Network meta-analysis comparing the clinical outcomes and safety of robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection for rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective: To methodically assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of robot-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (RTME), laparoscopic-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (laTME), and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection (taTME). Methods: A computer search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases to identify English-language reports published between January 2017 and January 2022 that compared the clinical efficacy of the three surgical procedures of RTME, laTME, and taTME. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the NOS and JADAD scales for retrospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, respectively. Direct meta-analysis and reticulated meta-analysis were performed using Review Manager software and R software, respectively. Results: Twenty-nine publications comprising 8,339 patients with rectal cancer were ultimately included. The direct meta-analysis indicated that the length of hospital stay was longer after RTME than after taTME, whereas according to the reticulated meta-analysis the length of hospital stay was shorter after taTME than after laTME (MD=-0.86, 95%CI: -1.70 to -0.096, P=0.036). Moreover, the incidence of anastomotic leak was lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.91, P=0.018). The incidence of intestinal obstruction was also lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.94, P=0.037). All of these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the three surgical procedures regarding the number of lymph nodes cleared, length of the inferior rectal margin, or rate of positive circumferential margins (all P>0.05). An inconsistency test using nodal analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the results of direct and indirect comparisons of the six outcome indicators (all P>0.05). Furthermore, we detected no significant overall inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence. Conclusion: taTME has advantages over RTME and laTME, in terms of radical and surgical short-term outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

β -Glucan Improves Protective Qi Status in Adults with Protective Qi Deficiency-A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, and Double-Blinded Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To test the hypothesis that β -glucan enhances protective qi (PQi), an important Chinese medicine (CM) concept which stipulates that a protective force circulates throughout the body surface and works as the first line of defense against "external pernicious influences".@*METHODS@#A total of 138 participants with PQi deficiency (PQD) were randomized to receive β -glucan (200 mg daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. Participants' PQi status was assessed every 2 weeks via conventional diagnosis and a standardized protocol from which a PQD severity and risk score was derived. Indices of participants' immune and general health status were also monitored, including upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), saliva secretory IgA (sIgA), and self-reported measures of physical and mental health (PROMIS).@*RESULTS@#PQi status was not significantly different between the β -glucan and placebo treatment groups at baseline but improved significantly in the β -glucan (vs. placebo) group in a time-dependent manner. The intergroup differences [95% confidence interval (CI)] in severity score (scale: 1-5), risk score (scale: 0-1), and proportion of PQD participants (%) at finish line was 0.49 (0.35-0.62), 0.48 (0.35-0.61), and 0.36 (0.25-0.47), respectively. Additionally, β -glucan improved URTI symptom (scale: 1-9) and PROMIS physical (scale: 16.2-67.7) and mental (scale: 21.2-67.6) scores by a magnitude (95% CI) of 1.0 (0.21-1.86), 5.7 (2.33-9.07), and 3.0 (20.37-6.37), respectively, over placebo.@*CONCLUSIONS@#β -glucan ameliorates PQi in PQD individuals. By using stringent evidence-based methodologies, our study demonstrated that Western medicine-derived remedies, such as β -glucan, can be employed to advance CM therapeutics. (ClinicalTrial.Gov registry: NCT03782974).

Progressive psychomotor regression for 2.5 years in a boy aged 5 years / 中国当代儿科杂志

A boy, aged 5 years, attended the hospital due to progressive psychomotor regression for 2.5 years. Motor function regression was the main manifestation in the early stage, and brain MRI and whole-exome sequencing (WES) of the family showed no abnormalities. After the age of 4 years and 9 months, the boy developed cognitive function regression, and brain MRI showed cerebellar atrophy. The reanalysis of WES results revealed a compound heterozygous mutation, [NM_000520, c.784C>T(p.His262Tyr]), c.1412C>T(p.Pro471Leu)], in the HEXA gene. The enzyme activity detection showed a significant reduction in the level of β-hexosaminidase encoded by this gene. The boy was diagnosed with juvenile Tay-Sachs disease (TSD). TSD has strong clinical heterogeneity, and cerebellar atrophy may be an important clue for the diagnosis of juvenile TSD. The reanalysis of genetic data when appropriate based on disease evolution may improve the positive rate of WES.

Dynamic variations of thyroid function and risk factors for hypothyroidism and delayed thyroid stimulating hormone elevation in late preterm infants / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the dynamic changes of thyroid function and risk factors of hypothyroidism and delayed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) elevation in late preterm infants.Methods:This study retrospectively recruited 782 late preterm infants admitted to Nanjing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital and performed thyroid function monitoring from January 2017 and December 2019. Thyroid function test was performed in all cases at 4-7 d after birth and repeated at 2-4 weeks of age for those with normal results or two weeks after the first test for those with abnormal. The test would be continued if the second test was abnormal and stopped until the thyroid function became normal or hypothyroidism was diagnosed, based on which, these infants were divided into hypothyroidism ( n=11) and non-hypothyroidism groups ( n=771), or delayed TSH elevation ( n=71) and normal thyroid function groups ( n=450). The characteristics of thyroid hormone changes and perinatal data were compared between different groups using two independent sample t-test and Chi-square test, and risk factors of hypothyroidism and delayed TSH elevation were analyzed using logistic regression tests. Results:(1) Dynamic changes of thyroid function: among these 782 late preterm infants, five infants were found with transient hypothyroxinemia at the first test, and became normal at the second test; 249 (31.8%) exhibited hyperthyrotropinemia, and four of them were diagnosed with hypothyroidism based on the second and the third results; 71(9.1%) with delayed TSH elevation all became normal later; 11(1.4%) were diagnosed with hypothyroidism and treated with thyroxine, among which, seven cases were diagnosed at the first test, three at the second test and one at the third test. (2) Risk factors for hypothyroidism: lower birth weight was noted for infants with hypothyroidism compared with those without [(2 140.9±455.1) vs (2 464.1±474.0) g, t=-2.247, P=0.025]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that for every one gram reduction in birth weight, the risk of hypothyroidism elevated by 0.002 times ( OR=1.002, 95% CI: 1.000-1.004, P=0.045). (3) Risk factors for delayed TSH elevation: the birth weight was lower [(2 395.4±420.9) vs (2 523.6±462.3) g, t=-2.200, P=0.028], and the proportion of small for gestational age and twin pregnancy were higher in the delayed TSH elevation group than those in the normal thyroid function group [15.5% (11/71) vs 7.1% (32/450), χ2=5.690, P=0.017; 29.6% (21/71) vs 18.7% (84/450), χ2=4.537, P=0.033]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that small for gestational age ( OR=4.366, 95% CI: 1.649-11.564, P=0.003) and twin pregnancy ( OR=1.943, 95% CI: 1.048-3.600, P=0.035) were independent risk factors for delayed TSH elevation. Conclusions:Late preterm infants have a high incidence of different kinds of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid function monitoring is necessary for late preterm infants because those with lower birth weight are more susceptible to develop hypothyroidism, and those small for gestational age infants and twins are more susceptible to develop delayed TSH elevation.

Proof-of-Concept and Feasibility Study to Evaluate the Effect of β-Glucan on Protective Qi Deficiency in Adults / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To preliminarily explore the potential effect of β-glucan on Chinese medicine (CM) concept protective qi deficiency (PQD), and the methodology for future definitive studies.@*METHODS@#To have a standardized assessment of PQD, a list of 13 potentially PQD-relevant parameters were firstly created, each with defined quantitative or categorial scales. Using the data from 37 participants with (21 cases) or without (16 cases) PQD, multivariate logistic modeling was conducted to create a preliminary diagnostic PQD risk score. Subsequently, 21 participants diagnosed with PQD were treated with β-glucan in a dose of 200 mg/day for 8 weeks. Data were collected for trial acceptability measures (rate of recruitment, withdrawal, and compliance), and the participants were assessed for PQD status at baseline and every 2 weeks thereafter.@*RESULTS@#The preliminary logistic model consisted of 3 parameters (low voice and apathy, aversion to wind and cold, and Cun pulse). The resulting risk score demonstrated a degree of PQD-predicting accuracy that, as evaluated by statistical (discrimination and classification) methods, was higher than those obtained from any of the individual candidate parameters. The 21 PQD participants treated with β-glucan demonstrated good receptibility and a time-dependent improvement in PQD status as evidenced by the decrease of PQD participant to 9.5% at the end of study.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study demonstrated the effect of proof-of-concept of β-glucan on improving PQD and the proof-of-concept of a multivariate-model-derived diagnostic PQD risk score. It also indicated feasibility for future definitive studies. Studies like this embody an innovative approach that uses therapies derived from the mainstream biomedicine to enrich therapeutics guided by CM principle. (Trial registration No. NCT03829228).

Fever for 2 months and disturbance of consciousness for 1 week in a preschool-aged girl / 中国当代儿科杂志

Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation syndrome (ROHHADS) is a rare multi-system disease, and delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to catastrophic cardiopulmonary complications. As far as we know, no patient with ROHHADS has been reported in China, and this article reports a child with ROHHADS to improve the awareness of this disease among clinicians. A girl, aged 3 years, had the clinical manifestations of rapid weight gain, fever, disturbance of consciousness, and convulsion. The physical examination showed a body weight of 20 kg, somnolence, irregular breathing, and stiff neck. She had increased blood levels of prolactin and follicle-stimulating hormone and hyponatremia. The lumbar puncture showed an increased intracranial pressure. The brain MRI and magnetic resonance venography showed symmetrical lesions in the periventricular region and venous thrombosis in the right transverse sinus and the superior sagittal sinus. The sleep monitoring showed hypopnea. The girl was finally diagnosed with ROHHADS and intracranial venous thrombosis. She recovered after symptomatic treatment including decreasing intracranial pressure, anticoagulation, and respiratory support. The possibility of ROHHADS should be considered for patients with unexplained obesity, fever, and hypoventilation, with or without central nervous system symptoms. Early diagnosis and standardized follow-up can improve the prognosis of children with ROHHADS.

Exploring the Key Genes and Pathways of Osteoarthritis in Knee Cartilage in a Rat Model Using Gene Expression Profiling

PURPOSE: To compare differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mediating osteoarthritis (OA) in knee cartilage and in normal knee cartilage in a rat model of OA and to identify their impact on molecular pathways associated with OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A gene expression profile was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Analysis of DEGs was carried out using GEO2R. Enrichment analyses were performed on the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database (http://www.string-db.org/). Subsequently, the regulatory interaction network of OA-associated genes was visualized using Cytoscape software (version 3.4.0; www.cytoscape.org). RESULTS: In the gene expression profile GSE103416, a total of 99 DEGs were identified. Among them, 76 DEGs (76.77%) were overexpressed, and the remaining 23 DEGs (23.23%) were underexpressed. GO and pathway enrichment analyses of target genes were performed. Using gene-gene interaction network analysis, relevant core genes, including MET, UBB, GNAI3, and GNA13, were shown to hold a potential relationship with the development of OA in cartilage. Using quantitative real-time PCR, the Gna13/cGMP-PKG signaling pathway was identified as a potential research target for therapy and for further understanding the development of OA. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of DEGs in knee cartilage in relation to the development of OA.

Analysis on Mechanical Characteristics of Lin’s Lumbar Vertebral Manipulation by Lifting-Rotating and Oblique-Pulling / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the mechanical characteristics of lumbar vertebral manipulation by lifting-rotating and oblique-pulling using multi-film pressure measurement system. Methods Twenty-one male operators were divided into groups of experts, skilled operators and beginners. Everyone completed 7 actions of Lin’s lumbar manipulation continuously, and repeated 3 times. The graphs and data were collected and processed. Results The time-force curve by the experts had regularity. The average pre-load force was (147.25±26.04) N, duration was (0.98±0.20) s, the average minimum force was (79.22±9.50) N, the maximum impact force was (706.26±56.21) N, the flip time was (0.44±0.09) s, and flip speed was (1 666.33±411.91) N/s, the impulse was (310.95±56.67) N·s. The curve graphs and the index by the skilled operators were similar to those by the experts, but the average maximum impact force was (464.51±53.49) N, which was relatively smaller. The curve graphs by the beginners could be broadly divided into three categories. Class Ⅰ was chaotic and unregulated; Class Ⅱ only had impact force and did not have pre-load force, and the maximum impact force varied in size; Class Ⅲ had both impact force and pre-load force, but the forces were relatively small and stable. Conclusions The multi-film pressure measurement system can preferably display the mechanical characteristics of manipulation by lifting-rotating and oblique-pulling, which is an ideal testing tool for quantitative research on mechanical parameters of Lin’s lumbar vertebral manipulation. The experimental results provide a scientific basis for visualization, quantification and standardization of the manipulation.

Human Gut Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer / 基因组蛋白质组与生物信息学报·英文版

Human gut microbiota play an essential role in both healthy and diseased states of humans. In the past decade, the interactions between microorganisms and tumors have attracted much attention in the efforts to understand various features of the complex microbial communities, as well as the possible mechanisms through which the microbiota are involved in cancer prevention, carcinogenesis, and anti-cancer therapy. A large number of studies have indicated that microbial dysbiosis contributes to cancer susceptibility via multiple pathways. Further studies have suggested that the microbiota and their associated metabolites are not only closely related to carcinogenesis by inducing inflammation and immune dysregulation, which lead to genetic instability, but also interfere with the pharmacodynamics of anticancer agents. In this article, we mainly reviewed the influence of gut microbiota on cancers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers) and the regulation of microbiota by diet, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, or the Traditional Chinese Medicine. We also proposed some new strategies in the prevention and treatment of GI cancers that could be explored in the future. We hope that this review could provide a comprehensive overview of the studies on the interactions between the gut microbiota and GI cancers, which are likely to yield translational opportunities to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality by improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Hypertension and intermittent convulsions for one month in a school-age child / 中国当代儿科杂志

Childhood polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare systemic vasculitis and the delayed diagnosis and treatment will cause high incidence of sequelae and high mortality. This article reports a girl with childhood PAN due to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The girl aged ten years was admitted to the hospital due to hypertension and convulsions for one month. She had complaints of headache, vomiting, and blurred vision before convulsions. At six months before admission, a mass was observed in the neck. The physical examination showed that she had hypertension and no abnormal findings in the central nervous system. The brain magnetic resonance imaging manifested long T1 and T2 signals, high signal intensities on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, and iso-signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging in the white matter of the left occipital lobe. Therefore, the cause of convulsions was considered as PRES. Mass biopsy suggested PAN and no findings supported tuberculosis. The right kidney atrophy was observed by ultrasound examination. Emission computed tomography of the kidney showed multiple vascular stenosis and no blood perfusion in the right kidney, so PAN was confirmed. These findings suggest that PAN should be considered in patients with vasculitis who had involvements of multiple systems after excluding common vasculitis, such as Kawasaki disease and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Biopsy and angiography should be performed as early as possible for timely diagnosis and treatment.

A report of two children with fever, headache, and purpura / 中国当代儿科杂志

In this study, two school-aged children had an acute onset in spring and had the manifestations of fever, headache, vomiting, disturbance of consciousness, purpura and ecchymosis, and positive meningeal irritation sign. There were increases in peripheral white blood cells and neutrophils, but reductions in the hemoglobin level and platelet count in the two children. They had a significant increase in C-reactive protein. There were hundreds or thousands of white blood cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, mainly neutrophils. Increased protein contents but normal levels of glucose and chloride in the cerebrospinal fluid were found. Head CT scan showed multiple hematomas in the right cerebellum and both hemispheres in one child. Bone marrow cytology indicated infection in the bone marrow, and both blood culture and bone marrow culture showed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both patients had cardiac murmurs and progressive reductions in the hemoglobin level and platelet count during treatment, and echocardiography showed the formation of vegetation in the aortic valve. Therefore, the patients were diagnosed with infectious endocarditis (IE). Vancomycin was used as the anti-infective therapy based on the results of drug sensitivity test. One child was cured after 6 weeks, and the other child was withdrawn from the treatment and then died. Dynamic monitoring of cardiac murmurs should be performed for children with unexplained fever, and echocardiography should be performed in time to exclude IE. IE should also be considered for children with purulent meningitis and skin and mucosal bleeding which cannot be explained by the reduction in platelet count.

Correlation between family factors and social adaptability of clinical professional postgraduates / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective To explore the influence of family factors on the social adaptability of post-graduate students in clinical medicine, and to provide scientific basis for training medical personnel with high social adaptability. Methods From September to November 2016, using stratified random sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the family environment and social adaptability of 210 clinical professional postgraduates from three grades of a medical college in Xinjiang, the question-naire included the basic situation, family factors and the revised diagnostic questionnaire of social adapt-ability of Professor Zheng Richang. T test, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were carried out by using SPSS 17.0 software package. Results 201 valid questionnaires were returned with an effective recovery rate of 95.71％. The average value of the social adaptability of 201 clinical postgraduates was (17.00±11.12), so social adaptation ability of them was general. There were significant differences in the social adaptation ability of clinical professional master's degree between different genders, grades and working experience (P<0.05). The student was in difference family sources, length of life and father/mother master's degree had statistical significance difference in social adaptation ability (P<0.05). The score of graduate students from rural areas [(19.59±11.77)] was higher than that of urban students [(15.34±10.78)] and and city students (15.14±10.92). The postgraduates who left their homes for more than 10 years scored higher than those whose departure time was less than 10 years. Multi factor analysis found that gender, grade, mother's educa-tion, family sources, the number of home years and whether the work had a major impact on the social adaptability of clinical professionals. Conclusion The family factors of postgraduates in clinical medicine have an influence on their social adjustment ability. From the perspective of family environment, we should carry out the characteristics of intervention education to the students with poor social adaptation ability, in order to constantly improve the level of social adaptability of medical students.

A study on thumb manipulative forces of cervical rotatory and local manipulation during cracking sounds / 实用医学杂志

Objective To measure the thumb manipulative forces of Lin cervical rotation manipulation during cracking sounds,and provide quantitative basis for its inheritance,teaching and learning,promotion and basic research of the manipulation.Methods The thumb manipulative force of Lin cervical rotation manipulation and traditional cervical rotation manipulation during cracking sounds were tested and recorded with a multi-film pressure measurement system.Result There was statistically significant difference between the maximum thumb manipulative force of the hand used frequently and the hand used infrequently (P ＜ 0.05).The maximum thumb manipulative force of Lin cervical rotational manipulation is lower than the traditional cervical rotation manipulation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Whether inIN traditional or Lin cervical rotation manipulation,the maximum thumb manipulative force of the hand used frequently is more than the hand used infrequently.Lin cervical rotation manipulation has better ergonomic characteristics of biological engineering,safer,more low energy consumption practices.

"Digital characteristics of Pulling and Rotating Oblique Pulling Manipulation based on ""manipulation from hand""" / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The researches of Pulling and Rotating Oblique Pulling Manipulation focus on clinical research and biomechanical changes of lumbar functional units, and the mechanical characteristics of manipulation are little reported.OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of the Pulling and Rotating Oblique Pulling Manipulation by digital method, so as to provide quantitative basis for inheritance, teaching and learning, promotion, and basic research of the manipulation.METHODS: The force-time curve and the force of the manipulators were tested and recorded with the multi-point membrane pressure measurement system. The kinetic parameters (the average load force, the average minimum force and the maximum impact force) were shown. The values of = the flip time, flip speed and impulse were measured by the test analysis system.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The average load force was (145.86±34.80) N, duration was (1.43±0.46) s, the average minimum force was (72.24±13.87) N, the maximum impact force was (446.21±143.98) N, the flip time was (0.55±0.15) s, flip speed was (914.52±259.18) N/s, and the impulse was (256.21±82.30) N?s. (2) The rising slope of the impulse was (93.96±6.94), and the falling slope was (-82.70±26.10). (3) To conclude, the characteristics of manipulation from hand are analyzed in views of digitization, which provides an objective evaluation index for Lin's manipulation.

Clinical features of 10 cases with endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis / 中华眼底病杂志

Objective To observe the clinical features and prognosis of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis (EBE).Methods Ten eyes of 10 patients diagnosed with unilateral EBE were retrospectively reviewed,including 7 males and 3 females.The mean age was 57.6± 10.8 years old.Eight patients were with diabetes and 7 of them were diagnosed over 5 years.There were 3 patients with hepatocirrhosis,1 patient with hypertension,and 1 patient with coronary disease.Nine cases had infectious diseases,including liver abscess (7 cases),pulmonary infection (3 cases),erysipelas (1 case) and perianal abscess (1 case).Seven cases had fever history.Culture and drug sensitive tests for aerobic bacteria,anaerobic bacteria and fungal were performed for 9 eyes using vitreous samples from the procedures of vitrectomy and/or intravitreal injection.All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and adjusted for drug use according to microbiological culture and drug sensitivity test results.After the diagnosis was established,vitrectomy combined with lens removal was performed in 5 hours (3 eyes) and 24 hours (5 eyes);Vitreous tamponade of C3F8 (1 eye) and silicone oil (7 eyes) was used;At the end of the operation,0.1 ml vancomycin (1 mg) and 0.1 ml ceftazidime (1 mg) were injected into the vitreous cavity.One eye received intravitreal injection of 0.1 ml vancomycin (1 mg) and 0.1 ml ceftazidime (mg),one eye received evisceration.During the follow up period from 6 to 24 months,visual function,slit lamp and fundus examinations were performed at each office visit.Results All patients complained of blurred vision and 5 patients had ocular pain.The visual acuity was no light perception (3 eyes),light perception (5 eyes);hand motion (1 eye) and 0.1 (1 eye).Corneal edema was found in all 10 eyes;hypopyon in 8 eyes;diffuse vitreous opacity in 10 eyes,including 3 eyes with retinal detachment.For 8 eyes treated by vitrectomy and intravitreal injection,1 eye was eviscerated due to uncontrolled inflammation.The eye treated with intravitreal injection was enucleated for its uncontrolled inflammation.For 9 eyes received vitreous culture and drug testing,8 eyes (88.9％) had positive results,including 5 eyes with Klebsiellar pneumonia,and 1 eye with Staphylococcus aureus,or Streptococcus agalactiae or Enterococcus faecalis respectively.At last office visit,2 eyes were with no light perception;4 eyes were with hand motion;and 1 eye with visual acuity of 0.1.Conclusions Most of the patients with endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis have systemic predisposing factors.Klebsiella pneumoniae is the leading cause of ocular EBE.Vitrectomy combined with intravitreal injection of antibiotics showed efficacy in treating EBE.

Comparative analysis of chemical constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of ethylacetate extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum and its endophytic actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. A0916 / 中国天然药物

The present study investigated the chemical composition of ethylacetate extracts from an endophytic actinomycete Streptomyces sp. A0916 and its host Polygonum cuspidatum. A comparative analysis of the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the extracts was also conducted. 32 compounds of P. cuspidatum and 23 compounds of Streptomyces sp. A0916 were isolated and identified by GC/MS. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts were evaluated using eight microbial strains (3 Gram-positive bacteria, 3 Gram-negative bacteria, and 2 fungi). The Streptomyces sp. A0916 extracts showed a wide range of antimicrobial activities and presented greater antimicrobial effectiveness than the P. cuspidatum extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Streptomyces sp. A0916 extracts against the ampicillin-resistant strain Enterococcus faecium SIIA843 was 32 μg·mL(-1). Furthermore, the extracts had greater antimicrobial effect against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the Streptomyces sp. A0916 extracts was equal to that of the P. cuspidatum extracts. In conclusion, our results suggest that the endophytic actinomycetes of the medicinal plants are an important source of bioactive substances.

Hyperbaric Oxygen and Ginkgo Biloba Extract Ameliorate Cognitive and Memory Impairment via Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Pathway in Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and Ginkgo biloba extract (e.g., EGB 761) were shown to ameliorate cognitive and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the exact mechanism remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of HBO and EGB 761 via the function of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AD rats were induced by injecting β-amyloid 25-35 into the hippocampus. All animals were divided into six groups: Normal, sham, AD model, HBO (2 atmosphere absolute; 60 min/d), EGB 761 (20 mg·kg-1·d-1 ), and HBO/EGB 761 groups. Morris water maze tests were used to assess cognitive, and memory capacities of rats; TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling staining and Western blotting were used to analyze apoptosis and NF-κB pathway-related proteins in hippocampus tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morris water maze tests revealed that EGB 761 and HBO significantly improved the cognitive and memory ability of AD rats. In addition, the protective effect of combinational therapy (HBO/EGB 761) was superior to either HBO or EGB 761 alone. In line, reduced apoptosis with NF-κB pathway activation was observed in hippocampus neurons treated by HBO and EGB 761.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results suggested that HBO and EGB 761 improve cognitive and memory capacity in a rat model of AD. The protective effects are associated with the reduced apoptosis with NF-κB pathway activation in hippocampus neurons.</p>

Transcriptome library construction in whole plant of Erigeron breviscapus stressed by low nitrogen and its sequencing / 中草药

Objective: To explore the genetic background of Erigeron breviscapus, a very important herb, we used the plantlets under low nitrogen and normal condition cultured in vitro as material to construct the transcriptome library, and to sequence the library via next generation sequencing technique. Methods: Modified guanidinium isothiocyanate-CTAB method was used to isolate the total RNA from low nitrogen and normal condition cultured plantlets. The mRNA was enriched from the total RNA and broken into short fragments, and then the cDNA library was established for RNA-Seq. Results: In total, 35.87 million and 25.82 million raw reads were generated from LD and CK libraries via next generation sequencing, respectively. The overall sequencing outputs were over 6 Gb. Among all of the raw reads, more than 98.37% and 98.67% had Phred-like quality scores at Q20 level (an error probability of 1%), respectively. After filtered to remove low quality reads, the high quality sequencing sequence was used for de novo assembling. Unigenes of 101 and 156 pieces with the average length of 768 bp (N50 1 290 bp) were obtained, and the length of 44 908 pieces (about 44.39%) is more than 500 bp. Among 101 and 156 Unigenes, 59 538 (58.86%) showed the significant BLAST hits in the public databases. Many sequences concerning flavanoids bio-synthesis which included PAL, C4H, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, and ANS were obtained from the experiment. Conclusion: Transcriptome information of E. breviscapus has been better preserved, which provides the foundation for the further analysis in genetic-environment interaction and molecular assistant breeding.

Diversity, bioactivities, and metabolic potentials of endophytic actinomycetes isolated from traditional medicinal plants in Sichuan, China / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to determine the taxonomic diversity and metabolic activity of the actinomycetes community, including 13 traditional medicinal plants collected in Sichuan province, China, using multiple approaches such as morphological and molecular identification methods, bioactivity assays, and PCR screening for genes involved in antibiotics biosynthesis. 119 endophytic actinomycetes were recovered; 80 representative strains were chosen for 16S rRNA gene partial sequence analyses, with 66 of them being affiliated to genus Streptomyces and the remaining 14 strains being rare actinomycetes. Antimicrobial tests showed that 12 (15%) of the 80 endophytic actinomycetes displayed inhibitory effects against at least one indicator pathogens, which were all assigned to the genus Streptomyces. In addition, 87.5% and 58.8% of the isolates showed anticancer and anti-diabetic activities, respectively. Meanwhile, the anticancer activities of the isolates negatively correlated with their anti-diabetic activities. Based on the results of PCR screening, five genes, PKS-I, PKS-II, NRPS, ANSA, and oxyB, were detected in 55.0%, 58.8%, 90.0%, 18.8% and 8.8% of the 80 actinomycetes, respectively. In conclusion, the PCR screening method employed in the present study was conducive for screening and selection of potential actinomycetes and predicting potential secondary metabolites, which could overcome the limitations of traditional activity screening models.

Study on the Relationship between Severity of Coronary Artery Lesion and the Level Cystatin C,Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Dismutase of Serum / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To study the correlation between coronary lesion and Cystatin C (CyC),Nitric Oxide (NO)and Super oxide dismutase,accumulate the clinical experience in prevention and diagnose of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)by analy-zing the contents of serum Cystatin C (CyC),Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Dismutase in patients with coronary lesion.Meth-ods According to their severity of coronary artery lesion,all cases were divided into four groups:Normal compared group (40 cases);Simple branch pathological group (44 cases);Double branch pathological group (43 cases):Multi-branch patho-logical group (35 cases).All cases were tested CyC,NO,SOD and hs-CRP in serum.Results The level of CyC and hs-CRP were increased gradually from normal group to multi-branch group.The level of NO and SOD were decreased gradually from normal group to multi-branch group.There were significant differences the levels of CyC,NO,SOD and hs-CRP among the four groups.Coronary lesion Gensini in the CHD patients had significant positive relationship to the level of CyC or hs-CRP respectively (r=0.473,0.429),had significant negative relationship to the level of NO or SOD respectively (r=-0.356, 0.384)(P<0.05).CyC in the CHD patients had significant positive relationship to the level of hs-CRP (r=0.458),had sig-nificant negative relationship to the level of NO or SOD respectively (r=-0.426,0.484,P<0.05).Conclusion By aggra-vation of coronary artery lesion,the level of CyC increased,reduced the contents of NO,SOD,aroused endothelial dysfunc-tion,induced occurrence and aggravation of coronary artery lesion.CyC,NO and SOD play important mark in the assistant diagnosis of the disease.