Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. As the incidence of AD continues to rise annually, researchers have shown keen interest in the active components found in natural plants and their neuroprotective effects against AD. Quercetin, a flavonol widely present in fruits and vegetables, has multiple biological effects including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and the antioxidant properties of quercetin are essential for its neuroprotective function. Quercetin can modulate multiple signaling pathways related to AD, such as Nrf2-ARE, JNK, p38 MAPK, PON2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC, all of which are closely related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin is capable of inhibiting the aggregation of β‑amyloid protein (Aβ) and the phosphorylation of tau protein, as well as the activity of β‑secretase 1 and acetylcholinesterase, thus slowing down the progression of the disease.The review also provides insights into the pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin, including its absorption, metabolism, and excretion, as well as its bioavailability challenges and clinical applications. To improve the bioavailability and enhance the targeting of quercetin, the potential of quercetin nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of AD is also discussed. In summary, the multifaceted mechanisms of quercetin against AD provide a new perspective for drug development. However, translating these findings into clinical practice requires overcoming current limitations and ongoing research. In this way, its therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD can be fully utilized.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (lncRNA-PVT1) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its correlation with prognosis. METHODS: Clinical data of 64 children with ALL were retrospectively analyzed. All children received standardized treatment according to CCLG-ALL-2015 protocol, and their overall survival (OS) was followed up. Bone marrow examination and lncRNA-PVT1 examination were performed before first diagnosis (T1), early intensive therapy (T2), consolidation therapy (T3), delayed intensive therapy (T4), and maintenance therapy (T5). Bone marrow samples of 25 children with thrombocytopenic purpura were collected during the same period as control group. LncRNA-PVT1 expression was compared between ALL group and control group. ALL children were divided into high-risk group and non-high-risk group according to the risk factors at T3, and the expression changes of lncRNA-PVT1 were analyzed. The correlation of lncRNA-PVT1 with clinical features and prognosis of ALL children was analyzed. RESULTS: The expression of lncRNA-PVT1 in ALL children was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) of lncRNA-PVT1 for ALL diagnosis was 0.919(95%CI : 0.863-0.975), the optimal cut-off value was 1.465, sensitivity was 87.50%, and specificity was 98.80%. ALL children were divided into low lncRNA-PVT1 group (lncRNA-PVT1< 2.18) and high lncRNA-PVT1 group (lncRNA-PVT1≥2.18) according to the median lncRNA-PVT1 value (2.18). The high lncRNA-PVT1 group had higher Day 33 MRD compared with low lncRNA-PVT1 group (P < 0.01). At T3, T4 and T5, the expression of lncRNA-PVT1 in high-risk group was significantly higher than that in non-highrisk group (all P < 0.01). The expression of lncRNA-PVT1 were significantly increased in high-risk group at 5 time points (P < 0.001), while, there was no significant difference in non-high-risk group (P >0.05). The median OS of low lncRNA-PVT1 group was 35(9-37) months, which was significantly higher than 25(5-33) months of high lncRNA-PVT1 group (P < 0.01). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Day 33 MRD (>10^-2) and lncRNA-PVT1 (≥2.18) were independent risk factors for OS in ALL children (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION LncRNA-PVT1 is involved in the pathogenesis of ALL in children and closely related to the prognosis.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Adolescent

The structure of intestinal tissue is complex. In vitro simulation of intestinal structure and function is important for studying intestinal development and diseases. Recently, organoids have been successfully constructed and they have come to play an important role in biomedical research. Organoids are miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) organs, derived from stem cells, which mimic the structure, cell types, and physiological functions of an organ, making them robust models for biomedical research. Intestinal organoids are 3D micro-organs derived from intestinal stem cells or pluripotent stem cells that can successfully simulate the complex structure and function of the intestine, thereby providing a valuable platform for intestinal development and disease research. In this article, we review the latest progress in the construction and application of intestinal organoids.
Organoids/cytology* ; Intestines/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Pluripotent Stem Cells

Objective To explore the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture for the treatment of lower limb spasm after stroke based on data mining technology.Methods Through the computer retrieval of CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,PubMed,EMbase,web of science databases and other databases,the literature that meets the inclusion criteria was selected to establish a database.Descriptive analysis,cluster analysis and association rule analysis were performed on the data through Microsoft Excel 2016,IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 software.Results(1)A total of 68 acupuncture prescriptions were included,involving 100 acupoints and a total frequency of 536 uses;(2)the top five in terms of frequency of use of acupoints were Yanglingquan(GB34),Zusanli(ST36),Xuanzhong(GB39),Qiuxu(GB40),Sanyinjiao(SP6);(3)the core acupoint pairing was Yanglingquan(GB34)-Xuanzhong(GB39),and five valid clustering clusters were obtained,which were Shenmai(BL62)-Zhaohai(KI6),Weizhong(BL40)-Kunlun(BL60),Xuehai(SP10)-Huantiao(GB30)-Fenglong(ST40)-Zusanli(ST36),Taixi(KI3)-Yinlingquan(SP9)-Sanyinjiao(SP6),Jiexi(ST41)-Taichong(LR3)-Xuanzhong(GB39)-Qiuxu(GB40)-Yanglingquan(GB34).Conclusion Through data mining,it is found that acupuncture treatment of lower limb spasm after stroke is mostly based on Yanglingquan,Zusanli,Xuanzhong,Qiuxu and Xuanzhong.Priority should be given to the application of three yang channels of the foot and five shu acupoint,syndrome differentiation and treatment,and modification should be adjusted according to the syndromes,so as to provide reference for clinical treatment of lower limb spasm after stroke.

Objective: To explore the intervention effect of different intensity of classroom physical exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function of Tibetan first grade students at high altitude, so as to provide reference for improving the level of cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function of Tibetan adolescents. Methods: From September to December 2020, 184 Tibetan students from five first grade classes in a middle school in Lhasa, Tibet, were randomly assigned into a control group (81 students in two classes) and an intervention group (103 students in three classes). Both groups followed the same teaching programme, but the intervention group received 36 sessions of moderate to high intensity classroom physical activity, one session per day, Monday,Wednesday and Friday, for 12 weeks. Before and after the intervention, cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function were tested by 20m round trip running and Flanker s experimental paradigm, 2-back s experimental paradigm, and More odd shifting experimental paradigm for inhibitory control, refreshing memory, and switching flexibility, and the results were analysed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare the results of the pre and post intervention periods. Results: The maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) of Tibetan first grade students in the intervention group increased by 2.25 mL/(kg〖WW）〗·〖WW(〗min) compared with the control group after the intervention ( t =-3.89, P <0.01); the response time of the inhibitory function was reduced by 4.40 ms, that of the refreshing function by 196.06 ms, and that of the switching function by 92.72 ms in the intervention group compared with the control group ( t =2.98, 4.82 ,3.21, P <0.05). Conclusion The 12 week moderate to high intensity classroom physical activity intervention has different degrees of improvement effects on cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function in Tibetan adolescents.

Parabacteroides distasonis is a gram-negative bacterium initially isolated from a clinical specimen in the 1930s. The strain was re-classified to form the new genus Parabacteroides in 2006. P. distasonis can regulate intestinal barrier function and plays a key role in immune response and metabolic regulation of bodies. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is closely related to the intestinal microbiota. Polysaccharides, saponins, and other ingredients of TCM can treat diseases by interacting with P. distasonis, but the specific mechanisms underlying these processes are still unclear, requiring further exploration. This study reviewed the roles and related mechanisms of P. distasonis in inflammatory-immune diseases, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric diseases, cancer, and other diseases and summarized the relevant research results of TCM to prevent and treat diseases by regulating P. distasonis. This study provides a reference for subsequent exploration of P. distasonis and research on the interaction between TCM and intestinal microbiota.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Bacteroidetes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Paeonia veitchii and P. lactiflora are both original plants of the famous Chinese medicinal drug Paeoniae Radix Rubra in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. They have important medicinal value and great potential in the flower market. The selection of stable and reliable reference genes is a necessary prerequisite for molecular research on P. veitchii. In this study, two reference genes, Actin and GAPDH, were selected as candidate genes from the transcriptome data of P. veitchii. The expression levels of the two candidate genes in different tissues(phloem, xylem, stem, leaf, petiole, and ovary) and different growth stages(bud stage, flowering stage, and dormant stage) of P. veitchii were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative technology(qRT-PCR). Then, the stability of the expression of the two reference genes was comprehensively analyzed using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCT, and RefFinder. The results showed that the expression patterns of Actin and GAPDH were stable in different tissues and growth stages of P. veitchii. Furthermore, the expression levels of eight genes(Pv-TPS01, Pv-TPS02, Pv-CYP01, Pv-CYP02, Pv-CYP03, Pv-BAHD01, Pv-UGT01, and Pv-UGT02) in different tissues were further detected based on the transcriptome data of P. veitchii. The results showed that when Actin and GAPDH were used as reference genes, the expression trends of the eight genes in different tissues of P. veitchii were consistent, validating the reliability of Actin and GAPDH as reference genes for P. veitchii. In conclusion, this study finds that Actin and GAPDH can be used as reference genes for studying gene expression levels in different tissues and growth stages of P. veitchii.
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Paeonia/genetics* ; Actins/genetics* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Transcriptome ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases/genetics* ; Reference Standards ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods*

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Sepsis/epidemiology* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*