Observation on the Curative Effect of Yiyuan Pingchuan Decoction Combined with Ultra-Low Frequency Combined with Physiological Frequency Electrical Stimulation on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Stable Stage

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Yiyuan Pingchuan Decoction combined with ultra-low frequency combined with physiological frequency electrical stimulation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stable phase. Method: 89 patients were randomly divided into control group (44 cases)and observation group (45 cases). The control group was treated with conventional western medicine, while the observation group was treated with ultra-low frequency combined with physiological frequency electrical stimulation and Yiyuan Pingchuan Decoction on the basis of the control group. The 6-minute walking score (6MWT), SGRQ score, Borg fatigue score, lung function, and clinical efficacy after 30 days were observed at day 15 and day 30, respectively. Results: The 6MWT, SGRQ score, Borg fatigue score and lung function were improved more significantly in observation group than those in control group (p<0.05). The total effective rate of observation group (91.1%) was significantly higher than that of control group (79.5%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Yiyuan Pinghuan Decoction combined with ultra-low frequency combined physiological frequency electrical stimulation can significantly improve the 6MWT, SGRQ score, Borg fatigue score and lung function of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, improve clinical efficacy, and then improve the quality of life of patients, so as to improve the clinical prognosis of patients

Effects of obesity with reduced 25(OH)D levels on bone health in elderly Chinese people: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BackgroundObesity is often accompanied by lower 25(OH)D levels, whereas these two parameters exhibit opposite effects on bone health. It is uncertain what are the effects of lower 25(OH)D levels in obesity on bone health in elderly Chinese people.MethodsA nationally representative cross-sectional analysis of China Community-based Cohort of Osteoporosis (CCCO) was performed from 2016 to 2021, which consisted of 22,081 participants. Demographic data, disease history, Body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), the levels of the biomarkers of vitamin D status and those of bone metabolism markers were measured for all participants (N = 22,081). The genes (rs12785878, rs10741657, rs4588, rs7041, rs2282679 and rs6013897) related to 25(OH)D transportation and metabolism were performed in a selected subgroup (N = 6008).ResultsObese subjects exhibited lower 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.05) and higher BMD (p < 0.001) compared with those of normal subjects following adjustment. The genotypes and allele frequency of rs12785878, rs10741657, rs6013897, rs2282679, rs4588 and rs7041 indicated no significant differences among three BMI groups following correction by the Bonferroni’s method (p > 0.05). The levels of total 25(OH)D (ToVD) were significantly different among the GC1F, GC1S and GC2 haplotype groups (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that ToVD levels were significantly correlated with parathyroid hormone levels, BMD, risk of osteoporosis (OP) and the concentration levels of other bone metabolism markers (p < 0.05). Generalized varying coefficient models demonstrated that the increasing BMI, ToVD levels and their interactions were positively associated with BMD outcomes (p < 0.001), whereas the reduced levels of ToVD and BMI increased the risk of OP, which was noted notably for the subjects with reduced ToVD levels (less than 20.69 ng/ml) combined with decreased BMI (less than 24.05 kg/m2).ConclusionThere was a non-linear interaction of BMI and 25(OH)D. And higher BMI accompanied by decreased 25(OH)D levels is associated with increased BMD and decreased incidence of OP, optimal ranges exist for BMI and 25(OH)D levels. The cutoff value of BMI at approximately 24.05 kg/m2 combined with an approximate value of 25(OH)D at 20.69 ng/ml are beneficial for Chinese elderly subjects

Using a Relative Quantitative Proteomic Method to Identify Differentially Abundant Proteins in Brucella melitensis Biovar 3 and Brucella melitensis M5-90

Brucellosis, caused by Brucella spp., is one of the most widespread bacterial zoonoses worldwide. Vaccination is still considered the best way to control brucellosis. An investigation into the differential proteome expression patterns of wild and vaccine strains may help researchers and clinicians differentiate between the strains to diagnose and better understand the mechanism(s) underlying differences in virulence. In the present study, a mass spectrometry-based, label-free relative quantitative proteomics approach was used to investigate the proteins expressed by the wild strain, B. melitensis biovar 3 and compare it with those expressed by B. melitensis M5-90. The higher level of virulence for B. melitensis biovar 3 compared to B. melitensis M5-90 was validated in vitro and in vivo. A total of 2133 proteins, encompassing 68% of the theoretical proteome, were identified and quantified by proteomic analysis, resulting in broad coverage of the B. melitensis proteome. A total of 147 proteins were identified as differentially expressed (DE) between these two strains. In addition, 9 proteins and 30 proteins were identified as unique to B. melitensis M5-90 and B. melitensis biovar 3, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that the majority of the DE proteins were involved in iron uptake, quorum sensing, pyrimidine metabolism, glycine betaine biosynthetic and metabolic processes, thiamine-containing compound metabolism and ABC transporters. The expression of BtpA and VjbR proteins (two well-known virulence factors) in B. melitensis biovar 3 was 8-fold and 2-fold higher than in B. melitensis M5-90. In summary, our results identified many unique proteins that could be selected as candidate markers for differentiating vaccinated animals from animals with wild-type infections. BtpA and VjbR proteins might be responsible for the residual virulence of B. melitensis M5-90, while ABC transporters and thiamine metabolism associated proteins may be newly identified Brucella virulence factors. All of the identified DE proteins provide valuable information for the development of vaccines and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets

Multiplicity of concentrating solutions for a class of magnetic Schrödinger-Poisson type equation

In this paper, we study the following nonlinear magnetic Schrödinger-Poisson type equatio

MEC Based Study of Brand Building of Hongyue Garden Maker

Using the theory of means-end chain (MEC) and soft laddering technique, this paper carried out an in-depth interview with 38 consumers. By the content analysis method, it analyzed the relationship between the “attribute - consequence - value” of Hongyue Garden Maker, built the corresponding implication matrix and hierarchical value map, and finally obtained the dominant perception orientation of Hongyue Garden Maker consumption. This study revealed the potential reasons for consumers to buy Hongyue Garden Maker, analyzed the value connotation of consumers and the brand communication path of Hongyue Garden Maker. In addition, the results of this paper are expected to provide certain theoretical references for market segmentation and brand orientation of Hongyue Garden Maker

Understanding Energy Transfer Mechanisms for Tunable Emission of Yb³⁺-Er³⁺ Codoped GdF₃ Nanoparticles: Concentration-Dependent Luminescence by Near-Infrared and Violet Excitation

Energy transfer (ET) is an important route to manage the population density of excited states, giving rise to spectrally tunable emission that is valuable for multicolor imaging and biological tracking. In this paper, a case study of GdF₃ nanoparticles (NPs) codoped with Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ was used to experimentally and theoretically investigate the ET mechanisms under near-infrared and violet excitation. Red-to-green ratio (RGR) is used as a primary evaluating protocol, and the power-dependent luminescence and Er³⁺ ⁴I_13/2 luminescence behavior are used to identify the corresponding conjectures about ET mechanisms. Compared with the four common upconversion (UC) models, a joint effect of energy-back-transfer, multiphonon relaxation, and linear decay depletion mechanisms for the Er³⁺ ⁴I_13/2 manifold was proposed for the UC process based on UC spectra for samples with different dopant concentrations. Meanwhile, the varying RGR could also be observed from downshifting (DS) emission spectra. The ET mechanism for the DS process, where three cross-relaxation processes coexisted including the Yb³⁺ ²F_5/2 manifold as energy in-transit state, was proposed for the first time. The findings are expected to provide an approach for understanding ET mechanisms in many Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ codoped UC and DS systems and enable spectrally tunable emission properties for applications that require precisely defined optical transitions

Astaxanthin Protects Ochratoxin A-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in the Heart via the Nrf2 Pathway

This study assessed the protective mechanism of astaxanthin (ASX) against ochratoxin A- (OTA-) induced cardiac injury in mice. Four groups of mice were established: control group (0.1 mL olive oil+0.1 mL NaHCO2), OTA group (0.1 mL OTA 5 mg/kg body weight), ASX group (0.1 mL ASX 100 mg/kg body weight), and ASX + OTA group (0.1 mL ASX 100 mg/kg body weight, 2 h later, 0.1 mL OTA 5 mg/kg body weight). The test period lasted for 27 days (7 days of dosing, 2 days of rest). Electrocardiogram, body weight, heart weight, tissue pathology, oxidative markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH)), biochemical markers (creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)), electron microscopy, TUNEL, and Western blot tests were used to examine the effects of OTA on myocardial injury and ASX detoxification. The results showed that OTA exposure significantly decreased both body weight and heart weight. OTA induced a decrease in heart rate in mice and decreased tissue concentrations of SOD, CAT, and GSH, while increasing serum concentrations of cardiac enzymes (CK, CK-MB, and LDH) and tissue MDA. ASX improved heart rate, cardiac enzymes, and antioxidant levels in mice. The results of tissue pathology and TUNEL assay showed that ASX protects against OTA-induced myocardial injury. In addition, Western blot results showed that the OTA group upregulated Keap1, Bax, Caspase3, and Caspase9, while it downregulated Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl-2 protein expression. ASX played a protective role by changing the expression of Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, and Caspase9 proteins. These results indicate that the protective mechanism of ASX on the myocardium works through the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. This study provides a molecular rationale for the mechanism underlying OTA-induced myocardial injury and the protective effect of ASX on the myocardium