lncRNA TM4SF1-AS1 predicts dismal outcomes and promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression via modulating miR-744-3p

BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is of great malignancy and high mortality. Identification of effective biomarkers could improve the monitoring of CCA development and attenuate patients’ outcomes.ObjectiveThe potential of lncRNA TM4SF1-AS1 (TM4SF1-AS1) serving biomarker of CCA was estimated and the underlying mechanism was also investigated.MethodsA total of 107 pairs of tumor and paracancer tissues were collected from CCA patients. The expression levels of TM4SF1-AS1 and miR-744-3p were analyzed in CCA by PCR, and their clinical significance was estimated by a series of statistical analyses. CCK8 and Transwell assays were used to assess the development-related cellular processes of CCA. The interaction between TM4SF1-AS1 and miR-774-3p was evaluated by cell transfection and dual-luciferase reporter assay.ResultsThe elevated expression of TM4SF1-AS1 and the declined expression of miR-744-3p were observed in CCA. Both TM4SF1-AS1 and miR-744-3p were found to possess a close association with the malignant progression and poor prognosis of CCA patients. TM4SF1-AS1 was suggested to act as a tumor promoter of CCA, where miR-744-3p was found to mediate the function of TM4SF1-AS1.ConclusionBoth TM4SF1-AS1 and miR-744-3p were identified as prognostic biomarkers of CCA. TM4SF1-AS1 served as tumor promoter of CCA via modulating miR-744-3p.     

Optimized project of traditional Chinese medicine in treating chronic kidney disease stage 3: a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Stage 3 is the key phase of chronic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. But a large sample trial is desirable.

Materials and methods

A total of 578 Chinese patients with primary glomerulonephritis in CKD stage 3 were randomly assigned to three groups: patients received TCM (TCM group), benazepril (Ben group), TCM combined with benazepril (TCM + Ben group). Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the time to the composite of 50% increased of serum creatinine, end stage renal disease or death.

Results

eGFR in the TCM and the TCM + Ben group were improved (week 24 vs. baseline, P < 0.05) while eGFR in the Ben group was decreased (week 24 vs. baseline, P > 0.05). 24 h urinary protein excretion (UP) and urinary albumin/creatinine (UAlb/Cr) were decreased in the TCM + Ben (week 24 vs. baseline, P < 0.05) and the Ben group (week 24 vs. baseline, P > 0.05). UP and UAlb/Cr were increased in the TCM group to week 12, then were stable (week 24 vs. baseline, P < 0.05). The hemoglobin in the TCM group was also improved (week 24 vs. baseline, P < 0.05). The accumulative survival rate in the TCM + Ben group was higher than that in the TCM group and the Ben group (P = 0.044). Side effects in the TCM group were the lowest in these groups (P < 0.05). The patients with dry cough in the TCM + Ben group and the Ben group were increased as compared with the TCM group (P < 0.05). Hyperkalemia happened less frequently in the TCM group as compared with the other two groups (P = 0.052).

Conclusions

For the patients with CKD stage 3, TCM can improve eGFR and hemoglobin with lower side effects. Benazepril significantly decreased the proteinuria. Chinese medicine integrated with benazepril can ameliorate renal function and decrease proteinuria synergistically.     

Effective regularity in modulation on gastric motility induced by different acupoint stimulation

INTRODUCTIONAcupuncture therapy, originated and prospering in China and prevailing in Asia, has been used empirically in clinical practice for several millennia. It has long been accepted that acupuncture at certain points on the body, can have analgesic …     

Dysbiosis in gastrointestinal disorders

The recent development of advanced sequencing techniques has revealed the complexity and diverse functions of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, alterations in the composition or balance of the intestinal microbiota, or dysbiosis, are associated with many gastrointestinal diseases. The looming question is whether dysbiosis is a cause or effect of these diseases. In this review, we will evaluate the contribution of intestinal microbiota in obesity, fatty liver, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Promising results from microbiota or metabolite transfer experiments in animals suggest the microbiota may be sufficient to reproduce disease features in the appropriate host in certain disorders. Less compelling causal associations may reflect complex, multi-factorial disease pathogenesis, in which dysbiosis is a necessary condition. Understanding the contributions of the microbiota in GI diseases should offer novel insight into disease pathophysiology and deliver new treatment strategies such as therapeutic manipulation of the microbiota.     

Autonomic and subjective responses to real and sham acupuncture stimulation

This study compared verum acupuncture (VA) and sham acupuncture (SA) stimulation by assessing autonomic and subjective responses. Autonomic responses such as skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Subjective pain ratings were collected and evaluated. A correlation analysis was performed for SCR and HR changes and subjective pain ratings. In both VA and SA sessions, SCR increased, and HR decreased. Subjective responses were different for VA and SA. The SCR changes correlated with subjective responses for VA, but not SA. The present results suggest that VA and SA do not fundamentally differ in their autonomic response patterns.     

Post-marketing safety surveillance and reevaluation of Motherwort injection: A clinical study of 10 094 cases

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety profiles of Motherwort injection (MI).

Association of Overlapped and Un-overlapped Comorbidities with COVID-19 Severity and Treatment Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Nine Provinces in China

ObjectiveSeveral COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear.MethodsA retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients’ medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the associations between comorbidities (cardiometabolic or non-cardiometabolic diseases), clinical severity, and treatment outcomes of COVID-19.ResultsOverall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30–6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32–5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81–7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96–28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26–3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01–11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00–26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89–12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03–11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47–32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25–9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46–29.64) within two weeks.ConclusionBesides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.     

Biological Evaluation of ChuangYuLing Dressing A Multifunctional Medicine Carrying Biomaterial

The safety of Chuangyuling (CYL) dressing-a multifunctional medicine carrying biomaterial was evaluated in order to provide foundation for the application of CYL as material used in the wound healing. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) extract solution was compounded with scaffolds (gelatin and Bletilla hyacinthine gum), and then frozen and dried to form spongy and porous material CYL. According to the standard of biological evaluation of medical devices that was instituted by the ministry of health of China , the biological evaluation of CYL dressing was conducted. The results showed that all the contents of biological evaluation test consisting of acute toxicity, skin irritation, sensitization and cytotoxicity met the requirement of standards. It was concluded that the biomaterial carrying TCM (CYL dressing) is safe for application of wound healing.