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Atmospheric new-particle formation (NPF) affects climate by contributing to a large fraction of the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) drive the early particle growth and therefore substantially influence the survival of newly formed particles to CCN. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is known to suppress the NPF driven by HOMs, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we examine the response of particle growth to the changes of HOM formation caused by NOx. We show that NOx suppresses particle growth in general, but the suppression is rather nonuniform and size dependent, which can be quantitatively explained by the shifted HOM volatility after adding NOx. By illustrating how NOx affects the early growth of new particles, a critical step of CCN formation, our results help provide a refined assessment of the potential climatic effects caused by the diverse changes of NOx level in forest regions around the globe.

Background The recurrence rate of late-life depression is high, however, there is a lack of research on intervention protocol to prevent recurrence of late-life depression at home and abroad.In the early stage, the research group explored the risk factors for recurrence of late-life depression, and the controllable risk factors were poor medication compliance, less physical activity, and less eating. Objective To search, evaluate and summarize the evidence related to the prevention of recurrence of late-life depression based on the above three risk factors. Methods In October 2022, the evidences related to the prevention of recurrence of late-life depression were searched in Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, American Guide Network, British Guidebook, Website of Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), Evidence-based Nursing Center of Fudan University, CNKI and other databases from inception to October 2022, which include guidelines, systematic reviews, expert consensuses, evidence summaries, etc. The quality of the included guidelines, systematic reviews, expert consensuses and original researches were evaluated by investigators trained in systematic evidence-based medicine using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & EvaluationⅡ (AGREEⅡ) Instrument, AMSTAR, and the Australian Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) evidence-based center evaluation standards (2016 version), respectively. Finally, the 2014 Australian JBI evidence-based health care center evidence grading and recommendation level system was used to summary, evaluate and grade the evidence. Results A total of 15 articles were included, including 3 guidelines, 11 systematic reviews and 1 RCT. The qualities of the 3 guidelines were graded as B or above, the qualities of 11 systematic reviews were graded as medium or above, and the quality of 1 RCT was graded as B. A total of 24 best evidence items were summarized from 6 aspects of intervention evaluation, diets and nutrition, exercise and rehabilitation training, psychosocial interventions, medication compliance, and effect evaluation. Conclusion The study summarizes the best evidence for prevention of late-life depression, suggesting that clinical staff should comprehensively evaluate the patients, and develop individualized intervention program focus on evaluation, diets and nutrition, exercise and rehabilitation training, medication compliance guidance, and psychosocial interventions, combining with the characteristics of patients and diseases.

Objective: To explore ancient and modern medication laws of aromatic Chinese medicines in treating angina pectoris, and to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment. Methods: With “angina pectoris” as the key word, ancient books prescriptions and Chinese patent medicines related to angina pectoris were collected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Traditional Chinese Medicine Database System, Chinese Medicine Prescription Database, New National Proprietary Chinese Medicine (2nd edition), and Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. Core high-frequency aromatic Chinese medicines were defined, and their potential medication rules were analyzed and summarized. Microsoft Access 2010 was used for data management. Data analysis software, including Excel and IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 were used for drug association rule analysis, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 for visual display. Results: There were 67 ancient books prescriptions and 258 Chinese patent medicines containing aromatic Chinese medicines treating angina pectoris collected from relevant databases. In ancient books prescriptions, there were nine aromatic Chinese medicines with the frequency ≥10, and the most commonly used medicine was Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), followed by Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). There were 33 aromatic Chinese medicines with the frequency ≥10 in Chinese patent medicines, and the most commonly used medicine was Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), followed by Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) and Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma). In ancient books prescriptions, the medicines mainly belonged to intenal-warming medicines, Qi-regulating medicines, and blood circulation promoting and blood stasis removing medicines. There were eight medicine pairs with confidence equal to 100% in ancient books prescriptions, the most frequently used pairs were Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) + Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) + Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). In Chinese patent medicines, the aromatic Chinese medicine Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) could be combined with many other Chinese medicines, among which the Confidence and Support of Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) + Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) were at a high level. Conclusion: Aromatic Chinese medicines for the treatment of angina pectoris of coronary heart disease are mainly warm, and the flavors are mainly pungent, sweet, and bitter. They mainly access to the liver, gallbladder, and pericardium meridians. The treatment of angina pectoris of coronary heart disease mainly focuses on warming heart pulse, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Objective: To explore the role of microRNA (miRNA, miR) -16 in the development of coronary atheromatous plaques and to study possible mechanism involved in the process. Methods: Coronary artery tissues were obtained from 16 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting,and the coronary artery plaques were divided into fibrous plaques and atheromatous plaques based on pathological examination. The expression level of miR-16 in coronary fibrous plaques and atheromatous plaques was detected by miRNAs array. The in vitro model of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced foam cells from macrophages was established, the transformation as well as apoptosis of foam cells were detected by TUNEL assay, cell counting and Western blotting. The release of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9] in the culture supernatant of form cell was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and expression of miR-16 was tested by miRNAs array. Finally, miR-16 was transfected into macrophages and the apoptosis of foam cell as well as the release of inflammatory factors were detected. Results: Compared with fibrous plaques of coronary artery, the expression of miR-16 in coronary atheromatous plaques detected by miRNAs assay increased by 1.75 folds. In vitro model of oxLDL-induced foam cells showed that oxLDL might promote the transfer of macrophages into foam cells and induce foam cells apoptosis and stimulate the release of inflammatory factors (such as IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and MMP-9). Macrophages transfected with miR-16 could further induce the apoptosis of foam cells and secretion of inflammatory factors. Conclusions: oxLDL could induce the apoptosis of foam cells, release of inflammatory factors and up-regulate miR-16 expression, and the high expression of miR-16 could further enhance foam cell apoptosis and inflammatory response, further promote the progression of atherosclerosis. miR-16 might serve as a potential target for inhibiting artherosclerosis.

Dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) and the nitrate radical (NO3) play important roles in atmospheric chemistry, yet accurate measurements of their concentrations remain challenging. A thermal dissociation chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TD-CIMS) was deployed to an urban site in Hong Kong to measure the sum of N2O5 and NO3 in autumn 2010. To our surprise, very high concentrations of N2O5 +NO3 were frequently observed in daytime, with mixing ratios in the range of 200–1000 pptv. To investigate this unusual phenomenon, various interference tests and measurements with different instrument configuration were conducted. It was found that peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) contributed to measurable signals at 62 amu, and more importantly, this interference increased significantly with co-existence of NO2. Nitric acid (HNO3), on the other hand, had little interference to the detection of N2O5/NO3 via the NO3− ion in our TD-CIMS. According to the test results, the interference from PAN and NO2 could have contributed to 30–50% of the average daytime (12:00–16:00 LT) N2O5 +NO3 signal at our site. However, evidence exists for the presence of elevated daytime N2O5, in addition to the daytime signal at 62amu. This includes: (1) daytime N2O5 measured via the I(N2O5)− cluster ion with an unheated inlet, which subjects to minimum interferences, and (2) observation of elevated daytime ClNO2 (a product of N2O5 hydrolysis) during a follow-up study. In view of the difficulty in accurately quantifying the contribution from the interferences of PAN and NO2 and un-tested potential interfering chemicals in the real atmosphere, we caution the use of 62amu in the TD-CIMS for measuring ambient N2O5 in a high NOx environment like Hong Kong. Additional studies are needed to re-examine the daytime issue using other measurement techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used to classify RA into different patterns such as cold and hot based on its clinical manifestations. The aim of this study was to investigate potential network-based biomarkers for RA with either a cold or a hot pattern. METHOD: Microarray technology was used to reveal gene expression profiles in CD4(+) T cells from 21 RA patients with cold pattern and 12 with hot pattern. A T-test was used to identify significant differences in gene expression among RA patients with either cold or hot pattern. Cytoscape software was used to search the existing literature and databases for protein-protein interaction information for genes of interest that were identified from this analysis. The IPCA algorithm was used to detect highly connected regions for inferring significant complexes or pathways in this protein-protein interaction network. Significant pathways and functions were extracted from these subnetworks by the Biological Network Gene Ontology tool. RESULT: Four genes were expressed at higher levels in RA patients with cold pattern than in patients with hot pattern, and 21 genes had lower levels of expression. Protein-protein interaction network analysis for these genes showed that there were four highly connected regions. The most relevant functions and pathways extracted from these subnetwork regions were involved in small G protein signaling pathways, oxidation-reduction in fatty acid metabolism and T cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Complicated network based pathways appear to play a role in the different pattern manifestations in patients with RA, and our results suggest that network-based pathways might be the scientific basis for TCM pattern classification.Copyright © 2012 by Elsevier Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Explore the associations between the tongue appearances in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and effective response (ACR20 response based on American College of Rheumatology) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with Chinese medicine (CM) and western biomedical combination therapy (WM). METHODS: This study used the data from a previous multi-center randomized-controlled clinical trial. Data pertaining to tongue coating and tongue body color were collected. In order to simplify the tongue diagnosis for easily understood by biomedical professionals, only two typical tongue coating (white and yellow) and four typical tongue body colors (purple, pink, pale and red) were identified for this analysis. 170 cases with clear tongue coating and 198 cases with clear tongue body color in TCM treatment (Glucosidorum Tripterygll Totorum tablets and Yishen Juanbi tablets) group, 181 cases with identified tongue coating and 189 cases with identified tongue body color in WM treatment (diclofenec, methotrexate and sulfasalazine) group were included for the analysis. The ACR20 response at 12 weeks and 24 weeks were used as an outcome measure of efficacy. The effective rates in patients with different tongue appearances were analyzed with Chi-square method and the association between the changes of tongue coating/body color and the ACR20 response was analyzed with a repeated measures logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, the ACR20 responses in the patients treated with CM and WM therapy were 33.6% and 53.0%, respectively, and at 24 weeks, they were 57.9% and 84.3%, respectively. RA patients with white tongue coating showed higher effective rate than those patients with yellow tongue coating in the treatment with WM intervention (p<0.05), and there was no difference in the patients with CM intervention. Further association analysis showed that TCM would be less effective for the patients with pale tongue body (p=0.0323), and WM would be less effective for the patients with purple or red tongue body (p=0.0291 and 0.0027, respectively). CONCLUSION: TCM was less effective for the patients with pale tongue body, and WM was be less effective for the patients with purple or red tongue body, or white tongue coating. The results suggest that tongue coating and body color might be used to help identify a subset of RA patients both for CM and WM interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of herbal medicines, such as Radix Dipsaci (RDD), Pyrola Herb (PHD), and Cynomorium songaricum decoction (CSD), on osteoporotic rats induced by ovariectomy (OVX). Methods OVX or sham operations were performed on 69 virgin Wistar rats that were divided into six groups: sham (sham, n = 12), OVX control group (OVX, n = 12), and OVX rats with treatments (diethylstilbestrol, E2, n = 12; RDD, n = 11, PHD, n = 11, and CSD, n = 11). Non-surgical rats served as normal control (NC, n = 12). The treatments began four weeks after surgery and lasted for 12 weeks. Bone mass and bone turnover were analyzed by histomorphometry. Levels of protein expression and mRNA of OPG and RANKL in osteoblasts (OB) and bone marrow stromal cells (bMSC) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results Compared to NC and sham rats, trabecular bone formation was significantly reduced in OVX rats, but restored in E2-treated rats. Treatment with either RDD or PHD enhanced trabecular bone formation remarkably. No significant change of bone formation was observed in CSD-treated rats. OPG expression of protein and mRNA was reduced significantly in OB and bMSC of OVX control rats. RANKL expression of protein and mRNA was increased significantly in OB and bMSC of OVX control rats. These effects were substantially reversed (increased in OPG and decreased in RANKL) by treatment with E2, RDD, or PHD in OB and bMSC of OVX rats. No significant changes in either OPG or RANKL expression were observed in OB and bMSC of OVX rats treated with CSD. Conclusions Our study showed that RDD and PHD increased bone formation by stimulating overexpression of OPG and downregulation of RANKL in OB and bMSC. This suggests that RDD and PHD may be used as alternative therapeutic agents for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Abstract Background One important concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is "treating different diseases with the same therapy". In TCM practice, some patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and some other patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) can be treated with similar therapies. This suggests that there might be something commonly existed between RA and CHD, for example, biological networks or biological basis. As the amount of biomedical data in leading databases (i.e., PubMed, SinoMed, etc.) is growing at an exponential rate, it might be possible to get something interesting and meaningful through the techniques developed in data mining. Results Based on the large data sets of Western medicine literature (PubMed) and traditional Chinese medicine literature (SinoMed), by applying data slicing algorithm in text mining, we retrieved some simple and meaningful networks. The Chinese herbs used in treatment of both RA and CHD, might affect the commonly existed networks between RA and CHD. This might support the TCM concept of treating different diseases with the same therapy. Conclusions First, the data mining results might show the positive answer that there are biological basis/networks commonly existed in both RA and CHD. Second, there are basic Chinese herbs used in the treatment of both RA and CHD. Third, these commonly existed networks might be affected by the basic Chinese herbs. Forth, discrete derivative, the data slicing algorithm is feasible in mining out useful data from literature of PubMed and SinoMed.

Objectives: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) frequently colonize the airways of patients with bronchiectasis; however, there has been limited research into airway microbiota composition and predisposing factors for NTM detection during acute bronchiectasis exacerbations., Methods: This study enrolled 34 patients with bronchiectasis experiencing acute exacerbations. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing was used to detect microbiota in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and bioinformatics methods were used for the comparative analysis of meaningful microbiota in the BALF of patients with acute exacerbations of bronchiectasis. A correlation analysis was conducted to identify susceptibility factors for NTM in patients with bronchiectasis., Results: Compared with patients with community-acquired pneumonia, patients with bronchiectasis had higher detection rates of NTM (38.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae. Patients with NTM-positive bronchiectasis had lower body mass index and lipid profiles than patients who were NTM-negative. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of BALF revealed patients who were NTM-positive had increased relative abundance of Rothia and other anaerobic genera compared with patients who were NTM-negative. Patients who were NTM-positive also showed higher levels of Streptococcus parasanguinis at the species level. Elevated Rothia mucilaginosa and S. parasanguinis correlated with decreased percentages of clusters of differentiation 3+ T lymphocytes and clusters of differentiation 3+ T-cell subgroups in peripheral blood., Conclusions: NTM colonization increases the risk of acute bronchiectasis exacerbations. Low body mass index, lipid levels, and isolation of R. mucilaginosa and S. parasanguinis in BALF are susceptibility factors for NTM colonization in patients with bronchiectasis., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest The authors have no competing interest to declare. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is challenging to improve the effects of chemotherapy and reduce its adverse impact on the ovaries. Our previous study suggested that the combination of galaxamide could enhance the antitumor effect of cisplatin (CIS) in HeLa cell xenograft mice. However, their potential effects on ovarian tissues remain unknown., Methods: The Hela tumor-bearing female BALB/c mice model was established and randomly divided into three groups: control group (PBS group), CIS group (0.3 mg/kg CIS group) and galaxamide group (0.3 mg/kg CIS + 3 mg/kg galaxamide-treated group). The serum sex hormones levels, ovarian morphology, functional and molecular characterisation were determined and compared with those of the control group., Results: The hormonal effects indicated premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) associated with CIS-induced tumor-bearing mice. CIS induces the apoptosis in primordial and developing follicles and subsequently increases follicular atresia, eventually leading to follicle loss. After cotreatment, galaxamide significantly increased anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) expression and prevented the CIS-induced PI3K pathway, which triggers follicle activation, apoptosis or atresia., Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that galaxamide could attenuate CIS-induced follicle loss by acting on the PI3K signaling pathway by stimulating AMH and/or FSHR and thus provides promising therapeutic options for patients with cervical cancer., (© 2024. The Author(s).)