Integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics to reveal the protective effect and mechanism of Bushen Kangshuai Granules on the elderly people.

Aging is characterized by a decline in the adaptability and resistance of the body. In this study, Bushen Kangshuai Granules (BKG), as a kind of Chinese herbal formula, was developed and shown to alleviate aging-related symptoms. Self-controlled study combined with RNA-seq and metabonomics were used to expound the efficacy and safety of BKG and revealed the regulation mechanism of BKG treating aging.

Directed Evolution of Glycosyltransferases by a Single-Cell Ultrahigh-Throughput FACS-Based Screening Method.

Engineering of glycosyltransferases (GTs) with desired substrate specificity for the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides has been of great scientific and industrial interest. Here we describe an ultra-high-throughput fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) method for the directed evolution of GTs, at the single cell level. This assay relies on the exquisite substrate specificity of lactose permeases (LacY) that are located in the cell membrane, which distinguish selectively the fluorescent glycosylated products from the unreacted substrates.

Glycosyltransferases: Mining, engineering and applications in biosynthesis of glycosylated plant natural products.

UDP-Glycosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the transfer of nucleotide-activated sugars to specific acceptors, among which the GT1 family enzymes are well-known for their function in biosynthesis of natural product glycosides. Elucidating GT function represents necessary step in metabolic engineering of aglycone glycosylation to produce drug leads, cosmetics, nutrients and sweeteners. In this review, we systematically summarize the phylogenetic distribution and catalytic diversity of plant GTs.

Fufang Xueshuantong for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of patented Chinese medicine Fufang Xueshuantong (FFXST) for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of FFXST for DKD treatment were searched until May 31, 2020, in seven electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Literature. The Cochrane risk test from the Cochrane Handbook was used as a bias tool to assess the methodological quality, and Review Manager (RevMan) 5.

Moxibustion for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.

Background: At present, the effect of western-medicine (WM) therapy to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is limited. Moxibustion is a representative external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine that has been beneficial to DPN. We aim to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in treating DPN, following PRISMA guidelines.

Qizhijiangtang capsule for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Backgrounds: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is 1 of the common microvascular complications of diabetes, and the therapeutic effect of modern medicine on DKD is limited. At present, patented Chinese medicine Qizhijiangtang (QZJT) capsule has been widely used in the treatment of DKD. We aim to systematically assess the efficacy and safety of QZJT capsule for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Qidong Yixin Oral Liquid for Viral Myocarditis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qidong Yixin (QY) oral liquid in the treatment of viral myocarditis (VMC).

Methods: We searched seven databases for randomized clinical trials on QY for treating VMC. The retrieval period was from database establishment to December 31, 2019.

Banxia Xiexin Decoction Ameliorates t-BHP-Induced Apoptosis in Pancreatic Beta Cells by Activating the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 Signaling Pathway.

Background: Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXXD) reportedly regulates glycolipid metabolism and inhibits pancreatic -cell apoptosis. This study is aimed at investigating the protective effect of BXXD on -butyl hydroperoxide- (t-BHP-) induced apoptosis in MIN6 cells and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: MIN6 cells were preincubated with BXXD or liraglutide (Li) with or without PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (LY) for 12 h, following which t-BHP was added to induce MIN6 cell apoptosis.

Directed evolution of an α1,3-fucosyltransferase using a single-cell ultrahigh-throughput screening method.

Fucosylated glycoconjugates are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, economical production of fucosylated drugs and prebiotic supplements has been hampered by the poor catalytic efficiency of fucosyltransferases. Here, we developed a fluorescence-activated cell sorting system that enables the ultrahigh-throughput screening (>10 mutants/hour) of such enzymes and designed a companion strategy to assess the screening performance of the system.

Structural Insights into the Broad Substrate Specificity of a Novel Endoglycoceramidase I Belonging to a New Subfamily of GH5 Glycosidases.

Endoglycoceramidases (EGCases) specifically hydrolyze the glycosidic linkage between the oligosaccharide and the ceramide moieties of various glycosphingolipids, and they have received substantial attention in the emerging field of glycosphingolipidology. However, the mechanism regulating the strict substrate specificity of these GH5 glycosidases has not been identified. In this study, we report a novel EGCase I from 103S (103S_EGCase I) with remarkably broad substrate specificity.

Validation of five contemporary prognostication systems for primary pancreatic endocrine neoplasms: results from a single institution experience with 61 surgically treated cases.

Background: Presently, several systems for the prognostication of pancreatic endocrine neoplasms (PENs) exist and the most appropriate classification system has not been clearly defined. This study aims to validate the performance of the 2004 World Health Organization (WHO), European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), American Joint Committee for Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging and Bilimoria criteria in a cohort of patients with PENs who underwent surgery at a single institution.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 61 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for PEN.

Pre-operative stenting is associated with a higher prevalence of post-operative complications following pancreatoduodenectomy.

Objectives: Whilst there are theoretical benefits from pre-operatively draining the biliary tree prior to pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), the current literature does not support this intervention. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between pre-operative stenting, bactibilia and outcome in a large United Kingdom tertiary referral practice.

Methods: Patients undergoing PD were identified from a prospectively maintained database.

p38delta/MAPK13 as a diagnostic marker for cholangiocarcinoma and its involvement in cell motility and invasion.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) are two main forms of liver malignancies, which exhibit differences in drug response and prognosis. Immunohistotochemical staining for cytokeratin markers has been used to some success in the differential diagnosis of CC from HCC. However, there remains a need for additional markers for increased sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.

Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma with sarcomatoid transformation: radiologic-pathologic correlation of a case.

A 71-year-old man presented to our hospital with 3-week history of fever in the background of loss of both weight and appetite over the past 3 months. He was found to have a large 10-cm mass in the right lobe of the liver on a triple-phase computed tomographic scan. The tumor showed a distinct fatty component, with areas of arterial enhancement and venous washout suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), another component showing progressive and late enhancement suggestive of cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and a third component showing persistent hypoenhancement relative to the liver parenchyma.

Accurate preoperative localization of insulinomas avoids the need for blind resection and reoperation: analysis of a single institution experience with 17 surgically treated tumors over 19 years.

Introduction: Presently, the need for and choice of preoperative localization tests for insulinomas remain controversial. We report the results from a single institution experience whereby the management policy adopted was that of accurate preoperative localization before surgical exploration.

Materials And Methods: From 1990 to 2008, 17 patients with a clinical and biochemical diagnosis of an insulinoma who underwent surgery were retrospectively reviewed.

Critical appraisal of 232 consecutive distal pancreatectomies with emphasis on risk factors, outcome, and management of the postoperative pancreatic fistula: a 21-year experience at a single institution.

Objective: To critically analyze a large single-institution experience with distal pancreatectomy (DP), with particular attention to the risk factors, outcome, and management of the postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Outcome of distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To determine the outcome of patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective review of 39 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma.

Results: Thirty patients underwent surgery for ductal adenocarcinoma, 5 for malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and 4 for mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

How useful are clinical, biochemical, and cross-sectional imaging features in predicting potentially malignant or malignant cystic lesions of the pancreas? Results from a single institution experience with 220 surgically treated patients.

Background: This study aims to determine the use of preoperative clinical, biochemical, and cross-sectional imaging features for predicting malignancy in cystic lesions of the pancreas (CLP).

Study Design: Two hundred twenty patients who underwent operations for CLP or suspected CLP were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups, patients undergoing operations for pseudocysts and patients undergoing operations for suspected cystic neoplasms.

Unusual recurrence after chemoirradiation and surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue represents a significant therapeutic challenge. Novel methods using systemic chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy have been used to improve loco-regional response in patients who historically have poor prognosis. The simultaneous use of both modalities enhances planned local treatment by radiosensitization and potentially eradicates micrometastatic disease.

Pancreatic cysts: a proposed management algorithm based on current evidence.

Background: Currently, the management strategy of pancreatic cyst (PC) remains controversial because of the inability to diagnose this type of cyst accurately and the limited knowledge of its natural history. Previously, many clinicians have advocated an aggressive resectional policy. This approach is no longer appropriate, and the number of PCs detected incidentally has increased.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas: an updated experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report an update of the surgical experience at a single institution with these unusual tumors.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients who underwent surgery for a pathologically confirmed solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPPN) were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Fifteen of the patients were female and the median age at diagnosis was 30 years (range, 14-53 years).

Clinicopathological features of patients with concomitant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas and pancreatic endocrine neoplasm.

Background/aims: The occurrence of concomitant pancreatic endocrine neoplasm (PEN) and intraductal papillary neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas has rarely been reported. We describe our experience with 3 patients with this association and review the existing literature.

Methods: From 1990 to 2005, 65 patients who underwent surgery for a PEN or IPMN were retrospectively reviewed.

A review of mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas defined by ovarian-type stroma: clinicopathological features of 344 patients.

Introduction: Despite formal definitions of mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) and intraductal papillary neoplasms (IPMNs) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), several controversies with regard to MCNs remain. The aim of this review was to determine the clinicopathological features of MCNs defined by ovarian-type stroma (OS) as proposed by the WHO and AFIP and to compare them with MCNs defined by less stringent criteria.

Methods: A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify English-language articles on pancreatic MCNs from 1996 to 2005.

Adult choledochal cysts: an audit of surgical management.

Background: Choledochal cysts are rare congenital cystic dilatations of the biliary tree. Surgical management has evolved with regards to timing and surgical procedure of choice. We conducted a retrospective review of clinical presentation and surgical management of adult choledochal cysts.