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Introduction The gut microbiome plays an important role in maintaining both cognitive and physical functions in older adults, and gut dysbiosis is an important pathophysiological mechanism of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults. As a typical traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, regular Baduanjin training has been shown to improve cognitive function and modulate the gut microbiome in community-dwelling older adults. However, the potential role of the gut microbiome in the benefits of Baduanjin on cognitive function remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating effect of gut microbiome between regular Baduanjin training and improvement in cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults with MCI.Methods and analysis This is a two-arm, randomised, parallel-controlled, single-blinded trial. Four residential communities (clusters) with a total of 64 eligible participants (16 participants in each residential community) will be randomised 1:1 to either the 24-week Baduanjin exercise intervention group (60 min per session, four sessions per week) or the no specific exercise intervention control group. Global cognitive function and the subdimensions of cognition including executive function, visuospatial function, language function and memory function will be assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, Trail Making Test, Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Boston Naming Test-30 and Clock-Drawing Test, while the gut microbiome and its metabolomics will be detected using 16S rRNA and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and at the end of 24-week intervention. The intervention effect of Baduanjin exercise and mediating role of gut microbiota will be analysed using linear mixed models and the bootstrapping method in the Hayes process.Ethics and dissemination This study conforms to Declaration of Helsinki principles and relevant ethical guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences (approval number: 2023-GZR-011). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be disseminated to relevant groups in peer-reviewed journal(s), and at relevant international or national scientific conferences. Key findings will also be shared with social media, healthcare providers, participants or community-dwelling older adults to support access for non-research audiences.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300078147.

BackgroundOxidative stress and chronic inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis process of cognitive frailty (CF). Regular Baduanjin exercise could improve cognitive frailty in older adults, but it is unclear whether the effect of Baduanjin exercise on improving CF is mediated by modulating circulating oxidative stress and inflammatory process.MethodA total of 102 community-dwelling older adults with CF were recruited and randomly allocated into a 24-week Baduanjin exercise training group or no specific exercise intervention control group at an equal rate. Cognitive function and physical frailty index were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), as well as the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline and after intervention.ResultAfter 24 weeks of intervention, the increased MoCA score (2.51 ± 0.32 points, p

This study examined the fourth quarters in the close games in the regular NBA games in the last decade, ranging from the 2013–14 season to the 2022–2023 season. A close game is categorically defined by a scenario where the point differential is confined within a 10-point margin at the onset of the fourth quarter and narrows further to a 5-point disparity by the end of the game. In total, 2,295 close games were identified in this study. Advanced game statistics, including offensive rate, defensive rate, assistance ratio, pace of game, and true shooting percentage, etc., are obtained from the NBA box scores using a python script. Understanding key factors that determine the outcome of the basketball games is critical, as such can be used to develop predictive models for coaches to design game strategies. This study developed a Bayesian Logistic Modeling approach to estimate the winning probability of a basketball team in the fourth quarter, using the pace of the last quarter and a team’s shooting percentage. The accuracy of the model is used to evaluate if the model can correctly classify game outcome based on the identified game statistics in the fourth quarter of a game. The binary outcome of the close game is modeled as a Bernoulli distribution. Results reveal that the True Positive Rate and False Positive Rate is 0.93 and 0.07, respectively. Insights from this study can be used to help design coaching strategies in basketball games, illuminating potential tactical pivots that could tilt the game in their favor.

Abstract Gastrointestinal symptoms are more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than in typically developing (TD) children. Constipation is a significant gastrointestinal comorbidity of ASD, but the associations among constipated autism spectrum disorder (C-ASD), microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are still debated. We enrolled 80 children, divided into the C-ASD group (n = 40) and the TD group (n = 40). In this study, an integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach was applied to explore the association of the gut microbiota and SCFAs in C-ASD children in China. The community diversity estimated by the Observe, Chao1, and ACE indices was significantly lower in the C-ASD group than in the TD group. We observed that Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG_003, Phascolarctobacterium, Megamonas, Ruminiclostridium_5, Parabacteroides, Prevotella_2, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella_9 were enriched in the C-ASD group, and Anaerostipes, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ralstonia, Eubacterium_eligens_group, and Ruminococcus_1 were enriched in the TD group. The propionate levels, which were higher in the C-ASD group, were negatively correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus taxa, but were positively correlated with the severity of ASD symptoms. The random forest model, based on the 16 representative discriminant genera, achieved a high accuracy (AUC = 0.924). In conclusion, we found that C-ASD is related to altered gut microbiota and SCFAs, especially decreased abundance of Lactobacillus and excessive propionate in faeces, which provide new clues to understand C-ASD and biomarkers for the diagnosis and potential strategies for treatment of the disorder. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ; trial registration number ChiCTR2100052106; date of registration: October 17, 2021).

This study aimed to explore the optimal conditions for the preparation of β-glucan/nanosized selenium (Se NPs) complexes (DNT-Se) and determining the safety of DNT-Se. The concentration of polysaccharides (DNTs), the ratio of vitamin C (VC) to Na2SeO3, the concentration of Na2SeO3, the reaction time, and the reaction temperature were used as experimental factors. The dual-wavelength colorimetric method and the Malvern particle-size assay method were used to characterize changes in the particle size of Se NPs in DNT-Se, and the single-factors and orthogonal experimental design were used to investigate the preparation process of DNT-Se, and the toxicity of DNT-Se to 293T human embryonic kidney cells and normal liver cells of AML-12 mice was evaluated by using CCK-8. The results showed that the optimal conditions for DNT-Se preparation were list as follows: 1.0 mg/mL of DNTs, and 1.0 mg/mL of Na2SeO3 with the ratio of vitamin C to Na2SeO3 6:1. Moreover, the reaction time was 12 h, and the reaction temperature was 25 ℃. The mean diameter of DNT-Se prepared under such conditions was around 34.50 nm. Cell proliferation experiment results showed that DNT-Se was non-toxic to 293T human embryonic kidney cells and normal liver cells of AML-12 mice, but it could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells, and the IC50 value of DNT-Se for HepG2 cells at 72 h was 42.54 μg/mL. The synthesis process of DNT-Se was fixed in this work, and the obtained nanoparticles were with smaller size and uniform distribution. Moreover, the DNT-Se could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 hepatoma cells without toxicity to normal cells, which was of good biosafety.

Considering that the precise delivery of Celastrol (Cst) into mitochondria to induce mitochondrial dysfunction may be a potential approach to improve the therapeutic outcomes of Cst on TNBC, a novel tumor mitochondria dual-targeted mixed-micelle nano-system was fabricated via self-synthesized triphenylphosphonium-modified cholesterol (TPP-Chol) and hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified cholesterol (HA-Chol). The Cst-loaded mixed micelles (Cst@HA/TPP-M) exhibited the characteristics of a small particle size, negative surface potential, high drug loading of up to 22.8%, and sustained drug release behavior. Compared to Cst-loaded micelles assembled only by TPP-Chol (Cst@TPP-M), Cst@HA/TPP-M decreased the hemolysis rate and upgraded the in vivo stability and safety. In addition, a series of cell experiments using the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 as a cell model proved that Cst@HA/TPP-M effectively increased the cellular uptake of the drug through CD44-receptors-mediated endocytosis, and the uptake amount was three times that of the free Cst group. The confocal results demonstrated successful endo-lysosomal escape and effective mitochondrial transport triggered by the charge converse of Cst@HA/TPP-M after HA degradation in endo-lysosomes. Compared to the free Cst group, Cst@HA/TPP-M significantly elevated the ROS levels, reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, and promoted tumor cell apoptosis, showing a better induction effect on mitochondrial dysfunction. In vivo imaging and antitumor experiments based on MDA-MB-231-tumor-bearing nude mice showed that Cst@HA/TPP-M facilitated drug enrichment at the tumor site, attenuated drug systemic distribution, and polished up the antitumor efficacy of Cst compared with free Cst. In general, as a target drug delivery system, mixed micelles co-constructed by TPP-Chol and HA-Chol might provide a promising strategy to ameliorate the therapeutic outcomes of Cst on TNBC.

Dysregulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is an essential characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a triterpenoid found in the edible plants of Cucurbitaceae with a broad spectrum of beneficial effects. Here, we investigate the in vivo anti-steatotic efficacy of CuB in an AKT-driven NAFLD mouse model established using hydrodynamic injection. Hepatocyte lines with artificial activation of AKT were used for in vitro experiments. The results demonstrate that CuB effectively attenuates the content of triglyceride and total cholesterol (P

AbstractIn order to precisely deliver celastrol into mitochondria of tumor cells, improve antitumor efficacy of celastrol and overcome its troublesome problems in clinical application, a novel multistage-targeted celastrol delivery system (C-TL/HA) was developed via electrostatic binding of hyaluronic acid (HA) to celastrol-loaded cationic liposomes composed of natural soybean phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol modified with mitochondrial targeting molecular TPP. Study results in this article showed that C-TL/HA successfully transported celastrol into mitochondria, effectively activated apoptosis of mitochondrial pathway, exerted higher tumor inhibition efficiency and lower toxic side effects compared with free celastrol. More importantly, HA coating not only enabled this delivery system to have good stability and safety in vivo, but also increased drug uptake and facilitated tumor targeting through recognizing CD44 receptors rich on the surface of tumor cells. Conclusively, this HA-coated mitochondrial targeting liposomes may provide a prospect for the clinical application of celastrol in tumor therapy.

Abstract Background and purpose Chinese mind–body exercise-Baduanjin has received increasing attention for health promotion among middle-aged and older adults in China, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence on its effectiveness. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of Baduanjin on physical function in middle-aged and older adults. Methods Seven electronic databases were searched for articles published before 22 June 2021 with the keywords Baduanjin exercise combined with physical-function-related outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed in the included studies, and data were analyzed using Review Manager software V5.3. Results Fifteen articles, including 14 randomized controlled trials, were included in this study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that Baduanjin significantly improved muscle strength (grip strength: SMD = 0.63, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.04, p = 0.003), balance ability (timed up-and-go test score: MD = -2.21, 95% CI -3.91 to -0.51, p = 0.01; one-leg stand test score: MD = 3.75, 95% CI 1.96 to 5.55, p

Background/Objectives: Regular Baduanjin exercise training has been shown to be beneficial to the physical and cognitive health of older adults, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated. This study examined the influence of Baduanjin on cerebral hemodynamics in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 102 eligible participants were randomly allocated into the Baduanjin exercise intervention group (BEG) or usual physical activity control group (CG) for 24 weeks. Cerebral hemodynamic parameters of bilateral middle/anterior cerebral artery and basilar artery, cognitive ability and physical frailty were assessed using Transcranial Doppler (TCD), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) at baseline and 24 weeks post-intervention. Results: After 24 weeks intervention, the changes in peak systolic velocity (PSV), mean blood flow velocity (MBFV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) in the right middle cerebral artery and basilar artery were better in the BEG than in the CG; the increase in MoCA scores and the decrease in EFS scores were significantly higher in the BEG than in the CG. Moreover, the interaction of exercise and time on those variables showed obvious significance. Conclusions: The 24 weeks Baduanjin exercise training had a positive beneficial effect on cerebral blood flow in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. This may be a potential mechanism by which Baduanjin exercise improves the cognitive frailty in older adults. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800020341. Date of registration: December 25, 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=29846.

Abstract Background Balance function provides a physiological link between the physical and cognitive function, and is a potential predictor for cognitive frailty. As a gentle mind–body exercise, Baduanjin can develop flexibility and co-ordination, thus would be is helpful for the improvement of balance function. This trial will evaluate the effect of Baduanjin on balance function in older adults with CF. Methods/design A total of 72 community-dwelling older adults with CF will be recruited and randomly allocated (1:1) into the Baduanjin exercise group or usual physical activity control group. All participants will undergo a health education program on nutrition and diet-related knowledge for 6 sessions (30 min per session) during the intervention period. Moreover, participants in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 24-week Baduanjin training course of 60 min per session and 3 sessions per week, while those in the usual physical activity control group will be required to maintain their original physical activity. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and after the 24-week intervention period. A mixed linear model will be constructed to analyse the intervention effects. Discussion This protocol presents an objective design of a randomized, single-blind trial that will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese mind–body exercise Baduanjin training on the balance ability of community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. If the results are as expected, this trial will provide evidence of the effect of Baduanjin exercise on balance in an older community-based population. Trial registration This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with code ChiCTR2100050857 and was approved on 5 September 2021.

Polygonum cuspidatum (PC) extract has been listed in the “Catalog of Used Cosmetic Ingredients (2021 Edition)”, which can inhibit melanogenesis, thus exerting a whitening effect, and has been widely used in cosmetics. However, there are currently no quality standards for PC extract used in cosmetics, and the bioactive components associated with anti-melanogenesis remain unclear. In view of this, the present study was the first to investigate the spectrum-effect relationship between fingerprints of PC extract and melanogenesis inhibition. Ten batches of PC extract fingerprints were established by HPLC. Pearson’s correlation analysis, gray correlation analysis (GRA) and orthogonal partial least squares regression analysis (OPLSR) were used to screen out resveratrol, emodin and physcion as the main whitening active ingredients using the inhibition of tyrosinase in B16F10 cells as the pharmacological index. Then, the melanogenesis inhibitory effects of the above three components were verified by tyrosinase inhibition and a melanin content assay in B16F10 cells. The interaction between small molecules and proteins was investigated by the molecular docking method, and it was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) that resveratrol, emodin and physcion significantly down-regulated the transcript levels of melanogenesis-related factors. In conclusion, this study established a general model combining HPLC fingerprinting and melanogenesis inhibition and also analyzed the spectrum–effect relationship of PC extract, which provided theoretical support for the quality control of PC extract in whitening cosmetics.

BackgroundRegular Baduanjin exercise intervention was proven to be beneficial in improving the cognitive ability and physical performance of older adults with different health conditions but was unclear to influence the structural plasticity of the hippocampus. This study aimed to explore the modulation of hippocampal subregions as a mechanism by which Baduanjin exercise improves cognitive frailty in older adults.MethodsA total of 102 community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty were recruited and randomly allocated to the Baduanjin exercise training group and usual physical activity control group. The participants in the Baduanjin exercise training group participated in a 24-week Baduanjin exercise intervention program with an exercise frequency of 60 min per day, 3 days per week. Cognitive ability and physical frailty were assessed, and MRI scans were performed on all participants at baseline and after 24 weeks of intervention. The structural MRI data were processed with MRIConvert (version 2.0 Rev. 235) and FreeSurfer (version 6.0.0) software. Data analyses were performed using the independent sample t tests/Mann–Whitney U tests with the Bonferroni correction, mixed linear model, correlation, or mediation analysis by the SPSS 24.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, United States).ResultsAfter 24 weeks of intervention, a statistically significant increase was found for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (p = 0.002) with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.94) and the significant interaction effect (Pgoup × time

BackgroundThe continuous decline in the physical fitness of college students has become a serious social problem worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the effective method improving college students' physique. Previous studies have shown that Baduanjin exercise is beneficial in improving sleeping quality, mental health, body flexibility, and body physique. However, the evidence is unclear whether Baduanjin exercise can be recommended as an effective exercise to promote health-related physical fitness of college students.MethodsA total of 130 college students were recruited and randomly allocated to either the Baduanjin training or the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The students in the Baduanjin training group received a 12-week supervised Baduanjin exercise training intervention with a frequency of 1 h each day and 4 days per week, while those in the control group did not receive any specific exercise intervention and were informed to maintain their original lifestyle for 12 weeks. The outcomes of health-related physical fitness involving measurements of body flexibility, muscular strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, and body endurance were measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention period. Mixed linear model was used to analyze the effect of the Baduanjin exercise intervention.ResultsMixed linear model analyses showed that the Baduanjin training group had a significant increase in the composite scores of health-related physical fitness compared to the control group from baseline to 12-week post-intervention with a medium effect size (d = 0.68, P = 0.006). Moreover, there were significant improvements in vital capacity, physical flexibility, 800/1,000 m endurance running, and body composition (measured by body mass index (BMI), fat mass and body fat ratio) at end of 12-week intervention in the Baduanjin training group. No adverse events were observed in this trial.ConclusionRegular Baduanjin training may be an effective, safe exercise form to promote the health-related physical fitness of young adults.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-17013011. http://www.chictr.ogr.cn.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common kind of liver cancer, accounts for the majority of liver cancer diagnoses and fatalities. Clinical aggressiveness, resistance to traditional therapy, and a high mortality rate are all features of this disease. Our previous studies have shown that co-activation of AKT and c-Met induces HCC development, which is the malignant biological feature of human HCC. Cucurbitacin B (CuB), a naturally occurring tetracyclic triterpenoid compound with potential antitumor activity. However, the metabolic mechanism of AKT/c-Met-induced Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis and CuB in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we established an HCC mouse model by hydrodynamically transfecting active AKT and c-Met proto-oncogenes. Based on the results of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), oil red O (ORO) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), HCC progression was divided into two stages: the early stage of HCC (3 weeks after AKT/c-Met injection) and the formative stage of HCC (6 weeks after AKT/c-Met injection), and the therapeutic effect of CuB was evaluated. Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS metabolomics, a total of 26 distinct metabolites were found in the early stage of HCC for serum samples, while in the formative stage of HCC, 36 distinct metabolites were found in serum samples, and 13 different metabolites were detected in liver samples. 33 metabolites in serum samples and 11 in live samples were affected by CuB administration. Additionally, metabolic pathways and western blotting analysis revealed that CuB influences lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glucose metabolism by altering the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, hence decreasing tumor progression. This study provides a metabolic basis for the early diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of HCC and the clinical application of CuB in HCC.

The main research question addressed in this study is if and how the shooting pattern and field-goal accuracy have changed in the NBA league in the past decade. This study analyzes NBA game data from the 2011–2012 regular season to the 2020–2021 season. Field goal attempts are grouped into five categories by the shooting distance. The Mann-Kendall trend test was employed to examine if changes are statistically significant (p < 0.05) over the years. Sixteen equal segments in one basketball game, each with 3 min, were analyzed to examine the shooting pattern in different game segments. Results reveal an increasing trend in the percentage of 3-pointer shooting, which has nearly doubled from 22 to 39%. Meanwhile, the percentage of field goals within the range of 16–24 ft has decreased from 20 to 10%. Field-goal accuracy has shown an increasing trend for all shooting distances except for the 3-pointer shooting. The second and fourth 3-min within each quarter have the highest number of field goals. The first quarter has a higher shooting accuracy than the rest three quarters. In addition, results reveal that the last 3-min in each quarter has the lowest shooting accuracy. Reasons for the patterns of field goals in different segments are discussed from the perspective of game rule changes, the fatigue effects, and coaches’ game strategies. The reasons for changes in activity level and performance in different quarters are also discussed. This study offers new insights into the changes in basketball shooting patterns and accuracy in NBA games in the past decade. Practical meanings of this study for basketball players, coaches, and sports psychologists, as well as the strength and limitations of this study, are discussed.

Lupeol liposomes, modified with Gal-PEG-DSPE, were developed following a thin-film dispersion method. Then, the morphology, physicochemical properties, and in vitro release properties of those liposomes were investigated. The scanning electron microscopic images showed that most of the liposomes were spherical particles; they were similar in size and uniformly dispersed. Both lupeol liposomes and Gal-lupeol liposomes exhibited an average particle size of about 100 nm. The encapsulation efficiency was greater than 85%. The encapsulation efficiency of lupeol liposome and Gal-lupeol liposome, stored with 15% sucrose as glycoprotein for 6 months, was higher than 80%; although the particle size increased, they remained within 200 nm. The cell-uptake study demonstrated that the Gal-lupeol-liposome uptake efficiency was the highest in HepG2 cells. The HepG2 cells treated with the Gal-lupeol liposomes had higher apoptotic efficiency than the lupeol liposome and free lupeol. After HepG2 cells were treated with Gal-lupeol liposome, the expressions of AKT/mTOR-related proteins (p-AKT308 and p-AKT473) were also significantly reduced than the lupeol-liposome and free lupeol group. The in vivo targeting studies showed that Gal-NR-L exhibited liver-targeting effects on FVB mice. The pharmacodynamic study was performed by transfecting AKT and c-MET via the high-pressure tail vein of FVB mice. After Gal-lupeol-L administration, the liver index and liver weight of mice were less than those non-targeted group. The histopathological study showed that the lobular structure in the mice liver was clearer, the vacuoles were more obvious, and the cytoplasm was more abundant after Gal-lupeol-L administration. Also, the qRT-PCR study showed that AFP, GPC3, and EpCAM mRNA expression levels were significantly lower than those non-targeted lupeol-liposomes.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common malignant liver tumor after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It poses a significant risk to human health as it is highly malignant, insidious, and prone to recurrence after surgery. However, current diagnostic techniques and treatments for ICC are limited. Therefore, it is critical to investigate biomarkers of ICC for the discovery of novel drugs that can effectively treat ICC. In a previous study on the molecular mechanisms of ICC, proto-oncogenes AKT and Yap were found to often be overexpressed or activated in ICC, and the co-expression of AKT/YapS127A could promote the formation of ICC in mice. In this study, co-expression of AKT/YapS127A in an ICC mouse model was established via hydrodynamic transfection. To identify ICC biomarkers, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Osthole on the formation of ICC in mice induced with the co-expression of AKT/YapS127A. Furthermore, we preliminarily established the pathogenesis of ICC and the mechanism of Osthole. The metabolomic profiles for different stages in ICC formation process and Osthole treatment were examined via UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The morphology (hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining) and immunohistochemistry (CK19, Ki67, Vimentin, and α-SMA) results demonstrated that the ICC mouse model was useful. The ICC formation process was divided into three stages: early (1–2 weeks), formative (3–4 weeks), and late (5–7 weeks) stages. For the metabolomic profiles of ICC formation process, 11 differential metabolite species were identified at the early stage, 14 at the formative stage, and 20 at the late stage. The model group mice mainly showed dysregulation of amino acids and lipid metabolism compared with the control group mice. For the metabolomic profiles of Osthole treatment, 14 potential biomarkers with reduced levels were preliminarily identified, which were also linked to the dysregulation of amino acids and lipid metabolism. Combined with the results of Western Blotting experiments, it was found that Osthole can stop tumors from progressing by altering the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway with changes in amino acid and lipid metabolism. This study can provide a potentially valuable metabolic basis for the early detection, treatment, and prognosis of ICC, as well as the clinical application of Osthole in ICC.

Urolithin A (UroA) is one of the primary intestinal metabolites of ellagitannins, showing translational potential as a nutritional intervention in humans. Mounting evidence suggests that fructose consumption contributes to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that manifests in hyperuricemic nephropathy, renal inflammation, and tubulointerstitial injury. Here, we investigated the efficacy of UroA in alleviating fructose-induced hyperuricemic nephropathy in mice. Uric acid-exposed human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells were utilized for in vitro mechanism validation. Histopathological staining, immunoblotting, and transmission electron microscope were performed for the mechanistic investigations. Our results revealed that UroA ameliorated fructose-induced hyperuricemic nephropathy in mice. The histopathologic assessment showed that UroA attenuated tubular hypertrophy and dilation, glomerular basement membrane thickening, and collagen deposition in the kidney of fructose-fed mice. Mechanistically, UroA treatment impaired STING-NLRP3 activation, resulting in reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Notably, UroA exhibited a scavenging effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restored fructose-impaired PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in nephropathic mice. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of UroA in STING-NLRP3 activation was impaired after Parkin gene silencing in HK-2 cells. Together, this study suggests that UroA alleviates fructose-induced hyperuricemic nephropathy by promoting Parkin-dependent mitophagy, thereby suppressing STING-NLRP3 axis-mediated inflammatory response. Thus, dietary supplementation with UroA or ellagitannins-rich foods may serve as a promising intervention to prevent CKD progression.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in the progression of many aging-related diseases. Exercises can delay this kind of progress, but aerobic exercise is the most commonly used type of training among older adults; therefore, its influence needs to be further verified.Methods: A literature search was conducted in eight electronic databases, including Cochrane, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Date, and SinoMed from their inception to April 2020. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane RoB tool v2.0 for individual studies, and RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform the meta-analysis.Results: The meta-analysis included 20 studies, involving 1,170 older adults. The results showed that regular aerobic exercise could reduce blood oxidant markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA; SMD=−1.80, 95% CI −2.46 to −1.14, p

In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Aesculus chinensis Bunge var. wilsonii (Rehder) Turland & N. H. Xia and compared it with cp genomes of congeneric species. The cp genome of A. chinensis var. wilsonii is a circular molecule, 156,211 bp in length, with typical quadripartite structure. It has one large single copy (LSC) region of 85,211 bp and one small single copy (SSC) region of 18,124 bp that are separated by two inverted repeat regions (IR) of 26,438 bp. The cp genome encodes 133 genes comprising 85 protein-coding genes, 40 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA ribosomal genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome of A. chinensis var. wilsonii is 37.93%. We conducted amaximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, which revealed that A. chinensis var. wilsonii is sister to A. wangii and has a close relationship with Acer L. (maples). We expect that the cp genome of A. chinensis var. wilsonii will be useful for DNA barcoding and species delimitation for this species as well as future studies on the conservation, taxonomy, and evolutionary relationships of Aesculus L.

Abstract Background Low health-related physical fitness in college students is a risk factor for future development of cardiovascular diseases at later stages in life, but appropriate exercise is one of the main determinant factors of health-related physical fitness. Previous studies have showed that Baduanjin exercise is beneficial in improving sleep quality, mental health, body flexibility, and body physique. However, the evidence is unclear whether Baduanjin exercise can be recommended as an effective exercise to promote health-related physical fitness of college students. Methods/design One hundred twenty college students will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the Baduanjin exercise or the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The students in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 12-week supervised Baduanjin exercise training intervention with a frequency of 1 h each day and 4 days per week, while those in the control group will not receive any specific exercise intervention and will be informed to maintain their original lifestyle for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of health-related physical fitness involving measurements of body flexibility, muscular strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, and body endurance will be measured at baseline and after the 12-week intervention period. Mixed linear models will be used to analyze the effect of the Baduanjin exercise intervention on the health-related physical fitness of college students. Discussion This is the first trial to evaluate the effects of Baduanjin exercise on health-related physical fitness in college students. If the results are as expected, they will provide evidence of Baduanjin exercise in promoting health-related physical fitness in young adults. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-17013011. Registered on 17 November 2017.

Abstract The aim of current study was to assess the effects of Baduanjin exercise on cerebrovascular function, cardiac structure and cardiac function, static pulmonary function, traditional risk factors of CVD and the related psychological outcomes in older community adults at risk for ischaemic stroke. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in three community between November 2013 and October 2015. Older community-dwelling adults (N = 170) were randomly allocated into either a Baduanjin training (5 × 60 min/weekly) or control group who kept their unaltered lifestyle during a 12-week intervention period. Primary (cerebral haemodynamic parameters) and secondary outcomes (cardiac structure, cardiac function, static pulmonary function, traditional risk factors and the related psychological outcomes) were measured at baseline, after a 12-week intervention period and after an additional 12-week follow-up period. After the 12-week intervention period and additional 12-week follow-up period, the Baduanjin exercise group displayed significant changes in most cerebral haemodynamic parameters compared to the control group: lower systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol levels, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist/hip ratio; and improved mood, self-confidence, self-esteem, quality of life and sleep quality. A supervised 12-week Baduanjin exercise intervention was effective and safe in modulating cerebral haemodynamics, reducing blood pressure and improving anthropometric parameters and related psychological outcomes in older community adults at risk for ischaemic stroke.

Background: Age-related cognitive decline is a pervasive problem in the ageing population. Baduanjin training is a mind-body exercise with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, and increasing numbers of studies have reported its usefulness in modulating the cognitive performance of various populations. However, no systematic review has evaluated the effect of Baduanjin training on cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of Baduanjin on the global cognitive function and specific cognitive domains of middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: Four literature databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical and China Biology Medicine) were searched from inception through May 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the cognitive function of middle-aged and elderly people were included. Assessment of the risk of bias for the included studies and data synthesis were conducted using the software Review Manager 5.3 based on the methods given in the Cochrane Handbook. Results: Baduanjin training showed significant benefit for global cognitive function and parts of specific domains of cognition, including general memory and its sub-domains (i.e., immediate memory and delayed memory), executive function, and processing speed, but no significant difference was found in attention function, visual-spatial ability or long-term memory (a sub-domain of memory). No related adverse events were reported in the included studies. Conclusions: The findings of this review suggest that Baduanjin is safe and effective in enhancing global cognitive function and memory in middle-aged and older adults and potentially beneficial to parts of the other specific domains of cognition, including executive function and processing speed. However, additional trials with larger sample sizes and a more rigorous design are needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common global health problem. Recently, the potential of mind-body intervention for MCI has drawn the interest of investigators. This study aims to comparatively explore the modulation effect of Baduanjin, a popular mind-body exercise, and physical exercise on the cognitive function, as well as the norepinephrine and dopamine systems using the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) method in patients with MCI. 69 patients were randomized to the Baduanjin, brisk walking, or healthy education control group for 6 months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were applied at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Results showed that (1) compared to the brisk walking, the Baduanjin significantly increased MoCA scores; (2) Baduanjin significantly increased the right locus coeruleus (LC) and left ventral tegmental area (VTA) rsFC with the right insula and right amygdala compared to that of the control group; and the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) compared to that of the brisk walking group; (3) the increased right LC-right insula rsFC and right LC-right ACC rsFC were significantly associated with the corresponding MoCA score after 6-months of intervention; (4) both exercise groups experienced an increased effective connectivity from the right ACC to the left VTA compared to the control group; and (5) Baduanjin group experienced an increase in gray matter volume in the right ACC compared to the control group. Our results suggest that Baduanjin can significantly modulate intrinsic functional connectivity and the influence of the norepinephrine (LC) and dopamine (VTA) systems. These findings may shed light on the mechanisms of mind-body intervention and aid the development of new treatments for MCI.

BackgroundCognitive frailty is a particular state of cognitive vulnerability toward dementia with neuropathological hallmarks. The hippocampus is a complex, heterogeneous structure closely relates to the cognitive impairment in elderly which is composed of 12 subregions. Atrophy of these subregions has been implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the changes in hippocampal subregions in older adults with cognitive frailty and the relationship between subregions and cognitive impairment as well as physical frailty.MethodsTwenty-six older adults with cognitive frailty and 26 matched healthy controls were included in this study. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale (Fuzhou version) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Chinese version (WMS-RC), while physical frailty was tested with the Chinese version of the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) and grip strength. The volume of the hippocampal subregions was measured with structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. Partial correlation analysis was carried out between the volumes of hippocampal subregions and MoCA scores, Wechsler’s Memory Quotient and physical frailty indexes.ResultsA significant volume decrease was found in six hippocampal subregions, including the bilateral presubiculum, the left parasubiculum, molecular layer of the hippocampus proper (molecular layer of the HP), and hippocampal amygdala transition area (HATA), and the right cornu ammonis subfield 1 (CA1) area, in older adults with cognitive frailty, while the proportion of brain parenchyma and total number of white matter fibers were lower than those in the healthy controls. Positive correlations were found between Wechsler’s Memory Quotient and the size of the left molecular layer of the HP and HATA and the right presubiculum. The sizes of the left presubiculum, molecular of the layer HP, and HATA and right CA1 and presubiculum were found to be positively correlated with MoCA score. The sizes of the left parasubiculum, molecular layer of the HP and HATA were found to be negatively correlated with the physical frailty index.ConclusionSignificant volume decrease occurs in hippocampal subregions of older adults with cognitive frailty, and these changes are correlated with cognitive impairment and physical frailty. Therefore, the atrophy of hippocampal subregions could participate in the pathological progression of cognitive frailty.

Background: Cognitive frailty (CF) is defined as the simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment among older adults without dementia. Previous studies have revealed that neuropathological changes may contribute to the degeneration of subcortical nuclei in the process of cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear in CF. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in subcortical nuclei in older adults with CF and their relationship with cognitive decline and physical frailty.Methods: A total of 26 older adults with CF and 26 matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Cognitive function and physical frailty were assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale (Fuzhou version) and the Chinese version of the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS). Volumetric and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of subcortical nuclei were measured with structural and DTI brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared between groups. Partial correlation analysis was conducted between subcortical nuclei volumes, MoCA scores, and physical frailty indexes.Results: Significant volume reductions were found in five subcortical nuclei, including the bilateral thalami, left caudate, right pallidum, and accumbens area, in older adults with CF (P < 0.05), and the bilateral thalami was most obvious. Decreased fractional anisotropy and relative anisotropy values were observed only in the left thalamus in the CF group (P < 0.05). No group differences were found in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The MoCA scores were positively correlated with the volumes of the bilateral thalami, right pallidum, and accumbens area (P < 0.05). Negative correlations were found between the physical frailty index and the volumes of the bilateral thalami, caudate, pallidum, and right accumbens area (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Microstructural changes occur in the subcortical nuclei of older adults with CF, and these changes are correlated with cognitive decline and physical frailty. Therefore, microstructural atrophy of the subcortical nuclei may be involved in the pathological progression of CF.

Introduction Cognitive frailty (CF) is a clinical manifestation characterised by the simultaneous presence of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment among older adults without dementia and has become a new target for healthy ageing. Increasing evidence shows that regular Baduanjin (a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise) training is beneficial in improving physical function and cognitive ability in the older adults. The primary aim of this trial is to observe the effect of Baduanjin on physical and cognitive functions in older adults with CF.Methods and analysis In this prospective, outcome assessor-blind, two-arm randomised controlled trial, a total of 102 participants with CF will be recruited and randomly allocated (1:1) into the Baduanjin training or usual physical activity control group. The control group will receive health education for 30 min at least once a month. Based on health education, participants in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 24-week Baduanjin training with 60 min per session and 3 sessions per week, while those in the usual physical activity control group will maintain their original lifestyle. Primary outcomes (frailty index and global cognitive ability), body composition, grip force, balance, fatigue, specific cognitive domain, including memory, execution and visual spatial abilities, and life quality of secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, and at 13 and 25 weeks after randomisation, while the structural and functional MRI will be measured at baseline and 25 weeks after randomisation. The mixed linear model will be conducted to observe the intervention effects.Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the ethics committee of the second people’s hospital of Fujian province (Approval no. 2018-KL015). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at scientific conferences.Trial registration number ChiCTR1800020341; Pre-results.

Abstract Background Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by cognitive functional decline, especially in memory. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used in neuroimaging studies that explore alterations between patients and normal individuals to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of different diseases. The current study was performed to investigate alterations in the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) in aMCI patients compared to healthy elderly controls, as well as further define the association between neurological alterations and memory function. Methods Twenty-five aMCI patients and 25 healthy individuals were recruited and underwent both fMRI and neuropsychological examinations. fMRI data was analyzed by independent component analysis. Results Compared to healthy individuals, aMCI patients exhibited a significant increase in functional connectivity between the DMN and right-middle and right-superior frontal gyri, left-middle occipital gyrus, and left-middle temporal gyrus, but reduced functional connectivity between the DMN and left-middle and left-inferior frontal gyri and left insula. These alterations were found to be associated with reduced memory function. Conclusions aMCI patients exhibited abnormal functional connectivity between the DMN and certain brain regions which is associated with changes in memory function associated with aMCI.

Abstract Background Evidence from quantitative studies suggest that Tai Chi produces a variety of health-related benefits, but few qualitative studies have investigated how older adults perceive the benefit of Tai Chi. The objective of the current study was to qualitatively evaluate the perceived benefits of Tai Chi practice among community older population. Methods This study was conducted with participants from a trial examining the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi training on ischemic stroke risk in community older adults (n = 170). A total of 20 participants were randomly selected from a convenience sample of participants who had completed 12-week Tai Chi training (n = 68) were interviewed regarding their perceived benefit on physical and mental health and whether Tai Chi exercise was suitable for the elderly. Results All participants agreed that Tai Chi training could relax their body and make them comfortable. Most of them thought Tai Chi training could promote physical health, including relieving pain, enhancing digestion, strengthening immunity, enhancing energy and improving sleep quality, enhancing their mental and emotional state (e.g. improving mood and reducing anxiety, improving concentration and promoting interpersonal relationship). Most of participants also agreed that Tai Chi exercise was appropriate for community older people. Three primary themes emerged from content analysis: Improving physical health; Enhancing mental and emotional state; Conforming with the request of the elderly. Conclusion The findings indicate that regular Tai Chi exercise may have positive benefits in terms of improved physical health and mental state among community elderly population, and may be useful and feasible body-mind exercise to community elderly population for its positive effects and advantages. Trial registration ChiCTR ChiCTR-TRC-13003601 . Registered 23 July 2014.

A growing number of studies have shown that mind-body exercise is beneficial to cognitive function, especially memory, in elderly MCI patients. However, few studies have explored the effect of mind-body exercise on the attention of MCI population. We recruited 69 participants and divided them equally into Baduanjin, brisk walking (BWK) exercise or usual physical activity (UAP) control groups. The two exercise groups performed 60 min of exercise three times per week for 24 weeks. All subjects underwent whole-brain functional MRI and assessment of attentional abilities, including selective, divided, and sustained attention, and processing speed at baseline and after 24 weeks. The results show that: Baduanjin exercise significantly increased the selective attention of MCI patients, and Dorsal attention network (DAN) of Baduanjin exercise group exhibited functional connectivity decreased in right rolandic operculum (ROL. R), right middle temporal gyrus (MTG. R), right supramarginal inferior parietal, angular gyri (IPL. R), right precuneus (PCUN. R), and right fusiform gyrus (FFG. R) regions compared with the other two groups. The BWK exercise group had obviously functional connectivity increased in IPL. R and decreased in the MTG. R region compared to that in the UAP group. But no significant association between the changes of functional connectivity of DAN and the change of attentional ability test was observed. Thus, our data indicated Baduanjin exercise may be a potential beneficial intervention to improve the attention of the elderly with MCI. Further study with more samples is necessary to elucidate its imaging mechanism.

Background: Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in accelerating the aging process and is closely associated with the initiation and progression of a broad range of age-related diseases. Physical exercise is considered beneficial in alleviating these conditions, but the effects of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in a healthy population should be furtherly clarified.Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in middle-aged and older adults.Methods: The literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from their inception through April 2018, and the reference lists were screened to identify appropriate studies. Only randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in middle-aged and older adults were eligible for this review.Results: Eleven studies involving 1,250 participants were retrieved from the databases for analysis. The pooled results showed that aerobic exercise significantly reduced inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP): SMD = 0.53, 95% CI 0.26–0.11, p = 0.0002; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α): SMD = 0.75, 95% CI 0.31–1.19, p = 0.0007; interleukin 6 (IL-6): SMD = 0.75, 95% CI 0.31–1.19, p = 0.0007). No significant improvement was found in relation to interleukin 4 (IL-4).Conclusions: Aerobic exercise may have a positive effect on reduction of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in middle-aged and older adults. Further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) need to be conducted to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on additional inflammatory markers in the population of middle-aged and older adults.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common neurological disorder. This study aims to investigate the modulation effect of Baduanjin (a popular mind-body exercise) on MCI. 69 patients were randomized to Baduanjin, brisk walking, or an education control group for 24 weeks. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans were applied at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Compared to the brisk walking and control groups, the Baduanjin group experienced significantly increased MoCA scores. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) analysis showed significantly decreased ALFF values in the right hippocampus (classic low-freqency band, 0.01‐0.08 Hz) in the Baduanjin group compared to the brisk walking group and increased ALFF values in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, slow-5 band, 0.01-0.027 Hz) in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group. Further, ALFF value changes in the right hippocampus and bilateral ACC were significantly associated with corresponding MoCA score changes across all groups. We also found increased gray matter volume in the Baduanjin group in the right hippocampus compared to the brisk walking group and in the bilateral ACC compared to the control group. In addition, there was an increased resting state functional connectivity between the hippocampus and right angular gyrus in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group. Our results demonstrate the potential of Baduanjin for the treatment of MCI. Keywords: Mind-body intervention, Baduanjin, Resting state functional connectivity, Voxel-based morphometry, Mild cognitive impairment, Hippocampus, Anterior cingulate cortex

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the balance function of patients with stroke.Methods:A literature search was performed in English and Chinese databases including Pubmed, SCI, Cochrane library, VIP, CNKI and Wan Fang, and “Tai ji” “balance” “stroke” were selected as keywords to obtain the original research articles which published before December 2014. The software of Review Manager 5.2 was applied for data analysis and quality assessment of eligible studies.Results:Seven studies with 629 participants were included. Compared with conventional rehabilitation training, Tai chi exercise and Tai chi gait training had positive effect on Berg Balance scale (BBS) index (MD=6.36, PMD=10.20, PRR=0.30, P=0.01; RR=0.30, P=0.01).Conclusion:Tai Chi exercise can improve the balance function of patients with stroke, and its effect is superior to conventional rehabilitation training. However, more larger-scale well-designed trials are needed to confirm the superiority of Tai Chi exercise.

An abnormality in the Lin28/let-7a axis is relevant to the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which could be a novel therapeutic target for this malignant tumor. The present study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative and anti-invasive effects of urolithin A in a stable full-length HBV gene integrated cell line HepG2.2.15 using CCK-8 and transwell assays. The RNA and protein expressions of targets were assessed by quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively. Results revealed that urolithin A induced cytotoxicity in HepG2.2.15 cells, which was accompanied by the cleavage of caspase-3 protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Moreover, urolithin A suppressed the protein expressions of Sp-1, Lin28a, and Zcchc11, and elevated the expression of microRNA let-7a. Importantly, urolithin A also regulated the Lin28a/let-7a axis in transient HBx-transfected HCC HepG2 cells. Furthermore, urolithin A decelerated the HepG2.2.15 cell invasion, which was involved in suppressing the let-7a downstream factors HMGA2 and K-ras. These findings indicated that urolithin A exerted the antiproliferative effect by regulating the Lin28a/let-7a axis and may be a potential supplement for HBV-infected HCC therapy.

ABSTRACT Various benefits of flavonoids for ameliorating cardiovascular diseases have been demonstrated. However, the lowering effects on blood pressure caused by antiproliferative potentials of flavonoids in vascular smooth muscle cells are rare. In this study, the antihypertensive effects of total flavonoids from Ampelopsis megalophylla were investigated. The dynamic pressure values and the rate of media thickness versus lumen diameter were measured by the tail-cuff system and H&E staining in vivo, respectively. The mRNA expressions of ACE, Ang II, eNOS, c-Myc, cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 in thoracic aorta or A7r5 cells were measured by qPCR, respectively. The protein expressions of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, p27Kip1 and β-catenin in tissues or A7r5 cells were measured by Western blot assay. Total flavonoids of A. megalophylla (TFAM) reduced the expressions of ACE and Ang II, and elevated the content of eNOS in thoracic aorta cells of SHRs. Furthermore, TFAM decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of c-Myc and cyclin D1 by repressing the Wnt/β-catenin-mediated TCF/LEF transcriptional activation both in vivo and in vitro, which is synergetic with the up-regulation of p27Kip1 expression. Our study provided evidence for developing flavonoids from A. megalophylla as herbal supplements to prevent against cardiovascular diseases by suppressing vascular remodeling.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of shadowboxing exercise on sleep quality of the elderly for providing reliable evidence for clinical application.Methods:The inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and retrieval strategies of original literatures were established, and then randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCT) related to the effect of shadowboxing exercise on sleep quality of the elderly were collected. According to bias risk assessment tool of Cochrane, the quality of the studies was evaluated and the related information was extracted, ReMan 5.2 software was used for meta-analysis and statistical appraisal of effect size.Results:six RCTs and one NRCT with a total of 673 participants were brought into the investigation. Results of meta analysis showed that compared with blank control group, the score of sleep quality in pittshurgh sleep quality index (PSQI) in shadowboxing exercise group was decreased [SMD-0.85, 95%CI (-1.25, -0.45), PPPP=0.000 3], the score of daytime dysfunction was decreased [MD-0.19, 95%CI (-0.30, -0.08), P=0.000 7], and the total score of PSQI was decreased [MD-2.12, 95%CI (-3.00, -1.24), P

Objective:To evaluate the effect of Health Qigong-Baduanjin on the balance function of college students.Methods:A total of 222 college students from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited and randomly allocated into Baduanjin or control group with a ratio of 1: 1. Participants in Baduanjin group were gathered to receive a 12-week Baduanjin training (1 hour per day and 5 days per week) during intervention period, while the control group received no special intervention. Follow-up period lasted 12 week after intervention period. Both groups received no intervention during follow-up period. The balance function was evaluated at baseline, at the end of 12-week intervention (at the 13th week of the study), and after the 12-week follow-up period (during the 25th week of the study).Results:The opened eyes and closed eyes indexes showed no differences between the two groups at baseline. At the end of the intervention period, the Opened Eyes Standard Deviation in Baduanjin group was significantly lower than control group (PHealth Qigong-Baduanjin could have a positive effect for college students on balance function, but long term effect was not observed.

Age-related cognitive decline is a significant public health concern. Recently, non-pharmacological methods, such as physical activity and mental training practices, have emerged as promising low-cost methods to slow the progression of age-related memory decline. In this study, we investigated if Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) and Baduanjin modulated the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in different frequency bands (low-frequency: 0.01–0.08 Hz; slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz; slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz) and improved memory function. Older adults were recruited for the randomized study. Participants in the TCC and Baduanjin groups received 12 weeks of training (1 h/day for 5 days/week). Participants in the control group received basic health education. Each subject participated in memory tests and fMRI scans at the beginning and end of the experiment. We found that compared to the control group: (1) TCC and Baduanjin groups demonstrated significant improvements in memory function; (2) TCC increased fALFF in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the slow-5 and low-frequency bands; and (3) Baduanjin increased fALFF in the medial PFC in the slow-5 and low-frequency bands. This increase was positively associated with memory function improvement in the slow-5 and low-frequency bands across the TCC and Baduanjin groups. Our results suggest that TCC and Baduanjin may work through different brain mechanisms to prevent memory decline due to aging.

Introduction Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between the cognitive changes of normal aging and dementia characterised by a reduction in memory and/or other cognitive processes. An increasing number of studies have indicated that regular physical activity/exercise may have beneficial association with cognitive function of older adults with or without cognitive impairment. As a traditional Chinese Qigong exercise, Baduanjin may be even more beneficial in promoting cognitive ability in older adults with MCI, but the evidence is still insufficient. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Baduanjin exercise on neuropsychological outcomes of community-dwelling older adults with MCI, and to explore its mechanism of action from neuroimaging based on functional MRI (fMRI) and cerebrovascular function.Methods and analysis The design of this study is a randomised, controlled trial with three parallel groups in a 1:1:1 allocation ratio with allocation concealment and assessor blinding. A total of 135 participants will be enrolled and randomised to the 24-week Baduanjin exercise intervention, 24-week brisk walking intervention and 24-week usual physical activity control group. Global cognitive function and the specific domains of cognition (memory, processing speed, executive function, attention and verbal learning and memory) will be assessed at baseline and 9, 17, 25 and 37 weeks after randomisation, while the structure and function of brain regions related to cognitive function and haemodynamic variables of the brain will be measured by fMRI and transcranial Doppler, respectively, at baseline and 25 and 37 weeks after randomisation.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was given by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Second People's Hospital of Fujian Province (approval number 2014-KL045-02). The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at scientific conferences.Trial registration number ChiCTR-ICR-15005795; Pre-results.

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on physical and psychological health of college students.Two hundred six college students were recruited and randomly allocated to a control group or a TCC exercise group in an equal ratio. Participants in the control group were instructed to maintain their original activity level and those in the TCC exercise group received 12 weeks of TCC exercise training based on their original activity level. Physical and psychological outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 13 weeks and 25 weeks. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed for the above outcomes.Compared with the control group, the TCC exercise group showed significant improvements at the end of the 12-week intervention period for flexibility (length of Sit and Reach (cm): TCC group 14.09±7.40 versus control 12.88±6.57, P = 0.039 adjusted for its baseline measures using a general linear model) and balance ability (open eyes perimeter: TCC group 235.6(191~314) versus control 261(216~300); closed eyes perimeter: TCC group 370.5 (284~454) versus control 367 (293~483); P = 0.0414, 0.008, respectively, adjusted for corresponding baseline measures using a general linear model). No significant changes in other physical and mental outcomes were found between the two groups. No adverse events were reported during the study period.TCC exercise was beneficial in college students for improving flexibility and balance capability to some extent, compared with usual exercise.Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-13003328.

BACKGROUND:Tai Chi may be efficient for healthy adults to improve the cardiorespiratory fitness, but there is no systematic evaluation for its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE:To systematically assess the effectiveness of Tai Chi on cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy adults. METHODS:Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to October 2013. The controlled trails including randomized controlled trial (RCT), non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT), self-controlled trial (SCT), and cohort study (CS) testing Tai Chi exercise against non-intervention control conditions in healthy adults that assessed any type cardiorespiratory fitness outcome measures were considered. Two reviewers independently performed the selection of the studies according to predefined criteria. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane criteria. RevMan 5.2 software was applied for data analysis. RESULTS:Twenty studies (2 RCTs, 8 NRCTs, 3 SCTs, and 7 CSs) with 1868 participants were included, but most of them belonged to low methodological quality. The results of systematic review showed that Tai Chi exercise had positive effect on majority outcomes of cardio function (Blood pressure: n = 536, SPB SMD = -0.93, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.56, P < 0.00001; DBP SMD = -0.54, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.18, P < 0.00001; heart rate at quiet condition: n = 986, SMD = -0.72, 95% CI -1.27 to -0.18, P = 0.010; stroke volume: n = 583, SMD = 0.44, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.61, P < 0.00001; cardio output: n = 583, MD = 0.32 L/min, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.56, P = 0.009), lung capacity (FVC at quiet condition: n = 1272, MD = 359.16 mL, 95% CI 19.57 to 698.75, P = 0.04 for less than one year intervention, and MD = 442.46 mL, 95% CI 271.24 to 613.68, P

The physical and mental health of college students tends to continuously decline around the world, therefore, it is important to improve their health during college period. Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise which combines movements with breath and mind, may be one of the selectable effective exercises. However, the effect of Baduanjin exercise on college students has not been established. In this study, we systematically assessed the effectiveness and safety of Baduanjin exercise on physical and mental health of college students by a rigorous randomized, parallel-controlled design.A total of 222 college students from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited and randomly allocated at an equal ratio into control or Baduanjin training. Participants in control group were informed to maintain their original activity habit, and those in Baduanjin exercise group received a 12-week Baduanjin exercise training with a frequency of 1 hour per day and 5 days per week on the basis of their original activity habit. The physical and psychological outcomes, including lumbar muscle strength, lower limb proprioception function, physical fitness, as well as self-reported symptom intensity, stress, self-esteem, mood, quality of life, quality of sleep, and adverse events, were evaluated at baseline, 13 weeks (at the end of 12-week intervention), and 25 weeks (after the 12-week follow-up period). Intention-to-treat analysis was performed for the above outcomes.Compared with controls, significant improvements in Baduanjin exercise group at the end of 12-week intervention period were found on lower limb proprioception function (the rate of average trace error on right lower limb (%): control 23.50±5.50, Baduanjin 21.92±6.54, P=0.004; the rate of average trace error on left lower limb (%): control 22.32±6.62, Baduanjin 20.63±4.62, P=0.046), cardiorespiratory endurance (step test index: control 47.66±5.94, Baduanjin 50.07±9.30, P=0.025), flexibility (control 14.35±7.26cm, Baduanjin 15.39±6.43cm, P=0.009) and explosive force of lower limb (standing long jump test (m): control 1.77±0.24, Baduanjin 1.79±0.22, P=0.005 for adjustment baseline) in physical outcomes, and attention (Schulte Grid test (second): control 210.4±51.15, Baduanjin 192.4±47.14, P=0.034) in mental outcome. Lumbar muscle strength in Baduanjin group had been moderately enhanced but no significant difference compared to controls. No significant changes in other physical and mental outcomes, including vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate, hand grip force, self-symptom intensity, stress, self-efficacy, quality of life, and quality of sleep, were found between groups. No adverse event was reported during the study period.Regular Baduanjin exercise had an advantage for college students on improvement of lower limb proprioception, enhance of cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, explosive force of lower limb and attention, compared with usual exercise.Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-13003329 http://www.chictr.org.