Medicinal plants are a valuable source of essential medicines and herbal products for healthcare and disease therapy. Compared with chemical synthesis and extraction, the biosynthesis of natural products is a very promising alternative for the successful conservation of medicinal plants, and its rapid development will greatly facilitate the conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants. Here, we summarize the advances in strategies and methods concerning the biosynthesis and production of natural products of medicinal plants. The strategies and methods mainly include genetic engineering, plant cell culture engineering, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology based on multiple "OMICS" technologies, with paradigms for the biosynthesis of terpenoids and alkaloids. We also highlight the biosynthetic approaches and discuss progress in the production of some valuable natural products, exemplifying compounds such as vindoline (alkaloid), artemisinin and paclitaxel (terpenoids), to illustrate the power of biotechnology in medicinal plants.

Objective:To investigate the effect of sleep on physical performance and the correlation between sleep quality and physical performance in the elderly.Methods:In this prospective multicenter case-control study, 472 elderly people aged 60-80 years were recruited from three regions in China, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hainan Province.Basic information of study participants was collected through face-to-face interviews, and physical performance of study participants was assessed by the time up and go(TUG)test on site, with 106 cases(22.5%)in the normal physical performance group and 366 cases(77.5%)in the abnormal group.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS)were applied to assess sleep quality of study subjects.Correlation analysis was performed to examine factors affecting subjects' physical performance.Results:Age, history of alcohol consumption, BMI, past medical history, the ESS score, daytime sleepiness, and some components of PSQI, such as sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping drugs and daytime dysfunction, were influencing factors of the TUG score.Two components of PSQI, sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency, and the ESS score were positively correlated with physical performance.Logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors for decreased physical performance in the elderly included increased age( OR=1.125, 95% CI: 1.083-1.168, P<0.01), history of alcohol consumption( OR=0.482, 95% CI: 0.384-0.605, P<0.001), abnormally high body mass index( OR=1.663, 95% CI: 1.340-2.063, P<0.01), hyperlipemia( OR=0.156, 95% CI: 0.077-0.318, P<0.01), digestive system diseases( OR=0.154, 95% CI: 0.044-0.532, P<0.01), use of sleeping drugs( OR=0.415, 95% CI: 0.202-0.854, P<0.05), daytime sleepiness( OR=4.234, 95% CI: 2.800-6.403, P<0.01), a high habitual sleep efficiency score of PSQI( OR=1.425, 95% CI: 1.214-1.672, P<0.01)and a high sleep disturbances score in PSQI( OR=3.356, 95% CI: 2.337-4.819, P<0.01). Conclusions:The incidence of physical performance decline is high in the elderly.There is a correlation between physical performance and sleep quality.

Objective: Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery. Methodology: Ten NAFLD participants were studied at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. Blood samples were collected for serum biomarkers and metabolomic profiling. Hepatic steatosis [proton density fat fraction (PDFF)] and fibroinflammation (cT1) were quantified with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and hepatic stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Eight participants provided complete data. At baseline, all had hepatic steatosis (BMI 39.3 ± 5.6 kg/m2, PDFF ≥ 5%). Post-surgery reductions in PDFF (from 12.4 ± 6.7% to 6.2 ± 2.8%, p = 0.013) and cT1 (from 823.3 ± 85.4ms to 757.5 ± 41.6ms, p = 0.039) were significant, along with the GSG index (from 0.272 ± 0.03 to 0.157 ± 0.05, p = 0.001). Conclusion The GSG index can potentially be developed as a marker for monitoring the response of patients with NAFLD to bariatric surgery.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Amino Acids ; Metabolomics

Objective To investigate the risk factors for complications within 1 year after carotid artery stenting(CAS),construct a prediction model for these complications based on the identi-fied risk factors,and then validate the efficacy of the model.Methods A retrospective trial was conducted on 313 patients undergoing CAS in our hospital between January 2017 and December 2021.Based on the sequence of postoperative follow-up visits,these patients were categorized into a modeling group(235 cases)and a validation group(78 cases)in a ratio of 3∶1,and the patients of the modeling group was further assigned into non-complication(182 cases)and complication subgroups(53 cases).The general data were compared between the modeling and balidation groups,and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify risk factors for the risk factors for the complications,and then a prediction model was constructed using logistic scoring.ROC curve analysis was employed to evaluate the performance of the model by using AUC value.Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that non-compli-ance with antiplatelet medication(OR=65.656,95％CI:12.052-357.683,P=0.000),and abnor-mal BMI(OR=2.298,95％CI:1.023-5.163,P=0.044),cigarette history(OR=5.965,95％CI:2.527-14.079,P=0.000),and high LDL-C(OR=6.290,95％CI:1.828-21.645,P=0.004)were independent risk factors for complications occurrence within 1 year after CAS surgery.The AUC value was 0.827 for the modeling group and 0.806 for the validation group.Conclusion Non-com-pliance to antiplatelet medication,abnormal BMI,smoking history,and high LDL-C level are inde-pendent risk factors for complications occurrence within 1 year after CAS.Our developed ABCD risk prediction model demonstrates good discrimination and accuracy,and can provide valuable guid-ance for the early identification and prevention of complications following CAS surgery in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GHET1 on autophagy and drug resistance to cisplatin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).Methods:Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) data and the related clinical information of tumor samples from 504 HNSCC patients and 43 matched paracancerous tissues (> 2 cm from the tumor primary site margin) were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The data was updated in August 2022. R software was used to analyze the differences of GHET1 expression in cancer tissues, paracancerous tissues and 43 HNSCC matched samples. The data of 32 middle and advanced HNSCC patients who were eligible for surgery in Fujian Cancer Hospital from January 2019 to June 2023 were collected, and the differences of GHET1 expression between 14 patients insensitive to chemotherapy and 18 sensitive to chemotherapy were compared. Human HNSCC cell lines FaDu and Cal27 were selected to establish cisplatin-resistant HNSCC cell lines FADU-DDP-R and CAL27-DDP-R. The cells were transfected with siRNA targeting GHET1 (corresponding siRNA group), and the control group was transfected with negative control siNC. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expression level of GHET1 and Beclin-1mRNA. The expressions of Beclin-1, LC3-Ⅰ/Ⅱ, p63 and GAPDH protein were detected by using Western blot. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenosine (3-MA) was used to treat FADU-DDP-R and CAL27-DDP-R cell lines; the half inhibitory concentration ( IC50), the expression differences of GHET1, Beclin-1 mRNA and autophagy related protein of cisplatin were compared between the drug-resistant cell lines and the drug-resistant cell lines of the 3-MA group. Results:In TCGA database, the relative expression level of GHET1 in 504 HNSCC tissues was higher than that in 43 paracancerous tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 2.57, P < 0.05); the relative expression level of GHET1 in 43 HNSCC tissues was higher than that in the paired paracancerous tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.24, P = 0.002). The relative expression level of GHET1 in HNSCC of 18 patients in chemotherapy-sensitive group and 14 patients in chemotherapy-insensitive group was 1.01±0.12 and 2.05±0.26, respectively, and the expression of GHET1 in the chemotherapy-insensitive group was higher than that in the chemotherapy-sensitive group ( t = 15.45, P < 0.001). IC50 of FaDu and FADU-DDP-R cell lines was (35.6±1.9) μmol/L and (86.2±2.7) μmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 26.64, P < 0.001). The IC50 of Cal27 and CAL27-DDP-R cell lines was (68.8±8.9) μmol/L and (115.0±8.2) μmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 6.60, P < 0.01). The relative expression levels of GHET1 in FaDu and FADU-DDP-R cell lines were 1.00±0.10 and 3.57±0.07, respectively ( t = 33.85, P < 0.001), and the relative expression level of GHET1 in FADU-DDP-R cell lines was higher than that in FaDu cell lines. The relative expression levels of GHET1 in Cal27 and Cal27-DDP-R cell lines were 1.00±0.08 and 2.06±0.11, respectively ( t = 13.25, P < 0.001), and the relative expression level of GHET1 in Cal27-DDP-R cell lines was higher than that in Cal27 cell lines. Western blot showed that the relative expression levels of autophagy related proteins Beclin-1, LC3-Ⅰ, LC3-Ⅱ and p63 in FADU-DDP-R and CAL27-DDP-R cell lines were higher than those in FaDu and Cal27 cell lines (all P < 0.05). The results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression levels of GHET1 in FADU-DDP-R cell lines in the control group and siGHET1 group were 1.00±0.12 and 0.20±0.06, respectively ( t = 10.52, P < 0.001). The relative expression levels of GHET1 in CAL27-DDP-R cell lines in the control group and siGHET1 group were 1.00±0.09 and 0.51±0.03, respectively ( t = 8.90, P < 0.001). The relative expression level of GHET1 in the knockdown group of the 2 cell lines was lower than that of the corresponding drug-resistant cell lines. The relative expression levels of Beclin-1 mRNA in FADU-DDP-R cell line in the control group and siGHET1 group were 1.00±0.09 and 0.60±0.07, respectively ( t = 6.08, P < 0.01); the relative expression levels of Beclin-1 mRNA in Cal27-DDP-R cell lines in the control group and siGHET1 group were 1.00±0.14 and 0.65±0.04, respectively ( t = 4.31, P < 0.05); the relative expression levels of Beclin-1 mRNA in drug-resistant cell lines after knocking down GHET1 were lower than those in corresponding drug-resistant cell lines. Western blot showed that the relative expression levels of Beclin-1, LC3-Ⅰ, LC3-Ⅱ and p63 in the knockdown group of drug-resistant cell lines were lower than those in the corresponding drug-resistant cells group. The cisplatin IC50 of drug-resistant cell lines in siGHET1 group was lower than that of the corresponding drug-resistant cell lines (all P < 0.05), and the cisplatin IC50 of drug-resistant cell lines in 3-MA group was lower than that of the corresponding drug-resistant cell lines (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:LncRNA GHET1 could induce the resistance to cisplatin by activating the autophagy in HNSCC.

【Objective】 To explore the relationship between chronic comorbidity and the physical and mental health of relatives of elderly people during the nursing home confinement, and to analyze the mediating effects of perceived stress and intolerance of uncertainty in this context. 【Methods】 A total of 568 family members of elderly people in nine elderly institutions in Shaanxi Province were selected. The survey included the short version of the Perceived Stress Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and The World Health Organization-5 Well-being Index. The data were analyzed with Stata for correlation and mediation effects. 【Results】 ① The comorbidities of chronic diseases was positively correlated with the perceived stress (r=0.16, P<0.001) and intolerance of uncertainty (r=0.11, P=0.006) of the family members, but negatively correlated with the physical and mental health of the family members (r=-0.13, P=0.002). ② The mediating effect of perceived stress between chronic disease co-morbidity and physical and mental health of family members in older adults was -0.023, accounting for 18.8% of the total effect; the mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty between chronic disease co-morbidity and physical and mental health of family members in older adults was -0.041, accounting for 33.5% of the total effect. 【Conclusion】 During closed management in a nursing facility, the physical and mental health of family members of older adults with chronic co-morbidities is poorer than that of family members of non-chronic co-morbidities. And it can lead to a decline in physical and mental health of family members through increased perceived stress and intolerance of uncertainty.

RNA ; CRISPR-Cas Systems

Objective : To explore the role of Argonaute ( Ago) gene and RNA⁃Dependent RNA Polymerase (RDRP) gene of Aspergillus flavus in the growth and development about the RNAi mechanism . Methods : A. flavus Ago1 , Ago2 , RDRP1 , RDRP3 gene mutant strains were constructed by homologous recombination . The growth and development of the mutant strains were observed on potato dextrose agar(PDA) + uracil uridine (UU) medium inoculated with 3 μl 106 CFU/mL spores . 200 , 400 μg cell wall pressure agent conidored ( CR) , 0. 8 mol/L , 1 . 6 mol/L osmotic pressure agent NaCl , 2 mmol/L , 4 mmol/L oxidative pressure agent hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and 0. 01% , 0. 02% genomic damage agent methyl mesylate (MMS) were added to the Yeast extract Glucose Minimum (YGM) + UU medium to analyze the stress response of the mutant strains . Results : A. flavus mutant strains about ΔAgo1 , ΔAgo2 , ΔRDRP1 , ΔRDRP3 were successfully constructed and its growth and development were normal . The ΔAgo1 and ΔAgo2 strains reduced the stress effects on cell wall and osmotic pressure compared to the control . Ago1 gene deletion reduced the effect of H2 O2 , and conversely RDRP3 gene deletion increased the inhibition of H2 O2 . The Ago2 and RDRP1 strains reduced the effect on genetic damage agent . In addition , ΔRDRP1 increased the effect of osmotic stress . Conclusion The Ago1 , Ago2 , RDRP1 and RDRP3 genes of A. flavus are not in⁃ volved in the regulation of growth rate and asexual reproduction and can participate in the regulating of the host stress response to the environment .

Objective:To explore the effect of hanging electronic baking lamp on the quality and progress of flap recovery in patients with hand injury flap repair.Methods:A total of 180 patients undergoing hand injury flap repair in Yantaishan Hospital in Yantai City from January 2019 to May 2022 were selected as the research objects by the convenient sampling method. They were divided into the control group and the observation group, with 90 cases in each group. The control group was treated with routine nursing combined with ordinary baking lamp nursing, while the observation group was treated with routine nursing combined with hanging electronic baking lamp nursing. The postoperative flap recovery quality (survival rate, healing grade) and recovery process (exudation drying time, the regression time of swelling , the healing time of flap wound) were compared between the two groups.Results:In the control group, 85 flaps survived, with a survival rate of 94.44% (85/90) ; in the observation group, 87 flaps survived, with a survival rate of 96.67% (87/90) ; there was no statistically significant difference in the results between the two groups ( P>0.05) . In the control group, there were 43 cases of grade A skin flap healing, 26 cases of grade B skin flap healing and 21 cases of grade C skin flap healing; in the observation group, 63 cases had grade A healing, 16 cases had grade B healing and 11 cases had grade C healing; there was statistically significant difference in the level of skin flap healing between the two groups of patients ( P<0.05) . The exudation drying time were (3.79±1.22) d in the observation group and (3.21±1.38) d in the control group; the regression time of swelling were (5.23±1.06) d in the observation group and (3.89±1.19) d in the control group; the healing time of the flap wound in the observation group was (12.36±2.58) d, while in the control group it was (8.98±1.47) d; the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The use of a hanging electronic baking lamp after surgery can improve the quality of skin flap recovery for patients undergoing hand injury flap repair and accelerate their recovery progress.

ObjectiveTo explore the features and assessment for far space neglect in left spatial neglect patients after right brain stroke. MethodsFrom January to October, 2021, 30 left unilateral spatial neglect (USN) patients after right stroke (patients, n = 30) from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital and healthy volunteers matching with gender, age and level of education (controls, n = 30) were evaluated with line cancelation (LC), star cancelation (SC) and line bisection (LB) tests, nearly and far away. The 25 controls were evaluated with LB on the second day. ResultsNo line or star was omissed in the controls. Both the deviation and percentage were more in the patients than in the controls (|t| > 4.319, P < 0.001). Both the deviation and percentage were less different for all the test (|Z| < 1.638, t = -1.282, P > 0.05) between nearly and far away, except the deviation of LB (t = -4.994, P < 0.001). The ICC of test-retest was above 0.462 (P < 0.01). ConclusionRight brain stroke patients with USN may present far spatial neglect, which can be assessed with LB.