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A reconfigurable balanced phase shifter is designed in this paper, which can achieve stable differential mode (DM) phase shift and high common mode (CM) suppression. The proposed balanced phase shifter is mainly composed of micro strip/slot line transition structure and π‐shape slot line. The U‐shaped micro strip line and the stepped impedance slot line are employed to form the differential input and output ports, which can make the DM response and the CM one are independent. By switching the PIN diode on or off, a stable 180° DM phase shift difference is achieved between two states. In order to verify the design, a 180° balanced phase shifter with a central frequency of 4.7 GHz was simulated and fabricated. DM insertion loss of the design is 1.1 dB, DM phase deviation range is ±5°, 10 dB DM impedance matching fractional bandwidth is 45%, and phase fractional deviation bandwidth is 42%. Meanwhile, the CM rejection can reach about 35 dB. The simulation and measurement are in good agreement with the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The health-promoting effects of tea and its individual constituents, including antiobesity and antihyperlipidaemia effects, have been well accepted. In this study, we evaluated the effects of herbal tea essence (HTE), a commercial product extracted from black tea, on HFD-induced obesity in mice. HTE effectively reduces the gain in body weight and improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity after HFD treatment. HTE inhibits lipid accumulation in the body and reduces serum lipid contents. Furthermore, HTE negatively regulates the expression levels of genes that control lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis and upregulates the expression of genes for lipid β oxidation. The regulatory effects of HTE on these genes may occur through activation of the AKT, IRS-1, and AMPK signalling pathways. Our observations suggest that HTE could be a promising option for nutritional intervention in the treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury is a common pathology in ischemia heart disease. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significant regulators related to many ischemia/reperfusion conditions. This study is aimed at exploring the molecule mechanism of lncRNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in MI/R.Methods: The dataset profiles of MI/R and normal tissues (GSE130217 and GSE124176) were obtained from the GEO database. Integrated bioinformatics were performed to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Thereafter, an lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network was constructed by the starBase database. The GO annotations and KEGG pathway analysis were conducted to study action mechanism and related pathways of DEGs in MI/R. A model of hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) treated HL-1 cell was performed to verify the expression of lncRNAs through qRT-PCR.Results: 2406 differentially expressed- (DE-) mRNAs, 70 DE-lncRNAs, and 156 DE-miRNAs were acquired. These DEGs were conducted to construct an lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network, and a subnetwork including lncRNA Xist/miRNA-133c/mRNA (Slc30a9) was screen out. The functional enrichment analyses revealed that the lncRNAs involved in the ceRNA network might functions in oxidative stress and calcium signaling pathway. The lncRNA Xist expression is reduced under H/R conditions, followed by the increased level of miRNA-133c, thus downregulating the expression of Slc30a9.Conclusion: In sum, the identified ceRNA network which included the lncRNA Xist/miR-133c/Slc30a9 axis might contribute a better understanding to the pathogenesis and development of MI/R injury and offer a novel targeted therapy way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The current study is aimed at exploring the effect of Shentong Zhuyu Decoction on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) and its underlying molecular mechanism. Materials and Methods. The type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was established. Subsequently, the RA-FLS were isolated from the CIA rat model and identified by immunohistochemistry. The viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of RA-FLS were detected by the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. The levels of MAPK p38, PPARγ, CTGF, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, IL-1β, MMP-3, CDK4, and cyclin D1 were determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results. After treatment with Shentong Zhuyu Decoction medicated serum, the OD570 value, migrative and invasive abilities, and the secretion of IL-1β, MMP-3 were remarkably decreased in RA-FLS, while the apoptosis rate was increased. Further, results showed that Shentong Zhuyu Decoction inhibited the transition from the G1 phase to S phase. Additionally, Shentong Zhuyu Decoction significantly inhibited the expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, cyclin D1, MAPK p-p38, and CTGF, whereas elevated the levels of Bax, caspase-3, and PPARγ. Importantly, the effects of Shentong Zhuyu Decoction were consistent with the trends of MAPK P38 inhibitor (SB203580) and PPARγ agonist (GW1929). Conclusions. Shentong Zhuyu Decoction inhibited viability, inflammatory response, migration, invasion, and transition from the G1 phase to S phase and promoted apoptosis of RA-FLS via the MAPK p38/PPARγ/CTGF pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isothermal oxidation behavior of 17Cr-0.85Si-0.5Nb-1.2Cu ferritic stainless steel in air was studied from 850°C to 1050°C by analyzing its weight gain after oxidation. The kinetic curves were plotted using the oxidation weight-gain data, and the structure, surface morphology, and element distribution of the oxide films were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS. The results showed that the oxidation kinetics curves at 850°C and 950°C followed a parabolic law, and a continuous and dense oxide film composed of Cr2O3 and MnCr2O4, FeCr2O4, and Cu-Cr rich spinel was formed, which reveals that the steel displayed good oxidation resistance. When the temperature was increased to 1050°C, the oxidation kinetics curves gradually changed from parabolic to linear after 40 h exposure, which indicated that the oxidation resistance significantly worsened. A lower oxidation resistance was observed at 1050°C due to the formation of a large amount of Fe2O3 on the surface and the volatilization of the inner Cr2O3 layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid progress of digital technology and new business models' development, the platform ecosystem has not only penetrated every sector in society but also revealed various problems. Platform governance researchers have highlighted its significance, but failed to adequately consider ecosystem participants' behaviour. This paper aims to explore platform governance's effects on enterprises' behaviour in a multiorganisational platform ecosystem context. The tripartite evolutionary game is chosen to construct a mathematical model that integrates the government, platform organisation, and internal enterprises to analyse formal and informal governance's influence on enterprises' behaviour in the platform ecosystem. It was discovered that both formal and informal governance can decrease internal enterprises' opportunistic behaviours. Furthermore, formal governance has stronger effects than informal governance, although informal governance's effects are more stable. Additionally, self-organisation in the platform ecosystem is another important area of focus. This paper enriches an understanding of platform ecosystems while formulating insights relevant in using platform governance to develop small and medium-sized enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties of floor prototypes made for high-speed trains from composite multilayer floor structures of different materials and thicknesses were tested. Based on the test results, the equivalent mechanical parameters of different layers of the panels, core materials, etc., were calculated, and the multilayer mixed finite element model of the floor was built and verified. The multilayer mixed floor model was introduced into the car body of a high-speed train, and the test signals of the high-speed train were used as inputs to calculate the vibration response of composite floor structure. Vibration spectra of the high-speed train composite floor made of different materials and structures were compared and analyzed. The results show that the calculation of the floor vibration response of the vehicle car body within the framework of the equivalent model of the multilayer structure based on the mechanical performance test is an effective method to evaluate vibration characteristics. The vibration isolation performance of the stainless steel panel floor is better than that of the aluminum alloy panel, but its large mass is not favorable in lightweight body design. The vibration energy of birch core material floor is significantly smaller than the alder core material of the same size. The vibration isolation performance of the floor enhanced with the increase in the thickness of the outer metal panel, but when the outer metal panel thickness exceeds 0.8 mm, the influence becomes small. Therefore, the stainless steel-birch core composite floor with a large panel thickness has the best vibration isolation performance and can be used for the floor above the bogie and the suspended excitation source. Then, an optimal analysis considering mass and vibration characteristics was carried out, and the results show that there exists an optimal solution for the high-speed train. Regarding the overall design basis of the vehicle, the aluminum alloy panel lightweight structure can be used in combination with other general parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial cluster theory has important guiding significance for regional industrial development and industrial agglomeration advantages. Cooperation among enterprises is the corner stone of industrial clusters. The purpose of the paper is to explore the effects of cluster informal contracts on cluster enterprises and the behavior of external partners. Based on the dynamic evolutionary game theory, this paper constructs a model, which incorporates several main factors influencing the innovative cooperation among local and external cluster enterprises. By calculating the replicator dynamics equations and analyzing the evolutionary stable strategies, this paper discusses the evolution process of cooperation strategies of enterprises in different situation. Furthermore, by using MATLAB software to simulate the model, this paper verifies the accuracy and reliability of the game model. Results show that, in addition to the formal market contract, effective implementations of cluster informal contracts can reduce opportunistic behavior in innovative cooperation among internal and external enterprises. Meanwhile, we should pay attention to strengthen the external innovative cooperation, increase severity of penalties, enhance the credit network externality, and avoid the relevant risks. The paper enriches our understanding about how informal contracts can help promote and cultivate good cooperative order in innovative cooperation of clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glucose fluctuation confers additional risks on diabetes-related vascular diseases, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Macrophage activation mediated by TLR4-JNK signaling plays an important role during the progress of diabetes. In the present study, we hypothesize that glucose fluctuation results in macrophage inflammation through TLR4-JNK signaling pathways.Methods: THP-1 cells were treated with normal glucose (5 mM), constant high glucose (25 mM), and intermittent high glucose (rotation per 6 h in 5 mM or 25 mM) for 24 h. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, p-JNK, and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) were determined, and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β were quantified.Results: In constant high glucose, TLR4 expression and JNK phosphorylation levels increased, and this effect was more pronounced in intermittent high glucose. Accordingly, the expression of A-FABP and the release of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β also increased in response to constant high glucose, an effect that also was more evident in intermittent high glucose. The inhibition of p-JNK by SP600125 did not attenuate TLR4 expression, but totally inhibited both A-FABP expression and the production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in both constant and intermittent high glucose.Conclusions: Intermittent high glucose potentiates A-FABP activation and inflammatory responses via TLR4/p-JNK signaling in THP-1 cells. These findings suggest a more detrimental impact of glucose fluctuation on macrophage inflammation in diabetes-related vascular diseases than thus far generally assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To identify the optimum treatment protocol for insomnia among auricular, body, and abdominal needling methods. Methods. A three-factor (3 needling protocols) and three-level experimental scheme was designed based on orthogonal method. 54 patients of insomnia differentiated as internal harassment of phlegm-heat syndrome were given two courses of acupuncture treatment (each with 20 times of acupuncture). The therapeutic effects were evaluated by comparing the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores of patients before treatment, after one course of treatment, and after two courses of treatment as well as one month after treatment. Results. Body, auricular, and abdominal acupuncture treatments all alleviated symptoms of insomnia, depression, and anxiety, but body and auricular acupuncture had stronger therapeutic effects. Conclusions. Body acupuncture at basic points shall be given priority in protocol selection for insomnia. The second-best choice is auricular acupuncture with basic points combined with points based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theories. Abdominal needling with very quick effect can be an alternative protocol with basic points combined with syndrome differentiation points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea-formaldehyde resin (UFR), one of chemical grouts in which the major ingredients are urea-formaldehyde and resin, is widely used in Chinese coal mines grouting. The gel characteristics of urea-formaldehyde resin (UFR) chemical grout under static conditions have been studied by many researchers. However, there is little research carried out on the gel characteristics under shear flow conditions. In fact, chemical grout like UFR keeps in shear flow conditions before gelling in the grouting process. In order to investigate the gel characteristics of UFR in shear flow conditions, an apparatus which consists of a magnetic stirrer and a viscometer was established. Magnetic stirrer was used to shear UFR at different velocity. Then the changes of UFR viscosity could be recorded by viscometer. As a result, the gel characteristics were summarized under different shear rates, and a formula of gelling is derived. The results show that the grouting flow rate influences the gelling time. Faster flow rates will cause longer gelling time, which means that the time for the grout to gel during the flowing process under shear flow conditions is longer than that under static conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes the hybrid data envelopment analysis (DEA) and support vector machine (SVM) approaches for efficiency estimation and classification in web security. In the proposed framework, the factors and efficiency scores from DEA models are integrated with SVM for learning patterns of web security performance and provide further decision support. The numerical case study of hospital web security efficiency is demonstrated to support the feasibility of this design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the function of each type of peripheral nerve fiber and investigate the possible role of levodopa (LD) in peripheral neuropathy (PN) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Methods: We enrolled 60 patients with idiopathic PD. All PD patients were divided into three groups: levodopa exposure >3 years (LELD), levodopa exposure ≤3 years (SELD) and de novo patients with PD (NOLD). The current perception threshold (CPT), which was measured by Neurometer at 2000, 250 and 5 Hz, the level of homocysteine, Vitamin B12 and folic acid in plasma, were compared with those of sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls (HCs). Results: Current perception threshold was higher at 250 Hz (p <.05) and 5 Hz (p <.05) in the LELD group than the NOLD, SELD, and control group. CPT was lower at 5 Hz in the NOLD than in the HCs group (p <.05). The CPT of the more affected side of PD patients was positively correlated with H‐Y stage at 5 Hz current stimulation (r =.42, p =.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elevated homocysteine levels were the risk factor of sensory nerve injury in PD patients (p <.01). Serum homocysteine levels were positively correlated with levodopa (LD) daily dose, LD equivalent daily dose, and LD cumulative lifetime dose (p <.05). Conclusions: Peripheral neuropathy in PD patients can occur in the early stage of PD exhibiting as hyperesthesia and is fiber selectivity, especially for Aδ and C nerve fibers. PN in PD patients is related to PD itself and long‐term LD exposure. Elevated plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for PN in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common upper gastrointestinal malignant tumors, and the incidence of the GC shows an increasing trend in the past years. Finding more sensitive markers will help to reveal the mechanism of GC progression and clinic diagnoses. This study first analyzed the mRNA expression level of FSIP1 in TCGA GC samples and the significance in predicting the prognosis. KEGG and GO analyses were used to explore the molecular mechanism of FSIP1 in GC progression. This study further retrospectively analyzed 166 clinical samples of GC from Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital and evaluated the expression level of FSIP1 by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate analysis was used to investigate the prognostic value of FSIP1 expression in GC patients. We also identified correlations between FSIP1 and clinicopathological characteristics. This study found that the mRNA level of FSIP1 was significantly upregulated in GC compared with nontumor specimens and correlated with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the results of bioinformatics analysis of the TCGA GC database. FSIP1 was associated with pTNM pathological stage, tumor location, and neural invasion. In addition, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that FSIP1, T classification, and N classification were independent posterior factors of patients and could be combined with pathological features to construct a nomogram prognostic model. Overall, our results suggest that FSIP1 is expected to be an independent prognostic indicator of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple sweet potatoes extract (PSPE) have been used as a natural food antioxidant with high anthocyanin concentrations. Research investigated the lifespan and the mechanisms of PSPE on female Drosophila melanogaster. Supplementation of PSPE extended the lifespan by 16.3% and had a protective effect on injury by oxidative stress. PSPE treatment enhanced the endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, PSPE significantly up‐regulated foxo‐related genes, inhibited mTOR mRNA expression, and activated autophagy to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Meanwhile, PSPE improved intestinal barrier dysfunction by 22.86%, decelerated the abnormal proliferation rate of intestinal stem cell (ISCs) by 23.77%, and improved intestinal integrity in geriatric D. melanogaster. In conclusion, PSPE may maintain intestinal homeostasis, and improve the antioxidant and stress resistance capacity through the insulin and rapamycin pathway, thereby extending the lifespan. Therefore, it provides active support to the development and application of PSPE in functional food. Practical applications: In recent years, with the increase of age, age‐related complications have generally increased and seriously affected people's healthy life. Purple sweet potato is a nutrient‐rich substance, which not only has a unique color but also contains rich anthocyanins, so it has many potential biological and pharmacological functions. Our results showed that the PSPE had a good effect of maintaining the intestinal homeostasis of the older adult, and provided a favorable theoretical basis for the development of PSPE functional products and scientific academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To estimate the prevalence rate of ocular symptoms and the positive rate of conjunctival swab samples of patients diagnosed with 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Methods. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search was done based on PubMed, Embase, MedRxiv, and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcomes are the prevalence rate of conjunctivitis/conjunctival congestion and the positive rate of conjunctival swab samples. Rates were expressed as proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. A total of 12 studies with 1930 participants were included for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence rate of conjunctivitis/conjunctival congestion was 8% (95% CI: 5%-12%). 1% (95% CI: 1%-4%) of COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with conjunctivitis/conjunctival congestion as the initial symptom. The pooled positive rate of conjunctival swab samples was 3% (95% CI: 2%-5%). We also assessed other ocular symptoms reported in the 12 studies, including foreign body sensation, increased secretion, and eye itching. The pooled prevalence rates were 6% (95% CI: 3%-10%), 10% (95% CI: 8%-12%), and 9% (95% CI: 7%-10%), respectively. Conclusions. The evidence on the positive rate of conjunctival swab samples and the prevalence rates of ocular symptoms indicated that COVID-19 ocular transmission was possible but less likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Tube exposure can lead to vision-threatening consequences and requires prompt surgical attention. Posterior repositioning of the tube to the pars plana has previously been reported as a successful technique. However, this method requires a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Here, we describe a novel technique of repositioning the tube into the ciliary sulcus without requiring PPV. Methods. This is a retrospective interventional case report of two patients who had undergone prior glaucoma drainage device implantation and prior tube exposure repair and developed recurrent tube exposure. Tube exposure in the subjects was repaired by repositioning the tube in the ciliary sulcus. Results. The two eyes remained exposure free postoperatively with 51- and 60-month follow-ups. Conclusions. Repositioning the tube to the ciliary sulcus may be an effective technique to avoid reexposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

circRNA CDR1as (CDR1as) has been demonstrated to play important roles in a variety of inflammation-related diseases by acting as miRNA sponges. The present study is aimed at investigating the potential roles of CDR1as in the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) under an inflammatory condition induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) were isolated from periodontal ligament tissue, and PDLSCs were sorted from PDLCs based on the STRO-1 expression through fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We further found that CDR1as was significantly downregulated in LPS-treated PDLSCs compared to untreated cells, as well as in normal periodontal ligament tissues compared to periodontitis tissues. Knockdown of CDR1as promoted LPS-induced proliferative inhibition of PDLSCs, whereas overexpression of CDR1as alleviated the LPS-induced proliferative ability of PDLSCs. Mechanistically, CDR1as functioned as an miR-7 sponge to activate the ERK signal pathway to mediate the inhibition effect of LPS on cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings revealed the effects of the interacting pair of CDR1as/miR-7 on the proliferation ability of PDLSCs within their surrounding inflammatory microenvironment of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. Abundant evidence demonstrates that oxidative stress may be not only an early event in this disease, but also a key factor in the pathogenesis of AD. Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) has a strong ability to scavenge oxygen free radicals and supply hydrogen. The present study aims to investigate the effects of EGb on Neuro 2A cells transfected with Swedish mutant APP (APPsw). Stably transfected Neuro 2A cell lines expressing human wild-type APP (APP695), APPsw, or empty vector(neo) pEGFP-N2 were treated with 100 μg/ml EGb for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring free radicals and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Our studies showed that EGb treatment reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly while total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were enhanced in Neuro 2A cells overexpressing APPsw. Meanwhile, Aβ levels in these cells were also reduced compared to the levels in untreated cells and control cells (empty vector(neo) pEGFP-N2). These findings suggest that EGb can reduce oxidative stress by decreasing free radical and enhancing antioxidant status, further leading to reduced Aβ aggregation; EGb might be a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease (AD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object. L6 cells were cultured to explore the possible mechanism underlying the improvement of insulin resistance by Liraglutide (LR). Methods. Cells were divided into 5 groups—control, high-fat, 10 nmol/L LR + 0.6 mmol/L palmitic acid (PA) (10LR), 100 nmol/L LR + 0.6 mmol/L PA (100LR), and 1000 nmol/L LR + 0.6 mmol/L PA (1000LR). CCK-8 method to detect cell viability, GPO-PAP enzymatic method to detect intracellular triglyceride content, and reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting methods to detect fatty acid translocase CD36 (FAT/CD36) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in L6 cells, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, were performed. Results. We found that after PA intervention for 24 h, the cell viability decreased significantly; the cell viability of the LR group was higher than that of the high-fat group (P < 0.01). After PA intervention, compared with those in the high-fat group, GRP-78, FAT/CD36, FABP4 mRNA ((4.36 ± 0.32 vs. 8.15 ± 0.35); (1.00 ± 0.04 vs. 2.46 ± 0.08); (2.88 ± 0.55 vs. 8.29 ± 0.52), P < 0.01) and protein ((3338.13 ± 333.15 vs. 4963.98 ± 277.29); (1978.85 ± 124.24 vs. 2676.07 ± 100.64); (3372.00 ± 219.84 vs. 6083.20 ± 284.70), both P < 0.01) expression decreased in the LR group. The expression levels of GLUT4 mRNA ((0.75 ± 0.04 vs. 0.34 ± 0.03), P < 0.01) and protein ((3443.71 ± 191.89 vs. 2137.79 ± 118.75), P < 0.01) increased. Conclusion. Therefore, we conclude that LR can reverse PA-induced cell inactivation and lipid deposition, which may be related to the change in GRP-78, FAT/CD36, FABP4, GLUT4, and other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the long-term efficacy and safety of renal denervation in patients with RHT and CKD, a post hoc analysis of eGFR subgroups was completed.Methods: Fifty-four patients with refractory hypertension with chronic kidney disease were treated with RDN and enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into three groups according to eGFR: eGFR 46-90 ml/min group, eGFR 15-45 ml/min group, and eGFR <15 ml/min group. The planned follow-up period was 48 months to assess 24 h ambulatory blood pressure, renal function, type of antihypertensive medication, and RDN complications.Results: The ablation sites of the GFR 46-90 ml/min group and GFR 15-45 ml/min group were 32.57 ± 2.99 and 29.53 ± 5.47, respectively. No complications occurred in the GFR 46-90 ml/min group. The GFR<15 ml/min group was treated with 27.07 ± 5.59  ablation. Renal artery dissection occurred in each group of GFR 15-45 ml/min and GFR <15 ml/min. And renal stent implantation artery was performed on these two patients. No severe renal artery stenosis occurred. There were no significant differences in Scr and eGFR between the three groups at each follow-up point. Compared with baseline, SBP was significantly of each group decreased to varying degrees at each follow-up time point. SBP decreased most in the GFR 46-90 ml/min group. Compared with baseline, the type of antihypertensive drugs used in the GFR46-90 ml/min group decreased significantly except for 36 and 48 months. At 48 months' postadmission, there was a significant decrease in the type of antihypertensive medication used in the GFR15-45 ml/min group, and there was no significant decrease in the type of antihypertensive medication used in the GFR<15 ml/min group.Conclusions: RDN can safely reduce SBP in CKD patients combined with RHT for 48 months, with the most pronounced reduction in the GFR15-45 ml/min group. The variety of antihypertensive drugs was significantly reduced after RDN. This was particularly evident in patients with GFR 15-45 ml/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity floats are vital for project scheduling, such as total floats which determine the maximum permissible delays of activities. Moreover, activity paths in activity networks present essences of many project scheduling problems; for example, the time-cost tradeoff is to shorten long paths at lower costs. We discovered relationships between activity floats and paths and established a float-path theory. The theory helps to compute path lengths using activity floats and analyze activity floats using paths, which helps to transmute a problem into the other simpler one. We discussed applications of the float-path theory and applied it to solve the time-cost tradeoff problem (TCTP), especially the nonlinear and discrete versions. We proposed a simplification from an angle of path as a preprocessing technique for the TCTP. The simplification is a difficult path problem, but we transformed it into a simple float problem using the float-path theory. We designed a polynomial algorithm for the simplification, and then the TCTP may be solved more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is the earliest symptom stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that the study setting is an important influence factor of SCD. However, the effect of this factor among a Chinese population with SCD is not clear. Here, we aim to compare the clinical characteristics of SCD between a convenience and a population-based sample in China. Methods. We included a convenience sample of 212 SCD subjects and a population-based sample of 110 SCD subjects. We performed univariate analysis to evaluate the between-group differences in sociodemographic characteristics, neuropsychological performance, psychiatric conditions, different cognitive domains, and the SCD-plus criteria. Multiple linear regression model was established, adjusted for sex, age, and education, and compared the neuropsychological performance between the groups. Results. The convenience sample had more years of education, a higher family history of dementia, and higher neuropsychological and anxiety depression score than the population-based sample. Using sex, age, education, group as the independent variables, and neuropsychological score as the dependent variable, multiple linear regression model was established; a statistically significant neuropsychological score difference (MoCA-B, AVLT-H-N4, AVLT-H-N5, AVLT-H-N7, AFT, and STT-B) was found between the two samples. In the SCD cognitive domains, the population-based sample had more complaints about declines in their language and planning domains. For SCD-plus criteria in memory domain, the convenience sample had more complaints, worry, and cognitive decline within the last 5 years, along with medical help-seeking. Conclusion. There were some different characteristics among SCD individuals between convenience samples and population-based samples in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was reported that acupuncture could treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) with the potential mechanisms remaining unclear. The aim of the study is to explore the effect of the combination stimulus of Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3) on the resting-state brain networks in AD, beyond the default network (DMN). Twenty-eight subjects including 14 AD patients and 14 healthy controls (HCs) matched by age, gender, and educational level were recruited in this study. After the baseline resting-state MRI scans, the manual acupuncture stimulation was performed for 3 minutes, and then, another 10 minutes of resting-state fMRI scans was acquired. In addition to the DMN, five other resting-state networks were identified by independent component analysis (ICA), including left frontal parietal network (lFPN), right frontal parietal network (rFPN), visual network (VN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and auditory network (AN). And the impaired connectivity in the lFPN, rFPN, SMN, and VN was found in AD patients compared with those in HCs. After acupuncture, significantly decreased connectivity in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) of rFPN (P = 0.007) was identified in AD patients. However, reduced connectivity in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (P = 0.047) and left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) (P = 0.041) of lFPN and some regions of the SMN (the left inferior parietal lobula (P = 0.004), left postcentral gyrus (PoCG) (P = 0.001), right PoCG (P = 0.032), and right MFG (P = 0.010)) and the right MOG of VN (P = 0.003) was indicated in HCs. In addition, after controlling for the effect of acupuncture on HCs, the functional connectivity of the right cerebellum crus I, left IFG, and left angular gyrus (AG) of lFPN showed to be decreased, while the left MFG of IFPN and the right lingual gyrus of VN increased in AD patients. These findings might have some reference values for the interpretation of the combination stimulus of Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3) in AD patients, which could deepen our understanding of the potential mechanisms of acupuncture on AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian carcinoma (OV) is a lethal gynecological malignancy. Most OV patients develop resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy and recurrence. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are the ligand activating transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily. PPARs as important transcriptional regulators regulate important physiological processes such as lipid metabolism, inflammation, and wound healing. Several reports point out that PPARs can also have an effect on the sensitivity of tumor cells to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs. However, the role of PPAR-target related genes (PPAR-TRGs) in chemotherapeutic resistance of OV remains unclear. The present study is aimed at optimizing candidate genes by integrating platinum-chemotherapy expression data and PPAR family genes with their targets. The gene expression profiles were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A total of 4 genes (AP2A2, DOCK4, HSDL2, and PDK4) were the candidate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PPAR-TRGs with platinum chemosensitivity. After conducting numerous survival analyses using different cohorts, we found that only the upexpression of DOCK4 has important significance with the poor prognosis of OV patients. Meanwhile, DOCK4 is detected in plasma and enriched in neutrophil and monocyte cells of the blood. We further found that there were significant correlations between DOCK4 expression and the levels of CD4+ T cell infiltration, dendritic cell infiltration, and neutrophil infiltration in OV. In addition, we verified the expression level of DOCK4 in OV cell lines treated with platinum drugs and found that DOCK4 is potentially responsive to platinum drugs. In conclusion, DOCK4 is potentially associated with immune cell infiltration and represents a valuable prognostic biomarker in ovarian cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effects of different linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n‐3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n‐6) ratios in diet on growth performance, fatty acid composition in muscle and liver and non‐specific immunity in serum, liver and intestines of juvenile Manchurian trout (Brachymystax lenok). With casein, soybean meal and corn protein meal as main protein sources, a vegetable oil‐based (VO‐based) diet with iso‐nitrogen (40%) and iso‐lipid (18.5%) was prepared by adding different proportions of linseed oil, corn oil and palm oil. The LNA/LA ratio in the VO‐based diets was 0.02, 0.55, 1.06, 1.61 and 2.17 (constant composition of LNA and LA). The control group (CON) used fish oil (FO) as the sole lipid source. Healthy juvenile Manchurian trout (body weight: 7.00 ± 0.07 g) were fed in a recirculating aquaculture system for 9 weeks. The results showed that VO‐based diets did not affect the growth of Manchurian trout, but decreased DHA and EPA levels in the dorsal muscle of Manchurian trout. Levels of LA, arachidonic acid (ARA) and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of liver in VO‐based diets were significantly higher than those in CON diet and decreased with an increasing LNA/LA ratio in the diet. The composition of LNA, DHA, EPA and n‐3 PUFA of dorsal muscle and liver in VO‐based diets increased with increasing LNA/LA ratio. In the liver and proximal intestine (PI), lysozyme (LZM) activity increased with the increasing LNA/LA ratio in the VO‐based diet. However, it decreased in the mid‐intestine (MI) and distal intestine (DI). Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in liver was significantly high when the LNA/LA ratio in the diet was 1.06 (p <.05). Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity in the MI increased with the increasing dietary LNA/LA ratio. The LNA/LA ratio in the diet did not affect the growth of Manchurian trout juveniles, and a diet with an LNA/LA ratio between 0.55 and 1.06 was beneficial for non‐specific immunity in Manchurian trout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To examine the surgical outcomes and graft conditions in patients receiving micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) to treat post-keratoplasty ocular hypertension. Methods. This retrospective observational study included 30 eyes of 28 consecutive glaucoma patients with a history of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) or Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) who underwent MP-TSCPC at the University of California, San Francisco from 09/2015 to 08/2018. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we compared preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, and central corneal thickness at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Postoperative complications, additional surgeries, and graft failures were also recorded at these follow-up times. Linear regression model was used to study whether PKP vs. DSAEK affects the effectiveness of MP-TSCPC. Results. Thirty eyes from 28 patients were followed for 12 months. IOP was significantly decreased from preop at all follow-up points (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the number of glaucoma drops, visual acuity, or CCT. At 12 months, 21 of the 30 eyes met the definition of success, and only one underwent repeat PKP due to graft rejection. The type of corneal transplant was not a significant factor for IOP reduction at the last follow-up. Conclusions. MP-TSCPC achieved desirable IOP control and success rates for postkeratoplasty patients while resulting in minimal complications and graft failure. It appears to be a safe and effective procedure in patients who received corneal transplant with one-year follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the relationship between urinary Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein (AD7c-NTP) levels and apolipoprotein epsilon 4 (ApoE ɛ4) alleles, as well as other factors that cause cognitive decline, in the cognitively normal population. We recruited 329 cognitively normal right-handed Han Chinese subjects who completed ApoE gene testing and urinary AD7c-NTP testing. There was no significant difference in urinary AD7c-NTP levels between the normal control and subjective cognitive decline groups. Urinary AD7c-NTP levels were significantly higher in subjects with ApoE ɛ3/4 and 4/4 [0.6074 (0.6541) ng/mL] than in subjects without ApoE ɛ4 [0.4368 (0.3392) ng/mL and 0.5287 (0.3656) ng/mL], and urinary AD7c-NTP levels positively correlated with ApoE genotype grade (r = 0.165 , p = 0.003). There were significant differences in urinary AD7c-NTP levels between subjects with and without a history of coronary heart disease or diabetes. Urinary AD7c-NTP levels were not related to years of education, nature of work, family history of dementia, a history of hypertension, stroke, anemia, or thyroid dysfunction. Urinary AD7c-NTP levels were positively correlated with ApoE grade in the cognitively normal population. The relationship between risk factors of cognitive decline and urinary AD7c-NTP levels provides a new way for us to understand AD and urinary AD7c-NTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of linseed oil substitution on the growth, body composition, tissue fatty acid composition, flesh nutritional value and immune indices of juvenile Manchurian trout, five feed types containing different levels of linseed oil (LO) mixed with fish oil (FO) were prepared: 0 (0 LO); 250 g/kg (25 LO); 500 g/kg (50 LO); 750 g/kg (75 LO); and 1000 g/kg (100 LO); and fed to juvenile Manchurian trout (initial weight 6.43 ± 0.02 g) for 9 weeks. The results showed that substitution of FO with 750 g/kg LO did not affect the growth of juvenile trout, with protein content in the dorsal muscle, and lipid content in the liver not showing any significant difference (p > 0.05). The highest lipid content found in muscle samples occurred for the 25 LO diet. The fatty acid composition found in the dorsal muscle and the liver of the Manchurian trout reflects the fatty acid composition in the diet, where the relative amount of linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in these organs has a positive linear correlation with their relative composition in the diet (p < 0.05). As the amount of LO in the diet was increased, the composition of ALA found in the sampled organs increased, while the composition of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) decreased. At the same time, the index of atherogenicity (IA) and thrombogenicity (IT) of the muscle samples from the 75 LO and 100 LO diets was significantly lower than for the 0 LO and 25 LO diets (p < 0.05), while the flesh lipid quality (FLQ) in the 100 LO diet was significantly lower than for the other diets (p < 0.05). The aspartate transaminase (AST) activity decreased initially, and then increased, as the level of LO replacement for FO was increased, with the 25 LO diet being significantly lower than for other groups (p < 0.05). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in serum samples from the 100 LO diet was higher than that from other diets. The lysozyme (LZM) activity in both serum and liver tissue first increased to a peak for the 25 LO and 50 LO diets, respectively, and then decreased as the level of LO was further increased. There was no significant change in the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity in the liver samples; however, the acid phosphatase (ACP) activity decreased significantly from the highest value for 0 LO feed group. In conclusion, the composition of fatty acids in the dorsal muscle and the liver was found to be modified by the diets, and with the diet containing less than 750 g/kg LO, being both beneficial for growth, and improved immunity, while maintaining the nutritional value of the lipid content in the dorsal muscle during the 9‐week period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although acupuncture is considered to be effective and safe for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect is still unknown. Most studies clarifying the neuronal pathway produced by acupuncture were still applied to healthy subjects with limited single acupuncture point stimulation, which was inconsistency with clinical practice. Thus, in our present study, we investigate the differences between brain activity changes in AD and MCI patients caused by multi-acupuncture point Siguan (four gates), in order to provide visualized evidence for neuronal specificity of clinical acupuncture. Forty-nine subjects were recruited, including 21 AD patients, 14 MCI patients, and 14 healthy controls (HC). AD and MCI patients were randomly divided into two groups, respectively: real acupuncture point group (14 AD and 8 MCI) and sham acupuncture point group (7 AD and 6 MCI). We adopted a 16-minute, single-block, experimental design for acquiring functional MRI images. We found, in AD and MCI patients, Siguan (four gates) elicited extensive activations and deactivations in cognitive-related areas, visual-related areas, the sensorimotor-related area, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Compared with HC, AD and MCI patients showed similar activations in cognitive-related brain areas (inferior frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and rolandic operculum) as well as deactivations in cognitive-related areas, visual-related areas, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, which were not found in HC. Compared with sham acupuncture points, real acupuncture points produced more specific brain changes with both activated and deactivated brain activities in AD and MCI. The preliminary results in our study verified the objective evidence for neuronal specificity of acupuncture in AD and MCI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axons are directed to their correct targets by guidance cues during neurodevelopment. Many axon guidance cues have been discovered; however, much less known is about how the growth cones transduce the extracellular guidance cues to intracellular responses. Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) are a family of intracellular proteins that have been found to mediate growth cone behavior in vitro; however, their roles in vivo in axon development are much less explored. In zebrafish embryos, we find that CRMP2 and CRMP4 are expressed in the retinal ganglion cell layer when retinal axons are crossing the midline. Knocking down CRMP2 causes reduced elongation and premature termination of the retinal axons, while knocking down CRMP4 results in ipsilateral misprojections of retinal axons that would normally project to the contralateral brain. Furthermore, CRMP4 synchronizes with neuropilin 1 in retinal axon guidance, suggesting that CRMP4 might mediate the semaphorin/neuropilin signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that CRMP2 and CRMP4 function differentially in axon development in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual stress has significant influence on the performance of mechanical components, and the nondestructive estimation of residual stress is always a difficult problem. This study applies the relative nonlinear coefficient of critical refraction longitudinal (LCR) wave to nondestructively characterize the stress state of materials; the feasibility of residual stress estimation using the nonlinear property of LCR wave is verified. The nonlinear ultrasonic measurements based on LCR wave are conducted on components with known stress state to calculate the relative nonlinear coefficient. Experimental results indicate that the relative nonlinear coefficient monotonically increases with prestress and the increment of relative nonlinear coefficient is about 80%, while the wave velocity only decreases about 0.2%. The sensitivity of the relative nonlinear coefficient for stress is much higher than wave velocity. Furthermore, the dependence between the relative nonlinear coefficient and deformation state of components is found. The stress detection resolution based on the nonlinear property of LCR wave is 10 MPa, which has higher resolution than wave velocity. These results demonstrate that the nonlinear property of LCR wave is more suitable for stress characterization than wave velocity, and this quantitative information could be used for residual stress estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) has disrupted properties of large-scale cortical networks based on cortical thickness and gray matter volume. However, it is largely unknown whether the topological properties of cortical networks based on geometric measures (i.e., sulcal depth, curvature, and metric distortion) change in aMCI patients compared with normal controls because these geometric features of cerebral cortex may be related to its intrinsic connectivity. Here, we compare properties in cortical networks constructed by six different morphological features in 36 aMCI participants and 36 normal controls. Six cortical features (3 volumetric and 3 geometric features) were extracted for each participant, and brain abnormities in aMCI were identified by cortical network based on graph theory method. All the cortical networks showed small-world properties. Regions showing significant differences mainly located in the medial temporal lobe and supramarginal and right inferior parietal lobe. In addition, we also found that the cortical networks constructed by cortical thickness and sulcal depth showed significant differences between the two groups. Our results indicated that geometric measure (i.e., sulcal depth) can be used to construct network to discriminate individuals with aMCI from controls besides volumetric measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at high risk of transition to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, little is known about functional characteristics of the conversion from MCI to AD. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 25 AD patients, 31 MCI patients, and 42 well-matched normal controls at baseline. Twenty-one of the 31 MCI patients converted to AD at approximately 24 months of follow-up. Functional connectivity strength (FCS) and seed-based functional connectivity analyses were used to assess the functional differences among the groups. Compared to controls, subjects with MCI and AD showed decreased FCS in the default-mode network and the occipital cortex. Importantly, the FCS of the left angular gyrus and middle occipital gyrus was significantly lower in MCI-converters as compared with MCI-nonconverters. Significantly decreased functional connectivity was found in MCI-converters compared to nonconverters between the left angular gyrus and bilateral inferior parietal lobules, dorsolateral prefrontal and lateral temporal cortices, and the left middle occipital gyrus and right middle occipital gyri. We demonstrated gradual but progressive functional changes during a median 2-year interval in patients converting from MCI to AD, which might serve as early indicators for the dysfunction and progression in the early stage of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Conventional two-dimensional vessel wall imaging has been used to depict the middle cerebral artery (MCA) wall in patients with recent small subcortical infarctions (RSSIs). However, its clinical use has been limited by restricted spatial coverage, low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and long scan time. We used a novel three-dimensional high-resolution MR imaging (3D HR-MRI) technique to investigate the presence, locations, and contrast-enhanced patterns of MCA plaques and their relationship with RSSI. Methods. Nineteen consecutive patients with RSSI but no luminal stenosis on MR angiography were prospectively enrolled. 3D HR-MRI was performed using a T1w-SPACE sequence at 3.0 T. The presence, locations, and contrast-enhanced patterns of the MCA plaques on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides to the RSSI were analyzed. Results. Eighteen patients successfully completed the study. MCA atherosclerotic plaques occurred more frequently on the ipsilateral than the contralateral side to the RSSI (72.2% versus 33.3%, P=0.044). The occurrence of superiorly located plaques was significantly higher on the ipsilateral than the contralateral side of the MCA (66.7% versus 27.8%; P=0.044). Conclusions. Superiorly located plaques are closely associated with RSSI. 3D high-resolution vessel wall imaging may be a potential tool for etiologic assessment of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors increase circulating levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide which may promote ß-cell proliferation and survival. This study tested if DPP-4 inhibition with MK-0431 is beneficial for diabetic mice syngeneically transplanted with a marginal number of islets. We syngeneically transplanted 150 C57BL/6 mouse islets under the kidney capsule of each streptozotocin-diabetic mouse and then treated recipients with (n = 21) or without (n = 17) MK-0431 (30mg/kg/day, po) for 6 weeks. After islet transplantation, blood glucose levels decreased in both MK-0431-treated and control groups. However, the blood glucose and area under the curve of the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test at 2,4, and 6 weeks were not significantly different between MK-0431-treated mice and controls. During 6 weeks, both groups exhibited increased body weights over time. However, the weight between two groups did not differ throughout the study period. At 6 weeks after transplantation, the graft beta-cell mass (0.024 ± 0.005 versus 0.023 ± 0.007 mg, P = 0.8793) and insulin content (140 ± 48 versus 231 ± 63 ng, P = 0.2939) were comparable in the MK-0431-treated group and controls. Our results indicate posttransplant DPP-4 inhibition with MK-0431 in the diabetic recipient with a marginal number of islets is not beneficial to transplantation outcome or islet grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) hinders the development of autoimmune diabetes by inducing immune tolerance status. Meanwhile, exendin-4 increases beta-cell function and mass. Thus, we hypothesized that ATRA and exendin-4 combination therapy would prevent and reverse autoimmune diabetes. NOD/scid mice were intravenously transferred with spleno-cytes isolated from 12-week-old female NOD mice. After adoptive transfer, mice were treated with vehicle, ATRA (0.5 mg/mouse intraperitoneally every other day), exendin-4 (3 μg/kg subcutaneously twice daily), or combination for 6 weeks. Compared with vehicle, ATRA (P = 0.022) and ATRA plus exendin-4 (P = 0.013) treatment delayed the onset of diabetes. The pancreatic insulin content in mice treated with ATRA (P = 0.013) and exendin-4 (P < 0.02) was significantly higher than that of control mice. All but one spontaneous diabetic NOD mouse treated with ATRA and/or exendin-4 remained persistent hyperglycemic. ATRA and/or exendin-4 treatment did not alter their blood glucose levels and survival. Our results indicate that, before the onset of autoimmune diabetes, ATRA and exendin-4 treatment alone preserves pancreatic beta cells; ATRA and ATRA plus exendin-4 treatment delays the onset of autoimmune diabetes. However, after the onset of autoimmune diabetes, ATRA and/or exendin-4 treatment is unable to reverse hyperglycemia or improve survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Circulation system, immunity system, and nervous system have a close relationship with meridian phenomen. However, there is still lack of the results of dynamic changes of these structures in acupoint. The aim of this study is to explore the interrelationship by composite staining techniques. Methodology/Principal Findings. Twenty rats were separated into electro acupuncture group (EA) and control group (Con) randomly. In EA group, the Zusanli and Weishu were stimulated with the 0.1 mA for 25 min. The tissue of these acupoints was double-stained with acetylcholinesterase and Toluidine blue. The compound structure of mast cells, nervous fibers, and mast cells in the acupoint was observed. Conclusions/Significance. The blood vessels, mast cells and acetylcholinesterase responded nerves were clearly observed in acupoint tissues. EA can result in the mast cell recruitment and migration along the blood vessels and nervous bundle, which conformed the dynamic compound structure and played important roles in acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Hepatic injury is a prevalent ailment worldwide. The hepatoprotective effects of corn peptides (CPs) were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in mice. Low molecular weight CP (Mw < 5 kD) were obtained by alcalase hydrolysis combined with ultrafiltration technology. Results showed that the hepatoprotective effects of CP (200 mg/kg body weight [bw]) were manifested by a significant decrease of the aminotransferase (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase) activities in serum and malondialdehyde level in liver, and by a significant increase of superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione level in liver ( P < 0.01), compared with the model group. The biochemical findings were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. The hepatoprotective effect was close to that of positive control group - Silymarin (50 mg/kg bw). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the pretreatment of CP at the dose of 200 mg/kg bw showed a significant protective effect to alleviate CCl4-induced hepatocellular injury, and the hepatoprotective effect was due to the CP's antioxidant capability and high Fischer's ratio. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There is an ever-increasing need of an agent that could protect liver from various damages. Therapies developed along the principles of Western medicine are often limited in efficacy, carry the risk of adverse effects and are often too costly, especially for the developing world. Corn peptides (CPs) were obtained from corn gluten meal, which was the by-product of corn industry. It will broaden the application and increase the value of corn gluten meal. CPs, especially those with low molecular weight, have been reported with many bioactive functions, which were isolated with potent free radical scavenging capacities and high Fischer's ratio. In general CP could become a safe and potent hepatoprotective agent and could be manufactured into various forms, such as powder, tinctures, tablet, capsule and syrup. The future applications of CP would be mostly as a medicine, supplement or functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]