In view of the few studies on the influence of Armillaria spp. infection on the content of the chemical components in different parts of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia, this study determined the biomass of P. umbellatus sclerotia and the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia and the uninfected part of the sclerotia in different harvesting years under the conditions of A. gallica and A. mellea infection respectively. According to the difference of content and dynamic changes of the polysaccharide and the steroid substances, the superior Armillaria sp. was screened to obtain the best harvest years of P. umbellatus. Using HPLC and UV-VIS spectrophotometry methods, the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in P. umbellatus sclerotia infected by the two Armillaria spp. in different years were determined. In addition, the differentially expressed genes related to P. umbellatus polysaccharide synthesis were screened according to the transcriptomic data of different parts of P. umbellatus after A. mellea infection. With the increase of years, the biomass of sclerotia infected by different Armillaria spp. had significant differences, and there were significant differences in the four components of sclerotia. The four components of the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia were significantly higher than those of the uninfected part. The best harvest time was the third year after cultivation. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the infection of Armillaria spp. could significantly promote polysaccharide synthesis, which provided a basis for polysaccharide content determination at the molecular level. The study clarified the influence of different Armillaria spp. infection on the accumulation of chemical components of P. umbellatus sclerotia, laying a foundation for exploring the symbiosis mechanism and provided a scientific clue for screening superior Armillaria sp. and guiding the artificial cultivation of P. umbellatus sclerotia.

Acupuncture, a therapeutic treatment defined as the insertion of needles into the body at specific points (ie, acupoints), has growing in popularity world-wide to treat various diseases effectively, especially acute and chronic pain. In parallel, interest in the physiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture analgesia, particularly the neural mechanisms have been increasing. Over the past decades, our understanding of how the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system process signals induced by acupuncture has developed rapidly by using electrophysiological methods. However, with the development of neuroscience, electrophysiology is being challenged by calcium imaging in view field, neuron population and visualization in vivo. Owing to the outstanding spatial resolution, the novel imaging approaches provide opportunities to enrich our knowledge about the neurophysiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia at subcellular, cellular, and circuit levels in combination with new labeling, genetic and circuit tracing techniques. Therefore, this review will introduce the principle and the method of calcium imaging applied to acupuncture research. We will also review the current findings in pain research using calcium imaging from in vitro to in vivo experiments and discuss the potential methodological considerations in studying acupuncture analgesia.
Calcium ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Analgesia/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Technology

Objective To investigate the clinical value of thyroid globulin antibody(TgAb)and thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb)in the diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC).Methods A total of 346 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent surgical treatment in the hospital from August 2012 to October 2021 were selected as the research objects.According to the postoperative pathologi-cal results,the patients were divided into the benign nodule group,PTMC group and non-micro papillary thy-roid carcinoma(PTC)group.The general data of the patients and thyroid function indexes[free triiodothyro-nine(FT3),free tetraiodothyronine(FT4),thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),TgAb and TPOAb]before and after operation were collected,the tumor recurrence or lymph node metastasis after operation were ob-served,and the relationship between serum TgAb and TPOAb and the risk and prognosis of PTMC was ana-lyzed.Results The positivity rate of TgAb in the PTMC and non-micro PTC groups was significantly higher than that in the benign nodule group(P<0.05).The TPOAb positivity rate was not significantly different among the three groups(P>0.05).Only the TSH level in the PTMC group was higher than that in the non-micro PTC group(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic analysis showed that younger age,higher TSH and positive TgAb were independent risk factors for PTMC and non-micro PTC(P<0.05).However,the risk of PTC didn't increase with increasing TgAb titres.The positivity rate of TgAb in the PTMC and non-micro PTC groups didn't change significantly within one month after operation,but decreased in one year after operation(P<0.05).The TPOAb positivity rate decreased after operation,but the difference was not statistically sig-nificant(P>0.05).In the PTMC group,four cases had tumor recurrence or lymph node metastasis,and the TgAb level increased by 88.4%,49.5%,5.7%and 84.0%respectively when the tumor recurred or metasta-sized.Among them,the TPOAb level increased by 51.6%,30.0%and 2.9%respectively in three cases and decreased by 53.9%in one case.In the PTMC group,there were 11 patients with cervical lymph node enlarge-ment,and there was no statistical difference in TgAb and TPOAb levels when the condition changed(P>0.05).Conclusion TgAb is a risk factor for PTMC,and can be followed up regularly during the diagnosis and treatment of PTMC.The specificity of TPOAb is not as good as that of TgAb,and appropriate follow-up can be chosen during the course of the disease.

Nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic methods are considered the gold standard for detecting infectious pathogens.However,when applied to portable or on-site rapid diagnostics,they still face various limitations and challenges,such as poor specificity,cumbersome operation,and portability difficulties.The CRISPR(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/CRISPR-associated protein(Cas)-fluorescence detection method holds the potential to significantly enhance the specificity and signal-to-noise ratio of nucleic acid detection.In this study,we developed a portable grayscale reader detection system based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)-CRISPR/Cas.On one hand,in the presence of CRISPR RNA(crRNA),the CRISPR/Cas12a system was employed to achieve precise fluorescent detection of self-designed LAMP amplification reactions for influenza A and influenza B viruses.This further validated the high selectivity and versatility of the CRISPR/Cas system.On the other hand,the accompanying independently developed portable grayscale reader allowed for low-cost collection of fluorescence signals and high-reliability visual interpretation.At the end of the detection process,it directly provided positive or negative results.Practical sample analyses using this detection system have verified its reliability and utility,demonstrating that this system can achieve highly sensitive and highly specific portable analysis of influenza viruses.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of the therapy of soothing liver and strengthening spleen(shortened as Shugan Jianpi therapy)in the treatment of active thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO)complicated with dry eye,and to provide a reference basis for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 108 patients with active TAO complicated with dry eye of liver depression and qi stagnation type were randomly divided into observation group and control group,54 patients in each group.Both groups were given conventional treatment for intervention of Graves'disease,and additionally the control group was given hormone shock therapy by intravenous injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate,and the observation group was treated with Chinese medicine prescription for soothing liver and strengthening spleen orally and intravenous injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate.The treatment period lasted for 12 weeks,and then the patients were followed up till to the 6th month.The changes of clinical activity score(CAS),proptosis,ocular surface disease index(OSDI),corneal fluorescein staining(FL),Schirmer I test(SIT)and tear film break-up time(BUT)in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated.Results(1)After 6 months of treatment,the total effective rate in the observation group was 94.44%(51/54)and that in the control group was 74.07%(40/54),and the intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the CAS,OSDI score and proptosis of the patients in the two groups were all lower than those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the reduction in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the indicators of tear secretion function such as SIT,FL score and BUT of patients in the two groups were improved compared with those before treatment(P＜0.01),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the differences being all statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion Shugan Jianpi therapy exerts certain clinical efficacy in treating patients with active TAO complicated with dry eye of liver depression and qi stagnation type,which can effectively relieve the proptosis,prolong the tear film break-up time,promote the secretion of tears and the repair of corneal epithelium,improve the visual function,and enhance the quality of life of the patients.

Cryoablation therapy with explicit anti-tumor mechanisms and histopathological manifestations has a long history.A large number of clinical practice has shown that cryoablation therapy is safe and effective,making it an ideal tumor treatment method in theory.Previously,its efficacy and clinical application were constrained by the limitations of refrigerants and refrigeration equipment.With the development of the new generation of cryoablation equipment represented by argon helium knives,significant progress has been made in refrigeration efficien-cy,ablation range,and precise temperature measurement,greatly promoting the progression of tumor cryoablation technology.This consensus systematically summarizes the mechanism of cryoablation technology,indications for oral mucosal melanoma(OMM)cryotherapy,clinical treatment process,adverse reactions and management,cryotherapy combination therapy,etc.,aiming to provide reference for carrying out the standardized cryoablation therapy of OMM.

Objective To compare the effects of 20 mg qd and 10 mg bidadministration of iprrazole enteric-coated tablets on the control of gastric acid in healthy subjects.Methods A randomized,single-center,parallel controlled trial was designed to include 8 healthy subjects.Randomly divided into 2 groups,20 mg qd administration group:20 mg enteric-coated tablets of iprrazole in the morning;10 mg bid administration group:10 mg enteric-coated tablets of iprrazole in the morning and 10 mg in the evening.The pH values in the stomach of the subjects before and 24 h after administration were monitored by pH meter.The plasma concentration of iprazole after administration was determined by HPLC-MS/MS.The main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin(V8.0)software.Results The PK parameters of iprrazole enteric-coated tablets and reference preparations in fasting group were as follows:The Cmax of 20 mg qd group and 10 mg bid group were(595.75±131.15)and(283.50±96.98)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(5 531.94±784.35)and(4 686.67±898.23)h·ng·mL-1;AUC0-∞ were(6 003.19±538.59)and(7 361.48±1 816.77)h·ng·mL-1,respectively.The mean time percentage of gastric pH＞3 after 20 mg qd and 10 mg bid were 82.64％and 61.92％,and the median gastric pH within 24 h were 6.25±1.49 and 3.53±2.05,respectively.The mean gastric pH values within 24 h were 5.71±1.36 and 4.23±1.45,respectively.The correlation analysis of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics showed that there was no significant correlation between the peak concentration of drug in plasma and the inhibitory effect of acid.Conclusion Compared with the 20 mg qd group and the 10 mg bid group,the acid inhibition effect is better,the administration times are less,and the safety of the two administration regimes is good.

Objective China is among the 30 countries with a high burden of tuberculosis(TB)worldwide,and TB remains a public health concern.Kashgar Prefecture in the southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region is considered as one of the highest TB burden regions in China.However,molecular epidemiological studies of Kashgar are lacking. Methods A population-based retrospective study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing(WGS)to determine the characteristics of drug resistance and the transmission patterns. Results A total of 1,668 isolates collected in 2020 were classified into lineages 2(46.0%),3(27.5%),and 4(26.5%).The drug resistance rates revealed by WGS showed that the top three drugs in terms of the resistance rate were isoniazid(7.4%,124/1,668),streptomycin(6.0%,100/1,668),and rifampicin(3.3%,55/1,668).The rate of rifampicin resistance was 1.8%(23/1,290)in the new cases and 9.4%(32/340)in the previously treated cases.Known resistance mutations were detected more frequently in lineage 2 strains than in lineage 3 or 4 strains,respectively:18.6%vs.8.7 or 9%,P<0.001.The estimated proportion of recent transmissions was 25.9%(432/1,668).Multivariate logistic analyses indicated that sex,age,occupation,lineage,and drug resistance were the risk factors for recent transmission.Despite the low rate of drug resistance,drug-resistant strains had a higher risk of recent transmission than the susceptible strains(adjusted odds ratio,1.414;95%CI,1.023-1.954;P = 0.036).Among all patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis(DR-TB),78.4%(171/218)were attributed to the transmission of DR-TB strains. Conclusion Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains are more transmissible than susceptible strains and that transmission is the major driving force of the current DR-TB epidemic in Kashgar.

Optical-neural stimulation, which encompasses cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics and infrared neurostimulation, employs distinct mechanisms to modulate brain function and behavior. These advanced neuromodulation techniques offer accurate manipulation of targeted areas, even selectively modulating specific neurons, in the brain. This makes it possible to investigate the cause-and-effect connections between neural activity and behavior, allowing for a better comprehension of the intricate brain dynamics towards complex environments. Non-human primates serve as an essential animal model for investigating these complex functions in brain research, bridging the gap between the basic research and clinical applications. One of the earliest optical studies utilizing optogenetic neuromodulation in monkeys was conducted in 2009. Since then, the optical-neural stimulations have been effectively applied in non-human primates. This review summarises recent research that employed optogenetics or infrared neurostimulation techniques to regulate brain function and behavior in non-human primates. The current state of optical-neural stimulations discussed here demonstrates their efficacy in advancing the understanding of brain systems. Nevertheless, there are still challenges that need to be addressed before they can fully achieve their potential.

Based on the genomic information of Emericella sp. 1454, in conjunction with literature analysis of its secondary metabolite emestrin, this study identified the biosynthetic precursors of emestrin and enhanced its production by supplementing the culture medium with these precursors. In this study, it was found for the first time that the addition of biosynthetic precursor, reduced glutathione, to the culture medium significantly increased emestrin yield. By incorporating 1.5 g of reduced glutathione into 50 g of rice culture medium and fermenting for 15 days, a yield of 30.82 mg of emestrin was obtained, which marked an 11.71-fold increase compared to the original fermentation approach. The method is both simple and cost-effective, establishing a solid foundation for the efficient synthesis of emestrin and similar compounds. Additionally, it serves as an important reference for enhancing the production of other epipolythiodioxopiperazine compounds.