndhA intron has 50% more sequence divergence than the species-barcoding marker of atpF-atpH, showing the potential power to discriminate close species. A number of 37 RNA editing sites are recognized to have cytosine (C) to uracil (U) substitutions, eight of which are newly defined including six from the intergenic regions and two from the coding sequences of rpoC2 and ndhA genes. In addition, nine operon classes are identified using transcriptomic data. It is found that the operons contain multiple subunit genes encoding the same functional complexes comprising of ATP synthase, photosynthesis system, ribosomal proteins, et.al., which could be simultaneously transcribed and coordinately translated in response to the cell stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: The understanding of the chloroplast genomics and the transcriptomics of S.polyrhiza would greatly facilitate the study of phylogenetic evolution and the application of genetically engineering duckweeds.

Structural insights into the mechanism of single domain VHH antibody binding to cortisol.

To date, few structural models of VHH antibody binding to low molecular weight haptens have been reported. Here, we report the crystal structure of cortisol binding to its VHH antibody NbCor at pH 3.5 and 10.5. Cortisol binds to NbCor mainly by burying itself under the tunnel formed by the complementarity determining region 1 (CDR1) of NbCor. The affinity of NbCor binding to cortisol and similar compounds was also verified by a microscale thermophoresis assay. Combining our findings with several previously reported structures of hapten-VHH antibody complexes, we propose that VHH antibodies exhibit a special mechanism of binding small haptens by encapsulating them in a tunnel formed by CDR1. Our findings provide useful structural information for the further development and optimization of hapten-specific VHH antibodies.

Protective Effect of Pinitol Against Inflammatory Mediators of Rheumatoid Arthritis via Inhibition of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor Type 22 (PTPN22).

BACKGROUND The aim of the current study was to explore the anti-arthritic effect of pinitol via assessing its effect on various inflammatory mediators and its possible mechanism of action. MATERIAL AND METHODS We assessed the anti-arthritic effect of pinitol in a formaldehyde- and CFA-induced arthritic model in Wistar Swiss albino strain rats divided into 6 groups. The rats received different doses of pinitol and indomethacin for 28 days. The arthritic index and body weight were determined at regular intervals, together with hepatic, hematological, and antioxidant parameters. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß) and inflammatory mediators (e.g., COX-2 and VEGF) were also estimated with histopathological evaluation of the joint tissue of rats. A docking study of pinitol with PTPN22 was also carried out. RESULTS The CFA-induced model rats developed redness and nodules in the tail and front paws, and the arthritic control (AC) group rats showed similar symptoms, which were decreased by pinitol administration. The body weight of AC group rats was decreased, while pinitol-treated rats showed considerably increased body weight. Hematological, hepatic, and antioxidant parameters were altered by pinitol in a dose-dependent manner. Pinitol significantly decreased the elevated concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators, with improvement in histopathological condition. The docking study suggested that pinitol efficiently interacted with PTPN22 via Arg59, Tyr60, Leu106, and Lys138 by creating close interatomic hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts. CONCLUSIONS Pinitol showed anti-arthritic effects via reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators via inhibition of PTPN22.

[Nest habitat quality evaluation for the oriental great reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) in Baiyangdian Wetland].

The Baiyangdian Wetland Natural Reserve is an important breeding habitat for oriental great reed warbler (OGRWs), Acrocephalus orientalis, in North China Plain. We investigated the nesting sites of OGRWs by line transect method during June-July, 2011, and 112 nests were found out in total. The ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA) was applied in nesting habitat suitability assessment for OGRWs in Baiyangdian. The results showed that OGRWs in this reserve preferred nesting in dry land reed landscapes, which located at relatively high altitudes and away from anthropocentric disturbance. In 2011, the suitable and the most suitable nesting habitats of OGRWs in this reserve were 2474.69 hm2 and 1131.19 hm2, accounting 7.6% and 3.5% of the total reserve area, respectively. The most suitable nesting habitats shaped a circle-like structure, and they all clustered together around Damai and Shaoche core area, which located in the east part of the reserve. In order to protect the nesting habitats for OGRWs within Baiyangdian wetland reserve, it was suggested that the functional zone should be reorganized, and that the Damai and Shaoche core area should be integrated into one. This new core area would be bigger and more concentrated, at the same time the buffer zone should also be established appropriately, so as to protect the natural landscapes in this reserve as much as possible.

[Suitability evaluation of great bustard (Otis tarda)'s wintering habitat in Baiyangdian basin].

Based on the related researches of great bustard's wintering habitat selection as well as the advices of related experts and the distribution records of great bustard in Baiyangdian basin, 3 first class indices and 13 second indices were chosen to characterize the key factors affecting the wintering habitat selection of great bustard, and a habitat quality evaluation model was built to assess the quality of wintering habitat selection of great bustard in Baiyangdian basin. In 2005, the suitable wintering habitats of great bustard in the basin had an area of 11907.25 km2, accounting for 34.1% of the total. Of the suitable wintering habitats, the most suitable habitats had an area of 4596.25 km2, only 13.2% of the total and comparatively concentrated in two zones, i.e., Baiyangdian Wetland Natural Reserve and its peripheral area (zone I) in the east of Baiyangdian basin, and Xingtang and Quyang counties (zone II) in the southwest of Baiyangdian basin. The total area of the most suitable habitats in zone I and zone II was 2803.55 km2, accounting for 61.0% of the most suitable habitats in the basin. To protect the wintering habitat of great bustard in the basin, proper measures should be taken according to the environmental features of the two zones.