Effectiveness of resistance training in modulating inflammatory biomarkers among Asian patients with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveGiven the high incidence of sarcopenia among Asians, it is imperative to identify appropriate intervention methods. The International Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sarcopenia, developed by the International Conference on Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ICFSR) task force, recommends resistance training (RT) as a primary treatment for managing sarcopenia. Inflammatory biomarkers serve as indicators of sarcopenia. However, there is currently insufficient conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of RT in modulating inflammatory biomarker levels among Asian participants with sarcopenia.Data sourcesFour databases were utilized for this study until October 9, 2023. This study focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of RT on interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) about sarcopenia. This study has been registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42024501855).ResultsThe meta-analysis included six studies from Asians involving 278 participants. The results showed a significant decrease in RT for IL-6 (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.02 to -0.44; n=5). However, no significant differences were found for TNF-α (WMD = -1.00, 95% CI = -2.47 to 0.46; n=5), CRP (WMD = -0.45, 95% CI = -1.14 to 0.23; n=3), and IL-10 (WMD = 0.13, 95% CI = -3.99 to 4.25; n=2). Subgroup analysis revealed that factors including gender selection, intervention methods, frequency, period, and duration could have a particular effect on the part of inflammatory biomarkers.ConclusionRT has been shown to reduce part of the level of inflammatory markers, specifically IL-6, in Asian sarcopenia participants. However, other inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α, CRP, and IL-10, did not show significant changes. Further research should confirm the impact of RT on these indicators and explore the potential effects of various factors on different inflammatory markers, such as diet, body composition, and medications.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=501855, identifier CRD42024501855

Western China: FDI opportunities & risks.

This report highlights the potential FDI investment opportunities and risks in Western China in view of the Western Development Strategy. Specifically, an in-depth analysis was done on Chongqing, Shaanxi and Sichuan

Severe megaloblastic anemia in a patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma during treatment with erlotinib: a case report and literature review

Abstract Background Erlotinib is a first-generation, tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR-TKI) used for the treatment patients with NSCLC. Erlotinib is considered as a safe and effective treatment option, with generally good tolerance. Diarrhea and rash are the most common side effects, and more rare side effects appear in long-term real-world applications. Severe erlotinib related megaloblastic anemia is rare and remains unreported. This is the first case report of severe megaloblastic anemia in a patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma with an EGFR L858R mutation treated with erlotinib. In this report, the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of erlotinib related severe megaloblastic anemia are described, and the possible pathogenesis and related treatment options are discussed. Case description Herein, we present a 57- year-old non-smoking female diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring an EGFR L858R mutation, who had received erlotinib as the first-line therapy. After 44 weeks of treatment, the patient developed severe anemia. Anemia was manifested as megaloblastic anemia with elevated mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The total vitamin B12 level was below the detection limit of 50.00 pg /mL. Bone marrow smear suggested megaloblastic anemia. Her hematologic parameters were markedly recovered following the withdrawal of erlotinib and vitamin B12 supplement. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with erlotinib-associated megaloblastic anemia. Conclusions This is the first case of severe megaloblastic anemia reported with erlotinib. Few of these hematologic adverse effects have been observed in studies on erlotinib, this case report highlights this possibility for long-term erlotinib administration. Close clinical and blood monitoring is recommended for patients receiving long-term TKI therapy

Identification of suitable reference genes for gene expression normalization in qRT-PCR analysis in watermelon.

Watermelon is one of the major Cucurbitaceae crops and the recent availability of genome sequence greatly facilitates the fundamental researches on it. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) is the preferred method for gene expression analyses, and using validated reference genes for normalization is crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, a systematic validation of reference genes has not been conducted on watermelon. In this study, transcripts of 15 candidate reference genes were quantified in watermelon using qRT-PCR, and the stability of these genes was compared using geNorm and NormFinder. geNorm identified ClTUA and ClACT, ClEF1α and ClACT, and ClCAC and ClTUA as the best pairs of reference genes in watermelon organs and tissues under normal growth conditions, abiotic stress, and biotic stress, respectively. NormFinder identified ClYLS8, ClUBCP, and ClCAC as the best single reference genes under the above experimental conditions, respectively. ClYLS8 and ClPP2A were identified as the best reference genes across all samples. Two to nine reference genes were required for more reliable normalization depending on the experimental conditions. The widely used watermelon reference gene 18SrRNA was less stable than the other reference genes under the experimental conditions. Catalase family genes were identified in watermelon genome, and used to validate the reliability of the identified reference genes. ClCAT1and ClCAT2 were induced and upregulated in the first 24 h, whereas ClCAT3 was downregulated in the leaves under low temperature stress. However, the expression levels of these genes were significantly overestimated and misinterpreted when 18SrRNA was used as a reference gene. These results provide a good starting point for reference gene selection in qRT-PCR analyses involving watermelon

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis of V_1.11S₂ for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Acid Media

High-performance low-cost catalysts are in high demand for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In the present study, we reported that V1.11S2 materials with flower-like, flake-like, and porous morphologies were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis and subsequent calcination. The effects of morphology on hydrogen evolution performance were studied. Results show that flower-like V1.11S2 exhibits the best electrocatalytic activity for HER, achieving both high activity and preferable stability in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The main reason can be ascribed to the abundance of catalytically active sites and low charge transfer resistance

Correlation between the Coaptation and Regeneration of Tendon Stumps in Endoscopic Assisted Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair

Objective When the endoscopic Achilles tendon repair technique is utilized, direct stitching of the ruptured site is challenging due to the frayed tendon stumps. To explore whether undesirable coaptation of the tendon stumps influences the generation of the tendons. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of 46 patients who underwent a modified endoscopic Achilles tendon rupture repair from October 2018 to June 2020. Patients were divided into two groups according to the coaptation of tendon stumps on postoperative ultrasonography. Group 1 included 17 cases with undesirable coaptation (<50%), and Group 2 included 29 cases with appropriate coaptation (≥50%). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months to evaluate the tendon morphological construction. Clinical evaluations were performed using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle‐hind foot score, the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS), muscle power, and the Achilles tendon resting angle at the final follow‐up. Complications were also encountered. The Student's t‐test and the Mann–Whitney U‐test were used to assess differences among both groups. Results The mean follow‐up time was 37.5 ± 10.6 months in Group 1 and 39.0 ± 11.6 months in Group 2, respectively. The average age in Group 1 is slightly older than in Group 2 (37.3 ± 6.1 vs. 32.7 ± 6.3, p = 0.021). The tendon cross‐section areas and thickness increased initially and decreased later on postoperative MRI evaluation. It also showed a significantly higher signal/noise quotient (SNQ) in Group 1 at postoperative 3 months. At postoperative 6 and 12 months, the SNQ between both groups was similar. The AOFAS score (95.9 ± 5.1 vs. 96.2 ± 4.9, p = 0.832), ATRS score (97.0 ± 3.6 vs. 97.7 ± 3.3, p = 0.527), and muscle power (21.38 vs. 24.74, p = 0.287) were not significantly different between both groups. However, the resting angle of Group 1 was significantly larger than that of Group 2 (4.6 ± 2.4 vs. 2.4 ± 2.3, p = 0.004). There was no difference in the complications (p = 0.628). Conclusion Although complete regeneration can be finally achieved, the early stage of tendon stump regeneration can be prolonged due to undesirable coaptation when endoscopic Achilles tendon repair technique is applied. The prolonged high signal duration on MRI indicates the less‐than‐ideal regeneration of the tendon, which might lead to elongation of the tendon

The natural product rotundic acid treats both aging and obesity by inhibiting PTP1B

The occurrence of obesity is associated with age. But their interplay remains mysterious. Here, we discovered that rotundic acid (RA), a plant-derived pentacyclic triterpene, was a powerful agent for both anti-aging and treating obesity. Considering that obese individuals decrease the appetite-suppressing and energy-expenditure-enhancing functions of leptin leading to obesity, we found RA was a leptin sensitizer, evidenced by observations that RA enhanced the leptin sensitivity to normal diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, and had minimal or no use to normal lean mice, leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice, and leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice. Simultaneously, RA significantly increased energy expenditure, BAT thermogenesis, and glucose metabolism in DIO mice, as the results of enhancing leptin sensitivity. Regarding mode of action, we demonstrated that RA is a noncompetitive inhibitor of leptin negative regulators protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and T-cell PTP through interaction with their C-terminus, thus leading to weight loss through enhancing leptin sensitivity. Besides, we showed that deletion of yPTP1 in yeast completely abolished the lifespan extension effect of RA, celstrol, and withaferin A, while these compounds exhibited PTP1B inhibition activity. Furthermore, PTP1B knockdown extend lifespan in yeast and human cells, indicating PTP1B is an important factor regulating cellular aging.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of Appropriate Reference Genes for Gene Expression Normalization during Watermelon Fruit Development

<div><p>Gene expression analysis in watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) fruit has drawn considerable attention with the availability of genome sequences to understand the regulatory mechanism of fruit development and to improve its quality. Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a routine technique for gene expression analysis. However, appropriate reference genes for transcript normalization in watermelon fruits have not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of 12 genes for their potential use as reference genes in watermelon fruits. Expression variations of these genes were measured in 48 samples obtained from 12 successive developmental stages of parthenocarpic and fertilized fruits of two watermelon genotypes by using qRT-PCR analysis. Considering the effects of genotype, fruit setting method, and developmental stage, geNorm determined <i>clathrin adaptor complex subunit</i> (<i>ClCAC</i>), <i>β-actin</i> (<i>ClACT</i>), and <i>alpha tubulin 5</i> (<i>ClTUA5</i>) as the multiple reference genes in watermelon fruit. Furthermore, <i>ClCAC</i> alone or together with <i>SAND family protein</i> (<i>ClSAND</i>) was ranked as the single or two best reference genes by NormFinder. By using the top-ranked reference genes to normalize the transcript abundance of <i>phytoene synthase</i> (<i>ClPSY1</i>), a good correlation between lycopene accumulation and <i>ClPSY1</i> expression pattern was observed in ripening watermelon fruit. These validated reference genes will facilitate the accurate measurement of gene expression in the studies on watermelon fruit biology.</p></div

Screening Suitable Reference Genes for Normalization in Reverse Transcription Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis in Melon

<div><p>Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i>. L) is not only an economically important cucurbitaceous crop but also an attractive model for studying many biological characteristics. Screening appropriate reference genes is essential to reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), which is key to many studies involving gene expression analysis. In this study, 14 candidate reference genes were selected, and the variations in their expression in roots and leaves of plants subjected to biotic stress, abiotic stress, and plant growth regulator treatment were assessed by RT-qPCR. The stability of the expression of the selected genes was determined and ranked using geNorm and NormFinder. geNorm identified the two most stable genes for each set of conditions: <i>CmADP</i> and <i>CmUBIep</i> across all samples, <i>CmUBIep</i> and <i>CmRPL</i> in roots, <i>CmRAN</i> and <i>CmACT</i> in leaves, <i>CmADP</i> and <i>CmRPL</i> under abiotic stress conditions, <i>CmTUA</i> and <i>CmACT</i> under biotic stress conditions, and <i>CmRAN</i> and <i>CmACT</i> under plant growth regulator treatments. NormFinder determined <i>CmRPL</i> to be the best reference gene in roots and under biotic stress conditions and <i>CmADP</i> under the other experimental conditions. <i>CmUBC2</i> and <i>CmPP2A</i> were not found to be suitable under many experimental conditions. The catalase family genes <i>CmCAT1</i>, <i>CmCAT2</i>, and <i>CmCAT3</i> were identified in melon genome and used as target genes to validate the reliability of identified reference genes. The catalase family genes showed the most upregulation 3 days after inoculation with Fusarium wilt in roots, after which they were downregulated. Their levels of expression were significantly overestimated when the unsuitable reference gene was used for normalization. These results not only provide guidelines for the selection of reference genes for gene expression analyses in melons but may also provide valuable information for studying the functions of catalase family genes in stress responses.</p></div

Description of the candidate reference genes, primer sequences, and PCR amplification characteristics.

<p>^a Watermelon gene ID in the Cucurbit Genomics Database (<a href="http://www.icugi.org/" target="_blank">http://www.icugi.org</a>).</p><p>^b The primer pairs of <i>ClACT</i> previously published by Kong et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0130865#pone.0130865.ref017" target="_blank">17</a>] and <i>18SrRNA</i> previously published by Guo et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0130865#pone.0130865.ref001" target="_blank">1</a>] were used here.</p><p>Description of the candidate reference genes, primer sequences, and PCR amplification characteristics.</p