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To study the seed dormancy and germination mechanism of Xanthoceras sorbifolium, the seeds of four cultivars [‘Putong’(PT),‘Qihong’(QH), ‘Wofeng’(WF) and‘Woshi’(WS)] were stored at -20 ℃ for different periods (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 d). The seed germination indexes were determined in each treatment, and the changes of reserve substance and hormone content were also analyzed in three stages including before storage, after storage, and 7 days of germination. The results were as follows: (1) Cold storage could significantly promote the germination rate and germination potential of small seeds (PT, QH). The best treatment was cold storage for 60 d, and the germination rate was up to 48.3% and 58.3%, respectively. The effects of cold storage on large seeds (WF and WS) was lower than that of small seeds. (2) The kernel oil content, seed shell thickness (SST) in four cultivar seeds all decreased significantly during periods of cold storage and germination, especially in 3-7 days of germination, the oil content and SST (except WS cultivar) decreased notably. However, water content in kernels increased rapidly within 1-3 days of germination and then slowly increased to the peak value on the 7th day. The contents of soluble sugar in kernels increased significantly at the 3-4 days of germination. (3) Cold storage increased GA/ABA and tHor/ABA ratios in small seeds (PT, QH), promoted oil degradation, made seed shell thinning and break seed dormancy. In conclusion, the main factors leading to dormancy in X. sorbifolium seeds are larger in size, higher shell thickness and more hardness, physiological post-ripening, and belongs to comprehensive dormancy type. Cold storage at -20 ℃ for 60 d can improve the germination rate of PT, QH and WF seeds, reduces dormancy degree, while the cold storage time of WS seeds needs prolonging to 150 d. The method using -20 ℃ storage with wet sand germination is a rapid and simple method to promote X. sorbifolium seeds germination. This study provides a reference for the promotion of superior varieties and the research on the seed breaking dormancy mechanism in X. sorbifolium.

With the increasing value of translational medicine and medical engineering in the medical field, the collaborative innovation of acupuncture and engineering has become a trend. The mode and concept of the discipline of medicine-engineering junction can promote the development of translational research with acupuncture characteristics, including the rule of syndrome evolution, the application of meridians and acupoints, the exploration of treatment methods, the research of effect mechanism and the innovation of diagnosis and treatment. This paper put forward the future underlying research ideas, the existing questions and challenges for medicine-engineering junction, so as to provide the evidences for the clinical promotion of "combination of medicine and engineering" in the application of modern acupuncture and moxibustion.

Objective: To explore whether tea polyphenols(TP) improve sarcopenia in the aged type 2 diabetes(T2DM)model rats via mitochondrial quality control(MQC)., Methods: A total of 55 2-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group(n=10), the aged model group(aged, n=10) and the aging T2DM model group(n=35). The aging T2DM model group rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg D-galactose daily. After 4 weeks, the aging T2DM model group rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg streptozotocin(STZ). After STZ injection for 2 weeks, fasting blood glucose(FBG) ≥ 16.7 mmol/L was defined as successful T2DM model. When the model was successfully induced, the 30 model rats were randomly divided into aged T2DM group(Mod), 300 mg/kg TP teatment group(TP) and 3 mg/kg rosiglitazone treatment group(RSG) according to FBG, with 10 rats in each group. Each group was treated with 50 mg/kg D-galactose to induce senescence and fed with high glucose and fat for 8 weeks. Western blot was used to detect the expression of P53 protein in gastnemius muscle tissue of the model group at the end of the experiment, which was higher than that of the control group, indicating that the aging T2DM model was successfully established. FBG was detected by the blood glucose meter, gastnemius muscle relative weights was calculated, the microstructure of mitochondria of gastnemius muscle was observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM), the expression of mitochondrial biosynthesis-related proteins PGC-1α, mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins(OPA1, DRP1) and mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins(P62, LC3) in gastnemius muscle were detected by western blot., Results: Compared with the control group, the level of FBG and the expression of P53 in the Mod group were increased(P<0.01). The gastnemius muscle relative weights, the expression level of PGC-1α, OPA1 and the ratio of LC3II/LC3I were decreased(P<0.01). The expression level of P62 and DRP1 were significantly increased(P<0.01). The number of mitochondria decreased, the volume decreased and a large number of vacuolization, and there were no obvious autophagolysosomes and fission and fusion. After 8 weeks, compared with the Mod group, the number of mitochondria in the gastrocnemius of TP and RSG groups, vacuolization, fission and fusion were improved, and the autophagolysosomes was significantly increased. The expression levels of P53, DRP1 and P62, the level of FBG in the TP group were significantly decreased(P<0.01, P<0.05). The expression levels of OPA1 and PGC-1α, the ratios of LC3II/LC3I and gastnemius muscle relative weights were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01)., Conclusion: TP can improve the sarcopenia in the aged T2DM model rats, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of mitochondrial quality control.

The research history, hot spots and frontier trends of acupuncture and moxibustion for Alzheimer's disease (AD) were explored using knowledge graph technology. The articles on acupuncture and moxibustion for AD were searched from 6 databases, i.e. CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed, Pubmed and Web of Science, from January 1st, 1993 to January 1st, 2023. Using CiteSpace6.2.R2 Advance and VOSviewer V1.6.19 softwares, the knowledge map was graphed and the visual analysis was performed. A total of 1 228 Chinese and 309 English articles were included. The high-frequency keywords were generally divided into the keywords of clinical diseases (AD, dementia), those of therapeutic methods (electroacupuncture, acupuncture-moxibustion and acupuncture) and those of mechanism study (β-amyloid, mice). Thirteen keyword clusters were formed among the articles of Chinese version, e.g. acupuncture-moxibustion, dementia, acupuncture and electroacupuncture; and 8 clusters were obtained among English articles, e.g. electroacupuncture, drug therapy and hippocampus. The high-frequency keywords of acupoints included Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Yintang (GV 24 + ), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), etc. Six clusters of "acupuncture techniques → acupoints" were obtained for the treatment of AD with acupuncture and moxibustion. The therapeutic methods and modes of AD with acupuncture and moxibustion are constantly progressed, the development of clinical research tends to the evaluation of novel therapeutic mode and clinical effect, and the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for the effect on AD are more deeply explored. Among the various therapeutic methods, acupuncture-moxibustion, acupuncture and electroacupuncture have been early predominant; while, many novel methods are gradually displayed later, such as music electroacupuncture and hydro-acupuncture. In recent 30 years, among Chinese and English articles for the studies of AD treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, the theme of them focuses on the two aspects, the observation of clinical effect and the mechanism research. It is found that the clinical therapeutic methods have been gradually improved and the mechanism exploration been deepened.

Objective: To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols(TP) on improving depression-like behavior in aged type 2 diabetes(T2DM) model rats., Methods: A total of 40 8-week-old SD male rats were randomly divided into the control group(n=10) and the modeling group(n=30) according to the body weight. The rats in the modeling group were fed with high-glucose and high-fat diet and treated with 50 mg/kg D-galactose by intraperitoneal injection daily until the end of the experiment, while the rats in the control group were fed with the standard diet and treated with an equal volume of saline by intraperitoneal injection. After 4 weeks, the rats in the modeling group were injected with 25 mg/kg STZ, meanwhile the rats in the control group were injected with an equal volume of citric acid buffer. The level of fasting blood glucose(FBG) was measured on the 14~(th) day. When FBG≥16.7 mmol/L, the rats were identified as successful model of the T2DM rats. Then, the model rats were randomly divided into the model group, 150, 300 mg/kg TP groups(n=10, respectively), and the rats were given intragastric intervention for 8 weeks. The levels of the FBG were detected, and the depression-like behavior of rats was assessed by the open field test(OFT) and forced swimming test(FST). The density of microglia in hippocampus CA1 region was assessed by immunofluorescence staining, and protein expressions of P53, Iba1, iNOS, Arg-1 and BDNF were determined by western blot., Results: Compared with the control group, the levels of FBG in the rats of the model group were obviously increased(P<0.01). In the OFT, the frequencies of rearing and grooming in the rats of model group markedly was decreased, while in the FST, the immobility time extensively was increased(P<0.01). The density of microglia in hippocampus CA1 region was increased(P<0.01). The expressions of P53, Iba1 and iNOS were increased, and the expressions of Arg-1 and BDNF were decreased(P<0.01). Additionally, compared with the model group, in the OFT, the frequencies of rearing and grooming were increased in the rats in 150 and 300 mg/kg TP group(P<0.01). The density of microglia in hippocampus CA1 region was decreased(P<0.01). The expressions of P53, Iba1 and iNOS were down-regulated, and the expression of BDNF was up-regulated(P<0.01). Additionally, compared with the model group, the levels of FBG was decreased in the rats in the 300 mg/kg TP group(P<0.01). The immobility time was decreased in the FST(P<0.01). The expression of Arg-1 was down-regulated(P<0.01)., Conclusion: TP can improve depression-like behavior in aged T2DM model rats, and its mechanism may be related to regulate microglia M1/M2 polarization and up-regulate expression of BDNF in hippocampus.