Precursor ions-guided comprehensive profiling of triterpenoid saponins from the Eleutherococcus senticosus stems and their neuroprotective effect evaluation.

Triterpenoid saponins (TS) are the main constituents of Eleutherococcus senticosus, also termed as Siberian ginseng or Ciwujia, a widely used herb in China, Japan, Korea, and Russia for its beneficial effects on memory enhancement, tonifying, heart-nourishing, and tranquilizing. Although the stems, rhizomes, and roots are used identically, a preliminary experiment found TS were specifically distributed in stems rather than the underground parts. However, a comprehensive profiling of the TS compounds in E.

Influence of TPU/EVA Phase Morphology Evolution on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extrusion Foaming.

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) was added at different contents to the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix to form a non-compatible blending system, and foaming materials with high pore density were prepared using the supercritical carbon dioxide extrusion method. The influence of the phase morphology and crystal morphology of the TPU/EVA blend on its foaming behavior was studied. The results show that EVA changed the phase morphology and crystal morphology of the blends, leading to the improved melt viscosity and crystallinity of the blend system.

Successful treatment of epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa by dupilumab.

Epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (EBP) is a rare variant of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa caused by COL7A1 gene mutation. Intense pruritus and nodular prurigo-like lesions are the main features of the disease. To date, the treatment strategies for this condition are not well established.

Risk factors for food sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: a single-center cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To study the risk factors for food sensitization and the influence of food sensitization on quality of life and clinical signs in children with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 241 children with AD, including demographic features, age of onset, severity of AD, quality of life, physical examination results, skin prick test (SPT) results, serum total IgE levels, and eosinophil count. According to the results of SPT, the children were divided into a food sensitization group (=127) and a non-food sensitization group (=114).

Effects of robotic-assisted gait training on motor function and walking ability in children with thoracolumbar incomplete spinal cord injury.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in neurological dysfunction of the spinal cord below the injury.

Objective: To explore the immediate and long-term effects of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) on the recovery of motor function and walking ability in children with thoracolumbar incomplete SCI.

Methods: Twenty-one children with thoracolumbar incomplete SCI were randomly divided into the experimental (n = 11) and control groups (n = 10).

Novel carrier-mediated membrane-assisted three-phase liquid-liquid extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of eight biogenic amines in foods.

Analysis of biogenic amines (BAs) is of great importance due to their toxicity and usage as indicators of food freshness. In this study, membrane-assisted three-phase liquid-liquid extraction (MA-3pLLE) was proposed to integrate extraction and back-extraction into a single step using a specially designed U-shaped device. Parameters affecting the performance of the extraction method were optimized.

Effect of Dual-Task Training on Gait and Balance in Stroke Patients: An Updated Meta-analysis.

Objective: The main purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of dual-task training on gait and balance improvement in stroke patients.

Design: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, CNKI, Wan Fang, and VIP databases were searched from inception to January 28, 2021, for randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of dual-task training on gait and balance intervention in stroke patients.

Results: A total of 17 studies with 575 stroke patients that compared the efficacy and safety of dual-task training with those of conventional physical therapy or single-task training were included in this meta-analysis.

Distribution of α-Synuclein Aggregation in the Peripheral Tissues.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease mainly characterized by movement disorders and other non-motor symptoms, including the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra parts. Abnormal α-synuclein aggregation in the brain is closely associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons. α-synuclein can propagate in the central nervous system (CNS) and periphery under pathological conditions.

The neuroinflammatory role of glucocerebrosidase in Parkinson's disease.

The lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), encoded by the GBA1 gene, is a membrane-associated protein catalyzing the cleavage of glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph). Homologous GBA1 mutations cause Gaucher disease (GD) and heterologous mutations cause Parkinson's disease (PD). Importantly, heterologous GBA1 mutations are recognized as the second risk factor of PD.

Maternal yeast-based nucleotide supplementation decreased stillbirth by regulating nutrient metabolism.

Background: As an enzymatic product of yeast, yeast-based nucleotide (YN) is rich in nucleotides. To test the effects of maternal dietary supplementation with YN during late pregnancy on placental nutrient transport and nutrient metabolism in neonatal piglets, 64 pregnant sows (day 85 ± 3) were assigned into two groups: (i) control (CON) and (ii) treatment (YN; 4 g kg ). Blood, placenta and liver samples of neonates during delivery were collected.

A bibenzyl compound 20C protects rats against 6-OHDA-induced damage by regulating adaptive immunity associated molecules.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with complicated pathogenesis. A novel bibenzyl compound 2-[4-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzyl]-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenol (20C) has been shown to have some neuroprotective effects, and its mechanism still needs further research. In this study, we used a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD rat model to evaluate the protective effect of 20C.

Tet1 Deficiency Leads to Premature Reproductive Aging by Reducing Spermatogonia Stem Cells and Germ Cell Differentiation.

Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) enzymes are involved in DNA demethylation, important in regulating embryo development, stem cell pluripotency and tumorigenesis. Alterations of DNA methylation with age have been shown in various somatic cell types. We investigated whether Tet1 and Tet2 regulate aging.

Bioactive flavonoid dimers from Chinese dragon's blood, the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis.

Seven flavonoid dimers, biflavocochins A-G, together with six known compounds were isolated from the red resins of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Chinese dragon's blood). Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1-7 was assigned by experimental and quantum chemical calculated ECD spectra, and that of 4 was further established by X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation.

Exploring Genome-wide DNA Methylation Profiles Altered in Kashin-Beck Disease Using Infinium Human Methylation 450 Bead Chips.

To understand how differentially methylated genes (DMGs) might affect the pathogenesis of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). Genome-wide methylation profiling of whole blood from 12 matched KBD and controls pairs was performed using a high-resolution Infinium 450 K methylation array. In total, 97 CpG sites were differentially methylated in KBD compared to the normal controls; of these sites, 36 sites were significantly hypermethylated (covering 22 genes) and 61 sites were significantly hypomethylated (covering 34 genes).

[Effects of Shaoyao Gancao decoction on contents of amino acids and expressions of receptors in brains of spastic paralysis rats].

To explore the effects of Shaoyao Gancao decoction on contents of amino acids and expressions of receptors in the brains of spastic paralysis rats, the spastic paralysis rat models of stroke convalescence were made by line tethering method. Baclofen was used as the control group, and the experiment group received Shaoyao Gancao decoction at 3∶1 proportions. After 3 weeks, the neurobehavioral scores, muscular tension and pain threshold were measured and compared.

[Comparative study on effects of blood enriching on mouse model of blood deficiency syndrome induced by cyclophosphamide of albiflorin, paeoniflorin on levels of GM-CSF, IL-3 and TNF-α].

Objective: To compare the effects and mechanism of blood enriching on mouse model of blood deficiency syndrome induced by cyclophosphamide of albiflorin and paeoniflorin.

Method: Albiflorin and paeoniflorin were determined by using animal models of blood deficiency syndrome induced by cyclophosphamide. The amount of WBC, RBC, HGB, index of thymus gland and spleen, and the changes of GM-CSF, IL-3 and TNF-α in serum were detected after the treatment.

Changing Grains for the Prevention and Treatment of Kashin-Beck Disease in Children: a Meta-analysis.

To evaluate the efficacy of changing grains on the prevention and treatment of Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD) in children, community-based trials were acquired from seven electronic databases (up to July 2014). As a result, the methodological quality of the six trials that have been included into our analysis was low. The pooled ORs favoring the prevention and treatment effects of changing grains were 0.

Identification of chitinases Is-chiA and Is-chiB from Isoptericola jiangsuensis CLG and their characterization.

A 274-bp conserved fragment of chiA (chiA-CF) was amplified from the genomic DNA of Isoptericola jiangsuensis CLG (DSM 21863, CCTCC AB208287) using the specific PCR primers. Based on chiA-CF sequences, a 5233-bp DNA fragment was obtained by self-formed adaptor PCR. DNA sequencing analysis revealed there were two contiguous open reading frames coding for the precursors of Is-chiA [871 amino acids (aa)] and Is-chiB (561 aa) in the 5233-bp DNA fragment.

Molecular characterization of the alkB gene in the thermophilic Geobacillus sp. strain MH-1.

An extremely thermophilic alkane-degrading bacterium, strain MH-1, was isolated from the deep subterranean petroleum reservoir in Shengli oil field, PR China. Based on its physiological characteristics and analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MH-1 was identified as Geobacillus stearothermophilus. Strain MH-1 was able to grow at temperatures ranging from 50 to 72 degrees C and effectively degraded hexadecane as the sole carbon source at 70 degrees C.