The Efficacy of Shen Shuaining Capsule on Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of Shen shuaining capsule on treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Shen shuaining capsule in treating CKD were collected from CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane library clinical controlled trials database. Two reviewers independently performed analysis of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias tool was from the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0. The Review Manager 5.2 software was employed for data analysis. Funnel plot and Egger's test were applied to evaluate publication bias. Results. 20 studies including 1606 participants met the inclusion criteria, most of which were of low quality. Metaanalysis indicated that Shen shuaining capsule was effective for CKD in terms of SCR, BUN, Hb, and response rate and with less adverse effects, of which SCR and BUN decreased significantly (MD = −84.72, 95% CI: −107.36, −62.07, < 0.00001) (MD = −4.30, 95% CI: −5.71, −2.89, < 0.00001); Hb and response rate increased significantly (MD = 9.94, 95% CI: 9.24, 10.64, < 0.00001) (OR = 4.25, 95% CI (3.32, 5.42), < 0.00001). Conclusion. Shen shuaining capsule significantly reduced SCR and BUN, increased HB, and improved total efficiency of the symptoms and signs in patients with CKD. Subgroup analysis found that Shen shuaining capsule group was better than control group. Due to low quality of the methodology of included studies, further high-quality researches were needed to study its efficacy and safety

Virtual Reality–Based Exercise Rehabilitation in Cancer-Related Dysfunctions: Scoping Review

BackgroundVirtual reality–based exercise rehabilitation (VRER) is a promising intervention for patients with cancer-related dysfunctions (CRDs). However, studies focusing on VRER for CRDs are lacking, and the results are inconsistent. ObjectiveWe aimed to review the application of VRER in patients with CRDs. MethodsThis scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist framework. Publications were included from the time of database establishment to October 14, 2023. The databases were PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, ProQuest, arXiv, IEEE Xplore, MedRxiv, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, and SinoMed. The population included patients with cancer. A virtual reality (VR) system or device was required to be provided in exercise rehabilitation as an intervention. Eligible studies focused on VRER used for CRDs. Study selection and data extraction were performed by 2 reviewers independently. Extracted data included authors, year, country, study type, groups, sample size, participant age, cancer type, existing or potential CRDs, VR models and devices, intervention programs and durations, effectiveness, compliance, satisfaction, and safety. ResultsWe identified 25 articles, and among these, 12 (48%) were randomized clinical trials, 11 (44%) were other experimental studies, and 2 (8%) were observational studies. The total sample size was 1174 (range 6-136). Among the 25 studies, 22 (88%), 2 (8%), and 1 (4%) included nonimmersive VR, immersive VR, and augmented reality, respectively, which are models of VRER. Commercial game programs (17/25, 68%) were the most popular interventions of VRER, and their duration ranged from 3 to 12 weeks. Using these models and devices, VRER was mostly applied in patients with breast cancer (14/25, 56%), leukemia (8/25, 32%), and lung cancer (3/25, 12%). Furthermore, 6 CRDs were intervened by VRER, and among these, postmastectomy syndromes were the most common (10/25, 40%). Overall, 74% (17/23) of studies reported positive results, including significant improvements in limb function, joint range of motion, edema rates, cognition, respiratory disturbance index, apnea, activities of daily living, and quality of life. The compliance rate ranged from 56% to 100%. Overall, 32% (8/25) of studies reported on patient satisfaction, and of these, 88% (7/8) reported satisfaction with VRER. Moreover, 13% (1/8) reported mild sickness as an adverse event. ConclusionsWe found that around half of the studies reported using VRER in patients with breast cancer and postmastectomy dysfunctions through nonimmersive models and commercial game programs having durations of 3-12 weeks. In addition, most studies showed that VRER was effective owing to virtualization and interaction. Therefore, VRER may be an alternate intervention for patients with CRDs. However, as the conclusions were drawn from data with acknowledged inconsistencies and limited satisfaction reports, studies with larger sample sizes and more outcome indictors are required

Evidence for Free Rotation Restriction of Unsaturated Bond in Aggregation-Induced Emission

We experimentally demonstrate that that nonradiative process, which competes with radiative decay, involves two main stages, namely the restricted intramolecular rotation and internal conversion process. The free rotation restriction of the unsaturated bond at the excited state is the key factor for AIE effects

Studies on qualitative and quantitative detection of trehalose purity by terahertz spectroscopy

Terahertz spectroscopy was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze four samples (three brands) of trehalose produced in China and other countries. The results show that the main characteristic peak was greatly affected by concentration, and the optimal detection concentration of trehalose was determined to be 25%–55% by transmission scanning. There were six significant characteristic absorption peaks in the trehalose spectrum, meaning that terahertz spectroscopy can be used for qualitative analysis, analogous to infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, the terahertz spectrum can effectively distinguish the three isomers of trehalose, whereas infrared spectroscopy cannot. Thus, it was found that the current commercially available trehalose is the α,α-isomer. Quantitative analysis of the three brands of trehalose using terahertz spectroscopy matched the purity trends found by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, with the order of purity from highest to lowest being TREHA, Pioneer, and Huiyang. The actual quantitative values did differ between the two detection methods, but the variation in the values from the same sample obtained by the two detection methods was less than 5%, confirming that terahertz spectroscopy is very suitable for the rapid and relative quantitative detection of trehalose

G‑Quadruplex Structures as a “Switch” Regulate ATF4 Expression in Ferroptotic HepG2 Cells

G-quadruplex (G4) is a noncanonical structure folded in a widespread manner by guanine-rich tandem repeated sequences. As a key response factor, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) has dual functions in managing iron-dependent ferroptosis by regulating amino acid synthesis and antioxidant-related gene expression. In our study, the activity of ATF4 expression was elevated in HepG2 cells induced by erastin. Based on preliminary bioinformatics analyses, the G-tract region, named WT, had high potential to form G4, and it was found that PDS could markedly weaken the increase of ATF4 expression by reducing the sensitivity of HepG2 cells toward erastin. In circular dichroism spectra, WT oligonucleotides showed characteristic molar ellipticity at specific wavelengths of parallel G4 structures, while corresponding single-base mutants possessed a weaker ability to form G4, which were consistent with immunostaining results. In addition, endogenous G4 formed by the WT motif was significantly destroyed in HepG2 cells treated with erastin. After being transfected with WT oligonucleotides, the levels of ATF4 mRNA decreased significantly regardless of being treated with erastin or not. Meanwhile, mutations of G-tracts could advantageously impact the luciferase expression downstream of an ATF4 promoter in reporter assays, manifesting that the decrease of endogenous G4 in the ATF4 promoter was positively associated with the expression enhanced by erastin in HepG2 cells

Engineered multifunctional BioHJzyme via tuning D‐Band center for postoperative infected wound regeneration of tumor resection

The catalytic therapy for abundant •OH, 1O2, and •O2− provides an efficient tactic and methodology for rapid tumor/bacteria killing, whereas the limitation is focused on the catalytic efficiency owing to the in-built energy band of catalytic materials. Thus, d-band center tuning BioHJzyme is devised, which is composed of zinc tellurate/manganese dioxide anchored by glucose oxidase (GOx) with anti-tumor and anti-bacteria properties for postoperative infected wound regeneration of tumor. The GOx depletes glucose to produce H2O2, intercepting the glucose metabolism. The D-BioHJzyme can catalyze the produced H2O2 to highly lethal •OH with POD-mimetic activity owing to the tunned d-band center strategy decreasing the adsorption energy of the intermediate in the catalytical process, while the oxygen originated from H2O2 and Mn2+ can be catalyzed into 1O2. The GPx-mimetic activity of it can impair the antioxidant system of tumor. In vivo studies show that the BioHJzyme exhibits robust abilities against bacteria and tumors by •OH/1O2 production and promotes the apoptosis owing the Te. Besides, the BioHJzyme can accelerate cutaneous regeneration by M1/M2 regulation and the angiogenesis/collagen deposition. This work enlightens a powerful platform for the remedy of postoperative infected wound regeneration of tumor resection using an engineered BioHJzyme

Effect of anacardic acid against echinococcosis through inhibition of VEGF-induced angiogenesis

Abstract Echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection caused by cestode species of the genus Echinococcus, with limited treatment options. It is urgent to develop new anti-hydatid agent. In this paper, we reported anacardic acid (AA), a natural product isolated from the Brazilian cashew-nut shell liquid, which presented a high activity against metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) and Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s.s.) in vitro and in vivo. AA exerted a better efficacy on E. granulosus s.s. protoscoleces and E. multilocularis metacestodes than that of albendazole (ABZ) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in vitro, and an inhibition on the growth of Echinococcus metacestode as effective as ABZ in vivo. Moreover, we also found that one of the mechanisms of AA against Echinococcus could be the suppression of angiogenesis on/in the metacestode mass through inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)—induced signalling pathways. This work finds that AA is a new promising potential candidate drug for echinococcosis treatment

Transcription factors WOX11 and LBD16 function with histone demethylase JMJ706 to control crown root development in rice

International audienceAbstract Crown roots are the main components of root systems in cereals. Elucidating the mechanisms of crown root formation is instrumental for improving nutrient absorption, stress tolerance, and yield in cereal crops. Several members of the WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) and lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD) transcription factor families play essential roles in controlling crown root development in rice (Oryza sativa). However, the functional relationships among these transcription factors in regulating genes involved in crown root development remain unclear. Here, we identified LBD16 as an additional regulator of rice crown root development. We showed that LBD16 is a direct downstream target of WOX11, a key crown root development regulator in rice. Our results indicated that WOX11 enhances LBD16 transcription by binding to its promoter and recruiting its interaction partner JMJ706, a demethylase that removes histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) from the LBD16 locus. In addition, we established that LBD16 interacts with WOX11, thereby impairing JMJ706–WOX11 complex formation and repressing its own transcriptional activity. Together, our results reveal a feedback system regulating genes that orchestrate crown root development in rice, in which LBD16 acts as a molecular rheostat