Exploring causal association between circulating inflammatory cytokines and functional outcomes following ischemic stroke: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVES: Previous observational studies have indicated correlations between various inflammatory cytokines and functional outcomes following ischemic stroke (IS); however, the causality remains unclear. We aimed to further evaluate the causal association between 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines and functional outcomes following IS. METHODS: Two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used in this study. The genetic variation of 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines were derived from genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of European ancestry (n = 8293). The corresponding genetic association of functional outcomes following IS were derived from European ancestry GWAS data (n = 6021). RESULTS: Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis showed that genetically predicted increased levels of regulation and activation in normal T-cell expression and secretion factor (RANTES/CCL5) and eosinophilic chemotactic factor (EOTAXIN/CCL11) were positively correlated with the increased adverse functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS≥3] following IS (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.002-1.96, p = 0.049; OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.15-1.54, p = 0.0001). Interleukin 18 (IL-18) level might be the downstream consequence of adverse functional outcomes following IS (ß: -0.09, p = 0.039). Other inflammatory cytokines and functional outcomes following IS did not appear to be causally related. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a causality between inflammation and adverse functional outcomes following IS. RANTES (CCL5) and EOTAXIN (CCL11) may be the upstream factors of adverse functional outcomes following IS, while IL-18 may be the downstream effect of adverse functional outcomes following IS. Whether these cytokines can be used to predict or improve adverse functional outcomes after IS requires further researches.

Predicting metformin efficacy in improving insulin sensitivity among women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: a machine learning study.

OBJECTIVE: Metformin is clinically effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with insulin resistance (IR), while its efficacy varies among individuals. This study aims to develop a machine learning model to predict the efficacy of metformin in improving insulin sensitivity among women with PCOS and IR. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving 114 women diagnosed with PCOS and IR. All women received metformin treatment for 4 months. We incorporated 27 baseline clinical variables of the women into the construction of our machine learning model. We firstly compared four commonly used feature selection methods to screen valuable clinical variables. Then we used the valuable variables as inputs to evaluate the performance of five machine learning models, including k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (Xgboost), in predicting the efficacy of metformin. RESULTS: Among the five machine learning models, SVM performed the best with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.781 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.772-0.791). The key predictive variables identified were homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). CONCLUSION: The developed machine learning model could be applied to to predict the efficacy of metformin in improving insulin sensitivity among women with PCOS and IR. The result could help doctors evaluate the efficacy of metformin in advance, optimize treatment plans, and thereby enhance overall clinical outcomes.

An Improved YOLOv7-Based Model for Real-Time Meter Reading with PConv and Attention Mechanisms.

With the increasing complexity of the grid meter dial, precise feature extraction is becoming more and more difficult. Many automatic recognition solutions have been proposed for grid meter readings. However, traditional inspection methods cannot guarantee detection accuracy in complex environments. So, deep-learning methods are combined with grid meter recognition. Existing recognition systems that utilize segmentation models exhibit very high computation. It is challenging to ensure high real-time performance in edge computing devices. Therefore, an improved meter recognition model based on YOLOv7 is proposed in this paper. Partial convolution (PConv) is introduced into YOLOv7 to create a lighter network. Different PConv introduction locations on the base module have been used in order to find the optimal approach for reducing the parameters and floating point of operations (FLOPs). Meanwhile, the dynamic head (DyHead) module is utilized to enhance the attention mechanism for the YOLOv7 model. It can improve the detection accuracy of striped objects. As a result, this paper achieves mAP50val of 97.87% and mAP50:90val of 62.4% with only 5.37 M parameters. The improved model's inference speed can reach 108 frames per second (FPS). It enables detection accuracy that can reach ±0.1 degrees in the grid meter.

Electroacupuncture Improves Depression-Like Behavior by Regulating the Abundance of Lactobacillus and Staphylococci in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota can affect depression-like behavior, and electroacupuncture (EA) can regulate the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. At the same time, not a lot of research has been done on how EA affects gut microbiota to depression-like behavior. The objective of this study was to study the associated mechanisms by which EA exerts antidepressant effects by modulating gut microbiota. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups, one group (n = 8) was the normal control group (NC). And the other two groups was chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling + electroacupuncture group (CUMS + EA) (n = 8) and chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling group (CUMS) (n = 8). Both CUMS and EA groups were subjected to 28 days of CUMS, but only the EA group received an additional 14 days of EA procedure. Behavior tests were used to determine the antidepressant effect of EA. Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was applied to examine alterations in the intestinal microbiome between groups. RESULTS: The findings were compared to those of the NC group, the sucrose preference rate and the total distance of Open Field Test (OFT) in CUMS group decreased, the abundance of Lactobacillus decreased, while the abundance of staphylococci increased. After the intervention of EA, the sucrose preference index and the total distance of OFT increased, the abundance of Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of staphylococci decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated EA may play an antidepressant effect by adjusting the abundance of Lactobacillus and staphylococci.

EA Ameliorated Depressive Behaviors in CUMS Rats and Was Related to Its Suppressing Autophagy in the Hippocampus.

Autophagy is confirmed to be involved in the onset and development of depression, and some antidepressants took effect by influencing the autophagic process. Electroacupuncture (EA), as a common complementary treatment for depression, may share the mechanism of influencing autophagy in the hippocampus like antidepressants. To investigate that, sixty Sprague-Dawley rats firstly went through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model establishment, and 15 rats were assigned to a control group. After modeling, 45 successfully CUMS-induced rats were randomly divided to 3 groups: CUMS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and EA groups (15 rats per group), to accept different interventions for 2 weeks. A sucrose preference test (SPT), weighing, and open field test (OFT) were measurement for depressive behaviors of rats. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot analysis were used to evaluate the autophagic changes. After that, depression-like behaviors were successfully induced in CUMS models and reversed by SSRI and EA treatments (both p < 0.05), but these two therapies had nonsignificant difference between each other (p > 0.05). Autolysosomes observed through TEM in the CUMS group were more than that in the control group. Their number and size in the SSRI and EA groups also decreased significantly. From IHC, the CUMS group showed enhanced positive expression of both Beclin1 and LC3 in CA1 after modeling (p < 0.05), and the LC3 level declined after EA treatments, which was verified by decreased LC3-II/LC3-I in western blot analysis. We speculated that CUMS-induced depression-like behavior was interacted with an autophagy process in the hippocampus, and EA demonstrated antidepressant effects by partly inhibiting autophagy with a decreased number of autolysosomes and level of LC3 along with LC3-II/LC3-I.

A one-two punch strategy for diabetic wound management based on an antibiotic-hybrid biomineralized iron sulfide nanoparticle.

Bacterial infection and immune imbalance are the primary culprits behind chronic wounds in individuals with diabetes, impeding the progression of damaged tissues towards normal healing. To achieve a harmonious balance between pro- and anti-inflammation within these infected areas, herein, we propose a one-two punch strategy for on-demand therapy of diabetes-infected wounds, utilizing an azithromycin (AZM)-hybrid nanocomposite termed GOx@FexSy/AZM. During the infective stage, the nanocomposite facilitates the production of ROS, coupled with the burst release of AZM and H2S gas, effectively dismantling biofilms and achieving rapid sterilization. Subsequently, the hyperinflammatory response induced by antibiosis is significantly mitigated through the synergistic action of tissue H2S and the prolonged half-life of AZM. These components inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory transcription factors (AP-1 and NF-κB) within macrophages, thereby promoting the polarization of macrophages towards a reparative M2 phenotype and facilitating tissue remodeling. By catering to the diverse requirements of wound healing at different stages, this nanocomposite accelerates a sensible transition from inflammation to the reparative phase. In summary, this one-two punch strategy gives an instructive instance for procedural treatment of diabetes wound infection. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The treatment of diabetic wound infection presents two major challenges: the diminished antibacterial efficacy arising from biofilm formation and bacterial resistance, as well as the inadequate transition of the wound microenvironment from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory states after bacterial clearance. In this work, a biomineralized iron sulfide nanocomposite was prepared to mediate cascade catalytic (ROS storm) / antibiotic (AZM) / gas (H2S) triple-synergetic antibacterial therapy during the initial stage of bacterial infection, achieving the goal of rapid bactericidal effect; Subsequently, the residual H2S and long half-life AZM would inhibit the key pro-inflammatory transcription factors and promote the macrophages polarization to reparative M2, which effectively mediated tissue repair after hyperinflammatory reactions, leading to orderly treatment of hyperglycemic infected wounds.

Predicting acupuncture efficacy for major depressive disorder using baseline clinical variables: A machine learning study.

Acupuncture is a viable treatment option for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, its effectiveness varies among patients. This study aimed to develop a model to predict the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for MDD using machine learning and baseline clinical variables. A total of 124 patients with MDD from five research centers were included in our machine learning study. All patients underwent acupuncture treatment for 6 weeks and the efficacy of the treatment was evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17). The max-relevance and min-redundancy (mRMR) algorithm and Pearson correlation analysis were used for selecting 11 significant features from 26 baseline clinical variables for model training. We compared the performance of five machine learning models, including logistic regression, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbor, random forest, and XgBoost, in predicting the effect of acupuncture in relieving major depression. Among the five models, XgBoost performed the best with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.835, an accuracy of 0.730, a sensitivity of 0.670, a specificity of 0.774, and an F1 score of 0.751. The key predictive variables identified were anxiety score in the self-rating depression scale (SDS), the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome of deficiency in both heart and spleen, and body mass index (BMI). The study demonstrates that the developed model can help physicians predict the patients who will benefit from acupuncture treatment, which is of positive significance for improving the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on MDD.

Electroacupuncture alleviated depression-like behaviors in ventromedial prefrontal cortex of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced rats: Increasing synaptic transmission and phosphorylating dopamine transporter.

AIMS: Electroacupuncture (EA) shows advantages in both clinical practice and depression animal models. Dopaminergic-related dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may be a hidden antidepressant mechanism of EA, where dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an essential role. This study aimed to investigate the synaptic transmission and DAT-related changes of EA in depression. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 3-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The successfully modeled rats were then randomly and equally assigned to CUMS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and EA or SSRI + EA groups, followed by a 2-week treatment respectively. After monitoring body weight and behavioral tests of all rats, the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) tissue was collected for electrophysiology and the expression detection of DAT, phosphorylated DAT (p-DAT), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), and trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). RESULTS: Depressive-like behaviors induced by CUMS were alleviated by EA, SSRI, and SSRI + EA treatments through behavioral tests. Compared with CUMS group, EA improved synaptic transmission in vmPFC by upregulating spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents amplitude. Molecularly, EA reversed the increased total DAT and p-DAT expression as well as the decreased ratio of p-DAT/total DAT along with the activation of TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA in vmPFC. CONCLUSION: We speculated that the antidepressant effect of EA was associated with enhanced synaptic transmission in vmPFC, and the upregulated phosphorylation of DAT relevant to TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA may be the potential mechanism.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture in assisting postoperative healing of distal radius fractures: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Manual reduction and surgical treatment are common methods for distal radius fractures (DRFs). The existing literature suggests that postoperative combined rehabilitation treatment and medication are effective for the healing of DRFs. However, the side effects of these treatments remain to be solved. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively relieve wrist swelling and improve the joint function in patients with DRFs, but more evidence is needed to prove the effectiveness of EA. This trial aims to explore the efficiency and feasibility of combined EA treatment in postoperative treatment of DRFs compared with routine treatment. METHODS: This is a parallel randomized controlled trial. A total of 222 patients diagnosed with moderate DRFs will be recruited and randomly assigned to an EA group or a routine treatment group at a ratio of 1:1. Routine treatment group will receive medication and rehabilitation. Yangxi (LI 5), Yangchi (TE 4), Yanggu (SI 5), Hegu (LI 4), and Taiyuan (LU 9) will be selected in the EA group for intervention three times a week on the basis of routine treatment. Both groups will receive 8 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome will be ulnar positive variance. The secondary outcomes will include radiographic healing rate, bone strength, hemorheological indices, serum biochemical indicators and inflammatory factors, grip strength, wrist swelling score, patient-rated wrist evaluation, disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand, and visual analogue scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, postoperative 3rd day, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 12th weeks. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will help establish a more optimized scheme to treat patients with DRFs. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200062857. Registered on 21 August 2022, www.chictr.org.cn/com/25/showproj.aspx?proj=175567 .

Electroacupuncture as a rapid-onset and safer complementary therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising therapy for depression. However, a comprehensive review of EA for depression is needed. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for depression. Potentially relevant trials and reviews were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception to March 2022. EA alone and combined with other therapy were eligible for inclusion. The severity of depression during and after treatment and the number of adverse events were assessed as outcomes. Risk of bias (ROB) evaluation, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, reporting bias assessment, and GRADE system evaluation were also conducted. Results: Thirty-four trials were included. The overall ROB was medium. Low-quality evidence showed that the efficacy of EA was not less than that of antidepressants [EA + selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)] and manual acupuncture (MA). EA and EA + SSRIs had better efficacy than SSRIs alone in decreasing the severity of depression during the early treatment. Moderate-quality evidence also showed that EA and EA + SSRIs were safer than SSRIs alone. Sensitivity analysis was mostly not feasible. Major publication bias was unlikely. Conclusion: These results indicate that the efficacy of EA is not less than that of antidepressants and MA. Moreover, EA and EA + SSRI treatments show a more rapid onset and greater safety than SSRIs. More high-quality trials are needed for further confirmation. Systematic review registration: [www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?RecordID=329143], identifier [CRD42022329143].

Quality Improvement of Zhayu, a Fermented Fish Product in China: Effects of Inoculated Fermentation with Three Kinds of Lactic Acid Bacteria.

To investigate the effects of inoculation fermentation on the quality of Zhayu (a traditional fermented fish product in China), different amounts of L. plantarum, P. acidilactici, and P. pentosaceus were inoculated into samples, and the safety, nutritional, textural, and flavor properties of the samples were evaluated. Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) decreased pH values and total volatile basic nitrogen content. The addition of 108~109 cfu/100 g LAB significantly increased the content of crude fat and water-soluble proteins in Zhayu. The addition of L. plantarum and P. acidilactici increased the content of soluble solids in Zhayu. Moreover, fermentation with LAB made the products tender and softer, and the samples prepared with 109 cfu/100 g LAB presented better overall qualities. Additionally, Zhayu fermented with L. plantarum and P. acidilactici showed the strongest sourness, while the samples prepared with P. pentosaceus showed the strongest umami taste, consistent with the highest contents of Asp (25.1 mg/100 g) and Glu (67.8 mg/100 g). The addition of LAB decreased the relative contents of aliphatic aldehydes, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and 1-octen-3-ol, reducing the earthy and fishy notes. However, LAB enhanced the contents of terpenoids, acids, esters, and S-containing compounds, increasing the sour, pleasant, and unique odors of Zhayu.

The Effectiveness of Tai Chi in Patients With Breast Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

BACKGROUND: As a mind-body exercise, Tai Chi (TC) may have a positive impact on physical function and psychological well-being in patients with breast cancer (BC). The aim of this current overview of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) was to identify and summarize the existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of TC in patients with BC. METHODS: A computerized search of electronic databases was performed to identify relevant SRs/MAs of TC related to BC from inception to June 2020. The Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklists were used to assess the methodological quality and reporting quality of SRs and MAs, respectively. The Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the evidence quality of outcome measures. RESULTS: Six SRs/MAs in which quantitative synthesis was used to assess various outcomes of TC related to BC were included in this overview. The quality of the SRs/MAs and the evidence quality of the outcome measures were generally unsatisfactory. The limitations of the past SRs/MAs were the lack of a protocol and registration, a list of excluded studies, or inadequately reported computational details of meta-analyses. The critical problems were that the qualitative data synthesis relied on the trials with small sample sizes and of critical low quality. CONCLUSIONS: TC is possibly beneficial to BC treatment. However, further rigorous and comprehensive studies are required to provide robust evidence for definitive conclusions.

Electroacupuncture alleviated the depression-like behavior by regulating FGF2 and astrocytes in the hippocampus of rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Studies have shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is a neurotrophic factor associated with depression. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. In the current study, we observed the effects of EA on hippocampal FGF2 and astrocytes, and further investigated the mechanism underlying antidepressant effect of EA. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) method were selected to induce depressive-like behaviors of rats. Paroxetine is a commonly used antidepressant and was used as a positive control drug in this experiment. The male adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized to four experimental groups (normal control group, CUMS group, EA group and paroxetine group, n = 10/group). EA intervention was administered once daily for 14 days at acupuncture points Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29). Rats in the paroxetine group received daily paroxetine administered intragastrical. Behavioral test, immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were conducted to evaluate the intervene effect and the changes of FGF2 and astrocyte marker (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP). The results showed that EA and paroxetine could improve depression-like behavior in CUMS rats, and up-regulated the expression level of FGF2 in the hippocampus, increased GFAP protein expression and the mean optical density of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocyte (GFAP-ir astrocyte). Our findings have identified that EA could ameliorate depressive-like behaviors possibly by regulating the expression of FGF2 in the hippocampus, and the mechanism might be related to the effect of FGF2 on astrocytes.

Dopaminergic signaling in prefrontal cortex contributes to the antidepressant effect of electroacupuncture: An iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis in a rat model of CUMS.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is used as an adjunctive treatment for depression. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of EA in the depressive rat model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in male adult Wistar rats. The underlying mechanisms were explored by using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis of the proteins in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and observing the number of the PFC neurons stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and synaptic morphological changes under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that EA plus paroxetine (EA + Par) for 1 week significantly relieved depression-like anhedonia symptoms and improved anxiety-like behavior, accompanied by the improvements in synaptic morphology and a significant increase of PFC neurons. Moreover, EA or paroxetine alone significantly alleviated anhedonia symptoms after 2 weeks of intervention. Additionally, iTRAQ analysis showed that dopaminergic signaling was significantly altered in CUMS rats after 1 week of EA treatment. As the critical enzyme of this pathway, aromatic-l-amino-acid decarboxylase (DDC) was significantly upregulated after the treatment with EA + Par for 1 week. These findings suggested that the dopaminergic signaling pathway in PFC may be involved in the antidepressant mechanisms of EA.

Sirtuin 6 attenuates angiotensin II-induced vascular adventitial aging in rat aortae by suppressing the NF-κB pathway.

Adventitia-induced vascular remodeling plays an important role in vascular aging. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expression was downregulated in the aortae of aged rats compared with those of young rats. Adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) were isolated and cultured from rat aortae to clarify the relationship between SIRT6 expression and vascular aging. Lentivirus-mediated SIRT6 knockdown promoted the aging phenotype in AFs, affecting proliferation, collagen secretion, migration, and α-smooth muscle actin expression. Moreover, angiotensin II (Ang II) decreased SIRT6 expression, activated the NF-κB pathway, and led to vascular aging. The NF-κB pathway inhibitor BAY 11-7082 reduced Ang II-induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and other effects of Ang II, such as AF proliferation, collagen secretion, and migration. Mechanistically, SIRT6 suppression increased acetyl-NF-κB p65 (Lys310) expression and NF-κB transcriptional activity in SIRT6-knockdown AFs. SIRT6 could directly bind to the p65 subunit and attenuate Ang II-induced NF-κB activation and vascular aging. In summary, this study was the first to correlate SIRT6 expression and adventitia-induced vascular senescence. SIRT6 maybe a biomarker of vascular aging, and activating SIRT6 maybe a therapeutic strategy for delaying vascular aging.

Acupuncture at LR3 and KI3 shows a control effect on essential hypertension and targeted action on cerebral regions related to blood pressure regulation: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture at LR3 and KI3 on hypertension at different time points and on related cerebral regions using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS: We randomly divided 29 subjects into two groups: Group A (receiving acupuncture at LR3 + KI3; 15 subjects) and group B (receiving acupuncture at LR3 and a sham location not corresponding to any traditional acupuncture point; 14 subjects). Acupuncture was performed. Blood pressure (BP) changes were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. We used a 3.0T MRI scanner and standard GE 8 channel head coil to collect whole brain fMRI data in both groups. Data analysis and processing was based on the R2009a MATLAB platform. REST 1.8 software was used to analyze the whole brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). RESULTS: After acupuncture, a statistically significant reduction in BP at different time points was observed in group A. In group B, a statistically significant reduction was found only in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and was not sustained. Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 specifically affected brain areas involved in BP regulation, as well as those involved in auditory sense, speech, vision, movement and sensation. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 showed positive immediate and long-term effects on BP, particularly systolic blood pressure (SBP). After ALFF analysis, we concluded that LR3 + KI3 activates brain areas related to BP regulation. In addition, after acupuncture at LR3 + KI3, a highly targeted effect was observed in brain areas associated with BP. In addition, extracerebral areas involving vision, motion control, cognition and hearing were activated, which could potentially contribute to the mitigation of hypertensive complications in patients in an advanced stage of the disease.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Background: The effects of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease (PD) outcomes remain unclear. The aim of this overview was to comprehensively evaluate the methodological quality and applicability of the results of systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) that examined the use of acupuncture to treat PD. Methods: Eight databases were searched to retrieve SRs/MAs on the use of acupuncture for the treatment of PD. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) checklist to evaluate the methodological quality and using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria to assess the evidence quality of the included reviews. Results: A total of 11 SRs/MAs were included. According to the AMSTAR-2 checklist results, all included SRs/MAs were rated as very-low-quality studies. The GRADE criteria revealed 20 studies with very-low-quality evidence, 9 with low-quality evidence, 3 with moderate-quality evidence, and 0 with high-quality evidence. Descriptive analysis showed that acupuncture appears to be a clinically effective and safe treatment for PD. Conclusions: The use of acupuncture for the treatment of PD may be clinically effective and safe. This conclusion must be interpreted cautiously due to the generally low methodological quality and low quality of evidence of the included studies.

Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Influenza Virus Infection.

Influenza virus infection is a major health care concern associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and cause annual seasonal epidemics and pandemics at irregular intervals. Recent research has highlighted that viral components can be found on the extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from infected cells, implying a functional relevance of EVs with influenza virus dissemination. Therefore, exploring the role of EVs in influenza virus infection has been attracting significant attention. In this review, we will briefly introduce the biogenesis of EVs, and focus on the role of EVs in influenza virus infection, and then discuss the EVs-based influenza vaccines and the limitations of EVs studies, to further enrich and boost the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies to combat influenza virus.

Smart Responsive Nanoformulation for Targeted Delivery of Active Compounds From Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat disorders in China for ~1,000 years. Growing evidence has shown that the active ingredients from TCM have antibacterial, antiproliferative, antioxidant, and apoptosis-inducing features. However, poor solubility and low bioavailability limit clinical application of active compounds from TCM. "Nanoformulations" (NFs) are novel and advanced drug-delivery systems. They show promise for improving the solubility and bioavailability of drugs. In particular, "smart responsive NFs" can respond to the special external and internal stimuli in targeted sites to release loaded drugs, which enables them to control the release of drug within target tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that smart responsive NFs can achieve targeted release of active compounds from TCM at disease sites to increase their concentrations in diseased tissues and reduce the number of adverse effects. Here, we review "internal stimulus-responsive NFs" (based on pH and redox status) and "external stimulus-responsive NFs" (based on light and magnetic fields) and focus on their application for active compounds from TCM against tumors and infectious diseases, to further boost the development of TCM in modern medicine.

Role of Exosomes in Photodynamic Anticancer Therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative treatment for malignancies based on photochemical reaction induced by Photosensitizers (PS) under light irradiation. Recent studies show that PDT caused the abundant release of exosomes from tumor tissues. It is well-known that exosomes as carriers play an important role in cell-cell communication through transporting many kinds of bioactive molecules (e.g. lipids, proteins, mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA). Therefore, to explore the role of exosomes in photodynamic anticancer therapy has been attracting significant attention. In the present paper, we will briefly introduce the basic principle of PDT and exosomes, and focus on discussing the role of exosomes in photodynamic anticancer therapy, to further enrich and boost the development of PDT.