This study selected 6 529 plant-based Chinese materia medica(PCMM) from Chinese Materia Medica as research subjects and applied a random permutation test to explore the overall correlation characteristics between nature and flavor, as well as the correlation characteristics after distinguishing different medicinal parts and harvest seasons. The results showed that the overall correlation characteristics between nature and flavor in PCMM were significantly associated in the following pairs: cold and bitter, cool and bitter, cool and astringent, cool and light, neutral and sweet, neutral and astringent, neutral and light, neutral and sour, hot and pungent, and warm and pungent. When analyzing the data by distinguishing medicinal parts and/or harvest seasons, new correlation patterns emerged, characterized by the disappearance of some significant correlations and the emergence of new ones. When analyzing by medicinal parts alone, significant correlations were found in the following cases: cold and light in leaves, cold and salty in barks, cool and sweet in fruits and seeds, neutral and pungent in whole herbs, neutral and salty in stems, and warm and salty in flowers. However, no significant correlations were found between cool and bitter in stems and other types of herbs, cool and astringent in fruits, seeds, flowers, and other types of herbs, cool and light in leaves, fruits, seeds, barks, flowers and other types of herbs, neutral and sweet in barks, neutral and astringent in whole herbs and stems, neutral and light in leaves, fruits, seeds, and flowers, neutral and sour in whole herbs, stems, barks, flowers, and other types of herbs, and hot and pungent in whole herbs, stems, flowers, and other types of herbs. When analyzing by harvest season alone, significant correlations were found in the following cases: cold and salty, and cool and sour in herbs harvested in winter, and neutral and salty in herbs harvested year-round. However, no significant correlation was found between cool and light in herbs harvested in winter. When considering both medicinal parts and harvest seasons, compared to the independent influence of medicinal parts, 14 new significant correlations emerged(e.g., the correlation between cool and bitter in stems harvested in spring), while 53 previously significant correlations disappeared(e.g., the correlation between cool and bitter in barks harvested in summer). Compared to the independent influence of harvest seasons, 11 new significant correlations appeared(e.g., the correlation between cold and light in barks harvested in autumn), while 50 previously significant correlations disappeared(e.g., the correlation between hot and pungent in leaves harvested in winter). This study is the first to reveal the influence of medicinal parts and harvest seasons on the correlation between nature and flavor in PCMM, which highlights that these two factors can interact and jointly affect nature-flavor correlations. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms. This study provides a deeper understanding of the inherent scientific connotations of herbal properties and offers a theoretical foundation for the cultivation and harvesting of PCMM.
Seasons ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Taste

Microorganisms can form biofilms, complex, heterogeneous, multicellular communities that adhere to surfaces. Biofilm formation on the surface of structures in water will accelerate structures’ corrosion, seriously affect their service efficiency and life, and significantly impact the growth of animals, plants, and human life. Hence, clarifying the mechanism of biofilm formation contributes to developing new strategies to control biofilm formation on surface and then reduce infections, biofouling, and contaminations. Biofilm-targeting strategies include the regulation of established biofilms or the modulation of single-cell attachment. In most studies, physicochemical mechanism is frequently applied to explain the initial bacterial adhesion phenomena but rarely to explain other stages of biofilm formation. This review presents a five-step comprehensive description of the physicochemical process from film formation to biofilm maturation: (1) period of film formation; (2) period of bacterial adhesion; (3) period of extracellular-polymeric-substances (EPSs) membrane formation; (4) period of regulating biofilm by quorum sensing (QS); (5) period of biofilm maturation. We first clarify how the film formed by compound molecules affects the surface’s physicochemical properties and initial adhesion, summarizing many factors that affect bacterial adhesion. We then review the types of EPSs and signal molecules secreted by bacteria after irreversible adhesion, as well as their role and QS mechanism in biofilm maturation. Finally, we discuss how bacteria or microcolonies separate from the mature biofilm by physicochemical action and summarize the morphology and adhesion characterization methods after the biofilm matures. This review redefines the role of physicochemical in the whole process of biofilm formation and provides a theoretical basis for the prevention, removal, and utilization of biofilm and other related research fields.

italic>Lamiophlomis rotata is an important medicinal plant species endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, which is prone to strong climate change impacts on its habitable range due to the high sensitivity of the Tibetan Plateau to climate change. Accurate quantification of species vulnerability to climate change is essential for assessing species extinction risk and developing effective conservation strategies. Therefore, we carried out the α-shape analysis to determine the habitat of L. rotata. We then carried out the climate-niche factor analysis (CNFA) to assess the vulnerability of L. rotata to climate change based on five climate variables (i.e., mean diurnal range, temperature seasonality, mean temperature of warmest quarter, precipitation of driest month and precipitation of warmest quarter) in the context of two shared socioeconomic pathways (i.e., SSP126 and SSP585) and three global climate models (CMCC-ESM2: Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici-Earth System Model version 2; HadGEM3-GC31-LL: Hadley Global Environment Model version 3-Global Coupled configuration 3.1; IPSL-CM6A-LR: Institut Pierre Simon Laplace-Climate Model version 6) during two different periods (2041-2060 and 2081-2100). The vulnerability of L. rotata to climate change was calculated by integrating the sensitivity and exposure indices of L. rotata to five climate variables. The results showed that L. rotata had the highest vulnerability to the precipitation of warmest quarter. Its vulnerability within its habitat range generally showed a spatial pattern of high value in the southern region and low in the northern region, high in the western region and low in the eastern region. In general, the vulnerability of L. rotata under the SSP585 scenario was higher than that under the SSP126 scenario. The climate data of different global climate models have some influence on the results, while the resulted uncertainty can be reduced by data integration methods. As a result of climate change, the pressure on the survival of L. rotata in the future will be intensified in the low-altitude areas such as the Yarlung Zangbo River, Yigongzangbu River, Zayu River, and Jiaomuzu River, etc., while the highly weathered scree flats or stony alpine meadows in the high-altitude zones, such as the eastern Tanggula Mountain Range, the northern part of Hengduan Mountain Range, and the western part of the Qinling Mountains, may become its refuge. It is necessary to focus on and strengthen the protection and management of L. rotata resources in these vulnerble and critical areas.

Objective:To explore the role of NK cells in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell micro-transplantation(MST)in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods:Data from 93 AML patients treated with MST at our center from 2013-2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The induction regimen was anthracycline and cytarabine combined with peripheral blood stem cells transplantation mobilization by granulocyte colony stimulating factor(GPBSC),followed by 2-4 courses of intensive treatment with medium to high doses of cytarabine combined with GPBSC after achieving complete remission(CR).The therapeutic effects of one and two courses of MST induction therapy on 42 patients who did not reach CR before transplantation were evaluated.Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of donor NK cell dose and KIR genotype,including KIR ligand mismatch,2DS1,haplotype,and HLA-Cw ligands on survival prognosis of patients.Results:Forty-two patients received MST induction therapy,and the CR rate was 57.1％after 1 course and 73.7％after 2 courses.Multivariate analysis showed that,medium and high doses of NK cells was significantly associated with improved disease-free survival(DFS)of patients(HR=0.27,P=0.005;HR=0.21,P=0.001),and high doses of NK cells was significantly associated with improved overall survival(OS)of patients(HR=0.15,P=0.000).Donor 2DS1 positive significantly increases OS of patients(HR=0.25,P=0.011).For high-risk patients under 60 years old,patients of the donor-recipient KIR ligand mismatch group had longer DFS compared to the nonmismatch group(P=0.036);donor 2DS1 positive significantly prolonged OS of patients(P=0.009).Conclusion:NK cell dose,KIR ligand mismatch and 2DS1 influence the therapeutic effect of MST,improve the survival of AML patients.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic disease seriously impairing the quality of life in patients. Expectations to allow the hopeless central nervous system to repair itself after injury are unfeasible. Developing new approaches to regenerate the central nervous system is still the priority. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-Exo) have been proven to robustly quench the inflammatory response or oxidative stress and curb neuronal apoptosis and autophagy following SCI, which are the key processes to rescue damaged spinal cord neurons and restore their functions. Nonetheless, MSC-Exo in SCI received scant attention. In this review, we reviewed our previous work and other studies to summarize the roles of MSC-Exo in SCI and its underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we also focus on the application of exosomes as drug carrier in SCI. In particular, it combs the advantages of exosomes as a drug carrier for SCI, imaging advantages, drug types, loading methods, etc., which provides the latest progress for exosomes in the treatment of SCI, especially drug carrier.

Objective:To investigate serum long non-coding RNA H19(lncRNA H19),microRNA-140-5p(miR-140-5p)expression levels in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage,and their correlation with cognitive dysfunction.Methods:A total of 131 elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage who were treated in Gezhouba Central Hospital of Sinop-harm between January 2020 and January 2022 were selected.According to score of Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),the patients were divided into normal cognitive function group(n=79,MMSE score≥ 26 points)and cognitive dysfunction group(n=52,MMSE score＜26 points);another 60 cases undergoing physical examination simultaneously were regarded as the control group.General data were collected in all groups,the serum expression levels of lncRNA H19 and miR-140-5p were measured;the correlation among MMSE score,serum expression levels of lncRNA H19 and miR-140-5p was analyzed by Pearson method;multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze risk factors of cog-nitive dysfunction in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage.Results:Compared with the normal cognitive function group,patients in cognitive dysfunction group had significant higher score of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)and serum lncRNA H19 expression,and significant lower MMSE score and miR-140-5p expression(P＜0.001 all).In patients with cognitive dysfunction,MMSE score was inversely correlated with serum lncRNA H19 expression level(r=-0.643,P＜0.001),and positively correlated with miR-140-5p expression level(r=0.612,P＜0.001),and ln-cRNA H19 expression was inversely correlated with miR-140-5p expression(r=-0.561,P＜0.001).Multivariate Lo-gistic regression analysis indicated that lncRNA H19 was independent risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage(OR=2.576,P=0.002),while miR-140-5p was its independent protective factor(OR=0.659,P=0.038).Conclusion:Serum lncRNA H19 and miR-140-5p expression levels are closely associated with cog-nitive dysfunction in elderly patients with cerebral hemorrhage,and their detection may have important significance for clinical assessment of these patients.

Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Skull ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Blindness ; Treatment Outcome ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical effect of percutaneous minimally invasive osteotomy with 8-shaped bandage and hallux valgus splint fixation in treating moderate hallux valgus. METHODS: Totally 23 patients with moderate hallux valgus were treated with percutaneous minimally invasive osteotomy with 8-shaped bandage and hallux valgus splint fixation from August 2019 to January 2021, and 1 patient was loss to follow-up, and finally 22 patients(30 feet) were included, 4 males (6 feet) and 18 females(24 feet), aged from 27 to 66 years old with an average of(50.59±11.95) years old. Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsal span (the distance between the first and the fifth metatarsal bones), changed of soft tissue width, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were collected and compared before operation and 6 months after operation. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were followed up from 5.7 to 6.4 months with an average of (6.13±0.85) months. The first metatarsal osteotomy of patients were obtained bone union, and deformity of the toes was corrected. Complications such as avascular necrosis of metatarsal head and transfer metatarsalgia were not occurred. Postoperative HVA, IMA, metatarsal span, soft tissue width, VAS, AOFAS score at 6 months were significantly improved compared with pre-operation (P<0.01). According to AOFAS score at 6 months after operation, 10 feet were excellent, 18 good and 2 poor. Two feet with poor were excellent after prolonged 8-shaped bandage and hallux valgus splint fixation time. CONCLUSION Percutaneous minimally invasive osteotomy with 8-shaped bandage and hallux valgus splint fixation for the treatment of moderate hallux valgus could better correct deformity of hallux valgus, relieve foot symptoms, good recovery of postoperative function, and has a significant clinical efficacy.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Hallux Valgus/diagnostic imaging* ; Splints ; Radiography ; Bunion ; Treatment Outcome ; Metatarsal Bones/surgery* ; Osteotomy ; Bandages

Decompression, Surgical ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Laser Therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the effect of differentiation osteogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (De-BMSCs) transplantation on the promotion of bone formation at the tendon-bone interface after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and further explored the molecular mechanism of the enhanced osteogenic effect of De-BMSCs.Methods:BMSCs from femur and tibia of New Zealand White rabbit were subjected to osteogenic induction and then cultured in no osteogenic factor medium; the obtained cell population was termed De-BMSCs. De-BMSCs were induced into osteo-, chondro-and adipo-differentiation in vitro to examine the characteristics of primitive stem cells. ACLR model with a semitendinosus tendon were performed in 48 adult rabbits, three groups were established: control group with alginate gel injectionat the tendon-bone interface, BMSCs group with the injection of alginate gel containing BMSCs, De-BMSCs group with the injection of alginate gel containing De-BMSCs. At 4 and 12 weeks after surgery, rabbits in each group were sacrificed to evaluate tendon-bone healing by histologic staining, micro-CT examination, and biomechanical test. During osteogenic differentiation of De-BMSCs, si-RNA of nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATc2) si-RNA of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) were used to verify the molecular mechanism of enhanced osteogenic effect of De-BMSCs.Results:De-BMSCs exhibited some properties similar to BMSCs including multiple differentiation potential and cell surface marker. At 4 weeks after surgery, the BV/TV value of the De-BMSCs group 0.36±0.01 was significantly higher than that of the control group 0.24±0.03 and BMSCs group 0.30±0.02 (all P<0.05), and the maximum load 40.34±1.19 N and stiffness 20.67±2.14 N/mm were significantly higher than those in the control group 14.88±2.74N, 8.67±2.19 N/mm and the BMSCs group 26.31±1.76 N, 13.81±2.14 N/mm (all P<0.05). At 12 weeks after surgery, the BV/TV value of the De-BMSCs transplantation group 0.47±0.02 was significantly higher than that of the control group 0.30±0.02 and the BMSCs group 0.35±0.03 (all P<0.05), and the maximum load 64.46±6.69 N and stiffness 25.18±3.11 N/mm were significantly higher than those in the control group 41.01±6.12 N, 11.59±2.54 N/mm and the BMSCs group 48.21±4.12 N, 15.89±2.94 N/mm (all P<0.05). During the osteogenic differentiation of De-BMSCs, the expressions of Nanog and NFATc1 were synergistically increased which promoted interaction of NFATc1 and Osterix ( P< 0.05), resulting in the increased expression of osteoblast marker genessuch as COL1A, OCN, OPN (all P< 0.05). Conclusion:De-BMSCs transplantation could promote bone formation at the tendon-bone interface after ACLR,Nanog/NFATc1/Osterix signaling pathway mediated the enhancement of the osteogenic differentiation effect of De-BMSCs.