Alzheimer's disease(AD)and Parkinson's disease(PD)are common neurodegenerative diseases that seriously threaten the health of the elderly, involving various abnormalities in physiology and metabolism including the impairment of mitochondrial function, Ca 2+ homeostasis deregulation, oxidative stress, aggregation of misfolded proteins, autophagy and inflammation.However, mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these diseases have not been clearly elucidated, thus impeding advances in their treatment.In recent years, it has been found that mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes(MAM)play an important role in the development of AD and PD and exert their effects by regulating the functions of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula.This article reviews studies of the past decade related to the effects of MAM on AD and PD, aiming to generate insights for exploring the constituent proteins of MAM and the molecular mechanisms of AD and PD via endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria Ca 2+ transport and ER stress regulated by MAM.

Objective To report the clinical characteristics of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).Methods All 25 cases of definite PVE (Duke criteria) diagnosed at our hospital between January 1992 to December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 7 cases were pathologically confirmed and the others were clinically confirmed with either 2 major criteria or 1 major and ≥3 minor criteria. Their clinical characteristics, underlying heart diseases, previous heart operations, presenting manifestations, causative microbes, echocardiographic findings and prognosis, were studied. Results (1) Although most cases underwent valve transplantations for underlying heart diseases of rheumatic heart diseases and congenital heart diseases, 10 patients were complicated with infectious endocarditis (IE) prior to the operations, 4 of them were PVE. (2) Eleven of them developed PVE within 2 months postoperatively. Fever (100%),major vessel embolism (48%), and anemia (36%) were the most frequently manifestations. Fourteen cases (56%) had positive culture results with 15 causative pathogens, including 5 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS, 3 were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, MRSCoN), 4 fungi, 2Enterococcus faecalis, 2 Burkholderia cepacia, 1 Stenotrophomonasmal-tophilia, and 1 Streptococcus.(3)Prosthetic valve vegetations, periannular leakage, regurgitation, were the main echocardiographic findings.Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed 13 PVE who had no positive findings on previous transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). (4) Eighteen PVE (72%) developed peri-annular complications (12 leakage, 3 dehiscence, 2 abscesses, 1 fistula), major vessel embolism, congestive heart failure (16%) were frequently observed, 9 of the 17 patients died in hospital, in spite of intensive managements.Conclusions PVE has a high mortality and is a severe complication for patients who underwent heart surgery. Its causative pathogen spectrum is quite different from that of native valve endocarditis. TTE is not sensitive for some PVE cases.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and reliability of the Brockport physical fitness test in visually impaired adolescents in China to determine its applicability in clinical practice and research. Methods: A total of 41 visually impaired adolescents 10-17 years of age were included. Body mass index (BMI), dominant grip strength, modified curl up, trunk lift, shoulder stretch, back saver sit and reach and PACER were tested twice with a 1 week interval by the same tester using the same instrument. Results: Each item in the Brockport physical fitness test was completed. The intraclass correlation coefficients for height, weight, BMI, dominant grip strength, modified curl up, trunk lift, back saver sit and reach (left/right leg straight), and PACER in all subjects were 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.94, 0.75, 0.78, 0.90, 0.87, 0.89, respectively. In blind subjects, the corresponding values were 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.97, 0.80, 0.92, 0.89, 0.87, 0.87, respectively. In low vision subjects, the corresponding values were 1.00 , 1.00, 1.00, 0.90, 0.71, 0.40, 0.89, 0.85, 0.85, respectively. The Cohen kappa values for shoulder stretch (left/right hand on top) were 0.79 and 0.78 in all subjects, 0.72 and 0.64 in blind subjects, and 0.87 and 1.00 in low vision subjects. Conclusion The Brockport physical fitness test is a feasible and reliable physical fitness test for visually impaired adolescents in China, however, trunk lift is not recommended for adolescents with low vision.

Objective:To analyze the research status and discuss hot topics and development trends of studies on clinical nutrition in congenital heart disease (CHD) at home and abroad, so as to provide reference for Chinese researchers.Method:Studies on clinical nutrition in CHD were retrieved from the databases of CNKI and Web of Science, from the founding of database until 2020. CiteSpace 5.6.R5 was used for visual analysis of authors, countries, institutions, research hotspots and frontiers.Results:A total of 163 Chinese and 1,809 English publications were included. The number of literatures published at home and abroad shows an overall trend of growth. The United States has the largest number of publications, with China in seventh place. Domestic publishing institutions are mainly hospitals, led by Nanjing Children's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. Foreign publications are mainly by university institutions, with Harvard University in the United States ranking first. Research teams led by authors including Gu Ying and Ravishankar C. are at the core in this field. The most discussed issues in China are mainly nutritional risk, nutritional support and nutrient research. The main target populations are ICU patients, premature infants, infants and children, etc. The forefront of research includes early enteral nutrition, prognosis and feeding intolerance. In foreign countries, studies mainly focus on epidemiology, nutritional support, malnutrition, risk factors, nutritional treatment, energy metabolism, obesity, clinical outcomes, etc. Main target population is special population, such as neonates with CHD, infants, children, patients after heart transplantation, etc. cohort studies and researches on overweight are at the frontier.Conclusions:The research on nutrition in CHD has attracted more and more attention. There are some differences in research content and hot topics between domestic and foreign studies. Therefore, we should strengthen the cooperation and exchanges among institutions, combine the advantages of CHD nutrition research in China, and strengthen the epidemiological study of CHD nutrition and the nutrition management of CHD key population, so as to further promote research development in this field.

Objective To explore the effect of JianpiYiqi Decoction on the proliferation,invasion and apoptosis of Human hepatoma Huh-7 cells under the constructed inflammatory microenvironment stimulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and adenosine triphosphate(ATP),and to detect the interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and interleukin-18(IL-18)Expression level in cells.Methods Construction drug-containing serum of JianpiYiqi.Adopt LPS and ATP were added to the cell culture medium to stimulate hepatoma cells and construct the inflammatory microenvironment.The cells were divided into blank group,model group,VX-765 group(10 μmol·L-1),low concentration of traditional Chinese medicine group(15%JianpiYiqi Decoction low dosedrug-containing serum),Medium concentration of traditional Chinese medicine group(15%JianpiYiqi Decoction Medium dose drug-containing serum),and high concentration of traditional Chinese medicine group(15%JianpiYiqi Decoction high dose drug-containing serum).Adopt CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation level of cells in each group after cell intervention;The apoptosis rate of cells in each group was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI method;Adopt Transwell method was used to detect the level of cell invasion in each group;adopt PI single staining was used to detect the cell cycle level in each group;Adopt ELISA method and Western blot method were used to detection of IL-1β and 1l-18 expression level in Huh-7 cells.Results Compared with the blank group,in the model group stimulated by LPS and ATP,the proliferation level,invasion level,IL-1β and IL-18 expression level of Huh-7 cells were higher(P<0.05),and the apoptosis level was lower(P<0.05).Compared with other groups,the Medium concentration of traditional Chinese medicine group and the high concentration of traditional Chinese medicine group could effectively inhibit the proliferation and invasion level of Huh-7 cells,block the cell proliferation cycle,reduce the cell survival rate(P<0.05),significantly induce apoptosis of Huh-7 cells(P<0.05),and reduce the expression levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in Huh-7 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion The drug-containing serum JianpiYiqi.The medium and high concentrations of JianpiYiqi Decoction drug-containing serum can inhibit the proliferation and invasion,block the cell cycle and induce apoptosis of human liver cancer Huh-7 cells by improving the inflammatory microenvironment in liver cancer Huh-7 cells.Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of liver cancer cells.Analyze the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 to achieve the therapeutic purpose of primary liver cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of apoptosis related protein cellular Fas associated death domain like interleukin 1 converting enzyme inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation with extrinsic apoptotic pathway. METHODS: Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis were collected from Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University during January 2014 and June 2015, including 22 patients with low activities (DAS28<3.2), 20 patients with middle activities (3.2 ≤ DAS28 ≤ 5.1), and 18 patients with high activities (DAS28>5.1). And 25 healthy controls were also collected. The mRNA and protein expression levels of c-FLIP and the extrinsic apoptotic pathway related proteins Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), caspase-8 in PBMCs were detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Correlations between c-FLIP and FADD, caspase-8 in PBMCs were analyzed by pearson test. RESULTS: mRNA expression levels of c-FLIP, FADD and caspase-8 in PBMCs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were all higher than those of healthy controls (all <0.05). mRNA expression levels of FADD and caspase-8 in patients with middle activities were significantly higher than those in patients with low activities (all <0.05), but the mRNA expression level of c-FLIP was not significantly higher than that in patients with low activities. mRNA expression level of c-FLIP in patients with high activities was higher than those in patients with middle or low activities (all <0.05), while the mRNA expression level of caspase-8 was lower than those in patients with middle or low activities (all <0.05). mRNA expression level of FADD in patients with high activities was higher than those in patients with low activities (<0.05). Pearson analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between c-FLIP and FADD mRNA expression (=0.323, <0.05), and negative correlation between c-FLIP and caspase-8 mRNA expression (-1.104, <0.05). The protein expression levels of c-FLIP and FADD in patients with middle activities were significantly higher than those in control group and patients with low or high activities (<0.05 or 0.01). The protein expression levels of caspase-8 in patients with middle and high activities were significantly higher than those in control group and patients with low activities (<0.05 or <0.01), and the protein expression level of caspase-8 in patients with high activities was higher than that in patients with middle activities (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS c-FLIP may be involved in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in rheumatoid arthritis, and can provide reference for the evaluation of disease activities.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism

Astrocytes are an abundant subgroup of cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that play a critical role in controlling neuronal circuits involved in emotion, learning, and memory. In clinical cases, multiple chronic brain diseases may cause psychosocial and cognitive impairment, such as depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). For years, complex pathological conditions driven by depression and AD have been widely perceived to contribute to a high risk of disability, resulting in gradual loss of self-care ability, lower life qualities, and vast burden on human society. Interestingly, correlational research on depression and AD has shown that depression might be a prodrome of progressive degenerative neurological disease. As a kind of multifunctional glial cell in the CNS, astrocytes maintain physiological function via supporting neuronal cells, modulating pathologic niche, and regulating energy metabolism. Mounting evidence has shown that astrocytic dysfunction is involved in the progression of depression and AD. We herein review the current findings on the roles and mechanisms of astrocytes in the development of depression and AD, with an implication of potential therapeutic avenue for these diseases by targeting astrocytes.
Alzheimer Disease ; Astrocytes ; Depression ; Humans ; Neurons

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Magnolia officinalis cortex for constipation-type irritable bowel syndrome（IBS-C） rats before and after sweating. MethodIBS-C rat model was established by gavage of ice water， and rats were randomly divided into the blank group， model group， mosapride group（1 mg·kg^-1）， M. officinalis cortex group（10 g·kg^-1） and sweated M. officinalis cortex group（10 g·kg^-1）. The changes of body weight， fecal number and fecal water content of rats were observed， 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect the structural changes of fecal intestinal flora in rats， the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT） and substance P（SP） in colonic tissues of rats were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. ResultCompared with the model group， the fecal water content and fecal number of mosapride group， M. officinalis cortex group and sweated M. officinalis cortex group were significantly increased（P<0.05）. At the phylum level， the top four species of flora abundance were Firmicutes， Bacteroidetes， Spirochaetes and Proteobacteria. Compared with the blank group， the proportion of Firmicutes in the model group was significantly reduced（P<0.05）， while the proportion of Spirochaetes was significantly increased（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the proportion of Firmicutes and Spirochaetes in M. officinalis cortex group and sweated M. officinalis cortex group tended to be similar to that in the blank group， and the proportion of Spirochaetes in sweated M. officinalis cortex group was lower than that of M. officinalis cortex group. At the family level， the top four species of flora abundance were Lactobacillaceae， S24_7， Ruminococcaceae， Bacteroidaceae， compared with the blank group， the proportion of Lactobacillaceae in the model group decreased significantly（P<0.05）， and its proportion in the M. officinalis cortex group and sweated M. officinalis cortex group increased significantly after administration（P<0.05）， and the flora structure of the two groups tended to be similar to that of the blank group. At the genus level， the top four species of flora abundance were Lactobacillus， Unspecified_S24_7， Bacteroides and Treponema. Compared with the blank group， the proportion of Lactobacillus in the model group decreased significantly（P<0.05）， while the proportion of Treponema increased significantly（P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， ratio of bacterial structure of Lactobacillus and Treponema in the M. officinalis cortex group and sweated M. officinalis cortex group tended to be similar to those in the blank group， indicating that M. officinalis cortex could restore the intestinal microbial structure of IBS-C rats before and after sweating. Compared with the model group， the 5-HT content in mosapride group was significantly reduced（P<0.05）， the contents of 5-HT and SP in the M. officinalis cortex group and sweated M. officinalis cortex group were significantly increased（P<0.01）， and the sweated M. officinalis cortex group was higher than the M. officinalis cortex group. ConclusionM. officinalis cortex can play a therapeutic role on IBS-C rats by regulating 5-HT pathway and intestinal flora structure before and after sweating.

The research aimed to investigate the suppression effect of MaiShu which contains hawthorn, hippophae, medlar, phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol), β-glucan and lycopeneon formation of atherosclerotic plaque in apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE^-/-) mice. Liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MC) methods were used to analyze the main chemical composition of MaiShu.Atherosclerotic mice models were established by high-fat diet. The mice were administrated with MaiShu (1, 2, 4 g·kg^-1·d^-1) or other contrast materials by intragastric route for 10 weeks continuously. At the end of administration, the blood of mice was collected for tests of the serum total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. Atherosclerotic lesions in aorta and aortic root were assessed by calculating the relative area of lesions (oil red O stained). Intravital fluorescence microscopic system was used to evaluate the leukocyte-endothelial adhesion in mesenteric artery of mice by detecting the rolling velocity of white blood cells (WBC). Collagenous fibers and macrophages in lesions were detected by sirius red staining and immunological histological chemistry to evaluate the atherosclerotic plaque stability. Results showed that MaiShu contains various flavonoids (9.5%), phytosterols (23.8%) and polysaccharides (8.9%). The serum lipid level of model animals was significantly higher than the control animals. Serum TC level was decreased by MaiShu (4 g·kg^-1, P<0.001) compared to the untreated model. Serum TG level was reduced by MaiShu (1, 2, 4 g·kg^-1) compared to model (P<0.01). Area of atherosclerotic lesions in aorta and aortic root was decreased in MaiShu group (aorta:1 g·kg^-1, P<0.05; 2 g·kg^-1, P<0.01; 4 g·kg^-1, P<0.001; aortic root:2, 4 g·kg^-1, P<0.01). Rolling velocity of white blood cells of MaiShu (4 g·kg^-1, P<0.001) group was increased over the untreated model. Collagenous fibers in lesions were observationally increased by MaiShu (1, 2 g·kg^-1) and macrophages were decreased (2, 4 g·kg^-1) compared to model. These results demonstrate that MaiShu can obviously decrease the serum lipid levels and the risk of leukocyte-endothelial adhesion in ApoE^-/- mice. The effect of MaiShu may be associated with the decrease of macrophages in plaque.

Organic acids are organic compounds that can be synthesized using biological systems. They often contain one or more low molecular weight acidic groups, such as carboxyl group and sulphonic group. Organic acids are widely used in food, agriculture, medicine, bio-based materials industry and other fields. Yeast has unique advantages of biosafety, strong stress resistance, wide substrate spectrum, convenient genetic transformation, and mature large-scale culture technology. Therefore, it is appealing to produce organic acids by yeast. However, challenges such as low concentration, many by-products and low fermentation efficiency still exist. With the development of yeast metabolic engineering and synthetic biology technology, rapid progress has been made in this field recently. Here we summarize the progress of biosynthesis of 11 organic acids by yeast. These organic acids include bulk carboxylic acids and high-value organic acids that can be produced naturally or heterologously. Finally, future prospects in this field were proposed.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; Organic Chemicals ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism* ; Metabolic Engineering ; Fermentation ; Acids