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The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with major abnormalities in circulating lipoproteins and renal lipid metabolism. This article elaborates on the mechanisms of CKD and lipid uptake abnormalities. The viewpoint we supported is that lipid abnormalities directly cause CKD, resulting in forming a vicious cycle. On the theoretical and experiment fronts, this inference has been verified by elaborately elucidating the role of lipid intake and accumulation as well as their influences on CKD. Taken together, these findings suggest that further understanding of lipid metabolism in CKD may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

The occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with major abnormalities of hepatic lipid metabolism. We propose that lipid abnormalities directly or indirectly contribute to NAFLD, especially fatty acid accumulation, arachidonic acid metabolic disturbance, and ceramide overload. The effects of lipid intake and accumulation on NAFLD and NAFLD treatment are explained with theoretical and experimental details. Overall, these findings provide further understanding of lipid metabolism in NAFLD and may lead to novel therapies.

This article attempts to provoke a discussion concerning the definition and nature of festivals by considering the process of Mosuo funerals in Southwest China as a festival event. The role of women and men in daily life and within the funeral ceremony is discussed – the Mosuo is a matriarchal society – as are the vernacular architectural settings which have evolved for both ritual and everyday activities. The article looks at the religious perception of death in Mosuo culture, which considers funerals as celebrations of a life cycle including birth, growing up and death; through onsite observations, it documents the process of a Mosuo funeral in relation to its physical space. Even though, unlike most other festivals, funerals occur at unpredictable times, it is argued that for the Mosuo the funeral event is also a festival.

Mosuo dwellings are distinctive vernacular architecture forms that are shaped by the unique matriarchal society of Mosuo in Southwest China. They have undergone dramatic transformations during the 21st century as a result of modernization and tourism. There is a lack of theoretical and empirical studies regarding the impact on the authenticity. This paper aims to fill this gap and develops a theoretical framework&mdash, cultural architectural assets&mdash, to understand and interpret the transitions of Mosuo dwellings and their authenticity in transitions. Adopting an anthropological methodology approach, this article examines the changes and continuities of Mosuo dwellings during the last thirty years. Fieldwork was conducted in nine Mosuo villages in Yongning Township through a range of qualitative methods, including participatory observations, photographic survey and photo elicitation interviews. The investigation results revealed cultural-architectural elements that are continued in the transitions include the courtyard form, the sacred chamber and the grandmother&rsquo, s house, cultural-architectural elements that are changing include the flower house and grass house, cultural-architectural elements that are disappearing include the back room (Dupan) and the upper hearth in the grandmother&rsquo, s house as well as the wooden shingle roof. As a result, the study constructs a conservation approach for sustainable development in three dimensions: living culture, building culture and values and beliefs. This analytical framework can be adapted to be applied to different contexts as a sustainable approach for the conservation and development of vernacular architecture in transitions.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic disease of the arterial wall where both innate and adaptive immunoinflammatory mechanisms are involved. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathological process of atherosclerosis at various stages. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ, also known as WWTR1) behave as a novel drug target against atherosclerosis. Therefore, the mechanism relationship of YAP/TAZ, inflammation and AS was explored in this study. Experiments demonstrated that serine dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of YAP was increased in ECs and pericytes induced by oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), while the inhibition of YAP degraded the expression of downstream inflammatory factors. The expression of YAP/TAZ and inflammation proteins (JNK, NF-κB and TNF-α) in ECs and pericytes was suppressed through the application of Sal-B. Besides, Sal-B protects ECs and pericytes from oxidative stress and apoptosis. In vivo, Sal-B reduced en face and aortic root sinus lesions size, and decreased the expression of inflammation related factors (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and ox-LDL in serum sample of ApoE-/- mice fed a high fat diet. Therefore, our work provides a potential therapeutic strategy of using Sal-B to attenuate the development of atherosclerosis, the anti-atherosclerosis effects of Sal-B is related to regulate YAP/TAZ/JNK signaling pathway.

Background Cervical spondylosis (CS) is a common disease due to the modern lifestyle. Yijinjin, a kind of traditional Chinese exercise, is frequently used for the prevention of CS by Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors. However, there is no relevant systematic review show its effectiveness and safety. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Yijinjing for patients with CS. Methods The following electronic databases will be searched from the respective dates of database inception to June 1st, 2020: The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Springer, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and other sources. All published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and blinded researches that are relevant to the subject of interest only will be contained. Two independent researchers will operate article retrieval, duplication removing, screening, quality evaluation, and data analyses by Review Manager (V.5.3.5). Meta-analyses, subgroup analysis and/or descriptive analysis will be performed based on the included data conditions. Results High-quality synthesis and/or descriptive analysis of current evidence will be provided from the neck disability index, neck pain questionnaire questionnaires, patient satisfaction scale and adverse reactions. Conclusion This study will provide the evidence of whether Yijinjing is an effective and safe intervention for people with CS. Prospero registration number CRD42020164706.

Background Acute bronchitis (AB) is a common cause of childhood morbidity. Tuina, a kind of Chinese massage, is frequently used for the treatment of AB in children by traditional Chinese medicine doctors. However, there is no relevant systematic review show its effectiveness and safety. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tuina for children with AB. Methods The following electronic databases will be searched from the respective dates of database inception to January 1st, 2020: The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Springer, EMBASE, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang database, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and other sources. All published randomized controlled trials and blinded researches that are relevant to the subject of interest only will be contained. Two independent researchers will operate article retrieval, duplication removing, screening, quality evaluation, and data analyses by Review Manager (V.5.3.5). Meta-analyses, subgroup analysis and/or descriptive analysis will be performed based on the included data conditions. Results High-quality synthesis and/or descriptive analysis of current evidence will be provided from the bronchitis severity score, symptom, and quality-of-life questionnaires, the questionnaire of clinical symptoms of cough and sputum, Patient Satisfaction Scale and adverse reactions. Conclusion This study will provide the evidence of whether Tuina is an effective and safe intervention for children with AB. Prospero registration number CRD42019140667.

Background: The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tuina for children with myopia. Methods: The following electronic databases will be searched from establishment to July 2019: Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Springer, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan-fang database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases (CBM), and other databases. All published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about this topic will be included. Two independent researchers will operate article retrieval, duplication removing, screening, quality evaluation, and data analyses by Review Manager (V.5.3.5). Meta-analyses, subgroup analysis, and/or descriptive analysis will be performed based on the included data conditions. Results: High-quality synthesis and/or descriptive analysis of current evidence will be provided from improvement of distant vision, improvement of myopic diopter, and side effects. Conclusion: This study will provide the evidence of whether Tuina is an effective and safe intervention for children with myopia. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019142283.