[Consideration and analysis on "Effect of acupuncture vs sham acupuncture on live births among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a randomized clinical trial" in ].

The article "Effect of acupuncture vs sham acupuncture on live births among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a randomized clinical trial", published in in May 2018, has concluded that acupuncture does not improve the rate of live births among women undergoing IVF. Through careful study of the article, the author analyzes its reliability from acupuncture therapeutic plan and specific acupuncture operation. As a result, although the research showed no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the sham acupuncture group, it could not prove no therapeutic effect in the sham acupuncture group, so the conclusion that the acupuncture did not improve the therapeutic effect could not be drawn; the compatibility of acupoints was inconsistent with the previous protocol, and its rationality was controversial; whether the frequency and duration of acupuncture treatment could highlight the live birth rate should be further discussed.

Effects of probiotics and prebiotics on intestinal microbiota in mice with acute colitis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Background: Imbalance of intestinal microbiota was closely related to colitis. Under these circumstances, regulation of enteric flora may be beneficial to the repair of inflammation. We aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus), prebiotics and their combination on inflammation, and microflora in mice of acute colitis.

Increased Homer1-mGluR5 mediates chronic stress-induced depressive-like behaviors and glutamatergic dysregulation via activation of PERK-eIF2α.

Glutamatergic dysregulation has served as one common pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and a promising target for treatment intervention. Previous studies implicate neurotransmission via metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and Homer1 in stress-induced anhedonia, but the mechanisms have not been well elucidated. In the present study, we used two different animal models of depression, chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and chronic restraint stress (CRS), to investigate the expression of Homer1 isoforms and functional interaction with mGluRs.

[Seed rain, soil seed bank and seedling regeneration of Quercus aliena var. acureserrata in different slope directions on the middle Qinling Mountains, China].

We studied the seed rain, seed pool quantity and quality dynamics, and seedling develop-ment of natural Quercus aliena var. acureserrata forests in different slopes (sunny, semi-sunny, semi-shady and shady slope) of the middle Qinling Mountains, China. The results showed that seed rain of Q.

Association between gene variants and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation: An updated meta-analysis.

Background: Studies showed the controversial results about the effect of common genetic polymorphisms on the atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. We performed the systematic review and meta-analysis to qualify the association between common genetic polymorphisms and AF recurrence.

Methods: Articles were systematically retrieved PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wanfang, and CNKI database and 9 studies including 3204 patients were enrolled in our meta-analysis.

Latent Infection of Valsa mali in the Seeds, Seedlings and Twigs of Crabapple and Apple Trees is a Potential Inoculum Source of Valsa Canker.

A real-time quantitative PCR assay using a species-specific primer pair was developed to rapidly and accurately quantify Valsa mali, the causative pathogen of apple Valsa canker (AVC), in crabapple seeds, crabapple seedlings, apple twigs and apple seeds. Surveys were conducted in different regions, and crabapple or apple seeds were collected for V. mali detection by qPCR assay.

Evaluation of chemical speciation and environmental risk levels of heavy metals during varied acid corrosion conditions for raw and solidified/stabilized MSWI fly ash.

In this work, the leaching pattern, chemical speciation, and environmental risks of various heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were investigated synchronously under different acid corrosion conditions through end-point pH leaching experiments. The heavy metals were present in raw, stabilized (phosphoric acid; chelating agent), and solidified (Portland cement) municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. The results showed that the stabilization and solidification pre-treatment could effectively decrease the leaching of most heavy metals.

An injectable scaffold based on temperature-responsive hydrogel and factor-loaded nanoparticles for application in vascularization in tissue engineering.

Controlled release of functional factors contributes to target migration of therapeutic cells and plays a crucial role in the in situ vascularization of tissue repair and regeneration. A biomedical application requires the selective release of multiple factors which will guide the synergy of the cells. Here, we developed an injectable system based on a temperature-responsive hydrogel and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) loaded into two types of nanoparticles to induce migration and rapid proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) via selective SDF-1/VEGF release.

CALB1 enhances the interaction between p53 and MDM2, and inhibits the senescence of ovarian cancer cells.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the association between senescence and cancer. However, the molecular mechanism regulating senescence in ovarian cancer remains unknown. In the present study, the protein expression level of calbindin 1 (CALB1) in ovarian cancer was examined using western blot and immunohistochemistry.

New glycosides from the twigs and leaves of Rhododendron latoucheae.

Six new glycosides (1-6), together with three known ones, were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Rhododendron latoucheae. Their structures were elucidated based on the spectroscopic data, including infrared spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, along with Mosher's method. In addition, all compounds were tested their antiviral (herpes simplex virus-1 and influenza A/95-359) activities.

Prognostic value of preoperative hyponatremia in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Hyponatremia is an emerging issue in cancer patients. However, few studies have explored the prognostic value of preoperative hyponatremia in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. We conducted a retrospective study of women diagnosed with EOC at Shengjing Hospital from 2011 to 2015.

Combined enzymatic hydrolysis and selective fermentation for green production of alginate oligosaccharides from Laminaria japonica.

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) showed various biological activities. Traditional protocol for producing AOS was a multiple-step and high-pollution procedure. In this study, a rapid and efficient AOS producing method was developed directly from Laminaria japonica.

Quantitative immunochemical fecal occult blood test for neoplasia in colon cancer screening.

Objective: To investigate the performance of the quantitative immunochemical fecal occult blood test (qFIT) and to determine the association between the fecal hemoglobin (Hb) level and the location and size of adenomas and the stages of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A total of 692 participants were included in the study. Their fecal Hb level was measured using an OC-SENSA MICRO qFIT.

Correlation between IL-4 and IL-13 gene polymorphisms and asthma in Uygur children in Xinjiang.

Correlation between interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) gene polymorphisms and bronchial asthma in Uygur children in Xinjiang, China, and the effects on serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) were investigated. Thirty-seven child patients with asthma and 29 healthy children were screened. The gene polymorphisms of Arg130Gln in IL-13 and -590C/T in IL-4 gene promoter region were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct gene sequencing; the asthma-related indexes were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the relevant indexes were analyzed; moreover, whether there was a synergistic effect between Arg130Gln in IL-13 and -590C/T in IL-4 gene promoter region in the pathogenesis of asthma in children was analyzed.

[Migration and Transformation of Adsorbed Arsenic Mediated by Sulfate Reducing Bacteria].

In the natural environment, arsenic (As) is mainly adsorbed on iron oxide minerals. The release of adsorbed arsenic from iron oxide minerals to the water is the main source of arsenic pollution. Microbes play a crucial role for this process.

Regulatory effects of Poria on substance and energy metabolism in cold-deficiency syndrome compared with heat-deficiency syndrome in rats.

Recent studies have revealed that the property of drug is mainly associated with the body's substance and energy metabolism. The present study aimed to evaluate the drug property of Poria, called Fuling (FL) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in terms of its effects on the substance and energy metabolism in rat models of cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency syndromes, compared with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia, called Fuzi (FZ) in TCM, with hot property, and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, called Zhimu (ZM) in TCM, with cold property, as reference drugs, respectively. The appearance score, toe and rectal temperatures of the animals treated were assessed at different time points.

A new cytotoxic 12-membered macrolactone from the endophytic fungus Exserohilum rostratum LPC-001.

A new oxacyclododecindione-type macrolactone, (13R,14S,15R)-13-hydroxy-14-deoxyoxacyclododecindione (1), has been obtained from the solid cultures of the fungus Exserohilum rostratum, a fungal strain endophytic in Gymnadenia conopsea. Its structure, including the absolute configuration, was extensively established by 1D and 2D NMR data, the modified Mosher method, and a combination of experimental and theoretically calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compound 1 showed weak selective cytotoxicity against the A549 lung cell line with an IC value of 9.

ABO Blood Type Has No Impact on Survival in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Evidence for an association between ABO blood type and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) survival has so far been limited and conflictive. This study applied a retrospective cohort and included 627 EOC patients diagnosed at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between 2011 and 2015. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between the ABO blood type and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of EOC patients were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional regression models.

Prognostic Influence of the Time Interval between Surgery and Chemotherapy in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

The influence of time to chemotherapy (TTC) on recurrence and survival among epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients still remains unknown. This single center retrospective cohort study was conducted on 489 EOC patients who underwent surgery followed by taxane- plus platinum-based chemotherapy in the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between 2011 and 2015. The Multivariate cox proportional regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after adjustment for potential confounders.

Diphenyl Ethers from a Marine-Derived .

Six new diphenyl ethers (⁻) along with eleven known analogs were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a marine-derived guided by LC-UV-MS. Their structures were unambiguously characterized by HRESIMS, NMR, as well as chemical derivatization. Compounds and are rare diphenyl ether glycosides containing d-ribose.

Purpurolide A, 5/5/5 Spirocyclic Sesquiterpene Lactone in Nature from the Endophytic Fungus Penicillium purpurogenum.

Purpurolide A (1), an unprecedent sesquiterpene lactone with a rarely encountered 5/5/5 spirocyclic skeleton, along with two new 6/4/5/5 tetracyclic sesquiterpene lactones (2 and 3), were isolated from the cultures of the endophytic fungus Penicillium purpurogenum IMM003. The structures and absolute configurations of 1-3 were established by spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and calculations of the C NMR and ECD data. Compounds 1-3 showed significant inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase.

Effect of cooking methods on solubility and nutrition quality of brown rice powder.

The effects of different processing methods were investigated, including on the fluidity, solubility, nutrient composition, digestibility, color and aroma constituent of instant brown rice powder. It showed that, except for flavonoids, different processing methods significantly influenced the indexes of the instant brown rice flour (p < 0.05).

1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 promotes osseointegration of titanium implant via downregulating AGEs/RAGE pathway in T2DM.

Diabetes-induced advanced glycation end products (AGEs) overproduction would result in compromised osseointegration of titanium implant and high rate of implantation failure. 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25VD3) plays a vital role in osteogenesis, whereas its effects on the osseointegration and the underlying mechanism are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate that 1,25VD3 might promote the defensive ability of osseointegration through suppressing AGEs/RAGE in type 2 diabetes mellitus.