FBP1 inhibits NSCLC stemness by promoting ubiquitination of Notch1 intracellular domain and accelerating degradation.

The existence of cancer stem cells is widely acknowledged as the underlying cause for the challenging curability and high relapse rates observed in various tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite extensive research on numerous therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment, the strategies to effectively combat NSCLC stemness and achieve a definitive cure are still not well defined. The primary objective of this study was to examine the underlying mechanism through which Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), a gluconeogenic enzyme, functions as a tumor suppressor to regulate the stemness of NSCLC. Herein, we showed that overexpression of FBP1 led to a decrease in the proportion of CD133-positive cells, weakened tumorigenicity, and decreased expression of stemness factors. FBP1 inhibited the activation of Notch signaling, while it had no impact on the transcription level of Notch 1 intracellular domain (NICD1). Instead, FBP1 interacted with NICD1 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 to facilitate the degradation of NICD1 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which is independent of the metabolic enzymatic activity of FBP1. The aforementioned studies suggest that targeting the FBP1-FBXW7-NICD1 axis holds promise as a therapeutic approach for addressing the challenges of NSCLC recurrence and drug resistance.

Current status and new experimental diagnostic methods of invasive fungal infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are common and life-threatening complications in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (post-HSCT) recipients, Severe IFIs can lead to systemic infection and organ damage, which results in high mortality in HSCT recipients. With the development of the field of fungal infection diagnosis, more and more advanced non-culture diagnostic tools have been developed, such as glip biosensors, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, Magnetic Nanoparticles and Identified Using SERS via AgNPs+ , and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis. The advanced diagnostic approaches contribute to the success of HSCT and improve the overall survival of post-HSCT leukemia patients by supporting therapeutical decisions. This review provides an overview of the characteristics of two high-incidence IFIs in post-HSCT recipients and discusses some of the recently developed IFI detection technologies. Additionally, it explores the potential application of cationic conjugated polymer fluorescence resonance energy transfer (CCP-FRET) technology for IFI detection. The aim is to offer insights into selecting appropriate IFI detection methods and gaining an understanding of novel fungal diagnostic approaches in laboratory settings.

Structure Engineering of BiSbSx Nanocrystals Embedded within Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Fibers for High Performance of Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are regarded as promising candidates in next-generation energy storage technology; however, the electrode materials in PIBs are usually restricted by the shortcomings of large volume expansion and poor cycling stability stemming from a high resistance towards diffusion and insertion of large-sized K ions. In this study, BiSbSx nanocrystals are rationally integrated with sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) fibres through electrospinning technology with an annealing process. Such a unique structure, in which BiSbSx nanocrystals are embedded inside the SPAN fibre, affords multiple binding sites and a short diffusion length for K+ to realize fast kinetics. In addition, the molecular structure of SPAN features robust chemical interactions for stationary diffluent discharge products. Thus, the electrode demonstrates a superior potassium storage performance with an excellent reversible capacity of 790 mAh g-1 (at 0.1 A g-1 after 50 cycles) and 472 mAh g-1 (at 1 A g-1 after 2000 cycles). It's one of the best performances for metal dichalcogenides anodes for PIBs to date. The unusual performance of the BiSbSx @SPAN composite is attributed to the synergistic effects of the judicious nanostructure engineering of BiSbSx nanocrystals as well as the chemical interaction and confinement of SPAN fibers.

Toward High-Performance Electrochromic Conjugated Polymers: Influence of Local Chemical Environment and Side-Chain Engineering.

Three homologous electrochromic conjugated polymers, each containing an asymmetric building block but decorated with distinct alkyl chains, were designed and synthesized using electrochemical polymerization in this study. The corresponding monomers, namely T610FBTT810, DT6FBT, and DT48FBT, comprise the same backbone structure, i.e., an asymmetric 5-fluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole unit substituted by two thiophene terminals, but were decorated with different types of alkyl chain (hexyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-hexyldecyl, or 2-octyldecyl). The effects of the side-chain structure and asymmetric repeating unit on the optical absorption, electrochemistry, morphology, and electrochromic properties were investigated comparatively. It was found that the electrochromism conjugated polymer, originating from DT6FBT with the shortest and linear alkyl chain, exhibits the best electrochromic performance with a 25% optical contrast ratio and a 0.3 s response time. The flexible electrochromic device of PDT6FBT achieved reversible colors of navy and cyan between the neutral and oxidized states, consistent with the non-device phenomenon. These results demonstrate that subtle modification of the side chain is able to change the electrochromic properties of conjugated polymers.

Dietary carbohydrate intake and insulin traits in individuals after acute pancreatitis: Effect modification by intra-pancreatic fat deposition.

OBJECTIVES: Current knowledge of the link between dietary carbohydrate intake and insulin regulation in individuals after an attack of pancreatitis is limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between dietary carbohydrate intake and insulin traits in post-pancreatitis versus healthy individuals, taking into account intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD). METHODS: All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (using the same protocol and 3T scanner) to quantify IPFD. Dietary carbohydrate intake was assessed using a validated 131-item food frequency questionnaire. Insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-ß were determined in the fasted state. Linear regression and effect modification analyses were conducted in unadjusted and adjusted models (accounting for age, sex, body mass index, daily energy intake, use of anti-diabetic medications, and recurrence of acute pancreatitis). RESULTS: The study included 111 post-pancreatitis individuals (categorized into low IPFD (n = 33), moderate IPFD (n = 40), high IPFD (n = 38)) and 47 healthy controls. In the high IPFD group, starch intake was negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA-ß in both the unadjusted (p < 0.001 both) and fully adjusted models (p < 0.001 both); and with HOMA-IR in the fully adjusted model (p < 0.001) only. Total sugar intake was positively associated with fasting insulin (p = 0.015) and HOMA-ß (p = 0.007) in the fully adjusted model but not associated with HOMA-IR. None of the above associations was statistically significant in the low IPFD, moderate IPFD, and healthy controls groups. The studied associations were more pronounced in the high IPFD group but not in the moderate IPFD or low IPFD groups (when compared with the healthy controls group). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary carbohydrate intake is differentially associated with insulin traits in individuals after an attack of pancreatitis and the associations are modified by IPFD. These findings will be helpful for the development of dietary guidelines specifically for individuals after an attack of pancreatitis.

Nanocomposites with Three-Dimensional Architecture and Impact on Photovoltaic Effect.

We demonstrate the synthesis of self-assembled three-dimensional nanocomposite thin films consisting of NiO nanocolumns in an layered Aurivillius phase matrix. The structures were grown on single-crystal SrTiO3 substrates via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with single ceramic (PbTiO3)x(BiNi2/3Nb1/3O3)1-x targets. The nanocolumns, which are about 10 nm in diameter each, extend over the entire film thickness of up to 225 nm. We reveal the difference in electrical conduction properties of the nanocolumns and the surrounding matrix on the nanoscale via conductive atomic force microscopy. The nanocomposite thin films exhibit improved photovoltaic performance compared to both pure PbTiO3 and homogeneous Aurivillius phase thin films.

Does heart failure increase the risk of incident cancer? A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Recently, several studies have demonstrated that heart failure (HF) may increase the risk of incident cancer. However, this association has not been statistically and systematically verified by any comprehensive pooled analyses. We performed a meta-analysis on cancer morbidity and co-mortality of adults with HF in a large sample size to explore the relationship between HF and the risk of developing cancer. From inception to April 2019, we searched PubMed and EMBASE for published relevant articles on patients with HF diagnosed with cancer afterwards, with reported outcomes of morbidity and mortality. Two investigators independently reviewed these included studies. Study data were independently extracted using predefined data extraction forms. Random and fixed-effects models were fit for the study duration. This analysis consisted of 4 cohort studies comprising 5,004,251 participants. The relative risk (RR) for incident cancer was 1.22 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-1.33) indicating that patients with HF may have a higher risk of developing cancer. The pooled RR of co-mortality was 2.03 (95% CI, 1.13-3.65), indicating that HF associated with cancer increases the risk of mortality. In this meta-analysis and systematic review, our results demonstrated that heart failure may increase the risk of incident cancer and that HF associated with cancer increases the risk of mortality.

Role of cardioprotective agents on chemotherapy-induced heart failure: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Although previous clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have tested the effect of a variety of cardioprotective agents on cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity, the number of included patients was limited, and the results remained controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the preventive or therapeutic effects of cardioprotective agents on heart failure (HF) caused by cardiotoxicity induced by cancer therapy. METHODS: We included trials of the following cardioprotective drugs: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists and stains. We extracted the relevant information with predefined data extraction forms, and assessed the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The primary outcome was the left ventricular ejection fraction of patients after chemotherapy. We used the random-effects model to carry out pair-wise meta-analysis, and then carry out the random-effects network meta-analysis within the Bayesian framework. RESULTS: Twenty-two relevant RCTs, including 1 916 patients (79.6 % women) with a mean age of 48.4 years, were included. Based on the evaluation of all drug species from 20 studies (26 comparisons), the analysis found that 4 therapies, aldosterone antagonists (MD, 12.78 [95 % CI, 2.87-22.69] and MD, 13.75 [95 % CI, 2.21-25.30]), ACEIs (MD, 6.79 [95 % CI, 2.11-11.48] and MD, 7.76 [95 % CI, 2.64-12.88]), statin (MD, 8.35 [95 % CI, 1.11-15.59]), and beta-blockers (MD, 4.00 [95 % CI, 0.87-7.14]), had a higher efficacy than placebo and/or control, suggesting an LVEF protective effect of cardioprotective therapy. In the analysis classified by single drug or drug combination, based on 22 studies (31 comparisons), spironolactone (MD, 12.77 [95 % CI, 1.76-23.79] and MD, 14.62 [95 % CI, 1.70-27.55]), a combination of candesartan and carvedilol (MD, 12.40 [95 % CI, 0.99-23.81]), enalapril (MD, 7.35 [95 % CI, 1.16-13.54] and MD, 9.20 [95 % CI, 2.61-15.79]), and statin (MD, 8.36 [95 % CI, 0.36-16.36]) showed significant benefits in protecting left ventricular (LV) systolic function compared with the placebo and/or control. CONCLUSION: When classified according to drug type, aldosterone antagonists, ACEIs, statins, and beta-blockers could substantially improve the LV systolic function. In the analysis classified by single drug or drug combination, spironolactone, enalapril, and statin have a significant cardioprotective effect. However, ARBs have no cardioprotective effect and fail to improve the LVEF.

Cardiac injury associated with severe disease or ICU admission and death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac injury is now a common complication of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but it remains unclear whether cardiac injury-related biomarkers can be independent predictors of mortality and severe disease development or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: Two investigators searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, MedRxiv, and ChinaXiv databases for articles published through March 30, 2020. Retrospective studies assessing the relationship between the prognosis of COVID-19 patients and levels of troponin I (TnI) and other cardiac injury biomarkers (creatine kinase [CK], CK myocardial band [CK-MB], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were included. The data were extracted independently by two investigators. RESULTS: The analysis included 23 studies with 4631 total individuals. The proportions of severe disease, ICU admission, or death among patients with non-elevated TnI (or troponin T [TnT]), and those with elevated TnI (or TnT) were 12.0% and 64.5%, 11.8% and 56.0%, and 8.2% and. 59.3%, respectively. Patients with elevated TnI levels had significantly higher risks of severe disease, ICU admission, and death (RR 5.57, 95% CI 3.04 to 10.22, P < 0.001; RR 6.20, 95% CI 2.52 to 15.29, P < 0.001; RR 5.64, 95% CI 2.69 to 11.83, P < 0.001). Patients with an elevated CK level were at significantly increased risk of severe disease or ICU admission (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.61, P < 0.001). Patients with elevated CK-MB levels were at a higher risk of developing severe disease or requiring ICU admission (RR 3.24, 95% CI 1.66 to 6.34, P = 0.001). Patients with newly occurring arrhythmias were at higher risk of developing severe disease or requiring ICU admission (RR 13.09, 95% CI 7.00 to 24.47, P < 0.001). An elevated IL-6 level was associated with a higher risk of developing severe disease, requiring ICU admission, or death. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients with elevated TnI levels are at significantly higher risk of severe disease, ICU admission, and death. Elevated CK, CK-MB, LDH, and IL-6 levels and emerging arrhythmia are associated with the development of severe disease and need for ICU admission, and the mortality is significantly higher in patients with elevated LDH and IL-6 levels.

Global Temperature Sensing for an Operating Power Transformer Based on Raman Scattering.

Traditional monitoring methods cannot obtain the overall thermal information for power transformers. To solve this problem, a distributed fiber optic sensor (DFOS) was creatively applied inside an operating 35 kV power transformer by highly integrating with the electromagnetic wires. Then, the transformer prototype with totally global sensing capability was successfully developed and it was qualified for power grid application through the strict ex-factory tests. The as designed optical fiber sensor works stably all the time with a temperature accuracy of ±0.2 °C and spatial positioning accuracy of 0.8 m. Based on the obtained internal temperature distribution, Gaussian convolution was further applied for the signal processing and hereby, the hotspots for all the windings and iron cores could be accurately traced. The hottest points were located at 89.1% (55 °C) of the high voltage winding height and 89.7% (77.5 °C) of the low voltage winding height. The actual precise hotspot location corrected the traditional cognition on the transformer windings and it would serve as an essential reference for the manufactures. This new nondestructive internal sensing and condition monitoring method also exhibits a promising future for the DFOS applying in the high-voltage electrical apparatus industry.

Facile Synthesis of Ultra-Small Few-Layer Nanostructured MoSe2 Embedded on N, P Co-Doped Bio-Carbon for High-Performance Half/Full Sodium-Ion and Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium/potassium-ion batteries (SIBs/PIBs) arouse intensive interest on account of the natural abundance of sodium/potassium resources, the competitive cost and appropriate redox potential. Nevertheless, the huge challenge for SIBs/PIBs lies in the scarcity of an anode material with high capacity and stable structure, which are capable of accommodating large-size ions during cycling. Furthermore, using sustainable natural biomass to fabricate electrodes for energy storage applications is a hot topic. Herein, an ultra-small few-layer nanostructured MoSe2 embedded on N, P co-doped bio-carbon is reported, which is synthesized by using chlorella as the adsorbent and precursor. As a consequence, the MoSe2 /NP-C-2 composite represents exceedingly impressive electrochemical performance for both sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). It displays a promising reversible capacity (523 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 after 100 cycles) and impressive long-term cycling performance (192 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 even after 1000 cycles) in SIBs, which are some of the best properties of MoSe2 -based anode materials for SIBs to date. To further probe the great potential applications, full SIBs pairing the MoSe2 /NP-C-2 composite anode with a Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 cathode also exhibits a satisfactory capacity of 215 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g-1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, it also delivers a decent reversible capacity of 131 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 even after 250 cycles for PIBs.

The stability of fixed points for a Kuramoto model with Hebbian interactions.

We consider a variation of the Kuramoto model with dynamic coupling, where the coupling strengths are allowed to evolve in response to the phase difference between the oscillators, a model first considered by Ha, Noh, and Park. We demonstrate that the fixed points of this model, as well as their stability, can be completely expressed in terms of the fixed points and stability of the analogous classical Kuramoto problem where the coupling strengths are fixed to a constant (the same for all edges). In particular, for the "all-to-all" network, where the underlying graph is the complete graph, the problem reduces to the problem of understanding the fixed points and stability of the all-to-all Kuramoto model with equal edge weights, a problem that is well understood.

On revenue maximization for selling multiple independently distributed items.

Consider the revenue-maximizing problem in which a single seller wants to sell k different items to a single buyer, who has independently distributed values for the items with additive valuation. The k = 1 case was completely resolved by Myerson's classical work in 1981, whereas for larger k the problem has been the subject of much research efforts ever since. Recently, Hart and Nisan analyzed two simple mechanisms: selling the items separately, or selling them as a single bundle. They showed that selling separately guarantees at least a c/log2 k fraction of the optimal revenue; and for identically distributed items, bundling yields at least a c/log k fraction of the optimal revenue. In this paper, we prove that selling separately guarantees at least c/log k fraction of the optimal revenue, whereas for identically distributed items, bundling yields at least a constant fraction of the optimal revenue. These bounds are tight (up to a constant factor), settling the open questions raised by Hart and Nisan. The results are valid for arbitrary probability distributions without restrictions. Our results also have implications on other interesting issues, such as monotonicity and randomization of selling mechanisms.

Dietary Fibre for the Prevention of Post-Pancreatitis Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of the Literature and Future Research Directions.

Post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus-the most common sequela of pancreatitis-leads to poorer glycaemic control compared with type 2 diabetes. Because post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus is an exemplar of secondary diabetes (with a clear underlying cause), much post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus is preventable or treatable early. Earlier literature established the important role of dietary fibre in reducing plasma glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The present review benchmarks available evidence on the role of habitual dietary fibre intake in pancreatitis and post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus. It also paves the way for future research on the use of dietary fibre in the post-pancreatitis setting.

Identification of hub glutamine metabolism-associated genes and immune characteristics in pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe complication of unclear pathogenesis associated with pregnancy. This research aimed to elucidate the properties of immune cell infiltration and potential biomarkers of PE based on bioinformatics analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two PE datasets were imported from the Gene ExpressioOmnibus (GEO) and screened to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Significant module genes were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). DEGs that interacted with key module genes (GLu-DEGs) were analyzed further by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. The diagnostic value of the genes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using GeneMANIA, and GSVA analysis was performed using the MSigDB database. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the TISIDB database, and StarBase and Cytoscape were used to construct an RBP-mRNA network. The identified hub genes were validated in two independent datasets. For further confirmation, placental tissue from healthy pregnant women and women with PE were collected and analyzed using both RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A total of seven GLu-DEGs were obtained and were found to be involved in pathways associated with the transport of sulfur compounds, PPAR signaling, and energy metabolism, shown by GO and KEGG analyses. GSVA indicated significant increases in adipocytokine signaling. Furthermore, single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) indicated that the levels of activated B cells and T follicular helper cells were significantly increased in the PE group and were negatively correlated with GLu-DEGs, suggesting their potential importance. CONCLUSION: In summary, the results showed a correlation between glutamine metabolism and immune cells, providing new insights into the understandingPE pathogenesis and furnishing evidence for future advances in the treatment of this disease.

A Retrospective Cohort Study on Treponema pallidum Infection: Clinical Trends and Treatment Outcomes for Congenital Syphilis in Guangxi, China (2013-2023).

Background: Syphilis, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, poses severe risks, especially during pregnancy. This study aimed to elucidate the trends and impacts of syphilis in Guangxi, China, focusing on prevalence, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes in pregnant women and newborns. The objectives included understanding the demographic characteristics of affected pregnant women, analysing the clinical manifestations in newborns, and assessing the effectiveness of the treatment protocol. Methods: Conducted in adherence to ethical guidelines, a retrospective cohort study from January 2013 to December 2023 included 54,048 pregnant women tested for T. pallidum. Diagnosis involved a comprehensive approach, utilizing tests like the Toluidine Red Unheated Serum Test (TRUST) and the Treponema pallidum Particle Agglutination (TPPA) assay. Infant diagnosis and clinical manifestations were evaluated through a decade-long follow-up. Treatment protocols, including Benzathine penicillin, were implemented. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4. Results: Among 54,048 pregnant women, 0.10% were syphilis positive, correlating with a rise in hospitalizations. Newborns exhibited varied clinical manifestations, with neonatal pneumonia and jaundice being prevalent. The treatment protocol, especially with Benzathine penicillin, achieved a remarkable 100% cure success rate. The study noted a significant reduction in mother-to-child transmission. Syphilis in mothers and babies was diagnosed at different clinical stages, including primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Conclusion: This study underscores the escalating impact of syphilis on pregnant women and newborns in Guangxi, China. The findings highlight the necessity for robust preventive measures, early diagnosis, and effective treatment strategies. The observed 100% cure success rate with Benzathine penicillin emphasizes the importance of strict treatment protocols in mitigating the adverse effects of congenital syphilis and reducing its transmission.

Therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on COVID-19 aggravation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation on Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) aggravation remain controversial and inconclusive. To probe into this contentious issue, we performed the present meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: Literature published up to June 2023 was retrieved from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. RCTs assessing mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation (MV), length of hospitalization (LOH), and inflammatory markers containing C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were included. 19 RCTs were involved in the analysis and were conducted subgroup analyses on the baseline COVID-19 severity and vitamin D administration. Results: In the severity subgroup, statistically significant effects in moderate to severe group were observed in ICU admission (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23, 0.80; p = 0.008), MV (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27, 0.72; p = 0.001) and LOH (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.92, -0.06; p = 0.027). In the administration subgroup, effects of ICU admission (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16, 0.97; p = 0.044), MV (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07, 0.46; p = 0.000) and LOH (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.96, -0.04; p = 0.034) were more pronounced in patients supplied with multiple-dose vitamin D than single-dose. Although the result of mortality showed no statistically significant effect, it indicated a reduced trend (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.63, 1.12; p > 0.05). The results of inflammatory markers reached no statistical differences. Conclusion: This meta-analysis revealed that moderate to severe COVID-19 patients supplied with multiple doses of vitamin D were less apt to need ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and have shorter hospital stays.

Effects of aqueous extracts and volatile oils prepared from Huaxiang Anshen decoction on p-chlorophenylalanine-induced insomnia mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Insomnia occurs frequently in modern society, and its common symptoms include difficulty in falling asleep and decreased sleep quality and time, memory, and attention. With the advantages of having few side-effects and reduced drug-dependence, a compound traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription called Huaxiang Anshen Decoction (HAD) has been widely used in clinical practice in China mainly for primary insomnia treatment. Although the effects of volatile oils from TCM herbs have been increasingly reported, volatile oils in HAD are conventionally neglected because of its preparation process and clinical usage. Therefore, exploring the anti-insomnia effects of volatile oils from HAD is of great importance. AIM OF THE STUDY: The sedative and hypnotic effects of the conventional aqueous extracts, the volatile oils from HAD, and their combinations were investigated. METHODS: The main components in HAD volatile oils (HAD-Oils), were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The HAD volatile oil inclusion complex (HAD-OIC) was prepared with ß-cyclodextrin, and characterized. P-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) was used to induce insomnia mice model and the test groups of HAD aqueous extract (HAD-AE), HAD-OIC and their combination (AE-OIC). An open field test was used in evaluating the mice's activities, and the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in mice sera, glutamate (Glu) in the hypothalamus, and γ-aminobutyric acid (γ-GABA) and dopamine (DA) in the brain tissues were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: A total 74 components in HAD-Oil were determined by GC/MS, and cyperenone (20.46%) and α-cyperone (10.39%) had the highest relative content. The characterization results of the physical phase showed that volatile oils were successfully encapsulated by ß-cyclodextrin and HAD-OIC was produced. The average encapsulation rates of cyperenone and α-cyperone were 79.93% and 71.96%, respectively. The results of pharmacology study showed that all the test groups increased the body weight and decreased voluntary activity when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The HAD-AE, HAD-OIC, and AE-OIC groups increased the levels of 5-HT in the sera and DA and Glu/γ-GABA in the brains, and AE-OIC groups showed better performance than the other test groups. CONCLUSIONS: HAD-Oil exerts sedative and hypnotic effects, which are increased when it is used with HAD-AEs. This result provides a favorable experimental evidence that volatile oils should be retained for the further development of HAD.

Effect of Tai Chi vs Aerobic Exercise on Blood Pressure in Patients With Prehypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Prehypertension increases the risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Early and effective intervention for patients with prehypertension is highly important. Objective: To assess the efficacy of Tai Chi vs aerobic exercise in patients with prehypertension. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted between July 25, 2019, and January 24, 2022, at 2 tertiary public hospitals in China. Participants included 342 adults aged 18 to 65 years with prehypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120 to 139 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) of 80 to 89 mm Hg. Interventions: Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a Tai Chi group (n = 173) or an aerobic exercise group (n = 169). Both groups performed four 60-minute supervised sessions per week for 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was SBP at 12 months obtained in the office setting. Secondary outcomes included SBP at 6 months and DBP at 6 and 12 months obtained in the office setting and 24-hour ambulatory BP at 12 months. Results: Of the 1189 patients screened, 342 (mean [SD] age, 49.3 [11.9] years; 166 men [48.5%] and 176 women [51.5%]) were randomized to 1 of 2 intervention groups: 173 to Tai Chi and 169 to aerobic exercise. At 12 months, the change in office SBP was significantly different between groups by -2.40 (95% CI, -4.39 to -0.41) mm Hg (P = .02), with a mean (SD) change of -7.01 (10.12) mm Hg in the Tai Chi group vs -4.61 (8.47) mm Hg in the aerobic exercise group. The analysis of office SBP at 6 months yielded similar results (-2.31 [95% CI, -3.94 to -0.67] mm Hg; P = .006). Additionally, 24-hour ambulatory SBP (-2.16 [95% CI, -3.84 to -0.47] mm Hg; P = .01) and nighttime ambulatory SBP (-4.08 [95% CI, -6.59 to -1.57] mm Hg; P = .002) were significantly reduced in the Tai Chi group compared with the aerobic exercise group. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study including patients with prehypertension, a 12-month Tai Chi intervention was more effective than aerobic exercise in reducing SBP. These findings suggest that Tai Chi may help promote the prevention of cardiovascular disease in populations with prehypertension. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR1900024368.