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Background and Aims. Abnormal expression of lncRNAs is relevant to the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC), but the significance remains inconclusive. We performed a diagnostic meta-bioinformatics analysis to elucidate the association between lncRNA expression and GC risk. Methods. Published datasets were selected from PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Web of Science, up to 1st December 2021. The pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value. RNA sequencing data were downloaded for validation. Results. 54 studies with 4671 patients and 4652 matched controls were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 0.71, 0.76, 2.9, 0.39, 8, and 0.79, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that the DOR and AUC of intergenic lncRNAs, circulating lncRNAs, larger sample size (>200), and high-quality (NOS score ≥ 7) groups were superior to antisense lncRNAs, tissue lncRNAs, smaller sample size (≤200), and low-quality (NOS score < 7) groups, respectively. However, only circulating lncRNAs had significantly higher diagnostic utility than that tissue lncRNAs. Nine differentially expressed lncRNAs in the meta-analysis were verified in TCGA-STAD. PVT1 was the most effective single lncRNA, with AUC of 0.949, SEN of 0.808, and SPE of 0.969, while PVT1 and C5orf66-AS1 were the most effective combination, with AUC of 0.972, SEN of 0.941, and SPE of 0.937. Conclusion. Abnormally expressed lncRNAs, especially circulating lncRNAs, might be potential diagnostic biomarkers for GC risk. A novel combined model of lncRNAs might achieve better GC diagnosis performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, cartilage exfoliation, osteophyte formation, and synovitis. It seriously affects the knee joint function and quality of life of patients. Total knee arthroplasty is now the most frequently used therapy for end-stage knee arthritis because it can successfully modify the line of lower extremities, restore knee joint function, alleviate pain, and enhance patients' quality of life; nevertheless, it may cause significant trauma and bleeding. It can easily lead to infection and anemia. In this study, the control group chose total knee arthroplasty and the observation group chose total knee arthroplasty combined with PRP. The results showed that the knee joint function score, visual analog score, blood transfusion, total blood loss, total postoperative drainage, and complications in the observation group were superior to those in the control group. Total knee arthroplasty takes a long time and needs a lot of soft tissue incision, which leads to a lot of blood loss and can cause a variety of complications. Gel has been shown in studies to successfully decrease blood loss during and after total knee arthroplasty, enhance knee joint function recovery, and improve patient quality of life. In this paper, the complications and causes of knee osteoarthritis after total knee arthroplasty were studied. Combined with comprehensive nursing intervention for postoperative recovery, it helps to improve the formation of thrombin and calcium ion, which can effectively reduce blood loss, relieve pain, and promote the recovery of knee joint function. This study analyzed the application of total knee arthroplasty combined with gel in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death from coronary heart disease (CHD). The risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) increases with age, and sudden arrhythmic death remains a major cause of mortality in elderly individuals, especially ventricular arrhythmias (VA). We developed a risk prediction model by combining ECG and other clinical noninvasive indexes including biomarkers and echocardiology for VA in elderly patients with CHD. Method. In the retrospective study, a total of 2231 consecutive elderly patients (≥60 years old) with CHD hospitalized were investigated, and finally 1983 patients were enrolled as the model group. The occurrence of VA within 12 months was mainly collected. Study parameters included clinical characteristics (age, gender, height, weight, BMI, and past medical history), ECG indexes (QTcd, Tp-e/QT, and HRV indexes), biomarker indexes (NT-proBNP, Myo, cTnT, CK-MB, CRP, K+, and Ca2+), and echocardiology indexes. In the respective study, 406 elderly patients (≥60 years old) with CHD were included as the verification group to verify the model in terms of differentiation and calibration. Results. In the multiparameter model, seven independent predictors were selected: LVEF, LAV, HLP, QTcd, sex, Tp-e/QT, and age. Increased HLP, Tp-e/QT, QTcd, age, and LAV were risk factors (RR > 1), while female and increased LVEF were protective factors (RR < 1). This model can well predict the occurrence of VA in elderly patients with CHD (for model group, AUC: 0.721, 95% CI: 0.669∼0.772; for verification group, AUC: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.648∼0.818; Hosmer–Lemeshow χ 2 = 13.541, P = 0.095). After adjusting the predictors, it was found that the combination of clinical indexes and ECG indexes could predict VA more efficiently than using clinical indexes alone. Conclusions. LVEF, LAV, QTcd, Tp-e/QT, gender, age, and HLP were independent predictors of VA risk in elderly patients with CHD. Among these factors, the echocardiology indexes LVEF and LAV had the greatest influence on the predictive efficiency of the model, followed by ECG indexes, QTcd and Tp-e/QT. After verification, the model had a good degree of differentiation and calibration, which can provide a certain reference for clinical prediction of the VA occurrence in elderly patients with CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suanzaoren decoction (SZRT), a classic Chinese herbal prescription, has been used as a treatment for insomnia for more than a thousand years. However, recent studies have found no significant effects of SZRT as a treatment for insomnia caused by gastric discomfort. Herein, we studied the effects of modified Suanzaoren decoction (MSZRD) on gastrointestinal disorder-related insomnia. The main constituents of MSZRD were spinosin (2.21 mg/g) and 6-feruloylspinosin (0.78 mg/g). A pentobarbital-induced animal model of insomnia showed that MSZRD shortened sleep latency and prolonged sleep time of the male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice treated for 7 days with oral MSZRD. Sprague-Dawley male rats were treated daily with oral MSZRD or placebo for 11 days and then deprived of sleep for the last 4 days to establish a model of insomnia. Of note, MSZRD-treated animals had significantly improved body weight, organ index scores, and fecal moisture relative to placebo-treated animals, as well as reduced temperature. Sleep-deprived rats exhibited more exploratory behaviors in an open-field anxiety test; however, this effect was significantly reduced in MSZRD-treated animals. We found that MSZRD treatment decreased gastric acid pH, decreased the production of gastrin, pepsin, and Orexin-A, and increased the expression of MTL and CCK-8. Importantly, serum GABA concentration was increased by treatment with MSZRD, as reflected by a decreased Glu/GABA ratio. Treated animals had increased the expression of GAD1, GABARA1, and CCKBR but decreased the expression of Orexin R1. In summary, these results suggest that MSZRD has soporific and gastroprotective effects that may be mediated by differential expression of CCK-8 and Orexin-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification and characterization of the limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) has proven to be a major accomplishment in anterior ocular surface biology. These cells have been shown to be a subpopulation of limbal epithelial basal cells, which serve as the progenitor population of the corneal epithelium. LESCs have been demonstrated to play an important role in maintaining corneal epithelium homeostasis. Many ocular surface diseases, including intrinsic (e.g., Sjogren’s syndrome) or extrinsic (e.g., alkali or thermal burns) insults, which impair LESCs, can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). LSCD is characterized by an overgrowth of conjunctival-derived epithelial cells, corneal neovascularization, and chronic inflammation, eventually leading to blindness. Treatment of LSCD has been challenging, especially in bilateral total LSCD. Recently, advances in LESC research have led to novel therapeutic approaches for treating LSCD, such as transplantation of the cultured limbal epithelium. These novel therapeutic approaches have demonstrated efficacy for ocular surface reconstruction and restoration of vision in patients with LSCD. However, they all have their own limitations. Here, we describe the current status of LSCD treatment and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the available therapeutic modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Bacillus licheniformis and combined herbs extracts on the physiological and immune characteristics, intestinal microbiota, and vibriosis resistance of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The sea cucumbers were fed with basal diets supplemented with B. licheniformis (B group), combined herbs extracts (C group), or both (BC group). The BC group exhibited the better growth performance and higher digestive and immune enzyme activities, whereas the lowest parameters appeared in the control group. This revealed that dietary B. licheniformis and combined herbs extracts in combination could improve digestion, food intake, phosphatase-responsiveness, and oxidation resistance more efficiently compared with the other groups. The BC group was also more capable of regulating intestinal flora balance of sea cucumbers by increasing the beneficial bacteria related to energy synthesis and metabolic conversion, and inhibiting the potential pathogens associated with organic damage and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the BC group showed greater ability of improving disease resistance by reducing the cumulative mortality rates and the counts of Vibrio splendidus. These results collectively demonstrated that dietary B. licheniformis and combined herbs extracts could improve the physiological and immune parameters, optimize the microbial community, and enhance the resistance to vibriosis of sea cucumbers, and the health-promoting effects were more obvious by supplying them in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. After initial treatment of breast cancer (BC), monitoring locoregional recurrence and distant metastases is a great clinical challenge. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of PET/CT in association with serum tumor makers in BC follow-up. Methods. Twenty-six women with a history of modified radical mastectomy were evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT. The results of PET/CT were compared with those of conventional imaging techniques (CITs) (including mammography, chest radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and bone scintigraphy). Serum tumor markers of CEA, CA 125, and CA 15-3 in the BC patients were also analyzed in association with the results of PET/CT. Results. Compared with CITs, PET/CT was more sensitive to detect the malignant foci and had better patient-based sensitivity and specificity. The mean CA 15-3 serum level was significantly higher in the confirmed positive patients of PET/CT results than in the confirmed negative ones, while there were no significant differences in the serum levels of CEA and CA 125 of both groups. Conclusion. PET/CT is a highly efficient tool for BC follow-up compared with CITs. The high serum levels of CA 15-3 in confirmed positive PET/CT patients indicated the clinical value of CA 15-3 in BC follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial media were used to enrich microbe and improve the water resource quality; therefore trace quantity organic pollutants of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were biodegraded. The result of the test showed that, after domestication, the microassociation enriched in the assembled medium could remove corresponding trace quantity organic pollutants in some concentration. When the temperature was 30 degree centigrade, and the pH was between 6 and 9, the effect about the removal on trace-quantity-organic pollutants water was the best. A strain of bacteria that could degrade 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene was separated, and its degradation mechanism to 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene was studied. At the same time, the congener trace quantity organic pollutants could be biodegraded. Biofilm after domestication can effectively degrade a certain concentration range of three trichlorobenzenes and the removal effect of HRT = 7 d was better than the removal effect of HRT = 5 d. It is evident that the trace quantity organic pollutants of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene in the source water quality from Meiliang Bay in Taihu Lake can be well degraded by enriched microbes on the artificial media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts of fermented barley with Lactiplantibacillus plantarumdy-1 (LFBE) have been reported to exert antiobesity activity in vivo and in vitro. However, whether it worked in clinical trials remained uncovered. In the current study, we conducted a single-blind experiment by enrolling on some obese adult humans with hyperlipemia to test the effects of products containing LFBE (No. ChiCTR1800019614 by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry). Results indicated that LFBE intervention could ameliorate the symptoms of the obese, characterized by the decrease of body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and serum lipid levels. More interestingly, products containing the β-glucan ingredients had similar antiobesity effects. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that LFBE modulated the community structure of the gut microbiota of the obese adults as shown by the diversity analysis. For gut microbiota composition, LFBE significantly increased the Bacteroides genus while decreasing Streptococcus and Haemophilus genus. At the species level, beneficial microorganisms such as Bifidobacterium_longum_subsp_longum, Alistipes sp AL-1, Bacteroides_plebeius, and Bacteroides_vulgatus were enriched by LFBE, which was different from the effects of β-glucan. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that LFBE particularly regulated the steroid biosynthesis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pathways. Furthermore, correlation analysis suggested that body fat percentage and visceral fat area were significantly positively correlated with Desulfovibrio and Sutterella, the basal metabolic rate was negatively correlated with Haemophilus, and fasting blood glucose was positively correlated with Dialister. In all, this clinical study demonstrated the antiobesity function of LFBE in humans, probably via its interactions with the gut microbiota, and LFBE could be developed as a prebiotic ingredient with antiobesity effects for a healthy diet. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1800019614. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For centuries, the Chinese herb Cuscuta chinensis has been applied clinically for abortion prevention in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Total flavones extracted from Cuscuta chinensis (TFCC) are one of the active components in the herb and also display anti-abortion effect similar to the unprocessed material. However, how TFCC exerts the anti-abortion effect remains largely unknown. In this study, we aim at characterizing the anti-abortion effects of TFCC and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo using human primary decidua cells and a mifepristone-induced abortion model in rat, respectively. The damage to the decidua caused by mifepristone in vivo was reversed by TFCC treatment in a dosage-dependent manner. High dosage of TFCC significantly upregulated the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and prolactin receptor (PRLR) in decidua tissue but downregulated the expression of p-ERK. Furthermore, we detected higher level of p-ERK and p-p38 in primary decidua cells from spontaneous abortion while treatment by TFCC downregulated their expression. Our results suggest TFCC mediates its anti-abortion effect by interfering with MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to missing values, incomplete dataset is ubiquitous in multimodal scene. Complete data is a prerequisite of the most existing multimodality data fusion methods. For incomplete multimodal high-dimensional data, we propose a feature selection and classification method. Our method mainly focuses on extracting the most relevant features from the high-dimensional features and then improving the classification accuracy. The experimental results show that our method produces considerably better performance on incomplete multimodal data such as ADNI dataset and Office dataset, compared to the case of complete data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Hyperuricemia (HUA) has received increased attention in the last few decades due to its global prevalence. Our previous study found that administration of a macroporous resin extract of Dendrobium officinale leaves (DoMRE) to rats with HUA that was induced by exposure to potassium oxazine combined with fructose and a high-purine diet led to a significant reduction in serum uric acid (SUA) levels. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of DoMRE on hyperuricemia induced by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle and to elucidate its possible mechanisms of action. Methods. Dosages (5.0 and 10.0 g/kg/day) of DoMRE were administered to rats daily after induction of HUA by anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle for 12 weeks. The levels of UA in the serum, urine, and feces; the levels of creatinine (Cr) in the serum and urine; and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were all measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The activities of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the serum, liver, and intestine tissue supernatant were measured using appropriate kits for each biological target. The expressions levels of UA transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9), tight junction (TJ) proteins (ZO-1 and occludin), and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the intestine were assayed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess histological changes in the renal and intestinal tissues. Results. DoMRE treatment significantly reduced SUA levels and concomitantly increased fecal UA (FUA) levels and the fractional excretion of UA (FEUA) in HUA rats. Furthermore, DoMRE significantly reduced both the XOD activity in the serum, liver, and intestine and the ADA activity in the liver and intestine. DoMRE also effectively regulated the expression of GLUT9 and ABCG2 in the intestine, and it significantly upregulated the expression of the intestinal TJ proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Therefore, DoMRE reduced the damage to the intestinal barrier function caused by the increased production of inflammatory factors due to HUA to ensure normal intestinal UA excretion. Conclusion. DoMRE demonstrated anti-HUA effects in the HUA rat model induced by an anthropomorphic unhealthy lifestyle, and the molecular mechanism appeared to involve the regulation of urate transport-related transporters (ABCG2 and GLUT9) in the intestine, protection of the intestinal barrier function to promote UA excretion, and inhibition of XOD and ADA activity in the liver and intestine to inhibit UA production in the HUA-induced rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the effects of seasonal change on the immunity of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus cultured in pond, A. japonicus with body weight of 12.2 ± 4.5 g (sample A) and 32.6 ± 7.1 g (sample B), respectively, were collected monthly and randomly from a typical pond during a year cycle and employed for the evaluation of immunocompetence. Simultaneously, the environmental factors in the pond including water temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured using a handheld multiparameter meter. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lysozyme ( LYZ), phenoloxidase (PO), superoxide dismutase ( SOD), catalase ( CAT) and myeloperoxidase ( MPO) in the coelomic fluid were selected for the evaluation of A. japonicus immunocompetence and determined using biochemical methods. The results showed that in both samples, the activities of all determined enzymes had small values in winter and early spring, and LYZ, CAT and MPO activities also presented small values in summer, suggesting that pond-cultured A. japonicus underwent immunosuppression twice during a year cycle, and the immunosuppression occurred in winter and early spring was more severe than that occurred in summer. In addition, most of the determined enzymes showed different variations between the two samples, and had significantly negative correlation with protein concentration, which was significantly and negatively correlated with water temperature, revealing that body weight and water temperature might have crucial effects on the immunity of A. japonicus cultured in pond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune-related enzymes in marine animals are very sensitive to divalent metal ions. To investigate the roles divalent metal ions play in the influence on the immunity of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus, one of the most important commercial species in Asian countries, the effects of eight divalent metal ions at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mmol L−1 on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenoloxidase (PO), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in coelomic fluid were determined with the nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) method, dopachrome formation method, p-nitrophenyl phosphate ( pNPP) method and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) method. The results indicated that Mg2+ enhanced the activities of SOD, PO, ACP and AKP significantly and showed no obvious effect on MPO activity; Zn2+ increased the activities of SOD, ACP and AKP, and showed no obvious effect on the activities of PO and MPO; Cu2+ enhanced the activities of ACP, AKP and MPO and activated SOD and PO at a certain concentration range; Ca2+ and Mn2+ inhibited the activities of ACP and AKP; Fe2+ had strong inhibitory effect on SOD activity; Pb2+ showed inhibitions on the activities of SOD, PO, ACP and AKP; and Cd2+ inhibited MPO activity greatly. The data obtained in this study collectively suggest that Mg2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ have potential in promotion of A. japonicus immunity, while Ca2+, Fe2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+ might be limiting factors to the immune response of A. japonicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objective. Hyperlipidemia is a public health matter of global scale, contributing to a wide range of diseases that can result in severe complications and significant annual mortality. Dendrobium officinale (DO) is an edible plant with a long medicinal history in China. Our previous studies revealed that DO may have therapeutic benefits in lipid disorders. However, the mechanism of its active compounds is still unclear. This research aimed at uncovering the hidden anti-hyperlipidemia mechanisms of DO through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Materials and Methods. The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO. Results. In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation. Conclusion. In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objective. Hyperlipidemia is a public health matter of global scale, contributing to a wide range of diseases that can result in severe complications and significant annual mortality. Dendrobium officinale (DO) is an edible plant with a long medicinal history in China. Our previous studies revealed that DO may have therapeutic benefits in lipid disorders. However, the mechanism of its active compounds is still unclear. This research aimed at uncovering the hidden anti-hyperlipidemia mechanisms of DO through network pharmacology and experimental validation. Materials and Methods. The active compounds in DO, their targets, and targets associated with hyperlipidemia were screened across various databases, and the hidden targets of DO in treating hyperlipidemia were forecast. The compound-target (C-T), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and compound-target-pathway (C-T-P) networks of DO were set up with Cytoscape software. The hub genes and core clusters of DO predicted to be active against hyperlipidemia were calculated by Cytoscape. The DAVID database was adopted for Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we used the high-sucrose-fat diet and alcohol (HFDA)-induced hyperlipidemia rats to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of DO. Results. In this study, we obtained 264 compounds from DO, revealed 11 bioactive compounds, and predicted 89 potential targets of DO. The network analysis uncovered that naringenin, isorhamnetin, and taxifolin might be the compounds in DO that are mainly in charge of its roles in hyperlipidemia and might play a role by modulating the targets (including PPARG, ADIPOQ, AKT1, TNF, and APOB). The pathway analysis showed that DO might affect diverse signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia, including PPAR signaling pathway, insulin resistance, AMPK signaling pathway, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease simultaneously. Meanwhile, in the HFDA-induced hyperlipidemia rat model, DO could significantly decrease the level of TC, TG, LDL-c, and ALT in serum, and increase HDL-c as well. The liver pathological section indicated that DO could ease liver damage and lipid cumulation. Conclusion. In summary, the biological targets of the main bioactive compounds in DO were found to distribute across multiple metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that a mutual regulatory system consisting of multiple components, targets, and pathways is a likely mechanism through which DO may improve hyperlipidemia. Validation experiments indicated that DO may treat hyperlipidemia by affecting NAFLD-related signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objective. To study the effect of Dendrobium officinale ultrafine powder (DOFP) on the intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Materials and Methods. After intragastric administration of DOFP for 3 weeks, the rat UC model was made by the administration of 4% oral DSS solution for one week, and the drug was given at the same time. During the experiment, the disease activity index (DAI) score of the rats was regularly computed. At the end of the experiment, the blood routine indexes of rats were obtained. The histopathological changes in the colon were monitored by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and PAS staining and observation of ultrastructural changes in the colon by transmission electron microscope. Occludin expression in the colon was monitored by Western blot, the expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the colon was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results. The results firstly indicated that DOFP could significantly alleviate the signs and symptoms of the DSS-induced rats UC model, which manifested as improvement of body weight loss, increase of colon length, and improvement of the symptoms of diarrhea and hematochezia. Then, results from histopathology, blood routine examination, and transmission electron microscope analysis further implied that DOFP could dramatically reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and restore intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. In addition, the experiments of Western Blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and PAS staining also further confirmed that DOFP could markedly increase related protein expressions of the intestinal barrier and mucus barrier, as the expression of occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the colon significantly decreased. The experiments of immunohistochemistry confirmed that DOFP could markedly decrease protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Conclusion. DOFP notably alleviated inflammatory lesions, repaired the colon mucosa damage by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 and inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and finally achieved the purpose of treating UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of dietary Lactobacillus acidophilus and tussah immunoreactive substances (TIS) on disease resistance of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) against Vibrio splendidus were investigated. Sea cucumbers were fed with a basal diet in the control group (CK group) or were supplemented with L. acidophilus (L group), TIS (T group) or both (LT group). The challenge test with V. splendidus was conducted after the feeding trial. The cumulative mortality rate in the LT group was significantly lower, while the highest mortality occurred in the control group. The LT group showed better digestive and immune parameters compared with the other treatments. Dietary L. acidophilus and TIS in combination could effectively enhance digestive function and food uptake, depress oxidative damage and improve the organismal defence capability. Regarding gut microbiota profiles, the LT group was more capable of inhibiting potentially opportunistic pathogens and regulating intestinal flora balance compared with the other groups. The administration of L. acidophilus and TIS in the diet could effectively improve disease resistance against V. splendidus of sea cucumbers by improving the immune and digestive enzyme activities and modulating intestinal microflora, signalling a potential role in the development and production of aquatic feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient hybrid white organic light-emitting diode (HWOLED) has been demonstrated with a mixed interlayer between fluorescent blue and phosphorescent yellow-emitting layers. The device structure is simplified by using a controllable fluorescencemixed interlayer-phosphorescence emission layer structure. The electroluminance (EL) performance can be modulated easily by adjusting the ratio of the hole-predominated material to the electron-predominated material in the interlayer. It is found that the HWOLED with a ratio of 3 : 2 exhibits a current efficiency of 34 cd/A and a power efficiency of 29 lm/W at 1000 cd/m² with warm white Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE1931) coordinates of (0.4273, 0.4439). The improved efficiency and adaptive CIE coordinates are attributed to the controllable mixed interlayer with enhanced charge carrier transport, optimized excitons distribution, and improved harvestings of singlet and triplet excitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related deaths in the world. Bitter melon seed (BMS) is well known for anti‐inflammatory and anticancer properties. MicroRNA‐421 (miR‐421) is considered as a regulator of cancer initiation, tumor metastasis, and progression, interfering with transcription of the mRNAs responsible for the cancer pathogenesis. HepG2 cells were treated with BMS water extract (BMSW) for 24 hr, and the IC50 was 586.27 ± 0.07 µg/ml. The ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, the protein expression, and the nuclear fragmentation after the treatment of BMSW were respectively detected. The increase of ROS resulted in the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, which induced the apoptosis of cells subsequently. BMSW inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells by blocking cell cycle in the S phase and influenced the nuclei and the expression of protein, leading to cellular laxity and apoptosis. The expression level of miR‐421 in HepG2 was distinctly down‐regulated by 13.74 fold with 600 µg/ml of BMSW. Comprehensive microarray and RT‐PCR analysis identified six putative target genes of miR‐421 (GADD45B, DUSP6, DUSP3, DUSP10, CASP3, and CAPN2). The relationships of DUSP6, CASP3, and miR‐421 were further confirmed by miR‐421 mimics/inhibitor transfection by RT‐PCR and western blot. The CASP3 was identified as target gene of miR‐421. BMSW induced the apoptosis of HepG2 cell by regulating miR‐421 and CASP3. Practical applications: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumour with the fourth highest mortality rate in the world. Bitter melon seed (BMS) as edible and medical food has significant anticancer activity. Our study indicated the anticancer mechanisms of BMS and provided the scientific basis for the application of BMS in healthy or novel functional foods. BMS can be used as dietary supplements or nutritional fortifiers to improve the survival status of patients with liver cancer due to safety and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium officinale (DOF) is a traditional Chinese edible and officinal plant. Ultrafine DOF powder (DOFP) can regulate lipids and histopathology in the liver, but the underlying mechanisms of hepatic fatty acid (FA) metabolism, which is generally correlated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether DOFP treatment alters hepatic FA metabolism in NAFLD mice by using multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) and analyse the underlying mechanisms. A 3-week DOFP treatment prevented lipid deposition and improved hepatic histopathology in NAFLD mice after withdrawal from the high-sucrose, high-fat (HSHF) diet, and it decreased triglyceride and FA content in the liver. Furthermore, the C16 : 0/C14 : 0 and C18 : 1/18 : 0 ratios in FAs were significantly decreased in the DOFP treatment group, and the C20 : 4/C20 : 3 and C22 : 4/C22 : 3 ratios were increased, and saturated FA was inhibited. Additionally, DOFP treatment significantly increased the content of two FA β-oxidation-related proteins (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1-α and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1). It also decreased the content of a FA synthesis-related protein (fatty acid synthase), a FA desaturation-related protein (stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1), and a FA uptake-related protein (fatty acid transport protein 2). Moreover, DOFP treatment improved dysregulated levels of major phospholipids in the livers of model mice. The results of this study confirm that DOFP treatment in NAFLD mice has liver recovery effects by regulating FA metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium officinale (DOF) is a traditional Chinese edible and officinal plant. Ultrafine DOF powder (DOFP) can regulate lipids and histopathology in the liver, but the underlying mechanisms of hepatic fatty acid (FA) metabolism, which is generally correlated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether DOFP treatment alters hepatic FA metabolism in NAFLD mice by using multidimensional mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics (MDMS-SL) and analyse the underlying mechanisms. A 3-week DOFP treatment prevented lipid deposition and improved hepatic histopathology in NAFLD mice after withdrawal from the high-sucrose, high-fat (HSHF) diet, and it decreased triglyceride and FA content in the liver. Furthermore, the C16 : 0/C14 : 0 and C18 : 1/18 : 0 ratios in FAs were significantly decreased in the DOFP treatment group, and the C20 : 4/C20 : 3 and C22 : 4/C22 : 3 ratios were increased, and saturated FA was inhibited. Additionally, DOFP treatment significantly increased the content of two FA β-oxidation-related proteins (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1-α and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1). It also decreased the content of a FA synthesis-related protein (fatty acid synthase), a FA desaturation-related protein (stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1), and a FA uptake-related protein (fatty acid transport protein 2). Moreover, DOFP treatment improved dysregulated levels of major phospholipids in the livers of model mice. The results of this study confirm that DOFP treatment in NAFLD mice has liver recovery effects by regulating FA metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented barley (FB) flour by Lactobacillus plantarum is richer in dietary fiber, polyphenols, gamma‐aminobutyric acid, and other biologically active ingredients. This study aimed to determine the impacts of fermented barley ‐ wheat flour compound noodle (FBWN) on glucose and fat metabolism in subjects with metabolic syndrome. This was a single‐blinded and parallel 10‐week clinical trial study. Subjects were randomly assigned into the trial group (FBWN) and whole wheat noodles group (WWN), and were measured on the beginning of week 3 and the ending of week 10. The glucose level at 30 and 60 min was significantly decreased after FBWN intervention. Levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and TG were all declined after FBWN intervention compared to before in the trial group. Moreover, the fat mass, fat rate, and visceral fat were decreased by 6.48, 7.19, 6.3 kg after FBWN intervention, respectively, while muscle mass and basal metabolic rate rose 7.44 kg and 252.60 kcal. Practical applications: Many studies have illustrated that the extraction of fermented barley held the activities of anti‐obesity, antitumor, and so on. Moreover, this present study evaluated the effects of fermented barley by Lactobacillus plantarum on patients with metabolic syndrome. Results indicated that FB benefits the subjects on improving plasma glycolipids and insulin sensitivity, decreasing visceral fat level, and increasing satiety. The findings showed that the products of FB may be beneficial to dietary manipulations, thus, reducing the burden of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley, a kind of cereal, is rich in polysaccharides, phenols, proteins, β‐glucan, etc. Our previous studies discovered that extracts from Lactobacillus plantarum dy‐1‐fermented barley (LFBE) held strong anti‐obesity property in obese rats through inhibiting inflammation and suppressing the differentiation in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes; however, the precise mechanism of LFBE regulating lipid metabolism remains elusive. Results suggested LFBE and its main active components, especially the total phenols, exhibited fat‐lowering effects in glucose treated Caenorhabditis elegans at a certain concentration. Additionally, LFBE and the main components changed related genes in the insulin signaling pathway, fatty acid oxidation, and synthesis. Following verification study using mutants confirmed that the daf‐2 gene rather than the daf‐16 gene was required in LFBE and main components regulating lipid metabolism, which also involved in the process of fatty acid β‐oxidation and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis. Results demonstrated that LFBE and its main bioactivate compounds inhibited fat accumulation partly in a daf‐2‐dependent mechanism. Practical applications: Our previous studies have reported that extracts of fermented barley exhibited anti‐obesity activity. However, little is known about which functional factors play a leading role in decreasing fat deposition and its precise mechanism. Results indicated that daf‐2 mediated signaling pathways involved in the fat‐lowering effects of LFBE and its main components. Our findings are beneficial to understand the main nutritional ingredients in LFBE which are ideal and expected in functional foods for the obese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus is an important economic species in echinoderms; however, its culture frequently suffered from diseases. Environmental stress was found to be a dominant inducer of A. japonicus diseases, and thus, discovering the characteristics of immune system under environmental stress is of great significance for disease control in A. japonicus culture. Phenoloxidase (PO) is recognized as a crucial immune‐related enzyme in invertebrates. In order to preliminarily illustrate the different roles that A. japonicus PO isoforms play under environmental stresses, the transcriptional expression of three identified A. japonicus PO isoforms (named as AjPOI, AjPOII and AjPOIII respectively) after different in vivo environmental stress simulations was determined with quantitative real‐time PCR method. Meanwhile, the transcriptional expression analysis of other representational immune‐related factors under environmental stresses was also performed for the evaluation of relationships between AjPOs and other immune‐related factors. The correlations between AjPOs and other immune‐related factors were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient, and the effects of AjPOs on other immune‐related factors were then tested by dsRNA interference method. The results of transcriptional expression analysis indicated that AjPOI was involved in the resistance to low salinity, low temperature and hypoxia; AjPOII and AjPOIII were both required for the resistance to low salinity, high temperature, low temperature and hypoxia; and all three AjPOs were excluded from the response against high salinity. In addition, three AjPOs were found to take part in different periods of resistance to environmental stresses, and this property made A. japonicus PO system capable of outputting resistance activities continuously. The correlation analysis combined with dsRNA interference test revealed that AjPOI was capable of regulating AjCTSD, AjI‐LYZ and AjMTF expression; AjPOII and AjPOIII both played important roles in the regulation of AjC‐LYZ expression; and AjPOIII was also able to regulate AjToll expression. These findings suggested that A. japonicus PO isoforms function in innate immunity not only via catalysing the oxidative reactions, but also by broadly regulating the expression of other immune‐related factors. On the whole, three AjPOs showed obvious differences among each other in the resistance to environmental stresses and the regulation of other immune‐related factors, but comparatively, AjPOII and AjPOIII shared more similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyculture with Chinese shrimp Penaeus chinensis, jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta and razor clam Sinonovacula constricta (S.J.R) is a common aquaculture system in Dandong, China. Investigation on the composition and function of microbial communities and their relationship with environmental factors in aquaculture systems have crucial implications. Therefore, the sequencing of 16S rRNA gene was applied to profile the bacterial community composition of water and sediment in S.J.R polyculture system in the present study. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in S.J.R polyculture ponds following with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes in water; in contrast, more diverse phyla were detected in sediments. Water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were determined the bacterial community composition in the S.J.R polyculture systems. Specially, Planktomarina, PS1 clade, Candidatus Aquiluna and Fibrobacteres, which can resist the phytoplankton blooms or degrade the cellulose, were more abundant in water at the early stage of cultivation in the S.J.R polyculture system. Moreover, the functions of bacterial communities in water were mainly associated with cell communication mediated, while the functions related to basal metabolism were enriched in sediments. The findings of this study allowed us to better understand the bacterial community in the S.J.R polyculture system and accumulated data for the improvement of cultural management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that explores the temporal dynamics of bacterial communities and the possible relationship between the main organisms and environmental factors in polyculture system of Rhopilema esculenta, Penaeus monodon and Ruditapes philippinarium. It offers details of the method of the study and the samples that were collected. It outlines the result which indicates that photosynthetic bacteria should be added to the polyculture ponds to avoid overproducing methane.

After exploitation of groundwater had been reduced and the groundwater level of the confined aquifer had risen, land subsidence was observed to continue rather than cease for several years according to the layer-wise mark monitoring data in Xi’an. To analyze the phenomena, a numerical model of a coupled one-dimensional multilayer aquifer system is developed to represent land subsidence due to hydraulic head variation in the pumped layer. The numerical simulation results show that the pressure head in other layers does not rise immediately when the hydraulic head in the pumped layer starts to recover after pumping ceases. In addition, after the pumping is stopped, a dividing point can be found in aquitards next to the pumped layer, with the aquitards being divided into two parts: a compressed part and a rebounding part. The dividing points move toward the side and away from the pumped layer with the transferring of pore pressure in the aquitard. The results of the simulation also show that there is a transition period between land subsidence and rebound. In this transition period, land could continue to subside even though the hydraulic head in the pumped layer begins to recover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hippocampus is a key structure for encoding and processing memory and for spatial orientation, which are among the cognitive functions most sensitive to cerebral ischemia, hypoxia, and vascular dementia (VD). Since hippocampal formation is one of the principle forebrain targets for arginine-vasopressin (AVP) innervations arising in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), we explored the contributions of AVP to VD pathogenesis. To this end, we randomly assigned pathogen-free, male Wistar rats to one of seven groups in a VD model and tested AVP treatment effects on spatial learning and memory using the Morris water maze. We also measured the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in brain samples and monitored the expression of AVP-positive neurons in the hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. The VD model with repeated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury evoked impairment of cognitive function and reduced cerebral concentrations of the antioxidation markers. Lesioning the rat PVN showed a similar effect on learning and memory and reduced antioxidation markers in the brain tissue. However, AVP injection into the PVN improved cognitive performance in VD rats, while enhancing/rectifying the changes in antioxidation markers. We conclude that our VD model may decrease AVP secretion in the PVN and subsequently reduce antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus, leading to impaired cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the adaptive fuzzy control problem for a class of twin-roll strip casting systems. By using fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) to approximate the compounded nonlinear functions, a novel robust output tracking controller with adaptation laws is designed based on the high gain observer. First, the nonlinear dynamic equations for the roll gap and the molten steel level are constructed, respectively. Then, the mean value theorem is employed to transform the nonaffine nonlinear systems to the corresponding affine nonlinear systems. Moreover, it is also proved that all the closed-loop signals are bounded and the systems output tracking errors can converge to the desired neighborhoods of the origin via the Lyapunov stability analysis. Finally, simulation results, based on semiexperimental system dynamic model and parameters, are worked out to show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive fuzzy design method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To investigate the correlation of Fuzheng-Huayu tablet (FZHY) efficacy on chronic hepatitis B caused cirrhosis (HBC) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP1A2. Methods. After 111 cases of HBC with 69 excess, 21 deficiency-excess, and 21 deficiency ZHENGs (ZHENG, also called traditional Chinese medicine syndrome) were treated by FZHY for 6 months, clinical symptoms, Child-Pugh score, and ZHENG score were observed. Three of the SNPs in CYP1A2 gene were detected and analyzed using SNaPshot assay. Results. In ZHENG efficacy between effective and invalid groups, there was significant difference (P < 0.001). The ZHENG deficiency was significantly correlated with FZHY efficacy (P < 0.05). AA genotype of CYP1A2-G2964A was significantly different with GG genotype (P < 0.05) between CYP1A2 Genotypes and FZHY efficacy on ZHENG. More importantly, GA plus AA genotype of CYP1A2-G2964A was significantly different with deficiency ZHENG (P < 0.05) between CYP1A2 genotypes and FZHY efficacy on ZHENG. Conclusion. FZHY improved ZHENG score of HBC, and these efficacies may relate to CYP1A2-G2964A sites. It was suggested that CYP1A2-G2964A locus is probably a risk factor for ZHENG-based FZHY efficacy in HBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To evaluate and predict the therapeutic efficacy of Fuzheng-Huayu tablet (FZHY) based traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation or TCM symptoms on chronic hepatitis B caused cirrhosis (HBC). Methods. The trial was designed according to CONSORT statement. It was a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trail. Several clinical parameters, Child-Pugh classification and TCM symptoms were detected and evaluated. The FZHY efficacy was predicted by an established Bayes forecasting method following the Bayes classification model. Results. The levels of HA and TCM syndrome score in FZHY group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to placebo group, respectively. The efficacy of FZHY on TCM syndrome score in HBC patients with some TCM syndromes was better. In TCM syndrome score evaluation, there were 53 effective and 22 invalid in FZHY group. TCM symptoms predicted FZHY efficacy on HBC were close to Child-Pugh score prediction. Conclusion. FZHY decreases the levels of HA and TCM syndrome scores, improves the life quality of HBC patients. Moreover, there were different therapeutic efficacies among different TCM syndromes, indicating that accurate TCM syndrome differentiation might guide the better TCM treatment. Furthermore, the FZHY efficacy was able to predict by Bayes forecasting method through the alteration of TCM symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TC M) syndrome is an important basis for TC M diagnosis and treatment. As Child-Pugh classification as well as compensation and decompensation phase in liver cirrhosis, it is also an underlying clinical classification. In this paper, we investigated the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TC M syndromes in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis (HBC). Samples were obtained from 343 HBC patients in China. Three SNPs of IL- 10 (-592A/C, -819C/T, and -1082A/G) were detected with polymerase chain-reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR). The result showed the SNP-819C/T was significantly correlated with Deficiency syndrome (P = 0.031), but none of the 3 loci showed correlation either with Child-Pugh classification and phase in HBC patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that the Excess syndrome was associated with dizzy and spider nevus, and the Deficiency syndrome was associated with dry eyes, aversion to cold, IL-10-819C/T loci, and IL-10-1082A/G loci. The odds ratio (OR) value at IL-10-819C/T was 4.022. The research results suggested that IL-10-819C/T locus (TC plus CC genotype) is probably a risk factor in the occurrence of Deficiency syndrome in HBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to understand the changes of nutrition constituents in extracts of four varieties of barley fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum dy‐1 (LFBEs) and to uncover the potential apoptosis‐related mechanism induced by LFBE to inhibit the proliferation of HT‐29 cells. The contents of total polysaccharide, polyphenol, and protein in the four LFBEs significantly changed as the fermentation time went by and exerted different inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HT‐29 cells. Results indicated that LFBE (YangSi No.3) inhibited proliferation of HT‐29 cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manners. The scanning electron micrograph illustrated that LFBE caused representative apoptotic trait and flow cytometric analysis suggested that LFBE brought about apoptosis by ceasing cell cycle at S phase. Western‐blotting results indicated that LFBE promoted apoptosis was relevant to the regulation of apoptosis‐related proteins, such as B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2), Bcl‐2‐associated X protein (Bax), and the release of Cytochrome‐C from mitochondria. Practical applications: Abundant studies have reported that extracts of fermented barley held the activities of anti‐obesity, antitumor, and so on. However, little information about the comparison in the chemical profile and antiproliferation property among different barley varieties (namely, YangSi barley No.1, YangSi barley No.3, DaZhong 88‐91, XiYin No.2) was observed. Results indicated that LFBE (YangSi No.3 barley) exhibited the best inhibitory property by inducing the apoptosis of HT‐29 cells. These findings may be beneficial to select a higher nutritional value barley and optimize the fermentation conditions to maximize the bioactive concentration expected in foods for the human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]