Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis.

Acupuncture Point Embedding Therapy is a comprehensive treatment method that combines modern biomaterials with acupuncture techniques. Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) not only avoids the adverse reactions associated with Western medicine but also incorporates the benefits of traditional acupuncture, extending the duration of its therapeutic effects. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a condition known for its challenging treatment and tendency to persist.

Trojan horse peptide conjugates remodel the activity spectrum of clinical antibiotics.

Infections caused by gram-negative pathogens continue to be a major risk to human health because of the innate antibiotic resistance endowed by their unique cell membrane architecture. Nature has developed an elegant solution to target gram-negative strains, namely by conjugating toxic antibiotic warheads to a suitable carrier to facilitate the active import of the drug to a specific target organism. Microcin C7 (McC) is a Trojan horse peptide-conjugated antibiotic that specifically targets enterobacteria by exploiting active import through oligopeptide transport systems.

Extending the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): The GRADE-TCM.

Aim: To extend and form the "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation in Traditional Chinese Medicine" (GRADE-TCM).

Methods: Methodologies were systematically reviewed and analyzed concerning evidence-based TCM guidelines worldwide. A survey questionnaire was developed based on the literature review and open-end expert interviews.

Risk prediction and treatment assessment in glioma patients using SEER database: a prospective observational study.

Objectives: To use a nomogram to predict the risk of mortality and estimate the impact of current treatment on the prognosis of glioma patients.

Methods: A total of 3798 cases were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database according to the selection criteria. A nomogram was built on the independent clinical factors screened by the variance inflation factor, univariate analyses and a multivariate Cox regression model.

Abnormal sleep features in adolescent MDD and its potential in diagnosis and prediction of early efficacy.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that abnormal sleep architectures are the important indicator for diagnosing MDD and predicting the efficacy of antidepressants. However, few studies have focused specifically on adolescents.

Objective: To explore the relationship between abnormal sleep features, including PSG parameters and scale evaluation, and the onset of adolescent MDD, as well as early SSRIs efficacy.

[Effects of density on growth and gene transcription characteristics of Rehmannia glutinosa].

The present study analyzed the effects of planting density on the development, quality, and gene transcription characte-ristics of Rehmannia glutinosa using 85-5 and J9 as materials with three planting densities of 5 000, 25 000, and 50 000 plants/Mu(1 Mu≈667 m~2). The agronomic characteristics of leaves and tuberous roots, the content of catalpol and acteoside, and the changes of gene expression were determined. The results showed that the leaf size, the diameter of tuberous root, leaf biomass, tuberous root number, and tuberous root biomass per plant at low density were significantly higher than those of medium and high densities.

[Comparative observation of acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture therapy of for insomnia of liver depression and stagnation].

Objective: To compare the effect of (soothing the liver and regulating mind) acupoint thread-embedding therapy and acupuncture therapy for insomnia of liver depression and stagnation.

Methods: A total of 68 patients with insomnia of liver depression and stagnation were randomly divided into an acupoint embedding group (34 cases) and an acupuncture group (34 cases). Two groups were respectively treated with acupoint thread-embedding and acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18) and Xinshu (BL 15).

[Effect and mechanism of moxibustion on oxidative stress injury in rats with Parkinson's disease by activating Nrf2/ARE pathway].

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on oxidative stress injury of nigrostriatal system in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD) based on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway, and to explore its mechanism.

Methods: A total of 48 SD rats were randomized into a blank group, a sham-operation group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 12 rats in each group. Unilateral two-point injection with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was adopted in the model group and the moxibustion group to establish the PD model; the operation manipulation in the sham-operation group was the same as the model group and the moxibustion group, and the same volume of 0.

The Similarity Between Chinese Five-Pattern and Eysenck's Personality Traits: Evidence From Theory and Resting-State fMRI.

Chinese five-pattern and Eysenck's personality traits are two types of personality theories based on different cultural backgrounds. The former is an indigenous theory, and the latter is a cross-cultural theory. In order to verify the relationship between two different personality traits from theory and neuropsychology, the current study recruited 170 healthy adults to calculate their five-Pattern Personality Inventory (FPPI) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ) scales and to scan their brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

[Molecular cloning and expression analysis of iridoid synthase genes from Rehmannia glutinosa].

Iridoid synthase( IS),the key enzyme in the natural biosynthesis of vegetal iridoids,catalyzes the irreversible cyclization of 10-oxogeranial to epi-iridodial. In this study,we screened the Rehmannia glutinosa transcriptome data by BLASTn with Catharanthus roseus CrIS cDNA,and found four c DNA fragments with length of 1 527,1 743,1 425,1 718 bp,named RgIS1,RgIS2,RgIS3 and RgIS4,respectively. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the four iridoid synthase genes encoding proteins with 389-392 amino acid residues,protein molecular weights were between 44.

The association study of CLOCK gene polymorphisms with antidepressant effect in Chinese with major depressive disorder.

Aim: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder with a complicated pathogenesis and genetic predisposition. The objective of this article is to explore the relationship between the four SNPs of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) gene (rs11932595, rs12504300, rs3805148, rs534654) and the efficacy of antidepressants. Materials & methods: This study enrolled a total of 600 patients, who met the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for MDD.

Hydrological response of biological soil crusts to global warming: A ten-year simulative study.

Biological soil crusts across the desert regions play a key role in regional ecological security and ecological health. They are vital biotic components of desert ecosystems that maintain soil stability, fix carbon and nitrogen, influence the establishment of vascular plants, and serve as habitats for a large number of arthropods and microorganisms, as well as influencing soil hydrological processes. Changes in temperature and precipitation are expected to influence the functioning of desert ecosystems by altering biotic components such as the species composition of biological soil crusts.

Targeting redox vulnerability of cancer cells by prooxidative intervention of a glutathione-activated Cu(II) pro-ionophore: Hitting three birds with one stone.

Altered redox homeostasis including higher levels of copper, reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells than in normal cells illustrates their redox vulnerability, and has opened a window for developing prooxidative anticancer agents (PAAs) to hit this status. However, how to design PAAs with high selectivity in killing cancer cells over normal cells remains a challenge. Herein we designed a 3-hydroxyflavone-inspired copper pro-ionophore (PHF) as a potent PAA based on the GSH-mediated conversion of 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonates to enols.

Rapid development of cyanobacterial crust in the field for combating desertification.

Desertification is currently a major concern, and vast regions have already been devastated in the arid zones of many countries. Combined application of cyanobacteria with soil fixing chemicals is a novel method of restoring desertified areas. Three cyanobacteria, Nostoc sp.

Experimental and Theoretical Study on Terahertz Spectra for Regenerated Cellulose.

In this work, regenerated cellulose films were prepared with an iced dissolution method, while the physical morphologies and crystal types of the products were systematically characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared(FTIR), while X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The results demonstrate that the as-prepared continuous and uniform films are indeed cellulose Ⅱ, whose morphology and crystal type are significantly different from those of the degreased cotton. Moreover, Terahertz time domain system (THz-TDS) and FTIR were employed to measure the THz spectra of the regenerated cellulose films.

[Response of biocrust-soil system respiration to winter low temperature and simulated warming].

To study the effects of low temperature and simulated warming on respiration of biocrust-soil systems, intact soil columns covered by two dominant types of biocrusts (moss and algae-lichen crusts), were collected in a natural vegetation area in the southeast fringe of the Tengger Desert. Automated soil respiration system (Li-8150) was used to measure respiration rates in biocrust-soil systems under warming (by placing them in an open top chamber) and non-warming treatments in winter (from November 2015 to January 2016). During the whole observation period, soil respiration rates covered by moss crusts were significantly higher than those covered by algae-lichen crusts, which were -0.

Gross rainfall amount and maximum rainfall intensity in 60-minute influence on interception loss of shrubs: a 10-year observation in the Tengger Desert.

In water-limited regions, rainfall interception is influenced by rainfall properties and crown characteristics. Rainfall properties, aside from gross rainfall amount and duration (GR and RD), maximum rainfall intensity and rainless gap (RG), within rain events may heavily affect throughfall and interception by plants. From 2004 to 2014 (except for 2007), individual shrubs of Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica were selected to measure throughfall during 210 rain events.

Molecular Ecology of nifH Genes and Transcripts Along a Chronosequence in Revegetated Areas of the Tengger Desert.

The colonization and succession of diazotrophs are essential for the development of organic soil layers in desert. We examined the succession of diazotrophs in the well-established revegetated areas representing a chronosequence of 0 year (control), 22 years (restored artificially since 1981), 57 years (restored artificially since 1956), and more than 100 years (restored naturally) to determine the community assembly and active expression of diazotrophs. The pyrosequencing data revealed that Alphaproteobacteria-like diazotrophs predominated in the topsoil of our mobile dune site, while cyanobacterial diazotrophs predominated in the revegetated sites.

[Effects of nitrogen addition on soil physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities in desertified steppe].

To investigate the impacts of nitrogen (N) enrichment on soil physico-chemical property and soil enzyme activities in desert ecosystems, a field experiment by adding N at 0, 1.75, 3.5, 7, or 14 g N x m(-2) a(-1) was conducted in a temperate desert steppe in the southeastern fringe of the Tengger Desert.

Catgut implantation at acupoints for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and the possible adverse effects of catgut implantation at acupoints for allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.

Influence of glycation on microencapsulating properties of soy protein isolate-lactose blends.

Background: There is increasing interest in developing encapsulating materials from vegetable proteins as an abundant alternative for animal proteins or petroleum-derived polymers. Relationships between emulsifying and microencapsulating properties of soy protein isolate or blends with carbohydrates have not been well characterised. The influence of glycation between soy protein isolate and lactose prior to emulsification on the emulsifying and microencapsulation properties of their blends was investigated in this work.

[Nitrogen fixation potential of biological soil crusts in southeast edge of Tengger Desert, Northwest China].

Taking three typical types of biological soil crusts (BSCs), i.e., cyanobacterial-algal crust, lichen crust, and moss crust, in the southeast fringe of Tengger Desert as test objects, this paper studied their nitrogen fixation potential, seasonal fluctuation, and responses to the environmental factors from June 2010 to May 2011.

[Storages and distributed patterns of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen during the succession of artificial sand-binding vegetation in arid desert ecosystem].

Soil carbon pool acts as the largest one of carbon pools in the terrestrial ecosystem. The storages and distributed patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) evaluated accurately are helpful to predict the feedback between the terrestrial ecosystem and climate changes. Based on the data about bulk density, content of SOC and TN at 0-100 cm soil profile, the density of SOC and TN at the temporal (chronosequence of artificial vegetation) and spatial (vertical) distributed patterns have been estimated.

[Effects of highway on the vegetation species composition along a distance gradient from road edge in southeastern margin of Tengeer Desert].

Aimed to examine the effects of highway on the vegetation species composition in arid desert area, forty-eight transects perpendicular to the provincial highway 201 from Shapotou to Jing-tai in the southeastern margin of Tengger Desert were installed, with the vegetation species distribution along a distance gradient from the road edge investigated. The results showed that with increasing distance from the road edge, the species number, coverage, biomass, and alpha-diversity of herbaceous plants declined, but had no significant differences with the control beyond 5 m. Within 0-6 m to the road edge, the herbaceous plant height was greater than that of the control, but their density had less change.