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Byline: Tian-tian. Zhu, Chao-Nan. Zhu, Ning. Huang, Xin. Yu, Guang-rui. Wan, Shuang-xi. Wang, Ping. Song, Jian. Xu, Peng. Li, Ya-ling. Yin OBJECTIVES: This work aimed to determine tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ)'s effects [...]

The experiment was conducted to explore the extraction effect of different extraction methods on red beet polysaccharide. In the experiment, red beet was used as raw material, water extraction and alcohol precipitation method and ultrasonic assisted water extraction method were used respectively. Orthogonal design was carried out to optimize the extraction process on the basis of single factor experiment, and the effect of liquid to solid ratio, extraction temperature and extraction time on the extraction rate of red beet polysaccharide were investigated. The crude polysaccharides were purified by Sevag reagent, activated carbon and petroleum ether. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions of red beet polysaccharide by water extraction and alcohol precipitation were as follows: Liquid to solid ratio of 90 mL/g, extraction temperature of 70 °C, and an extraction time of 1.5 h. Under the conditions, the extraction yield of red beet polysaccharide was the highest, reaching 2.33%. The optimal extraction process of ultrasonic assisted water extraction was as follows: Liquid to solid ratio 40 mL/g, extraction temperature of 40 °C, extraction time of 30 min. Under the conditions, the extraction rate was 6.85%. The removal rates of protein, pigment and fat were 29.73%, 3.88% and 2.76%, respectively. The study indicates that ultrasonic assisted water extraction method is more suitable for the extraction of red beet polysaccharide with less solvent, shorter time, lower temperature and higher extraction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the scientific and technological (S&T) innovation efficiency of universities is important for the 'double first-class' construction in China. However, related research often only considers desirable outputs while ignoring undesirable ones, which tends to produce biased evaluation results. For this reason, this study takes the ratio of unemployed graduates as undesirable output, and uses the global Malmquist – Luenberger index method to evaluate the S&T innovation efficiency of 31 relevant universities in China during 2013–2017, then develops a panel Tobit model to analyse its influencing factors. The results reveal that: first, during the sample period, the S&T innovation efficiency of those universities improved overall, and technical progress was the main driver. Second, excluding undesirable output will result in an overestimate of the S&T innovation efficiency of universities. Third, the S&T innovation efficiency of universities features regional distribution, with high efficiency in the west and low efficiency in the east. Moreover, different regions have different drivers for the improvement of S&T innovation efficiency of universities, with technical progress for the east and technical efficiency changes for the central and west. Finally, the 'double first-class' construction proposal in China has significantly promoted the improvement of S&T innovation efficiency in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the data of 31 provinces in China during 2004–2015 and the models of panel threshold regression and panel quantile regression, this paper investigates the impact of China's higher education on regional carbon emissions. The results indicate that there exists threshold effect of both China's higher education scale and quality on regional carbon emissions per capita. Specifically, in terms of higher education scale, its further progress may facilitate the positive effect on carbon emissions per capita when technology is above threshold. As for higher education quality, its further growth may moderate the positive effect on carbon emissions per capita when income exceeds threshold; it also can promote its constrained effect on carbon emissions per capita when exceeding the technology threshold; and the continuous improvement of higher education quality may help to reduce carbon emissions per capita. Besides, the positive impact of higher education scale on carbon emissions per capita appears smaller in regions with more carbon emissions per capita; meanwhile, only in the regions with larger carbon emissions per capita, may higher education quality promote carbon emissions per capita, while the curbing impact of technology level is relatively constant among different regions with various carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is an important cause of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). It has been reported that miR-137 inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells. However, whether miR-137 is involved in PH remains unclear. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 10% O2 for 3 weeks to establish PH, and rat primary PASMCs were treated with hypoxia (3% O2) for 48 h to induce cell proliferation. The effect of miR-137 on PASMC proliferation and calpain-2 expression was assessed by transfecting miR-137 mimic and inhibitor. The effect of calpain-2 on PASMC proliferation was assessed by transfecting calpain-2 siRNA. The present study found for the first time that miR-137 was downregulated in pulmonary arteries of hypoxic PH rats and in hypoxia-treated PASMCs. miR-137 mimic inhibited hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation and upregulation of calpain-2 expression in PASMCs. Furthermore, miR-137 inhibitor induced the proliferation of PASMCs under normoxia, and knockdown of calpain-2 mRNA by siRNA significantly inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs. Our study demonstrated that hypoxia-induced downregulation of miR-137 expression promoted the proliferation of PASMCs by targeting calpain-2, thereby potentially resulting in pulmonary vascular remodeling in hypoxic PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Sr(II)-based metal organic framework (MOF) formulated as [Sr(HTATB)(H2O)2(DMF)4 (1) has been prepared by reaction of Sr(NO3)2 with the rigid tricarboxylic acid linker 4,4′,4″-s-triazine-2, 4, 6-triyltribenzoic acid (H3TATB) in a mixed solvent of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water. Complex 1 has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis (EA) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). In light of its large inner spaces as well as widely distributed open metal sites, the guest-free 1 (1a) has been used as a crystalline vessel for delivering small-molecule chemotherapeutics such as 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), which exhibits an outstanding loading capacity around 36.48 wt%. Furthermore, the cumulative release value of 5-Fu at 48 h was about 96.5% in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). In addition, the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)−2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of the carrier 5-Fu loaded 1a against the human melanoma cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by the apoptosis resistance and hyperproliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Its pathogenesis has not been revealed. Here, we carried out experiments to investigate the functions of miR‐140‐5p and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). Methods: We selected GSE703 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database to conduct microarray analysis using R software and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Combing bioinformatics results, the upregulation of miR‐140‐5p inhibited PAH progression through targeting TNF‐α. RNA expression was measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and protein level was measured by western blot analysis and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We conducted monocrotaline (MCT) injection to rats to form PAH animal models. The lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red‐picric acid staining. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and the ratio of right ventricle (RV)‐to‐left ventricle (LV) plus septum (S) weight (RV/[LV + S]) were measured in MCT‐induced animal models. Overexpression of miR‐140‐5p and TNF‐α were utilized to research the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic variation of hypoxia‐mediated PASMCs. The binding between miR‐140‐5p and TNF‐α 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) was confirmed via luciferase reporter assay. Results: Downregulation of miR‐140‐5p and upregulation of TNF‐α were observed in PAH rat model and hypoxia‐mediated PASMCs. And we proved that overexpression of miR‐140‐5p could suppress the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic variation of PASMCs, therefore inhibiting PAH pathogenesis. Luciferase assay verified that miR‐140‐5p targeted TNF‐α directly. A converse correlation was also shown between miR‐140‐5p and TNF‐α in PASMCs. Conclusions: miR‐140‐5p and TNF‐α are important regulators in PAH pathology and may serve as a therapeutic target for PAH. miR‐140‐5p might inhibit the occurrence and development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by repressing tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) expression via the TNF signaling pathway. These findings may help in the search of promising strategies for achieving better treatment outcome in patients diagnosed with PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PhD enrolment quota allocation proves the key concern for China’s universities to promote institutional reform and improve research level, and it is often characterized by the zero sum game among schools within a university. Therefore, this article develops a new indicator system for PhD enrolment quota allocation and efficiency evaluation in China, and then it reallocates the quotas considering the preferences of decision-makers and the efficiency based on the historical data during 2011-2015 in a research-oriented university in China. The results indicate that, first, the preferences of decision-makers in the university for article publications and research funds may significantly affect the allocation of PhD enrolment quotas among schools. Second, when the linear combination weighting method is used, the overall efficiency for PhD enrolment allocation proves the highest, among various weighting methods concerned. Finally, to improve the overall efficiency of the 19 schools, five social science schools and four engineering schools have to cut their PhD enrolment quotas; among them, three engineering schools should reduce the largest redundant quotas sharply. The methods and results in this article are conducive to the allocation of education resources which have the zero sum feature and are often accompanied with undesirable outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new compound based on Wells-Dawson-type arsenomolybdate: [{Cu 10 (pz) 11 Cl 4 }{As 2 III As 2 V Mo 6 V Mo 12 VI O 62 }]·H 2 O ( 1 ) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), XPS spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Compound 1 is consisted of two As caps Wells-dawson-type arsenomolybdate and {Cu 10 (py) 11 } complexes by chloride bridge. In addition, the antitumor effects of the title compound 1 were studied on three human lung cancer cells (A549, SK-LU-1 and SW1573). The results showed that compared with the positive reference drug carboplatin, compound 1 displayed efficient antitumor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) mainly results from excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and displays mitochondrial abnormalities such as mitochondrial fragmentation. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an efficient antiproliferative compound in green tea, has recently been demonstrated to inhibit PASMCs proliferation. However, the pre-clinical issues as to whether EGCG attenuates PH and the underlying mechanisms have yet to be addressed. The present study was undertaken to investigate the therapeutic effects of EGCG on PH and its effects on mitochondrial fragmentation in PASMCs. Rats exposed to hypoxia (10% O 2 , 3 weeks) developed PH. EGCG (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/d, i.g.) dose-dependently attenuated right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, increased expression of mitochondrial fusion protein - mitofusin-2 (MFN-2), and promoted mitochondrial fusion as evidenced by decreased number and volume of mitochondria in PASMCs of pulmonary arteries. Notably, EGCG (50 μM) downregulated hypoxia-induced (3% O 2 , 48 h) PASMCs mitochondrial fragmentation and inhibited PASMCs proliferation via KLF-4/MFN-2/p-Erk signaling pathway. Collectively, our data demonstrated that EGCG exerts antiproliferative effects via regulating mitochondrial fragmentation of PASMCs and EGCG holds the promise as a drug against PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a proliferative disorder associated with enhanced proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Our lately study demonstrated that let-7g inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs via repressing c-myc-Bmi-1-p16 signaling pathway. However, the upstream of let-7g has not yet been fully defined. Previous studies have shown that LOX-1, a target of let-7g, could also regulate the expression of let-7g in human aortic endothelial cells. In this present study, we aimed to investigate whether there is a negative feedback regulation between microRNA let-7g and LOX-1 in hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs. Methods SD Rats were exposed to hypoxia (10% O 2 , 3 weeks) to induce PH. HE staining was used to evaluate pulmonary artery remodeling. in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess the expression and distribution of let-7g and LOX-1, respectively. MTS, EDU and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate PASMCs proliferation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were conducted to assess the expression of let-7g, LOX-1, calpain-1,-2,-4, and OCT-1. Results The expression of let-7g was significantly down-regulated in pulmonary arteries of hypoxia-induced PH rats accompanied by pulmonary vascular remodeling, whereas let-7g mimic inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation of PASMCs and up-regulation of LOX-1 expression. LOX-1 blocking reversed hypoxia-induced down-regulation of let-7g expression. Calpains, protein kinase C and OCT-1 were involved in negative feedback regulation between let-7g and LOX-1. Conclusion Negative feedback regulation between let-7g and LOX-1 mediated hypoxia-induced proliferation of in PASMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of compound glycyrrhizin tablets in the treatment of children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods A total of 65 children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease between June 2014 and May 2016 were randomly divided into two groups: compound glycyrrhizin tablets treatment (n=33) and liver-protecting tablets treatment (n=32). The course of treatment was 24 weeks for both groups. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, hyaluronic acid, procollagen type III, type IV collagen, and laminin were measured before and after treatment for both groups. Results There was a significant difference in the overall response rate between the compound glycyrrhizin tablets treatment and liver-protecting tablets treatment groups (85% vs 50%; P<0.05). Both groups had a significant reduction in the serum level of alanine aminotransferase after treatment, but the compound glycyrrhizin tablets treatment group had a significantly greater reduction (P<0.01). The compound glycyrrhizin tablets treatment group showed significant improvements in the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and the four markers of liver fibrosis (hyaluronic acid, procollagen type III, type IV collagen, and laminin) after treatment (P<0.05), while the liver-protecting tablets treatment group had no significant improvements in these markers. Conclusions Compound glycyrrhizin tablets can effectively improve hepatic function and reduce serum levels of liver fibrosis markers in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and have a better clinical efficacy than liver-protecting tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have retrieved the experimental literature on moxibustion in treatment of heat syndrome in recent years, and summarized the mechanism of moxibustion in treatment of heat syndrome from such aspects as antipyretic and anti-infective effect of moxibustion, the effect on peripheral metabolism of humoral factors and the level of central neurotransmitter, and the regulation of immune function through sorting and analysis, thus providing experimental evidences for the feasibility and effectiveness of “moxibustion can be used for heat syndrome”, and providing ideas and direction for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR) is the pathological basis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Incomplete understanding of PVR etiology has hindered drug development for this devastating disease, which exhibits poor prognosis despite the currently available therapies. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a process of cell transdifferentiation, has been recently implicated in cardiovascular diseases, including PH. But the questions of how EndMT occurs and how to pharmacologically target EndMT in vivo have yet to be further answered. Herein, by performing hematoxylin–eosin and immunofluorescence staining, transmission electron microscopy and Western blotting, we found that EndMT plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PH, and importantly that aspirin, a FDA-approved widely used drug, was capable of ameliorating PVR in a preclinical rat model of hypoxia-induced PH. Moreover, aspirin exerted its inhibitory effects on EndMT in vitro and in vivo by suppressing HIF-1α/TGF-β1/Smads/Snail signaling pathway. Our data suggest that EndMT represents an intriguing drug target for the prevention and treatment of hypoxic PH and that aspirin may be repurposed to meet the urgent therapeutic needs of hypoxic PH patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution and its health risks to human beings have been becoming increasingly serious in China, and the health status of the individuals is not only affected by their environment but also by their own characteristics and socio-economic status. Based on the survey data of China Family Panel Studies (2014), three hierarchical linear models at three levels of individual, family, and community were developed to investigate the influencing factors of individual health status. The results indicate that: (1) there exists significant difference among individual health status, of which 16% and 9.11% are caused by the family and community levels, respectively; (2) the average health status of men is better than that of women by 6.95%. As for the difference in health effects produced by gender, total household income can reduce this difference; (3) age has significant negative health effects, while the level of education has positive effect on individual health status; and (4) the health effects of pollution is mainly reflected by its interaction with gender; in particular, when men and women face the same level of pollution exposure, men are more susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), the pathological basis of pulmonary hypertension (PH), entails pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) phenotypic switching, but appreciation of the underlying mechanisms is incomplete. Exosomes, a novel transfer machinery enabling delivery of its cargos to recipient cells, have been recently implicated in cardiovascular diseases including PH. The two critical questions of whether plasma-derived exosomes drive PASMCs phenotypic switching and what cargo the exosomes transport, however, remain unclear. Herein, by means of transmission electron microscopy and protein detection, we for the first time, characterized lectin like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) as a novel cargo of plasma-derived exosomes in PH. With LOX-1 knockout (Olr1-/-) rats-derived exosomes, we demonstrated that exosomal LOX-1 could be transferred into PASMCs and thus elicited cell phenotypic switching. Of importance, Olr1-/- rats exhibited no cell phenotypic switching and developed less severe PH, but administration of wild type rather than Olr1-/- exosomes to Olr1-/- rats recapitulated the phenotype of PH with robust PASMCs phenotypic switching. We also revealed that exosomal LOX-1 triggered PASMCs phenotypic switching, PVR and ultimately PH via ERK1/2-KLF4 signaling axis. This study has generated proof that plasma-derived exosomes confer PH by delivering LOX-1 into PASMCs. Hence, exosomal LOX-1 represents a novel exploitable target for PH prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate the functions of lncRNA H19 on glomerular endothelial structural damage of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Materials and Methods: Rats were fed a high sugar and fat high feed die, and intraperitoneally administrated with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) to induce DN model. Meanwile, rat glomerular endothelial cells (rGEnCs) were treated with high a level of glucose （HG, 30 mM glucose）to induce structural damage. Results: Our results showed that H19 level was drastically increased in diabetic glomeruli and high-glucose (HG)-stimulated rat glomerular endothelial cells (rGEnCs). Deficiency of H19 ameliorated microalbumin, creatinine, BUN, and histopathological alterations in diabetic rats. In addition, H19 deficiency significantly attenuated the damage of endothelial structure by upregulating the expression of junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin, glycolcalyx protein Syndecan-1, and endothelial activation marker sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in diabetic rats. The in vitro results also showed that H19-siRNA alleviated glycocalyx shedding, tight junctions damage, and endothelial activation in HG-stimulated rGEnCs. Moreover, H19 deficiency significantly enhanced the expression of p-Akt and p-eNOS and NO concentration in vitro and in vivo. Pre-treatment with Akt inhibitor LY294002 abrogated these favourable effects mediated by H19 deficiency. Discussion and Conclusion: These results indicate that H19 deficiency could mitigate the structural damage of glomerular endothelium in DN via activating Akt/eNOS pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Endothelial cell apoptosis contributes to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis. MicroRNA regulates endothelial cell function but its role in endothelial cell apoptosis remains to be fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the role of miR-590-5p in endothelial cell apoptosis and dissect the underlying mechanisms. Methods Flow cytometric analysis, Hoechst 33258 staining and Western blotting were performed to evaluate human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) apoptosis induced by Angiotensin (Ang) II. Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR were conducted to assess the expression of LOX-1. DCFH-DA staining was carried out to measure the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results Ang II-induced HUVEC apoptosis was accompanied by downregulation of miR-590-5p; administration of miR-590-5p mimics attenuated HUVEC apoptosis and decreased ROS generation, as indicated by reduced fraction of apoptotic HUVECs and decreased caspase-3 activity. LOX-1 expression was increased by Ang II, and miR-590-5p mimics reduced LOX-1 expression in HUVECs in the absence or presence of Ang II. Pharmacologic or genetic block of LOX-1 with small interference RNA or TS92 (LOX-1 neutralizing antibody) significantly ameliorated HUVEC apoptosis, as evidenced by reduced number of apoptotic HUVECs, inhibited caspase-3 activation and suppressed mitochondrial cytochrome C release. Moreover, LOX-1 siRNA or TS92 treatment dramatically reduced ROS production in HUVECs treated with Ang II. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that miR-590-5p downregulation promoted Ang II-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by elevating LOX-1 expression and consequently increasing ROS generation. Thus, restoration of miR-590-5p or block of LOX-1 could be therapeutically exploited to alleviate endothelial cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the effect of acupuncture at the acupoints for Yizhi Tiaoshen (benefiting the intelligence and regulating the spirit) on the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the whole brain in the patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and reveal the brain function mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of AD using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI)., Methods: Sixty patients with mild to moderate AD were randomly divided into an acupuncture + medication group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a western medication group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the western medication group, the donepezil hydrochloride tablets were administered orally, 2.5 mg to 5 mg each time, once daily; and adjusted to be 10 mg each time after 4 weeks of medication. Besides the therapy as the western medication group, in the acupuncture + medication group, acupuncture was supplemented at the acupoints for Yizhi Tiaoshen , i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), and bilateral Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Xuanzhong (GB 39). The needles were retained for 30 min in one treatment, once daily; and 6 treatments were required weekly. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks in each group. The general cognitive function was assessed by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive part (ADAS-Cog) before and after treatment in the two groups. Using the rs-fMRI, the changes in the functional connectivity (FC) of the left hippocampus and the whole brain before and after treatment were analyzed in the patients of the two groups (11 cases in the acupuncture + medication group and 12 cases in the western medication group)., Results: After treatment, compared with those before treatment, MMSE scores increased and ADAS-Cog scores decreased in the two groups ( P< 0.05); MMSE score was higher, while the ADAS-Cog score was lower in the acupuncture + medication group when compared with those in the western medication group ( P ≤0.05). After treatment, in the western medication group, FC of the left hippocampus was enhanced with the left fusiform gyrus, the inferior frontal gyrus of the left triangular region, the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and the right superior parietal gyrus ( P <0.05), while FC was weakened with the left inferior temporal gyrus, the left middle frontal gyrus and the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus when compared with that before treatment ( P< 0.05). After treatment, in the acupuncture + medication group, FC of the left hippocampus was increased with the right gyrus rectus, the left inferior occipital gyrus, the right superior temporal gyrus and the left middle occipital gyrus ( P< 0.05), and it was declined with the left thalamus ( P< 0.05) when compared with those before treatment. After treatment, in the acupuncture + medication group, FC of the left hippocampus was strengthened with the bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, the right gyrus rectus, the bilateral superior occipital gyrus, the left lenticular nucleus putamen, the left calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, the inferior frontal gyrus of the left insulae operculum, the left medial superior frontal gyrus and the right posterior central gyrus ( P <0.05) compared with that of the western medication group., Conclusions: Acupuncture at the acupoints for Yizhi Tiaoshen improves the cognitive function of AD patients, and its main brain functional mechanism is related to intensifying the functional connectivity of the left hippocampus with the default network (inferior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus, gyrus rectus), as well as with the sensory (posterior central gyrus) and visual (calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex and superior occipital gyrus) brain regions.

Objective: To observe the effects of different suspension moxibustion methods on the syndrome characteristics and inflammatory factors of rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of heat bi syndrome and to prove the concept of "moxibustion can be used for heat syndrome"., Methods: Among seventy Wistar rats, 12 rats were randomly selected as a normal group, and the remaining rats were induced by collagen combined with wind, dampness, and heat environmental stimulation to establish the RA model of heat bi syndrome. Forty-eight rats with successful model establishment were further randomly divided into a model group and three moxibustion groups (mild moxibustion group, rotating moxibustion group and sparrow-pecking moxibustion group), with 12 rats in each group. The acupoints "Quchi" (LI 11), "Dazhui" (GV 14) and ashi point were used in all moxibustion groups, with mild moxibustion, rotating moxibustion, and sparrow-pecking moxibustion intervention given respectively, each acupoint was treated with moxibustion for 10 min a day, and 6 days were considered one course of treatment, with a total of three courses. After the intervention, the arthritis index (AI), the Evans blue (EB) extravasated volume in the soft tissue of the right hind paw, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10 in the serum were measured by ELISA in each group. The volume of the bilateral hind paw was measured; the infrared thermal imaging was collected to analyze the temperature of the plantar area of the bilateral foot pads, and the reaction time of plantar heat pain was calculated before and after modeling, as well as after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd courses of interrention. The ankle dorsiflexion angle of the right hind foot was also measured before and after modeling, as well as after the intervention., Results: After modeling, compared with the normal group, the rats in the model group had more high-temperature areas in the bilateral hind limbs, abnormal AI score, abnormal bilateral hind paw volume, abnormal temperature of the plantar area of the bilateral foot pads, abnormal foot pain response time, abnormal right hind ankle dorsiflexion angle, abnormal right hind paw soft tissue EB extravasation, and abnormal serum TNF-α and IL-10 levels ( P <0.01, P <0.05). After the intervention, compared with the model group, the rats in each moxibustion group had decreased or disappeared high-temperature areas in the bilateral hind limbs, EB extravasated volume in the soft tissue of the right hind paw was reduced ( P <0.05), and the right ankle dorsiflexion angle was increased ( P <0.05), serum level of TNF-α was reduced, and level of IL-10 increased ( P <0.05); the AI scores in the mild moxibustion group and the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group was decreased ( P <0.01, P <0.05). After the 1st, 2nd and 3rd courses of intervention, compared with the model group, the bilateral hind paw volume of rats in each moxibustion group was decreased ( P <0.05, P <0.01), and plantar heat pain reaction time was increased ( P <0.05). After the 2nd course and the 3rd course of intervention, the temperature of the right hind paw pad area was decreased in each moribustion group ( P <0.05); after the 3rd courses of intervention, the temperature of the left hind paw pad area was decreased in the mild moxibustion group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Suspension moxibustion could adjust the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 to improve the syndrome characteristics of RA rats of heat bi syndrome, such as joint redness, swelling, heat, pain and activity restriction. The effect of mild moxibustion is the most prominent. The findings could provide scientific basis for "moxibustion can be used for heat syndrome".

Objective: To observe the effects of Yizhi Tiaoshen (benefiting mental health and regulating the spirit) acupuncture on learning and memory function, and the expression of phosphorylated tubulin-associated unit (tau) protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats, and explore the effect mechanism of this therapy on AD., Methods: A blank group and a sham-operation group were randomly selected from 60 male SD rats, 10 rats in each one. AD models were established in the rest 40 rats by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and okadaic acid in the CA1 region of the bilateral hippocampus. Thirty successfully-replicated model rats were randomly divided into a model group, a western medication group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Shenmen" (HT 7), "Xuanzhong" (GB 39) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6); and the needles were retained for 10 min. Acupuncture was given once daily. One course of treatment was composed of 6 days, with the interval of 1 day; the completion of treatment included 4 courses. In the western medication group, donepezil hydrochloride solution (0.45 mg/kg) was administrated intragastrically, once daily; it took 7 days to accomplish one course of treatment and a completion of intervention was composed of 4 courses. Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition test (NORT) were used to assess the learning and memory function of the rats. Using HE staining and Nissl staining, the morphological structure of the hippocampus was observed. With Western blot adopted, the protein expression of the tau, phosphorylated tau protein at Ser198 (p-tau Ser198), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in the hippocampus was detected., Results: There were no statistical differences in all of the indexes between the sham-operation group and the blank group. Compared with the sham-operation group, in the model group, the MWM escape latency was prolonged ( P <0.05), the crossing frequency and the quadrant stay time in original platform were shortened ( P <0.05), and the NORT discrimination index (DI) was reduced ( P <0.05); the hippocampal cell numbers were declined and the cells arranged irregularly, the hippocampal neuronal structure was abnormal and the numbers of Nissl bodies decreased; the protein expression of p-tau Ser198 and GSK-3βwas increased ( P <0.05) and that of PP2A decreased ( P <0.05). When compared with the model group, in the western medication group and the acupuncture group, the MWM escape latency was shortened ( P <0.05), the crossing frequency and the quadrant stay time in original platform were increased ( P <0.05), and DI got higher ( P <0.05); the hippocampal cell numbers were elevated and the cells arranged regularly, the damage of hippocampal neuronal structure was attenuated and the numbers of Nissl bodies were increased; the protein expression of p-tau Ser198 and GSK-3β was reduced ( P <0.05) and that of PP2A was increased ( P <0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the acupuncture group and the western medication group ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy of "benefiting mental health and regulating the spirit" could improve the learning and memory function and alleviate neuronal injure of AD model rats. The effect mechanism of this therapy may be related to the down-regulation of GSK-3β and the up-regulation of PP2A in the hippocampus, and then to inducing the inhibition of tau protein phosphorylation.

Gansu province is located at the intersection of the three plateaus(Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Inner Mongolia Plateau, and Loess Plateau) and the three river basins(Yellow River Basin, Yangtze River Basin, and inland river basin). The complex eco-environment and climate conditions here have created rich and diverse vegetation. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the spatial distribution characteristics of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources in Gansu province for formulating reasonable protection po-licies and promoting the development of medicinal plant industry. The data of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources in 87 counties of Gansu province were collected from results of the fourth general survey. The spatial distribution and the high-or low-value gathering area of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources in Gansu province were analyzed by geostatistical methods such as exploratory spatial data analysis, trend surface analysis, and Anselin Local Moran's I. The eco-environment characteristics of the high-or low-value gathering area were analyzed with the data of vegetation type, soil texture classification, annual mean temperature, annual mean precipitation, and elevation. Furthermore, the relationships of the spatial distribution and diversity with the geographical environment of rare and endangered medicinal plants in Gansu province were analyzed to provide support for the restoration and protection policy making of these plant resources.

Through collecting the relevant moxibustion records of Han medical bamboo slips unearthed in Wuwei and Juyan regions of Gansu province, the situation and characteristics of clinical practice of moxibustion were summarized. In Wuwei Han medical bamboo slips, the contraindications of moxibustion were recorded, with age and time involved. Juyan Han medical bamboo slips mainly recorded the methods of moxibustion at the acupoints located on the back of the body, with clear emphasis and requirement of acupoint selection, single acupoint moxibustion and moxibustion quantity (the numbers of moxa cone) included. These records on bamboo slips initially display the practice and development of moxibustion in Gansu and other northwestern regions of China in the Han Dynasty, providing a certain instruction for the literature research of moxibustion of the excavated Han medical bamboo slips.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively alleviate the symptoms of AD and slow down the disease progression, and its mechanism has been intensively explored. This paper summarized the researches on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention on AD in the past 5 years. It has been found that acupuncture intervention on AD is correlated with the regulation of the expression levels of relevant proteins, the inhibition of central inflammatory response, the resistance to oxidative stress injury, the modulation of brain energy metabolism, the improvement of neuronal synaptic plasticity, the adjustment of autophagy activity and the suppression of neuronal apoptosis.

Dao-di herbs, produced in a specific region and screened through long-term clinical application, is characterized by high stable quality, good efficacy, and high popularity. With favorable climate conditions, Gansu gives birth to the Dao-di herbs Angelicae Sinensis Radix which is widely used in clinical practice, and multiple regions in Gansu, with similar ecological environment produce Angelicae Sinensis Radix. In this study, the spatial correlation and difference of phenolic acid content in Angelicae Sinensis Radix from Dao-di producing areas, emerging producing areas, and emerging planting areas in Gansu were analyzed based on ArcGIS to explore the &quot;quality(chemical type)&quot; characteristics of genuine Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Moreover, spatial distribution law and main driving factors of the total phenolic acid content in Angelicae Sinensis Radix in Gansu were analyzed based on geodetecctor. This study is expected to lay a basis for Dao-di research and production regionalization of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.