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BackgroundChronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) is one of the most common complex pain conditions, and it is strongly associated with high rates of disability. Even though several studies on Tui na for CNLBP have been reported, to our knowledge there has been no systematic review of the currently available publications. ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis that will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tui na therapy for patients with CNLBP. MethodsAn electronic literature search of PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Springer, Scopus, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Clarivate Analytics, and Chinese biomedical databases (the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-fang database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases) will be conducted. Studies will be screened by two reviewers independently based on titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text reading with eligibility criteria. Randomized controlled trials involving Tui na for patients with CNLBP will be reviewed. The primary outcomes of the study are improvement of pain, analgesic medication reduction, improvement of functional disability, and degree of satisfaction with the intervention. A secondary outcome is any adverse event of Tui na intervention. Methodological quality and risk of bias will be assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. If studies are sufficient, a meta-analysis of the effectiveness will be performed. If possible, we will evaluate publication bias using funnel plots. If substantial heterogeneity between studies is present, and there are sufficient studies, subgroup analyses will be conducted to explain the study findings. ResultsThe review database searches will be initiated in December 2020, with findings expected by January 2021. ConclusionsThis protocol will establish a framework of a high-quality literature synthesis on the impact of Tui na treatment in patients with CNLBP. The proposed review will determine whether Tui na is effective and safe for CNLBP patients. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42020166731; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=166731 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/20615

The metabolomic differences between the peels of Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ and different varieties of Citrus unshiu Marc. were analyzed to provide a theoretical basis and scientific evidence for the development and utilization of the peels of Citrus unshiu Marc.. The chemical composition of Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ (CZG) and three different varieties of Citrus unshiu Marc. (‘Youliang’ (YL), ‘Nangan 20’ (NG) and ‘Gongchuan’ (GC)) were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and the metabolomic data were comparatively analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and cluster analysis (CA) to screen differential metabolites. Through database comparison, 790, 796 and 818 metabolites were identified between CZG and YL, NG and GC, respectively, with organic oxides, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and their derivatives accounting for the highest proportions, which are mainly involved in the metabolic pathways of flavonoid and flavanol biosynthesis, isoflavones biosynthesis, α-linolenic acid metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Using the cutoff of variable importance in the projection (VIP) score > 1 with P value < 0.05, stable and reliable differential metabolites were selected. A total of 43 differential metabolites of 11 classes were identified between Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ and Citrus unshiu Marc., the predominant ones being flavonoids, amino acids and purine nucleosides. Most flavonoids in Citrus unshiu Marc. such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 3’, 4’, 5’-heptamethoxyflavone, quercetin, naringenin, and naringenin were up-regulated, which could be used as potential markers to differentiate Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ from Citrus unshiu Marc.. Furthermore, Citrus unshiu Marc. had a higher content of flavonoids and therefore could be used as a source of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium.

Depression is a psychiatric disorder with the highest suicide rate, and current medication for depression often comes with numerous side effects during long-term treatment. The causes and pathogenesis of depression are complex. Many studies have suggested that various flavonoids, which widely distributed in plants, are significantly effective in improving depression. Additionally, a substantial body of recent research has demonstrated a close relationship between changes in the gut microbiota and the development of depression. Flavonoids can alter the composition and metabolites of the gut microbiota, thereby affecting human emotion and behavior through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This article provides a review of research findings on the interaction between the gut microbiota and depression. It also discusses the potential mechanism through which flavonoids, via the gut microbiota, could ameliorate depression by regulating inflammatory factors, neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids, and other related factors, hoping to provide ideas for follow-up research to explore the pathogenesis, prevention and improvement of depression.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG trinucleotide expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Since the reduction of pathogenic mutant HTT messenger RNA is therapeutic, we developed a mutant allele-sensitive CAGEX RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13d system (Cas13d-CAGEX) that eliminates toxic CAGEX RNA in fibroblasts derived from patients with HD and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We show that intrastriatal delivery of Cas13d-CAGEX via an adeno-associated viral vector selectively reduces mutant HTT mRNA and protein levels in the striatum of heterozygous zQ175 mice, a model of HD. This also led to improved motor coordination, attenuated striatal atrophy and reduction of mutant HTT protein aggregates. These phenotypic improvements lasted for at least eight months without adverse effects and with minimal off-target transcriptomic effects. Taken together, we demonstrate proof of principle of an RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas13d system as a therapeutic approach for HD, a strategy with implications for the treatment of other dominantly inherited disorders.