[Research progress on effect evaluation and application status of acupoint drug delivery].

Acupoint drug delivery is a traditional external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Guided by the meridian and collateral theory in TCM, it applies medications to the skin at acupoints, exerting a dual therapeutic effect by stimulating the acupoints and the conduction of meridians. Acupoint drug delivery is widely used in clinical practice. Different from traditional oral admi-nistration and injection, it absorbs medications through the skin, effectively avoiding the first-pass effect of drugs and the toxic side effects caused by injection. Acupoint selection and transdermal drug absorption are pivotal factors affecting the efficacy of acupoint drug delivery. Recent research on acupoint drug delivery mainly focuses on the evaluation of clinical efficacy, yet the systematic investigations on acupoint selection and pharmacodynamic factors are scarce. This study reviews the mechanism, efficacy evaluation and application status of acupoint drug delivery. It integrates the theory of TCM with modern medicine to explore the mechanism of acupoint drug delivery, evaluate its clinical efficacy, and assess the transdermal penetration in vivo and in vitro. The application status of acupoint drug delivery is also summarized, including the selection of acupoints, application dosage form, application time and the absorption of acupoints. This review aims to offer insights and references for the research, development and clinical application of acupoint drug delivery products.

The efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The intraocular injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) demonstrates significant efficacy in inhibiting the formation of ocular neovascularization in neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (AGVI) is extensively employed for the management of diverse glaucoma types. Objective: To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF combined with AGVI in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. Methods: A thorough search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted across eight databases: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP. The search period was set from the inception of each database until March 2, 2024, to identify RCTs investigating the effectiveness and safety of combining AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy for NVG. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool to evaluate the quality of the literature and performed statistical analysis using Stata 15.0 software. Results: Fourteen RCTs were included in this study. Compared with AGVI alone, the combination of anti-VEGF drugs and AGVI can reduce postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 week [WMD = -4.03, 95% CI (-5.73, -2.34), p < 0.001], 1 month [WMD = -5.39, 95% CI (-7.05, -3.74), p < 0.001], 3 months [WMD = -6.59, 95% CI (-7.85, -5.32), p < 0.001], 6 months [WMD = -4.99, 95% CI (-9.56, -0.43), p = 0.032], and more than 12 months [WMD = -3.86, 95% CI (-6.82, -0.90), p = 0.011], with a higher Effective rate [RR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.18, 1.37), p < 0.001], decreased incidence of postoperative hyphema [RR = 0.24, 95% CI (0.15, 0.39), p < 0.001], reduced use of postoperative antiglaucoma medications [WMD = -0.48, 95% CI (-0.61, -0.35), p < 0.001], and decreased aqueous humor VEGF levels [SMD = -2.84, 95% CI (-4.37, -1.31), p < 0.001]. Conclusion: In comparison to AGVI alone, the combination of AGVI with anti-VEGF therapy has better effects in reducing IOP at various time intervals, diminishing postoperative antiglaucoma medication requirements and reducing aqueous humor VEGF levels. Furthermore, it effectively minimizes the incidence of postoperative hyphema. Nevertheless, due to the variability in the quality of the trials included, further high-quality experiments will be required in the future to substantiate this conclusion. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024519862, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024519862.

Effect of Combined Frequency Stimulation on The Electrophysiology of Granule Neurons in The Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus Area of Hindlimb Unloading Mice / 生物化学与生物物理进展

ObjectiveIn recent years, the negative impact of microgravity on astronauts’ nervous systems has received widespread attention. The repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) technology has shown significant positive effects in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The potential benefits of combined frequency stimulation (CFS) which combines different frequency stimulation patterns in ameliorating neurological dysfunctions induced by the microgravity environment, still require in-depth investigation. Exploring the therapeutic effects and electrophysiological mechanisms of CFS in improving various neurological disorders caused by microgravity holds significant importance for neuroscience and the clinical application of magnetic stimulation. MethodsThis study employed 40 C57BL/6 mice, randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, hindlimb unloading (HU) group, 10 Hz group, 20 Hz group, and combined frequency stimulation (10 Hz+20 Hz, CFS) group. Mice in all groups except the sham group received 14 d of simulated microgravity conditions along with 14 d of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. The effects of CFS on negative emotions and spatial cognitive abilities were assessed through sucrose preference tests and water maze experiments. Finally, patch-clamp techniques were used to record action potentials, resting membrane potentials, and ion channel dynamics of granule neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) region. ResultsCompared to the single-frequency stimulation group, behavioral results indicated that the combined frequency stimulation (10 Hz+20 Hz) significantly improved cognitive impairments and negative emotions in simulated microgravity mice. Electrophysiological experiments revealed a decrease in excitability of granule neurons in the hippocampal DG region after HU manipulation, whereas the combined frequency stimulation notably enhanced neuronal excitability and improved the dynamic characteristics of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels. ConclusionThe repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with combined frequencies (10 Hz+20 Hz) effectively ameliorates cognitive impairments and negative emotions in simulated microgravity mice. This improvement is likely attributed to the influence of combined frequency stimulation on neuronal excitability and the dynamic characteristics of Na+ and K+ channels. Consequently, this study holds the promise to provide a theoretical basis for alleviating cognitive and emotional disorders induced by microgravity environments.

Neuroprotective α-pyrones from Nigrospora oryzae, an endophytic fungus residing in Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

Endophytes coevolve with plant hosts and thus are more probable to acquire the character (in favor) of producing undescribed bioactive metabolites. Consequently, the topic has been intensely investigated for over two decades, but endophytic metabolites with neuroprotective effect remain scarce. The study presents the discovery of eight undescribed (named solanapyrones U-Z and prosolanapyrones A and B) and six known pyrones (solanapyrones A-C and E-G) from the culture of Nigrospora oryzae, an endophytic fungus associated with Taxus chinensis var. mairei. The structures and absolute configurations of undescribed pyrones were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, modified Mosher's method, and induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectrum. Solanapyrones A and B and an undescribed pyrone (solanapyrone U) were demonstrated to be more neuroprotective than clenbuterol in inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) to secret nerve growth factor (NGF). The work updates the pyrone chemodiversity in nature and extends the biofunction repertoire of solanapyrone-related polyketides.

The regulatory roles of Fasciola hepatica GSTO1 protein in inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptosis in murine macrophages.

Fascioliasis, a global zoonotic parasitic disease, is mainly caused by Fasciola hepatica (F. hepatica) parasitizing in the livers of hosts, mainly humans and herbivores. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is one of the important excretory- secretory products (ESPs) from F. hepatica, however, the regulatory roles of its Omega subtype in the immunomodulatory effects remain unknown. Here, we expressed F. hepatica recombinant GSTO1 protein (rGSTO1) in Pichia pastoris and analyzed its antioxidant properties. Then, the interaction between F. hepatica rGSTO1 and RAW264.7 macrophages and its effects on inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis were further explored. The results revealed that GSTO1 of F. hepatica owned the potent ability to resist oxidative stress. F. hepatica rGSTO1 could interact with RAW264.7 macrophages and inhibit its cell viability, furthermore, it may suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α, but promote the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, F. hepatica rGSTO1 may down-regulate the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and increase the expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3, thereby eliciting the apoptosis of macrophages. Notably, F. hepatica rGSTO1 inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen­activated protein kinases (MAPKs p38, ERK and JNK) pathways in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, exerting potent modulatory effects on macrophages. These findings suggested that F. hepatica GSTO1 can modulate the host immune response, which provided new insights into the immune evasion mechanism of F. hepatica infection in host.

A study on the sustainability assessment of China's basic medical insurance fund under the background of population aging-evidence from Shanghai.

Objective: As China's population aging process accelerates, the expenditure of China's basic medical insurance fund for employees may increase significantly, which may threaten the sustainability of China's basic medical insurance fund for employees. This paper aims to forecast the future development of China's basic medical insurance fund for employees in the context of the increasingly severe aging of the population. Methods: This paper taking an empirical study from Shanghai as an example, constructs an actuarial model to analyze the impact of changes in the growth rate of per capita medical expenses due to non-demographic factors and in the population structure on the sustainability of the basic medical insurance fund for employees. Results: Shanghai basic medical insurance fund for employees can achieve the goal of sustainable operation in 2021-2035, with a cumulative balance of 402.150-817.751 billion yuan in 2035. The lower the growth rate of per capita medical expenses brought about by non-demographic factors, the better the sustainable operation of the fund. Conclusion: Shanghai basic medical insurance fund for employees can operate sustainably in the next 15 years, which can further reduce the contribution burden of enterprises, which lays the foundation for improving the basic medical insurance treatment for employees.

Children's internal migration and subjective wellbeing of older parents left behind: Spiritual or financial support?

Introduction: Against the background of population aging and large-scale internal migration, this study uses an ordered logit with two-way fixed effects to examine the effect of children's internal migration on the subjective wellbeing of parents left behind. The study is based on the China Family Panel Studies database. Methods: Data were obtained from CFPS (China Family Panel Studies), and ordered logit with two-way fixed effects was used to test the total effect of children's internal migration on subjective wellbeing of parents left behind, and KHB test was used to separate intergenerational spiritual support and intergenerational financial support to examine the intergenerational support preferences of parents left behind. Results: The results show that children's internal migration has a significant negative effect on the subjective wellbeing of parents left behind, mainly through the reduction of intergenerational spiritual support. Furthermore, intergenerational financial support significantly mitigates this negative effect. There is heterogeneity in the direction of the total wellbeing effect across parents' preferences, as well as in the masking effect of financial support. However, the effect of financial support never fully offsets the effect of spiritual support. Discussion: To cope with the negative effects of children's internal migration on parents, positive measures should be taken to change parental preferences.

Structure-Based Design of 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Inhibitor as a Potential Herbicide for Cotton Fields.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD, EC 1.13.11.27) is one of the most promising herbicide targets for the development of agricultural chemicals owing to its unique mechanism of action in plants. We previously reported on the co-crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana (At) HPPD complexed with methylbenquitrione (MBQ), an inhibitor of HPPD that we previously discovered. Based on this crystal structure, and in an attempt to discover even more effective HPPD-inhibiting herbicides, we designed a family of triketone-quinazoline-2,4-dione derivatives featuring a phenylalkyl group through increasing the interaction between the substituent at the R1 position and the amino acid residues at the active site entrance of AtHPPD. Among the derivatives, 6-(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-ene-1-carbonyl)-1,5-dimethyl-3-(1-phenylethyl)quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (23) was identified as a promising compound. The co-crystal structure of compound 23 with AtHPPD revealed that hydrophobic interactions with Phe392 and Met335, and effective blocking of the conformational deflection of Gln293, as compared with that of the lead compound MBQ, afforded a molecular basis for structural modification. 3-(1-(3-Fluorophenyl)ethyl)-6-(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-ene-1-carbonyl)-1,5-dimethylquinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (31) was confirmed to be the best subnanomolar-range AtHPPD inhibitor (IC50 = 39 nM), making it approximately seven times more potent than MBQ. In addition, the greenhouse experiment showed favorable herbicidal potency for compound 23 with a broad spectrum and acceptable crop selectivity against cotton at the dosage of 30-120 g ai/ha. Thus, compound 23 possessed a promising prospect as a novel HPPD-inhibiting herbicide candidate for cotton fields.

Study on the relationship between intestinal flora analysis and CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To explore the characteristics of intestinal microbiota in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and further explore the relationship between microbiota and CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets and disease activity. Methods:Fecal samples were collected from 96 patients with SLE, and 96 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). The gut microbiota were investigated via 16s rRNA sequencing. Flow cytometry was used to detect peripheral CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells. Indicators of disease activity such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), complement C3 and C4, Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI) for each patient were recorded. Differential abundance analysis was carried out using the edgeR algorithm. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare alpha diversity indices, bacterial abundances, and the F/B ratio between groups. R (version 4.0.1) was used for comparative statistics, and Pearson′s correlation analysis was used to assess the correlations between the relative abundances of bacterial genera and serum levels of ESR, CRP, C3 and C4 in the samples. Results:The alpha estimators of richness (ACE and Chao 1) were significantly reduced in SLE feces samples compared with those of HCs ( P<0.01). Bacterial diversity estimators, including the Shannon ( P<0.01) and Simpson′s ( P<0.01) indices, were also significantly lower in SLE. Significant differences in gut microbiota composition between SLE and HCs were found using the edgeR algorithm. Compared with HC, 24 species of bacteria were significantly different in SLE patients at the genus level ( P<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between CRP and Coprococcus ( r=0.30, P=0.014), C4 and Corynebacterium ( r=0.31, P=0.013) and Faecalibacterium( r=0.25, P=0.048), Hemoglobin and Morganella( r=0.41, P=0.001), as well as SLIDA and Corynebacterium( r=0.25, P=0.047). In terms of lymphocyte subsets, there was significant positive correlation between B cells, Treg cells and Eubacterium eligens group, as well as CD8 +T, CD4 +T, NK cells and Corynebacterium. In additional, Th1 was positively correlated with Shigella Escherichia coli ( r=0.52, P=0.008), and Th2 was positively correlated with Dielma ( r=0.51, P<0.001). Conclusion:The abundance and diversity of intestinal flora in SLE patients were significantly reduced, and the differentially expressed bacteria were closely related to the CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets and disease activity indicators of patients.

Comparison of the infectivity and stability of Asian versus African lineage Zika virus in glial cells / 中国人兽共患病学报

Infection of pregnant women by Asian lineage Zika virus(ZIKV)is more likely to cause microcephaly in infants than African lineage ZIKV.To further clarify the differences in infectivity and stability between Asian and African lineage ZIKV,we selected Asian lineage SZ01 and African lineage MR766 strains for study in glial cells.First,we examined the differ-ence in infectivity between SZ01 and MR766 on U251 and U87 astrocytes,and T98G glioblastoma cells,by using CCK8 assays.Subsequently,we examined the tolerance of SZ01 and MR766 to 37 ℃ and 40 ℃ in the free and infected cell states,by using qRT-PCR or viral plaque assays.Finally,we examined the effect of repeated freezing and thawing on the stability of SZ01 and MR766 with viral plaque assays.ZIKV had higher infectivity in U251 and U87 than T98G,and SZ01 was more infectious to as-trocytes than MR766.SZ01 tolerated 40 ℃ better than MR766 in the free state.SZ01 proliferated faster than MR766 in glial cells at 40 ℃.The tolerance of SZ01 to repeated freezing and thawing was higher than that of MR766.The above findings sug-gest that the infectivity and stability of Asian lineage ZIKV are significantly higher than those of African lineage ZIKV,possi-bly because of its persistent infection and pathogenicity.

The relationship between gut microbiota characteristics and peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with primary Sj?gren′s syndrome / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:By detecting the species and distribution of fecal flora in patients with pSS, we investigated the relationship between the alterations of the gut microbiome and its metabolic characteristics with peripheral lymphocyte subsets, and their potential role in the occurrence and development of pSS.Methods:A total of 101 pSS patients who were hospitalized in the department of rheumatology of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, and 101 age and sex-matched healthy control (HC) in the health check-up center of Shanxi Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled for 16s rDNA-Amplicon sequencing. The statistical analysis was performed in R software 4.0.3. The Alpha diversity were compared by Wilcoxon test, and Beta diversity were compared by ANOSIM analysis between pSS patients and HC. The difference flora was analyzed by t test. The levels of peripheral lymphocyte subsets pSS patients were detected by flow cytometry. Then the relationship between characteristic flora and clinical indicators such as lymphocyte subsets, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, unstimulated whole saliva and stimulated whole saliva were analyzed using Pearson′s correlation analysis. Results:Patients with pSS exhibited a significant reduction in the richness (Chao1, ACE) and diversity (Shannon,Simpson) of gut microbiota compared with those of HC, and there was statistical significant difference in gut microbiota composition (ANOSIM, r=0.09, P=0.001). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes decreased and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased in pSS patients. At the genus level, the proportion of Escherichia-shigella ( P<0.001), Lactobacillus ( P<0.001), Bifidobacterium ( P<0.001), Subdoligranulum ( P<0.001), Alistipes ( P<0.001) and [ Eubacterium]_ coprostanoligenes (P=0.002) were increased. The proportion of Faecalibacterium ( P<0.001), Prevotella ( P<0.001), Roseburia ( P<0.001), Megamonas ( P<0.001), Agathobacter ( P<0.001), Lachnospira ( P<0.001), Lachnospira_NK4A136 ( P=0.006), [ Eubacterium] _eligens ( P<0.001) were significantly reduced. PICRUST analysis showed significant enrichment of amino acid metabolism taurine and hypotaurine metabolism ( P<0.001), fatty acid metabolism such as propanoate metabolism ( P<0.001), glutathione metabolism ( P=0.002), lipoic acid metabolism ( P=0.003), lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and biosynthesis of siderophore group nonribosomal peptides ( P=0.005) and Aminobenzoate degradation ( P=0.002) in patients with pSS. The Pearson correlation results showed that there were significant different in the abundances of the key gut microbiota between the HC and pSS groups, and they were closely related to unstimulated whole saliva, the absolute number of Treg cells and Th17 cells. Conclusion:The dysbiosis and metabolism changes of the pSS intestinal microbiota may contribute to immune homeostasis imbalance, and may be involved in the occurrence and development of pSS.

Efficacy of posterior staged correction in the treatment of severe kyphoscoliosis / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of posterior staged correction in the treatment of severe kyphoscoliosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on 61 patients with severe kyphoscoliosis who underwent one-stage posterior Ponte osteotomy followed by Halo-femoral traction and two-stage posterior correction in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between January 2010 and January 2020. There were 23 males and 38 females with an average age of 22.0(18.0, 25.5) years. The etiologies were idiopathic in 26 cases, congenital in 17 cases, neuromuscular in 16 cases and Marfan syndrome with kyphoscoliosis in 2 cases. The curves were thoracic in 49 cases, thoracolumbar in 3 cases and double major in 9 cases. The apical vertebrae were T 5 level in 1 case, T 7 level in 2 cases, T 8 level in 9 cases, T 9 level in 15 cases, T 10 level in 23 cases, T 11 level in 8 cases, T 12 level in 1 case, and L 1 level in 2 cases. The flexibility of main curve was 13.5%±8.6%. The Cobb angle of main curve, global kyphosis (GK), coronal trunk shift (CTS), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS) were assessed at pre-operation, post-traction, post-operation and the last follow-up. The quality of life was evaluated using the MOS item short form health survey (SF)-36 questionnaire, and the complications during peri-operation and long-term follow-up were recorded. Results:All 61 patients were followed up for 25.0 (24.0, 26.5) months. The Cobb angle of main curve and GK were 121.4°±13.9° and 86.8°±20.0° at pre-operation, 94.1°±18.7° and 66.9°±15.3° at post-traction, 78.5°±20.3° and 54.7°±13.6° at post-operation and 79.5°±20.1° and 53.2°±11.3° at the last follow-up, respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( F=210.54, P<0.001; F=93.74, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the last follow-up and post-operation ( P>0.05). There was no significant correction loss of SVA, TK, LL, PI, PT or SS at the last follow-up when compared with those at post-operation ( P>0.05). The CTS was 17.1±9.8 mm at pre-operation, 17.5±11.4 mm at post-operation, 11.1 (5.9, 23.3) mm at the last follow-up and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=6.70, P=0.035). The difference between the last follow-up and post-operation was statistically significant ( P=0.032). The scores of physical functioning 80.0 (75.0, 85.0), general health 82.0 (69.5, 87.0) and social functioning 75.0 (62.5, 75.0) in SF-36 at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those at pre-operation ( Z=-2.11, P=0.035; Z=-3.64, P<0.001; Z=-2.07, P=0.039). During the traction process, the complications included pin track infection in 1 case, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity in 2, misplacement of pedicle screws in 3, coronal decompensation at immediate post-operation in 2, sagittal decompensation at immediate post-operation in 1, and 1 patient had broken rod at 3 years follow-up, respectively. Conclusion:The posterior staged correction could provide satisfying radiographic and clinical outcomes in patients with severe kyphoscoliosis, which could be well maintained during 2 years follow-up. Therefore, the posterior staged correction is a safe and effective treatment for severe kyphoscoliosis.

Interplay between dietary intake, gut microbiota, and metabolic profile in obese adolescents: Sex-dependent differential patterns.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The interplay among dietary intake, gut microbiota, gut metabolites and circulating metabolites in adolescents is barely known, not to mention sex-dependent pattern. We aimed to explore unique profiles of gut bacterial, gut metabolites and circulating metabolites from both genders of adolescents due to BMI and eating pattern. METHODS: Clinical indices, fecal gut microbiota, fecal and plasma metabolites, and diet intake information were collected in case-control sample matched for normal and obesity in girls (normal = 12, obesity = 12) and boys (normal = 20, obesity = 20), respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics was performed to analysis the signature of gut microbiota and metabolites. Unique profiles of girls associated with BMI and eating pattern was revealed by Spearman's correlations analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: Gender difference was found between normal and obese adolescents in gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and plasma metabolites. The Parabacteroides were only decreased in obese girls. And the characteristic of obese girls' and boys' cases in fecal and plasma was xanthine and glutamine, ornithine and LCA, respectively. Soy products intake was negatively associated with Parabacteroides. The predicted model has a higher accuracy based on the combined markers in obesity boys (AUC = 0.97) and girls (AUC = 0.97), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and Parabacteroides, as well as the increased fecal xanthine and ornithine, may provide a novel biomarker signature in obesity girls and boys. Soy products intake was positively and negatively associated with Romboutsia and Parabacteroides abundance, respectively. And the combined markers facilitate the accuracy of predicting obesity in girls and boys in advance.

Structural characteristic of pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from Dolichos lablab L. hull.

Polysaccharides are important constituents in Dolichos lablab hull. Herein, pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from D. lablab hull designated as DLHP-3 (D. lablab hull polysaccharide,) was prepared by ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography, and further characterized by acid degradation and enzymatic hydrolysis, methylation combined with GC-MS, NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Both of pectin and glucuronoxylan regions were found in DLHP-3. The glucuronoxylan region consisted of a →4)-ß-Xylp-(1→ backbone with branches of α-GlcpA-(1→ substituted at O-2 site, and the ratio of xylose to glucuronic acid was about 5:1. Acetyl groups were mainly attached to O-3 site of →2,4)-ß-Xylp-(1→ residues. The main chain of pectin region could be represented by →4)-α-GalpA-(1→4)-α-GalpA-(1→ and →2)-α-Rhap-(1→4)-α-GalpA-(1→ with partial methyl-esterification. The side chains were deduced to embrace arabinan and arabinogalactan linked to rhamnogalacturonan-I region. Pectin was probably covalently bound to glucuronoxylan. Our findings uncovered the molecular structure of pectin-glucuronoxylan complex from D. lablab hull.

Experimental treatments to attenuate blood spinal cord barrier rupture in rats with traumatic spinal cord injury: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (t-SCI) is a severe injury that has a devastating impact on neurological function. Blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) destruction following SCI aggravates the primary injury, resulting in a secondary injury. A series of experimental treatments have been proven to alleviate BSCB destruction after t-SCI. Methods: From a screen of 1,189 papers, which were retrieved from Pubmed, Embase, and Web of science, we identified 28 papers which adhered to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Evans blue (EB) leakage on the first day post-SCI was selected as the primary result. Secondary outcomes included the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins and adhesion junction (AJ) proteins in protein immunoblotting. In addition, we measured functional recovery using the Basso, Beattie, Besnahan (BBB) score and we analyzed the relevant mechanisms to explore the similarities between different studies. Result: The forest plot of Evans blue leakage (EB leakage) reduction rate: the pooled effect size of the 28 studies was 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47-0.61, p < 0.01. This indicates that measures to mitigate BSCB damage significantly improved in reducing overall EB leakage. In addition TJ proteins (Occludin, Claudin-5, and ZO-1), AJ proteins (P120 and ß-catenin) were significantly upregulated after treatment in all publications. Moreover, BBB scores were significantly improved. Comprehensive studies have shown that in t-SCI, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is the most commonly used mechanism to mitigate BSCB damage, followed by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the Akt pathway. In addition, we found that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exos), which inhibit the TIMP2/MMP signaling pathway, may be the most effective way to alleviate BSCB injury. Conclusion: This study systematically analyzes the experimental treatments and their mechanisms for reducing BSCB injury in the early stage of t-SCI. BMSC-Exos, which inhibit MMP expression, are currently the most effective therapeutic modality for alleviating BSCB damage. In addition, the regulation of MMPs in particular as well as the Akt pathway and the ER stress pathway play important roles in alleviating BSCB injury. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022324794.

Molecular Characteristics and Genetic Diversity of Fasciola Hepatica from Sheep in Xinjiang, China.

Introduction: Fasciola hepatica is a trematode infecting ruminants worldwide and occasionally affecting other animal species, including humans. It causes significant economic losses. Geographic distribution and patterns of infection must be considered before control and management measures are developed for this parasite. DNA molecular markers are useful for the identification of flukes and elucidation of their genetic evolution. Therefore, the population structure of F. hepatica was studied using this method in sheep in Xinjiang, China. Material and Methods: The molecular characteristics, genetic relationships within the population and dispersal patterns of F. hepatica isolates were analysed based on the cox1 and nad1 genes. The population structure of F. hepatica from three regions of Xinjiang was explored and a neutrality test was conducted. Results: The cox1 and nad1 genes have 21 and 42 variable sites, respectively, which can be classified into 34 and 33 haplotypes. Median-joining network and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that there was no significant variation in F. hepatica isolates between the three geographical regions. Analysis of variance revealed that the genetic variation of F. hepatica was mainly present within the populations. The neutrality test indicated that the populations were relatively stable but the Hami population may have undergone short-term expansion. Conclusion: This study revealed for the first time the molecular characteristics, genetic diversity and dispersal patterns of F. hepatica isolates from sheep in Xinjiang, thus providing new insights into the genetic variation and haplotype diversity of F. hepatica from indigenous sheep.

Airborne lead: A vital factor influencing rice lead accumulation in China.

Traditionally, lead (Pb) in rice grains has been thought to be mostly derived from soil, and the contribution of aerosol Pb remains so far unknown. Based on a meta-analysis, we surprisingly found rice Pb content decreased proportionally with urban atmospheric Pb concentrations in major rice-growing provinces in China during 2001-2015, suggestive of the strong influence of long-range Pb transport on agricultural environment. With the combination of field survey, field experiment, as well as a predictive model, we confirmed high contribution of atmospheric exposure to rice grain Pb in China. We for the first time developed a predictive mathematical model which revealed that aerosol Pb accumulation ratios of rice grains were related to both grain weight and accumulation types. We successfully predicted the national-scale rice Pb in China on the basis of the public data of urban PM2.5 from 19 rice-growing provinces and proposed a seasonal atmospheric Pb limit of 0.20 µg m-3 based on the safe threshold level of Pb in rice, which was much lower than the current limit of 1 µg m-3 set in China.

Revealing the architecture and solution properties of polysaccharide fractions from Macrolepiota albuminosa (Berk.) Pegler.

Macrolepiota albuminosa (Berk.) Pegler is abundant in active polysaccharides, but little is known about their structures and solution properties. In this study, water-extracted polysaccharides from M. albuminosa (MAWP) were purified into three fractions with structural heterogeneity, which was attributed to the diversity in molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and linkage patterns, further affecting their solution properties. Methylation and NMR analysis revealed MAWP-60p and MAWP-70 were a 3-O-methylated glucomannogalactan and a previously unreported glucomannogalactan, whereas MAWP-80 was elucidated as a branched galactoglucan. Besides, three fractions exhibited random coil conformation in aqueous solution, while MAWP-60p had the highest viscosity due to its highest molecular weight, mean square radius of gyration (Rg) and O-methyl group attached to the backbone. The molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and glycosidic linkages might be the major contributors to the flexibility, molecular size and stereochemistry of mushroom polysaccharide chains.

A new species of Andricus Hartig, 1840 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) from China, with references to DNA taxonomy and Wolbachia infection.

In the present paper, a new species of cynipid gall wasp, Andricuselodeoides Liu & Pang, is described from several provinces in southern China. The new species is closely related to the recently redescribed A.mairei (Kieffer, 1906). In addition to differences in adult and gall morphology, the new species is also readily separated by COI sequences, with a 6.2-8.9% genetic distance between populations of the new species and those of A.mairei. A contrasting difference in sex ratios was also observed between the two species, with A.elodeoides extremely female-biased (95.5-97.8% female) while A.mairei male-biased to more balanced (5.4-43.5% female). PCR screening for Wolbachia infection further revealed contrasting infection rates between populations of A.elodeoides and A.mairei: the Wolbachia infection rate was 0% in A.elodeoides and 100% in A.mairei. Cytoplasmic incompatibility induced by Wolbachia is proposed as a potential mechanism of speciation of the sympatric A.elodeoides and A.mairei.

The expression changes of lncRNA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with regulatory T cells / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To explore the link between the differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) by detecting the lncRNAs expression profiles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), then analyze the correlation between Tregs and lncRNAs and the clinical features of SLE patients. We also predict the mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate the differentiation and development of Tregs, and provid new approach for the treatment of SLE.Methods:Peripheral blood of 9 active SLE patients was collected and mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted. The lncRNAs expression profiles of PBMCs was analyzed by whole transcriptome sequencing. Nine healthy people served as controls to screen the differentially expressed lncRNAs, and to analyze the correlation between lncRNAs and Tregs number. Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between lncRNA and the number of Tregs, and the correlation between Treg-associated lncRNAs and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI) score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C3, C4 in SLE patients. The targeted genes of Treg asso-ciated lncRNAs were predicted with miRcode and Targetscan databases and co-expression network.Results:There were 240 differentially expressed lncRNAs in SLE patients compared with healthy controls, including 134 highly expressed lncRNAs ( P<0.05) and 106 low expressed lncRNAs ( P<0.05). The expression of ANKRD44-AS1 ( r=0.74, P=0.022), LINC00200 ( r=0.70, P=0.037), AP001363.2 ( r=0.78, P=0.014) and LINC02824 (r=0.79, P=0.011) were positively correlated with the number of Tregs, and the expression of AP000640.1 ( r=-0.72, P=0.028), AC124248.1 ( r=-0.77, P=0.016), LINC00482 ( r=-0.83, P=0.005) and MIR503HG ( r=-0.96, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with the number of Tregs. Among these eight Tregs associated lncRNAs, the expression of LINC00482 ( r=-0.73, P<0.001) and MIR503HG ( r=-0.76, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with C3. LINC00200, ANKRD44-AS1 and AP000640.1 related to Tregs regulated the expression of STAT5, PLD1, HOPX and RUNX3 through competitively binding of miRNA or transregulatory mechanism, thereby regulating the differentiation and development of Tregs. Conclusion:The lncRNAs expression profiles are changed in SLE patients, the differentially expressed lncRNAs are associated with abnormal number and function of Tregs in SLE patients, and Treg associated lncRNAs are associated with SLE disease activity, which may affect the expression of STAT5, PLD1, HOPX, RUNX3 and regulate Tregs function and participate in the pathogenesis and progression of SLE by competitively binding to miRNAs or trans-regulatory mechanism.