OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) on gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with constipation. METHODS: A total of 80 PD patients with constipation were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. Additionally, 40 healthy individuals were recruited as a healthy control group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment for PD combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG), once daily for eight weeks. The observation group received additional ACE treatment at bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), and Shangjuxu (ST37), once every two weeks for eight weeks. The healthy control group received no intervention. The spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week and patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL) scores were assessed at baseline and after treatment in the two groups. Fecal samples were collected at the end of treatment for the observation and the control groups and at baseline for the healthy control group. Gut microbiota composition and diversity were analyzed using 16S rRNA method, and SCFA levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the observation group showed a significant increase in SBMs (P<0.01), and PAC-QOL scores including physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern, and total score were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment; the control group also showed a reduction in PAC-QOL total score after treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the observation group had significantly more SBMs (P<0.01), and lower PAC-QOL physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worry and concern scores, and total score (P<0.01), and higher PAC-QOL satisfaction score (P<0.01) than the control group. Compared with the healthy control group, the control group showed decreased Chao1 and Ace indices (P<0.01). Compared with the healthy control group, the relative abundance of Prevotella and Roseburia was increased (P<0.05), while that of Enterobacter and Ruminococcus torques (six species in total) was decreased (P<0.05) in the control group. Compared with the control group, the observation group had increased relative abundance of Dialister, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques (P<0.05), and decreased relative abundance of Prevotella and Eubacterium ruminantium (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, the control group had increased fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05); compared with the control group, the observation group had reduced fecal SCFA levels (P<0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were elevated in the control group (P<0.05); compared with the control group, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were decreased in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION ACE could increase spontaneous bowel movements and improve the quality of life in PD patients with constipation, which may be related to the regulation of gut microbiota composition and SCFA levels.
Humans ; Constipation/metabolism* ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Acupuncture Points ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease/complications* ; Aged ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism* ; Catgut ; Feces/microbiology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Quality of Life ; Adult

The focus of green analytical chemistry (GAC) is to minimize the negative impacts of analytical procedures on human safety, human health, and the environment. Several factors, such as the reagents used, sample collection, sample processing, instruments, energy consumed, and the quantities of hazardous materials and waste generated during analytical procedures, need to be considered in the evaluation of the greenness of analytical assays. In this study, we propose a greenness evaluation metric for analytical methods (GEMAM). The new greenness metric is simple, flexible, and comprehensive. The evaluation criteria are based on both the 12 principles of GAC (SIGNIFICANCE) and the 10 factors of sample preparation, and the results are presented on a 0-10 scale. The GEMAM calculation process is easy to perform, and its results are easy to interpret. The output of GEMAM is a pictogram that can provide both qualitative and quantitative information based on color and number.

Diabetic retinopathy, a prevalent and vision-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of blindness among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Natural diterpenoids isolated from Siegesbeckia pubescens demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to identify novel bioactive diterpenoids from S. pubescens and investigate their effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in diabetic retinopathy, both in vitro and in vivo. Three new ent-pimarane-type diterpenoids (1-3) and six known compounds (4-9) were isolated from the aerial parts of S. pubescens. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic data interpretation, and absolute configurations were determined by comparing calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Among these compounds, 14β,16-epoxy-ent-3β,15α,19-trihydroxypimar-7-ene (5) exhibited the most potent protective effect against high glucose and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated human retinal endothelial cells. Mechanistically, compound 5 promoted endothelial cell survival while ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammatory response in diabetic retinopathy, both in vivo and in vitro. These findings not only suggest that diterpenoids such as compound 5 are important anti-inflammatory constituents in S. pubescens, but also indicate that compound 5 may serve as a lead compound for preventing or treating vascular complications associated with diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy/metabolism* ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Animals ; Diterpenes, Kaurane/administration & dosage* ; Asteraceae/chemistry* ; Male ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Abietanes/administration & dosage* ; Molecular Structure ; Mice ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective: To investigate protective effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on ethanol-induced DNA damage in L02 cells, so as to provide the evidence for adjuvant therapy of NMN on alcoholic liver diseases. Methods: L02 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of NMN (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mmol/L) for 6 h, and then were exposed to 0.4% ethanol for 12 h. The treated cells were divided into the control group, 0.4% ethanol group and different concentrations of NMN groups. Cell viability was analyzed using trypan blue staining for determining the concentration of NMN as a protective agent. The effects of NMN on ethanol-induced DNA damage in L02 cells were evaluated using immunofluorescence detection and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay. L02 cells were exposed to 0.4% ethanol for 12 h, cultured in a medium containing a protective concentration of NMN, and divided into PBS group and NMN group. Cell viability was detected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 h, and the effects of NMN on repairing ethanol-induced DNA damage were evaluated by alkaline comet assay. Results: The cell viability was lower in 0.4% ethanol group than than in the control group, and was higher in different concentrations of NMN groups than in 0.4% ethanol group (all P<0.05), with no significant difference in the cells viability between 4 mmol/L and higher concentrations of NMN groups and the control group (all P>0.05). Therefore, 4 mmol/L NMN was selected as a protective agent. The cell tail moments, relative immunofluorescence intensities of γH2AX and relative levels of ROS were higher in 0.4% ethanol group than in the control group, and lower in 4 mmol/L and higher concentrations of NMN groups than in 0.4% ethanol group (all P<0.05). The cell viability was increased and the cell tail moment was shortened with the increase of 4 mmol/L NMN intervention time; and the cell viability in 4 h and more of NMN groups were higher, and the cell tail moment were lower than that in PBS group (all P<0.05). Conclusions NMN attenuates DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner and promotes the repair of DNA damage in a time-dependent manner. NMN has a protective effect on ethanol-induced DNA damage in hepatocytes.

The Brodmann area(BA)-based map is one of the most widely used cortical maps for studies of human brain functions and in clinical practice;however,the molecular architecture of BAs remains unknown.The present study provided a global multiregional proteomic map of the human cerebral cortex by analyzing 29 BAs.These 29 BAs were grouped into 6 clusters based on similarities in proteomic patterns:the motor and sensory cluster,vision cluster,auditory and Broca's area cluster,Wernicke's area cluster,cingulate cortex cluster,and heterogeneous function cluster.We identified 474 cluster-specific and 134 BA-specific signature proteins whose functions are closely associated with specialized functions and disease vulnerability of the corresponding clus-ter or BA.The findings of the present study could provide explanations for the functional connec-tions between the anterior cingulate cortex and sensorimotor cortex and for anxiety-related function in the sensorimotor cortex.The brain transcriptome and proteome comparison indicates that they both could reflect the function of cerebral cortex,but show different characteristics.These pro-teomic data are publicly available at the Human Brain Proteome Atlas(www.brain-omics.com).Our results may enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of brain functions and provide an important resource to support human brain research.

Objective:To monitor and investigate the long-term growth trend and nutritional status of very preterm infants (VPIs, born at gestational age between [28~31 +] weeks) with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) from birth to preschool period. Methods:VPIs who met with the following criteria were enrolled: infants born in Huai'an Maternity and Child Heath Care Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2015; infants admitted to the Neonatal Medical Center and discharged alive; infants who received multi-disciplinary treatment in Child Care Division from discharge to preschool period. All of the VPIs were divided into the EUGR group and the non-EUGR group according to whether the weight at hospital discharge was below the 10 th percentile for corrected age in body weight. The weight for age Z score (WAZ), height for age Z score (HAZ), and head circumference for age Z score (HCZ) were calculated at each specified time point (at 40 weeks of age; at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 24 months of corrected age; and at 48 months of age). The growth trend and the nutritional status at 48 months of age were compared between the two groups. Results:1. A total of 53 VPIs were enrolled, among whom 35 cases were boys and 20 cases were with EUGR. The differences in the gestational age, birth weight, incidence of very low birth weight infants, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were all statistically significant between the EUGR group and the control group ( x 2= 2.306, 3.543, 10.852, 9.515, 0.001, respectively; all P<0.05). 2. The WAZ and HAZ of the EUGR group were lower at each time point. The WAZ at 40 weeks of age and the HAZ at 3 months of corrected age were significantly different between the two groups. From 40 weeks of age to 2 months of corrected age and from 6 months to 24 months of corrected age, the WAZ, HAZ and HCZ in both groups showed an increasing trend. However, the WAZ in the EUGR group and the WAZ, HAZ and HCZ in the non-EUGR group showed a declining trend from 24 months of corrected age to 48 months of age. 3. There was no significant differences in growth restriction incidence at each time point between the EUGR group and the control group. 4. The nutritional status showed no significant difference between the two groups, either ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Low gestational age, low birth weight, NRDS and BPD are the risk factors of EUGR. The growth trend of the EUGR VPIs shows an overall upward trend from hospital discharge to 24 months of corrected age but declined thereafter, while the nutritional status is good at 48 months of age. Thus, in addition to the integrated management, continuous monitoring of long-term growth and nutrient input after 24 months of age is required for VPIs.

OBJECTIVE：To investigate the effects of Buyang huanwu decoction on lipid metabolism and hepatic tissue in hyperlipemia model rats. METHODS ：Male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group ，model group ，positive control group （simvastatin 0.004 g/kg），Buyang huanwu decoction low-dose and high-dose groups （3.5，14.0 g/kg，by crude drugs），with 10 rats in each group. Except that blank control group was given water intragastrically ，hyperlipidemia mode of other groups was established by intragastric administration of fat emulsion according to the body weight. From the 21st day after modeling，the rats in each group were given water or fat emulsion in the morning and water or corresponding drugs in the afternoon for consecutive 20 days. After last medication ，the contents of TG ，TC，LDL-C，ALT，AST，LCAT，PLTP and HL in plasma were determined in each group ；the contents of LPL ，MTP and HMG-CoA redutase in liver tissue were also determined. The pathological changes of liver tissue were observed in each group. RESULTS ：Compared with blank control group ，the contents of TG ，TC，LDL-C，ALT and HMG-CoA reductase were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），while the contents of HL ，LPL and MTP were decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group ，the contents of TG ，TC， LDL-C and HMG-CoA reductase in administration groups as well as the contents of ALT ，AST in Buyang huanwu decoction low-dose and high-dose groups were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；the contents of HL and MTP in administration groups as well as the content of LPL in positive control group were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Pathological sections showed that the hepatocytes of model group were arranged irregularly ，and there was obvious cell steatosis. The hepatocytes in positive control group and Buyang Huanwu decoction high-dose group had almost no abnormal change compared with blank control gr oup，and there was a small amount of slight cell steatosis in Buyang Huanwu decoction low-dose group. CONCLUSIONS ： Buyang huanwu decoction has a 础。E-mail：zhang520-888@163.com significant lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipemia model rats ，which may be related to the regulation of lipid absorptiontransport and metabolism by regulating the expression of lipid 126.com metabolism related enzymes and transporter.

Objective To study the enhanced performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasouond( CEUS) parametric imaging , and to explore the diagnostic value of CEUS parametric imaging in predicting extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer( PTC) . Methods One hundred and fifty-eight PTCs in 136 patients pathologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma between January 2016 and January 2017 were enrolled in this study . According to the pathological results of extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis respectively ,the PTCs were grouped into the negative group and the positive group . The parametric imaging features of the two groups were summarized to explore the risk factors of extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis of PTCs respectively . Results The parametric imaging suggested that centripetal enhancement had a significant effect on extracapsular invasion ( P =0 .001) . While there was no difference in the perfusion start time of extracapsular invasion between the negative and positive group ( P > 0 .05 ) . Besides , there was no statistical significance in the perfusion start time and perfusion pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis between the negative and positive group (all P >0 .05) .Conclusions The parametric imaging features help predicting extracapsular invasion in PTCs . And the ones with centripetal enhancement patterns are more often with extracapsular invasion .

Objective To clarify the clinical significance of visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure (BP) of stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and fifty-two cases of stage 3-4 CKD patients with hypertension were enrolled in the study.Variability in BP was defined as the standard deviation (SD) in BP.For each patient,SD and mean BP from BP measurements were calculated at all the visits.Correlations between the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and SD in BP were analyzed by multivariable regression.Results Visit-to-visit variability in BP was significantly associated with renal function decline (P ＜ 0.05),in addition,baseline eGFR,baseline albuminuria and mean SBP during follow-up were significantly associated with renal function decline as well (all P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of CCBs used in low SD of the SBP group was higher than that in high SD of the SBP (76.1％ vs 58.2％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Visit-to-visit variability in BP is significantly associated with renal function decline.Drugs which can decrease the variability of blood pressure should be the first choice in the treatment of hypertension.

Objective To characterize the baseline status of Chinese diabetic patients based on data derived from Chinese cohort from SOLVETM study.Methods Patients with type 2 diabetes initiating basal insulin detemir at the decision of the physician were eligible for the study.Data on demographics,medical history,glycemic profile and treatment regimen at baseline were collected by physicians.Results A total of 3272 patients [female 42％,male 58％,mean age (56.2 ± 10.8) years] were included in the study.Their BMI was (25.3 ± 3.3) kg/m2.The duration of diabetes was 4.0 (0.1-27.0) years,and the duration of treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) was 3.0(0.0-20.2) years.The proportions of subjects with diabetic macro-and micro-vascular complications were 15.8％ (515 cases) and 27.1％ (866 cases),respectively.The hemoglobin Al c (HbAl c) at baseline was (8.33 ± 1.70) ％,and the fasting blood glucose (FPG) was (9.5 ± 2.6) mmol/L.Conclusions A large proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes remain in poor glycemic control,and the prevalence of diabetic complications is high,which requires optimal therapeutic strategy for the patients with suboptimal glycemic control.